Rutherford County
Chamber of Commerce FROM THE CHAMBER DIRECTOR ................ THE FUTURE IS BUILT BY WHAT WE DO TODAY
Chamber Content From the Chamber Director...23 Meet Our New Members..24 Business After Hours Trinity Christian School...24 Ribbon Cutting: Carolina Trust Bank...25 Ribbon Cutting: Dr. Kenneth L. Turner, OD GRAND OPENING...25 Lunch & Learn with Congressman Patrick McHenry...25 Business Seminar: TD Bank...26 “Timber Ridge”...26 Spotlight on: Fountain Electric..27 Spotlight on: Hospice of Ruherford County...27 Chamber Board of Directors ...28
REVERSE RAFFLE Tickets Are Available Now! December 6th, 7:00 pm The Foundation Performing Arts Center Call the Chamber office at 828-287-3090
Have you ever wondered what Rutherford County will look like five years from now? I suppose we could get a varied assortment of answers. I believe it is extremely important for us to note the progress that is being made County wide; from Ellenboro to Lake Lure, visions are becoming realities. We have new construction all across the County which is building the foundation of sustainable growth for years to come. Our municipalities are working together to enhance our future. Business owners are proceeding to grow their businesses even in the face of the challenges of a stagnant economy. Our Educational community continues to provide the very best education for our students in spite of cuts and barriers with a determination that equips our future leaders with the very best education. All of these entities have one goal: “to enhance the quality of life of our citizens”. Many of these activities go unnoticed and we may think they are insignificant; however their daily commitment to excellence is the very foundation for the future of our County. The opportunities we have are plentiful; we just have to keep a passion for what we are doing and a belief that it can be achieved. Think of all the changes we have witnessed in the last 50 years. The internet, cell phones, miracles in medicine, space travel and so much more have made our lives far different than any of us could ever imagine. None of these things could have taken place without the passion and belief of the individuals; working on a daily basis to make it happen. We need to believe that what we do today does enhance the future of our County. So, we who are sometimes afraid of the future or feel reluctant to embrace change may want to remember; it was an individual or team that brought us cell phones, internet, miracles in medicine and so much more. People just like you made this possible; they decided to embrace change as a first priority; not as a last resort. Change will occur whether we want it or not. If we only accept change as a last resort; we never receive the full benefits that could be ours. What you do on a daily basis determines the quality of life that is yours to claim. Some will always see the glass as half empty; others half full. We have more to do with our future than we may want to admit. Today’s decisions determines tomorrows outcomes; let’s commit to building a great Rutherford County through our daily efforts.
Clark Poole
Design & Layout: Reid Price
Staff Photographer: Everette Murray
Contributing Writers: Rita Burch Deneen Cook Clark Poole
WE WANT TO SPOTLIGHT YOU! The Chamber will be glad to spotlight your business. Here is how it works: You supply us an article about your business; its history, the services you provide, your location and hours of operation. Submit the article of 350 words and your logo to info@rutherfordcoc.com and we will spotlight you.
Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
162 N. Main Street Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Phone: 828.287.3090 Fax: 828-287-0799 info@rutherfordcoc.com www.rutherfordcoc.com
Rutherford Chamber• Volume I, Issue 10 • October 2013 •
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Rutherford Chamber
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS A-1 Rutherford Locksmith and Pawn 901 Railroad Avenue Spindale, N.C. Phone 828-287-1022
Forest City Investment Club FCI Mini Warehouses Forest City, N.C. Phone 828-245-0684
Diamondback Tactical. LLLP 207 Oakland Road Spindale, N.C.
Storehouse Pantry 2274 74 Hwy By-pass Forest City, N.C. Phone 828-980-2654
Rutherford Outdoor Coalition Rutherfordton, N.C. Phone 828-447-1590
Fatman Plumbing and Drain Cleaning 156 East Mountain Street Rutherfordton, N.C. Phone 828-288-3000
Thieman Manufacturing Technologies 531 Webb Road Ellenboro, N.C. Phone 828-453-1866
We are proud to introduce these businesses as our newest members in the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Our mission is to serve our membership in promoting the prosperity of our citizens. We welcome any business that would like to become a part of our mission; call the Chamber office at 828-287-3090 or email us at info@rutherfordcoc.com
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24 • Rutherford Chamber • Volume I, Issue 10 • October 2013
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: Trinity Christian School Shining For 40 Years On August 28th, one of our Chamber members enjoyed a Kick-Off Celebration of 40 years. The students led in the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem and Prayer. The 8th grade class gave a summary of the adventures over the years of Trinity Christian School. Of course we had refreshments and Fellowship. It was a joy to see the enthusiasm of the students and the commitment of the faculty and staff. You will want to mark your calendar for April 12th; they will have the big celebration on that date and you are invited. It has been said; a picture is worth a thousand words: once again, I believe that saying has truth.
