WhoWeAre

BREVARD’S HEART IS DOWNTOWN

Since 1990, Heart of Brevard has been dedicated to maintaining a vibrant and vital downtown. Serving the City of Brevard’s Municipal Service District (MSD), we focus on revitalization through design, economic development, promotion, organization, and advocacy.

As a designated Main Street America™ program and part of the National Main Street Center—a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation—Heart of Brevard supports downtown with a professional staff guided by a board of downtown business owners, property owners, residents, and civic leaders.

We serve as the unified voice for downtown businesses, property owners, and residents, advocating for policies and investments that strengthen the district’s economic vitality and quality of life.

Our work includes planning signature events, promoting the arts, managing urban design initiatives, and contributing to long-term strategies such as the Downtown Master Plan.

Funded through a balanced mix of public and private investment, Heart of Brevard remains committed to preserving the unique character and ensuring the continued growth and resilience of downtown Brevard.

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MEET THE TEAM

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Adam Perkins, President, DD Bullwinkel’s Outdoors
Shelia Carland, Vice President, Comporium
Paul Wilander, Vice President, Looking Glass Realty
Anna Davis, Treasurer, PLATT
Taylor Singer, Secretary, Heart of Brevard Resident

OTHER ELECTED DIRECTORS

Emrie Carlton Jackson, Territory Wine Market
Val Gerdes, Wood & Vine/Brevard Pizza Works
Sam Wheeler, Whitfield-Cargile Law, PLLC
Jessica Whitmire, Headwaters Outfitters
Kyle Williams, Brevard Brewing Company

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Maureen Copelof, Mayor, City of Brevard
Nory Lebrun, Transylvania County Representative, TwoBlueRhino
Tamika Hunter, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Logo of Main Street America indicating 2024 accreditation. It features a stylized lamp post with geometric leaves in blue, green, orange, and yellow. The text reads "Main Street America" and "2024 Accredited.

Main Street America

As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Heart of Brevard is a recognized leading program among the national network of neighborhoods and communities that share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center.

A colorful logo composed of a red, circular maze-like pattern within a square, flanked by intersecting brightly colored shapes in blue, green, and orange. Below the design, there is grey text with a company name and tagline, although the text is not legible.

North Carolina Main Street Community

Heart of Brevard is a North Carolina Main Street community, designated by the N.C. Department of Commerce Main Street & Rural Planning Center. The Heart of Brevard is charged with administering the program at the local level and building public-private partnerships to spur economic development that achieves measurable results such as investment, business growth, and job creation.

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Nicole Bentley, Executive Director of Heart of Brevard

Nicole Bentley

Executive Director

Nicole Bentley has served as the Executive Director of Heart of Brevard since 2020, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience. Before joining Heart of Brevard, she worked with the Asheville Downtown Association for five years, where she played a key role in supporting downtown development and community engagement.

Taking on her role just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicole led the launch of the Transylvania Tomorrow Emergency Relief Fund, raising over $400,000 to date for small businesses affected by COVID-19 and Hurricane Helen. This effort earned Heart of Brevard the NC Main Street Award for Best Economic Recovery Initiative in 2022.

Since 2020, downtown Brevard has seen approximately $50 million in new investments under her leadership, along with new events and initiatives designed to support and promote local businesses beyond the typical festival setting.

A native of Abingdon, Virginia, Nicole studied public policy and communications at Hollins University. Known affectionately as “the Trash Lady” for her commitment to sustainability and beautification efforts, she has a deep connection to Brevard’s downtown community. Whether she’s collaborating with local business owners, supporting new initiatives, or simply enjoying a walk through the heart of the city, Nicole is driven by a passion for fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming downtown where everyone feels at home.

When she’s not in downtown, Nicole enjoys backpacking, traveling, and experiencing live music.

 

Michele Izzarone, Events and Volunteer Coordinator

Michele Izzarone

Events and Volunteer Manager

Michele has been with Heart of Brevard since 2015 and now serves as our full-time Events and Volunteer Coordinator. She is passionate about organizing events that bring people together, supporting volunteers, and creating a welcoming space for the downtown Brevard community.

In 2013, Michele and her husband moved from Frisco, TX, to Brevard to be closer to family. While in Frisco, she spent 10 years working with the PepsiCo team on their Walmart business, where she played a key role in coordinating team meetings, managing participation in Walmart/Sam’s Club Shareholder’s Meetings and National Sales Meetings, and planning large-scale events such as mobile tours and in-store sampling activations.

After relocating to Brevard, Michele shifted her career focus with the encouragement of her father and joined New PECO, Inc. in Arden, NC, as Marketing Manager. There, she developed a comprehensive marketing strategy, redesigned the company’s catalog and website, managed all social media, produced product videos and photo shoots, and led the execution of their trade show presence.

In her free time, Michele and her husband love exploring nearby downtowns and sampling the local breweries each one has to offer. She is proud to work with Heart of Brevard, where she supports local businesses, coordinates dedicated volunteers, and helps create events that strengthen the sense of community downtown.