WilmingtonBiz Magazine - December issue by Greater Wilmington Business Journal / WILMA magazine

Wilmington B iz M A G A Z I N E

BRIAN CLARK Russ Lopatka Chip Mahan Jim Morton Pierre Naudé Jose Sartarelli David Simmon NEIL UNDERWOOD

Jay Wileman

Julie Wilsey

THE PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP Barb Biehner

Broadhurst

Chris Coudriet

Thompson

Steve

John Gizdi Shelbourn Stevens Jason Anderson Amy Beatty RHONDA BELLAMY

Robert Burrus WES CARTER Cody Cress Ken Dull Jeff Ear Lucien Ellison

Spence

Brian Eckel

NATALIE ENGLISH Terry Espy TRASK FAMILY Joe Finley

JIM FLECHTNER Charles

Foust

Anne Gardner JOHNNY GRIFFIN Kim

Hufham CHRIS ISENHOUR Velva Jenkins Adam Jones Paul Kamitsuka

DAVID MICHAEL TIM MILAM JOHN MONTEITH John Nichols CHAD PAUL Chris Ramm Chris Reid DANE SCALISE Sabrina Mike Kozlosky

Sells LINDA THOMPSON Bill Vassar TREY WALLACE CYNTHIA WALSH Donny Williams Lee Williams

Chris Babcock Brooke Bloomquist

ANNE BRENNAN Travis Corpening Phil Dattilo

Beth & Shane

Faulkner Shane Fernando HUNTLEY GARRIOTT Jeff JAMES TODD John Brett Lanier

Lisa Leath

Olsen DAVID REESER

Stan Trofimchuk

considering Amy Wright

Daniel Summers Gary Winstead

Ryan Legg CHRIS NEWTON

Karl Ricanek Yousry Sayed

GEORGE TAYLOR Kurt Taylor Craig Wagner

“The PAG” SCOTT ADAMS Patrick Brien LAURA headlines this year’s Philip Brown RobertWilmingtonBiz Campbell JOE CONWAY 100

NHRMC Stephanie Lanier

BROGDON-PRIMAVERA

Jenna Curry Beth Gaglion

MEGAN MULLINS

Tracey and Girard Newkirk Gustavo Rodea Isabela Luján

Andrews WINTERJones 2020 Andy

Shaun

NATHANAEL CONWAY

Julie

BEN CURRIN CAROLINE FISHER

Derek Schmidt Tyler Wittkofsky

Katelyn Mattox Greater Wilmington G W Published by

Published by

reater ilmington BUSINESS BUSINESS JOURNAL JOURNAL

HIGH-PERFORMANCE SERVICE THROUGH A HIGH-PERFORMANCE CULTURE

(910) 395-6036 | WWW.MCKINLEYBUILDING.COM

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BRIAN CLARK Russ Lopatka Chip Mahan Jim Morton Pierre Naudé Jose Sartarelli David Simmons NEIL UNDERWOOD

Jay Wileman

Julie Wilsey THE PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP Barb Biehner

Broadhurst

Spence

John Gizdic Shelbourn Stevens Jason Anderson Amy Beatty RHONDA WILMINGTONBIZ BELLAMY 100

Chris Coudriet

Thompson

Steve

Robert Burrus WES CARTER Cody Cress Ken Dull Jeff Ear Lucien Ellison

Brian Eckel

C O V E R S T O R Y: 18 FAMILY PA G NATALIE ENGLISH Terry Espy TRASK Joe Finley POWER

JIM FLECHTNER Charles Foust Anne Gardner26 JOHNNY GRIFFIN Kim PLAYERS

Hufham CHRIS ISENHOUR Velva Jenkins Adam Jones L U E N CKamitsuka ERS 32 I N FPaul INNOVATORS 54 MONTEITH MICHAEL TIM MILAM JOHN John C O N N E C T Sabrina ORS 68SCALISE Nichols CHAD PAUL Chris Ramm Chris Reid DANE

Mike Kozlosky DAVID

76 R I S I N G S T A R S Sells LINDA THOMPSON Bill Vassar TREY WALLACE CYNTHIA WALSH

Donny Williams Lee Williams

Chris Babcock Brooke Bloomquist

ANNE BRENNAN Travis Corpening Phil Dattilo

Beth & Shane

Faulkner Shane Fernando HUNTLEY GARRIOTT JEFF JAMES Todd John Brett Lanier

Lisa Leath

Olsen DAVID REESER Daniel Summers

Ryan Legg CHRIS NEWTON

Shaun

Stan Trofimchuk Karl Ricanek Yousry Sayed

GEORGE TAYLOR Kurt Taylor Craig Wagner

Amy Wright SCOTT ADAMS Patrick Brien LAURA BROGDON-PRIMAVERA Philip Brown Robert Campbell JOE CONWAY Gary Winstead

Stephanie Lanier

Jenna Curry Beth Gaglione

MEGAN MULLINS

Tracey and Girard Newkirk Gustavo Rodea Isabela Luján

Andrews Andy Jones 2

NATHANAEL CONWAY Katelyn Mattox

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BEN CURRIN CAROLINE FISHER

Derek Schmidt

M A G A Z I N E

Julie

Tyler Wittkofsky

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR BIZ BITES BEHIND THE NUMBERS SOUND OFF NEWS DIGEST C-SUITE CONVO THE TAKEAWAY

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COVID CHANGES RESTAURANT ROUNDUP: JAMES SMITH

ON THE COVER

photo by Vicky Janowski

Photographer Kevin Kleitches works with this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cover models, PAG members (from left) Spence Broadhurst, Evelyn Bryant, Michael Papagikos and Barb Biehner in a studio set up at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. Other PAG members posed for a larger group outside.

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Pictured: Jordan Perry, Alan Perry and Josh Perry.

910.392.6721 | www.perrysemporium.com 2520 Independence Boulevard, Suite 100, Wilmington, NC 28412 4 WilmingtonBiz M AG A Z I N E

Showing Up

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

THIS YEAR

N MARCH 18, NEW HANOVER COUNTY SAW ITS FIRST PRESUMPTIVE CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

That same day, infectious disease expert Paul Kamitsuka spoke on our BizTalk program, a Q&A segment launched on the Business Journal’s Facebook page to help readers navigate the wide unknown that was unfolding. More than 5,000 people ended up watching Dr. Kamitsuka break down what was happening –how testing might work and what early research showed on symptoms and airborne droplets. And then he explained to us how to wash our hands, which we all thought we knew how to do, but turns out there was more to learn – about soap, about sanitizer, about toilet paper supply-chain logistics, about the length of 6 feet, about elbow bumps and about a host of other things that defined and changed us in 2020. In tandem with a global pandemic came an unprecedented economic shutdown, with which the U.S. and our community continue to grapple. 2020 was also the year racial justice and equity issues rose to the forefront of the nation’s attention after a defining 8 minutes and 46 seconds. So, when you read through the bios of this year’s WilmingtonBiz 100 members, it’s no coincidence how many times the terms COVID-19 and race relations show up. From Power Players to Rising Stars, people throughout the region showed up in this most unusual and difficult year. Some helped businesses find temporary relief during the shutdown by processing Paycheck Protection Program loans. Some organized community discussions about race. Some treated COVID-19 patients and moved quickly to implement testing. Some jumped in the game to find an effective vaccine. Some extended themselves to try to help keep people connected when they weren’t able to be. Others kept working, innovating to prepare for

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post-COVID times. The first year we compiled the WilmingtonBiz 100 list, we looked at people’s contributions to the region throughout their career. This time, and for subsequent years, the focus is on people’s impacts during the calendar year. It’s by no means a comprehensive list. More than 400,000 people live in the tri-county area. Highlighting the work of 100 of them is just a drop in the bucket, especially this year when so many have stepped up. Read more about this year’s picks starting on page 18 with our cover story about the members of the Partnership Advisory Group, followed by bios of The Power Players, Influencers, Innovators, Connectors and Rising Stars who led this year. You’ll see that elected officials and economic developers are not eligible for the annual list, but their work is highlighted in the section as well. Have someone in mind who should be on here? Reach out, let us know and don’t forget to nominate someone for next year’s list. Here’s looking forward to 2021.

VICKY JANOWSKI, EDITOR vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

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WINTER 2020 – $4.95

Publisher

N E I L COTIAUX NEIL COTIAUX is a freelance journalist who has written for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal since 2013. His work has also appeared in various other publications and digital sites around the Southeast. He received his B.S. in political science from Ithaca College and his J.D. from the University of Richmond. He co-wrote the cover story about the Partnership Advisory for “General Consensus” (PAGE 18).

Rob Kaiser

rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com

President

Robert Preville rpreville@wilmingtonbiz.com

A s s o c i at e P u b l i s h e r Judy Budd

jbudd@wilmingtonbiz.com

Editor

Vicky Janowski vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com

A s s i s ta n t E d i t o r Cece Nunn

cnunn@wilmingtonbiz.com

R e po r t e r s

K E V I N KLEITCHES KEVIN KLEITCHES is a portrait and commercial photographer and personal branding consultant based in Wilmington. His work can be seen at kevintitusphoto.com. Kleitches photographed the cover and group shot of the Partnership Advisory Group (PAGE 18).

Johanna Cano

jcano@wilmingtonbiz.com

Christina Haley O'Neal chaley@wilmingtonbiz.com

Vice President

Maggi Apel

Sales

mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com

Senior Account Executive Craig Snow

csnow@wilmingtonbiz.com

Account Executives Courtney Barden

cbarden@wilmingtonbiz.com

S C O T T N U N N SCOTT NUNN is a Wilmington native and award-winning veteran journalist. After nearly three decades at the StarNews, he recently embarked on a freelance career. Nunn also worked on the cover story “General Consensus” (PAGE 18) about the Partnership Advisory Group for this issue.

Ali Buckley abuckley@wilmingtonbiz.com

Marian Welsh mwelsh@wilmingtonbiz.com

O f f i c e & A u d i e n c e D e v e l op m e n t M a nag e r Sandy Johnson

sjohnson@wilmingtonbiz.com

E v e n t s / D i g i ta l A s s i s ta n t Elizabeth Stelzenmuller

events@wilmingtonbiz.com

D e s i g n & M e d i a C oo r d i n a t o r Molly Jacques

production@wilmingtonbiz.com

T E R A H WILSON TERAH WILSON is a Wilmington-based freelance photojournalist with over sixteen years’ experience in photography and art. She is a mom of three, an artist and an avid coffee drinker. Her passion is to capture everyday moments in a way that reveals the extravagance of life! In this issue, Wilson photographed Rx Restaurant’s outdoor dining tent for “Enduring Trends” (PAGE 82) as well as Power Player Russ Lopatka (PAGE 29), Influencer Paul Kamitsuka (PAGE 42) and Rising Star Katelyn Mattox (PAGE 78). terahwilson.com

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C o n t e n t M a r k e t i n g C oo r d i n a t o r Morgan Mattox

mmattox@wilmingtonbiz.com

Contributing Designer Suzi Drake

art@wilmingtonbiz.com

C o n t r i b u t i n g P h o t o g r ap h e r s

Erin Costa, Megan Deitz, Aris Harding, Kevin Kleitches, Michael Cline Spencer, Terah Wilson

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Congrats to the WilmingtonBiz 100! We strive to help you accelerate your success. We help successful businesses and professionals design and implement a detailed plan and process that seeks to optimize their growth and profitability. Contact us to find out how.

Stephen Gaskins, CFPÂŽ CEO & Founder

Knox Gibson, MBA Assistant Vice President

Erin Connor Operations Manager

Tena Aull Client Services Associate

(910) 207-0509 | SeacoastWealthWilmington.com 1908 Eastwood Road Suite 217, Wilmington, NC 28403 Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., a registered investment advisor. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. and Seacoast Wealth Management are separate entities from LPL Financial. LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial. The SmartVestor program is a directory of investment professionals. Neither Dave Ramsey nor SmartVestor are affiliates of Seacoast Wealth Management, Stratos Wealth Partners, or LPL Financial.

B i z B ite s BEHIND THE NUMBERS

SOUND OFF |

THE DIGEST |

C-SUITE CONVO

SETTING UP SHOP New stores have been welcoming customers at Independence Mall in Wilmington, where a redevelopment project replaced the former Sears and Sears wing. The project added exterior-facing establishments that include a Lidl grocery store (one of two in the city), Five Below, Dickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sporting Goods and more retailers and restaurants that are on the way.

photo by MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER

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BEHIND THE

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8,098

WILMINGTON AREA

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$5.5M

RECORD-SETTING HOME SALE PRICE (FIGURE EIGHT ISLAND HOME SOLD IN OCTOBER)

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66.3%

74.6% 2016

2020

PORT OF WILMINGTON TEUS CONTAINER VOLUME FY2018 - 322,391 FY2019 - 306,356 FY2020 - 319,054 *

* PORT’S FISCAL YEAR RUNS JULY 1-JUNE 30

INCOME DISPARITY (MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME)

NEW HANOVER BRUNSWICK

$58,480

$31,899

$57,704

$34,629

BLACK WHITE

$59,454

TIM MILAM TAKES NOTE OF LICENSE PLATES from other states when he sees them around town. “It’s become a hobby of mine,” said the president of Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. “Rarely do I get in a car and drive a mile or two and not see license plates from multiple states.” To Milam, whose residential real estate firm surpassed $2 billion in sales earlier this year, the out-of-towners are likely homebuyers and mark one of the reasons why the housing market in the Cape Fear region is booming. “In Southeastern North Carolina, we continue to see so many people discovering this area that have never discovered it before,” Milam said. As of September, the total number of single-family homes sold in the Cape Fear region during the year was up 17% from the same period last year, and the number of condos and townhomes sold had increased by nearly 18%. Even during the first full month of COVID-19-related restrictions – April – home sales were only down slightly, at about 2% from April 2019. But they fell drastically in May, by 26%. The numbers seemed to bounce back in June when there was a nearly 12% jump in the number of homes sold compared to June 2019, and it was all uphill from there during the summer and much of fall. People moving in from other states and other North Carolina markets isn’t the only reason for what has ended up being a banner year for the area’s home sales, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Interest rates are low, and inventory is low, especially in price ranges under $300,000. That makes some buyers antsy and ready to make a deal. “They’re going to go ahead and spend the money now,” Milam said. In Brunswick County alone in October, the number of homes sold jumped 63%, and sales volume spiked 114.5% compared to October 2019. “We are on a record pace that could see us break $2 billion in residential home sales for the first time ever,” BCAR CEO Cynthia Walsh said at the time. But fewer homes for sale is a challenge. “The housing market has continued to see strong growth, but the lack of inventory has been problematic,” Cape Fear Realtors President Tony Harrington said in September. “Policymakers will need to continue their efforts to create more housing supply to meet this long-term demand.”

VOTER TURNOUT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS

$27,733

BY CECE NUNN

WILMINGTON

REAL ESTATE MARKET THRIVES DESPITE ECONOMIC DISRUPTION

TRI- COUNTY AREA

JAN.-SEPT. 2020

NEW HANOVER COUNTY

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES SOLD

PENDER

Sources: N.C. Regional Multiple Listing Service, New Hanover County Board of Elections, N.C. Ports, U.S. Census/Cape Fear Collective Racial Equity Dashboard

SOUND OFF

BizBites

ONE STEP CLOSER TO BETTER

S I INDULGE IN WEEKENDS OF FOOTBALL ESCAPISM, I CAN’T HELP BUT RECOGNIZE THAT THE GEICO COMMERCIALS ABOUT BECOMING YOUR PARENTS ARE ALL TOO TRUE.

Many of us find ourselves bemoaning the present and fondly remembering yesteryears, never mind the fact that it’s not true. “The country is divided …, China is going to take all our jobs …, the youth of today think they know everything, and they don’t even know what good music is …” We heard all these concerns growing up too, except the words came out of someone else’s mouth, and it was Japan that was going to steal our jobs. On average, the world is a better place today than ever before. We just need to slow down and appreciate that while better today, the best is yet to come. Yes, the current pandemic is causing stresses, but imagine the pandemic without the internet and modern medicine. The growth in living standards is a lot like the growth of children; each day looks awfully similar to the previous, but stop looking for a few years, and the world won’t even be recognizable. Vehicles are a great example of this incremental process over time, “Does that have a CD player in it?” was a question asked in w i l m i n g t o n b i z m a g a z i n e . c o m

A D A M J O N E S awe during the early 1990s and is now asked as a form of derision. The obsoleting of the CD player is but one example of a world vastly improved from the past where one had to remember telephone numbers, put a key in the car or, heaven forbid, actually light the fireplace using a match. While these examples are superficial, there are many other ways in which the world has improved. Death from heart disease for those over age 65 is little more than half what it was in 1980, and now we’re turning our sights to cancer. As recently as 1950, half the world lived in extreme poverty; today it’s less than 10% and falling. In Southeastern North Carolina, percapita income is up 30% over the past three decades, even after controlling for inflation. While there is no single factor that drives economic growth, there are several areas that economists point to as facilitators of growth: physical and human capital, technological improvements and an environment conducive to growth – a special sauce made up of the whole community. The WilmingtonBiz 100 recognizes many contributors to that special sauce including educators such as Jose Sartarelli and Jim Morton; entrepreneurs such as Shaun Olsen whose CloudWyze

is helping the region manage the realities of distanced education and work; George Taylor and Amy Wright creating opportunities for inclusive growth; and Julie Wilsey at ILM along with Paul Cozza and Brian Clark of N.C. Ports keeping us connected to markets far and wide. Combining individual and private sector efforts with smart policy (New Hanover County’s Chris Coudriet and NHRMC’s John Gizdic are both power players on the list), and a business friendly tax climate (North Carolina consistently ranks near the top for business climate) helps create an environment where the Live Oak Banks, Cornings, GEs, PPDs and up and comers such as Brooke Bloomquist’s Blue Shark Vodka and Nathanael Conway’s Blue Roll can thrive and innovate. The current pandemic has been more than a bump in the road, but it too will pass, and the lessons and skills learned will remain. For example, video communication and screen-sharing will facilitate the sharing of ideas over wider spaces; schools will be better equipped to complement in-person classes with digital supplements; and outdoor experiences and dining may provide a new avenue for social connection. As we bring back drive-in movies, you can’t help but wonder if maybe there was something to the good ole days, but certainly, the best is yet to come for the world and for Southeastern North Carolina. Adam Jones is a regional economist with UNCW’s Swain Center and an associate professor of economics in UNCW’s Cameron School of Business. W I N TE R 2 0 2 0

SOUND OFF HARD LESSONS LEARNED

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EN YEARS AFTER THE “NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS” POLICY ALIGNED OUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS AROUND RACIAL AND ECONOMIC LINES, WE HAVE A SET OF STATISTICS THAT MEASURES ITS EFFECTIVENESS.

The outcomes prove that statistics can be shocking, sobering and … entirely unsurprising all at the same time. This policy has consigned at least four of our elementary schools and two middle schools to a cycle of failure. There is no other way to put it. Wilmington has seen its share of racial failures in its history, but what has been allowed to happen to our downtown schools ranks up there with the others. The outcome of “neighborhood schools” was predicted by anyone who studied it with any academic rigor in 2010. Nothing was done to stop this policy, and we, as a community, tolerated it. Now it’s time to do something about it. “Neighborhood schools” is the policy that, in its simplest form, sends a child to the school closest to home. Suburban and mostly white parents advocated for this, rather than have their children “bused” to schools to maintain balance of race and economic means. A majority of the school board won on this platform and started changing school lines in 2006. The concept is a fallacy from the

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S C O T T WHISNANT start. With current housing patterns, it is physically impossible for every child to attend the closest school. Some would exceed capacity; some would be underused. The question has never been whether to bus children, but who to bus. The school board at that time made its choice. As members of the Wilmington/New Hanover County Community Relations Advisory Committee, we studied the resulting statistics courtesy of the schools and SchoolDigger.com, which ranks schools and districts based on metrics such as end-of-grade scores and teacher/ student ratios. “Appalling” doesn’t begin to describe what happened. Three New Hanover County elementary schools are now ranked 4th, 6th and 9th in the state, out of almost 1,500 schools. None have as many as 20% at the free/reduced lunch level, and the highest ratio of African American students is 2.2% – this in a county with more than half the kids at free/reduced lunch and 20% AfricanAmerican. With schools prospering at this rate, you would think the district would have improved since 2006. But this is not so. The district fell from 49th in the state to 91st in 2019. What went wrong? Well, Forest Hills, Gregory, Snipes and Freeman

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elementary schools are all close to 100% free/reduced lunch. Teacher turnover at these schools is greater than 18% – two and three times the rate of the white suburban schools. These schools are about half as likely to have teachers with 10 years of experience. Between 35% and 60% of students pass end-of-grade tests. Then you look at the “readiness for kindergarten” factor. At Wrightsville Beach Elementary in 2019, 91.7% of its incoming children were ready to start school. The downtown schools? Most struggle to top 20%. At Freeman in 2019, 4.3% of incoming children were ready for kindergarten. Yes, you read that correctly. What chance did those kindergarten teachers have? No wonder so many transfer to another school as soon as they can. Freeman and Snipes are ranked in the bottom 5% of elementary schools in North Carolina. And then there’s Gregory. In 2005, Gregory, known countywide as an excellent magnet school in engineering, stood at the 85th percentile. Just one year before, thensuperintendent John Morris publicly said his view of diversity was driven by a “moral responsibility” to avoid resegregation. “Our students will not live and work in a segregated world and shouldn’t attend segregated schools.” Dr. Morris said then. Eleven years later, Gregory had fallen to the state’s 2nd percentile. To its credit and to the credit of the recent school board, a Spanish immersion program has helped it regain some of its standing in the last three years. The story is no better at the

BizBites

middle-school level. Williston has more than twice the rate of free/ reduced lunch students (97.1%) as any other middle school. It fell from the 35.5th percentile in 2005 to the 11th in the state last year. And Virgo? This historical landmark school, with alumni including Michael Jordan, is no longer a county school. It closed twice the last decade from low enrollment (wasn’t redistricting designed to fix that?) and is now operated as a K-8 “lab” school by UNCW. In 2019, 6.5% of its incoming sixth-grade students read at grade level. This is not an argument about the abilities of poor or minority children. It is a commentary on what happens when these children are disproportionately herded into just a few schools, where teachers cannot begin to cope with the significant problems arising from poverty and discrimination impacting almost every one of these children. What to do about this? First, we as a community have to stop tolerating this. We cannot allow a generation of children at six of our schools to have no future of college or economic opportunity. But the answer is not as simple as moving white kids into inner-city schools, then placing them within a bubble of “academically gifted” children. That is not integration, either. The answers are more complex, and it’s going to take some effort to talk to parents, teachers and community leaders. It’s going to take courage from our incoming school board. But most of all, it’s going to take commitment to stop this practice now. We’re better than this. Scott Whisnant is a member of the Community Relations Advisory Committee. To see a recent presentation from the committee about the issue as well as a list of recommendations on how to address it, click on this column at WilmingtonBiz.com.

