June 2015 - Caldwell Chamber of Commerce

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1909 Hickory Blvd. • Lenoir, NC 28645
caldwellcochamber.org
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HUDSON, NC
PERMIT #314
• Business News from the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce •
explorecaldwell.com
JUNE
2015
Chairman’s Corner
PAGE 3
A Word From
The President
PAGE 4
‘Meet The Sharks’
PAGE 6
Leadership Caldwell
In Action
PAGE 14
BR Electric Service
Star Award
PAGE 16
MONTHLY FEATURES
Chamber Calendar................ Page 12
Community Events............... Page 12
New Members........................Page 15
Renewal Members.................Page 15
The Chamber Matters
2
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
Published for the membership by the
CALDWELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1909 Hickory Blvd SE • Lenoir, North Carolina 28645
Phone: (828) 726-0616; fax (828) 726-0385
www.caldwellcochamber.org
Chairman of the Board
Secretary/Treasurer
Anything Office, Inc.
Business Executive Retiree
Past-Board Chair
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Prestwood Associates
Community One Bank
Michelle Colvard
Ralph Prestwood
Board Chair Elect
Jim Sponenberg
Janet Winkler
Dana Watson
Legal Counsel
Joseph C. Delk III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Suzan Anderson,
Benett Brittain,
David Burney
Cody Byrd
David Deal,
Cynthia Hicks
Glen Lowman
Jessica Mitchum
David Rivers
Sandy Russ,
Grey Scheer,
Jonathan Sterling
Dr. John Thuss,
American Red Cross
Merchant Distributors, Inc.
Business At Large
Vision Design Build Remodel
Moss-Marlow Building Co.
Abigail’s Gifts
Clark Tire & Auto
Vintage Bella Antiques
Sattler Corp.
AllState Ins. - The Russ Agency
Blue Ridge Electric
Exela Pharma Sciences
Retired Business Executive
DIVISION VICE PRESIDENTS
Administration:
Business:
Community
Engagement:
Career Readiness:
Membership:
Public Relations:
Toursim:
Kim Edmisten, Caldwell UNC
Healthcare
Shirley Orrell, Retired HR Vice
President
Heather Justice, PolyChem/Tasz
Ann Smith, First Citizens Bank
Seth Eckard, Town of Sawmills
Ben Willis, CCC&TI
Kimmie Rogers, Reliable Insurance
Debbie Eller, Communities In School
Libby Brown, Caldwell County
Schools
Rick Shew, NC Works
Charlie Downs, Hickory Crawdads
Kim Williams, ServPro Alexander &
Caldwell
Edward Terry, CCC&TI
Carmela Tomlinson, Paragon
Design Group
Glenda Wilson, Realty Executives
Stephenie Oxford, Narrow the Gap
Marketing
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
Terese Almquist - News-Topic, Dr. Ken Boham - CCC&TI,
Deborah Murray - Economic Development,
Dr. Steve Stone - Caldwell County Schools
CHAMBER STAFF
Deborah Ashley Smith, President / CEO
Darin Moretz, Membership Specialist
Lois Dula, Visitor Center Specialist
Libby Killian, Visitor Center Specialist
Views expressed in paid advertising are not
necessarily endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce
JUNE 2015
JUNE 2015
3
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
From the Chairman’s Corner...
Take Action: Promote Positivity!
W
e have referred to the Chamber’s
Program of Work many times in
past newsletters. The theme for
this month’s newsletter is “Take Action”
and when I think about the Caldwell
Chamber of Commerce and the program
of work that carries out its mission it definitely reflects an attitude of action.
The Chamber’s program of work is
extensive and all the initiatives, events
and activities that fall under six different
areas of focus promote the county in a
positive way. Those six areas are business, education, community engagement,
membership recognition, communication
and tourism.
Here are just a few of the ways the
Chamber takes action in these areas:
• Business – provides consistent networking opportunities, conducts new
business ribbon cuttings, holds business
award recognitions events, sponsors a
business expo, recognizes “Made in
Caldwell” products, and promotes shopping local.
• Education – partners with the local
school system and agencies to carry out
events that will help Caldwell County
youth be better prepared to enter the
workforce, serves as a liaison between
businesses and educators to help commu-
nicate the skill sets the businesses are
looking for, provides a bus tour of the
county for Caldwell County Schools
administrators’ leadership development
program.
• Community Engagement – sponsors a 13-week Leadership Caldwell class
to promote, encourage and develop
future community leaders, provides
“Meet the Candidate” forums and conducts interviews with candidates during
election campaigns to provide voter education, sponsors an annual dinner and
presents the Man and Woman of the Year
awards.
• Membership – conducts monthly
ambassador ambushes that recognize
and thank Chamber members, presents a
monthly customer service star award to a
deserving employee in the community,
secures Chamber partners who invest
over and above their membership to support Chamber initiatives, hosts orientation and information sessions, hosts a
Holiday Sweet Shoppe for member appreciation during which members can
choose a name of a child to provide
Christmas gifts for the Gift Box Project.
• Communication – plans and prepares the content for 12 monthly
Chamber Matters newsletters to be dis-
Instragram: A Visual Way To Tell Your Story
By Stephenie Oxford
Narrow The Gap Marketing
What is Instagram? Instagram is a
new way to tell your story through a
visual medium that encourages users to
post amazing imagery to showcase different industries and interests.
Instagram is only used through a
mobile device as an app. The desktop
version only allows the user to view their
newsfeed, which has recent photos and
videos of people and brands they already
follow.
It’s hard to imagine that Instagram
has only been around for four years, and
currently has more than 300 million
users that post more than 70 million pho-
tos and videos every day (which is more
than Twitter, and they’ve been around
since 2006). So, why has Instagram
grown so quickly? Instagram allows the
users to connect effortlessly by highlighting the latest trends. And, it helps
brands visually express themselves with
seasonal and themed creativity.
Instagram is truly only limited by
your imagination. So, create that
Instagram account already and get snapping! Be creative with your hashtags
based on your photo or video content,
and you can always do an internet search
for trending hashtags so you can see if
your content is relative to anything hip
that’s going on in real time.
persed to the community and the membership, provides community and Chamber
Michelle
information via web,
Colvard
social media, email,
TV and radio.
• Tourism – provides area information and answers questions for approximately 12,000 visitors and guests in person at the Caldwell and Wilson Creek visitor centers and thousands more by calls
and emails, plans and executes the NC
Blackberry festival welcoming more than
13,000 attendees, participates in regional
tourism initiatives and represents
Caldwell County and NC at tourism conferences, provides the website
www.explorecaldwell.com where visitors
can access a community calendar of
events that has been updated by locals
and organizations who have posted their
happenings and events.
Although the Chamber’s main focus is
on businesses and promoting economic
prosperity in Caldwell County, its initiatives impact the entire community. You
can also impact the community in a positive way.
If we are going to contribute to and be
a positive light for Caldwell County, the
place we call home, then we have a
responsibility to educate ourselves on the
resources that are available to us, take
advantage of them, promote them and
share our experiences with others. These
resources may be recreational, educational or others that enhance our quality of
life.
You will find an insert in this month’s
newsletter that will help you identify
some of these resources and hopefully
discover something new in your county
that will leave you with a positive experience you will want to share with others.
Challenge yourself and your family
this summer to explore the county and its
resources and find something new that
you didn’t know. Then share your findings with friends and others. Find out
why so many people make Caldwell
County their home by choice not by circumstance.
I’m a
Chamber
Believer
ANYTHING OFFICE
309 North Main St., SW • Lenoir, N.C.
828-758-0182
When Service Matters
Your Business Source
Locally Owned and Operated Since 1936
www.anythingofficeinc.com
Bass-Smith Granite
Funeral Service
Chamber
Believers
106 South Main St.
Granite1x10
Falls, North Carolina
Telephone: (828) 396-1305 • Fax: (828) 396-1444
“Always
Answering
the Call”
• Trach Care - Specially Trained Care Givers
• Ventilator Care - Specially Trained Care Givers
• Personal Care - Bathing, Dressing, Grooming
& Meal Prep
• Skilled Care - Pre- & Post-Surgical Care
828-- • www.bayada.com
1905 International Blvd. • Hudson, NC
828-728-7300
www.beocare.net
www.blueridgeemc.com
4
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
JUNE 2015
A Word From The President...
Strategies For Taking Action
M
ay 6, 2015 was an exciting day for
the Caldwell Chamber and fifteen
truly extraordinary individuals
who gathered with family, co-workers and
community leaders to celebrate the 2015
Leadership Caldwell Graduation. It was
the twenty-first class to graduate from this
annual program. The Chamber’s mission
for this thirteen-week program - to assist
participants in their professional and/or
personal development though a deeper
understanding of themselves and Caldwell
County.
Each program day focuses on a specific
topic addressing a vital component of
Caldwell County’s infrastructure. Session
topics include - human services, education, economic development, business &
industry, media, tourism and quality of
life. An invaluable benefit to the program
is simply making personal connections
with other leaders. Building business relationships is an intangible asset participants add to their personal tool box that
will be utilized throughout their career.
Congratulations to the Leadership
Caldwell 2015 Graduates:
Lindsay Diedrich
Michael Dineen
Colin Foust
Jamie Hendrix
Kristie Howard
Tony Jones
Jason Lingle
Guy Lucas
Kristyl Lykins-Harris
Jeffrey Mayo
Jessica Mitchum
Helen Rinaldi
Kelsey Smith
Norman Staines
Wongalee Thomas
The Chamber’s Leadership Caldwell
program is an intense program curriculum
and not everyone will have the opportunity to be a participant; however, everyone
can still be inspired to TAKE ACTION to
make a positive difference in the community.
I encourage you to take a moment to
consider the following five proposed
strategies for taking action. You might
identify one or more to help improve or
launch your plan.
1. Get to know your elected
leaders. Community leaders want to
know those they serve. It makes their job
easier. Make contact, attend open meetings, and utilize opportunities to share
your constructive insight. We and they
make up an entire team who unite in a
common vision – to make our community
the best it can be.
2. Become familiar with community
challenges. Every community has challenges and Caldwell has its share.
However, there are organizations with
dedicated staff members and volunteers
who are working every day to address
these challenges. As you learn about our
challenges and the obstacles that stand in
the way of success, you might be surprised to find many strategies and solutions have been identified and are underway. There is always a need for problem
solvers who want to be team members.
