Rise & Thrive

Celebrating Women's Mentorship

  • Tuesday, April 7, 2026
  • Alley Station, Montgomery, AL
Register now
Become a Sponsor

$35 per person

More Than a Program

Rise & Thrive is a joyful gathering that honors the power of women lifting one another. The event will feature an inspiring panel discussion with time for audience questions, followed by a dynamic keynote focused on resilience, purpose, and the impact of mentorship.

Honor & Celebrate

Recognize the mentors who have shaped your journey and celebrate the power of women lifting one another.

Connect & Grow

Network with inspiring women leaders from across Alabama and build relationships that help you thrive.

Inspire & Empower

Gain insights from powerful speakers on resilience, purpose, and mentorship across every season of life.

Guests are encouraged to bring a mentor who has influenced them—or someone they are currently mentoring—and share in an event designed to help us rise and thrive together.

Featured Speakers

Learn from remarkable women whose stories of leadership and mentorship inspire us all.

Ms. Joyce Brooks

Keynote Speaker

"Stepping Into a New Season: Non-Negotiable Peace"

A message on leadership, resilience, and how women continue to grow, mentor, and thrive through life’s transitions.

Sponsored By:

  • Panel Discussion

The panel will celebrate the women whose influence is often quiet but powerful. Through stories of mentorship, resilience, and purpose, panelists will honor the ways women lift one another.

Natalie Kelly

VP of Corporate Responsibility, Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C.

Natasha McCrary

1818 Farms

Alka Bhargav

Aum Foundation

Beth Chapman

Former Secretary of State & State Auditor

Event Schedule

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Alley Station

9:30 AM

Check-In

Registration and networking

10:00 AM

Welcome & Panel Presentation

Panel discussion with audience Q&A

11:00 AM

Keynote Address

"Stepping Into A New Season: Non-Negotiable Peace" by Ms. Joyce Brooks

12:00 PM

Networking

Lunches Provided

Join Us

Be part of this celebration of women’s mentorship and leadership.

April 7, 2026

Tuesday

Alley Station

Montgomery, AL

9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Including Lunch

$35

per person

$250

per table (8 seats)

Register now

Bring a mentor who has influenced you—or someone you are currently mentoring!

 

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Joyce E. Brooks

Joyce E. Brooks is a leadership strategist, author, and speaker who empowers women leaders to rise with resilience, lead with clarity, and protect their peace while carrying the weight of responsibility. As Owner and Managing Member of Brooks Consulting, LLC, she helps organizations and communities strengthen leadership capacity by focusing on leadership development, organizational strategy, and whole-person well-being.

With more than 3 decades of leadership experience and a strong foundation in engineering, Joyce brings a rare blend of analytical insight and lived wisdom to her work. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Alabama and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Joyce is the author of Self-Inflicted Overload, Stress Less and Live More, It Ain’t Over!, and Shift Happens. Through her work, she challenges women to release burnout, reclaim balance, and lead with purpose. A mother, two-time breast cancer survivor, entrepreneur, and widow, Joyce’s life message is anchored in three powerful words: “It Ain’t Over!”

Ms. Natalie Kelly

Natalie Kelly serves as Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Brasfield & Gorrie, where she leads supplier opportunity and sustainability efforts and partners across the business on initiatives that support long-term impact and growth.

A former entrepreneur, Natalie founded SUSTAIN Strategy & Media, an agency that helped companies advance responsible business practices through sustainability strategy and community engagement. Throughout her career, Natalie has remained deeply invested in Birmingham, working across the private, nonprofit, and civic sectors to support economic opportunity, institutional resilience, and community development.

Natalie serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Stillman College and has previously served on more than 10 nonprofit boards, including the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Freshwater Land Trust, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and Jones Valley Teaching Farm. She is also the founder of leadership and affinity groups that foster mentorship, connection, and peer learning within the construction industry. In addition, she helped launch the J. Mason Davis Leadership Society at United Way—an affinity group for African American leadership donors—and is a proud Tocqueville Member.

Her leadership and impact have been recognized through honors including Top Women in Birmingham, Birmingham Business Journal’s Leader in Diversity and Women to Watch, and Top 40 Under 40. A graduate of Leadership  Birmingham and the Harvard Young American Leaders Program, Natalie remains deeply invested in Birmingham and committed to leadership that
strengthens the city and those who call it home.

Natasha McCrary

Natasha McCrary, founder of 1818 Farms in Mooresville, Alabama, embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in 2012, emphasizing sustainability, land stewardship, and community engagement. Inspired by a passion for “life the way it used to be”, Natasha seamlessly integrated this concept into her internationally acclaimed venture.

Central to 1818 Farms’ commitment to sustainability is their innovation. Natasha cultivates over 15,000 flower blooms annually, employing a zero-waste approach to craft a diverse line of handmade products. This range, including shea creme, bath soaks, wax sachets, face serum, pressed flower resin art and botanically dyed scarves. The 1818 Farms product line, available in 600 stores across 45 states and online, has gained international acclaim. Natasha’s best-selling Shea Creme, with over 500,000 jars sold, was recognized as Good Housekeeping Magazine’s “Best Body Butter” in their 2023 beauty awards.

Natasha’s entrepreneurial excellence is further highlighted by recent accolades. In 2023, she earned the prestigious Globee Award for Women-Owned Business and was named Best Female Entrepreneur at the esteemed Stevie Awards. The company’s recognition soared when honored as a “Featured Brand” at the 2023 Amazon Accelerate Annual Conference.

Natasha’s profound connection with Amazon, winning the inaugural “Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year” in 2019, propelled her nationwide influence. Featured in publications like Southern Living, Flower Magazine, Town and Country, Southern Lady, Real Simple, Cottage Journal, and Country Living, Natasha’s story resonates as an inspiration for small-business owners. A guest appearance on The View further solidified her status as a trailblazing entrepreneur.

Natasha McCrary’s journey is marked by a steadfast commitment to preserving history, upholding tradition, and fostering self-sufficiency, craftsmanship, and community values. Through 1818 Farms, she champions a celebration of life reminiscent of times past, leaving an enduring legacy on the entrepreneurial landscape.



Alka Bhargav

With a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry, plus an MBA, Alka Bhargav immigrated from India to the United States in 1986. Continuing her quest to learn, she returned to college to obtain a Master of Arts in Communications from Washington State University. But her career path had not yet been solidified.

When Alka became a single mother of a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, she found herself working part-time and living below the federal poverty level. She began to look inward at the questions she often asked herself about her career: “Am I helping someone?” Does the job make enough money for my family? At the time, working remotely did not exist. After some career exploration, Alka realized that working as a rehabilitation consultant offered her the flexibility she needed and the answers to the questions, she had been asking herself.

In 1999, Alka relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, where she continued the trajectory of empowering others to find their professional paths. While  employed by several defense and manufacturing companies, Alka held a variety of human resources positions and retired as the HR director at Tecox OEM Solutions, LLC.

Alka’s Workforce Readiness knowledge and leadership mentality made her an ideal candidate to serve on a variety of boards to address progress in career fields, including Drake State Community and Technical College, the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board, the Employment Committee of Huntsville-Madison County, the Women’s Business Council, the Director of Workforce Readiness with North Alabama Society of Human Resources (NASHRM), and the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce. She participated in the Leadership Greater Huntsville Focus program, where she led the effort to create a new playground for Lincoln Village School. She has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association and established Camp Bharat. This three-day camp engaged kids in learning more about Indian culture.

