We’re ending 2023 on a powerful note, literally. Well, more figuratively than literally, but the annual WilmingtonBiz 100 issue is full of examples of power. 

There’s the Power Players who are part of our 100 that includes top officials of the area’s largest institutions. And while the other members of this year’s list are Influencers, Innovators, Connectors and Rising Stars, they also wield power in different ways around the region.

That’s power that manifests in different ways: in negotiating million-dollar deals, in jumpstarting small business activity on Castle Street, in hiring employees and in expanding treatment to addicted patients, in helping high school seniors become the first in their families to go to college. 

There are literally 100 examples with this year’s group.

One of those members this year is Brian Eckel, partner with Cape Fear Commercial, Cape Fear Development and Cape Fear Construction. In “Power Broker”, Cece Nunn writes about Eckel’s work as it’s expanded into more high-profile development projects.

If all politics is local, power shifts in the municipal governments can have significant impacts on the daily activities of people and businesses. David Joyner now represents 1/6 of the new Wilmington City Council after garnering the most votes in November’s election. Read what the new councilman thinks about how the city should approach its housing challenges in the Sound Off OpEd here.

And finally, there’s the more tangible side of power. Economic development efforts got a jolt this fall with the promise of hundreds of jobs and millions in investment tied to the boost in the electric vehicle market.

In our cover story, Nunn and Emma Dill detail how Brunswick County landed a $650 million project from Epsilon Advanced Materials. The company is pledging to hire 500 workers for the facility, which will process graphite used in electric vehicle batteries. Read more about what’s driving the EV surge here.

Enjoy this year’s 100 issue. In the immortal words of Marcia Griffiths’ electric slide, it’s electric … boogie woogie woogie.

Vicky Janowski, Editor
[email protected]