BUSINESS FOCUS
Briefs
Federal money will help
laid off N.C. workers
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr and
Rep. Robin Hayes have announced that the U.S.
Department of Labor has awarded the North Carolina
Department of Commerce with $2.43 million in grant
funding to aid 1 ,620 North Carolina workers affected
by mass layoffs at Freightliner Trucks in Cleveland
and Jevic Transportation in Concord.
"I am glad that the Department of Labor has
extended this grant to provide much-needed help for
those who are facing tough times," Burr said. "North
Carolina's workers and communities are resilient and
talented, and this support will help in the economic
recovery of the area. As our local communities roll
up their sleeves, I believe the Congress must play its
own part in promoting pro-growth policies to
strengthen our economy."
The funding comes from the Department of
Labor's National Emergency Grants Program
(NEG), which is designed to supplement the
resources and service capacity at the state and local
levels by providing emergency funding in response
to large dislocations and disasters.
According to the Department of Labor, affected
workers will have access to a full array of dislocated
worker services, including a nation-wide network of
career centers to prepare them for new jobs, career
counseling services, and supportive services like
child care and transportation. For workers needing to
upgrade their skills, training for high-growth and
high-demand occupations will be available.
Millionaires in Training holds
Spring graduation in Raleigh
The Millionaires in Training (MiT) youth entre
preneurial program held its 2008 spring graduation
ceremony on Wednesday, June 18 at the downtown
Sheraton Raleieh Hotel. Everv
semester, the MiT students
establish and manage their
own businesses and develop
business plans to support their
ideas. The 2008 spring gradu
ates' businesses consisted of
two companies: Sweet Tooth
Lemonade, a specialty food
eatery, and Colors of Music, a
jazz dining club.
Matthew Moore Jr., exec
utive director of the MiT oro
gram, said. "This has been an
exciting and challenging group, and 1 am looking for
ward to the future plans we have for the program.
This is an important and significant program, and the
reward of assisting these future business leaders in
setting their goals and discovering their entrepreneur
ial spirit."
Founded in October 2004 by local business
woman V.K. Fields, the Millionaires in Training pro
gram is an entrepreneurial training and development
program specifically targeted to adolescent boys and
girls (12-15 yrs.). For more information, visit
wwwjnillionairetraining.org .
Fields
Smithfield plants earn
environmental kudos
Fifty-four Smithfield Foods facilities in 23 states
have been honored by the American Meat Institute
(AMI) for their significant environmental steward
ship efforts in their local communities during the past
year.
Sites honored include the company's North
Carolina plants in Clayton, Clinton, Tar Heel, Wilson
and Kinston. The 54 Smithfield Foods facilities
earned AMI's Environmental Recognition Award,
which singles out companies that assess their own
environmental challenges and develop unique solu
tions that encourage continuous improvement.
The AMI awards ceremony was held in Kansas
City, Mo. last week.
"Once again our employees all across the
Smithfield Foods family of companies have demon
strated their commitment and dedication to preserv
ing our natural resources," said C. Lany Pope,
Smithfield Foods' president and chief executive offi
cer.
Marshall joins Wachovia
Wealth Management
Debbie Marshall has joined Wachovia Wealth
Management as a senior vice president and private
banking relationship manager. In this role, Marshall
will serve as the primary poini
of contact to affluent and high
net worth clients. Wachovia
Wealth Management's private
bank is focused on meeting
the complex financial needs of
clients with investable assets
of between $250,000 and $5
million. Private banking
clients are typically working
professionals, such as execu
tives, doctors, lawyers and
business owners.
Marshall has worked in the Winston-Salem finan
cial services market for 25 years and previously
worked as a client advisor with SunThist and its
predecessors. ?
In addition, Marshall serves on the boards of the
Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce as Vice
Chair of Education and the Central NC Chapter of
the National MS Society. c
Star lawyer is new NCBA leader
CHRONICLE STAFF REPPORT r
The North Carolina Bar Association has
installed its first African-American male presi
dent.
It happened Saturday in Atlantic Beach during
the association's annual meeting when Charles L.
Bee ton, a Raleigh attorney and longtime Durham
resident, succeeded Greensboro attorney Janet
Ward Black as the 114th president of the NCBA.
Judge Allyson K. Duncan of the Fourth U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals, who served as president
of the NCBA in 2003-04, conducted the formal
swearing-in ceremony.
"I am honored beyond your imagining to be
president of this great organization," Becton stat
ed in his installation address. "And I am equally
humbled by an internal sense of gratitude to the
many whose help, sacrifice and encouragement
allowed me to do a lot of different things and
placed me in a position so that I could even be
considered for this honor.
"So first, let me thank you for the opportunity
to serve. Law is the vehicle through which I have
sought to serve the public. I love the law. I love
people."
