Economy
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Hospitality
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Technology
725-acre solar project operational Page 17
DAVID KENNARD/GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Index
Economic Indicators............................... 3 From the Publisher ................................. 4 Calendar ................................................ 5 Achievers ............................................... 6 Military Business .................................11 Technology .............................. 15, 16, 17 Biz Leads .............................................18 Hospitality ...........................................23
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Countryside Auto Sales in Hope Mills was down to one vehicle on its already limited lot on July 15. Other used car lots have said the demand for previously owned vehicles is pushing prices higher.
IN DEMAND REGION’S USED VEHICLE PRICES CLIMBING
SELLERS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH BUYER DEMAND BY MICHAEL FUTCH he high demand for second-hand cars in today’s market forced long-time used car dealer Terry W. Smith to rethink his business plan. Most likely, those looking for a sweet deal on a used vehicle will come away sadly disappointed: The used car market has been called “absurdly and unprecedentedly hot right now.” Experts are attributing the reopening of the nation’s economy coupled with lingering pandemic
T
shortages as driving resales to their highest prices in years. Citing the global marketing information service J.D. Power, CBS News reported that used car prices rose to an average of nearly $25,500 in April. “That’s the highest price ever recorded by the research firm, which began tracking used vehicle sales in the early 1980s,” the news organization said. “That price is up $3,650 — nearly 17 percent — since the beginning of 2021.” As a result, Smith decided to
recalibrate and retool his business at Countryside Auto Sales in Hope Mills. “I have changed my business plan by buying automobiles and offering them at a better rate or better sale price than a new car dealer. I went to specialty order vehicles. I’ve been doing this for 26 years,” he said of selling used cars and trucks from his Main Street lot. “I go get it for them and sell them at a better price than a franchise dealership.” Smith said he sells a newer used See CARS, page 21
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal SPONSORS PRESENTING
LEAD
GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
&
ENTREPRENEURS ACQUIRERS
INSPIRE
TWO OF THE FAYETTEVILLE REGION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY SOLD. AT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL’S FIRST POWER BREAKFAST ON JULY 27, WE’LL MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS BEHIND THESE THRIVING BUSINESSES, LEARN HOW THEY GREW THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE TRANSITIONS UNDERWAY SINCE THE SALES WERE COMPLETED.
RALPH HUFF
Chief Executive Officer Huff Family Office
JACK ROSTETTER
Regional President for the Carolinas H&H Homes, a subsidiary of Dream Finders Homes, Inc (DFH)
TUESDAY, JULY 27 7:30 - 9:30 A.M.
REGISTER NOW AT
CHRIS DUNBAR
CEO Blue Ridge Power, Inc.
CHARLES HORNE EVP of Accounting Blue Ridge Power, Inc. (formerly Horne Brother Construction, Inc)
Highland Country Club 1105 Highland Country Club Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28305
FAYETTEVILLEPOWERBREAKFAST.COM!
TO LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A FOUNDING SPONSOR, CONTACT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL AT 910.240.9697 OR MARKETING@BIZFAYETTEVILLE.COM.
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
Page 3
| ECONOMIC INDICATORS | MAY AIR TRAFFIC
MAY UNEMPLOYMENT UNITED STATES MAY 2021:
NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY FAYETTEVILLE MSA MAY 2021: MAY 2021: MAY 2021:
5.5%
4.5%
6.4%
6.3%
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
HARNETT COUNTY HOKE COUNTY MAY 2021: MAY 2021:
MOORE COUNTY MAY 2021:
RALEIGH MSA MAY 2021:
4.9%
6.1%
4.2%
3.8%
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
DOWN FROM MAY 2020:
UP FROM MAY 2020:
13.0%
13.7%
13.3%
16.9%
15.1%
14.4%
APRIL STATE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTION (CUMBERLAND COUNTY) STATE SALES TAX COLLECTION APRIL 2021
$25,481,160
16.6%
UP FROM STATE SALES TAX COLLECTION APRIL 2020 MAY 2021 ARRIVALS
12.2%
MAY 2021 DEPARTURES
18,718
19,188
UP FROM MAY 2020 ARRIVALS
UP FROM MAY 2020 DEPARTURES
4,223
$17,468,407
4,184 Source: Fayetteville Regional Airport
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce
JUNE MEDIAN HOME SALES PRICE
Source: NC Department of Revenue
LABOR FORCE BY INDUSTRY (CUMBERLAND COUNTY)
(SINGLE-FAMILY, FAYETTEVILLE AREA)
$147,000
$150,938
50K
$129,000
100K
$179,950
200K
2018
2019
2020
2021 Source: NC Department of Commerce
Source: Realtor.com and Zillow.com
HOMES SALES DAYS ON THE MARKET
2020 vs 2021 (May) FAYETTEVILLE MSA CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
(FAYETTEVILLE AREA)
80
200,000 70
LABOR FORCE
150,000 144,054
60 143,779
May
100,000
50
MAY
2021
2020
50,000
40
5/20
6/20
7/20
8/20
9/20 10/20 11/20 12/20
1/21
2/21
3/21
4/21
5/21 6/21
Source: Realtor.com
$2.84 AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON FOR FAYETTEVILLE ON JULY 14, 2020:
$2.06
0
30
AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON FOR REGULAR UNLEADED IN FAYETTEVILLE ON JULY 14, 2021:
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce
Source: gasbuddy.com
Page 4
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
| FROM THE PUBLISHER | CUSTOMER 4424 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303 910-240-9697 bizfayetteville.com PUBLISHER Marty Cayton martyc@bizfayetteville.com
EMPLOYEES
Notice where the buck starts.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR David Kennard davidk@bizfayetteville.com REPORTER/COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Jenna Shackelford jennas@bizfayetteville.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brian Miner Donna Lloyd Jami McLaughlin Jenna-Ley Jamison Kathie Harris Michael Futch Monica Kreber Scott Nunn SALES Malia Allen maliaa@bizfayetteville.com CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Samantha Lowe samanthal@bizfayetteville.com ACCOUNTING Priscilla Nelson billing@bizfayetteville
The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is published twice a month throughout Fayetteville and the Cumberland County region. News related to the region’s business sector is posted daily at bizfayetteville.com. SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe to the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, call 910-240-9697 or visit bizfayetteville.com. Subscriptions cost $9.95 per month or $95 per year. REPRINT For article reprints, plaques and more contact Jenna Shackelford at 910-240-9697. ADVERTISING For advertising information, please email us at marketing@bizfayetteville.com or call 910-240-9697. © Copyright 2021 Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
CUSTOMER
I
CUSTOMER EMPLOYEES
MANAGEMENT
CUSTOMER EMPLOYEES
MANAGEMENT
CUSTOMER EMPLOYEES
MANAGEMENT
OWNERS
The upside down org chart
love the month of July! Aside from celebrating the birth of our nation, which I love to do, it is a time for celebrating family, friends and usually taking some time away from the office and the demands of the work week schedule to really unwind. This July was no exception for us as we made plans to visit friends and family to celebrate this great nation we are extremely blessed to call home. Afterwards, I planned to book our annual anniversary trip. I did wait until a couple of weeks more than normal to book some arrangements, and I did not think much of this, initially. That is until I found that I was running into roadblock after roadblock of no available rooms in some of the areas we liked to visit. I finally remembered a resort we stayed in back in 2015. It was a lovely place, and after checking the availability, I was extremely pleased to find it had one available room. After getting the rate for the threenight stay, my jaw fell open as I saw that the price per night was about three times what it was in 2015. However, this was not the time to be a penny pincher — so I secured the room, and felt quite proud of my accomplishment. After all, the place I remembered was well maintained, had lots of pleasant people who seemed to enjoy working there and the rooms and property was very clean. After arriving on site, I quickly realized that the resort had gone through some sort of transformation and it was not a good one. I learned that the resort had been sold just before our stay in 2015, and had seemingly gone downhill since. The property looked worn and unkept. The service was less than stellar and the people that were working there — seemed to be a bit rudderless. This is what many have come to expect when a business gets sold. The seller rides off into the sunset and the customers, the employees, and
many times, the community — are left holding the bag for an underperforming operation that never regains the fervor that was once there when the original owner was at the helm. This is the sad commentary for many a deal — but it does not have to be. I was reminded of our topic for our Inaugural Power Breakfast called "Entrepreneurs and Acquirers.” At the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s first Power Breakfast on July 27, attendees will meet the entrepreneurs (Ralph Huff, founder of H&H Homes, and Charles Horne, whose family started Horne Brothers Construction). They'll get to learn how these leaders grew their organizations and what led them to sell their businesses — and more importantly — what led them to sell their businesses to these particular acquirers. The attendees will also get to meet the acquirers — Jack Rostetter — representing HH Homes, a subsidiary of Dream Finder Homes Inc. (DFH) and Chris Dunbar, representing Blue Ridge Power. These gentlemen will share why these acquisitions made sense to them and their organizations. They will also share more about the transitions underway since the sales were completed, and what they have in store for future growth. Aside from learning from these great business minds, you might ask, “why is this topic so important?” Well, consider these facts taken from investmentbank.com and verified by other very reputable resources: • Roughly 10 million (or 65 percent to 75 percent) of all small companies will be up for sale in the next 10 years • $5 trillion is the number given by some specialists who see the impending wealth transfer as the baby boomers retire and shift their business assets into liquid assets • Roughly 40 percent of family-owned companies in the U.S. will experience leadership change in the next five years. As these statistics bear themselves
out in our local economy during the next decade, they will have a significant economic impact and results. SO... If you have not already purchased a ticket or bought a table for this event, I would highly encourage you to do so — and soon. Go to FayettevillePowerBreakfast.com or check out the ad on page two of this issue to learn more. I am certain you will learn from these entrepreneurs and acquirers that a good deal — is when everyone gains ground. Who is the "everyone" I am referring to? Of course, it's the obvious players. The owner of the business being sold — the entrepreneur. And also, the acquiring company; but it is also the most important stakeholders: the customers, the employees and the local community/ economy. I was very blessed to have had a good experience here. I sold one of my businesses in 2017. The organization that bought my company had a great reputation of keeping all of the existing staff employed — well after the deal was done, and they had expanded product and territory offerings — which helped our customers as well. They were also very well capitalized. Since the acquisition — they have grown tenfold, kept existing employees happy and have hired and expanded operations all throughout the Southeastern U.S., including Fayetteville, North Carolina. So, if I had any advice to the owners of the resort we stayed at — I would say: Remember the upside down org chart. The customers are all at the top. Right under them are all the employees, and way down at the bottom are the owners. God bless you and yours,
Marty Cayton
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
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| CALENDAR | MARKET ON TRADE STREET The Hope Mills Area Chamber has launched the farmers market on Trade Street in partnership with the Town of Hope Mills and the Merchants on Trade Street. The event takes place EVERY THIRD SATURDAY with participation from local farmers, bakers, artisans and more. Food trucks will be on site, as well. Contact the Hope Mills Chamber at 910-423-4314 for more information. “EVOKE” Cape Fear Studio’s upcoming one-artist exhibit, “Evoke,” features member and local fine artist Angela Stout. The exhibit features art creations in oil, and will be shown THROUGH JULY 25. Stout is a disabled veteran and is a member of Cape Fear Studios and teaches art classes to the public. The studio’s workshops and retail section is open to visitors at 148 Maxwell St., Fayetteville. Call 910-433-2986 or go to www.capefearstudios.com for more information. CHAMBER ORIENTATION AND TRAINING The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce will welcome
new members to its training at 9:30 a.m. JULY 26, at 225 Ray Ave. Suite 165, Fayetteville. Chamber 101 is a bi-monthly program of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber; open to all members who are in need of a refresher course. For more information, call 910-483-8133.
