North House Museum
Members of the business community will be able to see “where the past can take them” on May 17th as the Greenbrier Historical Society and North House Museum host the May Business After Hours from 5:30 to 7:30 on Church Street in Lewisburg. The business social will be held as Civil War re-enactors gather to set up camp for the Battle of Lewisburg weekend. While this weekend provides a living history Civil War experience, North House embodies the past and provides a special view of nearly 200 years of life in the United States- from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to World War II, as the lives of everyday Americans can be seen and experienced with the its walls.
North House was built in 1820 and has housed the Greenbrier Historical Society archives and operated as a museum since 1976. The six original rooms are decorated in 19th century period décor. Two additional rooms house a permanent diorama display and a war exhibit. Additional exhibits of interest are on periodic display. Forty- five minute guided tours are available each day from 10 to 4, Monday through Saturday. Special Tea and Manners programs can be provided for groups by appointment. This program allows children to dress in reproduction of 1850’s clothing and learn about the customs, games and lifestyle of the period. Additional community outreach programming includes Wee Ones Wednesdays, where children, 1 to 5 year old and their parents can enjoy themed monthly programs. A traveling program, Toys from the Past goes to schools, daycares and churches to provide K-2nd graders with hands on experience with toys used before video games and technology. North House and Greenbrier Historical Society recently wrapped up a successful Lecture Series including topics on historic preservation, archaeology, architecture, weaving, historic textiles and rugs.
North House and Greenbrier Historical Society are sustained by memberships, grants and donations.
For more information about the museum, the Society, tours or special events, please call 304-645-3398 or access their website at www.greenbrierhistorical.org. Business After Hours are monthly networking and social events of the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce. To register for this event or to learn about membership, please view the event page on our website or call 304-645-2818.
Greenbrier Farm Market Grand Opening to be hosted by the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce
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The local food movement gained a great advocate with the Grand Opening of the Greenbrier Farm Market. The local produce market and bakery will be welcomed to the business community by The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 10 followed samplings of their homemade baked specialties and locally sourced coffee. Located across from Echols Acres on 219 North, Greenbrier Farm Market is owned by Steve and Nancy Wardwell. A Greenbrier County native, Ms. Wardwell was anxious to return to the Mountain State from sunny Florida.
Greenbrier Farm Market is a small, warm and friendly venue for folks to come in, feel welcomed, and to taste some of the delicious bakery samples that Ms. Wardwell has coming out of the oven. Stop by anytime and try some of her cookies, breads, muffins, rolls, or cheesecakes. Baked goods aren’t the only thing that Greenbrier Farm Market specializes in—fresh produce, canned goods, greens, herbs, coffee, and more are available with a 100% quality and freshness guarantee, most being locally sourced. Gift baskets are available and even customizable. They will have both gift baskets and hanging flower baskets available for purchase just in time for Mother’s Day, filled with jams, candles, and fresh baked goods. Saturdays feature their fresh baked cinnamon rolls, which they can barely keep on the shelf, and the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to win bread or sourdough rolls.
Greenbrier Farm Market does buy produce from local gardens, as long as they can guarantee their freshness and that they are grown responsibly. “Our plan was to help local folks out as much as possible, by carrying as much made or grown in the area or the state as possible,” said Ms. Wardwell. “We also try to used recycled products and be as environmentally friendly as one could expect. Our policy is that everyone leaves happy and anticipating a return visit. We want to keep prices reasonable for everyone to enjoy what we offer. Satisfaction guaranteed!”
Stop by the grand opening at 11:00 am on May 10 or anytime from 9am to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and quality food.
May Events at the Greater Greenbrier Chamber
We’re rounding out the spring with a very busy May, but before we talk about OUR events, don’t forget Election Day on May 8! Get out and vote (or vote early) and participate in our community. These local and state elections have a great impact and say on everyday life and growth in the Valley!
Our first delicious event for the month of May is a Grand Opening/brunch for Greenbrier Farm Market on May 10! Greenbrier Farm Market is located on 219 North, just inside Lewisburg city limits. The owners are transplants from Florida with local ties, but don’t let that fool you- all of their produce is locally sourced, their bakery items baked fresh daily, and their crafts are all produced in the Mountain State. (For more detailed instructions on how to reach the event, visit the event page on our website). We hope to see you at 11:00 for the grand opening and encourage everyone to stop by and try some of their delicious food anytime!
