Troll sculpture puts High Point on world art map
Little Sally, a teenage troll from the Dorothea Dix branch of Raleigh trolls, wanted to explore before settling down. The creature, fashioned from recycled materials, including wooden chair legs and pallets from the High Point Market, made her home in the southwest part of High Point.
Visit High Point officials hope that same curiosity and adventurous spirit that brought Sally here will bring visitors to the area to find her.
If you’ve been to High Point’s annual Holiday Festival Parade in the past 40 years or so, you’ve probably seen the two men zipping around on golf carts.
Mark Pierce and David Wall are the longtime parade committee co-chairs.
Dambo’s trolls, more than 160 so far, can be found all over the world — from his homeland in Denmark to sites across Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and the U.S. He posted an online map that encourages people to find
High Point’s troll is part of a series of sculptures created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who is known for his large-scale, whimsical trolls made from repurposed materials. In Sally’s case, some of that comes from furniture, which fits into her new home in the Home Furnishings Capital of the World. Five troll sculptures have been built in Raleigh’s Dix Park and Charlotte is also getting one.
the trolls on their travels.
“There are thousands of people that are looking for these trolls all over the world,” said Visit High Point President Melody Burnett. “So they’re already booking reservations for hotels and Airbnbs.”
She said Dambo is an environmentalist at heart.
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I N S I D E
He’s known as a leader in the upcycle movement. His troll sculptures reflect that philosophy, using available sustainable materials like reclaimed wood.
One of the components to create Sally was wood from an old oak tree in Goldston Park that had to be torn down.
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A big part of their duties is to ensure the parade runs smoothly. That means getting everyone to their spot in the lineup, dealing with the inevitable vehicle breakdown, and sometimes slotting in the occasional last-minute participant. One year, it was the famous Ronald McDonald red boot vehicle.
This year’s parade is at 3
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Lunch and learn
Community, left, and Kris McCord, Morgan
grab some food before the Sept. 10 Digital Marketing Institute at GMA’s offices in downtown Greensboro. See more snapshots from GMA events in September and October on Page 6.
Melissa Cox, The Oaks Therapeutic
Stanley,
Volunteers work with a team that helps Danish artist Thomas Dambo create troll sculptures using recycled materials. Dambo’s upcycle artwork can be found around the world. That now includes Raleigh, Charlotte and High Point.
Dambo
‘Thank you’ firefighters
President & CEO
Vice President
Membership Development
Program/Events Manager
Membership Coordinator
Administrative Assistant
G. Mark Prince
Michelle Bolick
Sharon Smith
Stacey Speight
Colleen Biedny
Melinda Thomas
Operations Assistant Timera Poteat
Name: Hunter Neal
Hometown: Archdale
Residence: Archdale
Age: 25
Education: B.S. in sport management with minors in sport marketing and film and video (Guilford College, 2022); M.S. in international sport management (Guilford College, 2023)
Business: Greensboro Sports Foundation
Role/Title: Director of events and volunteer services
Responsibilities: In my role, I wear many hats. Beyond overseeing event operations and community engagement for major sporting events in Greensboro, I also lead our volunteer initiatives and help manage the Greensboro Sports Foundation’s social media presence. Whether coordinating logistics, creating digital content, or collaborating with partners, my goal is to deliver championship experiences that continue to make Tournament Town a premier destination for sports.
On GMA: GMA has been an incredible resource for building relationships, expanding my network, and continuing my professional growth. Through GMA, I’ve developed meaningful connections that have supported both my career and the work we do at the Greensboro Sports Foundation.
On GMA benefits: One of my favorite GMA programs is the Teach Me Tuesdays series. I also really enjoy the monthly Risers lunch meetups. They are a fun, casual way to network with fellow young professionals. Both programs have not only been informative but also wonderful opportunities to build relationships.
On Risers: Being part of the Ris-
ers young professionals’ group has been fantastic. I joined to make connections with other young professionals, and I have been blown away by how supportive everyone is. Each member genuinely wants to help one another succeed, whether it is by sharing advice or making introductions. My favorite aspect of Risers is the strong sense of community. From day one, I felt welcomed with open arms, and everyone is truly there to lift each other up.
What advice to you have for other young professionals?: I believe leadership starts with relationships. You can’t lead people you don’t know, and you can’t transform a team without first building trust. The leaders who make the biggest impact are not out front giving orders; they are right there beside their people, working toward a shared goal.
Personal: Learning something new every day is a goal of mine. Whether it is through work, community events, or conversations with others, I try to approach each day with curiosity and an open mind. This mindset keeps me growing both personally and professionally.
