ECONOMIC INCLUSION & DIVERSITY


The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is committed to fostering inclusive relationships with diverse and underrepresented populations to increase their participation in the regional economy.

 

Economic Inclusion & Diversity Steering Committee

The Steering Committee provides support, guidance, and oversight regarding the Chamber's efforts to offer programming that supports diverse and underrepresented populations. Members are:

  • Michele Jordan - Executive Director, of the Top of AL Regional COG (Vice Chair of Economic Inclusion & Diversity, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Board of Directors)
  • Dr. Karockas Watkins – CEO of Ability Plus (Vice Chair of Small Business, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Board of Directors)
  • Greg Brown – Co-CEO/CFO of Brown Precision (Immediate Past Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Board of Directors)
  • Mary Ellen Judah – CEO/Executive Director at Neighborhood Concepts
  • Stanley Thornton, Owner of Stanley Construction Company
  • Larry Lewis – CEO BizTech and President Project XYZ

Programming & Initiatives



Entrepreneurs & Innovators panel

Four panelists and hosts on the Chamber's Innovators & Entrepreneurs Panel, Feb. 20, 2023

Chamber hosts Entrepreneurs & Innovators panel during 2023 Innovate Huntsville Week
Have you heard about the Fulbright Fellow who started Huntsville Magazine, or B&H Bubbles, or the young man who brought co-working space to the kitchen? What about the young woman who is bringing healthy hair care to thousands of households?

On Feb. 20, we hosted four Huntsville-area business owners to share their stories of success as we kicked off 2023 Innovate Huntsville Week. Read more.

Veteran Recruitment

Chamber visits with transitioning service members to share word about Rocket City

We have visted with servicemen and women at career fairs at different military bases, encouraging them to check ASmartPlace.com for information about living and working in the Huntsville area. Through our partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, the Chamber has attended additional in-person and virtual veteran hiring events along with representatives from partner companies.

Best Place for Working Parents®

Is your company family friendly?

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Foundation is proud to provide the Best Place for Working Parents® program to our local business community.  The Best Place for Working Parents® is a growing national network of business leaders proving that family-friendly IS business friendly, through a first-of-its-kind, 3-minute online self-assessment that highlights the top 10 research-backed policies proven to benefit working parents and businesses’ bottom line.

Women's Business Council

Our Women's Business Council provides a platform for networking, mentoring, and leadership development for women in business.

Minority Business Accelerator




Huntsville Chamber visits Greenville to learn about Minority Business Accelerator

In April 2022, a Huntsville group visited the Greenville Chamber in Greenville, South Carolina to learn about the Minority Business Accelerator they implemented. Read more.

The next trip after our step was to establish an Economic Inclusion & Diversity Steering Committee, as noted above on this page.

 


 

QUESTIONS? CONTACT:

Ashley Engles-Ross
Vice President, Small Business
256-535-2043