Greater Fayetteville Business Journal - June 23, 2023 Issue

EXPANSIONS UNDERWAY

Cape Fear Regional Theatre awaits city decision regarding support for Phase II of renovations to their facilities

By Stephanie Meador

ape Fear Regional Theatre is looking to expand their facility and offerings in the community as progress continues on their capital campaign to renovate and redesign their current building.

DCaphne 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.

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.

CFRT finished Phase I of renovations to their auditorium in 2021 which featured new seats, wider rows, a new sound system and improvements to accessibility. The rest of the building has not been renovated since 1988 according to CFRT Managing Director Ella Wrenn. The Theatre is now moving into Phase II, an expansion on the current building which

PHOTO PROVIDED BY: DARDEN JENKINS

An artist's rendering of the fully renovated Kress Lofts building. Daphne Sanitz has developed eight historic properties in Downtown Fayetteville.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CFRT

renovated facility located on the CFRT campus at 1209 Hay Street.

MAY

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

ROBESON COUNTY APRIL 2023: 4.7% DOWN FROM APRIL 2022: 4.9%

LABOR FORCE APRIL 2023 BY INDUSTRY (FAYETTEVILLE MSA)

Source: Longleaf Pines MLS and Mid Carolina Regional MLS

Source: NC Department of Commerce

Source: NC Department of Revenue

CumberlandHokeHarnettSampsonRobesonBladenMoore

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

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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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Art in life

Iwas exposed to the musical arts very early in my life. When I was about eight years old, my family started playing music together and later formed a family band. Although we played at a few local venues like Sunday on the Square (the predecessor event to the Dogwood Festival), and a few places for people to dance, we mainly played for family gatherings and for our own enjoyment. My dad played guitar and dobro (which is a slide guitar that sits in your lap.) He also played the steel guitar as well. Mom played guitar and sang, my brother Tony played the bass guitar and my other brother, Dean played the drums.

We had a few other very talented extended family and friends join us from time to time, as well. It was a lesson in teamwork and lots of fun and occasionally, I would make a little money too!

Although I never had the patience to learn how to play an instrument, I found out, quite by accident, that I could sing. When I was nine years old, I started singing a song I heard on the radio and my mom heard me.

She had me sing the same song to my dad, and from that moment on, I was in the band singing songs like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Spiders and Snakes,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” etc. It was a ton of fun and knit our family tightly together. I’m forever grateful for that time in my life.

By my high school days, I wasn’t performing in the band as much. By my junior year of high school, the drama teacher had learned that I could sing and she asked me to try out for the spring musical, Oklahoma! I played Curly and had a great time. And yes, I did get a perm to make my hair curly for the part. I also participated in some other plays, as well. My senior year, I played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. That was a very challenging role, and I loved the camaraderie of the team.

That camaraderie is what I think of when I see artists doing what they love while helping others enjoy their talents, their art. This issue is dedicated to those businesses who have combined their artistic talents with the ability to run a successful business organization.

Oxford’s definition of the arts is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

It goes on to further define the arts as the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature and dance.

What a great way to do business!

To do something you love - that brings so much enjoyment and happiness to others.

Kudos to all those businesses who have successfully navigated the waters of sharing their art to all of us over the years! It inspires us and makes us feel alive.

If you have been blessed to be able to be a part of it, then you have been doubly blessed!

God bless you and yours!

Marty Cayton (right) plays opposite Nancy Holmes (left) who played Golda in the Western Harnett High School’s production of Fiddler on the Roof performed in fall of 1984.

BANKING + FINANCE

Funding the arts

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF FAYETTEVILLE AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS ON TRACK TO AWARD $1.4 MILLION IN GRANTS IN 2023

The Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County is helping artists grow sustainably and encouraging local organizations and programs to expand.

The council is set to distribute $1.4 million to the Cumberland County arts community this year, CEO Bob Pinson said in a recent interview. The hope, Pinson noted, is that federal and state funds can reach artists, nonprofits and arts programs at the grassroots level. All together, nonprofit arts and culture are a $59.2 million industry in Cumberland County, according to a report prepared by the Arts Council. This sector supports 1,897 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $6.1 million in local and state government revenue. The Arts Council estimates organizations in this space spend around $29.6 million locally.

To spur this growth, the organization has grants initiatives such as the mini grants program, artists/projects support grants and the artists in schools matching subsidy program.

The mini grant program helps fund creative arts, culture, or history-based projects, activities, or events. It is available to nonprofits, municipal entities, or individual artists in Cumberland County. The program was born out of some returning funds allocated to a project that could not come to fruition in 2019. The Council then decided to repackage that leftover money to fund three other small requests, Pinson said.

“In 2019, we gave out about three mini grants totaling about $5,100,” Pinson noted. Between 2019 and now, that program grew from $5,100 to $130,000 with 56 applicants last year. He also added that the program encourages year-round participation.

