The business outlook for this region is "bullish," according to Lewis Ebert, the president and CEO of NC Citizens for Business and Industry.

Ebert was the keynote speaker for the 40th annual banquet of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce held Thursday night at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst.

Andy Honeycutt, the 2006 Chamber chairman, passed the gavel to new Chairwoman Kay Beran, who is president of Prudential Gouger, O'Neal & Saunders Real Estate. She is the third woman to the top post.

"I have grown appreciative of the work the Chamber does and the value the Chamber has," Honeycutt said in his farewell remarks. He is community relations manager for Progress Energy in Aberdeen.

Beran, who said she was deeply appreciative of the work Honeycutt did last year, said she plans to make some changes this year. Those include revamping the Chamber's Web site, instituting new programs such as a newcomer program, offering more educational seminars and promoting coordinated efforts with area organizations.

"We will be celebrating and leveraging our location and our quality of life," said Beran. "We are so lucky to live in this community."

Ebert's keynote address focused on the state of business in North Carolina.

"Business leaders in this region are very excited about the business climate in the region," Ebert said. "There's a very bullish outlook for this region."

To succeed in an increasingly cutthroat national and international marketplace, Ebert said, North Carolina must focus on training its workforce, maintaining tools for economic development and fostering a competitive spirit.

"North Carolina is alive and in some places growing on steroids," Ebert said. "We're the envy of most states."

Chamber leaders also presented several awards during the banquet. Moore County public school teachers Robin Calcutt and Tracy Cropley received the Golden Apple Award. Susan McKenzie won the Ambassador of the Year award, Joyce Peterson won the William F. Hollister award for the volunteer of the year.

The 2007 officers of the Chamber, in addition to Beran, are: Honeycutt, immediate past chairman; John Capasso, chairman-elect; Sherwood Blackwood, first vice chairman and vice chairman of government affairs; Roy Harvel, treasurer; Jim Byrd, vice chairman of finance and operations; Bea Fields; vice chairman of marketing and communications; Kim Gilley, vice chairman of membership services; and Tom Konold, vice chairman of community development.

Katherine Evans can be reached at 693-2480 or by e-mail at kevans@thepilot.com.