CROWDSOURCING REACTIONS, OPINIONS AND QUOTABLES FROM OUR ONLINE SOUNDING BOARDS

O N FA C E B O O K . C O M / W I L M I N GT O N B I Z

READER CONVERSATIONS

MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMING TO LELAND “MY GOSH, please stop!” – FRAN HINSON COLEMAN

“WHAT, NO HOME DEPOT or Lowe’s building supply?” – FRAN HINSON COLEMAN “ HOW ABOUT A MENARDS, Macy’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, Jack in the Box, Popeyes chicken, Cheddar’s or a Tanger Outlet? Something different, not around here please.” – KARLENE HALL

2020: A YEAR OF HEALTH CARE HEROES On this year’s Lifetime Achievement award recipient:

“DAN GOTTOVI was a fantastic physician who took as much time as was needed to make sure his patient was knowledgeable about his or her diagnosis and he always made the proper referrals I’d requested. He was my doctor and I was crushed when I learned he was leaving.” – LINDA PEARCE

T W I T T E R P O L L : @ W I L M I N GT O N B I Z WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT WORKING SITUATION?

33.3% 66.7%

2021 OUTLOOK: HOW WILL SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S ECONOMY FARE NEXT YEAR COMPARED TO THIS YEAR?

WORKING ON-SITE WORKING FROM HOME

SHOW DECLINE REMAIN THE SAME

29% 6%

65%

SHOW IMPROVEMENT

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MOST READ STORIES ONLINE THIS YEAR (JAN. 1-NOV. 15)

1. TWO PILOTS set to film in Wilmington

2. DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT – Stalk & Vine – closes permanently 3. OAK ISLAND motel changes hands

4. OPINION: Life needs to go, on by Woody White

5. SBA LENDERS prepare for a wave of relief program applications SIGN UP FOR DAILY NEWS UPDATES AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE GREATER WILMINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL AT WILMINGTONBIZ.COM

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DIGEST THE

A R O U N DU P O F R E C E N T NE WS

PHOTO BY TERAH WILSON

MAYFAIRE OWNER FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY The owner of Mayfaire Town Center recently filed for bankruptcy. CBL & Associates Properties Inc. and its related entities filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, according to an announcement Nov. 2. The filing gives the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company a chance to recapitalize, including restructuring portions of its debt. The restructuring plan is expected to provide CBL with “a significantly stronger balance sheet” by reducing debt and preferred obligations by about $1.5 billion, extending debt maturities and increasing liquidity while maintaining operational consistency, a news release stated. “Through this process, all dayto-day operations and business of the company’s wholly owned, joint venture and third-party managed shopping centers will continue as normal,” officials said. “CBL’s

customers, tenants and partners can expect business as usual at all of CBL’s owned and managed properties.” The filing follows the separate bankruptcy filings of several tenants at CBL malls. This year, Mayfaire Town Center and adjacent Mayfaire Community Center have lost several tenants, including, in the case of the town center, home decor store Pier 1 and children’s clothing retailer Justice. At the same time, anchor tenant Regal Mayfaire & IMAX movie theater remains dark as a result of COVID-19 as some movie theaters have chosen to remain closed despite the easing of pandemic restrictions in recent weeks. But the closures haven’t kept different kinds of concepts from setting up shop at Mayfaire. On the way to the town center is School of Rock, joining recent openings of retailer My Sister’s Cottage and artisan holiday gift market Going Local.

TO STAY I N T H E LO O P O N T H E L AT E ST AR E A B U S I NE S S H AP P EN IN GS , CHECK OUT OUR DA I LY A F T ER NOON NE W S L E T T E R . S I G N U P AT WILM IN GTON BIZ.COM .

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HARRELSON CENTER TO EXPAND CAMPUS In a place where jail cell doors used to clank shut, space for more nonprofit organizations is taking shape in downtown Wilmington, aided by a $1.8 million construction loan. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. received a loan from South State Bank to complete renovations to the former law enforcement center and jail tower, helping it to go from 30,000 to 60,000 square feet. The loan funds construction of an event venue that is integral to the expanded campus and renovation to two floors in the former jail tower for nonprofit office suites. “It’s life-changing for many people,” said Meade Van Pelt, executive director of the center, of the basic-need services that organizations provide at the center, from help with housing to mental health. “It’s a true place of connection.” Named the Vicki Dull Annex, for the second executive director of The Harrelson Center and reflective of a major gift, the expansion (rendering shown above) is expected to be complete in early 2021, officials said.

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inclusive and fair work environment and build a culture and community where employees and residents are respected, valued and understood for their own identity.”

ULIA OLSON-BOSEMAN PRESIDED OVER THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AS CHAIR IN A HISTORIC YEAR. There was a public health crisis

to grapple with, a “once-in-a-generation” vote on selling the county’s largest asset and several other major topics that came before the five members, who at times publicly were at odds with each other during the year. By the time you read this, two of the commissioners – Pat Kusek and Woody White – will have handed over their seats at their final meeting Dec. 7. Neither ran for re-election, and Deb Hays and Bill Rivenbark will join the board. Incumbent Jonathan Barfield Jr. narrowly hung onto his seat. Rob Zapple, who was not on this year’s ballot, rounds out the new mix. At that same meeting, OlsonBoseman will vie for another year as board chair, but as of press time, it was too early to know if she would be successful in holding onto the position. To read more from the conversation with Olson-Boseman, go to wilmingtonbizmagazine.com. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT WAS THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONER’S BIGGEST SUCCESSES THIS YEAR?

“I believe we had a lot of successes. A few of those include: We led locally what has been one of the most unprecedented and difficult crises for the world – COVID-19. Working with our Public Health Department, we made difficult but necessary decisions and helped the community navigate in this new normal. We provided $1.3 million in business grants for small businesses and w i l m i n g t o n b i z m a g a z i n e . c o m

BY VICKY JANOWSKI

JULIA OLSON-BOSEMAN NHC COMMISSIONER

another $1.3 million for families who need housing or child care assistance. We were able to understand more about the possibilities for health care in our community and make a decision as a majority board to transform health care for generations to come by joining NHRMC with Novant Health. This decision not only impacts health care for the better, but it also brings billions of dollars into our community for mental and behavioral health, revenue stabilization for the county, innovative health care and a $1.25 billion Community Endowment that is going to make a lasting and profound difference in New Hanover County for many, many years to come. We also collaborated with the city to revamp Wave Transit and work toward a more efficient, convenient transportation system for our residents, which will come in July 2021. We began working on the county’s Master Aging Plan, which will come to fruition next year and be our guide to ensure we have the right and best services in place for our aging community. With the support of County Manager Chris Coudriet, we created the county’s first Office of Diversity and Equity, with a mission to promote an

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES OR VOTES YOU WISHED WOULD HAVE GONE DIFFERENTLY?

“I would have liked for the vote about the hospital joining Novant Health to be unanimous, given the need we all know is there and the tremendous opportunity this is, but there isn’t anything else I wish would have gone different. I look forward to all of the opportunities this upcoming year brings with two new members and the work we will all accomplish together as a board.” THERE HAVE BEEN SHARP DISAGREEMENTS AT TIMES THIS YEAR. DO YOU SEE THE RELATIONSHIPS ON THE BOARD IMPROVING NEXT YEAR OR IS THAT JUST AN INEVITABLE PART OF POLITICS?

“We are a diverse board with diverse views – but we all have the same thing in common and that is wanting what is best for our community. There will always be differences, and that’s a good thing because otherwise, we wouldn’t grow as a board. And this year we were able to come together and accomplish one of the most transformative decisions that has ever happened in our county for the hospital and its future – which is our community’s future. I look forward to being a part of this new board and welcoming our new members. I believe we can and we will work together and accomplish even more as we listen to the community, engage our residents and serve the public on their behalf.” W I N TE R 2 0 2 0

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THE POWER PLAYERS: Brian Clark • Russ Lopatka • Chip Mahan • Jim Morton • Pierre Naudé • Jose Sartarelli • David Simmons • Neil Underwood • Jay Wileman • Julie Wilsey • The Partnership Advisory Group • Barb Biehner • Spence Broadhurst • Chris Coudriet • John Gizdic • Shelbourn Stevens • Jason Thompson THE INFLUENCERS: Steve Anderson • Amy Beatty • Rhonda Bellamy • Robert Burrus • Wes Carter • Cody Cress • Ken Dull • Jeff Earp • Brian Eckel • Lucien Ellison • Natalie English • Terry Espy • Trask Family • Joe Finley • Jim Flechtner • Charles Foust • Anne Gardner • Johnny Griffin • Kim Hufham • Chris Isenhour • Velva Jenkins • Adam Jones • Paul Kamitsuka • Mike Kozlosky • David Michael • Tim Milam • John Monteith • John Nichols • Chad Paul • Chris Ramm • Chris Reid • Dane Scalise • Sabrina Sells • Linda Thompson • Bill Vassar • Trey Wallace • Cynthia Walsh • Donny Williams • Lee Williams THE INNOVATORS: Chris Babcock • Brooke Bloomquist • Anne Brennan • Travis Corpening • Phil Dattilo • Beth & Shane Faulkner • Shane Fernando • Huntley Garriott • Jeff James • Todd John, • Brett Lanier • Lisa Leath • Ryan Legg • Chris Newton • Shaun Olsen • David Reeser • Stan Trofimchuk • Karl Ricanek • Yousry Sayed • Daniel Summers • George Taylor • Kurt Taylor • Craig Wagner • Gary Winstead • Amy Wright THE CONNECTORS: Scott Adams • Patrick Brien • Laura Brogdon-Primavera • Philip Brown • Robert Campbell • Joe Conway • Jenna Curry • Beth Gaglione • Stephanie Lanier • Megan Mullins • Tracey & Girard Newkirk • Gustavo Rodea • Isabela Luján THE RISING STARS: Julie Andrews • Nathanael Conway • Ben Currin • Caroline Fisher • Andy Jones • Katelyn Mattox • Derek Schmidt • Tyler Wittkofsky

DETERMINING THE 100 The WilmingtonBiz 100 is an annual Greater Wilmington Business Journal initiative to recognize the top 100 Power Players, Influencers, Innovators, Connectors and Rising Stars impacting Southeastern North Carolina’s business landscape. Those included in this year’s group were announced in October, but on the following pages you can read a little more about why they were picked. Readers sent in names to consider during a nomination process, and the Business Journal’s editorial team selected the WilmingtonBiz 100. We’ll do nominations again next year for the annual issue. To be considered, individuals had to either work or live in the region. Elected officials and individuals at the primary economic development agencies weren’t considered because of their clear influence on business in our region.

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COVER STORY: PAG POWER PLAYERS INFLUENCERS INNOVATORS CONNECTORS RISING STARS

– Compiled by Johanna Cano, Vicky Janowski, Cece Nunn and Christina Haley O'Neal

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CONSENSUS HOW THE GROUP OF 21 CAME TO SUPPORT SELLING THE HOSPITAL

PHOTO BY KEVIN KLIETCHES

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BY NEIL COTIAUX, SCOTT NUNN AND VICKY JANOWSKI

hen the 21 members of the Partnership Advisory Group sat down for its first meeting on Oct. 29, 2019, to begin charting the future of New Hanover Regional Medical Center they were hardly in lockstep. In fact, that was one reason some had been chosen for the special committee, which would help make one of the most consequential decisions in the county’s history. “The group has many different

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opinions. Some, in fact, have been vocally against considering a sale,” New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet said in the weeks ahead of that first meeting. “What they do have in common, however, is a desire to help choose the right path forward. They will be giving a lot of time to this effort, and it’s not going to be easy work for any of them.” For the next year, advisory group members did just that, spending hundreds of hours in meetings, at community forums, on social media Q&As and ultimately with teams from three major health systems deemed finalists in the bid to purchase NHRMC from the county.

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Those initial doubts Coudriet predicted were backed up by several PAG members. “My goal was not to drink the Kool-Aid,” said advisory group member Hannah Gage, who was highly skeptical of a sale when the possibility was first announced. But the Wilmington businesswoman and former chair of the UNC System Board of Governors said the more she understood the challenges NHRMC faced the more she became convinced the sale was the best option. So did the others. When it came time to finish their mission – recommend to elected officials and hospital leadership

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W I L M I N GTO N B I Z 1 0 0 Editor’s note: This year we added a special category on the WilmingtonBiz 100 list of The Power Players to include the key local players involved in coming to a multi-billion-dollar deal to sell NHRMC to Novant Health. Those individuals are highlighted in the following pages, as well as the Partnership Advisory Group as a whole.

BARB BIEHNER CO-CHAIR, PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP

esides her volunteer role with the Partnership Advisory Group (PAG), Barb Biehner is director of operations for Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance. She also sits on the boards for Pender Memorial Hospital and New Hanover Regional Medical Center as well as for Plantation Village.

WHY SHE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: As co-chair, Biehner was a visible presence in the discussion about NHRMC’s future. “It was a monumental task to coordinate, lead, communicate and provide a high level of transparency to the community while evaluating important business decisions with far reaching impact to the region,” she said. “We could not have done it without the hard work of the support staff to make sure we had the information we needed and were able to meet remotely or meet in person, safely.”

SPENCE BROADHURST CO-CHAIR, PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP

pence Broadhurst is president of the Eastern North Carolina region for First National Bank. He serves

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whether NHRMC should remain county-owned or explore a sale or partnership – the 21 members voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to support a $5 billion deal with Novant, a private nonprofit health-care system based in Winston-Salem. That paved the way for the authorizing votes from the NHRMC Board of Trustees and New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. As part of the deal for the hospital, which has been owned by the county since it opened in 1967 and operated by the nonprofit organization NHRMC, Novant pledged to pay the county $1.5 billion and invest more than $3 billion in the hospital on capital projects and routine capital expenses. The sale is expected to close sometime in the first half of next year with the bulk of the proceeds going to a newly established community foundation.

SUM OF ITS PARTS

While many of the steps involved with selling a county-owned hospital were required by state law – including a still-pending review by the state attorney general’s office – convening an advisory group was not. County and hospital leaders who opened the door to exploring NHRMC’s future soon banked on the PAG making the process more deliberative and palatable to the community. And it worked. Even county commissioner Rob Zapple, the only one of the five commissioners to vote against the deal on Oct. 5, said that in the end he disagreed with details about how the community foundation will function but not a change in ownership – an idea he initially had sharply criticized. “The process, driven by the PAG, has determined that Novant Health is the best potential company to purchase New Hanover Regional Medical Center,” Zapple said before voting, adding that his talks with

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local medical community members and Novant Health CEO Carl Armato shaped his opinion as well. When the PAG first met, it became clear that its volunteer members wanted to keep all options open. “The larger the group, the bigger the organizational direction and challenge can be … but I think everybody came in with an open mind and sort of a blank piece of paper to really get to the right answer,” said Spence Broadhurst, who with NHRMC trustee Barb Biehner, served as co-chair of the group. Unlike some other governmentowned or nonprofit hospitals, NHRMC’s net financial position for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2019 was healthy, up by $107.5 million or 11.2% from the prior year. But federal and state reimbursement below the rate of expense growth, the cost of technology, more uninsured patients and a steady stream of consolidations represented clouds on the industry’s horizon, NHRMC officials warned. Biehner, director of operations at Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance who came to the PAG with decades of executive experience in health care, also knew there were local limitations on how much money the hospital could obtain for future projects. As a municipal facility, NHRMC could only use bond proceeds to finance projects within New Hanover County, limiting its ability to expand in the six other counties in the region it serves. With a debt capacity of $150 million and no local taxes available to tap, NHRMC would struggle to fund a $1.9 billion strategic plan needed to deliver quality health care to a growing population, Biehner said. Five months in, the PAG’s mission took on added significance when the first case of COVID-19 surfaced in New Hanover County on March 18. “I think it really brought to life a lot of the challenges that our medical center was facing. As we went through the pandemic, that became very

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obvious,” said Broadhurst, regional president of First National Bank. NHRMC canceled nonessential procedures and absorbed mounting costs, accelerating its financial burn rate and further complicating the hospital’s long-term planning. By that point, however, the advisory group had already reached out to prospective suitors. “As we mapped out our proposal, we pushed back to respondents instead. ‘How has this pandemic impacted your proposal to us?’ Here’s where we are in the whole process, and they all fully understood it,” Biehner explained. “The bottom line really came down to we’d be better with a partner to go through anything like this pandemic we were all struggling with rather than trying to do it on our own.”

FACING THE PUBLIC

The PAG not only played an extensive role in the sale. With limited formal involvement from the commissioners and NHRMC board, the advisory group became the public face of the contentious and complex process. It wasn’t planned that way. The July 23, 2019, announcement that the hospital’s future was being explored laid out a process driven by NHRMC and county leaders and staff. No special committee was mentioned. The only public role mentioned was a series of community forums. But NHRMC president and CEO John Gizdic and Coudriet, who spearheaded the initiative, said

THE PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY GROUP

The Partnership Advisory Group as a whole fills one of the spots on this year’s WilmingtonBiz 100 list because of its work on NHRMC’s future and eventual deal to sell the county-owned health system to Novant Health and expand UNC School of Medicine/UNC Health’s

they both firmly believed from the beginning that there needed to be a public process, and the community needed to be involved. “From the beginning, we knew there would have to be a process and a group of community members involved in preparing the RFP (Request for Proposal) and doing the analysis,” Coudriet said recently. “Community involvement was always central to the strategy. (But) to say that on July 23 we knew that we would call it the Partnership Advisory Group, and that it would end up being 21 members … that we knew that level of clarity” would be disingenuous, he said. At a pair of standing-room-only community forums in August, the sentiment toward the idea of a sale was overwhelmingly negative, with “why the rush?” a common question. Coudriet said that those two forums and meetings with civic and other groups helped frame what the public involvement should look like. On Sept. 16, 2019, the board of commissioners voted 3-2 to move forward with exploring a sale/ partnership. The resolution also called for a Partnership Advisory Group “to help develop priorities for the Request for Proposal (RFP), evaluate the proposals received, and provide a recommendation on next steps to the Board of Commissioners and NHRMC Board of Trustees.” The PAG was established a month later. Although the county previously had formed public groups to evaluate

presence with New Hanover Regional. GROUP MAKEUP: The 21 members were a mix of doctors, hospital trustees, top officials and community members. SHOWN IN GROUP PHOTO: (From left) Spence Broadhurst, David Williams, Meade Horton Van Pelt, Evelyn Bryant, Dr.

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Michael Papagikos, Hannah Gage, Barb Biehner, Cedric Dickerson, Jack Fuller and Dr. Rob Shaker NOT PICTURED: Chris Coudriet, Bill Cameron, Brian Eckel, Robert Campbell, Virginia Adams, John Gizdic, Dr. Sandra Hall, Tony McGhee, Dr. Joseph Pino, Dr. Mary Rudyk and Jason Thompson

on the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s board. A former mayor of Wilmington (200306), he also previously served as N.C. Banking Commission commissioner. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: With Barb Biehner, Broadhurst led the 21-member PAG through to its unanimous decision in September to sell the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to WinstonSalem-based Novant Health. “This decision will positively impact the health of our region for generations,” he said at the time.

CHRIS COUDRIET COUNTY MANAGER, NEW HANOVER COUNTY

hris Coudriet has been in the

manager post since 2012 Ccounty after serving as assistant county

manager for four years. Before coming to New Hanover County, he was the county manager in Franklin and Washington counties. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Coudriet, who served as a PAG member, and his staff waded through many of the details of how to handle more than $1.2 billion from the sale’s proceeds that will go to New Hanover County. Bylaws for an endowment and a community foundation to oversee the fund were created, with focuses for spending the earnings on areas such as education and public safety. Beyond the hospital discussions, Coudriet and the county’s staff responded to COVID-19, ranging from public health mobilizations to dispersing federal CARES Act funding for emergency child care and housing assistance.

