Kyle South named new president and CEO at Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

Kyle South, a Fayette native, 2004 University of Alabama graduate, businessman and state representative, has been named the new president and CEO for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, effective July 1.

He's taking the job held for a just over a decade by Jim Page, who in late 2022 announced his March resignation to take a job as executive vice president of MartinFederal Consulting in Huntsville, bringing his family closer to where he grew up, in Morgan County.

After graduating from Fayette County High School, and attending Bevill State Community College, South earned a bachelor's commerce and business administration, with a focus on marketing, from UA.

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Back home, he worked as president and general manager of West Alabama TV Cable Co., founded by his late grandfather, Stephen Vaughan, in 1965. The $5 million business sold in 2019.

South has also been president of the Alabama Cable Telecommunications Association, holding a seat on that group's board of directors since 2008, and has been active in the Fayette Exchange Club and Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce.

South was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2014, running as a Republican, representing District 16, which includes parts of Fayette, Lamar, Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties. Now in his third term, he will step down from that seat at the end of the legislative session, to take the chamber job.

The Chamber's board of directors announced the decision Thursday morning, with 2023 chair of the board Michele Coley of Allstate Coley Agency, and chair of the search committee Bobby Bragg of JamisonMoneyFarmer PC releasing statements.

"Kyle has the business acumen and existing relationships already in place to continue the important role this organization plays in West Alabama to promote economic prosperity and growth. His abilities to tackle tough issues and seek solutions are qualities that will build upon the solid foundation already in place at the Chamber," Coley said.

His leadership will be crucial to "All In," the Chamber's multi-part, five-year strategic plan, Bragg said. Building on the 2017 Next Level Initiative — which led to the group being named 2021 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, a national umbrella group serving 1,600 chambers, including 93 of the top 100 metro areas in the U..S. — last April's Next Level Summit drew more than 110 community leaders from public, private, educational and non-profit sectors to discuss community issues.

Priorities in the new All In plan include diversity, equity and inclusion; economic diversification; healthcare; infrastructure; public education and safety; quality of life in the arts, and in recreation; and barriers to the workforce, including childcare, housing and transportation. In conjunction, there's also an All In capital campaign. To read more about All In, see https://westalabamachamber.com.

"(South) is a dynamic convenor and brings positive working relationships within our Chamber and West AlabamaWorks! team, in addition to many key stakeholders and investors in our region and throughout the state," Bragg said.

"As a state representative, Kyle has done a fantastic job promoting a pro-business atmosphere; so that will be a natural fit in this new role. I respect that Kyle approached this executive search process with integrity and was committed to our extensive vetting process.”

South, his wife Ann-Phillips, and their two daughters Ava Grace and Kylie, currently live in Fayette.

“The opportunity to lead a 120-year-old business advocacy organization is a challenge that I feel my business experiences and serving as an elected official have prepared me for,” South said in a written statement.

“The Chamber has a solid reputation for serving businesses by collaborating with national, state, regional, and local government entities. I want to continue to build upon those successes with the team in place at the Chamber and the volunteer network of leaders who recognize what we have here in terms of resources and opportunities.”

The Chamber has an annual budget of more than $2.1 million, not including its financial management of West AlabamaWorks! and the West Alabama Chamber Foundation.

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama names Kyle South new president/CEO