Jodie Stanfield, of Local Joe’s in Rainbow City, has been elected chairman of the Alabama Retail Association.
Other officers are Vice Chairman Michael Gee of the Pants Store, based in Leeds; Treasurer Bob Akers, who is vice president of Davis Direct in Montgomery; and President Richard Brown Jr. of the Alabama Retail Association staff in Montgomery.
Rounding out the executive committee are Immediate Past Chairman Todd Noden, who is president and chief financial officer of Books-A-Million; executive committee designee Susan Anderson, who is owner and chief financial officer at Eagle Eye Outfitters in Dothan; and the Association’s Jennifer Henderson, who serves as board secretary.
Stanfield started Local Joe’s with his parents, Bob and Ann McNeal, in 2009. The shop specializes in smoked meats, baked goods and local produce and also provides catering services. In addition to Rainbow City, Local Joe’s has two more Alabama locations in Albertville and Southside, and a location in Cave City, Georgia.
The retail association represents some 4,300 independent merchants and representatives of national companies. Its board members work for companies as localized as McAleer’s Office Furniture in Mobile, Monograms Plus of Cullman and Sneaky Pete’s Hot Dogs in Bessemer and as far-reaching as CVS Health, Target and Best Buy.
