With the beginning of a new year, the Selma & Dallas County Centre for Commerce welcomed in a new chairman.

Gail Lovelady officially became the chairman of the Selma & Dallas County Centre for Commerce on Friday, Dec. 20.

Lovelady said her job as chairman includes working in conjunction with the Selma & Dallas County Economic Development Authority and the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce.

“The Centre for Commerce is an umbrella for the EDA and the Chamber of Commerce,” Lovelady said. “In conjunction with Wayne (Vardaman) being the EDA executive director and Sheryl Smedley being our executive director for the Chamber and the other ladies at the Center for Commerce, we work together trying to bring in industry and maintaining the industry that we have and having programs for the industry.”

Smedley said she’s looking forward to working with Lovelady to expand business in the area.