Duke Energy Recognizes Starling Marine for Giving Back to the Community
Family-owned Morehead City, NC Boat Dealership Honored for Recovery Efforts after Hurricane Florence
Photo: Promise Land Photography
In observance of National Small Business Week, Duke Energy spotlighted small businesses in its service area that are dedicated to giving back. Our family-owned and operated boat dealership and service center, located in Morehead City has been recognized for sharing Duke Energy’s commitment to community service and charitable giving. Starling Marine's recovery efforts and community outreach immediately following the devastating impact from Hurricane Florence in September of 2018 helped secure this recognition from Duke Energy.
Brothers Bryan and David Starling grew up boating and fishing at Atlantic Beach, NC. Their passion for boating and the Crystal Coast of North Carolina lead to the birth of Starling Marine over 11 years ago. This boat dealership and service center located in the heart of Morehead City is truly a family business: Holly Starling, Bryan’s wife, and Dana Starling, David’s wife, play integral roles in daily operations.
Starling Marine has sponsored fishing tournaments to raise money for families in need and even provided a boat for a raffle to raise money for the Do It For Drew Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated the to awareness and prevention of deaths caused by medical errors.
Last year, Team Starling moved into high gear after Hurricane Florence did extensive damage to the area. Starling Marine’s showroom became a makeshift command center in the storm’s aftermath, despite having part of the roof blown off. “Our roof was leaking,” Holly Starling said, “but we worked around it.”
Word soon spread that people could call the Starlings for help. Entire families – well over 100 people – came to the business to offer assistance. As calls for help came in, volunteer crews were dispatched to tarp roofs, cut down trees that had fallen on roofs or were blocking driveways, clean up debris and more. They helped locate temporary housing for people whose houses were uninhabitable. They even siphoned gas from their boats to supply fuel to people in need.
One of Starling Marine’s boat manufacturers, Edenton, North Carolina-based Regulator Marine donated $10,000 to Carteret Warriors for Recovery to buy mattresses. Holly Starling is a board member of this non-profit started after the storm. The all-female volunteer group has assisted more than 450 families.
“Our business became like a church,” Holly Starling said. “It turned into a community gathering spot for families to volunteer, have fellowship and support each other.”
"We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Duke Energy for our continuing community outreach efforts," David Starling exclaims. May is Duke Energy In Action month when the company emphasizes community service and encourages employees to volunteer in their communities. During the small business week, Duke Energy employees are volunteering side by side with employees from the nominated small businesses like Starling Marine. "It was a pleasure to work alongside Duke team members to continue support and relief efforts for our area," Starling concludes.