June '18

JUNE 2018

Career & College Promise:

Ahead of the Game

Cracking the Code Growth Happens Here Breaking Bread: Cassoulet

Cabarrus Business: On the Go

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Word on the Street June 2018 Volume 18 n Issue 6 President Pam Tolen

Managing Editor/Art Direction Kim Cassell Advertising Kimberly Brouillette Jason Huddle Contributing Writers Kim Cassell Jason Mortimer Contributing Photographers Michael A. Anderson Photography Anjali and Vivek Dighe Atrium Health Care S&D Coffee & Tea RCCC

Cabarrus Magazine is published by: Comfort Publishing Inc. 296 Church Street N., Hidden Plaza Concord, NC 28025 For editorial inquiries, call 704-743-7498 or email them to Kim Cassell at kcassell@ cabarrusmagazine.com. For advertising inquiries, call Kimberly Brouillette at 704305-7599 or Jason Huddle at 704-907-7847.

Visit us at www.cabarrusmagazine.com.

All rights reserved. ©2018, Comfort Publishing Inc., 296 Church Street N., Concord, NC 28025. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without permission is prohibited. Products named in these pages are trademarks of their respective companies. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Cabarrus Magazine or Comfort Publishing Inc.

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Rachel Fesko

Publisher Jason Huddle

Another school year is behind us...unless you’re in the year-round program. But that doesn’t mean education ever stops. In fact, the summer is when many students are using their time to get a head start, not just on their studies but their future careers.

This month, it’s all about learning the tools of the trade. There are so many more programs available now to younger students that are giving them an incredible head start. I’m speaking of places like Code Ninjas in Concord. If you talk to anyone in the technology field, most will tell you that learning code is the way to go. There are more cybersecurity jobs available than there are people to fill them. By the time Code Ninjas students get to high school, they’re already more versed in JavaScript than some of their college counterparts.

Speaking of college, did you know there is a program within the North Carolina community college system that allows high school students to earn college credits? Not only that, but it is possible (however difficult) to earn your high school diploma and associates degree simultaneously. This means that a new high school graduate can transfer to any four-year college in the North Carolina state system as a junior, having received two years of tuition-free college education! The same program is also directly involved with preparing students for in-demand vocational trades, enabling them to potentially be hired right out of high school.

Lastly, courtesy of the EDC, we delve into what businesses are locating to Cabarrus County, who’s expanding and who’s employing the most people.

We hope you find this issue as educational as we did preparing it! Happy learning!

Best Regards,

Jason Huddle

This Issue...

Tools of the Trade 6

N.C. Career & College Promise: Ahead of the Game

12

Paw Prints: Cabarrus’ Adoptable Cats

13

Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls

14

Cracking the Code

21

Breaking Bread: Chef Bouali Dishes

22

Growth Happens Here

24

Cabarrus Business: On the Go

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Computer Integrated Machining is one of the courses offered on the Career & Technical Pathway.

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By Kim Cassell

N.C. Career & College Promise:

Ahead of the Game

THE EPITOME FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY PARENT IS HIS OR HER CHILD GROWING UP TO BECOME A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER. BUT WHO’S GOING TO BUILD THEIR PROGENY’S CLINIC OR COURTHOUSE?

Sure, financial security is often the forethought in wishing one’s child educational and career success but not everyone can sit behind a desk – and there are many who don’t want to.

Conversation around the water cooler now includes the concern over the dwindling numbers of tradespeople. Cabarrus County is experiencing renewed growth post-recession, meaning the need for both skilled and unskilled workers.

Global Risk Insights (GRI) says, “In a January 2017 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 73 percent of businesses had a difficult time finding qualified workers and 55 percent identified worker shortages as a bigger concern than federal regulations (41 percent) and low infrastructure investment (18 percent). Economists studying the problem feel things may only worsen unless certain changes occur immediately.”

The dilemma is two-fold. As older workers retire, fewer high school graduates are even considering more labor-intensive trades as a career.

“Another key problem is that, while many business are crying out for a highly skilled workforce, they are either reluctant to pay for or are cutting back on training expenditures. Many firms want skilled workers with the exact qualifications they require but will not pay for the training. This lack of investment in employee development will hurt firms in both the long- and shortterm,” GRI says.

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The Career & College Promise program offers both the College Transfer Pathway and the Career & Technical Pathway. High school students are able to choose from a wide variety of courses, like Information Technology Computer Essentials and Welding Technology.

“Additionally, there is the situation where more young people are going to college rather than into technical training programs. While a college-educated workforce is a vital component to the American economy, the problem is that this has diverted individuals who could still earn a fairly good salary with excellent benefits and have opportunities for employment.”

GRI refers to this group as needing middle skills. A high school diploma is not enough and a four-year degree is not necessary.

Paula Dibley, Crystal Ryerson and Sarah Walker are members of the team that makes up the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) Career & College Promise (CCP) program.

In a nutshell, the program enables

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qualified high school juniors and seniors in Cabarrus and Rowan counties to simultaneously take college courses that prepare them for either a four-year college transfer or certification/a diploma in a particular vocational field.

First introduced in the fall of 1983 as the Huskins program (by Rep. Joseph P. Huskins of Iredell County), the legislation gave academically advanced students “college instruction in courses selected by the community college and local high school,” according to the 2010 North Carolina Community College System report.

The program continued to evolve in subsequent years to better serve high school students. “Not long after the Huskins program was initiated,

individual students who were at least 16 years of age were also permitted to enroll in community college classes and receive college quarter hour credit,” the report reads. “These credits permitted students to gain a head start on community college certificates, diplomas and associate degrees, and receive credit at four-year institutions willing to accept college transfer credits.”

In 2004, then-N.C. Governor Michael Easley and the General Assembly received funding from the state and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Learn and Earn. This program expanded upon the high school/community college partnership that let high school students earn both their high school diploma and an associate degree at the end of their fourth or fifth year.

“Then, in 2012, the North Carolina Career & College Promise replaced Huskins, Concurrent Enrollment and Learn and Earn Online dual enrollment programs with the Career & College Promise Program,” Dibley, RCCC’s executive director of marketing & enrollment management, adds.

“It’s been run under multiple names with different parameters for years.

There was a period of time when

you could come in and take what courses you liked. Today, they are very prescriptive: ‘Here are the four classes that would help you earn your building tech diploma.’ ” CCP offers two pathways to highschoolers: the College Transfer Pathway and the Career & Technical Education Pathway. Both pathways are tuitionfree.

