Winter 2014 - Leadership Birmingham

LOG
WINTER 2014
NEWSLETTER
Illuminating the Future: Our Community in Transition
Leadership Birmingham and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham co-hosted a
thought leadership event on November 19th at the Westin Ballroom. They keynote speaker was
Dr. Jim Johnson, a business demographer and professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at
UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. His presentation focused on trends that raised awareness
and understanding of the ongoing demographic changes that our country, region, and county are
experiencing, and offered ideas for leveraging them into a future competitive advantage for the
region. Over 300 Leadership Birmingham members and Community Foundation supporters
attended this dynamic presentation and reception. Thanks to everyone who attended this
standing-room-only event. Copies of Dr. Johnson’s presentation are available on the website
or by emailing susans@leadershipbirmingham.org.
LOG
On the Move:
Charles McCrary (‘92) retired as CEO of Alabama Power
Company.
Tracey Morant Adams (‘08) is now the senior vice
president of small business and community development
for Renasant Bank.
J.W. Carpenter (‘13) is the new executive director for the
Birmingham Education Foundation.
Rosalyn Childress (‘10) has retired from Birmingham
City Schools.
Cheryl Morgan (‘07) retired from her position as director
of Auburn University’s Urban Studio.
Drayton Nabers (‘84) is now the director of the Frances
Marlin Mann Center for Ethics & Leadership at Samford
University.
Kate Nielsen (‘96) retired as president of the Community
Foundation of Greater Birmingham.
John Clements (‘91) has retired from Burr Forman.
Michelle Clemon (‘05) is chief operating officer of
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham.
Keith Parrott (‘10) has been named the new CEO of
Baptist Health System.
Suzanne Durham (‘87) retired as CEO of the YWCA of
Central Alabama.
Jonathan Porter (‘11) is now the vice president of human
resources and ethics at Alabama Power Company.
Lane Estes (‘13) is vice president of administration and
government relations at Birmingham-Southern College.
Jay Roberson (‘13) has been named the governmental
affairs director for the Birmingham Association of
Realtors.
Shannon Isbell Dye (‘01) is now vice president of commercial lending for First National Bank of Talladega.
Charles Fry (‘13) is now general counsel for UAB Health
Services Foundation, P.C.
John Sherman (‘99) has been named senior vice
president and chief commercial officer for Coca-Cola
Bottling Company United.
Vikki Grodner (‘11) has taken on the role of business
development & marketing director with the law firm of
McNees Wallace and Nurick.
Donna Smith (‘02) retired as vice president of human
resources from Alabama Power Company.
Wyatt Haskell (‘95) has retired as founding member of
the law firm of Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker LLC.
Shane Spees (‘09) left Baptist Health System to return
home and serve as CEO of the North Mississippi Health
System.
Reid Jones (‘07) has been named chief operating officer
of the UAB Health System.
Devon Laney (‘10) will be the new CEO of Innovation
Depot at the end of the first quarter 2014.
Susan Matlock (’88) will retire as CEO of Innovation
Depot at the end of the first quarter of 2014.
Roger White (‘86)
Emily Eberhardt (‘00)
Holland Powell (‘86)
Bill Hull (‘90)
Demetrius Newton (‘85)
Thomas Wilder (‘94) retired as manager of employee
development from Alagasco.
From the Office:
In Remembrance
We mourn the loss of the following
Leadership Birmingham graduates:
Yolanda Sullivan (‘05) retired as human resources
director for Vulcan Materials Company and is now
serving as Interim CEO of the YWCA of Central Alabama.

Nominations for the 2014-2015 class are due now! Nominations
can be submitted on the website under “selection process” at
www.leadershipbirmingham.org. You may also call the office at
252-4496 or email your contact information to
susans@leadershipbirmingham.org.

