Asheboro ‘Sheriff and Deputies’ Bring in Chamber’s Most Wanted
asheboro recycling center, asheboro/randolph chamber of commerce, fox & the hounds, kim markham, micki’s motley marshalls, rbc centura bank, roger and the renegades, smith & the chamber champions, tina crutchfield, toledano’s trailblazers,
Most came quietly when campaign sheriff Tina Crutchfield and her deputies went after them.
Crutchfield‚ of RBC Centura Bank‚ led six gangs of business leaders on a successful roundup‚ netting 73 new members for the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. It was the chamber’s first membership drive in several years.
“It was chamber members selling values they knew firsthand that closed the deal‚” says Kim Markham of Asheboro Recycling Center‚ who serves as co-chairman of the chamber’s membership committee. “We members know the value of the chamber and we’re able to sell its benefits to others. I think that was the key to success.”
The words “Chamber’s Most Wanted” blazed from posters during the campaign‚ as Crutchfield and her deputies rode out in force to solicit businesses‚ manufacturers and agencies to join the chamber.
Scouting parties for the roundup included Roger and the Renegades‚ Whitaker & The Winners‚ Smith & the Chamber Champions‚ Fox & the Hounds‚ Micki’s Motley Marshalls and Toledano’s Trailblazers‚ who helped spread the word to prospective new chamber members.
“It was work‚ but it was an overall good feeling to be able to contribute to the chamber and to the community at large‚” says Roger Anderson of the HR Group‚ who serves with Markham as co-chairman of the membership committee.
The many perks of chamber membership helped recruiters sway business owners who may have been on the line with their decision. Those benefits include special advertising rates in local media‚ listings in chamber publications‚ free seminars‚ the eligibility to participate in the NCRM Association Workers Compensation Fund‚ and assistance with planning and coordination of special events such as ribbon cuttings‚ expansions and special promotions. Chamber membership also provides access to valuable networking opportunities through monthly social events such as Business After Hours‚ sponsored by individual chamber members.
On top of all this‚ the Asheboro/Randolph chamber has built a strong reputation as an effective voice for the local business community‚ says Stacey Walker‚ chamber membership director. It was Walker who first threw out the idea of a western roundup theme for the membership drive. With Crutchfield agreeing to serve as “sheriff‚” a decision was made to carry out the campaign using local initiative‚ rather than hiring professional fundraisers to do the work.
“We are most proud of the fact that we did this on our own‚” Markham says. “Tina pulled everything together.”
Crutchfield says she couldn’t have done it without help from her posse.
“I had over 30 deputies to work with me‚” Crutchfield says. “It was their commitment and drive that gave us this success.”
A “friendly competition” was part of the effort‚ Markham says.
The top award went to Roger Anderson and his Renegades‚ who brought in 31 new members.
“And there are lots of follow-ups we’re still working on‚ people with current budgetary concerns that will join in the coming year‚” Markham says.
Story by Bridget Huckabee
Photo by Michael W. Bunch
