Whenever the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce appoints a new chairman, it looks for someone with strong ties to the community and the willingness to engage it.
This year, that person is Brian West.
West, a Plant City native, will assume the role of chairman at a banquet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the John R. Trinkle Center. The current chairman, Michael Cameron, will pass the gavel, as is tradition at the annual event.
With chamber President Marion Smith set to retire, West will also fill her role while the chamber searches for new leadership.
“We’re going to have a great 2016, but our work is certainly cut out for us,” West said.
DELI TO DESK
West was born and raised in Plant City, graduated from Plant City High and earned degrees in human resources management and finance from nearby Florida Southern College. He still lives in Plant City with his wife, Jennifer, and three children.
He has been involved with the chamber since 2008 and spent much of last year beefing up its leadership program.
West has worked at Publix for 25 years in a variety of roles, from the deli to the corporate desk. West started in the deli and, after doing “just about everything there was to do,” worked in several management jobs before landing in human resources. After 10 years in human resources, he spent a few years in the facilities department before landing in his role of the last three years: media and community relations manager for central and southwest Florida.
“I’ve always been heavily involved in the community, so it was kind of a natural fit,” West said. “The best thing about this role is that I get to see the great things going on in the communities we serve on a daily basis.”
This line of work connects West with charities all over his territory — charities that are looking for sponsorships, volunteers or both. His job is to make those things happen.
“We work for a company that has grown continually for 85 years,” West said. “We’ve got a vested interest, when we walk in the door every day, to do the best we can. Our associates go above and beyond in volunteering with organizations. These organizations know that, and they’re looking for a way to connect with us to get our associates to volunteer with them.”
AS CHAIRMAN
In a way, West’s role as chamber chairman will be similar to his Publix job: both positions require him to stress the importance of community involvement.
“We’re responsible for bringing people into the community to experience the businesses that we have,” West said. “We want to continue to do those types of things for the city. The more people we draw into town, many will go downtown and shop at our stores.”
One such way that this will happen is through a new October event, which has yet to be named. West describes it as a “smaller Pig Jam,” but instead it will feature chicken wings and craft beer.
His top priority as chairman will be to help find Smith’s replacement.
Other priorities include improving the chamber’s alumni program, working closely with the Economic Development Committee and educating businesses on the value of a chamber membership.
“It’s building relationships with those businesses that will help them to be successful,” West said. “We want businesses to think of the chamber as the one thing they can’t do without.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.