Latest / Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce / New Role, Same Leader: A Conversation with the New Executive Director of Hunger & Health Coalition, Lindsey Sullivan

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New Role, Same Leader: A Conversation with the New Executive Director of Hunger & Health Coalition, Lindsey Sullivan · Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_03: A key leadership transition is taking place inside one of the high country's legacy service providers.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_03: We'll introduce you to the new Executive Director of the Hunger and Health Coalition and discuss the fundamentals of leadership change.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_03: From the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, this is Mind Your Business.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_02: Mind Your Business.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_02: Brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, providing professional commercial real estate services.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: Visit Appalachian CRE.com.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_03: Hello and welcome into Mind Your Business.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_03: I'm David Jackson, president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for joining us once again this week, whether through the airwaves of WATA here in Boone, or as a subscriber to the podcast version of the program, which is made possible each week by our good friends at Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_03: If you are not yet a subscriber, that's not a problem at all.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_03: You can search for Mind Your Business wherever you get your podcasts.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_03: There you can gain access to full archives, occasional bonus content, extended episodes, and plenty more as we connect you with the business news that you can use from right here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_03: Communities around North Carolina have those businesses that set the tone.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_03: In a rural community like ours, that tone can come from name recognition.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_03: And in that case, longevity often equals trust.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_03: And you know the businesses that I'm talking about.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_03: They're the ones that when they speak, you listen, and when they act, you pay attention.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_03: The Hunger and Health Coalition was started as a food pantry in a closet back in 1982, and nearly 45 years later, they are a trend-setting role model nonprofit business and a key service provider here in our community.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_03: I feel that the DNA of our community is such that most people understand that nonprofits are businesses.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_03: First and foremost, we are home to one of the largest nonprofits on the planet in Samaritan's Purse, both in terms of annual revenue and scope of work.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_03: It takes money and resources to do the work.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_03: Most of our smaller service-based nonprofits like Hunger and Health Coalition, Western Youth Network, Oasis, Habitat for Humanity, they spend what they raise locally, and in many cases have far more of a local footprint than many for-profit ventures in our area.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_03: Nonprofits tend to source their materials closer to home.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_03: They pay a staff that is from this area working in this area, and their benefactors are close by.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_03: Just like a for-profit business, and especially in today's political climate, nonprofit businesses must be diverse in their revenue streams.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_03: It's not like MASH General Store has made their impact just selling boots, right?
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_03: They have departments and product lines galore.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_03: Our nonprofit community plays the grant hustle.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_03: They gain income off direct service contracts with local agencies, governments, and businesses.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_03: They are philanthropic organizations, so donor relations and management are keys to success.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_03: Any way to get the funds to supply the necessary services, to make payroll, to keep the lights on, I'll say it again, nonprofits are businesses first and foremost.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_03: We here at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce are a nonprofit business ourselves.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_03: In fact, we are two of them actually.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_03: Over ninety percent of the revenue that we generate stays right here in the local community.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_03: Nine staff members that spend their salaries here, and our business is designed to help others do business.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_03: So there's a multiplier effect to our operation, and many others like it throughout the region.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_03: So when we talk leadership transition, it doesn't matter the type of business that we are discussing.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_03: The fundamentals are largely the same.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_03: We're talking about the establishment of workplace culture, setting a realistic budget based on revenues and expenses, meeting key customers, clients, and revenue providers.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_03: All of these items are key, as is familiarizing yourself with the business.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_03: Each step, an important box to check on the to-do list for any transitioning leader.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_03: We have a special opportunity to follow up with an old friend on this week's Mind Your Business.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_03: Lindsay Sullivan has been a key influence in the public sector in our community for years.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_03: As a health strategist at App Healthcare, she not only designed service programs for the organization, but she created a way to track and quantify social determinants of health and make sure programs were meeting the mission of serving people and their families.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_03: She was the lead wrangler and one of the creative minds behind Stable Workplaces, a program derived through conversations with many local businesses and nonprofit service providers to help supply human resources, mental health, and leadership supports to small businesses that simply lack the bandwidth to organize these things themselves.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_03: This week, we caught up with Lindsay as she continues through her first month as the new executive director of the Hunger and Health Coalition.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_03: One of her first responsibilities to celebrate new renovations and a recent merger with Community Care Clinic that have combined the resources of two legacy agencies to increase efficiency as they serve expanding needs throughout the area.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_03: As we talk with Lindsay, we'll also learn about her vision for Hunger and Health Coalition.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_03: But we'll also talk about leadership transition specifically, because it's a relevant topic, especially at this time of year for so many in our area.