Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce October 2020

Adjust Your Actions, WithThe Minister Of MotivationPage 4

Shelby AnnouncesBUILD AwardsPage 11

Worker CommutingPatternsPage 12

ConnectionsChamber

Dr. Walter Simms

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October

www.dothan.com(334) 792-5138

InsideOctober 2020

2 Events Calendar3 Ribbon Cuttings4 Cover Story7-10 Business Briefs11 Grow Dothan12-14 Workforce Development15 Small Business Development

Also In This Issue7 A Low Country Boil To Go11 Transformation Through The

Arts Continues10 Buntin Elected ACHE Chairman13 Need Help Recruiting Workers?

Your Cover Photo

Dothan Area Chamber of CommerceOctober 2020

Adjust Your Actions, With

The Minister Of MotivationPage 4

Shelby AnnouncesBuild AwardsPage 11

Worker CommutingPatternsPage 12

ConnectionsChamber

2 Chamber Connections October 2020

Your cover photo features America’s #1 Personal Development Expert Dr. Walter Sims who will be the guest speaker at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce’s 101st Annual Meeting. For more information see page 4.

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Ribbon Cutting: Katie Newton Nutrition & Consulting – 10:30 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)101st Annual Meeting – 11:30 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)*For more information see page 4. Ribbon Cutting: Mums Florist & Gifts, LLC – 10:30 a.m.Location: 506 Westgate ParkwayAmbassador and Diplomat Committee Meeting – 9 a.m.Location: Zoom Virtual Platform*Corresponding Zoom link will be emailed prior to the meeting. Ribbon Cutting: Eagle’s Wings Technologies – 10:30 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)LEADS Group 2 Biweekly Meeting – 8 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)Ribbon Cutting: HealthActions Physical Therapy East – 10:30 a.m.Location: 1207 Ross Clark CircleDothan Area Young Professionals Weekly Eats – 11 a.m.Location: 3340 Ross Clark Circle (Golden Corral)Wednesday Webinar: Building Customer Relations: The Five Gestures of Trust – 2 p.m.Location: Zoom Virtual Platform*Registration required. Corresponding Zoom link will be emailed prior to the meeting.See page 14 for more information. Ribbon Cutting: Beyond Grace – 10:30 a.m.Location: 150 N. Foster St.

Columbus Day – Chamber Closed

Ribbon Cutting: Dustin Champion State Farm Insurance – 10:30 a.m.Location: 1369 Headland Ave., #17LEADS Group 1 Biweekly Meeting – 8 a.m.Location: 2958 Ross Clark Circle (AR Workshop Dothan) DAYP Weekly Eats – 11 a.m.Location: 177 Campbellton Highway (Hunt’s Seafood & Oyster Bar Inc.)Leadership Dothan TBD – 7:45 a.m.Location: Zoom Virtual Platform*Corresponding Zoom link will be emailed prior to the meeting.Ribbon Cutting: Banc Card of America Inc – 10:30 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)Ribbon Cutting: Southeast Dental – 10:30 a.m.Location: 1865 E. Main St., Suite 2Ribbon Cutting: 334 Prevention Project Relocation – 10:30 p.m.Location: 3245 Montgomery Highway, Suite 8LEADS Group 2 Biweekly Meeting – 8 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)DAYP Weekly Eats – 11 a.m.Location: 3850 W. Main St., Unit 402 (Chicken Salad Chick)Wednesday Webinar: Intro To Government Contracting – 2 p.m.Location: Zoom Virtual Platform*Registration required. Corresponding Zoom link will be emailed prior to the meeting.See page 14 for more information. Peanuts Around Town Unveiling: Dothan City School District Office – 10:30 a.m.Location: 1665 Honeysuckle RoadRibbon Cutting: TC’s Direct Flooring – 10:30 a.m.Location: 1322 Ross Clark CircleRibbon Cutting: Wiregrass Podiatry, LLC – 10:30 a.m.Location: 3657 Montgomery HighwayLEADS Group 1 Biweekly Meeting – 8 a.m.Location: 2958 Ross Clark Circle (AR Workshop Dothan)DAYP Weekly Eats – 11 a.m.Location: 3116 Montgomery Highway (Red Lobster)Ribbon Cutting: AGS Lawn Care – 10:30 a.m.Location: 102 Jamestown Blvd. (Chamber)Ribbon Cutting: Craft Closet Relocation – 10:30 a.m.Location: 107 Sellers Drive

What’sEventsCalendar

RibbonCutting

Dr. Walter SimsP.O. Box 10126

Dothan, AL 36304Dr. Walter Sims(850) 590-7111

www.drwaltersims.com BUSINESS AND

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Oasis WorshipCenter Church

208 TV RoadDothan, AL 36301

Charlie Smith Jr.(334) 803-0082

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

Gussied Up Flower Truck514 N. Englewood Ave.

Dothan, AL 36303Lesley Marshall(404) 388-5332

FLORISTS

Flowers of Hope2288 S. Brannon Stand Road,

#3Dothan, AL 36305

Sherry Kirkland(334) 446-4571

www.flowersofhope.net FLORISTS

Cheeburger Cheeburger4871 Montgomery Highway,

Suite 1Dothan, AL 36303

Katie Eubanks(334) 678-0202

www.cheeburger.comRESTAURANTS, FOOD AND

BEVERAGE

ACOM Aviation Academy, LLC

781 Flightline DriveDothan, AL 36303

David Stock(334) 873-2167

www.acomaviation.com AVIATION SERVICES;

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Diablos Southwest Grill131 N. Foster St.

Dothan, AL 36303Chad Brinkley

(334) 305-0280www.diablossouthwestgrill.com

RESTAURANTS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Evergreen Creative Co.125 Jules Lane

Ashford, AL 36312Joshua Bane

(334) 790-9792www.evergreencreative.co

PHOTOGRAPERS

Foundations Pediatric Therapy

118 Adris PlaceDothan, AL 36303

Kristin Helms(334) 677-6360

PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHABILITATION

PEANUT UNVEILING Alabama Peanut

Producers Association1810 Reeves St.

