Chamber "At Work" news
Chamber Networking Events Calendar
These networking events are the best place to market your business. You can
meet other chamber members and build your referrals. Events are no charge unless
noted.
September 21- Business Council "Social Networking
Roundtable, 9 a.m. at
the Gateway Building
September 28-30- Membership Drive, 8 a.m.- noon, 1-5 p.m. at the
Gateway
October 14- Women In Business "Fun, Fall Fashions, " 5-6:30 p.m. at the Gateway
October 18- Ben Mynatt Nissan "Business After Hours," 5-7 p.m.
October 19- Business Council "Speed Networking", 9 a.m. at the Gateway
October 22- Friday Forum, 7 a.m. at the Gateway
November 4- Chamber Annual Meeting, 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, $30 per person
November 16- Business Council "Senior Care", 9 a.m. at the Gateway
December 13- RRMC/ Novant Foundation "Business After Hours," 5-7 p.m.
RSVP are required for all events by calling or emailing info@rowanchamber.com
704-633-4221
Important Chamber News!
The Chamber encourages you to hear these
candidates before you CAST YOUR VOTE!
The Chamber,
Catawba College and The Salisbury Post will host Candidate Forums
in the Tom Smith Auditorium at Catawba College.
October 14
6:00-7:30
Rowan County Commissioner
(Three seats)
Jon
Barber (Incumbent), Leda Belk,
Bill Burgin
Chad
Mitchell (Incumbent) & Jim
Sides
|
October 5
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Rowan County School Board
North
Seat- Richard Miller, William Owens & Craig Pierce
South
Seat- Mike Caskey, L. A. Overcash & Troy Rushing
West
Seat- Donna Hogue, Kay Wright Norman (Incumbent) & Eric Trail
|
September 28
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Rowan County District
Attorney
Karen
Biernacki & Brandy Cook
&
Rowan County Sherriff
Kevin
Auten & John Noble
7:15-8:15 p.m., NC State
House
Lorene
Coates (Incumbent) & Harry Warren
|
Each forum will be moderated
by Dr. Michael Bitzer, Associate Professor of Political Science &
History, Chair Department of History & Politics
Important Dates
September 3- October 26- Absentee
ballot
October 8- Last day to register
to vote
October 14- 30- One-Stop voting
November 2- Election Day ( 6:30
a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
Who are the
Rowan County Chamber Champions?
Previous Rowan
County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the year winners include
Home Instead Senior Care, Piedmont Plastic and Oral Surgery Center,
Beaver Brothers, Inc., Great American Publishing, Greg Edds- State Farm
Insurance, Healthcare Management Consultants, Hank Palmer and
Associates, Derrick Travel Plaza, Quick Copy Print Shop, Century 21 –
Towne and Country, Summerset Funeral Home, Silver Eagle, Wallace Realty
& Rowan Bank.
What do you receive
if you become a Champion? As a Chamber Champion, you will
receive recognition at the November 4 Chamber Annual Meeting, a Chamber
Champion plaque, your company name on a permanent plaque at the Gateway
Building and media exposure.
How can your
business apply? Members can nominate their own firm. Information is
available at
www.rowanchamber.com/The
Chamber AT Work. Be sure to get in your application soon.
Applications must be received by October 15.
Coming Soon...
Mark your calendar to hear about the
NASCAR Hall of Fame...from Hall
of Fame executive Director Winston Kelly at the Chamber's Annual Meeting
November 4, 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn.
Chamber Members invited to Friday Forum!
Rowan County Chamber of Commerce members have an opportunity to attend
regular briefings on issues important to the Rowan County business community.
"Friday Forum" is the name for the quarterly get-together which will be held
next October 22 in the Chamber’s Gateway Building. The Friday Forum will be
7:00-8:30 a.m. and the topic will be "Health Care in Rowan County." A light breakfast will be provided.
RSVP's are
required by calling 704-633-4221 or email:
info@rowanchamber.com .
Women are
Invited.....
Each quarter
from 5-6:30 pm, you will enjoy the best networking group for the
busy woman. You will have the chance to meet 70-90 businesswomen from
Rowan County & the surrounding areas. Come hear quick, upbeat
presentations, enjoy the appetizers and beverages and enter to win
fabulous door prizes.
