ilsept14web

IREDELL LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2014 1

ComplimentarySeptem

ber 2014

Living the Good Life

The Jewel of Downtown Mooresville

2 IREDELL LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2014

September 2014

Iredell Living the Good Life


LIVNG

I from the publisher

Myron T. GoughPublisher, Iredell Living

Welcome to the September issue. Summer is slowly winding down, and with the arrival of September we usually get cooler weather and lower humidity...the perfect time to attend outdoor events and fall festivals! Be sure to check a calendar of events in your area to find out what is happening in this busy month.

We are so fortunate here in North Carolina to be blessed with four distinct seasons, with each one offering something beautiful and unique. Fall provides yet another opportunity to see Mother Nature's awesome beauty in the changing of the leaves.

The new school year can be challenging in the beginning, but hopefully the first few weeks have gone smoothly for your family and you have settled into a routine. After summer vacation, I'm sure the hardest part was getting students to bed on time and up the next morning. Here's hoping for a successful year with all A's for students and a stress-free time for teachers and parents.

Thank you for reading the September issue of Iredell Living Magazine!

Follow us on facebook–IredellLivingMagazinehttp://twitter.com/IredellLiving

W W W . I R E D E L L L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Mailing Address - 1670 E. Broad Street, Suite #195 Statesville, NC 28625 704-873-7307E-mail - [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSKristie Darling • Kirk Ballard • David Bradley

Meredith Collins • Kathy WheelerMichelle Harris

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYShane Greene Photography

COVER STORYCharles Mack Citizen Center

Editorial stock photography, unless otherwise noted, is from ThinkStock.com

Iredell Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Iredell Living assumes no responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Myron T. GoughPublisher/[email protected](704) 873-7307

Kathy WheelerArt Director/[email protected](828) 238-3224

Bob [email protected](336) 686-7271

Linda B. [email protected](704) 657-0237

Heather [email protected](704) 962-8080

“Uncle” Jim [email protected](980) 722-2861

Iredell

Follow us on facebook–IredellLivingMagazinehttp://twitter.com/IredellLiving



LIVNG

I content

September 2014

23

18

8 • September Ushers In A New Season

10 • The Colors Of The Season

12 • The Charles Mack Citizen Center The Jewel Of Downtown Mooresville

18 • The Center For Advanced Vein Care Dr. Aaron Thompson

23 • What's Cooking?! Game Day Recipes

26 • A Word From The Statesville Chamber Education Is Important To Our Community

28 • A Word From The Mooresville- South Iredell Chamber The Chamber Leadership Program And The Mooresville Job Fair

10home | food | local business


September ushers in the fall season. It usually hosts the perfect

weather for those end-of-summer events and seasonal to-do-

lists.

In preparation for the colder months ahead, some home main-

tenance is in order. Consider checking off the following list

early in the season. It is better to schedule professionals earlier

when they have time to be thorough, rather than later when

they are extremely busy.

1. Tune up your heating system. If you are looking for a heat-

ing and air company, try 72 Degrees, one of our advertisers.

2. Check your roof for any damage and make necessary re-

pairs.

3. Caulk around windows and doors.

4. Contact a chimney sweep to clean your chimney.

5. If you enjoy burning wood in your fireplace, purchase a

load of wood and store it on a rack, off the ground. This al-

lows for better air circulation and prevents it from drawing

moisture from the ground. Don't place the rack too close to

your home to avoid pests, and cover the top of the wood-

pile with a tarp to protect it from the rain.

Save cleaning the gutters and downspouts until after the

leaves fall, usually around Thanksgiving. Also, storing out-

door furniture can wait until temperatures drop, and it is too

cold to enjoy using them. Unless you have frost-proof faucets,

draining exterior faucets and storing water hoses will be on the

to-do-list for October.

If you didn't apply a grub control in August, it is still okay to

apply through the middle of September. Also, mid-September

is the time to plug, overseed, and apply a slow release starter

fertilizer. You will want to check the pH of your lawn and

apply lime if needed. Your lawn’s pH should be between 6.5

and 7. If you have fescue grass, fertilize mid-September and

mid-November.

Toward the end of September is a good time to plant trees,

shrubs and perennials, divide and transplant spring perenni-

als, and plant pansies and mums.

Whew, it sounds like a lot of work! Before I start on my list,

I think I will do something fun. After all, I have the whole

month of September to complete these tasks. Enjoy the last

few weeks of summer!

September

Ushers In A New Season

© KatarzynaBialasiewicz | iStock | Thinkstock

By Kathy Wheeler


eptember is the month when we begin to look

forward to fall. The season brings cooler tempera-

tures, changing colors all around us, and FOOTBALL

SEASON! It is the perfect time to incorporate rich autumn

rusts, oranges, golden yellows, and browns into our home

and select more of these warm shades in our clothing acces-

sories. Bringing the feeling of fall into our wardrobe can be

as simple as adding a beautiful, warm new scarf, or changing

out your summer handbag for one that features the colors of

turning leaves.

Enjoying cooler days and watching the magnificent trans-

formation of this new season unfold before our eyes excites

us as the season progresses. By watching the miracle that is

Mother Nature, we are inspired to change our indoor decor

by bringing in the warm colors of fall. We enjoy adding a

pop of color to our outdoor settings as well.

About the Author:Michelle Harris is the owner of Sweet Grass located on Williamson Road in Mooresville. facebook.com/sweetgrasshomepinterest.com/sweetgrasshome/sweet-grass

The Colors of the Season

By Michelle Harris

Finding a fall aroma that

you love in a new candle

or diffuser is a great way

to bring the enticing

and invigorating smell

and feeling of fall inside.

For the front door of

your home or on your deck or patio entrances, hanging new

wreaths or making your own with leaves, mini pumpkins,

and bittersweet vine adds a personal welcome to greet guests.

Along with a wreath or two, we love the appeal of seasonal

signs to add interest to your yard or porch. There are many

signs you can choose from with quotes or sayings–lots of

ideas and options–that appeal to every style and taste. You

can create your own or support a local business by purchasing

something special that appeals to your sense of whimsy, flair,

passion or taste–an item that represents you. Personally, I love

sign designs with a personal touch that shares a thought, in-

spires reflection or sends a special message. Perhaps you’d like

to post or hang signs that support your alma mater or favorite

football team by using their colors or featuring their mascot.

There are many creative ways to usher in the changing sea-

sons, and these are just a few of my favorites. I love seeing

how folks bring their own personal touch to announce and

enjoy every new time of year.

©Sandra Cunningham | Hemera | Thinkstock


LIVNG

I cover story

Article by Kristie Darling

The Jewel of Downtown Mooresville

©Photo by LunahZon Photography©


Photo by Shane Greene Photography ©

Photos: On the cover–Charles Mack Citizen Center's Su-

pervisor, Stephanie Crisco. Photo by Shane Greene

Photography.

Pictured left–Vickie Meadows (front), Vickie

Morrow and Stephanie Crisco

“My wedding came off great!” Pamela Simmons told me as we chatted about her July wedding and reception at The Charles Mack Citizen Center. “The staff knew my theme–vintage movies–and they kept everything personal, just what I wanted. They stayed in contact with me, were extremely helpful and gracious. It was all perfect; really magical.” Pamela and Harry Simmons have just been married a few months now, but the treasured memories of their special day still make them smile.

The Charles Mack Citizen Center has been hosting all manner of special occasions, corporate and community meetings, weddings, receptions, parties, banquets, business trade shows and conven-tions, as well as theatre productions and concerts for almost 20 years. The 62,000 square foot building, enjoying a 2001, $4.5 mil-lion renovation, boasts some of the most welcoming, accommodat-ing, comfortable and attractive event spaces in our area. Downtown Mooresville’s businesses, organizations and families benefit in many exciting ways.

“We never know what the day will hold. It could be start-up plans for a community gala, a new season for the Mooresville Community Children’s Theatre, or probably most excitingly, a call from a bride-to-be, her head full of dreams she’s had since childhood,” Stephanie Crisco shared. “It’s a very special gift to become an integral part of a couple’s wedding day, and my staff and I take our responsibilities very seriously, but in the end, it’s all great fun.”

Stephanie is the Center’s supervisor. She oversees a dedicated, professional staff of 20. As a finely tuned team, they do everything from the heavy lifting to ensuring that all the intricate details and behind the scenes magic of each wedding are managed and perfected. “My staff make it easy and stress-free for brides, their moms and everyone involved. We can make reservations for any number of space combinations, including two beautiful outdoor courtyards each with its own lovely garden and fountains,” Stephanie continued. “Some brides get just as excited when they see our linen color palette as they do renting their rooms!” The Center has everything on hand to accommodate any style wedding or reception: custom-sized dance floors, state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, tables and chairs, of course, as well as proven recommendations for caterers, florists, photographers, and musicians. “We might tie hundreds of bows to make a wedding unique! I believe our space is only limited by our renters’ imaginations.” For the second time, the Center was awarded the 2014 Couples Choice Award by Wed-dingWire.

Let's GetMarried!

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Photos:Mike and Kira Nyland said “I do” at The Charles Mack Citizen Center in March 2014. Photos taken by Heather Fink Photography.

Coming on October 26th is the Center’s fifth annual fall bridal show (a spring show is in the planning). The best local wed-ding vendors will attend, with tasty menu options and wedding cakes for sampling. It is amazing how many unique ideas and opportunities can be had in just three hours! Door prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon, with a fantastic finale that each bride will be excited to have a chance to win–the Center’s spacious accommodations free of charge for their wed-ding and reception! The prize includes ceremony and recep-tion space, with dance floor and kitchen. “We have about 100 brides and their families come out for this event, and every year it gets better,” Stephanie said. “Weddings have increased from about 40 seven years ago to 80 last year. I believe it’s because our venue is convenient, flexible, and beautiful. We take pride offering one of the finest wedding and party venues in town.” Visit www.cmccmooresville.com and click on “weddings” for rave reviews from happy couples.


MEETINGS? SEMINARS? BANQUETS? PARTIES?A tour of The Charles Mack Citizen Center is needed, really, to get the full picture of all that is available. First, you notice how spacious and beautifully decorated the hallways, six banquet rooms, and multiple meeting spaces are. With natural lighting in many areas, the open space, warmth and comfortable, expansive surroundings are very pleas-ant. Smaller rooms can easily accom-modate business meetings or breakout rooms at conventions or seminars. State-of-the-art, high-tech projection and sound service are readily available with professional staff assistance. A full selection of equipment is often included in your rental fee, ranging from micro-phones, laser pointers, and easels to U.S. and North Carolina flags, banner hold-ers, and podiums. Pianos can be rented for a small charge. “We put all our rates on our website and can explore options, package rates, answer questions and brainstorm around your goals,” Stepha-nie told me. “We want our renters to know what to expect before they call. We have rate structures for businesses, individuals, and non-profit organiza-tions. We really are here to serve the community.”

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE......and in the Joe V. Knox Auditorium, the world comes to life. Named for for-mer 30-year mayor, Joe Knox, the 235-seat auditorium hosts a variety of cul-tural, theatrical, concert, performance, and business presentations each year. “As a community service to promote the arts, the Town of Mooresville sponsors the Mooresville Community Children’s Theatre’s Youth Theatre Program, and provides the stage and auditorium for their summer and winter productions,” Stephanie explained as she gave me the backstage tour of dressing rooms, set construction space, and the sound and lighting booth. Most recently, Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR played

for delighted young audiences from all around. As school comes to an end each year, dance recitals bring in large family audiences, belly dancing schools included! Business meetings, seminars, and speaking engagements utilize the digital projection capacity with guests comfortably seated theatre-style in the spacious auditorium.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERThe staff at the Center is the heart of all the action. Whether it’s getting October’s Mrs. North Carolina America Pageant up and running; transforming 6,000 square feet into a NASCAR themed Dale Earnhardt Foundation fundraiser for children, with Kellie Pickler onstage; putting the Mooresville Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo in place for hundreds of area businesses, or making the Carolina Thread Trail’s conference a success, the staff at the Center aim to please. Vickie Morrow is rental coor-dinator, likely one of the first people you’ll connect with. She’s worked for the Town of Mooresville for 13 years; everyone in town knows her and she knows everyone–a valuable asset! Office assistant, Vickie Meadows, keeps the place organized and can break down a stressful situation into doable actions. Penny Phillips is maintenance supervi-sor. With her staff of 14, she keeps the building pristine and presentable at all times. “Penny is intimately familiar

with HVAC, roofing, inventory, and carpeting–she’s absolutely critical to our success,” Stephanie told me. “And we all rely heavily on the evening and weekend staff. They take excellent care of our renters and their guests, no mat-ter what is thrown their way.” Stephanie and the “Vickies” are the friendly face of the Center, managing sales and ensuring exceptional customer service.

BECOME A SATISFIED CITIZEN CENTER REGULARVisit the Center’s website to get an over-view, rooms’ specs and pricing, photos, videos and customer reviews. You will clearly see the advantages of hosting your event or planning your wedding at The Charles Mack Citizen Center. Call Stephanie for an introductory meeting and tour the next time you’re planning an affair–any affair! There’s nothing to lose, and truly an unforgettable experi-ence to gain.

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215 N Main Street • Mooresville(704) 662-3334

www.cmccmooresville.com

Southern Flair Bridal AffairSunday, October 26


By Meredith CollinsPhotos by Shane Greene Photography

Dr. Aaron Thompson and his staff at The Center for Advanced Vein Care have treated 3,000 legs, and counting. Dr. Thompson specializes in all disorders of the veins, with special emphasis on the veins of the legs, including spider veins and varicose veins.

Many people experience venous issues throughout their life, whether it is due to family history, pregnancy, leg injuries, or cancer. While there is no specific treatment to prevent venous disease, maintaining normal body weight, cessation of smoking and regular exercise may help. Treatments have rapidly progressed in the last decade.

Dr. Thompson is a general surgeon who has been practicing in Hickory since 1994. “I had been practic-ing here for a few years and asked myself what else I could bring to the community,” Dr. Thompson said. “We didn’t have anyone in this area for treatment of varicose veins. That was in 2001. I set out to establish a clinic, and we have been busy ever since.”

Dr. Thompson treats spider veins and varicose veins. “Spider veins are the very tiny dermal veins that manifest on the skin,” Dr. Thompson said. “They are more common in females. Varicose veins are larger, protruding veins mainly in the legs. They can cause pain, swelling, itching, heaviness, burning and sores.”

Treatment of both spider veins and varicose veins has become much easier. Patients previously required hospitalization with general anesthesia. The surgeon would make an incision at the ankle and groin, and insert a catheter to strip out the vein. The patient required overnight hospital admission and had a con-siderable recovery time.

Now, the treatment has progressed to a new technol-ogy called endovenous thermal ablation. This treat-

Dr. Aaron Thompson

Photos:Left–Aaron D. Thompson, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S. owner of The Center for Advanced Vein CareAbove–Dr. Thompson, using ultrasound, performs a venous procedure in the office.

THE CENTER FORADVANCEDVEIN CARE


ment is done completely in the office and patients can walk in and walk out. Using local anesthesia, Dr. Thompson puts a small catheter in the vein. He applies energy to the wall of the vein, which closes the vein down. The veins involved in this procedure are minor veins, so they are not needed. Blood is then rerouted to the heart. The vein is gone and no more pain!

“Most patients are very happy to find out there is something that can be done privately in the office without stress,” Dr. Thompson said. “The procedure

only takes about 30 minutes and patients are very satisfied with their outcome.”

This treatment is approved by most insurance carriers, including Medi-care, although patients may have to wear compression stockings for three months prior to the procedure.

