13/10/2026
𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗫 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 (𝗙𝗡𝗔), 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮.
The event featured not only a generous blast of bio-degradable confetti and giant, re-usable scissors, but also a 9-foot Alphorn to set the tone for FNA’s decidedly Swiss, but also environmentally conscious brand setting up shop in Transylvania County.
“It’s a fully functional old American town, where everyone seems to be one with nature,” observed Zemp, FNA’s Director of Sales and President before showing off his Alphorn playing skills for an impromptu concert. Zemp, who himself hails from Lucerne, Switzerland, and runs FILTROX from his home office in Elgin, IL. Zemp, has been leading the North American branch of FILTROX, since 2024 and oversees a fully remote work force of seven employees. He has been playing the signature-Swiss instrument, once used for ridge-to-ridge communication in the famously Alpine nation, for six years.
He serenaded a small group of Brevard officials with “S’Vreneli vom Dorf” just prior to the actual cutting of the bright red ribbon in the new office location on 22 Trust Lane. Brevard Mayor, Maureen Copelof, along with Jessica Edney, representing Blue Ridge Community College and Richard Zollinger, the past president of the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber, and himself a Swiss expat, attended on behalf of the local chamber’s 400+ members. Brevard/Transylvania Chamber Director Tamika Hunter and Asheleigh Jamerson, the chamber’s membership/community outreach manager, officiated the brief ceremony for maximum photogenic effect.
FNA relocated to Brevard in early 2026, partly because three of its employees live within the Eastern Standard Time Zone and partly for geographic and economic reasons after 23 years of maintaining a business presence in Seattle, WA.
“It allows for our food and beverage sales manager to have access to a lab to run tests for future filtration challenges in the beverage industry,” Zemp told the group of the office’s small laboratory set up by FILTROX’s Stephen Daniels, a vintner by trade, who serves as the company’s sales and business development manager for the food and beverage industry. “And it is much easier to access for the entire FILTROX team than Seattle,” Zemp said.
“Having a global company choose Brevard as home for their North American operations shows the versatility and desirability of Brevard as a business location,” said Copelof, who meets monthly with citizens and makes a point of attending as many chamber gatherings as her schedule allows. “We continue to work hard ensuring Brevard is a business-friendly location with the high quality of life that businesses today require. FILTROX opening here proves that Brevard can successfully attract businesses with international ties and global markets.”
