Ashleigh Shanti is Chef de Cuisine of Benne on Eagle in Asheville, NC. Working closely with five-time James Beard Award finalist Chef John Fleer, Ashleigh pays homage to the rich

Head Brewer for One World Brewing since 2016, specializing in IPAs & mixed culture Farmhouse / Saison style ales.

Dr. Darin J. Waters is the Executive Director of the Office of Community Engagement, and an Associate Professor of History at UNC Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina. As a professor, Dr. Waters teaches courses in American history, North Carolina History, Appalachian History, African American

Eda Rhyne Distilling Co. creates small batch spirits that capture the unique regional flavors of Western North Carolina.

A native of Winston-Salem, John Fleer was named one of the “Rising Stars of the 21st Century" by the James Beard Foundation and is a five-time finalist for the James Beard

Chef Todd Richards is an award-winning chef known for his contemporary cooking style rooted in Soul and Southern cuisine. A native of Chicago and based in Atlanta since the early 1990s, Richards is a self-taught chef and two-time semifinalist for James Beard Foundation Best Chef: