Text Box: 2009 Chamber Officers, Directors:   Chairman  Mark Hudson   Chair-Elect  Shannon Kennedy   Secretary Allen Langley   Treasurer Kitty Hoyle   Past Chairman Steve Padgett   Board of Directors Suzanne Amos Martha Bivins Dr. Bruce Boyles Cameron Corder Larry Corry Darlene Davis Larry Hamrick Jr. Eddie Holbrook Charlie Holtzclaw Dr. Linda Hopper Michael Johnson Debbie Kale Rick Murphrey David Schweppe Seth Stevens Sandy Tallant Dr. Steve Thornburg Rick Washburn John Young

Text Box: InterAction Text Box: The Ambassador group kicked off in January by being treated to a delicious lunch prepared by Sharon Stiles and Jane Ballard of the Sterling House in Shelby.  A revised Ambassador 2009 program was introduced at the meeting.  Notable changes include the addition of an Ambassador Co-Chairman, a commitment to make monthly Chamber member calls and the election of an Ambassador of the Month.  The Ambassador of the month will be featured in the monthly Chamber newsletter and out of the twelve for 2009; one will be selected as the Ambassador of the year.   The Ambassador group meets the second Friday of the month at 11:30 am.  The meeting begins at 12 Noon.  The next meeting will be held on Friday, February 13 at The Cleveland Country Club.    Anyone interested in becoming an Ambassador can email Stephanie Whisnant at Stephanie.whisnant@hometrustbanking.com or Vickie Tessener at vickie@clevelandchamber.org.    2009 Ambassador Officers Chairman: Stephanie Whisnant, Shelby Savings Bank Co-Chairman: Laurie Mancuso, Bellus Tu Spa Secretary: Stephanie Burrell, Children’s Homes of Cleveland County     Ambassador of the Month: Laurie Mancuso is the owner of Bellus Tu Spa in Kings Mountain since Dec. 1, 2006.  She joined the Chamber when she opened Bellus Tu Spa inside a salon.  She has expanded her business into her own building on Railroad Ave.  Laurie joined the Ambassadors in April 2008.   Bellus Tu Spa offers skin care services.  She has the equipment that the spas in Charlotte have for microderm abrasion, facial rejuvenation, facials, chemical peels.  She has three massage therapists.    Why she was chosen as Ambassador of the Month (what others said about her):  Laurie is very active in the Chamber!  She attends ribbon cuttings, Prize Patrol, and other chamber events.  She volunteers to give gift items and door prizes, which are wonderful to win!!  She attends all of the Ambassador meetings.  She has recruited others ambassadors (think around 3) and chamber members in 2008 (think around 19).  I think she came in second in the Membership Drive in 2008.  She is on the Membership Development Committee and she offers her place for those meetings.  She always asks what she can do to help out at the Ambassador meetings.  She is always willing to jump in and help out, in any shape or form.  Laurie is always very positive about the Chamber and what it can do for businesses.   How being involved in the Chamber has impacted her business:  She built her business off the Chamber.  When she first opened, she thought she was going to build her business off of the Salon referrals.  Instead, her business grew because of the Chamber.    How being involved in the Ambassador Group has impacted her business:  She joined the Ambassadors early in 2008 and attended all functions and made herself and her spa visible.  She was able to triple her business in the past year because of the exposure.  She always offers door prizes and gifts, and the ones who collect on these gift cards, end up becoming loyal customers.   Advice for becoming successful:  Take God as your business partner, rely on the support of family and friends, join the Chamber and become very active in it, and then everything else will fall into place!   Closing words:  Thank you to the Chamber and Ambassadors for their support.  Without the Chamber and having the opportunity to be an Ambassador, she would still be building her business, instead of expanding!   Congratulations Laurie!  You deserve this honor!          2008 Ambassador of the Year: Stephanie Whisnant is a Mortgage Loan Officer with Shelby Savings Bank.  She has been with Shelby Savings Bank/HomeTrust Bank for a total of 5.5 years.  She is ready to help customers purchase or refinance a home.  Shelby Savings Bank offers First and Second Mortgages, Home Equity Lines of Credit, Construction Loans, as well as Homeowners Advantage Checking Accounts.   Stephanie became involved with the Chamber in 2004.  She was asked to become an Ambassador in 2006.  She is the 2008 and 2009 Chair of the Ambassadors, serves on the Membership Development Committee, Leads Group, and Cleveland Women’s Networking Group.   Why she was chosen as Ambassador of the Year:  Stephanie devoted a lot of her time by arranging meeting locations as well as coordinating and organizing all the Ambassador meetings.  She also conducted the meetings and sent out regular communications to the Ambassador group members to keep them informed.  Stephanie was very active in the Membership Campaign, the Prize Patrol and member visits.  She also serves on the Membership committee and the Cleveland Women’s Network committee.    Stephanie is very deserving of this award and she can be described with three big words: Dedicated, Loyal and Organized!    How being involved in the Chamber has impacted her business:  I was able to develop contacts and relationships with those in the community.  I built a good rapport with the Chamber members and started to gain business from the exposure.   How being involved in the Ambassador Group has impacted her business:  I have been able to gain business from contacts I have met at events and continue to build relationships with Chamber members.  I remember working a Golf Tournament one year and was sitting with someone from Kings Mountain, who I had known the past couple years.  She mentioned a service that she needed, and I mentioned how I could help her.  This person still informs me to this day that she is very happy about the account she opened up after our discussion.  Due to being in the Ambassador group, I have had the privilege of being on a few committees; which has given me an opportunity to make additional contacts and build on those relationships.  When someone has a financial need, and they see me at events and meetings, this allows my name to come up in their mind, even if they have dealt with someone else in the past.   Advice for becoming successful:  Always be honest and upfront with everyone you deal with each day.  People appreciate dealing with someone trustworthy.  Remember to always return phone calls and let people know how much you appreciate them… and be sincere!  Nothing can be accomplished by the work of only one person, so having the support of all those around you makes you successful!   Closing words:  I appreciate working with such a great group of Ambassadors!  We all work great together and really care about our Chamber members!  The Ambassadors have been a success in 2008 due to the effort of everyone involved- from Steve Padgett to our newest Ambassadors.  2009 will be even better!

Text Box: February 2009

Text Box: Quick Links Text Box: Chamber Ambassadors

Text Box: In This Issue:

Chamber Homepage

Chamber Calendar

Community Calendar

Business Directory

Member Services

 

Annual Banquet
Letter From the President
Tourism News
Kings Mountain Business Showcase
Chamber Ambassadors
Leadership Cleveland County
Chamber Prize Patrol

Chamber Bids Farewell to Lifelong Icon

Event Pictures
Referral Summary
Thank You Corner

Upcoming Events