The Arc of Durham County Thanks Our Golf Sponsors
Ronnie Thomas · Charles J. Stewart · Joseph C. Woodard · Morris Marshburn · Robert Shackleford and James Beasley
1st Choice in Support? You Betcha!
The Arc is grateful to all of its contributors and volunteers; we could not exist without their generous support. We are especially grateful to our long-term supporters who have given so generously of both their time and money to support our mission.
Over the years, one of our biggest supporters has been Ronnie Thomas, owner of 1st Choice MBC, located in Roxboro, NC. Because of Ronnie’s involvement, 1st Choice has been a sponsor of the Annual Golf Tournament and the presenting sponsor for the last 14 years. Ronnie himself has been heavily involved in the Golf Committee assuring the yearly fundraiser has been a rousing success to both those who attend and those who benefit from The Arc’s services. To acknowledge his kindness and generosity, last year the tournament was named the Ronnie Thomas Invitational in his honor.
Ronnie Thomas is a successful businessman who gives back to his community through both donations and volunteer work. He is a member of Virginia Independent Automobile Dealer Association and a board member of Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce. He sponsors the Special Olympics, Personality Festival, and PCC Youth Entrepreneurship Camp. He contributes to organizations from the Boy Scouts of America, to local churches, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Ronnie is a dedicated individual, whether it be in business or helping his community. His motto is “Let Our Success Support Your Success.”
We hope you will join us in thanking Ronnie for his gracious support over the years.
Steadfast Support Guides Our Future
Charles J. Stewart, or Jeff as we all know him, has been one or our oldest and most loyal supporters. At the Golf Tournament’s inception, he was president of Guaranty State Bank, the tournament’s first Presenting Sponsor. Through the bank’s transitions over the years, till it became RBC Bank, he has encouraged the bank’s continued support for the tournament. His branch of RBC Bank is on Westgate Drive, right near The Arc’s offices and his helpful assistance has been much the same. He is always right there whenever we need him. He himself has been one of the essential members of the Annual Golf Tournament Committee for years. With Jeff’s help, the golf tournaments have grown into our most profitable yearly fundraiser. Both he and his wife, Linda, participate on the day of the event to assure its success.
Jeff is a successful businessman who gives back to his community through both his donations and volunteer work. Today, he is Chairman of College Foundation, Inc. of Raleigh and Trinity United Methodist Church. He is also a board member of the Durham Technical Community College and Durham Merchants Association Charitable Foundation. He has also helped his community by previously serving as Chairman of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and the Durham County United Way.
Please join us in thanking Jeff for making The Arc such an important part of his life and continuing to provide us with his loyal support.
It's All on the Page
Some of The Arc’s greatest contributors over the years have offered in-kind services by offering their skills to provide their products to support our cause. Many of the golf tournament’s supporters are valuable to us as they have shown their generosity time and time again. Joseph C. Woodard Printing Company has been one of those companies whose help has been immeasurable in getting the word out to the community by printing the brochure for the tournament for over three years, helping us get the word out, and providing items for the golfer’s goody bags. We are extremely grateful to them.
Joseph C. Woodard, or Joe as he is called by friends and family, started Joseph C. Woodard Printing Company in 1967 with a small press in the 6’ x 8’ storage room adjacent to his carport. Over the years, they have expanded their operations on South Saunders Street in Raleigh, through the acquisition of other small shops and the addition of state-of-the-art equipment. Family-owned and operated, they have developed a reputation for unmatched customer service, superior craftsmanship and creative solutions to today’s challenges in corporate printing. Their skill has won them over 100 PICA Awards (Printing Industry of the Carolinas, Association) in honor of their exceptional work. This environmentally-conscious company is a full-service commercial printing company and provides services like large format printing, proofing services and design services. Their goal is to produce an outstanding product, at a fair market value, in a timely fashion.
Joe was the eldest of six children born to Richard and Inez Woodard of Princeton, North Carolina. In 1955, he married his wife Joyce Williams, and they celebrated their 54th anniversary this year. They have four children and nine grandchildren. From 1958 to 1962, Joe served his country as part of Air Force while stationed at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts. He is a lifetime member of The Exchange Club of Raleigh, and was honored to serve as President of the North Carolina Exchange Club in 1987. Joe is proud of his daughter Kim who follows in his footsteps as a dedicated member to the Exchange Club’s mission.
He is a founding member of St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church where he served as elder and Clerk of the Session for many years. Joe thoroughly enjoys getting out for golf with his three sons Cliff, Ryan and Jason. Their yearly trip to Pinehurst for the NC Beautiful Tournament is a cherished time for them all.
We were recently informed that Joe is battling cancer, but he continues to work in his business up to this day. All of us at The Arc offer our thoughts and prayers to Joe and his family in this difficult time. Please join us in thanking Joseph C. Woodard Printing Company for making The Arc such an important part of their lives and business by continuing to provide us with their loyal support. You can reach them by calling (919) 829-0634 or visiting their website at: www.josephcwoodard.com.
Helping The Arc Land on the Green!
Many of the most loyal sponsors of The Arc’s Ronnie Thomas Invitational have provided support for the event in multiple ways: monetary contributions, in-kind contributions, and small gift items for the golfers attending the event. RSM McGladrey has done it all. Beyond their generous contributions, they have printed the golf program and supplied items to the golfer’s goody bag. Continuing to support The Arc and its cause for more than five years, we are extremely grateful to RSM McGladrey and especially to Morris Marshburn.
