Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - May 26, 2023 Issue

Page 5

TAKING FUN TO NEW HEIGHTS

DFaphne 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.

or those looking to get their hearts pumping, blood flowing and feel the wind in their hair this summer, a unique experience based in Hoke County may just be the perfect thing.

Indoor skydiving, a controlled simulation of an actual skydiving experience, is the perfect activity for those seeking a thrill while also staying on the ground.

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

Sanitz first began the steps to renovating the Kress building in 2017.

Paraclete XP has been offering an indoor skydiving experience to area residents since 2007 after being started by owner and Fort Bragg Veteran Tim D’Annunzio who is also

>> By Faith Hatton bizfayetteville.com $2.00 Cape Fear Valley Health New CFVH Cancer Center coming to Harnett County bizfayetteville.com WEB EXCLUSIVE See FUN, page 7 Index Economic Indicators 3 Publisher’s Note 4 Commercial Real Estate 5 Achievers .......................................... 8, 9 Restaurant 11 Hospitality 13, 16 The List 14 Biz Leads 18, 19 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Vol. 2, No. 24
Restaurant Fayetteville food stand brings a northern treat to the south Page 11
The Paraclete XP brand offers indoor and outdoor skydiving for thrill seekers of all ages and skill levels bizfayetteville.com $2.00 March 10, 2023 - March 23, 2023 Vol. 2, No. 19 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
PHOTO PROVIDED BY: DARDEN JENKINS
Hospitality The sport of Pickleball sees increase in popularity Page 19
An artist's rendering of the fully renovated Kress Lofts building. Daphne Sanitz has developed eight historic properties in Downtown Fayetteville.
LOFTY GOALS
Index See LOFTY, page 7 Profile ................................................... 3 Editor’s Note 4 Achievers 8, 9 In the News 11 The List 12 Government ........................................ 14 Biz Leads ...................................... 16, 17 Hospitality 19 Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Monroe, GA Permit No 15 RELEVANT. LOCAL. BUSINESS. STORIES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is a subscription based publication. Unless you are already a paid subscriber, YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION WILL BE ENDING SOON. Get unlimited online access at BizFayetteville.com, twice monthly Business Journals and the annual Book on Business mailed to you! BizFayetteville.com/subscribe SUBSCRIBE NOW AT Fayetteville native finds restoring historic buildings to be a rewarding outlet for her artistic expression SPECIAL FOCUS: BUSINESS OF FUN, FOOD AND FAMILY
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GFBJ
go up, down and all
Flyers can
around inside of the wind tunnel with airspeeds capable of going up to 198 mph.
Page 13 The
Commercial Real Estate Grant-Murray Real Estate owners discuss 12 year partnership Page 5
New “glamping” experience just in time for summer
Cozy Heron
Page 2 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal Page 20 February 10, 2023 - February 23, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wilmingtonbiz.com Page 2 March 5 - 18, 2021 Greater WilminGton Business Journal

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

LABOR FORCE MARCH 2023 BY INDUSTRY (FAYETTEVILLE MSA)

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 3 150,382 AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON FOR REGULAR UNLEADED IN FAYETTEVILLE ON MAY 22, 2023: $3.20 AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON IN FAYETTEVILLE ON MAY 22, 2022: $4.32 Source: gasbuddy.com MARCH UNEMPLOYMENT Source: N.C. Department of Commerce Source: N.C. Department of Commerce 2022 vs 2023 (March) FAYETTEVILLE MSA CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE 0 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 LABOR FORCE 148,073 2023 MARCH 2022 MARCH MARCH STATE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTION (CUMBERLAND COUNTY) STATE SALES TAX COLLECTION MARCH 2023 $21,501,998 UP FROM STATE SALES TAX COLLECTION MARCH 2022 $20,416,663 UNITED STATES MARCH 2023: 3.6% DOWN FROM MARCH 2022: 3.8% CUMBERLAND COUNTY MARCH 2023: 5.0% UP FROM MARCH 2022: 4.9% NORTH CAROLINA MARCH 2023: 3.5% SAME AS MARCH 2022: 3.5% FAYETTEVILLE MSA MARCH 2023: 4.9% SAME AS MARCH 2022: 4.9% HARNETT COUNTY MARCH 2023: 3.9% UP FROM MARCH 2022: 3.7% MOORE COUNTY MARCH 2023: 3.5% UP FROM MARCH 2022: 3.4% HOKE COUNTY MARCH 2023: 4.6% SAME AS MARCH 2022: 4.6% RALEIGH MSA MARCH 2023: 3.1% UP FROM MARCH 2022: 2.9% HOMES SALES DAYS ON THE MARKET (SINGLE-FAMILY, FAYETTEVILLE MSA) Source: Longleaf Pines MLS 4 6 8 10 12 3/224/225/226/227/228/229/2210/2211/2212/221/232/23 2/22
OTHER SERVICES 3.63% GOVERNMENT 31.55% LEISURE & HOSPITALITY 12.38% MANUFACTURING 6.62% TRADE, TRANSPORTATION & UTILITIES 19.4% INFORMATION 0.71% FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 3.15% EDUCATION & HEALTH SERVICES 12.93% PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES 9.62% ROBESON COUNTY MARCH 2023: 5.0% DOWN FROM MARCH 2022: 5.3% SAMPSON COUNTY MARCH 2023: 3.4% DOWN FROM MARCH 2022: 3.5% Source: NC Department of Revenue THIS ISSUE’S ECONOMIC INDICATORS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY 3/23
COUNTY) ROLLING AVERAGE OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS INDUSTRIAL SPACE (CUMBERLAND COUNTY) $1.4B ASSET VALUE INVENTORY SQ.FT 18M VACANCY RATE 7.7% 12 MONTH SALES VOL $42.8M ANNUAL RENT GROWTH 10.5% 12 MO NET ABSORP SQ.FT 622K MARKET SALES PRICE SQ.FT $65
Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation
Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation $1.2B ASSET VALUE INVENTORY SQ.FT 8.1M VACANCY RATE 4.5% 12 MONTH SALES VOL $17.9M ANNUAL RENT GROWTH 2.5% 12 MO NET ABSORP SQ.FT 192K MARKET SALES PRICE SQ.FT $170 4/23
Source: NC Department of Commerce
OFFICE SPACE (CUMBERLAND
Source:
Source:

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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Sweet summer memories

As summer approaches, this issue’s focus is on the business of fun, food and family! In today’s technology and experience driven world, I have some advice for families: It’s not about the location or the fun rides that your family will remember, it’s the time you spend together that will be most valuable. Every weekend was a mini-vacation for me as a child. From the earliest time I can remember until my early teens, my family would travel to Blounts Creek, Core Point or Plymouth, NC. My mom’s family lived in Blounts Creek and my dad’s mother lived in Plymouth. We enjoyed many weekends playing outside, swimming and fishing in the Pamlico Sound and just hanging out with cousins, aunts and uncles. On Saturday night, the grownups played country music

at what everyone called the “HeeHaw House,” an old building located near the coast of Gilead Shores, while the kids played outside until it was time to go - which was usually close to 11 p.m. One particularly fun (and a bit gross) thing us kids would do was catch fireflies (or lightning bugs, as we called them), and rub them on our clothes so we would glow in the dark! It was a great time to be a kid.

Of course, we also took some longer vacations to the mountains, Disney World and even Colorado to visit my Uncle Donald and Aunt Nancy. It took us five days to drive it. What a road trip!

But the best part was the lifetime of memories and relationships that were built together. Good food and fun certainly help make those times

stick with you, but it was my family that made it count.

And speaking of family, our Greater Fayetteville Business Journal family wants to thank all the businesses and organizations who have helped us bring relevant business content from our seven-county coverage area to our readers. As we finish our second full year with this current issue, I am reminded again that life is all about relationshipsand we celebrate all the businesses and organizations that help make our most important relationships deeper and more memorable. Have a great summer!

God bless you and yours!

