Tag Archive for: #hendersonvancechamberofcommerce

18 Graduate From Leadership Vance 2026

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Leadership Vance just graduated its 35th class, and participants and organizers reflected recently on the impact the program has for people who live or work in Vance County.

Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson said the 18 participants formed a bond that will transfer into their work and daily lives.

Wilkerson told WIZS that she enjoyed seeing how the class meshed and worked together.

“If you can take 18 people from different jobs, different backgrounds, and bring them together for a certain period of time to get them to work as a complete group, I feel like that’s what the accomplishment was all about it,” she said.

Granville-Vance Public Health’s Robert Bowen, one of the newest graduates, said one of his key takeaways from participating in Leadership Vance was understanding connections in the community.

The program helped him have a deeper understanding how his workplace fits into the community, “realizing how health care impacts education, and education impacts the work force,” he said.

Whitney Davis is technical coordinator for Vance County Schools. As a native of Vance County, Davis said Leadership Vance gave her the opportunity to see her community from a completely different perspective.

Davis said she learned about local businesses, organizations and the people “working every day to make Vance County better.”

This year’s class project involved collecting donations and preparing “care bags” that were distributed to area agencies, including Maria Parham Health, Vance Recovery and S.A.M. Child Advocacy Center.

Davis said participating in the class reminded her of the importance of being involved, “to give back and be a part of the growth happening right here at home.”

Larry West, II was another class participant and said Leadership Vance helped him grow personally and professionally. West is Vance County’s resource conservation manager, and he said he highly recommends Leadership Vance to anyone who wants to learn, grow and make a positive difference in Vance County.

Leadership Vance is a program for people who may not consider themselves leaders in their workplace or community. The program structure creates ways for people to connect with others and with their community.

“You’re definitely going to make connections,” Bowen said.

Wilkerson said the leadership program is all about building and growing leaders, and it’s also about strengthening connections across the community.

This is the eighth group that she’s been a part of, and she said the process can be challenging at times, but so very rewarding.

“It’s about moving forward and continuing to do the work in the community,” she said. “It’s fun to watch and see how participants continue to grow.”

Several 2026 Leadership Vance graduates have already asked to become Chamber ambassadors, which Wilkerson said has been a nice bonus.

Look for applications for the 2027 Leadership Vance class in early 2027.

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GVPH Director Lisa Harrison Guest Speaker At Chamber’s “State Of Public Health” Luncheon

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A community’s public health department provides an array of services that range from prenatal care and immunizations to tracking communicable diseases and well and septic inspections.

For Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison, it’s the public’s health – whether it’s getting a shot or making sure the well water’s safe to drink – that matters.

Harrison, who has been in her role since 2012, was the guest speaker at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s “State of” luncheon Thursday and told the audience that while there are always challenges, with those challenges come opportunities.

One big challenge coming down the pike: changes in Medicaid laws that are certain to hit rural areas especially hard.

In a nutshell, the federal legislation informally called “the One Big Beautiful Bill” will take about $1 trillion away from Medicaid. That will trickle down quickly to affect states, especially those with lots of rural health care providers – from doctor’s offices to hospitals.

That’s going to be a big challenge, for sure, in North Carolina.

But, Harrison continued, the corresponding opportunity is what came out of recent Congressional hearings where Harrison, among others, stated their case to provide some sort of funding to help rural areas like Vance and Granville counties.

“We can’t make everything work with all the cuts that are coming,” she said, recounting the basic message delivered to Congress.

What came from those Congressional hearings is the $50 billion Rural Transformation Grant, which gives $1 billion to each state in the country to address rural health priorities.

Harrison said GVPH is one of 14 counties in the NC ROOTS (Rural Organizations Orchestrating Transformation for Sustainability) Hub 4 that stretches from Caswell County to the west and Johnston County to the southeast.

There are some strings attached to the money, however, and Harrison mentioned several areas that must be addressed in future programming per the grant requirements: workforce development, technology, hubs of governance and chronic disease prevention.

“The rules that come with this are very strict,” she said, adding that collaboration and partnership with other agencies and community groups are going to be key. Working together in creative ways to figure out what works best for the community and its residents is vital to future success.

