On September 24–25, our Executive Director, Katie Hoffman, traveled to Wise, Virginia, to attend CreatorCon, a regional gathering that brings together makers, entrepreneurs, and creatives to celebrate innovation in Appalachia.
“I came home with new ideas and a full heart” –Katie
The event was packed with opportunities to learn, connect, and get inspired. Katie caught up with old friends, made new ones, and heard from a lineup of engaging speakers who are shaping business and creative culture in our region. Among the highlights:
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Thomas Q. Jones — NFL Hall of Famer, entrepreneur, and actor, originally from Big Stone Gap, VA, shared a powerful keynote on resilience, creativity, and making your mark.
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Alex Veatch — CEO of Letterpress Communications (and valued CA Board Member) offered fresh insights on marketing and storytelling for small businesses.
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Erin Simons — Artist Engagement Specialist with ‘Round the Mountain Artisan Network in Abingdon, VA (and a traditional Appalachian broom maker), brought a maker’s perspective to building cultural networks.
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Megan Riggs — Founder of Crunchy Hydration, shared her journey of turning a personal quest for health and wellness into a growing beverage brand. (Katie even tried the product—and loved it!)
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Justin Darnell — Viral content creator, serial entrepreneur, and the mastermind behind “Dracler,” the Appalachian hillbilly vampire with a mountain twang, reminded everyone that creativity can take unexpected and wildly successful forms.
Beyond the sessions, the best part of CreatorCon was the energy in the room: a vibrant mix of people passionate about creating, collaborating, and supporting one another’s ventures. Katie left the event with new ideas, renewed connections, and plenty of inspiration to bring back to Create Appalachia.
Special thanks go out to Ryan Jones (Do Good Foundation) and Blake Salyer (Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Manager, UVA Wise) for orchestrating such a meaningful experience. With so much good energy, Katie is already planning to attend next year’s CreatorCon.
