Business Journal Oct 15 - Dec 15, 2010

Complimentary

NCCOAST

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October 15-December 15, 2010

Is the Answer Blowin’ in the Wind?

From Biofuels to Wind Farms, Eastern NC is Poised to be a Major Player in the Future of Alternative Energy

PLUS Naming Your Business Opening the Doors of Communication A ‘Grape’ Way to Boost Tourism

Published by NCCOAST

Communications in cooperation with the Carteret County Economic Development Council and the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce.

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CONTENTS Vol. 3 • Issue 5 Oct. 15 -Dec.15, 2010

nccoast.com email: ncbj@nccoast.com The NCCOAST Business Journal serves to showcase Carteret County as a prime location for doing business. The NCCOAST Business Journal is published by NCCOAST Communications in cooperation with the Carteret County Economic Development Council and the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce.

The advertising deadline for the Dec. 15-Feb. 15 issue is Nov. 5. 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 nccoastcommunications.com Publisher Tom Kies Managing Editor Craig Ramey (editor@nccoast.com) Staff Writer Amanda Dagnino Advertising Sales Jamie Bailey (252.241.9485) David Pennington (252.723.7801) Wes Rinehart (252.241.4666) Ashly Willis (252.723.3350) (sales@nccoast.com) Graphics Manager Kim Moore (kim@nccoast.com) Graphic Design Mimi Davis, James Lowe, Lindsay Parker and Roze Taitingfong The NCCOAST Business Journal is published six times per year by NCCOAST Communications.

Seven-thousand copies are produced per issue with 3,000 direct mailed to Carteret County Chamber of Commerce and Carteret County EDC members and other select recipients, including out-of-area venture capitalists. The publication is also available at select locations throughout Carteret County. Subscription rates are $15 per year. Email sales@nccoast.com for subscription information. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. The NCCOAST Business Journal is staff produced and cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited editorial material. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Content is as accurate as possible at presstime.

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22 SEEING GREEN The search for energy alternatives to power our homes and cars could be waiting for us in our own backyards. From biofuels to windfarms, investors and even the military are looking for ways to go green.

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BIZ BEAT From wineries to growth in the Small Business Alliance, see what’s making the news here and around the region.

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FROM THE CHAMBER Learn who won the JobLink Awards, the latest on Leadership Carteret and take a look into the “Crystal Ball.”

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FROM THE EDC Carteret Community College President Kerry Youngblood explains the importance of nurturing the local economy with networking and communication.

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TARGETING TOURISM As the season comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the numbers, new assets and some nationwide publicity.

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IN DEED Had it with bad news about the real estate market? Now, hear about the good news.

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CAPITAL IN THE CAPITOL Contribute to the chamber’s legislative agenda and see how the coast is being protected from oil spills with this look inside the beltway.

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MILITARY MATTERS While wing commanders change at Cherry Point and the Coast Guard ponders a move, military spending grows in North Carolina by 10 percent.

IN OTHER BUSINESS 16 In the Network 32 Ask Score 32 Business Class 33 The Onlooker 33 Resources 34 Business Index

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B I Z B E AT Small Business Alliance Expands, New Partners Added This Fall The Carteret County Small Business Resource Alliance added two new partners this fall – the Carteret County JobLink Career Center and the NC Military Business Center (NCMBC).

These agencies join the four original partners, Carteret Community College – Small Business Center, Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, Carteret County Economic Development Council (EDC) and SCORE Coastal Carolina Chapter 660.

“Our purpose since the alliance was formed in 2003 has been to provide services to assist small businesses in Carteret County,” said John Smith, director of business development with the college. “Each of the organizations involved has special expertise. Working in partnership, we believe we can offer the whole package to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

“These two new partners will strengthen our ability to reach more people and open more doors of opportunity for our local businesses.”

The JobLink Center represents several government agencies and private sector organizations that concentrate on workforce development and the employability of local residents. The Employment Security Commission of North Carolina is one of those agencies, and much of its focus is on helping workers acquire new skills to prepare them for the jobs of the future.

“The NCMBC helps employers make connections and access business opportunities with the federal

government, including military installations in our area,” Smith said. “There is an enormous potential here for local businesses to win federal contracts, and we need to capitalize on this and equip our businesses to compete.

“SCORE volunteers draw on their vast experience and will continue to offer free, one-on-one counseling to their clients,” he added. “The chamber is a probusiness organization that specializes in providing networking opportunities, and the EDC’s niche is the recruitment of new business and industry while retaining those we already have.

Collectively, the alliance sponsors the Small Business Roundtable discussion groups that meet regularly in various locations throughout the county. For more information, contact John Smith at 252.222.6127 or jms@carteret.edu.

Potash Corp Faces Takeover The Potash Corp-owned PCS Phosphate, which is a company specializing in fertilizer products and the leading exporter at the NC Port of Morehead City with over one million tons a year, is facing the possibility of a hostile takeover by the Australian-based BHP Billiton, according to a September story that appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

After being offered an unsolicited deal of $38.6 billion, or approximately $130 a share, Potash CEO Bill Doyle said in a letter to his employees that the “offer is wholly inadequate and substantially undervalues our company.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, “people familiar with the matter said BHP would decide in the next few days whether to take the offer directly to Potash shareholders,” which would officially make the offer a hostile one.

NC Wine Industry Brings in $813 Million Annually, Supports 5,700 Jobs With 95 wineries and 400 commercial grape growers across the state, North Carolina is now among the nation’s top 10 producers of wine and grapes.

Among those that can take credit for this feat is Mitchell Smith, owner and winemaker of Lake Road Winery of Newport.

“Most of our business is tourism,” said Smith. “We only opened for retail

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NEW CORPORATIONS Business is on the move and each edition of NCCOAST Business Journal makes sure you know how fast it’s going with regular listings of Carteret County’s newest corporations. The following were formed in July and August.

Mitchell Smith of Lake Road Winery

in July 2009. We’re linked with visitnc.com, visitncwine.com and a couple more people that are promoting the tourism industry. We get a lot of our walk-ins from that.”

According to the 2007 national survey sponsored by the Travel Industry Association in partnership with Gourmet magazine and the International Culinary Tourism Association, North Carolina is one of the top five state destinations for wine and culinary tourism activities in the United States.

“Vineyards and wineries play an important role in North Carolina’s tourism industry, providing unique travel destinations, green space and aesthetic appeal,” said Lynn Minges, assistant secretary for tourism, marketing and global branding for the NC Dept. of Commerce. “North Carolina wines are receiving more attention these days, and competing favorably with domestic and imported wines.”

Part of the tourism experience at Lake Road Winery comes from the tasting room, where you can try a sampling of the vintner’s 15 different wines, or go on a guided tour of the facility.

“People are interested in finding out what goes on behind our door,” said Smith. “They are looking for the experience and it’s fascinating to see how it’s produced and amazed to see how simple it can be.”

In the continuing trend of buying as local as possible, all grapes used at Lake Road Winery are from North Carolina. For European wines like cabernets and merlots, Smith buys his grapes from the Yadkin Valley, while the muscadine-based wines are made from grapes grown in Johnston County and Newport.

“Recently our muscadine wines have surpassed the European style wines in sales,” said Smith. “They are more well-known in the southeastern United States.

Most of them are on the sweet side, and us Southerners like our sweets.”

Today, the annual economic impact of North Carolina-produced grapes and wine is estimated at $813 million, with 5,700 jobs created according to a press release from the office of Gov. Bev Perdue.

For more information about North Carolina wine, including a downloadable map of the state’s wineries, visit visitncwine.com.

