1/29/15 • Montcross Area Chamber Elects Melia Lyerly As Board Chair

*As shared by the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce:

(1/29/15) BELMONT, N.C. –  “Our Montcross area is the gateway for economic growth in Gaston County. The growth of Gaston County will begin at this gateway – and we need to be the welcoming committee. Growth is coming and we need to be ready. We need SMART growth – thoughtful growth – that makes the Montcross area better because of it.” — MELIA LYERLY

Celebrating 10 consecutive years of membership growth at its annual meeting Thursday night, the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) set its sights on topping the 500-member mark this year. More than 250 attended the Chamber’s 55th Celebration, presented by CaroMont Health, in the Mount Holly Grand Hall.

Melia Lyerly, COO of Lyerly Agency in Belmont, was elected to chair the Chamber Board of Directors this year. She challenged members to have “Maximum Impact,” which she abbreviated “MACC’s IMPACT,” in the Montcross Area, Gaston County and North Carolina, and also for the Chamber and the businesses and organizations it serves.

Citing a recent “Alliance for Growth Initiative” report on economic development in Gaston County, she said many Montcross Area Chamber members served on committees to develop the plan. “This report on the future of Gaston County will have MACC’s IMPACT on us,“ she said. “And in turn, we have the opportunity to have a MACC’S IMPACT on the plan’s success.”

“Our Montcross area is the gateway for economic growth in Gaston County,“ Lyerly said. “The growth of Gaston County will begin at this gateway – and we need to be the welcoming committee. Growth is coming and we need to be ready. We need SMART growth – thoughtful growth – that makes the Montcross area better because of it.”

The Montcross Area Chamber recorded a record membership of 450 in 2014, an increase of 436 percent in the past decade. “If we want to pursue big goals, we need to involve more people,” Lyerly said. “This time next year, I want that number to be more than 500.”

Officers (back row) and new Board members for 2015

Other Chamber officers elected for 2015 are Chair-elect Walter Payne of ImageMark Business Services, Treasurer Robert Aldrich of Aldrich CFO Services, Secretary Alex Mullineaux of CaroMont Health and Past-Chair Brad Thomas of Creative Solutions Special events.

New directors elected to the Board are Bill Ingram of Wells Fargo Bank, Jennifer Church of Chronicle Mill Land, Jason Ramey of PSNC Energy, Ethan Markel of PNC Bank, Moses Nueman of NB Technology, Regina Moody of Holy Angels and Kim George of Gaston Arts Council. Joining the Board as non-voting advisory directors are Cramerton Mayor Ronnie Worley and Gaston County Manager Earl Mathers.

For more on the celebration and the Montcross Area Chamber, go to www.MontcrossAreaChamber.com or call 704.825.5307.