FAYETTEVILLE POLICE FOUNDATION The mission of the Fayetteville Police Foundation is to promote and strengthen police-community relations by providing support and resources to the Fayetteville Police Department. The foundation works to develop supportive community and private-sector relationships with the department, recognize and support police officers and civilians, innovate and collaborate on projects and to secure private funding sources for projects not typically funded by local, state or federal dollars. Local business leaders can participate on JULY 26. For more information, go to www.fayettevillelpolicefoundation. org or contact Cindy McCormic at 910-433-1746. POWER BREAKFAST SERIES Two of the Fayetteville region's
most successful companies were recently sold. At the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s first Power Breakfast on JULY 27, attendees will meet the entrepreneurs behind these thriving businesses, learn how they grew their organizations and find out about the transitions underway since the sales were completed. The Power Breakfast will take place 7:30-9:30 a.m. on July 27 at the Highland Country Club, 1105 Highland Country Club Dr., Fayetteville. Register for the breakfast at fayettevillepowerbreakfast.com.
Virtual Speed Networking 1-2 p.m. on JULY 29. The event will include 10 noncompeting members for a virtual speed networking every Thursday. Each participant gets about three minutes to introduce themselves and their business to the other participants. Pre-registration is required by contacting Lavern Oxendine at lavern@faybiz.com.
BUILDING BUSINESS RALLY Join this Virtual Building Business Rally workshops noon to 1 p.m. JULY 27 with local agency procurement offices and business resource partners. This is your opportunity to speak with purchasing and procurement representatives from Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s largest agencies to learn how your business can get their business. These workshops are free events for all businesses. Find more information at www.faybids.com. VIRTUAL SPEED NETWORKING The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce will conduct its
SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS: Send your calendar items to editor@bizfayetteville.com or call 910-240-9697, Ext. 104.
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| ACHIEVERS | Send information about company hires, promotions or awards to editor@bizfayetteville.com
Hope Mills athlete to compete on world stage QUANERA HAYES, who graduated from Gray’s Creek High School in Hope Mills, will compete with Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics after winning the women’s 400-meter run at the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Ore. Hayes, who will Hayes compete in the Olympics for the first time, will run in the 400-meter with two others from Team USA, Allyson Felix and Wadeline Jonathas July 23 to Aug. 8. Hayes was born in South Carolina but moved to Fayetteville as a freshman at Gray’s Creek; she went on to compete at Livingstone College in Salisbury. Hayes, who has earned gold medals for the United States in the 4×400 relay, also brought home medals from world championships and world relays in 2017. She also was the world indoor champion in 2016 and 2018.
Erickson headed to Tokyo for fourth time HEATHER ERICKSON is a member of Team USA’s Women’s Sitting Volleyball team that will compete in the Tokyo Paralympics in August. Erickson, who grew up in Fayetteville, graduated from Jack Britt High School in 2011.
Heather Erickson will compete as an Olympian for the fourth time, this time in Tokyo with Team USA in the Paralympics Games. Photo published with permission from USA Volleyball
According to Erickson’s biography on the Team USA website, she gives credit to her success to her family, particularly a sister, Stephanie. “She helps me with everything, including volleyball skills and life issues,” Erickson stated.
Erickson had her right leg amputated when she was 8 years old. She went on to play volleyball in high school, and has been on the national team since she was 14. The coming Olympic Games will mark her fourth appearance on the Olympic stage. At 28 years old, Erickson has one gold and two silver medals to her name thus far. She also is a three-time USA Volleyball Female Sitting Player of the Year, according to information provided by Team USA. “I enjoyed growing up in Fayetteville,” she said. “I met many good, influential people who allowed me to pursue volleyball and supported my decision to concentrate on the sport at an international level,” Erickson said.
Pearce joins Pinehurst Medical Clinic FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Pinehurst Medical Clinic recently welcomed a new oncology nurse practitioner, SARAH PEARCE, DNP. Pearce joins Pinehurst Medical Clinic’s oncology team and will work closely with medical oncologist Thomas Richard, M.D. Pearce also joins an expanding Cancer Care team Pearce at FirstHealth with additional oncologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurse navigators and clinical trials professionals. Pearce will be a member of Pinehurst Medical Clinic and serve patients at the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center in Pinehurst. “I appreciate FirstHealth and Pinehurst Medical Clinic’s commitment to provide exemplary care to patients within the community they live,” Pearce said. “I’m excited to partner and work toward this goal of quality care.” Richard, who joined FirstHealth and Pinehurst Medical Clinic in 2019, said he is thrilled to have Pearce join the team.
Changes at Cape Fear Valley Health Growth at Cape Fear Valley Health necessitated a change in the organization’s leadership, according to a media statement. MICHAEL ZAPPA, M.D, will serve as chief clinical officer, the corporate leader for the Hospitalist and Emergency Medicine program. He’ll
also provide physician leadership and oversight to the Transfer Center and Respiratory Therapy, according to Sunday’s statement. CHRIS TART, Zappa PHARMD, will be president of Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, as well as continuing to direct the Pharmacy and Cancer Center, hospital officials stated. Leadership for Radiology and LabTart oratory services will go to KEVIN JACKSON, who will keep his current responsibilities as vice president of operational excellence. “We’re excited to make these changes and look forward to these members of our team working together in their Jackson new roles to continue to provide exceptional healthcare to Cape Fear Valley Health patients,” said Cape Fear Valley Health’s Chief Operating Officer Daniel Weatherly.
Action Pathways nets grant for Head Start/Early Head Start The United States Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has awarded Action Pathways Inc. (API) a new five-year Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) grant for the Cumberland County area. The grant will provide HS/EHS services encompassing early learning and development, health, and family well-being to hundreds of pre-school children, infants and toddlers. “Our amazing staff has worked so hard to secure this funding so that we can continue and expand our early education programs,” said API CEO Lonnie Ballard Jr. “It’s been well proven that when a child’s Ballard education begins in their early years, the positive effects on their well-being and social-emotional health will be immeasurable. We look forward to continuing Action Pathways’ goal of serving the most vulnerable members of our community, starting, most impor-
tantly, with our children.” Applications to apply for available slots into the HS/EHS program are available online at https://actionpathways.ngo/our-programs/headstart/how-to-apply/. For additional information regarding enrollment, please call 910-485-9800.
Pompey collects $2,000 scholarship at MU On June 18, Networth, a local women’s professional organization, honored MADISON POMPEY, a junior who received a $2,000 scholarship to
Madison Pompey with MU President Dr. Stanley T. Wearden
continue her studies at MU. Pompey and Dr. Stan Wearden were recognized for her achievement at a Networth luncheon. Pompey is a business and entrepreneurship major who is also a member of the MU track team and competes in several cross country events.
Wadie new at Cape Fear Valley In June, DR. GEORGE WADIE, M.D., has joined Cape Fear Valley Pediatric General Surgery. Wadie attended medical school at Cairo University School of Medicine, in Cairo, Egypt, before completing his residency at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. He Wadie then completed a pediatric general surgery fellowship at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. Wadie has been a pediatric surgeon for more than 13 years. He started his practice in Eugene, Oregon, in 2007. In 2011, he moved to the Raleigh area where he has since performed hundreds of pediatric surgeries. Wadie specializes in minimally invasive surgery, neonatal surgery, gastrointestinal surgery and the management of pilonidal disease.
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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
| IN THE NEWS |
PREMIER SERVICE PROVIDER
PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE
Metered parking kiosks began collecting from visitors in Fayetteville's downtown area.
Parking kiosks installed in downtown Fayetteville
Multi-Disciplined Intelligence Support Operations and Maintenance Comprehensive Logistics Metropolitan & Remote Facilities Management Energy Management
results Se
tera d, Ve e l b a -Dis rvice
ne d B n-Ow
s usines
www.wgrp.com
BY SCOTT NUNN oodbye face masks and social distancing; hello paid on-street parking. With the COVID pandemic waning across the state (although the positivity rate in Cumberland remains high), Fayetteville officials are trying to return to normal. And in this case, “normal” means implementing the downtown paid-parking plan that was approved in November 2019, but delayed during the pandemic as businesses were looking for every edge that they could find to keep customers stopping by -- even if only to pick up a to-go order. With the tourism season — notably the Woodpeckers — back in the swing of things, the paid onstreet parking plan began on July 1. According to a news release from the city, 34 payment kiosks are located throughout the downtown area. Instead of feeding meters with coins as in older times, Fayetteville’s modern pay-to park plan uses the latest technology, including an app that will allow parkers to skip the kiosk system altogether.
