“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
This sentiment is one that Joseph Marchant, Bibb Medical Center President and CEO, shared in his acceptance speech after receiving the United in Service Award at the West Alabama Young Leaders Awards. Having been on his office wall for years, this quote by Margaret Mead has been a steady inspiration for him to keep moving forward in his vision to strengthen, improve, and grow the resources not only in his own community, but also anywhere else within his reach.
Presented by United Way of West Alabama and the Young Leaders Society of West Alabama, Marchant was honored for this award for his service and dedication to improving the landscape of healthcare and community resources in West Alabama. United Way serves Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa Counties.
Hosted at the Embassy Suites in downtown Tuscaloosa on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:30 a.m., multitudes of people gathered together to celebrate both Marchant and the other five award recipients. There to support Marchant included BMC team members, Board Trustee Stephanie Kemmer, Mayor of Centreville Mike Oakley, and Attorney Mitch Kemmer.
Alongside the other recipients, Marchant was nominated to receive this award for his outstanding contributions to improving the quality of life for the people of not only Bibb County but West Alabama as well in education, health, and income stability. Those honored with Marchant for the United in Service Award included Estella Hare, Will Hewson, Danielle Kimbrough Spikes, and Lesley Powell. Charlie Bailey was also awarded The David Reynolds Inspiration Award during the ceremony. Each recipient was able to donate $500 to their organization of choice, and Marchant chose to support The Bibb County School Foundation.
In a kind introduction, Dr. JJ Wedgeworth spoke of Marchant’s dedication to not only serving his own county, but the state as a whole in sharing his knowledge and practices to further ensure that all rural communities in Alabama have better access to quality healthcare. He not only seeks to improve the landscape of healthcare but was also instrumental in bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the children of Bibb County, which has placed books in the homes of nearly 1000 children in the county since its launch in 2022.
“Joseph spends his time serving his community to provide outstanding healthcare to Bibb County residents while sharing his expertise statewide to be sure that equitable healthcare is available to all Alabama rural communities,” Dr. Wedgeworth said. She expanded on sharing the broad spectrum of Marchant’s service, detailing his roles serving on the Industrial Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as noting his time as a chairman of the Alabama Hospital Association. His past service also includes serving on the State Committee of Public Health amidst a global pandemic, offering his steadfast insight and experience during a universal time of upheaval and confusion.
Each recipient was introduced with a video before receiving their award that showed people highlighting the important and impactful work that they had done to merit their nomination. Speaking of Marchant included Stephanie Kemmer and State Senator April Weaver, where they both extoled Marchant’s endeavors to enrich the lives of those that live in Bibb County and beyond.
“We have strived to teach our children to leave somewhere better than you found it, and Joseph Marchant is the epitome of that,” Stephanie Kemmer said. She went on to share that because of Marchant’s determination and dedication in a world where many rural healthcare facilities are struggling and being forced to close, especially after the impact of the global pandemic, Bibb County’s healthcare system has not only survived, but is currently thriving. Examples of this include how Marchant’s work was key in bringing back Labor and Delivery to Bibb County, as well as the planning and construction of the BMC Wellness Center. It not only gives the community access to a place to maintain and better their own health through both independent and organized group exercise, but also provides a gathering space to cultivate a sense of togetherness and camaraderie. Kemmer also spoke of Marchant’s innate ability to be not only a goal-oriented leader, but an inspiring one as well who often brings others on board to his mission to meet the needs of the community he sees around him by inviting others in to share in that passion for service. A rare quality to find, it is one that Bibb County strongly values and appreciates in Marchant.
State Senator April Weaver also spoke of Marchant’s drive and ability to share his vision, saying, “Joseph Marchant is an incredible forward thinker, and just based on the things that he has done there at Bibb Medical Center, we see not only how forward thinking he is, but the passion he has for the people that he serves.” Sharing that she had known him since he was in elementary school, she noted witnessing firsthand how lifelong his work ethic and passion for service has truly been. Speaking as the state senator who represents the area Marchant serves, she is so proud of the healthcare facility in her district that continues to grow. “When we look at it from a state standpoint, he certainly strives for the best practice in so many things,” she said of how Marchant’s focus for growth and improvement is broader than Bibb County alone. Not only does Marchant’s work get recognized regularly at a state level, but Weaver shared that his work often gets recognized at a federal level as well. “I have never seen someone with such a passion for community as Joseph Marchant,” she spoke of not only his focus on healthcare, but in encouraging and leading his team at BMC to give back to the community in as many areas as they can.
When accepting his award, Marchant mentioned first how humbling it was to be in the company of such worthy recipients and how honored he felt to be included. He offered his gratitude to be in the company of so many impactful, committed leaders who are putting in the work to make West Alabama a better place for everyone. He also sincerely thanked his team at Bibb Medical Center that works alongside him towards meeting these goals and made sure to mention that none of it would be possible without them.
Marchant assured that he was nothing without his family and gave them credit for molding him into the man he is today, and that their support made all the difference in him when it comes to how he himself is able to make a difference in the lives of others. He shared that he felt insurmountably blessed with his wife and children, stating that he couldn’t ask for anything better than what he already has.
“While this is all incredible – so what? What’s next?” Marchant asked in closing his speech, speaking to what he often asks his team what goal they will pursue next in the lasting, great work still to be done.
Let us all join together to congratulate Joseph Marchant on this amazing achievement and join him in looking ahead at the growth that is yet to come for Bibb County and beyond.
