News & Publications

The City of Montgomery Parks and Recreation sponsored the Chamber's 60 Minute Coffee on Wednesday, May 7th at Gateway Park Lodge, 3800 Davenport Parkway. Exhibitor for the event was Alabama Christian Academy. Networking events like 60-Minute Coffee and Business After-Hours provide a valuable opportunity to meet others in the business community as well as Chamber and community leaders. If you are interested in learning more about what this dynamic organization can offer, please join us or contact Linda Drumheller at ldrumheller@montgomerychamber.com or call (334) 834-5200.

More than 300 Business and Civic Leaders attended the Alabama Update on April 23, 2008, held in the Alabama Room of the Renaissance Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center. Governor Bob Riley made an outstanding presentation on the state of Alabama’s education and economic development initiatives and discussed his new proposal for providing Health Care Tax Credits for Small Businesses and their employees.

This new Small Business Health Care proposal is currently before the State Legislature. He also discussed the tremendous progress that our state is making in education as a direct result of the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative. In addition, Riley spoke on the significant economic successes the state has made in the last 5 years, by adding more than 100,000 new jobs and being recognized as number one of all 50 states in economic development.

Presenting sponsor of the event was Wilson Price IT. Gold sponsors were the Alabama Society of CPA's, Civil Air Patrol, Copperwing Design and Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood.

Catese Chaffee of Z H Properties was selected Ambassador of the 1st Quarter, 2008. The Chamber’s Ambassador Program gives members the opportunity to join a prestigious group of volunteers creating a visible network at such Chamber functions as Business After-Hours and 60-Minute Coffees, as well as helping to welcome new chamber members to the area. Ambassadors represent the Chamber and their community year-round, and are an essential part of our success.

Alabama Power Foundation's Golden Apple Award for April was presented to Jackson Hospital. Jackson opens its doors to hundreds of public high school students looking to enter into healthcare fields through the school system’s “healthcare clinicals” course. Additionally, the hospital staff supports MPS Career Tech by serving on the advisory council and is a strong and steady supporter of the Chamber’s Groundhog Job Shadow Day. Don Henderson, CEO of Jackson Hospital, accepted the award from Chamber Chairman Charlie Patterson at the April Board meeting.

ServisFirst Bank sponsored the Chamber's April Business After Hours on Thursday, April 24th. The event took place at One Commerce Street, downtown Montgomery. Door prizes were given away while guests mingled and enjoyed wonderful food and beverage. Buckelew's Inc. showcased an impressive exhibit. For further information on events such as this, please contact Linda Drumheller at (334) 834-5200 or ldrumheller@montgomerychamber.com.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2008 Lunch & Learn series continued Wednesday, April 23rd at the Small Business Resource Center. The quarterly series introduces area businessmen and women to a variety of topical issues pertinent to business. The second Lunch & Learn will focused on creating a website that will reflect the needs of companies.

Susan Cline, Creative Director and Senior Designer for Square Root Interactive, led an informative discussion on creating tailor-made web sites to reach the target audience of your business, and keep them coming back. Two additional Lunch & Learn seminars are scheduled through 2008. The remaining sessions will take place July 23rd and October 22nd.

Presenting Sponsor for the series is Wilson Price IT. Gold Sponsors are Aliant Bank, FourStar Freightliner and McGough Pontiac-GMC-Mazda. For more information or to register for future the next Lunch & Learn, please visit montgomerychamber.com/calendar or call (334) 832-4790.

Championing public education is Goal I of the Chamber’s Imagine a Greater Montgomery strategy. Thanks to the support of Frazer Lanier Company, a group of community leaders traveled to Chattanooga, TN April 3 and 4 to tour what is recognized as one of the nation’s model high school reform efforts. “Reform and expansion of Montgomery’s middle and high school structure is a critical part of improving public education in Montgomery,” said Keith Karst, chairman of the Chamber’s Education and Workforce Development Council.

Keith was joined on the trip by Montgomery Public Schools Superintendent John Dilworth, and members of his staff; Montgomery County Board of Education member Beverly Ross; Montgomery County Commission Chairman Todd Strange and Vice Chairman Elton Dean; Montgomery City Council President Charles Jinright and City Councilman Tracey Larkin; A+ Foundation President, Caroline Novak and staff, Montgomery Education Foundation President Dave Borden and Executive Director, Anne Sikes; Nim Frazer, Chamber Executive Board member and Bob Young of Frazer Lanier Company.

