Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - April 19, 2024 Issue

Everyone starts somewhere and before they were at the top of their local organizations, industries and fields, local leaders started at the bottom before working their way up. Everyone learns from someone and without even knowing it, you can leave an everlasting impact on the lives of those around you.

Local leaders Bianca Shoneman, Dr. Y. Sammi Choi and real estate expert Ralph Huff shared their stories of encouragement, education and connection with those who they remember fondly as mentors.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY WAMC, CSDD AND RALPH HUFF

Pictured left to right: Dr. Y. Sammy Choi, Bianca Shoneman and Ralph Huff share about the mentors who helped them develop into the strong leaders they are today.

it. Advance it.

Interested in saving money and receiving an excellent foundation for a 4-year degree? See

TRANSFER YOUR ASSOCIATE DEGREE TO AN APPROVED 4-YEAR COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY! FTCC MAKES IT EASY!

• ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE

• ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS

• ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS – MUSIC

• ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS – THEATER

• ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS – VISUAL ARTS

www.faytechcc.edu

admissions@faytechcc.edu. l 910.678.8400

8-WEEK SUMMER CLASSES ARE A GREAT WAY TO CATCH UP ON MISSED CLASSES OR WORK AHEAD ON YOUR ACADEMIC JOURNEY!

· FIRST SESSION 8-WEEK SUMMER CLASSES BEGIN MAY 28

· SECOND SESSION 8-WEEK SUMMER CLASSES BEGIN JUNE 10

ENRICHING LIVES. REIMAGINING FUTURES.

YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Jenna Shackelford

Rachel Townsend Eddie Velazquez

What it means to be a mentor

It’s a true statement that we become like those with whom we spend the most time! Of course, that can be good or bad, depending on the company you keep. But in this edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, we are focusing on the good things we have learned from our mentors.

For most of us, our parents were our first mentors and then later in life, perhaps a teacher or professor. I have had some really good mentors in my life. Of course my mom and dad were and still are at the top of the list.

One mentor in particular comes to mind. I met him as one of his students at Methodist College (now University). His knowledge of economics was amazing and I think if I would have followed some of his investment advice in the mid 80s, well who knows!

His passion, though, was

entrepreneurship, and making sure that his students learned to appreciate the value of business ownership and taking risks.

It was much later in life when our paths connected once again and I was able to be part of his advisory council. As he planned on retirement, he asked me if I would consider stepping in his shoes as the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Methodist University. He felt sure that I could do it, even though I was not so confident. I had many other things on my plate, including a business to run. However, he was a hard man to say no to, and so I decided to give it a shot. It was a great time in my career, and I am grateful for his confidence in me.

The last time I saw him was a lunch that we had together at Olive Garden. We spoke about our families, life, health and spiritual

things and I believe both of us were encouraged. Little did I know that approximately two weeks later, he would be gone.

Dr. Siddhartha (Sid) Gautam will always be one of my most impactful mentors.

What I learned from Dr. Gautam and other good mentors is they see things in you that you don’t. They believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself. And finally, they want what’s best for you!

I hope you enjoy the stories, and please feel free to share some of your own on social media or on our website. We’d love to hear from you.

God bess you and yours!

Feeding passion

THE STORY OF DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT CIRCA 1800 AND THE DEVOTED INDIVIDUALS LEADING IT ALONG THE WAY

Popular downtown Fayetteville eatery Circa 1800 has been serving the community for over 15 years now. Many loyal customers may not know the heartfelt history of the business and the careful hands it has been placed in over the years. Original Founder Kirk deViere opened Circa 1800 in 2008, but in 2013 the business underwent a change in ownership.

“My whole interest in starting Circa was to make an investment in downtown, specifically on the Person Street side. And I knew some people that had been in the restaurant space, and so [I] really just wanted to help revitalize that part of downtown,” shared deViere.

Brandy Puczylowski has been working in the restaurant industry since she was 16. When she met deViere, she was a server at Sammio’s Italian Restaurant.

In addition to opening Circa 1800, deViere worked with ERA Strother and ate lunch at Sammio’s several days a week. CEO of ERA Strother Denise Strother also assisted in getting the two connected. When their paths crossed, deViere was certain he wanted Puczylowski to be the one to take over as owner of Circa.

“For me I knew I would always step away from it, find the right person that would take it over whether it was somebody internally or somebody like Brandy, and I knew within two hours of talking to Brandy after Denise connected us that she was going to be the one, we just had to figure out how to do it,” remarked deViere.

Puczylowski has been the owner of Circa 1800 for 11 years now.

“...to have [him and] Denise who are both extremely successful people to say ‘We believe in you, we’re going to pour into you, you can do this,’ was more than I could have ever asked for,” shared Puczylowski.

The transition of ownership was gradual as Puczylowski had a lot of experience working in restaurants but was new to running a business. However, deViere had no doubt in Puczylowski’s talents.

