Business roundup: Insurance agency honors

Nnamdi Osakwe is among a group of Allstate insurance agents who recently earned the ”Personal Financial Representative“ title.

Osakwe will now be able to provide customers variable annuity, life and mutual fund products in addition to auto, homeowner and traditional life insurance products.

Osakwe received the personal financial representative title after passing the Series 6 and Series 63 securities license exams and completing an Allstate training curriculum. Osakwe is appointed with the broker dealer Allstate Financial Services, LLC.

Contact Osakwe at 704-636-0162 or nnamdiosakwe@allstate.com

Allstate Insurance agent Patti J. Mills, whose office is at 929 I Concord Parkway South in Concord, has received the Agency Hands in the Community Award.

A $1,000 grant came from The Allstate Foundation for Muscular Dystrophy in Concord, where Mills volunteers.

The Allstate Foundation, established in 1952, is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corp.

New Allstate Agency opens in Kannapolis

Allstate Insurance Co. has opened a new agency in Kannapolis. Owned and operated by Dave Cash, the full-service agency offers a auto, property, commercial and life insurance.

”As a longtime resident of the Charlotte area, I know many local families,“ says Cash. ”My knowledge and understanding of the people in this community will help me provide customers with an outstanding level of service. I am looking forward to helping families insure and protect the things that are important to them — their family, home, car, boat and more.“

The Dave Cash Allstate agency is located at 6045 Gateway Center Drive in Kannapolis. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. The Cash Agency can be reached at 704-499-6445 or by e-mail at davecash@ allstate.com.

Cash and his wife, Sarah, have three sons. Cash, who graduated from West Virginia State with a bachelor of Business Management, is involved in the Children’s Miracle Network, CVAN – Domestic Violence Services, Garrett’s Wing Charity, H.E.L.P., Cabarrus Arts Council and his church. He is also a member of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Plemmons RV World earns award

Bill Plemmons RV World- has been named the 2010 Winnebago Industries Partner in Excellence award winning dealer.

This is presented for achieving the best market share in the basic trade area as compared to other dealers in similar areas. The dealership will receive a fresh pie each month for a year to share with staff members.

RV World started out 60 years ago by Steve Plemmons’ father, Bill. Steve is now owner/president. Bob White is general manager.

RV World is at 650 W. Ritchie Road (I-85 exit 74). Visit www.billplemmonsrv.com.

Gerry Wood among top Honda dealers

Gerry Wood Honda has been named among the top Honda dealerships in the country in customer satisfaction by the American Honda Motor Co. Gerry Wood Honda is ranked 18th in the country in a survey of 400 Gerry Wood customers during a three-month period.

The Honda survey asks questions regarding customer satisfaction, such as were repairs made on the first visit, fairness of charges, values of charges, dealership facilities and cleanliness, according to Jim Kristoff, director of operations.

”One hundred percent of the customers said that they would do business with us again,“ said Kristoff. ”That’s a pretty bold statement.“

Gerry Wood Honda is one of three dealerships owned and operated by Gerry Wood Auto Group on Jake Alexander Boulevard. The auto group employs 90 people at Gerry Wood Honda, Gerry Wood Kia and Gerry Wood Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

Freightliner in rodeo for renewable energy

Freightliner Trucks participated in the first Renewable Energy Rodeo and Symposium, held in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Co-hosted by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center and Fort Bliss, the Renewable Energy Rodeo is part of a larger initiative by the U.S. Army to reduce emissions and dependence upon fossil fuels. The Rodeo featured displays and demonstrations of the latest technologies and innovations in renewable energy.

Freightliner Trucks showcased two Business Class M2 106 hybrids – one featuring an EPA 2010 hybrid engine with a 24-inch box van body and 5kw auxiliary power generation capability and the other an EPA 2010 hybrid utility truck with a 55-inch Terex Hi-Ranger TCX-55 aerial device and steel utility line body.

”By participating in the Renewable Energy Rodeo, we are demonstrating our commitment to energy efficient technologies that support the Army’s energy goals,“ said Rick Engel, director, Government Vehicle Sales for Daimler Trucks North America. ”Freightliner Trucks is dedicated to shaping future transportation by developing hybrid products and technologies that are focused on providing greater fuel economy and lower emissions.“

Freightliner’s line of Business Class M2 Hybrid trucks features the same benefits of the Freightliner Business ClassM2, such as outstanding visibility and maneuverability, with the added efficiency and environment-friendly features of hybrid power. The Freightliner Business Class M2 Hybrid can be easily configured for a wide variety of bodies for different applications, such as beverage, dump, government, landscape, towing, bucket and service trucks and emergency.

