November/December 2012 - Greater Mount Airy Chamber of
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November/December 2012 - Greater Mount Airy Chamber of
THE CHAMBER CHATTER Volume 5 Issue 8 November/December 2012 The Chamber Staff hopes your Christmas was all that you wished for and more! We thank you for your support in 2012 and look forward to your partnership and serving your business in 2013! The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce 2012 Holiday Ornament STILL AVAILABLE, GET YOURS NOW!!! “The Granite Corner Stone” This unique holiday ornament honors “One of the Nation’s Finest Buildings” The United States Post Office Mount Airy, North Carolina. Welcome New Chamber Members! Mayberry Manor Guesthouse - Located at 1820 Westfield Road Mount Airy, NC 27030. Phone 336-468-0630 or 336 -719-2713 or visit at www.facebook.com/MayberryManorGuesthouse This 4 bedroom 3 bath two story brick house sleeps 14, dates back to 1941 and was The James Robert and Bessie Flora Wall Caudle Home Place. Recently on the 2012 Holiday Tour of Homes, The Mayberry Manor Guesthouse received rave reviews for its outstanding character, charm and beauty. The Mayberry Manor Guesthouse is owned by Aggie Stevenson and will officially open January 1, 2013. This lovely home features luxurious accommodations such as a; Three Room Master Suite with Spa Bath, Micro kitchen & Veranda, Luxury Linens and Bedding, Large Jacuzzi Tub, Candlelight Fireplace in Family Room, Dishes, Cookware and All Appliances, Coffeemakers and Icemaker, Cozy Cubby – A–frame, child-sized bedroom, Third Story Bunkhouse with Micro Kitchen, Large Patio- Charcoal Grill-Fire Pit, Sun Porch- Circular Drive – Large Yard. The Mayberry Manor Guesthouse is a perfect setting for all events - Receptions, Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Girlfriends Weekends, Sleepovers, Women’s Retreat, Men’s Retreat, Couple’s Retreat, Home Showers, Meetings, Holiday Parties, Company Parties, Family Reunions, Private Parties, Coffee Clubs, Wine Tours, Vacations, Cookouts or for a Romantic Getaway or the Newlywed’s Honeymoon Suite! The Mayberry Manor Guesthouse……Your home away from home. Mayberry Manor Guesthouse 1820 Westfield Road Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-468-0630 336-719-2713 www.facebook.com/MayberryManorGuesthouse Welcome New Chamber Members Commodore Trading Company – Located at 396 Goins Road Mount Airy NC 27030. Phone 276-2373722. Commodore Trading Company was established less than a year ago by owner and operator John Underwood. Commodore Trading Company provides affordable custom sized pallets while helping to preserve our natural resources. Recycled pallets offer your company an economical way to ship and be green. Commodore Trading Company can help a facility get rid of their unneeded pallets with their pallet collection service or pallets can be you can be dropped off at the facility. The pallet pick up service and pallet collection center allows Commodore Trading Company to take in a wide range of sizes and recycle and remanufacture pallets that fit their customers shipping needs. Pallet recycling has become the way for business professionals to watch their shipping cost and protect the planet. Commodore Trading Company can build custom recycled pallets to fit any shipping needs. Commodore Trading Company is based on the belief that their customers' needs are of the utmost importance. Their entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of their business is from repeat customers and referrals. Commodore Trading Company Pallets are made to a high standard out of recycled material. Commodore Trading Company welcomes the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the industry. Commodore Trading Company 396 Goins Road Mount Airy, NC 27030 276-237-3722 www.commodoretradingco.com Mayberry Toy Company - Located at 259 North Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030. Phone 336-7553727. Website www.mayberrytoyco.com (coming soon). Mayberry Toy Company is owned and operated by Paul and Angela Stroup and opened during the Autumn Leaves Festival this year and have been busy ever since! Mayberry Toy Company is a specialty toy store filled with toys from the past, modern electronics, and toys you did not even imagine existed. There are unique toys, magic tricks, educational games, board games, models, puzzles, collectibles, trains, science experiments, brain teasers, an assortment of dolls, houses, clothes, and furnishings and some favorite retro toys even the rubik's cube and everything in between. There is something to challenge both the young and old alike. Mayberry Toy Company is a “Crown Jewel” for downtown Mount Airy and a store enjoyed by kids of all ages! It is impossible to see everyting in just one visit and that is what makes this store so much fun…… you have to visit several times to see everything! Mayberry Toy Company 259 North Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-755-3727 www.mayberrytoyco.com Welcome New Chamber Members The Yogurt Factory - Located at 155 North Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030. Phone 336-755-3880. This NEW "self serve" yogurt shop is located in the heart of historic downtown Mount Airy in the 100 block across the street from the Earle Theatre, and neighbors of Miss Angels Heavenly Pies, Something Different on Main, Opie's Candy Store and the Snappy Lunch. The Yogurt Factory is a MUST visit for one or more of the 40 flavors of yogurt, topped with one, two, or several of the 38 toppings available! Relax and Enjoy your delicious yogurt as you sit near one of the large windows and watch the people go by on Main Street. The Yogurt Factory just opened their doors in August and is owned by Partner Scott Graham, Partner Sara Key and Partner Luke Graham. Stop by and try one of the varieties of yogurt and don't forget to add the toppings! The Yogurt Factory 155 North Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-755-3880 UNiHealth Home Health - Located at 1218 State Street, Suite 200 Mount Airy, NC 27030. Phone 336789-9990, fax 336-788-9004. Website www.URReady.com. The main contacts are: VP of Home Care - Rita Southworth RN, Community Relations Development Coordinator - Federick Allen and VP of Program Development - Michael Ferguson. Currently UniHealth Home Health employees 8 full time and 2 part time people. UNiHealth Home Health’s number one priority is quality care. As a family-owned health care organization founded in 1969, their story is one of family and community. Just like the oak tree they have strong roots and a solid foundation that allows them to deliver quality care to meet the changing needs of their patients. UniHealth Home Health offers a full range of services in the home or assisted living facility. By coordinating with the physician and family, the UniHealth Home Health staff is able to develop an individual plan of care. Services are designed with one goal: to assist patients in reaching their optimum level of function while