WILMA Spring 2024

WILMA

The Influence Issue

Women making their marks in all circles

First-Name Basis

Wilma Daniels’ lifetime award

On the Ball

Semi-pro women’s soccer comes to ILM

Print Maker

Erika Tucker launches her mission-driven textile line

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Come enjoy the 2024 Azalea Festival fireworks from the deck of the Battleship NORTH

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

$30 per person (ages 5 and under free)

Includes a pink folding chair, a bag of pink popcorn (donated by Friends of the Battleship NC), DJ, self-guided deck tour, and premiere firework viewing. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.

RESERVE TICKETS HERE!

RESERVE TICKETS HERE!

Friday, April 5th from 6 – 9 pm at the

WILMA

81

46

like a pro

88

Wilma in WILMA

coffee, cocktails, culture

quintessential quiche

45

46

Kate Supa photographed Sundara founder Erika Tucker for this month’s cover, with Drewe Smith styling the photoshoot. Tucker is a textile designer who also started a nonprofit to provide PJs to kids in need.

family jewels reading room vacay vibes

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Leadership +

PUBLISHER Rob Kaiser

PRESIDENT Robert Preville

EDITOR Vicky Janowski

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Angela Conicelli

SENIOR MARKETING CONSULTANTS

Maggi Apel

Craig Snow

Kimberly Stamper

Stacey Stewart

MARKETING CONSULTANTS

Alexis Alphin

Jillian Hon

DIGITAL CLIENT SUCCESS COORDINATOR

Jessic Vincoli

EVENTS DIRECTOR Jamie Merrill

EVENTS & MEDIA COORDINATOR

Alecia Hall

ART DIRECTOR - EDITORIAL Suzi Drake

ART DIRECTOR - MARKETING Tara Weymouth

MEDIA COORDINATOR Julia Jones

FASHION STYLIST Drewe Smith

CONTRIBUTORS

Tim Bass, Nina Bays, Stephanie Bowens, Jenny Callison, Meghan Corbett, Audrey Elsberry, Beth A. Klahre, Samantha Kupiainen, Emory Rakestraw, Katie Schmidt, Katelynn Watkins

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Daria Amato, Madeline Gray, Aris Harding, Terah Hoobler, Kate Supa,

DIRECTOR OF FEAST WILMINGTON Jessica Maurer

CONTRIBUTORS

JENNY CALLISON is a former Greater Wilmington Business Journal reporter who continues as a freelancer with the Business Journal and WILMA. Before moving to Wilmington in 2011, she was a university communications director and a freelance reporter covering a variety of beats. Callison talked with Wilmington influencers Penny SpicerSibury, Roz Williams, and Shannon Winslow for “Circles of Influence” (page 81) and Wilma Daniels on her lifetime of achievement (page 36).

MADELINE GRAY is a freelance documentary photographer based in Wilmington. With a master’s degree in photojournalism, her work is regularly featured in local and national publications. She enjoys spending time in places that are off the beaten track and collaborating to share the diverse stories found there. Gray photographed local influencers Penny Spicer-Sidbury, Roz Williams, and Shannon Winslow for “Circles of Influence” on page 81 madelinegrayphoto.com and @madelinepgray on Instagram

BETH A. KLAHRE retired from a major Pennsylvania chocolate manufacturer where she held leadership positions in engineering, IT, and global business services. Now relocated to Southport, she spends her time writing and has been published locally and nationally. She is learning to play the harp, loves walking the beach with her dog, and serves on the board of directors of Friends of the Library Southport & Oak Island. Klahre shares info on Wilmington’s new women’s soccer league on page 46.

DREWE SMITH and KATE SUPA own a creative studio – Drewe and Kate Branding Co. – that helps companies elevate their brand and digital presence through photography, brand styling, logo design, and website creation. They styled and photographed Sundara’s Erika Tucker for the issue’s cover and story (page 59) vacationthemed style shoot on page 50 and coquette-ish collection on page 57 dreweandkate.com

EMORY RAKESTRAW is a North Carolina native who has extensively covered the people, places, and history of the Tar Heel State. She works in public relations representing clients in the interior design and wellness sphere throughout the Southeast. When not writing, she can be found at the beach. Rakestraw wrote about Erika Tucker’s newest textile line, Sundara (page 59).

Granite

Oversized

Private

Yard

WE DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE

In 2013, Diana Nyad swam for more than fifty hours through sharkand venomous jellyfishinfested waters between Cuba and Florida.

It wasn’t her first time attempting the 110-mile swim, but at the age of sixty-four, Nyad became the third swimmer to cross the Florida Straits. (The 2023 biopic Nyad detailing the feat is streaming on Netflix now if you want to see how hard this is to do.)

There are debates on whether she finished the swim unassisted, but as a couch observer and not a marathon swimmer, I’m not qualified to weigh in.

Ultimately, it’s exactly 110 miles more than I’ve swam this year.

I did not expect to go down the rabbit hole of Diana Nyad this week – I more stumbled across her story.

On day six of hanging out at UNC Medical Center, it was time to wander the halls. Having checked out every hospital café and several units

over the week, I decided to stop in the Sunday nondenominational service in the chapel.

In sharing Nyad’s story, oncology chaplain Lisa Williams talked about the nearby team around the swimmer helping with food and water while in the water, the point being that a solitary challenge is never unaccompanied.

Many of WILMA’s stories are about the feats of individual women, this issue included.

There’s the community leadership of Wilma Daniels (page 36), the culinary creativity of Abbye McGee (page 40), the giveback entrepreneurship of textile designer Erika Tucker (page 59), the business savvy of Reeds’ Genna Zimmer (page 88), and others throughout these pages.

None do it alone or expect to have to.

After finishing her fifty-three-hour swim, Nyad walked out of the water by herself onto the beach in Key West.

“I have three messages,” she said to reporters. “One is we should never ever give up; two is you are never too old to chase your dreams; and three is it looks like a solitary sport, but it is a team.”

Vicky Janowski, WILMA editor editor@wilmingtonbiz.com

ON FEBRUARY 3, WILMINGTON RUNNER ANN MARIE PIERCE WAS THE EIGHTY-SECOND FASTEST FEMALE MARATHONER IN THE COUNTY.

That was the day Pierce competed in this year’s Olympic Trials qualified for the trials during last year’s Wilmington Marathon with a finishing time of 2:36:17. At the trials in Orlando, she clocked in at 2:43:04. The heat was a challenge in Florida for Pierce, whose time was off from what she expected, but she says she has learned from the experience and plans to take with her in training to try again ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

“The trials experience was humbling, full of energy, and something I will not take for granted,” Pierce says. “Being in the mix of the top marathoners in the country was incredible, and I know it took everyone hard work and commitment to first qualify, and then toe the line on race day. I would also like to mention how special it was to have everyone rooting from home, and many friends and family there at the race.”

Pierce, who in 2021 came in first place at the WILMA Dash while pregnant, had a super fan with her in Florida. “We are expecting our third child in October,” Pierce says, “so the little babe crossed the Olympic marathon trials finish line with mama.”

GOING THE DISTANCE

photo c/o Ann Marie Pierce

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

EACH YEAR, A GROUP OF ARTISTS LOCALLY AND FROM AROUND THE WORLD HEAD TO BALD HEAD ISLAND TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM EACH OTHER AND NATURE.

No Boundaries International Art Colony was created by artists for artists, says VICKY SMITH , president of NBIAR (nbiar.com).

“The main goal is for the participants to meet others with the same interest,” she says. “We strive to select artists in different stages of their careers and with different backgrounds. Everyone has something to offer and a chance to grow.”

This year, ten such artists gathered for two weeks on

the island earlier this year and exhibited their created works at an exhibition at Cape Fear Community College’s Wilma W. Daniels Gallery.

“We started out as an invitational-only residency,” Smith says. “Now, we have an application process and jury the applicants in each year. We would like to have first-time participants every year.

“The artists this year really bonded with each other,” she continues. “They embraced the concept of (No Boundaries). The residency concluded with a group project. This was a fun way for the artists to interact with each other.”

DESIGNING WOMEN

CAMERON ART MUSEUM IS THE SETTING FOR A DEEP DIVE INTO INTERIOR DESIGN, DESIGN, AND ARCHITECTURE IN MAY. Design NC returns to the museum May 2 and 3 for the sixth year. Coming this year are architect ( above, from left) ELIZABETH GRAZIOLO, interior designer CHARLOTTE LUCAS, and SUSANNA PAISLEY, textile designer and creative director of Newton Paisley.

“Each designer offers unique talent that will come together this spring combining science, nature, art, design, comfort, and scale,” says SISSY SCHOETTELKOTTE , Cameron Art Museum, Design NC Chair.

It kicks off with a cocktail party at the museum May 2, with a forum, presentations from this year’s speakers, and a luncheon the next day. Proceeds from the weekend benefit the museum.

Lucas, founder of Charlotte Lucas Design in Charlotte, and Paisley, biologist and botanical fabric and wallpaper designer in the U.K., both grew up in Wilmington. Graziolo is founder and principal of Yellow House Architects in New York City.

Info: cameronartmuseum.org/design-nc

WIN 2024 GRANTS

The Women’s Impact Network of New Hanover County (WIN) is focusing on environmental projects for its $60,000 grants cycle this year. The collective giving circle made up of more than 100 women who pool their contributions to support community nonprofits has given more than $530,000 since 2011. Letters of intent for this year are due in March.

INFO: winofnhc.org

STATE OF BUSINESS

TOP 5 STATES FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN 2024

B New York

C North Carolina

D Georgia

E Florida

F California

Source: Wells Fargo

ON ACCOUNT OF

North Carolina Auditor JESSICA HOLMES is the guest speaker for Cape Fear CREW’s March meeting.

LOCATION: Cape Fear Country Club

DATE + TIME: March 21, 11:30 a.m.

MORE INFO: cape-fear.crewnetwork.org

AZALEA ALTERNATE

If the Azalea Festival isn’t your thing, the annual Alt-Zalea on April 6 is another option. With sixty-six acts at multiple venues, the event “aims to highlight as many local (and regional) musicians as possible on the busiest day of the year in downtown Wilmington.”

INFO: facebook.com/altzaleafest

BUDDING BLOOMS

THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH NORTH CAROLINA AZALEA FESTIVAL RETURNS TO WILMINGTON

IN APRIL. Taking place April 3-7, the festival covers many different corners of the city with events ranging from the festival parade (shown below) and street fair in downtown Wilmington to small, niche interest events.

Community events, such as a fashion show as well as a art show and sale take place in March leading up to the main weekend.

