Archive for the ‘Features’ Category

Innovations Home Design Center

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

GA: Deborah, we always have to ask where you are from, and where you went to school, etc.

Deborah: I’m from Upstate NY; Syracuse. I went to a local business school where I earned my Associates degree in Interior Design.  I am married, and my husband and I have a sweet Rottweiler named Wylie, who was named after his first fishing trip. My husband Robert always says he is second in line after Wylie.

GA: Tell us about Innovations Home Design. What do you specialize in?

Deborah: We are a full service home design firm, specializing in kitchen and bathroom design.   We opened the doors in January of this year, and we cater to builders and remodelers. But we also help a lot of homeowners, from do-it-yourself folks or those that need a lot of help, to some that just need a little added advice. We are a much more intimate place than a big box store. The good thing is you always get me- I care about your project, and will work with you to ensure that your experience is a good one.

GA: Do you primarily do kitchens, baths, both? Do you do anything else?

Deborah: We do a mixture of both. We also do outdoor kitchens, lighting, plumbing, flooring, counter tops and hardware. Our outdoor kitchens have really gotten popular.

GA What are you doing the most of right now?

Deborah: Right now we are doing a lot of bathrooms. By that I mean that folks are fully updating, taking out tubs, adding walk in showers, updating fixtures from polished brass to oil rubbed bronze or brushed nickel, and adding large tile and natural stone products.

GA: What is your background?

Deborah: I have 18 years experience in the construction industry, and I’ve worked on both residential & commercial projects. Kitchens are my favorite- I think it stems from my love of cooking. When I design a customers’ kitchen I visualize myself cooking there. I think it helps me make practical decisions regarding the placement of appliances, storage, & prep areas.

GA: Since we are talking about kitchens, what is your best or favorite recipe?

Deborah: Gosh, I love to cook a variety of things, and I usually cook from scratch. Ask the guys in here- I am always bringing them my “experiments”. I start with a recipe and put my signature on it.

GA: What is the biggest mistake home owners make, or biggest misconception they have when considering a remodel?

Deborah: That it is too expensive and is will take forever to complete. We’ve all heard the horror stories from our friends and family about their experiences. We have proven with experienced planning and execution of a project, that we can keep the customer on budget and complete a job in a reasonable amount of time.  We really can save you time and money. We do that by making sure we have everything lined up and ready, we estimate properly, and we have subs that bend over backwards and do things fast for us because of our reputation.

GA: Tell us about a recent project.

Deborah: I am working with a local business executive and his family on their new home. We helped them with all their cabinets, lighting, and plumbing fixtures, and took what was a rather plain kitchen and really jazzed it up. We consider how many people will actually be in the kitchen, do the husband and wife both cook, do they entertain, do they eat in the kitchen or prefer more formal dining, do the kids do homework in the kitchen, etc. The kitchen is often the hub of activity in the house.

GA: What are the trends in kitchens and baths right now?

Deborah: The environment is playing a key role in peoples choices. As a society we are becoming more aware of our impact on the earth, and our selections of products reflect that. Consumers are asking for Green Certified products, which we proudly endorse and provide.

GA: It sounds like you guys are great at what you do, and are very creative and fast, so I have to ask-are you expensive?

Deborah: We can help folks on a modest budget to someone that has been saving for years for their dream kitchen or bath. I tend to be fairly conservative with my money, so I try to be careful with customer’s money.

GA: Have you done any purple or zebra striped kitchens?

Deborah: Not yet! But I look forward to the challenge.

Exodus Church-Belmont,NC

Friday, July 9th, 2010

GA: Brian, where are you from? We hear that you like good ribs and movies where things blow up…

Brian:  I grew up in Mississippi, and lived in NC for ten years.  Married to Cheryl for fourteen years and we have four kids:  TJ, Nathan, Corinne and Elea.  I do enjoy those things.  I also like good coffee, time with friends, and anything with an Apple logo on it.

GA: Tell us about the staff at Exodus Church, and how many folks do you have as members?

Brian: I serve as Lead Pastor.  Nathan Chapman serves as Pastor of Worship and Community.  We have a tremendous team of volunteers who work in areas from Exodus Kids to Audio/Visual teams.  We are blessed with so many who want to serve.

