Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - April 21, 2023 Issue

bizfayetteville.com

Sovereign Aerospace

Town plans for building and businesses Page 11

Autryville Building up HealthKeeperz sells HealthKeeperz home health business under new ownership bizfayetteville.com WEB EXCLUSIVE Banking + Finance Getting to know more about banking expert Pat Nobles Page 3

WALKING IN FAITH

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: DARDEN JENKINS

owner Mark Rice opens up about his journey through life with Christ and the principles he uses to guide his business every day

aphne Sanitz, a Veteran entrepreneur, has made quite the name for herself through her work of “preserving what most throw away” here in Fayetteville. Sanitz has developed eight properties in downtown Fayetteville including the building at 108 Person St. which now hosts the popular restaurant CIRCA 1800.You can tell a lot about a leader by what their office looks like. For many, your office space is your place of business, your headquarters if you will. Walking into the office of Agency Principal and Owner of Callahan & Rice Insurance Group Inc. Mark Rice, you can tell he is a man who comes to work ready to work. While his office has some of the usual staples; photos of family and friends, golf balls proudly on display, even a standing desk which he gladly turns from to welcome in a guest, his office is not only a reflection of himself as a person, but the result of a 35

Sanitz spoke with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal about her latest project, the Kress Lofts on Maxwell St.

and business

March 10, 2023 - March 23, 2023 Vol. 2, No. 19

Hospitality The sport of Pickleball sees increase in popularity Page 19 LOFTY

GOALS By Stephanie Meador

Mark Rice of Callahan & Rice Insurance Group Inc. practices what he preaches by striving to live his beliefs every single day.

SPONSORS

OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE

ON IT BANKING

Ted Abernathy, a nationally respected economic strategist based in North Carolina, will talk about the Fayetteville region’s competitive strengths and weaknesses as well as how the changing landscape in global trade, technology and demographics will impact our community in 2023 and beyond.

The normally calm world of banking recently went on a roller coaster ride following Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. Emerging from the commotion, both banks and the businesses they serve are finding their way amid new June 8 Power Breakfast, we will hear from leaders of national and regional banks about what happened, how banks are reacting and what strategies businesses can employ to get the most value out of their banking relationships.

Ted Abernathy, a nationally respected economic strategist based in North Carolina, will talk about the Fayetteville region’s competitive strengths and weaknesses as well as how the changing landscape in global trade, technology and demographics will impact our community in 2023 and beyond.

Ted Abernathy is the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership, which helps communities and other clients analyze competitiveness, develop strategies and reimagine the future.

In the past nine years, Abernathy and his team have worked on 146 projects in more than 20 states and internationally. He currently serves as economic advisor to the Council of State Chambers and previously held a similar position to the Southern Governor’s Association.

In the past nine years, Abernathy and his team have worked on 146 projects in more than 20 states and internationally. He currently serves as economic advisor to the Council of State Chambers and previously held a similar position to the Southern Governor’s Association.

TUESDAY, FEB. 28

TUESDAY, FEB. 28

7:30 - 9:30 A.M.

7:30 - 9:30 A.M.

TUESDAY, JUNE 8

The Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Fayetteville, NC 28305

The Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery Cape Fear Botanical Garden Fayetteville, NC 28305

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GREATER FAYE TT E VILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL

TED ABERNATHY Managing Partner Economic Leadership

TED ABERNATHY Managing Partner Economic Leadership

Ted Abernathy is the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership, which helps communities and other clients analyze competitiveness, develop strategies and reimagine the future.

JAMES J. CONSAGRA, JR. President United Bankshares, Inc.

CHRIS ISLEY Regional President Truist Eastern Region NC

SAMUEL NORRIS Vice President and Sr. Relationship Manager Bank of America Merrill Lynch

ROB PATTERSON Regional President First Bank

ROBESON COUNTY

FEBRUARY 2023: 5.1% DOWN FROM FEBRUARY 2022: 6.2%

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

SAMPSON COUNTY

FEBRUARY 2023: 3.4%

DOWN FROM FEBRUARY 2022: 3.6%

MARCH 2023 MEDIAN H OME LIST PRICE (SINGLE-FAMILY BY COUNTY)

2022: 3.0%

Source: NC Department of Revenue

LABOR FORCE FEBRUARY 2023 BY INDUSTRY (FAYETTEVILLE MSA)

Source: Longleaf Pines MLS and Mid Carolina Regional MLS

HOMES SALES DAYS ON THE MARKET (SINGLE-FAMILY, FAYETTEVILLE MSA)

Source: NC Department of Commerce

Cumberland Hoke Harnett Sampson Robeson Bladen Moore

ISSUE’S ECONOMIC INDICATORS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY

4424 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303 910-240-9697

bizfayetteville.com

PUBLISHER

Marty Cayton martyc@bizfayetteville.com

EDITOR

Faith Hatton faithh@bizfayetteville.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Stephanie Meador stephaniem@bizfayetteville.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kate Griffin

Diana Hansen

Kathie Harris

Suet Lee-Growney

Jenna Shackelford

Eddie Velazquez

CONTRIBUTING WRITER MARKETING CONTENT

Stacie Borrello

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

Samantha Lowe samanthal@bizfayetteville.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Marshall Waren marketing@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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© Copyright 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

FROM THE PUBLISHER: This issue is about "Faith in Business" and I thought it would be fitting to allow Dr. Bill Korver, President of Carolina College of Biblical Studies, to share his thoughts on faith.

God bless you and yours.

