Summit Partner Chris Burns Receives Duke Energy Citizenship Award - Summit Marketing Group

We’re thrilled to share that Chris received the Duke Energy Citizenship Award at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce 2021 awards program!

Chris was recognized by the Chamber for the extensive work he’s done to benefit our community, including serving as president of the board of directors of Camplify, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Pardee Hospital Foundation, Hendersonville Rotary Club, and the Hendersonville Country Club, and as chair of Scout Troop 601 and the Hendersonville Rotary Club Charitable Corp. He also Chaired the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, its membership committee, its building search committee, and construction capital campaign.

Chris has also worked hard to lead and support the ongoing efforts to build the Ecusta Trail.

“Chris Burns has been the driving force behind the creation of the Ecusta Trail,” former state Rep. Chuck McGrady said. “For over a decade, he’s stayed on task bringing his unique set of skills to this transformative project. He is a problem-solver. At various points during the past decade, it would have been easy to give up because of some large impediments to acquiring the rail line, but he never gave up.”

Congrats, Chris! We’re proud to work with you, and to see you receive this much-deserved honor!

For more about the award ceremony, check out this article in the Hendersonville Lightning.

“ Summit Marketing is like a natural extension of our business—creatively partnering with us in the development and execution of our marketing strategies and plans. We don’t make a move without the involvement of Summit’s expert team! ”

Paige Hafner , Executive Director

Henderson County Young Leaders Program

“ It has been my pleasure to work with Summit Marketing Group since the County founded our AgriBusiness Economic Development program. The team at Summit as been instrumental in helping us every step of the way for both AgHC and Southern Mountain Fresh, our official brand for locally-grown Henderson County farm-fresh products. In addition to helping us name the initiatives, they created the brands, websites, collateral, photography and the marketing plan and budget, and even oversee the execution of the marketing plan and social media.I have worked directly with most members of their team and find them to be extremely responsive while staying on-task and within budget on their projects. Although not always within the scope of our projects, I have always found Chris to be a valuable resource in bouncing strategic ideas for developmental prospects, having every confidence in his keeping sensitive information very confidential. I highly recommend the Summit team in your search for a marketing partner. ”

Mark Williams , Executive Director

AgHC and Southern Mountain Fresh

“ Since we started using Summit Marketing, we have felt like we really have someone watching out for us, suggesting ways to improve our business and get our name out into the community. Chris and Marybeth really have a feel for what we need and are also sensitive to our budget restraints as a small business. The ads they suggested for incontinence have generated a great deal of new patients for our practice. We continue to look to them for ways to improve the marketing for our office. ”

Deanna Ellis, Business Manager and David Ellis, MD, PA, OB/GYN

MD, PA, OB/GYN

“ “We contracted with Summit to run Google and Facebook ads for our “Henderson County Recycles” program, which included encouraging residents to purchase discounted composting bins. Sales were lackluster until Summit’s strategic digital ad campaign launched. Our bin sales jumped from 60 to 360! In fact, we sold completely out. If you want to see results, go with Summit.” ”

Christine Wittmeier , Environmental Programs Coordinator

Henderson County

“ With their knowledge of the region, the business community and media outlets, Summit Marketing is an invaluable marketing partner for Flat Rock Playhouse. From small executional projects to high-level strategic planning, they have consistently delivered beyond our expectations. This has enabled us to grow our marketing efforts to encompass the promotion of over 400 performances across three venues and our YouTheatre education program every year. ”

Tom Thompson , Director of Marketing

Flat Rock Playhouse

“ Chris and Marybeth are not just top-notch at their job, they’ve become our friends. Starting a new business can be scary, but their group walked us through the whole process—from paint and carpet color choices and logo design to a marketing plan that has made Heartland a success—Summit has been with us every step of the way. ”

Randy and Leanna Sain , Owners

Heartland Amish Furniture

“ We have used Summit Marketing exclusively for our marketing and graphic design needs for 8 years. We are very picky about details in our ads and marketing materials, and the team at Summit have been very flexible about catering to our wishes in every circumstance, without complaint. I highly recommend Summit Marketing! ”

Steve Johnson , Owner

Southern Alarm and Security

“ The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Summit Marketing on multiple projects. Their team has put in countless volunteer hours serving the Chamber and our community. From Chris as Board Chairman to Marybeth’s committee, annual sponsorship and board work, they have helped to make our Chamber a continued success. On a professional level, they have helped us develop a well-respected and highly-read Chamber publication, Leading Edge. Our projects with them continue and we look forward to future collaborations with their professional staff. They have always been timely and a joy to work with. ”

Bob Williford , Chamber President

Henderson County Chamber of Commerce

“ What started out as a quest to have a creative firm build a website, became a lasting partnership built on successful outcomes. Chris and Marybeth Burns gathered our physicians together to understand what is at the heart of our 75 year-old family practice. What resulted was an Ask MAT branding campaign that was focused on communicating our practice feel through the customer’s eyes. Not only do we see new patients every week as a result of our marketing efforts, but our existing patients continually tell us how much they enjoy our informative ads. Now the website is just an extension of what has become a very targeted and focused comprehensive marketing initiative. ”

Ginny Bradford , Practice Administrator

Medical Associates of Transylvania

“ Before we worked with Summit, our marketing was always reactive. With their expertise and detailed marketing plans, we are actually proactive, and the numbers show its effectiveness. Their team also keeps us up to date with the new social media tools that save us money, and that is always a plus! It’s great to have a plan and stick to it.For several years, I have also worked with Marybeth and Chris on fundraisers and non-profits, and they are always generous with lending their business resources and expertise to make any project a great success. ”

Jeff Miller , Owner

Millers Fine Drycleaning

“ I have been in development for many, many years. The case statement booklet that Summit Marketing developed for the Pisgah Conservancy is the best I have seen. And I have seen alot of them! ”

Levoe Davis , Director of Development

The Pisgah Conservancy

“ We had a record year for thrift store and fundraising revenues. Outsourcing a majority of our PR and outreach functions to Summit Marketing is saving the agency tens of thousands of dollars annually. ”

David White , CEO

Western Carolina Community Action

“ Working with the Summit marketing team is just what our business needed. Being in business since 1995, our company relied on word of mouth and reputation marketing. Chris and the team took us to a new and more professional approach to expanding and growing our landscape & maintenance business. New logo, professional brochures geared to residential and commercial clientele, and direct mail has proved to be what we need in this down economy. Their ability to gear the marketing program to who we are as a company was fantastic. Their personal and guiding approach in developing our program was educational on my part, direct, timely and cost effective. Summit Marketing Group is a real gem to our business community. ”

Al Falzone , Owner

TPS Landscaping

“ I cannot praise Summit Marketing Group enough. Their customer service and the quality of the products they have produced for me are consistently outstanding. The professionals at Summit Marketing take the time to understand their customer, keep their customer informed of progress and in the end, produce a product that always exceeds expectations. ”

Julie Thompson , VP for Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education

Blue Ridge Community College

“ I am a member of the Friends of Ecusta Trail board of directors, and the co-chair of the communications committee. Summit Marketing has been instrumental in developing creative materials for this community group – a website, rack card, banner and other cohesively designed communication tools- that are helping us move toward the potential development of a fabulous greenway in Western North Carolina. Summit cares about its community, and is a good corporate citizen – and has definitely given the Friends of Ecusta Trail a cohesive, professional brand. ”

Tina Kinsey , Director of Marketing

Asheville Regional Airport

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