BUSINESS FOCUS
Briefs
Garland named Foundation's ED
Amy S. Garland has been appointed executive
director of The Blessings Project Foundation, which
works to foster individual enrichment, empowerment
and a sense of respect and responsibility in the local
and worldwide communities.
Garland specializes in marketing and public rela
tions and has served non-profits, small businesses
and the arts community for nearly 20 years. She will
oversee the Foundation's grant process, build cooper
ative relationships with the non-profit community,
and manage maiiceting and public relations for the
Foundation.
The Foundation was established in 2006 by local
philanthropist Beverly Johnston, who serves as the
organization's president and chairman of the Board
of Directors. Through a biannual grants process.
Blessings Project Foundation provides funding for
workshops, presentations and supports non profit
organizations who share the belief that spiritual and
physical growth is inseparable from the health of the
planet. Foundation offices are located at 823
Reynolda, LLC, a special events space in Winston
Salem.
In the past year, the Foundation has awarded
grants totaling more than $100,000 to organizations,
including the ECHO Council, to help build diverse
cultural relationships in the local community;.
Piedmont Earth Day Fair, to raise awareness for envi
ronmental sustainability; and the Nyanya Project, to
raise funds for women raising grandchildren in
Africa orphaned by AIDS. For more information, call
336-725-8230 or visit www.blessingsproject.org.
Gerlach to replace retiring
Valeria Lee at Golden LEAF
Golden LEAF has announced that Dan Gerlach
will serve as the foundation's new president effective
Oct.l. Following an extensive search process, the
foundation's board chose Gerlach to succeed retiring
President Valeria Lee.
Gerlach comes to Golden LEAF from the admin
Lee
istration of Governor Mike
Easley, where he has served
since 2001 as senior policy
advisor for fiscal affairs.
Since then, Gerlach has
played a leading role in craft
ing and negotiating the state
budget. Before entering the
administration, Gerlach head
ed up the North Carolina
Budget and Tax Center, a
nonprofit that advocated for a
progressive state tax system.
Gerlach will take the
reigns of the foundation from Lee, who has served as
Golden LEAF's president since 2000. During Lee's
presidency. Golden LEAF awarded 682 grants total
ing more than $351 million to support diverse proj
ects in agriculture, economic development, work
force preparedness and education.
V
N.C. man one of Jaycees'
top ten young people
Chapel Hill's Stephen Lee is one of the prominent
businesspeople and politicians on the 2008 Ten
Outstanding Young Americans list announced last
week by the United States Jaycees.
Lee, 39, is the senior scientist in the Director's
Office of the U.S. Army Research Office. He has
been working to develop new tools and capabilities
to save lives of both civilians and soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
His motivation and management skills have initi
ated a 98-percent growth in the U.S. Army's techni
cal program he manages. Lee also regularly volun
teers with the local schools and Cub scouts, as well
as working directly with undergraduate and graduate
students at the University of North Carolina. Lee and
the others will be honored at a black-tie awards Sept.
27 in San Diego, Calif.
The Ten Outstanding Young Americans program
(TOYA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious
recognition programs in America. Annually since
1938, The United States Jaycees has sought out the
ten young men and women who best exemplify the
finest attributes of America's youthful achievers.
Many notables have been honored as Outstanding
Young Americans in the past, including Presidents
John Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Bill
Clinton, and Vice Presidents A1 Gore, Dan Quayle,
and Dick Cheney.
Professionals to hold charity gala
The Piedmont Club, in partnership with Safari
Professionals, will host a Safari Charity Gala on
Friday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.
The cost is $50 per person and all proceeds will
be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association,
Crosby Scholars and ClubCorp's Employee Partner
Care Foundation.
There will be more than 20 silent auction items,
including a beach weekend, jewelry, Carolina
Panthers autographed paraphernalia, spa services and
an overnight stay at the Vintage Inn Bed and
Breakfast in Yadkin ville. Music will be provided by
The Downtown Band and TJ. the DJ. Hors d'oeuvres
will be served and a cash bar will be available. Safari
attire is encouraged.
The Piedmont Club is located on the 19th floor of
the BB&T Financial Center at 200 W. Second St.
Parking under the building.
For more information or to make reservations,
call 336-724-7077.
Algenon Cash
Algenon Cash cited for
'moving and shaking'
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Algenon Cash, the managing
director of mortgage firm Wharton,
Gladden & Co., has been nominated
for Business Leader Media's 2008
Movers and Shakers Award.
Business Leader Media is pub
lisher of several magazines, includ
ing "Business Leader," "The Park
Guide" and "The Corporate
Relocation Guide."
Cash's nomination stems from
his mission to mix business with
community service. Cash, who is
also the chairman of Wharton,
Gladden & Co.'s operating commit
tee, feels so strongly about giving
back to the community that all asso
ciates at the company are required to
participate in civic efforts outside
work through a program called,
"Power of One."
