Ever wondered what happens when you join your local Chamber of Commerce but never show up? Jessica Kanupp, Director of Member Marketing and Sales at the Asheville Chamber, calls this the "ultimate missed opportunity" in this energetic conversation with host Bill Gilliland.
As Asheville continues rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, Jessica shares encouraging signs of business recovery throughout the region. "People are pivoting and restructuring," she explains, noting increased inquiries and reopenings in Biltmore Village and the River Arts District. Her message is clear: "Asheville is open!" This resilience mirrors what Jessica witnessed during COVID, providing valuable perspective on how communities can bounce back from successive challenges.
The Asheville Chamber serves as more than just a networking organization—it's an umbrella for economic development, workforce development, entrepreneurship through Venture Asheville, visitor services, public policy, and research. With five networking groups and multiple daily events, the Chamber offers countless ways for businesses to connect. Jessica's advice? "Try different events with different departments. You'll meet different people each time."
Bill introduces his BE EPIC framework for business success: Bring Energy, Education, Planning, Inspiration, and Commitment. Jessica's reflections on each element reveal how her enthusiasm stems from genuine belief in the Chamber's value, how parenthood transformed her approach to planning ("I'm a logistics coordinator now!"), and how her commitment to members manifests in personalized connections despite having over 1,700 businesses to serve.
The upcoming Asheville Business Summit, scheduled near the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, represents community resilience in action. As Jessica notes, "Our success or your success, their success is our success." Join us at wncsummit.com to be part of this powerful event where business education meets community rebuilding.

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All the best!
Bill

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All the best!

Bill