An interesting word called faith

It has been my privilege to serve at Carolina College of Biblical Studies (CCBS) for the past 19 years. This year CCBS is celebrating 50 years of ministry as we recall God’s faithfulness over the past half-century. Long before I arrived at CCBS, past leaders had led CCBS well and modeled lives of faith.

Faith is an interesting word. Like all words in the English language, we use it in a variety of ways. In a sports setting we might say, “I have faith my team will win the game.” In that sense, faith is merely wishful thinking or an expressed hope that may have little connection to reality. Biblically the term faith means “to believe; to be convinced something is true,” more specifically, to believe a specific promise of God.

Faith is always rooted in an object. One might be sincere in their faith but have an untrustworthy object of their faith. Who hasn’t trusted a dishonest person, a rickety old chair, or an unreliable car? In those cases, the

results were very undesirable. One of God’s central character traits is that He is faithful. He ALWAYS keeps His promises. Have you trusted His promise to give everlasting life to all who believe Jesus’ promise (John 11:25, 26)?

As you run your business or perform your work, it is commendable to seek to discover God’s promises. My experience is that I don’t tend to have faith in people I don’t know. The best way to get to know God’s promises and strengthen your faith is to regularly read the only book He ever wrote, the Bible.

It is human nature to trust in our abilities to make a project succeed, a strategic plan to be achieved, or a budget be in the black. Faith does not preclude diligent work yet it does include a firm reliance on God’s promises that pertain to the situation you are facing.

In recent months, after a long period of praying and planning, CCBS’s Board of Directors was determined to purchase property adjacent to our current campus. The purchase price was equal to more than one-third of our annual budget. We believed that God would provide as we trusted Him. In the past 90 days, more than 85 percent of the purchase price has been given to CCBS in some fantastic ways, showing God’s faithfulness once again.

If you haven’t already done so, trust God’s promise to give life everlasting and then begin trusting Him for the other promises He made too. You’ll never find Him to be unfaithful and you’ll discover joy and peace that was previously unknown.

MARTY V. CAYTON is the publisher of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. 910-240-9697, Ext 101 • martyc@bizfayetteville.com

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAROLINA COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES

The Carolina College of Biblical Studies is celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2023, with a series of events. Find out more at www.ccbs.edu.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAROLINA COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES Dr. Bill Korver, President, Carolina College of Biblical Studies has served in his position for 19 years.

Putting patients first

ADVANCED PHYSICAL THERAPY SOLUTIONS CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF BUSINESS IN THEIR SECOND LOCATION

Advanced Physical Therapy Solutions is a private practice outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic. After 18 years of operating in Fayetteville, the company opened a second location in Hope Mills last May.

Laura Schindler founded APTS after working in the industry for a while and recognizing some changes she wanted to see. “[I] worked at a hospital for a period of time, worked for a physician owned practice for a period of time, and just kind of got a little bit antsy as I was turning 40 thinking with all of the things that I had seen and done that I thought I could maybe do them a little bit differently,” remarked Schindler.

The business grew slowly. Schindler shared that by the end of the first year she’d hired a physical therapist, and by the end of the second year they were up to four total. This growth continued until eventually it became time to expand.

“That [second] location also came about as we looked at new people coming into the field and wanting growth opportunities. And when you’re a small business, sometimes it feels like there can be a ceiling on growth, so opening a second clinic was a way for us to afford very capable and talented physical therapists the opportunity to be in charge out there. It also allowed us to bring physical therapy services closer to a demographic of people that are driving all the way across town and crossing the mayhem of Raeford Road to get to us, and so it was just kind of bringing services closer to people who are already coming to us and then being able to kind of expand our footprint out there,” shared Schindler.

One of the things that sets APTS apart from other traditional outpatient orthopedics is their specialty programs. These include a breast oncology specialty program, lymphedema management program, vestibular rehab, TMJ program, COVID recovery program and a specialty program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Another thing that sets APTS apart from other services is their one-onone care.

“When you’re being treated as a patient, we are not bouncing between

multiple patients at one time. You’re with your clinician for the entire 40 minutes. [This] allows you to get the best customized care. That is kind of our thing is people connect to people, they don’t connect to products” shared Advanced Physical Therapy Solutions’ Practice Liaison Hanna Davis. “We want to be your physical therapist for life. So that doesn’t just mean for the longevity of your life, but all the things that come into your life.”

Davis offered a few examples of how stressors and events in life that aren’t inherently related to health can have a significant impact on a person’s wellness.

“So for example, it’s very important for us to know that if you’re a military spouse and your husband or your wife has just left on their first deployment, and you have two children at home and one is a newborn, that’s going to affect your low back pain and how those psycho and social factors play into the healthcare continuum. So we want to know those things…And

we think that our model allows us that opportunity to connect with our patients,” said Davis.

The new location is a satellite clinic that currently houses three physical therapists and one physical therapist assistant (PTA), while the main office has 12 physical therapists and three PTAs. Davis shared that new location was so busy upon opening they never

had the opportunity to celebrate. Now the staff are planning a long overdue celebration with a grand opening/one year anniversary event on May 12.

The one year anniversary/grand opening celebration will include catering and an opportunity to meet the staff of the clinic and tour the facility. Davis shared that they’re also working to arrange a ribbon cutting with the area Chamber of Commerce where people will be welcome to network and catch up with fellow community members.

Davis also shared that they are trying to utilize other small business vendors for the event by working with other businesses in the area to assist with catering, flowers and decor.

