News and Updates

Photos By Bill Ward Photography

Montcross Area Chamber officers for this year are: From left, Treasurer Wil Neumann of Gaston Capital Partners, Board Chair Heath Jenkins of the Town of Stanley, Past Chair Shannon Thomas of Creative Solutions Special Events and Secretary Nicole Flowers of Wilbert Plastic Services. Chair-Elect Gordon Quarles of Blue Harbor Bank was unable to attend.  

New record high in membership of 538 announced

Stanley Town Manager Heath Jenkins was elected to lead the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for the next year during the Chamber's 60th Annual Celebration and General Membership Meeting on Jan. 23, 2020, in the Mount Holly Grand Hall. A full house of more than 275 attended the gala, for which the presenting sponsor was CaroMont Health.

Outgoing Board Chair Shannon Thomas announced a new record high membership level of 538 for the Chamber during her 2019 in review comments.

Other officers elected were: Chair-elect Gordon Quarles of Blue Harbor Bank, Treasurer Wil Neumann of Gaston Capital Partners, Secretary Nicole Flowers of Wilbert Plastic Services; and Past-Chair Shannon Thomas of Creative Solutions Special Events.  

Guests enjoyed a reception sponsored by H&M Catering and a Silent Auction sponsored by Wilbert Plastic Services before a dinner served by Jim 'N Nicks Catering. ATG Entertainment was the sound and video sponsor. 

Awards presented during the program included: EPIC Award to Chronicle Millworks, sponsored by Duke Energy; Harley B. Gaston, Jr. Public Service Award to Larry Capps, president of Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards (PAWS), sponsored by Creative Solutions Special Events; and Business of the Year Award to Chick-fil-A Belmont, sponsored by South State Bank. 

Also elected to their first term of service on the Chamber Board were: 

• Emily Wilson of Atrium Health
• Todd Garrett of Holy Angels
• John Robinson of Wellzesta
• Heather Woodson of Gaston College
• Andrea Sipka of Schooley Mitchell
• Paige Mixson of BB&T Bank
• Lindsay Lockett of Gaston Christian School
• Andy Mercer of Finial Homes
• Chris Etherton of Gaston Printing & Signs
• Karen Kleiner of Anatonywise

     Click for complete list of Board members

Click these links to read comments made at the celebration by:

Health Jenkins

Shannon Thomas    

New Board Chair Heath Jenkins accepts gavel presented by 2019 Board Chair Shannon Thomas.

Some of those attending are in the photo. From the left, on the front row, are Sandy Barnett, Stephanie Rauch, Norma Culbreth, Ashley Martin, Svetlana Rjicova and Larry Nordlinger. On the back row, from left, are Donna Jackson, Denise Price Thomas, Chadwell Smith, Floyd Bailey, Jr., and Carrie Tanner of Cinnaholic.

Estia's Kouzina in Belmont hosted Lunch & Learn group 

Larry Nordlinger of the Nordlinger Agency and Symmetry Group provided information on a plan to become debt free in nine years at the January Chamber Lunch & Learn at Estia’s Kouzina in Belmont.

Those attending also received access to an online planning tool and important information organizing system. For more information on the Nordlinger Agency, call 864.553.1310, or visit www.nordlingeragency.com.

Departing Board members thanked for their service

Chamber Board Chair Shannon Thomas (center in photo) hosted the 2019 Board of Directors for breakfast on Jan. 14, 2020, at the Creative Solutions Special Events Showroom in downtown Belmont. It was the last meeting for several members who have completed their terms. New members will be elected and installed at the 60th Annual Celebration on January 23.

Please join us in thanking departing Board members who have given generously of their time in voluntary service to the Chamber. They are, from left, Katy Windell of McLean Funeral Directors, Clif Calvert of McKenney Family Dealerships, Bill Ingram of Home Trust Bank, Robert Aldrich of Aldrich CFO Services, Paul Lowrance of McKenney Business Services, Melia Lyerly of Lyerly Agency, Robert Larrison of Atrium Health and Regina Moody of Holy Angels. Not present for the photo were outgoing Board members Jonathan Yandle of BB&T Bank and Chris Kennedy of Kennedy Business Solutions.

Stanton Enterprise President Jeff Stanton cuts the ribbon, with his parents Ann and Greg Stanton, Mount Holly Mayor Bryan Hough, and members of the local management team.

Grand opening draws crowd for 52 weeks of free breakfast biscuits

Stanton Enterprise opened the new ultra-modern Mount Holly McDonald’s on schedule on Dec. 18, 2019, overcoming rain delays with a lot of extra work by staff members and contractors, who were attending to last-minute details right up until the first customers arrived. 

An early morning ribbon cutting ceremony, conducted jointly by the Montcross Area Chamber and Gaston Regional Chamber, preceded a 10 a.m. grand opening at which customers lined up to claim a limited number of offers for a breakfast biscuit weekly for a year. 

The former Mount Holly McDonald’s building was demolished three months ago clearing the way for construction on the same site of the new restaurant featuring the latest in design and technology for McDonald’s.  

Among the new features are a bright, open dining area with murals, ordering kiosks and table service for customers. A double-lane will speed up drive-through service. There’s a new Play Place for children, and gleaming new equipment featuring the latest technology in the food preparation area. 

Stanton Enterprise President Jeff Stanton thanked customers, staff members, Mount Holly city officials and contractors for their support. Mount Holly Mayor Bryan Hough complimented everyone involved for building the new the McDonald’s so quickly and so well. Members of the Stuart Cramer High School Band played the National Anthem as Mount Holly firemen raised the flag in front of the restaurant. 

Stanton Enterprise, which is headquartered in Mount Holly, also owns McDonald’s in Belmont and Mountain Island.  

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Members of the Stuart Cramer High School Band participated  in the grand opening.

Line for a breakfast biscuit for 52 weeks stretched into parking lot on grand opening day. 

Heather and Walter Burks are cutting the ribbon with Heather's parents Larry and Joy Garland, Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin and some of the Chamber members attending the event. Holding the ribbon are Chamber Board Past Chair Carey Roberts of Carey Roberts Design and Belmont Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Hefferan. 

Let Heather and Walter Burks manage your social media and more

Heather and Walter Burks of GarlandBurks Marketing celebrated their ribbon cutting in the lobby of the Chamber office in Belmont on Dec. 16, 2019, with clients, friends, family, Belmont city officials, and fellow members of the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce.

Heather and Walter are professional photographers with more than 12 years of experience, and their business encompasses a broad range of branding and marketing services for clients, including managing social media, designing graphics, creating content, managing ads and much more.

With the Burks cutting the ribbon, are Heather’s parents Larry and Joy Garland, Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin and, holding the ribbon, Belmont Major Pro-Tem Jim Hefferan. Representing the Chamber and holding the ribbon on the left is Past Board Chair Carey Roberts of Carey Roberts Design.

More on GarlandBurks Marketing at 704.678.9910 or www.garlandburks.com.   

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