in the comfort of their own home. Services include: Skilled Nursing Services, Certifiied Nursing Needs, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Medical Social Work and IV Therapy. Committed to Caring UNiHealth Home Health 1218 State Street, Suite 200 Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-789-9990 Fax 336-788-9004 www.URReady.com Welcome New Chamber Members L & L Construction Co. - Located at 974 White Buffalo Road Mount Airy, NC 27030. Office Phone 336-320-2305, Cell Phone 336-756-0372, website www.landconstructioncompany.com L & L Construction Co. was established in 2007 and is owned and operated by Justin Tickle. Justin started L & L Construction because he enjoys building and construction. L & L Construction is named for Justin and Dawn’s two sons, Logan and Luke; and their third child was just born and she is named Lilyan. The ultimate goal of L & L Construction Co. is to exceed the homeowners expectations with a finished project that was built with the best materials, proper tools and technology and precision craftsmanship. Small job or big job, Justin takes each project personal because his name and reputation are at stake. If you are thinking about adding an addition, new construction or a remodeling project like vinyl siding, replacement windows, interior painting, tile and hardwood flooring, shingle or metal roofs, new deck or deck remodeling call L & L Construction Co. and ask Justin Tickle to give you an estimate! L & L Construction Co. Fully Insured with over 10 years experience / Free Estimates L & L Construction Co. 974 White Buffalo Road Mount Airy, NC 27030. Office Phone 336-320-2305 Cell Phone 336-756-0372 www.landconstructioncompany.com DE-Stress Massage Therapy - Located at 1219-C West Lebanon Street Mount Airy NC 27030. Phone 336-783-0055. Ica Draugh-Eldridge, LMBTNC#12465 and brother Burce Draughn, LMBTNC#12465 opened DE-Stress Massage Therapy in October 2012. DE-Stress is a family practice that knows the power of touch is amazing. Enhance your well-bing today and let De-Stress knead you right. Call today…..you will be glad you did! DE-Stress Massage Therapy 1219-C Lebanon Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-783-0055 Welcome New Chamber Members The Mount Airy Lions Club - Founded in 1938, The Mount Airy Lions Club began with 21 members under the leadership of Dr. T.C. Britt. For 74 years the Lions Club has been serving those in need with projects like their Brunswick Stew sales, the Broom sales, a Drink booth at the annual Autumn Leave Festival, Golf Tournament, Blood Drives, Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army and their Yard Sales. The Lions give sight and are dedicated to serving the visually impaired by providing vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine and raising awareness of eye disease, Lions work toward their mission of providing vision for all. They have extended their commitment to sight conservation through countless local community projects and through our international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness. Other local community projects include hosting Summer Cookouts and Christmas dinners, delivering Christmas gifts and sponsoring Camp Dogwood Campers. The Club has responded to community needs through the purchase of hearing aids, equipment for the Surry County Health Department as well as donating $10,000 to the renovation at Reeves Community Center and $10,000 to the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. In the support of the broader scope of Lionism, the Mount Airy Club participates in the district and state activities and goals. The Mount Airy Lions Club is proud to have furnished 2 District Governors in past years- John R. Hamilton and Dr. Wilford Lyerly. The Mount Airy Lions Club demonstrated leadership through the role played in establishing a community college in Surry County. A principle backer of the college, Will Monday, B.H. Tharrington, Floyd Rees and John Hamilton visited Raleigh to lay the groundwork with State Officials. Lion Will Monday took it upon himself to see the college become a reality. Today the Mount Airy Lions Club awards Surry Community scholarships to 2 deserving high school seniors. As you can see….Lions are active! Their motto is "We Serve." Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local communities. The Mount Airy Lions Club is part of District 31-D and current officers include President -Tommy Barker, Secretary- Jimmy Harbour, Treasurer-Bill Joe Woodruff and Membership Chairman-Jack Loftis. The Mount Airy Lions Club meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 6:00pm at Prime Sirloin Restaurant in Mount Airy. THE MOUNT AIRY LIONS CLUB P. O. BOX 503 MOUNT AIRY, NC 27030 http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/mountairy/index.php Board Retreat Our Board gathered together for a retreat at Cross Creek Country Club. Board Members got to know each other and began to review an agenda for 2013. Media Contact: Bill James Chief Executive Officer Phone: 336-719-7101 PRESS RELEASE Northern Hospital of Surry County Announces Arrival of Eight New Hospitalists to Provide Inpatient Care Beginning Monday, December 3, 2012. Northern Hospital of Surry County is pleased to announce that eight new, full-time physicians will be joining its Medical Staff as its new hospitalist group to provide inpatient care beginning at 7am on Monday, December 3, 2012. This transition of the hospitalist program is reflective of the hospital’s commitment to serve its patients in a manner that truly puts the patients first as it works to improve all aspects of the patient experience. The physicians, all of whom are Board Certified in Internal Medicine, include: Dr. Tamas Bathory, Dr. Whitney French, Dr. Allen Jones, Dr. Angelce Kikerkov, Dr. Penny McDonald, Dr. Eric Melvin, Dr. Aniko Toth-Bagi, and Dr. William Lawing. Each of the physicians have at least eight years of continuous hospitalist experience and all previously worked together at a tertiary care medical center in the Piedmont Triad . They also often worked with Northern Hospital’s Emergency Department and referring physicians, frequently partnering with them in the care of their acute patients who needed to be transferred. As a result, they became familiar with Northern Hospital’s staff and procedures and found it offered what they were looking for. They all have embraced the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the residents of Northern Hospital’s service area. The hospitalist service is an integral component in the provision of quality patient care at Northern Hospital. With this transition it is confident that it will successfully serve its patients’ needs for years to come. Pike Announces Leadership Transition John Thompson President UC Synergetic to Assume Role as President Pike Energy Solutions MT. AIRY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pike Electric Corporation (NYSE: PIKE), one of the nation's largest providers of energy solutions, today announced