2024 Burnsville- Yancey Chamber Board of Directors
April and husband David are owners of Barn Charm, a locally owned and operated shop in West Burnsville that offers the charm of heirlooms, antiques, and new home decor trends. She is grateful to get to work with the public and to serve the community through the Chamber of Commerce. April is excited to be part of the continuing growth and positive energy our local Chamber brings.
April Grindstaff
President
Kem Muller
Immediate Past President | Secretary | Finance Committee | Policy & Procedure Committee
Kem is the owner of Burnsville Candle Co. She opened her storefront in 2021 on West Main Street. With a keen eye on sustainability, each candle is hand poured using 100% soy wax, environmentally friendly & safe fragrance oil and essential oil blends & cotton/paper core wicks, free of lead & zinc and are packaged in reusable glass tumblers and topped with individually handcrafted, locally sourced wooden lids meant to be repurposed as unique coasters when the candle is gone. In addition to serving on the Chamber Board, Kem volunteers with Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, heads up "Refill in Burnsville, and helps mans the MW Studio gallery for her partner, Mark Woodham. Kem enjoys hiking and camping and spending time with her daughter, Victoria, who she visits in Anderson, SC as often as possible, and her Mother, Jane, who lives in the Orlando, FL area.
Mark Bayliff
Treasurer
Mark has spent most of his adult life in the restaurant business, working his way up to Executive Chef and General Manager. It was his School for business practices and team building.
When he retired from restaurants, he ran an online Essential Oil Company where they supplied Hospitals, Nurses, Practitioners and Perfumers with the highest quality Essential Oils from around the World. He was able to reorganize systems for better efficiency and institute better business practices to insure the health and wellness of the company as an important supplier, for years to come.
He opened Fill-More with his wife Sue on Main Street 3 years ago, a Refill Shop and Eco General Store. “We strive to make a difference in the community we love so much.”
Yancey County is full of Amazing Business Owners and a community that truly supports local. Mark’s desire to join the Board of the Chamber of Commerce is to help support Business Owners and Neighbors in their continued growth.
Jim Parlier
President Elect
Jim served as an Agent for the NC Farm Bureau Group of Insurance Companies here is Yancey County from 1986 to 2020. In addition, he has been on the Leadership Advisory Council for the NC State Extension Service, an active Lions Club member for over 25 years, volunteered for TRACTOR, DigIn Community Garden, and the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Burnsville. Jim believes in Building the Community in Yancey County by cooperative efforts and that the Chamber of Commerce is poised to build our community.
Wendy Meyers Mease
Wendy Meyers Mease believes that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. For 22 years her love of accounting grew a CPA practice to a point where in 2023 she formed MMD Accounting Associates LLC with a close friend and colleague. Originally from a small rural southeastern Pennsylvania town, she met Paul whose family roots go back over 100 years in Yancey County and moved to Burnsville, a place she believes is the most beautiful on earth. Wendy enjoys being outdoors with her pups, spending time with her friends, family and world traveling daughter Heather, attending car shows with her and Paul’s collection of Mopars, “loafering” around town, and exploring and enjoying all that Yancey County has to offer.
Kathy Gunter
Kathy is married to Mike Williams and lives in Burnsville. She has been employed by Heritage Lumber Co & Design Center for 34 Years.
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Susan Buchanan
Membership Committee, Events Committee Chair
Susan and her husband Tommy have lived in Yancey County since 1986 when they moved their dealership, Buchanan and Young, Inc., from Bakersville. Married for 41 years, they have one son, Thomas, who is also co-owner of the business.
Susan obtained her MLS degree from Appalachian State University in 1986 and retired from Yancey County Schools in 2013 with 31 years’ experience as an educator. Susan continues to support education through the National Education Association and the North Carolina Education Association. Since retirement, Susan has been the Warranty Administrator at Buchanan and Young, Inc. She is also a board member for the Yancey County Public Library. She is a member and officer of PEO International Chapter CG of Burnsville. This club raises scholarships for women in our area, the state, and internationally. She is currently working towards her NC Real Estate Broker’s Certification.
Susan’s greatest joy is spending time and traveling with her granddaughter, Evelyn Rey Buchanan and making family memories with her daughter-in-law, Amy, her son, Thomas, and her husband, Tommy. She looks forward to being a board member of the Burnsville/Yancey Chamber of Commerce that is such a vital part of the community bringing business and community together in beautiful Yancey County.
Nate Crain
Nathan Crain has lived in Yancey County for 53 years. His parents were born here and moved away returning when Nate was 7 years old. After working for several big grading companies for many years, he started his own grading business. He is the owner/ operator of Nate's Fine Grading. Nate is looking forward to serving the board and Chamber of commerce to help small businesses grow and excel in Burnsville and Yancey County. "My partner, Linda Davis and I love this community and town. We love to travel and see new places but we always come home to Yancey County".
Joyce Watts
Joyce served as the Yancey County 4-H agent for more than 30 years taking over as County Extension Director for her last 3 years working for the county. In 2010, she opened Burnsville Wine and.... where they offer a variety of wines and craft beers, wine tastings, classes, and non-profit fund raisers.
Kavita Hardy
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Kavita operates the historic Celo Inn bed and breakfast in South Toe with her husband, Nick Maldonado. There she can indulge in her two passions of baking and gardening. She is also the Executive Director of Dig In! Yancey Community Garden, a non-profit in Yancey County dedicated to building community food resiliency by collaboratively growing fresh food and sharing it with our neighbors. She has been living in Yancey County since 2010, and spent much of that time as a farmer and working in experiential education at Arthur Morgan School and the Arete Project. She lives in Celo Community with her husband, two teenage sons, and toddler daughter.
Angie Vance
Angie Vance, City President of United Community Bank is a Yancey County native. Angie began managing financial institutions at age 23 and has managed several banks and credit unions throughout Western North Carolina over the last 30 years. Banking is more than a career; it is an opportunity to assist individuals and business fulfill their needs and reach their goals. Angie serves on the board of directors of WAMY and as a Reentry Council member for Freedom Life Yancey. Angie is married to Linc Vance who is the Reentry Coordinator for Freedom Life Yancey. They have two children, Lexi and Aidan Vance. Angie and her family are members of Covy Rock FWB Church. She has a Business Marketing Management degree from UNCA with a minor in Art.
Angie has deep ties to the people of Yancey County and wants to serve the community to ensure our mountain heritage values are preserved while growing opportunities for business and all within the community.