G
The city also is providing a period for people to get used to the news rules. “During the two-week grace period following July 1, warning notices will be issued to those not complying with paid downtown parking. Tickets and penalties will not be issued,” according to a statement from the city. Following the start of paid downtown parking the goal is to educate everyone on compliance. “We appreciate the patience of downtown visitors as we transition to paid on-street parking,” Assistant Public Services Director Lee Jernigan said. “Our goal is to focus on education and compliance during our two-week warning period. The City and our vendor, Park Fayetteville, will continue to monitor operations during the transition to determine if any adjustments need to be made.” Feedback can be provided through the Park Fayetteville website, parkfayettevillenc.com or by calling 910-222-0302 with questions.
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
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| IN THE NEWS |
ECONOMISTS: Low corporate income tax, commercial property taxes draw companies to NC STAFF REPORT he State of North Carolina has been listed as having one of the best tax structures for business, according to a recent Location Matters survey and newly released data from the Tax Foundation and KPMG LLP, a U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm. May’s “Location Matters” study compared overall tax costs among businesses in all 50 states, providing a detailed look at the factors behind North Carolina’s strong finish. “When companies consider a new location, it’s a multifaceted discussion,” said Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation. “That said, all things being equal (skilled workforce, utilities, transportation infrastructure, buildable sites), the overall cost of doing business in a community is often a deciding factor.” Major tax reforms that began in 2013 played a significant role in boosting the state’s economy. During the seven years that followed, the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 9.5 percent, exceeding the 9 percent national average, according to a statement made Wednesday from the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. The state’s economy has also risen from 41st a decade ago to first, according to an annual report, “America’s Top States for Business,” released by CNBC. North Carolina’s lowest corporate income tax, as well as low commercial property taxes are the main factors that benefit firms. “In my experience, North Carolina communities stack up well against our competition in other states, when it comes to commercial and industrial property taxes,” Van Geons said. "This, combined with aggressive local incentives, has helped us land a number of projects. While we often get questions regarding the Corpo-
T
rate Income Tax Rate, I’m not aware of us winning or losing a project because of it. However, with so much information available online, we never know what caused a company not to initially contact us. Gary Salamido, president and CEO of the NC Chamber of Commerce, said companies look at a variety of factors when deciding where to locate or expand, from the quality of a state’s talent pipeline to its regulatory climate.
“
Commerce reported that the state went from the highest corporate income tax rate in the Southeast to the lowest in the country at 2.5 percent. The state also now ranks third nationally for lowest overall tax rates among newly established companies that are both privately and publicly held, and fifth for best overall rates among mature privately and publicly held businesses, according to the Location Matters study. “Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte have seen some
In my experience, North Carolina communities stack up well against our competition in other states, when it comes to commercial and industrial property taxes.” ROBERT VAN GEONS
"So it is often difficult to attribute a company’s decision to a single one of these factors,” Salamido said. “That said, a well-balanced and predictable tax climate is near the top of this list for virtually all job creators. Since North Carolina began to revamp our business tax climate early last decade, an array of industries have seen increased growth, including aerospace and defense, information technology, life sciences, advance manufacturing, and business and financial services. It’s safe to say that our favorable tax climate has contributed to this growth.” The North Carolina Chamber of
of the largest influxes of growth due to the state’s favorable tax conditions,” Salamido said. “Companies are leaving high corporate tax states like California in favor of more affordable states to do businesses — and NC has the lowest corporate tax rate in the nation at 2.5 percent. Repealing our franchise tax would be one way to make our tax climate even more favorable to capital-intensive manufacturers and main street businesses — which could help attract investments in more rural parts of the state. The chamber also stated that low commercial property taxes com-
pared to neighboring states such as South Carolina and Tennessee are good incentives to build or relocate to North Carolina. Unlike Georgia and Virginia, North Carolina does not include business inventory in its property tax base, according to the chamber. “Changes to North Carolina’s corporate tax structure were not the sole reason for North Carolina becoming more competitive for business, but it was certainly a crucial part of it,” said Salamido. “Reforms to unemployment insurance tax laws have also allowed North Carolina to quickly pay off a growing federal debt, reducing a debt-inflated federal UI tax on employers and restoring solvency to the state’s UI system.” Salamido said tax reform “has been a game changer” in terms of attracting new companies to the state. He also pointed to a benefit of tax as an incentive for companies with a presence in North Carolina to continue investing in their businesses here. “It’s a tax structure that keeps costs predictable, attracts and retains corporations, and, ultimately, it has and continues to bolster our state’s economy,” Salamido said. Christopher Chung, chief executive officer of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, agreed. “The businesses we recruit to North Carolina weigh our tax competitiveness alongside other important considerations such as skilled workforce talent, strong infrastructure, and robust educational and training resources,” Chung said. “We see the uniquely comprehensive Location Matters study — and North Carolina’s very strong performance in that study — as powerful validation of North Carolina’s business-friendly tax climate, which, when combined with our world-class talent pool, makes our state the clear choice for fast-growing companies of all sizes and industries.”
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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
Providing Essential Lines of Business in Fayetteville PWC utility lines provide the essential services – power, water and wastewater treatment – that enable area businesses to operate. As a public power electric provider, our local control means the greatest ability to meet our customers’ needs. Our highly competitive rates, exceptional quality and reliability of our services – plus substantial treatment capacity – are also benefits for local businesses and incentives that attract new business. No matter what your line of business, you can count on ours. With the utility service value delivered through our lines, we help businesses and industry achieve a better bottom line. For more information on PWC development incentives, visit us online at www.faypwc.com. 17173
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| MILITARY BUSINESS |
Podcast provides military perspective BY JENNA-LEY JAMISON n a world of information overload, countless platforms constantly compete for people’s attention. But U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Buccino has found a way to break through the barrage of phone apps, media markets and other attention-grabbing channels to offer a fresh, unique outlet for delivering engaging highlights about military history, the people who lived it, and the patriotic politics that shaped this country’s past and other world events. “There’s so much competition for people’s attention…social media, Tik Tok,” Buccino said. “(There are) hundreds and hundreds of podcasts and thousands that nobody listens to. Every organization and company has a podcast now; how do you compete with all that and create something that people will be compelled to listen to regularly?” In January, Buccino officially launched his 18th Airborne Corps Podcast. But it wasn’t his first podcast; the top-ranking brass previously hosted a Fort Bragg-based podcast dubbed “The All-American Legacy Podcast.” It celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 82nd Airborne Corps — the infantry division to which Buccino previously belonged. While his show’s airwaves broadcast from a small Southern studio on North Carolina’s East Coast, its message is far-reaching, registering with listeners on the West Coast and beyond. “I get the sense that a lot of the people who listen are Army officers who are not assigned to the 18th Airborne,” Buccino said. “(There are people) as far as California and the Pacific Northwest who’ve reached out.” In a few short months, Buccino has propelled his podcast to great heights, quickly drawing a dedicated fan base and gaining the attention of The Washington Post, who did a write-up earlier this year, he said. In the first week alone, the podcast boasted an average of 41,000 downloads per episode; and the show has only grown since then. “Something like what we’re doing has to be a habit,” Buccino said, “so you have to have it in a certain rhythm to where people are going to want to go back to it and anticipate it. … Ultimately, the show has to be both enlightening and it has to
I
PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF THE U.S ARMY.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Buccino hosts a twice-a-week podcast focusing on the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg as well as historical events and interviews with notable military leaders.
be interesting. … If you’re curious about the world around you and you’re curious about why things have happened the way they happen, then you’ll like this kind of endeavor.” According to the podcast’s website, the show’s Tuesday/Thursday sessions cover a plethora of topics, featuring interviews with "some of the most prominent American and British historians, veterans, and currently-serving soldiers.” Simply put — “Buccino examines the full spectrum of life and service in the 18th Airborne.” His man goal is to tell the history of the military — a history Buccino has long feared is being forgotten and not communicated throughout his branch with the same frequency it was 30 years ago. “History and history of the Army is why I came into the Army,” he said. “It’s something I’ve give always been fascinated with. I feel like we don’t invest enough in our history anymore. … We’re not sharing it; we don’t know it; commanders don’t understand it. A lot of our history became lost in terms of understanding it and its relation to who we are — it’s descriptive of who we are today.” Buccino also strongly believes in sharing history to “help us learn about the future and new emerging technologies and ideas.” “There’s a basis for the implementation of these things somewhere in history,” he said. “(There are) so many parallels between the Army of the 1970s and today. When you consider and know your history, time becomes a flat surface, and you
can connect ideas and philosophies between the past and the future.” Prior to the inaugural podcast session, Buccino conducted several months of behind-the-scenes prep to ensure the new initiative’s success. However, off-the-air planning has continued to keep the podcast’s lone host doing some heavy lifting. From orchestrating all the details of show topics and their guests and other related items, Buccino said he stays busy. “I have to bridge an enormous knowledge gap with whoever I’m talking to for every episode,” he said. “I have to read 700 pages in a week to get to some reasonable level with the (guests). The preparation in my free time is really all I can do. (I feel like I’m) getting some sort of master’s degree in different subjects.” To date, some of his favorite guests have included Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, who served under President Obama, and Dan Carlin, an American political commentator, podcaster and actor. “I think there’s a lot value, a lot of insight (in the show)… there’s a real humanity and a lot of heart in the people that we talk to, and I hope the people feel that,” Buccino said. But he can’t forget the “wild” guest, Sir Max Hastings — a wellknown Vietnam War journalist and historian. “He was really interesting,” Buccino said of Hastings. “His office put a lot of stipulations on what I could not ask him; and then he came on (the show) and violated every stipulation. He was wild. He was
very critical of himself and his own understanding of Vietnam and critical of the Lyndon-Johnson administration, and he started talking about other journalists and historians in a real critical way. I was just really trying to keep pace with him.” Throughout his 24-year military career, Buccino has been stationed at Fort Bragg on two separate occasions. He was with the 82nd Airborne Corps from 2016-19 and returned about a year ago with the 18th Airborne Corps. It was 1997 when Buccino complied with Uncle Sam’s calling on his life. “I always wanted to be in the Army so I enlisted right out of high school,” he said. Through the Army, Buccino was able to attend the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania and later achieve officer status. In February 2020, he celebrated his most prestigious promotion to date — that of colonel. With regard to day-to-day operations at the base, Buccino heads all communications related to the Army headquarters in Fort Bragg. “Anything that relates to media engagement, social media, anything that leads the Corps or Fort Bragg and that includes the podcast — one of the bigger efforts that we have and it certainly now has become the biggest platform that we have,” Buccino said. Each podcast episode is about a half-hour long, though some require more time — including the Battle for Hamburger Hill episode, which lasted two hours. “What I try to do is encapsulate a full story in each episode,” Buccino said. “What I don’t try to do is have a set pattern or time for me for me it’s about finding the heartbeat of a story and then following it so that the story leads you to the show.” But Buccino is already conversing and connecting with his guests ahead of the show’s start. “I start recording when they start talking, and I just talk to them (for) about 20 to 30 minutes about their families and what they have going on…so by the time they start talking about Harry Truman, they’ve already engaged with me,” he said. “It’s a conversation, and I try to give them as much as they’re giving me. Then, somebody like Max Hastings drops his guard.”