“One of the things we saw over the years was that we needed a program that would run throughout the year,” Pinson said. “To me, it was always bothersome when somebody would come in and say ‘if I had been here a month ago, I could have had a chance at X grant.’”

Pinson highlighted the mini grant program as a gateway for the Arts Council to dive deeper into the local arts community.

“It allows us to get a more diverse number of applicants,” he said, noting

that the program was a good starting point for local artists looking to learn how to submit grant applications.

“Our staff is very diligent at working individually with every applicant to try to make the applications as successful as they can. We also want to teach artists grant writing skills so that the application can be representative of the project they want to do.”

Some recent stories of success, Pinson said, are awarding funds to a Tony award-winning theater artist, as well as approving funds for several artists who have performed on Broadway.

“These grants provide an avenue for artists to move forward,” he noted.

Recently, the organization also awarded $184,200 in project support funding to prop up cultural arts projects in Cumberland County. For this program, the Arts Council received applications last year to support 30 projects from 18 organizations with requests totaling $295,000.

Ultimately, funding was awarded to projects in the categories of arts education, collaborative/fellowship support, cultural tourism, inclusive outreach, military arts and a series of

fine arts exhibits across Cumberland County.

“In some cases, we will actually utilize some of the programs that they’re actually applying for, incorporate them into some of the other things that we’re doing as an art agency, and then we actually help market that,” Pinson said of the support grants.

The artists in schools grant is meant to help educational institutions provide students access to artist residencies, assembly performances, online and virtual engagement activities and workshops. Title I schools, which are institutions that support low income students throughout the nation, have been part of the focus of this grant program, Pinson said. Cumberland County has 68 Title I schools.

“Our goal is to be able to put artists at each one of the 68 Title I schools at no cost to the school, funded through the Arts Council,” Pinson noted. “This past year, we actually serviced 56 of the 68 schools.”

The Arts Council plans to dedicate about $80,000 to that program for the upcoming year.

THE LOCAL ARTS SCENE RECOVERS FROM ADVERSE COVID-19 EFFECTS

The basic philosophy of the Arts Council is that “art is the common denominator across people,” Pinson said.

“Diversity is a really important aspect of what we do — diversity, equity, and transparency are our core values,” Pinson said. “Art allows topics and discussions to happen about some things that sometimes just don’t necessarily happen or don't happen very easily.”

Despite all the negative effects brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, he added, the viral outbreak also showed the importance of being able to gather around art.

“I mean that in a very global sense, not just visual art, but art was absolutely essential to our mental well being,” he said. “We are still facing the ramifications of that isolation as a society coming out of the pandemic. We weren’t able to get out and gather. We found that art is not just a form of entertainment.”

That sense of community and focus has pushed the Arts Council to continue its mission to grow the local arts scene.

“We’re actually stronger by supporting our artists and organizations,” Pinson said. He added that being an organization that can disburse both federal and state funds at the regional level has given the Arts Council the chance to be efficient and help artists directly.

“Art is an absolutely essential piece of who we are as a people, and it is essential to our mental state,” he concluded.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ARTS COUNCIL OF FAYETTEVILLE CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County financially supports a roster of Teaching Artists for their Artists In Schools Grant Programs.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ARTS COUNCIL OF FAYETTEVILLE CUMBERLAND COUNTY

The Council’s International Folk Festival is one of the longest running multicultural festivals in the region.

>> By Stephanie Meador

From EXPANSIONS, page 1 will feature two new classrooms, additional event spaces, updated accessibility and “a new-and-improved customer experience” according to information on the project.

Phase II was always part of the initial goal, and the staff at CFRT were cognizant of the long term goals they had for the space early on. “Knowing that the space needed some attention, and also that the organization of the infrastructure could better serve the rapid growth of the institution, we did a master plan for Phase II at the same time that we were doing Phase I so that we made sure we didn’t spend money twice… And so that sort of was the genesis of knowing that Phase II was coming, and then we’re now looking at breaking ground in June of 2024,” shared Wrenn.

In January, CFRT submitted a request for $500,000 a year for five years to the City Council to fund further expansions for a new building. At the time of this article’s publication, the unapproved budget has a commitment of $250,000 allocated annually to the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

Patrons of the arts young and old joined representatives of Cape Fear Regional Theatre at the June 12 Fayetteville City Council meeting to advocate that the city provide financial support for the continued expansion of their facilities.

The Theatre began fundraising in 2020 which brought them $1 million to complete Phase I of their renovations. Since then, the Theatre has raised $10.5 million for their new building and speakers came forward to urge the Council to adjust their budget to help them fully fund the project, citing the economic impact the new facility could have in the area.

