Leadership Alabama

Leadership Alabama, a statewide program of Alabama leaders engaged in creating a network of relationships that seeks mutual understanding of problems and priorities for Alabama’s future, is pleased to announce the 76 members of Class XXXI for 2020 – 2021.  Due to the ongoing restrictions surrounding COVID-19, the opening retreat is scheduled for January 2021 in Montgomery.

During the program year, class members will convene in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery, where they will hear challenging presentations and participate in class discussions that encourage them to make critical, thoughtful assessments of our state and its issues – both challenging and successful – while learning of some extraordinary initiatives that are addressing those issues.  “Leadership Alabama is an organization comprised of our state’s most accomplished and forward-thinking leaders who share a strong commitment in serving the people of Alabama.  The outstanding members of Class XXXI continue that legacy.  We need strong leadership now more than ever as we push Alabama to live up to its immense potential and offer all of her citizens the opportunity to maximize theirs,” expressed Gordon Martin, Leadership Alabama’s board chair.

Kate Cotton, executive director, added, “I continue to be amazed by the caliber and leadership experience of each new class, and once again, Class XXXI includes remarkable leaders who will definitely remain engaged and keep our state moving forward.  By bringing these individuals together, Alabama is sure to benefit from their collective passion, knowledge and influence.”

Class XXXI members —
Ryan Austin, EVP & COO, Hoar Program Management (HPM)                                                         Birmingham
Will Barrois, VP & Regional Manager, Stirling Properties, LLC                                                            Mobile
Chris Blankenship, Commissioner, AL Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources             Montgomery
Tommy Brigham, Chairman, ARC Realty                                                                                                        Birmingham
Katie Boyd Britt, President & CEO, Business Council of Alabama                                                    Montgomery
Kenyen Brown, Shareholder, Maynard, Cooper & Gale                                                                          Mobile
Anna Buckalew, President & CEO, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce                       Montgomery
Dawn Bulgarella, CFO, UAB Health System                                                                                                 Birmingham
Greg Butrus, Partner, Balch & Bingham, LLP                                                                                                 Birmingham
Greg Carnes, Dean, UNA’s College of Business                                                                                           Florence
Ronnie Chronister, SVP, Dynetics, Inc.                                                                                                             Huntsville
Brooke Coleman, Principal, Daniel and Brooke Coleman Charitable Fund                                Birmingham
Susan Comensky, VP, Alabama Power Company                                                                                       Birmingham
Allison Black Cornelius, CEO, Greater Birmingham Humane Society                                          Birmingham
Tommy Coshatt, EVP, Alfa Insurance                                                                                                                 Auburn
Derrick Cunningham, Sheriff, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office                                              Montgomery
Mike Daria, Superintendent, Tuscaloosa City Schools                                                                              Tuscaloosa
Cathy DeLaGarza, SVP, Uniti Fiber                                                                                                                     Mobile
Michael Douglas, Superintendent, Decatur City Schools                                                                       Decatur
Jed Downs, President, Qualico Steel Company, Inc.                                                                                  Dothan
Trey Echols, President, Highland Associates, Inc.                                                                                       Birmingham
Rebekah Elgin-Council, SVP & CMO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama                         Birmingham
Chris England, AL State Representative & Chairman, Democratic Party                                        Tuscaloosa
Ed Fields, Senior Advisor & Chief Strategist, City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office                      Birmingham
Marquis Forge, CEO, MRaine Industries, LLC                                                                                             Autaugaville
Brian Gary, Chief Robotic/Minimally Invasive Surgery, Jackson Hospital                                       Montgomery
Leigh Grantham, VP, PowerSouth                                                                                                                     Andalusia
Joe Hampton, President, Spire AL, MS & Gulf Coast, Spire, Inc.                                                       Birmingham
Scott Harris, State Health Officer, Alabama Department of Public Health                                Montgomery
Ben Harrison, General Manager, Cullman Regional Airport                                                               Cullman
Sharon Haynes, County Extension Coordinator,  Auburn University – ACES                            Rockford
