Amazon to receive the J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year Award

Amazon could have built its first next-generation fulfillment center just about anywhere.

The massive online retailer chose Shreveport, where a five-story, three-million-square-foot facility opened last year.

That choice is a big reason why Amazon has been selected to receive the J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year Award. Given annually by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the award will be presented at the J. Pat Beaird Industry of the Year Award Luncheon, presented by Regions Bank, on Sept. 10 at the Shreveport Convention Center.

“The Beaird award is really an opportunity to recognize an industry that has made a major impact in our community,” said Dr. Tim Magner, Chamber president. “When we think about the impact (Amazon) has had in the community over the last several years, it’s pretty substantial. Shreveport is home to the most technologically sophisticated robotics array in the Amazon network. That’s pretty impressive. Also, the fact that they’ve been able to bring on about 1,500 people in a fairly rapid timeframe and are fully up and running, I think, is a real testament to their fortitude, as well as their engagement and investment in the community.”

Each year, the Beaird Award winner is chosen by a committee of past chamber chairs. The award is named after J. Pat Beaird, whose nickname was “The Captain of Industry”.

“He was instrumental in bringing a lot of the original industrial development to Shreveport, not only with AMF Beaird, the company he founded and ran, but also when General Motors, Western Electric and those kinds of folks were courted to Shreveport,” Dr. Magner said. “He was very instrumental in that. It really is an opportunity to extend the legacy he brought in terms of industrial development to Shreveport.”

The keynote speaker at this year’s luncheon will be Col. (Ret.) Mark W. Tillman, the nation’s 12th Presidential Pilot. Col. Tillman is a former commander of Air Force One, the airplane in which the President of the United States travels. During his eight years (2001-2009) in the cockpit, Col. Tillman flew President George W. Bush to destinations all over the world, including Bossier City, on Sept. 11, 2001.

“He has a unique perspective,” Dr. Magner said of Col. Tillman. “Barksdale Air Force Base played a particularly unique role in serving as the landing place for the president after he left Florida, and where he spoke to the nation from the conference room. Col. Tillman will be able to share his perspective from the cockpit and from the other side of the conversation that we think will be particularly compelling.”

Col. Tillman also flew President Bush into Baghdad, Iraq, which was a war zone.

“I think what (Col. Tillman) will bring is not only some unique perspective in working with the president, but just what it takes to operate at a high level — the kind of leadership and the kind of skill set that it takes to operate. He flew Air Force One a lot of miles but also had unique opportunities to engage with crises all over the world and solve problems. I think he has a range of really interesting and compelling stories he will be able to share.”

Col. Tillman will be the latest in a long line of speakers to whom the Chamber gives serious consideration when deciding who will address their business-minded audience.

“We want somebody who will make an impact and help folks to think,” Dr. Magner said. “This is really our leadership luncheon. It’s an opportunity, we hope, for folks to stretch their mind or experience a little bit. Over the last several years, we’ve had a number of very dynamic speakers who have really talked about what leadership looks like at a personal level, whether they’re in a position of leadership or not, and what it takes as an individual to reach inside and sometimes make the hard choices and sometimes push yourself beyond what you think is possible.”

Dr. Magner hopes that having Amazon’s fulfillment center in Shreveport will get the attention of other companies looking to build a distribution center.

Col. (Ret.) Mark W. Tillman

“We have had distribution here historically, but to have a company like Amazon put a physical plant of that size and sophistication in Shreveport, I think, speaks to the impact that distribution has as a growth sector for us. For us to be able to highlight that — recognize that — hopefully it will encourage others to look at our area. We’ve been blessed in a lot of ways. We still have available land for a large footprint installation. We also have access to both water and power. Those are also in high demand. We’re hopeful that Amazon’s success here will encourage others to see this as a fertile ground for continued growth.”

For more information on the J. Pat Beair Industry of the Year Awards Luncheon, you may visit shreveportchamber.org.