3 minute read
SPOTLIGHT
photo c/o The Children's Museum of Wilmington
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM SHOWCASES THE PORT
TThe Port City is the focus of an updated exhibit at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington.
The museum, 116 Orange Street, held a grand opening for its revamped “Port CMoW” area last month. The exhibit first opened in 2006 and underwent a renovation to expand and transform it. Historical photos of the port intermingle with videos of Port of Wilmington operations today, while activities include movable boats and underwater scenes. “Port CMoW introduces children to the Port of Wilmington in a fun and educational setting that allows them to understand what it means to live in or visit the ‘Port City,” museum officials say.
ERICKSON NAMED WILMINGTON EYE CEO COBB COMPLETES CFCC FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM UNCW’S QENO HAS NEW DIRECTOR
Wilmington Eye named KATHY ERICKSON as the practice’s CEO, according to a news release.
Erickson has been with the practice for more than fourteen years.
She most recently served as the executive director and is the practice’s first CEO. Erickson joined Wilmington Eye in 2006 as the practice administrator.
“Since then, Erickson has been instrumental in helping the practice grow to become the largest and most comprehensive ophthalmology group in the region, with seventeen providers, nine locations, more than 150 employees, and its very own surgery center, which is expected to open later this year,” practice officials say.
A graduate of Hoggard High School, Erickson received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. After working as an engineer for several years, she turned to graduate school and earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Wilmington Eye is a locally owned ophthalmology practice with locations throughout Eastern North Carolina.
Bald Head Island public safety officer AMANDA COBB recently graduated from CFCC’s Firefighter Academy as academic valedictorian of the class.
Cobb was among the recent group of twelve graduates from the Cape Fear Community College program.
Originally from Alaska, Cobb attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After moving to North Carolina, she went through the Winston-Salem Police Department’s basic law enforcement training and worked there for five years.
Following her family to the coast, Cobb started with Bald Head Island’s Department of Public Safety part time while adding certifications for other emergency roles in order to join the agency full time.
On the island, public safety officers who work for the village are certified in law enforcement, firefighting, and EMT/ paramedic, so Cobb went to EMT class and the CFCC’s Firefighter Academy.
“I didn’t know anything about fire before the academy,” Cobb says. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The physical demands were eyeopening, but it was so rewarding.”
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SARAH DANIELS is leading the UNCW office that works with nonprofit groups in the community.
The university recently named Daniels, who has experience in the local nonprofit sector, as director of UNCW’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO).
QENO is a “partnership between UNCW and the community created to help strengthen nonprofit organizations in southeastern North Carolina through professional, leadership, and organizational development and providing connections to UNCW faculty, staff, and students,” according to the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Daniels earned her MPA from the university.
“She has experience working as both a nonprofit executive director and consultant and is an expert in bringing together nonprofits for a common goal,” JEANINE MINGÉ, UNCW’s associate vice chancellor for community engagement and applied learning, said in an announcement about Daniels’ hiring. “She has grant writing experience and has been a part-time instructor at UNCW.”
Daniels was most recently director of the New Hanover Disaster Coalition, a group that coordinates disaster relief efforts in the region.
Daniels also has served as interim director for the Cape Fear Food Council as associate director of Feast Down East.