that John Thompson, PE, will assume the role of President of Pike Energy Solutions. Mr. Thompson will also continue as President UC Synergetic, which was acquired by Pike Electric Corporation in July. Mr. Thompson joined UC Synergetic in 2002 and served as the company's Senior Vice President Energy Delivery. He was instrumental in the development of new capabilities, including engineering consulting and storm response. Mr. Thompson has held leadership positions in the distribution, transmission and substation divisions at both investor-owned and cooperative utilities, including South Carolina Electric & Gas, New Horizon Electric Cooperative and Progress Energy. Mr. Thompson graduated with a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from the Citadel and is a registered Professional Engineer. J. Eric Pike, Chairman and CEO said, "This is our first move to integrate Pike Energy Solutions and UC Synergetic, our two engineering entities. John brings strong leadership skills and deep knowledge of our industry and customers. I am confident John will have an immediate positive impact on both organizations as we continue to grow our planning, siting, engineering and design services." Mr. Pike continued, "John will replace Jim Hicks as PES's President who is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Jim's leadership has been instrumental in growing our power engineering business and we appreciate all he has done for the Company." About Pike Electric Corporation Pike Electric Corporation is a leading provider of energy solutions to over 300 investor-owned, municipal and cooperative utilities in the United States. Our comprehensive services include facilities planning and siting, permitting, engineering, design, installation, maintenance and repair of electric and communication infrastructure. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PIKE. For more information, visit us online at www.pike.com. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Mount Airy wins prestigious award The Torchbearer Award was presented during the 2012 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 24–26, 2012. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mount Airy is one of only 102 properties within the Americas chosen from the IHG system of more than 4,500 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation -- from quality to customer satisfaction. A 2012 Torchbearer trophy, the company's symbol of excellence, will be on permanent display at the hotel. "It is my pleasure to name the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mount Airy as one of the top-notch hotels in our industry," said Kirk Kinsell, President, the Americas, IHG. "This hotel embodies the heart of our brand promise and continues to make IHG properties known and admired throughout the world, continuing our mission to deliver Great Hotels Guests Love." Nearly 5,000 franchise owners, operators and company officials attended the 2012 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference. @ARCBloodCAR redcrossblood.org pinterest.com/amredcross Improve Your Home, Improve the Lives of Others with ‘Building a Better Blood Supply’ Presenting Donors Eligible to Win $1,000 Gift Card to a Home Improvement Store Planning your next Do-It-Yourself or home improvement project? Present to donate blood or platelets during the American Red Cross “Building a Better Blood Supply” promotion January 1 through March 31, 2013, for your chance to win a $1,000 gift card to a home improvement store. Whether you’re looking for power tools, paint or your must-have DIY supplies, the Red Cross wants to reward donors who not only do-it-yourself, they do it for others. Winter weather and busy schedules tend to keep donors away, but the need for blood is constant. The Red Cross relies on volunteer blood donations to fulfill hospital needs. With blood drives held every week throughout Surry County, there are countless opportunities for donors to help improve the lives of others and possibly improve their homes, as well. “Donating blood only takes about an hour, but the benefits can be lifesaving for a patient in your community,” said Delisa English, chief executive officer, Carolinas Blood Services Region. “This time of year is always challenging, but we hope our dedicated donors continue to make it a priority to build a better blood supply.” The Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to patients in 103 hospitals. Approximately 1,600 people need to give blood or platelets each week day to meet hospital demands. Blood can be donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given every seven days, up to 24 times a year. For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org. How to Donate Blood Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org. Badcock Home Furniture holds Ribbon Cutting The Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held at Badcock Home Furniture located at 1130 West Pine Street at the Surry Plaza Shopping Center on Wednesday September 19, 2012. Elected officials, Badcock Corporate Officials, Chamber Members and Guests were on hand for the ceremony and open house event. The Mount Airy Store Manager Judy Hawley was introduced to those in attendance along with her staff. The NEW Badcock Home Furniture store is large and roomy and can accommodate the numerous displays of entire room’s setup throughout the store. The room displays are accented with beautiful accessories that would be perfect in any home. For the guys, the big TV’s have an area all their own where you can relax in comfort while enjoying the various screens and benefits of each TV. Are you in need of a new appliance? Badcock has an area filled with the latest appliances for your home. Badcock has a tremendous selection of everything you need for your home and great prices too! Founded in 1904, The W.S. Badcock Corporation is one of the largest privately-owned home furniture retailers in the United States with over 300 stores in the southeast. Badcock Home Furniture offers customers a full range of furniture, bedding, appliances, electronics, accessories and floor coverings. Expansion continues with plans for stores throughout the southeast including Kentucky and West Virginia. The philosophy of Badcock dates back to the original founders and still remains the same today "Badcock will treat you right". If you are in the market for new furniture, bedding, appliances, electronics, floor covering or accessories stop by Badcock Home Furniture and talk to Judy or one the Badcock Associates. Badcock Home Furniture & more 1130 West Pine Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-755-3233 www.Badcock.com Chamber Surprise Patrol Visits Blue Ridge Enterprises The Chamber Surprise Patrol paid an unannounced visit to Blue Ridge Enterprises, Inc. located at 1120 West Lebanon Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 on Tuesday September 25, 2012. Eight Chamber Ambassadors and staff met outside the building and entered as a group