"I think businesses and corpora
tions need to be about more than just
making money," Cash says. "I think
they need to be good corporate citi
zens for their community."
Cash can also v_be heard on
WQMG Radio, dispensing financial
advice to listeners throughout the
Triad.
"Even if a listener isn't in my tar
get demographic as a buyer of com
mercial real estate, ir gives them a
chance to learn about money man
agement," he says.
Outside of wealth management.
Cash frequently speaks about success
and leadership, believing that his
upbringing in an urban Winston
Salem neighborhood calls him to
share his time and talents whenever
possible.
Law Leaders
Submitted Photo
The Winston-Salem
Bar Association has
newly-elected officers
for the 200ft - 2010
term. They are (from
right) Eric Ellison,
president; Lorraine
Mortis, secretary; S.
Wayne Patterson, vice
president and Artrese
N. Ziglar, treasurer.
The Association is the
organization for
African-American
lawyers in the Winston
Salem area. The new
officers say they look
forward to a greater
level of community
invdtvement in the
upcoming year.
Kim Price (from left) and Thad Woodard, NCBA's president/CEO, present Major General William E.
Ingram Jr. and Brigadier General Iwan Clontz with a $25,000 check.
N.C. Bankers giving back to the military
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
o
The North Carolina Bankers Association con
tributed $25,000 to the North Carolina Soldiers and
Airmen Assistance Fund last week in Raleigh at the
N.C. National Guard Joint Force Headquarters.
The donation is the first of four military contribu
tions that the association will make. Entities at Ft.
Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Seymour Johnson will
also receive $25,000 checks, bringing the associa
tion's total donation to $100,000.
Kim Price, the association's chairman and presi
dent & CEO of Citizens South Bank of Gastonia,
presented the first check. The money was raised as
part of the association's "Salute To Our Troops"
event, which took place in Raleigh on April 26 and
included a parade and a slew of family-friendly
events.
The N.C. National Guard's Soldiers and Airmen
Assistance Fund provides emergency aid to N.C.
National Guardmembers and families in financial
crisis.
Founded in 1897, the North Carolina Bankers
Association has more than 150 members.
Garland Burton Jr.
Burton hired
to up WFU's
diversity efforts
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
0
Wake Forest University
has hired a director of busi
ness diversity programs.
Garland Burton Jr. has
assumed the title, leaving
behind a position at the
University of North Carolina
M Chapel Hill.
He is responsible for
building strategic partnerships
between Wake Forest and a
more diverse pool of vendors,
suppliers and contractors in
Winston-Salem, the Triad and
beyond.
Burton served six years as
administrative manager and
director of the Historically
Underutilized Business
Program at UNC. He is also
the former president and gen
eral manager of Burton
Developers Inc. and worked
for Durham's Department of
Engineering for six years.
Burton - who has a bache
lor of science degree in orga
nizational management at St.
Augustine's College - has
received a number of awards
recently, including the North
Carolina Minority and
Women's Business Enterprise
Coordinators Network
Achievement Award, the
UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellors
Award and the United
Minority Contractors of North
Carolina Advisor of the Year
Award. He was also honored
at the 20()8 Greater Durham
Chamber of Commerce Circle
of Influence Award ceremony.
Sweet effort for soldiers now a nonprofit
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
The signature product of a local gift
and candy boutique has earned nonprofit
status.
Sweetie's on Reynolda Road has won
local and national
acclaim for its
red, white and
blue "Patriot
Boxes," which are
stuffed with
"Goodies Ready
to Eat" (or
"G*R*Es) and
shipped mainly to
military men and
women serving in
Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Boutique
Owner Jackie
I Williams
Williams and her staff began creating
Patriot Boxes in 2007 as a way to say for
local residents to say "thank you" to sol
diers. Although some customers pur
chase! the boxes for loved ones, others
buy boxes or make contributions so that
random soldiers can receive them.
Sweetie's works with local military offi
cials to select soldiers who do not
receive many communications from
home.
Now that the boxes are an individual
nonprofit corporation operating under
the name, "Patriot Box/GREs, Inc," cus
tomers will have added incentive to sup
port the effort.
"We are pleased to announce the non
profit rating for our Patriot Boxes, and
are grateful for the local support and con
cern shown to those serving our country
abroad," says Williams. "Because of the
nonprofit status, the cost of the Patriot
Boxes can be taken as a charitable tax
deduction by the purchaser."
Sweeties has shipped more than 700
boxes overseas in the last year. They
come in assorted designs that represent
each branch of the military. Williams has
received kudos from people like U.S.
Sen. Elizabeth Dole and President Bush
for her efforts. Dole was among dozens
who attended a one-year anniversary cel
ebration for Patriot Boxes in July.
Sweetie's is located at 122ft Reynolda
Road. For additional information about
Patriot Boxes, go to
www. sweet ieswinstonsalem com .