Biblical business principles send Chick-fil-A to the top

Truett Cathy (l) congratulates A.H. Wengrow, one of the founders of Goldman & Wengrow, the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce's "Business of the Year."

Approximately 300 people gathered at the LCHS Cafeteria on Thursday, January 11, for the 2006 Lincolnton Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

The guest speaker for the occasion was S. Truett Cathy, founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, the second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States.

A devout Christian, Mr. Cathy has built his life and business on hard work, humanity, and Biblical principles.

After being introduced by Nancy Hohlwein, vice president of the chamber's board of directors, Mr. Cathy received a standing ovation from the audience.

In a speech peppered with humor and wisdom, the speaker talked of growing up during the Great Depression and earning money by selling Coca-Colas and magazines such as the "Ladies' Home Journal."

"This was big business," Mr. Cathy said. "If I ever had anything, I had to work for it. The lessons learned from being brought up in poverty were very good for me.

Receiving special recognition at the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet were: (l-r) Bill Dawkins, Bruce Beggs, Christie Bryan, Marion Aycock, A.H. Wengrow, and Ricky Crook. Not pictured are Marcy Remsen and Jim Moore.

"I didn't go to college and it doesn't bother me," he continued. "I never got excited about school - I got excited about working. There's nothing wrong with liking to work."

Concerning the beginnings of Chick-fil-A, he noted that in 1946, he and his brother, Ben, pooled their resources, purchased a lot, built a building, and stocked it. "We were totally committed to the task. When you are fully committed, you see strange and unusual things happen."

Mr. Cathy mentioned that the Cathys' decision not to open on Sunday was the best decision they ever made. "For one thing, it honors God. It also helps us attract the caliber of employees who appreciate having Sundays off."

In 1982, Chick-fil-A developed its corporate motto. "We were experiencing a drop in sales after we had just moved into our $10 million, fully-financed corporate headquarters. I was disturbed about the situation and called a meeting of our executive committee. We asked ourselves questions such as 'Why are we in business?' 'What is our corporate purpose?'

The Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors for 2007 are: (front row, l-r) Nancy Hohlwein, Joyce Crumbley, Tiwanna Ferguson, Cynthia Fox, Rita Hussey, (back row) Byron Hogan, Benton Willis, Stella Crosby, Jason Raiford, Melissa Burgess, and Al Danner. Not pictured are Ernie Doss, Lamar Wade, and Becky Goldman.

"Out of that meeting came our corporate motto: To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

Mr. Cathy indicated that a lot of miracles occurred after this. One of these involved a 36-percent increase in corporate sales the next year. "It hasn't happened since," he said.

In closing, Mr. Cathy spoke about the importance of instruction, influence, and image. "Instruction is what we say; influence is what we do; and image is who we are. What we say is important, but what we do is more important. God wants us to be our best at all times, regardless of the circumstances. I challenge you. Why not? Why not?

"And don't forget, eat more chicken!"

Mr. Cathy garnered his second standing ovation of the evening.

Hohlwein then presented the entrepreneur and philanthropist with a donation to his WinShape Centre Foundation which is geared toward helping young people succeed in life.

Other special guests present at the banquet were recognized by Melissa Burgess, a member of the chamber's board of directors. The list included Sgt. Major Jim Hussey, representing United States Senator Saxby Chambliss; Nancy Bobbitt, field representative for United States Senator Johnny Isakson; Jeannie Buttrum, regional tourism representative with the Georgia Department of Economic Development; and a large contingent of local officials.

During the awards portion of the program, community service awards were presented to Marcy Remsen, "Deputy of the Year;" James Moore, Jr., "Emergency Services Officer of the Year;" Ricky Crook, "Fireman of the Year;" and Christie Bryan, "Lincoln County Teacher of the Year."

.. Chief Deputy Marcy Remsen - Deputy of the Year.

Both Remsen and Sheriff Gerald Lawson, who nominated the chief deputy for the award, were out on a call and could not be present the meeting.

In his letter, the sheriff wrote, "Chief Remsen made great strides over this past year in upgrading our automotive fleet, resulting in a greater margin of safety for deputies patrolling and answering calls to protect the citizens of Lincoln County. In 2005, most of the vehicles assigned to the sheriff's office had over 200,000 miles on them. Through Chief Remsen's unending determination, meticulous attention to detail, and resourcefulness, the sheriff's office has reduced the number of high-mileage vehicles to two."

Sheriff Lawson noted that Chief Remsen has demonstrated leadership qualities that are recognized by all of the deputies and staff. "He is a shining example of the caliber of professionalism everyone who works with him seeks to achieve."

The sheriff went on to say, "Chief Remsen was instrumental in the automation upgrade which has served to bring the sheriff's office and jail into the 21st century. He assisted in the selection of new software and computer equipment purchased using a grant from Homeland Security.

