NCCBI News

Legislative Conference Coming Up on Feb. 4

The business community will get a chance to size up the new political landscape in Raleigh during NCCBI’s Legislative Conference on Feb. 4. The event will be held at the McKimmon Center on the campus of N.C. State University, beginning with a luncheon at noon and ending with a reception at the Capital City Club from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. NCCBI urges you to reserve the date on your calendar and attend the event if your schedule permits.

The agenda is still being finalized, and we will send you information as more details are confirmed. Primarily we will hear from representatives from the Senate and House leadership, including the majority and minority parties in each chamber. Other speakers include Jim Johnson, director of the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division; Dan Gerlach, senior fiscal advisor to Gov. Mike Easley; Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain and Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry. We will also hear reports from NCCBI’s committee chairs who will share information on public policy positions proposed by NCCBI’s seven policy committees.

One change in the schedule for this year’s Legislative Conference is that all the events will be held in one day. Before, the reception was held the night before, with the conference beginning at breakfast the next day and wrapping up after lunch. This year the event begins with a luncheon, with the program in the afternoon. The day ends with the reception, which will honor members of the General Assembly, the Council of State, the Governor’s cabinet, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

Cost for this year’s conference will be the same as last year: $100 for NCCBI members and $120 for non-members. We urge you to come and encourage others in your organization to participate.  For the first time, this year we are offering a discount when five or more people from a company or organization register as a group.  The cost for groups of five or more will be $75.00 per person. Please watch your mail for registration materials. You also will be able to register through NCCBI’s web site.

Asheville Membership Event: About 55 people attended the NCCBI membership recruitment/retention reception on Nov. 13 at the Inn on Biltmore on the Biltmore Estate. Sponsored by Progress Energy, the reception was hosted by Craig DeBrew, Vernon Dover, Rick Lutovsky, Sen. Steve Metcalf, Steve Miller, Gordon Myers, David Phillips, Rep. Wilma Sherrill, Nancy Thompson and Fred West. Giving testimonials on behalf of NCCBI were Miller, a member of NCCBI’s executive committee and board; and Myers, a past chair.

Corso Thanks NCCBI: Pat Corso, executive with the Pinehurst Resort, lavished praise on NCCBI for sticking up for its members in a plea for prospects attending a reception last month at The Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. Sponsored by Progress Energy, the reception attracted approximately 40 current members and prospects from Moore, Lee, Montgomery, and Richmond counties. Corso specifically lauded NCCBI’s support for the state’s growing travel and tourism industry. NCCBI President Phil Kirk encouraged the prospects to join and the members to become more active and involved in the organization. Hosts were Pat Corso, Gov. James Holshouser, former Lt. Govs. Bob Jordan and Dennis Wicker, Progress Energy, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, and the Laurinburg/Scotland, Montgomery, Richmond, Sandhills, and Lee County area chambers of commerce. Emerson Gower of Progress Energy presided during the brief program and introduced Corso. Rosemary Wyche, vice president of development, also participated.

New Members: Companies that joined or rejoined NCCBI recently, along with the name of the key executive at each company, include: Accurium Inc., Paul Barringer, Raleigh; Ads Infinitum Inc., Jan Powell, Raleigh; Black Pages USA, Gerry McCants, Wilmington; Boney Architects Inc., Katherine N. Peele, Raleigh; Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Michael A. Wagoner, Boone; Brier Creek Country Club, Jim Van Buren, Raleigh; Brooks Stevens & Pope, PA, Daniel C. Pope Jr., Cary; Caldwell Memorial Hospital, Frederick L. Soule, Lenoir; Carolinas Commercial Realty, Bill Chambless, Shelby; Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, Mark Brazil, Greensboro; Clark Environmental Services, Paul Clark, Wilmington; Collins & Galyon General Contracting, Tony Collins, Greensboro; Eckard Vending Co., Bruce Eckard, Conover; Eisai Inc., Daniel Povia, RTP; Erickson Public Relations, Debbie Erickson, Wilmington; Falkenbury Family LLC, John Falkenbury, Concord; Flad & Associates, K. C. Ramsay, Raleigh; Freeway Foods T/A Waffle House, Gary Fly, Greensboro; J. J. Haines & Co. Inc.,  Lee Marston, Glen Burnie; Magnolia Construction LLC, John Kelley, Winston-Salem; Metrostat Technologies Inc., Robin Metz Kevlin, Sylva; Radisson Hotel High Point, Lorie Crater, High Point; Saint Augustine’s College, Dr. Dianne B. Suber, Raleigh; Southeastern Sureties Group Inc.,  Tom Apodaca, Hendersonville; TriSure Corp., Linda Folger, Cary; Village Green Related Cos., Dr. Franklin S. Clark, Fayetteville.

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