Leadership Flagship Class 38 by leadershipgreaterhuntsville

MISSION & VISION

Identifying, educating, connecting, and inspiring leaders to serve our community.

An inclusive community of enlightened and engaged servant leaders.

2024-2025

LEGACY LEVEL MEMBERS LEGACY LEVEL MEMBERS

Acacia Moore, F-40, MA-12, L-38

Alice Lessman, L-32

Andrew Jennings, L-27

Ashley Engles Ross, F-38, L-38

Beth Medley, F-28, L-28

Bill Colson, F-37, L-32

Carey Miller, F-29, L-28

Chris Halbrooks, MA-11, L-35

David King, F-10

Denise Swain, L-34

Diana King, F-36, L-37

Donna Lamb, L-2

Don Bowyer, F-42

Drew Battle, C-11, MA-6, L-33

Dr. Ed Nichols, L-35

Heather Fisher, F-42

Hank Isenberg, L-28

Heather Schonrock, L-35

James Ross, F-37, L-33

Jim Diehl, F-22, L-26

Joanna White, C-22

Joe Alexander, F-3, L-15, M-4

Joe Yearta, F-18, L-29

Julian Butler, L-32, F-37

Kelli Powers, L-33

Kim Lewis, C-3, L-38

Kris Ison, L-35, MA-13

Kristine Harding, L-14

Lauren Battle, C-17

Linda Akenhead, L-13, M-5

Lori Light, L-14

Mary Occhipinti, L-35

Mary Ila Ward, L-34

Melony Yearta, F-42

Nick Vickerson, MA-11

Nilmini Thompson, L-34

Pam Alexander, F-11, L-23

Paul Fall, L-37

Paula Cushman, M-1

Quisha Bryant, C-14

Sandy Edwards, L-13

Sarah Savage-Jones, L-11

Sarah Macaluso, MA-11

Shannon Neblett, L-23

Sonia Robinson, C-3, L-31

Spencer Batcheller, MA-13, C-23

Steven Conway, L-35

Susan Anderson, L-14, F-1

Tammie Terry, L-23

Taron Thorpe, L-25

Tess Halbrooks, F-41, L-36

Tim Holtcamp, L-33

Tim Strait, F-40

Vincent Boles, L-25

Zachary Griffin, S-2

Walter Hough, C-23, MA-9

Christie Finley, President & CEO cfinley@leadershiphsv.org, 256.651.6521

Kevin Walker, CFO & COO kwalker@leadershiphsv.org, 256.653.4004

Diana King, Program Director, Flagship dking@leadershiphsv.org, 256.585.7023

Samantha Cooper, Program Director, Management Academy scooper@leadershiphsv.org, 256.631.9973

Kayla Clark, Program Director, Connect, Challenge & Marketing kclark@leadershiphsv.org, 317.504.7265

Katelyn Sides Baker, Program Director, Alumni, Focus & Spark kbaker@leadershiphsv.org, 256.339.6513

2024 - 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Chair:

DREW BATTLE, MA-6, C-11, L-33

ServisFirst Bank

Board Vice Chair:

SARAH MACALUSO, MA-11

Red Sage Communications

Immediate Past Board Chair:

QUISHA BRYANT, C-14

City of Huntsville

Finance Chair:

CLINTON CARTER, L-35, C-9

CFO, Huntsville Hospital

Finance Vice Chair:

GREG WHITEHEAD, C-8

Melvin, Bibb, Segars & Associates, P.C.

Secretary:

NICOLE SCHROER, L-26

Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program

Board Advisor:

TARON THROPE, L-25

CB&S Bank

Alumni Chair:

DOUG BRAZIER, L-26

Calhoun Community College

Alumni Vice Chair: BILL COLSON, L-32

President, ASRI

Administration Chair: VIOLET EDWARDS, C-14, L-36

Program Vice Chair, Flagship

BRENT YONK, L-37

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Program Vice Chair, Connect

ZACK YOUNG, C-19

GTEC

Program Vice Chair, Management Academy

JULIE MCCAIN, L-36, F-39

Crestwood Medical Center

Governance Chair: HENRY THORNTON, F-41, C-25

STEERING COMMITTEE

Ranae Bartlett, L-26

City Council Member | City of Madison - District 5

Ranae earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law where she was a member of the Arkansas Law Review and a member of the National Moot Court team Upon graduating from law school, she clerked for the Honorable Henry A Politz, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Ranae graduated with high honors from the University of Central Arkansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in mathematics and political science Ranae and her family moved to Madison from Northwest Arkansas in 2003 where she worked for Walmart Stores, Inc as Assistant General Counsel and Director of Risk Analysis and Security Resources Upon moving to Alabama, she worked as a career law clerk to the Honorable C Lynwood Smith, Jr , US District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama She and her husband Todd have one son who graduated from Bob Jones High School and is currently attending the University of Alabama Ranae was appointed to the Madison Board of Education in June 2011 and was reappointed in 2016 She served as Vice-President from 2015-2017 and President from 20172020. In summer of 2020 she announced her candidacy for Madison City Council District 5. In 2020 she received the All-State School Board Member award from the Alabama Association of School Boards Ranae is a graduate of Class 26 of Leadership Greater Huntsville She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Huntsville Ranae also serves as President of the Madison City Chess League, a non-profit organization she created to promote chess education in North Alabama and is the Chess Coordinator for Madison City Schools In spring 2020, she accepted a position as Education Director for ChessKid com to assist the surge of students going online to play chess In that role Ranae trains educators and coaches around the world on how to utilize the ChessKid program to teach kids how to play chess Ranae serves as Co-Chair of the Chess in Education Committee for the US Chess Federation and is the Girls Chess Coordinator for the Alabama Chess Federation Ranae was elected to the Madison City Council in November 2020 She currently serves as President of the Council and on the HR Committee In April 2021, she was appointed as Madison's representative to the Huntsville Madison County Public Library Board

