Pink was the color of the hour at this year’s Coastal Entrepreneur Awards breakfast Thursday, with the announcement that Pink-Trash, a local waste hauler, was the judges’ pick for overall winner.

The company is owned by Kelly Buffalino.

The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards is a joint venture of the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Its mission is to spotlight emerging ventures in the region. The program helps connect entrepreneurs with potential mentors, investors and clients as they grow their companies and create jobs in the region.

Since Pink-Trash’s launch in December 2011, the firm has consistently outperformed its projections for the commercial, residential and construction roll-off markets, company officials said. It reports a continuing 19 percent month-over-month growth rate, competing against established multi-state waste haulers, and it plans continued expansion within and beyond New Hanover County.

One key to the company’s growth has been its partnership with Inman Septic Services, enabling Pink-Trash to offer a complete range of waste services to its commercial customers.

A distinctive part of the company’s operations is its commitment to philanthropy. One percent of all Pink-Trash gross receipts goes to Pretty in Pink Foundation Wilmington, an amount that has exceeded $10,000 to date, said local director Joy Wade. The company also provides office space in its building for Wade. 

"Every company at the awards was fabulous, and doing important things," Buffalino said, expressing her shock that Pink-Trash got the nod.

Asked what the award meant to the company, she said, "This award validates all our hard work. Making a difference in the community, which we have through Pretty in Pink, participating in Touch a Truck, and sponsoring kids' baseball teams, makes us noticed. People like it. I hope our good reputation gets out there."

“We are so fortunate to be recognized as Coastal Entrepreneur Award winner for 2013,” said Shaun Kiviat, CFO of Coastal Ladies Carting, the company’s official name. “The experience of launching a brand that people are excited to be a part of and feel connected to is such a rewarding feeling. We are excited to see the new business and personal relationships that will develop from winning the award.

“We are so thankful to be recognized by some of the top business leaders in the region,” he added.

Also honored at the breakfast were the other nine category winners, which represented a broad range of industries. All the winners went through two rounds of judging.

Category winners were: Cape Fear River Watch (nonprofit); Common Sense Films (film); Freaker (retail/hospitality); GO2 LLC (health care); Modoc Research Services (biotech); Monarcares (Internet-based); Orbita Corp. (manufacturing and distribution); Playerspace (Internet-based); and The Real Tooth Fairies (Internet-based). Pink-Trash was the winner in the professional services category.

Every CEA recipient has found a niche in which it could thrive, either a new concept or a way to improve on an existing concept, Roy Archambault, CEO of Dry Case LLC, last year’s overall winner said before presenting the trophy to Pink-Trash.