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JOHN GIZDIC PRESIDENT AND CEO, NHRMC

n 2016, John Gizdic was appointed to head up New Hanover Regional. Gizdic started at NHRMC in 2005 as vice president of strategic planning and business development.

WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Gizdic, who also sat on the PAG, and his team were responsible for due diligence work during negotiations with Novant Health leading up to the signed deal and is now working through the closing and transition process. Meanwhile Gizdic oversaw the hospital’s response to treating COVID-19 patients as well as implementing safety protocols, which in the spring meant temporarily shutting down nonessential procedures. As the region’s largest employer, NHRMC implemented $12 million in market pay adjustments and raised its healthy community wage to $12.50 an hour. Combined with annual merit increases, total investments in employees were more than $20 million, which impacts the local economy. In January, Gizdic starts as board chair for the N.C. Healthcare Association.

SHELBOURN STEVENS PRESIDENT, NOVANT HEALTH BRUNSWICK MEDICAL CENTER

helbourn Stevens this year marked 30 years with the Winston-Salembased health system. He started his career with Novant as a respiratory

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complicated issues (solid waste and city-county consolidation were two) its scope, size and mission made the PAG unprecedented. “I think it is fair to say that the PAG ended up being larger than we probably would have imagined at the outset,” Coudriet said recently. “And that was so that we could ensure maximum community participation.” The complexity of the health care industry also meant some expertise was needed, Coudriet said, noting that five physicians served on the PAG, which was established as a joint subcommittee of the commissioners and NHRMC trustees. NHRMC’s Board of Trustees added five of its members to the PAG. Nine members came from the community, including leaders from nonprofits, businesses and community groups. And Coudriet and Gizdic rounded out the rest of the spots. No one who was asked to sit on the group turned them down, Coudriet said. Whether or not it was the intention is not clear, but forming the PAG clearly took some of the growing political heat off the board of commissioners. Alex Hall, a Wilmington attorney and former state legislator, was a fierce opponent of the sale process as it was carried out. Hall was particularly bothered that Gizdic – whom he views as a chief-proponent of the sale – was closely involved in choosing the PAG’s members. Hall remains convinced that the PAG members were hand picked to ensure that what he believes already was a done deal was approved. At the start of the process, Gizdic said that he did not endorse any particular outcome, only that NHRMC and the county clearly understood how best to secure the future of health care in the region. The PAG’s leadership insisted that the group was fiercely independent and went into the process with no preconceived idea of what the outcome would or should be. Hall is a leader and legal counsel for Save Our Hospital, which became

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the most organized and outspoken opponents of the sale process. The group went to court in September seeking to delay a final vote on the deal, but Superior Court Judge Phyllis Gorham denied the motion. Although Hall remains highly critical of how the process was handled from the start, he had high praise for the PAG. “In my opinion they could not have been more open and accessible,” he said recently. “Anytime I ever called (the PAG leaders) they were always willing to meet with us to hear what our concerns were.” By forming the PAG, Hall said, leaders were able to quell what he described as a “tremendous backlash to the sale.” Hall said SOH will remain active and follow how the deal – and promises that came with it – plays out.

THE DISSENTER

As a longtime civil engineer, Wilmington’s Rod Andrew initially wasn’t sure how much he could contribute when he was appointed to the NHRMC Board of Trustees in 2012. (The group was previously appointed by county commissioners but will be replaced by a self-perpetuating local hospital board with the sale.) But with the health system in the midst of a construction boom, Andrew was able to provide an engineer’s perspective on some major projects. That was the expertise he brought to the board; something else would become his passion – he fell in love with the hospital, notably the dedication and skills of employees. As a trustee, Andrew was by no means a power player. He never was chosen for the executive committee, where, he said, most major issues are discussed and vital decisions made. But as a retired professional, he had the time – and desire – to go above and beyond in his service to the hospital. He’s also a longtime hospital volunteer. Seven years into his tenure on the board, he was surprised to learn that the county was considering selling

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therapist. Stevens became president and COO of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in 2012. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Stevens represented the local officials in the talks between NHRMC and Novant. In recent years New Hanover Regional and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center have worked in closer coordination, including partnering with NHRMC to add AirLink transport services on the campus of the Brunswick hospital. Under Novant’s plan to create a regional medical hub, the 74-bed Brunswick Medical Center will fall under NHRMC as part of the transition.

the 7,000-employee system. But it was how he first learned about it that surprised him most – reading media coverage of the announcement the day after it was announced. “I was shocked, you know, I have not missed a single board meeting in eight years,” he said. “And that was a real shock.” Andrew would go on to be the only person among the hospital board of trustees and PAG members to oppose the sale. Like Hall, Andrew said the PAG was made up of good, well-intentioned people. But he believes the board of trustees’ rightful role was essentially usurped. “We were already on the ground running,” he said. “They had to get up to speed on hospital procedures and operations.” Andrew is not optimistic about NHRMC’s future, especially for the employees. “I got to know the nurses and the staff and the culture of those folks and how hardworking they were and conscientious,” he said. “That was a family; it really was. And I don’t think that’s going to be maintained.”

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Blue Economy Entrepreneurship, Innovation Conference, Coastal Connect Investor Forum, UNCW Certificate Programs in Innovation in Healthcare and for Marine Engineering and Biotech

NEXT CHAPTER

The future of the health system’s employees was a key issue for the advisory group as they did research and interviewed officials from the three finalists Atrium Health, Duke Health and Novant Health (six health systems overall responded to the RFP with partnership proposals). For her part, Biehner was pleased to see Novant make a commitment to retain all interested NHRMC employees at closing for a minimum of two years. “I’ve been there and experienced it as an employee,” she said, explaining how as CEO of a Bon Secours facility in Pennsylvania she had lost her position in a sale “and I think what really drove me to push to be involved is that I wanted to make sure that our employees and medical staff didn’t get the short end of the stick on it.” As the panel sifted through the merits of the finalists’ proposals, Broadhurst was struck by how closely Novant Health’s and NHRMC’s cultures meshed. “It was when I read their mission and values and compared it to ours at New

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Hanover Regional Medical Center, and they were almost identical,” he said. “That led to a conversation on culture and how you treat people, employees, patients, et cetera … When I really saw that culture and values just absolutely mirrored what our current medical center was doing, I think that was a real ‘aha’ moment for me.” For Broadhurst, the crowning touch in the deal is the $1.25 billion of sale proceeds for an independent endowment that will invest the money and use an estimated $40 million-$50 million annually to address social issues. Broadhurst is one of five people picked by the county commissioners to serve on the foundation overseeing that endowment (elected officials, those who’ve left office within the past two years and hospital

trustees are not allowed to sit on it). The others are PAG members Gage and Virginia Adams, former dean of the UNCW School of Nursing. Non-PAG members are Stedman Stevens, CEO of VU Systems and former NHRMC trustee, and Shannon Winslow, strategic account executive for RxBenefits. As of press time, the newly assembled local hospital board had not yet announced its picks for the remaining six spots. “The impact that’s going to have on our community is just remarkable – health care, education, maybe law enforcement, housing, the opioid crisis,” Broadhurst said about the endowment’s potential. “We are going to have open, public meetings and discussions and dialogues way over and above what’s called for in the bylaws because it’s the right thing to do.”

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Coast on in. Coast on out.

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JASON THOMPSON CHAIR, NHRMC BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ason Thompson, a former New Hanover County

and Wilmington city councilman, Jcommissioner was appointed to the hospital trustees board in 2013. He is on his third term, which started in 2019, and served as the board’s chair this year.

WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: It wasn’t just the New Hanover County commissioners who had the authority to sign off or block a deal to sell NHRMC. The hospital’s board of trustees also had to be willing to approve it. Thompson, who served on the PAG this year, headed up the hospital trustees board as chair. On Oct. 1, the trustees voted 16-1 in favor of the asset purchase agreement with Novant Health.

ILM parking is now LOTS better.

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THE BUSINESSPEOPLE AND OFFICIALS HAVING THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE REGIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE.

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CHIP MAHAN CHAIRMAN AND CEO, LIVE OAK BANCSHARES

Live Oak Bank, a subsidiary of Live Oak Bancshares, was founded in 2008 by Chip Mahan in Wilmington. He is also the co-founder of Wilmington-based banking technology firms nCino and Apiture. He leads the firm of about 600 employees.

Ventures, of which Mahan is a managing partner, launched its inaugural $545 million fintech venture fund to support innovation in financial services. VALUE OF PPP LOANS DISBURSED: More than $1.75 billion

WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Helping small businesses weather the COVID-19 economic crisis, Mahan led Live Oak Bank this year as an active player in the SBA’s $525 billion Paycheck Protection Program. Not only did the bank help government officials to design the program, but it also processed more than 11,000 loans across the U.S., with more than 740 loans in Wilmington, before the program closed in August. Locally, as K-12 students returned to remote learning in the fall, Live Oak worked with New Hanover County and New Hanover County Schools to expand free public Wi-Fi points to help get families online who were without access. Live Oak Bank this year was once again the most active SBA 7(a) lender by dollar amount in the country, with nearly $1.5 billion for the 2020 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. And before the pandemic hit, Canapi

Business Center, helping at least 79 businesses through a North Carolina grant program. NEW PROGRAMS LAUNCHED IN FALL 2020: Health and fitness science, public safety administration, and a teacher preparation associate degree program

BRIAN CLARK JIM MORTON PRESIDENT, CFCC

im Morton joined Cape Fear Community College in 2015 as vice president of business and financial services and later became executive vice president. Morton was named the college’s president in 2018 and oversees 1,200 employees. He’s had more than 20 years of leadership experience in industry and economic development sectors.

WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cape Fear Community College’s enrollment continued to grow this summer with a 9.6% increase over last year. The fall term had a slight increase of 1%. As a result of the pandemic, CFCC quickly shifted most of its classes and support services online. The school continues to offer face-to-face and other flexible methods of instruction. CFCC has been assisting area businesses, with the CFCC Small

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PIERRE NAUDÉ CEO, NCINO

ierre Naudé was

key player in Pafounding nCino, a

spinoff of Live Oak Bank, in 2011. On top of his role as CEO, he is also a member of the firm’s board of directors. Naudé has more than 30 years of financial technology experience. He leads nCino’s more than 900 employees. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Naudé is overseeing rapid growth for nCino, a Wilmingtonheadquartered cloud-based financial software firm. The firm launched its IPO on the Nasdaq in July. This fall, Naudé reported that the firm has grown to more than 1,100 financial institution customers worldwide with assets ranging from $30 million to more than $2 trillion. One of the reasons for the company’s move onto the publicly traded market was to expand the fintech firm’s exposure around the world. That growth will not only help globally but with

INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, N.C. PORTS

rian Clark became

executive Bdeputy director of the N.C.

State Ports Authority this year after serving as COO since 2017. He is next in line to lead N.C. Ports after executive director Paul Cozza retires at the end of 2020. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: When Clark takes over as executive director next year, he will lead all port activities and oversee the remaining projects in N.C. Ports’ capital improvement plan. Several of those projects were completed this year, including a second widening of the Port of Wilmington’s turning basin, berth enhancements and a new $14 million refrigerated container yard. Those enhancements helped bring this year the largest container ships on record at the Port of Wilmington. He will help lead other infrastructure improvements in development, including the container terminal master plan and efforts to improve the Wilmington Navigational Harbor. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 220

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the firm’s plan to expand in Wilmington, officials say. nCino also played a role to help banks navigate the Paycheck Protection Program. IPO COMPANY VALUATION: Roughly $7 billion

JOSE SARTARELLI CHANCELLOR, UNCW

ose Sartarelli became

University of Jthe North Carolina

Wilmington’s sixth chancellor in mid-2015 and leads 2,400 employees. Before taking the top UNCW post, he was West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics dean and chief global officer. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Like most institutions and businesses, UNCW has been making adjustments because of the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Despite the pandemic, the university saw record enrollment of nearly 18,000 students in fall 2020, including a record 3,265 graduate students. Learning continued, and the faculty adapted quickly to an online format in the spring and adopted new teaching methods to support in-person, hybrid and online learning for fall 2020. The chancellor and his leadership team have also overseen more than $400 million in campus

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improvements, including new construction and renovations and repairs related to Hurricane Florence in 2018. The new Veterans Hall, funded through a state bond issue, opened this fall and houses the College of Health and Human Services, some programs of the College of Arts and Sciences and resources for militaryaffiliated students. CONTINUED GROWTH: Projects in development include a major Randall Library expansion, a new coastal engineering building and a new dining facility. A new film studies building is expected to open in spring 2021.

JAY WILEMAN

PRESIDENT AND CEO, GE HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY

DAVID SIMMONS CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PPD

avid Simmons

WilmingtonDjoined headquartered PPD

as chairman and CEO in 2012. Prior to his role with the contract research organization, he spent 15 years with Pfizer Inc., his more recent role being president of its emerging markets and established products business. He leads PPD’s global workforce of 25,000 employees across 46 countries. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Simmons has overseen big business transitions and new markets for the global contract research organization CONTINUED p30 B

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ince 2015, Jay Wileman has led the company, which has been based in Wilmington for more than 50 years. He has an extensive career in the nuclear industry.

WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Wileman is leading GE Hitachi into a new era of nuclear technology advancements. The firm reached several milestones this year with its BWRX-300 small modular reactor design, which is being explored for commercialization in the U.S., Canada, Poland, Estonia and the Czech Republic. In October, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $80 million in advanced reactor demonstration funding for Natrium, a technology jointly developed by GE Hitachi and its partner TerraPower. The company, through Global Nuclear Fuel, is making headway on advancements in the nuclear fuel side of the business. In addition, GE Hitachi continues to compete for and win nuclear fuel and services contracts and grow its customer base. CHAIR SPOT: United Way of the Cape Fear Area’s 2020 campaign chair

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RUSS LOPATKA WILMINGTON PLANT MANAGER, CORNING INC. Lopatka took on the Russ role of plant manager of

Wilmington’s optical fiber manufacturing facility in 2019. He began his career with the firm in Wilmington as a process engineer in 2001. He leads a local workforce of about 1,000 employees. WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: In 2020, Corning Inc. marked the 50th anniversary of its invention of low-loss optical fiber, the first of which was manufactured at the company’s plant in Wilmington that launched the age of optical communications. That invention has helped many this year live, learn and work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Wilmington facility, Lopatka helped oversee Corning’s response plans that allowed the plant to continue operating to meet demand and performance objectives while protecting employees from the virus’ spread. Lopatka is also overseeing the continued innovation of products at the local facility, especially those that will help usher the Corning, New York-based company into the world of 5G networks. As these networks grow, demand for optical fiber production is slated to grow. With much of the research and development for optical fiber happening in Wilmington, Lopatka helps with these innovations. CORNING’S TOTAL WORKFORCE: 50,000

PHOTO BY TERAH WILSON

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NEIL UNDERWOOD PARTNER, CANAPI VENTURES

eil Underwood brings his banking experience as a partner of Canapi, a venture capital firm he helped co-found in 2018.

Underwood is also president of Live Oak Bancshares and also co-founded Live Oak Bank, nCino and Apiture. Previously, he was a general manager at S1 Corp. in Atlanta.

WHY HE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: In January, Canapi received $545 million from its institutional investor base to support innovation in financial services. Companies Canapi invested in 2020 include Nova Credit, Moov, Blend, Alloy, Kaika and Greenlight. These companies offer technologies that Underwood said he feels are important as banking operations increasingly move online, he said in a previous interview. CONTINUED FROM p28 this year. He helped PPD pivot business to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. PPD continues to play a role in the development of therapies and vaccines for COVID-19. For its work in that space, PPD has won more than 140 awards for work associated with the virus. In the vaccine work, PPD has been a significant player with Moderna’s vaccine as its CRO partner. In another partnership, PPD helped Gilead Sciences with the first COVID-19 treatment approved by the FDA. The firm also entered into a new three-year agreement with Pfizer Inc. to provide drug

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Canapi’s investment in startups advancing banking technologies was also highlighted this year by the COVID-19 pandemic, where “onboarding and servicing of new

development services. PPD in February began trading on the Nasdaq, returning the firm back to being a public company. PPD LOCAL WORKFORCE: Nearly 1,800

JULIE WILSEY AIRPORT DIRECTOR, WILMINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Wilsey started Julie her role as ILM’s

airport director in 2013. Before joining ILM in 1999, Wilsey was an Army Engineer officer. She has an airport executive accreditation with the American Association of B

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customers through digital channels has become critical on every bank’s roadmap,” he said. OTHER INVOLVEMENTS: GLOW Academy and Camp Schreiber

Airport Executives and has earned an MBA. WHY SHE’S A POWER PLAYER THIS YEAR: Serving the airport for more than two decades, Wilsey has helped ILM recover from a recession and natural disasters, but none could be more unique than the challenge this year navigating the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the airline industry. Coming off a recordbreaking 1 million passengers in 2019, ILM – like other airports – saw its air service take a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of passengers sank in April. Wilsey navigated the tough months at the airport, which is seeing more passengers than in

the spring but is still down from previous years. Wilsey is leading work to restore the airport’s nonstop destinations and overall air service to preCOVID schedules. She has helped ILM secure a $19.8 million CARES Act grant to help carry the airport through the lull in travel. ILM also secured a $21 million FAA grant for its $61 million terminal expansion and renovation project this year. Despite the pandemic, ILM has accelerated some work in the project’s third construction contract, expected to be completed in late 2022. The expansion’s second phase wrapped up this year and included new ticket counters. NUMBER OF ILM EMPLOYEES: 50

IN FLU ENC ERS THE

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THE CHANGEMAKERS, IN FRONT OF OR BEHIND THE SCENES

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and code enforcement functions.

WES CARTER PRESIDENT, ATLANTIC PACKAGING

STEVE ANDERSON OWNER AND DEVELOPER, SAMM PROPERTIES

teve Anderson, who

a career as a Sbegan salesman at an early

age, is perhaps best known for the large amount of office space he’s created in the Wilmington area. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: In addition to having a major impact on the Mayfaire/ Landfall submarket through The Offices at Mayfaire complex, 2020 saw the opening of one of Anderson’s latest developments, Bradley Creek Station on Oleander Drive. Bradley Creek Station is an 80,000-squarefoot project that includes retail space and office condominiums. Tenants include First Carolina Bank and Big Sky Design. Anderson also developed Anderson Square on Oleander Drive, Howe Creek Landing off Military Cutoff Road, The Offices at Airlie and the 17th Street Medical Park. Anderson has developed 420,000 square feet in the Mayfaire/Bradley Creek area and more than 550,000 square feet of additional commercial retail and office space. CAREER START: In the late 1970s, Anderson, a senior at Hoggard High School,

es Carter joined the more than 75-year-old, family-run firm full time in 2002 and assumed the role of president in 2016. He helps lead a team of about 1,400 employees companywide.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Carter is helping lead the firm’s continued expansion of its national footprint, on top of expanding its corporate headquarters facility in Wilmington. Carter led Atlantic Packaging’s team at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the firm’s manufacturing operations, shipping departments and warehouses functioning as an essential business. Throughout this year, the company saw a growing customer base and record sales. The firm made investments in new manufacturing capabilities across the organization. It also committed to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 as a part of its mission to create, support and manage sustainable systems in packaging and commerce. Carter, along with his father and firm CEO Rusty Carter, helped Atlantic Packaging bring to market the first paperboard beverage carrier, a partnership with Fishbone Packaging Inc., to replace single-use plastic beverage carrier rings. Officials completed a 17,300-square-foot expansion and renovation of its corporate headquarters in Wilmington. NO. OF LOCATIONS: 21 bought some Lacoste shirts at a low price from a manufacturing plant in Winston-Salem, and he sold them out of the trunk of his car at lunchtime.

AMY BEATTY

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COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR, CITY OF WILMINGTON

my Beatty, who moved

in AtotheWilmington early 1990s, has

worked in different roles in the city government’s parks and recreation division. In her current position as community services director, she oversees the city’s parks and recreation, community development

WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Despite the changes in gatherings this year, the work Beatty’s office has done is looking to improve Wilmington’s quality-of-life amenities for years to come. The city’s long-planned North Waterfront Park began to take shape this year as construction started in earnest on the 6.6-acre piece of land downtown. The park, at 10 Cowan St. along the Cape Fear River, is planned to include a concert venue and festival space, a playground, a splash pad, trails and other features. Officials have said it should open by next summer. Under Beatty’s direction, the city also secured an agreement with Live Nation to manage the Hugh Morton Amphitheater. On other city-owned recreation areas, the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course has seen record rounds of play this year and is restoring its fund balance after the 2014 course renovations. The city also is building its first new public gymnasium in generations. TREE TARGET: 1,739 – The number of trees the city has a goal of planting by the fall of 2021 to replace ones lost because of storms and development. Beatty said the city is on track to exceed the number, which is a reference to the year Wilmington was incorporated, by February. CONTINUED p35

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elva Jenkins, who previously worked as Brunswick Community College’s vice president of Continuing Education, Economic and Workforce Development, got called out of retirement to lead the YWCA in 2019 – first as interim CEO and then as its official head this year.

