Bryant Bank
Parker Towing Company
Tuscaloosa County Commission
Echols, Taylor & Associates, PC
Shelton State Community College
United Community Bank
Warrior Met Coal
TABLE
Alabama ONE BankFirst
Buffalo Rock - Pepsi
City of Northport
City of Tuscaloosa
Community Service Programs of West Alabama
Duncan Coker Associates, P.C.
Hunt Refining Company
JamisonMoneyFarmer PC
SmartBank TTL, Inc.
Tuscaloosa City Schools
Tuscaloosa County School System
Visit Tuscaloosa
West Alabama Regional Commission
WELCOME
Carl Jamison
JamisonMoneyFarmer PC
INVOCATION
PANEL INTRODUCTION
Charlie Taylor
University of Alabama System
PANEL DISCUSSION
moderator Kyle South
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama panelists
Senator Garlan Gudger President Pro Tempore, Alabama Senate
Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter Speaker, Alabama House of Representatives
Kyle South
A small business owner with a lifelong commitment to serving others, Garlan Gudger was unanimously elected by his colleagues to as the President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate, a position that gives him tremendous influence over the day-to-day operations of the body.
First elected to the Cullman City Council in 2004, he became its youngest member in history and held a seat for 14 years, the last 10 of which saw him serve as president. After tornadoes tore through Cullman in 2011, Gudger was responsible for a facade and streetscape improvement program that was credited with revitalizing its downtown economic center.
After winning a seat representing portions of Cullman, Marion, and Winston counties in the Alabama State Senate in 2018, Gudger quickly established himself as a leader and earned the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s “Legislator of the Year”award for his efforts in passing a groundbreaking package of industrial recruitment and job creation measures.
He was also presented with the “Chairman’s Commendation” award by the Alabama Republican Party for passing a law that reflects his deeply conservative beliefs and requires “transgender” athletes in K-12 public schools to compete according to the sex listed on their original birth certificate.
Gudger and his wife, Heather, are the owners and operators of Southern Accents, an architectural salvage business founded by his father in 1969. Recognized as one of the top five architectural salvage companies in the nation, Alabama Magazine also awarded Southern Accents its “Best Antique Store in Alabama” honor for three consecutive years.
The Gudgers have two sons, Tripp and Pierce, and are members of Daystar Church, where they annually participate in mission trips to Uganda and other poverty-stricken areas around the world.
After a successful career in the electrical co-op industry and serving in various municipal government roles in his hometown of Rainsville, Alabama, Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter was elected to
the Alabama House of Representatives in 2014. He was later elected majority leader by the House Republican caucus in 2017 – making him the first-ever freshman member to hold this role.
As majority leader, Ledbetter was directed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to find solutions to the state’s lingering mental health challenges. His work on the issue has resulted in a complete overhaul of Alabama’s crisis care system and historic investments into free and effective treatment for Alabamians in need, which remains one of his proudest accomplishments as a member of the Legislature.
In 2022, Ledbetter was unanimously elected as the 67th Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives. He’s leveraged his role as Speaker to provide historic tax cuts for the people of Alabama while also focusing heavily on growing the state’s economy and improving educational outcomes for students. Speaker Ledbetter’s biggest goal is to make Alabama the best possible place to live, work, and raise a family.
He is married to the former Teresa Wilks, they have two adult sons, Nick and Nathan, and four grandchildren. The Ledbetters are members of Broadway Baptist Church.