"Chief Remsen also instituted a system by which all traffic tickets, reports, vehicle maintenance, warrants, escorts, patrol miles, and officer workloads are tracked for historical documentation."

In closing, Lawson wrote, "Chief Remsen's attention to detail, pride, professionalism, knowledge, and experience are a great credit to himself and the sheriff's office."

Remsen's wife, Gail, accepted the award on his behalf.

.. James Moore, Jr. - Emergency Services Officer of the Year.

In his remarks, Public Safety Director Ernie Doss said, "Jim has been associated with Lincoln County since 1999. He has been a volunteer rescue member, an EMT, and a paramedic. During these years, Jim has continued learning. In addition to attending a number of continuing education classes, he has completed the Critical Care Paramedic program.

"Jim has held the shift supervisor's position at the Office of Emergency Services for the past year," Director Doss continued. "He not only succeeds in making sure his shift is 'mission ready,' he also helps ensure that the entire organization is ready as well.

"Jim has a number of 'other duties as assigned,' and he performs each in the same highly motivated manner that he does everything else. His dedication to duty and his constant 'can do' attitude are a vital part of our office's success. His ability to produce superior results in the performance of assigned duties reflects well upon himself and the Office of Emergency Services.

"Jim is married to Kathy Martin Moore. They have two children, Christopher Stephen, 13, and Allison Renee, 9. They live in the Loco Community," Doss concluded.

Kathy Moore accepted the award on behalf of her husband who was away on an ambulance call.

.. Ricky Crook - Fireman of the Year.

Nancy Hohlwein read the letter nominating Crook for the Fireman of the Year award. It is printed here in its entirety:

"Ricky Crook joined the Loco Volunteer Fire Department in 1986. He was certified later that year under state instructor Bill Dawkins.

"When you mention his name to other firemen, all you hear are good things about him. He is very dedicated all the time, willing to go wherever needed, day or night. In fact, he donated land beside his house for a substation for the Loco VFD which helped lower the ISO rating and in turn, homeowners' insurance premiums in the community. Most of all, having a firetruck in the area helps the local firemen respond to fires in a more timely manner.

"Ricky loves being a firefighter. When he was asked why, he responded, 'God gave us all a gift; my gift is serving and helping people in need.'

"Ricky and his wife, Glenda, have two children."

.. Christie Bryan - Teacher of the Year.

Prior to the award presentation, Hohlwein read the following:

"A teacher since 1993, Christie Bryan currently teaches eighth-grade Georgia History and Reading Enrichment at LCMS. In the past, she has taught third, fourth, and fifth-grade at Union Point Elementary School in Greene County and at LCES.

"Mrs. Bryan feels her greatest contribution to education is her ability to make students feel that her classroom is a safe, non-threatening learning environment where their mistakes can be corrected and they are cared about and accepted for who they are, without judgment.

"As for professional organizations, the Teacher of the Year is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the Georgia Social Studies Council. She likewise serves on various school committees.

"Mrs. Bryan not only works hard in the classroom, she is also active in the community as a volunteer with organizations such as the MCG Children's Heart Program Volunteer Council and the Lander University Alumni Association.

"Mrs. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a master's degree in education from Lander University. She recently earned her specialist degree in educational administration from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. She likewise has a teacher support specialist endorsement which allows her to work with new teachers in the system.

"Christie and her husband, Glenn, have two children, Dusty and Alex."

Each of the honorees received a plaque of appreciation from the chamber and a round of applause from the audience.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of a plaque to Bruce Beggs, grand marshal of the 2006 Lincolnton Holiday Parade. The essay nominating Beggs for the honor was written by Russell Gibbs and his brother, Steven Gibbs.

Beggs was rewarded with a standing ovation.

Also during the program, the chamber presented its first-ever "Business of the Year" award to Goldman & Wengrow.

The letter nominating the downtown institution for the award was submitted by Mike McCombs and read to those present by Bruce Beggs. Due to its length, excerpts from the letter are printed below:

"Goldman & Wengrow was established in April of 1946 by Mr. A.H. Wengrow and his sister and brotherin law, Joe and Eva Goldman.

"When you step into the store, you feel welcome - like you are in one of those general mercantile stores from days gone by. At Goldman & Wengrow, you can find just about anything a family would ever need from baby and children's clothing to farm and work attire to nylons for your great-grandmother and even ribbon, fabric, and dress patterns. And, we must not forget, it is the place to buy Lincoln County Red Devil clothing.

"As time goes on, Goldman & Wengrow remains a leader in this small community of Lincolnton while other small 'mom and pop' stores have had to close their doors. It has been a remarkable 60 years, thanks to Mr. Wengrow and his son, Michael Wengrow.

