As part of the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards program, area chambers of commerce also share their top business and organization picks.
Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce
“Andy and Katie Pettigrew are the publishers of the
Pender-Topsail Post & Voice newspaper in Pender County. The Post & Voice is one of the few family-owned, independent newspapers remaining in North Carolina. The Post & Voice is a hyper-local, community newspaper that covers events, news and high school sports in Pender County, based in Burgaw. The Post & Voice is the only newspaper published in Pender County, originally published as The Pender Post, the Post purchased the failing Pender Chronicle and the Topsail Voice in 2012 to consolidate the three county newspapers into one.”
Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce
“From humble beginnings
Treasure Realty has become the proven leader for real estate sales and beach vacation rentals serving Topsail Island and the surrounding coastal mainland communities of the Greater Topsail region. Richard and Tim Baker learned from their fathers, who owned a bread business. … The Treasure Realty team is a group of trusted local experts who know the area intimately and who help their clients find just the right place to buy or rent … Scott Franko, the marketing director for Treasure Realty, serves on the chamber board of directors, spearheads our economic development subcommittee and supports numerous community programs as well.”
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce
“
Sandalwood Shoppes is a unique, one-stop-shoppe ‘marketplace retailer’ managed and owned by Joan Pacifico, a retail professional with over 25 years of retail experience in all facets of the business. The shop itself is designed to offer an exciting mix of local artisans’ masterpieces as well as wonderful assortment of goods from retailers, which creates an atmosphere of ‘something for everyone.’ Part of the success of the business can be attributed to the retail knowledge that Joan offers to her vendors. She assists with knowing and communicating ‘who’ the customers is so that assortments are on target. She also works with her vendors on merchandising and business financials to help make each business grow and be profitable.”
Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce
“After their original location was destroyed by Hurricane Florence in 2018, Michael and Katie along with their business partners purchased and restored 5 Cape Fear Blvd. on the historic Carolina Beach Boardwalk. It was then they decided to rebrand, and
Nauti Dog opened its doors to customers in 2019. Nauti Dog is a gourmet hot dog restaurant located on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Featuring gourmet hot dogs, full bar and easy beach take-out window, Nauti Dog offers vegan and gluten-free options as well as specialty cocktails and craft beer. Michael and Katie are also committed to their thriving real estate business with over $11 million in sales in 2021.”
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce
“OIA [
Oak Island Accommodations] has shown growth and economic impact year after year. They have remained focused on their concept – the customers, regardless of the situations out of their control. As they said so very well, they took lemons and made not only lemonade but lemon pound cake, lemon ice cream and lemon candy.”
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
“
Thrive Family Dental uses a patient-centered co-diagnostic education treatment model and is the only dentist office in North Carolina to use an accredited facility dog to treat dental anxiety – their dog’s name is Meadow. Dr. Friberg not only has grown his own practice with great success but has also begun consulting other dentists to provide them with the information and resources needed to grow their own practices. In doing so, he continues to advocate and teach the importance of mutually beneficial nonprofit partnerships like the one he shares with paws4people.”
Click here to view all of the 2022 CEA winners
