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Clark Poole has retired as director of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce after 10 years at the helm of the organization.
Ashton Turnage of Kernersville is the chamber's new director. She comes to Rutherford County from the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce where she was former director of finance, tourism and economic progress.
The Chamber officially welcomed her on the organization's Facebook page recently as she was preparing to come to Rutherford County.
"With chamber experience, Ashton already champions the values we have here at the Rutherford County Chamber," said a chamber member.
The Chamber will host a Meet and Greet in February to introduced the community, county and area to Turnage. She has been working remotely from her home and plans to move to Rutherford County in the future.
In a message to the members and friends, upon his retirement Poole said, "A lot of things have happened during these years and even though we have faced many struggles our community has turned those challenges into opportunities."
"It has been both an honor and a privilege to have served as your Director for the last 10 years," Poole said.
Poole said in the message that he wanted to share a few thoughts for members and Rutherford County to ponder:
His thoughts:
"The Chamber mission is to assist in economic improvement and quality of life for the citizens of Rutherford County. Perhaps we need to give special attention to our quality of life emphasis; it is not just about money, rather it is each of us promoting acceptance of our differences, respecting those who disagree with us, recognizing the benefits of diversity and genuinely wanting all of our citizens to succeed and know there worthiness.
Poole's thoughts for pondering:
"•That we grow more from our differences than our likenesses.
•Take time to understand so as to be understood. It is so true: there is a reason God gave us two ears and one mouth.
•To recognize that true leadership is not about power and control; it is about vision, passion and inclusion. Sometimes the most powerful leadership we can exhibit is to follow.
•To never fall into the trap of viewing life through the rear view mirror; rather to look through the windshield where in our future rests.
•To remember our public schools are the incubators, our community college is the launching pad and we adults have the responsibility to create the atmosphere for our young to succeed.
•To make a conscious effort to encourage our young adults to run for office, become members of Boards and Commissions to encourage their stamp on our future. Don't hand them the game plan; rather sit at the table and write the game plan with them.
•Finally, the future will be as bright as we are willing to work to make it happen. It will require us to work together; erase the boundaries that keep us apart, put aside in rear view mirror thinking and always look ahead."
