Chamber's Jim Page Recognized for Infrastructure Efforts During 2019 Montgomery Drive-In
May 14, 2019
BCA, AAI EXECUTIVES CITE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION IN SUPPORT OF REBUILD ALABAMA ACT
Jim Page, President and CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, was recognized during this year’s Montgomery Drive-In visit for his efforts to advance Alabama’s infrastructure.
“As chairman of the Alliance for Alabama’s Infrastructure, Jim Page played an integral role and dedicated countless hours to building momentum across the state in support of improving Alabama’s infrastructure,” said Business Council of Alabama President and CEO Katie Boyd Britt. “His years of leadership and commitment to advancing this issue helped lay the groundwork for the passage of the Rebuild Alabama plan. We are proud to have Jim on the chamber and business community’s team.”
Page, who credits West Alabama’s legislative delegation, and Rep. Bill Poole in particular as a driving force behind the bipartisan support for the legislation, has himself worked for years to draw attention to the state’s need to invest in roads and bridges.
“Whenever I called Jim to ask for his help or if he could speak somewhere across the state to a local group on the issue of investing in Alabama’s infrastructure, he always said ‘yes’ because he understands how important a quality road and bridge system is to the business community and Alabama’s future,” said Drew Harrell, executive director of the Alliance for Alabama’s Infrastructure. “Jim’s tireless efforts to create a safer and better Alabama are greatly appreciated by the business community. His unwavering leadership is one of the major reasons Rebuild Alabama was a success.”
Approximately 90 Chamber members, business owners, and community leaders traveled to Montgomery with the Chamber for the two-day Montgomery Drive-In. The annual event to the State Capitol promotes the Chamber’s legislative agenda and provides attendees an opportunity to meet with key leaders in state government, as well as network with other community leaders.
2019 Education Summit welcomes Superintendents
The 2019 Education Summit, presented by Ellis Architects, welcomed Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria and Tuscaloosa County Schools Superintendent Walter Davie to discuss successes and challenges.
Critical challenges both superintendents agree the systems face are teacher shortages and funding that impacts not only facility upgrades, but implementation of key programs such as Pre-K.
The school leaders plan to tackle the problems through partnerships with each other and with the Tuscaloosa Education Foundation, which was newly revitalized during the event. Both superintendents signed a memorandum of understanding with the foundation to work in conjunction in areas of common agreement that benefit students and teachers.
Gold Sponsor was Onin Staffing. Silver Sponsors were C Spire Business, Hotel Capstone, The University of Alabama College of Education and The University of Alabama College of Engineering. Bronze Sponsres were RiverFall Credit Union and Ward Scott Architecture.