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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
| HOSPITALITY |
pikisuperstar/freepik
Insider secrets to shopping local farmers markets BY JAMI MCLAUGHLIN he DISTRICT SUMMER MARKET at Festival Park has been an exciting new part of the downtown vibe every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. in Festival Park (335 Ray Avenue, Fayetteville). “We had over 1000 people at our last market with 40 vendors. It continues to grow. We were able to add beer and wine exclusively sold from our downtown businesses at the last market from Bright Light and Gaston Breweries and The Wine Café. We currently have over 70 new applicants and they continue to message daily asking to be a part of the market. It’s really exciting,” said
T
JAMI MCLAUGHLIN/GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
The Dirtbag Ales Farmer’s Market at 5423 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills runs through Thanksgiving.
Jenny Bell, the marketing manager for the Cool Spring Downtown District and organizer of the District Summer Market. “At our last market, we featured Cooking4Fitness, a downtown business at 130 Bow Street, that offered cooking demonstrations using our farmer’s products. It’s been a focus to highlight not only our local farmers and artisans, but also our downtown businesses,” said Bell. Along with food trucks and vendors, the market boasts live music, yoga and children’s activities ranging from lawn games, sidewalk chalk, story time and more with help from various non-profits. The District Summer Market will run to August 26. Another largely popular market with an amassing crowd is DIRTBAG ALES FARMER’S MARKET, which opened in 2018 at 5423 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills and runs Easter weekend though Thanksgiving. More than 2000 people arrive every Sunday for the market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with food trucks, produce vendors, hand crafted items and more. Their onsite restaurant Napkins plans special additions to its regular menu based on the local farm options. Live music, a playground for children, holiday themed
activities such as an Easter egg hunt and Halloween Trick or Treat and a full bar with the Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom await the throngs who venture out on the spot right off of Interstate 95. Bringing beach chairs or a picnic blanket for your family to enjoy the market ambience is a good option as their tables and chairs fill up quickly. Four legged friends are also welcome.
OTHER AREA MARKETS INCLUDE:
THE CITY MARKET AT THE MUSEUM, which operates at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum located at 325 Franklin Street on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Originally located in the parking lot of the Cumberland County courthouse, the market moved to the museum in 2010 and has been a permanent fixture in the downtown mix with craft vendors, jewelry and, of course, locally grown produce. The Downtown Alliance and the City of Fayetteville incorporate the market in their programming and the market has featured live music, Sunset Slush of Gray’s Creek and more this year. The main market seasons runs from April through December, but some vendors appear year-round. THE SANDHILLS FARMERS AND HERITAGE MARKET in Spring Lake has been
“ Wehavecurrently over 70
new applicants and they continue to message daily asking to be a part of the market. It’s really exciting.” JENNY BELL
open at 230 Chapel Hill Road since 2011. They operate every Saturday June through September from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market not only offers fresh produce, honey, handcrafted items and other products from local farmers, it also includes historical information and monthly themes. The Sandhills Heritage Food Tasting See MARKET, page 13
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
Page 13
| HOSPITALITY | From MARKET, page 12
is an annual fundraiser held on the last Saturday in September so watch for that too. SUSTAINABLE SANDHILLS FARMERS MARKET at Carolina Lakes is another great option for Carolina Lakes residents and their guests. The market hosts local produce, meat vendors and baked goods and is every first, third and fifth Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Carolina Lakes Clubhouse in western Harnett County. No stranger to the game, Sustainable Sandhills once managed the Dirtbag Ales Farmers Market and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden popup market. THE SANFORD FARMER’S MARKET at 115 Chatham Street in the Buggy Building parking lot takes place April through November on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. By next year, the market will move into a new space owned by the City of Sanford, allowing the market to operate yearround, developing into the Sanford Agricultural Marketplace. THE SANDHILLS FARMERS MARKET at 105 Cherokee Road in Pinehurst has been a mainstay in Moore County for ten years with 85% of their mar-
JAMI MCLAUGHLIN/GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Shoppers will find farm fresh produce and other local wares at farmers markets throughout the area.
ket makeup being local farmers who only sell what they grow or create. The market runs April through September on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. THE ROBESON COUNTY FARMER’S MARKET is located at the corner of
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Elm and 8th Streets in Lumberton and operates every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. and every Saturday starting at 7 a.m. to noon. The market features produce vendors, food trucks, craft vendors, children’s games, photo opportunities and face painting. All items sold at the mar-
ket are raised or made in Robeson County. Don Bennett who organizes the MURCHISON ROAD COMMUNITY FARMER’S MARKET at Fayetteville State University said his market is currently closed at this time, but they are hopeful to have a short run from September to November, if not, hopefully will be open next year. Another option to Farmers Markets are the “pick your own” (or “u pick”) farms in the area. Strawberry season is now over, but blueberries are about to ripen at CARTER BLUEBERRY FARM at 4120 Clinton Road in Fayetteville, at U-Pick Blueberries off Buffalo Lake Road in Sanford or MCLEODS TABLE FARM in Carthage. Grape picking will be available later this summer at AUMAN VINEYARDS at 1300 71st School Road in Fayetteville. If you want to trek a bit further, MILLSTONE CREEK ORCHARDS at 506 Parks Crossroads Church Road in Ramseur, offers picking opportunities for blackberries and blueberries through July, peaches and grapes through August, apples late August through September and even pecans in November.
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Page 15
| TECHNOLOGY |
PHOTO PUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION FROM JIM BOYTE
The Active Defender app is designed to help school officials and businesses identify an emergency such as a fire or threat within their building.
New app a tool for school emergencies BY JENNA SHACKELFORD im Boyte used to work for USASOC as a developer. In his downtime in the evenings, he would clear his mind by helping schools with their safety and security best practices. After some time, Boyte had an idea to build a sandboxing program, which is when multiple people function in the same virtual space together, popularly seen in video games like “Fortnite” and “Among Us.” He wanted help answering difficult questions surrounding safety measures at schools, and posed 15 different scenarios to evaluate what teachers would do in Moore County. He asked the same participants to meet with him two weeks later to talk through the scenarios with drawings and pieces. Two weeks after that, Boyte had established the first minimal viable product for his app, “Active Defender,” in November 2018. “Imagine back when you were in school,” Boyte said. “If there was an emergency at the school … Let’s say it was one of the worst emergencies like a fire or an active shooter. Somebody could sound an alarm, and we have spent millions and millions of dollars in the past 10 years to improve how quickly we can get in touch with first-responders so they
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can get to the scene, but it still takes four or five minutes at the very best.” Even if first-responders are on campus, depending on the information, it can take four to five minutes for their arrival. Imagine, he says, that you hear an emergency alarm. “You don’t know exactly what the problem is and you don’t know where it is. And, therefore, if you’re not exactly in a place where you can lock down, and on average, 17 percent of the staff members and the students at any given time if it’s an unannounced emergency … you’re in an insecure location.” For example, he pointed out that if a fire alarm goes off and a student heads for the door, there is a 50/50 chance that the student is going toward the problem instead of away from the problem. “Our purpose of building Active Defender is to make sure that first-responders get incredible details, maybe more than they can get any other way,” Boyte said. When someone sounds the apps alarm,the details about what the problem is and where it is immediately is sent to all of the staff, and can be sent to all of the students as well, depending on the preferences of the school. The phones that receive the
alert will go off like a critical alerts entitlement, which is the same as an Amber Alert or presidential alert. Apple approved these kinds of alerts for Active Defender. Active Defender is a situational awareness tool because it connects an unlimited number of students, staff and family. People who use the app can show the actual problems by taking a photo, and the geographical location will show up in the map. As there are updates, people can continue to take photos and update the location and first-responders are in the loop. Depending on the emergency, the audience who receives the alerts can be customized. “Everything good you see about Active Defender is because of the teachers and administrators and principals and the SROs in North Carolina who have been so gracious to share with us and say ‘Jim, if you and your team would tweak it this way, if you would add this.’” One teacher expressed a problem to Boyte — the app had too many steps. She taught exceptional students, and explained that if a student had a medical episode, such as a seizure, in addition to using the app, she would have to handle the situation unfolding in her classroom, to include administering medication. She told Boyte that she needed to
be able to press one button to send an alert of a problem. Boyte’s team curated a new feature to hold down on the button to automatically send a location from her classroom. “To our knowledge, we are the only app in the world that does that with a multi-story, full mapping piece that works on any mobile phone or desktop. There are some real high-stakes players in our field … but nobody else can say, ‘Hey, there’s a fire on the second floor and it’s in the east wing,’ but we can show it and people can see it so people can see the problem.” The app can even be used for other needs. For example, there’s a section that can be used specifically for custodial needs so people can report other non-emergency needs without alerting everyone. The app is now used in 72 schools. About half are in North Carolina, but some are in West Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and New Mexico. “Normally if someone demos [the app], they purchase it. If they demo it, about 80 percent who demo it buy it,” Boyte said. To learn more about Active Defender, visit www.active-defender.com
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Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
| TECHNOLOGY |
CERTIFICATES VS. DEGREES:
Fayetteville area students have options BY MICHAEL FUTCH lthough college diploma courses typically provide a greater depth of knowledge, some individuals opt for certificates, which take less time to earn. And while less in value than a degree, certificate programs — or residency license programs — do provide additional and supplemental knowledge for those looking to enhance their education. Fayetteville Technical Community College and Methodist University offer numerous certificates, and perhaps nowhere more than in the area of education. Fayetteville State University did not immediately respond to a media request for an interview. Like an online degree program, residency license programs are designed for students who want to further their education but need flexibility due to work commitments and daily life schedules. In North Carolina, residency licensure is issued on a provisionary basis in the teaching area that corresponds to the individual’s qualifications. So, certificate vs. degree? What is the best route for the individual? “You can get a certificate. But it’s not going to influence very much in your pay or job position,” according to Rondell Bennett, who is the Education department chair and an Early Childhood instructor at Fayetteville Tech. “As an educator, you need a license to teach. Not a certificate. A certificate would come with no license, which means no increase of income. But we do encourage people to participate in the license programs. Our license programs are connected with our degrees.” Diplomas and certificates are awarded by educational institutions to students who complete a course of study. These documents certify that the candidate has successfully completed the course. Patricia Fecher is, among other titles, the director of the Teaching and Learning Center and an assistant director of Education at Methodist University. “A high school counselor, if you want to go into education, they’re
A
PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM FTCC
Fayetteville Technical Community College offers both degree and certificate programs to prepare students for the labor force.
