News

Year: 2021

LACRE Listening Session Education II

April 1, 2021

Dear LA Members,

To those of you who were able to join us for the first LACRE zoom session on primary and secondary education, thank you for joining the conversation. We appreciated your engagement and value your feedback as we plan the second zoom session on education, which will focus on college and career readiness. As the surveys suggested, the upcoming session will include fewer speakers, allowing more time for Q&A and active engagement. Additionally, all of the presentations will be “live,” and we are honored that the following leaders will be sharing time with us –

  • Dr. Jim Purcell                 Alabama Commission on Higher Education
  • Dr. Jeremiah Newell     ACCEL Day and Evening Academy (Mobile)
  • Ms. Tammy Dunn            A+ College Ready
  • Dr. Lee Meadows            The Alabama STEM Council

Please mark your calendars for Friday, April 16, at 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Attendance is free, and if you can’t join us for the entire time, you are welcome to join us as your schedule permits.  If you plan to attend, please click the registration button below to complete the quick and easy registration form.  The Zoom meeting information will be sent within the next week or so.

Register here!

Remembering Co-Founder Mike Jenkins

April 1, 2021

With profound sadness, Leadership Alabama shares the news of the death of Mr. J. Michael Jenkins IV, a beloved board member, former board chair and co-founder of Leadership Alabama. In 1989, Mike Jenkins and Bill Smith, Chairman of Royal Cup Coffee and Tea, shared the vision of creating an organization that would unite people from all backgrounds, professions and perspectives in order to collectively learn about our state’s challenges and opportunities. By annually convening a diverse group of state leaders, it would enhance the opportunities of creating solutions and initiatives that would foster the continued growth and success of Alabama. From this partnership and shared passion, Leadership Alabama was born. Class I launched in Montgomery in 1990, and this fall, Class XXXI will do the same. Since its beginning, approximately 1,700 leaders have participated in the LA program. As we fondly remember Mike, let us all offer heartfelt gratitude for him and Bill for their leadership and commitment to our beloved state.

J. Mike Jenkins IV 

👋 There is so much to share!

