WILMA - April 2020

APRIL 2020

WILMINGTON’S SUCCESSFUL WOMAN

Out in Bloom Spring’s floralinspired styles

Festival Recall

Azalea Belle memories

Lending Leader

Checking in with Live Oak’s Debbie Warwick

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april 2020

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47

12

8 SPOTLIGHT

46 THE SCENE: Power of print

10 HEALTH: Sugar fix

47 TAKE 5: History buff

12 TASTE: Culinary junction

48 MEN’S ROOM: Just kidding

14 STYLE: Branching out

Check out WILMA magazine here:

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14 22 L ENDING LEADERSHIP TIPS: Live Oak Bank's Debbie Warwick 24 F ESTIVAL RECALL: Remembering Azalea Festivals of past 34 Y WCA IN THE WORKS: Coming up for the group

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As I write this, we’re coming to the end of week one of working from home. Schools have closed. Events have canceled. Restaurants have shut down in-house dining. And, who knows what other social distancing measures will be in place by the time you read this issue April 1.

The changes around the coronavirus pandemic have been like nothing we’ve seen in our lifetimes, and conditions are changing rapidly. As of press time, our area has less than a handful of cases but plenty of warnings – and examples from other regions – about what might happen if those numbers rise.

In these uncertain days, the team at WILMA and our sister publication Greater Wilmington Business Journal will continue to try to be a resource for the community, both in churning out news and information as well as finding ways to connect while we can’t be together in person.

We have turned to Facebook Live interviews, Leadership Initiative webinars, and other ideas you think would be helpful are welcome. You can send them to newsroom@ wilmingtonbiz.com. To our WILMA readers, we hope you stay healthy and safe and continue to look out for each other in the weeks ahead. We’ll be doing the same. W

APRIL 2020

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Publisher Rob Kaiser rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com

JENNY CALLISON is a former Greater

Wilmington Business Journal reporter who continues as a freelancer with the Business Journal and WILMA. Before moving to Wilmington in 2011, she was a university communications director and a freelance reporter covering a variety of beats. This month, she profiles Live Oak’s Debbie Warwick (page 22) and the latest with the YWCA Lower Cape Fear (page 34).

CHERYL L. SERRA is a freelance strategic

communications specialist and writer who lives in Brunswick County. For the health feature, Serra talks with Pamela Heyward, the mother of girls with Type 1 diabetes who developed a new product to help ward off the disease’s life-threatening complications (page 10).

JESSICA MAURER is a chef and writer

with degrees from Hartwick College and The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Her column, Restaurant Roundup, appears each week in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and she is a regular contributor to WILMA and Wilmington Magazine. Maurer checks in with Shirena and Jonathan O’Donnell about taking over Junction 421 in this month’s Taste feature (page 12).

ERIN COSTA is a Wilmington-based

photographer whose work has been featured in publications including WILMA, the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, Rangefinder Magazine, and more. A self-proclaimed travel junkie, she specializes in travel, portraits, intimate weddings, and editorial work. She photographed Pamela Heyward (page 10) and former Azalea Belle Anna Echols (page 24).

MELISSA HEBERT is a Wilmington-based

photographer who has had her work featured in national campaigns and magazines, including WILMA. Hebert studied photography at the Cleveland Institute of Art and specializes in editorial, portrait, and wedding photography. She photographed this month’s cover as well as style feature on page 14. melissahebertphoto.com

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President Robert Preville rpreville@wilmingtonbiz.com Associate Publisher Judy Budd jbudd@wilmingtonbiz.com Editor Vicky Janowski vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com VP of Sales/Business Development Melissa Pressley mpressley@wilmingtonbiz.com Senior Account Executive Craig Snow csnow@wilmingtonbiz.com Account Executives Megan Adams madams@wilmingtonbiz.com Ali Buckley abuckley@wilmingtonbiz.com Brittney Keen bkeen@wilmingtonbiz.com Business Manager Nancy Proper nproper@wilmingtonbiz.com Events Director Maggi Apel mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com Events/Digital Assistant Elizabeth Stelzenmuller events@wilmingtonbiz.com Design & Media Coordinator Molly Jacques production@wilmingtonbiz.com Content Marketing Coordinator Morgan Mattox mmattox@wilmingtonbiz.com Contributing Designer Suzi Drake art@wilmingtonbiz.com Digital Editor Johanna Cano jcano@wilmingtonbiz.com Fashion Stylist Ashley Duch Grocki Contributors Marianna Boucher, Jenny Callison, Nina Bays Cournoyer, Jessica Maurer, Dylan Patterson, Justin Williams Pope, Cheryl L. Serra, Lori Wilson Contributing Photographers Logan Burke, Erin Costa, Megan Deitz, Melissa Hebert Photography, Kevin Kleitches, Terah Wilson Founder Joy Allen Subscribe For a one-year subscription, please send $26.00 (check or money order) to: WILMA, 219 Station Rd., Ste. 202, Wilmington, NC 28405, or call 343-8600 x201 www.WILMAmag.com

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LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FOUNDING SPONSORS

CORPORATE SPONSORS

“As a PNC leader and a WILMA advisory board member, it is an honor

Karen Weaver Client Advisor PNC Wealth Management

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to support the growth and development of female colleagues by building authentic relationships. Development is critical for all women in business, whether you are a business owner, corporate leader or just starting in a career. PNC is committed to supporting female leaders in the quest to build skills, experience and connections not only with other leaders, but with the diverse communities we serve.”

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W2W UPDATES

While the coronavirus has impacted the ability of the WILMA’s Leadership Initiative programs to meet in person, we – like a lot of groups in the area – are turning to technology to keep connecting and learning during this time. Here are some examples.

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: Members of the 2020 WILMA’s Leadership Institute (shown above at nCino in February hearing from Lisa Leath, Ruth Ravitz Smith, and Julie Wilsey) met through remote conferencing for their March session. Stefanie Adams, founder and chief empowerment officer of WNY People Development, discussed leadership in times of change, and the Institute’s peer mentoring boards also shared resources with each other through web conferencing.

BOARD TRAINING: A Get on Board training session with UNCW’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO) also was scheduled to take place in April but had to be canceled. We’ll be looking for opportunities to hold a future training session virtually as well as provide resources for nonprofits and board members. Get on Board’s goal is to get more women placed on area boards of directors. Those who go through the training are able to post on our board-connecting website at WILMAsGetOnBoard. com. Area organizations also can post their board and committee info on the website.

MENTORING: Participants in the 2020-21 mentorship program began their year in March, checking in monthly about the mentee’s leadership goals. The program pairs about thirty mentees with leaders in the community to work together for the year.

IN THE LOOP: Keep up to date with these and other Leadership Initiative programs as well as applications announcement by going to WILMAmag.com or signing up for the WILMA Leadership email at WILMAmag.com/email-newsletter.

- Vicky Janowski, WILMA editor, and Maggi Apel, events director Co-directors of the Women to Watch Leadership Initiative W2W@WILMAmag.com

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The Women to Watch logo: When you see this throughout WILMA’s pages, it means this is a woman on the rise to know, an experienced leader to learn from, or a local program worth checking out. W

22 BANKABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Talking shop with Live Oak Bank’s Debbie Warwick 34 NEXT STEPS FOR THE YWCA: What’s ahead for the women’s organization 47 TAKE 5: Looking back and forward with Beverly Tetterton

APRIL

leadership resources Editor’s note: Because of concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, most area events have been canceled. Here is a list of business resources during this time. Be sure to check the organizations’ websites for the latest info. For local updates, go to WILMA’s sister publication, the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, at wilmingtonbiz.com.

THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IS OFFERING designated states low-interest loans for small businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the coronavirus, according to the SBA website.

As part of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, the SBA can offer small businesses with loans of up to $2 million to help them overcome the temporary loss of revenue.

The money can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills. The interest rate for small businesses is 3.75% and 2.75% for nonprofits.