“The Phase II project will generate $47 million in direct and induced spending and contribute toward creating a vibrant place for economic recruitment and retention. With your $2.5 million commitment now CFRT will reach its full potential as a world class theatre ensuring that world class art won’t be a world away,” shared Wrenn at the public hearing. “The renovated building will be a jewel for our community. It will take our cloistered former movie theater and make it into a transparent beautiful hub for the arts. We have grown 15 percent and now serve 50,000 people annually, the same as organizations with two and three times our operating budget.”

CFRT is currently working with SfL+a Architects on the expansion

plans. Wrenn shared that they are just beginning to engage with other partners for things such as engineering evaluations and other project specifics. Wrenn also added that based on this iteration of building diagrams, they expect to add 40 percent to the building’s square footage.

The Theatre needs an overall total of about $20 million to complete Phase II.

“The goal is to be able to meet some of the growth [we’re seeing]… like right now all of our summer camps sold out in record time and we have waitlists that are 25 kids deep. And our hope would be to be able to expand the reach of the education program across a variety of different programs–studio classes, our touring production that goes into elementary schools, and sort of make that deeper so that we can reach more kids [and] serve more of the community,” re-

marked Wrenn.

Almost 200 people came out to the city council meeting held June 12 to support the Theatre. Supporters were asked to wear black and were given green stickers to accessorize and state the Theatre’s mission. Some attendees brought posters as well featuring stats regarding the impact CFRT has had on the community.

“We were all incredibly moved… and I think that really demonstrates the deep love that the community has for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and also that this is the theatre’s moment. We have not asked for support from the city in more than 20 years. We’re self-sustaining. We’re doing the work. We’re reaching audiences that are bigger and more diverse than the national average at the moment and when you’re on the ground, reaching the community, listening to the community, serving the community, the

community will back you up,” shared Wrenn. “…I think we all felt like this is why, this is why to do anything, why to do shows, why to build a new building, why to expand the reach, is the people that you get to serve.”

CFRT Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke also spoke at the city council meeting.

“We have a three year plan that will enable us to continue producing and teaching our classes while the building is under construction,” stated Burke. “With your support at $2.5 million, we will break ground at this time next year on route to opening this incredible facility in the fall of 2025. But without the fully funded request for this project, it will be delayed.”

Following the completion of Phase II, the Theatre will be able to serve a larger audience not only in house but through external projects as well.

“What is exciting to us is, since the beginning, the thesis has been with more space, we can serve more people…one of the things that expansion is going to do is create more square footage in our scene shop, which is great for our own internal building purposes, but also it creates additional capacity for CFRT to use our equipment and our very skilled technicians to do other work within the community like the big ARTS letters outside of the Arts Council were built at CFRT by our people. The entrance facade to The Night Circus New Year’s Eve party was also built here. And so having more space will mean that we could do more of that sort of community work and outreach and even stuff for private events,” added Wrenn.

Councilman D.J. Haire informed the public before the hearing began that the Council wouldn’t be voting whether to adopt the current budget at the time, citing concerns in other areas that will need further review before a decision is made.

The council has not yet formally voted on the city’s budget, but a decision will be made by the end of June.

When asked if this was the final phase or if there was a Phase III in the plans as well, Wrenn stated that while the CFRT leadership team are always looking to see where they can do more, they’re focusing their attention and energy on Phase II and “making it the best and the most successful that it can be knowing that Phase II will be enough to set the institution up

for great success.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GFBJ

Top: A mainstage photo from CFRT’s 2023 production of Matilda. The production featured two different youth casts for its run, which was extended due to popular demand.

Bottom: Supporters of the CFRT wore black in the public hearing, were given green stickers to help share the theater’s message and held up signs for Council members to help them understand the impact the theater has in the community and their districts.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CFRT

ACHIEVERS

Fayetteville native J Harrison Ghee wins Tony Award

J HARRISON GHEE, a native of Fayetteville and a graduate of E. E. Smith High School, made history at this year’s Tony Awards.

Ghee won the 2023 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for their performance in Some Like It Hot, and Ghee and fellow awardee Alex Newell are the first out nonbinary performers to win Tony Awards.

“My mother raised me to understand that my gifts that God gave me were not about me. To use them to be effective in the world, to help somebody else's journey. So thank you for teaching me how to live, how to love, how to give,” shared Ghee during an emotional acceptance speech. “For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human — whoever was told you couldn't be, you couldn't be seen, this is for you.”

Community members are thrilled to witness the success of Ghee who accepted this award with humility and grace, and are excited to see what the future holds for Ghee.

Fortuna BMC’s Diana Potts listed in top 100 women leaders in NC

Fortuna BMC Chief Operations Officer, DIANA POTTS is gaining recognition for her leadership after ranking number 25 in the esteemed Top 50 Women Leaders of North Carolina 2023 list presented by the Women We Admire.

“North Carolina boasts a diverse and robust economy, with several key industries contributing to its development including technology, manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, agriculture, renewable energy, and more. The leadership from this year’s awardees has been instrumental in driving innovation, fostering diversity, and promoting inclusive growth throughout the state” the publication stated in part

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.”

when announcing the list.