The itinerary for the first day of the trip included a tour of Chattanooga, presentations by J. Ed. Martston and Dr. Kay Andrews of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and a dinner and briefing by Chattanooga Public Education Foundation President Dan Challener regarding the organization’s work in helping restructure middle and high schools in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Day two began with tours of Red Bank High School and the Howard School of Academics and Technology and ended with a panel discussion led by the Dr. Jim Scales, Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools at the Public Education Foundation. This visit provided some important building blocks as the Chamber’s Education and Workforce Development Council strives to support the Superintendent and Montgomery School Board in school reform in our community.

The 18th Annual Air University and Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Challenge was held at Cypress Tree Golf Course on Maxell AFB on April 9, 2008. Although Lt Gen (S) Al Peck’s foursome won first place among the foursome groups, the Chamber of Commerce, for the third year in a row walked away with the overall trophy. A special thanks to Lt Gen Lorenz, Air University, and Maxwell AFB for hosting this great event this year. The weather was perfect, the course was in great shape, the food was superb, and everyone has a great time. We also want to thank our presenting sponsor, Capital Container Inc. for helping support this great tradition. Gold sponsors were Civil Air Patrol, MAX Credit Union, Northrop Grumman Information Technology and Silver sponsors were Ballard Realty, Inc. Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and Dixie Electric Cooperative.

This month’s Golden Apple Award was presented to Mr. David Ward, Human Resources Manager for Hager Companies. This award is presented during the monthly Chamber Board meetings, and recognizes an individual or company that has done outstanding work in the area of supporting public education.

Ward is a passionate supporter of public education. He believes it is the springboard to a better workforce for the community. He has also been a great supporter of the Chamber’s recent efforts to develop training programs in high schools around an advanced manufacturing curriculum.

Ward currently serves on the Board of Directors for Partners In Education, and the Montgomery Public Schools Career Tech Advisory Council. He also works to mentor future talent through many school programs including the Chamber’s annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day event. In addition to his recognition, a $250 donation from the Alabama Power Foundation will be given in his honor to a school or public school support agency of his choice. Ward has asked that his $250 donation be made to Partners In Education.

On Wednesday, March 26th, the Chamber hosted the second Eggs & Issues Breakfast of 2008 at the RSA Activity Center. U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions was the guest speaker. Sessions’ main focus is maintaining a strong military while upholding the rule of law, limiting the role of government and providing tax relief to stimulate economic growth and empower Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Sessions has a long history in the legal world. Following a two-year stint as Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama (1975-1977), Sessions was nominated by President Reagan in 1981 and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States Attorney for Alabama’s Southern District, a position he held for 12 years. He was elected Alabama Attorney General in 1995 and served for two years before entering the United States Senate in 1997.

While serving in the United States Senate, Sessions earned numerous awards including the Reserve Officers Association Minuteman Award, the National Taxpayers Union Friend of the Taxpayer Award, the Watchdogs of the Treasury Golden Bulldog Award, the National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business Award, the Coalition of Republican Environment Advocates Teddy Roosevelt Environmental Award and the Alabama Farmers Federation Service to Agriculture Award. Today, Sessions serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Budget Committee.

The event takes place several times each year, and provides an opportunity to hear governmental leaders speak on important issues affecting our government and the state of Alabama. Alabama Power Company is the presenting sponsor. Gold sponsors are Alabama Road Builders Association, Balch & Bingham and GKN Aerospace.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s Procurement Match-Maker event was held on March 25th at The Small Business Resource Center. This new initiative promotes the Chamber’s commitment to providing programs to enhance economic development and growth opportunities for minorities and women throughout Montgomery and the River Region. The event included a panel discussion with participants addressing their company's unique procurement processes and supplier diversity programs for minorities and women. Panel participants included representatives from Alabama Power Company, Jackson Hospital, Montgomery Housing Authority and MOBIS Alabama. The panel discussion was followed by a question/answer and relationship-building session.

The inaugural Chamber Classic Sportsman Shoot took place Thursday, March 20th at the Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club. More than 100 shooters participated in the event, and enjoyed the beautiful weather!  The event was an excellent way to network and fellowship in a relaxed environment with members and potential clients. Whitney Bank sponosred a BBQ luncheon that kicked-off the shoot, followed by the tournament. Door prizes and awards were given out after an italian dinner catered by Carraba's and sponsored by Oakfuskee Ryse Reserve. Taylor Lakes was the presenting sponsor. Gold sponsors were Construction Materials and Goodwyn Mills & Cawood. The silver sponsor was DuBose Construction. 

