"You have to know someone" has long been a byline for how to find your way in Asheville. Susanne is a backstage pollinator for the vibrant community landscape that is this sacred mountain homeplace. She has hands-on, professional experience in relationship and community development, residential and commercial construction, art and public affairs, and brewing and entrepreneurship. Susanne brings this vast network and a wealth of knowledge about the inner-workings of the place she calls home to her real estate practice, seeing herself as an ambassador for others seeking to find their place in this community.

After receiving a Masters in Art Education from Penn State, Susanne relocated to the area in 2006 to serve as the Program Director of the Arts Council, supporting local artists and schools through grants and programming.

In 2009, she founded Pollinate Collaborations, a communications firm shifting the paradigm from public relations to public relationships. She developed and implemented intentional outreach and partnership plans for local businesses. New Belgium Brewing discovered Pollinate during their exploration of the area as a location for their east coast brewery, and that partnership enabled her to serve the community by developing a new model of business communications focused on trust, transparency, and community engagement during the construction of the $175 million brewery and taproom on a brownfield site along the French Broad River.

As the project evolved into managing communications around a new manufacturing facility and social hub, Susanne redirected her focus to her family. She and her husband Smith moved with their children to a homestead in Swannanoa, where they cultivate an award-winning, design-build construction firm renowned for innovative design and artisan detailing.

Susanne's knowledge and understanding of this place is surpassed only by her passion for it, and the inspiration she draws from helping people thrive here.