Don’t forget to pay your 2014 dues! Dues are $50 and support the
website, newsletter and all alumni events. Checks should be
mailed to :
Leadership Birmingham
P.O. Box 2641
Birmingham, AL 35291
Quarterly Newsletter
Congratulations:
Paul DeMarco (‘07) received the Spirit of Alabama
award from the Alabama Grocers Association.
Jim Pratt (‘02) received the award of merit from the
Alabama State Bar.
Bing Edwards (‘07) has been appointed to the A.G.
Gaston Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors.
Lynn Raviv (‘94) has been selected to be part of the
Jewish Community Day School network’s Head of
School Professional Excellence Project as a coach for
new day school Heads of School.
Devon Laney (‘10) has been appointed to the board of
directors of the National Business Incubator Association.
George French (‘05) was named chair of the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Presidents Council.
Boots Gale (‘87) has been inducted into the Alabama
Academy of Honor.
Thom Gossom, Jr. (‘86) received the Greater Birmingham
Auburn Club’s Distinguished Former Athlete award for
2013.
Joyce Greathouse (‘93) received the Distinguished
Service Award from the Alabama chapter of the National
Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Wayne Hutchens (‘07) has been named to the newly
created Alabama Statewide 911 board.
Anthony Joseph (‘89) is the 2013-2014 president of the
Alabama State Bar.
Danny Markstein (‘11) was elected president of the
advisory board for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer
Center. Joel Welker (‘11) is the president elect-II and
Mark Jackson (‘12) is a new member of the board.
Lawrence Pijeaux (‘97) was recognized as Civil Rights
Legend at the 2013 Alabama Black Achievers Awards
Gala.
Guin Robinson (‘05) is the incoming chair of the
Alabama Humanities Foundation.
L’Tryce Slade (‘11) was selected as the 2013 Alabama
Black Achievers Awards Gala Entrepreneur of the Year.
C. Mark Smith (‘92) has published a book titled
“Community Godfather: How Sam Volpentest shaped
the history of Hanford and the Tri-Cities”. This book
combines history, politics, and economic development.
Visit www.cms-author.com for more information.
Teresa Thorne (‘03) wrote a book titled “Last Chance
for Justice: How Relenteless Investigators Uncovered
New Evidence convicting the Birmingham Church
Bombers”. The book is available at Reed Books, Little
Professor, Alabama Booksmith, Books-A-Million, Barnes
& Noble, and Amazon.
Gene Verin (‘03) received the judicial award of merit
from the Alabama State Bar.
Deborah Walker (‘91) is the 2014 winner of the City of
Charlotte’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Medallion Award.
David Wooldridge (‘98) received the William D. “Bill”
Scruggs Jr. award from the Alabama State Bar.
Election 2013
Congratulations to all the Leadership Birmingham Alumni
who were elected to serve in 2013 for public office:
Mayor William Bell (’97) Birmingham Mayor
Jay Roberson (’13) Birmingham City Council, President Pro-Tem
Steven Hoyt (‘12) Birmingham City Council
Johnathan Austin (‘11) Birmingham City Council, President
Valerie Abbott (’98) Birmingham City Council
April Williams (‘06) Birmingham School Board
Brian Giattina (‘05) Birmingham School Board
If you are on Facebook, find our
alumni page and keep up to date
with what’s going on with your fellow
alums as well as here at Leadership
Birmingham! Search for “Leadership
Birmingham alumni” under groups
and request to join. The purpose of
this group is to provide a forum for
alumni to share what’s happening in
the community, ways to get involved,
and opinions.
www.leadershipbirmingham.org
Contact Us
Physical Address:
1710 6th Avenue North
12th Floor
Birmingham, AL 35203
Share what is going on in your business, civic, and
personal life with other Leadership Birmingham members.
We would also appreciate your ideas for programs and
general suggestions for the Members Association.
Mailing Address:
P.O.Box 2641
Birmingham, AL 35291
Phone: 205-252-4496
Fax: 205-252-4497
E-mail: susans@leadershipbirmingham.org
COURTESY OF THE BBJ