Business Journal

BUSINESS J

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2013

Complimentary

HOSPITAL EXPANDS

Carteret General Launches $53 million expansion

State Port Unveils Wood Pellet Plan Bioscience Continues to Grow in NC Chamber Presents Awards

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contents 8

HOSPITAL EXPANSION Carteret General Hospital moves forward with its planned $53 million expansion, adding more than 100,000 square feet to the facility.

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FROM THE CHAMBER Leadership Carteret, Atlantic Beach is honored, employers are recognized

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CHAMBER AWARDS The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce presents major awards to area businesses.

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SUPPORTING CHERRY POINT Local communities and the state strive to retain the state’s military presence.

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PORT BEGINS WOOD PELLET PROJECT The Morehead City State Port unveiled its wood pellet project in Morehead City during a special July meeting.

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BIOSCIENCE GROWTH A new study shows a marked increase in the bioscience industry in North Carolina.

nccoast.com email: editor@nccoast.com

The NCCOAST Business Journal serves to showcase Carteret County as a prime location for creating and continuing business endeavors.

The NCCOAST Business Journal includes editorial information from, the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, Carteret Community College and its publisher, NCCOAST, which has final editorial control of each edition and does not reflect the opinions of any entity other than those of NCCOAST.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Content is as accurate as possible at presstime.

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

For additional information, visit nccoast.com.

Published by NCCOAST Communications 201 N. 17th St., Morehead City, NC 28557 252.240.1811 • 800.525.1403 fax 877.247.1856 nccoast.com

Publisher Diane Tyler

Managing Editor Amanda Dagnino (editor@nccoast.com)

Sales Director Ashly Willis (252.342.2334)

Advertising Sales Jamie Bailey (252.241-9485) Anne Gillikin (252.725-9114) (sales@nccoast.com)

Creative Director Kim LaChance (kim@nccoast.com)

Layout/Design Erin Pallotti

Graphic Design Mimi Guthrie, Kyle Dixon

IN OTHER BUSINESS

6 In the Network 10 From the College 18 Downtown View 19 From the Chair 24 Legislative Update 25 The Onlooker 30 Advertising Index

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The NCCOAST Business Journal is published annually by NCCOAST. Five thousand copies are produced per issue and distributed among high traffic areas and local businesses. Email georgia@nccoast.com for subscription information.

28

Vol. 6, Issue #1 July 2013

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IN THE network

2.

1.

5.

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Photos: 1. Past Chamber Chair Ray Harris and Wanda Bennett of Carteret Community College catch up. 2. Marcia Holcomb and Cyndy Mann, both of Realty World First Coast Realty, greeted visitors to the company’s hospitality tent at the Chamber’s Business After Hours Expo at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on May 2. 3. NCCOAST served as one of the media partners at the chamber’s recent Business After Hours Expo. Here are account executives, from left, Jasa Lewis, Ashly Willis and Carrie Simonson. 4. Jayme Limbaugh, Anna Yeager and Grant Roper, all of Anytime Fitness, provide a little comic relief at the annual expo. 5. Heather Hart of CarolinaEast Medical and Scott Eckholdt of Wells Fargo network.

Business After Hours Expo Rocks the Civic Center

The Business After Hours Expo, hosted by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on May 2, attracted more than 465 people and included 70 chamber member exhibitors.

“Special thanks to Carteret General Hospital and CenturyLink, who were our presenting sponsors” again this year, said Julie Naegelen, who served as expo coordinator.

“It was a great event, and we also appreciate the support from our media partners, who were Beasley Broadcast Group, Carteret County News-Times, Crystal Coast Photo Booth, Crystal Coast Tent & Event Rentals, NCCOAST Communications and WTKF – FM 107.1 – The Talk Station.”

Wanda Bennett of Carteret Community College said: “The Business After Hours Expo was fantastic. I thought it was well done and worthwhile. Thank you for your efforts in making it the most successful networking event in our community.”

Naegelen responded: “We’ve learned how to combine the buzz and excitement of a business trade show with the fun and flare that is associated with a Chamber Business After Hours. We also appreciate those chamber member restaurants and caterers who provided samples of their specialty dishes.”

Save the date for the 2014 Business After Hours Expo – Thursday, May 1 (at the Civic Center).

For those who don’t want to wait a full year to get involved, there are six more Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours events scheduled during the remainder of 2013.

“We always welcome new and prospective members to come and join in the networking,” said Naegelen.

All Business After Hours events are on Thursdays from 5:30-7pm. Admission is $5 per person and a business card for chamber members. Pre-registration is required and advance payment is preferred. Guests are welcome, but please contact Julie Naegelen at (252) 726-6350 or julie@nccoastchamber.com to make arrangements.

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Dec. 12

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Carteret General Moves Forward with Expansion

The shape of healthcare along the Crystal Coast will change in the year ahead … quite literally. Carteret General Hospital is moving forward with its planned $53 million expansion, bringing a new profile to the more than 45-year-old structure and adding an additional 112,000 square feet of treatment space.

“We have received conditional approval of our certificate of need and the architecture is working to finalize construction documents, which are expected in August,” said President Richard Brvenik, adding that the board is moving toward opening bids for a general construction contractor with hopes of breaking ground in the fall.

While additional space is a must for the hospital, the focus in designing that space has been on streamlining services and eliminating redundancy in the process. With the goal of creating patient-focused space, Brvenik said the hospital also wants to remain good stewards by using the existing space and resources as efficiently as possible, a philosophy shared by Earl Architects of Greenville, SC, who designed the new space.

The move comes on the heels of the hospital’s master facility plan, which was developed in the spring of 2012, said Brvenik. The plan estimated need based on projected admissions, lengths of stay, numbers of beds, emergency department traffic and procedures at the hospital’s Coleman Radiation Oncology Center.

“A lot of planning went into this,” the president said.

“Our board, medical staff and hospital leadership really did a lot in the development of a master development plan and that’s really where this project flows from. The plan was developed to address our physical needs, program needs and a significant amount of forecasting or projecting of numbers.”

A cornerstone of the project is a three-story multidisciplinary comprehensive cancer center, which will work in partnership with the UNC-Lineberger Cancer Center and have specialty areas for the head and neck with the potential of adding specialty breast cancer services. The goal, said Brvenik, is to bring all those services together under one roof to allow for more streamlined care.

“

“

Our board, medical staff and hospital leadership really did a lot in the development of a master development plan and that’s really where this project flows from.

Computer generated rendering

The hospital’s cancer services, which include the off-site Raab Oncology Clinic, were bursting at its seams, Brvenik said, with the addition recently of a second physician. Two years ago the hospital purchased the former Century Care on Penny Lane, located directly behind the hospital, with hopes of creating an all-inclusive cancer center on the premises.

