The WilmingtonBiz 100 is an annual Greater Wilmington Business Journal initiative to recognize the top 100 Power Players, Influencers, Innovators, Connectors and Rising Stars impacting Southeastern North Carolina’s business landscape.   Those included in this year’s group were announced in October, but on the following pages you can read a little more ab ...

The Power Players – The businesspeople and officials having the greatest impact on the region’s business and economic landscape Jeffery Bourk Airport Director, Wilmington International Airport   Jeffrey Bourk started in his position at Wilmington International Airport in January after serving at the helm of Branson Airport in Missouri for 14 ...

The Influencers – The changemakers, in front of or behind the scenes Jackson Autry Executive Plant Leader, GE Aerospace Wilmington   After working with General Electric for over 14 years, Jackson Autry was named plant leader of GE Aerospace Wilmington in March.  WHY HE’S AN INFLUENCER:  Throughout his career, Autry has worked a ...

The Connectors – The real-world networkers who bring together people and resources to get things done Rhonda Bellamy President & CEO, Arts Council of Wilmington/New Hanover County Rhonda Bellamy has been the head of the Arts Council of Wilmington/New Hanover County since 2012. She was previously a news director and talk show host for Cumulus Media.  ...

The Innovators – The disruptors shaking things up and getting the region to see things in a different way Chris Babcock CEO, Apiture The Wilmington-based fintech company has experienced significant growth since Chris Babcock joined in 2019. Babcock leads the company of about 300 employees. WHY HE’S AN INNOVATOR:  In 2022, Apiture launched th ...

The Rising Stars – The next generation of leaders who are already making waves (limited to those 35 years old and younger) Maggie Blackham Founder, Elevate Coworking
   As the owner of the coffee shop Cheeky Monkey in downtown Wilmington, Maggie Blackham took her entrepreneurial skills to launch Elevate Coworking in 2022. Elevate is a coworking space at ...

We launched the WilmingtonBiz 100 list in 2019. That’s 100 Power Players, Influencers, Connectors, Innovators and Rising Stars to highlight each year. The closer we get to deadline, the more we ask, “WilmingtonBiz 25? That couldn’t have been a thing?” But after our editorial team has poured enormous effort into writing, photographing and designin ...

After two years of renovations, Little Loaf Bakery & Schoolhouse opened the doors to its first brick-and-mortar location in November.  Owner Julia Castellano retained many of the historic features of the 1930s home at 3410 Wrightsville Ave. while renovating the space, including the original wood floors and windows. Castellano has sold her fares at local farm ...

Officials in late October unveiled the final business involved in a group of expansions teased earlier this year. In February, New Hanover County and Wilmington pledged performance-based financial assistance to four economic development projects in the area. At the time, sparse details were made available about the projects, and the companies remained publicly undiscl ...

The great American recession resulted in the loss of 8 million jobs and 4 million homes were lost to foreclosures between 2007 and 2009.  This severe economic contraction was preceded by significant debt accumulation. Household debt doubled between 2000 and 2007 increasing to more than $14 trillion.  Economic commentators, of late, have raised questions abo ...