“We’ve come really far in this first year, but we still have a lot of good things ahead of us, and so I’m excited to connect with the community a little bit more during this open house that we’re having. We’ve invited medical providers and physicians that are in the area that refer us patients as well as coaches at the Jack Britt High School and former patients…this kind of area of Hope Mills is very community based, lots of small little subdivisions and things like that, so I’m excited to connect with the community and to reconnect with some of our old patients and then also kind of show some people in the community who haven’t been here before, kind of show them what we have to offer and talk to them about how we could help them,” remarked Michelle Goto, clinic director at the Traemoor location.

Going into this new clinic’s second year of operation, Goto shared that one of her main goals is to become more involved in the community and to increase outreach efforts in the area.

Laura Schindler took on a business partner in the beginning of 2020 as she prepared to take a few steps back from the business. Her partner, Nisha Wetzel, had been a physical therapist working for the company for about five years and had gradually taken on more leadership responsibilities, Schindler said. Schindler shared that she and Wetzel have very complementary skills and make a good business team. The company continues to grow under their joint leadership.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ADVANCED PHYSICAL THERAPY SOLUTIONS

Above: One thing that sets APTS apart from other services is their one-on-one care.

By Faith Hatton

From FAITH, page 1

year long career in insurance that he had never even thought about in his youth.

“When I was in high school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a high school music teacher, and so I studied for that. And I got to have a degree, a BS degree in Music Education. And so I taught from 1981 to 1987 at Pine Forest, on the north side of town. But I realized that I needed to make a change,” recalled Rice.

An example of when God calls you to do something; you listen, Rice began the journey that would take him from an independent insurance agent to a business owner in just a little over a decade in the industry.

“My father in law had been in the insurance industry for a long time and had retired and so he was the one that kind of encouraged me to make that shift. And that was a long time ago, that was 1987 that I started in this industry. And [I’ve] just been plowing away ever since,” shared Rice. “I started out by myself and then just made a series of changes. I came to be connected with this agency in 1991, and then officially became Partner in 95 and then I bought the company in 98.”

But purchasing the company came with more than a promotion. Callahan & Rice Insurance Group Inc. has been serving the Fayetteville Community since 1966, bringing with it not just a reputation to uphold but also a business to grow and improve.

According to Rice the independent insurance agency is broken into three segments: commercial insurance, the niche “Defense Base Act” coverage, (a type of insurance specifically for those who do work for the U.S. government and for service members who travel outside of the country) and the more traditional types of insurance.

“We have clients in over 50 countries now, and it's just really interesting to watch that whole thing progress. Probably 60 percent of what we do is helping commercial clients, the other 40 percent is helping our personal clients. We will help them with home and auto and boats and beach houses and those things that relate to them personally and then we also help all of those clients with employee benefits and individual life insurance and health insurance and disability and long term care and those types of coverages too so, we’re pretty broad based,” said Rice. “We represent a lot of different companies and we write a lot of different types of insurance for our clients.”

According to the company’s website, the Callahan & Rice Insurance Group Inc. now employs eleven employees and has several strategic alliances in place to serve three generations of clients. The agency represents numerous insurance agencies and supports clients ranging from individuals to local and regional businesses. But Rice said getting to where they are now wasn’t always easy, and it was his faith that helped him through those dark moments.

“When I bought the company, it was in a very, very bad condition. The person who had previously been in my role had really almost destroyed the company financially. So when I bought it, I had to sort of resurrect it, and that was hard, for a lot of reasons,” shared Rice. “It took a lot longer to bring the company back up to speed than I thought it would. There were a lot of challenges and a lot of financial challenges because we owed a lot of people a lot of money. And when you’re trying to fix all of that and still pay your employees and

grow the business, it was really challenging. So I really had to depend on God. I think He was trying to teach me that ‘You’re not going to do this on your own. You're going to do this with my help.’ And so I had to depend on Him to get to that point. And it’s clear when you look back now over, gosh, 24 years. When you look back over that time period, then you can see the steps that He took and the things that He put in place to make all of that happen to where we are right now.”

Rice said that operating as a business of faith means starting with the right mindset.

“I think that you have to start from the from the standpoint that everything here, everything that I have or you have doesn’t belong to us it belongs to God and what our role is and what my role is, is to steward what He’s given us to use it to honor Him and to grow it in a way that honors Him,” said Rice.

He added that it also means letting your faith affect every aspect of your

business, including the day to day interactions and operations.

“Having a faith based business impacts how you treat your employees, it impacts how you treat your clients, it impacts how you treat vendors. We have a lot of vendors that we deal with, whether it’s [a] company’s representatives or the people that we buy from. I think it just impacts the culture and how we respond and react to other people,” said Rice. “We keep a running prayer list, it’s on the board in the back break room and we talk about that from time to time when certain things happen. We say ‘How can we help this person? They're going through a tough time,’ or occasionally when one of our staff is working with a client, they'll find out that something’s going on big in their life and they’ll ask him to pray for them and they’ll do that with the client.”

Rice, who has been an active Christian since the age of 13, said that the most important thing you can do is to live based on the faith and principles you truly believe in.

“You cannot live a bifurcated life. So what that means is, if you have a faith and if it’s really a part of who you are, it really needs to be manifested and it needs to come out in everything that you do. You can't have your business life over here and your personal life over here. In my mind, if your faith is really a true faith, then it has to be incorporated in everything you do. Whether it's what you do here at work, whether it’s how you deal with people at home, whether it’s how you deal with people at a restaurant, I mean it just has to be a part of the fabric of your life,” said Rice.

Today Rice attends Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, which he’s been a member of for nearly 20 years. Despite leaving his musical background behind, he currently serves as the director of the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Men’s Ensemble. He said his goal is to continue to serve his clients and to continue to make a positive impact on the community.

