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KENANSVILLE — Local entrepreneurs brought the heat to the pitch in Kenansville last week as the winners of the Pitch It Duplin 2025 were announced.
This county-wide entrepreneurship competition, hosted by James Sprunt Community College’s Small Business Center, Marine Federal Credit Union, and the Duplin Chamber of Commerce, provided aspiring entrepreneurs with a platform to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges.
Randy Barrios took home first place with the Iron Mambi Grill, a concept that captured the judges’ attention with its forward-thinking, earning him the top prize.
The Iron Mambi is a new American-Latin fusion restaurant in Rose Hill that blends Cuban and Honduran flavors with high-quality American staples like Wagyu smashburgers, set to open in 2026. The concept is deeply rooted in Barrios’ personal and cultural heritage. He invested his life savings into revitalizing a once-abandoned building, transforming it into a welcoming dine-in space for up to 40 guests.
Barrios plans to accept cryptocurrency payments and rent out the commercial kitchen to food trucks. His strong grasp of business economics, attention to food quality, and desire to reinvigorate the local dining scene position him for success.
Second place was awarded to Kitrina Rhodes for Special Touch Assisted Living Center. Rhodes’ vision is to create a home-like alternative to institutional care. Her business addresses the needs of adults with developmental disabilities. Her business model emphasizes individualized attention, 24/7 care in a family setting, and life-skills development, all within a small, supportive home environment.
In third place was Rosie Flores with Sliced & Diced Charcuterie. Her business aims to eliminate the stress of hosting events by offering customizable, visually appealing, and healthy alternatives to traditional catering, including vendor pop-ups, individual custom orders, and luxury picnic experiences.
Andy Staradumsky came in fourth place with H2L Line Boring, a mobile welding service that specializes in heavy equipment restoration, specifically repairing worn pins and bushings on excavators and bulldozers.
“We are proud of every participant who stepped up to share their vision and inspire others in our community,” stated JSCC in a social media announcement.
Pitch It Duplin was a celebration designed to support and spotlight local emerging entrepreneurs. Every participant who shared their business idea contributed to the growing entrepreneurial landscape, inspiring others to pursue their dreams. According to the Marine Federal Credit Union website, the awards for first, second, and third place winners were $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000, respectively.
