WILMA Winter 2023 by Greater Wilmington Business Journal / WILMA magazine

WILMA

WINTER 2023

LEADERSHIP + LIFESTYLE SINCE 2003

Remembrance A look at Linda Pearce Thomas’ impact

Clay Community Building Fat Cat Pottery

Sneak Peek

A guide to this year’s WILMA Show

Stage

Presence Hitting the high notes with opera singer Beth Stovall

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WILMA

WINTER 2023

DECEMBER 2ND | 10 - 4 | WILMINGTON CONVENTION CENTER 20 Orange Spa 9 Round 30 Minute Kickbox Fitness A Little Twisted Pottery A Touch of Country Venue Awaken Your Essence Best Self Coaching Group Beyond Clinic Walls Wellness Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern NC Brave Creative ILM Camille's of Wilmington Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Cape Fear Solar Systems

We have a lot of friends; come meet them at the show!

Carolina Cleaning Services Carolina Girl Cookie Company CCRAFT - Coastal Carolinas Region Art in Fiber & Textile Coastal Golf Academy Connect Cape Fear Custom Eyes Diamond Group Dignity Memorial Durrett Designs, LLC Edward Jones Elderhaus PACE Figgy Co. First Tee Greater Wilmington Fleet Feet Sports Wilmington Freedom Boat Club Ginger Interiors (Jo Howell) Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines Council Harpo Properties Health Begins from Within Helping Hands of the Cape Fear HIgh Caliber Hues of Violet ilm yoga therapy Inspire Cabinetry Island Passage

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Johnny Lukes Kitchen & Bar LJ Design Studio Matthews Motors Miller-Motte College My Sister's Cottage Nothing Bundt Cakes One80 Counseling OsteoStrong/Mindfully Moving, LLC Pedego Electric Bikes Pender Pelvic Health Physical Therapy for Women

Pinspiration Port City Book Club Port City Pergolas Progress Medical Renewal by Andersen Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry Russell Family Law & Litigation Salty Chic SCORE Cape Fear Region Self-Help Credit Union Sharonview Federal Credit Union Signs By Tomorrow

Sixth and Steel Interior Design Smile Straight Orthodontics Spiffy Still Point Counseling & Wellness Studio 403 Teaching Horse The Bash Pad The Goddess Portal Tropical Smoothie Cafe Two Sisters Paint United Community Bank Wilmington Mom Women In Strength Fitness

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WINTER 2023

DEPARTMENTS 19 SPOTLIGHT 27 WOMEN 2 WATCH 54 TASTE 60 HEALTH + WELLNESS 71 STYLE 107 SCENE 110 DIRECT MALE 112 TAKE 5

FEATURES 87 On with the Show

Holiday glitz

95 Remembering Linda Pearce Thomas

102 Clay School

WILMA

WINTER 2023

command performance

on the greens

Melissa in Paris sipping sanctuary

a lasting legacy

pottery partnership

102

moms in the know

on the cover

For this issue of WILMA, Madeline Gray photographed singer Beth Stovall, who has played roles with Opera House Theatre Company and Opera Wilmington. Proving that all the world’s a stage, they turned a makeshift curtain call at Live Oak Bank Pavilion into a coverworthy performance.

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, WHEN YOU VE GOT ONE OF THESE

Leadership + Lifestyle since 2003 PUBLISHER Rob Kaiser PRESIDENT Robert Preville EDITOR Vicky Janowski VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Angela Conicelli SENIOR MARKETING CONSULTANTS Maggi Apel Craig Snow Stacey Stewart MARKETING CONSULTANTS Alexis Alphin Jillian Hon VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNOLOGY Adam Fitzgerald

YOU CAN MAKE AMAZING PAIRS OF THESE

OFFICE & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Sandy Johnson EVENTS DIRECTOR Jamie Merrill CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Suzi Drake DESIGNER Tara Weymouth MEDIA COORDINATOR Julia Jones FASHION STYLIST Drewe Smith CONTRIBUTORS Nina Bay, Stephanie Bowens, Jenny Callison, Samantha Kupiainen, Laura Moore, Dylan Patterson, Lindsay Podraza, Emory Rakestraw, Katie Schmidt, Lynda Van Kuren CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daria Amato, Megan Deitz, Madeline Gray, Terah Hoobler, Allison Joyce, Kate Supa, Jackie Whitaker DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Zoe Matthews

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CONTRIBUTORS

DARIA AMATO is a native New Yorker and School of Visual

Arts graduate. Throughout her thirty years of experience, she has photographed a range of editorial, advertising, company branding, and corporate clients in addition to music, fashion, portraiture, weddings, and still life. Amato has been recognized by The Society of Publication Designers and Graphic Design USA and received an Optima Design Award for best cover photography. Amato photographed incoming Topsail area chamber head Tammy Proctor (page 46), theater singer and actress Myra Graham Quince and choreographer Carson Hobbs (page 87), Untitled Theatre Productions founder Emily Graham (page 107), and Wilmington Mom’s Amanda Hofmann (page 112).

AUDREY ELSBERRY is a recent graduate of the

University of South Carolina’s journalism school and currently a reporter for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Before starting at the Business Journal, she interned on the business desk at the Charlotte Observer and trained in New York City with the Dow Jones News Fund. Originally from Connecticut, she moved to Wilmington in September to start at the Business Journal. Elsberry talks with local jewelry designer Melissa Tyson about her recent showing at Paris Fashion Week (page 71).

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 the issue’s cover of opera singer Beth Stovall. madelinegrayphoto.com and @madelinepgray on Instagram

A Cultural Gathering Place 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 Fat Cat Pottery as it changes ownership hands (page 102). CameronArtMuseum.org 3201 S 17th Street Wilmington, NC 28412 (910) 395-5999

LYNDA VAN KUREN, a transplant from the D.C.-metro

area, is a freelance writer and content marketer whose work has appeared in national as well as regional publications. She loves connecting with others, whether through writing, ballet, or training her dogs for agility competitions. Van Kuren talks with several women working on stage and behind the scenes in the local theater community (page 86).

WILMA

WINTER 2023

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DÉJÀ VU REDUX

RS OF W

FROM THE EDITOR

3 - 20

s we close out our twentieth year of WILMA magazine, I’m a little nostalgic, remembering the past

several years and our tenth year in particular. For that anniversary issue, then-co-editor Nina Bays and I combed through a decade of WILMA covers and photos on hard copies and CDs to pull together retrospectives and cover collages. This year hasn’t been so different. WILMA art director Suzi Drake and I – Bays currently basks in the Los Angeles sun, orchestrating business newspaper designs while moonlighting as our style writer – combed through even more photos and covers this year, this time on a server cloud instead of CDs. WILMA, twenty years old and wise beyond her years, continues to evolve and reflect the perspectives of women in Southeastern North Carolina. In the name of taking stock, here are a few examples of figures to sum up WILMA’s growth. 4: number of redesigns the magazine has undergone, including this year’s beautiful and thoughtful reimagining by Drake; 243: number of WILMA covers over the years; women featured on the cover have come from a range of fields from the arts such as singer Bibis Ellison, media such as Michelle Li, business such as Fran Scarlett, and so many others; 363: number of Women to Watch Award finalists

featured in the magazine since the annual awards program began in 2012. In the incremental progress of daily focus, it’s easy to overlook where you’ve landed. Sometimes, you look back and realize you’ve swum far, far away from where you threw your towel down on the sand. One of those checkpoints happened last month on moving day to our new office downtown. Ten years ago, while rifling through ten years of back issues, we spread covers out in our downtown office – one very large but singular room. Not long after, we pulled up stakes for a larger spot. After this recent moving day, we all have our own rooms, and even more strikingly, the number of brands on the wall has eclipsed more than just the twinsies WILMA and Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Expansion is no small feat for media these days, so I have zero problem bragging. The space might be bigger, the view better, but at one, ten, or twenty years, some things fundamentally don’t change about what we do. For example, I was flying back to Wilmington recently and editing in mid-air the spread about Linda Pearce Thomas for this issue. I got a nudge next to me. My middle-seat neighbor nodded at the photos being checked. “Did you know Linda?” I asked. She did. I shared that we were running a story about her in this issue. She approved. She remembered when WILMA was Wilma! and still the newsprint that Joy Allen founded. It was an important thing we were doing, she said. And that’s a mission that transcends addresses, editors, and years. So here’s hoping it’s one that carries us through the next twenty and beyond.

Vicky Janowski, WILMA editor editor@wilmingtonbiz.com

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Shop to Support Domestic Violence Survivors

Give • Shop Our 3 Locations • Volunteer

Donate Gently Used Clothing December 2nd at The WILMA Show

Please bring gently used clothing to the Vintage Values Booth at The Wilma Show. All donations will directly benefit Domestic Violence Shelter & Service, Inc.’s mission & the Vintage Values Resale Shops. 18

domesticviolence-wilm.org WILMA | WINTER 2023

VINTAGE REVIVAL

SPOTLIGHT

AFTER YEARS IN BUSINESS, KELSEY GIBBS AND KARYN OETTING FACED SIMILAR ROADBLOCKS with their spaces' ownerships that seemed to spell the end of their respective vintage clothing ventures: The Wonder Shop and Second Skin Vintage. After moving out of their spaces in downtown Wilmington and on Castle Street, Gibbs packed up racks of inventory and safely stored it; Oetting sold a majority of her inventory, but like Gibbs, she wasn’t ready to give up on owning another vintage shop. Together, the duo recently decided to join forces, launching Second Wonder Vintage in a storefront two doors down from Gibbs’ Sealevel City Vegan Diner on South Kerr Avenue. Dubbed Second Wonder Vintage, the new venture reflects both their approaches. Gibbs and Oetting share core values in life, business, and aesthetics, making them well-suited as business partners. “Where we deviate on things, the other one fills in the gaps,” Oetting says. Gibbs agrees, adding that “Karyn has great processes set up to help the flow. My style is a little looser. I fly by the seat of my pants.”

photo by DARIA AMATO

WILMA

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A NEW MASTER PLAN TO

PROTECT OUR URBAN FOREST

THE VALUE OF URBAN TREES

A NEW MASTER PLAN

A thriving urban forest plays a major role in a community’s health and vitality. Urban trees beautify our neighborhoods, create a sense of place, and have proven benefits for public and mental health. A strong urban tree canopy provides shade that cools streets, sidewalks, and buildings during the hottest months of the year. A lush, green environment acts as a natural purifier, improving air and water quality by intercepting pollutants. Trees also support a balanced ecosystem by providing homes, food, and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

The City of Wilmington has developed its first urban forestry master plan, designed to carefully maintain more than 40,000 trees on public land and rightsof-way throughout the city. This plan represents an ongoing commitment to protect the essential benefits of Wilmington’s tree canopy. Taking inventory of trees along our streets, in city parks and natural areas, and those growing around our homes, workplaces, and businesses provides valuable data to implement sustainable management practices and protect this vital natural resource for the long term.

Check out the full plan here! 20

WILMA

WINTER 2023

SPOTLIGHT

COMMAND PERFORMANCE RHIANNON GIDDENS STOPPED IN WILMINGTON ONCE AGAIN for a performance this fall in front of 1,000 at University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium. It came after Giddens earned the Pulitzer Prize for music earlier this year for Omar, Giddens’ first opera, which she co-composed with Michael Abels. The Grammy Award winner and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient has visited the Port City before, performing

“Songs of 1898” at the Cucalorus Festival five years ago. “Giddens’ performance was nothing short of a masterpiece,” Jeremy Summers, senior managing director of UNCW Office of the Arts, says about the September show. “Her award-winning talent and charismatic stage presence captivated the audience, leaving a sold-out crowd in awe. It was a true privilege to host such a phenomenal artist on campus.”

photo c/o Rhiannon Giddens

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WILMA

WINTER 2023

SPOTLIGHT

CREW PREVIEW TICKETS GO ON SALE IN JANUARY FOR CAPE FEAR CREW’S SIXTH ANNUAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE, which on top of recognizing area commercial real estate projects also honors local women. The event is February 22 and includes awards for categories such as Best Development and Best Design. The local chapter of CREW, Commercial Real Estate Women, also bestows its Beth Quinn Excellence

photo by Page Productions

Award, named after the late Quinn, who was a founder of the chapter. The group’s Career Advancement for Women Award (last year's recipient, GLOW, shown above) also will be announced. The chapter now has over one hundred members, with SUE MEIER, of Copycat Print Shop, serving as next year’s president. Info: cape-fear.crewnetwork.org

FLOAT ON BY

SIDE-BY-SIDE

PAY OUTLOOK

SO FETCH

The fortieth anniversary of the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla brings tens of thousands for a weekend of events that culminate in the main event: a waterway parade of lit-up boats vying for bragging rights like People’s Choice and Best Costumes.

Occupations in which women earn more than men (weekly) Source: BLS data

Projected salary budget increases* for companies in a national survey

CFCC’s Wilson Center is the site for the touring production of the musical Mean Girls, based on the popular 2004 teen comedy movie written by Tina Fey. The musical first debuted on Broadway in 2018.

