DGDC to hold annual banquet
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on September 22, 2016 9:57 AM
rmoore@newsargus.com
The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. will have its annual dinner and award ceremony Friday at the Goldsboro Event Center due to the possibility of rain.
The event was originally planned to be on the front lawn of the Goldsboro Union Station on North Carolina Street. The event starts at 6:15 p.m. with a reception that will be followed by DGDC leadership presentations, a dinner and award recognitions.
The Goldsboro Event Center is located at 1501 S. Slocumb St. for the ticketed event, which typically draws close to 200 people.
"We look forward to the annual dinner every year," said Elizabeth Rutland, Goldsboro business and property development specialist. "It's our time to congratulate everybody on their efforts to make downtown great.
"We feel like the past year has been instrumental in seeing so many of our plans come to fruition. We feel like the best is yet to come."
The event will offer the DGDC the chance to recognize business owners, developers, groups and individuals for their contributions supporting downtown Goldsboro.
"This event is great because it reminds people that it's not just the city or our office, but it's a community effort, and it encourages people to keep working to continue further development in downtown," Rutland said.
The downtown gala will include entertainment by local musician Scott McConnaughey. DGDC president Andrew Jernigan and vice president Beverly Wallace-Wiggins will offer highlights of the past year and expectations for the future year during the 7 p.m. presentation portion of the program, Rutland said.
Following the dinner, DGDC awards will be presented, including the organization's most prestigious honor, the Outstanding Business of the Year. Nominees this year are the Carolina Pine Country Store, Royall Barber Shop and Ed's Southern Food and Spirits.
The DGDC will honor four groups or individuals by presenting each with a Special Recognition Award. Those being honored include: The Peach Boutique for Best Curb Appeal, the Dancing Butterfly and Legacy Dance Project for Best Promotional or Marketing Effort with Thriller Night, Jay's Sushi and Burger Bar for Best New Business, and John Street Properties for Indicator of the Year.
A Thank You Award will be presented to Brig. Gen. Mark Slocumb, former commander of the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Fighter Wing.
Several awards of merit will also be presented to individuals, groups and businesses for their commitment to downtown. Merit award categories and nominees include:
* Historic Preservation -- the Goldsboro Drug Co., David Ham and Betty Duncan for 201 S. Center St., Jerry and Michael Dobson for 407 S. William St., and Preservation North Carolina for 305 W. Mulberry St.
* DGDC Volunteer of the Year -- Jinny Lyon, Tom and Dawn Potter and Viola Figueroa.
* DGDC Advocate of the Year -- Viola Figueroa, Wayne Community College Small Business Center, Kathy Cornelison and Catherine LeChot.
* Best Design Improvement -- the Goldsboro Drug Co., 201 S. Center St., the Dancing Butterfly and United Church Ministries.
* DGDC Board Member of the Year -- Regina Lesnau, Tonya Barber and Beverly Wallace-Wiggins.
* Outstanding Investor -- David Ham and Betty Duncan, Jim and Jeff Daniels, Selena and Adrian Worrell and Dr. Matt Wilding.
* Most Valuable Supporter -- Jernigan Furniture, Dancing Butterfly and Majestic Photography.
The winners will be announced during the award ceremony by Rutland and Julie Metz, Goldsboro's downtown development director and director of the DGDC.
A live air painting, by Eric Schreffler, will be created on site and auctioned off later in the evening, with proceeds benefiting DGDC and downtown improvements.
The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that supports the city's downtown development staff and works to promote the area through a variety of events and activities each year.