Montcross Area Chamber Board of Directors

Welcome

Whether you are a new resident or a visitor, we are proud to introduce you to Gaston County and a wide variety of activities available here. In a single day, you can enjoy the beauty of a world renown botanical garden, learn the history of our area at one of several museums, get your heart racing on a mountain bike course, and run the rapids at one of the world’s finest whitewater centers. If you’re drawn to water, few communities offer more water access than those of the Montcross area. The Catawba River marks the eastern border of Gaston County flowing through Mount Holly and Belmont, allowing for beautiful riverfront parks, marinas and waterfront communities. West of Belmont and Mount Holly, flowing through Lowell, McAdenville and Cramerton is the South Fork River, smaller than the Catawba, but ideal for kayaks, canoes, and fishing. The spectacular 380-acre Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is located along the South Fork River in Belmont, featuring a five-story orchid conservatory, a children’s garden, and much more. The cities and towns of the Montcross area along Gaston County’s eastern border offer residents the best of small-town living, with easy access to the attractions of the big city next door. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is less than a 10-minute drive from Belmont and Mount Holly. In just 20 minutes, eastern Gaston visitors and residents can be in uptown Charlotte for a sporting event, for a play or concert, or just to have a dinner. When the big city isn’t calling, visitors and residents of the Montcross area communities have lots to enjoy in their own backyard. Unique independently owned restaurants and specialty shops line Main Street in every town, and parks, greenways and other outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant. Our public schools are outstanding, and we also have excellent private school options. We have Gaston College, a two-year community college, and the four-year Belmont Abbey College. If you’re considering our area as your next home we hope this publication will be a valuable tool in helping you become acquainted with Gaston County and its communities. When you arrive, please let us know you’re here. We invite you to attend our events and let the Montcross Area Chamber help you connect quickly to sources for services and to new friends. Our website has a lot of valuable information. You can sign-up to receive our emails, which will keep you updated on happenings in the business community. You’ll also find our Chamber staff eager to welcome you, answer questions and provide information.

Gordon Quarles - Board Chair Blue Harbor Bank Natasha Gilbert - Chair Elect Chick-fil-A Belmont Wil Neumann - Treasurer Gaston Capital Partners Shannon Thomas - Secretary Creative Solutions Special Events Heath Jenkins - Past Chair Town of Stanley

DIRECTORS Del Barajas Barajas Company Marc Burns Techtheon Global Solutions Melissa Gordon Piedmont Lithium Ray Hardee Pointe Church Paul Lowrance McKenney Family Dealerships Melia Lyerly Lyerly Agency Martha Wegner Duke Energy Del Murphy CaroMont Health Brad Wruble Belmont Eye Julie Roper Dominion Energy Todd Garrett Holy Angels Emily Wilson Atrium Health Andrea Sipka Schooley Mitchell Paige Kilburn Edward Jones Lindsay Lockett Gaston Christian School

ADVISORY DIRECTORS Sandy Railey Lowell Mayor Charlie Martin Belmont Mayor Steven Denton Stanley Mayor Jim Robinette McAdenville Mayor Ronnie Worley County Commissioner Greg Beal Mt. Holly Economic Development Director David Pugh Cramerton Town Manager Jonathan Blanton Ranlo Town Manager Michael Peoples Gastonia City Manager Dick Cromlish Gaston County EDC

Dear newcomers and new businesses to the Montcross Area - the Economic Gateway to Gaston County, Serving both the businesses and communities of eastern Gaston County, our Chamber has been providing value and strengthening the economies of our dynamic growing region since 1960. Operating as the Belmont Chamber at that time, we primarily served one community. Now we have evolved and grown to serve a wider region that includes the communities of Belmont, Cramerton, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly, Ranlo and Stanley. Along with a bolder vision, a new name was announced in 2008 to reflect the expected growth and service to these cities and towns. Derived from the name of the 1,100-acre retail, residential and commercial Montcross project being developed along I-85, between the Catawba and South Fork rivers, “Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce” was chosen as the new name. Partners in the Montcross construction project embraced the idea of the Chamber adopting the name. At that time, close to 40% of the Chamber’s membership had an address other than Belmont. This holds true today with members in every city and town in Eastern Gaston County, plus Gastonia, Charlotte, Lake Wylie, and many others. This enormous project continues being developed today on land owned by the Southern Benedictine Society at Belmont Abbey College, Pharr Yarns, R.L. Stowe Mills and Parkdale Mills with more than 14,000 jobs projected to be created over the next 30 years. Our strategic location, across the Catawba River from Charlotte, NC, one of the fastest growing metro regions in our country, and one exit away from one of the fastest growing international airports, puts us close to major league sports, and major league culture and attractions, including the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Our unique cities and towns, each with their own identity and charm, offer great places to live surrounded by miles of trails to hike and ride as well as easy access to rivers for boating, kayaking and canoeing. Today, as we celebrate the end of 2021, and the beginning of 2022, we have much to be thankful for. Our small businesses and the communities we serve have shown true grit and courage during this impactful pandemic. The greatest assets we have as a purpose-driven organization are our chamber members and partner cities and towns. One thing we have learned during these challenging times is our Chamber’s mission must be more closely aligned with our cities and towns. How successful and how well we lead this dynamic Montcross area, will rest on how well we partner and collaborate with our public sector leaders and other organizations. And how we make diversity, equality and inclusion a major factor in the successful growth of our small businesses and our economic growth. A major step in helping to create our future is through our recently announced initiative “Montcross Emerge”. The purpose of Montcross Emerge is to promote and support our small businesses and communities as we emerge from the impact of Covid-19. Montcross Emerge exists to serve this purpose practically and personally through a team of industry leading professionals who specialize in marketing, efficiency, culture, economic growth and leadership development. The backbone of our nation is the small business owners and our communities are no different. The small business owners and local entrepreneurs will influence and craft the growth and impact of our local communities. The Montcross Area Chamber exists to serve and add value to them. Our goal is to be recognized as essential, not just relevant. Welcome. We would love to have you be part our chamber and help take us to the next level with your leadership experience.

Marc Jordan

Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE President and CEO

CHAMBER STAFF

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Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE - President

marc.jordan@montcrossareachamber.com

Julie Bowen - Vice President of Member Services and Events

julie.bowen@montcrossareachamber.com

JOIN THE CHAMBER

If you would like more information about the Chamber or are interested in becoming a member, please call us at 704-825-5307 or visit: www.MontcrossAreaChamber.com