The Best of LKN
Welcome to The Best of LKN podcast! Here you’ll find a collection of interviews with the owners of Lake Norman’s favorite businesses. Small business is the heart and soul of a community, and The Best of LKN is here to shine a spotlight on the small businesses that are making the biggest impact here in the Lake Norman region of North Carolina.In addition to featuring exceptional small business owners, we’ll also be interviewing the most influential professionals that serve the LKN community. From bankers and realtors, to teachers and coaches, we look forward to introducing you to the best Lake Norman has to offer!We hope you enjoy these episodes. Thank you for following The Best of LKN!
Episodes
344 episodes
344: Kathleen O'Day & Daniel Schloss - Orangetheory Fitness (Mooresville & Cornelius)
Kathleen O’Day returns to the podcast—this time joined by her husband and business partner, Daniel—to share the story behind Orangetheory Fitness in Mooresville and Cornelius.Daniel talks about his journey from professional soc...
•
28:13
343: Courtney Nilsen - Carolina Roots Marketing
Courtney Nilsen, founder of Carolina Roots Marketing, shares how her journey from UNC journalism and sports marketing eventually led her back home to Lake Norman. Along the way she worked in the NBA, NASCAR, and even ran an online boutique b...
•
49:22
342: Case Warnemunde - Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
Case Warnemunde shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur in Cornelius, discussing his various ventures and the origins of the ‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival. He highlights the festival's growth, commun...
•
17:38
341: A.J. Taddonio - Accelerated Deliveries & Deliver Purpose
In this conversation, AJ Taddonio, founder of Accelerated Deliveries, shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the evolution of his business from furniture delivery to a nonprofit initiative called Deliver Purpose. <...
•
32:51
340: Ryan Smith - CR3 American Exteriors (North Charlotte)
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Ryan from CR3 American Exteriors to discuss his journey from Pittsburgh to Lake Norman, his career in construction and home building, and his leap into entreprene...
•
30:24
339: Mike Wolf - Cornelius Parks & Recreation Events
In this podcast episode, Jeff interviews Mike Wolf, the Recreation Superintendent of the Town of Cornelius Parks and Recreation Department. They discuss various upcoming community events, including the 25th All-...
•
18:52
338: Natalie & Ken Wood - Natalie Wood Designs & Boutique (Mooresville, NC)
Natalie and Ken Wood, founders of Natalie Wood Designs, share their journey of relocating to Mooresville, North Carolina, and the inspiration behind their jewelry and boutique business. They discuss their commit...
•
28:53
337: Brandi Jones - Angels & Sparrows Community Table
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Brandi Jones, Executive Director of Angels and Sparrows, a nonprofit serving families in the Lake Norman area. Brandi shares her journey from juvenile justice work and YMCA community im...
•
37:25
336: Megan Miller - Next Chapter Station Golf Classic
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lake Norman’s #1 Podcast & Email NewsletterThe Best of LKN
•
18:11
335: Stacy Sweeney - OPTI Health Lake Norman & OPTI Vets
In this episode of The Best of LKN Podcast, Jeff sits down with Stacy, co-founder of OptiHealth Lake Norman. Stacy shares her journey from Wyoming to North Carolina, raising nine children—six through adoption—and how personal experiences wit...
•
22:53
334: Amy Freeze - The Christian Mission
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Amy from The Christian Mission to spotlight the nonprofit’s 85 years of service in southern Iredell County. Amy shares her journey from ministry and development roles to leading impactf...
•
27:20
333: Mike Yarbrough - Rustic & Main
In this episode of the Best of LKN podcast, Jeff interviews Mike Yarbrough, the founder of Rustic & Main, a unique jewelry business specializing in handmade rings. Mike shares his journey from being a softwa...
•
33:42
332: Vine by Viridien - Luxe Outdoor Living
In this episode of The Best of LKN podcast, Jeff welcomes Ellen from Vine by Viridien, a new concept store focused on outdoor living spaces. They discuss the importance of outdoor living, the products and servic...
•
24:57
331: Ty Martin - Nightclubs Suck
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Ty Martin, a recent transplant to the Lake Norman area who has quickly immersed himself in the local community. Ty shares his background in commercial real estate, his move from the Nor...
•
27:27
330: Laura & John Tice - Tice Studios
In this episode, Jeff sits down with Laura and John Tice, the husband-and-wife duo behind TICE Studios, a Lake Norman–based video, photography, and audio production company. They share their journey from musicianship and agency work to launc...
•
1:03:15
329: Katelyn Graham - The Admin Effect
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff welcomes Katelyn Graham, founder and CEO of The Admin Effect, a Cornelius-based firm serving independent financial advisors nationwide. Katelyn shares her journey from broadcast...
•
31:16
328: Jeff Moree - Lake Norman Pickleball Association
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lake Norman’s #1 Podcast & Email NewsletterThe Best of LKN
•
39:32
327: Sara Lynn Brennan - Designing Luxury Living
In this episode of The Best of LKN Podcast, Jeff sits down with Sara Lynn Brennan, founder and CEO of Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors. Sara shares her journey from teaching biology to building one of Charlotte’s pre...
•
47:18
326: Mariano Doble - Davidson Village Inn & Vine Society
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff sits down with Mariano Doble, owner of the Davidson Village Inn and founder of Vine Society. Mariano shares the inspiring story of how he and his w...
•
51:25
325: Valerie Mano - Fully Promoted in Cornelius
Jeff sits down with Valerie Mano, owner of Fully Promoted Lake Norman in Cornelius, NC. Valerie shares her journey from France to the Caribbean to Lake Norman, and how she transitioned from a career in physical ...
•
28:03
324: Chelsea Kowalski - The Creative Force Behind @lakenormanexploring & @followourcompass
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff Hamm chats with Chelsea Kowalski, the creative force behind two standout Instagram accounts: @LakeNormanExploring and @FollowOurCompass. Chelsea shares how sh...
•
39:07
323: Skybrook Golf Club - New Toptracer Range is Open
In this episode of The Best of LKN, Jeff visits Skybrook Golf Club in Huntersville to chat with General Manager Matt Hill, a PGA professional with deep roots in the golf industry. Matt sha...
•
24:15
322: PostNet Cornelius - Supporting Small Businesses
In this episode, Jeff welcomes Morgan Bernard (Store Manager) and Sloan Adler (Assistant Manager) from PostNet Cornelius. As long-time collaborators and community champions, Morgan and Sloan share how PostNet se...
•
34:38
321: XHALE Construction - Meet Shawn Jessup & Bryan Lawson
Shawn Jessup and Bryan Lawson of XHALE Construction discuss their journey into the construction industry, focusing on high performance homes. They emphasize the importance of a holistic approach to home building, which prioritizes health, co...
•
54:17