Alka’s passion for empowering women did not emerge overnight. At ten years old, a family incident forced her to confront a cultural norm, and in return, she found a deep desire to advocate for women. In 2014, Alka and her husband founded the Aum Foundation. The non-profit organization empowers under-resourced young women by providing education, mentorship, and resources to achieve economic independence and become leaders, helping them break cycles of poverty and give back to their communities. Aum serves many cities across Alabama, stretching from Huntsville to Selma. In twelve years as a flourishing mentoring program, Aum has graduated 350 young women and served both girls and boys at Lee High School and Southside High School through the Aum Rising program. The Madison Chamber of Commerce recognized the Aum Foundation as the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year by the Madison Chamber of Commerce. While Aum has been successful in its impact on young women, Alka realized there was a missing piece: affordable housing for college students and mental health services were needed to complete the mentoring portion of the organization. Aum purchased land in North Huntsville for a future construction project to ultimately fulfill the program’s complete vision.

Alka’s service to the community has not gone unnoticed. Her recognitions include the 2020 Psi Beta Zeta sorority’s Woman of the Year, the 2022 Changemaker Award from the Women Foundation of Alabama, the 2024 Women Who Shaped Alabama Award, and the 2026 Honoree at Rise and Thrive: Celebrating Women’s mentorship, as well as recognition from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Alka, a champion of women, has also served as president and Foundation Board Chair of the Women’s Economic Development Council (WEDC). This organization celebrates women in business and the community. She is vocal about the impact the women of the WEDC and her mother have had on her life.

Throughout Alka’s life circumstances, career, and leadership contributions to her community, she has lived by her own words: “You don’t need permission to be empowered. You are empowered.”

Beth Chapman

Beth Chapman was elected Alabama’s 51st Secretary of State in 2006 and reelected in 2010 after having first been elected and serving four years as State Auditor. At the time of her election, she received more votes than any constitutional officer in state history.

Secretary Chapman received her B.S. Degree from the University of Montevallo and her master’s degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also completed post-graduate work with a 4.0 grade point average. She completed the Executives in State Government Management Institute at Princeton University and graduated from the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard.

Secretary Chapman was the first woman in Alabama to serve as Appointments Secretary for a Governor and later as Press Secretary for a Lieutenant Governor. In addition, she and her family have owned a successful political and public relations business for 28 years.

Upon being elected as State Auditor in 2002, Chapman was responsible for $1.6 billion in property assets. Under her leadership, the State Auditor’s office produced a record-breaking 96% perfect audit rate among state agencies, holding them to the highest level of accountability.

As Secretary of State, Chapman streamlined the Business Services Division of her office and brought it into the 21st Century with electronic online business filings. Chapman also created the Secretary of State’s first Voter Fraud Task Force to receive complaints from citizens regarding voting irregularities. She championed the fight against voter fraud which was highlighted nationally by her appearance on Fox News. She was also known as a national leader in the valiant effort to develop electronic military voting to better serve members of our military who served abroad. 

Under Chapman’s leadership she and her staff successfully conducted the largest Presidential Election in Alabama’s history at that time. She also provided guidance to candidates and county elections officials regarding a historic gubernatorial recount and run off. 

Secretary Chapman was instrumental in securing passage of and implementing Photo Voter I.D. for the first time in Alabama’s history and creating online business filings.

Secretary Chapman was a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and was elected by her peers nationwide as its president in 2012. She also served on The Pew Charitable Trust’s Alliance for Military and Overseas Voting Rights. Secretary Chapman travelled to Taiwan twice as a NASS Delegate and to Munich, Germany as a special guest of the Overseas Vote Foundation’s International Summit. She was called as an expert witness to testify before Congress regarding the need and potential solutions to the voting problems faced by our military members serving overseas.

Secretary Chapman received numerous military commendations for her advancement of the patriotic spirit in America: The Seven Seals Award by the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) and two appointments by Alabama’s Governor and Adjutant General to participate in the Partnership for Peace Program where she represented Alabama in Romania, Belgium and Germany. Secretary Chapman was honored by the United States Selective Service Board, received an award of support from the Alabama National Guard, and was chosen to represent Alabama at the National Security Forum at the renowned Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base. 

Four different Governors appointed Secretary Chapman to serve on state boards and commissions. She served as a member of the Governor’s Committee on Accountability and was elected unanimously as a member of Alabama’s Electoral College in 2004. She received numerous personal and professional honors and awards including two congressional appointments to the Women’s Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award and Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Montevallo and was chosen as an Internationally Distinguished Citizen by Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity. She was also selected to the nationally prestigious Toll Fellows program and is a member of ODK Leadership Fraternity. She has been honored by the Southern Women in Leadership Program sponsored by the Stennis Center for Public Service. 

Secretary Chapman has been named a “Woman of Impact” by Yellowhammer News. She is a graduate of Leadership Shelby County, Leadership Alabama and has served as a board member for the following:  The University of Montevallo Board of Trustees, as president of St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation, the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Shelby County Arts Council, The American Village Citizenship Trust Cornerstone Commission, the Visitor’s Board for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Montevallo, The Crisis Center, Community Grief Support Services, Alabama International Education and Economic Development Partnership, Turning Point Foundation, Kids to Love, Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee, as chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, Shelby County Children’s Policy Council, Alabama Children’s Trust Fund, Alabama Foster Coalition Advisory Board, Lifeline Adoption Ministries, Alabama Court Appointed Special Advocates and as State Chairman for former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s “iCivics” national student education program.

Secretary Chapman has worked with the Developing Alabama Youth Program, American Heart Association, Children First Alliance, Family Connections, Shelby County Child Advocacy Center, Alabama Childhood Food Solution and Support our Soldiers organization. She has been named a Champion of Youth by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In 2011, she was named Citizen of the Year by the Shelby County Reporter.

Secretary Chapman is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. One of her books, The Power of Patriotism, received a national award, the distinguished George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. She has also written two patriotic speeches, which have been entered into the Congressional Record by U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Jo Bonner. Secretary Chapman is a highly sought-after writer and keynote speaker. 

Prior to public service Secretary Chapman served for ten years as the State Executive Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation where she specialized in fundraising and public relations.

Secretary Chapman is widowed, has two sons and one grandson. She enjoys traveling, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.

After 13 years in public office, Secretary Chapman retired in 2013 to enter the private sector. She owns and operates Beth Chapman & Associates, LLC, a political and public relations consulting firm collaborating with major corporations, professional associations, political figures, various governmental entities, and non-profit organizations. For more information about her company, please visit www.Bethchapman.com.

Tam Glover

Junior Board Member

Tamela Glover is a dynamic community organizer, faith leader, and advocate dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for women and families across Alabama. A native of Selma, she credits her upbringing in the historic heart of the civil rights movement for shaping her passion for justice, advocacy, and community empowerment. Tamela currently serves as a Regional Organizer with Alabama Arise, where she leads legislative advocacy and community organizing efforts around state policy that impacts low-income and marginalized Alabamians. A proud graduate of Alabama A&M University, Tamela is completing her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Law and Policy. Her leadership reflects both her professional expertise and personal conviction which is grounded in faith and a deep commitment to building systems that work for everyone. As a wife and mother of three, she brings a lived understanding of how policy decisions directly impact women, families, and future generations. In addition to her organizing work, Tamela serves as a faith leader, guiding others to use their voices and gifts to create meaningful change.

