Ask the chiefs of five fast-growing Wilmington companies the secrets of their success, and perhaps the only consistent thread in their responses is that Wilmington is a great place for a business to flourish.

At the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s Power Breakfast Wednesday morning, five prominent entrepreneurs shared their experiences and guiding principles in developing their companies.

On the dais were Pete Hexter, a partner in BRAX Fundraising; Duane Hixon, co-founder and CEO of N2 Publishing; Chip Mahan, chairman of Live Oak Bank; Brett Martin, CEO of Castle Branch; and Gary Winstead, president of LoadMatch Logistics. Four of the five founded their in Wilmington; Martin moved Castle Branch here from the Raleigh area 12 years ago.

Questions touched on the entrepreneurs’ initial visions for their ventures, the community resources that had been most helpful, the challenges they have faced, and their visions for the future.

Hexter cited the importance of finding the right message and staying focused on the message, while adapting the means of communication as technology and audience expectations change. He also emphasized the value of having outside partners who can look at the enterprise objectively and knowledgeably, and of hiring people who bring new ideas to the company.

Mahan and Martin had different takes on how to spur technological enterprise in the region. Mahan sees the need for elected officials in the area to make a concerted effort to create an environment that will attract tech startups; Martin said that tech communities result from private investment.

Both Hixon and Mahan emphasized the need to appreciate and reward key employees to ensure they stay with the company.

Winstead said his logistics company actually gained sales after the economic downturn, because LoadMatch’s technological capabilities to create efficiencies and savings in what Winstead called “a disorganized market” made the company’s services valuable to struggling customers.

All five business leaders emphasized the importance of having Cape Fear Community College and University of North Carolina Wilmington in the area, praising their graduates, their business resources and their support for entrepreneurship.