Faith, strength guide two local business owners
Women in Business series: Part 3 of 3
Women have made incredible strides in the business world, and farragutpress has been documenting their contributions since its inception nearly 40 years ago.
That ongoing awareness evolved into the newspaper’s annual Women in Business section, which publishes its 2025 edition this week, highlighting more than 50 outstanding women and their business acumen.
farragutpress is “proud of the incredible women in our community,” noted one of those outstanding women, farragutpress general manager Kathy Hartman. “[The Women in Business] publication is a tribute to the women who are making a difference – not just in the boardrooms or on balance sheets, but in the culture of our workplaces, in the mentorship of future leaders and in the resilience they bring to every challenge.
“Their stories reflect determination, creativity and leadership in action,” she added. “We believe it’s our responsibility as a local news organization to spotlight these voices … [as] It’s about representation and inspiration for young professionals, for entrepreneurs and for anyone who believe in the value of equity in business.
“This is why Women in Business is so important to us.”
This series concludes by highlighting the unique stories of two Farragut business owners.
Prayer guides restaurant owner
Water into Wine owner Candace Viox said the concept of her business “was born in my soul” following the unexpected death of her mother, her own health issues and becoming a single mom of four children.
She enrolled in the Pellissippi/UT Culinary Arts program in 2012 [and] “decided I was going to learn how to open a relational restaurant unlike any around.”
Finding support from her family and college professors, Viox graduated top of her class in 2014 and took on an internship with Farragut restaurant Seasons.
Following that, “I realized it was time for me to sink or swim, and I began looking for a small and intimate location that I could afford on my small budget,” Viox recalled. “I was creating a new concept from scratch. I prayed and asked God if He wanted me to open a place where everyone could feel loved.
“I was sure He would say yes and that He had a plan.”
She said from the beginning, “God’s plan was amazing. In January 2016, we found the space in the Gallery Shopping Center in Farragut. We started construction in March 2016 and opened in May 2016, one day after the five-year anniversary of my mother’s death.
“I was able to toast her, and a portrait of us is proudly displayed on the wall in the back lounge,” she added.
It was her mother who inspired the restaurant’s name.
“My mother said “If Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine, I can drink it!” And we shared many glasses of wonderful wine over the years. So the name is in homage to my mother, Linda Boone.”
Marking nearly a decade in operation, Viox said the venture has not been without its challenges.
“Restaurants are one of the hardest industries to be successful in, male or female,” she said. “The liability concerns, customer service, cost controls, labor challenges and minimal net profit can wear someone out.”
Then the pandemic posed its own set of difficulties.
“All businesses have challenges …. then you add in the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 — the forced business closures and the distancing regulations for dining service, and that was hard,” she reflected. “It forced us to get creative with to-go options. I had staff who needed to work to pay their bills and others who wanted to stay home and collect their COVID check.
“It was a mess for our industry, and thankfully, we were fully recovered in 2024.”
Since then, a new challenge has been serving a new group of patrons. So many people have moved to Farragut from other states, and their expectations and tastes are much different from our Southern neighbors. It has forced us to regroup on menu items, wine choices and cocktail offerings. It’s been fun mixing it up while keeping our traditional food and drink items for our regulars.”
As a woman, Viox feels a responsibility to give back through community service and mentoring opportunities. She also has ensured Water into Wine is “a safe space …. for women to meet up in our community.”
At heart, Viox is thankful and gives all credit to God.
“I share with people all the time, the only reason we are still around after nine years is because of God’s blessing and grace. I have never wavered on the kind and loving message of Water into Wine. Our Bible study on Mondays continues to this day. My testimony of surviving, healing, forgiveness and display of leadership is shared on a regular basis. My staff enjoys the encouragement and the smiles when I hand out a ‘little Jesus’ to a patron I just witnessed to or prayed with.
“Because of my faith, we have fared pretty well, and
we are excited for the next
five years serving our community.”
Membership led
to ownership
The late Dee Matchett founded OsteoStrong in 2017, and Farragut resident Lisa Hall became acquainted with both owner and company as a member.
“Dee was my coach and I immediately connected to her passion for bone health,” Hall said. “Her sudden passing [in 2021] was a tragic loss for our entire community.”
Yet, Hall believed in the business and decided to purchase it the following year.
“[I] have felt truly honored to carry her vision forward by offering a holistic, science-backed way for people to improve their bone density and overall musculoskeletal strength,” she said.
Additionally, “we’re incredibly fortunate to still have Dee’s daughter, Glory, on our team. She’s a naturopathic doctor with a thriving practice of her own, and she brings so much heart, knowledge and depth to the center.
“Her presence continues to honor and extend her mother’s legacy.”
OsteoStrong is Hall’s first business, although her background included holding a master of science degree in nursing and working in the “corporate healthcare world.
“Clinically, I worked in post-anesthesia surgical recovery and emergency-trauma nursing. On the administrative side, I focused on education, case and risk management and project development.”
The business has “been a big shift but one that draws on every part of my background,” she said.
Although Hall admits to experiencing some challenges, she said, “Fortunately, I love problem-solving, so I dug in with a shovel in both hands.
“More importantly, I’ve been very fortunate to work through the challenges with such an incredible team by my side. Each of our coaches has played a key role in our growth and in keeping the business running smoothly and efficiently.
“Several of them started out just like I did — as OsteoStrong members. They’re the true superstars who make the magic happen every day.”
Hall also has started a second complementary business, Mona Lisa Wellness, which is a new Echolight Radiofrenquency Echographic Multi-Spectrometry ultrasound, which is radiation-free.
“Together, Mona Lisa Wellness and OsteoStrong offer a comprehensive solution for bone health: combining advanced diagnostics, our cutting-edge strength-building program and AlgaeCal Plus bone building supplements,” Hall added.
“Starting and growing these businesses has been one of the biggest challenges — and biggest blessings — of my life,” she said. “I never expected to become a business owner, certainly not under the circumstances that brought me here.”
For women thinking of opening their own business, Hall is encouraging.
“Definitely — go for it!” she said. “Do your research, put together a solid business plan and build a team you trust.”
In her own case, “Throughout the process, I followed the path of the Holy Spirit and leaned on guidance from
people who’ve been there,”
she said. “Starting or running a business takes grit, grace and courage — especially when things get tough. But when you stay aligned with your purpose, doors will
open in ways you never expected.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that strength and healing comes in many forms. Whether you’re building bones, building a business or rebuilding after setbacks, we’re all capable of more than we realize.
“And no one has to do it alone.”
