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www.waynecountychamber.com

Chamber Newsletter

The Voice of the Business Community

2020 Annual Banquet Join us on February 20th for the largest event of the year!

The Chamber's Annual Banquet provides an overview of the Chamber's

accomplishments during the previous year and includes the ceremonial induction of

the 2020 Chairman of the Board to its membership and the community. The spotlight of

the evening is the Chamber's presentation of the Cornerstone Award. This award is

presented each year to an outstanding citizen who has given a life of commitment and

service to Wayne County. The prestigious Ollie Toomey Service Award will be given to

an individual who has volunteered their time and service above and beyond. The Wayne

Community College Small Business Center will give the Start Up Entrepreneur and the

Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. And last but not least, the Ambassador of the Year

Award will be given.

This will be a night of celebration and vision for the New Year. Chairman Chrissy Smith

will pass the gavel to John Seegars who will serve as Chairman of the Board in 2020. We

are thankful for each of the businesses who make up the Wayne County Chamber of

Commerce and the tremendous work you do in our community. Collectively, we will

continue to move Wayne County forward! RSVP today!

Thursday, February 20th Walnut Creek Country Club

5:30p.m. Social

6:30p.m. Dinner & Program Chamber Members: $45

Non-Members: $60

RSVP by February 10th

(919) 734-2241 or

lin-

The 2020 ‘Windows of Wayne’

Magazine will debut at the

Chamber’s Annual Banquet!

Go Mini’s portable storage solutions are perfect for moving across town or across the state, for temporary storage at your site or ours, and for both families and businesses. Go Mini’s provides a low cost, yet highly efficient storage container on

casters that is easy to maneuver and efficient to place on your site for loading and unloading at ground level. The standard size Mini’s are 12, 16, and 20 feet long. They are all 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Go Mini’s have a translucent roof which lets in plenty of light. They are vented to reduce moisture and humidity. For convenience and security, the doors roll up and lock. Go Mini’s have sturdy interior railings for either hanging clothes or for tie downs. They are steel construction – a welded frame and strong, secure steel sides. The floors are also moisture resistant.

We do all the work! Your Go Mini’s unit will be delivered to your site and the driver will bring the contracts. There is no need for you to come to our office. We accept all major credit cards for payment when the order is placed. Why go to a personal storage facility when you can have your unit delivered to you?

Go Mini’s, a Horne Moving Systems division, is locally owned and operated. Call today at 919-731-2838 to speak with one of our coordinators for more information.

Member Spotlight Sponsor

Annual Economic Outlook

Luncheon

Chamber members attended an insightful luncheon with Jim

Kleckley, Director of Professional Services and Research in

East Carolina University's College of Business and a

Research Associate Professor in the Department of

Finance on August 7th.

Dr. Kleckley discussed global trends and how it related to

the NC economic competitiveness and economic forecast

for the coming year.

Dr. Kleckley regularly produces economic forecasts for the

nation and North Carolina. He devotes most of his research

efforts to assisting business and government in the use and

evaluation of economic information – including economic

impact studies; structural model

development and maintenance;

feasibility studies; and, lectures and

training programs that help others

better understand the strategic uses

of economic information.

Thank you to the Presenting Sponsor:

Wayne County Development Alliance

Total Resource Campaign (TRC)

The Annual Total Resource Campaign (TRC) has kicked off and we

want your business front & center!

The Total Resource Campaign is our once per year drive to raise the

necessary funds that are critical to operate and staff the Wayne County

Chamber of Commerce for the upcoming year. This campaign

provides the capital necessary for the Chamber to have the broad

impact that it has in our community.

This is what paves the way for the 121 annual events, service to

almost 600 Members, Ribbon Cuttings, Leadership Wayne, Junior

Leadership, Wayne Education Network, STEAM Fair, Teacher Mini

Grants, Military Affairs Committee, Friends of Seymour Johnson,

Governmental Affairs Committee, Agriculture Committee, etc. I could

go on and on but you get the point. The Chamber impacts nearly

anything positive happening in our community!

