During this year’s Kernersville Chamber of Commerce banquet held last night, Dana Caudill Jones was surprised with the Community Distinguished Service Award, a lifetime achievement award recognizing her long-time service to the Kernersville area.
Kenny Beck, emcee for the Chamber banquet, said this year has been a world-class year for the community and the Chamber of Commerce.
“Tonight, we are here to celebrate successes, and look forward to the future for this great community,” Beck said, as he introduced this year’s Community Distinguished Service Award winner. “Every year of the Kernersville Chamber’s existence, we have recognized long-term service to the Kernersville area. This award is a lifetime achievement award.”
Before Jones approached the front of the room to receive her award from Duane Long, the 2015 award recipient, she had to sit in wonder with everyone in the room as Beck shared her achievements alluding to who the award recipient might be.
“The Kernersville community enjoys the reputation of being a wholesome, family community. Obtaining that reputation happens when different businesses, organizations and the faith community come together to work towards a common goal. That doesn’t happen by itself. It takes community leaders who look beyond their own line of business to bring others together,” he said.
Jones grew up in Kernersville and graduated from East Forsyth High School in 1989. She attended High Point University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in 1993. Over the years, Jones has volunteered hundreds of hours within the community.
“This year’s recipient has done more in 11 years than most do in a lifetime. She was extremely active in the Kernersville Chamber during 1995 – 2000, serving on the Downtown Council, Economic Development Council, Education Committee (in which she still serves), and worked on the end of the 2020 Plan with Arnold King. She co-chaired the entire Leadership Kernersville Program in 2000 with her mother.”
Jones is a 1997 graduate of the Leadership Kernersville Program, a 1999 graduate of the Piedmont Triad Leadership Network, a 2016 graduate of UNC School of Government Leadership Academy Elected Officials Graduate Leadership Winston-Salem Program, and a 2016 graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem.
Jones was elected and served five terms on the Kernersville Board of Aldermen; was mayor pro tem for the Town of Kernersville from 2011?2013; serves on the Forsyth Technical Community College Board of Trustees; serves on the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem; serves on the Kernersville Medical Center Board of Directors; serves on the High Point University Alumni Board; serves on the Kernersville Cares for Kids Board of Directors; serves on the East Forsyth High School PTA Board; and serves on the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.
She is a past Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Executive Board member; past Leadership Kernersville chair; past PTA president of Cash Elementary School; past PTA president of Kernersville Middle School; past president of the Board of Directors for Next Step Ministries; past Kernersville YMCA Advisory Board member; past Kernersville Shepherd’s Center Board of Directors; and past elementary school liaison for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Council of PTAs.
She currently serves as chairman of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education and has been instrumental in the education bonds.
Jones was named one of the Triad’s 40 Leaders Under 40 in 2006; led Caudill’s Commercial Electric (her family’s business) to being named one of the Top 100 Small Businesses in N.C in 2008; and was named Kernersville’s Citizen of the Year in 2012.
She and her family are big supporters of all Kernersville organizations, and more particularly programs related to youth. While serving on the Kernersville YMCA Board, the Caudills made a significant donation for the construction of the water park. They sponsor YMCA programs, Kernersville Little League programs, Kernersville Soccer Association teams, and Kernersville Raiders.
Jones, along with her husband, David, and son, Eli, are members of Sedge Garden United Methodist Church.
