The direct sales company Thirty-One is planning an “opportunity event” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Carolina Mall Food Court in Concord.
Thirty-One specializes in home parties, selling personalized purses and gift items for women and their families.
Attending will be Sales Director Jennifer Caraccio of southern Rowan County and the company’s senior executive director, Amanda Graves of Alabama.
The event will include presentations at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., goodie bags for all who attend and chances to win door prizes and a drawing for a Thirty-One gift basket.
“We will be sharing the business opportunity that Thirty-One offers via presentations and having question-and-answer sessions,” Caraccio said. “I think in today’s economy, this type of opportunity that allows flexibility and financial freedom can really be a blessing to many.”
New CEO for Port City
Port City Java has announced the appointment of Steve Schnitzler as chief executive officer.
Schnitzler assumed the chief executive officer position less than two months after the Dec. 23, 2008, departure of Port City Java founder and Chief Operating Officer Don Reynolds.
Reynolds was named in a lawsuit filed last month by Port City Java alleging he diverted company funds to a firm he controls to buy property in Highlands, according to a report in starnewsonline.com of Wilmington.
The suit, filed Dec. 23 in Superior Court in Wilmington, names Reynolds, his wife, Denise Reynolds, and Don Reynolds Properties LLC.
Established in March 1995 in Wilmington, Port City Java has grown to more than 40 cafes and coffeehouses in five states and three countries, as well as a roastery in Wilmington.
Salisbury’s Port City Java is on West Innes Street.
Schnitzler has more than 11 years experience with Port City Java, serving most recently as director of operations.
“I am proud to be a part of an organization backed by a strong brand name, broad distribution channels and a strong commitment to the communities in which we operate,” said Schnitzler. “Port City Java is a phenomenal company that is well-positioned to grow throughout the Southeast.”
For more information, visit www.portcityjava.com.
First Bancorp declares dividend
TROY ó The board of directors of First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend of 8 cents per share payable April 24 to shareholders of record as of March 31.
The prior quarterly dividend rate was 19 cents per share.
“Consistent with our historically conservative approach, and in light of current economic conditions, our board of directors has voted to reduce the quarterly dividend,” President and Chief Executive Officer Jerry L. Ocheltree said.
“First Bank remains a strong and profitable bank, and our earnings thus far in 2009 are in line with expectations. However, we believe it is prudent to conserve capital during these uncertain times. On an annualized basis, this reduction will enable the company to retain an additional $7 million in common equity per year.”
First Bank has two branches in Salisbury.
Ocheltree said reducing the dividend was a difficult decision,
“Last week, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair stated that even the healthiest banks should consider temporarily suspending or cutting dividends,” Ocheltree said, “and we have taken her recommendation seriously. Additionally, the extra capital will further strengthen our ability to grow market share.”
Moxley joins council
Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) has announced the addition of Melody Moxley to its Central Piedmont Advisory Council, which comprises Davidson, Davie, Iredell, Rowan and Stanly counties.
Moxley, administrative services manager for Rowan County Library, will be part of LGFCU’s volunteer-driven initiative to educate people on the benefits of credit union membership and to relay feedback to management regarding products and services, delivery of service and member needs.
Local Government Federal Credit Union serves North Carolina’s local government employees, elected/appointed officials, volunteers and their families. The $848 million federally chartered credit union is a cooperative of more than 170,000 members associated with various facets of local government in North Carolina’s 100 counties and 546 cities, towns and villages.Race tickets and seminars
DEJ Realty, the Moores-ville-based company owned by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced this week a race-ticket incentive program for 2009, as well as plans to offer free seminars to community businesses to educate aspiring owners on the home-buying process.
“We are proud of our ties to the sport of auto racing and excited to take advantage of that for our clients,” said Terri Church, broker-in-charge at DEJ Realty, which was formed in April 2007 by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt.
“We also want to do our part in helping people of this community understand the home-buying process, especially during these difficult times.”
Any client who purchases or sells property through DEJ Realty in 2009 will be entered into a year-end drawing, in which one grand-prize winner and two additional winners will be selected for NASCAR ticket prize-packages.
The grand-prize winner and a guest will serve as honorary pit crew members for JR Motorsports for one NASCAR Nationwide Series race in 2010. The package also includes weekend hot passes.The two additional winners will receive two tickets each to the 2010 Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway next May.
“We don’t expect people to look at this and say, ‘Let’s buy a home so we have a chance to go to a NASCAR race,’ but we do think it’s a unique way to show appreciation to our new clients,” Church said.
DEJ Realty’s seminars can be set up by contacting a DEJ Realty agent.
Atria director appointed to council
Atria Salisbury Senior Living Group Executive Director Joan Carter has been appointed to the company’s Leadership Council.
Carter was honored during an awards ceremony March 4 at the Atria Senior Living Group headquarters in Louisville, Ky.
The council members are selected each year for demonstrating outstanding leadership in financial performance while maintaining the integrity of quality and customer and employee satisfaction.
“I am honored to have been recognized by Atria in this way, but the success of our community and the happiness of our residents is really a team effort,” said Carter. “We’ve built a great foundation for Atria Salisbury and we strive to enhance lives and exceed expectations every day.”
During Carter’s tenure, Atria Salisbury has become among the best in the company, earning top scores in employee and customer satisfaction.
Atria Salisbury also ranks among the highest company-wide in Atria’s Quality Enhancement program, which conducts biannual unannounced internal audits of every Atria community. During the audits, all facets of communities are monitored.Career fair for troops
The RecruitMilitary Career Fair will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 26 at the Speedway Club of Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord.
More than 300 veterans are expected to attend the event aimed at helping recently returning troops, other veterans and service members and their spouses find jobs.Veterans will be able to interview with national, regional and local employers at the RecruitMilitary Career Fair. The event is produced in cooperation with the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee (HireVets First), the American Legion and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network.