We Are Lake Norman

Ryan Webber
  • 4.9 (13)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Most business advice online comes from a guy who has never run anything. This is not that. I own a video company in Mooresville. I've built and sold two businesses. My wife and I own a law firm. So when I sit down with an owner, I'm not asking what it's like to be an entrepreneur. I'm asking what's working right now. Every week it's somebody from around Lake Norman. Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Denver. The coffee shop, the brewery, the furniture store, the steakhouse, the gym down the road. We get into the stuff nobody puts on their website. What they're better at than anybody else, who they hired first, who they should have fired a year sooner, and why people keep coming back when the place across the street is cheaper. Then I give it all away, because I'd rather every business around this lake win. You'll leave every episode with something you can use this week. Worst case, you found somewhere new to eat. New episode every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Jun 29

    How Crave Cookies Took Over Downtown Mooresville

    If you've tried to grab a cookie at Crave in downtown Mooresville, you already know. The line's out the door. I sat down with Nekolle Eddy, one of the owners, to figure out how they pulled that off so fast. Turns out she's not just a cookie shop owner. She's a serial entrepreneur, an investor, a nonprofit founder, and a mom who somehow does all of it at once. We get into how they picked the location, why timing mattered, how they got traction out of the gate, and the one piece of advice she'd give any business owner trying to stand out. Plus a side conversation about using AI in business that I didn't see coming. If you're a local business owner in the Lake Norman area, this one's for you. Find Nekolle and Crave: Crave Cookies Mooresville: @thecravecookies.mooresville The Mr. Eddie Foundation: @mreddiefoundation Chapters: 00:00 What AI can never replace 00:43 Everything Nekolle has going on 01:09 Where the Crave idea came from 02:25 How they got so much traction fast 03:10 The location play (and why it beats driving) 04:57 Her background as a serial entrepreneur 07:08 From Arizona to Lake Norman 08:32 Using AI to run a business 14:47 The nonprofit she started 10 years ago 16:43 An idea for training local athletes who can't afford it 22:23 What's next for Crave 24:24 Her best advice: your edge is your moat This podcast is hosted by Ryan Webber. I talk to local business owners in the Lake Norman area to share their stories and what they've learned building something real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jun 1

    The Coffee Purists Hate Her Drinks...Her Customers Can't Stop Ordering Them

    MaryAshley didn't set out to start a business. She went sugar free. Tried every syrup on the market. Hated all of them. So she started making her own at home — better flavor, less sugar, actually tasted like something. Then people started asking about them. Controlled Chaos Coffee was born out of a simple idea: coffee should be fun, it should taste good, and you shouldn't have to choose between flavor and quality. Mary Ashley brings that idea to a beverage cart that shows up wherever the people are — Walmart parking lots, elementary schools, fundraisers, corporate events, and everything in between. The purists hate it. Her customers can't stop ordering it. In this episode, Mary Ashley breaks down: Why she calls it a beverage cart and not a coffee truck (and why that distinction matters)How her bartending background changed the way she thinks about coffeeThe fluffernutter latte — peanut butter, marshmallow, banana — and why it worksWhat a real day in the life of a mobile coffee cart owner actually looks like (spoiler: it's longer than the internet tells you)How she markets a business with no fixed location using nothing but consistency and social mediaWhy she'll show up anywhere once — including your dog party If you've ever thought about starting something but talked yourself out of it because you didn't know enough about the business side — this one's for you. Find Controlled Chaos Coffee on Instagram: @controlled.chaos.coffee Order online at controlledchaoscoffee.com We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. New episodes every week. 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. May 25

    The Woman Who Just Got Back From Milan Tells Us What Your House Is Missing

    Anna Stowe just got back from Design Week in Milan. Not a vacation. Research. She goes every year to stay ahead of every trend, every material, every direction that interior design is heading — so her clients in Lake Norman don't have to guess what's next. They just get it. Anna started Great Design 4 U in 2008. The worst possible time to start an interior design business. Nobody was buying houses. Nobody was renovating anything. The market was in freefall. She survived anyway. Then COVID hit. She survived that too. In this episode, Anna breaks down: What she saw at Milan Design Week 2026 and what's actually coming to homes near youWhy gray is out and what's replacing it (hint: think warm, golden undertones)The retro trend making a comeback — and why it actually works with modern technologyWhy she charges a flat rate instead of hourly (and why every client loves her for it)How she "crawls inside your head" to design a space that actually feels like youWhy she fires clients — and why that makes her better at her job Oh and she has her own furniture line. Performance fabric. Kid and pet resistant. Because she gets it. If your house doesn't feel like you anymore — or maybe it never did — this one's for you. Great Design 4 U is located in downtown Mooresville, right behind the ice cream shop. Schedule a discovery call at greatdesign4u.com Call: 704-305-0139 We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. New episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. May 18

