As part of the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards program, area chambers of commerce also recognize their top business picks.
Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
“Early in his career, Christopher Rackley [now owner, president and broker in charge of
Lewis Realty Associates Inc.], who is the nephew of Peggy Lewis, worked for Lewis Realty in property management, front office and light maintenance. After becoming a real estate broker in 2000, he has specialized in coastal investment properties, assistance in land use/permit approvals, marketing new home communities as well as overseeing the brokerage operation of property management (vacation and long term rentals), HOA management and Lewis Realty’s affiliated company brokers.”
Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce
Entrepreneur of The Year: Paul Boroznoff
“Learning photography in [the U.S. Air Force] Paul Boroznoff has brought these skills while adding others to Pleasure Island. What started out as a hobby quickly turned into a business when southerndigitalart. com was created in 2008. Being self-taught the digital aspect of the industry, Paul has not only been effective and efficient in the changing of his business but has succeeded to creating rapid and significant growth. He has gone from just taking pictures to video and aerial photography with much success.”
Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce
“As an extension of NC Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, the Shallotte office has offered a sure and steadfast presence. … [N.C.
Farm Bureau Insurance Group-Brown Agency] was incorporated in 1955. Farm Bureau strives to have a large impact in every county, and the Shallotte office proves that every day. From the front desk to the back offices, led by Agency Manager Rodney Brown.”
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
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Jenna Curry Marketing (JCM) specializes in creating online sales funnels and generating leads through Facebook’s advertising platform for businesses and organizations, primarily in service based businesses and education. Leveraging the power of Facebook’s advanced layered targeting based on interests, behaviors, demographics and the retargeting capability with the Facebook pixel, JCM is able to tell on a granular level how much it will cost to generate a lead or sale.”
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce
The chamber’s Small Business of the Year was awarded to “Jonathon Peele and his incredible staff at
Coastline Insurance & Associates of North Carolina … The company is currently celebrating six years of providing excellent service to the residents and businesses of the community. The company provides extensive training opportunities to staff and has direct community involvement at all levels of the organization. All team members are volunteers in organizations throughout the community and are truly committed to success.”
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce
“The
ECU School of Dental Medicine Community Service Learning Center in Bolivia, North Carolina, exemplifies the dental school’s vision to improve the health and quality of life of all North Carolinians by creating leaders with a passion to care for the underserved and by leading the nation in community-based, service learning oral health education. They are committed to offering comprehensive general dental services for adults, children and special needs patients.”
Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce
“To say Jennifer Barefoot Matthews is an entrepreneur is an understatement. After working in a variety of businesses over the years, she used proceeds from a yard sale to start her business
The Old Farm Shed. She started her business in April of 2014 and opened a brick-and-mortar store on June 10, 2015, in Burgaw. The growth has been tremendous and is searching for a new, larger location.”