The next event is October 14 at the Chamber's
Gateway building, 204 East Innes, 2nd floor. RSVP's are
required by calling 704-633-4221 or email:
info@rowanchamber.com .
"Buy
Rowan -Chamber efforts"
Four strategies to help local businesses:
This Spring has been busy for the Chamber
in "Buy Local" marketing. The Chamber always encourages
members to buy from other chamber members by utilizing the Membership
Directory and website features at
www.rowanchamber.com.
The Chamber also partnered with the Salisbury
Post on their 20/20 marketing program in order to stimulate the economy
with local spending. The Chamber also has Friday
Forums which are informative economic sessions.
The
Chamber Conference "Do More Business in
Rowan County" was a big hit at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (RCCC)
with over 60 businesses represented. Eight major employers: City
of Salisbury, Delhaize/Food Lion, Livingstone College, PGT
Industriess, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Rowan County Government,
Rowan Regional Medical Center/Novant and Rowan Salisbury
School System educated Chamber members on how to become a
vendor/supplier with them.
Rowan Salisbury School System's Gene
Miller shared that they can use local vendors and would rather do so. Interested
businesses need licensing, insurance, etc. to do businesses with the
school system. Whether it's construction, maintenance or supplies, all
you have to do is email:
millerhe@rss.k12.nc.us and your info will be forwarded to the right person to
see if their is an opportunity for you to become a vendor. If a certain
project has a threshold and e-procurement registration is needed, they
will let you know.
PGT Industries' Monte Burns has embraced "Help Thy Neighbor" theme.
PGT strives to purchase from local businesses and he encouraged the
group to talk with his staff about the products and services they sell.
"Building relationships with us is the key and we can all help each
other", he said. Burns also encourages businesses to send him discount
coupons for PGT employees so they too earn purchase local products and
services. You can submit your coupons or questions on vendor
opportunities to:
mburns@pgtindustries.com.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College's
Robert Keeney made it clear
that being registered online at
www.eprocurement.nc.gov is the only way the college can purchase
products or services. You can also contact the RCCC purchasing
department at 704-216-3492 for information on products and services
outsourced. RCCC's Small Business Center can help you learn how to use
e-procurement with free business counseling. Please call for an
appointment at the Chamber, 704-633-4221.
Delhaize America-Food Lion's Susan
Sollenberger and Novant-
Rowan Regional Medical Center's Tony Johnson stressed that when
you become listed on their vendor list, it is for the entire company,
not just one location. This can become a regional opportunity. Again,
they shared that communication is the key and talking to the right
person is essential. The first step is to go to their websites for more
information
www.foodlion.com/vendors and
www.novanthealth.org/connections/vendor_connections.jsp.
Livingstone College's William James
explained that they have an
annual budget of $22 million and spend $1.2 million in Rowan County.
With vendor expenditures of $12.7 million, he would like the number of
local vendor ship to increase. For more information, please call (704)
216-6025 or email
bjames@livingstone.edu.
The City of Salisbury's Dewey Peck &
Rowan County Government's David Sifford explained that interested businesses need to fill out
vendor applications found on their websites:
www.salisburync.gov and
www.co.rowan.nc.us/BUSINESS.
Friday Forum speaker Pat Ivey, N. C. Department of
Transportation (DOT), shared long term plans for the 1-85 expansion and
Yadkin River bridge replacement with Chamber members. Ivey said
“Transportation upgrades and enhancements are critical to the economic
development of this region. Replacement of several bridges including the
Yadkin will not be only for future safety issues but to accommodate
increased traffic which is expected to double in 15 years. “ Many jobs will
be created from DOT bridge and road construction projects that will
start this fall and continue for three years. Bid information is
available online at
www.ips.state.nc.us. In order to become a vendor or supplier, interested
businesses need to complete applications online with the N. C.
Interactive Purchasing System (IPS. )http://www.ips.state.nc.us
Please support the Chamber's efforts to
buy locally and help our neighboring businesses!