Jennifer Bolen Rogers

Junior Board Member

Jennifer Bolen Rogers, Director of Development with The Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Institute, is a nonpartisan center for civics, constitutional, and civil rights education. She previously worked with and volunteered for The Junior League of Montgomery, where she served as President. Her work and service with the Junior League of Montgomery helped grow the Women’s Leadership Summit and Human Trafficking awareness, and fostered leadership opportunities for women. Jennifer has also worked with the national education grant, Gear Up, for community outreach with public schools. Jennifer serves on the Strategic Planning and Development Committees at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. She and her husband, Brian, have three children: one attends MCPS, one plays football at Millsaps College, and one is in college at Auburn University. Jennifer has also led strategic planning initiatives for nonprofit schools and organizations in the Montgomery community. She holds a Master’s in Education from Auburn  University at Montgomery and an undergraduate degree in Child Development and Family Studies with a minor in Child Life from Louisiana Tech University.

Penny Townson

Junior Board Member

Penny Townson serves as a TVA Regional Development Specialist for northern Alabama, collaborating with local power companies, community leaders, and economic development partners to attract and retain quality jobs and investments in the region. She supports industries by facilitating financial assistance, assisting businesses, and driving community growth initiatives. Previously, Penny was Vice President of the Morgan County Economic Development Association, focusing on industry recruitment and workforce development. Her background includes serving as Assistant Director of College and Success Partnerships for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Penny holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Advocacy from Auburn University and has completed the IEDC Basic Course and the OU Economic Development Institute.

Haley Rutland

Junior Board Member

Haley Rutland was raised in the small town of Valley, Alabama. A graduate of Auburn University, she started her career in 2017 in South Carolina before moving back to North Alabama. She is currently the Communications Director for Marshall County Tourism and Sports. She has worked in marketing the Lake Guntersville area since 2020 and won the Young Professional of the Year also known as the Green Apple award from Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association in 2021. She helped successfully launch the “Explore Lake Guntersville” brand which has increased social media and website traffic and the county lodging tax. In 2023, she joined the Marshall County Child Advocacy Center board and currently serves as the secretary. Haley recently graduated from the Marshall County Leadership Challenge where her class helped create an outdoor space for the R.O.S.S. Recovery Center in Albertville. Her hobbies include traveling across the country with her husband, Grant, and their two corgis, Wednesday and Pepper in their fifth-wheel RV.

Alicia Johnson

Junior Board Member

Alicia Johnson is a passionate educator dedicated to fostering potential in others and enhancing literacy and community engagement. With experience as an elementary teacher and Local Reading Specialist in Selma City Schools, she has earned accolades like the Golden Apple Award, secured grants to improve educational outcomes, and led family-focused programs through Meadowview Elementary’s 21st Century Community Learning Center. Currently, she serves as an Education Specialist with the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), supporting regional staff and spearheading family and community outreach for the Alabama State Department of Education. Alicia holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree in Collaborative Special Education from the University of West Alabama, and has completed the UWA Instructional Leadership Program. Active in her community, she is a member of the Zeta Eta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., where she mentors young girls and leads initiatives like youth workshops and book distributions. She also collaborates with Moms on a Mission to promote family involvement and serves on the Employee Relations Board and her children’s school PTA. In her free time, Alicia enjoys learning, engaging with her church, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Addison McNutt

Junior Board Member

Addison McNutt is a native of Decatur, Alabama, and an accomplished Electrical Design & Analysis Engineer with over seven years of experience in the aerospace and defense industries. Currently, she works at Boeing on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Artemis Program in Huntsville, where she develops and tests advanced electronic and electrical systems for the Core Stage and Upper Stage of the rocket. Addison holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and an Executive MBA from The University of Alabama. In addition to her engineering expertise, Addison is an active member of Decatur’s Rotary Club. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family and her two golden retrievers.

Kimber Khouri

Executive Director

Kimber Khouri, Executive Director of the Alabama Women’s Commission comes from The Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services where she held the position of Office Manager and Fiscal Assistant. She graduated from Alabama State University with a BA with a Major in Sociology, and a MSM, Major in Management Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy University. During the past several years before retiring from the Central Alabama VA Medical Center (CAVHCS), Ms. Khouri held Executive Director positions in for-profit and nonprofit organizations within the healthcare industry. Prior to working with CAVHAS, she owned and operated Mt. Carmel Personal Care Home (Assisted Living) in Hampton, GA. In her earlier career days, Ms. Khouri enjoyed working, living, and experiencing overseas positions in London, England, Paris, France, Beirut, Lebanon, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She enjoys her two adult children, three grandchildren, extended family members, church, and community activities.

We are working on Sherry's bio. Please check back later for more information.

We are working on Vivian's bio. Please check back later for more information.

Cynthia Almond

District 1

Cynthia, a Tuscaloosa native, is an accomplished attorney specializing in estate planning, probate, business law, and real estate, and is the owner of Capitol Park Title. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Spanish and a Juris Doctor, both from The University of Alabama. Elected in 2021 to the Alabama House of Representatives for District 63, she serves as Chair of the Tuscaloosa County Local Legislative Delegation and holds key roles on several committees, including Vice-Chair of Ethics and Campaign Finance. A former Tuscaloosa City Council member for four terms and President Pro Tem, Cynthia has a legacy of leadership across various organizations, including Leadership Alabama, Capstone Health Services Foundation, and the Alabama Women’s Commission. She is a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church, serves on multiple boards, and is a proud mother of two, Lee and Miller, and grandmother to her first grandchild born this year

Melanie Hill

District 2

Melanie Hill is the Field Representative for thirteen counties in Southeast Alabama for Senator Katie Britt. She was born and raised in Dothan, AL and has lived there her entire life. She spent years in the Hospice Industry and in Workforce Development. She holds two bachelor’s degrees from Samford University. One in Mass Communications and the other in Biblical Studies and a Masters degree from Troy-Dothan in Counseling and Psychology.

Melanie serves on the Dothan/Houston County Library Board, the Alabama Women’s Commission, the Alabama Association of School Boards Board of Directors, and the Dothan City School Board.

Melanie and her husband, Walter, are active members of First Baptist Church where she teaches a ladies Sunday School class, in-depth Bible studies, and serves on various committees. She loves to spiritually mentor young women. Fun Fact: She has been playing Fantasy Football for 20 years!

Julie Friedman

District 1

Julie Hall Friedman, a native of Mobile, Alabama, now resides in Fairhope with her husband, Frank, and their three sons—Christopher (Anna Russell), Richard (Martha), and Andrew (Lee)—and five grandsons. She earned her degree in Art History from the University of Alabama, where she graduated with honors, including election to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta, and received the Mary Morgan Award for Excellence in the Arts. Julie is serving her fifth term on the Alabama State Council on the Arts, where she is a past chairman, and currently chairs the Alabama Writer’s Forum and coordinates the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. She has served on numerous boards, including the Mobile Museum of Art, the Alabama Contemporary Art Center, the Mobile Opera, and the Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts, among others. A graduate of Leadership Mobile and the Leadership Initiative of Leadership Alabama, Julie is a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Mobile, an Officer Sister in the Order of St. John, and a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mobile, reflecting her deep commitment to the arts, community leadership, and service.

Tami Reist

District 4

During her more than three decade long career in the tourism and travel industry, Tami has lived by the theme expressed by the famous American heroine Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” This theme is carried forth in all of her speaking engagements across the country and has had proven results in her professional accomplishments.

 

Tami is the President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA). Her duties include planning, implementing, directing, and evaluating all promotional programs as well as overall development of the tourism and travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the State of Alabama. The region currently generates more than $3.7 billion in travel expenditures on an annual basis.

