The Best of LKN

Lancaster Docks notes In this episode of The Best of LKN podcast, Jeff travels to Troutman and sits down with Mark Lancaster. Mark is the owner of Lancaster Custom Dock & Lift Systems - a company that has been serving Lake Norman homeowners and businesses for nearly 40 years. Mark shares the story of his entrepreneurial journey and the principles upon which his company was founded. Lancaster C...

Mike Calinoff is the founder of Doglogics, a dog training company based in Mooresville, North Carolina and serving the entire Lake Norman region. Mike is known as one of the most effective dog trainers in the area. He likes to say that he’s actually in the dog evaluation business, and he trains humans. In this episode, Mike addresses some common questions dog owners have about training their dogs....

Traci Shaffner is the owner of The Cabin Pub - a lovely little waterfront bar in Davidson at the North Harbor cove.  In this podcast episode, Traci shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey and the inspiration for buying The Cabin Pub in 2023. Listen in as Traci shares details about their cocktail program, live entertainment, as well as the products she’s curating for her guests from veteran...

Carolina Farm Trust is a nonprofit organization on a mission to strengthen local food systems. Their vision: A region in which food systems promote social, environmental, and economic resilience. Zack Wyatt is the President and CEO of Carolina Farm Trust. Zack first joined The Best of LKN podcast back in 2021 on episode 45. Since then, Carolina Farm Trust has grown from a team of two to more than...

Brown Bag Seafood Co. is a fast-casual seafood restaurant located in the heart of Birkdale Village. Founder Donna Lee joins the podcast to share the story of her entrepreneurial journey and the inspiration behind the Brown Bag Seafood concept. We wrote about Brown Bag Seafood Co. on the blog last year - click here to read the article. Brown Bag Seafood Co. | Birkdale Village 16915 Birkdale Commons...

Remedy is a fashion boutique in Cornelius featuring fine clothing for men and women along with fabulous accessories. Owner Ashley Marsh sits down with Jeff in this episode and shares the story behind Remedy, from the buildout of the shop in early 2020, to the evolution of the brand in 2023 and beyond. Enjoy getting to know the owner of one of Lake Norman’s best fashion boutiques! Remedy 19911 N Co...

Magnify Marketing is an agency based in Davidson, North Carolina that specializes in producing thumb-stopping content, creative media production, and applying next-level brand strategies for small businesses. Founder Amery Glenn joins the podcast to share the inspiration for launching her own agency. She also shares some great digital marketing tips and and advice for small business owners. As per...

Ascend Health and Wellness is a premier sports, HRT, and medical weight loss practice in Mooresville, North Carolina. Founder Brandon Valent joins the podcast to share the inspiration behind Ascend Health and Wellness. Brandon has years of experience in the medical field including emergency, psychiatry, medical weight loss, and hormone therapy. Ascend Health & Wellness 136 Stutts Rd #4 Mooresv...

Alair Lake Norman is a custom home builder and remodeling company based in Davidson, NC. Business partners David Bengston and Susan Violette join the podcast to share the inspiration behind the company and details about the scope of their home building and remodeling expertise. Before we close, David and Susan share some excellent advice for homeowners who are considering taking on a major home re...

Robert Burns II is a highly acclaimed wedding & event photographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode, Robert joins the podcast to share details about his journey in professional wedding photography. He also shares some great advice for couples planning their big day. Robert also shares the exciting announcement of his new publication: BRIDE Magazine! This E-zine was thoughtfu...

Six Work Coworking is Lake Norman’s hottest new place to call your “work home.” Six Work offers numerous membership options, including private offices, social suites, dedicated desks, and affordable “flex” membership plans. Jeanette Crump is the Operations Director at Six Work, and she sits down with me in this episode to share the story behind Lake Norman’s most innovative coworking office. Six W...

Mattress Express is a locally owned mattress store serving the Lake Norman area with stores in Mooresville and Cornelius. Co-owner Neal Jackson joins the podcast to share the story behind the business. Listen in as Neal shares some great stories about his local business making a difference in the community.  Neal also explains some of the important advantages consumers have when shopping for a new...

