OZARK - William Canary was working in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001, when the nation changed forever.
He was at the Ozark Country Club on Thursday when many businesses suffering through recession recovery needed encouragement on moving forward.
Canary, president of the Business Council of Alabama, spoke to several business owners during an Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon about the necessity of an alliance between business and education.
"We (as businesses) contribute over $6 billion annually to state and local government. As a result, we have a standing in the process. The power resides in the people to make a difference. You can be pro-business and pro-education," he said.
"We kind of assume every child that comes into the schools is the same. We can't afford to make this assumption ... or we could lose our next generation of workforce."
Canary emphasized the need to improve graduation rates in the state, to have children reading by third grade and to provide funding for pre-K programs.
He also stressed the importance of working to understand local and state government and the action taken year by year in the state Legislature.
Eighty-five percent of all new jobs in the area would come from existing businesses looking to hire more, he added.
Ozark Chamber of Commerce President Charles Harper said Canary's message on business and education is pertinent.
"We invited him here because he represents the 124 chambers throughout Alabama. This lets the businesses here know that we are represented in Montgomery and in Washington," Harper said.
Liberty National Agent Julie Wood said she traveled from Troy to the event.
"I believe in supporting cities and businesses. I live in Ozark, and it's always beneficial to meet the people I buy from and shop with," she said.
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