The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

Thank you to the 300+ attendees who made yesterday’s FutureFocus: West Alabama Education and Workforce Conference such a success! 🎉 A big shoutout to the superintendents from Tuscaloosa City, Tuscaloosa County, and Pickens County for their insights during the Education Panel, and to Alabama’s Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth for giving a state workforce update. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for West Alabama! 🌟📚 Special thanks to our presenting sponsors, Caldwell Architects and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International!

🌟 Our new website is LIVE! 🌟 We’ve updated the design, added new content, and made it easier than ever to find everything you need, all thanks to our friends at The Nine Digital. Visit westalabamachamber.com and check it out! 🖥️🙌

🎉 Congratulations to our very own LoWanda McLaughlin James for receiving the prestigious Legendary Service Award from Temporary Emergency Services! 🌟 We couldn't be more proud of her incredible dedication and commitment to serving our community. Pictured with Lowanda are Chamber CEO Kyle South and TES Executive Director Karen Jackson, Ph.D.

Presented by Caldwell Architects and Mercedes-Benz USA, FuturFocus combines the Chamber’s Education Summit with West AlabamaWorks!’s Talent Conferece, exploring the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in education and workforce development across West Alabama. The Education Panel will feature Pickens County-Schools Superintendent Jamie Chapman, Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria, and Tuscaloosa County School System Superintendent Dr. Keri C. Johnson. After lunch, we'll dive into the workforce session featuring Alabama’s Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth. Register → https://buff.ly/4fgZCbt

Yesterday, we packed Bryant Conference Center for our 2024 Chamber in Session: State of the Community presented by TTL, Inc. Our distinguished panelists— City of Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, City of Northport Mayor John Hinton, and Tuscaloosa County Commission Probate Judge Rob Robertson—delivered insightful perspectives on the future of our community.

🙌 Huge thanks to Posh Occasions by Sheriah for making last week's #WLA lunch-and-learn possible! 🎉 We were empowered by the incredible Nikki Ray from EatMyBeats, who shed light on the essential keys to effective leadership. We're ready to lead with purpose! 🔑✨

🎉 Kicking off 4️⃣0️⃣ years of partnerships! Nearly 400 attendees gathered to celebrate the start of the 40th year of Adopt-A-School in West Alabama at the annual kickoff presented by Children and Teen Dental. 🦷🪥 This milestone event marked the beginning of another year of impactful partnerships between our schools and local businesses. 🤝 Keynote speaker Coach Brad Bradford delivered an inspiring message, encouraging our teachers to continue their vital work for the benefit of our students and community. ✏️📚 Here’s to another year of making a difference in our schools! #AdoptASchool #WestAlabamaChamber

🎉 Exciting news! Our President and CEO, Kyle South, has been selected for Leadership Alabama, Inc. Class XXXIV. This yearlong program brings together 81 leaders from across the state, creating a powerful network focused on understanding and addressing Alabama’s future challenges. Kyle will join fellow leaders in Montgomery later this fall to kick off this journey. Read more → https://buff.ly/4dK8tRp 

One week ago, we wrapped up our 2024 benchmarking trip, presented by The University of Alabama, in the historic port city of Mobile! 🛳️🌊 5️⃣2️⃣ attendees 1️⃣7️⃣ speakers 1️⃣2️⃣ sponsors 8️⃣ sessions Where will 2025 take us? 👀 🌎 ✈️ #WestAlabamaChamber #Mobile2024 #WrapUp

Thank you to Bruce Henderson for speaking at our Legal #SmartSeries Training this week on Employment Law: Staying Ahead of the Curve! 💼 Don’t miss our last #Legal training of the year ↓ → Immigration Law - Oct. 22 with Carol Armstrong #WestAlabamaChamber