GA: You and Nathan seem like you make a great team…

Brian: Nathan and Casey are a tremendous blessing to Exodus.  We have known one another for years.  Nathan and I met in Mississippi and have stayed connected.  His contagious passion for Jesus fuels our worship gatherings and his heart for people deeply influences our sense of community.  We are so blessed to have Nathan and his family at Exodus.

GA: You guys seem to cultivate sort of an “alternative” image-would you agree with that?

Brian:  I think we try to be who we are and worship Jesus as He is.  If that’s “alternate”, then we are ok with that.  But, alternate is a pretty relative term.  Churches that criticize all aspects of culture (music, fashion, etc) really fail to recognize that they have created their own culture as well (music, fashion, etc).  Both church culture and the culture at large have been created by men and therefore have to be examined through the Bible’s lens.  At Exodus, we try to express timeless truth in a way that connects today.

GA: How did the church get started?

Brian:  Exodus Church was planted from Parkwood Baptist Church who was very generous toward us by sending out people and other resources to help us launch.  Other churches have partnered with us as well including Venture, Flint Groves Baptist Church, Providence Church (Denver) and others.  We began meeting in my house in November 2008 sharing our vision for a new church planting church.  We held our first public service in March 2009 and began meeting weekly in June 2009.

GA: If  you had to describe Exodus Church in “ non-church” language to a non- member, what would you say?

Brian:  People tell me a couple of things when they visit with Exodus for worship.  First, they tell me how friendly our people are.  We really work on that…making our environment as friendly and open as possible.  Second, they tell me that they hear the truth about Jesus clearly communicated in the message and music.

GA: I know you guys look for ways to plug into the community-tell us about that.

Brian:  As we look around, we see that the community is doing a lot of things – Gharibaldi Festival, Friday Night Live, etc.  Rather than try to have our own things as Exodus, we try to be involved in what is already happening around us.  So, we had about 60 of our members serving at the Gharibaldi Festival to serve our community.  We are a young church, but we are actively trying to find more ways to invest in our community.

GA: Who is your congregation?

Brian:  We have a pretty diverse congregation.  We have singles, young families, not so young families.  We want Exodus to look like our communities and reflect the demographics of our community.

GA: What is the one thing you would most want people to know about Exodus Church?

Brian:  That we care deeply about Jesus and His Word.  We are a friendly, open place.  We want to be a place were its ok not to be ok.  But all of that is a result of caring deeply about Jesus and His Word.

GA: What is the one thing you don’t want people to know? (just a little humor here…)

Brian:  That we are not a perfect church…Because I have a tendency to worship image and perception, I want people to think Exodus is a perfect place.  But it’s not…because people are there.  If you are looking for a perfect church, you are on an impossible quest.

A Passion For Dance

Friday, June 11th, 2010
For a company that is 35 years old, there is certainly a lot of buzz and energy around Dance Specialties in Belmont. With dances of all ages streaming in and out, it is a happy, happening place. We met recently with owner and award winning choreographer  Heather Maree in her studio.
GA! Heather, first of all, let me say that you obviously have a passion for this-why do you love it so much?
Heather:Yes, I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to do something I truly love. Having the opportunity to make a positive difference in a child’s life is why I do this. Being able to see my work come alive through a dancer or group of dancers is an unbelievable, rewarding experience.
GA! What makes Dance Specialties different and special?
Heather:We are family owned and operated. We take pride in our classes being offered in a family atmosphere and we have a high level of dance instruction from our talented staff.
Our studio has won many prestigious awards-our most recent honor is being named  one of the “Top 50 Dance Studios” in the United States.
Over and beyond all the awards, our classes always end with a hug or a high five. We feel very proud of our staff/student relationships. There is a lot of love! I have parents tell me all the time, their child ask every day,” is it time to go to dance?”
GA! Why would a parent choose Dance Specialties?
Heather: Look for family and fun atmosphere, qualified instructors, a safe and convenient location, injury prevention dance floors and public praise is the best form of advertising.
Plus the history of this studio is an added bonus. We are on the second generation of some of our dance students. Many of our moms danced here for many years growing up and now they are bringing their little dancers. Even most of our staff grew up in the dance studio, went to college and continued to teach and inspire students through the art of dance. I think this exemplifies how Dance Specialties and the creativity of learning to dance touches peoples lives.
GA! What kinds of programs do you offer, and are there openings in all classes, or beginners, or..?
Heather: Dance Specialties offers classes for ages 3-adult. With classes offered in tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop and lyrical. Our dance season runs from mid August-June. Registration is in the summer and we have openings in most classes up until around the end of October. Some classes do fill up. We offer instruction on a recreational level and a competitive level. Our competition team is an audition process.
GA! What is the funniest or most unusual thing that has happened to you as an owner/instructor?
Heather: We always have dress up week around Halloween. Many of our students come dressed as” Miss Heather:, with their long haired wigs and dance clothes like Miss Heather wears. It’s pretty funny!

