Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Please be reminded about Enterprise@Sunrise, the ninth annual business awards ceremony, to be held from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, May 13 in Wagoner Hall at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Media are invited to attend and cover the event and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. The annual awards honor the hard work and success of business people in the greater Wilmington area.

“The University of North Carolina Wilmington is pleased to be a co-sponsor of Enterprise@Sunrise05,” said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. “Our aim is to recognize the best entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives in Wilmington.

“Entrepreneurs are the very heart of our economy; they beat with the pulse of innovation and creativity. What’s more, they not only produce jobs and opportunities across southeastern North Carolina but also enhance our quality of life. It’s only fitting that our community leaders pause to celebrate the significance of small business and recognize our various entrepreneurs,” DePaolo said.

“The University of North Carolina Wilmington is honored to be part of this important enterprise, and I hope leaders throughout our community will demonstrate their commitment to economic development in general and entrepreneurship in particular by supporting Enterprise@Sunrise05.”

Wilmington Mayor Spence Broadhurst commented that “private businesses big and small are the life blood of our economy. We need to do all we can to recognize and promote entrepreneurship in our community.”

N.C. Rep. Carolyn Justice will preside over the event. Steve Schnitzler, director of operations for Port City Java, will deliver the keynote address. Entertainment will be provided by Sea Pans, a local steel drum quartet.

This year’s categories for nominations are: Best Emerging Business, Best Established Business, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Most Innovative Business. Past winners in various categories have included GE Nuclear, Castle Branch, ExpoStar Displays, The Wilmington Group, The Toner Exchange, McKim & Creed and La Costa Mexican restaurant.

The event is sponsored by the Star-News and hosted by Coastal Entrepreneurial Council, the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Industrial Development, the Small Business and Technology Development Center and UNCW’s Cameron School of Business.

For additional information, please contact: Allison Rankin, project coordinator, UNCW Cameron School of Business, at 910-962-7194 or rankina@uncw.edu.