Made in the High Country 2015

[ AEV ]

[ Goodnight Brothers ]

[ Hospitality Mints ]

[ H & T Chair Company ]

I N D U S T R Y • CRAFTSMEN • INNOV ATORS • ENTREPRENEURS

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF

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Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm Growing Christmas traditions

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our generations of family contribute to operations at the Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm, making it an ancestral institution in the High Country.

The farm’s operations began in the spring of 1986 after Diane Cornett Deal bought the land that once belonged to her ancestors.

She and her brother, Dale Cornett, with help from their parents, planted the first Christmas trees on the 26-acre tract, a venture inspired by their father, Clint Cornett, who also raised Christmas trees.

Eighty four-year-old Cornett still enjoys crafting wreaths, although he’s left tending the land to the younger generations.

“We want to teach our children how to appreciate the land and preserve it for future generations,” Cornett Deal said.

Cornett Deal’s children and their families live on the Vilas property in two different houses. They help with the hands-on work of the farm, while Cornett Deal handles the management side.

The farm specializes in Fraser fir Christmas trees, which flourish in the climate of the Southern Appalachians, particularly at elevations above 3,000 feet, according to the farm’s website.

“Their fast growth and strong branches that typically reach upward give them a compact form, with hardly any holes in between branches and needles,” the website reads. “This, combined with their fantastic fragrance, strong limbs and ability to retain their needles after being cut, with proper watering, are the main reason why the Fraser fir tree has long been used as a Christmas tree.”

North Carolina ranks second in the U.S. in live Christmas tree production, according to the Watauga County Christmas Tree Association. The Fraser firs are grown as a renewable crop and add more living trees to the planet. By planting trees yearly, Christmas tree farmers actually decrease the carbon footprint of their farm.

According to Cornett Deal, growing Fraser fir Christmas trees is a labor of love.

When the trees are planted, they’ve already been growing for at least five years as a seedling. Then, the trees must be tended to and kept in shape for seven to eight more years until they’re ready to sell. Although the farm started in 1986, it didn’t really open for business until the early 1990s.

Some of Cornett Deal’s most loyal customers are families who have been coming to the farm since the first year it opened for choose and cut sales. Although the Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm does handle some wholesale products, she said most of the trees are sold on a choose-and-cut ba-

PHOTOS SUBMITTED Autumn and winter collide at the Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm.

Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm (828) 964-6322 142 Tannenbaum Ln, Vilas, NC 28692 www.cdtreefarm.com

The Fraser fir is full and stable, making it an ideal Christmas tree for decorating.

sis. This means that families and individuals will travel to the farm to pick out their own special Christmas tree.

“They are the reason we keep doing this — the families that keep doing this year after year,” she said. “They brought their children, and now their children are bringing their children.”

Choose-and-cut season has become a family tradition for many.

She said that many people will make it a weekend outing of getting their Christmas tree, which helps bring tourism to the High

Country.

Most local Christmas tree farms, including Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm, open for business the weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 21 and 22 for this year.

“I think it extends the tourist season in the High Country,” Cornett Deal said.

“Christmas tree farmers have definitely had a huge influence on that industry for that time of year.”

In addition to getting their Christmas trees, tourists will book hotels for the weekend, cheer on the Appalachian State

University Mountaineers during home football games, dine at local restaurants and browse local shops.

Cornett Deal has made her Christmas tree farm a tourist destination in itself. Its gift shop sells local wares, including pottery and glass ornaments she has made, as well as bows, wreaths and jewelry that are all homemade.

The farm also offers a hayride to get visitors in the holiday spirit, as well as featuring live bluegrass Christmas music from the High Country Boomers. For a schedule, visit www.cdtreefarm.com.

“One of the things that separates Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farms is that it’s off the beaten path,” she said. “You have to go to the western line of Watauga County, close to the Tennessee state line. I don’t have large crowds of people coming, so when you come to the farm, you’re treated as family, not just a customer. Throughout the years, many of the people have become great friends of mine. It’s become a family tradition.”

Cornett Deal Christmas Tree Farm is located on Mountain Dale Road in Vilas. For more information, visit www.cdtreefarm. com.

Sept. 23, 2015

Made in the High Country

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Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

Global Manufacturing Services Assembling the High Country Global Manufacturing Services (336) 246-5143 140 Industrial Park Way, West Jefferson, NC 28694 www.gblms.com

G PHOTOS SUBMITTED Debbie Greer, a production specialist for Global Manufacturing Services Inc., performs quality control on an exit sign LED circuit board to go onboard U.S. Navy ships in the near future.

lobal Manufacturing Services Inc. in West Jefferson has been producing the highest quality products for business around the world since 1987.

GMS is a producer of pre-circuit board assemblies for products ranging from LED lighting systems for the U.S. Navy to circuit boards for security systems.

Arlie Keith and his daughter, Andria Morgan, built and operated the business originally in downtown West Jefferson on Backstreet.

Morgan said the company has come a long way since then.

“From 1987, we were on Backstreet where the coffee shop is now,” Morgan said. “We kind of outgrew that and moved up to Jefferson Avenue. In 2005, we finally decided we had enough cash flow coming in to build our own building and make it the way we need it to be, rather than just fix another old building.”

Keith and Morgan decided they wanted to keep GMS a small production company, but the company kept growing and growing. ”We actually subcontracted some of the work we did overseas,” Morgan said. “We decided the business had grown past what my dad and I could deal with and we sold the business in 2005.”

GMS was sold in 2005, and after a downturn in business, Keith and Morgan reclaimed the company in 2008 and have brought the company back to prosperity.

They are now in the process of reconnecting with companies from their past and developing new relationships.

GMS employees are not designers. They are a group of engineers who can take any idea and bring it to life, according to Morgan.

“The LEDs we’re building right now, we’re building about 20,000 of them a month, are going into Navy ships,” Morgan said. “They are for the lighting in the hallways on the ships. That’s one of the biggest contracts we have right now. It’s through a couple of other companies right now, but that’s where our efforts are going. This is the second year of us producing a significant quantity of those.”

GMS currently employs about 30 people.

