Mobile Chamber: Eagle Awards Results, Leader Search Details

The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce has awarded two local minority-owned companies and named its 2021 Minority Business Advocate. Its annual Eagle Award luncheon on October 8 saw Green Magic Landscape and Small’s Mortuary & Cremation Services win the awards. Green Magic Landscape is owned by the husband and wife team of Carita and Larry Koen and serves residential, commercial and government customers in five South Alabama counties. The company was founded in 2016 and has five employees. Small’s Mortuary and Cremation Services, owned by Caracher “C.J.” Small, Jr., has two funeral homes in Mobile County and one in Baldwin County, and owns and operates a crematory. Founded in 2002, the company has 48 employees. St. Louis, Missouri-based Spire Inc. was named Minority Business Advocate for its efforts and commitment to supplier diversity. Among Spire’s efforts is a new digital portal for prospective suppliers. It has 130 employees in Mobile and nearly 3,600 total.

The chamber has also begun a nationwide search for a new president and CEO. A nine-member search team comprised of former chamber chairs, as well as area elected and business leaders, are looking to replace William B. Sisson, who is resigning today (BBN #60). The members are Liz Freeman of Long’s Human Resource Services; Terry Harbin of Affordable Homes Gulf Coast LLC; Abe Harper of Harper Technologies LLC; Frank Lott of Heritage Homes; Merceria Ludgood of the Mobile County Commission; Harris Morrissette of China Doll Rice and Beans, Inc.; Patrick Murphy of Alabama Power Co.; Richard Stimpson of Leavell Investment Management, Inc.; and Matt White of White-Spunner Realty, Inc. Harbin, who is also the chamber’s current board chair, was elected chairman of the search team. The group is in discussions with four national search firms that are knowledgeable in chambers of commerce. In the interim, Bob Chappelle will serve as interim president and CEO. Chappelle joined the Chamber staff in March 2001 as executive vice president and was later promoted to chief operating officer. He previously has served interim roles in economic development, small business development and community and governmental affairs.