Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - December 9, 2022 Issue

Downtown Fayetteville officially has a recognized Social District, at least for the next 12 months.

Following a 9 -1 vote by the Fayetteville City Council on Nov. 14 at a city council meeting, work began on Dec. 1 to make the ability to enjoy and carry alcohol throughout Downtown Fayetteville a permanent perk of the area.

“We are so excited about that, we've been working on that for the past year, ever since the legislation was passed in September of 2021,” said Cool Spring Downtown District

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE

few changes including a new Social District, and new commercial and residential real estate

By Stephanie Meador

Seniors Helping Seniors

FORT BRAGG VET TO BRING SENIOR IN-HOME CARE BRAND TO FAYETTEVILLE AND SOUTHERN PINES

Local combat Veteran Jonathan Savage is getting ready to open Seniors Helping Seniors, a senior in-home care brand, in Fayetteville and Southern Pines.

Savage has followed his passion for serving people since he joined the U.S. Army as a construction supervisor right out of high school. After being in the military for 21 years, Savage retired in 2008 and became a government employee at Fort Bragg. With helping people and business ownership always on his mind, he decided to open Seniors Helping Seniors in the Fayetteville and Southern Pines communities.

Savage said he wants to bring a senior in-home care brand to both the Fayetteville and Southern Pines areas that he could also use to care for his own parents as they age. Savage said he is looking forward to bringing the brand to the area and creating careers for seniors in the area, as well as finding another way to serve his community.

Savage is still working full time on Fort Bragg, but he hopes that once this business takes off, he will be able to devote all of his professional time to Seniors Helping Seniors. “I've always wanted to own my own

business, and I had the funds available. And I was working with a franchise coach to try to figure out what I was looking for and they introduced me to the Seniors Helping Seniors,” shared Savage. “I did 21 years in the military and my passion is taking care of people. I was a senior enlisted officer always taking care of the soldiers and the people and the officers. And I spent most of my time here at Fort Bragg…and I have always wanted to give back and to take care of people, and when they introduced me to Seniors Helping Seniors, I thought

this is a great idea.”

Savage’s father suffered a stroke last year which caused him to lose his ability in his left hand and leg. Now his father and mother, who reside in Ohio, have been forced to move into an assisted living facility. Savage hopes to relocate his parents to North Carolina so that he can help take care of them.

Savage is currently in the process of trying to get his North Carolina in-home care license. He has hired an admin person but is still looking to hire one caregiver and a registered

>> By Stephanie Meador bizfayetteville.com

nurse to be on his staff so that he may be approved for the license. The job openings are posted on Indeed, and Savage said that a few people have interviewed for the openings. He is optimistic that the business will get started around the middle of December.

“I just want someone that's passionate about caring for elderly people. I think elderly people are more comfortable with someone their own age or close to it,” remarked Savage.

Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services was founded in 1998.

According to their website, the brand was born from two simple ideas:

• Seniors can help each other age more happily and gracefully.

• Seniors who give, and those who receive, benefit equally.

Seniors Helping Seniors appealed to Savage because not only were they a brand that reflected Savage’s desire to care for others, they also provided support and mentorship to individuals looking to open up a branch of their business in a new location.

Final 2022 Power Breakfast

LAST POWER BREAKFAST OF THE YEAR DELIVERS LESSONS FROM LEADERS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

On Thursday Dec. 1, the

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal hosted its last Power Breakfast of the year titled “Our Innovation Economy.”

Panelists James Freeman, Justin B. Hembree and Fred Surgeon answered questions posed by GFBJ Publisher Marty Cayton as well as questions asked by attendees. Topics of discussion ranged from the growing trend of project-based employment to the value of work-study programs and the popularization of the intrapreneur.

“I’m always impressed with having the power breakfast at Fayetteville State University, [it’s a] beautiful facility, and a great team of people to work with. Our panelists this morning were relevant and very vulnerable and I heard from many that this might’ve been the best Power Breakfast yet,” remarked Publisher Marty Cayton.

“There's a lot of folks out there that have great ideas, but sometimes we get in our own way. And I'm a believer, that if you can kind of put aside those fears [of] everybody's saying you can't do this, it's going to

be challenging, [and] just go for it and do it and stay the course and invest in people… I think if you do that, [and you] network, the sky's the limit,” shared panelist Fred Surgeon.

Approximately 290 community members showed up to enjoy a hot breakfast and learn from this conversation. As always, the GFBJ team is incredibly grateful for the support of our readers, and we look forward to bringing people together at future Power Breakfasts in the new year. The first Power Breakfast for 2023 is currently being planned for February.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: GFBJ

Attendees were able to enjoy networking, good food and hearing from experiences business leaders based in and around the Fayetteville community.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: SENIORS HELPING SENIORS CORPORATE TEAM

Seniors Helping Seniors is ready to welcome Jonathan Savage onto the team to support their mission: helping seniors live independently from the comfort of home.

4424 Bragg Blvd,

Fayetteville, NC 28303 910-240-9697 bizfayetteville.com

PUBLISHER

Marty Cayton martyc@bizfayetteville.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Faith Hatton faithh@bizfayetteville.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER/REPORTER

Stephanie Meador stephaniem@bizfayetteville.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Charity Brandsma

Kate Griffin

Diana Hansen

Kathie Harris

Suet Lee-Growney

Eddie Velazquez

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

MARKETING CONTENT

Stacie Borrello

SALES CONSULTANT

Tim Hinton marketing@bizfayetteville.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

Samantha Lowe samanthal@bizfayetteville.com

ACCOUNTING

Priscilla Nelson billing@bizfayetteville

The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is published twice a month throughout Fayetteville and the Cumberland County region. News related to the region’s business sector is posted daily at bizfayetteville.com.

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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Following supply chains catching up from the pandemic, and having increased inventory, retail stores have adapted by slashing steep discounts for Black Friday 2022.