 

Tami’s responsibilities also include strengthening and expanding the membership base of AMLA, a not-for-profit organization that is supported by 500-plus members consisting of Chambers of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions, and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston.

 

Tami is a board member for a number of tourism and travel-related and civic organizations including: Governor Appointee to the Scenic Byways Committee, Main Street Alabama, Southeast Tourism Society Legislative Council, Alabama Travel Council, Alabama Council of Association Executives, Alabama Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, and numerous other local and state travel related groups. Tami is also an instructor at the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College, and has been a contributing presenter to the tourism and travel field of study at Mississippi State University. Among her many recognitions are the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Travel Council Partnership Award, the Southeast Tourism Society Dorothy Hardman Spirit Award, inductee into the Morgan County Leadership Hall of Fame and This is Alabama, Birmingham magazine’s Women Who Shape the State honoree, a “Women of Impact” award recipient from Yellowhammer News / Yellowhammer Multimedia, and a 2021 graduate of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development program sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Tami was named as one of the 12 Accessibility Change- Making Champions in 2025 by the TravelAbility national organization.

 

During her career, Tami has served as the President/CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau; as Project Manager and General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott – Decatur, Ala.; Regional Manager for Hampton Inn and Country Inn & Suites by Carlson – Decatur and Florence, Ala.; and as General Manager and Project Coordinator of the Amberley Suite Hotel – Decatur, Ala.

 

Tami’s interest include interior design, flying with her husband, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Emily Marsh

Junior Board Member

Emily Marsh is a native from Montgomery, Alabama and graduated from Faulkner University Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in English. Having previously worked in the Governor’s Office and for several non-profits, Emily has over a decade of experience in Government Affairs. She also has extensive experience in event planning, fundraising, grant writing and freelance writing. She previously wrote for Beasley Allen Law Firm, Future Montgomery Magazine, River Region Living Magazine and RSVP Montgomery Magazine, among others. Emily works for the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention as Public Affairs Manager, where she overseas the agency’s government affairs and public relations. Emily has served on the Nellie Burge Advisory Committee as well as a member of the Kid One Transport Board. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her six nieces and nephews, music, traveling, exercising, and reading.

Dr. Karen Benn Marshall

District 5

Dr. Karen Benn Marshall serves as full professor, Vice President for Enrollment Services and Retention and as the Interim Dean for the School of Nursing and Health Professions at Oakwood University. She previously served as the Vice President for Academic Administration, Interim Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Prior to that, she was the Dean of the School of Health Professions, Science and Wellness at Washington Adventist University in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dr. Benn Marshall also served as Chair and Professor of Biology at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry from Oakwood University, a master’s degree in biology with a concentration in physiology from Alabama A & M University and her doctorate in science education with a concentration in biology from Morgan State University. Dr. Benn Marshall has served in several administrative and teaching capacities at the post-secondary level for over twenty-five years. She has researched, published and lectured in the areas of education, science, and the health professions. She and her husband Michael have two adult children, Michael, II and Briana.  

Katherine Robertson

District 6

Katherine Robertson serves as Chief Counsel to Attorney General Steve Marshall.

Robertson holds a B.S. in political science from Auburn University and a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. She began her career at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison where she assisted in fostering relationships between the Department and state and local law enforcement. She later served U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions as legislative counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, handling matters related to crime, drugs and national security.

In addition to her service on the Women’s Commission, Robertson is also a gubernatorial appointee to the Fair Ballot Commission. She sits on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for Cornerstone Schools of Alabama.

Anita Archie

Emeritus Board Member

Anita Archie has more than 25 years of public service spanning municipal government, state government, and higher education. She formerly served as interim President of Trenholm State Community College, a comprehensive two-year community college located in Montgomery, Alabama, before being hired as Manager of, Workforce Development Program, Alabama Power.

Archie began her career as a prosecutor in the Office of the Alabama Attorney General in 1992. She quickly became Division Chief, the Environmental Division representing the interests of ratepayers before the Alabama Public Service Commission. She later joined the Legislative Reference Service as a legislative attorney specializing in writing economic and community development incentive legislation.

Archie served as the first black senior attorney for the Alabama Development Office (currently the Alabama Department of Commerce). She served as an associate or lead counsel on behalf of the State of Alabama in many economic development projects in the 2000s, including the successful recruitment of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama (HMMA). Later, Governor Don Siegelman and Governor Bob Riley appointed her Supplier Development Coordinator on behalf of the state for Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects of HMMA.

Archie briefly left state government in 2005 to serve as Executive Director of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation and the Montgomery Public Housing Authority. Archie later joined in 2007 the Alabama Community College System and served as the Director of Government Relations, where she successfully advocated for Alabama’s community colleges. Later, she served as Senior Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Advocacy and Communications, and Legal Counsel for the Business Council of Alabama. From 2013 to 2017, Archie served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Montgomery and was responsible for oversight of community development, personnel, and city council relations. Archie left the city in July 2017 to become the Deputy Director and Executive Counsel for the Alabama Department of Economic Affairs before later being appointed interim president.

Archie served on numerous boards and commissions, including a member of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission (chair for two years); the Alabama Women’s Commission (chair, two years), the Southern Rail Commission, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee member of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), treasurer, BCA. Currently, she  serves as an emeritus member and advisor, Alabama Women’s Commission, Board of Directors, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Alabama  Constitution Recompilation Committee (appointed by the Speaker of the House, Mac McCutcheon).

She is married to Eric Archie, and they have two children Erica and Amari.

Dr. Lori Owens

Emeritus Board Member

Dr. Lori Owens is a professor of political science at Jacksonville State University where she also serves as director of the Honors Program and senior director of Undergraduate Studies and Special Programs.  She earned her Doctorate in Political Science and an outside minor in U.S. Constitutional History from The University of Alabama in 2001, where she also earned her Master’s Degree in Political Science.  She is a 1993 cum laude graduate of Jacksonville State University with a major in Political Science and a Minor in English.  Dr. Owens chairs the JSU  American Democracy Project Committee and the Study Abroad Subcommittee, and also serves as the campus advisor for the Pre-Law Program and faculty advisor for the Model UN and Model Arab League Debate Teams.

Dr. Owens served as chair of the Alabama Higher Education Partnership from 2007-2012 and continues to serve as a board member. She is also a emeriti member and past chair of the Alabama Women’s Commission and was a founding member of the Cherokee County Family Resource Center.

Dr. Owens’ book, Original Intent and the Struggle for the Supreme Court:  The Politics of Judicial Appointments was published in 2005 and examines the judicial philosophy of original intent and how the 1987 Robert Bork hearings impacted the judicial nomination and confirmation process.  She is currently writing a book on the life and public service career of U.S. Senator James Allen of Alabama who served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 until his death in 1978.    

As part of her expansion and updating of disciplinary knowledge, Dr. Owens participated in a NATO/EU Study Tour in Brussels, Belgium in 2002, a Malone Fellowship to Yemen in 2008, a 2015 Alwaleed Bin Talal Fellowship to the Sultanate of Oman, and a 2019 Cuba People to People Exchange.    

Dr. Owens currently teaches courses on Southern Politics, Middle East, and American Foreign Policy.  She enjoys gardening, reading, and traveling.  She resides in the Forney Community of Cherokee County in the house built by her Grandparents.

Julia Harwell Segars

Emeritus Board Member

Author, artist and retired corporate executive Julia Harwell Segars is a 1984 magna-cum-laude graduate of the University of Alabama, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design.