Concerts at Live Oak Pavilion are a large draw, typically spanning different music genres over the multi-night shows. The headlines for this year, as of press time, are T-Pain on April 4 and Chase Rice on April 5.

Other popular ticketed events are the Garden Party at Airlie Gardens and tours of featured homes and gardens. But dozens of other events are planned around the festival. For a full list of them and updates, go to ncazaleafestival.org.

photo c/o NC Azalea Festival

2 W OMEN W ATCH

ON THE AGENDA

Advice and connections from local leaders + the latest on WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative

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W2W INITIATIVE UPDATES

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W2W INITIATIVE SPONSORS

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LEADERSHIP ADVICE FROM DONNA ESTEVES

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PLUGGING IN: CREATIVE SPACES

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PLUGGING IN: COWORKING DIRECTORY

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WILMA DANIELS ON LIFETIME LEADERSHIP

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FUTURE LEADERS CLASS OF 2024

UPDATES W2W RECAP:

W2W

The latest on WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative and its mission to help develop more women leaders in our area

• LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: The latest cohort of WILMA’s Leadership Institute graduated in December (above) . The class went through leadership skills training, peer advisory discussions, and connections with area executives. Over a hundred applications were submitted to participate in this year’s class, and those who were selected will begin meeting in April.

• MENTORING: This year’s group of WILMA mentors and mentees have been meeting one-on-one each month to work on the women’s professional goals.

• FUTURE LEADERS: Our youngest W2W group, twelve eleventh-grade teens, also began meeting monthly with their mentors, made up of Leadership Institute alum and Awards finalists.

• IN THE LOOP: Keep up to date with these and other Leadership Initiative programs as well as application announcements by going to WILMAmag. com or signing up for the WILMA Leadership email at WILMAmag.com/emailnewsletter.

WILMA’S FUTURE LEADERS LEADERSHIP INITIA TIVE

W2W UP NEXT:

How to connect with WILMA’s leadership programs

• WOMEN TO WATCH AWARDS: Applications for this year’s awards open in April in the categories of Arts, Business, Education, Health, Nonprofit/Volunteer, Public Sector, and Rising Star. Info: W2WAward.com

• GET ON BOARD: The next board training session, held in conjunction with UNCW’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO), takes place this year; date and location will be announced

• LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: The 2024 WILMA’s Leadership Institute class kicks off with a day-long orientation.

• LEADERSHIP ACCELERATOR: WILMA’s annual leadership conference returns to the Wilmington Convention Center in July. Info: W2WLeadership.com

LEADERSHIP MENTORING

FUTURE LEADERS

WOMEN TO WATCH AWARDS

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

LEADERSHIP ACCELERATOR

BRANDY KECK SVP - Head of Veterinary Lending LIVE OAK BANK

“It is with great pride that Live Oak Bank, a founding sponsor of WILMA, continues to support the amazing women of Wilmington and the incredible contributions they are making on our community. Live Oak, who’s on a mission to be America’s small business bank, strives to get capital into the hands of women-owned small businesses to help foster the impactful work of the WILMA network with a spirit of empowerment, evolution, and determination.”

“Our investment in WILMA’s Leadership Initiative is an investment in our community. We are dedicated to the upward mobility of both Novant Health team members and community members through programs designed to improve opportunities for professional growth. We are proud to continue our support of this incredible program that provides women with more access to skill building and development opportunities.”

FOUNDING SPONSORS

KRISTY HUBARD VP, Strategic Initiatives NOVANT HEALTH

Celebrating 50 Years of Compassionate In-Home Care!

Carroll Herring established the first homecare company in Wilmington— Eldercare At Home.

Carroll’s son Russell Herring created AssistedCare as a personal care company.

The Herring Family joined their two brands to “become one unified family of companies.”

Eldercare At Home celebrates 50 years of service.

Carroll Herring today with her son Russell Herring.

Carroll Herring and members of the first CNA class in 1973.

Ijust wrapped up a thirty-seven-year career, comprised of thirteen very different roles, with a truly exceptional Fortune 500 company.

I had jobs that I didn’t really want or enjoy, jobs that I questioned my ability to do, and jobs that I loved. As I reflect on the different experiences, there are learnings that helped me to succeed in each role, and I’ve found that most of them can apply to other areas of life as well.

• You are responsible for your career. Your supervisor and/or HR can help you create a career plan, but you must recognize that it will change. Be intentional about the experiences you seek out and be mindful of the learnings that you get out of each experience. Understand the requirements of any future jobs that you are interested in and find ways to get the experience or skills necessary to be a viable candidate. Let your leadership team know what you’re interested in so that they can help guide and support you through the process.

• Don’t fear the difficult experiences that will challenge you. You will learn and grow the most from

Key Takeaways from a Successful Career: advice from Donna Esteves

the hard stuff. Be open to new opportunities outside of your comfort zone. For many, it’s easy to build your skill set in one functional area and move up the chain, but this can also lead to stagnation and complacency. By trying something new, you may discover an entirely different functional area of work that you want to pursue, or at the very least, you will know what you don’t want to do in future roles.

• To stand out, intentionally work, dress, and communicate at the next level. You should do everything that is asked of you in your job, and then ask for more. Seek out projects that cross-functional areas and work teams to increase visibility and networking opportunities. Study and emulate someone that you admire for their leadership style and results; ask for advice or mentoring from them.

• Look for the win-win solution. I’m a black-andwhite rule follower, and it took me a while to embrace the gray, particularly in supervisory situations. Understand what you need to get out of a situation and understand what the other person (or business) needs; there is usually a compromise that will satisfy both of you and strengthen your relationship in the long run.

• Get to know your supervisor, coworkers, and subordinates. Understand what their strengths are and what drives them. A key piece of advice came from a very wise woman who taught a class to first-level supervisors many years ago; Mildred Ramsey told us, “You can’t effectively supervise someone that you don’t know.” I recommend her book, The Super Supervisor. One of the most rewarding things for a supervisor is to help

a struggling employee by giving them work that plays to their strengths; it can be transformative.

• Find the right work/life balance and stick to it. Prioritize your mental and physical health and well-being. Build a well-rounded, skilled team. Delegate tasks to them and trust them to get the work done. Results will determine your success, not how many hours it took you to get there; develop habits and processes to be efficient and effective in your work. Consider getting involved in the community. The reward usually outweighs the work when you’re helping others.

• Stay true to yourself and your values. The company that I worked for has very well-defined and communicated values that define relationships with employees, customers, and the community. I embraced those values early on, and they formed the foundation for my work and personal life. Treat people with respect and consistency, be honest, and strive to do the right thing; you will never regret taking the high road.

I can truly say that I have never regretted a job that I’ve had, including the ones that weren’t exactly fun, because I’ve learned so much from each one.

I’m thankful for all of the experiences, challenges, skills, and learnings I have picked up over my long, varied career, and now I’m looking forward to continued growth and learning in my new role of retiree! W

Donna Esteves recently retired from Corning Incorporated after thirtyseven years working in engineering, production management, and supply chain management positions, managing departments with up to 625 personnel. She is a member of WILMA’s Women to Watch Advisory Board, WILMA’s mentoring program, and is on the board of directors for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.

StretchLab, the global leader in assisted stretching, introduces people of all ages and fitness levels to the various health and wellness benefits of working with highly trained Flexologists™ in an open, modern, fun and approachable environment. Whether looking to reduce pain, increase flexibility, or relax muscles, all are welcome to experience the underrated world of assisted stretching at StretchLab.

StretchLab, the global leader in assisted stretching, introduces people of all ages and fitness levels to the various health and wellness benefits of working with highly trained Flexologists™ in an open, modern, fun and approachable environment. Whether looking to reduce pain, increase flexibility, or relax muscles, all are welcome to experience the underrated world of assisted stretching at StretchLab.

Individuals of all fitness levels and backgrounds find relief and progress with StretchLab—and its benefits are especially felt by those who enjoy high impact and high intensity activities, including pickleball and tennis.

The game of pickleball and tennis require lateral movements in the lower body, rotational movements in the trunk, and internal and external rotation of the shoulders. Unfortunately, as a result of love of the games and oftentimes lack of warm-up and recovery, players are highly prone to injury, which often includes torn muscles, tennis elbow, or joint issues in the hips and knees. Regular assisted stretching is known to open and mobilize these key areas of the body, helping to increase the endurance during the game, prevent and heal from injury and improve overall performance, strength, and agility.

StretchLab offers a variety of one-on-one personalized stretching services including a 25-minute stretch that concentrates on the client’s current stretching needs, as well as a 50-minute head-to-toe deep stretch that addresses all major muscle groups - much needed for those spending hours on the hard courts and dinking in the kitchen! Flexologists™ hold a nationally recognized certificate in assisted stretching, as the Flexologist Training Program is accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, a first in the field of assisted stretching and something no other brand offers.

Pickleball land tennis lovers are invited to StretchLab Wilmington to experience the relief, recovery, and potential to progress on the court needed to continue to play the game they love.

2030 Stonecrop Drive, #504

Wilmington, NC 28412

+1 (910) 765-0750

southwilmington@stretchlab.com

PLUGGING IN COWORKING

COMMUNAL CREATIVES: Finding a coworking spot that fits

by STEPHANIE BOWENS

photo by ARIS HARDING

Freelance creative producer SARAH SLOAN, who tells stories through film, and artist MARISSA GLASE, who creates customized artwork for clients, are two flourishing creatives who recently started using workspace at CoWorx.

CoWorx, in the Cargo District, offers a variety of collaborative workspaces for those who want a creative place to work outside of the traditional office building or home office.

Sloan, owner of Land & People, a documentary production company that uses storytelling to build Southern grassroots power, worked as a freelance creative producer of documentaries in Morehead City for five years before moving to Wilmington a year ago.

“People that I interview, I consider them collaborators,” says Sloan, who specializes in a community-made media production process. “They are as much a part of telling the story as I am … I think the best kind of storytelling is when we are doing it with one another.”

Sloan works on various projects, from small, creative video projects that may appear on Instagram or TikTok to feature-length documentaries and some scripted content.

“As a producer, the film or video is my baby, and it’s my job to bring the baby into the world, communicate to everyone what the project is and what the goals are, staff it up, give notes and direct on the shoot, go into the edit, and guide that edit until it’s a final product,” she says.

“I feel very lucky to be able to do this work

in North Carolina and make media in my home region,” says Sloan, who grew up in Chapel Hill and attended the University of Southern California. “Film has a legitimizing nature to it. It can push culture and society in a way that individual conversation can’t. … Growing up in the South, I grew up with a lot of really harmful, oppressive narratives and felt a huge desire to push out as many better stories as possible and be a part of that work.”

