Kyle South Named President and CEO
April 27, 2023
For the past several months, the Executive Search Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has been diligently working to identify the best candidates to serve as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Today, based on a unanimous recommendation from the committee, the Chamber's Board of Directors approved Kyle South to serve as the next leader of the 120-year-old business advocacy organization effective July 1, 2023. He is replacing Jim Page who resigned earlier this year to take a position in the private sector in Huntsville.
Kyle brings a clear understanding of West Alabama, communication and marketing skills, and business acumen to the table for the Chamber. He is politically savvy and has advocated for the business community for many years.
About Kyle South. Kyle is an Alabama native, having grown up in the small town of Fayette. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce & Business Administration, with a focus on marketing, from the University of Alabama in 2004. Immediately following graduation and the passing of his grandfather, Kyle went back home to Fayette to serve as President and General Manager of West Alabama TV Cable Company (WATVC). He spearheaded all aspects of operations for the $5M family-owned cable company, including sales management, business development, marketing, finance, banking, budgets, quality standards, and customer service. In addition, Kyle cultivated and maintained professional, long-term client relationships and supported networking to secure new business opportunities. From 2008 through 2014, he served as a Board member and Chairman of the Alabama Cable Telecommunications Association. Kyle and his family sold the company in 2019.
As a State Representative for District 16, Kyle is serving his third term in the Alabama House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2014 to represent the interests and population of Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, and Tuscaloosa counties. Kyle’s achievements in the House include serving as a key member of the Financial Services Committee and Insurance Committee; participation in the Ways and Means General Fund Committee as Vice Chairman; and serving as a member of the Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure Committee. He will be stepping down as State Representative prior to his first day at the Chamber.
Background On The Search Process. The Executive Search Committee developed a position description, weighting scale, and competitive compensation package to identify candidates. A position announcement was placed with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, LinkedIn, and distributed through an extensive, national database. A regional press release announcing the position was also distributed. Personal calls were made to numerous potential candidates to gauge interest. Detailed applications were distributed to candidates and extensive vetting was conducted.
Executive Search Committee. We would like to thank members of the Executive Search Committee for the many hours invested in the process. Those members include: Jheovanny Gomez, Chair-Elect, Jalapenos Mexican Grill; Tripp Powell, Immediate Past Chair, Yea Alabama; Claude Edwards, Bryant Bank; Matt Fajack, The University of Alabama; Chip Fuqua, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International; Katrina Keefer, DCH Health System; Tim Lewis, Tala Professional Services; Blake Madison, Rosen Harwood; Elizabeth Winter, Regions Bank; and Jackie Wuska, United Way of West Alabama.
The Chamber Team. In addition, we would like to recognize the staff of the Chamber and West AlabamaWorks for their drive and dedication to the mission of the organizations. The professional team has been consistent with their energy and passion for West Alabama over the past several months.