Live Fit Health Club

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Live Fit Health Club is a new venture, and a dream come true for
Belmont native Jonathan Logan. Located on East Catawba in Belmont,
Live Fit is the first health club of its kind in this area. Jonathan
is quiet, well spoken, and exceedingly courteous, which is a good
thing, considering his size! We talked with Jonathan in his new
facility, and we wanted to find out more about his unique fitness
concepts.

GA! Jonathan, of course, here in the South we have to find out who your family is, and where you are from…
Jonathan: I was born and raised here in Belmont; my mother and
father are both natives of this area.

GA! Did you go to school here, and what is your sports and
fitness background?
Jonathan: I graduated from South Point High School, and grew up
playing a variety of sports, including soccer and football. I
started power lifting competitively in college at Winston Salem
State University, where I also began personal training in the
University’s Fitness Center.

GA! What is the concept behind Live Fit, and how is it different
from other fitness options that folks may have?
Jonathan: Live FIT is a facility that creates an atmosphere of
success – we expect you to reach your goals, and will give you the
support and the tools needed to ensure that you do. We don’t let bud
get or scheduling be deciding factors for starting the fitness journey with any new client.

GA! How did Live Fit come into being-was it your idea or dream?
Jonathan: For as long as I can remember, it has not only been a
dream of mine, it’s been my only dream. I’m very blessed to get up
every day and get to live it.

GA! Tell us about your staff…
Jonathan: There’s Brian Holbrook, my “go-to” guy. He’s here full-
time, and has been helping people reach their goals for almost 10 years. Clay Gerringer works with our athletes in assisting them in getting into peak condition. Jamie and Chris Jones (of Belmont Fitness, LLC) combine to create a very effective team offering Boot Camp, Athletic Conditioning, and a host of other fitness classes. Our trainers are certified through several different nationally recognized certifications: ISSA, AFAA, NSCA, NSCA-CSCS and are all Adult First Aid, Environmental Emergencies, Adult/Child CPR, Adult/Child AED, and Infant CPR certified.

GA! What is the funniest or most interesting thing that has
happened since you opened?
Jonathan: After realizing Brian could not only stand but squat on a
stability ball, I had to try it! I have broken my fall on the soft
concrete more than once, but can finally stand (and almost squat.)

GA! I know you opened (March 1), how is it going so far?
Jonathan: We had a soft opening on March 1, and have consistently
hit our weekly new client goals. We will have our Grand Opening the
first week in June with a ribbon cutting ceremony, but anticipate
reaching maximum capacity by that point. We plan on providing
several free activities for the clients at that time during our
membership appreciation week.

GA! What are your fitness goals for you clients?
Jonathan: That varies as much as the clients themselves. Some
clients are getting back into shape after the birth of a new baby,
some are preparing for an upcoming event like a class reunion, while
others are just increasing their individual level of fitness to be
able to perform at a higher, more efficient level. We help our
clients hit each of these goals while encouraging healthy changes
through weight-loss, education, and the fundamentals of living and
maintaining their new healthier lifestyle.

GA! Who are your clients as far as age, gender, occupation, etc.?
Are they all “serious” athletes?
Jonathan: Again, every client is completely different. We work with
teachers, business analysts, student athletes, and stay at home
moms, ranging in age from 15 to mid 60’s. We believe that everyone
that walks through the doors of Live FIT are serious about changing
their lives, and have the ability to meet any goals that we work
toward.

