A new face at the Chamber

By Staff
Melissa Cason
If you've dropped by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce office lately, you may have noticed a new face as the Chamber has welcomed a new assistant director.
Candi Weaver of Red Bay was recently hired as the new assistant executive director at the chamber. Even though she has been at the chamber a short time, she has already been thrown into the upcoming Watermelon Festival.
"I love this job," Weaver said. "It's been exciting and I get to meet and talk to all kinds of people."
Executive Director Cheryl Bradford said she is thrilled to have Weaver on board.
Weaver spends her workdays answering the phone, directing calls, giving out information, and selling watermelon shirts.
"Just today, I bagged up an order for 32 watermelon shirts for a local business," Weaver said. "Everyone loves the watermelon shirts."
Weaver is a native of Red Bay, and is a graduate of UNA. She is a certified teacher and worked for two years in Sylacauga as a kindergarten teacher.
She returned to Franklin County two years ago to be close to family. Since returning home, Weaver has served as a substitute teacher at Red Bay, Vina and Belgreen Headstart.
"I'd love to be back in the classroom again," she said. "I understand that teaching positions are hard to find because of the current economic situation."
Weaver said she loves teaching kindergarten.
"I don't know there's something about when you are showing a child how to do something and they get excited," Weaver said. "Something that is common to us makes them all excited."
Weaver has applied at the Franklin County and Russellville City school systems.
Until she makes her way back to the classroom, Weaver can be found at the chamber office helping Bradford with various projects.
"I love to hear people get excited about coming to Franklin County, and people from other places want to come here," Weaver said. "I just love what I am doing."
Besides working, Weaver is mom to two-year-old Meleeha.