The Active Lifestyle, LLC – 1903 Clubhouse Drive, Morehead City Air King Aviation I, LLC – 811 Arendell St., Morehead City Alexander Enterprises, LLC – 5210 Midyette Ave., Morehead City Atlantic Lifts, LLC – 308 Virginia Ave., Morehead City The Beach Bakery, LLC – 911 Arendell St., Morehead City Beach Paws, Inc. – 1104 Arendell St., Morehead City Benny, Inc. – P.O. Box 423, Salter Path Better Living Builders, LLC – 104 Fern Court, Pine Knoll Shores Blackwell & Scibal Consulting, LLC – 109 Core Drive, Morehead City Blossoming Baby 4-D Ultrasound Boutique, Inc. – 412 Waverly Court, Newport Blown Kiteboarding, LLC – 126 Gales Drive, Newport BP2, LLC – 8725 Reed Drive, Emerald Isle British Dance Academy, LLC – 119 Salter Path Road, Atlantic Beach Cape Life, LLC – 3314 Bridges St. #22, Morehead City Coastland Realty, LLC – 7603 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle Coastal Motor Company, LLC – 121 1st St., Atlantic Beach Cooper Law P.C. – 712 Arendell St., Morehead City DGH Contractors, Inc. – 109 Winsett Lane, Peletier Down East Doggie Pet Sitting, LLC – 481 Hwy 70, Williston Ellinwood Design Associates, PLLC – 705 4-H Road, Beaufort Envetco, Inc. – 5854-G Hwy 70 W, Morehead City Garner Home Farm I, LLC – 173 Sam Garner Road, Newport Garner Home Farm II, LLC – 173 Sam Garner Road, Newport GIFN, LLC – 7603 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle Gregg Sheets Builders, LLC – 229 Bayview Blvd., Atlantic Beach HCS Hamer Construction Solutions, LLC – 216 Carefree Lane, Morehead City Hope City Church, Inc. – 4117 Plantation Road, Morehead City Hutchins Electric Service, LLC – 1109 Hedrick Blvd., Morehead City Joevic, LLC – 203 Prancer Dr., Beaufort L & B Jones, LLC – 105 Leonda Drive, Beaufort Myers Productivity, LLC – 122 Arborvitae Drive, Pine Knoll Shores Newsouth Staffing Solutions, Inc. – 421 Old Swansboro Road, Newport PJL of Carteret, LLC – 700 Land Point Road, Morehead City Platypus Boatworks, LLC – 1240 Sea Gate Drive, Newport Private Chef Shawn, LLC – 105 Southwinds Court, Swansboro Saturday Night Life – 108 Gloucester Court, Newport Simmons and Associates Real Estate and Investments, LLC – 3233 Mill Creek Road, Newport Triple S Condominium Owners Assoc. – 203 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach Vacation Rental Software Alliance, Inc. – 911 Arendell St., Morehead City Walk the Line Ministries, Inc. – 502 Ocean Drive, Emerald Isle

County, State Unemployment Rates Drop in July The optimistic trend of lowering employment rates in Carteret County continued for a sixth straight month as July drew to a close at 7.1 percent. Beginning with a dismal rate of 10.7 at the end of January, the county stayed on a positive track through the early months of the tourism season to remain far below the state’s unemployment numbers, which dropped to 9.9 percent at the end of July.

There is good news when comparing Carteret County’s numbers from July 2010 to July 2009 as well. Not only is this year’s unemployment rate of 7.1 percent lower than 2009’s 7.4 percent, there’s a significant jump in business growth as well. According to the NC Secretary of State, 18 new corporations were formed in July 2009, compared to 26 formed in July 2010. www.nccoast.com

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From the Chamber 5 Employers Receive Major Awards During Chamber/JobLink Luncheon

The JobLink Career Center and the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce recognized top area employers during an awards luncheon Sept. 9 in Morehead City.

The Morehead City Police Department, Frank Door Company and Great Windows were recognized as 2010 Employers of the Year, while Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative and Atlantis Lodge received 2010 Community Advocate Awards.

Woody Warren of Bluewater Real Estate, who is chair of the chamber’s board of directors, presented the Employer of the Year Awards.

“Each of our winners has demonstrated exceptional all-around ‘best practices’ performance,” he said. “The criteria include customer service, employeremployee relations, quality of product or service offered, professionalism and innovation.”

Tom Kies of NCCOAST Communications and the chamber’s chair elect said the Community Advocate Awards are based on scope of community involvement, contributions to charitable and philanthropic organizaChief Wrenn Johnson of the Morehead tions and volunteer City Police Department accepts the service by employees.

Chamber/Job Link award for Employer Two individual of the Year. awards were also presented at the luncheon.

Mary Brown, manager of the Carteret County office of the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, serves as chair of the JobLink Leadership Team. She presented an Award of Achievement to Georgia Lenins, a certified nursing assistant.

This award recognizes an individual who has utilized the services offered by JobLink partner agencies to improve his or her life.

Rudy Taitague, Rudy Taitague of NCCOAST production team leader Communications receives the Skilled for NCCOAST ComTrades Person of the Year award during munications, received the Chamber/Job Link Luncheon.

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the Gordon Seaman Award, which is sponsored by PRIDE Electrical Contracting to recognize the Skilled Trades Person of the Year. A 17-year employee at NCCOAST, Taitague currently leads his team in a pressroom that produces 13 regular publications annually and numerous commercial projects for local and regional businesses.

The 6th annual JobLink Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Presentation was the centerpiece of JobLink Appreciation Week in Carteret County (Sept. 5-11), with approximately 80 people attending the event.

Rodney Kemp of Chalk & Gibbs Real Estate and Insurance, North Carolina’s Historian of the Year in 2003, was the keynote speaker (see Page 33).

The presenting sponsor was the NC State Ports Authority and luncheon sponsors included: Atlantis Lodge; Bluewater Real Estate; Carteret Community College; Carteret General Hospital; Chalk & Gibbs Insurance and Real Estate; First Bank; NCCOAST Communications; NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores; Safrit’s Building Supply; Sound Bank; Wachovia Bank – A Wells Fargo Company; and Debra Whaley Attorney at Law.

Leadership Carteret Builds ‘Better Community Leaders’ The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for Leadership Carteret 2011.This is a 10-week professional development program designed to give current and up-and-coming community leaders in Carteret County the edge for success.

The fee to enroll remains unchanged – $390 for chamber members and $490 for others.

Applications are available at chamber headquarters, 801 Arendell St., Morehead City, or call 726-6350. The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 5, and the class is limited to 35 participants.

The opening reception is at 5pm on Tuesday, Feb. 8, followed by orientation on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The class meets all day for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, with a closing retreat on Tuesday, April 12, and graduation luncheon on Wednesday, April 13.

Leadership Carteret has been offered continuously by the David Brown of Brown & Curtis chamber since 1988. The steerHome Services is a 2010 graduate ing committee is made up of past of Leadership Carteret. graduates of the program who plan the individual sessions and serve as facilitators. Returning as committee co-chairs are Alan Leary of Century 21 Newsom-Ball Realty and Steve Hellersperk of PACS Network Solutions, Toastmasters-Morehead City and ACS Computer Services. (cont. on page 28)

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Karen Doody Photography

‘Carteret: One Great County!’

The 2011 Business Directory & Visitors Guide published by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce features the theme – “Carteret: One Great County!”

Photographs selected for the publication will illustrate how Carteret County’s rich and diverse heritage and culture make this a special place to call home.

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From the EDC Opening Doors Local Economy Finds Growth Through Community, Communication, Connections and Investment About a year ago, Terry and Maryanne Frank of the Frank Door Company in Newport attended a Carteret County Economic Development Council sponsored open house at the Jones Brothers Marine manufacturing plant in Morehead City.

The event was a chance for EDC members and the local business community to come together to share ideas and celebrate their collective achievements in workforce development.

Also in attendance were representatives from Carteret Community College’s Boat Manufacturing and Service program, who were telling the group about a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) router that was being used to fabricate parts for a boat being built at the college. For Terry Frank, that’s when the light went on.

Frank had been contemplating the purchase of a large CNC router for his door manufacturing plant in Newport, but he was concerned about his employees having access to a local training program for the equipment.

Because of the connections made through economic development activities, Frank now knew he could find the CNC training his employees needed through the local community college. He needed to move forward and he did so.

