Two organizations working to enhance Alabama’s economic growth and development recently selected Ken Tucker, dean of the University of West Alabama’s College of Business, to serve in key positions.

This fall, Tucker was named president/CEO of Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) by that organization’s board of directors; he will serve beginning in January 2013. Tucker also recently joined the board of directors of the Alabama Council on Economic Education (ACEE).

“Alabama Communities of Excellence is a group of volunteer leaders whom I hold in high regard, in part for their enthusiastic commitment to helping smaller communities implement comprehensive plans for growth and development that can make life better for all citizens,” Tucker said.

Created in 2002, ACE draws upon the resources and expertise of its partners in business, industry, government and higher education to assist small cities and towns throughout the state. The nonprofit organization provides programs and tools to help communities grow in several areas: leadership, planning, economic development and quality of life. West Alabama ACE communities include Demopolis, which completed the program in 2005 and was recertified in 2011; and Livingston, which received its ACE designation in 2012.

The Alabama Council on Economic Education, founded in 1969, is a nonprofit organization that offers economic and financial education programs to K–12 public and private schools, youth groups, and homeschooled students and their teachers/mentors. ACEE leverages its partnerships with educational and professional organizations to advocate for financial literacy and economic education.

“The business, financial and education leaders who comprise the council are very proactive in their quest to positively impact quality of life through various financial and economic education initiatives statewide,” Tucker said.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be involved with both of these organizations,” he said. “I look forward to serving with such an impressive cross-section of caring leaders.”

Tucker, who has served on the ACE board since 2010, holds board and executive positions in several other organizations, including the Alabama Quality Award Board of Examiners, the UWA Foundation Board of Directors and the Region 3 Work Force Development Council. He also conducts workshops on leadership, communication and interpersonal effectiveness and delivers professional presentations to various groups throughout the Southeast.

He has served as dean of the UWA business school since 2007 and as a Marengo County commissioner since 2000.

Established in 1967, the University of West Alabama’s College of Business offers undergraduate programs in accounting, finance, business administration, management, marketing, technology, computer information systems, industrial technology and industrial maintenance.