As the weather turns a little cooler (FINALLY) and the calendar turns to November, I first want to say how thankful and grateful I am for the opportunity to serve each of you. I hope as the year draws to a close and you are looking forward to a new year that you will find ways to engage with us more and strengthen your connection to YOUR state association and fellow chamber professionals. So, before we put up those Christmas trees and Mariah Carey completely defrosts, let’s look back at October…
October got off to a quick start with the Business Council of Alabama, Alabama Technology Network, and Manufacture Alabama hosted Manufacturer of the Year Awards. Big congratulations to Marquis Forge and our friends at MRaine Industries and Eleven86 Water for their win. It was great to have representatives from the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce and Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce with us in Montgomery.
The following week I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Institute for Organization Management fall board meetings where I was honored to begin my year as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Southeast and to join the Board of Trustees. I am a proud graduate of Southeast Institute (2015) and it is a blessing to get to “pay it forward” to those on their Institute journey. If you have not yet started this incredible 96 hour professional development course, I highly encourage you to do so. It was also wonderful to be with Pammie Jimmar, president & CEO, of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Chambers board member, and my IOM classmate, as she began her term as Chair of the National Institute Board of Trustees.
A great big thank you to all of you that joined us for the 2026 Professional Development Conference presented by The Fund. We had a wonderful conference in Tuscaloosa, hosted by Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and Visit Tuscaloosa. It was 3 days of connection and learning.
The next week found me traveling to Elba to join Sandy and the Elba Chamber of Commerce for their stellar Annual Meeting as they kick off their 70th Anniversary of Service to their community. The next morning it was north to Sylacauga where I joined Laura and the amazing team at the Sylacauga Area Chamber of Commerce for their ConnectHer Women’s Conference. What a wonderful room to be in as 200+ women danced, laughed, and were inspired.
Finally, the month rounded out with a trip to Troy to speak during the Grow Southeast Alabama Workforce Summit. It was an honor to spread the good news of our local chambers across the Wiregrass and beyond and always great to see Bethany with the Pike County Chamber of Commerce in attendance.
October was another month filled with opportunities to serve and support each of you. As November arrives, I hope that we will see many of you in Birmingham on November 18, 2025, for our Annual Meeting and Alabama Small Business Awards. Until then, as we slow down and make time for family and friends during the holidays, please know that I count each of you as blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!