There are moments in a business’s life that feel less like milestones and more like memories in the making. This past November was one of those moments for our team at Now Hear This®.
For the fifth year in a row, we were named GOLD – Audiologist/Hearing Center in Raleigh’s Best for 2025. Awards are always meaningful, but this one feels especially personal. It reflects the relationships we’ve built, the trust our patients place in us, and the everyday conversations that happen in our exam rooms and hallways.
“We are deeply honored to receive this award for the fifth year in a row,” shared Dr. Samantha Shopovick, AuD, CCC-A, President and lead audiologist. “This recognition speaks to the commitment of our staff, the trust of our patients, and the positive impact hearing health has on the lives of those we serve. We were thrilled to celebrate this achievement with our community.”
A Parking Lot Turned Party
On November 15th, our clinic’s parking lot didn’t look like a parking lot at all. It looked like a celebration.
A tent went up. Balloons filled the air. Live music drifted across the lot. Tables of treats welcomed guests as they arrived. What started as a simple idea to say “thank you” quickly turned into a full-blown neighborhood block party.
Patients, family members, and friends walked in smiling—and many stayed far longer than they planned. Staff members greeted familiar faces like old friends (because many of them are). Raffle tickets were passed around, laughter traveled from group to group, and stories about hearing journeys, grandkids, travel, and life filled the space.
It wasn’t just a celebration of an award. It was a celebration of 12 years of relationships!
Stories at the Microphone
Our digital marketing team joined us that day with one goal: listen. They wanted to hear directly from patients about what makes our clinic feel different. We expected a few brave volunteers. What we got instead was an overwhelming wave of gratitude from multiple patients eager to share their stories.
Patients shared stories about hearing their grandchildren clearly for the first time. About feeling confident in restaurants again. About the relief of being listened to—truly listened to—during appointments. Some spoke off the cuff, others carefully. All of it reminded us why we do what we do.
The Big Raffle Finale
As the afternoon wound down, the excitement built around the raffle drawings. Names were called. Cheers went up. Winners walked away with everything from a new pair of hearing aids to custom earplugs and (of course) plenty of candy. It felt less like prizes being handed out and more like a shared moment of joy.
Gratitude, Always
When the last balloon was packed up and the music faded, one thing lingered: gratitude. We’re grateful for the votes that made five years of recognition possible. Grateful for the patients who trust us with their hearing care. Grateful for the community that continues to show up for us—and with us.
FIVE YEARS as Raleigh’s Best is an incredible honor. But what matters most to us is what happens between those awards: the conversations, the laughter, the problem-solving, and the everyday moments that connect us.
Here’s to five years—and to many more stories still to come.