“This is a business where you can help people in a lot of different ways. Sometimes, I say this to people, they say ‘What do you do for a living?’ I say I’m a professional problem solver,” said Rice. “We all have an expiration date, but we don't know what that is, and so we’ve got to make sure that whatever time we have, we have to use it and make it fruitful. And that's kind of really what my goal has been in this business.”

Having a faith based business impacts how you treat your employees, it impacts how you treat your clients, it impacts how you treat vendors.

— Mark Rice Agency Principal and Owner, Callahan & Rice Insurance Group Inc.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CALLAHAN & RICE INSURANCE GROUP INC.

Callahan & Rice Insurance Group Inc. currently has eleven staff members, who work to serve three generations of clients in the Fayetteville and surrounding areas.

ACHIEVERS

Cumberland County Financial Services staff awarded for Excellence in Financial Reporting

County Commissioners recognized Cumberland County Financial Services staff for receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence

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.”

Following retirement in 2012, Jones returned to provide guidance and direction as LREMC’s interim Chief Executive Officer from January 2022 to January 2023.

Fayetteville named AllAmerica City Award finalist

The City of Fayetteville is a finalist for the All-America City Award, an honor that is bestowed annually by the National Civic League. Fayetteville is one of 20 finalists in the competition, which recognizes civic activists and community problem-solvers.

The City’s application displayed civic engagement and collaboration, a community-wide effort for inclusiveness and creative leveraging of resources to complete projects that have dramatic impact in the community.

in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the County’s annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.

The report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

FSU names Army General (Ret.) Michael X. Garrett as Military Executive-inResidence

Fayetteville State University has named four-star GENERAL (RET.)

MICHAEL X. GARRETT as Military Executive-in-Residence in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, home to the Army and Air Force ROTC programs as well as the departments dedicated to military education.

Garrett’s appointment was announced at FSU’s inaugural Military Appreciation Luncheon. In his new role, Garrett will serve as a guest speaker in selected classes, such as intelligence studies, military history

and international politics; assist in leading a community-wide speaker series on selected topics of interest; lead faculty workshops on how to better serve and support military-affiliated students; and serve as advisor to Marcus S. Cox, M.B.A., Ph.D., dean of CHSS, regarding programming in the Gillis-Jones Institute for Ethics and Leadership.

“I am privileged to begin this new chapter of service as we gather with our military members and their families to thank them for all they do and reflect on what their commitment and sacrifice mean to all of us,” Garrett said in a press release. “I am excited to join FSU’s efforts to find new ways to further strengthen this incredible commitment to our community and look forward to working with my colleagues in CHSS and across campus to prepare the next generation of leaders.”

The appointment is part of FSU's pledge to better serve the needs of the military-connected community, including the university’s commitment to provide free tuition to all military-connected students (active duty, veteran, military spouses and dependents) that began in Fall 2022.

Lumbee River EMC’s Randall Jones recognized with a Resolution of Appreciation

The NC Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors

presented RANDALL JONES with a Resolution of Appreciation at their board meeting on February 15, 2023, in Raleigh, NC. Jones was recognized for his years of service to the electric cooperative program in North Carolina and was wished the best of health and happiness in his retirement.

Jones served for four decades, serving the electric cooperative network through progressive responsibilities. In February 1981, he was hired as the cooperative’s Office Manager. He later assumed the positions of Assistant to the General Manager, Manager of Human Resources, Director of Industrial, Commercial, and Community Development, and Vice President of Key Accounts for Lumbee River EMC. Jones also dedicated his talents to serving as Administrator of Lumbee River Rural Telecommunications Corporation, a subsidiary of LREMC.

During Jones’ tenure as CEO from 2009 to 2012, cooperative membership grew by six percent. Under Jones’ leadership, LREMC made technical improvements to its system, including upgrades to the electric cooperative’s distribution lines, substations, and office technology. These have been instrumental in improving electrical reliability and reducing outage time for LREMC members. Jones successfully led LREMC through restoration efforts following several severe storms, emphasizing employee safety.

“I was thrilled to hear our application made it through the process and we were a finalist. Especially given this year's focus on youth who [are] such a critical part of our community,” said City Manager Douglas J. Hewett in a press release.

Specifically highlighted was the commitment to engaging youth through the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council. The FCYC community outreach efforts included in the application detailed the council’s passion for and desire to serve their community in a meaningful way, which is a part of the council’s mission. Additionally, the application included Market House Repurposing efforts and Education, Mentorship and Empowerment Programs.

The 2023 awards event will be June 9-11 in Denver where 10 winners will be announced. During the three-day competition, a delegation from each community will present its challenges and solutions to a jury of national experts from across the United States.

Fayetteville is a three-time All-America City Award winner, earning the honor in 1984-1985, 2001 and most recently 2011.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Finance Department (bottom row) Pictured from left to right: Johnny Scott, Mary Felts, Dayna Santana, Ivonne Mendez, Finance Director Vicki Evans, Jessica Hullender, Liz Cherry, Todd Hathaway and County Manager Clarence Grier. Commissioners top row: (Pictured from left to right) Marshall Faircloth, Jeannette Council, Chairwoman Toni Stewart, Vice Chairman Glenn Adams, Michael Boose and Jimmy Keefe.

Pictured Left to Right: General Michael X. Garrett, USA (Retired) and Fayetteville State University Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.

PHOTO TAKEN FROM LUMBEE RIVER EMC'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

The NC Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors presented Randall Jones (second from left) with a Resolution of Appreciation for his years of service.

