Alumni Success
Hospitality Alumnus Thomas Barton Recognized as Lodging Employee of the Year
March 26, 2026 When Thomas Barton graduated from high school in 2013, he wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do next. He’d been working at the Biltmore Estate bistro for two years, washing dishes and serving at catered events.
How Techie Tim Kinsey Fast-Tracked to a Rewarding New IT Career
March 19, 2026 In early 2025, Tim Kinsey, 26, found himself at a career crossroads. The new dad was bartending to make ends meet while exploring other careers that would provide a steady income and more time with his family.
Made in Asheville Spotlight: Pratt & Whitney's Brian Swahn
March 12, 2026 In Asheville, manufacturing is not just making a comeback—it’s being redefined.
Dental Assisting Student Paityn Boyle Wins National Scholarship
March 3, 2026 Paityn Boyle, 21, grew up hearing her dental assistant mom tell stories about the patients she worked with each day, so it was only natural that the Hendersonville native felt drawn to the dentistry field.
Dental Hygiene Alum AnneMarie Miller Recognized by Venture Asheville
December 18, 2025 Over the course of two decades, A-B Tech dental hygiene alumnus AnneMarie Miller noticed a change in her older patients. When they transitioned into long-term care facilities and lost manual dexterity, their teeth began to rapidly decline.
Trailblazer Success: Gevony Foreman's New Life as a Paramedic
November 20, 2025 Gevony Foreman is an A-B Tech Emergency Services alum who works as a paramedic in Henderson County. In 2021, thanks to two life-changing events, Foreman made the decision to switch careers from wedding planner to paramedic.
Trailblazer Success: Asheville Music Tools' Rick Shaich on the Importance of Dreams
November 13, 2025 A-B Tech electronics engineering alumnus and current Small Business Incubation client, Rick Shaich, who goes by the name “Hawker”, loved playing guitar and tinkering with electronics as a boy growing up in Minneapolis.
Trailblazer Success: Medical Laboratory Technology Alum Shares Passion with Students
October 16, 2025 As a teenager, Brittany Penland dreamed of one day being a teacher. But choosing a career wasn’t easy, as the 30-year-old mom also felt drawn to technology and the healthcare field.
A-B Tech Health and Fitness Science Alum Nadja Simon Created Her Own Happy Place
October 9, 2025 After two decades working as a metal smith and jewelry designer, Nadja Simon, 57, craved a career change. The Philadelphia native had been doing everything from repairing musical instruments to glass blowing to make a good living, but felt something was missing.
Local Professional Land Surveyor and A-B Tech Alum Lissa Turner is Reshaping the Local Landscape
September 24, 2025 A year after Hurricane Helene flooded local waterways, Lissa Turner, an alumnus of the A-B Tech Geomatics Technology program, has been busy behind the scenes helping engineers repair rivers and streams damaged in the storm.