Written Interviews

May 2013 interview with Brad Ward, Vice President, Credit Manager at Asheville Savings Bank.

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Question

I see that you started out as a farm partner.  How did you get from that position to where you are now?

I grew up on a dairy farm in New York.   After attending Cornell, my first job was working for the federal government for what is now called Rural Development in at a farm loan program.  The family farm expanded and I went back and worked there.  Things didn’t work out quite the way I thought they would.  So then I got into banking, specifically ag lending.  New York State is one of the leading dairy producers in the country.  Agriculture is a big banking business in New York because farms are so capital intensive.  From there I went across to a local bank and became more involved in commercial and small business lending.

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Interview With Joe Brumit – Owner Of Brumit Restaurant Group

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Name: Joe Brumit

Company: Brumit Food Group

Interview Location: Joe’s Office In Asheville

1) Education
Started at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, but did not finish.

2) Background Information
a)When was your company started?
1988 was the year, the name was originally Winning Team. In 2007, a partner took control over the company. Shortly after, the company began doing poorly and I regained control. The name was changed to Brumit Restaurant Group (BRG)

b) Why did you start this company?
I already had exposure to this type of industry and I saw an opportunity to take an idea and use it correctly to make it big. My experience with the restaurant business is what drove me to make it a passion.

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Small Business Profile: The Practical Outdoorsman

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Wilson Love opened his store, The Practical Outdoorsman, at 327 New Leicester Highway in Asheville, North Carolina on June 1st, 2011, at age 58.  In doing so, Love accomplished a lifelong goal to become an entrepreneur.  Love explained, “I had always been an outdoorsman, and I always wanted to be an entrepreneur.”  Along the path that led him to opening the store, Love raised a family while working multiple other jobs, to include service in the United States Air Force, selling insurance, driving a delivery truck, and working construction.  For a long time Love liked the idea of being his own boss, but it was not until his wife made a suggestion that his business plan took shape.

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Written Interviews ENT 640

Interview with Brad Feld of Foundry Group

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Brad Feld is a top venture capitalist.  He founded Intensity Ventures, and co-founded Mobius Venture Capital, TechStars, and Foundry Group.  Companies he has invested in include: Harmonix, Zynga, CrowdTap, Cheezburger, CloudAbility, and awe.sm.  A more detailed portfolio and biography can be found at foundrygroup.com.

Mr. Feld is also an entrepreneur, author, and marathon runner.  He is a nationally recognized speaker, chair of the National Center for Women & Information Technology, co-chair of Startup Colorado, and he is on the board of UP Global.  The VC also authors several popular blogs: Feld Thoughts, Startup Revolution, and Ask the VC.  His most recent publication is Startup Life: Surviving and Thriving in a Relationship with an Entrepreneur, which came out earlier this year.  Mr. Feld is known for speaking his mind, and being very generous in answering all of his emails.  The following is my interview with Mr. Feld.

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