Department of Management

Madelyn George is an entrepreneur, impact investor, and business coach with an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BA in Dance from Columbia College in Chicago. Her various business studies have taken her to India, China, Germany, and South America. She began work as a small business consultant in 2010 specializing in pre-revenue startups and early stage business growth. With additional prior experience in the spa and wellness industries, Madelyn opened the Valle Crucis Lavender House in 2014. The business merges spa, retail, and agritourism in one unconventional business model with an internal strategy to nurture entrepreneurship among local creatives. Currently Madelyn works as Chief Financial Officer at Hatchet Coffee. She is also a partner in Startup High Country, a local company dedicated to growing the High Country economy. As part of her economic development work she co-leads the Velocity startup accelerator program in Boone, helps organize the Silicon Hollar Startup Socials, assists with deal flow for the High Country Impact Fund, and serves on the board of High Country Local First. 

 Teaching

Opportunity and Entrepreneurship, International Entrepreneurship

Research Interests

Incremental Growth, Minority & Female Entrepreneurship, Behavioral Economics, Rural Economic Development