Agenda Ins and Outs of Having a North Carolina Food Business
November 12, 2025
9:00am - Welcome - introductions to the day
9:15am - Morning Panel - Introducing the People there for the day, professional bios and expertise
9:45am - Break
10:00am - Session 1 - Presentation and Questions and Answer included- North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food Program - Cynthia Fissell
- Buncombe County Environmental Health Department - Felissa Vasquez
- Commercial Kitchens - Matt Shimko, WNC Foodworks, Micheal McDonald Blue Ridge Food Ventures(BRFV)
- NCSU, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences’ Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program,- Nick Fragedakis
- ABTech, Bionetwork/Incubator Center – Chris Reedy
10:55am - Break
11:05am - Session 2 (repeat of session 1)
12:00pm - Lunch with Keynote Speaker - Joel Mower, Smokin J's Fiery Food, and networking time (bring yourown lunch or buy ticket with lunch)
1:15pm - Tours (tours - BRFV, Bionetwork/Incubator) - 30 min each with break in between BRFV, Micheal McDonald and Bionetwork Center, Chris Reedy
2:30pm - Break
2:45pm - Session 3 - each gives a 20 min review with 20 min Q and A- Agribusiness/Food Business Scale and Funding options
- Marketing and Competitive Analysis - Jennifer Badger NCSU, Empowering Mountain Food Systems
- The Ins and Outs of a Business Plan - ABTech Small Business Center
3:30pm - Closing Remarks and Survey
