CommunityOne’s Wood graduates from GSB

SALISBURY – William R. (Skip)Wood III, regional president for CommunityOne Bank, recently completed the Graduate School of Banking, an intensive 36-month banking school providing senior management and leadership training for community banking professionals.

The school is held each summer on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo.

Completing the school is a significant accomplishment in the banking and financial services industry and gives Wood a high level of leadership and greater insight into the current state of the industry. Wood joined CommunityOne in 2004 and currently serves as regional president over the bank’s offices in Cabarrus, Guilford, Iredell, Rowan and Mecklenburg counties, as well as in the Archdale-Trinity area in northern Randolph County.

“Skip has been a tremendous asset to CommunityOne,” said Mark Hensley, chief banking officer for CommunityOne. “He leads his region with expertise and enthusiasm and has helped CommunityOne better serve our customers and communities. We are proud of this accomplishment and excited about the potential that it brings.”

Wood was among 118 graduates of the 59th annual school session held July 12 through July 24. Students of the GSBC receive a diploma after successfully completing six weeks of classroom training focusing on the areas of general management, lending, leadership, human resources management, and financial management. Requirements also include comprehensive examinations, completion of six intersession research projects, and participation in a bank management simulation.



Zoo staffers given lifetime awards

ASHEBORO – A current curator at the North Carolina Zoo and a retired long-time staff member have both recently received lifetime awards for their work associated with organizations closely connected to the Zoo.

Virginia (Gin) Wall, the zoo’s Curator of Horticulture, received the first Lifetime Award (The Chuck Rogers Conservation Award) given by the Association of Zoological Horticulture in recognition of her long-time support for and advocacy of the importance of horticulture within zoological institutions.

A quote from the association’s citation reads: “It is fitting that this award goes to Gin for her dedication, perseverance and commitment to the conservation of our planet.”

Lucy Segerson, the second recipient, recently retired after a long career in the zoo’s Animal Division. She received the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) Lifetime Award for outstanding service to the profession and AAZK.

Her citation reads: “This award is based on Ms. Segerson’s outstanding commitment to professionalism in her distinguished career as a zookeeper and her service to AAZK on a chapter and national level.”



Edward Jones ranks tops in work sites

ASHEBORO – The financial services firm Edward Jones recently was named the No. 1 company of the “Best Companies to Work for in North Carolina” ranking.

Local Edward Jones financial advisors are Joe Fowler and Jay Brownfield in Asheboro and Colleen Mitchell in Randleman.

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliates, in Canada and the United Kingdom. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm’s 12,000-plus financial advisors work directly with more than 8 million clients to understand their personal goals – from college savings to retirement – and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. Edward Jones embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today.

Edward Jones, which ranked No.2 on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For 2009,” is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones interactive Web site is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com.

Fowler’s office is located at 161-D N.C. 42 North in Asheboro and he can be reached at (336) 629-6224. Brownfield’s office is located at 359 S. Cox St. in Asheboro and he can be reached at (336) 626-4000. Mitchell’s office is located at 114 Pointe South Drive in Randleman and she can be reached at (336) 498-4593.



First Bancorp reports second quarter results

TROY – First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, recently announced second quarter net income available to common shareholders of $35.0 million compared to $5.3 million reported in the second quarter of 2008. Earnings per diluted common share were $2.10 in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.32 for the same period a year ago.

On June 19, 2009, First Bancorp realized a $53.8 million gain as a result of the acquisition of Cooperative Bank in Wilmington. The after-tax impact of this gain was $32.8 million, or $1.97 per diluted common share. Cooperative Bank operated 24 branches in the coastal region of North Carolina and South Carolina and had $958 million in total assets.

“Although we were saddened to see the situation involving Cooperative Bank unfold, we believe that First Bank was a good fit to assume the closed branches,” said Jerry Ocheltree, First Bancorp president and CEO. “We are working hard to prove ourselves to our new customers and consider it a privilege to be of service.”

Total assets at June 30, 2009, including the impact of the recent acquisition, amounted to $3.5 billion, 34.2 percent higher than a year earlier. Total loans at June 30, 2009 amounted to $2.7 billion, a 24.7 percent increase from a year earlier. Total deposits amounted to $2.9 billion at June 30, 2009, a 42.6 percent increase from a year earlier.

Excluding the Cooperative Bank acquisition, First Bancorp has experienced a slight decline in loans during 2009. Internally generated loan balances declined 0.6 percent in the second quarter of 2009 and 1.8 percent , year to date.

Internal deposit growth was $24 million, or 1.1 percent , in the second quarter of 2009, and $88 million, or 4.3 percent , for the first six months of 2009.



Massie named CFO of the year

ASHEBORO – Will Massie, assistant county manager/county finance officer, was named Triad Business Journal’s inaugural Triad Chief Finance Officer of the Year in the Government category.

On a suggestion from Tourism Director Tammy O’Kelley, County Manager Richard Wells nominated Will for the award. Suzanne Hunt, county internal auditor, assisted with the application.

The Triad Business Journal hosted a reception Aug. 13 for the announcement of winners in each category.

The Triad Business Journal’s comments on why Will was selected follow: was key in county’s top ranking for fund balance in 2008 among counties with more than 100,000 people; led efforts for application that provides consistency and accountability as outside agencies seek funding from county; led initiative to have local fire departments conduct and achieve clean audits; implemented performance measurements for all county departments; planned for pay-as-you-go capital improvements for County technology projects.



Griffith attends conference

LIBERTY – J.B. Griffith III of Liberty, a Modern Woodmen of America representative, participated in a three-day investment leaders conference at Modern Woodmen’s home office in Rock Island, Ill. He was among a select group of Modern Woodmen representatives who were invited to learn more about various retirement topics, brokerage accounts and Woodmen’s Variable CustomLife product.



Pediatrics office moving

ASHEBORO – Randolph Medical Associates’ Pediatrics office moved to a new facility Aug. 24. The former facility, located at 132 W. Miller St. in Asheboro, is now at 713 S. Fayetteville St. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (336) 625-2467 for more information.



Avada directors attend meetings

ASHEBORO – Earl McCall, regional director of Avada Hearing Care of Asheboro, and Mark Walser, regional director of Avada Hearing Care of Siler City, recently joined regional directors from across the country for three days of meetings in Springfield, Mass.

The sessions, held from July 22 through July 24, were led by Steve W. Barlow, CEO of the company. The topics centered around familiarization and standardization of processes in patient car protocols from initial contact with a prospective patient throughout their time as an Avada patient. The improved processes will lead to a solid business foundation, enhanced patient care and satisfaction with the products and services provided locally and nationwide, Barlow said.

Avada, the operating subsidiary of Hearing Healthcare Management Inc., operates more than 280 hearing care centers nationwide. Visit www.avada.com for more information.