A Boundless Love of Highlands

Kaye McHan, the Executive Director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center, brings a unique skill set to the position.

Kaye’s love affair with Highlands began while vacationing here in the 80s, followed by the purchase of a vacation home in the 90s. For many years she was the director of The Bascom, overseeing its growth from a one-room gallery in Hudson Library to its expansive campus today before moving away for other opportunities.

Kaye McHan’s background is in the arts – she was a vocal major at Stetson University and holds a Master in Visual Arts from the University of Central Florida – combine with extensive experience in leadership and finance make her uniquely qualified to envision and oversee the Chamber.

A resolute public servant, Kaye’s enthusiasm and love of Highlands are boundless. Her talents and vision lend themselves naturally to steering the Chamber forward keeping residents, visitors, and businesses happy and engaged. She’s a people person and a savvy businesswoman who’s able to focus on the big picture while seeing that all the little things fall into place.

Luckily for us, the call of the mountains proved too great and in 2019 she returned to Highlands to assume her current position, just in time for the Covid pandemic to hit. She and her team at the Chamber quickly turned that negative into a positive, focusing on the special bond that Highlanders have for one another. Working closely with the Town and local businesses, they charted a course to protect the community. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors program was born of these hard times and continues to showcase how we all benefit when we pull together and serve one another.

Mayor Pat Taylor recognizes the invaluable input of Kaye and the Chamber in seeing that the partnership between the Chamber and the Town is results driven: “The Chamber of Commerce sponsors and coordinates many community events for both our visitors and for our permanent residents. These events add to the community quality of life here on the Highlands Plateau.”

Lance Hardin, the Welcome Center Manager and Coordinator, quickly recognized when working with Kaye, “that it was quickly apparent that she brings a unique perspective; her background in the visual arts is evidenced by her thoughtful appreciation of aesthetics, yet she also has strong fiscal management talents honed from years of experience leading non-profits. I think it’s a great skillset for a Chamber leader in a town like Highlands that is so focused on the arts.”

She is excited about helping implement the Chamber’s strategic plan which stresses serving our residents, full and part-time. As she says “a great place to live is a great place to visit” so by taking care of our residents and businesses we will naturally become a beacon for visitors.

Part of the Chamber’s vision of taking care of our own is their Tourism Grant Program which awards grants to local nonprofits which directly affect and enrich the lives of our residents. These grants, totaling over $250,000 so far, are funded by the Use and Occupancy Tax. Recipients are recommended by a committee of staff members, volunteers and the Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center board president. Kaye is a careful steward of these funds which are such an important investment in our community.

A lover of nature, she’s overseen the implementation of the new garden at the Welcome Center, a peaceful oasis highlighting native plants. Her artistic flair is clear in the design of the garden, and she foresees it becoming an important educational component in the need for conservation.

In her spare time, Kaye stays involved in the local arts scene and finds that time spent in nature recharges her batteries. Ever adventuresome and always looking for new experiences, she owns an RV and enjoys road tripping whether solo or with friends. Most recently she adopted a new best friend, Gimlet, a pup whose warmth and exuberance match Kaye’s, who serves as the Welcome Center’s official greeter.

Bringing all this together is Chamber Board Chair Tricia Cox, Broker/Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kaye at the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands NC for the past three years. Not only is she dedicated to those organizations, but she is dedicated to our Highlands community. Kaye understands how special our town is and the value of our residents, our businesses, and our visitors. Kaye, along with the staff she leads, works to bring information and events to the community which are beneficial to our economy and can be enjoyed by those who call Highlands home as well as those who may be short term visitors. She is always looking for ways to improve the experience of being in Highlands for everyone who is blessed enough to be here.”

by Mary Jane McCall