The SBA is working to coordinate with state governors to submit a request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance, after which a declaration will be made for designated areas within a state.

North Carolina has been put on the list of designated states and applications can be submitted at sba.gov/funding-programs/ disaster-assistance.

WILMAmag.com

For more information, call (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAS INTERIM GUIDANCE for businesses and employers to plan, prepare, and respond to coronavirus.

Employers should prevent stigma and discrimination by not making determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, according to the guidelines. They should also ensure confidentiality among patients with confirmed COVID-19. The CDC includes recommendations employers can take, including encouraging sick workers to stay some, separating sick workers, emphasizing hygiene, performing routine environmental cleaning, and advising steps to take when traveling.

THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS A “CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE TOOLKIT” with shareable graphics including information on keeping commercial establishments safe. It also includes a “Business Preparedness Checklist” with info on prioritizing critical operations, preparing for school closings, creating a communication plan, establishing teleworking policies, and coordinating with

state and local health officials.

FACEBOOK HAS LAUNCHED A BUSINESS RESOURCE HUB to help businesses manage through the emerging coronavirus. The hub has quick tips, guides, including a business resilience toolkit and quick action guide. There is also a course on how to support customers and minimize business disruption and the option to connect with similar businesses in a Facebook group to discuss tips and practices.

THE FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION HAS A “CORONAVIRUS AND PANDEMIC Preparedness for the Industry” document to help food retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers plan for pandemics.

THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION also has information and resources for the restaurant industry including how restaurants are responding, what steps restaurants can take, products for disinfecting, and supply chain impacts.

Sign up for WILMA newsletters at WILMAmag. com. To include your group's event, email W2W@WILMAmag.com

APRIL 2020

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CONNECTING AT WILMA’S SOCIAL HOUR

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photo by CHRIS BREHMER

Before social distancing became the new norm, WILMA held its second Social Hour after-hours event March 5 at Waterline Brewing Company in downtown Wilmington.

The get-together, planned as a regular event for WILMA readers to spend some downtime with each other, launched earlier this year as quarterly happenings at locally owned breweries and bottle shops. “Social Hour allows us to offer a venue for networking amongst our readers gives us a new avenue for marketing advertisers,” says MAGGI APEL, WILMA’s events director “In light of the social distancing mandate, we hope our next event for June can take place. If not, we’ll postpone until things are back to normal.”

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DOSHER NAMES INTERIM HOSPITAL PRESIDENT

Dosher Memorial Hospital named LYNDA STANLEY as interim president and Brad Hilaman as the hospital’s interim CEO. Stanley and Hilaman took on the interim roles after the Southport hospital’s former CEO, Tom Siemers, resigned recently.

Stanley was COO of the hospital from 1986 until 2014 when she became president of the hospital’s foundation.

She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been “a key figure in the success of the Dosher Hospital Foundation and the formation of the Brunswick Wellness Coalition,” a news release said.

Stanley will continue to serve as president of the Dosher Hospital Foundation during the interim period.

Stanley, a resident of Shallotte, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in medical technology and has a master’s degree in health administration from Central Michigan University.

Dosher Memorial is a nonprofit, critical access hospital that operates in the Smithville Township in Brunswick County.

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HUGHES BECOMES CCLCF BOARD CHAIR

Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear named YVONNE HUGHES as the group’s board chair.

Hughes, CEO of both Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance and Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange, has more than twenty years of experience in health care finance, corporate negotiations, interoperability design, and policy development.

“She has an entrepreneurial spirit that has led both organizations through complex start-up and long-term strategic and operational success,” Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear officials say.

Under Hughes’ leadership, the eleven member hospitals of the Alliance developed and launched Coastal Connect Inc., a nonprofit regional health information organization connecting five independent hospitals and more than 200 unaffiliated physician practices.

This effort required hospitals and physicians in an eleven-county region, as well as state-level entities, to organize an electronic health information exchange.

“Coastal Connect has been both locally and nationally recognized as a successful model of providing real-time data exchange,” officials say.

ant more WILMA? Check out our daily emails, which include even more profiles and storiesforWilmington’ssuccessfulwomen.

To sign up for the free emails, go to WILMAmag.com

NEW HAVOVER SCHOOL SYSTEM HIRES GIBSON

New Hanover County Schools named Ann Gibson as its chief communications officer.

Gibson, a local resident since 2016, worked as a freelance writer in Wilmington since moving to the area from Harrisburg.

She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park where she received a bachelor’s in individual studies, print media production.

She previously worked for Warren Publishing, Johns Hopkins University, and Discovery Communication. In 2006, she moved to Charlotte, where she worked in a range of public relations and marketing positions.

Gibson served as the director of communications and marketing for the city of Kannapolis and the director of communications for the town of Harrisburg – both in North Carolina.

She started with the New Hanover County school system March 9.

“Mrs. Gibson brings innovative expertise in marketing and communication to New Hanover County Schools. She has spent years establishing effective communication strategies, optimizing content across marketing platforms, and directing successful social media campaigns,” interim superintendent Del Burns says.

“We look forward to her knowledge and proficiency as the district looks to improve its communication and transparency within and among the Wilmington community.”

Have a suggestion for a local woman or group to spotlight?

Email us: wilma@WILMAmag.com WILMAmag.com

APRIL 2020

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FINDING

THE RIGHT

MIX

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES LEAD TO A SWEET SOLUTION

by CHERYL L. SERRA photo by ERIN COSTA

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rom squishing bread into palatable balls of lifesaving sugar to creating an effective formula for other parents who stood by in horror as they thought they’d lose their child to the complications of Type I diabetes, PAMELA HEYWARD has lived the adage that necessity is the mother of invention.

Her eldest daughter, Tayler, now twenty-eight, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes more than two decades ago when she was three years old.

“No one in my family had had diabetes,” Heyward says.

Heyward was often awakened in the

middle of the night to find Tayler suffering from terrifying low blood sugar episodes that resulted in life-threatening seizures.

Further complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which can lead to a diabetic coma or death, have happened twice to Tayler.

DKA occurs when your cells don’t get the glucose they need for energy, and your body begins to burn fat instead, producing ketones. When ketones build up in the blood, they make it more acidic. The life-threatening condition can happen in a few hours.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 34.2 million Americans, or 10.5% of the population, had diabetes in 2018.

Of that number, nearly 1.6 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, including about 187,000 children and adolescents.

When Heyward’s daughter, Emily, came along, Heyward had her tested since there was a genetic predisposition to the disease.

She tested positive.

“It was a waiting game,” Heyward recalls.

“When was it going to happen?” she says of the frightening medical events that shaped Tayler’s childhood and would be repeated in Emily’s.

Emily’s first diabetic incident happened when she was twelve.

When Tayler was diagnosed, she was on an stringent diet to ensure her body received the right amount of glucose in the proper amount and time. She had to eat exactly 15 grams of carbohydrates at specific times throughout the day.

“You’ve got this child crying, ‘Please, mommy, I can’t eat anymore,’” Heyward recalls. She tried everything to give her daughter what she needed, including taking the crust off the bread and squeezing the remainder into what she called bread bombs.

“I figured it’s all about visuals, right?” she says.

When her daughters experienced low blood sugar episodes, they often turned to juice and candy. The only other thing on the market was glucose tabs, and Heyward recalls nobody liked them. They’re big and chalky and inconvenient to carry. Candy and juice, however, contain fructose and sucrose that needs to be converted into glucose, the body’s fuel. With the delay caused by the conversion, the diabetes would be overtreated, and sugar levels would spike.

A turning point for Heyward was when she went skiing with the girls, and both Tay-

ler and Emily had low blood sugar. While that situation didn’t become catastrophic, Heyward knew she needed to address how to improve treating them. She looked up at the mountain, and it struck her: What would happen if the girls were skiing one mountain and she on another when they had a problem?