The advantage of that is keeping costs lower, which produces a higher profit margin, which means more revenue in Ashe County.

“Being nestled here in Ashe County, we’re a little far away from our customers, but they don’t seem to mind it too much because we deliver good quality, on time, when they need it,” Morgan said. “We jump through hoops for them. It kind of bridges that gap being away from them to where it’s not that big of a deal.

“We are a member of the chamber of commerce now,” Morgan said. “We’ve had a good relationship with them as far as getting people to work. We don’t have customers here, so other than Ashe County being a resource for us to help give jobs and find people to work, we don’t get a lot of customers here. We’re not a retail store or anything like that, but we do depend on the community for resources as far as people.”

For more information about GMS, contact Morgan at (336) 246-5143 or visit www.gblms.com.

GMS is a producer of pre-circuit board assemblies for products ranging from LED lighting systems for the U.S. Navy to circuit boards for security systems.

Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

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Harmony Timberworks Crafting quality frames to last a lifetime Harmony Timberworks (828) 246-2314 645 Roby Green Road, Boone, NC 28607 www.harmonytimberworks.com

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very well-built structure depends on a solid foundation and a strong frame.

Since 1979, the expert craftsmen at Harmony Timberworks have prided themselves on being able to create custom timber frames for any structure imaginable, from full frame houses and clubhouses all the way down to individual kitchens and archways.

Utilizing a blend of cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship, the team at Harmony is well equipped to tackle projects of any size.

When it comes to wood, Harmony Timberworks knows what’s good.

With options of cypress, Douglas fir, white oak, eastern white pine, southern yellow pine, western red cedar and white oak timbers, the company has a wide selection of species to choose from.

With in-house design and engineering teams, the company can make recommendations based on cost, rot resistance, strength, indoor or outdoor use and aesthetic factors.

“We have a design team in house that works with the client or with an architect to develop their timber frame system, and then we send it out for engineer review, so everything we do is engineered for each specific location,” general manager David Bryan said.

While Harmony Timberworks depends on the talents of its craftsmen, the automated process the company uses to shape the pieces of the puzzle is nothing short of remarkable.

After collaborating with clients, builders and architects to develop a blueprint, specifications for each piece are fed into a computer-aided design and drafting program. This software creates a 3D model for the machines to follow. Once the computer knows the dimensions and intricacies of each piece, timber is passed through a computerized numerical control machine, which precisely shapes each piece to perfection.

“Our manufacturing is automated, so once everything is cut on our CNC machine, everything is still hand fit by our team of craftsmen. After it is fit here, it is taken apart, labeled and then it is shipped out and gets reassembled on the job site,” Bryan said.

The craftsmen Bryan speaks of range

PHOTO SUBMITTED With an array of projects in its portfolio, Harmony Timberworks is capable of designing, engineering and assembling timber frame systems for any project imaginable.

from apprentices all the way up to highly skilled timber framers who have been in the business for more than a decade.

They are responsible for following everything the CNC machine cuts, getting pieces fit on-site, and doing all the final touch-up work. The craftsmen then travel to the building site to assemble the frames, ensuring each client receives quality service through every step of the process.

With a portfolio that includes barns and pool enclosures, worship spaces, pavilions and residential and commercial structures, the team at Harmony Timberworks has crafted countless structures throughout the United States.

Each image on their website speaks to the sophistication of their craftsmanship and the state of the art nature of their technology.

Speaking on the structures that made his team most proud, Bryan said, “We’ve done some really neat smaller home, energy efficient packages here lately and we’ve done some really high-end fullframe barns, commercial structures and pool houses.”

Harmony Timberworks is located at 645 Roby Green Road in Boone, just before the fairgrounds.

For more information, visit www. harmonytimberworks.com, email info@ harmonytimberworks.com or call (828) 264-2314.

Leviton is the smart choice, providing the most comprehensive range of solutions to meet the needs of today’s residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Leveraging more than a century of experience, Leviton helps customers create sustainable, intelligent environments through its electrical wiring devices, network and data center connectivity solutions, and lighting energy management systems. From switches and receptacles, to daylight harvesting controls, networking systems, and equipment for charging electric vehicles, Leviton solutions help customers achieve savings in energy, time and cost, all while enhancing safety.

Phone: 336.846.3246 Fax: 336.846.3244

618 S. Jefferson Ave. West Jefferson, NC 28694

www.leviton.com

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Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

Goodnight Brothers Specializing in the art of dry curing hams since 1948 Goodnight Brothers (828) 246-8892 P.O. Box 287 Boone, NC 28607 www.goodnightbrothers.com

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PHOTO BY SHERRIE NORRIS Employees of Goodnight Brothers enjoy the camaraderie they have with each other, while putting forth their best effort to uphold the outstanding reputation of the company.

Finely Crafted Timber Frames Since 1979

or nearly 70 years, Goodnight Brothers has been known for curing hams in the High Country.

While the term “best kept secret” is often overused, it certainly holds true for this family business that started out as a feed, seed and produce company and expanded during time to help support the local workforce.

Few people have any idea of the impact the business has today, not only in its hometown of Boone, but also in the Southeast and beyond through its provision of country ham from online individual sales to large food-based corporations, including Hardee’s and Bojangles, U.S. Foods, Sysco, MDI, Reinhardt, Pate Dawson, Performance Food Service, Nash Finch, Shuler Meats, Whole Foods and Earth Fare.

The Boone-based business also supplies ham to Ingles, IGA, Food City, Super Value, Galaxy Foods, Dollar Tree, Citgo Convenience Stores and Roses, just to name a few.

The business would not have been possible, of course, without the foresight and innovation of its five founding brothers of the enterprising Goodnight family.

However, according to president and principal owner, Jim Goodnight, and his first cousin, Bill Goodnight, vice president and general manager, much credit for its success is also given to the caliber of individuals it employs, their longevity and dedication.

Dedicated employees make the difference

828-264-2314 • 800-968-9663 • www.harmonytimber works.com

Several of the 100-plus employees currently on the payroll have been working for the business for more than 25 years, Jim Goodnight said.

“One third of our workforce has been with us for more than five years,” he said.