The fall of Black Friday

Black Friday wasn’t the same this year, and it’s a real shame. Despite a record number of 196.7 million Americans participating in stores and online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to survey results collected by the National Retail foundation, it just didn’t feel the same.

Do I enjoy Black Friday? Yes. Do I enjoy the satisfaction of finding a good deal in store and tricking my loved ones into thinking I spent top dollar? Also, yes. Did I participate this year? No.

I usually am well prepared with a list when Black Friday rolls around. I stockpile clothes, electronics, and other hot holiday items throughout the year like a festive squirrel and have them ready to go in my cart when the day of reckoning comes. However, this year I found the sales were lackluster both online and in store, the discounts were small and not worth the Hunger Games level of combat usually required to snag those heavily discounted items.

It’s one thing to see items and brands suddenly up for sale throughout the year, it’s not odd to see 15-30 percent markdowns, but when it’s Black Friday? Black- every man, woman and child for themselves, forget your mom, you’ll meet her at the car, survival of the fittest, closest thing we have to The Purge- Friday?

A number of factors could have led to this, according to Forbes. With the supply chain starting to catch up after the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers are trying to get rid of high levels of inventory, leading to discounts on more items over the course of several months instead of focusing on one big shopping event focused on fewer items. Forbes confirmed my observation, reporting higher numbers of sales, but with more widespread discounts on more items instead of a select few.

Forbes also confirmed my suspicion that the sales were weaker than years past, reporting the average consumer discount rate for toys was 31.8%, 23.4% for electronics, and

13.8% for apparel. I’m supposed to risk being trampled for that?

Forbes also reported that online shopping was up in 2022, with online toy sales increasing 285% compared to a single average day of sales in October, and electronics with the category as a whole up 19% as of Friday Nov 25.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic there was a shift in the way people handled their shopping. As we move forward into 2023, let’s take notice at how we spend our holiday dollars as we strive to bring Christmas cheer to our loved ones. I for one am looking forward to seeing my family and their faces light up with the deals I was able to snag and being more mindful of where I spend my dollars in 2023.

Happy holidays and I wish you a very merry Christmas!

KAROLINA GRABOWSKA/PEXELS

The Business Journal brings readers news and perspective on business happenings in Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Robeson, Bladen and Sampson counties.

Time for Your Business to Save with Time-of-Use Rates

As a small business, you can save money on your energy bills with PWC’s Time-of-Use billing. Power used during Peak Hours is billed at higher rates (just four hours a day), and power used during Off-Peak Hours is billed at 29% lower rates. During the winter schedule – from November 1 through March 31 – Peak Hours are weekdays from 6:00 am – 10:00 am. Some things you can do to shift your usage and conserve power during Peak Hours:

• Use a programmable “smart” thermostat to keep your heat at the lowest comfortable temperature during Peak Hours and avoid allowing employees to adjust thermostats. Consider setting the schedule to preheat your building(s) during Off-Peak Hours (before 6:00 am), then lower the heat from 6:00 – 10:00 in the morning.

• Schedule non-essential equipment to run during Off-Peak Hours. When possible, schedule required equipment to run sequentially (not concurrently) during Peak Hours.

• Educate your employees on Time-of-Use, encouraging them turn off lighting and equipment they don’t need during Peak Hours and perform non-urgent, high energy-use tasks after 10:00 am.

For more details on PWC’s Time-of-Use billing: faypwc.com/time-of-use-rates-for-nonresidential-customers/

See Business Conservation Resources for more ways to save.

From DOWNTOWN, page 1

President and CEO Bianca Shoneman. “It was really great to see our city council support our legislators who created the law for us and then gave cities and counties the empowerment to enact it. Specifically, Senator DeViere was instrumental in getting that legislation passed alongside of the North Carolina Retail and Merchants Association. And we are proud of it, and we think that the social district will provide a sense of vitality to downtown Fayetteville that other metropolitan areas offer throughout the state, and really nation at this point, because it is an economic strategy many communities are using in a post COVID economy to generate sales and interest in their community post COVID.”

While the new Social District is expected to be an exciting addition to the downtown landscape, it doesn’t come without rules. According to an ordinance from the City of Fayetteville, a new Article 11 outlines the requirements of the Social District providing definitions and applicable restrictions including the Social District’s boundaries comprised of 26 addresses throughout downtown Fayetteville where open carry will be allowed.

One of the main specifications include the requirements for what cups must be used by businesses for the sale of open alcoholic beverages, including:

a) The container clear ly identifies the permittee from which the alcoholic beverage was purchased.

b) The container clear ly displays a logo or some other mark that is unique to the social district in which it will be consumed.

c) The container is not comprised of glass.

d) The container displays, in no less than 12-point font, the statement, "Drink Responsibly - Be 21."

e) The container shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces.

To meet these requirements, the CSDD is divvying up their first allotment of 5,000 customized cups to the 26 businesses that have signed up to sell alcohol in the district.

Shoneman shared that an additional 10,000 cups are being made thanks to the sponsorship of local law firm Smith, Dickey & Dempster P.A.

The temporary Downtown Social District officially launched on Dec. 1, with signage posted, businesses marked for their participation and cups distributed, and operates seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to

10 p.m. on Sunday.

So far, there are 44 businesses in total participating in the district whether it’s by allowing guests to bring drinks in, purchase them at their establishment and leave with them, or are strictly not allowing open adult beverages in their stores. Specific signs are posted on all participating businesses to notify guests of their preferences by the verbiage: Welcomed Here, Sold Here, or Not Permitted Here.

While the temporary pilot of the district has been approved, there is still more work to do before making the change permanent. According to legislation text from the City of Fayetteville, the CSDD will present a progress report of the program’s impact every three months. At the end of the trial period in December 2023, the action will be reintroduced to rescind the pilot to create an ordinance amendment for a Social District.

City Council Member of District 2 Shakeyla Ingram voted in support of the Social District and said safety and having a solid plan in place to implement the program were some of the reasons she felt confident voting yes.