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_03: And sometimes it's easier to understand the fundamentals when you are being taught by a trusted friend.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_03: We'll cram a few more notes in along the way as well as we tend to do.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_03: No minutes ever wasted on this program.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_03: We'll get started right after this.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_03: You are listening to mind your business.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_02: Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_02: They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_02: For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome back to Mind Your Business.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_03: I'm David Jackson.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_03: Before we talk leadership transition, let us first meet of another expert when it comes to transition, especially when it comes to moving your business into its next great location.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_03: That's James Milner and Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_03: They solve simple and complex commercial real estate problems in and around the Boone area and beyond.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_03: Whether you own or lease commercial real estate, regardless of the property type, have an advocate on your side, along with the expertise and experience to assist you and your business.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_03: For more information, check them out on the web, AppalachianCRE.com.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_03: As we mentioned, we had a ribbon cutting earlier this week for a renovated look to a consolidated operation for a couple of longtime high country community partners.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: I mentioned when I was coming on board that one of the things I'm most excited about about working with Hunger and Health is looking at where food access and health access intersect and innovating in that space.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: Last year, Hunger and Health merged with Community Care Clinic, and now we have the Hunger and Health Free Clinic.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_01: And as a result, we're able to provide seamless care among our food, pharmacy, and health care programs, which is just so cool and exciting.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_01: The Hunger and Health Free Clinic provides care to patients that save the community millions of dollars.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_01: We are able to provide access to primary care, lab diagnostics, mental health counseling, nutrition counseling, and case management all at no cost.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: With the clinic on board, our approach to health care now includes a care team to walk our neighbors through their health journey.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: We understand that health and well-being doesn't stop when a patient receives a diagnosis or a health plan.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_01: It's just the beginning.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: We believe that a health journey requires a seamless connection between the exam room, the pharmacy, and the food they take home.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_01: Our model is designed to remove barriers and make a clearer path toward a healthy and strong community.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_01: Looking ahead, we of course continue to dream about the possibilities.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: We would love to make additional renovations and continue to update the space.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: We also have a vision for the Caldwell building behind us and expanding our physical footprint and our ability to serve.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: Lastly, we continue to work on programming to expand telehealth in Ash County, as well as working with Second Harvest for the summer feeding program for children in Watauga County.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_01: So it's difficult to conceptualize everything that happens here.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_01: It is really, really important to get a tour to get a sense of all of it.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: The building is just a starting point.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_01: The renovations are just a starting point.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: The real impact comes as a result of the compassion and the hard work of the people who are in this building every day.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_01: So shout out to our staff, our volunteers, truly incredible people.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_01: And I invite you to just take note of everyone you see as you're touring this building and everything that they're doing to make an impact in our community.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_01: And then we hope after seeing all that we have to offer today, that you all will consider coming back to see us, whether that's volunteering, donating, or supporting in some other way.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_01: And then, of course, August 2nd is our sunshine social.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: We have to shout that out.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_01: Please come join us.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_01: We will have brunch, mimesas, a coffee bar, which sounds lovely to me.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_01: And that'll be at the millet Rock Creek.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_01: So we invite you to join us there.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, after the ribbon cutting, please hop on a tour.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_01: We've got staff who will help route you.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks, everybody.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_03: The mission of the organization is to transform individual and community health by delivering a continuum of food, medication, and comprehensive health care that addresses the whole person's well-being.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_03: These services are now housed under one roof, both physically and fiscally speaking.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_03: We started our conversation with Lindsay, asking her what attracted her to the organization in the first place.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: When I thought of hunger and health, I thought of how critical and foundational the services are to the community.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_01: I know from my time in public health that access to care was a top priority identified by community members as impacting their health and well-being.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_01: And then I know that nutrition and food access is a key component in preventing our leading causes of death in our area.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: So with the integration of hunger and health and the community care clinic, we have an agency that's positioned to address that and address the whole person in a way our community has yet to see, and that's really exciting for me.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_03: So this is a two-part conversation.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_03: One about you and this new role and this organization, but also just the spirit of transition in its own.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_03: So there are a number of people in our community that aspire to get to a leadership position, whether that's an executive director, a board chair, business owner, what have you.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_03: What traits do you feel like you've leaned on over these last few weeks as you've gotten established in a new position here?
