ESL::What is your hiring process? What do you look for in entry level employees ,Personality, work history, technical experience, attitude?   

JM:Regulator continues to sell its boats both here in the US and abroad.  I would be remiss in sharing about Regulator without calling out the efforts of Regulator’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Keith Ammons. Keith join the Regulator team about 8 years ago – moving his family here and immediately started impacting Regulator as well as the community.  I from time to time remind Keith that he is the only person I know that flew over to Australia with a brochure and came back with 2 boat orders. 

It takes a team of talented dedicated people to produce these beautiful boats.  It is an honor to lead them and it is a honor to share the profits of this business with this community.  Maybe the next time we can talk about Regulator’s In His Service team….its in house counselor/minister….its free health care through Bream medical…..there’s so much to share about this place and the good that we get the privilege to do because two “kids” at 28 and 30 years old were entrusted to start a boat company.  

ESL:Other than your unstoppable determination, was the reinvention of the Deep Vee Center Console the innovation that first put Regulator on the map?  What other key aspects of the sports-fishing boats you produce have been industry ‘firsts’?  

JM: The 26 was that reinvention – because at the time there many innovative things that this boat offered that other boats on the market didn’t:

Fiberglass stringers (these are the lateral and longitudinal supports on the hull) and transom.  At that time most boats had wooden stringers  and transoms that were subject to rot

Stand up head compartment (on a boat the head is the bathroom)

Deep V  hull with wide chines – which allowed the boat to cut through the water and side to side roll dampened by the chines

Again, when we introduced the 26 – the market was in recession – not a lot of new product was being introduced so the Regulator got lots of press. 

In 2024 Regulator partnered with Yamaha and Roush to produce the world’s first hydrogen powered outboard boat.  This technology was so sensitive that only three people in the company knew what we were building and why – the VP of Engineering, David Clubbs, Mechanical Engineer Don Seal and me.  The prototype boat actually was running in January of 2025. 

There have been lots of first along the way and the most recent is the Lithim Battery powered gyro stabilization system on the Regulator 35.  This boat was introduced with lots of fan fare at the Miami International Boat Show in February, 2025.  We have quite a back log of retail and dealer stock orders on this model.   Our engineering team, led by David Clubbs and our entire boat building team have done a great job both designing and learning how to implement this new technology. 

On the 35, one of Regulator’s designers, Eric Wiborg  came up with a Top  venting system that we are pursuing patent protection for.  This design is being implemented in other models in our current line of boat. 

ESL: I understand that your husband, Owen and you like to fish? Is this how you determined to build a better fishing boat?   

JM: We do like to fish and it was certainly Owen’s passion that led to the design of Every Regulator up to the Regulator 35.  As time went by Owen and I grew and changed in our roles.  Owen’s focus in the last 15 years of his involvement of the company was primarily design and engineering.  Owen is the kind of guy who can figure out how to do most anything that he puts his mind to. 

ESL: What role does Owen now play in the organization?

JM: Owen retired in August of 2023 and has no day to day involvement in the business.  He did a great job finding the right person to carry on designing new and innovative product in VP of engineering, David Clubbs.  Since approximately 1999 I have served as Regulator’s president and since about 2006 all functions except engineering have reported to me.  We learned early on that Regulator needed both our skills sets and that the best way was for us to divide, conquer and stay in our lanes.  After all, we didn’t just leave one another at the office.  

This has been an amazing journey and doesn’t feel like we’ve been doing this for 37 years.  Regulator’s mission is to Build the best center console sport-fishing boats with people, process and resources to honor God and we get to do that every single day!  How good is God …..and he letsus do it right here in this beautiful town.

ESL: When you say on your website that all boats are built by hand….Can you explain what that means in regard to the process?  

JM: There is very little automation in the boating industry (some robotics in larger companies).  What we mean is that we are hand laying the fiberglass, cutting and grinding, installing electronics – all while literally watching for defects.  Our team must understand and does that every customer literally places his life and the lives of those most precious to him in our hands every time he steps aboard a Regulator.  Saying we build the best must be backed up by our actions and it is.  Our current Customer Satisfaction rate is over 95%.

