Civic Dispatch: Only in Jasper - How I Met the Secretary of Department of Workforce at Cracker Barrel
by Edward Fountain
I first saw Greg Reed at the Alabama Giving Summit this past May when he presented to some of the nonprofit leaders in that association. Little did I know who exactly I had just heard speak. As Secretary of Workforce for the State of Alabama, he engages with all the issues that I find myself gravitating towards. After I kept seeing him around Jasper, I knew that I wanted to interview him and would need to formally introduce myself to ask him for his time. One might think this introduction would have happened at a specific time and place, carefully planned, as he is a busy man. But that's the funny thing about a place like Jasper.
This summer, I had the opportunity to be in the Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program through the David Mathews Center for Civic Life’s partnership with UA’s New College and the Walker Area Community Foundation. My fellow interns and I were at Cracker Barrel on a rainy night for one of our community dinners, and I had excused myself to wash my hands. On my way back to the table, who do I run into but Secretary Reed. After I had called out his name, he looked confused for a moment until he found me with my hand extended. Following a brief conversation, he tugged my raincoat and led me back to his table where his family sat. After he introduced me to his family, he very kindly gave me his undivided attention, and it was there that I asked him if I could interview him for my blog post, to which he agreed. “Only in Jasper,” I thought.
On the day of the interview, Secretary Reed walked into the Foundation with a perfect mixture of confidence and composure. He was well dressed and well kept. Every movement, every action, every word was intentional. After a greeting and brief conversation with others in the office, we sat down and began the interview.
Though he was born in Jasper, he grew up in Cordova, where he graduated from Cordova High School. He would then go to Walker Junior College, now Bevill State, before going to the University of Alabama to finish his degree in business marketing. He attributes his understanding of communities and what that means today to his upbringing in a small town. His first job was working for John Oliver as the branch manager of First National Bank of Jasper in Cordova, “There were a lot of different individuals that influenced my life, whether they were teachers or coaches or pastors or youth ministers and business people in the community.”
He told me about his journey in the political field, and how it was not until later in his life. He had this way of speaking that was very articulate, his eyes never losing focus as he took me along in recounting his journey. He was a businessman for 30 years and always had an interest in politics growing up. But it would not be until he became the Chairman of the Republican Party of Walker County that he would become involved with state politics. His broad experiences in both the public and private sectors would equip him to eventually run for Alabama State Senator of the fifth district. He would serve in multiple roles during his time in the senate, culminating in his appointment by Governor Ivey to be the first Secretary of Workforce for the State of Alabama. He has worked with people from coal mining unions to banks, and everything in between. He understands people from all walks of life because he has taken opportunities to do so, and he has allowed himself to take part in a broad range of experiences that have shaped his career.
I asked him what he is currently working on in workforce development and talent retention, as it was something I was really interested to hear. He first spoke on his experience on the Innovate Alabama Commission, saying “the governor of Alabama put this commission together to be able to study Alabama's preparation for the knowledge-based economy that is coming. Entrepreneurship, startup businesses, high tech industries, high tech businesses. How is Alabama going to be equipped?” He stated the importance of STEM training and the retention of those students. “Our goal is to help you find what your career opportunity is, what is going to be the right thing for you.” His demeanor and delivery was steadfast, mirrored by his sure movement and southern drawl. I had wondered if he had always been interested in workforce development and related issues or if he was interested after being appointed to his current role. He had this to say: “If I go back and look at the major pieces of economic development legislation in the last five years, the Alabama Jobs Act, the AIM Act, the Growing Alabama Act, the Renewal of Jobs Act, the Working for Alabama bill package, all legislation I sponsored in those areas. So, it has been a passion of mine. Workforce growth, economic development, incentives, retention, recruitment, those kinds of things have been hallmarks of what I've done in my legislative service.”
To highlight the things that Secretary Reed has done without highlighting his involvement with the Heman Drummond Center of Innovation would be a disservice. He has been key in trying to find funding for the project with the state legislature of Alabama. He also was able to help the Walker Area Community Foundation and other community leaders involved with the project to engage with state leaders to garner support. “I think it's a fantastic opportunity. I also think that it will have a bigger impact than what is even anticipated. If you're looking to invest in Alabama to build your facility and you're interested in trying to go to a location where you've got trained workers - if you knew that a facility in West Alabama like the Heman Drummond facility was producing graduates that had these kinds of skill sets every year - would that not be a place that you would want to go and locate your business knowing that you've got a pipeline of great workers for your business?” said Reed. He emphasized the importance of generational assurance and the long term benefits it offers for students, as well as creating opportunities for good paying jobs out of high school or even getting a head-start in their college careers. Secretary Reed also pointed out the necessity for educators and businesses to be in communication with local families, and the HDCI allows for that.
Secretary Reed has a true heart for Jasper, Walker County, and Alabama and wants to see it become more. He reflects what I have seen from this community so far in my time here in Walker County, and that is the understanding that progress needs to be made.
Photo Credit: Walker Area Community Foundation
Edward is a junior at The University of Alabama pursuing a depth study in Community Development and Non-Profit Work.
This summer, Edward was placed with the Walker Area Community Foundation, where he dove into community foundation work and contributed to various projects that support the area.