The Free Press » www.Kinston.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 A7 business update Business news and information brought to you by the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce www.kinstonchamber.com

» calling all vendors » chamber happenings TICKETS FOR PICKLER SHOW ON SALE NOW BBQ Festival We’re kicking off the BBQ Festival on the Neuse this year in a BIG way! is only two WRNS and the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce present , Mickey Guyton, and David Kroll months away Thursday, April 30 at Grainger Stadium in Can you smell the BBQ yet? It’s Kinston. time to start planning for the BBQ You’ve heard David Kroll’s heart-wrench- Festival! ing story “Little Soldiers” on WRNS, a song We are now accepting applications portraying the life in the military from the for arts, fine crafts, food, farmers family point of view. He’s opened for Chris market and general vendors. The Young, Montgomery Gentry, Eric Church Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of and more. He will be kicking off the show. Commerce is accepting applications The next act is someone who is on the lips for festival vendors, cook teams, en- of everyone in Nashville this year: Mickey tertainment and festival sponsors. Guyton. She was named the Top New Art- If you are a business and would like ist to Watch in 2015 by Billboard Magazine. to place a gift item in the Hog Hap- Her debut single “Better Than You Left pen’ BBQ Cook-off team welcome Me” is already climbing the charts. She’ll bags contact Laura Lee Sylvester at be hitting the road with Brad Paisley and the chamber. Justin Moore after stopping by to play for This is going to be our biggest Fes- us in Kinston. tival yet! Our last artist needs no introduction to Be sure to put the BBQ Festival on North Carolinians; our very own Kellie your calendar. Invite your family and Pickler will be taking us home that night friends to come along to enjoy great with her hits “,” barbeque, rides, vendors, car show, “Red High Heels,” “Don’t You Know How entertainment and so much more. Much I Love You” and more. table service) - $50; Box Seats - $35; Grand- Kinston for the weekend and enjoy all the Go to www.kinstonbbq.com for in- Tickets for our Kickoff Concert to the stands - $25; and General Admission - $20. BBQ Festival on the Neuse has to offer, like formation and the schedule of events BBQ Festival on The Neuse are on sale When you purchase your tickets through the Sauce Boss and Southern Sides competi- or call the Chamber at 252-527-1131. now. Contact the Chamber at 252-527-1131 the chamber you will also be entered into tions, the Wine Garden and Brewery Tours, or stop by to purchase your tickets. Ticket a special weekend giveaway drawing. Call tons of great food and the finest BBQ in prices are: Infield Diamond Seats (includes for details. N.C., carnival rides, classic car and truck » ambassador seats on the infield closest to the stage and Make sure to make your plans to stay in show, shopping and more. spotlight red carpet welcome: kyle & jessica oaks Claudia he Kinston-Lenoir County Davalos Perez Chamber Commerce and the Red laudia Davalos Perez, a bi- Carpet Committee are pleased lingual branch banker, has T been employed at BB&T to welcome Kyle and Jessica Oaks to our Cfor 15 years. During that community. The Red Carpet Committee time, Claudia has re- is ready to show potential newcomers that ceived various certi- fications and awards Kinston and Lenoir County is a great place from BB&T. to call home. Whether they are looking Originally from Texas, Claudia moved for city or country living, we are ready to to Lenoir County in impress them with all the amazing ame- 1992. She is a 1999 graduate from South Claudia nities that we have to offer with a dose of Lenoir High School Perez Southern Hospitality! Thanks to chamber and holds an Associ- ate in Arts Elementary Education member sponsoring businesses each eli- degree from Lenoir Community Col- gible newcomer will receive a Red Carpet lege. She is married to Jorge Perez and has 4 children; J.J., Kaitlyn, Hai- Gift Card package valued at more than ley and Allyson. $1,000 turning new residents into lifetime She’s an active member at her customers. The program works hand in them get acquainted