Sloan sometimes works for film companies. Other times she works directly with clients who see documentaries as a way to advance their ideas or address an issue. For example, Sloan has created documentaries for the American Civil Liberties Union, the North Carolina Justice Center, and the Environmental Grantmakers Association.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in May with a degree in studio art and a minor in art history, Glase worked full-time managing a website for a small business and part time as a bartender in the Cargo District. Bartending turned out to be an unexpected source of opportunities for her as an artist.

“I realized quickly I could make connections really easily through bartending,” Glase says. “I was meeting a lot of business owners and people starting businesses who need logos, branding, and murals. There’s such a great demand in this area because it’s developing so much.”

Glase’s conversations and networking paid off.

In a short time, Glase says, she was able to leave her full-time job, launch her new business MG Art LLC, and begin focusing on creating art for her clientele of established small businesses and start-up businesses. Though Glase says she most enjoys creating murals and working on branding and logo projects, she creates art for all types of projects for clients, from chalkboards for businesses and posters for events to album covers.

“I like helping people bring their visions to life,” Glase says.

Glase says she thinks flexibility as an artist in

Wilmington is one of the keys to being successful.

“I love abstract work, that’s my favorite thing to do when it comes to my personal paintings,” she says. “I switch that part of my brain off when I’m working a lot of the times, but I think that’s what makes a good artist: somebody that can be flexible with it.”

“I can work in a lot of different styles, and I work very quickly, so it makes it easy for me to be able to provide clients with a variety of options,” Glase says.

Glase is one of CoWorx’s primary muralists, and she’ll be working with CoWorx and the Cargo District to start putting some new artworks throughout the area. Some of the new developments Glase’s work is expected to be part of include the Cargo West Food Court and the up-and-coming Bar and Arcade occupying the 615 South 15th Street building.

Before utilizing space at CoWorx’s Queen Street location, Glase worked from home but says the private office at CoWorx she’s had since January has helped her focus while working.

“I’ve been so much more productive since I’ve had this place,” she says.

Sloan, who used to enjoy working from home before trying out coworking spaces, also works out of CoWorx’s Queen Street location. She says she’s happier using coworking space.

“I like being able to talk to people who work in other industries,” she says. “I also enjoy being able to leave at the end of the day and feel like that part of my life is done and I can go home, and it’s a place of rest.”

Sloan and Glase encourage making time to engage with others in coworking spaces.

“The coworking space allows you to get a community so you get the feeling of an office place but you’re not all working for the same people,” Glase says, adding networking opportunities can be invaluable. W

Each issue, WILMA includes a Plugging In directory to help you connect locally. This time, we’re focusing on coworking spaces in the area. Keep an eye out for future lists about tech groups and interest meetups. Let us know about your organization by emailing editor@wilmingtonbiz.com

PLUGGING IN COWORKING COWORX

In the Cargo District, CoWorx has expanded to two coworking spaces: CoWorx on Queen (at 1608 Queen Street) and CoWorx on Castle (at 1502 Castle Street). Rates range from daily passes to dedicated desks. Read more about some of the women who create out of the space on page 32.

INFO: COWORXSPACE.COM

ELEVATE

Maggie Blackham opened Elevate Coworking in 2022 as a space especially for women. The space, at 2512 Independence Boulevard, Suite 100, includes workspaces, conference and meetings rooms, a photo studio, a podcast studio, and event space rentals. It also focuses on building community through events and workshops. Recent workshop topics included podcasting, personal health, speed networking for women in business, and lunch and learns.

INFO: ELEVATECOWORKING.INFO

COMMON DESK

Coworking facility Common Desk has hosted more than 150 ventures of all sizes since it opened in downtown Wilmington in January 2021. East West Partners purchased an empty, boarded-up building at 226 N. Front St. in 2018 and renovated it into a hub for companies that needed anything from one desk to a suite of offices across three floors. It also includes conference room and event space rentals.

INFO: THECOMMONDESK.COM/ LOCATIONS/WILMINGTONCOWORKING

BLUE MIND

Blue Mind Coworking caters to startups, entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small businesses. The 7,600-squarefoot space is at 301 Government Center Drive off Racine Drive. Its name and approach are inspired by Wallace Nichols’ book Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do , which is about the benefits of living near water and impacts on your personal wellbeing and professional success. Amenities at Blue Mind include conference rooms, a podcast room, and networking events.

INFO: BLUEMINDCOWORKING.COM

UNCW CIE

The University of North Carolina’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship includes incubator and coworking space for emerging businesses – whether or not they are affiliated with the university. Besides working space, tenants also have access to free or discounted admission to CIE events, mentoring and advising, and Mac desktops in the coworking space.

I NFO: UNCW.EDU/RESEARCH/ CENTERS/INNOVATIONENTREPRENEURSHIP/

CHANNEL

Channel is a business resource center, powered by Live Oak Bank, designed to strengthen the regional economy by increasing diversity in business ownership throughout the Wilmington region. Learning programs and community support systems are offered in a coworking space downtown, with access to technical advisers, professional services, and networking opportunities at no cost.

INFO: LIVEOAKBANK.COM/CHANNEL

A Lifetime Leader: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WINNER WILMA DANIELS TALKS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

by JENNY CALLISON | photo by TERAH HOOBLER

Judging from the list of organizations, causes, and projects with which WILMA DANIELS is involved, it would seem that she possesses more than one pair of helping hands.

Over the years, she’s given her time and many talents to an array of groups – from the YWCA Lower Cape Fear to Wilmington Business Development to the local chapter of the American Heart Association. She has helped shape numerous others, such as the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington, even when her busy schedule kept her from accepting a board position.

Daniels’ decades of community engagement earned her the Duke Energy Lifetime Achievement in Business Award at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting February 15.

Daniels has long blazed a trail, but the 2008 heart attack death of her husband, WINDELL DANIELS, spurred her into accelerated action.

“I felt I had to keep myself busy,” she says. “It was like an awakening. My children were grown. So, I went back to work quickly. And I got involved with the American Heart Association; the (annual) Heart Walk is named in honor

of my husband. I tell people to take care of themselves, exercise, watch what they eat. Then, I got involved with stroke (associations). The more I read, the more I got involved. One thing led to another.”

Like her late business owner husband, Wilma Daniels has both a ready helping hand and a heart for service. Windell Daniels’ involvement with the Wilmington Housing Authority and concern about homelessness led the couple to purchase, in 1998, an entire block on Meares Street that included the former William Hooper School. They converted the property into the William Hooper Apartments, offering fifty units of affordable housing for older adults.

“That was our baby,” Daniels says of the development. But the apartments aren’t her only channel to help house vulnerable populations. She keeps in close touch with KATRINA KNIGHT, executive director of Good Shepherd Center, which works to rehouse homeless people and connect them with sustaining resources.

“I have a close working relationship with Katrina and help out when I can,” Wilma Daniels says, adding that sometimes, when she drives past the center, she’s inspired to stop and pray for the organization.

Education is also close to her heart. A Williston High School and Shaw University alum, Wilma Daniels became active with Cape Fear Academy through her participation in Leadership Wilmington

some years ago. She also noticed that the student body lacked diversity.

“They wanted to get more African American students but didn’t know how,” Wilma Daniels says.

She arranged for a school representative to address Black audiences. Together, they visited Black churches. The school began advertising in the Wilmington Journal newspaper. As youngsters showed interest in CFA, Wilma Daniels provided information; if they needed financial help, she steered them to the school’s scholarship opportunities.

She has also had a hand in the growth and development of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she served eleven years as a trustee and chaired the board for two years.

“When I was on the UNCW board, I really got involved with students, just talked to them and encouraged them,” she says, adding that she tried to educate and inspire students about the work Wilmington-area nonprofits were doing.

During her time on the board, Wilma Daniels witnessed tremendous growth and change at the university.

“I see so many projects that came through my hands,” she says. “I’m proud of the … new buildings for the students that were approved while I was on the board. It was a win-win. … I won, learning so much when I was at the college, working with the Board of Governors. It was a win for the (students) and the faculty.”

Secrets

“People should know ALEXIS HUNTER (community liaison) at Wilmington Health. She is very engaged and involved in the community.”

RECOMMENDED READ Business Success

“It talks about how different entrepreneurs think and what works to become successful.”

WOMAN TO KNOW

LOCAL PROGRAM TO ATTEND: Wilmington Chamber of Commerce events and the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s quarterly Power Breakfasts –“You stay abreast of things happening in Wilmington and the state.”

Wilma and Windell Daniels also left their stamp on Cape Fear Community College. Union Station’s fifth-floor meeting space and ballroom bears his name, while the Wilma W. Daniels Gallery gracing CFCC’s Third Street parking deck acknowledges her impact on many students.

Having grown up in a musical family, Daniels says she taught music for many years, helping children discover their own gifts through her philosophy of “Yes, you can.” And she has enjoyed helping build the confidence and skills of girls and young women from underserved neighborhoods, sharing her belief, “You can do anything you want to do. Make up your mind and stay focused.”

“I used to go into the housing projects and pull out some of the girls and do a reception for them, bringing in professionals from the city – women from different fields,” she says. “They talked to the young ladies, made them feel good about themselves. Unfortunately, everybody’s so busy now, we don’t have those services. Those girls are not getting the attention they need, so we are losing them. The same for the young guys; they need mentors who will make sure they have the tools they need to grow their interests.”

No one is busier than Wilma Daniels herself, president of Daniels Development Co., who still serves on the boards of Wilmington Business Development and the UNCW Foundation and lends her hand and her heart to any number of other endeavors. She’s also president of the Williston Alumni Community Choir, whose rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule requires serious commitment from its members. Most days, she’s working at the William Hooper Apartments, filling in for the manager who is seriously ill. She tries to spend as much time as possible with her sons, Windell Jamar and Euran, and their families.

“My goal this year is to take more time for vacation, to do a little more for me, because I have gotten so busy,” she says. “But I love what I do. I love people; love helping people and making a difference in my city. That’s what counts – giving back. Your time, your energy. Serving. That’s mainly what I’m all about. God blesses me every day.” W

SOPHIE APONTE

Laney High School

“I look up to my AP chemistry teacher as a leader. He is great at teaching the complex AP material in a way that is easy to understand. He tells us about his days working as a chemist in a lab. He inspires me to pursue a chemistry-related field.”

