The Cary Center and Here Molly Girl to Provide FREE Virtual Training for Nonprofits The Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is partnering with Katy Harper Doss, owner/principal of Here Molly Girl—a full-service marketing and design firm based in Opelika, to present an hour of training for nonprofits for FREE. The virtual program, titled “Better Newsletters: Creating [...]

Fuel Alabama, a program of Innovate Alabama and EDPA, Launches Statewide Talent Programming for Summer of 2023 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 25, 2023) – Fuel Alabama (FuelAL), a talent attraction and retention program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), in partnership with Innovate Alabama, is proud to announce its collaboration with nine select communities to offer summer programming for college students. Partnering communities will offer professional [...]

Auburn spring commencement ceremonies to take place May 5-8 AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn University’s spring commencement exercises will take place May 5-8 in Neville Arena, featuring keynote addresses by three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines and Southern Company Senior Vice President Paula Marino. Marino will deliver the commencement address on Friday, May 5, at 5 p.m. to the College of Education and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering [...]

Auburn University celebrating 30 years of Kreher Preserve and Nature Center Auburn University celebrating 30 years of Kreher Preserve and Nature Center AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve and Nature Center is commemorating its 30th anniversary with a yearlong celebration in 2023. Among the events planned to mark this milestone are a photo contest, a summer camp, Forest Friends reunions and a 30th anniversary social. “For 30 [...]

Walton Law Firm, P.C. Celebrates Attorney Catherine Moncus’ 25th Year of Practicing Law Auburn, Alabama,  May 1st, 2023 marks Personal Injury Attorney Catherine Moncus’ 25th year of practicing Law.  “During my 25 years of practice, there have been many ups and downs, but I am proudest of the people I have been able to help during their time of need and building lifelong friendships.  I look forward to helping [...]

Auburn researcher finds soil moisture is key to understanding drought, flood risks AUBURN, Ala. — Understanding soil moisture changes may help with regional water resources planning for drought and flood risks, according to a study by Sanjiv Kumar in Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. His findings, recently published in the journal “Earth’s Future,” used a very large number of climate realizations and data from two [...]

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. encourages Auburn students to drive change AUBURN, Ala. — Gen. CQ Brown Jr., chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, visited Auburn University’s School of Aviation on April 20 to inspire the next generation of change-makers in aviation by advising them on sound leadership. As chief of staff, Brown leads the organization and training of more than half [...]

Auburn pharmacy graduate student studying supplements, drug interactions earns NIH research fellowship  AUBURN, Ala. – Kabre Heck is the first student from Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy to earn a research fellowship from the National Institutes of Health aimed at promoting diversity in health-related research. She joins just seven Auburn students who previously earned F31 fellowships through the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Heck came [...]

Hiztorical Vision Productions Receives Grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts Funding will support the creation of a historical documentary project focalizing John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. Opelika, Ala. – Hiztorical Vision Productions has received a $14,600 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts to fund the Bama Black History 365 Internship Program (BBH365). With these funds, Hiztorical Vision Productions [...]

Application Changes for 2023-2024 Lee County Young Leaders The Opelika Chamber of Commerce would like to announce that the due date for Lee County Young Leaders applications has been extended and high school juniors and seniors are welcome to apply. The deadline for applications has been extended to Friday, April 21, 2023. The Lee County Young Leaders program is a joint initiative among Lee County businesses, municipalities, [...]

New Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence Created to Support Education, Economic Development, Technology Parity and Access AUBURN, AL – March 22, 2023 – A public-private partnership based in Auburn, Alabama has established the Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (AAICE, pronounced ace) to improve the development and understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning. “As innovation continues to advance, it is imperative that rural and other [...]

The Cary Center and the Community Foundation of East Alabama to Provide Training for Area Nonprofits The Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is partnering with the Community Foundation of East Alabama to present a day of training for nonprofits in East Alabama. The program, titled “Grow Your Nonprofit: Resources to Maximize Impact,” will take place on [...]

Applications Now Open for the 2023-2024 Lee County Young Leaders Opelika, AL- (March 14, 2023) The Opelika Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that applications for this year’s Lee County Young Leaders are now open. Lee County Young Leaders is a county-wide program that aims to nurture and develop positive leadership qualities in high school juniors by giving them the knowledge, tools, and contacts to become successful [...]

