Jim Page Era Comes To A Close At West Alabama Chamber

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama President & CEO Jim Page penned a heartfelt goodbye to the chamber community, as his time heading up the organization comes to a close after 11 years.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

As Patch previously reported, Page is leaving the Chamber to return home to Huntsville, where he will work as executive vice president of MartinFederal Consulting, LLC — a firm with more than 150 employees across nine states that provides technical solutions in cyber, engineering, information technology, and training to multiple federal organizations including NASA, the FBI, ATF, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.

"After more than 11 incredible years with your Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, [Friday] marks my last official day as President and CEO," he said. "The important work this nationally recognized, award-winning organization has done over the last decade has been nothing short of transformational and I will be forever grateful to you for allowing me to play a small role in it. I also know that the best days for this Chamber and this community are still ahead of us."

ALSO READ: Column | My Friend Jim

Page went on to say that when he first announced he would be stepping down, he greatly underestimated how emotionally difficult the transition process would be.

Still, he said he was reminded of how many true and lasting friendships his family has made since moving to Tuscaloosa in January 2012.

"That’s what we’ll take with us because, as I have said to many, relationships transcend jobs and physical locations," he said. "To that end, please know that I will always be a resource for this organization, its members, its world-class professional staff, and this wonderful community in any way possible."

A nationwide search is currently underway to fill the open position.

At the Chamber's annual awards ceremony, Page also delivered an impassioned parting address to the hundreds gathered for the event.

As a way to document his legacy, here's his entire speech to the Chamber community:

I want to take this final opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to the entire Chamber body. In late 2011, you took a chance on a wet-behind-the-ears, 33-year-old – who looked 20 – to lead this organization as its President and CEO. 11 years, a lot of gray hair, and a fair share of stress wrinkles later, I’m still incredibly humbled and grateful for the honor of working for you.

As Sara, our precious girls, and I will soon be starting a new chapter of our lives in my hometown of Huntsville, thinking back with thoughtful reflection has become a major part of this transition process for me. As with any job and career, there have been lots of peaks and plenty of valleys, but I can look at the last decade with a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished together – and I thank you for that.

I thank you for allowing our team to challenge the status quo and to intentionally avoid the easy path of just doing things the way they’ve always been done. I thank you for having confidence in us to embrace bold ideas and take calculated risks. I thank you for your political courage in standing by us when we tackled difficult public policy issues and when we pushed back on policy makers who weren’t making decisions in the best interest of this great community.

Together, we have moved the needle in so many areas over the past 11 years – often doing so, frankly, with the deck stacked against us and being told by outside forces that it couldn’t be done. This organization and this community are better because of that dogged determination and relentless perseverance. To those of you who have been in the foxhole with us during that extremely difficult work, because it was the right thing to do for this community, you will always have my admiration and respect.

I would also be remiss not to use this moment to pose a parting challenge. We all realize this community has no shortage of challenges. And we know those challenges aren’t confined to invisible city limits or county lines. At the same time, this community also has countless opportunities. And those, too, transcend one side of the river to the other and county boundaries. The only way this or any other community can ever fully address such challenges or seize such opportunities is to do it together. For all stakeholders to take a seat at the table, literally and figuratively, and talk to one another. To listen to one another. To trust one another.

Because in today’s technologically advanced economy, we’re competing with the rest of the state, the rest of the country, and the rest of the world for jobs, for public and private investment, and for talent. But it’s hard to compete with everyone else if we’re competing with ourselves. Success in this amazing community is not a zero-sum game; if something good happens in one government jurisdiction, it benefits the entire area.

So, my challenge to you is this: let’s embrace that mentality. Let’s live the mantra that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” A circular firing squad does not. Because I’m convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that there’s not a challenge too daunting nor an opportunity too lofty for this community to handle. There’s nothing our elected officials and community leaders can’t do, as long as we’re doing it as a united front.

We have all witnessed firsthand what this community can do when it does come together. From the long road to recovery after the 2011 tornado to the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, this community has been at its best when times were the worst. So, just like we do on Saturdays in the fall in support of our beloved Crimson Tide, let’s make being a united front an everyday thing. When we do, everybody wins.

The people who are the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama have had a profound impact on my life. Past chairs, dozens of Board members, and so many of you have taught me and inspired me so much these last few years. And the professional staff, who are more like family than just teammates, show me daily what dedication to a larger mission looks like and constantly remind me why we do this important work…and that’s to help people. Period.

I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to work for you and please know that this special place will always have a piece of my heart.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.