Eligibility for the College Transfer Pathway requires a weighted (takes into account class difficulty) 3.0 GPA and English, Reading and Math testing (SAT, ACT, PLAN, PSAT). It makes available Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degrees.

Also required for Cabarrus County high school graduation and for the College Transfer Pathway is the completion of a four-course Career Cluster. “Career Clusters identify pathways from secondary school to two- and four-year colleges, graduate school and the workplace, so students can link what they learn in school

and what they can do in the future,” according to Cabarrus County Schools’ website.

“Choosing a Career Cluster should be interesting but not stressful.

Students should start out by taking courses they LOVE, and more often than not, these courses lead the student into a naturally evolving sequence of courses that allow them to explore their interest at a deeper level as they lay a foundation for future learning.”

Cabarrus County Schools held a CCP presentation at Cox Mill High School in February. One of the considerations stressed to students was taking the program seriously. CCP marks the beginning of a permanent college transcript, so failing courses negatively impacts the possibility of college financial aid if the student is hoping to transfer to a four-year institution.

The Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathway relies more on high school guidance counselors and principals. If a student’s GPA falls

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below 3.0, the high school can still recommend him or her for CTE. Having completed prerequisite high school courses that tie in with the career pathway is vital as well.

Courses offered through CTE run the gamut and include Automotive Technology Systems, ComputerIntegrated Machining, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice Technology, Nurse Aide and Welding Technology among a host of others. While some courses are offered online, many require lab time and are held on one of the RCCC campuses.

“CCP is embedded in each high school; we’re in the high schools quite a bit. We have what we call our assigned high schools,” Ryerson, RCCC’s marketing and enrollment manager explains. “We work with the guidance counselor, and I will basically meet with students to get them into the right program. Then they transition into our programs here.

“The high school counselor is the one that decides on eligibility. They have to verify whether the student can take the courses. The high school can also override. We might have an application but can’t do anything without the approval of the principal or a designee. It’s the same for private

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or home school students. We have to make sure courses fit into their schedule.”

“Each course is designed to be a term (16 weeks). Some are eight weeks,” Dibley says. “All Cabarrus County and Rowan County high schools offer the CTE program, all courses are funded by the state and Cabarrus County provides help with books.

“More courses are offered in the fall and spring but students can take courses during the summer. There are evening classes after the school day for those taking Automotive. There’s an IT mobile academy at Cox Mill and Salisbury High School has a CTE Mechatronics program. We partner with high school guidance counselors to teach it there; our instructors go on-site.”

Dibley goes on to explain why some students may have to make more than a short drive to their classes, but it helps prepare them for full-time work after graduation. “In 1963, there was one little building at RCCC. It’s grown into this really cool technical center but technical high-dollar locations are not replicated everywhere,” she advises. “Nursing is offered in Cabarrus County. Light-duty Diesel is in Cabarrus County. This is industry-

recognized equipment.”

Courses are broken down into a list of required classes/credit hours to obtain certification or a diploma and area employers have definitely taken notice of the trades being taught through RCCC. “Welders can make $60,000 (annually). Employers are pulling students out before course completion,” Dibley says.

“There’s a need for machinists right now. There are 300 jobs in machining waiting and we have 20 students,” Ryerson adds.

The ladies also offer some advice when approaching these programs, like students taking courses toward high school graduation early so they can come to RCCC and take a full load. Students can earn certification and then take classes outside the curriculum.

“Earn local articulated credits – courses taken at the high school level that may count as college credit.

Students are ahead of the pack when entering college after high school, Dibley says. “A lot of parents are spending a lot of money for their child to take prerequisites. Students need a transferrable degree to go on to, say, UNC-C. We guide them to take the

proper courses if they want to go on for two more years.”

With the growth of expansive health care systems locally, RCCC will offer new Career & College Promise courses in the fall. “The official names for these programs are Therapeutic and Diagnostic Services/Nurse Aide but with concentrations in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Radiography,” Ryerson shares. “We are referring to these pathways as Pre-Nursing Pathway, PreOccupational Pathway, Pre-Physical Therapy Pathway and Pre-Radiography Pathway.”

Because of the demand for enrollment, prospective students must go through testing to earn their seats in a health care program. Called the competitive admissions process, eligibility requirements include English, Reading, Math and Algebra competency testing, an Eligibility Review Session, applicable high school coursework, then conditional acceptance followed by current CPR certification, a background report/drug screening and a physical exam.

CCP classes may take place at any of RCCC’s campuses, depending on the course of study. The North Campus is located on Jake Alexander Boulevard in Salisbury; the South Campus is on Trinity Church Road in Concord; the Cabarrus Business & Technology Center is on Concord Parkway N. in Concord; and the North Carolina Research Campus and West Avenue Center are in Kannapolis.

RCCC campuses

The prospect of a good-paying job without the high cost of tuition at a four-year college is very appealing and makes good sense. According to CollegeCalc, “The average annual instate college tuition in North Carolina was $10,966 for the 2016-2017 academic year.”

For high school students serious about their future, enrollment in programs like CCP statistically makes them more likely to graduate from high school and earn a college degree.

And with the level of competition in the workplace, qualifying for a trade earlier than most gives graduates an edge when applying for a job.

Other benefits of CCP include

building stronger young adults, if you will. They develop management skills, a personal work ethic, they learn to adapt to college life sooner than their high school classmates and they take on responsibility.

“We had 813 students total enrolled in the Career & College Promise Program for Spring 2018; 179 students are currently enrolled in a Career & Technical Pathway as of Spring 2018.

We anticipate both of these numbers to grow for this upcoming fall semester,” Ryerson says.

That’s good news for a region that continues to grow and needs a talented workforce. n

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Give Me Shelter THERE ARE SEVERAL ANIMAL RESCUES IN CABARRUS COUNTY, USUALLY PAST CAPACITY, FILLED WITH ADOPTABLE DOGS, CATS AND MORE!

The saying goes, “People that say money can’t buy you happiness have never paid an adoption fee.” These are the faces of the abandoned, neglected and abused, and they’re looking for that second chance. If you’re looking for a furry family member, please consider pet adoption.

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Kitten season is here, meaning rescues will be filled to capacity. Little STEWART was born on March 4. Found under a bush, his mom – likely feral – was not found. Bottle-fed by a tireless foster parent, this cutie is now ready for his forever home.