Machen McChesney Announces New COO Auburn, Alabama – March 13, 2023 Machen McChesney, one of the region's leading CPA and business advisory firms, is pleased to announce Reid B. Gavin, AuD, MBA, has been named the firm's new Chief Operating Officer. A senior executive with 15 years of experience, Reid excels in leading organizations and teams to deliver excellence to clients while driving sustainable growth. Throughout his [...]

MAX Credit Union Appoints a New Chief Retail Officer MONTGOMERY, AL (March 23, 2023) - MAX Credit Union, a local financial institution based in Montgomery, AL, is pleased to announce that Will Epperson has been promoted to Chief Retail Officer. Will Epperson began his career with MAX in 1991 working his way through the ranks and taking on a variety of roles throughout his tenure. He has [...]

FMLS and East Alabama Board of REALTORS® Launch Partnership to Expand Member Benefits Across Alabama and Georgia ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, March 8, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The East Alabama Board of REALTORS® (EABOR) and First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) announced a new partnership agreement today that benefits real estate professionals, and homebuyers and sellers throughout Alabama and the Southeastern United States. Under the exclusive partnership, FMLS will provide members [...]

74th Auburn Chamber Annual Meeting Award Winners Each year the Auburn Chamber Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of the Auburn business community and an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past year, applaud outstanding area businesses, and look forward to the year ahead. This year’s meeting, held at The Jay and Susie Gouge Performing Arts Center at Auburn University, featured remarks by the following: Rusty [...]

Cary Center to Host Mix & Mingle-Networking Event for Nonprofit Professionals at Botanic Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies will host a Mix and Mingle networking event for nonprofit professionals at Botanic (1702 Fredrick Road, Opelika, AL) on Monday, March 13, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 PM CST. This event is for The Cary Center Nonprofit Affiliate program, which [...]

The Cary Center and the Community Foundation of East Alabama to Provide Training for Area Nonprofits The Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is partnering with the Community Foundation of East Alabama to present a day of training for nonprofits in East Alabama. The program, Titled “Grow Your Nonprofit: Resources to Maximize Impact”, will take place on [...]

Machen McChesney Announces New Managing Partner Machen McChesney, one of the region's leading CPA and business advisory firms, is excited to announce Michael D. Machen, CPA,CVA, has been named the firm’s new Managing Partner. Marty Williams, former managing partner, said: “It has been my privilege for 14 years to serve as Managing Partner for Machen McChesney. I will continue serving clients and working side by side with [...]

Machen McChesney Promotes Chris Earnest  Machen McChesney, one of the region's leading CPA and business advisory firms, is excited to announce the promotion of Chris Earnest to Director of Business Services. "As the firm continues to grow, the promotion of experienced senior leaders strengthens the foundation at Machen McChesney," said Marty Williams, the firm's managing partner. "This promotion recognizes Chris' outstanding accomplishments and commitment to our community, [...]

New Partner named at Machen McChesney Auburn, Alabama Machen McChesney, one of the region's leading CPA and business advisory firms, announces it has named R. Murry Guy, III, CPA, a new partner. "The focus of our growth is grounded in our continual effort to best serve our clients. We understand having a large, competent, and highly motivated team provides our clients access to deep advisory knowledge and [...]

The Cary Center and the Community Foundation of East Alabama to Provide Training for Area Nonprofits AUBURN, AL (January 23, 2023) The Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is partnering with the Community Foundation of East Alabama to present a day of training for nonprofits in East Alabama. The program, titled “Grow Your Nonprofit: Resources to Maximize [...]

The Cary Center Nonprofit Volunteer, Internship & Career Fair at the Melton Student Center at Auburn University on February 6, 2023 AUBURN, AL (January 11, 2023) Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies will host its 4th annual Meet Me at the VIC (Volunteer, Internship and Career) Fair which will convene over 50 regional nonprofits with AU undergraduate [...]

Grand Opening of the Auburn Day School Imagination Station AUBURN, AL (January 19, 2023) Auburn Day School, Alabama’s STEM Preschool, is opening the doors of its brand new ADS Imagination Station for children and families the fourth Saturday of each month. The first event, Arctic Adventures*, will mark the grand opening of ADS’s new expansion Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. 1199 South Donahue Drive, Suite E, Auburn, AL, [...]