Jason Parks, C-5, L-35

Senior Pastor | Refuge Church

Jason Parks is known for his visionary leadership and his anything is possible outlook With 20 years experience in corporate communications, professional development and global ministry, Jason is a sought after motivational speaker, Bible teacher, and professional trainer He’s spoken to over 2,000 audiences - from professional development workshops to public diplomacy with world leaders - and frequently speaks on leadership, communication, mental health, soul care and marriage enrichment Jason is the Senior Pastor & Chief Executive Officer of Refuge Church, a multisite church serving the Tennessee Valley and a global, online ministry, Church at My House which is viewed by over 27 5 million people in over 120 countries He is a subject matter expert in leadership for the Office of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and has earned the designation Certified Maxwell Leadership Speaker, Coach & Consultant Jason loves his community He has spearheaded efforts to provide over 1,000,000 lbs of free groceries to his neighbors in need including the creation of a free grocery store Refuge Market Jason led the development of Rooms of Refuge which provides dream bedroom makeovers to children and teens facing lifethreatening illnesses He also partnered with the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs, to the Greater Huntsville area

Jason has earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts from the University of North Alabama, a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University, and a Master of Divinity from Rockbridge Seminary He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Theology degree He is also a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor, a Certified Mental Health Coach, a Certified Addictions & Recovery Ministry Specialist, and Advanced Certified in Human Behavior He has served as a board member for several local nonprofit organizations including: UCP of the Tennessee Valley, Downtown Rescue Mission, and Alzheimer’s Association Mid-South Chapter He is currently on the board for the American Red Cross North Alabama Office Jason is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville Flagship Class 35, a member of Huntsville’s Committee of 100 and a member of Huntsville Rotary Club.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Angel Stinson, F-26, L-32, MA-3

SVP-Senior Credit Officer | ServisFirst Bank

Angel Strong Stinson has over 33 years of experience as a Financial Professional, and currently serves as Regional Chief Credit Officer -Executive Vice President of Servisfirst Bank Huntsville She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree, with a concentration in Finance and Management from Birmingham-Southern College and is actively involved in the Huntsville Community. Angel is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville’s Focus 26, Leadership Management Academy 3, and L-32. Upon graduation, she has actively volunteered and Chaired multiple Days, including Opening and Closing retreats for LGH. Additionally, she Chaired Leadership Management Class 8’s Program year.

She recently joined the Board of the AUM Foundation and serves on the Finance Committee Over the past year, she has served as Board President for Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley, is on the Executive Leadership Team for Heart Association, and Membership Committee for WEDC Since joining the Habitat Board in 2020, she has also served as Finance Chair and on the Governance Committee After serving on the CASA/Enable of Madison County board for 14-years, she rolled off as Board President in 2019 Outside of volunteering, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with friends, family, and her husband, Skip Stinson

Travis Cummings, L-36

Zoning

Enforcement Coordinator | City of Huntsville

Travis Cummings: Huntsville's Zoning Administrator Travis Cummings is a dedicated public servant who has made significant contributions to the City of Huntsville, Alabama. Currently serving as the Zoning Administration's Coordinator for the city's Planning Services Department, Cummings plays a vital role in shaping Huntsville's urban landscape.

With a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology/Education and a Master's in Regional and Community Planning from Alabama A&M University, Cummings brings a strong academic foundation to his role

Beyond his professional duties, Cummings is deeply committed to his community He currently serves as the vice president of Madison City Schools Board of Education, demonstrating his passion for education and its impact on the future of the city

He and his Wife Dimika have one son who graduated from Bob Jones High School and is currently attending the Mississippi State University

Travis is a graduate of Leadership Greater Huntsville Flagship Class 36 "Best Class Ever" He also serves as the Board Chair for AshaKiran (A Ray of Hope) nonprofit organization providing crisis support services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking Cummings' dedication to public service, coupled with his extensive knowledge of urban planning, makes him an asset to the Huntsville/Madison community

Flagship Class 38

Program Dates 2024 - 2025

Opening Retreat

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Friday, August 9, 2024

Human Services

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Living Like A Local

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Education

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Arts and Entertainment

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Entrepreneur and Innovation

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Health and Wellness

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Behind the Gate

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Government

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Public Safety

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Launch Retreat

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Friday, April 25, 2025

Program Day Teams

Opening Retreat

Chair: Alison Kling, L-36

Brian House, F-34, L-32

Jeanna Rodgers, C-9, L-36

Matt Bender, L-36

Beire Castro, L-36

Spencer Beach, Fl-37

Joey Azar, L-37

Human Services

Chair: Shirley Schofield, L-31

Cindy Hewitt, L-36

Jeremy Foulks, L-36

Ginny Wagner, F-40, L-36

Khris Anderson, L-35

Beth Haynes, L-37

Annette Alexander, L-37

Living Like a Local

Chair: Angela Walker, L-27

Barry Schrimsher, L-28

Denise Swain, L-34

Caroline Bivens, C-22, L-37

Rob Buddo, L-37

Andrea Bridges, L-37

Philomean Compton, L-37

Daniel Kasambira, L-27

Lisa Bryan, L-37

Gwen Shelton, L-37

Education

Chair: Symmetris Gohanna, F-41, L-36

Jimmy Hodges, L-36

Brandy Conway, F-41, L-36

Heather Donaldson, L-32

Elizabeth Fleming, F-25, L-27

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Chairs: Jared Mitchen, L-37

Angie Sandritter, L-35 & John Corbell, L-37

Richard Landolt, L-37

Tim Strait, F-40, L-36

Health & Wellness

Chair: Morgan Dennis, L-37

Ann Mix, L-33

Sherry Kolodziejczak, L-32

shna Srikakolapu, F-27, L-36

Jennifer Swoboda, L-25

Behind the Gate

Chair: Jeffery Langout, L-32

John Jones, F-35, L-32

Andrew D’Amico, L-37

James Lee, L-37

Stuart Whitaker, L-37

Brent Yonk, L-37

Rae Ann Meyer, L-37

Robb Keeter, L-37

Ambrosia Patterson, L-33

Government

Chair: Marianne Curren, L-33

Carrie Olden, L-37

Joseph Cuzzort, L-37

Sara Beth Wilcox, L-37

Ian Laughlin, L-37

Allison Spratley, L-36

Wes Rakestraw, L-37

Robert LItteton, L-37

Jill Balch-Coon, L-37

Arts & Entertainment

Chair: Jenny Askins, C-6, L-26, MA-5

Karen Mockenstrum, F-28, L-31

Elain Oakes, L-36

Julie Savage, L-37

Risha Anderson, C-24

Small Group Mentorship

LaVerne Williams, L-37

Public Safety

Chair: Tim Clardy Jr , L-36

Michael Johnson, L-35

David Bailey, L-32

Don Webster, L-15

Johnny Gandy, L-36

Maggie Wallace, L-32

Karen Petersen, L-30

Paul Fall, L-37

Launch Retreat

Chairs: Joel Banta, L-34 & Helen Lien, L-37

Sam Clark, L-37

Erica Bradford, L-37

Brandon Smith, L-36

Michael Allen

Captain | City of Madison Police Department

Mike Allen is a life long resident of the City of Madison He is a graduate of Bob Jones High School and began his career in Public Safety in 1992 Over his 30+ year employment with the City of Madison, Mike has worked his way from Dispatch to the rank of Captain. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his two children

