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Unemployment rate in Mountain Area region was 6.2% as of November 2024. As of November 2024, there are 5,043 less people working compared to November 2023. The unemployment rate is 2.4% lower than October 2024.

Unemployed Individuals by month (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties):

November 2024 15,497

October 2024 16,884

September 2024 6,641

August 2024 9,003

July 2024 8,300

June 2024 8,579

May 2024 7,542

April 2024 6,865

March 2024 7,808

February 2024 7,924

January 2024 7,493

December 2023 6,459

November 2023 7,120

Note there are some statistical disparities between the data reported for the Asheville metro and the Mountain Area Workforce region as the metro includes Haywood County but does not include Transylvania County. The Mountain Area Workforce region includes Transylvania County but not Haywood County.

Total Labor Force 228,058

Total Employed Labor Force 213,871

Unemployment Rates by County

Employed Individuals by County

Unemployed Individuals by County

Asheville MSA Jobs

Mountain Area WDB Labor Force

Mountain Area WDB Employed Individuals

Mountain Area WDB Unemployed Individuals

Asheville MSA Industry Jobs Compared to One Year Ago

Mountain Area WDB Taxable Retail Sales

Asheville metro unemployment rate 6.1%, AVL metro has the highest unemployment rate of any NC metro.

Among the metro areas, Asheville had the highest rate at 6.1% (as of November 2024) while Wilmington had the lowest at 3.0%. Mitchell County now has the highest unemployment rate of any NC county at 8.9%. Orange & Currituck Counties have the lowest unemployment at 2.9%.

Buncombe 7.2%

Haywood 4.3%

Henderson 4.2%

Madison 6.6%

Transylvania 3.9%

Monthly job growth by metro:

1. Asheville 2.0%
2. Durham-Chapel Hill 0.4%
3. Jacksonville 0.4%
4. Burlington 0.3%
5. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 0.3%
6. Wilmington 0.3%
7. Rocky Mount 0.2%
8. Fayetteville 0.1%
9. Raleigh 0.1%
10. Winston Salem 0.1%
11. New Bern 0.0%
12. Greenville -0.1%
13. Goldsboro -0.2%
14. Greensboro-High Point -0.2%
15. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton -0.3%

Mountain Area Workforce Development Board recognizes outstanding employers, job seekers, youth and workforce partners

On December 12, 2024, the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board held its’ Annual Recognition Luncheon at the festively decorated Virginia Boone Building at the WNC Ag Center. This event is an opportunity for WIOA case managers, WIOA contractors, and Land of Sky’s workforce partners to recognize outstanding program participants, employers, and partnerships.  The West Henderson High School’s 24-piece orchestra performed prior to the lunch program. One hundred and sixty people attended the event and the program closed with a special posthumous tribute to Marc Czarnecki, who passed on July 26, 2024.  A plaque was presented to Eric and Kara, Czarnecki’s children, and all attendees were given a candle of hope for 2025.

OUTSTANDING NCWORKS NEXTGEN YOUTH PARTICIPANTS

Skyler Roberts

NCWorks NextGen

NextGen Out-of-School Youth Program

Henderson County Innovation High School

Marisela Aguillon

NextGen Career Advisor

Skyler enrolled in the workforce program, hoping to get guidance and support on how to get back on track with his academic studies. He had fallen behind and was faced with several challenges that prevented him from continuing with his life goals. As a result of this, it became very difficult for him to have a clear vision of what his future plans would look like. At such a young age, Skyler became unmotivated and struggled with having stable housing that it became his priority to learn how to get into the real world independently.

A few months after transitioning into a new school, Skyler slowly began to regain control of his goals and focused on what he wanted to accomplish. He began to attain work experience through the workforce program and stuck to a consistent schedule which helped him thrive in many areas of his life. Skyler graduated with high academic recognition at his school. This was all due to his hard work, dedication and commitment aside from all his struggles that he experienced. He was even able to graduate earlier than expected.

Thank you for being an outstanding participant of the year in the NextGen Youth program!

Presently, Skyler is attending college at Western Carolina University and has chosen to study Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Art. While juggling being a college student, he is also working for Sema Security as a part time employee.

