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On this month’s Voice of Business, show host and The Wilmington NC Chamber of Commerce President, Connie Majure-Rhett welcomed guests  Johnny Griffin with The Wilmington Regional Film Commission and Bill Vassar with EUE/Screen Gems to discuss Wilmington’s film incentives.

Johhny Griffin- Director of The Wilmington Regional Film Commission

The Wilmington Regional Film Commission, Inc. is responsible for marketing the unique assets found within southeastern North Carolina to the production industry. Whether you are looking for a small town square, a coastal home, a scenic highway, a gaffer, or a c-stand, we are here to help. Our staff has worked in the industry for many years and has a true working knowledge of how to solve your problems. We speak the same language which makes our clients feel comfortable.

Once you choose our region, the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, Inc. facilitates on-location filmmaking within the region by offering production companies a complete range of pre-production services through a central contact. This office provides information regarding local film procedures, permits, and guidelines, and serves as liaison with government agencies. The Film Commission also serves as a general resource and clearing house for information about the Wilmington area.

Bill Vassar-Executive Vice President of EUE/Screen Gems

Bill Vassar is the Executive Vice President of EUE/Screen Gems in Wilmington, North Carolina. He enthusiastically manages the largest studio complex east of California.

“I handpick each employee to create a special team,” says Vassar. “I take great pride in how well we work together to service the needs of each production.”

Bill’s personal involvement and attention to detail have earned the respect of clients such as Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, Sony, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Lifetime, HBO, Showtime and many more. He played an integral role in recruiting the Marvel Entertainment lensing of “Iron Man 3” to Wilmington. This mega-hit is the largest single production in the history of North Carolina.

A four-decade media veteran, Bill’s first job was as a disc jockey when he was sixteen. After working in radio programming, news, sales, general management and station ownership, he transitioned to television and film production. In 1984, Bill joined NBC Entertainment Production in New York City. One of his first assignments was working with the start-up of the original “Cosby Show.”

Active in the community, Bill is the Board Chairman of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission; he sits on the North Carolina Governor’s Film Council and the Cucalorus Film Festival Board. He served two terms on the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Bill and his wife Emily live in Wilmington, NC with their two sons.

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Spence Hackney-Proclaim Interactive 

Spence Hackney has been building web sites professionally since 1997. He is the founder and president of Proclaim Interactive, a full service digital marketing agency providing web site design, branding and marketing services to a wide range of clients throughout the country. He also serves on the board of First Fruit Ministries, Alpha Ministries and is a leader in Cub Scout Pack 226.  You can reach Spence at spence@proclaiminteractive.com, 910-795-4143 ext 101

Connect with Proclaim Interactive on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Dan Marks- Commercial Site Control

Commercial Site Control (CSC) offers the capabilities of a commercial Building Energy Management System for a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. CSC utilizes the latest hardware technology and advanced cloud based algorithms pushed directly to the controller on site making it easy to install and always up to date.

Judy Clark- Autism Support and Programs 

Judy Clark, mother of two young men with autism, and Founder/Director of Autism Support and Programs, knows firsthand the joys and hardships of raising children who have autism. Both of Judy’s boys are severely affected and she quickly realized the critical need for early intervention and consistency for those on the autism spectrum. In 1994 she set out on a mission that would progress from providing summer school programs for students in Southeastern North Carolina to the development of comprehensive services for individuals with autism. Judy’s drive comes from a love of people with autism and the desire to help them meet their maximum potential.

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The Wilmington NC Convention Center

Show Co-Host, Susan Eaton has lived in Wilmington for over 4 years and serves as General Manager of the Wilmington Convention Center of behalf of SMG, the world largest private management firm for public assembly facilities.

Susan oversees the day to day operations of the Center and the in-house food and beverage operation, along with the outdoor event space.

Kim Hufham- President and CEO of Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau

From the historic river district and Riverwalk that winds around the storied Cape Fear River to three colorful island beaches, there’s something about the water here in Wilmington, N.C. and our beach towns, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, that speaks, surrounds and transforms visitors.  As North Carolina’s most accessible coastal destination, the area’s location, natural beauty, culture and history all charm visitors and residents alike making it the ideal place to let go, give in and get away for a vacation or weekend.

One destination and four unique settings . . . from the river to sea . . . create a bounty of extraordinary experiences.

