The chamber believes that passing down a good work ethic and a positive values set to tomorrow's employees and business leaders is critical.

One values-based mentoring partnership with the LHS Key Club is developing the EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH data base and promotion.

The Key Club web team will program input forms for soliciting from the community their favorite employee. The reasons behind that love of a particularly valuable employee is what is the focus of this mentoring partnership. We want to discover and explore what makes good employees. We want to honor and recognize those employees who are making positive contributions in their daily service to their employers. We want to recognize those employers who deliver courteous, friendly, and helpful products and services to our community. We want to deliberately stimulate critical thinking and to challenge the high schoolers towards building those aspects of character and work ethic.

The very first employee recognized by the chamber is Ilean Thomas. She works for two Kilmarnock employers:

Food Lion
Henderson Cleaners
Looking at the above picture of her greeting customers with her constantly cheerful disposition, it is not difficult to see why she is a favorite with the community. Even if you are not having a good day, once you've been in her presence, the day brightens - sunshine beams. Employees like this draw customers to businesses. Customers remember either the shopping experience or the pickup of garments with fond memories. No amount of advertising or promotion can garner this kind of goodwill. The whole work environment is affected by employee's attitudes and treatment of customers.

She has been with the cleaners for a long time through many owners in its history. The original owner has passed away. Currently Tom Asbury owns the drycleaner and coin-op facilities. He appreciates all of his employees. Since taking over operations he has moderized the facilities.
The second outstanding employee recognized by the chamber and the community has long served many employers through the years.

Walice Smith works currently at Anchor Pharmacy, another member of the Kilmarnock Chamber of Commerce, located in downtown Kilmarnock. Pictured above from left to right: Ken and Janice Thompson, Walice Smith, Barbara Dameron (President of the Kilmarnock Chamber of Commerce), Jerry Lee of Lee's Restaurant, and Kenny Flester of Food Lion.

Walice started with the Kilmarnock Bakery, which was located downtown and was owned by Jack Winters. She worked for Mrs. Marilyn Thompson and Mrs. Jean Crowther. Later she worked for Warren Johnson and William Benson. Next, she started working for Milton Webb when he ran the Kilmarnock Rexall Drug Store downtown. George Snead later bought the store, where she continued to work. Ken Thompson bought the store from George, which later became Anchor Pharmacy.

As the award was conferred, she expressed her sincere thanks to God for blessing her. She also expressed appreciation to the community and to her husband Carroll of 42 years. After that she expressed rejoicing for her grandchild, Daniell, who gave her life to the Lord.

Brenda Elbourn (center) was recognized as employee of the month in February 2001 for her 5 1/2 years at Burke's Jewelers. She is flanked by store owner Karen Burke (left) and chamber president, Barbara Dameron. In the back are Mike Gillette of the Chesapeake Cafe, Vincent Nickens of Food Lion and store owner, Fred Burke.

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