carrying balloons, a bag of candy and a box of cookies to simply say “Thank You” to Blue Ridge Enterprises for being a loyal Chamber Member. Once inside we requested to see President, Todd Greenwood, not knowing if he would be in or not. To our delight, Todd was in the office and once we told him the purpose of our visit he invited us to the board room and the rest of the BRE staff joined us. The Boardroom was bright and spacious, with one wall lined with photos of completed projects. Wanting to learn more about Blue Ridge Enterprises, we asked Todd to share some company facts with us. Blue Ridge Enterprises, Inc. was established in 1959 and constructs all types of building projects. Both competitively bid and negotiated projects, ranging from thousands of dollars to millions. Blue Ridge Enterprises, Inc. is licensed in NC, SC, TN, and VA and has done projects in 72 counties of NC’s 100 counties…..BRE has done projects from one end of the state to the other end. Blue Ridge Enterprises has constructed all types of building projects; Assembly includes churches; Commercial includes banks, corporations, and retail; Education includes schools; Government includes town halls, fire stations, and visitor centers; Housing includes multi-family projects; and Industrial projects include manufacturing. Blue Ridge Enterprises has constructed new and renovated projects in all categories, working with individuals, corporations, organizations, municipalities, state agencies, DOT, HUD, and USDA on many projects. The list of owners and projects for Blue Ridge Enterprises, Inc. is quiet extensive. Mount Airy Projects that you will recognize include: First Baptist Church- Mount Airy, Pike Electric Corporate Office- Mount Airy, PNC- Mount Airy, ProHealth Wellness Center – Mount Airy, Eckerd Drug- Mount Airy, Mount Airy Middle School, Station #1 Mount Airy Fire Department. Surry County Projects include: The Shelton-Badget NC Center for Viticulture and Enology at Surry Community College, Town Hall- Pilot Mountain, the Welcome Center I-77 at VA State Line, the Wells Fargo- Dobson, and First Citizens- Dobson. Blue Ridge Enterprises is a LEED certified general contractor, has extensive experience with design/build projects and pursues other public bids. Blue Ridge Enterprises will construct each project professionally with the highest quality, delivered as scheduled and as budgeted while maintaining the safest work environment. Thank you Todd and the Blue Ridge Enterprises, Inc. staff for allowing us to visit with you and learn more about your business! 1120 West Lebanon Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-789-2134 http://www.bre-inc.com Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Re-Opening Event Held at the Thai Café On Thursday September 27, 2012 over 50 Chamber Members and Guests gathered at the Thai Café located at 647 West Independence Boulevard in the New Market Crossing Shopping Center to celebrate the new ownership of the restaurant. An Official Ribbon Cutting ceremony and Grand Re-Opening event was held in honor of the Thai Café’s new owner, Ben Misay, a bright and creative friendly young 21 year old. Ben is supported in the restaurant by his sister, Amanda and his mother, Pathana and stepfather Kaysone Bouromamdong. Since taking over the ownership the restaurant has gone through a renovation added a new sign and launched a new website. The transition of ownership went very smoothly and the Thai Café has seen an increase in business since Ben Misay took over. Mayor Deborah Cochran, City Commissioners Steve Yokeley, Dean Brown, Scott Graham and Shirley Brinkley along with Surry County Commissioner Larry Phillips were on hand for the event. Following the Ribbon Cutting everyone was invited back inside to sample a large buffet of Thai appetizers that had prepared for the special occasion. Guests gathered at the buffet where selections of Chicken Satay, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Spring Rolls, noodles, vegetables, dumplings, etc. were available. This unique cuisine balances the flavor of salty, sour, sweet and spicy in a way that is unimaginable without tasting it! And the flavors were amazing The hospitality we received from Ben, his family and staff was exceptional and the food was simply incredible! We have no doubt that Ben will continue to see his business increase because of the friendly service and the exceptional food! Congratulations to Ben, Amanda, Pathana and Kaysone! We wish you only continued growth and success! Experience the unique flavors of Thai cuisine in a casual and friendly atmosphere at the Thai Café! Thai Café 647 West Independence Boulevard Mount Airy, NC 27030 New Market Crossing Shopping Center (336) 786-8480 http://www.thaicafemta.com Chamber Hosts “Lunch With Leaders” The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce hosted the second “Lunch With Leaders” on Friday October 5, 2012 at 13 Bones. This new monthly program, “Lunch with Leaders” provides an opportunity for business leaders to gather, listen and participate in a free-ranging discussion with city, county, state and federal leadership in a casual lunch setting. Over 50 (fifty) people were in attendance including; Mount Airy City Commissioners Steve Yokeley and Dean Brown, Surry County Commissioners Paul Johnson and Larry Phillips, North Carolina House of Representatives Sarah Stevens, Surry County Economic Development Partnership President, Todd Tucker, Division of Workforce Solutions (Employment Security Administration Manager, Tony Mizzi and from the City of Mount Airy Planning Department Emily Hines and Mount Airy Community Development Martin Collins. Chamber Chairman of the Board, Dennis Lowe welcomed everyone to the second “Lunch With Leaders” and encouraged our local businesses to take advantage of the unique opportunity to meet and speak directly with our elected officials and representatives and those business leaders in attendance that they may not have met before. The Chamber distributed the United States Chamber of Commerce Q3 Small Business Study, along with the latest information on America’s Skill Gap - the growing crisis for skilled labor and the 2013 Tax Policy Center report from The Wall Street Journal. Lively discussions began immediately and stayed centralized to the groups seated together where they discussed local issues that are affecting their growth; both the challenges and successes. Elected Officials were asked about particular resources and the outlook for 2013. Angie Venable and the staff at 13 Bones did an incredible job with the timely lunch orders and the food was delicious. We want to say Thank You to 13 Bones, our Elected Officials and Representatives for attending and being accessible to our business leaders. Chamber Hosts “Lunch With Leaders” The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce hosted the third “Lunch With Leaders” on, Monday November 5, 2012 at Sagebrush Steakhouse. This new monthly program, “Lunch with Leaders” provides an opportunity for business