Birmingham Business Alliance holds annual Chairman’s Meeting

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Birmingham Alabama

It’s been a big year for the automotive industry in the Magic City and on Tuesday industry executives from across the city will be at the UAB’s Alys Stephens Center for the Birmingham Business Alliance’s 2017 Chairman’s Meeting.

Moderated by Alabama Power Company’s John O. Hudson III, the meeting will feature an onstage discussion about Alabama’s automotive industry with local industry executives including:

  • John Hackett: general manager of Kamtek
  • Jason Hoff: president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International
  • Mike Oatridge: vice president of manufacturing for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC
  • Andrew Taitz: chairman of Autocar.

Combined, their companies have announced more than $1.2 billion in investment in Alabama, in 2017 alone.

Mercedes-Benz announced it will invest $1 billion to produce electric vehicles in Alabama and build a Global Logistics Center and after-sales North American hub in Bibb County.Honda announced an $85 million expansion in Alabama that will help prepare it for future technologies, among other things. Autocar announced it will build heavy-duty custom-made trucks in Birmingham, an investment of $120 million. And Kamtek opened its $60 million aluminum casting plant, part of a $530 million expansion it announced in 2015.

During the meeting, the executives will discuss what makes their companies thrive in Birmingham.

As part of this annual event, Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the BBA, will present a year-in-review of the work of the BBA and highlights from around the Birmingham region in 2017.

Additionally, the 2017 BBA Chairman Dr. Ray Watts, president of UAB, will “pass the gavel” to Lee Smith, East Region Executive for BBVA Compass and 2018 BBA Chairman.