And the Winner Is...

Kernersville.  Yep, I said it.  Kernersville is the winner.

Last night, Jake and I attended the Annual Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.  I would suspect that over 200 business owners and community leaders attended.  As I looked around the room, it was easy to see why I believe that during this tough economy Kernersville is the winner.

These folks are familiar.  By that I mean, you see them around town, you see them around church, you see them around school and work.  They make things happen.  They aren't just elusive foundations hiding behind the names of the unknown dead, they are real people, who give real money and time to their hometown.  Take for example, the LE Pope Foundation.  Mr. Pope helped to really build Kernersville.  By setting aside land acquisitions, understanding growth and development, Mr. Pope, for whom this foundation is named, helped to form Kernersville's industrial and commercial-base into what it is today.  Through the company that Mr. Pope created and owned, projects such as Southpark Industrial Park, Deere-Hitachi, Kernersville Hospital, Sleep Inn, VA Medical Center and so many more revenue and job producing entities have been incubated and thrived.  You can see in his employees, their continued commitment to Kernersville's betterment.  As their president Jeff Hunter stated last night after receiving the Economic Development Award, "We are blessed."  How true.

It only took glancing across  my table to see another winner.  Starting a relatively small $3000 program to assist educators with school supplies, Monica Young, grew the educational grant program at the chamber to it's current total level of $75,000!!  This is a person that I SEE in church, whose children give back to our community, who gives of her talents in her career and her family and never shirks from "stepping up to the plate".  You know where Monica stands and you know that you can count on her.  Another big win for education as a result of her tireless efforts.

Another big factor that makes Kernersville a winner are folks like Jim and Henrietta Barrett.  Their list of accolades read as prestigious as any of those receiving national-level volunteer honors.  However, the Barretts are humble and don't seem to know the full impact their lives have had on others.  Jim and Henrietta may have helped build the Shepherd Center and Crisis Control buildings and may have counseled scores of folks in the community dealing with crisis and grief, but for me, it's more personal.  I'm sure that Jim doesn't even recall challenging me to take my first Disciple class at Main Street UMC, but he did.  And I did take it.  It by far, is one of the best things I have done for my spiritual growth.  Had it not been for his words, I doubt I would be in Disciple II today.  A jewel in Jim and Henrietta's crowns for sure!

A smiling face, a bit of assistance with one of my "dumb" questions, a fellow Kernersville Leadership class member.  Well, that's Mary Kay Csanyi.  Our past chamber chairman, Sharon Tucker, chose Mary Kay to receive the Chairman's Award, reflecting her ability to make Sharon's job easier this past year.  Mary Kay embodies Kernersville and it could be said of her that she is Kernersville's ambassador, as she is usually the first face that greets you at the chamber.  Her energy and effort are the glue that makes events such as the ever-popular Christmas Parade and Spring Folly a success. Her quiet work behind the scenes never goes unnoticed by those around her, but highlighting her with this award was a winning idea!

So, not only with these awards does Kernersville earn the title of WINNER.  Where else do you have job growth, housing that has been relatively stable, a central Triad location, access to most main interstates and highways, excellent schools, enormous sports programs for kids such as lacrosse and soccer and citizens who are committed to making sure their town "makes it".  Regardless of the political landscape, the season of year or the economic situation, the people of Kernersville both native and transplant, are drawn to the "true grit" nature and "get it done" mentality that allows this small town to continuosly be WINNING!

Brooke