Shortly thereafter, the Frank Door Company invested $200,000 in a CNC router that had once seemed beyond reach for a small company with limited training resources.

The connections made through participation in the community/economic development related activities had helped Terry and Maryanne Frank make the decision to invest in their infrastructure. For Frank Door, this investment was not restricted to major equipment purchases but also focused on a continued investment in their workforce.

It was through involvement with the Carteret Economic Development Council that Frank Door moved its operations to Eastern North Carolina from New York. It was the personal communications and inviting atmosphere that coaxed the Franks to invest in Carteret County.

The Franks have historically invested in their employees by extending education and job training opportunities to their workforce both since and prior to coming to Carteret County.

Not long after the EDC meeting at Jones Brothers Marine, Frank Door also began working with Carteret Community College to bring employee education and job training classes to their Newport facility. The classes include GED, English skills, and how to communicate and function in the work environment more effectively. The classes are taught by CCC and Frank Door staff and allow employees to improve their own skills conveniently, and in some cases, while on company time.

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Terry Frank, owner of Frank Door Company, stands with employee Kenny Timblin, who operates one of the company’s electronic folders.

The Franks are quite honestly amazing entrepreneurs who recognize that business and community investment can take many forms. As involved and caring citizens, Terry and Maryanne Frank had been following the news about the recent record enrollment increases at CCC and the financial challenges CCC students are facing on a daily basis.

Selflessly, Terry and Maryanne Frank came to the college and donated $10,000 to help needy students – that number has now increased to over $24,000. Once again, they invested in their community and invested in their workforce, reflecting the values of Carteret County’s finest examples of economic development and success.

Gov. Bev Perdue, agrees as demonstrated by her selection of Frank Door to receive the Outstanding Employer in North Carolina award. Carteret County Chamber of Commerce followed suite by naming Frank Door as the outstanding small business of the year.

Economic development and investment in your community come in many forms. Frank Door exemplifies the breadth of how economic development can help sustain and grow both business infrastructure and workforce.

By Kerry L. Youngblood, Ph.D. President, Carteret Community College & Carteret County EDC Board Member

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TA R G E T I N G TO U R I S M

A Final Weigh-In on the Morehead City Marlins As the Morehead City Marlins saw their inaugural season come to a close this August, there was little doubt that the new home team favorites had left a lasting impression. Despite early controversy regarding stadium noise, traffic and parking, area baseball fans came out in droves this summer to push attendance up to 30,000 people by early August.

Attendance numbers remained solid for this fledgling wooden bat collegiate league, with an average of about 1,145 local fans showing up to each game at Big Rock Stadium. In the home opener on May 28, the team saw its biggest crowd of the year with 2,146 people.

The Morehead City Marlins are the newest members of the Coastal Plain League (CPL). Formed with six teams in 1997, the CPL is now one of the hottest collegiate summer leagues in the nation. This year, 15 teams from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia slugged it out to determine who was best, with the Marlins taking their claim to fame after clinching the South Division title. The marlins went on to finish 34-20, enough to earn the No. 3 seed in the CPL’s definitive tournament, the Petitt Cup. During the second half of the season, the team excelled, posting a league-best record of 19-7. The 73-percent win rate would prove to be the best winning percentage for any team in the league in either half.

Infielder Joe Sclafani led the Marlins with a .305 batting average and a .409 on-base percentage during the regular season. He tied with fellow infielder Justyn Carter for the team lead in runs scored (34).

The majority of the pitching for the Marlins was handled by five players. Each of the five pitchers finished with an ERA below 3.0. Brent Powers led the way among starters with a 1.86 ERA during the regular season. Powers also finished in the top five in the league for strikeouts, with teammates Ben White and Shawn Armstrong ranking there as well.

Although the Marlins ultimately got nudged out by the fifth seed Edenton Steamers in what fans felt was a bit of an upset during the first round of the Petitt Cup, expectations remain cheerful for the next season. Hoping to continue that streak, the Marlins announced that 2009 manager Jay Bergman will return for the 2010 season.

For more information visit mhcmarlins.com.

Optimism Found in Report from Division of Tourism As summer comes to a close, the tourism numbers for 2010 are starting to roll in and they look promising.

According to the 2010 Monthly Lodging Report conducted by Smith Travel Research, the eastern region showed a 10-percent increase in occupancy from this time last year. That’s an entire 3 percent over the national average. North Carolina also posted higher-than-average numbers in all other categories, such as room revenue, room demand and room supply. The only number that fell below a national average was the room rates. In this category, however, lower numbers only mean better deals for consumers. While the rest of the nation’s prices rose 1.3 percent, North Carolina’s dropped 2 percent.

Although it is still early to make any definite statements about final figures, analysts have hopes for promising results. Last year was perhaps the most difficult one in a decade, so this current movement toward higher numbers has business owners all over North Carolina excited for growth.

Hurricane Earl, which barely brushed past the North Carolina coast on Sept. 2, caused the forced evacuation of many people in Dare and Hyde County. It also was responsible for turning around current and potential tourists. However, the inclement weather has had a surprisingly low impact on the overall numbers.

Although summer is the peak season for tourism, there are still plenty of reasons for vacationers to visit. The mild weather that usually lasts well into November is prime time for fishing season. It is also the premier time for fall festivals, such as the upcoming Mumfest and the Swansboro Mullet Festival. With all things considered, the forecast remains optimistic as the state maintains its route to a prosperous year.

JRC Photography, JRC-PHOTO.com

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Seafood Festival Wins Tourism Award Southeast Tourism Society (STS) recently honored the best and brightest in the tourism industry at its annual Shining Example Awards banquet held on Sept. 9 at the Hyatt Regency Greenville Hotel in Greenville, SC. The

Photo by Jeff Pettitt

program was part of the group’s 27th annual fall meeting.

Founded in 1983, the Southeast Tourism Society is dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism to its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Awards have been presented by the society since 1985 in categories such as Travel Attraction of the Year, Internet Excellence and CVB of the Year (budget over $1 million).

Members of the society include travel offices, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, resorts, airlines, bus companies, car rental agencies, newspapers and other various travel-related organizations.

Morehead City’s Seafood Festival achieved one of the highest honors by being selected to receive the Top 20 Event/Festival of the Year (attendance over 100,000) award. Festival Director Stephanie McIntyre was present to accept the award, along with Crystal Coast Tourism Authority Executive Director Carol Lohr.

“Shining Example Awards highlight some of the best work in travel and tourism, and winners truly set examples that others in the industry can follow,” said STS president and CEO Bill Hardman. “Showcasing great work is important because tourism is the largest, second-largest, or third-largest industry in every Southeastern state.”

For information on the NC Seafood Festival, please visit ncseafoodfestival.org, send an email to fun@ncseafoodfestival.org or call 252-726-6273.

chanting description of the area, specifically highlighting the town’s preservation of its historical architecture, “… in the 1970s, (Beaufort) made a Savannah-like choice to restrict development and point up its past. Industrial buildings that backed up to the water were weeded out or spruced up. Now, you can see Beaufort’s elegant threestory Victorians, many topped with widow’s walks.”

His attention then shifts towards the sound, “… Yachtsmen heading along the seaboard come bobbing past this picturesque waterfront (which is) stocked with frolicking dolphins and high-end pleasure craft.” Bordsen also touches on the adjacent shops, “Front Street today is plunder-ready, lined with boutiques, galleries and the like …. And great food is in the air. The most famous eatery is Clawson’s 1905, a sprawling place at 425 Front St.” Praise continues to pour in from Bordsen as he relates his trip from the mainland to Shackleford. He makes sure to mention the two most important pieces of advice “hammered home” while riding the ferry, “You want shells? Head east on the oceanside. Want to see horses?

They’re up on the hills. Be careful and don’t get too close: They’re wild.”

The article is rounded out with a compilation of contact information for a few choice businesses and restaurants.

Included on this list are local tourism drivers like the Beaufort Historic Site and the NC Maritime Museum.