LOCATION: Wrightsville Beach DATE: N ovember 24-26, parade starts at 6 p.m. November 25 MORE INFO: ncholidayflotilla.org

Counselors > $1,003 vs. $944 Combined food prep & service workers > $467 vs. $457 Industrial production managers > $1,497 vs. $1,469 Stock clerks & order fillers > $605 vs. $596 Supervisors of nonretail sales workers > $1,173 vs. $1,157

2023

4.1% 2024

3.9% 3.4%

LOCATION: Wilson Center DATE + TIME: D ecember 1-2, 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinee MORE INFO: wilsoncentertickets.com

*for nonunion employees; Source: Mercer QuickPulse

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WILMA

WINTER 2023

SPOTLIGHT

HEALTH CARE HEROES NURSES, EXECUTIVES, AND OTHERS WERE HONORED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL HEALTH CARE at the annual Health Care Heroes Awards on October 27 at the Wilson Center. Health Care Heroes are nominated by patients, peers, co-workers, and families. The finalists were highlighted by Greater Wilmington Business Journal, WILMA’s sister publication, with winners announced at the awards event. Cardiologist Rob Harper also received a lifetime achievement award at the event. Here are the women who won this year in the different categories. NIN PATEL, pharmacy technician

with Dosher Memorial Hospital won the Community Achievement award; BRIDGETTE WILLIAMS, nurse practitioner with Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute won the Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant award; NANCY RUSSELL (shown below), a nurse with Lower Cape Fear LifeCare won the Nurse category; JUGTA KAHAI, pediatric medical director with Columbus Regional Healthcare System won the physician category; and DOT GRIME, a volunteer with Novant Health NHRMC won the Volunteer category. For more info about all the finalists and winners, go to wilmingtonbiz.com.

photo c/o Lower Cape Fear LifeCare

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DOUBLE DUTY Busy Mom Embarks on Paralegal Technology Journey at CFCC

In pursuit of a new career, Jessica Carroll, a dedicated mother of two and former mail carrier of 15 years, turned her focus toward law. While earning her associate degree at CFCC, she discovered the paralegal technology program, which oﬀered a practical route to a legal profession that allowed her to prioritize her family. In addition to her studies, Jessica secured a coveted internship, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the legal ﬁeld. Read the full story here

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WILMA

WINTER 2023

W2W

WOMEN 2

W ATCH

ON THE AGENDA Advice and connections from local leaders + the latest on WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative p.28

W2W INITIATIVE UPDATES p.30

W2W INITIATIVE SPONSORS p.33

WILMA NETWORK p.40

WILMA AWARDS RECAP p.43

LEADERSHIP ADVICE FROM LINDA SHARKEY p.45

PLUGGING IN: RACES ROUNDUP p. 46

PLUGGING IN: TAMMY PROCTOR ON CHAMBER ASSISTS p.50

LIVIAN JONES ON BUILDING INFLUENCE

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W2W UPDATES

W2W RECAP:

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

OMEN TO WATCH AWARDS : This year’s awards event in September • W drew a sell-out crowd to honor this year’s finalists and announce winners in the Arts, Business, Education, Health, Nonprofit/Volunteer, Public Sector, and Rising Star categories (the full group is shown above). For more photos from the awards, go to page 40.

ENTORING: As a part of WILMA’s mentoring program, women in the • M community are matched with mentors to assist with their leadership development.

Participation in the program is limited to those who went through a W2W program in the past year, and the mentorship runs through September 2024. This year’s group of twenty-nine mentees selected from an application process went through orientation in October. WILMA’s mentoring adviser Kim Nelson shared tips about establishing effective relationships, and participants held their initial meetings.

LEADERS: The inaugural class of WILMA’s Future Leaders wrapped • FupUTURE its first year, which included special attendance to WILMA leadership events and one-on-one mentoring. The group of area high school teens, along with the new class of Future Leaders for the 2023-24 session, met with UNCW Senior Woman Administrator and Deputy Athletics Director Tiffany Tucker, who talked about building confidence. Alum from WILMA’s Leadership Institute serve as mentors to the teens throughout their year.

EXPLORE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED

WILMA’S

LEADERSHIP

WILMA’S

F U T U R E LEADERS

WILMA’S LEADERSHIP

ACCELERATOR

I N I T I AT I V E

WILMA

WINTER 2023

WILMA’S

LEADERSHIP

INSTITUTE

FUTURE LEADERS

M ENTORING

WILMA NETWORK

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

W2W UP NEXT:

How to connect with WILMA’s leadership programs

EADERSHIP INSTITUTE: This year’s WILMA’s Leadership Institute class • L graduates in December, closing out its nine-month program. The group met for leadership skills training, peer mentorship, and interactions with community leaders. Learn more about the forty-seven women in this year’s cohort at wilmamag.com/women-to-watch/ wilmas-leadership-institute. Apply for the next class at WILMAleadership.com.

ILMA NETWORK: The WILMA Network, made up of supporting members of the •W Leadership Initiative, continues to hold monthly meetups like this recent one above at JohnnyLukes KitchenBar.

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

LEADERSHIP MENTORING

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MORE INFO: WilmasToWatch.com

W2W LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE 30

FOUNDING SPONSORS

CORPORATE SPONSORS

SUPPORTER SPONSORS All Things Learner • Arise Counseling and Therapy • Awaken Your Essence • Beyond Clinic Walls Wellness • Big Sky Shop + Studio • Camille's of Wilmington • Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity • Cape Fear Solar Systems • Carolina Girl Cookie Company • Cavik Insurance • CertaPro Painters Wilmington • Code Ninjas • Copiers Plus • Corning Credit Union • Creatively Covered • The Diamond Group • Dualboot Partners • Earney IT • Edward Jones-Shannon Chiarello • Elderhaus PACE • Embassy Suites Wilmington • Family Nutrition Solutions • First National Bank • First Tee Greater Wilmington • Fleet Feet Sports Wilmington • The Forté Institute • Ginger Interiors • Greene Resources • Grinnell Leadership • Harpo Properties powered by Keller Williams • Heart Centered Programs • Helping Hands of the Cape Fear • ilm yoga therapy • It's a Go Pursuits • Lead Intuitively • LJ Design Studio • Lower Cape Fear LifeCare • Making Waves Mental Health PLLC • Matthews Motors • MegaCorp Logistics • The Michelle Clark Team • Miller-Motte College • Mirrah Davy-Intracoastal Realty The Vance Young Team • Morgan Stanley • Murchison Taylor & Gibson • Nicole Weller Golf Enterprises LLC • Nothing Bundt Cakes • One80 Counseling • OsteoStrong Wrightsville • Parent Like It Matters PLLC • Patriot Roofing Company • Russell Family Law & Litigation • Salty Chic • Sixth and Steel Interior Design • Specialized Physician Liaison Services • Still Point Counseling & Wellness • Taco Baby • TeachingHorse • The Bash Pad • The Goddess Portal • Top of Search • UNCW CHHS • UNCW CIE • United Community Bank • WARM NC • Waylett Wealth Management • Wells Fargo Bank • WNY People Development

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WINTER 2023

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WILMA

WINTER 2023

n e t w o r k The WILMA Network is a program of the Women to Watch Leadership Initiative to help women business owners, executives and community leaders connect with each other and serve as a resource for up-and-coming women in the region. To learn more, visit wilmamag.com/women-to-watch/the-wilma-network or contact Maggi Apel at mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com.

STEFANIE ADAMS

STEPHANIE BOLTON

JESA BARNETT

KATIE BRASKETT

Director of Marketing, MegaCorp Logistics

VP, National Ancillary, UnitedHealth Group W2W Advisory Board

LYNDA BARROW

JUDY BUDD

ELLEN CONTENTE

Chief Empowerment Officer, WNY People Development

Owner, Patriot Roofing Company

Senior Workforce Solutions Advisor, Greene Resources

Marketing/Enrollment Coordinator, Elderhaus PACE

President, Connect Cape Fear

COURTNEY BURRELL

THERESA BASSETT

SARAH COATES Founder/President, One80 Counseling

WANDA COLEY

Founder, Heart Centered Programs

ANNA CURRY

CEO, The Diamond Group

Commercial Banking Market Credit Leader, Wells Fargo, NA

DORI BISHARA

LAUREN BUTLER

MIRRAH DAVY

MYSTY BLAGG

SHANNON CHIARELLO

BARBIE DORSEY

Community Engagement Coordinator, REV Federal Credit Union

Child & Family Therapist, Parent Like It Matters, PLLC

Healthcare Attorney, Shipman & Wright

Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments

MICHELLE CLARK-BRADLEY

MINDY BOGART

Real Estate Broker/Team Lead, The Michelle Clark Team with Intracoastal Realty

CEO & Learning Consultant, All Things Learner

WILMA

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Local Search Marketing Consultant, Top of Search

Broker/REALTOR, Intracoastal Realty-The Vance Young Team

Owner, CertaPro Painters Wilmington

ERIN EASTON

Director of Workforce Training, Cape Fear Community College

WILMA

WINTER 2023

WILMA N e t w o r k

KIM EMORY

ASHLEY HARKER

NATALIE ENGLISH

KATHARINE HARRIS

Owner, Specialized Physician Liaison Services

Creative Project Manager, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare

President & CEO, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce

DONNA ESTEVES

NA Regional Supply Chain Manager, Corning Incorporated W2W Advisory Board

LYNNE JONES

Owner/Lead Designer, LJ Design Studio

BRANDY KECK

Lead Designer, Sixth and Steel Interior Design

SVP-Head of Veterinary Lending, Live Oak Bank W2W Advisory Board

LILLIE HEWITT

SHERRI KENNEDY

Founder & Certified Yoga Therapist, ilm yoga therapy

Owner, Salty Chic

ASHLEY KENT

MICHELLE FOGLE

KRISTEN HOLE

Lead Project Consultant, Cape Fear Solar Systems

President, Kent Homes W2W Advisory Board

CONSTANCE FOREMAN

JO HOWELL

JESSICA KING

Owner, Fleet Feet Sports Wilmington

Owner & Lead Coach, Beyond Clinic Walls Wellness

Principal Interior Designer, Ginger Interiors

KRISTY HUBARD

HAYLEY FOSTER

VP, Strategic Initiatives, Novant Health W2W Advisory Board

Catering Sales Manager, Embassy Suites Wilmington Riverfront

ANNETTE FREEMAN

RACHEL HUNT

Owner, The Goddess Portal Coaching, Movement & Events

Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley

ALEXIS HUNTER

NICOLETTE FULTON

Deputy Authority Attorney, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority

Community Liaison, Wilmington Health W2W Advisory Board

TARA GILMORE

SARA IZAD

JUNE GUNTER

SUZANNE JALOT

PAM HARDY

SONYA JOHNSON

Owner, Awaken Your Essence

Senior Engineering Manager, nCino

Co-Founder & CEO, TeachingHorse

Director of Development, WARM NC

District Manager, Duke Energy W2W Advisory Board

VP of Marketing & Community Relations, Cape Fear Community College W2W Advisory Board

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Owner & Therapist, Still Point Counseling & Wellness

JESSICA KOVAR Founder, It's a Go Pursuits

LINDSEY LAWRENCE

Owner, Making Waves Mental Health PLLC

KELLIE LEWIS

VP, Commercial Relationship Manager, Customers Bank

JESSICA LOEPER

Assistant County Manager, New Hanover County Government

LILY LOIZEAUX

Human Resources Leader, GE Nuclear Power W2W Advisory Board

ALEXANDRA LYSIK Owner, Cavik Insurance

Salon · Spa & Floral Boutique B ook Our Beauty Crew Mobile For Onsite Bridal Se rvices

1540-14 0 S 2nd St. 1540-140 910.833.5661 lovebeautyandbloom. c om

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WINTER 2023

CAT MARINICH

WILMA N e t w o r k

Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes

TRACEY NEWKIRK

SANDY SPIERS

TRACEY NEWKIRK

SANDY SPIERS

Commercial Donations Development, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity

Founder/CEO, Helping Hands of the Cape Fear

Co-Founder & President, Genesis Block

CAT MARINICH

Owner, MELISSA MARTIN Nothing Bundt Cakes Realtor/Broker & Owner, Harpo Properties powered by Keller Williams

Co-Founder & President, Genesis Block CHRISTI LEA OSBORNE

MELISSA MARTIN

Realtor/Broker & Owner, Harpo Properties powered by Keller ZOË MATHEWS Williams Franchise Owner, Code Ninjas

JAMIE STOKLEY

Founder, The Bash Pad

Director of Retail Experience, Excite Credit Union

ALEXIS PERRY

Franchise Owner, Code Ninjas MATTHEWS MORGAN

Founder, RUTH SMITH The BashRAVITZ Pad President, RR Smith Strategic Solutions, LLC W2W Advisory Board

Marketing Director, Matthews Motors

RUTH RAVITZ SMITH

MORGAN MATTHEWS

President, RR Smith Strategic JUSTINE REEL Solutions, LLC W2W Advisory Board Associate Dean for Research &

Marketing Director, Matthews Motors DAWN MCDOWELL Owner/Maker, Creatively Covered

Innovation, UNCW CHHS

JUSTINE REEL

DAWN MCDOWELL

Associate Dean for Research & Innovation, STEFANIE UNCW CHHSROBACK Owner & Therapist, Arise Counseling and Therapy

Owner/Maker, ERIN MCNALLY Creatively Covered Marketing, Air Service Development & PR Manager, Wilmington International Airport

ERIN MCNALLY

STEFANIE ROBACK

Marketing, Air Service Development & PR Manager, HEATHER MCWHORTER Wilmington International Airport Director, UNCW CIE Director, UNCW CIE MENSCH MAGGIE

Director of Retail Experience, Excite CreditTROCCIA Union ANDREA

Market Development Manager, Corning Credit Union

ANDREA TROCCIA

Market Development Manager, Corning CreditVIVIAN Union CANDACE Owner, OsteoStrong Wrightsville

CANDACE VIVIAN

Owner, KAREN WEAVER OsteoStrong Wrightsville VP, Relationship Strategist, PNC Wealth Management W2W Advisory Board

KAREN WEAVER

ERIN RUSSELL

NICOLE WELLER

KELLY SCHAUDT

MAGGIE MENSCH

SARAH STONE

Owner, Russell Family Law & Litigation Owner, KELLYFamily SCHAUDT Russell Law & Litigation Director of Quality Performance, Community Care of NC W2W Advisory Board

Senior Consultant/Executive Coach, Grinnell Leadership

Founder/CEO, Helping of the Cape Fear SARAHHands STONE

VP, Relationship Strategist, PNC Wealth Management NICOLE WELLER W2W Advisory Board LPGA/PGA Golf Teaching Professional, Nicole Weller Golf Enterprises LLC

Owner & Therapist, Arise ERINCounseling RUSSELLand Therapy

HEATHER MCWHORTER

Market President/Commercial Team Lead, First National Bank JAMIE STOKLEY

CHRISTI LEA OSBORNE

Commercial Donations Development, Cape FearPERRY Habitat for Humanity ALEXIS

ZOË MATHEWS

Market President/Commercial Team Lead, First National Bank

LPGA/PGA Golf Teaching Professional, Nicole Weller Golf Enterprises LLC RILEIGH WILKINS Creative Director, Big Sky Shop + Studio

