ALBEMARLE –– The Stanly County Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new Stanly Commons offices to the public Wednesday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting event and meet-and-greet.
In January, the chamber moved from its 116 E. North St. office near the Albemarle Police Department to its new Albemarle offices at 1000 N. First St. Suite 11.
The chamber shares its Stanly Commons suite with Stanly County Economic Development, the Stanly County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and is alongside the Stanly County Utilities Department.
Sandy Selvy-Mullis, president and CEO of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, told SCJ that she was very pleased with the event’s turnout and that the chamber appreciates the support it receives from the county.
“With the interaction with the other entities in our suite, we’ve been able to share some contacts and work together on some things,” Selvy-Mullis said.
She served as the chamber’s interim president and CEO since August, when Kathy Almond resigned from the position after holding it for six years. Selvy-Mullis accepted and began the full-time role at the beginning of February following a national search and two rounds of interviews by the chamber.
Prior to her interim position, Selvy-Mullis served as a chamber board member and holds experience with organizations such as Albemarle Downtown Business Association, United Way of Stanly County, GHA Autism Supports, Albemarle Rotary Club, as well as 11 years as the publisher of The Stanly News and Press.
“I’ve learned a lot of things so far and some of my favorites are being able to work with the business community,” Selvy-Mullis said. “That’s what I’ve always enjoyed in my other positions. I like being able to help businesses and learn what’s going on in the county. I like to be in the know and the chamber helps you do that, and we hope to help everyone else be in the know.”
The chamber’s next event is a “Business After Hours” ladies night hosted with Atrium Health Stanly Women’s Services on March 19.
Held at Second Street Sundries from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a “coffee and conversation” theme, it will be a celebration of March’s International Women’s Day and attendees can expect refreshments as well as door prizes. According to Selvy-Mullis, the chamber has introduced the Business After Hours events in the past and hopes to make them a monthly occurrence this year along with new programs that have yet to be introduced.
“We’ll do our golf tournament that comes up on June 3 at Piney Point. We also do an annual safety luncheon that Cherry Berry comes to,” Selvy-Mullis said. “We’ll have a big fall event, likely in mid-October, that will be our signature fundraising event so we’re working on our plans for that now.”
The new chamber office unveiling wasn’t the only ribbon-cutting ceremony last week; though it has been already been open this year, chamber members partnered with Your CBD Store Monday afternoon for a grand opening celebration of Stanly County’s first purely CBD store, located at 759 NC-24 in Albemarle.