Tag Archive for: #businessspotlight

TownTalk: Business Spotlight – The Assurance Group

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As an insurance professional and Medicare benefits coordinator with the The Assurance Group, Dr. Almice Floyd Gill has the knowledge and experience to help individuals understand their choices when it comes to Medicare options.

In her role as an insurance broker, she can help clients as they consider all the different choices that are available, from health insurance to life insurance.

Gill branched out into Medicare in 2018, she said on Tuesday’s Business Spotlight.

“There were so many things that I didn’t know,” she said, as she pursued her license. Besides being licensed in North Carolina, she holds licensure in South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Indiana.

“We have to make sure we stay on top of what’s going on with Medicare and HIPPA,” she said. Staying updated on all the latest information means that education is a big part of what she does as a broker, and it’s what she focuses on with her clients.

There is no cost for a consultation, Gill said, and she’s happy to meet over the phone, in person. She’ll even make a home visit, if that’s what the client needs.

One of the aspects of her work that brings her the most pleasure is simply helping people understand what programs they qualify for.

“Whatever the customer needs, that’s what I focus on,” she said. As a broker, she said she has the flexibility to “find the best rates and look for what’s best for the client.” Plus, she said, “I’m here…I’m local. I don’t just write policies and then walk away.”

Besides health insurance, Gill helps clients understand the value of having life insurance and hospitalization insurance, both of which come in handy.

Life insurance is something that doesn’t have to be expensive and it’s something that you should consider when you’re young and healthy.

“You don’t have to have a million dollars of life insurance, or even 100,000,” she explained. Even a $10,000 or $20,000 policy – which would cost probably in the $40-$50 a month range – would help family members with final expenses upon the death of the policy holder.

She said she wishes she’d thought more about having a life insurance policy when she was younger. It’s something an employer may offer, she said. “but when the job ends, the life insurance ends, along with other benefits.”

At the end of the day, Gill said, she really and truly enjoys helping people. “I love it when I see the light bulb go off when people see they are eligible for other benefits.”

Call or text Gill at 252.701.6720 or email her at

adfloydgill@assuregrp.com

 

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TownTalk: Business Spotlight – Ninja Realty

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For James Hutson, it all started with a 1994 green Thunderbird. And a personal desire to keep moving forward.

That T-bird was Hutson’s first car, and he bought it with money he earned from having yard sales.

Even then, as a teenager, Hutson was a salesman. He said he sold whatever he could get his hands on and put out on the yard on Carey Chapel Road. He had a goal: He had to buy a car.

He held yard sales all summer long back in 2004, and he figured out a way to extend his reach and get the word out about his yard sales. He called Tradio on WIZS.

Yep, Tradio.

“I sold so much on Tradio,” Hutson said.

“Without Tradio, I wouldn’t have gotten that first car as fast as I did,” he said.

When October rolled around, with his car – paid in full – in the front yard, the young man was on his way. Hutson celebrated his 16th birthday at his first job – Taco Bell.

Those yard sales – along with his positive, forward-thinking outlook – combined to propel Hutson into a career in real estate, which he landed on in a somewhat haphazard manner.

Now, as the owner of Henderson-based Ninja Realty and Boom Management, Hutson works with a team of highly skilled agents and real estate specialists to provide a full complement of services for their clients.

But when he was a student at Southern Vance High School, Hutson had plans of becoming a carpenter, a homebuilder.

That is, until he took carpentry class and learned that, as he put it, he wasn’t very good.

About that same time, his computer teacher gave the class an assignment to write about where they’d be after graduation, and, almost on a whim, Hutson said he decided he’d choose realtor.

He’d remembered a local realtor who’d helped a family member a few years earlier, Hutson said. So that’s the career he wrote about.

He and another student were in the running for a Teaching Fellows scholarship, but “I turned it down for real estate,” Hutson recalled. In hindsight, a good decision.