“She loves what she does. She loves serving people. She loves the food aspect and you feel like you're sitting at your family table when

Circa 1800 is located at 108 Person Street in downtown Fayetteville. The restaurant serves creative, quality dishes using local ingredients whenever possible.

changes and putting her own spin on things while still maintaining the classic Circa brand.

and risen to the challenge over the past 11 years.

“I look at Brandy when I met her and the woman business owner that she is today [and] I just, I beam with pride because she is head and shoulders above where she was,” remarked deViere.

With a decade of ownership now under her belt, Puczylowski’s confidence in herself to run the business has increased. However, she still continues to lead with humility and an attention to what will best serve the business as a whole.

“There’s always a balance where anytime I think ‘Yeah, I'm killing this,’ there’s that check, that humbleness that comes…but I’m a very intuitive, go with what I think is right [kind of person], and I try to make decisions, not what’s best for me, but what is right,” Puczylowski said.

Both Puczylowski and deViere are thrilled with Circa’s success. Puczylowski is focused on continuing to pour back into the community which remains loyal to the restaurant.

For me I knew I would always step away from it, find the right person that would take it over... I knew within two hours of talking to Brandy... she was going to be the one...”

— Kirk deViere, Founder Circa 1800

you're eating. And I just knew that you can’t teach that, people can’t learn that. They can learn all the business stuff and all that other stuff, but they can’t learn how you make people feel, and Brandy had that,” stated deViere.

Some of the changes made under Puczylowski’s leadership include expanding to serve brunch, slight alterations to interior design and special dinner events.

Once she grew comfortable in her new position, Puczylowski was able to begin implementing some minor

Puczylowski currently leads a staff of 13 and the business continues to experience great success and receive high remarks. Even all these years later though Puczylowski still values the input given to her by her mentor. “I still ask him questions, believe me. The first year-first few years I would text and say ‘Hey, where'd you get the silverware? I need more silverware.’ ‘Hey, what about this credit card processing?’ So I don’t reach out to him very much now with needs but I always know that he's available and he responds immediately to any question or concern or need that I have” stated Puczylowski.

Puczylowski has proven herself

Puczylowski’s husband, Anthony Jackson, tends the bar at Circa and has taken quite an interest in mixology. Puczylowski said now their cocktails rival their food and draw in more customers.

Jackson is now entering into the mobile bartending business. He bought a trailer that pulls behind the car and he, with Puczylowski’s support, is working on starting the Southern Spirit Guide. Jackson will provide bartending services for weddings, private parties and more as well as offer cocktail classes.

Puczylowski shared that she has toyed with the idea of opening a food truck down the road, but there is no concrete plan for that yet.

“I’m just grateful she continued what we started and really just took it to another level... I mean it’s, for me, I enjoy helping build things and it was an investment in our downtown, but finding somebody like Brandy that could really take it, love it, take it to the next level is just even better for me than the original transition that I had always envisioned,” shared deViere.

Top left: Brandy Puczylowski became the owner of Circa 1800 in January of 2013. She has over 30 years of experience working in the restaurant industry.

Below: Kirk deViere was the original owner of Circa 1800.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CIRCA 1800

MENTEE: Bianca Shoneman

MENTOR: Julie Mooney

Long before joining the Cool Spring Downtown District as its executive director, Bianca Shoneman was working to make an economic difference in smaller communities.

to choose how they move forward in this new world order,” shared Shoneman.

Placed in Beaufort County, NC it was there that Shoneman would meet her mentor and later friend Julie Mooney who at the time was assigned to coach her one on one. Mooney was working with the MDC, an organization that works to accelerate equitable change in the south by equipping Southern leaders, institutions and communities with the necessary tools and strategies to advance equity, particularly racial and gender equity, and economic mobility.

well to the affirmative and so I would love to have a mentee that walks away from the experience feeling very confident and capable,’ she shared.

Mooney has recently retired from the MDC, but is still connected to the organization as a senior fellow.

Even now, Shoneman knows that Mooney will still be there for her as a friend and mentor.

In 2007, Shoneman was freshly returned from the Peace Corps and working for The Duke Endowment in the program for the RURAL CAROLINAS project, an anti-poverty campaign focused on helping rural communities facing economic uncertainty due to a loss of industrialization jobs in their areas. Shoneman was placed in one out of 23 “test sites” spread throughout rural North and South Carolina to help address a changing economy.

“So they fundamentally stood up these little nonprofits that were charged with looking at how you create self-sufficient economies on a hyperlocal level that were directed by the people and for the people. So it's sort of an experiment in poverty alleviation tactics that would allow communities to have a lot of liberty

“The MDC would lead us through a process of leadership development and economic development theory. They would help us think through the challenges of being sort of young age nonprofit leaders; everything from board development to social justice actions, to economic development theory. Julie was versed in that and she is a well rounded hyper smart person. She was just a wonderful guide for me,” shared Shoneman.

Shoneman and Mooney would work together in a mentor/ mentee relationship through that program for three years before going their separate ways. However, Shoneman shared that they have stayed in touch and communicated on a personal level throughout the course of her career.

