Calendar of Events

Just Economics and Pisgah Legal Services are co-sponsoring a workshop for renters to learn their rights as tenants in NC. There will be a presentation and question and answer session with Pisgah Legal Services followed by a discussion with Just Economics about the Tenants’ Network. The goal of this workshop is to educate tenants about their rights as renters in North Carolina and begin connecting tenants to resources and to each other.

Through these workshops, Just Economics will facilitate the formation of a local Tenants’ Network. The purpose of having a Tenants Network is to build solidarity among tenants and between renters and the community, to organize mutual aid networks and to empower renters and community supporters to come together for projects to improve our neighborhoods. Additionally, the Tenants Network will be a way for renters to collectively advocate for public policies that favor the interests and rights of tenants and to take collective action to fight back when tenants face injustice.

• The Sky High Growth Awards honor the determination and accomplishments of Asheville’s businesses. Honorees are companies experiencing growth (in revenue and workforce) and contributing to our local economy through innovation and hard work.

  Once again, this event will be hosted by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company — a stand-up reception style event with plenty of opportunity for making new connections and engaging conversation.

  Tickets are $20 per person for Chamber members, $30 for non-members. Guests will receive two beer tickets per person. Cash bar also available.

  Considering nominating a deserving small business, or self-nominate here: Sky High Growth Award Nomination

In recognition of remarkable service and valuable care provided, Novant Health Enterprises is recognizing all Western North Carolina health care heroes and invites them and a guest to an early evening event to reconnect, relax and enjoy complimentary refreshments and appetizers. The event will give all Asheville-area health care workers an opportunity to connect with one another in a casual environment, regardless of their level or affiliation. Individuals do not need to be affiliated with Novant Health to attend.

Please RSVP by May 12 by texting or calling Mark Turner at 336-692-0437 or emailing [email protected].

Have you ever needed to sew a button, or quickly fix a hem moments before going on stage, or during a performance? Do you ever find yourself wandering through local thrift shops thinking, “this would be the perfect shirt for a show costume,” but when it comes time to put the costume together you’re not so sure it’s the perfect shirt? Or maybe you’ve needed to take a costume from drab to fab (or vice versa) but you weren’t quite sure how to get there. Ashleigh Goff will lead participants in our Costuming Tips & Tricks course through some costume assembly and repair basics, and discuss design practices that she has used to costume shows in the past. She’ll share some costuming techniques, and each student will walk away having practiced some skills they can put to use.

You will find Tom Tenbrunsel a delightfully refreshing poet with a wide variety of subject matter and a style somewhere between Sandburg, Frost and the late Appalachian poet James Wright. Tom challenges one’s whit with a refreshing array of non-conforming rhyme, structure, rhythm and oft made-up words and hidden meanings. Uniquely Tom includes a photo and Author’s Notes with each poem. Join us in May to engage the spirit and myth of poetry with Tom’s “Poetry on my Mind”

Casual Poetry/Poetry on my Mind. Tom will read a couple poems for fun. He will ask guests to write a
short poem from a prompt with feedback from the group. Tom would like guests to feel free to bring short
poems to read and discuss. He encourages questions about writing poetry, about a poem of his or his
journey as a poet or his Self Help Series. So familiarize yourself with his works by scanning his website,
tenbrunsel.com Comments or questions are welcomed. Or feel free to email him in advance at
[email protected].  Check out his website tenbrunsel.com before the workshop. Send in one of your
poems to be commented on by Tom.

This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop here!

A writer and a poet, Dr. Tenbrunsel enjoyed a long successful career in Clinical Psychology. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Tom graduated from Bellarmine University, obtained his doctorate from St Louis University in 1969. He taught, published and was in administration at Michigan State University and was VP for Advancement at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He and his wife reside in the Appalachians of Western North Carolina. They have three successful children and eight grand grandchildren. Dr T. enjoys photography, gardening, cycling, hiking, camping and stalking the elusive trout. His writings and publications speak for themselves. He has published numerous books including:  Casual Gardening,  Poetry on My Mind, The Fund Raising Resource Manual,  The Fund Raising Handbook, Fund-Raising and Grantsmanship:  Getting Money from the Community for the Community, The Lansing Area Doctors Directory, 1&2,   Dissertation “A Group Coupon Economy Program in Treating Mental Illness:  An Experiment in Social Innovation”,   A Wrinkle in My Time: My Memoirs (a work in progress)

Please join the Chamber to celebrate the Grand Opening of Sensorium Neuro Wellness.

Do you want to improve focus, concentration, emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, and academic or work performance? Sensorium Neuro Wellness’s mission is to help their clients achieve better brain and body performance with sustained results through comprehensive cutting-edge assessments and personalized Neuro Fitness exercises. They offer Brain Health, Brain Training, Neurofeedback, Functional Neuro Assessments and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

There will be food, drinks, tours and raffle prizes with drawings every half hour! The grand prize will be a 10 session MHBOT (mild hyberboric oxygen therapy) series.

Please join the Chamber to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of UpTalent Consulting!

Based in the greater Asheville area, UpTalent Consulting provides talent solutions for startups and rapidly growing companies.

Join the Chamber to celebrate UpTalent Consulting’s first year anniversary with cake, refreshments, and door prizes. Best of all, attendees are entered for a chance to win a complementary LinkedIn page review, valued at $1,200. Festivities include a stand-up comedy performance by the founder, Louise Bijesse! We look forward to gathering with the Chamber community and commencing UpTalent Consulting’s first year in business!

