Business

Biz Briefs

A Healthy Dose of Fun

Joe and Sue Langley are serious about fun. They started Langley Gymnastics & Fun Center a decade ago to train young people in gymnastics. The evolution since then has been remarkable.

Moving into a new facility three years ago‚ Langley Gymnastics & Fun Center serves approximately 500 students each week with activities ranging from the traditional gymnastics to supervised events on Friday nights‚ a summer camp and computer labs. Sue Langley credits her staff and their commitment to the students for the center’s success.

“We moved to a larger facility‚ but we still maintain the family atmosphere that we have always had‚” she says.

The center has received several awards‚ including the Angier Chamber of Commerce 2006 Business of the Year and a Gold Medal Gym award for its participation in the Character Counts program.

“We teach gymnastics‚” Sue says‚ “but we also teach character in everything we do.”

Plans for the Langleys include a partnership with the YMCA to provide the area with a youth recreation center.

Leaders Needed: Will Train

Organized with the goal of “identifying potential community leaders‚” Leadership Harnett has graduated more than 200 community-minded citizens since its inception in 1997.

Each year a leadership class is chosen by committee to participate in the seven-month program designed to offer information and analysis of the area’s business and economic development‚ education system‚ government and the judicial system‚ quality of life issues‚ leadership and health care.

“We have a lot of people moving to Harnett County in leadership roles in various businesses‚” says Kim Hargrove‚ 1999 Leadership Harnett graduate and 2007 chairman. Leadership Harnett invites the newcomers to get to know the county and what it has to offer while also encouraging involvement.

The program isn’t just for newcomers. Hargrove says Leadership Harnett participants who are local residents get a view of their county they may have overlooked.

Leadership Harnett graduates are challenged to apply their talents throughout the community by becoming an active part of a chamber‚ other professional associations‚ civic clubs‚ public boards and service organizations.

The Good Old Ways

The art of soap making is not lost in Harnett County. Constance and Don Spell keep the traditions alive – and updated – for the customers of the Gigglin’ Pig.

“Soap is my passion‚” Constance says of her craft. She has spent many years perfecting her all-natural‚ healing soaps‚ salts and lotions‚ including studying in Hawaii‚ Germany and Monte Carlo.

“We make two kinds of soaps‚” Constance says. “One for people with skin conditions and the other for people who just want good-smelling soap.”

Customers can choose from 50 varieties of soap or order a custom blend of color and fragrance. “I had a customer come in recently with a bath tile and wanted me to make 30 bars to match her bathroom‚ which I did. We work with our customers and accept custom orders‚” says Constance.

Beautifully crafted sailboats and hanging vases created by Don are also available‚ as well as items from local artists and furniture from Amish craftsmen in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Prime Location for Business

What might have become an eyesore in the town of Erwin has been transformed into a modern business complex creating new investment and more than 100 new jobs.

Partners Frank Auman and Norman Avery redeveloped the former Swift Denim plant‚ which closed in 2000‚ into the Erwin Business Complex‚ a multi-tenant office and industrial warehouse complex. The five primary buildings offer space ranging from 2‚500 to 900‚000 square feet.

“We have renovated the complex‚ making it more modern‚ adding a sprinkler system‚ newly remodeled offices and improved the outside appearance of the building‚” Avery says. “Our plan is to continue to grow and bring jobs to Erwin.”

With access to I-95 and I-40 and 14 loading docks available‚ Erwin Business Complex is perfect for manufacturing and distribution enterprises as well as back-office operations and more. Companies currently utilizing the space include Trade More Clothing‚ Lancer Co.‚ Gray Metal South and Southern HVAC.

The Best Place To Work

Edward Brothers Inc. of Lillington has a reputation for excellent work – and as an excellent place to work.

“Being voted a Best of the Best Workplace in our industry five years in row is testimony to the culture we have been able to build at Edwards Brothers‚ where our employees are our most important asset. In fact‚ our employee average length of service is 10 years‚” says John Edwards‚ CEO of Edwards Brothers.

Established in 1893 in Ann Arbor‚ Mich.‚ Edwards Brothers opened a plant in Lillington in the early 1980s.

“The state of North Carolina‚ in particular Harnett County‚ has been a wonderful place for Edwards Brothers to grow our business as we look to expand our operations‚” Edwards says.

The printing company specializes in short‚ medium and ultra-short runs for publishers‚ authors‚ scholarly societies‚ industrial firms‚ universities and others. In addition to textbooks and professional journals‚ Edwards Brothers has also printed three of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

The Lillington plant employs 280 people and produces from 200‚000 to 300‚000 hard- and soft-cover books each week.

Story by Phyl M. Gatlin
Photo by staff

Site Sponsors

Local Advertisers

Site Sponsors

Contact Us

Local Advertisers

Business