VELVA JENKINS CEO, YWCA OF THE LOWER CAPE FEAR

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WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: During a year of social unrest and demonstrations in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, Jenkins became a voice in the community to discuss race relations. She developed the “Talk on Race” series, a virtual discussion about conversations on race. Jenkins also founded a Women on a Mission committee with community leaders, including local representatives from the League of Women Voters, LINC and AKA sorority, with a focus on women’s empowerment and racial justice initiatives in the community. She advocated getting New Hanover County and the city of Wilmington to proclaim the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples Day. Organizationally, the YWCA continued to provide child care for essential workers during the pandemic shutdown and spearheaded a “Block to the Ballot” campaign to register voters and fill out the Census. Jenkins also this year secured a grant from Google to implement YWCA’s STRIVE for a New Beginning, a free professional development program to develop digital skills, entrepreneurship, financial independence, leadership skills and presentation skills for individuals struggling to find and keep living-wage employment to become more competitive in the job market. PLATFORM: Served as a speaker for the YWomenVote 2020 North Carolina Women’s Virtual Town Hall

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ROBERT BURRUS DEAN, UNCW CAMERON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

obert Burrus was named dean of the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Cameron School of Business in 2015. Burrus joined the UNCW faculty in 1998. Before his current position, Burrus was interim dean, associate dean of undergraduate studies and the chair of the department of economics and finance.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: In challenging times, the faculty of the Cameron School of Business, led by Burrus, embraced new technologies in its classrooms and aimed to continue offering business classes. Even with COVID, the school was reaffirmed for AACSB accreditation for business schools. In addition, Cameron was ranked in the top 60 on Poets & Quants’ list of Best Undergraduate Business Schools and was again listed on The Princeton Review’s list of Best Business Schools. The Congdon School of Supply Chain, Business Analytics and Information Systems is developing a master’s program in supply chain management.

STUDENT NUMBERS: In 2020, Cameron School of Business’ enrollment was at an all-time high of more than 2,700 students.

CODY CRESS OWNER, THE CRESS GROUP AT COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL SUN COAST PARTNERS

n addition to being

of The CRESS Iowner Group, Cody Cress is

vice president at Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners and an active investor and developer of commercial real estate. Since joining CBC Sun Coast in

2007, Cress has closed more than 500 transactions. As a commercial real estate adviser, Cress assists and influences businesses to relocate, remain or expand in the Wilmington area. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Cress assisted Pacon Manufacturing with its relocation from New Jersey to Southeastern North Carolina, helping in the economic development project that could yield big returns for the Brunswick County town of Navassa. The company has announced plans to bring 300 jobs and invest more than $30 million at the facility. Pacon is a contract manufacturer for major companies such as Clorox, Revlon, Johnson & Johnson

It’s always a pleasure to recognize the achievement of our clients.

Congratulations to all those recognized in the WilmingtonBiz 100! Your achievements inspire us all. rsmus.com

RSM US LLP is the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms. Visit rsmus.com/aboutus for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International.

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and Burt’s Bees, making wipes, pads, towels and liquids for consumer, industrial and medical industries. CURRENT PROJECT: Cress is working with Renewal by Andersen, Andersen windows affiliate, to expand its operations to the region.

KEN DULL PRESIDENT, MCKINLEY BUILDING CORP.

eginning his construction career in 1985, McKinley “Ken” Dull founded McKinley Building in 1992. Since then, the company has become one of the city’s leading, locally owned commercial builders with more than 300 projects in its portfolio.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Dull has completed and is currently involved in numerous high-profile projects in the Cape Fear region, including finishing Bradley Creek Station, an 80,000-square-foot office and retail building on Oleander Drive, and redoing The Harrelson Center in downtown Wilmington, among many others. This fall, the company started work to add a building to Quality Chemical Laboratories’ campus on Corporate

Drive. Some of McKinley Building’s recently completed work includes Sawmill Point, a downtown Wilmington waterfront apartment community, which sold last year for $65 million. The company also built an $18-million, fivestory parking deck and pedestrian bridge at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. His company has been hired to construct a second parking deck and pedestrian bridge for the hospital. SPACIOUS: McKinley Building built 200,000 square feet of space in six buildings that make up The Offices at Mayfaire.

JEFF EARP PRESIDENT, FUNSTON FARMS, BRUNSWICK FOREST AND FUNSTON CO.

According to an October update to residents from Earp, he is working with builders and other developers on a long-term plan to sell the remaining land of the Brunswick Forest parcel. The update does not say exactly how many developable acres are left of the 4,500acre master planned development in Leland, but it mentions current or future plans for nearly 1,000. Earp is also part of a development team planning an $8.5 million industrial building, the International Commerce Center, in the International Logistics Park of North Carolina, one of two megasites near the Brunswick and Columbus county line. OF NOTE: The International Commerce Center, a spec building, will be the first development in the International Logistics Park.

eff Earp has

himself Jdescribed as a landowner

and farmer who has a construction company. But he was instrumental in the development of the master-planned community Brunswick Forest. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Earp continues to shape Brunswick Forest in northern Brunswick County, with more than 3,000 lots developed.

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BRIAN ECKEL PARTNER, CAPE FEAR COMMERCIAL/ GHK CAPE FEAR DEVELOPMENT

rian Eckel co-

Cape Bfounded Fear Commercial

with Vin Wells in 2001 and has had a major impact on commercial real estate, development and the local business community.

ANNE GARDNER

CEO, CAPE FEAR REALTORS

nne Gardner was hired for

organization’s top post by Athe Cape Fear Realtors officials in 2019. Gardner was previously CEO of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. She has two decades of experience in leadership in real estate associations.

WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Gardner leads an organization with 3,100 Realtor members and earlier this year lobbied to make sure real estate was deemed an essential service by the state during the COVID-19 lockdown. She also led the way for CFR’s Safe Showing Pledge, making sure members pledged to hold safe home showings during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the housing market nationally and locally recovered quickly in 2020 and went back to breaking records again in the summer, with double-digit increases year-over-year. This summer, the group published the first in a series of white papers and public comments on land use, housing affordability, environmental stewardship and economic development. SPEAKING OF SAFETY: The first trade group Gardner worked for was the American Industrial Hygiene Association, which was all about worker health and safety.

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WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: This year, Cape Fear Commercial (CFC) has avoided layoffs while increasing revenue in the midst of a pandemic, and the team worked with hundreds of landlords and tenants on mutually agreeable rent deferments. Eckel also helped grow CFC’s property management portfolio to over 3 million square feet and surpassed $2 billion in brokerage volume. GHK Cape Fear Development has more than 1,000 apartment units and more than $125 million under development in 2020. As a New Hanover Regional Medical Center trustee and Partnership Advisory Group (PAG) member, Eckel participated in the NHRMC and NovantUNC deal. As a Wilmington Chamber of Commerce board member, Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association board member, Business Alliance for a Sound Economy board member and member of Cape Fear Realtors, Eckel has helped unify the organizations to work together. CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDE: Redevelopment of the New Hanover County Government Center into a mixed-use project; Autumn Hall mixed-use; Echo Farms single-family residential development and 176-unit townhome community

LUCIEN ELLISON SENIOR MANAGING PARTNER, EAST WEST PARTNERS

ucien Ellison has

a real estate Lbeen professional in the

Cape Fear region since 2005. His expertise includes mixed-use development, single-family neighborhood development and residential general contracting. In 2015, he joined East West Partners as the Wilmington partner and project manager for River Place. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: River Place, a mixed-use community with condominiums, apartments, retail and parking located on the Cape Fear River, is one of the biggest projects downtown Wilmington has ever seen. River Place has activated Water Street between Chestnut and Grace streets, replacing a defunct parking garage from the 1960s. The project has also been the catalyst for other recent projects in downtown Wilmington. Ellison is also involved in the nearly complete Common Desk Wilmington, a coworking office space on Front Street in downtown Wilmington. Other upcoming Wilmington projects for East West Partners include Project Indigo and Project Gateway, which is expected to bring office, retail and residential space along with the possibility of a grocery

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store to downtown.

of Commerce.

SOUTHPORT PROJECT: Project Indigo is a nearly 400-acre, $565 million development planned by East West and Bald Head Island Limited.

WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: English has directed several initiatives and advocacy campaigns this year, on top of creating innovative ways to keep the chamber running and find funding in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled many of the organization’s events. At the start of the pandemic in the spring, English led chamber efforts to advocate with government officials about what should be defined as an essential business. She also helped different industry sectors navigate through governmentimposed restrictions on businesses. English led her team to maximize chamber

NATALIE ENGLISH PRESIDENT AND CEO, WILMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

atalie English became

and CEO Npresident of the Wilmington

Chamber of Commerce in 2017. She has been a chamber executive for more than 20 years, including previously with the Charlotte Chamber

resources to help in business recovery efforts. She is also working with regional economist Adam Jones to develop a program for business and community leaders to reflect on the region’s past economic scorecards and ways to help affect a postCOVID economic recovery. The chamber organized an educational campaign during the exploration period for potential partnerships for New Hanover Regional Medical Center. English also helped launch the Latin American Business Council this year. OTHER WORK: Member of the N.C. Chamber’s Destination 2030 Coalition; co-chair of the Wilmington’s Clean Energy Task Force

TERRY ESPY PRESIDENT, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE AND MOMENTUM COMPANIES

resident of MoMentum

Terry PCompanies, Espy’s career in real

estate development and brokerage spans more than 30 years. She was named president of Wilmington’s Downtown Business Alliance in 2016. WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: In her Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) role, Espy has helped lead efforts to support downtown business owners through the COVID-19 pandemic,

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including pushing for closed streets and parklets, which are blocked-off parking spaces, to allow restaurants to expand their outdoor space. The effort, dubbed Downtown Alive, continued from the summer through November with Espy’s help and contributions. Espy also keeps downtown business owners in the loop on the latest news. Throughout downtown, she has coordinated the sale or lease of numerous historical properties for tech and business service companies and has continued her work with commercial real estate projects in the area while also leading DBA. FOOD FACT: She played a role in drawing Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria, a restaurant by celebrity chef Vivian Howard, to the South Front redevelopment project.

THE TRASK FAMILY

communities – one on 159 acres at the northeast quadrant of the interchange of Interstate 40 and Interstate 140 and one on 350 acres at the southeast quadrant – would include apartments, single-family homes and townhomes. The Trask Family has a history of providing the land that becomes home sites in the area. In the 1950s, the family purchased land that would one day become a master-planned, mixed-use development on Eastwood Road called Autumn Hall, now considered a soughtafter address in the region that’s growing. Members of the Trask Family started out as farmers. Over the years, they used their farmland to enter the development industry, with Raiford Graham Trask Sr. creating major subdivisions throughout Wilmington. Raiford Graham Trask Sr.’s son and grandson, Raiford Trask Jr. and Raiford Trask III, respectively, have developed Autumn Hall and other current and forthcoming projects in the Cape Fear region.

he Trask Family can trace its roots in the Cape Fear region back to the 18th century, later making a name for themselves as successful lettuce farmers and then landowners and prominent developers.

NUMBER OF NOTE: Trask Land has developed more than 500 residential lots since 2010.

WHY THEY’RE INFLUENCERS THIS YEAR: Trask Land Co. in 2020 revealed plans for two communities on more than 500 acres owned for decades by the Trask Family. Trask Land Co. officials envision that the

JOE FINLEY

CO-FOUNDER, CASTLEBRANCH

oe Finley is the co-

of the local Jfounder background screening

RHONDA BELLAMY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE ARTS COUNCIL OF WILMINGTON / NEW HANOVER COUNTY

honda Bellamy has served as executive director of the arts council since it formed in 2012. She has more than 20 years of experience in broadcast news. Bellamy was previously the news director for Cumulus Media’s five-station radio cluster in Wilmington and hosted a daily talk show. She hosts the art- and culture-based show “Around Town with Rhonda Bellamy” on WHQR. WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Bellamy has played a key role this year in pushing for the Wilmington Rail Trail, a proposal to develop a multimodal project for the downtown rail corridor between North Third and McRae streets. The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Friends of the Wilmington Rail Trail began a master plan, funded by the WMPO and a donation from the arts council. The plan intends to look at how to use the former Atlantic Coast Line rail bed corridor for bicycles, pedestrians and potentially passenger rail service. This fall, proponents, including Bellamy, wrapped up a public survey on the trail so that a Raleighbased consulting firm can finalize the master plan. The trail’s also envisioned to include public art exhibits, such as sculptures and murals. “We always wanted this to be a community effort, and longtime residents of the Northside neighborhood are very excited,” Bellamy said. “They know the value of a park in that area.” IN POLITICS: Bellamy also organized, along with UNCW’s CIE, an elections forum this year with local and state candidates.

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PAUL KAMITSUKA INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN, WILMINGTON HEALTH

aul Kamitsuka is a nationally recognized infectious disease expert, who has been performing infectious disease consultations for 38 years and locally for 26 years. He is boardcertified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. WHY HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: In his role as an infectious disease physician for Wilmington Health and chief epidemiologist for NHRMC, Kamitsuka has been a voice of authority during the coronavirus pandemic. He has advocated for COVID-19 preventions this year, speaking to the media as well as on public service announcements and Zoom interviews to relay info on safety measures and updates on the impact on the community from the virus. Kamitsuka has provided direct care to COVID-19 patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. While Kamitsuka performs clinical medicine daily, he also is a lecturer on various topics in infectious diseases in the Harvard system. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Kamitsuka graduated from Harvard Medical School and did his internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.

PHOTO BY TERAH WILSON

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CONTINUED FROM p39 company CastleBranch and the startup coworking space tekMountain. He also helped create Connected by Cause, a platform that highlights people and organizations making a difference in underserved communities. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: While Finley helped grow CastleBranch for over 23 years, a company with about 460 employees, he is now focusing his efforts on advocating for the Wilmington community through Connected by Cause and other organizations. In 2020, Finley joined the board of Cape Fear Collective, a nonprofit that uses data and social innovation to highlight and address social issues

in the region. In the business community, Finley is centered on diversity and inclusion, especially considering Wilmington's troublesome racial past, he said. Finley has supported Tracey and Girard Newkirk, founders of Genesis Block, a coworking space in downtown Wilmington, with a focus on Black business owners/entrepreneurs. This year, through Finley’s backing, CastleBranch and tekMountain partnered with Genesis Block to create an app to assist Black-owned businesses, also including a $50,000 investment. OTHER 2020 INVOLVEMENTS: Northside Food Co-op, Wilmington on Fire: Chapter II, WARM capital campaign

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JIM FLECHTNER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CFPUA

im Flechtner was

to executive Jpromoted director in 2013,

previously serving the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority as chief operations officer. He leads an organization of more than 300 employees and a $90 million annual operation budget. He is set to retire next summer. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Flechtner led CFPUA’s efforts to adapt operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as keeping the Wilmington area’s water

and sewer services running uninterrupted. Flechtner has also overseen the organization’s progress on several key projects this year. CFPUA completed its Northern Water Mains Project, a $4.5 million installation that increased capacity to northern New Hanover County. The utility also made upgrades to its filter membrane technology at the Richardson Water Treatment Plant. The utility has made progress on its $43 million addition of deep-bed granular activated carbon filters at Sweeney Water Treatment to reduce PFAS, such as GenX, in raw water and construction on an additional raw water line to increase capacity. The raw water line is being built in

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partnership with Brunswick County and the Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority. CFPUA’S SERVICE REACH IN NEW HANOVER COUNTY: 200,000 people

CHARLES FOUST SUPERINTENDENT, NEW HANOVER COUNTY SCHOOLS

harles Foust started as head of the New Hanover County school system in September, moving from Kansas City, where he had served as superintendent of the Kansas district.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS

YEAR: Though he’s new to the area, as head of the region’s largest school system, Foust jumped into the job during shut-down schools and a shift to remote, online learning for 26,500 students in the district. He led the partial reopening of schools – at the direction of the county’s school board – for two days a week for students, in conjunction with public health officials to monitor local COVID-19 data. Foust worked with the district’s transportation department to help develop bus routes with health considerations and supported the child nutrition and transportation departments to deliver and prepare more than a million

meals to New Hanover County students during the pandemic. Current focuses include working with the school system’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee for students to receive the same educational experience and have access to adequate resources and technology. Another focus is “increasing transparency and accountability utilizing various communication tools and programs such as Ethix360,” an online reporting form as the system grapples with allegations of sexual abuse cases. TEAM NUMBERS: With nearly 4,200 employees, the school system is one of the largest employers in the county.

JOHNNY GRIFFIN DIRECTOR, WILMINGTON REGIONAL FILM COMMISSION

erving and supporting

region’s film Sthe industry for more

than three decades, Johnny Griffin became director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission in 1999. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Griffin’s activities have helped the region secure hundreds of jobs in and related to filming productions and help bring in millions in wages, goods and services generated by the industry each year.

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11/19 • ECA-512437

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He led the Wilmington area into a potentially strong film year, with several projects filming and others pending arrival in the spring. For six months, the area experienced a lull in activity because of the coronavirus, while Griffin and other film leaders worked to prepare for the return of the industry. Filming restarted in September under new COVID-19 protocols. Griffin helped area projects with what they needed to run sets and film under new guidelines. Several productions, including two television series Hightown and This Country and a feature film, Scream 5, started work. And the momentum is slated to continue, as Griffin expects other projects to arrive before the end of the year to start filming in 2021.

This year, officials expect to be in the range of about $65 million in direct spending from Wilmingtonarea productions. But despite the break in productions this year, Griffin projects that the area’s 2020 production spending will exceed expenditure levels of 2016, 2017 and 2018. WILMINGTON’S 2019 FILM PROJECTS DIRECT SPENDING: Over $130 million

KIM HUFHAM PRESIDENT AND CEO, NEW HANOVER COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

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eading an agency that does business as Wilmington and Beaches CVB, Kim Hufham has faced disasters before. They’ve come in the form of hurricanes, but 2020 provided a bigger challenge, bringing a global pandemic that shut tourism down for several months.

WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Hufham steered the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau to tourism recovery efforts, helping shift its market focus to adapt and made sure it served as a source of information and resources for those in the industry. The CVB also kept visitors informed of status changes and safety protocols in the Wilmington area, conducted

a visitor research study and released results to the community, secured grants for recovery marketing and partnered with VisitNC on safety programs, including Count On Me NC, among other accomplishments. BIG BUCKS: Visitor spending in New Hanover County generated nearly $659 million in 2019.

CHRIS ISENHOUR PHYSICIAN, NOVANT HEALTH

hris Isenhour is

leader Cphysician for Novant Health

Oceanside Family Medicine

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and Convenient Care, is board certified in family medicine and graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: This year, Isenhour led his clinic to serve as Brunswick County’s primary COVID-19 screening and respiratory assessment center. The location tested nearly 8,000 patients on top of regularly seeing more than 300 patients daily. In the spring, Isenhour quickly supported the idea to house the county’s busiest testing location and helped make arrangements to relocate staff parking to accommodate the testing areas, arrange for tents and testing supplies, and rearrange provider and

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clinician schedules. He ensured his team had proper PPE, instruction and the support to serve the community. For the clinic, which has been open since 2006, Isenhour has helped grow it from two providers in 2006 to 16 now, with additional services including ultrasound, X-ray, pulmonary, sleep medicine and occupational health services. The clinic also has been designated as a patientcentered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Respected by other physicians in the community, Isenhour has mentored dozens of physicians, physician assistants and nurse

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practitioners who have worked alongside him over the years. PATIENT LOAD: Annually, the clinic sees more than 50,000 patients.

ADAM JONES REGIONAL ECONOMIST, UNCW SWAIN CENTER

dam Jones took on

role of regional Athe economist for the

University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Swain Center in 2015. Before working on his Ph.D. in economics, Jones was the director of economic development with the Covington/Newton County

Chamber of Commerce in Georgia. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Jones helped coordinate the Cameron School of Business’ technical response to the online pivot as a result of COVID-19. He also continued to help support the community through information requests and presentations in a virtual format. His responsibilities included business recruitment, retentionand expansion of existing businesses and public policy development. As the region grappled with the shutdown and then partial reopening of the economy, Jones has helped provide local data on the rapid changes and context to

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what might be ahead. Current projects he’s involved with include examining the economic impact of NCDOT’s super streets design; supporting the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s Scorecard initiative in its COVIDaltered version; and supporting Cape Fear Collective’s initiatives where possible. IN HIS WORDS: “I prefer to think of my impacts as facilitating others’ good work. If I can stir creative thought and new perspectives, then I have made my contribution.”

SABRINA SELLS WILMINGTON MARKET PRESIDENT, NORTH STATE BANK

MIKE KOZLOSKY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WILMINGTON URBAN AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

ike Kozlosky joined the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) in November 2004 and serves as its executive director, leading a staff of 12 people. At the WMPO, he has been responsible for completing many short- and long-range transportation planning efforts for the region.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Kozlosky oversaw the WMPO’s completion of Cape Fear Moving Forward 2045, which is the blueprint for the region’s multi-modal transportation infrastructure over the next 25 years.

abrina Sells has 31 years of experience in the banking industry, including work at NewBridge Bank and currently as the market president at North State Bank, which has been helping small businesses by providing Paycheck Protection Program loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sells has also been on the Wilmington Business Development (WBD) Board of Directors for six years. WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: In 2020, Sells was selected as the chair of WBD’s board, becoming the first woman to hold this position at the organization.

