GUMBO holds Annual Stakeholder Meeting; Bradley Byrne guest speaker

By Jessica Vaughn
Posted 1/30/20

ORANGE BEACH - Gulf United Metro Business Organization (GUMBO) held its Annual Stakeholder Meeting on Monday, Jan. 20 to recap the 2019 year as well as look forward to the coming year. The guest …

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GUMBO holds Annual Stakeholder Meeting; Bradley Byrne guest speaker

Posted

ORANGE BEACH - Gulf United Metro Business Organization (GUMBO) held its Annual Stakeholder Meeting on Monday, Jan. 20 to recap the 2019 year as well as look forward to the coming year. The guest speaker for this year was Congressman Bradley Byrne (R). Byrne will be running for U.S. Senate in 2020.

“GUMBO’s mission is to foster better communication between area business leaders and governmental officials at the state, local, and federal levels in order to enhance the growth and development of South Baldwin County,” said GUMBO Chairman Tommy Lee. “It’s also in place to try to improve the economic opportunities for our citizens here in South Baldwin County.”

During 2019, the Annual Meeting was held at the Gulf State Lodge, when past chair Anthony Kaiser passed the gavel to Lee. During the spring, GUMBO held a Stakeholder Leadership trip to Montgomery, which was attended by 30 stakeholders. During the trip, the group attended meetings and met with Governor Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Secretary of State John Merrill, Senator Pro Tem Del Marsh, ALDOT Director John Cooper, and Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell.

Last year saw the first ever “prospective new member event,” which led to 15 new members signing up directly as a result of the event and other new members since. Lee plans to host a second new member event in 2020. Last year’s Chairman’s Dinner, the group’s annual fundraiser, hosted over 150 attendees.

The largest event GUMBO hosted during 2019 was the Tourism and Economic Development Summit, which lasted three days and two nights. Over 25 legislatures from across the state, members of both the House and Senate tourism committees, attended.

“The program consisted of meetings, speakers, tours, and great seafood to showcase our slice of paradise here on the Gulf Coast,” Lee said. “The summit was tremendously received by the legislatures, many who were from Birmingham north, so a lot of them didn’t truly understand what the Gulf Coast and South Baldwin means. We were able to show them that and they left with a better understanding and appreciation of the value that South Baldwin County brings to the entire state.”

Following Lee’s update on 2019 for GUMBO, Byrne spoke of issues facing the state, some specifically in our area, including healthcare, safety, and infrastructure. According to Byrne, affordable healthcare should be a large topic in Washington D.C., as he said everywhere he goes people ask about obtaining healthcare that works for them and that is affordable. He also stated that infrastructure needs can be found statewide, and specifically in Baldwin County.

“Working together as a tri-city area with Gulf Shores, Foley, and Orange Beach can make a difference,” Lee said. “With the guidance of our business leaders, our stakeholders, and the leadership from our elected officials local, state, and federal, GUMBO can be a positive force moving our region forward, and we can do that while preserving our unique identity and our environment.”

For more information on GUMBO, or if you would like to become a stakeholder, check out their website at www.gumboonthecoast.org.