Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship

Clifton Taulbert is a noted author, consultant, entrepreneur, and speaker. He was a founding member of a de novo bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which later sold, and today he serves as a director of the Central bank of Oklahoma. Clifton is also the president and CEO of the Freemount Consultancy where he works as a human capital development consultant. This role has garnered him opportunities to address business and academic audiences nationally and internationally. He has presented at Charles Sturt University Business School in Australia, Harvard University Principals Center, the United States Air Force Academy, the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, Bank of America, ONEOK Pipeline Company, BMW, and the Oklahoma Bankers Association Clifton has spoken to K-12 educators from the Mississippi Delta to China and has influenced international school leaders throughout Central America.

 As an author, Clifton has written 15 books to date. His first book, Once Upon A Time When We Were Colored, became a national bestseller, a major motion picture, and a requested gift for Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison. Eight Habits of the Heart garnered him an invitation by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to address members of the court and their invited guests. Clifton’s literary work ignited the journey that has taken him throughout the world. 

In 2017, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, President of the American Foreign Service Association, presented Clifton with the 2017 Citizen Diplomat Award, the highest honor given by Global Ties U.S. under the auspices of the United States Department of State. In 2018, he was asked by the University of Utah to open their 2018 Fulbright Scholars Innovation Conference, where he spoke to one hundred and twenty scholars from around the world. Clfiton's address, The Revival of the Inquisitive Mind, was widely enjoyed at the U.S. State Department-sponsored conference.

According to Clifton, he could have failed had he not encountered community builders and entrepreneurial thinkers early on in his life. He was born in the Mississippi Delta during the era of legal segregation. Though opportunities were few and barriers were plentiful, Clifton managed to dream of being successful, not knowing the shape that success would take.

Clifton was valedictorian of his high school class and is a graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

Author and Entrepreneur Gary Schoeniger is an internationally recognized thought leader in the field of entrepreneurial mindset education. His message has influenced a broad audience from academic institutions and economic development organizations to government and non-profit clients worldwide including the Ewing Marion  Kauffman Foundation, the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, the Colombian Ministry of Education, the U.S. State  Department, and the European Commission. 

As the Founder and CEO of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, Gary led the development of the Ice House  Entrepreneurship Program, which has been recognized by the Kauffman Foundation as “redefining entrepreneurship education in classrooms and communities around the world.” The Ice House Program has been featured at the United  Nations General Assembly, the Papal Council for Peace and Justice at the Vatican, and the European Commission in Brussels. Schoeniger, along with Pulitzer nominee Clifton Taulbert, is also the co-author of Who Owns the Ice  House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur, an international bestseller described as “required reading  for humanity.” 

With his focus on the entrepreneurial mindset, Gary has presented numerous keynotes, workshops, and training programs throughout the U.S. and abroad, including the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Rio de Janeiro and  Moscow as well as speaking and training programs in Cape Town, Athens, London, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Mexico  City, Sofia, Santiago, Aberdeen, Nicosia, Zagreb, Tbilisi, and Baku. 

Gary is currently a member of the Forbes Business Council, the Dean’s Council at Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and an advisory council member for Tecnologico de Monterrey’s Tec21 model to produce graduates in Mexico with an entrepreneurial spirit and humanistic outlook for the 21st Century. Gary also served as a past board member for the Hershey Montessori School in Concord, Ohio.

Tracy Alston is a mental fitness consultant, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, board-certified in Biofeedback and neurofeedback by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), a radio host for the Mental Fitness Matters show on WSIC radio station that airs weekly on Thursdays from 8:30 am to 9:00 a.m. on 105.9, 100.7FM, 1400AM.  

Tracy is the Founder and CEO of two companies located in Mooresville, N.C., New Mentality (www.newmentalityinc.com ),  and Mental Edge Fitness Solutions, Inc. (www.mentaledge-fitness.com). 

Tracy’s passion is creating innovative strategies and solutions for improving the mental health and mental fitness of her clients, companies and the world. Tracy draws on her extensive training as well as her own athletic experience to help her clients. A graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., Alston earned top academic honors and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. She attended Wake Forest on a full athletic scholarship, playing four years in the Atlantic Coast Conference as a shooting guard and small forward on the Wake Forest women’s basketball team. During her basketball career, she received the Distinguished All ACC-Defender award. She also holds a dual master’s degree in community agency counseling with school licensure from Lenoir-Rhyne University, in Hickory, N.C., where she also served as an assistant women’s basketball coach.

Tracy’s academic, athletic and professional experiences have allowed her the opportunity to work with people from all over the world. Throughout her experiences and by working with people from all walks of life and on all levels of success, Tracy has come to realize that the biggest factor for people performing at their peak is their mind and their mental fitness.

Yolanda Adams, Q'Pasa Appalachia

Yolanda Adams, originally from Bogotá Colombia, came to the High Country in 2002. She holds a two-year degree in Business Administration from Broward Community College in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, her original home when she moved from Bogota, Colombia, in 1992.
 
Among Yolanda's most recent accomplishments, she was awarded the 2020 Baker/Jones Women of the Year Award presented by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce for her leadership, mentorship, and community involvement in Watauga County Schools and Q’Pasa Appalachia.  Yolanda is currently doing a Fellowship with LatinxEd.