Fortuna BMC acknowledged Potts’ achievement in a Facebook post stating in part:

“This well-deserved award highlights Diana’s outstanding dedication and leadership. Join us in celebrating her remarkable accomplishments and congratulating her on this prestigious recognition!”

RAYWEST DESIGNBUILD welcomes new Project Coordinator Apprentice in Fayetteville

The RAYWEST DESIGNBUILD team is honored to welcome WHITNEY CARTER as a Project Coordinator Apprentice.

Carter is a driven individual seeking a career in building and construction. She recently graduated from the FTCC Construction Technology program and is currently pursuing a plumbing program that she will complete this summer. Her dedication and passion for building and construction make her a perfect fit for the program and the team.

RAYWEST DESIGNBUILD recently announced their partnership with Fayetteville Technical Community College and the Apprenticeship NC program. This collaboration is a testament to RAYWEST DESIGNBUILD’s commitment to supporting and preparing the next generation of construction professionals for successful careers.

The Apprenticeship NC program offers students the opportunity to receive on-the-job training and experience while pursuing their studies. This program aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and

real-world applications by providing hands-on training within a professional work environment.

Dogwood State Bank named a Best Employer in North Carolina for 2023 by Business North Carolina

DOGWOOD STATE BANK has been named a Best Employer in North Carolina for 2023 by Business North Carolina. According to the publication’s website, Business North Carolina’s annual list of Best Employers highlights companies that rank highly in their efforts to motivate teammates and draw strong employees. The program recognizes the state’s best places to work with a unique awards program for small, medium and large companies that are taking steps to build positive, enduring cultures.

Falling under the “Large Employers” category, employing between 76 and 299 people, Dogwood State Bank was given recognition for its

a Best Employer in North Carolina for 2023 by Business North Carolina! This prestigious recognition represents the unique culture built by our wonderful community. Over the past four years, we have built a solid team where love, respect and superior service drive our momentum. Our team is the secret to our success and makes Dogwood State Bank an incredible place to be!”

In February 2022, Dogwood State Bank expanded into Fayetteville, opening a full service banking location in downtown Fayetteville in the former Systel building.

Dogwood State Bank and the other companies that made the list will be honored during a dinner and awards ceremony at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro on June 22.

Pinehurst Police Chief graduates from FBI National Academy

Village of Pinehurst Manager Jeff Sanborn proudly announced that Pinehurst Police Chief GLEN WEBB has graduated as a member of the 286th session of the FBI National Academy. The graduation took place at the National Academy in Quantico, Virginia on June 8, 2023. Chief Webb is only the third officer in department history to complete the prestigious program. Nationally, fewer than one percent of officers have the opportunity to attend the program.

“Not only did Chief Webb complete this rigorous training, but he also earned the respect of his peers by being elected Section B representative,” said Sanborn in a press release. “This is a testament to the solid leadership we have come to expect from Chief Webb.”

more than 200 years of banking experience, its $1 billion in assets, its growth in recent years and more.

The company acknowledged the recognition in a post on LinkedIn stating:

“Dogwood State Bank is proud to share that we have been named

The National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.

The 286th session consisted of 238 law enforcement officers from 47 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 25 countries, five military organizations, and six federal civilian organizations.

Webb

Carter

Potts

Accessible Art

THE FAYETTEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WORKS TO EXPAND AND SHARE FINE ARTS OFFERINGS IN THE CITY AND BEYOND

Involving 60 accomplished musicians performing all over the city, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and their performances make for a world-class experience available right here in Fayetteville. This professional regional orchestra uses outreach programs, skilled musicians and an infectious passion for their art to spread the love of music and the opportunity for music education to everyone.

The fine arts scene is alive and well in Fayetteville, and the Orchestra seeks to expand the scene to all corners of the city’s population, and potentially beyond. The Orchestra engages in and offers a multiplicity of programs, partnerships and performances for the sole benefit of the community.

Members of the Orchestra, all professionals in their fields, come from all over to join the nonprofit group. The Orchestra seeks out people with plenty of experience and music education in their backgrounds. Around a quarter of the Orchestra’s members are local and the musicians are contract workers who joined via an audition process. There is also a substitute list that musicians can audition for.

The Orchestra offers subscription concerts which entail ticketed events featuring classical music and community concert events.

“We do a community concert series where we offer free admission experiences for the community because we recognize that ticket costs can be a barrier to people from going out and seeing the orchestra, and we really want our program to be accessible to all,” said Anna Meyer, executive director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

These community concerts involve events like the Fourth of July concert in Festival Park, Handel’s Messiah near the holidays and Symphony Movie Night at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom.

