Championing the Momentum

by JENNIFER S. KORNEGAY photography by JONATHON KOHN

When Caryn Hughes ponders 2024 and the task ahead of her as The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s new Chairman, multiple thoughts flood her mind. But one sentiment prevails: excitement.

“It’s such an exciting, really thrilling, time to be in this role,” she said.

She brings more than enthusiasm to the Chamber board room; Hughes also stepped into the post armed with strategic thinking and a service mindset, skills honed by her decades-long banking career that recently put her in the Montgomery President’s office at ServisFirst, a move she called a “great fit.” “I love the ServisFirst philosophy — giving our customers the best possible service — and my job is really overseeing that as I lead the bank’s regional footprint,” she said.

CHAMPIONING THE

MOMENTUM Caryn Hughes, the Chamber’s 2024 Chairman, is prepped and equipped to lead the Chamber team into a year where past victories are coming to fruition and bold initiatives for bright-future goals get ready to kickoff.

Caryn’s motivation for entering the industry remains the same, even though she has recently taken on a new position: “Assisting customers in attaining their financial objectives is truly rewarding.

I have a deep passion for my work and the people I work alongside,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to always be surrounded with such a great work family.”

Throughout her professional life, she’s harnessed the power

of teamwork. “I got some sage advice early on: You do not need to be the smartest person in the room to be a great leader.’ Most successful leaders are not the best at everything. I hire people that know a lot more than me, and I listen to them. It is never ‘me;’ it’s ‘us,’” she said.

The value she places on collaboration drew her to the Chamber — She names fostering effective relationships the Chamber’s biggest strength — and it has also shaped her approach to the Chairman’s seat. She likens the position to that of quarterback heading an “incredible” team, including the city, county, state and federal leaders all working together. “We have a lot of diverse industries and business here, and the way the Chamber takes the lead and pulls all of them together, creating partnerships around a shared vision,” she said, “that’s very special and so positive for our businesses and our community at large. It just doesn’t happen at this level many other places.”

More Scores Ahead Hughes noted that she’s joining a winning squad, pointing to the forward momentum that’s been steadily building in the capital city. “Thanks to the Chamber’s hard work, we’ve seen record-setting economic growth. We were named one of the national top 20 economic development organizations, named a top defense community,” she said, “and by the end of 2024’s second quarter, there will have been some $2 billion worth of announcements emerging and taking shape as construction starts, particularly around the inland port.”

But she also knows you can’t keep a wave going without a plan. So, she and Chamber leadership recently engaged Chamber members before finalizing this year’s economic development playbook. “We asked all members, ‘What does the Chamber need to do to create the highest quality jobs and continue to boost the local economy?’” The massive response received resulted in a sharpened focus on sectors that most move the needle, including tourism, talent and workforce development and the Chamber’s longstanding military mission. “The Chamber can do it all, but we can’t get spread too thin, so we’re targeting our resources to maximize our impact,” Hughes said.

Leading by Example Her devotion to the Chamber occupies a lot of her time, yet Hughes gives back in other ways too, donating her expertise to the Girl Scouts and serving on its Gold Award committee and in the past, serving on the boards of the Heart of Alabama Food Bank and The Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts.

Two beloved standard poodles, a once-weekly pickleball game with her team, Pickleball Pros, (“We’re not pros!” she laughed) and a saltwater fishing hobby that hooked her years ago keep her plate full. So do three grandchildren in Montgomery. “Every single minute I can spend with them is important to me,” she said.

Catch & Keep Hughes’ personal passion aligns with one of the identified priorities, talent development, and she’s committed to holding onto Montgomery’s best and brightest. “I think one of the biggest challenges facing the city is attracting young professionals and retaining our homegrown graduates,” she said. “Both are essential to our city’s growth and prosperity.”

According to Hughes, authentic connection is the way to overcome this hurdle. “We can start by getting young people here involved in the Chamber so they can see, firsthand, all its positives and all the potential,” she said.

“If we can get that on their radar, I believe we can get them passionate about Montgomery and keep them here, supporting this community.”

Welcoming them in and stoking their interest is one of Hughes’

main missions as Chair. “I want to make them feel a part of who we are in a way that makes them feel embraced,” she said. “I want to show them what I see.”

And what she sees is a deep-rooted organization that’s building on more than 150 years of success. “I can’t state it enough: I’m so impressed with all the Chamber does and has done,” she said. “I want to help any way I can.” (When Hughes praises Chamber’s work, it’s worth noting that as only the third female Chairman in its history, she’s a standout chapter in its story.)

M O N T GO M E RY C H A M BE R

You do not need to be the smartest person in the room to be a great leader.

She knows she’s not alone with her busy schedule, and yet, she never misses an opportunity to encourage others to make a point to participate in the Chamber and its offerings, stressing that until she really plugged in, she didn’t fully understand — or appreciate — all the organization does. “That’s key, to know how your Chamber is working for you,” she said. “And it is working. You can take

advantage of the networking, the education, the events and other tools to better your business. And, if you love this area and believe in it, joining with the Chamber in its efforts is a great way to improve it too.”

Want to make an impact? Join the Montgomery Chamber. montgomerychamber.com | (334) 834-5200