The master plan, however, found that it would be more desirable and efficient to have the cancer center on the Carteret General campus, allowing for staff to better coordinate care.

In addition to housing the cancer center, the three-story Specialty Pavilion will be home to a women’s health center, laboratory and other outpatient services, a nondenominational chapel, a small café or grill and an inner courtyard for patients and family members along to additional critical and progressive care rooms and space to ease crowding issues in the emergency department. The construction will also provide the new primary entry point for patients and visitors, with the current main entrance, which is tucked beneath a floor of patient wings, being reserved for staff members.

President Dick Brvenick

Bright, spacious and full of light, the new entry changes the street view of Carteret General and embraces the trend of a more welcoming healthcare facility.

“When Carteret General was built the trend was toward a serious and somber, almost intimidating design,” said Brvenik. “Today, the prevailing design is to create a more positive and soothing, more healing environment. The new front entryway will make us look like a new hospital in many ways.

It will be attractive, open, inviting – I think it will really give a new face to Carteret General Hospital.”

On the southeastern corner of the campus, the new glass façade will allow lots of light to enter into a spacious central lobby, making it both functional and comforting and inviting.

Other areas of the hospital will be addressed as well, including the small post-partum rooms and the need for additional medical/surgical beds.

“Everything will be interconnected and we think that’s going to be really positive for our staff and our patients,” Brvenik said. “We want this to be first rate. We want other hospitals, when they are planning expansions, to come see us and what we have achieved.

“The staff is very excited and I think there is real enthusiasm there,” added Brvenik.

Additional services will include inpatient acute dialysis and a separate certificate of need has been requested for an on-site cardiac catheterization lab.

The hospital received a nod from the Carteret County Board of Commissioners last October to proceed with the project. An estimated $35 million of the overall budget could receive bond financing and the Carteret General Hospital Foundation has raised more than $800,000 to contribute to the comprehensive cancer center.

Carteret General Hospital was completed in 1967 and is licensed for 135 beds. It had 6,033 admissions in 2012, 780 births and 41,325 emergency room visits. The hospital employees 992 people and has about 100 active volunteers.

There are still a few areas that need to be finalized, Brvenik said, including a helicopter landing pad and a full parking plan, however, the president feels confident that progress will begin this fall.

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FROM THE college

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Carteret Community College, like many other community colleges across the state, is undergoing a transformation in how it operates due to recent changes in state law. This year’s state budget will change community college funding formulas and other budgetary allotment criteria increasing the difficulty of delivering the education, job training, and services at current levels. As a result, many community colleges, like Carteret, are turning to private and corporate sponsorship like never before as they strive to meet the needs of their communities.

This is being written just days before the Crystal Coast Music Festival, to be held on the waterfront of Carteret Community College. The event is tied to the 50th anniversary of the college and hopefully will bring more than a thousand festival goers to the campus. At the same time, Tropical Storm Chantal is threatening Hispaniola and the forecast calls for inclement weather to our area near the time of the festival.

Fortunately, we have the strong backing of a community that knows how important the community college is for helping small businesses, employees, students seeking careers, seniors, and the training of public safety, health care, and service workers. We could not even begin to organize a creative fundraising and friend raising event like the music festival without the help of the community.

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Needs

This community support also includes other events like the CCC Foundation’s Spanish Mackerel/Dolphin Fishing Tournament and annual golf tournament. From generous corporate sponsors and organizations to individuals who want to help, the community contributions are making a positive difference in the lives of many. Just ask one of the nearly 200 scholarship recipients awarded last year.

In honor of the college’s 50th anniversary, companies like Transportation Impact, First Citizens Bank, Potash Corp. and Wells Fargo all contributed significantly, which will continue to provide needed support for several more years. These generous donations will be used in a variety of ways.

A couple of years ago, the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees requested that a privately supported fund be established in memory of Sally Smith, former college trustee, community leader, and friend to so many, who gave tirelessly of her time for the good of others.

The Sally Smith Fund is now being used for professional development of employees – faculty and staff. With the recent decreases in state funding, the privately supported fund for additional employee training has become essential. In fact, more than 40 employees have participated in education and training opportunities over the past two years.

It is this type of backing that allows a community college to support its community the best it can. The training and education opportunities also come at a time when our employees have not had a salary increase in more than five years, yet their costs have gone up for insurance, retirement, transportation, housing, and food. The support for professional development has had a very positive impact on self-investment options for our employees.

Earlier this year, at the beginning of the 50th anniversary celebration, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament donated $100,000 to the college to help expand our marine trades training opportunities, and created the Big Rock Scholarship.

Because of Big Rock support, we have expanded the marine propulsion training program to include marine diesel training, and some worthy student will receive a full scholarship for job training in the growing marine trades industry this coming academic year.

The most important word in the title of our organization is “Community” as demonstrated by current research which identities “Family” as the word most often substituted for “Community.” Opinion vary as to the challenges and solutions for today’s public funding of education, but the pattern is clear that North Carolina is continuing to invest less money per equivalent student yet again. For Carteret Community College, it is by the grace of our local supporters and members of our “family” that we continue to remain vibrant.

Kerry L. Youngblood, Ph.D, President Carteret Community College

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11

FROM THE chamber Chamber’s New Directory Is ‘Ready Resource’ Guide

The 2013 Business Directory & Visitors Guide, published annually by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, is now available – free of charge – at chamber headquarters at 801 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The 84-page publication was printed by NCCOAST (publisher of NCCOAST Business Journal), and designed by graphic artist The cover of the 2013 Business Directory Andrea Vangelist. & Visitors Guide features the moon rising The visitors guide section over Cape Lookout Lighthouse. (Coastal appears in the front of the Image Photography) book, featuring 44 photographs that illustrate the beauty, excitement and fun when you spend a weekend … or a forevermore at the Crystal Coast.

In the center of the book, you can find the “Faces of the Chamber” – chamber members in action.

The Business Directory section includes the roster of chamber members. The categorical listings come first, followed by the alphabetical listings and the “who’s who” listings – key contacts.

“We encourage local businesses to give copies to vacationers, guests, clients, customers and prospects,” said Chamber President Mike Wagoner.

Leadership Carteret 2014 Class Is Now Forming

Leadership Carteret, a 10week professional development program presented annually by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, begins in January of 2014.

