Jack Richardson won 2022 Citizen of the Year honors at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce membership meeting and banquet Thursday evening.

2021 Citizen of the Year Mark Hopper presented Richardson the award, noting the tremendous number of volunteer positions Richardson has held locally. He has been “an advocate for students and he has impacted so many lives,” Hopper said. Church, Area Christians Together in Service, the men’s homeless shelter were all described as areas Richardson has earned love and respect.

Hopper said Richardson has “been in every leadership role at his church (First Methodist) and he’s been on all the committees and has helped build handicap ramps and he’s done the live nativity scene of the church.”

He said Jack Richardson is “the epitome of what citizens should be doing to make our community better.”

Richardson was on stage as it began to sink in. He told WIZS afterwards, “I did not know.” He said, “It’s numbing almost.” He said he could not have dreamt this scenario.

Fifteen minutes earlier when he was on stage, he said it was very humbling. “I’m not sure I deserve this,” he said, but “I will gladly accept.” He said, “I enjoy working at the schools and the shelter and ACTS, and I’ve been doing these things for many years and I will hopefully be able to continue for many more. I thank you very much.”

L-R: H-V Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson; 2022 Citizen of the Year Jack Richardson; 2023 Chamber Board Chair Bert Long

Earlier in the evening, 2022 board chair Ronald Bennett provided a report to the 350 or so people in attendance, calling 2022 “A Year of Community.” Next, 2023 Chamber board chair Bert Long expanded on the present term as “A Year of Collaboration,” to the crowd inside the Vance-Granville Community College civic center.

Bennett said he saw 2022 as being about different “ships.” “Partnerships, relationships, friendships, friendships that last a lifetime,” he said.

Three hundred fifty members strong, Bennett said 2022 for the Chamber was “busy and quick.” He spoke of the strong financial position of the chamber and the staff. He said, “Most importantly we are strong because of you,” speaking about and directly to the member base. “We thank you for your support.”

Long, of HG Reynolds, spoke and said each chamber year has a theme. He spent some time pondering to help come up with this year’s theme, naming 2023 “A Year of Collaboration.”

The idea is to propel the business community forward, work together or cooperate.

Long said, “In the current environment, working together can go a long way. We need conflict, but hear me out. We need healthy conflict. We must have conversation and spend time to understand each other, and we can’t learn and grow without it.”

“How,” he asked. “It starts by listening. Sometimes business leadership is looked to for answers, but there also needs to be respect. Once we listen, we must respond in a respectful manner. The tone is important.”

Rather than saying “Yes, but…” Long said, “What if we could say ‘yes and.’”

That could make a difference because as Long noted, everyone has a unique perspective but may need to put themselves in the other person’s shoes because that person has also had defining experiences and perspective as well.

We must work at it, he said, and celebrate the success of others.

Long concluded, “Take some time to connect. Explore how you can collaborate. It could be with someone in this very room.”