“Julie, in my early career, laid down the foundation for my resume. And that was really helpful because I feel like she helped me get in the door in places that I probably couldn't before,” shared Shoneman. “One of my favorite things she ever told me is, “If you see a position, or if you don't see a position that you want, go out and create it and convince the people why they need it.” We’ve actually done that in two cities that I've worked for,” shared Shoneman.

Looking back, Shoneman shared that she continues to carry the lessons that she learned from Mooney.

“Our personalities were well matched. She's very calm and I’m a little excitable, and she would always remind me to take a deep breath. Slow down, calm down, think it through more solidly, don't shoot from your hip much. And when you’re young, I think I was 25 at the time, she was just a wonderful person to have on my side,” shared Shoneman.

When asked what she would like to bring to a relationship with a mentee, Shoneman shared that the goal would be to encourage them the way she was encouraged.

“I’m a person who responds really

“I have full confidence that if I were to call Julie Mooney and ask for advice, she wouldn't hesitate to sit down with me and have a nice long conversation about what her thoughts are,” shared Shoneman. “Julie is an amazing human, she does great work all across the Carolinas. Her passion is truly North Carolina, and I couldn’t have been more fortunate to have been placed with her as a mentor,” concluded Shoneman.

MENTEE: Dr. Y. Sammy Choi

MENTORS: Dr. Bharat Sharma, and Michael Fletcher, former Senior Pastor of Manna Church, Fayetteville, NC

With nearly 35 years of serving at Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) at Fort Liberty, Dr. Y. Sammy Choi has been steadfast as the director of the Department of Research at WAMC since July of 2008.

But before developing his research, or his work as director of the Cape Fear Research Consortium, Choi started as all medical doctors do, as a medical resident.

Choi began his journey as a medical professional at the University of Oklahoma Medical School. It was during his clinical years of study from 1983-1985 that he met and became involved with his first mentor Dr. Bharat Sharma who would help him set the course of his career in research.

“I did research in undergrad, I cut off rat heads, but what really got

me into the itch of research was Dr. Bharat Sharma and that was through case reports,” recalls Choi. “I had a case that I later found out had been reported on 41 times, but what he wanted me to do was not give up. I would say what really attracted me to him was he had an infectious, always positive, can do attitude. He would say to me ‘Sammy, Sammy, you can do this! And anytime he saw me he would say ‘Sammy, how are you doing? You have a report? How can I help you?’ He would just check up on me.”

Choi’s other mentor was a religious figure well known to the Fayetteville community who would go on to impact Choi’s own leadership style.

After moving to Fayetteville for his first position at WAMC in 1989, Choi and his family joined Manna Church under the leadership of Senior Pastor at the time Michael Fletcher. Choi went on to serve as an Elder of the church in 1997 serving in that capacity for 20 years, all the while he was learning how to work with and lead people from Pastor Fletcher.

“In 1981 when he took over the church, they had 300 members and then in 2018 under his leadership it went from 300 to 8,000 members and that’s a pretty good sized church.” shared Choi. “He said ‘leaders who have to have their hands on and micromanage everything, there’s no way they can expand because you’re not building a team to do it.’ He said ‘control kills.’”

See LIFETIME, page 13

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Y. SAMMY CHOI

A 22 -year-old Y. Sammy Choi pictured during his third year of medical school.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MDC From working within the RURAL CAROLINAS project to present day, Bianca Shoneman and her mentor Julie Mooney (pictured) have continued to have a relationship on both a professional and personal level.

ACHIEVERS

Nicole Winget named dean of Adult & Online Education at Campbell University

NICOLE WINGET has been named dean of Campbell University’s Adult & Online Education program. Winget had served as interim dean since Aug. 1, 2023.

A graduate of Ohio Northern University College of Law in 2009, Winget started her career as an attorney while also teaching at Ohio Northern, Ohio State University and Rhodes State College. She is now a lieutenant commander, assigned to NORTHCOM and her awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Winget joined Campbell University’s staff in 2015 and has held roles including professor of homeland security and criminal justice, as well as assistant dean in Adult & Online Education for student life and military campuses.

Winget called her year as an interim dean a “learning experience” that has prepared her for the permanent role.

“I’m very thankful for the support and kindness Campbell has shown me and all of us who are learning the ropes,” she said in a press release. “There were challenges in this past year, but that only reminded me of how Campbell pulls together and learns in order to get the job done.”

The ever-changing “non-traditional” education landscape and the competition with other programs to attract and enroll students are consistent challenges for any AOE program, she said, but Winget points to her staff and her support system when expressing a positive outlook for the future.

“I’m very excited about this position and the people I work with,” she continued in the release. “I’ll sing it from the rafters — the support this University has given to me and my team is second to none. I’m proud and honored to be in this position and I’m glad that my work is having a positive impact on Campbell University.”

City of Fayetteville appoints new city attorney

The Fayetteville City Mayor Mitch Colvin recently announced that the Interim City Attorney LACHELLE H. PULLIAM will now officially serve as

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.”

the City Attorney. Pulliam served as an Assistant City Attorney for Fayetteville since February 2020 and was appointed as the City’s Interim City Attorney on Sept. 18, 2023.

