Meet Homewood’s new chamber director

Meredith Drennen has been serving as the new executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce since Jan. 12. 

Drennen came to the Homewood from the Birmingham Business Alliance, where she served as the director of operations and worked in the profession for a total of eight years. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science. Currently, she is in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management program.

As she started in her new position last month, The Homewood Star asked Drennen about her background and her plans for the chamber.

What drew you to apply for and accept a position heading up the Homewood Chamber?

As a Homewood resident, I am particularly interested in seeing our community grow and thrive. Naturally, when Tricia Ford announced her retirement, I was interested in the opportunity to both give back to our community as well as utilize my skill set and expertise in chamber management.

What unique assets does Homewood’s business community have?

Homewood has such a diverse business community, from the industry in West Homewood to the shops downtown and in Edgewood. This offers unique opportunities that many communities don’t have. 

How did your time with the Birmingham Business Alliance prepare you to serve Homewood in a similar capacity?

During my time with the Birmingham Business Alliance, I was able to serve in a variety of roles. This allowed me to experience the entire body of work that a chamber produces. 

In my first role, I managed the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce’s young professional recruitment and retention efforts, and ultimately a variety of committees and councils. After the merger between the Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Board, I managed all of the BBA’s events, a key function and benefit to chamber members. 

From 2011 until 2013, I helped implement the BBA’s Community and Regional Stewardship section of Blueprint Birmingham, their strategic plan. Most recently, I have been managing the organization’s executive committee and board of directors, as well as managing the strategic plan as a whole. 

The exposure I experienced to chamber organizational management, community development, and economic development prepared me to transition to the Homewood Chamber, and hopefully lead it to continued growth and success.

What plans or ideas do you have for the chamber going into the future?

In the short term, I want to establish quality networking events, professional development opportunities, and programs for chamber members.  Over the long term, I hope that our entire body of work can relate to a strategic plan that has the input of the board, the city, chamber members and the community as a whole. 

How long have you lived in Homewood, and what attracted you to live here?

I moved to Homewood officially in 2011, but my husband and I purchased our first home in March of 2013. We were attracted to the top-notch school system, the walkable neighborhoods and the sense of community Homewood offers. 

What do you love most about Homewood?

The community. The residents of Homewood are so welcoming and work so hard to make sure our schools, shopping districts and neighborhoods maintain a high level of excellence. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?

My husband and I adopted our first dog, Patton, in October of last year, and my favorite pastime is walking him through Edgewood.