Chamber Happenings

Two Alabama Chambers recently joined an elite group as they earned accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an honor that only about 280 of the nation’s 7,000 chambers share.

To achieve accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. In addition sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and a positive impact on their communities are also demanded. This extensive self-review can take from three to six months to complete.

The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, headed by President Matt Parker, received a four-star accreditation, just one step below the U.S. Chamber’s highest awarded level.

Alabama’s Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce received a three-star accreditation. Darrelyn Bender serves as President & CEO of the group.

“U.S. Chamber accreditation takes hard work, diligence and solid results, and CCAA offers its congratulations to the Dothan and Eastern Shore Chambers for achieving this honor,” CCAA President & CEO Ralph Stacy said. “When you consider that nine of the accredited chambers in the United States are located in Alabama, it is a true testament to our Chamber community and the excellence it represents.”

Among the Alabama-based chambers previously earning accredited status are the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce (5 stars), the Opelika Chamber of Commerce (4 stars) and the Calhoun County, Decatur – Morgan County, Enterprise, Phenix City – Russell County and Shoals Chambers (each with 3 stars).

Dalton Smith was recently named President & CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, a group formed through the consolidation of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Planning Board and Region 20/20.

Among his first projects is to create a strategic plan for the Birmingham area that maps out industrial and economic growth for the next 20 years in five-year increments.

Smith previously worked as Executive Director of Region 2020, a Birmingham-based group that was created in the mid 1990s to promote regional cooperation and focus on issues such as transportation, education and affordable housing.

He also served in Gov. Bob Riley’s cabinet as Senior Advisor on Policy Issues and filled the same role for Riley during the 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

The 43-year-old earned D.C. experience working for the late Alabama Senator Howell Heflin and well-known Republicans Jack Kemp and Bill Bennett, among others.

Smith holds a Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Auburn University and a law degree from the University of Alabama. He and his wife, Stephanie, have four children.

Kim Hood was named Executive Director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce earlier this year and reports she is enjoying her new job. She holds an Associate Broker AL Real Estate License and has been involved in the real estate profession over the past eleven years. Kim and her husband, Kenny, have been married for 21 years and are active members of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, where they devote a great deal of their time working with the youth and music.

Sheryl Smedley accepted the position of Executive Director of the Selma- Dallas County Chamber of Commerce this summer after spending more than 20 years in the banking industry, where she served in various positions including assistant branch manager, branch manager and commercial portfolio manager. She serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, Selma- Dallas county Historical Preservation Society and the International Paper Riverdale Mill Advisory Board. She is a very active member of Church Street Methodist Church where she serves as Council secretary.

Jim Page, the Vice President for Public Policy and Business Development at the Decatur – Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, was recently named as a member of the “Top 40 Under 40” by Chamber Executive magazine, a national industry publication. He was nominated for the top honor by Chamber President & CEO John Seymour.

Page, who joined the Chamber staff in 2002, is responsible for its local, state and federal lobbying efforts and for coordinating business development and recruitment in the Chamber’s partnership with the City of Decatur.