Page 4 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
MARTY V. CAYTON is the publisher of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. 910-240-9697, Ext 101 • martyc@bizfayetteville.com
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
bizfayetteville.com
BROOKS RICE/UNSPLASH Ultimately, it’s the time spent with the people you love that will be most valuable.

Opposites attract

BUSINESS PARTNERS NEIL GRANT AND PATRICK MURRAY SHARE HOW THEIR COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR GREAT SUCCESS

The saying goes that two heads are better than one, and real estate partners Neil Grant and Patrick Murray certainly embody that sentiment.

Grant got his brokerage license in 2003 and began working for Townsend Real Estate. After a couple of years there, he broke off and started his own company, Neil Grant Real Estate. Murray got his real estate license in 2005 and then worked with his wife’s grandmother’s company for several years.

Further down the road around 2009 or 2010, Grant was involved in a deal as the buyer’s agent with Patrick as the seller’s agent. Grant was impressed by Murray’s talents, and began to entertain the idea of collaborating with him. At this time, Murray was also operating by himself, and the two decided to try their hand at working as a team. They operated together for about a year to test things out before forming Grant-Murray Real Estate in 2011.

“...He and I’s sort of total opposite approach and different personality seemed to fare well,” remarked Grant. There are actually three businesses under the Grant-Murray umbrella. Grant-Murray Real Estate is the commercial company that Murray and Grant run. There’s also Grant-Murray Homes run by their partner, Gary Futch. The third branch of the company is Grant-Murray Property Management run by their partner, James Sherrill.

Grant-Murray Real Estate specializes in buyers and sellers of commercial property and they represent landlords and tenants.

“We range anywhere from doing small leases in office and strip centers to large, long term leases in large retail and office and industrial environments,” shared Grant.

Murray is the broker in charge and Grant is the sales manager at their office located in Fayetteville. Though they started out with two small offices, the commercial brokerage office on W Russell St. and the property management office on Robeson St., they moved into their current location on McPherson Church Road in 2016.

“It was certainly a milestone event for the firm with the merging of the two offices and the growth that

occurred from that relocation. While I loved and do miss being downtown, our current location is very centrally located and easier to access for clients. This office has allowed us to continue expanding with the opening of Grant-Murray Homes in 2018 and continued growth of both our commercial brokerage and property management companies,” shared Murray.

The small four person shop grew into a company with close to 40

people across its various divisions. Murray attributes that growth to the team’s business model and perspective on operations.

“One of the reasons Neil and I joined forces, and kind of our philosophy of running the company and marketing, was just openly sharing our listing information and marketing to other brokers and cooperating with other brokers. At the time, there wasn’t a lot of – at least didn’t

appear to be a lot of – kind of cross sales between companies and a lot of the marketing was held very close to the chest between brokers. So our philosophy was the opposite. We’d rather try to market to everybody and cooperate with outside brokers, split commissions and do more transactions with others,” shared Murray.

“So one of the bigger changes we’ve seen over the years is just that openness between companies…and the way that marketing has transitioned to just a lot more transparency and cooperation between firms. We’ve got great relationships with all the other competing brokers in our market, and do a lot of business with each other, and I’m glad to see that kind of spirit of cooperation between companies that has changed,” added Murray.

Murray shared that at any given time they typically have around 200 listings, and depending on the cycle of the year, it can be 20 to 40 closing and lease signings per month.

“Patrick and I have been busy since the day we started,” stated Grant.

Though sales fluctuate from year to year, Grant offered an estimate of the business’s numbers: “We probably are responsible for, between sales and leasing, probably $50 million a year in the local community.”

Murray is proud to drive around the city and pass by shops and restaurants that he was able to play a role in bringing to town.

“[It’s exciting] seeing that we’re having a positive impact by helping job creators secure real estate and property owners build wealth and different ways like that, that we’re actually having an impact on growing the city in a positive way,” remarked Murray.

While recognizing the progress they’ve made and taking pride in the work they’ve accomplished thus far, Murray remains focused on evolving further to better serve clients.

“There’s always room for improvement. So I’m always looking at different ways to improve our services and improve our marketing ability,” shared Murray. Murray also said he would like to add more brokers to their office.

Grant shared that he is proud of the impact their business has had on the community and on the people who work for their company.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 5 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
bizfayetteville.com
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY GRANT-MURRAY REAL ESTATE Neil Grant and Patrick Murray opened Grant-Murray Real Estate in 2011 after discovering that their different personalities and skill sets made them a good team.
[It’s exciting] seeing that we’re having a positive impact by helping job creators secure real estate and property owners build wealth and different ways like that, that we’re actually having an impact on growing the city in a positive way.”
— Patrick Murray
Neil Grant Patrick Murray

Nighttime Could Be the Right Time to Save.

With PWC’s New Super Off-Peak Rate

On May 1, PWC introduced a new optional Whole Business rate that features significantly lower rates (more than 46% lower than our current Off-Peak rates) for electricity used during Super Off-Peak Hours, 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM daily, all year long. Business customers who sign up for this option pay a slightly higher basic facility charge and Peak rate, while benefiting from much lower rates during the nighttime hours. Your business may be able to lower your electric bills with this rate plan. Some of the ways you can save money with this plan include doing things like:

• Charging fleet-managed EVs, or providing managed EV charging for multi business/residential units, during Super-Off Peak hours

• Performing power-hungry tasks or running large machinery/ non-essential equipment between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM

For more information, visit: FayPWC.com and click on the TOU Rates for Business in the business section of the website. Or call 910-483-1382 to speak with a PWC representative and learn how our new Whole Business electric rate may benefit your business.

Page 6 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal 17555
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From FUN, page 1

a former U.S. Army Parachute Team (Golden Knights) member.

D’Annunzio would go on to create one of the first civilian accessible wind tunnels which would later develop into what is today known as Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving.

“We get a lot of military and we get a lot of skydivers, belly teams from all over the world come to train. We get skydivers, members, first timers, everybody,” shared Paraclete XP Team Member Davy “Rocket” Nance.

Open to the public, the facility located at 190 Paraclete Drive in Raeford, houses the largest vertical wind tunnel in the United States in terms of power and size. The tunnel is powered by four fans at 541 horsepower each to give a great range of air speed for all requirements including free and recreational flying and military operations.

Nance shared that the facility’s location, nestled right over the Hoke County line, was chosen due to the proximity to Fort Bragg, and that the facility services primarily military customers.

The Aviation Division of Paraclete XP provides aircraft leasing, Military Free Fall Training (MFF), Military Surveyed Drop Zones and Aircraft Maintenance.

For the general public however, the fun is up to you! What can only be described as leaning in and going up, the experience of indoor skydiving is one you’ll want to write home about.

“We love the public, we used to be open all week and we are now back to full service following COVID,” shared Nance. “We’re always producing new adrenaline junkies, they come out of the tunnel and are hooked. They’ll leave the tunnel, buy more time and go right back in.”

First Time Flyers as young as 3 years old are welcome to come and take flight.

“We have a youth league. It's on Monday nights from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and that's for repeat flyers, only the kids have done it before,” said Nance. “It’s where we can actually coach them.We want them to get better, we've got kids in there that are doing ‘head down’ and carving, layouts, which is all very advanced stuff, and then we’ve got the kids that are just learning and they just love it.”

Packages are available for first time flyers, repeat flyers and for parties and corporate events.

EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES:

● An experienced instructor

● Preflight classroom training

● Flight time in the wind tunnel

● Flight gear

● Flight certificate

Safety is a priority for guests and staff.

Before entering the tunnel, guests are given protective headwear, eyewear, earplugs and jumpsuits to wear over their normal clothing. They are also asked to remove all jewelry and loose articles.

A trained Paraclete professional accompanies each group with flyers learning simple hand signals to keep everyone on the same page during the experience. New flyers usually take turns in the tunnel one at a time and the instructor will maintain contact and help control their body levels and height. Flight sessions are broken up into two minute increments due to the exhausting nature of the exercise.

