Dinner Meetings
Gary Soriano, Chick-fil-A - Great Leaders SERVE - June 8 dinner meeting
About ten years ago, Chick-fil-A realized that they needed to define leadership for their organization. A large amount of research went into their definition of leadership and the leadership model that they embrace in their corporate culture. They think it's the best way to lead - Great Leaders SERVE.
Gary Soriano began his 40-year career with Chick-fil- A as a team member while attending college at Auburn-Montgomery. He and his wife Susan opened their first Chick-fil- A in 1983 at Village Mall in Auburn where he was awarded Chick-fil- A’s first “Rookie of the Year” Award in 1984. They relocated to Montgomery in 1992 and opened one of the chain’s early freestanding restaurant locations in the Colonial Promenade shopping center in Montgomery. He currently operates Chick-fil- A at EastChase and Chick-fil- A at RSA Tower in Montgomery.
His restaurants have won the Chick-fil- A Symbol of Success Award four times, many quality and service awards, as well as the company’s $6 Million Award. During his career, Soriano has awarded more than $50,000 in college scholarships and mentored countless team members. He serves on the Board of Directors of Covenant Family Ministries and the Business School Advisory Board of Auburn University of Montgomery.
Soriano lives in Montgomery with his wife of 36 years, Susan. They have two children, Ashley and Jason, and five grandchildren. Ashley and Jason are also Chick-fil- A Franchisees; Ashley in Northport and Jason at Eastdale Mall in Montgomery.
July 13, 2017 - The Importance of Investing in Alabama's Infrastructure
The Importance of Investing in Alabama's Infrastructure
Alabama’s roads and bridges are the arteries of its economy. The Alliance for Alabama’s Infrastructure (AAI) was created to provide a business-oriented focus on the infrastructure needs in the state of Alabama and to advocate for a long-term and sustainable funding plan to meet those needs. Drew Harrell, Executive Director for the AAI and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Business Council of Alabama, will speak about these issues.
August 10, 2017 - Healthcare Reform: Chaos and the Struggle to Stay Focused
What’s the current prognosis for Alabama’s healthcare system? What reforms are potentially coming soon from the Federal government? And how does data, teamwork, time management, and project management fit into this picture? Join us August 10 to hear Drew Nelson speak on Healthcare Reform: Chaos and the Struggle to Stay Focused.
With a strong background in public health, quality assurance, health policy, and Medicaid, Drew Nelson has spent much of his career focused on initiatives to improve health outcomes and better collaborations and partnerships between healthcare organizations and stakeholders.
Most recently, he has become actively involved as a team member of several significant quality assurance projects, including Alabama Medicaid Agency’s RCO Implementation team: facilitating the RCO Quality Assurance Committee and Program, overseeing the Quality Withhold and Service Delivery Network components of the RCO Program. He has also assisted in the design of the Integrated Provider System and recently asked to assist with the Agency transformation of the long term care system with the development of the Integrated Care Networks. Drew also is involved with several statewide learning collaboratives including ACHIA, Child Health Improvement Alliance; COIIN, a healthy birth initiative; and Million Hearts Campaign.
August 17, 2017 Dothan Social at the Cellar
This will not be our usual dinner meeting. It's a chance for chapter members and others who are interested in networking to find out more about PMI, the PMP credential, and PM in general. No agenda, just an open cash bar and some appetizers provided by PMI South Alabama and our new sponsor - Stratice Consulting. No admission fee will be charged - buy yourself a drink and come meet PMI South Alabama!
Thanks also to our sponsor and collaborator Troy University for their assistance with setting up the venue! (Follow the link for more information about their Continuing Education, including their PMP prep course.)
August 17, 2017 - 6 - 9 pm (come and go event)
The Cellar in Dothan - 1481 Westgate Parkway #1 Dothan AL 36303 (click on address for Google map/directions)
September 14, 2017 - Casting a Clear Vision: Words Mean Things
Casting a Clear Vision: Words Mean Things
We live in a fast paced world that’s ever changing, more stressful, and incredibly demanding. We’re more connected than ever through social media platforms, yet communication is arguably harder than ever. Why? Because “words mean things” and most of us are often still mediocre communicators at best. If we can’t communicate a clear vision with a clear purpose and use words that have a clear defined meaning, our results are always going to be less than desirable. “Words mean things” whether you’re a corporate CEO in the boardroom, a 4 star general on the battlefield, or a campaign chairman leading volunteers in the community.
LTC (RET) Rex A. Davis entered the United States Army as a Field Artillery officer in 1984. He served in a variety of command and staff positions at company, battalion, and brigade level throughout his 22 years of active duty military service. His final assignment was at Fort Knox, KY where he served as the Chief of the Organizational Design Division for the Army’s Future Combat System. He retired from active duty in 2006 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and then worked in the commercial construction industry as a project controls coordinator, financial analyst, and small business liaison officer for one of the largest federal contractors in the state of Alabama. Rex currently serves as an associate pastor for Church of the Highlands in Montgomery and oversees all aspects of leadership development for Small Groups and Pastoral Care.
LTC (RET) Davis is a graduate of the United States Army Ranger School, the United States Army Airborne School, and the 25th ID (L) Air Assault School. His highest military award is the Bronze Star Medal and he was the first recipient of the Ronald Reagan Leadership Award in 1983. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Arkansas State University, a Master of Arts in Humanities (Military History) from Louisiana State University, and a certificate in Ministry and Leadership from Highlands College in Birmingham, AL. LTC (RET) Davis is married to the former Lisa Marie Boyd of Columbus, Georgia and they have one daughter, Eva Belyeu Davis.