Holiday drivers keep a watch on gas prices. David Kennard/Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Holiday drivers calculate price of gas during long weekend

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Most gas stations around the region have returned to normal supply levels, although drivers may find some stations operating at limited capacity or with only one grade of gasoline.

Still, drivers looking to get out of town for the Memorial Day holiday shouldn’t be too worried about supplies; it’s the price of gas that might get you.

According to gasprices.aaa.com, drivers will find the gasoline in the Fayetteville area averaging $2.88 per gallon. Compare that to other locations around the state:

Raleigh $2.94.
Wilmington: $2.87
Charlotte: $2.87
Asheville: $2.953

Officials at AAA said after a week of price spikes around the country, most stations have begun to hold steady at a little more than $3 per gallon.

Travelers planning long drives over the weekend will find that the Southeast leads the nation with average lower prices following the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline. Drivers out West are seeing average prices in the mid-$3 per gallon range. California remains the leader in high prices, where gasoline is selling for an average of $4.17 per gallon.

“AAA expects 37 million Americans to travel, mostly by car and plane, for the Memorial Day holiday weekend,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson. “That is a 60% increase over last year’s holiday and a strong indication that summer travel is going to be largely popular. With the increase in travel demand, gas prices are going to be expensive no matter where you fill up, so plan ahead.”

Calculating gasoline into your travel plans may be a determining factor on where you can afford to go. Assuming you’re going to be paying around $3 per gallon and you're driving the family Suburban getting 22 miles per gallon (highway), here’s a look at the cost of getting to some regional destinations and back.

Asheboro, $22.80
Wilmington, $24.67
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, $29.50
Wright Brothers monument, $64.36
Raleigh, $20.11
Uwharrie camping, $21.45
Devils Gut Kayaking, $40.23
Charlotte, $37.55
Battleship North Carolina, $23.87

The price of gasoline that drivers see at the pump depends loosely on supply and demand but also on industry fluctuations, according to AAA officials.

On Thursday AAA stated that new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), showed total domestic refinery utilization increased slightly to 86.3 percent last week, while total domestic supply decreased by 2 million bbl to 234.2 million bbl and demand increased from 8.8 million b/d to 9.2 million b/d. 

With the gasoline distribution system continuing to recover from the attack and grappling with a shortage of gasoline tanker drivers, higher refinery utilization rates will ensure refined products, including gasoline, continue to flow where they are most needed. 

“As demand and supply move in sync, the national average is expected to continue stabilizing through the weekend,” according to a prepared statement from AAA. “However, we could see some fluctuation … with the lead up to Memorial Day Weekend, during which AAA forecasts 34 million Americans to take road trips.”

Editor's Notes: Find great tools from creative people inside

By David Kennard
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Thank you for picking up this second edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. 

Our team here in Fayetteville has put in some long hours to bring you a mix of stories, all related to local business and industry. It’s my hope that you find the content interesting, helpful and engaging.

We had a great response to the inaugural edition that was distributed at select locations throughout the area, so much so that even our surplus copies are beginning to run low.

David Kennard

“Not to worry,” as my entrepreneurial father in law liked to say. 

You may remember Caractacus Potts from the classic film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” My wife’s father came from that same mold. He loved a challenge, and regardless of the obstacle, eventually he’d find a solution.

With that in mind, if you missed the inaugural edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, you can find all the stories — as well as an electronic edition — online at bizfayetteville.com.

By the time you read this, our team is already hard at work on the June 25 edition. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As you flip through this edition, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss a few things.

First, you’ll want to thumb over to page 15 to find the story about Yoniara Montoya and her Yo! Shee Vegan food truck here in Fayetteville.

While many of us were busy hoarding toilet paper, Montoya was busy turning her passion into a unique business. Sure, you can sample many of her creations from her mobile restaurant, but you can find even more ideas, recipes and blog posts at yosheevegan.com.

Look, I like meat as much as the next guy, but some of these vegan creations are truly amazing.

With your tummy full, you’re going to want to learn more about the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center. Find that story page 23.

This is a little-known community asset that is going gangbusters, and is becoming even more popular with the corporate crowd looking for team building fun.

Take off your jacket, put on your safety glasses and earplugs and fire off a few shells not too far away from the artillery fire we’ve all come to know and love here in Fayetteville.

Don’t have a shotgun? Don’t worry, the pro shop has you covered. Call ahead to make sure there’s room for you or your group, bring some extra cash for the shells and snacks, then go destroy some clay pigeons.

A few of other things you’ll want to find in this edition are the “Biz Leads” on page 21, “The List” on page 22 and the “Achievers” column on page 6. These are designed to be usable features that provide information on things happening around here.