“It hit me, right then … you have to make a glucose powder,” she says.

Heyward started researching and found a company in New York that develops pharmaceutical-grade products. She wanted powder glucose, all natural, and it had to dissolve in your mouth to quickly elevate low blood sugar. The company created her formulas and several flavors of the powder that dissolves upon contact with saliva, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and work “super fast.”

They come in small foil pouches that contain 15 grams, giving the user a precise, controlled amount for treating hypoglycemia, so it doesn’t spike blood sugar.

She founded her company, SOS Life Sciences Corporation and has trademarked Glucose SOS globally. She’s also invented Glucose SOS for pets with diabetes. In 2020, Heyward plans to launch her third product extension.

But, finding the right mix wasn’t the end.

She needed to figure out many aspects of maintaining and growing a business. For instance, it took a few years, but her product is now in large chain stores such as Walmart, Publix, H-E-B, and Walgreens.

She has distribution in the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico and plans to launch a cobranding deal with a pharmaceutical company in South America. Heyward says she is working on a deal in Canada, which has a stringent regulatory process.

Her manufacturing facility is in Brevard, North Carolina.

Aside from knowing her daughters are living with better treatment for their illness, Heyward says it gives her chills to hear the feedback from people who follow her and diabetes-related news on social media.

Here’s a message she recently received: “I have been using Glucose SOS for months now and can honestly say nothing works as well as this does. I’m in my first year of college and the anxiety of having lows in my dorm room was UNREAL. I found these at my local Walmart and I will never ever stop.”

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APRIL 2020

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J DUO

A DINING THE O’DONNELLS ON CHOOSING THEIR CULINARY PATH

by JESSICA MAURER photos by LOGAN BURKE

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unction 421, named for the Monkey Junction crossroads near where it sits, is an American bar and grill serving comfort food with a heaping side of Southern hospitality.

Owners SHIRENA and JONATHAN O’DONNELL were at a crossroads themselves when their Bayshore home was destroyed during Hurricane Florence in 2018. Jonathan O’Donnell had been contemplating a change after working as a managing partner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill for over fifteen years, and they suddenly found themselves at an unexpected low point.

But, the couple, who will celebrate their tenth anniversary this month, share a strong commitment to their faith and felt certain the tides would

turn in their favor.

In January 2019, Jonathan O’Donnell had the opportunity to interview with Circa Restaurant Group owner Ash Aziz, who launched Junction 421 in late 2018.

Shirena O’Donnell says her husband returned from the two-hour interview with a spark of passion she hadn’t seen in a long time. Aziz encouraged Jonathan O’Donnell to work with him for a few months to see if it was the right fit.

“Ash has a wonderful reputation and is one of the kindest, most generous individuals,” Jonathan O’Donnell says.

“He has been an incredible mentor.”

After just a few months Aziz offered to sell the restaurant to the O’Donnells, and the couple didn’t hesitate to accept.

“I knew it was our blessing after all the trials and tribulations we had been through,” Shirena O’Donnell says.

Owning his own restaurant was a dream of Jonathan O’Donnell’s since childhood. He attended the school of hospitality and restaurant management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and worked for large hotels in Las Vegas and Austin, Texas, before moving to Wilmington.

In taking over Junction 421, Jonathan O’Donnell says he wants to continue building on the foundation Aziz had set.

“Ash is so good at what he does that I felt it was wise to follow in his footsteps and continue his legacy,” he says.

The menu at Junction 421 features appetizers such as fried pimento cheese and homemade crab dip, several entrée-sized salads, and flatbreads that can be prepared with a gluten-free cauliflower crust.

Guests will find a variety of modern American classics such as fresh-ground burgers prepared with ground chuck and brisket, shrimp and grits, fish and chips, and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with cranberry port sauce.

The restaurant serves brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring chicken and waffles, crab eggs Benedict, and bananas Foster French toast, alongside $3 mimosas and bloody marys.

“We make food with love, we serve with great hospitality, and we put care

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T H IS YEAR R ESOLV E TO into everything we do,” Jonathan O’Donnell says. “And, I think you can feel that; you can taste that in our food.”

As co-owners, this the first time the couple has worked together, and both agree they have found joy in it. Jonathan credits Shirena with embodying many of the strengths he says he himself does not possess.

“I tend to be very focused on the task at hand, and she can see the big picture and has a lot more vision than I do,” he says.

Shirena O’Donnell is working to find more opportunities for the restaurant to partner with charitable organizations for both on- and off-site events.

“It’s something I’ve been involved in my whole life and is very important to me,” Shirena O’Donnell says. “We’re trying to do well by doing good.”

One of the events the couple looks most forward to is Junction 421’s monthly four-course wine dinners.

“We now have guests who met at previous wine dinners making their reservations together because they’ve become friends through this shared experience,” Shirena O’Donnell says. “Creating opportunities for our guests to connect and make memories is truly heartwarming.”

This month's wine dinner is slated for April 14, showcasing female winemakers.W WILMAmag.com

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garden

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pring has sprung, and with it comes the urge to embrace all things floral.

But this season instead of falling into the usual pattern trap, take your inspiration from the power of the flower.

Sure, a bouquet-full of blooms is a lovely sight, but remember ‌ those sweet stems are grown from solid roots. So, take a note from nature when choosing your outfit du jour and build from your strongest piece first. Heavier fabrics like denim or leather (yes, you can wear it in spring) act as your grounding element and will nicely complement more airy, delicate pieces of gypsy crochet or thin gauze.

Bright colors such as fuchsia and yellow can also act as your base; look for soft accents such as ruffles, bows, or twirl-able tiers, and you're bound to rival any pretty petal. W

STYLED BY DREWE SMITH PHOTOS BY MELISSA HEBERT INTRO BY NINA BAYS COURNOYER

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APRIL 2020

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BANKABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS

by Jenny Callison | photo by Kevin Kleitches

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EBBIE WARWICK admits she thrives on change, deadlines, and problems to solve. As an executive vice president and head of operations at Live Oak Bank, she handles a steady dose of all three.

“The pressure here is a good pressure,” she says. “It’s exciting for me to have a deadline to meet and a problem to solve. It’s exciting to get a loan across the finish line.”

Warwick oversees a team of more than seventy people – fourteen direct reports – who take over when a small business loan is approved and marshal the loan through a process that includes verifying and modifying, providing quality assurance and insurance.

The process of bringing all the parts together involves many decisions and requires painstaking attention to detail. Not only are there federal regulations to follow, but internal considerations as well.

“We get the money out the door,” she says, adding that her team’s duties are at the “heart of the deal” and that their goals are to close loans in a timely manner and keep the process error-free, consistent, and without preferential treatment to any borrower or class of borrowers.

It’s noteworthy that in 2008 Warwick was Wilmington-based Live Oak Bank’s eleventh hire: a female executive in a startup dominated by men.

At the time, Live Oak was making SBA-backed loans only to veterinarians. She had a much more hands-on role in operations as the fledgling bank debuted its online lending process. As Live Oak added more industries to its lending portfolio, Warwick’s staff grew and became both more specialized and broader. They worked with industry experts in each new vertical.

“Juggling many industries means you have to learn.

You take that industry knowledge and couple it with banking,” she says.

Warwick, a native of Wilmington, came to her role at Live Oak with considerable banking experience. Her first job after college was with Wachovia Bank. She then moved to Virginia for a position with Dominion Bank. A position with First Citizens Bank drew her back to North Carolina. Her career with First Citizens spanned eighteen years.

“I did some retail lending, but my niche really was in mortgage lending,” she says, adding that she enjoyed

WILMAmag.com

helping people – especially those with low-to-moderate incomes, get into their own homes.

To help ensure that those borrowers became successful homeowners, Warwick also taught classes through housing and community development agencies in Craven and New Hanover counties to educate prospective borrowers to understand what they were committing to.

