Sarah W says, "Truly, he'd rather be fishing."

John says, “Connie is a role-model everyone should look to: she's brimming with real self-assurance, has the courage of her convictions to speak and do what is right, and is generous in a way that flows naturally from thoughtful compassion.”

Alex says, “Our path winds steeper and deeper into the unknown; John’s our moral compass, always pointing north.”

Karla says, "Alejandro is a very nice person and is very quiet. When I assign Alejandro a job he is willing to do what is necessary to ensure the Team meets their goals. I am so happy to have Alejandro on the Team"

Demonta' says, “Allison loves ice coffee and loves to smile. She always knows how to make you laugh and she is a great leader.”

Eva says, "Amanda is an organizational force to be reckoned with and exudes a calm focused energy - which must be how she can parent four herding dogs without going insane!"

Emily says, "Annie has a great last name, a very great sense of style, and a big heart. She's lived all over the country but it seems like she's found her groove here in Asheville. She's already actively involved in the community as a volunteer at the Literary Council! How cool is that?"

Alejandra says, "Well, Bill is a great person, his attitude is always positive, open to help and support, plus full of great ideas. It's great to have him in the EF team."

Adam says, "Bill is one of the best team members in this parsec. He also has a ton of star wars knowledge and enjoys a good comic/graphic novel."

Lisa says, "Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin... When Britta's not busy building her own tiny house, she LOVES packing up beautiful EF pots to ship out to their new homes in the world. I'm pretty sure she gives each piece a little hug before she wraps it up, just to spread the love."

Hakeem says, "Brock is an amazing person, When I first started a year ago, Brock wasn’t at EF too much longer than me and I was shocked at how much he knew. Until we started talking on a personal level. He is understanding and willing to help with anything and that’s why he’s my favorite coworker."

Justin says, "In short, Bryttani is an all-star. Her ability to lift the mug team in spirit and quality is unparalleled. I feel fortunate to share space with this fantastic human being."

Erin says, “I can’t not gush about Cade's personal body of work. I love talking to Cade about their practice and how it is constantly evolving. They approach everything with inquisitiveness and confidence. Each sculptural piece feels like a unique living being you want to get to know better."

Zoe says, "Calla is the type of person that would spend two days baking you a birthday cake. It would be a masterpiece."

Julie says, “Catherine has an almost unnatural ability to keep track of many, many moving pieces, and do so with poise. When I found out they named their cats Rocky Raccoon and Eleanor Rigby, I knew we’d be friends.”

Lisa says, "It's clear that there are two very important things on Charlie's mind daily, music and coffee. In his first week at EF I noticed that he brought with him his own coffee and a pour over. I knew right away that he was the right person for QC. Oh, ask him to explain what a theremin is. He loves that question!"

Heather says, “Chelsea has many hidden talents, but my favorite is the attention to detail she puts into a good playlist. Her Halloween playlist on Spotify is pretty hard to top!”

Layson says, "Between Coeta's infectious (and hilarious) personality, productive work nature, and background in competitive tap dancing--she is full of surprises and impossible not to love. Let's hope an East Fork talent show is in the future to showcase her tapping capabilities."

Matt says, "I'm truly envious of the rack on his truck, his craftsmanship exudes class!"

Erin says, "Daniel has a doppelgänger and it's Tom Cruise."

Britta says, "I have a deep admiration for Danika's exuberant legging collection. How she keeps them from being covered in hair from her 7 cats though, can only be attributed to witchcraft.

Meghan says, "Darrin is unapologetically himself, which is an admirable trait in and of itself. He’s a writer, a storyteller, a passionate gesturer—a force to be reckoned with. His humor, animation, and random outbreak of dance moves make him an undeniable joy to be around, and we all have way too much fun because of him."

Jasmine says, "Davia, I think, was born with a drive common to the movements of someone who quietly changes the world."

Allison S. says, "It's always so sweet to see how Demonta' cares for all the plants in the shop, making sure they're watered and getting enough sun, rotating them throughout the store to show them off. They get the VIP treatment."

