Fulton Hampton begins work today as the new sales associate for the Tryon Daily Bulletin, sales manager Mike Edwards has announced.
Hampton will replace Jason Wolfe of Landrum, a Bulletin sales associate for the past three years. Wolfe recently accepted a position with his familys growing specialty textiles company in Brevard. Wolfes last day is this Friday.
Hampton currently resides in Columbus, N.C. and has lived and worked in the local Western N.C. and Upstate S.C. area all his life.
He has worked in a variety of sales and customer service positions over his career. Fulton said he prides himself on providing first class customer service and maintaining positive relations with his customers.
Most recently, Fulton owned and operated Pops Pics Photography focusing on local high school and recreational league team sports.
He has written several sports articles for the TDB and has contributed numerous game photos taken while attending Polk County and Landrum sporting events.
“Fulton comes to us with a successful, productive background in outside sales and customer service,” said Mike Edwards. “I am confident he will provide excellent service to our customers.”
Fulton is married to Janice Thompson Hampton. Their children are Jon and Kelci Hampton and Melissa and Tim Thompson.
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After a final presentation last Monday to the Advantage West Certified Entrepreneurial Community (CEC) Application Review Board, Polk County has received a recommendation for approval to be accepted into the Advantage Wests Certified Entrepreneurial Community Program, Kipp McIntryre, Polk economic development director announced last week.
Advantage West Economic Development Group is western North Carolinas regional economic development commission, chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1994.
Advantage Wests 23-county region covers nearly 10,000 square miles, an area larger than eight other U.S. states and roughly the size of the State of Maryland.
The three-year CEC certification process involved the completion of five distinct evaluation and planning steps. “Special thanks go to Ambrose Mills and Jo Ann Miksa-Blackwell (former EDC member) for their leadership and assistance with the application process,” McIntyre said.
The CEC Review Board recommended to the full Advantage West Board that Polk County be welcomed into the program during its regular board meeting on Thursday, April 15 at the DoubleTree Biltmore in Asheville.
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Red Fox Country Club General Manager Tony Jackson has announced the addition of Mariah Morrissey to the service team at the club.
“Mariah will be our restaurant and clubhouse manager, which will free-up our chef, Jesse Wood, to focus his efforts on menus and meal presentations,” Jackson explained.
The new restaurant manager, who has a degree in business and finance from NYU, brings an impressive and extensive resume of experience to the local country club as well.
After earning her degree in New York, she returned to her home town of Las Vegas, NV and jumped right into the restaurant business.
Within two years of starting at a locally owned restaurant in early 2001, she joined the management program at The Vice Co. with restaurants in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and NYC. There she managed multiple restaurants for the company including venues for Wolgang Puck, Chef Wes Kendrick, and Pino Luongo.
“My mother discovered the beauty of Polk County a few years ago and her enthusiasm for the area intrigued me and so I moved east,” Morrissey said. “Im looking forward to helping rebuild the first class, four star reputation Red Fox Country Club once enjoyed. One part of our plan is to always be looking for ways to leverage this magnificent asset, the golf course or tennis courts, and restaurant to benefit the community. Yes we want to work our way back to being a private club, but at the same time we want to build bridges with the community and not walls.”
Yes, Mariah is named for the Lerner and Loewe song “They Call The Wind Mariah” from the musical “Paint Your Wagon.” As Morrissey explained it, “Mother was in the show in New York and just loved the song, so naming her daughter after the song was not a big stretch.”
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Bucks Pizza, Tryon, N.C., owners Tyler and Liz Philpott received a top sales and service excellence award at the annual Bucks Pizza franchise meeting held in Memphis, TN.
“Our secret to success isnt really a secret,” said Tyler Philpott. “Our customers know they can trust Bucks to give them high quality food and service every time they visit or call us. We prepare their food in our pizza kitchen the same way we do for our own family. Our customers satisfaction is a promise kept.”
Bucks Pizza features a menu of specialty pizzas, oven-baked hoagies, strombolis and their famous cheese stix. Bucks has been owned by the Philpott family since 2008. Bucks Pizza is located at 30 N. Trade St., Tryon.
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Kathleens Gallery is now open and featuring the fused glass sculptures of Pan Goodhand and pastel and acrylic paintings of Beverly Kies. Kathleens is now located at 98 N. Trade St., between Cowans Hardware and Goodyear Florist. Hours are 10-5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.