Small Business Center
We believe in the power of storytelling, especially along the small business journey.
Here are some of our stories.
From Nursing to Wellness Coaching: How the Small Business Center Helped Launch Rock Solid Transformation
Meet Peatra. After more than three decades as a registered nurse, Peatra is building something deeply personal through her new business, Rock Solid Transformation. Rooted in holistic wellness, her mission is to help people become healthier, more balanced versions of...
Growing Something New: Zin Garden Takes Root in Concord
Meet Kate. After more than three decades in nursing, Kate never imagined she would one day build a business rooted in flowers, soil and seasonal rhythms. What began as a personal passion steadily grew into something more. Kate cares for others as a nurse practitioner...
Designing Joy: Melanie Builds a Business Rooted in Creativity and Celebration
Meet Melanie. A Concord resident and owner of “Did Someone Say Balloons”, Melanie is bringing moments of joy, color and connection to celebrations across Cabarrus County. What started as a creative curiosity during a difficult season has grown into a thriving business...
Building Something New: Entrepreneur Turns Adversity into Opportunity
Meet Don Zufall. A veteran with a background in mechanical engineering and years of hands-on experience in high-pressure environments. Don never imagined he would one day be running a thriving soap manufacturing business from his home. However, life has a way of...
From Idea to Impact: The Story of Accented Glory
Meet Tonya Cross. She’s the Salisbury resident, founder and designer behind Accented Glory, a handcrafted accessories brand rooted in culture, creativity and meaning. What began as a personal solution became a business that now reaches customers across the country...
Stitching Together a New Beginning: Red Bird Thread Co. Finds its Home
Meet Sammie. Today, she is the owner of Red Bird Thread Co., a bright and inviting sewing and art supply shop inside The District Exchange, a new retail and dining hub in Downtown Concord. Red Bird Thread Co. is a place filled with color, creativity, and community,...
Brewing Connection: Soul Spire Café Builds Community Around Coffee and Creativity
Meet Christine. As the founder of Soul Spire Café, Christine blends her lifelong love of coffee with a deep desire to build community. Her vision is to build a creative hub in Cabarrus County where creatives, artists, makers and musicians can come together over a...
From Beer to Bakery: Barley Jean’s Builds a Business Rooted in Creativity and Community
Meet Melissa and Mark. Together, they own Barley Jean’s Bakery, which is about to begin a fresh chapter inside the newly opened District Exchange in Downtown Concord. Their first retail location will offer fresh-baked goods, dog treats and seasonal favorites in a...
Inspiring Others Through Words: How Yvonne Turned a Lifelong Passion Into a Business
Meet Yvonne. For as long as she can remember, Yvonne has been filling notebooks with poetry, stories, and family history. Writing was her outlet as a young girl, a way to process her feelings and capture the stories told within her family. Over the years, that passion...
Two Innovators, One Groove: The Makings of a Business
Meet Shrop. As a longtime creative, software developer and strategist, Mark “Shrop” Shropshire has been building digital solutions since the early days of the internet. Now, alongside creative partner Bayo Fodeke, he co-leads FocalGroove, a growing business rooted in...