RILEIGH WILKINS

VP/Branch Manager, United Community Bank

Director of Quality Performance, Community Care of NC KAITLYN SEGUIN W2W Advisory Board Owner & Dietitian, Family Nutrition Solutions

JENNIFER MERRITT

KAITLYN SEGUIN

PARKER WILSON

Partner, Murchison Taylor & Gibson

Founder, Lead Intuitively

Director of Client Success, The Forté Institute

Senior Consultant/Executive Coach, Grinnell Leadership JENNIFER MERRITT

VP/Branch Manager, United Community Bank AMANDA MIARS

Owner & Dietitian, Family HOLLYNutrition SEGURSolutions

HOLLY SEGUR

AMANDA MIARS

Founder, SHERI SHAW Lead Intuitively Assistant Dean for Student Success UNCW CHHS W2W Advisory Board

Partner, Murchison & Gibson JOANNE Taylor MIRANDA Owner, Camille's of Wilmington

SHERI SHAW

JOANNE MIRANDA

Assistant Dean for Student Success UNCW CHHS W2W Advisory Board

Owner, Camille's Wilmington ANGELAofMUNDY

Owner, Carolina Girl Cookie Company

Creative Director, Big Sky Shop + Studio PARKER WILSON

Director of Client Development, Dualboot Partners Director of Client Development, Dualboot JESSICAPartners WOLFE

JESSICA WOLFE

Director of Client Success, The Forté Institute BRITTANY ZACHRICH

Executive Director, First Tee Greater Wilmington

BRITTANY ZACHRICH

Executive Director, First Tee Greater Wilmington

ANGELA MUNDY

Owner, Carolina Girl Cookie Company

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LEAD LEARN INSPIRE APPLICATIONS OPEN DECEMBER 1 - JANUARY 31 TO APPLY, VISIT WILMALeadership.com

WILMA’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE GIVES UP-AND-COMING LEADERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM TOP LEADERS IN THE REGION, VISIT A RANGE OF LOCAL COMPANIES AND SERVE AS EACH OTHERS’ PERSONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Individuals can apply themselves, and companies are encouraged to nominate high-potential leaders in their organizations. PROGRAM STARTS: April 2024 meetings are once a month for nine months.

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With Thanks Throughout their year, members of WILMA’s Leadership Institute hear from community leaders for skills training on a range of topics, from strategic planning to communicating effectively. Thank you to all of this year’s presenting speakers who shared their time and advice with the class.

Danielle Baxter nCino

Hoop Morgan The Forté Institute

Lisa Brooks Wilmington Thrive Tribes

Kim Nelson KNT Company

Natalie English Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Donna Esteves Corning Incorporated June Gunter TeachingHorse Mary Kathryn Hardy nCino Anne Keeble The Forté Institute Megan Kopka Kopka Financial Lisa Leath Vantaca

Tracey Newkirk Genesis Block Rachel Olsen The Forté Institute Ruth Ravitz Smith RR Smith Strategic Solutions Linda Sharkey Author/Speaker Sheri Shaw UNCW CHHS Linda Thompson New Hanover County

Jessica Loeper New Hanover County

Jessica Wolfe The Forté Institute

Chip Mahan Live Oak Bank

Lisa Wurtzbacher New Hanover County

2023 Venue Hosts: TeachingHorse & Double Run Farm ⬤ CFCC's Union Station Cameron Art Museum ⬤ Live Oak Bank ⬤ UNCW Veterans Hall New Hanover County Government Center ⬤ nCino ⬤ The Harrelson Center WILMA | WILMAMAG.COM WILMALeadership.com

WILMA’s 2023

Women toWatch

Awards

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Meet the winners

The winners of this year’s Women to Watch Awards were announced September 8, when a sold-out crowd gathered at the Wilmington Convention Center to celebrate the thirty-five finalists and cheer on the winners in each category: Arts, Business, Education, Health, Nonprofit/Volunteer, Public Sector, and Rising Star. This year’s awards mark the eleventh year of the program, which recognizes women working in their respective fields. Here are the 2023 WILMA Women to Watch Awards winners. Arts Melissa Wilgis, Fine Arts Photographer, One Fine Fotogram Business Pam Hardy, District Manager, Duke Energy Education Michaela Howells, Associate Professor of Anthropology, UNCW Health Alexis Hunter, Community Liaison, Wilmington Health

Nonprofit/Volunteer

Meade Horton Van Pelt, Executive Director, The Harrelson Center Public Sector Fawn N. Rhodes, Health & Human Services Equity Coordinator, New Hanover County Rising Star Allayna Dail, Assistant Director of Community Relations, City of Southport photos by Madeline Gray

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Embracing Change & Grown: advice from Linda Sharkey

iding to work – yes, we are back in the office with a few of my colleagues. This was an agreed office day, and we had to show up since we had been mostly zooming for the last while and the typical office banter had gone by the wayside. So having 45 minutes together – all four of us – with no particular work agenda, some personal feelings surfaced. This is the conversation that ensued. “I like this job, but I really feel I have more to offer. I don’t like the culture, and there is a better place for me to shine. But here I am, forty-five, and have been here ten years.” “I have had good promotions, but I am scared to leave – what if I don’t like the next place?” Robyn chimed in with a similar comment, but it concerned a relationship. This went on for a while. Naturally, I had my own “2 cents” to add in a similar vein.

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Mine had to do with a toxic family relationship, but I could not leave it. It seemed we all had something that we wanted to change but could not seem to do it. Instead, we chose to hang on to the known – maybe because it was comfortable. We weren’t motivated to change things, or we were just plain afraid. Thinking about this, I asked myself if this was a common phenomenon and began taking an informal poll. People replied with things like: • “I have been unhappy in this relationship for years, but it works for the kids.” • “My job is boring, but the pay is good, and I’m in my comfort zone.” • “I know everyone here, and I don’t have to watch my back so much.” • “If I stay a few more years, my 401(k) match will be better.” You get the picture. Many of us stay in okay situations but could be much better if we only took the step to move out of our comfort zone. Sometimes catastrophic events happen forcing us to move, but everyday life does not always present these situations. Fortunately, life is a cycle of waves, and knowing when to catch the next wave is always tricky and not always seen. I call this the transition phase. Knowing you must do something else – make a transition but not knowing how or what to do. Many talk about transformation, but you must accept that you must transition before you transform. Transition can take many forms. You can transition in your current situation by changing your thinking. You don’t always have to leave and go somewhere else. You can look at your situation and reframe it for a better fit. You can look for other alternatives – go back to

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school, consider a move. There are always alternatives that may look daunting but will stretch you and make for a better next wave to catch. The first step is to recognize that you need to transition. It will be a relief. Here are some thoughts to get you started on the transition to transformation journey. • Take a good and candid account of where you are – not where you want to be but where you really are. Put it away for a day or two, re-examine it, and see if it still rings true. • Now look at the skills you have. Be brutally honest. • Next, look at your current environment and compare it to the environment that makes you happy – where and when you feel at your best. Once you have done this, it is time then to transform. Now you need to take specific steps to transform to your next best place. Write your transition plan – not more than one page. Track your progress to transformation, record, and see how you feel when you reach your next wave. Most people will do this many times in their lifetime. That’s what learning and growing are all about. And we are never too old to learn, grow, and transform. Write that vision of your next best place, job, or relationship – whatever it may be. Write the steps down to get there and start moving on your transition plan to transform! The transformation journey can be fun, scary, and exciting. If you get stuck employ the 3 Ss: • Spot that you are stuck. • Stop doing what you are doing currently. • Swap with new actions. Transformation is a process that can be frightening, but it can be rewarding. I am in transition yet again in my life! I am excited to see how I transform. I know it will be a bumpy road. W Linda Sharkey is a transformation expert and world-renowned executive coach. She has worked with many Fortune 100 companies and leaders. Sharkey can be reached at Linda@lindasharkey.com

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PLUGGING IN R AC E S

Each issue, WILMA includes a Plugging In directory to help you connect locally. This time, we’re focusing on connecting through health and wellness, specifically upcoming running races. Some are for motivation to get moving; others are easy courses to help support a local nonprofit around the holidays. Keep an eye out for future lists about tech groups and interest meetups. Let us know about your organization by emailing editor@wilmingtonbiz.com.

Battleship NC Half Marathon A longtime favorite,

Dashing Through The Glow Santa pics, a

DATE: November 12 INFO: battleshiphalfmarathon.com

DATE: December 16 INFO: runsignup.com/ Race/NC/Wilmington/ WilmingtonDashingThruTheGlow

the Battleship race includes a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. The course winds through downtown Wilmington, starting and finishing at Water Street Park. Half-marathon runners cross all three downtown river bridges and circle Greenfield Lake.

Wrightsville Beach Turkey Trot A fun way to run

off the Thanksgiving turkey tryptophan, the annual Turkey Trot 5K draws runners, costumed racers, and dressed-up pets (allowed at the park but not in the race). There also is a one-mile run. Awards are given out in categories such as funniest racer, best overall racer, and most creative pet. The trot supports Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. DATE: November 23 INFO: runsignup.com/Race/ NC/WrightsvilleBeach/ WrightsvilleBeachTurkeyTrot

Wilmington Historic Half Another popular winter half

marathon, the race – which also includes a 10K and 5K – runs through Wilmington’s downtown historic district, including down the Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River. DATE: December 2 INFO: runwilmington.com

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Christmas tree, and a finisher medal sporting Frosty and Rudolph, the Dashing through the Glow 5K and one-miler bring the holiday spirit. Set at Riverlights’ Marina Village, the course is flat and winds through the community.

Ainsley’s Angels Frosty 5k Run as part of a race

that promotes teamwork and inclusivity. The 5K aims to build awareness of special needs communities. Courses include assisted athletes competing in race chairs and able-bodied runners supporting the mission. The run starts at the Pointe at Barclay. DATE: December 10 INFO: runsignup.com/Race/NC/ Wilmington/AinsleysAngelsFrosty5K

Southern Tour Ultra Supercharge your New Year’s

resolutions with an ultra-marathon that includes an individual 50-mile individual run, a 50K (or roughly 31 miles), a last man standing category, and a 50-mile team event. More than just a run – and trail run – the weekend event includes a festival vibe with music, campfires, camping, and more. DATE: January 19-20 INFO: southerntourultra.com

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PLUGGING IN C H A M B E R S O F CO M M E R C E

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BACKING BUSINESS: Tammy Proctor returns to helm chamber

by LYNDA VAN KUREN | photo by DARIA AMATO

AMMY PROCTOR, the incoming executive director of the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce, is uniquely qualified for the role.

Proctor is currently serving as the chamber’s interim executive director and as Pender County’s director of tourism (a position she’s held for nine years) – but before that, Proctor was Topsail chamber’s executive director from 2013 to 2015. “I’m excited to be back here,” Proctor says. “It’s like coming home.” The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism serves portions of Pender and Onslow counties – from Scotts Hill to Sneads Ferry, Proctor says. On the Pender County side, the Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce also represents Pender business owners. Proctor has been one of Pender County’s biggest advocates since she moved there permanently eleven years ago. The would-be retiree soon learned that a life of idleness wasn’t for her. Instead, Proctor found that working on behalf of her community was her perfect second career. Once Proctor officially resumes the role of Topsail chamber’s executive director on December 1, she will use all the resources and knowledge she gained in her previous jobs to help Topsail area businesses prosper. Proctor is taking the chamber’s helm at a time that is particularly important, as the area is experiencing unprecedented growth and development. The Topsail area is not only addressing the region’s current boom, Proctor says; it is also planning for economic development well into the future. “There’s nothing stagnant in the region,” she adds. “We are attracting major employers like UPS. There is so much opportunity and growth. It is a win-win to be in this area.” Proctor will head multiple initiatives to ensure that businesses in the Topsail area benefit from the area’s

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new-found popularity. For example, one of Proctor’s goals is to boost tourism, which will, in turn, boost business, she says. To make the region a must-see vacation destination, Proctor plans to highlight the unique experiences people can have such as visiting the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center or hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. “When people come to do those things, our businesses will prosper,” Proctor explains. “It’s not just the tourist businesses, it’s all the gas stations and grocery stores. All those businesses benefit.” Proctor also wants to bring more retail businesses like Target to the area, which she says is essential for the region’s continued growth. Currently, people travel to get to a Target, which means the area loses that revenue, she says. “It matters where you shop,” Proctor says. “Keeping those tax dollars only helps our community.” Equally important to Proctor is the chamber’s ability to promote local business through events such as the Christmas Flotilla and local Christmas shopping extravaganzas as well as the chamber’s networking opportunities, which Proctor plans to expand in the future. Though Proctor will be heading up projects large and small in her role as executive director, in each she will be doing what she loves best – bringing people who can help each other build their businesses together. “I have resources to share,” Proctor says. “I like to connect people so their needs are met, and the chamber is a great way to do that.” W

PLUGGING IN: C H A M B E R S O F CO M M E R C E Here are the tri-county area’s chambers of commerce that work with businesses. Several of them also have additional programs for female business owners who are members.

Wilmington Chamber of Commerce 1 Estell Lee Place, Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 762-2611 info@wilmingtonchamber.org wilmingtonchamber.org Natalie English (President and CEO)

Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce

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Two Names One Great Taste!

112 Pine Street, Shallotte, NC 28470 (910) 754-6644 communications@ brunswickcountychamber.org brunswickcountychamber.org Susan Freeman (Executive Director)

Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce

4433 Long Beach Road SE, Southport, NC 28461 (910) 457-6964 info@southport-oakisland.com southport-oakisland.com Karen Sphar (Executive Vice President)

Celebrating the bounty of the North & South coming together season-by-season.

www.athymesavor.com / www.savorsouthernkitchen.com

ART IN BLOOM GALLERY ~ MAYFAIRE TOWN CENTER ~

6866 MAIN STREET WILMINGTON, NC 28405

Art is Always Blooming in Wilmington!

ily a D n e Op at ire! Mayfa

Established in 2015, the gallery presents an eclectic mix of original, traditional, and contemporary works of art and represents over 30 artists.