    She Went From 1 Location to 4 in Two Months, Then the Pandemic Hit (Clean Eatz)

    Sarah opened her first Clean Eatz in Cornelius in 2017. It was the 17th location in the entire franchise. No corporate playbook. No opening structure. Everyone was just figuring it out together. Two years in, she finally had a system. Operations were dialed. Meals were consistent. Things were good. So naturally, she bought 2 more restaurants and opened another in sixty days. One in Mooresville. Two in Charlotte. January 2020. Then COVID hit. In this episode, Sarah breaks down: How she went from 1 location to 4 with no partner, no playbook, and no warningWhy her gymnast background and marine corps dad shaped everything about how she runs her businessThe real difference between meal prepping for bodybuilders and feeding busy professionals in 2025Why she's running 26 miles every single week for 26 weeks straight (and what's making her not quit)How Clean Eatz is feeding NASCAR teams, school athletes, and Duke Energy employees — and why that matters Oh and she opened a fifth location in Concord in 2023. Because apparently four wasn't enough. If you're a business owner who's ever thought "I've finally got this figured out" right before everything changed — this one's for you. Clean Eatz Mooresville is located at 137 Center Square Dr., Unit 6B, Mooresville, NC. Find all five locations at cleaneatz.com Follow on Instagram: @cleaneatzlife We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. New episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. May 11

    He Quit Corporate America, Failed at His First Business Idea, and Built the Coolest Store in Davidson

    Matt Santos spent 25 years climbing the corporate ladder at places like Bain Capital and TIAA. He managed budgets. He managed people. He flew to India to offshore the jobs of his own coworkers. Then he sat across from a burned-out executive at a fancy restaurant and thought: I don't want to be that guy. So he walked away. His first idea? A running store. It failed before it even opened. Nobody at the industry conference cared. He rode an elevator back to his hotel room defeated. Then a drunk friend at a Christmas party said something so obvious it hurt: "Why open a store 95% of people don't want to walk into?" That one comment changed everything. In this episode, Matt breaks down: How he went from corporate refugee to Main Street Davidson staple in 5 yearsWhy sending out a COVID survey built a better business than any retail expert couldThe real reason Davidson Provision Company is named what it is (and why it was intentional)What "community curated inventory" actually means and why it worksWhy he walks to work and never wants to open a second location This isn't a story about scaling. It's a story about building something worth showing up to every day. Davidson Provision Company is located at 116 South Main Street, Davidson, NC. Follow them on Instagram: @davproco Shop online at davproco.com We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. New episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. May 5

    Why This Ex-Corporate Couple Quit Retirement to Open a Massage Studio (Real Massage LKN)

    Cindy spent 17 years building Good Wellness from a 400 sq ft studio into a fully booked practice. Then COVID hit. She retired. Her husband retired. They sold everything, moved to Lake Norman, and thought they were done. They weren't. After driving around Denver, NC and talking to people, Cindy realized something: nobody around here was doing massage the right way. Not the therapeutic, customized, actually-listen-to-your-client way she had spent two decades perfecting. So she and her husband Eric unretired. And built Real Massage LKN. In this episode, Cindy breaks down: Why massage isn't a luxury (and never was)How they run it like a 5-star hotel without the corporate nonsenseWhy their membership has zero contracts, zero commitments, and zero pressureThe one thing that's destroying therapists' careers (and how they're fixing it)If you're 40+, still active, and tired of little aches getting in the way of the life you actually want to live, this one's for you. Real Massage LKN is located at 5206 Slanting Bridge Road, Denver, NC. Follow them on Instagram: @realmassagelkn We Are Lake Norman is hosted by Ryan Webber of Webber Marketing. New episodes every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Apr 27

    She Opened a Furniture Store in 2007. Then 2008 Happened. Here's How She's Still Standing 20 Years Later.

