Bees & Boards Charcuterie & Catering Co., which provides made-to-order charcuterie boards and catering, is launching a restaurant concept that will include retail, dining, private celebrations, grab-and-go food, and catering, according to a news release.
The restaurant will be on the ground floor of the Dogwood State Bank building at 225 Green St. in a space formerly occupied by The Friends Table.
Bees and Boards says its restaurant will feature a fun and inviting ambiance designed to be an intimate yet energetic setting for guests. Fresh American cuisine will be served in a market-style atmosphere highlighting seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The menu will offer salads, provisions, sandwiches and wraps for breakfast and lunch, the release said.
The restaurant will be operated by Beth Smith and Sarahgrace Mitchell. Smith, who will be executive chef, owned Hilltop House Restaurant and Catering for 16 years before closing in 2020.
The restaurant is set to open on July 10, with soft-open dates of July 5-7.
For more information, go to beesandboardscharcuterieco.com.
Coldwell Banker Advantage agents and team win national recognition
Coldwell Banker Advantage agents Kenneth Barefoot, Corinne Smith and Monika Tollinger have been named among the top real estate professionals nationwide on RealTrends Inc.’s annual ranking, according to a news release.
Founded in 1987, RealTrends analyzes and identifies the nation’s most successful residential real estate brokerages, teams and agents. The organization compiles and verifies transactions and closed sales volume for the industry's annual rankings, the release said.
The ranking comes with the designation of “The Thousand,” or one of America’s best real estate professionals and among the top 1.5% of agents nationwide.
Barefoot, who is based in Fayetteville, is listed among agents recognized for total number of individual transaction sides.
Smith and Tollinger, the leaders of Team Elite, also are based in Fayetteville and were recognized for medium-size teams in total of transaction sides.
N.C. State Employees’ Credit Union board names new CEO
RALEIGH – The State Employees’ Credit Union board of directors has named Leigh Brady its new CEO. The appointment follows the resignation of Jim Hayes, who will leave SECU to become CEO of State Department Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, Virginia.
Brady is the credit union’s first woman CEO, according to a news release.
Brady has worked for 35 years at SECU, serving as chief operating officer since 2021. She previously held leadership positions in human resources, communications, organizational development, accounting, marketing, and auditing.
“No one understands SECU better than Leigh Brady,” said Chris Ayers, who chairs the board of directors. “She has been an integral part of the credit union for more than three decades and uniquely understands our mission and our members. She is well equipped to continue the improvements and advances that are underway at SECU.”
Brady will lead SECU as it moves forward with a plan to enhance service to the credit union’s 2.7 million members. That will include investments in technology and an ongoing commitment to give employees the tools and support they need, the news release said.
“I’ve spent my career focused on enhancing SECU for its members and their families,” Brady said. “I’m excited to step into this new role and will work to further strengthen our credit union. That work will be centered on what SECU has always done well — remembering our mission and serving our members.”
Fayetteville Tech awarded 2023 IDEAS Program grant
Fayetteville Technical Community College has been selected as a recipient of a 2023 IDEAS Program grant.
FTCC is one of 34 colleges and universities in the United States to receive a grant this year from the U.S. Department of State program, which is aimed at developing and expanding study-abroad programs around the world, according to a news release.
“FTCC is pleased to be selected as one of only eight community colleges across the nation to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS Program,” said FTCC President Mark Sorrells. “The objective of the project is to design a curriculum-aligned study-abroad experience for students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM) disciplines.”
The program, known formally as Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS), is intended to contribute to the State Department’s diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts to engage Americans in foreign policy. The proposals selected for 2023 grants will develop international partnerships, train faculty and staff, internationalize curriculum, engage diverse students in study abroad, broaden the destinations where U.S. students study, and create virtual and hybrid exchanges, according to the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
FTCC received its grant for a proposal called FTCC STEM Abroad. Under that plan, students will have opportunities to go to Belize and Bermuda to study subjects dealing with the foreign policy issues of climate, energy and the environment. The grant will fund initial planning of the proposed FTCC program.
County reissues request for bids for child care center operator
Cumberland County has reissued a request for bids for a child care center operator to serve county employees and their families, according to a news release.
Proposals are due by 2 p.m. Thursday. Providers who responded to previous bid requests must resubmit them to be considered, the release said.
The proposal number is RFP 23-27-ADM II Childcare Center Operator.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closing of many child care facilities, many county employees and potential employees have identified access to quality child care as a barrier to recruitment and retention, the news release said.
The county is seeking a child care provider to manage high-quality child care services at a county-owned facility, the release said.
Proposals may be delivered by mail, in person, or electronically in compliance with directions in the request for bids.
To request is at https://ccmunis.co.cumberland.nc.us/VSS/. Click on “Vendor Self Service” on the left side of the screen, followed by “Bids” and then “Open Bids only.” Then press “Search” to view open bids.
For more information, contact the Cumberland County Purchasing Division at CumberlandPurchasing@cumberlandcountync.gov.