It is truly amazing when a long time supporter of Rutherford County gets to celebrate moving into a new home. We got to participate in a great Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting with Carolina Trust Bank. A large group of supporters and friends celebrated this event; however those of you who had to leave early missed out on some great hot dogs and desserts. Please take time to go by and see their beautiful new offices and experience a committed staff that wants to serve their customers need. To Melissa Cantrell, Debbie Peace, Wanda Earley and Theresa Mauney; thanks for having us!
LUNCH & LEARN with Congressman Patrick McHenry
Rutherford Chamber
RIBBON CUTTING: Carolina Trust Bank
Carolina Trust Bank 142 N. Watkins Drive Forest City, N.C. (828) -245-2262
RIBBON CUTTING : Dr. Kenneth L. Turner, OD GRAND OPENING Grand Openings/Ribbon Cuttings can produce some interesting stories. Once again, a very interesting story was told. An attendee of the Grand Opening shared the fact that Dr. Turner prescribed the first pair of glasses for her 48 years ago. (We don’t think she’s still wearing that same pair) Dr. Turner seems to be excited about his continuing practice and the mentoring he has done with those that are entering his field due to his influence. Dr. Turner and family called the food refreshments; actually most of us called it a lunch. Dr. Turner’s office is located at 569 South Broadway street, Forest City. You may call Mary Redford at 828-245-7600 for an appointment. Their office hours are Monday thru Friday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dr. Turner offers comprehensive eye exams for contact lenses and glasses. They accept most insurance coverage and carry the latest fashion eye wear.
The Chamber sponsored Lunch & Learn with Congressman McHenry was well attended at Hickory Log Family Restaurant in Spindale. Congressman McHenry gave us a synopsis of pending legislation and the effect could have on our District. During the question & answer session, we discussed Foreign policy, Budget review, Tax reform, the Affordable Health Care Law and the complexities of all those issues. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss, face to face the issues that we know will affect our lives and our congressman’s willingness to participate. As always, we thank all those who were able to participate and Hickory Log Family Restaurant for hosting our event.
GET CONNECTED
unitedwayofrutherford.galaxydigital.com GET CONNECTED is an online volunteer opportunity system. It’s a web-based program that matches volunteers with the right opportunities in the community. Call United Way at 286-3929 for more information.
GET CONNECTED Today! RUTHERFORDCOC.ORG | RUTHERFORDEVERYDAY.COM •
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Rutherford Chamber
BUSINESS SEMINAR
TD Bank and the Chamber sponsored a series “Business Principles” during the month of September. Our participants discussed the following topics: • Business Plan Basics • Small Business Foundations • Are you making money or losing your shirt • Analyzing your competition Our participants were engaged in solutions and challenges faced in an ever changing economy. All of us came away with a more complete understanding of the steps we need to adopt in making our businesses more profitable. Our thanks to TD Bank for leading our workshops and thanks to our participants for committing four weeks of their time. We want to especially thank Nichole Dubs, manager, of TD Bank, Rutherfordton and Nick Iosu, small business relationship manager, of TD Bank.
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26 • Rutherford Chamber • Volume I, Issue 10 • October 2013
“TIMBER RIDGE”
A ground breaking was conducted on Friday, July 12th for a 50 unit apartment community, serving seniors 55 and older. The apartment community is located at the intersection of Sims Street and Railroad Avenue in Spindale. Two nonprofit organizations joined forces to bring affordable housing to Spindale; the Wesley Community Development Corporation, and the Affordable Housing Group of North Carolina, Inc. The Wesley Community Development Corporation has been building affordable housing since 2002 as a nonprofit outreach ministry of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. The objective is to build quality homes that are affordable, energy efficient and can be economically maintained. The Affordable Housing Group of North Carolina, Inc. (TAHG) has been working actively since 1966. Upon completion of Timber Ridge, TAHG will have a total of 875 apartments. Timber Ridge is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014. The apartments will be a mix of one and two bedroom duplexes designed by Tise Kiester Architects. The funding for this project was made possible through the efforts of several agencies; The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, Community Affordable Housing Equity Corporation and TD Bank. TD Bank will serve as the investor to make available the needed equity to fund construction. Charles Fredrick, Market President for TD Bank in North Carolina, stated their effort supports one of the four pillars-one of which is affordable housing-to strengthen our local areas. For leasing information regarding Timber Ridge contact: Excel Property Management- 919-878-0522, Ext 223
By Deneen Cook
Fountain Electric Services was established in 1946 by the Woodrow Fountain family. Today, Fountain Electric is owned and operated by the third generation of Fountains. While much has changed over the past 67 years, we still maintain the same values and integrity on which the company was founded. Through the years Fountain Electric Services has grown to provide residential, commercial and Industrial services to Rutherford and surrounding counties. Even though we service many lines of business, we will always maintain our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Our residential services include whole-house rewiring, surge suppression, receptacles, ceiling fans, outdoor lighting, service upgrades, back-up generators, accent lighting and motion detectors. Our residential team is staffed with individuals that are reputable and dependable. You can feel safe when they enter your home and be assured that our goal is 100% customer satisfaction. Additionally, as part of any regular service call we will include our free 18 point electrical inspection. Don’t forget to ask about our service and preventative maintenance agreement as well.