Health departments have long used information from community assessments to identify top concerns and priorities to target. Diabetes, heart disease and stroke are among the perennial top three health challenges for Vance residents, so finding ways to reduce or prevent those chronic health conditions is something public health providers are always thinking about.

Lately, mental health and substance use disorder have gained traction, but often, residents don’t know where to go for help.

“It’s hard to market and communicate what we do and how we do it,” Harrison said. Staffs are planning open house events at both the Henderson and Oxford offices as a way to invite people in to hear and see for themselves what their health department is all about.

Visit www.gvph.org to learn more about the programs and services available at GVPH. The Henderson offices are located at 115 Charles Rollins Rd. beside Maria Parham Health; the Oxford offices are located behind Granville Medical Center, 1032 College St. College St.

H-V Chamber Of Commerce Gathering Business Swag For Teacher Welcome Bags

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While area students and teachers are enjoying summer vacation, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is getting a game plan together to provide welcome bags to 100 or so new teachers to various schools across the city and county.

Area businesses are invited to fill the bags with donations – useful supplies with your business logo would be a great addition, and Chamber’s director of Programs Vanessa Jones said donations can be dropped off through Friday, July 10.

The schools which will receive bags include Crossroads Christian School, Henderson Collegiate, Kerr Vance Academy, Oxford Preparatory School, Vance Charter and Vance County Schools.

Please drop your items off at the Chamber Office, located at 414 S Garnett St. Call Jones at the Chamber 252.438.8414 for more information.

Chamber Honors Judge Henry Banks As 2025 Citizen Of The Year; State Farm Margier White Named Small Business Of The Year

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Former District Court Judge J. Henry Banks was named the 2025 Citizen of the Year Thursday at the 88th annual banquet of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce. State Farm Margier White received the Small Business of the Year award and Stephanie Harp was recognized as the 2025 Chamber Ambassador of the Year.

2026 Board Chair Dr. Abidan Shah shared highlights of the recipient’s long career and association in the community. He established a practice in October 1973 with his law partner after graduating from N.C. Central ‘s law school and later served on the Henderson City Council from 1983-1996. He was mayor pro tem from 1993-1996 and was appointed district court judge by then-Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. He served on the bench from 1996 to 2025.

He also has a long association with the NAACP and served as the Vance County NAACP counsel for 23 years.

In his remarks, Shah called Banks a “quiet hero” whose honesty and integrity inspire others.

“This is overwhelming,” Banks admitted when he took the podium to receive the award.

“This is a great event, but more importantly, this is a great community. I’m proud to be a member, a citizen, of this community.”

Banks said he’s always considered himself a public servant. And as a public servant, he keeps three things top of mind: family, community and religion.

One particular Bible verse he called his focus, his “primary guiding star” comes from Micah in the Old Testament. It’s Chapter 6, verse 8:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

“That is what I’ve tried to do over the years,” Banks said. “I hope… I have succeeded.”

Duke Energy’s East Region Director for Government and Community Relations Beth Townsend presented the Small Business of the Year award to Margier White.

In the 10+ years that the company has been in business, the staff has doubled – from 3 to 6 – and the commitment to community organizations is far-reaching. From youth organizations like Scouting programs, rec programs, the Boys & Girls Club, Smart Start to Shop with A Cop and the Hubzone, White and her team provide support to a wide range of “meaningful causes that matter to the people they serve,” Townsend said.

In accepting the award, White said she and her team are driven by more than business goals.

They share a deep commitment to the community they serve she said.

“Vance County, Henderson you are our community,” White said.

“We believe that success is measured not only by profits but by the positive impact we can leave,” she continued. “That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to giving back in meaningful ways through volunteerism, sponsorships, supporting scholarship programs and providing financial support to numerous organizations in our community.”

She and her team truly care about the people and the neighborhoods that have given them support and trust over the years.

“Our commitment to community is at the heart of everything we do and it fuels our passion to keep growing and improving,” White said. “We’re striving to make a meaningful difference every single day.”