3. Learn about community resources.
Whether or not you currently need the resources
Deborah
offered, chances are you
Ashley
will encounter someone
Smith
who does.
4. Support your local civic groups
and non-profits. Throughout Caldwell
County are dozens of organizations that
exist on the backs of volunteers and
donors. They all have an important mission and many in our community would
experience a diminished quality of life
without their efforts. Everyone can be a
contributor to at least one organization.
How can you get involved? Attend one of
their sponsored events, make a donation,
or just ask.
5. Participate in community celebrations. It might seem odd this strategy
would make my top five list, but taking
part in fun uplifting community celebrations offer value for many reasons.
Members of the community need to interact as families and churches, to foster relationships.
There are many great leaders at the
helm of organizations throughout our
community, but success comes from their
support team, including volunteers who
have responded to their personal call to
TAKE ACTION.
Your comments are always appreciated.
Feel free to communicate through email
to [email protected].
I’m a
Chamber
Believer
Ask to Come
Home.
Ask for
Caldwell Hospice.
Lenoir Location - 902 Kirkwood St.
Hudson Location - 526 Pine Mountain Road
754-0101
www.caldwellhospice.org
757-5100 • Lenoir
www.caldwellmemorial.org
Chamber
Believers
1x10
407 Mulberry St., Lenoir
757-5525
Chamber Board Member Receives Award
Kim Williams wears many hats, but it
was her love of Caldwell County and its
residents that earned her the prestigious Satie Broyhill Lifetime
Achievement Award. This annual
award is presented by the Caldwell
Council for Women.
Kim Williams is the co-owner of
ServPro of Caldwell and Burke, serves
as a board member and vice-president
of the membership division of the
Caldwell Chamber of Commerce. She
is also a wife, mother, school mentor,
Rotarian, and throughout the year
offers many gifts of anonymous generosity throughout the community.
Kim and Randy Williams moved to
Caldwell County with their family not
just to operate their business, but more
importantly to become vital members of
the community. Kim’s recent recognition is evidence of their success.
To Advertise
Call
Kim (second from right) with her
husband, children and sister.
758-7381
JUNE 2015
5
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
AMBASSADOR AMBUSH REPORT
The Caldwell Chamber Ambassadors recently “ambushed” two unsuspecting Chamber member businesses. The
purpose, to thank them for their ongoing support of the Chamber’s program of work and to learn and share information
about each other.
I’m a
Chamber
Believer
Cars Plus
902 Wilkesboro Blvd. Lenoir, NC
757-9999
757-9999
Truck Center
758-9929
www.carspluslenoir.com
FOOTHILLS TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT
125 Main Street, Hudson, NC
Owner Kelly Pritchard and her mom have been working
as a daughter and mom team at Foothills Temporary
Employment for 21 years and serve as the only business of its kind located in Lenoir and Hudson.
Proud recipient of the
2014 Small Businessof the Year Award
presented by the
Caldwell Chamber of Commerce.
FOOTHILLS MONUMENT COMPANY
4861 Hickory Blvd., Granite Falls, NC
Foothills Monument Company is a family business owned
and operated by Bill Morrow and his daughter Lori
Morrow and has been serving the Tri-County area for
over a decade.
The skilled artisans who make this business so successful have more than 60 years of combined experience in
manufacturing each personalized monument.
Caldwell Chamber Member Since 2007
Caldwell Chamber Member Since 1994
CLAY/ANDERS
INSURANCE &
Chamber
FINANCIAL
SERVICES,
Believers INC.
Auto * Home * Life * Business
1x10
Stephen Clay
[email protected]
521 Harper Ave., S.W. - Lenoir, N. C. 28645
(828) 758-5551
D.D. Suddreth
Furniture Co., Inc.
“In Beautiful Downtown Whitnel”
1257 Norwood St. SW, Whitnel
754-6121
Since 1945
& Caldwell
ServingServing
LenoirLenoir
& Caldwell
CountyCounty
Bob Suddreth, President
The Chamber Ambassadors meet regularly to enhance the Chamber’s interaction with the membership. For information
about being part of the Chamber Ambassador team, contact Kim Williams at 396-1070.
Scott W Murphy, D.M.D., P.A.
Andrew Lyons, D.D.S.
General Dentist
“Total Family Dental Care”
Complete, Professional Dental
Services For Adults & Children
Se Habla Español
NEW PATIENTS
ALWAYS
WELCOME!
Care
Credit®
Tell Someone
THE CHAMBER MATTERS!
433-1223
341 E. Parker Rd.
Morganton, NC
www.morgantondmd.com
To Advertise
Call
758-7381
6
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
JUNE 2015
‘Meet the Sharks’
On April 28, students from across the county competed at the “Meet
the Sharks” event. Seventeen teams and approximately 40 students in 8th
to 12th grade brought their best of show. Students were judged in one of
three categories: Business plan with a project, CIS Entrepreneur program
and Engineering Inventions. A panel of five people from community business and industry judged the individual projects. Students were nervous
as they waited for their turn to compete. Many putting last minute touches
on their project and presentation. Each presentation lasted approximately
20 minutes and the “Sharks” asked important business questions. These
questions made the students think on their feet. The presentations were
impressive and students were well prepared with answers.
