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Sep 8, 2026

From superintendent to startup founder: Dr. Jennifer Smith's vision for a 24-hour childcare center in Bladen County

Bladen County has a contestant in the statewide Startup Showdown, a business startup competition from the Small Business Center Network and Wells Fargo. Dr. Jennifer Smith is one of 17 contestants, and she is representing not just Bladen County but t ...

Sep 2, 2026

Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand

Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational syste ...

Aug 27, 2026

Fulfilling community needs: Fayetteville dynamic duo built three businesses on a passion for food and community

After workshopping the idea for a new restaurant concept with a few regular customers, Brian and Staci decided to take a chance on Napkins, their first business and Brian’s first experience owning a restaurant. ...

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Dr. Mark Sorrells
Fayetteville Technical Community College

The Community's College at 65: Driving the Workforce That Powers Cumberland County's Future

Posted Sep 5, 2026
For 65 years, Fayetteville Technical Community College has been more than an educational institution. We have been Cumberland County's workforce engine, helping generations of residents gain the skills, credentials, and opportunities needed to build
  ...read entire article
Jul 31, 2026

Bearded soldier to brand manager: Chad Kraken's journey to building his business empire

The KRAKEN-SKULLS brand includes a barbershop, a tattoo shop, a T-shirt company, an embroidery company, a website design company, a media marketing and graphic design company and an auto shop. Photos by GFBJ.When Chad Kraken retired from the military ...

Jul 31, 2026

From agritourism to event spaces: How Fred and Anita Surgeon prioritize people in business

Fred Surgeon, with the support of his wife Anita, owns and operates Surgeon &Associates, Inc, a family of businesses with everything from agritourism, pestcontrol, cleaning services and behavioral health services. Photos provided by Fred Surgeon. ...

Jul 30, 2026

From vision to action: Fayetteville entrepreneur builds portfolio of businesses centered on community and connection

: Sisters With A Purpose Foundation focuses on empowering women, youth and families through mentorship, educational workshops and community outreach. Photos provided by Santina Thomas.When Santina Thomas saw a need in the market, she didn’t wait for ...

Jul 29, 2026

Veteran-owned transportation service celebrates two years in business; outlines plans for continued growth

Shuttle Buddy, a Fayetteville-based transportation company dedicated to connecting the community with reliable transportation services, just marked two years in business. “As a Veteran and former Army aviator, building Shuttle Buddy has been abo ...

May 14, 2026

Celebrating 45 years: Systel Business Equipment represents a legacy of commitment to quality service

Inset: Systel’s first corporate headquarters was a small rental house turned office on Fort Bragg Road in Fayetteville in 1981. Large photo: The company’s new corporate headquarters reflects years of growth into a multi-million dollar company that pr ...

May 4, 2026

Bee-lieve the hype: Local apiarists and entrepreneurs share handmade crafts and helpful knowledge about our most important pollinators

Lynlene Apiary and Crafts is owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Carolyn Kleinert and Jolene Kleinert. They are certified apiarists and sell honey, candles made with beeswax, soaps and other crafts at local farmers markets. Photos by GFBJ.Lynle ...


Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
fayetteville-technical-community-college dr-mark-sorrells headshott

The Community's College at 65: Driving the Workforce That Powers Cumberland County's Future

Dr. Mark Sorrells - President, Fayetteville Technical Community College
systel-business-equipment madison-spangler headshott

What a Hospital TV Show Taught Me About the Technology We Never Think About

Madison Spangler - Digital Marketing & Campaigns Coordinator, Systel Business Equipment
cape-fear-valley-health john-bigger headshott

Putting mental health first: Inside Cape Fear Valley Health’s behavioral health system

John Bigger - Corporate Director of Behavioral Health, Sleep Medicine and Clinical Research, Cape Fear Valley Health

In The Current Issue

Wrapping up renovations: Cape Fear Regional Theatre prepares to occupy newly renovated space this winter

Act 2 renovations began in April 2025. CFRT will be back in their 1209 Hay St. theatre for their first production of 2027.


Publisher's note: We were the judges of that!

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


Bold and brilliant artists: 26:26 exhibit brings 26 Black artists together for grand reopening of Concourse 107

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