Cats at Play is Asheville’s very first cat café, which includes a one-of-a-kind rescue lounge as a feline foster home where visitors can enjoy meeting adorable {and adoptable} cats from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue.

Whilst petting the cutest cats, visitors can also sip local drinks and try delicious snacks, including pastries, cookies and gelato. Cats at Play also includes a boutique with cat-themed apparel, gifts décor and art from local artisans.

Lisa Fox, Co-Owner of Cats at Play, states that “we chose this business model so that we can positively impact the homeless cat population in our community and beyond as well as give back to the animal rescue organizations who work so hard for animals in need. Admission fees to visit our rescue lounge will help us care for our foster kitties and 100% of adoption fees will go directly to our rescue partners.”

Please join the Chamber to celebrate the Grand Opening of NuBlue Service Group!

NuBlue Service Group is a company that provides plumbing, electrical, and HVAC services. They are new to Western North Carolina, but not to North Carolina with locations all over the state. They are currently providing plumbing in the region with other trades comig soon. They stand behind their work and guarantee satisfaction – because they truly believe that their team is the best and brightest in the industry.

Please join us for tours, food and beverages as we welcome NuBlue Service Group to WNC!

No cost legal education for members of business community: employment mistakes to avoid, business succession, dos and don’ts for developing and maintaining a business. Lunch included. Call 828-227-7401 with questions.

Please join the Chamber to Celebrate the Grand Opening of CarolinasDentist!

At CarolinasDentist, they know how important it is to find a primary dental care provider that can meet the unique wants and needs of your family. They are committed to providing families in and around Asheville with the high-quality dental care that they deserve. When you visit their office, you can expect custom care that centers around your unique smile! To learn more about CarolinasDenist’s new Asheville location, please contact them, and they will be glad to assist.

CarolinasDentist invites you to their grand-opening for their brand new dental practice in Arden/South Asheville. They will have light hors-d’oeuvres and special giveaways for attendees, including some local gift cards from some of their favorite businesses. Their partner doctor, Dr. Laura Johnson, will say a few words thanking everyone for coming and will give a tour of their high-tech facility, highlighting our state-of-the-art dental technology and their beautiful office.  

Join us in presenting a comprehensive voice of WNC business during our Raleigh Legislative Visit from Tuesday, June 6 to Wednesday, June 7!
Registration for this event and the room block closes May 7, 2023.
As a delegate on the trip, connect with business leaders from across our region and reinforce WNC business priorities to the North Carolina General Assembly. Together, we can have more impact on our region’s priorities.

About 50 representatives from eight regional chambers will participate in the two-day trip to discuss issues with legislators and state agencies vital to our regional business environment.

Events will include an evening reception at Whiskey Kitchen, presentations on important policy issues, and visits with members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Visits will be focused on local priorities, economic development funding for WNC and key workforce issues including childcare and medicaid expansion.
 
Participants must make their own hotel reservations, with a discounted rate available at The Sheraton. Registration for this event and the room block closes May 7, 2023.

Join us in presenting a comprehensive voice of WNC business during our Raleigh Legislative Visit from Tuesday, June 6 to Wednesday, June 7!
Registration for this event and the room block closes May 7, 2023.
As a delegate on the trip, connect with business leaders from across our region and reinforce WNC business priorities to the North Carolina General Assembly. Together, we can have more impact on our region’s priorities.

About 50 representatives from eight regional chambers will participate in the two-day trip to discuss issues with legislators and state agencies vital to our regional business environment.

Events will include an evening reception at Whiskey Kitchen, presentations on important policy issues, and visits with members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Visits will be focused on local priorities, economic development funding for WNC and key workforce issues including childcare and medicaid expansion.
 
Participants must make their own hotel reservations, with a discounted rate available at The Sheraton. Registration for this event and the room block closes May 7, 2023.

Come out for a round of golf with the Chamber!

Each year, our annual Golf Classic raises funds for our Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its workforce development efforts. Programs under the Foundation include, Teacher of the Year Reception, Junior Leaders Program, Apprenticeships programs and more!

Please reach out to Amy at [email protected] to register for a team, to sponsor a hole, or both! All registration forms are below.

Team Registration Form
Hole Sponsorship Form
Individual Player Form

All registrations are due no later than May 31st!

Please Join the Chamber to Celebrate the Ribbon Cutting for True Divine Accessories!

True Divine Accessories is an inexpensive way to accessorize your lifestyle and will make you look like you just walked off the Runway.

Everything is $5, so why not try it. Your wrist, neck, fingers, ears and wallet will be happy! There will be a drawing for a free gift, you don’t want to miss it!

Just Economics and Pisgah Legal Services are co-sponsoring a workshop for renters to learn their rights as tenants in NC. There will be a presentation and question and answer session with Pisgah Legal Services followed by a discussion with Just Economics about the Tenants’ Network. The goal of this workshop is to educate tenants about their rights as renters in North Carolina and begin connecting tenants to resources and to each other.

Through these workshops, Just Economics will facilitate the formation of a local Tenants’ Network. The purpose of having a Tenants Network is to build solidarity among tenants and between renters and the community, to organize mutual aid networks and to empower renters and community supporters to come together for projects to improve our neighborhoods. Additionally, the Tenants Network will be a way for renters to collectively advocate for public policies that favor the interests and rights of tenants and to take collective action to fight back when tenants face injustice.