Tonia Stephenson - Burke County Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Golf Classic Tees Off September 25

Posted on August 6, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

Silver Creek Plantation will be the setting for the 19th Annual Chamber Golf Classic on Thursday, September 25, and it promises to be the best yet.

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge is the presenting sponsor for the 2014 Classic. A limited number of Platinum Sponsorships ($1,000) and Gold Sponsorships ($500), each with special benefits, are still available. The complete list of sponsors will be announced by mid-August.

A full field of 96 golfers is expected for the afternoon event that will begin with lunch and conclude with a special “19th Hole” reception at the Silver Creek club house. There will be skills contests on the course, a very special hole-in-one prize and a package of amenities for every golfer, just to hint at some of the surprises in store for this year’s sponsors and golfers. Registration details will be announced shortly.

Meanwhile, it’s not too early to showcase your business and show your support of the Chamber as an Official 2104 Hole Sponsor. A Hole Sponsorship is just $175. As a hole sponsor, you’ll be recognized on all tournament communications, on the digital displays at the Chamber offices and on signage on the sponsored hole. In addition, you’ll have the option of manning your sponsored hole during the Chamber Golf Classic (table and chairs provided). To register your company as a hole sponsor, call the Chamber at 437-3021 or e-mail Jerry Davis (jdavis@burkecounty.org) or Stacey Ripley (sripley@burkecounty.org)

People Take Back Seat to Robots at Ribbon Cutting

Posted on July 3, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

To no one’s surprise, it was probably the closest to a flawless ribbon cutting ever held by a Chamber member. But when it’s a robot wielding the scissors, what would you expect? The June event was designed to highlight CyberKids Robotics, a non-profit organization specializing in robotics education programs for students in schools across North Carolina, as well as South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.

CyberKids Robotics has programs in several Burke County schools and is hoping to expand into others. As students learn robotics, they are also preparing to compete with other schools in contests that can lead all the way to the State

Robotics Championship in NC.

The CyberDroids program teaches students in grades four through twelve how to program a “humanoid” robot to do everyday human tasks.
The newest CyberKids Robotics program, CyberDrones!, introduces students in grades six through twelve to the world of “flying robots”. Students learn about navigation, GPS technology, common aerodynamic concepts and autopilot technology. At the end of the program, students will compete in a “drone robot” competition.
CyberKids Robotics is now also offering an Advanced FTC Robotics Program for middle and high school students. Students use CAD software to design a robot from “scratch”. Once their robot is designed, each robotics team will build and program the robot to solve a series of challenges against other robots.The company’s new theme for the 2014 – 2015 school year is “World Class Education.” Students will be researching how technology and robotics can help improve education all over the world. Now is the perfect time to get your robotics team created and working toward competing in next year’s State Robotics Championship. For more information, call Bill Kent at (828) 292-2393 or visit www.cyberkidsrobotics.com.

Legislature Approves Economic Development Partnership of NC

Posted on July 3, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina has received full approval from the General Assembly. Governor Pat McCrory signed the bill into law on Tuesday, June 24, at a special ceremony in the Old House Chambers of the State Capitol. The public-private partnership will start operations this month.

The Economic Development Partnership will operate as a private, non-profit corporation that will contract with the Department of Commerce to handle many of the state’s job recruitment and retention functions. The EDPNC will operate as the sales and marketing arm of the state responsible for business recruitment, existing industry and small business support, import and export assistance, marketing, tourism, film and sports development. All grant-making responsibilities will remain public within the Department of Commerce. The new partnership will allow North Carolina to work more quickly and be more flexible in recruiting new business and in retaining existing ones.

— Courtesy “Sync,” The Weekly Newsletter of the NC Department of Commerce

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge to Transform Valdese Campus

Posted on July 3, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

Editor’s Note: Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge is Burke County’s largest private employer. As a leading corporate citizen, it is

an active member and supporter of the Burke Chamber, does business in our county and is involved with numerous community-based organizations. The system serves as the healthcare safety net for thousands of uninsured and under-insured citizens in Burke County, providing $63 million in care last year with partial or no payment. At the same time, our community healthcare system faces the financial challenges of the Affordable Care Act, federal mandates to purchase expensive information technology, reduced payments for services from the government, and a seismic shift from traditional inpatient care to outpatient care. Last week, the system’s Board of Directors announced a proactive plan designed to respond to these trends and challenges by concentrating outpatient care at the Valdese hospital and inpatient care at the Morganton facility. In the interest of transparency and to provide Chamber members with information that led to the Board’s decision, Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge shared the following information with your Chamber.

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge’s Board of Directors voted [last] week to transition Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge – Valdese to an outpatient health center and transfer inpatient care to its Morganton campus. This decision was based on the current patient population’s needs and an overall commitment to ensure long-term access to high-quality healthcare for the community, according to information from the system.

“With this decision, the Board, leadership and teammates at Carolinas Healthcare System Blue Ridge are looking to the future,” said J. Michael Bridges, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “We envision Valdese as a healthcare center of the future – the first of its kind in our region. This is an investment in the care of the communities we serve.”

