Category: Past Speakers

Judy Haner
Marine Programs Director – Alabama
Contact Information
E-mail: jhaner@tnc.org
Brief Biography
Judy Haner has been the Marine Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Alabama for the last 11 years, where she oversees marine restoration, coastal ecology, regional conservation efforts, and linking communities with resources.
Judy completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Lynchburg College in VA with a biology/chemistry dual major. Her master’s degree in Marine Science was completed at the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Judy has worked for almost 28 years with several state agencies from Puerto Rico to Florida to Alaska in partnership with NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve Program, linking watershed activities with estuarine health to promote long-term and targeted coastal restoration. Judy has secured more than $51M in competitive grants to implement coastal planning and restoration projects that link science and management with on-the-ground actions and communities. Her strong focus on partnerships has engaged agencies, organizations, and citizens in collaborative restoration.
When not at work, Judy can be found in her garden or on her boat with her husband and 2 dogs, fishing and enjoying the Gulf coast.

Michael Ledger joined Feeding the Gulf Coast in June 2019 as the Florida Branch Manager. Under Michael’s leadership, the Florida Facility distributed nearly 15 million pounds of food throughout the Florida Panhandle, equating to over half of the food bank’s distribution. Michael consistently implemented strategies to serve those in need while overcoming challenges presented by limited facility space and ongoing Hurricane Michael and Covid-19 response efforts. While serving as the Florida Branch Manager, Michael was responsible for setting the stage for expanding the Milton, Florida warehouse.
Michael was appointed to replace Cathy Pope as President & CEO in July 2020. Prior to working with the food bank, Michael served four years in the United States Navy as an electronics technician and then earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Illinois. He has previously worked as Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Operations for Design Ideas, Ltd. in Springfield, Illinois, and Owner and Chief Operations Officer at Vine in Navarre, Florida. Michael has over 30 years of experience with business development and operational strategy and has brought food bank experience and diverse management leadership to Feeding The Gulf Coast. He enjoys music, athletics, travel, and spending time with his two adopted dogs Floyd and Dolly.

D. Mark Nix
President/Chief Executive Officer
Infirmary Health
Mark Nix is President and Chief Executive Officer for Infirmary Health, Mobile and Baldwin County’s largest private employer and the largest nongovernmental, not-for-profit healthcare system in Alabama. Nix embraces the history of the 110-year-old institution while leading Infirmary Health in serving the growing healthcare needs of 11 surrounding counties and more than 700,000 residents along the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi. Prior to assuming his current role in 2009, Nix also served as President and Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the system as well as Vice President of Real Estate and Vice President of Infirmary Medical Clinics – a network of 60 physician office locations.
A native of Alabama, Nix graduated from the College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He obtained his Certified Public Accounting (C.P.A.) designation in 1981 and practiced public accounting with a national firm before joining a real estate development and management company in Mobile.
Nix currently serves as a Director on numerous organizational Boards including Mobile Arts and Sports Association (Reese’s Senior Bowl), Regions Bank-South Alabama Advisory Board, Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) Federal Legislative Committee, Leadership Alabama (Chair 2012-13), Vizient Southeast (Board and Executive Committee member), Mobile Infirmary Association and Infirmary Health System.
He previously served on the Boards of Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce (Chair 2016), Leadership Mobile, Presbyterian Retirement Corporation, Mobile Works, Celebrities for Children, United Way of South Alabama, Mobile Area Water System (Chair 1999-2006), Boy Scouts of Greater Mobile, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, and UMS-Wright Preparatory School.

Francisco (Cisco) Codina emigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1965. The family moved to Tuscaloosa where his father practice medicine and where he attended school including the University of Alabama. While at the University, he met his wife Pam (from Mobile). They have to two grown children – Katherine and Pierce. Cisco first job out of college was with BLP Mobile Paints in Mobile and New Orleans. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1977 answering the phones in Customer Service in New Orleans. He built a successful 30 years career with Ford which included President of Ford Argentina, President and Corporate VP of Ford Parts and Service Division, and retiring as Group Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service. Following his retirement from Ford, Cisco moved to Mobile but also went on to become a Senior Advisor and subsequently a partner to the 2nd largest tire and parts distributor in the country. Cisco has served in numerous boards and currently enjoys being part of the Distinguished Young Women Executive Board. He is fully retired and enjoys many hobbies.

Julia Starr (Jules) is the Executive Director of The CORE Project, Inc. a program serving children on the Autism Spectrum as well as other developmental and intellectual disabilities. Ms. Starr has worked in this field for 16 years. She also enjoys consulting with families to create comprehensive programs that can be beneficial in a home and school environment. In 2005, Ms. Starr obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Psychology and Criminology from Auburn University. She completed her graduate studies and earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2006, also from Auburn University. In addition, Ms. Starr has her teacher certification in Special Education K-6 and 6-12. Ms. Starr is from Trussville, AL and is a proud parent of 4 children, 2 of which have special needs.

Sean P. Powers, Ph.D.
spowers@disl.org
Senior Marine Scientist III
Professor and Chair, Department of Marine Sciences University of South Alabama
BIO
Dr. Sean Powers currently serves as Chair of the Marine Sciences department at the University of South Alabama and is a Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Dr. Powers research lab, personnel, and graduate student are located in the Shelby Center for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Dr. Powers grew up in New Orleans and received his Bachelors of Science at Loyola University and a Master of Science degree from the University of New Orleans. He then moved to Texas to pursue his Ph.D. in biology and oceanography from Texas A&M University. Dr. Powers joined the faculty at the University of South Alabama and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in 2003.
Dr. Powers’s research focuses on the ecology of marine fish and invertebrates, particularly those that support commercial and recreational fisheries. The ultimate goal of his research program is to provide scientifically sound information to direct conservation and restoration efforts of marine fisheries and habitats. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, many in leading journals in the field (Science, Ecology, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, PLOS One); Served as PI or Co-PI on over 28 million dollars in extramural grant funding; advised 14 graduate students (7 PhD. And 7 MS); and engaged a variety of groups including national non-governmental organization (NGOs), regional conservation and sportsman groups in an effort to develop sustainable management practices for marine resources.