This plan includes project and policy recommendations for aviation; bicycle and pedestrian; ferry and water transportation; freight and freight rail; public transportation; and roadways. It’s the culmination of more than two years of planning for

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She moved to Wilmington in 1990 and became involved with the economic development group, which represents New Hanover and Pender counties. The WBD has aggressive goals this year toward attracting, relocating and retaining businesses in New Hanover and Pender counties, especially on New Hanover County’s Blue Clay Road site and in the Pender Commerce Park, Sells said. “I would like to see quality employers locating there,” she said. Under her leadership, Sells works to strengthen partner relationships with CFCC, UNCW and other local organizations to provide a business network and attract more businesses to the region. PENNAME: Sells has published two mystery novels.

the region’s future. That plan will be used by federal, state and local governments to guide transportation projects and help secure funding for those projects in the coming decades. WMPO also was instrumental in getting the funding for Padgett Station,

WAVE Transit’s downtown transfer station that opened early this year. He helped develop the Wilmington Rail Trail master plan in conjunction with local and state officials. And despite funding issues at the state level, Kozlosky helped work with transportation officials W I N T E R 2020

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to continue planning for the future construction of the Hampstead Bypass. He is a member of the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Board. WMPO PLANNING AREA: Nearly 500 square miles

DAVID MICHAEL VICE PRESIDENT AND CEO-WILMINGTON, CLANCY & THEYS CONSTRUCTION CO.

avid Michael, who

working for the Dstarted firm more than three

decades ago, manages Clancy & Theys Construction Co.’s Wilmington Division that for

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36 years has built, renovated and restored many of the most significant buildings in Wilmington and surrounding communities. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Under Michael’s leadership, Clancy & Theys has committed to having the most advanced technology and tools available in the construction industry. According to the firm, Clancy & Theys is focused on harnessing the power of technology to continuously improve the construction services it provides to owners and designers. Since its establishment in 1984, the Wilmington division of Clancy & Theys has completed more than $1 billion

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worth of construction in Southeastern North Carolina. CURRENT PROJECTS: In addition to the many projects completed downtown, the firm is currently working on the city’s North Waterfront Park, the Aloft Hotel and Coastline Convention Center renovations and the Flats on Front apartment complex overlooking the river and the park.

TIM MILAM PRESIDENT, COLDWELL BANKER SEA COAST ADVANTAGE

im Milam has led Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage and the Advantage Family of Companies to its rank as the No. 1 Coldwell Banker company in the United States.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Under Milam’s leadership, Sea Coast Advantage has continued its path of growth through recruiting and acquisition. This year and during the pandemic, Sea Coast Advantage surpassed $2 billion in closed sales for the second time. In conjunction with recent mergers, several new offices have also been added to the company’s roster, most recently a downtown Wilmington office at 200 N. Front St.

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According to the firm, Milam’s efforts to attract and retain the most talented agents and employees are always a top priority. Aside from his role as president and owner of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, Milam has served in numerous capacities on boards and committees over the years. Currently, he serves on the board and as treasurer of Wilmington Business Development; as chairman of Business Alliance for a Sound Economy’s board; and on the WilmingtonCape Fear Home Builders Association’s board. UP NEXT: Additional offices are scheduled to open soon in Emerald Isle and Boiling Spring Lakes.

JOHN MONTEITH CEO, MONTEITH CONSTRUCTION CORP.

ohn Monteith founded Monteith Construction Corp. in Charlotte in 1998, and the firm opened a Wilmington office in 2005.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Monteith Construction has continued building throughout the Cape Fear region in 2020. Projects such as the Wilmington International Airport terminal expansion, the renovations of Noble Middle and Wrightsville

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Beach Elementary schools and the New Hanover County Health and Human Services building, as well as an additional mixed-use building at Riverlights, a 1,400-acre planned community on River Road, have all had an impact on the growth and development in this area. In addition to his role as the company’s CEO, Monteith founded the Camp Schreiber Foundation in 2010 to help young men of superior need, ambition, ability and character develop into college-educated leaders. EMPLOYEE COUNT: Monteith has more than 100 full-time employees.

JOHN NICHOLS DIRECTOR, BRUNSWICK COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITIES

ohn Nichols started

role as director of Jhis Brunswick County

Public Utilities in early 2017. He worked for Brunswick County for more than 10 years as assistant director of public utilities. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Nichols is leading a $129 million expansion at the county’s Northwest Water Treatment Plant and a reverse osmosis water treatment project. The utility also initiated the $48 million

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construction of the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, along with other expansions at plants in the county. In response to GenX contamination in the Cape Fear River, Brunswick County is installing advanced water treatment technology. Nichols also led efforts to merge the city of Northwest’s and the town of Navassa’s water and sewer utilities with the county. The utility has worked with Columbus County and economic developers to bring water and wastewater infrastructure projects to two major industrial parks along U.S. 74/76. He leads the utility to work actively with Brunswick Business and Industry Development on other projects to provide

water and wastewater service to new and existing facilities. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 132

CHAD PAUL CEO, BALD HEAD ISLAND LIMITED LLCMITCHELL FAMILY CORP.

had Paul previously was a partner at Arnolt Partners LLC, a private equity firm headquartered in Indianapolis. He is a second-generation legacy owner of Commercial Realty Co., founded in 1972. He also worked in the investment banking industry, principally specializing in the distressed securities area.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Paul leads the entity that is the principal developer and resort operator of Bald Head Island, an island resort that’s 3 miles off the southern coast of Southport in Brunswick County and contains some of the highest-priced real estate in North Carolina. In 2020, Paul, along with officials from development partner East West Partners, announced Project Indigo, a nearly 400-acre, $565 million development planned on an important piece of property near Southport. Paul also currently serves as managing partner of Harbor Island Partners LLC, a private equity firm headquartered in

Wilmington since 2000. LONG RUN: Paul said Project Indigo would be a 10- to 15year transaction.

CHRIS RAMM COO, TAYLOR DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC

hris Ramm has been in the commercial real estate industry for 24 years. He became COO of Taylor Development Group in 2018, tasked with growing the firm’s office and industrial portfolio. He formed Ramm Capital Partners in 2019 and is

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SERVED BY

The Power Breakfast Series is a quarterly gathering of the business community and other community leaders to talk about issues of interest to our region. Each breakfast features a panel discussion or individual speaker focusing on topics of interest to local companies. The breakfasts provide a unique networking opportunity since they are attended by a range of influential people including busines owners, executives, community leaders and many others.

Want to plug into the Power? Become a Power Breakfast sponsor! Sponsors are recognized before and during each event and have a table up front. Learn about sponsorship options by contacting Maggi Apel at mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com. Note: Power Breakfasts continue bringing important topics to the community through Covid by following the gathering restrictions and broadcasting the events online.

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CONTINUED FROM p48 manager of that entity, which aims to enable new development projects and strategic partnerships while diversifying risk for Taylor Development Group. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Ramm is currently involved in two projects that will bring new industrial space to the Wilmington area. He helped bring the first modern industrial building in the region in over a decade, a 127,000-square-foot spec building in the Pender Commerce Park, to promote local business growth and help attract jobs to the area. Working alongside economic developers and a development team, he is planning another spec building in the countyowned industrial park. The

design process is ongoing, and the land purchase could close in early 2021. The building is anticipated to be completed late next year to offer more versatility and functionality than its predecessor project. Ramm is also leading efforts to expand the group’s Wilmington office portfolio with another property slated to close in early 2021. PAST RENOVATIONS: Landfall Park North; Landfall Park South; and Third and Grace streets building

CHRIS REID PRESIDENT AND COO, THOMAS CONSTRUCTION GROUP

fter graduating from Auburn University, Chris Reid went to work for Miller Building Corp. He then went to work for several major contractors before returning to Wilmington to start Thomas Construction Group in 2005.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Thomas Construction this year worked on or is currently working on the Pender County Courthouse renovation; two UNCW projects; Kerr Avenue student living project Uncommon Lofts; the renovation of Atlantic Packaging; the new addition to Garden Flats at Autumn Hall; and the Friends School expansion. With 65 full-time employees, Thomas is poised for growth and continues to hire local tradesmen. As a locally owned

company, Thomas Construction and Reid invest in the local economy to help grow Wilmington’s future. PERSONAL NOTE: Reid is part of several local clubs and chapters.

DANE SCALISE GENERAL COUNSEL, GRIFFIN-ESTEP BENEFIT GROUP INC.

ane Scalise joined the

Benefit DGriffin-Estep Group in March. He

was appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory to serve as deputy commissioner of the N.C. Industrial Commission from 2016-2020 but resigned two years early to get back into the private sector. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER

ELECTED OFFICIALS’ MAJOR MOVES While elected government officials were not included in the WilmingtonBiz 100, they without a doubt have a large impact on the community. COVID-19 RESPONSE: In efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus, governments at the state and local level implemented restrictions and guidelines, as well as increased testing efforts this year. New Hanover County significantly expanded its diagnostic testing program in April, and New Hanover County Public Health is continuing

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its outreach testing events throughout the fall at various sites (drive-thru testing site shown from earlier this year above). While the state of North Carolina is currently going through a multiphased approach, which included a

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“Stay at Home” order during the start of the pandemic, local governments also established their own actions. While many of those restrictions are currently lifted, the closures, including of businesses, has meant economic hardships for business

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THIS YEAR: Scalise serves as chair of Wilmington Downtown Inc.’s board and vice president of the New Hanover County Bar Association. This year, he played a role in WDI’s Re-3 grant program to provide funding to help 40 businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. Scalise also is filling the interim role to run WDI after Ed Wolverton left the CEO post at the end of July. He has also helped establish a search committee to fill the position. In the meantime, he is leading WDI efforts to help downtown and the Municipal Services District address needs and serve the overall business community still weathering the pandemic. At Griffin-Estep, Scalise assisted companies

attempting to understand how employee benefits would be impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, as well as obligations under legislation, such as the CARES Act. TOTAL WDI RE-3 GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS: $113,000

LINDA THOMPSON CHIEF DIVERSITY AND EQUITY OFFICER, NEW HANOVER COUNTY

inda Thompson

to the area 37 Lmoved years ago and was

with the Wilmington Police Department for decades before moving to her new position with the county this year. She received

owners. Local businesses were able to apply for grants from New Hanover County through the Small Business Economic Incentive Grant Program in which 130 local small businesses each received $10,000 grants. Through federal funding, the county also created the COVID-19 Child Care and Housing Assistance program. NEW HANOVER COUNTY: Much like last year, one of the most pressing decisions for county commissioners was New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s future. County commissioners in October approved a deal to sell the county-owned health system to Novant Health. Other items on the county’s agendas this year included conveying more than 14 acres of county-owned property to Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity for a workforce housing development, establishing an Office of

her bachelor’s degree in communications and broadcasting and a master’s in conflict management and resolution from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: After working for the Wilmington Police Department in public relations for 25 years and making connections throughout the community, Thompson this year became New Hanover County’s first-ever chief diversity and equity officer. Since starting the office in late August, she established a virtual town hall for the deaf and hard of hearing community; created Pastor’s HUB, a monthly virtual information meeting on county services and programs; and initiated county COVID-19

Diversity and Equity and continuing plans to redevelop its Government Center with the approval of a development agreement with Cape Fear FD Stonewater. CITY OF WILMINGTON: The Gateway, a $90 million mixed-use development project in downtown Wilmington, was put on hold for now due to the coronavirus. This year, a Superior Court in the state found that the city’s registration system for short-term rentals conflicted with state law. In November, the city filed an appeal in the lawsuit challenging the city’s short-term rental ordinance. BRUNSWICK COUNTY: In October, Brunswick County’s Planning and Parks and Recreation departments announced a new initiative called Blueprint Brunswick 2040. County

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testing sites in minority communities. She was named co-chair of the Regional Racial & Social Justice Task Force, between New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Duplin counties. One focus is recruiting minority- and womenowned businesses for the county’s vendor list. She’s currently conducting New Hanover County’s first diversity and equity assessment and launching the county’s Employees Diversity & Equity Committee. Thompson also serves as staff adviser for the newly formed Commission for Women. TRAINING FOCUS: Thompson developed implicit bias training curriculum for the county’s more than 1,800 employees.

residents can voice their opinions on the future use of land use and parks and recreation. Brunswick County commissioners authorized staff with Brunswick BID to apply to the N.C. Department of Commerce for assistance with Project Touchdown, an economic development effort to help a manufacturer expand its facility. PENDER COUNTY: This year, Pender County commissioners continued supporting efforts to bring more developments to the county. In October it agreed to sell county-owned land to allow for a speculative building at Pender Commerce Park. It would be the second development in the industrial park. Also, Pender County Utilities received $20 million in state funding to build a reverse osmosis water treatment plant. -JOHANNA CANO

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DONNY WILLIAMS CHIEF, WILMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Wilmington native, Donny Williams has worked for the Wilmington Police Department for nearly 30 years, starting as a summer youth worker and rising through the ranks.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: After former chief Ralph Evangelous retired in February, Williams was named interim chief. In July, Williams was named police chief. In a year of civil unrest and national protests about racial justice and police reforms, Williams guided the department through the issues. On his first official day as chief, Williams fired three veteran officers who

BILL VASSAR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, EUE/SCREEN GEMS STUDIOS

ill Vassar leads

aspects of the BallWilmington operation

of EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, including marketing, sales, operations and finance. He has served a top role with the studio’s New York-based parent company for more than 20 years. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: Vassar led efforts to oversee the challenges that came with the pandemic’s

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were recorded on a police car camera using racial slurs and threats of violence. Williams said he has this year led “an internal cultural reset for the WPD,” including implementing project ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement). The program, in partnership with Georgetown University

impacts on the film industry this year. His efforts helped keep the studio’s team on payroll during the crisis and committed to creating a new way to work by implementing health and safety protocols. During restrictions due to the pandemic, management and accounting teams worked remotely while lighting and maintenance teams rotated workdays to upgrade stages, offices and grounds. Productions came back to EUE/Screen Gems Studios in September. Vassar led efforts to quickly reopen the Wilmington studios, making it one of the first locations in the U.S. to return to work post-shutdown. EUE/Screen Gems was at 90% percent capacity in October, with B

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Law Center, is one of the first to be offered by police departments in the country and involves training for those in the Wilmington Police Department on ways to intervene if they see any employee making mistakes including officer misconduct. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 350

several productions filming projects, including two television series. Officials expect to remain nearly full into the spring of 2021. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: Under 50

TREY WALLACE PRESIDENT, INTRACOASTAL REALTY CORP.

rey Wallace is a native

area TofwhothewasWilmington introduced to real estate sales and development at a young age through his father, Jim Wallace, founder and CEO of Intracoastal Realty Corp. Graduating from

East Carolina University, he acquired a real estate license in 2010, and over the next couple of years worked as a sales agent in Intracoastal’s Lumina Station office. WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: In 2013, Trey Wallace made a transition into the company’s management team, with a focus on operations. Since that time, he has acquired management experience in sales, operations and accounting, marketing, rentals and even real estate development. These days, as president, he has taken on much of the leadership aspects of the company, which is one of the largest residential real estate firms in Wilmington. NO. OF AGENTS: About 400 Realtors

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CYNTHIA WALSH CEO, BRUNSWICK COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

ynthia Walsh has held

role of CEO of the Cthe Brunswick County

Association of Realtors since 2015. WHY SHE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: When COVID-19 came along, the Brunswick County Association of Realtors (BCAR) switched to a virtual office environment in 24 hours – without affecting its ability to provide its 1,200 members with the same level of service. Walsh recently completed

the National Designation for Commitment to Excellence and is scheduled to take the exam for the international designation of Certified Association Executive in December. She led the design and launch of a new, updated BCAR website and digitized all forms and applications. Additionally, BCAR applied for and was awarded an Innovation Grant through NC Realtors to create a “Realtors Vote” campaign to encourage Realtors and others engaged in the real estate profession to vote. MORE ON THE GRANT: “My goal was to create a model that could be adapted to any association, and luckily, I partnered with Pioneer Strategies Marketing to make all of this come to life,” Walsh said.

LEE WILLIAMS BOARD VICE CHAIRMAN, LIVE OAK BANCSHARES

ne of the original founders of the bank, Lee Williams serves as the company’s vice chairman. Before Live Oak, Williams spent 19 years in corporate banking at Wachovia and 14 years at Vine Street Financial in SBA lending.

WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER THIS YEAR: A more behind-thescenes influencer than some of the other founders of Live Oak Bank, Williams has helped connect people in the community for years, having lived in the area for decades.

This year – besides the work Live Oak did to disperse the new Paycheck Protection Program and to land again at the top of the country’s list of SBA lenders in terms of dollar amount – Williams also was active in the local community. He serves on the New Hanover County Airport Authority and its finance committee. In that role, he worked with the airport’s staff on a three-year, $80 million expansion project. He also assisted with helping the airport weather the impacts of COVID-19 on the air travel industry and the associated financial management of the airport. OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Voyage board member, JDRF, StepUp Wilmington and Camp Schreiber

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IN NOV ATO RS THE

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THE DISRUPTORS SHAKING THINGS UP AND GETTING THE REGION TO SEE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY

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CHRIS BABCOCK

PHILIP DATTILO JR.

CEO, APITURE

PRESIDENT, TRIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES

hris Babcock joined the

hilip Dattilo team in 2019 as CApiture purchased TMA in P chief technology officer 2014, having worked (CTO), now serving as the CEO of the company whose platforms support the digital banking services of banks and credit unions. Babcock brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services technology to Apiture including as co-founder of the Americas office of Clear2Pay where he served as CTO.

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: In 2020, Babcock helped Apiture close on a $20 million funding round in July. Company officials said at the time that the funding would be used to “accelerate development of transformative digital banking technologies.” During this year he continued to grow the Apiture team with the hiring of over 25 employees. Under his leadership, the Apiture team is working on continuing to innovate on its platforms, which include Apiture Xpress and Apiture Open, and getting products to market faster for its clients, Babcock said. This year, the company also launched Live Oak Bank’s new business banking experience, including enhanced banking capabilities that the company also provides to banks across the country. NO. OF APITURE EMPLOYEES: 209

with the clinical research management firm since 2011. He has a history in the pharmaceutical world, starting work in the industry with PPD in 2004. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Dattilo has been leading local COVID-19 vaccination trials in the global race to find a safe and viable vaccine. His firm was chosen this year by a leading national biotech company to help develop a vaccine. Trial Management Associates (TMA) was selected as one of 10 sites nationwide for Phase 2 trials of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, an early frontrunner in the pursuit of a vaccine. Following a successful Phase 2 rollout, Moderna again selected TMA as a site for Phase 3 trials. The work provided a potential vaccine to local health care workers, teachers, first responders, restaurant workers and other members of the community who volunteered for the trials. And TMA has more future COVID-19 vaccine trials, both Phase 2 and 3, slated to start soon and into early 2021. Dattilo is also looking to CONTINUED p57

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ANNE BRENNAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAMERON ART MUSEUM nne Brennan became head of the Cameron Art Museum in 2011 after working for years at the facility, first as a volunteer and later as a curator and registrar of collections.

WHY SHE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: For nearly six months, the Cameron Art Museum’s sprawling building in midtown sat empty – except for a flock of oversized inflatable rubber ducks that became social media mascots in the spring when gathering restrictions shut down CAM and other local museums down. Brennan and her team responded quickly to the new virtual-only operations and tried several online offerings and events to continue connecting with the community. They launched #ConnectwithCAM in March as an online initiative featuring family programs, meditation, art lessons for students and videos about the museum’s exhibition and collections. Brennan hosted livestreams from the museum’s “vault” collections and interviews with artists. And they added on from there, continuing new programming after being able to reopen in September when state restrictions eased. Virtual art classes and seminars continue. $50,000: How much CAM lost monthly while closed to visitors

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BROOKE BLOOMQUIST PRESIDENT, BLUE SHARK VODKA

rooke Bloomquist, who has a master’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Nevada, worked in the hospitality and music industry before opening up the Blue Shark Vodka distillery in Wilmington.

WHY SHE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: June 2020 marked one year in operation for Blue Shark Vodka as a distillery, and in that one year, even with COVID-19 challenges, Blue Shark Vodka saw exponential growth. As president and head distiller of Blue Shark Vodka, Bloomquist carved a way for Blue Shark to become the flagship distillery in Wilmington and one of the few female-operated craft spirits organizations with the teamwork of the whole Bloomquist family. Bloomquist led the company as distribution grew from mostly local in New Hanover County to availability at all North Carolina ABC stores. With little distilling experience, Bloomquist got her master distiller’s license before starting Blue Shark with her family. One of the greatest accomplishments in 2020 for the distillery was the announcement of a Platinum SIP Award win for Blue Shark Vodka. The next goal: to take the brand national. FISH TALE: The biggest ongoing project for Bloomquist is shark conservation. This summer, the distillery partnered with the Atlantic Shark Institute to fund an ocean marker with a receiver that tracks tagged sharks.