Some 37 years later we’re still awed by the reputation of this brand.  God has been amazingly good to us.  He has entrusted two of the most unlikely people to build, sell boats andbuild a company for him – a agronomy major and history major!  Who says, God doesn’t have a sense of humor?  Seriously, we are humbled that he has entrusted us to grow and manage HIS company.  There are some of the most amazing people who work at Regulator.  One, who is getting ready to retire, has been at Regulator since 1990.  When Carlton Wynn leaves there will be a ton of boat building knowledge that will walk out the door with him.  There are others that have over 20 years of experience.  God has allowed us the honor of pouring His love into the folks and to receive His love back from them. 

It was a free product giveaway for everyone in the community, however, many prized items went early on as the line formed before the doors at  D.F. Walker Gym opened. 

On Saturday, August 16, the Edenton HomeBoys “EHB” a 501c3 non-profit, presented the Edenton community with a free give away event. From 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. over 360 local people came to the Gym to browse through new household goods, clothing for all ages, electronics, and other prime accessories.  They were encouraged to take home as many items that they needed at no cost.  As a non-profit, the EHB organization works closely within the community over help, support and overall good gestures.  Over 65 members of the EHB organization lent a hand organizing and categorizing the vast array of items. 

It was like a Christmas shopping spree without any cash registers in August. 

“We are fortunate to work with a number of other non-profits which provided us with an auditorium filled with important items needed by our community,” said EHB President Robert Rankins.   

There were also some higher ticket items which were given away via a drawing at the end of the event.  The EHB are known for their wonderful generosity and helping with many events throughout the year. The organization takes a proactive approach to making a positive difference within Edenton.

“We would like to thank First Missionary Baptist Church, from Wilson Mill, NC; especially Dr. Larry Honeyblue, Pastor,” said Rankins. “Many thanks to the non-profit Dr. Larry Honeybue and Bobby Tolson Foundation.”

It’s interesting to speak with new residents in Edenton and ask that special question, “How did you find Edenton”. Everyone has an interesting story on their search, journey and eventually planting of new roots in town.

One day a few years back Angela Sikes found the video, ‘Tales of an Educated Debutante’ by Adrian Wood on You Tube. Sikes, an interior designer was living in Wake Forest, in a big house.  An empty nester she had a dream to redo one more house. The video, Wood’s Golf Cart Tour Around Town, triggered Sikes'  interest. The next day she headed for what would soon become her new home. Her first stop was the Edenton Coffee Shop.

During coffee she met realtor David McCall and she was treated to one of McCall’s knowledgeable tour of Edenton houses, some available, some historically not.  

Eventually, after making the decision to move Sikesfound a house not on the market but was supposedly vacant for the past seventeen years. After a lot of digging, she was able to obtain the home in October,2022 when Covid restrictions where just ending.  

Sikes was looking for a project and one might say she found one. However, some might have looked and had other thoughts about the house at 102 West Carteret St.

While it was a golf cart video propelling Sikes to town, the historic metal hinges on the original wooden doors and the potential of the once beautiful staircase bannister that secured her steps to Edenton.  

She purchased the old home that many would have torn down but Sikes could see the strong bones of the house and the historic metal hinges on the heavy doors and the once beautiful staircase bannister, called to her.  She moved to Edenton in November, 2023 and rented a home while working on the house. She wore full gear, including a mask, overalls and goggles during the renovation.

“I had to hire people to clean it out because squatters had been living in it.  There was so much junk and old stuff piled in the house. I fell in love with the exterior, the bannister and old big door hinges and two detailed mantels”, said Sikes. “The ceilings were dropped and the doorways were small to keep the heat the rooms.  We took the ceilings back to their original tall height and open up an archway into the living area.”.

Seventeen years empty, the plastered walls were crumbling, all had to be redone. The home now has new insulation, new electric, plumbing and HVAC. In the 1980’s an addition was put on the back of the house for an in-law space. As you walk into the addition, the doors were newer and hollow. Sikes had a great grandmother, Mama-Dillie and her home was being torn down. She was allowed to take whatever she wanted from the house and see selected the old solid doors from Mama-Dillie’s house and used them in her new home.  

“There are very talented people in Edenton”, said Sikes.  “From the foundation, to the HVAC, to every wall, ceiling, including the electric and plumbing had to be replaced, it was a major project. It was a labor of love”.

The top to bottom revitalized home, will be on the Pilgrimage tour April 11 and 12. Sikes’ has a background in interior design and has had clients since 1997.  She also had three stores in Raleigh and Charlotte area for six years and has built her career and clientele by word of mouth. She now has clients in bothRaleigh and Edenton.  

