Launch Regional Partnership Honors John Seymour at State of the Region

Regional leaders from across North Alabama came together on August 19 for the eighth annual State of the Region, held at the newly renovated Point Mallard Event Center in Decatur. The event was one of the first major gatherings held in the renovated facility and welcomed 275 regional leaders representing all 13 North Alabama counties.

Presented by Launch Regional Partnership, State of the Region highlighted the organization’s three pillars of work: entrepreneurship, workforce and land use & infrastructure. Launch also announced The Exchange, its inaugural leadership program.

Attendees also heard from Col. Raymond Ruscoe, U.S. Space Command Deputy Director for the Redstone Transition Team, who shared an update on the arrival of U.S. Space Command in North Alabama and what the transition means for the region.

A special moment during the event was the posthumous recognition of past Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO John Seymour with the inaugural Spirit of Regionalism Award. Seymour served as President & CEO of the Chamber from 1991 until his retirement in 2021 and passed away in December 2025.

Moving forward, the honor will be presented as the John Seymour Award for Regional Collaboration, recognizing others who demonstrate the same commitment to working together across communities that John championed throughout his career.

The Chamber was proud to see John’s legacy honored and to join leaders from across North Alabama for a morning focused on collaboration and the region’s future.