This year’s “Evening for Progress” was a resounding success, uniting the business community’s unwavering commitment to drive remarkable progress in Alabama.

Wednesday night, the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) was honored to welcome former United States Representatives Trey Gowdy, R-SC, and Joe Cunningham, D-SC, as the keynote speakers alongside more than 500 esteemed guests from the Alabama business community. The annual event is the cornerstone fundraising event for the “Protecting our Progress campaign,” the driving force behind BCA’s political action committee, Progress PAC.

BCA’s chairman, Angus Cooper, III from the Cooper Group, led a riveting discussion with the former congressmen that touched on everything from national political hot-topic issues to SEC football predictions.

Prior to the event’s feature presentation, BCA’s ProgressPAC chairman, Mark Drew from Protective Life Corp., gave a fundraising update and thanked the event’s sponsoring companies. Drew then called representatives from this year’s top sponsorship level, the Founders Club, onto the stage to recognize their generous commitments and leadership in ensuring the event’s successful fundraising efforts. Those 2023 Founders Club members include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the Cooper Group, Regions Financial Corporation, and the Medical Place.