Connect with Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau on Facebook and Twitter. Also get involved in #Spread the Wilm on Twitter!

Terry Bragg- Executive Director of the North Carolina Battleship

Moored in quiet dignity and majesty the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, across the river from downtown Wilmington, beckons visitors to walk her decks. Envision the daily life and fierce combat her crew faced in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.

From all across our Nation they came, young men who had grown up in the crucible of the Great Depression and now determined to serve their Country in its time of need. These are the men whose stories you will encounter through their oral histories, photographs, and mementos as you experience the Ship and the exhibits.

Step back in time and let history come alive through the crews’ stories. Discover and build your personal connection by steering the ship, starting her engines or even firing the guns. The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA It’s Your Experience.

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Kevin French- Wells Fargo Bank

Kevin French is the district manager for Wells Fargo in the Wilmington Market and oversees nine retail locations and more than 100 team members in Wilmington, Leland and Porters Neck. Prior to his current role, Kevin held a small business/credit consulting role and was previously the store manager at the Mooresville location in Charlotte. He joined the company in July 2005 as financial specialist in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont Abbey College in Business Management. He currently resides in Wilmington with his wife and their four children.

Barry Eichelberger-Wells Fargo

Barry Eichelberger is a business banking manager and leads Wells Fargo’s business banking team in Wilmington. He was previously a senior business relation manager and vice president for the Wilmington business banking team before being promoted to his current rule in September 2013.Barry joined the company in 1998 and  has held several positions of increasing responsibility, including district manager and small business senior financial specialist. He began his career as a financial specialist. Barry is a graduate of Shepherd University in West Virginia. He currently resides in Wilmington with his wife and their two children.

Connect with Wells Fargo on Twitter and Facebook

James Baldwin-The Resource

Jim Baldwin has been Branch Manager at the Wilmington office of The Resource for 4 years.  He and his wife, ENan, manage all aspects of the business including recruiting, sales and servicing accounts.  Jim and ENan are both natives of Wilmington.  After graduating from Hoggard High School, Jim graduated from Davidson College and went on to receive two graduate degrees.  Jim says, “We lived for over 20 years in the Piedmont area of North Carolina but we got back to the beach as quickly as we could.”

Connect with James Baldwin on LinkedIn

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Kim Hufhman- Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau

From the historic river district and Riverwalk that winds around the storied Cape Fear River to three colorful island beaches, there’s something about the water here in Wilmington, N.C. and our beach towns, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, that speaks, surrounds and transforms visitors.  As North Carolina’s most accessible coastal destination, the area’s location, natural beauty, culture and history all charm visitors and residents alike making it the ideal place to let go, give in and get away for a vacation or weekend.

One destination and four unique settings . . . from the river to sea . . . create a bounty of extraordinary experiences.

Connect with Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau on Facebook and Twitter. Also get involved in #Spread the Wilm on Twitter!

Karen Swenson- Aflac

If you had a chance to begin a new career, what would you do? After 35 years of working in Southern California’s entertainment industry, Karen Swenson decided to make a complete change—in careers as well as locations. In 2011, she moved completely across country, building a new home in Wilmington, NC. For her new business, she chose to work with one of the most respected companies in the world: American Film Life Assurance Company or, as it’s known to most of us, AFLAC. “For me, the opportunity to work for AFLAC has been an amazing experience,” Swenson says, “a crash course in learning about my community, its needs and concerns. I hope that my office, which I like to call ‘Wilmy Aflac’, will be the go-to source for information on voluntary healthcare benefits in the Greater Wilmington area.”

Connect with Karen on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Zach Adams- First Bank

First Bank was established in Troy, North Carolina and built on a commitment to provide genuine community bank service and helpful solutions from local bankers who care about doing what’s right.

With more than 79 years of dedicated service, that commitment has not wavered. First Bank proudly serves 32 counties in North Carolina, with locations in South Carolina and Virginia, for a total of nearly 100 full-service branches and is the fifth largest bank headquartered in North Carolina with approximately $3.2 billion in assets.

Small enough to know you like a neighbor, but large enough to provide the community bank service you’ve come to know and expect, First Bank provides affordable, comprehensive financial services including deposit, loan, wealth management and insurance solutions. Plus, our telephone, online and mobile banking technologies allow you to bank on your schedule—24/7, anytime, anywhere.