Current operations manager, Rodney Farthing, has been with the company for 39 years and remembers well the company’s early days on Howard Street.

He was one of the fortunate ones, he said, who came up through the ranks of the family-owned business, learned the trade inside out and has held his current managerial position for about the last 12 years.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize exactly what we do here,” Farthing said. “And not many really knows the work that goes

into a ham biscuit.”

Farthing has seen the business grow through the years and was part of the transition from the small downtown location to the current large, state of the art production facility in Industrial Park.

The Goodnights added the ham curing business to their seasonal enterprise, Farthing said, “to keep people in a job.”

He and his coworkers are glad they did.

Farthing said the Goodnights have always treated their employees well and described the workplace as a family atmosphere.

“The business has grown bigger than I ever dreamed it would, but one good thing about it,” Farthing said, “it’s never got so big that the owners forgot their employees.

They have been very good teachers and have allowed us to learn the business.”

“We enjoy our work and we take pride in it,” Farthing said, adding that the business requires strict adherence to USDA’s daily inspections.

“That’s one reason you won’t see any of us without sanitary attire, including hairnets and clean coats and smocks every time we come into the processing area,” he said.

“We go through several of them a day.”

Each afternoon, following the one daily shift, a cleanup crew comes in to make sure that everything is sanitized and ready for the next day.

Andy Rominger, production manager for the last decade, worked at various jobs, including construction, before ending up with Goodnight Brothers 28 years ago.

He appreciates the company’s “open door policy” and called the owners, “good people to work for.”

“The Goodnights are friendly to all of us and provide a family-like atmosphere,” he said. “It’s been good to have steady, dependable work through the years, especially when you see a lot of other places going out of business. That says a lot for them.

I don’t get up every morning, dreading to come to work. That makes a difference.”

Johanna Burns, a native of Switzerland, has been employed with Goodnight’s for 33 years.

As production line supervisor, Burns is dedicated to ensuring only the highest quality results possible.

“We enjoy a close working relationship around here,” she said. “We do consistent work and adhere closely to the regulations to make sure everything is done according to guidelines. It is a good place to work, but like everything else, you get out of it what you put into it.”

Staying close to its mission, Goodnight Brothers is dedicated to offering its employees a friendly, clean, safe work CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

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Dr Pepper Bottling Company Founded in 1937 by H.R. Ross Vannoy Dr Pepper Bottling Company (336) 246-4591 2614 N.C. Highway 163, West Jefferson, NC 28694 www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com

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he old slogan used to say that at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. were good times to drink Dr Pepper.

The folks at the Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of West Jefferson, N.C., Inc., would probably beg to differ. They feel that any time is a good time to drink a Dr Pepper.

The company has been in business since H.R. Ross Vannoy founded the plant in 1937. He eventually left the operations of the plant to his son, Kyle Vannoy, who still works there.

Currently, the general manager is Michael Vannoy, who is a third generation manager. The business has expanded from not just its current downtown location, but to a distribution center on Highway 1673, and a warehouse close by that employs 58 people.

What makes the Dr Pepper plant unique is that it uses pure cane sugar in its products, instead of corn syrup that is usually used in soda products.

Because of this, the company receives

orders from all over the country.

The company’s list of products is a long one, that includes: 7-Up, A&W Root Beer, Cheerwine, Orange Crush, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew, Grape Nehi, Orange Nehi, Peach Nehi, Nu Grape, RC Cola, Sunkist and Welch’s Grape.

It also includes Diet Dr Pepper and Diet Cheerwine.

Because the plant is independently owned and operated, it has the right to bottle and distribute Mountain Dew, which is a Pepsi product.

The plant has another unique attribute that sets it apart from everybody else. The company specializes in putting its products in 12-ounce glass bottles.

The company imports the bottles from another company in Chattanooga, Tenn., but they can fill orders for retailers who would rather have nostalgic glass bottles instead of plastic.

The company distributes its products in a six-county area that includes Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Watauga and Wilkes and Grayson County, Va. One of the challenges the company faces is not only the heavy competition associated with the soft drink industry, but that many “mom and pop” stores have gone out of business, replaced by large grocery stores and convenience stores.

GOODNIGHT BROS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

environment with competitive wages, training and state of the art equipment.

“When these components are combined with unmatched customer service and great supplier partnerships,” Goodnight said, “it produces quality products that exceed our customers’ expectations and creates profitable opportunities that strengthen the dedication to our shareholders and the community.”

Goodnights has the cure Goodnight’s cures and ages more than 12 million pounds of country ham annually, and once cured, the hams are further processed to meet specific customer needs.

Due to the growing demand for “traceable” farm to table products, Goodnight said, “We teamed with Eastern North Carolina Hog Growers Association to purchase hams that were raised on North Carolina family farms. These pigs are never administered antibiotics and fed a

PHOTO SUBMITTED Dr Pepper Bottling Company is independently owned and can also bottle and distribute Mountain Dew in the High Country.

strict vegetarian diet.”

The finished product, he said, which is sold to Earth Fare and Whole Foods Markets, contains no nitrates, except for those naturally occurring in sea salt or celery powder.

Since 1948, Goodnight Brothers has perfected the art of dry curing hams. With a focus on curing, aging, deboning, slicing and packaging country ham for the food service and retail industries, the business provides customers with more than 40 different cuts and numerous packaging options.

While maintaining a long held tradition combined with modern technology, Goodnight’s has not significantly altered its method, only improved upon it.

From the curing process to the in-house duplication of the winter, spring, summer and fall seasons, “like we knew on the farm,” Farthing said Goodnight‘s creates a product that has a distinctive flavor profile.

In the winter stage, fresh hams, just three days from the farm, receive a handapplied special cure mix, after which the hams stay in the environmental area at

40 degrees while the salt and sugar is absorbed into the meat. Once the salt and sugar is absorbed, it stabilizes the meat and begins to equalize.

In the spring process, the cure mix has been absorbed and the warmer temperature and lower humidity allow it to equalize throughout the ham, creating consistent color, smell and flavor.

The summer rooms keep the hams at a constant 90 degree temperature, with the heat giving the ham its golden brown color and completing the drying process.