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CONTINUED FROM p55 incorporate more virtual aspects of the trials for additional safety, on top of engaging with the community about the importance of clinical research. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 20

SHANE FERNANDO VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT AND THE ARTS, CFCC

n addition to his

position Ileadership at CFCC, Shane Fernando serves as a

trustee for the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. He also serves as president of the N.C. Presenters Consortium and on the governor’s COVID-19 task force for planning the reopening of North Carolina performing arts venues. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: During the COVID-19 pandemic, event venues shut down in the state, including CFCC’s Wilson Center. Fernando helped support local artists and reimagine entertainment through the development of stage performing arts programming, which also supported downtown businesses. That includes the

Wilson Center’s Ghostlight Series, in partnership with The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County, that aired performances of local and regional artists live online. Another program has been the Skyline Drive-In movies, set up on the top of the Hanover Street student parking deck. Fernando also helped CFCC redevelop student education and internship programs as well as helped rethink traditional fundraising initiatives during the pandemic to increase giving to support student scholarships and needs. RECOGNITION: 2020 Presenter of the Year in North America by North

American Performing Arts Managers and Agents

HUNTLEY GARRIOTT PRESIDENT, LIVE OAK BANK

untley Garriott was appointed president of Live Oak Bank in 2018. He previously had a more than 20-year career at Goldman Sachs, where he was a former partner. He helps lead the firm of about 600 employees.

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Garriott worked alongside CEO

Congratulations, Sabrina! Recognized as an Influencer in the

Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s

WilmingtonBiz 100.

Sabrina Sells • Wilmington Market President

NMLS# 411971

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910.679.1257 • SSells@NorthStateBank.com

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Chip Mahan to lead Live Oak Bank’s participation in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, in which the firm dispersed more than $1.75 billion in funds to small businesses. Garriott helped Live Oak Bank’s efforts to guide small businesses through the federal program and secure loans to aid during the crisis. The bank ended up processing more than 11,000 PPP loans across the United States. As a result, Live Oak Bank officials attribute the efforts to impacting more than 215,000 jobs nationwide, with more than 8,600 jobs impacted in the Wilmington area. Garriott also worked to get off the ground Live Oak Bank’s debut on cloud-native Finxact core’s banking platform.

Wilmington with current office space in Wrightsville Beach. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: As the founder of PlayerSpace, an online sports management platform, John entered a still-emerging industry. The company provides software services including a swim management system, as well as its newer service RiskMGT, a risk management system for background checks. In January, Daxko, a major player in the health and wellness industry based in Alabama, bought PlayerSpace for an undisclosed amount. Under John’s leadership, the company was able to grow in a developing field and become a major competitor, which helped it establish its current partnership with Daxko. Under Daxko, the company will be able to provide service to more customers, increase revenue and facilitate more youth and sports programming, company officials said.

OTHER INVOLVEMENT: NourishNC, Cape Fear Collective and Camp Schreiber

MAJOR CLIENT: YMCA

TODD JOHN FOUNDER, PLAYERSPACE

rior to PlayerSpace, Todd John founded Innovative Binding Inc. in Virginia in 1996, a business he grew from an “apartment company” to a three-office organization that he sold five years later. After working at Time Warner Cable, AOL and Listingbook, John founded PlayerSpace in 2008 in

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BRETT LANIER

Isosceles Pharmaceuticals Inc. Lanier’s experience includes his role as director at Noramco and senior manager at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Lanier, who has a degree in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, and the Isosceles Pharmaceutical team are developing a non-opioid pain relief alternative that utilizes the health benefits of cannabidiol, or CBD. This pain relief would be delivered through a skin patch or injection and avoids the often-addictive opioid options. In 2020, the company gained recognition by winning the inaugural NC BIONEER Venture Challenge. The company received a $20,000 investment and a one-year tenancy at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The company was also a winner of the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards in the Biotech category. This year the company also engaged a management team consisting of pharmaceutical and medical doctors and had meetings with the Food and Drug Administration. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 7

PRESIDENT, ISOSCELES PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

ith a background in pharmaceuticals, it is not surprising that Brett Lanier is president at the early-stage startup

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LISA LEATH

CEO, WORKTOK

isa Leath has had

in human Lexperience resources for more

than 15 years including at Corning Inc., Alcami and at her own HR firm Leath HR Group, where she is the president. She has used her experience in HR to launch a new startup. WHY SHE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: While work on her startup WorkTok started in 2019, the company launched to the public in 2020. WorkTok is a mobile application that is trying to address current workforce trends and increase employee/employer interaction. Through the app, employers can communicate with employees regularly and document feedback. Leath realized while using Human Resource Information Systems (human resource software) that many of the platforms were overpriced and too complicated, so she developed her own employee engagement app. This year, WorkTok took home the Coastal Entrepreneur Award in the Emerging Company category. The service that Leath developed through WorkTok took on even more relevance in today’s remote working world as a result of COVID-19. OTHER 2020 INVOLVEMENTS: Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Communities in Schools of Cape Fear, Cape Fear Museum and United Way of the Cape Fear Area

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Congratulations to Lucien Ellison on his recognition as one of The Influencers in the WilmingtonBiz 100! East West Partners looks forward to him leading us to many more projects in the Wilmington area.

BETH & SHANE FAULKNER FOUNDERS, END OF DAYS DISTILLERY

fter brewing at home and having

about opening Aconversations a distillery, Shane and Beth

Faulkner renovated a WWII-era Quonset hut on Castle Street and transformed it into a 4,800-square-foot distillery with a cocktail bar, lounge, tasting room and event space.

(919) 929-0660 | www.ewp-nc.com 1450 Environ Way, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

WHY THEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE INNOVATORS THIS YEAR: In February, the Faulkners held a grand opening for EOD Distillery, one of two distilleries in the Wilmington area, to a crowd of 2,500. A few weeks later, the distillery would close due to restrictions set during the coronavirus pandemic. EOD quickly transitioned its operations and used its distillers to produce hand sanitizer for the community, a much-needed resource at the onset of the pandemic. The company provided hand sanitizer to many critical industries during a shortage and provided thousands of bottles to the community, they said. EOD also released its Port of Entry rum and vodka, which went into ABC store distribution in March. AWARDS: Port of Entry Vodka won North Carolina Vodka of the Year at the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition

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RYAN LEGG CEO, MEGACORP LOGISTICS

yan Legg and his wife founded MegaCorp Logistics in 2009. Legg runs the logistics company of about 350 employees. The firm specializes in full and lessthan-truckload shipments.

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Legg has led MegaCorp Logistics’ continued growth throughout the COVID-19 crisis and aims to have an impact locally, working with as many local

companies as possible. The firm maintained uninterrupted service to its customers, which are in several sectors including food, retail, government and textiles. The firm earned several recognitions this year, including being on Inc.’s Best Workplaces of 2020 and the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. The firm was also named a Top Freight Brokerage Firm in the U.S. by Transport Topics, as well as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America by Entrepreneur magazine. COMPANY REACH: U.S., Mexico and Canada

CHRIS NEWTON PRESIDENT AND CEO, SPORTGAIT/LIFEGAIT

ewton has been

and CEO of Npresident LifeGait, a company

that develops health and safety-related products including SportGait, since 2015. In his role at SportGait, he leads the company through corporate and product strategy, operations, sales, marketing and more. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: In 2020, LifeGait continued to grow its investment pool with two

announcements of funds raised this year. In May, the company raised $170,000, which officials said at the time would be used for continuing sales expansion and research and development. In August, the company raised $200,000 out of a $1 million goal. Funding this year brings LifeGait to a total of more than $2 million raised. SportGait, which has a platform for managing concussion symptoms, became the enterprise-wide standard for concussion testing for a U.S. hospital system, Newton said. This year it has also continued to sign up new medical providers to its platform including EmergeOrtho and

Congratulations Ken Dull

on being named an “INFLUENCER” in the

WilmingtonBiz 100 Ken Dull, President, McKinley Building Corporation

BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OVER 28 YEARS (910) 395-6036 MCKINLEYBUILDING.COM

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Trinity Wellness Center. It has also partnered with the N.C. Youth Soccer Association to provide education and safety programs including COVID-19 Return to Play. CURRENT EMPLOYEES: 8 fulltime, plus consultants and advisers

SHAUN OLSEN

also continued work at sites in Nash County, where the company received a $1.5 million government contract to deliver internet to underserved areas, completing phase two in September. It is also working on current projects in Harnett, Halifax, Martin, Edgecombe, Pitt and Duplin counties. In January, the company raised $650,000 of a $2 million goal. NO. OF COUNTIES SERVED BY CLOUDWYZE: 10

PRESIDENT AND CEO, CLOUDWYZE

haun Olsen founded

in SCloudWyze 2020, a Wilmington

company that provides internet service as well as business technology. Olsen, who combined the primary offerings of a few of his other startups to start CloudWyze, received a degree in business administration from UNCW. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: In 2018, CloudWyze developed its mission to help rural communities with access to reliable internet services. In 2020, under Olsen’s leadership, the company accomplished many milestones that go forward with that mission. That includes a partnership with New Hanover County in advancing its technology network, which would help with the distribution of public Wi-Fi, especially needed during work and schooling at home during the pandemic. This year the company

JEFF JAMES CEO, WILMINGTON HEALTH

DAVID REESER & STAN TROFIMCHUK FOUNDERS, OPIAID

avid Reeser and Stan Trofimchuk (shown above) co-founded OpiAID in 2018 where Reeser serves as the CEO. Both entrepreneurs also co-founded IT Works in Wilmington, which provides cloud-based technology for security and compliance industries.

WHY THEY’RE INNOVATORS THIS YEAR: OpiAID is a Wilmington startup that has created an innovative machine learning technology for managing substance abuse treatment. Under Reeser and Trofimchuk’s guidance, OpiAID has developed a platform that interprets behavioral and health data for Medication-Assisted Treatment rehab centers

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eff James has served as head of Wilmington Health,

largest independent multi-specialty physician Jthe practice in the region, since 2008. He was previously

chief financial officer and chief operating officer for Christie Clinic in Illinois. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: With the pandemic, Wilmington Health moved quickly to implement an integrated telehealth solution within three days with all of its providers adopting the technology to see patients. They also were the first to provide open-air sites for COVID-19 testing, lab work and patient visits in the community. The outdoor setups have continued with drive-thru flu vaccine booths ahead of the flu season. Wilmington Health converted its Ambulatory Surgery Center to a hospital outpatient department to help prevent overflow at the local hospitals. On the technology end, this year Wilmington Health implemented a comprehensive communication platform allowing patients to interact with practice team members and providers through texts, emails and live chats. Realtime online scheduling for patients also launched. As part of James’ focus on containing health care costs and leading on value-based care, Wilmington Health this year also opened Today’s Care Plus to provide acute care outside of the emergency room. James and his team also launched Anchor Senior Care Advantage this year as an offering for local seniors for coordinated care. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 895

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so they can provide a personalized plan for their patients. That includes a wearable device that would detect cravings and overdoses and deliver naloxone, a medication that can reverse overdose symptoms. This year, the startup won a $276,000 federal grant to support its technology development. The company also got its name out in the entrepreneurial ecosystem by participating in the 2020 FAST Cohort, being accepted in First Flight Venture Center’s “Lift Off” and the NC RIoT accelerator program.

OTHER 2020 RECOGNITIONS: Top 10 Startup to Watch and finalist in Tech for Good by NC TECH Association

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: This year Ricanek became a member

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KARL RICANEK CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF DATA SCIENTIST, LAPETUS SOLUTIONS INC.

arl Ricanek cofounded Lapetus Solutions, a company that creates tools and platforms that help model and predict aging, health and life expectancy, in 2015. The company has raised about $4.7 million in funding. He has also been a professor of computer science at UNCW since 2003.

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of the newly formed N.C. Black Entrepreneurship Council, created by NC IDEA foundation to support North Carolina’s Black entrepreneurs. Ricanek said he grew up without seeing the example of a Black technologist, something he hopes to change for others. “I want to share my learnings from the last three decades with a wider audience. I preach from the pulpit of the classroom at UNC Wilmington; now with NC IDEA and the NC BEC I can share my passion for entrepreneurship and AI-driven technology with a wider and more diverse audience,” he said. In 2020 Lapetus increased revenue growth, executed a global strategy

for insurance, developed business relationships in South Africa, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India, refactored its cloud architecture and improved core AI algorithms. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 30

YOUSRY SAYED PRESIDENT AND CEO, QUALITY CHEMICAL LABORATORIES

ousry Sayed started

Chemical YQuality in 1998 and is

leading the company’s 240 employees. He is a former professor and General College director at UNCW.

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WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Sayed has actively played a role in building the local pharmaceutical workforce, hiring graduates coming out of area institutions. He plans to continue to build that pipeline and bring new company services to the area as he grows QCL with a new building, an expansion of its Wilmington operation that will double the firm’s footprint to 180,000 square feet by early 2022. Sayed plans to broaden QCL’s services to late-phase clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing for oral dosage forms, state-ofthe-art sterile product manufacturing, innovative thin-film technology, as

well as additional testing capacity. With the growth, Sayed plans to expand QCL’s employee base by up to 200 additional jobs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, QCL maintained all of its jobs and provided full operating capacity to serve its biopharmaceutical customer base. It also produced hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer to distribute for free to local health care facilities, schools and other essential businesses. QCL is actively supporting several federally funded programs under Operation Warp Speed. ANOTHER ROLE: UNCW Board of Trustees member

Daniel Summers along with Jeremy Sikorski became co-founders of Electronic Lab Logs, a company that started software development in 2017. The Wilmington startup provides a cloud-based platform for laboratory maintenance, replacing the use of paper logs, and launched its first product this year.

YEAR: In 2020, Summers helped Electronic Lab Logs catch the attention of the local and state startup ecosystem through applying for various grants and competitions. In May, Electronic Lab Logs was one of the recipients of a grant through the NC IDEA SEED program. The company was awarded $50,000, which Summers said the company would use to grow in adjacent markets. That same month, the startup received the third-place award in the inaugural NC BIONEER Venture Challenge. It was also chosen as the award winner in the Health Care category at the 2020 Coastal

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS

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DANIEL SUMMERS CEO, ELECTRONIC LAB LOGS

ith about 20 years

experience in Wofsoftware engineering,

The ARC Transit family would like to congratulate Gary Winstead on being recognized as one of The Innovators in Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s 2020 WilmingtonBiz 100. Thank you for your leadership, vision, and service to our community!

www.arctransit.com 910.344.0700

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS Economic developers have a clear impact on the Wilmington region connecting the area to potential job creators and new companies. While not in the selection pool for the WilmingtonBiz 100, their efforts, however, bear significance and are included in this roundup. While there were no new major industry announcements for the Cape Fear region this year, big projects announced in 2019 made headway. India-based Polyhose Inc. had a delay due to the pandemic on the start of its new North American headquarters building in the Pender Commerce Park. But work on the new 52,500-square-foot facility (rendering shown above), which will house the firm’s warehousing and hose assembly, has begun, said Jonathan Pressler, the firm’s senior vice president. Polyhose aims to be operational in the space by spring, with plans to invest roughly $8 million and create about 51 jobs in the coming years.

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The Navassa operation of Pacon Manufacturing Corp. created at least 110 jobs after its startup in spring of this year, Bill Early, executive director of Brunswick Business and Industry Development (Brunswick BID), said in November. The firm plans to eventually move its operations from New Jersey to the Navassa location. There were $1.3 million in state and local incentives approved this year for Pacon, which has pledged to create 299 jobs and make a $37.6 million investment over several years. The already-established Brunswick County manufacturer HSM Machine Works, which makes landing gear for the aviation and aerospace industry, was also approved for a $100,000 state grant that could help boost its infrastructure and would allow the firm to create an additional 17 jobs and invest $150,000. Economic development officials with Brunswick BID and Wilmington

M A G A Z I N E

Business Development (WBD) have heavily focused work on site and building development, working in coordination with private developers, real estate agents and local governments across the region. WBD was a partner in bringing two speculative building developments – one completed and another in planning – to the Pender Commerce Park that will open up more than 300,000 square feet of space. The master plans for the Pender Commerce Park and Pender Industrial Park in Burgaw are also in the middle of an update. Meanwhile, WBD’s site development project involving the New Hanover Countyowned Blue Clay Road Site (Blue Clay Business Park) continues. Additional inventory has been added as the former Vertex Rail Corp. site on Raleigh Street, being marketed as Wilmington Business Park, has come online. The property is up for lease. Brunswick BID has partnered to bring in the necessary infrastructure, including water and sewer and fiber internet lines, to two large megasites: the Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park and International Logistics Park of North Carolina. Developers are planning a 150,000-square-foot spec building, expandable to 330,000 square feet, at the International Logistics Park. That project is slated to come online sometime next year. In Leland, town economic developers helped facilitate the annexation of more than 200 acres of the Leland Innovation Park and implemented at the park a new type of industrial zoning, the innovation zoning district, which can also be used in other parts of the town. Local groups Brunswick BID and WBD, along with N.C. Southeast, an 18-county regional economic development group, have also worked to push more of its marketing efforts and inventory online, as well as take recruitment efforts into a virtual setting due to the pandemic constraints to business. – CHRISTINA HALEY O’NEAL

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CONTINUED FROM p63 Entrepreneur Awards. STARTUP SUPPORT: UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

GEORGE TAYLOR CHAIRMAN, TRU COLORS

eorge Taylor is founder,

through virtual activities and remote one-on-one talks between gang and community members, part of its TRU Conversations series. The company this year also moved into a 58,000-square-foot headquarters building at 715 Greenfield St., which will include a brewery, office space, gym and day care. PROJECTED BREWERY CAPACITY: 55,000 barrels per year

and CEO Gchairman of Wilmington-based

TRU Colors, a business and social mission he started in 2017. He is also chairman of Wilmington-based National Speed and is the former chairman of Untappd. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Taylor has focused work this year on preparing the TRU Colors team, business and social mission platform to scale nationally at launch, which he said would be in the spring. TRU Colors is a forprofit brewery with a social mission to stop street violence and unite communities, making gangs part of the solution. Preparing for its launch, TRU Colors has developed partnerships with blue-chip companies, national media and streaming platforms, and celebrity investors and influencers, company officials said. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Taylor continued to push plans forward, employing additional gang members and expanding ways to help the company connect

Taylor did not disclose the amount of the transaction, he did say it was a “significant strategic investment.” During this time, Taylor also decided to step down as CEO but remains to influence the company as a member of the board of directors. In 2020, Taylor also became an advisor at TRU Colors, a local forprofit started by his father, George Taylor, that employs gang members as a way to combat street violence. TOTAL APP USERS: About 8 million

KURT TAYLOR FOUNDER, NEXTGLASS

urt Taylor founded NextGlass, a Wilmington-based startup that develops software and creates experiences that connect consumers, retailers and producers in the alcohol beverage industry including its app Untappd, a company it acquired in 2016.

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: After growing NextGlass since 2012, Taylor and other company officials were able to garner the interest of investors at a national scale, traveling and holding meetings with interested parties. This led to the company receiving a strategic investment this year from Boston-based Providence Strategic Growth that officials say will accelerate the Wilmington-based company’s growth. While

WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: This year, Wagner led the organization – one of the largest nonprofits in the area and top hospice providers in the state – through a significant rebranding during its 40th anniversary. Not just a visual update, the effort reframed the agency’s image and name, from Lower Cape Fear Hospice to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, to better reflect its range of services and support.

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Wagner also led the team and development of a million-dollar federal grant for dementia care wand caregiver support, making it one of 12 agencies across the country to receive the grant. He led the marketing and community awareness efforts ahead of winning the licenses to expand services in Onslow County as well as launching a home health service that will begin to grow across its service area. PILOT PROGRAM: The agency is piloting a Dementia Friendly Organization Certification to raise awareness and better understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.

CRAIG WAGNER CHIEF MARKETING AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, LOWER CAPE FEAR LIFECARE

raig Wagner has worked for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare since 2017, previously serving as president of the United Way of Onslow County.