Mimis Café, an upscale family dining restaurant, has selected the EastChase development as the location for their first Alabama restaurant. The 6,800 square foot eatery is scheduled to open in mid-November at the entrance to EastChase adjacent to Rooms To Go.

“Mimis Café is an excellent addition to our restaurant selection at EastChase,” said Will Wilson, President of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, developers of EastChase. “They provide classic home-cooked meals in a family-friendly, sit down restaurant setting.” Known for its European-style cottage exterior, Mimis offers over 100 selections from their full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Their signature made from scratch items include muffins, soups and sauces. Mimis Café also offers soups, salads and lighter fare in addition to a low fat, low carb menu and a complete children’s menu with healthy choice options. Seafood, pasta, steaks and desserts are also included in Mimis fare.

The EastChase restaurant will seat 125 people and will be open from 7 am – 10 pm, Monday – Friday and 7 am – 11 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Four private dining/meeting rooms will be an added feature of this location. The first Mimis Café opened in 1978 in Anaheim, Calif. In the past thirty years, the restaurant has grown to a collection of 128 units in 22 states. Headquartered in Tustin, Calif., Mimis Cafe is a unit wholly owned by Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a publicly traded company.

EastChase is a 330-acre, master planned development adjacent to Interstate 85 between Taylor Road and Chantilly Parkway in east Montgomery. The project is developed by a partnership of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC and Alfa Companies, two of Alabama’s finest real estate firms.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that due to the level of activity, the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Autauga, Lawrence and Walker Counties will remain open until March 13. The Centers will be open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 3 through Friday, March 7 and Monday, March 10 through Thursday, March 13 at which time the Centers will cease operation. The SBA offers loans up to $40,000 for renters and homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged personal property such as furniture and clothing. Homeowners are eligible for loans up to $200,000 to repair disaster damaged primary residences. Loans to businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations are available up to $1.5 million to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses. Anyone unable to visit the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers may obtain applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Applications may be obtained, completed and returned to the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov. The application deadline for Physical damage for declarations #11174/#11175 and #11176/#11177 is April 21, 2008; the deadline for economic injury applications is November 21, 2008.

The Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are in the following locations:

Autauga County, The Church of Living Water, 435 Sheila Boulevard, Prattville, AL 36066

Walker County Walker County EMA Office,16781 Highway 69 South, Jasper, AL 35501

Lawrence County Moulton Recreation Center ,13550 Court Street, Moulton, AL 35650

The Chamber’s February Golden Apple Award was given to Advanced Computer Technologies. Over the years, ACT has been dedicated to Information Technology education in Montgomery Public Schools, providing technical support to Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School's networking and IT program, hiring high school students part-time during the school year and during the summer as a way to mentor future IT professionals, providing internships and scholarship opportunities to high school students and providing leadership and job shadowing through the Chamber's Groundhog Job Shadow Day program. Advanced Computer Technologies specializes in the design and development of web-based applications. ACT has been successful in managing a client portfolio of Federal and State agencies along with locally based companies and international corporations. The company has been a cornerstone of the Chamber's Small Business Resource Center and incubator program and is currently located in the Center. Greg Brannon, Vice President for ACT, accepted the award at the Chamber’s February board meeting.

Leadership Montgomery and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce announced an exciting Young Professionals Program on Tuesday, February 26th. The initiative is designed to attract and retain diverse emerging young professionals, giving them an important role in shaping the future of Montgomery.

More than 400 young professionals gathered at the new Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center for a reception and overview of the program. As a joint initiative of Leadership Montgomery and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, the Young Professionals program was developed to address one of the key goals of the Chamber's Imagine a Greater Montgomery Strategy for Economic Growth - Goal IV: Embrace Diversity and Enhance Leadership Capacity.

Daniel Hughes, CEO of Summit America, LLC is the Co-Chairman for the Leadership Development Initiative. “For the past few months, a group of local young professionals have met weekly to discuss ideas and goals and establish a mission for the program,” Hughes said. “The retention and growth of future Montgomery leaders is vital for continued economic growth. Local young professionals can leverage this program as a valuable tool for the growth of their own careers.”

Young professionals in the River Region who are 39-years of age and younger and interested in this program should contact Harold Boone at (334) 262-2261 or hboone@montgomerychamber.com. Rheem Water Heaters is the presenting sponsor of the 2008 Young Professionals events.

Sheila Morrissette, with the Villas at Eagles Landing, was awarded Ambassador of the 4th Quarter for 2007. The Chamber’s Ambassador program gives members the opportunity to join a prestigious group of volunteers creating a visible network at such Chamber functions as Business After Hours and 60 Minute Coffees, as well as helping to welcome new Chamber members to the area. As a result of their service, Ambassadors are given the opportunity to make valuable contacts and gain recognition during networking events and monthly Board meetings, and are featured in Chamber publications.

