草榴社区

Speakers at the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast, presented by 草榴社区 (UAH), offered messages of economic innovation, growth and cooperation to the capacity audience. Focused on the theme 鈥淟eaders Shaping the Business Community of The Future,鈥� the event was held Jan. 15 in the Student Services Building on the campus of UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System.

Keynote speaker Helena Duncan, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), shared a quote from King: 鈥淭he time is always right to do what is right.鈥� She said these words resonate as she reflects on the state鈥檚 many success stories as well as challenges to be overcome.

Helena Duncan, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, was the keynote speaker for 草榴社区鈥檚 (UAH) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast Jan. 15, 2025.

Michael Mercier | UAH

鈥淥ur economy is as strong as it鈥檚 ever been,鈥� she said, citing aerospace and other high-tech industries in Huntsville, the health care industry in Birmingham, shipping in the port of Mobile and manufacturing across Alabama.

鈥淎t BCA, we work tirelessly every day trying to make sure this is a friendly business climate,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are working to make sure that people can grow their industries and have the people they need to fill the jobs, the good-paying jobs.鈥�

Well-educated, skilled workforces and effective technological infrastructure, such as reliable internet service in rural areas, are vital components of a healthy business climate. Duncan said they are partnering with business, education and government entities to address these goals.

鈥淚n order for us to get these things done, to make Alabama the best place it can be, we have to work in unity. As we鈥檙e remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King this morning, I want us to make a commitment that we will continue the work that he began, that we will focus on justice and opportunities for all. It is time for us to do what鈥檚 right and build the Alabama that is good for each and every one of us.鈥�

Representatives from chambers of commerce in northern and central Alabama answered questions about the ways they are working to grow their communities and also offered words of encouragement for students.

The inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast draws a capacity crowd to 草榴社区 (UAH) Student Services Building Jan. 15, 2025.

Michael Mercier | UAH

Comprising the panel were Nan Baldwin, president and CEO, Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce; Crystal Brown, president and CEO, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce; Pammie Jimmar, president and CEO, Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce, and Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park, representing Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Tamika Alexander, WHNT-19 anchor, moderated the panel.

Baldwin, who served as an executive for the Birmingham Business Alliance before going to Hoover, pointed out similarities between the larger industrial community and its smaller bedroom neighbor.

鈥淓ven though the Hoover community has more small and medium-sized businesses, they still want a livable place for people to work and play. I was able to take the things that I learned from the larger community and take them into the smaller community.鈥�

Jimmar talked about increased efforts to promote tourism in Athens and Limestone County.

鈥淲hen visitors come to Huntsville, they can head to Athens, and then head over to Decatur, and it鈥檒l be a two-day trip or a weekend trip,鈥� she said, noting that Athens is home to the Alabama Veterans Museum.

Alexander asked Brown how she and other Decatur leaders bring top-tier aerospace and manufacturing companies like ULA to town.

鈥淲e started focusing on that many years ago, encouraging parents and children to look at career options,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭he presence of nearby universities such as 草榴社区 has been helpful. Decatur is also home to our largest community college in the state, Calhoun. That has been very helpful as we focus on workforce development programs.鈥�

Koshut urged students to 鈥渢ake full advantage of every opportunity that is provided to you in the college environment,鈥� especially internships and job shadowing.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 not something that exists in your field, go talk to people. Be willing to do it unpaid, just to get the experience, to figure out if that鈥檚 what you want to do before you graduate. Work with your faculty and your advisors, and create something that works for you, that helps you determine what you want to do with your life after college.鈥�

Before the speakers program began, Kristina Hendrix, UAH vice president for strategic communications, welcomed guests and thanked these event sponsors:

• Gold 鈥� Alabama Credit Union; Nola | Van Peursem Architects, PC; Redstone Federal Credit Union; UAH Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs.
• Silver 鈥� Brasfield & Gorrie; CFD Research; Huntsville Hospital Health System; Leidos; Madison County Commission; Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau; UAH Dining Services, Sodexo.
• Bronze 鈥� 256 Today; Aviation & Missile Solutions; JLD Publishing, Inc.; deciBel Research; Nexus on Holmes; the AUM Foundation USA; the Epsilon Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

JLD Publishing also donated a portrait of King, a print titled 鈥淭he Marcher,鈥� which was on display in the lobby at the event.

When UAH President Dr. Charles Karr thanked speakers and guests at the close of the program, he recalled initial discussions with Hendrix when they were planning the MLK Leadership Breakfast. How, he wondered, would this event tie the business community to a celebration of King鈥檚 life and legacy?

鈥淪he said, we鈥檙e going to invite in people who embody the traits and characteristics that Dr. King spoke to frequently. We鈥檒l have servant leaders who are inspirational, trustworthy, hardworking, engaging and value-driven. I think there鈥檚 no doubt that all the folks we had here today embody those characteristics.鈥