“I look forward to continuing to serve all City departments, multiple boards and commissions, council committees and the City Council,” said Pulliam in a press release.

Her previous experience includes serving as the Judicial Affairs Coordinator at Johnson C. Smith University, managing her own law practice where she negotiated complex business contracts, handled civil transactions and litigation, as well as represented indigent individuals in contempt and juvenile cases. She also briefly served as an Assistant Solicitor for the City of Atlanta.

Pulliam grew up in Fayetteville and is a graduate of E. E. Smith High School. She is a member of the North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys and licensed to practice law in both North Carolina and Georgia.

Fortuna receives Vet100 award for second consecutive year

Fortuna, a distinguished multiyear winner of the Inc. 5000 award, proudly announced its receipt of the Vet100 award for the second year running. This achievement underscores Fortuna's unwavering commitment to supporting Veterans and military families.

The Vet100 award, presented in collaboration with Inc. Magazine and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, celebrates the fastest-growing Veteran owned business-

es in the nation. Fortuna's inclusion in this list for another year is a testament to its sustained growth and innovative business practices.

Members of the Fortuna team had the honor of attending the VeteranEDGE conference, an event dedicated to offering cutting-edge resources and networking opportunities for Veteran entrepreneurs. The conference, hosted by the IVMF, provided an invaluable platform for engagement with other industry leaders and discussions on the future of Veteran-led business in America.

“Fortuna exists to support Veterans, military spouses and reservists. We are so grateful to be able to take a large role in delivering the solutions these communities need,” said Jack Smith, CEO of Fortuna in a press release. “We are deeply honored to receive the Vet100 award for the second consecutive year.”

Fortuna's recognition at the VeteranEDGE conference highlights its role as a leading entity in the Veteran business community. This accolade is a continuation of Fortuna's trajectory of success and innovation, emphasizing the company's dedication to providing exemplary services and solutions

As Fortuna looks to the future, it remains committed to building on its foundation of success, fostering growth and continuing to serve as a beacon of excellence in the Veteran business community.

Local

educator earns the Distinction of Cumberland County Schools' 2024 CTE Teacher of the Year award

“Be yourself, be there for your students, make them your priority and listen to what they say because you are sometimes all they have,” said BETSEY VERA in a press release. Vera was recently announced as Cumberland County Schools’ 2024 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year.

The surprise announcement came on Wednesday, March 27 in front of about 20 community and business partners along with school and district administrators during a CTE Business Advisory Board meeting on the campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC).

Known as 'Momma Vera' to many Jack Britt students, the long-time educator provides a safe space in her classroom for them, before and after school. Students go to her for advice when they need encouragement and support.

On the academic front, Vera uses technology in her classroom to inform her students and keep them up-to-date with numerous tools used in the medical field. As a full-time CTE teacher, who continues to work as a Home Health Care Nurse, she also uses her knowledge and 'real world' experience in the healthcare profession to help her students grasp medical concepts. Vera's passion for 'educating the future' extends beyond the classroom as she collaborates with the Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center to organize school blood drives, fulfills the role of First Responder at school for the majority of the school year and serves as the adviser of the Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) preparing her students to compete at the local, state and national levels.

During the summer, Vera will go on to represent Cumberland County Schools in the Sandhills Regional CTE Teacher of the Year competition.

The North Carolina Center for Advancement for Teaching (NCCAT) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year process is in its third year and was developed to honor and retain excellent CTE teachers and education leaders in North Carolina public schools and public charter schools. Candidates were nominated at the school level and finalists and the winners are selected by independent panels of local stakeholders.

Winget

Pulliam

Vera

PHOTO PULLED FROM FORTUNA'S MONTHLY ROUNDUP NEWSLETTER.

Fortuna representatives accept the Vet100 award at the Veteran EDGE Conference hosted by Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF.

SAFE. SOUND. SECURE. SINCE 1839.

Now, more than ever, trust is the foundation of any successful relationship. As a leader in banking since 1839, our commitment to building personal relationships with our customers and communities is deeply embedded in who we are. With local bankers you know and trust, it’s no wonder businesses and individuals throughout North Carolina continue to choose United Bank.

PSYCHOLOGY-INFUSED CUST0MER JOURNEYS

Identify how consumers interact with email marketing

Distinguish potential touchpoints based on your avatars

Develop engaging funnels with Clicksuasion’s ACCAL Journey Map

Engineering a workforce

FTCC PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF CAREER-FOCUSED PROGRAMS FOR HIGH-DEMAND SKILLS IN ENGINEERING & APPLIED TECHNOLOGY FIELDS

Fayetteville Technical Community College has one clear message for North Carolinians; a well-compensated and fulfilling career in industries of the present and the future is possible without committing to a traditional four-year university.