Julia’s early career included two years as a news reporter before joining Alabama Power as a writer in 1986. She later served as manager of Employee Communication and went on to leadership positions in other departments before her election by the company’s board of directors in 2002 as vice president and regional chief information officer. She spent the last 11 years of her corporate career as Eastern Division vice president, over customer service operations in 12 counties in East Alabama.

Julia has served as chairman of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce; vice-chairman of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council; and co-founding chairman of Core 4, a regional organization created to support development of the I-20 corridor in East Alabama.

A 2016 graduate of Leadership Alabama, Julia is past president of UA’s Capstone Communication Society and has served on the boards of the Jacksonville State University Foundation and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Foundation.  She is a member of Calhoun County’s Women’s Executive Network and Etowah County’s First Friday Forum for executive women.

She is a graduate of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation Fellows program and Momentum, a statewide program for women leaders. She has served on the Alabama Women’s Commission and as a director of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. She received the Girl Scouts’ Frances E. Couch Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and the Boy Scouts of America Greater Alabama Council’s Heart of an Eagle Award in 2016 in recognition of her community service.

After 31 years in corporate life, Julia retired in July 2017 to return her focus to writing and other creative pursuits as owner of Segars Creative, LLC. She continues to serve as a director of Cahaba Safeguard Administrators, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, and on the board of the Alabama Trails Foundation, a non-profit established to support the Alabama Trails Commission.

In 2020, she authored an Alabama Public Television documentary, “A Selfless Heart: The Susie Parker Stringfellow Story©,” which tells the remarkable story of one of Alabama’s earliest women of tremendous impact in our state. In 2017, she released the book Aunt Sister ©, a collection of her best humor columns carried in area newspapers under that pen name. One of the columns, printed in the Talladega Daily Home, received first place for humor in the Alabama Press Association’s 2017 Better Newspapers Contest.

A native of Hoover, Julia and her husband, Frank, now reside in Anniston. They have four children, four grandchildren and four dogs.

Kate Scarbrough

Junior Board Member

Kate Scarbrough was born in Piedmont, raised in Talladega, and attended high school in Birmingham, AL.  She has a BA in Urban Studies from Barnard College and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.  She is also a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy.  Kate currently works at NYU Stern as Associate Director for Experiential Learning, where she partners groups of MBA students with corporate and nonprofit partners for educational consulting engagements.  She is a board member of the Broadway Presbyterian Church Nursery School and a member of the Barnard College Young Alumni Committee.  She is passionate about advancing women and doing work in her home state.  

Penny Townson

Junior Board Member

Originally from Memphis, TN, Penny resides in Decatur, Morgan County. Penny began working as a project manager with the Morgan County Economic Development Association in August 2014. In November of 2017, Penny was promoted to Vice President of MCEDA where she supports Morgan County’s existing industry and workforce development programs and assists with project recruitment. Her prior work for the State of Tennessee’s Higher Education Commission provided a strong background in workforce development and collaborative initiatives. With over ten years of workforce development experience, Penny continues to serve in leadership roles throughout the state to cultivate innovative approaches to serving Alabama’s growing economy.

She received her B.A. in 2007 and her M.P.A. in 2010, both from Auburn University. Penny is a member of Decatur Kiwanis, the Economic Development Association of Alabama and the Education subcommittee, the Decatur Morgan County Hospital Guild, Morgan County’s young professional group MoCo Meetup, sustaining member of the Junior League of Morgan County, and currently chairs the Decatur City Schools Foundation Board, the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s Young Professional Committee, and the First Grace Child Development Center Board. 

Married to her husband Brad since 2014, Penny enjoys time with her family, tennis, Auburn Football, and traveling.

Stefanie Reeves

Junior Board Member

Stefanie has over 15 years of experience in the steel industry.  She started her career with Nucor in 2005 as in intern in Decatur, AL.  Throughout here time there she held various roles in the Finance Department. In 2019, she transferred to Nucor-Vulcraft in Fort Payne, AL as the Division Controller.  Stefanie graduated from Athens State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  She went on to earn a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama in 2011.  Stefanie and her husband have three children.  During her spare time, Stefanie enjoys spending time with her family and friends. 

Dr. Delores Johnson Price

Emeritus Board Member

Dr. Delores Johnson Price was first appointed an Alabama Women’s Commissioner in 2008 by Governor Bob Riley.  She served eight years and now serves as an Emeritus commissioner.    She is a professional educator with K-12 experience as a Classroom Teacher, Counselor and Principal and with Alabama A & M University as an Associate Professor, Department Chair, and Interim Dean.    Dr. Price holds undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of Evansville, a PhD from Loyola University, Chicago and is a graduate of the Harvard Principals’ Academy.

She has been named a United Way “Hero”; “Outstanding Educator” and has received numerous other notable honors for her role as an educator.  She is a member of a number of professional organizations and has served as Chaplain of several. She is a highly- sought speaker, writer and workshop presenter.  Dr. Price, has published a devotional book entitled “Victory in the Storm: 30 Days of Hope-filled Meditations”; and is the mother of two children and one granddaughter.

Laura Leigh Latta

Junior Board Member

Laura Leigh Latta is an Assistant Vice President in the Government Affairs Department of Protective Life Corporation. She has helped coordinate state government strategy and outreach for the Company since 2011, and represents Protective at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as well as in front of various state insurance departments. Ms. Latta has served in several leadership roles within the industry, including President of both the Association of Alabama Life Insurance Companies and the Association of Tennessee Life Insurance Companies. She is a board member on the Alabama, Vermont, and Tennessee state guaranty associations, serving as Vice Chair of the latter. Laura Leigh is active at the American Council of Life Insurers, the industry’s primary trade association, serving as a voting member of the State Legislative Strategy Group and participating in several state- and internationally-focused committees. Ms. Latta is also active in the community, and has served on the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, and as a fundraising coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Birmingham. She is a member of the Alabama Writer’s Coalition, the Government Relations section of the Alabama Bar Association, GASP, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, and a number of other, local organizations. Ms. Latta graduated with distinction from the University of the South, Sewanee and with honors from the University of Alabama School of Law where she obtained a Juris Doctor degree.

Emily Herring

Junior Board Member

Emily Herring is the Mental Health Coordinator for Fairfield City Schools. She began her current role in 2020 and has worked to quickly and effectively create and implement an innovative mental health system that serves the needs of students, families, staff, and the community. Herring focuses on destigmatizing mental health through community awareness campaigns and expanding access to resources and services. She has received over a million dollars in grant funding since she began, and she has worked closely with community partners to bring in millions in additional funding. As the first Mental Health Coordinator in her school district, Herring has worked to establish processes that can be replicated in other districts and communities. Herring’s work in school mental health has been featured in numerous local, state, and national media and publications, including National Geographic.

Herring’s social work background includes professional experience in the child welfare system, the criminal justice system, and the education system. Herring received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Auburn University and her master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Alabama. Herring is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Alabama and serves as a Field Instructor for multiple university social work programs.

Herring serves on the boards of the Jefferson County Children’s Policy Council, Addiction Prevention Coalition Community Advisory Board, School Social Work Association of Alabama, Birmingham Coalition for Student Mental Health, Birmingham Mayor’s Women’s Initiative, and Prison Fellowship Justice Ambassadors.

