Internet Marketing and Website Management

James Burns grew up in Black Ankle, NC (moonshine country) near the North Carolina Zoo. He shot basketball for 18 years, but realized he was not the next Larry Bird so he ventured off into a world of entrepreneurship that has taken him all over the United States, Europe, India, and soon to Zambia. Somewhere in between Black Ankle and India, James had the great opportunity to meet Dr. Surry Roberts. Both shared an extreme entrepreneurial spirit and a love for basketball so an instant friendship followed.

Surry first hired James to host his website after a previous provider had dropped the ball. After reviewing Sugar Hollow's first website, James knew that Sugar Hollow was in serious trouble if they had to rely on that site to bring them business out in the Middle of Nowhere, Tennessee. So, being the adventurer type, James took it to the next level and said, "Surry, how about you let me go up to Tennessee and run your Retreat?"

Surry was reluctant at first. If you have ever seen and heard James talk then you would know why. Black Anklians have quite the southern drawl. After an extensive talk with 3 of James' references, Surry determined that there was a good chance that James wouldn't set fire to Sugar Hollow. James jumped in his beatup 93 Toyota Camry and off to the mountains he went.

The rest is history. With Surry's guidance, the hard work of Innkeepers Marty and Jim, and a constant flow of James's marketing and never ending enthusiasm, Sugar Hollow now hosts corporate retreats, family reunions, weddings, and church group retreats, with guests coming in from around the globe.

Since leaving Sugar Hollow in July of 2005, James has returned to Raleigh, NC where he has established a fast growing website design and marketing company, Evakoss . He has started a second business, Potteryville.com that sells pottery, jewelry, home furnishings, and designer clothes from India.

Currently Surry and James are at it again. They have teamed up to help a Zambian organization, led by Dale Lewis, reduce hunger, poverty, and poaching, and increase school attendance in Zambia. To learn more about how this organization is implimenting revolutionary changes in Zambia please visit www.itswild.org