chamber news continued from page 14
However, he admits the Chamber faces some challenges. “I believe it is the Chamber Board of Directors’ job to provide leadership, direction, and guidance,” he says. “That involves providing an updated strategic plan the Chamber staff can execute on a day-today basis, based on our being a regional Chamber. “A lot has changed since the existing plan was written,” he continues. “The Tennessee Valley is unique in that we have a large commuter base that draws from more than a dozen surrounding counties, including Southern Tennessee. That makes us a regional Chamber with Madison County as the hub. Many people who work in Huntsville, live in Lincoln County, Tennessee, Athens, or Cullman, Alabama. They care about the quality of living in those communities as well.” Newberry says Huntsville already has a great deal of synergy with these communities. “I know Huntsville Mayor Tommy Bat-
tle believes we need to work with all of these communities as well because they overflow into Madison County,” he says. “It gives us an incentive to work with them, and them with us, to create a win-win situation.” One of the questions he hopes to answer is: With more than 2,100 Chamber members representing a variety of different business sectors, how do we continue to add value to that membership, year after year? Another challenge ahead is sector diversity. “Fifty percent of our economy is based on DoD and NASA,” says Newberry. “Many factors can change that rather quickly, so the Chamber is always assertively looking at ways to diversify. A good example of us effectively doing that is in advanced manufacturing. “ With companies like Polaris, Remington, Boeing and GE Aviation expanding or coming into the Tennessee Valley, he says the Chamber must continue to cultivate the smartest people. “Success produces more success, and yet that approach creates work-
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16 • hsvchamber.org
force challenges. We are all the time trying to develop an up-and-coming workforce for the needs we have,” Newberry explains. “We must continue to build on our highly skilled economic workforce well into the future.” Coming from a man who cut his teeth on Chamber membership, Newberry has an interesting take on its priorities. “To me, it’s not about getting a certain number of members. It’s adding value to the existing membership and showing other non-members there is real value in it, regardless of the business sector, or size of your business. “Unfortunately, I don’t think our members take advantage of all our Chamber’s resources and capabilities,” Newberry concludes. “There is a wealth of practical and strategic information available through the Chamber to help businesses grow and build relationships with customers and potential customers. We have to make sure that is out front.”