Samantha Bagwell

Junior Board Member

Samantha Petrey Bagwell was born and raised in a small town in south Alabama called Luverne which is known as the “Friendliest City in the South.” She attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and graduated in December 2009 receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Financial Planning. She lived in Birmingham, AL and worked for an insurance brokerage firm for 4 ½ years. In 2014, she moved to Dothan, AL to work as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley. In July of 2016, she had the opportunity to move back home to Luverne, AL and work for her father at First Citizens Bank which is the community bank in Luverne. She currently is VP of the Mortgage Lending department. She enjoys helping people with financing options to achieve the American Dream of owning a home. She has been happily married to her husband Logan for over 2 years. They live in the small community right outside of Luverne called Petrey where she and her husband attend the Petrey United Methodist Church. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends, watching Alabama football, traveling to the beach, and singing at church and community events.

Genesis Player

Junior Board Member

Mrs. Genesis Wyne Player is a native of Birmingham, AL. Genesis graduated from Miles College with a Bachelor of Social Work and from The University of Alabama with a Master of Social Work. She is currently pursuing an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. Genesis has a zeal to serve and empower the community. Her love for empowering women is shown daily in her position as Chief Operating Officer of YWCA Central Alabama. Her professional work experience includes Director of Social Services for Interfaith Hospitality House, Social Worker for Birmingham City Schools, Executive Director of the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center, and Director of the Miles College Social Work Program. Genesis also serves as President of Talladega County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Genesis is married to Rev. Duane Player and they are the proud parents of Lamar and Makyla Grace Player.

Jesalyn McCurry

Junior Board Member

Jesalyn McCurry has over 15 years of experience in the electric utility industry. Currently, she works for Alabama Power in regulatory policy. In this role she is a liaison for the utility company with its state regulator, the Alabama Public Service Commission. Since beginning her career at Georgia Power in 2002, McCurry has developed broad skills, many in the public relations arena. Her communications experience includes managing communication strategy, content development, crisis communication, executive communication, media strategy and serving as a media spokesperson. Through McCurry’s communication leadership, Southern Company won national awards for many large-scale research projects. She also assisted in writing the utility industry book, “Innovative Solutions.” Serving the community is important to McCurry. A passionate advocate for literacy, she teaches adults to read with one-on-one tutoring through M-Power Ministries. McCurry has served the YWCA of Central Alabama, Childcare Resources and the Southern Environmental Center on Boards or Junior Boards of Directors. She is also very active in her church. McCurry graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. She received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama Birmingham. She and her husband, Matt, have three children.

Mary Jacque Carroll

Junior Board Member

Mary Jacque Carroll is an Alabama native and was raised in Montgomery. She serves as Assistant Professor of Field Education in the Social Work Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to joining UAB, she was the Vice President of Programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham and spent ten years as Field Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Miles College. She is committed to education by having served as a Field Instructor for the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Samford University social work programs. She earned her MSW from the University of South Carolina and a BS in Psychology from Wofford College. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the state of Alabama. Mary Jacque is the co-chair of the Jefferson County DHR Quality Assurance committee and a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education and the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. She has extensive experience working with children and families and her professional interests include child welfare, mental health and social work education. Mary Jacque is a member of Highlands United Methodist Church. She resides in Birmingham with her husband Casey Carroll and daughter Annie.

Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier

Senate

Senator Sanders-Fortier received her B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College and her J.D. from the Birmingham School of Law. She is active in Beloved Community Ministries, Army of Mothers, the Alabama Bar Association, and the Black Belt Lawyers Association. She has been a member of the Senate since 2018.

Sen. Priscilla Dunn

District Legislative Appointment

Senator Priscilla Dunn was born on October 8, 1943, and is serving her second term in the Senate. She received her B.S. from Alabama State University and M.A. from the University of Montevallo. Senator Dunn and her husband, Grover, are the parents of a daughter, Karen. Senator Dunn works as the Homeless Education Coordinator for the Bessemer City Schools. She is a Trustee and Sunday School teacher for the Shady Grove Baptist Church. Senator Dunn also serves on the Board of Directors for the Bessemer Civic Center, as President of the Humanistic Challengers Federated Club, Secretary of Girls, Inc. of Central Alabama and as an instructor for the Jefferson County Congress of Christian Education. Additionally, she is President of the Concerned Citizens of Bessemer Cut-Off and is the coordinator for the Jefferson County Democratic Conference. Senator Dunn is also a member of the Jefferson/Shelby Counties American Cancer Society Advisory Board and serves on the Board for the State Democratic Executive Committee.

Rep. Barbara Drummond

Legislative Appointment

Rep. Barbara Drummond’s life is a Mobile story, a story of deep commitment and action. Her journey through journalism, city and county administration, and the Alabama State Legislature has given her a unique and powerful understanding of this city – its promise, its challenges, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Born and raised here, Rep. Drummond’s connection to Mobile is personal and profound. She was among the first wave of Black students to integrate Murphy High School, an experience that shaped her lifelong dedication to fairness and the belief that every Mobilian deserves a fair shot. That passion took her to the University of South Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and English.

Rep. Drummond began her career as a journalist at the Mobile Press-Register, spending 21 years telling our city’s stories. She didn’t just cover the news; she connected with the people behind it. Her reporting on all levels of government gave her an insider’s view of how the system works, and her popular weekly column made complex issues understandable, earning her a reputation as a bridge-builder who could bring diverse voices together.

Rep. Drummond’s desire to do more than report on Mobile led her to public service. She spent eleven years as Public Affairs and Community Services Director for the Mobile County Commission, where she worked closely with county leaders on vital projects like securing better school funding. In this role, she actively fought for the resources our community needed, like securing better school funding.

From 2005 to 2013, Rep. Drummond served as Executive Director of Administrative Services and Community Affairs for the City of Mobile, working directly with the Mayor and City Council. In this crucial role determining the city’s direction and operational effectiveness, she managed a large staff and a multi-million dollar budget, spearheading initiatives that continue to make a difference today. She created Mobile 311, putting city hall at residents’ fingertips; implemented Mobile CitiSmart to measure government performance and ensure accountability; launched a citywide Litter Awareness Campaign to promote cleanliness and civic pride; established an alert system reaching over 94,000 households for public safety; and created the annual State of the City event to foster communication. She was a force for progress, getting things done and making Mobile work better for its people.

Rep. Drummond has also been a passionate advocate for Mobile on a larger stage. She helped develop Mobile’s New Year’s Eve celebration, including the now-famous Moon Pie Drop. She also served on the board of directors for BayFest, helping to revitalize the music festival and boost Mobile’s cultural scene. And she played a key role in recruiting Airbus and other major businesses to Mobile, understanding that good jobs are the foundation of a strong community.

In 2014, Rep. Drummond was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, where she continues to serve as a powerful voice for Mobile in the state capital. Her work in the legislature has focused on strengthening families and neighborhoods, fighting for the resources Mobile needs, and ensuring our voices are heard in Montgomery. She has consistently championed practical solutions for Mobile, sponsoring and passing key legislation to give the city enhanced tools to address blight, overgrown lots, and abandoned debris (HB99, 2015; HB430, 2017; HB104, 2025). Recognizing the importance of economic opportunity, she successfully passed legislation supporting minority and women-owned businesses by requiring better state data collection (HB172, 2021) and championed bills removing barriers for professions like natural hair styling (HB262, 2017). Committed to public health and safety, she was the driving force behind the recently signed law (HB8, 2025) to combat the youth vaping epidemic by strengthening regulations and funding enforcement, building on her earlier work raising the legal age for tobacco products.

