Sharing and spreading great ideas in Asheville, NC

Asheville
United States

Breah Livolsi Parker

Breah Livolsi Parker (owner of blipstudio.com) is an illustrator, graphic designer, art director, graphic recorder, speaker, yoga teacher, mother, grandmother, actor, among a plethora of other things yet to be defined

Eustace Conway

Eustace Conway is a unique naturalist. He celebrates the freedom of individuality in all aspects of life. He is a spokesperson for the Earth, giving voice to the natural environment he loves

Jeff Schmitt

Jeff holds an adjunct professorship at Wake Forest University Health Sciences in Physiology/Pharmacology and the Translational Sciences Institute. He is a founding team member of a leading biopharmaceutical company (Targacept, Inc.) where he led the creation one of a leading drug discovery platforms, Pentad™. Jeff has published 100 peer-reviewed publications, patents and abstracts, and is currently on the editorial advisory boards of 5 international scientific journals and is a Business Journal top patent holder.

Angela Shelton

Filmmaker and activist Angela Shelton has lectured extensively everywhere from Congress, college campuses, military and Air Force bases, high schools, elementary schools, community centers, conferences and seminars about moving forward on all levels. Angela has also helped raise millions for non-profits ending the cycle of violence.

Doc Hendley

Doc Hendley is the founder and president of Wine To Water. In 2003 he dreamed up the concept of the organization while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. In January of 2004 the first fundraiser was held and by August of that same year Doc was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supported genocide. When Doc returned home in August of 2005 the haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue building the organization he started two years before. In 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for over three years, Wine To Water became an official 501 (c) (3) and Doc’s dream finally became a reality.

Laurey Masterton

Laurey Masterton is the youngest of the three daughters of Elsie and John Masterton, founders of the original Blueberry Hill Inn, in Goshen, Vermont and authors of the three Blueberry Hill Cookbooks. Laurey studied theatrical lighting design at The University of New Hampshire and worked backstage in New York City in this field: off, off-off, and on Broadway. She was an Outward Bound Instructor, co-creating and instructing the first Outward Bound courses for Cancer Survivors at The North Carolina Outward Bound School before starting her catering company, Laurey’s Catering (yum!) and Gourmet to Go, in Asheville, North Carolina in 1987. In 2009 she rode her bike across the United States to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of ovarian cancer. Most importantly, she is a beekeeper.

James Nave

James Nave began telling stories and performing poems thirty years ago at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. For three decades, he has explored my better story and traveled the globe facilitating, provoking, and inspiring clients to generate ideas, call forth answers, and create solutions that engage and inform. The stories continue to unfold in his one-on-one consulting, strategic development seminars, creativity camps, educational retreats, creative writing intensives, idea salons, speech and performance workshops, and spoken word presentations.

River Guerguerian

River Guerguerian is an award-winning Multi-Percussionist, Composer, and Educator. Canadian-born, he is of Armenian-Egyptian extraction. For over 25 years he has performed in concert halls in Tokyo, Moscow, Rome, Berlin, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, London, including Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Lincoln Center. Guerguerian has performed and/or recorded with such groups as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, New Music Consort, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Paul Winter Consort, Talujon Percussion Ensemble, Chuck Berry, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Ziggy Marley/Gipsy Kings. River also performed in the John Cage documentary film,“I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It."

John Miles

What in the world is “wushu” and what does it have to do with business success in the 21st Century? John Miles is only too happy to answer that question. As Chief of What’s Next, John knows there are many out there trying to figure out how he and his firm are profitable and hiring regardless of the economic climate. “Wushu” describes a value John admires, the art of winning battles by never having to fight them. Words like “well-being” and “equanimity” pepper John’s language as much as profit and bounce rates, because his is a web firm designed in every way to be different. Not surprising from a CEO for whom, well, traditional comparisons fail to accurately describe. John has a lot to say about doing business “the kind way.” His story is about what’s next in a changing world where the old paradigm of “compete to survive” gives way to “cooperate to thrive.”

Billy Jonas

Billy Jonas is one of those rare performers who can engage and delight both young and adult audiences. Billy’s clear tenor voice is well-suited to a plethora of venues, from intimate settings and workshop sessions to large halls and outdoor festivals. For more than two decades, his creative and interactive performances have enchanted and inspired folks from all walks of life — touching hearts, souls, and minds world-wide . As a founding member of the acclaimed duo “The Billys,” Billy Jonas has made innovative use of “found objects.” He helps audiences discover the music within common items … and within themselves. Billy Jonas’ recordings and live concerts across the US and Canada have generated an enthusiastic following. His CD “What Kind of Cat are You?!” received multiple awards including a First Place/Gold from AFIM (American Federation of Independent Musicians), and a Parent’s Choice Gold. Jonas’ videos have garnered critical acclaim, including Parents Choice Awards and a New York Times “Best” listing.