“Many of these people were coming from generational public housing and rental housing,” she explains. “I was helping them learn about (homeownership) responsibilities and budgeting.”

Live Oak’s new small business borrowers get a similar education, according to Warwick.

“They may not know how to run a business, so we do a lot of hand-holding; we have a conversation,” she says.

“We collect quarterly financials from each of our borrowers. These give us a good insight into how the business is doing. If we see signs of trouble, we check in. When borrowers listen to us, they realize we can help.”

Learning – and teaching – has been an essential component of Warwick’s career with Live Oak as the bank’s lending portfolio has become more diverse and it has branched into other lending programs even as it has become the country’s top SBA lender by dollar value of loans. She describes her leadership style as being a “workwith, not work-for,” collaborative approach “You set expectations: Let the team know what you expect,” she says. “You work through and coach the middle managers. I manage behind the scenes because I like for managers to grow and want them to have purpose and respect.”

And, just as she once coached first-time homebuyers, Warwick now mentors others coming up in the banking world.

“I’ve had several younger (women) whom I’ve mentored,” she says. “We meet for coffee or lunch and talk about life and next steps. They ask ‘Am I in a good spot?’

‘What else is out there?’ ‘Do I fit in?’”

Warwick says she benefited from a mentor early in her career at First Citizens.

“I wanted (a different) job,” she recalls. “He said, ‘Let’s look at the facts,’ and laid them out, saying that I should stay where I was and grow in that area.”

Warwick brings a similar style of straightforward feedback to her mentoring approach.

She says she can sometimes help her mentee understand how what she’s doing currently at the bank could be transferable to a position in a different department or different context.

“I can redirect,” Warwick says. “I can zero in on the facts. I can tell them how I feel, how I see them. It’s a cliché, but I am a straight shooter.” W

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AZALEA FESTIVAL

T

RE M IN I S C I NG

hings were vastly different when we first came up with this story. The idea was to check in with several female leaders in the community and have some fun with their Azalea Festival memories – big hair and big dresses of their younger selves – to share stories of serving as an Azalea Belle or Princess back in the day.

(About 4,500 high-schoolers have served as Azalea Belles since 1969, according to the Cape Fear Garden Club, which organizes the program.)

Then, on March 12, organizers announced they were ANNA ECHOLS | PG 27

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canceling this year’s festival for the first time in the event’s seventy-three years. The drastic move came out of concerns about limiting the spread of the coronavirus and was soon followed by rapid shutdowns of other public spaces – from classrooms to restaurants.

Without the Belles and numerous festival events around town this April to usher in spring in Wilmington, sharing these memories and ’90s-era pics below take on an even more special meaning during these unusual times.

Share your festival memories and photos at Facebook.com/ WILMAmag.

SARAH BUCHANAN | PG 29

FAISON SUTTON | PG 30

APRIL 2020

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AZALEA FESTIVAL REMINISCING

photo by ERIN COSTA

ANNA ECHOLS, owner of One from that event and were on the front page of the StarNews the next day.

Belle Bakery was seventeen and I was also assigned to three different a junior at Cape Fear Academy homes on the Garden Tour – one in when she was an Azalea Belle for Landfall and two near NHRMC.” the 2001 festival.

What memories stick out to you from it?

“My family has always had roots in the Azalea Festival. My dad was president in 1987, and my granny’s garden was featured on the Garden Tour for several years. Being an Azalea Belle was my first official involvement with the festival.”

“I will never forget sitting in a crowded garden full of festivalgoers, trying to remain calm and poised while a 4-foot snake slithered its way across the grass right beside me. We were instructed to keep our voices down while guests were touring the gardens; not screaming that day might be one of my biggest accomplishments.”

What things did you do during the festival?

NOW

THEN

What made you want to be a Belle?

“My biggest assignment was being one of the many Belles present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Longley house on Mimosa Place. We were all assigned a specific spot to stand in front of the house, spaced out evenly according to the color of our dresses. One of my best friends and I were positioned front and center, standing right beside the queen when she cut the ribbon. We ended up being in all the official photographs WILMAmag.com

What made you go into your field?

“After college, I thought I wanted to go into real estate. While studying for my real estate exam, I found myself taking breaks to bake cakes for friends and family. The day I passed my real estate exam, I started looking into culinary schools and shortly after decided to move to Florida to start a career in pastry.”

Do you still participate in the

annual Azalea Festival?

“I do! I try to be as involved in the festival every year as much as possible!

The past three years, I have been a part of the Chef ’s Showcase. In 2018, I was the featured pastry/dessert chef. In 2019, I hosted and assisted a visiting chef.

This year, I was part of the showcase committee and helped coordinate the chefs behind the scenes (for the event that took place February 1).

I also have had the honor of creating cakes for many of the concert artists to welcome them to Wilmington and the Azalea Festival.

My dad’s festival legacy was starting the Street Fair in 1987. I make a point to go downtown every year for that. It’s amazing to see what it has grown to be over the years.”

Thoughts about missing the festival for this year?

“The thought of seeing the azaleas come and go this year without having a festival to celebrate Wilmington is so unfortunate, but I have no doubt the next one will be better than ever.”

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AZALEA FESTIVAL REMINISCING

photo by MEGAN DEITZ

SARAH BUCHANAN, assistant principal at Noble Middle School, was the North Carolina Azalea Festival Princess in 1995 when she was a student at Hoggard High School.

THEN

What made you want to participate in the festival pageant?

“I moved to Wilmington from the Midwest in tenth grade and became involved with the Azalea Festival Youth Committee through the encouragement of my voice instructor, Beth Bell. After attending Azalea Festival events and helping to raise scholarship money for the pageant, I decided I wanted to participate in my senior year. I entered the Princess Pageant with no expectation of winning or being in the top ten and actually borrowed a dress from a friend. Needless to say, winning was a complete shock.”

What things did you do during the festival?

“As Azalea Princess, I greeted the queen and celebrities when they arrived WILMAmag.com

at the airport and attended the queen’s coronation. I also attended all of the concerts, garden party, and festival activities and had the opportunity to introduce Tracy Lawrence, the country music singer, before his show. The day of the parade, I was on a float with members of my court.”

What memories stick out to you from it?

“One of the best memories was when we visited Snipes Elementary, and the students were all lined up outside the school holding signs to welcome us. I also had the opportunity to meet Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, and the Four Tops, which was an incredible experience.”

Any lessons that you learned from your experience that carried forward for you?

“The skills I learned related to public speaking and the confidence I gained in my role as Azalea Princess translated well when I went to apply for teaching jobs out of college. In my current role as a school administrator, I am comfortable speaking with members of the community and seek ways to promote all the wonderful things going on at our school.”

NOW

What made you go into your field?

“Once I was awarded the Teaching Fellow scholarship at Meredith College and began taking classes, I decided elementary education was the best fit for me because I enjoyed working with that age group. After earning National Board Certification and teaching elementary school for seven years, I decided to attend graduate school at UNCW to pursue a master’s in school administration and certification in curriculum, instruction, and supervision.”

Do you still participate in the annual Azalea Festival?

“I have enjoyed attending Azalea Festival events with my own three boys – ages fifteen, thirteen, and seven – throughout the years. The parade is always a favorite.

We will certainly miss the magic of the Azalea Festival this year, but how members of our community have responded to recent events demonstrate the heart of Wilmington even more than a festival ever could.”

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AZALEA FESTIVAL REMINISCING

photo by KEVIN KLEITCHES

FAISON SUTTON is a commercial real estate attorney with the law firm of Murchison, Taylor & Gibson, PLLC, having worked there since 2003 after law school and becoming a partner in 2011.

In 2018, she became the firm’s first female managing partner.

As a junior at New Hanover High School, she served as an Azalea Belle in 1995.

THEN

What made you want to be a Belle?

“I had loved seeing the Belles in the beautiful gardens as a little girl, and my grandmother, Charlotte Gibson, was a member of the Cape Fear Garden Club, so we wanted to share the experience together.