Believers in business

CHRISTIAN BASED COMPANY SOVEREIGN AEROSPACE GIVES GLORY TO GOD FOR RAPID EXPANSION AND GROWTH IN THE PAST YEAR

All companies begin with an idea, but Christian company Sovereign Aerospace began when CEO Phillip “Slim” Thompson retired from 27 years in the U.S. Airforce and wanted to make a difference. Starting with helping the military community meet their flightbased needs, Slim and a group of other retired military pilots, an engineer, and a doctor bought their own Piper Cherokee 6 to use for Christian missions and humanitarian efforts.

Officially established as Sovereign Aerospace in 2021, the company has since grown into a thriving business in Moore County, covering multiple areas in the aviation industry to include a flight school, aviation repair and maintenance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit group that supports transitioning Veterans, and even expanding into Bladen County with their recent partnership with Elizabethtown and expanding operations to the Curtis L. Brown, Jr. Airport.

Members of the Sovereign Aerospace family, from the CEO to their administrative assistant, have had their own encounters and journeys with God and openly admit that the rapid expansion the company has seen over the past two years is due to the role that God has played in guiding their business.

“Religion, I don't really like that word. Religion is man trying to make their way to God. So, all of those are a recipe for being depressed and being a failure and working too hard and all these things and that's not what we believe in. We believe in Christianity and that is that God did all the work, ‘for God so loved the world.’ He sent Jesus, so we’re Jesus followers and that makes the difference. We're not having to earn and we're just trying to stay abiding. He said, ‘My yoke is easy, my burden is light.’ It's kind of like He is pulling a plow and He is the big strong Clydesdale horse for a bad analogy,” shared Thompson. “And our job is to just put that yoke on. We're not pulling anything; we're supposed to stay in position and that’s it. He’s doing the work, He's doing the directing, our job is to stay in position. And so really, that's what we're doing.”

“This whole thing with Elizabeth-

town to me, and I think to everybody, that is God at work because we did not solicit that. We didn't ask for any of that, we didn't do anything extra. But things keep coming and lining up in front of us and we just keep taking steps forward. And what's happened there has been amazing and it hasn't because of anything we've physically done other than pray and ask God for direction,” shared Bookkeeper Carrie Hadaway. “We have prepared here, yeah, but being in that physical place, it's not like we went around and said ‘okay, I think we're going to try to go to Elizabethtown and we're going to try to do this and XYZ,’ it didn't happen like that.”

Over the past year, Sovereign Aerospace has been able to grow through subsidiaries including the UAS Drone program, the Sandhills Fliers pilot program, and their Pinehurst Aviation Services program, which helps train mechanics to restore, repair and even build airplanes and engines resulting in 150 airplanes being worked

on by apprentices in the past year. For the staff they say it’s the people they encounter that makes their vision clearer.

“So, you got to think about the model that we all ascribe to right as Jesus Christ, right. He for three years had a ministry and at the end of that ministry, left this earth by going to the cross and dying on the cross for our sins. But if you go back and trace back for those three years, where did he go to find his disciples? Did he go to the synagogue? Did he go to the local temple? Or the church? No he went to the marketplace. He went to businesses and entrepreneurs and those types of things. So, this is set up in the same model,” said Chief Financial Officer Ken Hadaway. “As we have our conversations, talk about our testimony, and it could be anybody. It could be children from this weekend when we did the free flying events for all the youth. It could be something that's coming in the future with the barbecue festival with Keith Davies and St. Louis Community College this weekend. We don't know. All we have to do is remain submissive, but also discerning to listen to where God is calling us.”

As the company continues to move forward new developments are underway including Orion Aviation,

which will focus on Department of Defense and government contracting, for marine mammal research and fighting wildfires, an FAA approved flight school, Pinehurst Aces still in process and Sandhills Avionics, which will feature Garmin-approved avionics installing and upgrades hoped to be coming in 2024.

The staff say that they will continue to rely on God to move forward with bigger and better projects in the coming weeks, months and years.

“What we've done here and out here in Pinehurst, people came to us based on somebody's recommendation,” shared Director of Maintenance Paul Mullen. “We’re supposed to be that bright light for Christ. And to me that's what it was, you know we're held accountable. And our actions are testament to people. They see us and say ‘Wow, these guys are doing all right and they’re out to help everybody.’ You’ve got to set the example you know, and we did that.”

“It gives us a unity that other businesses may not have. All of these guys deserve to be making a whole lot more money than we can afford to pay them, but because we're a startup and we're trying to help people, we're equally focused on being the hands and feet of Jesus and being able to help people,” said Thompson.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GFBJ

Left: The Sovereign Aerospace family (from left to right) Pilot in Training Sean Pridemore, Director of Maintenance Paul Mullen, Sandhills Fliers Flight School Director Laura White, Bookkeeper Carrie Hadaway, Chief Financial Officer James “Ken” Hadaway, Administrative Assistant Becky Prather and CEO Phillip “Slim” Thompson. All are dedicated to the company’s mission of serving God and loving people. Right: The Pinehurst Aviation Services Apprenticeship program allows hands on learning in airplane repair, maintenance and restoration.

Letting prayer lead

HOW MADELINE AND CHRIS BODOH BECAME THE SUCCESSFUL OWNERS OF AN AX THROWING BUSINESS

Madeline and Chris Bodoh are the owners of Axes & Armor, a local joint for people to partake in ax throwing, both competitively and recreationally, as well as other fun activities such as billiards, football, bowling and a rage room/splatter room. The space also has a bar with drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, as well as foods such as chips, pretzels, etc.

The Bodohs acquired the first location of Axes & Armor on Raeford Road in 2018 and opened in January of 2019. They were inspired to start this business after visiting an ax throwing place while in New York one summer.

