Building an Entrepreneurial Powerhouse in Northeastern NC

When Kim Twiddy founded Outer Banks Entrepreneurs (OBE) 12 years ago, she sought to create the supportive business community she was missing in her work as a 911 operator. Working long hours with the same colleagues, Twiddy craved connection with like-minded business owners. 

“I needed an outlet,” Twiddy explained. “I wanted to do something bigger, to offer more to my community.” 

Today, OBE provides accountability, mentoring and resources to women business owners through chapters in Elizabeth City, NC, the Outer Banks, and Chesapeake, VA. The organization has numerous members across the three chapters, with a cap of 30 per location to maintain an intimate, engaged community. 

“We create a culture of giving and support,” Twiddy said. “When you help the next woman behind you, you ensure the success of our whole community.” 

OBE’s long-standing impact is evident in the transformation of its members, with Twiddy witnessing shy novices become confident CEOs, hiring employees and scaling their businesses. Many of OBE’s members have remained engaged over the years, with the organization’s oldest member having been part of the group for 11 years. 

The partnership between OBE and the UNC School of Law’s Institute for Innovation further bolsters the organization’s mission. Institute Director Aaron Gard first connected with OBE after hearing about the group through a radio ad during a vacation in the Outer Banks. Impressed, he reached out to Twiddy, leading to a collaboration to bring the Institute’s legal expertise to OBE’s members. 

On October 22, Carolina Law Assistant Professor of Law, and Director of the Intellectual Property Clinic Dustin Marlan, traveled to Elizabeth City to present an educational seminar to over 40 members of OBE. Marlan covered the essentials of trademarks and copyrights – critical legal tools many entrepreneurs overlook. 

“It was a phenomenal experience,” Marlan reflected. “The level of camaraderie and enthusiasm inside OBE was unlike anything I’ve seen at other entrepreneurial centers. You could tell these women were truly invested in protecting their businesses and intellectual property.” 

Marlan’s presentation sparked lively discussion, with members asking probing questions for nearly an hour. 

“They filled the whole time with good questions,” Marlan said. “One person even asked five different questions. It was so refreshing to see people engaged and eager to learn about these important legal issues.” 

The Institute for Innovation plans two additional legal seminars for OBE, with James Dickson Phillips, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of the Community Development Law Clinic Tom Kelley presenting on nonprofit law next. These presentations are part of the Institute’s mission to support entrepreneurs across all 100 North Carolina counties. 

“We want to help the whole state, and there is a lot of need in this area,” Gard explained. “If we can make a difference for these inspiring women business owners, that’s what it’s all about.” 

For Twiddy, the partnership validates the impact OBE has built over the past 12 years. 

“OBE creates a culture of giving and support,” Twiddy said. “Having the Institute recognize that and invest in us means everything.”