MEET THE TEAM

Writers, photographers, marketers and more—here are the people behind Bham Now.

Cindy Martin Meet the Team
founder + ceo

Cindy Martin

Cindy is the Founder and CEO of Bham Now, The Bama Buzz and Hville Blast. Previously, Cindy served as President of Alabama Media Group and CEO of AL.com for 16 years.

Hometown: Bessemer, AL
Education: 
Mechanical Engineering and MBA, both from The University of Alabama
Birmingham Favorites: 
Chez Fonfon and listening to the trains roll through downtown


headshot of Jacob Blankenship
channel analyst

Jacob Blankenship

As a Social Media Content Producer for Bham Now, Jacob helps gather analytics and shares Instagram Stories of his explorations around Birmingham.

Hometown: Odenville, AL
Education: Associate in Applied Science, Business Management & Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing
Birmingham Favorites: Eugene’s Hot Chicken, looking up at skyscrapers and enjoying Birmingham restaurants!


team headshots3 scaled e1614885637135 Meet the Team
account executive

Jessica Broom

Just a Bham transplant calling the Magic City home who loves connecting businesses that make Alabama so wonderful to the people passionate about supporting them.

Hometown: Loganville, GA
Education: University of North Georgia
Birmingham Favorites: Anything and everything at El Barrio, the local art community, and those sunset skyline views.


Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Pat Byington

Pat is the Content Director at Bham Now and loves to write about conservation and inspirational local stories. 

Hometown: Florence + Sheffield, AL
Education: Degree in Latin American and Environmental Studies from The University of Alabama. 
Birmingham Favorites: Birmingham Legion FC, ROJO, One Pratt Park in Pratt City & Ruffner Mountain


TiraDavis 20210824 133250 Meet the Team
content producer

Tira Davis

Tira is a content producer for Bham Now, where her favorite thing is thinking about what makes things tick. If you don’t see me on Bham Now’s Now the News, you can catch me anywhere in the Magic City making TikToks of our local favs.

Hometown: Center Point, AL
Education: Associate in Science Degree, Communications & Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism
Birmingham Favorites: Muñoz Mexican Grill, Fat Charles BBQ, and picnics and relaxing at the park.


Julia-Rae Hanson
content producer

Julia-Rae Hanson

Julia-Rae manages social media for Bham Now’s clients.

Hometown: Mobile, AL
Education: B.S in Human Development and Communication from The University of Alabama
Birmingham Favorites: The Garage Cafe

Gabi Hembree
business development manager

Gabi Hembree-Lee

As Business Development Manager, Gabi connects with clients and prospective clients to build relationships and help them reach their individual marketing goals.

Hometown: Ardmore, AL
Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing-management with a minor in Chinese from UAB
Birmingham Favorites: Vulcan at night, Railroad Park and literally anything from The Pizitz Food Hall


Trey Huie
account executive

Trey Huie

Trey is an Account Executive for Bham Now where he connects businesses with the people of Alabama. He’s into all the cool things in life – cooking, dogs, and watches. 

Hometown: Oneonta, AL
Education: The University of Alabama – Birmingham
Birmingham Favorites: Ono Poke, Greenwise Wine Market, Pizza Grace


PatienceItson 1 crop Meet the Team
content producer

Patience Itson

Patience is living out her passion for writing as a Content Producer and also produces Bham Now’s Tuesday and Friday newsletter.

Hometown: Montgomery, AL
Education: B.S. in Mass Communication with a focus in Journalism from the University of Montevallo
Birmingham Favorites: Cocina Superior, Birmingham Museum of Art, Railroad Park


Ben Johnson Final Headshot Meet the Team
videographer

Ben Johnson

Hometown: Birmingham
Education: UAB
Bham Favorites: Tortugas Pizza, Edgewood Creamery, Oak Mountain State Park. 


Sabrina Palmer
videographer

Sabrina Palmer

Sabrina is a videographer for Bham Now. She loves all things video and getting to see more of the Magic City. 

Hometown: Suffolk, VA
Education: B.A. in Mass Communications-Broadcasting from UAB
Birmingham Favorites: The Botanical Gardens, Sidewalk, and Black Market bar & grill


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cultural curator

Randall Porter

Randall is a Cultural Curator. His goal is to bring people together and expose them to unique places and experiences in Birmingham. At the center of it all is Fashion. Randall is a huge advocate of how personal style carries more power than people realize. And, he likes to showcase that through his instagram and blog.

Hometown: Oxford, AL (Hobson City, IYKYK)
Education: University of Montevallo, Major: Mass Communications Minor: Communication Studies | Public Relations
Birmingham Favorites: Atomic, PaperDoll, Bottega, Essential but seriously though… I love everything Birmingham. This city is my favorite.


CalliePuryearGraduation 168 Meet the Team
content producer

Callie Puryear

Callie is a content producer for Bham Now. She’s passionate about connecting with people and telling their stories. She loves writing about new places to try out in The Magic City!

Hometown: Decatur, Al
Education: Auburn University B.A. in Public Relations
Birmingham Favorites:
 Sushi at Jinsei, Eugene’s Hot Chicken, Bringing my dog, Sam, to happy hour at Soho Social


Jevante Shropshire
content producer

Jevante Shropshire

JeVante is a content producer for Bham Now. He lives for all things social media and can usually catch him running around Birmingham doing anything for content. He is also a coffee and TikTok maven.

Hometown: Homewood, AL 
Education: UAB; B.A. in Communications, Concentration: Public Relations
Birmingham Favorites: Fat Charles BBQ, Dos Hermanos Taco Truck, Saturn Birmingham, and relaxing at Homewood Central Park

Lauryn Stinson
content producer

Lauryn Stinson

All the way from Virginia, Lauryn is a content producer for Bham Now. She loves promoting local businesses, posting on Instagram, and exploring the city of Birmingham. 

Hometown: Vienna, VA 
Education: B.A. in Communication & Information Sciences from the University of Alabama
Birmingham Favorites: Shu Shop, Sozo Trading Co., Mom’s Basement, Saturn, + Last Call Baking Co.


Sharronheadshotcropped Meet the Team
managing producer

Sharron Swain

Sharron is the Managing Producer at Bham Now and loves working with the team, our clients and all the incredible people of Birmingham to help make our city better. 

Hometown: Mountain Brook, AL, Roebuck Springs since 2008 
Education: A BS in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an MA in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University in the UK
Birmingham Favorites: Kayaking on Lake Purdy, hiking at Ruffner, and my kids’ school, Alabama Waldorf.


NathanWatson crop scaled Meet the Team
senior content producer

Nathan Watson

Nathan is a Senior Content Producer at The Bama Buzz. Nathan is a TN transplant who lives in Birmingham. Nathan is especially fascinated with Alabama’s history. 

Hometown: Leiper’s Fork, TN
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College 2019