The eighteenth annual meeting of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership Inc. will take place on Friday, Feb. 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the Shelton-Badgett Center for Viticulture & Enology at Surry Community College in Dobson.

The keynote speaker for the annual meeting is Mary Propes, CEO of MVP Group International Inc., which designs, develops, and manufacturers candles and home fragrance products for private labels and large chains. MVP Group International employees around 200 full-time workers at the production and distribution facility in Elkin.

President of the Surry County EDP, Todd Tucker, said he is excited about the keynote speaker, Mary Propes and remarks that they are proud to host the CEO of the largest privately-owned candle factory in the world.

In addition to the keynote speaker, chairman Burke Robertson will speak to the group. According to Tucker, this two-hour event is “an opportunity to meet and mingle, look back on 2012, and look forward to the rest of 2013.”

New business Willow-Tex LLC, which purchased the former Harvest Time Bread facility in Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park in Mount Airy, will also be recognized during the meeting.

The lunch meeting is open to the public. The cost is $30 per person, and those attending should RSVP by Jan. 30 by 5 p.m. by calling 336-401-9900 or by sending an email to surryedp@surry.net.