Business
Smoky Mountain News
Haywood Eye Care celebrates 70 years Haywood Family Eye Care has been a fixture of eye care in Western North Carolina for nearly 70 years. The practice was founded by Optometrist Eugene Harpe and was later joined by Dr. LeRoy Roberson, whose father had practiced as a primary care physician in Haywood County for many years. The two were involved in the community and still attend the Waynesville Rotary Club meetings. Numerous current patients who grew up in Haywood County recall getting their very first pair of glasses as a child from Dr. Harpe. After graduating valedictorian of her class at UAB School of Optometry, Dr. Aimée McBride joined Haywood Family Eye Care. She took over ownership when Dr. Roberson retired after 40 years in practice. In 2016, she was joined by her classmate, Dr. Tommy Pinkston. Both doctors McBride and Pinkston are married, and each have three young children. As the practice grew, they had the need to add an associate doctor. In 2020, Dr. Lora Cretella joined the practice. Although not from Haywood County, she grew up in Charlotte and spent many weekends competing in clogging competitions in Maggie Valley. She is thrilled to now be able to call this area home. Haywood Family Eye Care continues to serve the residents of Western N.C. with the same compassion and excellence that have been a part of the practice since its inception. The office recently moved from its Main Street location in downtown Waynesville to a new state-of-the-art facility at 1604 Sulphur Springs Road in Hazelwood.
Gwen’s Speech Therapy opens The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Gwen’s Speech Therapy located at 310 Terrell Road. “At Gwen’s Speech Therapy we do not believe in one general broad-spectrum approach because every person that comes through our door is a unique individual with their own set of needs,” said Owner Gwen Fowler-Berken. “We believe our clients deserve the best care possible. That is why we pride ourselves on getting to know each and every one of our clients to build a unique approach tailored to the individual’s goals and needs.” Call 828.371.3940 or visit gwenspeech.com.
TekTone donates nurse-call system to SCC In order for aspiring nurses to fully experience what daily life will be like in their new careers, they need exposure to the same equipment they’ll use in area hospitals and other healthcare facilities. That’s why TekTone of Franklin recently designed, donated and installed a Tek-CARE Nurse Call System in Southwestern Community College’s new Health Sciences Center. Valued at $39,615, the system allows patients to communicate immediately with nurses anytime they have a need or concern. At SCC, it allows students to simulate a real hospital room experience as they can make a
connection to the “nurses’ station,” where classmates can fill out a chart on a computer and use a phone to respond to the call system. This was not the first time TekTone provided equipment and support to SCC’s Health Sciences students. When the college installed its first simulation lab in 2017, TekTone donated a Tek-CARE 400P5 nurse call system. For the latest project, TekTone engineers attended SCC construction meetings and designed the Tek-CARE® system specifically to meet the new facility’s needs. For more information about TekTone, visit tektone.com.
HCC receives $1 million DOL grant Haywood Community College was selected by the Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, to receive a grant in the amount of $1.196 million for Project UP, a program to support the development of short-term training programs in construction. The grant is part of the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative and is designed to build the workforce in our area and upskill the talent of those participating in the program. Twenty-three grants were awarded, two of which went to North Carolina. “Providing opportunities to gain critical job skills is the heart of our mission as a community college,” explains HCC President Shelley White. “We are excited to have been selected for this grant and look forward to strengthening partner-
ships and building new relationships through Project UP.” HCC will partner with the Haywood County Detention Center, Southwestern Workforce Development Board, and construction, plumbing and HVAC businesses in the county to implement a training program to target local workforce needs. This initiative will provide a pathway of rehabilitation for individuals who’ve been incarcerated and re-entry into the workforce with GED certification and job skills training. The program will also serve as a pipeline of entry-level talent in the construction industry for businesses. The first construction course will start next summer while GED classes are available now. Upon completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to obtain a 10-hour OSHA Card and NCCER credentials after passing the exams with a 70% or higher. For more information, call 828.564.5128 or email ddburchfield@haywood.edu.
Hellcat Tattoo opens in Franklin The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Hellcat Tattoo to the Franklin community. Located at 129 Commons Drive in the Walmart Shopping Center, Hellcat Tattoo was founded in 2003 in West Palm Beach, Florida, by Dave Porter and was named after Dave’s grandfather’s tank destroyer battalion in WW2. Porter has 28 years of experience and is a United States Marine Corps veteran. He brings the core values and principles
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taught in the Marines to the tattoo industry. He moved his permanent residence to Franklin in October 2020 and recently opened his second shop. “Our West Palm Beach location has been in operation for over 18 years and is staffed by six world-class artists,” he said. “These artists will rotate through the shop here in Franklin periodically and we will also offer a variety of guest artists multiple times per year.” Visit www.hellcattattoo.com or call 828.558.3122.
Lisa Kim Fisher joins SCC Southwestern Community College has named Lisa Kim Fisher as the new Vice President for Financial & Administrative Services. A seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting, Fisher most recently owned an accounting and consulting business in Bryson City. She previously served as the Finance Reporting/Forensic Audit Manager/Senior Internal Auditor for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and she’s also worked for Mission Hospital, General Electric, PhyCor and South Eastern Pathology. Fisher is replacing William Brothers, who has accepted the role of Dean for the School of Education and Professional Studies at Greenville Technical College. “Lisa Kim brings extremely impressive qualifications and experience to Southwestern,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC President. “We are fortunate to have someone so capable to take over this vital role, and I look forward to working with her.” Fisher holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration in accounting, both from the University of South Florida. In 2011, she moved to Swain County full-time. “Living in the community since I moved here, I’ve always heard great things about SCC,” Fisher said. “I worked with people who graduated from Southwestern, and I’m a huge fan of the early college. I wish they’d had an opportunity like that when I was raising my son. I’m so impressed with everything I’ve seen so far at Southwestern, and I’m excited about this opportunity.”
Smart recognized by Farm Bureau The Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was recently held at the Convention Center in Raleigh. Congratulations to Haywood County Farm Bureau President Donald Smart, who was recognized among his peers at the Presidents’ and Agents’ Luncheon. Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding presented each winning county president with a limited edition Case knife. Each county’s agency force worked hard to qualify their county president for this recognition. Special plaques were also presented to the agents and agencies whose production was superior during the contest period.
