Who would you invest $100,000 in?  That’s one of the pieces of advice we give our Coastal Entrepreneur Award judges each year when they’re faced with the task of making their picks.  Who shows high-growth potential? Who is making a name for themselves and cutting through the noise? Who, out of these stacks and stacks of nominations, do you see a ...

Since 2010, Dawn Ellis has been working diligently to help end food insecurity in eastern Pender and Onslow counties. As the executive director of Share the Table, Ellis is growing the organization as the need continues to grow.  When Ellis first started offering free food for members of the community, “people were rushing to get to the food, and we realized ...

Paul Baron’s international business focus led him to his newest vertical: literally and figuratively. Although he retired about five years ago from a career as an international business consultant, Baron couldn’t stifle his entrepreneurial instincts. While involved in several endeavors, he learned about the process of vertical printing, which can be done by a s ...

Giving those in the craft beverage industry the same tech tools others use for managing and growing their business is what motivated Natalie Waggett to start Ohanafy, a business management software built in Salesforce. Waggett and a handful of Wilmington locals started the company last year with the software launching in September. Having worked for nCino, Waggett has a ...

For Corey and Phallin Scott, owners of On Thyme Restaurant, the secret to their success is simple: They listen to their customers.  Since the Scotts struck out on their own in 2019, they’ve consistently grown their business in the direction of consumer demand. When the pandemic struck months after On Thyme Catering launched, the couple pivoted to selling thei ...

Two firefighters took their experience on the field to create a new software product aimed at providing performance management and safety/wellness for public safety agencies. Co-founder and CEO Scott Monroe and CFO and co-founder Preston Stackhouse, who have both worked for the Wilmington Fire Department, partnered to launch Essential Personnel in 2020. Stackhouse curre ...

Andy Hewitt and Sandy Thorpe helped bring Wilmington’s Soda Pop District to life by filling the former Coca-Cola Bottling facility at 921 Princess St. with tenants, but they’re not finished yet. The partners in Parastream Development, which has an office in a renovated building at 920 Princess St., have accomplished the first part of their plan after buying ...

Kirk Englebright is a big believer in “seize the day.” When the former beer distribution facility in Wilmington he purchased in 2019 failed to attract tenants as COVID hit, he marketed it more broadly and looked for opportunities. “Our first call was from Hollywood,” he said. “Hallmark approached us; they wanted to do a made-for-TV film.&rd ...

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the idea of starting a new business – especially one focused on events – was not top of mind for many entrepreneurs. For long-time friends Chris Montero and Evie Morales, it was exactly the right time, as they turned an emerging dream into an $80,000 investment in an event rental company – Perfect Touch Rental. They ...

Burrito Shak’s fresh, tasty food, friendly beach vibe, and affordable prices have made it a favorite Hampstead dining spot for nearly eight years. Those ingredients have also made the restaurant a successful franchise.  Burrito Shak’s founder, David Longo, is a Wilmington native who grew up in Topsail. He graduated from the Johnson & Wales Universit ...