GRETCHEN, five years old, is a whole lot of love and affection in a tiny package. This sweet girl will talk with you for days about any topic you like while she resides happily in your lap making biscuits. She gets along very well with dogs of varying sizes and does great with cats too, though she sometimes is a bit pushy so is best paired with a submissive cat. Please visit her at Princeton’s Meow.

Mt. Pleasant Animal Rescue P. O. Box 1076, Mt. Pleasant 980-439-6505 mtpleasantanimalrescue@aol.com

Princeton’s Meow – Cabarrus Humane Society’s Cat Facility 29 Brookwood Avenue N.E., Concord 704-721-6369 cabarrushumanesociety.org

Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Since it’s National Safety Month, let’s touch on a topic that we all know happens, but we don’t intentionally do enough to prevent – falls.

According to Injury Facts 2017, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults 65 and older. Since most falls happen at home, here are just a few ideas to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

• Keep your floors free of clutter. Get those cords, towels, pet toys, throw rugs and anything else that’s on the floor picked up.

• Use a mobility aid like a cane or walker to help you keep your balance.

these recommendations, but we can never fully eliminate the chance. A personal emergency response system allows one to call for help if it’s needed.

By Jason Mortimer

Sponsored by Cannon Pharmacy

You can see that the ideas to help prevent falls are simple. So please take action now, before a fall occurs and it’s too late! n

• Wear athletic shoes for a good grip.

Studies show that fall risks increase in those who were wearing socks or were in bare feet.

• Keep adequate spacing between furniture so that you have room to walk.

• Be sure that your bedroom, hallways and bathrooms have enough lighting to see where you are stepping.

• The bathroom is the number one fall risk room in the house. Be sure to use grab bars, shower chairs, raised toilet seats and bath mats in the bathroom.

• A simple bed rail installed on your bed can help you safely enter and exit the bed while also helping to keep you in bed when sleeping.

• Keep commonly used items within easy reach.

• Consider purchasing a personal emergency response system. We can lower the chance of a fall by following

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A Sensai (high school student teacher) guides a Ninja (student) through writing computer code in developing his own video game.

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By Kim Cassell

Cracking the Code TODAY’S YOUNGER CHILDREN HAVE NEVER “NOT KNOWN” COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY. SO WHY NOT TAKE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND HARNESS IT INTO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE?

Vast numbers of kids are mesmerized by computer video games and the Internet. Now there are ways to turn that fascination into education.

Computer coding can be defined as the “language” used to develop software, mobile applications and websites. It basically tells the computer what to do. Our computer operating systems, Internet browsers, smartphones and social media sites all run on code.

What began as binary code – infinite patterns of zeros and ones that represent transistors – has given way to programming languages (see sidebar).

Code Conquest says, “Thousands of different programming languages let us write code that is (relatively) easy for us to write, read and understand. Each language comes with a special program that takes care of translating what we write into binary code. Different languages are designed to be used for different purposes – Web development, desktop software, solving scientific and numeric problems, and so on.”

What makes coding so relevant today directly corresponds to how much computers are ingrained in our lives. “At this moment, we can already witness how technology is shaping the world,” the Edvocate says. “More and more jobs require at least some basic computer literacy. Even if you are working in the fast food and retail industries, it is expected that you know how to use a computer. As time goes on, requests for coding skills will grow, and it is reasonable to expect

Anjali and Vivek Dighe are Code Ninjas franchise owners in Concord.

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that one day not knowing it may sound as bad as not knowing how to read sounds now.”

So what are being created today are ways – and places – for children to be introduced to computer coding. And offering them the opportunity at a young age affords them many years of fine-tuning their skill and where they want to eventually take it.

Code Ninjas David Graham founded Code Ninjas in 2016. A software developer and entrepreneur for two decades, he watched adults that took part in his coding camps go on to successful jobs. Realizing the incessant demand, Graham turned to the coders of tomorrow – kids.

According to Code Ninjas’ website,

“The STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field is growing day by day, with an estimated 9 million new jobs being created between 2012 and 2022. However, the United States is still falling behind other countries in the movement, creating demand for more STEM education across the country.”

Graham started offering Code Ninjas

Computer Languages JavaScript is widely used to add functionality and interactivity to Web pages. Although JavaScript was dismissed as a ‘toy’ coding language in its early days, it has since gained respect. Its popularity has grown to the point where it’s now the most used coding language in the world.

C++ is an enhanced version of C that adds the objectoriented paradigm. It was created by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979. C++ is a compiled language and runs on multiple hardware platforms. Most computer games are written in C++. The language also accompanies C in the source code of Microsoft Windows and accompanying software.

Python was created in 1991 by Guido van Rossum. Python is a multi-purpose language mainly used to write scientific and numerical software. It’s also one of the lesser-used coding languages on the Web, with some big players using it – most notably Google.

Visual Basic is another Microsoft language, developed in 1991. It is designed to respond to user events such as mouse clicks or key presses. Visual Basic is used as an easy way to develop graphical user interface programs for Windows, but ultimately it’s limited and would not be considered a ‘serious’ coding language.

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It’s been used to interact with databases since 1974. SQL code is often written as standalone lines known as queries. Each query is designed to either create, read, update or delete data in a database. SQL is a vital part of software such as WordPress and MediaWiki.

PHP was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995. It can be described as the link between the database that stores all the content on a website and the HTML that lets you view it. PHP remains hugely popular as a Web coding language. It’s used by the likes of Facebook, WordPress and Wikipedia.

Ruby was created in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto. It was designed to be fun and productive to write with the needs of coders – rather than computers – in mind. Ruby is a high-level interpreted language that’s gained popularity on the Web through the Ruby on Rails framework. It powers many websites, including Twitter.

C is arguably the daddy of modern coding languages. C has been around since 1972, and although it’s not easy to learn, it’s extremely powerful. C is a compiled language and the lowest level of all the languages listed here. It’s readily built into nearly every operating system. C is used in Microsoft Windows and much of its software. C is truly an all-rounder coding language.

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Java was developed by Oracle Corporation and first appeared in 1995. It is designed to run on just about any operating system. Java is seen all over the coding world, from the Web to desktops. These days it’s used to create Android apps.

Objective-C was developed by Apple in 1983 and is designed to be used in conjunction with the company’s Cocoa framework. Objective-C is a high-level compiled language and runs only on Apple operating systems.

Objective-C is, unsurprisingly, Apple’s language of choice.

