Businesses in and around Hope Mills gathered to recognize local businesses and boogie like it was 1980 at their 2023 Annual Banquet & Awards Ceremony held on Saturday, May 13.
After celebrating the success of the HMACC Golf Tournament held in early May, announced by Chamber leadership as the most profitable and successful of the Tournaments thus far,
$1,000 of the proceeds were donated to local Hope Mills Charity, the Associated Local Ministries in Service Helping Others in Unfortunate Situations and Experiences (ALMS) house.
“We're really hoping that these funds can really grow back toward impacting our community here. So thank you guys, for helping us make this possible,” shared Chamber President Casey Ferris. “So thank you guys helping us make this possible, and thank you to the ALMS House for everything you do for our community.”
The night was used to award businesses as voted by the community in four categories.
The winners include:
Member of the Year: Casey Ferris
Non-Profit of the Year: VFW Post 670
Business of the Year: Harmony at Hope Mills
Best New Business: Scented Wicks
It was also announced that all of the current HMACC Board Members would be remaining in their positions for new terms:
Anne Marie Ziegler
Melannie Armstrong
Dave Yensan
Kathryn Locklear
Joanne Scarola
Greg Adair
Rebecca Gibbs
Nathan Hwang
The event, hosted with a 1980s prom theme, also crowned a Prom King and Queen for the night based on audience response to the most 80s person there. The Title of Prom King went to Jamie Jacobs of I-95 Muscle and Prom Queen went to Brenda Leidholdt with BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC.
Act 2 renovations began in April 2025. CFRT will be back in their 1209 Hay St. theatre for their first production of 2027. Photo by GFBJ.As the Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT) opens their newest show, “Bright Star,” they are also wrapping up Act 2
Pictured from left to right: Entrepreneurial Impact Awards judging panel: Sara Ballard, Venus Durant, Greg Moore, Rebecca Sappington, Derrick McArthur, Faith Hatton and John Keen. In August, I was honored to be recruited to be one of six judges
Pictured left to right: Reddick R. Mack II, Collyn Strother, Tiffany Ragin, April Mata, Veronda Jones and Lauren Falls are all featured artists for the 26:26 Exhibit on display through the end of October. Photo by GFBJ.Black Artist Forward recently b
