Primland voted most effective ‘gem’ in the South

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September 22, 2020

As it has several periods this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has interfered with however another nearby custom — the annual Excellence in Enterprise Awards sponsored by the Bigger Mount Ethereal Chamber of Commerce.

But the pandemic did not halt the awards, just delayed the event and altered how the enterprises and persons were identified.

“We began doing the job on these 7 months back,” Randy Collins, chamber president and CEO, explained to all those gathered virtually for the awards on Friday. “These awards are extremely critical to us. … We truly believe these are the greatest of the finest.”

The ceremony, originally planned for March, just when the prohibition on public gatherings started sweeping across the condition, was held practically via the on the web teleconferencing application Zoom. Practically 100 areas signed on for the party, although quite a few of individuals log-ins represented numerous folks.

“We had a good deal of nominations for awards this yr,” said James Etringer, chamber board chairman. “The chamber, like a lot of companies, has experienced to adapt this calendar year it has not been straightforward. We couldn’t have accomplished it without having the aid of the chamber sponsors.”

Switching the Excellence in Small business Awards from the standard lunch-time ceremony to an on-line occasion is one particular of the means that the chamber has tailored, handing out 9 awards in the course of the celebration.

Surry Professional medical Ministries was recognized for its extensive-standing operate in the local community with the Duke Strength Citizenship and Services Award.

In responses to the Zoom audience, Duke Energy’s Jimmy Flythe mentioned the ministry was started nearly 30 several years in the past to assistance spot residents have accessibility to a little something essential and wanted by all: health care. In 1992, he explained there were 16,000 county residents who had no well being insurance policy, a main impetus to the ministry’s founding a calendar year afterwards. In 1995 a pharmacy was added, and he mentioned in 2005 the clinic doubled in dimensions.

“Going to the physician is a thing many of us just take for granted. We know there are so quite a few that are not able to afford to pay for the services of a medical professional,” Flythe explained. “This firm can help to fill that gap. … Nancy and Health practitioner Dixon work unlimited hours working the Surry Clinical Ministries to support the healthcare desires of people in need.”

One more a single of the awards identified the long-time group service of Alan Freeman, who retired as captain from the Mount Ethereal Police Division in Might.

“He is a correct community servant, specialist, type, and signifies his section with excellent integrity,” reported Jeffrey Trenter of Carport Central in building the virtual presentation. “The city of Mount Airy is a superior put since of men and women like Capt. Alan Freeman.

“A pretty perfectly-deserved honor,” was what town Law enforcement Main Dale Watson had to say about the recognition of his lengthy-time colleague. “His full vocation has been devoted to this local community, serving this neighborhood, leaving this section far greater than he discovered it. I’m just grateful for his services.”

Other area people and organizations identified for the duration of the event incorporate:

• Becky Parries of the Mount Airy City Universities, who was named Administrative Skilled of the Yr.

“She serves as administrative assistant to five departments, each and every with its have laws and headlines, with calls for good obligation and discretion,” reported Connie Hamlin, of Ridgecrest, in announcing Parries’ award.

“With a smile on her face, she answers the key line, greets and directs company, procedures professional enhancement requests, purchase orders, and invoices for her departments. … She is commonly observed returning to operate, answering email messages, and making cellular phone calls on the times she is ‘off’ perform.

“We simply cannot do the numerous complicated tasks of our work with no her unfailing aid,” Hamlin claimed, quoting the man or woman or individuals who nominated Parries.

“Thank you, I am honored,” Parries explained of the award. “I get the job done for a wonderful bunch of folks who make me search fantastic.”

• Pass up Angel’s U Select Farm and Orchard, with Angela and Randy Shur, named as the Agribusiness of the Yr.

“In a area that looks to be surrounded by farms, one business operator discovered one thing was missing,” said Matthew Wooten of Wayne Farms. “This business operator is acknowledged in the local community for her baked items and pies. Some several years in the past, she found that there had been incredibly couple spots in our region exactly where individuals could pick their personal fruit or veggies. … Open from June to October, this business is Surry County’s initially choose-your-very own peach and pumpkin farm.”

