CHAMBER NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
The Chamber has announced the promotion of Sheron Rose to Executive Vice President. A key member of the Chamber’s senior leadership team since 2015, Rose has overseen all areas of the Chambers; state and local governmental affairs and advocacy, member and stakeholder relations, minority business outreach, diversity and inclusion, education, and civic and community engagement.
According to Anna Buckalew, Chamber President & CEO, “Sheron is an outstanding leader in our organization and within the community. As Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Sheron has built a strong governmental affairs program, while also spearheading critical community initiatives such as the Chamber’s support of the recent property tax referendum for Montgomery Public Schools,” said Buckalew. “Sheron’s commitment to excellence and to people embodies some of the most central core values of our Chamber team.”
As Executive Vice President, External Affairs, Rose will oversee responsibilities in external and governmental affairs, community relations, and work with the President/CEO and Board to execute policy and strategic initiatives.
“I’m extremely appreciative for the opportunity to continue to grow and expand my role under the leadership of our President/CEO Anna Buckalew. Working daily with our business, community, military, education and elected partners to improve the quality of life for all is what drives our Chamber team. Opportunities abound in our community, and I consider it an honor, pleasure, and privilege to be engaged with so many forward leaning initiatives that make a difference,” Rose said.
EDUCATION UPDATE: SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES FIRM TO SEARCH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT
In November, the MPS School Board voted unanimously in favor of the Alabama Association of School Boards beginning a search for the new MPS superintendent. Dr. Ann Roy Moore will retire when her contract runs out in June 2022, and the school board hopes to have a new superintendent in place by March or April to help with the transition.
According to Montgomery County School Board President Claire Weil, “They will be talking to the county, the city and the military. They’re going to be talking to our teachers, with the parents, and they’ll be talking to us about what we want, so the input for the community is critical in getting what most people want in a superintendent.”
MPS HAS TOP RANKED SCHOOLS
MPS has three schools ranked in the Top 10 lists of elementary and middle schools in Alabama. The list compiled by U.S. News and World Report ranks Forest Avenue Academic Magnet as the No. 2 elementary school in the state. Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet is ranked No. 3 among middle schools, and Floyd Middle Magnet is ranked No. 7.
ECONOMIC NEWS: AMAZON ANNOUNCES NEW $100M FACILITY IN MONTGOMERY
Last fall, Amazon announced plans for a brand new, 650,000 square-foot IXD facility in Montgomery. Located between I-65 and Highway 31, north of Hyundai Boulevard, the new facility represents a $100 million capital investment and will provide 500 jobs to the River Region. This is the first Amazon facility of any type to be announced in the Montgomery metro area and is the only Amazon IXD facility in the state of Alabama.
“We are proud to welcome Amazon to Montgomery County and into this growing community of diverse industries,” said County Commission Chairman Elton Dean. “This facility will provide excellent opportunities for our citizens and pave the way for even more growth and investment in our area.”
“Amazon’s major investment shows that Montgomery is on the map and an essential part of logistics solutions for major brands and industries,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed. “We’re eager to grow this partnership on behalf of the Montgomerians who will benefit from the careers that this new facility will bring.”
Then-Chamber Chairman John Yelverton stressed that Amazon is a great addition to Montgomery’s business community. “We are honored to have Amazon locate here. They are on the forefront of technology in the home delivery market,” he said. “We would like to thank Amazon for believing in us, selecting Montgomery for their new facility, and we welcome them to the River Region family,” he added.
Centrally located in the Southeastern US, Montgomery is an ideal logistics hub due to its proximity to the Port of Mobile and direct railway and interstate access to I-65 and I-85.
MONTGOMERY CHAMBER RECOGNIZED AS A COMMUNITY HERO
The Samaritan Counseling Center’s River Region Ethics in Business Awards honored “heroes” who worked diligently to help the River Region through the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Delta variant of the virus. The Chamber was among those recognized. “It is in this spirit of community that the Board of Directors of the Samaritan Counseling Center decided to pivot from its usual recognition of ethics in business awards to recognize ‘heroes’ in six categories: healthcare, government, business, non-profits, faith-based organizations and education. We identified these heroes using private and public sources. We acknowledge upfront that this is not an exhaustive list of who stepped up to the task and that some would be omitted inadvertently in this effort,” said Cary Kuhlmann, Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center. “We ask for the community’s understanding of our limitations and that this is our attempt to recognize a few individuals and organizations that stood out in the process.”
