Small Business Month & Awards Banquet
The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Small Business Month Awards Banquet on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at Benvenue Country Club in recognition of the contributions of small business and their accomplishments in driving our economy. The program begins at 6:00 p.m.
What started as a week-long celebration of the area's small business successes has grown to encompass the entire month of June with activities designed to showcase business accomplishments through plant tours, "Lunch 'n' Learn" training sessions as well as seminars tailored to small business and workplace issues.
Small Business Month is highlighted by the Annual Awards Banquet on June 28, 2007, as The Chamber honors recipients of the Small Business Person of the Year; Minority Small Business Person of the Year; Small Business Woman of the Year; Entrepreneurial Success of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Downtown Small Business of the Year and Work First Awards.
Keynote speaker for the banquet is Marty Clarke of Martin Productions in Raleigh, N.C. Wickedly funny, and painfully honest, Marty Clarke is a compelling keynote speaker worldwide and a small and large business consultant. A small business owner himself he works closely with business owners, leadership teams and sales teams with the vision to make changes that yield material improvements in real time - and he serves as the principal of Martin Productions (www.martyclarke.com), a highly successful consulting firm, focusing on keynote speeches, custom training sessions, management consulting, and sales team turn-around. Marty has authored two books: Communication Land Mines, 18 Communication Catastrophes and How to Avoid Them, which sold out in its first printing; and Leadership Land Mines, 8 Management Catastrophes and How to Avoid Them, which focuses on the eight specific behaviors that cripple any business owner or manager's ability to emerge as a true leader.
Rocky Mount Area Chamber Chairman Russell L. Proctor stated, "It is not a cliché, but a truth that small business drives the economic engine of our nation and represents better than 90% of the Rocky Mount Chamber's membership". Proctor also noted, "We are very proud of our small business community and look forward to recognizing and sharing in the celebration of entrepreneurial creativity, determination, and commitment to success".
As our area's small business achievements are recognized, it is important to realize how small business drives our economy. Here are some vital statistics on small business documented by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy: There are approximately 24 million small businesses in the U.S. with 5.6 million firms with employees; small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employers; over 90 percent of total business establishments employ fewer than 50 persons; small businesses employ 53 percent of the private workforce; retail, service providers, and finance/insurance/real estate make up over three quarters of all small business in North Carolina; small businesses provide approximately 75 percent of the net new jobs added to the economy, represent 96 percent of all U.S. exporters and provide 55 percent of all innovations.
Plant tours in support of Small Business Month have already taken place at C.W. Williams & Company and Rod Doors. A third tour is planned for Eagle Press, Inc. on Tuesday, June 19 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Several Lunch and Learns and Seminars have also taken place at both Edgecombe and Nash Community Colleges during the month with these events focusing on topics of great interest for small business as well as larger businesses.
Small business activities are sponsored by Premier Sponsor Southern Bank; Presenting Sponsors COECO and Nash Health Care Systems; Gold Sponsors The Cavalier Companies, EMBARQ, Strategy Performance and Wade Designs; Co-Sponsors Allegra Print & Imaging, Bobby Murray Toyota, Century 21-The Combs Company, ElectriCities of North Carolina, Poyner & Spruill LLP, Tatum LLC, US Cellular and Annual Sustaining Partners Edgecombe Community College Small Business Center, Nash Community College Small Business Center, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, Rocky Mount-Edgecombe Community Development Corporation and the Small Business & Technology Development Center.
Tickets are available to Chamber members at $25 per person for the Small Business Awards Banquet by contacting 973-1211. Non-members interested in attending the program may contact The Chamber for more information.
Small Business Appreciation Month is a program of The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce, located in the Historic Downtown Train Station, is the largest business organization in the community and is dedicated to the recruitment and support of small businesses growth, promotion of community investment initiatives, engagement in political action for the betterment of the community; and enhanced quality of life for area citizens.
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