Meet Penny: The Storyteller Behind the Mountain.
A former journalist, a screenwriter, and a firm believer that every local business has a story worth telling.
Penny Ray is the founder of Mountain Area Marketing, a marketing strategist and storyteller with more than 25 years of experience in media, marketing, and storytelling. He helps businesses tell their stories, sometimes in a funny way, to get attention and new clients.
Based in Western North Carolina, Penny and the team work with small business owners across Southern Appalachia and beyond.
From Newsroom to Screenplays to Your Business.
Penny was called to write, to serve others, and to help businesses grow. He started out as a journalist, with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in screenwriting.
While he was still working in the newsroom, he noticed something. Many of the local business owners he met were great at what they do, but they struggled to tell their story.
Journalism and screenwriting both come down to storytelling, and they taught him the same lesson: a good story gets noticed, and a business with a good story gets remembered.
Why Business Matters
Growing a local business is about so much more than making money. It's about creating opportunities, taking care of people, and building a stronger community. All provision ultimately comes from God, and growing a successful business gives us the opportunity to turn those blessings into something greater. It allows us to provide for our families, create opportunities for employees, strengthen our communities, support our churches, and help neighbors in need. It's one of the most practical ways we can fulfill our calling to love and serve others.
And there's something especially meaningful about being able to give directly. When a business prospers, its owner has the opportunity to steward God's provision right here at home, putting resources directly into the hands of people who need them. No government bureaucracy, no layers of middlemen, and no one taking a cut along the way. Just neighbors helping neighbors.
Whatever your beliefs may be, you're welcome here. Every local business is.
Why Work With Penny and the Team
Because marketing is writing.
Every reel script, blog post, and funny ad comes down to the right words in the right voice, and writing and messaging are where Penny is a master. He brings 25+ years in media, marketing, and storytelling.
These are not amateur scripts. Everything is written in your voice, so you sound like you on a very good day. And yes, there will probably be a joke or two. It's marketing, not a tax audit.
Ready to talk? Book a call below.
Let's Talk About Your Business
It's a relaxed, no-pressure conversation. Penny or a team member will ask about your business, what you need, what's been frustrating you, and where leads or time are slipping away. No hard sell. The goal is to help.
Once the team understands what you need, the team can give you a custom quote. Every business is different, so the team stays flexible.
- Quick, no-pressure 30 minutes
- Based in Western North Carolina
- Talk to a real human, not a chatbot