Once the hams leave the summer room, they are considered to be cured and are moved to the fall room, at which time the hams have an internal salt content of somewhere between 6 and 7 percent and a weight loss of 22 to 23 percent from fresh weight.

The entire process takes close to 100 days.

Community-minded Of local interest, especially, the most popular label available to consumers across the Southeast is the Dan’l Boone

Inn brand of country ham. For more than 60 years, Goodnight Brothers has supplied country ham to the historic restaurant with the same name.

Goodnight Brothers is proud to be a major sponsor of the sustainable development program at Appalachian State University, which bears the Goodnight family name.

“We provide scholarships each year for this program, as well as the Johnson and Wales Charlotte campus culinary program,” Goodnight said, adding that both are geared toward students from Watauga and surrounding counties.

Goodnight Brothers is currently looking for more of those high caliber individuals who like to work. The company offers its employees 40-hour workweeks, with overtime offered most of the year.

Individuals 18 years of age or older interested in full-time or seasonal employment are invited to apply at the office.

To learn more about Goodnight’s many brands, products or distribution network or to purchase from its online store, visit www.goodnightbrothers.com or call (828) 264-8892.

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Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

American Emergency Vehicles A footprint seen all around the world American Emergency Vehicles (800) 374-9749 or (336) 982-9824 165 American Way, Jefferson, NC 28640 www.aev.com

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PHOTO SUBMITTED AEV has manufactured between 1,250 and 1,300 ambulances for distribution around the world every year since 1981. This row of vehicles is slated for Kuwait once completed.

merican Emergency Vehicles sits atop the ambulance production world after starting its business 34 years ago.

“We are the largest ambulance manufacturer in the country,” said Jeff Dreyer, a facilities manager for AEV. “We will build somewhere between 1, 250 and 1,300 vehicles this year in a market that only builds about 5,000 a year. We’ve got, arguably, a 25 percent market share. It’s huge and we’re very proud if that. We’ve got a great staff, a great team of people and we’ve got a great, very loyal customer base, too. We’re very proud of where we’ve come from our days over on Radio Hill.”

AEV employs nearly 400 people and builds ambulances of all makes and sizes, from the smallest to the largest and everything in between, and its turnaround time for production is astounding.

“From our low-end commodity type van unit to our big neonate long distance transport truck, there’s quite a bit of difference,” Dreyer said. “I can get a truck through the production line on the small vehicle in a week from start to finish, whereas the much larger, more labor intensive vehicles could take 45 to 60 days.”

One aspect of how they produce ambulances so quickly is they don’t build the chassis for the ambulances. Those are supplied by one of the several automotive makers in the country. They also outsource for the bodywork on the vehicles, as well.

Outside of that, it’s all on AEV, and its footprint is seen all around the world.

“Our predominate market is here in the United States, but, in fact, we do have 54 trucks right now going to Kuwait,” Dreyer said. “This is not the first batch that we’ve done. About every year, we send some vehicles to the Middle East. We’ve got a good foothold on that part of the world.”

Dreyer added the hard work and dedication is seen and reflected throughout the industry.

“We are a North Carolina Star company, which is a partnership with OSHA,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

AEV CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Dreyer said. “We’re one of just a handful of companies in the state that carry that designation. We’re very proud of our safety record and everything that we do that goes along with that to achieve that status. You have to get recertified for that every three years.

We’re an ISO 9000 company as far as our paint processes go. We’re very proud of that, plus we’ve had numerous other industry designations and awards, as well.”

And those designations and awards are accredited to each and every person who works for AEV, most of whom are Ashe County residents.

“I think we’re probably one of the, if not the, largest employer in Ashe County at around 400 people,” Dreyer said. “So, our employees who live and work and play in this county, that’s a huge impact on this county. If we were not here, I can’t imagine what kind of drain that might be on this county. I think we’re

a major player. We are very much involved with what goes on with the county. We have good relationships with the county administration. I think we are a good steward in being fiscally responsible for the county. We do a lot in terms of supporting nonprofit organizations. I think we’re a proud community sponsor.

“I can’t imagine being anywhere else than right here,” Dreyer said. “The county was there and with us in finding this particular location where we are. They helped us along the way as far as grants and assistance as we’ve expanded, both with the county government, as well as Wilkes Community College. We’ve partnered with them on many, many different initiatives. There’s no other place in the world quite like this area, Ashe County. The people here are truly genuine, caring individuals. You can’t put your finger on it. You can’t bottle it. You can’t sell it. It’s the thing that is engrained in this particular region that’s priceless. It’s a treasure to be here.”

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PHOTO SUBMITTED AEV develops custom ambulance builds, which are sold both in the U.S. and overseas, and remains the nation’s largest ambulance provider.

H&TChair

We are factory direct manufacturers of the highest quality oak wood beach furniture, including wood beach chairs, beach umbrellas and cabanas since 1969.

Our furniture is handcrafted by the renowned North Carolina Furniture Tradesmen.

FROM UCC’S LANSING FACTORY

TO SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY,

H & T Chair Co., Inc. H&T Chairs are made in the USA with oak, brass hardware, two coats of spar vanish, and covered with Sunbrella® and Outdura material. All of our wood beach furniture and oak wood beach chairs can be used everywhere in the most adverse beach weather. Storage is easy wooden beach chairs fold to allow easy handling. Home, hotel and concession owners know our beach furniture worldwide.

Rick Todd, President 1598 Meat Camp Rd. Boone, NC 828-264-7742 rctodd@charter.net ntchair.net

UCC PRIDE IS MOUNTAIN GROWN!

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Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

Hospitality Mints

A sweet success story in Boone Hospitality Mints (800) 334-5181 P.O. Drawer 3140, 213 Candy Lane Boone, NC 28607 www.hospitalitymints.com

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hances are, you’ve savored a buttery mint as the last morsel of a satisfying meal, or you’ve found the sweet treat waiting for you by your hotel pillow — a simple joy after a long day away from home.

