Interactions + Attractions

Join us as we explore the inspiring story of STARworks, an organization dedicated to fostering creativity and innovation in rural North Carolina through ceramics, glass, and metal arts. Our guests are Dr. David Jones and Nancy Gottovi. Nancy, the Executive Director of STARworks, holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and has been recognized for her leadership in sustainable business and creative pla...

Join us as we talk with Thomas Salley! Thomas is the tourism director for Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Prior to his career in tourism with the Town of Wilkesboro, Mr. Salley worked for 12 years at Raffaldini Vineyards, managing the tasting room and marketing. Mr. Salley has had the privilege of serving more than twenty years in the customer service industry, from the bathroom to the board room, in...

Join us as we chat with Sheila Barefoot! Sheila’s expertise lies in team management and customer relations with over 30 years of experience in office management, business development, marketing strategy, and revenue growth. As the Executive Director of the Sampson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sheila leverages her diverse background to promote Sampson County as a destination for meetings, e...

Join us as we talk to Jennifer Everett! Jennifer is a professional runway and published print model, author of the self love book “I Choose Me: The Ultimate Act of Self Love”, minister and founder of Culture Queens amongst many other things. Culture Queens is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring women of color have access and enjoy all things arts, culture and outdoor activities. Jennife...

Join us this week as we talk with Susan Dosier! Susan is the President of DK Communications Group, a marketing and content company with a focus on food, film agriculture and tourism. With a background as a journalist and publishing executive for 18 years, she seamlessly transitioned into marketing, bringing a unique perspective to her work. Since 2011, when Susan and her partner, Desmond, created...

Join us as we get to talk with Haley Overturf! Haley is the Branding Content Coordinator for Visit High Point. Her role is primarily managing the digital content, which includes the website, newsletter, and social media. She also works with the Vice President of Branding on the point collateral, which is where she gets to connect the most with local partners. She spends a lot of time communicating...

Join us as we talk with Adam Stoker! Adam is the co-founder, president and CEO of Relic, a full-service destination marketing agency. For over 15 years, Adam has excelled in the travel, stakeholder engagement, and destination branding spheres. He is a frequent speaker and collaborator at industry events nationwide, speaking at the Utah Tourism Conference, Texas Travel Summit, several Destinations...

Join us as we talk to innovative Founder, esteemed Career Basketball Coach, and former Professional Basketball Player, Marquetta “Coach Q” Dickens! Marquetta has devoted her career to fostering growth and development in value-aligned environments. Dickens is steadfast in her mission to generate opportunities that nurture personal growth, driven by her commitment to empower each individual to reali...

Join us as we talk with Amanda Lugenbell! Amanda is the Assistant Director at the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority, a role she’s been adapting to since 2007. She's the go-to gal for communications and media relations, along with content strategy and website management. She graduated from Appstate’s Hospitality & Tourism Management program and started her hospitality career in local resta...

Join us this week as we talk to Lisa Rueh! Lisa serves as the Main Street Grants Administrator for the North Carolina Main Street Rural Planning Center at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where she manages the Downtown Revitalization and Rural Community Capacity categories of the Rural Transformation Grant Fund. Prior to her current position, Lisa worked for Downtown Morehead City as Exe...

Join us as we talk with Emily Yeager! Emily currently works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation Sciences and directs the Crisp Small Business Resource Center at East Carolina University with a research agenda focused on sustainable community development built upon a community's unique assets and cultural nuances. Be sure to check out the Tar-Pamlico Blue Economy Corridor Proj...

In this very special episode, join us as we dive into the vibrant atmosphere of the Visit NC Conference through exclusive interviews with attendees. The UPLIFT team members had the opportunity to engage in quick yet insightful conversations with conference guests and participants, capturing their unique perspectives, experiences, and key takeaways from the event. Tune in to discover what makes thi...

