The Cape Fear Economic Development Council has announced new leadership and an increase in its activities this year.
 
Ann Revell-Pechar, co-founder of Fluent PR, was named chair at the CFEDC’s first meeting in January, a role formerly held by Paul Pascarosa, president of Headwater Environmental Inc. Carter Jewell, political and marketing consultant, was also named vice chair.
 
According to Pascorosa, the CFEDC went through some changes last year, including becoming a 501(c)3 organization. The nonprofit status was set up because the group was “interested in soliciting membership fees” and private donations, he said. The group is mostly volunteer based.
 
The CFEDC’s new $50 membership roll out will begin this spring, Revell-Pechar said, adding that she hopes to gain 50 paying members by the summer. Memberships are new to the CFEDC this year, she said, along with the CFEDC’s transition into a more transparent and active group.
 
“There is definitely a renewed vigor,” Revell-Pechar said. “There is a clear focus on utilizing the expertise [of the CFEDC] … opening it up to the public and communicating well about it.”
 
Along with its 14-member board of directors, the CFEDC is also forming a Resource Advisory Committee, comprised of former board members, as well as people who are interested in becoming involved in the group, Revell-Pechar said. That committee currently has three members, she said.
 
The group will have a series of four or more events for discussion of different topics throughout 2018. The first event this year is March 15 with a focus on the U.S. 421 corridor.