leaders to gather, listen and participate in a free-ranging discussion with city, county, state and federal leadership in a casual lunch setting. Forty seven people were in attendance including; Mount Airy City Commissioners Steve Yokeley and Dean Brown, City Manager Barbara Jones, Mount Airy City Schools Superintendent Dr. Greg Little and Surry County Commissioner Larry Phillips. Discussions included economic development updates, educational highlights and local business industry news on the eve of the national election. Chamber Members were engaged in conversations throughout the event and making new contacts that could prove valuable to their businesses in the near future. Thank you, Scott Corley, Sagebrush GM and the Sagebrush staff for being so great to work with and helping to make this another successful “Lunch With Leaders”! Chamber Hosts “Lunch With Leaders” The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce hosted the fourth “Lunch With Leaders” on Wednesday December 5, 2012 at Cross Creek Country Club. This new monthly program, “Lunch with Leaders” provides an opportunity for business leaders to gather, listen and participate in a free-ranging discussion with city, county, state and federal leadership in a casual lunch setting. Over 50 people were in attendance including; the Mayor of Mount Airy Mount Deborah Cochran, Mount Airy City Commissioner Dean Brown, City Manager Barbara Jones, Mount Airy City Community Development Martin Collins, Surry County Economic Development Partnership LeeAnn Stokes, Division of Workforce Solutions Tony Mizzi, Surry Community College Denise Brown and Mike Fenley from U.S. Senator Richard Burr’s Office. Discussions included a potential economic development project involving an existing building with a 7-9 million investment and 45 jobs over a five year time span. Extensive discussion about Surry Community College training programs, resources available through the small business center and the Next Generation grant. Discussions about State and Federal Tax reform, the “fiscal cliff” and what that means to every taxpaying citizen, update on local airport expansion and the new direction for the Division of Workforce Solutions were topics discussed at “Lunch With Leaders” on December 5, 2012. Thank you to George Schwab, Brian Tuttle and the clubhouse staff for being so great to work with and helping to make our final 2012 “Lunch With Leaders” a successful event! 46th Annual Autumn Leaves Festival™ is a Success! The second full weekend in October, the 12th, 13th and 14th the streets in downtown Mount Airy became home to the largest and longest running 3-day street festival in the state, The Autumn Leaves Festival ™. Hosted by The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, this year’s festival was the 46th year of this event and was recognized for the third year in a row by The Southeast Tourism Society (STS) as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast. The Autumn Leaves Festival™ has its own distinctive character: the festival showcases our rich heritage music with live local performances on the bandstand stage, downtown becomes a walker’s paradise for the arts & crafts enthusiasts’ with over 200 artists & craftsman lining the streets of downtown Mount Airy, the festival is well known for the delicious hometown foods that can be found being served with hospitality by our local civic and non-profit groups. An event of this size takes a year of planning and preparation and the Chamber’s Autumn Leaves Festival Director, Yvonne Nichols did a masterful job in executing the largest and the smoothest run festival ever! The Chamber Staff assisted wherever needed and the Visitor Center Staff greeted the thousands of visitors who wanted more information about Mount Airy. Jim Andrews assisted with logistics and troubleshooting; Mother Nature blessed the event with perfect fall weather and reported record breaking attendance ….......a perfect combination for a successful event! The success of the Autumn Leaves Festival™ requires the sponsorships and partnerships with many businesses and organizations, and we would like to say Thank You to this year’s Sponsors. 46th Annual Autumn Leaves Festival Sponsors Title Sponsor- LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE Bandstand Sponsor- SHEETZ of Mount Airy Commemorative Cup Sponsor- NORTHERN HOSPITAL OF SURRY COUNTY Foxx Tent Sponsor- DUKE ENERGY Thank you to our Partners that played critical roles in helping the event to run smoothly. 46th Annual Autumn Leaves Festival Partners City of Mount Airy Public Works Department, Mount Airy Police Department, Mount Airy Fire Department Mount Airy Rescue Squad Pilot Garbage Service The Mount Airy Newspapers Surry County Sheriff's Department State Highway Patrol Community Service Work Program Mount Airy Tourism Development Authority Performing Musicians Downtown Merchants Thank you to the festival participants and to all who attended the festival! We look forward to next year and hosting the 47th Annual Autumn Leaves Festival™ in downtown Mount Airy October 11th-13th 2013. JEEM Farms Hosts Chamber Business After Hours JEEM Farms, LLC hosted their Annual Fall Business After Hours event on Thursday October 25, 2012. JEEM Farms located at 129 Quesinberry Road in Pinnacle was the perfect setting for a fall family outing. A kid friendly play area was set up with an inflatable bounce house and slide along with the corn hole game and the hayrides for everyone! Over 70 Chamber Members and their families attended the event and enjoyed the hospitality that Owners, Michelle and Justin McKinney showed everyone. “JEEM” stands for Justin, Emery, Everett and Michelle – the McKinney’s and their young twin sons. Even though the business has the name JEEM Farms, Michelle says the farm would not exist without the help of her Dad, Larry Masten who talks to the plants, gives them the support they need to thrive and even delivers tomatoes to our area. JEEM Farms opened in 2010 and is a family owned greenhouse operation producing “off season” tomatoes from October until early July. JEEM Farms tomatoes are without exception the freshest and tastiest locally grown produce you can find during this time of year. Just ask The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce…..who have been regular customers for over a year! JEEM Farms has expanded and added some square footage to their operation and have added to their tomato selection. JEEM Farms offers: Roma Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Grape Tomatoes, Beefsteaks Tomatoes and Heirloom Tomatoes. JEEM Farms greenhouse operation is a USDA GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) Certified. This certification sets growers apart from other growers due to the high standards in achieving cleanliness and overall safe food handling. JEEM Farms mission is to guarantee quality and taste, and avoid chemicals….their second mission is be known for delicious, tasty and safe to eat tomatoes! Thank you Michelle and Justin