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: Definitely curiosity and humility.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_01: Folks who have worked with me for a long time have likely heard me say those two words on many occasions, but they are especially relevant for me right now.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, there is so much history and expertise with our staff.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_01: They have seen the organization through a lot of change over the years.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so my main focus at the moment is staying curious about everyone's perspectives, their experiences, and then building relationships with the folks whose passion has sustained the work over the past few years.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think for some people, it does that mean listening as much as you possibly can right now, or and as you're as you're having those one-on-ones, what what are the things that you're trying to draw out of that as you're learning people?
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, I think this is a part of the work and a part of leadership that I really love and enjoy is just being a sponge and asking good questions.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think there's so much power in a good question and just holding the space for folks.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_01: So being able to hold space with each staff member and uh just hear what they're passionate about, what the day-to-day is like for them, uh, and where they want to see us going.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_03: We've talked a lot on this episode about nonprofit businesses as businesses themselves.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_03: And some people might not necessarily make that direct correlation, but when we frame that within Wataga County, this being one of them, there are some large nonprofits that do work across a region and they have a lot of moving parts to them.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_03: So can you give us a little bit of a snapshot of Hunger and Health Coalition in terms of staff budget, the the imprint that this organization has?
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so we have a staff of 32 folks along with countless volunteers who help us keep uh operating every day.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_01: Our budget is roughly 3.4 million, and nearly 2 million of that is coming from grants.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_01: We also have a dedicated, generous community donor base that goes beyond that grant funding to support the organization.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_01: However, uh when you factor in in-kind support, we are easily over 7 million.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we work with community partners who provide all kinds of in-kind support from grocery stores providing surplus food, uh, lab testing, hospital diagnostics, and so much more.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_03: I know you saw this a bit in your previous role with App Healthcare and likely seeing it even more now as you're as you're really digging into the budget process.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_03: How has inflation impacted an organization that has to do so much sourcing to provide the services that you provide?
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_01: So obviously, food cost is a major one for us.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then like everyone else, we also see higher cost of living across staff, uh, which we have to consider in hiring and retention.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but inflation also impacts what clients and patients can afford.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_01: So many who have not sought help before are finding that they need it right now.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, groceries, health insurance are increasingly difficult for people to obtain.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so when we see inflation here, generally we see higher demand for services.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_03: Are you seeing inflationary thoughts passing through to grants, or are the grants pretty much for the same old cost and you just got to get more creative?
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_01: I think there are so many factors at play with grants right now.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_01: When there's a lot more uh demand uh for grants, a lot more competition across grants.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I know for many grants you're not seeing um there being accounting for inflation.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_01: So kind of uh more and more of a squeeze on organizations who are applying.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_03: So thinking about some of those types of factors that that if you were taking on a role without any knowledge of an organization, there's a learning curve there.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_03: Has your learning curve been lessened at all because of the work that you did with this organization before?
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_03: Or are you even considering that relationship as you're you're getting started now?
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_01: I think it definitely shows up in the way that I'm really fortunate in that I bring years of partnerships and extensive community relationships to the table.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_01: I'm able to start off well connected in our community, uh, which allows me to focus my time on building relationships in-house and better understanding our unique challenges.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_01: I can bring that context and awareness of our broader community's challenges without having to spend that extra time making all of those relationships across our community.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we we were talking about this a little bit before we started recording the the uh have you got your elevator pitched down for the, well, yes, this is what I did, but this is what I'm doing speech together yet?
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I probably need to work on it.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_03: We'll take a quick break more with Lindsay Sullivan of Hunger and Health Coalition right after this.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_03: You are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_02: Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_02: They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_02: For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome back to Mind Your Business.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_03: I'm David Jackson.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_03: Let's continue our conversation about leadership transition with Lindsay Sullivan, Executive Director of the Hunger and Health Coalition.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_03: Um when you think about the strengths that attracted you to this, um, where do you feel like Hunger and Health Coalition is positioned right now?
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_03: And where do you feel like you can help it grow the most at this point?
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, by far, I think our organization's main strength is the talent and dedication we have.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_01: Our staff have a wide range of backgrounds and expertise that they're bringing to the table.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, each staff member believes really strongly in the work that we do.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we also have a committed board, we have incredible volunteers, really strong partnerships.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, the day-to-day of our organization can be grueling.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_01: So it is super important to have sufficient capacity.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I'm really grateful for the folks who show up every day and those who lend a hand when we need it.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_01: Our services would not be possible without uh volunteer capacity.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_03: But those volunteers staff the hallways of uh an expanding facility, a recently renovated facility.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_03: Uh when you think about the hub location here and knowing that for some of the clients that you're serving, transportation is a huge barrier, among other things.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_03: How has this physical location worked to serve the needs of an evolving client base?
