BUSINESS FOCUS
&
Briefs
Deadline for WSF
luncheon is tomorrow
i
The Winston-Salem Foundation's 2008
Community Luncheon will be May 7 at noon at
the Benton Convention Center. Tickets are $15
per person. The deadline for registrations is
tomorrow ( May 2).
This year's featured speaker is Karen
Johnson, the director of the Charles M. Schulz
Museum in Santa Rosa, Calif. She has a 29-year
history of leadership in the promotion of volun
teerism, community service and social capital.
Previously the executive director of the
Volunteer Center of Sonoma County, Johnson
oversaw the second largest volunteer center in the
nation. At the luncheon, she will share her expe
riences and insights as she celebrates, motivates
and inspires volunteerism in our community.
The 2008 Winston-Salem Foundation Award
and ECHO Awards will also be awarded at the
luncheon.
Cressie Thigpen appointed
to Superior Court seat
Gov. Mike Easley recently appointed Cressie
Thigpen Jr. as a Special Superior Court Judge.
The appointment becomes effective May 15.
Thigptn
"For more than 33
years, Cressie Thigpen has
practiced law in both state
and federal courts and dis
tinguished himself as an
outstanding litigator,"
Easley said. "He is well
respected and his work
ethic will undoubtedly
serve the state well."
Thigpen has been a
partner with the Raleigh
law firm of Thigpen, Blue,
Stephens & Fellers since 1976. He has served as
President, President-Elect and Vice-President of
the North Carolina State Bar. Thigpen currently
serves as chairman of the North Carolina Central
University 'Board of Trustees and was recently
inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association
General Practice Hall of Fame in 2007.
Thigpen is a graduate of North Carolina
Central University and received his law degree
from Rutgers University School of Law in 1973.
Winston-Salem Urban League
offers diversity training program
-\
o
Forsyth County employees have begun to
receive diversity training through a Winston
Salem Urban League program.
The first batch of employees took part in the
two-day training, called "Bridging the Gaps in
Race Relations," last week. Other sessions are
slated for May 20-21 and June 10-11.
According to the Urban League, the sessions
shows participants how to understand, interact
with, and serve individuals who are increasingly
foreign-born with strong ethnic identities. The
training utilizes an individual leadership develop
ment model to improve race relations and
embrace diversity by learning things such as
identifying simple and useful tools for working
with a diverse communities and identifying barri
ers that hinder the community from establishing
diverse partnerships.
For more information on the sessions, contact
Lois Turner at lturner@wsurban.org or 725-5614
ext. 1002.
BB&T Insurance Services
expanding through acquisition
Raleigh-based BB&T Insurance Services last
week announced that it has reached an agreement
with Union Bank of California to purchasers San
Diego-based insurance subsidiary, Unio'nBanc
Insurance Services Inc. <
The acquisition would expand BB&T
Corporation's insurance operation in California,
where wholesale insurance subsidiary CRC
Insurance Services and large account commercial
insurer McGriff, Seibels & Williams already
operate.
The deal has been approved by the directors
of BB&T Corp. and Union Bank holding compa
ny UnionBanCal C9rp. It is expected to be com
pleted by the end of the second quarter pending
regulatory approval. Terms were not disclosed
last week.
"We're excited about expanding in California,
the No. 1 state for insurance values in the coun
try," said BB&T Insurance Services Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer Wade Reece. "This
partnership will only strengthen our overall
investment on the West Coast."
Founded in 1922, BB&T Insurance Services is
the nation's seventh largest insurance broker.
BB&T's combined insurance operation includes
134 agencies across the country.
With 369 employees, UnionBanc Insurance
Services operates offices in Pleasanton, San
Rafael, Stockton and Roseville in Northern
California; San Diego, Irvine, Fullerton and
Glendale in Southern California; and Portland,
Ore. It is the 3 1st largest insurance broker in the
nation.
Black Enterprise Photo I
Young graduates of a past KidpreneurlTeenpreneur Conference.
Kidpreneurs Conference
coming to Charlotte
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT '
o
* The Queen City will play host to the Black Enterprise
Kidpreneur/Teenpreneur Conference on* May 15 at the
Chalrlotte Convention Center.
Edmond Jr. "This t<5p-notch program covers everything
from developing leadership skills to drafting a business
plan. With the outstanding support of Wendy's
International, which has sponsored the event since its
inception in 1995, the program continues to spark one
ine conierence, presented oy wenay s
International, teaches young people from
around the country the skills needed to
become successful business owners. Created
to be as fun as it is educational, the program
is committed to grooming the entrepreneur
ial potential of tomorrow's business leaders
with a step-by-step approach to enterprise
development and management.
Running simultaneously with the 2008
Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference
+ Expo, which is hosted by General Motors,
the conference will offer instruction at three
levels: the Presidents Club is for youth ages
Edmond
success story after another.
The program culminates with a graduation
ceremony on Saturday, May 17, where the stu
dents will present their completed business
plans. ,
As part of its commitment to honor young
businesspeople, Black Enterprise also recog
nizes individual or groups of entrepreneurs, 17
or younger, with its Kidpreneur/Teenpreneur
Award. Previous award winners include
Atlanta-based Kenya James, publisher of
Blackgirl Magazine; Camille Winbush, actress
and owner of Baked Ice ice cream shop in
Pasadena, Calif.; Najee McGreen, founder of
14-17 who are returning to the conference or are estab
lished business owners; Future CEOs is for ages 11-13;
and Futurepreneurs is for ages 7-10. Attendees will learn
how to create a business proposal, build a business Web
site, and learn a little about banking among other topics.