“I think it’s something that we prayed about, and said, ‘does it make sense to do?’ Does it feel right? And our prayer sort of said, ‘Yep, this is what you need to be doing,’” shared Madeline.

Then two years later, Madeline and Chris felt like it was the right time to expand.

“The second location came in 2021…after COVID, we prayed about that and said, ‘Things seem to be going well, does it make sense for us to open another facility?’ And we prayed about that, and sure enough, it was the right thing to do. The building kind of just fell in our lap and the deal was, I mean, it was impeccable. So we were like, ‘Okay, this feels comfortable. We should just do it,’” shared Madeline.

Madeline expressed how she’d been encouraged by her mother to pray every night as a child, and the power of prayer has continued to help guide her throughout her whole life. Additionally, her mother helped shape her entrepreneurial spirit. Her mother owned a gym, and seeing her mother’s dedication to owning and operating her own business inspired Madeline.

“I remember she owned a gym, at least two or three locations, for about eight years. And the entrepreneurial side of me was like, wow, if she can do that…one day I’ll be able to own my own business too,” shared Madeline.

Madeline and Chris attend a nondenominational church with their children. The two are proud of their faith, but understand that not everyone comes from the same background. However, they do not make

their faith smaller when working as it is a part of what guides them through every aspect of their life.

“We don’t push our faith on anyone that works for us, but, the way we respond might be dif ferent for someone who didn’t necessarily believe in a higher being,” commented Madeline.

When they were preparing to open their first location, Madeline shared that she and her husband found themselves researching “What do people get out of throwing axes anyway?”

“It’s something pretty exhilarating about it that allows you to focus on the craft that you’re actually engaging in. So whether it’s standing a certain way or it’s holding a certain weight of ax, there’s something that allows you to balance to some degree,” remarked Madeline.

Between the two locations, they employ about 12 people. Madeline and Chris take pleasure in being able to provide jobs for the community. Madeline explained that it was a challenge at first to entrust someone else with the business, but once again, she relied on her faith to help her overcome the challenge.

“We also found the value, and it was really hard, but I think with prayer [we found] an understanding that you can trust people,” stated

Madeline.

By empowering their manager or assistant manager to operate things, Madeline shared that she and Chris are more available to tend to administrative duties. This also allows them to have more time to spend with their kids as they know their business is in good hands.

The sport of ax throwing has a wide appeal, with children as young as eight beginning to take a swing at it. Axes & Armor even host camps in the summer where kids can learn techniques for ax throwing and practice in a safe environment.

When asked if she anticipates expanding to more locations in the future, Madeline shared that she does think there’s a good chance they’ll open another facility down the road, but when that may happen is still undetermined.

“My husband and I, we’re pretty ambitious people whenever it comes to owning the business. So we want to see the locations that we have do well, but I think at some point we would like to, if there’s a need,” said Madeline.

For the meantime, Madeline expressed she’s enjoying what they have built with their business so far and she and her husband are dedicated to seeing their current locations prosper.

In addition to their two physical locations, Axes & Armor also offers a mobile ax throwing experience. Madeline shared that it provides another way for community members to enjoy the sport without having to come to one of the designated locations. The mobile ax throwing unit will be present at the Dogwood Festival coming up at the end of the April for guests to partake in.

Madeline was happy to share with Greater Fayetteville Business Journal one of her favorite verses to share as she and her husband serve as small business owners which is 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

To read more about hours of operation, pricing and special events go to axesandarmor.com.

It’s something pretty exhilarating about it that allows you to focus on the craft that you’re actually engaging in....”

— Madeline Bodoh

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AXES & ARMOR HATCHET HOUSE

Axes & Armor opened their second location in Spring Lake in 2021.

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 34% lower rates. During the summer schedule – from April 1 through October 31 – Peak Hours are weekdays from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Some things you can do to shift your usage and conserve power during Peak Hours:

• 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.

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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.

HARNETT COUNTY

Global Design Connection LLC

1014 Piney Grove

Rawls Rd

Fuquay Varina

Agent: Gwendolyn

Burton Landrum

ORRM LLC

489 Clayton RD

Angier

Agent: Oscar Obed

Martinez Zelaya

NiRoyalty LLC

142 Castle Wood

Sanford

Agent: Demetreous

Antonio Washington Sr

JSK Enterprises LLC

8111 Timothy Road Dunn

Agent: Leonard Jay

Kulwicki

Olivia Tobacco Inc

3819 Hwy 87 S

Sanford

Agent: Fares

Mosleh Saleh

Hair Pleasure Studio NC Inc

511 Highgrove Drive

Spring Lake

Agent: Tamera

Valencia McClure

The Graced Farm LLC

321 Stoney Creek

Dr Sanford

Agent: Nicole Lindsley Proctor

245 OAK RUN DR

Cameron

Agent: OSCAR DE LA SANCHA VIVERO

J.A.K Cleaning LLC

52 Garcia Lane Cameron Agent: Karen Yvette Gutierrez

Cardinal Continuity Consulting LLC

BIZ LEADS

XtraClean by Jessica LLC

381 Gallery Dr. Unit 103

Spring Lake

Agent: Jessica Loyd

AC3 POWER WASHING LLC

93 Lahinch Dr Fuquay Varina

Agent: HERSHELL WOODS

Agent: Terrence A Conley

Good Witch Cleaning of NC LLC

3537 Bud Hawkins Rd.

Dunn

Agent: Geoffrey Lawrence Stoddard

EZ Development LLC

Harmony Rental Properties LLC

25 Shelby St

Spring Lake

Agent: Keith Roehner

Are We There Yet? LLC

71 Copper Loop Sanford

Agent: Ryan M Paine

AJP Woodworking LLC

185 Roberts Rd

Sanford

Agent: Rebekah R Pavesio

J. Lee Designs LLC

1547 Neighbors Road

Dunn

Agent: Joshua Lee

48 Parkwood Circle Lillington

Agent: Ryan Dailey

Laymans Luxuries LLC

21 Hart Circle Cameron

Agent: Samantha Renae Layman

Cane & Crown LLC

869 Dry Creek Rd Lillington

EMM-PACT LLC.

