Despite the recent down turn in the national economy, Shelby County seems to be suffering only minimal effects. Unemployment is still a full 3.5% below the state average and new businesses are continuing to look at our market for new sites. As this national recession comes to an end Shelby County will likely have one of the longest periods of sustained economic growth in its history.
Economy Still Strong in Shelby County
Published: September 14, 2009Posted in: Economy
About the Author
Representative Cam Ward graduated from Troy State University in
1993 with a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and
Political Science. He then received a Juris Doctorate of Law from
Cumberland School of Law , at Samford University in Birmingham.
Cam served as Deputy Attorney General in the Alabama State
Auditor's Office from April 1996 until December 1997. In 1998, he
joined the Alabama Secretary of State's Office as Confidential Assistant to the Secretary of State.
From November 1998 to June 2001, Cam worked as District Director for Congressman Spencer Bachus of Birmingham.
In June 2001, Cam accepted the position of Executive Director of the Industrial Development Board of Alabaster. In his current role he actively recruits new business for Alabaster and works closely with
current business owners to help develop a positive atmosphere for economic growth.
Cam has also been active in numerous civic organizations. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Shelby County Economic and Industrial Development Authority, the Shelby County
Salvation Army and was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Developing Alabama's Youth (DAY) Program in Shelby County . Currently Cam serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Shelby
Education Foundation, YMCA of Alabaster, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the American Village and the Shelby County Arts Council. He also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors
for Alabaster/Pelham Rotary from 1999 to 2003. Recently he was reappointed to the Board of Directors for Leadership Shelby County.
In 2000 and again 2002 Cam was selected from a nationwide pool of candidates to participate in the
Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program and U.S.-Spain Council in Europe where he spent time in eight
different countries interacting with government officials. In 2003, Cam was selected to participate in the
American Council of Young Political Leaders as he traveled to Romania and Hungary for two weeks to
interact with civic and community leaders. Cam again participated in an ACYPL exchange in 2005
where he led a delegation to Brazil .
Cam has been a member of the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee since 1999 and
was elected as an alternate delegate for George W. Bush to the 2000 and 2004 Republican National
Conventions. Most recently Cam served as State Legislative Chairman for the John McCain for
President Campaign in Alabama .
In 2002 and again in 2004, Cam was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for District 49.
He serves as Vice-Chairman for the House Republican Caucus. He currently serves on the House Rules,
Judiciary and Education Policy Committee.
Easter Seals of the United States recently named Cam its State Elected Official of the Year in 2008 for
his work in Autism advocacy and services as Chairman of the Alabama Autism Task Force.
Cam is married to the former Julie Cain and they have one daughter, Riley. The Wards are members of
Westwood Baptist Church in Alabaster. 