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_01: Transportation is definitely one of the biggest challenges our clients face.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh fortunately, we're able to provide so many services under one roof.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, when you come see us, you can have your clinic visit, you can get your prescription filled, you can pick up tailored food, meals.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_01: We also have mobile delivery services for folks who are homebound or unable to get to us in person.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and we also have in our plan to continue equipping patients with our in-house computer lab and hot spots that they can take home so that telehealth is accessible to them.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, with all of that said, transportation continues to be a factor in our clients' lives, but we've done so much to minimize that as a barrier.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think one of the calling cards of nonprofits in this community has been to find your lane and stay in it.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_03: And and there has been great collaboration because of that.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_03: But how how do you ensure that, especially as Hunger and Health Coalition continues to grow, that you're able to do that?
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_03: You you partner where you can partner, but you can really own what you own.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_03: How do you balance all of that out?
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'm Hunger and Health is again uniquely positioned in that we can disseminate food, medicine, and health care all under one roof.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um many agencies have limitations that would not allow that range of services.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we also take into account the needs of the community and decide within our scope how we can help.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_01: Our mobile delivery and telehealth initiatives are an example of that, going back to transportation uh as an issue.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: And then we're the largest food pantry in the area, so we try our best to adapt to the needs of the folks we're serving.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um, in a recent survey, clients shared that uh there were certain produce that they wanted to um they wanted to have in their boxes, we're able to do that.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_01: So our nutrition team also provides recipes so that our clients have uh information on how to prepare the foods they receive.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_01: So again, just kind of um talking to our client base and understanding what the need is on a regular basis and and and determining uh how that fits into our mission.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_03: You know, part of that mission, you've talked about this a couple of times already, is has been to uh integrate volunteers into this process.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_03: Can you speak a little bit about that that army of people?
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_03: We saw many of them today at the ribbon cutting, but what what do they mean to the continual spreading of influence of this organization, both with what they provide, but also getting the messaging out about what you're about and how people can participate?
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_01: So we have this incredible dedicated staff who ensure our mission is being met.
• 21:46
  SPEAKER_01: But volunteers are so vital to the organization.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we've got volunteer providers in the clinic, we've got mobile delivery driver volunteers, we've got volunteers in the food and pharmacy programs.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um Hunger and Health benefited from over 77,000 volunteer hours last year.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_01: We partner with App State students.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_01: Several businesses allow their staff to volunteer with us.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_01: And then folks in the community who live here full-time or part-time who are just committed to the mission.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_01: So we know that giving one's time is the ultimate gift.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_01: That's one of the most valuable exchanges that can be made.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_01: So we're very thankful to have dedicated volunteers who love our staff and the mission.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_03: Chamber Business Podcast here.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_03: So I'd be remiss if I didn't ask if there were businesses out there that wanted to bring a staff approach to this.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_03: How do they get plugged into the volunteer coordination?
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, you can look for us online or give us a call.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_01: We would love to have you.
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_03: When people are here, there is a way that they get this sense of community.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_03: And I know a lot of the national narrative that's out there is that things are divisive and and the political climate is always got somebody screaming at somebody.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_03: But when you come here, that seems to float away.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_03: Um how do you see in in the short time you've been here, how have you seen community show up here and and what excites you about the way that it does?
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think you're definitely right.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_01: I've known that my passion is in working at the local level, and it's for that reason.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um you have the opportunity to work alongside your neighbor neighbors on these tangible goals, and the noise of the national narratives can just fade into the background.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_01: So my experience in working in our community has shown me that when it comes to executing a task like treating a patient or filling a food box or crafting a meal, people tend to show up and just meet the assignment regardless of their beliefs.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_01: And so Hunger and Health is this really special place where people can work together to meet a need.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, it can be hectic, pressured, under-resourced work, but generally people show up and they treat their fellow community members with respect and compassion.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_01: So seeing that kind of service and partnership day in and day out is incredibly grounding, and that's what builds community.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and I know you mentioned that as an assignment in a sense, but when you see a family that has been helped walk out the door, have you been able to put words around what that looks like yet in in this role in the time you've been here?
