Chamber of Commerce says goodbye to Hannon Davidson

The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce in May said goodbye to Project Manager Hannon Davidson. After six years with the chamber, Davidson will be the executive director for the Robert E. Reed Gastrointestinal Oncology Research Foundation. 

The decision to transition into another role was bittersweet, she said.

“It’s been fabulous,” Davidson said about working at the chamber. “I loved working there.”

Since she started in 2010, Davidson has seen the chamber grow in both membership and popularity around the city. The chamber’s move to the new city hall building helped propel that growth forward, she said. Not only did it help the chamber, but it also helped her get a better understanding of city workings.

“I’ve lived here all my life,” she said. “I had no idea just how much work goes into running the city. The department heads truly go above and beyond to make Mountain Brook a better city every day.” 

Davidson also helped found the Leadership Mountain Brook program at the high school, a partnership between the school system, chamber and city. As part of the program, high school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to join the leadership class after being interviewed. From there, the students participate in a yearlong program where they learn about different aspects of local government and create projects to improve the city.

In 2013, the group raised money through the Spartans Helping Spartans program, where they sold bricks to residents now installed at City Hall’s Spartan Square. The program helped raise money for tornado relief in Pleasant Grove. In August of that year, the city of Mountain Brook presented Pleasant Grove Mayor Jerry Brasseale with a check for $15,000 toward rebuilding efforts. 

“I’m very proud of Leadership Mountain Brook,” Davidson said. “Working with the students and Amber Benson at the high school was an unforgettable experience.” 

Suzan Doidge, executive director at the chamber, said Davidson was right there beside her when the two decided to expand the annual chamber luncheon into an event the whole city would look forward to. 

“I’m grateful for the time we spent together,” Doidge said. “So much good came out of her tenure here. She had great ideas of her own and always worked with anything I would throw at her.”

In speaking about their friendship, Doidge joked that people liked to poke fun at them, asking if they got any work done when they were in the same room together. 

“When you’ve been able to work so well with someone for six years, of course you will be sad to see them go, ” Doidge said.

Davidson agreed.

“The truth is we always did have a lot of fun together,” she said. “It was a blast, but we also worked really hard every day.”

Doidge said no matter what the job entailed, Davidson always did everything with a smile. On April 27, the city held a farewell party for Davidson at Otey’s in Crestline. 

Mayor Terry Oden presented Davidson with a proclamation declaring April 27 as Hannon Sharley Davidson day in Mountain Brook. 

“OK, kid,” he said. “This is it. You’ve got your closest friends in this small room. You’ve got a new job. You’ve got everybody crying. And you have the mayor of your town [all here].” 

“She’s one in a million,” Doidge said. “Her shoes will be hard to fill. At the same time, I’m very happy and proud of her.” 

Doidge said working at the Reed Foundation is right up Davidson’s alley. 

“She’s ready for this type of move,” she said. “This type of work is right in her wheelhouse. The Reed Foundation is the next level for her. I know she will put her heart and soul into her work there.”

The Reed Foundation was formed in 2002 while Robert Reed was battling pancreatic cancer, according to its website.

The Reed Foundation’s first fundraising event, “Finish the Fight” Iron Bowl Party, was in November 2004. Since then, the foundation has expanded its fundraising efforts to include annual events like the Love-Love “Finish the Fight” tennis event. Together, the events help raise financial support to fund research and patient care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham under the direction of Dr. Martin J. Heslin and his team of research physicians.

For more information, visit reedgifoundation.com.