And there’s a good chance, too, that the mints you’ve enjoyed on travels across the nation — and even in other countries — were produced here in Boone, N.C. Founded in 1976, Boone-based Hospitality Mints is the largest supplier of custom mints in the United States. Their products are sold to about 90 national restaurant chains, including Maggiano’s, Chick-fil-A, Subway, McDonald’s and IHOP; hotels such as Marriott; promotional product retailers; as well as grocery and specialty retailers. The company hangs its hat on the quality of its confections and the ability to provide the product in individual wrappers imprinted with the logos of their customers, which range from high volume retailers to hometown dentist offices.

“We can provide two or three cases of candy with a customized logo to anyone,” said Walter Kaudelka, chief financial officer and chief operations officer for Hospitality Mints.

“We’re candy makers, we’re printers and we’re marketers,” added Kathi Guy, vice president of marketing. “We help other businesses market themselves by reinforcing their brand or by helping them tell their marketing story.”

The Hospitality Mints story begins with Mitchell Minges, who developed his skills for making soft butter mints while working a summer job with a husband-andwife team in Rockingham, N.C. Minges started his own candy-making business using copper kettles and marble slabs, and he introduced the concept of individually wrapped pieces with an imprinted logo or special message.

“What he brought to the company was the product, and I think our product is exceptional,” said Richard Townsend, vice president of production at Hospital-

ity Mints. “He did lay the foundation for our culture of hard work, dedication and customer service. We bend over backward to take care of a customer.”

Minges sold the company in 2000, and today, Hospitality Mints is owned by Linsalata Capital and is led by President/ CEO Pat Viancourt and a management team with years of experience in the food industry.

After almost 40 years in business, Hospitality Mints continues to manufacture all of their products in Boone at a 55,000-square-foot facility located on Candy Lane, with a 40,000-square-foot distribution facility in Deep Gap. Among similar confectionery companies, Hospitality Mints is one of only three to make their candies in the United States.

The company has experienced tremendous growth in the past 15 years, increasing its workforce from 70 to 155 and doubling its production volume during that time period to become a nearly $40 million business.

“There is a sense of pride that this business started here in little Boone, N.C., and the people here know that if they’ve been here a significant amount of time, that they played a part in that, and that’s part of our story,” Townsend said. “I would consider them craftsmen. We have a lot of long-term employees who have a lot of knowledge that they’ve learned through years of trial and error.”

Hospitality Mints’ operations require a range of skills and tasks, including customer service, design, engineering, wrapping, printing, cooking, accounting and distribution.

About 30 of the company’s employees have been with the company between 10 and 20 years, while another 13 have worked there more than 20 years.

“For the manufacturing employee, we offer a stable, safe, clean working environment. We have really nice benefits, (including) health insurance benefits and a 401(k) plan,” said Conley Stegall, Hospitality Mints vice president of administration.

The company has an internship program with Appalachian State University and is working to develop an internship program with community colleges.

Townsend said the company’s work is also ideal for those who may not want to

PHOTOS SUBMITTED David Winebarger aids in the creation of Hospitality Mints’ signature buttermints.

Sweet Stats Hospitality Mints by the Numbers • Founded in 1976 • 1.8 billion mints produced per year • Nearly $40 million in annual business • 155 employees • 13 million pounds of sugar, 13,000 pounds of peppermint oil and 200,000 pounds of chocolate used per year • 10,000 to 12,000 logos on file go to college, but still want a rewarding career.

Hospitality Mints gives credit to its employees for the company’s ability to ship a new order within seven days and a repeat order within five.

“We can turn something around very quickly,” said Kaudelka, and Townsend added, “The way we do that is hard work, dedication and strong processes.”

The company’s unique sugar graining curing system, with a capacity of 5,000 pounds per hour, is responsible for 1.8 billion mints being produced each year.

As American scrutiny over food production continues to increase, Hospitality Mints is working to stay ahead of the curve. The company is certified by the Safe Quality Food Institute and routinely performs well on audits and inspections.

It plans to be completely free of trans fats and PHOs by early next year. Next, it will look at removing all artificial colors from its products.

In the past decade, Hospitality Mints expanded its business to offer holiday and special occasion mints — with more than 100 different themes — to large retailers such as Party City and Walmart. A special website, PartySweets.com, offers party ideas and tips from “Miss Mints,” and the company is also active on social media such as Facebook and Pinterest.

The company is beginning to plan special events and promotions for 2016, when it turns 40 years old.

“I see it as a celebration of our employees and certainly of our product,” Stegall said. “If a customer service person can say, ‘Well you know, we’ve been here 40 years,’ there is some confidence or reassurance when you talk to somebody. That says … you can count on us.”

To learn more about Hospitality Mints, visit hospitalitymints.com. And the next time you’re visiting a bed and breakfast in Key West or a restaurant in Anchorage, Alaska, pick up a mint, flip over the wrapper and look for “Boone, NC.”

Sept. 23, 2015

Made in the High Country

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H & T Chair Company Canvas, oak and hand-joinery H & T Chair Company (828) 264-7742 Boone, North Carolina www.htchair.com

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& T Chair Company wholly embodies the spirit of “Made in the High Country.”

Every stitch in every piece of fabric and every bit of joinery in every stick of wood is accomplished on location at its Meat Camp factory. H & T even tries to source locally when possible.

While not all of its raw materials come from the High Country specifically, it does all come from North Carolina.

Company owner and president Rick Todd likes to buy local.

“I always ask for Appalachian grade oak first. If they don’t have it, we will go from there, but it’s always Appalachian first,” he said. Todd’s company, which got its start on the coasts of South Florida and the Jersey Shore, has called Boone its home since 1970.

Todd’s uncle and his partner, Hickey, who loan their initials to the company name, were consummate idea men. Their chair designs set the gold standard for the beach concession industry and paved the way for Rick Todd to make waves in that market from his Meat Camp location. H & T estimates that it is building 5,000 to 6,000 chairs a year, and Todd, while comfortable with that figure, always welcomes growth.

“Growth does not scare me,” Todd said.

“Just look what we did here, we went from making just a few hundred chairs to making thousands.”

Thousands and thousands more is the volume required by H & T’s place in the beach chair market. It provides chairs for what seems like every beach on the East Coast and some in the Gulf area.

