Canary Tapped to Head Alabama Business Group

The Business Council of Alabama said it had named former American Trucking Associations' head William J. Canary its new president. The council, which represents 5,000 businesses throughout Alabama, said in a Jan. 27 announcement that Canary would come on board in March. "This is a demanding job that requires a unique combination of association management experience, a strong public policy background, communications skill and governmental relations know-how," BCA Chairman Mike Thompson said in a statement. "Billy brings all of that, and more, to the table." Canary left his position as ATA president Jan. 15, when Bill Graves took that post, but said he would stay on as a consultant until after the group’s Feb. 9-11 leadership meeting in Washington. Canary said in a statement that being named president of BCA was a "a great opportunity. This state is capable of so much, but without a focused, pro-business environment that provides real jobs for real families we won't get there." Graves praised Canary as someone who "provided ATA with outstanding leadership during a very challenging time in both our nation's, and trucking's history." He added that "for nearly 19 months, Bill Canary commuted between his home in Montgomery, Ala. to the ATA headquarters in Alexandria, Va., to lead our organization." Graves also said that he had hoped to find a way for Canary to remain as part of the ATA team. "Bill and I have been friends for nearly two decades and I certainly wanted him to continue in my administration," he said.