Rowan Chamber celebrates 90th year

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s 90th annual Gala Meeting was a sold-out event Thursday, Jan. 28, evening at the historic Salisbury Depot featuring Gov. Pat McCrory as its keynote speaker.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx also attended. Title sponsorship was provided by Novant Health Rowan Medical Center.

Annual award winners announced at the event included: Stag & Doe Restaurant in China Grove (Chamber Champion Small Business of the Year); Ann Pressly, Trinity Oaks (Paul E. Fisher Volunteer of the Year); and former Granite Quarry Mayor Mary Strawder Ponds (Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award). Dari Caldwell, president of Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, was also presented with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award.

Past chairs and long-term businesses were recognized with a special champagne toast to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Rowan Chamber. The gavel passed from 2015 chair of the board Dari Caldwell to 2016 chair Ted Goins.

Emcees and entertainment for the evening were provided by a local improvisation group, “Now Are the Foxes,” led by Cale Evans.

Caldwell received the State of North Carolina’s most prestigious award, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, from McCrory. Caldwell was recently recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal as one of the Women of Distinction in the region. She has served as the chair of the board for both the Rowan and Cabarrus Chambers of Commerce and is involved in a number of charitable organizations throughout the community.

Gary Morton, co-owner, accepted the Chamber Champion Small Business of the Year Award on behalf of his family business, Stag & Doe Restaurant. The roots of the business go back to 1953 when Dan Morton opened a business in China Grove modeled after his favorite English Pub. It was really just a tavern until he learned how to make pizza.

Stag & Doe is now known for the best steaks and seafood in the entire region. The Mortons have been very involved in economic development and transportation projects supporting the southern end of Rowan County, specifically the exit off of Interstate 85 near Old Beatty’s Ford Road.

Ann Pressly, recipient of the Paul E. Fisher Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award, went “above and beyond the call of duty” in her volunteer hours for the Chamber. She has served as chair of the very successful Dragon Boat Festival for the past two years, has been involved in the Total Resource Campaigns, graduated from the 2015 Leadership Rowan class and frequently attends numerous ribbon cuttings in her role as an ambassador for the Rowan Chamber.

Former Granite Quarry Mayor Mary Strawder Ponds was honored with the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award. The established criteria for this award seek a Rowan Chamber group or individual who demonstrates a commitment to service and civic participation over a sustained period of time for the community; sets a standard and fosters a culture of citizenship, service and community responsibility; and demonstrates one or more of the following business values: integrity, stewardship, inclusion and initiative. Ponds became the first African-American Mayor of Granite Quarry in 1993 and served a total of 16 years on the elected town board, including 14 years as mayor of the town.

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization with more than 850 member firms. For more information, call 704-633-4221, email info@rowanchamber.com or go to www.rowanchamber.com.