Dr. Thompson encourages patients to address venous issues early. “We abso-lutely want people to come in early to get a consultation,” he said. “The soon-er you address the problem, the better.

Once the varicose veins progress, we have to do additional treatments to get the leg back into shape.”

The relatively painless, simple out-patient procedure leaves patients free from pain and eager to wear shorts and capris again!

Photos:Left–Dr. Thompson discusses venous anatomy of the lower ex-tremity during a patient consulta-tion.

Dr. Thompson reviews a patient case.

828-303-20223513 Greystone Place • Conover

www.hickoryvein.com

THE CENTER FORADVANCEDVEIN CARE


Erika M. Hill, MD, is a board certified dermatologist and family medicine physician. She joined Dr. Scheibner and Piedmont HealthCare Dermatology, located at 208 Old Mocksville Road in Statesville, in July 2014.

Dr. Hill received her bachelors of micro-biology from University of Pittsburgh in 1994, and her doctorate of medicine in 1998 from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Hill completed her family medicine residency in 2001 at the Riverside Regional Medical Cen-ter in Newport News, Virginia. After

completion of her residency, Dr. Hill served as a staff family physician at the Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida from 2001-2005. She then relocated with her military obligation to Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, where she served as a staff family physician at Ramstein Air Base from 2005-2008. Dr. Hill then completed her dermatology residency at the University of Alabama in Bir-mingham. Prior to moving to North Carolina in the summer of 2014, Dr. Hill was the sole dermatologist in a large military multi-specialty clinic in Papillion, Nebraska. In fact, Dr. Hill just completed 13 years of active duty for the United States Air Force.

Our skin is the human body’s largest organ. It covers us, protects us, and while our skin is amazingly flexible, versatile, and to some degree renew-able, it is also subjected to daily dam-age from the sun, from that poison ivy by the garage, and from a wide range

of potential diseases. That is why it is comforting to know that this remark-able dermatology staff is just a phone call away, with expertise and experience to help you keep that all-important out-er layer looking and feeling its healthy best.

Dr. Hill sees patients of all ages for the evaluation and treatment of conditions and disease affecting the hair, skin, and nails. Some common skin conditions she treats are acne, rosacea, skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, warts, cysts, moles, shingles, benign skin growths, birth marks, fungal and bacterial infections, herpes virus infec-tions, hives, itching, melisma, wrinkles, and other rashes. As this list is not all inclusive, please call 704-838-8210 to make an appointment or go to www.piedmonthealthcare.com for more information and let Dr. Hill help you maintain healthy, beautiful skin!

Erika M. Hill, MDBoard Certified Dermatologist


Dr. Douglas Jeffery recently joined

Lake Norman Neurology of Piedmont

HealthCare. Dr. Jeffery completed

his medical school and internship at

State University of New York School

of Medicine in Buffalo, and his neurol-

ogy residency at the University of New

Mexico in Albuquerque.

Dr. Jeffery became interested in mul-

tiple sclerosis in 1981 and has been an

MS specialist since 1992. He has given

many speeches all over the world on

MS. As an internationally recognized

specialist in the field of MS research

and treatment, Dr. Jeffery has pub-

lished over 100 papers, abstracts, and

book chapters on MS. He established

the multiple sclerosis clinic at Wake

Forest University School of Medicine.

Dr. Jeffery has established multiple

sclerosis clinics and provided care to

over 5,000 MS patients from all over

the United States. He has also taken

part in numerous clinical trials and

operated an image analysis laboratory

involved in magnetization transfer

imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and

MR spectroscopy. He has served on the

steering committees for many clini-

cal trials and participated in clinical

guideline development, as well as being

involved in many other efforts directed

at developing best practice recom-

mendations. He was involved in the

development of practice guidelines for

the treatment of spasticity, sponsored

by Paralyzed Veterans of America,

and has served on the committee that

is revising the American Academy of

Neurology recommendations on the

use of vaccines in patients with MS.

Dr. Jeffery has office hours and sees

patients in the Mooresville and Hunt-

ersville locations of Lake Norman Neu-

rology of Piedmont HealthCare. Please

call 704.662.3077 or go to www.

piedmonthealthcare.com to make an

appointment or get more information.