“We do a Symphony on Tap series where we take small ensembles from the orchestra and bring them out to different breweries and we perform in small groups for free,” said Meyer. “We’ll tend to play more popular music, some jazz music, something that’s a little different than you’d see in the concert hall.”

While the Orchestra offers the

traditional approach of in person concerts, the Orchestra also extends an alternative way of bringing the symphony to the audience.

“We try really hard to create a comfortable environment. We are not a stuffy orchestra or organization, we encourage people to come as they’re comfortable,” said Meyer. “We like to have fun, we like to make friends, we like to be in community with others, we’re not that kind of place where you have to dress up and sit still.”

Meyer shared that it’s important that the Orchestra offers a dynamic variety of music for concert attendees to enjoy.

“We try not only to offer a variety of pricing for events, but also a variety of musical genres, because we get that not everybody wants to listen to classical programs,” said Meyer. “So we try to offer a wide variety of things so everyone can find something they’re interested in.”

The Orchestra doesn’t forget about the younger age demographic. There is a Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra for middle and high schoolers who have experience with an instrument, and are seeking to learn more.

“The program is led by professional musicians from the Fayetteville Symphony, so the students are getting really high quality instruction and getting the opportunity to perform across the community,” said Meyer. “One of my favorite

things about that program is that we give the students the opportunity to perform side by side with the professional Fayetteville Symphony, so they do a concert together on stage where we pair a student with a professional musician so they get that one-on-one mentorship and the opportunity to play with a professional orchestra. It is a cool program!” The Orchestra also offers internship programs for college students, both for the administrative office and to gain experience in the professional music world.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit organization under 501(c3), relying on grants, donations and ticket sales to continue their education programs and free concerts. The Orchestra performs at a variety of halls, utilizing a lot of Fayetteville’s hallmark establishments such as Fayetteville State, Methodist University, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens and Cape Fear Regional Theatre in addition to local churches like St. John’s Episcopal, First Presbyterian Church and Haymount United Methodist. The Orchestra works closely with the Arts Council of Fayetteville Cumberland County, Cumberland Community Foundation, United Way of Cumberland County and Cumberland Choral Arts to provide only the best musical experiences to the community.

“We’d love to have more engage-

ment from the business community. We love to see people out at our concerts and events,” said Meyer. “We do have group rates and if a business group wanted to come out and come see a show all together that’d be great. We have a lot of opportunities, and we hope people will want to engage with us.”

Some future events the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is excited to present include Spooktacular, a Halloween-themed concert on October 28.

“We’ll encourage people to dress up, we’ll play spooky tunes that people will recognize, so that’ll be really fun,” said Meyer. Cumberland Choral Arts will work alongside the Symphony with Holiday Pops, a large-scale holiday-themed concert on Dec. 9. Looking further ahead in 2024, on April 20 the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will play with famous bluegrass band, the Krueger Brothers. On May 11, the principal trombone of the New York Philharmonics Joseph Alessi will play with the symphony at a concert titled Bad to the Bone.

“We’re super excited for the season. We’ve got some great keystone concerts and great guest artists,” said Meyer. “Something we really pride ourselves on is trying to be out in the community and meet people where they’re at, instead of expecting them to come to us.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FAYETTEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra partnered with the Givens Performing Arts Center to celebrate the music of famed composer John Williams in a special concert series in 2018.

Information was obtained from the most recent publicly-available IRS Form 990-PF filed by each grant making organization between 2020-2021, and from other public sources. The list includes grantmaking organizations based in the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal coverage area that gave at least one grant to an individual or organization in this local area.

The art of education

METHODIST UNIVERSITY’S DIVISION OF FINE & PERFORMING ARTS PREPARES ARTISTS FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE.

Methodist University’s College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences has been preparing artists focused on all forms of expression to join the workforce through the Division of Fine and Performing Arts since the school was established in 2004. Now in 2023, after being one of three remaining Colleges within Methodist University following a reorganization of academic departments in 2021, the Division is continuing with their primary goal of ensuring that all students at Methodist University have an opportunity to “investigate, collaborate, and experience the arts.”

The Division of Fine and Performing Arts includes programs in performance, music education, composition, arts management and theater, offering nine undergraduate majors and three undergraduate minors.

According to the Head of the Fine & Performing Arts Division Dr. Susan Durham-Lozaw, the demand for each of the programs changes every year, but Music Performance, Music Education and Graphic Design are the most popular programs being offered.

“We always try to offer the degrees that a) students need to realize their dreams and b) that fill needs within our community. We are actually in the process of redesigning our music degrees to make them even more student-focused,” shared DurhamLozaw. “Our goal is always to meet the needs of our students and to prepare them well for their futures!”

With each undergraduate major and minor offered, the requirements for each ensure two of the primary goals the institution has for their students: help students to compete at the highest level for employment within the arts community and have the ability to enter graduate school fully prepared both artistically and academically.