GA! How does a membership work? What do I get for my money?
Jonathan: We provide a one on one experience with all clients,
pairing them with trainers that will help design the best program
for them. We want to provide a top-notch service at a reasonable
price, and all of our packages are customized for each individual
client. One of our most popular packages includes three 1-hr
sessions per week for 12 months (156 sessions annually) for $2500
(equaling $210 a month or $15 a session)* package price through May
31. The national average is $65-80.00 an hour, so we feel like we
are providing a great value to our clients.

GA! What do you do when you are not being a fitness guru?
Jonathan: I really enjoy pushing myself through my own workouts,
including power-lifting, cross-fit training, and my new love: kettle-
bells. I also love spending time with my wife, Amitria. We were
college sweethearts and love cooking, movie nights, and spending
time together and with our families.

GA! Do you occasionally go for a Big Mac- you tell us-we’ll keep it a secret!
Jonathan: I really believe in allowing myself a “cheat meal” (or
meals) that are not in my regularly scheduled diet for the week. I
usually coordinate those meals with my date night with my wife, but
no Big Macs. (smile)

GA! Why open Live Fit in Belmont?
Jonathan: I grew up in Belmont and love the local support. When I
decided to make my dream a reality, it was only right to open here
in Belmont.

GA! What’s next-do you plan to open more locations?
Jonathan: With Live FIT being a limited membership facility, I see a
few more locations in our near future. The most important thing to
me is being able to maintain the same environment of comfort and
success at every location.

Classic Styles For Spring 2010

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

McAdenville is know for many things, a charming downtown, spectacular Christmas lights, and soon it will also  be known for Jay McCosh’s new Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery.  Located on Main Street in McCadenville, the new gallery is almost four times the size of his previous gallery which was also on Main Street. We talked with Jay inside his nicely appointed/ colorful/ tasteful, well lit/ ??? gallery recently.

GA!: Jay, let’s start with you. Are you from McAdenville?

Jay:  No.  I grew up in Gastonia, then moved to Wilmington then NYC for a while working in the film industry.

GA! You have certainly had some interesting occupations-in the film industry, magazine publisher, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory franchisee; did I leave some out?

I think I was fortunate when I was younger to be able to try many of my interests in the hopes of finding out “What I want to be when I grow up”.  Not being able to totally settle on one thing I now work my two favorites: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and the Thomas Kinkade gallery.

GA! You and your wife live in McAdenville. Why did you choose Christmastown?

Jay: We started looking a few years ago for the right place for us.  We knew we wanted a community that had great schools for our child and hopefully more to come.  Of course we both grew up coming to McAdenville every year to see the lights at Christmas, so when the opportunity came and our love of the Christmas season, it seemed everything came together perfectly with McAdenville.

GA! Love the new gallery-tell us about it…

Jay:  The Gallery started out in Carolina Place Mall in Pineville.  When the owner there retired I took it over and after another year there the mall informed us someone else was interested in our space.  So we needed to find a new place.  I always thought driving through McAdenville reminded me of one of Thom’s paintings.  And with us preparing to move here it seemed right and a place did open up.  The first place we had here in McAdenville was not even 500 sq feet.  Our new space which is now only 2 doors up from our previous location is almost 4 times as large.  We are very excited to offer collectors a proper viewing room and a wider selection of paintings to view.

GA!: How did you first become interested in Thomas Kinkade?

Jay:  I have always liked his work and when he released “The Light of Freedom” in honor of 9/11, I realized it was time to buy my firstpiece.

GA!: Why do you think there is such interest in Kinkade’s work-there are a lot ofartists out there?

Jay: Artwork must speak to you and in many cases when you find the right piece it will cause you to have an emotional reaction.  Thom’s work speak to many because he paints images that were in a simpler time, “when life was good”.  And that can mean many things to many people.  He is the painter of light and the lighting effects in his paintings are sometimes incredible.  He also hides many things in the paintings which make them fun.  Also, he has a vast array of subjects:  Cabins, Lighthouses, Cottages, Chapels, Disney, Sporting events, such as Yankee Stadium and the Daytona 500.