going to encourage you to go to — you may start in a two-year community college program but you are going to transfer to a four-year program,” Fecher said. A certificate indicates that an individual has some knowledge about a particular field, but a diploma says he has an extensive knowledge about a field. In that regard, employers are more likely to prefer diplomas to certificates — there’s a greater depth of acquired knowledge. “The certificate is only a hodgepodge of courses, where the degree you have your ‘gen-ed' (general education) and subject area,” Bennett said. “So you could come in and do five courses for a certificate and then, when you’re ready, after you feel like I can do this — ‘I’m successful in these classes’ — those courses would matriculate into a degree because they are part of a degree, whatever degree it is they’re choosing, and finish the rest of the degree.” FTCC, she said, offers hundreds of certificates. “And they’re always coming up with new things,” she added, “especially in the computer science technologies and those skills in the STEM. They’re always coming up with something different.” STEM is an education curriculum that focuses heavily on the subjects of science, technology, engineering
and mathematics. Depending on what field one is in, a certificate can still have clout with an employer, Bennett said. It indicates that you already have started some courses, so you can now go back and work on a degree. “If you’re in computers or technology,” she said, “then, yes, those certificates weigh heavily. You’ve been trained as a technician in X, Y, Z. You have those skills. I think that’s the big draw for Fayetteville Tech — we have such a huge technology area and people are able to come and get their certificate in whatever STEM area it is and be able to be highly marketable and competitive.” Fecher said Methodist does not offer certificates in Early Childhood education and that the college’s residency license program really doesn’t cover business and such professional areas as technology. “There is a whole group of people who have degrees in other areas, had careers in other fields, and now decided that they would like to be educators and go into teaching,” she said. “Instead of having to go back for a full master’s degree or having to go back for a second bachelor’s, they can choose this route through the 18-hour program that will lead to a license.” The residency license program,
which switched over from the lateral entry license program at Methodist, initially was designed so that at the high school level people in business who had expertise in areas like physics and math could come into schools and teach. “The trend over time has been more and more folks are shifting careers— mid-career — and coming into education,” she said, “and they are filling the positions when there’s a gap or a need.” Though FTCC has what Bennett called “numerous amounts of certificates for our program,” she added that the school’s biggest draw remain the degree programs. She noted the Early Childhood degree, and such subsections of the Early Childhood degree as birth through kindergarten licensure, are able to be transferred to Fayetteville State or the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which is close. “We have maticulations across the state for the licensure and BK (birth through kindergarten) licensure transfer administrative associate degree,” Bennett said. “So they’ll take the first two years here and they transfer their credits over to one of the UNC network schools or (the University of) Mount Olive, Pembroke, ECU (East Carolina University). So a couple of the private schools also take it. And then they finish their last two years at those schools and get their licensure or their degree from those schools.” The teacher prep programs for elementary, middle and high schools are new programs at the institution. In this case, an individual takes the first couple of years at FTCC — which includes the four education courses mandated by the state to offer — before taking the majority of the general education courses at what school they are going to transfer.” “There may be one or two lacking, depending on what school they are transferring to,” she said. “They are always encouraged to come here to take those one or two. It’s less expensive. And then transfer them into whatever four-year college they’re going to.”
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
Page 17
| TECHNOLOGY |
THE COMMUNITY BANK OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL IS NOW IN THE CAROLINAS. United Bank, the largest community bank headquartered in the DC Metro Region, is excited to expand its presence in the Carolinas. For more than 180 years we have been providing excellence in service to our shareholders, customers, communities and employees. Focusing on relationships and service, we have the capacity, the expertise and the technology to meet any of your banking needs. At United, we make it easy. PHOTO PUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION OF PINE GATE RENEWABLES
The Trent River Solar project in Pollocksville has begun generating power, according to Pine Gate Renewables.
Trent River Solar project operational STAFF REPORT ine Gate Renewables’ Trent River Solar project in Pollocksville is online and producing clean energy, according to a prepared statement from the company. “We’re thrilled to bring low cost, clean power options to the local residents and businesses of Jones County,” said Ben Catt, CEO of Pine Gate Renewables. “It’s exciting to see such a big project like Trent River Solar come to life.” Duke Energy’s Competitive Procurement of Renewable Energy (CPRE) program has awarded the 108 megawatt project its 20-year power purchase agreement through. “This is another testament to Blue Ridge Power’s team of in-house experts, who conducted all the engineering, procurement and construction for this project,” Catt said. The project, which broke ground in July 2020, features 832,170 solar panels over 725 acres, giving it the ability to provide power to more than 16,000 homes a year, according to Pine Gate’s media statement. The company said that’s “equivalent to
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removing 134,094 tons of greenhouse gas emissions or 148 million pounds of coal burned.” Pine Gate Renewables has 36 solar projects in North Carolina either under construction or already in operation. Silver Pine Energy Holdings and Pine Gate Renewables are joint venture partners for the project. Press material submitted to the Greater Fayette Business Journal stated that Pine Gate Renewables manages 770 megawatts of “operational assets, with more than 12 gigawatts in active development and has raised over $2 billion in project capital to date.” In May, Pine Gate Renewables launched Blue Ridge Power, an engineering, procurement and construction company to house Pine Gates operations. At the same time, the new EPC company also acquired the solar division of Fayetteville-based Horne Brothers Construction, one of the largest mechanical and civil contractors in the U.S. Find more information at pinegaterenewables.com.
Learn more at BankWithUnited.com/BankUnited Member FDIC
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
bizfayetteville.com
| BIZ LEADS | 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.