North House Museum
On May 17, we will be hosting a Business After Hours at the North House Museum and Greenbrier Historical Society! This great event will be held at the North House Museum in downtown Lewisburg and should be a fantastic time for all to be attending. That weekend also kicks off the Battle of Lewisburg reenactment, so there is tons of history to be shared at Business After Hours AND all weekend!
We would also like to highlight three events in May that we will be participating in, though other organizations are hosting-
On Friday, May 4 from 8am-4:30 pm a Chick-Fil-A Leadercast is being hosted by New River Community and Technical College. This is a great leader development event sponsored by Chick Fil A and broadcast across the globe from Atlanta, GA. We will be able to watch this great event in Beckley at the Cross Point Church of God on Crescent Road in Beckley, WV. This year’s program will focus on the power of choice. The diverse group of internationally-acclaimed authors, leadership experts and practitioners will share insights to help leaders empower and equip others at work, at home and in the community through his or her choices. Tickets are $49.95 and available by calling Terri Baker or Gloria Kincaid- 304.647.6570 or 304.793.6101.
The Greenbrier County Convention and Visitor’s Bureauwill be hosting a hospitality training on May 16 (the day before Business After Hours). There will be two sessions, “The Basics of Achieving FiveStar Customer Service Excellence” and “How to Win Customers and Keep Them Coming Back” on Wednesday, May 16 at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center. The workshops will be facilitated by Rita Suiter, owner and founder of Valdosta, Georgia-based Five Star Customer Service Strategies. Suiter’s workshops offer an interactive, educational and motivational approach to customer service training. With more than twenty years’ experience in the industry, Suiter draws from prior positions in the tourism field as well as positions as a customer service coach in the private sector.
The morning session, “The Basics of Achieving FiveStar Customer Service Excellence,” is scheduled from 9:00am-11:30am, with registration from 8:30am-9:00am. Program highlights include Key Customer Expectations, Basic Responsibilities of a Service Provider and FiveStar vs. 4-Star Service.
The afternoon session, “How to Win Customers and Keep Them Coming Back,” is scheduled from 1:30pm-4:00pm, with registration from 1:00pm-1:30pm. Highlights for this program include Worst and Best Practices of Customer Service and Lessons from Service Giants.
Workshops are open to the public. Cost is $15 per person per session or $20 per person if attending both sessions. For more information or to register, please contact the CVB by phone at 304-645-1000 or by email at info@greenbrierwv.com.
We are also participating in a program called First Tee. First Tee provides young people time0honored skills through golf that can be transferred to their everyday lives. First Tee of WV is hosting an event for fourth graders in Greenbrier County at the Greenbrier on May 25. They will be emphasizing First Tee’s nine core values: Play, Mind, Friends, Energy, Family, School, Safety, Vision, and Community, based in the more concentrated values of Physical, Emotional, and Social health. Contact the WV Golf Association for more information on getting involved with this great program for youth at 304-391-5000 or visiting the WV Golf Association’s website.
County Commission and Sheriff’s Candidates Forum
Chamber board member Cathey Sawyer, of GVT, introduces candidates from the Chamber's House of Delegates forum earlier this month.
Next week will offer one evening and two opportunities to discern the best candidates to fill these important positions in our county. The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce will be hosting this forum beginning at 5:30 with the County Commission Candidates and finishing with the Democratic Sheriff candidates. Those candidates invited to attend include Betty Crookshanks, Woody Hanna, J.K. Rose and Sherman McClung for the Commission race. Those invited for the Sheriff’s race include Jan Cahill, Steve Malcomb and Jim Childers.
The event will be held at the Underwood Center at the State Fair Event Center on Thursday, April 24. Questions will be submitted to moderator Mike Kidd of Radio Greenbrier. Questions may be submitted in advance to Executive Director Katie Ickes at director@greenbrierwvchamber.org. Radio Greenbrier and Sharp Video Productions will be broadcasting the event. The event is free of charge to the public as a community service of the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce.