910.679.4257 484.885.3037 ARTINBLOOMGALLERY@GMAIL.COM

MON - SAT 10AM-7PM SUN 12-6PM

WWW.AIBGALLERY.COM 48

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Rebecca Yeomans “Grid Series: Cypress” (Detail) Mixed media on paper, 20”H x 20”W

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North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce 497 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 202, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 383-0553 northbrunswickchamber@gmail.com nbchamberofcommerce.com Dana Fisher (Executive Director)

Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

13775 Hwy. 50, Suite 101, Surf City, NC 28445 (910) 329-4446 info@topsailchamber.org topsailchamber.org www.topsailchamber.org Tammy Proctor (Executive Director, starting December 1)

Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce

1121 N. Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach, NC 28428 (910) 458-8434 Alannah@pleasureislandnc.org pleasureislandnc.org Jim DeGilio (Executive Director)

Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce 115 S. Dickerson Street, Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-9817 info@burgawchamber.com burgawchamber.com Emily Baker (Executive Director)

Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 466, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 (910) 256-8116 wrightsvillebeachchamber@gmail.com wrightsvillechamber.org

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Circles of Influence LIVIAN JONES ON FORGING AND GROWING CONNECTIONS photo by JACKIE WHITAKER PHOTOGRAPHY

IVIAN JONES is a builder, not just because of her multi-decade career in the construction industry, but also because of her commitment to strengthening nonprofits, mentoring the next generation, and fostering relationships.

After earning a B.S. from Appalachian State University, she moved to Wilmington thirty-three years ago and landed a job with Miller Building Co. She liked the industry, so to firm up her foundation she pursued an MBA at University of North Carolina Wilmington. Talk about your career, and what you’re doing now. “After getting my MBA, I’m guessing the entrepreneur bug hit me. In 1996, I passed the general contractor exam and started two construction companies, one residential and one commercial. My career had always been in the construction industry until I accepted the role of vice president of operations with Newland Real Estate (developer of

RECOMMENDED READ Clarity: How to Get It, How to Keep It & How to Use It to Balance Your Life by Steven Cesari

Riverlights, a 1,400-acre master-planned Wilmington community along River Road). This was a great learning opportunity with a national real estate development firm. Riverlights had its grand opening in late 2016, and from there I went on to start Streamline Development. Streamline is a company that works with various clients and owners. I assist them with many things required for the development and construction process and growth processes. Over the years, my clients have included Coldwell Banker SeaCoast, Samet Corp., Carroll Companies, and State Street. I also believe you need to stay involved in your work through affiliated associations, events, and conferences and always continue to learn. My friend Robin Spinks and I talk often about how refreshing it is to see so many women at our North Carolina Economic Development Association conferences. Early on there were five attending a 200- to 300-person conference. My many years attending the NCEDA conference has led to many friendships across the state.” You have been very active in the area’s nonprofit sector. What leadership roles have you held? “I have served on the boards of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Housing Authority, First

FAVORITE PODCAST: “I listen to Port City Community Church podcasts weekly. They always make me think and focus on the many things I have to be thankful for.” WILMA

Tee, Cape Fear Region Boy Scouts, Good Friends, and Good Shepherd House. Since earning an MBA from UNCW, I have served on the university’s Alumni Board, Seahawk Board, and Foundation Board, and was honored among UNCW’s Alumni of the Year in 2006. I’ve done fundraising for Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry and Wilmington Central Rotary. I led three Women Builds for Habitat for Humanity and participated in two other builds. My commitment to nonprofits has always been a large part of my life. Since 2007 I have owned and operated a nonprofit called Furniture Finders. Many friends, as well as people from my church and affiliated nonprofits, have given many hours through this organization to help others.” Can you recommend ways that professional women new to Wilmington can become connected and involved? “My advice to getting connected in Wilmington is to participate. My longtime mentor Louise McColl taught me early on that if you could raise money and be involved in the nonprofit community you would meet many people. That has proven to be true. Volunteering and giving back is a great way to meet people. Find groups you are passionate about supporting and get involved.” W

WILMINGTONBIZ 100 Livian Jones is part of this year’s WilmingtonBiz 100 as an Influencer. She and the other members of the list will be highlighted in the December issue of WilmingtonBiz Magazine (wilmingtonbizmagazine.com) WILMAMAG.COM

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GROWING FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT CHILDREN By Chris Riley – Financial Advisor at CAPTRUST

Did you know that 45 percent of parents with adult children (that is, children over 26 years old) are still providing significant financial support for at least one of their children, regardless of whether the child lives at home? Many of these parents are making significant sacrifices to help their children. They’re buying investment properties for their kids to rent at prices below market rates, withdrawing money from savings accounts to cover unexpected bills, and sending monthly allowances to help repay student loans. The danger for some parents is that as their bank accounts dwindle so do their chances of a secure retirement. If you’re a parent who has been providing regular financial assistance to adult children, the first step is to ask yourself why. While the obvious answer might be because you love your kids, for many people, the answer goes deeper. The root cause might lie in a parent’s own financial upbringing. Early money memories shape each person’s subconscious and emotional responses to financial decision-making. Many parents want to make things easier for their kids. Others believe that providing lifelong financial support is simply a part of the job. Once you have a grasp on why you want to support your adult children financially, you can make a more conscious decision about how to move forward. 52

This starts by taking a fresh look at your own financial picture. While there’s no specific age when WILMA

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children age out of needing financial support, there are thresholds beyond which parents might be putting their own financial goals at risk. Understanding how much and how often you can give means considering factors like your retirement age, expected retirement income, lifestyle, and philanthropic intent. In the same way you might anticipate early retirement or extra healthcare expenses, a financial advisor can help you model different giving scenarios. This provides you with a more complete view of how gifts to your children can impact your future. It also gives you guardrails to work within or may help you understand if you need to break the habit altogether. Here are a few additional steps parents can take to reinforce financial lessons and build financial independence. Tell financial stories. Even if you don’t want to share specific numbers, like your net worth or salary, personal anecdotes can help teach the importance of hard work, persistence, and frugality. Acknowledge uncertainties. Make sure your children understand that your financial situation is not set in stone. Your assets, investments, and even your will could change, so they shouldn’t rely on your assets as a safety net. Consider trusts and family foundations. Parents who are worried about an adult child’s financial behavior might want to explore trusts and family foundations as a safer way to leave behind assets while instituting limitations. Let them fail forward. It’s tempting to shield the people you love from their own financial missteps, but it’s important to let them experience the natural consequences of their decisions. Along the way, you can be there to offer guidance but don’t have to bear the burden financially. If you start to feel like you’re enabling bad decisions, trust your instincts and let your kids fail a little—or a lot. Mistakes are part of the learning process. There is no right or wrong way to help your children. But if you’re considering working extra years or dipping into retirement accounts to support them, it might be time to make a change. That way, when the time comes, you can both feel confident that they have what they need to bloom on their own.

Chris Riley, CFP® Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor Chris.Riley@captrust.com 910.256.8882 CAPTRUST specializes in providing comprehensive wealth planning services to executives and high-networth individuals, and investment advisory services to retirement plan fiduciaries, foundations, and endowments.

5535 Currituck Drive #110, Wilmington, NC 28403 WILMA

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TASTE

GARDEN

grounds by KATIE SCHMIDT | photos by MEGAN DEITZ

This tucked-away coffee shop opens up to a lush and whimsical yard

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ucked away from the cobbled streets and historic, Southern architecture in downtown Wilmington is a hidden, lush jungle positively teeming with dinosaurs. Sure, the dinosaurs are toy figurines, but with reality ever so slightly suspended in the backyard at Hidden Grounds Coffee, you could be in any serene locale of your choice, surrounded by greenery and sipping your daily coffee.

TAYLOR PFYFFER, one of three owners of Wilmington’s latest coffee shop, says the trio focused on maximizing the outside area so it would “allow people to spend more time outdoors, which unfortunately, we don’t always get an excuse or place to do.” Pfyffer co-owns and operates the shop at 21 South 2nd Street, tucked in front of the City Club of Wilmington’s grounds, with her fiancé, JOSH SKIDMORE, and her friend/soon-to-be-sister-in-law, CAITLIN SKIDMORE. “It’s a family affair,” Caitlin Skidmore says, “which is the best experience ever and just so cool that we’re close enough to be able to do something like this.” The trio grew up in Mooresville, with Pfyffer and Caitlin Skidmore becoming best friends in high school and Caitlin eventually setting up her friend with her brother. Caitlin Skidmore has

been bartending for the past ten years, while Pfyffer and Josh Skidmore are the co-owners of The Exit Games, an escape room business with a location downtown. “We do not come from the coffee industry,” Pfyffer says. “We come from the

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coffee fandom though. And we’ve always wanted to do this together. We thought it may happen ten years down the road; we thought we’d be baristas for a little bit, but this opportunity presented itself. We had to sort of ask ourselves, ‘OK do we take a heck of a hard learning curve and go for it? Or do we maybe look back someday and regret inaction?’ So, we chose to take the risk, and we are so grateful we did.” Anyone who has driven past Hidden Grounds since its grand opening has likely deduced that the trio made the right choice with that risk. With a fairly consistent line out the door, the coffee shop has quickly gained a solid customer base. “We couldn’t ask for a better turnout,” Caitlin Skidmore says. “I don’t know that we’ve truly processed it,” Pfyffer adds. “You know, when we’re grinding, we don’t really look at the line outside, we just kind of stay in

our lane. But we do want to make sure that every person – whether they’re walking in during a rush or at 3:59 when we close our doors – feels welcomed.” The trio has made it this far by both leaning on their shared bonds and individual strengths (as well as an iron-clad veto policy that has served them well). While all three are graduates from UNCW’s Cameron School of Business and are “super creative people,” they have unique abilities they’re each bringing to the table. “Taylor is a master communicator,” Caitlin Skidmore says. “Josh is the hardest worker I know,” Pfyffer says. And Caitlin is best when flexing her ability behind the bar, both navigating the hustle and bustle, as well as developing the menu items for Hidden Grounds. Standout items from the menu – in addition to classics like cappuccinos and drip coffee – are the Cold Fashioned, Salty Dino, and Minty Matcha. “The Cold Fashioned is our bougie, pinky-up drink,” Caitlin Skidmore says. “It’s for the espresso lovers,” Pfyffer adds. “It’s a triple shot of espresso that we shake with a couple of dashes of bitters and a little bit of simple syrup. We shake it, strain it over a coffee cube, and garnish it with a dehydrated orange and Luxardo (maraschino) cherry. It’s definitely our prettiest drink.” The Salty Dino is “for those that prefer more flavor-forward” and is shaken espresso, salted caramel, and vanilla. The Minty Matcha is matcha, with vanilla and mint and, according to Pfyffer, “is cool, refreshing, and you can drink it any time of day.” Before guests make it out to the picturesque backyard of Hidden Grounds, they’ll surely notice a framed black-and-white photo of a man donning a cowboy hat with a pack of cigarettes in his pocket: Skidmore senior, Josh and Caitlin’s father. “That’s our Marlboro man,” Caitlin Skidmore says. “Our dad worked for the tobacco company back in the day, and they always had a cowboy riding a horse. So, for our merchandise, we put our cowboy on a dinosaur.” The team has big ideas for future events, vendor pop-ups, yoga classes, and even something they referred to all-knowingly as “Jazzy Sundays.” “We definitely have a lot of ideas we want to pursue,” Phyffer says, “when we have a little bit more time to work on the business instead of in the business.” W 56

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Stretching is an essential component of an active, healthy lifestyle. In terms assisting in blood flow and reducing the impacts of pain and muscle soreness, there is no substitute for regular stretching. Missing out on it creates a noticeable difference for those who have made it a part of their daily routine, as stretching is known to relax the body and mind. Though it can be practiced at home, having someone help can add to the benefits and ensure that everything is done correctly. Here at StretchLab, we take the benefits of stretching a step further by offering Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, PNF can improve muscle elasticity and increase passive/active range of motion. PNF involves both the stretching and contracting of muscle groups. The benefit of coming here is that our members have a Flexologist help push and release different muscle groups during each stretch. The result is that our members are often able to get into a deeper stretch with each push and release! Flexologists start by asking each individual to describe their flexibility on a scale of one to 10. This helps customize the stretch to the individual, helping them progress their range of motion and flexibility over time. The process begins with meeting clients where they are, and then helping progress them to their goals. All of our Flexologists have completed at least 60 hours of theory and hands-on training, focused on the muscular system, assisted stretches and how to help a variety of clients. In addition to having a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science or Athletic Training, some Flexologists have master’s degrees, plus certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine in personal training. This creates a more positive experience than what could be obtained at home, as working with a partner can allow for deeper stretches, which typically result in more flexibility and more relaxation. 2030 Stonecrop Drive, #504 Wilmington, NC 28412 +1 (910) 765-0750 southwilmington@stretchlab.comWILMA

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H IG H

CA L I B E R CONCEALED CARRY & BASIC HANDGUN CLASSES

CONNECT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DIRECTORY

Where locals find 100's of Events and 1000's of Clubs, Groups & Organizations

CONNECTCAPEFEAR.COM 58

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Obtain your Concealed Carry Permit or Learn to Shoot in a Fun, Relaxed Setting. Check Out Our Monthly LADIES’ PISTOL NIGHT! (562) 331 -3033 HighCaliberOC.com @HighCaliber_NC

TASTE

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zest

c i t r u s c a ke INGREDIENTS 2 oranges or 3 mandarins or tangerines, with thin skin and not much pith 2½ c Einkorn flour 2 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda 2 tsp turmeric ¼ tsp sea salt ½ c orange blossom honey DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil citrus for 10 minutes three separate times. Start with fresh water each time. This will get rid of some of the bitterness. Add the oranges to a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Measure ½ cup purée. Set aside. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, honey, and sugar to a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle on medium for 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula halfway through. Add the eggs one at a time incorporating fully before adding the next one. Add the

7 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ c sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature ½ c whole milk, room temperature ¼ c sour cream, room temperature 1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste vanilla. Add one-third of the sifted flour. Mix on low until just combined. Combine the sour cream and milk and add onethird to the batter. Mix on low until incorporated. Repeat two more times. Add the orange purée and mix on low until incorporated. Add your batter to a greased or lined muffin tin. Fill about two-thirds full. For extra crunch, sprinkle with raw sugar. Bake at 350� F for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Add whipped topping and citrus and enjoy! (makes 12 muffins)

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For pastry chef LYDIA CLOPTON, the holidays taste like oranges. “It reminds me of spending Christmas in Florida, which I’ve done most of my life,” says the former owner of Love, Lydia Bakery. “We used to make a similar recipe at the bakery as a mini-Bundt cake, and I loved making it. I love that it uses the whole orange with no waste.” For Clopton, it’s a multi-generational memory. Her grandparents used to live in Florida and grew different varieties of citrus fruits. Her mom lives in Florida now, and they stop at citrus stands while traveling there. “The tangelos – sometimes called honeybells – are usually just coming into season. While these would be the perfect fruit for this cake because of their thin skin and lack of seeds, a mandarin or thinskinned orange variety would be a lot easier to find year-round.” And now with two sons of her own – eighteen months and four years old – Clopton experiments with healthier substitutions in her cake recipe shared here that don’t affect the flavor as well as kid-friendly sizes, turning the cake recipe into muffins. “In this recipe, I’ve swapped out some of the sugar for honey,” she says, “and I use Einkorn flour, which is a lower gluten type of wheat and less processed.” W

whipped topping INGREDIENTS ½ c heavy cream, cold

½ c plain Greek yogurt or crème fraiche, cold

2 tbsp orange blossom honey 1/8 tsp orange blossom water

DIRECTIONS Whip the cream and yogurt until soft peaks form. Add the honey and orange blossom water and whip a little bit more until combined, but do not over-whip. NOTE: To supreme, or cut citrus segments, as a topping garnish, Clopton likes to use a couple of different kinds for color variation. Cut the peel and all pith off any citrus and cut out the segments between the pith.