GA! What special events do you plan to have in your gallery?

Jay:  We plan to have 2 Master Highlighting Events this year where an artist trained by Thoms will add additional paint to your canvas highlighting areas that are special to you bringing the painting more to life.  One will be with Thom’s brother Patrick in December.  The other will be sometime in the fall.

GA!: The Disney pieces are a lot of fun. Tell us about those.

Jay:   Thom started painting Disney in 2005 with the release of “Disneyland, 50th Anniversary”.  Since then he has release seven others including his latest release “Bambi’s First Year”.  These have been very popular in fact “Tinkerbell and Peter Pan Fly to Neverland” now holds the record for fastest sell-out of Kinkade painting in history, selling out in just 8 hours.  Most people want to get the entire set of Disney Paintings, by getting the same limited edition certificate number for each one.  There will be one more princess painting out this fall, (and if you can keep a secret, rumor has it might be “Beauty and the Beast”, but we must keep that between you and me).

GA! What if I am interested in Thomas Kinkade, in particularly the Disney series, but don’t know much about art. Can you help me get started?

Jay:  Of course.  There are two Disney Series to choose from.  The “Disney Dreams” Collection includes the more classic stories, such as Snow White, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell and now Bambi.  There will be a total of 12 in this series.  Bambi is the 5th one in this collection.  There will be another one out this year and 2 more each year until 2013.  The other Disney collection is called the “Disney Discoveries” Collection, which includes more recent films.  The first one in this series is “The Princess and the Frog”.  The second on in this series will be out this year and is rumored to be either “The Lion King” or “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

GA! I think you told us that you have everything from small Kinkade gift items, to the most sought after, hard to find collectible pieces. (something for every budget?)

Jay:  Thom’s feels art is for everyone and should not be limited to just the Bills Gates’ of the world.  We have puzzles, calendars, nightlights and small framed artwork starting at just $14.99.

GA! What is the most interesting thing that has happened since you have owned the gallery?

Jay: We had an event with Thom at the Biltmore House when he unveiled “Elegant Evening at Biltmore”.  We were on the south terrace right next to the house under a huge tent.  It was amazing to host a party at the Vanderbilt’s place.

Photographer Rick Haithcox

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Owning a camera doesn’t make you a photographer; any more than owning a paint brush makes you an artist. But a camera, in the hands of a true photographer, can capture so much more than just an image. Photographs can sell products, record personal, business, or community events, and capture people and their full range of emotions-joy, devotion, love, excitement, and so much more. Great photographs can be soulful, thought provoking, even heart breaking. Rick Haithcox has been exploring this medium and pushing the boundaries of his craft since 1987. We spoke with Rick recently at his studio in Dallas.

GA!: How did you get started in photography, and what do you enjoy most about your career?
Haithcox: I was always interested in art class in school, but couldn’t paint or sculpt or even draw stick people. I picked up a camera my dad had and I felt I had something I could create with. While in college photography class, when I saw a print develop that I had taken I was fascinated, and I knew I was hooked.

GA!: You have been the North Carolina Photographer of the Year; what other awards have you won?
Haithcox: Probably the ones I am most proud of are the many Fuji Masterpiece Awards, and the awards given by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in their International Print Competition Loan Collection. Those were instrumental in me becoming a Master Photographer. I never purposely shot anything just for a competition; I shoot what I love and I think that comes through in the images.

GA!: You are known for your black and white work. Tell us about that…
Haithcox: Black and white photography reminds me of the beginnings of photography. It seems that when you strip away the color, you see an image with your heart and not your eyes. It can be more technically challenging, but when done correctly, is more of an art form, and is truly timeless.

GA!: You have a fairly large studio in Dallas-what kind of things do you shoot here?
Haithcox: We have shot everything from table top products like jewelry to fishing lures, to motorcycles. We have a 2000 square foot studio space that will accommodate more intimate shoots to something larger scale, and we have a wedding division also. Plus we are only twenty minutes from downtown Charlotte.

GA!: What is the funniest or most interesting thing that has happened to you since you became a photographer?
Haithcox: Too many to tell, but once we were shooting celebrity Barney Barnwell at his home in South Carolina. Barney is a third generation storyteller, musician, moonshiner and entertainer. He had this pet possum that he fed sardines and buttermilk, and he would let it crawl around inside his overalls.

