The Biz: Task master

Katrina Bragg believes she’s hit upon a great idea. Companies of all stripes are constantly facing a variety of tasks they’re either ill-prepared or too busy to perform in-house. Bragg’s company, Task Mania, seeks to fill the breach. The one-stop shop handles assignments ranging from administrative to marketing to financial and beyond. Can-do spirit: Katrina […]

The Ellington looks to break ground next summer

If all goes according to plan, The Ellington hotel/condo project slated for Biltmore Avenue should break ground and commence construction sometime in mid-2009, says spokesperson Karen Tessier. High hopes: Developers of The Ellington, a high-rise planned for Biltmore Avenue, expect to break ground sometime next summer. “We’re still in process with The Ellington, we’re still […]

Biz: Nuts to you

For many of Sakshi Gantenbein‘s customers, the smell is what hooks them. The beguiling aroma—subtle yet savory, not to mention comforting—comes from roasted chestnuts, which Gantenbein cooks up in his portable roasting stand. In the winter months, he’s typically on hand at the entrance to Greenlife Grocery in Asheville, Wednesday through Sunday from noon to […]

Biz: Derailed

Amid the current tough economic times, a lot of nonprofits are struggling to continue fulfilling their missions. But one local group, OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling, finds itself in a particularly tight spot after failing to secure a $135,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Executive Director Celeste Collins reports. The money […]