First Quarter Highlights from Chamber Leadership Programs
Excellence in Leadership – the Chamber’s flagship leader development program for professionals – met in January for Creating Opportunity Day. The day kicked off with a tour of GE Appliances, a Haier company, the largest single-site employer in Morgan County producing over a million refrigerators each year. At the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center (E-Center), the class heard from Jeremy Nails with the Morgan County Economic Development Association, watched the film TVA Town about Decatur’s industrial roots and played an engaging economic development game. After lunch, they toured the E-Center to learn more about its impact on local businesses and the economy. The day wrapped up with discussions about their upcoming community project and overnight trip to Montgomery in March.
In February, our Excellence in Leadership class connected with community leaders and explored local history during Decatur Now & Then Day. The group participated in Q&A sessions with Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long and Decatur Mayor Kent Lawrence, visited the Old State Bank, took a bus tour of Old Town Decatur and stopped at the Historic Depot and Railroad Museum and the Morgan County Archives. After lunch, participants shared insights during a “leadership lightbulb” discussion and discussed their upcoming Montgomery Trip in March and community project, Dec Days, in April.
In March, Excellence in Leadership and Edge Student Leadership programs had a great time on our 2026 Montgomery Public Policy Trip on March 3-4. The two-day visit began with tours at the Alabama Department of Archives and History and the Alabama State Capitol. Attendees then observed the Alabama Legislature in session at the Statehouse before meeting with our local delegation to discuss legislative priorities and key issues affecting our community. Day two started with breakfast at the Farmers Market Cafe, where attendees heard from Stefania Jones, Chief Officer of External Affairs & Government Relations with the Alabama Department of Commerce, Senator Arthur Orr, Decatur Mayor Kent Lawrence and Decatur City Council President Kyle Pike. Our Edge Student Leadership class joined the group for tours of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and The Legacy Museum. Over lunch, attendees heard from Robin Ricks, Executive Director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama. The trip concluded with a group photo on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol. 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.
To kick off the new year, the Chamber's Edge Student Leadership class – comprised of 35 sophomores and juniors from across Morgan County – met in January for Health and Education Day starting with a tour of Calhoun Community College. They visited the Calhoun Education Television & Digital Media Department, the Health Sciences building and ended the tour at the Advanced Technology Center. Decatur Morgan Hospital provided lunch where students heard from employees about their job responsibilities and took a tour of the hospital. The day wrapped up with Judy Smith, Area Administrator of the Alabama Department of Public Health, explaining the wide scope of public health issues impacting our community.
In February, the class gathered for Decatur Now and Then Day. Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long and Mayor Kent Lawrence kicked off the morning sharing insights into their roles in local government. Students explored Decatur’s history with stops at the Old State Bank, the Alabama Center for the Arts and a guided bus tour led by Suzanne Langdon, Historic Museum Manager for the City of Decatur. Over lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Laura Ritch provided invaluable business and dining etiquette tips. The day wrapped up with a session on social media and interview skills led by Taylor Simmons with Horizon Point Consulting.
Additionally, many of the Edge students participated in the Durbin Student Leadership Conference in February . They volunteered before and after the event to assist with set-up, greeting attendees, distributing t-shirts, organizing snacks and helping to clean up. Thank you to presenting sponsor Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC and gold sponsors Hubbard & Drake General - Mechanical Contractors, Inc, Joe Wheeler EMC and the Morgan County Commission.
The Chamber’s Equip Student Leadership class kicked off the 2026 spring semester in February! Twenty-four eighth graders from across Decatur-Morgan County gathered at the Cook Museum of Natural Science to build career and financial skills. Taylor Simmons with Horizon Point Consulting, Inc. led a session on employability skills, including completing job applications and participating in mock interviews. After lunch, Jennifer Bowling and Andrew Calvert from Redstone Federal Credit Union guided students through the game of Life, teaching smart budgeting and financial decision-making.
In February, the Equip Student Leadership class toured GE Appliances, a Haier company, the largest single-site employer in Morgan County producing over a million refrigerators each year. After lunch, students participated in meaningful discussions about their career interests and explored professions that align with their goals and strengths. They also learned about the mission of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce and its role in supporting local businesses, economic and workforce development.
In March, the class met explored the Calhoun Community College Decatur campus. Students toured several departments, including the Health Sciences building, where they learned about dental, nursing, surgical technology and EMT programs. The group also visited Calhoun’s Advanced Technology Center to see CNC machining, additive manufacturing, welding, aerospace, HVAC and electrical programs in action. Experiences like this help 8th graders make informed choices as they prepare for high school and begin exploring future career paths. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Nucor Steel Decatur and gold sponsors 3M and Walker Jones, Agent, Parker Real Estate.