GA! Photography has allowed you to travel and get some really interesting shots.
Haithcox: I’ve been able to travel throughout the US and to countries as far away as Armenia, where they told me I walked in the steps of Noah. I have met more interesting people than most people meet in five lifetimes.

GA!: I know you have worked with some large corporate clients…
Haithcox: Too many to list, but they include state and national ad agencies, General Electric, Daimler, Duke Energy, Carolinas Medical, Freightliner, and Taco Bell, to name a few.

GA!: I know you have recently spoken to several small local groups, but you have also spoken to larger groups of various kinds….
Haithcox: I have spoken to state and national groups about professional photography, but I often speak to local groups about travel and vacation photography for amateurs. I show them how they can improve their vacation images, even using a pocket camera.

GA!: Why should I spend money on a keepsake photograph of my children, or myself, or parents?
Haithcox: I would give anything to have a picture of my mom and dad and my sister and me like the images that we shoot for other people every day. But it’s too late for that. Or folks will bring in an old picture of their grandfather that is blurry and out of focus and ask us to “fix it”, because that’s the only picture they have. The images that we create are designed to be keepsakes-to be handed down. These are not images you get at the mall or some big box store, that get put in a drawer after six months.

GA! Do you do business head shots, or business group shots? What about product shots for the web or brochures?
Haithcox: We do absolutely any type image that you might need to make your business stand out.

… A Legacy & A Love Story

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

The story of how William Henry Signature Salon & Spa in Belmont is a great story, because it’s partly a love story. Named for owner Preston Wilson’s grandfather, a local barber for many years, it’s also the story of how Preston and Somer Wilson met.

GA: Somer-we want to know all about the salon and spa, but first tell us how you and Preston met.
Somer: It is the best story ever and you probably want it in a couple of sentences. The short and sweet is, I was selected as one of the original eight stylists to begin the salon. Preston passed through one evening and asked that I ride with him to South Park to pick up a few things and we grabbed some dinner at Harper’s. This was the first real conversation that we had ever had. You know how ‘to the point’ he is. He wanted to know my dreams and things that I loved most in life. That conversation sealed the deal. His persistence kicked in and it was love notes and gifts in my station every day. I am thrilled to say that nothing has ever changed. It just gets better!
GA: What was the idea for the salon, the concept?
Somer: There are people in life that have such a positive impact on a family and community that their influence continues, even after they are gone. Preston’s grandfather was one of those people. Preston never had a desire to work with hair so he couldn’t carry on the legacy in that way. He decided to use valuable principles that his grandfather had instilled in him to create a healthy environment for the rest of us to use our gifts.
GA: How are you different from other salons?
Somer: I think the only thing that makes us like other salons is the fact that we are all made up of barbers, cosmetologists, and spa professionals. The best way to describe William Henry is that we take a very holistic approach in how we care for our guests and each other as professionals. It is our desire that everyone leave William Henry not only looking, but feeling renewed and encouraged. We also do our best to provide all of our professionals with opportunities to continue in their technical and product education.
GA: We were surprised at how large the spa area is upstairs…
Somer: It’s wonderful. I like to think it is one of Gaston’s best kept secrets. We are fortunate enough to have some of the areas finest professionals in the arena of massage therapy, aesthetics, and nail cosmetics. We want to do all we can to give them an environment to perform to the best of their abilities, ensuring that all of our guests receive the relaxation they deserve.
GA: How many professionals work in the spa area, and what are their specialties?
Somer: Our spa is made up of 6 professionals, as well as management, facility and support staff. We have a full menu of services in make-up, skin and nail care, as well massage therapy.
GA: Love the overall design and ambience of the salon and spa. Who was your designer?
Somer: I would have to give credit once again to my husband on this (he’s pretty amazing). Our design concept, for it’s beauty and usage, has been recognized by industry leaders and has influenced the design of new salons and cosmetic education institutions.
GA: We noticed you have a nice age range of stylists, is that on purpose? How are they selected?
Somer: We are intentionally diverse. William Henry is a salon for everyone. We have taken our time in selecting stylists of different ages, personalities, and gifts to ensure that we can relate and meet the desires of our guests from all walks of life. Melissa Wallace, our Assistant Manager of guest services, understands the expertise of each stylist and barber and sees to it that she and her staff places each guest with with a professional that seems the best fit.
GA: How many folks are in the salon, and what services do you offer there?
Somer: The salon floor is made up of 16 stylist, along with it’s management and support staff. We are a full service salon so it is difficult to share what we don’t do. We offer a full range of color, cut, and style services, as well as our newly added Keratin treatments. We are very proud to be one of the select area salons offering Keratin conditioning services for healthy and long lasting hair straightening.
GA: You seem to have a nice variety of products. Can you elaborate on what you have available?
Somer: We believe strongly that your health and appearance are investments. We have discovered the product lines that we have chosen to make available have proven results. In hair care, we carry a full line of Redken, Redken for Men, and Pureology. In make -up and skin care, we are proud to have been selected to carry a full line of Bare Escentuals and MD Formulations. We also maintain a large selection of the latest in OPI polish and nail care.
GA: Back to the beginning. Let’s talk about love again. How can William Henry help us guys make this Valentines Day one to remember?
Somer: OK fellas. As always, Melissa and Elise can work with you in putting together something custom just for her. We enjoy helping you create gifts that are unique and personal for any special occasion. We also have put together a special his and her massage package this year for you to share in the William Henry experience with her. For those of you who have special people in your lives that appreciate the more practical and freedom to ‘chose their own adventure’, we have gift certificates available in any amount. We would love have a part in making this Valentines Day one that will be remembered.