Betsy Holloway, VP, CMO & Professor of Marketing, Samford University                                  Birmingham
Todd Jackson, Operations Group President, Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC                                             Birmingham
Stephanie Kennedy-Mell, Proprietor, COO & CMO, Church Street Family                              Huntsville
Felicia Long, Attorney,  Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, PC                                               Montgomery
J.C. Love, Probate Judge, Montgomery County Commission                                                           Montgomery
Delbert Madison, SVP,  ServisFirst Bank                                                                                                    Montgomery
Emily Marks, Judge, U.S. Courts                                                                                                                      Montgomery
Keith Martin, Tribal Council Member, Poarch Band of Creek Indians                                        Atmore
Scott Mayo, Executive Director, Cook Museum of Natural Science                                            Decatur
Steve Miley, Associate Director, NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center              Scottsboro
Anoop Mishra, Regional Executive & VP, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta                           Birmingham
John Montgomery, Founder & CEO, BIG Communications                                                            Birmingham
Mac Moorer, Retired Managing Partner, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, LLC                            Birmingham
Chris Newlin, Executive Director, National Children’s Advocacy Center                               Huntsville
Tim Parker, President, Parking Towing Company                                                                                Northport
Craig Perciavalle, President, Austal                                                                                                             Mobile
Russell Pigg, CEO, North Alabama Medical Center                                                                           Florence
Kelli Powers, President, Decatur Morgan Hospitals, Huntsville Hospital Health System     Decatur
James Rane, VP, Great Southern Wood Preserving                                                                                Abbeville
Amy Rauworth, Chief of Development & Strategic Partnerships, Lakeshore Foundation    Birmingham
Jim Richardson, Partner, RSM US, LLP                                                                                                      Birmingham
Lashunda Scales, President Pro-Tem Commissioner, Jefferson County Commission       Birmingham
Tuerk Schlesinger, CEO, AltaPointe Health                                                                                           Mobile
Tasha Scott, Owner, Maximized Growth, LLC                                                                                       Montgomery
Chad Scroggins, County Manager, Shelby County                                                                              Columbiana
Jack Sharman, Partner, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, LLC                                                              Birmingham
Jeb Shell, CFO, Hargrove Engineers + Constructors                                                                       Mobile
Andrea Smith, Birmingham Market CEO, BBVA USA                                                                        Birmingham
Bryson Stephens, Chairman, EBSCO                                                                                                        Birmingham
Renee Story, Executive Director Plant Management, GE Appliances                                        Decatur
Hal Taylor, Secretary, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency                                                           Montgomery
Chad Tindol, Chief Administrative Officer, The University of Alabama                                  Tuscaloosa
Will Trapp, SVP, Morgan Stanley                                                                                                                Florence
Lynn Troy, CEO, Troy 7, Inc.                                                                                                                           Huntsville
Susan Waldrop, Partner, Larimer, Waldrop & Associates                                                            Birmingham
Steve Walker, EVP & CFO, Protective Life Corporation                                                               Birmingham
Bestor Ward, President, Ward Properties, Inc.                                                                                  Mobile
Karockas Watkins, CEO, Ability Plus, Inc.                                                                                           Huntsville
Phil Webb, President & Owner, Webb Concrete & Building Materials                                Heflin
Clare Weil, President, C. Weil Enterprises, Inc.                                                                                 Montgomery
Ray White, Office Managing Member, Warren Averett, LLC                                                      Huntsville
Ashli Wilkins, VP & Dean, Wallace Community College                                                             Dothan
Charlie Williams, President & CEO, Citizens Bank & Trust                                                        Guntersville
Elizabeth Winter, SVP, Regions Bank                                                                                                   Tuscaloosa
Bob Woodall, President, Bob Woodall Air Care Systems                                                          Dothan