It has been a true honor to be a part of the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce for my first two weeks! Thank you for your constant support and encouragement as I continue this journey with each of you. I am very excited about the continued growth and opportunities for Sampson County and the Chamber.

Part of the Chamber’s mission is to support and promote a healthy business and industry environment. Each year, the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce is honored to partner with the N.C. Department of Labor as we recognize those that have placed an emphasis on safety throughout the year. We commend both the business and its employees for their effort through the partnership with the NCDOL and strive to recognize these accomplishments.

Each year these awards are presented by Commissioner Cherie Berry, North Carolina’s first female labor commissioner sworn in on January 6, 2001. A native of Catawba County, Commissioner Berry currently resides in Newton, and has a goal as labor commissioner to make North Carolina the safest sat in the country for workers.

On November 6, 2012, Commissioner Berry made North Carolina history when she was re-elected to a fourth term, making her the longest serving Republican on the Council of State.

The Chamber values the county’s workforce and each year it is evident that our area businesses and industries make safety and health of their employees a priority. We held this event on Tuesday, June 9 and celebrated over 500 safety awards with the recipients.

I encourage you to stop by and congratulate our member of the week, K & C Farms, and also to discover more about all of our members by visiting the website at clintonsampsonchamber.org. For whatever service or product you’re seeking, we are proud to recommend our members. Join us next Monday at 10:30 to celebrate next week’s member of the week, A Peaceful Path of 820 College Street, Clinton.

Don’t forget about our kick-off event for Young Professionals that is scheduled for Thursday, June 25 at Oasis. Click on the “Young Professionals” tab on our Chamber website for both membership and sponsor applications! The event is going to involve great networking opportunities and will be a wonderful way to meet with the young professionals of Sampson County.

For more information about the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce, visit www.clintonsampsonchamber.org or call 910-592-6177. I encourage you to support our local businesses, to get involved with our community, and let the Chamber work for you!