"The Kidpreneur/Teenpreneur Conference is the best
atmosphere for young people to learn thej basics of busi
ness and be exposed to successful educators, entrepre
neurs, and corporate professionals," says Black
Enterprise magazine's Sr. VP/Editor-in-Chief Alfred A.
Brooklyn, New York-based Techmaster Computer
Works; and Joel Williams Jr. of Troy, Texas, inventor of
the SmartButton, an innovative device that helps chil
dren differentiate their left and right feet.
For more information about the 2008
Kidpreneur/Teenpreneur Conference, call 800-209
7229 or visit wwwblackenterprise .com/beec .
Leaders
discuss new :
o *
plant in
Lexington
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
-State leaders met last week
with leaders of the Italian busi
ness organisation
Confmdustna-Padova and offi
cials from Arneg SPA, a Italy
based company currently build
ing a manufacturing facility in
Davidson County. Members of
a state Department of
Commerce economic develop
ment mission delegation also
toured the Arneg plant in
Padova
and made
presenta
t i o n s
about
opportu
nities in
North
Carolina
to repre
s e n t a -
tives of
t h e
Italian
Fain .
business community.
Confindustria is the lead
organization representing manu
facturing, construction, energy,
transportation, tourism and serv
ice industries in Italy. It brings
together 126,590 voluntary
member companies of all sizes
with a total of 4.7 million
employees. Confindustria
Padova is one of the organiza
tion's 18 regional locations.
Arneg started in the 1960s
and is an international supplier
of retail and commercial refrig
erated cases. It is the third
largest case manufacturer in the
world, with 16 manufacturing
plants and eight regional sales
offices in 20 nations. Ameg has
operations in Europe, Asia,
Australia, North America and
South America and its sales total
$500 million.
"Arneg is one of several
dozen Italian companies that
have chosen to move or expand
in our state because of our busi
ness climate, schools and well
trained workforce," said Gov.
Mike Easley.
At a recruitment event fol
lowing the Arneg plant tour.
Italian business leaders heard a
presentation from - N.C.
Commerce Secretary Jim Fain
about the advantages of doing
business in North Carolina.
In April 2007, Easley
announced that Arneg LLC, a
subsidiary of Arneg SPA, had
received a Job Development
Investment Grant to build a
refrig?rated case manufacturing
facility in Davidson County.
The project is expected to create
181 jobs during five years and a
company investment of $20 mil
lion.
Individual wages will vary
with job responsibilities, but the
average annual salary will be
more than $31,000 a year plus
benefits. That is more than the
Davidson County average of
$29380. The Lexington plant
will be Arneg's second produc
tion facility in the United States.
New Wake dean known for diversity eliorts
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Steve Reinemund, the former
PepsiCo chief executive officer and
chairman who is widely praised as
one of the nation's most innovative
and respected business leaders, is
bringing the values and business
expertise he developed in his long
career to Wake Forest University.
Last week, the school announced
Reinemund as the new dean of its
two business schools? the Calloway
School of Business and Accountancy
and the Babcock Graduate School of
Management. He will also be
Professor of Leadership and
Strategy.
Wake Forest leaders introduced
Reinemund to the university commu
nity at an afternoon news conference
on campus. Reinemund, who cur
rently lives in Dallas, will take the
helm of the schools July 1 . He and
Gail, his wife of 34 years, have four
Steve Reinemund
children.
"I have long admired Wake
Forest and am deeply honored to
have this opportunity," Reinemund
said. "This is an exciting time for the
university, and I am looking forward
to working with the faculty to lead
the Wake Forest business schools
into a new era."
Reinemund's appointment is a
landmark in Wake Forest's history.
Reinemund, who retired from
PepsiCo in 2007, will be the first
dean to head both of the university's
business schools.
Wake Forest announced last
September that it would realign the
schools as part of the university's
developing new strategic plan. The
change, which calls for one rather
than separate deans for each school,
is aimed at capitalizing on the
strengths of the schools, promoting
collaboration in teaching and schol
arship, and creating new opportuni
ties to ensure that students receive
the most comprehensive and for
ward-looking educational experience
possible.
See Dean on All
Realtors give to the school system
Money raised at Allen
Tate's FUNDay
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Realtors from the Winston
Salem Reynolda and Stratford
offices of the Allen Tate
Company recently presented a
check for $4,224.05 to Winston
Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
The funds were netted from the
company's annual FUNDay
event.
The check was presented
March 26 to School Board
Chairman Donny Lambeth, who
is also the Chief Operating
Officer/Interim CEO of North
Carolina Baptist Hospital.
The contribution is part of
more than $140,000 raised at the
company's 10th annual FUNDay
fundraiser, which was held last
Chairman Donny Lambeth, third from right, accepts the contribu
tion from Allen Tate's Tracey Boy Bethune.from left, Monte White,
Julie Poplin, Debra Marshall and Becky Hutchinson.
September at The Point Lake &
Golf Club on Lake Norman.
"Allen Tate Company is
proud to contribute to our com
munities and directly impact the
public schools and educational
organizations that serve them"
said Allen Tate Company
President and COO Pat Riley.
"Our realtors understand that
public education dramatically
impacts and encourages econom
ic development and the quality of
life in a community."
FUNDay offers its realtors
and associates exclusive use of
The Point Lake & Golf Club
facilities for a day. Participants
pay an entry fee with all proceeds
going toward the fundraiser. The
day also includes silent and live
auctions to raise additional
funds.
Since it began. Allen Tate's
FUNDay has raised more than
$827,000 for public education.