With the ability to reach 198 mph, the speed of the air in the tunnel can be changed to suit each individual flyer based on their weight and skill

level.

Nance says that Paraclete currently has between 11 and 14 staff members with experience ranging from being former military and general thrill seekers who just love to fly.

“To become one of us, it takes about 10-12 hours in the tunnel in about a two week span and the T-4 who’s like our boss, he’s in there teaching us how to spot people, which is how to catch them and how to prevent all of the injuries and accidents that can happen,” shared Nance.

“While you're in there, he teaches you how to be in the right spot to hold people to help them learn new things like for layouts and head down, other forms of flying.”

But the Paraclete Skydiving experience isn’t just limited to their indoor experiences, further into Hoke County, those willing to have the ultimate thrill have the chance to take what they’ve learned to the skies with Skydive Paraclete XP located at 143 Airport Drive in Raeford on the PK Airpark campus.

With a 250 acre airport and dropzone, the campus includes the Skydive school offering skydiving lessons and tandem skydiving opportunities. Other amenities include two loading zones, a main hanger, a packing pavilion and PK’s Grill and Pub which also features a spectator section for those who want to watch and show support from the ground.

One of the primary offerings is a United States Parachute Association approved training progression called the Paraclete Student Program (PSP), a skydiving course that consists of 18 levels and covers all requirements to apply for a USPA ‘A’ license. This license allows you to jump with your friends and skydive anywhere in the world.

The program covers everything in three stages: 1. Ground Training, 2. Wind Tunnel Training and 3. Freefall and Canopy Training.

According to information on the program from the Paraclete XP website, “Our program is designed not only to teach basic skills but to provide a clear path towards becoming a well-rounded skydiver. Our progression continues past student levels and offers continued education. Interactive seminars, networking, multi-discipline skills camps and exclusive wind tunnel membership options at our state of the art indoor skydiving facility, Paraclete XP SkyVenture. PSP provides everything you need to become a member of our amazing skydiving community.”

With such a unique experience just a few minutes away from Fayetteville, indoor skydiving may just be a new lifelong hobby and a once in a lifetime experience to tell your classmates about this fall, or your coworkers gathered around the water cooler.

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 7
BUSINESS PROFILE bizfayetteville.com
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You can learn more about the Paraclete XP experience by logging on to www.paracletexp.com. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GFBJ Clockwise: Skydivers gather at the PK Airport Campus to wait for takeoff; The indoor skydiving facility is located at 190 Paraclete Drive in Raeford right off of U.S.Highway 401; Divers load into the plane to get ready for takeoff for one of the skydiving sessions offered daily.

ACHIEVERS

Alexander "Sandy" Stewart selected as next Sandhills Community College President

Sandhills Community College will have a new leader starting in July of 2023.

The Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of ALEXANDER “SANDY” STEWART, PH.D., as its new President, the third in the college’s history.

Stewart is a Moore County native who has been assistant commissioner of agricultural services at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services since 2018. He holds masters and doctoral degrees in crop science from N.C. State University.

Stewart previously directed the state agriculture department’s research stations division, which is responsible for managing 18 agriculture research facilities in partnership with N.C. State and N.C. A&T State universities. He has also been a faculty member as an extension tobacco specialist at N.C. State and as an extension cotton specialist at Louisiana State University and has managed crop research in the private sector.

Stewart is an elder at Union Presbyterian Church and lives near Carthage on his family’s working farm of nearly 250 years. He previously served on Sandhills’ Board of Trustees.

The search committee shared the following statement in an online post announcing the new President:

“It is with a great sense of optimism and with gratitude to the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees Presidential Search Committee, the State Board of Community Colleges, and the North Carolina Community College System that SCC announces the new President of Sandhills Community College!

Dr. Alexander “Sandy” Stewart will assume the mantle as President on July 1, 2023, filling the role with the same sense of purpose and commitment that Dr. Dempsey – and Dr. Stone before him – provided to this College and this community for almost six decades.

Finding our third president has been an arduous challenge these last five months, but our Trustees, led by George Little and Larry Caddell, have successfully navigated another outstanding presidential search—a testimony to the steadfast leadership

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.”

that has guided this institution for over four of its six decades.

We know that Dr. Stewart will be excited to get out into the community and meet everyone. Stay-tuned for Dr. Stewart’s first formal and social functions on campus.”

Ronnie Glover named Vice President and Market Manager at Beasley Media Group Fayetteville

Beasley Media Group has announced RONNIE GLOVER as the new Vice President and Market Manager of the company’s Fayetteville radio cluster. Glover began his new position on Monday, May 8, 2023.

“I am ecstatic to join Beasley Media Group,” said Glover in a press release.

“They are committed to the local communities they serve in a myriad of cross-platforms.

I look forward to joining my talented teammates in Fayetteville to further our resolve and dedication to being leaders in the community.”

Glover more recently served as the Market Manager at Alpha Media, Inc.’s KAAN-FM/AM, KKWK-FM and KMRN-AM in Bethany/Cameron, Missouri. Previously, he has held management positions throughout his career, including Local/Digital Sales Manager at KWESTM (Midland/Odesa, Texas), Market Manager/Chief Revenue Officer at KIXS-FM, KLUB-FM, KQVT-FM and KTXN-FM (Victoria, Texas), and General Sales Manager/Director of Sales at Clear Channel’s Norfolk, Virginia and Nashville radio markets.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ronnie to the Beasley Fayetteville family,” said Kevin Rich, Beasley Media Group Vice President of Operations in a press release. “His strong team building and leadership skills, combined with his contagious positive energy, made him the perfect choice to lead our Fayetteville team.”

Lynnie Guzman promoted to Sales and Marketing Director for Holmes Security Systems

Holmes Security Systems has announced the promotion of LYNNIE GUZMAN to the position of Sales and Marketing Director. Lynnie will now lead the company’s sales and marketing efforts.

“I am honored to take on the expanded responsibility of overseeing the sales operations as the Sales and Marketing Director for Holmes Security Systems. Becoming a team member at this family-owned and operated company has been rewarding and a refreshing reminder of why supporting locally owned businesses matters,” said Guzman in a press release. “I look forward to working alongside the team as we continue to bring innovative life safety & security solutions to our residential and commercial clients while providing the exceptional service we have been known for since 1908.”

Lynnie joined the Holmes team in February 2021 and has held the role of Marketing Director during that time. She has been responsible for developing and executing the company’s marketing strategy, which included growing the company’s social media and digital presence for both the Fayetteville and Wilmington offices.

“Lynnie is a highly skilled and experienced sales and marketing professional,” said President of

Holmes Security Systems Stephen Wheeler in a press release. “She has a proven track record of sales success in previous roles and quickly became an asset to our team and community. Luke Wheeler, our Vice President, and I look forward to working with her as we continue growing our business across Eastern North Carolina.

Former North Carolina State Legislator John Szoka appointed CEO of national clean energy advocacy organization

The Conservative Energy Network (CEN), a coalition of 24 state-based conservative clean energy organizations, has named JOHN SZOKA as its new CEO. The position has been vacant since founder and former CEO Mark Pischea passed away in July 2022. After an extensive nationwide search, CEN is excited to move forward under Szoka’s leadership. He assumed his new role on May 16.

“I am proud of the work I did to advance clean energy in North Carolina during my time as a State Representative and I am thrilled to be able to continue advocating for conservative energy solutions as CEO of CEN,” said Szoka in a press release.

“Thanks to incredible advances in technology, alternative energy sources are more affordable and effective than ever, driving economic growth and reducing costs while also reducing emissions. National, state, and local policies need to keep up with marketplace innovation. A market-led approach ensures that ratepayers are getting reliable and cost effective solutions to energy generation.”

