COMMUNITY
leader
CHAMBER
For Casey Gay Williams, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce is something that holds a special place in her heart and always has—ever since she was a child, running around the office while her father served as manager.
BY LIESEL SCHMIDT
N
ow, she herself holds the position of president and CEO of the Chamber, having been brought into the role after a regional search to find someone who would further the organization’s mission and manage it effectively. A graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science Degree and an Executive MBA, she spent more than three decades of her career in the banking industry and served as the Executive VP and Director of Retail for United Bank Atmore before she became Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce president in November 2016. After 35 years dedicating herself to banking, Williams viewed the position as a way to serve the community and almost a destiny—or, as she says, a calling. “My father, Charlie Gay, was a small business owner and the Executive Director of the Eastern Shore Chamber for 14 years,” she says. “I grew up hanging out with my dad at the Chamber and participating in community events, so
working for the Chamber and the Eastern Shore community was always something I wanted to do. The opportunity came along to apply for the president/CEO position, and I was ready for the job.” Bringing with her a wealth of knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and passion, Williams is the ideal president and CEO, imbuing those qualities into her roles—which, in turn, greatly benefits the Chamber and its operations. She has also dedicated countless hours to service and volunteered for several years on the Chamber’s Jubilee Festival committee, serving as festival chairman for two years. Born and raised in Daphne, William now has grandchildren that are the fifth generation of her family to live and grow up on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. “That is one of the reasons that I am so passionate about where I live and work,” she says.
APRIL 2022
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