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On April 4, Phinite proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Sampson County Sustainability Cluster, the largest animal waste drying facility in North Carolina. This milestone marks a major advancement in sustainable agriculture, offering hog farmers an efficient solution for managing lagoon sludge while producing high quality, environmentally friendly fertilizer.
“We were originally building these on farms, and the logistics of just having a large scale facility, given how close a lot of the farms are to each other, just made a lot more sense. So the way it works is we basically partner with hog farmers that are within a small radius of the facility, and we go and remove the nutrients from their lagoon and take it to the drying facility and then dry it out there. This location in Sampson County is one of those facilities. And then we take it to our plant and turn it into a premium organic fertilizer,” shared Phinite CFO Mike McCord.
This facility in Sampson County is the first to open, but Phinite is also currently working on facilities in Bladen and Duplin Counties. They have a separate manufacturing facility in Turkey, North Carolina where the dried material is turned into organic fertilizer and then sold throughout the country.
“Fertilizer is the reason why half the people in the world are alive today. Synthetic fertilizer was developed after World War II and allowed the human population to grow to what will be 10 billion people in 2050. The problem is that all of the ingredients in fertilizer that are responsible for keeping all of us alive are finite resources that are not sustainable in the long term. The world’s single biggest resource for renewable fertilizer is within the manure that exists within the food production system, and so I am dedicating my life to recycling that material, to create more food for people, more fertilizer for people, ultimately, to be able to feed the world going forwards. And that's what motivates me. In order to do that, we had to build a profitable model to mine and manufacture fertilizer from manure, and that’s what we've done here in North Carolina,” remarked CEO
Despite its appearance, hog
all
and Founder Jordan Phasey.
After the opening remarks, Jordan Phasey invited guests to tour the facility and explained the science behind their process. They use a long reach trackhoe to extract the thick bottom sludge out of the hog lagoon. Then they pump that material with a concrete pump into a sealed tanker trailer and bring it to the drying facility. The material is then deposited into the greenhouse where it is dried with ambient air.
“Our drying system is a shallow concrete basin covered by a greenhouse, and inside it is a robotic mixing device we have developed that mixes the material and assists it in drying. Our buildings are naturally ventilated, and we have fans in the top of the buildings that help bring air into the material to do the drying. This drying system, being naturally ventilated, is able to dry material much more quickly than a tunnel ventilated building, because the amount of energy present within the air that blows into this building is much, much greater than what just shines on the material from the sun,” explained Phasey.
When the material dries, it forms
a crust on the surface and the drying rate slows down. To prevent this, the material needs to be mixed in order to keep bringing moisture up to the surface, and that’s what the robot does. Phinite’s robots operate continuously, running through the material and lifting up moist material that is down low. It takes about six to eight weeks for Phinite to dry and turn a building.
Once the material is dried they dig it out and transport it to their central processing facility in Turkey, NC. There they take this material and granulate it into a hard, round ball, and bag that material and sell it from there as organic fertilizer.
“The final fertilizer product that we produce has no odor, has a really high crush strength and a really low dust content, because we make round balls instead of jagged edges, all of those things together lead to a superior and premium fertilizer product,” explained Phasey.
Phinite’s process provides an innovative solution to waste management in the agricultural industry.
“The swine industry has been a cornerstone of the rural economy in North Carolina. Every farmer in
North Carolina touches the swine industry, whether you’re a row crop farmer who is selling feed into the integrated livestock industry, whether you are a supplier of farm equipment, whether you’re part of the universities that are training people to work within the industry, this industry has fed and sustained a lot of people for the last 40 years. And the reason we’re here at Phinite is to enable the next 40 years of success within the swine industry by being able to take these residuals [and] get them out of North Carolina to people that want and need this product,” shared Phasey.
McCord shared that the facility is hiring. They’re primarily seeking mechanical technicians and mechanical engineers, and are sourcing candidates primarily in Sampson and adjacent counties.
To learn more about Phinite visit www. phinite-us.com.
2504 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
910-240-9697 bizfayetteville.com
PUBLISHER
Marty Cayton martyc@bizfayetteville.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Faith Hatton faithh@bizfayetteville.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Stephanie Meador stephaniem@bizfayetteville.com
SPECIAL PROJECT/EVENT MANAGER
Ellie Rhoades events@bizfayetteville.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Stacie Borrello
Kate Griffin
Thomas Manning
Brian Miner
Rachel Townsend
Eddie Velazquez
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER
Samantha Lowe samanthal@bizfayetteville.com
ACCOUNTING billing@bizfayetteville
SALES & MARKETING marketing@bizfayetteville.com
The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is published twice a month throughout Fayetteville and the Cumberland County region. News related to the region’s business sector is posted daily at bizfayetteville.com.
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© Copyright 2025
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
Iam so honored to be in a position where I can be nosy and get paid for it.
Working as a journalist has its ups and downs, but working as a business journalist has its mountains and gorges.
Between people not returning phone calls, businesses not wanting to talk at all or actively pursuing a story just to have a vital interview agree to talk to you and give the dreaded words “no comment,” it can feel grating at times.
As I look back on my time as a journalist, I am proud of the work I’ve done and the partnerships I’ve established with members of every community I’ve been in. I’m especially proud of the trust I’ve been able to instill with community members that their stories will be handled with
This week I had the pleasure of being invited to a meeting at Fayetteville State University and sitting in on a private meeting announcing the newest addition to FSU’s degree programs: Construction Project Management.
This is being brought together by FSU, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Metcon Construction, the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and of course with support from the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County government. I was the only media there and I am so thankful that the University trusts me so much to break that story.
By the time this issue hits your mailbox, I’m sure I’ve posted the full story on our website but, if not, I guess I’m breaking the news now!