Your support in this campaign is extremely important. It enables the

Chamber to provide more programs and services which strengthen

Wayne County. The Chamber’s programs continue to build

relationships between the community and SJAFB; enhance job

opportunities; improve our quality of life; promote education

initiatives; and create advocacy for our business community.

Your Membership garners you ample opportunities to leverage your

business through face-to-face opportunities…presence on the

Chamber's website...MyChamberApp and much more!

Since the launch of the TRC, the Chamber has successfully increased

the quality of programming it offers to the business community and

the community at-large.

Join the efforts this year to ensure that 2020 is a record year for the

community...your business and your future!

Our bottom line as a Chamber is to

ensure that we have a successful business

community, so we can continue to thrive

in Wayne County.

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce held the 2nd annual Agriculture Luncheon on October 9th, welcoming Dr. Michael Walden as the keynote speaker. Dr. Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University, and a member of the Graduate Economics faculty with The Poole College of Management.

“Agriculture remains the top industry in Wayne County, providing almost 9,000 jobs and $1B to the economy. Agriculture is BIG business. As a community, we must ensure we are working alongside the County’s largest economic engine…for we know Agriculture is the foundation of civilization and any stable economy, Kate Daniels stated.”

West Family Farms, was honored as Agriculture Producer of the Year and fourth-generation farmer Marlowe Ivey Vaughn received the Agriculture Advocate of the Year Award.

“The Agriculture Producer of the Year Award is presented to a farmer/agribusiness person in Wayne County who has used innovative or sustainable practices to enhance his or her operation during the current or previous year,” said Kevin Johnson, Wayne County Extension Service Director.

West Family Farms is a family-owned farm started by Jerry West and now passed along to his wife, Audrey, and their two sons, Craig and Brad. Craig and Brad West accepted the award on behalf of their family. Craig West said, “This is really special. We appreciate this a lot. When you think of the impact that agriculture has on this county, think of the history of agriculture in this county, and then you look today at the outstanding producers that we are blessed within this county — to be recognized among all that, is really something special.”

The Wests have a diversified enterprise, raising nearly 7,000 acres of row crops including tobacco, peanuts, cotton, sweet potatoes, corn, wheat, soybeans and strawberries. They have 11 turkey houses and a 2,000-head sow farm. They are sound stewards of the environment, taking care of their crops and animals utilizing the latest technology to protect and sustain agriculture in the future. The family is well known throughout the county, Johnson said. They are strong advocates for agriculture and the overall betterment of the county.

Kate Daniels presented the Agriculture Advocate of the Year Award. This award is presented to someone within the area who has promoted agriculture throughout the year. “Marlowe Ivey Vaughn is an advocate for all of North Carolina agriculture, and has become the voice of the farming community through her work, She has been interviewed on film and on paper and had garnered the ears, eyes and respect of many across the state and beyond,” stated Mrs. Daniels. Mrs. Daniels read a comment from state Rep. John Bell who said, “Her ability to communicate the realities affecting agriculture has truly put the family farm back in the forefront of North Carolinians.”

Vaughn grew up on a sow farm where she saw firsthand that farming was a way of life, she is a mom, millennial farmer and a strong voice for farmers and agriculture. Vaughn is executive director of Feed the Dialogue, a nonprofit group that works to help the North Carolina residents understand more about farming and agriculture in the state, she said. Her enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of the pork industry earned her the Emerging Leader Award, previously known as the Pork All-American, an award also earned by her father, Bob Ivey, in 1982. Along with her role with Feed the Dialogue, Vaughn is involved in the pork industry through a finishing farm she owns with her brother. She serves on the National Pork Board Marketing Council and has participated in the Pork Leadership Institute. Vaughn was a delegate to the National Pork Forum.

Agriculture Luncheon

West Family

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State of the Military On September 24, the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee hosted the annual State of the Military event. Col Yates, 4th Fighter Wing Commander and Col McPike, 916th

Air Refueling Wing Commander briefed the community on the state of the base, issues of concern, and achievements. Jeremiah Daniels,

Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, briefed attendees on the accomplishments of the Military

Affairs Committee and what the future holds.

On Friday, October 18th, over 235 women attended the 1st annual W.I.S.E. -Women Inspiring Success & Empowerment Fireside Chat with incredible panelists: Chief Justice Cherie Beasley, Renee Chou, Kristy Woodson-Harvey & Vivian Howard.