with all we have ent Kyle Oaks with a Red Carpet welcome church and currently serves as a Board Member at Kinston Communi- hand with the ThinkL enoir County (TLC) to offer, and connect them to the infor- package. If you moved here from outside ty Health Center and as an Ambassa- project which supports local shopping and mation they need to get settled in their Lenoir County in 2015 and are interested dor for the Lenoir County Chamber. Outside of her busy life, Claudia en- encourages people to relocate here. In new home. On behalf of the Red Carpet in the program or just want more informa- joys shopping, exercising, and spend- addition, each new family has the option Committee, Scott Bowen, Chamber VP tion, please contact Laura Lee Sylvester at ing time with her family. to be matched with a host family who of Business and Tourism (left) and Laura [email protected] or 252- event calendar show them around the community, help Lee Sylvester, Chamber president, pres- 527-1131. » Business After Hours with » did you know ...? Anchor Insurance Did you know that when you n n n n n n location is one of six finalists. Thursday, March 5, at 5:30 shop locally, you are supporting The voting is open now through p.m. your community? When you shop Sixty-three percent of all The O’Neil at 200 N. Queen Friday at 5 p.m., so log on and vote 2405 N. Herritage Street, in our community, you support not consumers are more likely to Street in downtown Kinston has and share with as many people as Kinston only the businesses and their em- buy from a Chamber member been nominated for the People’s possible! We really need everyone ployees, but your sales tax dollars than a nonmember business. Of Choice, Great Historic Rehabili- to help make Lenoir County No. Anchor Insurance is hosting go back to fund our schools, parks, these 63 percent 37 percent earn tation Award through the N.C. 1! a Business After Hours with libraries and more. So remember $60,000 and 16 percent earn over Chapter of the American Plan- Place your vote at www.tinyurl. the Kinston-Lenoir Chamber of to TLC … Think Lenoir County! $100,000. ning Association. Lenoir County com/votekinston. Commerce. We hope you can attend this event to network with fellow businesses and hear all Anchor Insurance has to offer. Bring your fellow employees and your business cards and get to president’s club know others in your community. Anchor Insurance Agencies is one of the largest and independently owned personal GOLD MEMBERS: insurance specialists in North Carolina. They represent over 15 different insurance companies COPY PRO INC. — THE FREE PRESS for all lines of insurance. As an Independent Insurance Agent, their HARVEY FERTILIZER & GAS — LENOIR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL customers can count on Anchor Insurance to shop the entire market on your behalf to find the SILVER MEMBERS: best possible coverage at the best possible price. They don’t stop working for you once they write BB&T — CENTURY LINK — CHARLES HUGHES CONSTRUCTION — CHERRY ENERGY your policy. They will continue to COASTAL CONNECTIONS MARKETING — CORPORATE RESOURCES — DOWN EAST PROTECTION SYSTEMS monitor your policy to see that you are aligned with the best DUKE ENERGY — HERRITAGE ELITE ESTATES — INFINITY NETWORK SERVICES rate. Before your policy is up for KINSTON PUBLIC SERVICES/ELECTRICITIES — LIB GRAPHICS SOLUTIONS/LIONS INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND renewal, you can count on Anchor to have already re-shopped your MINGES BOTTLING GROUP, INC. — PERRY MANAGEMENT, INC. — SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS — WELLS FARGO policy with their carriers to see WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC. — WOODMEN OF THE WORLD (JOHN WALTERS, AREA MANAGER) if you can benefit from potential savings! To learn more about their services call 252-527-7201 KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — 301 NORTH QUEEN STREET, PO BOX 157, KINSTON NC 28502 For more information on this PHONE: 252-527-1131 — FAX: 252-527-1914 — EMAIL: [email protected] and other Chamber events, WEBSITES: WWW.KINSTONCHAMBER.COM — WWW.LIVABILITY.COM/KINSTON/NC — WWW.KINSTONBBQ.COM please contact Kay Johnson at WWW.VISITKINSTON.COM 252-527-1131 or kjohnson@ kinstonchamber.com.