The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country with a daily readership of 2 million (3 million on Sunday), and has a combined print and interactive local weekly audience of 4.5 million.Its website, latimes.com, draws over 10 million unique visitors monthly.

The article can be found online at latimes.com.

Compiled by Matthew Adkins

Beaufort Featured in LA Times Architecture, history and picturesque views recently brought national exposure to Beaufort through a story published in the Los Angeles Times.

Writer John Bordsen starts off the piece with an en-

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15

IN THE NETWORK Chamber Business After Hours: ‘Best Networking Game in Town’

The chance to mix business with pleasure comes every month thanks to the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours networking events.

This popular networking event provides a forum for making new business contacts at a cost of just $5 and a business card.

“Come experience networking in a casual, comfortable setting,” said Julie Naegelen, director of membership services. “You are sure to meet some interesting people and gain more visibility and exposure for your own business or organization,” she said.

Don’t miss the next chance to participate in the best networking opportunity Carteret County has to offer. Now, pull out your address book and mark the dates below.

For more information, call the chamber at 252.726.6350.

Business After Hours Schedule

Tamra Farris, Michelle Stines and Ashley Travis of Coldwell Banker First Realty.

Julie Brann of Hour Getaway MASSAGE and Lenna Shepard of Soul Serenity Day Spa. Shea Byrd and Mal Garland of Sound Bank.

(All functions are held 5:30-7pm) Thursday, Oct. 21: NC Maritime Museum, 315 Front St., Beaufort.

Co-sponsored by the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum.

Thursday, Nov. 18: Shore Décor, 5167 Hwy 70 (Cypress Bay Shopping Center), Morehead City.

Thursday, Dec. 9: J & S Nursery/ J & S Landscape & Design, 8115 Hwy 70 East, Newport, which are co-sponsors.

Hosted by Schulz Stephenson Law. Terry & Randy Hanford of Snapperz Grill & Steam Bar.

Jason Gillikin of SPM Resorts/ Palmetto Marketing and Lee Powell of ACN-Lee Powell.

Photos from Business After Hours on Aug. 31, hosted and sponsored by Coastal Outlet of Cedar Point. Presented jointly by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce and the Swansboro Area Chamber, more than 200 people attended this event.

Submit your photos from networking events to editor@nccoast.com to be included in the next edition of NCCOAST Business Journal.

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IN DEED

State of the Market: Where Home Sales Stand as 2010 Nears an End

By Amanda Dagnino

The news stories are nothing short of confusing. While CBS reported on Aug. 24 that “New Home Sales Hit Record High,” North Carolina’s trend setter, the News & Observer, was reporting that “July Home Sales Likely Plunged.” With daily changes and sometimes direct contradictions coming at us from all sides it’s difficult to get a handle on exactly what the market is doing – especially here in Carteret County.

To get the lowdown, we met with Cathy Gainey, one half of The Gold Team at Century 21 Newsom-Ball in Morehead City and a member of the Carteret County Board of Realtors.

“Most definitely 2008 and 2009 were quite slow for me personally,” Gainey said. “After 13 years in the business, 2009 was, by far, the worst year. But 2010 is looking much better, even though the average price has dropped some.”

The average selling price in Carteret County in 2009 was $393,439, however, 2010 saw that figure drop to $371,466 – still no small chunk of change. It is, though, taking longer for homes to sell.

“Previously, homes were on the market for six months or less,” said Gainey. “That was pretty much the average.

Now, it’s 236 days – that’s a big difference for sellers, especially those who are eager to unload a home.”

The interest rate is lower than it has been since the 1960s, Gainey pointed out, so if you have good credit and are looking to make a transition, it is a great time to buy a home. Team a low interest rate with great prices and a new family can find a great deal in Carteret County.

“A lot of folks are afraid. They think they can’t afford to buy a home or they’re fearful of the commitment,” added Gainey. “I have no crystal ball, of course, but I can tell you from our office here, however, that things have picked up over the last month.”

While sales are slowly on the climb, rentals are red hot, the agent said. The rental department of Newsom-Ball has only been open for a few months, however, properties are being leased almost as quickly as they come in. It was something the agency felt it needed for a long time, Gainey said, something it knew would be a good addition.

With a growing number of transient military families in the

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area, adequate rental property may quickly become a hot commodity.

As it’s evolved over the last four years, the real estate market has done more than affect buyers and sellers – it has also impacted those who work in the industry.

Four to six years ago, there were 800 realtors in Carteret County, Gainey said. Today there are 457. While Gainey didn’t think about leaving the industry, she did take on a part-time job. She and teammate, Toni Glasgow, took to the streets this spring and summer for the government, tallying citizens as part of the census program.

Gainey admits it was an “interesting” experience, but it did help fill the gaps and kept her busy as the housing market declined.

So is it a good time to buy? Of course, any smart real estate agent would tell you it’s an ideal climate. Buyers certainly have the option of holding out a little longer in hopes that the market will droop even further and afford them a better deal. But as Gainey points out, that’s quite a gamble as interest rates and home prices could just as easily begin to rise.

What about sellers? How can they competitively market their home?

“You really have to have it in tip top shape,” she said.

“There’s so much out there to look at and the condition of the property is more important than ever. Pricing, condition and location, those are most important. If there are 20 homes in the buyer’s price range then you really need to have everything in place for it to stand out.”

In addition, sellers must be realistic about pricing. The recent drop in property values has left sellers spinning in its after-effects. Homes simply aren’t garnering as much as they were five years ago, and for many, that’s a bitter pill to swallow. I

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Blowing in Where Eastern NC Stands in the Search for Energy Alternatives

By Amanda Dagnino

There may still be a handful of people who recall the sight of the windmill that once graced Harkers Point, driving a small milling operation. It closed before the turn of the century – no, not the most recent turn, the one prior – although it remained a landmark for years to follow.

In 1939, however, the need for windmills ceased to exist on Harkers Island as island men, led by the late Earl C. Davis, made a pilgrimage to the state capitol to request a little light of their own. While many city dwellers had been basking in the modern convenience of electricity for more than 50 years, rural America was the last frontier. The Harkers Island Electric Membership Corp. was created in a matter of months and on Aug. 25, 1939, the lights came on.

Yet, the winds, as they say, are changing. And so is the global opinion about our most faithful of friends – electricity. The catch phrases of the new millennium – carbon emissions, global warming, green energy – are quickly overtaking the warm, fuzzy feeling we had when the bare light bulb first burst to life.

Instead, some are looking harder and harder at that one lone windmill at the end of Harkers Point and wondering if maybe we didn’t have it right all along.

The Winds of Change While many states are floundering to find their most prolific alternative – North Carolina doesn’t have far to look. A study conducted in 2008-09 by UNC-Chapel Hill at the request of the NC General Assembly thinks the answer is blowing in the wind – literally.

The study looked at the feasibility of capturing wind energy in the Pamlico and Albermarle sounds and offshore.

The outcome was boldly stated in the report’s summary: “North Carolina is well positioned to develop utility-scale wind energy production and it is the opinion of the project team that the state should pursue it aggressively.”

And that’s great news for Karlis Povisils, development manager for Apex Wind Energy, Inc., the Charlottesville, Va., firm that has submitted the first formal application to lease 213 square miles, 20 miles offshore between Morehead City and Wilmington.

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One of the great things about the baseline study, Povisils said, is that instead of fully examining the area’s potential for wind energy, it worked backwards, looking at areas where wind projects would not be appropriate first and foremost.

Exclusion maps described active fisheries and commercial fishing locations, military flight paths, shipping lanes, areas with beach-quality sand that may later be needed for renourishment, marine life, avian migratory patterns, shipwrecks and the ocean floor. Once certain areas were discounted, researchers had a much clearer picture of where a wind farm was feasible with the least possible impact on the environment.

The lease request to the federal government is the “logical early step in a long process,” said Povisils. The most likely next step would be for the government to determine if there’s a competitive interest, he said. If so, bids may be accepted and if there’s overlap in the space requested a competitive process begins from there.