Douglas Jeffery, MDBoard Certified Neurologist and

Multiple Sclerosis Specialist

IREDELL LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2014 23Photos © bhofack2 | © The LionRoar | iStock | Thinkstock

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

2 packages cream cheese6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts1 bottle Texas Pete wing sauce1 8 oz. package shredded cheddar cheese1 8 oz. package shredded mozzarella cheese1 container blue cheese2 tablespoons butter

Directions1. Slow cook chicken in a crock pot with 1/2 cup of wing sauce and but-ter on low for approximately 6 hours or until chicken will easily shred.2. Preheat oven to 350°. 3. Shred chicken and mix with the rest of the wing sauce.4. Spread the 2 packages of cream cheese over the bottom of a 13" X 9" baking dish. Add shredded chicken. Layer the mozzarella, cheddar and blue cheese.5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. It will be bubbly and crispy around the edges. Serve hot with tortilla chips, carrot chips and celery.

Quick Chili Beans1 pound ground beef1 teaspoon of vegetable oil½ sweet onion chopped2 tablespoons of chili powder1 15 oz. can of dark red kidney beans1 15 oz. can of light red kidney beans1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes1 27 oz. can of diced tomatoes Salt to taste

Directions1. Chop onion and sauté in a skillet with oil.2. Add one pound of ground beef. Season with a little salt and 1/2 tablespoon of chili powder. Fry until done. Drain excess fat.3. Combine canned tomatoes, kidney beans, beef and onions and chili powder in a large pot. Salt to taste. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.4. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream and saltines.

Chili and Cheese NachosA bag of your favorite tortilla chipsShredded mild cheddar cheeseSliced jalapeñosChili beans from above recipeSour creamGuacamole Directions1. Place a single layer of chips on a non-stick cookie sheet. Using a slotted spoon, top chips with chili beans. Add sliced jala-peños and shredded cheese to taste.2. Broil in oven until cheese melts.3. Serve with sour cream and guacamole on the side.

What's Cooking?!Game Day Recipes


A W O R D F R O M

Education IsImportant To

Our Community

David BradleyPresident and CEOGreater Statesville

Chamber of Commerce

Are you serious?

How important is the education of our children? Is it sort of important, moderately important or would you venture far enough to say it is seriously important? If you, like me, say that it is seriously important–how serious is it?

Jamie Vollmer is an eloquent gentleman, a “reformed” attorney, a very success-ful entrepreneur and has been, in times past, a very vocal critic of public schools. He has been such a critic that he vowed he would get involved and change things for the better. “If schools were run like a business, they would be much better,” Vollmer thought. Through his devotion and diligence, spending many meetings with teach-ers, administrators, parents, children, and community members, he realized that…he was wrong. Schools, for the most part, are doing a better job today than they ever have.

Many of us suffer from “nostesia,” as Vollmer puts it. We have all heard or said it, “In my day, schools were bet-ter…we didn’t have the same problems they have now.” “Nostesia” is a smushed up form of nostalgia and amnesia. The reality is that at no time in our history have schools performed as well. Gradu-ation rates are at an all-time high. More is required and more is achieved in our classrooms than ever. To wish us back to the 1960s when graduation rates were in the 60th percentile does us no good.

The primary issue, Vollmer noted dur-ing a recent luncheon in Statesville, is that our teachers and schools are getting incrementally better at what they do nearly every year. They are bombarded by outside forces (primarily the state) to do things different every year–but still they improve. By almost any metric, schools will show improvements decade by decade. The problem is that our society’s demands and requirements for

workforce is growing as well, but it has a much steeper curve of need. The gap between demand and supply continues to widen. That’s nobody’s fault; it’s just fact.