NEEKA BRILL

Hoggard High School

“One goal that I have that I hope to work on this year as a WILMA’s Future Leader is finding more ways to help out around the community. I plan to volunteer with local organizations, meet fellow leaders, and broaden my perspective.”

ALYSSA COREY

Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington

“Leadership to me means having clear communication to your peers. Leaders are inspiring yet they motivate others by putting others on the right track. Anyone can be a leader, any adult, any child, anyone who has a purposeful and influential mindset. When you have leadership, you may guide others to be effective and open minded. Empowering others is a good trait to have and develop throughout your life and is very beneficial.”

CLEO DASCHBACH

New Hanover High School

“Leadership to me is not just about guiding others, but also about learning how to lift up my community. It’s about recognizing the strengths and needs of those around me and working together to create positive change.”

JAIDA DORSEY

Wilmington Early College High School

“A leader that I look up to is my boss, Tywanna Miller. Typically, leaders are just seen as someone who can effectively command a group of people, but she has the ability to make you passionate about not only your work but your goals all while preaching the importance of self-care.”

MAIA ORTIZ

INTRODUCING FUTURE LEADERS

Isaac Bear Early College High School

WILMA’s

CLASS of 2024

The group of twelve 11th graders from area schools was selected through a competitive application process. Throughout the year, the students will work with their mentors and be invited to WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative events.

Read about this year’s class members and what leadership looks like and means to them in their own words.

MORE INFO: wilmamag.com/women-to-watch

MELANIE

GUILLERMO-DE JESUS

Laney High School

“Leadership to me means our youth. Our youth are today’s change-makers. A good leader is an individual who will be fair, take action boldly, and isn’t afraid to create a brighter future for their community regardless of age.”

AVA MCNEELY

Hoggard High School

“To me, leadership means taking initiative and putting my best self forward as well as encouraging and supporting others around me to reach their goals. One goal I want to work on during my year as a WILMA’s Future Leader is building connections with people within my realm of career interest that turn into meaningful relationships.”

“As a WILMA’s Future Leader, I want to explore more career options and learn more about the kinds of jobs I may be interested in in the future. Through exploring these different careers, I would like to network and meet new people.”

ESTEFANIA

PEREZ POSADAS

Career Readiness Academy at Mosley

“For me leadership means to have the capacity of influencing someone’s vision by passion and inspiration, by kindness and respect, and that’s why I’m so excited about The WILMA’s Future Leader program. I know I can achieve my leadership skills, and I know people can influence me by this opportunity.”

EMILY POWELL

Cape Fear Academy

“To me, leadership is the ability to take charge of a situation no matter what it is or who is involved, listen to different perspectives, and effectively guide the group toward a solution. A leader must be able to communicate, make decisions, and most importantly, collaborate with the rest of the team.”

MAYA ROSEBORO

Isaac Bear Early College High School

“Leadership is failure and resilience –leadership is the ability to fail forward. Any leader can be successful, but excellent leaders are made stronger through their failures, and the best leaders are able to nurture aspirations and cultivate confidence in other growing leaders.”

FINLEY ROUNTREE

Ashley High School

“Leadership is teamwork, collaboration, hard work, honesty, and integrity. It is what pushes me to be the best version of myself while being someone for others to look up to. Strong leadership helps to build relationships, uses motivation to be successful, and brings people together towards a common goal.”

Spirited

track

record

by MEGHAN CORBETT

The Ibis was a new concept that we knew Wilmington would love and that we could really put a lot of heart and creativity into.

“ “

ABBEY MCGEE

The Ibis

photos by Matt Ray/courtesy of The Ibis

TASTE

When ABBYE MCGEE and MATT RAY wanted to create a one-of-a-kind space where area residents and visitors could “come and stay a while,” they decided to combine some of their favorite things in a way everyone could agree on in a space they named The Ibis.

Located in the Soda Pop District, The Ibis opened late last year as Wilmington’s first and only Hi-Fi coffee and cocktail bar.

“We wanted to create a space that celebrated great music, amazing coffees and cocktails, and that was a welcoming space,” McGee says. “I love creating something from nothing – to see a project go from idea to completion is so rewarding. The Ibis was a new concept that we knew Wilmington would love and that we could really put a lot of heart and creativity into. Plus, my entrepreneurial brain never shuts off. Once we had the idea, we couldn’t not do it.”

Based in the Bottle Works Building (a former Coca-Cola bottling plant) on Princess Street, The Ibis melds bites, drinks, and music with the trend of listening rooms. McGee and Ray partnered with Gravity Records to establish the space’s sounds.

For McGee, combining food with a love of music stemmed from memories of childhood, cooking, and entertaining guests with her grandmother before studying music in college.

“My grandmother taught me to cook when I was a little girl, and we would feed a house full of people all the time,” she says. “I don’t have a culinary education. I was a music major at UNCW and was in the music industry for years before I went back to my passion for entertaining and cooking.”

McGee’s foray into the business world began with a food blog known as Salt and Charm, which

she says “morphed into feeding people in my home every week, then to a small personal chef and dinner party business, and then, ultimately, into the full-scale luxury catering company that it is today.”

“I’m really proud of the team I’ve built at Salt and Charm, and it flowed so seamlessly into the Starling two years ago,” McGee says. “The Starling (in the Cargo District) was my first foray into bar ownership, and I knew that, just like Salt and Charm, I wanted to create the best team. That started with my business partner and longtime friend, Matt Ray. From there, we found the absolute best staff in Kaley, Rebekah, Carly, Danny, and Justin. The Ibis was the same process: concept, development, and assemble the best team. … I love creating a space where they can flourish creatively and see them do what they love.”

Utilizing her own palate for taste combinations, McGee has helped to create one-of-a-kind flavors using made-in-house ingredients.

“I’m a huge coffee, wine, and cocktail fan, so I have so many favorites,” she says. “We make everything in-house – from the juice to the syrups to the infusions … our team creates everything from start to finish so that we can ensure the quality and uniqueness of every menu item. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be our orange juniper espresso tonic in the mornings and the James Taylor cocktail at night. That one

For us, it’s human-centered conversation starters, a fun atmosphere where you can be yourself, local desserts, drinks, party vibes & a supportive community of women celebrating women!

is so nostalgic for me because it features peanut-infused Old Forester whiskey, cocoa, salt, and Coca-Cola Refresco with little peanuts garnishing the top. I grew up in the deep South, and we threw peanuts in our Cokes all the time – so this one feels like home to me.”

McGee and Ray created the space to match the welcoming warmth of the menu that also includes savory items such as golden milk muffins, chocolate croissants, and bagels.

“The Ibis is warm and rich but super inviting and comfortable,” McGee says. “Rich woods, leather, gold accents, a gorgeous mural on the wall by the one and only LAUREN GEORGE, and lots of personal touches that really set the space apart.”

Even though The Ibis is a relatively new endeavor, there is never any downtime for McGee and her team.

“Salt and Charm is opening up a new kitchen in March within a high-end event space in Carolina Beach called Kindred,” McGee says. “That will allow us to serve that part of the world with high-end catering and meal prep service, and we are so excited.”

She predicts that she and Ray will have other projects together in the future.

“We have loads of ideas,” McGee says, “and I can’t imagine us not creating again, but we are definitely taking a few minutes to breathe first.” W

SHELL

INGREDIENTS

2 c flour, plus a little more for rolling

1 tsp kosher salt

8 oz (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into cubes

¼ c ice water

2 tbsp canola oil

DIRECTIONS

Place 1 cup of the flour and the salt in the bowl of a mixer or a standard mixing bowl. Slowly add cubes of butter and incorporate butter into flour – use your hands to massage the butter into the flour. Try your best to eliminate all clunks of butter.

Add the water a little at a time and mix with a wooden spoon until the dough begins to collect together. The dough should be shaggy and not too sticky.

Remove the dough from the bowl and onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough by hand

and tell q uiche

When Ellipsis opened at 1502 South 3rd Street last year, the idea was for it to be a unique and cozy venue for food and beverage events.

Quiche Lorraine was a key dish in its early days, says MARGOT ROBISON, corporate executive sous chef at Ellipsis, which is part of the We Are True Blue brand.

to eliminate all chunks of butter until a firm dough ball is formed.

Lightly brush the inside of your spring form with canola oil. Place the dough on a floured work surface and rub on all sides with flour. Roll dough out until it is ¼-inch thick (yes, this is a fairly thick crust) and about 14 inches in diameter.

Carefully lift your dough and place over your spring-form pan. Let it fall to the bottom of the pan and guide the dough to fit the inside of the spring form. Don’t worry about the edges draping over the sides of the pan – leave these.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line the quiche shell with a round of parchment paper. Fill the shell with pie weights or dried beans, gently guiding the weights into the corners of the shell and filling the shell completely. Bake the shell until the edges of the dough are lightly browned but the bottom is still light in color, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove your half-baked shell and let cool.

“I chose to feature Quiche Lorraine because it is very special to the Ellipsis journey,” she says. “Our featured Champagne Jazz Brunches were one of the first things to go on our calendar and have remained a staple since we opened our doors. … The Quiche Lorraine has been a crowd favorite and a recipe I often cook at home for loved ones. It is a great dish to give in both time of celebration and grieving – it is a quintessential recipe to have on hand.” W

FILLING

INGREDIENTS

2 c sauteed leeks

¾ tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp black pepper

2 tsp fresh thyme

2 c whole milk

2 c heavy cream

6 large eggs

1 tbsp kosher salt

¼ tsp freshly ground white pepper

1½ c grated comte or gruyere cheese (plus more for topping)

DIRECTIONS

Saute the bacon in a nonstick pan over medium heat until the bacon is slightly browned and most of the fat is rendered. Add leeks, salt, pepper, and thyme and saute until all flavors are combined. Remove from heat and drain on a towel.

Combine the milk and cream in a large saucepan and heat over medium heat until simmering. Remove

from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

Combine eggs, salt, pepper, and cheese and whisk thoroughly. Slowly add your heated cream mixture egg mixture and whisk until fully incorporated. Once incorporated, add your drained bacon, onion, and herb mixture. Reserve a little for the top of the quiche. This will be your custard mixture for the inside of the quiche.

Scatter some of the cheese onto the bottom of your baked quiche shell. Add half of your custard mixture, then more cheese, then the remaining of your custard mixture. Top with more cheese and bacon mixture.

Bake your quiche at 375 degrees for 90-120 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard center jiggles when moved. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Cut off the leftover crust edges around the spring form, and carefully release the sides of the spring form. Remove quiche from pan. Slice as desired.

For the past two years, Port City FC has built up semipro men’s soccer in Wilmington, and now they’re expanding with a women’s team.

