May 3 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Luncheon

May 8 FUTURE PAC Reception

May 9 Entrepreneur Institute

May 23 Maximizing Your Office-Productivity Using Technology

May 25 Board of Directors' Meeting

            The Chamber extends our enthusiastic congratulations and best wishes to The University of Alabama as the institution celebrates 175 years of service to the people of Alabama.  The University held its official 175^th birthday party and founder's day program on April 12^th on "The Quad".

 

            Inaugural ceremonies for The University were held on April 12, 1831 at Tuscaloosa's Christ Episcopal Church.  The first students were enrolled on April 18, 1831, at a campus consisting of just seven buildings: two faculty houses, two dormitories, a laboratory, a hotel (now the Gorgas House), and the Rotunda.  Today, The University is home to over 21,000 students from Alabama and around the world.

            Speaking during the anniversary celebration, University President, Robert Witt, who also serves on the Executive Committee of The Chamber, reflected by reminding the hundreds of participants, "as we walk the Capstone today, we enjoy the shade of trees we did not plant, the music of chimes we did not build, and the benefit of programs we did not initiate.  However, it's now our time and our responsibility to provide for the future.  To plant trees and shade we will not enjoy and to support the education of young men and women not yet born."

            Tuscaloosa's Mayor Walt Maddox and Governor Bob Riley's Chief of Staff, Toby Roth, both presented proclamations in honor of the 175^th anniversary.  Both leaders recognized The University's heritage and past achievements, its nationally-known academic and athletic successes, and the economic and cultural impact of the institution on Tuscaloosa, the region and the state of Alabama.

            From The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, Happy 175^th Anniversary to The University of Alabama, and thank you for the economic, cultural and educational leadership provided by this world-class institution.  We are very proud of you!  Roll Tide!

 

            The Chamber extends our best wishes and appreciation to one of our area's great industrial firms and corporate citizens - Hunt Refining Company - on your 60^th anniversary. 

            Hunt Refining was founded in 1946 in Tuscaloosa shortly after the legendary oilman H. L. Hunt discovered crude oil in Choctaw County, near Gilbertown.  The particular crude oil was very viscous and difficult to transport, and the Tuscaloosa refinery was build on the Black Warrior River as a way to convert the heavy crude to more easily transportable products.

 

            Since that time, the original 3,500 barrel per day plant has been replaced and numerous upgrades made and those continue.  Today, the refinery processes over 52,000 barrels per day, producing a broad range of products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and both paving and industrial asphalts used in various roofing applications.

            The company also supplies gasoline to are retailers under the Parade brand.  Products are marketed primarily in the southeast, with some barge shipments into Texas and Louisiana.  The refinery is connected to the Colonial Pipeline, which carries transportation fuels and home heating oil from Texas to New Jersey.

            John Matson, President of Hunt Refinery pointed out during the 60^th anniversary celebration, held on April 20^th , "sixty years is a good start, but we are genuinely excited about the company's future and look forward to meeting the significant challenges that lie before us."

            Matson also emphasized that H. L. Hunt, the founder, and later, Ray Hunt, have been strongly committed to the success of the company.  Matson went on to say, "the dedication and loyalty of the generations of people who comprise Hunt Refining Company have been the key to the company's success, and we deeply appreciate those past, present and future employees for their contributions."

            Hosting the 60^th anniversary and representing the company and Hunt family was Hunter Hunt, along with President John Matson.

            The Chamber congratulates Hunt Refining Company on 60 years of excellence and extends our appreciation for the exceptional corporate leadership and service that the firm has provided to the Tuscaloosa/West Alabama community.

            Velocity Pro Cycle has opened its new cycle shop in Downtown Tuscaloosa in Temerson Square, and The Chamber extends our congratulations!  

            A new member of The Chamber, the doors opened officially on April 1^st , with two Chamber leaders as early customers.  Jim Flemming, CEO of The Bank of Tuscaloosa and a past Chairman of The Chamber, and Chamber President Johnnie Aycock were on hand to congratulate owner, Gina Simpson, and purchase their new bikes.  Congratulations!  Let's roll !

            The Chamber of Commerce and three of its member businesses are partnering on a new litter cleanup project, and the group hopes the idea catches on around Tuscaloosa County.

 

            Planned and initiated by Duckworth-Morris-Garrison Real Estate in partnership with The Chamber's Environmental Task Force, the effort employs workers from Labor Ready to clean up
targeted areas of the community.

 

            Nancy Patrie of Duckworth-Morris-Garrison, who serves on the Environmental Task Force and chairs the beautification subcommittee, is leading the effort. Labor Ready people will be picking up litter once a month along Skyland Boulevard, from I-359 eastward to I 59/20, as a beginning effort.  Duckworth-Morris-Garrison is providing safety vests, hats, gloves and bags for the workers, in addition to paying for the workers.

 

            Also involved is ZF Lemforder Corp., a Mercedes-Benz supplier, headed by Ron Davis, a member of The Chamber's Board of Directors.  ZF team members have agreed to target the area around their facility and the Tuscaloosa Industrial Park.