Skyler has shown excellent perseverance as he continues to work toward his life goals. He has learned to become self-sufficient as he studies, works and lives on his own. All the support received has shown to be a huge part of Skyler’s success and we are very proud to hear that he is doing so well for himself. We are so excited for him to reach his goals and watch him enjoy doing what he loves to do.

Thank you for being an outstanding participant of the year in the NextGen Youth program!

NCWORKS BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE MAWDB REGION

 Linamar Light Metals

Outstanding Business Partner

NCWorks Henderson County

Blue Ridge Community College

Shanda Bedoian

Director of Corporate & Customized Training

Linamar Light Metals - a global leader in advanced manufacturing of the industrial and mobility (transportation) sectors - made its home in Mills River in 2015. The facility has grown quickly to employ over 470 full-time employees with continued site expansion as well as new clients and product lines. Linamar is actively engaged with Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development and Henderson County Public Schools in hosting high school guidance counselors and being a tour site for the “Made in Henderson County” workforce development awareness program. In fact, Janel Rowbothan/ General Manager is a “poster child” for the “You Were Made For This” marketing campaign via The Partnership. As well, Linamar works closely with the Henderson County (and regionwide) NCWorks Career Center staff in posting opportunities and vetting candidates. Through these efforts, they were able to hire and retain quite a few highly technical Evergreen dislocated employees. These folks are thriving!

The leadership team at Linamar is most proud of their strategic focus and commitment to internal development of their associates. As a founding member of the Made in Henderson (Mechatronics) Apprenticeship program with Apprenticeship Blue Ridge in 2019 to today, they have sponsored over 28 apprentices across three pathways - Machining Tool & Die, Mechatronics and Industrial Systems with 10 currently in related instruction at the college. Lastly, Linamar is on speed dial with Blue Ridge whereby they send their associates to varied training development courses from leadership to technical training. Linamar Light Metals is committed to being an employer of choice by fostering sustainability and driving growth across every aspect of their operations. Their dedication to responsible practices and continuous improvement ensures that they not only meet the needs of today but also build a resilient future for all."

On behalf of Blue Ridge Community College and the Henderson County NCWorks Career Center, I am proud to nominate Linamar Light Metals.as the “2024 Outstanding Partner of the Year for Henderson County”. Congratulations!

Oskar Blues

Outstanding Business Partner

NCWorks Transylvania County

Jason Chappell

NCWorks Director

Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft-beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned flagship brew, Dale’s Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues operates breweries in Colorado and North Carolina, and Dale’s Pale continues to be its bestselling craft can six-pack. Oskar Blues is available in the US and many countries around the globe. Oskar Blues is part of Monster Brewing Company, a total beverage company committed to producing superior quality and great tasting beverages that satisfy any occasion.

Oskar Blues Brewery opened its Brevard, NC location in 2012, installing and commissioning the new brewery in an existing warehouse in just 90 days. From the very beginning, Oskar Blues embedded itself in the Brevard and Transylvania County community through donating to local causes, welcoming non-profits into its space, and employment opportunities for those in the area. The onsite taproom features 40+ taps, a covered outdoor space, the CHUBwagon food truck, live music and events. Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard has grown to a brewing capacity of over 200,000 barrels (6.2 million gallons) annually. It employs just over 100 employees, with the majority working in 24/7 manufacturing operations. Production employees serve in the departments of Brewhouse, Cellar, Packaging, Shipping and Receiving, Maintenance, and Quality. Oskar Blues Brewery is proud to offer competitive wages, promotion paths, and excellent employee benefits as one of the largest manufacturing employers in Transylvania County.

In the days following Hurricane Helene’s devastating pass through Western North Carolina, Oskar Blues Brewery mobilized to immediately donate and deliver more than 10,000 gallons of canned water to the Town of Rosman and Transylvania County fire departments. They also provided hot meals from their food truck and drinking water from the brewery at no cost to community members. Their parent company, Monster Beverage Corporation, quickly followed suit by activating their philanthropic division, Monster Cares, to deliver essential supplies for Brevard employees and their families. Monster Cares also coordinated truckloads of bottled water that Oskar Blues Brewery then delivered to the VA hospital in Asheville along with several pallets of Monster energy drinks for first responders and linemen. Oskar Blues Brewery is proud to be a part of the Western North Carolina community and is committed to its ongoing recovery and resurgence.