Port City FC plans to launch a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) expansion team this summer, embarking on an exhibition season with six to eight matches.

The team is stacked with experienced leadership to bring the first semi-professional women’s soccer team to the Port City.

JENNIFER LUDEMANN is the assistant coach. As a young player, she played club soccer for the Greensboro Twisters Soccer Club in Greensboro, followed by the collegiate level at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Ludemann played professionally in Finland and semi-professionally for the Charlotte Eagles. She coached youth and college soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy, Tennessee Soccer

by BETH A. KLAHRE

TERAH HOOBLER

Women’s semi-pro soccer team debuts in the Port City

Club, Trevecca Nazarene University, the Wilmington Hammerheads Youth FC, and UNCW. CHAD MEDCALFE serves as head coach.

HAVEN LEWIS, the new team’s general manager, started playing soccer with Pleasure Island Soccer Association when she was three years old.

“From there I’ve never stopped,” she recalls.

She played at Ashley High School as a striker and went on to play on the collegiate level at Cape Fear Community College as a defender. She is actively playing in a local adult soccer league and coaches a youth travel team under the club she grew up with. “Complete full circle for me,” she says.

Lewis (opposite page) plans to be a resource for coaches, players, and fans for the fledgling team. She is responsible for overseeing how the team operates, making sure players and coaches have a plan to perform at their best. She is a behind-the-scenes administrator, handling player contracts and promoting the club brand.

“Communication is a major key to

our success. This is my main responsibility across the board,” she says.

Having a WPSL team in Wilmington is significant, says EION DOCKERY, vice president and general manager of Port City FC.

The men’s team this year becomes part of the National Premier Soccer League, after being a part of the United Premier Soccer League.

Involved in soccer since he was five years old and a player through high school and college, Dockery will collaborate closely with Lewis as the women’s team grows.

“It will provide a platform on the national stage for local supporters and players pursuing their soccer dreams and grow relationships with local business owners,” Dockery says.

The Port City FC Women’s Team aims to advance players to higher professional levels, fostering competition and community growth, while inspiring youth and fueling passion for the game through the opportunity to witness competitive soccer.

Passion collided with the ball at the first tryouts earlier this year.

| photo by

photo

c/o Port City FC

“During tryouts, I looked for technical skill, control of the ball, field IQ, and a positive body language. I looked for high-intensity experience and saw a lot of it all around. I could see a good depiction of what each potential player had to offer on the field in their respective position,” Lewis says.

After round two of tryouts in March, twenty-five women are expected to be named to the team.

Both Lewis and Ludemann are looking forward to coaching and mentoring these athletes. Ludemann describes her coaching style as super relational and individual focused.

“I encourage but hold a standard and push players to achieve their best,” she says. Most of the players are former college teammates or former club teammates. “I think it will feel like a reunion of friends. And most players are local. They have a love for Wilmington and the soccer culture we are building.”

Ludemann is most excited about forging a new path. “Doing it for the first time is always exciting, and I think we will have a great pool of talent, a great group of players and staff,” she says.

Lewis is eager to watch the cohesion among the range of players grow. “To see older, more experienced players complement younger players’ playing styles is exciting. Watching the camaraderie build into the field and off will be really exciting.”

For both Lewis and Ludemann, the team goes well beyond the field. Ludemann says, “The game of soccer takes you to some amazing places, and you build lifelong friendships. It’s worth everything you put into it.”

Lewis adds, “Soccer teaches you that there is always something worth getting up for. It teaches dedication, perseverance, how to be a team player, and how to navigate within responsibility bigger than yourself. Soccer is a universal language with a translation into everything. And everything that you put in, you will get out in a multitude of ways throughout life.” W

WPSL practices begin in April, and games run May through July at Legion Stadium. Info: facebook.com/portcityfcwilmington

The cover up

Alemais SHIRTDRESS in blue, crop TOP (stylist’s own), Pistola Charlie high rise JEAN in Delores Park, Page Dina SANDALS in gold, blue woven BRACELET, Sylvia Benson Lantern freshwater PEARL NECKLACE, Sylvia Benson Poppy Row EARRINGS, and Kayu Ami embroidered straw CLUTCH in natural

take it

easy easy

Spring, the season when the sun shines again, the flowers bloom, and best of all, vacations are booked. Whether planning a lengthy lounge on the Portuguese coast or a short jaunt to a closer port, these trip-ready essentials will help you pack light, while looking luxurious.

The cafe pant. One of the best things about vacation lies in the art of discovery. Nothing’s better than stumbling into a local caffeinefueled gem to start planning your day of adventure over a galão or as a pitstop between destinations. Packing this versatile pant guarantees you a steadfast travel buddy.

The button down. Worn as a casual piece or for a night out, the button down is a key travel staple, especially when you’re on the go. Pro-

tip: Use that hotel iron if you want a crisper look.

The cover up. And so much more. Sure, you can don this poolside while drinking a caipirinha, but you can also throw it over your outfit on cooler afternoons or wear it as a dress on its own. A three-for-one!

The night-outer. Yes, many of these pieces can go from day to night with ease, but it’s worth it to pack at least one dressier piece. Go for some color, and not your usual LBD.

The jacket. It may take up a little more luggage space, but how many times have you been caught in a spot that’s much chillier than you expected? Be safe and pack a great denim jacket or mid-weight cardigan to keep warm without sacrificing your breezy vacay style. W

photos & styling by DREWE AND KATE BRANDING CO. | intro by NINA BAYS

Alemais Melody midi DRESS

Thecafepant

Cara Cara

Alfie PANTS in medallion scarf print, Clare V. Midi Sac BAG in natural and cream, and long stem poppy EARRINGS by Sylvia Benson

Amo Samerra SWING COAT, Aje Esprit embroidered MINI SKIRT, Sylvia Benson Morse Code Born to be Wild NECKLACE, and Destree Sonia HOOP EARRINGS

The jacket

MODEL:

Kayleigh Hally

HAIR & MAKEUP:

Meraki Beauty

WARDROBE:

S. Worsley

Hannah Artwear Cleo BLOUSE in poppy, AMO Wilma PANT in toffee, Sylvia Benson Lantern freshwater PEARL NECKLACE, and Clare V. Turnlock Louis BAG in chocolate suede

LOCATION:

The Sandspur

103 Lake Park Blvd South, Carolina Beach

The button down

Take Bow a

by Nina Bays

There once was a time when dressing too feminine was considered anti-feminist. But with the girl power feels of pop culture icons such as Bey, Tay Sway, and of course, Barbie, the reclaiming of the cute for adult women is well underway.

Seas by Merewif vegan NAIL POLISHin

With an emphasis on the ultra femme, “coquette-core” (thank you TikTok) mixes vintage romance with girlhood innocence. Picture a playful mashup of Victorian lace and seductive sheers with girly bows, rosettes, and pearls. The aesthetic is all about feminine vibes in delicate hues – pink especially – conjuring up an ethereal presence in ballet flats.

Some say it’s a way to reconcile your inner child with your grown-up self. Others may just want to own their sugar and spice (and everything nice.) Either way, the interpretation is up to you.

As a wise woman (kinda) once said: You're everything. And he's just Ken. W

Dylan SHIRT JACKET and Lucy SHORTS in aloe stripe by Trovata, available at S. Worsley

Plaid button SWEATER merlot top,

Pink availableSUNGLASSES, at Island Passage

Mayfair HAT in Sea Foam, available at Pipton

Audrey BALLAT FLAT, available at Zia Boutique

HERE SUN COMES THE

Pajama Jams founder Erika Tucker brings a new mission to a new market with Sundara

by EMORY RAKESTRAW | photos by DREWE AND KATE BRANDING CO.

Traveling the globe and perusing the atmospheric markets of India and Morocco might be a dream come true for some. For ERIKA TUCKER, this process was merely part of her job as the fashion marketing manager for Cotton Inc. She saw firsthand how textiles preserve cultural heritage and the way the ancient process of block printing is a vessel for community and female-led expression.

Now, she’s bringing that to the Wilmington market with her sustainably sourced pajama and textile company, Sundara.

“The Sundara journey began with my fascination for textiles, colors, and textures. This passion led me to explore countries like India and Morocco, where I met women artisans in their homes and studios,” Tucker says. “I fell in love with the process of block printing. I was so inspired by the women and at that point, I decided I wanted to collaborate with women to design pajamas in India using the block printing technique.”

The company name, Sundara, is inspired by the Sanskrit word for beautiful.

Tucker’s idea was born long before its inception, yet the past sixteen years have been dedicated to her initial venture, Pajama Jams, which today has provided over 25,000 pairs of pajamas to

children in need.

“It (Pajama Jams) all began one Christmas Eve when my children were allowed to open one gift early, and they complained that it was pajamas and not a toy or game,” she says. “This led us to venture out into the community and start collecting pajamas for kids who might otherwise go without. This experience made me realize the profound impact something as simple as a pair of pajamas can have on a child’s life, providing them with warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

“From that moment on, pajamas became a symbol of hope and compassion, motivating me to continue our efforts with Pajama Jams and extend our mission through Sundara, our socially conscious pajama brand,” Tucker adds.

During that time, Tucker fueled her passion for creating positive change. As Sundara prepares to officially launch in the spring, she’ll carry that mission with her while continually evolving to meet the needs and demands of her community.

With Sundara, the incorporation of vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and high-quality fabrics – such as cotton voile – aim to celebrate the richness of cultural diversity and ethical practices within the

fashion industry.

Tucker was first drawn to the art of block printing during her travels conducting trend and color research with a focus on promoting the use of cotton fabrics.

“My trips to India not only involved exploring the country but also conducting extensive research and building connections with local artisans,” she says. “I attended block printing workshops and engaged with vendors to understand the printing process and garment production.”

Block printing is one of the earliest and slowest methods of textile printing and has been used in India since at least the 12th century, with origins tied to the Rajasthan desert region. Impeccably, it is one of the few methods of textile design that is still done without any mechanization.

The craftsmanship and art of dyeing and creating patterns are learned and passed down through generations; India in particular is known for its natural dyes.

In a world propelled by fast fashion and consumerism, both block printing and Sundara ask one to slow down and reflect on ancient craft and tradition while

prioritizing women artisans and makers.

“By collaborating with women artists in India to create our block-print pajamas, we empower them to preserve their craft and provide for their families,” Tucker says. “Both my mother and grandmother were seamstresses. It all connects to how women use their hands to provide for their families, how women are at the beginning of everything. When I went to India, some of these women were in difficult situations. Now, they’ve been able to empower themselves and provide for themselves and their children.”

This spring, Sundara will be available online and at select Wilmington retailers. Alongside the pajama collection, Tucker plans to introduce bedding, quilts, duvets, and shams, all designed with the same attention to detail.

An eventual Sundara kids pajama collection is also in the works. Yet for Tucker, her focus still resides on how to generate the most impact, eventually, she hopes to incorporate a “buy a pair, share a pair,” purchase model to Sundara. W

For updates on Sundara’s launch, follow on Instagram @sundaratextiles.

Erika Tucker (this page) launches her pajama and textile company, Sundara, this spring.

C ircle s infl uence

of

Mention the word “influencer,” and many people will think of someone who promotes a product, a style, or even their personal brand on social media.

But that’s not what, PENNY SPICER-SIDBURY, ROZ WILLIAMS, and SHANNON WINSLOW are all about. Within their separate arenas, these three women strive to educate, inform, and connect area residents.

by JENNY CALLISON photos by MADELINE GRAY

Ask PENNY SPICER-SIDBURY a question about Wilmington city government; in the unlikely event that she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find out for you.

Spicer-Sidbury has worked in city hall for forty-one years – five as the executive assistant for the mayor and city council, five in the planning department, and the past thirty-one years as the city clerk.

“I’m a public servant, and I love giving back to the community,” she says, adding that people sometimes refer to her as the hub of city government. “I don’t perceive myself as an influencer, but I know a lot of folks and I’m very resourceful, so I can point people in the right direction.”

Spicer-Sidbury says she’s at an advantage: Born and raised in Wilmington (and a proud graduate of Hoggard High School), she knows the community and understands the workings of city government. As a city employee, she became involved with the North Carolina Azalea Festival, for which she has volunteered for more than twenty years. In 2006, she became the festival’s first Black president.

“I was still a worker bee,” she said with a laugh. “But I had great volunteers and had some major sponsors that stepped up. I was totally excited to do it.”

But Spicer-Sidbury’s community involvement doesn’t stop with azaleas.

“I’ve been involved as a

volunteer with the Martin Luther King Jr. parade since the beginning of time when it was on Castle Street,” she says. “When I became city clerk, they started putting me in the parade, but I still had to work on it.”

Spicer-Sidbury serves in other ways as well. She coaches cheerleading at Williston Middle School. She’s active in her church and volunteers at several schools. A past president of the YWCA Lower Cape Fear board, she continues to work with the organization’s grandparents program. She’s part of the Wilmington chapter of Jack and Jill of America, a leadership and service organization. The group has helped build a Habitat for Humanity home.

With support from her “wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters,” SpicerSidbury strives to impart her belief in community service to young people.

“The Week of Reading, I read to smaller kids. I maybe talk to them about leadership. I show youth what it’s like to work at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard or the soup kitchen. It’s giving back.

“I’m steadily learning. I can always do more,” she says. “As long as I can help somebody and make a difference, that’s what I will continue to do.” W

GOVERNMENT HUB

ROZ WILLIAMS applies her professional marketing savvy to her avocation: weaving a web of connections in the local community.

In 2014, she founded What’s Up Wilmington, a social media platform that operates mainly on Instagram. Last year, Williams launched a podcast focused on the local business community.

“We shared what local businesses were doing, what was opening,” Williams says. “We still support local business and collaborate with a lot of initiatives. What’s Up Wilmington is a way for people to meet each other and go out and do fun things together.”

Williams is definitely a Wilmington booster. She came to town in 2003 to attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington and says she never wanted to leave. Since 2019, she has been a senior customer marketing manager at nCino and believes that touting Wilmington’s allure and assets helps her employer and other local companies recruit new talent.

“They showcase how great Wilmington is; why people should live in Wilmington,” she says of her two media products. “In my podcasts, I use what I have learned at nCino – interviewing bankers and other financial professionals about their stories.”

With her podcast partner ALY BLEAU, Williams showcases local events and local business owners and sometimes answers questions posed by listeners.

“We pull people from the community who have an interesting story or give a behind-

the-scenes look. We get to hear the ‘why’ behind the business,” Williams says. “We really dig into the human aspect: what their vision is, what are their favorite places, who they know. We talk about things such as selfdevelopment, living your best life, and living it in Wilmington.”

Sometimes Williams’ and Bleau’s podcast guests suggest other people for them to interview; sometimes podcast listeners suggest topics.

Their social media and podcast audience consists primarily of women aged twenty-five to forty, but the two women are starting to attract more male followers. In addition to engaging Wilmington area residents, their audience increasingly includes people who are thinking of moving to town and want to sample the local vibe.

What’s Up Wilmington has evolved over the past ten years. Rather than just offering information, it has become a way for users to meet each other.

“In the past two years … it’s turned into a platform where people can connect with each other,” Williams explains. “They hear about (something) and then meet to do it.”

Now, she says, she wants to move further in that direction with What’s Up Wilmington.

“What I’m really excited about,” she says, “is taking this influence offline, and in the coming months doing more in-person events.” W

CHANGE AGENT

To her role as vice-chair of the New Hanover Community Endowment, SHANNON WINSLOW brings professional experience in banking and health care strategic planning, along with a generous dollop of energy and desire to be of service.

As director of strategic accounts with WebMD Health Services, she works with Fortune 100 companies in the area of global health and well-being. Previously, she was a director of client strategy for Walgreens and worked with health systems and employer clients to implement national pharmacy and healthcare strategies.

Winslow’s first career was in banking. After earning her undergraduate degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she returned to Wilmington where she worked for a number of years for Bank of America.

She has also served on boards and committees of numerous local social service organizations. She’s a member of UNCW’s Cameron Executive Network.

Winslow’s background made her a natural fit for the more than $1 billion community endowment, which was established from the sale of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2021.

“I was one of the first five people who were named to the board. I am tremendously humbled by this opportunity,” she says. “As it relates to our community at this point, the greatest ability for me to have impact comes from my involvement as a board member. I can leverage my expertise for

impact.”

Two of her passions, Winslow says, are education and health care. Those fit well with the endowment’s charge.

“Our endowment board is very focused on our mission, which is for all members of this community to thrive,” she says, listing the endowment’s “four pillars” of focus: education, health and social equity, public safety, and community development.

A major project for the board will be the search for a new executive director after the resignation in February of its first director, William Buster.

The endowment’s recent $22 million grant toward a joint project for growing the county’s health care workforce is an example of how the endowment can use its strategic planning and resources to address major problems, Winslow says. The current nursing shortage will affect everyone, she says.

“We need to think out of the box about these really complex issues,” she says. “Area nonprofits have not necessarily collaborated with each other; there’s been a perception that folks are competing for grant dollars. I’m a change agent, and as a change agent, I say, let’s think about these things in a collaborative manner.” W

Point of G

Clarity

by AUDREY ELSBERRY | photos by DARIA AMATO

Many things came together to culminate in Genna Zimmer’s career. And as Reeds Jewelers has expanded nationally, so has her role in the family company.

ENNA ZIMMER approached the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business admissions office with a request.

At twenty-four, she was too young and inexperienced for the Executive Master of Business Administration program, according to the program’s requirements, but she requested admittance anyway.

She graduated with her EMBA two years later.

Zimmer’s confidence comes naturally, she says. Early on, she dreamed of becoming an Olympic gymnast, she says, training for a portion of her childhood. It helped her lessen her fear of rejection because she knew she wasn’t going to win every meet.

It stuck with her years later when she wasn’t afraid of not getting admitted to Wharton; she planned to apply until she got in, she says.

“At the end of the day, you don’t get anywhere unless you try and are a little better than the next person,” Zimmer says. “The worst thing that can happen is someone tells you no.”

Zimmer, now thirty-one, went to business school to continue her career at the family business, Reeds Jewelers. Headquartered in Wilmington for almost eighty years, Reeds Jewelers has expanded from a mom-and-pop jewelry store on downtown’s Front Street to a mom-and-pop company with a nationwide presence.

Zimmer leads Reeds’ operations as the vice president of strategy and operations, an executive role falling just under her father and company CEO, ALAN ZIMMER.

Growing up, her family downplayed the breadth of the family business, Genna Zimmer says. She was unaware of the size of the family franchise until her late teenage years. When she arrived at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her knowledge of the company’s reach grew as she encountered more Reeds stores, where she later worked while earning her undergraduate degree.

Genna Zimmer had no qualms with the idea of joining Reeds, but growing up with a family business – an ever-looming career option – can be conflicting, says her longtime friend PARKER WILSON, who was a part of a family-owned business herself.

“There’s a different emotional tie, I think, that comes with family business,” Wilson says.

There’s a need to fight against assumption, she says, to feel you’ve earned your position in the business.

The push to prove herself helped fuel Genna Zimmer’s decision to go to business school at Wharton, she says. She spent much of her young adult life gaining experience and education so she could feel that she earned her position, both as a member of the

Zimmer family and as a woman in business.

“I think it’s natural for anybody to have impostor syndrome as a female,” she says, recalling some of those feelings when arriving at Wharton.

As she passed each exam and advanced in the course, those feelings faded, she says.

Now living in Wilmington, she is happy

to represent the Zimmer name, she says. Community members have recognized her name and recounted stories of kindness from her father, Alan, or her grandfather, Bill. She and the other third-generation Zimmers working at Reeds carry the baton, she says.

MITCH CAHN, Reeds’ vice president of marketing, says it is difficult to work

Genna Zimmer’s time as an athlete helped instill in her a robust work ethic, she says. This work ethic helped her sail through business school but gave her pause when considering giving up professional development for two years while she continued her studies.

Even after dating her future husband at twentytwo, she told him her plan:

“Before we go on another date, I know what I want to do with my career. I’m going to end up in Wilmington, North Carolina one day,” she told him. “Do you want to come with me before you fall in love?”

Needless to say, it worked out. The two got married the year she graduated from Wharton in 2020.

When it comes to her goals for the future, she is not focused on her ascent to the peak of Reeds’ operations.

She acknowledges her generation in the family will lead the company at some point, but she wants to see the company succeed beyond her career there.

for the Zimmers without feeling a familial connection with them. He’s known Genna Zimmer for over twenty years, over a decade professionally.

“(She’s) very driven, very competitive but in a goodspirited sense, not cutthroat, win at all costs,” Cahn says, “the competitive sense of ‘We can do anything, and we can win as a team.’”

While she acknowledges her career path is unique, business school helped her build confidence and a network of female businesswomen who’ve provided support outside of the family business.