Our customers are more than that; they are our friends and neighbors. That’s why we financially support local schools and non-profit organizations while encouraging employee participation in volunteer efforts that impact the quality of life in our community.

Connect with First Bank on Twitter.

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The Wilmington NC Convention Center

Show Co-Host, Susan Eaton has lived in Wilmington for over 4 years and serves as General Manager of the Wilmington Convention Center of behalf of SMG, the world largest private management firm for public assembly facilities.

Susan oversees the day to day operations of the Center and the in-house food and beverage operation, along with the outdoor event space.

Meet The Chef, Scott Frazzetta

Chef Scott brings to the Wilmington Convention Center his attention to quality, presentation, abilities with volume cookery, and attention to detail that keeps our guests returning for their next event.

Our Award winning Chef Scott took home three 2013 Epicurean Evening awards for “Best in Show”, ”Best Taste”, and “Best Appetizer”, as voted by a panel of judges in a blind taste competition. In previous competitions, Scott’s awards included the “Peoples Choice Award” for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012.  The Epicurean Evening, is an event benefiting the NC Methodist Homes for Children.

Chef Scott has had a variety of experiences to include working in his father’s Wilmington bakery until age 18 and then worked at the Cape Fear Country Club before attending culinary school in Charleston. Once certified, Frazzetta worked as a chef in several restaurants and taught Culinary Arts at Trident Technical College before returning to Wilmington as Executive Chef at Pine Valley Country Club and Corning, Inc

JDRF Hope Gala 2014 

JDRF  is a major charitable organization dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research. JDRF’s stated goal is to “progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF uses over 80% of its expenditures to support research and research-related education.

Guests, Scott and Twyla Satterfield are the 2014 Hope Gala Honorees for the JDRF Coastal Carolina Branch. This year’s Hope Gala will be held at the Wilmington Convention Center on Saturday, May 17. For more information on the Gala and to purchase tickets, please visit the site: www.jdrfhopegala.org/.

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Chris Vargo, Assistant Director and Danielle Wallace, Programs Director of Battleship NC

Chris is a native to Erie, Pennsylvania and married to Christy Walker Vargo of Reidsville, NC. Together they have two children Jackson (12) and Luke (7). Chris attended the University of Phoenix and graduated with a BS – Management and a AA – Electronics Technology. On June 15, 2012 Chris assumed position as Assistant Director for the Battleship NC.
Coast Guard Career:
Enlisted – 11 September 1990
Obtained Rank of Chief Electricians Mate (E7) – 1999
Commissioning Source – Officer Candidate School – May 2000
Qualifications:
Aids to Navigation Officer
Prevention Officer

Danielle Wallace was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Because Honolulu is a huge tourist destination, it seems like Danielle was destined to work in the tourism/attraction profession.  Danielle graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and earned her Masters in History from UNC Wilmington.  Danielle worked at the North Carolina Aquarium at Ft. Fisher for 5 years as the registrar.  While there, she was given the opportunity to expand her skill set by decorating their Halloween event, Trick-or-Treat Under the Sea.  Due to that success, she was later charged with developing a haunted house for the event which resulted in The Pirates of Fish Hook Bay.  Danielle moved from the NC Aquarium at Ft. Fisher to the Battleship North Carolina as the Programs Director in October, 2007.  As the Programs Director, she is responsible for the Battleship’s rental program which includes corporate dinners, weddings & receptions, and paranormal investigations.  She also developed and directs select Battleship special events which include the Easter Egg Hunt Carnival, Batty Battleship’s Halloween Bash, and Ghost Ship.  Danielle’s master’s thesis was a visitor study of the Battleship entitled The Visitor’s Battleship.  Based on interviews and visitor observation, she determined that visitors personalize the Battleship based on their own history which results in meaningful experiences for them.  She is very happy and proud to be a member of the Battleship team.

Connect with the Battleship NC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube

Bonnie Thayer Dubier- Thayer Consulting

Thayer Consulting LLC is a full service advertising agency that specializes in social media management, promotional campaigns, media placement, production, web development and anything advertising! We specialize in “out of the box” campaigns to increase your business presence in new media and perfect your campaigns to achieve the greatest ROI! No challenge is too big! Advertising does not have to be boring!

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