Business briefs

Verity Companies hires Day

The Verity Companies, based in Ocean Isle Beach, has announced Phil Day has been hired as business development director.

Day’s career spans more than 35 years, as sales director for the UK and Ireland with Bell Laboratories and AT&T; as managing director for the UK and Scandinavia with MCI; and as managing director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East with Verizon.

He has been involved in many community activities, including the Red Cross, Junior Achievement and teaching drug awareness programs to high school parents in Virginia, New Jersey and New York.

During his time in London, Day was a member of the chamber of commerce and a CCD instructor with his church. He is a member of the Brain Injury Association of America and the North Carolina Brain Injury Association.

After moving to Brunswick County, he became a member, ambassador and volunteer for the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, a Communities in Schools board member and a Rotary member.

Day and his wife Sharon, married 36 years, have lived in Europe, Scandinavia and the northeast coast before moving to Ocean Isle Beach.

The Verity Companies (Verity), formed in 2002 as Verity Management Solutions LLC, a business management consulting firm, has been in Ocean Isle Beach since 2005. Since its inception, Verity has expanded its lines of service to include property inspections and property maintenance to serve the rising need of the Coastal Carolinas for skilled property related services.

ATMC adds two new HD channels

ATMC Cable has added two new High Definition (HD) networks to its growing number of HD channels.

Animal Planet HD brings the special human/animal connection to life every day with shows like Meerkat Manor, Jeff Corwin’s Experience, Corwin’s Quest, Zoo Down Under and World’s Biggest and Baddest Bugs. Animal Planet HD is on digital channel 931 and is available at no extra charge to all customers with the Expanded Basic Cable package and a high definition digital cable box.

Science Channel HD celebrates the full spectrum of science with shows such as Invention Nation, Build it Bigger and How It’s Made. Science Channel HD is on digital channel 964 and is available at no extra charge to customers with any digital cable package and a high definition digital cable box.

Customers with questions or who wish to make suggestions of channels they would like to see in High Definition can e-mail ATMC Digital Cable at: hdtv@atmc.coop.

For more information, call 754-4311.

Cape Fear Farm Credit announces refund

Cape Fear Farm Credit has announced a 23 percent patronage refund to all general stockholders for 2007, according to a news release.

Each of these borrowers will receive a check for 23 percent of the accrued interest on their loan back in cash, which equates to an average of approximately 190 basis points. This 100 percent cash refund totals $11,415,752.45.

It cost the association $11,323,623 to operate in 2007, which means Cape Fear is paying out more in patronage than it costs the association to operate—a benefit to members for choosing to do business with a cooperative.

This year’s patronage refund checks will be distributed through each of Cape Fear’s 12 branch office locations.

As an agricultural lending cooperative, Cape Fear Farm Credit is owned by the member-borrowers who purchase stock/participation certificates in the cooperative. At the end of each fiscal year, Cape Fear Farm Credit’s board of directors may choose to either retain the Association’s net income to strengthen its capital position or distribute some or all of the net income to members by declaring a dividend on stock or a patronage refund.

“The distribution of profits to our members effectively reduces the cost of borrowing money,” said Richard Eason, president and CEO. “Patronage refunds are a representation of the financial stability and growth of the Association and we’re proud to be able to offer these refunds to our members.”

Scrime joins Weichert

Weichert, Realtors—Coastal Choice, 4956 Long Beach Road in Southport, has announced that residential specialist Don Scrime has joined its Southport office as a member of the Brunswick County Association of Realtors.

Originally from Whitehall, N.Y., Scrime is a seven-year resident of Winnabow.

Prior to real estate, he earned an associate degree in horticulture followed by work in landscaping, irrigation and pesticide application.

He has also worked as a florist, greenhouse owner and a carpenter.

Scrime can be reached at 454-4410.

Henderson joins Bechtel sales team

Betty Henderson is the newest member of the Mary Ann Bechtel sales team, bringing 16 years of experience in real estate.

Henderson, a broker with RE/MAX at the Beach since April 2007, was formerly broker-in-charge and owner of RE/MAX Real Estate Connection in Laurinburg.

“I am excited and proud to be a part of Mary Ann Bechtel’s team and to also continue my affiliation with RE/MAX at the Beach,” Henderson said. “Connecting with Mary Ann Bechtel and her team will be a significant benefit to my buyer and seller clients, because of our powerful dynamics and strong support. With a transactions coordinator and marketing manager already in place, both Mary Ann and I are now able to concentrate all efforts on servicing our buyers and sellers even better.”

RE/MAX at the Beach is at 6900 Ocean Hwy. W. in Ocean Isle Beach.

Henderson and Bechtel can be reached at 575-7355.

Find the Mary Ann Bechtel Team listings at www.maryannbechtel.com.