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HEALTH + WELLNESS

Approach Shot Nicole Weller helps women hit their stride on the golf course

by STEPHANIE BOWENS | photo by TERAH HOOBLER

hether helping local residents learn the game of golf for the first time or helping golfers improve their game, NICOLE WELLER is making an impact on the local golf experience for many who use her services. Weller, owner and director of Nicole Weller Golf Enterprises LLC, launched in June 2022, instructs Compass Pointe Golf Club members, their guests, and golfers at the Leland course. She says she enjoys creating custom golf programs to meet the needs and interests of those she instructs. While she provides a lot of oneon-one private instruction, Weller, an LPGA/PGA professional, enjoys leading various small group classes and programs for the golf club’s members and guests. One popular program Weller runs is called Learn About Golf in One Day for women. It’s designed to be a fun introduction to golf for women who have never played or those wanting a refresher. “It’s a one-day program that was initially offered as a five-week program by the LPGA and PGA, and I’ve found that most of my clients like to travel … I could never get them all to finish all five weeks,” Weller said. “So I learned how to do it in one day. “We do a fun introduction. We talk about the history of the game, the equipment, and do some basic skills with only three clubs,” she says about the six-hour program, which includes lunch. “I keep it super simple. It’s worked out great with just three clubs: a putter, a pitching wedge, and an 8 iron.”

Using a training manual that she’s put together over the past twenty years, Weller takes program participants to the driving range, greens, and course, helping participants learn the game and play some holes. “The best response I like hearing is ‘I can’t believe our time is up,’ and ‘I want to go practice,’” Weller says. Weller says there are many fun opportunities for women to explore golf, including incorporating golf themes into business seminars and networking events. While in Savannah, Georgia, Weller worked with some financial advisers to develop themes to incorporate golf into financial seminars. “I would do a clinic on looking at risks and rewards when making decisions about which club to use and how to hit the shot,” she says. “Then when they all went back inside afterward, the adviser would lead into his or her discussion on risks and rewards when doing finance. We might look at how to read the scenery or the greens, which way the ball is going to roll, and then, the advisers may discuss reading the scenery on how things are looking in the financial world.” Weller developed a love for golf at an early age. “My dad started playing golf when I was about four, and that was my really cool way to hang out with him and get out there and spend time with him,” she recalls. Weller eventually competed in state, regional, and national youth and women’s amateur golf competitions, received a scholarship to play golf at Wake Forest University, and then pursued her master’s degree in sport psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Weller began teaching golf while

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working at a country club in Knoxville and putting herself through graduate school. After graduation, she became a member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals division, now called LPGA Professionals. She worked as an assistant professional at a golf shop at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville. Discovering teaching as her calling, Weller eventually took a teaching position at Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville, where she also taught four- and five-year-olds. She has since experienced a successful career in golf instruction in various positions in Knoxville, Savannah, Pinehurst, and now Leland, earning many awards and recognitions. For example, Weller says she was honored to be the only professional to receive both the PGA and LPGA National Junior Golf Leader awards in the same year in 2013. Other honors include making the LPGA Top 50 Teachers list in multiple years, GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teacher, Georgia PGA Horton Smith Section Award, Golf Digest Best 50 Women Teachers, Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, LPGA T&CP Southeast Junior Golf Leader, and Teacher of the Year. Her experiences have given her the opportunity to be a mentor to other female golfers. “I just started a new mentoring role with the LPGA” Weller says. “I’m always into being able to help other women, especially in LPGA, kind of empower themselves and find their way. I want to help women find their way into golf. A lot of times, ladies may say ‘My husband wants me to play,’ or ‘I need to do this for business.’ “That’s great, but I want to find what’s going to make it fun for you,” Weller says. “We find different ways to do it.” W 61

JOURNEY THROUGH THE

CARGO DISTRICT Discover a shipping container community located in the heart of Downtown Wilmington, offering local food, drinks, shopping, and more. Flip through the next few pages for a glimpse of some of the awesome places waiting to be explored in the Cargo District. @thecargodistrict cargodistrict.com

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Written & Designed by Brave Creative

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PHILM

@bravecreativeagency

Your Content. Your Way.

contact@bebraveilm.com bebravecreative.co

PHILM is the only commercial photo + video studio of its kind in Wilmington, offering up to 10 different aesthetics for you, your brand, and your product all in one location. A session at PHILM includes lighting and camera gear, interchangeable decor and product flat-lay accessories, a stocked fridge, a coffee bar, prime walking distance to food and drinks, and if you need a photographer, we have that too! Book a session directly through Instagram.

@philm.studio @philm.studio

josh@thephilmstudio.com josh@thephilmstudio.com 267.394.1458 267.394.1458

BRAVE CREATIVE

Authentic & Collaborative Digital Marketing Brave Creative is a creative agency specializing in authentic and collaborative digital marketing. When it comes to your brand, or any brand for that matter, we utilize our time by fully immersing ourselves in it; The best part is… we have a lot of fun doing it! We hope that with our help, every client we work with becomes truly proud of their brand and what they’ve created. Email us if you’re looking to market your brand at contact@bebraveilm.com.

COSMIC FLORA

Bespoke Floral Arrangements & Curated Gifts

THE STARLING BAR Wilmington's Premier Whiskey & Wine Bar

Our claim to fame? Award-winning cocktails, rare wines, and exclusive whiskeys, including antique gems. Our dedicated team ensures an unforgettable experience for everyone! Join us for live music, special events and markets, or just enjoy some insane views from our top deck.

Our floral studio is a testament to the belief that we are all children of the cosmos, made of star stuff, intrinsically connected to nature. Each floral arrangement at Cosmic Flora tells a story - be it love, loss, friendship, gratitude, or a celebration! Our celestial inspiration lends our creations a certain ethereal quality, a sense of wonder and beauty that transcends the ordinary. We invite you to join us on our journey, to lose yourself among the stars and find yourself in the flowers.

1901 Kent Street Wilmington, NC 28403

@cosmicfloradesign

hello@cosmicfloradesign.com 910.538.4749 cosmicfloradesign.com

1612 Queen St Wilmington, NC 28401

@thestarlingbar starlingbar.co

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ALCOVE BEER GARDEN Beer Garden & Full Liquor Bar Alcove Beer Garden is the kind of spot where something fun is always going on - whether it’s live music, daily drink specials, or a collaborative event with one of our neighbors. If you’re in the mood for a cold beer or a tasty cocktail, we’ve got a wide selection of delicious drinks! Come check out all that Alcove Beer Garden has in store for you!

COME HANG AWHILE.

348 Hutchison Lane Wilmington, NC 28401

@alcovebeergarden

BEAT STREET

The Spot For Authentic Street Food

348 Hutchison Lane Wilmington, NC 28401

@beatst_streetfood

We Are True Blue is bringing out our playful side with this fast-casual street food eatery. Explore a world of flavor with a unique, rotating, and delicious menu. Join the lively crowd, indulge in your favorites, and experience the high energy of street food right here in the Cargo District.

WE ARE TRUE BLUE.

910.541.5505 beatstreetilm.com

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Sponsors’ Content

END OF DAYS DISTILLERY

Premier Craft Distillery - Celebrate The Day!

Our commitment to crafting distinctive ultra-premium spirits pays homage to the bold pre-prohibition flavors and styles that echo the unique character of our Carolina roots. From award-winning Port of Entry Vodka, Gin, Rum, Luna Bloom Butterfly Pea Flower Gin, and Castaway Series Barrel Rested Gin, to our premium craft cocktail bar, every element is a result of meticulous craftsmanship. Enjoy a taste of our craft spirits and explore the process of sourcing, fermentation, distillation, and finishing. Visit our website to book a tour/tasting at www.eoddistillery.com, or stop by the mercantile room to pick up a unique gift for those that matter the most.

SEIZE MOMENTS. SIP THOUGHTFULLY. LOVE THE NOW. 1815 Castle St. Wilmington, NC 28403 @eoddistillery

info@eoddistillery.com

BLUE CUP ROASTERY Wilmington's First Container Coffee Shop

At Blue Cup Roastery, we're all about turning ordinary moments into something extraordinary every day. We offer more than just coffee; we offer a warm and welcoming community where people come together to caffeinate, communicate, and collaborate, one blue cup at a time. Open Every Day 6:00am - 6:00pm

WHERE HABIT MEETS HAPPINESS.

348 Hutchison Ln Wilmington, NC 28401

@bluecuproastery bluecuproastery.com

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1502 Castle Street Wilmington, NC 28401

@azalea.stn

azaleastation@wearetrueblue.com azaleastation.com

AZALEA STATION

TRUE BLUE EVENTS

A Lounge & Event Space Mixed Into One

Premium Custom Catering Built For You

Welcome to our spacious full-service bar dedicated to serving the community specialty cocktails! What sets us apart is our high ceilings, customizable lighting, movable furniture, and high-quality acoustics designed to give you the opportunity to make our space what YOU need for any party or special occasion.

As Azalea Station’s preferred caterer, True Blue Events takes it to the next level! We don’t just drop off food; we bring our most talented chefs and servers to elevate your event’s experience. Our process starts with you and ends with a custommade event that reflects your style and taste.

@trueblue_events

events@wearetrueblue.com trueblue-events.com

WHERE YOUR VISION C O M E S T O L I F E.

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Sponsors’ Content

HELLO, LOVE. Design The Life You Love.

Welcome to hello, love., a thoughtfully curated boutique that recognizes choices are important. Your morning drink ritual, the books you read, the spaces you create.

347 Hutchison Ln Storefront 110-120 Wilmington, NC 28401

@helloloveilm

We believe a designed life is a better life. There is nothing more exciting than finding that perfect something to make someone smile. There is nothing more intentional than buying local, small, and responsible. Nothing is more rewarding than the emotional connection when your space, choices, and life are exactly where you want them.

hello@helloloveilm.com helloloveilm.com

SMELL. TOUCH. DESIGN.

SALT + CHARM An Open Heart And A Full Table

Helping you get back to the table with chef prepared meals that nourish your body + your soul with services like our meal prep delivery, personal chef, catering, and private event offerings. Check out our website to learn more about what we can do for you!

702 S 17th St. Wilmington, NC 28401

@saltandcharm

info@saltandcharm.co 910.769.1010 eat.saltandcharm.co WILMA |

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sarah@theplantoutpost.com 910.769.0983 theplantoutpost.com

The Plant Outpost

SARAH MERTZ

Bookworm Pottery & Co.

bookwormpotteryco@gmail.com bookwormpotteryco.com

Sarah Mertz, owner of The Plant Outpost, has established a haven for plant lovers. The heart of her business lies in the vibrant community that rallies around it - connections made on sourcing trips, visitors to the shop, and online supporters. Mertz has managed to transform her shop twice in size since its inception. Driven by purpose, Mertz uplifts fellow women by showcasing their creations, hosting their events, and sharing insight. Approaching her fourth year in business, she remains focused on developing and nurturing her business.

ASHLEY MERKLINGER

Ashley Merklinger, the owner of Bookworm Pottery & Co., is dedicated to sharing the joy of clay. Founded in late 2021, Bookworm Pottery & Co. offers a variety of pottery classes. Merklinger values the therapeutic aspects of pottery and strives for a welcoming environment. Her commitment has resulted in collaborations with leading ceramic companies and magazine features. With a focus on consistency, care, and creativity, Merklinger’s hard work and compassion have built a special community of over 2,000 students and a growing team of 5 teachers and staff.

WOMEN

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WINTER 2023

madeline@superfreefood.com 646.256.9431 superfreefood.com

SUPERFREE

BETH FAULKNER

Meet the force behind SUPERFREE, Madeline Rose Lee, a crafter of anti-inflammatory, plant-based, gluten-free, delicious superfoods. Around 2012, Lee embarked on a journey to master her Crohn's disease through mindful consumption. While rooted in nourishment, SUPERFREE is more than just food. Lee has meticulously curated a genuine brand anchored in her most authentic, sustainable, and passionate life experiences. This deliberate approach has created a transformative brand that resonates with others, ultimately contributing to SUPERFREE's remarkable success.

