Hurricane to Opportunity: Rebuilding Western NC Business with Brett Hulsey

Brett Hulsey's journey from college newspaper staffer to media company owner defies conventional wisdom about print's demise in a digital world. As owner of Holsey Media Group and WNC Business Magazine, Brett shares how he transformed a small publishing operation into a thriving enterprise with approximately twelve magazine titles serving Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

"I'd worked for over a decade on the digital side of the publishing world where everything seemed to be going digital," Brett explains. "But I was pleasantly surprised that magazines still have life—they're being picked up by highly qualified consumers who are actively looking for information." This insight has fueled Holsey Media's growth strategy, resulting in partnerships with around 800 clients across diverse industries.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Brett discusses the unexpected business lessons he's learned. Rather than focusing solely on qualifications when hiring, he discovered the profound impact that personality fit has on small team dynamics. "One person really changes the culture in a small group," he notes. Through personality profiling, Brett identified critical gaps in his team's collective strengths—gaps that, once filled, dramatically improved company performance.

As a longtime sponsor of the Asheville Business Summit, Brett offers valuable perspective on regional business recovery following Hurricane Helene. Drawing parallels to COVID-19 challenges, he emphasizes resilience: "Tough times make tougher people... nothing impacts us more than what we choose to do every day." Recent market indicators point to renewed optimism, with increased tourism, business expansion, and publication demand signaling economic improvement.

For entrepreneurs across industries, Brett's message is clear: despite surface differences between businesses, fundamental challenges remain similar, creating opportunities to learn from unexpected sources. "Running a brewery may sound very different from running a dentist's office, but there are things that have to be done no matter what kind of business you have."

Join us at the Asheville Business Summit to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and discover strategies for growth in challenging times. Get your tickets at WNCSummit.com and be part of the conversation shaping Western North Carolina's business future.

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

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Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.

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