Lighthouse Films is the 2020 Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year.
 
The company, which is based in downtown Wilmington, took home the wooden surfboard Tuesday evening during a pared-down Coastal Entrepreneur Awards ceremony.
 
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s event took place outside at Wrightsville Beach Brewery with this year’s 11 CEA category winners and area chambers of commerce winners.
 
Lighthouse Films, which was named the Film category winner earlier this year, received the top award from an outside panel of judges. Andrea and Brad Walker founded the film production company in 2001.
 
The company has worked on commercials for J.P. Morgan, among other clients, found success selling stock footage online through Getty Images and also rented equipment out to other productions.
 
Brad Walker said that the couple has grown the business in an intentional and personal way.
 
“How can you work and do something you love without the business owning you? How can you own the business?” he said in his remarks after receiving the award, which was presented by last year’s winner, Ross Hamilton, founder and CEO of Connected Investors.
 
Andrea Walker gave credit to Lighthouse’s team, which she said has worked even harder during this year through impacts of the coronavirus on business to support the company.
 
2020 CEA Winners by category:

• Biotechnology: Isosceles Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Nonprofit: NourishNC
• Internet-Related: Connected Home Inc.
• Professional Services: Coastal Pet Hospice & Home Euthanasia Mobile Practice
• Technology: Epiphany Software Corp
• Emerging Company: WorkTok
• Health Care: Electronic Lab Logs
• COVID Innovation: End of Days Distillery
• Film: Lighthouse Films
• Manufacturing & Distribution: Tama Tea
• Retail & Hospitality: Wrightsville Beach Brewery

Click here for the 2020 chambers of commerce winners