Neighbors Helping Neighbors

A room lights up when the right neighbor walks back in. That’s the energy Tammy Potter brings as she traces her path from New Mexico to the Smoky Mountains and shows how a “service first” mindset turns a company into a community engine. We dive into the real work behind those words—helping rebuild an agriculture program after storm damage, donating materials for a school pole barn with the Rotary, and showing up at community gardens and local events where support means more than a logo.

Tammy opens the doors on Best Buy Metals’ craft: in-house manufacturing of metal roofing, siding, commercial gutters, and American pole barns—custom-bent for each project. She explains why the rise of barndominiums matters, how local codes shape design choices, and why they don’t chase installs. Instead, they offer free contractor certification that teaches crews the full process, from first fastener to final inspection. It’s training as empowerment, creating a ripple effect of skilled local work and long-term trust.

Along the way, we celebrate the small-town rituals that make Black Mountain feel like home—favorite restaurants, trivia nights, music bingo—and the family roots that feed a life of service, from an operations lead training pro ballplayers to a young soldier preparing to ship out. We also meet Metaltron, the 13-foot transformer mascot who draws crowds and smiles, proving that attention can be both fun and generous when it lifts up community causes.

If you care about how businesses can be better neighbors, this story offers a practical playbook: partner early, give locally, train freely, and keep showing up. Hit play to learn how relationships beat transactions, how sponsorships can actually serve people, and how a company can help a valley stand taller. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find us.

Best Buy Metals is the industry leader in long-life metal roofing and siding materials. With seven manufacturing locations, they deliver high-quality products at everyday low prices and at speeds others can’t match. But what truly sets Best Buy Metals apart is their people—a dedicated team committed to providing exceptional service for projects of any size, every single day.

Transcript

Warm Welcome And Club Vibes

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Good morning, Tammy Potter. How are you? Good morning, Cheryl. I'm doing well. How are you? I'm fantastic. I'm glad you're here today. You and I know each other from the Business of Community Club that meets every Wednesday morning from eight to nine at the visitor center. And you are a regular at that meeting. In fact, when you're not there, everybody's like, Where's Tammy? She just makes it fun. Where is she? That's sweet. So one week you weren't there for like four weeks, and it was Christmas time, all the things, and you walked in and the whole room just lit up and was so excited to see you. And we all hugged you. And there was a visitor there who was like, wow, this is a really welcoming group.

SPEAKER_02 1:02

I do remember that meeting, yeah. That was funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

But you work with Best Buy Metals, and they are a chamber champion and also just really big supporters, cheerleaders for us, and we really appreciate that. But I want to talk a little bit about that, but I want you to tell me kind of what's your story, where are you from? Sure.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

So, you know, I've shared a little bit about me. Born and raised in a little town called Las Cruces, New Mexico, the city of Three Crosses in southern New Mexico, just on the tip of El Paso, Texas in New Mexico. Decided that we wanted to move across the country to Connecticut. Oh my goodness. For some odd reason. Now, at the time we had a young child who was in kindergarten. We're like, if this is the time to really move for careers, now is it. So we decided that January would be a perfect time to play golf in beautiful southern New Mexico and then hop on a plane to travel across the country to Connecticut. And uh boy, was that was that shelter, you know? The the safe, warm embrace of New Mexico to Connecticut was definitely a culture shock for us. Or for me, I should say.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

It's funny.

Life, Freelance, And Culture Shifts

SPEAKER_02 2:28

Yeah. So uh we spent some time in Connecticut, loved it. It was uh was the first time I'd never been in an office. I had a freelance studio. I was a creative director for an advertising agency prior to relocating to Connecticut. And we moved there for my husband's career. So it was an opportunity to stay home with our child, have a freelance freelance studio out of my own home, which was fabulous. But at the same time, it was terrifying because then I was also thrown into that stay-at-home mom club where you play tennis in the morning and then meet for coffee at the grocery store in the small club.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

And I don't remember any of those things happening, but I'm glad that's the stereotype. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:11

So it was it was a bizarre time and definitely some getting used to. Um but we love that. But my husband's former CFO of the company he used to work for in El Paso, Texas, wooed him to Asheville, North Carolina, this beautiful little, you know, tucked in the smoky, the smoky mountains, the foothills of the smoky mountains. So we relocated uh to Asheville four years after being in Connecticut. And we've been in this area ever since. And how could you not love this area and especially the valley where we are today?

