Meet Our Creative Coaches

The Mountain Bizworks network includes over 100 business coaches with expertise in a wide range of industries and topics, including arts and other creative enterprises. Get to know our creative business coaches below.

To learn more and apply for coaching, visit our business coaching page. You may request a specific coach on your application, or describe what you’d like to work on and be matched with a coach with expertise in that area.

Christi Apodaca

e-commerce, logistics, analytics

Christi Apodaca has 12+ years of experience with small scale manufacturing systems and logistics, e-commerce, and data-based marketing. She has expertise in getting the most out of a number of software platforms, including Shopify, Katana, GS1, Google Workspace, Klaviyo, Yotpo, and Rise.ai

Nanette Asbury

wholesale, trade shows, branding

Nanette Asbury has extensive experience in artist-owned wholesale business and as a gallery owner. For 15 years, Nanette mentored small businesses through the American Handcrafted tradeshow in Philadelphia. Her expertise in marketing, social media, public relations, graphic design, and web design enables her to teach the importance of branding and compelling messaging. 

Jacqueline Boone

leadership development, digital marketing, strategy

Jacqueline Boone is a business coach with over 19 years of global experience in digital marketing, strategy, leadership development, professional development, entering new markets, etc. She is especially passionate about helping Founders build and grow their Dream businesses.

Scott Bunn

grant writing, copywriting

Scott Bunn has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience with National Farm to School Network, ASAP, Asheville Art Museum, and Penland School of Craft. He has extensive history securing contributions through grants and other written solicitation, and has collaborated with artists, craftspeople, makers, and musicians on a variety of communications projects, including interviews, artist bios, and grants. Scott and his family have lived in Asheville since 2001.

Tracey Carswell

operations, organization, 

Tracey Carswell is a coach, curator, educator, speaker and artist with a focus on building connections through community and a strong commitment to promoting equity in the creative and entrepreneurial fields. They manage business operations and finance, work one on one with clients, build community through in person and virtual events, and consult with small businesses.

Faye D’Avanza

creative practice, writing

Faye D’Avanza is a writer-editor, holistic librarian, creativity coach, and the founder of Library of Care—a 21st-century education + resource hub dedicated to curating and sharing the knowledge, stories, and tools needed for creative recovery, healing, and thriving in the Burnout Age.

Liz Kantner

digital marketing

Liz Kantner is passionate about working with independent jewelry artists to help them define their voices and thrive in the modern marketplace and has been since 2012. After making her mark as Marketing Manager for Todd Reed, Liz left to found her own company, Stay Gold, and also curated brands for JA New York’s New Designer Gallery. Liz now works for Stay Gold, where she dedicates herself to a select roster of fine jewelry clients, nurturing them to success through digital marketing, trade show strategy, sales-driving techniques, and branding. She also helps to curate emerging brands for Luxury Lifestyle at NY NOW, offers a community consulting program called the Stay Gold Collective, and co-hosts the podcast, Success with Jewelry.

Headshot of creative coach and SEO expert Cami Leisk

Cami Leisk

web design, online marketing

Cami Leisk has over 15 years experience working in galleries, museums, and artists studios in various roles. She holds a BFA from Alfred University with a concentration in ceramics and glass. Before starting Loam marketing with Brady Connelly, Cami worked for the Penland Gallery and the Jun Kaneko Studio. Cami specializes in getting artists set up with websites (specifically Squarespace & Shopify) and strategizing about their online presence, SEO, and other online marketing tools.

Jessi Leonetti

commercial real estate

Commercial real estate can be intimidating, but it’s also vital to the success of artists and small business owners. For over a decade, Jessi Leonetti has helped creatives and entrepreneurs navigate leases and purchases, turning visions into thriving community spaces. Her focus is empowering clients with the clarity and support they need to make confident decisions and strengthen the fabric of the local economy.

Deanna Lynch

bookkeeping, finance

Deanna is a professional handweaver and part-time bookkeeper for small businesses. She has worked with a variety of industries over the years and is well versed in QuickBooks and helping businesses get set-up with appropriate record keeping systems. With both a creative and business background, her approach to financials and information management is approachable. She emphasizes the use of systems that are flexible and can grow with your business and are tailored to each business’s unique needs. Deanna graduated with a BS in Business Administration/Accounting in 2009 and is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. The accounting work she does includes basic bookkeeping, budgeting, operational support, forecasting, and education.

Jess Mott Wickstrom

branding, web design, content strategy

Jess Mott Wickstrom is a graphic and web designer specializing in branding and content strategy. With deep experience in both Squarespace and WordPress, she helps artists, nonprofits, and small businesses transform their websites from ordinary to engaging. Jess brings clarity to content, ensures consistent visual style, and selects photos and graphics that strengthen each brand. As the owner of Silver Egg Studios, she draws on over twenty years experience with design and arts administration.

Helen Powell-Busch

finance, operations, human resources

Helen offers support with a smile! She supports without judgement. She is positive, heartfelt and a true people-person, which can be hard to find when it comes to finance. She will cheerlead you to success with your craft business! She can make Finance be Fun! She has 25 years of experience supporting non and for profits with their finances, human resources and operations. She moved to Asheville in 1997 for an internship with what is now Wild South. Since then, she’s worked both in offices in downtown Asheville for many years and remotely for national organizations more recently.

Laura Wood

sales, marketing, creative practice

Laura Wood is a full-time jewelry artist and owner of a metalsmithing studio and retail space in Asheville, NC. She brings hands-on experience in managing all aspects of a craft business—from production and marketing to sales and exhibitions. Her coaching offers artists practical insight, creative support, and real-world strategies for building sustainable, intentional practices.

Jillian Wright

human resources

Jillian Wright, PHR (she/her) is the Founder of Begin Again HR, helping small businesses succeed. She’s had over 18 years working with and learning about how to facilitate people support BETTER – and now shares what she’s learned (and continues to learn) with other value-driven companies who are ready to do things differently. Her passion for people-support and behavioral psychology in the workplace along with her deep personal commitment to social justice as a member of the queer community has fueled her desire to help leaders create inclusive places to work.