“I felt for a long time that what I wanted out of a career was so different than so many women,” she says. “There are so many women out there that are career motivated and are hard workers that can give you confidence in knowing that your career motivation does not make you crazy.” W

A LOOK BACK

Reeds Jewelers has grown to become a national retail jewelry chain, with 88 retail stores in 14 states and active e-commerce sales on Reeds.com. But the Wilmington-based company, which remains family owned, traces its roots to humble beginnings nearly eighty years ago.

1946

Bill and Roberta Zimmer founded the Reeds Jewelers company. The couple moved to Wilmington after Bill served in the U.S. Army during World War II. They opened the first Reeds Jewelers location on Front Street.

1979

The Reeds Jewelers brand expanded to Whiteville, Jacksonville, and two dozen other retail outlets while maintaining the original Wilmington store. Bill and Roberta had four children – Alan, Herb, Jack, and Arlene – who all began working in the Reeds stores.

1981

The youngest, Alan, began leading the merchandising department as executive vice president. After joining the executive team, he began modernizing the company’s operations.

1985

Alan was instated as chief executive officer of Reeds, where he remains at the helm today. Bill stays on to work in the Front Street location when he so pleases.

The company launched its online marketplace Reeds.com in 1999, where it established its e-commerce presence.

1999 2002

Bill Zimmer died after working in his original Front Street store every day, according to Reeds officials. The Front Street store closed shortly after Bill’s death. The company moved its flagship store to Independence Mall prior to closing the Front Street store.

2024

Reeds’ flagship store has now been in Mayfaire Town Center for the past twenty years, where renovations are currently ongoing. The goal of the store’s expansion is to create a community hub. Alan Zimmer remains CEO, while his daughters, Genna and Brittney Zimmer, work with him.

Arts District Authority

Tara English as a downtown Wilmington ambassador

by SAMANTHA KUPIAINEN

photo by DARIA AMATO

owntown

DWilmington is central to many of TARA ENGLISH’s favorite childhood memories: She recalls getting ice cream with her grandparents and shopping with her dad on Island Passage.

“I’ve seen all of the expansion since the ’80s,” English says. “All the growth, all the changes. It’s still one of my favorite places to be in all of Wilmington.”

Now, as an adult, she’s proud to contribute to that expansion through the form of Brooklyn Cafe and her real estate business.

About seven years ago, English and her family started Brooklyn Cafe, a quaint white brick building that calls 706 North Fourth Street home. She’s also a broker/ realtor with Tara English Real Estate Group, a six-person real estate team that she started from the ground up. On top of that, she’s involved with the Brooklyn Arts District Coalition and manages its social media.

Brooklyn Cafe’s menu boasts a variety of homemade goods, including beignets, old-fashioned cake doughnuts, biscotti, and kolaches. The cafe is most known for its old-fashioned cake doughnuts, which is a recipe passed down from English’s great-grandmother.

“My grandmother made them for all of us growing up,” English says. “It was sort of a staple item for our family. We just love them so much and wanted to

share them.”

Her dad, who is a chemist, concocted the recipe for beignets, another popular menu item. “So, the recipes are homemade, everything’s made from scratch,” English says.

Prior to opening Brooklyn Cafe, English’s parents owned another cafe, Ollie’s Coffee and Donuts.

“We had a previous location about fifteen years ago, on the north side of Wilmington,” she says. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the best location at the time. We closed shop.”

Since trying their hand at another cafe, the business has gotten “a little bit bigger and better” and has more offerings. More recently, the family did some renovations, including commissioning a local mural artist for the cafe’s exterior.

As a member of the Brooklyn Arts

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District Coalition, English helped put together January’s Coffee Crawl, which took place in the district and supported more than a dozen local spaces. English describes the coalition as a group of proprietors who work together to communicate, host joint events, and strengthen the district’s sense of community.

“I do work a lot, but I love what I do,” she says. “I love real estate; I love the cafe. That really helps when it comes to motivation. When you love what you do, you want to do it all the time. So, it doesn’t really feel too much like work.”

Looking to the future, English hopes to help other women become entrepreneurs and grow their businesses, whether through mentorship or simple discussions.

“I feel like it’s important for us to stick together,” she says, “and just continue to learn and grow our businesses, and you know, just help other women out.”

Tara English’s profile appeared in a recent WILMA Plugging In newsletter. Here are some other stories that have been featured in the daily newsletters. To sign up for the free emails, go to wilmamag.com/email-newsletter.

Coaching Women into Health

When it comes to health, one size does not fit all, and many women struggle to find their ideal path to wellness. That’s where TIFFANY CRIPPS comes in as a health coach at her Wilmington company called Health Begins From Within.

While working towards her master’s degree in public health, Cripps wrote a research project of the same title that focused on developing a cardiovascular risk reduction health program for underserved populations.

“After all these years, the concept of wellness is just as important to me now as it was then,” says Cripps, who worked in the clinical and pharmaceutical research industry for more than twenty years and has experience as a personal trainer, exercise physiologist, and health coach.

Cripps says her health coaching

programs are individualized based on clients’ health history questionnaires and that sessions are designed to be under a half hour with remote options.

“Throughout the course of the program, participants address topics such as nutrition, hypertension, high cholesterol, activity, weight loss, stress management, smoking cessation, and risk reduction,” she says. “Self-help programs are also offered and designed, so you can work at your own pace.”

A Passion for Paper

Wilmington native LYNDSEY CHILDERS, owner of Lyndsey’s Fine Paper, grew up loving art.

One serendipitous day, Childers visited Mindy and Angie’s Fine Paper in Wilmington to purchase custom invitations for an event. Through the design process, the owners noted that Childers had a “good eye” for design. They

also informed Childers that her project would be their last: It was time to focus on family, so they would soon close their doors.

Then Childers got the surprise of a lifetime – the opportunity to buy the business. Owners Mindy and Angie saw that Childers’ personality, fueled by her education in communications, was ideal for interactions with all kinds of clientele.

“My first thought was no way,” Childers says. “I had no plans of owning a business and certainly not in something I wasn’t particularly educated in. Then I got to thinking: If someone well-seasoned in this business sees enough potential in me to offer to sell their business to me, including the name and branding, they must believe that I can do it. So, I took my chances. We signed papers in 2015, and the rest is history.”

Lyndsey’s Fine Paper offers the gamut of stationery products, from notepads,

Tiffany Cripps’ coaching focuses on overall wellness that includes mental, social, financial, and spiritual wellness.

photo is by Logan Burke

OPENING FOR THE SEASON

4,050 CUSTOM MADE FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM SINCE

1995

30 YEARS OF SUCCESS!

return address labels, and stamps to wedding programs, announcements and invitations, menus, napkins, and more. “Anything paper, I can do it,” she says, adding there is more to her shop than paper, like custom koozies and engraved

“The world has become so digitally focused,” she says. “Holding a twenty-yearold paper card or invitation evokes feelings you just can’t get from an email. The paper becomes a timeless treasure, holding meaningful special memories.”

Cooking up Memories

LIZ MENDONCA’s happiest times growing up were spent with her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. “Everyone congregated in the kitchen because that’s where all the fun

When Mendonca’s grandmother passed away in 2022 at ninety-seven years old, she wanted to preserve those memories. “She led an extraordinary life, was the matriarch of our family, and was a phenomenal cook,” says Mendonca, an Upper School English teacher at Cape Fear Academy.

Mendonca found two boxes of her grandmother’s recipe cards. “Some were handwritten, others were typed,” she says. “Then, I found three of her most used cookbooks – duct taped together. Flipping through those, I realized the dirtier the pages, the more times my grandmother cooked those recipes – and those were the better ones.”

Mendonca wanted her family to have a copy of recipes they always enjoyed on birthdays and holidays. “I mainly wanted to digitize everything,” she says.

Mendonca transcribed the recipes, and the list swelled to more than 1,200. “When my family found out what I was doing, they said others would want these recipes too. I didn’t believe them, but my husband convinced me to turn it into a book,” she says.

And the title? “It’s Butter, Size of an Egg,” Mendonca says. “It’s one of the ingredients in the lemon chess pie – one of the oldest recipes in the book. We joked about this recipe because none of the ingredients have measurements. The amount of butter is ‘butter, size of an egg.’ We estimate that to be about two tablespoons.” W

Sound of Silence

WILMINGTON’S BOOK LOVERS EMBRACE THE LATEST SOCIAL TREND: INTROVERTS AND EXTROVERTS WELCOME

by KATELYNN WATKINS | photo by TERAH HOOBLER

Coffee beans rattling around in their containers, the low rumble of an espresso machine hard at work, order after order being placed, chairs gently scraping the floor: mid-morning on a typical Sunday, hotspots like Bitty & Beau’s Coffee on New Centre Drive are anything but noiseless.

And yet, it’s one of several locales around town that now regularly host Wilmington’s most voracious readers for what may just be the quietest trend out there.

Today, more than five hundred chapters of Silent Book Club are spread across fifty countries, and all of them are organized and led by local volunteers.

NANCY SMITH (opposite page), ILM Silent Book Club’s organizer who also works as data manager for Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington, first heard about this new sensation bringing readers together through social media. The first meeting was held in May of last year, with about fifteen people in attendance. Since then, local membership has grown to the point that as many as fifty members might show up to planned meetings and activities, and the group’s Facebook page has more than 2,000 followers. During the week, one might find club members convening in a corner of New Hanover County Library or chatting about their latest literary obsessions at Azalea Station. But weekend get-togethers are usually reserved for Bitty & Beau’s Coffee – just as it’s been since that first meetup.

“As an introverted extrovert, Silent Book Club is a dream come true. It gives me the perfect opportunity to be social with like-minded people, but on my own terms,” says HEATHER ROONAN, a member of the Wilmington chapter of Silent Book Club and a content manager for GigSalad. “And I think that’s true for a lot of readers. It’s great seeing people connect and share this love of reading we all have.”

The idea may sound like a walking contradiction given the quintessential image of book clubs, where outspoken bibliophiles hold spirited debates over the designated book of the week in someone’s living room. However, members of ILM Silent Book Club are free to read whatever they like and can choose whether or not to open up a group discussion about it at the meetings.

“Socializing with new people can be hard, but having common ground to talk about helps bridge the gap,” says OLIVIA DREWRY, a nurse and another member of ILM Silent Book Club. “There’s no pressure since there’s no assigned reading, so hanging out with this group is easy and delightful.”

Drewry also says she’s noticed that this unique take on book clubs welcomes fans of all genres to come together and talk about whatever they’re currently reading, which in turn introduces others to authors and series they might not have found out about during solo perusals of bookstore shelves or online bookshops.