For being such an amazing partner, the Transylvania NCWorks Career Center is proud to select Oskar Blues Brewery as its Outstanding Employer.

OUTSTANDING NCWORKS & WIOA ADULT & DISLOCATED WORKER PARTICIPANTS

Roger Long

WIOA Dislocated Worker Program

On-the-Job Training

Patrick Williams

On the Job Training Coordinator 

Mr. Long was a part of the shutdown of the Henderson County PrintPack site. He and several others learned about the WIOA On-The-Job Training Program through the Rapid Response information sessions, and Job Fair. He had identified and already entered conversations with The Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County when I met him. Mr. Long is a Navy Veteran, he had identified that he wanted to be able to apply his substantial experience in maintenance to an environment where he felt he could serve again. He was particularly interested in the Boys and Girls Club because of the service it provides to our community’s children and youth. 

Mr. Long completed a 1040-hour (6 month) OJT plan that included utilizing the CDL program offered by Trans Tech at AB Tech. I would like to recognize both the participant and employer in this case. Working in childcare is a different world that takes special people and was a much different work environment than anything else Mr. Long’s professional experience. I observed what I consider to be the ideal interplay between participant and employer in terms of working together to make Mr. Long successful while not ever losing focus that the children and youths’ needs came first. I know that it has made an impact on Roger, and I know he has made an immense impact on the Club’s ability to operate, serve, and grow.

Thank you for being an outstanding participant of the year for the On-the-Job Training Program!

Rodney Young

WIOA Dislocated Worker Program

Mary Moore

Career Advisor

Rodney Young was laid off when the Printing Company he worked for, PrintPack, closed down in December 2023. He learned about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act National Dislocated Worker Grant program during the Rapid Response and came to NCWorks Henderson County to learn more. He met with his WIOA Case Manager, Mary Moore, who assisted him in getting enrolled in WIOA and exploring his options. Rodney’s dream has been to become a Commercial Driver’s Licensed Truck Driver for many years, his family has run a business providing wheelchair accessible transportation and he learned at an early age to love driving and being on the road. He was very interested in working with the big rigs.

Rodney attended the Truck Driver Orientation at Asheville Buncombe Technical College and met the requirements for the class. He started the training in April, 2024 with online courses. His case manager supported him with the online courses to ensure he was able to complete them. She also provided access to the Metrix Learning skills course and Youtube Videos to reinforce the concepts and enhance his learning opportunities when he struggled with the course.

Once he completed and passed the online portion, Rodney started with the hands-on driving training at Transtech. “The first day was a lot” since they covered pre-trip inspections and the second day they actually took the trucks out to the driving range. He was excited and learning so much, it was a good experience, and he enjoyed learning to drive. His group encountered some scary moments when they came upon the results of a police chase with a murder suspect that ended with a fatality, it served to remind them all how serious of a job they are engaged in.

Rodney completed the Commercial Driver’s License program and graduated with his North Carolina Commercial Driver’s License permit Type A and earned his Hazardous Materials Endorsement in August and receive his license in September. With a new resume and job search support, Rodney began applying for jobs in the area. Hurricane Helene hit and roads were closed, bridges were gone, and the area was devastated so Rodney’s job search was delayed until the area began recovery.  Currently Rodney is working at a small waste removal company, Exterior Care Hauling, Inc, to get his six months of “on the road” experience that larger corporations require, he is driving big dump trucks and enjoying the role. Rodney looks forward to getting into big rigs next year and knows the road will take him any place he wants to go.

Thank you for being an outstanding participant of the year in the National Dislocated Worker Grant!

Shana Baynard

GO Places Grant Outstanding Participant Engagement

Gene Ettison

Go Place Grant Coordinator

GO PLACES would like to celebrate the incredible achievements of Shana Baynard, a standout participant in GO PLACES. Shana has had a truly transformative journey, earned certifications, and built the skills needed to excel in her chosen career. She has completed her Community Health Worker Certification for North Carolina, Peer Support Certification, Wrap Training, CPR, Mental Health First Aid, and many more.

Shana has been a participant in the NEXT GEN program and gained invaluable work experience with funding provided by WIOA and DOL programs supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder. She joined GO PLACES seeking a career change but was uncertain about her path. With her family history of substance use disorder, Shana felt a deep desire to make a difference. Through her hard work and dedication, she discovered her calling at Safe Shelter.