FTCC’s Engineering and Applied Technology academic programs range from expected offerings like a vast air conditioning, heating and refrigeration technology program, to a recently devised curriculum in the Mechatronics Engineering program. The latter is one of the college’s newest offerings and is emblematic of the mission that Engineering and Applied Technology Dean Pamela Gibson says FTCC is trying to accomplish.

“What we are trying to do is to help young people and their parents to see where the opportunity is,” Gibson said. “Not everyone needs to go to university for a four year degree, that’s not necessarily the best ticket to a fulfilling career with family sustainable wages. These are great career fields where folks can go out there and make six figures easily.”

The Mechatronics Engineering program is robust and accessible. At the same time, Gibson said, it can help the workforce get ahead of automation trends. The program can generally prepare students to work as an electromechanical technician. Randstadusa.com estimates that the average rate for workers in that field in a city like Charlotte is around $32 per hour.

“There is [a] huge opportunity in manufacturing for people with these multicraft skills,” Gibson noted. “Students are learning electrical and mechanical engineering, they get some welding and some machining skills, they also get some design work, as well as experience in instrumentation and robotics.”

Robotics, Gibson said, are indicative of the future of manufacturing.

“Everybody wants to say ‘Oh, the robots are replacing the workers.’ That is true to a certain extent,” she said. “They might replace the operator, but we still need people who are then going to program these robots. We are going to need workers who do maintenance on these robots, who are going to troubleshoot whenever there are issues with them. That is where

Engineering

Technology academic programs range from expected offerings like a vast air conditioning, heating and refrigeration technology program, to a recently devised curriculum in the Mechatronics Engineering program.

the future is.”

Other examples of programs that Gibson highlighted as necessary skill sets in prosperous industries are the Automotive Systems and Collision Repair programs.

“There are a lot of things happening in the automotive world, so we are teaching our students about hybrid and electric vehicles (EV),” Gibson said. “That's a course that we're offering in the summer time for students to be prepared to be technicians for hybrid and EV vehicles. There are also Advanced Driver Assistance Systems courses.”

Gibson added that these courses help prospective technicians learn how to service the systems that power advanced car features such as proximity sensors.

“All those bells and whistles, you have to know how to service that. That is true not just for auto mechanics, but also for collision repair,” she said. “I don’t want to call that up and coming because it's already here, but these are the things that we're preparing the technicians to be able to do when they leave us.”

moving up within the occupation.” Opportunities in these fields, she noted, are only bound to continue.

“When you're talking about skilled trades, you're talking about a workforce that is aging out. The average age in most of these areas of work is 55 years old, so they are nearing retirement. A lot of these industries are very concerned about where their future workforce is going to come from.”

Gibson said that youth involvement is important to the future of continuously developing industries.

“I would really really want to see more young people who are going to come into these careers and be in these industries for the next 30 years,” she said. “I would also say to industries that we need them to partner

Regardless of the program choice, Gibson said she expects graduates of FTCC to garner significant attention in the job market.

“They will have lots of job opportunities, both locally, within the state and nationally,” she said. “I think that students can expect to have a very solid foundation in that occupation and to be able to be very productive as soon as they’re hired. With some of our programs, I also think that students can also expect opportunities to continue learning and

with us in this. If they have not reached out to us, if they have not established a partnership with us, they need to contact us. We want to work with, and we need to know what their employment needs are, and how we can prepare our workforce for them.”

For a full list of Engineering and Applied Technology programs at FTCC, interested parties can visit: www.faytechcc.edu/academics/ engineering-applied-technology-programs

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FTCC FTCC’s

and Applied

From

LIFETIME,

page 7

Choi shared that Pastor Fletcher championed the idea of shoulder tapping which is more than just tapping someone on the shoulder and asking them to complete a task. In practice, it is getting to know a potential team member over the course of a few months learning about them and their history, likes and dislikes and what their talents are. Choi shared that he applies this method to his team as well.

“Finally, after that whole process of shoulder tapping, then you ask them, ‘Hey, would you like to do this?’ And in the military setting, that's exactly what we've done here all at Womack because very few people have dedicated time to do research. So I get to know them, we take them out, buy them lunch, have a meeting, get to know their interests, and we help them with case reports. And after that once they publish they kind of get that itch to do more and then finally gets to the point where we shoulder tap them and say ‘Hey, how would you like to be the principal investigator of a study? We’ll help you,” shared Choi.

Overall, Choi shared that his main goal as a director at WMAC and a mentor would be to make sure his mentee has what they need to grow and eventually move on.

“I'm picking people who allow me to teach them so that in four years, you're out of here with a significant promotion,” shared Choi. “I just want people to get to the next level. I want people to agree with me that yes, they'll allow me to engage in them.”

MENTEE: Ralph Huff

MENTORS: Mary Archie McNeil, Avery Connell and Murray Duggins Fayetteville based real estate expert Ralph Huff has been in the

game since 1978, working his way through multiple firms, businesses and more before eventually founding the Huff Family Office and becoming a primary owner in one of the most successful real estate branches in the country: Coldwell Banker Advantage. But before all of that, he recalls that one of the three main mentors throughout his life was someone from outside the world of business.

