SALISBURY — A new sporting goods shop, HTC Sports, has opened at 3875 Statesville Boulevard.
Owners Lynn and Jeff Bernhardt and Donnie Myers carry fishing tackle, rods and reels, hunting and camping supplies and live bait. The shop also offers custom-order baseball and softball gloves and special-order team uniforms.
They will take sporting equipment on consignment.
The trio opened the shop because there isn’t a fishing, hunting or sporting goods store in the western part of Rowan County.
“We wanted to give the community a little convenience while doing something we enjoy,” Lynn Bernhardt said.
The business is named for the first initials of the Berhardts’ three sons.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To contact HTC Sports, call 704-267-1145.

CrossFit Rowan is holding three different workouts on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with categories for all levels of fitness from beginner to advanced.  Prizes will be given for the top finishers.
More information is available at www.crossfitrowan.com in the “Upcoming Events” section or call owner Jimmy Barnett at 704-750-1057.

The Salisbury/Rowan Association of Realtors is presenting the 2013 Rowan County Home Expo in partnership with Novant Health/Rowan Medical Center on Friday, Sept. 27, at the Civic Center.  Admission is free and open to the public.
The civic center is at 315 South Martin Luther King Ave. The expo is to offer information about home ownership or any of its related industries.
Deadline to turn in an application to be a vendor is Friday, Aug. 30. 
Contact Morgan Harper at the Salisbury/Rowan Association of Realtors, 466 Jake Alexander Blvd. W. at 704-636-1811 for more information.

SALISBURY — SPDigital, a division of the Salisbury Post, has hired Tara Van Geons to fill a newly created position, interactive sales specialist.
Van Geons starts work Monday. She is the wife of Robert Van Geons, executive director for RowanWorks Economic Development Commission.
SP Digital is the digital division of the Salisbury Post, offering cutting-edge digital services to local businesses including website design, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, lead generation, reputation management, mobile apps and mobile marketing solutions.
“Tara has a unique ability to communicate clearly with business owners about the changing digital landscape and real word digital experience,” said Rebecca Alexander, senior director of interactive sales for SP Digital.
Van Geons received a bachelor of arts degree from Pfeiffer University and holds a master of arts degree in teaching from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Her interest in digital media began while she worked as a high school teacher, incorporating a variety of technology and media into her classroom. Van Geons presented at national conferences about how to effectively use new media to enhance curricula.
For the past three years, she has worked as digital media specialist for several businesses in Salisbury and up and down the East Coast.
Previously, she taught English at Gray Stone Day School and was an adjunct instructor at both Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Stanly Community College.
“I am thrilled begin this position with the SP Digital, and I am truly looking forward to forming long lasting partnerships with the business community in Rowan County,” she said.

SALISBURY — A Learning Academy will hold a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Tuesday at 118-B N. Ellis St.
The business, located behind Bank of America, offers individual and group tutoring, state test preparation, homework assistance, resources for parents, summer camp and English as second language services.

SALISBURY — Bella Vita Salon will host the Back to School Blast on Aug. 17, a community-wide school supply and donation drive.
The salon, located at 118 N. Ellis St. in front of A Learning Academy, was inspired by the Communities in Schools program. The salon requests other businesses and the community to get involved and donate basic school supplies and clothing for public schools.
To learn more about the event, call the salon at 980-255-0929 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or email tcookjj@yahoo.com.

CONCORD — The World Tea Expo organization has awarded S&D Coffee and Tea two first prizes and a Best Value in the 2013 North American Tea Championship for its tea product.
First prize went to Sweetened and Unsweetened for Teafinity Natural Brewed Iced Tea in Bag-in-Box. The value award went to S&D Quality Blend Iced Tea.
A judging panel of professionals assessed each submission on the following characteristics: flavor, body, color, clarity and balance. The ratings of each characteristic were then used to calculate an overall numerical value on a 100-point scale.
Joe Doyle, director of tea procurement and tea products for S&D, said: “We are always appreciative of any awards we win. It means we are on the right track to make the best possible teas.”
S&D Coffee & Tea, Inc. is the nation’s largest custom roaster and the largest blender of iced tea for the food service industry. In continuous operation since 1927, S&D serves more than 80,000 customers through national distribution and direct store delivery. 

Attorney Janet Ward Black, a native of Kannapolis and daughter of the late Baxter Franklin Black, Jr and Frances Black Holland, has received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
The NCAJ held its annual convention in Wilmington on Sunday, June 16.
The organization established the award “to recognize extraordinary and selfless service to the people of North Carolina in keeping with the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall.” Although most remembered for his instrumental work during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Marshall built a foundation of individual rights for all Americans regardless of gender, age and station in life, including prisoners and the homeless.
The 4,000 member North Carolina Advocates for Justice is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association “dedicated to protecting people’s rights through professional and community legal education, championing individual rights, and protecting the safety of North Carolina’s families — in the workplace, in the home, and in the environment.”
Black served as president of the organization (formerly known as the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers) in 2002-2003.

MOORESVILLE — The upcoming Mooresville Sam’s Club plans to hire about 175 workers and encourages veterans to apply.
The store isn’t finished yet, but the welcome center will open with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Tuesday at 168 D Norman Station Boulevard.
Area residents can apply for job openings seven days a week at the welcome center and purchase memberships for the new Sam’s Club, which will be located at 646 River Highway when completed.
Through the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, the company will offer a job to any qualified veteran who has been honorably discharged within the past 12 months. Interested veterans may learn more at http://walmartcareerswithamission.com/.
The store will be looking to fill all types of jobs, including cashiers, receiving, floral, bakery and more. There are openings for both full- and part-time positions, including management positions.

The Small Business and Technology Development Center of the Small Business Administration is holding business development workshops for veterans and service disabled veterans across the state.
They are in: Asheville July 26, Greensboro July 31, Raleigh Aug. 22, Havelock Aug. 29. Greenville Sept. 5, Wilmington Sept. 12 , Hickory Sept. 20.
To learn more or register, visit www.sbtdc.org/business-events

Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com. Include a daytime phone number.