Chief Justice Cheri Beasley who began her 20-year judicial career as a District Court Judge in Cumberland County in 1999. At the time of her appointment, Chief Justice Beasley was the sixth woman and only the second African-American woman to serve on the Court. With her appointment by Governor Cooper in March 2019, Beasley became the first African American woman in the Supreme Court’s 200-year history to serve as Chief Justice of the state’s highest Court, and only the fourth African American woman to lead a state’s highest court in the entire United States.

Renee Chou, a three-time Emmy-award winning anchor, is a reporter for WRAL-TV. Renee joined WRAL in 2004 as a general assignment reporter. Ms. Chou earned her broadcast journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is the founding member and past president of the North Carolina chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the bestselling author of Dear Carolina, Lies and Other Acts of Love, Slightly South of Simple, The Secret to Southern Charm and The Southern Side of Paradise. Her work has been optioned for film and her books have received numerous accolades in publications such as: Southern Living, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly, Woman’s World, USA Today, Huffington’s Post and more. In addition, her blog Design Chic is the inaugural member of the design blogger hall of fame, sponsored by Traditional Home and winner of Amar’s Best Luxury Blog, as chosen by Roberto Cavalli.

Vivian Howard is an author, chef, restaurant owner, storyteller, and host of the PBS show, “A Chef’s Life.” Her New York Times bestseller, Deep Run Roots: Stories & Recipes from My Corner of the South, is a landmark work of American food writing, as much a storybook as it is a cookbook, imparting the true tale of Eastern North Carolina Food. Vivian and her restaurants – Chef & the Farmer, Boiler Room Oyster Bar and Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria have racked up numerous accolades, including her selection as a five-time James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast. This year, she launched her newest concept, Handy & Hot, an online limited release bakeshop. "A Chef's Life,” the five-season docu-mentary television series celebrating Eastern North Carolina food traditions, has taken home a Daytime Emmy, Peabody award, and James Beard award for Outstanding Personality/Host.

Renee Chou had this to say on social media about her experience: “What an unforgettable night! Beyond grateful to have shared the stage with three amazing women leaders. 230+ women came to hear us share our triumphs, challenges and journeys. I came away inspired and connected. And I loved meeting so many other incredible women! When we come together, we lift each other up! Thank you, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. This is what my soul needed.”

In addition to the impressive lineup for the ‘fireside chat’ facilitated by Chamber President Kate Daniels, one woman was honored as ‘Woman of the Year.’

“The essence of this award was to discover and This award honors ex-ceptional women of all ages, of diverse cultures and roles, celebrating the power of individuals to spark change and improve their community and beyond,” stated Daniels.

Mrs. Chrissy Smith, Chairman of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, presented the 2019 Woman of the Year to Mrs. Shelby Benton. Mrs. Smith stated, “This year’s honoree has gained the respect of not only her peers, but that of an entire career field and her community for her commitment to excellence.” Mrs. Benton’s commitment to excellence started early on in her career – a career predominately led by men at the time. She wanted to prove to her women peers that women could break through the barrier and excel in their careers. She became a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist, a Certified Family, and Financial Mediator. She didn’t stop there. She became admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1992 and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In her continuing passion to learn and expand her horizons and those in her profession, she became involved with the North Carolina Bar Association, where she served the Family Law Section as Chairman. When she became President of the North Carolina Bar Association, she was able to inspire women throughout North Carolina that everyone has a voice and it is up to you to use that voice and change whatever is wrong in your community and profession.

From 2007 – 2019, she has taught and spoken at the North Carolina Bar Association, Campbell University School of Law Alumni, the Rowan County Bar, and the Wayne County College Lecture Series. Her passion to learn and give back is always in the forefront of her mind and she is always looking for ways to better her career, profession and the women of North Carolina.

Annett Phelps stated, “Shelby has always mentored young attorneys and aspiring attorneys over her career.” Annett recalled one student in particular that shadowed Shelby. The student commented how she was in awe and completely inspired by the amount of work one person could accomplish in one day, how she had the admiration of her peers, and impressed at how she moved from one task to the next without losing her focus.