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_01: I thought about this recently in my conversations with a board member of how a lot of folks come in with a sense of shame for needing support.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_01: And it is incredibly gratifying to see somebody come in feeling shame and then leave feeling uh a sense of community and um a sense of care from their neighbors.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, that is an incredibly powerful thing, and so we get to see that every day.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_03: So as you're you're taking all of this in and and learning this new staff, uh observing and and and as you said, listening earlier, put on your vision cap for a second.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_03: What what does this look like a year from now?
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_03: What are you hoping people see in this organization next summer when they think about um all of the different ways that that this organization provides community support?
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mentioned this when I started.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I I have kind of three pillars in mind.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um I hope they see a supported and empowered team, uh data-driven and human-centered services, and then a strong network of partnerships that are innovating to impact our community.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_03: Last question for you.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, as you're going through this leadership challenge, we often are a leadership transition.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_03: We often ask people if there is advice, if there's somebody else that's thinking about going for a new position and maybe getting caught in the, well, that might be hard.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_03: What have you lived through in the last few weeks that would would serve as advice to that person who's considering such a move?
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, any change is unsettling.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um but there's also this incredible amount of potential that comes uh it with the unknown.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_01: And so I definitely have been feeling the nerves that come with change, but also am seeing just these wide open spaces that um there's just so much possibility.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_01: So I definitely would encourage anyone uh take the leap and be okay with not having all the answers.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_01: And those are the spaces where uh really great things can happen, especially collaborative uh solutions.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_03: Well said, and we are certainly looking forward to to helping you tell that story next year at this time, and and well, we'll we'll catch up with you then.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_03: But uh best of luck with everything and congratulations.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_03: We we see this as the perfect fit.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so we we look forward to continuing to work with you and seeing what goes on here in the organization.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks, David.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks to Lindsay for joining us, and you can learn more about their work by visiting Hungerand Healthcoalition.org.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_03: A few stats on nonprofits to take us to the next commercial break.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_03: North Carolina's charitable nonprofits employ over 310,000 people statewide.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_03: That's about 9% of the private sector workforce.
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_03: There are over 40,000 registered charitable nonprofits in the state, and they spend more than$56 billion annually.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_03: Here in our neck of the woods, 172 nonprofits call the High Country Home, that's Watauga Ash, and Avery counties, and those businesses spend over$200 million in annual salaries, part of$878 million in overall economic spending.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_03: Now, those numbers are heavily weighted by two organizations, Appalachian State's nonprofit interest as well as Samaritan's Purse.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_03: But still, national estimates show that nonprofits have a 3.5 to 5x multiplying effect on their local economies.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_03: And in rural communities, especially like ours, many of these organizations are serving as primary employers within their communities.
• 28:20
  SPEAKER_03: Again, like Samaritan's Purse and Appalachian State.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_03: They provide services to the communities they serve, and they are part of the overall infrastructure of support that our areas rely upon.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_03: So the next time you make a donation to a nonprofit or even renew your chamber membership for that matter, know that you are investing in a resource that keeps valuable dollars floating through our economy while also gaining access to the services and professionals that showcase the high country's strongest foot forward.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_03: You are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_00: Are you a young professional looking to expand your network?
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_00: The High Country Young Professionals, affectionately dubbed the High Country Yopros, is a dedicated group of 200 plus professional young adults under the age of 40 serving in various industries across the high country.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_00: Join us for a casual networking event on the first Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_00: As we visit locations across the high country.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_00: Events are free of charge.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_00: However, donations are appreciated.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: Not a chamber member?
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_00: That's okay.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_00: No membership needed to join us.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_00: You just have to be under 40.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_00: Learn more about High Country YoPros at Boonchamber.com slash H C YP.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_02: Mind your business.
• 29:37
  SPEAKER_02: Brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, offering sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_02: Visit Appalachian CRE.com.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_03: Staying on the topic of community finances, some local budget news.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_03: Always a scintillating topic, right?
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_03: But actually, it has way more of an impact on our daily lives than some of the gotcha tabloid political headlines that are floating around at the national level these days.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_03: The Wataga County Board of Commissioners adopted their fiscal year 27 budget ordinance last week.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_03: This year the commissioner saw a$109 million net budget,$87 million of that allocated to general fund expenditures or the general operating of the county.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_03: The county did not raise property taxes this year, and Wataga County remains, at least as of today, because budgets are being passed daily around the state and these t things tend to fluctuate.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_03: But as of today, Watauga County has the seventh lowest property tax rate in the state of North Carolina.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_03: That's good in many cases, but as inflation impacts operating expenses of our local governments, the squeeze gets tighter.
