The Bladen County Committee of 100 honored one of the county's longtime business leaders at their Annual Meeting on Tuesday night at the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church Multipurpose Building.

In making the presentation, Bladen County Economic Developer Chuck Heustess said that that Nelson Squires was being honored for his entrepreneurial spirit, and his major contributions to business, industry and the community.

Squires is President of Elizabethtown-based Squires Timber, one of the top 100 businesses in the state, and owner of Squires Hardwoods in Kelly.

Heustess said the Squires family background in the timber business goes back several generations to 1851.

Though Mr. Squires was unable to be present for the meeting, a Lifetime Achievement Award plaque was presented to family members on his behalf.

Mark Sorrells, vice president of Golden LEAF, was the keynote speaker for the event.

Sorrells spoke on the economic impact entrepreneurs have had on the economy of North Carolina and how they employ a large portion of the state's workforce. He told of the ongoing changes the state's economy is undergoing and of the importance of entrepreneurs to keeping the state's economic base viable.

He also pointed out that it is not only important to bring new industries to the state, but also, to help existing industries to expand and grow.

He stated that a primary key to economic development is education of the workforce. He pointed out that many of the state's youth are leaving school "financially illiterate." He added that an important function of our schools and colleges is to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.

Sorrells explained that a primary purpose of Golden LEAF is to help communities help themselves by working with small businesses on entrepreneurial endeavors. He said the program had been helping fund projects throughout the state and named several in Bladen that had benefited from Golden LEAF grants.

He praised the efforts of officials in Bladen for their efforts to make the county's economy thrive and their success at attracting new businesses to the county.

Committee of 100 Board members Naomi Miller, Fred Bowen, William Brisson, and W. D. Neill were reelected to the board by acclamation.

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