Business principles on the “high seas” will be just one of the messages delivered at the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce 86th Annual Membership Meeting, Thursday, Nov. 3.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. and be held at the Holiday Inn of Salisbury. Presenting sponsor for the annual meeting is Rowan Regional Medical Center with Food Lion serving as an additional sponsor.
Featured speaker, Capt. James (Jim) T. Loeblein of te U.S. Navy will discuss operating in one of the world’s largest organizations in the midst of today’s challenging and uncertain times. Loeblein currently serves as legislative liaison to the U.S. Senate.
Business principles to be covered include:
• Building “flexibility” into an organization given today’s new challenges and fiscal realities.
• Recruiting and motivating the most valuable part of your organization — your workforce.
• Ensuring your team “knows” the mission – the need to communicate.
• Operating with a sense of urgency — your competitors are doing it.
• Executing with precision and style … lives depend on it.
A native of Salisbury and with more than 26 years of commissioned service, Loeblein has served on numerous warships and operational staffs all over the globe. He received his commission as a U.S. Naval Officer through the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1985.
Loeblein commanded the Guided Missile Frigate USS Thach from 2003-05 deploying a crew of 300 sailors twice to the Arabian Gulf.
He also commanded Destroyer Squadron Nine in Everett, Wash., a squadron of seven warships consisting of more than 2,000 sailors from 2007-09. Most recently, he was assigned as the chief of staff for Naval Forces Central Command (U.S. Fifth Fleet) in Manama, Bahrain.
The Chamber’s annual meeting is open to the public and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Admission is $30 per person and reservations are required. Call the Chamber at 704-633-4221 to RSVP.
Cardinal Tire now open at exit 70
Jon Byler and Steve Lee have opened Cardinal Tire, a family-owned and operated tire and wheel retailer at exit 70 along Interstate 85.
A two-day sale marked the grand opening celebration at the end of September.
The owners are both are from the area.
“Our commitment to you is fast, friendly and affordable service on a personal level for all your tire needs,” the owners said in a news release.
Cardinal Tire is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is 704-857-0280.
They are offering free rotation, balance and general checkups for the life of any set of tires purchased from Cardinal Tire, which carries Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin, Uniroyal, Cooper, Nitto, Toyo, Pirelli and aftermarket wheels. You can check out their developing website at www.cardinaltire.com or keep up with them on Facebook, where they offer weekly specials.
McDonald’s employee Ruff honored
McDonalds has named David Ruff a Five-Star Employee Ambassador.
Ruff, an eight-month employee at the Salisbury McDonald’s at 704 E. Innes St., was selected from hundreds of nominees from North and South Carolina restaurants.
The initiative honors those who exemplify the characteristics of five-star spirit and service: teamwork, community involvement, work ethic, leadership and “Lovin’ the Golden Arches.” Winners receive cash awards, radio advertising and promotional materials at their restaurants.
Daimler Trucks adds shift in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. — Daimler Trucks North America has added a second shift and plans to ramp up production at its Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant in Portland, Ore., creating approximately 350 new jobs at the facility by the end of 2012.
The additional workers represent a nearly 50 percent increase in personnel at the plant and will include approximately 330 shop employees, and an additional 20 engineering and support positions to facilitate increased production.
The Swan Island facility produces heavy-duty Western Star brand Class 8 trucks. The increase in production capacity and hiring comes in response to a rise in Western Star orders and company expectations for continued growth in 2012.
FNB shareholders OK Bank of Granite acquisition
ASHEBORO — Shareholders of FNB United Corp. , parent company of CommunityOne Bank, have approved the shareholder proposals necessary for the acquisition of Bank of Granite Corp.
Bank of Granite stockholders approved the deal Oct. 18.
The proposed acquisition will create a bank with approximately $2.8 billion in assets, $2.4 billion in deposits and 63 full-service banking offices.
Belk charity sale scheduled for Nov. 5
CHARLOTTE — Shoppers can help raise money for nonprofit organizations on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 6-10 a.m. at the Belk Charity Sale, the four-hour, semi-annual event with discounts of 20-70 percent off on purchases.
Last year, the sale raised more than $9.5 million for charitable organizations.
The first 100 customers in each store will receive free Belk gift cards ranging in value from $5 to $100, and a chance to win one of three $1,000 Belk gift cards awarded company-wide.
Each Charity Sale ticket gives customers $5 off their first purchase, 25 percent off shoes, 60 percent off fine jewelry, 25 percent off other items. A full list is located at www.belk.com/charitysale.
Purchase tickets from participating nonprofit organizations and charities keep all profits from each $5 ticket they sell. Beginning Friday, Oct. 28 tickets may also be purchased at Belk stores with all revenues from in-store ticket sales equally divided among participating charities and schools.