“Making sure we had clear guidelines, a footprint, making sure that

our city partners were on board, and they felt heard, and most importantly making sure our merchants felt heard too. And I think considering it was a nine to one that, you saw that all parties involved, felt heard and felt comfortable to move this forward,” said Ingram. “Once the pilot is complete, we will review the stats that will come out of it and we will make a vote and say, ‘Hey, based off of what maybe Cool Spring is presenting, let's go ahead and do this.’ Or if the council chooses not to, that is also an option as well. But I think we'll be good to move forward because we'll be getting reports throughout.”

Along with the new social development in downtown, new real estate is in the works to help increase residential and commercial offerings.

A new project is currently under construction on Donaldson Street. The building is more than halfway done and is set to be a multi-use building adding 9,000 gross square feet in commercial development including living space and retail bays to the downtown area.

“That is being done by the Ammons Group, an architectural firm located in the Haymount District. This is one of the first infill projects to come out of the ground. So, it's

a new construction project, that’s sandwiched between two existing buildings,” said Shoneman. “If you go down Donaldson, you can see he's already got the cinder in and he's done all his plumbing. It's very far along.”

Just up the street, progress continues on a new high-end luxury apartment complex under construction on Adam Street. The first phase of the project was completed in May of 2022 with two buildings with 20 two-bedroom, three-bathroom units. For phase two, the Adam Street complex is expected to add three additional buildings also with three bedrooms and two bathrooms that will be available for lease bringing 50,000 square feet of new residential development to downtown.

Another residential project in the works is a 150,000 gross square foot apartment building that will include 212 apartments and have an expected $65,000,000 impact on the downtown area.

“This project has been led by Jordan Jones, who’s a Fayetteville native. He also did the adaptive reuse project on the Prince Charles [building], which is, you know, a beloved building that has been part of our urban form since the early 1900s,” said Shoneman. “This project should begin in the near future. The lay down site has already started to be laid down and by that, I mean you'll see a crane come in in the next few weeks and construction should begin in the near future. Jordan’s development company is called Anchor & Pillar and they are leading this investment.”

Finally, 12 new condos are also under construction at 111 Maxwell St. in the Kress building.

“We love the idea of expanding residential opportunities in the downtown district. And so, to see that we have, you know, the 212 units, the 20 units from Adam Street and then these additional 12 units that really is going to provide a substantial boom and to our residential impact,” said Shoneman.

In total, 244 new residential developments have been completed, planned or were begun in Downtown Fayetteville between 2017 and 2021, adding 540,000 gross square feet of new residential real estate, a culmination of $210,000,000 in private investments.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: COOL SPRING DOWNTOWN DISTRICT

Downtown Fayetteville has created 5,000 customized cups to be used throughout the Social District. Signs are posted in participating businesses so guests can know what areas are open carry.

ACHIEVERS

Clarence Grier hired as new Cumberland County Manager

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners announced CLARENCE GRIER will serve as the next County Manager.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams said that Grier will assume the role of Cumberland County Manager on March 1, 2023, following the retirement of former County Manager Amy Cannon who served her last day on Nov. 30, 2022.

“We are excited to welcome Clarence Grier to Cumberland County to serve as our next County Manager,” said Adams in a press release. “He has roots in this area and his background and experience make him an exceptional choice to lead our organization and accomplish the Board’s priorities and objectives to continue our forward momentum.”

Grier serves as Deputy City Manager in Roanoke, VA, and has been with the City of Roanoke since 2021. Prior to that, he served as Deputy County Manager in Guilford County, NC, from 2015 until 2021 and as Assistant County Manager and Chief Finance Officer for Orange County, NC, from 2009 until 2015. He has 34 years of local government experience and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Campbell University. He is an International City/County Manager Credentialed Manager and is a Certified Public Accountant.

“I am excited and truly honored to be provided the opportunity to serve the Board and citizens of Cumberland County as County Manager,” said Grier in a press release. “I am honored and thankful for the Board’s confidence in my experience and leadership, and I am looking forward to becoming a member of the Cumberland County community and continuing the mission, vision and objectives of the Board and broader community.”

Johnny A. Carter inducted into Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame

JOHNNY A. CARTER was inducted into the Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame in a ceremony during the annual Farm City event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville on Nov. 18. A Cumberland County local, Carter built a small hog opera-

tion that laid the framework for a long and rewarding 51 year-long career in agriculture in the 1970s.

Carter was one of the first farmers in Cumberland County to diversify his farming operation, from swine to row crops, and eventually included poultry. Carter’s forward thinking, willingness to change, calculated risk taking and receptiveness to new techniques resulted in a successful, streamlined farming operation that continues to thrive.

Carter now farms alongside his son, Adam Carter, and his grandson, Mason Canady. They own and operate J & A Farms, with farming operations in the Eastover, Godwin, and Wade areas.

Carter’s most significant contribution to agriculture is undoubtedly his commitment and involvement with the younger farming generation in Cumberland County.

“It is an honor to recognize Mr. Johnny Carter for his outstanding leadership and contributions to agriculture,” said Cooperative Extension Director Lisa Childers. “Johnny’s most significant contribution to agriculture has been his commitment to mentoring and promoting agriculture to our younger generation.”

for the City of Fayetteville TELLY WHITFIELD, PH. D has been named the Director of Government Affairs for internet provider Metronet.

Whitfield joined Metronet following his time with the city, where he was key in developing relationships and coalitions with stakeholders including elected officials, private industry, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and diverse populations throughout Fayetteville and beyond.

“After working with Metronet closely to ensure residents and businesses throughout the City of Fayetteville would have access to their state-of-the-art 100 percent fiber optic network, I am proud to join their team to help ensure that more communities have that same opportunity,” said Whitfield in a press release. “I look forward to working alongside this topnotch team that has worked tirelessly to bring service to small and mid-sized cities throughout the country.

