Alumni Success
Edible Asheville Fall 2026 Profile: Alyse Baca of Spicewalla
September 1, 2026 Alyse Baca thought she had her career figured out. After earning a degree in Dental Assisting from A-B Tech in 2011, she enjoyed the work and expected to stay in the profession. But while working full time, she picked up a hobby that slowly began changing her plans.
A-B Tech Nursing Alumna Sharon Bigger Advocates for Patients’ End-of-Life Care
August 20, 2026 Sharon Bigger, 53, moved from the Washington, D.C., area to Asheville in her early twenties, hoping to land a job where she could use her language skills. Fluent in.
A-B Tech Education Provided Foundation for Global IT Manager Stephen Price's Varied Career
August 13, 2026 Growing up on a farm in western Kentucky, A-B Tech alumnus Stephen Price, 60, often helped his stepfather fix machinery when it broke down. His love of tinkering carried into high school computer class in the mid-1980s when his school got two computers and let students play on them.
Author and A-B Tech Alum Julia Considine Pierce Advocates for Girls' Health in New Book
August 27, 2026 Author and educator Julia Considine Pierce first became passionate about advocating for girls’ health as a UNC Chapel Hill graduate student studying middle and high school health education classes throughout North Carolina.
Human Services Alumnus Morgan Anderson’s Life is a Testimony to Resilience
June 17, 2026 Morgan Anderson wrestled for years with addiction and homelessness. The father of two fought hard to turn his life around, but old habits die hard. In spring 2020, Anderson, 63, had fallen back into unhealthy patterns.
Culinary Alum Sara Monson Digs Into Farming Fellowship with Students This Summer
June 10, 2026 Chef instructor Sara Monson will be the first to admit that she lacks a farmer’s patience. “I can cook food, but I can’t grow it,” said the A-B Tech culinary alumna, who is most at home in a fast-paced kitchen and likes to buy produce at farmers’ markets.
The Sky’s the Limit for A-B Tech Aviation Alumnus Taylor Rice
May 20, 2026 When aviation instructor Taylor Rice points her nose to the horizon, nothing can stop her from reaching her goals.
Video Game Designer Brian Swahn Discovers Passion for Manufacturing
April 29, 2026 Brian Swahn, 43, has always been a DIY kind of guy. After taking a couple of college courses early on, he decided college wasn’t for him and spent 12 years teaching himself software development and video game design.
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.