2018 and 2019 Birmingham Regional Enterprise Council (BREC) chairwoman Janell Ahnert, left, passed the gavel to the 2020 chairwoman Jessica Payne recently.
Jessica Payne, vice president of middle market banking and specialized industries at JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, became the 2020 Birmingham Regional Enterprise Council (BREC) chairwoman at the final BREC luncheon of the year. BREC is a council of Birmingham Business Alliance investors who are committed to helping small businesses in the greater Birmingham region succeed.
The BBA sat down with Payne to learn more about her and her goals for BREC in 2020.
Birmingham Business Alliance: How have you been involved with BREC in the past?
Jessica Payne: I was initially drawn in by several of the great speakers at the luncheons. The timing of the luncheons worked well for my schedule, and I appreciated the content. Over time, I realized that the interactions I had with the people in the room were what had me coming back. It is a small enough group that we can learn from each other, meet new people every time, but also create a community that I wanted to be a part of.
BBA: How does BREC benefit the Birmingham business community?
JP: A lot of times companies starting up and growing fast in their expansion phase can feel like they’re on an island. BREC creates a sense of community. At every luncheon, I hear a lot of the same themes and see heads nodding at different responses. BREC also gives people an opportunity to continue learning and expanding their skillsets, all while connecting with others in the business community. The topics are relevant across the board, and I learn something every time. We foster an environment of continual growth, being brave and bold, and giving attendees from businesses of all sizes resources that can help them reach their full potential.
BBA: Tell us a little about your background.
JP: My family moved to Birmingham when I was young, and I’ve now called it home for the past 30+ years. My husband and I have two daughters, and we live in Trussville. I’m a passionate supporter of Birmingham, and I love all the positive growth and expansion in the city in the past several years. From the food scene, to the low unemployment rate, to the great parks, we have so much to celebrate!
I went to Birmingham-Southern College and studied International Business and French. I found it so interesting how different cultures and peoples all around the world might express themselves differently, but we all have common goals in building relationships between people and businesses. This has been a theme I’ve been able to build on in my career in banking where I get to work with different customers every day, listen to them, troubleshoot and figure out how to make their money unlock their success stories.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of starting something new and building it from the ground up. When I heard JPMorgan Chase was expanding into Alabama and opening branches here in the state, I saw the exciting opportunity to be entrepreneurial and start something new, but also with the strength of a great institution that can help deliver best-in-class technology and banking solutions to the community.
BBA: What are you most looking forward to as chairwoman this year?
JP: Continuing to have more interaction with the Birmingham business community and with other people going through similar stages of starting up a business and all its opportunities, excitement and challenges. I really appreciate the brainstorming that happens in the room, and I hope to put a bit of a fingerprint on the 2020 luncheons.
BBA: What can we expect from the upcoming BREC year? What are your goals for your time in office?
JP: I hope to bring in more inspiring speakers and help connect the dots to build engagement with business leaders in Birmingham.
BBA: What would you tell someone who wants to get plugged in to BREC but isn’t already?
JP: Join us at a luncheon and see if it’s a fit for you. Look at the topics coming up, see what’s happening on social media and absolutely come. We are a very welcoming group. Sit with people you don’t know and meet new people. BREC easily welcomes you into the fold. It’s an opportunity to network – it’s a great forum for that. Everyone there has the same goals in mind, and it is a friendly, open group.
Stay tuned to our website and our social media channels for information on the 2020 BREC luncheons.