Szoka became an advocate for clean energy during his ten years of service in the North Carolina Legislature where he served as Chairman of the House Energy and Public Utilities Committee. During his legislative career he sponsored major pieces of legislation that modernized North Carolina’s energy policy to take full advantage of the benefits of low cost clean energy solutions that protect

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See ACHIEVERS, page 9
Stewart PHOTO PROVIDED BY BEASLEY MEDIA GROUP Glover Guzman Szoka

From ACHIEVERS, page 8

ratepayers. In 2017 he sponsored HB589 which saved ratepayers over $350M in energy costs by 2021.

“We considered many incredibly accomplished candidates in our search for a new CEO,” said Michael Hartley, chairman of the CEO Selection Committee and CEN board member in a press release.

“John Szoka impressed us as a leader who is not only well-versed in clean energy policy, but is an individual whose strength of character reflects our organization’s culture and values. We are proud of everything we have built at CEN and trust that John’s experience and visionary leadership will guide us to further growth and success.”

Szoka’s professional background also includes 20 years of military service in the United States Army. An Infantry officer, he retired from active duty in 1996 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and went on to own several successful small businesses. With engineering degrees from the U.S. Military Academy at

West Point and the University of Texas at Austin, Szoka appreciates a data-driven approach to clean energy policy.

FirstHealth earns distinction for Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

FirstHealth of the Carolinas has earned a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures.

The three-star rating places FirstHealth’s Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery program among the elite for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada.

The STS star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.

Peter Ellman, M.D., FACS, senior cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at FirstHealth, said the three-star rating reflects the hard work of the

program’s staff.

“I could not be prouder of our team,” Ellman said in a press release. “This distinction comes as a result of years of dedication and hard work. It also speaks to the legacy of the program started by Dr. John Krahnert in 1992 when the bar was set for the highest level of heart care. When Mickey Foster took over as CEO in 2019, he set this as one of the goals for the program. I think it’s a great example of how sometimes you need to verbalize a goal to really focus your efforts to get there.”

The STS National Database includes four components: the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), the Congenital Heart Surgery Data-

base (CHSD), the General Thoracic Surgery Database (GTSD) and the mechanical circulatory support database (Intermacs). The STS ACSD houses approximately 6.9 million surgical records and gathers information from more than 3,800 participating physicians, including surgeons and anesthesiologists from more than 90 percent of groups that perform heart surgery in the U.S. STS public reporting online enables STS ACSD participants to voluntarily report to each other and the public their heart surgery scores and star ratings.

“We always say that we provide world class heart care for the people of the Sandhills, and it is heartening to know that the objective data supports that claim,” Ellman said in a press release. “Moreover, this distinction is based on three years of data for every patient who has had coronary artery bypass grafting in our program, reflecting consistent excellence over a long period of time. This only happens when you have an incredible team that works together with all pistons firing to provide the best possible care for the patients in our area and beyond.”

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 9 NORTH CAROLINA’S PREMIERE REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS VALUATION FIRM 910.323.3222 | 121 S. Cool Spring Street | Fayetteville, NC 28301 www.KeithValuation.com VALUATIONS FOR: · Loan · Condemnation · Damage Studies · Buy/Sell · Absorption Rate Studies · Gift & Estate Taxes · Equitable Distribution · Minority Interest · Shareholder Disputes · Cell Towers Still the one FOR FABULOUS FLOORS 910-424-1778 WWW.FAYETTEVILLEFLOORS.COM 402 HOPE MILLS RD ACHIEVERS bizfayetteville.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FIRSTHEALTH Members of FirstHealth’s Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery team
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C&S Ice

FAMILY OWNED MOBILE FOOD STAND BRINGS A NORTHERN FROZEN TREAT TO BEAT THE SOUTHERN HEAT

AFayetteville N.C. based mobile food stand is looking to combine the best of the north and south by bringing a longtime Philly favorite treat to the Cumberland County area: Philadelphia Water Ice.

C&S themselves: Carla and Sean Stansberry, the married couple who run this business, are no strangers to their food truck’s specialty, experiencing it for themselves in New Jersey after relocating due to Carla’s military career. After Carla retired, the two returned to Fayetteville, Sean’s hometown. The couple said they began to miss the treat they had come to love and decided to supply it to the people down south. The couple opened their mobile food stand in June of 2022 and have been busy ever since.

“We wanted to have a small business that people would enjoy, something that you can’t find a lot of. I love the Italian Ice and it was tough to find when we moved back,” shared Sean. “It was easily available in New Jersey, but it was tough to find when we came back. It was just one of those things I missed a lot. We opened our business and it’s kind of built into what it is now.”

You might wonder, what exactly is Philadelphia Water Ice?

Ingredients such as water, sugar and flavors - primarily pineapple, strawberry and lemon are combined with water ice; firmer than a slushy, yet softer than sorbet, it creates a blend in between.

The mixture leans more toward gelato and is dairy free.

“We saw how big it was, and we were talking about ‘Oh, we should open up one of the franchises.’ We were just looking at different ways to do it. And then last year, we’re just like, ‘It’s hot, let's just do it.’ We both missed it because this is not just regular Italian Ice, it’s a lot smoother,” shared Carla. “And, obviously, we were obsessed with it up there and were just like, ‘Let’s just do it, let's open up one down here.’”

While Philadelphia Water Ice is the signature dessert for the stand, it also offers fair foods year round including house made mini doughnuts, deep fried oreos and hand squeezed lemonade all made to order.

“There’s no gimmicks, it’s all top of the line. The ice is made in Philadelphia, we buy it wholesale, the ice is

amazing. So it’s all about the combination,” shared Sean.

The Stansberrys said that the want for a better work life balance and the ability to spend more time with their three year- old son and each other helped drive the couple to make

the business a reality. Sean works the truck full time, and Carla assists while also working as a realtor for Thomas Real Estate Services.

“Being able to be family owned and seeing my family each day, not having to be gone out of town, I used to do long distance hauling and I stopped doing that because it was just an inconvenience,” shared Sean. “Now I get to see my family, day in and day out.”

Both Sean and Carla agree that being local but mobile business has been an enjoyable experience so far. While they are open about traveling to specific attractions and events, the two said they only like to go about 60 miles out of Fayetteville to set up shop.

“We're just always on the go. People are like, ‘Oh, we want you to come back over here.’ We’ll do all of our events and then we'll start setting up throughout town. We have to have permission to set up so we just can't just come to where people want us to go sometimes,” shared Carla.

According to Sean, the couple would like to continue to introduce southerners to Philadelphia Water Ice and are open to coming to public and

private events. The stand is known to make appearances at Aloha Zoo in Cameron, and at City events for Fayetteville and the Town of Hope Mills.

“We’ve been focusing on doing stuff locally, but it’s built into quite a schedule now. So we’ve got school systems, we’ve got people that have weddings coming up. We’ve got small town festivals,” shared Sean. “We want to be able to stay local and still build the business at the same time. So we’d like to expand a little bit, maybe go to some new places and get some new people that haven't had it before.”

With the popularity of their treats resulting in more than 2,000 likes and follows on social media, the couple said they are always glad to greet their regular customers who have become friends over the course of their time in the community.

“People are like ‘Oh I’ve been trying to track you guys down through Facebook, we’re so glad you’re here today!’” shared Carla. “It's been completely crazy, but it's worth it. We meet a lot of people and people have been really supportive of the business especially since we're a new local business, and this has been easy to keep it going.”

Customers can follow C&S Ice on Facebook to find out where they’ll be today!