We hope you enjoy this issue, after some much needed R & R (who am I kidding I was speaking at an alumni event all weekend at Appalachian
State University two weekends ago), I came back to tons of new good news dropping including the new Phinite facility in Sampson County opening (page 3), new Fort Bragg Housing developments (page 5), A new awards event to look forward to from DistiNCtly Fayetteville (page 10) and news about the official ground breaking at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre (page 13). I got back and the team got to work!
And don’t forget to check out page 12 for a list of Easter events that may be coming to your area soon!
Happy reading!
FAITH HATTON, Associate Publisher/Editor
910-240-9697, Ext 104 • faithh@bizfayetteville.com
Fort Bragg is undergoing a transformation with the launch of the Homestead Project, a $91 million investment secured through refinancing to enhance on-post family housing. The project includes renovations for more than 1,000 homes, with over 400 homes undergoing full upgrades to increase housing availability for service members and their families.
The Homestead Project is one project being undertaken with the help of Corvias, a trusted infrastructure and resiliency partner to the U.S. military and higher education institutions.
Senior Vice President of Asset Management for Corvias, Jeff Williams, explained that the Homestead Project’s vision goes beyond infrastructure improvement.
“With the support of our Army partners, we’re creating modernized homes to enhance resident satisfaction,” said Williams. “This is one of several initiatives planned this year between the Army and Corvias at Fort Bragg.”
Residents can already see renovation efforts underway in neighborhoods like Pope Army Airfield’s Hillcrest, which started roof replacements in February, Casablanca, Corregidor Courts, Bougainville, Anzio Acres which began medium renovations in January, and Randolph Point currently undergoing exterior repairs scheduled to be complete in April 2025. Over the next few years, additional homes in Ardennes, Bataan, Hammond Hills, and other neighborhoods will benefit from upgrades.
The project will also expand a pilot program introducing indoor enhancements to improve air and water quality, reduce humidity and optimize lighting. These changes aim to bolster quality of life for families and support mission readiness for Soldiers.
Another significant initiative kicking off in July 2025, is an $86 million energy modernization project. This effort will upgrade heating and cooling systems in over 1,900 homes, bringing the total investment to $177 million for Fort Bragg housing improvements.
Feedback from resident surveys
Renovations to a roof in the Pope Army Airfield's Hillcrest neighborhood is part of the Homestead Project and community managers has played a crucial role in shaping the development plan. Fort Bragg Garrison Commander, Col. Chad Mixon emphasized the importance of resident input, stating in a press release: "Your feedback truly does matter."
These renovations aim to foster a sense of pride in the community and improve aging infrastructure.
Residents may encounter construction activity in their neighborhoods as projects progress, but the Corvias team is committed to keeping everyone informed. Notifications via email and text will share details on upcoming work, preparation steps and expected timelines. Residents are encouraged to contact their community center with questions or updates to their communication preferences.
As Williams highlighted, the Homestead Project is part of the Army’s commitment to putting "People First." The upgrades reflect the Army’s dedication to readiness, resilience and providing Service Members and their families with quality homes and living experiences.
With Fort Bragg leading the way in housing innovation, the Homestead Project promises to make a lasting impact on this vital military community, improving both daily life and long-term satisfaction for residents.
The second initiative currently underway by Corvias on Fort Bragg includes bringing a mission readiness solution to Army homes.
In early April 2025, Corvias announced the expansion of its first-ofits-kind mission readiness solution to enhance the indoor environment in more than 4,500 homes across three U.S. Army installations including Fort Bragg. The U.S. Army approved the rapid rollout of home improvements for more than 15,000 residents.
The expansion follows initial pilots that included substantial on-site testing to validate post-implementation enhancements to air and water quality, excess humidity and lighting conditions. Program survey data showed an overwhelmingly positive response to the initial on-post housing installations compared to baseline measurements.
Additional data showed significant improvements across multiple thresholds:
Air quality satisfaction increased to 95%
Water quality satisfaction rose to 93%
Overall satisfaction with on-post housing reached 82%
Corvias partnered with Vitacorps, a company dedicated to delivering safe and healthy living environments through research-based solutions, to design and implement the program following a comprehensive assessment of indoor conditions for the benefit of service members and their families.
Prototype installations were validated and certified to the WELL Building Standard™, the world’s leading certification for indoor environments within buildings. The initiative is part of Corvias’ commitment to bring world-class technologies and services to its defense partners through its pioneering Solutions Through Partnerships® approach.
“With the support of our Army partner, Corvias is the first Military Housing Privatization Initiative team to implement a program to maintain certifiable indoor air, water and light standards,” said Department of Defense President at Corvias Denise Hauck in a press release. “These improvements definitively enhance soldier readiness, strengthen family resilience and directly contribute to retention of our military personnel.”
Key enhancements include:
Air purification throughout the home
Water filtration enhancements
Excess humidity control solutions
Circadian rhythm-supporting lighting
In addition to improving the residential experience, this initiative advances the National Defense Strategy’s goal of a strong, healthy and ready force, and aligns with the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program to promote health, fitness and well-being for peak performance.
“Our seven-step program creates healthier living environments without major infrastructure investments or temporary housing needs,” said Rob Bellmar, Vitacorps president in a press release. “We bring together indoor environment and building experts to deliver scalable, research-based solutions that enhance well-being and operational effectiveness.”
These acquisitions also allow us to increase our physical footprint, which amplifies that initiative. I would also like to thank the Shamdasani family for their commitment to serving public safety professionals and building this outstanding business.”
— Mike Fadden, CEO, GALLS® “
and other essential workers to be their service provider.
The decision to sell the companies was made jointly by the previous owners of the businesses, the Shamdasani and Sujanani families.
Rajan Shamdasani, speaking on behalf of both families, shared that the deal was closed on Monday, March 31, and the acquisition also included Baltimore based company Howard Uniforms.