One of the judges, Jim Chapman from Bemis, was amazed at some of
the ideas and asked one participant for more information about their project. All students in each category were judged with the same criteria.
Students walked away from the event with a new perspective about business and industry in Caldwell County.
Winners of the Engineering Projects were Dylan Knight and John Tyler
Clark with the “EZ Reach Recovery Mail System” from the Caldwell
Career Center Middle College. Winners of the Entrepreneur Projects were
Christopher Taylor, Ryan Wilson, Matthew Thibault from South Caldwell
High School with the “Technech” project and the winner of the CIS
Entrepreneur Project was Neveda McClellan with the “Razzel & Dazzel”
project from Hibriten High School. CIS at Gamewell Middle school was the
winner of the CIS Entrepreneur Middle School Project with the “Colemax”
project. This pilot project was funded by the Bernhardt Furniture
Foundation.
Caldwell, Watauga Small Business Centers host workshops
Caldwell Community College and
Technical Institute’s Small Business
Center offers free workshops, oneon-one assistance and many more
services to help local small businesses. To reserve your seat at one
of the workshops, call 828-7262242 (Caldwell), or 828-265-5385
(Watauga) or visit
www.cccti.edu/smallbusiness.edu to
register.
Here is a list of upcoming free
workshops in Caldwell County:
Caldwell Community College and
Technical Institute’s Caldwell Small
Business Center will offer a free
workshop titled “Writing a Business
Plan” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on
Thursday, June 18 on the Caldwell
Campus of CCC&TI in Hudson.
Speaker for this seminar is Herman
Metzler.
Here is a list of upcoming free
workshops in Watauga County:
Caldwell Community College and
Technical Institute’s Watauga Small
Business Center will offer a free
workshop titled “Writing a Business
Plan” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on
Thursday, June 4 at Blowing Rock
Fire and Rescue. Speaker for this
seminar is Herman Metzler.
Caldwell Community College
and Technical Institute’s Watauga
Small Business Center will offer a
free workshop titled “Social Media
Marketing for Success” from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16 at
the Fairfield Inn and Suites
Conference Room in Boone, N.C.
The presenter for the workshop will
be Aaron Wesley Means, CEO of
ACTIVATE Business Solutions. The
session will give participants a closer look at popular social media networks and the benefits of using
each.
Caldwell Community College and
Technical Institute’s Watauga Small
Business Center will offer a free
workshop titled “Social Media 102 –
You’re Social, Now What?” from 1
p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, June
25 at the Fairfield Inn and Suites
Conference Room in Boone, N.C.
The presenter for the workshop will
be Aaron Wesley Means, CEO of
ACTIVATE Business Solutions.
Blue Ridge
3x2.5
SHOP LOCAL FIRST!
Your support of local business helps the entire community.
®
%OXH5LGJH(0&FRPŇ)LQGXVRQ)DFHERRN
‘Caldwell County Summer Blockbusters’
A Guide to Activities in Caldwell County
Summer 2015
Information about events and activities are derived from explorecaldwell.com.
Events can be added by any event organizer simply by clicking on the event tab.
SIGNATURE ATTRACTIONS / EVENTS
Lenoir Downtown Cruisers’ Monthly Cruise-In
NC Blackberry Festival and Pre-Heat Party
Pop Ferguson Blue’s Festival
Tuttle Educational State Forest
The Blowing Rock
Wilson Creek Wild & Scenic River
Blue Ridge Parkway
SUMMER CAMPS
4-H Fun for Summer
Camp Carolwood Summer Day Camp
Golden Touch Soccer Camp
Extreme Summer Camps at CCC&TI
Camp YMCA
Harper School of Music Camps
Riding Camps at Patterson Equestrian Center
HISTORY & HERITAGE
FARMER’S MARKETS
Sawmills Famer’s Market
Caldwell Farmer’s Market
Lenoir Downtown Farmer’s Market
Coffee with the Curator – “Tom Dooley: A Wilkes County
Legend”
Heritage Day at Wilson Creek Visitor Center
Caldwell History Museum
Granite Falls History & Transportation Museum
Antique Vending Museum
Fort Defiance
Hudson Railroad Depot Museum
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Mellow Monday Group Road Rides
Championships Groups Road Rides
Thirsty Thursday Group Road Rides
Safety Awareness day at Wilson Creek Visitor Center
Blackberry GLOW 5K & Fun Run
Fishing
Tubing
Kayaking
Sawmills Veteran’s Disc Golf Course
Lenoir Aquatic Center
Redwood Park
Granite Falls Recreation Center
Hiking at Hibriten Mountain (be aware of private property)
Bird Watching at Lenoir Greenway, a designated NC
Birding site
A Scenic Drive on NC Hwy. 268, Globe Mountain Road, etc.
Overmountain Victory Trail
Cedar Rock Country Club
Lenoir Golf Club
The Coves Golf Course
Orchard Hills Golf Club
Granada Farms Golf Course
Geocaching.com & search for Lenoir!