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Sadly, she passed away the year before the festival, but all of her garden club friends were so kind and encouraging, and they made sure to invite me to some of the special events, as a way of honoring her.”

What things did you do during the festival?

“Leading up to the festival, I participated in a televised interview with the long-standing WECT anchor Bob Townsend where we discussed the different roles Azalea Belles would play throughout the weekend.

During the festival, I attended an opening ceremony in Mr. Henry Rheder’s beautiful gardens. I also rode on a float in the Azalea Festival parade (the J. Michael’s Philly Deli float!) and spent time ‘stationing’ the various gardens.”

What memories stick out to you from it?

“My favorite part was having Wilmington photographer Freda Wilkins, take photographs of me and my friends

in our gowns at the Bellamy Mansion (see page 24). We were recreating one of my favorite photographs of my Grandmother Charlotte with her friends in similar dresses which was taken in the 1930s in Wilson, North Carolina. I still have both of those photographs framed in my home today.”

What do you remember about your dress?

“It was a special experience to have my gown custom-made and picking out the lavender color and style. I felt like a traditional Southern belle while wearing it … that is until I had to get in and out of my car with that hoop skirt! I still scan the photographs of the Belles each year looking for my dress!”

NOW

What made you go into your field?

“Growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer just like my father, Frank Gibson, because people were constantly telling me how much they trusted him and respected his

judgment.

As for the real estate area specifically, I enjoy seeing tangible results from my efforts, so it is such a thrill to help clients with their exciting and innovative developments and projects in Southeastern North Carolina, all of which provide jobs and homes for people in our community.”

Do you still participate in the annual Azalea Festival?

“My family of four seems to often be on our spring break during the week of the Azalea Festival, but I have enjoyed attending many concerts and the garden party over the years.

When we are in town, my sons – ages ten and thirteen – have also gotten the opportunity to ‘rent’ parking spaces in our law firm’s downtown parking lot to the many people attending the parade on Saturday morning.

It is so fun to get downtown early that morning of the parade and watch the excitement build as the families are heading down the street to find their special parade-viewing spots!”

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Any lessons that you learned from your experience as an Azalea Belle that carried forward for you?

“Being an Azalea Belle taught me several things. First, I was given many opportunities to interact with adults I had never met, which helped me prepare me for college and job interviews.

Second, I learned how important logistics and communication are for a successful event like the Azalea Festival, and that is the exactly the same within businesses including my law firm.

The cancellation of the festival this year due to the coronavirus will be a huge loss to our city – not only for our local businesses but also for the Wilmingtonians who volunteer their time and efforts and the many visitors who travel to our city for the event.

I know this year’s Belles were so excited to become a part of the Azalea Festival tradition, and so I hope we can help them find other creative ways to participate either this spring or in the future.” W WILMAmag.com

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WILMA ONLINE

Keep up with WILMA all month long, through our website, daily emails, and social media.

Sign up for WILMA’s new daily emails at wilmamag.com/email-newsletter. Here’s the weekly lineup: MONDAY IS WILMA LEADERSHIP with profiles on the region’s leading women, their business, personal, and career advice, as well as highlights on women who are making moves.

TUESDAY IS WILMA ROUNDUP, a focus on stories published on our monthly print issues and a look behindthe-scenes at the magazine.

WEDNESDAY IS WILMA WELLNESS where you can read about the latest fitness and health trends, as well as profiles on women in the wellness industry and get recipes and workouts from chefs and trainers in the community.

THURSDAY IS KEEP IT LOCAL, a collection of shopping finds from local retailers, sponsors’ content brought to you by the WILMA marketing team.

FRIDAY IS WILMA DOWNTIME, where we give you a backstage pass to upcoming shows and events in the community. You can also expect profiles and Q&As with local artists and highlights on the latest entertainment and leisure activities around town to get ready for the weekend.

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Next steps for the

YWCA

by JENNY CALLISON photos by TERAH WILSON

It may not be evident to those who pass by its headquarters on South College Road, but the YWCA Lower Cape Fear is brimming with ideas and initiatives.

Under the leadership of new CEO VELVA JENKINS and an expanded board of directors, the YWCA is exploring ways to live out its mission of empowering women and eliminating racism. Those strategies range from advocating for racial justice to boosting programs that help women become more self-sufficient and self-reliant.

“Here we are in 2020: Women make less than men, and they are not promoted at the same rate as men,” Jenkins says, when speaking of conditions that “definitely need to be changed” to provide equal footing for women in the workplace.

As to the other element of the YW’s mission, Jenkins relates a recent encounter.

“I was at my doctor’s office the other day. He said ‘I kind of smile when I see your mission statement. How can you eliminate racism?’ He may have a point, but, my God, why can’t I try? Why can’t we all work together on the same terms?”

Jenkins, who retired in early 2019 as vice president of Continuing Education, Economic and Workforce Development at Brunswick Community College, says she views her new role through the lens of education. She says the organization WILMAmag.com

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Velva Jenkins became the YWCA Lower Cape Fear’s CEO in January after serving in the interim role since last year when previous CEO Charrise Hart moved to Greensboro.

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must not only provide educational options for its clientele, but must educate its members and the community at large to understand the needs of women and minorities.

That education is starting internally, says CAROL KENNEDY, chairwoman of the YWCA board.

“We’ve increased the number of board members to twenty-one, and have diversified the board,” she says. “One thing we’ve really pushed is multi-diversity: We’ve added an American Indian woman and an Asian Indian woman. As board members roll off, we are looking for further diversification. We would welcome applications from … women who represent diversity in religion and sexuality as well as other nationalities and ethnicities.”

Under Kennedy’s leadership, board members are rolling up their sleeves. Each board member’s assignments are matched with her interests and skills.

“We have subcommittees, and each board member is on one,” she explains.

“Our community outreach committee has been renamed the advocacy and social justice committee. We are advocating in ways such as getting our voices in front of policymakers where there is injustice. The committee is looking to expand its activities into Columbus and Pender counties.

(Members) are coming up with three key things they want to achieve over the next three years.”

Both Jenkins and Kennedy speak about the organization’s ambitious expansion goals. One target for expansion is the YW’s New Choices program, which supports women who are taking steps toward financial independence and self-sufficiency.

Participants include domestic violence survivors, recently divorced women and mothers, and single parents re-entering the workforce.

“It’s everything from confidence building to resume help,” Kennedy says. “Smallbusiness entrepreneurship, business loans.

We coordinate with Brunswick Community College and Cape Fear Community College to help women get the training they need.”

Jenkins points to data showing that women are more successful in starting businesses than are men, and that when women have control of their finances, their lives improve.

It all starts with education, she says, but to pursue its goals, the YW must improve its facility.

“This facility is not state-of-the-art,” she adds. “We can’t do some of (the programs we want). We don’t have the technology; we don’t have classroom space for entrepreneurship education.

We’d like to create a coworking space for women, where they can be comfortable and share information and resources.

Our AV equipment … is lacking. To fulfill our mission of getting women to be self-sufficient and self-reliant, we can’t do it with our current facilities.”

Another key YW program, its Grandparent Support Network, must meet off-site because of headquarters space restraints, Jenkins adds.

She is bringing an assessment of facility needs to the board as a first step in determining how the organization can fund its expanded initiatives.

The YW’s revenues come in part from its annual Women of Achievement event. They also come from its five-star, licensed day care program – one of the few thus-distinguished day cares in the area – and from its aquatics program, as well as from whatever grants it can secure. The YW’s donor base is small, according to Jenkins.

This year’s Women of Achievement Awards event – which had been planned for June 4 and featuring the Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu as the keynote speaker – was canceled because of large event restrictions related to the coronavirus.

“This organization has not asked the community for money since we got a little more than $3,000 in 2002,” Jenkins says. “First, we need to ask our 3,000plus members, ‘What do you want?’