This year’s honoree lives every day of her life by her own quote “My parents taught me that many citizens complain about what is happening in the world, our country and our communities, but only a few will get involved, and only the few who are involved will have an opportunity to

How do we better support and develop entrepreneurs and small businesses in

Wayne County?

The answer is simple - By providing business training, mentoring, networking opportunities, and access to capital.

LaunchGOLDSBORO is helping to drive the entrepreneurial spirit ... and it's just getting started!

Led by a host of partners through The City of Goldsboro, Wayne County Development Alliance, Wayne Community College, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, Wayne UNC Health Care, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, County of Wayne, Wayne County Public Library, University of Mount Olive, ECU Miller School of Entrepreneurship, and WAGES, LaunchGOLDSBORO is open to entrepreneurs with new business ideas and current small business owners who would benefit from the combination of business and financial resources that LaunchGOLDSBORO provides!

Requirements:

• Must live, work or prove a direct impact in Wayne County

• Must have the ability to supply product(s) or service(s) that can generate profit

• Demonstrate need for financial and business resources

• Be interviewed by selection committee

• Attend 8 weeks of meetings twice a week

• Develop business plan and budget

• Willingness to meet and/or communicate regularly with assigned business mentor

• Demonstrate a desire to grow as an entrepreneur and fully utilize the resources of the program

The deadline for the 1st cohort is December 31, 2019. Class Meet-ing days will run from January 16th - March 5th from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Wayne Community College.

Ready to join?

We are looking to partner with entrepreneurs with new business ideas and current small business owners who would benefit from the combination of business and financial resources that LaunchGOLDSBORO provides.

Apply now by visiting: Launchgoldsboro.com

**Future cohort dates will be shared soon!**

Shelby Benton, 2019 Woman of the Year, with daughters Mallory

Cass (L) & Brooke Bitzenhofer (R)

(L-R) Vivian Howard, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Renee Chou &

Chief Justice Beasley

10th Annual Leading Wayne Luncheon

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce hosted the 10th annual Leading Wayne

Luncheon on October 24th to a crowd of nearly 200 attendees.

The dynamic lineup of panelists Judge Ericka James, District Court Judge, Mr.

David Perry, President, Goldsboro Builders Supply Co., Dr. Patricia Pfeiffer, Vice

President, Wayne Community College and Ms. Beverly Weeks, Executive Director,

Wayne Pregnancy Center provided invaluable insight into ‘Lessons Learned in

Leadership’ for attendees.

In addition to the panelist discussion, the 6th annual Duke Energy Citizenship and

Service Award was presented by Millie Chalk, District Manager of Government and

Community Relations of Duke Energy to Shirley McLamb Edwards. The Duke

Energy Citizenship & Service Award was created to recognize efforts made by

individuals and organizations in the community that are committed to helping others

and creating efforts that bring us closer as a community and as a nation.

During Ms. Chalk’s remarks, she shared, “It is an honor to present this award to

someone that exemplifies the giving spirit for which this award was designed. This

year’s recipient volunteered for WAGES in the ‘70’s – and still serves there to this

day. She currently serves as the chairman of the WAGES Board, and has served as

the Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer over a 42-year span. She is the former

Community Affairs Director for the City of Goldsboro and was the administrator for

the State of NC Department of Mental Health for 33 counties in eastern NC. She

served as the Personnel Director for Cherry Hospital – a position served until her

retirement after 30 years with the State of NC. As a past president for the NC

Alliance for the Mentally Ill, she received the Governor’s Award for Excellence

(Order of the Long Leaf Pine) from former Governor Jim Hunt and many more

awards for her volunteerism with the mentally ill citizens of Goldsboro/Wayne

County. She formed Crossroads to Understanding, Inc. in Goldsboro during the late

‘80’s – while still employed with the State of NC, to serve at-risk teenagers. During

the programs 15-year life, over 2,500 teenagers were assisted. The lasting effect of

the program is still seen today with many of those young men becoming pastors and

business owners– contributing to Goldsboro and Wayne County in ways themselves

did not see as teenagers. Thanks to her love for others over herself, she also

managed a home for men with AIDS in the’80’s as she advocated for services and

programs to care for the men’s health and soul. She has served on the Wayne

County Library Board of Trustees for many years and currently holds the office of

chairman.”

