PIKE ROAD, Ala. — The Pike Road Business Association will host its next Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, July 28, spotlighting the new Blue Ribbon Customer Service Program. The event is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Road.

The Lunch & Learn event is part of the association’s 2026 series Pike Road IGNITE, the Pike Road Economic Development Department’s business-growth initiative. In March, the first two programs in the series were introduced; Employ-A-Patriot and Best Management Practices for Businesses.

Neal Kelley, Director of AUM Continuing Education and Community Engagement, will present an overview of the Blue Ribbon Customer Service Program. The professional-development training program is designed to give business professionals practical skills they can put to work immediately.

“We’re very excited to partner with the Town of Pike Road in offering a Blue Ribbon certificate customer service training program,” Kelley said.

The training is intended for small-business owners, business leaders and employees. It will include two half-day sessions centered on eight best practices and eight standards of exemplary customer service.

“We’re really inviting small business owners and leaders to come and send their employees to learn about eight best practices and eight standards of exemplary customer service,” Kelley said.

The program’s inaugural class is expected to include 20 to 30 participants this fall. Kelley said its value lies in creating a consistent customer-service culture among Pike Road businesses.

“The value would be a shared language among employees, a shared language among businesses, so that any customer who does business with any of these private organizations across Pike Road would experience a similar positive customer service impact.”

Kelley called the partnership an innovative opportunity for the community.

“I’m not aware of any other towns… who’ve really offered this particular service for businesses,” he said. “It’s going to be very innovative.”

Registration is required for the July 28 Lunch & Learn. The $15 registration fee includes lunch from a local Pike Road business. To register and for more information, click here.