Mike Arthur

VP of Test, Technology, and Operations Support | IronMountain Solutions, Inc

Mike Arthur is the Vice President of the Test, Technology, and Operations Support Division at IronMountain Solutions, Inc He received his BS in Computer Engineering (CompE) from University of Idaho and his MS in CompE from UAH He started his career working on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as an Embedded Software Engineer He has supported Army Aviation for over 10 years as a government contractor working on Blackhawk, Apache, and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) He enjoys spending his free-time hiking, biking, camping, and boating with his wife and two children

Mike Busbey

Vice President, Business Development | IronMountain Solutions, Inc

Mike Busbey is the Vice President of Business Development at IronMountain Solutions, Inc , a DOD/U S Government engineering support contract company For IronMountain Solutions his focus is keeping his current customers happy, adding new customers, maintaining a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities, and creating relationships with key industry partners He has over 27 years of experience in the business development industry on both the services and hardware side He is also a graduate of Management Academy Class 8

Mike is married to Sheena Busbey and has twins, Wyatt and Lauren, who are freshmen at Auburn University studying Mechanical and Civil Engineering He is a native of Arab, AL and currently resides in the Honeycomb area of Guntersville Lake His hobbies include antique auctions, fishing, and chasing waterfowl in Arkansas

Bev Capps

Chief Operations Officer | Heart of the Valley YMCA

Bev Capps, a Florida native residing in Alabama for 27 years, is the Chief Operations Officer of the Heart of the Valley YMCA She also serves as the Executive Director of the Southeast Family YMCA and Downtown Express YMCA. With 24 years of service to the YMCA, Bev is deeply involved in her community through YMCA outreach programs, coaching her sons ' youth sports teams and recently serving on a National LGBTQ Steering Committee Alongside her wife, Bev cherishes family time with their two sons, aged 5 and 10

Amanda Clark

Senior Director for Enterprise Program Management | Torch Technologies

Amanda is the Senior Director of Enterprise Program Management with Torch Technologies and has a 27-year career in both the Automotive and Defense industries, performing technical work, managing organizations and programs and developing new products and business At Torch, she leads the Enterprise Programs for Express, OASIS, ASTRO, RS3, D3I and multiple other smaller defense programs These programs support customers for the Army, Air Force and Navy and consist of a contract portfolio of over $3.0B. Amanda has served as the Torch Corporate Chief of Staff and also serves as the Chair of the Employee Ownership Culture Committee which promotes Torch's employee ownership culture through the mission to Educate, Energize and Empower the Torch Employee Owners

Katie Coppens

Director of Communications | Huntsville Hospital Foundation

Katie Coppens is an award-winning public relations professional with almost 15 years of experience. She serves as the director of communications for Huntsville Hospital Foundation and leads all public relations, marketing and digital fundraising initiatives for the nonprofit, which provides more than $6 million in equipment and programs annually for Huntsville Hospital Health System Prior to her move to Huntsville in 2017, Katie was a senior account executive at MP&F Strategic Communications in Nashville – one of the largest PR firms in the southeast –where she was named Staff MVP

Katie has served as the VP of communications for the North Alabama Public Relations Council of Alabama, and is a member of Junior League of Huntsville Born and raised in Oneonta, Ala , Katie graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama She and her husband, Zack, have two children, Nora and Henry

Dedric Cowser

Senior Pastor | Trinity United Methodist Church

Rev Dr Dedric Cowser is an ordained elder in the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church and serves as Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama Dedric is a native of Centre, Alabama He attended Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion After completing his undergraduate studies, he attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and earned a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Traditions of the Church and a Doctor of Ministry degree with a focus in Church Leadership and Community Witness Dedric is often a featured preacher, pianist, and soloist for revivals, workshops, and conferences across the connection All in all, he has a great passion for reaching people for Jesus Christ and helping to bring about community transformation

Ashley Engles-Ross

Vice President, Small Business | Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce

Ashley Engles-Ross joined the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber as the Vice President of Small Business in January 2021 In her role at the Chamber Ashley is responsible for engaging the Chambers 2100 members and the business community through monthly programming and annual events Ashley also oversees the Chamber’s Women’s Business Council (WBC), and Economic Inclusion and Diversity programming

Prior to her role at the Chamber Ashley worked for nonprofit and state organizations that addressed quality of life and basic human needs These included the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Operation Homefront, and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs She has also worked in Defense Contracting, and home lending for Veterans. Ashley is a member of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), and has served as the Vice President for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), North Alabama Chapter

Michelle Forgey

Co-Executive Director | Second Mile Development, Inc

Michelle Forgey, a lifelong Huntsville resident, has committed 9 years to building relationships at Second Mile Development, where she now serves as Co-Executive Director Additionally, she is the owner and President of Huntsville Home Care, Inc coordinating essential caregiving services with compassion

Michelle graduated from The University of Alabama with both a B A in Public Relations and an M A in Marketing

She has served on the board of Huntsville American League and has been an active parent at Westminster Christian Academy where 2 of her three children currently attend She serves on the Joint Scholarship Committee at Huntsville First United Methodist Church

Karen Firth

Dean & Professor, College of Nursing | The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Dr Karen Frith serves as the Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville Hired in 2007, Dr Frith taught undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, and she served as associate dean before her current position She has published over 100 journal articles, book chapters, and books on technology in healthcare and nursing education to improve outcomes Dr Frith is passionate about mentoring; her work as a professor has allowed her to help others reach their dreams Her former students are successful registered nurses, nurse practitioners, chief nursing officers, and college professors

Dr Frith was raised in Decatur, AL, but moved to other states for her education and work She returned to North Alabama and fell in love with Huntsville Dr Frith enjoys theater, music, and hiking She is married to Kenneth Mann, a forensic photographer, and has a daughter, Ashley Frith, who attends Georgia Tech.