Today, Shana is thriving in her new role Community Health Worker Lead and is now employed full-time and supervises a team of three community health worker interns. Her leadership and compassion have already impacted many lives, and we could not be prouder of her accomplishments.

We congratulate Shana on an incredible year of growth and success!

REIA FREEZE

GO Places Grant Outstanding Participant Engagement

Gene Ettison

Go Place Grant Coordinator

We are thrilled to also celebrate Reia Freeze, the very first GO PLACES participant, who has been successfully engaged with the program for an impressive year and a half! Reia’s dedication and hard work has led to extraordinary achievements, including earning her EDU119 Early Childhood Development Certification and her Community Health Worker Certification for North Carolina.

During her time with GO PLACES, Reia has gained valuable work experience working with adolescent children at Irene Wortham Childcare Center and now currently HOME: A West Asheville Hub supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder. Initially, she joined the program seeking a career change and chose to explore child development. However, Reia’s journey revealed a deeper desire—to impact lives more broadly and GO PLACES supported her in this shift.

Today, Reia is thriving in her role with Safe Shelter, where she is employed full-time.. Her dedication to making a difference is truly inspiring, and her dedication to those that are unhoused is already creating meaningful change.

We congratulate Reia on all her accomplishments! Her journey is a testament to perseverance, growth, and the power of helping others. We could not be prouder of her.

MOUNTAIN AREA REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES – EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT

Legacy Bookkeeping

Outstanding Workforce Business Partner

NCWorks Madison County

Stacy Peek

NCWorks Coordinator

After going through two layoffs, Kasey Rigsby decided to ensure her career by starting a bookkeeping business. Legacy Bookkeeping, Inc. was founded in 2018 by Kasey Rigsby of Marshall, NC. Kasey had a one-person operation for one year and in 2019 added several team members.  Some of the team members were hired for their ability to work from home because they had small children or had mobility challenges. This inclusive approach contributed to the business’s growth and success.  The client base of Legacy Bookkeeping, Inc. saw a remarkable expansion from 2 clients to 49 and Kasey now employs 11 remote workers who live in 3 different counties.

The business’ values are anchored in trust and integrity with a commitment to handling clients’ finances as if they were their own. They deliver top-tier bookkeeping services for small to mid-size for-profit and non-profit organizations with a focus on customer satisfaction and improving profits margins. Going forward, they plan to expand services to non-profit organizations.  To do so, Kasey realized the need to upskill her employees in Excel and Bookkeeping and applied for the ARPA Work-Based Learning Grant. A grant award of $6,564 in December 2023 allowed 11 employees to enroll in on-line Microsoft Office Suite training through Miss Excel. The 70 hours of training allows staff to progress at various levels and at their own pace. Loretta Terry, Operations Manager, allows staff to train during their workday and has seen improvements in efficiency and accuracy in data handling. The training has also enhanced problem-solving skills and boosted confidence in using the software.

With commitment to employee development, Kasey and Loretta noticed gaps in their employee’s understanding of fundamental accounting principles.  These gaps were hindering their capacity for financial reporting, particularly in payroll management, tax regulations, deduction calculations, and compliance requirements. Legacy received a second ARPA grant of $7,917 in May 2024 to certify 11 employees as Certified Bookkeepers by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.  This 72-hour self-study course will prepare the trainees to sit for the bookkeeping certification exam.  The certified bookkeeper designation will elevate the overall competitiveness of the business and qualify the employees for potential promotions leading to wage increases.

On behalf of the MAWDB we are pleased to present the Outstanding Business Partner Award-Madison County to Legacy Bookkeeping, Inc.

Mathis Electronics

Mountain Area Regional Business Services

Outstanding Workforce Business Partner

Barbara Darby

Assistant Director Business Services

Mathis Electronics is a circuit board design and assembly house that has been in business in Asheville for over 40 years. In 1980, Ed Mathis, the founder, was working for his father as an elevator technician. He noticed a growing demand for elevator circuit board repairs and opened a repair service. After several years Ed started assembling circuit boards to increase profitability. Over the past 40 years the company’s primary focus has been on the elevator and escalator industry.

