CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
ZOO WEEKEND OFFERS FAMILY FUN The City of Montgomery and the Montgomery Area Zoological Society invited all to the 41st annual Zoo Weekend in mid March. The two-day event featured a festival-style environment with live entertainment, rides, games, inflatables, animal presentations and tasty treats. The family friendly event also featured a rock-climbing wall and the Jo Don Petting Zoo, where guests were able to touch and feed animals as well as ride ponies and camels. Started in 1976 to raise funds to support capital improvement projects, Zoo Weekend is a cherished tradition in the River Region. Throughout the years, proceeds from this event have supported the construction of new habitats for African elephants, American alligators and North American river otters. The event also serves as a membership drive for the zoo, with discounted annual membership rates.
LOCAL RESTAURANT GM APPOINTED TO HOSPITALITY BOARD The Vintage Year’s General Manager Chase
Richard Deems. “This will enable this effective organization to be more effective to touch those that’s in a greater need in the local community,”
RETA IL NEWS
Brown was recently appointed to serve on the
said Publix Media and Community Relations Man-
board for the Alabama Restaurant and Hospi-
ager Dwaine Stevens.
KIRKLAND’S JOINS EASTCHASE CENTRAL
EMPLOYEES NOW OWN INFORMATION TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS
Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC
Information Transport Solutions, Inc. (ITS), a lead-
7,500 square feet, to the store
ing provider of broadband and network services
line-up for Eastchase Central,
to education, govern-
the new shopping center de-
ment and industry in the
velopment under construction
Southeast, announced
and located at the mid-point of
that its Employee Stock
Eastchase Parkway. Kirkland’s
Ownership Plan (ESOP)
is a well-known name in the
Trust has acquired 100
Southeast and will join Mar-
percent of the outstand-
shalls/HomeGoods and Five
ing shares of company.
Below in this new shopping
This was made possible
venue at Eastchase. “As the
by founder Tomi Selby selling her remaining
developer of Eastchase, Jim
company stock to the employees of ITS, effective
Wilson & Associates looks
March 6, 2017. “Employee ownership was one of
forward to the addition of
The Montgomery Area Food Bank got a huge
the main reasons I originally joined ITS. This im-
Kirkland’s, an outstanding
portant step further ensures that employees can
retailer, to our new shopping
share in the company’s success,” said Jeff Drury,
center project, Eastchase
CFO. “I thank Tomi for her leadership and vision in
Central, opening in the Fall
making the ESOP a reality.” Selby founded ITS in
of this year,” said Will Wilson,
1998 and it has grown - because of its employees
President of Jim Wilson &
and leadership - to become a leading information
Associates.
tality Association. The Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association is a non-profit corporation, dedicated to serve the needs of the foodservice hospitality industry in the state of Alabama. The Association provides educational programs, membership services, legislative and government relations, informational services, and promotes the industry for its members. “It’s an honor to be selected to the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association Board of Directors for a two-year term. I plan on using this platform to help our youth in the culinary field through demonstrations, career days and many other engagements that give vision and hope. I feel it is our responsibility to teach these kids about the skills and abilities that will attribute to a more prosperous career,” said Brown.
FOOD BANK DONATION boost in its ability to get food to people across the state recently thanks to a generous donation from Publix Super Markets. Publix donated a new refrigerated food truck to the Food Bank, a gift valued at $150,000. The truck will help ensure that many residents get healthy foods like fruits and vegetables that need refrigerating during shipment. “If we didn’t have these refrigerated trucks, it would hinder our mission and ultimately
technology firm in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. The full-employee ownership of ITS will fuel further expansion efforts.
it would affect the people,” said food bank CEO 62
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
(JWA) has added the specialty retailer Kirkland’s, with over