Kevin Glouner

Director of F&B and Director of Operations | Von Braun Center

Kevin Glouner is a former Deputy Sheriff who moved to Huntsville in 2006 where he began working at the Von Braun Center Kevin is currently on the Senior Management team at the VBC working as the Director of F&B Kevin is married and has 2 girls, ages 2 and 6

Jeanne Greer

Executive Director | The Schools Foundation

Mrs Jeanne Baird Greer Is the Executive Director of The Schools Foundation She is a recently retired educator from Huntsville City Schools where she served as principal at Grissom High School, ASFL, and Jones Valley As a graduate of Grissom and Auburn University, she has been involved in education for more than 30 years

As Executive Director of the Schools Foundation, Mrs. Greer has continued to work with the schools in Madison County promoting high quality education for our community She collaborates with Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County Schools to advocate for principals, teachers, and students

Mrs Greer was born in Huntsville and has lived here most of her life She is married to Jody Greer, a Huntsville attorney, and they have two children Bailey is a freshman at Auburn University and Jake is a senior at Harvard University

Misty Hale

Director of Specialty Practices | Huntsville Hospital

Misty Hale is the Director of Specialty Clinics with Huntsville Hospital’s Physician Network She is a registered nurse who has been with Huntsville Hospital for 20 years She currently oversees operations for over 13 specialty clinics within Madison County

Prior to entering healthcare, Misty worked for Aerotek, as an engineering contracts manager over the state of Arkansas She also previously worked as a branch manager for Enterprise RentA-Car in Memphis and was part of their European Expansion team

Misty holds a BA in Communications from The University of Alabama, an AD in Nursing from Wallace State Community College, and an MBA from The University of North Alabama.

Misty spends her free time volunteering and traveling She is married with one son

Matt Hancock

Managing Partner | Wolfe, Jones, Wolfe, Hancock, Daniel & South, LLC

Matt Hancock is the Managing Partner of Wolfe, Jones, Wolfe, Hancock, Daniel & South, LLC, where he also leads the Commercial Litigation Department

Mr Hancock has been a long-time member of the Board of Directors for HEALS, Inc , a local non-profit entity that provides medical, dental and optometry care to children who live in poverty Mr Hancock is also a member of the Optimist Club of Huntsville, the Alabama State Bar, the American Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Institute

Cheryl Harrell

Manager, Space Launch System Program Planning and Control Office | NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Cheryl Harrell serves at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as its Space Launch System (SLS) Program Planning and Control Manager (2016-present) She is responsible for the fiscal planning and budget execution plan to enable the design and development of the SLS – the Nation’s next heavy lift exploration vehicle and the world’s most powerful rocket

In the decade preceding her appointment to the Senior Executive Service in 2016, Ms Harrell held several leadership roles, including serving in Marshall’s Performance and Capabilities Management Office, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, as well as NASA Langley Research Center’s Office of the Director

Following completion of NASA's cooperative education program in 1990, Harrell held a variety of positions within Langley’s Office of the Chief Counsel and the Research Facilities Branch From 1996 to 2004, she was a program/management analyst for a variety of NASA Aeronautics and Space Transportation Programs

Kasey Helms

First Vice President | ServisFirst Bank

Kasey joined the ServisFirst Bank team in 2014 after graduating from Auburn University and is currently First Vice President for ServisFirst Bank Huntsville She is responsible for developing new business and managing the personal and business needs of existing private banking clients Kasey serves on the Huntsville Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees and is a member of the Women’s Economic Development Council. She also previously served a six-year term on the Huntsville Ballet Board of Directors Kasey is married to Michael, and they have two toddlers, Harper and Hayes In her free time, she enjoys working out, running, and watching Auburn sports

Todd Holder

Director of Army Aviation and Missile Support Services | DCS Corporation

Todd Holder is the Director of Army Aviation and Missile Support Services for the greater Huntsville region for DCS Corporation Todd brings twenty years of military aviation experience and nearly a decade of federal contracting experience to this role Todd is an experienced, avid pilot and aircraft owner Todd is a University of Florida graduate with a master’s degree in Operational Studies from the Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting He also serves as an Executive Officer of the Rocket City Wing of the Commemorative Air Force chartered in 2022

Jessica Jackson

Recruitment Coordinator/CRM Administrator | Calhoun Community College

Jessica was born, raised, and educated in the South so it is safe to say that she is a true southern girl and she loves it! She graduated from Butler High School in Huntsville, AL and is a proud product of Calhoun Community College, where she currently serves as the Recruitment Coordinator Upon graduation from Calhoun she completed her Bachelor’s degree from Athens State University in English/Language Arts and Psychology She also attended Ashford University Online for an MBA and is currently completing the final class towards her Master’s of Student Affairs in Higher Education from University of West Alabama As a previous secondary education teacher, she is a firm believer that there is no boundary too difficult to overcome with hard work and dedication and that education is a life changing business. In her spare time, Jessica loves to hike, fish, read and spend time with her family and dog She is a woman of faith and contributes to her church by doing AV for church services each week Her motto is to always remember that a river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but its persistence!

Jeremy Jess

Executive Vice President | GTEC, LLC

Mr Jeremy Jess is an Executive Vice president at GTEC and serves as GTEC's executive serving construction testing, laboratory services, aerial photography, and corporate safety He was born at Huntsville Hospital in 1980 and was raised in north Madison County attending Madison Crossroads School and Hazel Green High School After an adolescence working on farms in rural parts of Madison County Mr Jess decided Civil Engineer was his preferred course of study at Auburn University Mr Jess is a licensed professional engineer and is primarily experienced in geotechnical engineering Outside of his profession Mr Jess enjoys his family time and can often be found on a sports field coaching a recreational youth team Additionally, Mr Jess serves in serval leadership roles at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Madison County.

Chris Jones

Chief Operating Officer | Huntsville Utilities

Chris Jones serves as the Senior Vice President / Chief Operating Officer for Huntsville Utilities This role is responsible for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the Electric, Natural Gas, Water, and Fiber infrastructure within the City of Huntsville and Madison County Additionally, Chris has responsibility for the utility’s Key Account and Economic Development programs Prior to relocating to Huntsville in July 2023, he served as the Vice President / Chief Electric Operations Officer at City Utilities of Springfield, MO Chris hods a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Missouri State University He has held board-level leadership roles in several industry groups including the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, Southwest Power Pool, MEA Energy Association, and the Missouri Public Utility Alliance He has served on the board of Sunrise Rotary of Springfield and The Kitchen Foundation

Beth Kramer

CEO | Engenix Inc.