MAX Credit Union Named a Best Company to Work for in Alabama MONTGOMERY, AL (December 27, 2022) - MAX Credit Union, a local financial institution based in Montgomery, AL, was recently recognized by American Banker as one of the 2022 Best Credit Unions to Work For in the Country and has now been named as one of this year’s 2022 Best Companies to Work For in Alabama, [...]

Montgomery Extends Internet Network to Auburn to Expand Digital Access November 15, 2022 – The City of Montgomery today announced plans to extend its high-speed internet network to Auburn, Alabama. This expansion will pave the digital path to cost-effective, efficient and accessible connectivity. The Montgomery Internet Exchange, MGMix, a peering network that supports internet service providers (ISP), will extend its network fabric to AUBix LLC, a mission-critical, [...]

Pivotal acquires Byerly & Associates November 2, 2022 — Pivotal, an outsourced advisory, accounting, and tax firm focused on serving the business and personal needs of small and medium sized business owners, has acquired Byerly & Associates. The combined firm will be based in Auburn, Alabama and will bring together two like-minded firms focused on serving entrepreneurial-minded business owners. Richard Byerly and his entire Auburn-based professional team [...]

Jackson Thornton Asset Management Named to CNBC’S Top 100 Financial Advisors List   October 7, 2022 —  Jackson Thornton Asset Management (JTAM), a wealth management firm with offices in Montgomery, Dothan, and Opelika, AL, is pleased to announce that it has been named to CNBC’s 2022 Top 100 Financial Advisors list. From an initial list of more than 39,000 firms considered, JTAM was ranked 88th of the [...]

Mortgage Lender Quinn Harrelson Joins River Bank & Trust  September 30, 2022 — East Alabama Region President Boles Pegues is pleased to announce that Mortgage Lender Quinn Harrelson has joined River Bank & Trust. Harrelson will serve as Vice President, assisting clients in Auburn, Alexander City, and the surrounding areas with their home financing needs. "With his experience and high standards of customer care, Quinn knows how [...]

Three Sixty Voted Best Real Estate Company in Opelika-Auburn News "Best of O-A" Awards September 26, 2022 – Three Sixty {real estate} is pleased to announce they have been voted “Best Real Estate Company” for the second year in a row in the Opelika-Auburn News “Best of O-A” Awards. From the beginning, Co-Founders Tricia Young and Nonet Parmer Reese had a vision for Three Sixty: a company [...]

Cary Center Hosting 6th Annual Nonprofit Summit to Feature Sector Executives and Experts September 22, 2022 – The College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies will feature renowned executives and leading experts during its 6th Annual Nonprofit Summit, which will take place on Monday, October 17, 2022, at the Hotel at Auburn University. Horst Schultz, Co-Founder of Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Philanthropist and Author [...]

WTVM News Leader 9 to Host Job Fair at the Cunningham Center September 6, 2022 – WTVM News Leader 9 is hosting a regional job fair that is free and open to the public to help top area employers meet their urgent recruitment needs. Qualified applicants will meet with perspective employers spanning multiple professional and trade industries including retail, auto, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, food service, education and [...]

Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Grand Opening in Auburn August 15, 2022 – Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, the North Carolina-based company that reinvented the coffee experience, will soon open their thirteenth store in Auburn, AL. Named after their 2 children with Down syndrome, the brand was first launched by the Wright family in 2016 to change the way people see people with disabilities -- especially in the workplace. [...]

Walton Law Firm, P.C. Lawyer Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® List August 18, 2022 -- Walton Law Firm, P.C. is pleased to announce that Trip Walton has been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. "Best Lawyers was founded more than 40 years [...]

The Cary Center and the River Region United Way to Provide Training for Area Nonprofits August 15, 2022 — The Auburn University College of Human Sciences’ Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is partnering with the River Region United Way to present a day of training for nonprofits in the Montgomery area. The program, titled “Grow Your Nonprofit: Resources to Maximize Impact”, will [...]