Whitfield has more than 20 years of experience in public service and executive leadership throughout numerous Mid-Atlantic communities with proven results in planning and zoning, economic development, information technology, human services, neighborhood building, community development and more.

for the last six years, Raines conceptualized and implemented Fayetteville State University’s integrated marketing plan aimed at engaging internal and external audiences to boost attendance and support for the university. The integrated marketing plan includes official branding, recruitment marketing, fundraising marketing, internal and external communication, and event marketing.

Raines brings more than three decades of experience in engaging stakeholders to meet the goals of for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher learning.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to integrate my passion for education and storytelling into marketing initiatives that will help FSU grow and continue its phenomenal momentum,” Raines said in a press release.

Some of the notable actions Raines has taken to encourage growth at the university include introducing advertising campaigns focused on recruiting traditional and non-traditional students, leading a website redesign effort, developing creative and impactful strategies to connect during the COVID-19 pandemic and marketing new fundraising initiatives to attract new donors and increase per capita giving.

Wheeler named on Security Systems News’ 40 under 40 list

Local Vice President LUKE WHEELER with Holmes Security Systems in Fayetteville is receiving industry wide attention after being recognized on the Security System News “40 Under 40” list for 2022.

The publication focuses on content for security installers & dealers, product distributors, central stations, engineers & architects, and security consultants & end-users.

Fayetteville State University has a new inaugural assistant vice chancellor for marketing and creative services after promoting TINA RAINES to the positions starting Nov. 18, 2022.

As director of marketing at FSU

The award has been recognized by SSN for over a decade and focuses on “outstanding young professionals who are making their mark in the security industry.” Candidates have to be nominated on the publication’s website in order to receive recognition.

Former Fayetteville official named Director of Government Affairs for Metronet

Former Assistant Manager

Raines named inaugural assistant vice chancellor for marketing and creative services for FSU

What are you and your peers achieving? Have you reached a new goal? Have you acquired another business? Maybe your business has a new hire you would like to highlight.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wants to hear from you and your business to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments.

To nominate someone for GFBJ’s Achievers section, email editor@bizfayetteville.com with the subject line “Achiever.”

Grier

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Lisa Childers, Amy Cannon, Chairman Glenn Adams, and 2022 Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductee Johnny A. Carter.

Raines

Whitfield

Wheeler

Wheeler, aged 36, was featured in a full-length article focusing on his time in the industry, his inspirations and how he plans to move forward, which is now available both online and in print through the publication.

Realtor wins national “Rookie of the Year” award

ALEX MCFADYEN was awarded RISMedia’s inaugural “Rookie of the Year” award on Friday Nov. 1 at the annual conference of the National Association of Realtors at the Rosen Center in Orlando.

According to RISMedia, McFadyen, aged 27, was chosen out of hundreds of nominations from across the United States.

“I’m honored and a little surprised,” said McFadyen in a press release. “It feels good to be recognized for all the hard work of the past year.”

McFadyen’s win was based on achievements for his clients in 2021. He closed 86 units for $19.7 million in production for the year. In 2022, he is presently at 81 units and $22 million in closed sales.

McFadyen said he jump-started his business by notifying family and friends that he had become a licensed real estate agent and by reaching out

to persons who had listed their properties as “For Sale by Owner.”

“Being selected as a top ten finalist is a phenomenal achievement in itself. We are so proud of Alex for being chosen for such an honor as the Rookie of the Year,” said Lisa Geddie, general manager at Coldwell Banker Advantage in Fayetteville in a press release. “Alex has embraced all the tools and training that Coldwell Banker Advantage has to offer.”

McFadyen

Medical Lab Technology Program

FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHINES SPOTLIGHT

ON LABORATORY SCIENCE PROGRAMS

Fayetteville Technical Community College educates more than 28,000 students yearly. This public, state-supported, twoyear all-inclusive community college provides quality educational opportunities in Fayetteville and Cumberland County areas. Programs encompass general educational, occupational, technical, continuing education and college transfers. Along with general education, FTCC presents exceptional Laboratory Science programs with course offerings such as the Medical Laboratory Technology Program, which provides students within Allied Health Sciences a two-year program of 74 credit hours. Students study subjects like clinical chemistry, hematology, transfusions, as well as compatible blood and micropathology. The MLT program enrolls up to 20 students each fall. Students start the program together and spend five semesters with the same classmates, building strong bonds and collaborative learning throughout the program.

“One of the best experiences that comes of the two-year program is student practice with preparing for national certification. Each semester, students are required to sit for a mock, national certification exam, designed to mimic the exam they will complete through the American Society of Clinical Pathology,” said Medical Laboratory Technology Program Director Candice Freeman, Ph.D. “With effort, students are well prepared to successfully pass this exam and become a credentialed Medical Laboratory Technician. The huge, ongoing demand for graduates provides stable, gainful employment and very good living wages upon entrance to the workforce. The job, highly portable, serves graduates wherever they move worldwide.”

The first cohort in July saw 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent placement rate. Dr. Freeman mentions, “There are hundreds of open positions for clinical laboratory professionals, just in North Carolina; so many, the educational programs cannot produce enough graduates to

fill vacancies.”

The FTCC MLT Program holds accreditation from the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

“We are thrilled that our program has achieved national accreditation. With this five-year award, we are able to continually refine and improve the program with each coming year, in hopes during our next reaccreditation we will receive a seven- or 10-year award,” Dr. Freeman stated. “I am a product of a Medical Laboratory Technology program in the North Carolina community college system. This field of Allied Health has a rich history within the system, dating back to the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.”

Laboratory Sciences features a forthcoming Histotechnican Program. FTCC will be one of three colleges in North Carolina to offer both MLT and HT training programs at the two-year level. Students in the MLT program will be able to transition into the Histotechnology program, carry all general education credits, and take two to three more

tissues. We often refer to this area of the lab as Anatomic Pathology, while the MLT side of the lab world is referred to as Clinical Pathology. We anticipate this program to start in summer, 2023. The majority of students enrolling in the program will be from previous graduating classes from the MLT program.”