Valdese’s transformation will take place over a 2-1/2 year period. The transition will begin with increasing outpatient surgeries performed at Valdese and moving all inpatients from Valdese to Morganton. These two steps will be complete by the end of this year.

Emergency services, cancer care and other outpatient services will remain at Valdese. In fact, plans include renovating and expanding the Emergency Department and upgrading the Cancer Center. The planning and preparation process will begin this summer and construction should begin by first quarter 2015.

“There is a tradition of high quality care and service at Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge – Valdese. Transforming Valdese into an outpatient health center will allow us to provide the right kind of care for our patients at the right place, all while being more efficient and keeping Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge viable in the ever-changing healthcare environment,” said Kathy Bailey, President and CEO.

Today, more patients than ever are receiving care in settings other than an inpatient bed. New technology, more advanced treatment methods and healthcare reform have led to more care being provided outside the walls of a hospital. In 2013, almost 95 percent of patients cared for at Valdese were outpatients, so focusing on that model of care delivery will better match actual utilization of services.

“Our overall focus continues to be on creating a patient and family-centered environment within Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge,” said Bailey. “We believe the transformation at Valdese will help us achieve that goal for this community.”

New Signage Promotes Chamber, Visitors Center

Posted on July 3, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

Sleek, lighted signs now greet visitors and residents alike at the Burke Chamber offices a chambersign nd Visitors Center in downtown Morganton. Designed and produced by Assurance Signs in Granite Falls with electrical work provided by Triangle Contractors — both members of the Burke Chamber — the signs feature the Chamber’s name and new logo, as well as the Visitors Center locator. The signage completes a re-branding project that began in 2012 and included not only a new logo but also a revised mission, vision and values statement.

Check Out “Open for Business” in The News Herald

Posted on July 3, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

New Chamber members celebrating their grand openings with ribbon cuttings are in the spotlight in a new feature in the News Herald called “Open for Business.” Three businesses were highlighted in the first “Open for Business” feature that ran in the Friday, June 27, edition on page A8 and in the Monday, June 30, edition of the newspaper on page 14. They were Western NC Real Estate, Marketing Uncorked and Mission My Care Specialty. “Open for Business” is an extension of the Chamber’s new “Biz Wiz” business page that’s published monthly in cooperation with the newspaper. Ribbon cuttings are one of many Celebration Services provided to Chamber members in addition to groundbreakings, company anniversaries, dedications and other commemorations. If your company is nearing such a milestone, call the Chamber at 437-3021 and let us help you make it a truly special event.

Field Day at the Berry Archaeological Site – Saturday, June 21

Posted on June 19, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

Warren Wilson College, Western Piedmont Community College and the Exploring Joara Foundation invite the public to a field day event at the Berry Archaeological Site in Morganton this Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to see a portion of the newly discovered moat, which was found during last summer’s excavations.

Field day activities at the Berry Site will include archaeology demonstrations, displays of Native American artifacts recovered from the site, hands-on learning activities and pottery demonstrations. Admission is free and parking is available on-site, though $5 donations per car are encouraged. For more information about the event and to learn more about the many other year-round events offered by the Exploring Joara Foundation, visit ExploringJoara.org or call 828-439-2463.

Supporters Urged to Contact Key Senators Now Effort to Bring WNC School of Science and Math to Morganton at a Critical Point In General Assembly’s Budget Process

Posted on June 19, 2014December 25, 2018 by Tonia Stephenson

With a decision on the state’s proposed budget looming, supporters of locating the Western North Carolina School of Science and Math in Morganton are being asked to contact three key legislators without delay.

Rountree Collett is one of many community, business, elected and educational leaders involved in the effort. “We started out with companion bills — sponsored by our Burke County delegation — that provided funding for the advance planning for the project,” Collett said. “Unfortunately, the initial Senate budget stripped out the funding but left in place language generally favorable to the idea of our goal. We were initially worried about the same thing happening in the House, but we succeeded in getting amended language into the final House budget providing the funding for advanced planning.”

Now the House and Senate versions of the budget are headed to a conference committee where differences between the two versions — including the funding provisions around the WNCSSM will be worked out. Collett said the goal of supporters is to keep the House’s language in the final budget bill.

The Burke Chamber is one of many organizations across Western NC supporting the plan to place the school in Morganton.

If you or your company support this regional effort, please consider calling, e-mailing or writing the following key western NC Senators right away and encouraging them to work with Senator Warren Daniel to keep the House version of the western NCSSM language (specifying Morganton location and funding) in the final budget bill:

Senator Dan Soucek Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net

919-733-5742

NC Senate

300 N. Salisbury Street – Room 310

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Senator Austin Allran Austin.Allran@ncleg.net

919-733-5876

NC Senate

300 N. Salisbury Street – Room 625

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Senator Ralph Hise Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net

919-733-3460

NC Senate

16 W. Jones Street – Room 1026

Raleigh, NC 27601-2808