Machen McChesney Announces the Promotion of Emma Farris, Eric Perry, and Lance Meacham July 28, 2022 - Machen McChesney, a leading CPA, and Business Advisory firm, announces the promotion of Emma Farris to Supervisor, Eric Perry to Senior Accountant, and Lance Meacham to Senior Accountant. Emma Farris, CPA Machen McChesney announces the promotion of Emma Farris, CPA, to Supervisor. Emma has been employed with Machen McChesney since [...]

Auburn School Campus Safety Enhanced Through Increase in School Resource Officers August 10, 2022 — As part of the continuing partnership between Auburn City Schools, Auburn Board of Education, and the City of Auburn, the Auburn Police Department (APD) has further increased school resource officer (SRO) staffing to assign at least one officer at each school campus for the duration of the school year, effective August 2022. [...]

July 1, 2022 — East Alabama Region President Boles Pegues is pleased to announce that Susan Hawkins has joined River Bank & Trust as Vice President & Treasury Management Officer. A seasoned banking professional, Hawkins will equip area businesses with cutting-edge treasury management solutions and local banking expertise. "Adding a treasury management expert to our East Alabama team demonstrates our commitment to support the local business community," says Pegues. [...]

June 14, 2022 — Applications are now available to volunteer with the United Way as Loaned Executive for the upcoming 2023 Campaign. The United Way relies on valued employees of local businesses who want to give back to their community to serve as Loaned Executives. Applications can be found online at unitedwayofleecounty.com and are due by June 30. Campaign season will kick off in August and a half day training [...]

June 1, 2022 — The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, managed by Ithaka Hospitality Partners, LLC. has been recognized as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner for Hotels as one of the best in the world based on 2021 traveler reviews on Tripadvisor. This award celebrates businesses that consistently deliver exceptional experiences to guests from around the globe, having earned great traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. Through [...]

May 27, 2022 – Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Montgomery, AL, is pleased to announce the addition of Justin K. Clark and Susan S. Barnes to the firm. Justin Clark is a principal in the firm’s Auburn/Opelika office and joins Jackson Thornton Asset Management (JTAM) as a financial advisor. Prior to joining JTAM, Clark was a partner in an Auburn-based real estate development [...]

May 20, 2022 — Leadership Lee County class of 2022 transforms areas at local Boys and Girls Club creating “a space where kids can dream” The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County has three newly renovated spaces thanks to the hard work of the Leadership Lee County class of 2022. The cohort, consisting of 26 professionals from Lee County, combined efforts over eight months to develop the [...]

May 5, 2022 — Calling all engineers, contractors, and specialists. Does your company need QCI Training? The Erosion Pros (Your Environmental Specialists) want to help your projects succeed.  Erosion Pros is now offering Qualified Credentialed Inspector (QCI) training. The training includes the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) rules and regulations per the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for the Alabama Construction Stormwater and Small [...]

April 27, 2022 — The Lee County Association of REALTORS® (LCAR) is proud to announce its 2022 Award Winners among the organization’s membership. Ryan Roberts of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate was awarded Lee County REALTOR of the Year for 2022. This award recognizes the REALTOR who has contributed the most to the real estate profession on a local level, to fellow REALTORS and to the community at [...]

April 19, 2022 — Renasant Corporation announced that Forbes has named Renasant Bank as one of the best banks in the world in its World's Best Banks 2022 report ranking it as the sixth best bank in the United States. In compiling its rankings for Forbes, Statista surveyed more than 45,000 customers for their opinions on their current and former banking relationships. Banks were rated on general satisfaction as well as [...]

April 11, 2022 —Three members of the Lee County Home Builders Association are among the honorees in the 2022 Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards (AREA) competition, presented by the Home Builders Association of Alabama. J. Manifold Construction won the Whole House Remodel $250,000-$500,000 category with its Waterfront Dream Home project. It was also named the winner of the Basement Remodel category with its A Tight Squeeze Reno project, and was [...]

April 11, 2022 —The Auburn Chamber, along with Auburn University Athletics and the City of Auburn, inducted the following class of athletic legends into the Tiger Trail of Auburn on April 8 at the Neville Arena: Emily Carosone, Kirsty Coventry, Marquis Daniels, Jimmy Dozier, Chip Spratlin, Stan White, Joe Whitt, Sr., and Greg Williams. The new inductees officially join the ranks of 130 past Tiger Trail inductees and is [...]