The average pay for an entry-level, certified histotechnician starts in the low to mid-$20 range; however, with experience, employees easily make over $30 per hour soon after graduation. Strong demand prevails for trained, qualified histology professionals throughout the United States.

ment in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, corporate biomedical companies, and education. In fact, my salary as a medical laboratory professional afforded me the opportunity to pursue my master's and doctorate degrees. Being a first-generation college student and graduate, I can truly relate to the struggles many of my students face. Experiencing and knowing this, I am able to customize their learning experience to their immediate needs, making their training highly relevant, authentic, and effective.”

semesters, then complete a second A.A.S. degree.

Dr. Freeman explains this unique program, “It is rare to find a clinical laboratory professional credentialed in both Medical Laboratory Technology and Histology, so this option serves to provide students with more choice and career-focused options in healthcare. Histology focuses on the study of body tissues and diseases associated with those

Dr. Freeman added that great support exists from local clinical affiliates. “The Cape Fear Valley Health System can be credited with requesting the inception of this program. They are our main affiliate; we have clinical training placement at all their facilities. They train the majority of our students. The system offers a work-based scholarship program for our students. They can receive full tuition payment in exchange for a three year work commitment. This works very well both during the student's education, and after graduation. Three years of work experience in a large trauma center is very beneficial to career growth of the MLT.”

Dr. Freeman said she also believes in the exceptional value of the North Carolina community college system and states, “I am a product of a community college, and, honestly, choosing this path was the best academic decision of my educational career. Without this technical training, I would not have gained employ-

Dr. Freeman understands poverty, as she herself experienced, is not permanent. She inspires her students — she recognizes their ability to succeed. Dr. Freeman understands time-limitations many face in pursuit of educational goals. She created a Hyflex model to support students, making sure traditional face to face on-site, virtual, or video modes are all available.

These programs create a strong career path, and quality pay structure students take wherever they go. These high demand careers require trained professionals and work is available worldwide. These careers are especially beneficial to military spouses — so wherever the military stations — these students can meet the demand.

Learn more at FTCC’s website: www.faytechcc.edu and for Health Technologies Programs, call 910-4867425 or email Curriculum Chairperson Candice Freeman: freemanc@faytechcc. edu and experience Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s stellar programs to reach for the stars!

“ We are thrilled that our program has achieved national accreditation.”

— Dr. Candice Freeman, Ph.D. Medical Laboratory Technology Program Director

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CANDICE FREEMAN FTCC Medical Laboratory Technology students prepare samples in the lab.

Lillington welcomes new bank

FIRST BANK & TRUST COMPANY OPENED ITS THIRD BRANCH LOCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA IN LILLINGTON

Harnett county residents, business owners and farmers now have a new option for banking as First Bank & Trust Company of Virginia fully opened its first office in Harnett County on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 818 McKinney Parkway in Lillington.

The bank was joined by members of the community and members of the Lillington Area Chamber of Commerce for their official ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome them to the Town of Lillington. The ribbon cutting served not only to connect with the community, but also to mark the location’s first day as a full-service office when before, it had been operating only as a loan production office.

Based in Virginia, First Bank & Trust Co. began as a single office bank in Lebanon, Virginia with one million dollars in capital. Today, 43 years later, they remain a privately held financial institution with over $2.6 Billion in assets, operating 35 full service and loan offices throughout Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The Lillington location is the third full-service office for First Bank & Trust Company in North Carolina with a sister location in Red Oak NC, and non-branch bank office located in Mount Airy.

First Bank & Trust Co. President and CEO Mark Nelson shared celebratory remarks about the new location in a press release stating: “The expansion of our services throughout North Carolina is directly attributable to the dedication of our team members. Our teams in Lillington, Red Oak and Mount Airy have all worked hard to cultivate loyal customers by providing comprehensive financial solutions and prioritizing personal relationships.”

Lillington local Trevor Smith serves as both senior vice president, and an agriculture and commercial lending officer who works exclusively with North Carolina lending accounts. Joining the First Bank & Trust Co. team in 2021, Smith said he was motivated to join the lending team because of the bank’s strong background in the agriculture industry.

“We’re the fourth ranked ag lending bank in the country. It is

something, here in our markets, with Harnett, Johnston and Lee County and Sampson and Duplin County, our ag division is the fourth largest in the country,” said Smith. “And I felt like we have a tremendous opportunity here in these counties to grow that market. Agriculture is still the number one industry in North Carolina, and a lot of banks don’t cater to that, and the team that we have built between myself and Jay Smith, who was my first cousin, is Nelson Powell, are probably three of the largest ag lenders in the state.”

The Lillington location’s agricultural lending team is made of members Nelson Powell, Jay Smith, Gloria Turner, and Trevor Smith who serve Harnett, Johnston, Cumberland, Lee, Duplin, Sampson, Wake and Greene Counties. Powell, Jay Smith, and Turner joined the team in May of 2022 with Powell and Jay being hired as senior vice presidents and agriculture and commercial lending officers, and Turner serving as a relationship manager that provides both portfolio management and indepth financial analysis for the team.

According to the LACC, Smith was a key player in bringing the bank

to the community.

“My main kind of goal of bringing First Bank and Trust Company of Virginia to Lillington is just the vision that the bank has of operating a true community bank that we all long for in today's banking world. I think that is something that we bring to the table that other banks don't necessarily have the appetite to do,” said Smith. “But we are a true community bank and try to operate the way the banks did many years ago, and I think that's something refreshing that we're going to be able to offer here in Lillington and Harnett County. And I see how successful it’s been in the Virginia markets, and I feel like we'll be just as successful down the road in North Carolina.”

Smith also shared that there are plans to branch out to other counties.

“We're looking to move into Clinton, North Carolina at some point in 2023 with a Loan Production Office,” shared Smith. “That office will be run by Mr. Nelson Powell. Obviously, he's part of our team, but he lives there. He works out of Lillington some days, but he lives in Clinton, so we’re going to get him an office set

up there.”