you on some of the benefits you may receive for replacing those fixtures this year. We can also assist you with energy audits and other energy saving solutions. Fountain Electric Services also provides a comprehensive array of industrial services. A few of those services include maintenance, turnkey installations, controls and equipment wiring, design engineering, and process control. Additional services include high voltage distribution, power distribution, lighting, and low voltage communications. Fountain Electric can assist in planning your projects and shutdowns to minimize production loss. We hope you will consider us for your next project.
Rutherford Chamber
Spotlight on: Fountain Electric
Fountain Electric is located at 244 Callahan Koon Road, Spindale, NC 28160. Our hours of operation are from 8:00am until 5:00pm Monday through Friday. We also have on-call service 24/7 for emergency situations. Please visit our website at www.fountainelectric.com or call us at 828-286-2524.
As part of our commercial line we provide services for outdoor lighting, signs, indoor lighting solutions, specialty lighting, back-up generators, ups backup and solar power. We have an experienced team that can work with you during your planning phase. Recent legislation changes regarding lighting systems will have an impact on many buildings that have older fluorescent light fixtures. T12 lamps have been discontinued and were phased out during 2012. If your building utilizes T12 lamps, please give us a call and we will update
Spotlight on: Hospice of Rutherford County By Rita Burch
About Hospice Originally a medieval word for a place of shelter for travelers on a difficult journey, hospice has become synonymous with a program of compassionate care for those completing life’s journey. Hospice promotes the formation of a caring environment by using a team approach to promote the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of the critically ill and their families.
Hospice of Rutherford County Hospice of Rutherford County opened its doors for the first time in 1982. Since then, our organization has experienced tremendous growth. We originated in a small office located at the Rutherford Senior Center and now have grown into the Hospice of Rutherford County campus which is located at 374 Hudlow Road in Forest City, NC. We serve around 150 patients daily and have even expanded into McDowell County. Our continued goal is to support and care for terminally ill individuals and their families, so they can be comfortable, both physically and emotionally. We also offer palliative care for individuals that don’t qualify for hospice care, but need assistance with pain management.
Our Mission Statement Hospice and Palliative Care of Rutherford County strives to provide state-of-the-art, compassionate care for those affected by serious illness, grief and loss.
Call us today with any questions regarding hospice or palliative care at 828-245-0095
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Rutherford County
Chamber of Commerce Officers
Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Mission Statement
Jason Harrill
Helping to create and maintain a healthy business environment which will enhance prosperity and improve the quality of life in Rutherford County
President Barbara Keever First Vice President Jim Bishop
CHAMBER STAFF
Vice President Dan Thomas
Rutherford County
Clark Poole Director
Secretary/Treasurer
Chamber of Commerce 162 N. Main Street Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Phone: 828.287.3090 Fax: 828-287-0799 info@rutherfordcoc.com www.rutherfordcoc.com
Debbie Gettys Office Manager
Cooper Flack Immediate Past President
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Laura Allen Thera-ssage
Dale Hamilton Cornerstone Realty
Dr. Janet Mason
Rutherford County Schools
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Fran Anderson
Jim Bishop WCAB Radio
Rutherford Regional Health System
Walter Dalton
Nichole Dubs TD Bank
Isothermal Community College
Jason Harrill BB&T
Odean Keever & Assoc.
Blanton Miller & Moore
Debbie Martin
Deborah Mauney Staff Masters Inc.
Tim Mathis
Donna McCann
Sarah MerrisonMcEntire
Everette Murray Rutherford Everyday
Isothermal Planning & Development Commission
28 •Rutherford Everyday • Volume I, Issue 10 • October 2013
Barbara Keever
Northland Communications
Carolina Chiropractic Plus
Cooper Flack
Main Street Financial Group
Joseph Maimone Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Dan Thomas
Jackson Hewitt Tax Services