“We’re very proud to be handing over our business to a company that has been around for such a long time like GALLS® has, and the CEO of the company, Mike Fadden, kept telling us that GALLS® is a very customer centric and people centric organization, and a really forward looking company,” said Shamdasani. “That meant a lot to us, and that was one of the big reasons that we sold. Being a family enterprise, we are very close to our staff and everyone who works at our company and we wanted to make sure that all of the good things that we had instilled in our organization would continue on.”
American Uniform Sales, Inc.,
founded in 1976, has operated four retail locations in Fayetteville, N.C., Wilmington, N.C., Alexandria, Va. and Philadelphia, Pa.
Military Luggage Company has been operating in Fayetteville since 2012, providing all branches of the U.S. military with the best and most comprehensive selection of bags, packs & cases for field operations, deployments, travel and casual use.
Howard Uniform Co. operates one retail location in Baltimore, Md.
As a result of the acquisition, Military Luggage Company will be relo-
Above: With over 50 years in the industry, GALLS® has nearly 180 locations worldwide, and is trusted by over one million law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical and other essential workers to be their service provider.
Bottom: The team at All American Sales, Inc. will be getting some new crew members following the acquisition. Military Luggage Company will be relocating to Kentucky, but all employees are being offered new positions at American Uniform Sales, Inc. which will remain in Fayetteville. Bottom photo provided by: All American Sales, Inc.
cating to Kentucky, but all employees are being offered new positions at American Uniform Sales, Inc. which will remain in Fayetteville.
“Executives of the [GALLS®] company are at all our locations right now, and they’re going through the onboarding process and disseminating information to the staff. So that process was going on [during] day one,” shared Shamdasani. “It’s been a long and fruitful journey in this business for 49 years. Time to sit back and let others continue running these fine companies.”
In a press release, GALLS® leadership shared that they are honored to add these companies to their portfolio, noting that these acquisitions not only strengthens their commitment to relentless focus on the customer, but also expands their reach in key regions.
“The recent acquisition of American Uniform Sales, Inc. and Howard Uniform Co. fosters GALLS® mission and strengthens our commitment to the men and women in uniform. Augmenting our relationship with customers is a strategic objective for GALLS®,” shared CEO Mike Fadden in a press release. “These acquisitions also allow us to increase our physical footprint, which amplifies that initiative. I would also like to thank the Shamdasani family for their commitment to serving public safety professionals and building this outstanding business.”
The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal is welcoming a new member to the team with the addition of ELIZABETH “ELLIE” RHOADES as our new special projects and events manager.
A native of College Station, Texas, Rhoades is a graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in event management. She is also on track to receive her Master of Science in Management in 2025.
Her experience includes working as a summer intern for Reach, LLC, an experiential marketing and event production company based in Nashville, Tenn., and Assistant Director of Events for iNFiNiTi Athletics, Inc. in Bentonville, Ark.
Rhoades officially began her new position on Monday, March 31, virtually and she will be working remotely as she prepares to move to the area. A future military spouse, Rhoades will be relocating to the Fayetteville area in May and will join the crew in their office located at 2504 Raeford Road in suite 208.
“I am so excited to join the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal team and contribute to delivering impactful business insights and events. I look forward to connecting with local professionals and getting involved in the community,” remarked Rhoades.
Her responsibilities will include managing and planning events, contributing to editorial content, managing special projects, such as the annual Book on Business and contributing to GFBJ’s digital presence, with a focus on developing and executing innovative content for social media and events.
“We are excited to welcome Ellie to the team. With her background and her positive attitude, we know she’ll be able to help us expand our event offerings, improve our social media presence and become a valuable member of the team,” said Faith Hatton, GFBJ editor and associate publisher. “She’s already hit the ground running, and we look forward to seeing what she’ll bring to the publication.”
Rhoades can be contacted via email at ellier@bizfayetteville.com.
What are you and your peers achieving? Have you reached a new goal? Have you acquired another business? Maybe your business has a new hire you would like to highlight.
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal wants to hear from you and your business to shine a spotlight on your accomplishments.
To nominate someone for GFBJ’s Achievers section, email editor@bizfayetteville.com with the subject line “Achiever.”
For the third consecutive year, the PWC Procurement and Economic Inclusion Department has been recognized for their commitment to excellence, earning the North Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing (NCAGP) Sustained Professional
Purchasing Award (SPPA). This award is granted to NC agencies that uphold the highest standards in governmental procurement, demonstrating leadership and best practices throughout the 2024 calendar year.
The award criteria reflect key procurement priorities, including:
• Technology advancements that enhance efficiency and transparency
• Minority and small business outreach to foster economic inclusion
• Professional staff certification to ensure industry expertise.
• End-user and vendor training to strengthen procurement knowledge
• Commitment to sustainability
“Receiving this award for the third consecutive year is a testament to PWC’s dedication to procurement excellence, responsible stew -
ardship and inclusive economic growth,” said Rhonda Graham, CFO for PWC, in a press release.
Members of this team accepted the award at the NCAGP Spring Conference Banquet in Greensboro, NC, on March 19, 2025. The PWC Procurement Department’s accomplishment showcases their outstanding procurement capabilities and emphasizes PWC’s commitment to supporting Fayetteville’s community.
Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Caduceus Society recently honored several providers when Cape Fear Valley Health Medical Staff Services held its 2025 Doctors’ Day celebration at the Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience Institute. The Caduceus Society honors the legacy of physicians in the community while providing resources which strengthen the shared vision of the medical staff.
Three awards were presented including: Physician of the Year
The Physician of the Year award was given to two doctors, SANFORD HAWKINS-RIVERS, MD and FRED CARUSO, MD
Dr. Hawkins is a surgeon with Harnett Surgical Associates. His nomination described him as selfless, sincere and compassionate, with a reputation that draws patients to seek him out for their surgeries.
Dr. Caruso is a pediatric radiologist. His nomination praised his commitment to patients, visitors, family and fellow coworkers and his efforts to pass along his teachings to resident physicians. He
received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and his residency at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colo. He also completed a fellowship at Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo.
