Small Business Advisory seats are already filled

BOLIVIA—Brunswick County commissioners created a small business advisory commission the way Henry Ford created the assembly line—to streamline business fast.

The county board voted to form the business commission Jan. 22.

“We’ve already started taking applications. At the next meeting we can start making appointments,” chairman Phil Norris said after the January vote.

Commissioner Frank Williams had said he wanted to make appointments by
Feb. 4, if possible.

At Monday’s county commissioners meeting, 22 of the 23 seats on the commission were already filled. They were approved unanimously, 5-0.

The commission’s 23-member advisory board represents the county’s various business groups and economic sectors.

Commissioners approved five automatic spots on the advisory board for Jim Bradshaw, economic development director; Shannon Viera, Brunswick County Chamber president; Karen Sphar, Southport-Oak Island Chamber executive vice president; Dana Fisher, North Brunswick Chamber executive director; and Kim Gamlin, Brunswick Community College Small Business Center director.

Williams proposed the commission so the business community could provide feedback to county leaders to streamline permits and regulations. He said the idea came from the business community.

Commissioners approved eight appointments for representatives of Brunswick County organizations including Jeremy Phillips of the Economic Development Commission board, John Monteith of the Economic Development Foundation, Earl Tharp of Barnhill Contracting, Chip Leavitt of BEMC, Mitzi York of the Brunswick Tourism Development Authority, Allen Bryant of the Brunswick County Chamber board, Sam Keziah of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber board, and James Shoemaker of the North Brunswick Chamber board.

A ninth representative from a county organization will be selected once the Bald Head Island Chamber meets Feb. 7 to vote to charter a new chamber.

Seven advisory members were selected from specific economic sectors including residential real estate agent Stan Powell and commercial real estate agent David Stuart.

Construction business owner Ron Medlin will represent the construction and homebuilding sector. Blair Green will represent agriculture businesses. Michael Richards will represent retail businesses. Engineer Michael Norton will represent environmental and civil engineering; and Troy Price will represent the restaurant and hospitality industries.

Two at-large appointments were included. Steve Candler will serve a two-year term, which expires Dec. 1, 2014. Patrick Smith will serve a three-year term, which expires Dec. 1, 2015.

Williams said in the next week he intends to set a date for a meeting to put the new advisory board in motion.

Brian Slattery is a staff writer for The Brunswick Beacon. Reach him at 754-6890 or bslattery@brunswickbeacon.com.