News and Updates

Holy Angels representatives in front of the giant gumball machine at the Cotton Candy Factory. From the left, are Dennis Kuhn, Sherry Collins, Sr. Nancy Nance, Shannon Childress, Sarah, Erin Johnson, Laurie Lewis and Chamber President Ted Hall. On the second row, are Erin Shepard, Patty Manger, Anne Bogen and Ben Dungan.

Businesses provide residents vocational opportunities

All three Holy Angels businesses on Main Street in Belmont were open to Chamber members and friends during Network After Work on Thursday, May 10, 2018. A threatening storm forced the event indoors after tents and tables already were in place on the Cherubs event lawn beside to the Cotton Candy Factory. But the last-minute change had no impact on the fun, fellowship and great food at the event.

Cherubs Cafe has been open more than 20 years, and the Cotton Candy Factory opened in 2017. Bliss Gallery is the newest of the three. The mission of Bliss Gallery is to offer persons with intellectual developmental disabilities the opportunity to enhance their vocational skills, develop their creative abilities and showcase their art alongside the works of local artists.

All three enterprises, plus the Cramerton Market and Cherubs Candy Bouquets in Cramerton, are operated to provide vocational opportunities for Holy Angels residents.

Network After Work receptions are scheduled at least once each month at a member location. They are free to attend, and non-members interested in the Chamber or in the host business or organization are welcome. Check the Chamber events calendar for for the date and location of the next Network After Work.

Chapter President Phil Champion leads the cheer after cutting a ribbon at the launch for a new BNI chapter in Belmont.

New BNI referral group formed in Belmont

The Belmont Business Builders chapter of the world-wide Business Networking International (BNI) organization launched on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Rivermen Brewing in Belmont. BNI chapters are closed referral groups, with one representative member from each business category. Phil Champion of State Farm Insurance in Belmont is the chapter president. The local chapter formed with more than 25 members, and a crowd of more than 80 attending the launch meeting and Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony. The Belmont group will meet weekly on Thursdays at 8 a.m. BNI has about 3,500 chapters around the world. For more information call (704) 461-8944.

See more photos on Facebook

Chris Shaw is cutting the ribbon with his wife Julie and sons Thomas and Bryan. Also representing CJS Wealth Management, from left, are Jim Moseley, Judy Capps and Christopher Dickerson, with Montcross Area Chamber President Ted Hall, and holding the ribbon (left) Sarah Vingoe of A. McIntyre Law and Melissa Smith of Clearbrook Advisory Services. 

Owner Chris Shaw cuts ribbon at reception

Owner Chris Shaw celebrated the opening of CJS Wealth Management in downtown Belmont with a reception and Chamber ribbon cutting on April 17, 2018. CJS Wealth Management is located in the Stowe Building at 100 N. Main Street, Belmont. CJS Wealth Management has been serving clients’ retirement and wealth management needs since 2010. “Building and maintaining strong client relationships is what our organization prides itself on,” Chris said. “And that mission continues to be at the center of who we are as a company.” For more on CJS Wealth Management  call 704.413.4073, or visit www.cjswealthmanagement.com. 

See more photos on Facebook

The Lunch & Learn crowd overflowed the private meeting room and was moved to the main Rivermen dining area. When Guy Flemming talks networking, he gets really into his subject, as you can tell from the photo below.

Networking guru Guy Flemming presented the program

The opportunity to learn tips to improve networking skills brought a large group of Chamber members and friends to a Lunch & Learn event on April 17, 2018, at Rivermen Brewing in Belmont. Guy Flemming of Dignity Memorial, who is well known here for his professional approach to networking, presented the program. Lunch & Learn is a new Chamber monthly program coordinated by Dodie Huffman of Image Source. Watch the Chamber event calendar at www.MontcrossAreaChamber.com for details on the location and program for the next Lunch & Learn.

 See more photos on Facebook

McLean representatives Burt Philips and Ann Davis (left) with builders, including Doug McSpadden of McSpadden Custom Homes (center) and Chamber representatives (right) President Ted Hall and Board Chair Carey Roberts of Carey Roberts Design.  

McLean features 3 distinct neighborhoods and about 850 homes  

The lure of a gorgeous spring evening and the poolside setting at the spectacular McLean South Shore Residents’ Club overlooking Lake Wylie drew more than a hundred Chamber members and friends to the Network After Work reception hosted by McLean on Lake Wylie on April 12, 2018. 

McLean is taking shape along five miles of Lake Wylie shoreline in southern Belmont and will total more than 850 homes in three neighborhoods: South Shore, The Conservancy and Overlake. Of the 670 total acres in McLean, more than 100 acres have been reserved for public parks, community ponds, residents’ clubs and walking trails.

McLean representative Burt Philips provided an update on recent progress in all three neighborhoods and introduced the McLean sales team as well as several of the builders including Doug McSpadden of Chamber member McSpadden Custom Homes. Catering for the event was provided by Chamber member The String Bean.

Networking After Work takes place at least once each month at a member location to provide opportunities to make business connections and to learn about fellow member businesses. 

For more information on McLean, call 980.949.0723, or visit www.discovermclean.com. 

Holy Angels CEO Regina Moody (right) and art teacher Jeaniene Dibble help Holy Angels resident Cheryl, whose art is exhibited in Bliss Gallery, cut the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony.   

Gallery another vocational outreach of Holy Angels 

A big crowd of Chamber members and other Holy Angels supporters were on hand to help celebrate the opening of Bliss Gallery in downtown Belmont with a Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 12, 2018. The gallery, which is at 25 N. Main Street, is affiliated with Holy Angels, and its mission is to offer persons with intellectual developmental disabilities the opportunity to enhance their vocational skills, develop their creative abilities and showcase their art alongside the works of local artists. The gallery is next door to Cherubs Café in the space formerly occupied by Cherubs Candy Bouquets. The candy bouquets still are available at Cherubs Café and Bliss Gallery, but are being made now at Cherubs Market in Cramerton. The gallery will feature the art of Holy Angels residents and other local and regional artists. For more information on Bliss Gallery, call 704.280.9475.