Beth Kramer is the CEO of Engenix, Inc , a Woman-Owned, HUBZone, government contracting small business specializing in technology, training, and logistics With over 25 years of experience in tech innovation, training, and leadership, she has impacted the defense, federal, education, and commercial sectors Prior to founding Engenix, she was Vice President at a software engineering and simulation company Her commitment extends beyond corporate success; she is involved in community service, supporting military families and veterans, STEM education, women ’ s cyber scholarships, and mental health initiatives. As Chair of The Catalyst 2024 Board of Directors and a mentor for the Madison CEO Youth program, she advocates for small business support Being a former military spouse and the spouse of a veteran, she understands the importance of volunteering and effecting change in the community She believes strong leadership is key to making a positive impact and is dedicated to leading by example

Kim Caudle Lewis

CEO | PROJECTXYZ, Inc

Kim Caudle Lewis is founder and CEO of PROJECTXYZ Ms Lewis founded PROJECTXYZ in 2002 as a minority woman-owned small business under the SBA's government contracting program As CEO, Ms Lewis has established PROJECTXYZ as a company committed to excellence in providing engineering, logistics, programmatic, and alternative energy solutions for customers around the world The company has grown to almost 300 employees and has been recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies.

Dedicated to serving her community, Ms Lewis serves on multiple boards including Huntsville Utilities, Cummings Research Park, Crestwood Medical Center and Calhoun and UAH Foundation Board She has been honored with the Russell Brown Executive Leadership award; Named one of the Women to Shape the State of Alabama; received the US Chamber of Commerce WomenOwned Business Achievement Award; and was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce

Delores Mastin

Executive Director | Community Action Partnership

Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties, Inc

Delores is a native of Huntsville and a proud product of the local secondary and postsecondary educational systems She began her career with Community Action Partnership Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties, Inc , in July 1996 as the Human Resources Clerk For more than 28 years, she has served in various leadership roles throughout her career, achieving the current position of Executive Director. As a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, she has received numerous certifications; gained valuable experience in community and economic development; served as a volunteer judicial mediator; and is a National Results Oriented Management and Accountability Implementer (NCRI)

Delores constantly encourages everyone she encounters to work hard and to obtain the skills needed in order to become self-sufficient She is guided by a strong work ethic and embraces excellence She enjoys her work, which allows her the opportunity to help others and give back to the community

Michael McKay

Deputy Director of Internal Review | Missile Defense Agency

Michael is a supervisory auditor and hotline investigator for the Missile Defense Agency and holds a Certified Fraud Examiner credential He is also serving his third consecutive term as Madison Elementary School's PTA President, where he has spearheaded major projects such as constructing a new playground fence with improved security features and completing a renovation of the school's conference room Michael recently completed his sixth consecutive year on his neighborhood's HOA Board of Directors, where he served in multiple different roles Michael loves to share information about his Madison Visionary Partners' fiscally sponsored project to bring a Miracle League baseball field and complex to Madison City In addition, he is a Madison on Track 2045 Advisory Committee member and coaches two travel baseball teams Michael is married to his wife, Emily, and has two children: Colton and Molly

Joshua Mehrag

President | Rocket MEP LLC

Joshua is a licensed electrical engineer with 20+ years of experience designing commercial, aerospace, medical office, industrial, manufacturing, education, and commercial nuclear power facilities His experience includes roles as the engineer of record, aerospace market vice president, design analysis lead, and project manager all emphasizing the value of communication, relationship building, and delivering on promises which lead to the formation of Rocket MEP LLC. Joshua has previously served a three year term as a Board member for the United Way of Madison County and is currently the President- Elect for The Care Center Board in New Hope, AL

Matthew Mell

Chief Executive Officer ,Chief Financial Officer, Co-Owner | ChurchStreet Family Hospitality

Matt has over 20 years ’ experience in the hospitality industry, having managed restaurants, bars, and comedy clubs in Washington, D C , Maryland, New Jersey, and New York City before opening Church Street Wine Shoppe in downtown Huntsville in late 2014. In just 10 years he and his wife Stephanie are now the owners of 10 award winning food & beverage establishments, in Huntsville and Athens Alabama Matt spent most of his childhood in Scottsboro, and has lived on both the East and West Coasts, but is happy to be back home in Alabama with his wife of 20+ years Matt & Stephanie were recently named Restauranteurs of the year for the State of Alabama Prior to owning and opening restaurants Matt spent 25 years as a union ironworker –joining the family business out of college – Matt oversaw many large-scale projects including, as the superintendent; Met Life Stadium in Meadowlands, Skyland Stadium minor league ballpark and Mid-town Tunnel NYC to name a few

Matt has been a wine judge for Alabama Commercial Wine Competition, and he currently sits on the Downtown Huntsville Inc Board of Directors, he extremely active in the community and ChurchStreet Family frequently supports local non-profits throughout North Alabama

Acacia Moore

Senior Quality Manager/Government Property Manager/DEI Ambassador | Parsons Corporation

Acacia Moore, a Huntsville native, is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, mentor, mother and new grandmother Ms Moore earned her bachelor's degree in Applied Technology from Athens State University Ms Moore is employed by Parsons Corporation as a Senior Quality Manager, IUID Subject Matter Expert, and Government Property Manager. In January 2021, Acacia was selected to be the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ambassador for Parsons She has certifications in ISO 9001:2015, CMMI Level 3, and is a Certified Professional Property Administrator (CPPA) for the National Property Management Association (NPMA) From Parsons, Ms Moore has received numerous awards From NPMA, she has received nine Outstanding Member awards Acacia supports 10 non-profit organizations in the community In her spare time, she enjoys Jazz music, gardening, acting, cake decorating, scuba diving, and flying Cessna planes.

Keshia Neerhof

Senior Program Director | SAIC

Keshia Neerhof, PMP, is a Senior Program Director at Science Applications International Corporation, Inc (SAIC), in Huntsville, Alabama As a Project Management Professional (PMP), she has led multiple large programs throughout the defense industry for over 17 years Keshia is a proud US Army Veteran, as well as a member of the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc She has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Athens State University, sharing her knowledge with the next generation of leaders by teaching project management courses

Scott Newberry

Director of Software Engineering | HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Scott Newberry was born and raised in Huntsville He attended Grissom High School and Auburn University After graduating, he worked for Lockheed Martin as a defense contractor for 6 years before going to HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in 2010 At HudsonAlpha, he is the Director of Software Engineering where he leads a team of software engineers who develop software solutions supporting each of HudsonAlpha’s mission areas

He and his wife, Kim Newberry, currently live in Madison with their two children who attend Madison City Schools He is actively involved in the Rainbow Elementary PTA as well as the Rainbow Chess Team as the Parent Sponsor Since 2022, he has also served on the Madison City Schools Board of Education In that role, he been a member of the Policy Committee and has been an active advocate for public education

Daniel Odom

Director | Guidehouse

Dan is a Director in Guidehouse’s Defense and Security Segment and oversees the Department of Justice’s account in Huntsville In this role, Dan works alongside Guidehouse’s clients to develop and implement solutions to manage and mitigate national security threats. Before joining Guidehouse in 2022, Dan served more than 23 years as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he held several senior executive-level positions In this role, Dan led large teams in response to several national critical incidents Dan’s FBI experiences span multiple disciplines including cyber threats, all criminal matters, and national security threats Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University He and his wife, Julia, reside in Gurley, Al, and he has two sons

Jim Page

Executive Vice President | MartinFed

Jim Page is Executive Vice President of MartinFederal Consulting (MartinFed), a Huntsville-based government contractor that provides solutions to multiple federal agencies He leads all government relations efforts, manages corporate, organizational, and community partnerships, oversees strategic marketing and communications, and provides leadership for mergers, acquisitions, and integrations Jim is also President of XCEL Engineering, Inc , a wholly owned subsidiary of MartinFed located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He previously spent more than 20 years as a chamber of commerce executive, including 11 years as President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa Jim is a graduate of Leadership Alabama, the Alabama Leadership Initiative, Leadership Morgan County, and Leadership Tuscaloosa He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and marketing from the University of North Alabama and is a member of its Board of Trustees Jim and his wife, Sara, have two daughters, Ellynor (15) and Emery (5)

Craig Paulus

State President | Foundation Title & Escrow Series (AL) LLC; The Paulus Law Firm PC

Craig Paulus is the State President of Foundation Title & Escrow Series (AL), LLC and the founder of The Paulus Law Firm PC Craig's law practice focuses on real estate In 2020, he merged his company with Foundation Title, one of the largest title insurance agencies in the country and which celebrated its 100,000th closing in 2023

Craig has served on numerous boards and committees. These include The Committee of 100, The CARE Center, and as an organizer and director of Nova Bank, which is one of only five banks chartered nationwide in 2023 Craig also manages various family businesses and in his spare time, writes children's books Craig and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 27 years and have four children

Mitch Peters

Vice President Information Security | Redstone Federal Credit Union

A native of St Croix US Virgin Islands, Mitch serves as the Vice President of Information Security at Redstone Federal Credit Union where he has 29 years of service He leads the efforts to protect the information assets of the credit union and ensures compliance with relevant regulations and standards He is also passionate about educating and empowering others to be more cyber-aware and resilient in the face of ever-evolving threats

Mitch is a graduate of Alabama A&M University, where he became a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 He is an active member of Lowes Chapel United Methodist Church and contributes to various boards and advisory committees in the community. He lives in Madison County with his wife, Althea, and two daughters, Dyani, and Nicola

Jennifer Pettit

Assistant Dean, College of Business | The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Jennifer Pettitt, a native of Huntsville, serves as the Assistant Dean for the College of Business at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) With a 20-year tenure at UAH, Jennifer is dedicated to student engagement and growth Leading the academic advising office for over 1,500 College of Business students, she fosters opportunities for their holistic development Previously, as Marketing and Events Coordinator for Broadway Theatre League (BTL), Jennifer orchestrated national touring Broadway shows Jennifer holds a Bachelor's in Commerce and Business Administration- Marketing from The University of Alabama and earned her MBA from UAH In her leisure, she enjoys planning trips and creating cherished moments with her husband, Jared, and their three children, Jesslyn (14), Jonah (13), and June Reese (11)

Scott Phillips

Vice President, Information Systems | MDW Associates

Scott, a graduate of Management Academy 10, is the Vice President of Information Systems for MDW Associates, where his responsibilities include corporate management and/or oversight of DoD, NASA, and Federal contracts A Huntsville/Madison County native who has been working in Huntsville’s Defense industry for over 25 years, Scott began as a software engineer and supported the federal, state, and commercial sectors over a 15-year development career supporting organizations like the Missile Defense Agency, the South Carolina DOT and Enron In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Scott directly supports the Missile Defense Agency’s Business Systems organization and oversees the onsite contract support team Scott has volunteered in the community by coaching youth sports teams for his 3 daughters as well as serving on the board of directors for their youth league Scott and his wife Shawn have been married for 29 years and have 3 daughters Sydney, Kennedi, and Berkli

Dan Rice

Specialist Leader | Deloitte

Dan Rice is an accomplished senior leader with Deloitte Advisory He is a retired U S Army Colonel and has 25+ years of experience leading broad and diverse teams He is an expert in military operations and leadership with an emphasis on Army Aviation and sustainment He delivers Deloitte's professional services to a wide range of government clients and is known for building highly capable teams to solve complex problems

Angela Rittenbach

President and CEO | Riverstone Solutions, Inc.