February 9, 2021

NEWS &
MEMBER UPDATES
FEBRUARY 2021 | Issue I-XXI
LA Class XXX
We have scheduled and rescheduled Class XXX’s graduation retreat in Birmingham three times, and a final date is still “pending.”  Therefore, in order to keep the class connected with one another and with Leadership Alabama, we have scheduled ZOOM sessions during the next several months on critical issues facing our state and country.  The upcoming ZOOM meeting will feature a presentation and Q&A session with Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama’s State Health Officer, who has tirelessly and graciously led us through the pandemic.  Additionally, he is member of the incoming Leadership Alabama Class XXXI.
LA Class XXXI
After a year’s postponement, Class XXXI, LA’s largest class with 76 members, is scheduled to launch on Thursday, October 7, 2021 in Montgomery at the Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Federal Courthouse.  Hallelujah!
ALI Class IV
We are thrilled to announce that nominations for ALI Class IV will open in July, and the class will begin in November 2021. ALI is Leadership Alabama’s flagship program for rising professionals aged 25 – 40, and since we were unable to conduct programming during the past year, the maximum age for upcoming nominations will be 41 for Class IV only.
LACRE
Due to the recent and ongoing events in our nation, Leadership Alabama recognized the need for more action on social justice and racial equality. We are in a difficult time demanding heightened leadership, action and results. To provide that leadership, the Leadership Alabama Commission on Race and Equity (LACRE) was created. It is comprised of 28 LA and ALI leaders who are passionate and focused on identifying, prioritizing and offering solutions to the inequities endured by our citizens that directly impact the growth and future prosperity of Alabama
Once we are able to safely convene at large gatherings, the commission’s goal is to conduct listening sessions throughout the state for LA members and other community leaders. In the meantime, LACRE will host a statewide ZOOM “town hall listening session” on Friday, March 19, at 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon on the topic of education and the many critical issues surrounding the disparities in our educational system.  Stay tuned for more details, and we hope you plan to join us for this very important conversation.
“30 and STILL holding…”
Leadership Alabama’s Anniversary Celebration
This will probably come as no surprise, but our celebration event planned for this August at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear has been rescheduled, yet again.  With the uncertainties that continue to surround COVID, LA’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to move the event to the summer of 2022. Understanding how large our anticipated gathering will be, The Grand Hotel graciously agreed with the decision, and our celebration event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 27, 2022 through Friday, July 29, 2022.  Again, more details will follow in the future.  For those of you whose previously-paid registration fees are in “safe keeping” with us, they are still secure and will be applied to the 2022 gathering unless we are directed otherwise.
Annual Dues of $175 for Fiscal Year 2020 – 2021
The response to our annual dues campaign has been, and continues to be, overwhelmingly generous and supportive, and Leadership Alabama is humbled by the outpouring of dues and contributions.  For those of you who have not yet had a chance to pay your $175 annual dues, it’s not too late!  LA’s fiscal year does not end until June 30, 2021, and we will be sending another friendly tickler in the days ahead.  Or, you can beat us to the punch and pay online via Swell or click the invoice button to print an invoice to mail with your payment.
“WHO’S WHO IN EDUCATION”
FOR 2020
  • Stuart Bell, The University of Alabama, Class XXVIII, Tuscaloosa
  • Keith Brown, Jefferson State Community College, Class XXX, Birmingham
  • J.W. Carpenter, Birmingham Education Foundation, Class XXIV, Birmingham
  • Glenda Colagross, NW Shoals Community College, Class XXX, Florence
  • Daniel Coleman, Birmingham-Southern College, Class XXX, Birmingham
  • Jack Hawkins, Troy University, Class II, Troy
  • Eric Jack,** UAB Collat School of Business, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • Vicki Karolewics,** Wallace State Community College, Class XVI, Hanceville
  • Ken Kitts, University of North Alabama, Class XXVIII, Florence
  • Eric Mackey, AL Department of Education, Class XIX, Montgomery
  • John Stewart, University of Montevallo, Class XXVII, Montevallo
  • Reginald Sykes, Bishop State Community College, Class XXIX, Mobile
  • Ken Tucker, University of West Alabama, Class X, Livingston
  • Tony Waldrop, University of South Alabama, Class XXVII, Mobile
  • Linda Young,* Wallace State Community College, Class IX, Dothan
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS, HONORS AND RECOGNITION
  • Tommy Bice, Class XX, Gillian Goodrich, Class IX, Mike Goodrich, Class I, all with the Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, Birmingham – The successful opening of new charter school, i3 Academy, in Woodlawn
  • Wendy Evesque, Protective Life Corporation, Class XXX, Birmingham – Spearheaded the creation of the UA Bridges program
  • Tammy Montgomery, Sumter County Circuit Judge, Class XXVIII, Coatopa – Featured state-wide for her incredible work in Sumter County as the founder of the nonprofit, Children of the Village Network, Inc.
