Our Staff

James Young is a second-generation hearing aid dispenser who has been actively dispensing in North Carolina for forty-three years.  He currently oversees a dispensership with eight full-time offices and three satellite offices serving fifteen counties.  Jim chaired the committee that guided the NC Lions Foundation in establishing the NC Lions Club Hearing Aid Bank in the early 1990’s.  He also helped establish the Apprentice Tutoring Sessions in 1991 for the North Carolina Association of Hearing Care Professionals.  These training sessions help prepare an apprentice in passing the NC Board’s dispensing license exam.  Jim had been the instructor for most of these Tutoring Sessions when they began but has resigned from teaching in North Carolina.  Subsequently, he taught apprentices in the state of Georgia for ten years.  Jim has served the North Carolina Association of Hearing Care Professionals as vice-president for two years and as president for four years during the 1990’s.  He was appointed by Governor Pardue in 2009 to serve on the NC State Hearing Aid Dealers & Fitters Board which is the state Board that governs the dispensing of hearing aids.  He served for seven years on the Board, three of those as President of the Board.

Jim has made many friends over the four decades that he has been helping people to a better quality of life.  His patients are like family to him.  He also enjoys gardening and keeping beehives.

Florica Bonar is a Hearing Instrument Specialist. She is originally from Arad, Romania, Europe, and moved to Hickory NC in 2002. Florica attended Liceul Industrial Nr 3 CFR Arad and started working at Coop. Pielarul Arad in 1984. Florica began working in the hearing industry in 2016 and was drawn to the profession because she is dedicated to helping people achieve a better quality of life through healthy hearing. Hearing loss affects millions of Americans of all ages and studies show that people who act regarding their hearing loss enjoy a higher standard of living, thus this profession has a major positive impact on many people’s lives.

What Florica loves most about saving hearing lives is seeing the joy that sparks in the eyes of a person deprived of hearing their loved one’s voices. She enjoys working to help diagnose and manage hearing problems, in patients, by providing diagnostic audiologic examinations and implementing comprehensive hearing loss treatment and management. In 2019 she was licensed as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in the state of North Carolina.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Florica loves hobbies such as reading, traveling cooking and baking, and growing flowers. She also loves to spend time with her husband, her daughter, and their 2 cats.

She looks forward to helping you find the best solution for your hearing needs!

Randi Eller is a Hearing Instrument Specialist. Randi is a lifelong resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Randi attended West Wilkes High School and Wilkes Community College and started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center in 2019. Randi began working in the hearing industry in 2019 and was drawn to the profession because of her desire and love of helping others.

What Randi loves most about saving hearing lives is the opportunity to help others hear the best they possibly can, while at the same time forming friendships with her patients. Randi strives to educate and help as many people and their families in her community in their journey to better hearing in her everyday work with patients.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Randi loves hobbies such as reading, any outdoor activities and spending as much time as she can with her family and two German Shepherd dogs.

Tara Crottis is a Hearing Instrument Specialist. Tara is originally from Morganton, NC and moved to Hickory, NC in 2010. Tara attended Wingate University and Appalachian State and started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center in 2020 where she first began working in the hearing industry. Tara was drawn to the profession because she wanted to help others have a better quality of life.

What Tara loves most about saving hearing lives is speaking with patients about their improved relationships with family and friends after receiving amplification. Tara strives to meet each person’s needs and make genuine connections in her everyday work with patients. She wants every patient to feel important.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Tara loves hobbies such as hiking, running, and taking on new adventures with her three children.

Jon Richardson is a hearing instrument specialist. Jon is originally from Chapel Hill, N.C. and moved to Lenoir, N.C. in 2007. Jon attended Appalachian State University and started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center in 2011. Jon began working in the hearing industry in 1998 and was drawn to the profession because he enjoys helping and counseling others.

What Jon loves most about saving hearing lives is experiencing a patient’s joy through better hearing. Jon strives to stay informed on hearing health by regularly reading medical reports to become more knowledgeable in his everyday work with patients.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Jon loves hobbies such as spending time with his wife, reading, and watching documentaries.

Robin was born in Hickory, North Carolina and lived in San Francisco for 2 years in 1984-1986 and has resided in Hickory to date. She was introduced into the Hearing Industry in 2015, with no previous experience in the field. Her first position was as a PSC. The previous dispenser she worked with, advised her that she had excellent communication and personal skills that would be a good fit for transitioning into a dispenser.

Robin love helping people and through her years of employment, all of her jobs have been customer service related, in one form or the other. Her goal for her personal and professional life is always to treat people the way I want to be treated. She thinks that if you can do that, success will come to you.

