Al Pridgen, Southern Loans Named Small Business Person of the Year
Keynote speaker, Stedman Graham inspires small business owners
The Chamber held its annual Small Business Month Appreciation Awards Banquet on June 22 at Benvenue Country Club where Al J. Pridgen, Southern Loans, was named Small Business Person of the Year; and the audience was treated to a wonderfully inspirational speech by keynote speaker, Stedman Graham.
The Small Business Person of the Year award is based on staying power, employee growth, increased sales volume and community involvement. The award is well-deserved by small business owner Al Pridgen, who along with financial backing from his uncle and partner, Warren Pridgen, founded Rocky Mount Finance in 1988. Al was the only employee, later hiring a secretary and loan officer and by 1991, opened a second location in Louisburg, N.C., at which point he changed the name to Southern Loans, Inc. From 1996 to 2000, Al added a reinsurance company as well as an auto warranty company. Today Southern Loans operates 11 branches in primarily small eastern North Carolina towns and has grown to 41 employees, with Al serving as President. Al is very active in the community with his support focused on educational foundation and at-risk student initiatives as well as numerous donations to local charities.
Also recognized at the Awards Banquet were: Small Business Women of the Year, Rita Wade, Wade Designs; Minority Small Business Person of the Year, Elizabeth Simmons, Elizabeth Michaels Bridal & Specialty Shop; Downtown Small Business Person, Mary Wells, One Hour Koretizing; Entrepreneurial Success of the Year, Susan P. Baker, Pet's Best Friend, Inc.; Rookie of the Year, Mark Brown and H. I. Tharrington, Cuvee and Cuvee II; Edgecombe County Work First Person of the Year, Renee Hinton; and Nash County Work First Person of the Year, Bernadette Daniels. Each of these recipients was nominated by their peers for their outstanding achievements and marketing successes.
Chamber Chairman David Farris officiated at the ceremony and called forward 2005 Award recipients to present each of the awards to the 2006 winners. Farris commented, "The success of our community stands squarely on the small business owner, for it is their achievements that bring a sound business environment, create jobs and provide financial stability for many families in our area. That is why the "Buy Local" Campaign was rolled-out in 2006 - if our small businesses are healthy, then our community is healthy. We salute you and honor your achievements"!
The sold-out audience was treated to a challenging and inspiring message on Diversity in the 21st Century by renowned author, educator and entrepreneur, Stedman Graham of S. Graham and Associates (SGA), a Chicago-based management and marketing consulting firm. As the author of nine books, and with such clients as CNN, Johnson & Johnson, Harvard Business School and the U.S. Olympic Committee, Graham's success has been an inspiration to leaders in the corporate world, to business students and to entrepreneurs. Tapping into the human potential - the real face of diversity, is key to success in the 21st Century and the small business owner has much to gain from embracing what individual diversity, dynamics and strengths offer. In today's world, it is performance and productivity - not gender, not race, not age and certainly not ethnicity that counts.
A new component to the 2006 Small Business Month activities of tours and seminars is the "Workplace Issues Forum", which will be the first in a series of forums on workplace issues and trends. The program will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2006 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Nash Community College and will feature a forum discussion on managing the rising cost of health insurance. Hosts include Manpower, Nash Community College and The Chamber. The event is being held at no charge to the Chamber membership.
Many Thanks to our Small Business Banquet Sponsors & Partners
Southern Bank, Manpower, Crown LSP Group, Nash Health Care Systems, EMBARQ, Allegra Print & Imaging, Century 21-The Combs Company, Grace Covenant Church, Wade Designs, Edgecombe Community College SBC * Nash Community College SBC, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce * Rocky Mount-Edgecombe CDC, Small Business & Technology Development Center
