Ambassadors of business and good will

Representatives from local businesses that belong to the Rutherford County Chamber came together recently, some trading their inside desk jobs for a day outdoors constructing porches and railings for those who needed them.

The Rutherford County Chamber Ambassadors tackled two building projects for Rutherford Housing Partnership. It's one of several service projects Ambassadors will complete this year.

The Ambassador Program, which launched in 2015, is made up of representatives from the Chamber membership who agree to volunteer a few hours of their time each month to promote the company they represent and serve as a link between the Chamber board, community and new and existing members.

"Ambassadors really serve as the face, hands and feet of the Chamber," said Kimberly Mullinax, who serves as an Ambassador and is on the Chamber's board of directors.

While the program is new to Rutherford County, it has been implemented across the state for a number of years, Mullinax continued. Through her job at King Law Offices, Mullinax had served in other Ambassador groups. No two are alike, she said.

"The Ambassador program is really about building relationships," she said. Ambassadors meet once each month. Service projects are held quarterly.

"This program really helps us in our vision that two plus two begins to equal five," said Chamber Director Clark Poole. By having feedback from Ambassadors, the Chamber can hone in on what its members would like and offer more services.

The construction project provided a much-needed service to Chamber member Rutherford Housing Partnership.

"By having the Ambassadors work on these two homes, RHP was able to get two projects done and help these families," said Amanda Hill, project manager for Rutherford Housing Partnership. "There are 125 projects on our waiting list."

Many of those projects are similar to the ones the Ambassadors undertook, Hill said - replacing porches.

"A lot of the projects on our list are like this - one or two-day projects," she said.

At the work site Ambassadors worked to replace a 45-year old porch for a homeowner who is receiving hospice care. He stood in the doorway and watched as volunteers worked.

"I just hope and pray that if I needed something like this, someone would come and do it for me," said Ambassador Stacy Hawkins, who works for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

More information about the Rutherford County Chamber and the Ambassadors program can be found online at rutherfordcoc.org or by calling 828-287-3090.