March 14, 2022—The Auburn Chamber is excited to announce the newest member to their growing team. Anna Fountain began her role of New Member Services Coordinator in January of this year. She is responsible for recruitment of new members to achieve membership goals which follow the budget and strategic plan approved by the Board of Directors. The position serves as the representative for all new members and assists them [...]

March 14, 2022 — The Auburn Chamber of Commerce announces Stephanie Calhoun has been named Director of Member Engagement. In her new role, Calhoun is responsible for engaging and stewarding all existing members to achieve retention goals which follow the budget and strategic plan approved by the Board of Directors. The position serves as the key liaison for the Auburn Chamber (with the exception of new and first year [...]

April 5, 2022 — Lee County President Boles Pegues has announced the opening of River Bank & Trust's second Auburn office at 1192 South Donahue Street, the Alabama-based bank's twentieth location. In celebration, the bank will host a grand opening on Friday, April 29, at noon. "We're thrilled to provide the Lee County community with even more convenience," says Pegues. "Customers will enjoy the corner location as well as [...]

March 23, 2022 - Volunteers for Relay For Life of Lee County will meet Thursday, March 24, and anyone interested in learning about relay, as well as volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, are encouraged to attend. The 5 p.m. meeting will be held at Opelika’s Public Library, 1100 Glenn Street. “We’re a group of dedicated people whose lives have been changed by cancer, and we’re working to do something about it,” said Randy [...]

February 25, 2022 — The Auburn Police Department (APD) is excited to announce the launch of Eagle Watch, a free security camera registration program available to all residents and business owners in The City of Auburn. APD’s Eagle Watch Program is modeled after other successful video surveillance partnership programs across the country. Those successes are measured in the number of crimes solved through the partnerships between law enforcement and the [...]

February 21, 2022 — Machen McChesney, a leading CPA, and Business Advisory firm, announces the promotion of Tracey Strickland to Director of Tax Resolution and Tim Pierce to CFO & Value Growth Services Consultant. Tracey Stickland, CPA, EA Machen McChesney announces the promotion of Tracey Strickland to Director of Tax Resolution. Tracey has been employed with Machen McChesney since 2018. Tracey specializes in IRS tax compliance and resolutions, state [...]

February 14, 2022 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Windstream Wholesale, a leading provider of fast and flexible solutions, announced today that it will connect its Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON) to the AUBix LLC data center adjacent to Auburn University. The Auburn connection, scheduled to come online by the end of February, is the latest addition to Windstream’s growing data center portfolio. Windstream Wholesale is now taking orders at the [...]

February 14, 2022 — Local in-home care provider, Synergy HomeCare of East and Central Alabama, wins awards with independent satisfaction research companies, Home Care Pulse and Caring.com. Synergy HomeCare of East and Central Alabama announced that it has received the 2022 Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice Award from Home Care Pulse. Based on client satisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse, an independent satisfaction research firm [...]

January 3, 2022 — Today, Whataburger is bringing its fresh, customized burgers, Fancy and Spicy Ketchup, and orange-and-white-striped fun to its first-ever location in Auburn. The restaurant at 101 North College Street pays respect to Whataburger’s storied history while looking to the future with a forward-thinking design. Some of the features include a state-of-the-art kitchen, an open-concept dining room, and custom-designed wall art to honor Auburn’s hometown landmarks. Whataburger has partnered [...]

January 3, 2022 — MAX Credit Union, based in Montgomery, AL is changing the narrative on fees. Effective today, MAX is taking a strong stance to put members first by eliminating non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees and offering a grace on overdraft charges. This new policy will ease the financial burden caused by fees for many members and supports national movements designed to make banking more equitable. “We understand NSF [...]

Auburn, AL — R&R Landscaping is proud to have earned an Award of Excellence by The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) for their work in residential design/build projects within the Auburn community. Their winning project, Lawnless in the South, showcased an outdoor space for a client with “a passion for plants and zero time to care for them.” The homeowners built this home to simplify and intentionally limit the [...]

November 3, 2021 — “The Front Door to Auburn” is a winning location for meetings and conventions, according to ConventionSouth MultiMedia Services. The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center has won its sixth ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award. The Hotel was one of 4,000 venues nominated and is one of 415 winners throughout the U.S. and 25 throughout the state of Alabama. “ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted [...]

