The Selma and Dallas County Centre for Commerce will be hosting Tim L. Gothard, the executive director of the Alabama Wildlife Federation at their annual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

Tickers and sponsorships are available through Friday, Feb. 15.

The dinner meeting will be preceded by a reception sponsored by the Economic Development Authority beginning at 6 p.m.

Gothard was appointed the executive director at the Alabama Wildlife Federation in October of 1998. He is a former forest management chief, reforestation and threatened and endangered species specialist and a forest pest management specialist of the Alabama Forest commission.

In 1985, he was previously a forest technician with F&W Forestry Service in Albany, Georgia. He serves or has served as President on the Alabama Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Board of Directors for Alabama Forest Resources Center, Vice Chair with Alabama Lean Water Partnership, Alabama Natural Resources Coordinating Council, Southeastern Forestry and Wildlife Farm Bill Working Group, an Honorary Member of the Wildlife Society, Vice Chair of Millbrook Commercial Development Authority and the Board of Directors with Elmore County Economic Development Authority. Gothard earned a bachelor’s degree in forest manager from Auburn University and an associate’s degree in applied science of forest technology degree at Patrick Henry State Junior college.

“We welcome Tim’s knowledge and expertise at our annual meeting,” said Wayne Vardaman, the president of the Centre for Commerce and the executive director of the Economic Development Authority (EDA). “Tim’s role at Alabama Wildlife Federation is critical to developing the outdoor intellect that keeps our region and this state moving forward, and he has been a great partner for us here in Dallas County.”

The Selma and Dallas County Centre for Commerce is an organization that includes the EDA as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information.

The EDA and the Chamber are independent entities, but they share resources to achieve optimal cost-savings and efficiency. The Centre maintains regular business hours for both organizations, sets operational and personnel policies and procedures, is responsible for paying shared bills incurred by the participant organizations such as insurance and equipment rentals, and maintains rent for the Centre for Commerce buildings which houses the Chamber and the EDA.

This partnership encourages synergies between the EDA and the Chamber that help spur developments through collaboration.

The Centre for Commerce board of directors is made up of seven members, four of which are members of the board of directors of the EDA and three of which are members of the board of directors at the Chamber of Commerce.

Each board is responsible for its own employment-related decisions.

For more information call 334-412-1199 or email Vardaman@selmaeda.com.