Dothan, AL 36303Jacob Davis

(334) 792-6482www.alpeanuts.com

ASSOCIATIONS

The UPS Store #7025104 Apple Ave., Suite 3

Dothan, AL 36303Wade Miller

(334) 305-0311www.locations.theupsstore.com/

al/dothan/104-apple-ave DISTRIBUTION/LOGISTICS/

TRANSPORTATION

Alabama Psychiatry256 Honeysuckle Road, Suite 3

Dothan, AL 36305Troy Elkington

(334) 350-5648www.alpsychiatry.comMEDICAL SERVICES

HEALTH & WELLNESS

www.dothan.com 3

CoverStory

Adjust Your Actions, With The Minister Of Motivation

101st Annual MeetingThe Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce is putting the final plans in

place for the organization’s 101st Annual Meeting scheduled to take place Thursday, Oct. 1, at the chamber facility. This year’s event will be a first in comparison to prior years.

Due to COVID-19, the DACC will plan to broadcast the Annual Meeting at noon for any chamber members that would like to watch it live on Facebook. The in-person meeting will be limited to Board Chairman Cliff Mendheim and family, Chairman-elect Delvick McKay and family, the Board of Directors Executive Committee, the Ambassador/Diplomat Star and Team of the Year, the chamber staff and the keynote speaker Dr. Walter Sims.

Perhaps best known as America’s #1 Personal Development Expert, Dr. Sims has been a spiritual leader for more than 20 years. He has a Master of Ministry degree, a Doctorate of Divinity degree and is certified in the expertise of coaching. Additionally, Dr. Sims holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, is a published author and a dynamic leader who is renowned nationally.

In his inaugural, award-winning book Living Motivated, The Beatitudes for Living A Motivated Life, Dr. Sims discusses living a motivated life. One of the tenets of his core message is that you must be happy.

Dr. Sims has coached several highly respected life coaches. Also, he has ministered to thousands of people. His motto is, “You have to live it ... to know it, to teach it and to coach it!”

Dr. Sims motivation is to help people visualize that where they want to be is only going to take some coaching on his part and some determination on their part. Whether you want to:

• Develop a personal relationship with God to find your purpose in life;

• Change your attitude and behaviors;

• Identify causes for actions that you are not pleased with and make adjustments;

• Overcome the stronghold fear has in your life;

• Determine how to become more organized or self-motivated; or

• Fulfill the will of God in your life.

Often times individuals may simply need an ear, someone to open up to without feeling judged or condemned because of life’s journey. Whatever the case, Dr. Sims can help.

One website testimonial states, “Dr. Walter Sims is called the Minister of Motivation for a reason! When you listen to him online, he is great. When you get his motivational emails, they are great. When he speaks to your group in person, he is awesome! His words of inspiration tied to his keys of motivation bring about transformation. His words along with the plans for action that he challenged us with are still causing us to excel. Dr. Sims was the motivation that we needed to transform.”

We hope you will join us as we get motivated!

THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL MEETING SPONSORS

Dr. Walter Sims

4 Chamber Connections October 2020

D I S C O V E R & E X P L O R E

A N C I E N T G R E E C EWITH THE DOTHAN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Acropolis

Corinth Canal

9-DAY JOURNEYHIGHLIGHTS:• Round trip scheduled airfare• Round trip transfers between

airports and hotel• 7 nights at the King Saron Hotel

(all-inclusive resort) in Isthmia ...Single Hotel Holiday!

• All meals included while at the hotel• City tour of Athens• Corinth Canal Crossing• Full day tour to Mycenae, Epidaurus

& Nafplion

DAY BY DAYDAY 1• Transatlantic flightDAY 2• Arrive in Athens and transfer to your

hotel for 7 nightsDAY 3• Breakfast at your hotel • City tour of Athens • Guided tour of the Parthenon• Greek festive dinner showDAY 4• Breakfast at your hotel• Day at leisure• Optional tour to DelphiDAY 5• Breakfast at your hotel • Full day excursion to the heart of the

Peloponnese Peninsula• Visit to Mycenae, Epidaurus & NafplionDAY 6• Breakfast at your hotel • Day at leisure• Optional full day tour of OlympiaDAY 7• Breakfast at your hotel • Enjoy the scenery along the drive to

the Corinth Canal• Cross the Corinth Canal by boatDAY 8• Breakfast at your hotel • Day at leisure• Optional day cruise to Saronic GulfDAY 9• Breakfast at your hotel • Transfer to the airport to fly home or

join the Optional Santorini Post-Tour

Departing October 21, 2021For more information, please contactHayden Camp at hcamp@dothan.com

BOOK NOWEARLY BIRD DISCOUNT$$33,,009999 PPEERR PPEERRSSOONN$$22,,779999 PPEERR PPEERRSSOONNif deposited by November 1st!*

BOOK & SAVE$$33,,009999 PPEERR PPEERRSSOONN$$22,,889999 PPEERR PPEERRSSOONNif deposited by April 21st!*

www.dothan.com 5

Clip and add these to your Membership Directory.

NewMembers

RenewingMembers

60 to 69 YearsTodd & Sons

40-49 YearsLarry Blumberg & Associates

(LBA Hospitality)ManpowerMarketing Services, LLC

30-39 YearsBetter Business BureauDothan Surgery CenterInternational PaperWiregrass Electric Cooperative

25-29 YearsHolloway Credit Solutions, LLC

20-24 YearsAlabama South Family PodiatryThe Dothan Service LeagueLongHorn SteakhouseSouthern Alabama Regional Council on

Aging (SARCOA)

15-19 YearsBMI Storage, LLCWestgate Christian SchoolZaxby’s

10-14 Years84 West Inc.Lakewood Landscape Group, LLCMr. Transmission

5-9 YearsLadi Vee’s Etiquette and

Consulting, LLC (LVEC)Sarrell Dental CenterTexas Roadhouse

1-4 YearsAlabama BlossomsAmerica’s Thrift StoresAxtion Air Jump & SportsBarberitos - A Southwestern Grille & CantinaBlake Floyd State Farm InsuranceBoys & Girls Club of the WiregrassThe Byrd FeederCactus Flower Café CBW CabinetryClark’s Hardwood Refinishing, LLCCotton Blossom Sweets & GiftsDakota Coffee WorksDavid’s Performance FactoryFive Star Credit UnionGreyhound Bus LinesMAHA USA, LLCMaxwelle BuildingPush Crank PressRiver Nile Café S.A. Jones ConstructionShort Stuff PhotographySmartLam North America - Dothan DivisionStewart’s Window TintingXtreme Air Trampoline Park