Scott Gray, Small Business and Technology Development Center

Scott is an Adjunct Professor and Business Counselor at Appalachian State University.  With a diverse background in sustainability and finance, he brings an open mind to all conversations.  Also, having a past in the fintech arena and academia, it allows Scott to bring a unique perspective to the table. Counseling small businesses in the High Country has allowed for real rubber meets the road application.   "There is nothing more unsustainable than a bankrupt business." 

Tim Herdklotz, Booneshine Brewing Company

Tim helped create and launch Booneshine Brewing in Boone, North Carolina, a microbrewery, tasting room, and restaurant. Prior to Booneshine, Tim spent 20 years working in the electronic payments industry.

Tim’s corporate experience includes software development, product management, technical sales, business development, and business unit management.

Alicia Green, EddyLine Creative

Alicia has been working in the creative field for over 10 years with her most recent work coming in the world of Brand Development and Marketing with the international Auto Belay Brand of Perfect Descent and local adventure companies High Gravity Adventures and Aerial Adventure Technologies. Through her new company, EddyLine Creative, Alicia is aligning her personal perspectives and professional skills to help companies hone their unique brand story through intentional brand and market study and artistic integrity. As a lifelong photographer, she tells visual stories through meaningful imagery, effective website designs, and targeted email and social media promotions for brands that generate action, interest, and revenue. With an intense focus on the brand’s voice, goals, and a deep understanding of their target audiences, Alicia is able to help companies navigate the waters of branding to tell the best story to the right people and get them back in the current where the action is.

Jessica Stansberry, Hey Jessica!

Jessica helps burnt-out service providers and struggling newbie ‘preneurs ditch clients so they can make more money, and have more freedom, with passive income. If you’ve ever wanted to create an online course, grow your email list, be a content creator, or even rock affiliate marketing, Jessica is your girl with courses and TONS of free content to point you in the right direction. She throws down booty-kicking advice on her weekly podcast, Hey Jessica Radio, on her YouTube channel, and blog and shows up every day on Instagram to make sure the tips never stop coming.

Jonathan Carpenter, Lazarus Design Team

With a background in marketing and entrepreneurship and an MBA in International Business, Jonathan is passionate about building and growing companies. As a co-founder, he works behind the scenes on all projects making sure the team is on track in providing the best design work for our clients.

April Lambert, Vice President Finance & Operations at United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County

April has 15 years of professional accounting experience in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. April has consulted for more than 50 clients in the social services, arts, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and many other fields. She is the co-founder of several businesses, including a communications and conferencing company and a letterpress print shop, and she has guided numerous entrepreneurs to launch and grow their own successful ventures. 

Boomer Sassman, Big Boom Design

With a degree from Appalachian State University in Industrial Design and a lifelong passion for web development, Boomer has been running Big Boom Design Inc, an Asheville, North Carolina, based Design agency since 2007. Boomer's passion for web development, coupled with a drive to “bridge the digital divide,” has resulted in a unique educational approach to empowering local business owners about the internet. He is a serial entrepreneur, designer, builder and all-around maker.

John Cornett, Cornettoco, LLC

John is a consultant, software developer, and cloud engineer with over 20 years of experience in many capacities. Throughout his career, John has y proven his abilities to develop architecture, strategy, design, and implementations to improve current conditions. Whether the indicators are increased profitability, efficiency, security, scalability, automation, cost reductions, or performance improvements, the goal is to always move in a positive direction and make smart decisions that positively impact his clients and their customers.

 Art Thompson, Center for Entrepreneurship Mentor

 Art was the Chief Executive Officer of Lane Furniture for 30 years. Art is a master in the field of marketing, branding as well as general management. He believes the most important element of success is passion. Art joined the CFE's mentoring program as a way to give back and he continues to be impressed by the Appalachian students he works with.

Bob Webb, Center for Entrepreneurship Mentor

Bob has over 40 years of construction industry business experience. He was the CEO of Myers & Chapman, a full-service construction company in the Southeast with additional roles as CIO, VP of Finance, Controller, and Human Resources. Bob's passion for learning and continuous improvement drives his current and active involvement in leadership development, strategic planning, sustainable practices, and entrepreneurship.

 Naren Guha, Ngenious Consulting

Naren is a serial entrepreneur and consultant innovating in online healthcare and other related emerging markets. He has developed and managed the creation of technology that can visually classify any dermatological ailment into a potential diagnosis through the use of a simple picture to provide helpful, easy to access, and accurate medical information for patients online. Digital marketing and SEO. Cryptocurrency trader and miner.

 James Wheeler, Co-Founder of Worxstr

James is an Appalachian State Computer Information Systems student and entrepreneur who is currently pursuing a new venture, Worxstr. James is committed to achieving excellence in both my professional and academic life through dedication, discipline, and effective networking.

Worxstr is a software platform that helps employers manage, pay, and track temporary labor. This simple but powerful tool increases manager productivity, contractor satisfaction, and contractor retention through effective management tools that facilitate transparent communication and a payment platform that makes same-day payments feasible and easy. Worxstr saves time and money by simplifying processes that govern transparency, record keeping, time-tracking, performance evaluation, payment, and general management of gig labor.