2015 Women in Business Conference {Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce}

The Ritchie family (and myself) are huge fans of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. Patrick, Ali, Paige and Danielle have been a huge part of our grand opening and our success so far! Needless to say, when we get the opportunity to “study” with them, we jump at it! They hosted their annual Women in Business  Conference & Appreciation Event last Friday. I attended the conference portion and was truly inspired by Denise Ryan, their keynote speaker, and the Women in Business panel that followed.

Denise Ryan is a “motivational pyromaniac with infectious energy and enthusiasm that will set a room ablaze” according to her bio provided by the Chamber. Boy, were they right?! Her advice on being a powerful woman and paying attention to body language and how we present ourselves was something every female in today’s world should hear! INCREDIBLE! My favorite quote of her session: “Carry yourself like a leader and you’ll be treated like a leader!”

Then the Women in Business panel discussion lead by Cyndie Mynatt, President of Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships began. The panelists consisted of Diane Honeycutt of Allen Tate Realtors and Cabarrus County Commissioner, Patricia Horton – Regional President of Uwharrie Bank, Veleria Levy – Senior Account Executive for MedExpress/AVITA Drugs, and Dianne Synder, DHA – Chancellor of Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Wow, what a group of powerful women!

Here are my favorite quotes from their discussion.

Fear of Public Speaking:  “If you don’t speak, someone else will. You need to be heard.” –Pat Horton

Hiring & Networking with Women: “Know your worth.” –Veleria Levy

Memorable Failures: “The time I failed was when I didn’t trust my gut feeling.” –Pat Horton

Dressing for Power:  “You only get one time for a first impression!” –Diane Honeycutt

Work/Life Balance: “Women want to be all things to all people. You just can’t. Prioritizing is huge but hard.” –Pat Horton

Your one “do-over:” “I put things on hold or missed time with my children. You can’t do that over. Family comes first.” –Dianne Snyder

If you ever get the opportunity to be mentored by any of these ladies, jump at the opportunity!

After the panel discussion and a delicious lunch catered by Doughgirls Catering, there was an exhibitor show, where Ritchie Hill served cheese straws and collected names for one lucky lady to win a business luncheon at Ritchie Hill, catered with boxed lunches by Queen City Catering!

We’re happy to announce that Timbs Fulghum of Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast won the luncheon. Congrats Timbs! And thank you to the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce for allowing us to be a part of their annual Women in Business Conference. As you call tell, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Also, a quick thank you to Chelish Moore Flowers for providing our beautiful tablecloth; Ritchie Hill Bakery for the yummy cheese straws and Irresistible Portraits for the gorgeous print from our Grand Opening.

XOXO

Jessica

Porch Chit Chat: Independent Tribune {Historic Concord house reborn, ready to entertain}

Historic Concord house reborn, ready to entertain

CONCORD, N.C. – A historic house on Union Street made its debut Friday as a banquet home, the first to operate in a residential area of the city.

Ritchie Hill, the 3,791-square-foot house built in 1906, was recently renovated by the Ritchie family and will now serve as a venue for weddings, corporate events, parties and family gatherings.

"They preserved and enhanced what already was,” said Concord Mayor Scott Padgett. "They’re going to be good neighbors, and it’s a win-win. We’re very proud of it.”

Banquet homes are large, historic homes used for weddings, parties, corporate retreats and other events. They have gained popularity as a type of land use throughout North Carolina, giving families like the Ritchies a way to make the homes self-sustaining and to generate funds to help keep the homes in good repair.

Heath Ritchie and his three siblings - Robert, Ritchie, Doug Ritchie and Beth Alm, asked Concord City Council to consider allowing banquet homes in residential areas of Concord as one last chance to find a new use for their family’s historic Victorian-style home, which has been in the family for more than 100 years.

Heath Ritchie and his wife and children were the last of the Ritchies to actually live in the home. Before that, several generations have always lived in the home at once. But it’s too big for any of them now to live in and maintain.

In 2008, they placed the 3,791-square-foot house on the market for $900,000. It did not sell. So they came up with a new idea -- a wedding venue.

The Ritchie family asked Concord City Council to change an ordinance to allow banquet homes in residential areas – and to give them a way to keep the house in the family.

Concord City Council voted to allow special-use permits for banquet homes.

Original article published in Independent Tribune, Sunday, March 29, 2015. Online article here.