Asheville, River Arts and North Carolina Artists

Chef Michelle Bailey

Cultivated Cocktails

Graham Sharp and Darren Nicholson Band

Other local contributors we are proud to support

Tom Reardon

Tom Reardon and Kathleen Doyle have built a reputation as world-class jewelers and metalsmiths. These artistic partners have been working together for over 35 years and have operated out of their Grovewood Village studio since 1995. 

Married in San Francisco on Valentine’s Day in 1985, Tom and Kathleen spent their early years teaching at the university level for a decade before they met. Since then, they’ve created a full-time American Craft business that flourished nationally. Together they create everything from dimensional mixed metal brooches to gold and precious stone jewelry to commemorative site-specific works.

Since relocating to Asheville, Tom and Kathleen have found inspiration in the dynamic growth of the local art scene and the natural beauty of Western North Carolina. In fact, their “Pisgah View” mountain rings continue to be a customer favorite.

Tom Reardon and Kathleen Doyle welcome custom jewelry orders and incorporate their lifetime of good design into each piece.

Shay brown

Shay Brown makes magic happen. She is an expert planner and community connector who creates meaningful experiences for hosts and guests across the Southeast. With over 27 years of experience, Shay and her team plan dozens of events, festivals, and weddings every year and manage several boutique venues in the surrounding area. Shay has also served as Festival Director for Chow Chow, GRINDfest, and Carolina CiderFest where her team is responsible for full-scale event production and managing the team of Directors for Culinary, Beverage, Makers, and Volunteers.

Before starting her company, Shay had a career as a lobbyist, where she developed a love for working with people and honing her skills in relationship development and building connections. She made it a priority to deeply understand each client's vision, their likes and dislikes, and tailored events to reflect their unique character. She believes that each moment should illuminate the authentic personality of the client, not the desire of the planner and that is what sets Shay and her team apart from others.

Shay has surrounded herself with an amazing, talented, and professional staff that delivers each element of the planning process with the same quality and detail that Shay has cultivated over more than two decades in the industry.

Shay is very passionate about a lot of things in life like hiking, concerts, cooking, books, and spending time with friends in the Asheville community. Most of all, though, she is in love with her family and fur babies Hazel, Eastwood, Tinsel, Max, Onyx, and Addy.