for inviting the Chamber Members and their families to your beautiful home and farm! Your hospitality is exceptional just like your tomatoes! To place an order or for additional information call Michelle McKinney (336) 710-5301 or Larry Masten (336) 710-3783 JEEM Farms, LLC 129 Quesinberry Road Pinnacle, NC 27043 (336) 710-5301 or (336) 710-3783 www.jeemfarms.com Chamber Business Academy held on October 9, 2012 The Chamber Business Academy, People Make the Difference, our monthly education seminar was held on October 9, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Mount Airy. Kay Laffoon with Laffoon & Associates presented “Collect the Cash and Keep the Customer!”, to Chamber business owners and leaders who are responsible for accounts receivable. Kay showed the group how to increase their cash flow in 7-10 days through creative collection strategies and how to keep customers paying on time, while encouraging teamwork between sales and collection departments. Thank you Kay for taking a difficult subject and making it light-hearted and informative. Chamber Business Academy held on Nov 13th, 2012 The last Business Academy Seminar of 2012, “Holiday Parties vs. Risk” was presented by Melanie Samson Tuttle, Attorney at Law Purrington Moody Weil, PLLC. Sixteen Business Representatives attended the seminar that discussed topics relating to religious discrimination, displays and decorations, time off requests and various ways to accommodate the requests, Holiday Parties and how to minimize the risk of hosting a party. The importance of having a drug and alcohol policy and a harassment policy in the workplace, Insurance coverage for a holiday party…. General liability verses Special Events, and could a Holiday Party ever result in a Workers Compensation claim and Party After-Math. The presentation was very informative and detailed and Melanie did a wonderful job in explaining the risks involved for a business. As we end another year of the Business Academy we would like to “Thank our Partners” who supported this program throughout 2012. The HR Group, Inc. for providing us with the exceptional Presenters and programs that carried HRCI Credits. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites for working with us as a host site for the seminars and our Business Members who sponsored some of the educational seminars. Our 2013 Business Academy calendar is under construction and will be made available soon. Chamber Surprise Patrol visits Wayne Farms On Thursday November 1, 2012 the Chamber Surprise Patrol visited Wayne Farms located at 802 Atkins Street in Dobson, North Carolina. Knowing that a staff meeting was underway at the HR Building provided the perfect venue for a “surprise visit.” Upon arrival, The Chamber Surprise Patrol was escorted to the conference room where the group of 10 entered the meeting carrying bunches of balloons, a bag of candy, a box of cookies and echoing, “Surprise” to the Wayne Farms staff seated around the conference table. We immediately greeted Complex Manager, Paul Nordin, and explained the purpose of our visit was to simply say “Thank You” for being a Chamber Member. Surprised by the unexpected visitors, Paul was kind and gracious and took time away from the staff meeting to tell the Chamber Surprise Patrol about the Wayne Farms operation in Surry County. In addition, each staff member introduced themselves and gave a brief description of their responsibilities. Paul said the success of the Dobson facility is due to the exceptional talent and dedication of the entire team. Paul was asked about the biggest obstacles for his industry and he noted the changing permit requirements, new regulations for the growers and the corn supply all play an important role in the cost of doing business. Wayne Farms was established in 1957 as Dobson Poultry by local businessmen and farmers. In 1963 it was sold to Caroline Foods, a division of Textron, sold in 1968 to Wilson and Company. Sold in 1977 to Tyson Foods Inc., and sold again in 1979 to Carrolls and Marvel Poultry Company. In 1980, Wayne Farms LLC purchased the complex and by 1984 a second shift processing was added. In 1993 land surrounding the plant was purchased for office expansion and within three years the new HR/Administration building was opened. Additional land was purchased in 1998 for a new feed mill and in 2004 an expansion adding 94 more jobs and 60 contract grower houses were added. Today the Dobson facility is a 60,000 square-foot fresh processing plant operating two shifts with a third shift just for plant sanitation; currently employs approximately 900 employees from Surry, Yadkin, Stokes and Wilkes Counties in North Carolina and Patrick and Carroll Counties in Virginia; and has another 117 contracted growers! Aside from being one of the largest employers in Surry County Wayne Farms is also a good community neighbor, partnering with local and national charities as well as community civic and government groups to help make a difference. The local economic impact to Surry County by Wayne Farms totals $243,560,000!! Wayne Farms LLC is the fifth largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the U.S. with annual sales exceeding $1.4 billion. Owning and operating 10 fresh and further-processed facilities throughout the Southeast and producing more than 1.8 billion pounds of poultry products each year. Wayne Farms LLC employs approximately 8900 people in eight integrated complexes, comprising eight hatcheries, seven feed mills, eight slaughter processing plants and two further processing plants. As an industry leader Wayne Farms advocates for change that positively affects customers, employees and the community. The Chamber Surprise Patrol left with an elevated level of appreciation for Wayne Farms and their outstanding operation in Dobson. The superior standards that they have set for themselves, their commitment to employee safety, their brand protection standards for food safety and quality, and the defined principles that guides the company was more impressive and extensive than we ever imagined! Thank you to Paul and his staff for sharing their morning with us and allowing us the opportunity to learn more about Wayne Farms. Wayne Farms LLC 802 East Atkins Street Dobson, NC 27017 (336) 386-8151 http://www.waynefarms.com Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening Event Held at 15 BEANS On Friday November 2, 2012 over 50 Chamber Members and Guests gathered at 15 BEANS for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and to celebrate the Grand Opening of the NEW Drive-Thru Coffee Wi-Fi Spot that offers specialty pastries, and beverage items with seasonal outdoor patio seating. 