More than 100 join Chamber of Commerce

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce recruited more than 100 new members into the business organization during its recent annual new member drive.

The effort was sponsored by Carolinas Medical Center, Duke Energy and Wal-Mart and at press time had surpassed the Chamber’s budgeted goal by more than 10 percent.

Dr. Judy Grissom, superintendent of Rowan Salisbury Schools and the Chamber’s Membership Chair, led the annual new member recruitment effort with the help of 70 volunteers. The drive was headquartered at the Gateway Building — the Chamber’s home.

Grissom said, “Once again, we challenged the volunteers to reach an aggressive goal and, once again, they came through for us. The drive was an outstanding success in every way.”

The team recruiting the most new members was led by Alan King of Creative Teaching Aids, and recruited 22 new members. Dave McCoy of McCoy and Hillard CPAs, was the top individual sales person with nine new members. McCoy served on a team led by Terry Osborne of the Rowan County ABC Board.

Team captains for the 2011 drive were Chris Adams (SunTrust Bank), Greg Anderson (The Salisbury Post), Bill Godair (Cornerstone Campus), Penny Greer-Link (VA Medical Center), Starling Johnson (Johnson Concrete), Jeff Ketner (Apple House Realty), Alan King (Creative Teaching Aids), Tom Loeblein (Healthcare Management Consultants), Terry Osborne (Rowan County ABC Board), Brent Parks (Brent Parks, CPA), Mark Seifel (Schneider Electric USA) and Mark Younts (American Benefits Corp.).

The Chamber sets aside a few days per year to actively recruit new members. The effort provides an annual injection of new members, volunteers and financial support necessary to accomplish the organization’s many goals and objectives.

Chamber Chairman of the Board Tom Loeblein (Healthcare Management Consultants) said, “The Rowan County business community has rallied around the Chamber and we now have some 925 members. Because of this tremendous support, the Chamber is better positioned to lead the business community forward and meet head-on the many challenges we face. We can’t thank enough the new members who have joined us and the many volunteers who played a part in this tremendous success.”

Linda Sherrill, Membership Director for the Chamber, provided critical support and leadership for the drive.

Membership in the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is available to any firm, association, corporation, partnership or estate having interest in the Chamber’s mission and objectives.

For more information, visit www.rowanchamber.com or call 704-633-4221.