“Once the leasing process is resolved we’d have five years to put our construction and operation plan together,” said Povisils.

Apex Wind Energy gained a North Carolina foothold in July with the acquisition of the Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corp., a wind energy company co-founded by Dr. John Bane, director of graduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill.

And while it has set its sights on building its first offshore facility, it’s still a long way off. The UNC study was a great place to start, Povisils said, but financeable wind data is needed as well as a more detailed examination of the sea floor. The potential for a long-term power contract and strategies for attaching the additional energy to lines in place would be studied.

A location between Wilmington and Morehead City

n the Wind gives Apex’s site options when it comes to bringing the energy ashore.

The proximity of the state ports, Povisils said, in turn makes it easier to stage the site construction. While the farm would be 20 miles offshore – with towers looking no more than a few inches tall to those on the beach – residents could expect to see a landbased site from which Apex bases its operation.

“It’s a process, and it is years away,” Povisils said. “It’s not been done in this country yet. If you were going to build an onshore wind plant, the book has already been written. But we’re writing the playbook as we go. Not we, Apex, but together.”

So far, the response has been encouraging, he said, from the Dept. of Natural Resources and the NC State Port in Morehead City.

“This isn’t going to be something that just happens,” he added. “It has a process. Every story has a beginning … so this is a first step. I’m sure to the faint of heart it looks daunting. You have to go through a couple of years before there’s even a provisional lease period, then there’s a couple of years of study…”

But, as Povisils points out – if it was easy, anyone could do it.

Fueling the Military The Marine Growth Task Force thinks it can contribute to a greener future in North Carolina as well. But it’s not the wind or the sun they’re looking to for answers – it is farmers. Project Eastern Gain: Jobs, Land & Energy, a program hoping to spark a biofuel industry in North Carolina, will not only create jobs and keep farmers on their tractors, but it will more importantly help the area’s military meet its federal mandates to increase its use of renewable energy through the program’s Fuel the Force initiative.

Biofuel is the loose term for any liquid fuel made from biomass or organic plant materials. Bioethanol, the most widely used biofuel in the US, for example, is made from the starch in corn kernels, and according to research from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, emits an average of 51 percent less greenhouse gas than gasoline.

Maj. Gen. Carl Jensen, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, must reduce the military’s energy usage in the region by 30 percent by 2015, he said during Project Eastern Gain’s kick-off forum in August at the Jones County Civic Center. To help him comply, Fuel the Force has set goals: 1.5 million gallons of locallygrown and produced biodiesel in use by North Carolina’s military by 2012; 25 million gallons of locally-grown and produced bio-jet fuel being consumed by North Carolina’s military by 2015; and 100 million gallons of the same being used by 2017.

(cont. on page 24)

Why Green Energy Matters • Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries support 10,250 full-time equivalent employees in North Carolina. (1) • Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries generate more than $3.5 billion in annual revenue related to North Carolina activities. (1) • Ethanol emits about 51 percent less greenhouse gas than gasoline. (2) • The US is the largest oil importer in the world at about 13.5 million barrels per day. (3) • North Carolina ranks 8th in potential for jobs from energy efficiency policies. (4) • Global wind energy grew by 31 percent in 2009. (5)

By excluding specific areas because of commercial fishing, shipping lanes, military air travel, avian migratory patterns and other concerns, UNC-Chapel Hill was able to pinpoint where wind turbines would be feasible along the North Carolina coast. (Image courtesy of UNC-Chapel Hill)

1 – North Carolina Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Industries Census 2009 2 – University of Nebraska – Lincoln 3 – The Biofuels Center of North Carolina 4 – Charlotte Business Journal 5 – Appalachian State University

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(cont. from page 23)

“The military is one of the largest consumers of fuel, next to our school systems, so it almost becomes a business and industry no-brainer to create a biofuels industry in eastern Carolina,” said Colleen Maloney, director of communications for the MGTF. “The NC Dept. of Transportation used 11 million gallons of biodiesel last year, and our state only produced 2 million gallons.

We have capacity and capability here to reduce dependence on imported oil.”

At the forum, farmers and industry leaders from a 13-county area had their first opportunity to hear more about the program and see if it’s feasible for their land. A breakout session directed toward farmers was very well attended, Maloney said.

For farmers, producing a biofuel crop doesn’t have to interrupt the normal flow of the farm, Maloney explained. If a farmer has a history growing cotton, for example, he continues to do so. But instead of just benefiting from the sale of the product, he can also turn around and sell the seeds, from which oil is extracted to make biofuel. In turn, the dried seed husks can be sold to feed manufacturers. If he wants to stay busy during the winter, there’s also a winter crop that can be planted for biofuel until next year’s cotton planting. The process, Maloney said, takes one crop and uses it to it’s fullest – benefiting the farmer, the environment and the country’s dependence on other sources for oil.

An inland refinery is examining the cost-effectiveness of transporting the seed to its plant for processing, however, Maloney said ultimately the MGTF would like to see the work being done here.

“Potter Oil in Beaufort County, one of the largest transporters of biodiesel, has expressed an interest in transporting for us, but we’d like to see the creation of a refinery in Eastern Carolina,” she said.

look outside of the state in order to conform.

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC), for example, buys a share of the wind output from the 150-megawatt Wind Energy Center in Iowa to receive what the government calls renewable energy certificates (RECs). This doesn’t mean that the electricity produced by the Iowa wind farm makes its way to North Carolina customers, though.

Instead, the government is looking at the issue under the premise that if we’re offsetting carbon emissions in Iowa, we are also benefiting those in North Carolina.

Carteret-Craven does participate at home as well. It has a share of a one-megawatt solar farm at QVC’s Rocky Mount distribution center along with other sites in-state and has donated a solar panel to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

A Global Perspective

Green isn’t just an ordinary crayon anymore – it’s the shade of change as well as the color of the funding that will be required to put those changes in place.

“From what we see and what we’ve heard, it’s expensive,” said Lisa Galizia, CCED director of communications. “Now, is it the right thing to do? Well that depends where you’re standing. If you’re a consumer, you’re ultimately going to have to pay for it. Whether that payment comes in the form of higher rates or higher taxes to fund grants and programs to build the infrastructure for these alternatives, the cost will eventually be carried by the public.

“There’s so much further we have to go,” Galizia added. “A lot of this technology has to mature and a lot of planning has to go into making it reliable and affordable. And while that happens we still have to have those power plants that are buzzing along 24/7. They don’t shut down when the wind dies down. They don’t shut down when the sun doesn’t shine.

They just continue humming along.”

A best first step, she suggested, is to learn how to use our energy more effectively and more efficiently.

“The cleanest energy is still the energy you don’t use,” she reminded. I

In the age where climate change is finally developing an air of respectability, lawmakers are running to catch a train that left the station a decade ago. The time to debate global warming ended with the whack of a senate gavel and mandates in all but 17 states across the country requiring that electricity service providers begin cutting their carbon emissions.

In 2007, North Carolina Senate Bill 3 forced the hand of the state’s electricity providers with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, or REPS. The bill, which went into effect in 2008, requires that 3 percent of all electricity sales come from green power options by 2012. That figure creeps up to 10 percent by 2018 for the state’s electric cooperatives and municipal providers and 12.5 percent in 2021 for the state’s public utilities, Duke, Progress and Dominion.

With little in place, however, many electric companies don’t have a local alternative by which to provide renewable energy for their consumers and meet state mandates. Many companies, like those in North Carolina, have to

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The Cost of Change

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C A P I TO L C A P I TA L Chamber Collects Input for 2011 Legislative Agenda Will election day on Tuesday, Nov. 2, change the composition of North Carolina’s General Assembly?

Statewide, voters will elect all 50 members of the senate and all 120 members of the House of Representatives.

“We encourage all registered voters to go to the polls and vote for the candidates of their choice,” said Joan Pulley of Realty World First Coast Realty, who chairs the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce’s Public and Government Affairs Committee.