The language is used to create software for iPhone, iPad and Mac OS X. Perl was developed by Larry Wall in 1987. It’s a powerful and practical language that was originally designed for text processing. Perl has been called ‘the duct tape that holds the Internet together,’ referring to its power and perceived ugliness. Perl is a high-level interpreted language and has been used extensively on the Web.

Source: Code Conquest

franchise agreements and sold more than 70 in his first nine months. One of those franchises was bought by Vivek Dighe and his wife Anjali. Living in Washington, DC, both already had successful careers.

“Prior to Code Ninjas, I specialized in operational management, working within a variety of industries within the nonprofit, government and commercial markets,” Anjali says.

“In addition, I volunteered my time extensively with community organizations such as Women in Homeland Security, Friends of the Fairfax Commission for Women, and Communities in Schools of Northern Virginia.

“Vivek specialized in technical product management and business development in the telecommunications industry, working within commercial, government, defense and international markets. He launched numerous software products managing satellite, optical, mobile and tactical communications solutions for small businesses to government agencies.”

The Dighes, wanting to scale back on the hectic pace of their lives and take a new business path, moved to Charlotte. “Seeking opportunities for our son, we realized through research and speaking with other families that the opportunities for a techie kid and family were very limited,” Anjali explains.

“We researched our options for starting a program in the Charlotte

Computer-loving children aged seven to 14 attend Code Ninjas, developing their own video games while simultaneously learning JavaScript.

market and started conversing with the Code Ninjas franchisors. After more research about the dire needs of coding and programming within a variety of industries in the future, we decided that Code Ninjas offered the best opportunity for us to give back to our Charlotte community and market.”

Code Ninjas’ blueprint revolves

around seven- to 14-year-olds building video games – and learning computer coding in the process. Code Ninjas provides a brick-and-mortar center for ninjas (students) to come in after school, during parents-night-out and for camps. They are given access to teaching staffers, there to provide help as needed. Ninjas earn “belts,”

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building levels of achievement as they learn.

“Similar to the martial arts, our program is based on a belt system – starting with the White Belt book going all the way up to the Black Belt book. Each book is filled with project-based curriculum – teaching students how to code through developing games and robotics using the programming language JavaScript,” Anjali says.

“So, instead of a young mind hanging out at home playing video games, with our program they come into our ‘Dojo’ two days a week for one hour each day to build their own video games and use their own creativity to enhance those games to become more their own, all the while learning JavaScript under the guidance of our Senseis – high school students with passion around STEM education.”

By the time students have earned their Red Belt – one step away from the Black Belt – they have developed their own game or app. “The Black Belt

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is pretty cool because we look at the business of gaming, gaming marketing and distributing apps through an app store,” Anjali adds. “Working in a team environment, our students learn how to take their developed games to the market through competitive analysis, research and development, testing and quality assurance, and then an understanding of the economics behind placing an app in an app store.”

A student that “graduates” from the Code Ninjas program can return at age 16 to become a Sensei in Training.

“With the right attitude, the right personality and the right passion, that student can now be hired to work for Code Ninjas Charlotte, continue their education with us and sometimes be recognized through their schools for internship credit, as many of our Senseis currently do,” Anjali shares.

Futures are Bright BurningGlass Technologies is an analytics company that studies the

labor market. “Lots of students who don’t think of themselves as future programmers may ask, ‘Why do I have to learn coding? What is coding for?’

As our world continues to digitize – and it is, rapidly – having the skills to work with computer code is becoming more important and, thus, more valuable in the job market,” the firm says.

“Our research shows the demand for coding skills is spreading throughout jobs far beyond IT (Information Technology). In fact, nearly half of all jobs in the top income quartile now request coding skills. The data contained in our report are drawn from 26 million U.S. online job postings collected in 2015 and have been analyzed to determine the specific jobs and skills that employers are seeking.”

BurningGlass partnered with Oracle Academy to prepare the report that shows coding skills are transforming the job market in a number of ways: • “They’re more in demand: Seven million job openings in 2015 were in occupations that value coding skills.

In general, programming jobs are growing 50 percent faster than the market overall.

• Coding is particularly valuable to candidates across five major job categories: Data Analysis, Engineering and Manufacturing, Design, Marketing, and Programming and Information Technology (IT).

• Coding provides a salary premium: Jobs requiring coding skills pay

$22,000 per year more (on average).”

Additionally, according to Fast Company, “Half of all programming openings are in industries outside of technology. Among them: Finance, Manufacturing and Health Care.”

Anjali says, “Our kids need to know how to code. Regardless of who they become or what they want to be, understanding the basics of coding will be a part of their lives. From NASCAR to NASA, from the automation of package delivery to fabrication machines, code is and will remain to be a part of our lives.”

Code Ninjas camps start this month and include Gamebuilders’ Club, Beginning JavaScript, Minecraft Create, Code Drones and Roblox Create.

For more information or to schedule a tour – at 8905 Christenbury Parkway in Concord – visit codeninjas.com. n

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Breaking Bread

Sponsored by Chez Francois

Cassoulet DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS Soak beans overnight in a 4-quart bowl of 1 lb. dried white beans water. Heat 2 Tbsp. duck fat in a 6-quart 10 Tbsp. duck fat or olive oil pot over medium-high heat. Add half the 16 cloves garlic, smashed garlic, onions and carrots and cook until 1 lb. pork shoulder cut into 1” cubes lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add 2 large ham hocks ham hocks to beans and their water and 2 onions, chopped boil. Reduce heat and simmer beans until 4 sprigs Oregano tender, about 1 1⁄2 hours. Transfer ham 4 sprigs Thyme hocks to a plate; let cool. Pull off meat; 3 bay leaves discard skin, bone and gristle. Chop meat; 1 cup canned whole, peeled tomatoes add to beans. Set aside. Heat 2 Tbsp.

1 cup white wine duck fat in a 5-quart Dutch oven over 2 cups chicken broth medium-high heat. Add pork and brown 4 Confit duck legs (optional) for 8 minutes. Add pancetta; cook for 5 1 lb. pork sausage minutes. Add remaining garlic, onions 2 cups bread crumbs and carrots; cook until lightly browned, 1/2 lb. Pancetta, cubed about 10 minutes. Tie together oregano, thyme and bay leaves with twine; add to pan with tomatoes; cook until liquid thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine; reduce by half. Add broth; boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, uncovered, until liquid has thickened, about 1 hour. Discard herbs; set dutch oven aside. Meanwhile, sear duck legs in 2 Tbsp. duck fat in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat for 8 minutes; transfer to a plate. Brown sausages in the fat, about 8 minutes. Cut sausages into 1⁄2-inch slices. Pull duck meat off bones.