Currently, Rep. Drummond serves as Chair of the Mobile Area Water and Sewer Board, the largest water utility in Mobile County. In this role, she oversees a vital service that impacts every home and business in our city, demonstrating her ability to manage complex challenges and ensure the well-being of Mobile’s residents. She understands that reliable infrastructure is essential for our city’s future.

Rep. Barbara Drummond’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to Mobile. She’s a proven leader with a heart for this city and a track record of bringing people together to get things done.

Rep. Becky Nordgren

Legislative Appointment

Representative Becky Nordgren was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 2, 2010. She majored in marketing at Auburn University and continued her education at the University of Alabama. Representative Nordgren is the marketing director for Fuller Medical Co. Prior to that, she owned Clear Images Advertising Agency for a decade. She is a member of the Etowah County Republican Executive Committee and Etowah County Republican Women’s Association. Additionally, she is a member of the board for Neuromyelitis Optica and serves on the Autism Council of Alabama. During her first term, Representative Nordgren served on the House Health Committee, State Government Committee, and Children and Senior Advocacy Committee. She is married to Eric Nordgren and they have three children; Eric, Miles and Millie. She is a member of Central Church of Christ in Gadsden.

Rep. Terri Collins

District Legislative Appointment

Representative Terri Collins was raised in Birmingham and earned a Marketing degree from The University of Alabama. She and her late husband, Tom Collins, moved to Decatur in 1982 and raised their three children. She is active in church, schools and Bible studies. Terri enjoyed 16 years in banking, serving as Vice President of Marketing and Sales before election to the House of Representatives in 2010. Terri serves on Education Ways and Means Committee since 2011. She serves as Chair of Education Policy Committee since 2015. She is past Chair of the Tennessee Valley Caucus. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Center of Morgan County and Decatur Morgan Hospital Board. She is a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Council and Morgan County Giving Circle of Women’s Foundation in Decatur, where she serves as Chair. Terri is currently President of Decatur Rotary. She was appointed to the Women’s Commission, School Safety Advisory Commission, which she serves as Chair and the Education Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) by the Speaker of the House. She is past Chair of the Education Policy Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures. She was also appointed by the Governor to serve on Alabama Workforce Development Board, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), where she served as past Chair. She is past Chair of the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.

Tracy Plummer

District 7

Tracy Plummer previously served as the Deputy Director for the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention prior to her retirement in 2022. She is a resident of Selma, “The Queen City of the Blackbelt”. She has called the Black Belt region home for over forty years. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. During her tenure as a teacher, she was awarded the Golden Apple Award by WAKA News and named teacher of the year for Meadowview Elementary School. After devoting twenty plus years in the classroom, Plummer was selected to become an instructional coach for the District Blackbelt school systems as part of the Alabama Department of Education’s, Reading Initiative. Throughout her career she has enjoyed grant writing to secure needed resources for underserved areas in her district. She served as President of the Selma Charity League, and as a board member for Leika’s Pre-School in her community. She is a member of Church Street United Methodist Church. In 2015, she worked to pass Erin’s Law in Alabama through educating lawmakers on the importance of preventing child abuse before it begins. Mrs. Plummer was later appointed and elected as the chairperson to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention. She has worked over 30 years as an educator, grant writer and advocate for Alabama’s children and families. Her hobbies include attending the University of Alabama sporting events, visiting her thoroughbred horses in Kentucky and spending time with her husband and their adult twins.

Carol Sue Nelson

District 6

Carol Sue Nelson is an attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. She served as the County Attorney for Jefferson County from 2013 though 2016. Prior to that time, Ms. Nelson was a shareholder in the firm of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, PC, from 2004-2013, concentrating her practice in representing management in labor, EEO and other employment matters. She graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in 1974 and received her J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1977, graduating magna cum laude. At Cumberland she was on Law Review and selected into the Order of the Coif. Following law school Ms. Nelson clerked for the Honorable United States District Judge James H. Hancock. Thereafter, she worked as In-House Counsel for Protective Life Insurance Company from 19781980. From 1980-2004, Ms. Nelson was a partner in the firm of Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP, specializing in labor and employment law. Ms. Nelson, an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America and one of Chambers USA Leading Lawyers for Business. She has been selected as one of the 25 top women attorneys in Alabama. She is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and has been appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to serve on the Standing Committee on Rules of Conduct and Canons of Judicial Ethics. She recently served as Chair of the Federal Practice Section of the Birmingham Bar Association, served as a member of the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the Northern District of Alabama, and served on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association. She is also a member of the Birmingham Bar Foundation. Ms. Nelson is admitted to the Alabama State Bar, all U.S. District Courts in Alabama, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She has argued cases before the 4th, 6th and 11th Circuit Courts of Appeal. Ms. Nelson is involved in a number of civic activities in leadership roles, serving on the Governor’s Alabama Women’s Commission and Auburn University Women’s Leadership Institute. She is also Past President of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama.

Jeneene Suttle

District 5

Ms Suttle is a graduate from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and has a Masters’ degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. Ms. Suttle’s career spans over 30 years of governmental experience from Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL., NASA Headquarters in Washington DC, and General Services Administration, Region Office in Atlanta GA. In her current role, Ms. Suttle is a subject matter expert in the field of Risk Management and works for NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center’s Safety and Mission Assurance in Huntsville, AL. Her responsibilities include Programmatic and Institutional Risk Management leadership, Facilitator and Trainer. Ms. Suttle has worn many hats in her career including Commercial Space Center Manager and Advisor, Aerospace and Environmental Engineer, Export control Directorate lead, Systems Manager and Computer Specialist. As a result she has developed excellent interpersonal skills and has the unique ability to manage the challenges associated with multi-discipline projects. Ms. Suttle serves her community, in various roles as member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Greater Huntsville Chapter of the Links Inc., and a life member of the NAACP just to list a few. Furthermore, Ms Suttle has answered the call for collective action to improve lives both locally and globally through service programs ranging from tutoring children “at-risk” locally to donating to international programs and initiatives. Additionally, Ms Suttle is passionate about developing and supporting programs that empower people to sustain themselves as a holistic approach which leads to a better future for all mankind. She is not alone in her observations and conclusions; likewise, the Alabama Women’s Commission is engaged in leading the state with the research on issues affecting woman in Alabama. Finally, Ms. Suttle is the member of First Missionary Baptist Church and is the proud mother of two.

Gina Johnson

District 4

Regina Johnson is a lifelong resident of Moulton, Alabama. She spent 27 years working in the judicial system in Lawrence County, beginning her career in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Clerk’s office, and serving as a court magistrate. She later had the privilege of working as a Judicial Assistant for three Presiding Circuit Judges working with all division of Court and serving as a liaison between the Court and the Lawrence County Community Corrections Program before her retirement. Since retirement in 2011, she has managed the financial affairs of Global Sourcing Services Inc, an industrial sales company owned by her and her husband. She helps care for their physically disabled son and actively serves in her church in various capacities, publishing their newsletter and teaching a children’s bible class. She is married to Ken Johnson who is a former two-term legislator in the Alabama House of Representatives. Regina and her husband have four children and eight grandchildren. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Jennifer S. Maddox

District 3

Ms. Jennifer S. Maddox has served as President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama since 2011. With assets of over $90 million, the Community Foundation serves nine (9) counties in Northeast Alabama, including Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Randolph, St. Clair, and Talladega.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Houston and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.  She earned her accreditation as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® from The American College.

