SALISBURY — Ed McMahon, a community development speaker, will be the keynote speaker at the Rowan County Community Forum “Building Successful Communities” on Thursday, March 6, beginning at 8 a.m. at the F&M Trolley Barn (125 E. Liberty St.).
The forum is free but reservations are necessary.
McMahon is an attorney, land use planner and senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C.
The Community Forum is being organized by Gateway Building partners: Rowan County Chamber of Commerce; RowanWORKS Economic Development; Salisbury-Rowan Convention & Visitors Bureau; Downtown Salisbury Inc.; and The Land Trust for Central North Carolina.
Events begin at 8 a.m. with check-in and breakfast. McMahon speaks at 8:30 and concludes the day’s activities at 6 p.m. with “Developing Your Community Vision.”
Participants will be invited to help create a shared vision for Rowan County. All ideas are welcome and the events are open to the public. Contact the Chamber by Tuesday, March 4, at 704-633-4221 or info@rowanchamber.com.
Due to the winter storm, the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 24, and the Women in Business Event scheduled at Salisbury Salon & Spa will be rescheduled at a later date.
Diversified Graphics Inc., 700C. N. Long St., is celebrating 40 years in operation.
After starting in February 1974 as Kopy Kat Instant Printing, the business changed to a general commercial plant in March of 1975 and the name changed to Graphic Impressions.  On Jan. 1, 1990, the company was incorporated as Diversified Graphics Inc. 
The current plant has some of the most modern technology and equipment in North Carolina and is able to offer more than 1,500 various products.
“We want to thank Salisbury and the greater Piedmont for their continued support,” Vice President Diane Goodnight said in a news release.
DGI is a privately held North Carolina corporation offering printing, marketing, design, mailing and advertising services. Contact: www.dgiprint.net.
Southern States is supporting the national FFA organization by selling emblems for $1 from Feb. 19-March 24.
“Funds raised through the sale of the FFA emblem at Southern States stores will support FFA at the local, state and national level and ensure that we’re able to continue to develop students’ leadership, growth and career success potential,” said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation.
You can sign your name or put the name of a child you care about on the emblem to be displayed in the store.
Proceeds are split between the local FFA chapter, the state association and the National FFA Foundation.
Oak Park was presented with a SeniorAdvisor Excellence Award for receiving consistently high ratings from residents and their families in 2013.
SeniorAdvisor.com is a consumer reviews website established by A Place for Mom (APFM), the nation’s largest senior living referral service.
The inaugural SeniorAdvisor Excellence Award identifies the top senior living communities that have received an overall average rating of at least 4.5 stars on the site. The award winners were recognized for having the best customer ratings and reviews out of more than 100,000 senior care providers currently on SeniorAdvisor.com.
“This honor validates that Oak Park is a community where caring hearts and friendly smiles welcome our residents and guest to our home.” said Stan Brading, Oak Park executive director.
?Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com. Include a daytime phone number.