Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2010

Business Notes

Ace Hardware opens in Cleveland community

An Ace Hardeware store has opened at 7277 N.C. 42 West, in the Cleveland community.

The Cleveland Ace Hardware is the first store opened by Raleigh residents and owners Eric Jensen and Sarah McConnell.

"Our mission is to provide customers with convenience combined with superior service through one-on-one expert advice and assistance," Jensen said. "We look forward to becoming a helpful and valuable neighbor to the community, both inside and outside the walls of our store."

The store's hours are 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. till 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon till 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 919-779-2950.

Hospira calls on JCC for training

The economic and workforce-development staff at Johnston Community College recently provided four weeks of customized training to some 250 Hospira employees

In all, the college's instructors taught courses in math, computer training, biowork and other topics to the employees of the Clayton drugmaker.

The training was held at the Workforce Development Center in Clayton and occurred while the company's manufacturing plant underwent regulatory cleaning and maintenance. JCC has also provided similar training sessions for Novo Nordisk and Talecris, also located in Clayton.

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Hospira has seven manufacturing sites in the United States, including its plant on U.S. 70 Business in Clayton.

For more information about business and industry training opportunities at JCC, call Paul Finks at 209-2082.

Chamber seeks awards applicants

The Garner Chamber of Commerce is seeking applicants for its inaugural Summit Awards, an awards program aimed at honoring businesses that have seen progress in business growth and development.

Nominations are currently being accepted in the following award categories:

Exceptional Customer Service Award.

Integrity in Business Award (honoring companies that display dedication to corporate social responsibility, integrity and ethics).

Entrepreneurial Awards (for 1-15 employees, 16-50 employees and 50-plus employees).

Steady Growth and Achievement Award.

"The Summit Awards program is a great way for the Garner Chamber to not only give accolades to its distinguished businesses, but also to create greater public awareness about these companies," said Neal Padgett, Garner Chamber president. "We hope that award recipients will benefit from positive exposure and their association with the chamber."

All applications for the 2010 Summit Awards are due to the chamber by 5 p.m. Aug. 20. Finalists for the awards will be announced prior to the award ceremony to be held at the chamber's annual meeting and banquet on Sept. 30.

For more information, or to request an application, call 919-772-6440 or send an e-mail to awards@garnerchamber.com.

Conference to look at Garner's future

The Garner Chamber of Commerce will host a half-day conference from 11:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, focusing on developments impacting the town's economic climate and quality of life.

At "Plug in the Future," participants will hear about issues such as options for the donated ConAgra property and the latest efforts to revive Garner's historic downtown district.

Panelists will include Ken Atkins, executive director of Wake County Economic Development, Bo Carson, vice president of research for Research Triangle Regional Partnership and representatives from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and Garner Revitalization Association.

The event will include a welcome luncheon and a post-conference reception and dinner. The cost to attend is $49 and includes lunch and dinner. The event will be held at the Garner Historic Auditorium, 742 W. Garner Road.

For more information or to register, call the chamber office at 919-772-6440 or go to www.garnerchamber.com.

Construction, contracting classes

The following classes will be held at the Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center, located at 135 Bestwood Drive, Clayton:

Introduction to Residential Construction - 6-10 p.m. Nov. 12 and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Workforce Development Center. This seminar is designed for those considering careers in residential construction. It's also for those interested in building their own home. This is not a pre-licensing class. Instead, the intention is to provide the student with a better understanding of the work scope for building a new home. The fee is $65.

Real Estate Pre-Licensing - 6-10 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Aug. 24-Oct. 6, at the Workforce Development Center. The fee is $175, and the textbook is $40.

Pre-Licensing for N.C. Residential/General Contractors - 6-10 p.m. Sept. 10, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 11 and 1-5 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Workforce Development Center. This class prepares students to sit for the state licensing exam for residential and general contractors. The fee is $65. The textbook is $25.

Business academy

The Garner Chamber of Commerce has started a business academy, offering monthly teaching programs for business professionals.

Meetings, to be held at the Garner Chamber of Commerce, are sheduled from 8:30 till 10 a.m. the third Thursday of the month. The chamber's office is located at 401 Circle Dr.

Upcoming meetings:

Aug. 19: Doing More with Less - Have you reduced your workforce so much that your employees complain of being overburdened and stressed? This program is about engaging and retaining your valued employees. Learn cost-effective ways to have a better team.

Sept. 16: Health Care Reform - Will health care reform force employers to cancel their health benefits or will employers be forced to provide health benefits to all employees? Employers who navigate health care reform effectively will emerge with plans that they need in order to remain competitive and manage expenses in ways to retain their valued employees. This session will help explore options and make informed decisions.

Oct. 21: The Legal Side of Social Networking - How your employees use Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and blogs may cost your company millions. Did you know employees often spend excessive time at work social networking, badmouthing their employers and disclosing confidential information? This session will offer tips to help you develop your e-mail and Internet policies to guard against these practices.

To reserve a spot, send an e-mail to info@garnerchamber.com or call 919-772-6440. Each session costs $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. For the five-session series, the cost for chamber members is $40, and $80 for non-members.

For more information, 919-772-6440 or go to www.garnerchamber.com.