“The chamber is not political and does not endorse or support candidates for elected office at any level,” she added. “We do, however, engage in issues of advocacy, and the chamber serves as the ‘Voice of Business’ to speak out in favor of pro-business legislation with federal, state and local governments.”

The General Assembly will convene in Raleigh on Jan. 26, 2011, for the long session for what is expected to be a tough budget year.

“We want to be ready to present our local legislators with the chamber’s 2011 Legislative Agenda early in January, so it needs to be approved by the board of directors at the Dec. 2 board meeting,” said Pulley. “Between now and then we need input from the business community in order to establish our top-tier priorities.”

E-mail your suggestions to Chamber of Commerce President Mike Wagoner at mike@nccoastchamber.com.

Pulley said that four areas of primary concern for the chamber are transportation, tourism, education and the military. Her comments are as follows: Transportation – “We are opposed to any attempts to change the existing equity formula for the distribution of North Carolina Department of Transportation funds for the construction and maintenance of highways and roads.

The urban areas are lobbying for a bigger piece of the pie, at the expense of rural areas.”

Education & Tourism – “We support maintaining the existing School Calendar Law and are opposed to any efforts that would undermine the mandated Aug. 25 school start date. This is critical to our local tourism industry. The

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chamber intends to continue to be an advocate for adequate funding of the public schools and community colleges, in order to build a stronger and smarter workforce.”

Military – “The presence of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East provides a big boost to our local economy, and we pride ourselves on being a military friendly community. We will take every opportunity to strengthen our unique military-business partnerships.”

The one-stop, early voting period began Oct. 14.

$255 Million to Expand Broadband Access Gov. Bev Perdue announced in August that North Carolina has received $115 million in five federal recovery grants to extend broadband connectivity in North Carolina.

Combined with previous grants, North Carolina has received more than $255 million for broadband this year.

These funds are expected to create jobs and help spur economic development through expanded access to high-speed internet in underserved areas. These grants are part of the second round of Recovery Act funding for broadband projects from the US Departments of Commerce and Agriculture. North Carolina has already received over $140 million in recovery broadband grants.

Governor Signs Bill to Protect North Carolina Coast from Oil Spill Damages Gov. Perdue signed Senate Bill 836 to protect North Carolina’s coastline by lifting the cap on damages that can be recovered as the result of an offshore oil spill and strengthening the review process related to the permitting of offshore fossil fuel facilities. The legislation will protect North Carolina’s coastal communities from potential disasters such as the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Our coastline is home to many families, provides jobs for our people, and is a source of pride for all North Carolina,” said Perdue. “It’s critical that we do all we can to protect this precious resource.”

Senate Bill 836 clarifies the law to exempt offshore oil spills from limits on the recovery of damages from a discharge of hazardous substances. The bill also makes clear that liability applies regardless of the location of the spill and that any damages caused by cleanup techniques such as chemical dispersants are also included. I

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From the Chamber (cont. from page 10)

“Plain and simple, Leadership Carteret builds better community leaders,” Leary said.

“Throughout the course of this program, participants will gain valuable knowledge about the people, places and issues that define Carteret County – we guarantee it,” Hellersperk added.

Chamber’s 2011 Directory & Visitors Guide Features Area Photographers’ Best Images The deadline for photographers to submit their work for publication in the 2011 Business Directory & Visitors Guide, published by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce, is Friday, Nov. 12.

Each sunset is spectacular at the Crystal Coast … and it’s all the better when the fish are biting. (Karen Doody Photography) “With the theme of ‘Carteret: One Great County!,’ we are looking for the full spectrum of images that illustrate our heritage and culture, personalities and the scenic wonders of the Crystal Coast, from our beaches to the coastal marsh flats … and everything in-between,” said chamber President Mike Wagoner.

“We welcome digital photos from professionals, amateurs and vacationers and will showcase as many photos as possible,” he said. “All photos that are published will be credited.”

If interested, contact Wagoner at mike@nccoastchamber. com.

The deadline for chamber members to reserve advertising space in the publication is also Friday, Nov. 12. For advertising rates and sizes, call Tracey Brinson at 726-6350.

The Chamber Business Directory & Visitors Guide will be distributed in January 2011.

Chamber Helps Newest Members Get Involved and Active The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce completed a successful Fall Membership Campaign on Sept. 16, and the new members were welcomed into the organization at a New Members Reception on Sept. 23, which was held at chamber headquarters in Morehead City.

“We always try to get those who join the chamber involved immediately and immerse them in the various networking events,” said Julie Naegelen, director of membership services. “They learn quickly that the chamber provides a

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Leadership Carteret’s “Beaufort Day” includes a guided tour of the Old Burying Ground. multitude of opportunities to gain exposure for their business or organization and how easy it is to make new business contacts.

“Our theme for the campaign was ‘Carteret: One Great County … One Great Chamber’ to convey the message that we have community spirit and pride and a focus to build a better tomorrow and a brighter future,” she continued. “There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we band together to foster a pro-business climate for economic prosperity.”

Naegelen added special thanks to the campaign leadership team, which was co-chaired by Marlene Anderson and Ray Harris, both former board chairs.

“Their inspiration and devotion to the chamber certainly set a positive tone,” she added.

Team captains were: Chris Barnes of First Bank; Bruce Caldwell of First Citizens Bank; Steve Hellersperk of PACS Network Solutions, Toastmasters-Morehead City and ACS Computer Services; Lee Powell of ACN – Lee Powell; Wendy Routson of the Dolphin Ridge Club; and Linda Whalen of Money Mailer of Coastal NC. Campaign sponsors were: Arendell Animal Hospital of Morehead City, P.A.; Atlantis Lodge; Case-Closed Investigations; Channel Marker Restaurant; Le Rouge tete, LLC; and “Sea of Greed” Book (Doug & Lucci McCullough).

“It’s never too late to join the Chamber,” Naegelen said.

“With the 2011 Business Directory & Visitors Guide going to press soon, any business or organization that joins before Nov. 12 can be included in the listings sections.

“Call me at 726-6350, and I will be glad to discuss the benefits of membership and the investment schedule,” she added.

Crystal Ball Event Set for Jan. 22 in Atlantic Beach The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Crystal Ball on Saturday evening, Jan. 22, 2011, at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 2717 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach.

The dinner/dance is black tie optional for gentlemen and the cost to attend is $40 per person. A cash bar will be available and reservations are now being accepted. Call the chamber at 252.726.6350.

The Sheraton is offering discounted rates on overnight lodging. If interested, call the hotel at 252-240-1155. I

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M I L I TA R Y M AT T E R S

2nd MAW Change of Command

State Bills Support Military Families

The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing welcomed a new commanding general on July 30 during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

Maj. Gen. James F. Flock relinquished command of the 2nd MAW to Brig. Gen. Jon M. Davis, who served previously as the deputy assistant commandant for aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps, Quantico, Va. Commissioned in May of 1980, Maj. Gen. James F. Flock Brig. Gen. Davis was selected to fly AV-8A Harriers and received his wings in September of 1982. However, during the course of his career he has flown in every fixed, tilt-rotor and rotary winged aircraft in the USMC inventory.

During his 30-year career, Davis has deployed aboard the USS Brig. Gen. Jon M. Davis Inchon, served as operations officer for VMA-223, taught at MAWTS-1 in Yuma, AZ and been an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force in Britain. His billets have included a two-year assignment with the 31st commandant’s staff group and two years as the junior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. In 2003, he served as assistant operations officer to the 3rd MAW in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. And in 2004, he served in Iraq as officer in charge of the 3rd MAW Red Team.

Davis holds a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, a master’s of science from Marine Corps University and a master’s in international public policy from John Hopkins. His personal decorations include the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation (three awards) as well as other campaign and service awards. He has been selected for and will be promoted to the rank of major general at a later date.

The 2nd MAW, which is headquartered at Cherry Point, serves as the command for expeditionary aviation and support units garrisoned on the East Coast, including groups and squadrons at Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station New River and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC.