Fast-forward to Day 1 at real estate school. Hutson learned something in the first five minutes that had him all set to head for the door: Real estate, the instructor said, is commission-based.

What?

But there were no refunds, Hutson explained, somewhat philosophically adding, “we just keep moving forward, no refunds. Keep it moving.”

A single point kept him from passing the real estate exam on the first try. He needed an 80 and got a 79. It was close to a year before he could take the exam again, mostly because of the $500 fee he didn’t have.

But he used that time to lobby Vance-Granville Community College to add a real estate class, which it did. Hutson took the class, taught by former real estate appraiser Fern Boyd, and when he sat for the exam a second time, he “passed it with flying colors.”

Fast-forward again to 2015 when Ninja Realty began. Within a couple of years, he had taken the company independent and now, their bright orange signs are on homes for sale and for rent, as well as commercial properties.

Recently, a commercial property owner worked with Hutson’s consulting team for about 10 months to get the property ready for the market, and it’s currently under contract – for between $300,000 and $400,000 more than before the Ninja team got involved.

“I like seeing people reach their goals,” Hutson said. One of Ninja Realty’s core values is building generational wealth.

“I believe the best way to help a community is to help get it out of poverty,” he said. “Poverty is the enemy of everyone…if you create generational wealth and you change that system that people have been in for who knows how long – some people’s family has been in poverty for hundreds of years – you can really set a new course for people.”

There’s another core value, Hutson calls it Ninja’s “secret sauce” that he’s happy to share.

“We truly do try to treat everyone the way we want to be treated,” he said.

Landlords who work with Hutson’s team to manage their rental properties can rest assured that the Ninja team is going to treat their property as if it were their own. He employs the same negotiating style for clients as he would if he were buying a property for himself. “Everything I’m doing for me is what I do for the consumer,” he said.

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TownTalk: Business Spotlight – Pete Smith Automotive

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Pete Smith had a knack for fixing transmissions, but he also knew a thing or two about diagnosing and repairing vehicles. Combine that with a strong work ethic and an office chock full of shop manuals and you’ve got a recipe for a successful business.

And Smith’s grandchildren, Kristi and Dallas, have set their sights on making sure that Pete Smith Automotive is hitting on all cylinders as it approaches 80 years in business.

Pete Smith Automotive has seven shops, with an eighth set to open soon in Youngsville. Kristi and Dallas are third-generation Smiths to help run the stores, two of which are in Henderson, with one in Warrenton, three in Louisburg and one in Rolesville.

Kristi said she and Dallas each had careers in the corporate world, but they answered the call to work in the family business within the last year. With her background in managing people and his focus on payroll, the two are assuming responsibility for keeping the shops running smoothly.

But it’s not just the nuts-and-bolts of running a business that are important for the Smiths.

They’re committed to continuing the feeling of “family” the business has fostered over the years.  “We will treat you as you would want to be treated,” Dallas said, “as if you were part of our family.”

“You can take your car anywhere to get it fixed,” he said, “but here, you’ll feel like you’re included and part of the family.” At Pete Smith Automotive, the manager is likely to not just know your name but also ask you how your day is going. “That’s important and that stuff matters,” Dallas said.

Kristi concurs. “We always put the customer first, no matter what. We train our managers and staff to always have the customer in mind…from the second you walk in the door.”

Whether it’s the customer who brought in a ’68 Plymouth for a new set of whitewall tires to complete that vintage look, or the one who brought in his 2026 dually truck, the shop staff at Pete Smith is ready to roll up their sleeves to provide quality service.

“We really can work on it all,” Dallas said. They prioritize continuing education and sponsor monthly trainings for their technicians in partnership with NAPA to make sure they’re on top of their game.

It’s important to stay current to handle the requirements of new vehicles with all its computer chips, sensors and complex systems.

