|
NCCBI
News
Small
Business Advisory Board hears
Labor Commissioner Berry say she wants
to build partnerships to improve workplace safety
The
proper attitude of OSHA inspectors and other state Labor
Department regulators should be “I’m from the government
and I’m here to help you,” the agency’s new head told
NCCBI’s Small Business Advisory Board at its meeting in
Wilmington last month. Berry told the small business leaders
that she’s interested in forming partnerships with business
and industry rather than continue adversarial relationships.
“The
Department of Labor should be of assistance to you and your
employees,” Berry said. “We need to protect workers, but
we also need to help you be as profitable as possible,
especially in these tough economic times.”
She saluted
NCCBI for its leadership role in fighting the state and
federal ergonomics rules. “I kept my campaign promise by
abolishing these unnecessary rules,” Berry said. She
challenged the business community to continue to voluntarily
reduce workplace injuries.
Pickett
Wadsworth, vice chair, presided at the Small Business Advisory
Group meeting. Board member Bob Rippy of Jungle Rapids, where
the meeting was held, hosted the event and luncheon. NCCBI
President Phil Kirk led the afternoon’s discussion of
legislative and regulatory issues and future directions for
the board. Kirk and Rosemary Wyche, vice president of
development and the NCCBI staff person to the Small Business
Advisory Board, hosted a reception for early arrivals the
evening before the meeting. Corning Inc. and NCCBI hosted a
dinner following the reception.
Myers
announces dates for Fall Area Meetings
Check
the calendar for the date of the meeting in your city.
NCCBI
Chairman Gordon Myers of Asheville has announced a schedule of
Fall Area Meetings that will take him and the association
staff on a 22-city tour to report to members and hear their
input on issues. The tour kicks off Sept. 5 in the Triangle
with a luncheon at the Angus Barn.
Please check the calendar below and note the date of the Area
Meeting in your city, and reserve that date on your calendar.
The schedule is set so that the traveling road show will be in
each region of the state for a day or two. So, if you’re
already committed on the date of the Area Meeting in your
city, you probably can catch us that night or the next day in
a nearby town. The Area Meeting tour will visit the same 22
cities as last year.
Names in
the News
 Sherri
Creech Johnson, director of the N.C. Department of
Transportation’s Public Information office, was named State
Government Manager of the Year by the state chapter of the
National Management Association (NMA). Johnson has been
instrumental in developing ways to help citizens become more
involved in NCDOT's decision-making process, including the
creation of the Customer Service Office. Under her leadership,
the Public Information Office has received numerous awards,
including five awards from the National Transportation Public
Affairs Workshop (NTPAW). The Manager of the Year is an annual
award honoring managers in state government who have exhibited
extraordinary managerial and community leadership.
NCCBI President
Phil Kirk received the 2001 Distinguished Leader of the
Year award from the Leadership Raleigh class on June 4.
Previous winners of the award are former Raleigh mayor Tom
Fetzer, Sen. Eric Reeves (D-Wake) and Jim
Goodmon. In presenting the award, Jeff Benson of
Kilpatrick Stockton cited Kirk’s involvement in business and
education issues. In particular, Kirk was praised for his
leadership on the two largest bond campaigns in North Carolina
history -- $2.75 billion for K-12 schools and highways in 1996
and $3.1 billion for higher education last year.
State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Ward and Phil
Kirk, president of NCCBI and chairman of the State Board of
Education, were honored by the N.C. High School Athletic
Association as two of the state’s “Top 50” supporters
of high school athletics in the history of the state. Charlie
Adams, NCHSAA executive director, praised Ward and Kirk for
their contributions to the growth and success of high school
athletics in North Carolina.
Return to Page One
|
