NCCBI News

Run a Few Laps with the King
Business leaders often get the opportunity to have their picture taken with the governor, a university president or some other famous person. But NCCBI directors, members and prospects from Cabarrus and Stanley counties will have  the photo-op of a lifetime — an opportunity to pose with NASCAR legend Richard Petty and even take  a lap around Lowe’s Motor Speedway. How would that photo look on your office wall?

Petty, winner of more than 100 checkered flags, will greet NCCBI members and prospects during a reception at the speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The reception will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Members and the prospective member(s) they bring to the reception will be entitled to a complimentary photo with The King and an opportunity to take a lap around the racetrack. 

The membership event is a concrete example of the strong ties that are developing between North Carolina’s business community and NASCAR, which has grown to become a major industry in the state. A 1996 study by the Department of Commerce found that the motorsports industry contributed $392 million to the state’s economy and employed more than 4,000 people. By 2003 that economic impact figure had climbed to over $1.5 billion and more than 10,000 jobs, Commerce said.

North Carolina hosts five NASCAR races each year and is considered the home of the sport. More NASCAR teams are based in North Carolina than in any other state. The first NASCAR race was held at the Charlotte Speedway on June 19, 1949.


Membership Campaign Captains: NCCBI asks all members to give a cheer for six people who have volunteered to serve as membership campaign captains. This year’s drive is under the direction of Second Vice Chair Steve Miller of the Biltmore Co. The team he’s lined up includes: Ken Reece of Bank of America; Nelle Hotchkiss  of N.C. Association of Electric Cooperatives; Jerry O’Keeffe of PSNC; Dale Hewitt of Piedmont Natural Gas Co.; Bill Sudyk of SouthTrust Bank; and Brenda Dougherty of Sprint.The membership campaign leaders will head up recruitment efforts in their companies and call on prospects. They also will assist Rosemary Wyche, NCCBI’s vice president of development, in planning membership events in their areas. NCCBI is a volunteer-led organization, and it’s individuals like these who keep us moving forward. Thanks!


Young Executives Meet: NCCBI’s Young Executives Forum held one of its best meetings ever on Friday, June 27, at the Pine Needles Reception Center in Southern Pines. Bill Coley, retired President of Duke Power, told the group that while it is important to have aptitude for a job, it is more important to have “heart” when dealing with life situations. His eloquent speech was featured in the “Lessons from a Leader” segment of the program and was a highlight of the day. Mary Clara Capel, NCCBI board member and administrative director of Capel Inc., Caleb Miles of the area CVB, and Katie Morris of the N.C. Pottery Center were on a panel discussing various aspects of the diversified Sandhills economy. The grand finale was a discussion by Pat McGowan, director of instruction at Pine Needles, and the renowned and beloved Peggy Kirk Bell, owner of the resort. They discussed the growth of golf as a business and how the sport has changed over the years. The duo blended humor with practical information about the game, and Bell (fresh from giving a morning lesson) even obliged with a few free tips for better golfing techniques. The next meeting of the Young Executives Forum will be held Friday, Sept. 5, in Charlotte. For more information about joining the Forum, contact Julie Woodson, NCCBI director of governmental affairs, at 919-836-1402 or jwoodson@nccbi.org.


Support Child ID Kits: According to a U.S. Department of Justice study, about 58,200 children are abducted each year by non-family members, with about 45 percent of those incidents being perpetrated by strangers. This startling statistic caused the American Football Coaches Association to launch the National Child Identification Program. The FBI has partnered with the Coaches Association in this non-for-profit program with the goal of providing inkless fingerprint identification kits for all 60 million children in the United States. The coaches association consists of NFL, NCAA, and high school coaches nationwide. Among the members known in this area are Chuck Amato of N.C. State University, Lou Holtz of the University of South Carolina, and Carl Franks of Duke.

When the program began, fewer than two percent of parents had a copy of their children’s fingerprints to provide to law enforcement agencies in case of emergency. In the past six years, more than 13 million ID kits have been distributed at football stadiums, schools and churches across the country. The inkless fingerprint ID kit allows parents to fingerprint their children in the privacy of their homes and provides sections for pictures and medical and physical information. The completed kit is kept by the parents or guardians and can be immediately provided to law enforcement if needed to help locate a missing child.

NCCBI is supporting the nationwide effort. “There are at least two ways North Carolina businesses can get involved,” President Phil Kirk said. “Individual businesses can obtain ID kits for their employees, customers, local schools, or churches in increments of 100 kits per order. Or local chambers of commerce can join with local schools by sponsoring ID kit distributions in their communities, coordinating efforts with local law enforcement officials and school officials.” This project is actively supported by the National Association of School Administrators to provide the I D kit distribution through the school districts. For more information on this program, call (2l4) 630-2245, visit the website at www.childidprogram.com or e-mail info@childidprogram.com.


Return to magazine index