The two give Kristi’s dad, Keith, credit for expanding the business over the years. He started out as a lube tech and then drove the tow truck. Kristi remembers the CB radio that sat by her father’s recliner when she was younger. “I thought it was something special when I’d get to go ride,” she said, recalling riding shotgun in that tow truck.

Kristi is giving her 11-year-old daughter Lilli a taste of that same experience of being part of the family business – not riding shotgun in a tow truck but assisting her mom in creating a stronger social media presence. Lilli, phone in hand, took photos of her mom and her uncle during the interview. (Click Play below to Listen.)

L-R: John Rose, Dallas Smith, Kristi Smith in WIZS Studio B

Greg is Dallas’s father, and he keeps the main garage, located on Pete Smith Road in Franklin County, humming. “My dad is more focused on the garage’s well-being – that’s his sphere of influence,” Dallas said.

All the Pete Smith Automotive shops provide a full range of services, and each store has an area of expertise. But when it’s necessary, they’ll bring vehicles to the garage, which Dallas calls the “heartbeat of the entire operation.”

Dallas puts his trust and confidence in the technicians at Pete Smith.

“Our guys are very good at what they do,” he said. “Your car is in great hands.” There’s at least one master technician and multiple ASE-certified managers or techs at each location who can handle everything from checking the air pressure in your tires to transmission or engine replacement.

“We will treat you right and get your car right – we are very capable at what we do,” he said.

And in the unlikely event that things don’t go as planned, Kristi said, it’s still “customer first.”

“We make mistakes, but we always tell our customers we will always make it right. If something goes wrong, we’ll take care of it. We’re going to treat you like family.”

Kristi and Dallas say it’s Ma Ruth who instilled that “family-first” mindset into her husband’s business. Ruth Smith died last year, and Kristi said it was Ma Ruth as the grands called her who taught them from an early age to care about people.

“She was the kindest person you would ever meet,” Kristi said. Treating people kindly resonates with Kristi as she brings on board elements of HR that she picked up in her previous corporate career.

Dallas remembers helping Ma Ruth roll quarters as a child. She kept the books for the business until about 10 years ago, and he said his grandmother brought a calm, steady presence to the business, in good times and in not-so-good times.

Today, there are about 50 employees on the Pete Smith payroll, not counting the other five to 10 employees at the Louisburg vehicles sales lot.

Some of those employees have been with the company for decades and can lay claim to having worked with Pete Smith himself. But whether they’re long-time employees or not, they’re loyal. And they’ve welcomed Kristi and Dallas to the business.

“Show us some grace,” Kristi said she told employees upon their arrival. “We’re going to need to lean on you.” Store managers have helped guide the two as they gain experience running things. “They’ve got all the history – they know things we didn’t know,” Kristi added.

Kristi jokes that you probably wouldn’t want her back in the shop area working on your vehicle, but Dallas is another story. He’s done a bit of it all, from working the counter to chipping in back in the shop when they need extra help.

“Never ask your employees to do something you’re not willing to do,” Kristi said. “That’s just how our family operates – we jump in…to do everything we can” to help.

“It’s comforting to know that that’s what we’re known for,” she said. “I’ve always been so proud of being a Smith (and I’m) so proud of our business.”

In 20 years, Pete Smith Automotive will turn 100. Dallas’s son will turn 22. Will he be the fourth generation of Smiths to usher the business into its second century?

If the young man takes a page from his father, who described being at work for Pete Smith Automotive as something that feels like “home,” like it was meant to be, then maybe, just maybe, that answer will be yes.

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(The audio, text and images available are not part of a paid advertisement.)

TownTalk: Business Spotlight – Ballet Arts

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Since 1991, Ballet Arts has provided instruction to thousands of young people to learn about different genres of dance and experience the beauty of an art form that teaches life lessons in addition to dance moves.

In Wednesday’s Business Spotlight, Phil LaKernick said registration is now underway for the upcoming season of dance, which includes everything from traditional ballet and pointe to tap, hiphop, floor gymnastics and more.