SPEAKER_01 3:47

Very cool. It is a great place. It's a great place to live, it's a great place to work. Um, you live in Asheville, but you do a lot of work all over. But I know that that's why you're in Black Mountain, is you do a lot of work for Black Mountain, Swantanoa, that kind of thing. So we do. One of the things, one of the things you do in business and community club is tell, you know, basically what business or industry you're in. And you always say, I am with Best Buy Metals, and then you tell us about what you do, but then you always use the words service first. We're a service first organization. Now I know what that means now, but early on I was like, what does that even mean? So I want you to tell us what that really means.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

Yeah, sure. So uh the easiest way I can explain it is we are neighbors helping neighbors. It's truly who we are, it's what our company embodies. And I do say that we are a service first company because we truly believe in giving back to the communities that we live and serve. We we really manufacture and ship all over the nation, but we are rooted right here in Western North Carolina.

Moving South And Finding Home

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Very cool. When you first joined the chamber, your name just came across my screen. I didn't call you and ask you to be a member. I didn't anything. It just all of a sudden showed up, which is pretty rare. And my first thought was why does somebody in Asheville want to be a member of our chamber? And then I got to meet you and know you. And instantly you said the whole service first line that I will call a line until all of a sudden there was no longer a line. It was action. So tell me about a couple of things you're doing in the valley. Don't tell me all of them because you do so many. Sure. But tell me about a couple of them that you do that that have that you've just been sharing with us.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

Yeah, sure. So the most recent one would be we are helping build a barn for a school in uh Swantanoa, which we're super excited about. We have partnered with the Rotary Club to make that happen for some really fortunate kids. And so that's our latest project. But it's community gardens, it's barns, it's rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, you know, has really put us in those, I wouldn't say the spotlight, but has really pushed us to lean in into this area because it was really one of the heaviest hit areas. Um you are our neighbors, and we are here all the time. We are here all the time. I see what we shine. We, you know, we eat, we do all the things. We love Black Mountain. We've gone to all the festivals, you know. This this is home for us. This is a beautiful weekend jaunt, you know, down the road into the valley to spend time. Uh who doesn't love Black Mountain? I don't know why we don't live here actually.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

I know a couple of realtors who can change that and help you with.

SPEAKER_00 6:26

I think I know some of those realtors.

What “Service First” Really Means

SPEAKER_01 6:29

That's right. There you go. Well, well, good. So, yes, I am gonna give a shout-out to the Rotary Club of Black Mountain and Swannanova Valley. And they are working at the community high school. Yeah. But the high school was completely the agriculture department was completely destroyed. And so they that rotary club took it on. They wrote grants, they got money and funding, and they got equipment from other rotaries. I think Raleigh. The Rotary Club of Raleigh. That's not easy to say. But anyway, and then they helped rebuild it, physically rebuild it, but then they talked to you about the pole barn that they needed. And that was a huge gift from Best Buy Metals. And so I love that.

SPEAKER_02 7:10

And then tell us about those are the stories we love. That's because when you least expect it, those are the ones we really like to lean in and be like, you know what, save that money. Use it elsewhere in the community. Let us partner with you to donate these materials. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Yeah. That's awesome. So Best Buy Metals. Um, my husband was in the scrap metal recycling business. So my first thought when it was Best Buy Metals was they must be a scrap metal recycling company, which isn't fair, but that's where my brain went. That's most people. What that's right. That's right. So, but as soon as I saw your logo, I was like, oh, I see. There are ads everywhere. They do so many different things. Tell me a little bit about what they do. This this podcast isn't really about that, but I really still think it's important for Best Buy Metals to Yeah, we love to share what we do.

SPEAKER_02 7:54

So we've, you know, been established since 2002. We're an in-house manufacturer of metal roofing, siding, commercial gutters, and American pull barns, which means that we bend and shape metal custom to your project. So nothing is prefabbed. It's all bent and formed right in our location, in this little tiny posted stamp of a warehouse. We do all of that for all of our metal needs in the area.

Why Join The Valley Chamber

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Okay. So when I think of metal, I think of lots of things. But my first thought was a roof. Like we all do metal roofs. And we have a metal roof at the visitor center. So we do. Yes, we do. And so that was my first thought. But then when you started talking about pole barns, I'm like, what is a pole barn? Tell me what a pole barn is. Yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_02 8:41

A pole barn can be lots of different things. So think agricultural, though. That's the most common. So places to house, farm equipment, farm animals, horses, boats, RVs, motorcycles, and then barn dominiums, which is Okay, that's where I was headed. Which is, you know, all the craze right now. Now we get into a little bit of a sticky area there with, you know, our codes here in in the area. But by and large, you know, barn dominiums are kind of taking over the housing space at the moment. So that's what we do. Yeah. I didn't know if you'd done any of those or not.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

So that's cool.

SPEAKER_02 9:21

Yes, we do have some contractors who have used our pole barn kits or our pole barn materials to build a barn dominion, either for themselves or for a customer. So sure, we sure do.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

The other thing is that you don't actually do the installation, but you will train them how to do the installation for free. You will train them. Yes.

Community Projects And Hurricane Recovery

SPEAKER_02 9:41

Is that right? That you you have listened to everything I have said. Yes, we do. We offer a free contractor certification course because we believe in giving you all the tools to be successful. You know, we always say you bring the crew, we'll bring the snacks. That's who we are. Or the biscuits, we'll bring the biscuits, either one. That's how we what we say. But we do offer a half-day contractor certification course for free, where the contractor can bring in themselves, their crew, and we teach them from the very beginning step to the very end so they can be certified to install metal and feel comfortable with the installation process.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

Cool. All right. So we've done a little business. Yeah. But you know me, social girl. Wanna know what you love to do when you do come to Black Mountain with your family.

SPEAKER_02 10:31

Oh goodness. What are your things? Oh man, well, we love all the things. I mean, who doesn't love shopping downtown, the farmers market? One of our favorite restaurants is Quesera. So we frequent that on a regular basis. But uh there's something so quaint and special and beautiful about Black Mountain when we when we feel like we're locals when we're here. We won't tell anybody. I know. And I've heard so many times people say this really is a family network. It is, you know, it is just the sweetest community. So we love being here. We we are here most weekends. I'm gonna have to join in on Tuesday night trivia, though, because I've heard that a lot.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

And I think Thursday night is music bingo. That's the night I go. Oh, okay. Hope goes to trivia on Tuesday.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

So I've heard both. So And Forrest, I think, goes to I'm gonna have to drag Potter, you know, after a long work day.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

You'll love it. Thursdays are better. Yeah, Thursdays rock. I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_02 11:27

But you know, and there's just so many cute things to do here, so many artists. It's such a beautiful, crafty area. There's nothing we don't love to do here.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

That's cool. Yeah. Good. Yeah, good. Uh Keserell was one of my parents' favorite restaurants and they like to go on Monday nights now that they've added a Monday night dinner and it's it's kind of a little different menu and everything. But anyway, I do like to go there too.

SPEAKER_02 11:53

Yeah, it is a cute spot.

SPEAKER_01 11:55

Yeah, and who would think oysters in the middle of the mountains would be good? They're fantastic. I'm like, okay, you're right. Yeah, they fly them in. That's why they're good. But anyway, and so you have a family. I realize that you're not raised by wolves, but I mean it's never okay. Tell me about your children. They're grown and flown, but yes, grown and flown.

