By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — When C.J. Turner, Neely Turner and Grayson Wrenn had a little trouble using a giant-sized pair of scissors at Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Modern Woodmen of America in downtown Rockingham, Chris Turner stepped in to lend a helping hand.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Front row, left to right: Grayson Wrenn, 5, Neely Turner, 7, and C.J. Turner, 5, work the giant pair of scissors at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at Modern Woodmen in downtown Rockingham.
And in a nutshell, that’s what his new business is all about. Turner, 29, is a Richmond County native who said he saw a need for a new approach to selling a wide variety of financial services to clients. And in this fraternal group, people aren’t just customers, they’re friends.
The nonprofit organization opened up at 230 E. Franklin St. on March 1 and on Friday celebrated its official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony coordinated by the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce.
Emily Tucker, chamber president, acknowledged Turner’s commitment to his hometown. Unlike others who leave for college and don’t return, Turner and his wife, Ashley, have remained committed to fulfilling the financial needs of their fellow Richmond County residents.
So far, Turner said, there are nearly 700 local members Turner graduated Richmond Senior High School in 2003 and completed his degree in criminal justice at Richmond Community College. He and his wife, along with their daughter Neely and son C.J., live in Rockingham.
Turner emphasized the fraternal approach taken by Modern Woodmen. “We care more about families,” he said. “We’re needs-based sellers. If you don’t need it, we don’t sell it.”
As managing partner, it’s Turner’s job to hire and train Modern Woodmen representatives. To date, Turner has hired Jennifer Wren, Michelle Denson, Donna McDuffie and Bryon O’Neal.
Jack Whitley, regional director in Asheboro — the closest Modern Woodmen office to Turner’s — highlighted the company’s history, which dates back to 1883. It’s not a $13 billion company and in 2013 returned some $25 million to communities across the country. In Richmond County, the company donated approximately $25,000 to various groups.
Evans Sheppard, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, welcomed Turner to the county and presented him with a members-only plaque to display in the office.
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