Southco named Wayne County Industry of the Year
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 30, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Southco Distributing Co. has been honored by the Wayne County Development Alliance as Wayne County Industry of the Year. From left are Crystal Getteys, Alliance president; Sonny Wooten, Southco president and chief operating officer; Sherwin Herring, CEO; April Garver, executive vice president; Chris Wise, vice president and chief financial officer; and Tiffany Creech, the Alliance's existing industry specialist.
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Robbie Strickland, seated third from left, holds the Why Wayne Works award that was presented to his company Wednesday by the Wayne County Development Alliance. Seated from left are company employees Cathy Graham, Cristy Brewer, Strickland, Vicki Terrell, Jennifer Worley and Tom Madjar. Standing from left are Crystal Getteys, Alliance president, employees John Nasta and Carrie Rose, Chuck Allen, Alliance board chairman, employees Emily Kilgore, Veronica Davis and Mallory Strickland Kendall and Tiffany Creech, the Alliance's existing industry specialist.
Southco Distributing Co. on Wednesday was honored as Wayne County Industry of the Year for its outstanding overall contributions to the community and to its employees.
Strickland Insurance Group was presented the Why Wayne Works award.
Both awards were presented during the annual Wayne County Industry Celebration luncheon sponsored by the Wayne County Development Alliance and that was held at Lane Tree Golf and Conference Center.
Wayne County counts on its existing industries for economic stability and growth, said Tiffany Creech, the Alliance's existing industry specialist.
The county has about 60 manufacturers, whole-salers, distributors and machine shops that employ nearly 9,000 people, she said. The products produced or distributed range from aviation, electronics and automotive to plastics, food and technical support.
"They all play a very significant role," Ms. Creech said. "They invest money in buildings and equipment. They pay taxes. In fact, they are some of the largest taxpayers in Wayne County. They employ our citizens, contribute to local charities and they provide our community with leaders and leadership."
Ms. Creech said that Southco's core value statement says a lot about the "quiet, gentle giant."
It reads, "At Southco Distributing we are responsible to our customers, employees and their families, and the community in which we live. We are committed to the highest standards of integrity and service. Through God's guidance and His continued grace, we will make decisions based upon the core values defined by this company."
The company was established in 1981 with the purchase of Southern Wholesale Co. The company then expanded, moving into a new location on Patetown Road where it remained for 20 years.
Sherwin Herring, after serving as Southco president, purchased the company in 1996.
The company expanded again in October 2004, moving into an existing 240,000-square-foot building at 2201 S. John St.
Southco, which has approximately 200 employees, currently serves more than 1,200 accounts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee and Georgia.
All of its shipments originate from its Goldsboro location.
Southco is ranked in the top 25 C-Store Distributors in the nation, in the top 30 privately owned businesses in North Carolina and is the largest privately owned company in Wayne County, Ms. Creech said.
The company attributes it success to dedicated employees, vendor partners and continued customer loyalty, she said.
Strickland Insurance Group symbolizes what the Why Wayne Works award is all about, Ms. Creech said.
"In our travels, I think that we have all been in some communities that just seem to have an extraordinary amount of energy," Ms. Creech said. "You see residents with smiles on their faces. You see a lot of activity in their downtown area. There is remodeling going on. You see well-groomed parks."
There also is a good selection of hotels and good restaurants and many outstanding civic clubs and organizations, she said.
"This all adds up to community pride," Ms. Creech said. "But what is it that separates these communities from others? It's leadership, and that's what makes it work for these communities."
Oftentimes, it's a "trickle-down" from leaders to their employees and from the employees to their families and neighbors, she said.
"At the Development Alliance, we tend to think our Wayne County community is one of these communities I've just described," she said. "This sense of community pride is the theme for a relatively new award we present called the Why Wayne Works award."
Strickland Insurance Group was founded with five employees in 1970. It grew to a peak of 300 in 1998, just prior to selling a portion of the business. The sale came with a caveat that the jobs would remain in Wayne County, she said.
Strickland Insurance Group currently has 120 employees and has expanded or relocated its facilities more than 10 times. It was one of the first companies to build in the Park East Industrial Park.
"They have grown over the past 45 years to the points that they now have six different companies," Ms. Creech said. "This company has been a member of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce for 45 years. They have contributed to United Way for 28 years.
"They hold monthly food, book, toy and clothing drives for various agencies throughout the year. Since 2010, the employees have raised over $100,000 for charitable giving. In addition, the company has donated or matched employee giving. This company and their employees are definitely why Wayne works."