According to the LACC, First Bank & Trust Co. of Virginia prioritizes hiring local and are big promoters of agriculture and commercial industries.

Smith said the bank specializes in agriculture loans including row crop loans, and loans for commercial livestock, financing poultry and hog houses as well as commercial growing such as blueberries and one of the state’s largest agriculture products, sweet potatoes.

“North Carolina is the number one state for sweet potato production in the country, so that is just something else that we cater to, we kind of have flexible options for these farmers due to their crop cycles and the timing of income and things like that. So, with the experience of our team, we're able to kind of cater and put a plan together for these farmers.”

The First Bank & Trust Co. Lillington office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Interested clients can also contact them at 984-229-8899.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: FIRST BANK & TRUST COMPANY

The First Bank & Trust Co. team cut the ceremonial ribbon opening the now fully operational Lillington office location to residents.

Reader’s Guide

BizLeads is a collection of information gathered from greater Fayetteville courthouses, state government offices and information websites. The listings are intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors.

New Corporations lists firms from the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal region that were recently incorporated in the State of North Carolina.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

EIF 15 LLC 744 McArthur Rd Fayetteville Agent: Robert H Wiltshire

1st Run Express LLC 3470 GREEN VALLEY ROAD Fayetteville Agent: HILARY JEFFRIE JONES

THAT BIOMED GUY LLC 2482 CELTIC DR Fayetteville Agent: OSCAR BRITO

Limitless Natural Beauty LLC 605 German St Suite C Fayetteville Agent: Shamekia Mildred Brown

Roam At Home U.S. LLC 26 Normandy Drive Fort Bragg Agent: Myesha Stephney

Cokesbury Methodist Church of Stedman Inc. 7536 Clinton Road Stedman Agent: Raymond L. Burkart

GATEWAY VENTURES 1 LLC 700 THREE WOOD DR Fayetteville Agent: WESIM ALSAIDI

Flora Unlimited LLC 3006 Cliffdale Road Fayetteville Agent: Ashley Mangus

Buzzment Cuisine Jamaican Restuarant LLC 1640 KERSHAW LOOP Fayetteville Agent: IJONAE JORDAN KELLY

Integrated Spray Foam Incorporated 6351 Culbreth St

Falcon Agent: John Wesley Gipson

EIF 14 LLC 744 McArthur Rd Fayetteville Agent: Robert H Wiltshire

Zae & T Enterprises LLC 5075 Morganton Rd Ste 10C #1137

Fayetteville Agent: ShaQuanna D Ripley

Chime Investment Group LLC 340 Coverly Sq Fayetteville Agent: Terry S Friedmann

Quality Home Improvement NC L.L.C 2872 James Dail Rd Eastover Agent: Chance Balial Whitted

HerbalBrand Beauty LLC 2105 Beech Street #A Fayetteville Agent: Tyaja Inez Rushing

East Coast Ice LLC 519 Edwinstowe Ave. Fayetteville Agent: Zachary Windstein

4MS Trucking llc 6415 Huntleigh ct Fayetteville Agent: Ursula Elaine Evans

The Richardson Family Foundation 2605 Christy Court Fayetteville Agent: Jeremy Morant Richardson

786 Parvez LLC 220 Hugh Shelton Loop. Unit 201 Fayetteville Agent: Ifaz Parvez

Appleton South Owners Association Inc. 2919 Breezewood Ave Suite 100 Fayetteville Agent: D Ralph Huff III

KeyTurn LLC 100 Hay Street Ste 503 Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC

R-I-P Trucking LLC 112 Brett Ct Fayetteville Agent: William Brannon

SWPM Glendale LLC 720 Piper Farm Rd Fayetteville Agent: Ker L Alpers

Queen's Trucking LLP 7090 Ramsey Street Fayetteville Agent: Michael Queen

Mixology University LLC 147 Maxwell St Fayetteville Agent: Richelle Wilkes

Esther Reese Libraries LLC 6302 Worthington Dr Fayetteville Agent: Cherise Williams

Mac Boys Investments LLC 6805 Willowbrook Drive Apt 3 Fayetteville Agent: Orlandis Jorneal McKnight

GOWT LLC 513 Rossendale DR Hope Mills Agent: Reginald White

A & Y Auto Sales LLC 1113 Pleasant Oak Dr Fayetteville Agent: Maday Andoney

GRACEFUL RESET LLC 3610 Pine Bark Ct Fayetteville Agent: Michelle Kleinmann

DMIII Consulting L.L.C 405 Burlwood Court Fayetteville Agent: David Martin Marsh III

Luxe Homes Realty Group LLC 100 HAY ST. Suite 905 Fayetteville Agent: Edna Irizarry

Monjare LLC 3200 Melba Dr Fayetteville Agent: Jasmine R Monroe

EIF 17 LLC 744 McArthur Rd Fayetteville Agent: Robert H Wiltshire

Nikki Cleaning LLC

2305 Apt 2B Emily St Fayetteville Agent: Monika Renee' Woodson

BossClubFrenchiesNcLLC 5075 Morganton rd STE 10c Fayetteville Agent: Damien Cheatham

Emerald Summit LLC 8409 Judy Drive Fayetteville Agent: Osaro Agbongiague

PRECISION TOWING & RECYCLING LLC 202 KIPPER CT LINDEN Agent: NICHOLAS TERLIZZI

DaCorner Office Hoodies n Tees LLC 508 Regency Drive Fayetteville Agent: Charles Bowman

Harvest to Home 1901 Shiloh Drive Fayetteville Agent: Da'esha McPhaul

Triplet Estates LLC 1106 Mohawk Ave Fayetteville Agent: Edward Ace Kaspar

KIP PRODUCTIONS LLC 5324 GOSHAWK DRIVE HOPE MILLS Agent: STEVE STEPHENS SR

Adella's Angels Nanny Agency Co. 1109 High Kite Place Fayetteville Agent: Amber Darlene Bullock

Golden M Transportation LLC 412 Dunmore Rd Fayetteville Agent: Ricky Devontae McLaurin

