Chamber honors individuals, organizations for community service

The Mount Olive Area of Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1930, is celebrating its 95th birthday this year.

And to help commemorate that milestone — while looking back over the past year and looking forward to the coming year — the Chamber celebrated the individuals, businesses and organizations that contribute to the community during its annual banquet and awards ceremony held Thursday night, Jan. 30, at the Southern Wayne Country Club.

The award winners were:

Amy Brogden and Lauren Branch, Lillian B. Langley Award

The award is named in memory of Langley who was a long-serving Chamber board member.

It is presented to the individual who has gone above and beyond to serve the Chamber and community.

Brogden, owner of Southern Ground Coffee Shop, was cited for being an asset to the Chamber board and who has been a leader for other board members.

She allows the Chamber to utilize her business to hold events and assists with a variety of events from the reverse raffle, N.C. Pickle Festival and has served as vendor chairman for Pickle, Pigs and Swigs festival.

Brogden always shows support for the Chamber and community and always has a smile on her face, said presenter Melissa Kilpatrick.

Branch, owner of Lauren Branch Photography and Media, has spoken before the town board on behalf of the Chamber and has served as promoter of all Chamber events through pictures, press releases and social media posts.

She serves as N.C. Pickle Festival vendor chairperson and administrator.

Branch has served as the Chamber’s social media chairperson.

She shows respect for the opinions of fellow board members and is observant, wise and provides guidance for them, Kilpatrick said.

Harlee Renee Statler, Distinguished Youth

The award is presented to a high school student who attends Southern Wayne, North Duplin or Spring Creek high schools; has a 3.0 or higher GPA; and exemplifies being a well-rounded youth in scholarship, leadership and community service.

She is involved with the First Church of Goldsboro youth program.

Statler, 17, graduated from Southern Wayne in December, 2024, and is currently enrolled in the associate science program at Wayne Community College. Her goal is to be a nurse.

At Southern Wayne she was involved with the FFA and assisted with various community projects that her family was involved in.

She is employed part time at Target and is the daughter of Joey and Karen Statler.

Jenny Coley Sasser, Distinguished Educator

The award is presented to an educator at a local school who goes above and beyond in the classroom and in the community.

Sasser is a 2008 graduate of North Duplin. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor degree in elementary education from East Carolina University in December 2011.

She completed her student teaching at Grantham Elementary School were she worked as a third grade teacher for eight years and was honored as the school’s Beginning Teacher of the Year in 2013.

Sasser graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree from ECU in December 2013 and began teaching at North Duplin Elementary in 2024.

She was named District Teacher of the Year of Duplin County in 2024.

Terry Wynn, Distinguished Senior Citizen

The award is given to a person over the age of 60 who has demonstrated qualities of leadership during their lifetime and particularly after they become a senior citizen.

Wynn, owner of Classic Monuments, was praised for sponsoring programs that help underprivileged children and programs at local schools.

He attends volleyball and track events to support Southern Wayne High School.

Wynn was honored as a role model for the community.

It was added that Wynn’s family played an important part in the history and development of Mount Olive.

Ribeyes of Mount Olive (accepted by owner Mike Gariba), Small Business of the Year

Criteria for the award is that the business be a Chamber member and has expanded or grown and contributes to the economic development of the community and that donates to causes and supports the community (civic groups, athletic teams, University of Mount Olive, fundraisers, etc.) in various ways.

It is a business that goes above and beyond to serve its customers. It must have 15 or fewer employees.

Presenter Lauren Branch said that Ribeyes contributes to the community’s economic development; supports the Chamber and N.C. Pickle Festival in many ways; and donates to many organizations and events in the community.

The business allows civic groups to meet there and is always willing to accommodate groups, Branch said.

The manager takes time to meet his customers and speaks with them making each person who visits the business feel important and valued, she added.

Ribeyes is a staple in downtown and provides exceptional, friendly service, while offering a comfortable place to dine and entertain, Branch said.

E.T. Ferrell & Son Heating and Air Conditioning, Business of the Year

This award goes to a business having 16 or more employees, and that is a Chamber member, that has expanded or grown and contributes to the economic development of the community.

E.T. Ferrell & Son is a business that continuously donates to causes and supports the community (civic groups, athletic teams, University of Mount Olive, fundraisers, etc.) in various ways. It is a business that goes above and beyond to serve its customers, said presenter Edward Olive.

E.T. Ferrell & Son is a fourth-generation family business founded in 1935 by the late E.T. Ferrell Sr. It offers a full line of household appliances, including plumbing fixtures and repair services.

In the early 1950s, E.T. “Tommie” Ferrell Jr. joined the family business as it became more involved with the heating and air conditioning business. Upon his father’s retirement in 1983, E.T. “Tom” Ferrell took over the business, expanding its residential, commercial and industrial markets across eastern N.C.

He owns and operates the business with his son, Thomas, Sam and Jake.

The company believes in community service and is a longtime supporter of the Hurricanes football program and area businesses.

Ferrell and his sons are active Shriners working to raise awareness while promoting the Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

Nicole Hatch Reynolds, Spirit of the Chamber

This award was created to recognize an individual, organization or business that does not fit into any other award category.