In August, Gov. Perdue signed four bills that aid North Carolinians serving on active duty in the military and their families.

“These steps hopefully will make the burden on military service members and their families easier, but this is not all we can do,” Perdue said. “We will continue to find ways to aid those sent overseas, and the families they leave behind.”

Senate Bill 1400 prevents a bank or mortgage company from foreclosing on the home of service members within nine months of active duty. Our soldiers and sailors who are facing a battlefield each day should not have to worry about fighting creditors at home, the governor said.

House Bill 614 guarantees that when active duty service members request an absentee ballot, they will get ballots for every election that year. House Bill 76 assures that those who give their lives in military service are given the dignity of choosing how their remains will be put to rest while House Bill 412 makes sure that military court records are in sync with state records.

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Will They Stay, or Will They Go? There’s been no definitive word to date whether the sector command element aboard Coast Guard Base Fort Macon will relocate to Wilmington – but many believe it’s just a question of when.

Photo Courtesy of US Coast Guard

The Carteret County Board of Commissioners heard mention of the projected move during a NC Ports meeting and quickly followed up by meeting with Capt.

Anthony Popiel, commander of Coast Guard Sector North Carolina. While no date for the move has been set, the commissioners were told it would be logistically more convenient to have the command headquarters near Wilmington. The Coast Guard frequently partners with the FBI, NC Ports Authority, Homeland Security, Customs and other agencies that have a presence in that area.

The move would affect about 40 personnel who are attached to the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina command unit. The remaining units would remain at Fort Macon. To date, the Coast Guard has made no formal announcement.

MAC Honors Active Service Members The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce presented its John C. Beitz Service Person of the Quarter Luncheon on Aug. 13, sponsored and hosted by the Morehead City-Beaufort Elks Lodge 1710.

“Each quarter, the MAC recognizes active duty military members who have made outstanding contributions to their respective units and their local communi-

Principals at the last Service Person of the Quarter Luncheon were, from left: Sgt. Maj. Michael Daley and Lance Cpl. Brian S. Meaker, both of the Marine Corps; 1st Sgt. Carol King of the Army Reserve; Bruce Kinnaman, Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge; Candy Martin of the Army Reserve (wife of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard Martin); Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Marcial Rodriguez and Lt. David Vicks, both of the Coast Guard; and the MAC’s Bob Upchurch.

ties,” said Bob Upchurch of Bob Upchurch Appraisals, committee chair.

Recent honorees were: Lance Cpl. Brian S. Meaker of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard Martin of the Army Reserve Center in Morehead City; and Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Marcial Rodriguez of Coast Guard Sector Fort Macon.

The next MAC Service Person of the Quarter Luncheon is at noon on Friday, Nov. 5, hosted and sponsored by McCurdy’s Restaurant and Deck on the Atlantic Beach Causeway. For information, call Diane Warrender at the chamber, 252-726-6350.

Military Spending Up By 10 Percent in 2009 Gov. Bev Perdue, the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and the North Carolina Military Foundation announced last month that Department of Defense spending in North Carolina grew by 10 percent and exceeded $4 billion in federal fiscal year 2009 – an increase of $363.8 million over procurement in the state in 2008.

“These numbers continue to indicate that North Carolina is becoming a very significant player in the global military and defense industry cluster,” said Gov. Perdue. “The state has made great strides to leverage expanding markets, capture federal revenues and grow jobs right here in North Carolina – the most military friendly state in America.”

Gov. Perdue helped establish the NCMBC within the North Carolina Community College System and launched the Foundation, a business development organization focused exclusively on building the state’s defense and homeland security economy.

Businesses in 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties performed defense-related work in 2009.

According to a 2008 Department of Commerce study, the military has a $23.4 billion total annual impact on the state economy. Defense procurement in North Carolina, based on place of performance, increased from $3.647 billion in federal fiscal year 2008 to $4.011 billion in 2009. During the same time frame, spending by all federal agencies in North Carolina increased approximately $117 million, from $5.289 billion to $5.406 billion. To learn more about the report, visit ncmbc.us. I

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Counselors to America’s Small Business

Ask SCORE I’ve got a great idea for a business and have begun to put together a plan to get started but I’m having Q: trouble deciding on a name for the business. What do I need to consider when selecting a good name for the business?

Let me start by congratulating you for even thinking A: about the right name for your business. So many businesses get started and then down the road realize that

the name they chose for their business isn’t as good as they thought. It’s costly to change the name of a business but there are circumstances under which it can be advisable. Let us focus, though, on getting a good name with which to start.

It should be your intention to create a business entity that will attract the attention of potential customers and bring them to your door, your website, or your telephone. Therefore, the name of your business should indicate something about your service or product. Make it easy for customers to find your name in a list of names whether it’s the phone book or the chamber of commerce directory. That doesn’t mean start the name with a double or triple A. I once knew of a company that named themselves AAAardvark, Inc. They went out of business because even though they were at the top of the list in the phone book, no one knew what they did. Also, consider your trading area. Many companies here name themselves “Carteret County” something,

or “Crystal Coast” something, or even “Down East” something.

That makes it difficult to find you in a list and makes it difficult to look larger than local.

It’s almost easier to think about what a business owner should NOT do rather than what the name should be. Some people choose names that are meaningful to them personally but make no sense to their market. An example of this would be to name a lumber company after your first born child, especially if the child’s name is Precious. Many of us are inclined to use our personal names, or initials, in our business name. That could be advantageous in the short term, but it may also be an obstacle when we are ready to sell our business and retire. It is also difficult to build a brand around a set of initials, or an acronym. It would be better to select a great name, and then build the brand, even if you use the initials or acronym as the basis for a logo.

If you have given your business a good name and built a good reputation, the name of the business is actually one of your best assets and can significantly enhance the selling price of your business, if that is your ultimate goal.

Call SCORE at 252-222-6126 for an appointment to speak with a SCORE counselor to discuss your business name. It’s always free and the benefits are priceless. I Hope to hear from you soon.

Joan Lamson, Counselor, SCORE SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) with 364 chapters across the US, including one in Carteret County. Each edition of NCCOAST Business Journal will include a small business question submitted to SCORE. To ask your own question call 252.222.6126.

BUSINESS CLASS

Back to School Whether it’s starting a new business or finding a way to make your current business even better, there’s always something to be learned. To stay ahead of the curve many people regularly attend conventions and seminars, however, one of the greatest resources of getting ahead lies in business-related classes. To help keep the local economy on track, Carteret Community College does just that with a series of Corporate and Community Education Division classes. Each edition of NCCOAST Business Journal supplies a list of the school’s upcoming business-related classes. Call 252.222.6200 for more information or to register.

Listings for other seminars and classes to be included in “Business Class” are also welcome and should be submitted to editor@ nccoast.com. Call (252) 222-6200 to pre-register.

Class

Begin

Date

Applications, Resumes and More Business Fridays - Create a Website Business Fridays - Desktop Publishing Cash Flow Basics for Small Business FREE Computer Skills in the Medical Office Computers for Beginners Using Windows Vista Effective Business Planning FREE Foundations of Payroll Administration How to Find a Job Without Losing Your Mind Introduction to Quickbooks Pro FREE Microsoft Office Training Notary Public Real Estate Broker Contracts & Closings Rx for Your Real Estate Business Small Business Recordkeeping Working a Trade Show FREE

11/01 11/05 10/22 10/13 11/09 11/08 11/18 10/26 10/19 10/20 11/09 10/25 11/09 10/19 11/09 12/16

M-Th, 4 sessions Fridays, 2 sessions Fridays, 2 sessions Wednesday, 1 session T/Th, 12 sessions M/W, 8 sessions Thursday, 1 session T/Th, 12 sessions T/W, 2 sessions Wednesday, 1 session T/Th, 8 sessions M/W, 2 sessions T/Th, 4 sessions T/Th, 6 sessions Tuesday, 1 session Thursday, 1 session

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DayTime

8:30am-12:30pm 8am-5pm 8am-5pm 6-9pm 6-9pm 6 -9pm 6-9pm 6-9pm 8:30am-3:30pm 6-9pm 6-9pm 8:30am-noon 8:30am-5pm 6-9pm 6-9pm 6-9pm

5 ‘AACES’ Make an Award-Winning Hand Rodney Kemp has a way with words. He studied journalism in college, worked as a classroom teacher and now entertains folks as an animated storyteller.