“Her name is Mary Archie McNeil, and she was my music teacher from fifth grade through high school, and she was [also] my wife Linda’s music teacher from seventh grade through high school. She was a southern lady and she taught us how to behave, stand straight and be on time and be a perfectionist in what we did,” recalled Huff. “ She really encouraged Linda to become a music educator, which she did.”

Mary’s reach expanded beyond their school years with her students rallying together to form a committee to plan the very first Choral Fest 2000, a fundraising event created by students she impacted throughout time as an educator in Hoke County. The event was a monumental success raising $75,000 which was put into an endowment fund in her honor. Those funds would later be used to pay a stipend for the next music teacher who took her place.

“During that process, we contacted every student that this lady had had over a 30 year career and we invited them to attend Choral Fest. We all met on Friday and we had sent the music and recordings out to everyone who agreed to participate. We came together on Friday and

practiced and we practiced again on Saturday. Then on Saturday night, we had a concert in Raeford, a sold out 500 seat auditorium complete with a sit down dinner,” recalled Huff.

Another key mentor for Huff would appear in his life during a turning point in his career. A Mr. Avery Connell of what was at the time known as Connell Realty and Insurance in Raeford would be the first to offer Huff a job in the real estate industry.

“I was working at my second dead end job at Raeford Savings and Loan when he walked in one day and said ‘Ralph, when you decide you want to make a good living selling real estate you come out from behind that desk and let me know,’” recalled Huff. “And he went on to say ‘You know.’ And so I went on immediately to get my license and go to work for him. He taught me many things, he was a real workaholic and he was a dreamer. And he was in a place where it was hard to execute your dreams,” shared Huff.

The third most prominent mentor for Huff came later in the form of a Mr. Murray Duggins who would go on to be a continuous yet unofficial partner with Huff after taking him on as a manager at United Realty

need a franchise. So you decide what franchise we need to go buy.’” recalled Huff.

It was this decision that would lead Huff to choose to join the Coldwell Banker franchise creating what was previously known as Coldwell Banker United Realty which Huff would later purchase from Duggins and turn into Coldwell Banker Advantage (CBA) the real estate giant known today.

“We merged with Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage so today, we have 60 offices, 2,000 agents and $7 billion in sales. We're the number one real estate franchise in all of Coldwell Banker nationally, and all of that started with that phone call from Murray,” said Huff.

As Huff continued his journey through the real estate industry and continued to expand his empire, he shared that Duggins remains a continuous presence in his life.

“Murray was already headed towards becoming my best friend before I bought the company. With my dad gone, he's always been the person that I took every major decision to, to talk with me since that time. And we’ve been to Europe together a couple of times, we travel together. Linda’s best friend is Murray's wife Nancy, they are like sisters.

in December of 1981. During that time, Huff would go on to make improvements to United Realty and would continue to learn.

“We would talk and he would answer my questions and give me guidance and he really took the time to help me through this time when I was in way over my head. Recalled Huff. “And I pretty well faked it with the agents and we started doing better and so in 1984 he said, ‘We

And both of us have done very, very well in two totally different aspects of real estate,” shared Huff.

“The important thing about a mentor is, he saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. And Mary Archie saw something in Linda that she didn't see in herself. As I sit here today, there's not one ounce of doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am today were it not for Murray Duggins.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RALPH HUFF

From left to right: Mary Archie McNeil pictured with Ralph Huff. Currently living in Greensboro, McNeil continues to be visited by former students and the Hoke County community.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RALPH HUFF

Ralph Huff (left) pictured with lifelong friend and mentor Murray Duggins (right). Outside of their businesses, the two remain strong friends, traveling together and spending time together with their families.

Endless opportunities

GFBJ EXAMINES MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS OFFERED BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THROUGHOUT OUR SEVEN COUNTY COVERAGE AREA

For many young professionals, their future begins with a foot in the door. Mentorships, apprenticeships and working one on one to learn an industry can be enough to spark an entire career. Institutions of higher learning throughout the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s coverage area are proud to hold the door open by offering the chance to receive a hands on education across a number of trades and industries through their mentor and apprenticeship programs.

Read on to learn more about the various programs being offered focusing on everything from trades to government contracting and so much more.

GAINS Mentoring Program

The GAINS (Growing Alliances in STEM) Mentoring Program seeks to provide community, academic support and professional development for students of color in STEM.

Student participants in the program are matched with a faculty mentor in their discipline who meets one-on-one with the student to support their professional development. The students are also placed in a group with three to four other students under the guidance of a peer mentor. Faculty members are expected to meet at least once a month with their mentees and peer mentors meet once every two weeks for the duration of the academic year. The programs also hold meetings focused on professional development topics and regularly promote departmental seminars and off campus workshops and conferences with students.

For further inquiries about the GAINS program, email the program director, Dr. Evan Reynolds at ereynolds@campbell. edu or find more information online at www.campbell.edu.