Then we ask the community, ‘What would you like us to be?’”

With broader financial support, Jenkins says, her organization can return additional benefits to the community.

She believes the board will develop a path to that greater support.

“We need (the board’s) energy and guidance,” she adds. “With it, this YW will be unstoppable.”

-Writer Marianna Boucher contributed to this story. W WILMAmag.com

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D IGNITY M E MO R I AL

DIGNITY MEMORIAL EXPANDS OFFERINGS

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picture says a thousand words, and the photos above of Dignity Memorial’s new building are no exception. The new facility is situated on the grounds of Greenlawn Memorial Park, which is conveniently located just minutes from Mayfaire, Wrighstville Beach, and midtown Wilmington.

It’s been a long-term vision of the company to build the new funeral home on the current grounds of their cemetery.

By introducing a new facility onto the existing cemetery grounds, the community will have a convenient place to manage all aspects of funeral planning. The new, modern space includes expansive parking, a porte-cochere, and chapel.

When planning the interior and exterior design, the professionals at Dignity wanted to convey a feeling of peace and solemnity upon entering.

The convenience that the new facility offers is what the team at Dignity is most excited about. Until now, the only

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option was to make service arrangements with a local funeral home and then ultimately drive to a cemetery. Now, guests will be able to do all of this in one place. Because the new facility is just a short walk to the cemetery, guests can easily transition from the chapel to the cemetery immediately following a service without having to drive to another location.

Another added benefit is that Dignity’s new facility is located close to our local hospital and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, which is where many individuals spend time before arranging for funeral services. Whether unexpected or expected, planning and arranging a funeral can be a stressful event with emotions running high. During this time of anxiety, limiting the time spent on planning and commuting throughout town is a comfort. This time allows for friends and family to process their emotions and focus their efforts where they are needed.

When deciding how best to honor a loved one, Dignity offers

DIG N IT Y M E M O RI A L traditional funeral planning or personalized planning, which helps to celebrate individuals in a more unique way. While many prefer a traditional funeral, which includes a visitation, memorial service, and a casketed burial, Dignity knows that everyone is unique and different, so they also offer funeral planning on a more personal level.

Creating a custom celebration of life rather than a traditional funeral offers a unique opportunity to be inspired by, and highlight, a loved one’s favorite pastime, passion, or memory.

Cemeteries are sacred grounds and offer a special place where individuals and their memories can be remembered. Thinking about which cemetery to choose and pre-planning for yourself or a loved one can feel overwhelming.

Dignity’s Personal Planning Guide is a helpful place to start the process. By making

decisions and selections ahead of time, pre-planning can help minimize financial strain and alleviate emotional stress during a difficult time.

Pre-planning your funeral services allows loved ones to be relived of time and cost commitments during an already stressful time.

Additionally, pre-planning provides piece of mind knowing that your specific selections and wishes will be reflected.

Preplanning and immediate need funeral arrangements aren’t the only offerings at Dignity. The team wants to continue care for individuals who are working through the grieving process by offering a grief counseling hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The process of losing a loved one can be so emotionally stressful that support can be needed well after the funeral ends. When experiencing loss, talking to others can aid in the healing

process and the hotline allows individuals assistance with moving through the grief they are experiencing.

Providing the highest standard of care to families in our community is what drives Dignity Memorial to continue improving and adding to their services. Dignity’s team is equipped with hundreds of years of combined experience that all come together under one roof. Their professional team handles everything from planning personalized funeral services – which include, food, flowers, music, and mementos – to selecting an internment site, mausoleum, or cremation niche. Let them

guide you through the details and provide the support you need during the process. The team at Dignity is here to help every step of the way.

Michael Higgins is Sales Manager for Dignity Memorial®, which cares for more than 300,000 families each year through its network of more than 2,000 providers throughout North America. Learn more at www. dignitymemorial.com or call Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble-Ward Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, (910) 7991686.

910.799.1686 | DIGNITYMEMORIAL.COM

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MARKRAFT CABINETS

MARKRAFT FEATURES DESIGNS AT PARADE OF HOMES

S

pring is here and that means the WilmingtonCape Fear Home Builders Association will host their annual Parade of Homes™ this year starting on April 25th through April 26th and May 2nd through May 3rd. During these dates, the homes will be open and free to the public from 12:00pm until 5:00pm.

The Parade of Homes™ showcases some of the finest newly constructed homes in our area and highlights our top local builders.

The homes on display will be located in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties and some will be found in newly developed neighborhoods.

Whether visitors are actively looking for a home, just browsing, or seeking design inspiration, everyone will get a chance to walk through the model homes.

As an active supporter of the Home Builders Association, Markraft Cabinets participates with the Parade of Homes™ each year. While Markraft offers kitchen and bath remodels to

individual homeowners, they also work directly with area builders who are constructing new homes. And because Markraft works so closely with our local builders, many of their new kitchen and bath designs will be found throughout the featured homes.

The event makes a wide variety of homes viewable to the public that vary in size, price range, and location, which makes it the perfect place to start when thinking about buying a new home. Visitors will be able to gather builder information and ask questions about how to start a new construction for themselves.

However, the Parade is not just for those who are thinking about a new build – it’s also great for anyone pursuing a remodel. The wide selection offered by the Parade of Homes™ makes the design inspiration limitless.

Showcasing some of our area’s most beautiful homes isn’t the only source of excitement during the Parade of Homes™.

A panel of independent judges

will distribute several awards to top performers in multiple categories. Markraft Cabinets has generously sponsored two of these awards – best master bathroom, best kitchen, and is a Silver Sponsor of the Parade of Homes™. The quality craftmanship offered by Markraft will surely put them in contention for receiving those awards too!

Markraft is particularly excited about the opportunity to showcase their kitchen and bath offerings, explaining their clients are eager to design and utilize their homes more than ever. New trends are shifting customers to select different colors and materials when planning their designs and Markraft’s finished creations reflect this trend. Offering a wide selection of products and colors is just another example of how Markraft will continue to meet the needs of their customers.

If you are not able to attend the Parade of Homes™ to view all of Markraft’s designs, you can also stop by their showroom

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located at, 2705 Castle Creek Lane in Wilmington. Their showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays by appointment only. There you will find all of Markraft’s latest designs and new products, along with samples of most everything they carry. And as always, a design team member will be available to answer any questions and help coordinate a design plan for the kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor space of your dreams.

Tara Kobasiar, Executive Assistant to the President of Markraft Cabinets, invites you to visit Markraft’s Design Studio, 2705 Castle Creek Lane, just off Castle Hayne Road.

Markraft’s professional kitchen and bath designers consult by appointment but drop-in visitors are always welcome to browse the showroom, open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

PATHFINDER WEALTH CONSULTING

FINANCIAL SELF-CARE

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hat’s your number

one stressor? Most of Americans would say “money,” outweighing personal relationships and work combined. Conversely, studies show that women’s greatest source of confidence in the future comes from taking positive action and using their money for their financial goals.

Self-care is not just about treating yourself now, but also in the future. Financial self-care can help you get organized and gain momentum for your goals.

Unfortunately, we have some roadblocks to navigate.

As women, we have more demands on our money, we live longer, are paid less, and we invest 11% less than men.

This hurts us by contributing to the wealth gap. 71% of women’s wealth is in cash, which means it’s depreciating against inflation. The investing gap is real and costs women millions collectively over time.

But there is a way forward.

Don’t leave money on the table.

If you work for an organization that matches your 401(k) contributions, contribute at least the percentage that your company

will match. A company match is free money; don’t leave it on the table.

Pay yourself first.

Set automatic contributions to your retirement, investment and savings accounts. The amount left in checking is free to be spent – no budgeting (or guilt) required. Bonus: increase your savings when your income increases. For example, increase your savings by 1% when you get a 3% raise.

Prioritizing your future brings a peace of mind like nothing else.