Red, white and blue were the colors of the evening as a nod to the America 250 celebration. The theme for the banquet, Heritage – Where History meets Opportunity, featured a video with Shah as he shared a history of the county going back to the pre-Revolutionary era. Find a link to the video on the Chamber’s Facebook page.

Chamber Rescheduled ‘Women In Business Lunch And Learn’ Featuring Miss North Carolina for Mar.23

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has announced that the Women In Business Lunch and Learn has been rescheduled for Monday, Mar. 23 at 12 noon.

Bad weather forced the cancellation of the Jan. 28 event, but organizers said “From the Crown to the Community” featuring the 87th Miss North Carolina Sophia Kellstrom will take place beginning at 12 noon at Kerr Lake Country Club.

The event is hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Van e County Tourism Authority.

Kerr Lake Country Club is located at 600 Hedrick Drive, Henderson.

 

Now is the Time to Join the H-V Chamber of Commerce

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With all the ribbon-cuttings taking place recently, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has had to keep those giant scissors sharpened. This is a busy time for the Chamber, not just because of all those ceremonial welcomes – it’s also annual membership campaign season.

And Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s been a busy time at the chamber,” Wilkerson said on Tuesday’s TownTalk, “but it’s been a great time” as new businesses and new members come on board.

Of course, Wilkerson said, the Chamber welcomes new members any time during the year, but folks who join during the membership campaign won’t get another bill until January of 2027 – that’s like getting 15 months for 12. The current campaign runs through Dec. 19.

As Wilkerson sees it, a members’ annual dues are really an investment from members who reap the benefits of being a part of an organization that brings people from across the community together to network with each other, forming partnerships and friendships.

“You get out of it what you put into it,” she said, emphasizing that the regular get-togethers have a way of strengthening ties within the business community. “If you are one who never gets out of the office, you’ll lose some of that energy,” she said.

And the Chamber’s fundraisers also are celebrations, she said, as people come together for a common goal.

“It’s so much more for the people that come and participate,” she said.

When Wilkerson realized she needed to offer something for the members that are nonprofit organizations, the Chamber started quarterly nonprofit engagement gatherings. The most recent one had 80 people in attendance.

“It’s been very successful,” she said. They bring in speakers – some local, some from elsewhere – and learn about grant opportunities and more.

Last week’s “State Of” luncheon had more than 100 people, and Wilkerson said it’s been a popular series for the community to learn what’s up in the community and across the region.

Another Chamber-sponsored program is Leadership Vance, which brings a diverse group of people from a cross-section of the community together for a months-long program to learn about the county where they live and work.

“I’ve seen so many people in Leadership Vance,” she said, “so many that go on to become Chamber ambassadors, board members and elected officials…and a greater love for the community.”

A spinoff of that is a student version of Leadership Vance. It started a few years ago to get high school students involved in learning about and appreciating all the positives in the county. This year, 44 students applied for the program, and the Chamber loosened up the 16-participant cap to make room for 19.

“These kids can go out and spread that positivity to their peers and to their parents,” Wilkerson said.

The Chamber has its finger in a lot of pies throughout the community, but for Wilkerson, the best part about being the Chamber president is getting to spotlight local businesses. As a lifelong Vance County resident, she said it’s interesting to go into a business and sit down with people she may have known for a long time and learn all about their work and how they fit in – and give back to – the community they call home.

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(The audio and information above was originally air and posted on WIZS and WIZS.com on October 28, 2025)

State of Region – When Will Triangle Overflows Get to Vance

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Economists analyze data and then make projections about things that matter to individuals, governments and other organizations. They do research, make evaluations and help make sense of money, taxes and how much things cost.

N.C. State University professor emeritus Dr. Mike Walden shed some light on prospective growth in Vance County and surrounding areas on Wednesday during a ‘State of the Region’ event sponsored by the Kerr-Tar COG and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

There were no big surprises or ‘aha’ moments in Walden’s remarks to those who’d gathered for the lunchtime program at Henderson Country Club, but Walden’s observations served to rekindle some enthusiasm about what’s possible when it comes to economic growth.

Vance and Warren counties have taken a backseat to Granville and Franklin counties as growth from the Triangle area overflows outside the Raleigh-Durham metro area.