Morris Marshburn, managing director at RSM McGladrey, serves as the leader of the firm’s financial services industry practice for the Carolinas Economic Unit. Working for the firm for more than 19 years, he was named a 2009 Impact Financial Leader by Business Leader Magazine. Marshburn graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Despite being in the midst of one of the largest economic downturns n recent history, Morris has continued to lead the firm to a historical trend of double-digit growth and expansion in net services. He has led the development and growth of the specialty finance practice to its current size - many of those years with increasing growth and the doubling of revenues about every five years. Morris is actively involved in industry associations in North Carolina and on a national level, assisting member companies to better understand business issues.
RSM McGladrey’s roots in North Carolina go back to the early 1900s when they served clients from their Greensboro office. They now have eight offices in North Carolina: Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Morehead City, New Bern, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Wilmington. They are extensively involved with their clients through a hands-on approach to providing high-quality service. Their industry focus allows them to provide the best possible service to clients. These industries include: manufacturing and wholesale distribution; private equity groups and portfolio companies; financial services; health care; automobile dealerships; not-for-profits; and governmental entities.
RSM McGladrey strongly believes in giving back to the community in which they live and work through both financial support and volunteer opportunities. Some of the representative organizations besides The Arc of Durham County, include: United Way, Arts & Science Council; United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County; Junior Achievement; North Carolina Beautiful; and the Salvation Army, as well as participation in their local Rotary and various Chambers of Commerce throughout the state. They are even sponsoring their own PGA Tour Fall Series Event, the McGladrey Classic, beginning this fall in Sea Island, Georgia this October for the Davis Love Foundation. The purse will be $4 million and the tournament’s charitable beneficiaries will include Special Olympics, the official charity of RSM McGladrey’s golf platform, as well as local charities in the Sea Island-Brunswick area.
Please join us in thanking RSM McGladrey for making The Arc such an important part of their lives and business by continuing to provide us with their loyal support. Whether it’s accounting, tax or business consulting, they can help provide a customized solution for your company. Reach them by calling (919) 781.1458 or visiting their website at: http://www.rsmmcgladrey.com.
It’s No Shock We’re Grateful
Many of the golf tournament’s most loyal sponsors have continued to show their support to The Arc and without their help, we couldn’t continue to offer our services. Bryant-Durham has continued to support The Arc and its tournament for five years, we are extremely grateful to them, their President, Robert Shackleford and Executive Vice President, James Beasley.
Robert Shackleford’s experience in the electrical industry started in 1952 with his father’s electrical company while in high school. After graduating from Gaston College, he joined Bryant-Durham as an estimator and project manager. Bryant-Durham was founded in 1960 and incorporated in 1961. In the late 60’s, his years of real-world knowledge served as an excellent foundation when he became President and majority owner along with James Beasley and the company began to grow and prosper. Robert serves on several industry boards including Carolinas Associated General Contractors (CAGC) and Carolinas Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) and was one of the founders of the Associated Builders Contractors (ABC) of the Carolinas. Mr. Shackleford holds an Unlimited Electrical License in several states.
Mr. James E. Beasley was one of the original employees for Bryant-Durham Electric when it was established in 1960. Today, Mr. Beasley serves as the Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board and with his leadership the company has grown from employing a few dozen to over 400 full time employees. Directing Bryant-Durham Electric through five decades of growth and maturation, his tremendous work ethic and dedication to his customers make him a steady leader that his employees can respect and admire. Mr. Beasley has given countless hours of his time to the industry, serving on numerous boards and committees within the community from area community college advisory boards to industry advisory committees, as well as in his position as the Chairman of the NC Electrical Apprenticeship Contest Committee. A Southern gentleman who is dedicated to his community, Mr. Beasley founded Durham Careers In Construction in 1999, a program that focuses on educating school-age children about potential careers and the skill and craft of working in the construction and service industries.
Today, under their leadership, Bryant-Durham has become not only the largest electrical contractor in the Triangle, but it is also ranked in the top 10 in the Southeast. Headquartered in western Durham, NC, Bryant-Durham operates in nine states and faithfully services a large portion of the Southeast. An ever-growing company, Bryant-Durham is a full-service specialist for electrical, HVAC and refrigeration needs. Bryant-Durham has grown into a company of highly-trained, experienced, and knowledgeable employees who provide an enormous array of services and products to their customers. Bryant-Durham Electric specializes in electrical construction services in every major field except residential. Typical project experience has been prisons, hospitals, universities, industrial plants, commercial buildings, Corps of Engineers, Naval and US Government contracts. As a team of people who love their work, Bryant-Durham knows that “success” means excellent service, every time.
Bryant-Durham along with being recognized as a leader in its industry has the distinction of being ranked in the top 50 privately held companies in the Triangle area. Through Robert’s dedication and leadership, Bryant-Durham is regularly honored with numerous safety awards from the AGC, CECA, DOL as well as being the recipient of the prestigious AGC Pinnacle Award in both 1997 and 2004.
Their work can be found in some of the major buildings in the area. They helped build the electrical systems that power Durham’s University Tower, Duke Children’s Hospital, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Progress Energy Facility, Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital, Wake Med North, Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Camp Lejuene and UNCW’s Creative Arts Center, just to name a few.
From their Durham headquarters, Bryant-Durham operates its electrical construction business in NC, SC, VA, GA, AL and FL as well as two subsidiaries – Bryant-Durham Alarm Co., and Bryant-Durham Services. Regardless of the type of contract, scope magnitude, complexity or speed the job, Bryant-Durham Electric customers can depend on quality work completed on schedule at a reasonable cost.
Funded in Part By