PPG Lexington employees get $13,500 for organizations

LEXINGTON — Employees at PPG Industries’ fiberglass manufacturing plant in Lexington helped to obtain $13,500 in grants through the PPG Industries Foundation for local organizations where they volunteered in 2009 and to date in 2010.

The employee-requested grants were obtained through a foundation program called Grant Incentives for Volunteerism by PPG Employees and Retirees, which recognizes employee and retiree volunteer efforts with annual grants of $500 for an ongoing volunteer relationship or $1,000 for serving on an organization’s board of directors.

In 2009 and to date in 2010, 15 PPG Lexington employees obtained 21 grants for eligible local organizations where they volunteer. Recipient organizations include:

• Boy Scouts of America Old North State Council

• Central Davidson High School

• Communities in Schools of Lexington

• Crisis Ministry of Davidson County

• Pastor’s Pantry

• Path of Hope

• Salvation Army, Davidson County

Todd Douthit is plant manager for the Lexington manufacturing facility.

PGT Industries, Performance Fibers Operations honored

The Centralina Economic Development Commission announced the winner of the 2010 Regional Advanced Manufacturing Awards at an event held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Concord on June 24.

Two Rowan County manufacturers, PGT Industries and Performance Fibers, tied for the award, ”Best Process Improvement,“ for a company of 100 to 499 employees.

For more information, visit www.mindsthatmanufacture.com.

Carolina Farm Credit offers way to vote on photos for calendar

Voting to select the top three photos for the 2011 Carolina Farm Credit calendar photo contest started this past week, and anyone can vote on their favorites.

More than 150 photos were received from members and employees for the contest. Entries include children on farms, farm animals, equipment and machinery, scenery and lots of winter snow shots.

The 32 finalists will be displayed on www.carolinafarmcredit.com.

Additional calendar photos will be selected from the remaining finalists.

Following completion of the voting, the three photos with the most votes will be awarded first, second and third place, and receive cash prizes.

Kannapolis student to participate in Roy Williams Basketball Camp

STATESVILLE — Justin Green of Kannapolis will participate in the Roy Williams Basketball Camp in Chapel Hill on scholarship from EnergyUnited.

Green was one of the 27 players awarded scholarships from North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to attend the camp. Winners of the Roy Williams Basketball Camp scholarship were selected by a panel of judges who reviewed an application that included an essay about the students’ reason for wanting to participate in the camp.

This is the fifth year that North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives have helped send players to the camp at UNC. The cooperatives also provide scholarships for young women to attend basketball camp at N.C. State.

Send text message to win gift card from Food Lion

Food Lion is hosting a Fourth of July mobile messaging sweepstakes to encourage membership in its mobile club. Shoppers who text ”USA“ to 467467 through Monday will be entered for the chance to win a $100 Food Lion gift card, according to a report in Supermarket News.

If the phone number is not already linked to an MVP loyalty card number, those who text will be asked to send the number to 467467. Shoppers without an MVP card can sign up for one via text message by following prompts. Entrants who are not members of Food Lion's mobile club will be asked to join.

Daimler Trucks, union in Portland agree to new three-year contract

Daimler Trucks North America LLC has joined in a new three-year collective bargaining agreement covering workers at its Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant.

The contracts, which are effective today, cover union employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 305; the Service Employees International Union Local 49; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1005; and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1094.

Tentative collective bargaining agreements were reached on July 1, after extended negotiation between company management and union leadership. The tentative agreements were ratified by Local Bargaining Unit membership in separate meetings this past week. Previous contracts were originally set to expire June 30 but were extended pending the formal ratification of the new agreements by the union membership.

The new contracts include numerous negotiated provisions that will enhance scheduling flexibility, improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. Employment levels will remain unchanged for the present. The plant will continue to operate with one shift.

In October 2008, Daimler Trucks announced the planned mid-2010 closure of the plant. Those plans were shelved in September 2009 in favor of "second chance" contract discussions.

The ratification of new collective bargaining agreements for the plant follows successful new contract negotiations at the company's North Carolina and Michigan plants earlier this year.

The Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant is located in Portland, Oregon and manufactures Freightliner-branded military vehicles as well as the company's Western Star on-highway and severe-duty trucks. The Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant employs approximately 680, including nearly 640 union members.

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