“I loved my stores and business but when you have 26 employees, you end up running the business with payroll and operational activities and I missed the one on one with clients”, Sikes continued. “I am now a one women show and have clients here but go to Raleighonce a week to visit my ongoing clients.”

Determining the homes date of origintook an extensive amount of research, proving the homewas originally surrounded byfarm land.

However, by analyzing the high ceilings and wood details it was determined the home boasted features of a “town house’with an elegant feel.

The home hasthree bedrooms andtwo bathrooms and Sikes has added a powder room on the first floor, nicely tucked under the stairs. The interior is simply charming. The curved bannister has been restored along with the long list of other features in the home. Many of the  walls and ceiling are new.  

The home is reminiscent of a past era as many of the pieces in the home are antiques from Grandma Cora Lee Sikes’ favorite things.  Photosof the house portraying it in its recent, previous state just before it was purchased reminds Sikes how far she has come with the restoration and realizes there is more to come.  

Remember the dream of ‘one more restoration’ Sikes had before she purchased her current home? Well, she had a second dream and it included thoughts of the neighboring house that was also in disarray. Plus, as an investor in town, she felt her property value would be protected by purchasing and restoring the home next door. Sikes plans on selling the neighboring house once completely restored.  

Visitors on the Pilgrimage will enjoy seeing her large eat-in kitchen with its antique reproduction pull down light fixtures and tall kitchen cabinets. The entry is simple elegance.  The living area has a comfortable feel with Sikes’ personal memorabilia from family members, each with a story to tell. In researching her ancestry, Sikes found that she had family from the 1700’s that lived in Edenton and Bertie Counties. As Sikes puts it, “It must have been faith that I ended up with my beautiful home in Edenton”.

The Driveway was lined with cars tagged from Virginia, a visitor from Texas and other counties and towns as Julia Townsend and Lincoln Adams welcomed visitors to the Spruill Conservation Farm to celebrate a healthy crop of figs. 

Famed Hackney Executive Chef Jamie Davis mesmerized the crowd with his cooking tips and outgoing personality. His presence is a yearly draw to the festival. 

The weekend was built around enjoyment on the farm, fabulous music, amazing food and inspirational information about the Spruill Conservatory Project. This was the third annual event and the crowd continues to grow.

Chowan Middle School Principal Brittney Lopez, the Chowan County NC Extension staff and a number of local volunteers hosted an agricultural STEM day last Friday at the school. The student experience focused on agriculture, its influence on the local economy and future job opportunities in the area.  

Technology has changed the future of agriculture and the education needed to be successfully sufficient in the field. The introduction of drone piloting to inspect fields and crops, robotic programming and the use of technology to analyze soil, local climate and production.  

The Great Plant Challenge was a highlight of the event.  

The purpose of the plant challenge is to introduce students the same choices local Chowan County farmers need to make regarding spoil, water, sunlight and space to grow healthy crops. Students were instructed on how to design their own planters, exploring the same challenges farmers face on a smaller planter box scale. The activity helps the student understand how farmers problem solve and make decisions that affect crop growth.  

The students were provided with a 20 oz. soda bottle, potting soil, 3 seeds, yarn and a rubber band. The exercise included designing the planter and writing a few sentences on how the design will help the seeds grow.  

Students were then instructed to  build their individual planters. They were allowed to cut, tape and arrange the bottle however they thought would make the best planter.  

Result will be in soon...

Editors Note:

As the first mate on many of my husband’s boats over the years, I followed the story about the American Queen Bee Fishing Boat back in 2012.  The boat was lost at sea and years later found off the shores of Spain with hardly a scratch. It was a Regulator fishing boat. Once we moved to Edenton, I wanted to meet Joan Maxwell, President and Co-founder of Regulator Boats and hear the story. I had the privilege to spend an afternoon with Joan. Part one of the interview is featured here.  The second part of the story and additional photos of their amazing production facility is online at www.EdentonSocialLight.com.

A Chat with Joan…

ESL: How the most unlikely couple ended up with a worldwide sport-fishing boat business? 

