Text and Cover Photo by Michael Dumas

In January, the Mobile Chamber launched its Mobile Matters podcast out of its new in-house studios, hosted by President and CEO Bradley Byrne. The monthly discussion was created to dive deeper into topics significantly impacting Mobile’s thriving business community. But from a broader perspective, what the podcast represents is the Chamber’s latest use of relevant media to communicate with its members and the broader populace.

For the last 55 years, the Chamber has used its signature publication — The Business View — to share industry news and member accomplishments, and the magazine has long been known as the unimpeachable source of business information. Now, The Business View, which transitioned to a digital format with TheBusinessView.com, is a site where these stories can be published daily.

“As technology is reshaping how we live and work, it’s crucial that the Mobile Chamber adapts to this transformation in order to best serve our members and the community,” said Byrne.

“I don’t think there’s any possibility of being successful if you can’t communicate, not only with your members, but also the public in general,” said former Mobile Chamber President and CEO Win Hallett. Under his leadership, The Business View evolved from a glorified newsprint newsletter into a glossy magazine.

As the economic development arm of the city of Mobile, the Mobile Chamber is much more than a collective of partner businesses. It also has access to critical developments as they are being organized, which lends additional import to how the organization has communicated with the community at large over the years.

Nancy Hewston, the Chamber’s Vice President for Communications and Advocacy said the rapidly evolving digital landscape has necessitated the need to share news in real time.

“From a communications standpoint, we have to continually evolve how we reach our members and tell their stories,” said Hewston. “TheBusinessView.com and the Mobile Matters podcast are the latest ways the Chamber is working to keep pace with the pace of business.”

Leigh Perry-Herndon, the longtime VP of communications and marketing during Hallett’s regime and others, said the publication gave the Chamber’s editorial staff the ability to bring important issues to light. The organization was also able to help lead the discussion of those issues, supplementing even the daily newspaper as a key source for such topics.

“We wanted to become the voice of change, and if we weren’t stepping up and showcasing what all we have here in Mobile from a business perspective, who else would?” Perry-Herndon said. “The Business View gave us the ability to start talking about things like workforce development, minority-owned businesses and women in business, to name a few key issues.”

Fast forward a decade, and the Mobile Matters podcast’s inaugural guests are Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and members of the Mobile County Commission. The topics? Workforce and job development, as well as the diversity of small businesses throughout the community.

“I think that one of the cool things about The Business View over its 55- year history is that it’s always been about change, and it’s always been evolving,” Perry Herndon said. “It’s always been used to put topics in front of the business community that they may not have even realized that they wanted or needed.”

Originally appeared in the March 2024 issue of Mobile Bay Magazine