Fractional with Chris Capone and Associates

Brent Botros shares a raw and very real story of his personal struggle with addiction and the dark side of drugs and violence right here in Wilmington, NC. Brent is celebrating 11+ years of sobriety, dedicating his life to expanding access to addiction treatment.

Brent is a founder of The Cape Fear Recovery & Resilience Foundation. The mission is to expand access to effective addiction treatment, fund research on innovative care models that improve outcomes, and invest in the future of recovery. They have been awarded a $3 Million grant from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Brent holds a Masters of Social Work along with credentials as a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist - Associate and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He is also the Founding Program Director of Tree House Recovery NC.

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Brent's personal story and battle with addiction to sobriety and helping others
• What makes Tree House's whole-person approach different from a typical 30-day program
• Why the Cape Fear Recovery and Resilience Foundation was started, and who it helps
• Plans for Tree House's new Wilmington facility

Brent Botros | LinkedIn

Tree House Recovery NC | Addiction Treatment Center

Home | Cape Fear Recovery & Resilience Foundation

John Hoover is the Senior Vice President of NPRP Media, an out-of-home media agency that handles large scale marketing and branding initiatives for national and international brands. John is a UNCW alum and resides in Wilmington, NC with his wife and two children.

John moved to San Diego in 2008 with the goal to work in surf and networked his way into an action sports agency working with Volcom, Quiksilver and Oakley. About five years later he joined NPRP Media, where he has now spent 12 years. Today the agency’s team of about 16 runs campaigns for businesses like Monday.com and AG Jeans, has worked with fashion brands including Saint Laurent and Gucci, and has grown its business through referrals and long-term relationships.

In this conversation, we cover:

• How a cold move to California turned into a career start in action sports marketing
• What out-of-home media is, and why it's growing while other traditional channels decline
• How NPRP Media builds a campaign around where a brand's customers live, work and play
• How brands measure out-of-home today, from geofencing to brand lift
• What it takes to build a brand that lasts, and why product comes first

John Hoover | LinkedIn

NPRP Media - A leading Independent OOH Media Firm

Meade Van Pelt is the Executive Director of The Harrelson Center, which supports and partners with nonprofits in addressing critical needs across Wilmington including housing, education, employment, health care and family support.

Before its transformation into a humanitarian campus, half of the Harrelson Center was an unused, dilapidated three-story jail containing original cells. Today, It is now the physical home for 20 nonprofits, and partners with 22 more off campus. By connecting organizations with shared resources, support and one another, the Center has created an ecosystem that helps address complex needs throughout the community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The history and transformation of The Harrelson center
• How its collaborative model helps nonprofits better serve the community
• Why investing in nonprofit staff and back-office operations matters
• The challenges nonprofits face with funding, burnout, and sustainability
• How the ILM Volunteer Hub is connecting local organizations and volunteers
• Ways businesses can use their own expertise to support nonprofit work

Meade Van Pelt | LinkedIn

Home - Harrelson Center

E70: Dr. David Stegall – The Endowment: Programs and Grants

Dr. David Stegall is the Vice President of Programs and Grants at The Endowment, where he helps lead grantmaking and strategic partnerships focused on creating transformational and lasting change throughout New Hanover County.

From growing up in a North Carolina textile town and working as an elementary school teacher – to serving as North Carolina’s Deputy State Superintendent, David’s journey shaped his belief that education is the ultimate "great equalizer." Today, he helps guide The Endowment’s work across its core focus areas: social and health equity, education, community safety, and community development.

In this episode, we explore:

• His journey from the classroom to leadership roles across North Carolina and beyond
• How The Endowment approaches grantmaking and works alongside local organizations
• Why addressing root causes is essential to creating lasting community change
• The opportunities ahead for New Hanover County as The Endowment’s impact continues to grow.

David Stegall, Ed.D | LinkedIn

Dr. David Stegall - New Hanover Community Endowment

Matthew Coleman is the VP of Sales and Marketing for Wilmington Media + Marketing, which brings us the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, FEAST and many other events and publications aimed at building community.

From working in construction and landing his first job in radio sales, to leading sales and marketing strategy for local and national companies, Matthew has watched the marketing landscape change significantly throughout his career. Today, he helps businesses combine face-to-face community engagement with modern tools like AI to work more efficiently while keeping genuine relationships at the center.

In this episode, we explore:

• The practical difference between sales and marketing and why marketing should make your business known before its services are needed.
• Matthew’s “air support and ground troops” analogy for aligning marketing and sales.
• How businesses can use AI for data analysis, reporting, idea generation, and everyday efficiency without sounding automated.
• Why personal conversations, handshakes, and authentic content remain essential alongside AI.
• What attendees can expect from Spark ILM this October.

