By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo Chamber of Commerce board of directors selected a new executive director last week. Steve Gilbert, who is known for being heavily involved in the community and community events, officially starts work Nov. 1.

“We’re excited that Steve Gilbert has accepted the offer,” said Tom Sanders, board member and chair of the search committee. “He has been involved in the Montevallo community intimately for a number of years. It’s just a great opportunity for us to have someone who knows this community, who has a great understanding of business and the needs of the community and can marry those two things together.”

Gilbert, who serves on the board of directors for the Montevallo Arts Council and the Montevallo Main Street Players, said he sees his new position as another opportunity get involved with the community.

“At this point, there are a lot of activities that the chamber is involved in,” Gilbert said. “My first order of business is to get in there and make sure that these programs continue to run smoothly. The first few months will be an evaluation to see where we are with what we’re doing, and then from there we’ll form a plan to make inroads into other things.”

Gilbert’s experience includes planning, organizing and promoting outdoor events, musical festivals and concerts, as well as experience in hospitality and tourism, which he said he expects to use in his new position.

Gilbert said he is also grateful for the foundation the chamber’s former director, Mary Lou Williams, built for him to work with.

“I’m fortunate that there was such a strong foundation built here,” he said. “Mary Lou built such a strong foundation of relationships with various businesses and community organizations. I’m fortunate to have that foundation to work on.”

Sanders echoed the sentiment.

“We’ve been really fortunate in the leadership that we’ve had, and we think Steve is just going to perpetuate that,” Sanders said.