CamelLink

CamelLink is a new digital mentoring platform hosted by the Campbell University Alumni Association, creat-

ed to serve both students and alumni by creating meaningful connections focused around career exploration and readiness, mentoring, networking and much more. Students and alumni can easily connect with one another with similar interests, career paths and professional development opportunities.

Alumni are able to utilize the CamelLink to offer or receive career advice, mentor current Campbell students and expand their personal network.

Students can use CamelLink to seek opportunities to meet mentors for conversations, arrange for job shadowing opportunities, find resources to help with their career process and more.

Learn more about CamelLink online at www.alumni.campbell.edu

The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program

Developed to provide incentives for mentors and development opportunities for protégés, this program was created by Public Law 101-510 and provides incentives for DoD prime contractors to assist small, disadvantaged businesses, enabling them to successfully compete for government contracts and subcontracts. The program enhances small businesses' technical capabilities and business acumen.

Fayetteville State University (FSU) provides a wealth of information technology services and solutions, computer and communications systems knowledge, network software and testing expertise and various technical training to satisfy a protégé firm's technical requirements.

Developmental assistance in the form of business courses are also available through 25 courses including Introduction to Small Business Management, Group and Organization Dynamics, Cyber Security and more.

Small businesses can be connected to a counterpart and a program

manager to help customize their own individual programs with the help of government contracting experts on staff.

FSU is working with over 30 partners with the program including Booz Allen Hamilton, the Department of Defense, IONICS MSNC and more to help uplift small businesses.

Learn more by going online to www. uncfsu.edu/academics/research/for-industry/mentor-program

Lura S. Tally Center for Leadership Development

Methodist University believes preparing students for effective leadership is one of the most important responsibilities of higher education.

Through the Lura S. Tally Center for Leadership Development, Leadership Fellows and other campus programs, MU provides a rich array of opportunities where leadership can be learned and practiced.

There are four key ideas upon which the MU Journey’s Leadership initiative and center are based:

E All students can become leaders.

The Y.E.S Initiative

Originally standing for “You + Effort = Success,” the vision of the Y.E.S Initiative is to “provide students with opportunities to acquire academic skills, values, behaviors and form relationships that can have a profound effect on their lives.”

The goal of The Y.E.S Initiative is to engage and retain FTCC students by supporting their educational and professional objectives through academic enhancement, character and leadership development. The Y.E.S Initiative program works to achieve these goals by providing success coaching, mentoring, college planning, college tours, career planning, leadership workshops and tutoring and academic services.

This program is for those (both mentors and mentees) who are looking to make a valuable contribution toward their future.

The program requires a weekly “check & connect” with your mentor/ mentee, general program meetings, student leadership opportunities and other chances to grow in a career field or in higher education.

Mentoring benefits include enhancing academic success, revealing career paths and opportunities, improving workforce readiness and more.

Learn more about the Y.E.S Initiative online at: www.faytechcc.edu/campus-life/yes-initiative

E Leadership must be based on ethical values.

E Leadership is most effective when it is collaborative.

E Effective leadership is about accomplishing positive change with others.

Leading well requires a foundation of knowledge, ethical values, leadership skills and practical experiences. These steps are the basis for MU’s indepth leadership training and development. The clearest implementation of these steps can be found in the Leadership Fellows Program, which offers courses for credit, off-campus internships and leadership conferences, mentorship relationships, workshops, seminars, guest speakers and much more.

Through the Methodist University curriculum, the Tally Center offers academic courses that develop traits and skills that employers will be looking for in the 21st century. Students participate in innovative courses, student-led activities, campus and community service and off-campus internships. In addition to leadership theory and techniques, the Center emphasizes ethics, character and self-confidence.

To learn more about the Lura S. Tally Center for Leadership Development you can contact their new Director, Mark Regensburger, M.B.A., Ph.D. at mregensburger@ methodist.edu or find more information online at www.methodist.edu/academics/centers/leadership.

• Use a programmable “smart” thermostat to keep your A/C at the highest comfortable temperature during Peak Hours, and avoid allowing employees to adjust thermostats

• Allow the use of small personal fans or overhead fans to keep comfortable with the thermostat set higher.

• Educate 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 before 3:00 pm. or after 7:00 p.m.

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

Visit FayPWC.com for tips on ways to put Time of Use Rates to work for you! faypwc.com/time-of-use-ratesfor-non-residential-customers/ See Business Conservation Resources for more ways to save.

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

M&F Concrete Inc

4986 Denada Ct

Fayetteville

Agent: Phillip

Conlon

GCANC LLC

1221

Wilderness Drive

Spring Lake

Agent: Donna Lynn Greene

Riane Tyler LLC

6356 Pine St

Fayetteville

Agent: Riane Tyler

Hook Yarn & Knotty LLC

429 Person St. Suite 1-A

Fayetteville

Agent: BossLady

Corporate Services LLC

TRY Eagle Services LLC

3624 Oakland Ave

Fayetteville

Agent: Travis R

Yeagley

Ramirez Real Estate 360 LLC

908 Montclair Road

Fayetteville

Agent: Alfredo Ramirez

5 Star Service Company LLC

306 McNeill St.

Cleaning Troops

L.L.C.

