Chamber winners

Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce
Entrepreneur of the Year
Palm Air Realty, Inc.

Ea Ruth and Anne Brodsky started their business venture by taking an existing business, Palm Air Cottages, and turning it into a quaint and friendly place offering high-end bed and breakfast accommodations. They then expanded into property management, renovating and managing Pier View Cottages and establishing Palm Air Realty.

Chamber officials say that the “Palm Air Girls” have consistently and successfully broadened their horizons and have become community leaders and fostered a community approach to every opportunity. The two follow Einstein’s motto…”the most effective way to cope with change is to create it.”

Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce
Business Person of the Year
Emily Humphreys – Port City Java

Emily Humphreys purchased an established Port City Java franchise in 2005 so she could live in Southport and run a business. Her  first year of ownership, sales grew 13 percent, adding another 19 percent her second year. This year, growth is tracking at 7 percent. The Southport Port City Java ranks consistently among the company’s top six franchise stores for highest monthly sales.

The coffee house received the Platinum Award from the Brunswick County Health Department in March 2011.

Humphrey employs 10 people and has low turnover. According to chamber officials, she  is a hands-on manager who does not “ask anyone to do anything that she would not do herself. She views customers as guests and strives to treat them as such.”

While Humphreys must follow the corporation’s guidelines, she suggests to the company ways of doing things to improve or streamline operations. Her staff pre-measures and bags smoothies for added speed, and her observation of a demand for smaller servings led to the addition of “half wraps” to PCJ’s  menu.

Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Entrepreneur of the Year
CloudWyze, Inc.

CloudWyze is the first company to bring exclusively cloud-based Internet, phone, virtual desktop infrastructure and data hosting to the Port City. The company unveiled its cloud-based information technology services in January this year at the BizTech Conference & Expo.

CloudWyze, formerly BBX Computers, Inc., has spent the past 12 years in research and development in preparation for its new capabilities.

According to company CEO and President Shaun Olsen, “CloudWyze’s services will provide local businesses and residences with affordable and easy connections without any confusing bundling options or associated contracts. The Wilmington business community will now be able to utilize cloud-based services to manage their IT infrastructure in a way that is scalable and cost effective.”

North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce
Entrepreneur of the Year
Urban eRecyclers

Urban eRecyclers, founded in 2011, has a simple mission: to provide environmentally and socially-conscious recycling of electronic waste for the communities it serves. Its goals include the reduction or elimination of e-waste in local landfills, the employment of as many people as possible in the processing of material, and the return a portion of its proceeds to local schools and community programs.

Following the “re-use, refurbish, recycle” principle, Urban eRecyclers refurbishes electronics for resale when possible or disassembles them and sells component parts or materials, such as aluminum and copper.
For every 15,000 pounds of undifferentiated e-waste that the company processes each month, it can add one more job. The company operates on a simple idea: machines are great, but people need work.
“To that end, we do have some small machines, and will incorporate several others as we grow, but our mission is to put people first,” said CEO Churchill B. Hornstein. “By doing this, we become a zero-carbon footprint facility, and we are able to help build our local economy while doing our part to clean up the largest waste-stream which we face in our region.

 What's more, every item we process profitably provides a little cash feedback to charitable and environmental projects in our community.

Burgaw Chamber of Commerce
Entrepreneur of the Year
Traditions Fine Gifts and Interiors

The dream of owning her own business started long before Emily Warren moved to Burgaw. Sharing her dream with her mother, Pat Davis, the reality of such an enterprise began to take shape and in November 2008, mother and daughter became business partners opening Traditions Fine Gifts and Interiors in historic Burgaw. 

As business owners, the two developed a business philosophy based upon quality products and intimate customer service. Both women shared a vision of a place which would be both inviting and inspiring. In Traditions they have created an environment in which people are not only welcomed as clients, but as friends.

Emily brings her years of experience in the field of interior design. Specializing in interiors for the home, Traditions offers unique ideas for window treatments, custom bedding, upholstered pieces and furniture accessories. To simplify one’s gift giving needs, Traditions offers many items including jewelry, stationery, aprons, totes and much more. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays are reserved for design appointments only.