Pay special attention to the “Achievers” column; this is a list that is supplied primarily by readers like you. We are always looking for folks in your organization that are making moves, receiving accolades or doing other things that you’re proud of. You can send your news items to me at editor@bizfayetteville.com.

Now, on to the next edition…

Coming in the next edition, you’ll find the return of the popular economic indicators that we’ve compiled. 

As I’ve been pugging in the numbers for many of the charts and other graphics you’ll find on page 3 of the June 25 paper, I discovered how very telling things have been over the last year. 

For instance, you’ll see that the unemployment rate remained relatively steady -- well except for the whole March-to-April anomaly that sent our local workforce and employers reeling.

I should qualify the use of the word “steady.” With most economists considering full employment as anywhere between 4 percent and 6 percent, you can see that we’ve performed pretty well — even throttled by COVID-19. Of course we’ll have a much better idea once the state’s Department of Commerce releases its May jobless report in late June.

Watch for us to break that story online at bizfayetteville.com on June 30. You also can track us on Twitter at @bizfayetteville.

Speaking of economic indicators, you can really pay little attention to the gas prices listed in the chart coming on June 25, because, well, does anyone have any idea on what we’re going to pay at the pump? The only real data you’ll find there is how the average gas price has changed over the last year, but even that trend shows fluctuation that makes it hard to plan around.

Back in the 1970s, when gas became scarce and I traded in my Chevy Nova for a Toyota Corolla to save money on both gas and repairs, my father-in-law invented something “very clever” to save money on a simple car repair. 

When his windshield wipers failed to wipe, instead of shelling out big bucks to replace the motor, he used some nylon string and shoulder power to yank on the wiper before it fwapped back into position.

Caractacus Potts would have been proud.

David Kennard is the Executive Editor of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. Contact him at davidk@bizfayetteville.com or 910-240-9697, ext. 104.

Randy Fiveash, former director of the Connecticut Office Of Tourism, accepted an offer to run the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau as interim director.

Randy Fiveash tapped to lead visitors bureau; Former Connecticut Tourism chief named interim director

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

In April, when Randy Fiveash retired after 13 years as director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, he had planned to slow down and, maybe teach a class or two on the college level — after all, he’s been working in the tourism industry for more than four decades.

It didn’t work out that way.

“I was retired for about 20 minutes,” he said.

That’s not far off.

When Randy’s wife, Shari Fiveash, accepted the position of president and chief executive officer at the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, he was happy to follow her along to North Carolina.

During an interview with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal in May, Shari Fayetteville said that during her husband’s various career moves she was happy to follow him and find suitable positions that fit her skills.

She said when she accepted the offer to come to Fayetteville, she and Randy found their traditional roles reversed. Little did they know at the time that now-retired Randy would find a niche of his own here in Fayetteville.

Within days of their arrival, city and county officials tapped Randy to dive back into the tourism industry, this time on the county level.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “This is what I’ve been doing for 40 years.”

Fiveash replaces John Meroski, who left the position in March 2020.

His official title is Interim Director, a position he said has no end date.

In his new role, Fiveash said he’s got a long list of things to review at the bureau.

“There are alot of things we need to dig into and review,” Fiveash said. “There is a great need to be more community active.”

According to a 2020 audit report made available by Cumberland County, the visitors bureau “provides services to promote the development and expansion of travel and tourism.”

Fiveash said he has received support and direction from the county — which provides the bulk of the bureau’s budget — and the bureau’s board of directions.

The 11 members on the board also direct much of the focus for the bureau.

“We are taking a real look and understanding of what the Convention and Visitors Bureau does,” Fiveash said.

He said he’s already made some subtle changes within the CVB office to help the staff operate smoother.

Additionally, he said he wanted to perform some internal audits to make sure the bureau has its focus in the right place.

“I believe in research based marketing,” Fiveash said.

The bureau is involved in many local events, but Fiveash said “If the research isn’t there, [we] shouldn’t be allowed to do it.”

He said the bureau is looking “through the lens of ‘Can you measure it?’” 

With that in mind, Fiveash said his office is looking very carefully to ensure current programs, events and contracts with vendors measure up.

Randy Fiveash has an office inside the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau just off the square in downtown Fayetteville.

From there it’s a 15 minute walk to Shari Fiveash’s office on Ray Street near Segra Stadium.

Shari Fiveash joined the chamber as it’s president and CEO in March.

While the couple works near each other, there is no doubt that their paths are going to cross professionally.

Shari Fiveash recently summed up the professional relationship saying, “The Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau works to bring people to Fayetteville. It’s the chamber’s job to help businesses once they are here.”

Randy Fiveash acknowledged that while he and his new team have a lot on their to-do list, he’s confident that the bureau will remain a relevant tool for the Fayetteville area.

When asked about his dream of teaching, he said simply, “I’ll get to it.”