Kirk Englebright
Kirk Englebright | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 24, 1978 Oxford, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Business |
| Alma mater | Vance Granville College |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Mattress Capital and A Goodnight Sleepstore, CEO of Dark Horse Studios |
| Spouse(s) | Macey Arden Long |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Chrystal Englebright (sister) |
| Awards |
|
| Website | darkhorsestudios |
Kirk Englebright (Born November 24, 1978, Oxford), is an American serial entrepreneur and Studio Executive for Dark Horse Stages.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Englebright was born on November 24, 1978, in Oxford, North Carolina to Wade Englebright and Lisa Englebright.
He graduated from South Granville High in 1997 and enrolled in ACTT for Programming. He then went on to attend Vance Granville College to pursue business.[1][4]
Career
At the age of 26 years old, Englebright started investing in furniture/bedding companies. It proved successful, and by 35, he had opened 35 retail stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.
He founded Englebright Communications in 2005.
In the same year, he opened Mattress Capital Inc. and established Mattress Center in 2012.[1][5]
In 2017, he acquired A Goodnight Sleepstore. Quickly realizing he had a niche for business, he began to explore other endeavors including Finance.[1][6]
In 2019, he founded Englebright & Long Holdings and then purchased a 100,000 sq./ft. campus in Wilmington, North Carolina.[1][7]
He built his first film studio, Dark Horse Studios in 2020, which helped the state of North Carolina hit a state record number in film revenue, $416 million.[1][8][9]
In 2024, Englebright announced the company’s rebranding and new identity as Dark Horse Stages.[1][10][11][12][13]
Englebright is also one of the board members of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, Inc. Board and Barrowhouse.[1][14][15][4]
Awards and recognition
Englebright is the recipient of the Top 100 Innovators Award in Wilmington, North Carolina.[1][16] In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Englebright received The Innovator of the Year Award in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Personal life
Englebright has a son who was born in February 2015. Two years later, he married Macey Arden Long. He resides in Wilmington, NC, with his family.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Vlessing, Etan (2025-03-19). "The Up and Coming Cities Swiping Hollywood's Dollars". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ↑ "DARK HORSE STUDIOS, INC". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ↑ "NC production studio expanding, attracting filmmakers and boosting state economy". FOX8 WGHP. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Kirk Englebright". linkedin.com. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "The Mattress Capital Helping customers sleep for less". Wilmington Star-News. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "After shoe store walks, it's bed time at S. College Road center". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "Could Wilmington benefit from another film studio? It already is". Port City Daily. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "2021 Sets Records for Film in North Carolina". www.filmnc.com. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "TOP STORIES: Biggest year ever for film industry". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ Nkews, WWAY (8 August 2024). "Dark Horse Studios rebrands as Dark Horse Stages". WWAYTV3. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "Local film studio nears completion on 2 stages, rebrands". Port City Daily. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ Dorn, Ava (14 August 2024). "Dark Horse Stages reveals upcoming soundstage upgrades". WWAYTV3. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "Local film studio nears completion on 2 stages, rebrands". Port City Daily. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "Board of Directors". Wilmington Regional Film Commission. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "WILMINGTON REGIONAL FILM COMMISSION". nhcgov.com. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ↑ "The WilmingtonBiz 100: The Innovators". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved 22 January 2025.