  • Henry Panion III, UAB, Class XII, Birmingham – Co-directed the film, “Dreams of Hope.”  Won 13 Telly Awards
  • Frank Adams, A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, Class XXIX, Birmingham
  • John Anzalone, Resource Partner, ALG Research, Class XXI, Montgomery
  • Jannah Bailey,** Child Protect, Class XXI, Montgomery
  • Miranda Bouldin, LogiCore Corporation, Class XXX, Huntsville
  • Kyle Buchanan,* Helen Keller & Red Bay Hospitals, Class XXV, Sheffield
  • Chad Emerson, Downtown Huntsville, Class XX, Huntsville
  • Tyrone Fenderson,* Co-Chair, Synovus, Class XXII, Mobile
  • Ryan Hankins, Resource Partner, PARCA, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • Liz Huntley, Facilitator, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, Class XXIII, Birmingham
  • Eric Jack,** UAB Collat School of Business, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • Joette Kelley-Brown, Kelley Health Holdings, Class XXIX, Jasper
  • Debbie Long, Civic Leader, Class XVIII, Birmingham
  • JesHenry Malone, Civic Leader, Class XXX, Huntsville
  • Gordon Martin,* Co-Chair, Alabama Power Company, Class XVII, Birmingham
  • Tammy Montgomery, Sumter County, Class XXVIII, Coatopa
  • John Moorehouse, Team Health/Baptist Health, Class XXII, Montgomery
  • Karen Musgrove, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Class XXIX, Birmingham
  • David Nast,* Progress Bank, Class XX, Huntsville
  • Arthur Price, 16th Street Baptist Church, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • John Saxon, Facilitator, John D. Saxon, PC, Class XXX, Birmingham
  • Spud Seale,* Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, Class VI, Montgomery
  • Robert Simon,* Corporate Realty, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • Donna Smith,** Civic Leader, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • Laurie Weil, Co-Chair, Civic Leader, Class III, Montgomery
“ALABAMIANS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN 2020”
  • Bert Eichold, City of Mobile Department of Health, Class X, Mobile
  • Kay Ivey, State of Alabama, Class XI, Montgomery
  • Eric Mackey, AL Department of Education, Class XIX, Montgomery
  • Randall Woodfin, City of Birmingham, Class XXVI, Birmingham
“WOMEN WHO
SHAPE THE STATE”
FOR 2020
  • Stephanie Bryan, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Class XXVIII, Atmore
  • Casi Ferguson, UNCF, Class XXX, Birmingham
  • Carol Hunter,** Downtown Mobile Alliance, Class XXVIII, Mobile
“TOP BIRMINGHAM WOMEN” FOR 2020
  • Kate Cotton, Leadership Alabama, Class XVII
  • Melody Eagan, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, Class XXIX
  • Casi Ferguson, UNCF, Class XXX
  • Isabel Rubio, Hispanic Interest Coaltion of AL, Class XVI
WINNERS OF
RECENT COMMUNITY ELECTIONS
  • Doug Bachuss,* Elected to the Decatur City Board of Education, Class XXVI
  • Andy Betterton, Elected mayor of Florence, Class XXVIII
  • Steven Reed, Elected mayor of Montgomery, Class XXVIII
NAMED TO SERVE ON THE GOVERNOR’S ALABAMA STEM COUNCIL
  • Liz Huntley, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, Class XXIII, Birmingham
  • Vicki Karolewics, Wallace State Community College, Class XVI, Hanceville
  • Neil Lamb, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Class XXIX, Huntsville
  • Eric Mackey, Alabama Department of Education, Class XIX, Montgomery
  • Cynthia McCarty, Alabama State Board of Education, Class XXIX, Anniston
  • Charles Nash, The University of Alabama System, Retired, Class VII, Tuscaloosa
  • Jimmy Parnell, Alabama Farmers Federation, Class XXVII, Montgomery
  • Jim Purcell, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Class XXIX, Montgomery
  • Daryl Taylor, Airbus America, Class XXX, Mobile
  • Ken Tucker, University of West Alabama, Class X, Livingston
HAPPY RETIREMENT!
  • Aliquippa Allen, Dean, College of Business & Technology, University of West Alabama, Class XXX, Livingston
  • Lynn Beshear, Director, AL Department of Mental Health, Class III, Montgomery
  • Allen Bolton, SVP Finance & Administration, UAB, Class XXX, Birmingham
  • Fred Braswell,* President & CEO, AL Rural Electric Association, Class VI, Montgomery
  • Melissa Craig,* SVP, Bank Independent, Class XXI, Decatur
  • John England,* Circuit Court Judge, Tuscaloosa County, Class VI, Tuscaloosa
  • Jimmy Lyons, Director & CEO, AL State Port Authority, Class XIII, Mobile
  • Charles Nash, Senior ViceChancellor, The University of Alabama, Class VII, Tuscaloosa
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RECENT BOARD POSITIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND
NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES
  • Scott Adams – Named to Governor’s AL Innovation Commission, Class XXIII, Protective Life Corporation, Birmingham
  • Rich Bielen – Chosen to co-chair The Birmingham Promise, Class XIX, Protective Life Corporation, Birmingham
  • Tony Cochran – Named to AL State Port Authority Board of Directors, Class XXX, CK Business Solutions, Albertville
  • Pete Key**- President, Florence Rotary Club, Class XXVII, Old Pete Key, Inc., Florence
  • Andy Mann** – President-Elect (2nd time!), Florence Rotary Club, Class XXV, Progress Bank, Florence
  • John Mazyck – Immediate Past Chair of the BCA, Class XXIX, The Frazer Lanier Company, Montgomery
  • Melissa Morrissette* – Appointed to the ABC Control Board, Class XXI, LLB&B Inc. Real Estate, Mobile