King Caliber Trucking & Dispatch LLC 305 S Racepath St Fayetteville NC 28301 Agent Jayshaun Patty Data Train Analytics & Consulting LLC 725 Blawell St., Stedman Agent: Rachael Yvonne Songalewski
J Pem Enterprises Inc. 56 Pender Road, Spring Lake Agent: Janice Stephens-Pemberton Green Boxez LLC 3832 Harden Road, Hope Mills Agent: Polly Ann Johnson
The Empress Mark LLC 6012 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville Agent: Adele I Lamot
Lion Legacy LLC 131 McCaskill Place, Fort Bragg Agent: Erin Lenita Avery
Goldie Inc. 1564 Sweetie Riad, Fayetteville Agent: Courtney Nicole Jackson
iLove Coffee LLC 847 Scotch Hall Way Apt. 204, Fayetteville Agent: Debra Ann Flores
Bilbo & Johnson Inc. 6483 Green Meadow Road, Fayetteville Agent: Sean Johnson
Billionaire Music Group LLC 1747 Arrow Ridge Way, Fayetteville Agent:Detrick Williams
Hope Housing NC LLC 9455 Gooden Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Mila Verner
Vargas-Sullivan LLC 2004 Caldera Place, Fayetteville Agent: Maureen Vargas
JD Dingle Real Estate LLC 305 Canady St., Fayetteville Agent: Joyce Dingle
iPay Real Estate LLC 2619 Indian Wells Ct, Hope Mills Agent: Rico Brooks
Fast Track Logistics LLC 4880 Cellner Dr., Fayetteville Agent: Razel Edgar Williams Avila Concrete LLC 3433 Seawell St, Fayetteville Agent: Marco Antonio Avila Hernandez Freedom Grocery & Grill Inc 2354 Cedar Creek Road, Fayetteville Agent: Adlene Amiar Esslinger’s Inc 1746 Martindale Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Dony Todd Esslinger
Bruin Management LLC 52 Linsey Court, Lillington Agent: Elizabeth S Lunt Buss'N Bites Catering and Food Services LLC 791 Galloway Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Monica Coley JoJo & Co. Boutique LLC 3533 N. Main St., Hope Mills Agent: Lisa Eudora Joas MKT Investments NC LLC 220 N. McPherson Church Rd. Suite A, Fayetteville Agent: CCR Property Management LLC
Goddess Tingz LLC 2228 Ireland Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Shamani Detriana Baldwin
For Nurses By Nurses Healthcare Staffing LLC 6013 Pink Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Yolanda Clayton
Satchel LLC 2759 Millmann Road, Fayetteville Agent: Chelsea L Daniels
Gorilla Mafia LLC 766 CC Tart Cir Apt 803, Fayetteville Agent: Kenneth Alexis
Brighter Rays Ahead LLC 7241 Sandcastle Lane, Linden Agent: Danny Stewart Sampson
JG4K Inc. 2645 McArthur Landing Circle, Fayetteville Agent: Kurtis Johnson
Pisces Diversities LLC 324 Glenburney Drive #103, Fayetteville Agent: Gardner H Altman Jr Big Erv BBQ & 910 Sweets The Neighborhood Pit Stop LLC 6416 Riegelwood St, Fayetteville Agent: Leigh Ann Manuel
Bernice's Catering LLC 301 Lynn Ave, Fayetteville Agent: Sybil Bernice Robinson CNJ Transport Logistics Corp. 5540 Rising Ridge Drive, Hope Mills Agent: Rose Marina Colon
Coulon Speedy Transport LLC 1309 Snowy Egret Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Jared A Wilkerson
True North Systems LLC 6235 Carver Pine Loop. Apt 8108, Fayetteville Agent: Noureldeen Samir Alsaka
A Second Chance Ministries of Fayetteville Inc. 9334 Tine Road, Fayetteville Agent: Elvis Williams
Adriane M McLeod LLC 603 Southwick Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Adriane Matrice Sherrell McLeod
MirMade in the USA LLC 9871 Ramsey Street, Linden Agent: Miriam Hayden
Next Wave Hookah Lounge LLC 6920 Kizer Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Jeremy Burrow
Shirley's Deep Cleaning Service LLC. 316 Waddell Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Shirley Keisha Spriggins SouthPeak Home Improvements LLC 3579 SouthPeak Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Jason Lee Stiles What Yo Mama Like Catering LLC 5586 Whithorn Ct, Fayetteville Agent: Jonathan Osborne Sullivan Photography LLC 5834 Waters Edge Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Mallory Sullivan Butterfly Kisses LLC (1216223) 751 Burgoyne Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Pamela Denise Brown Brown's All Around LLC 751 Burgoyne Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Pamela Denise Brown
Not Your Ordinary Berries LLC 6201 Kirkwall Road, Fayetteville Agent: Eddie Lamont Williams Cheecky Valor LLC 5731 Fountain Grove Apt 268, Fayetteville Agent:Tracy Jordan Guthrie Coping with Life Center LLC 916 Flintwood Road, Fayetteville Agent: Belinda Michele Adams A Child's Place Learning Academy LLC 423 Longhill Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Kathia Ennett KJY Media LLC 3525 Shipstone Pl Apt 201, Hope Mills Agent: Keon Young Z and K Landscaping LLC 275 Waterdown Dr Apt 10, Fayetteville Agent: Ricky D Miller Jr
Lucas Trucking 1 LLC 6521 Lark Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Mario Carnell Lucas Gliss of Glam Cosmetics LLC 3511 Monument Dr Apt 204, Fayetteville Agent: ShaQuitta McLean 365 Investments LLC 800 Pamalee Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Omar Y Alsaidi Kay's Butterfly Hair Extensions LLC 231 Tiverton St, Fayetteville Agent: Katelynn Michelle Chambers Bobbie Jean LLC 210 Post Oak Drive Apt 421, Fayetteville Agent: Ayana M Clark CCF Materials Inc. 1270 Canady Pond, Hope Mills Agent: Nicholas Shaun Harrell Angelica's Transportation Services LLC 4640 Duncastle Rd Apt 1G, Fayetteville Agent: Shaniqua Reid MaggotBrain Promotions LLC 2908 Windjammer Cir, Fayetteville Agent: Cedric Jerrod Whitlock
Fayetteville Agent: Denise Cain Morey Carson & Carson Enterprises LLC 3573 Gables Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Crysta Carson Teaching with Passion Tutoring Service LLC 205 Carringtion Place Apt 13, Fayetteville Agent: Constance A Singletary The Kb Effect LLC 3419 Sandpiper Road, Fayetteville Agent: Kerry Jarie Burgess Hyacinthe LLC 2912 Copenhagen Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Michel Antonio Hyacinthe Jr
Uniquely For You LLC 520-F Trust Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Rosemary Page
Lissa's Cleaning Service LLC 2105 Grand Prix Dr Apt H, Fayetteville Agent: Melissa McRae
401 Motors LLC 215 Windsor Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Aaron Jamal McIver
Salee Security Inc., 3154 Comfey Ct, Fayetteville Agent: Salee El
JWALSports Production LLC 4725 Woodline Dr. Fayetteville Agent: LaMark Anthony Wylie Jr
GAUCHO Auto Spa LLC 6792 Willowbrook Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Anthony Miguel Baker Infinity Logistics & Solutions LLC 6491 People Street, Fayetteville Agent:Latoya Cobbs
Growing Hands LLC 1225 Snowy Egret Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Carla Peterson
The Art Attack Studio LLC 3411 Dorado Cir, Fayetteville Agent: Sheree Hayes
Morrison Elite Properties LLC 511 Canyon Ct, Fayetteville Agent: Betty Morrison
Cameron's Closet LLC 5625 Goose Creek Ln, Fayetteville Agent: Khyrah Shane Philpott
PlentyPape LLC 1418 Furnish Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Christopher Bookhart
Black Birth Rising Incorporated 4917 Cypress Road, Fayetteville Agent: Kashia Knight
Hyppolite Transport LLC 673 Bartons Landing Pl Apt 6, Fayetteville Agent: Alan Hyppolite
Kreating Moves LLC 7207 Ryan Street, Fayetteville Agent: Finis Kirkland
None Stop Trucking LLC 7336 Layton Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Kenneth B Lewis
Devine Diva Desserts & Designs LLC 5007 Roy C. Stallings Jr. St, Hope Mills Agent: Melissa Robinson-Ellis
Conservative Hippie LLC 814 Carolina Ave, Fayetteville Agent: Ashley King
KED Marketing LLC. 731 Athens Ave, Fayetteville Agent: Kaitlyn Elizabeth Darrigan
The Raging Panda LLC 6668 Pacific Avenue, Fayetteville Agent: Hing Ying Lau
Grazious LLC 260 Dusty Ln, Linden Agent: Antoinette Campbell
SAY DINERO LLC 2834 Little Dr. Fayetteville Agent:Jael Milton
New Wave Real Estate Investments LLC 1230 Colts Pride Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Michael P. Smith
Tye’s Trucking and Transfer LLC 6790 Stone Mountain Farm Road, Fayetteville Agent: De'Aira Tyesha Smith
M & D Properties LLC 2801 Ramsey Street,
Repair LLC 2926 Wilmington Hwy, Fayetteville Agent: Billy Patterson
BP Performance and
K Auto Sales & Transport LLC 1208 Beebe Estate Circle, Fayetteville Agent: Kevyn Bryant Three R Enterprises LLC 2700 Aloine Ln, Fayetteville Agent: Rachel Sanders Personal Service Corporation 3313 Wedgewood Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Tamika Heck Glenmark Farms LLC 1204 Arsenal Ave, Fayetteville Agent: Marcus Allen Hair II
Tire House Rockfish LLC 800 Pamalee Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Fares Al-Abdi OTP Transportation L.L.C. 710 CL Tart Cir Apt 501, Fayetteville Agent: Barnard McCray Soe Valiant LLC 2304 Wingate Rd Unit 48283, Cumberland Agent: Eva Soerens Keep It Kleen LLC 5522 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville Agent:David C Granger II Morris Island Trucking LLC 1730 Wade Stedman Road, Stedman Agent: Alphanso Morris Tommii's Teeth Whitening and Tooth Gems LLC 3303 Cranbrook Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Shonte K Clem Patriot Paint LLC 2927 Spring Moss Lane, Fayetteville Agent: Matthew Josiah Coon Your Time To Shine LLC 5704 Nessee St, Fayetteville Agent: Rosaetti Sands Kosmic Perception LLC 5828 Chason Ridge Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Keith Palmer World of Vape & Tobacco Inc. 4230 Legion Rd Ste F, Hope Mills Agent: Ahmed Alsaidi Elite Family Homecare Services LLC 3126 Sommer Drive, Hope Mills Agent:Jason Levern Moore
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| BIZ LEADS | Williams Creation LLC 1426 Tangora Ln, Fayetteville Agent: Porshia Revere Bonita~Kitty~Services~LLC 7229 Pebblebrook Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Clari Luz Martinez Klutch Kreationz LLC 1111 Shell Dr. Spring Lake Agent: Kayla Elaine Hooks Voice of the Rainbow Publishing LLC 7513 McFrench Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Van Sampson Marshall Eunike DaBoss Enterprises Inc. 4020 Baywood Point Dr. Fayetteville Agent: John Antoine Miner Vines Realty Group LLC 1014 Westmont Drive, Fayetteville Agent: Cameron Marie Vines Travel Box LLC 755 Arthington Street, Fayetteville Agent: Amanda Blake Rosenboro TRCZ Services LLC 8733 Looking Glass Road, Linden Agent: Emily Renee Brimmer Bucaneros Motorcycle Association LLC 3233 Davidson Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Hector Montero Precise Trucking & Services LLC 820 Bedrock Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Ryan D Edwards GomesStrong LLC 5804 Valhalla Court, Fayetteville Agent: Jean-Louis Gomes Plush by Bosskitty LLC 6724 Willowbrook Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Jazmaine Yevette Bostic Tire House Investments LLC 800 Pamalee Dr. Fayetteville Agent: Omar Y Alsaidi HARNETT COUNTY