Sarah B. says, "Des is super smiley and funny. We help each other out and both have twin sisters! "

Jeannie says, "Devin loves Paddington 2 more than anyone I’ve ever met."

Matt says, "Someone who brings excitement for clay-body in a way I've never known, Devin's addition to East Fork has been a pleasure as his passion for process and dedication to the team is obvious and inspiring."

Jasmin says, "Donna is friendly and welcoming to everyone that comes in!"

Kara says, "Donnie is by far the punniest dad I’ve ever met! I just happen to adore this about him so I live for chat notifications from him. It’s not just his puns though… he truly encapsulates the dad spirit (at least the one we all wish we had) by being supportive, truthful, hardworking, communicative, and considerate. Donnie is the coolest and I want to be just like him when I grow up."

Patrice says "Drew is very thoughtful and genuine. Although he works remotely from his hometown Nashville, he makes it to Asheville often and appreciates the differences and similarities between the two towns. Drew loves kimchi fried rice, brisk hikes to waterfalls, and spending quality time with friends."

Emilja says, "Eli, who is secretly a hissing possum in human form, has taken to the RAM press like a dad to a fancy new propane grill. Ask them about their giant cat!"

Maria Baez says, "He is a person who has great charisma and beautiful ideas. I do not hesitate to ask him anything about work because I know he will have a positive response."

Mads says, "Emma and I have something in common, which is: woodworking! We have been exchanging tips and tricks and so far it's very clear that Emma knows a whole lot more than I do and is so generous with advice on the use of sandpaper, which stores to go to around here etc. In other words: pure gold for me!"

Dan S. says, "The only thing that could compare to Emilja's love for her pooch, Hazel, is her love for hoggin' it down a country road on her Harley. She is true badass with a real big heart."

Connie says, "Emily told me that she doesn't have a single junk drawer in her house, and if she weren't so dang kind and funny, I might resent her for it."

Sheila says, "Emily is my best bud at work, but she had rather be outdoors playing!"

Zoe says, "There's nothing Eva can't do. She'll run a 50-mile marathon for fun on Sunday and then come in Monday to create a spreadsheet with so much beauty and structure it resembles the Taj Mahal."

Freddy says, "Faye once told me, ‘dripping water boils a hole in the rock’ and that is exceedingly cooler than anything I could say about her.”

Faye says, "Hailing from a mysterious land known as Eastern North Carolina Freddy is a budding mug maker inspired by hot wings and smooth handles"

It’s not easy to find leaders with strong functional expertise, experience in other organizations, who perfectly fit into our culture. Ha is that unicorn. She leads with urgency and humanity. She rolls with the punches and is not afraid to get her hands dirty, always keeping her eyes on the prize. Plus, she’s an excellent driver.

Daryl says, "Hank has three speeds that all equate to getting the job done....Relaxed, chill and yep."

Chelsea says, “Heather has a warm, inviting personality and is quick to make someone new feel welcomed. Also her dog’s eyebrow game is on point!”

Tiffany says, "Irving is the best emotional support coworker you could ask for. He will be your biggest cheerleader and the first to step in when you need help. Want to make him smile? Ask him about his pepper plants."

Eva says, "Whether he's designing a new tool for the production team, planning an adventure or building a Magic deck, James takes every job seriously, but never himself."

Coeta says, "Jasmin is the kind of person that makes you feel like everything's going to be ok. She's exceptionally kind, tremendously talented, and deeply invested in the Asheville community. She's the brains behind most of East Fork's written word and tells stories with honesty, a little spunk, and lot of compassion."

Davia says, "Jasmine can heal whatever ails you from her homemade almond croissants to Haitian pickles.. and she'll do it while rocking her overalls and dreamboat smile!"

Devin says, "Jeannie's dog is named Weezer, but she thinks the Pinkerton reappraisal is overblown."

Jeffery R. says, "Jeff's expertise goes far beyond pottery. An extremely creative person with the means, and know-how, to make their designs a reality. With a great amount of kindness to match!"