    Michelle didn't plan on pivoting. She planned on selling furniture. Then 2008 happened. One day the store was busy and booming. The next day? People got their pink slips and stopped buying sofas. When you're trying to hold onto your home, the last thing you want to do is decorate it. So Michelle did what survivors do. She pivoted. Fast. Gifts. Because no matter what's happening in the economy, people still need to celebrate each other. You cut corners for yourself. You don't cut corners on the people you love. That decision? It's carrying Sweet Grass Boutique into year 20. In this episode, Michelle breaks down: Why she says 2008 hit harder than COVID for small retailHow she buys inventory the same way she designed homes — personal, curated, never trendyWhy she only orders threes and fours of anything (if you see it, grab it)How Sweet Grass competes with Amazon without breaking a sweatWhy the in-person, touch-it-feel-it-smell-it experience is about to make a massive comebackWhat crossstitching, crocheting, and bold colors tell us about where retail is heading And the gift wrapping thing. Don't get her started. Michelle believes a gift someone actually picked out, wrapped, and handed to you beats anything that shows up in a brown box on your doorstep. Every single time. That's not just a philosophy. That's the whole business model. Oh, and her home at Christmas? Full of boxes headed to the store. Zero decorations. You'd be disappointed. Twenty years in retail is rare. Twenty years in retail that started right before the worst financial crisis in a generation? That's something else entirely. Connect with Michelle & Sweet Grass Boutique: Website: sweetgrassboutique.netInstagram: @sweetgrasshomeLocation: Mooresville Town Square, 146 Mooresville Commons Way Ste H (near Lowe's Foods — skip the 150, take Brawley School Road)Hours: Mon–Fri 10–7, Sat 10–6, Sun 11–4 Connect with Ryan Webber: Website: webbermarketing.comInstagram: @ryanwebbermarketing We Are Lake Norman is produced by Webber Marketing. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Apr 20

    The Food Trend Expert Who Owns a Steakhouse (And Why GLP-1s Are Changing His Menu)

    Jim Gordon has spent 20 years buying and selling food manufacturing businesses. He knows what people are eating before they know they're eating it. So when he bought Peninsula Prime Seafood and Steakhouse in 2021, you'd think it would've been smooth sailing. It wasn't. He handed it to partners, came home on weekends disappointed, and finally said enough. In November 2025, Jim took full operational control and spent 90 days just watching. Talking to guests. Reading reviews. And when the reviews didn't match what guests were actually saying at the table? He believed the guests every time. Then he rebuilt the whole thing. In this episode, Jim breaks down: Why GLP-1s (think Ozempic) are quietly reshaping every restaurant menu in AmericaWhy the center aisle of your grocery store is basically dyingHow he built a spring menu by asking his servers — not just his chefsWhy guest count matters more than revenue (and most owners get this backwards)The three pillars Peninsula Prime is built on: quality, hospitality, and community And then there's the autism-friendly program. Jim has a 28-year-old daughter with autism. After 25 years of stressful dinners out, he decided to do something about it. Sensory bags. Fidget spinners. Puzzles. Lights turned down. Music lowered. No questions asked. Three dozen families have shown up since October. The look on their faces when they leave told him everything he needed to know. Oh, and the food? A 12-hour slow-roasted short rib over goat cheese fagottini. A parmesan crusted chicken that guests demanded back. A 12-ounce ribeye with redskin smashed potatoes. And if you want a 48-ounce tomahawk, they've got you covered too. Dinner is the show. And these guys are ready for it every night. Connect with Jim Gordon & Peninsula Prime: Website: peninsulaprimelkn.comReservations: peninsulaprimelkn.com/reserve-your-table Connect with Ryan Webber: Website: webbermarketing.comInstagram: @ryanwebbermarketing We Are Lake Norman is produced by Webber Marketing. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Most business advice online comes from a guy who has never run anything. This is not that. I own a video company in Mooresville. I've built and sold two businesses. My wife and I own a law firm. So when I sit down with an owner, I'm not asking what it's like to be an entrepreneur. I'm asking what's working right now. Every week it's somebody from around Lake Norman. Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Denver. The coffee shop, the brewery, the furniture store, the steakhouse, the gym down the road. We get into the stuff nobody puts on their website. What they're better at than anybody else, who they hired first, who they should have fired a year sooner, and why people keep coming back when the place across the street is cheaper. Then I give it all away, because I'd rather every business around this lake win. You'll leave every episode with something you can use this week. Worst case, you found somewhere new to eat. New episode every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Webber
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ryan Webber
  • Show Website
    We Are Lake Norman