Chris Dickert, President/Owner of the Affinty Group, was awarded the Chamber's Ambassador of the Year for 2007. The Chamber’s Ambassador program gives members the opportunity to join a prestigious group of volunteers creating a visible network at such Chamber functions as Business After Hours and 60 Minute Coffees, as well as helping to welcome new Chamber members to the area. As a result of their service, Ambassadors are given the opportunity to make valuable contacts and gain recognition during networking events and monthly Board meetings, and are featured in Chamber publications.

On Feb. 6^th, 2008, Chamber executives and members of the community attended the Chicago Auto Show, in support of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA). Hyundai’s best-selling sedan, the Sonata, underwent a ‘facelift’ of its interior, and the 2009 model was revealed at the event. It will be available for sale in late-February. Hyundai has sold more than one million Sonata units in the U.S. since 1989, making it one of three million-seller Hyundai models.

Mac McLeod with the Chamber’s Committee of 100, Charlie Patterson and Nim Frazer with the Chamber’s Executive Committee, City Council President Charlie Jinright, Todd Strange, Chairman, Montgomery County Commission, Keith Karsh with Alabama Power, Chamber President and CEO Randy George and Chamber Senior Vice President, Corporate Development Ellen McNair attended the Auto Show. Representatives from HMMA included President H.I. Kim, Vice President B.W. Ryu, Vice President, Production John Kalson, Vice President, General Counsel Rick Neal, Manager, Public Relations Robert Burns and Chris Yang, National Sales.

In addition to attending the auto show and media event, Chamber and community executives hosted a cocktail reception and dinner for HMMA and Hyundai Motor America (HMA) executives. They met with HMA President Jason Kim and Vice President Chris Hosford. These leaders renewed old acquaintances and met the new Hyundai executives.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, partnering with Montgomery Public Schools, Partners in Education and businesses across the community provided job shadowing opportunities for more than 130 high school students with the 8th Annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day. Championing public education and Build a Competitive Workforce is Goal 1 of the Chamber’s 5-year strategy for economic growth, Imagine a Greater Montgomery. CH2M Hill and Trenholm State Technical College are Silver Sponsors for the event.

On Friday, February 1, in conjunction with national Groundhog Job Shadow Day, the Chamber kicked off Job Shadowing 2008, a yearlong initiative to host students in the workplace. Before being accepted to participate in the program, students were required to complete a challenging application process, asking them to conduct career research and submit a resume and application.

“The application process gives the partnership sponsoring this event an opportunity to strengthen its quality,” said Christie Sellers, Director of Workforce Development & Business Services for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “Students can more clearly see the connection between what they learn in the classroom with what they learn on the job, and be thinking more about the day and preparing for it. It creates a better event for the students and for the business volunteers hosting them for the day.”

Students from Montgomery public high schools and the Montgomery Job Corps Center had the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a chosen career field for one day.                    

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off its 2008 Lunch & Learn series Wednesday, Jan. 23rd at the Small Business Resource Center . The quarterly series introduces area businessmen and women to a variety of topical issues pertinent to business. Leslie Bailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s new series, “Leslie Bailey’s Southern View,” host of WSFA-12 television's “Hey, Leslie! What's Cooking?” and the owner of Silver Spoon Caterers and a la Carte Cafe, spoke to the sold-out crowd. Bailey gave tips on marketing and entrepreneurship. In addition to being a successful restaurateur, she is also a morning radio personality for AM 1170. A tireless volunteer, she has been a recipient of the Arts in Education award and a nominee for Citizen of the Year in her hometown of Montgomery.

Three additional Lunch & Learn seminars are scheduled through 2008. The remaining sessions will take place April 23rd, July 23rd and October 22nd. Presenting Sponsor is Wilson Price IT. Gold Sponsors are Aliant Bank, FourStar Freightliner and McGough Pontiac-GMC-Mazda. Each Lunch & Learn is from Noon to 1 p.m. at the Small Business Resource Center . Registration is $15 and includes the seminar, meal and beverage. For more information or to register, please visit montgomerychamber.com/calendar or call (334) 832-4790.

More than 650 people gathered for the Chamber’s 135th Annual Meeting, sponsored by Hodges Warehouse + Logistics and Hodges Commercial Real Estate, on Dec. 5th at the Embassy Suites Hotel, downtown Montgomery.