Anticipate financial emergencies.

A good rule of thumb is to have a liquid savings account that would cover 6 months of your expenses if an emergency arises. Buying a car is usually not an emergency, so be sure to regularly contribute to a separate account to fund larger purchases.

The other side of risk management is to make sure you are adequately insured.

Especially if you have children or other dependents, they will need assets to fund their needs if you pass away early or are permanently disabled.

Insurance can be a relatively low-cost way to protect your

family – but please speak with someone who is required to act in your best interest before buying insurance.

Carefully incur debt.

Not all debt is created equal.

Mortgages and low interest rate car loans aren’t necessarily bad (particularly in this current low interest rate environment) but carrying a hefty credit card balance can hurt you. If you have high-interest debt, work to pay that off first. The faster you pay it down, the more you’ll save in interest and be able to invest.

Set a diversified asset allocation and rebalance periodically.

In your investment accounts, you want a mix of stocks and bonds that match your time horizon. You also need to be able to stomach the ups and downs of the market without selling out. Returns comes with risk. You could sprain your ankle working out, but you don’t skip the gym because of what could happen. Be smart and you’ll come out looking and feeling good, without injury.

While we do not recommend looking at the market trends every day (we

are trying to reduce stress after all!), don’t ignore your investments for years to later realize you’re not allocated properly for your timeline and goals. Rebalance your portfolio at least annually.

Hire a fiduciary.

This stuff can get complicated. Fiduciaries, like the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, are required to (and happily!) act in your best interest. You hire a professional to assess your physical health; take your future financial health seriously too.

Financial self-care isn’t selfish – it’s a gift to your family, friends, and future. It ensures your money aligns with your goals and values. Use your finances to treat yourself now and in the future. And maybe enjoy a glass of wine or a nice candle while you’re at it.

This Insights article is contributed by Kayla Willliford Johnson, Financial Planning Associate at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting.

NAVIGATING THE

PATH to RETIREMENT WILMAmag.com

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PLA NTATION V ILLAGE WOMEN ON THE MOVE AT PLANTATION VILLAGE

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t’s been said “It’s not about the

destination, it’s about the journey”, but what if you think you have arrived, only to find that you are just beginning? Women on the Move is a group comprised of women who have recently moved to Plantation Village.

They are from all walks of life. They are mothers, educators, professionals − all with one thing in common. They are starting over. They are all in a new place, meeting new people, learning new things, and trying to put down roots in this new life that they have chosen. It’s overwhelming for some of them, and it can be difficult to verbalize their feelings. The decision to move to a Life Plan Community didn’t come easily for all of them, and each has their own story about why they are here. So, what makes this so difficult? Everyone knows that moving is stressful. Add in that you are older, possibly leaving a home that you have been in for many years, maybe you’re moving to a new state, or the move is precipitated by the health of a spouse. Whatever the reason, it makes adjusting that much harder. It doesn’t matter how good the food is or how nice it is to have weekly house cleaning, starting over is just hard!

People choose Plantation Village because it is a great place to live, but it can take time to adjust to your new home. Because we recognize this, the idea for bringing together all the new female residents as a group was born. Getting acclimated can be harder on women since we tend to be the ones who nurture others, and often don’t pay attention to our own needs.

This group gives new women residents a safe place to talk and connect, share their experiences both good and bad, learn about one another and just be with other people who are in the same situation. The name Women on the Move speaks to the fact that these women made the choice to move to Plantation Village, they are continuing to move forward with their lives, there are experiences to explore; both within

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the community of Plantation Village and outside of it, hopefully with the new friends they are making here and with the old ones that are still a part of their lives. After meeting for over six months now, the group continues to expand as new ladies move in. There is now a sense of confidence and belonging among the women who have been in the group since the beginning. The founding members are taking on a mentoring role for the new members of the group. The difference between the initial group meetings and the recent meetings are pretty amazing. At the beginning it was a bit awkward, but as each woman began to open up and speak about her experiences, the discomfort vanished. Friendships have developed, connections have been made, but most importantly ideas have been brought to the table about how to make the transition easier for new residents of Plantation Village.

These women are tremendously accomplished, they are intelligent, funny, experienced, well-traveled and well read − all they needed was someone to listen and to assure them that they had not lost any part of themselves by coming here. No, in fact they’re on the move toward a fulfilling and richer tomorrow.

For more information, visit us on the web at www.PlantationVillageRC.com.

Like us on Facebook by visiting www. facebook.com/PlantationVillageRC Becky Grogan, Marketing Coordinator at Plantation Village, a non-profit continuing care retirement community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches. Residents enjoy first-class services in a wide variety of home styles, from one- and twobedroom apartments to cottage homes and two-bedroom villas. Plantation Village is managed by Life Care Services™, the nation’s second-largest senior care management company.

Y M C A C A M P K I R K WO O D

YMCA CAMP KIRKWOOD OFFERS TRADITIONAL SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE

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n our modern, connected world, it is sometimes hard to imagine a place exists where children and teenagers can go hiking, kayaking, swimming or fishing on a daily basis. For those of us who can remember the days before cell phones and the internet, when video games were simple, answering machines reigned supreme, and connecting with friends meant doing something together, outside, a mention of summer camp can elicit a variety of fond memories.

Those days of yesteryear when parents could simply tell their children to be back by dark are gone, but a week at YMCA Camp Kirkwood can provide a similar feeling of independence and adventure. All of the favorite traditional summer camp activities are available at Camp Kirkwood: archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, sports and games, and outdoor education.

This is not to ignore the fact that the modern world has a lot to offer. To ensure our summer campers have an unforgettable experience, Camp Kirkwood incorporates a variety of modern refinements such as, stand up paddle boarding, air-conditioned cabins, a zip line, a high ropes course, and a low ropes course.

Located just outside of Wilmington on a pristine, 195-acre plot that includes a 10 acre lake, a pool and an array of scenic hiking trails, YMCA Camp Kirkwood helps young people develop a sense of selfconfidence and self-reliance, while building the skills they will need to form lasting relationships.

YMCA Camp Kirkwood offers a variety of camps to accommodate every age and interest.

Overnight Camps – six days and five nights of traditions, activities and outdoor adventures! Campers get to swim in the outdoor pool every day, plan their own afternoon activity, and participate in evening group activities. This is offered for children ages 7 to 15, with a 3:1 ratio of counselors to children.

Adventure Camps – designed for those who are looking for a more rustic overnight experience, campers learn basic survival skills such as shelter building, fire making, and outdoor cooking. In addition to all the traditional camp activities, campers have a chance to go canoeing down the Black River and sleep in tents in the rustic camping area. Offered to children ages 12 to 15.

Leadership Camps – the camp environment provides a unique opportunity for teens to build leadership qualities. This two-week overnight camp gives participants the chance to mentor younger campers, participate in fun daily activities and help counselors with programming.

The Junior Counselor program is a facet of this, a volunteer-based offering that allows potential future counselors to get a glimpse into what working at Camp Kirkwood is like. The minimum age for leadership is 15; the minimum for JCs is 16.

Mini Camps – this is for campers who want to try out the overnight experience but may not be ready for a full week. It takes place over three days and two nights and the cost is only $275.

Day Camps – with bus transportation to camp every day from midtown Wilmington, Hampstead, and Rocky Point, this is a popular option. It includes everything the other campers get to experience, plus a quick breakfast, hot lunch, and a snack every day. The price is only $200 per week, and it is offered for children aged 6 to 12.

The selection process for

counselors is intensive. Most are former campers who are dedicated to providing campers with the same life-changing experience they received as children, by helping to guide their emotional/physical development.

All are trained in first aid/CPR, listening, and life skills. Adding to the appeal is the fact that financial aid is available for some and grant funding the past few years has resulted in some local military families receiving free or reduced admission.

To learn more about YMCA Camp Kirkwood call 336-4097938 or visit www.ymcasenc.org/ campkirkwood.