As important as the farm is to the community business enterprise group, Wooten mentioned the Shurs are known even much more for their charitable function.

“The proprietors support several charitable results in in our local community. Most not too long ago they held a supper at the farm to honor health and fitness care workers in the course of the 2020 pandemic.”

• Sydney Whitaker, chamber Ambassador of the Calendar year award.

“The chamber of commerce, like any other community corporation, depends on the enable of volunteers,” stated Mount Airy Information publisher Sandy Hurley in presenting the award. “One essential team of volunteers is our ambassadors. This group serves as our purchaser provider office. They achieve out to chamber users, solution issues, invite them to events and offer the chamber support where ever it is need to have.

“This year’s award winner is a good selection. This particular person has served lots of decades as an ambassador. She is committed, hard-working, and believes in what the chamber stands for.”

• Johnson Granite was honored with the Company and Instruction Award.

“The firm and the homeowners are advocates for operating with the school programs and community school,” mentioned Wendy Wooden, of Surry-Yadkin Electrical Membership Cooperation. “They participate in school job fairs, Building Working day, sponsor events and hosts interns for Surry County Educational facilities and Mount Ethereal Metropolis Educational facilities. The company and their leadership are real instruction companions.”

The agency, which not long ago celebrated its 20th anniversary, is a relatives-owned firm that has grown from a three-personnel operation to “a foremost supplier of finely crafted countertop surfaces,” Wooden stated.

Brian Johnson explained his corporation sights its partnership with the school techniques as vital to the regional society. He explained with so lots of corporations in the local community “struggling to uncover certified personnel,” it is crucial for local companies to operate with the educational institutions, supporting learners produce marketable competencies and exhibit them there are prospects here in Surry County.

• Simmons Nissan been given the Business enterprise Longevity Award.

“Most just about every organization neighborhood has a person or additional motor vehicle dealerships. Providing new and used cars and trucks is a quite competitive small business. The car sector has found their ups and downs. One particular particular neighborhood car or truck seller has survived incredibly very well,” said Richie Parker of Surry Communications.

“This car dealership is North Carolina’s oldest Nissan vendor. … They assist shoppers get into the proper car with a no-strain strategy … be it new or applied Nissans or other title manufacturer motor vehicles. This small business begun in 1972 and is however relatives-owned some 48 years afterwards.”

• Phil Marsh was presented with the Excellence in Tourism Award.

“To any person who follows what goes on in Downtown Mount Airy, you will know this particular person,” reported Jessica Roberts of the Mount Ethereal Tourism Growth Association. “He is a lengthy-time member of the Downtown Company Association and supporter of Mount Ethereal Downtown. In fact, this particular person was honored in 2019 as a Most important Street Winner by the statewide North Carolina Major Road business.

“One individual who is aware of our winner mentioned ‘If you know him, you know that he is generally on the move, and he’s normally on his way to go assistance anyone else. He stops in my business nearly daily to talk to if there is just about anything he can do to aid.’”

Marsh started off and still coordinates the annual Mayberry Great Autos & Rods Cruise-In collection and organizes the Independence Day and Christmas Day parades.

“Our winner understands tourism and how considerably it signifies to our local community,” Roberts mentioned.

• Rounding out the winners was Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Company, which was named the Small Small business of the 12 months.

“Community services is part of their day to day operate lifestyle as they are often sponsoring charities and nonprofits or keeping fundraisers for situations like March of Dimes,” explained Todd Tucker, president of the Surry County Financial Progress Partnership.

“Their customers participate by way of the Operation Round Up, utilizing adjust included to their expenditures to each and every month support neighborhood nonprofits as properly as fireplace victims and funding medical wants. A neighborhood jobs committee of staff coordinates various charitable initiatives through the calendar year, such as a golfing event, hosting the Children’s Heart youth at Thanksgiving and sponsoring people a Xmas,” he mentioned, listing some of the several charitable initiatives by the employees and members of the cooperative.