Camping
Ballgames at Hickory Crawdads
Youth Sporting Events
Horse Shows at Patterson Equestrian Center
Greenways/Pathways
Baird Park, Sawmills
Barton & Estoy Hayes Education Trail, Hudson
Buffalo Cove Community Park, Buffalo Cove
Carl & Ruth Green Walking Park, Baton
College Trail, Caldwell Community College, Hudson
Davenport School Park, Lenoir
Dudley Shoals Elementary School Trail, Dudley Shoals
Gamewell Middle School Walking Park, Gamewell
G. F. Shuford Recreation Trail, Granite Falls
Hard & Flossie Clark Family Park, Collettsville
Hibriten High School Track, Lenoir
Hickman Interpretive Trail, Hudson
Hudson Elementary and Middle School Trails, Hudson
J.E. Broyhill Park, Lenoir
Lakeside Park, Granite Falls
Lenoir Aquatic & Fitness Center Trails, Lenoir
Lenoir Greenway – Multiple Trails, Lenoir
Leslie J. Hagaman Walking Park, Happy Valley
Martin Luther King Recreation Center, Freedman
Oak Hill Community Park, Oak Hill
Redwood Park Lighted Trail, Hudson
Sawmills Elementary School Trail, Sawmills
T. H. Broyhill Walking Park, Lenoir
Town of Gamewell Park Trail, Gamewell
Tuttle Educational State Forest Trails – 3 Trails, Gamewell
Valmead Elementary School Track, Valmead
Veterans Park, Sawmills
West Lenoir Elementary School Track, Lenoir
Yadkin Valley Trail, Yadkin Valley
Hiking Trails in the Wilson Creek area
North Harper Creek Falls
Wilson Creek
Harpers Creek
Huntfish Falls
Yellow Buck
Greentown (Bikes and Hiking
Wilson Ridge (Bikes and Hiking)
Persimmon Ridge
Big Lost Cove Cliff
Little Lost Cove
Raider Camp - blazed in yellow
Thorps Creek - Schoolhouse Ridge (Bikes and Hiking)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Singer Songwriters Series at Tuckers Barn
SCHOOLED Art Exhibit
CARS Tour 2015 – benefitting Helping Hands Clinic
Pigments of your Imagination Art Exhibit
Bo’s Bodacious Family Entertainment
Sim’s Country Barbeque
Bolick & Traditions Pottery
Caldwell Arts Council
Tucker’s Gallery walking Sculpture Tour
Hudson Pickin’ in the Park
Caldwell County Libraries
Hardee’s Weekly Jam Sessions
Fabulous Family Films in Downtown Lenoir
4th of July Celebrations
Friday After Five Music Concerts
JUNE 2015
11
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
~ Recent Business Celebrations ~
BARK MOBILE RELOCATED
Bark Mobile recently relocated its Lenoir
office to 419 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, NC,
beside Firehouse Sub. Call 828.759.7066.
Bark Mobile is a pre-paid mobile service offering innovative wireless products and services
without contracts or credit checks. Founded in
2009, Bark Mobile provides national wireless
service to residents of northwestern North
Carolina with the benefit of truly local personal
customer service.
ATTITUDES HAIR & NAILS
Congratulations - Owner/Operator Elizabeth
Steele. After many successful business years in
Catawba County, Elizabeth relocated her
upscale full service salon for men and women to
her countryside home in Caldwell County.
Attitudes Hair & Nails is located at 1474
Taylorsville Road, SE, Lenoir, NC. Call
828.381.2121 for an appointment or more information.
NC WORKS - IT’S OFFICIAL
The NCWorks Career Planning and
Placement Center (formerly JobLink) has official-
Anything Office
3x2.5
ly opened for business. The Center offers
employment services for the public in partnership with local employers and partner agencies.
Offered at no cost to the public, the services and
resources
include
one-on-one
career
advisement, mock
interviews,
in-depth
resume
assistance,
computer
access and comprehensive job listings. The center also will be working with local employers to
educate them on services offered by the center,
specialized training opportunities for both current
and future workforce, and cooperative education
and internship opportunities to help employers
connect with CCC&TI students.
NCWorks Career Planning and Placement
Center is located at 1909 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir
NC in the lower level of the Commerce Center
(enter from the back parking lot).
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday, with extended hours on Tuesdays until 8
p.m. Phone: 828.759.4680
WALKER REAL ESTATE
SERVICES GRAND OPENING
Keith and Rhonda Walker welcomed the public to their recent official grand opening with an
ice cream social. Rhonda has practiced real
estate for more than 13 years and Keith
obtained his broker license in 2013. They offer
every service in the real estate field, including
property
management.
The
Walker’s
located
their new
business at
312
Mulberry
Street, Lenoir, across from Caldwell UNC Health
Care. Contact Rhonda or Keith at 828.851.1541
and visit walkerrealestateservices.com for more
information.
GOODWILL CAREER
CONNECTIONS
Julie Roberts and other local and regional
representatives from Goodwill Industries of
NWNC welcomed the community to a formal
open house introducing Goodwill Career
Connections located at 960 Blowing Rock Blvd.,
Lenoir.
Career Connections provide free services for
job seekers, career-changers, Veterans and their
families, students, and employers.
Contact 828.758.7642 or [email protected] for more information.
ServPro
Delivering Quality
and Service Since 1936
Next Day Pick Up Available for Local Customers - Next Day Delivery to Business Customers
Stop By and Visit Our
New Furniture Showroom
3x2.5
12
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
MAY 28
Ribbon Cutting, Cajah’s Mountain
Medical Assoc., 1766 Conley
Springs Rd., Lenoir, 8:30 am
JUNE CHAMBER
EVENTS
2015
04
Chamber Ambassador
Ambush, Meet at Chamber,
10am
08
City/County Services
Meeting, CCC&TI, 11:45am
16
Ribbon Cutting,
AQUA INC. TANNING,
140 Tremont Park Drive NE,
Lenoir, NC 828.851.9554,
4:30pm
24
25
25
Chamber Board Meeting,
Chamber, 11am
Caldwell Women’s Forum,
Marcie’s Kountry Kitchen,
8am
Chamber Ambassador
Meeting
JULY BUSINESS
AFTER HOURS
Wednesday, July 15
4:00 to 6:00pm
Caldwell Chamber of Commerce
Sponsored by: Caldwell County Home
Builder’s Association
Enjoy good food and great company
while learning and sharing business
information
Call the Chamber at 726-0616
for more information.
JUNE 2015
COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR
Visit www.ExploreCaldwell.com for more info
The Caldwell Chamber provides a
community calendar at www.explorecaldwell.com. This online calendar is
open to the public for both posting
and viewing events. To learn more
about the following events and to see
others simply go to the site and click
on the events tab.
JUN
01
Mellow Monday Group Road Ride
6:00pm to 7:30pm
Luna Cycles, 110 Church St.,
Lenoir, NC 28645
JUN
02
Sawmills Farmer’s Market
4:00pm to 6:30pm
Farmers’ Market lot across from
Sawmills Fire Department
Tuesday Night World
Championships Group Road Ride
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Luna Cycles 110 Church St. Lenoir,
NC 28645
JUN
04
Thirsty Thursday Group Road
Ride
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Luna Cycles, 110 Church St. Lenoir,
NC 28645
Singer Songwriters Series at
Tucker’s Barn
7:00pm to 9:00pm
United States
JUN
SCHOOLED Art Exhibit
Jun 5 2015 to Jun 27 2015
Caldwell Arts Council
JUN
05
06
Opening Day Delayed Harvest
Trout Waters
Jun 6 2015
Wilson Creek - A Wild and Scenic
River
Lenoir Downtown Cruisers’
Monthly Cruise-In
4:00pm to 9:00pm
Downtown Lenoir
JUN
I’m a
Chamber
09 Believer
Sawmills Farmer’s Market
Jun 9 2015, 4:00pm to 6:30pm
Farmers’ Market lot across from
Sawmills Fire Department
JUN
10
Coffee with the Curator: “Tom
Dooley: A Wilkes County Legend”
Caldwell Heritage Museum
10:00am
Caldwell Heritage Museum
JUN
11
Fundraising Barbecue benefitting
Caldwell Senior Center
12:00pm to 1:30pm
650-A Pennton Ave., Lenoir
Chamber
Believers
1x10
366 Morganton Lenoir Airport Ave.
Morganton, NC 28655
(828) 757-0099
[email protected]
Lenoir Amateur Radio Club
Meeting
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Gamewell Fire Department
JUN
CARS Tour 2015 To Benefit
Helping Hands Clinic
7:00pm
Tri-County Speedway
JUN
12
13
Safety Awareness Day
Jun 13 2015, 11:00am to 4:00pm
Wilson Creek Visitor Center
JUN
25
Caldwell Women’s Forum
Jun 25 2015, 8:00am to 9:00am
Marcie’s Kountry Kitchen at Lenoir
Golf Club, Inc.
JUN
27
Lenoir Downtown Cruisers
Cruise-Ins
Jun 27 2015, 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Downtown Lenoir, NC
Your Sewer & Water Restoration Company!
828-757-0006
www.krgutility.com
To Advertise
Call
758-7381
JUNE 2015
13
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
Caldwell Memorial Hospital Honored With ‘A’ Grade
By Kimberly Edmisten
Director for Public Relations & Marketing
Caldwell Memorial Hospital was honored with an “A” grade in the Spring
2015Hospital Safety Score - repeating
its “A” grade from the Fall 2014 Hospital
Safety Score - which rates how well
hospitals protect patients from errors,
injuries and infections. The Hospital
Safety Score is compiled under the
guidance of the nation’s leading experts
on patient safety and is administered by
The Leapfrog Group (Leapfrog), an
independent industry watchdog. The
first and only hospital safety rating to be
peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient
Safety, the Score is free to the public
and designed to give consumers information they can use to protect themselves and their families when facing a
hospital stay.
“Caldwell Memorial Hospital
remains committed to quality care that
is safe, affordable and accessible,” said
Laura Easton, President and CEO.
“Our mission is to provide safe, effective, compassionate care and to promote healthy lifestyles to our community. Our continuous desire is to better the
standards of care for our patients and
health care overall. The results of our
care remain outstanding and The
Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2015 and Fall
2014 Hospital Safety Scores reflect our
Caldwell Memorial
Hospital recognized again
for outstanding record in
patient safety –
Awarded an “A” in Spring
2015 Hospital Safety Score
commitment to, and performance of, top
quality outcomes.”
Developed under the guidance of
Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel,
the Hospital Safety Score uses 28
domains of publicly available hospital
safety data to produce a single “A,” “B,”
“C,” “D,” or “F” score representing a
hospital’s overall capacity to keep
patients safe from preventable harm.
