Birmingham’s 2016-2017 Leadership Class Announced

Author Wade Cline -

The ever evolving community in the “Ham” would not be possible without local business men and women who hustle day after day to put the Magic City on the map.

Photo By: Wade Cline

These leaders represent multiple industries and expertise. Started in 1981, Leadership Birmingham  brings together those impacting our city through large, small, and start-up companies.

The purpose of Leadership Birmingham is to ensure that leaders in the community are educated about current issues and challenges in our region. This is accomplished by bringing together a group of 50 leaders each year from diverse backgrounds. Through a series of monthly programs, these leaders come to know and understand more about the community and one another as they explore issues and exchange ideas. The goal is that they are better equipped with information and networks to be more effective as leaders.

-Leadership Birmingham

Here is the 2016-2017 class:

  • Beau Bevis, president and CEO, ARC Realty
  • Martha V.J. Bouyer, executive director, Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund
  • Judge Karon Bowdre, chief judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
  • Anne Buckley, chief communications officer, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Wayne Carmello-Harper, senior vice president and chief mission integration officer for St. Vincent’s Health System
  • Dan Carsen, senior reporter, The Southern Education Desk, WBHM
  • Kelley Castlin-Gacutan, superintendent, Birmingham City Schools
  • Laura Clarke, senior vice president, BBVA Compass
  • Jill Deer, vice president of development and administration, Brasfield & Gorrie
  • David Denard, director, environmental services department, Jefferson County
  • Gary Edwards, CEO, United Cerebal Palsy of Greater Birmingham
  • Mark Ervin, chief brand officer, Big Communications
  • Daagye Hendricks, member, District 4 Birmingham City Board of Education
  • Mark Hendricks, vice president, health care division, Hoar Construction
  • Frances (Fran) Hogg, president, Occupational Testing
  • Anthony C. Hood, founder, Nhabit Birmingham and assistant professor, UAB Collat School of Business
  • Mikah Hudson, senior pastor, Highlands United Methodist Church
  • Joshua Jones, managing partner, StrategyWise
  • Janet Kavinoky, director, federal and state government affairs, Vulcan Materials Company
  • Natalie Kelly, president, SUSTAIN
  • Marc Koretzky, COO, Complete Benefit Alliance LLC
  • Christopher Leech, commercial banking executive, Regions Bank
  • Christi Daniel Lunsford, vice president, associate general counsel, HealthSouth Corp.
  • Angela McClintock, director, Jefferson County DHR

  • Meg McGlamery, executive director, The Crisis Center

Kerry McInerney, shareholder, Sirote & Permutt P.C.

  • Daniel (Danny) McKinney, CEO, McKinney Capital

  • Rev. Vanable H. Moody II, senior pastor and founder, Worship Center Christian Church

  • Jonathan Nelson, general manager, Birmingham Barons

  • William Nicrosi, shareholder, Leavell Investment Management Inc.

  • Joshua C. Petty, market president, BB&T

  • Maj. Gen. N. Lee S. Price, U.S. Army retired, Price Solutions LLC

  • Eva T. Robertson, VP, corporate communications, Protective Life Corp.

  • Charles L. Robinson Jr., principal, Red Rock Realty Group Inc., LAH Real Estate

  • Natasha L. Rogers, director, Negro Southern League Museum

  • Teresa Shufflebarger, market business chief development officer, Brookwood Baptist Health

  • D. Tyrone Silmon, executive assistant to Mayor William Bell, city of Birmingham

  • James (Jim) C. Smith, senior vice president, Green Coffee, Royal Cup Coffee

  • James (Wes) Smith, president, Mayer Electric Supply Co.

  • Terry L. Sparks, managing partner, Birmingham office, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

  • Emily Vanlandingham, chief operating officer, Arlington Family Offices

  • Kavita Vasil, head of school, Highlands School

  • Lisa Warren, CEO, Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center

  • Leila Watson, attorney, Cory Watson PC

  • Joseph E. Welden III, president StoneRiver Co.

Thank you Stephanie Rebman, BBJ Managing Editor, for providing the list!


  • Marketing Producer at Bham Now, Tech Junkie, Foodie, Bham Lover, Movie Snob, Wannabe Quantum Physicist. You can likely find me either at Trim Tab Brewing or O'henry's Coffee in Homewood.