Kinzey helps select citizenship competition finalists
Ruth Kinzey, president of The Kinzey Company, helped select finalists for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center’s Corporate Citizenship competition, known as “The Citizens.”
Twenty finalists were named in this 12th annual awards recognition. Entries addressed matters such as financial literacy, economic empowerment and sustainable community development.
Winners will be named Nov. 17 at the annual awards banquet in Washington, D.C.
To see the finalists, go to www.bclc. uschamber.com/awards.
Free scary face pancakes for kids Friday at IHOP
IHOP restaurants will celebrate Halloween by offering children 12 and under a free scary face pancake as part of its No Tricks — Just Treats program.
The “design-your-own” pancake includes an oversized signature buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and strawberry nose, served with two mini Oreos and candy corn on the side.
The event runs from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
State Farm, schools team up for buckle up program
KANNAPOLIS — October is the deadliest month for teens behind the wheel. Data from State Farm shows that October continues to register the most claims by teen drivers.
On 27-28, State Farm agent Mary Beth Ballantine of Kannapolis is participating in a safety belt awareness campaign called “Strapped for Cash.” One-dollar bills are being distributed by local volunteers to student drivers who have all occupants buckled up securely in their vehicle.
“It is important to raise awareness and talk more about seatbelt usage,” she said. “Putting on a seat belt takes only a second, but it can save a life.”
To help bring attention to the No. 1 killer of teens, State Farm teamed up with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to support a Congressional resolution designating the third week in October as National Teen Driver Safety Week. State Farm, A.L. Brown, South Rowan and Northwest Cabarrus high schools encourage teens to buckle up and drive safely.
EnergyUnited seeks advisory committee members
EnergyUnited is in search of volunteers to serve on its Member Advisory Committees (MAC) in Cornelius, Lexington and Statesville.
The electric cooperative seeks members who will act as sounding boards for changes in service processes and development of new programs. Each MAC consists of up to 12 volunteers — from EnergyUnited’s 19-county service area — who represent the diverse membership of the cooperative. Each group will meet every four months. Meetings will be held in Statesville, Lexington and Cornelius. Members serve three-year terms on a rotating basis.
For additional information or to apply, call 800-522-3793 or visit www.energyunited.com/mac to access and download an application.
Beldsoe a consultant with Tastefully Simple
MOUNT ULLA — Brenda Bledsoe has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company featuring more than 60 easy-to-prepare foods.
As an independent business owner, Bledsoe offers food samples at home taste-testing parties, along with ideas for meals, recipes, serving suggestions and fun. All of Tastefully Simple’s products are open-and-enjoy or can be prepared by adding only one or two ingredients.
For more information, contact Bledsoe at bjb1121@yahoo.com.
Southern States in on Co-op Month activities
Southern States is among the cooperatives that have been celebrating October as Co-op Month. Each year at this time, cooperatives across the country celebrate the role, accomplishments and contributions of these democratically controlled, member-owned businesses. More than 130 million Americans find solutions to many of their everyday needs through different types of cooperatives which provide a wide variety of goods and services.
The theme chosen for the month-long celebration is “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World,” and is the same theme chosen for the year 2012 which the United Nations has designated “The International Year of the Cooperative.” The UN is promoting co-ops because of their potential to foster economic growth and development on a local level, with a model that can be duplicated world-wide.
Concord farmer honored by Swisher Sweets
Thomas Porter Jr. of Concord has been selected as the 2011 overall winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award.
Porter raises poultry, hogs and beef cattle. He was announced as the overall winner during the Willie B. Withers Luncheon held on the opening day of the 2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo farm show in Georgia. He was chosen as Farmer of the Year over eight other state winners who were finalists for the 2011 award.
He was also a state winner for North Carolina in 2006. The Farmer of the Year award recognizes excellence in agricultural production and management, along with leadership in community and farm organizations.
Sheppard to speak at real estate investors meeting
Thomas K. Sheppard, investor and author of “Strategic Planning for Very Small Businesses: Using Big Business Tools to Get Big Results for Small Business, Real Estate Entrepreneurs Edition,” will speak at the Rowan County Real Estate Investors and Associates meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Sheppard worked for nearly two decades for a national bank, and he urges caution in managing your money and investments.
The group seeks to provide information regarding real estate investing in Rowan County. It meets at China Buffet at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. It is open to anyone who would like to attend. China Buffet is on Arlington Street behind O’Charleys near Interstate 85 exit 76. Call 704-762-1117 for more information.
Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com. Include a daytime phone number.