The N.C. State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners approved 75 applicants for licensure as CPAs at its meeting March 25.
New CPAs from this area include Paweenin Mongkolsirikiet of Salisbury, Antonio Polce of Kannapolis, Sterling Wall Jr. of Lexington, Matthew Andersen of Mount Pleasant, Summer Ryan of Harrisburg and Stephanie Wasilewski of Concord.
Applicants for licensure are required to pass the Uniform CPA Examination and satisfy the education, work experience and moral character requirements of the board.
A CPA certified to practice in North Carolina must annually renew his or her license and complete at least 40 hours of continuing professional education, including an ethics course.
North Carolina has more than 17,800 actively licensed CPAs.
Jonathan Parham of Salisbury 2008 sales leader in N.C., S.C.
The Bronze Division of Matthews International Corp. has recognized Jonathan Parham of Salisbury as the top salesperson in its Eastern Division.
Parham’s territory includes North and South Carolina. He has won this award numerous times during his 30 years with Matthews and also won Matthews’ Sales Person of the Year in 2000.
“Jonathan’s achievement, especially in today’s challenging economic climate, truly reflects his hard work and a commitment to our customers,” said Rob Newcombe, Matthews Bronze Division vice president of sales and marketing.
Parham was the first supplier ever elected to the North Carolina Cemetery Association board of directors and the South Carolina Cemetery Association board of directors. He currently serves on the North Carolina Cemetery board of directors.
Parham graduated from Catawba College. His wife is Mariann.
Matthews International announced its 2008 sales leaders April 2 at the company’s sales meeting in Pittsburgh, where it is based.
Eleanor Qadirah wins, donates copier
Marathon Business Center donated a Xerox Copy Center copier to the Salisbury Civitan Club, which put the copier up as a grand prize and sold raffle tickets to raise money for its local charitable projects.
The drawing was held at the recent Chamber of Commerce Business Show.
Eleanor Qadirah, president of the Rowan Blues and Jazz Society, won the copier.
The society’s mission is “to preserve, promote and present the art forms of blues and jazz music through educational programs in our schools, our community and through annual Blues and Jazz Festivals.”
The Blues and Jazz Society also works “to encourage youth musicians and bands … support local charitable events selected by board members and to create lasting relationships with our community through partnerships with our local businesses.”
Qadirah is a board member of Prevent Child Abuse Rowan and upon receiving the prize, she donated it to that organization.
Carol Dunlap, Prevent Child Abuse Rowan coordinator, accepted the copier at a presentation during last week’s Salisbury Civitan Club meeting.
RCCC marketing students lend local merchants a hand
Marketing students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College recently applied knowledge they gained in the classroom to a real-world setting and helped local merchants in the process.
Students in instructor Nancy Whittaker’s visual merchandising classes designed and created store window displays for two local merchants, one in Salisbury and the other in Concord.
The students worked closely with the store owners to design window displays that captured the attention of potential customers, while communicating each store’s marketing message.
“The students had a lot of fun designing and decorating the windows,” Whittaker said. “The projects provided them an opportunity to work in teams, prepare and manage a schedule, assign tasks, be flexible, and, above all, meet the expectations of the business owners.”
RCCC’s Small Business Center helped connect the students with potential partner businesses. In Concord, students worked with Kathleen Reeder, owner of “The Bead Lady,” located on Union Street.
Thirteen students went to work on the custom jewelry shop’s six windows. Students used an eclectic mix of colors and materials to convey the fun spirit of the store.
“It was a great experience,” Reeder said. “It was nice to have a fresh look from another set of eyes and new ideas to decorate the windows.”
In Salisbury, students collaborated with Glenda and Barry Dyson, owners of “Just the Thing!” on North Main Street.
Ten students worked on two, large window displays for the store, which sells teacher supplies and educational toys. The students’ design for the windows featured a summertime theme, with stuffed animals having warm weather fun.
“We welcomed the opportunity to work with the RCCC students and support our community,” Glenda Dyson said. “We enjoyed watching the students apply what they were learning in a real business setting.”
Whittaker believes the projects were a win-win proposition for the students and the business owners.
“The store owners got free labor and a different perspective on their window designs, while the students put into practice the principles they learned in class,” Whittaker said.
RCCC offers an associate degree program in business administration, marketing and retailing.
Program course work includes marketing, retailing, merchandising, selling, advertising, computer technology and management.
For more information, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu/programs/bus.
Harris Teeter golf tournament raises money for food banks
CHARLOTTE ó Harris Teeter has dedicated itself for over 50 years to combatting hunger.
This year, during its annual Food Bank Golf Tournament, Harris Teeter expanded its efforts to support the food banks and food pantries which work diligently to feed those in need.
On May 18, the company hosted the golf tournament at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte and introduced, for the first time, a live auction to raise additional funds for the food banks.
Thanks to the generous participation of more than 200 golfers, Harris Teeter was able to collect $205,000 before the tournament began. The $205,000 will be distributed to food banks and food pantries across the eight states in which Harris Teeter stores are located.
Four items were auctioned at the conclusion of the event and brought in an additional $119,500 for the food banks.
“Harris Teeter knows that a grocery store nourishes a community in many ways,” said Fred Morganthall, president of Harris Teeter. “Food banks are having a hard time keeping their shelves full right now, and it is our responsibility to lend a hand.”
Food banks receiving donations will include Lowcountry Food Bank, Capital Area Food Bank, Interfaith Relief, Second Harvest of Northwest, N.C., Second Harvest of Middle, Tenn., Good Shepherd Ministries Food Bank of Central & Eastern N.C., Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Second Harvest of Southeast Va., Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Loaves & Fishes, and MANNA Food Bank.