2022 4 Under 40 Award finalists - Business Owner

Dr. Carrie Canviness, Interface Environmental Consulting, LLC

Carrie Caviness is a Systems Ecologist and Environmental Professional with over 17 years of
consulting and research experience. She holds a bachelor's degree in Natural Resources from North Carolina State University along with masters and doctoral degrees in Environmental Engineering with an emphasis on wetland assessment and restoration from the University of Florida. Carrie is an experienced environmental consultant, specializing in permitting and design services related to stream and wetland restoration/mitigation, stormwater management, and commercial and transportation development. Her first professional opportunity in the High Country came with Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, where she served four years as an environmental specialist. She opened Interface Environmental Consulting in 2016 and is skilled in jurisdictional resource determination/wetland delineation, Erosion and Sediment Control Planning, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, NEPA compliance, and all aspects of federal, state, and local environmental permitting.

Angela Heavner, 180 Float Spa

Angela Heavner is owner of 180 Float Spa in Boone. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Angela discovered Float Therapy in 2017 after experiencing the negative effects that stress has on our mind and body. She began searching for ways to decrease the negative impact of stress on overall well-being, aiming to live a healthier lifestyle. It was after floating for the first time that Angela’s passion for Float Therapy developed and she knew this was something she needed to bring to Boone. After three years of development, fundraising, and build out, Angela & Brad Heavner opened 180 Float Spa in October of 2020. She continues to recognize the importance of self nourishment and remains passionate about sharing the experience of  Float Therapy to support well-being within the community.

Bryan Kossol, Everybody's Loaded Biscuits

Bryan Kossol is the owner and operator of Everybody’s Loaded Biscuits food truck in Boone, NC. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sustainable Technology from Appalachian State University in 2009. Following graduation, Bryan moved to Raleigh to focus on his passion for music. While in the area, he purchased a food truck and brought his childhood breakfast favorite–the Eastern NC-style cheese biscuit–to the rest of the state. After quickly realizing that the Raleigh area was not an ideal market to start up his new business, Bryan moved back to the heart of the High Country, bringing his cheese-filled biscuit concept along with him. Since 2016, Everybody’s Loaded Biscuits has been parking at coffee shops, music festivals, and in the downtown area; selling Ashe County cheese-filled biscuits and steadily building a loyal fanbase. In the near future, Bryan hopes to combine his love for live music and breakfast food with a brick-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Boone.

Megan Ward, The Care Collective

Megan Ward is a Watauga County native, growing up in Zionville, attending Mabel School, and graduating from Watauga High School. She stayed close to home to attend Appalachian State University, where she graduated with a degree in Business Management and minors in Art and Art History in 2007. Shortly after graduation, Megan began her path toward becoming a massage therapist, completing her training and becoming fully licensed in 2010. Her first business venture was opening Everybody Massage & Bodywork in 2011. Four years later she opened The Care Collective inside Shear Shakti in downtown Boone, hiring her first employee in 2015. After a successful six years of business in downtown, Megan moved The Care Collective to a new space inside the Forestview Professional Building on State Farm Road, expanding services and growing her staff to 16 professionals. The team at The Care Collective works from the mission to mindfully serve the community, helping clients heal injuries, avoid surgery, find relief from chronic pain, reduce stress, and maintain a pain free body.