Mission Adjusting Network Inc. 1400 Interstate Dr., Dunn Agent: John Foy MKD Boutique LLC 11 Craven Ct., Spring Lake Agent: Meoshia Shuntekia Cooper Genesis Photography LLC 19 Cinnamon Lane, Erwin Agent: Stephannie V Cervantes gomez Life of Serenity Professional Counseling Services PLLC 35 Blue Pine Dr., Spring Lake Agent: Sasha Sharmaine Hamilton A Touch Of Rita LLC. 100 Sherman Road, Fuquay Varina Agent: Janay Rita Jackson Luxe Dr.eams LLC 1494 Rainey Dr., Spring lake Agent: Cathy Shanesha Harrison Kal's Auto Service Inc. 111 Happy Trails Dr., Angier Agent: Inocencio Garrido Keystone Express LLC 280 Gwendolyn Way, Fuquay-Varina Agent: Tylor L Howard RMV Investments LLC 1802 NC Hwy 27 East, Lillington Agent: Randall Madrigal Fayetteville Football Forever (F3) Foundation 40 Taplow Trail, Cameron Agent: Joshua David Matthews Data Warehouse Solutions LLC 13845 NC-27 W, Broadway Agent: Michael Keenan
Horton Direct BDA L.L.C. 140 Winchester Ave, Agent: Melinda Nafe Angier Haulers LLC 47 S Broad St E, Angier Agent: Valeska Gomez All About The Kingdom Enterprise inc. 224 Coachman Way, Sanford Agent: Andrea Boles RJ's Stump Grinding LLC 115 Cherry Hill Dr.., Lillington Agent: Robert J Anderson Pierre J Wilson LLC 318 Lee Road, Dunn Agent: Pierre Jerode Wilson 109 SRR Ave Bldg LLC 109 S. Railroad Ave., Dunn Agent: Virginia Ann Edwards AKEMA Transport LLC 1090 Micahs Way North, Spring Lake Agent: Leslie D Crumb Liam & Chloe Enterprises LLC 10 Hayden Lane, Cameron Agent: Tracy Simons CAROLINA SELF SUFFICIENCY INC. 1400 Interstate Dr., Dunn Agent: John Foy Major Motors LLC 507 S Clinton Ave., Dunn Agent: Edgar A Sanabria BLADEN COUNTY 2 Broke Teachers of Bladen Inc. 107 S. Main St., Bladenboro Agent: Emily Peterson Dowless Coastal Hearth Real Estate LLC 77 S. Horsepen Road, Harrells Agent: Stephanie Rae Davis
Vass Road Properties LLC 7695 NC Highway 27 West, Lillington Agent: Leland M. Johnson
EZ Staffing Services LLC 809 Fox St.,Elizabethtown Agent: Jennifer Ann McKoy
PC Contracting Services LLC 3170 Bethel Baptist Road, Spring Lake Agent: Tammy Jean
Dada's World LLC 16358 Twisted Hickory Road, Bladenboro Agent: Shannon Lenell Hines Bladen
Elevation Construction LLC 302 Butler Mill Road, Bladenboro Agent: Trey O'neil Parker Helping Hands Hair Salon LLC 2818 W. Broad St., Elizabethtown Agent: Tamitra T. Gathers WB Coastal Development LLC 425 Clark Blvd., Elizabethtown Agent: Byron Edward Melvin III ROBESON COUNTY J.R.'s Construction and Home Repair LLC, 2293 Bloomingdale Road, Orrum, Jonathan Ray Barnes McDaniel & Sons Logistics LLC, 404 W. Smith St., Maxton, Agent: Markeen L McDaniel SMR Creative Studio LLC, 65 Crestbrook Drive, Parkton Agent: Sierra Marie Romero
93 Turtle Drive, Red Springs Agent: Kevin Duane Oxendine Jr. ZACARIAS'S CONSTRUCTION LLC, 909 N Willow St, Lumberton Agent: Zacarias Mendez Lopez EJ Communications LLC, 3530 Rosewood Drive, Lumberton Agent: Eleanor Wilkins Johnson Star's World /Nichole's Dark Side LLC, 2303 RiverWood Ave., Lumberton Agent: Tiffanie Williams Oak Grove Baptist Church-Fairmont NC 982 Crawford Road, Lumberton Agent: Demetria A Grissett Landmark Real Estate Management Group LLC, 703 Pittman St., Fairmont Agent: Charlton
Townsend Parker Family Logistics LLC, 2338 Bridgers Road, Rowland Agent: Larry Jerome Parker Jr. Signings with Style LLC, 29 S. Fayetteville St., Parkton Agent: Madelyn Fernandez Strickland Farms LLC, 4084 Prospect Road, Pembroke Agent: William Chad Strickland Maxton Pizza LLC, 507 W MLK Dr., Maxton Agent: Hannah Eldara Elite Hair & Spa LLC, 2548-C Fayetteville Road, Lumberton Agent: Lauren Elizabeth Thurman Kisha's Kulinary Kreations LLC, 2290 Progressive Farm Road, Fairmont Agent: Lakisha Merritt New Hope CDC Inc.
3925 Lovette Road, Lumberton Agent: Judy McMillian SAMPSON COUNTY DateNite LLC 1717 Honeycutt Road, Clinton Agent: Sabrina Lynne Dudley Bright Transportation LLC 9620 Turkey Hwy, Turkey Agent: Wanda Bright Ussery Beach Property Rental LLC 83 Alderman Mill Road, Dunn Agent: Dorothy D Bennett-Ussery
Agent: Travis Antonio Leos Trucking LLC 695 Faison Hwy, Clinton Agent: Leonardo Naranjo Cutino Straight Line Lawn Services LLC 10190 Faison Hwy, Faison Agent: William B Jones Blissful Creations By Shy LLC 2870 Moores Bridge Road, Rose Hill Agent: Shykeisha J Peterson
Kulturd Kreationz LLC 804 Kennedy Street, Gamino Motor Carrier Inc. Clinton 125 Devane St., Clinton Agent: Shayna T. Mathis Agent: Jesus Gamino Ezra's Painting Company 420 Lafayette St, Clinton Agent: Marvin Geovany Vargas
Long's Auto & Performance LLC 40 Duberry Lane, Roseboro, Agent: Melissa A Foss
Sutton's Washing LLC 512 Concord School Road, Clinton Agent: Timothy Sutton
Black River Fabrication Werks LLC 85 Judy C Smith St, Garland Soldiers of God's Ministry Agent: Noah Markus 48 Madison Lane, Clinton Pearcy
74 Kwik Stop LLC, 4064 Prospect Road, Pembroke Agent: Jeri L Strickland Redmon Industries LLC, 113 Sparrow Ln, Lumberton, Charles Redmon Moody & Talley Accounting Services LLC, 803 Pittman St. No. 3E, Fairmont Agent: Brandi Moody LFF LLC, 1658 Pinewood Road, Fairmont Agent: Joshua Nash Lamb GoldStarKlothing LLC, 1619 Moss Neck Road, Lumberton Agent: Vernon Lee Wyatt Jr Chriscoe's Diner LLC, 309 Todd Farm Road, Lumberton, Lynnette Michelle Chriscoe Refuge Center, 702 W. Main St, Rowland Agent: Marcia Barnwell Southeastern Liquidators LLC,
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Page 21
From CARS, page 1
product than many second-hand car dealerships, with the vehicles less than three or four years old. The cars and trucks are still under warranty. “That’s why I had to rethink and revamp how I want to do business,” he said. “The market changed, and I have to change with the market.” According to data from JPMorgan, used vehicles sold for 40 percent more in June than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic in February of 2020. The average nine-year-old, second-hand car changed hands for $13,250 in June, states the automotive research site Edmunds. That stands as a 30 percent price hike over the same month in 2020. A five-year-old vehicle will cost an average of $24,000, Edmunds said, which is up more than $6,000 from a year ago.
WHY?
It’s basic Economics 101: Like previously owned properties in the real estate world, used cars in the current market far outweigh their supply, pushing prices higher and higher. That, too, has made the second-hand car business a seller’s market at this time. “It’s not that they’re going for better prices. They’re going for higher
prices,” Smith said. “You’re going to see anywhere from a 10 percent increase from a year ago, depending on make and model. I sell a lot of trucks. Trucks last year — you might see a truck for $32,900 and that same truck may now be $35,900. “I would call it a large increase compared to what we’re used to seeing,” he added. “It’s a large increase to what I’ve seen in the past.” The uptick in used car demand, he surmised, started when some of the new car manufacturers halted production on vehicles during the COVID-19 crisis. They have since found themselves in the process of catching up and through that, some of the vehicle parts are not making it to the United States in time to get vehicles from the manufacturer back to the dealer. “Dealerships — they sell automobiles. They drove the price up on used cars because they could not get new car inventory,” Smith said. “At auctions, we’re seeing new car dealerships fighting and paying more for inventory than in previous years. Which obviously drove up the price of pre-owned automobiles.” Fewer new car sales over the past year has meant fewer trade-ins. Motorists are extending their leases. Rental car companies, normally a re-
liable source of used cars, are instead buying used cars themselves in order to rebuild their fleets that were sold off last year as business travel and tourism came to a halt, according to CBS News. Along with that, the news agency reported, a microchip shortage has slowed the production of new cars, sending more would-be buyers to the used car market. Automakers cut their orders on microchips a year ago as the pandemic kept Americans from buying new cars. The average new car contains anywhere from 30 to 150 microchips. Consumers found themselves more reclusive, working and attending school from home. They went on a shopping binge for new computers and other electronics, so microchip factories began opting to make chips for those devices rather than vehicles. Those who have driven past the new car dealerships in the area may have noticed that the on-site inventory — those vehicles on public display — has been reduced from the past. Phyllis and her husband, Leslie E. Colvin Jr., have owned and operated B&E Auto Sales on Cedar Creek Road since 2012. Though the couple were able to acquire more recent used vehicles
from along 2016 and 2017 in the past, Phyllis Colvin said those second-hand cars are now out of their price range. They run a salvage lot, and her husband does the work to get them on the road again. They now have to pick up older previously-owned vehicles, such as makes and models from 2007 and 2008. “It has changed,” she said. “We try to go on. We try to figure out what to do.” Just recently, the Colvins sold her sister-in-law a used 2013 Nissan Altima for $4,800. A couple of years ago, Phyllis Colvin said, that same used vehicle would have gone for like $2,300. “Used cars have really went up,” she said. “It’s hot right now. Used cars have really gone up,” she said. “It’s more noticeable now. We’re busier than normal. People are coming a lot more.” She said nine years ago, when they first opened B&E Auto Sales, they could find used cars for like $500 to $1,500. “You can’t do that now,” said Colvin. “They went up probably 40 percent or more.”
