Since co-founding his outfitters store in Franklin in 2010, Cory McColl has added two locations amid a ruthless environment for retailers, attracting both tourists and locals alike to the downtown area. In Morganton, David Bennett helps lead expanding furniture and brewery businesses and is developing a downtown hotel to boost Burke County’s appeal to tourists. The two North Carolina natives are examples of the outstanding entrepreneurs and leaders in North Carolina’s smaller cities who make up our annual Trailblazers.
The feature recognizes enterprising business owners and professionals under the age of 40 who operate in N.C. cities and towns that have fewer than 100,000 residents. We sought nominations from individuals and groups across the state, including local government officials, business leaders and economic development experts. This year’s list covers a wide variety of occupations including bankers, chefs, lawyers, brewers and even a mortician.
While North Carolina’s overall economy is considered among the nation’s most robust, it’s also among the most dispersed with about 42% of its 10 million residents living in 80 counties that are defined as rural. The realities of rural North Carolina are stark: Nearly half of the state’s 100 counties have fewer residents now than in 2010, the number of small-business establishments in rural counties declined by 7% from 2005-15 and small-business lending dipped 17% from 2010-15, according to the N.C. Rural Center.
Fortunately, these young Trailblazers are playing key roles in keeping their small communities vibrant and alive. Despite the odds, they continue to bring a new shine to their towns, from the mountains to the coast.
Cameron Annas
28
Granite Insurance, Granite Falls
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David Beaver
36
Uwharrie Bank, Albemarle
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David Bennett
38
EJ Victor Furniture/ Fonta Flora Brewery, Morganton
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Kristen Brabble
28
First Carolina Bank, Rocky Mount
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Katie Button
36
Katie Button Restaurants, Asheville
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Graham Corriher
34
City of Salisbury, Salisbury
Jason Cox
39
Press Coffee+Crepes/ Fitzgerald & Faulkner/ Aedos Group, Graham
Zackary Cranford
28
Foothills Distillery/Standard Oyster Co./The Charolais Steak House, Hickory
Andrew Crone
31
Chaddock Furniture Workroom, Morganton
Paige Dowling
32
Town of Sylva, Sylva
Adam & Nichole Holroyd,
Zane Vogel (center)
32
Spiritus Systems, Aberdeen
Bryan Hunter
36
Community of Hope Funeral Service, Hobbsville
Cory McCall
37
Outdoor 76, Franklin
Thomas Rhodes
32
John Hackney Agency, Rocky Mount
Gina Sloan
36
MICROBAN, Huntersville
Carol Nguyen Steen
37
Biltmore Farms, Asheville
Troi Thomas
23
Boys & Girls Club of Tar River, Nashville
Jessica Throneburg
35
Little Details Boutique, Garner
Matthew Vincent
36
VPC Builders, Banner Elk
Rachel Withrow
29
Crooked Door Coffee House/Old Dutch Management, Marion
Mike Woliansky and
Sadrah Schadel
39 and 37
No Evil Foods, Weaverville