In Robin’s spare time (which is not a lot), she enjoys getting some rest, but also loves spending time with her daughter, who lives the closest to her. They enjoy shopping, eating out, and just taking a relaxing drive, with no real plan. Robin has a small Yorkie Poo (Zoey), whom she adores. I guess you can say she is a hobby too, because she does utilize much of Robin’s time.

Shelly P. Toney is a Hearing Instrument Specialist licensed in the state of North Carolina. Shelly is originally from Gastonia, North Carolina and moved to Dallas, North Carolina as a child and currently still resides there. Shelly attended North Gaston High School and Graduated in 2004. After high school, Shelly started to pursue a career in Nursing at Gaston College. In August of 2014 Shelly changed career paths and started with Best Value Hearing as a Patient Care Coordinator.

In 2017 Shelly became fully licensed and started as a Hearing Practitioner. Shelly is very passionate about the impact that hearing has on a patient’s life.

What Shelly loves most about saving hearing lives is when the patients and their families come back and love how they are hearing.  Shelly is very focused on patients having a successful outcome with hearing devices.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Shelly loves to travel to the beach and any other spontaneous adventure her husband comes up with. Shelly enjoys spending lots of time with her 4 children. Shelly’s favorite family member is her 4-year-old Boston Terrier, Sadie.

Ashley Williamson is a Hearing Instrument Specialist licensed in the state of North Carolina. Ashley is originally from Hickory, NC and moved to Newton, NC in 2018 where she and her husband purchased their first home. Ashley attended East Burke High School and graduated in 2013. After high school, Ashley studied at Catawba Valley Community College to pursue a career in Radiography. In 2016 she started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center as Patient Care Coordinator. Ashley was drawn to the hearing industry, so at that point she decided to pursue a new career and earned her license as a Hearing Instrument Specialist.

What Ashley loves most about saving hearing lives is hearing the stories of how hearing aids have changed her patient’s life. Ashley strives to ensure her patients are happy and confident in wearing their hearing aids. Ashley focuses on each individual need to ensure the best possible outcome for her patients every day.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Ashley loves spending quality time with her family. In 2019, she and her husband became first time parents to a little girl. They enjoy spending time together outside, doing projects around the house, or taking adventures around town.

Lisa Sheets is a Regional Admin Coordinator. Lisa is originally from Millers Creek, North Carolina which is a small town that sits between West Jefferson and Wilkesboro North Carolina and moved to Hickory, North Carolina in 1999 but now resides in Taylorsville, North Carolina. Lisa attended West Wilkes High school and furthered her education at Catawba Valley Community College where she obtained a degree in Health Care Management Technology and started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center in 2018. Lisa began working in the hearing industry in 2018 and was drawn to the profession because of the desire to help others.

What Lisa loves most about saving hearing lives is seeing the smile on patients faces when they are able to hear again. Lisa strives/focuses/works on is to educate patients and making sure they have the best experience possible while being seen in the office and to help anyone with a hearing loss to live their life to the fullest in her everyday work with patients.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Lisa loves hobbies such as gardening, hiking, camping and spending time with family and friends.

Jessica Bruns is a Patient Service Coordinator. Jessica is originally from Valdese, North Carolina and moved to Morganton, North Carolina in 2014. Jessica attended Draughn High School and Western Piedmont Community College. Jessica started working at Best Value Hearing Care Centers in May 2020. Jessica began working in the hearing industry in 2020 and was drawn to the profession because she was looking for a Job where she could help people and what obtained to my Business Administration associates degree.

What Jessica loves most about saving hearing lives is talking to the clients and learning more about them. Jessica strives making a patient’s day better, focuses on getting daily tasks done and works on keeping the office running smoothly.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Jessica loves hobbies such as taking walking on the greenway, playing with her dogs and making shirts on her cricut.

Tracy Duvall is a Patient Service Coordinator. Tracy is a native of Gaston County and moved to  Dallas, North Carolina in 2003.Tracy attended Ashbrook High School and Gaston College and started working at Dr. R. Wm. Kelly Jr. DDS, PA office in 1989 as a Front Office Receptionist and moved into the Office Manager position in 1997 until 2005. At that time, she had her second child and decided to be a stay at home mom. In 2010 she began working for Dr. David White Orthodontist Practice as an Orthodontist Assistant until 2015.

Tracy began working in the hearing industry in 2015 and was drawn to the profession because she really enjoys being a part of making a positive impact on other people lives, working with the public and making people smile. What Tracy loves most about saving hearing lives is being a part of changing someone’s life for the better. Tracy strives to give excellent customer service by building relationships with her patients helping them with financing options and educating them through their hearing journey in her everyday work with patients.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Tracy loves hobbies such as dancing, making crafts and spending time with her family.