October 19, 2021 — The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center isn’t just a great place to stay – it’s also a Great Place to Work. Ithaka Hospitality Partners is proud to announce that its property, The Hotel at Auburn University, has been Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at The Hotel [...]

October 5, 2021 — Dr. Roman Pausch, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Rausch & Pausch (RAPA) Automotive is pleased to announce the promotion of Carmen Jordan to President & CEO of RAPA LP in Auburn, Alabama. According to Dr. Pausch, “She combines technical competence as an engineer, personal qualities as a manager with many years of professional experience, and has the respect of the Associates [...]

July 15, 2021—Machen McChesney, a leading CPA and Business Advisory firm, announces the promotion of Stephen Taunton to Manager, Austin Duran to Supervisor, and Michael Chesnutt to the firm's leadership team. Stephen Taunton, CPAMachen McChesney announces the promotion of Stephen Taunton, CPA, to Manager. Stephen has been employed with Machen McChesney since 2015. Stephen's areas of expertise include tax compliance and planning. He specializes in individual, business, and trust, [...]

June 7, 2021—The Auburn Chamber of Commerce has made recent changes with the promotion of Crystal McKelvy and the addition of three team members. Crystal McKelvy, Events Services Coordinator Former Resource Specialist Crystal McKelvy has been a member of the Auburn Chamber staff for three years and has been promoted to the position of Event Services Coordinator. From accepting reservations for events, planning and executing the logistics of our [...]

Each year the Auburn Chamber Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of the Auburn business community and an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past year, applaud outstanding area businesses, and look forward to the year ahead. This year’s meeting, held at The Hotel at Auburn University, featured remarks by the following: Rod Carter, 2020 chair of the Auburn Chamber; Dr. Cory Smith, Auburn United Methodist Church; Stacy Williams [...]

River Bank & Trust's Lee County President / Executive Vice President Boles Pegues, III is proud to announce Auburn Office Manager Angela Moulton's promotion to Vice President. During her 18-year career, Angela has risen through the banking ranks, excelling in indispensable roles as a financial associate, customer service representative, office manager, and lender. "Angela embodies River Bank & Trust's values every day, going above and beyond when caring for our [...]

The Home Builders Association of Alabama recently awarded J Manifold Construction with multiple state awards in the 2021 Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards competition. The coveted Best in Show was awarded for their spectacular Brookside Game Day Dream Home project; which also received first place in the Whole House Remodel over $500,000 category. The company also received Runner-up in this category for their charming Payne Street Cottage project. J Manifold [...]

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) is pleased to announce the addition of R&R Landscaping as a participant in the NALP Safe Company Program. The Safe Company Program is a safety initiative developed by NALP to assist landscape and lawn care companies in their efforts to provide a safe work environment. The Safe Company Pledge commits professional companies like R&R Landscaping to maintain an active safety program. R&R [...]

Effective February 1, 2021, Weichert, Realtors-Porter Properties will no longer be affiliated with the Weichert Realtors® franchise. The business will change its name to Porter Properties. Also in this transition, Carole Harrison will become the broker for Porter Properties in the residential/commercial sales office. Harrison, who lives in Auburn, has been a realtor since 1999 and has served in many capacities in the state and local real estate profession. Currently, [...]

Matthew Willis of Crawford/Willis Group-eXp Realty has been awarded the At Home with Diversity® certification from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Willis joins more than 17,000 other real estate professionals in North America who have earned the certification after completing a six-hour course addressing topics of diversity, fair housing and business planning development. The program is designed to meet the nation's fair housing commitment by educating and equipping NAR's [...]

The Auburn Chamber of Commerce board of directors has announced Anna Hovey as the new chamber president. Hovey has been part of the Auburn Chamber staff for five years and currently serves as the vice president of business development. Before, she served as the chamber’s director of special events and business development. Beginning Monday, February 15, Hovey will start her role as Auburn Chamber president. “The search committee was excited [...]

Jackson Thornton Technologies (JTT), a subsidiary of Jackson Thornton CPAs and Consultants, is pleased to announce that they have been named a Datto Blue Diamond Global Partner. Blue Diamond is the top tier of the Datto Global Partner Program and only 2% of the Datto community of managed service providers have achieved this level. Datto is the world’s leading provider of cloud-based software and technology solutions built for delivery by [...]

