We are excited to have Richard Johnson pick up the gavel as our new Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has already been an incredible asset to the Chamber since joining our board in 2012. Johnson is an attorney at Phelps Dunbar LLP where he practices primarily in the areas of construction, real estate, tort and commercial litigation.

We also welcome several new members to the 2016/2017 Board of Directors as well as new members of the Executive Board. Ed Hammele with Capstone Bank will serve as Chairman Elect. Philip Cusa with EastPointe & BayPointe Hospitals & AltaPointe Health Systems will assume the duties of Past Chairman. Greg Strachan with Bryant Bank is the new Treasurer. Marcus Neto with Blue Fish Design Studio is the new Member Value Vice-Chairman. Eric Nager with Southern Capital Services is the Governmental Affairs Vice-Chairman. Chuck Cuff with Hilton Hotels of Daphne will continue to serve as the Tourism Vice-Chairman and Steven Carey with CertaPro Painters remains as the Workforce Development Vice-Chairman. 

The remaining Board of Directors include Deanna Auner with Homestead Village of Fairhope, Andru Bramlet with Southern Light LLC, Jennie Campbell with Stewart Lodges at Steelwood, Diane Douglas with In the Company of Angels, Gray Englebert with Jubilee Specialties, Abe Harper with Harper Technologies LLC, Joe Hocklander with Mobile Gas, Patty Hughston with Faulkner State Community College, Boyd Little with Oak Hollow Farm, Don Mecke with Browning Mecke & O'Neal LLC, Paige Moore with RE/MAX By The Bay, William Stitt with Old 27 Grill, Ormand Thompson with Infirmary Health, Scott Tripoli with the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Contina Woods with Regions Bank and Judith Wright with Segers Aero Corporation. 

Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood, Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant, Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan and Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey all serve as ex-officio members.

We would like to thank all of those serving on our board for their time and commitment to the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you to our sponsors: USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park,  Half Shell Oyster House, Spanish Fort ,  Stewart Lodges at Steelwood , Chris and Carla's Catering,  Zea Rotisserie & Grill,  Buffalo Rock Company ,  Domke Market,   Fairhope Brewing Company,  L.A. Fotographee,  Gallery 450,  Thomas Memorial Hospital ,  Infirmary Health ,  Alliance Publishing ,  Metal Roofing Center & Supply, LLC ,  Mobile Gas A Sempra Company  and  New Horizons Credit Union

From charming downtown Fairhope, to quaint shops in Olde Towne Daphne, to major brand name stores at Jubilee Square, Eastern Shore Center, and Spanish Fort Town Center, you will fill your shopping bag with great finds on the Eastern Shore.

READ MORE ON THE VISIT COASTAL ALABAMA BLOG

Howard Wills, Director of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) in Alabama, will join Brent McMahan, Senior Area Manager with the US Small Business Administration (SBA), to present important information on the Guaranteed Loan Programs for Small Business.  The programs have proven to be an important part in furnishing credit to small business borrowers. Individual owners who attend can set up follow-up one-on-one appointments as needed.

Free Guaranteed Lending Workshop

July 19,  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Eastern Shore Chamber  Overlook Office

29750 Larry Dee Cawyer Drive

Daphne

Space is limited.

Call (251) 621-8222 to register

by Frank Shepard

Just south of 64 on the west side of Highway 98 is Rosie's Grill; home to the June edition of Best Crab Cakes on the Eastern Shore.  Locally owned by Harry and Alissa Johnson, Rosie's Grill is named after a mother-daughter team, Mama Rosie Garza and daughter Rosalinda Lopez that worked for Harry almost 20 years at their first three restaurants.  Rosie's offers a cheerful, casual dining experience with a recently enclosed patio for year-round dining and private parties.  

We were seated in the patio area, and once our guests had arrived and ordered drinks and their dinner selections, Chef Michael Garza introduced himself and the crab cake dish we would be sampling that evening.  The crab cake was sitting in a pool of red pepper cream sauce and was topped with a fried shrimp.  The crab cake itself was made with lump and sweet backfin crab meat, very little binder, fresh herbs, and was broiled to order.  The end result is a light, flaky crab cake that is full of flavor; add in the red pepper cream sauce and your taste buds experience euphoria!  My dinner selection was the Grouper Jubilee YAYA; blackened grouper served with seafood gumbo (which is currently nominated for the Best Gumbo Nappie Award), Cajun rice, and remoulade.  The blackened grouper was perfectly prepared and the gumbo was some of the best I've had in Baldwin County.  

We would like to thank Harry, Alissa, Michael, and all of the Rosie's staff that treated us to a wonderful evening.  Be sure to try Rosie's crab cakes for yourself, and find out why they are currently nominated for Nappie Awards for Best Brunch and Best Eastern Shore Lunch Spot.