End of Days Distillery

Beth Faulkner, co-founder of End of Days Distillery, has distilled her passion for craftsmanship into a thriving business known for producing ultra-premium spirits. Established in 2020, Faulkner and her talented team have received high recognition for their historic rehabilitation efforts and garnered national and international awards for their spirits. Faulkner’s 25 years of entrepreneurial experience provides a solid foundation for the brand's success. As a passionate business owner to her customers and a dedicated mother and wife to her family, Faulkner displays profound strength, approachability, and a commitment to excellence.

info@eoddistillery.com 910.399.1133 eoddistillery.com

MADELINE ROSE LEE

OF THE CARGO DISTRICT

info@saltandcharm.co 910.769.1010 saltandcharm.co | starlingbar.co

Salt + Charm | The Starling Bar

Brave Creative

Meet Abbye McGee, owner of Salt + Charm and co-creator of The Starling Bar. Her entrepreneurship journey began in 2018, evolving from a one-woman private chef into a thriving luxury catering and meal prep service. McGee's unwavering commitment to her staff's growth and empowerment stands as her proudest achievement. Fostering a work environment that feeds positivity is the foundation for both of her businesses. McGee’s adaptability, fearless pursuit of knowledge, and unshakable belief in women's potential have been instrumental in her business's success.

TORI GATANIS

President and co-founder of Brave Creative, Tori Gatanis, heads a dynamic creative agency specializing in collaborative and authentic digital marketing. Launched in March 2021, Brave Creative sprang from an act of courage as Gatanis and her business partner, Bobby Zimmerman, wanted to help small businesses become truly proud of their brand and what they’ve created. Gatanis cherishes connecting with her clients and preserving their brand stories with fierce dedication. Supported by a talented, creative, all-women team, Gatanis thrives on innovation, exploration, and the art of storytelling.

tori@bebraveilm.com bebravecreative.co

ABBYE MCGEE

Sponsors’ Content

WOMEN

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therefillerycoia@gmail.com therefillerycoilm.com

The Refillery Co.

Cosmic Flora

Meet Jasmyn Blanchard, owner of The Refillery Co. and passionate advocate for sustainability and reducing plastic waste. The Refillery Co. is a refill shop on a mission to combat plastic waste while offering clean, plant-based products. Blanchard's journey began with pop-up events in October 2022; her business has since thrived on educating customers about eco-conscious, accessible choices and always advocating for "less is more." Through her commitment to sustainability and The Refillery Co., Blanchard hopes to inspire others and serve as a role model for her two daughters.

VIVIAN ALFONSIN

Vivian Alfonsin, the creative mind behind Cosmic Flora, has cultivated a blossoming brand all about spreading joy through floral artistry. Specializing in imaginative floral designs, Cosmic Flora offers daily deliveries, subscriptions, event decor, seasonal workshops, and a thoughtfully curated selection of gifts. Alfonsin's pledge to sustainability shines through her eco-friendly practices, shunning plastic and floral foam while using natural, untouched blooms. Since her business debut in December 2022, Alfonsin has been breaking boundaries within the floral industry and redefining her own success that harmonizes with her personal values.

hello@cosmicfloradesign.com 910.538.4749 cosmicfloradesign.com

JASMYN BLANCHARD

OF THE CARGO DISTRICT

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WINTER 2023

STYLE

RINGING IN FASHION WEEK

Melissa Tyson shows her custom jewelry in Paris shows

by AUDREY ELSBERRY

ELISSA TYSON never doubted her vision for a jewelry business. Not during her college career in metalsmithing, not when she made jewelry all night while working two other jobs, and certainly not when she participated in this year’s Paris Fashion Week.

Tyson owns Melissa Tyson Designs, a custom engagement ring company run out of her home office. Her space is decorated with tools, a workbench in the corner, and dog toys abandoned under her desk – a reminder she is equal parts entrepreneur and mother in a full household. “She has a very clear vision,” says JOURNEE DAVIS, Tyson’s friend, and owner of Tropez Salon on Sir Tyler Drive. “Typically, when I set my heart to something, I find a way,” Tyson says.

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Case in point. Davis has always admired Tyson’s designs; she’s gotten a frontrow seat to witness her friend’s business evolve from a general jewelry line to a custom engagement ring business. The two business owners have been friends for twenty years, Davis says, and as their friendship matured, so did their businesses. Tyson’s first storefront was a studio she shared with a of couple other East Carolina University art school grads in 1999. They opened a little shop next to Lumina Station and lived by Wrightsville Beach: the post-grad dream. Tyson worked two other jobs to pay the bills. She was able to live off her jewelry business about two years later, she says. “I knew that it was going to take time to build a business out of it, and I was willing to do whatever it took for that to happen,” she says. At first, she made all kinds of jewelry and sold it in stores across the country. But she scaled back when she started her family. She’s recalibrated multiple times to achieve her desired work-life schedule. This is something Davis says she admires about her friend. Tyson sold metal scraps she had saved from fifteen years of projects and used the funds to create a gold engagement ring line, which set Tyson’s business down its current path. She says this experience inspired her to sell her more unique, personal designs. Now, her artisan flair is the signature of Melissa Tyson Designs. It also caught the eye of Flying Solo, a company that curates collaborative fashion shows for fashion weeks in New York and Paris. The company asked if Tyson would like to participate in this year’s show in October. Tyson told Davis about the offer, and the two shared in Tyson’s excitement, just like they did when British Vogue featured Tyson’s designs about ten years ago, Davis says. “All along the way, we were like, ‘Is this really real?’” she says. After six months of curating, interviewing, and waiting, Tyson 72

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learned she would be included in the show and paired with another designer for the runway. “I don’t often give myself a lot of space and time to just create for the love of creating anymore,” Tyson says. “This opened that up for me.” She stuck to her authentic style, not making anything too outrageous for the occasion. She wanted her classic engagement rings to stand on their own, Tyson says. As Tyson’s go-to hair stylist, Davis was in charge of her friend’s Paris look. They decided on Tropez Salon extensions, which created a wild look that aligns with Tyson’s style, Davis says. “It’s really fun to go anywhere with her,” Davis says. “She has such a unique look.” Tyson wanted to represent Wilmington businesses while in Paris, so she paired her Tropez extensions with clothing from Tusc, a Wilmington boutique on Town Center Drive, owned by another of her friends CARISSA LONG. “I love that she is wanting to involve as many of the other small businesses to be in the limelight with her,” Davis says. “That’s just how the Wilmington women-owned business culture is, and Melissa is the most of that of anyone I’ve ever met.” When Tyson got to Paris, she was paired with clothing designers Sheetol Chawla and Odet for the two shows she was featured in. She resonated deeply with Chawla and her designs. “I just started to cry, and then (Chawla) started to cry, and we had this connection,” Tyson says. She says the fashion show was a resounding success, and she and Chawla have already made plans to collaborate in the future. Also up next for Tyson: showing at Milan Fashion Week in February. “There are just so many connections to be made,” Tyson says, “so hopefully, those connections will remain.” W

WINTER 2023

photos of Melissa Tyson by DREWE AND KATE BRANDING CO.

Opposite page: Melissa Tyson is shown working in her home-based studio. Middle photo: Tyson’s jewelry was paired with dresses from designer Sheetol Chawla at Flying Solo’s Paris Fashion Week show in October.

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STYLE

Glam Go for

The holidays are the one time of year when being over-the-top doesn’t get a side-eye from the rest of the room. From delectable dinners to fairytale fetes, this time of year is a feast for all senses. It’s also the ideal time to take some personal style leaps – and this winter is all about playful adornments.

Take Adobe’s recently unveiled Project Primrose. This cutting-edge digital cocktail dress can change pattern with just a touch, powered by sequins that act as hundreds of little screens. And while this dress isn’t available on the racks just yet, you can take its whimsical nature to heart as you spruce up your own wardrobe.

If you’re the type that needs to ease into a trend, start small with pieces accented with rhinestones, pearl buttons, or intricate beading and textural elements like ruffles or ruching. If you’re ready for some serious gilding, look for highshine metallics, sequins, fringe, tassels, feathers, or even super-sized bows. You want embellishments that embrace movement, playing off lights as you walk and even dancing along to that unrelenting Mariah Carey song this time of year. Happy Holidays! W photos & styling by DREWE AND KATE BRANDING CO. | intro by NINA BAYS

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ASTER BLOOM PHOTOGRAPHY

ANNA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

VMA STUDIOS

Unleash Your Inner Goddess & Manifest Your Deepest Desires

Luxury

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Martina JUMPSUIT available at Trés Bleu Boutique; Melissa Tyson Designs RINGS

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INSIGHTS SPONSORS' CONTENT

WHY

MEANING ADDS VALUE

a picture worth a thousand words? Certainly, some of the more celebrated artworks are worth more than that and, in many cases, the explicit message is just a slice of what the artist was trying to convey. Picasso’s Guernica is a good example, as it is easy to see how the depictions of pain and suffering were meant as a criticism of the Spanish Civil War. The feelings and emotional impact the work immediately has on the viewer, however, would be difficult if not impossible to replicate within 1,000 words. Likewise, the melting clocks in Dali’s The Persistence of Memory leave an indelible imprint. By learning more about the work, which points to the fluidity of time and how it can seem to drag on, interminably, a deeper meaning is granted. The point is that learning more about the artists and their intentions results in more insights and an appreciation that would not be available otherwise. This is partially why theArtWorks™ is so unique, because it creates a bridge between the artists, their patrons and the community. Could you imagine having a sitdown with Picasso or Dali? For anyone with an interest in the arts, the excitement of finding an emerging new talent is a huge

motivator. And, as I wrote about in a previous article, the value of the patron and the impact these individuals have on the broader community cannot be understated. With around 38,000 square feet that includes a fine art gallery and 50+ working studio spaces, we offer a platform for artists to connect with the community. We pride ourselves on the fact that we have created an inclusive, inviting place—a vibrant melting pot where everyone is welcome. Outside of the art world, there is a sense that art galleries can be cold, sterile places where any question about the meaning behind the work is openly discouraged or even ridiculed. In contrast, we’ve focused on creating an open, collaborative environment, where conversations flow naturally. It’s also worth pointing out that we are a community of local artists. The idea of buying local has become very popular and we are proud to say that, when our patrons buy here they are not only supporting the gallery but also the local arts community. Supporting the arts at the local, state and national level is another facet of our mission, which is to be a ‘for-purpose’ organization. This includes helping to promote the artists, providing them with critical exposure and connecting WILMA | WILMAMAG.COM WILMA | WINTER 2023

them with opportunities for grants, so they can refine their craft. Meeting a rising star before that individual hits the national stage is a badge of honor for patrons and enthusiasts. Knowing more adds value and a deeper connection—consider that a starry night is just a starry night without knowing about Van Gogh and his struggles with depression, how the distortions in the sky were meant to describe his emotional troubles. Art can be a bridge between cultures and centuries, providing us with a way to learn from each other, share the human experience and move society forward. It’s an honor for us to be a part of building that bridge here in Wilmington, and we hope to see you soon.

theArtWorks™ is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 to 5, Sundays from 12 to 5, and by appointment.

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INSIGHTS SPONSORS' CONTENT

BUSINESS GROWTH THROUGH SHARED LEADERSHIP

REDEFINING

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After working with Teaching Horse for 2.5 years, I am honored to be named the Chief Growth Officer. As this company continues to evolve, knowing that I get to play a part in the premier. When I joined TeachingHorse in 2021, I embarked on a transformative journey that not only reshaped my perspective on leadership but also redefined my understanding of business growth. Heading into 2024 in a new role (Chief Growth Officer) has been an exhilarating ride, and I've learned that growth isn't just about numbers and profits; it's about shared leadership, empathy, and collaboration.

more like a close-knit herd than a traditional business.

One of the remarkable aspects of TeachingHorse was the team's interdependence when working together. Each member of the team understood their role, supported each other through blind spots, and embraced each others’ expertise and experience. Unlike some organizations where past knowledge is often dismissed, here, my transferable skills from previous roles were not just welcomed but celebrated. This culture of openness to new ideas and methodologies was exemplified when I proposed the use of e-signatures, which was met with enthusiasm and adopted swiftly. It was my first hint that this organization operated differently,

about our horses and applying what they have to teach us to our work

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TeachingHorse, as a premier equine experiential leadership development company, has always prioritized preparing generations of leaders capable of guiding healthy and sustainable organizations and communities. It wasn't about cutthroat competition; it was about collaboration and shared leadership. Today, growth for TeachingHorse looks like:

- Thinking critically about our

clients’ needs and innovating on a stellar experience

- Committing to learning more

their perspectives are not only valued but actively sought after. This fosters a culture of trust and unleashes a torrent of creativity and innovation. As I look back on my 2.5 years at TeachingHorse, I am humbled and excited to assume this new role. The journey has been filled with valuable lessons learned from our herd, our team, and our clients. TeachingHorse has shown me that growth is not a one-dimensional concept; it's multifaceted and everevolving. As Chief Growth Officer, I am committed to continuing this journey of redefining business growth. Together, we'll continue to impact leaders of today and the future, one hoofbeat at a time.

- Refining our processes to be

accessible, equitable, and efficient

- Onboarding new team members with simplicity and adequate support

- Creating new ways for leaders to learn and implement shared leadership

- Integrating new technology in the delivery of blended learning

At TeachingHorse, leadership is not limited to a select few; we value the individual and work as a collective. Every member of our team has a voice, and FALL 2023

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Abriana is the Chief Growth Officer of Teaching Horse, LLC. She spends her days navigating brand and product development to support today’s leaders via equine experiential leadership development.

TEACHING HORSE, LLC DOUBLE RUN FARM, LELAND, NC, 28451 910-655-8245

with

the

SHOW Three local women are taking Wilmington’s theater scene to new heights with their work both on stage and behind the scenes. Professional performer and dancer CARSON HOBBS has garnered acclaim for her exciting choreography and directing. BETH STOVALL is a soprano who enchants both opera and musical theater fans. And MYRA GRAHAM QUINCE is a singer and actor who mesmerizes audiences with her bold voice and vivid character portrayals. By passionately pursuing their dreams, each of these women has overcome whatever obstacles lay in their way to make it on the big stage. by LYNDA VAN KUREN

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“

I like to bring a fresh energy and edge to everything I work on. That’s the bar I set for myself.

“

CARSON HOBBS

Command of

Choreography photo by DARIA AMATO

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ilmington native CARSON HOBBS has had a ten-year career dancing and performing in hit shows across the country. Now Hobbs is sharing her passion with her hometown, and she is branching out in new directions as she does so.