Matthew Coleman | LinkedIn

Home - WILMINGTON MEDIA + MARKETING

Tanner Konrady is the second-generation Owner and President of Konrady & Son Construction, a custom home builder based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Over the last decade, Tanner has successfully transitioned into the next generation of ownership of the family biz, building and growing the firm to the next level, all while preserving the legacy and soul created by his father. A business built on relationships.

Tanner grew up on the job site, learning the work and processes firsthand before pursuing his business degree at UNCW. His experience in the field, paired with a business education, has shaped how he approaches leadership and growth at Konrady & Son.

In this episode, we explore:

• Navigating the complex transition of taking over a family business while preserving its core legacy.
• His "non-traditional” approach to his college degree, and the benefit of doing so
• Earning respect and authority by working on the job site before stepping into the business and leadership side
• The reality of balancing personal father-son relationships with professional business dynamics.

Tanner Konrady | LinkedIn

Konrady & Son Construction | Luxury Home Builder Coastal NC

Scott Davis is the UNCW Hub Director for NCInnovation. NCInnovation formed as a non-profit in 2020 and established a historic public-private partnership backed by a $500 million endowment from the North Carolina General Assembly. Operating through a regional innovation network model, NCInnovation strategically deploys funding to take regional university research out of the lab and straight onto Main Street.

Scott is a UNCW Alumni and former tech entrepreneur, living the entire lifecycle of bringing cutting-edge technologies to the real world. In this episode, we explore:

• How NCInnovation leverages its $500 million public-private endowment to deploy non-dilutive capital without taking equity stakes.
• Hardcore breakthroughs coming right out of Wilmington, including a universal flu vaccine targeting both human health and agriculture.
• Understanding UNCW’s rapid trajectory as a high-growth research hub and what it means for the local economy.
• Scott’s personal journey scaling plastics-to-fuel and mobile solar technologies.

Scott Davis | LinkedIn

NCInnovation | Putting Innovation to Work for All of North Carolina

Ben David served as the District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender Counties for two decades, establishing himself as one of North Carolina's most forward-thinking voices in criminal justice. Today, he serves as the CEO and Chief Legal Counsel of the newly established Community Justice Center (CJC) in Wilmington, NC.

Throughout his career, Ben realized that traditional, reactive law enforcement wasn't enough to make a community truly safe. By focusing on the root causes of crime - including trauma, poverty, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - he pioneered a "Starfish Model" of community-based prosecution that helped slash Wilmington's violent crime rate by 46% while keeping local prison populations entirely flat.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why "today's victim is tomorrow's defendant" and how breaking the cycle of abuse stops future crime.
• How combining government, nonprofits, and business under one roof maximizes community impact.
• How the CJC turns a $300,000 rent budget into over $3.5 million of collaborative service value.
• Balancing accountability for violent crime with rehabilitation and treatment for youth and the vulnerable.

CJC ABOUT | Our Team & Mission | New Hanover County

Benjamin David | LinkedIn

Roy Bechtold is a Financial Advisor at Raymond James and a retired Marine Raider with more than 20 years of service in the United States Marine Corps.

Throughout his military career, Roy led teams in high-pressure environments around the world, where preparation, trust, and decisive leadership weren't just valuable, they were essential. Today, he brings those same principles to his work helping business owners navigate growth, succession planning, and long-term financial decisions.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why trust is the foundation of effective leadership.
• How preparation and contingency planning help teams perform under pressure.
• The leadership lessons Roy carried from military service into working with business owners.
• The challenges of transitioning from military service to civilian life.
• Why planning ahead is critical for business growth, succession, and exit planning.

Roy Bechtold, MBA, AAMS, CEPA | LinkedIn

Roy Bechtold - Wilmington, NC

Please note: Any opinions are those of Roy Bechtold and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

Dan Brawley is the Executive Director of the Cucalorus Film Foundation, founder of Jengo's Playhouse, and a longtime advocate for Wilmington's arts community and revitalization of Downtown Wilmington.

Through decades of involvement in the neighborhood, Dan has helped guide the area's evolution from an overlooked industrial corridor into one of Wilmington's most unique districts. Along the way, neighborhood staples like Jengo's Playhouse, Wabi Sabi and Folks Café have helped create a sense of identity, connection, and community that continues to shape the area's future.

In this episode, we explore:

• The early days of the neighborhood before it became known as the Soda Pop District.

• The story behind the Soda Pop District name and how the area developed its identity.

• Why community anchors like Folks Café and Jengo's Playhouse help preserve the neighborhood's identity through periods of growth and change.

• Why preserving local history and creating authentic places matters.

• Dan's vision for the future of the Soda Pop District and Wilmington's creative economy.

Cucalorus Film Foundation

jengos.eventive.org/welcome

Soda Pop District – Wilmington Downtown, iNC