Ballet Arts more or less follows the school year, offering in excess of 100 classes each week to children as young as 2 1/2, LaKernick said.

“Right now is crunch time,” LaKernick said, referring to registration in advance of a Sept. 2 start date.

Find details about class schedules, pricing and more at https://www.balletartsnc.com/.

LaKernick said that students learn so much more than just dance steps when they take classes – they also learn about dedication, precision, friendship and the responsibility of being part of a team.

Another component of Ballet Arts involves competitions – The Ballet Arts “All Stars” Company is a group of dancers between the ages of 7 and 18 who audition for a spot in the coveted group.

In more than 30 years of offering dance classes, LaKernick said Ballet Arts now has children and grandchildren of those original students back in the early 1990’s.

“It’s really good, because the people that have come to us have stuck with us,” he said.

“I wish more people would come out and do it,” he added. “It’s a learning experience…the dedication and camaraderie that is part of the whole package.”

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TownTalk: Business Spotlight – Storage Sense

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Storage Sense is open for business, and local community leaders were on hand recently for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome it to the neighborhood.

Actually, it’s just the first phase of possibly four phases that was the object of celebration on June 18, when Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson and her staff brought the “big scissors” for the celebratory ceremony.

The property, located at the intersection of U.S. 1/Norlina Road and Warrenton Road, has been upfitted to be a convenient storage facility for anyone who needs extra space for belongings they aren’t currently using but aren’t ready to part with.

Folks who’ve lived here long enough may remember it as Skateland, which opened in 1949. Others may remember it as Moore’s, a building supply center. Most recently, it was part of John Foster Homes.

Local business owner Jason Stewardson has transformed the high-visibility location into a modern-looking space that’s set up and ready to serve the public. “It’s unbelievable the demand for storage,” he said.

At the ribbon-cutting, Stewardson said, “What you see here is Phase 1 of a three-phase project…with potentially a fourth phase with the two acres in back.” Buildings that once housed building materials and more could be transformed into boat sheds, he said.

Phase 2 is the renovation of the old Skateland building, which would provide another 250 or so storage units.

Storage Sense District Manager Doug Pierce said this area hasn’t had many new storage options recently. “I think this will be a great improvement and help the community,” Pierce said.

Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Scott Burwell congratulated Stewardson and the third-party management Storage Sense team for providing this timely service, when Henderson and Vance County are experiencing an expanding housing market.

“We’re very eager to see phase 2,” Burwell said.

Vance County Economic Development Commission Chair Ruxton Bobbitt said “it’s fantastic to see the north side of town seeing traffic” when it comes to development and said he is happy that the property has a new lease on life with this new business.

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Business Spotlight: AdVance Joint Regeneration

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Most anybody experiencing knee pain, brought on by injury, arthritis or something else, probably would choose any therapy or procedure over the more invasive option of surgery.

With surgery, there’s some expected post-op downtime, then perhaps rehab – weeks of recovery, even in the best of circumstances.

For some, however, AdVance Joint Regeneration offers an alternative: it’s called visco supplementation and Clinical Director Brad Johnson said the procedure often delays or prevents the need for surgery.

“To delay or prevent surgery is always a good thing,” Johnson said.

Their specialty is knee joint injections, and Johnson said it’s covered by most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. As the clinic’s director, it’s part of his job to answer patients’ questions, handle insurance and generally make sure the place runs smoothly, Johnson said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

An initial exam and x-rays, followed by an arthrogram – injecting a bit of dye into the joint – helps staff determine good candidates for the joint injection of hyaluronic acid.

Joints like knees are encapsulated, which keeps the body’s natural lubrication contained within the joint and doing its job. Johnson said his staff uses a fluoroscope during the arthrogram to make sure the dye stays within the encapsulated joint and that there is no damage that would cause it to leak out.

