Maui to the mountains is a big leap, and David Carmona made it with a three-year-old, a newborn on the way, and a vision of a life built by hand. We sit down with the man many locals know as “David the Window Man” to talk about what people rarely see behind a home service business: the values, the culture, and the long game. If you care about Black Mountain NC, Asheville small business, or how to build a company people genuinely love, this story delivers both heart and practical insight.
We get specific about what it means to take care of your team. David explains why he joined the chamber for access to a health insurance program, why he’s committed to certified living wage standards in Buncombe County, and how he thinks about a “dignified wage” as the floor for fairness. From there, we unpack customer service as a craft: creating a safe, respectful, even joyful experience in someone’s home, earning word-of-mouth referrals, and winning over the self-proclaimed “tough cookie” clients without ego or assumptions.
The conversation widens into homesteading, building a home with no banks and no subcontractors, raising animals, and the confidence that comes from stacking small wins over years. We also talk outdoor life in Western North Carolina, mountain biking spots like Gateway in Old Fort, how nearby towns each have their own identity, and why “collaboration over competition” isn’t a tagline but a daily choice. David even shares his long-running role with Asheville’s Lazoom tours, which helps explain the energy he brings everywhere he goes.
If you enjoy stories about community pride, service leadership, and building a life that matches your values, you’ll want this one all the way to the final line. Subscribe, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
Best Buy Metals is the industry leader in long-life metal roofing and siding materials. With seven manufacturing locations, they deliver high-quality products at everyday low prices and at speeds others can’t match. But what truly sets Best Buy Metals apart is their people—a dedicated team committed to providing exceptional service for projects of any size, every single day.