Resident of the Year
THOMAS BAINTER, MD is a psychiatry resident and has been the Chief Resident of Psychiatry for two years. In his nomination, he is described as an exceptional physician who provides the highest level of care and expertise to his patients. Next year, he will start a fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry at Duke. He received his medical degree from Nebraska College of Medicine.
APP of the Year
Family Nurse Practitioner ASHLEY MARLOWE practices at Bladen Medical Associates in Elizabethtown. She is lauded in her nomination for her emphasis on patient-centered care and for going the extra mile to make sure her patients are cared for. Marlowe holds a master’s degree in nursing from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
FTCC Foundation has received a $25,000 grant award from the Duke Energy Foundation to support workforce development at Fayetteville Technical Community College. This grant will fund recruitment and resources for the FTCC Lineworker Program. This is the third
L to R: Jacqueline Montero, FTCC Lineworker Program instructor; Trace Wilkerson, FTCC Lineworker Program student; Grant Baggett, Supervisor PGO Operations, Duke Energy NC; Emily Tucker, District Manager, Duke Energy NC; Dr. Mark Sorrells, President, Fayetteville Technical Community College; Kelvin Cunningham, FTCC Lineworker Program student; Dr. Murtis Worth, Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Services; Dr. Jolee Marsh, Associate Vice President of Continuing Education; Heather Oxendine, Manager PGO Area Ops Support, Duke Energy NC
year that the Foundation has received this grant.
FTCC is one of 19 community colleges across North Carolina supported by Duke Energy Foundation to boost workforce training programs. This funding will help build the next generation energy workforce to support our community’s continued growth.
"On behalf of Fayetteville Technical Community College, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Duke Energy Foundation for their generous grant in support of our Lineworker Program,” said FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells in a press release. “This funding will help us continue to provide top-notch training to the next generation of lineworkers who are essential to our community’s infrastructure. Your investment in our students is an investment in the future, and we are incredibly grateful for your partnership in making this vital program possible."
The Cumberland County Schools (CCS) system has recently earned the prestigious "Schools to Watch" designation from the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, through the NC Schools to Watch program and the NC Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE).
New Century International Middle School (NCIMS) has been honored as one of the top middle
schools in the nation, recognized for its outstanding academic performance, dedication to student growth and innovative practices that promote continuous improvement. This prestigious recognition places NCIMS among an elite group of middle schools nationwide, highlighting its commitment to excellence in education and student development.
New Century International Middle School, John Griffin Middle School and Seventy-First Classical Middle School were honored on March 24 during a special awards luncheon at the 2025 North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Conference (NCMLE) in Charlotte, NC.
“Being designated as a ‘School to Watch’ is more than an accolade," said NCIMS Principal Gemette McEachern in a press release. “It’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to our students, the resilience of our staff and the shared commitment to excellence that defines our school community. This recognition affirms that if you dream big, work hard and believe in every student, greatness follows.”
L to R: Dr. Gemette McEachern, principal at New Century International Middle School; Dr. Latreicia Allen, the principal at John Griffin Middle School; and Virginia Jicha, the assistant principal at Seventy-First Classical Middle School, proudly grip their "Schools to Watch" framed certificates of initial designation that were awarded during the NCMLE Conference.
The Schools to Watch (STW) designation, established by the National Forum, identifies and celebrates middle-grade schools that meet rigorous criteria for excellence. Schools selected for this honor demonstrate:
• Outstanding academic excellence, where all students are challenged to use their minds well.
• Strong developmental responsiveness to the unique needs and interests of early adolescents.
• Commitment to ensuring every
student has access to high-quality classes and the support they need to achieve at high levels.
• Organizational structures that support continuous improvement and maintain high-performance outcomes.
The selection process involved a comprehensive evaluation of the school’s practices that included detailed written applications, site visits by state teams, interviews with school administrators, teachers, students and parents, student achievement data review as well as the assessment of school practices and policies.
“Earning the esteemed ‘Schools to Watch’ designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the educators, students and community at New Century International Middle School,” said Dr. LaShanda Carver-Moore, the area superintendent of School Support – Middle Grades, during the ceremony. This designation is valid for three years, after which the school can apply for re-designation to maintain its status as a School to Watch.
DistiNCtly Fayetteville is calling all hospitality businesses throughout Cumberland County’s vast tourism industry to submit their nominations for the 2025 DistiNCtly Fayetteville Tourism Awards coming to the community on Sept. 18, 2025.
This is the first event of its type for the organization, focused on recognizing the outstanding work, leadership and hospitality provided by the community in Cumberland County.
“We want to recognize individuals in our community who have really had an impact on tourism. Maybe it's you, maybe it's a team member on your team, maybe it's somebody that you have collaborated with in the community, and you think it's darn time we recognize them,” shared DistiNCtly Fayetteville President & CEO Devin Heath.
THE AWARDS ARE BROKEN INTO FOUR CATEGORIES:
Tourism Visionary Award
Honors an outstanding individual or organization in the local hospitality industry who displays foresight and exceptional leadership skills to impact the Cumberland County hospitality and tourism industry and the community.
Partner of the Year Award
Honors a partner in the local hospitality and tourism industry who recognizes the value of working together to achieve greatness.
Event of the Year Award
This category recognizes a firsttime or recurring event that had significant community support and partnership, which attracted visitors to Cumberland County, can demonstrate visitor spending and/or overnight rooms and was effectively promoted to out-of-county visitors.
Can Do Hospitality
Honors and celebrates multiple employees and volunteers in the tourism/hospitality industry who enhance visitors’ experiences in Cumberland County.
Each of the awards will recognize one winner except for the Can Do Hospitality Awards, which will be
“As we all know, it takes an army to make our operations successful, and we (business owners, management, etc.) oftentimes are the ones that get the credit and get the accolades. But we know that there are frontline associates at each of our operations that really make us successful. This is an opportunity to recognize those individuals.”
given to multiple winners.