The hyaluronic acid is “very similar to what’s in your joints already,” Johnson explained. During the arthrogram, as the dye is injected, the examiner “can see it moving around and staying in place. As long as it doesn’t migrate, she can go ahead and do the treatment.” Physician Assistant Katheryn Lordy and Andrew Stock, M.D. staff the Henderson clinic.

In case the tests show some damage, there’s a way to “trick” the brain into cleaning up the damaged tissue to promote healing using the patient’s own blood platelets.

A platelet rich plasma is injected into the damaged joint, Johnson said, which triggers the brain to start repairing the tissue.

Patients receive five weekly injections and go home with a knee brace to support and gently realign the knee and leg. Sometimes, they’ll need physical therapy or a home exercise device to help improve range of motion, but that’s about it as far as post-injection care goes.

“The downtime is basically none,” Johnson said. Patients “can basically go back and do what they want to do and what they’re comfortable doing.”

Contact AdVance Joint Regeneration at 252.572.2944 to make an appointment for a no-obligation consultation. Visit https://advancejointregeneration.com/ to learn about all the services offered.

This WIZS Business Spotlight is not a paid ad. However, the business featured is an advertising client of WIZS Radio.

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Business Spotlight – City Auto

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When he was 16, Tony Lamancusa bought a Dodge Charger, and the first thing he did was make it better by taking off the intake and putting in a bigger one. Everything went according to plan. Intake, check, Carburetor, check. Spark plugs, rewiring, check.

But when he turned the key, nothing happened.

“Nobody ever told me anything about firing order,” Lamancusa said, recalling how it took several weeks for him to find someone to help him diagnose the problem and share that all-important firing order – six numbers that Lamancusa still remembers: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Details are so important when it comes to service and repair on vehicles, and that story is a reminder for Lamancusa as the owner of City Auto and Truck Stop on Andrews Avenue.

His engineering background, coupled with his passion for rebuilding muscle cars really comes in handy with the full-service center.

From the routine stuff like inspections, oil changes, brakes, tires and belts to engine and transmission work, Lamancusa said he and his employees can handle it. They also work on boat trailers, semi trailers, RV’s, go-carts and forklifts.

Lamancusa said he values customers’ time and he strives to take care of their vehicles while they wait. “We try to get people in and out as quickly as we can,” he said.

And, he’s hiring.  Apply in person.

Stop by the shop to talk with Lamancusa to find out about the wide array of services they offer. He said he’s got very competitive prices – if you’ve got the parts and simply need them installed, that’s fine, you’ll just be charged for labor. They specialize in most American made cars, he said, stressing that they’re not an import shop.

“We run a clean shop and we honor what we do,” he said.

Call City Auto and Tire at 252.492.1195. Online at cityautoandtruckcenter.com

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Recently, City Auto and Truck became a Penske dealer, so customers can reserve and pay online and then come pick up the truck.

As a business owner, Lamancusa likens himself to an orchestra conductor: being at the front desk, he interacts with the public, handles the phones and now Penske customers. “I’m the conduit that everything flows through,” he said.

His background in electrical engineering is a perfect complement to the hands-on work that comes with running a shop like City Auto.

“Working with my hands, and my (engineering) knowledge, putting machines together – the two go well together,” he said.

 

TownTalk: Business Spotlight with Midnight Blue Martial Arts

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Midnight Blue Martial Arts takes center stage in the Business Spotlight on Tuesday’s TownTalk and owner Kimberly Harris invites the community to join her at the karate studio on Saturday afternoon for a Valentine’s Sip and Shop event.

This is the second year for the event, Harris said, which will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the studio, located at 101 N. Garnett St.

Midnight Blue, celebrating 25 years of providing classes in the area, has been in its downtown location since 2008, she said.

The karate studio will be filled with more than 25 vendors from across the area, featuring handcrafted items from jewelry to personalized Valentine’s Day cards for that special someone in your life.