“If you ask anyone in the community - on the County Commissioners, School

Board, City Council, State and even up in Washington, DC – you will get the same

response about this year’s honoree - Ms. Shirley Edwards is a pillar in Goldsboro

and Wayne County that fights for all because she knows there are so many more

people that need love and a ‘mama’ to see them through their darkest time”, shared

Mayor Chuck Allen.

Past recipients include Selena Bennett (2014), Mike Haney (2015), Rick Sumner

(2016) and Daniel Weeks (2017) and Mackenzie Hinson (2018).

In addition, the 2019-2020 Class of Leadership Wayne was introduced. “We are

thrilled to have such an incredible class this year who will spend the next nine

months exploring Wayne County and completing their class project which will

have a positive impact in Wayne County”, stated Janet Brock, Program

Administrator and Director of Operations.

“For 33 years, the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Wayne

Program has helped to mold and shape leaders of our community. Since the

inception of the program, 601 graduates have been recognized through this

program, “ stated Kate Daniels, Chamber President.

Presenting Sponsor of the Leading Wayne Luncheon is Atlantic Casualty Insurance

Group; Leadership Investor: Duke Energy; Leadership Supporters: Benton Family

Law, Brian Center of Goldsboro and Wayne Community College; Friend Sponsors:

Evergreen Funeral Home, Cemetery & Cremation, Franklin Baking Company and

John Bell Committee.

(L-R) Dr. Pfeiffer, Ms. Weeks, Mr. Perry, Judge James

2019-2020 Class - Rosa Audelo, Partnership for Children of

Wayne Co., Benita Avila-Ambriz, Daniels & Daniels Construction

Company, Inc., Colby Bell, Jackson & Sons Heating & Air,

Jordan Bogue, Elite Fashions Inc/Lil Elite Boutique…the next

Generation, Melinda Boyd, Franklin Baking Company, Liz Conroy,

Wayne Veterinary Hospital, Blair Cox, Mt. Olive Pickle Company,

Angela Frady, Partnership for Children of Wayne Co.,

Celita Graham, Wayne County Health Department, Terrica Hay,

Girl Scouts - NC Coastal Pines, Mary Kay James, Communities

Supporting Schools of Wayne Co., Greg Johnson, BB&T, Washea

Lancaster, Housing Authority of the City of Goldsboro,

Dwayne McKay, University of Mount Olive, Jessica Meadows,

Wayne Community College, Bob Monday, Atlantic Casualty

Insurance Co., Kristie Norton, Wayne Community College, Sharita

Oates, Housing Authority of the City of Goldsboro, Ashley Owens,

Atlantic Casualty Insurance Co., Kenia Perez, Markham, Mitchell &

Stroud, PLLC, Lisa Stevens, Wayne County Public Library,

Donavann Thornton, Goldsboro Family YMCA, Rhonda Vick,

Atlantic Casualty Insurance Co. and Torette Williams, USO of

North Carolina.

(L-R) Mayor Allen, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Chalk

State of the Community

Thank you to those of you who could join us for the Annual Christmas Holiday Mixer. With record

attendance, it was a packed house! Great food, great drinks, and great Chamber friends. It was nice hearing

several attendees say that they didn’t know a lot of the

people there…that’s a good thing, folks! That means new faces are getting involved at some level. We know that

engagement is the key to success!

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce was proud to present once again the annual Goldsboro Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 7th. The much anticipated holiday tradition was a success. Thank you to all the Chamber volunteers and participants who helped make this such a successful event.

1st place: Artistic Dance Academy 2nd Place: Stovall Dental 3rd Place: NC Party Pals

Thank you to the County of Wayne Public Affairs office for airing this year’s event.

On December 12th, Ray Mayo, Chairman of the Wayne

County Commissioners, and Tim Salmon, City Manager,

City of Goldsboro, provided updates on what's happening

locally regarding budgets, growth, & planning for the future.

Thank you to Presenting Sponsor,

Longhorn Steakhouse