Partnering for Prosperity

The Chamber first took root in Etowah County in 1913, and since that time it has been the leading business organization and a strong voice for our economic growth. Throughout its history, it has been fortunate to have many great leaders step up to the challenges of the time and help guide it forward.

In 2003 I chaired the board of directors of The Chamber, and it was with great pride that I watched my daughter Kendall take up that mantle in 2011 as the second female chairperson in The Chamber’s history.

When I learned about the objectives of this effort, I knew it was the right time to step up once again. And this time I get to do it with one of the smartest, hardest-working and passionate people I know.

It is fitting that the campaign’s subtitle is “Appreciating our Past; Positioning our Future”, and I believe anyone that has a longstanding, family-owned business would agree: it is important to understand where we have been and how we got to here so that we can truly vision where it is that we want to go and how to position our community to get there.

This endeavor is vital to the economic outlook of Etowah County, and I invite you to join us as we partner for prosperity.

Working in a non-traditional field has very likely shaped how I view possibilities for myself and our community but working in a family-owned business has taught me everything about what is important in life – other people.

It isn’t just the simple economics that if other businesses and industries aren’t doing well, then my business won’t do well either. (It’s hard to buy a new car in the depths of a recession.) It’s much more than that. It’s that the quality of life for everyone will suffer if we don’t keep our vision fixed on our future.

I’ve been involved in the planning and development of Partnering for Prosperity from the beginning, it is a plan created by business leaders throughout the community and developed for The Chamber. It is a plan that belongs to all of us, and I believe that, with your support, the work that can be accomplished will move our community forward.

I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside my father in this endeavor. Join us, Keys, and many more community leaders as we take the next step toward our future.

The “key” is that we all work together.