October 02, 2010
By Special to the Ledger
The Alabama office of the National Federation of Independent Business has named Billy Cotter, owner of Billy Cotter Construction of Enterprise, as the 2010 Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion for Alabama.
“Billy is the kind of activist member any organization would like to have as a member,” said Rosemary Elebash, state director of NFIB/Alabama, the state’s leading small business association. She presented Cotter his plaque at a ceremony in Enterprise.
“Billy is someone we can depend on,” Elizabeth said. “He does everything he can to help us promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses.”
Cotter, a seven-year member of NFIB/Alabama, has served as a member of the Wiregrass Area Action Council, hosted NFIB events and contributed to the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation, which awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have started their own businesses.
He was appointed by Gov. Bob Riley to serve on the Joint Patriotic Immigration Commission, where he advocated reforms that would not penalize small business owners.
Cotter is a past president and current board member of the Alabama Home Builders Association. He is past chairman of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Enterprise Board of Realtors. He serves on the boards of the Coffee County Board of Equalization, the YMCA and Habitat for Humanity, among other organizations.
"Staying involved in organizations at both a local and regional level builds invaluable relationships and provide access to nearly unlimited resources,” Cotter said. “Any hope of being a successful businessperson requires living conservatively and within one’s means, from both a personal and a professional standpoint.”
Elebash said, “NFIB is the voice of small business in Montgomery and Washington, but without members like Billy, our voice wouldn’t be heard.”