“This will be our 26th consecutive season to offer Leadership Carteret, and our goal remains the same Leadership Carteret 2013 classmates – ‘Empowering TomorKitti Hardison of the United Way of row’s Leaders Today,’” Coastal Carolina and Virginia Jones of said Diane Warrender Tiller School of Carteret County. of the chamber. The program offers a comprehensive orientation about contemporary issues and challenges that are unique to Carteret County,” she said. “We take the class to places off the beaten path and behind the scenes to give the participants an experience they will never forget. We guarantee it.”

The 38-member class of 2013 graduated March 20.

Here are comments from two of the participants:

“Leadership Carteret has touched my heart. Thank you for this opportunity,” said Madelene Brooks of Carteret Community College.

“The experience, the camaraderie, the classmates, the facilitators and the various trips were all outstanding,” said Fred Lund of Safrit’s Building Supply. “Having relocated in November 2012, this was the ideal time for me to be involved.”

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To inquire about enrollment in Leadership Carteret 2014, contact Diane Warrender at 252-726-6350 or diane@ nccoastchamber.com. Tuition is $400 for chamber members and $500 for others.

Chamber’s Reverse Drawing Is Aug. 17 at Civic Center

The public is invited to attend the 21st annual Reverse Drawing, presented on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s simply the best party of the summer,” said Tracey Brinson of the chamber, “and someone will win the grand prize of $10,000 cash.

“Tickets are $100 each and only 325 tickets will be sold.

You do not have to be present to win,” she said. “The chamber accepts cash, checks, MasterCard and VISA.

“Each $100 ticket admits two people to the event, which offers a buffet dinner, an open bar, a silent auction, entertainment, dancing, plenty of fun and good fellowship and a free cab ride home within the county limits. Doors open at 6pm.

The theme is “Surfin’ Safari: A Tropical Fantasy.” Dress is beach casual and there is a costume contest with prizes awarded.

For information, contact Tracey Brinson at tracey@nccoastchamber.com or 252-726-6350.

Atlantic Beach Honored For 75 Years of Service

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce presented a Community Advocate Award to the Town of Atlantic Beach, which is the oldest municipality on Bogue Banks, having celebrated Atlantic Beach Town Council members its 75th anniversary Harry Archer, Mayor Trace Cooper, Vada in 2012.

Palma, John Rivers and Ann Batt.

Chamber Chair Mary Carlyle Brown said, “Atlantic Beach’s 75-year anniversary was perfectly designed and executed to involve and touch the entire community – its employees, both past and present, local residents, seasonal residents, tourists and vacationers.

“Community advocacy involves appreciating and cher-

ishing one’s past and having fun. You did all that that with your ‘Celebrate 75 Summers in Atlantic Beach’ events and activities, which recaptured the spirit of summers past and memories of the last seven and a half decades. It’s obvious that there is powerful emotional pull of this fantastic place on people who have left and come back.

“What they remember and love is what Mayor Trace Cooper has described as ‘the heritage and charm of a small Southern beach town with a cottage neighborhood feel.’

You want to maintain this atmosphere where it still exists … and reclaim it where it has slipped away.

“You are focusing not only on the Circle, but also on improvements along the Causeway and the central business area, the expansion of recreational facilities and ways to enhance the town’s ‘bike-a-bility.’ You have successfully leveraged your 75th anniversary to build a bridge to the future…a future that looks very bright, indeed.”

Also receiving a Community Advocate Award was Debbie Fisher of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Office Fusion Solutions, the Professional Business Center and Coastal Heritage Construction and Realty

She was nominated by her friend and loyal employee, Carol Reed, who said, “Debbie is always thinking outside the box and trying to diversify her business, in turn assisting her customers and clients to serve them better. She truly loves people…and is a non-stop hot shot.”

Chamber Appreciates Military Neighbors

The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce is on a mission.

MAC Chair David Heath of the Town of Newport said: “We are all about creating and maintaining positive relationships between the local business community and military personnel – partnerships that are mutually beneficial.

“Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East have an enormous economic impact on our local economy. The Marine Corps estimates that Cherry Point pumps about $2.2 billion a year into the region.”

The Cherry Point facilities combine to rank as the area’s major employer, providing thousands of jobs to Carteret County residents. Carteret County also is home to Coast Guard Sector Field Office Fort Macon and an Army Reserve unit in Morehead City.

“The MAC specializes in showing our active duty and retired military families how much we appreciate having them as our neighbors,” Heath adds.

Any interested chamber member

“Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys, released in 1962, contains these lyrics:

“We’re going on safari to the islands this year … From Hawaii to the shores of Peru … Come on and safari with me.”

Let your imagination run free...with lush, green rain forests, jungle creatures, tropical islands and huge ocean waves where the surfing is wild.

It’s happening on Saturday evening, August 17, at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. Each $100 ticket admits two adults to the party…and it’s your chance to win the Grand Prize of $10,000.

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FROM THE chamber is welcome to join the MAC. There is no additional cost to participate.

The MAC’s annual program of work is supported by chamber members who make financial contributions to the MAC as Star Sponsors. To inquire, contact Diane Warrender, who is the chamber staff liaison to the MAC, at diane@nccoastchamber.com or 252-726-6350.

Employers of the Year Recognized

Three local businesses are still “basking in the glory” of having being selected as Employers of the Year last fall. They are: Connecting Point Computer Center, Family Tire & Auto Service and Kurtis Chevrolet.

The employer awards are presented annually by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce and the Carteret County Career Center (JobLink). Here’s what nominators had to say about the winners:

“Bubba Sanderson launched Connecting Point Computer Center in 1991. This home-grown, Carteret County company, which is based in Morehead City, has been serving clients throughout eastern North Carolina for more than 20 years.

“Bubba and his team of four employees will sell you a computer and all the gear that goes with it … they will service your computer, diagnose it and repair it. They will even make ‘house calls’ to your residence or place of business.

They will build you a website and maintain it … and when you lose important files, they can help retrieve your data. Bubba truly sets the ‘tone at the top’ and is involved in numerous civic organizations.”

“Denny Bucher and his son Dave joined the chamber before they even opened the Morehead City Family Tire & Auto Service store in 2009. The Morehead City store has grown steadiDenny Bucher and Dave Bucher, both of ly from six Family Tire & Auto Service. teammates to 13, servicing in excess of 14,000 vehicles a year. Family Tire & Auto Service was the national runner-up for America’s ‘Top Shop’ Award in 2011, which is presented by Tire Review magazine.”

Dave Bucher said: “We make the effort to smile at people, to treat them like they would want to be treated and to price things fairly. If you take care of the people who are spending money at your location, you’re going to be a success.”

“Dean Wagaman started Kurtis Chevrolet in downtown Morehead City in 1981. At the time, he was the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the nation. Kurtis Chevrolet began with 16 employees … and now there are 50 team members.