541 SPRING FLOWERS DR

Cameron Agent: ERICA CLARK

Around The Way

Counseling & Consulting PLLC

3096 S. Horner Blvd #378

Sanford

Agent: La'Tanya

Le'Cole Ramos

XTREME ROYALTY INC.

7665 NC 27

Lillington Agent: TERRELL J MCDOUGALD

Horatio Handyman Services LLC

20 Susie Circle

Cameron

Agent: Horatio Bird

Guni HVAC LLC

96 Agnes Ln Dunn

Agent: Guni M

Gomez

Cleaning in a Blaze LLC

420 ANNA ST

LILLINGTON

Agent: Jontaya C

Turner

Camden & Co. Notaries LLC

70 Bison Lane

Lillington

Agent: Devin Taelor Kelly

LANDSCAPING OF THE PINES LLC

65 Falling Water Road

Spring Lake

Agent: Christopher T Blais

Taylors Landscapes LLC

231 Hunters Way Angier

Agent: William Brandon Taylor

For the People Transport LLC

109 Sawyer Circle Apt B

Dunn

Agent: Kendrick Harris

JGBeyerESCM

PLLC

8436 NC Hwy 27 E

Coats

Agent: James George Beyer

C & C Siteworx LLC

376 Bay Street

Fuquay-Varina

Agent: Tonia Carroll

The Aspire Sport Marketing Group LLC

Campbell University

450 Leslie Campbell Ave

Lillington

Agent: aaron freeman

Four Jays Logistics LLC

3121 Huntley St

Spring Lake

Agent: Jesse

Underwood

Spring Hill United Methodist Church Inc.

1960 Spring Hill Church Road

Lillington

Agent: Frank Stewart

Stoll Family Financial LLC

60 Union Circle Lillington

Agent: Kenneth Daniel Stoll II

Hot Shots Coffee & More LLC

22 Boots Dr

Angier

Agent: Joel Emerson Hughes

Forensic Solutions Group LLC

171 Blair Drive

Angier

Agent: Michael East

Heel Yeah Advisors LLC

1600 Brunswick Drive

Dunn

Agent: Thomas Bradley Barbee

Mont & Mom's Tasty Treats LLC

3198 McLean Chapel Church Rd

Bunnlevel

Agent: Rosa Lee

Mcdougald

Taronco Dispatching LLC

46 Birch Ave Spring Lake

1601 E. McNeill Street

Lillington

Agent: Katie S Smith

Boomerang Logistics LLC

500 marlowe drive Dunn

Agent: Julius Patrick Lee

King Craftsman Fencing LLC

1223 Oakridge Dunan Rd

Fuquay Varina

Agent: Wesley Stichweh

Youth Entertainment Learning Lounge LLC

128 Woods Edge Lane

Erwin

Agent: Jaqavius Cameron

JRHolmes Enterprise LLC

104 E H St

Erwin

Agent: Jadell R Holmes

Kite Kreations LLC

300 S.10th Street

Lillington

Agent: Rhonda F Kite

King Product Sales LLC

593 Mill Bend Dr.

Fuquay Varina

Agent: Matthew Ryan King

North Carolina Custom Shirts Plus LLC

3524 NC 27 E

Coats

Agent: Chad Lee Wiggins

DMV Transport LLC

109 Lantana Circle

Sanford

Agent: Danae Myiesha Vandergriff

Black River Woods LLC.

202 Eldridge Dr. Dunn

Agent: Lynda Creed

Unconventional Candy LLC

6631 Old US 421

Lillington

Agent: Cambria C Sinkez

Expert Metal Roofing LLC

86 CRESTVIEW DR

Angier

Agent: MARIA ELENA DE LA BARRERA PACHECO

GHI-GENESSEE

HVAC HAULING INVESTMENTS LLC

102 Brinkley Road

Dunn

Agent: Alicia M Hart

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made by Alissa LLC 471 Lane Rd Dunn

Agent: Alissa Tart Owen

Luther Family

L.L.C.

95 Meadowrun Drive

Cameron

Agent: Heidi Anne Luther

ABBAS VEGAN VEG LLC

119 LARRY DR

Angier

Agent: MAKEDAH

HANNAH-MOSES BOYCE

GraceIsEnuf Incorporated

109 Britton Loop

Sanford

Agent: Tammy C. Bellamy

Glitz-N-Glam Jewelers LLC

100 Botanical Ct Bunnlevel

Agent: Tamara L Francois

Sasseknot Creations LLC

981 Brinkley Road Dunn

Agent: Dawn Stefan Neighbors

Broadcast Copy Inc

77 Heatherwood Dr Lillington

Agent: Kalim Hasan

Union Church on Nursery Road

1075 Kramer Road

Lillington Agent: Crystal Seboe

I FIX THINGS LLC.

