Salisbury Medicine Shoppe’s Teresa Casmus wins 2017 Operational Excellence Award

The Salisbury Medicine Shoppe’s pharmacist manager, Teresa Casmus, received the Operational Excellence Award for exceptional leadership and service.

Casmus was competing with pharmacists from approximately 600 other Medicine Shoppe franchises for the award.

In order to win the award, a consultant had to interview Casmus and submit an application and recommendation on her behalf.

“There’s so much negativity about health care,” Casmus said. “People are always saying that medicines are so expensive. And I know that, but there’s a lot of good, too. So, I say, let’s be the bright candle in the darkness.”

Casmus said that, in order to keep her staff energized and up-to-date on the newest trends, she sends them to pharmaceutical conferences around the country.

“When we all go to these conferences, the goal is you need to attend three (certificate) classes, get at least one new item that we can bring back and one good idea that we can use at our pharmacy,” Casmus said. “I call it the 1-1-3.”

One of those conferences, which took place in San Antonio, was the one at which Casmus’ award was presented.

Unfortunately, Casmus had scheduled one of her pharmacists, Emily Dishman, to attend that conference before Casmus knew that she had won the award.

Because of that, Dishman accepted the award on Casmus’ behalf.

As a part of the award, Casmus received $1,000 to donate to the charity of her choice. Casmus is donating it to Rowan Helping Ministries.

The Salisbury franchise of The Medicine Shoppe was opened in 1981 by Casmus’ father, Tom Moore. In honor of her father — who is still technically the owner, though he is retired — Casmus had the award made out to both her and Moore.

The Medicine Shoppe is located at 1357 W. Innes St. in Salisbury.

Rowan Chamber Campaign “Rowan Originals” kick-off at Trinity Oaks BAH mixer 

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce will kick off its 2017 “Rowan Originals” Campaign on Aug. 14 from 5 – 7 p.m. in conjunction with the “Business After Hours,” or BAH, mixer at Trinity Oaks, which is located at 728 Klumac Rd.

The theme of the campaign is “Rowan Originals” to tie in with the new Rowan Brand: “Be An Original!” Team captains will be dressed as their favorite Rowan County original from history, like Daniel Boone, Andrew Jackson and Sidney Blackmer.

Chamber members are encouraged to come in costume to represent their business or industry “Rowan Originals.”

Janet Spriggs of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is the chair-elect and campaign chair. Spriggs has selected the following people to be team captains: Sherry Boyd of Carolinas HealthCare System NorthEast; Shawn Edman of Novant Health Rowan Medical Center; Donna Groce of Trinity Oaks; Dr. Orlando Lewis of Livingstone College; Natasha Lipscomb of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College; Tim Norris of Healthcare Management Consultants; and Daniel Matangira of Matangira Recycling.

After the kick-off, all campaign volunteers will participate in sales training sessions to learn about the new tiered benefits plan for 2018. The sales training sessions are Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. or August 16 at 9 a.m. Both sessions will be held at the Gateway Building, which is located at 204 E. Innes St.

The campaign will run through Sept. 15, with prizes being awarded at the Chamber’s Sept. 18 board meeting. The goals are as follows: 50 new members; 90 percent retention of first year renewals; 10 percent Tiered Benefit Members for 2018 investments; and $5,000 in non-dues revenue.

Each team captain has recruited 10 team members to assist them. Prizes will be awarded for all the volunteers participating. The top producer will win a vacation package valued at over $2,500. In addition, there are some special perks for all new members who join during the campaign.

The Rowan Chamber’s mixer and campaign kick-off is free and open to members, as well as interested businesspeople who are thinking about joining the Chamber. However, reservations are required by Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. You can make reservations at 704-633-4221 or at info@rowanchamber.com.

2017-18 Rowan Chamber Power in Partnership speaker series begins September

Dr. Lynn Moody, superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Schools, will give a speech titled “Powerful Changes and Local Control” to the kick-off the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s 2017-18 Power in Partnership season. Moody will speak Sept. 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Trinity Oaks, located at 728 Klumac Road.

There will be eight more Power in Partnership talks during the season. The topics and dates for those talks are as follows: entrepreneurial development will be discussed Oct. 19; Dr. Steve Zeisel of the UNC Research Campus will speak Nov. 16; an inspirational speaker will give a talk Dec. 14; economic outlook will be discussed Jan. 18; an arts speaker will talk Feb. 15; agri-business will be discussed March 15; health care will be discussed April 19; and, on May 17, the the Rowan Chamber will have its leadership graduation.

The Chamber’s breakfast series averaged more than 150 attendees each month during its last four seasons.

The purpose of the 2017-18 series is to bring top-notch speakers to the community and to provide high-level networking opportunities, according to a news release.

Sponsors will have the exclusive marketing rights to the banquet room and will provide a five-minute sponsor profile on their company. Partner agencies will share updates with the local business leaders and address issues of concern for the entire region.

The program will begin at 7:30 a.m., but attendees can come as early as 7:15 a.m. for coffee and breakfast. The event will conclude at 8:30 a.m.

If you are interested in obtaining a Power Card, make your reservation by Sept. 19. The Power Card is the Rowan Chamber’s frequent attender program. Cardholders receive a discounted price for the series and do not have to make a reservation each month. The cost is $96 for members; $225 for non-members.

If you are not a Power Card holder, individual reservations are welcome; however, the reservation deadline is Tues., Sept. 19 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 for information on reservations or sponsorship opportunities at 704-633-4221 or at info@rowanchamber.com.