Greensboro has an exciting lineup of major sporting events ahead. If anyone would like to get involved as a volunteer, I’d love to connect!
Hunter Neal hunter@greensborosf.com
336-340-8698
RISERS is GMA’s group for young professionals age 39 or under. The group has lunch meetups and socials as well as professional development geared toward people who are early in their career. While these events are intended for young professionals, all GMA members are welcome to participate.
A firefighter has his picture made with a thank you sign from GMA. The Guilford Merchants Association holds an annual appreciation meal for local firefighters every year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Firefighters enjoy a meal during GMA’s annual appreciation event.
High Point Fire Chief Brian Evans, left, speaks with GMA Board Chair John Thomas, IDeACOM of Central NC, Inc.
Upcoming events
Here’s what’s coming up:
Nov. 18 — After Work Network, 4:30 -6:30 p.m.Spare Time Entertainment, 5502 Hornaday Road, Greensboro.
Nov. 23 — High Point Holiday Festival Parade, 3 p.m. Parade starts at Green Drive and travels north on Main Street to Qubein Street. Parade is held rain or shine.
Dec. 3 — Orientation, noon-1 p.m., GMA Offices, 225 Commerce Place Greensboro. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.
Dec. 8 — Risers Holiday Party, 5:307:30 p.m., TopGolf, 609 Guilford College Road, Greensboro. Cost: $25.
Dec. 9 — Center City AM Briefing, 8-9 a.m., GMA Offices, 225 Commerce Place, Greensboro. Registration/ breakfast begins at 7:45 a.m.
Dec. 10 — Meet & Eat, 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., Grapes and Grains Tavern, 2001 Yanceyville St., Greensboro. Registration for events is required. Register at www.mygma.org.
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
GMA offices are closed Nov. 27-28 for the Thanksgiving holiday and Dec. 2425 for the Christmas holiday.
Gift card for referrals
Members can earn a $25 gift card for referring someone who joins the Guilford Merchants Association. There is no limit on the number of gift cards a member can receive. Call New Membership Coordinator Colleen Biedny at 336-378-6350 to join GMA or refer a new member.
Trolls
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Burnett said the tree was reportedly more than 200 years old. And of course, pieces of reclaimed furniture were used in the sculpture.
“You probably will be able to recognize chair legs as part of her features,” Burnett said.
Dambo brings a team to each site, but relies on volunteers to help as well. Getting volunteers was no problem, even with the construction coming on the heels of the High Point Market, Burnett said. In fact, she had a long waitlist almost as soon as Visit High Point put the call out to the community. They managed an additional 42 volunteers, many from out of state that follow Dambo’s work.
“Things that we thought would be a real challenge just came together nicely,” she said.
The sculpture has a life expectancy of about 10 years. High Point has the option after that time whether to keep the sculpture and maintain it or let it be retired and removed from Dambo’s map.
“Right now, we have every intention of making the 10 years with her and seeing what happens from there,” Burnett said.
Every troll comes with their own story. Little Sally is the teen daughter of the parent trolls in Dix Park.
Raleigh and Charlotte were already in talks with Dambo about their trolls when High Point began looking into bringing one to the Triad. Burnett said adding one in High Point made sense as another way to connect the Triangle, Triad and Metrolina areas,
Find the troll
Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s famous troll sculptures have come to North Carolina, including High Point. Get in on the fun by finding the trolls and marking them on the map: www.thomasdambo.com/trollmap
One request from Visit High Point President Melody Burnett: Take all the pictures you want, but please don’t climb on the troll sculpture.
which already fall along the Amtrak passenger rail line.
“We just thought that would be a really good partnership with our neighboring cities,” she said. “We’re just happy to be able to do that and get more eyes not just on High Point, but the Triad area.”
A Dambo troll also puts High Point on another map, one that draws people from near and far.
One of the first to volunteer to build Little Sally was a Greensboro couple
who said they have been following Dambo’s work. They were excited to meet him and work with him on one of his trolls, Burnett said.
“We like to say, ‘What we make in High Point changes the world.’Our branding lines up nicely with the impact the trolls have had all over the world,” she said.
With 16 nonstop flights including major travel hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and New York, PTI connects you directly to top destinations without the hassle.
A volunteer cuts pieces of wood that will be used to create a troll sculpture by Danish artist Thomas Dambo in High Point. The sculptures draw people from around the world who want to see Dambo’s latest work.
Pieces of local furniture will be used in High Point’s troll sculpture by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.
New member enjoys relationships, connections made at GMA
Jeremiah Mallow’s business offers personalized fire safety for homes, businesses and organizations in the Triad.
Jeremiah Mallow has only been a member of the Guilford Merchants Association for a few months, but he’s already making connections like he hoped he would.
“For me, it’s about more than just networking — it’s about building real relationships with other local business owners who care about this city as much as I do. We all face similar challenges, and being part of a group that shares ideas, supports one another, and works
Parade
Continued from page 1
p.m. Nov. 23. It starts at Green Drive and travels north on Main Street to Qubein Street.
There will be some special surprises for the parade’s 100 year anniversary. The parade’s roots go back to 1925 when Santa came to High Point on a train, and residents of all ages came to greet him. This tradition turned into a full parade.
“Anything that makes a hundred years has had a great run,” Wall said. “We’ve been very fortunate. We’ve been blessed with good leadership through the years.”
Both Wall and Pierce said they give lots of credit to Sharon Smith, the parade’s longtime organizer. Smith also handles membership engagement for the Guilford Merchants Association.
“Thank goodness for everybody’s passion and donors that are willing to help and sponsors that are willing to sponsor floats,” Pierce said.
The former High Point Merchants Association put the parade together
NEW MEMBER
to make Greensboro stronger really means a lot,” he said.
Mallow, who has owned Mallow Fire Safety in Greensboro since 2019, said he’s also interested in taking advantage of the things that GMA does to give back to the community.
Mallow bought the former ZE Sales & Service in 2019 and renamed it Mallow Fire Safety. The local, family run company provides personalized fire protection for homes, businesses and organizations. That ranges from fire extinguishers and exit lights to smoke and carbon dioxide alarms and dryer vent cleaning, among other safety features. They also offer safety planning and consulting.
“Our goal is simple — to help local
businesses stay safe, compliant, and ready if an emergency ever happens,” he said.
Before he bought the business, Mallow said he was working “behind a desk” and felt he had more to offer. He had long envisioned running his own business, one that combined purpose and community impact. His in-laws introduced him to a friend and business owner who was ready to retire.
Mallow, a volunteer fireman at the time, already had experience in fire safety so it was a great fit.
He has two full-time employees, who also have been able to take advantage of a lot of the different gettogethers and GMA events.
He believes GMA can help with some of the challenges facing small business owners today, such as finding the right talent.
“There’s a lot of people that have
already been through the growing pains that I’m going through,” he said. “People have been very eager and happy to share their experience with me, share some of that knowledge with me.”
Organizations like GMA provide important connections to small business owners that are invaluable, he said.
Mallow said he’s already made a lot of different connections and picked up some business in his short time with GMA.
“If you care about growing your business and making a difference in Greensboro, joining the GMA is one of the best steps you can take,” he said.
Jeremiah Mallow
336-855-9832
customerservice@mallowsafety https://mallowfiresafety.com
until GMA took over after the 2008 merger between the two organizations.
“Things like this don’t happen unless somebody is willing to take charge and pull all the parts and pieces together and make sure it happens,” Wall said.
The two men work with about a dozen volunteers on the lineup crew, including their wives, Bitsy Wall and Lesa Pierce.
David Wall said the parade was originally designed by businesses to link the holiday shopping period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. While that’s still a part of it, it’s mostly about getting the community together and has become a tradition, he said.
“It’s just fun to watch all the kids and the adults that are just really excited about being there, excited about the holiday,” Wall said. “And it’s become a part of my holiday enjoyment.”
He said volunteering for the parade is a service to the city and the residents.
After 40-plus years, the two men
have lots of fond parade memories.
Wall’s favorite is the year he had to step in to announce the parade.
WGHP-Fox 8 used to tape the parade and air it several times during the Christmas holiday period, he said.
“Somebody got sick one year and I helped announce the parade. That was pretty cool,” he said.
Last year, High Point University’s panther mascot was lost and trying to get to his place in the lineup, Pierce said.
“I put him on my golf cart, and I took him to where he needed to be, and the kids that saw him were waving and shouting and yelling, and it was like I had Mickey Mouse on there,” he said.
Pierce said they’ll keep working on the parade for as long as they’re able.
“It’s still just really cool to watch kids’ faces when they see Santa Claus coming,” he said. “There’s just magic in the air.”
Mallow
David Wall, left, and Mark Pierce, right, work during the 2023 High Point Festival Parade. They’ve been co-chairs of the parade committee for more than 40 years.
Father made sure he ‘learned a strong work ethic,’ Prince says
Question: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Answer: A commercial or corporate pilot. I love to fly. I completed the FAA private pilot exam and obtained a student pilot certification but never flew solo.
Q: What was your first job and what did you like about it?
A: My work career started with whatever jobs my father had on my daily to-do-list at home. At an early age, he made sure I learned a strong work ethic. Before I left home to go to college, I worked in tobacco fields and barns, bagboy at Big Star grocery store, assembling grills and bicycles at Western Auto, cable TV installer with CableVision, delivered pizzas, early morning newspaper delivery route, office janitorial cleaning assistant, lawn mowing. What I
Questions with ... 6
Mark Prince
President and CEO
GMA/First
Point
liked most about all these and future jobs was learning and understanding people of all types of backgrounds and demographic statuses.
Q: What are you most thankful for?
A: My lovely wife, my incredible family, my good health, my vast life experiences and my professional career. In that order.
Q: What is your definition of success?
A: This is always an interesting question for me to see responses from people. Unfortunately, it is universally defined by fame or fortune. I strongly disagree. In my opinion, it is straightforward. Every individual should define success for themselves and only themselves. Have you made the most of your God-given talents and miti-
gated your weaknesses? At the end of the day, regardless of life’s achievements and failures, have you worked hard to put yourself in a position to be sincerely happy with your life?
Q: What was your worst subject in school?
A: Music. I enjoy listening to music and truly admire people with musical talents because I have zero.
Q: What is a piece of advice for someone new to the workforce?
A: Be confident with a positive attitude in whatever you do. Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know or haven’t experienced. You will find that things really are not as complicated or difficult as they may first appear. Always maintain integrity because your reputation is more important than you may realize when you are young. Enjoy your journey!
Being involved helps GMA members make important connections
Marian Ragsdale with Harmony at Greensboro said being part of GMA gives her a new way to meet and help other people.
As director of sales and marketing for Harmony at Greensboro Senior Living Community, Marian Ragsdale spends a lot of time talking to people about what the company offers.
So she’s always looking for ways to better connect with people in the community.
Ragsdale
“People are the greatest source of connection from one business to the next,” she said. “It’s so important to have recommendations from credible sources and friends to connect you to your next lead.”
She was surprised to learn that Harmony at Greensboro didn’t
PARTICIPATION SUCCESS =
belong to the Guilford Merchants Association, which she said provides lots of opportunities for businesses to make important connections.
Ragsdale was familiar with GMA because she attended events when she worked for Habitat for Humanity a few years ago.
“As soon as I got here I was like, ‘Why are we not a member of GMA?’” Ragsdale said.
She convinced company leaders to join GMA in September.
Harmony at Greensboro Senior Living Community, 3420 Whitehurst Road, offers independent living, assisted living, and a secured memory care community. There are 170 residents, although there is capacity for more than that, she said. The facility has 95 independent living, 48 assisted living and 34 memory care apartments.
“We love for people to come tour and learn more about senior living options,” she said.
There are 47 Harmony communities in the Eastern United States, according to Ragsdale. The Greensboro facility opened five years ago.
Ragsdale thought GMA would be a great way to get the word out about Harmony at Greensboro.
“Everybody has a grandparent or parent that they’re trying to care for,” she said.
Ragsdale also joined Networking Gurus, one of GMA’s networking groups. The group meets weekly and members get a chance at each meeting to talk about their company. That provided a great new audience, Ragsdale said.
In one meeting, another Gurus member stood up and shared how his mother spent the last three months of her life at Harmony and that it was a great experience for her to live there, Ragsdale said. Another member looking for a place for her mother
has scheduled a tour, she said.
Normally she visits hospitals and rehab facilities to talk to people about what Harmony’s senior living community has to offer, Ragsdale said.
Being part of GMA provides a new avenue to reach people. It also offers her a chance to help others, Ragsdale said.
At a recent Gurus meeting, Joe Novara of Growth Academy Coaching asked everyone to name a person they really want to meet but don’t know how to connect with them.
The very first person shared the name of someone she knows, Ragsdale said. She helped connect them.
“It gives me a charge to help someone out with their business,” she said.
Marian Ragsdale
marianragsdale@harmonyatgreensboro.com
336.316.9608
https://harmonyatgreensboro.com
GMA members pose for a photo with props at the annual member appreciation party at
GMA members get their groove on at the fourth annual CelYouBration on Oct. 2 at The Vineyard in Greensboro. The member appreciation party included music, food, drinks and fun.
Kris McCord, Morgan Stanley, left, and Drew Wheeler, RB Media, play some pool during the Sept. 25 Risers Social at Jake’s Billiards in Greensboro.
The Vineyard in Greensboro.
Hunter Neal, left, Greensboro Sports Foundation, and Ben Glowka, Sheraton Greensboro Hotel, pose for a photo at the Sept. 24 Meet & Eat at Grapes and Grains Tavern in Greensboro.
Dr. Sara MacSween, UNCG, talks to GMA members about how to create short videos that can connect at the Sept. 10 Digital Marketing Institute at GMA’s offices.
Tool fatigue: How to keep your marketing from losing its way
BY ADRIENNE CREGAR JANDLER
For the past few years, we’ve seen an explosion in the release of new AI-powered tools and resources. From marketing automation and content creation, to data analytics, productivity, communication, sales, CRM, and more — nearly every aspect of running a business has a multitude of great AI-powered software-as-aservice, or SaaS, tools available to choose from. Among the most celebrated are those in the marketing category.
BUSINESS SUCCESS
Once out of reach due to high costs or technical barriers, many of these tools are now affordable and accessible to all, enabling even the smallest businesses to analyze data, run targeted marketing campaigns, and unlock efficiencies that would have been impossible just a few years ago. The advancements are truly transformative, and can level the playing field (for small businesses using them) to power growth.
However, with the abundance of SaaS solutions, comes a growing problem: “SaaSsprawl.” That is, utilizing an ever-growing ecosystem of apps, plugins, platforms and ser-
Member orientation
in front row from left are: Caitlin Braxton, Greensboro City Lifestyle; Angela Kerr, Angela Kerr eXp Realty; Stacy Earl, How 2 Get Along; Andrea Pollina, Top Tails of Greensboro LLC; and Joshua Brailsford, Pro Hauling LLC.
Pictured in back row from left are: Kris McCord, Morgan Stanley; Damon Logan, Senior Benefit Pro LLC; Kristin McElroy, Righty Tidy; Sydney Cox, The Carolina Signsmith; Billy Stone, Thrivent; Ben Austin, Focus Personal Training Studio; and Manan Patel, Glass Doctor Home + Business of Greensboro.
vices. Navigating a normal workday can mean switching between a dozen platforms, with team members spending increasing amounts of time working in and troubleshooting disconnected systems—while subscription costs pile up quietly. (We’ve all seen how subscriptions that start small grow over time, as teams add “just one more seat” or sign up for free trials that convert to auto-renewals.)
What starts as a quest for efficiency often ends up draining resources. Employees spend valuable time switching between dashboards for customer data, analytics and campaigns, which erodes productivity and focus. Managers struggle to connect reports across systems, making it harder to see the full picture and act on business insights.
There is an even bigger, and less obvious, challenge businesses face with SaaS sprawl. In the rush to take advantage of the latest and greatest tools, it’s easy to lose sight of strategy. Instead of following a cohesive marketing plan, teams become enamored with the “shiny new objects,” allowing the allure of the technology to dictate the tactics. If the tools in use are not connected, their ability to
“In the rush to take advantage of the latest and greatest tools, it’s easy to lose sight of strategy.”
— Adrienne Cregar Jandler, president of Atlantic Webworks
direct recommendations can be faulty since the data that would shape their analysis may be incomplete, or siloed in other systems.
The result? Splintered efforts with inconsistent reporting, making it hard to get a true picture of what’s working. The company’s voice fragments, marketing resources get stretched thin, and campaigns fall out of alignment with goals.
How to rein in sprawl
So how can you harness the technology without getting lost in it? One major step toward clarity is consolidation. Start with an audit of your marketing tool subscriptions, focusing on which directly support your strategy and truly drive value versus those that simply add complexity. How often do you actually use each? What is its business impact? How does it integrate with your other tools? Cancel those that don’t deliver and consolidate where possible.
Prioritize platforms that offer integrated solutions — such as an allin-one CRM or marketing automation suite — so that your data, strategy, execution and analytics stay closely
connected. By choosing solutions that combine multiple functions in one platform, you greatly reduce training needs, curb redundancy, lower costs, and improve the overall flow of information.
Most importantly, establish your marketing priorities first, then choose technology to serve those priorities, not the other way around. Resist the urge to change, “refine,” or expand your marketing efforts around the latest new tools and services that land advertised in your inbox.
By streamlining platforms and keeping SaaS aligned with overarching goals, companies can maximize their efforts and toolsets, driving measurable growth without being pulled off course by the latest app or feature. Clear priorities and thoughtful consolidation restore clarity, empower teams, and ensure that every software investment actually moves the needle.
Adrienne Cregar Jandler is president of Atlantic Webworks. 336-855-8572
www.atlanticwebworks.com
Cregar Jandler
The Guilford Merchants Association held a member orientation on Sept. 16.
Pictured
