Finalists for this year's Sloan awards were recently announced and 17 Birmingham businesses made the list. These companies have shown to be in the top 20 percent nationally in regards to flexible workplace policies. Birmingham's winners will be announced in the Chamber's July newsletter.

Birmingham's finalists are: Doster Construction Company, Inc.; Customer Service Organization/Alabama Power Co.; Concept, Inc.; Birmingham Metropolitan YMCA; Barfield Murphy Shank & Smith; Levite Jewish Community Center; Resources Global Professionals; Ernst & Young; Sellers, Richardson, Watson, Haley & Dunn, LLP; Deloitte; Sephora; ITAC Solutions; Allstate's Technical Services, LLC; AQAF; Tyson Realty Corporation; TekLinks, Inc.; and One Stop Environmental, LLC.
 

The Alabama House of Representatives recently approved legislation that if enacted would make retroactive changes (up to six years) to the taxation of certain corporate transactions commonly made between related business entities. The Chamber strongly opposes such changes.

The bill, HB350, is now pending before the Alabama Senate, where its future is uncertain.

“Retroactive tax legislation is particularly alarming to the business community.  Alabama has for years worked tirelessly to create a favorable business environment which has led to economic expansion and job creation in the state," said Pascal Caputo, vice president of public policy for the chamber. "The adoption of bad tax policy, however, has the potential to undo the results of that hard work. In light of that danger, it’s imperative for business to remain unified in opposition to retroactive tax legislation.”

The Chamber thanks all House members who provided help with procedural votes and amendments in particular, the Birmingham-region House members, for their opposition to House passage of HB350 — Reps. Greg Canfield, Paul DeMarco, Owen Drake, Mike Hill, Mary Sue McClurkin, Arthur Payne, Cam Ward and Randy Wood. For more information on how to contact these legislators directly, contact Caputo or Alison Howell, director of public policy for the Chamber.

Every wonder what Birmingham's top businesses leaders are reading? Wonder no more

These key individuals and their organizations represent the top echelon of membership in the Chamber and enable the Chamber to perform successfully for the region. Click here to enter the Chairman's Circle Library and see what books they've been reading.
 

There I was…on the stage at Universal Studios in Hollywood … Mayor Reardon of Los Angeles had his arm over my shoulder and was handing me keys to a $50,000 car. The photographers were blinding me with their flashes.

How did I get there? It was the early days of the Inc 500 and a staff member of our Chamber suggested AmSher apply. I had just won the grand prize.

Almost every good thing that has happened to AmSher, and to me personally, has been the result of our Chamber membership. Most of our clients came from relationships developed through the Chamber. I’ve had the opportunity to visit many cities through our BIG trips, met and spent time with our government leaders and had the opportunity to meet scores of famous and influential people—from Ruben Studdard to Condoleezza Rice. But more, importantly, my best friends have come from our Chamber.

I have attended 25 Chamber functions so far this year. It has been said it’s not what you know, but who you know. Every time I attend a Chamber event, I make a new friend. You can’t have too many friends.

David Sher is Co-CEO of AmSher Receivables Management. He is a past Chairman of our Chamber