15 BEANS is located at 717 West Independence Boulevard (New Market Crossing Shopping Center) Mount Airy, NC 27030 and is owned and operated by Douglas Martin, a bright young man who is completely supported by his family in this enterprise. Douglas envisioned a local coffee shop where friends could meet, enjoy a cup of coffee, grab a bite to eat, and be able to use their mobile devices in a casual comfortable outdoor environment. Or if someone is in a hurry, be able to get a cup of coffee on the go without getting out of the car. 15 BEANS is the best of both worlds. Seasonal patio seating and convenient drive-thru service featuring a great menu of coffee selections and tasty pastries and sweets made fresh daily! For the Official Ribbon Cutting, Douglas was joined by his parents, Rhonda and Teddy Martin, Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Yokeley, Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Dennis Lowe, Mike Finley from U.S. Senator Richard Burr’s Office, Surry County Commissioner Larry Phillips, and Brother Heath, Nephew Cameron and Girlfriend Sondra. The Grand Opening Event and Ribbon Cutting at 15 BEANS was a very nice event and chamber members and guest enjoyed the coffee, hot chocolate and delicious treats while listening to the entertainment provided by B-Dazzle Productions. Douglas Martin was a wonderful host and we wish him much success with his new business! It’s the perfect time to enjoy a great cup of coffee. When it’s cold outside take advantage of the drive-thru convenience! 15 BEANS 717 West Independence Boulevard Mount Airy, NC 27030 (336) 783-0015 www.15-beans.com Chamber Surprise Patrol visits Steve Gross, State Farm Insurance Agency On Tuesday November 27, 2012 the Chamber Surprise Patrol visited the State Farm Insurance Agency of Steve Gross located at 324 North South Street Mount Airy, NC 27030. The Chamber Surprise Patrol made up of 12 Ambassadors and staff, met in the parking lot and went in as a group carrying bunches of balloons, a bag of candy, and a box of cookies greeting Leslie Dalton who was at the first desk of the State Farm Insurance Office. We asked for Steve Gross but he was not in the office that morning so we made ourselves at home with the staff! We immediately explained the purpose of our visit was simply to say, “Thank you” to the State Farm Insurance Agency of Steve Gross for being a Chamber Member. We asked Leslie Dalton-Insurance Account Representative with over 4 years of service if she and the other agents had a few minutes to visit with us and we were joined by, Laura Vega-Customer Service Representative with 1 year of service, Becky Jessup-Insurance Account Representative with 8 years of service, Jennifer Pyles-Customer Service Representative with 2 years of service, and later by Michelle McCoy-Office Manager with 7 years of service. The Chamber Surprise Patrol learned so much about the services offered by State Farm Insurance by talking to the ladies in the office. State Farm offers: Auto, Home, Medical, and Life insurance along many additional services such as; mature retirement planning and investment planning with IRA’s 401K’s; health, workers compensation and commercial liability and for one stop shopping the State Farm Bank! Need a new car - get the loan and the insurance all at one place! State Farm providing insurance and financial services! Steve Gross has been in the insurance business for over 26 years and is known for his professionalism and southern charm. The staff was asked what sets Steve’s State Farm agency apart from others and they said that Steve and his wife Polly have always been involved in the community. They have served in civic organizations and groups and have been seen giving their time and energy to causes that benefit this community. For those who know Steve, he is an avid Carolina fan, a member of the Mount Airy Rotary Club, a very pleasant man always wearing a smile and one of the best dressed men around….. Steve is an authentic Southern Gentleman! If you are looking for financial services or for insurance counseling from confident and professional agents… we suggest you consider talking to agents at Steve Gross State Farm Insurance! State Farm Insurance Steve Gross 324 North South Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-786-2342 Chamber’s “Black Thursday” 2nd Annual Silent Auction a Success The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2nd Annual Silent Auction Event that featured local services and items donated from Chamber Business Members. Tagged as “Black Thursday”, this Holiday shopping event was held on Thursday November 29, 2012 at Cross Creek Country Club and was sponsored by UniHealth Home Health, a new Chamber Member. The evening began with a Sponsor Reception from 5:30 until 6:00pm followed with dinner and the silent auction until 9:00pm. Over 160 Chamber Members and Guests were greeted at the door and given auction numbers to be used during the evening on one of more of over 150 local services and wonderful items donated by Chamber Members. Chamber Members and Guests were invited to walk the aisles of merchandise and services displayed and to place their bids until 9:00pm, at which time all bids became final. Winners were announced and any services or items that did not sell went to a live sell off with Auctioneer Mark Rogers from Rogers Realty and Auction Company at the helm. The Chef at Cross Creek had prepared a wonderful pasta and salad bar setup with all of the fixings for guests to enjoy at their leisure along with complimentary wine from Round Peak Vineyards. Entertainment was provided by B-Dazzle Productions and D.J. Blanton Youell got the guests up on their feet …dancing to the music throughout the evening. Chamber Members and Guests commented on what a fun time they had and what great deals they found shopping locally with fellow Chamber Members! “Black Thursday” was a hit and a successful fundraiser for the Chamber! We received so many great compliments and some great ideas for next year’s event and some offers from our membership to help with the execution of next year’s event! We will be taking you up on your offers! We want to say Thank You to all of our Members who donated merchandise, a service or an item(s) to the event! Without your generosity and continued support we could not continue to provide the services we do to our business community. Thank You to all of our Members and Guests who attended the event and who purchased merchandise, a service or an item(s) at our “Black Thursday” Event. We hope you or the recipient of your gift enjoys it! A very Special Thank You to our Chamber Ambassadors for their support contacting and collecting merchandise, services and item(s) for the event! Thank You to Cross Creek Country Club for being so creative, flexible and fun to work with on our events! UniHealth Home Health Staff Cross Creek Country Club hosts Chamber Business After Hours Cross Creek Country Club located at 1129 Greenhill Road Mount Airy, NC 27030 hosted a Business After Hours event on Thursday November 15, 2012 to a crowd of over 60 Chamber Members and Guests. Chamber Chairman of the Board Dennis Lowe welcomed everyone to the event which was held in the ballroom at Cross Creek Country Club. Chef Chuck Gardner had prepared a delicious menu of appetizers for everyone to enjoy during the evening as guests