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Dec 6, 2022

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Greg Cochran, the Executive Director of the Alabama League of Municipalities 

  • A candid conversation about the future of cities and cities in Alabama
  • Career opportunities in the state of Alabama
  • The value of the Al League of Municipalities for their member cities and towns
  • The downtown redevelopment successes in Alabama
  • The relationship with the Alabama League of Municipalities and the National League of Cities
  • How broadband access is changing in the state of Alabama
  • And, much more

 

7 Steps to an Amazing City:

 

  1. Attitude
  2. Motivation
  3. Attention to Detail
  4. Zing
  5. Inclusiveness
  6. Neighborhood Empowerment
  7. Green Awareness

 

Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

 

Links Mentions During Show:

 

About  Greg Cochran

Greg was named Executive Director in July 2020 after serving the League’s membership since 1996 as Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs and then Deputy Director and Interim Executive Director. With more than 30 years of experience in governmental affairs, he has developed crucial relationships at every level of government and has served as the League’s lead lobbyist for more than two decades. During the mid-1980s, he began working on political campaigns as a volunteer, including Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar’s re-elections in 1984 and 1988. In 1990 Greg joined the staff of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama representing Alabama physicians for three years as the Director of Legislative Affairs. From 1993 until 1994 he served as Vice President of Governmental Relations for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. Greg returned to Montgomery in 1994, serving as the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the Business Council of Alabama until 1996 when he was hired as the League’s first full-time staff lobbyist solely dedicated to state and federal legislative endeavors and governmental affairs. In 2006, Greg was named Executive Vice President of the Alabama Municipal Funding Corporation (AMFund), which was developed by the League to assist municipal members with refinancing existing debt and funding local projects and purchases through low-interest, cost-effective loans. He was elected AMFund President in 2008.

Greg is a longtime member of the Alabama Council of Association Executives where he was elected to serve as Treasurer (2007-08), Vice President (2008-09) and President (2009-10). He has also served on the Character Council of Alabama Board of Directors and was elected Vice Chairman for 2010-11. He has served as the Vice Chair of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee for Energy Policy and the National League of Cities’ Public Finance Consortium where he has served as Chairman since 2011. Greg also served on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Chapter, International Association of Expo Managers from 2003-2005. Greg earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives and graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Institute. He is a 2018 graduate of the prestigious Delta Regional Executive Leadership Institute, a year-long executive leadership academy formed by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to train leaders from diverse backgrounds, sectors and industries across eight states to improve the economic competitiveness and social viability of the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt.

Greg attended the University of North Alabama and Troy State University majoring in Political Science. Greg was raised in a military family, growing up in Norfolk, VA, and Jacksonville, FL, where his father served in the U.S. Navy. He is married to Kelly Barclay Cochran and has two grown sons, William and Sanders.

About Your Host, Jim Hunt:

Welcome to the “Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast” … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.

 

Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of “Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too” and his latest book, “The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City”

 

Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.

 

Today, Jim speaks to 1000’s of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.

 

Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.

 

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A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net