In July, 1982, four business people met for lunch to discuss forming a network to exchange and share sales marketing leads and ideas. The germ of this network was developed by Frank Pomeroy and Leigh Tarleton of Manpower, Inc., both of whom had been involved in similar groups in Charleston, SC and Miami, FL

The four people at this meeting were Tarleton, Bob Sheldon of Financial Independence Group, Bob Welch of Welch Moving and Storage and Jean Spence of First Realty. The group met informally once per week at breakfast where numbers and diversity grew quite rapidly. Soon a decision was made to formalize the group.

The Asheville Business Leaders Association was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, adopted By-Laws, and elected officers. The first president was Welch, who served for two and a half years, followed by Dr. Steve Siebert, Bob Jolly, Dick Martin, George Jensen, Bentley Leonard, Bill Stark, David Shenaut, Pam Schuler, Stephanie Cooper, Tommy Ridgeway, Dave Ogren, Martin Lewis, Steven Foster, Norma Carroll, Bob Welborn, Pat Worley... Sid Border, Chris Moore, Doug Keen, Mike Pires, Clark Sanders, Tara Jaynes, and now Kimberly Raphael.

ABLA now averages around 20 members.