Interactions & Attractions, hosted by Carol Kline, a Tourism Professor at Appalachian State University, will feature conversations with tourism industry experts, community leaders, and state partners! Join us as we ask them about the experiences and interactions that led them into their fields and learn about some of their favorite attractions their local regions have to offer!
Secrets of the Slopes: Leadership, Gold Cards, and Skiing Fundamentals
Join us as we talk with Kimberly Jochl! From ski racing to leading Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, Kim’s journey has been shaped by discipline, resilience, and a deep respect for community. As a member of the United States Alpine Ski Team from ages sixteen to twenty-three, she experienced both success and failure at the highest level, navigated the trauma of injuries, and gained a rare, firsthand view of the world through international competition.
After stepping away from racing, Kim began her career at Sugar Mountain Resort and worked her way from weed eater to Vice President, learning the business from the ground up. That climb reinforced her belief that loyalty, hard work, and respect still matter, especially in an industry built on relationships and shared responsibility.
Stay connected with Kim and all things skiing in NC by visiting goskinc.com
16 Jan 2026
Beyond the Trailhead: How Access Can Build Advocacy
Join us as we talk with Maddie Bartosh, Trail Programs Manager at Rutherford Outdoor Coalition. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Maddie studied psychology and biology at Coastal Carolina University before heading to Western North Carolina to work with ROC. She served two 11-month terms as an AmeriCorps Trails and Education Coordinator, where she led trail workdays across 18.5 miles of trail in Rutherford County, guided outings on local trails and the Broad River, and helped coordinate youth education programs.
That experience sparked a deep love for outdoor recreation, especially sustainable trail building, land stewardship, and youth education. Now as Trail Programs Manager, Maddie oversees trail programming, strengthens partnerships with groups like Conserving Carolina and the Carolina Climbers’ Coalition, and continues to engage volunteers and community members in meaningful outdoor work. She is currently developing a Regenerative Tourism Program for the Lake Lure area and a streambank restoration plan for the Broad River following Hurricane Helene, both aimed at connecting more people to the land and waters that make Rutherford County special.
3 Dec 2025
Growing Greenville: How a City Connects People and Place
Join us as we talk with Andrew Schmidt! Andrew D. Schmidt, CDME, CHME, MPA is a thirty-year veteran of the hospitality industry with a mix of hotel, destination marketing, and academic background. Andrew has worked with the Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Greenville, NC) in various capacities for thirty years and currently serves as the President & CEO for the CVB and Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission. Andrew was an Adjunct Faculty Member of the ECU School of Hospitality Leadership from 2001-2016 and currently serves on the North Carolina Travel & Tourism Board, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Board, and as Chair of the NC Sports Association. Andrew holds a graduate degree from East Carolina University in the field of Public Administration and received his undergraduate degree from ECU as well. Andrew lives in Greenville, North Carolina with his wife Kim and they have five adult children. Be sure to stay up to date on what's going on in Greenville at https://www.visitgreenvillenc.com/ and stay tuned for their upcoming Pirate Fest happening in April of next year: https://www.piratefestnc.com/. Thanks for tuning in!
Inside a recent episode
From Leaky Roofs to Creative Hub: The STARworks Story
Published 14 Jun 2024 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I think the first thing that a lot of people notice when they come to Star Works is just an amazing creative energy, I think. Our main focus has always been providing a great environment for some of the world's best artists to make some of the world's best art. And we do it right here in Star North Carolina in the middle of Montgomery County. It's a very small rural area. So it's I think sometimes very surprising for people to find out the caliber of artists that we have coming here from all over the world. But it's also very much a community place. So we do events all year round monthly that bring in the local communities so that they can see what we're doing and that they also have an opportunity to engage with the artists that we have coming here. […]
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