| IN THE NEWS |
Report: Fayetteville airport brings in $790 million to local economy STAFF REPORT ccording to a recently released report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, Fayetteville Regional Airport plays a significant role in the local economy. Results from the Jan. 21 report released Monday show that FAY supports 4,575 jobs, contributes $28 million to state and local taxes and provides $790 million in economic impact. “Fayetteville Regional Airport is constantly working to bring an even better airport experience to the local community and traveling public,” said Toney Coleman, airport director. Release bi-annualy, the report shows how the state’s public airport and related aviation and aerospace assets contribute to the economy —
A
DAVID KENNARD/GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Emily Moussa and Brandon Barrentine from Cleveland, Ohio, at left, arrive for a visit in Fayetteville in June.
locally and statewide. The report paints a very different picture than a January 2019 City Council report by Mayor Mitch Colvin, who then described the airport as “underperforming.”
Since then, the airport has undertaken a major remodeling project that will change nearly every square foot of the city-owned facility. Now, more than two years after beginning the project, the end is in sight. “FAY continues to be one of the fastest-recovering North Carolina commercial-service airports since March 2020,” according to a statement released to the Business Journal in June. The most recent economic impact report from NCDOT was “created to help guide future investment in aviation infrastructure and to act as a tool for recruiting future aviation and aerospace industry,” today’s statement read. On schedule to complete reconstruction in early 2022, Fayetteville Regional will see a new terminal
front, new airline ticket counters, and baggage and TSA areas. In January 2020, passengers saw the completion of Phase One of the project, which included terminal renovations, a new concourse, two new jet bridges, rotunda and restaurant area. In June the airport’s marketing specialist, Allison Rogers, said officials understand the airport serves a specific role in the state’s overall air-transportation infrastructure and they want it to excel at that role. David Kennard and Scott Nunn from the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal contributed to this story.
Page 22
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July 23 - August 12, 2021
| IN THE NEWS |
Chamber of commerce introduces new board members BY JENNA SHACKELFORD
T
he Greater Fayetteville Chamber has four new board members. The process of becoming a new board member doesn’t happen quickly. There are several steps that must take place before a person can be on the board. “It’s a nominating process,” explains Shari Fiveash, CEO of the Chamber, “by a nominating committee that presents to the executive committee and president. The membership is then notified by the president. Newly elected members are usually announced in the first quarter of the year, but the announcement came later this year due to COVID-19.
HERE ARE THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO THE BOARD:
ELAINA BALL
The hiring of Elaina Ball as CEO and General Manager of Fayetteville Public Works Commission was announced in October 2020. She is the first female leader in PWC’s hisBall tory. Ball brings an educational background in chemical engineering and 14 years of experience to the table.
ISABELLA EFFON
In 2012, Dr. Isabella Effon opened up her restaurant, Taste of West Africa, in Fayetteville and introduced the community to delicious African cuisine. In the same year, she established the Culture and Heritage Alli-
EFFICIENT. EFFECTIVE. EASY.
Effon
ance. She is also the president and CEO of Keji Services, Inc., a multidivisional company that serves commercial and governmental customers.
creative, entertainment and community relations.
WILL GLASS
PETER SUBSARA
Peter Subsara serves as the Assistant General Manager for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, which is the city’s minor league baseball team and single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. Subsara oversees a variety of departSubsara ments for the Fayetteville Baseball Club: marketing,
PHOTO PUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION FROM HOTSUGARPOP
Will and Tiffany Glass
Will Glass became interested in Culinary Arts as a teenager. Upon his graduation, he enlisted as a Food Service Specialist in the US Army Reserves. In 2018, he opened an allergy-friendly kettle corn company in Fayetteville, HotSugarPop.
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Page 23
| HOSPITALITY |
Escape to a Fayetteville area escape room BY JAMI MCLAUGHLIN
W
hen Luke Chilton was 16, he visited his first escape room. He was in Los Angeles where he worked as a child actor and with one visit, he said he knew it was the perfect business to open as soon as he got home. On a flight back to Fayetteville, Chilton was on the phone to look at a space and on February 19, 2016, he opened the Escape Room Fayetteville at 3639 Sycamore Dairy Road. “It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done and entrepreneurship is in my blood. My family has owned Omega Gymnastics for 40 years so I have always looked for something to fun to start,” said Chilton, “I missed the high school experience, but I’ve been able to go to school during the week and operate the business as well. I’m 21 now and we’ve been open for five and a half years.” The premise behind the hugely popular escape rooms is simple. The countdown starts as soon as you enter the room. The clues you unlock lead to another clue and you have 60 minutes with your team to solve the puzzles in order to escape the room. The difficulty lies within the scenarios. Everything is a challenge and nothing could be what it seems. “We have five different themed rooms with everything from a serial killer mystery to family friendly. The cool thing about our space and what sets us apart is that we have hidden doors, trap doors and crawl spaces. You would never know starting the game and looking around the room that something could lead to multiple rooms you are escaping from,” said Chilton, “We expanded to a second space when we outgrew the first one. We now have two locations in the same building.” One of the most recent escape rooms in Fayetteville, Escapology, opened in the Freedom Town Center in 2019. Located at 2770 Freedom Parkway Dr., Escapology incorporates childhood nostalgia with games such as Scooby Doo as one of their family friendly escape rooms. “The cast of Scooby Doo is who you hear on the speakers when you unlock a puzzle. Everyone loves it, said Rochelle Gore, general manager, “As far as escape rooms, it’s a growing community, it’s an interactive experience and it’s challenging. It’s a
DAVID KENNARD/GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Escapology's lobby was full on Friday afternoon as visitors lined up to challenge their escape room skills.
lot of fun.” With five different rooms with different themes, story lines and missions, Escapology is also seeing an influx of guests coming out of the pandemic. “It might be our marketing, it might be people are looking for something to do, but we’ve had a huge spike upwards with our business especially coming out of Covid. We are a private venue so we are able to provide social distancing and a safe experience,” said Gore. “We want families to enjoy coming here. Of course, over time the rooms will change. We try to keep things new. If a guest plays all five rooms, they can come back to play the new ones. We try to keep everything lively and fresh.” Another escape room venue that is seeing an upsurge in “escapers,” or escape room enthusiasts is Xscape Factor at 136A Bow Street in downtown Fayetteville. “We have a following of “escapers,” who travel everywhere and plan their trips around escape room experiences. It’s how my wife and I started,” said Lee Bowers, co-owner of Xscape Factor along with his wife Summer Moore, “We used to do game nights at our house and friends told us to try an escape room in Raleigh. We were hooked from that first experience. We started going every weekend and seeking them out. One weekend, we went to eight different
escape rooms in Virginia.” It was that love and passion for escape rooms that had this military couple want to start their own in Fayetteville, but also to create an original experience. “Along with the fun ones, we went to some bad ones too as we traveled around so when we decided to open our own, we came up with all the games ourselves,” said Bowers, “Within a month and a half, we were testing out four games. We write and program all of our rooms and our games along with the concepts are completely original. It’s a huge draw to the escape room community.” With escapers looking for that one of a kind experience, Lee Bowers also said their rooms are authentic, “The rooms are also authentically decorated such as an Al Capone room set the in the 1930s with all furniture and details from that decade and prior. To keep guests coming back, every year, we cycle scenarios and even add chapters to existing rooms.” Together with their regular play experiences, all three Fayetteville escape room venues also offer birthday parties and corporate team building. The Escape Room Fayetteville has hosted corporate team building events for Verizon, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Cape Fear Valley Hospital and others. “We can have up to 44 people per hour through our rooms,” said
Chilton, “We have a great time doing these types of events for companies.” Xscape Factor also does corporate training with off-site mobile units, hosting private events for the military, businesses and colleges. “We come to their location and set up two tents with three different games. We just did training events at Seymour Johnson AFB and at Fayetteville State,” said Bowers. Their military background and creative original programming also lends to more than a normal game encounter. “We do important work for these groups in a fun, active way,” said Bowers, “For instance, we built a game to address the 22 veterans a day who succumb to suicide. We identify warning signs, give contact information to local agencies and address triggers, but it’s all embedded in a fun game designed to educate. Those taking the training are more likely to retain the information because it is brought to them actively where they are solving issues as a group. It means a lot to us and we do a lot of off-site work as well as staying busy downtown.” Whether it is a company looking for team building or training, couples wanting a fun date night or a group of friends seeking something a bit different, the challenge is set and the countdown begins as soon as you enter the room.
ESCAPE ROOM FAYETTEVILLE 3639 B. Sycamore Dairy Road, Fayetteville 910-920-1781 www. escaperoomfayettevillenc.com ESCAPOLOGY 2770 Freedom Parkway Dr., Fayetteville 910-302-6981 www.escapology.com Xscape Factor 136-A Bow Street, Fayetteville 910-676-8926 www.xscapefactor.com
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