GARY WINSTEAD CEO, A.R.C. TRANSIT

ith a history in the

industry, Wlogistics Gary Winstead

founded and has owned what is now A.R.C. Transit in 2006. He recently sold the company this year but will remain CEO of the firm. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Winstead navigated the COVID-19 business climate and impacts on the overall logistics industry while completing the sale of A.R.C. Transit to Pennsylvania-based Evans Delivery Co. in W I N T E R 2020

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TRAVIS CORPENING

FOUNDER, ALL YOUR COOL IDEAS ravis Corpening, an author, is

founder and chief anomaly Tthe officer of All Your Cool Ideas,

a company that produces children’s book series aimed at promoting diversity and STEM among young readers. Corpening, who currently works as a coordinator at CFCC, is also a speaker and coach who has led his nonprofit Young Mogul Development Group, which teaches introductory entrepreneurship, self-branding, decision-making and innovation to young men, particularly those of color. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: In 2020, Corpening further advanced his efforts at All Your Cool Ideas through partnerships and grants. Corpening won the inaugural Genesis Block Demo Day pitch contest, which included mentoring and networking opportunities as well as a cash prize. He also secured a partnership

September. Now A.R.C. Transit’s sales teams and efforts are expanding to include the capacity available through Evans’ 400 agent locations and 8,000 drivers across the country. The firm services ports throughout the country but especially the Port of Wilmington and has worked with N.C. Ports to help its visibility and support. With the sale of A.R.C. Transit, Winstead transferred the terminal operations of its motor carrier company, Veterans Express, to a new company,

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with Cape Fear Museum to provide children’s books for local grandparents who are raising children and won grant funding through the CFCC Small Business Center to develop an interactive website that provides virtual STEM activities for kids. The year also brought funding through the Small Business Administration to develop an

Cape Fear Intermodal LLC, while maintaining an equity position in the international logistics marketplace with 23 employees and 190 drivers operating terminals in Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta; Charlotte and Wilmington. NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 25

AMY WRIGHT PRESIDENT, BITTY & BEAU’S COFFEE

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animated web series for kids. Corpening hosts a weekly Cumulussyndicated radio broadcast called ShaperSpeaks “to allow business leaders, entrepreneurs, celebrities, political leaders and visionaries to share their message and inspire others,” he said. CURRENT PROJECT: The Adventures of Lucas and Alyci book series

nspired by her two children, Bitty and Beau, Amy Wright opened Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in 2016 to advocate for the employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

fall of 2020 and its first franchise is slated to open in Washington, D.C., with several more franchise announcements coming. She visited the White House to advocate for people with disabilities joining the workforce.

WHY SHE’S AN INNOVATOR THIS YEAR: Wright found a way to address the large unemployment percentage rate among people with IDD by opening coffee shops that hire them and creating an inclusive environment in the community. Bitty & Beau’s began offering franchises in the

RECENT OPENINGS: The Wrights opened the fourth Bitty & Beau’s Coffee at PPD’s headquarters in Wilmington, a fifth shop in Annapolis, Maryland, and a sixth at nCino’s headquarters, also in Wilmington. The other locations are in Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah.

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2020

Preparing for takeoff: Julie Wilsey, director of the Wilmington International Airport, stands outside the facility where an expansion is set to take place over the next few years to accommodate growth.

ILM’S NEXT FLIGHT PLAN

BY CHRISTINA HALEY O’NEAL anding a third carrier and new flights at the Wilmington International Airport triggered unprecedented growth in passenger traffic last year. The new additions came as the airport embarks on its $60 million expansion that will increase ILM’s ability to handle more travelers in the coming years. Just over 934,000 passengers flew through the airport in 2018, 12 percent more than the previous year’s record. And that was despite a winter storm last January, a series of flight cancellations in the summer because of PSA Airlines’ technical issues nationwide and major disruption due to Hurricane Florence in September. Officials are now eyeing a milestone mark this year. “One million is an exciting number for us,” Airport Director Julie Wilsey said. “As we get closer, or break that 1 million passenger mark, it opens a lot of opportunities for ILM.” ILM wants to grow the airport but at the same time maintain that small-town, Southern charm that it has been known for, said Gary Broughton, the airport’s deputy director.

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“Our growth has been well thought out,” he said. Pushing the airport expansion forward is the biggest focus for ILM officials in 2019, with construction underway over several contracts between now and 2022. The airport is expected to grow from 95,000 square feet to more than 173,000 square feet, based on the most recent designs, and would be able to accommodate an estimated 705,000 outbound passengers a year, when the expansion is complete. There are times at ILM now when areas of the airport are reaching capacity, Wilsey said. “We need to get the building expanded so we can support more services and more passengers as the airport grows,” Wilsey said. And as ILM gains more travelers and more capacity, possibilities open up for the regional airport. That includes employing more people. Currently, there are about 480 people working there, 50 of whom are ILM staff, Broughton said. ILM will need to hire more help in the future, but just how much help is still being determined, he said. Airport officials continue in 2019 to market for addi-

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“Fun Fact: There’s a Cadillac in the Cape Fear” by Heather Divoky

THIS YEAR’S REAL ESTATE TRENDS

CO NNE CTO RS THE

W I L M I N GTO N B I Z 1 0 0 CO N N E C TO R S

THE REAL-WORLD (AND VIRTUAL) NETWORKERS WHO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO GET THINGS DONE

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PATRICK BRIEN CEO, CAPE FEAR COLLECTIVE

atrick Brien is leading

Fear Collective, PCape a collective impact

and data science nonprofit founded in 2019. He is also a member of the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County Joint Committee on Workforce Housing and the steering committee of the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force. WHY HE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: Brien has led the launch of the organization, which works with hundreds of organizations in varying capacities to support the community and share data insights and resources to drive change. Among those data projects this year were: The group provided fundraising and project management support to multiple partners in response to COVID-19. In June, Cape Fear Collective (CFC) launched its Racial Equity Dashboard, an interactive online tool diving into racial disparity throughout the region across sectors including public health, housing, economic development and the justice system. It worked on COVID-19 data with Coast Carolina Health Information Exchange, New Hanover County, MedNorth and

other health care providers. And it partnered with UNCW and N.C. State University on a comprehensive food systems analysis intended to outline gaps in the region’s food system, assess food scarcity and provide insights for targeted interventions. The organization spearheaded a regional effort with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and RTI International this year to launch the Cape Fear Talent Survey, which gathered feedback from 500 businesses about the future of the area’s workforce. The data is being used to support several initiatives to further develop the region’s talent pipeline. Building on the knowledge gained from that survey, the group is leading a regional economic development analysis in partnership with UNCW, focused on building a more inclusive economy locally. The work is expected to be completed in the spring. $5 MILLION: How much the group has raised so far for a social impact investment fund

LAURA BROGDONPRIMAVERA MANAGER OF OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS, UNCW CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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aura BrogdonPrimavera has been at the UNCW CIE since 2013 where she also co-founded the Small Business Coalition. She received a master’s degree in higher education at UNCW.

WHY SHE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: As the manager of programs and operations at the CIE, she has helped with transitioning many of its programs to virtual experiences that continue to connect the local entrepreneurship community. That includes transitioning the Minority Enterprise Development Week from a two-day conference in 2019 to a virtual conference with 25 sessions over five days this year. She also facilitated the Youth Entrepreneurship Program Experience, a pitch competition and youth summit in the spring, into a virtual experience. Brogdon-Primavera was one of the leaders who brought 1 Million Cups to Wilmington with the formation of a local chapter. 1MC gives local entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a group of people followed by a Q&A session. With the pandemic, the weekly meetings continued online, which has attracted even more attendees. UP NEXT: Working on programming around the Blue economy subject at the CIE for 2021

JENNA CURRY FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, PORT CITY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

hile Jenna Curry is owner

lead strategist at Wand Remedy Digital Agency

and co-owner and director of marketing for Wilmington Today, she has been connecting the local professional community through Port City Young Professionals, a group she founded after graduating college. WHY SHE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: With the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person networking opportunities that locals used to get to know others were canceled. Port City Young Professionals (PCYP), however, continued to fill the need for networking through hosting free, weekly networking events. It also hosted free, virtual training for young professionals and community members, and hosted a forum to inform the community about the proposed sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center. CURRENT PROJECT: Creating a course on how to network intentionally online and in person

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PHILIP BROWN CHIEF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE, NHRMC

vascular surgeon, Philip Brown is executive vice president and chief physician executive at New Hanover Regional. He took on the executive role in 2016 after serving as chief of NHRMC’s medical staff.

WHY HE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: From COVID-19 precautions to racial justice support, Brown has been a visible figure of the hospital’s administrative team on issues to the community – both in his official role and on personal social media messages. Brown has spoken across diverse communities about the pandemic, including addressing local government bodies, particularly on the subject of wearing face coverings starting earlier this year when there were still mixed messages from national experts on masks. He also spoke out about the killings of Black men and women this year and the need for discussing racial injustice, including the role the medical community has in addressing social inequities through medical care. In October, Brown was sworn in as president of the N.C. Medical Society, which represents more

than 10,000 providers. His focus – which will also include transitioning NHRMC to its new role as a Novant Health-owned hospital – includes helping to implement a Healthy North Carolina 2030 plan with a goal to achieve a top 10 health ranking nationally for the state by 2030. SWIM FINS: Another project Brown works on is bringing together NSEA Swim, YMCA, UNCW, the city of Wilmington and New Hanover County to modernize local aquatics facilities and create opportunities for all children to have basic water safety training and beginner swim lessons.

ROBERT CAMPBELL PASTOR, NEW BEGINNING CHRISTIAN CHURCH

obert Campbell is

pastor at New Rsenior Beginning Christian Church in Castle Hayne.

WHY HE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: As president of the Wilmington Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, he helped send information to more than 40 local ministers about how to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program to help sustain their payrolls when churches closed services during COVID-19 restrictions.

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JOE CONWAY

DIRECTOR OF HEALTH EQUITY AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE, NHRMC oe Conway has been the director of health equity and human experience at NHRMC since 2017. He had worked for the hospital for a decade prior to that, including as a Lean coach and facilitator.

WHY HE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: When he started in his current role, which was a new position for NHRMC, Conway helped implement the hospital’s program on health equity, which refers to the fact that not all patients have the same access to health care or ability to access available care. This year, under Conway’s lead, NHRMC was included as a top performer in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index. The N.C. Department of Health & Human Services awarded the health equity department a $175,000, threeyear grant to fund a community health worker doula program. And Conway organized town halls this year around racial disparities and LGBTQ+ issues facing the hospital’s staff and the service area. The department also offered free bias training to organizations in the hospital’s service area, training nearly 2,000 NHRMC employees as well as 400 regional partners. As co-chair of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s African American Business Council, he helped provide opportunities for underrepresented businesses to provide services to NHRMC. GROCERY PROJECT: Conway also has been part of discussions on possibly bringing a grocery store co-op to the Northside area to address the community’s food desert.

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He worked with Champions for Compassion to buy and distribute 10,000 free masks to low-income families as well as on that nonprofit’s Operation Ring and Run for delivery of free meals to low-income schoolaged children and dinners to local seniors. Campbell this year was a member of the Partnership Advisory Group that delved into NHRMC’s future and ownership change. A member of BB&T’s local advisory board and Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s board, Campbell also served as chairman of East Carolina Community Development Inc. He submitted for and was approved for federal LowIncome Housing Tax Credits

to build an $11 million, affordable housing complex for seniors to be built on New Beginning Christian Church land. OORAH: Campbell is a retired Marine officer, having served for 26 years and on two combat tours.

BETH GAGLIONE BRANCH DIRECTOR, FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AT WILMINGTON

or the past five years, Beth Gaglione has headed up the local branch of the Food Bank

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of Central & Eastern North Carolina, a nonprofit that provides food for those facing hunger in 34 counties. The Wilmington branch covers New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties. WHY SHE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: The local food bank branch and Gaglione played a key role in helping to respond to those in need at the onset of COVID-19 when restrictions initially shut down most public places, businesses and classrooms. With area unemployment rates this fall remaining twice as high as they were last year, the food bank continues to be a necessary resource for many local residents. The Wilmington food

bank distributed a record amount of food this year, averaging 1 million pounds of food a month, or 12.8 million pounds over the past 12 months. Local, regional and national food partnerships were tapped to be able to hand out that much food even as the food chain saw major disruptions. Feeding America, the national network of food banks, named the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina as Food Bank of the Year in October. NEXT YEAR: Plans to break ground on a larger facility at 1000 Greenfield St. where the group bought property in August CONTINUED p73

910.350.0554

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SCOTT ADAMS NEW BUSINESS MANAGER, US FOODS cott Adams created the Facebook Group Wilmington Area-Take Out & Delivery Options, which currently has more than 18,000 followers. He also partnered with the Greater Wilmington Business Journal to create Meals for Heroes, through which local restaurants and food trucks provided hundreds of meals for frontline workers this spring.

WHY HE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: During the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic for small businesses, Adams said he is committed to helping the mom-and-pop shops and larger restaurant conglomerates think outside the box to assure they are able to continue to keep their doors open. The Facebook Group was started and took off at the start of the pandemic when restaurants shut down their dining rooms and many depended on carry-out and delivery orders to stay afloat. Diners around the region shared info about who was open and where to go. Users continue to remain active on the page with postings on restaurant info and updates. Adams makes networking introductions, shares technology opportunities, helps guide rebranding for failing concepts and brings in experts to assist with PR troubleshooting when COVID strikes local establishments. IN HIS OWN WORDS: “I have an innate ability to bring together resources and teams of people to best support local restaurateurs, who in turn, are able to better serve their customers.”

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STEPHANIE LANIER FOUNDER, THE INSPIRATION LAB

tephanie Lanier is both

founder of The Sthe Inspiration Lab, a local

group that helps working women with personal and professional development, and owner and Realtor at The Lanier Property Group Inc. WHY SHE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: In 2020, The Inspiration Lab offered free, online programs to help working women cope with COVID-19, including

tips for dealing with stress and anxiety. That includes the creation of a “Self-Care 101 COVID-19 Edition” workbook that discusses principles of self-care and types of stress, as well as the “Crisis Checklist: COVID-19 Edition” and a small business self-care workbook. The Inspiration Lab also created blogs and hosted Facebook Live events on the topic. This year, Lanier started the Land & Launch Fund through The Inspiration Lab to provide micro-grants for female small business owners. The organization raised thousands of dollars to help women with small businesses financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also currently

leading a Virtual First Impressions series to help working women adapt to the increasingly digital world. In her Realtor career, Lanier Property Group merged with Intracoastal Realty in February, allowing the team to serve more buyers and sellers in the area. NO. OF THE INSPIRATION LAB MEMBERS: About 300

ISABELA LUJÁN & GUSTAVO RODEA CO-FOUNDERS, LATIN AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

ustavo Rodea is the

of Mattress and Gowner Furniture Liquidators

in Wilmington, and Isabela Luján is a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker. They are co-founders of the region’s new Latin American Business Council. WHY THEY’RE CONNECTORS THIS YEAR: Seeing a need for an organization that represents and serves the local Latin American business community, Rodea and Luján co-founded the Latin American Business Council in conjunction with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce earlier this year. The council’s goal is to provide equal access to economic and public policy opportunities for Latin American-owned businesses that could foster,

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TRACEY & GIRARD NEWKIRK CO-FOUNDERS, GENESIS BLOCK racey and Girard Newkirk, a husband-andwife team, are founders of Genesis Block in downtown Wilmington. Tracey Newkirk is also the founder of UNEXO, and Girard Newkirk is the founder of technology company KWH Renewable Energy.

WHY THEY’RE CONNECTORS THIS YEAR: Tracey and Girard Newkirk are both experienced business owners who saw a need in the community to establish a coworking space and business incubator that focuses on supporting the local minority and women entrepreneurship community. In 2020, the Newkirks founded Genesis Block with offices opening in November in downtown Wilmington. The community collaborative has a improve and boost the Latin American business population, as well as empower future generations of Latin American business owners and professionals, according to the chamber. While the organization was not able to hold inperson meetings due to COVID-19, it has been using its social media to inform the Latin American business community about COVID-19 rules and regulations. “We need to have access to all the resources that the rest of this society already has by bringing our representation to the chamber,” Luján said. COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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three-year goal to help launch companies that will create 400 jobs and add $13 million in investment in the area, the Newkirks said earlier this year. They also collaborated and received a grant from CastleBranch and tekMountain to develop the ANZA platform, an app and website with a database on Black-owned businesses in the Cape Fear region that also pairs minorityowned businesses with contractors. Genesis Bock hosted Demo Day during the Minority Enterprise Development Week, which showcased eight minority entrepreneurs. PARTNERSHIP: ResilNC and Cape Fear Collective for studying the pandemic’s effects on minority businesses

MAKEUP: Nine business owners

MEGAN MULLINS VP OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, WILMINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

egan Mullins joined

Wilmington Mthe chamber in 2019. She is

responsible for the chamber’s communications strategy and execution. WHY SHE’S A CONNECTOR THIS YEAR: Mullins’ work this year has helped the B

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chamber create stronger member relationships through digital communications, social media, content marketing and public relations efforts. Part of her work included creating new online networking events for members. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, she designed a “Smart Restart Guide” to help business owners understand how to reopen safely once restrictions on business were lifted. She is also helping ready the chamber for efforts next year to focus on economic recovery work post-COVID-19 to return the business community to pre-pandemic levels.

Mullins will help facilitate the chamber’s focus on workforce development and talent pipeline programs to help upskill or reskill people who were laid off due to the crisis. The chamber will use information from this year’s Cape Fear Talent Survey to guide that work. She is also working with the new Latin American Business Council to help guide its direction next year. OTHER WORK: Mullins serves on the New Hanover County/City of Wilmington Community Relations Advisory Committee and the city of Wilmington’s Sister Cities Commission.

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W I N T E R 2020

RIS ING STA RS THE

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THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS WHO ARE ALREADY MAKING WAVES (limited to those 35 years old and younger)

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NATHANAEL CONWAY FOUNDER, BLUE ROLL LLC

and CEO Founder Nathanael Conway

started Blue Roll in 2018 and produces and distributes video content for branding, marketing and community awareness. WHY HE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: Conway is leading Blue Roll to work with and bring awareness to businesses and organizations throughout the Wilmington area. The firm worked with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, alongside Duke Energy and Coastal Beverage Co. to produce a highlight video for the chamber at the start of 2020. He worked on campaigns about COVID-19 precautions with state and local partners. “I created Blue Roll in 2018 to fill a creative desire and that desire was to put something into the universe that I could have my hands on; that I could sink my teeth into,” Conway said in a video while entering a grant competition hosted by Shark Tank’s Daymond John and the NAACP. Conway’s coverage ranges from Black Lives Matter to the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards to the UNCW

Upperman African American Cultural Center. He is also actively involved on the board for the Northside Food Co-op. Blue Roll is getting involved by building content for fliers, video and more, working toward the digital release of the community-led effort. PARK PROJECT: Conway worked on a project to help bring improvements, such as water fountains and lights, to Portia Mills Hines Park.

CAROLINE FISHER CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, SWAHILI COAST

aroline Fisher and Tony Peele opened the first location of their Swahili Coast store in Wilmington as a result of the growth of their wholesale shoe company that they founded in 2014. The store has grown to two locations in the region, one in Chandler’s Wharf and the other on Front Street.

WHY SHE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Swahili Coast closed its stores while continuing to do online sales. As a co-founder, Fisher led the store’s efforts to shift operations while continuing to support its

BEN CURRIN CEO, VANTACA

Currin started his career at Vantaca, a real estate Bentechnology company, as executive vice president in

2018. Since then, he became chief operating officer and finally CEO. Before Vantaca, Currin was in the U.S. Navy where he served at the reactor/electrical office in the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston. WHY HE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: In July, Currin was named CEO of the locally based tech company, which provides a cloud-based software platform for the community association management industry. He was promoted to this position because of his successful leadership as COO. Under Currin’s leadership, Vantaca has achieved an average annual growth rate of nearly 300%, according to company officials. Vantaca’s Community Management System now serves as the end-to-end platform software platform for more than 1.5 million homes across the country, Currin said. During his time as CEO, Currin is committed to recruiting and retaining top talent in the Wilmington area, including high-potential veterans and a development team. GOALS: Develop a technology hub on the coast

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KATELYN MATTOX PROGRAM DIRECTOR, NOURISHNC

s program director for NourishNC, Katelyn Mattox works with New Hanover County Schools, which refers students to NourishNC’s program, and the more than 1,000 students who receive food assistance. WHY SHE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: When schools in North Carolina closed on March 16, a large segment of kids on free- and reduced-lunch programs were cut off from the dependability of regular meals during the day. Mattox was part of the team that helped respond quickly at NourishNC, a local nonprofit that provides hungry children with healthy food. “We opened our no-contact grocery drive-thru just three days after Gov. Cooper closed North Carolina schools, and (NourishNC) hasn’t let off the gas pedal since,” Mattox said. Though area schools reopened this fall, students in New Hanover County only go in person for part of the week. NourishNC continues to try to meet the demand even as it is fundraising to outfit a new and larger space it bought on Market Street. Mattox also plays a key role for the organization in working with donors and volunteers. This year NourishNC was named a Coastal Entrepreneur Award winner in the Nonprofit category. OTHER ACCOLADES: Mattox also landed this year on the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and StarNews’ 40 Under 40 list.

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CONTINUED FROM p77 co-op workers in East Africa. The business transitioned its partner factory in Tanzania to make reusable fabric face masks to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and East Africa. With every purchase of a mask, one is donated in Tanzania. There are about 20 artisans working in the co-op, sharing in the profits of the business. In May, the stores were reopened. Fisher was able to help the business shift dramatically while aiding those in need with a mask, including locally to Vigilant Hope. NO. OF RETAILERS CARRYING SWAHILI COAST PRODUCTS: About 300

ANDY JONES PRESIDENT, FORREST FIRM

Jones joined the Andy Forrest Firm law firm

in 2017 to start its Wilmington office. He began his career in Wilmington with Rountree Losee, where he rose to equity partner. WHY HE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: Jones spearheaded the firm’s reorganization this year and the relocation of its headquarters from the Triangle to Wilmington, surrounding himself with this leadership team. He leads nearly 50

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employees and eight offices across the state. He also sets and implements goals and strategies, supervises the senior leadership team and heads up business development and recruiting efforts. Jones litigates commercial disputes and complex business cases in state and federal courts and provides general business law and transactional representation to businesses and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries. He is also involved in nonprofit and volunteer work in the community, including as board chair for Coastal Horizons Center Inc. and a board member and membership

committee chair for the United Way of the Cape Fear Area. He is also on Cape Fear Council, Boy Scouts of America’s executive board and serves as vice chair of membership.