5145 Meadow Brook Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Jameel

William Miller

Eureka Janitorial & Environmental Solutions LLC

3412 Hogarth Ct

Fayetteville

Hope Mills

Agent: Allon John

Richard Tedder

Golden T Ten LLC

536 Glen Canyon Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Jordan Bowley

All Things Crafty LLC

1401 Terrals Creek Rd

Eastover

Agent: Betty J Powell

The Elegant Experience LLC

1787 Hampton Oaks Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: Chelsey

Dianeze Burnette

James Patrick Burns LLC

2822 Whisper Oaks Court

Fayetteville

Agent: James Burns

Blissful Brite Teeth

Whitening L.L.C.

1839 Rockrose Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Tashia

McPhaul

Twin Towers Enterprise LLP

5075 Morganton Rd Ste 10c

Fayetteville

Agent: Daryan Jones

Agent: RIGOBERTO HERNANDEZ PONCE

SharpLuk LLC

114 London Court

Apt 1

Fayetteville

Agent: Ebenezer

Agbeko

Huff and Puff Vape Inc.

Agent: Rosemary

Madison Johnson

EC APPLIANCES LLC

5555 LINKWOOD DR

Fayetteville

Agent: EDDIE CUEVAS

Golden Design LLC

5816 Cotton Valley Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: KRYSTYNA

CHEAREAS JUSINO-VEGA

Hon Fortunes Publication llc

106 Oakridge Avenue # 58351

Fayetteville

Agent: Lawrence

"Dj Ringa" Bell

NT Services Inc.

7014 Rockridge

Ln

Fayetteville

Agent: Nathan Sayers

The AMG Collective LLC

100 Hay Street Suite 704

PMB1036

Fayetteville

Agent: Santisha Taylor

CATRACHO H PAINTING LLC

1429 KESWICK DR

Fayetteville

Fayetteville

Agent: Nicholas

Yurko MD

JFS Solutions Non Profit

307 N Main St

Spring Lake

Agent: Michael B Swinney

6067 Camden Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Ashley Tarula

Nova Recon LLC

307 Old Wilmington Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Darrel Cooper

Discount Daisy LLC

344 Desmond Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Ladiane Telatha Freeman

Allied Property Solutions LLC

100 Hay Street

Ste 503

Fayetteville

Agent: Abundant

Living Consulting Corporation LLC

Pamper N Bliss LLC

5075 Morganton Rd Suite 10C

#1167

Fayetteville

Agent: Kenyatta

Renee Lyons

Pandora Tattoo & Art Studio L.L.C.

5447 Yadkin Road

Suite 104

Fayetteville

Agent: Danielle Pryor

Yurkon LLC

3007 Cragburn Place

1830 Strickland Bridge Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Tauheed Wood

HELP HOUSE AMERICA INC.

12 Holland Gate Way

Fort Liberty

MCNAIR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC

100 HAY STREET SUITE 704

Fayetteville

Agent: PHILLIP ANDRE MCNAIR SR

Social Vibe LLC

429 Person St.

Suite 1-A

Fayetteville

Agent: BossLady

Corporate Services LLC

American Tattoo Society a Corporation

5439 Yadkin Road

Suite 112

Fayetteville

Agent: Ryan C Davis

Balance Life LLC

3134 Harmony Hall Way apt 308

Fayetteville

Agent: Ruth

Santos Navarro

Bethphage Services LLC

2549 Sourwood Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: Linda Davis

GOOD TO GO BARBEQUE AND CHICKEN LLC

6580 Stillwater Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Tony M Monroe

Woodway Management & Co.

KGHB JV LLC

127 N Main Street

Spring Lake

Agent: KINGDOM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Swains Logistics Company LLC

5330 Wallbrook Dr

Agent: Abdoul Aziz Ndiaye

Ws Associate LLC

3198 Petunia Ave

Fayetteville

Agent: Willie Lee

SInclair Jr

It's My Pleasure Customer Service Consultant LLC

766 cl tart cl apt

100

Fayetteville

Agent: Eleanore K Brown

InspireHer to Rise LLC

5075 Morganton Rd Suite 10C

Fayetteville

Agent: Dana Johnson

Maiden Title LLC 222 Maiden Lane

Fayetteville

Agent: Benjamin A Stout

INGRAM AND AF-

FILATED PRODUCTIONS CORPORATION

309 Longhorn Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: LeeAnder

Basil Ingram

Mason & Mason Logistics LLC

809 Medlo Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Gary Mason Jr

Fayetteville

Agent: Fatima Shonta Swain

CAROLINA TRIBE

6787-101 WoodBridge Way

Fayetteville

Agent: Omwha Waters

PUYIN TINTING

When it comes down to it, businesses solve problems. In doing so, they improve the lives of their customers, employees and communities. People don’t normally think about how businesses can address big problems like crime, homelessness and the opioid epidemic, but our problem solving skills can also be applied here. At the June 18 Power Breakfast, we will hear from people on the front lines of addressing these challenges and how businesses can help.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18