Kurt Posey has lived in Raeford for eleven years. He is a member of Kiwanis and serves on the Fall Festival Board; additionally he is one of four partners at Willcox, McFadyen, Fields & Sutherland in Raeford.

Hoke County was formed in 1911, and at first, only Raeford Institute provided secondary education. Over time, however, a public high school opened.

Membership

United States cities and towns of all sizes are experiencing change at work – not from public office or corporate titles, but through individuals committed to their communities who make up local Chambers of Commerce – an organization providing vital support for thousands of local businesses and organizations.

Brad Calloway became the third generation owner of Raeford Hardware when he purchased it from his father and grandfather in 2012. Since then he has expanded the building three times to 10,000 square feet. While keeping some original features to preserve its hometown feel.

Raeford City Council will hold elections this year. Cathy Brown, Jackie McLean and Ricky Sandy have filed to run. Shelley Wilburn, former council member who worked to improve downtown Raeford and co-founded the Downtown Raeford Business Association has also filed to run. Josh Bain and David Conoly had not filed by Monday’s filing period deadline.

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Events

At chamber events, members are exposed to new knowledge and influential people. Speaker series, networking events, procurement/trade shows, seasonal food festivals are great ways of creating community spirit while driving non-dues revenue for your chamber. Finally, food festivals are always welcome! Seasonal events provide another fun opportunity to gather people together in your community while becoming annual traditions that members look forward to every year!

Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo has been postponed due to pandemic influenza; however, it will return this Saturday, May 14. Local businesses can set up booths free of charge and advertise employment opportunities while networking with fellow local companies and getting to know more about their community.

Brad Calloway is the third-generation owner of Raeford Hardware in Downtown Raeford. His grandfather and father opened this family-run business in 1973; Brad purchased it from them in 2012. Since then he has expanded the building three times while keeping its original features. Brad has participated in community events as part of Kiwanis and Fall Festival Board membership and Kiwanis club membership; since relocating from Florida eleven years ago he has become part of Raeford and loves being an advocate for local business while safeguarding Raeford heritage; together with his wife they live here with their two daughters!

Economic Outlook Dinner

The Economic Outlook Dinner hosted by the chamber provides an excellent opportunity to network with local business leaders and enjoy presentations by respected economists and researchers who provide a detailed view of Springfield and Richmond Highway corridor economies as well as tips for successful economic development.

At this year’s Robert A. Wright Hoke County Agricultural Center event, Logan’s Roadhouse will provide catering service. Sheriff Roderick Virgil will serve as guest speaker to address current and upcoming events within Hoke County; admission cost for this event is $10 per person.

Each fall, faculty from Indiana University Southeast’s Kelley School of Business convene to assess the economic forecast for the upcoming year from multiple angles – global, national, regional – in addition to providing insight into potential economic development opportunities and challenges within their region.

China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC), a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening US-China economic and trade ties, is the event’s presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Fosun International, China Merchant’s Bank, and Minmetals Inc. Additionally, this event features workshops and panel discussions covering such topics as future of e-commerce; role of women leaders; best practices for creating robust supply chains etc.

Business Expo

The Business Expo hosted by the chamber brings local businesses and residents together to celebrate all that their community offers them. Exhibitors range from professional services to small boutique shops; visitors can explore each exhibit and meet its entrepreneur while supporting local economies; raffle prizes can also be won throughout the day!

At this expo, numerous speakers and workshops covered topics ranging from cybersecurity to business expansion. Speakers included Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim, Tech NYC Executive Director Jason Clark and NYC Economic Development Committee Chair Andrew Kimball who discussed how the economy has recovered since COVID-19 pandemic hit and how NYC stands to lead in industries including PropTech, BioTech and Green Tech/Clean Tech.

Attending the Business Expo can be accomplished via two avenues, online ticket purchasing or at the door. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor, North Carolina from October 10-2. Presentations by business leaders and government officials as well as job fair will take place. For more information, visit their website. Kurt Posey has lived in Raeford for 11 years and is active within his community, serving on both Kiwanis board and Fall Festival board membership alongside his chamber membership membership as Vice-Director /Director for Sun Path Products as Vice/Director and Fall Festival board membership membership among others. He lives here with his wife and three children