Attendees enjoyed a keynote address by Major General (Ret.) Bernard "Burn" Loeffke, a graduate of West Point and recipient of the Purple Heart.  He culminated his military career as the Commanding General of Army South. In his military service he accumulated more than 250 parachute jumps, two in combat. He was also awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for Valor. He is a pilot and Army Ranger. Loeffke spoke on the importance of the 4 "D's;" Democracy, Development, Defense and Dialogue.

Chamber Chairman Ed Crowell presented the 2007 Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman award to David Bronner, CEO of Retirement Systems of Alabama. "Bronner has been leading the way in economic development in our state long before any of our leaders could even figure out how to spell economic development," said Crowell. "Bottom line, our mission is about economic development and in my opinion, today's recipient wrote the book on that subject."

After presenting the award, Crowell passed the gavel to Gordon Martin, Vice President, Alabama Power Company, who will take over as Chairman in 2008. "It truly has been an extraordinary year and we owe Ed a debt of gratitude for his part in building the momentum in Montgomery and the River Region," said Martin.

The Chamber would also like to thank Gold sponsors Merchant Capital and Standard Roofing Company; and Silver sponsors Alabama Electric Cooperative, Alfa Properties Inc., Aronov Realty Management, Industrial Development Board of the City of Montgomery, Jackson Thornton, Jenkins Brick Company, Rheem Water Heaters and Wachovia Bank, N.A.

On Tuesday, November 6th, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery Area Committee of 100 hosted the first River Region Economic Summit at Wynlakes Golf & Country Club, sponsored by Sterling Bank. More than 230 business and organization leaders were in attendance. Dr. Gene Stanaland, president of GSE, Inc., an economic and management consulting firm, was the guest speaker.

Stanaland has been called the Will Rogers of Economics due to his ability to make a complex subject understandable and entertaining. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College and his Masters and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Alabama.

For 20 years, he was a member of the economics department of Auburn University , and was head of the department for the last eight of those years. Stanaland serves on the boards of several institutions including First American Bank, Huntingdon College , The Jules Collins Smith Museum of Art and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and its Wright Flyers, along with Jenkins Brick and the Montgomery Advertiser, are pleased to announce Military Appreciation Week 2007, honoring all branches of the Armed Services including active duty military personnel, reserves and retired personnel. Please join us in thanking the military men and women of our community for their service and sacrifice. Armed service personnel and their families can enjoy special discounts from the merchants in the River Region listed below.

More than 200 business leaders took part in the 2007 Chamber Open, held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill Oct. 4. The annual event is the premier golf tournament for the Montgomery area business community. Golfers were welcomed by a barbecue luncheon sponsored by Sprint and Baptist Health. The four-man team scramble format tourney began at 1 p.m., with teams playing both the Senator and the Judge courses at RTJ. The winning team for each course was announced at a reception following play. Cocktail sponsor was Dubose Construction Company and reception sponsors were Newton Oldacre McDonald and Panalpina. 

Special thanks go to title sponsor MetLife. Staff and volunteers from the company provided golfers with goodie bags, and MetLife mascot Snoopy even made a special appearance! Thank you also to other special event sponsors including Compass Bank, BankTrust, Eagle Business Systems, Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant, Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Performance Support, Jenkins Brick Company, Jinright Turner Insurance & Bonds/The Securance Group, AUM University Outreach, and Publix.

The Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign (TRC), “Start Your Engines,” kicked-off Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 with a luncheon at the RSA Activity Center. TRC Chairman Larry Puckett has recruited a dynamic “team” of Vice Chairs for the 2007 Campaign. The race to the finish line includes Carl Barranco, Steve Cawood, Gene Crane, Guy Davis and Mac McLeod. After training, each vice chair selected 4-5 team captains to handle the campaign. The TRC is an initiative that allows volunteers to raise the funding for the Chamber's programs for the entire year! Unlike the traditional membership campaign, a TRC markets sponsorships of the organization's programs, events, publications and electronic media and recruits new members. Everyone wins! The organization gains members, funding, leadership and community awareness. The volunteer receives incentives, recognition, greater awareness of the organization's programs and networking with community leaders. For information about how you can become involved, contact Lynn Norton at (334) 240-9431 or email lnorton@montgomerychamber.com.

Mayor Bobby Bright's Proclamation Signing officially declared the week of Sept. 10, 2007, as the Chamber's Minorities and Women in Business Week. Representatives from the Chamber and presenting sponsor First Tuskegee Bank looked on as Mayor Bright made it official. Youth Entrepreneur workshops were held all day for the city's Future Business Leaders of America, with teams of local business leaders visiting high schools across the city to share business planning, financing and marketing tips.

