FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2026
Montgomery Regional Chamber Connects Future Leaders with Real-World Business and Civic Leadership
MONTGOMERY, AL – On Thursday, May 28, the Montgomery Regional Chamber welcomed approximately 40 Alabama Boys State delegates for a Business Leadership Panel designed to connect future leaders with the entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders driving growth and opportunity across Alabama's Capital Region.
Sponsored by the American Legion, Alabama Boys State is one of the nation's premier leadership and citizenship programs, bringing together outstanding high school juniors from across Alabama for an immersive week of government, public service, and civic engagement.
The panel featured leaders from business, healthcare, education, insurance, media, and local government, including Mark Bunting of WSFA, Orlando Cannon of Cannon Janitorial Services, Justin Castanza of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and the Montgomery County Commission, Willie Durham of State Farm Insurance, Jim Massey of Jim Massey's Cleaners, and Peter Selman of Baptist Health.
“Leadership does not begin after college or once someone enters the workforce,” said Caleb Goodwyn, Chief Economic Development Officer for the Montgomery Regional Chamber. “It begins now, by helping students understand how business, workforce, innovation, and civic leadership all work together to strengthen a community. This panel was designed to give these young men direct exposure to the kinds of decisions, challenges, and opportunities leaders face every day.”
Discussion topics included:
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Starting and scaling a business
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Access to capital and financing
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Workforce recruitment and retention
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Adapting to economic and technological change
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Crisis management and operational leadership
Throughout the discussion, panelists shared personal stories of leadership, perseverance, failure, and opportunity that helped bring business concepts to life for the delegates.
Among the stories that resonated with students was that of local entrepreneur Orlando Cannon, owner of Cannon Janitorial Services. Reflecting on his early career, Cannon shared how a business owner he worked for while attending Alabama State University helped shape his future through guidance, opportunity, and example.
“While I was fortunate to have strong support from my parents, some of life’s best teachers come from the most unexpected places,” Cannon told delegates. “You never know who is investing in you, opening doors for you, or helping prepare you for what’s next. So always be willing to listen, learn, and grow.”
Cannon later learned that the late Mike Kolen, the business owner he worked for, had been a former Auburn University and Miami Dolphins football player who went on to become a respected Montgomery businessman. But to Cannon, Kolen’s greatest impact had nothing to do with athletics; it was the example he set as a leader, businessman, and someone who invested in others. What began as a business launched by a 21-year-old entrepreneur has grown into a successful Montgomery company that employs more than 2 dozen people and serves clients across the region.
The panelists' stories reinforced a simple but powerful message: leadership begins long before a career starts. Through conversations about perseverance, opportunity, and service, delegates gained insights that will help shape their future paths as business, community, and civic leaders.
ABOUT THE MONTGOMERY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
With a mission to drive economic prosperity and build a greater life for all in the capital region, the Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce is a full-spectrum economic development public/private partnership representing 1,400 businesses and organizations with over 90,000 employees throughout Central Alabama.
