Stevens Fine Homes Christmas Party for the Leland Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Office

Yesterday the on-site agents for Stevens Fine Homes three communities in Leland had a late afternoon Christmas party for the agents and staff of Leland's Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty office at the club house in Stevens' Grayson Park neighborhood. Reps from Grayson Park, Orchid Bay, Cove Landing, and South Brook neighborhoods were there, and so was early arrival Linda Killian, below, a broker with Sea Coast.

Stevens' Stan Powell, newly married and a happy guy.

Stevens Charlotte Palmer and Wendy Melville.

Lori Eaton of EatonatHome.com catered the event. Lori as usual was awesome (the food was good, too!).

Charlotte, Wendy, and Sea Coast's Office Manager Kari Essig and Broker in Charge Denise Kinney.

Stan talking with Sea Coast's Tom Shoat (with Linda waving in the background)

Bruce Brown, Stan Powell, Tom Shoat, and Sea Coast's Craig Spafford.


Wendy and Sea Coast's Howard Bailey.

Sea Coast's Linda Cline.

Sea Coast's Leslie Morgan surrounded by Lindas.

There's Sea Coast's Ophard Willis in the middle of the shot. Sorry it's not a clear shot, but he was there and I didn't want to leave him out.

Okay, so maybe it's true that Kari is not a big chocolate fan. But this photo proves that she sometimes will eat chocolate.

It was a nice event, appreciated by all. My thanks to Cynthia, Stan, Wendy, Charlotte, Lori Eaton, and of course Craig Stevens.

(Stevens' Cythia Rehberg was at the event as well, but working with buyers. I did get one quick shot of her as I was leaving but it didn't do her justice so I didn't use it.)

Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity - Ribbon-Cutting 12-03-09

The Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity has joined the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce and yesterday Habitat board members and officers turned out in force for a ribbon-cutting at the NBCC office.

Habitat board member Glenn Marshall.

Habitat Executive Director Gary Knapp with NBCC board member Justin Williams, publisher of NBM and SBM magazines and Marge Brown from Fat City Cards.

Brunswick Community College Small Business Center Director Tom Hemphill and NBCC board member Frank Williams of Pioneer Strategies.

NBCC board member Franklin Rouse of State Farm Insurance and Bob Baer of Aladdin Photography.

Habitat's Carol Grantham and Mack McClellan.

Bruce Brown and Bob Baer.


Glenn looks on as NBCC President George Murray of Murray Art & Frame hugs board members Connie Reeves of Azala Place and Brenda Bozeman of ReMAX.

Crowd scene, the only person not mentioned previously is NBCC Ambassador Jamie Shoemaker.

Pres George with NBCC's Financial Wizardress Terry Andress and Executive Director Terry Grillo.

Frank and Justin.

Habitat's President-elect Russ Barlowe addressed the group (he's the guy in the white shirt).

Habitat board member Cathy Jones, Glenn Marshall, and Brenda Bozeman listening to Russ.

Habitat board member Marlene Jackson.


Everyone lined up and ready for the ribbon-cutting.

So welcome, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity, we're proud to have you as members of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce.

North Brunswick Young Professionals - Mistletoe Event 12-02-09

For my third networking event Wednesday I stopped by the North Brunswick Young Professionals Network Mistletoe party held at Franklin Rouse's State Farm Insurance agency office in Leland.

As I drove up I saw Hertz Local's David Merrill and attorney Eric Altman talking outside.


Also outside was State Farm Financial Services Rep Peter Larson.

Inside I immediately saw Ronnie Grooms of SunTrust Bank and the man himself, Franklin Rouse.

I'm sure she wasn't aware of the framing with the garland and bow in the background, but looking quite festive herself was Jackie Willse of Port City Candles. Jackie is also the president and founder of the Wilmington Young Professionals Network.

Mike Phillips of UNC-W.


These next two photos are irresistable. Two of my very good friends, Dr. Sheila Hanby of Capeside Animal Hospital and Erin Alderman of Nationwide Insurance were sitting at a table with some other folks Sheila and Erin are both fabulous story tellers and really get into it when they're telling stories. In the first photo below Sheila is the animated one.