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 11 RESTAURANT
>> By Diana Hansen and Faith Hatton bizfayetteville.com
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY C&S ICE & GFBJ Left: C&S serves up their frozen flavors in cups and in their more popular hollowed out pineapple option. Right: C&S Ice has loyal fans of all ages who travel to meet them at their location for the day.
There’s no gimmicks, it's all top of the line. The ice is made in Philadelphia, we buy it wholesale, the ice is amazing. So it's all about the combination.”
— Sean Stansberry
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GFBJ Carla (left) and Sean Stansberry, (right) are the team behind C&S Ice, working together to make all of their food by hand and with care.
Page 12 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal SUBSCRIBE NOW AND GET UNLIMITED DIGITAL ACCESS TO FAYETTEVILLE’S BEST BUSINESS COVERAGE! Subscribe now for… • Unlimited access to all current and archived stories on BizFayetteville.com • The twice-monthly Business Journal mailed to your office or home • The annual Book on Business publication mailed to you in January • In-depth coverage of complex issues • Advanced notification of Business Journal events • Assurance you know about business happenings in the Fayetteville region! Subscribe bizfayetteville.com/subscribe Airfield Fayetteville support construction bizfayetteville.com Index WEB EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS BizFayetteville.com/subscribe subscription NOW DOWNTOWN FAYETTEVILLE BOUNCING BACK Randy Profile business from and poles. lightSegraFayetteville’s crosswalks downtown lineenhance experience..year,” executive Cool Downtown appearing W pre-pandemic Downtown appears restrictions, calling malcy generated the protests,” said. Fayetteville Recreation Public Commission city’s department with piecesthem the and kept Shoneman Summer expected to draw unprecedented crowds with numerous events environment. businesses returning BizFayetteville.com/subscribe subscription BizFayetteville.com Journals every SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEELS UP Coming newspaper. retired 2020 director Coleman into Now, two appears remainingpandemic robust.recovery, fastest-recoveringNorth commercial-serviceairports March according airport. F Regional passengerturbulenceexperienced trailing Wilmington, city-owned Januaryreceived ColvinCouncil Whitedsaid“underperforming,” acknowl- don’thard .......................................... ............................................... FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT IS HOPING FOR FRIENDLIER SKIES Passengers reconstruction. Fayetteville offers Atlanta, Charlotte Dallas/Fort-Worth. destinations Military new vehicle SUBSCRIBE LIKE THE MARKET, IT’S A STABLE MARKET. ON THERE.” UNBOXING AMAZON’S ARRIVAL Technology booster Amazon’s delivery station 1005M project began with modest name — Home to over 200 Businesses, restaurants, and Attractions. PRINT. PACK. SHIP. All in one place! Print & Business Services Westwood • Fort Liberty • Hope Mills 910.860.1220 WESTWOOD AND HOPE MILLS LOCATIONS NOW OPEN SUNDAYS 11:00 am - 4:00 pm 439 WESTWOOD SHOPPING CENTER PLEASE SEND PRINT REQUESTS TO PRINT2974@GMAIL.COM | FORT LIBERTY MINI-MALL 3333 N MAIN ST UNIT 150 HOPE MILLS SHIPPING BLUEPRINTS SIGNS FLYERS NOTARY BOOKLETS DESIGN DIRECT MAIL SHREDDING BROCHURES BANNERS CANVAS PRINTS Partner with our friendly team of shipping and printing experts to grow your business.

The Cozy Heron

LILLINGTON “GLAMPING” EXPERIENCE ALLOWS FOR A COMFORTABLE YET UNFORGETTABLE TIME IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Summer is approaching rapidly in North Carolina, and we all want to make long-lasting memories for ourselves and our families and friends. It can be difficult to plan a vacation that fits everyone’s needs, but not anymore! Cape Fear River Adventures is proud to announce the opening of the Cozy Heron Glamping experience. Love the outdoors, but not a huge fan of sleeping on the hard ground? Need a respite from the bugs? Don’t want to hike for miles carrying all that camping equipment? Then this local glamping experience is the summer adventure for you! It is not your typical campsite; the Cozy Heron Glamping area houses their guests in hand crafted, fully furnished covered wagons for a truly unique vacationing experience.

“It is truly glamping in the sense that you are outdoors, but if you’re not one who wants to be out with the critters or shower outside this is the way to go,” said Business Operations Manager, Nancy Findley. “This is the experience for people who love to be outside, but don’t necessarily love to camp—this gives you the best of both worlds.”

The site is conveniently located in Lillington in a gorgeous area along the Cape Fear River. It is a perfect blend of enjoying the great outdoors in addition to having all the comforts of home right there with you on vacation.

The Cozy Heron Glamping campsite features five stationary covered wagons positioned right alongside the river on eight acres of land.

Each individual wagon is eight and a half feet tall, twenty-five feet long, and contains one hundred and eighty square feet of space to relax in. The covered wagons are fully equipped with electricity, Wi-Fi, heating and air conditioning, and are fully customized with cozy furniture, tasteful décor, and convenient appliances. Each wagon is outfitted with a table with chairs, a mini fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker, a king size bed and two bunk beds.

Each wagon can accommodate four people, and at a twenty-guest maximum capacity currently, the Cozy Heron Glamping experience lives up to its name with a secluded, cozy vibe to your vacation. A bath-

house is just a short walk away from the wagons, with all the amenities of home.

“It’s just a wonderful way to get people outside in a comfortable situation,” said Findley. “A guest might be like ‘Oh I really like this, I might like to try camping’ or someone might be like ‘Nope, this is just my speed.’”

The Cozy Heron Glamping experience presents new options for hikers and campers and is a great steppingstone for those just getting into the world of camping. The wagons encircle a beautiful stone communal fire pit, complete with seating, a grill, and stocked with games for everyone to enjoy.

“You’re sleeping in a luxurious bed but then you’re outside at the firepit, it really is just the experience of camping but with all the luxuries of home,” said Findley.

Owner Ilia Smirnov started the idea for this glamping experience three years ago, setting up the wagons and opening the experience to guests at a soft launch in March. Smirnov’s passion for the outdoors and the Cape Fear River, and the desire to share it with others, fueled this project.

“Truly his [Smirnov’s] vision was to help get people outside more,” said Findley. “They [Smirnov and family] love the river, this is their focus. The

river is their passion, and so to share that with everyone in the area is their goal, it’s to get people outside and to experience nature.”

Designing a space where anyone could try out a more luxurious version of the outdoors really alleviates the initial stress amateurs can experience when trying out camping for the first time.

staying in a wagon you get 20 percent off all river activities,” shared Findley. Local Lillington attractions are a kayak trip away from the wagons, such as Cape Fear Shiner County Park and Lillington River Park, both of which offer kayak landings. Cape Fear Shiner County Park has picnic areas and volleyball courts, and Lillington River Park has playgrounds and covered picnic areas. Close by the wagons are other adventures to fill your vacation with, such as the Hawk Manor Falconry, Keith Hills Golf Club, and Lost Paddle Pizza.

The Cozy Heron Glamping experience and Cape Fear River Adventures work hard to help the local business scene, all while offering recreational services to the community.

Guests can make their stay as adventure-packed or low-key as they like with the plethora of options the Cozy Heron Glamping experience has to offer with Cape Fear River Adventures. Kayaking, river tubing, and other aquatic sports are some of the adventures that ‘wagoneers’ have access to.

“Another thing, if while you’re

“We are a strong supporter of the economy in the area, we love to support small businesses in any way we can. If we’re going to get something, it’s going to be at the local hardware store, or at the beehive, and we have just the local business of Lillington in our guidebook,” shared Findley. “We’re very excited after three years of work and research to finally be at the point where we are hosting guests. We can’t wait to make more river friends and have them come out and experience the joy of the Cape Fear River.”