Discard fat and bones. Stir duck and sausages into pork stew. Heat oven to 300˚F. Mix beans and pork stew in a 4-quart earthenware casserole. Cover with bread crumbs; drizzle with remaining duck fat. Bake, uncovered, for 3 hours. Raise oven temperature to 500˚F; cook cassoulet until crust is golden, about 5 minutes.

Francois Bouali was born into two cultures that are drenched in French cuisine: Tunisia on his father’s side and France on his mother’s side. Now an authentic French chef, Bouali makes his own bread, pastry, classic French dishes, and even his own cheese – selections that will be offered at Chez Francois.

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By Kim Cassell

Growth Happens Here THAT’S A TAGLINE CABARRUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EDC) USES TO PROMOTE CABARRUS COUNTY AND THE REALM OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

Atrium Health is the largest employer in Cabarrus County, with 4,500 employees.

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Robert Carney Jr. serves as executive director of the EDC, whose role is to both entice new businesses into locating here and partner with existing businesses in expansion and services like workforce assistance and the grant process, among others.

So, what employers make up the top 10 in Cabarrus County (as of August 2017) and what types of jobs do they offer? Not surprisingly, Atrium Health leads the way, employing 4,500 people. S&D Coffee & Tea is next, with 1,100; Amazon: 1,000; Speedway Motorsports Inc.: 1,000; Shoe Show: 750; ACN: 600; Corning Inc.: 600; Hendrick Motorsports: 600; Great Wolf Lodge & Resort: 500; and Sysco: 500. The EDC points out that this list does not include governmental or school system jobs.

While Atrium employees come in the form of administrative, maintenance, marketing and medical personnel, a job at S&D could be as a coffee packer, sanitation associate or project engineer. Companies like Amazon, Shoe Show, Corning and Sysco encompass manufacturing but the size of all 10 companies obviously dictates inner workings like human resources, retail, tourism, automotive fleets, IT, payroll, etc.

To get a more current economic overview, Carney supplied Cabarrus Magazine with the EDC’s 2017 Year in Review. It says, “The EDC responded to 135 RFIs (requests for information) and helped announce 1,232 jobs and new tax investment of almost $500 million. In addition, through our existing industry

S&D Coffee & Tea is Cabarrus County’s second largest employer.

program, we made 149 visits (unique and follow-up) with industry.”

Activity in 2017 included expansions of Intertape Polymer Corp. ($13.5-million investment) that brought in 10 new jobs and Corning ($109-million investment), creating 200 new jobs. New projects were Concord Airport Business Park, JJ Haines, Amazon, TPA Group and Classic Graphics. Combined, they contributed $125.9 million in investment.

Thus far in 2018, iFLY Indoor Skydiving has secured a location in Cabarrus County. Located in the Concord Mills corridor, it will open later this year. Its $10-million investment will bring about 26 jobs to the county. And PreGel America is expanding; its investment is $14.4 million.

In addition, permitted new investment totaled $33.4 million in January compared to $8.2 million a year ago. February 2018 totaled $13 million compared to $3.9 million a year ago.

The EDC has compiled categories of target industries it feels would be a good fit in Cabarrus County.

They include aerospace, back office (administration and support personnel

who are not client-facing), food & beverage, logistics and motorsports/ automotive.

One of the EDC’s services is workforce development. In light of that, according to its website, it heads up or partners with the following initiatives: • Cabarrus Industrial Council: “An open forum to identify industry concerns or share ideas that you believe would be helpful to your peers in manufacturing and distribution.

Cabarrus Industrial Council meets on a quarterly basis.”

• The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute: “Conceived in the summer of 2014 during meetings with leaders from Rowan and Cabarrus counties from both chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, the Centralina Workforce Development Board and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. In 2016, Iredell County and Mitchell Community College joined as partners.

“The North Carolina Manufacturing Institute is a response to employers’ need for solving talent recruitment issues in order to grow and remain competitive. This initiative builds a clear and achievable pathway for people to acquire those skills in

order to access good jobs in local communities. Manufacturing firms will benefit from partnering with the North Carolina Manufacturing Institute through access to a pipeline of screened, trained, certified production technicians who can help them achieve their business goals.

• Public High School Career Academies: “Cabarrus Economic Development serves on the advisory board of the Advanced Manufacturing & Automation Academy at Jay M. Robinson High School. This involvement has increased our exposure to the various academies and joint conversations between industry needs and educators.”

• Go Bold: “Go Bold exists to encourage women in Cabarrus County to learn about challenging and rewarding career opportunities that they may not have considered.

We know that local employers have job openings and they are looking for diversity in their workplace. They want to hire talented women in fulltime roles, offering good wages and benefit packages with potential for advancement.”

For more information about Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, call 704-782-4000. n

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On the Go Cabarrus Court Officials Enact Ban of Electronic Devices

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Cabarrus County Courthouse visitors are no longer allowed to bring electronic devices into the building. Court officials from Judicial District 19A have developed an administrative order that prohibits courthouse visitors from bringing in cellphones, computers, electronic tablets, cameras or other electronic devices capable of recording or transmitting sound or images. Visitors are encouraged to safely secure electronic devices in their vehicles to avoid issues.

The order came from a need to address courthouse security. “This has been an issue for a considerable period of time and we’ve carefully weighed our options,” Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Marty McGee says. “When cellphones and other recording devices are brought into the courthouse, it leads to concerns for the safety of witnesses, jurors, confidential informants and undercover officers.

Courthouse recordings are a difficult thing to catch and it causes a distraction when court is in process.”

The ban does not apply to courthouse staff, licensed North Carolina attorneys, law enforcement officers, and County and Court staff entering the building on official business. Visitors who are involved in cases may seek authorization from the presiding judge to bring a restricted electronic device into the courtroom if necessary for court business.

Courthouse security, administered by Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, will address the ban as part of normal security procedures. “Violation of any provision of the order may be punished by sanctions, which may include contempt to the extent permitted by law,” the order reads.

Cabarrus County Courts has worked to inform residents about the ban through notifications to the local legal community, signage at the courthouse, correspondence to courthouse visitors and on Cabarrus County Television.

Kannapolis Charter Academy Hires New Principal The North Carolina Charter Educational Foundation (NCCEF) has hired a new principal for Kannapolis Charter Gabr’l Stackhouse Academy. Gabr’l Stackhouse, a veteran educator with extensive experience working at the school, district and state level, took over leadership last month.