The Thai House

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Looking for a different dining experience? Try the new Thai House in Gastonia. From the warm, ornate carved wooden décor, to the brightly colored Thai costumes of the staff, it’s an experience fresh and unique to Gaston County. We spoke recently with the manager, CK, and asked her about the Thai house history, cuisine, and new restaurant across from hhgregg in Gastonia.

GA: This is something new for Gaston County. We are glad you are here.
CK: We’re so glad to be here, and feel privileged to serve Gastonia and the surrounding community.

GA; Your restaurant is lovely, I especially like all the warm wood and carvings, and the servers colorful dress. Are they authentic Thai?

CK: Yes, they are. All carvings, teak woods, colorful dresses were imported from Thailand. My stepfather Udom assembled the woodwork all himself by hand.

GA: We had talked about you trying to give your customer an authentic Thai experience when they are in your restaurant. Can you tell us about that?

CK: We have tried our best to deliver not only the freshest ingredients and the brightest flavors but also the best Thai dining atmosphere. We do this by playing enchanting Thai music, our staff wears authentic Thai dress, and we have amazing Thai artworks that we brought from Thailand. We have won numerous rewards including “Best of Asian food in Charlotte” and “The top 50 Thai restaurants in the US”. I believe this is the result of what we have tried to accomplish over many years.

GA: Some folks may not have tried Thai food yet-is it similar to Chinese or Japanese food?

CK: Most of Thai dishes use herbs and spices which have beneficial medicinal properties. Thai foods are also famously known for the blend of sour, sweet, creamy, salty and spicy taste.

GA: I see you have a great looking sushi bar-the Thai House rolls are delicious, and the Rainbow Sushi is almost too beautiful to eat!

CK: Thank you, we have a great Sushi Chef, and we make sure to use only the very freshest ingredients.

GA: I am fairly new to Thai food. Your servers were very helpful in helping me choose. I like the choice of how much or little spice is added.

CK: First of all, There is a misunderstanding that Thai food is always spicy. Depending on dishes, our foods have difference tastes and of course level of spiciness.

GA: The Thai House is a family affair; tell us about that. Do you have a restaurant background?

CK: We are still a very family business. It started by my Mom (Dr. Kaye) 20 years ago. Although my mom is a retired mathmatical professor from the Universtiy of South Carolina, she has over 45 years of experience preparing authentic Thai food. Her passion about Thai food started when she was a teenager helping my grandmother prepare meals for my grandfather’s guests. He was a governor of Thailand, so I am sure she had many opportunities. The restaurant business is a tough business but it has been a labor of love for all of us.

