Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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Smith, a local dentist with Smith Lanning Bundy & Miller, pointed out to a national survey of chamber members which resulted in the Thomasville chamber being ranked No. 8 out of 305 participating chambers.”
“That’s pretty darn sharp,” Smith said of his chamber being ranked in the top 3 percent. “It says a lot about what we do and how we are run. We have really tried to do everything that we know to do to make sure that the citizenry of Thomasville is exposed to as much growth potential as possible..’
Hardin owns of Thomasville Chevrolet Buick Pontiac.
“We know we’ve got some issues to deal with. What cities don’t?” Hardin asked. “We’re going to meet these issues head-on.”
The chamber’s Outstanding Citizen Award went to Samuel Barefoot, treasurer and chief financial officer of Baptist Children’s Home.
“Sam’s list of volunteerism is long and strong,” Smith said. “Our chamber has even benefitted from his leadership. Sam remains active and will be volunteering and leading this community for many more years.”
In addition to serving on the chamber’s board and as its treasurer, Barefoot has served as president of the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA, president of the Davidson County Education Foundation and president of the Thomasville Rotary Club. Other boards Barefoot has served on include Thomasville Medical Center, the Salvation Army’s Davidson County chapter, Brown Middle School PTO, East Davidson High School Advisory Board and Family Services of Davidson County.
Joan Kennedy and Nancy Higgins were both named recipients of the Chairman’s Award at the meeting.
“This is truly an honor,” Kennedy said of her award. “Working with the chamber has been beneficial for me both personally and professionally. We work hard to enrich our business community, and the chamber is such a great resource in this area.”
Kennedy, a Realtor at Russell Realty, serves the chamber.as vice chair for chamber development.
“Historically Joan helped with member campaigns and always did a good job,” Smith said. “She has been very instrumental in organizing our silent auction the past three years. We wish we had 100 people like her to make things happen.”
Higgins, a graduate of the Leadership Davidson County program, has also been active with the chamber’s silent auction.
“Nancy does it all,” Smith said. “She often solves problems right on the street — even before they reach the chambers’s front door.”
The marketing manager at Horner-England & Associates, a civil engineering and land surveying firm, has been extremely involved in the chamber’s Everybody’s Day activities.
“It was a delightful surprise,” Higgins said of the award. “I’m excited and really in awe.”
Smith and Hardin both praised the chamber’s staff, President Doug Croft and Administrative Assistant Judy Smith, for its accomplishments.
“We had three speakers tonight,” Croft said of Smith, Hardin and guest speaker Michael Hodge, CFO of Skybus Airlines. “All three of them made positive comments and did a fantastic job.
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or at reid@tvilletimes.com.