ADVANCED MAINTENANCE
COMPANY: Advanced Maintenance is a fleet maintenance service provider. It performs preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, emergency road service and maintenance management for a local, regional and national customer base.
YEAR FOUNDED: 1999
EMPLOYEES: 16
UPDATE: Advanced Maintenance has grown from 10 locations in 2011 to 27. Sales from $6 million to over $40 million, projected 55 million by end of 2019. It has over 200 service techs and mechanics on the road and over 300 franchise employees.
TOP THREE TIPS: “Protect cash, grow without borrowing; move forward; deliver the service and product you promise.”
BIGGEST GROWTH CHALLENGES: “Finding and keeping the right people. Being ready and … moving quickly but controlled in our expansion.”
PHOTO: Janet (left) and Chris Holman (right), owners 

CAPE FEAR RAINWATER HARVESTING
COMPANY: Cape Fear Rainwater Harvesting Inc. was a company that used rain water harvesting systems, storm water management practices and aquatic and pond management and maintenance.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2009
UPDATE: Closed
PHOTO: Rich Harris, president

CUSTOM FIT MEALS
COMPANY: Custom Fit Meals LLC was a healthy, fresh meal delivery company that serviced 200 pick-up locations from North Carolina to Massachusetts.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2009
UPDATE: In 2015, the company was acquired by Fresh Meal Plan. The founding management team spun off a fresh protein bar, The Best Bar Ever, into a new corporation. In January 2018, The Best Bar Ever Inc. was acquired by The Nature’s Bounty Company, a $3.2 billion health and wellness company based in New York.
TOP THREE TIPS: “Make sure your financial model works before you try to scale … Try not to lose your empathy … When the time comes, raise more capital than you think you need.”
PHOTO: Mike Clay, owner

EFFICIENT ENERGY AMERICA
COMPANY: Efficient Energy America was a company that produced energy-saving technology that wirelessly commanded a building’s heating and cooling system to operate in a more efficient way.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2009
UPDATE: Dissolved, according to the N.C. Secretary of State’s Corporations Division records.
PHOTO: Patrick Ballantine, then-vice president.

FLOW SCIENCES
COMPANY: Flow Sciences provides containment systems for laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing areas. The products are designed to protect operators from exposure to hazardous particulates and vapors while performing delicate operations.
YEAR FOUNDED: 1987
EMPLOYEES: 60
UPDATE: Flow Sciences Inc. was the recipient of the 2009 Export Achievement Award from the United States Department of Commerce; the 2016 United States India Business Summit Scientific Collaboration Award; and the 2018 SBA North Carolina Exporter of the Year Award. The company acquired two metal fabrication facilities in Brunswick County and expanded operations into two facilities in Leland. TOP THREE TIPS: “TENACITY, TENACITY, TENACITY! TO PARAPHRASE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, ‘NEVER GIVE UP!’”

FRANK DEALS
COMPANY: Frank Deals was a coupon book that provided discounts, fundraising and marketing opportunities to consumers, organizations and businesses. In April 2012, the website listed discounts and deals at about 400 businesses in Wilmington that customers could access with their “Frank” card.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2010
UPDATE: Dissolved. Site no longer active.
PHOTO: Greg Tumolo and Kermit Austin

GLIDE BIKES INC.
COMPANY: Glide Bikes is a manufacturer of balance bikes for children, with more than 140,000 units sold worldwide. UPDATE: Glide Bikes has continued to work on product development with the addition of adding a pedal kit that can adapt to all of its models. The company continues to grow the brand worldwide.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2006
EMPLOYEES: 3
TOP THREE TIPS: “DON’T ACCEPT FAILURE. SETBACKS ARE JUST TESTS TO SEE IF YOU ARE REALLY UP TO THE TASK … USE THE NAYSAYERS AND NEGATIVITY TO FUEL YOUR MOTIVATION TO SUCCEED.”
PHOTO: Ed Mondello, president

LEADING INTO NEW COMMUNITIES (LINC)
ORGANIZATION: Leading into New Communities (LINC) is a non-profit that helps those with a criminal history and at-risk youths make good choices and become productive members of society. LINC does this by providing services such as shelter, food, clothing and employment, as well as referring them to other social service agencies.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2000
EMPLOYEES: 25
UPDATE: LINC opened the M.E. Roberts Transitional Living Campus in 2012 and in 2016, a commercial property on Princess Street that aims to provide business development and entrepreneurship for youth. In 2017, its LITE Manhood Program got a national accreditation that allows it to certify individuals in more than seven construction areas. LINC has helped reintegrate over 1,200 people who have been released from prison since 2002; 92 percent of them have remained out of prison.
PHOTO: Frankie Roberts, executive director

MANUFACTURING METHODS
COMPANY: Manufacturing Methods (MM) makes a range of products to customer specifications. It also provides design and early stage prototypes, as well as completed mass-produced parts.
YEAR FOUNDED: 2006
EMPLOYEES: 50
UPDATE: More recently MM has gotten into the making of precision parts for the medical and dental industry. Medical surgical tools and parts are also being produced for use by surgeons for knee and hip replacements. MM was also selected as a CEA winner in 2017.
TOP THREE TIPS: “Make every supplier and customer a longterm relationship … Have a mission statement that supports how your business runs … Be a calculated entrepreneur …”
PHOTO: Pete Peterson, owner

WELL CARE HEALTH
COMPANY: Well Care Health is an integrated in-home health care company that provides Home Health and Home Care services in more than 40 counties across the state.
YEAR FOUNDED: 1987
EMPLOYEES: 850
UPDATE: Well Care Health has grown to serve the Triangle and Triad regions, and has added Iredell, Rowan and Cumberland counties to its home health service area. The company plans to expand service lines to include hospice care. In 2017, Well Care celebrated 30 years. In September that year, the business suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of CEO Wayne Long. “Wayne’s vision and legacy continues to live on and guide Well Care.” His son, Zac Long, took over as CEO.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “One of the biggest challenges … is within the recruitment and talent acquisition realm, tied to a nursing shortage and a booming aging population … health care organizations of all sizes across the country are competing in the same talent pool …”
PHOTO: Wayne Long