“Training in the arts can be paralleled with sports – you have to be both talented and smart. They [students] spend hours training the talented side of their experience, but they also attend related courses (think music theory, art history, etc.) so that they are well-versed in the field,” said Durham-Lozaw who also serves as a Professor of Music and Voice Coordi-

nator. “I feel extremely lucky to work with some of the finest pedagogues in the field at Methodist. In the eight years that I have been on this faculty, I cannot think of a single student who failed to get into graduate school or failed to get a great job post-graduation.”

Along with an in-class education, students are able to get performance experience on campus as well. Per-

formance opportunities are available year-round to majors and non-majors through the Methodist University Chamber Orchestra, MU Theatre productions, the Methodist University Chorale, the MU Dance Team and more.

According to University officials, about nine out of 10 Methodist University graduates have a job or are in graduate school six months after graduation and graduates consistently rank among the top 20-25 percent of graduates in NC four-year colleges/ universities when measuring average salary 10 years after enrollment.

Methodist University has compiled data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to help showcase some of the average annual salaries for artbased positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:

The average annual salary for graphic designers: $53,770.

The average annual salary for an archivist, curator, and museum technician: $58,830.

The average annual salary for a music director and composer: $52,550.

Moving forward, Durham-Lozaw said that the 11 faculty and staff

members within the Division of Fine and Performing Arts will consistently look at their curriculum to ensure they are meeting the ever-changing demands across different art industries, with new developments soon coming thanks to the influential funding over the past few years from the William Frederick Bethune Fund for the Arts of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.

“We follow the related national associations’ recommendations, communicate often with our peers at other institutions, and consistently evaluate our offerings. In fact, we are in the process of a complete redesign of our music offerings. Our goal is to provide students with two distinct choices – the first is a ‘professional’ Bachelor of Music degree; the second is a Bachelor of Arts in music that takes less time to complete, leaving more time for a double major,” shared Durham-Lozaw. “We are in the process of building a brand-new MakerSpace that will provide a host of new creative outlets for our students, regardless of major. Moreover, we will welcome some exciting new art shows in our gallery next year. Whenever you look at Methodist, you can be sure that there is much going on in the Division of Fine and Performing Arts!”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Methodist University has performance opportunities for all students, even those not majoring in the arts, including the Methodist University Chamber Orchestra.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY METHODIST UNIVERSITY Graphic Design is one of nine undergraduate majors offered through the Division of Fine and Performing Arts at Methodist University.

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.

Grant, Gary Futch, Patrick Murray and James Sherrill

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

O.T.G Pressure LLC

4306 Ferguson Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: DeCarius Tyrek Hoxie

YOLO music LLC

5203 Woodpecker

Dr

Hope Mills

Agent: Tyler Andrew Paul

Blazin' Cuts LLC

2602 E Brinkley

Drive

Spring Lake

Agent: Lawrence Bullock Sr

AR Transfer Logistics LLC

6532 Brookshire St

Fayetteville

Agent: ANDY RAMCHARRAN

Mom and Pop Community LLC

3632 Masters Dr

Hope Mills

Agent: Juan Guadalupe

Overachieving Productions LLC

429 Person St. Suite 1-A

Fayetteville

Agent: BossLady Corporate Services LLC

Fayetteville Agent: Donna Lawson

GOSHEN HOME HEALTH LLC

100 Hay Street Ste 503

Fayetteville

Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC

BIZ LEADS

Sombra Tattoo LLC

5200 Morganton Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Faron Vincent Brown Jr

A Joyful Ride LLC

357 Neal Street

Fayetteville Agent: Dextyna Nychelle Fisher

Fayetteville Agent: Bernadette

Rebecca Bogertey

Liber ty Notary Service LLC

6313 Foxlake Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: Angela Lisette Gardner

Justin Air LLC

Agent: Shivana

Bishop

CoinCardsCollect LLC

7013 Media Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Joseph

Leroy Lockett Jr

Home Hoppers LLC

Ephphatha LLC

10501 Ramsey St

Linden

Agent: Hee Y

Kim

TERRY ALLEN LOGISTICS LLC

420 Old Farm Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Kaleb Baggett

Agent: Lashondra

L Givens

That Guys Landscaping LLC

81 Buck Lane White Oak Agent: Lee Guy

Balsa Homes LLC

6880 Har vest Ct

Al's Painting

Pressure Washing Solutions Inc

2509 Car riage Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Fastrac Tax

Financial Inc.

Hustsoles Inc.

520 N McPherson Church Rd

Fayetteville

Agent: Mahmoud

Aly Hamed

Vargas Wraps LLC

7340 Cayman DR

Fayetteville

Agent: Luis Joel

Vargas

Unique Flooring & Interiors LLC

5486 Trade Street

Hope Mills

Agent: Dana Brett

Polston

Addison Unlimited LLC

2033 Har rington Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Deangila

Jenall Johnson

Relic Motors LLC

5305 Chesapeake Road

Fayetteville Agent: Nicholas

Corcoran

Opulence Dynasty Medical Services LLC

2120 Quailridge Dr

Simply Lami LLC

5221 Shagbark Rd

Fayetteville Agent: Melvin McMillan Jr.