Todd began to name off a specific list, but trailed off, realizing he was essentially just making a verbal map of America’s best beach towns.

Todd’s small Meat Camp factory employs 10 area residents, who each have a different part in the chair building process.

There are men and women sawing, sanding and assembling in every part of the factory.

They are proud of their work and the prod-

PHOTOS BY GARRETT PRICE H & T estimates that it manufactures 5,000 to 6,000 chairs a year.

ucts that they create.

Bill Icenhour, a 10-year employee of H & T, can attest to the wide dissemination of the products that he creates.

“I was watching TV and they showed a beach that had our chairs all over it. I thought, ‘I might have made one of those,’” he said.

H & T doesn’t stop short at just the concession industry. Todd and his employees have broken into Hollywood, as well, with their handmade director chairs. Todd, when pressed, revealed a laundry list of famous names who have sat in his chairs.

He recalled a particular order he received from a film being shot in Bangor, Maine. “A friend called me one day and said, ‘Rick, I need some black chairs,’” Todd said. “That’s no problem I thought, just some black canvas, I can do black. But no, this guy wanted all black chairs, black canvas and black wood.”

Turns out, these particularly ominous seats were for none other than Stephen King, who was shooting “Dolores Claiborne” at the time.

H & T’s big-time work extends to a run of period set pieces that it created from original materials for HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and a set of chairs it made for NASCAR teams, which, according to Todd, are very concerned about secrecy when it comes to next year’s colors.

Todd, who relocated from Boone to Meat Camp for a quieter environment, doesn’t let his products’ high profile go to his head. He has the same buoyant manner discussing chairs that went to small beach concession companies as he does for the

All raw materials at H & T are from North Carolina.

big name gigs.

To Todd, and his employees at H & T, it’s all the same. Every product that comes out their door has been handled, assembled, checked and approved by human hands, all

made in the High Country, in a small town, in a small factory, with a big volume.

For more information about H & T chairs, visit www.htchair.net or call (828) 264-7742.

“

TAKE THE HIGH GROUND”

FIREARMS & ACCESSORIES AMMUNITION • CLOTHING • TRAINING

HIGH COUNTRY TACTICAL

9378 NC-105 #2 • Banner Elk, NC 28604 • (828) 355-5466

Visit www.HCTAC.com for Access to $200,000,000 of Firearms & Equipment

Made in the High Country

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Sept. 23, 2015

Strategic Acquisitions and Alliances

L

eviton has evolved from a traditional, United Statesbased manufacturer of electrical products, primarily for the building industry, to a global provider of electrical wiring devices, data connectivity solutions, security and automation controls, and lighting and energy management systems for a variety of end-use markets.

With a focus on diversifying its business and accelerating growth areas, Leviton has grown through strategic acquisitions and partnerships that allow the company to deliver best-in-class, innovative solutions to the marketplace:

· 2015: Leviton acquired Intense Lighting, LLC, a leading solutionsbased manufacturer of LED luminaires based in Anaheim, Calif., in May 2015. The acquisition enhances Leviton’s current product offerings with a wide variety of specification grade LED lighting solutions for the commercial, hospitality, supermarket, retail and residential markets. · 2013: Leviton acquired JCC Ad-

vanced Lighting, a United Kingdombased leader in LED lighting suitable for a wide variety of residential and commercial applications, in October 2013. The acquisition established Leviton in the UK market and affords the company growth opportunities internationally. · 2013: Leviton formed a longterm strategic agreement with BerkTek, a Nexans company, to create the Berk-Tek Leviton Technologies alliance in April 2013. The new alliance establishes the industry’s premier copper and fiber solution providing customers with a best-ofbreed option for reliable and highperformance networks. · 2012: Through the acquisition of Home Automation, Inc. (now Leviton Security & Automation) in August 2012, Leviton enhanced its current automation offerings – for residential and commercial applications – by providing solutions that combine security, energy management and entertainment controls, in user-friendly applications.

WE ARE Global Manufacturing Services, Inc., (GMS) can assemble your circuit boards in the fast lane.

We are a small and very agile company that has been building quality products in the same town since 1987. We build and test sophisticated electronics which vary from big LED arrays to small boards with more than 500 parts. You need SMT? We can get it quickly for you. How about through hole assemblies? Our Selective Soldering machines will get the job done without all the messy environmental issues and cost of wave soldering. So send us your Gerber files and your Bills of Materials and tell us how to test the finished assembly and you'll have a quality assembly in no time. That's a promise!

140 Industrial Park Way | West Jefferson, NC 28694 | 336.246.5143 or 336.846.1671

Dr. Pepper Bottling Company Serving the High Country for over 75 years

We bottle and distribute glass longneck bottles.

We also have the Franchise rights to several soft drink brands such as Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, RC, Cheerwine, Snapple and others. We use pure cane sugar instead of corn syrup! The combination of pure cane sugar and glass bottles makes for the best tasting soft drinks on the market!

Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015

Page 13

High Country Tactical Offering handcrafted firearms, preparedness items High Country Tactical (828) 355-5466 9378 Hwy. 105 South Foscoe, N.C. www.hctac.com

I

n life, one can never be too prepared.

The old saying rings true now more than ever in today’s society.

High Country Tactical, located at 9378 Hwy. 105 S in Foscoe, is a company whose business echoes that motto.

HCTAC president Tim Fox decided to open his business that offers myriad products for firearm and preparedness needs as a way to make a living following a career in law enforcement.

“I was in law enforcement many, many years ago and I decided to go into the private sector with a medium-sized professional protection company. In addition, I purchased multiple types of firearms stores and training facilities to utilize within my company and use as training facilities for my employees,” Fox said.

“In 2007, I basically sold everything and decided to move to the mountains, relax and raise my kids, and we were looking for something to do in this area that we were familiar with. My 19-year-old son is interested in this as well, so we decided to open this little shop and do what we do here, as well as train individuals.

“We then got into the manufacturing side of things and brought in another individual with the expertise in that area. It’s simplistic. I was looking for something to do, this is what we’ve known for and this is why we did it,” he said.

According to Fox, he has seen the interest in preparedness items and in the general firearm industry increase in recent years.