Jeff says, "Jeffery is the epitome of style; stylish of sweaters, stylish of attitude, stylish of heart!"

Bex says, "You should follow Jenny on Instagram."

Julie says, "Jessica is sunshine incarnate and has a true real 'stop and smell the roses' (or, 'bend down and admire the mushrooms') type of personality."

Cade says, "Jo comes from Chicago, I wonder if she has seen Monument with Standing Beast?"

Ryan says, "Since day one, Joseph has shown the utmost honesty and pride in anything that he puts his mind to and I admire him for that. To paraphrase Petty: Let me get to the point, there’s no one like him in this joint."

Julie is the kindest (& coolest) person full of road trip/puppy stories and her smile is contagious. She is such a delight to be around!

Bryttani says, "Justin is the best man for new music recommendations. My spotify playlists have never been better."

Alejandro says, "You’ll get to know karla as hardworking and diligent, but if Karlas near, Bellas even closer, the duo bring a light to east fork that won't be put out."

Meagan says, "I knew Kelsey and I would get along on the first day I met her. How could we not? We both love the color green! She is authentic and one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. Also, I’m pretty sure she is part super hero."

Marissa says, "Kirby is incredibly warm and vivacious, and anyone who is around her feels her kind heart radiating from the inside out. She also has a killer fashion sense and a fabulous eye."

Thomas says, "Kyle’s skill set and passion for these skills are as well rounded as an East Fork Mug."

Joanie says, "If you taught yourself the rules, can you really break them? Laura’s a fiery genius – if she’s passionate about something, she learns it intimately. A true specialist, teacher, and artist. Ask her what she loves right now and I promise you’ll learn something new."

Coeta says, "Layson has been rock climbing since she was in diapers (seriously, there's adorable photo evidence). She's got three planners — all color coded — as if you needed another reason to love her."

Sarah B. says, "Lidia Is that place you wanna go to, sun is always shining. Truly a friend!”

Brandi says, "Marcus has been my Bestie since day 1!!! He always shows up to make me laugh and smile at just the right moment!"

Bex says, "Honestly, I was a bit disappointed there was no conflict when we wore the same sweater to onboarding because I was looking forward to seeing her compassionate communication skills in action."

A says, "Maria is an absolute delight to work with. Every shift I've ever shared with her has been full of laughter and shared snacks."

Savannah says, "Marissa may be the funniest person I've ever known. And when she tilts her head back for a full blown belly laugh... you just can't help but fall in love with her."

Jessie says, "Matt is so easy to work with and he picks up new things very quickly. I also think if you asked him nicely, he would be able to give you a run- down of all three Mad Max movies from the 80s."

Kelsey says, "Her favorite breakfast foods are: Biscuits and Gravy, French Toast, Shakshuka. In that order! Also her name is Meagan and her mom made sure that her initials spelled MEG. So basically she rocks."

Darrin says, "This absolutely sweet, hardworking gardener is an absolute thrift-queen with a bodacious walk, a determined attitude, and an energetic presence. 5 out of 5 stars, would recommend getting to know her. Be wary though, she does drink her tea unsweet."

Mads says, "Miguel is a true pleasure to be around! Both of us being from other countries, Miguel from Spain and myself from Denmark, we have bonded over our new lives here in Asheville. Looking forward to having a beer with this great dude and having more bonding moments."

Randolph says, "The world would be a better place if we all strived a little bit more to be like Mike. Max, the dog, approves of this message."

Edward says, "Mike's smile is like the sunshine, and he never meets a stranger."

Sarah K. says, "Molly is kind, fun, and unafraid to ask for help...the best kind of leader! (& oh boy is her red hair iconic.)"

Connie says, "Nicole can make an arrest warrant look good on paper, and she's got great hair."

Drew says, "Patrice is not only creative with a drive to constantly evolve, but she is also gifted with the clarity to see things as they are."

Kirby says, "I don't think I've met anyone as dedicated and passionate as Randolph, I mean he has seen Phish live 49 times."