IAMNELLKIRK_LLC

Digital Marketing Agency

301 Green St. #2895

Fayetteville Agent: Leonelli

May

T & T Hinson L.L.C.

508 Owen Drive Fayetteville

Agent: Tania Hinson

Gonzalez Larios Remodeling LLC

1139 Mer ry Maple LN LOT 70

Fayetteville

Agent: Denis Alexander Gonzalez

Larios

CWG KreationZ & Company LLC

100 Hay Street Ste 503

Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC

C.G.R Constr uction Co Inc.

100 Hay Street Ste 503

Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC

Hodges Housing LLC

708 Pilot Ave

Fayetteville Agent: Matthew A Hodges

PRP LLC

1067 Souther n Ave

Fayetteville Agent: Matthew C Person

BIG 8 BULLY KENNELS LLC

433 FOXWOOD DR

Fayetteville Agent: JEFFERY D POLK

Gentle Touch Kennels LLC

6310 Char tley Dr

Fayetteville

Agent: Jarvis Williams Jr

W LAND INC.

350 Wagoner Dr.

Fayetteville Agent: Anthony F Weaver

HINTON HOME IMPROVEMENT

L.L.C.

1421 powell street

Fayetteville Agent: Joseph S Hinton

The Healthy Child & Adolescent Network Inc.

3348 Jura Drive

3223 LYNNHAVEN

Fayetteville Agent: Justin Erik Turner

A.K.J. Cleaning LLC

1432 Greenock Ave

Fayetteville Agent: Elvia Castro

Off The Top Lawn Care LLC

4614 ILE CT

Fayetteville Agent: Lance J Hines

Redterpret LLC

5695 Little Lake Drive

Hope Mills

Agent: Samantha Kennedy

Unr uleeDemo&Landscaping LLC

320 Gr ummen Rd

Hope Mills

Agent: Zaire William Watkins

Show Up and Show Out LLC

3525 Talus Road

Fayetteville

Agent: Reginald Buchanan

KNOT JUST HAIR BOUTIQUE LLC

1359 Worstead Dr

Fayetteville

4272 Cedar Creek Road

Fayetteville

Agent: Steven D. Hopper

Valles Concrete LLC

60 Cimar ron Dr

Spring Lake

Agent: Julian

Ascencion Perez

Reyes

The Gayles Group

LLC

5208 Cypress

Glen Road

Hope Mills

Agent: Tony Carlos

Gayles Sr

Beauty Beyond Borders LLC

120 Anderson St

Fayetteville

Agent: Alena

Seryodkin

Hellz Palace LLC

377 Lynhurst Drive

Fayetteville

Agent: Lidio A Toro

Aced it! LLC

5075 Morgantown

Ard STE 10C

Fayetteville

Agent: Aaron Lam-

ont Carter

KEMIRA Investments and Holdings Group LLC

8321 Whitewood

Linden

Agent: Katherine Murphy

Patriot Transportations LLC

5716 Scarecrow Ct

Fayetteville Agent: Keith Siler

F irst Sense Cleaning Solutions LLC

311 Neal St

Fayetteville

Agent: Sharhonda

Harris

YJSmith LLC

3520 Castlefield

Lane

Fayetteville

Agent: Yolanda

Jefferson Smith

I-HAUL4U LLC

5106 Paul Peel Place

Hope mills

Agent: John Joseph Williams

CLS Transportation LLC

1808 Tryon DrUnit 2

Fayetteville Agent: Chevon

Edward Elihu Mills

RDU Event Rentals LLC

2915 Hayfield Rd

Wade Agent: Sierra

Aerial Gilmore

Mardi Gras Tours & Transportation LLC

1837 Bluffside Drive

Fayetteville

Fayetteville

Agent: Arturo Manuel Balsa Kerr

Colvin Build & Associates LLC

321 Dick St

Fayetteville Agent: Alfonzo Devone Whittington Jr

CACT Consulting LLC

420 Runnymede Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Tina Louise Burley Bender

Ashley's Learning Center LLC

5313 Trampas Ct

Fayetteville Agent: Ashley Jasskel Frye Vasquez

Yvette's Dressing Room LLC

5075 Morganton Rd STE 10C #1546

Fayetteville Agent: Carla Yvette Jackson

E.L.M. RIVERS LLC

1215 Alexwood

Dr Hope Mills

Agent: Katina Melvin

Oreginald Ar ts LLC

504 Stoneway Court

Fayetteville

Setting sights on Fayetteville

DAVIDSON BASED TECH COMPANY GREENHILL ANTIBALLISTICS CORPORATION LOOKS TO MOVE THEIR MANUFACTURING TO CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Greenhill AntiBallistics Corporation, a nanotechnology materials company, is in the early phases of choosing Fort Liberty as a potential home in the future.