“Quality of Life” is sought after when thinking about retirement and is found through the Shepherd Center of the Greenbrier Valley programming which provides lifelong learning, community service, caring relationships and spiritual growth. On April 19th, the Shepherd Center will host the Greater Greenbrier Chamber Business After Hours at the Wesley Hall of Lewisburg United Methodist Church on Washington Street in Lewisburg and showcase some of their programs impacting the lives of many.
The Center is a Shepherd Center of America affiliate, but may be best known for its community outreach such as “Gwen’s Meals” which provides a hot lunch and a friendly face to over 50 people each week. The program continues the legacy of Gwen Clingman and served over 2,551 meals in 2011. However, Executive Director and Parish Nurse Judy Long, Volunteer Coordinator Judy Spiece, Mike McCoy, Gwen’s Meals Coordinator, their Board of Trustees and many volunteers do much more. This fall, they expanded their Adventures in Learning program to serve the entire county with classes offered in Rainelle and Lewisburg. Courses in exercise, travel, psychology, creative writing, gardening, health, book clubs, crafts, bible study, art and more are offered in the spring and fall. A goal of the Shepherd’s Center is to encourage independent living and life enrichment. In May, they will be conducting a seminar, There is a Bridge: Ministering to Those Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, and Other Forms of Dementia. This will be a Continuing Education Opportunity for Ministers, Nurses, Social Workers and Related Fields.
The Shepherd Center connects those who want to help with those who need help. Trained volunteers provided over 4,100 hours of friendship and support to homebound residents and provided transportation for doctor’s appointment, shopping, and more to log in close to 9,000 miles this past year. Parish Nurse Long also visited residents to give assessment and evaluate the need for other resources and the office is staffed five days a week to provide referrals for assistance. The Center is located at Lewisburg United Methodist, but is sponsored by twenty four congregations including Calvary United Methodist, Clifton Presbyterian, Edgewood Presbyterian, Emmanuel Methodist , Fairlea AR Presbyterian, First Baptist- Fairlea, First Baptist- Rainelle, First Baptist- Ronceverte, First Presbyterian – WSS, Frankford Presbyterian, Frankford United Methodist, Grace United Methodist, McElhenney Presbyterian, John Wesley Methodist, Lewisburg Church of Christ, Old Stone Presbyterian, Rhema Christian Center, Smoot Baptist, Shuck Memorial Baptist, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Charles Borromeo, St. James Episcopal and Trinity United Methodist. For more information about the Shepherd Center of the Greenbrier Valley, please call 304-645-4196.
The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce offers monthly Business After Hours events to showcase member businesses and non profits, while providing great networking opportunities . To register for the April 19th social, please visit the event page on the Chamber’s website or call the Chamber office at 304-645-2818.
We’re no fools in April at the Greater Greenbrier Chamber
The Chamber is going to be running at full steam this April with several events!
Our first event this April will be Tuesday, April 3 at 5:30 pm at the Underwood building of the State Fair of WV Event center. Here we will be hosting a free and open to the public candidate’s forum for the upcoming House of Delegates primary. Take this opportunity to get in touch with the issues that our state government is working on, and the views of the candidates that are running!
On Thursday, April 19, the Shepherd’s Center of the Greenbrier Valley will be holding a Business After Hours networking social starting at 5:30 pm at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church. They will be serving miniature Gwen’s meals, which they deliver to the elderly as one of their programs. They will be talking more about what they do, how to get involved with the Center, as well as providing an opportunity for you to network with the Valley’s best!
Our second candidate’s forum will be on Tuesday, April 24, also at 5:30 pm at the Underwood building of the State Fair of WV event center. The candidates for this forum will be for the county sheriff’s department and for the Greenbrier County Commission. Check back for more details as it gets closer to this event.