Chitty’s Lawn Care &Landscaping, LLCBraxton Chitty3403 Grandeur DriveDothan, AL 36303PH: (334) 790-6556LAWN CARE

The Dothan National Golf Club and HotelJessie Locke7410 S. U.S. Highway 231Dothan, AL 36301-7822PH: (334) 677-3321www.dothannationalgolfclubandhotel.comSPORTS AND RECREATION

Dustin Champion State Farm InsuranceDustin Champion1369 Headland Ave., #17Dothan, AL 36303PH: (803) 457-2727FAX: (334) 350-5008INSURANCE

Forme NvasiveGenna Van Rope5630 W. Main St., Suite 3Dothan, AL 36305PH: (334) 446-7002www.formenvasive.com PERSONAL SERVICE AND CARE

Healthactions Physical TherapyTonye Frith1207 Ross Clark CircleDothan, AL 36301PH: (334) 500-1150FAX: (334) 828-7125www.healthactionspa.com PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHABILITATION

Jessica Barnes State Farm InsuranceJessica Barnes2948 Ross Clark CircleDothan, AL 36301-1161PH: (334) 793-7618FAX: (334) 712-1158www.coveragewithjess.com INSURANCE

Salisbury Insurance Agency Inc.Rob Salisbury3212 S. Park Ave., Suite 3Dothan, AL 36301PH: (334) 794-4295FAX: 334 699-2692www.countryfinancial.com INSURANCE

Stephen G. McGowan, LLCKaren Mote207 W. Troy St. (Physical)700 E. Magnolia Ave.Geneva, AL 36340PH: (334) 699-6688FAX: (334) 699-6707www.stephengmcgowan.com ATTORNEYS / LEGAL

Temi Fine ArtsTemi Ayodeji2803 Peachtree DriveP.O. Box 9083Dothan, AL 36304PH: (334) 718-3785www.temifinearts.comARTS / CULTURE / ENTERTAINMENT

Congratulations to our Ambassador and Diplomat Team of the Year “Team High Voltage.” Team members (seated l-r) are Amber Abercrombie, WASTE MANAGEMENT of Dothan; Parrish Smith, Friend Bank; Sabrina Dejong, Woof AM/FM; (standing) Pat Evans, Evans Automotive Service; Donnia Rambin, Go Digital with Donnia; Debbie Beasock, Tyndall Federal Credit Union; and Samantha Jo Conrad, FASTSIGNS of Dothan. Great job everyone!

Team Of The Year

Team High Voltage

Mary ColburnWiregrass Auto Care

Ambassadors&Diplomats

Congratulations!Star Of The Year

6 Chamber Connections October 2020

BusinessBriefs

publicatiOns

2020

DOTHANAlabama

O f f i c i a l W e l c O m e G u i d e &m e m b e r s h i p d i r e c t O ry

2021REsERvE sPaCE

PUBLICaTIONs

Two Great Publications.One Main Goal.

Increase Business.

334.702.4063334.712.6532 Fax

jennifer@psiprinter.com

ContaCt:

Reservation deadline: 10/19/20Copy deadline: 11/2/20

Media Kit, Registration Form ONLINEwww.psiprinter.com

Landmark Park’s annual Low Country Boil will be held Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4-7 p.m. Please note the new date. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Low Country Boil event will be TAKE OUT ONLY.

Shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and a blend of spices will simmer in a 60-gallon kettle for a mouthwatering dish. There will also be an online auction featuring trips, gift baskets and more. Visit www.landmarkparkdothan.com for updates on items and to bid on Oct. 29.

Tickets are $30 per person; $5 kids (ages 3-11) and must be purchased in advance by Oct. 22. For more information, or to purchase your tickets, call (334) 794-3452.

A Low Country Boil To Go

YourChamber

Do You Need To Register Or Plan To Vote Absentee For Nov. 3 Election?

Absentee ballot applications must be received in the office of the Absentee Election Manager for your county no later than the 5th calendar day prior to the election (Oct. 29, 2020). 

An absentee ballot returned by mail must be postmarked no later than the day prior to the election (Nov. 2, 2020) and received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon on election day. If hand-delivered, the ballot must be in the office of the Absentee Election Manager by the close of business (but no later than 5 p.m.) on the day prior to the election.

Important dates and deadlines:

• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.

• The deadline to register online is Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, by 11:59 p.m.

• The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.

• The deadline to register to vote in person is Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 (close of business).

• The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. The application must be in the Absentee Election Manager’s office by close of business.

You can find answers to your questions by visiting www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/absentee-voting.

www.dothan.com 7

BusinessBriefs

Celebrate RecoveryEvery Friday • 7 p.m.Harvest Church. This is a biblical 12-step program for anyone struggling with life’s hurts, hang-ups or habits. The program is free and all are welcome. For those with children, age-specific children’s program available. For more information, call Harvest at (334) 702-6555 or email celebraterecovery@harvestdothan.com. “You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there!”

Virtual 1st Saturday Family DayOct. 3 • 10:30 a.m.Facebook Live. First Saturday Family Day has gone digital on the Wiregrass Museum of Art’s Facebook page – complete with fun activities for the whole family. Saturdays are the perfect day for children and families to create and explore art together. For more information, call (334) 794-3871, visit www.wirerassmuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page.

Play the Café Oct. 13 • 6:30 p.m. Mural City Coffee Co. The Mural City Coffee Co. holds monthly Play the Café the second Tuesday of each month. The event features local singers/songwriters performing their original songs. A family-friendly event, there is no cover charge. For more information, call (334) 464-0070 or visit www.facebook.com/muralcitycoffeeco.

#SaveTheDatesFor These Upcoming Member Events

Fall Farm Day & Quilt ShowOct. 17 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Landmark Park. Come enjoy the signs and sounds of an 1980s farmstead while volunteers demonstrate sugar cane grinding, syrup making, peanut picking, stacking and digging, an antique tractor pull and parade, household chores, arts and crafts and the largest quilt display in the Wiregrass region. Cost is $8 Adults; $6 seniors/active military; $4 kids (ages 3-12); free for park members. For more information, call (334) 794-3452 or visit www.landmarkparkdothan.com.

HCRW Monthly MeetingOct. 22 • 11 a.m.Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center Inc.’s Sterling Event Services Rotary Hall. The Houston County Republican Women hold monthly luncheon meetings the fourth Thursday of each month. Events include a Meet and Greet 11 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. and the meeting at noon. Reservations are required by noon the Tuesday prior to meeting. To make your reservation, or for more information, call Barbara Wheelless at bwheelless@gmail.com or (941) 539-0917.