Agent: Arianna Gonzalez

HOKE COUNTY

S & K Affordable Lawn Service LLC

6655 Phillippi Church Road

Raeford

Agent: Cleveland T Smith

Raeford Guns LLC

5609 Fayetteville

Raeford

Agent: Robert E Setzer

CUltr2Day LLC120

Kodiak Circle

Raeford

Agent: Terry Wright Outward Solutions

PLLC

108 Thornbird Dr. Raeford

Agent: Jason Timothy Martin

Ranger Home Improvements LLC

207 Wedgefield Dr. Raeford

Agent: Ruben Dario

Paredes

Alexis Hightower Photography LLC

239 Stafford Ave.

Raeford

Agent: Alexandra

Kristine Hightower

JTP Tech Services LLC

2611 Oglesby Dr

Raeford

Agent: Jose Angel Toloza Perez

C12- Christian networking expanded

THE C12 EXPERIENCE HAS A SINGULAR FOCUS TO COMPEL AND EQUIP CHRISTIAN BUSINESS LEADERS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE

Local business and faith leaders in the Fayetteville area are hoping to help the business community bridge the gap between their business and spiritual lives with the C12 experience.

For the last six years, Mike Bennett, has co-chaired The North Carolina Triangle’s C12 group chapter. All throughout, Bennett says he has helped empower and guide local business owners to learn new skills, as well as discover best practices for work-life balance.

The C12 group was founded in 1992 by Buck Jacobs in Tampa, Florida. It is the self-dubbed “nation’s largest network of Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives,” serving businesses with customer bases between 10 and more than 10,000, according to the organization’s website.

Bennett himself is a veteran businessman in the telecommunications industry who started in the infancy of wireless development and continued to the full development of the industry. He has been involved in various startup businesses and was responsible for sales, marketing, site building and customer service in different organizations.

It was after that Bennett found his calling. He spent eight years serving as a missionary in Rome and New Delhi.

“I came back to the U.S. and was looking for an organization that can help me kind of take my experience in the corporate world and my experience in the faith world and put those together,” Bennett said.

The C12 groups follow five core tenets, titled the five-point alignment matrix: continually evaluating and aligning growth strategies, financial stewardship, cultural development, and operations within a framework of business as a ministry.

“We help business owners in two ways, basically. One of them is by helping them improve their business skills and knowledge through some formalized business training,” Bennett said. “Then we help them eliminate the space between their faith and the business that they're running. Our goal is to help them see their business as an opportunity to minister to their customers, their employees, their vendors, and their competitors.”

Some of the programs offered through the group include helping businesses with recruiting and training executive talent, along with helping improve business owners’ financial skills.

“Also helping them understand how to put together cash flow projections, making sure they understand their financial statements and the impact of their financials on their business in all areas,” Bennett said. “We tell people that we offer a masters degree in business administration-level training for them in a context of a business forum setting.”

Bennett said the organization has 12 years worth of business curriculum that changes every month.

“We rotate through that and we cover literally anything that would affect your business,” he said.

Through C12’s events, entrepreneurs can also discover what work-life balance looks like.

“One of the things that we try to help our members understand is that when you’re dealing with entrepreneurs, especially in a small-to-medium-sized business, burnout is a real possibility for them,” said Bennett. “We try to help them understand work-life balance, that their business is there for them to care for their employees, but also their family.”

Bennett said the group provides formal training on how to find rest.

“What does that look like to an entrepreneur who has been used to working 70 or 80 hours a week? We encourage them by helping them get on the business side of understanding that you’ve got to build a team that you can delegate to. You have to move past running the business yourself to allowing others to help you run the business.We really focus a lot on that,” shared Bennett.

“Being able to delegate and rely on your employees as a business owner also comes with an understanding of how to treat and manage your team,” Bennett said.

“We help business owners in a way that helps their employees flourish. Working with an employee is not transactional. Relationships are much more than that, they’re not just there to provide you a service. They’re there for you to care for them and help them in all areas of their life.”

Some ways in which businesses can help their employees include offering counseling services or offering to subsidize childcare costs.

“Whatever those things are that help employees manage their life better,” Bennett said.

Bennett said the group also helps members understand the legality regarding religious freedoms in the workplace.

“We help them understand what are your legal boundaries in the work-

place, what you can do with your faith from a legal perspective,” Bennett said. “We want them to be good citizens as well.”

Bennett said that helping employees find a better work-life balance could help them understand what workers want from the job.

“What we see now in the workplace, especially after COVID, is that people are looking for much more than just a job,” Bennett said. “They're looking for somebody to care for them. For us, we see it coming from our members. They have lower than average turnover among their workforce, they develop longer term relationships with their workforce. We’re trying to get them to focus on what's best for the employee, understanding that that will help the business and employee long term.”

Drawing on his experience chairing the group’s local chapter, Bennett said the business community in Fayetteville is resilient and that the pandemic has been a significant source of economic downturn. C12 members, however, tend to bounce back.

“About 89 percent of our members outperform their peers in an economic downturn,” Bennett said. “That is a testament to the skills they’re learning. I think from a regional perspective, people are resilient. And I see that bouncing back very well… They've learned very quickly how to adapt and maybe do something a little bit differently than they’ve done before. They are looking to provide a service in a little different way than the one they are used to.”

Bennett added that there is plenty of variety across businesses in the area stating:

“There’s a tremendous amount of diversity in the area. It’s just amazing. It’s been really good having a lot of different perspectives around the C12 table.”

Coming up this spring, Bennett said the group is going to host a seminar on difficult conversations in the workplace.

“It’s about how to de-escalate tensions with customers and tense customer situations,” Bennett said.

The group plans to host the class on May 24-25. You can learn more about the C12 group online at www.joinc12.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY C12

Businessman Mike Bennett has served as co-chair of the North Carolina Triangle’s C12 group chapter for the past six years.

MILITARY AFFILIATED AND VETERANS STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER