Chamber settles into new downtown home

Published 10:02 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Liz McGrath, left, and Adam Drinkwater pose for a photo in front of the new Pike County Chamber of Commerce office in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, March 1, 2011. (Messenger Staff Photo/Thomas Graning)

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is now at home in the historic Carroll Building on the square in downtown Troy.

The Chamber office officially opened at the new location on Tuesday and the staff is working out of the office and via telephone at 334-566-2294.

“We are extremely satisfied with the new office space,” said Adam Drinkwater, chair of the Chamber board of directors.” All of the renovations were done by Town Square LLC at no cost to the Chamber. We worked diligently to make the renovations in keeping with the era and style of the building.”

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The renovations have an industrial warehouse look with old brick and plaster walls, tin ceilings and wood floors. The Chamber’s location on the corner of the square places it within the hub of the downtown business community, which Drinkwater said will help the Chamber meet the needs of the entire community.

“One of the main reasons that the Chamber office was moved from the Economic Development office to the downtown Troy area is that, by strategically placing the office in the seat of Pike County, we can better serve the membership and continue moving forward to serve businesses.”

Drinkwater expressed appreciation to the EDC for the use of office space during the past years.

“The Chamber really benefited from the time spent there and from our relationship with the EDC,” he said. “And, now, we are looking forward to serving our membership and the Pike County community from the new location.”

The Chamber will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Thursday to introduce the new office space to the community.

“We will also take this opportunity to introduce the Chamber’s new president to the community,” Drinkwater said. “On Tuesday, Kathleen Sauer joined the Chamber as its new president.”

Sauer’s past experience includes serving as the executive director/president of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce for 15 years and the executive director of the Governor’s Task Force to Strengthen Alabama Families since 2006.

“The Chamber’s board of directors is pleased to fill the Chamber’s chief

administrative office with such a highly qualified and experienced individual,” Drinkwater said. “We invite the public to attend the press conference on Thursday and meet our new president and tour the Chamber’s new office at 101 A East Church Street.