We are halfway through the year, and only about 60 days from the much beloved ‘Ber months! I hope that the first half of the year has treated you well and that the second half will do the same.
As I sit to write this, I have just returned from one of my favorite weeks of the year- Southeast Institute for Organization Management. This year was particularly meaningful as I had the honor of serving as Chair of the Board of Regents. Representing Alabama and having the opportunity to give back to a program that means so much was truly a moment I will not soon forget. This year we had 29 attendees from Alabama with 3 graduates. Congratulations to Alicia Gregory, IOM, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama; Alyssa Crow, IOM, Shoals Chamber; and Lori Wilcoxon, IOM, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. We were also well represented with Jeremy Arthur, CCE, IOM, Auburn University Outreach, as faculty and Pammie Jimmar, IOM, Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce as Chair of the National Board of Trustees. If you have not yet begun your IOM journey, I encourage you to consider starting in 2027. Scholarships are available, and I would be happy to talk to you or your board about the importance of this professional development opportunity.
Prior to Institute week, June was a month full of travel and connection. On June 5th, I traveled to Phenix City to celebrate the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce receiving their AACC designation for the first time. The next week was board retreat time for your Alabama Chambers board of directors. Big shout out to our Chair Laura Strickland for hosting us at the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce. The next day Karla traveled to Dadeville to teach a Canva class for members of the Dadeville-Lake Martin Chamber of Commerce.
Traveling to celebrate wins for our chambers and their communities is always a highlight. Congratulations to Jackson County and the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce on the recently announced $1.5B Google expansion. Following the announcement, I was treated to lunch with the great Albertville Chamber of Commerce team before popping in to say hello to the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce and Etowah Chamber teams.
Finally, thank you to Todd Stacy and the Capitol Journal team for allowing me a few minutes on a recent show to talk about the upcoming National Civics Bee® Alabama State Finals. I hope you are making plans to join us Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
As the days of summer move on, I hope that you are taking time to enjoy a slower pace (can we move very fast in this heat?) and that you took a moment to reflect on the beauty of our nation’s 250th birthday. While it may not be perfect, the opportunities afforded each of us as citizens are incredible. And as the World Cup has reminded us, there is joy to be found in every corner across our state and our country.