September's Business After Hours is this Thursday, Sept. 13th, at the RSA Activity Center. This event attracts numerous business leaders throughout Montgomery and the River Region. Presenting sponsor First Tuskegee Bank will host the event along with an exciting once-a-year expo, special to Minorities & Women in Business. Local companies and corporations will showcase their businesses in a festive networking setting, complete with tasty hors d'oeuvres a cash bar.

The Chamber of Commerce held a Special Board of Directors meeting Thursday, August 30th, for an Economic Development Report of Progress. Chairman Ed Crowell provided a look back on the milestones of the Forefront Montgomery Initiative and a look ahead to the Imagine a Greater Montgomery program and its initiatives. Chairman-elect Gordon Martin gave the final status of the total community investment. The new wall of recognition was unveiled recognizing the significant contributions of area business and civic leaders.

 The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Wright Flyers, a group dedicated to supporting the military community, held an MGM Forum event Aug. 24 hosted by Maxwell Air Force Base. MGM Forum events are held several times each year to provide business and community leaders an opportunity to meet with the military community. These are small-group setting where topics of interest are discussed including military affairs, public policy, education, and more.

Featured speakers for this event included Professor Dennis Drew, who spoke on The Case for Airpower, and Dr. David Lai, who addressed the Chinese Way of War & Diplomacy. Lt. Gen. Stephen Lorenz, Commander, Air University, welcomed those in attendance and provided a brief overview of Air University’s history, as well as an update on current and future events. “We are very proud to be associated with Montgomery, Prattville and the River Region,” Lt. Gen. Lorenz said. “But we don’t exist here just for the River Region and the State of Alabama, we exist to produce ideas for the nation and the world,” he said. Air University educates officers from every branch of the armed forces, as well as international officers. Currently, there are 157 international officers at Air University, representing 70 countries.

In addition to providing the foremost in military education, Air University recently added a program that will allow enlisted airmen to receive their Bachelor’s Degree through a partnership between the Community College of the Air Force and local colleges and universities across the country. Close to 500 students are enrolled in the program in its first year, with 67 different degrees available. Another new program is the ACSC (Air Command and Staff College) Distance Learning Master’s Degree Program. This program allows mid-grade Officers who haven’t attended ACSC in residence to pursue a non-resident graduate degree while completing the ACSC curriculum through distant learning. More than 300 people are registered for classes in this program.

For more information about the Chamber’s military affairs programs and activities, call 334-834-5200 or visit www.montgomerychamber.com.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce announces its first Minorities and Women in Business Week, beginning Sept. 10, 2007. The event will include various activities such as panel discussions, lectures and networking opportunities designed to expand small networks, introduce small business programs and provide information, strategies and inspiration to further develop small businesses and careers.

The event kicks-off with a proclamation signing by Mayor Bobby Bright, and additional activities include a Blood Drive, a Wine & Cheese with motivational speaker and entrepreneur Sister Schubert at the Capital City Club as well as a Business After Hours and Expo. The Networking on the Green golf outing will round out the week’s events. Also making headlines for the event are Max L. Siegel, one of the most influential executives in entertainment and sports, the current president of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and highest ranking African-American in NASCAR. Seth Hammett, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, will discuss issues relating to Minorities and Women in Business at a special Eggs & Issues. The presenting sponsor for the week is First Tuskegee Bank.

For further information, please contact Thomas Taylor or Heidi Ellis at (334) 832-4790. A complete list of events for the week can be found at www.montgomerychamber.com/calendar. To view the Minorities and Women in Business week brochure, visit http://www.thesmallbusinessresourcecenter.org/pdf/mwb2007.pdf.

Keith L. Eakins, Jr., Assistant Manager of the Minority Supplier Development for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, was recently awarded the Atlanta Regional Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency. In addition to his professional work at Hyundai, Eakins was a member of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2006 MED Week Committee.

He participated in the planning and execution of the events on the campus of Alabama State University and served as a panelist and speaker for multiple sessions. Eakins has worked closely with Alabama Minority Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) in planning, promoting and producing the Alabama MED Week. He also serves as Chairman of the Chamber’s Diversity Task Force and is on the forefront for minority inclusion in the supply chain. Eakins is a graduate of Alabama A&M University with a degree in Logistics and Procurement. He was also the recipient of the Chamber’s Point of Light award in 2006.