The recipient is focused on economic development, building community and promotion of Mount Olive — all Chamber characteristics — and that continuously supports the Chamber in its projects, Kilpatrick said.

Reynolds was praised for being quick to volunteer for any assignment, whether she has done the task before or not.

She constantly shows up to support Chamber and community events and has a passion for her community.

Reynolds epitomizes the spirit of the Chamber and never expects any recognition or reward, Kilpatrick said.

She also gets her family involved in many community events.

Reynolds has served as N.C. Pickle Festival Volunteers chairman, streamlining the process.

She has served for years as a Girl Scouts leader helping girls earn their Gold Awards — Girl Scouting’s highest honor.

Reynolds has helped them develop courage, character and confidence, Kilpatrick said.

Friends of the Parks, Moses E. King Award

The award is given to an organization, civic club, group or business that does good deeds for the community. The award can be based on a one-time event or a series of events over several years.

It is named in memory of the late Moses E. King, former owner/operator of Piggly Wiggly. King was a long-standing member and supporter of the Chamber.

Friends of the Parks play an active role in the community, providing services for people of all ages and backgrounds while promoting healthy living, said presenter Amberley Martin Davis, whose father Tony Martin is the longtime FOP president.

It was established in 2000 following the construction of Kids World Playground and coordinates clean-up efforts, including staining and painting of park equipment.

It oversees and maintains equipment, walking trails and basketball goals at both Westbrook and Nelson Street parks.

It operates the popular Pickle Train while offering a variety of activities at both parks.

The organization contributes time and efforts to make sure children and their families have safe, clean and fun places to spend time outdoors, said Davis, a member of the FOP board.

Barbara Kornegay, Ruff Huggins Lifetime Community Service Award

The award is named in memory of Ruff Huggins, former mayor of Mount Olive and a long-standing Chamber member and supporter.

This is not an annual award, but is presented only when an individual is deemed worthy of winning it.

The award is given to an individual who has consistently donated their time, resources and dedication to the Mount Olive community year after year after year, and who does not expect recognition or payment for services rendered.

Kornegay is in her second term on the Mount Olive Town Board, currently serving as mayor pro-tem.

She is a retired administrator at the University of Mount Olive.

Kornegay is a former member of the Chamber board, Business and Professional Women’s Club, and N.C. Pickle Festival planning team.

She is an active member of the Mount Olive Rotary Club, Pickles, Pigs and Swigs festival committee and Wayne County Economic Development Alliance board.

Kornegay wrote and received three grants for downtown development and helped to re-organize the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. and currently serves on its board.

She was described as the driving force for the past two years in downtown revitalization which included hiring two consultants to create streetscape and strategic plans.

Kornegay has attended N.C. Main Street workshops and conferences to learn how to improve the community.

2024 overview

Along with the presentation of awards, Chamber President Julie Beck provided an overview of 2024.

Over the past year, the Chamber added 18 new members, Beck said.

“The Mount Olive Chamber is focused on economic development, small businesses, tourism, education and the promotion of agriculture in our community,” she said.

The fourth annual Pickles, Pigs and Swigs was a success, Beck said.

“We have now raised and donated over $30,000 (raised by the event) to the Mount Olive Downtown Development Corp. for downtown revitalization,” Beck said.

The Chamber also put on the largest N.C. Pickle Festival ever with a crowd estimated at 60,000 people, she added.

Additionally, the festival won five awards from the N.C. Association of Festivals & Events: Best Brochure for the festival map; Best Non-print media for the pictorial stamp; Best Merchandise for the dill pickle soda created by R&R Brewing; and Best Poster.

Pickles, Pigs and Swigs won the Best Merchandise Award for its hat.

The Chamber partnered with the Exchange Club of Mount for the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

Beck served as a representative on the Retail Strategies/Downtown Development Revitalization Committee.

She also attended numerous conferences including the N.C. Association of Festivals & Events; N.C. Main Street, N.C. Rural Center; and N.C. Coast Host (where the Chamber received the Tourism Impact Award for the state).

Beck participated in numerous workshops and events sponsored by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce (where Beck was named one of seven Wayne Women to Watch), Wayne County Development Alliance, University of Mount Olive, Communities Supporting Schools, United Way, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, town of Mount Olive, Uplift Tourism and planning board.

“The Chamber annual banquet is my favorite event,” Beck said. “It gives us a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future.

“It is also a time when we recognize those individual, organizations and businesses who have gone above and beyond to make a community a great place to live, work and play.”

Beck quoted Nelson Mandela, “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.”

She also quoted journalist Brian Williams who said, “You may find that making a difference for others makes the biggest difference in you.”

“Together, we can make a difference in the lives of Mount Olive citizens, businesses and our visitors,” Beck said. “I would like to close with some inspirational thoughts: ‘The most precious thing I have to give is my time.’

“‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ Helen Keller stated, ‘Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.’ Thank you award winners for always being a little kinder than necessary and making a difference in our community. Tonight’s recognition is our way of saying thank you.”