“The counties that have lagged the most were Vance and Warren. Franklin and Granville look better.”

Walden pointed out that Vance County has all the things that attract economic growth – great people, the community college, proximity to the interstate, among others.

And yet, Vance and Warren counties are “one row back” from that inevitable growth – the first wave is hitting Granville and Franklin first, he said. It boils down to one simple, yet immutable thing: Geography.

Walden noted that Vance County is not part of Gov. Josh Stein’s new program to expand internet access, but Granville, Warren and Franklin counties are. He said if he were a Vance County leader, he’d definitely check into that and find out why.

Vance County lags behind the state in households with internet access, for example. About 64 percent of households in the county have high speed internet, compared to 91 percent for the state, he said.

Internet accessibility will continue to be important for businesses looking to locate in the area, but also for residential growth to accommodate employees who may be looking to work remotely.

“I think that there are some positives for you for the future,” Walden said. “The biggest thing that will improve the economic outlook for your future,” he said, is that Vance County is in the path of growth.

Let developers know that Vance County is re-energized, he said, and geared up to work with businesses interested in coming to this part of North Carolina.

Hopefully, the takeaway from his remarks, Walden said, is optimism.

“The growth is going to come,” he said.

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HV Chamber Recognizes 2025 Leadership Vance Class At Annual Graduation Banquet

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The 2025 Class of Leadership Vance had its graduation ceremony last week, adding 17 individuals to the roster of graduates that has successfully completed the annual program hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from a wide range of entities – from banking to local government, nonprofits and the faith community – make up the latest group to take part in the comprehensive program that serves as a way to network with others while learning about the county in which they live and work.

The banquet took place on Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Henderson Country Club. Members of the class shared details about the project they undertook as part of the program, and shared a video that showed highlights of their time together.

Here’s a list of the 2025 class and the organization/workplace each represents:

Judy Ayscue – Benchmark Community Bank

David Caudle – Henderson Family YMCA

Tyler Davis – The Daily Dispatch

Jamie Dittmeyer – City of Henderson

Joseph Coleman Falkner – Paddle Consulting Group, LLC

Victoria Glasscock – KerrTar Regional Council of Governments

Darryl Jones – Community Partners of Hope

Hassan Kingsberry – City of Henderson

DeVona E.Kittrell – Vance County Tax Office

Katie Lee – Vance Recovery

Penny McGhee – CornerClean, LLC

Ferdinand Rouse – Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission

Dr. Abidan Shah – Clearview Church

Angela Simmons – Vance-Granville Community College

Charles Turrentine, Jr. – Exquizid Cuts/Pathways 2 Peace

Amber Varner – First National Bank

Donna Young – Maria Parham Health

Chamber Members, Join The Aug. 19 “Cheer Line” To Welcome School Staffs To Convocation Kick-Off At McGregor Hall

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce invites Chamber members to turn out on Tuesday, Aug. 19 to help welcome back teachers and staff at the Vance County Schools Convocation Kick-Off at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.

Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson says to be in place by 8 a.m. with pompoms, company signs and your business mascot to “show loud hometown spirit” in support of educators as they embark on another school year.

Buses will begin dropping off teachers between 8:15 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. It’d be great to have them walk through a cheer line of local business leaders and other community-minded citizens as they enter McGregor Hall to begin the convocation!

Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament Set For Thursday, Oct. 2 At Kerr Lake Country Club

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The 27th annual Chamber Challenge golf tournament is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2 and now’s the time to register – the deadline is Sept. 22, but Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson said not to wait too long – the spots fill up fast!

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce and Presenting Sponsor Margier White-State Farm Insurance invite you to join us in making this event a fun and successful fundraiser at Kerr Lake Country Club.

The Chamber is seeking sponsors and donations for golfers’ gift bags as well as players for the tournament. It will be a day full of fun, food, golf and networking.

Here’s the link to the registration page, which contains information about sponsorship levels and more:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ogbl&pli=1#inbox/WhctKLbfNwzVWKRhkLZpzMMRpBHKgfMrDQGtdbJFSkqWTvPsNnzdDTgrPpmbqJzcQDwkHdV?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1