There’s a new leader at the helm of GE Vernova, following the retirement of Jay Wileman this summer. Wileman had served as president and CEO of the Wilmington-based nuclear energy company since 2015. According to a company spokesperson, Wileman’s last day with the company was July 31. New president and CEO Craig Ranson joined the company in June ...

The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism has started a new networking and career development group, according to a news release Thursday.   “Topsail Young Professionals was developed by our area’s young professionals for our area’s young professionals,” said Tammy Proctor, the chamber’s executive director, in the relea ...

Chad Kimes has overseen major highway projects and smaller roadway improvements in Wilmington and its surrounding areas for the past 33 years. This month, the N.C. Department of Transportation Division 3 engineer is hanging up his hard hat and retiring. While Kimes plans to spend more time with his family, he isn’t leaving the field entirely. He’s already co ...

Across the nation, more and more people are running than ever before. According to Fleet Feet, an athletic apparel company that uses data-driven insights to match runners with running gear, there were 20 million “new” runners in 2022 compared to 2020. Locally, Wilmington has a community of runners, including many run clubs. A trend the area has seen is the g ...

Wilmington entrepreneur George Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty to not paying more than $2 million in employment taxes and not filing employment tax returns, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office on Thursday. The release stated that Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in pri ...

A home services company founded in 1979 has expanded its North Carolina presence to Wilmington. Blaze Heating, Cooling, Electrical & Plumbing, 1306 N. 23rd St., recently marked its grand opening in the Port City. "This marks a significant step in our expansion, as we transition Wilmington Air into the Blaze family," according to a news release. The r ...

If the area’s workforce woes are squeaky wheels, recent programs developed by local business leaders and educational institutions are providing some grease. A variety of private and public sector leaders have been ramping up efforts to bolster the workforce across multiple industries. While challenges remain, the following sections describe a sampling of tangible ...

Heavy equipment manufacturer SANY America is working to establish a regional distribution and customer support center on a 68-acre site near Wilmington’s port. Last fall, the company announced it had signed a seven-year lease for the roughly 532,000-square-foot facility at 202 Raleigh St., formerly occupied by Vertex Railcar Corp. and Terex Cranes. Now, officia ...

Local homebuilders, contractors and other construction entities are trying to hit the nail on the head when it comes to boosting this generation’s construction workforce while helping build the next. “For the last six years, the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association (WCFHBA) has waged war on the ongoing workforce crisis in our region,” said Ca ...

Since 1972, the Kahn family has served the Wilmington area with Copycat Print Shop. As of Aug. 9, another family-owned business, Charlotte-based Duncan-Parnell Inc. has acquired the business. “Over the past 20 years, I have had other opportunities and other discussions, specifically with Duncan-Parnell, and I know the company and have had great respect for them si ...