DEREK SCHMIDT CEO, SWELL SYSTEMS INC.

being the Besides CEO and founder

of SWELL Systems Inc., Derek Schmidt is also founder and CEO of DesignLoud, a marketing and website design firm in Wilmington. He started his

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career as a web and graphic designer.

also started a podcast, “Entrepreneur Bootcamp Podcast,” where he shares insights and knowledge from interviews with other business owners in the area. He is a mentor at Inmates to Entrepreneurs and UNCW CIE. TEACHING ROLE: Instructor at CFCC

WHY HE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: Schmidt started DesignLoud in 2011 and SWELL Systems Inc. in 2017, both of which were housed at tekMountain. Now, both companies have “graduated” out of the co-working area and moved to their own space in downtown Wilmington. In 2020, Schmidt was chosen to present at the DIG SOUTH Tech Conference with a chance to pitch SWELL Systems. He was also the featured presenter at the CED Tech Conference in Raleigh. This year, SWELL formed a partnership with Stripe, an e-commerce platform. Besides operating his businesses, Schmidt

TYLER WITTKOFSKY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, BRUNSWICK REGIONAL WATER AND SEWER H2GO

graduate of A2015 UNCW, Tyler

Wittkofsky connects

the Brunswick County utlity to the public but also works on a number of projects for the utility. He has also obtained more than 20 professional certifications through training in areas ranging from marketing to disaster preparedness to utility management. WHY HE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: In the community, Wittkofsky this year served as an ex-officio member (and previous president) of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was voted in as the secretary for the Communities in Schools of Brunswick County’s board. He also helped organize partnerships with H2GO and Brunswick Family

Assistance and Brunswick Senior Resources to deliver food to those who could not get out during the lockdowns. At the utility, he helped to design a new, user-friendly website for H2GO’s customers and worked on the groundbreaking ceremony for H2GO’s aquifersourced reverse osmosis water treatment plant. He previously spearheaded the first forum on GenX in Brunswick County with visiting experts. STUDENT ROLE MODEL: Wittkofsky served as a mentor and adviser to the Leland Middle School Robotics Team when it built a reverse osmosis filter.

2020 has been a tough year, but we have learned we are resilient. As we approach a new year, let’s gain some fresh perspective and plan for something amazing ahead. And remember the Michelle Clark Team is here; from our family to yours - Happy New Year!

Michelle Clark | Realtor®/ Broker | ALHS, SFR, SRES, CNE

When the Michelle Clark Team thinks of real estate, we think of relationships. So, contact our agency today and find more than a realtor – find a friend for life. 910.367.9767

mclark@intracoastalrealty.com

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Are you ready for a fresh start in 2021? Then prepare to celebrate the New Year in your new home!

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JULIE ANDREWS MARKETING MANAGER, LOGAN HOMES

ulie Andrews graduated with honors in 2013 from the UNCW with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Prior to her position at Logan Homes, she worked at masterplanned community Brunswick Forest, serving as the broker relations specialist. She also received her real estate license in 2013. She joined Logan Homes in 2015.

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WHY SHE’S A RISING STAR THIS YEAR: The 2020 president of Cape Fear Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), Andrews has garnered numerous leadership and professional accolades. She helped successfully navigate the challenges brought on in 2020 for Cape Fear CREW, quickly adapting the organization to have more than two dozen virtual and in-person programming and networking opportunities reaching over 700 leaders in commercial real estate. CURRENT PROJECTS: She’s serving as the Cape Fear CREW 2021 Awards of Excellence marketing and communication co-chair and the UNCW Alumni Association-COM Studies Alumni Chapter events team leader.

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W I N T E R 2020

ENDURING

TRENDS

SOME CHANGES PROMPTED BY COVID-19 ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE

Rx set up a tent to accommodate diners but is now building a permanent outdoor space.

BY JENNY CALLISON

PHOTO BY TERAH WILSON

OR SOME WILMINGTON BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE DARK COVID-19 CLOUD IS PROVING TO HAVE A SILVER LINING.

They have adopted new practices out of necessity that have shown longterm benefits. Other companies envision doing business differently just so that dark cloud doesn’t rain on them. Take Rx Restaurant and Bar on Castle Street. With some diners still reluctant to eat

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indoors, owners James and Sarah Rushing Doss set up a tent on their side parking lot that allowed them to offer outside service to about 30 people at a time. Now they’re creating a permanent outdoor space. Work began in mid-November on a 20-by-48-foot covered patio that will have a low wall and adjustable shutters to allow fresh air flow but also protection from the wind. The Dosses are installing radiant heat in the flooring so their customers can dine in comfort during chilly months. “Currently, we’re just focused on the time period ahead, trying to navigate it as

best we can,” Rushing Doss said. “But opportunities seem abundant after COVID: It can be used as event space or for overflow seating. (The outdoor space) is something we never would have considered were it not for the pandemic, but we’re looking forward to having it.” Because the owners believe that the new covered patio will expand the restaurant’s appeal and capacity, its design will reflect Rx’s interior ambience, Rushing Doss said. Local sculptor Michael Van Hout is creating a moveable installation of wire and tree branches that can function as a space divider as well as decor. The Dosses have their fingers crossed that the new space will be ready by the end of December so Rx can host a socially distanced, outdoor New Year’s Eve party.

RETAIL REFINEMENTS

Rob Cooley, owner of Apple Annie’s Bake Shop, already had plans to venture into online ordering and shipping when the pandemic hit. The need to serve his customers and find new ones accelerated that effort. The bakery already had a system for shipping cookies, biscotti and a few other long-shelf-life products to people who called in their orders, but the goal was to set up an online ordering system and to ship fresh frozen cakes, cheesecake and pies anywhere in the country, according to general manager Cora Foley. “We have everything ready to rock and roll, but we’re still working on our shipping method,” Foley said. “We’ve figured out an icing that tastes delicious but can be frozen and thawed; we worked on the technology for keeping the cakes frozen; we’ve got the boxes. What remains now is the insulation that is the right shape to hold our products and keep them at the right temperature.” The new online ordering system, installed earlier in the COVID shutdown, has been a boon for locals as well, Foley said. “The pandemic led to online ordering for in-store pickup,” she added. “Customers could spend less

time in the store because their order was already boxed up and already paid for. We also offer curbside pickup except at the holidays, when it’s too busy.” Knowing that, for retailers, the pandemic meant adapt or die, Cooley said, “We modified our business models as quickly as possible … We will continue all of these in the future and accelerate our use of technology to make the customer experience simple, clear and seamless.” Small brick-and-mortar retailers were already challenged by online retailers before COVID-19 hit, said Bryce Morrison, senior vice president of Cape Fear Commercial. The pandemic has magnified those difficulties. “Retailers will have to get creative,” he said. “They are really going to have to focus hard on their services and provide the kind of interaction that’s not available online, like curbside pickup or local delivery. It may mean expanding their product line a little bit and training their employees differently.” Customers may well expect COVID-era amenities in a postCOVID world, Morrison said, noting that restaurant patrons may want more outdoor dining options or greater space between tables. “Right now, outdoors is huge. It’s going to be hard to regress to tighter spaces. Even if we do climb out of the pandemic, developers may have to take into account wider sidewalks, more patio space and more green space,” he said. “Of course, this means a retail developer has to acquire more land to allow for that space, and that means more expense for the developer with no income generated from part of that space. So they will need to charge higher rents, a cost that will be passed along to the customer.”

CRUISING INTO THE FUTURE

A similar change is taking place in the travel industry, with airlines and hotels reducing their capacities to enable physical distancing. George Benford, of Travel by Patty

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Benford, pointed to an industry segment – cruising – that is “making unbelievable changes” as ocean and river cruise lines are beginning to operate again. “Cruise lines have always been very sanitary, but the measures they are taking now – more ventilation, extra sanitary scrubbings – they are doing everywhere,” he said. “Most ships are going to limit, for now, the number of passengers onboard. There won’t be buffets, or if there are buffets, someone will serve up your order and bring it to your table. They will limit the number of people dining at any one time, and there will be more table separation. They will assign what time you can check in, to avoid long lines. Masks will be required except for eating and drinking. (Shore) excursions will accommodate fewer people. There will be special training for employees.” Benford believes that cruise lines will maintain these health measures. “Any change that occurs in this industry, they don’t tend to go back,” he said. Don’t expect any deals when the travel and hospitality industries open up more fully, Benford warned. “You are not going to pay the same price as you did before, because there’s more work, the same costs and half the revenue (because of reduced capacity). We’re paying $500 more per person for a cruise we had to postpone to 2022.” The travel industry may also need to navigate a drop in business travel, even after the pandemic passes. Bill Gates recently predicted that workrelated travel will decline 50% in the post-pandemic world, and the threshold for justifying it will be high.

HOLD THE PHONE

Several local organizations have successfully adapted to virtual communications platforms. “During the pandemic, our priority focus on the safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers and patients led to a greater reliance on virtual meetings, as we restricted business travel, and on digital and decentralized trial solutions to make it W I N T E R 2020

easier for patients and research sites to participate in clinical trials,” said Ron Garrow, PPD’s executive vice president and chief human resource officer. “This approach has served us well, and our productivity and engagement from our employees has remained very high in our work on behalf of our customers.” PPD has also adopted innovations and “novel approaches” for its clinical trials at an “accelerated pace,” Garrow added, citing engaging patients digitally, shipping drugs directly to patients, redesigning trials and doing remote screenings via telemedicine. “We feel confident that these kinds of innovations advanced during the pandemic will continue to be adopted as appropriate once the crisis has passed, supporting the acceleration of research for safe and effective medicines for patients around the world,” he said. Two Wilmington-based companies are taking a wait-and-see approach to their post-COVID travel and meeting policies. “As we all deal with the continued effects of COVID-19, we’re not making assumptions about future travel, meetings or otherwise but are monitoring the situation carefully and regularly,” said Natalia Moose, a spokeswoman for nCino. “Our employees will continue to be empowered to make the right decisions for their personal situations while nCino maintains a steadfast focus on customer success,

business continuity and employee safety.” Live Oak Bank, which typically maintains a busy travel schedule nationwide to monitor the progress of its small business borrowers, has not decided what future travel will look like. “We are constantly assessing our approach to serving Live Oak customers in a safe and responsible way during the pandemic,” said spokeswoman Claire Parker. “Thanks to virtual meeting capabilities, we are able to connect with our customers regularly. Our teams have developed protocols for in-person visits when it is necessary to make a site visit, and we take precautions to ensure the health and wellness of our borrowers and our employees always come first. So far, we have found our procedures to be effective and will continue to monitor our approach as coronavirus impacts ebb and flow across the country.”

MEETING NEEDS

Virtual platforms can mean higher participation. Locally, two conferences hosted by the University of North Carolina Wilmington saw attendance exceed projections, largely because the sessions were held online and attendees could join from home or work. Organizers of this year’s Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week and the new Gender & Leadership Academy also credited the online format for enabling the gatherings to draw

UNCW’s Outlook conference in October was one of the events the university moved online this year.

PHOTO C/O UNCW

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participants and speakers from other parts of the country. Does that mean that UNCW will hold most future meetings and conferences virtually? “There are many factors which drive the decisions for how meetings and conferences are held, including cost, effectiveness and practicality,” said university Provost James Winebrake. “Many people are tired of online meetings right now, but they undoubtedly have proven their value and effectiveness during COVID and will be used globally in the future. Similar to course delivery decisions, we will strive to have conferences and meetings online when it is appropriate and meets the needs of the specific situations.” Like Winebrake, Jerry Coleman, director of Cape Fear Community College’s Small Business Center, sees the benefits of in-person, hybrid and fully online options. “I have always been old school, a face-to-face learner; that’s when the magic tends to happen,” said Coleman. “But in a virtual environment we can make that work as well, and we will continue to offer virtual workshops. We now have the technology to track attendance and participation; as part of a learning institution we have to document participation and make sure people are attending most or all of a presentation. “We’re doing counseling virtually as well,” he added. “We can do more collaborative counseling virtually, bringing in another partner or subject matter expert and have a joint conference with a client. That allows us to get more done, more efficiently.” CFCC has taken its counseling and advising services online this year, and that has been really popular, said college spokeswoman Sonya Johnson. “We may well keep some of these support services online after the pandemic,” she said, adding that online meetings have been well received by staff.

“

DEGR E E S OF S EPA R AT I O N

As the coronavirus closed down in-person instruction last spring, CFCC purchased Collaborate software, which Johnson describes as being similar to Zoom but designed for students. And more recently, it bought a light board that allows instructors to make video recordings of their presentations. “We’ve built an online component into all our classes,” Johnson said. “We want to keep as much hands-on as we can but want to have the choice. The efficiency of online learning is helpful; some of our students already had that preference.” A large-scale move to virtual learning at UNCW has reaped important benefits in two areas. First, it has expanded the university’s online offerings – a goal Jose Sartarelli articulated when he first became chancellor in July 2015. “Currently, we have new online programs in various stages of development in all four colleges at UNCW, in areas related to health and human services, natural and physical sciences, education, business and the liberal arts,” Winebrake said, noting that the decision to offer programs online is based on student need and a determination that a virtual platform supports the academic goals of the program. Second, virtual learning has opened UNCW’s doors even wider to the world. “One benefit realized very early on in the pandemic was an ability to continue to provide much-wanted international experiences for both the faculty and students, using technology that had quickly become almost ubiquitous,” said Jeremy Dickerson, associate vice chancellor for distance education. Collaborative efforts between UNCW faculty members and colleagues abroad, said Dickerson, “Lower barriers to international academic experiences and edge us closer to a global experience for all students, and not just those who choose traditional study abroad.”

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RESTAURANT ROUNDUP

COOKING ON THE

FLY

BY KYLE HANLIN

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| PHOTO BY ARIS HARDING

RESTAURANT ROUNDUP

F FORK N’ CORK OWNER JAMES SMITH’S STORY WERE MADE INTO AN EPISODE OF FRIENDS, IT MIGHT BE TITLED “THE ONE WHERE A GIRLFRIEND AND A HURRICANE MAKE A BURGER.” In late-summer 2005, Smith’s then-girlfriend was poised to relocate from San Antonio and join him in New Orleans, where he was working as a bartender. “We had a whole plan,” Smith recalls. “I had rented the truck and everything. Then, Mother Nature came and said, ‘Eh. Maybe not right now.’” Like it did for so many in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina drastically changed the trajectory of Smith’s life. “She didn’t love New Orleans the way I did, and she didn’t want to deal with the (post-Katrina) mess,” Smith said. “She had spent a lot of time in North Carolina, so, we decided on Wilmington. “We moved here, she stayed eight weeks, and then she moved back to Texas.” With the ink barely dry on the home lease he had signed and nothing to return to in New Orleans, Smith decided to give things a go in the Port City. Along with bartending stints at Caprice Bistro and Ruth’s Chris Steak House downtown, he also worked as the managing partner at Delancey’s in The Forum on Military Cutoff Road. Then, in 2011, with some financial help from a friend, he began to gain notoriety, satisfying late-night cravings downtown with one of Wilmington’s first food trucks, the Patty Wagon. At the time, Wilmington had little to no experience in regulating food trucks, so the Patty Wagon also brought Smith notoriety with local officials. “I was operating downtown for a year-and-a-half when they came to me and said, ‘Hey, you can’t do this,’ just out of nowhere,” recalls Smith. “I spent

eight months arguing with city council. They were actually super nice.” Smith parked the food truck for good in late 2013 and focused on taking the Patty Wagon’s beloved burgers and other offerings indoors. In 2014, with Slice of Life Pizzeria moving from its longtime location at 122 Market St., Smith had his ideal location, and Fork N’ Cork was born. Next came rave reviews – Best New Restaurant. Best Mac n’ Cheese. “With only 40 seats, we were busy. Really busy,” Smith said. Then, it was Guy Fieri and his popular Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fieri’s visit in early 2018 coincided with Smith’s foray into a second location: a new concept in Riverlights’ Marina Village that he called Smoke on the Water. “Smoke was supposed to be a Fork, but it just didn’t work out that way, which was fine” Smith said. “We had this big meeting with developers – people in control of millions of dollars. I looked at the plans, and the cook line was only 10 feet, whereas downtown we have 14 feet. With all of the fresh-cooked food and heavy-prep stuff, there was no way that I could put 120 seats with a 10foot cook line and do the Fork N’ Cork menu.” The developers began to thank Smith and business partner Alan Middleton for their time, until Smith spoke up. “I was like, ‘Hang on. Give me the weekend. I’ll call you on Monday with a different concept. It will be fine,’” he recalled. So, the Texas native set out to design a concept suitable for the space and location but that stayed true to the food he had become known for with Fork N’ Cork. “I wanted to incorporate more barbecue stuff and some seafood,” he said. “Plus, it’s gorgeous there being right on the river.” Smith’s passion for cooking goes back to childhood. “I always say, ‘I learned how to cook because of my mother,’ and people will

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say, ‘Oh, that’s sweet,’” Smith joked. “Then I go, ‘Oh, no. She couldn’t cook to save her life.’ “Don’t get me wrong, she had some go-tos that I still make from time to time, but she was in school, she was a nurse and taught childbirth classes for most of my childhood, so quick and easy was the plan. “We had cookbooks at home. She would come home, and the entire kitchen would be destroyed. Destroyed. And I would be in front of the TV watching The A-Team eating chicken parmesan.” When he set his sights on opening a second Fork N’ Cork location, Smith decided on Carolina Beach. The building’s construction was delayed by Hurricane Florence, pushing the opening from spring to fall 2019. Then, after a brief soft opening in September 2019, Hurricane Dorian delayed things further. “We got through the winter, and we had some local love,” Smith said. “Then, all of a sudden, spring was coming and then – St. Patty’s Day (and COVID). It was tough. I’ve been in some weird situations in my life. Katrina and this, that and the other. I lived in D.C. for 9/11. But the COVID shutdown was probably one of the scariest things I ever went through because my entire livelihood just went, ‘ploop.’ “Trust me. The restaurant-owner handbook did not have this chapter.” On Nov. 20, Smith announced on Facebook that he was closing one of his restaurants – Bone & Bean, a barbecue restaurant on Carolina Beach Road – after taking it over in early 2018. “This was a very difficult decision to make but the last year has been tough for a variety of reasons,” he wrote. Smith’s brother Dustin will move with some of Bone & Bean’s dishes to Fork N’ Cork’s Carolina Beach location. But no matter the hurdles over the years, Wilmington can thank one of Smith’s life changes, that ex-girlfriend, for his concepts gracing its culinary scene. “Her name was Heather,” Smith joked. “We’re actually still great friends.” W I N T E R 2020

THE TAKEAWAY

OUT OF BOUNDS L

ocal artist and poet Dick Roberts co-founded Acme Art Studios 30 years ago and the No Boundaries International Art Colony 20 years ago. The art colony brings artists from around the world to Bald Head Island once a year to immerse themselves in a creative environment. Like many things, 2020 scuttled this year’s plans, but the work continues. A retrospective exhibit by colony participants runs through December 18 at CFCC’s Wilma W. Daniels Art Gallery. For Roberts, his current exhibit “Tributaries of Abstraction,” runs through January 29 at Acme and as part of a virtual tour through Art in Bloom Gallery. “The magic of painting can never be totally explained,” Roberts said. “I find joy in discovering the emerging world of a new painting.” PHOTO BY ERIN COSTA

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WILMA’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE gives up-and-coming leaders a unique opportunity to learn from top leaders in the region, visit a range of local companies and serve as each others’ personal board of directors.

Chip Mahan speaking to the 2018 Class

Members of the 2019 Class

2020 Class graduates

Individuals can apply themselves, and companies are encouraged to nominate high-potential leaders in their organizations.

APPLY OR NOMINATE SOMEONE BY JAN. 31

The next program starts April 2021 and meets once a month for nine months. Meeting formats online or in-person will be based on gathering restrictions in place next year. We plan to have our peer advisory boards of eight Leadership Institute members meet in-person, even if it’s outside. The Institute is part of WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative, whose mission is to help develop more women leaders in the Wilmington area.

TOPICS INCLUDE: Thinking Strategically | Negotiation Techniques | Leading Through Challenging Times | and more INVESTMENT: If applicant is accepted, the cost of the nine-month program is $2,150.

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SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE GRADUATES

ASHLEY KENT

ELIZABETH BARFIELD

ERIN COSTA

CHANDLER DAVIS

APRIL ENGLAND

KATIE GLOE

FRALEANE HUDSON

LYANA HUNTER

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NHRMC

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SHERI SHAW

ROBBIN WILLIAMS

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J O H N A N D E R S O N , Agent/Broker, Maus Warwick Matthews & Co. 910.616.9505 | janderson@mwmrealestate.com PA R K E R A N D E R S O N Developer, SAMM Properties 910.200.6614 parker@sammproperties.comm

WilmingtonBiz Magazine - December issue

Articles inside

COVID CHANGES

NEWS DIGEST

RESTAURANT ROUNDUP: JAMES SMITH

SOUND OFF

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

BIZ BITES