Childress wins annual award for supporting local businesses
Richard Childress, owner of a car-racing business, winery and cattle farm in Davidson County, won recognition Tuesday for his efforts to support other businesses in the county.
Childress received the main award at the Davidson County Business Showcase, an annual event that encourages local businesses to buy from each other.
“He is what this Business Showcase is all about,” Debbie Fanary, a member of the organizing committee for the event, said during the presentation in Davidson County Community College’s Brinkley Gym. “He has connected his business and grown right here.”
The event’s new slogan is “Connect and Grow.”
Fanary, a commercial insurance agent for Mountcastle Insurance in Thomasville, noted that Childress is an 11-time champion NASCAR team owner whose cars have won more than 180 races, including two Daytona 500s.
He is president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, whose 50-acre complex in Welcome includes 16 buildings and 500,000 square feet of work space and employs 300 professionals.
He also owns Childress Vineyards, including the winery in Lexington, and Yadkin River Angus in Clemmons.
Fanary said Childress supports local businesses, shops locally whenever possible and has introduced local business owners to each other.
“We want to reward him for setting an example for other businesses in this community,” she said, adding, “He has put Davidson County on the map.”
Childress’ award has gone by various names over the past three years but is now being called the “Are You With Us Award.”
Childress said he was “really proud” to join the ranks of previous award winners, who include Lee Davis, dealer/principal of Davis Chevrolet; Jimmy Kepley, president and CEO of Kepley-Frank Hardwood; and Philip Young and Tammy Joyce, owners of Carolina Safety Sports.
Referring to Fanary’s list of his accomplishments, he said: “I didn’t do all of that alone. It was a lot of teamwork and work by a lot of people.”
Some people think a place dies when it loses industries like furniture and tobacco, Childress said. “But there are so many ways to grow … if we just work together,” he said.
About 44 businesses from across the county, including a dozen new participants, rented exhibit space at this year’s showcase. Visitors moved from booth to booth to learn about local products and services.
To read William Keesler's article in The Dispatch, click here
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