Bawdy By Brittney LLC 516 Regency Dr. Apt. 301 Fayetteville Agent: Brittney Sosa

Kershaw Therapy Services LLC 2425 Castlebar Drive Unit 102 Fayetteville Agent: Belisa F Kershaw

LAF Real Estate LLC 3450 Attica Drive Eastover Agent: Lauren Ashley Furr

TC Firestopping Systems "Limited Liability

Partnership" 1930 Lakemeadow Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Taneeka Nashaye Carter

Studio Red LLC 621 Stonington Dr Fayetteville Agent: Brenda Kay Nash

Renewing Hope Ministries 206 Murray Fork Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Hector Elias-Burgos

Be-Legendary Boutique L.L.C. 2652 Middle Branch BND Fayetteville Agent: Nikki Walker

CBL Investing LLC 3270 Thrower Rd Hope Mills Agent: Kelly J Lupo

Swift Spek LLC 5801 Permastone Lake Rd Hope Mills Agent: Quiwania N Miller

Stacys Lather Me Love LLC 837 Pecan Grove Loop Hope Mills Agent: Stacy Goodson

NC Homeworkz LLC 6209 Stoney Point Loop Fayetteville Agent: Zachary Kyle Marshall

MZFT Society LLC 3725 Heather Brooke Dr Fayetteville Agent: Technical Group

Alpha LLC AccuStick Solutions LLC 823 Elm St Suite 200E Fayetteville Agent: Shinise Fields

ANOTHER ROUTE LLC 288 Bartow Dr Fayetteville Agent: MICHAEL D WILLIAMS

J Johnson Enterprise LLC 3254 NORTHGATE DR Fayetteville Agent: Willie Johnson Jr

Joint Readiness Industries Inc 6548 NC highway 87 S Fayetteville Agent: Joseph Chang

Women of Worth Ministries LLC 7731 All Saints Drive Fayetteville

Agent: Deborah Shephard

Sevstore LLC 3429 Castlefield LN Fayetteville Agent: Daniela Severino

BLYSS LLC 4029 Murchison Rd. Fayetteville Agent: Sheva Burrow

Kali Rose LLC 6346 Hawfield Drive Fayetteville Agent: James Walker Bond

Samel's Beauty Lounge LLC 314 Hay Street Fayetteville Agent: Nora Samel Artiga

DIRECTED DOMINANCE LLC 3553 CANBY OAK LANE FAYETTEVILLE Agent: DEVON SHERROD

Phenomenal Realty Group LLC 4139 Dellwood Drive Fayetteville Agent: Latisha Michelle Whitted

Split Second Firearms LLC 4532 Spinel Dr Fayetteville Agent: Skyler Marie Dietzen

THNP III LLC 3304 Green Valley Road Fayetteville Agent: Sergey Kuznetsov

ABUNDANT TRANSPORTING INC 9099 COLLIERS CHAPEL CHURCH RD Linden Agent: TIMOTHY E BLUE

Salem Methodist Church of Eastover Inc. 2165 Middle Rd Eastover Agent: Alonzo Clyde Edwards

Recon Neurology & Psychiatry PLLC 6825 Council Rd Fayetteville Agent: Matthew Kyle Banks

Payne Anesthesia PLLC 1431 Raeford Rd Fayetteville Agent: Frederick B. Payne Jr.

Mason's Moving and Delivery LLC

516 Grace Ave Fayetteville Agent: Carl Mason

J & T Holdings Real Estate LLC 1530 N Bragg Blvd Spring Lake Agent: Christina Mazzullo

CHB Distributing LLC 1123 Legend Creek Drive Hope Mills Agent: Josh D Bagley

Davis Hair Loss Enhancement LLC 3439 Black and Decker Road Hope Mills Agent: Merry Davis

CPM GLOBAL LOGISTICS LLC 5044 INVERNESS DR FAYETTEVILLE Agent: Clifford Patrick McCall SR

Positivitea LightStyle LLC 9465 Buddy Cir Fayetteville Agent: Chante Monique light

A3 Prime Logistics LLC 2901 Marcus James Dr Fayetteville Agent: Stanford D Autry III

BM Success LLC 3005 stonecutter circle Fayetteville Agent: Gerson Edilmar Bolanos Maldonado

Sotti Elite Consulting LLC 2503 McNeill Circle Fayetteville Agent: John B Masotti

Misfits The Cycle Of Life 524 Georgetown Circle Fayetteville Agent: Antonio Lamar White

Road Running Towing LLC 610 hildreth place Fayetteville Agent: Marcus Rahiem Mckeithen

Palma Construction Services LLC 1830 Owen Drive Suite 10-1 FAYETTEVILLE Agent: Annette Acosta

Fayetteville Storm Volleyball Club 6009 Daybrook Court Fayetteville Agent: Kirk Hanton

Christmas comes to town

CLASSIC HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS RETURN TO MAKE SPIRITS BRIGHT FOR THE 2022 HOLIDAY SEASON

As the year winds to a close, the Fayetteville area can expect a dash of holiday cheer with Christmas events to finish out 2022. Popular holiday attractions are returning for the public to enjoy and help spread some joy in and around Fayetteville. Take a look at our list of some of the popular options now available through December.

A 100-foot prehistoric cave featuring custom Ice Age lighted exhibits made of over 30,000 lights is a new exhibit also making its holiday debut in 2022.

“The Sweet Valley Ranch, we're extremely pleased to bring that back. We have added a new prehistoric cave exhibit and additional light at displays so bring your families out and have fun,” said Owner Fred Surgeon.

Available through Dec. 26, opening dates and times may vary.

With performances scheduled for Dec. 9, 10, 11 and from Dec. 13-18, there’s plenty of time for your family to come together to enjoy a classic community holiday performance.