Hobbs’ new theater roles include choreography and directing, and she serves as the director of education for the Opera House Theatre Company. “My career is like riding a wave,” Hobbs says. “I definitely seek opportunities to evolve. I’m a big yes person, and I seize opportunities, sometimes to a fault.” Hobbs was bit by the theater bug when she was a child and watching a musical at Thalian Hall. To pursue her dream, she earned her bachelor of arts degree from New York City’s The New School, then landed roles in well-known musicals such as A Chorus Line, Cats, The Full Monty, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, Funny Girl, and Wicked. Hobbs also acted in several national commercials. Hobbs’ success didn’t come easily. Unlike some who get that “lucky break,” Hobbs says her accomplishments came from hard work. Then, her career was sidelined by an injury. After dancing in Wicked for just a few months, Hobbs broke her foot. Postinjury, she became Wicked’s first universal female swing dancer, traveling from New York to Los Angeles to fill in when a dancer was out for a performance.

After Hobbs moved back to Wilmington in 2020, she choreographed the dances in local productions of Newsies and Kinky Boots. She also recently directed The Prom. Hobbs strives to breathe new life into shows and help the performers showcase their talents. “I like to bring a fresh energy and edge to everything I work on,” Hobbs says. “That’s the bar I set for myself.” Hobbs also taught at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s dance program, and she developed and teaches professional-level classes at Opera House Theatre for students who want to pursue theater. The program includes singing, dancing, working with original choreography, and more – anything that might be thrown at them at an audition, Hobbs says. “My goal is to put Opera House Theatre Group’s training on the map, to provide strong training for theater and maybe TV,” Hobbs adds.

Hobbs is excited to help local performers fulfill their potential and grow Wilmington theater. “I want them (audiences) to appreciate the caliber of talent and the level of theater in town because it’s amazing,” Hobbs says, “and I want them to come back.” W

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“

There is so much appreciation for the arts here. I consider myself lucky to sing here. This is my community, and opera is so loved here.

“

BETH STOVALL

photo by MADELINE GRAY

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Soprano

Sweep

ETH STOVALL, one of Wilmington’s prominent opera singers, has a lyric, lilting voice that thrills audiences. This summer, Stovall took on her most important role to date, that of Violetta, the title role in Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.

“La Traviata was a big step for me,” Stovall says. ‘It was the biggest role of my life. I was a healthy amount of terrified but really excited to step up to the challenge, and I love those types of opportunities.” In fact, Stovall has taken on challenge after challenge throughout her career. At age seventeen, with little background in the esoteric aspects of classical music, she auditioned for college voice programs. Though Stovall was rejected by school after school, she kept trying until she was accepted into the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s vocal performance program. Three years into her studies, Stovall seized a new opportunity: competing in beauty competitions, which she saw as a way to gain confidence and get feedback on her singing and acting skills. Stovall’s effort paid off. She won the title of Miss North Carolina as well as the talent section of the Miss America pageant. After fulfilling her Miss North Carolina obligations, Stovall once again struck out in a new direction and transferred to East Carolina University to complete her undergraduate degree, then earned her master’s degree in WILMA

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vocal performance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Knowing she wanted to make Wilmington her home, Stovall returned to the area in 2019 to teach voice at UNCW and pursue her theatrical career. Here, the soprano made her first foray into musical theater, playing the role of Maria in Opera House Theater Company’s production of The Sound of Music in 2020. She also performed the role of Papagena in Opera Wilmington’s production of The Magic Flute. For all the roles she sings, Stovall spends hours upon hours alone at the piano perfecting and polishing her performance. She also dives into the play, learning as much as she can about her character, the other characters in the play, and the times the play reflects. The extensive background work is necessary if Stovall is to be believable on stage, she says. Though Wilmington’s opera scene isn’t as big as that in larger cities, Stovall has found that it is the perfect spot for her. “There is so much appreciation for the arts here,” Stovall says. “I consider myself lucky to sing here. This is my community, and opera is so loved here.” W 91

Tuned In

or some, dreams really do come true. Such is the case for MYRA GRAHAM QUINCE.

Though Quince had long been known for her work as a gospel singer, acting was something of a fantasy. Then a friend cast her as one of the church ladies in Techmoja’s staging of The Color Purple in 2012, and Quince took up acting, too. Since Quince’s fortuitous debut, she has lit up Wilmington’s stages with her unique, full-bodied voice and heartfelt acting. In addition to performing in Effie in Dreamgirls in 2013 and 2020, Quince again played a church lady in Techmoja’s recent reprised production of The Color Purple at Thalian Hall. “I’ve always loved singing, and I always wanted to sing, and I never thought I would get into acting like this,” Quince says. “I did a favor for a friend, and another director saw me and thought I could do Effie in Dreamgirls.” Though Quince’s foray into acting was successful, it wasn’t without risk. Quince had been singing since she was two years old, but her work had always been church related. Furthermore, Quince had no formal training in voice or acting. In fact, diving into acting was downright scary for the singer. “It was terrifying but also an amazing experience – terrifying and thrilling,” she says. Quince also found that auditioning for roles presented a different set of challenges. She had to find a way to

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bolster her courage when directors were looking for an actor with another body type. “There are times when I was overlooked because of the look they wanted, but I’ve always had the voice,” Quince says. “If at some point I’m insecure about how I look because I’m a big girl, when I get the opportunity to sing, I think, ‘I’ve got this.’” To further prove she has what it takes for a role, Quince prepares extensively. She studies the parts; pulls from her own experiences to relate to the character; and, when possible, gets tips from actors who have played the role before. While Quince has been trodding the boards, she has also continued her work as a gospel singer. She has released several singles and plans to release another this summer. Quince’s journey as a singer and actress has been exciting and fulfilling. It has also led her to value her special gifts. “I have learned to appreciate the uniqueness of my voice,” she says. “I don’t sing like anyone else. I have a big, bold voice, and it’s my own sound. That alone makes me stand out.” W

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“

I have learned to appreciate the uniqueness of my voice. I don’t sing like anyone else. I have a big, bold voice, and it’s my own sound. That alone makes me stand out.

“

MYRA GRAHAM QUINCE

photo by DARIA AMATO

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Linda Pearce Thomas REMEMBERED AS A WARRIOR by LAURA MOORE

LINDA PEARCE THOMAS left a lasting legacy in the Wilmington area as the founder of Elderhaus, which serves older adults in the Cape Fear region, but the lives she touched goes beyond her professional accomplishments. While Pearce Thomas established and grew Elderhaus over the course of her thirty years at its helm, what she did behind the scenes had equally significant influence. “Her impact was such a big impact – the ability to look at a problem, an issue, or a challenge and want to dissect why there is an issue or a challenge not just looking at one side of the issue,” says DORIAN CROMARTIE, who was like an adopted nephew to Pearce Thomas. “She would look at people in favor and people opposed to the issue and listen to both sides – not a

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lot of people like to do that.” Pearce Thomas died in late September at the age of seventyseven. In the wake of her passing, community members from across the different groups she worked with shared memories of her work in Wilmington. Pearce Thomas served as the first African American woman to serve as chair of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Board of Trustees. She served as a university trustee between 2005 and 2013 before being elected as the

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board’s chair in 2015. Pearce Thomas, an NAACP member, also worked with a lengthy list of other organizations in the city, including serving on the NHRMC Board of Trustees, New Hanover Regional Medical Center Investigative Review Board, Davis Community Board of Directors, Mount Olive AME Church Trustee Board, Community Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, and Wave Board of Directors. A member of Wilmington Rotary, Pearce Thomas also served as chair of MedNorth’s board. Her outreach also extended outside her front door. Cromartie credits Pearce Thomas’ Front Porch Pulpit with giving people a voice in the community. She would host members of the community on her front porch or inside her home, depending on the weather, to talk about issues and learn about their cares and concerns. “My Aunt Linda would say that everyone you see on TV and everybody you don’t see on TV can have a very large impact in and out of Wilmington,” Cromartie says. “If you can get people to understand that everybody can contribute to society in a positive way. Do not write people off because you don’t know who they are.” Her best friend, BARBARA DEVANE, describes Pearce Thomas as a giving person who always ensured that people got what they needed. “This is what made our world because you never know what someone else needs and what it does for that person, but she was very 96

photo c/o UNCW

While serving as a UNCW trustee, Linda Pearce Thomas speaks to graduates in 2013 in Trask Coliseum.

photo c/o Dorian Cromartie

Dorian Cromartie, who viewed Pearce Thomas as an aunt figure, spoke of her impact in Wilmington. good at that,” Devane says. Just as she saw a need in the elderly community for a safe space to go while caregivers were at work in her design for Elderhaus, Pearce Thomas knew how to give people what they needed. Over the years, especially after Pearce Thomas retired, her involvement was more behind the scenes by mentoring and supporting people and organizations, according to her friend of more than thirty years,

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EVELYN ADGER. “She was a mover and a shaker and what some would call a gatekeeper. She was a community activist who desired equality for the Black community,” Adger shares. “There were no handouts; you had to earn what you wanted. I admired her as a great mentor, leader, and friend.” Devane credits Pearce Thomas’ experience growing up in a segregated school system for her motivation to be the best she could be and

WINTER 2023

for inspiring others to do the same. “She was a warrior – a mighty, mighty, warrior,” Devane describes. Pearce Thomas’ “heart’s desire,” according to Adger, was to share her years of experience, influence, and knowledge with the generations that succeeded her. She describes one of her fondest memories of Pearce Thomas when she supported a group of young people who marched and boycotted against a negative article that was published about the first Black female District Court judge. “She knew that it would be controversial for her at that time, but she supported them by making sure they were heard. This speaks to her wisdom and ability to navigate the sometimes treacherous waters for Black people in New Hanover County,” Adger says. Friends for seventy years, Devane describes Pearce Thomas as a very passionate pioneer who when she put her mind to something would keep at it until she got what she wanted. “She touched so many people. Whatever she wanted to do, she tried her best to do it and did it her own way. She would brave the elements,” Devane says. “Linda Pearce Thomas will truly be missed, but she left some true-life skills in all that crossed her path,” Adger adds. Pearce Thomas’ motto, according to Cromartie was, “You can guide people to a solution, but you can’t force them to the solution. Do your part, help someone out, because that’s what you are supposed to do.” W

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Social Skills

Jessica Tobin helps small businesses get social media savvy

by SAMANTHA KUPIAINEN photo by TERAH HOOBLER

ucceeding at social media can be a daunting task. Creating engaging content can yield dividends for businesses, but the task is often easier said than done. JESSICA TOBIN, a Wilmington-based entrepreneur, helps fellow entrepreneurs use social media as a powerful tool to build and grow their brand through her business, Wilmington Social Co. This year, Tobin celebrated ten years of entrepreneurship, with her first endeavors being an event planning business and floral design company. In August 2022, Tobin founded Wilmington Social Co., putting her experience as an entrepreneur to work by teaching small business owners how to wield social media to build brand awareness and flex their

expertise in online spaces. “It’s not my first business, but it is my first in full-time social media marketing,” Tobin says. “It’s kind of a culmination of everything I’ve been doing with online businesses for the past ten years.” She lists social media marketing classes, content creation classes, and social media management as some of the services she offers. In October, Tobin launched a new course to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses through social media, allowing more people to benefit from the kind of guidance Tobin offers in one-on-one coaching sessions. “This course that I’m going to be launching is essentially bringing my coaching to more people in a group setting,” she says. “It’s going to be teaching business owners and entrepreneurs and people looking to start a business how to do that and how to launch and start a business on social media and how to

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create content.” Jessica Tobin’s profile appeared in a recent WILMA Leadership 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.

Patients find powerful tool in genetic counseling

While many advancements have been made through the years, breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women in the United States. At Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, genetic counselor KATIE GRIFFIN helps women better understand their risk of developing breast cancer and make more informed choices about preventative measures they can take. Griffin primarily works with patients who have either a personal or family 99

history of cancer. “I talk with them about whether they could have been born with any genetic changes that put them at a higher risk for cancer or otherwise explain why they were diagnosed with a cancer,” Griffin says. Thorough, accurate testing is especially important for patients like BRITTNEY ALLEN, who found her cancer through a breast self-exam at home. “I am forty-three, married with three kids, so I am rather young, but I hear more and more about younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer. My grandmother passed away from breast cancer, and I told my doctor when I went in that I was prepared for it to be genetic,” Allen says. Not all people with a family history of breast cancer inherit gene changes that increase their risk. But for women with a personal or family history, knowledge of their genetic predisposition makes a significant difference in the plan of action for treatment once they are diagnosed. “If someone has a positive result through genetic testing, meaning they have some mutation or genetic change that we know is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, we might recommend a breast MRI in addition to mammograms. This is to catch breast cancer as early as possible,” Griffin says. “For some mutations, we might discuss the option of a risk-reducing double mastectomy to remove the breast tissue and lower the patient’s risk of developing breast cancer as much as we can.”

New owners uncover The Vine’s recipe for success

The Vine, a wine and tapas bar at the corner of North Third and Princess streets, isn’t new to Wilmington, but with new owners at the helm, the eatery now feels like a fresh option in downtown’s thriving restaurant scene. CARRIE and JASON NILOFF recently took the reins after hunting for a business opportunity that would allow the couple to get creative and make their own mark. One of their first tasks was renovating the restaurant, creating a more modern atmosphere inside the historical downtown space. In addition to aesthetic changes, the Niloffs have expanded the menu at The Vine. Patrons can now enjoy a full bar of options alongside the restaurant’s selection of wines. “Being able to provide other drinks besides wine has been helpful in keeping all of our guests happy,” Carrie Niloff says. “We have thirty-four different types of bourbon, four set bourbon flights, and several options for vodka, gin and tequila.” Wine is still a top draw, she adds, with nearly fifty choices by the glass and a growing bottle list with as many options. The Vine still offers a selection of tapas, charcuterie, and flatbreads, a feature that Carrie Niloff says is not as wellknown as the restaurant’s drink offerings. “Being a part of the energy downtown and to know we are contributing to that is gratifying,” she says. “It makes the long days and hard work rewarding.” W

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From left: Sarah Worley, Mary Holden-Hall, and Stephanie Bennett at Fat Cat Pottery studio.