Mark Kale is the owner and President of Lake Norman Marina, the area’s largest family-owned marina on Lake Norman, North Carolina. In this episode, I sit down with Mark at Lake Norman Marina as he shares the history of one of Lake Norman’s oldest businesses. Established in 1974, Lake Norman Marina is Charlotte’s largest volume boat dealer. They carry Bennington Pontoons, Cobalt Boats, Malibu Wake...

Jenny Pippin is an award-winning home designer and the founder of Pippin Home Designs. Jenny has designed thousands of custom homes around the Lake Norman area, as well as in other parts of the country. Jenny specializes in designing fully supportive custom homes, and she has an eye for maximizing the views for each property. In this episode, Jenny shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey,...

KS Audio Video is a high end home and office technology company based in Cornelius, North Carolina. They specialize in high-end audio/video systems installations for both residential homes and commercial buildings. In this episode, Nathan Ziegler and Quincy Hamilton join me to share the story behind KS Audio Video and details about the amazing technology their teams are bringing to homes around th...

The team at Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club returns to share all the amenities offered within their marina.  Harry Smith is the marina manager at SHPYC, and he tells me all about his journey with the club and the ways that their members enjoy the marina. Nikole Maust, the Assistant General Manager at Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club, also joins us to answer more of my questions about the Social M...

Joining me for this podcast episode is the founder and executive director of UrbanPromise Charlotte, Jimmy McQuilkin. UrbanPromise Charlotte is an organization that’s on a mission to provide Charlotte’s children and youth with the spiritual, academic, and social development necessary to become Christian leaders determined to restore their communities. During our conversation, Jimmy shares the insp...

Erin Santos is the founder and Executive Director of the Isabelle Santos Foundation - a Charlotte-based nonprofit that is dedicated to improving rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to increase survival rates of kids with cancer.  Over the course of fifteen years, ISF has funded nearly $7 million toward expanding the scope of research and treatment and supporting families dealing w...

Janelly Rosales joins me to share the details about an exciting event coming to Cornelius next week. Janelly is the Economic Development Specialist with the Mecklenburg Office of Economic Development, and she has spearheaded the creation of a special engagement for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The event is called Township Connections, and it’s an opportunity for small businesses to learn ab...

Captain Matt, the owner of Carolina Cruising Charters, joins the podcast this week to share details about some exciting additions to his company for 2024.  Matt also shares what the journey has been like so far for his business which has seen exponential growth in just a few years. Carolina Cruising Charters Support the show

Kayla Logue joins the podcast this week to share details about her upcoming book, “Always Squeezing Lemons” and her nonprofit, Move Into Words. Stick around for details about the next in-erpson event for Move Into Words, being held in Huntersville at Rock Box Fitness on Saturday, April 27th at 11AM. I’ll have a link in the show notes with more information. Thanks for subscribing and following The...

Joining me in this episode are the owners of ISI Elite Training in Cornelius. Jason and Denette share the story behind their entrepreneurial journey and the inspiration behind bringing the ISI fitness concept to Cornelius. I recently joined ISI Elite Training in Cornelius, and I’m currently in my third week. I’ll share my thoughts so far on the other side of my conversation with Jason and Denette....

Gaby Abad joins the podcast to share some great tips for anyone considering a home purchase this year. Gaby is a senior loan advisor with Mutual of Omaha Mortgage and Keller Home Loans. During our conversation, Gaby shares the story of how her career led her to the mortgage industry and how rewarding it is to help families navigate the purchase one of the biggest investments they’ll ever make. Gab...

Lauren Crafton joins me for this episode to talk about her startup company, Roth ID Tag. Lauren shares the story of Roth ID Tag including the heartbreaking inspiration behind the company.  Lauren and her team are on a mission to save lives and bring comfort and security to families who are met with tragic circumstances.  I’m looking forward to introducing you to Lauren and sharing her story with y...

This episode is all about bartaco at Birkdale Village. General Manager Zach Guathier joins me to share some information about bartaco and details about their upcoming Grand Opening Party - a fun soiree that will benefit Cool Kids Clubhouse.  Zach will share more details about the Grand Opening Party during our conversation. Tickets are on sale now, so check the show notes or our email newsletter f...