Health ChatsOct. 27 • 6:15 p.m.Facebook Live. Carnes Chiropractic Health Chats are held the fourth Tuesday each month. The monthly topic varies, and Health Chats are free and open to the public. Topics vary each month. When existing patients attend four Health Chats, they receive a free office visit. For more information, call (334) 794-2225 or visit www.carneswellness.com.

Have an upcoming event planned?

Send your event information to melia@dothan.com

Weichert Realtors, JBR Legacy Group in Dothan welcomes Larry Phillips and Eden Ward to its team.

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc. has grown steadily since Jim Weichert, president, chairman and CEO of Weichert Companies, launched the company’s franchise division in 2001. The affiliate division was created to offer a business model for franchisee ownership candidates described as “a clearly defined operating system for marketing and managing a real estate business.”

Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc. announced its first affiliate in 2002, which was ranked as one of the top traditional residential real estate franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2020 Franchise 500 and was identified in 2020 by Franchise Business Review as one of the top U.S. franchises for owner satisfaction. Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc. has offices serving over 350 markets in 41 states.

Each Weichert franchised office is an independently-owned and operated affiliate of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates Inc. The Dothan office is located at 410 Honeysuckle Road. For more information about Weichert, visit www.weichert.com or for information on franchise opportunities, visit www.weichertfranchise.com.

To contact the Dothan office, call Pam Roberts at (334) 794-7211, pam@dothanforsale.com or visit www.dothanforsale.com.

Weichert Realtors Welcome New Team

Members

Don’t forget to let the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce know if your mailing address has changed so we can be sure to keep you up-to-date on activities and events.

Call Hayden Camp at (334) 792-5138 or email hhccaammpp@@ddootthhaann..ccoomm.

Has Your Address Changed?

Dothan Area Chamber of Commer

P.O. Box 638

Dothan, AL 36302

Dothan Are Chamber

P.O. Box 638

Dothan, AL 36302

8 Chamber Connections October 2020

With the cancellation of the National Peanut Festival, Eagle Eye Outfitters Inc. did not want you to miss out on some of your favorite fair food. Eagle Eye will be holding a Mini Food Fair each Saturday from Oct. 10 to Nov. 7, starting at 11 a.m.

Eagle Eye Outfitters is excited to bring you the world-famous Corndog Man, amazing Dease Corn, delicious Funnel Cakes by the Dothan Civitan and much more.

For more information, visit www.blog.shopeagleeye.com/eagle-eyes-mini-food-fair.

Eagle Eye Outfitters Plans Mini Food Fair

BusinessBriefs

The Southeast Alabama Community Theatre will present David Lindsay-Albaire’s Ripcord at 7 p.m. nightly beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 24, at The Cultural Arts Center.

A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so when the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. A seemingly harmless bet between the old women quickly escalates into a dangerous game of one-upmanship that reveals not just the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but also deeper truths that each would rather remain hidden.

Directed by Amy Beck, tickets will go on sale Monday, Oct. 5. Please note the audience is spaced in groups of two, and seating is limited to less than 40 percent of room capacity. Masks are required. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided.

For more information, contact SEACT at (334) 794-0400 or visit www.seact.com/seact-calendar.

SEACT Presents “Ripcord”

Flowers Medical Group makes it easier to see a primary care provider— quickly. Our primary care providers offer same-day and telehealth appointments for well visits, acute illnesses, and chronic conditions. Whether in person or on screen, we’ll be glad to see you. To connect with a provider or to schedule an appointment online, visit FlowersMedicalGroup.com.

ASK ABOUT

SAME-DAY OR TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS

FOR PRIMARY CARE.

Flowers Medical Group Primary Care LocationsDothan West Family Medicine • 500 Healthwest Dr., Dothan • 699-5994Family Medicine Medical Drive • 108 Medical Dr., Dothan • 944-7041 Health and Wellness • 4300 W. Main St., Ste. 15, Dothan • 944-7056Internal Medicine Associates • 210 Westside Dr., Dothan • 793-5074

PrimeCare of Daleville • 144 Virginia Ave., Dothan • 793-2120 PrimeCare of Dothan • 4126 W. Main St., Dothan • 793-2120

FlowersMedicalGroup.com

After reviewing 22 months of c o m m u n i t y c o n v e r s a t i o n s , research and analysis of the Wiregrass area (Phase 1 and 2), the Wiregrass Foundation board has approved to move into Phase 3 of

the transformation process. Phase 3 of the transformation process will

include:

• Scheduling community conversations;

• Studying and learning from successfully transformed cities;

• Conducting a fundraising feasibility study; and

• Contracting with a professional to facilitate the initiative.

Starting Sept. 12, Angie Casey began serving as a community liaison between the general public, business community and the arts as discussions are held and plans developed.

“This is a great opportunity for me to continue to be involved in this community that I care so much about. For example, when I moved to Dothan, Foster Street was practically a ghost town. It is now a place full of life and just one example of the potential to create so much more. I think Dothan is ready,” said Casey. “This is a chance to enjoy some of the perks of ‘retirement’ but also work on something I feel will be so meaningful for the future of Dothan.”

Casey moved to Dothan in 1997 with her two young children to continue her career in broadcast television at WTVY. After 13 years at WTVY, she worked in marketing for Great Southern Wood and most recently in fundraising for the Southeast Health Foundation.

Please visit transformationthroughthearts.com or call (334) 790-3859 for more information.

The Transformation Through The Arts is a community initiative helping to develop the Wiregrass as an attractor of current and potential residents, visitors and businesses and to be a destination for tourism through creative expansion and enhancements of the arts.

Transformation Through The Arts ContinuesMoving Forward

Angie Casey,Community Liaison

www.dothan.com 9

BusinessBriefs

Dothan Real Estate team welcomes Sabrina Stephens to the agency. She is excited to join a great team of agents.

  Stephens is a graduate of Wallace Community College and also attended Troy University. She

works well as a multi-tasker and her creative mind, eye for photography and design, as well as relationship goals, will help as she assists buyers and sellers find that perfect home.

