NEWS

Michelle Hawkins, former owner/ operator of Alabama Weddings Magazine, has been chosen as the next president of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, replacing 20-year veteran Karen Odle, who is retiring.

Sandra Cleveland, 2022 chair of the chamber, recently announced the decision made by the chamber’s board of directors.

“The search committee identified the qualities we were looking for in a new leader,” Cleveland said in a statement from the chamber. “Michelle is a perfect match. She has proven her ability to serve as a dynamic collaborator and communicator who understands the important role the chamber plays in our community. These were the type qualities we were looking for.”

Hawkins founded the luxury magazine and ran it for 20 years. She started her career as owner of PROMotion Marketing Group in Jasper and has worked as a software design architect with Strategic Services Inc. in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and corporate interior designer with The Woodside Group Inc. in Atlanta.

“The opportunity to bring my experiences as a successful small business owner to the chamber is very

exciting,” Hawkins said. “The foundation that has been established over the years by Karen is solid. I look forward to becoming a part of the team that can provide support to businesses of all sizes in the Vestavia Hills.”

John Henley, chair of the chamber’s search committee, said the committee listened to what chamber members wanted in a new leader and interviewed several candidates before

unanimously approving Hawkins.

Hawkins is a supporter of local charities, frequent guest speaker and volunteer for event design work, according to the statement.

The chamber’s president is charged with leading the organization on a day-to-day basis, communicating with the membership, working on government relations/public policy and building partnerships. She also is accountable for financial growth and management, talent development and strategic planning and implementation. The president reports to the executive board and board of directors through an annually elected chair.

Members of the search committee, in addition to Cleveland and Henley, were Donnie Dobbins, 2023 chamber chair, First Horizon Bank; Keri Bates, Rocky Ridge Drug Co.; Doug Dean, Children’s of Alabama; Jeff Downes, city of Vestavia Hills; Linda Parker, Dream Vacations; and James Robinson, Spire Energy.

NEWS ‘Perfect Match’

Vestavia Hills Chamber Selects Michelle Hawkins to Be President

‘The foundation that has been established over the years by Karen (Odle) is solid. I look forward to becoming a part of the team that can provide support to businesses of all sizes in the Vestavia Hills.’ MICHELLE HAWKINS

Michelle Hawkins has been chosen as the next president of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, replacing 20-year veteran Karen Odle, who is retiring.

Patti Williams, above left, has been the Encore Community Respite Program director for nearly six years and said she is thrilled to finally be able to present the Side by Side Community Chorus on stage. The choral group from Canterbury United Methodist Church’s respite program will be performing on June 7.

By Ally Morrison

The choral group from Canterbury United Methodist Church’s respite program will be taking to the stage June 7 for a concert to benefit the Ukrainian community.

Patti Williams has been the Encore Community Respite Program director for nearly six years and said she is thrilled to finally be able to present the Side by Side Community Chorus on stage at Canterbury UMC.

The Encore program gives those with memory loss a four-hour program that includes daily topics, exercise, art and, you guessed it, singing.

“Side by Side was established because we sing every day in Encore,” Williams said. “Having a community choral group has been something I’ve wanted to do for years.”

The choral group includes adults in the program, primarily senior adults living with dementia, their care partners, Encore volunteers and others in the community who love to sing.

“Side by Side gives people something to do with a family member, without being stuck at home,” Williams said. “It’s a creative thing to be able to do together. To make a difference together, to do it for a cause.”

The benefit concert will be free to attend, but Canterbury will accept donations during the show. church has the ability to do all sorts of relief efforts throughout the world,” Williams said. “Canterbury has a contact with feet on the ground in Ukraine. The money will go directly towards helping people in need.”

While this is the first time Canterbury has offered the community chorus, Williams hopes to do it again in the fall.

“This offers major socialization to many people,” Williams said.

Side by Side welcomes anyone living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or any form of dementia who can attend structured weekly rehearsals. Membership in Encore is not required.

For more information about the Side by Side Chorus or Encore Respite, contact Patti Williams at 205874-1525.

Side By Side

Encore Respite Program’s Choral Group Raises Money for Ukraine

‘Side by Side gives people something to do with a family member, without being stuck at home.’ I’m With Mike

Walk Raises Money for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Research

The Mike Slive Foundation’s sixth annual I’m With Mike Prostate Cancer Awareness 5K run/1-mile walk is back this year with in-person and virtual races.

June 18 at 8 a.m., runners, walkers and prostate cancer survivors from across the state will gather at The Battery Sports Bar parking lot in Homewood for the event to put a spotlight on prostate cancer awareness.

Awards will be given for the top three men and women finishers of the 5K. There also will be a Kids Dash at 7:45 a.m. If you want to sleep in but still want to raise money and awareness, you can choose the Doze for Dad virtual option.

“During the height of the pandemic, we had over 600 virtual participants representing all 50 states. … It is also exciting to think about everyone joining across the country with the goal of creating awareness to a disease that affects one in eight men,” said Anna Slive Harwood, executive director of the Mike Slive Foundation.

To register, go to runsignup.com/ Races and search for I’m With Mike. Register by June 3 to guarantee your shirt size selection. Registration is $30, and your support goes toward the foundation’s mission of saving lives by funding cutting-edge research and raising awareness of the importance of early detection for prostate cancer.

The foundation was founded in Birmingham by Slive, former SEC and Conference USA commissioner, and local attorney Ed Meyerson. The event is held in Slive’s memory.

The Alabama Retail Association recently announced the nominees for this year’s Retailer of the Year award.

Nominees must operate or manage a retail business in Alabama that has been in business for at least five years. Winners will be selected in four categories, set by annual sales volume: less than $1 million, $1 million to $5 million, $5 million to $20 million and more than $20 million. Bronze, silver and gold awards may be presented in each category except for the more than $20 million category, in which one winner is selected.

Over the Mountain retailers nominated for 2022 Retailer of the Year are Seth Adams, Village Sportswear in Mountain Brook; Billy Angell, Oak Street Garden Shop and Local Market in Mountain Brook; Zebbie Carney, Eugene’s Hot Chicken in Hoover; David Dawoud, Domino’s Pizza in Vestavia Hills; Susan Gordon, Susan Gordon Pottery in Homewood; Will Haver, Taco Mama in Homewood, Hoover and Vestavia Hills; Dave Horn, Soho Social & Standard in Homewood; Rodney Jackson, Chickfil-A in Vestavia Hills; Amy Jason, Cookie Fix in Homewood and Cahaba Heights; Meg Margjeka, Etc … jewelry and accessories in Mountain Brook; Ashley and Andy McMakin, Ashley Mac’s in Cahaba Heights, Homewood and Hoover; Brenda Meadows, The Lingerie Shoppe in Mountain Brook; Shelli Morrow, The Cottage Basket in Homewood; Jennifer Ryan, BLUEROOT in Mountain Brook; Kelly Seibels, Seibels Cottage in Homewood; Brad and Amy Simpson, Smith’s Variety in Crestline; David and Andrea Snyder, Urban Cookhouse in Homewood; Babbie Styslinger, Three Sheets and At Home Furnishings in Homewood; Mary Swanson, Tulipano in Mountain Brook; and Karla Woodruff and Katie Keller Yandell, milla. in Mountain Brook.

2022 NOMINEES INCLUDE

Brenda Meadows, The Lingerie Shoppe in Mountain Brook

Amy Jason, Cookie Fix in Homewood and Cahaba Heights Meg Margjeka, Etc … jewelry and accessories in Mountain Brook

Brad and Amy Simpson, Smith’s Variety in Crestlline —Ally Morrison

Where every detail and every moment matters.

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