GA: How many restaurants do you have and how did you get started?

CK: We now have three locations – University area, Pineville Matthews and Gastonia.

GA: Tell us a little about yourself. Are you from the Metro Charlotte area? Children? Sam: Yes, my husband Sam and I presently live in Charlotte, but we are planning to move to Gastonia. I have 2 wonderful kids – May and Maytee.

GA: What do you do when you are not at work, hobbies, etc.? Have you been to Thailand?
CK: We enjoy time with our kids. Yes, I have been to Thailand-we try to go back every other year.

GA: What made you choose Gaston County for your new restaurant? CK: Our customers have been requesting this over many years. They drive 30 – 45 minutes or more to dine in with us. We have already had customers come from all over Gaston County, plus Kings Mountain, Lake Wylie, Huntersville and more. It is very gratifying-we have a had a wonderful welcome to Gaston County and feel like we are off to a great start for 2010!

Sound Advice

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

JoePat Roop left the corporate world to his own boutique financial services firm. Working from a charming office in downtown Belmont, JoePat and his team help retirees and pre-retirees protect and grow the life savings they have worked so hard to accumulate.

joepat-feature-picGA: Let’s start with those traditional Southern questions; tell us about your family and where you went to school.
JoePat: I live here in Belmont with my wife Gail and 4 year old son Henry. West Virginia was home until 1996 when I graduated from Marshall University with a Finance degree and moved to NC.

GA: How did Belmont Capital Advisors get started?

JoePat: After working for large Wall Street firms I saw the value of being an Independent Advisor. It become clear that if I wanted to offer clients the choices they needed it could not happen in that corporate environment.

GA: We hear a lot of scary things about the market right now…what are your clients most concerned about?

JoePat: Outliving their life savings! One of the things we teach in our education workshops is how to get a better return …”by placing you assets in a safer place” Today people have been hurt on several fronts. The market has still not recovered from its crash and CD rates are at historic lows. Many have seen their income cut in half and assets drop dramatically. We have a specific “Market Recovery Plan” that has been very popular to get new clients back on track.

GA: What if I am new to financial planning, or haven’t had much success managing my own accounts?

JoePat: I may ask if you just won the lottery or received an inheritance….. Most of the folks we work with did not become wealthy overnight nor do most of our clients consider themselves rich. But one common thread is that the clients we help do value advice and know the importance of a trusted advisor. If you are looking for an Advisor to work with I would suggest you interview several Advisors until you find the one that you are comfortable with.

GA: Tell us about the Educational Financial Workshops you conduct.

JoePat: The Education workshops are where I have fun. Education is power; and it helps people make better decisions. This also gives people a introduction to me and my style of advice.

GA: What are some of your other interests?

JoePat: I enjoy going mountain biking at the white water center. I also like to take Henry Fishing and let him reel in the “big ones” and then see how much bigger they get by the time we get home!

GA: Tell us about your son, Henry.

JoePat: Henry is 4 years old, our only child, a ball of energy and fun, most of
the time he pretends that he is “Captain Jack Sparrow” the Pirate. A good friend and client actually built him a pirate ship for our back yard. My wife Gail likes things that are unique and we are certainly the only ones on our street with a pirate ship in the back yard.

GA: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in your business?

JoePat: We actually had someone come by after they bought that book on TV on free government give away programs and wanted me to help him get the free government money.

GA: Why choose Belmont to start business?

JoePat: Location, location, location! Plus, I already had a established client base in
Belmont & Gaston County, This is where we live and are proud to call home.

GA: What is your favorite part of being a financial advisor?

JoePat: To know you can make a difference in the quality of life someone has. I love to see the look on a clients face when you share a strategy they had not thought of or knew about yet. They have a look like finding a 20-dollar bill in their coat pocket from last winter.

GA: What products or services does Belmont Capital Advisors offer?

JoePat: Great Question! We offer a multitude of different products and services but when it is all said and done I have only one thing to offer …ADVICE…We really only do one thing here and that is advise clients on how to make smart decisions about their life savings. . As a Registered Investment Advisor I am committed to finding answers that work for you. Financial planning isn’t just about money. It’s about creating the kind of life you want to live.

by. David Hamrick