Centre of Commerce celebrates past year
Published 11:01 pm Thursday, January 28, 2016
Ret. Major General Walter Givhan speaks during the Centre for Commerce’s 12th annual meeting on Jan. 28.
By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal
A large crowd packed into the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center on Thursday night for the Selma and Dallas County Centre for Commerce’s 12th annual meeting.
The meeting began with a reception at 6 p.m. and a seated dinner at 7 p.m. with a special guest speaker.
Executive director of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Sheryl Smedley said the meeting is a time for the community to come together to network and recap highlights of the previous year.
Lee Calame was honored for his service with the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce. He is shown with executive director Sheryl Smedley and EDA director Wayne Vardaman.
Some of those highlights include Chet Chappelle, owner of Rountree Outdoors, winning the Silver Alabama Retailer of the Year award. Other accomplishments include seven ribbon cuttings and grand openings as well as the Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) success in helping unemployment drop from 19.1 percent in 2009 to a preliminary rate of 9 percent in December 2015.
Wayne Vardaman, president of the Centre of Commerce and executive director of the EDA, said the meeting is a rare opportunity for certain people to interact and network.
“Some folks don’t see each other except for at events like this,” Vardaman said.
He said those in attendance of the meeting represented the community well.
“It’s just a vast array of people from different occupations and different walks of life,” Vardaman said.
After allowing guests time to eat and socialize, Vardaman walked up to the podium just after 7:30 p.m. to introduce the guest speaker.
“He’s got the most impressive bio I believe I’ve ever read,” Vardman said.
Major General retired Walter Givhan is originally from the Selma area where he attended Morgan Academy. He later attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and then served in the United States Air Force. He is now senior vice chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development for Troy University.
“I’m an optimist,” Givhan said. “I see a place that is beautiful with an incredible heritage, incredible history… a place with enormous potential that is waiting to be realized. I see a place with people like you who care who are trying to preserve and enhance that heritage as well as plan for a prosperous future.”
Givhan said one way he is giving back is by establishing a scholarship at Troy University designated for deserving students in Dallas County. He said the scholarship is still in process of being endowed, but approaching completion.
The meeting concluded with Vardaman recognizing Lee Calame and Connie Messer for their two years of service as chairmen by presenting them awards.
Calame served as chairman for the Chamber of Commerce and Messer served as chairman for the EDA.