“That’s geared towards the folks who really make tourism work here, the frontline teams,” said Heath. “As we all know, it takes an army to make our operations successful, and we (business owners, management, etc.) oftentimes are the ones that get the credit and get the accolades. But we know that there are frontline associates at each of our operations that really make us successful. This is an opportunity to recognize those individuals.”
DistiNCtly Fayetteville team and will be open to the public.
While plans for the Summit are still in early development, Heath shared that it will be an informative event for the area’s hospitality industry.
“The purpose of the summit is really to collaborate with our community, our community partners [and] elected officials, talk about the state of the industry of tourism, where we've been this past year, and where we're headed in this future year,” said Heath. “We’re going to really talk a lot about the outlook for the future, both from an industry perspective, as well as what exactly DistiNCtly Fayetteville is going to be doing going forward.”
Heath shared that the Summit will be presentation based with a focus on education and networking to build opportunities within the community.
“We're not going to have traditional booths and things like that, it's going to be presentations. The DistiNCtly Fayetteville team will provide a presentation, we have invited a couple of industry powerhouses to come and speak. They are leaders in the tourism industry not just in the state, but in the country,” shared Heath. “But I think the real power and the knowledge gained will come from each other coming up and talking.”
More announcements about the Summit are expected in the coming weeks, but DistiNCtly Fayetteville is accepting nominations for the 2025 DistiNCtly Fayetteville Tourism Awards until May 23, 2025.
Fayetteville
— Devin Heath, DistiNCtly
President & CEO
The awards will be presented at DistiNCtly Fayetteville’s Awards Luncheon immediately following the Annual Tourism Summit, also taking place on Sept. 18.
The Summit is the first event of its kind to be organized by the current
More information on the awards and how to submit a nomination can be found at www.distinctlyfayettevillenc.com/2025tourism-awards.
Big changes are coming to Time-of-Use rates!
Starting in April, Peak hours are shifting to Summertime schedule to match when energy demand is highest. But that’s not all:
• The Time-of-Use schedule will now be in effect 7 days a week, including holidays and weekends
• From 3PM to 6PM, you will have an extra hour to save with Off-Peak hours, which are 35% lower in rates than Peak hours.
Put Time to Save hours to work for you and save BIG! Use the PWC Online Account Manager to learn about your usage history and explore the Energy Resource Center for more ways to save. The power to save is in your hands!
Learn more at FayPWC.com
“I couldn’t catch my breath; I knew something was wrong.” – Sondra
One afternoon, Sondra Bemesderfer had trouble catching her breath. She worried it might be COVID-19 or bronchitis. She had no idea she was suffering a heart attack caused by a blood clot.
Heart attack symptoms in women present differently and can include shortness of breath. Because she called 911, first responders were able to start lifesaving measures immediately, even before she reached the hospital, and saved her life.
Learn more about Sondra’s journey and treatments available at our heart center at capefearvalley.com/heart. And if you have chest pains, don’t wait. Call 9-1-1!
The Easter season is here and to celebrate, the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal has collected a number of events taking place throughout our community!
Continue reading to see what's happening in your neighborhood!
Cool Spring Downtown District has put in a call and now, Honey, the Bunny, is coming to Downtown Fayetteville for the Hoppin’ Around Downtown Easter event.
Join CSDD on Saturday April 19, from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Honey the Bunny, the sweetest bunny you ever did meet, will be greeting downtowners as they shop, eat and drink in the central business district.
Take photos with Honey the Bunny while taking advantage of the shops, restaurants and parks in the district.
Scattered around downtown, you will find Golden Eggs with goodies inside. These eggs are for the children. The eggs are first come, first served while supplies last.
Head over to Gaston Brewery Taproom for activities for the whole family on Saturday, April 12, from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. celebrate spring and enjoy Easter fun with adult beverages, food trucks and over 25 vendors. For the kids, there will be an egg hunt, face painting, bounce houses and a chance to grab some photos with the Easter Bunny.
The Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to be hosting their very first Community Easter Egg Hunt on April 13 at Heritage Park. This event will bring families together for a day of fun, featuring egg hunts, a craft corner and a visit from the Easter Bunny!
Hunt Sessions begin at 10 a.m. with the first hunt for non-school age kids. Elementary aged kids will have a hunt at 11:00 a.m. and Middle and High School kids will have a hunt at noon. Keep an eye out for the Golden Eggs! Guests who find one will get to pick a special prize!
Join the Town of Hope Mills for their Cotton Tail Trail 2025 event, a “fresh” take on Easter on Saturday April 12 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Town is hosting a “No Egg Hunt” which will be a more relaxed, family friendly version of Easter festivities in Hope Mills Municipal Park. Join them for games, a petting zoo, DJ, photos with the Easter Bunny, a chalk walk, giveaways and more!
Join the Town of Angier for their Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt at the
Park on Sunday, April 13, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. The community is invited to join them at Jack Marley Park at 249 E. Williams St. in Angier for food trucks, inflatables, face painting and a visit from the Easter Bunny! This event is free to attend with two prize eggs per age group. Hunters will have the chance to find the special egg and turn it in for a fun filled Easter basket!
Make plans to attend the Town of Lillington's 12th annual Easter Ex-
travaganza. The Easter Extravaganza will be held on Saturday, April 12, from 1p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Lillington Ball Park. There will be inflatables, face painting, balloon animals, visits from the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt. There will be three different egg hunts with kids separated by age to make sure everyone has a fair chance at filling their basket.
The current construction site in downtown Fayetteville in front of the Cumberland County Courthouse. Whether or not construction will be continuing is unclear, with Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere simply stating that there are “no restrictions on the contractors performing their work.”
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has directed the County Attorney to notify contractors of the lifting of the suspension on the Crown Event Center project contract.
At their regular meeting held on Monday, April 7, and after coming out of closed session, the Board voted unanimously to direct the County Attorney to notify contractors of the lifting of the suspension on the Crown Event Center project contract.