A native of South Bend, Indiana, Ms. Maddox has taught in higher education and serves as a consultant to not-for-profit organizations on a variety of topics, including board governance, management, fundraising, leadership, and strategic planning.

Jennifer currently serves on the board of the Alabama Women’s Commission.  During her career, she has served on dozens of not-for-profit boards, including as Past President of the Rotary Club of Anniston and Past President of Alabama Giving—a statewide association of grantmakers.  She has been the President of the Rocky Hollow Neighborhood Association since 2012.  The neighborhood is home to the historic Woodstock 5k Race in Anniston, Alabama.

She is a member of the Women’s Executive Network, the Junior League of Anniston-Calhoun County, and the First Friday Women’s Forum in Gadsden.  She is a graduate of Leadership Calhoun County Class of 2013 and the Leadership Alabama Class of 2016.

Jennifer and Mark Stevens have been married since Valentine’s Day 2004.  She has a history of community service, including volunteering, teaching, board membership, and not-for-profit leadership.  She believes in the power of creating charitable legacies and is passionate about how they benefit communities forever.

Cathy McGowin

District 1

Cathy Waller McGowin grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and attended Huffman High School. In 1984 she moved to Mobile, Alabama with her husband, Jeff, who was starting his career in orthopaedic surgery. Mrs. McGowin graduated from the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama in 1980. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. She has worked in many different areas of medical care in both Jefferson and Mobile Counties. Her experience includes Emergency, Critical Care, Post-Surgical, and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Mrs. McGowin has been actively involved in service and charitable organizations in Mobile including the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Mobile. She also has served on the board of the Medical Alliance for Mobile County. She has volunteered with Camp Rap-A-Hope, an organization that provides year-round programming as well as a summer camp for children between the ages of 7 and 17 who have or have ever had cancer. Mrs. McGowin has volunteered with Partners in Education tutoring 4th grade students in mathematics, and she served as the president of the PTA at her children’s school. As an active community volunteer, she has chaired fundraisers for numerous non-profits in Mobile County. Together with her husband, Jeff, she served as Club Leader for the University of Virginia Club of Mobile where she instituted an annual service project for local club members to aid local charities. She was appointed by Governor Ivey to serve as a Commissioner for the Alabama Women’s Commission in 2017 and served as Chair for the Commission from October 2020 until October 2022. Mrs. McGowin has worked on projects with the Alabama Women’s Commission including the 211KNOW text messaging program, a study with the University of Alabama to determine the effects of parental cell phone usage and the development of preschool children, and the Lunch and Learn program for agency leaders in the state. Mrs. McGowin was also appointed to the Board of the Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention by Governor Ivey in January 2023. Mrs. McGowin is a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church where she has taught religious education classes for elementary age children. Cathy is married to Dr. Jeff McGowin, a Mobile native. They have two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law, and four precious granddaughters.

Former Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin

At-Large

Mary Sue Barnette McClurkin grew up in Abbeville, Alabama and is a graduate of Huntingdon College where she majored in home economics. She completed a master’s degree in education from Auburn University and became a leader in business, owning the Alabama Butane Company and serving as president of the Alabama Propane Gas Association and later as executive director of the Pelham Chamber of Commerce. She participated in Leadership Birmingham in 1987, was named to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40, and received the Chairman’s Award from the Shelby County Red Cross in 1989. In 1998, McClurkin was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, representing Shelby and Jefferson counties. She served as chair of the House Education Policy Committee, vice chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, chair of the Shelby County delegation, and as a member of the Women’s Commission, the Housing Finance Authority Oversight Committee, the State Health Policy Leadership Forum of the National Conference of State Legislators, the Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council, and the Legislative Oversight Committee for Women & Girls in Incarceration. She is the state chairman for the American Legislative Exchange and serves on the Alabama Republican Executive Committee and the Executive Committee for the Shelby County Republican Party and is the past vice chairman for women’s affairs for the Alabama Republican Party, the national chairman of Women in Government, and a member of the leadership team of the National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus. McClurkin owns McClurkin Enterprises, a property and land management company. Her community involvement includes service as a member of the Board of the Mid-Alabama Cancer Society, the Board of Directors of Alabama Green Industry Training, and the Board of Directors of the Business Council of Alabama, and as vice chairman of the State Health Coordinating Council. She and her husband, Van, have three sons and three grandsons.

Debbie Long

At-Large

Now retired, Ms. Long previously was Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Protective Life Corporation whose principal subsidiaries include Protective Life Insurance Company and West Coast Life Insurance Company. Prior to becoming General Counsel of Protective Life in 1992, Ms. Long was a member of the Maynard, Cooper & Gale law firm in Birmingham, Alabama, where she practiced in the areas of insurance, banking and finance, business acquisitions and mergers, and general corporate law. Ms. Long is a 1975 graduate of Auburn University, where she graduated with high honor and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board, and a 1980 graduate of the University of Alabama Law School, where she was Editor in Chief of the Alabama Law Review and a member of Order of the Coif. Prior to entering law practice, she clerked for the Honorable Frank M. Johnson, Judge on the United States Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit (now Eleventh Circuit). Ms. Long has been active in legal issues impacting the business community and the insurance industry, serving in various capacities in the American Counsel of Life Insurers, the Business Counsel of Alabama, the Birmingham Bar Association, the Alabama Bar Association, the Alabama Life and Disability Insurance Guaranty Association and the Texas Life, Accident, Health & Hospital Service Insurance Guaranty Association. She has served on the Board of Governors of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, a ninety-three year old international bar association for life insurance lawyers and the Alabama Association of Life Insurance Companies and has served as President of these associations. She also serves on the Board of the Alabama Women’s Commission, the Board of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, the Board of A+ Education Partnership, and she is a member of The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. She was a founder of  and currently serves as CoChair of the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr Institute. Ms. Long has served on the Boards of various Birmingham charitable organizations, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, the YWCA of Birmingham, Oasis Women’s Counseling Center, Birmingham Museum of Art, and Partners in Neighborhood Growth, Inc.

Suze Butts

Emeritus Board

Suzanne Crowley Carroll Butts was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 7, 1950. She was adopted by Andrew Young Crowley and Dorothy Lyle Crowley and grew up in Griffin, GA, Eufaula, AL, Atlanta, GA and Ozark, AL. She graduated from Carroll High School in Ozark in 1968. Suze Butts earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in 1972. Upon graduation from college, she married the late Kells Chilton Carroll, Jr. from Ozark. She later married Justice Terry Lucas Butts from Elba. They have two married children, Kells Chilton Carroll III and Casey Lyle Carroll. Kells is married to the former Elizabeth Smith from Vinings, GA and Casey is married to the former Mary Jacque Carmichael from Montgomery, AL. She is the proud grandmother of three grandsons and two granddaughters. Suze is very active in her community and church, having served on The Women’s Committee for the Children’s Theatre in Birmingham, as President of the Dale County Friends of the Library, Boy Scout leader, as well as serving on the Boy Scouts of America Alabama-West Florida Council. She has served on the State Health Planning Commission. Suze is a member of the Luverne United Methodist Church. She has served her church by teaching Sunday School, by being a Methodist Youth Fellowship Leader, by directing youth plays, and as an active member of her church women groups. Suze presently serves as Chair of the Crenshaw County Housing Authority Board and is on the Board for the Luverne Library. She also serves as a member of the Alabama Women’s Commission. Suze Butts was elected and served as a Delegate Alabama State-At-Large to the 2008 National Republican Convention in Minnesota, where she also served as Alabama’s woman representative on the Convention Rules Committee.