JM: That’s a great question with a not so short answer!  At the time Owen and I were married living and working in Edenton.  We loved this town and wanted to continue living here…but there is more to the story than that.  Owen grew up in Augusta, GA and spent summers in Hilton Head.  He loved all things boats.  He’d hang out at the docks, wash boats, whatever – just to be around them.  Fast forward to 1981, Owen was hired by Cy Rich to manage a farm here in Eastern NC.Owen graduated from the University of GA with a degree in agronomy and pest management).  Thank the good Lord, that farm was in Hyde County, where I grew up.  I had finished college at UNC-CH and was working in Hyde County for the ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service).  Owen would seem to show up at the office right at lunch time…. And the rest is history!  Owen and I were actually on a boat talking about what we would change when we built our boats when he got down on one knee and said “there’s something that we need to do before we do that!”   That was way back in 1985 and in 1988 we started Regulator.  The first boat was the legendary Regulator 26 – which we built 1525 of before retiring that model.   At 28 and 30 years old,there are things that you don’t know, things you think you know and things wish you knew! We believed we could sell this boat and off we went “towing and showing”….literally taking the boat to dealers up and down the east coast.  We finally got some orders and then it was; “ ok now we have to build them?”  Owen was the builder and we figured out we needed someone out selling – so off I went.  Those first years were spent learning how to “manufacture” and to sell.  They were fun years.  

ESL: The Queen Bee Fishing Boats-lost and found off the shores of Spain in 2008…. How long did it take for you to realize that the found “lost boat’ would be the best marketing tool for your products?  

JM:The boat was recovered in 2012 in Spain.  After learning the boat had been found it wasn’t long at all before we realized that we had been given a gift of a great marketing tool.Our first thought was to get the boat back from Spain.  When we were alerted by the owner that the boat had been found we started trying to figure out where it was in Spain and how to get it back.  Thanks to Lee Norfleet, Regulator’s QA manager’s diligent efforts using Google Maps…looking at buildings near the photos of the boat at “a” port,we wereable to find out where.  That was a comedy – Lee speaking Southern English and everyone he called in the town speaking Spanish.  He was hung up more than once!   We were just beginning to emerge from the Great Recession and marketing dollars were limited.  God was not limited!  He sent this boat and we used every opportunity to tell the story. Periodically we run this story on our social media and it always gets some of the highest ratings of any of our posted content.  It is the gift that keeps on giving…in a good way.

ESL: With over 200 employees in your Edenton facility, how do you manage your growth?

JM: The good news is that we didn’t instantly have 200 people.  Through the years we have tried lots of things.  One of greatest successes is our partnership with COA in designing curriculum to fit our team’s needs.    We have had some summer interns and participated in career fairs. 

ESL: Internal Growth: Can you provide an example of an individual that has grown within the organization?  

JM: So glad you asked!  We have some amazing people and I’d like to highlight two women – Megan Harris joined our team when she was 18 years old and was working the 3rd shift  and today she is one of Regulator’s supervisors.  The 2nd is Marcia Bond.  Marcia had been working at a textile company and when her job was offshored she attended the COA boat building program.  She literally learned  new skills  and today Marcia is one of the assembly line managers.  These are just two – there are more and I am super proud of each one them. 

ESL: I see your employees in town in their white shirts and khaki pants? Why uniforms?  

JM: We are one team.  A team wears the same uniform.  This started some time in the late 90s, early 2000s providing uniforms to everyone from office staff to factory workers. Whenever people are working they don’t want to “mess up” their clothes with dust, dirt, resin, so naturally they were wearing their Saturday “ratty clothes” .  We didn’t want customers and visitors walking through the shop and seeing this.  We build the best boats, so we wanted our team to reflect that.

ESL: Hiring Right: What is your hiring process? What do you look for in entry level employees (Personality, work history, technical experience, attitude)? 

JM: Many around town have met Regulator’s VP of Human Resources, Krystal Watson.  She is outgoing, kind and extremely good at her job.  She has found some amazing people to work here at Regulator.  We look for several things; people who understand thatthis is a Christian company and want to join us.  Certainly we do not discriminate against those who don’t believe as we do,  but we do make it clear in our hiring practices that if someone decides to join the Regulator team this is how we conduct business. We treat one another with honor and respect. We do look for skills not just from the marine industry, but from other trades that could be adapted to boat building.   All of this rolls up to attitude and aptitude. 

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY...CLICK THE MORE PHOTOS LINK...

The Chowan Senior Center Stitchers have been working tirelessly knitting hats and scarves for veterans  for Project Gratitude. The group’s year long project was built on yarn donations that were made into hats and scarves and  donated to the NC State Veterans Home in Kinston NC. 

“We are donating the scarves and hats in memory of Marcie Ashton,” said Deborah Hamrick. “She was one of the original members of the group. She has done a lot over the years keeping the crochet group together.”