The Board then recessed the meeting at 11:51 a.m. with plans to reconvene on Tuesday, April 8 at 11 a.m.
On March 5, 2025, Cumberland County leadership announced a 30-day pause on the Crown Event Center project to allow for “a comprehensive project review.”
In a press release, the County stated that the “proactive measure” was being taken to ensure the project’s long term success and maintain levels of transparency, accountability and public trust.
During the pause, Cumberland County retained outside counsel,
attorney J. Scott Flowers of Fayetteville based Hutchens Law Firm, to act as a third-party counsel and provide an unbiased assessment of the status of the project and to address any concerns.
On April 8 at the County’s first “Chats with the Chairman” press conference, it was shared by Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk deViere that Flowers provided a report to the County about the status of the project on April 7, which has been under review by County Commissioners during their closed sessions.
“Yesterday, the Board directed County Attorney Rick Moorefield to notify the contractors of the lifting of the suspension on the Crown Event Center. The Board took action under its contractual obligations, our staff informed the Crown Event Center Project Team of this action and requested an update on the current status of the project. There are no restrictions on the contractors performing their work,” said deViere.
Chairman deViere also shared that
the County also brought in a second individual, an unnamed architect, to provide architectural analysis of “the current scope and budget of the project.”
“We needed some additional information. We wanted to have that information, and [for] another architect to provide us a look at the scope and the budget of this project that we’re doing, this $145 million project for this community. We thought that was important,” said deViere.
According to deViere, as of April 8, 2025, no adjustment in pricing has been made.
The Board has also requested additional information from the staff for further consideration by the Board at a special meeting that will be held on Monday, April 14 at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse.
“We anticipate receiving the additional information from the staff that was requested, as well as time for the Board to digest the report that we received from Scott Flowers yesterday, as well as the additional architectural analysis of the scope and budget,” said deViere.
Since lifting the suspension, contractors for the project are expected to check in with the County Attorney, but whether or not construction will be continuing is unclear with deViere simply stating that there are “no restrictions on the contractors performing their work.”
“We’ve had a lot of information thrown at this Board in about a 24 hour period. You have a full report from an attorney that's over 1,000 pages, you have a scope and budget analysis from an architectural firm that we need to digest and I thought it was prudent that we provided the Board time to review that information, digest that we all operate and consume information in different ways, and then be able to ask questions back to the staff in advance of the special meeting,” said deViere.
Currently the county has $35 million invested in the Crown Event Center to include architectural design, site work and preliminary planning. An update on the timeline for completion of the project was not provided.
At noon on Monday, April 7, Cape Fear Regional Theatre officially broke ground on an expansion and renovation of their facility at 1209 Hay St.
This transformative project was born from CFRT’s remarkable growth from serving 43,000 people annually in 2018 to more than 62,000 people in 2024. The new building, designed by SfL&a Architects, with General Contracting by Samet Corporation – began demolition work on March 24 and is expected to reopen by winter 2026.
The project will double CFRT’s existing square footage, from 20,000 sq feet to 40,000 sq feet. Highlights of the expanded facility include two studios for CFRT’s rapidly growing education programs, a grand lobby with a mezzanine for private events and a rooftop event space which will serve craft cocktails and feature a second stage for live music.
Ralph and Linda Huff, who were among the earliest supporters of the project, spoke at the event.
“As Linda and I have grown our business and our life here in Fayetteville, we have always known that what this community deserved was more investment, and more cultural offerings like the one we’re building here today. It is the people that have made CFRT what it is today, and it’s
the people who will turn CFRT into all that it can be tomorrow,” shared Ralph Huff.
Additional speakers included Mayor Mitch Colvin, Cumberland County Commissioner Chairman Kirk deViere, Representative Diane Wheatley, CFRT’s Board President Bill Hedgepeth, CFRT’s long-time House Manager Col. (ret.) Willie Wright, Steering Committee member Maj. Gen. (ret.) Al T. Aycock, as well as Sutton Hammond, the campaign’s youngest donor (eight years old) and Clay Thorp whose mother Bo founded the theatre back in 1962.
“In April 2022, we applauded her [Bo] for all she had done – the effort, the perspiration, the cajoling, and dare I say, the manipulating she deployed to launch the Fayetteville Little Theatre, now the Cape Fear Regional Theatre over 60 years ago” said Clay Thorp at the event. “Since then, there have been countless occasions for local talents to find their gifts, children to perform, to have a community, a family, to find their own special place to be themselves.”
Mayor Colvin spoke about the economic impact this expansion will have on the Fayetteville community.
“CFRT's major renovation totals 24 million in improvements, including a city and a DOT project to improve the walkability and pedestrian
safety [with] additional cross walks in this area. This project will also yield millions in indirect spending in the next year, along with 72 direct and indirect jobs that will contribute to our local economy,” remarked Colvin.
As the ceremony drew to a close, CFRT’s Artistic Director, Mary Catherine Burke, took to the stage as the final speaker before the official
Every show, every season, we are overwhelmed with the love that you have for CFRT. This community has done more than sustain this theatre for 63 years – you have tended it, loved it and grown it into the incredible institution it is today. ”
— Mary Catherine Burke, CFRT’s Artistic Director
groundbreaking took place.
“Every show, every season, we are overwhelmed with the love that you have for CFRT. This community has done more than sustain this theatre for 63 years – you have tended it, loved it and grown it into the incredible institution it is today,” remarked Burke during her speech. “And here we are, as you were when Bo started doing shows back in the 60s, or when The Little Theatre became Cape Fear Regional Theatre in the 80s, needing to make a change to ensure that generations more will benefit from CFRT. This is the next chapter of CFRT’s great story, and you are vital to this campaign’s success.”
The funding for this project is a public/private partnership with commitments in place from the State of NC and City of Fayetteville as well as support from The Cannon Foundation, The Longleaf Fund, Truist Foundation, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, The H.M. & Pearl Kyle Foundation, The Cumberland Community Foundation, First Citizens Bank and The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County as well as nearly 100 individual donors.
