Atrium Health welcomes Vicki Block as Central Division president

CHARLOTTE — Atrium Health announced Wednesday that Vicki Block will join the organization as senior vice president, Central Division, leading facility operations at Carolinas Medical Center, Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy and Levine Children’s Hospital. Block will officially join Atrium Health on April 1.

Block previously served as chief operating officer at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to that, Block was an executive at WakeMed Health, responsible for operational, financial and strategic performance.

Early in her career, Block served as director of the heart center at Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy, where she chaired the Cardiac Services Committee, leading improvements in continuity of care and operational efficiency between the cardiac catheterization lab, emergency room, operating room and nursing units.

“We are very pleased to welcome Vicki back to the Atrium Health family,” said Ken D. Haynes, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Atrium Health. “Vicki is an excellent strategic and operational leader with proven success leading high-performing teams. And not only is she an exceptional administrator, she is also a dedicated and active member of the communities where she serves.”

“I could not be more thrilled to be returning home to Atrium Health to lead the Central Division,” said Block. “Carolinas Medical Center, Levine Children’s Hospital and Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy are medical bedrocks in the Charlotte community, and I look forward to working side-by-side with the teams here to continue fulfilling Atrium Health’s mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing — for all.”

Leadership Rowan taking applications for next class

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it is now taking applications for the 2019-20 Leadership Rowan Class. For 26 years, the Leadership Rowan program has helped area leaders learn local issues while becoming well-networked and passionate about the success of the area.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our Rowan County area residents to learn in depth information about our county and to have a look ‘behind the curtain,’ if you will,” said Bob Cartner of Chandler Concrete, Steering Committee chairman with the chamber. “We are extremely proud of the history and success of Leadership Rowan with over 525 graduates of the program.”

Leadership Rowan is a transformational experience for both the participants and the organizations they serve. Class members commit one day a month to exploring the community and discovering what makes it distinctive, including government, education, business, human needs and the arts. Throughout the nine-month program, participants go on exclusive tours and have hands-on experiences, all with area leaders who take on our community’s biggest challenges every day. Armed with new knowledge, connections and perspective, Leadership Rowan graduates are prepared to take their places as effective community leaders.

Many leaders from all fields apply each year for the nine-month experience. Only 30 are selected to build a class representative of the community. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 24. The class will begin in August and conclude in May 2020. Complete program and application details are available at https://www.rowanchamber.com/leadership-rowan/

For additional information, contact Mary Scott Norris at the Rowan Chamber at 704-633-4221 or msnorris@rowanchamber.com

Rowan Arts & Ag returns for 2019

Rowan County Arts & Ag returns with spring with opportunities to experience and learn about local farms and find working artists exhibiting their talents. Upcoming events include:

• Tractors & Trains Festival – April 5 and 6

The North Carolina Transportation Museum will host modern tractors, antique farm equipment, farm life demonstrations, kid’s activities, live music, hayrides and more.

• NC Beer Month Celebrations – April 13

To celebrate North Carolina Beer Month, New Sarum Brewing Company will host its third AnniBEERsary party and Morgan Ridge Railwalk Brewery and Eatery will hold their Parking Lot Party.

• Salisbury/Rowan Farmers’ Market Saturdays – beginning April 13

The Salisbury/Rowan Farmers’ Market features a wide variety of products from fruits, vegetables, local meat, eggs, flowers and baked goods. There will also be live music, kid activities and food demonstrations every week.

• Lee Street theatre presents “Blood Done Sign My Name” — April 18-20 and 25-27

Mike Wiley brings to life the recollections of author Tim Tyson surrounding the 1970 murder of Henry “Dickie” Marrow in Oxford, N.C., and the events that followed.

• Century Farms and Barns Bus Tour — April 27

Explore the agricultural history of western Rowan County and Mount Ulla with a bus tour. Stops on the route include barn quilts, historic homes, barns, and farm dependencies that make up the rich history of this area.

• Waterworks “Unity Through Art” Exhibition through May 17

“Unity through Art” features works by artists who identify as Latino or Hispanic. Artists were invited to submit their cultural narrative using a material and style reflective of their own personal work that amplifies our culturally rich communities and how their contributions add value to our region of the globe.

City Manager Mike Legg honored as a Most Admired CEO in Charlotte region

KANNAPOLIS — Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg was one of 35 CEOs honored by the Charlotte Business Journal during a ceremony held at the Westin in Charlotte. The Most Admired CEOs of the Charlotte region included leaders from the fields of education, healthcare, manufacturing, sports, entertainment and tourism, banking, real estate, marketing, and technology.

Legg was recognized for his contributions to ensure the financial health of Kannapolis, for creating a great work culture for employees and his contributions to the community.

He has ensured the city’s financial success utilizing a strategic approach to all funding mechanisms available to local governments: cost controls, capital improvement budgeting, general fund budgeting, leveraging bonds and other loan products. Under his leadership, Kannapolis has survived the closure of one of the world’s largest companies, the layoff of 4,000 employees, the recession and stagnant revenues.

“Mike doesn’t say ‘we cannot do this’ or ‘governments don’t do this.’ Instead, he focuses on exploring all avenues for success and the question is ‘how we can make this happen?’ He is very good at leveraging the right people at the right time to make good things happen for Kannapolis,” said Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant.