Grogan Associates, which helps large multi-site companies manage properties amid mergers and other transitions, will move into Stowe’s Corner downtown this fall. Also below, notes about Thursday’s MI-Connection Communication System board meeting, where members will get a preliminary report on 2009-10 results; more competition for MI-Connection from AT&T; and the town seeking bids for 2 energy efficiency projects. Also, planning has begun for Christmas in Davidson 2010.
MOVING TO STOWE’S CORNER
Tom Grogan and his company, Grogan Associates, make a business of helping companies manage changes in their facilities. This summer and fall, the company is managing a transition of its own, into a new headquarters in downtown Davidson.
Tom Grogan
The 20-employee company has leased the 11,000-square-foot third floor of Stowe’s Corner, at 220 S. Main St., with an option to buy the space, Mr. Grogan said Tuesday. Grogan Associates’ own architects and interior designers will help plan construction of the space, which could be occupied sometime in October.
Grogan Associates has been in Davidson, where Mr. Grogan lives, for 13 years. It will be moving from two separate floors in the Davidson Cotton Mill, at 209 Delburg St. Davidsonians also may know Mr. Grogan from his community activities, including a stint as chair of the Ada Jenkins Center’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Grogan said he “just loves” the Stowe building, which developer David Stewart and Harris LLC have built on the site of the former Stowe’s Exxon.
The move also allows him to combine all his operations in a single space, and leaves room for expansion. “We were able to secure the space to handle our growth. And then it offered the opportunity to consolidate. We have space on two floors over here (on Delburg Street). So it puts us all together,” Mr. Grogan said.
The company currently has 20 employees, down from a high of 40 before the recession took a bite out of its business. Mr. Grogan said depending the speed of the economic recovering, Grogan Associates could grow again to as many as 70 or 75 people in the next few years.
The company works with large banks and other companies that manage networks of offices or retail sites. Its architects, designers and planners help gather information about sites, evaluate space needs, and plan for upgrades and transitions as needed. Learn more about the company at GroganAssociates.com
MI-CONNECTION BOARD MEETS
The board of directors of the locally-owned MI-Connection Communications System meets early Thursday morning, with an agenda that’s expected to include a preliminary report on 2009-10 financial results. Mean
The meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. at MI-Connection headquarters board room, 420 S. Academy St., Mooresville. MI-Connection is the local cable TV, voice, and internet provider owned by the towns of Davidson and Mooresville.
AT&T EXPANDING U-VERSE
Speaking of MI-Connection, it appears that competition could be getting a bit hotter. AT&T announced last week that it is expanding the reach of its U-Verse service using a new technology called “pair bonding.” The new tactic sends signals over a pair of phone lines, and allows AT&T to extend the service another 1,000 to 2,000 feet from its neighborhood “nodes.”
AT&T and satellite providers are competing for video customers with MI-Connection, which has about 15,200 customers in Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius and surrounding areas. AT&T is also the largest local phone and internet provider in the area.
Just how hot will the competition be? AT&T in recent weeks has sent contract employees knocking on doors in Davidson hoping to sign up new customers for U-Verse. (See next item.)
NO SOLICITING HERE
Summer brings out all kinds of activity, including door-to-door salespeople. In the past couple of weeks, Davidson residents have reported knocks on doors from both telephone company AT&T and a roofing company (in the McConnell neighborhood). In Davidson, door-to-door sales are illegal.
Here’s the section of the town code:
Section 18-201 Code of Ordinances
It shall be unlawful, unless with the prior permission or invitation of the owner or occupant for any person to enter upon any privately owner premises in the town used as a dwelling for the purpose of soliciting orders for the immediate or future delivery of goods, merchandise, or services, specifically including the taking of subscriptions of magazines.
Here’s the message from the police department about the issue
According to the code of ordinances, the Town of Davidson prohibits door to door solicitation for the sale of any item including magazines.
The town does not permit any individual or business to solicit for the retail sale of any item. Charitable solicitation is allowed including politicians, veterans, boy scouts, girl scouts and religious organizations.
For charitable groups, a permit will be given and the group or individual will only be allowed to solicit for 24 hours and only from dawn to dusk.
- Should someone approach your home, please contact the Davidson Police Department.
- Before donating to any charity, ask to see a permit awarded by the town.
- Do not open the door for any person you do not know.
- If you are interested, speak through the door and ask that information be left in a mailbox or on a doorstep
For more information please call the department at 704-892-5131.
CHRISTMAS IN DAVIDSON SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
It may be July, but folks are already starting to think about Christmas in Davidson, which is scheduled this year on Dec. 2-4 in downtown Davidson. Planning has begun and organizers are seeking volunteers to serve on this year’s advisory committee. The committee will hold its first meeting Tuesday, July 27, at 9:30 a.m. at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. [Note: There's some discussion about moving the meeting to 9 a.m.; contact Tina Gibson below to confirm.]
The committee will help plan sponsorship solicitations, merchant and vendor participation, marketing, logistics, entertainment and transportation. If you’re interested, contact the town’s event coordinator, Tina Gibson, at 704-596-0342 or tgibson@imaginemusicgroup.com.
TOWN SEEKS BIDS FOR ENERGY PROJECTS
The town of Davidson is seeking bids for the completion of two energy efficiency projects that are being paid for through Main Street Energy grants. One project involves light fixtures, lamps and ballasts at Town Hall and the fire station. The other is to replace two HVAC units at the Business Center, 442 S. Main St.
Deadline for proposals is Aug. 16, 2010. For complete information, download info on the two projects at RFP Davidson I and RFP Davidson II.
PRESCHOOL ADDS TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
Discovery Village Preschool in Cornelius is expanding by adding a Transitional Kindergarten program to its curriculum.
“Several of our Pre-K students from last year will not turn 5 by Aug. 31, which is the new state-required age for enrollment in traditional kindergarten,” said the school’s director, Barbara Hall. “We had a number of requests for this program, and we are thrilled to find such a qualified teacher for this class.”
The school, on 2.5 acres off Knox Road, has hired Linda Hamilton to teach the class. Class size will be limited to eight. Discovery Village currently offers programs for children ages 2½ up to 5. For more information, contact Barbara Hall at 704-987-9040, or visit the school’s website at www.discoveryvillagepreschool.com.
NEW BRANCH MANAGER AT NEWBRIDGE BANK
Chuck Wingo has joined NewBridge Bank as Vice President and Branch Manager at its Charlotte and Lake Norman Bradford Mortgage offices. Wingo is based at 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 650, Charlotte. He reports to Beth Eller, Senior Vice President and Director of Mortgage Banking for NewBridge Bank. In his new role, Wingo will appoint and lead the Charlotte area’s mortgage banking team to provide residential mortgage lending services to clients. He has 23 years of mortgage banking experience and was recently employed in sales management at a major financial institution.
“Chuck is an exceptional leader with unprecedented knowledge of mortgage banking and finance,” Ms. Eller said in an announcement. “His contributions will not only enhance our client service, but also position NewBridge Bank for growth in the Charlotte and Lake Norman markets.”
NewBridge Bank is a state chartered community bank headquartered in Greensboro.
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