The Pike County Chamber of Commerce board of directors has selected Troy University graduate Lauren Smith as its vice president.
Kathy Sauer, Chamber president, said the organizatiom is extremely pleased to have Smith on board.
“Lauren is from Dothan but she has lived in Troy since 2005 so she is one of us,” Sauer said. “She worked with the Chamber on OctTROYberfest in the fall and did an outstanding job. We have every confidence that she is the person we need at the Chamber.”
Sauer said Smith’s focus areas will be membership, community development and marketing.
“But she will have an opportunity to do some of everything,” she said.
Smith’s undergraduate degree is in journalism and public relations. She is pursuing a master’s degree in communication.
“I worked at Troy University for three and half years in the International Admissions Office and enjoyed that,” Smith said. “But this position with the Chamber is what I went to school to do and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Chamber and the Pike County community.”
The new Chamber vice president hit the streets running Saturday as she represented the Chamber in the first April Walking Tour in the City of Troy. The tour is being held in conjunction with the Alabama Tourism Department’s statewide April Walking Tours, which are offered on the four Saturdays of the month.
Smith said 15 people participated in the walking tour, which was led by Charles Nunnelee.
“The tour was very interesting and informative and a lot of fun,” Smith said. “Several people on the tour grew up in Troy and were able to add a lot of information to the tour.”
The walking tour included places of interest around the square and on Academy and East Walnut streets.
Prior to the walking tour, the “tourists” had an opportunity to look through several books on the history of Troy.
“I was very interested in the photographs of Troy when the streets were dirt and there were water troughs along the streets for the animals,” Smith said. “We want to thank Mr. Nunnelee for leading the tour and (thank) all of those who participated. Next week’s tour will be of College Street. It will begin at 10 a.m. on the square.”
The tours are free and open to all who would like to know more about the history of the people and places in downtown Troy.