Always striving to grow and learn, Jillian Medlin is excited to be a part of the close-knit business community in Caswell County. Having lived here nearly her whole life, she is enthusiastic about discovering creative ways to allow Caswell to continue to prosper while ensuring that our "small-town life" continues to flourish. Assisting small businesses, farms, solopreneurs/makers, and other rural...

Join us as we speak to Tyler Wise! Tyler is the dedicated Lead Fellow for the Town of Roseboro and actively contributes to the community’s growth and development. The innovative NC Fellow program offered by the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government focuses on addressing capacity issues in rural areas by placing recent college graduates in impactful roles. In her role, Tyler has had the privilege of...

Join Hosanna Pennell as she shares her journey! As the Manager of the Piedmont Triad Visitor Center, she’s passionate about promoting tourism and community development in her region and even serves on the Caswell County Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for the Thomas Day House Museum. Learn about the upcoming Thomas Day Historical Site and the role that the Piedmont Triad Visitor Center p...

Join us as we get to talk with Bradley Spiegel and Amy Allison from Made by Mountains! Bradley is a newly accredited AICP professional and currently serving as the Building Outdoor Communities Specialist with the Made By Mountains Partnership. He is leading a regional planning effort across Western North Carolina to advance outdoor-driven community and economic development. Then, meet Amy, the Dir...

Join us as we talk to Ann Savage, a Tourism Extension Associate with NC State Extension. Savage is responsible for creating and supporting resource and program development that enables the growth of prosperous, sustainable tourism destinations across North Carolina. She collaborates with extension offices and specialists across the state to support tourism management and development, outdoor recre...

Tune in for a conversation with Ashely Love, an experienced Financial Data Manager specializing in Human Resources, payroll, and benefits! She is currently serving as the Robeson County Grant Administrator at Robeson County Administration and is deeply committed to overseeing grant management and contributing to the county's development. Ashely is particularly excited about the future prospects fo...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Andre Nabors, Partner Relations Manager at Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Since 2010, Andre has been dedicated to supporting sustainable efforts in marketing and promoting the state's natural, historic, and cultural resources. In his role, he collaborates with communities, non-profits, and tourism-...

Join us as we speak to Dr. Carrie Graham, an adult learning strategist and training consultant. Dr. Graham is dedicated to helping businesses enhance learner engagement, information retention, and skill application. Breaking free from the confines of traditional expectations in school and at work, she shares her journey of using natural skills to open doors for herself and others. Dr. Graham intro...

Happy New Year North Carolina and welcome to Season 2 of Interactions & Attractions! Join us as we speak with Visit NC’s Executive Director and the 2022 State Tourism Director of the Year, Wit Tuttell! We’re talking all things new year, new plans, and new programming for 2024 in North Carolina. Be sure to check out https://partners.visitnc.com/ to learn more about how to get involved with Visit NC...

Join us to talk with UPLIFT’s Program Coordinator, Jesarela Valle! Jesa is a Honduran native with a passion for multicultural tourism. Her degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Appalachian State University helped her gain more than seven years of experience. Jesa has supported various citywide events and programming for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Center in Durham, North Carolina. We thank...

Get to know Dr. Patricia Ferguson, the President and Founder of Equity Films! Dr. Ferguson has a lifetime of service as an extraordinarily passionate public servant, author, community leader, renowned speaker, teacher, and expert facilitator. Drawing on more than 30 years of public and community service, she has spent a lifetime working on behalf of children and families in rural and underrepresen...

Join us for a happy hour episode as we talk with Halle Butvin. Halle is the director of special projects at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. She leads the Center's cultural vitality work around the world, designing collaborative projects to support communities in their efforts to safeguard their heritage, promote cultural expression, and elevate cultural practices to impr...

Get to know Marquis Crews! Marquis is a Grant Manager with the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO), with a portfolio that covers water, sewer, broadband infrastructure, economic development, workforce development, and tourism. Marquis comes to NCPRO with a Master's in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University and 12 years of experience in rural community and economic...