Entrepreneurial Efforts

Several women-owned businesses were honored at this year’s 2022 Coastal Entrepreneur Awards, put on by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Contract research organization Portrett Pharmaceuticals, which KIMBERLY LUPO founded last year, picked up the emerging company CEA award. Elaborate Outings-Luxury Picnics founder MICHELLE BETHEA won the minority-owned business category. KRISTI RAY and ERIKA ARLEE, co-founders of boutique film production company Honey Head Films, won the film category. Health care category awards went to both Clarity Counseling Center, headed by KARIN KASSAB, and MyPeriodPal, started by AIRLIE WEDEMEYER.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Center, with executive director Kathy Zagzebski (above), won the nonprofit category. And Clean Eatz, founded by EVONNE VARADY and her husband, DON, took home the award in the retail and hospitality category.

To view more of photographer Michael Cline Spencer’s work, go to michaelclinephoto.com.

Want more WILMA? Click here to sign up for our WILMA Weekly email and announcements.