Albany Area Chamber Chair Jim Deal Talks ABC's
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014
In his first six months as Chair of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Jim Deal has focused on improving the attitude of people in Albany. He terms it the "ABCs" where "a" is attitude, "b" is behavior and "c" is commitment.
"It was the theme of our annual meeting in January and I've tried to interject it into the speeches I give as Chair," Deal said.
"Our people power here in Albany is phenomenal and we should feel better about ourselves."
Deal became Chair on Jan. 1, 2014 after serving as Treasurer in 2012 and Chair-Elect in 2013. The three-year process ensures that the Chamber's leaders are experienced and ready to hit the ground running when their terms begin.
"I was asked to be chair about 25 years ago but I had young children then and was building a business," Deal said.
"When I got a call in 2010 asking if I would consider it, it seemed like a good time to do it. You've got to work on your community for it to be the best – a place where young people want to live, work and raise their families."
Deal owns and operates Albany Communications, an authorized Motorola dealer for two-way radio solutions. The company has served public safety departments in cities across southwest Georgia since 1962. According to Deal, the business has been very successful and has shared that success by giving back to the communities in which it operates.
Supporting Small Businesses and Large
The Chamber continues to implement programs to support small businesses, which represent the majority of its membership according to Deal. A new leadership development program will begin this fall, and regularly scheduled events such as Rise n Shine breakfasts and Lunch & Learn programs provide opportunities to connect with prospective customers, vendors and other business partners.
"I've been surprised at how many functions there are to attend as Chair," Deal said.
"It's been a blessing to me. I've met so many fine people and it's renewed my faith that Albany and Dougherty County will continue to grow and prosper."
The Chamber also works with the Albany Economic Development Commission and the city of Albany to promote the area to existing and new industries. The rebranding program at the Albany EDC, which just recently lanched, will highlight the benefits of the area in its "Only One Albany, Ga." theme.
"The rebranding program will be a big thing for us. We have such great industry partners here already and we could use a hit on the industrial development side," Deal said.
Get Behind Us
In the second half of his term as Chair, Deal will be working on more of the same – more of attitude improvement, more jobs, more member support. One clear message he has for members: get behind us.
"We need more involvement from chamber members. For example, we just had an education summit that was well attended and generated great ideas for improvement," Deal said.
"With the Albany Job Incentive Fund, strong involvement from our local business community and working together as a team with city and county government officials, we can and will move forward to provide a better quality of life for all of our citizens."
More information on the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce is available at albanyga.com.