CFRT has donor opportunities and naming rights still available. For more information, visit CFRT.org.
BizLeads is a collection of information gathered from greater Fayetteville courthouses, state government offices and information websites. The listings are intended to help the business community find new customers and stay on top of happenings with current customers, vendors and competitors.
New Corporations lists firms from the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal region that were recently incorporated in the State of North Carolina.
Zo Xotic Bullyz LLC
100 Hay St. Ste. 704 #1200
Fayetteville Agent: Russell Jones
The Mint Rutherford LLC
201 Hay St. Suite 2000
Fayetteville Agent: R. Jonathan Charleston
Northstar Transportation LLC
6439 Starbrook Dr Fayetteville Agent: Alexis Domenech Gonzalez
Carla's Touch Cleaning Service LLC
612 Ashdown Place
Fayetteville Agent: Carla Monroe-ferguson
Sisters in Christ Women Ministry 2133 Al Ray Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Janice M Beatty
SWG Property Solutions LLC
100 Hay St Ste 704 PMB 1057
Fayetteville Agent: Samuel W Gordon Jr
Z&C Nest LLC 6364 River Ridge Rd
35253
Fayetteville Agent: Sharon Place-O'Hern
Sage and Stream LLC 4913 Cottonwood Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Allyson Rosser
Fayetteville Agent: Stacy Sheppard
Quarter Rental Property LLC
5104 New Moon Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Chrstina Frazier
Good Clean Living
3004 Hammerfest Cir
Fayetteville Agent: Kristopher Bright
So Fayetteville LLC
5954 Shiloah Church Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Carlos Lavern Craig Sr
Chic Boutique & Consignment LLC
2620 Bragg Blvd Ste D
Fayetteville Agent: Beyah's Accounting & Tax Service LLC
ED CARGO LLC 4523 Chambersburg Rd
Fayetteville Agent: EDDIE SPEARMON
Goetz Family Farm LLC 10191 Ramsey St Linden Agent: Landon Goetz
Military Industrial Sales LLC 816 Elm St Unit
Glow Therapy by Steph LLC
1006 Wayside Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Stephanie Acevedo
Our House Rental INC.#1 599 Castle Ridge Road
Cleva's Creations LLC 3771 Ramsey St Ste 109 PMB 335 Fayetteville Agent: Crystal McLean Baker
Natural Gains LLC 10191 Ramsey St Linden Agent: Landon Goetz
JR's Catering and Consulting LLC 150 N McPherson Church Rd Ste B
Fayetteville Agent: George D. Regan Jr.
Caveman Chaos Wrestling Club LLC
6300 Anise Ln Stedman Agent: Christopher Dean Brown
The Gathering Group LLC 439 Westwood Shopping Ctr PMB 143 Fayetteville Agent: Crystal Gathers-Whatley
All Secure Security llc 509 Thorngate Dr Fayetteville Agent: Christopher R Alexander
AMERICA THE BOUNTIFUL LLC 205 Westwood Shopping Ctr
Fayetteville Agent: OMAR ALSAIDI
Superior Inspections LLC
3515 S Peak Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Desmond Anthony Crayton
Fayetteville Agent: Charlotte Robinson
DPH Loading LLC
255 Brewster Dr Apt C
Fayetteville Agent: Patrice S Dortche
Our House Rental INC.#2 599 Castle Ridge Road
Fayetteville Agent: Charlotte Robinson
Deshane Tile & Flooring LLC 2620 Bragg Blvd. Ste. D Fayetteville Agent: Beyah's Accounting & Tax Service LLC
BMANN SC HOLDINGSLLC 651 W Manchester Rd
Spring Lake Agent: Fawn Marie Alfrey
BLK Barbi LLC 1131 Curry Ford Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Tiara Rivers
Heroes Properties LLC
1328 Kershaw Loop Apt 103
Fayetteville Agent: Daniel Bourdaghs
Our House Rental INC.#3 599 Castle Ridge Road
Fayetteville Agent: Charlotte Robinson
Ervin's Trucking Company L.L.C. 417 E Main St Faison Agent: Ervin Herring
Who She LLC
512 S Reilly Rd Ste A
Fayetteville Agent: Arielle Crawford
Inspired By U llc 122 N Main St
Spring Lake Agent: Travon Harris
The Goddess Touch Cleaning and Consulting LLC
2917 Bargemaster Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Tameika Ware
ALMINTRANS LLC
2102 Crain Ct Fayetteville Agent: OLEKSANDR MINKO
A.WARHORSE XAVIER LLC 1224 Southwood Dr Fayetteville Agent: DANIEL
ABUONJI WANJIRU
Hatcher Radiology PLLC
2909 Mirror Lake Dr Fayetteville Agent: W Benjamin Hatcher
Get in the Pool LLC 4411 Ferncreek Dr Fayetteville Agent: Wendell Wright
Three G Truckin LLC
3011 Town Center Dr
Fayetteville Agent: AaRon Dward Parker Sr
TRUEBLOOM LLC 651 Mosswood Ln
Fayetteville Agent: TYRA OSCAR-GARRISON
Your Hometown
Handyman LLC 3980 Rebel Rd
Linden Agent: Bryon Henry Yeager
LocThairapy with NIkkis LLC 915 Kensington Park Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Nikkis Campbell
Pandora's Boxes Unlimited LLC 5975 Monterey Ct
Fayetteville Agent: Kelly Marie Welling
Chiari Premier Accounting LLC 512 Sage Meadow Ct
Hope Mills Agent: Shirley Enid Chiari
Ascension Music Group LLC 1504 Muddy Creek Ct Stedman Agent: edward chase clark
Tanya's Kustom Cuisine LLC 6565 Portsmouth Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Tanya Y Wallace