Stackhouse came to Kannapolis Charter Academy from Pearson Education where she served as an education specialist. Prior to that, she was the elementary math specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

She was also a regional professional development lead for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, an elementary assistant principal of instruction, K-8 Title I math coach, K-5 math facilitator and K-5 classroom teacher.

Stackhouse received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from UNC-Greensboro.

She earned a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership from Winthrop University in Rock Hill and an Education Specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Kannapolis Charter Academy is part of the Charter Schools USA Inc. (CSUSA) family of schools. The school is governed by the North Carolina Charter Educational Foundation, which consists of local community leaders.

Enrollment for Kannapolis Charter Academy is underway, but seating is limited. Those interested may apply online at kannapolischarter.org or call 704-273-5310 to schedule a tour.

Cabarrus County Towns Rank in SmartAsset’s Healthiest Housing Markets Study Financial technology company SmartAsset has released the rankings from its 4th annual Healthiest Housing Markets Study, and Cabarrus County is represented on the list.

The study measures market health by the average number of years residents spend in homes; home values; ease of sale; and the costs associated with The town of Harrisburg ranked 7th in SmartAsset’s Housing Markets Study. home ownership. These variables were then used to calculate a Healthiest Markets Index. Harrisburg ranked 7th while Kannapolis ranked 8th.

According to the website, a healthy housing market is both stable and affordable. This means, in the long run, people won’t lose money as they sell or buy homes in the area. “So, in order to find the healthiest housing markets in the country,” the website says, “we considered the following four factors: stability, affordability, fluidity and risk of loss.”

Affordability accounted for 40 percent of the housing health index while each of the other three factors accounted for 20 percent. When data on the above four factors was unavailable for cities, SmartAsset excluded these from their final rankings of healthiest markets.

To view the full methodology and rankings, visit smartasset.com.

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Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Ranked as Top North Carolina Digital Community College

Are You Interested in a Career in Construction?

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) took fourth place in this year’s 2017-2018 Digital Community Colleges Top Ten-Ranking Survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Education.

While Rowan-Cabarrus has held a spot in the top 10 for the last four years, this is the first time the college has been the leading institution in North Carolina.

Rowan-Cabarrus utilizes digital technology to enhance and improve the quality of services provided. The college offers technology resources like online tutoring for students 24/7, new registration features that allow students to plan their entire academic path to graduation through the WebAdvisor online help tool, and continues efforts to expand courses offered via distance education.

Now in its 13th year, the Digital Community Colleges Survey analyzes how community colleges use a range of technologies to improve services.

The college was recognized for its progressive use of digital technologies incorporated to enhance the quality of services for students, faculty, staff and the community at large.

The college is also currently working on a new online student advising tool called Navigate that will assist students with staying connected to their personal career and advising specialist throughout their academic journey. This planning helps improve a student’s ability to forecast the classes they need to take each term and how close they are to achieving their degree, diploma or certificate.

In addition, the college offers several programs 100 percent online, including the transferrable Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degree options.

Dozens of diplomas and certifications are available to be earned entirely online.

The Center for Digital Education (CDE) is a national research and advisory institute specializing in K-12 and higher education technology trends, policy and funding. CDE provides education and industry leaders with decision support and actionable insights to help efficiently incorporate new technologies in the 21st century. Learn more at centerdigitaled.com.

For more information about Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, please visit rccc.edu/apply or call 704-216-RCCC (7222).

Companies in the region are looking for people who want a career in Light Construction Building Trades. These trades include carpentry, masonry, cabinetry, drywall, building code and inspections, restoration and estimation.

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The City of Kannapolis and RowanCabarrus Community College are offering a course to teach students about construction building trades.

When completed, students will also receive the NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) core curriculum, covering basic safety, communication skills and an introduction to construction drawings, and will be eligible for the certification examination upon course completion. NCCER offers industry-recognized credentials for the construction and maintenance industries.

The course will be offered 8:30am to 12:30pm, June 26 through November 15, at the Carver Annex Building at 525 East C Street, Kannapolis. For more information, call 704-216-7201 or email keri.allman@rccc.edu.

City Clerk of Concord Honored by N.C. Association of Municipal Courts For the second time, Kimberly Deason, city clerk of the city of Concord, has been awarded the designation of North Carolina Certified Municipal Clerk (NCCMC). This comes from the North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks, along with the School of Government of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for achieving its high educational, experience and service requirements; the designation lasts through July 2023.

Kimberly Deason, The NCAMC is a professional organization of city, NCCMC town and village clerks from across the state, dedicated to the continued growth and development of clerks and their municipalities.

Established on November 5, 1975, the association, among other things, promotes educational and professional development opportunities for municipal clerks to enhance their knowledge and effectiveness.

The North Carolina Certified Municipal Clerk Program is a five-year designation with requirements for continuing education to sustain and develop the ever-changing knowledge of the profession of municipal clerks. The NCAMC, together with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, strives to promote educational and professional development to enhance the clerk.

This certification program was developed with the assistance of the UNC School of Government at Chapel Hill and will be administered in cooperation with the School of Government. Qualifications of applicants are reviewed and approved by the NCAMC State Certification Committee.

2018-’19 Cabarrus County Destination & Motorsports Guide Comes to Life The latest edition of the official travel resource for Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Midland and Mount Pleasant is now available from the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition to helpful resources included in years past, the 2018-’19 guide features an enhanced video experience through augmented reality technology.

Released quarterly, each of the four covers builds on the People of Cabarrus concept introduced last year by highlighting four groups of people who aid visitors in making memories in Cabarrus County: Thrill-Seekers, Foodies, Creators and Tastemakers.

“Travel is about making meaningful connections, and this year’s Destination Guide introduces visitors to our community in a whole new way,” Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO Donna Carpenter says.

Packed with information and inspiration, the 76-page publication is a free, comprehensive resource to the county’s attractions, lodging and shopping options, full-service restaurants, historical sites, sports and recreation facilities and more.

To request a copy of the Destination Guide, go to VisitCabarrus.com. The guide is also available at the Cabarrus County Visitor Center, major Cabarrus attractions, participating restaurants and in all Cabarrus County hotels.

River of Life Church Partners with Hope Over Heroin Cabarrus and Rowan counties have previously been ranked in the state’s top 10 regarding highest opioid- and/ or heroin-related overdoses. Much is being done through law enforcement, community service agencies, counseling, detox and rehabilitation facilities, but they have not been able to stop the spread of this epidemic.

