Prominent local leaders will present the awards to winners in 10 categories, including the coveted Coastal Entrepreneur of the Year. Winning companies, range from the Cucalorus Film Festival to a local technology company whose computer creations have been purchased by software giant Adobe. Gene Haley, CEO of Wilmington Pharmaceuticals, will be the keynote speaker.

Winners will be available for media interviews. Jonathan Rowe, director of the UNCW Entrepreneurship Center, is also available for interviews prior to the event upon request. Event registration is still open to the public at http://uncwec.org.

The awards are designed to honor businesses who strive to keep the local economy in motion. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses with less than 10 employees, or that are two years old or younger annually create 70 percent of new jobs and are responsible for 50 percent of the United States gross domestic product.

The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards are hosted by the UNCW Cameron School of Business in partnership with the Greater Wilmington Business Journal. The UNCW Entrepreneurship Center has played a key role in bringing emerging and high-growth ventures, entrepreneurs and support organizations together to strengthen the local economy. The center aims to be a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth in southeastern N.C. by facilitating the business growth, job creation and innovation.

Visit http://uncwec.org for more information. Media are invited to capture visual and interview opportunities at the event.

Media Contact:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu