Tony Almeida busies himself with work, volunteer projects


Today, I was visiting the Salisbury Post Online, and I found at the archives on July 03, 2003, in the section Area, one very nice news. This article is about Tony Almeida, I am proud about him and I know his life and his work in volunteer projects in my city, Rio Verde, Goias, Brazil. He is God's man. My daugther Cibele loves his son Joseph, and I am happy about it.
Eudoxio Santos




Tony Almeida busies himself with work, volunteer projects
By Sandy Greene, Salisbury Post


"A little drizzle won't stop Tony Almeida from helping out in the community. He believes in getting his hands dirty and with all that he has done, his hands should be tired and worn by now.
But he keeps on going, whether he is working at his job at Duke Power or volunteering in the community. Though he has become a bigger asset to the company, he remains down to earth and gives back to his community as well as other communities that are foreign to him.
Almeida went to work for Duke Power 24 years ago. Not only did he gain a job with one of the biggest companies in the country, but he also gained a wife that same year.
In 1994, he and his wife moved to Salisbury when he accepted a position with the company as area manager for Rowan and four other counties. During the 18 months that he served in that position, he and Margaret fell in love with Salisbury and decided to stay.
His life has been good, he said.
Recently, Almeida was named Duke Power's vice president of economic development.
"It is a small team of economic development professionals that work throughout the Duke Power service area," he said.
The team recruits industry, but particularly in the pharmaceutical, medical supply, plastics and automotive fields. The team focuses on those industries because "they are growing nationally and because they have a strong ripple effect when they come into the area," Almeida said, creating more jobs and improving the quality of life in the area.
The Economic Development team also works with other businesses and government economic development agencies to create a business climate and infrastructure for growth.
Before accepting his promotion, Almeida was vice president of customer service. In that position he was responsible for billing payments, collections and customer accounting.
Previously, he worked with Proctor & Gamble after graduating from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He is a native of Atlanta and began his career with Duke Power in 1979 as a retail marketing assistant in the Charlotte office. He worked his way up with the company.
He has built strong relationships with his co-workers. Beverly Anthony, his assistant before his recent promotion, is one of them.
"Tony is one of the finest human beings I have ever met," she said. "Not just in business but also as a citizen, a father and a husband.
"He exemplifies the best of what human beings have to offer."
Many people know him much better as a church member, husband and father to the Almeidas' three sons, Joseph, 21, Walter, 18 and Randy, 13.
And even though he works in Charlotte, he chooses to keep his family here in Salisbury. "My family is settled here," he said. "Our friends, neighbors and church members are people we have developed strong relationships with."
One son has already finished at Salisbury High School, and now Joseph attends college in Asheville and plans on teaching and coaching middle school.
His youngest son, Randy, attends Sacred Heart Catholic School and the middle son, Walter is a rising senior at Salisbury High. Almeida said the boys have developed close friendships in their schools. "It's all about strong and caring relationships," he said.
Almeida believes in keeping his children in a comfortable atmosphere. He also believes in setting an example for his children and promoting community involvement with them.
Recently, he and Joseph went on a mission trip to Brazil. The two went with a group in town to work on a new Presbyterian church there. "We put two walls up and built trusses for the roof," he said.
He is familiar with mission trips, previously serving as chairman of First Presbyterian Church's Witness Committee, which is responsible for local, national and international missions.
He is an elder at First Presbyterian and says the church is another reason why he wants to stay in Salisbury.
"I think about the small group of nine men and myself who meet each Wednesday evening at our church for prayer, Bible study and fellowship," he said. "It's a part of my week that I always look forward to."
The Rev. Bob Lewis, former pastor of the church, calls Almeida "a motivational leader."
"When he leads, he is not in some kind of ivory tower directing. He's part of the action," Lewis said. "He has a tremendous ability to inspire and motivate.
"He is the chair for the committee looking for my successor. He is a good friend ... I will miss working with him."
Almeida also served two years on the local board of Habitat for Humanity and served as project leader for two of five Habitat houses that First Presbyterian members have built and has volunteered time for a sixth house the church is currently constructing. Part of his job was helping raise funds to build the homes in the Habitat subdivision off of Ryan Street.
In Charlotte, he serves as board treasurer for Crisis Assistance Ministry, an organization similar to Rowan Helping Ministries, where he has also volunteered his time.
And he teaches the Every Man's Bible Class, a Sunday school class. The class is responsible for building and raising money for the house the church is building with Habitat for Humanity and future homeowners Rosalyn Brown and her son, Justin.
Construction is ahead of schedule, and the dedication is set for Aug. 3. Brown said church members were good people for coming out and helping build her home. But she has been right there working with them. She has given many more than the minimum 400 hours of work Habitat requires all new homeowners to contribute.
"I want to thank everybody for making my house a home," said Brown. "I appreciate all the time and effort."
Don't expect Almeida to slow down any time soon. He just completed studies at the American Leadership Forum, sponsored by the William S. Lee Institute.
"He is driven. ... Whatever he does, he wants to excel,"says long-time Duke Power assistant Beverly Anthony. "What you see is genuine ... He is real."
Contact Sandy Greene at 704-797-4264 or sgreene@salisburypost.com."

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