Stephens enjoys getting to know new people and strives to create long-lasting relationships. Each of these qualities help her tremendously in the real estate field. Her previous background includes finance, adoption consulting, photography and managing her husband’s former business, as well as her former

photography studio. Stephens is passionate about advocating for

the rights of adoptive and foster families, as well as foster children and biological families. She volunteers with Fostering Hope in Headland and desires to stand along with foster children while they are in the care of foster families. She is also an advocate for individuals with Down Syndrome and strives to see each person with different abilities able to meet their fullest potential.

A lifetime local to the Wiregrass area and now raising her family here as well, Stephens has been married to her husband, Jamey, for 20 years and they have three beautiful children. They love the simple life that the Wiregrass area brings and truly believes there is nowhere else better to raise a family.

For more information, contact Stephens at (334) 699-7653 or visit www.dothanrealestateteam.com.

All In Credit Union is known for its generosity, and now All In is adding greater meaning to the phrase “#WeGiveBack” with the announcement of a grant up to $100,000 to be awarded to deserving local organizations for future programs or facilities.

“Throughout our communities there are hundreds of charities making a dramatic difference in people’s lives every day,” said Bobby Michael, All In Credit Union president/CEO. “We want to enhance the work of these vital community partners by providing needed funds to organizations whose dreams for growth and expansion exceed their existing capital.”

To be eligible for the grant, organizations must complete the official application available at www.allincu.com/grant. The deadline for submission is Oct. 15. Along with funding, All In Credit Union requests the opportunity to share naming rights for the project(s) or program(s) selected.

Organizations that qualify must be located in one of the 10 counties served by All In Credit Union. The list of counties is included on the website along with the grant

application. All applications and required documents will be reviewed by a committee with an announcement of the winner(s) to be made by Dec. 31.

“The focus and discipline of All In Credit Union has given us an incredible opportunity to share resources that will create a lasting change in our communities. Working together, we can maximize the positive impact of organizations who are committed to helping others,” added Michael.

For more information, contact Erica Casey at (334) 598-4411, ext. 3500 or grant@allincu.com.

Stephens Joins Dothan Real Estate Team Buntin Elected ACHE Chairman

All In Credit To Award $100K To Area Organizations

Sabrina Stephens,Realtor

Charles Buntin,ACHE ChairmanDothan

B u s i n e s s m a n Charles Buntin has been elected chairman of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Buntin was appointed to the Commission in 2015.

Buntin assumes the leadership reins during one

of higher education’s most challenging times. State funding had been on the increase helping institutions to recover from the 2008 recession, but the coronavirus pandemic has again challenged institutional enrollments, budgets, auxiliary revenue and most importantly threatened the health of employees and students.

“As the coordinating board for public higher education in Alabama, I pledge to continue to work with our institutions throughout this pandemic to maintain the highest level of excellence for Alabama’s students,” said Buntin. “Earlier this year, our colleges and universities proved their resilience to a changing work environment by successfully transitioning to online learning.”

Buntin is a shareholder and realtor with Tom West Co. in Dothan. He graduated from Leadership Alabama in 2013, where he currently serves as chairman of the Wiregrass Regional Council. He is currently the treasurer/board member of the Wiregrass United Way, a member of the Houston County-Dothan Rotary Club and is a former chairman of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. He also holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Alabama and a Graduate Realtor Institute designation.

For more information, contact Buntin at (334) 794-0328 or visit www.ache.edu.

YourChamber

Spotlight your business. Get more exposure!As a Chamber member, you are entitled to one free business card ad in the Chamber’s

monthly newsletter, Chamber Connections, within 90 days from the date you join. For more information, contact Melia McKean at (334) 792-5138 or melia@dothan.com.

10 Chamber Connections October 2020

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby announced recently that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a two Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development grants to fund efforts for infrastructure improvements in Alabama.  One of the grants provides $450,000 to the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission to fund the technical and economic feasibility study related to transportation projects in the Wiregrass region.

 “I am proud to announce that Alabama has been awarded two BUILD grants, one to improve infrastructure investments in Tuscaloosa and a planning grant to assist the Wiregrass region,” said Sen. Shelby.  “Both BUILD grants will provide important federal resources that will improve infrastructure and promote increased economic development

opportunities in Alabama.  I would like to thank Secretary Chao, the Department of Transportation, as well as the local communities for their work on these projects.”

  The BUILD grant awarded to the SEARP&DC will fund the technical and economic feasibility study of two projects located in the Wiregrass region. The first project would widen approximately 24 miles of State Route 167 in Alabama from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from the Alabama state line to U.S. Route 84.  The second project would widen approximately 13 miles of State Route 52, extending a segment from Geneva to Dothan that is currently being widened to State Route 167. Both of these projects could receive construction funding in the future.

For more information, visit www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=7959A29E-56A7-4C79-A0BB-5F720802D23B or contact Scott Farmer, SEARP&DC executive director, at (334) 794-4093 or sfarmer@searpdc.org.

The award of a $450,000 Better Utilizing Investment Leverage Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission stems from a vital regional partnership between the Wiregrass Economic Development Corporation, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Wiregrass Foundation, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, Grow Southeast Alabama and SEARP&DC.

The BUILD Grant will specifically determine the feasibility of widening Alabama Highway 167 and Alabama Highway 52 from two-lane undivided roadways to four-lane divided roadways, including the Highway 167 corridor from the Alabama/Florida state line to the Boll Weevil Circle around Enterprise (Coffee, Dale and Geneva counties) and the Highway 52 corridor from Hartford to connect with the Alabama Department of Transportation’s widening project from Dothan west into Geneva County. The BUILD Grant is a major step in implementing two top priorities in the SEARP&DC’s Long Range Transportation Needs, a plan developed with extensive regional input.

The regional partnership cannot underscore the importance of support by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, State Sen. Donnie Chesteen and Jimmy Holley, State Rep. Steve Clouse, Paul Lee, Rhett Marques and Jeff Sorrells, ALDOT Director John Cooper, and several Wiregrass mayors and county commissioners. Area elected officials, including Enterprise Mayor Bill Cooper, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Geneva County Commission Chairman Toby Seay, and Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver, regularly participate in discussions to advocate for projects, such as the BUILD grant, that benefit the entire Southeast Alabama region and has consistently advocated for this feasibility study.

“The BUILD Grant announcement is great news for the Wiregrass. This investment in infrastructure improvements for our connecting highways lays the foundation in providing an opportunity for needed growth for our region. This announcement demonstrates the importance of several groups all working together in partnership to develop a vision and the commitment to implement that vision quickly. I look forward to the plan’s conclusions and to continue the ultimate vision to widen these important Wiregrass highways,” said Sen. Chesteen.