"Abraham Hirsch Wengrow was born July 22, 1924, in Williston, South Carolina. He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946.

"Mr. Wengrow and his wife, Ettie Rose Shatz of Wales, England, had four children: Rita, Joe, Michael, and Andy. The family has since grown to include seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

"Goldman & Wengrow started out with Mr. and Mrs. Wengrow running the business, with years of devoted help from Miss Lucille McFerrin and Marion Poss. At the present time, Sandra Ivey, who has been employed at the store for the past 21 years, serves as the Wengrows' right arm.

"In October of 1966, tragedy struck when Mrs. Wengrow passed away, leaving Mr. Wengrow to raise two small boys alone. But he was equal to the task.

"Michael was the one who developed an interest in the business, having worked alongside his father since he was 12.

"Mr. Wengrow has several policies: 'make the customer happy; you don't sit down unless I do; and there is always something to do.' These policies were for all employees, including Michael's wife, Wanda, who began working at the store as a teenager; Mr. Wengrow's daughter, Rita; and his grandchildren, Ashley and Eric.

"There is no doubt that the family's loyalty and pleasant demeanor have contributed to the success of Goldman & Wengrow.

"Michael became the owner of the business in 1982, after Mr. Wengrow had triple by-pass surgery. Nevertheless, he continues to depend on his father's knowledge and expertise to this day.

"Things have not changed much in our small, rural town. We are proud of the fact that we can still walk in a store and be greeted with a familiar smile and a warm 'hello.' We can write a check without showing any ID, ask Michael to 'hold something until Saturday when we get paid,' or put it on a 'ticket' so we can pay for it next month.

"Mr. Wengrow has been a tremendous supporter of the community and has helped many unfortunate families who could not afford Christmas gifts or whose homes were destroyed by fire.

"For these reasons, I am honored to recognize Goldman & Wengrow, Lincolnton's answer to Wal-mart, as winner of the 2006 Business of the Year award."

The Wengrow Family received a plaque and a standing ovation.

During the course of the evening, awards were likewise presented to firemen Marion Aycock and Bill Dawkins for their devotion to the community.

Aycock served as the chief of the Lincolnton VFD for close to 32 years and was described by Mayor Dwaine Biggerstaff as "one of the kindest and most unassuming individuals I've ever known." During his tenure as chief, the city's ISO rating dropped from 8 to 6.

As for Dawkins, he has been a prominent fixture on the firefighting scene as an employee of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), as a member of the Lincoln County Firefighters' Association, and as an instructor. Since 1983, he has certified more than 100 firemen in Wilkes and Lincoln counties.

Dawkins retired from the GFC in 2004, after 27 years of service.

Both men received plaques and standing ovations.

Also during the program, Melissa Burgess was named "Director of the Year." The purpose of the award is to recognize a member of the chamber's board of directors who has gone the extra mile to serve his community.

In addition to Burgess, the other members of the 2006 Board of Directors were likewise introduced to the audience. They were Tiwanna Ferguson, president; Nancy Hohlwein, vice president; Ginger Dawkins, treasurer; Jason Raiford, secretary; Amberly Bentley, past president; Stella Crosby; Joyce Crumbley; Byron Hogan; Rita Hussey; Louisa Rickerson; Leighton Taylor; Lamar Wade; Benton Willis; and Greg Zellars.

The chamber directors for 2007 were also announced. They are Nancy Hohlwein, president; Melissa Burgess, vice president; Rita Hussey, treasurer; Joyce Crumbley, secretary; Tiwanna Ferguson, past president; Stella Crosby; Al Danner; Ernie Doss; Cynthia Fox; Becky Goldman; Byron Hogan; Jason Raiford; Lamar Wade; and Benton Willis.

As one of her last acts as chamber president, Tiwanna Ferguson presented Ginger Parham, chamber administrator, with a gift as a token of the chamber's appreciation for all of her hard work.

In turn, Parham presented the outgoing president with gifts of appreciation.

The audience gave both women a round of applause.

Closing remarks were delivered by Ferguson, who said the chamber plans to be more business-oriented in the new year and is looking for new ideas to promote Lincolnton and Lincoln County.

She went on to stress the importance of people getting involved and working together as a community.

Her remarks were met with applause.

Serving as greeters for the banquet were Amanda Gay, Miss Lincoln County, and Brittany Perkins, Junior Miss Lincoln County.

The meal was catered by Dovie's Sweet Shop, and dinner music was provided by an ensemble from the LCHS Red Devil Pride Band.

Gold City to perform

Gold City will be in concert Fri., Feb. 9, 7 p.m., at Trinity Baptist Church, Martinez, Ga. A $10 love offering will be taken at the door. For more information please call 706- 863-1222.