Chamber Leadership Programs Conclude Year with Graduations
The Chamber’s Excellence in Leadership class met in April for Leading the Way Day, which was the last meeting for this class before graduation. They heard from Kelly Thomas with Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Jim Page with LAUNCH: Tennessee Valley Regional Partnership, Doug Bachuss with Nowlin, Bachuss & Gray Law Firm and Dan Durbin, owner of Durbin Leadership, LLC. Laura Ritch shared invaluable tips on dinner and business etiquette during lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. They ended the day by discussing their community project.
The class was honored with a graduation ceremony at the Small Business Awards Celebration Luncheon in May. The class will host the Point Mallard Pickleball Classic this weekend, Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, at the newly constructed pickleball courts at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. This charity tournament serves as the class’s annual community service project with all proceeds divided equally among three local nonprofits: Brothers for Life Benefit Fund, First Priority of Greater Decatur and Meals on Wheels. A total of 242 participants have registered for the tournament.
Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 Excellence in Leadership class. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 18. The application can be accessed by clicking here. Excellence in Leadership is presented by Nucor Steel Decatur and gold sponsors are the City of Decatur, Durbin Leadership, LLC and Shawn D. Garth, Realtor.
In April, Edge Student Leadership, the Chamber's leadership program for 10th and 11th graders from across Morgan County, celebrated their graduation with a ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Decatur Riverfront. Vega Zaman, a junior at Decatur High School, was honored with the Mary Shaw Ozier Spirit of Leadership Award, sponsored by Horizon Point Consulting, Inc. She was chosen by her peers as the student who best reflects the leadership, commitment and spirit that defined Mary Shaw Ozier's legacy. A member of the 1999–2000 Edge class, Mary Shaw never missed a session—even while undergoing cancer treatment. The award was presented by Mary Ila Ward, founder of Horizon Point Consulting and Mary Shaw’s close friend and Edge classmate. Vega also received the first endowed scholarship created in Mary Shaw’s memory, generously provided by her parents, Lynn and Carol Shaw Ozier, who attended the ceremony.
To close out the celebration, Carol Beth Durbin, Edge Student Leadership volunteer and co-owner of Durbin Leadership, LLC, shared highlights and insights from the year from her perspective while offering her encouragement for the future. We are grateful for her guidance and leadership. This program presented by Nucor Steel Decatur exposes students to leadership opportunities, provides the tools necessary to develop individual leadership skills and encourages students to be a positive influence in their schools and communities. Hubbard & Drake General – Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Joe Wheeler EMC and the Morgan County Commission are gold sponsors for the program. A special thank you to Carol Beth Durbin for her dedication and guidance throughout the year.
The Chamber's Equip Student Leadership program, which is made up of eighth-grade students from Decatur City, Hartselle and Morgan County Schools, met in May and began the day with a tour of GE Appliances, a Haier company. The students explored the Decatur manufacturing facility and learned about diverse career pathways in advanced manufacturing. In the afternoon, students shifted gears and climbed aboard the Decatur City Schools STEAM Bus with Faith Plunkett. Through hands-on activities and interactive games, they gained insight into real-world STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) careers.
Also in May, the class wrapped up their final session with a tour of the machine and fabrication shop at M & J Precision in Decatur. They learned about the different pieces of equipment used at the facility and the roles and responsibilities of each employee. After the tour, Lemzel Johnson with Decatur Youth Services inspired the group with a powerful message about navigating the transition into high school with a positive mindset. To celebrate their achievements, students received a certificate of completion and, of course, cake!
The goal of the five-month program is to help 8th graders with leadership training, career development and to show them in-demand job opportunities. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Nucor Steel Decatur and gold sponsor 3M.