Economic Summit to Focus on Tuscaloosa, West Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – An economic summit focused on Tuscaloosa and West Alabama will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in the Sellers Auditorium at the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama campus.

The free event, co-sponsored by UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, will focus on West Alabama’s business climate in light of national economic trends and forecasts.

“The University of Alabama has a long history of partnering with the chamber and its members to increase and enhance opportunities that build on the area’s economic strengths,” said UA President Robert E. Witt, who is the outgoing chairman of the board of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. “This summit will allow us to continue to look at those opportunities, even as we deal with the potential impact of the national financial crisis on our regional economy.”

Gov. Bob Riley and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox are scheduled to address the summit at lunch.

Randy Skagen, vice president and general manager at Nucor Steel in Tuscaloosa, and incoming chairman of the board for the chamber, said, “Economic stability is essential to the success of any community and, while we enjoy a relatively stable economy in West Alabama, it is important that we look for ways to protect and enhance that stability. We have a number of companies in this area that reach outside of West Alabama, and our diverse manufacturing community is impacted by both national and international forces.”

With a slate of top-notch state and regional speakers, and experts in business and economic policy, the summit will look at various segments of the area’s economy, including banking, real estate, the auto industry and the retail sector.

“This summit will take a candid look at area economic conditions, including short- and long-term challenges, and bring together key leaders in the public and private sectors to build economic progress for the future,” said Johnnie Aycock, president of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Speakers scheduled to participate are Malcolm Portera, chancellor of The University of Alabama System, who will discuss the present state of the area’s economy; Sam Addy, director of UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research, who will present the outlook for the area; John D. Harrison, superintendent of the Alabama Banking Department; Grayson Glaze, executive director of UA’s Alabama Center for Real Estate; and Bill Taylor, chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. A 30-minute panel discussion of the Tuscaloosa-West Alabama retailing community is also scheduled.

Several hundred of the state’s most prominent business leaders gathered in Birmingham in October at a similar summit to discuss Alabama’s economy and hear the thoughts of several prominent business leaders and Gov. Bob Riley. The 2008 Economic Summit for Alabama Leaders was sponsored by The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and the Business Council of Alabama.

“The Birmingham summit was a history-making event,” said J. Barry Mason, dean of UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. “As the premier business school in the state, we believe it’s important to join the Chamber of West Alabama in bringing West Alabama business leaders together to provide insight on where this area is positioned in these challenging economic times. West Alabama may be in better financial shape than many other areas, but we have to be vigilant. We greatly appreciate the wonderful work the chamber is doing on the behalf of the business community.”

Reservations for the West Alabama summit can be made online at www.tuscaloosachamber.com or by calling the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama at 205-758-7588. Those who have questions about the summit can contact Robin Jenkins, communications director for the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, at 205-391-0561 or at robin@tuscaloosachamber.com. The registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 23, 2009.