Angela Rittenbach is the President/CEO of Riverstone Solutions, Inc , an information technology and cybersecurity company- delivering Enterprise IT solutions for more than 15 years Angela is also the President and a Founder of CyberReach Org, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization headquartered in Huntsville, AL Angela is a long-time advocate for Women in Technology and STEM programs She has served the Huntsville community on the board of directors for Cyber Huntsville, GEO Huntsville, and currently serves on the Huntsville / Madison Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Council Angela was honored by Business Alabama Magazine as a Top 23 in '23 Women in Technology She manages the day-to-day operations for Riverstone Solutions, delivering technical and professional services to industry and federal customers Prior to founding Riverstone Solutions, and CyberReach, Angela worked in various industry positions including system engineering and program management Angela received her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Clemson University

James Rountree III

Senior

Defense Intelligence Analyst for Weapons Analysis - DISL Tier 1 | Defense Intelligence Agency - Missile & Space Intelligence Center

Mr James W Rountree III was appointed Senior Defense Intelligence/Analyst Weapons Analysis in June 2023 In this role, Mr Rountree serves as the substantive expert for MSIC weapons analysis leading technical all-source analysis to produce high-quality intelligence products that assess the capabilities, performance, limitations, and impact of foreign threat weapons vulnerabilities to inform national policymakers, DoD acquisition customers and warfighter communities

Mr Rountree has served in various technical and leadership roles throughout MSIC and across a wide range of threat systems, conducting and leading technical analysis and production encompassing numerous engineering disciplines and multiple technologies such as seeker design, radar theory and operation, guidance and control theory, warhead design and effects, propulsion, and aerodynamics

As a native of Huntsville, AL, Mr Rountree received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering from the University of Alabama/Huntsville in 1990 He currently resides in Monrovia, AL with his wife Doris

ShannonSeay

Director, Senior Service College Fellowship Redstone Arsenal Seminar | Defense Acquisition University

Mr Shannon Seay is a retired Naval Aviator with over 20 years of distinguished military service, characterized by outstanding leadership and operational excellence After retiring, he transitioned seamlessly into the civilian defense sector, where he has managed complex acquisition programs within the Department of the Navy, overseeing critical enterprise systems in acquisition, logistics, and finance Presently, Mr Seay imparts his vast knowledge as a professor at the Defense Acquisition University, mentoring the next generation of acquisition leaders He also holds the position of Director of the US Army Senior Service College Fellowship, Redstone Arsenal Seminar A proud native of Alabama and an Auburn University alumnus, Mr Seay, along with his wife Jennifer, cherishes life in Huntsville Together, they have raised three children who, having graduated from Auburn University, have now embarked on their own professional journeys in the workforce

Lesley Shotts

Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants, and Research | J F Drake State Community and Technical College

Dr Lesley Shotts is the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Grants, and Research at Drake State Community & Technical College and has over eighteen years of experience in higher education, with eleven specifically in institutional effectiveness, research, assessment, and grants development and management She loves lifelong learning, recently earning an Ed D in Community College Leadership from Morgan State University Dr Shotts has served in multiple leadership positions in several professional organizations, most recently as president of the Alabama Association for Institutional Research She also serves as Drake State’s campus coordinator for United Way. She loves living in her adopted hometown of Huntsville and seeks new ways to connect with and support the community

Christopher Simpson

Finance Director | Yulista Holding, LLC

Christopher Simpson is a results-oriented finance professional with over 15 years of experience driving financial performance across various industries Currently, he serves as the Director of Finance at Yulista Holding LLC, leading financial strategy since May 2023 for more than 6 subsidiaries

Prior to this, Christopher held senior business manager roles at Amentum and DynCorp International, overseeing more than $1 1B dollar in annual sales across their aviation sector and providing financial leadership for teams exceeding 3,500 employees. His expertise spans financial oversight, budgeting, forecasting, merger and acquisitions, and contract profitability analysis, with a proven track record of achieving financial targets

Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Corporate Financial Strategy certificate from the University of Chicago He is also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, demonstrating his commitment to continuous process improvement

Joey Smith

Lead Associate | Booz Allen Hamilton

Joey Smith is a Lead Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton He graduated from the University of North Alabama and began his career as a scientist at Qualitest Pharmaceuticals where he worked in both Quality Control and R&D Joey left the pharmaceutical industry to join NeXolve, where he worked as a scientist developing materials for the aerospace industry During his time with NeXolve, Joey earned an M B A and transitioned to a project management role supporting both government and commercial projects In his current role as a Lead Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, Joey supports numerous government projects primarily within the Army and the Prototype Integration Facility at Redstone Arsenal Joey has also been an active volunteer within the Buckhorn community to support his kids’ extracurricular activities including cub scouts, baseball, cheerleading, and swim team

Robin Soprano

VP Space Camp | US Space & Rocket Center

Robin Soprano is Vice President of Space Camp and responsible for Space Camp operations Overseeing our camp programs requires the coordination of program operations, mission support, logistics and nursing with the education, sales, food service and museum teams

Robin worked for a Japanese Automotive component supplier, US Army AMCOM Production Engineering and for a local non-profit before coming to the Space Camp in 2016 With a background in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Robin enjoys teamwork, creative collaboration, and process improvement Working in informal STEM education brings great reward Space Camp is perfect place to experience the impact of STEM immersion!

Robin is married with 3 adult children. Her husband Marty is a retired DoD Civilian. Robin enjoys reading, technology, Top Golf and creating fun family memories

Katherine Starck

Director | CFD Research

Mrs Katherine Starck is the Sr Director of Operations at CFD Research Corporation She previously served as Program Manager for Hypersonics and Propulsion initiatives at CFD Research, including a Hypersonics Ground Test Tunnel under development on Redstone Arsenal

Boasting over ten years of leadership experience, Starck has managed various complex contracts at the Redstone Test Center. Her responsibilities included overseeing Operations for the RTCWide Engineering and Support Services contract, which involved coordinating a team of more than 600 individuals and managing budgets upwards of $500 million Her reputation in the Army Test and Evaluation community is stellar, marked by her integrity and exceptional management capabilities

On a personal note, Starck is affectionately known as "Mom" to her two sons, Connor, aged 9, and Ethan, aged 6 Alongside her husband, Paul, she’s called Huntsville home for the past 15 years.