Wilson Investment Group is proud to welcome Todd Phelan, financial advisor, to the firm. Phelan will join Dick Phelan and Monica Venable on the Phelan Team. “I am truly looking forward to being a part of such a family-oriented firm,” Phelan said. “I am excited to put my financial market knowledge to work and continue the tradition of excellence and integrity Ted Wilson started almost 40 years ago.” Phelan graduated [...]

Architectural design and engineering firm Sherlock, Smith & Adams, Inc., has announced its rebranding as SS&A. As the firm celebrates 75 years of serving clients with global reach, SS&A is also unveiling a new look, logo and website. The new branding emphasizes the power of “and”. The ampersand in SS&A stands for the teamwork and collaboration of the firm’s design professionals together with client groups, working as one. The firm’s [...]

Lolly Steiner, Auburn Chamber president, announced to the chamber membership that she will be resigning from her position. Steiner began her journey at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce in 1997 as the director of membership and in 2001 was named president. Prior to joining the staff, Steiner served as an Auburn Chamber Diplomat and as a chamber board member. With nearly 25 years of service to the Auburn business [...]

Harris Doyle Homes® (Harris Doyle), a Berkshire Hathaway company and subsidiary of Clayton Properties Group®, announced it has acquired Dilworth Homes (Dilworth), a top builder and developer in Auburn and Baldwin County. The acquisition became effective on January 4, 2021, and will make Harris Doyle one of the largest residential new home builders in Alabama. Dilworth will continue to operate under the Dilworth Homes brand name in their current communities, [...]

Afni is celebrating 20 years in the city of Opelika, Alabama! Since opening its doors on January 9, 2001, Afni has evolved and grown, and the company is excited to celebrate 20 years this year. “After opening our doors, Afni quickly became a staple in the business community in Lee County," Thomas Harrison, center director, said. "We are proud to have found an amazing family within the area to [...]

Machen McChesney is pleased to announce that Forbes named the firm to its second annual list of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms 2021.   Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to create a list of the most recommended firms for tax and accounting services in the U.S and of the 278 firms identified, 250 were recommended for tax services and 200 were recommended for accounting services. Machen McChesney [...]

Forbes named Kassouf & Co., P.C. one of the top firms of 2021 in their annual America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms list on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Forbes and Statista, a database company specializing in market and consumer data, created the list based on surveys of tax and accounting professionals and their clients. Kassouf is one of 172 companies recommended for both tax and accounting services. “Kassouf is [...]

The Hotel at Auburn University, an Ithaka Hospitality Partners property, has achieved the Health Security Verified Certificate from Sharecare, touting proactive and reactive activities required to minimize the risk and impact of acute public health events like COVID-19. The Sharecare Health Security certificate is given in recognition of the culture of accountability embodied by The Hotel at Auburn University and its team members, contractors and customers. Sharecare provides this certification [...]

lifeSTYLED Three Sixty {inspired interiors} is excited to announce that the company is growing with the addition of three new team members! New team members include Tonya Tyson, Bren Freeman and Melanie Beasley. When Sarah Brown, Nonet Reese and Tricia Young founded lifeSTYLED in 2018, they had high hopes for building the business in their hometown. Hard work and long hours have paid off with an expanding client base [...]

The publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, presented The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center with a 2020 Readers’ Choice Award. This is the fifth consecutive year the property has won this prestigious award. “ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that The [...]

Joe Janning, CPA Machen McChesney announces the promotion of Joe Janning, CPA to manager. Janning has been employed with Machen McChesney since 2017 and works in the firm’s business tax and auditing services areas. His areas of specialization include accounting and auditing for governmental and nonprofit entities. Janning received his Master of Business Administration from Auburn University–Montgomery in 2014 and his B.S. in Accounting from Faulkner University in [...]

Dermatology Specialists of Alabama welcomes Stephanie Lai, M.D., to the team! Dr. Lai is now seeing patients full time in the Dermatology Specialist of Alabama's office in Auburn. Dr. Lai is a 1997 graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, and completed residencies at the University of California Irvine and Syracuse University. She completed her dermatology residency at Taipei Medical University, where she served as the [...]