Business Roundup: County commissioners to speak at Chamber breakfast Dec. 18

Published 12:05 am Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s Power in Partnership breakfast will feature the new Rowan County Leadership Dec. 18 at 7:30 a.m. at Trinity Oaks (728 Klumac Road). Wells Fargo Bank is the sponsor.

Speakers will be: Rowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds, Vice Chairman Jim Greene, Commissioner Judy Klusman and Rowan County Manager Aaron Church.

Greg Edds

Greg Edds

The Leadership Rowan Class starts their day at the breakfast and then venture out for each day’s session focused on a different aspect of the community.

The remaining dates for the 2014-15 Power in Partnership series are: Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 19, April 16 and May 21. If you are interested in obtaining a Power Card, please make your reservation by Dec. 16. The Power Card is the Rowan Chamber’s frequent attender program. You receive a discounted price for the series and do not have to make a reservation each month.

Please join us for this upcoming breakfast. If you are not a Power Card holder, individual reservations are welcome; however, the reservation deadline is Dec. 16 by 5 p.m. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. The price includes the cost of breakfast and the program. Contact the Chamber at 704.633.4221 or info@rowanchamber.com.

Salisbury Emporium welcomes 3 new shops

Three new shops have opened in the Salisbury Emporium, owners Mickey and Betty Black say.

Kim Gorman and Robin Starnes have opened ”Love, Faith, and Southern Grace” just inside the main entrance to display and sell their creative designs. The two good friends carry their own handmade crafts, hair bows, and jewelry, as well as seasonal decorations and home décor. Mixed in with their designs are vintage items gathered from estate sales around Salisbury.

“Sophie’s Stuff” has just been started in the downstairs gallery. Friends Kathy Zala and Jackie Smith from the Cleveland area have stocked the shop with furniture, wall hangings and other home décor. They plan to carry antiques and vintage items, as well as a good selection of seasonal decorations. A camelback loveseat and mahogany coffee table are surrounded with unusual Christmas ornaments in the shop today.

Younger shoppers looking for the mid-century and industrial styles will be pleased with the offerings in “Fellowship.” Reid Walters and Lauren Raper of Spencer, both teachers in the Rowan-Salisbury School System, have just brought in an avocado green love seat and chair with built-in ash trays, all the rage of 1960. An aluminum Christmas tree with colored pom-poms currently decorates their shop for the Christmas season.

The Salisbury Emporium is located at 230 E. Kerr St., and is open seven days a week throughout the Christmas season.

Decker leaving post as commerce secretary

Sharon Decker is stepping down from her post as the state’s commerce secretary, she announced Tuesday. According to the Charlotte Observer, Decker will become president at NURAY Media, which is based in Bluffton, S.C., south of Charleston along the coast. The company’s mission is to preserve and restore classic films and television.

Decker, who lives in Rutherford County, was appointed secretary of commerce in January 2013 by Gov. Pat McCrory and helped form the Commerce Department’s new public-private partnership that will spearhead job recruitment for the state.

Decker, like McCrory, is a former Duke Energy executive. In October she spoke at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury during the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast meeting.

John Skvarla, head of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has been chosen to replace Decker.

New shops open in Salisbury emporium

Three new shops have opened in the Salisbury Emporium according to owners Mickey and Betty Black.

Kim Gorman and Robin Starnes have opened Love, Faith, and Southern Grace just inside the main entrance to display and sell their creative designs.  The two good friends carry their own handmade crafts, hair bows, and jewelry; as well as seasonal decorations and home décor.  Mixed in with their designs are vintage items gathered from estate sales around Salisbury.

Sophie’s Stuff has arrived in the downstairs gallery. Friends Kathy Zala and Jackie Smith from the Cleveland area have stocked the shop with furniture, wall hangings and other home décor. They plan to carry antiques and vintage items as well as a good selection of seasonal decorations.  A camelback loveseat and mahogany coffee table are surrounded with unusual Christmas ornaments in the shop today.
Younger shoppers looking for the mid-century and industrial styles will be pleased with the offerings in Fellowship. Reid Walters and Lauren Raper of Spencer, both teachers in the Rowan-Salisbury School System, have just brought in an avocado green love seat and chair with built-in ash trays, all the rage of 1960.  An aluminum Christmas tree with colored pom-poms currently decorates their shop for the Christmas season.
 The Salisbury Emporium is located at 230 E. Kerr St. and is open seven days a week through the Christmas season.

Young earns photography certification 

Salisbury native and Catawba Valley Community College Photographic Technology Instructor Clayton Joe Young has earned the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation from Professional Photographers of America.

Professional Photographers of America currently recognizes less than 2,000 Certified Professional Photographers.

Joe Young

Joe Young

Certified Professional Photographers must complete a written examination, an image evaluation, and adhere to a stringent code of conduct. Certification must be renewed on a periodic basis.

A 2014 Community Supported Artist through the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte., Young has won numerous photography awards, including 2014 first place Downtown USA Category Autumn Photography Exhibition at the Burke County Arts Council, 2011 Best in Show Appalachian Mountain Photography Exhibit, 2007 first place Catawba Valley Camera Club Professional Division, and numerous press awards.

His solo gallery shows, N.C. Mountain Folk: Watauga and Surrounding Counties, Country Roads, and Celebration of Heritage: The Face and Voice of Latinos in the Catawba Valley, have been exhibited throughout the state.

He has won numerous grants and fellowships, including the 2010 Martin Luther King Spark Grant, 2009 Regional Artist Project Grant and 2009 Community Folklife Documentary Institute Grant.

Young earned a master’s degree in digital photography at Savannah College of Art and Design and a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology/technical photography at Appalachian State University where he graduated with honors. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems/production operations management at Appalachian State University and an associate degree at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. Young is currently a MFA photography candidate at the Savannah College of Art and Design and plans to graduate May 2015.

Santa coming to Southern States

Jolly ol’ Saint Nick will be at the Southern States Cooperative in Salisbury on Saturday, Dec. 13, to visit with children.

Children are invited to come to the store at 1710 Jake Alexander Boulevard West and share their Christmas wish list with Santa and have their picture taken at no charge.

“We are decked out for the holidays and look forward to sharing the holiday spirit with folks in the community,” said Anne Clingenpeel, vice president of retail operations.

Each pre-registered child that visits with Santa will receive a special holiday gift as well as a coloring book and crayons.

Register children at: www.southernstates.com/workshops.