Enterprise Mayor Cooper commented, “I really appreciate Senator Shelby’s and the other members of our Congressional delegation’s support

of this very important project. Determining the feasibility of widening State Highway 167 and State Highway 52 will directly affect safety, the condition and capacity of our roadways, and our quality of life through better access and connectivity. This project is so important to our overall wellbeing in the Wiregrass region. Simply, without this vital funding we couldn’t afford to go forward with this important project.”

“We appreciate our federal, state and local leaders working together to build more transportation capacity in southeast Alabama. The BUILD grant program will help us continue to build key transportation corridors like SR 52 and SR 167 to benefit Southeast Alabama for more economic and community development opportunities,” said Dothan Mayor Saliba.

“We are very grateful to receive the news on the BUILD Grant award. This project is another step to increase the necessary connections between our Wiregrass communities, which also assists Geneva County in the implementation of our local strategic vision to increase needed capacity for economic development. We are appreciative of the partnership between our federal, state and local officials, as well as our regional planning, economic development, and utility partners that assist our area communities,” said Geneva County Commission Chairman Seay.

“The BUILD Grant announcement is a significant accomplishment for the Wiregrass and demonstrates the vital importance of regional partnerships. This opportunity would not occur without the advocacy provided by our leaders collectively prioritizing this project and recognizing its importance to the entirety of the Wiregrass area. SEARP&DC is excited about this instrumental step to studying the Highway 167 and 52 corridors, and what it will mean to the future of southeast Alabama,” said Scott Farmer, SEARP&DC executive director.

These vital funds will be used to determine the purpose and need of the widening project, collection of vital data, corridor demand analysis, and provide engineering work. The next step in this Alabama Highway 167 and Alabama Highway 52 widening project is the submission of a detailed application with the factors listed above to the U.S. Department of Transportation in a future BUILD Grant application cycle. If successful, this subsequent funding would be toward construction of the widening project. This is a very competitive multi-step process and this announcement of the $450,000 BUILD Grant to the Wiregrass region is the first major step.

For more information, contact Farmer at (334) 794-4093 or sfarmer@searpdc.org.

Shelby Announces BUILD Grant Awards

Regional Response To Shelby’s Announcement Of $450KBUILD Grant Awarded To Wiregrass Region

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)

GrowDothan

www.dothan.com 11

In 2017, almost 17,000 workers commuted into Dothan each day to their jobs. This inflow, along with people seeking goods and services brings Dothan’s estimated daytime population to

162,000. Houston County had a net inflow of workers of approximately 7,500.

As workers flow into the city and county

for their jobs, their income from those jobs follows them back to their place of residence. This flow of workers and income is tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That flow, for the Wiregrass counties, is indicated in the graph below.

All counties with an outflow of income are counties that are destinations for workers from outside of the county. Those with an inflow of income are those counties from which workers commute to other counties. This does not

indicate where the commuter banks or spends their income, but merely where residents commute for work.

It is obvious from the graph that Pike, Houston and Dale counties have a net inflow of workers, while Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Geneva and Henry counties export workers. What makes the Dale County values so significant is that Dale County has the highest average earnings per job for all of Alabama’s counties.

Intuition would lead most people to believe that Madison County would lead the state in highest average earnings per job, but Madison, at $63,689 is second to Dale County at $67,492. Madison County, though, has many more jobs than does Dale County. Madison County has a worker inflow of approximately 35,800 workers, and as you can imagine, a significant outflow of dollars to place of residence to the tune of $2.7 billion in 2018.

Interestingly, the Census QuickFacts for the Wiregrass counties indicate that the commute times for the “inflow” county residents are shorter than for the counties that export workers.

Worker Commuting Patterns In The Wiregrass

Steve Turkoski, Project Manager

WorkforceDevelopment

Be sure to join the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook for its new video series Workforce Wednesday.

The series works with local employers to promote job openings and to provide another outlet of promotion of potential employment.

If your company is interested in participating in Workforce Wednesday, please contact Annie Walthall, director of special projects, at (334) 792-5138 or awalthall@dothan.com.

Come Join Us!

YourChamber

12 Chamber Connections October 2020

Rarely a day goes by where I am not asked, “We need help finding workers. Do you have any suggestions?” The immediate answer is always “yes”, but the details and the work involved is challenging, time consuming and often has many twists and turns.

Businesses across Dothan, Houston County and southeast Alabama are facing both short-term and long-term issues in keeping a fully trained

and viable workforce. Statistics show that within 50 miles of Dothan there are almost 3,000 open jobs. So, what is the strategy for any small, medium or large business to find the right folks? There is no straight line to that answer but there are some key things that can help.

Recently, AlabamaWorks held its annual conference – virtually for 2020. Business leaders, state agencies, workforce councils, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and community organizations came together to learn best practices and advice on navigating Alabama’s abundant workforce development resources. One panel, The Workforce Recruiting Strategies, was comprised of business leaders from across the state in rural areas who have faced the uphill battle of recruitment that many of our companies in southeast Alabama deal with daily.

Some key insights from the panel discussion follow, and I want to encourage southeast Alabama businesses to try something new, perhaps a best practice from others on the front lines dealing with the same labor challenges. Although trying something new can be scary, it can also be very rewarding. The rewards may not be instant like running a sprint, but rather longer and more sustained like completing a marathon.

“It’s not about recruitment, it’s about the labor pool,” says Christy Knowles, Coosa Valley Medical Center. Knowles realized those challenges in 2002 and quickly identified the need for a labor pool development strategy. So, how do you develop a labor pool? Use the profuse resources available to you, and don’t be afraid to try something new. “We try 50 things, and five of them may work,” says Knowles, while adding Coosa Valley Medical Center is happy with those results.

Knowles has gotten Coosa Valley Medical involved with their local regional workforce council and participates in the local WOW (Worlds of Work) event every year. She encouraged other businesses listening to do the same, pointing out that it’s an opportunity to get in front of thousands of students at one time, and no other recruitment opportunity can produce interactions on that scale.

They have also worked closely with their local career centers and created their own Health Occupation Teen Class for middle and high school students and have hired several employees out of the program.

As more businesses chimed in during the panel discussion, an emerging theme presented itself - implement different recruiting strategies based on the workforce you need to hire, and the age of the talent you are trying to attract since there are currently four generations in the labor pool.

“We have different recruitment strategies for hourly and salary,” says Meredith Heath, with AM/NS Steel where they have readily available

candidates for hourly employment, and a scarcity of applicants with salaried positions, which requires different recruitment approaches. Additionally, AM/NS retains more of their hourly employees than they do salaried positions.

Like most companies, for salary employees and employees of the two older workforce generations, conversations are centered around benefits, flexibility, work-from-home options and how well your company takes care of its employees.

But what if the situation is reversed and you don’t have a labor pool to hire from?

“We spent time looking at why people were leaving and started addressing it,” says Larry Burton of Wellborn Cabinet, which is the largest cabinet manufacturer in the US, and manages to get 1,400 employees to drive 30 minutes one way to work every day.

Wellborn Cabinet knew they had to bring the people to them and set long-term strategies in motion to move toward becoming not just a place people wanted to work, but THE place people wanted to work in Clay County.

Their benefits for employees and amenities are extensive – hiring bonuses, Pal Pay bonuses for getting your friends hired, on-site daycare for up to 120 children, First-Aid Clinic with a full-time nurse practitioner and RN, recreation areas, ride share programs, cafeteria, modern workout facility, even a 35-acre fishing pond open to employees, and a skeet shooting range.

Understandably you may not have room to add a fishing pond to your property, but other best practices emerged from the conversation like re-recruiting your internal team first and understanding that current employees are your biggest billboards for better or worse.

Coosa Valley Medical Center worked with their local community college to set up a Ready to Work, or RTW, program on campus, and gave additional pay to existing employees for attending classes. RTW teaches Coosa’s employees entry-level employment skills and valuable soft-skills which has worked out great for their team.

One of the first things Wellborn Cabinet did to change their culture was start a mentoring program for new hires, and assign “mentor checkers” to hold the mentor and mentees accountable with their supervisor. As a result, this single handedly increased new hire retention by 35 percent.

In conclusion, if a company finds themselves unsure where to start, the panel’s advice was to go back to the basics – enhance cross training opportunities, have a sense of urgency when you hire, put everything on social media, and go to all of the programs that produce the workers you need.

To learn how Southeast AlabamaWorks can provide solutions to your workforce challenges or to get more involved in the regional workforce council, contact the team at (334) 792-5138.

Dean M. Mitchell is the executive director of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, serves as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and on the Southeast AlabamaWorks Board.

Need Help Recruiting Workers?Follow These Ideas From Alabama Business Leaders

Dean Mitchell, Executive Director

WorkforceDevelopment

www.dothan.com 13

NEED HELP IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS?

You may qualify for federal assistance to attend school or pursue anindustry credential through the Workforce Innovation OpportunityAct, or WIOA. Contact your local career center below and ask tospeak to someone about “WIOA ELIGIBILITY” to see if you do!

Community CollegePartners:

Career Centers Andalusia: (334) 328-6739

Dothan: (334) 792-2121

Enterprise: (334) 347-0044

Eufaula: (334) 687-3551

Greenville: (334) 382-3128

Luverne: (334) 335-2300

Ozark: (334) 443-2000

Troy: (334) 566-3920

Search for jobs in your area:

Alabamaworks.alabama.govEnterprise State Community College:https://www.escc.edu/programs/career-tech-programs/

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College:

Wallace Community College: https://www.lbwcc.edu/academics/careertechnical-division

https://www.wallace.edu/programs_of_study/career_technical.aspx

WorkforceDevelopment

NEED HELP FINDING A JOB?Contacts That Can Help

Top Job Search Sites:CareerBuilder.com

Glassdoor.comIndeed.com

LinkedIn.comSimplyHired.com

Monster.comZipRecruiter.com

For more information contact:Katie Thomas:

kthomas@southeastalabamaworks.com

Advantage Resourcing: https://www.advantageresourcing.com

Ambassador Personnel: https://www.teamambassador.com

Express Employment: https://www.expresspros.com/dothanal/

Ford Finder's Employment Services: (334) 446-5319

Headhunter: https://www.headhunterapp.io/

Kelly Services: https://www.kellyservices.us

Manpower: https://www.manpower.com/ManpowerUSA/

MAU Workforce Solutions: https://www.mau.com

People Ready: https://www.peopleready.com/

Personnel Resources: https://www.partnerwithexperts.com/

Remedy Intelligent Staffing: https://www.remedystaffing.com/

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Employment Agencies

Career Centers Andalusia: (334) 328-6739

Dothan: (334) 792-2121

Enterprise: (334) 347-0044

Eufaula: (334) 687-3551

Greenville: (334) 382-3128

Luverne: (334) 335-2300

Ozark: (334) 443-2000

Troy: (334) 566-3920

Search for jobs in your area:

Alabamaworks.alabama.gov

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IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA

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14 Chamber Connections October 2020

#SaveTheDatesWednesday Webinars

Building Customer Relations:The Five Gestures of Trust

Wednesday, Oct. 7 • 2-3 p.m.

Intro To Government ContractingWednesday, Oct. 21 • 2-3 p.m.

Aided by the speed of technology and social media, consumer experiences can make or break a business. Therefore, today’s better businesses must also be customer-centric, employee-focused, innovative and environmentally and socially conscious. And if you’re like most business owners, when prospects or customers are lost to competitors, they are lost because of something that can be controlled – the relationship with them.

Trust is the focus of this multi-faceted webinar. To provide your business with a new framework to evaluate and improve

relationships with your customers, join Better Business Bureau’s Monde Donaldson, vice president of BBB Educational Foundation, for the “Building Customer Relations – The Five Gestures of Trust” Wednesday Webinar, Oct. 7, from 2-3 p.m.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/32uR2m0. The corresponding Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the webinar starting.

Think your business is ready to sell to the government? If you answer yes, make plans to join the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce for its Oct. 21 Wednesday Webinar “Intro To Government Contracting” at 2 p.m.

Presented by Betsy Baker from the Procurement Technical Assistance Center Program provided through the Troy Small Business Development Center, this program is designed to help participants evaluate their company’s potential as a government contractor. Topics include: How to research the government

market; How to register as a government contractor: Special programs and certifications in government contracting; and How to market your products and services to the government.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/DACCGovContracting. The corresponding Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the webinar starting.