Education, service and professionalism will
provide the foundation for Becton's platform as
president in 2008-09. He will call upon various
sections, divisions and committees of the organi
See Becton on A9
NORTH CAROLINA
1 ASSOCIATION
'SG LIBERTY Sf JUSTICE
NCBA Photo
Judge Allyson K. Duncan administers the oath of office to Charles L. Becton and his wife,
Brenda, holds the family Bible.
A Shady Donation
John S. Clark Company Photo
Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County Executive Director Sylvia Oberle accepts a donation from
Jim Walker, the president of Mount Airy-based John S. Clark Company. The two are surrounded by
other officials of well-known contracting and design firm. The group is outside of one of the new
homes Habitat has built in the Glen Oaks community. The donation will be used to plant SO trees in
the community, formerly the Kimberly Park public housing development. The donation is part of sev
eral the John S. Clark Company has made to observe its 50th anniversary.
Non-profit leaders told
how to shape public policy
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
More than 50 non-profit pro
fessionals attended seminars earli
er this month sponsored by the
Winston-Salem Urban "League and
the N.C.
State
University
Institute for
N o n -
Profits*,
"Giving
Voice to
Mission :
Nonprofit
Advocacy
Strategies
You Can
Use" was
designed to
train non-profits in developing
strategies to shape public opinion
and policy.
Organizers say that often mis
information and fear prevent non
profits from taking a place at the
policy table. Presenters made the
point that non-profits should be a
part of the public policy debate
since many deliver important serv
ices and programs to their con
stituents and communities and
thus have a first-hand view of the
systemic issues that affect people.
The seminar provided an
overview of advocacy rules for
non-profits, the legislative process
to determine the various entry
points to effecting public policy,
as well as an overview of time
tested strategies such as direct lob
bying, administrative advocacy.
Uitan League Photo
Advocacy for the Poor's Dianne Dawson, right, and Nancy Young with
Consumer Credit Counseling's Peter LaRouche,
mobilizing a base, working in
coalitions and influencing policy
makers and the public.
Jocelyn Taliaferro, assistant
professor in the NCSU
Department of Social Work, led
the panel of presenters. Taliaferro
has expertise in social policy and
program/policy evaluation and
more than 1 5 years of professional
experience working in and with
non-profit organizations. NCSU's
Deena Bayoumi also provided
information at the seminar.
Board and staff members of
several non-profits took part in the
seminar, including ones from:
United Way of Forsyth County,
Exchange Scan, Enrichment
Center, Consumer Credit
Counseling; Guildford Non-Profit
Consortium, Winston-Salem State
University, Union Baptist Church,
Ujima CDC, Triad Cultural Arts,
the Institute to Eliminate Racism.
Ministers Conference of Winston
Salem and Vicinity, Shepherd's
Center of Greater Winston-Salem,
Mediation Services, Bethesda
Center, Triad Mental Health.
Hospice & Palliative Care Center.
Fellowship Home, Advocacy for
the Poor, Experiment in Self
Reliance, the Salvation Army and
the Mediation Center.
Taliaferro
Cook
named
vice
chancellor
She has raised
millions as head of
the school's foundation
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Michelle M. Cook, execu
tive director of the* Winston
Salem State University
Foundation, has been named
vice chancellor for University
Advancement at WSSU, effec
tive July 1.
Cook, who will also contin
ue in her role as executive direc
tor of WSSU's Foundation, has
more than 25 years of experi
ence working in the areas of
fund development, institutional
auvantc
ment and
training.
She
served in
a variety
of pro
gressive
i ' y
responsi
b 1 e
fundrais
inp and
institutional advancement posi
tions and has a proven track
record in developing prospect
relationships, managing suc
cessful solicitations, engaging
prospects and donors and
heightening awareness of orga
nizational priorities.
She will replace Terrence
Hines. who has served as inter
im vice chancellor for university
advancement since January
2008, following the retirement
of Lee Weaver Richardson, who
had served in that role since
2001 . Hines will resume his role
as director of development for
WSSU's Department of
Athletics.
"We thank Mr. Hines for the
contributions he has made to the
university during his interim
role and look forward to his con
tinued service to WSSU," said
WSSU Chancellor Donald J.
Reaves. "I am very pleased that
Mrs. Cook has agreed to accept
the position of Vice Chancellor
for University Advancement.
The university is indeed fortu
nate to have someone of her vast
experience in the area of
fundraising and administrative
management on our team. She
will play a vital role in the uni
versity's efforts to attract
increased investments that will
help boost enrollment and
enhance academic programs."
Cook said she is excited
about working to make WSSU
the best that it can be.
"I look forward to my new
role in attracting gifts to support
the university's strategic goals
and initiatives," said Cook. "As
the executive director of the
See Cook on A9
Cook