Salisbury attorney James A. Davis received the 2019 John Rubin Award on July 12 at the N.C. State Bar in Raleigh.

The N.C. Commission on Indigent Defense Services created the award to honor John Rubin, a faculty member at the UNC School of Government.  

The award recognizes exceptional work as trainers and creating training programs for attorneys who represent indigent defendants.

Davis is the head of Davis & Davis, Attorneys at Law. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1991 and has led the firm since his father’s passing in 2005.

Born and raised in Rowan County, Davis is the father of four children. He has been involved in a number of civic and community leadership positions, including on the board of directors for Rowan Helping Ministries and the Rowan County YMCA, the board of visitors at Catawba College, and the board of trustees at Charleston Southern University.

Rubin was recently honored by the North Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense Services, which created a training award in his name. 

Rubin joined the School of Government in 1991. He specializes in criminal law and indigent defense education. He has written articles and books on criminal law, including “Relief From a Criminal Conviction: A Digital Guide to Expunctions, Certificates of Relief and Other Procedures in North Carolina.” He teaches and consults with judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other officials in the criminal justice system. He also manages the school’s indigent defense education program.

Rubin is a frequent consultant to the Office of Indigent Defense Services, which is responsible for overseeing and enhancing legal representation for indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel under state law. In 2012, he was named Albert Coates Professor of Public Law and Government.

Rubin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For more information about the 2019 John Rubin Award, visit sog.unc.edu.

Novant Health receives stroke and heart failure awards

WINSTON-SALEM ― Several Novant Health medical centers were recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for exemplary care of patients.

The awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment and success to ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatment for stroke and heart failure.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the heart and stroke associations.

Novant Health facilities received one or more of the following achievement awards: Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure: Silver Plus or Gold Plus; Get With the Guidelines-Stroke: Gold Plus; Mission: Lifeline-STEMI Receiving Gold Plus; STEMI Referring Gold; and STEMI Receiving Gold.

“Novant Health continues to make strides in building a comprehensive stroke program so that patients throughout our community can access specialists when they need it,” said Nick Sullivan, vice president of Novant Health Neurosciences and Psychiatry Institute. “In addition to the talented neurologists on our team, Novant Health is working with Viz.ai to implement an artificially intelligent triage system that analyzes images for specific types of strokes. At Novant Health, we are committed to remarkable stroke care and this recognition demonstrates our efforts.”

“Novant Health is equipped with all the latest diagnostic equipment, tests, treatments and rehabilitation programs to get our patients back on their feet should they face a heart-related episode,” said Regina Hartung, vice president of Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute.

To receive one or more of the awards, hospitals must adhere to quality indicators known to speed patient recovery and reduce death and disability for patients.

For more information, visit NovantHealth.org and follow Novant on Facebook and Twitter.

Rowan County records best job, employment growth ever

Led by landing of a new fulfillment center for Chewy Inc. and motor sports team StarCom Racing, Rowan County and its Economic Development Commission recorded the best year ever at the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year, which ended June 30, according to a news release.

An estimated 1,438 jobs were created and companies invested $82.3 million in new facilities and equipment during the 12-month period. That represents a 2.9 percent employment growth.

In addition to Chewy and StarCom, other growth projects included New York Air Brake, bringing 122 jobs and a $11 million investment; Innospec, 10 jobs and a $5.13 million investment; McKenzie Sports, 51 jobs and a $3.1 million investment; and Trelleborg, Custom Plastic Forming and Aldo Products.

“Nearly 80% of our project activity is a result of existing Rowan industries who are expanding,” said EDC President Rod Crider. “For this reason, we refocused our efforts in the past year to be more attentive to their needs through the newly created Expand Rowan program, which has yielded very positive results.”

Rowan County commissioners Chairman Greg Edds said, “Rowan County’s existing industries continue to show that location, an available workforce and a positive business climate are critical to companies when they are considering where to locate their expanding operations.”

Crider said the pipeline for projects in the coming year is already robust.

“Through our existing industry outreach and external marketing efforts, we look forward to improving on these results in the coming year,” he said.

For more information, contact the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission at 704-637-5526.