 

            Joe Brown Duckworth, owner of Duckworth-Morris-Garrison Real Estate, said, "it's time we stopped talking about the appearance problem we have around the county, and started doing something about it.  We appreciate the support of The Chamber in this effort, and we're glad ZF Lemforder is stepping forward to help."

 

            Mark Warner of Mercedes-Benz U. S. International, who chairs Environmental Task Force of The Chamber, said the group hopes more businesses will get involved in the litter pickup program.  "This is Earth Week, so it's an appropriate initiative we're undertaking with three Chamber partners: Duckworth-Morris-Garrison, Labor Ready, and ZF Lemforder," Warner said.

 

            Another Earth Week project conducted was the "Tune Up Tuscaloosa" program, in which a number of automobile dealers and shops offered the public discounts on tune-ups and tire checks.  "A vehicle with properly inflated tires and a tuned engine gets better gas mileage, and, consequently, emits less pollution into our air,"  stated Warner.

 

            "This business-led effort reflects one of The Chamber's important goals in our 2006 business plan", stated Chamber President Johnnie Aycock.  "One of the most frequent concerns we hear about from our members is the need to clean up our community and maintain a litter-free environment.  This project is a wonderful example of how businesses can get involved and actively make a difference."

            "Cooperation from the Tuscaloosa Department of Transportation and the Alabama Department of Transportation has been excellent, and we are grateful for their partnership and encouragement," emphasized Aycock.  "This is a good public-private partnership at work."

 

            For more information on the litter cleanup project and how to get involved, contact Nancy Patrie at Duckworth-Morris-Garrison at 345-1810.

            Business and industry must be involved and significantly engaged in shaping a world-class  public education system in Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama.  Now, that's not a new thought or suggestion, but business owners of all sizes and shapes, CEO's, plant managers, human resource professionals and employers of description need to step up to the plate for the long haul to create and sustain an educational process that produces well-prepared, competitive graduates and future employees.

            While there are some very good business-education partnership in place in our community, such as Adopt-A-School, CHOICES, Junior Achievement, workforce development council and others, there is still a lack of consistent, sustained participation at the table by employers.  For example, at the three recent strategic planning sessions of the Tuscaloosa City Schools, business was visibly absent; and at the first annual "state of the schools" breakfast, the room was primarily filled with educators and administrators.

            This again are not new, startling observations, but rather a sounding call to business to get more involved in shaping and influencing our public school systems for today and for a future, technology based, global economy that is changing rapidly.  We've heard this message before at national, state and local levels and in many forms.

            For example, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, The Business Roundtable, The Conference Board and various other major business and trade associations have long held and advocated that employers and the business community are essential to a world-class, competitive educational process. It has long been recognized business must stay engaged with our schools, consistently communicating and demanding challenging academic standards and curriculum that produce prepared, competent and competitive graduates.

            However, these strategies and standards must be translated and applied at state, and more importantly, local levels, with the private sector driving transformation into the 21^st century.  Employers must be centrally engaged in influencing direction and clearly articulating needs and expectations in terms that all partners understand.

            As a former Chairman of The Business Roundtable points out, "there are many changes that would improve America's schools, including better discipline, more emphasis on ethical behavior and work ethic, challenging core courses, more parental involvement, expanded pre-kindergarten emphasis, incentives to reward teaching achievement and efficient and effective leadership at all levels."  He goes on to emphasize "if we want our public education system to be truly world class, there is no substitute for rigorous, measurable, world-class standards of performance coupled with accountability."

            The area's top entrepreneurs will be honored at the 18^th annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 3^rd at a 11:30 AM luncheon, according to 2006 Chairman of the awards committee, Sam Parks of the First National Bank of Central Alabama.
 

            The annual awards program, sponsored and coordinated by The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama,  will honor small business owners and entrepreneurs in four categories.  Awards will be presented to the Entrepreneurs of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Advocate of the Year; and the Rising Star award, presented to young, growing firms. 

            The Chamber will also honor a company or an individual with a Life Time Achievement Award based on their overall, long-term success and impact.  In addition and for the first time, The Chamber's Women In Business Council will present their first annual Women In Business Achievement Award.

 

            The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, in cooperation with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of Alabama, Alabama Retail Association and other business-based organizations, have successfully realized business license reform in Alabama, saving area firms literally thousands of dollars annually.

            A legislative policy goal for almost ten years at The Chamber, municipal business license reform was approved on the last day of the 2006 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, passing the Senate unanimously and winning House approval on a 100 to 1 vote.  Governor Bob Riley is expected to sign the new legislation.

            "This major reform goes right to the bottom line," announced Chamber President Johnnie Aycock, dramatically improving business license requirements and making doing business easier, less costly and little less complicated."  According to estimates, the legislation will save businesses in Alabama, especially small firms, thousands of dollars annually in man-hours, compliance costs and costly problems with the current patchwork system of business license rules.

            Among some of the highlights of the reform legislation, which becomes effective January, 2008 are: 

 

             As a Chamber member, this is significant reform legislation that certainly contributes to a positive business environment in Tuscaloosa County and across Alabama.  Please take time to let our area legislators how much we appreciate their support of business license reform.