That’s not all–
Generation Greenbrier Valley, an organization aimed at attracting and retaining young talent in the area, and also a subcommittee of the Chamber, will be hosting their second annual Dancing with the Stars of the Greenbrier Valley on Sunday, April 22 at 4:00 pm at Greenbrier Valley Theatre. This event is a fundraiser for the organization, but also for High Rocks Educational Corporation. The couples featured in this year’s program are Devin Preston and Mallory Iles, Mark Bowe and Sarah Elkins, Justin Wigglesworth and Jennifer Sprouse, David Esteppe and Wyon Wheatley, Julian Meadows and Andy Pendleton, Derek Teaney and Holly Browne, Marlene Jolliffe and Jacob Jolliffe, Travis Farley and Ari Vaughan, and John Little and Cate Bennett. GGV will also be hosting a promotional Pub Quiz for the event on Tuesday, April 17 at 8:00 pm at the Irish Pub on Washington St.
Those interested in attending any of the Chamber’s events are welcome to email info@greenbrierwvchamber.org or call 304-645-2818. Anyone interested in getting involved with Generation Greenbrier Valley can email Heather Price at ggvevents@gmail.com.
Annual Dinner
Last night’s Annual Dinner was a huge success! We could not have done it without the support from Terri Baker and Gloria Kincaid of New River Community and Technical College, who came early to the dinner and helped us with setup, as well as the swift and reliable staff of the Greenbrier Resort. The evening also would not have been possible without the support of our membership and our dinner sponsors: ABB, BB&T, Concord University, First National Bank, Frontier Communications, The Greenbrier, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, MWV (Mead WestVaco), Ream Interests, Summit Community Bank, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The evening began with a cocktail reception at 6:30 pm while everyone was registering. I cannot comment personally on the reception as I was running the registration table, but comments were that it was a great time to mix and mingle and find a seat for the meeting. We were especially excited that at every single placesetting there was a copy of our brand new Community Guide and Business Directory! Once everyone was seated, President Sharon Rowe addressed the crowd, recognizing Chamber employees and board directors, and noting our events and initiatives from 2011.
John and his family after the dinner
Kiersten Curry, teacher at Rupert Elementary School, introduced her father, Greenbrier County Schools Superintendent John D. Curry, our Business Leader of the Year. John addressed the crowd and noted the vast achievements of Greenbrier County Schools over the past few years, including the building of several new schools and renovations of others, and the 21st century learning initiative, which combines traditional education with computers and the internet. John’s other daughter, Mary-Kellan Curry, offered the invocation before dinner.
The menu for the evening included a salad made of Boston Bibb lettuce, marinated mushrooms, shaved house breasola, pecorino toscano, roasted asparagus, seasonal tomatoes, and a balsamic vinaigrette. The main course was a grilled salmon and a petite filet with pink peppercorn potato pave, collard greens, a mushroom and onion ragout, and sauce foyot. The dessert course was a molten chocolate cake with berry compote. We can assure you that there were not many empty plates! The Greenbrier did an excellent job.
Carte Goodwin
After the dinner, Vice President Selina Cahill recognized President Sharon Rowe for her dedication to the organization, and then introduced dinner speaker Carte Goodwin. Carte was candid and entertaining in telling of his experiences growing up in nearby Mt. Alto, WV and participating in the United States Senate.
We hope everyone who attended the dinner and meeting had as a fantastic evening as we did! We hope to see everyone again next year, and at our numerous events this year!
WV House of Delegates Candidate’s Forum hosted by the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce
Make the best decision about our area’s representatives by attending the Tuesday, April 3 House of Delegates Candidates’ Forum of the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce at the Underwood Center at the State Fair Event Center. This is your opportunity to learn about the candidates’ views on the issues impacting the Greenbrier Valley. The Forum will begin at 5:30 pm. The candidates invited include incumbent Ray Canterbury, Peter Bostic, Steve Hunter, J.R. Morgan, Glenn Singer, George Ambler, and Marcie Easton. The public is invited and questions will be taken from attendees and presented to the candidates by Moderator Mike Kidd of Radio Greenbrier. The forum will be broadcast on Radio Greenbrier stations and can be viewed on cable access television channels courtesy of Sharp Video Productions. If you would like to submit questions to be asked in advance, please send them to director@greenbrierwvchamber.org.
Also, Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 24 when the Chamber will host debates for the County Commission and Sheriff races at the same time and venue. For further information, please call the Chamber at 304-645-2818.