What Best Buy Metals Makes

SPEAKER_02 12:18

How does that happen? I'm a mom of three boys: 28, 21, and 20. And I have a stepson who's also 28. The oldest is in Raleigh. He's a director of operations for a baseball training facility that trains major league ball players in between seasons or in between contracts. And then they also train younger kids up and coming, kind of the who's who of high school and whatever it may be. It's a passion of his. He was a baseball player all through the years. So uh he's really taken that into a career now, which was a hard leap for him because he actually had a real grown-up job, like he likes to say for many years after college and finally made the leap to this. So he's thrilled about that. My middle one is a handyman, has a handyman service in the area where he's partnered with apartment complexes and does all the things. He is definitely has the entrepreneurial spirit for sure. He's a doll, he's he's a go-getter. We like to, you know, say he's everywhere, but nowhere. He's that kid, the middle one. Love him. And then the baby actually just joined uh the service. He'll be shipping off at the end of February. So my mama heart is struggling. Yes. Which branch did he army? Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Yeah.

Pole Barns And Barndominiums

SPEAKER_02 13:43

That's exciting, mom. I mean, scary as all get out, but it's it's exciting. I mean, really proud. He was the kid that, you know, he we have military in our family, and he's always been the one that we thought would probably do that. He was an ROTC all through high school and then decided, no, you know, I think I want to become an engineer, but I'm not quite ready to go to school yet. So, you know, we thought we were in the process of college. And then surprise shipping off at the end of February. So we're really proud of him. But it is a very uh interesting time to be serving. So we're just, you know, we're praying that all is well. And uh, you know, really proud of him though. I'm really proud of him. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

My husband's my husband, when he joined the Navy, he had applied to a different college, a couple different colleges, and he came home one night and he said, Hey, mom and dad, I enlisted in the Navy and I leave next week. That's kind of the concept. That was kind of how it went. And they were like, You did you did what? Yeah. And she still talks about to this day that that's her proudest moment and the heartbreaking, like the moment that she just thought she would never survive it.

Free Contractor Training

SPEAKER_02 14:55

Yeah, and you know, it was real hard as a mom, you know, he's already enlisted. So what do you say? All you can be is supportive, and you know, I'm really proud of you. And good love on him, yeah, while he's still here before he, you know, what's happening? So anyway, and then my eldest, my oldest stepson is the same age as my oldest son, and he's equally as fabulous. He lives in Inman, South Carolina. Um, he works for a lumber company as a rep doing specialty kind of lumber and mill work. Um, and they have a baby, a one-year-old baby, Sonan. And they have another one on the way. So yeah. Do you know? No, yes, it's a secret. I like that. I did that. Yeah, I don't even know what it is, if it's a boy or a girl. Yeah, we did that too.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

We weren't telling anything. Yeah. So I love that you come to business club. I love that you also come to all of our business after hours. And yours are always the prize that everybody wants to win the door prize. You're you give the best prizes ever. So actually, actually, my friend Bob won your gift, your door prize at one year at one time at Rally for the Valley.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:05

And to this day, he brags about the Best Buy Metals cup that he has.

SPEAKER_00 16:10

Oh, so know anybody who can get me one? I was gonna say, maybe I need to bring a gift basket. I just want the cup. I just want the cap. Okay, because he can't win that. I got you.

Loving Black Mountain Life

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Yes, but y'all are really good at showing up and representing not only Best Buy Metals, but you do a really good job. Like another one of y'all's service first projects was the community garden. And you do a good job of not just giving the item, but you showed up for their grand opening, reopening, whatever you call it, and you're a part of that and you advertise for them, which I think is yeah. Sometimes people just say, Oh, we did this and we did that, but you are really good about getting out there and telling people what they do.