Greenhill AntiBallistics’ mission is to protect troops, children and athletes against brain damage and blunt trauma in the military and sports industries using their invention, a specially manufactured patented Force Disruption Platform™.

FDP is an advanced material that uses nanotechnology to reduce force of impact 50 percent in the thickness of a dime (1 mm) which allows for a lightweight method of protection. FDP is nanoscale, reinforces existing protection and uses force against itself which makes it ideal for protective equipment such as body armor, sports helmets, padding and other protection.

Current top tier materials are macroscale, inert and cannot match FDP at the same size, thickness and weight.

According to the creators, CEO and COO Judy Lee Greenhill and Zach Greenhill, chief technology strategist, this technology has been in the works for many years and now can be custom ordered to help meet the needs of the buyer.

“The material is, for lack of a better word, a designer material. If you show us the use case, and you show us the device on which it is to be placed. We will design our material through modeling and configuration to optimize the reduction in that device,” shared Zach. “So for example, if you're talking about a military helmet, you can actually take FDP by simple insertion retrofitted into your helmet, and that can happen. No redesigns to the helmet, no retooling needed whatsoever. You can pop it in or take it out and that includes in the field.”

Conceptualization began in the early 2000s and the two officially patented the technology back in 2008-2009.

“At that time, nanotechnology was not new, but people were wary about it as it’s been misused for many things. But we were very cautious in terms of what people's perceptions were in the market, both positive and negative,” shared Judy. “Once we had the idea we started to see customers

and talk to prospective customers, both in the military space and in sports and anyone who were open to a new, mature advanced material. And so we gathered additional intelligence and data and a kind of understanding on what is the best approach into the marketplace.”

Judy said that after years in the works the company has the team, the secure supply chain within the U.S. and North America and most importantly, a large scale production method to bring the product securely into the marketplace for large scale buyers. Currently located in Davidson N.C., the company is in the early stages of potentially relocating to Fayetteville.

“Fayetteville is an area we really want to be in. We’re now co-working

in Davidson but we can relocate to Fayetteville to be closer to the end user and where really, our mission out of the box and into the market will start,” shared Judy.

Greenhill AntiBallistics is proud to be an active member of the North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (NC DEFTECH) which is where the two first connected with Rob Patton, executive vice president of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, after a brief presentation on their product.

“I was impressed with what they had to say and wanted to learn more so I linked up with them and we started talking,” said Patton. “I really liked what they were doing and saw some potentially very positive impacts for the military at large, as well as the opportunity they mentioned wanting to open up a production facility potentially here in the

Cumberland County area. I’ve been working with them for about a year and seeing if we can potentially get them to open up a facility here.”

Patton said that adding the Greenhill AntiBallistics Corporation manufacturing plant to the area would increase the profile of the area and possibly attract more businesses of the same caliber.

“We do have a good manufacturing base. Obviously, we want to inject further manufacturing companies into our ecosystem here, especially when it comes to what they’re doing. That’s where it’s cutting edge technology, it’s high tech,” said Patton.

In the past year, Greenhill AntiBallistics Corporation has come a step closer to meeting their goal to integrate FDP into military helmets and body armor, sports helmets and padding as well as other protection, when the team announced its 5-year Cooperation Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)3 with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM2) for its Force Disruption Platform™.

As of now Greenhill AntiBallistics Corporation is aggressively seeking consumer-facing partners. As they continue to build revenue to make their move, they will be making an appearance at the Defense

Manufacturing Summit & Exhibition taking place on Sept. 7 at the Emerging Technology Institute campus.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GREENHILL ANTIBALLISTICS CORPORATION Greenhill AntiBallistics Corporation, a nanotechnology materials company, is dedicated to protecting troops, children and athletes against brain damage and blunt force trauma with their patented Force Disruption Platform™ material.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GREENHILL ANTIBALLISTICS CORPORATIO

A sample size of Greenhill AntiBallistics Force Disruption Platform™.

Fayetteville is an area we really want to be in. We’re now coworking in Davidson but we can relocate to Fayetteville to be closer to the end user and where really, our mission out of the box and into the market will start.

JUDY LEE GREENHILL CEO and COO Greenhill

AntiBallistics Corporation

After the births of her four children, Symone sought out plastic surgeon Leif Nordberg, MD, to repair her diastasis recti, or the separation of abdominal muscles that can occur after pregnancy. Since her mommy makeover, she is feeling confident in her own skin once again.

Find your confidence with a better you; schedule your transformation today. Watch Symone’s full story at cfvplasticsurgery.com.

“I am in love with the results. I feel good in my body now.”

Highland Country Club, Fayetteville, NC