Careers
Briefs
Bank receives honor
for redesigned Web site
Southern Community Bank and Trust has received
the Model Bank Award in the "Online Banking
Experience" category from Celent. a global financial
research and consulting firm
The bank was named a model bank for its effective
use of technology to enhance customers' online bank
ing experience through the redesign of its Web site,
wwwjimallenoughtocare com .
Celent recognized Southern Community's Web
site for its ability to strategically reinforce the bank's
"small enough to care" branding through a live chat
feature, a call center with extended hours, easy-to-use
new account opening procedures, and the introduction
of the ME Banking (Maximum Earnings Hanking)
initiative that rewards customers with a premium
interest rate and other perks if they meet specific cri
teria for electronic banking and debit card usage.
Among the small pool of 18 banks recognized
internationally in the Celent Model Bank 2(XW report.
Southern Community, which is based in Winston
Salem. was the only community bank to receive an
award.
Promotions in WFU's legal wing
Three staff members in Wake Forest University's
Legal Department have received promotions.
Donna H Hamilton has been named associate' vice
president for legal administration. Hamilton w ill con
tinue to serve as counsel for Wake Forest and Wake
Forest University Health Sciences, a position she has
held since IW. She joined the Legal Department in
Harkty
19XX. Before joining Wake
Forest. Harhilton was a senior
attorney with Piedmont
Aviation Inc. In addition, she
was a law clerk in the United
States District Court for the
Middle District of North
Carolina in Greensboro.
Hamilton received a Bachelor
of Arts degree at Drury College
and a law degree at Wake
Forest School of Law.
K. Carter Cook was named
associate counsel. Cook was previously assistant
counsel, a position he has held since 2004. Before
coming to Wake Forest, he was an ^ssQcj^tg jt Parker,
Poe. Adams & Bernstein, a law firru in Charlotte-. He
has also served as an associate at Poyner & Spruill, a
Raleigh law firm, and was a law clerk for the North
Carolina Court of Appeals. Cook received Bachelor
of Science, Law and Master of Business
Administration degrees from Wake Forest.
Melanie Harkey was named coordinator of board
support. Harkey had been a legal secretary at Wake
Forest since 2007. Previously, she worked as a legal
assistant for Maynard & Harris. Attorneys at Law and
other law firms in Winston-Salem. Harkey has a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest and a para
legal certificate from the American Institute of
Paralegal Studies.
Spending up in June
WASHINGTON (AP) - As gasoline prices rose.
Americans spent more in June than the previous
month ? despite falling incomes. For the rest of the
year, economists expect falling wages and rising
unemployment to act as a drag on spending.
Consumer spending is closely watched because
it accounts for about 70 percent of total economic
activity and has helped lift the economy out of pre
vious recessions. While analysts expect the econo
my to grow in the second half of this year, con
sumers aren't likely to lead the way.
Americans boosted their spending 0.4 percent in
June, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, t ho
second consecutive monthly increase. But adjusting
for inflation, spending fell 0.1 percent, following a
flat reading in May. Inflation-adjusted spending has
n't increased since February, the department said.
Personal income, meanwhile, dropped 1 .3 per
cent in June, the eighth straight decline and steepest
fall in four years. Incomes wiere inflated in May due
to one-time payments from the Obama administra
tion's stimulus program. But wages and salaries also
fell 0.4 percent in June.
"The key message is that ... income remains
weak" and consumers are likely to keep saving
more, Paul Dales, U.S. economist at Capital
Economics, wrote in a note to clients. "Under those
circumstances, we expect spending to remain muted
for some time."
Consumer spending may increase in July and
August due to the government's "cash-for-clunkers"
program, economists said, but will likely level off
afterward. The program has spurred thousands of
Americans to trade in old cars for newer vehicles.
Retailer opens eight new stores
Low cost retailer Citi Trends is doing pretty
good in this tough economy. The Savannah. Ga.
company announced last week that it has opened
eight new stores in the southeast and California.
Citi Trends.
M |# 0K* 1^ Inc.. which
CrhTrendfej
Salem, now
operates over 360 stores in more than 20 states. The
value-priced retailer sells a large selection of urban
fashion apparel. The items offered at the store are
generally 30 to 70 percent below specialty and
department store prices.