SPEAKER_02 16:52

Yeah, you know, I think we're a little controversial in where we sponsor. We we really like to show up where people least expect us because we truly embody embody that neighbors helping neighbors. Um, so I think that's the most beautiful part about being able to sponsor community events or purpose because that's what it's about, right? Is to build that that person, people, community project up and give them the support that's needed to share their message. Um, and sometimes we have a larger platform to be able to do that. So, you know, even with the gift basket, it's really important to me when we give gifts that it's locally rooted. So when we bring something, I make sure, like I called you that day, who needs a little more love in the community? So that we share their message as well. It's not about us. We do love that you tote around a Best Buy Medal. Sure. I don't. Bob does. That's fun. Yeah. But I think it's even cooler for it's something from the community.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Correct. I think that's fantastic too. You're always good about that and and checking to see is there somebody who's who hasn't gotten any chamber love lately. Because you're not just gonna sell Best Buy Medals. Actually, you don't generally sell that when you're in there. It's true. You actually sell for the chamber for me, and I appreciate that too. But um, but I think that that's the picture of service first that I wish people could understand. I think when you lead with that, I'm always like, well, what does that mean? Sounds like another line people use. But but the good news is you don't explain what it is, you show us what it is, and I think that's really cool.

SPEAKER_02 18:31

And I think we've really I think sometimes as businesses we miss the boat that no matter what the business, it is relationship first. Correct. And like we always say, people buy from those they like, know, and trust. And, you know, I've been taught that all of my professional career, but it's really true. That's right. And especially in our small mountain towns, it is who you know. That's right. So, yes, we we love our neighbors. That's good. That's cool.

Family, Careers, And Service

SPEAKER_01 19:01

I always add no like trust and respect because I think that the respect part is something that you earn. The rest of it you can do on your own. You can do the relationship building, but I think that's and I will buy from somebody I don't respect once just to see if I can build that.

SPEAKER_02 19:17

Yeah, you know, I always say people talk a lot about that, that I don't talk a lot about you know, selling first, but we're just not transactional. We could be, sure, but I don't I don't think that wins the race. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 19:30

So that's right. There you go. Well, and that's one of the things I like the most. So what do we have to do to get you to move to Black Mountain? Oh, that's a good B tree, Montreat, Ridgecrest.

SPEAKER_02 19:43

There's lots of options over here. I mean, there are lots of options for sure. And you know, we we're remodeling our house in New Mexico where we thought we were gonna read the house in New Mexico. We do, we do. So, you know, we moved away to the beach for a little while, came back. We'd sold our house here in the in the area. So, I mean, we could be persuaded to move this way.

SPEAKER_01 20:05

I know people. Very cool. So let's talk about people behind their back. Sure. That's because our mamas taught us not to do that. I was gonna say it's not what I do best, but okay, let's go. So, business club, the people who come, they crack me up because you never know who's gonna be there. You never know who might show up. We've got a guy who comes and represents the croquet club in Black Mountain. I love him too. But who knew there was a croquet club in Black Mountain? I didn't until he started coming. Right. So Jason does a really good job of telling everybody what they are, what they do, and how we can join. We have, you know, the perennial Hope Burke, who's always there.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:46

Martha Hansen, who's always there with Black Mountain Massage and Wellness. There have rarely been people come that I just don't love. And it's I guess that's part of the reason we do that is to help build relationships so you know learn more about each other.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

And I love that you've opened it up to the community because it is my favorite Wednesday morning of all Wednesdays, is when I can come sit in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace and just enjoy the company of other like-minded professionals in the area. Um, and it is a lovely group of people that that come and really provide support. But I love that you've opened it up to the community so just anybody can really see what it is about.

SPEAKER_01 21:29

Yeah, and we hope people will come and say, you know, I am looking for an electrician and I don't know who to ask. Yeah. Well, this room can help you find them. Sure. So that that that's good. And then we also have sometimes we'll have we have one guy who travels, and that's uh he has a house here, and he comes, you know, sporadically. He'll walk in the door. And I'm like, Harry T, good to see you. Glad you're here. And he's it it's just fascinating who comes. And it's sometimes I mean, he is a businessman and and he does some really cool stuff. He gave me his book. It's a good book. Anyway, but that is a fun group, and I love you never know who's gonna show up.

