 NCCBI
News
Small Business
board
backs
session
limits
The NCCBI Small Business Advisory Board, during
its quarterly meeting Dec. 12 at the Bank of America Corporate
Center in Charlotte, unanimously endorsed the NCCBI campaign
to convince the legislature to adopt a constitutional
amendment limiting the length of legislative sessions. Members
committed to being a part of the grassroots effort to convince
the House to enact the Senate-passed measure in next May’s
short session. NCCBI President Phil Kirk led the
discussion. Presiding at the meeting was Small Business
Advisory Board chair Steve Zaytoun (right). At the same meeting, Dr. H. Nolo Martinez, director of
Hispanic/Latino Affairs in the Governor’s Office, spoke on
the growing numbers of Hispanics in North Carolina. Lawrence
Davis of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, organized
discussions on estate planning for business owners and
business succession planning. Panelists included Neil
Coghill, William Whitehurst, James Daniel
and Keith Butcher, all of Womble Carlyle. Bank of America executive Rob Jones greeted the members
of the Small Business Advisory Board.
Membership campaign hits high
gear
With three months left in NCCBI’s annual
membership campaign, 165 new members have joined the
association, a total considered excellent given the
challenging economic conditions. Congratulations go to board
members David Huskins
for leading the campaign with 14 new members and to Dr. Jim Causby with 11. Among other board members, Kelly King has recruited six new members and John Forlines, Gene Miller
and R.V. Owens,
four each. Recruiting three new members each were board members Tom Beard, Bruce Biggs, Sue
Cole, Phyllis Crain, Linwood Davis,
Charlie Green, Jim Hyler, Steve Miller, Gordon
Myers, Pope Shuford, Steve Stroud
and Jordy Whichard.
NCCBI also appreciates the fact that a number of board members
are working on retaining existing members.
Kirk
tells insurance agents economy will rebound
While
Site Selection magazine has again selected North
Carolina as the No. 1 state in which to locate or expand a
business or industry, we cannot rest on our laurels,
NCCBI President Phil Kirk told a gathering of 200
Independent Insurance Agents in Raleigh on Jan. 24. "We
must make sure our tax code is competitive and that our rules,
regulations, and laws are fair and that they are consistently
enforced. We need to make sure they are based on sound science
and not on political polling or someone's personal political
agenda."
Kirk
predicted a gradual improvement in the economy as the year
progresses. "The budget problems of last year appear to
be getting worse in the new year," he said. "The
current fiscal year budget may be in deficit by as much as
$800 million to $900 million, and the governor will be
challenged to balance the budget by June 30. The short session
of the General Assembly in
May will face a real challenge in developing the next budget
with no new taxes."
Mitchell County chamber building
burns
NCCBI was saddened to
learn that Mitchell County-Spruce Pine Chamber of Commerce
building was devastated by fire on Christmas Eve when a fire
in an adjoining building spread into the structure. The
building and its contents, including computers and most
computer files, were a total loss. The chamber is appealing
for donations to help it rebuild. Contributions can be made by
check to Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce and mailed to the
attention of Claudia Pittman, Pinebridge Center, 97
Pinebridge Ave., Spruce Pine, N.C. 28777.
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