Reynolds gives $10,000 to help fire victims
CH RON 1CLE STAFF REPORT
Reynolds American Inc. has
donated $10,(MX) to the
Northwest North Carolina
Chapter of the American Red
Cross to aid in providing emer
Ivey
gency assis
tance to
almost 150
Wins ton -
Salem resi
dents whose
homes have
burned in the
last several
weeks.
"All of us
need a place
to call home, and the Red Cross
is stretching its, already limited
resources to help . families
who've lost everything put their
lives back together," said Susan
M. ivcy, chairman, president and
chief executive officer of
Reynolds American. "Our com
panies and our employees are
pleased to be in a position to step
up and help when help is needed
the most."
July was bad month for fires
at local apartment complexes. On
July 14. a fire at Alders Point
Phtrto b> Todd Luck
A fire damaged Alders Point on July 14.
Apartments in the Happy Hill
community was apparently start
ed from a discarded smoking
device. A fire at Colony Arms
Apartments, which has been
blamed on arson, soon followed.
A week later an electrical prob
lem caused a fire at Countryside
Villas, and just this past week, a
unit was damaged by fire at
Eastgate Apartments.
Hugh Quinn. executive direc
tor of the Red Cross, praised
Reynolds American for its sup
port
"Reynolds American and R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company, as
companies, and their employees,
as individuals, have long demon
strated leadership in this commu
nity when there was a critical
need for support," said Quinir.
"These -back-to-back fires dis
placed 146 people, including
Close,
but Not
There Yet
Study finds NCDOT misses goals for
minority business participation
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
The N.C. Department of Transportation held a pow
wow jasfciKfiQk^with disadvantage*!, raieupty- and
women-owned business owners to assure them that state
is working hard to make more opportunities available to
them.
The roundtable discussion - held at N.C. Central
University in Durham - was held to discuss the findings
oi a siaie-commissioneu siuuy
that analyzed the Department's
efforts to support and include
these businesses from July I.
20()3 to June 31. 2008.
Led by Georgia Tech
Professor Dr. Thomas Boston, the
study shows the state has work to
do in order to make the playing
field for minority businesses more
balanced.
Among the findings:
? While disadvantaged busi
nesses represented 15.1 percent
of contractor capacity in the
market, they received ?9. 4 per
cent of the total value of state
jobs and 8 percent of federal
jobs awarded by NCDOT;
? NCDOT almost reached its
annual goals for participation of
disadvantaged businesses in
both state and federal contracts.
In 2008. disadvantaged busi
nesses obtained 9,4 percent of
suite contracts awarded, con
Boston
Conti
pared to a Ntuu i goal or 1 1 percent. 1 ney ooiameu o
percent of federal contracts awarded by NCDOT. corn
pared to a goal of 10.1 .
Boston, who is also CEO of the Atlanta-based eco
nomic consulting firm EuQuant Inc.. had praise for
NCDOT's efforts to implement "an impressive number
of race- and gender-neutral programs" that are "among
the most extensive this consultant has encountered at the
state and local agency level."
He particularly cited NCDOT's Small Business
Enterprise Program, aimed at creating contracting oppor
tunities for small businesses, saying that it "represents a
best in class race-neutral program that can serve as a
model for other state and local programs."
Since the time period covered by the study, NCDOT
has conducted extensive outreach to disadvantaged busi
nesses in conjunction with the awarding of contracts
funded through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act. These efforts include holding meet
ings with contractors across the state to detail opportuni
ties available through the Act and explain the contract
bidding process.
"NCDOT continues to work hard to provide disad
vantaged businesses with the resources they need to be
successful in the transportation industry and create a
level playing field," Transportation Secretary Gene Conti
said. "This study and roundtable discussion play an
important role in helping us determine what we are doing
well and how we need to improve in the future."
The roundtable discussion also featured Andrea
Harris (North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic
Development); Curtis Wynn (United Minority
Contractors of North Carolina); Shelby Moorman (N.C.