SPEAKER_02 22:06

You never know. It's a true connection hour. So I wouldn't even call it networking or business. I would, it really is just sharing a story. You do a lovely job of just who is sitting next to me, what is their story, really getting to know that person rather than the business first. So good job, Cheryl. Thank you. And most importantly, we find out who their favorite Muppet is. I mean, right? That's where it's at. Did you love the first episode? Episode, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

I did. I'm sorry. Anyway. Okay. Sorry. Our friends at the business club will laugh that we talked about the Muppets because they think I'm crazy. Well, the two of us are crazy together. That's right. And we have the same favorite Muppet, don't we? Yeah, we do. Animal, because he's off the chain, but not.

SPEAKER_02 22:46

Yeah. And Gonzo's my he's a close second.

SPEAKER_01 22:48

I had a dog named Gonzo. Stop. And Camilla. Gonzo and Camilla, they were chicken.

SPEAKER_00 22:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

Anyway.

SPEAKER_00 22:54

Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

Sorry. Anyway, so yes, we talk about the Muppets sometimes. But I mean, what's more fun than that, right? Exactly. I mean, yeah. Oh, then there's Roger.

Showing Up Beyond Sponsorships

SPEAKER_02 23:06

I love Roger. Roger's great. I'm still waiting for the special pork. I know. I want the pork chop to come back. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

Yeah. Roger does Berliner Kendall, a German restaurant in town. And he is so funny to me. He just cracks me up. He just looks at me like you're going to make me do what? He has the best sense of humor. That's right. That's right. But you got to know it. You got to know it's coming.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

It's true. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 23:28

Anyway, I don't know when our next business after hours is going to be, but I'm also going to add a bre business. Let's see, breakfast before business. Breakfast before business. That's what we're going to call it. Oh, that's fun. B B B. Let's see how that works out and see if people will come to that. A lot of B's, a lot of R's. There's a lot happening with well. I figure everybody else has letters on everything they do. So we got to start doing a little more of that. But that's fun. Well, uh, anything else I didn't ask you that that you want to share? I have one more thing I want to share, but no, I think we covered most of it.

SPEAKER_02 24:00

I mean, you didn't ask about Metaltron. I'm surprised.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

Well, because I couldn't remember his name. That's exactly why I didn't, because I love Metaltron. Anyway, yes. Tell us about Metal Metaltron.

SPEAKER_02 24:11

Yeah, you'll have to ask Craig and Lauren because they they can't supported that's good. I'm after hours, our focus after five, which was so fun. It was it was so fun to see them and their bright faces. It was so sweet. I was so glad that they were there. But we do we have a mascot. He's a 13-foot-tall transformer. His name is Metaltron. He's pretty cool. He welcomed everybody to the event that night. He was our unofficial door greeter. Oh, good. But he's a lot of fun. So when we're at events or expos or the state fair or all those things, the tourist games games. He'll be at all of our firework tourist game nights. So come, you know, high-five Metaltron. He's kind of a big deal.

Relationships Over Transactions

SPEAKER_01 24:52

It's pretty cool. I'm excited to meet him. I've just talked about him behind his back for a long time. Yeah. And I'm excited. Doesn't mind that. He likes the attention. The attention. Yeah. So the other thing I want to share is that Best Buy Metals being service first, they're going to be our newest. Um, they're going to be our presenting sponsor for the podcast. I'm so grateful and excited about that. And so we're going to do a commercial here in a few minutes. When it comes out, people will see hear it and they'll know that we did it today. But we're looking forward to that and we appreciate y'all's sponsorship, not only on the podcast, but also for the chamber as as a whole. And your your money is great, and we love that, of course. But you can also give money and never show up for anything, but you all do not do that. Y'all are y'all are here and you show up, and we appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Yeah, our pleasure. We love being a part of of the community and the chamber, and you're doing amazing things this year. We're glad that you're back in action. So uh that's why I was first to knock on your door. We were patiently awaiting the reopening of the chamber here. So well, good. Well, we're glad you're here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:02

But thank you very much, and I appreciate your time. Thanks for having me. Thanks for joining us on Exploring the Valley. Until next time, keep celebrating the pride of our community and discovering the magic of the mountains. In the meantime, you're free to move about the valley.