The group made a total of 36 single hats, 3 single scarves and 14 sets of hearts and scarves. 

"The Chowan Senior Stitchers would like to thank everyone who donated yarn to help this cause.  We accept donations of yarn especially #4 acrylic yarn. We welcome future donations," said Hamrick.

The Project Gratitude Knitting Project is a yearly initiative for the Senior center Knitters. 

Most everyone in Edenton knew Charlie Creighton the founder of Colony and Atlantic Tire. Whether it was family, church, business, or community, he was personally involved and made life better for all whom he encountered. He loved and took a personal interest in each of his employees. Charlie was a model of generosity. He was instrumental in saving Edenton’s Taylor Theater and a benefactor of the State’s acquisition and preservation of Hayes Plantation. Under his leadership, Colony Tire sponsored virtually every charity event in Edenton and the surrounding area.  

Charlie’s “hobby” was people. When he passed in May, 2025 employees wondered if the company would still exist or be taken over by a large conglomerate, which is typical in similar situations. But not in Charlie’s world. Just four months after his passing, Colony Tire announced that the company will transition to 100 percent employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), securing the future of more than 1,000 employees across the Southeastern states.

“The company has always been a vital part of Edenton by providing jobs and giving back to the community philanthropically through many local non-profit businesses and organizations,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Bergeron. “We provide 272 jobs in Edenton which in turn allows our employees to provide for their families. One way the ESOP improves the employee’s future is that it preserves the legacy that we have built, and it gives job security to our employees and incentives to contribute to the future growth of Colony.”

Director of Logistics Barry Hollowell started 49 years ago when there were only three employees including Charlie. “As we grew and we took on more employees I grew with the steps, sharing my responsibilities, training others in the work load so we could advance to the next chapter in the great journey in my career,” said Barry. “This is a great tool to retain the employees and to attract new employees. I would have loved for Charlie to have been able to announce this one, he would have been glowing with joy”.

Leadership emphasized that the transition reflects a deliberate choice not to sell to competitors or private equity firms, preserving the culture, values, and customer focus that have defined Colony Tire and Atlantic Tire Distributors for nearly five decades.

“Success at Colony/Atlantic Tire has always been driven by our people. Our associates, now employee-owners, bring life to the warehouses, trucks, and technology that drive our daily operation,” said Vice President of Atlantic Tire Ron Causey, “The transition to 100 percent employee ownership doubles down on the belief that putting people first is a winning formula. It provides a platform that allows every role in our organization to transcend a job title and view their career through the lens of ownership not employment.

The current management team will continue in their positions and the hope of management is that the employees will see this as a important benefit and that their contribution and commitment will directly impact their personal financial success.

“A simple way to boost company success is to reduce losses. And in the fact that lower loss numbers also reduce injuries and equipment downtime,” said Risk Management Director Adam Britt. “I think the transition to the ESOP can only have positive impacts on employee commitment, work ethic, and retention and those positive impacts will show up throughout the company’s metrics.”

Atlantic Tire Director of Operations Eric Hodges has been with Colony tire for 27 years and worked his way up the Colony Corporate ladder to his current position.  

“One of the great things about working for Atlantic/Colony over the years is that it’s always has a true family vibe…it’s always been more than just a job.  Becoming employee-owned will only strengthen that culture and sense of connection among everyone here.”  

Offering a ESOP is something new to most employees. “It does provide a sense of ownership since we all share in the success which ultimately shows up in your retirement account”, said Andrew Bergeron. “It is not one store vs. the other like the old days. It creates a unified mindset amongst all of the employees and encourages everyone to work as a team player.’

Overall the management at both Colony and Atlantic Tire feel this was an important move by the company to protect and grow the future.  

“Reactions have been positive. First question obviously, what is an ESOP, what does that mean?,” said General Manager Jeff Mason. “Once the basic questions are answered, the light goes on, their is a smile and the expression comes out - you mean - I make a difference? You mean the longer I work here, I get something for it? It is truly a joy to see some of the reactions from recently hired employees as well as seasoned associates.”   

Taylor Ambrose is the Store Manager at the Edenton Colony Tire service store.. She has been with the company for three and a half years, working her way up to the manager position.  

“My employees here at Store 09 were excited about the news,” said Taylor. “I couldn’t ask for a better crew in the first place, but now they are striving and pushing even harder for a brighter future here at Colony Tire for themselves, their families and our customers.”