After Covid-19, Mathis Electronics saw a steep decline in orders and realized that they needed to diversify and upskill their production and management employees. In 2023 the company began looking to expand into other industries. This required becoming certified in IPC STD-001H Soldering. They received an ARPA grant of $5,825 to train and certify five workers in soldering. The training provider, CBH Solutions, LLC, brought in specialized equipment and the training was provided in-house in both English and Ukrainian. Mathis Electronics had recently hired an individual through the Catholic Church Diocese of Asheville and sought to accommodate the new hire by providing a manual in her native language. All five employees passed the hands-on certification exam on July 14, 2023.

In September 2023, Mathis Electronics realized that to keep their customers and to bid on other contracts, they needed to become ISO 9001:2015 certified. They received an ARPA grant of $19,076 to begin the 91 hours of training delivered by NC State Industry Expansion Solutions. The trainees include senior management, operations, engineering and purchasing staff. ISO training is very technical, requires extensive documentation and will take several months to complete. Upon completion, Mathis Electronics will use a third, unbiased party, to do a company audit of all their internal processes. The audit will determine if they will be granted the IS0 9001:2015 Certification. Getting the ISO 9001:2015 Certification will be a crucial component of growing their business.

On behalf of the MAWDB we are pleased to present the Outstanding Workforce Business Partner Award-Buncombe County to Mathis Electronics.

MOUNTAIN LOCAL AREA SPECIAL RECOGNITION

AI Summit

Mountain Area Regional Business Services

Outstanding Workforce Business Partner

Barbara Darby

Assistant Director Business Services

In May 2023, with “Chat GPT” a buzzword, the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board held a “Chat GPT Forum” at UNCA to get the pulse on the use of Artificial Intelligence and its implications for education, workforce training, and economic development. This event was energized by our special colleague, Marc Czarnecki. It was a successful event with 50 attendees from workforce partners, higher education, small business, and the entrepreneurial community.

In August 2023, UNCA’s Social Sciences newsletter featured a new course being offered by the Business Department by Dr. Nana Harrison, Associate Professor of Business.  I called Dr. Harrison to learn more about why he was incorporating AI into his instruction. That conversation laid the groundwork for the formation of a planning team involving four higher education institutions, the private sector, and MAWDB/LOS staff. The first Annual AI Summit took place on May 30, 2024, at Blue Ridge Community College. The Summit drew 150 attendees including public and private sector businesses, educators, college students, workforce professionals, and the general public.  The agenda included distinguished keynotes along with local talent.

This event would not have been possible without an engaged planning team that met twice per month for eight months to plan and execute this event.  This multi-talented, creative group of technology professionals dedicated countless hours, especially in the final weeks leading up to the event. This event exemplifies partner engagement and has been noted by NC Commerce and other workforce boards in the state. The planning team recently met on November 20 and December 2, to begin planning the AI Summit 2025. 

I would like to recognize all the planning team members for their contribution to this event: Dr. Nana Harrison/UNCA; Steve Newman/ERC Broadband; Steven Young/BRCC; Dan Rickert/BRCC; Peter Kennedy/A-B Tech, and Dr. Yanjun Yan/WCU.  In addition, I would like to thank Dr. Leatherwood and Blue Ridge Community College for serving as host and the technical assistance of Steven Young, Chief Information Officer at BRCC.

On behalf of the MAWDB we are pleased to present the Outstanding Workforce Business Partner Award to the AI Planning Team. Dr. Harrison and Dr. Queen will make comments on behalf of the planning team.

Karen Sanders

Outstanding Business Partner

NCWorks Buncombe County

Experienced Workforce Initiative of WNC

Irene Canivet, EWI Facilitator

The Experienced Workforce Initiative brings together community organizations and individuals with a mission “to support & promote the engagement of adults age 50+ along the workforce continuum, including volunteer work, stipend-based training, entrepreneurship, and/or part-time and full-time employment.” To fulfil our mission, we depend on the talents and efforts of individuals and organizations to see the value of 50+ employees and then actively support them. These volunteers deserve recognition, and we are thankful that the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board helps us honor them.

The Experienced Workforce Initiative would like to present our 2024 Certificate of Recognition to Karen Sanders for Outstanding Achievement in Support of the Experienced Workforce Initiative.