Mark your calendar and save the dates for these upcoming October Wednesday Webinars:

SmallBusinessDevelopment

The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce has picked back up doing monthly Chamber Connections podcasts. If not, you’re missing some great episodes with and about our local chamber members. The September 2020 episode featured Vimal Patel, owner of Dothan’s Econo Lodge.

The podcasts are another great platform for the DACC to help promote area local businesses and its members, while at the same time also reminding people about the importance of being a member of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. 

These episodes and future podcasts are available on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dacc-chamber-connections-podcast/id1436509758?mt=2. You will also find the episodes on the DACC’s website www.dothan.com and Facebook www.facebook.com/DothanAreaChamberofCommerce.

So c’mon, take a listen, and then be sure to let us know your thoughts.

Are You Tuning In?

Monde Donaldson,Vice President of BBB Educational Foundation

Betsy Baker,Senior Business Advisor

After taking a hiatus, the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dean Mitchell and Membership Director Hayden Tew Camp were pleased to have sat down recently with Vimal Patel, owner of Dothan’s Econo Lodge and broker/agent for Team Linda Simmons Real Estate, to talk about all opportunities for entrepreneurs within our community. Thank you, Vimal for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us and also to Justin April, from “The Local,” for recording the sessions.

www.dothan.com 15

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation

The title of this publication is Chamber Connections. The publication number is 700-660. Chamber Connections was published monthly at 102 Jamestown Blvd., Dothan, AL, 36301. There were 7 issues during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2020. The publisher is the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and the editor is Melia McKean. There are no bondholders, mortgages or other security holders. The purpose, function and nonprofit exempt status for Federal income tax did not change during the preceding 12 months.

I certify that the statements made here are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Melia McKean,EditorDothan Area Chamber of Commerce

As of Sept. 30, 2020 (required by U.S.C. 3685)

Average number of copies per

issue during the past

12 months reported:

Actual number of copies for a single issue published nearest to filing date:

Total number of copiesPaid and/or request mail subscriptionsTotal paid and/or requested circulationFree Distribution by mailFree distribution outside the mailTotal Free distributionTotal distributionCopies not distributedReturn from news agentsPercent paid or requested circulation

2,5502,4172,417

05050

2,467830

98%

2,5502,4512,451

03434

2,485650

99%

Your ChamberBoard of Directors & Staff Listing

Executive CommitteeChairmanDelvick McKay, City of Dothan

Chairman-ElectBrad Kimbro, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative

Immediate Past ChairmanCliff Mendheim, Prim & Mendheim, LLC

Grow Dothan ChairmanBob Woodall, Bob Woodall Air Care Systems Inc.

TreasurerClaudia Hall, Southeast Health

Community Development Council ChairMichelle Lewis, AAA Cooper Transportation

Education and Workforce Development Council ChairmanWalter Hill, Wiregrass United Way

Governmental Affairs Council ChairmanDonnie Pemberton, The Pepi Companies

Membership Development Council ChairmanDavid (Mit) Kirkland, Scenic Cable Network & Production

Board Of DirectorsEmily Darnell, Flowers HospitalJason DeVane, Hots DeliJennifer Doherty, Southeast Alabama Community TheatreJ. Watson Downs, Engineered Systems Inc.Katie Eubanks, Barberitos - A Southwestern Grille & CantinaTroy Fountain, Wiregrass FoundationAndy Gosselin, Gosselin ArchitectureGina Grant, Century 21 James Grant RealtyAdam Hartzog, Dothan Regional AirportSandi Hodge, Shute Pecan Co. Inc.Greg Hoffman, Wiregrass Construction Co. Inc.Brandon Hurst, Martin Environmental Services Inc.Elaine Johnson Taylor, RealTime, LLCTurner Jones, Dothan WarehouseKaren Keith, MidSouth BankElri Parker, Golden CorralScott Parsons, Merrill Lynch Wealth ManagementTammie Potter, Breakfast & Lunch at Tammie’s; India’s Tiny Tots Child Development CenterJames Pouncy, Regions BankKevin Savoy, Great Southern Wood Preserving Inc.Sarni Shah, Comfort Inn & SuitesAdam Thomas, Wiregrass Wealth ManagementPatrick A. Thomas, Dothan Awning and ExteriorsDr. Linda C. Young, Wallace Community College

Chamber StaffMatt Parker, PresidentDean Mitchell, Executive DirectorSuzanne Barrick, Membership SalesHayden Camp, Director of MembershipLinda Kelley, Director of Community DevelopmentMelia McKean, Director of CommunicationsJulie Mollohan, Director of FinanceArt Morris lll, Director of Aviation and Military AffairsSusan Tatom, Director of InformationSteve Turkoski, Project ManagerAnnie Walthall, Director of Special Projects

16 Chamber Connections October 2020

al 11022 al 52253 fl cmc1250696 ga cn209553334.340.1111 www.bwcair.com

Editor's Note: Sources for this information vary; call the Chamber for details. Data as of 9/2/20. Visit www.dothan.com for the most current information.

EconomicIndicatorsLabor Force for the Dothan MSA for July:

64,851 in 2019; 63,724 in 202062,879 in 2019; 58,211 in 2020 Employed

Unemployment for the Dothan MSA for July:3.0% in 2019; 7.1% in 2020

Residential Building Permits for the City of Dothan for July:9 issued ($2.92 million) in 2019; 31 issued ($10.48 million) in 2020

Home Sales in Dothan for July:155 sold in 2019; 204 sold in 2020

Enplanements for Dothan Regional Airport for July:5,124 in 2019; 722 in 2020

Houston County & Dothan Sales and Use Tax Collections ($) for July:

$1,740,701 in 2019; $2,014,613 in 2020 (County)$6,083,997 in 2019; $7,349,963 in 2020 (City)

A Publication of theDothan Area Chamber of CommerceOctober 2020Vol. 48, No. 1 (USPS 700-660)© Copyright 2020

Chamber Connections is published monthly (USPS 700-660) for the members of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce,

102 Jamestown Blvd., Dothan, AL 36301. Subscription rate is $24 annually. Postmaster: Send address changes to Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce,

P.O. Box 638, Dothan, AL 36302. Periodicals postage is paid at Dothan, AL and additional mailing office.

meeting shapingm e e t i n g t h e c h a l l e n g e s h a p i n g t h e f u t u r e

DOTHAN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.dothan.com

(334) 792-5138melia@dothan.com

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