Chamber names Nicole Holmes Matangira its 2019 chair
Published 12:00 am Friday, January 11, 2019
The new board chairwoman of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, Nicole Holmes Matangira, left, hugs outgoing chairwoman Janet Spriggs as they pass the gavel at the 93rd chamber gala Thursday at West End Plaza. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Sheila Igo, owner of Greystone Salon and Spa, won the Small Business of the Year award. Gary Blabon of Novant Health presented the award. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Ray Paradowski talks with Collette Ellis of Satarah dance troupe in Charlotte, who walked around on stilts before the dinner. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
The 93rd Chamber of Commerce gala featured dinner, entertainment and the presentation of awards. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Jayne Land was the winner of the annual Paul E. Fisher Volunteer of the Year award. Land was unable to accept it, so Elia Gegorek, left, presented it to Land's friend Joan Palmer, right. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
SALISBURY — Stilt walkers, music, jokes from emcee Cale Evans, and business and community leaders filled West End Plaza for the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s gala themed after the musical “The Greatest Showman” on Thursday night.
Chamber President Elaine Spalding said she hopes this year’s gala sets a precedent for the year ahead that focuses on diversity and inclusion as the chamber passes the gavel to Nicole Holmes Matangira, who is believed to be the first African-American chairperson of the organization.
Matangira, of Holmes Iron and Metal and Matangira Recycling, told the audience about the priorities of the chamber for 2019, which include education for workers, researching the creation of a youth version of the chamber’s Leadership Rowan program, helping make downtown Salisbury more vibrant, stimulating the Rowan IDEA Center and updating the trade show.
“I’m expecting nothing but the best for 2019,” Matangira said. “There is nothing impossible that cannot happen this year.”
Previous Chairwoman Janet Spriggs said she is grateful for the time she has spent on the chamber board.
“It’s a brand new year,” Spriggs said. “Time to stop looking backwards. It’s now time to eagerly look forward.”
Three community awards were also presented.
Greystone Salon and Spa was named Small Business of the Year. Shelia Igo, owner of Greystone Salon and Spa, accepted the award. After getting over the shock, she thanked her staff and said she wished her mother, who passed away in 2018, was there.
“A coach is nothing without a great team,” Igo said. “You have no idea what this means to me.”
Jayne Land of Century 21 received the Paul E. Fisher Volunteer of Year Award. Elia Gegorek presented the award, saying Land helped with or attended a large number of the chamber’s events in the last year, including most of the 86 ribbon cuttings.
Joan Palmer, a friend of Land, accepted the award on Land’s behalf saying, “If you know her, you already know what an awesome person she is.”
The Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award was given to the late Frank Goodnight, the owner of Diversified Graphics Inc. who passed away on April 6 at 70 years old. This is the first time the chamber has presented the award in memoriam.
His wife, Diane Goodnight, accepted the award. She said the first thing she and her husband did when they opened a business was to join the chamber and they remained members.