  • David Nast* – Immediate Past Chair of AL Bankers Association, Class XX, Progress Bank, Huntsville
  • Eva Robertson* – Elected to the Board of IGNITE Alabama, Class XXIX, Protective Life Foundation, Birmingham
  • Nancy Sanford** – Appointed to the University of North Alabama’s Board of Trustees, Class XVII, Civic Leader, Florence
  • Kevin Savoy ** – Elected vice chair of BCA’s Progress PAC, Class XXIX, Great Southern Wood Preserving, Abbeville
  • Gary Smith – Elected chair of the BCA, Class XXI, PowerSouth, Andalusia
  • Jimmy Stubbs – Elected chair of the AL Bankers Association, Class XVIII, River Bank & Trust, Prattville
  • Larry Thornton – Chosen for the Birmingham Branch Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Class XIII, Thornton Enterprises, Inc., Birmingham
  • Ashley Whatley – Elected to O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Young Supporters Board, Leadership Alabama, Birmingham
  • Lynne B. Vallely* – Elected to the AL Department of Archives & History Foundation Board, Class III, HSV Hospital Foundation, Huntsville
  • DeLynn Zell – Elected chair of Birmingham-Southern’s Board of Trustees, Class XXX, Bridgeworth Financial, Birmingham
CAREER CHANGES & PROMOTIONS
  • Greg Barker, President – Economic Development Partnership of AL, Class XVIII, Birmingham
  • Gary Bolton, President & CEO – Fiber Broadband Association, Class XXX, Huntsville
  • Bradley Byrne, Rejoined Adams & Reese as Special Counsel, Class IV, Mobile
  • Myla Calhoun, Named as Alabama Power’s VP of the Birmingham Division, Class XXIV, Birmingham
  • Jerry Groce,** Executive Director of Easter Seals of NW Alabama, Class XXVIII, Moulton
  • Jimmy Hill, State Executive Director of the Alabama Casa Network, Class XXVIII, Montgomery
  • Chuck Holmes, Executive Director of the Alabama Humanities Foundation, Class XXX, Birmingham
  • Bill Hopkins, Fayetteville City Director of Schools, Class XXVIII, Fayetteville City Schools, TN
  • Richard Marsden, Joined Maynard Cooper & Gale as a partner, Class XXIX, Huntsville
  • Stuart Obermann, VP of Field Operations with the national office of the ALS Association, Class XXIX, Huntsville
  • Jonathan Porter, Promoted to Alabama Power’s SVP of Customer Operations, Class XXVIII, Birmingham
  • Lolly Steiner, Marketing & PR officer for AuburnBank, Class XXIX, Auburn
  • Mark Sullivan,** Executive Vice President, Byrant Bank, Class XXV, Tuscaloosa
  • Jesse Vogtle,** Partner at Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis, Class XXIII, Birmingham
  • Eddie Welch, Joined CAPTRUST as a Principal and Financial Advisor, Class XXVIII, Montgomery
“BIRMINGHAM’S
MOST INFLUENTIAL”
FOR 2020
  • Jason Alexander, Ascension/St. Vincent’s, Class XXX
  • Rich Bielen, Protective Life Corporation, Class XIX
  • Rob Burton, Hoar Construction, Class XXV
  • Leigh Collier, Wells Fargo, Class XXIII
  • Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power Company, Class XX
  • Will Ferniany, UAB Health System, Class XX
  • David Fleming, REV Birmingham, Class XXV
  • Nancy Goedecke, Mayer Electric Supply Company, Class XXIV
  • Jim Gorrie, Brasfield & Gorrie, Class X
  • Herschell Hamilton, BLOC Global, Class XXIII
  • Wayne Hutchens, AT&T, Class XXIII
  • Cathy Sloss Jones, Sloss Real Estate, Class VIII
  • Mike Kemp,** Kemp Management Solutions, Class XXVII
  • Craft O’Neal, O’Neal Industries, Class XXIII
  • Ruffner Page, McWane, Inc., Class XVI
  • Robert Simon,* Corporate Realty, Class XXVIII
  • Sanjay Singh*, Pack Health, Class XXVI
  • John Turner, Regions Financial Corporation, Class XIII
  • Tim Vines, Blue Cross Blue Shield of AL, Class XXX
  • David Walker, EBSCO, Class XXVIII
  • Mike Warren,* Children’s of Alabama, Class III
  • Randall Woodfin, City of Birmingham, Class XXVI
BIRMINGHAM’S “WHO’S WHO IN NONPROFITS”
FOR 2020
  • Frank Adams, A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, Class XXIX
  • J.W. Carpenter, Birmingham Education Foundation, Class XXIX
  • Maria Kennedy, The Daniel Foundation of Alabama, Class XXIV
  • Paul Kennedy, Walker Area Community Foundation, Class XXI, Jasper
  • Drew Langloh, United Way of Central Alabama, Class XIX
  • Chris Nanni, The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Class XXVIII
  • Eva Robertson*, Protective Life Foundation, Class XXIX
  • Jeff Underwood, Lakeshore Foundation, Class XXI
*Leadership Alabama Board of Director
**LA Regional Council Member
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Leadership Alabama Class XXXII Nominations Update

January 12, 2021

Dear Leadership Alabama members,

As we all continue to pivot based on the ongoing circumstances surrounding COVID, Leadership Alabama’s timeline/processes have changed, as well. Class XXXI was set to launch this past October, but the start of the program year was delayed by a year, thus the new class will convene this October in Montgomery for a powerful opening session. Additionally, Class XXX has yet to graduate since its final retreat in Birmingham planned for May 2020 was postponed, having been scheduled and rescheduled multiple times. We are committed to providing a meaningful, final session for Class XXX, and it will be finalized as soon as we are able to secure venues and safely gather.

As such, since we are still trying to host a final retreat for Class XXX, while planning the launch of Class XXXI, nominations for Class XXXII will not be solicited until next January (2022).

As always, thank you for your remarkable support and understanding, especially during the past several months!

Kate & Ashley