Carte Goodwin, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the “40 under 40 rising stars on the political landscape” in 2010 and recently appointed to the US-China Economic Security Review Commission will be the speaker for the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on March 27 at The Greenbrier.
Mr. Goodwin is an attorney with the Charleston law firm of Goodwin & Goodwin, LLP. In July of 2010, Mr. Goodwin was appointed to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd, serving until a special election was held. As the first U.S. Senator born after 1970, Carte has a unique perspective of the keys to West Virginia’s success.
From 2005 to 2009, Goodwin served four years as General Counsel to Governor Manchin. In addition, Goodwin chaired the West Virginia School Building Authority and served as a member of the State Consolidated Public Retirement Board. Following his return to private practice in 2009, Goodwin was appointed to chair the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform, along with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, which was tasked with evaluating the need for broad systemic reform to West Virginia’s judicial system.
A native of Mt. Alto, West Virginia, Goodwin received a B.A. in Philosophy from Marietta College in 1996 and received his Doctor of Law from the Emory University School of Law, graduating Order of the Coif in 1999. Mr. Goodwin currently resides in Charleston, West Virginia with his wife, Rochelle, son, Wesley Patrick, and daughter, Anna Vail. His mother Ellen Goodwin resides in Lewisburg.
John D. Curry will be honored as our Business Leader of the Year. For more information about the Annual Dinner, please contact the Chamber at 304-645-2818 or www.greenbrierwvchamber.org
The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce has selected Greenbrier County Superintendent John Curry as Business Leader of the Year. He will be honored at their Annual Meeting on March 27 at The Greenbrier. “Education is key to economic development”, stated Chamber Executive Director Katie Ickes. “School infrastructure and quality of education is a prime consideration for individuals and industry when considering relocation to our area. Under his leadership, John Curry has made great strides in renovating and constructing state of the art facilities for our students. He has led the charge to integrate educational technology in the schools to prepare student for the 21st century workplace, which in turn impacts economic development through business recruitment and growth in our area. ”
Superintendent Curry’s life has been dedicated to education for 37 years, with the past nine as superintendent. He was named WV Principal of the Year in 2000. In Greenbrier County, he taught at WSS Jr. High and served as Counselor and Assistant Principal at Greenbrier East, Principal at Renick Junior High, Assistant Principal and Principal at Eastern Greenbrier Junior High, as well as Director of Personnel and Title 1. His work ethic as superintendent is evident in the major accomplishments he has achieved including the transition to a middle school configuration, universal Pre-K, with 19 PreK-PreK Special Needs integrated classrooms, and 2 community collaborative classrooms. Under his tenure, major renovations to White Sulphur Elementary, Smoot Elementary, and Greenbrier East have been completed, as well as new constructions of an auxiliary gymnasium at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School, and a new Ronceverte Elementary. Construction underway includes Rainelle and Lewisburg Elementary Schools and Greenbrier West renovations. Curry has also fostered the evolution of Chinese language instruction to all secondary schools in partnership with the Chinese Guest Teacher Program.
Superintendent Curry is Chairman of the RESA 4 Regional Council. He is a model and source of guidance for superintendents throughout the state. He is instrumental in identifying needs, developing plans and implementing programs such as the Substitute Teacher Training and Calling System, Uslope Training, and Guidelines for Employee Discipline. He has been proactive in meeting with legislators to express concerns and encourage grant writing to meet needs throughout the RESA 4 region. He also serves on the WVDE Globaloria committee to develop and promote technology instruction.
Superintendent Curry is active in his community through membership on the Greenbrier County Schools Foundation Board, Lewisburg Rotary Club and Trinity Methodist Church where he serves on the pastor-parish relations committee. His wife Kim serves as a principal at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School and he has three daughters, Kaitlin, Kiersten and Mary-Kellan.
The keynote speaker for the Chamber Annual Dinner at The Greenbrier will be Carte Goodwin of Charleston, who filled Senator Robert Byrd’s seat on Capitol Hill prior to the election of Senator Joe Manchin and was recently nominated to the United States-China Economic Security Review Commission. Please contact the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce office for more information about the event at 304-645-2818 or visit www.greenbrierwvchamber.org.