Joseph says, "Ryan is an incredibly smart and caring person, and his wonderfully infectious sense of humor makes him a joy to work with. He also shows amazing fortitude and dedication by wearing gym shorts every single day, even when it's below freezing outside!"

Allison says, "When Sam isn’t selling pots, you can find him skating or checking out vintage finds at Ragtime. But mostly skating. He truly loves skating."

Ian says, "Straight outta Sonoma, Sam blesses East Fork with her sunny disposition every day. Her superpowers are great listening, genuine care for our customers and suggesting the perfect wine pairing to go along with your pottery purchase!"

Jeff L. says, "Now there’s a person who knows a Coleoptera from an Ensifera!"

Mckenzie says, "Aside from being a very talented seamstress, Sarah is beloved among so many of our customers (and staff too) for her helpful and sweet nature."

Alex says, "Scott wishes he could bring in his beloved dog Beecher, but he knows it would affect his work ethic (and everyone else's too)."

Emily F. says, "I could tell from the day we began our orientation together that Sheila is a force to be reckoned with. She moves through the office with purpose and direction, dressed to impress and always full of innovative ideas but never lacking a friendly hello. But don't let her positive disposition fool you—she just might wrestle you to the ground as she does with her many nieces and nephew!"

DJ says, "Talea is always kiln it and never looks glazed and confused. She always brings a warm and positive energy."

Irving says, "honey bees are friends, please don't kill them."

Donnie says, "TJ is such a generous human! He's also someone who can remain humble, even in trying times."

Talea says, "Tony is smooth and cool. He will talk you off a ledge and offer you a refreshing cool smoothie. Great uplifter to our glazing team. Keeping it real everyday by giving his best personally and professionally."

Mark is a founding partner of True Homes, one of the largest homebuilders in the Carolinas. He has been an investor in East Fork since 2016—our first investor. Mark has always offered a clear and pragmatic view of business and leadership and continually challenges us to delve deeper and unearth more of what lies below the surface. His own experience starting a home-building business in the depths of the financial crisis of 2008 has given him an unshakable resilience and cool-headedness that he brings to all conversations with the leadership team, especially in times of crisis.

Desiree Adaway, founder and principal of the Adaway Group, is one of the nation’s preeminent Diversity Equity and Inclusion consultant-facilitators with over 25 years of experience creating, leading, and managing international multicultural teams in 40 countries through major organizational change. The Executive Team works with Desiree at the Adaway Group for 1:1 business coaching through a DEI lens.

Amy is the former COO of ABC Carpet and Home and their Director of Social Responsibility. She has decades of experience in direct-to-consumer sales and retail of home goods, in addition to experience in balancing business realities with the desire to shift standard business practices to be less harm-causing. We come to her for any and all questions about anything from brand to resale strategy.

Bruce is a career consultant at Mercer where he helps organizations achieve business results by improving leadership effectiveness, retaining top talent, and developing increased workforce capabilities. He specializes in talent strategy, including workforce planning, HR and leadership effectiveness.

Marisol Jimenez specializes in mediation from a lens of transformative justice. She is the founder of Tepeyac Consulting and Spiral of Transformative Change. She brings to East Fork over twenty years of community engagement, training/facilitation, and policy advocacy experience.

- Margaret is the Vice President of Product Design & Responsible Innovation at Meta (Facebook). She is a global leader in the field of user experience design and has led some of the most consequential teams in consumer technology at Facebook, Google, and YouTube. Margaret brings a wealth of knowledge from the design and tech world, as well as extensive leadership and management experience.

Elliot leads Pentland Ventures, the direct investments division of the Pentland Group. PV aims to combine the pioneering spirit of a venture capital fund, the financial discipline of a private equity firm, the operational expertise of a strategic investor and the long-term outlook and values of a fourth-generation family business. Before joining Pentland he worked around the world with senior parliamentarians, ministers and statesmen. He is endlessly curious and passionate about early-stage companies, especially those that are driven by a mission to uplift their community and employees in equal measure.