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SCENE

It Takes Two FAT CAT POTTERY HANDS OVER OWNERSHIP by EMORY RAKESTRAW | photo by ALLISON JOYCE

STEPHANIE BENNETT and SARAH WORLEY started at Fat Cat Pottery as students. Bennett, a retired hairstylist, was looking for something to do with her hands and found the practice as a therapeutic outlet that instantly drew her in. Worley, who had previously been a studio member but took a hiatus to homeschool her children during the pandemic, returned to clay as a means to do something for herself.

As they sit in Fat Cat Pottery, at ease in an environment that feels like a second home and amongst members whom they regard as family, Bennett notes, “It takes two to make a Mary.” Longtime Fat Cat owner, MARY HOLDEN-HALL, has been practicing pottery for almost fifty-six years. In October, she handed over ownership to Bennett and Worley for a retirement filled with travel and a renewed focus on teaching classes at Fat Cat Pottery. Bennett and Worley are no strangers to the studio. “I was a member in 2012, and it was time for me to come back to clay,” Worley says. “Before I knew it, Stephanie was teaching me how to load kilns and firing processes and studio management. And so, I worked my way from the warehouse through the studio, up to assisting Mary with operations, and Stephanie and I have been a fantastic match. We bring some strong skills.” Holden-Hall first got into pottery by chance. An exercise class she signed up for was full, and the secondary option offered was

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arts and crafts. “Well that seemed to be pottery,” she says. “I haven’t had my hand out of it since. Within six to eight months my mom bought me a small wheel, and my husband bought me a small kiln.” Holden-Hall opened Fat Cat Pottery in 1998, and it quickly became a staple for local artists to embrace a collaborative experience, for beginners to take classes, and as a storefront for professionals to stock up on ceramic supplies. Education has also always been prominent, which Bennett notes will continue to grow under their ownership. “The biggest thing to us is education and membership. We supply clay to most of the schools in the area, to art departments, starting off in elementary school all the way to high school,” Bennett says. “We also like to do things for our members and promote them, including markets and craft shows. We even have an upcoming pottery festival celebrating twenty-five years in business and it will be a craft fair, so members can show WILMAMAG.COM

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their wares and sell them.” The typical class size is around six to seven students, with both evening and morning classes offered throughout the year in five-week spans. “One of the reasons I sold the business was so I could get my hands back in,” Holden-Hall says. “I was spending all my time in the office, and I couldn’t get out to talk to the students.” Classes range from beginner-intermediate hand building or wheel throwing to specialty workshops taught by Holden-Hall. In January, she plans to teach an all-women class series called Throw Like a Girl. Currently, the studio has forty-six members with membership available to potters looking to truly hone in their craft alongside 24-hour access to the studio. Holden-Hall describes pottery as grounding. “I had been taking yoga classes and doing meditation, and when I started with clay it was like ‘This is my meditation,’” she says. “I get into it, and I forget everything else.” When asked about their pottery styles, Holden-Hall definitively says, “eclectic,” with whimsy and an art-forward approach shining through. “I focus on functional, everyday wares that bring you back to the earth,” says Worley. For Bennett, thirty years spent in Carolina Beach is emulated through her nautical creations showcasing sea life in glazes of blues and greens. Although it takes two to be a Mary, the three forces combined all present unique skill sets and styles. “Sarah does a great job with administration duties; I love dealing with the members and classes, as well as teaching. There’s no one alike person, everyone comes here for different reasons,” Bennett says. “We’ve been fortunate to have the best community here, and Mary has laid the groundwork for that. Organically it’s become a beautiful thing. Our studio is rich with culture, life, and love for one another.” W

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SCENE

by LINDSAY PODRAZA | photo by DARIA AMATO

In Preproduction EMILY GRAHAM WORKING TO START A PENDER THEATER COMPANY

tanding at 6 feet, 3 inches, and with an energetic personality to match, EMILY GRAHAM is a natural standout. Throughout her life, she often felt like a misfit – but a constant refuge has been the welcoming world of theater. “I just never really fit,” Graham says. “I never really felt like I fit anywhere, but I always fit in theater, always.” After more than a decade of involvement in Wilmington’s theatrical community, Graham, who has lived in Hampstead for the past fifteen years, is thrilled to bring theater to her hometown with Untitled Theatre Productions. When she first moved to Hampstead, she asked neighbors about theater opportunities in town. People expressed the desire

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to start a company, she says. Years passed. “Nobody ever did it,” Graham recalls. “I’m tired of waiting, and I’m just going to do it myself.” Late this summer, Graham approached members of Pender County Parks and Recreation and Pender Arts Council about starting a theater company. They were receptive, she says, and suggested that she hold an interest meeting. “One hundred people showed up, and it was amazing, and everyone is just gushing with excitement,” Graham says, adding that the interested ranks include a playwright, set and costume designers, a choreographer, a music director, and even an Elvis impersonator. “In Hampstead, there is so much talent here that’s just untapped because people don’t want to make the trek (to Wilmington),” she says. Pender County is offering the nonprofit theater company – which runs purely on volunteer work – performance space WILMAMAG.COM

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at the 240-seat Hampstead Annex Theatre in the county government annex building on Highway 17. The company’s inaugural production is slated to be A Hometown Holiday, a music revue that will feature songs, dancing, and a few acting vignettes. Shows will run December 15, 16, and 17, and tickets will cost $15. “All of the money that goes into tickets goes right back to the theater,” Graham says. A Chicago native, Graham made her directorial debut at age eight with a neighborhood production of Annie. She graduated from the University of Iowa as a theater major, and while her career has not always been theater-related, her work has continually revolved around improving mental health, which she believes is a vital aspect of theater. “I’m a mental health therapist, and I have seen how this impacts people’s mental health for the better,” Graham says. “Attending or being a part of it onstage or backstage … you’re building something together, and that’s a real mental boost for sure.” The social and mental benefits of theater drive her to bring the art to Hampstead, she says. “My theater family here in Wilmington, they are just some of my very best friends and fully my community, and I want to create that for other people,” Graham says. Her vision for the future of Untitled Theatre Productions includes becoming a fully functional theater company, in association with Pender County, and annually producing two full-length adult musicals and a children’s musical. Graham also hopes to expand with theater camps and classes. “That would be the ultimate dream,” she says. Outside of theater, Graham, who has been a clinical mental health therapist for fifteen years, works full time as director of campus engagement at Uwill, a group that works with colleges and universities to bring mental health support to students. Before joining Uwill, she spent six years at the online Western Governors University, where she taught faculty about social-emotional learning and how to infuse the concept into student resources. Additionally, next year Graham is directing Steel Magnolias and the children’s Rookie production of Madagascar at Thalian Association. She’s also a single mother of five, whose ages range from eight to twenty-one. All have been involved in theater, she says, including a teenage daughter who does professional acting. “People will often be like, ‘Oh my gosh, you have so much going on, how do you do it all?’” Graham says. “And I always say, it if matters, you make it happen. My kids matter, my job matters, mental health matters, and my gosh, theater matters. It matters more than just performing for accolades – it matters because it makes people feel good, and it’s creating art and community. I will never not have time for that.” W

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DIRECT MALE

Taking the Plunge by DYLAN PATTERSON | illustration by MARK WEBER

DOESN’T THE PATH TO OBSESSION ALWAYS BEGIN WITH ONE SMALL SEEMINGLY INNOCENT STEP?

ditions such as gum disease, digestive issues, and chronic fatigue. Mouth breathing in children can even result in facial disfigurement. I’m not kidding. Look it up. So now, I tape my mouth at night to train myself to nasal breathe while sleeping. But since I’m of-ten congested due to allergies, I have to add a Breathe Right strip over my nose to expand my nos-trils. Yes, as I get into bed each night, I do look like I’m recovering from a head-on collision, but my sleep’s never been better and no sign of gum disease for this guy. Later, when Huberman touted the benefits of early morning sun gazing, I promptly added it to my morning routine. Dawn light exposure is vital to set the body’s circadian clock for mental clarity and better sleep. Now, after I untape my face each morning, I stand motionless in my backyard for 10 minutes facing the rising sun. I’m fairly certain my next-door neighbor Pearline thinks I’ve fi-nally lost it and joined some kind of a solar trance death cult. But later at work, I have more focus. No need for that 3 p.m. coffee and sugar binge to stave off the afternoon drowsies. Most recently, I’ve taken the plunge. Cold plunge, that is. Huberman is also a huge fan of cold ex-posure to improve physical health by reducing inflammation and to boost mood by elevating do-pamine levels. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I began with cold showers but soon ordered a cheap ice bath from Amazon (Imagine a soft-sided above-ground pool the size and shape of a large bar-rel). The ice bath arrived at the end of the summer. I promptly set it up on my back patio and filled it from the hose. The challenge, I soon realized, was cooling that much water that had been sitting the previous day in the summer sun. I bought ice from the gas station, but at four bucks per bag and three bags per plunge, that added up quickly, so I bought four big plastic cooler blocks. But they didn’t get the water cold enough on their own, so I repurposed every Tupperware in the house to make blocks of ice. That did the trick. So four or five mornings a week, you’ll find me up to my neck in icy water just after my morning sun gaze. This has done nothing to dissuade my neighbor Pearline from thinking I’m nuts, but it is an invigorating way to start the day. Plus, I’m in a much better mood these days. “What’s next?” a friend smirked as he drained his third beer. “Intermittent fasting? Salt cave? Mi-crodosing? Sensory deprivation tank?” “I don’t know,” I said, with my own self-satisfied smirk. “We’ll see.” Dylan Patterson is a writer and filmmaker who teaches English at Cape Fear Community College.

That’s how it was with me at least. It didn’t feel like a big deal. A lot of people were doing it. At home. At the office. Why shouldn’t I? So I pulled the trigger. I bought a stand-up desk. You know, the kind that slowly rises and lowers at the push of a button. Then I got another for work. Yep, I’m one of those guys now. The annoy-ing dude in his office with his shoes off smugly cranking out emails foot perched on knee in yogic tree pose. Somewhere I’d heard “sitting is the new smoking,” and I knew I couldn’t fool myself anymore. I’m solidly middle-aged. I needed to start taking better care of myself. Thus began a now-year-long, single-minded crusade to stave off the ravages of age by any means necessary, no matter how goofy, to improve my mental and physical health. To my stand-up desk at home, I soon added a special chair (imagine a stationary bike minus the handlebars), so I could peddle while drafting emails, while writing columns for a certain area mag-azine, or even during Zoom meetings. Sure, I’m soaked with sweat and so winded I can barely talk on these calls, but I figure I’ll get the last laugh when I outlive everyone else on the screen. Next, I made a rash birthday resolution to take a year off drinking. I’d heard on a podcast that the latest peer-reviewed scientific studies show that even one drink per day has deleterious health efects. As someone who’d become a devoted connoisseur of hazy IPAs (especially during COVID), I was shocked at how easily I gave them up. Sure, there were nights when I felt the old urge to wind down with one too many hoppy brews, but that ache was more than compensated for by the self-righteous buzz of the newly abstinent. So I stocked up on craft NA beer and mandarin orange seltzer and embarked on a new life. No more hungover mornings for me, by golly. I was saving time, money, and brain cells, I bragged to anyone who’d listen. Eventually, my abstinence lost its luster. My friends were sick of hearing about the extra pounds I was shedding, bored of my gushing about how much better I was feeling. They’d grown tired of my complaints about the poor NA beer selection at most area restaurants. So I taped my mouth shut. But not to stop from talking. The mouth tape is for sleeping. I’m embarrassed to admit that I was, and often still am, sans tape, a mouth breather. And according to neurobiologist and podcaster An-drew Huberman, this is terrible for you. Apparently, mouth breathing can lead to health con110

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TAKE

by LINDSAY PODRAZA photo by DARIA AMATO

Chances are, if you’re a mom of young kids, have an Instagram account, and live in the Wilmington area, you’ve heard of WilmingtonMom. She has established herself on Instagram as the ultimate local things-to-do guru who offers seemingly endless ideas for family adventures. AMANDA HOFMANN moved to Wilmington in 2010 as a college transfer student and now can’t imagine living anywhere else with her husband and two young daughters. For the past three years, more than 10,000 followers have lapped up Hofmann’s suggestions of family-friendly restaurants, entertaining beach activities, and her roundup lists of seasonal attractions. Hofmann also began partnering with local businesses this year to host “Moms Night Out” events, and she is starting a newsletter in the near future. She is perhaps most excited about her new children’s book, Hello, Wilmington.

HOW DO YOU FIND NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE? “Several ways: scour Google Maps; others share their finds with me; local businesses contact me. I actually have a long list of places we haven’t explored yet! Like most families, we tend to visit our favorite areas on repeat.” WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE HIDDEN GEMS IN WILMINGTON FOR FAMILY FUN? “The New Hanover County Arboretum is probably one of our favorite places to visit. It’s rarely busy, and it’s free! We like to take a picnic or just go to feed the koi fish. We love to walk at Abbey Nature Preserve by Poplar Grove Plantation, Pages Creek Preserve, or Carolina

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Beach State Park when we want to be surrounded by nature. … Smart Start Resource Room is a great area to take young kids. This resource room is essentially a large playroom with a wide variety of toys, a craft area, and a mini library. It’s free and they offer so many resources for families who homeschool or little kits you can take home for a small fee. ($5 membership per year.)” WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO SHARE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION WITH OTHER MOMS? “Navigating the uncharted territories of motherhood is stressful enough, and by sharing what I have learned about Wilmington hopefully empowers moms to navigate it with more confidence.” WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR WILMINGTONMOM? “Regarding the children’s book Hello, Wilmington, I am excited to see it find its way into the hands of young readers. I’ll be working on promoting the book through various channels and hopefully hosting a few events where the community can help share the love of our city.” WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT SPECIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN WILMINGTON? “One night, I was reading

my girls a book about a well-known city, and it got me thinking about how amazing it would be to have a book that captured the essence of Wilmington. That moment ignited a spark in me, and I felt compelled to bring Hello, Wilmington to life.” W AMANDA HOFMANN’s full profile appeared in a recent WILMA Roundup email. To sign up for daily WILMA emails, go to WILMAmag.com. WINTER 2023

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