Eric Lewis Awarded Outstanding Board Member of the Year

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce installed Robert “Bob” McIntosh as the 2010 Chairman of the Board of Directors at an inspirational Annual Meeting of the Chamber held at River Run Country Club in Davidson. The event was keynoted by former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who encouraged the business group to fight efforts to increase the corporate and personal income taxes, and to make the Chamber’s voice heard on efforts to invest in solid infrastructure such as roads and transit. The mayor also cited the need to demand clean government in the light of the allegations of impropriety in Raleigh which could threaten North Carolina’s ability to recruit new business to the region.

2009 Chamber Chairman John Hettwer cited many of the accomplishments of the Chamber during his tenure as board chairman. Hettwer praised the Board of Directors, Chamber volunteers, and staff who worked to create more business assistance programming and networking opportunities to help businesses survive the economic downturn of the past year.

Hettwer also recognized a number of individuals whose efforts made the region a better place to live, work, and visit. The Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year went to Joe Carbon with Good Old Fashioned Auto Care and Repair. The Outstanding Board Member was presented to Eric Lewis with OneSCSI. The John R. Cherry Community Service Award was presented to Dr. John Ballas with Ballas Chiropractic at Northcross for his firm’s philanthropic contributions during the year. Most notable was $12,000 raised for a Make-A-Wish fund raiser in December that his business sponsored.

The Robert T. Cashion Business Person(s) of the Year went to the VanWingerden family at Metrolina Greenhouses. Abe VanWingerden was on hand to receive the award on behalf of many of the family members who take an active role in the operations and management of the Huntersville-based business. Sandy Tilley of Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen received the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award. Tilley’s organization, which is located in Huntersville, has served 22,000 people in the first year of operation, which included 117 for Christmas dinner and delivery of 400 donated gifts to children.

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, with approximately 1,100 business members, serves the business communities of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and the greater Lake Norman region.