Martinez Overhead LLC 4279 Dock View Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Gleymi Martinez Nunez
Lock Management LLC
2603 Cherry Plum
Dr Fayetteville Agent: Cameron Locklear
Dream Team Vacations LLC 439 Acacia Cir Apt F
Fayetteville Agent: Jessica Roshay Oakman
ABDR Holdings of Fayetteville LLP 6878 Uppingham Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Milan rajababoo
The Foundation Investments LLC 3011 Town Center Dr Unit 105
Fayetteville Agent: Adrian Myrick Jr
Rollin Solutions LLC
100 Hay St
Fayetteville Agent: Kathryn D Cain
True Living Financial Services LLC 8525 Cartman Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Marilyn Lee
AJF Construction Inc. 160 Treetop Dr Apt H
Fayetteville Agent: Angela Fini
PERGLEZCARGOEXPRESS LLC 524 Bramblegate Rd
Hope Mills Agent: Julio Ernesto Perez Gonzalez
Regency Auto Shop LLC 3251 Bragg Blvd
Fayetteville Agent: Ahmad Abdelraham Saada
Around the Clock Care Agency LLC
625 Marshtree Ln Unit 305
Fayetteville Agent: Katrina Le'Nat Gibson
Smackz Distribution LLC
6128 Garden Ct
Fayetteville
Agent: Rodney D Barnes II
Doughlicious Cookies and Sweets LLC
4710 Duncastle Rd Apt 1B
Fayetteville Agent: Malonna McNeil
Gomez Protection Detail LLC
552 Glensford Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Jhaves Gilliam
Beauté Therapy LLC
3303 High St
Eastover Agent: Teonte
Nicole Thomas
Cardio Real Estate Investments LLC 3524 Camberly Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Hiral Balvantrai Desai
Straight Arrow Dental Lab LLC
235 Shawcroft Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Sam Nelson Cowherd
The Jr Artist Program
439 Walton Heath Dr Raeford Agent: Saneequa
Maddox-Barlow
Julia's Property Management LLC 1133 Butterwood Cir
Fayetteville
Agent: Julia Penderman
BALDOMERO CONSTRUCTION LLC
6961 Rockfish Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Baldomero Calmo
MELOU COOPERATIVE STORE LLC
312 Vancouver Dr Apt 32B
Fayetteville Agent: Meliana Mirat
Funcity Fayetteville LLC
1912 Skibo Rd Fayetteville Agent: Jun Zhang
DioarWorks Events and Business LLC
7815 Rosewood Ave
Fayetteville Malika Smith
The Crest International Alliance LLC
3532 Kelburn Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Ashley Sow
2850 Village Drive LLC
5603 Miranda Dr
Hope Mills Agent: Mandalynn S Farley
Home Base Building Services LLC
4042 Dudley Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Elizabeth Hardison Hess
Willingham Paint Pro LLC
3506 Chaucer Dr
Hope Mills
Agent: Corey Durell Willingham Sr
Fortitude Family Services Inc.
100 Westlake Rd Ste 104 Fayetteville Agent: Shawn Jones
Lionjoyce Enterprise LLC
932 Country Club Drive Lot 227
Fayetteville Agent: Lionel M Smith
ASOG Deals LLC 2732 Bardolino Drive
Fayetteville Agent: Adelwale Ogunwo
ESAM LLC
605 German St
Fayetteville Agent: All Accurate Accounts LLC
The Pet Bestie LLC
100 Hay Street Ste 503 Fayetteville Agent: Abundant Living Consulting Corporation LLC
GWE LLC 125 Drake Street
Fayetteville Agent: G. Wayne Etowski
CMG Marketing & Events LLC
4317 Ramsey St Fayetteville Agent: Davis W. Puryear
Pines Furniture LLC
419 Hope Mills Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Mohnnad Alshalalda
Ted Kuts Lawn Care Service LLC 914 Sandalwood Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Terry Mack Hayes
DNDCLogistics LLC
957 Chester Cir Fayetteville Agent: Deshaun McNair
ALL AMERICAN JET STREAM LLC
952 Dalmore Dr
Fayetteville Agent: MARLON F CASTRO
STAISHAT&CO LLC
100 Hay St Ste 704 # 1190
Fayetteville Agent: Staisha l Tolbert
Del's Sparkling Cleaning Service LLC
320 Kingdom Estate Dr Fayetteville Agent: Johnesha Tomlinson
Curry & Grill 1 llc
2070 Strickland Bridge Rd
Fayetteville Agent: Jacob Joby
Southern Lawn Care Ltd. Liability Co.
4117 Riverpoint Dr Fayetteville Agent: Robert Earl Gardner Jr
Karing Inspires Motivation LLC 4038 Summerberry Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Kimbiley Bluitt
True Passion Home Care LLC
2933 Piney Mountain Dr
Hope Mills Agent: Letisha Hobbs
Lady and the Stamp LLC
270 Windsor Dr Fayetteville Agent: Andrea Nicole Turner
Stacey Prevette Realty LLC 526 Kivett Ct Fayetteville
Agent: Stacey E Prevette
Sublime Web Design llc 3502 Crampton Rd
Hope Mills Agent: Derrick Marcus Brown
Round The Clock LLC
1127 Curry Ford Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Katie Jackson
ACE K LLC
306 McNeill St
Hope Mills Agent: ALLON JOHN RICHARD TEDDER
THEDESIDIORCOLLECTION LLC
429 Person St Ste 5
Fayetteville Agent: Destiny Ivey
Cooper Cleaning LLC
1035 Hickory St Apt B
Fayetteville Agent: Charity Cooper
Devised To Design LLC
7245 Beaver Run Dr
Fayetteville Agent: Tatiana Pless
XECT LLC
7054 Darnell St
Fayetteville Agent: Brandon T Smith
WIRED by Maia LLC
713 Eccles Dr Fayetteville Agent: Maia Davis
Precision Spray Solutions LLC
6373 Rhemish Dr Fayetteville Agent: Mariel Hooks
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