Tammy Polk is a Patient Services Coordinator. Tammy is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and moved to Hudson, North Carolina in 2002, as her husband is a pastor on staff at a church in Hickory, North Carolina. Tammy started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center in January 2014. Tammy began working in the hearing industry Center in 2014 and was drawn to the profession because of the gratification of helping not only seniors but anyone a hearing loss to hear again and live a more fulfilling lifestyle.

What Tammy loves most about saving hearing lives is seeing the patient’s response to being able to hear again and their life returned to them, as well as the amazing life experiences shared with her when they visit the clinic. Friendships are formed and job responsibilities become heartfelt care over time. Tammy strives/focuses/works on/etc. to keep a good relationship and show respect to each client in her everyday work with patients as she is the representative of the company both in house & on the phone. As seniors grow older, they tend to lose touch with the outside world, so it is gratifying to show heartfelt interest and focus on their wellbeing, showing they have value personally.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Tammy loves hobbies such as spending time with her grandchildren Aydan and Elias.  She loves playing with her dachshund puppy, Remi.  She enjoys a nice motorcycle ride in the country and a day out on the lake. Most importantly she enjoys time with her family.  She also is involved in ministry at her church where she co-leads her 2 small groups and helps to minister with her husband at an outreach ministry located in Cherokee focusing on the native Indians in the area.

Linda is originally from the Great Lakes State of Michigan in a small little town of Grand Ledge and 15 minutes from the Capital.  Linda graduated from Grand Ledge High.  The last year of high school she attended a special program at the local Lansing Community Business Collage.  Only a certain number of students were picked to do this.  She completed college business courses that year. Linda worked in Michigan for an insurance company for over 35 years starting a customer care up front person.  She moved on and got her license for selling insurance and did that for a couple years but went back to the office to work for them as a phone room supervisor for a staff of 8-10 and to help run the office smoothly.  Linda was a strong people-oriented worker.  If a customer was not happy, she was sure to make sure when she completed with them that they were.  She would tell you she taught that the customer is the most important person in a customer service industry and has kept that policy through the years.  In 2017 she retired from her job and moved to Statesville NC where her grandkids and parents lived.  She took some time off after moving to spend the time with her family.  In 2018 Linda saw an ad for Best Value Hearing Care and sent her resume off to them.  She then accepted the position of PSC in the Statesville office and traveling to Taylorsville Senior Center on Wednesdays with the PSC.  She was drawn to the company because of her love of working with the public and helping people and skills in running an office.

Linda love most about saving hearing lives is being there for the customer, making sure when a customer walks in they greeted with a smile and when they leave that she has helped them.  She takes great pride in making sure every customer understands that she is there to help them and teach them how to get the most out of there hearing aids. She focuses on having all information needed in her everyday work to be completed and ready for the practitioner. She makes sure that by making her calls the office is set with as many people as possible to help.

Outside of the office Linda likes to spend time with her Grandson and Granddaughter.  They are the light of her life.  She also likes to read, sit around a campfire with friends or strangers.  She loves finding new places in NC to visit and explore and loves finding Emerald Hollow where she can sit in the creek and look for gems.

Jennifer Carlton is a Patient Service Coordinator. Jennifer is from Wilkesboro North Carolina. Jennifer attended Wilkes Community College and started working at Best Value Hearing Care Center in 2020. Jennifer began working in the hearing industry in 2020 and was drawn to the profession because of her love of helping others to be able to hear.

What Jennifer loves most about saving hearing lives is knowing that she has made a difference in someone’s life. Jennifer strives/focuses on her patients and she treats them like family by going above and beyond, making sure they have the best possible hearing care experience.
Outside of saving hearing lives, Jennifer loves hobbies such as Cooking, traveling, and she enjoys spending time with her family.

Nancy Archie is a highly motivated customer service patient advocate. Nancy is originally from Mooresville, NC and has never lived more than ten miles away from the city. Nancy attended Mooresville Sr. High and started working when her children started school. Nancy began working in the hearing industry in 2006 with a company that made hearing aids on site and would repair them the same day. Nancy was drawn to the profession because she wanted to help people improve their standard of living. She has worked with Starkey since 2011 under the NuEar brand and since 2016 under the Audibel brand, all in the same office.

What Nancy loves most about saving hearing lives is the joy on the patient’s face when they can hear better and the relief of family members knowing their family member will be safer when out in the world or at home.

Nancy is focused on customer wellbeing, quick turnaround of product, and customer satisfaction above all else in her everyday work with patients. She has worked with corporate companies doing everything from receptionist to plant manager’s secretary, to payroll supervisor for 1500 employees.

Outside of saving hearing lives, Nancy loves to fish, go to the beach, cook, read and play Free Cell while listening to the TV on any program her husband chooses. She has three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and a 15-year-old cat that has been blind since birth.

Life is good.