Winterville Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program
Winterville Chamber Mission: To unite our businesses and organizations that we serve in order to make a greater impact on the overall quality of life in Winterville
Ambassador Mission: To raise the awareness of the benefits of the Chamber in order to increase membership and retention.
Community Involvement
Ambassadors are highly-involved, driven, well-respected members of the community and Chamber. Those that have joined as Ambassadors have done so in order to help fellow members utilize their membership to the fullest extent. They serve as a bridge between the membership and the board to ensure our Chamber always has the members’ best interests at heart.
Ambassadors have a responsibility to be accessible to fellow members as problem-solvers and resources of information. They seek to connect members with one another to make networking a more comfortable experience.
Our Ambassadors
Aletha Cummings
Aletha Cummings is a Mortgage Loan Originator with Homestead Funding. She grew up in Upstate, New York and relocated to Greenville, North Carolina in 2019 with her husband and son. They built a new home and settled into life here in NC.
Aletha has been in mortgage banking for over 3 decades, holding various positions. She is passionate about helping her borrowers become educated, confident buyers and building lifelong relationships.
Aletha was previously involved in her local Board of Realtor in NY and served as an Affiliate Chair for years encouraging membership, promoting professionalism and sense of community.
Outside of work Aletha can be found exploring all ENC has to offer with her family and friends. She especially loves visiting a local brewery, taking day trips, trying a local restaurant, and being involved in the community she now calls home.
You can contact Aletha at acummings@homesteadfunding.com
Lisa J Wilson
Lisa is a native of Upstate/Central New York and came to Eastern NC in early 2007. After working nearly 20 years with a large retail firm, she dove into Real Estate full time, working with a large local brokerage then taking the Off Road Realty brand to her own brokerage.
She and her husband, Mark, have 7 children, 13 grandchildren and a large-and-in-charge English Mastiff, Harley, who keep them on their toes. Off Road Realty has afforded Lisa many blessings, the most important being the relationships she has forged with clients, vendors, and other agents.
Her goal is to change the publics’ perception of REALTORs and create a brand that exemplifies understanding, empathy, and client commitment through clear, concise communication and education. “Our success is measured through meaningful relationships and not by numbers or dollars.” By staying true to herself, Lisa has been able to grow a brand she and her agents can be proud of while giving back to a community they love.
You can reach Lisa at lisa@offroadrealty.net
Danielle Hodges, MBA
Danielle Hodges is the branch manager at the Southern Bank Winterville location. She has been the branch manager in Winterville since January 2020 and has worked for Southern Bank for over five years. Danielle graduated from East Carolina University in July 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
Prior to working in banking, she taught elementary school for six years. In 2017, Danielle made the career change into banking and was hired as a full time teller at Southern Bank in Farmville, NC. She worked as a teller, teller supervisor, customer service representative, and loan officer assistant until being promoted to branch manager. In the fall of 2018, Danielle began working on her Masters of Business Administration degree at East Carolina University and graduated in December 2021.
Danielle currently resides in Greenville, NC with her husband Brian Hodges and their dog, Hershey.
You can reach Danielle at danielle.hodges@southernbank.com
Ambassador Program Structure
The Ambassador Program shall be comprised of no more than 10 Chamber members, and no more than 10 students of either PCC or ECU.
The Chairperson of the Ambassador Program shall be either on the Chamber Board or a Senior Chamber Member (member more than 5 years).
The Vice Chair shall be an Ambassador that displays the talent, drive, and leadership skills necessary to help guide others in the program.
The program shall run from January to November. Applications may be submitted year round.
Goals
- To encourage member participation in membership benefits and programs
- To check in with Chamber members needs’ so the Chamber can better assist them
- To promote the Winterville Chamber to new businesses and help them understand benefits
- To create an environment of inclusivity within the Chamber – members supporting members
- To facilitate networking amongst members
Ambassador Requirements:
- Must be either a Winterville Chamber member or student at ECU or PCC
- Must have the community’s best interests at heart
- Must be willing and able to attend monthly meetings to report on progress and goals
- Must be a team player with a desire to assist others
- Must make a commitment to see the program through from January to November
- Must conduct yourself in a respectful and supportive manner at all times.
- Must commit to attending as many Chamber functions as reasonably able
Ambassador Responsibilities
- To call, visit, and act as hosts to assigned members and to facilitate networking with these members at monthly events.
- To educate and inform assigned members on Chamber benefits, events, initiatives, programs, and services.
- To get assigned members engaged in Chamber programs, initiatives, and events.
- To advise staff on issues affecting members, and to offer guidance on how the Chamber can assist members with optimizing their experience.
- To assist the Chamber with member recruitment and retention
Ambassador Benefits
- Professional networking opportunities
- Recognition on our website
- Volunteer experience and credibility
- Increased visibility within the community
- Gain leadership, communication, and team-working skills