• 30:45
  SPEAKER_03: Another reason why the overall local property tax conversation and who gets to control those rates is so very important.
• 30:53
  SPEAKER_03: And we will talk plenty more on that topic as the summer progresses.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_03: To the town of Boone, Wednesday of this week, they held their public hearing on the fiscal year twenty-seven proposed budget ordinance.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_03: Just one more step in the process before full adoption, which could occur as soon as their next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 24th.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_03: That's a five o'clock start time for those of you considering attending.
• 31:16
  SPEAKER_03: Their proposed budget, a forty-seven point four million dollar total document, which is a 10.6% increase over last year.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_03: See my inflation statement from a moment ago.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_03: And if you want to think about how that breaks down, just think of the cost and scarcity there was around road salt this past year.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_03: Just one of the cost escalations in a supply that is partially leading the town of Boone to consider a four cent property tax increase this year.
• 31:43
  SPEAKER_03: Among items included in the budget, a three percent cost of living increase for town employees and fifteen thousand dollars in additional funding to AppleCart.
• 31:52
  SPEAKER_03: You can review these documents at the respective websites of your favorite municipality, or just stay tuned here and we'll keep the conversation going.
• 32:00
  SPEAKER_03: State budget?
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_03: Not yet.
• 32:02
  SPEAKER_03: They say they are getting closer to a resolution.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_03: We likely will have more on that this time next week.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_03: Finally, some helpful budget news as it relates to a state allocation to rural EMS service.
• 32:14
  SPEAKER_03: Watauga County is one of thirty-nine local EMS agencies that will receive funding through the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_03: Ten million dollars in funding will be allocated and split across these programs throughout the state.
• 32:28
  SPEAKER_03: These funds will focus on mobile integrated health, providing training, equipment, and resources for EMS crews to respond to mental health and substance abuse situations.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_03: As you remember, Wataga County took over the operation of its EMS service back in early 2026.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_03: We are back to wrap up this episode right after this.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_03: You are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_03: Couple of quick scheduling notes to send you on your way.
• 32:57
  SPEAKER_03: This for those involved in Watauga Women in Leadership.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_03: They invite you to attend the inaugural Fireside Connections on Wednesday, June 17th from 5.30 to 7 p.m.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_03: Brought to you by Wisdom and Word.
• 33:11
  SPEAKER_03: The attendees will gather at Melanie Lewis's retreat to enjoy freshments, a mocktail, and plenty of fireside discussion.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_03: You can register online at Boomchamber.com.
• 33:22
  SPEAKER_03: Once you get registered, you'll get the address for the event.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_03: Wisdom and Word.
• 33:26
  SPEAKER_03: Again, the host of this event for Watauga Women in Leadership coming up June 17th.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_03: Also, to put on your calendar in the weeks ahead, another ribbon cutting coming your way on Friday, June 26th, beginning at 3 o'clock.
• 33:42
  SPEAKER_03: Join us as we cut the ribbon on Upstairs on King.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_03: This is the space above South End Brewing and a fantastic event space you're going to want to see.
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_03: We'll open the doors at 3, ribbon cutting at 3.15, and you can enjoy life refreshments as we commemorate this exciting milestone and meet the team behind the Vision, again, located directly upstairs from South End Brewing Company.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_03: You'll be able to connect with fellow chamber members and check out one of the new and quite honestly pretty cool event spaces on King Street.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_03: So again, join us for the ribbon cutting for Upstairs on King Friday afternoon, June 26th.
• 34:20
  SPEAKER_03: Full details on that at Boonechamber.com.
• 34:23
  SPEAKER_03: That does it for this episode of the program.
• 34:26
  SPEAKER_03: It is written and produced every week by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks to WATA for placing us on the Airwaves each week.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_03: And thanks as always to James Milner and the team at Appalachian Commercial Real Estate for making the podcast version of this program possible.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_03: If you are not yet a subscriber, fix that today.
• 34:44
  SPEAKER_03: Search for Mind Your Business wherever you get those podcasts.
• 34:47
  SPEAKER_03: Remember, you can always visit us online anytime at foodchamber.com.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_03: Until next week, so long, everybody.