During the pandemic, Harris said she turned to sewing to help keep her busy since she couldn’t get back into the studio to teach.

That pastime turned into something bigger and she took her new business on the road to some vendor fairs. She decided to host her own last year, and this year’s event features some return vendors, as well as new vendors who wanted to get in on the fun.

Bun on the Run will be parked out front and Sadie’s is bringing delicious hot chocolate.

Folks familiar with the karate studio will know that there’s a Black Belt Wall featuring each student who has achieved that level of proficiency.

“We take a picture (of them) in front of the American flag,” Harris said, which serves to motivate students to keep working hard toward their goal.

The students range in age from 2 to 68, but everyone learns a key element through the classes they take: being respectful.

Call 252.767.8398 to learn more about Midnight Blue Martial Arts Academy, LLC or visit https://hendersonkarate.com/

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TownTalk: Business Spotlight: Henderson Country Club

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Now through February, golfers can call the Henderson Country Club to book a tee time and get an up-close look at newly renovated greens and more, all for the low price of $40.

This is the second year the club has offered the special rates – which are in effect now through the end of February.

Golfers can take advantage of the nice, moderate weather and enjoy a round of golf as the club optimizes filling available tee times. Give the club a call at 252.433.7089 to book a tee time.

The HCC was Thursday’s Business Spotlight on TownTalk, and President Joseph Falkner and Membership Chairman Jeff Fleming talked about the many ways that the public can enjoy the grounds and facilities, not just the course, with its newly renovated greens.

Falkner said the new greenskeeper and his staff have done a great job to create championship greens. The weather cooperated when the greens were first installed, so they grew perfectly.

“This is the best the greens have ever rolled and the best the course has ever looked,” he added.

“Ultimately, it’s a community center for people,” Falkner said. “We’ve got a great kitchen staff…and can support hundreds of people at the time” for banquets, private parties and more.

There are plenty of opportunities for the public to enjoy what HCC has to offer, Falkner said, in addition to playing golf, the dining spaces can accommodate small or large groups. Recent upgrades to the banquet area include new chairs and fixtures.

“We are a full-service club,” Fleming reminded. “You have to think beyond golf.” Other amenities include tennis courts, swimming pool, workout area and the stately clubhouse.

Falkner said he sees HCC as a major attraction for families relocating to Henderson, making it a place the whole family can enjoy.

“Every successful and thriving small town has a club similar to ours,” Fleming said, adding that this facility can work as a hub to facilitate business.

The golf course is the location for numerous fundraiser tournaments, including Vance-Granville Community College and the local Chamber of Commerce. Then there’s the annual Invitational tournament and Member-Guest, just to name a few.

Expect to hear about additional tournaments next year, as the board continues to garner more attention for the club and its facilities.

“There are a lot of young business leaders on this board,” Fleming said. “We’ve come back strong.”

Visit https://www.hendersoncc.net/  to learn more.

 

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Chick-fil-A Henderson

Business Spotlight: Chick-fil-A of Henderson

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Sometimes there is more to a restaurant than its signature item, and sometimes that means the restaurant spills out into the community in a unique way.

For Chick-fil-A of Henderson or anywhere else that could mean seeing the beloved Chick-fil-A cow at a ballgame or even the restaurant handing out cards for free signature items to the first 250 appearing at a game, such as Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023 in Henderson for the Vance County High School Vipers vs. Southern Durham.

And while great restaurants normally receive their guests in a manner that promotes that greatness, isn’t it likely true that the greatness of the restaurant may be produced by the restaurant’s employees because of how the owner/operator/corporation receives those valuable employee team members?

For one possible answer to the question above, as it pertains to Chick-fil-A of Henderson anyway, enjoy the audio link below as Josh Towne, local owner/operator, describes incentives for employment at Chick-fil-A of Henderson including food, opportunities to attend college and more.

(Chick-fil-A of Henderson advertises on WIZS.  This text and audio is not a paid ad.)

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