In response, the Hope Over Heroin Rowan & Cabarrus County initiative is bringing an outreach approach – a collaboration of churches, business leaders, addiction recovery resources and civic leaders.

River of Life is the sponsor church for this campaign and will host a Hope Over Heroin event on September 7-8 in Village Park, Kannapolis. These events bring awareness and connect resources for the addicted and their families.

For those interested in being involved in the event – and the goals of Hope Over Heroin in general – a meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 6:30pm. It will be held at the Kannapolis Train Station on 201 South Main Street in Kannapolis.

Volunteers are needed to serve on Hope Over Heroin committees, to promote the event in September, and to donate to help addicts and their families.

For more information, please visit riveroflifefwc.net/hope-over-heroin/. n

Have a business announcement?

Added a new hire?

Hosting a community event?

Send copy and photos to Kim at kcassell@cabarrusmagazine.com.

June 2018 27 n

JUNE SELF-GUIDED HISTORIC WALKING TOUR Daily Downtown Concord • Take a step back in time with the touch of a button when you download the Concord Downtown NC App to your Bluetooth-enabled device.

• More than 50 historic sites; follow along at your leisure.

• 704-784-4208; concorddowntown.com SOMETIMES EXHIBITION Through July 13 • 9:00am-5:00pm The Galleries 65 Union Street S., Concord • A group invitational featuring contemporary abstraction with a participatory installation featuring the works of Barbara Ellis, Charlotte Foust, Sharon Hockfield, Josh Jensen, Erin Keane, Daniel McClendon, Cindy Walton and Hayden Wilson • 704-920-2787; cabarrusartscouncil.org ART WALK June 1 • 6:00-9:00pm • Free Downtown Concord • Galleries and shops display visual art and host artists’ demonstrations; interactive displays; live music; refreshments • cabarrusartscouncil.org MOUNT PLEASANT FARMER’S MARKET June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • 2:00-6:00pm Mt. Pleasant UMC Park Corner Highway 73/N. College Street, Mt. Pleasant • Provides locally grown food products to sustain area farmers and strengthen a sense of community – a producer-only farmer’s market • mtpleasantnc.org

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MOVIES IN THE PARK: HARRISBURG June 1 • Sunset • Free Harrisburg Park 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg • Screenings of family-friendly feature films on a huge inflatable screen.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets to relax, and arrive early to enjoy free popcorn and children’s activities before the show.

• 704-455-0724; smarble@harrisburgnc.org CONCERTS IN THE PARK June 2, 16, 29 • 7:00-10:00pm • Free Village Park 700 W. C Street, Kannapolis • Blankets, lawn chairs, coolers permitted; concessions available • NO pets, tobacco, grilling, glass bottles or outside alcohol. Coolers will be checked at several entry points.

• Beer/wine tent will be open; ID required.

• kannapolisnc.gov FARMER’S MARKET AT ROTARY SQUARE June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • 9:00am-12noon June 5, 12, 19, 26 • 10:00am-1:00pm Corner Corban Avenue/Union Street, Concord • Fresh local produce, honey, freerange eggs, antibiotic and hormonefree beef, chicken and pork • 704-605-2194; piedmont-farmersmarket.com GUIDED HISTORIC WALKING TOUR WITH MICHAEL EURY June 2 • 10:30-11:45am • $10 Meet at CDDC office 30 Cabarrus Avenue W., Concord • Concord was ground zero for a plethora of events that shaped life not only for locals, but also for those throughout the South.

• Advance reservations needed • 704-784-4208; concorddowntown.com

PIEDMONT FARMERS MARKET June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • 8:00am 518 Winecoff School Road, Concord • Open year-round. Fresh local produce, honey, free-range eggs, antibiotic and hormone-free beef, chicken and pork.

• 704-425-5559; piedmont-farmersmarket.com A VET TOGETHER June 5, 12, 19, 26 • 9:00-11:00am Carm’s Cafe 42 Union Street S., Concord • Join Cabarrus Veterans Coalition for free coffee and conversation.

• 704-960-4394 OPEN STUDIOS AT CABARRUS ART GUILD June 5, 12, 19, 26 • 10:30am-4:00pm Cabarrus Art Guild 11 Union Street S., Suite 202, Concord • A fun-filled day with other artists.

Bring whatever medium you’re working with and enjoy the collaboration.

• Bring a lunch or order from one of the many fine downtown restaurants.

• 704-795-1901; cabarrusartguild@gmail.com CAB CO YO PRO June 7 • 5:00-6:30pm K1 Speed 800 Derita Road, Unit K, Concord • Young professionals networking event • Refreshments; chance to take 4-5 laps in a K1 Speed electric cart.

• Free for Chamber members • Alison Paladino: 704-782-4000, x101; apaladino@cabarrus.biz KANNAPOLIS FARMER’S MARKET June 7, 14, 21, 28 • 4:00-7:00pm • Free Corner Vance Ave./Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis • Fresh local produce, honey, spices, crafts, and prepared foods and sauces • NEW THIS SEASON: Get updates about seasonal offerings and special deals! Text MARKET to 64600.

• Credit cards, WIC, SNAP/EBT • kannapolisnc.gov

THURSDAYS ON MAIN LUNCH June 7, 14, 21, 28 • 11:30am-1:00pm • Free Veterans Park 119 N. Main Street, Kannapolis • Performances by various musicians – bluegrass to classical to country and rock music. Held under the oak trees, lunch will be available or attendees can bring their own picnic.

• kannapolisnc.gov MOVIES IN THE PARK June 8, 22 • 8:30pm • Free Village Park 700 W. C Street, Kannapolis • June 8: Beauty and the Beast; June 22: Sing • Blankets, lawn chairs, picnics/ coolers permitted; concessions available. Children under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

• kannapolisnc.gov 2ND SATURDAY OPEN STUDIOS AT CLEARWATER ARTIST STUDIOS June 9 • 10:00am-4:00pm 223 Crowell Drive N.W., Concord • Several art studios on premises will be open with resident artists present to talk to, watch work, etc.

• 704-784-9535; clearwaterartists.com ART ON TAP June 9 • 7:00pm • Members: free; Nonmembers: $20 Cabarrus Arts Council 65 Union Street S., Concord • Young professionals group; members come from diverse backgrounds and share common interest in arts, making an impact on our community.