M/WBE Coordinators Network); Niveen Kattan
(Atlantic Contracting Company Inc.); and the Rev.
William Barber II (N.C. NAACP).
The 2009 disparity study's executive summary, which
includes its findings and recommendations, can he
view ed at http://ncdot.Kov/husiness/ocr/newsupdates.
children and seniors, two of our
most vulnerable populations
The Red Cross will spend more
than $50,000 to provide shelter,
medication, food, furniture,
clothing and other items for these
families.
"We are grateful that
Reynolds American and other
organizations have quickly
responded to help us help those
who desperately need support
right now," Quinn said.
Churches and other organiza
tions have joined the Red Cross
and Goodwill to help those dis
placed by the Tires. Through
Friday, Aug. 14, Goodwill and
the Red Cross are asking the
community to donate gently -
-used furniture to help fire victims
get back on their feet. Items such
as dressers, dinette tables and
chairs, couches, sitting chairs,
nightstands, coffee tables, lamps
and full-size bed frames are
needed.
Furniture donations can be
made at the Goodwill Store at
2701 University Parkway.
Donors must specify that their
furniture donation is intended for
the Red Cross.
First-Class Cargo
I ?
PRNewsFoto; Porsche Cars North America, Dirk Michael Deckbar
Thirty-one brand new Porsche Panameras await their flight to the
U.S. at a German airport last week. Having just rolled off the assem
bly line at the nearby Porsche production plant, each car was careful
ly lifted, secured and then placed on the 747 cargo plane. The wraps
will come off at the Monterey Peninsula Automotive Festivals, which
will be held the week of Aug. 9. in Southern California.
First Community to sponsor cycling event
SIM C1AI KM HI CHRONIC! I
First Community Bank has signed
on as the title sponsor of the 32nd
annual Hanes Park Classic,
which is set to take place in
on Sunday. Aug. 9.
Organized by
CycieSafe.org". the Hanes
Park Classic is a profession
al cycling criterium and fea
tures a number of free, fam
ily events in addition to the
competitive races.
"We are delighted to be
sponsoring this world-class
race, which takes place
right here in Winston-Salem
each year. We think it is important to
support events like these, which not
only bring a high quality professional
sport to our community- but also raise
awareness of our beautiful city and
Brown
benefit our local economy. What
makes the Hanes Park Classic even
more exciting is all the free. fun. fam
ily-oriented events that go on
throughout the day in addi
tion to the professional bike
races," said Skip Brown.
First Community's presi
dent of the Triad Region.
The Hanes Park Classic
is comprised of a 1.3 mile
tree-lined circuit around
Hanes Park in the city's his
toric West End neighbor
hood and has become wide
ly- known as one of the
highlights of North
Carolina's cycling scene.
To find out how to participate or
for more information, visit
www.hanesparkclassic .com
Reidsville gets stimulus funds
to do a downtown makeover
CHRONIC I E STAF1 Rl PORT
The City of Reidsville plans to
spruce-up its downtown with a
$75 .000 federal grant .
part of Rural Business Enterprise
/Grant Program (RBEG) funding
included in the Recovery Act. which
is administered under the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. The
The money
comes the American
Recovery and
Reidsville
J EG program helps f i nance
i new and existing businesses
in rural areas and supple
Keinvestment Act -
the economic stimulus
oackace pushed
through Congress and
siened bv President
All-America City,
meiM employment education
programs. The money can be
used for loans, building and
plant renovations, transporta
[ion improvements, and proi
\
Obama earlier this |
year. U.S. Senator Kay
R Hagan announced
the grant for Reidsville, '
which is in neighboring!
Rockingham County, last
week.
"This grant will give
Keidsville resources to start,
revitalizing its downtown,",
I Beet planning
? "This money is a very
" important part of the package
that we are trying to put togeth
er to revitalize downtown and to
help small businesses survive
?and flourish," said said City
Manager Kelly Almond. "It is going
to create new jobs and help new
businesses get started. Our hope is
2008
Hagan said. "It is an invest
ment in our community that will cre
ate jobs and spur our economy."
The money allocated to the city is
in these small businesses right now.
and they are the key to economic suc
cess in Reidsville."