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“The Kurtis Chevrolet ‘culture’ is very much a ‘Team Environment.’ They embrace the Disney training model, in which team members help decide the company direction, and every team member is empowered to take care of a customer without asking for management approval. The company invests heavily in education of its people, some $65,000 this year alone … and that pays dividends with low turnover and retention.

“They have newly renovated their facilities, with Dean insisting on using as many local businesses as possible on the project. He is very emphatic about using people who are local and who have done business with Kurtis Chevrolet. The dealership takes seriously its commitment to environmental stewardship – to be ‘clean and green.’ Kurtis Chevrolet is a solid corporate citizen, and provides financial contributions to the Crystal Coast Hospice House, the Purple Heart Golf Tournament, Hope Mission Christian Ministries, Toys for Tots, The Salvation Army … just to name a few.”

Chamber Begins ‘Talent Search’ For Customer Service Champions

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce invites nominations for its 2013 Outrageous Customer Service Awards.

“Each year, we recognize ‘Outrageous Customer Service’ that is performed by individuals across the county,’” said Mary Carlyle Brown of Realty World First Coast Realty, who is chair of the chamber’s board of directors.

“The nomination process is simple. Just send in a detailed note about someone you work with or someone who

has served you well. Direct your correspondence to Mike Wagoner at mike@ nccoastchamber.com. The deadline is Aug. 30. The awards ceremony will be in October.

The awards program is co-sponsored by NCCOAST, Carteret Community College and the Emerald Isle Beach & Pool Club. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

The 2012 Outrageous Customer Service Award winners were: Patrick Conneely of Chick-fil-A in Morehead City; Lani Crews and Jeannie Chan, both of Hot Wax Surf Shop in Emerald Isle; Randy Hingson of White Swan Express of Atlantic Beach; Barry Murphy of Roy’s Automotive in Emerald Isle; and the staff at Rid A Pest in Morehead City.

Dr. Kerry Youngblood of Carteret Community College, who was the featured speaker at the awards ceremony, said: “These Outrageous Customer Service Champions have a vision. They understand what their customers want, and they deliver it … plus more.”

“For these award winners, customer service is a way of life. They demonstrate tenacity, courage and confidence, and when you do business with them, they make you feel like family. Their positive attitude, dedication and integrity breed loyal and lifelong customers.”

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DOWNTOWN view

Pride

Fostering

in Downtown Morehead

“While the things we do aren’t always easily measured in dollars and cents, in many cases they’re easy to see,” said Tom Kies, executive director for the Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association. (DMCRA). “Like the Alive at Five concerts, we know they can bring in as many as a thousand people and we know that a lot of those folks stay downtown when the concert is over to eat at the local restaurants and go shopping. We know anecdotally that this is good for the downtown economy.”

Restaurants are a big part of the downtown scene. According to a Shopper’s Survey the DMCRA completed last summer, 33 percent of the people who visited downtown did so to dine at one of the 18 locally owned restaurants and another 30 percent said they came downtown for the nightlife, concerts, events and maritime activities.

In addition to the Alive at Five concerts, the DMCRA stages the Crystal Coast Boat Show in May that brings thousands of people to the waterfront. According to Kies, the boat show was so successful this year the boat show committee had a difficult time finding space for all of the exhibitors that came.

In conjunction with the boats and vendors, the DMCRA works with the Arts Council of Carteret County to stage the ARTrageous art event that takes place the same weekend as the boat show on the waterfront. More than 50 regional artists set up tents on the street for this juried show.

“The arts have also become a big part of our downtown economy.

We have eight art galleries within an eight block radius,” said Kies.

In addition to the ARTrageous art event in May, the DMCRA worked with the Arts Council to stage the Christmas Art Walk that brings people in from all over Eastern North Carolina. The Art Walk is part of the overall Christmas in Downtown weekend the DMCRA organizes during the holiday season. The organization also produces the Chowder and Cheer Crawl, the Christmas Tree lighting, the Christmas Parade and works with the Friends of the Maritime Museum to stage the Christmas flotilla.

In addition to the Shopper’s Survey the DMCRA completed last summer, a Business Survey was also done. Kies said the association, led by its economic restructuring committee, seeks to recruit economically compatible and sustainable businesses to the downtown area.

“We’ve already worked with a number of realtors and potential

18

businesses interested in moving downtown who have made good use of these surveys,” said Kies.

Kies said that he is extremely excited about the progress being made in downtown. “We have renovations at Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant and the Carolina Artist’s Studio that have recently been Tom Kies completed. I understand that there are two more companies who are planning to move downtown. And I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with what’s happening at the Jib property.”

The Town of Morehead City is developing the recently acquired “Jib” property, including its accessory riparian area, into a water access and water view focal point that can accommodate multiple uses for assembly and performances, day docks, fishing tournaments with weigh-ins and home for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament’s statue and fountain. The design will reflect the history and traditional surrounding elements of the waterfront area.

In order to help fund the project, the DMCRA is selling engraved paving stones that will be part of the walk-way around the immediate perimeter of the fountain.

“This is a legacy project,” said Kies. “That fountain and plaza will become a premier attraction for visitors coming to the Crystal Coast. And those engraved paving stones will be there for generations to come. We’re excited to be part of this.”

The DMCRA reached out beyond the confines of the downtown district and partnered with the Carteret Community College Foundation to stage the Crystal Coast Music Festival that took place on July 13.

“We will continue to look for partnerships and opportunities for growth for the entire city,” Kies remarked.

The DMCRA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring Morehead City to a vibrant economic, cultural, historic, social and recreational center. In addition to the Christmas activities, the Alive at Five concerts and the Crystal Coast Boat Show, the DMCRA stages the 4th of July Fireworks display and the Leave it to the Locals event in October. For more information, call 252-808-0440 or visit www. downtownmoreheadcity.com.

FROM THE chair Steve & Mary Carlyle Brown celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Chamber Business After Hours function in March at Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant in Beaufort.

Think of us as the ‘Chamber of Contacts’

Mary Carlyle Brown is a broker with Realty World First Coast Realty in Atlantic Beach. Her business partner is her husband, Steve Brown. It’s a venture they launched in 2012, after Mary Carlyle retired as Manager of the Carteret County Employment Office in Morehead City. She spent 35 years in state government with the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, focusing on helping employers and job seekers make the perfect match.

During the course of my career, “jobs” has been my “mantra.” I have had the privilege of being associated with several local chambers of commerce. They come in all shapes and sizes, but one common thread is that chambers typically do the “things most people think just happen.”

I tell folks to just think of us as the Carteret County Chamber of Contacts. This is one of the true benefits that a business gains from participating in the chamber.

