In this interview we sit down with one of the founding members of our chamber, Mr. Ron Mitchell. Ron has served on the Saraland City Council as a councilman, current chairman of the Saraland Water Board, former Chamber president and current board member of the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce to name a few of his leadership roles. He has not only studied the history of our city but has lived it. Hear his accounts of the history of our area and the recent history of the City of Saraland.

Tim Faircloth is president elect for the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce. Tim has worked at AGC Piggly Wiggly since 2009. His current roles include Human Resources, Marketing, Special Events and Deli Operations.  He enjoyed owning and running restaurants for 26 years before his adventure in the grocery business.  Tim grew up in the Cottage Hill area of Mobile before moving to Nashville TN. There he worked at the corporate office of O’Charley’s after being recruited from the corporate office Ruby Tuesday. Faircloth worked at Naman’s Catering for seven years, and it was here he encountered what true servanthood looked like in his leadership role under Alec Naman.

Tim met the love of his life Penny in the church where they served as youth pastors and lead pastors for over seven years.  Tim and Penny now pastor a home church called The Tank with a strong focus on discipleship and outreach to support other local churches and create strong communities.  They have discovered the vital importance of authentic relationships that bind people to the scriptures and each other. Tim and Penny also serve International Gospel Outreach missions organization.  They have been married for 16 years, and are proud of Tim’s daughter Katherine, a graduate of Troy University with an excelling career in the insurance industry.

Tim’s greatest passion is seeing men and their families grow in their walk with Christ. This focus drives him not only to meet weekly with men individually for discipleship, but also in a group environment every Monday. Tim believes that true success is measured one mature person at the time growing into the person God created them to be.  This rarely happens in a busy crowd, but in the confidential place of dismantling the lies a broken person has chosen to listen and believe.

Last month I shared my vision for the chamber in 2023 and this month I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I am the owner of Laurel Flowers State Farm. I’ve been in the insurance industry since 2008 and had a great role model who showed me the ins and outs of his business. At that time, I was studying at the University of Mobile where I graduated with an MBA and an undergraduate in Mathematics and Business Finance. From there I moved to Nashville, TN to train under a State Farm agent in the agent aspirant program before taking over from a retiring agent in my hometown of Saraland, AL in 2017. Upon returning home I met my now husband Bradley Flowers and have two sweet kids Kleighton (9) and Luke (1). If you see me around, please come speak. I look   forward to meeting new people this year and serving as your president.

About 2 years ago, God started moving on my heart to start an outreach ministry for teachers. It all started with a desire to encourage and remind teachers of their value and impact on the lives of their students. The Lord showed me that if we can reach Kindergarten through Twelfth grade teacher, we have just reached the next twelve generations for Christ. I set up a meeting with my pastor to share my vision. Without hesitation, Saraland First Assembly of God was on board. The results of this first meeting set into motion many other conversations and meetings to get a team of amazing teachers and leaders, from all denominations, together to host an event especially for teachers. With the help of many community sponsors, the funds were provided to help make this vision come true.

In January 2020, World Changers United hosted the First Annual Night of Refreshing for Teachers. This night was all about making sure teachers were refreshed, laughed, and left knowing their impact on the lives of their students.

Today, World Changers United, continues to increase its vision. As a ministry, our goals now include reminding teachers of their impact on the lives of their students, co-workers, and parents they come in contact with each day. They are valuable!

How do we plan to encourage and reach these teachers throughout the school year? We make sure teachers have a small gift at the beginning of each quarter throughout the school year to remind them that God has called them to this mission field, their classroom and school. Through social media, we send encouraging videos, scriptures, quotes, and prayers. Once a year, we have our big event, A Night of Refreshing for Teachers. Teachers from all over the area will be invited to attend.

 Welcome to Touch of Love. My name is Shinekia Dillon. I am the Founder and Administrator of Touch of Love Sitter (2017) & Touch of Love Healthcare Training School (2020). I am a Licensed Practical Nurse and Certified CPR Instructor. I am a graduate of Reid State Technical School (2014).

Where it all began:

When I was about 10 years old my mother took in a great aunt and began to care for her. She would have a nurse to come out several times a week to care for some wombs on her legs. She would scream in pain!

One day, I asked the nurse (Jane, I still remember the nurse name) if I could come in the room with and let my aunt hold my hand when you started her womb care. Jane reluctantly replied, “Sure”.

I stood there at the door and patiently waited for her to let me in. Once she opened the door, I went and sat on her bed and told her “You can hold my hand, and squeeze it as hard as you want to. Take the pain out on me”.

From that day forward, a seed was planted. I waited at the door every time Jane came to visit, until years later that aunt passed away.

I was privileged to help take care of my great aunt, great grandmother, and grandmother, all in the same home.

Years later I went to training school and received my CNA license, several years later I went back and obtained my nursing degree and license. The seed began to sprout up and I was in strong pursuit to start my own business.

My aunt allowed me to “touch” (hold) her hand in one of her most vulnerable moments, and that’s where the name Touch of Love comes from. 

Touch of Love Sitter has been established, licensed, and insured since August 2017.

I pray that each patient and family that we meet and care for, we leave a lasting touch (impression) that will forever change their life.

After several years of being in business, I saw a great need to hire and retain some great Certified Nursing Assistants, so in April 2020 Touch of Love Healthcare Training School was established and licensed by The Private School Licensure Division of Alabama Community College System and by Alabama Department of Public Health. We will be offering the short term courses that could be completed in 12 months or less. Stay tune for future announcements.