And they don’t necessarily have to go it alone; members are free to partner up or form their own small groups to dive into something new together. Thanks to the digital age and social media, extending the discussions beyond inperson meetings is easier than ever.

“We will sometimes host ‘buddy reads’ where members can choose to join our buddy read and talk about it as we read along, but it’s also not required to be part of the group. This is where our Instagram comes in handy,” Smith says, “because we can have a group chat on there where you can send hidden messages until you click on them, and it’ll reveal what it says. Especially for those, like me, who always want to vent or rant when we get to a good part!”

While she does want the club to remain focused on its original purpose – reading and other “bookish” things –Smith does keep an ear to the ground for larger events she can share with current club members, like those offered by branches of the county library.

She is hopeful that, in time, ILM Silent Book Club can partner with more local businesses and diversify its activities somewhat to include related interests such as book edge spraying, sipand-paint events, and book-themed arts and crafts like what she and some of her fellow members put together last holiday season.

“A small group of us got together over the Christmas season and made some DIY ornaments,” she says. “I hope to do some fundraising so that we can host a larger-sized event for something like it for the 2024 season and provide the materials to do it.” W

To learn more about the club and find out when the next meeting is, visit ILM Silent Book Club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/ilmsilentbookclub or Instagram account @ilmsilentbookclub.

Where Farming is a Family Thing.

MAKE IT FRESH with Heritage Fresh Market.

There is nothing sweeter in late spring and early summer than a quart or two of fresh-picked strawberries. Heritage Fresh Market is picking the sweetest berries and we’re excited to share this year’s crop of beautiful strawberries with you! We encourage you to use our fresh strawberries to make this sweet Strawberry Jam.

EASY STRAWBERRY JAM

MAKES: 5 JARS

PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups crushed strawberries

• 4 cups granulated sugar

• 6 tablespoons or 1.75-ounce box powdered pectin

• ½ cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a medium bowl, mash the strawberries with a potato masher until you reach a pureed consistency. Measure out 2 cups of crushed berries and place them in a large bowl.

• Add 4 cups of sugar, stirring after each cup. Set aside.

• Bring ½ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add pectin and stir at a low boil for one minute. Remove pan from the heat.

• Add the hot pectin mixture to the mashed strawberries. Stir well to incorporate.

• Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.

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• Fill plastic or glass jars to fill line; 1/2 inch from the top of the jar. Cover with a lid and allow to cool on the counter for 24 hours.

• Place jars in the refrigerator or freezer. Recipe makes 5 (half pint) jars of jam.

SPRING & SUMMER HOURS:

Monday - Friday 9 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday 9 am - 5 pm

Closed Sunday

www.heritagefreshmarket.com

20 Sellers Road Supply, NC 910.253.1330

Heritage Fresh Market offers a wide variety of fresh spring & summer produce including strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, sweet corn, cantaloupe, lettuce and more! We have all you need to prepare fresh and nutritious seasonal meals that are certain to bring joy during your time around the dinner table!

DIRECT MALE

Of a Certain Age

by TIM BASS | illustration by MARK WEBER

THE PAINTER SHOWED UP IN HIS BALLCAP AND SHERWIN-WILLIAMS HOODIE JUST AS THE WORST of winter moved in, biting our fingers and faces with freezing temperatures night after night.

“It’s too cold,” Jose said, the first of many three-word sentences that would make up his communication with me in the coming weeks.

He unloaded a dozen ladders and lined them around the foundation, like an aluminum fence. Then he took a long look at my house.

“It’s very dirty,” he said. “Bad boards everywhere. It needs work.”

Indeed it did. If HGTV had a show called Overdue Maintenance, my house and I would be the stars. The house had just turned thirty years old, and its age showed – a few wrinkles here, a couple of scars there, and all around in need of a refresh, as the house gurus would say. My man Jose would be the specialist I needed. ***

I showed up at the eye doctor’s appointment and discovered that he wasn’t just an eye doctor but an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon.

A plastic surgeon? I kept thinking, I’m here because I have watery eyes and cataracts. Sure, there’s a droopy eyelid or two, but I don’t need reconstructive surgery. I’m not Evel Knievel.

“I’m going to look at you,” the oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon said, “and I’m going to say some things you won’t understand. But that’s just for our records.”

He stood back and looked me over just as Jose had examined my house – like a detective viewing a crime scene. Then, for the next 30 seconds, the surgeon said some things to his nurse that, for sure, I didn’t understand. But I did catch two words: “weak blink.” That hurt. I knew I did a weak push-up and had weak resistance to Italian food, but was I so puny that I couldn’t manage a muscular blink of the eyes?

Apparently, yes. ***

Jose and his crew showed up for a few days and caulked every crack, gap, crevice, and seam from top to bottom of the house, end to end, side to side. Then they left and didn’t show up for a week.

“It’s very cold,” Jose texted. “Warmer next Monday. See you then.”

This wasn’t good news. Already, I was having to squeeze my car past the gear he’d stored in my garage: yet another ladder, plus a circular saw, a bunch of lumber, a case of caulk, and a pressure washer. But I couldn’t complain because I hadn’t yet paid him a penny. He had asked for nothing in advance, so at this point, he had more invested in the job than I did. I knew he’d be back – he and his crew said they enjoyed working on my house because I lived near a Chick-fil-A.

“No worries, man,” I texted back. “See you soon.”

***

I showed up at the pain-management doctor’s office for help with a mess of problems.

The physician’s assistant logged all my ailments and delicately gave me the bottom line.

“When people reach a certain age,” she said, “these things happen.”

There it was: a professionally licensed medical diagnosis that the years had crept up on me, seeping into the aged vulnerabilities of my bones, joints, nerves, and muscles. Bodies, like houses, deteriorate over time. If you’re lucky to live long enough, you’ll be unlucky enough to watch yourself and your house fall apart. My doctors and I can confirm it. So can my painter.

***

The winter weather eased from freezing to frigid, and the painter showed up with a full crew (though the ladders still outnumbered the workers four to one). They pressure-washed the house, blasting away the oak leaves, sea salt, and last spring’s pollen. Then, finally, weeks after the project started, they spread the first flush of fresh color across the tired, bland boards.

“Very bad before,” Jose said. “Much better now.”

***

I showed up at the urologist’s office, leaving the painters to finish their chicken sandwiches and move off to various quadrants of the house.

“This is old man stuff,” the young doctor said. “After so many years, the prostate gets bigger and pushes up against the bladder. That’s why you have to go so often.” He considered my situation. “I can get you down to one or two times a night, instead of three or four. I can’t get you to zero.”

I had to admire his honesty. I was, after all, a man of a certain age. And certainly, I was feeling it.

“I hear you,” I said. “Zero wake-up calls would be nice. But if you can get me to one or two, I’ll take it.”

***

The painter showed up for his last day in mid-January. Because of the weather, a five-day job had stretched to five weeks. He and his crew had withstood the cold and transformed the house, replacing the rotted wood, caulking every sneaky opening, changing out the faded and filthy garage lights, and covering over what they called the “boring old yellow” with a double coat of clean, airy gray.

“I like it,” Jose said. “Looks very good.”

I shook his hand and agreed. For a house of a certain age, it looked very, very good now. Jose was part painter, part surgeon, and part wizard. If he could use his saw, caulk, brushes, and rollers on me, he’d make me look, and feel, young again.

Tim Bass is coordinator of UNCW’s bachelor of fine arts program in creative writing.

5 TAKE

by KATIE SCHMIDT photo c/o CASEY ROMAN

CASEY ROMAN moved to Wilmington in 2008 for an on-air news reporter gig. Ten years later she lost her career, her house, and any desire to stay put. After transforming a cargo van into a home, she set out on what would become a 12,000-mile solo trip and the inspiration behind her book, Looking Up.

WAS THERE ANYTHING FROM YOUR OLD LIFE IN NEWS THAT HELPED IN YOUR NEW ONE ON THE ROAD? “Definitely – I think as I lived all over the country, I found it really easy to talk to anybody and I could always find something in common. I loved the adrenaline and storytelling in news and found that again. In both spaces, every day is a surprise.” WHAT WAS YOUR MENTAL SPACE LIKE LEADING UP TO THE DECISION TO HEAD OUT IN THE VAN? “I was barely hanging on in the summertime because I had lost everything; my house was gone, my job was disappearing. And moreover, all of my relevancy was lost. Every blueprint that I had ever laid was being erased. People who’ve read the book are like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so brave.’ No, I wasn't brave. I was out of options. And ironically, having nothing made me very fearless. There was nothing to lose.” OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF THINGS LED TO YOU HITTING THE ROAD – LOSING THE JOB, THE HOUSE, FINDING THE VAN – BUT WAS THERE A MOMENT WHEN ALL THAT CLICKED INTO PLACE FOR YOU, AND YOU DECIDED TO GO? “I was in the vacant house, and my mother called and told me my grandmother had died. She was one of those people that time could not beat and now she was gone. The book is called Looking Up because I just envisioned her looking at a

hospital ceiling, and that was the end. And it gave me a lot of perspective about time, and it made me very aware of how fast it was moving.” WHEN DID YOUR EXPERIENCE SHIFT FROM JUST, “I HAVE TO GET OUT OF MY CURRENT REALITY” TO WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME YOUR BOOK? “I sort of always knew – it’s an adventure if you’re on a hero’s journey; otherwise, you’re just some lady living in a cargo van with nowhere to go back to. When I was in upstate New York this family invited me to live in their backyard. And I don’t know them from Adam, but they’re fine with me and I’m fine with them. The next day, one of their cows goes into labor, and I get to help her with this baby cow, which was the most spectacular thing in the whole world. At that point I was putting videos of my experiences on YouTube – I threw myself into editing, writing, and videoing about what can happen out there when you trust your fellow American –and mostly the cow, I was obsessed with the cow. … That was a story worth telling and not just on YouTube. I knew that at some point I needed to find where all these stories about small-town America and the people and their stories could be told.” THE CHAPTERS IN YOUR BOOK ARE LISTED AS LESSONS. IS THERE ANY LESSON YOU’D WANT TO MAKE SURE READERS ARE LEFT WITH? “I know there’s a lot of people who deal with a level of mental health issues like I do, and I wanted people to know that I wasn’t anybody special. …There was nothing spectacular about me, but I still did it. So, in some way I want people to know: You don’t have a great excuse.” W

CASEY ROMAN’s full profile will appear in an upcoming WILMA Roundup email. To sign up for daily WILMA emails, go to WILMAmag.com.