Gov. Bob Riley announced plans for a $55.6 expansion at MOBIS Alabama at a press conference today. Already Hyundai's leading Tier-One supplier, MOBIS will increase its Montgomery operations, creating more than 140 new jobs. A new E-coating facility is slated for development, in addition to significant expansions of the Redistribution Center, plastic injection and paint facility. The Redistribution Center and new E-coat facility will serve Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) being built in Georgia. The molding and paint facility expansions will serve KIA and Hyundai as well.

“MOBIS has played key role in the automotive manufacturing growth in Central Alabama and with its expansion will continue to be a leader. They are committed to bringing a better quality of life to all citizens across the state of Alabama. I know that MOBIS has shown great deal of confidence in our state and work force and we will not let them down," Riley said."This growth demonstrates our commitment to Montgomery and to the state of Alabama," said MOBIS Alabama President Soon Hwa Kim. "MOBIS' alliance with the state of Alabama, the city of Montgomery, Montgomery County and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce continue to strengthen our community by bringing more jobs and additional capital investment. We attribute much of our success to all of the state and local officials who have made this expansion possible and appreciate your continued support."

Chamber Chairman Ed Crowell said, "I would like to recognize the incredible team of elected leaders, business and government partners, MOBIS officials and the Chamber that made the expansion possible."Construction will begin in September 2007 on the 130,000-square-foot expansion of the Redistribution Center where service parts are warehoused, repacked and shipped nationwide for Hyundai and KIA vehicles. At the same time MOBIS will construct a new 80,000-square-foot building for an E-coating process. Next year, equipment additions and remodeling will begin in the Alabama plastics facility, enabling MOBIS to serve its growing manufacturing operations in the U.S. MOBIS Alabama will supply bumpers to MOBIS Georgia who will in turn support the new KIA plant in Georgia. Mass production is scheduled for late 2009.

About MOBIS Alabama

MOBIS Alabama is the largest Tier 1 supplier to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. The company broke ground for the Alabama plant in March 2003 and began commercial production in March 2005. MOBIS currently operates two shifts with 875 team members and three divisions of operation located on Mitchell Young Road, with a start-up capital investment of $115 million. The company supplies complete cockpit modules and front and rear chassis modules.They manufacture bumper assemblies and instrument panels. In the Redistribution Center they also ship Hyundai Service Parts nationwide.

For more information on this announcement, please contact: MOBIS Alabama: Tracy S. Riedler, (334) 387-4800, tracy.riedler@mobis-america.com

On Tuesday, August 7th, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the fourth Eggs & Issues Breakfast of 2007 at the RSA Activity Center, with Congressman Terry Evertt as the guest speaker. As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Everett is tasked with leading the first national debate on space control and the protection of valuable space assets. Steadily gaining in seniority, Everett currently holds a seat on three key House committees giving Southeast Alabama a strong voice in matters which directly affect our region: Armed Services, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Agriculture.

He oversees an approximate $60 billion annual budget that includes our nation's military space programs, missile defense, and defense-related energy research. On the House Armed Services Committee, Everett is able to watch over the operations and infrastructure needs at Montgomery's Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, home of Air University, and the Wiregrass area's Fort Rucker, home of the Army's Aviation Warfighting Center. On leaving the Air Force in 1959 where he served as an intelligence specialist in Europe, Terry Everett began his career at The Dothan Eagle as a farm and police beat reporter.

For three decades he steadily climbed the ladder of the newspaper business serving as an editor, publisher, and finally the owner of a chain of newspapers in the Southeast. In 1988, he sold most of his newspaper holdings. He has served as president and chairman of the board of the Alabama Press Association, he is a past chairman of the board of directors of the former Dothan Federal Savings Bank and he owns 400 acres of working farmland. He has also owned his own home-building firm. Terry knows what it means to make a payroll and to run a small business. He is currently serving his seventh term in the U.S. House.

Eggs & Issues takes place several times each year, and provides an opportunity to hear governmental leaders speak on important issues affecting our government and the state of Alabama. Alabama Power Company is the presenting sponsor. Gold sponsors are Balch & Bingham and GKN Aerospace.

Karen Elzey, Executive Director of the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, an affiliate organization of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker at this year’s Back to School Breakfast on Thursday, August 2, 2007. The annual event took place at Wynlakes Country Club and provided business leaders with an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Montgomery Public Schools and show support to principals, teachers and leaders as they make preparations for another year.