And here Erin takes a turn.

Franklin and David.

Frank Williams of Pioneer Strategies and Rick Paxton of Safe Surrooundings.

Kate Carter of State Farm with Frank in the background.

Erin, Jackie, and Mike.

A bunch of grapes and cheese.

Bridget Ross and Kate Carter, both of State Farm Insurance.


Thanks again to Franklin and all the State Farm folks for this nice event. And thanks to Erin to making sure I was invited.

For those interested in business networking in the greater Wilmington area, be sure to check David Merrill's Wilmington Networking Events calendar regularly.

Strictly Business at Reel Cafe - 12-02-09

Next stop Wednesday was The Big Talker FM's Strictly Business, a weekly event held this week inside at crowd fav The Reel Cafe.

Below are the Curtis Wright, the Big Talker morning guy and Russ Hauptmann, a sales exec with Sea-Comm Media (they own The Big Talker).

Ronnie Anderson, a Relationship Banker with RBC Bank and Lee Anne Haggerty of Wilmington Downtown, Inc., a non-profit organization which this week was the beneficiary of the generous weekly drawings held at the Strictly Business events (next week, btw, it's upstairs at Caprice Bistro on Market).

Uma ... , no wait, I'm wrong, it's Shannon Andrews of WordWright Web and John Hinnant, Executive Director of Wilmington Downtown, Inc. My confusion with her name is likely due to the fact that she and I head-butted each other saying hello.

Curtis Wright, Mark Johnson of Buff Masters Car Wash and Detail Center, and Jerry Ellis of Telco.

Russ in the background, with North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terry Grillo (who cleaned up during the raffle drawings!) and Scott Ball of Coastal Document Systems.

Lori Rooker of Exit Realty and Steve West of N2 Publishing.

Stephanie Williams of Edward Jones and Paul Whitehouse of Lopermedia.

Stephanie with Derek Sellers, Sales Exec with Sea-Comm Media.


For those interested in business networking in the greater Wilmington area, be sure to check David Merrill's Wilmington Networking Events calendar regularly.

Wilmington Downtowners Meet and Mingle at Front Street Brewery 12/2/09

Wednesday this week I went to three Wilmington area business networking events before my weekly mastermind call. The first event was the Wilmington Downtowner's Meet & Mingle, which is held the first Wednesday of each month on the third floor of Front Street Brewery from 5-6:30PM.

Below Shannan Bowen of the Star News (left) and Ellie Craig of Front Street Brewery (right) listen as Joan Loch of Crescent Moon glass gallery in the Cotton Exchange talks about locally produced glass art.

Ellie Craig is Front Street Brewery's Marketing Director. She introduced me to Carrie Egerton, FSB's new Community Outreach Marketing associate.

Here's a better photo of Shannan, who covers Social Media and Breaking News for the Star News.

Nick Arbia of ADT and Mike Eakins of WWAY TV3.

Joan Loch talking with Richard Davis, the owner of Browncoat Pub & Theatre, Wilmington and actually North Carolina's only non-profit location that serves alcohol. All profits benefit the arts.

Some folks from Edge of Urge clothing boutique talk with Jenn Beddoes of Glynne Soaps.


Susan Seltzer of Wrightsville Builders and Joan Loch.

Here's another shot of Joan - the reflection of the flash on the monitor looks like an appropriate holiday star.

Ana Ribeiro of the Star News.

Carrie on the left, Jenn in the background, Brooke Foreman of Right Left Studios and Gayle Tabor of Glynne's Soaps.

Good guy Jim Ware of the Star News.

These are the folks from Edge of Urge, located at 18 Market Street (between Kilwin's chocolates and the dog boutique). Manager Jessica Young and Merchandising and Sales guy Dustin Slemp.

Doug and Marg Erickson of C.W. Worth House (an historic district bed and breakfast).

Shannan and Brooke.

Thanks again Front Street Brewery, as usual this was a very nice event and it's good to have a regular event with a downtown theme.

For those interested in business networking in the greater Wilmington area, be sure to check David Merrill's Wilmington Networking Events calendar regularly.