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 13 HOSPITALITY
>> By
Griffin bizfayetteville.com
Kate
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CAPE FEAR RIVER ADVENTURES Left: Each individual wagon is eight and a half feet tall, twenty-five feet long, and contains one hundred and eighty square feet of space to relax in. Right: The covered wagons are fully equipped with electricity, Wi-Fi, heating and air conditioning, and are fully outfitted with a table with chairs, a mini fridge, a microwave, a coffee maker, a king size bed and two bunk beds.
It’s just a wonderful way to get people outside in a comfortable situation.”
Nancy Findley Business Operations Manager

with a Google Places ranking of 4.5 or higher

770-7109

preservation, artifacts, photographs, and genealogies of Raeford and Hoke County, McLauchlin-McFadyen House, Parker-Ray House, Pine Forest Schoolhouse, Emergency Service Museum, 1900s Barn, Little Girl's Dream House, Country Store

Hiking trails, Bike Trails, Bridle Trails, Camping Facilities, Horseback riding, Fishing, Picnicking, Visitor center and exhibits, Amphitheater, Auditorium and classroom

Fayetteville Woodpeckers, area MLB team, restaurants, outdoor venue, lo AEVEX Veterans Club, party deck, bar, youth experiences, Blanton's Picnic Zone, Copier's Plus Field Boxes, birthday parties, souvenir shop

Paintball and airsoft experiences, paintball and airsoft rentals, gel blasters, adventure scenarios, paintball tournaments and events, community events.

Fayetteville Woodpeckers, area MLB team, restaurants, outdoor venue, lo AEVEX Veterans Club, party deck, bar, youth experiences, Blanton's Picnic Zone, Copier's Plus Field Boxes,

Self guided walking tour, farmers market, Gillis Hill Farm Ice Cream Shop, kids play area, agritourism

Farm Tours, Dinosaur World, Backwoods Terror Ranch, Festival of Lights, field trips, Go-Kart Nature Trail Rides, Fishing, Tiny's Inflatable World, Dinosaur Train, Hills & Thrills

Drive thru exotic and local animal exhibits, field trips, holiday themed events, animal feeding, Reptile Room, Gift shop

"Community Experiences in the Garden" series, field trips, classroom programs, adult day trips, or guided garden tour, children's garden programs, art classes, gardening workshops, therapeutic horticulture.

Ranking includes attractions and events from the Fayetteville MSA (Cumberland, Harnett, and Hoke Counties). Ranked attractions were gathered from Google, public records and public information.

Page 14 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal THE LIST bizfayetteville.com Attractions
RANK NAME ADDRESS PHONE WEBSITE TOP EXHIBITS AND ATTRACTIONS YEAR FOUNDED GOOGLE PLACES RATING 1 ZIPQUEST - WATERFALL & TREETOP ADVENTURE 533 Carvers Falls Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28311 910-488-8787 www.zipquest.com Zipline Tours, NightQuest Excursions and Expeditions, teambuilding experiences 2009 4.9 2 AIRBORNE & SPECIAL OPERATIONS MUSEUM 100 Bragg Blvd Fayetteville, N.C.28301 910-643-2778 www.asomf.org U.S. War History exhibits, Video Theater, Benue for military, private or corporate events, Task Force Dagger Temporary Exhibit, Distinguished Speaker Series, Annual Field of Honor 2000 4.8 2 CAPE FEAR RIVER ADVENTURES 100 S Main St Lillington, N.C.27546 919-495-5555 www.capefearadventures.com/ Cozy Heron Glamping, Youth camps, River Tubing, Kayak and Canoeing trips, Whitewater Trips, Scenic Rafting, Paddle Boarding, Guided Trips and Lessons, Lost Paddle Kayak Shop 2012 4.8 2 ESCAPE ROOM FAYETTEVILLE 3639 B Sycamore Dairy Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28303 910- 920-1781 www.escaperoomfayettevillenc.com Escape rooms with different stories, experiences and themes. Vegas Hangover escape room, Zombie Escape room, Rest in Pieces escape room, The Inheritance escape room, Gold Rush escape room. 2016 4.8 2 PARACLETE XP INDOOR SKYDIVING 190 Paraclete Dr Raeford, N.C.28376 910-848-2600 www.paracletexp.com Indoor skydiving, military training, public spectating 2007 4.8 2 RAEFORD-HOKE MUSEUM,INC. 111 S Highland St Raeford, N.C.28376 910- 875-2279 www.raefordhokemuseum.org Historical preservation, artifacts, photographs, and genealogies of Raeford and Hoke County, McLauchlin-McFadyen House, Parker-Ray House, Pine Forest Schoolhouse, Emergency Service Museum, 1900s Barn, Little Girl's Dream House, Country Store 2002 4.8 2 RAVEN ROCK STATE PARK 3009 Raven Rock Rd Lillington, N.C.27546 910-893-4888 www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/ raven-rock-state-park Hiking trails, Bike Trails, Bridle Trails, Camping Facilities, Horseback riding, Fishing, Picnicking, Visitor center and exhibits, Amphitheater, Auditorium and classroom 1969 4.8 2 SEGRA STADIUM 460 Hay St Fayetteville, N.C.28301 910-339-1989 www.milb.com/fayetteville
with a Google Places ranking of 4.5 or higher
parties,
2016 4.8 9 BLACK OPS PAINTBALL & AIRSOFT 2112 River Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28312 910-876-4444 www.blackopspaintball.org Paintball
experiences,
scenarios,
tournaments and events, community events. 2012 4.7 9 GILLIS HILL FARM 2701 Gillis Hill Rd, Fayetteville, N.C.28306 910-867-2350 www.gillishillfarm.com Self guided walking tour, farmers market, Gillis Hill Farm Ice Cream Shop, kids play area, agritourism education 4.7 9 SWEET VALLEY RANCH 2990 Sunnyside School Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28312 844-622-3276 www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com
Dinosaur World, Backwoods Terror Ranch, Festival of Lights, field trips, Go-Kart Nature Trail Rides, Fishing, Tiny's Inflatable World, Dinosaur Train, Hills & Thrills 2016 4.7 12 ALOHA SAFARI PARK 159 Mini Ln Cameron , N.C.28326 919- 770-7109 www.alohasafaripark.com Drive thru exotic and local animal exhibits, field trips, holiday themed events, animal feeding, Reptile Room, Gift shop 2010 4.6 12 CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN 536 N Eastern Blvd Fayetteville, N.C.28301 910-486-0221 www.capefearbg.org "Community Experiences in the Garden" series, field trips, classroom programs, adult day trips, or guided garden tour, children's garden programs, art classes, gardening workshops, therapeutic horticulture. 1989 4.6 Ranking includes attractions and events from the Fayetteville MSA (Cumberland, Harnett, and Hoke Counties). Ranked attractions were gathered from Google, public records and public information.
RANK NAME ADDRESS PHONE WEBSITE TOP EXHIBITS AND ATTRACTIONS YEAR FOUNDED GOOGLE PLACES RATING 1 ZIPQUEST - WATERFALL & TREETOP ADVENTURE 533 Carvers Falls Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28311 910-488-8787 www.zipquest.com Zipline Tours, NightQuest Excursions and Expeditions, teambuilding experiences 2009 4.9 2 AIRBORNE & SPECIAL OPERATIONS MUSEUM 100 Bragg Blvd Fayetteville, N.C.28301 910-643-2778 www.asomf.org U.S. War History exhibits, Video Theater, Benue for military, private or corporate events, Task Force Dagger Temporary Exhibit, Distinguished Speaker Series, Annual Field of Honor 2000 4.8 2 CAPE FEAR RIVER ADVENTURES 100 S Main St Lillington, N.C.27546 919-495-5555 www.capefearadventures.com/ Cozy Heron Glamping, Youth camps, River Tubing, Kayak and Canoeing trips, Whitewater Trips, Scenic Rafting, Paddle Boarding, Guided Trips and Lessons, Lost Paddle Kayak Shop 2012 4.8 2 ESCAPE ROOM FAYETTEVILLE 3639 B Sycamore Dairy Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28303 910- 920-1781 www.escaperoomfayettevillenc.com Escape rooms with different stories, experiences and themes. Vegas Hangover escape room, Zombie Escape room, Rest in Pieces escape room, The Inheritance escape room, Gold Rush escape room. 2016 4.8 2 PARACLETE XP INDOOR SKYDIVING 190 Paraclete Dr Raeford, N.C.28376 910-848-2600 www.paracletexp.com Indoor skydiving, military training, public spectating 2007 4.8 2 RAEFORD-HOKE MUSEUM,INC. 111 S Highland St Raeford, N.C.28376 910- 875-2279 www.raefordhokemuseum.org
2002 4.8 2 RAVEN ROCK STATE PARK 3009 Raven Rock Rd Lillington, N.C.27546 910-893-4888 www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/ raven-rock-state-park
birthday
souvenir shop
and airsoft
paintball and airsoft rentals, gel blasters, adventure
paintball
Farm Tours,
Attractions
Historical
1969 4.8 2 SEGRA STADIUM 460 Hay St Fayetteville, N.C.28301 910-339-1989 www.milb.com/fayetteville
2016 4.8 9 BLACK OPS PAINTBALL & AIRSOFT 2112 River Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28312 910-876-4444 www.blackopspaintball.org
2012 4.7 9 GILLIS HILL FARM 2701 Gillis Hill Rd, Fayetteville, N.C.28306 910-867-2350 www.gillishillfarm.com
4.7 9 SWEET VALLEY RANCH 2990 Sunnyside School Rd Fayetteville, N.C.28312 844-622-3276 www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com
education
2016 4.7 12 ALOHA SAFARI PARK 159 Mini Ln Cameron , N.C.28326 919-
www.alohasafaripark.com
2010 4.6 12 CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN 536 N Eastern Blvd Fayetteville, N.C.28301 910-486-0221 www.capefearbg.org
1989
4.6
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 15 Simply Better