• 704-920-2787 CHA COOKING CLASS June 9 • 10:00-11:30am • $10 June 12 • 6:00-7:30pm • $10 Cabarrus Health Alliance 300 Mooresville Road, Kannapolis • Of course this class will not be your traditional burger! Join us in creating extremely delicious, healthy burgers and the sides to go with it, just in time for summer.

• Classes are open to all adults and children ages five and older.

• To register or for more information: 704-920-1324; Meghan.CharpentierCabarrusHealth.org

KANNAPOLIS CRUISE-IN June 9 • 1:00-7:00pm • Free N.C. Research Campus, Kannapolis • This family-fun event brings out thousands of show cars and spectators.

• 704-932-3808; cabarrusevents.org THE CABARRUS QUILTERS GUILD June 11 • Doors open 6:00pm Forest Hill United Methodist Church 265 Union Street N., Concord • Meet & Greet/refreshments: 6:156:45pm • Speaker: Susan D. Pierce – The Patriotic Pinwheel • cabarrusquiltersguild.org VETERANS BRUNCH June 11 • 10:30am Mt. Pleasant Senior Center 8615 Park Drive, Mt. Pleasant • All military veterans and their spouses are invited.

• Call 704-920-3484 to RSVP. ADVANCE DIRECTIVE WORKSHOP June 14 • 5:00-7:00pm • Free Kannapolis Library 850 Mountain Street, Kannapolis • Review and complete your North Carolina healthcare power of attorney and living will forms.

• Have your advance directive forms notarized free of charge.

• Learn what to do with your completed advance directive.

• CarolinasHealthCare.org/ YourCareYourChoice CAROLINA COIN & STAMP SHOW June 14-16 • Free (Parking: $5 cash) Cabarrus Arena & Events Center 4751 Highway 49 N., Concord • Coins, ancients, stamps, postcards, currency, bullion, foreign coins • Dot Hendrick: 919-828-9450 THURSDAYS ON MAIN EVENING: THE TIM CLARK BAND June 14 • 6:00-9:00pm • Free Veterans Park 119 N. Main Street, Kannapolis • Performances by various musicians – bluegrass to classical to country and rock music. Held under the oak trees, dinner will be available or attendees can bring their own picnic.

• kannapolisnc.gov

ART LAB June 20 • 10:00am • $5 Cabarrus Arts Council 65 Union Street S., Concord • An immersive arts experience for students that includes a guided tour of The Galleries exhibition and a fun hands-on art activity. Registration is suggested.

• 704-920-2787; cabarrusartscouncil.org FAMILY DAY June 23 • 11:00am-2:00pm Cabarrus Arts Council 65 Union Street S., Concord Make your own artwork at creation stations spread throughout The Galleries. Designed for preschool through elementary age.

• 704-920-2787; cabarrusartscouncil.org POP UP - DOWNTOWN! June 23 • 10:00am-3:00pm Union Street, Concord • An expanded marketplace held in conjunction with the annual Summer Sidewalk Sale • An array of vendors and crafters; more than 40 shops, restaurants, galleries and museums • 704-784-4208; holly@concorddowntown.com SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY June 23 • All Day Historic Downtown Concord • Make a purchase at any participating business and enter into a drawing for $100 in Downtown Concord Dollars to be spent in participating businesses.

• 704-784-4208; concorddowntown.com STORIES UNDER THE STARS June 23 • 7:00-8:00pm • Free Kannapolis Library 850 Mountain Street, Kannapolis • Featuring Columbia Marionette Theatre • Join us for this unique literary performing arts event. Programs are geared toward families with children of all ages.

• kannapolisnc.gov

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At a Glance Automotive Sales

Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships 281-289 Concord Parkway S. Concord, NC 28027 704-786-2151 (Cadillac) 704-788-2121 (GMC) www.benmynatt.com

Funeral Homes Page 9

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Commercial Real Estate

Dula Real Estate 18145 W. Catawba Avenue Cornelius, NC 28031 704-895-1011 www.dularealestate.com

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Event Venues

Restaurants

Non-Profit Organizations Page 19

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Chez Francois Music Hall Page 32 9 Union Street N., Suite 200 Concord, NC 28025 980-439-6602 www.chezfrancoismusichall.com

Cannon Pharmacy 760 Cabarrus Avenue W. Concord, NC 28027 704-788-6337 1706 S. Cannon Boulevard Kannapolis, NC 28083 704-933-6337 1402 N. Cannon Boulevard Kannapolis, NC 28083 704-933-7948 www.cannonpharmacies.com

Chez Francois The Creperie Page 21 9 Union Street N. Concord, NC 28025 980-439-6602 www.chezfrancoisthecreperie.com El Vallarta Bar & Grill Page 11 1480 Concord Parkway N., Suite 305 Concord, NC 28025 704-792-2020 www.ElVallartaNC.com

Technology Providers

Pharmacies

Community Events

Town of Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration 4088 Stallings Road Harrisburg, NC 28075 www.harrisburgjuly4th.com

Modern Impressions Page 9 5029 West W.T. Harris Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28269 800-840-2554 www.modernimpressions.com

Wilkinson Funeral Home Page 18 100 Branchview Drive N.E. Concord, NC 28025 704-786-3168 www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com United Breast Cancer Foundation 1-855-995-4599 www.ucbf.org

Michael A. Anderson Photography Page 17 38 Union Street S. Concord, NC 28025 704-701-5908 mike@michael-a-anderson.com www.michael-a-anderson.com

Print & Technology Services

13575 Broadway Avenue Midland, NC 28107 704-888-5571 522 N. Second Street Albemarle, NC 28001 704-983-1188 www.hartsellfh.com

Cleaning Services – Office

Blue-J Serving Cabarrus County and Greater Charlotte Metro 704-589-3148 www.bluejcleaning.com

Photographers Page 8

12115 University City Boulevard Harrisburg, NC 28075 704-247-1722

Churches

New Hope Worship Center 452 Brookwood Avenue N.E. Concord, NC 28025 704-786-0155 www.newhopewc.org

Hartsell Funeral Homes 460 Branchview Drive N.E. Concord, NC 28025 704-786-1161

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AT&T 1-866-930-3970 www.att.com

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DISH 1-844-403-6138 www.dish.com

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Spectrum 1-855-412-1569 www.spectrum.com

Theatres – Live

Old Courthouse Theatre 49 Spring Street N.W. Concord, NC 28025 704-788-2405 www.octconcord.com

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