McKenna Phillips’ Wilmington Day: Volunteer Work, Dining & Live Music

McKenna Phillips, president of the Wilmington-based third-party logistics company Precision3PL, has mapped out her ideal day in the Port City for the November installment of WILMA magazine’s “Best Day Wilmington” series, offering a route that mixes volunteer work, beach trails, waterfront dining, and live music.

The Southport native began her career in e-commerce logistics at age twenty-one at Outdoor Equipped in downtown Wilmington. WILMA magazine reported that she started as a warehouse associate and moved up through the ranks to supervisor, manager, vice president, and director of logistics. The company, which Phillips described as the largest third-party Amazon seller in the footwear and apparel space, faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic when such products were labeled nonessential, making online retail difficult. Phillips said she persevered with her team to significantly grow the business year over year during that period.

After COVID, she decided to diversify, and Precision3PL was born. The company now helps brands on the distribution front, operating two facilities in Wilmington and one in Utah. It works with any brand selling on e-commerce platforms as well as wholesale brands, building operations around Amazon’s incredibly strict standards. “The most important part of any business is logistics – I’m biased, but it’s true,” Phillips told WILMA. “We’re primed – pun is absolutely intended – so we can support your brand operations. We’re offering not only service providership, but it’s also a partnership, and that’s what differentiates us.”

She also founded the Give Back Shift, a monthly initiative in which employees tackle a local community service project together. Phillips said she is always looking for new organizations to partner with, emphasizing that connecting with the community is important to her. “This area is just a melting pot of so many amazing people and businesses,” she said of Wilmington. “There’s so much life and character, and I love it so much.”

A Morning That Starts in Leland and Moves to the Beach

Phillips begins her perfect day at Eggs Up Grill in Leland, acknowledging that while it sits just outside Wilmington proper, the drive proves worthwhile. She orders the blueberry muffin and a plate of eggs over easy, though she notes that one cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. From there, she heads directly into a Give Back Shift, the volunteer program she established to connect people with local nonprofits. Every month, her team selects a different organization and shows up together to lend a hand wherever needed. “There’s nothing like rolling up your sleeves with a group of people who all want to make this city better,” she said. “It fills your cup before most people have finished their first coffee.”

Next, she walks the Wrightsville Beach Loop to maintain that positive energy. The path begins under a canopy of live oak trees with sunlight filtering through the branches before opening alongside the sound, where the water sparkles beside the trail. She brings her son when he is available, describing him as the best adventure buddy who loves getting out and soaking up life. If he is busy, she calls her friend Tori Deviney, who has never once said no to an adventure.

Waterfront Lunch and a Nod to Television History

Lunch takes place at Dockside on the patio, where the experience of eating right on the water with boats cruising by enhances the meal. Phillips starts with the crab dip and follows it with shrimp tacos, offering a specific warning about the appetizer. “Pro tip: Don’t share the crab dip,” she said. “You’ll regret it.”

The afternoon includes a stop at Outdoor Equipped downtown, where it is impossible to leave empty-handed given the constantly refreshed inventory. The location carries personal significance as the starting point of her career, and it holds additional cultural weight for fans of the television series One Tree Hill, as the storefront previously operated as Karen’s Café. “Go stand out front and tell me you don’t get chills,” Phillips said.

Prosecco on Tap and a Garden Dinner

As evening approaches, Phillips heads to Wine Knot for a glass of prosecco served from the tap, describing it as exactly as good as it sounds. She praises the stunning views of Wilmington and the phenomenal bartenders, advising patrons to tell them what they like and trust their recommendations. Dinner follows at Kipos Hellenic Cuisine, where she typically orders the stuffed-fish special that she thinks about several times a week. She recommends snagging a table in the garden and saving room for the espresso martini, which she maintains is the best in town.

The evening concludes at Satellite Bar and Lounge, her favorite spot, ideally on a Sunday to catch the Sunday Bluegrass Jam. Local musicians arrive with fiddles and banjos, and before long the whole place is dancing. “You don’t need to know a single step,” Phillips said. “Grab a drink, get out there, and let the music do the rest. There’s no better way to close out a Wilmington day.”