So the question is posed again: How im-portant is the education of our children? If it is seriously important, we have to swallow our “nostesia” and start getting more deeply involved. If education is important enough to us, we must start becoming more engaged in the system. I don’t know of any school–traditional public, private or charter–that would shun engagement by the local commu-nity. We need to get our hands dirty in the classroom, just like Jamie Vollmer has done. Only then can we really start the dialogue about getting serious. The Greater Statesville Chamber has begun a community dialogue about engage-ment in the schools, and we would love to have you join us. Call our office at 704-873-2892 to let us know that you would like to join that conversation.

Education’s importance to a commu-nity goes well beyond our sons and daughters getting a good education. There are many reasons why a busi-ness (industrial or commercial) will opt to move to a community. The most pressing reason is the ability to make money selling their product or service. Why is education important? Because those companies need to attract the best employees they can, potential employ-ers look at the quality of a community’s education systems. Businesses pay a much higher share of property tax than you or I do, so it is certainly advanta-geous to do whatever we can to help them become more successful and increase the number of job opportuni-ties. Conversely, this country is littered with communities that made conscious decisions not to be serious about educa-tion. Sadly, many of those have become ghost towns.

Let’s get SERIOUS!



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Kirk BallardPresident and CEO

Mooresville - South IredellChamber of Commerce

The Chamber Leadership Program And The Mooresville

Job Fair

A WORD FROM

An important part of community development is the encourage-ment of new and young leaders.

Each year at this time the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce works to define and identify new lead-ers within our community. We do this with our leadership programs for adults and high school students. The leader-ship programs’ purpose is to help pre-pare and build new community leaders. The programs are designed to develop leadership skills, instill self-confidence, and build team awareness. Our stu-dents learn to overcome obstacles by communicating and working together toward a common goal.

Classes begin in September and then meet monthly, October through April. Each month, class participants learn about government, education, the busi-ness community, and the needs of their neighbors. Whether it is Life Span, Barium Springs, Mooresville Christian Mission, or Mooresville Soup Kitchen, all of these non-profits’ needs are met with a combined government, business, and community commitment.

Is a leader a problem solver? Maybe a leader is someone who helps oth-ers reach their goals. They say if you help enough people reach their goals, you will reach yours. Potential lead-ers are all around us. I do not know who they are, but I do know there are a lot more people who are capable and willing to help. They just don’t know how or where to start. They don’t have the information they need to step up. The Mooresville Chamber Leadership Program will help budding leaders get there. Anyone who sees what our past leaders have seen will be inspired and motivated just like they were. One idea that inspired a past class leader led directly to our first Mooresville Job Fair in 2013.

Our second annual Mooresville Job Fair 2014 is scheduled on Tuesday, Sep-tember 23 at the Charles Mack Citizen Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Last year’s event was a successful col-laboration of several Chamber partners that included Centralina Workforce Development Board, Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corpo-ration, Mitchell Community College, Gardner-Webb University, and the Town of Mooresville.

There were 500 attendees and 38 employers, such as Engineered Sintered Components, Town of Mooresville, Lowe’s Corporate and Lowe’s Stores, NGK Ceramics, and Piedmont Health-Care. Five booths featured volunteer opportunities with the Mayor's Coun-cil for Individuals with Disabilities, Catawba Regional Hospice, Mooresville Soup Kitchen, Christian Mission, and SMART Child Services.

Early morning panel discussions were well attended, and comments continue to be very positive from all attendees. The first panel discussion engaged peo-ple who had been unemployed and had successfully re-entered the workforce. They spoke about what turned it around for them. This discussion generated an informative exchange from the audience. Three employers spoke about what they look for in job applicants including résu-més, applications, personal appearance, and behavior (soft skills). This panel also generated a helpful conversation from those in attendance.

Running concurrently throughout the day were résumé workshops and interview role-playing sessions. Almost ninety résumés were created during that program. The job fair was well organized; attendees were greeted and registered in advance. This year’s event will be even more informative and helpful. We have over 45 employers signed up, so please tell folks you know who are looking for job placement help about this great event.

How do you define a leader? Is it some-one who inspires others into positive action? Maybe a leader is a resource for information who is willing to share it with others.


IREDELL LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2014 31IREDELL LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2014 31

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