“I think that in the past, there probably wasn’t a very big call for this type of market. As people have been more preparedness minded and themselves want to learn more how to prepare themselves for future issues, that, along with media putting people into more of a tactical vein, has made people a bit more interested in purchasing things more tactical, in addition to the usual purchaser in the area such as a hunter.”

During the course of the past year, Fox and his staff build, train and teach individuals on using a weapon, plus, according to Fox, his business is uniquely aligned to offer services and products to local entities.

“We service law enforcement, fire, EMS and general preparedness mind-set com-

PHOTO BY JAMIE SHELL High Country Tactical President Tim Fox displays weapons manufactured by his business as part of the inventory at his Foscoe location.

PHOTO SUBMITTED HTC has branched nationwide in the gun production business, but also offers many additional products, including clothing, patches gear, optics, knives, equipment accessories, food, bags, night vision goggles, sunglasses, shooting glasses, boots and shirts supporting causes such as the Wounded Warrior Project.

munity, including military, ex-military and the general public,” Fox said. “We have customers who are hunters, customers who are collectors, customers who are the more preparedness minded. It’s really a wide spectrum. We’re a very young business, and what we do is new, but we’re just

getting our feet wet in the market and are somewhat feeling our way.”

Fox intentionally opened the business with the idea of one day passing the family trade off to his son, Logan.

Fox shared the joy of working alongside family in a business that both father and

son are invested in and love.

“It has been great to work with him. I have Logan and a 9-year old daughter, Siena, and they both spend a lot of time here,” Fox said. “After school, she is here, and we have good friends who come in and help out here. If someone needs attention, they jump in and pay attention to them. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation and a better partner than my son. I love him to death, and both my kids are why I do everything that I do.”

As a business, Fox has branched nationwide in the gun production business, but also offers many additional products, including clothing, patches gear, optics, knives, equipment accessories, food, bags, night vision goggles, sunglasses, shooting glasses, boots and shirts supporting causes such as the Wounded Warrior Project.

In less than a year of business, Fox has found what is vital to operating a successful business of any variety and size.

“Building a good strong clientele has taken time, and we have a lot of people supporting us,” he said. “Letting people know that we are here has been important to us. I’ve met several people who were unaware that our business was here, which has been difficult. The website is a vehicle to show people what we do, and we also have a store with more than $200 million worth of product. We ship anything within the U.S. and work to ensure our customers are completely satisfied.”

High Country Tactical is located on 9378 Hwy. 105 South in Foscoe, near the Foscoe Fire Department. For more information, call (828) 355-5466, email tfox@hctac. com or visit www.hctac.com.

Made in the High Country

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Sept. 23, 2015

GE Aviation Finest engines in the world

In fall 2014, the college was awarded a $198,000 grant for equipment for the training program from the Golden LEAF Foundation. Included in the grant was training equipment for Ashe County High School to build a pipeline of students to the college and then on to GE Aviation.

GE Aviation (336) 246-1721 9400 The Professional Drive, West Jefferson www.ge.com

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E Aviation has been a solid rock for Ashe County’s economy since the West Jefferson facility opened in 2007. However, a recent expansion of the West Jefferson plant promises to make GE an even bigger part of the local economy.

As part of the 80,000-square-foot expansion, the West Jefferson facility plans to add 105 new jobs by 2017, adding 15 new employees per quarter. In all, this represents a $65 million investment in West Jefferson.

“When GE makes this kind of investment, it’s significant,” said N.C. 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx during a groundbreaking ceremony on June 5, 2014.

“I want to thank GE for making the statement it’s making in terms of this facility.”

A mere 13 months after the groundbreaking, community leaders gathered together once again for the grand opening of GE Aviation’s new wing, drawing a visit from North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory.

“This is the best of the North Carolina economy,” McCrory said. “Let’s continue to create new jobs and careers, that’s what it’s all about. It’s the best of North Carolina right here in West Jefferson.”

During an interview with the Ashe Mountain Times, Cabot Hamilton, executive director of the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce, said he was part of a community group that worked with GE Aviation during its expansion.

Along with three officials from Wilkes Community College, Hamilton was joined

by West Jefferson Town Manager Brantley Price, Ashe County Economic Developer Cathy Barr, and Adrian Tait, director of the High Country Workforce Development Board.

This group, Tait in particular, helped GE organize events during the last year, including a job fair at WCC that drew 400 to 500 people.

“If there were any concerns at that point for them to find an educated labor force, those concerns were taken care of,” Hamilton said.

According to Hamilton, Ashe County’s hard working workforce was one of the main reasons why the West Jefferson facility was chosen for the expansion.

Along with supplying 105 new jobs to the area, GE is also intimately tied to the community through charitable work and

Training includes:

PHOTO SUBMITTED From left, Jeff Cox, president, Wilkes Community College; Ginger Shaffer, director, WCC Workforce Development; Tim Tucker, plant leader, GE-West Jefferson; Betty Silver, regional director, NCCCS economic fevelopment; and Maureen Little, associate vice president, NCCCS NCWorks customized training all helped celebrate at GE Aviation’s West Jefferson plant expansion ribbon-cutting ceremony.

financial donations.

“They do a great deal of sweat equity in the community, and they do it under the radar, because they aren’t looking for publicity,” Hamilton said.

Expansion According to GE Plant Leader Tim Tucker, the West Jefferson plant’s expansion is part of a larger commitment by GE Aviation to invest $195 million across its North Carolina operations through 2017.

GE Aviation currently has more than 1,300 employees in North Carolina at sites in Durham, West Jefferson, Wilmington and Asheville. The West Jefferson expansion, combined with the new facility in Asheville, and plant and equipment upgrades at existing sites across North Carolina, will create 242 additional GE jobs by 2017.

The increase in volume is driven largely by orders for the new LEAP jet engine of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of GE and Snecma (Safran) of France.

Prior to the groundbreaking on June 5, 2014, CFM has logged total orders and commitments with airlines for more than 6,000 LEAP engines, even though these engines will not enter service until 2016.

These new engines will power some of the most popular aircrafts currently in use worldwide, such as the new Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX and COMAC (China) C919.

West Jefferson was chosen as an expansion site became of the excellent track

record during the past few years. According to Tucker, the West Jefferson plant became a “rotating parts center of excellence” in 2008, and the plant began gaining notoriety in 2009.

“In 2009, the site really began to gain traction, get notoriety with the supply chain as a facility that can meet commits and meet metrics every year,” Tucker said during an open house even at Boondocks Brew Haus last December.

According to Tucker, the West Jefferson plant will be going from five processes to 34 by 2017, and will be moving from $220 million of output to $350 million in the next three years.

“I’m excited that GE has chosen the West Jefferson plant to expand production for its incredibly popular LEAP engine, which will power next generation aircraft from around the globe,” Tucker said in a news release from GE Aviation. “I’m extremely pleased as well that GE is partnering with Wilkes Community College to give local workers the opportunity to learn the skills needed for the new jobs this expansion will bring to West Jefferson. The work done here will demonstrate yet again that American manufacturing and American workers can compete in the global economy.”

WCC The total training package offered to future GE Aviation employees from Wilkes Community College is approximately $1.2 million, including training, equipment and space rental.

• Pre-hire training: Applicants chosen by the company are invited to attend a 40-hour pre-hire training. The training includes company information, teamwork, basic math for machinists and machining fundamentals. All who complete the pre-hire training are then invited for an interview with company.

• Post-hire training: Applicants who are hired by GE Aviation will then complete a 100-hour post-hire training process that focuses on the GE work environment, safety, introductory machining processes and hands-on training. These are GE employees who are training through Wilkes Community College.

• Incumbent training: Employees of GE who will be transitioning to the new, more advanced production operation will complete a two-phased training process.

The first phase is an assessment and online training process through Tooling U. Students are provided instruction on identified areas of weakness and are required to score at minimum levels or enter remediation.

The second phase is a hands-on training process in machining techniques, focused on meeting the finishing standards required

by GE for the LEAP engine and other platforms.

“I’m delighted that GE partnered with Wilkes Community College to give local workers the opportunity to gain the necessary skills to fill these new jobs. This expansion will have positive ripple effects throughout this region for a long time to come. But bringing this massive project to realization wouldn’t have been possible without the many committed team members involved,” said Ginger Shaffer, director of Workforce Development for Wilkes Community College.

GE Aviation has the largest and fastest growing installed base of jet engines in commercial aviation and a global services network to support them.

GE Aviation employs approximately 40,000 people and operates more than 80 facilities around the world.

An operating unit of GE, GE Aviation is a world leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.

Sept. 23, 2015

Made in the High Country

Page 15

PHOTOS SUBMITTED Debra Cozart works at United Chemi-Con, a leading producer of electric capacitors.

Amy Handy poses on hat day at United Chemi-Con in Warrensville.

UCC in its 7th decade

United Chemi-Con manufactures community involvement United Chemicon (847) 696-2000.

Warrensville, N.C. www.chemi-con.com

F

or over 60 years, the capacitor manufacturing facility located along New River’s gently flowing North Fork in northwestern Ashe County has been an anchor for the area’s economy. Identified for the past 20 of those years as United Chemi-Con (UCC), the local plant began in 1953 as Sprague Electric Company and has employed several thousand high country residents over the years.

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are not readily identifiable by most Ashe County citizens, but they play an important role in our everyday lives. Capacitors provide essential technology in such recognizable products as TV, radio, computers, automobiles, HVAC and white goods along with industrial uses such as wind/solar, UPS, welding, flash lighting and electronic control systems. Virtually every segment of the electronics and electrical industry is served

with products from United Chemi-Con. UCCs parent company, Nippon ChemiCon, is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and is the largest aluminum capacitor manufacturer in the world with manufacturing and sales locations in the U.S., Europe and Southeast Asia. With 130 dedicated and highly skilled employees, the Ashe County facility designs, manufactures and distributes its premium capacitors all over the world.

But UCC is not only about remarkable products, it is about local people and the high country. It’s philosophy is to support the local community through donations of time and money to a wide range of organizations in which our employees participate and from which they and their families benefit. Both the company and its employees actively participate in many worthy projects evidenced by twice being awarded the Ashe County Business/Industry Volunteer of the Year Award as well as the Governor’s Community and Economic Development Award.

Other notable achievements include: • Nearly $125,000 has been raised to help fellow employees and family members

experiencing difficult circumstances.

• The “Chemi-Con Chargers”, Relay For Life Team has raised more than $82,000 since 2004 to help fight cancer.

• Over $24,000 has been raised thru The American Heart Association Heart Walk since 2001.

• Recently, employees have enthusiastically accepted a new challenge to support the Buddy Walk for the National Down Syndrome Society.

• Many hours and dollars donated to annual coat and shoe drives, food drives, school supply drives, blood drives, the Children’s Christmas Project and Camp New Hope.

The company fosters a spirit of giving back by offering an annual company scholarship to an employee’s graduating senior worth $8,000 and being a proud sponsor of the Brutal 100 Bike Race, Frank James Memorial/Ashe County Schools/Ashe Free Medical Clinic/Shriners Golf Tournaments, the Middle School TSA Student competition, as well as contributions to many county agencies and organizations.

Company employees participate in a variety of community support organizations

through local churches, the Ashe Chamber of Commerce and BREMCO Community Leaders Council.

Through our committed employees, United Chemi-Con has maintained progressive Quality Certifications since 1994, most recently the prominent TS16949 International Automotive Certification. In 1999, the Lansing facility became the first North Carolina Company to achieve the International Environmental Management Certification known as ISO 14001. In 2010, UCC earned certification in the prestigious N.C. Department of Labor OSHA STAR Program for exemplary workplace safety through training and dedication to safety awareness. Employee commitment to these certifications for Safety, Quality and Environmental Systems provide the cornerstones for our successful manufacturing operation.

United Chemi-Con wishes to sincerely thank our outstanding employees for their dedication and excellent service for these many years. Their exceptional effort and performance demonstrates the awesome capabilities of the High Country workforce.

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Made in the High Country

Sept. 23, 2015