Business Buzz: 5/18/21

May 18, 2021

Achievement:

  • On Saturday, May 15, Mars Hill University held its spring commencement ceremony in a socially-distanced format. The class of 2021 included 196 graduates, of whom 17 earned their master’s degrees & the rest earned their bachelor’s degrees. Several dozen students who completed their degrees in the fall 2020 semester also participated in the ceremony due to the December commencement ceremony’s cancellation due to COVID-19. The most popular majors were business administration, criminal justice, nursing and social work. Graduating senior Danielle Fann, a music education major from Weaverville, performed a flute solo near the beginning ceremony. Watch the replay of the ceremony here.
  • Mars Hill University’s Judge-McRae School of Nursing marked National Nurses Week May 6-12 appropriately by holding the pinning ceremony for this year’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates. There were sixteen graduates of the program and three students, Alyssa Jenkins, Sarah Johnson and Reginald Wright, received special awards. Graduating nurses received a pin which signifies their transition from the student role to the medical practice role. The tradition is said to have originated in the 1860s with Florence Nightingale, who is considered the founder of modern nursing. Learn more about the program here. 

Expansion:

  • Walnut Cove Realty has announced the location of a new sales center and luxury real estate complex conveniently located on Brevard Road directly across from the entrance to The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. The new premises will include more than 24,500 sqft. of commercial space including the sales center, and fourteen retail spaces supporting the real estate needs of the South Asheville area. Tenants will include builders, architects, design and selection centers, property management, and other businesses supporting the residents of both The Cliffs at Walnut Cove and the greater area, as well as a proposed coffee shop/café. From agent to builder to interior design, Walnut Cove Realty’s new premises will serve as a one-stop shop for consumers’ real estate needs. As of May 1, the Walnut Cove Realty team began serving clients out of the newly established sales office located at 630 Long Shoals Road in Arden, N.C. The new Walnut Cove Realty Sales Center is expected to open in early 2022. Learn more.

Partnership:

  • In partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and their NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain & Kurt Busch, Adventhealth is raising money & awareness for mental health and providing fans with a chance to compete against the two drivers on iRacing, the online motorsports simulation. May marks both Mental Health Awareness Month & NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 race on May 30, so Chastain & Busch are encouraging everyone to take stock of their own mental wellbeing. Funds raised will help expand the hospital system’s behavioral health services for patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for access to high-quality mental health care. The iRacing event will be held on May 26 at 7 pm EST, when viewers can donate to Chastain’s or Busch’s iRacing stream or start their own fundraising streams. Click here to donate & find more details about the iRacing event.

Opportunity:

  • Friday Services Staffing & Professional has several ‘hot jobs’ this week. There’s an accounting clerk position in Fletcher for $17/hr. M-F, a prep shop technician in Woodfin for $15-16/hr., multiple entry-level manufacturing jobs in Fletcher, an assembly & e-coat position in Fletcher for $13-13.50/hr. and a general laborer and forklift operator position 1st shift M-F in Etowah. Learn more and apply here. 

Promotion:

  • Chill Cereal Bar is bringing catering to WNC with private & corporate events! The business, which was founded by a mother and son duo, caters events with a variety of milks, cereals & toppings for a cereal bar. Check out the business here.