The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina, comprised of 2 membership facilities, an activity center and a residential camp, serves more than 18,000 men, women and children to help nurture the potential of children and teens, improve our community’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Deeply rooted in the community for 130 years, the YMCA of Southeastern NC has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.

336.409.7938 | YMCASENC.ORG/CAMPKIRKWOOD

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The Bath by Mary Cassatt

CASSATT AT THE

CAM

PRINTS BY MARY CASSATT DEPICT WOMEN IN A BYGONE ERA

by JUSTIN WILLIAMS POPE

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arlier this year, Cameron Art Museum launched its exhibition called Stories in Print. The exhibition shares the story of over a century of diverse printmaking methods used in art.

Spanning works from 1891-2012, the exhibit also shares with the public artwork from CAM’s rich permanent collection.

At the center of Stories in Print is The Ten, a set of ten color prints by American painter and printmaker Mary Cassatt (1844-1926).

Cassatt’s work often differed from that of other artists of her day. Her work many times over tells the story about the domestic lives of women. She especially emphasized intimate bonds between mothers and their children in her work. Living most of her life in Paris, Cassatt’s art varied, but she became well known for her drypoint and aquatint prints.

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While she was never a political artist, in The Ten Cassatt perceptively describes life through the eyes of a woman and her role in society.

Her numerous works of maternal love are evident in The Ten. The work was acquired by the museum in 1984 and is one of fewer than eight copies of this set of prints worldwide.

“She was a woman of her time, yet ahead of it,” says HOLLY FITZGERALD, with CAM’s Collections and Exhibits Department.

Fitzgerald says that Cassatt’s work is still enlightening today simply because it shares gender roles from a century ago, at a time when women were often thought of as second-class citizens.

“Because of her gender, she was less likely to sell her art as a male would, yet her persistence with her print work became popular and is still unique today,” Fitzgerald says.

She adds that in much of Cassatt’s art, the subjects were often her family members, another rarity of the day.

In addition to Cassatt’s art, the exhibition also includes lithograph Jarid’s Porch by Howard Hodgkin and a museum favorite, Bang, by Fred Wilson.

The Stories in Print exhibition was one that matched well with the modernist exhibit The Eye Learns, which is adjacent to Stories in Print, so the museum decided to run them simultaneously.

Stories in Print shares another narrative that is important for CAM: the story of the community coming together. CAM, now in its fifty-fifth year, has been honored to receive gifts of art from private collectors over the years.

Fitzgerald says the majority of the work in the permanent collection of CAM was given by donors who support the mission of the museum and, because of that support, the museum is stronger.

“The Ten represents great importance for CAM. It was given to the museum and that legacy has continued over the years to strengthen our wonderful print collection,” she explains, adding that by showcasing art such as The Ten, the museum shares with future generations the importance of art being given back to educate in the local community. W

THE FINE PRINT •S tories in Print exhibition featuring The Ten by Mary Cassatt, Through April 26 • Cameron Art Museum, 3201 South 17th Street • Info: cameronartmuseum.org or 395-5999

5

TAKE

by LORI WILSON photo by TERAH WILSON

Local historian BEVERLY TETTERTON met her business partner while getting coffee near downtown’s New Hanover County Library, where she worked for thirty-one years. It was soon after Tetterton’s retirement in 2012, and she and Dan Camacho met at Java Dog Coffee House in downtown Wilmington to discuss their shared love of history. A year later, they formed Java Dog Press to pursue projects, which to date include history books and the Wilmington.tours app. Her work with Camacho and Java Dog Press allows the Williamsburg, Virginia, native to continue doing what she loves: researching and archiving historical documents and photographs. The wealth of information and material is evident in the app, which features five tours highlighting Wilmington-area history.

HOW DOES YOUR WORK FOR JAVA DOG PRESS CHALLENGE YOU AS A RESEARCHER AND HISTORIAN? “Our knowledge of the past is always changing. When I look at a photograph or document that I have never seen, I learn something new. Just when I thought I knew all about an historical subject I find another interesting tidbit of history.” WHICH HISTORICAL ERA DO YOU ENJOY STUDYING MOST? “I love studying and learning about the eighteenth century. Growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, has made it a lifelong passion.” WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HISTORICAL SITE IN THE WILMINGTON AREA? “My favorite site is Market Street from 10th Street to the Cape Fear River. From Gallows Hill to the center, Wilmington’s earliest port is where most of Wilmington’s 280-plus history unfolded.” IF SOMEONE WROTE A BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED? “She Was a Good Woman Who Hated Tape. Having been an archivist for thirty years, I have cursed tape-encrusted documents nearly every day.” WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES OR HOBBIES HAVE YOU STARTED SINCE RETIRING FROM THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY LIBRARY? “I have always been a lifelong reader, but after retirement, I have enjoyed joining a neighborhood book club. I am also more physically active, especially when I take care of my young grandson.”W BEVERLY TETTERTON’s full profile will appear in an upcoming WILMA Roundup email.

To sign up for daily WILMA emails, go to WILMAmag.com.

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APRIL

FOOLS

by DYLAN PATTERSON illustration by MARK WEBER

D

Dylan Patterson is a writer and filmmaker who teaches English at Cape Fear Community College.

Dear Sweetums, First, let me just say this: I am sorry. Very, very, very sorry.

I want you to know I’ve written similar letters to Wendy, Natalie, and the other members of your book club to apologize if I caused them (or their loved ones) offense, discomfort, physical injury, or emotional trauma.

Good news! I’ve already collected three estimates to repair the damage to Wendy’s living room, and it does not appear that it will be nearly as expensive as her husband so loudly suggested as he chased me to my car Wednesday night.

I take complete responsibility for the events that took place. To be fair though, was I the one who decided it was a good idea to light a dozen aromatic candles in a room with nine highly-flammable paperback copies of Little Fires Everywhere? (Ironic, right?!) Was I the one who drank waaay too much sparkling rose? And, was I the one who jumped over the coffee table knocking over said candles and igniting said paperbacks?

Plus, it was April Fools’ Day. Had it been any other day of the year, I’d get it. You wouldn’t expect to get pranked. But, isn’t getting all freaked out by a practical joke on April Fools’ Day like being shocked when presents appear under the tree on Christmas morning?

And, how could I have been expected to know that three women in your book club are clinically diagnosed with coulrophobia? Who even knew that the mortal fear of clowns has a name? I didn’t until I received a letter from Wendy’s attorney yesterday. (By the way, I was served with papers from Wendy’s attorney yesterday.)

And, who could have guessed that Kelly and Kiley’s Girl Scout

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troop would be in the kitchen cooking for a merit badge while their mother hosted a boozy book club in the next room? Honestly though, I don’t buy Wendy’s claim that the girls are traumatized.

It’s hard to believe they even managed to drag their eyeballs from their phones as you ladies sprinted through Wendy’s kitchen as if chased by a clown wielding a machete (Well, not “as if” since you were indeed being chased by a clown, or at least your humble hubby dressed in said costume with a very realistic looking plastic machete I found in Tyler’s room).

To be honest, I thought you and the rest of the ladies would be momentarily startled then you’d just roll your eyes and ignore me like you usually do when I drop by uninvited to one of your book club dinners. Wendy, especially, is someone who it’s generally impossible to get a rise out of. How could I predict that she would suddenly become uncharacteristically frantic? I can’t predict the future.

And, while I’m not blaming it on him, of course, I had planned to spend that night at home, just watching TV and chillaxing, when Tyler looks up from his phone and says, “You know what would be an awesome April Fools’ prank? If you dressed up in my Pennywise costume from Halloween and went by Mom’s book club.” Again, not his fault, but still ...

Well, I guess that’s about it. Again, please know, I’m very, very, very sorry.

Love, Honeybuns P.S. Am I picking Tyler up from soccer today?

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