More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals
were assigned scores in spring 2015,
with about 31-percent receiving an “A”
grade. The Hospital Safety Score is
fully transparent, with a full analysis of
the data and methodology used in
determining grades available online.
About The Leapfrog Group
The Hospital Safety Score
(www.hospitalsafetyscore.org) is an initiative of The Leapfrog Group
(www.leapfroggroup.org), a national
nonprofit organization using the collec-
tive leverage of large purchasers of
health care to initiate breakthrough
improvements in the safety, quality and
affordability of health care for
Americans. The flagship Leapfrog
Hospital Survey allows purchasers to
structure their contracts and purchasing
to reward the highest performing hospitals. The Leapfrog Group was founded
in November 2000 with support from
the Business Roundtable and national
funders and is now independently operated with support from its purchaser
and other members.
About Caldwell Memorial
Hospital
A member of the nationally-recognized UNC Health Care System since
May 1, 2013, Caldwell Memorial
Hospital is the private, not-for-profit
community hospital located in Lenoir,
North Carolina. Since opening in
January of 1951, it has continued to
grow and change in order to meet the
healthcare needs of its community.
Anchored by a high-quality 110-bed
acute care hospital and a provider network of more than sixty primary and
specialty care physicians and advanced
practice professionals, the mission of
Caldwell Memorial Hospital is to provide
safe, effective, compassionate care and
to promote healthy lifestyles to its community. www.caldwellmemorial.org
NC Representative Robinson
Featured at Business 4 Breakfast
A large group of Caldwell Chamber members and government leaders were present for the May Business 4 Breakfast
event featuring NC Representative George Robinson.
Earlier this year Robinson was appointed to fill the vacancy
of long-term Representative Edgar Starnes.
Representative Robinson offered insight into many of the
most pressing issues to be addressed during the current legislative session. As expected, taxation and budget was high
on the audience interest list. Robinson also expressed the
desire for open communication with his entire constituency.
He is seeking public input as he meets the challenge of
effectively representing Caldwell County.
Representative Robinson continues to reside in Lenoir
and will travel to and from Raleigh weekly throughout the
legislative session. The public may communicate by mail,
I’m a
Chamber
Believer
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1146 Hickory Blvd. SW
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Lenoir, NC 28645
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phone or email.
N.C. House of Representatives
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 306C
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
919-733-5931
[email protected]
of Alexander & Caldwell Counties
Fire & Water Cleanup & Restoration
828-396-1070
Independently Owned and Operated
14
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
JUNE 2015
2015 Leadership Caldwell In Action
By Kelsey Smith
I’m a
Chamber
Believer
Fairfield Chair Company
The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines a leader as, “a person who has
commanding authority or influence.” The
2015 Leadership Caldwell class set out
with that exact purpose, to be trained to
have great influence. We spent every
Wednesday for 13 weeks touring nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, and public service facilities. We
also spent time talking with city and
county officials and attended seminars
on a variety of topics, including the
county’s heritage, poverty, and steps
being taken for economic development
in Caldwell County. It was an intense
series of weeks, which both challenged
and developed each member as an
individual and as a leader.
As part of this 13 week intensive, the
group was challenged with developing a
class project, to be inspired by our visits
in the community. When touring several
1258 SW Hickory Blvd.
Lenoir, NC
(Hwy. 321 S.)
728-7171
of the different organizations that work
directly with needy families, the class
discovered that diapers are the common
resource each organization struggles to
provide. The leaders in the organizations explained to us that in many
cases, families who are struggling financially often have to make a choice
Caldwell Master Gardeners Dig New Ground
With New Chamber Membership
A greater awareness of the
Caldwell County community is now
made possible with The Master
Gardeners club’s new Chamber membership.
The Master Gardeners members
are an extension of The N. C.
Cooperative Extension and their local
office. All Master Gardeners are
required to pass a rigorous 3-month
Master Gardener course conducted by
the Caldwell County Extension Center.
The Master Gardeners mission
focuses on providing agriculture education and hands on service to segments the local community where
needed. Some of the annual activities
and services include:
• Downtown Lenoir’s “Boom Blast” in
May
• Caldwell County’s annual County
Fair
• The Women’s Shelter Home
•
Caldwell County School’s landscaping competition
• Caldwell County Senior Center
• Caldwell County 4-H club’s annual
“plant sale”
New projects for 2015 include:
• Landscaping enhancement of the
local American Legion entrance
• Landscaping the new Com-Serv
office entrance.
• Participating in the 14th Annual
Blackberry Festival on July 10-11
Operating funds are collected through
the following:
• Membership dues
• Nitrile garden gloves
• Korean multi-purpose hand plow
The Master Gardeners look forward
to increasing their community vision
with their Chamber Associations.
between groceries/formula and diapers.
The most critical of these to survival, of
course, is food. Therefore, when the
diapers are running low, families often
are forced to reuse disposable diapers
or leave their child in the same diaper
all day. When we heard these stories,
there was no denying that this was
where we wanted to get involved.
