BCA’s Duncan: Use words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as ‘moral compass’

HUNTSVILLE — “The time is always right to do what is right,” Dr. Martin Luther King said some 60 years ago. 

And those words are just as relevant today, according to Helena Duncan, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama.

Duncan cited the late civil rights leader Wednesday in her keynote address at the inaugural University of Alabama in Huntsville Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast.

The “UAH Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast: Leaders Shaping the Business Community of the Future” highlighted leadership principles set forth by King.

“He said ‘The time is always right to do what is right’, I believe that those words are relevant today, and I think that we can all use those as our guide, we use them as our moral guides and our moral compass,” said Duncan. “We also should think about it as we’re doing economic development and as we’re creating a business climate.” 

During her address, Duncan highlighted Alabama’s growth and robust economy, from Huntsville’s tech and aerospace industries, to the Port of Mobile becoming the largest port on the Gulf of Mexico to Alabama’s auto manufacturing record-breaking year.   

“Last year, for the first time ever in our state’s history, we produced more car exports than any other state in our country,” Duncan said.  

Duncan said King’s message of unity and collective actions is relevant in the midst of expansive economic growth the state has seen in recent years.  

“It’s just as relevant today as it was in 1960 because we clearly have figured out no one can work in a silo,” she said. “That in order for us to get these things done, to make Alabama the best place that it can be, we have to do this together.

“We have to work in unity, and we have to do it as a collective effort.” 

Kristina Hendrix, UAH vice president for strategic communications, said this year the school wanted to take on a new approach to the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program while highlighting business leaders in north and central Alabama.

“We know that so many people want to have their day started with something that is exciting and invigorating and gets them motivated just like Dr. King did for so many people,” said Hendrix. “Moving this to a leadership breakfast and hearing from leaders throughout the state about how they’re molding their communities is very important to us.” 

The event featured a panel of statewide leaders and moderated by Tamika Alexander, a WHNT-TV anchor. The panel discussion featured Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Pammie Jimmar, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Crystal Brown, Hoover Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Nan Baldwin, and Executive Director of Cummings Research Park with the Huntsville-Madison Chamber of Commerce Erin Koshut.  

UAH College of Business students and future leaders were also on hand for the event. Hendrix said UAH makes it a priority to engage students with the business community.

“Our College of Business is also involved because they are forming the next leaders of the future,” she said. “We wanted to make sure that our College of Business had an opportunity to share their accomplishments and how they’re preparing students to move into the business community of Alabama.”

UAH President Dr. Chuck Karr closed out the program with a heartfelt thank you to the crowded room.

“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you being here,” he said. “It’s very, very important to me that this university be viewed as good corporate citizens and the wonderful community in which we reside. So thank you very much for being here.

“Go Chargers!”