He recently took a break from his day job at Chalk & Gibbs Insurance and Real Estate in Morehead City to serve as the keynote speaker at the Sept. 9 JobLink Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Presentation, which was presented by the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce and the JobLink Career Center.

Kemp used the platform to share a formula known as “The AACES of Success.”

He said that’s an acronym for “Ambition, Attitude, Commitment, Enthusiasm and Service.” Too many “A’s?” Who’s counting? Kemp is the first to admit that he’s never won a spelling bee.

Each of the five employers that were recognized at the luncheon as major award winners – Atlantis Lodge, CarteretCraven Electric Cooperative, Frank Door Company, Great Windows and the Morehead City Police Department – is an “ace performer” in its own right.

They are demonstrating leadership in the highest degree, Kemp said.

“Ambition is the drive to be better tomorrow, next week and next month than we are today,” he said. “Often, it involves overcoming adversity. It’s not enough to just survive the storm; it’s about dancing in the rain.

THE ONLOOKER “Attitude is critical to success. Think you can. Turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones. View obstacles as opportunities.”

Kemp said all leaders have an absolute commitment to excellence and realize they can’t get the job done alone.

“Be committed to your people. Every employee has ‘MMFI’ imprinted on their forehead – ‘Make Me Feel Important.’ You have to be able to see it and act upon it. If you do, they will pay you back in diamonds. Enthusiasm is genuine, authentic and real,” he said.

As an avid sports fan and master of baseball trivia, Kemp said his favorite baseball team is the Boston Red Sox (hates the New York Yankees), but admires the spirit of the new Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi.

“When Girardi took the job for the 2008 season, Girardi chose to wear number 27 to signify his goal to lead the Yankees to their 27th world championship. He did that in 2009.”

(The rest of the story is that before the 2010 season, Girardi changed his number to 28, and newly acquired centerfielder Curtis Granderson, who had been 28, agreed to change his number to 14.)

“We are all in the ‘service business,’” Kemp said. “We should emulate the five employers that were honored by the chamber of commerce and the JobLink Center. They give back to our community every day, and that means so very much to us here in Carteret County.” I Mike Wagoner, President Carteret County Chamber Commerce

RESOURCES College Rolls Out Career Readiness Program Employers in Carteret County can now participate in a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) program, offered through Carteret Community College.

Using an evaluation tool called WorkKeys, college staff members can effectively evaluate the jobs skills of existing and prospective employees. This evaluation can guide employers in determining an appropriate training regimen and to make better hiring decisions.

“WorkKeys is a tool to match the right person with the job,” said Kris Workman, technology programs director in the college’s Corporate and Community Education Division.

“The CRC assessments can reliably evaluate the foundational job skills of new and prospective employees, which can reduce training time and costs. Specific jobs can also be profiled to help employers identify skills gaps and enable employers to target their training programs to fill those gaps.

The testing areas are reading, applied mathematics and locating information (charts, forms, diagrams, maps and gauges). Individuals can be certified at three levels: “Gold Certificates” are awarded to people who possess foundational skill levels needed for 90 percent of the occupations analyzed nationally.

“Silver Certificates” are awarded to individuals who qualify

for 65 percent of the occupations profiled.

“Bronze Certificates” are awarded to individuals who qualify for 35 percent of the occupations profiled.

“Individuals with the CRC and required WorkKeys scores walk in our door with more relevant, everyday skills,” said Stacy Smith of PGT Industries in Salisbury. “Because they have the foundational skills, they are easily trained and move quickly through our career progression path, resulting in higher morale, lower turnover, increased productivity and decreased quality issues.”

“Our goal here in Carteret County is to help build awareness and educate employers about the value of instituting CRC in the workplace,” said Workman. “Thanks to a grant that the college has received from North Carolina’s Eastern Region, we are able to introduce the CRC program and the WorkKeys assessments free of cost to employers, employees and job seekers.”

Representatives from the college are available to meet individually with interested employers. If interested, contact Kris Workman at 252.222.6204 or krw@carteret.edu.

The CRC assessment tests are offered to individuals at scheduled times on the college campus in Morehead City. To inquire, call 252.222.6038 or 252.222.6200.

For more information about CRC, go to crcnc.org. I

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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.

ADVANCED OFFICE SOLUTIONS ................ 29 252.393.1112 ALBERT J. ELLIS AIRPORT ........................... 21 910.324.1100 ART STUDIO 500............................................. 21 252.723.0311 BALLY REFRIGERATED BOXES, INC .......... 6 252.240.2829 CARTERET COMMUNITY COLLEGE ............ 13 252.222.6000 CARTERET COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE .................................................. 11 252.726.6350 CARTERET COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL .......................... 13 252.222.6120 CARTERET COUNTY JOBLINK CAREER CENTER ........................................ 27 252.726.7151 CHALK & GIBBS INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE SERVICES ...................................... 27 252.726.3167 COASTAL CAROLINA CORP. ......................... 11 252.728.5717

COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT ....................................................... 29 252.638.8591 CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS MANAGEMENT ............................................. 17 252.633.2473 ECON DEVELOPERS..................BACK COVER 252.726.9583 FIRST BANK .................................................... 7 252.726.1506 / 252.728.5544 FLOYD’S RESTAURANT ................................ 29 252.727.1921 G.A. JONES CONSTRUCTION ....................... 6 252.726.3318 HAMAD REALTY ............................................. 2 252.342.9294 JOYNER’S CLEANING SERVICE ................... 17 252.622.2008 KATHRYN’S CATERING ................................. 35 252.241.9441 or 252.241.4922 LPL FINANCIAL .............................................. 19 252.222.0194 MCQUEEN’S INTERIORS ............................... 18 252.247.3175 METLIFE GRAND VILLAS .............................. 3 800.209.9411

BUSINESS LAW KIRKMAN WHITFORD BRADY & BERRYMAN. P.A. ATTORNEYS AT LAW NEIL B. WHITFORD CAROLYN B. BRADY* MELISSA BERRYMAN KIMBERLY L. FARIAS** JANE A. GORDON 710 ARENDELL STREET SUITE 105 MOREHEAD CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 28557-1347

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** ALSO LICENSED IN CALIFORNIA

NEXT MEDIA ................................................... 29 252.639.7907 PCS PHOSPHATE ........................................... 21 252.726.4234 PORT CITY MOTORS ...................................... 6 252.247.6850 SOUND CHOICE INSURANCE ....................... 25 252.247.5000 TARHEEL LAWN CARE .................................. 6 252.241.4220 TOWN & COUNTRY IGA ................................ 17 252.726.3781 THE UPS STORE............................................. 11 252.726.4433 WASTE INDUSTRIES ...................................... 27 252.223.4176 WILLIAM’S FLOOR COVERING & INTERIORS ............................................... 6 252.726.4442 WILLIAM’S HARDWARE................................. 21 252.726.7158 WINBERRY FARMS......................................... 17 252.393.2281 YORK PROPERTIES, INC. ............................. 5 252.247.5772

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ATTORNEYS Real Estate, Estate Planning, Wills Debra Whaley, Attorney at Law 252.222.4555, 209 N 35th St, Morehead City, NC 28557 dwhaleylaw@hotmail.com Real Estate, Corporate & Commercial Law Kirkman, Whitford, Brady & Berryman, P.A. Neil B. Whitford 252.726.8411, 710 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557 lawyers@kirkmanwhitford.com www.kirkmanwhitford.com CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE Bill Boulia Enterprise, Inc. Bill Boulia 252.223.2122, Newport, NC 28570 boulia@bizec.rr.com www.bouliaenterprise.com

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