So, on May 12th, the 2015
Leadership Caldwell class hosted a
Diaper Drive day in the parking lot of
the Family Resource Center, located in
downtown Lenoir. We accepted donations of any size diapers, wipes, and
cash. We were blown away by the support we received. All of us were especially touched to see folks in the community donate to our cause, who were
obviously needy in ways in their own
lives. Those gifts were cherished in a
special way. To this date, we have
raised over 5, 718 diapers and 1,200
wipes. Thank you to all those who
donated to our cause!
In summary, if there’s one thing that
this class taught me it’s this: being a
great or notable leader is not always
about making great speeches or shaking the right hands. Rather, it’s about
taking action and leaving a tangible lasting impact on your community and
those who live in it. Look at the impact
that a group of less than 15 was able to
make. It’s time for us all to stop talking
about ways to get involved and places
that need our help. It’s time to get out
there, and take action!
Chamber
Believers
1x10
The Irish Rose
Bed & Breakfast
1344 Harper Avenue, N.W.
Lenoir, N. C. 28645
Come for a weekend or a week
of rest and relaxation.
For reservations: Tel: 828-758-2323
e-mail: [email protected]
Apartments
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JUNE 2015
15
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
MEMBER RENEWALS
Patterson School Foundation
Janet Spoon
PO Box 500
Patterson, NC 28661
Member Since: 4/23/2014
Caldwell County Yokefellow
Sharon H Osborne
PO Box 2422
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 4/28/2014
Avery Dennison
Robin Sigmon
950 German St.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 1/1/1965
Wilkie Construction Company
Greg Wilkie
PO Box 1410
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/9/2013
Ann Stover Bail Bonds
Ann Stover
PO Box 991
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/23/2000
Comfort Inn of Lenoir
Jada Cable
970 Blowing Rock Blvd NE
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/1/1998
WalMart - Granite Falls
Steve Cloninger
4780 Hickory Blvd
Granite Falls, NC 28630
Member Since: 1/13/2009
American Trade & Loan
Jimmy Clark
532 Harper Ave., NW
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/14/1990
Master Porta-Jon Service, Inc.
John & Pam Ballew
2505 Spring Meadow Road
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/13/2009
Edward Jones Investments Harper Ave.
Walt Fucito
PO Box 1675
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/1/1984
Premier Marketing
Jerry Kahill
10-A Falls Avenue, Ste 2
Granite Falls, NC 28630
Member Since: 6/5/2012
Carolina Farm Credit
Jaymee Smith
PO Box 1618
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/1/1996
Marx Industries, Inc.
Rick Detter
PO Box 826
Granite Falls, NC 28630
Member Since: 2/5/2014
Lenoir Veterinary Hospital PA
Dr. Daniel Jones
2309 Lakeside Terrace Cr.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/10/2006
Southern Comforts
Julie Zoller
1742 Blowing Rock Blvd.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 7/22/2011
Better Alternatives
Alan Jordan
1209 Cedar Valley Church Rd.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/20/2003
BB & T
Lenore Henry
PO Box 2489
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/31/1994
Bumgarner Camping Center, Inc.
Angel Bumgarner
2206 Hickory Blvd., SW
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/29/2007
John W. Cox, DDS Dentistry
John Cox, DDS
420 Harper Ave
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/18/2000
Wells Fargo Advisors
Peg Broyhill
PO Box 1138
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 5/1/1984
Ricoh USA
Rick Faulk
903 Hwy. 321 NW
Hickory, NC 28601
Member Since: 11/1/1998
Individuals
Foothills Shrine Club
Johnny Overby
2541 Laurel Valley Way
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 4/21/2014
Blue Moose Coffee Lodge
Kelly Bentley
306 Pennton Avenue
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 3/13/2006
Graystone Ophthalmology
Association
Caroline Pope
PO Box 2588
Hickory, NC 28603
Member Since: 5/1/1971
Hamby Brothers Concrete, Inc.
Randall Hamby
PO Box 844
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 4/1/1988
Hibriten Building Supply
Company
Steve Minton
2148 Norwood St., SW
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 2/12/2013
The Salvation Army
Phil Heath
PO Box 1167
Hickory, NC 28603
Member Since: 5/8/2013
NEW MEMBERS
Walmart Neighborhood Market
Brandon Revis
2794 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638
www.walmart.com
Our local Walmart Neighborhood Market will offer a full line of groceries, including fresh produce, meats and dairy products, frozen
foods, dry goods, a deli and a bakery. We offer a full service pharmacy, Walmart.com Site-To-Store, and household goods. Walmart
Neighborhood Market will work hard to provide a fast, clean, and
friendly environment.
Barbara Weiller
Lenoir, NC 28645
Member Since: 7/1/1986
SHOP LOCAL FIRST!
Your support of local business helps the entire community.
16
THE CHAMBER MATTERS
JUNE 2015
Blue Ridge Electric Service
Star Award – April 2015
The Caldwell Chamber Ambassadors recently made a
surprise workday visit to Aldi of Lenoir to present the monthly Blue Ridge Service Star Award. Lindsey Triplett was
shocked to learn she had been nominated and would be the
April recipient. Lindsey was recognized for her ongoing
efforts to provide exceptional service.
Nominations for the Blue Ridge Electric Service Star
Award can be made simply by submitting information
through email to [email protected] with the
subject line AWARD NOMINATION. The selection committee
meets monthly to select a worthy recipient. The only criteria: consistent — ongoing — exceptional customer service.
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