Above all else, the chamber provides networking opportunities for business people to interact with other business people

who are their potential customers, clients, vendors and suppliers. We want our members to make more profit. We want them to prosper and grow their business … and add jobs.

We are fortunate in that some of our members still believe that belonging to the chamber is “their civic duty.” But more and more, businesses view chamber membership as a business decision, as an investment. They ask: “What’s in it for me?” And rightfully so.

In response, I encourage business people to view chamber participation as their Ticket to VICTORY. That’s a bit of an acronym.

“V” is for Visibility – the added exposure the chamber af-

fords its members.

“I” is for the useful Information that you will receive as a chamber member. We call it “news you can use” to increase continued on page 29

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Chamber Presents

Maj r

Awards

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce presented its major annual awards at the 2013 Crystal Ball on April 19 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City.

Rodney Kemp thought he was presenting the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Award to Cap’n Jim Willis … and Cap’n Jim thought he was presenting it to Rodney. They were both correct!

Attending the Chamber/JobLink Luncheon from the Port of Morehead City (front row) were Tim Wilson, Amanda Bryant, Durwood Garner and Rex Edwards. Charles Thomas is standing behind them.

Superintendent Dan Novey and Shelton Somers, both of the Carteret County Public School System.

20

Receiving Citizen of the Year awards were Rodney Kemp of Chalk & Gibbs Real Estate and Insurance and longtime Atlantic Beach resident Cap’n Jim Willis.

“Rodney is a renowned local historian,” said chamber past chair Mal Garland, who served as master of ceremonies.

“Cap’n Jim is a self-proclaimed ‘banksologist’ and has studied the movement of sand along Bogue Banks for decades. Both of these gentlemen are fantastic storytellers and have contributed immeasurably to the heritage and culture of Carteret County,” Garland said.

Garland received the Cassie Algeo Award for Extraordinary Chamber Leadership.

Chef Floyd Olmstead of Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant in Morehead City received the Arnold Murray Small Business Person of the Year Award. Floyd and his wife, Shana, opened their own restaurant in 2005 and its popularity continues to soar, said chamber chair elect & Treasurer Bill Rogerson.

“The April 2013 issue of Our State magazine contains a major feature story on Morehead City and lists ‘5 Things Not to Miss in Morehead City.’ Number one is Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant,” Rogerson reported.

Debbie Fisher received the Debbie Godwin Ambassador of the Year Award. Fisher has four chamber member businesses: Mary Kay Cosmetics, Office Fusion Solutions, the Professional Development Center and Coastal Heritage Construction & Realty.

The newly created “Pro Operibus Civilibus” Award recognizing an individual from the public sector for outstanding civic deeds was presented posthumously to the late Sen. Jean Preston. “It is only right and proper that we present this new award in memory of our beloved, longtime legislator and friend Jean Preston,” said chamber chair Mary Carlyle Brown.

Jayme Limbaugh of Anytime Fitness of Morehead City received the Award of Merit for Development for its stateof-the-art health and fitness center. The chamber recognizes building construction projects that make a positive statement for “Community Character” in Carteret County by accentuating unique, coastal qualities that encourage an attractive commercial landscape.

About 125 chamber members and guests attended the 2013 Crystal Ball. The buffet dinner was catered by Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant. Entertainment was provided by

Blue Banyan Productions, DJ Rodney Leary.

The Carteret County Career Center (JobLink), a unit of the NC Division of Workforce Solutions, partners each year with the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce to select individuals who excel in “working with their hands and their heads.�

Earlier this year, the two organizations announced the winners of the Skilled Trades Professional of the Year Awards. They are Durwood Garner of the Port of Morehead City and Shelton Somers of the Carteret County Public School System.

“Durwood Garner likes to take things that are broken and repair them,â€? said Port Director Rex Edwards. “He has skills in plumbing, carpentry, masonry, welding and roofing ‌ and a thorough knowledge of fire sprinklers, roads, pavement, utilities and water systems.

“As the maintenance mechanic in the facilities maintenance department at the Port of Morehead City, Durwood is the go-to guy who keeps the port up and running,� Edwards said.

“He has come to work every day in his 15-year career at the Port ready, willing and able to go above and beyond what it takes to get the job done. He’s a lifelong resident of Carteret County and Durwood is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Carteret.�

Shelton Somers, who has worked in the school system’s facility support operations group since 2008, is also highly regarded and admired by his employer and colleagues.

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Department Director Judson Walton said: “Shelton is someone who gives 100 percent effort ‌ 100 percent of the time. From doors to windows ‌ roofs and tables ‌ cabinets, walls ‌ and ceilings, he tackles them all ‌ making excellent repairs.â€?

“He has a positive attitude, does his work with great professionalism, is creative and innovative, resourceful and adaptable. In short, Shelton epitomizes professionalism in the skilled trades.�

Chamber Past Chair Mal Garland of Sound Bank commented: “It’s important that we recognize men and women who are skilled craftsmen, because these careers are not going to be outsourced or exported. We have plenty of good jobs that reflect the heritage and culture of our community. These are jobs that pay well and keep our local economy afloat.�

Larry Woods, manager of the local Career Center, recognized Kennon Jamieson as the recipient of the center’s annual Award of Achievement, which is presented to an individual who has used the services of the center and/or partner agencies to improve his or her life.

“Kennon Jamieson came to us in November 2009 through the Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker program,� Woods said. “She attained her associate of applied science degree in health information technology from Carteret Community College, and was subsequently hired by Carteret General Hospital in patient access and provides administrative assistance to the president and CEO.�

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Communities Stand

UP

for

Cherry Point;

State Guards against Encroachment

One of the featured speakers at the Association of Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, DC, June 11-14, cited Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point as a “success story in protecting against encroachment.”

Roger Natsuhara, principal deputy assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations & Environment), said the Navy has growing concerns about turbines for wind generation, because of the potential impact on training missions. He complimented local communities around MCAS Cherry Point for effectively advocating anti-encroachment measures.

Much of the discussion at the summit focused on the “if and when” of creating another Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC). It could be 2015 or 2017.

John Conger, acting deputy under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment, said it is not a question of whether military communities want a BRAC or not. The question is, “What is the alternative?” If there is no BRAC, there will be “something else” and the something else may be much worse than a BRAC.

“The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce commends North Carolina’s General Assembly for being proactive and passing two important bills during the 2013 session dealing with our military installations,” said Mary Carlyle Brown, chair of the chamber’s board of directors.

House Bill 484 “Permitting of Wind Energy Facilities” was ratified by the legislature on May 16 and signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory on May 17. This new law lays out a process for wind energy developers to notify neighbors, local governments and military installations of plans to build wind turbines in the state. It gives the state the authority to reject a permit application if the developer’s planned construction interferes with military installations or military training.

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House Bill 433 “Land Use Surrounding Military Installations� – Military Lands Protection Act – was ratified June 18 and sent to the governor for his signature. It is designed to “maintain and enhance the military’s presence in North Carolina by regulating the height of buildings and structures that surround military installations in the state.�

“Our lawmakers recognize that wind turbines in the wrong places are a serious threat to the military, interfering with low-level flight patterns,� Brown said.

James Norment, an attorney with Ward and Smith, PA, of New Bern, who provides legal counsel to the Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT), said: “The continued support for protection of our military training ranges and flight paths will help ensure that MCAS Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC East) will thrive.

“MCAS Cherry Point and FRC East together contribute nearly $2.2 billion annually to our economy and employ about 5,000 civilians and 10,000 active duty Marines and Sailors – making the military a tremendous economic asset to our region,� Norment said.

Additionally, Norment said the three training facilities located within Carteret County are covered under the laws as well. These are:

• MC Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue (known as Bogue Field), which provides training for pilots by simulating landings on aircraft carriers.

• The Outlying Field in Atlantic, which is used for training by military “special forcesâ€? units.

• The Piney Island Bombing Range (BT-11) on the northeastern tip of Carteret County, which is “the premier bombing range on the east coastâ€? and used by all branches of the military.

The

“ACT is in full pre-BRAC mode,� said Carteret County Chamber President Mike Wagoner, who is a member of the ACT Board of Directors.

“Two of the things that weigh heavily in a BRAC assessment are the extent of public/private cooperation and the level of community support – how we partner with the military and ways we show our appreciation and patriotic pride.

“Although Cherry Point is adjacent to Havelock in Craven County, it is the largest single employer of Carteret County residents, so we are with them all the way. The military drives our local economy.

“It’s interesting how many Marine Corps retirees and veterans want to stay here to live after they exit military service or want to return here for family vacations, because of our coastal amenities,� Wagoner said.

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LEGISLATIVE update

Carteret County

‘Gains a Penny’ in

Occupancy Tax Rate

The NC General Assembly has approved a bill to raise the occupancy tax in Carteret County from 5 percent to 6 percent.

The legislation was introduced by Rep. Pat McElraft (REmerald Isle). The funds generated by the tax, will be divided equally, with 50 percent of the money designated for tourism promotion/marketing by the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority and 50 percent for beach nourishment, which is administered by the Carteret County Beach Commission.

The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism Authority, the Beach Commission and the Carteret County Board of Commissioners all supported this bill.

As it affects tourism marketing, the tax is revenue neutral. The extra penny will go toward beach nourishment and is expected to generate about $900,000 more each year in revenue.

The 6 percent tax rate is consistent with other counties along the coast and does not exceed the maximum amount recommended by the NC Travel and Tourism Coalition. The tax is paid by visitors and guests who stay in local hotels/motels and inns, and it also applies to vacation rental properties.

Greg “Rudi” Rudolph of the Carteret County Shore Protection Office said the plan is for the County Board of Commissioners to enact the new tax rate, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

“The additional revenue will ensure the viability of our beaches from recreational, economic and environmental standpoints well into the future,” he said.

Chamber Chair Mary Carlyle Brown said, “The chamber supported the proposal because healthy beaches are critical to maintaining and growing our tourism-based economy.”

Rudolph added, “We salute Rep. McElraft for her cooperation

and deep understanding of coastal issues; it makes a difference.”

Navigation Channels

The General Assembly approved House Bill 707, which ensures that the state will “pursue all strategies that will keep the state’s shallow draft navigation channels safe and navigable.”

It was signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory on June 19. Rep. Pat McElraft was a primary sponsor.

“This is a good bill. It essentially directs the state agencies to work on having federal dredging permits transferred to the state and local governments – hopefully with more flexibility for deeper channels and advantageous use of dredge spoils for nourishment in the future,” said Emerald Isle Town Manager Frank Rush.

Greg “Rudi” Rudolph said: “This defines what shallow draft waterways are (almost everything in Carteret County), and it pledges state involvement to maintain and seek long-term agreements with the Army Corps of Engineers, so we can fund dredging.”

“It also pledges the state’s assistance to allow local governments to obtain their own permits to dredge the waterways if the authorized dimensions are adhered to, and it pledges the state’s assistance when local governments want to seek their own permits to dredge deeper than the authorized depths and place sand on the beach,” Rudolph said.

Loggerhead Turtles

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking to designate all beaches in Carteret County as “critical habitat” for loggerhead sea turtles, and several business and tourismrelated organizations are in opposition.

“Our communities and citizens are committed to a continuation of measurers that State Rep. Pat McElraft will ensure the survival and recovery of the (right) regularly participates loggerhead sea turtle, so we feel strongly in the annual Legislative that this federal designation is unnecessary,” Luncheon hosted by the said the Chamber’s Mary Carlyle Brown.

Carteret County Chamber of “We are deeply concerned that the ‘critical Commerce for the purpose habitat’ designation could have a crippling of presenting the Chamber’s effect on the public’s ability to access the Legislative Agenda to local lawmakers. She is shown beaches. The economic impact on tourism with Dr. Dan Novey, supercould be devastating. All existing industries intendent of the Carteret could be threatened, such as the military, County Public Schools and the port, boatbuilding, boat sales an repair, a member of the chamber’s marina services, commercial fishing, recreBoard of Directors. ational fishing, diving, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, boating and so on.

“The list is virtually endless when one considers dining, lodging, shopping, retail, second home owners and service industries. We are asking the USFWS to reconsider and reevaluate the scientific data related to our Crystal Coast beaches and calculate the economic implications by performing cost-benefit analyses,” Brown said.

24

THE onlooker

Volunteers Are Still Out There, But...

Let’s throw a wet blanket on this notion: “Business people are too busy these days to get involved as volunteers with community organizations.”

Take it from Thomas W. McKee, who is leading volunteer management speaker. He says: “Motivation is an inside job.

People do things for their reasons, not yours, so create an organizational culture that stimulates the inner motivation of each volunteer.”

“People join an organization because it meets their needs.

That need may be for business, for friendship, for belonging or many other self-serving needs.”

McKee said: “I have served on committees of professional organizations because I am able to meet with people who could use my services. Networking is an incredible opportunity and benefit of volunteering. When I volunteer, I get new business.”

“The organization benefits from getting my expertise and high-energy enthusiasm – after all if I am looking for clients, I’m not going to do a poor job. I benefit because I meet people who know people who are looking for (what I do).”

Stress the personal benefits volunteers will receive when they work in your organization. At the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, we emphasize contacts, visibility and exposure that accrue through networking.

McKee says people also volunteer because of friendship.

When a friend personally asks someone to participate, it is often hard to say, “No.” It’s gratifying in chamber work to see new friendships form and old friendships rekindled.

And, yes, people still volunteer because they believe in and

have passion for a cause.

McKee said that when people believe in the cause, purpose and mission of an organization, even if that cause will cost them a personal sacrifice (time or money), they will do so because of their level of commitment.“This is the highest level of motivation,” he said.

The chamber’s mission is to improve the economic climate of Carteret County, fostering a healthy environment in which to conduct business and to enhance the quality of life for all citizens. We accomplish more by working together than any one individual can do alone.

“People often join an organization at level one (self serving) or level two (because of a friend), but in time they become true believers and passionate about the cause,” McKee said. “This should be the goal of each member of your organization.”

McKee knows his stuff. He is president of VolunteerPower.com, an author and keynote speaker. He began his speaking career facing one of the most difficult audiences ever – high school assemblies. Not only did he survive, his business has thrived. To date, he has spoken to more than 500,000 people in the United States and throughout Europe and Africa.

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State Ports Authority Begins ‘Scaled Down’ Wood Pellets Project

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The wood pellets operation at the Port of Morehead City has a name. It will be known as the NC Forest Products Export Facility, said Jeff Miles, acting executive director of the NC State Ports Authority. He unveiled plans at a special meeting on July 17 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City.

About 65 people attended the 90-minute joint meeting, which was hosted by the Morehead City Town Council and the Carteret County Board of Commissioners.

Miles said the project consists of two phases. The first involves construction of a 150-foot structure – a domed warehouse with the capacity to store 37,500 tons of wood pellets – and covered conveyors. The estimated cost of construction is $15 million, he said. It would take up to 15 months to build and be operational by late 2014, according to ports officials.

Wood pellets will arrive at the port on rail cars. Wood pellets would not be trucked in, Miles explained, because it would not be economical to do so.

“We anticipate an additional 60 to 65 rail cars per week,” he said. With three inbound Norfolk Southern trains per week, that would increase the length of the trains by approximately 20 rail cars each trip. The increased rail shipments would have virtually no effect on vehicular traffic in Morehead City, and the longer trains would be “almost undetectable,” Miles added.

To start out, ports officials anticipate shipping 285,000 tons of wood pellets a year to a customer in the United Kingdom, the equivalent of 10 to 12 additional ship calls each year to the Port of Morehead City. The second phase would involve construction of a second, companion dome at

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Answers to questions from the elected officials and meeting attendees revealed that the new domes would be considerably taller than the existing domes on the north side of Hwy 70, but shorter than the existing water tower. The dome(s) would not be on the waterfront, but “tucked back” on port property, located adjacent to the existing wood chipping operation, which would continue. “We want to accommodate both, side-by-side,” Miles said.

Beaufort Commissioner John Hagle asked about the dust control features and the potential for combustion. Miles said the facility will be state-of-the-art. “Risk of overheating in the dome itself would be mitigated by aeration systems, which would be highly monitored” and include a nitrogen blanket to extinguish any fire in the unlikely event that one would occur.

Morehead City Councilman Diane Warrender asked if the port could grow its existing business/product lines (such as rubber, steel, lumber and phosphate products). Miles replied that these are “mature, existing markets. We work at it every day, but there’s not much upside potential.”

The public commended Morehead City Mayor Jerry Jones for inviting Beaufort Town Commission members to join the elected officials from the Morehead City and the Carteret County Board of Commissioners.

Going forward, Mayor Jones said, any and all special meetings with the State Ports Authority will be expanded to include at least the elected officials from Towns of Beaufort and Atlantic Beach.

“That is a positive outcome in the interest of regional cooperation and public/private partnering,” said Mike Wagoner of the Chamber.

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an estimated cost of $7-$8 million, Miles said.

He explained that the wood pellet operation is “scaled down” considerably from what was presented to elected officials last October – a $42 million facility with four domes.

“Market conditions have changed,” he said. “The original estimate of shipping 1 million tons of wood pellets a year was overstated. There is known demand today for about 400,000 tons.”

Miles said the expansion into the wood pellets business should have a minimal increase of jobs … predicting 12 new positions, but additional hours for existing personnel. Most of the new jobs (about 60) would be at the wood pellets manufacturing plant, with a ripple effect into the logging and transportation industries.

He declined to speculate on the location of the wood pellets processing plant … but it was indicated last week that the Sims community in Wilson County is the likely site.

Miles acknowledged that there are still some financial hurdles. The NC Forest Products Export Facility would be financed through existing State Ports Authority revenues, pending final approval by the Authority’s board of directors and the stamp of approval by Gov. Pat McCrory, Miles said.

What is driving this expansion is the NC Maritime Study that identified likely target markets for the Port of Morehead City. The strategy is to capitalize on the bulk and break bulk cargo niches for Morehead City, Miles said.

Gross tonnage at the Port of Morehead City is on a downward trend. If it slips below 1 million tons per year, that affects harbor maintenance and funding for future dredging of the harbor channel, Miles noted.

70 Ceder St.

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Sector Accounts for 237,665 Jobs, $14.8B Payroll

North Carolina’s 30-year investment in the life sciences is paying off by creating great jobs and revenue for the state, according to a new report from the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice.

The report, “2012 Evidence and Opportunity: Biotechnology Impacts in North Carolina,” is the latest in a series of biennial studies explaining the state’s success in driving the growth of its biotechnology base. The results were presented last spring.

North Carolina is third in the nation, behind only California and Massachusetts, in the size of its life-science sector. More than 58,000 North Carolinians have bioscience jobs now, and they earn an average $78,000 a year. That’s nearly twice the pay earned by other private-sector workers statewide.

Among its key figures, the new Battelle report says the bioscience sector in North Carolina:

• Supports 237,665 direct and indirect jobs

o Those workers earn a total of $14.8 billion a year • Generates $59 billion in economic activity across the state • Produces $1.73 billion in taxes for state and local government • Grew 23.5 percent from 2001 to 2010

o That’s faster than any other major bioscience state

o It’s 3.5 times greater than overall U.S. bioscience growth

o It compares to a 2.8 percent decline in N.C.’s private sector jobs during the same period

Battelle linked North Carolina’s success in building its lifescience foundation to the 30-year push by the NC Biotechnology Center, translating state funding into life-science commerce.

NCBiotech works globally in company recruitment, and statewide with new-business creation and financial support for university spinouts and other promising young startups. The Biotech Center also provides educational, networking and community-building support statewide, from six strategically dispersed offices.

“This report shows that North Carolina’s commitment to the life sciences has proven to be a great way for us to create quality, high-paying jobs by playing to our strengths of academic excellence, superior workforce training, reasonable costs and unbeatable quality of life,” said Norris Tolson, NCBiotech president and CEO.

Mitchell Horowitz, Battelle managing director and vice president, agreed. He cited a portion of the executive summary

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opening, saying North Carolina’s bioscience sector “not only withstood the toughest of economic times, but in the bottomline measures of direct job creation, employment impacts and industry competitiveness, continued to advance through the severe recession and weak economic recovery.”

The Battelle study includes a review of 74 companies in the NCBiotech loan portfolio, noting those firms currently generate $71 million a year in state and local tax revenues. That alone is nearly four times the total annual appropriation for NCBiotech.

Some of the data in the Battelle report are drawn from NCBiotech’s unique company census system conducted by the Center’s professional librarians. Other data collected by the NCBiotech library staff agree with Battelle’s findings of bioscience growth and benefit statewide.

For example, a staff analysis found that every $1 in business loans from the Center parlays into $117 in subsequent venture and other funding to those firms.

The library analysis also shows that each dollar NCBiotech puts into its various research grant programs leverages from $4 to $70 in additional funding from sources such as federal, commercial and foundation funding. That’s a 400 percent return, even at the lowest return rates which reflect newer programs that haven’t yet had time to reach their full potential.

Another review found that NCBiotech’s industrial development team has been instrumental in successfully recruiting 25 company projects, adding more than 1,750 jobs that will create $2 billion in annual economic activity.

The Battelle report indicates why North Carolina faces stiff competition for biotech jobs. Every U.S. state and at least two dozen countries actively recruit biotech jobs. And some areas are spending hundreds of millions to achieve what North Carolina has experienced.

“We’re very fortunate to have this solid base of life-science leadership,” said Sam Taylor, president of NCBIO. “But we cannot become complacent. Our state and our region need the economic and societal benefits that go hand-in-hand with a strong bioscience infrastructure.”

NCBiotech is a private, nonprofit corporation supported by the NC General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business, education and strategic policy statewide. Learn more by visiting www.ncbiotech.org.

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To inquire about chamber membership, contact Julie Naegelen at the chamber at 726-6350 or julie@nccoastchamber.com.

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BUSINESS directory The following is a list of businesses advertising in the NCCOAST Business Journal with the corresponding page number of their advertisement. For information on advertising in a future issue of the NCCOAST Business Journal, email sales@ nccoast.com or phone 252.247.7442 or 800.525.1403.

AL WILLIAMS PROPERTIES . . . . . . . . . 7 252.726.8800 ARTISAN GRANITE & MARBLE. . . . . . 19 252-354-7774 BALLY REFRIGERATED BOXES, INC . . 14 252.240.2829 BB&T. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 252.727.7900 BEAUFORT ACE HOME CENTER. . . . . 14 252.728.3111 BEAUFORT REALTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 252.728.5462 BLUEWATER REAL ESTATE. . . . . . . . . . 7 252.354.2128 BOATS, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 252.726.2196 CARTERET COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 252.247.2323 CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 252.726.6350

CARTERET GENERAL HOSPITAL . . 16-17 252-808-6000 CHANNEL MARKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 252.247.2344 COASTAL CAROLINA HEATING & COOLING. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 252.728.5717 COASTAL CAROLINA ORTHODONTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 252.726.1137 COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 252.638.8591 COMMUNITY PHARMACY. . . . . . . . . . 14 252.726.7787 CRYSTAL COAST CIVIC CENTER. . . . . 23 252.247.3883 DIAMOND LIMOUSINE. . . . . . . . . . . . 11 252.240.1680 DUOCRAFT CABINETS. . . . . . . . . . . . 11 252.240.1476 ECON DEVELOPERS, INC . BACK COVER 252.726.9583 GROFF’S ARTISTIC TILE & STONE. . . 30 252.247.7579 HARBORVIEW REHABILITATION. . . . . 31 252.726.6855 JARRETT BAY BOATHOUSE . . . . . . . . 26 252.728.6363

KIRKMAN, WHITFORD, BRADY, BERRYMAN & FARIAS. . . . . . . . . . . . .26 252.726.8411 KIVETT’S HAPPY HOUSE REALTY. . . . 22 252.342.9444 LE ROUGE TETE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 252.622.4244 MOORE ORTHOPEDICS . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 252.808.3100 MOREHEAD PLAZA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 252.726.2151 QWIK PACK & SHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 252.728.4813 RUTHERFORD FINANCIAL . . . . . . . . . . 2 252.726.7859 SEEGAR’S FENCE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 252.222.2260 SOUND BANK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 252-727-5558 STYRON & STYRON INSURANCE. . . . 10 252.726.0062 TOWN & COUNTRY IGA . . . . . . . . . . . 29 252-726-3781 THE UPS STORE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 252.726.4433 WASTE INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 252.223.4176 WILLIAM’S HARDWARE . . . . . . . . . . . 15 252.726.7158

“We offer our area’s most complete range of tile and stone.”

Working as a team, Doris and Monty Groff have been helping area residents add a touch of artistry to their homes for more than 11 years through Artistic Tile & Stone, Atlantic Beach. Opened in 2001, the business was expanded in 2007, adding a showroom so clients can browse an array of stone and tile samples.

“We offer our area’s most complete range of tile and stone,” said Doris. “From natural stone to porcelain, custom mosaics, glass, pebbles, we have it all.”

In addition, the pair offers creative design expertise, assisting clients from selection through installation.

“Our educations and trade backgrounds make a unique paring,” she added. “I offer not only the aesthetic and design skills but my engineering experience definitely allows us to specify and utilize most current construction principles and products.”

Monty, on the other hand, comes from a background in counseling and ministry, which makes for a great work leader. His technical experience has developed and continues to grow from trade certifications received in the masonry and stone trades.

Some of most popular items this season include pebble mosaics for shower floors and fireplaces and glass/stone mosaics for accent vanity walls and kitchen backsplashes.

“We try not to carry brands that are available in all carpet and big box stores, rather, we pride ourselves with bringing into our collection very unique products from all over the world,” said Doris. For the customer, that means options they may not be able to find anywhere else in Carteret County.

“Not only do we have the area’s most extensive selection of tile and stone, but we also offer full bath remodels, from demolition, re-plumbing, cabinetry, countertops and custom glass enclosures,” added Doris.

607 Atlantic Beach Causeway • Atlantic Beach

252•241•7579

www.artistictileandstonenc.com 30

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