MEET THE TEAM
Writers, photographers, marketers and more—here are the people behind Bham Now.
Cindy Martin
founder + CEO
Cindy is the Founder and CEO of Bham Now. 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
Wade Cline
Sales Manager
Wade is the Business Development Manager for Bham Now where he assists in overall management of client partnerships, develops new service strategies and helps connect Bham Now to businesses & non-profits in Birmingham.
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Education: Samford University ‘17
Birmingham Favorites: Automatic Seafood, Ghost Train and The Pizitz
Sharron Swain
Managing Producer
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
Pat Byington
Content Director
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
Sheila McCallum
Content Producer
Hometown: Monterey, CA
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Bowling Green State University
Birmingham Favorite: James Spann’s “all-in” severe weather coverage
Patience Itson
CONTENT PRODUCER
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
Vicky Lewis
Content Producer
Oh, ya know just your average newsletter writing, weekend Instagram posting, food AND fun-loving, Birmingham exploring, slightly pup-obsessed twenty-something.
Hometown: Prattville, AL
Education: UAB Class of 2017
Birmingham Favorites: Greg Brady @ Jack Brown’s, Chicken St. Charles @ Ruby Sunshine, Strawberry Moscow Mule @ 41st Street Pub & Aircraft Sales
Gabi Hembree
Account Executive
Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing-management with a minor in Chinese from UAB
Jacob Blankenship
Content Producer
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!
Hannah Chambley
CONTENT PRODUCER
You can find Hannah Instagrammin’ the Birmingham skyline, behind the camera shooting photos or writing stories (with too many puns) for Bham Now.
Hometown: Valley, AL
Education: BA in Journalism with a minor in studio art from Auburn University
Birmingham Favorites: All of the local thrift + antique stores, Lou’s Pub and anything from Surin West
Chaise Sanders
CONTENT PRODUCER
Chaise is a Content Producer and helps manage the Bham Now Instagram account.
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Education: Birmingham-Southern College, Class of 2019
Birmingham Favorite: Railroad Park and FIVE’s patio during Sunday Jazz Brunch. Honestly just say the word “brunch” and I’m there
Nathan Watson
Content Producer
Hometown: Leiper’s Fork, TN
Education: Bachelors at Birmingham-Southern College 2019
Birmingham Favorite: Any of the views, but especially Vulcan Park
Matthew Niblett
Multimedia Producer
As a Multimedia Producer, Matthew always has his camera in hand taking photos around town and creating videos you see on Bham Now.
Hometown: Hayden, AL
Education: Self Taught
Birmingham Favorite: TrimTab Beer and Jack Brown’s Burgers
Irene Richardson
CONTENT PRODUCER
Irene is a Content Producer who writes stories about a little bit of everything. But, her favorite topics cover anything local artists are up to in the ‘ham. You can also find her managing Bham Now’s Twitter one emoji at a time.
Hometown: Tuscaloosa, AL
Education: University of Alabama, major in Public Relations and minor in French
Birmingham favorites: L’envoûteuse at the Birmingham Museum of Art, chicken curry from:momo, Highland Park neighborhood
Cecilia Wood
Content Producer
Cecilia is the Saturday Content Producer at Bham Now, writing stories and covering fun local events for the ‘gram… probably with a coffee in hand.
Hometown: Hoover, AL
Education: Auburn University, major in Professional and Public Writing and minors in business, Spanish, and marketing
Birmingham Favorites: Santos Coffee & Crepes, Trattoria ZaZa Pasta, Cahaba Brewing Company Beer
Cheyenne Trujillo
CONTENT PRODUCER
Cheyenne is a Content Producer for Bham Now and Bama Buzz determined to find the best flavors of the city and the small things that make the Magic City magical.
Hometown: Dothan, AL
Education: Birmingham-Southern College, Class of 2019
Birmingham favorites: Al pastor tacos from Gordos, Little Professor’s Bookstore, Thank You Books, and Fiesta Birmingham is my favorite time of the year.
Jessica Broom
Account Executive
Just a Bham transplant calling the Magic City home who loves connecting businesses that make this place so magical 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.
Claire Hancock
CONTENT PRODUCER
Keilani Hamann
Content Producer
When I am not rowing on the Black Warrior River for @alabamarow, I might be making a TikTok for @bhamnow.
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Education: Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The University of Alabama in 2020, Master of Science in Marketing from The University of Alabama 2021
Birmingham Favorites: Botanica, The Zoo and Yummy Bowl
Randall Porter
Freelance Contributor
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.