Summer in the gardens

TAKING A LOOK AT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE DISPLAYS AND EVENTS AS THE CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN KICKS OFF THE SUMMER SEASON

New activities, events and day trips are coming up for area residents who are looking to connect with nature and the history of their community.

For the summer of 2023, the Cape Fear Botanical Garden will be taking its newly renovated heritage garden for a spin by weaving its summer programming in with NASCAR’s horticultural roots.

The crops in the heritage portion of the garden have been intentionally planted to reflect the agriculture during the early NASCAR days such as tobacco, ornamental flowering tobacco, corn and more.

According to Sheila Hanrick, director of programming, marketing, and guest experience, the main exhibit this year is Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws in Fast Cars which debuted on May 6 during the Garden Mania event and will be on display until August 20.

“The exhibit talks about how NASCAR started because of bootlegging — moonshine. It’s tying agriculture to what we now know as NASCAR today and their green initiatives,” said Hanrick.

During Garden Mania and the Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws in Fast Cars kickoff event, children who attended had the opportunity to build pinewood derby cars — an ode to the history of NASCAR. Families who attended also got to build planter boxes and filled them up with soil to plant flowers. According to Hanrick, these activities were made possible through a grant from the Youth Growth Stock Trust by United Way of Cumberland County.

“We are big into food sustainability as well as just the aesthetic of gardening,” she said. “We had a farm set up in their heritage garden where we could educate people about gardening just for beauty — the attractiveness of it — down to agriculture where we try to teach people how to grow their own food.

Other events that will pay homage to moonshine runners are Pondamania on June 10 and the Sunset Series events every third Friday of each month until August.

A free-flowing event beginning at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Pondamania is a family event connecting art with

nature. This will be the third Pondamania and attractions of the festival are local musical entertainers, children performing clogging, a traveling stilt walker, a bubble artist, animals to pet from Shaky Tail Farm, canvas painting, marble art, vendors, and food trucks.

“It’s a really, really fun event,” said Jessica Barnes, CFBG events manager. “This year, we are going to tie in the exhibit as well utilizing the connection we have called the Juicebox Derby.”

Juicebox Derby is a competitive kart for racers between the ages three to five years old and the race track will be located in front of the garden.

“These kids have already had some experience racing,” Hanrick said. “They are the reason why we are tying in the racing — it is to tie it back to the exhibit that is here.”

The first Sunset Series of the season is June 16 featuring the band “Jordan Lake Swimmers.” During all the Sunset Series events, which is the third Friday of the summer months, the garden’s hours will be extended to 9 p.m. for patrons to enjoy the beauty of the summer foliage at dusk while being entertained by a live local band. Originally from Apex, the Jordan Lake Swimmers will be coming to Fayetteville to perform their rendition of popular tunes with a country-bluegrass sound at 6 p.m.

“We will have a moonshine cocktail as well as Keith Smith, who is a retired NASCAR photographer,” Hanrick said. “He will tell us a little bit about his life in the NASCAR circuit.”

July’s Sunset Series is scheduled for the 21st at 6 p.m. and will feature Riggsbee Road, an all-female band from Raleigh. They will perform country, pop, and classic with a “new” grass twist to it, featuring vocal harmonies, and a big banjo.

In addition to the main events of

the season, CFBG will still be running its regular programming and initiatives to connect people to nature. Barnes said the goal of therapeutic horticulture is for the garden to be a resource to the community, particularly children, the underprivileged and those who serve.

The garden will continue its environmental education department, which offers after-school programming, preschool programming, homeschool programming, field trips for local schools, as well as camps throughout the summer.

“We received a grant this year that helped Title I schools be able to come to the garden for free for field trips,” Hanrick said. “That was a one-time grant that we took advantage of to make sure those underserved populations could have an experience in the garden.”

The CFBG is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and utilizes grants and sponsorships to host, fund, and promote horticultural-centric events for the last 35 years.

“We were started in 1989 by a group of community volunteers who thought Fayetteville deserved a botanical garden. We are a great place to escape and to find peace and respite from all the noise that’s in the world and in our lives today,” said Hanrick.

Page 16 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
>> By Suet Lee-Growney HOSPITALITY bizfayetteville.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN CFBG is connecting local history and agriculture with NASCAR with their Horticulture, Hooch & Outlaws in Fast Cars exhibit on display until August 20. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN The Garden Mania event allowed guests to build planter boxes and plant flowers to teach gardening fundamentals.

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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.

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.

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

REGISTER NOW AT FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

REGISTER NOW AT FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!

7:30 - 9:30 A.M.

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

REGISTER NOW AT FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 17 TO LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A FOUNDING SPONSOR, CONTACT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL AT 910.240.9697 OR MARKETING@BIZFAYETTEVILLE.COM. LEAD PRESENTING
GREATER FAYE TT E VILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
INSPIRE
TO LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A POWER BREAKFAST SPONSOR, CONTACT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL AT 910.240.9697 OR MARKETING@BIZFAYETTEVILLE.COM. LEAD GREATER FAYE TT E VILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
INSPIRE
TED ABERNATHY Managing Partner Economic Leadership The Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery Cape Fear Botanical Garden Fayetteville, NC 28305
TO LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A POWER BREAKFAST SPONSOR, CONTACT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL AT 910.240.9697 OR MARKETING@BIZFAYETTEVILLE.COM. LEAD GREATER FAYE TT E VILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
INSPIRE
TED ABERNATHY Managing Partner Economic Leadership
OUR ECONOMIC 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 ROB PATTERSON Regional President First Bank CORPORATE LEAD PRESENTING SPONSORS GREATER FAYE TT E VILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE PRINT. PACK. SHIP. All in one place! Print & Business Services Westwood • Fort Liberty • Hope Mills 910.860.1220 WESTWOOD AND HOPE MILLS LOCATIONS NOW OPEN SUNDAYS 11:00 am - 4:00 pm 439 WESTWOOD SHOPPING CENTER PLEASE SEND PRINT REQUESTS TO PRINT2974@GMAIL.COM | FORT LIBERTY MINI-MALL 3333 N MAIN ST UNIT 150 HOPE MILLS SHIPPING BLUEPRINTS SIGNS FLYERS NOTARY BOOKLETS DESIGN DIRECT MAIL SHREDDING BROCHURES BANNERS CANVAS PRINTS Partner with our friendly team of shipping and printing experts to grow your business.

