Jason Tartt has spent the better part of 10 years working to understand and create awareness and education around the viability of agribusinesses in McDowell County, WV.

Tartt is the co-founder of Economic Development Greater East and several other organizations that work to identify regional economic drivers and develop models around food and agriculture, clean energy, tourism and community health. He has also developed training and experiential learning programs for budding food producers and future business owners in McDowell County.

He is an entrepreneur, farmer, business owner and an ambassador of change who is passionate about exploring the opportunities Appalachia offers to empower communities and build sustainable businesses for future generations.

Tartt aims for McDowell County and southern West Virginia to demonstrate Black excellence through creative agriculture and entrepreneurial projects. He recently appeared on CNN in an episode of Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America.”

Amelia Bandy is a co-founder and the executive director of Economic Development Greater East which aims to be part of the solution for economic revitalization and health improvement in McDowell County and southwest Virginia.

She is also an opioid and addiction educator for eight counties in southwest Virginia through the Virginia Tech University Cooperative Extension. She is a community organizer and advocate who initiated a health and wellness coalition, helped start a farmer’s market and worked on entrepreneurial farm-to-table projects in Tazewell and Lebanon, Virginia.

Josh McGee hails from the small community of Rocky Hill in Knoxville, TN where his culinary education began just 4 blocks down the street from his family home to his Granny Myra’s kitchen. It was here that Josh learned the art of great food and Southern hospitality. Working alongside his Granny he saw first-hand that food is the language of everyone’s story.

While in the restaurant industry in Knoxville, TN, Charleston, SC and Louisville, KY, Josh became fascinated with the fast-paced environment, the clientele, and the importance of place and space which allowed people to connect with each other over food and drink. He began to understand the importance of “the guest” to experience makes people feel special, warm and welcomed. That is the true essence of Southern hospitality. Josh is currently the “Sauce Boss” and owner of Y’all Company based in Winston-Salem, NC.