Here are just some of the reasons we chose Karen as this year’s award winner:

•          Since 2018, Karen has actively participated in the planning and delivery of numerous EWI events, beginning with the 2019 Asheville 50+ Job Fair & Symposium; to numerous Lunch and Learns from 2020 to 2023; and, continuing in 2024 through the EWI employer outreach initiative in the “Helping the Helpers” workshops.

•          Karen participates in other community organizations to support the 50+ community, including the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNC Asheville, where the goal is to enable members to thrive in life’s second half. One of her teaching contributions helps 50+ participants learn strategies to navigate our complicated healthcare system.

•          Karen exemplifies the EWI mission in her dedicated efforts in developing the Elder Nurse Corps, a WNC initiative covering 9 counties (Buncombe, Henderson, Macon, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Haywood counties) to support registered nurses (RNs) ages 60+ to transition successfully from an active nursing career to become advocates and supporters helping with the nursing and health care needs of our communities.

Thank you, Karen Sanders – for generously sharing your talents with, and on behalf of, the Experienced Workforce Initiative, and for your leadership and support of experienced workers! Congratulations!

Thank you, Karen, for all that you do, and congratulations!

Henderson County Chamber

Strategic Regional Partnership

Mountain Area Workforce

Development Board

Graham Fields, MAWDB Chair

Henderson County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee mission is “To ensure the emerging and workforce have the skills or opportunity to gain the skills to meet the employer needs of Henderson County.” Graham Fields, Assistant to the CEO at Advent Health Hendersonville, leads the committee and works with staff members Amy Muniz, Operations Manager and Bob Williford, President. Partners include local businesses, Henderson County Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, College Foundation of NC and others. This committee supports the Junior Leaders program, Henderson County Schools Teacher of the Year, Apprenticeships, and more. The leadership demonstrated by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce to meet local education and workforce needs is a best practice any community can learn.   

Buncombe County Government and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

Career Pathway/Workforce Development Collaboration

                       Mountain area Workforce Development Board

Graham Fields, MAWDB Chair

Buncombe County Government and Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce partnered to establish “Accelerate Buncombe” which is focused on training individuals for high paying, in-demand careers. Utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Accelerate Buncombe offers paid training for individuals to pursue these careers. This program helps participants earn a postsecondary credential and connects them with a high paying career with local businesses. Many individuals are unable to enter postsecondary education as they need to earn money to support themselves and their families. Accelerate Buncombe helps remove this barrier to higher education and a better job. Participants receive support and case management from a Community Health Worker employed in partnership organizations Land of Sky Regional Council, YMI Cultural Center, Housing Authority of the City of Asheville and Operation Gateway. Accelerate Buncombe is helping local employers meet their workforce needs and increasing economic opportunity. It is an innovative approach to address skill gaps and grow our local economy. It is a good return on investment for taxpayers and employers by lifting up those who have often been left behind.  

Congratulations to Buncombe County Government and Asheville Area Chamber!

DEB HOLEBROOKS OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Marc Czarnecki

Deb Holebrooks Outstanding Customer Service Award Posthumously

Barbara Darby

Assistant Director Business Services

Mark Czarnecki served as a Business Services Representative for the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board. He unexpectedly passed away on July 26, 2024. Marc was an inspiration to us all. He always had a smile, and he had a contagious laugh. He helped lead Construction Career Day, Experienced Worker Initiative, our first AI Summit and much more. Marc was passionate about technology, and he was always learning about new ways to help others. Before his passing Marc was learning to be a ChatGPT expert.  He was involved in many local organizations like “Meet the Geeks” and “AVL Digital Nomads.” Marc worked in rural and inner-city communities with the same energy and passion as everyone mattered to Marc. He did not care about your title or position; he cared for you as a person. Marc helped promote digital literacy in Madison County and other places throughout the region. He taught us many lessons. We should be lifelong learners. Leadership is not about the title you hold; everyone can be a leader. That no gesture is too small, Marc made each of us feel special and loved. He helped far more people than we ever knew about. And kindness is something that should be shared with all. Marc never said a bad word about anyone. He faced some serious challenges in his life, but he never let the obstacles he faced impact his attitude. We are heartbroken about Marc’s passing.          

With all the utmost respect and love on behalf of the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, we are pleased to present the Deb Holebrooks Outstanding Customer Service Award to Marc Czarnecki and his family.

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