Elzey has experience working with businesses and the public sector in the areas of marketing, communications, project management and strategic planning. She has a BA in American Studies and a master’s in sports administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She completed an executive leadership program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School for Buisiness. Elzey serves on the boards and advisory committees of the National ICT Literacy Policy Council, Community Partnerships for Adult Learning and the National Teachers Hall of Fame. Before joining the U.S. Chamber in 2002, Elzey worked as the business and education partnership coordinator for Greater Lafayette Progress Inc., an economic development organization.

Her other work experience includes serving as a marketing and communications assistant for the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and teaching English as a Second Language in Poland. During the event, the Chamber showcased its launch of the MANUFACTURE YOUR FUTURE youth training program. The award-winning program is the Chamber’s initial effort to implement the Imagine a Greater Montgomery economic strategy and achieve Goal 1: Champion Public Education and Build a Competitive Workforce.

The Institute for a Competitive Workforce promotes high educational standards and effective workforce training systems aligned with each other and current business demands. In 2007, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce released its national education survey report Leaders and Laggards, a state-by-state report card on educational effectiveness. Read a copy of the report at www.uschamber.com/icw/reportcard.

The Chamber's Lunch & Learn series continued Wednesday, July 18, at the Small Business Resource Center. The guest speaker for the luncheon was Charles Harbaugh, Human Resources Director for Maximum Efficiency Squared (MaxE2). MaxE2 is committed to providing superior Human Resources services and top-notch benefits to businesses and their employees. Harbaugh briefed attendees on the most recent changes to human resources laws, policies and requirements.

The session was followed by an exciting round robin question and answer session where participants could get information on a topic of their choice relating to human resources issues. The Lunch & Learn series is brought to us by Presenting Sponsor, WR Taylor Wealth Management.

The next Lunch & Learn will be held October 17th at noon and will focus on “Pumping up your Profits” to build up your business’ bottom line. For more information or to register, call (334) 832-4790 or go to the calendar section of www.montgomerychamber.com.

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Wright Flyers, together with the Montgomery Zoo, hosted the 13th Annual Enlisted Appreciation Day on Wednesday, June 27. The annual event welcomed nearly 1,500 of the area’s enlisted military personnel and their families for a special day of fun including zoo tours, train rides and a cookout luncheon. The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum was opened for tours.

As a special treat, Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church taped video messages from family members to be sent to deployed soldiers. Sponsored by Jim n Nicks BBQ and Regions Mortgage, Zoo Day was a great opportunity for the city of Montgomery and the Chamber to say “thank you” to those dedicated enlisted military personnel and their families who sacrifice in many ways to help preserve our way of life. Other supporters of this special event included Gulf Ice and Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling.

Following brief remarks by Mayor Bobby Bright, Brigadier General Al Flowers, Commander, Air Force Officer Accessions & Training School, and James (Skip) Dotherow, Chairman of the Wright Flyers, everyone enjoyed the BBQ luncheon and a fun-filled afternoon.

Business After-Hours, originally scheduled for Thursday, June 28th, at the A&P Development has been canceled due to construction delays. For further information, please call (334) 834-5200.

On Monday, June 25th, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce will begin its initial effort to reach high school students as a part of achieving its first goal of the Imagine a Greater Montgomery strategy; Goal 1: Champion Public Education and Build a Competitive Workforce was one of the fundamental issues during the development of the Imagine strategy.

Funded by a grant issued through the U.S. Department of Labor through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Office of Workforce Development, the Chamber has created an innovative program to reach high school students in the River Region and build their excitement and awareness of occupations in advanced manufacturing. The MANUFACTURE YOUR FUTURE program kicks off the last week in June with a four-day summer camp. This year, 24 high school students from the four-county MSA (Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes and Montgomery Counties) will participate.

For more information, please contact Christie Sellers at (334) 240-9292 or (334) 391-2461.

Chamber President Randy George and Ellen McNair, Vice President Corporate Development, traveled with more than 20 community leaders to Korea with representatives of Hyundai. The purpose of the visit was to expose the group to Korean history, culture, business, economic development research and government, in order to enhance the appreciation of the Korean heritage. In addition, there were plenty of opportunities to deepen existing relationships with Hyundai officials in Korea and establish new ones.

On Wednesday, May 30, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the third Eggs & Issues Breakfast of 2007, with Congressman Mike Rogers as the guest speaker. The event was held at the Embassy Suites, downtown Montgomery.

Rogers was sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2003 and represents East Alabama’s Third Congressional District. In 1994, Rogers began his service in the Alabama House of Representatives, and became House Minority Leader in 1998 during his second term. Rogers is Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight, and serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Agriculture. His top priorities include strengthening East Alabama’s vital military facilities, advocating strongly the state’s agriculture interests, and helping grow the