“We've talked about ‘do we want to venture out and do something else?’ But you know, people love this story, and it's really beautiful thing,” said Cape Fear Regional Theatre Marketing Director Ashley Owen. “We have four casts of about 30 kids apiece so, seeing 120 kids all come together and do this story, it’s really exciting and people love it. So, we have talked about maybe like, rotating a couple of things through, but I think BCPE is here to stay.”

Around 10,000 people are expected to see the show based on previous year’s turnout.

The Cool Spring Downtown District will be utilizing the “Can Do” District Trolley to bring holiday cheer to both kids and adults this Christmas season.

For kids, the “Holly Jolly Trolly” will be offering a family friendly sing along trolly tour of local neighborhood holiday lights and decorations. Fayetteville’s favorite elf musician Michael Daughtry will ensure all is merry and bright with a festive performance of songs of the season.

“We are flying in an elf from the North Pole, he's a local musician and he will dress like an elf and families and friends will hop on the Holly Jolly Trolley and take a tour of Christmas lights throughout our community while singing all of your Christmas favorites,” said Cool Spring Downtown District President and CEO Bianca Shoneman.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Sweet Valley Ranch

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER

Cape Fear Regional Theatre

Tickets can be purchased, and more information can be found online at www.sweetvalleyranch.com.

The Festival of Lights has returned to Sweet Valley Ranch for another year. Located at 2990 Sunnyside School Rd. in Fayetteville, the event features over a million lights and more than 350 unique and exotic animals. The community is invited to the working farm to enjoy the lights for a memorable holiday evening. A drive through event, guests will be able to enjoy vendors, gift stores, rides, food, and more. First responders, Santa’s Backyard, Dinosaur World, Star Wars, Santa's Drive-Thru Gift Shop, Nativity Scene, Gingerbread House, The Grinch's Mansions, and Military Tribute are just a few of the special exhibits available.

Tickets are available online at www.cfrt.org and can also be purchased by calling the theater’s box office directly at 910-323-4233. Shows are selling out fast so make sure to buy your tickets soon.

Join the cast and crew at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre for the 31st annual production of the holiday classic “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Follow the story of a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant faced with casting the worst kids in the neighborhood: The Herdmans. Follow the mayhem, fun and touching story when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!

Tickets

Families are invited to don their holiday apparel and come out on Dec. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and will meet in Downtown Fayetteville at 222 Hay St. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and tickets start at $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for children under 12. The event is free for children under 2.

Those looking for more adult entertainment are in luck as the District Trolley will also be used for the “Sleigh What?! A holiday comedy on wheels” event gearing up to take place on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“We got a naughty elf coming from the North Pole too, and she's a comic, her name is Kristi Howard, and she’s leading two turns on the “Sleigh What” comedy trolley. This is not for children under the age of 18. It is an adult comedy tour that comes with one free beer or wine with ticket purchase,” shared Shoneman.

The show is for adults aged 21 and over and is expected to last for 45 minutes. The trolley will depart from the Cool Spring Downtown District's office at 222 Hay Street. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.

Happy holidays from

1 TRUIST BANK www.truist.com $3,944,062,000 32.32% 28 1891 910-487-7500 Pat Nobles

FIRSTBANK localfirstbank.com $2,083,947,000 17.08% 21 1935 866-792-4357 Richard Moore

FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY firstcitizens.com $1,822,529,000 14.94% 19 1898 828-433-6310 Tim Richardson

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION wellsfargo.com $1,027,095,000 8.42% 11 1870 800-869-3557 Anthony Laurina

BANK OF AMERICA bankofamerica.com $976,027,000 8.00% 5 1904 800-432-1000 TarekSalem

PNC BANK pnc.com $735,185,000 6.03% 11 1804 888-762-2265 TobySessoms 7 LUMBEE GUARANTY BANK lumbeeguarantybank.com $437,721,000 3.59% 15 1971 866-674-5576 Kyle Chavis 8 THE FIDELITY BANK fidelitybanknc.com $298,478,000 2.45% 5 1909 855-547-1385 Kim Harbison 9

FIRST NATIONAL

PENNSYLVANIA

1.83%

1.80%

1864 833-226-5362

1839 800-327-9862

Patrick

855-275-7226

0.18%

0.18%

>> By Faith Hatton bizfayetteville.com

877-968-7962

833-275-2228

Progress continues on Amazon facility

NEW AMAZON FULFILLMENT FACILITY ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY 2022 ON SCHEDULE TO OPEN IN 2023

Following months of progress, Amazon is close to completing the nearly 1.3 million- squarefoot fulfillment facility in Fayetteville’s Military Business Park off of Bragg Blvd and U.S. Highway 295. Announced in February of 2022, the facility is expected to bring more than 500 jobs to Cumberland County with additional opportunities for part time positions.

The company originally entered the community in May of 2021 after announcing a new last mile facility at 1005 Dunn Road in Fayetteville. That project, still under construction, is expected to complement the new distribution center and speed up deliveries for customers in the region.

President of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation Robert Van Geons said that the new distribution operation facility is on track to open on schedule in 2023, and that the FCEDC has

been provided with regular updates on the project.

“The company [Amazon] continues to be a great partner to work with. The final infrastructure project on Dunn Road “Last Mile Delivery Center” should be complete (or

about to be) after that the facility will be opening for operations,” said Van Geons. “For the DC project on Bragg Blvd., both Amazon and the developer (Ryan Companies) have communicated with us throughout, and we talk regularly. Since the ini-

tial announcement, opening in 2023 has always been the target. We look forward to welcoming the company and these jobs to Cumberland County. In the future, if there are any changes with regards to the timeline, I am confident that we will hear from the company directly.”

The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal also received confirmation on the progress of the new fulfillment center from several Amazon spokespersons who said they are looking forward to releasing an official launch date as soon as the information becomes available.

Ryan Companies, the company responsible for the construction of the fulfillment facility, also have a time lapse video available showing the progress of the project. Regular updates are given every hour and a full timelapse of the project can be found at www.ryan.247osctimelapse. com.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: AMAZON

An Amazon associate moves stock in an amazon Fulfillment Center.