Ever wonder what happens when a part-time high school job turns into a life’s work and a community legacy? We sit down with Lori Morris to chart a rare arc: from a 17-year-old filing papers at White Insurance to becoming an owner, mentor, and steady hand in Black Mountain and Swannanoa. It’s a grounded story about choosing to stay, building trust one small task at a time, and discovering that home can be the most ambitious place to grow.

We walk through the milestones that matter: buying a first car, saving through late-night side gigs, and purchasing a first house at 22. Lori opens up about the responsibilities and rewards of ownership, the guidance of the White family, and how succession planning keeps a hometown agency resilient. She also shares how the industry has changed—monthly shifts in rules, rising customer expectations, and why the next wave of talent will pair service instincts with digital fluency. From practical AI that speeds up policy checks to simple tools that cut everyday waste, we explore how curiosity keeps a mature business nimble.

Beyond the office, Lori’s life is stitched into the valley: Saturday coffees, local shops, and restaurants she can recommend at a moment’s notice. At home, the Morris compound hums with family ties and a pasture where two horses now graze, a reminder that care and constancy reach beyond work hours. If you’re weighing whether to leave your hometown or invest in it, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what roots can do—steady a career, enrich a family, and strengthen a community that keeps giving back. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves small-town stories, and leave a review to tell us: what keeps you rooted?

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What does it take to move from emergency response to real, lasting recovery—and why would a relief worker choose to stay long after the chainsaws go quiet? We sit with Operation Blessing’s Bob Burke, who arrived after the storm to clear trees, tarp roofs, and deliver water, then found a home in the Swannanoa Valley. Bob opens up about the pivot from short‑term aid to a two‑year plan restoring more than 500 homes, and how collaboration—not competition—turned scattered efforts into a coordinated network that actually works.

You’ll hear how partnerships with Valley Hope Church, YWAM, World Vision, and local nonprofits created a pipeline for materials, volunteers, and casework. Bob explains why a “base church” speeds up everything from housing teams to earning community trust, and how the Chamber helped surface quiet needs through business owners and neighbors. He also pulls back the curtain on the difference between what visitors see on Main Street and the ongoing work up in the hills—bridge washouts, homes off foundations, and families still waiting for repairs after 15 months.

Recovery isn’t just residential. Bob walks us through reopening beloved local spots: helping Okie Dokies get back, supporting a Taekwondo studio, and pitching in with Asheville’s River Arts District and marquee spaces that many Black Mountain artists rely on. Along the way, we talk about the overlooked economic engine of volunteer crews who eat local, shop local, and keep cash flowing during slow seasons. And we make space for joy—favorite hikes like Lookout and Catawba Falls, the playful chaos of kids at Valley Hope, and the serendipity of joining a parade at the last minute because the town needed a truck and a friend.

If you’re curious how communities truly rebuild—or you’re weighing a move to Western North Carolina—this story offers a grounded view of resilience, belonging, and the everyday choices that stitch a valley back together. Listen, share with a neighbor who cares about local recovery, and subscribe for more stories that celebrate the pride of our community and the magic of the mountains.

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A hometown can change your taste—and your life. Cheryl sits down with Black Mountain native Ali Whitman to trace a winding path from teenage restlessness to culinary roots, from Atlanta classrooms to Asheville kitchens, and finally to a Japanese-influenced steakhouse that’s reimagining what “fine dining” feels like in the Swannanoa Valley.

We dig into Black Mountain’s transformation from a few familiar spots to a destination with 38 independent eateries and a thriving arts scene. Ali shares how small policy shifts, hands-on mentors, and years spent opening ambitious restaurants prepared her and chef Jake to craft something new: a moody, cellar-like space where wagyu shares the stage with elk, duck, and pristine fish, and where Japanese technique sharpens every bite. It’s a steakhouse built on sourcing, texture, and restraint—more about the quality of the cut than what’s sprinkled on top—and a service style that’s present, intuitive, and never intrusive.

Beyond the menu, this is a story about a family raising a five-year-old in a mountain town rich with parks, youth sports, YMCA swim lessons, and the magic of glassblowing. We talk pricing and accessibility, why locals and visitors both matter, and how to make value obvious without losing approachability. If you’re curious about Black Mountain’s culinary rise, the craft behind memorable service, and the heart it takes to open doors in a small town, this conversation will meet you where you are—and maybe inspire your next reservation.

If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can discover the pride and magic of the Valley.

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