Reader’s Guide

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

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

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Angels Heaven LLC

324 Grouper Dr

Fayetteville

Angelise M Davis-Long

WEN Brown Holdings LLC

6909 Bone Creek

Dr. Fayetteville

Agent: William

Raymond Brown Jr

SAM Enterprise Group Inc

3549 Castlefield

Fayetteville

Agent: STANLEY

JONES

Beauty Beyond Your Galaxy LLC

2667 Doland Cour t

Fayetteville

Agent: Baretta Adams

Benchmark Investment Properties LLC

2651 Lockwood Road Apt 102

Fayetteville

Agent: Tauchanna G Bullock

Livestream Square LLC

9408 Gooden Drive Fayetteville

Agent: Sabrina M Brown

For t Liberty Elite Xpress N.E.M.T. LLC

Triple S Services LLC

728 Old Wilmington rd

Fayetteville Agent: Tiffany Edwards

Stellar Dropship LLC

327 Ridgeway Ct.

Fayetteville

Agent: Luz Adriana Stevenson

4017 Whisper Wood

Fayetteville Agent: Antoine Echols

Maybridge Development LLC 213 Dick St

Fayetteville Agent: Maybridge Management LLC

Spare Hand Enterprise LLC

414 Taipei Ct Apt 82F

Fayetteville Agent: Cherrel Turner-Callwood

K-FOOD SEOUL INC

600 N BRAGG BLVD. SUITE 104 SPRING LAKE

Agent: SEUNG WOOK PARK

K9 Koexistence LLC

217 McKenzie Road Apt G Spring Lake Agent: Kisa Ladawn Driggers

Waxed By Nyk LLC

5605 hibiscus rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Nykisha L

Blassingame

Tresses by Que LLC

4653 V irsalli Loop

Hope Mills Agent: Quintina Robinson

Agent: Brian L Young

2 RAGZ DETAIL LLC

116 Packet CIrcle

For t Bragg

Agent: Michael Anthony Glover Jr

PAINT SOURCE INC

3630 MURCHSON ROAD

FAYETTEVILLE

Fayetteville Agent: Denzel Cromartie

LOTUS HL INC

1011 MARLBOROUGH ROAD

FAYETTEVILLE

Agent: HAIHONG YANG

Shelley's Pressure Washing LLC

6940 County Place Drive

Fayetteville Agent: Elizabeth Danna

JPH GOHAN 2 LLC

7835 GOOD

MIDDLING DR STE

128

FAYETTEVILLE

Agent: JOON HONG

Trucking Excellence LLC

817 larkspur drive

WINGS LLC

2800 GILLESPIE ST #130

FAYETTEVILLE Agent: YONG ZHENG

The Bobby Pin Hair Studio LLC

4029 Dunn Road

Eastover Agent: Samantha Sallie

Agent: Sunny Malone

Ricki W illiams Insurance Agency LLC

1517 Pepperchase Dr Fayetteville

Just Breathe Scr ubs llc

301 MURRAY FORK DRIVE

FAYETTEVILLE

Agent: Jennifer Brower

Navariahs Kitchen II LLC

6400 Starbrook Dr

Apt 6

Fayetteville

Agent: Seon Jack

Big Wash Transports LLC

3011 Town Center

Dr Ste 130 Unit #240

Fayetteville

Agent: Andrew Bernard Washington

Mek's F inest LLC

3910 Gofor th Drive

Hope Mills

Agent: Tomeka Davis Shaw

Sealey Well Drilling LLC

6534 Sisk Culbreth Road

Godwin Agent: Sara Sealey

BLACK HEART FAMILY L.L.C.

3610 STURBRIDGE

DRIVE

HOPE MILLS Agent: KORI DAVIS

Gravitec Solutions LLC

7214 Mariners Landing Dr Fayetteville

Agent: ALI SHAHBAZ

MAAK Movers LLC

6087 Roebud Road

Stedman

Agent: Kevin Devone McLaughlin Sr

EDWARDS GROUP ENTERPRISES. LLC

4820 backbay Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Danny R Edwards II

Burkhardt Management Group LLC

7369 Maxwell Road

Stedman

Agent: Debbie Chavis Burkhardt

South River Finish Carpentry LLC

14133 HWY 210

SOUTH

Roseboro

Agent: Robert Earl Westbrook II

Fetch My Hear t LLC

3652 Hastings Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Kiley Kellar

Yaya Food Mart LLC

2770 Graham Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Basheer Alsaidi

Cromar t LLC

530 Abbotts Landing Cir Apt C

Hope Mills

Agent: Michael Dan Shelley JR

Jennie Marie LLC

4762 Yadkin Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Jennifer Douglas

Street Talk Radio LLC

378 Oakhill Ln

Fayetteville

Agent: Ashley White

AMR Dog Treats LLC

3624 Lismore Lane

Hope Mills

Agent: Dorothy Dunn Thompson

Marios Wydr yers LLC

8156 Fayetteville Rd Raeford

Fayetteville Agent: Claudia L Coco

Loud Box Audio LLC

1318 Saltwell Pl

Fayetteville Agent: Khalil Younger

AMIRA'S CLOSET OF BLESSINGS INC

1705 Eagle Hill Road

Fayetteville Agent: MELISA BALDON

Doula Danna LLC

6708 BOVILL CT

Fayetteville Agent: Jason Marvin Saunders Jr

Abundancy LLC

219 Dick St

Fayetteville Agent: ShedNichole Cotton

Ar row Behavioral Therapy LLC.

8853 Clinton Road

Stedman

Agent: Faith D Zazueta

Bewise Consulting Services LLC

5075 Morganton Rd Ste 10C

Fayetteville Agent: Shekinah Jasmine Tong

SECOND CHANCE

AGAPE WORSHIP CENTER INC

2945 HOPE MILLS RD

FAYETTEVILLE

Agent: SHYREMIA

LATHAM

The CLC Management Corp.

3549 Castlefield Ln

Fayetteville Agent: STANLEY JONES

Ar row Behavioral Therapy L.L.C.

8848 Clinton Road Stedman Agent: Faith Danielle Zazueta

FL SEAFOOD &

The Rich Statistic LLC

909 Dandridge Dr

Fayetteville Agent: Patrick Nathaniel Carroll

J&C Delivery Service LLC

1049 Rim Rd

Fayetteville Agent: James Thomas

Potter's Solar and Roofing LLC

4630 Duncastle Rd. Apt 2C

Fayetteville Agent: Joseph C Potter Lead Solutions LLC 1111 Boone Hall Way

Unit. 203

Fayetteville Agent: Ilya Al Salman

Shalia Pinks Woken Boutique LLC 4311 Bragg Blvd

Fayetteville Agent: Jason Michael Peura

Skillz Concrete LLC

5075 Morganton Rd. Suite 10C

Fayetteville Agent: Love Gibbs

Postpartum Network LLC

4752 Ritson Lane

Fayetteville

Agent: Ricki Williams JR Residential Treatment Facility LLC

4515 Chambersburg Road

Fayetteville Agent: Jeane D Rhone Xtraordia LLC 3512 Castlefield Ln Fayetteville Agent: Jacqueline Ezell

Mama's Boy LLC 100 Hay Street Ste 503

Fayetteville Agent: Lora Ann Davis

Bloom in Journey PLLC 2929 Delaware Dr Fayetteville Agent: Nadesha Crumbie

TSD Ventures LLC

5075 Morganton Rd STE 10C

Fayetteville Agent: Richard Steven Cashwell Jr

Crazy Fr uits LLC

5384 Wade Stedman Rd Wade Agent: Charles Barnett

Toulouse Enterprises LLC

8331 Whitewood Ct Linden Agent: Lyle Odias Toulouse

Page 18 May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
bizfayetteville.com
BIZ LEADS
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal May 26, 2023 - June 8, 2023 Page 20 READY FOR EYE-OPENING SUMMER CLASSES SECOND SESSION CLASSES: JUNE 12-JULY 24 APPLY TODAY! www.faytechcc.edu admissions@faytechcc.edu. l 910.678.8400 ENRICHING LIVES. REIMAGINING FUTURES. YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE.

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