renewed friendships and formed some new friendships as well. Chairman Lowe introduced General Manager, George Schwab who shared some of the history of the club and noted that Cross Creek Country Club is the perfect complement to a family lifestyle, because of offering amenities and activities that the whole family can enjoy. Members of Cross Creek Country Club have the option to choose which amenities are for them because of offering several different member categories. Cross Creek Country Club has a membership to fit everyone’s needs. Amenities at Cross Creek include the championship 18-hole golf course, swim and fun center featuring a swimming pool and playground, and four tennis courts with both hard and clay surfaces. The swim and tennis programs enjoy a full schedule of activities for both adults and children. Members enjoy the social aspect with a full calendar of dinners, events and parties. These activities are hosted both in the Clubhouse’s many unique areas as well as outside on the beautiful Pavilion. Cross Creek Country Club offers Full and Non-Resident Full Membership, Social Membership, Sports Membership, Junior Executive Membership and Corporate Membership. On hand to answer additional questions from the guests were Clubhouse Manager/Events Coordinator, Brian Tuttle and PGA Class A Golf Professional Brad Edwards. Cross Creek Country Club is such a beautiful setting and breath taking at sunset out at the Pavilion! Thank you George, Brian, Chef Chuck, Brad and others for a wonderful evening at Mount Airy’ s “SHOW PLACE”! Cross Creek Country Club 1129 Greenhill Road Mount Airy, NC 27030 (336) 789-5193 http://www.crosscreekcc.com Chamber Surprise Patrol visits Homestead Realty On Tuesday December 4, 2012 the Chamber Surprise Patrol visited Homestead Realty located almost next door to the Chamber at 135 Moore Avenue Mount Airy, NC 27030. Homestead Realty is owned and operated by Real Estate Broker, Bobbie Collins who has been a Chamber Member since November 10, 1979 shortly after opening her real estate office…...… 33 years ago! The more we found out about Bobbie the more we grew to love and appreciate her! We learned that Bobbie Collins was the first female realtor in Mount Airy. In fact Bobbie’s first office was in the front office of the building she occupies today. She said she has always liked being downtown and that this location is convenient to everything. By keeping the overhead low, Homestead can pass along those savings to their customers. After moving here Bobbie Collins opened the first Welcome Wagon in the area and operated it out of her home. She basically welcomed newcomers who had moved to Mount Airy by dropping by with information and gifts from some of the local companies like Pet Milk, Merita Bread, Coca-Cola, some of our local banks and retailers like Belk and many other businesses. And at one point she focused on “Brides to Be” and “New Babies” so Bobbie had the opportunity to visit almost every home in this area at one time or another. She loved visiting beautiful homes and interior design and decorating so moving into real estate was a natural fit for her. Bobbie was one of the first Chamber Ambassadors when the program started and was named Ambassador of the Year; a program that she said she really enjoyed. As you can see Bobbie has been very involved in this community since she moved here and continues to be actively involved today. Helping people to find the right home is important to Bobbie and the staff at Homestead Realty. Homestead Realty is Your Full Service Real Estate Company. Just visit www.homesteadmountairy.com and see for yourself! The information available via the website is remarkable…you will find everything you need from… Home and Community Resource Center, Interest Rates, Useful Tools, Dream Home Finder for Detailed Information, Free Reports, Buyer and Seller Tips, Other Data Base Information, School Links, Consumer Links, Community Links, Mayberry and more! If you are looking to buy or to sell a home, condo, investment property or land we suggest you contact Homestead Realty today at 336-789-1655. Homestead Realty is Your Full Service Real Estate Company! Homestead Realty 135 Moore Avenue Mount Airy, NC 27030 336-789-1655 www.homesteadmountairy.com Tourism Update The staff of the Mount Airy Visitors Center greeted and tracked 3,043 Visitors in the month of November 2012. Year to date the Staff has greeted 58,787 visitors since January 2012 which has already surpassed last year’s total of 58,485 visitors. Since the visitors center opened its doors in the Chamber of Commerce Location the staff has visited and tracked 410,452 visitors. The Top 10 States Represented in November 2012 in order of ranking includes- NC, VA, OH, SC, PA, TN, FL, GA, KY, and WV. The staff also greeted International Visitors in the month of November 2012 from Canada, Africa, Ecuador, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, and The Bahamas. The staff greeted 26 people from Canada. In 2011, the average household trip expenditure in the Piedmont Region was $433. The average household trip expenditure for overnight visitors to the Piedmont Region was $542. Daytrip parties to the Piedmont region spent approximately $143 per visit in 2011. Occupancy Tax Figures In the month of August 2012 the Occupancy Tax were up 18.26% from August 2011 bringing the cumulative % Change to an increase of 9.40% from the total prior year through August 2012. In the month of September 2012 the Occupancy Tax was up 2.20% from the previous year September 2011 and in the month of October 2012 the Occupancy taxes were up 13.37% from the total prior year through September 2012. Even with the looming "fiscal cliff", the travel industry continues to add jobs to the economy. In November alone, more than 2,000 jobs were added nationwide - 79,000 thus far in 2012 - reports David Huether, senior vice president of research for the U.S. Travel Association. The industry has added jobs in 30 of the last 35 months for a total of more than 300,000 since December 2009. This is at a rate 17 times faster than the rest of the economy. 200 N. Main St. Mount Airy, N.C. 27030 336-786-6116 Main 336-786-1488 Fax The Mission of the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce is to advance, promote and encourage successful business growth for our members. Supporting LOCAL businesses and Chamber Members F1R$T, keeps 58% more of your dollars and jobs in our community strengthening our local economy! Betty Ann Collins - President Email: president1@mtairyncchamber.org 786-6116 Extension 6 Tanya Taylor- Membership and Communication Director Email: membership@mtairyncchamber.org 786-6116 Extension 4 Renae Shaffer - Finance Director Email: admin@mtairyncchamber.org 786-6116 Extension 8 Jessica Icenhour Roberts - Tourism Director Email: tourism@visitmayberry.com 786-6116 Extension 3 Yvonne Nichols - Autumn Leaves Festival Director Email: yvonne@mtairyncchamber.org 786-6116 Extension 5
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