Jennifer Stephenson

Deputy Director | US Army Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center

Ms. Stephenson serves as the Deputy Director of the Technical Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), where she is responsible for leadership and oversight of a U S Army Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory and Major Range and Test Facility Base employing 600 civilian, military, and contractor employees She assists the Director in executing activities in science and technology, research and development, testing, and transition of technologies; ensuring that the Technical Center's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are integrated into the organization’s strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, and work products and services She is responsible for the oversight of financial and contract execution of approximately $600M annually and manages hiring and recruitment for a government civilian workforce of approximately 200 positions Her awards include the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, and the Association of the United States Army, Civilian of the Year Award for Technical Management

Jesse Sumlin

Captain/ Administrative Services Bureau | Huntsville Police Department

Captain Jesse Sumlin, a native New Yorker, has served the Huntsville Police Department for 29 years He served on the Bike Unit, Mobile Field Force, Honor Guard, Supervisor Incident Response Team, Commander Crisis Response Negotiations Team and Commander Peer to Peer Support Team He served as a patrol officer, supervisor and commander, Public Information Officer and North Precinct Commander He is currently the Administrative Services Bureau Division Commander During this same period of time, he was also serving his country in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2018. While in the USAR, he deployed twice for Operation Iraqi Freedom specializing in ordnance, transportation and logistics He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Alabama A & M University and is married to Lori Sumlin with two children

Clarence Sutton

Superintendent | Huntsville City Schools

Dr Clarence Sutton serves as superintendent of Huntsville City Schools (HCS) He is a veteran educator with 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and administrator

He specializes in the areas of planning, leadership, researching and implementing innovative ideas, and advising teachers on instructional strategies He has a track record of increasing student achievement Sutton previously served as the district's chief of staff, deputy superintendent, and chief academic officer Prior to HCS, he served as the longtime principal of Central High in Tuscaloosa where the school significantly increased graduation rates, increased yearly scholarship offers for students, and established a career pathway program which is now a model across Alabama He believes in the power of partnerships with businesses and community organizations to enhance student learning and to develop potential workforce opportunities for students after high school

Dr Sutton and his wife, Jameka, have six children and two grandchildren

Braque Talley

Vice President of Student Affairs | Alabama A&M University

Dr Braque (Brock) Talley, Sr is a native of Starkville, Mississippi, and is currently serving as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) Prior to this role, Dr Talley served as Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Success and taught in classes in the Master of Education program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Earlier in his career, he served was Vice President of Enrollment Management at Rust College

Dr Talley is three-time HBCU graduate with degrees from Jackson State University, Alabama A&M University and Rust College, respectively Braque is married to Dr Brittney Tate-Talley, and they have three children, Bridynn, Braque Jr “BJ”, and Beau-McCoy

John Underwood

Senior Director/Program Manager | SAIC

J D is a Senior Director/Program Manager at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he leads efforts related to the Department of Justice. He has been with SAIC since October 2021 Before joining SAIC, J D had a distinguished career with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for over two decades During his tenure at the ATF, he ascended through various leadership roles, culminating in his appointment as the Special Agent in Charge at the National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR), located on the Redstone Arsenal J D resides in Madison along with his spouse, Chrissy and their two children, Jackson and Alexandra He is actively involved in his community through sports and law enforcement. He dedicates his spare time to umpiring high school and youth baseball games, officiating high school football, and serving as a Reserve Deputy for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office

Zach Ward

Principal Architect/ Vice President | Ward Scott Morris Architecture

Zach started his career in architecture in 2009 in Tuscaloosa before relocating to Nashville to work in a larger healthcare firm in 2013 In 2016, Zach returned to Tuscaloosa, subsequently taking ownership in Ward Scott Morris Architecture (WSM) in 2017 After several commercial design projects in Huntsville, managed from the Tuscaloosa office, Zach opened a new branch in Huntsville and moved in 2019 Since that time, WSM has grown its presence in Madison County and numerous surrounding counties Although WSM focuses primarily on K-12 education, they have designed projects of all shapes and sizes for over 40 years.

Kadee Waterbury

LCSPD Branch Chief | Defense Acquisition University

Ms Waterbury is currently serving as the Chief of International Logistics for CARGO and NonStandard Army Aircraft In this position she has the privilege of working with an amazing team of people that spend every day serving our nations allies and build our nations partnerships. Prior to this position Ms Waterbury worked as the Logistics Product Support Chief for FLRAA working to develop the next long-range reconnaissance helicopter She has also worked as the Apache PBL Sustainment Chief, a Logistics Professor and an Acquisition Strategist Ms Waterbury was responsible a forum where the AAE and the AMC CG created and promulgated a joint strategy for the two communities She also lead Performance Based Logistics for Apache and the Army Material Command, working with Program Managers and Program Executive Offices to assist them with their PBL programs, coordinating the needs of multiple organizations across DoD, and enabling the PM to create and implement support strategies that served our soldiers worldwide

Ms Waterbury is very active in her church and in working with international exchange scholarship programs for students from impoverished/underdeveloped nations She currently resides in Madison, AL with her husband, two children and three dogs

Jessica Wilkerson

Vice President | Ignite Fueling Innovation, Inc

Jessica serves as Vice President for Ignite, a Huntsville-based defense contractor Previously, she served as an Army civilian, most recently as a Program Operations Director responsible for program acquisition, integration, and management support In this role, she led a major weapon system through two successful program decisions at the highest levels of DoD. Prior to this, she served as a Business Director responsible for a $1B Foreign Military Sales portfolio of programs She also served as Executive Officer in the AMCOM Command Group Earlier in her career, she was a Contracting Officer responsible for negotiating and managing multi-million dollar contracts

She lives in Madison with her husband, Andy, and three awesome kiddos She enjoys cheering on her two wrestlers and being an unofficial scoreboard-runner for Madison Softball Association She teaches children’s Sunday School at Asbury Church, serves as Secretary of Asbury’s Administrative Board and of her neighborhood HOA

Gabe Wolfe

Senior Manager, Audit | Warren Averett, LLC

Gabe Wolfe joined Warren Averett in 2012 and serves as Senior Manager and Service Area Leader for the firm’s Audit Division in Huntsville He has extensive experience providing financial statement audits and reviews, as well as employee benefit plan audits Additionally, Gabe has a proven background of consulting with clients on new accounting standards updates and the impacts on financial reporting His industry experience includes government contractors, manufacturing and distribution, construction and engineering, private equity, and ESOPs Gabe resides in Huntsville with his wife and son

AllieWright

Associate Broker and Team Lead | Amanda Howard Sothebys International Realty

Allie grew up learning about real estate in the family business She gained valuable experience and a deep appreciation for the strength of the industry in North Alabama At UAH, Allie earned a degree in Psychology and Communications and served as Vice President in Delta Zeta sorority After graduation, Allie became a licensed realtor She joined Amanda Howard Sotheby’s International Realty in 2013 Allie is currently the Team Lead and Associate Broker at Amanda Howard’s downtown office and a member of the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors

In her free time, Allie is a dedicated dog mom She enjoys exploring Huntsville’s wealth of food and music venues and showing off the Rocket City to her clients new to the area “My favorite things about Huntsville are its stunning natural beauty, our authentic and diverse residents, and the exciting future of our city ”