Yael joined the Weeks Bay Foundation in the spring of 2015 and has been the Executive Director since June 2016.
Prior to coming to Alabama, she worked in North Carolina for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy seeking improved farmland access. There, she was in charge of developing an Incubator Farmer program that provided farmland and guidance for young and beginning farmers to start their farm dreams.
She also worked for the Western North Carolina Alliance assisting the French Broad Riverkeeper with water quality monitoring and the management of a multi-day paddle trail.
Before starting her land conservation journey, Yael held an assortment of other jobs. This includes working as a National Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, guiding river rafting trips in Georgia, California and Montana, and assisting with whitewater rescue classes.
Sept. 20, 2018–Judith Adams, Al State Port Authority
Sept. 13, 2018–Van Simms, Chairman of the Board & Past President, Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo & Justin Thompson,
Van Sims – Bio
Van was raised in the small town of Jackson, AL and has resided in Mobile for over 15 years. Growing up in a rural community helped Van appreciate the outdoors and sparked his interest in conservation. Upon arriving in Mobile after college, he began his involvement with the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) and the Mobile Jaycees. Over the past 12 years, Van has served in numerous roles within the organization including Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Awards, Vice President of Technology, member of the Board of Directors, President of the 84th annual ADSFR in 2017, and is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 85th ADSFR. Van is committed to assisting the ADSFR in expanding its mission of conservation of the Gulf of Mexico fisheries.
Justin Thompson – Bio
Justin grew up in Mobile County and in the ADSFR. Justin’s grandfather served as Chairman of the Board in the 1950’s and his father, Joe Thompson, served as President of the 66th ADSFR (1998). After graduating from Auburn University, Justin moved back to Mobile County and became involved within the organization himself. He has served various roles as Vice President of Publicity, Vice President of Awards, Vice President of Weights and Measures, Jaycee Chapter Board member, and was recently selected to serve as President of the 86th ADSFR. Justin plays an integral part in the growth of the ADSFR and in aiding its legacy of conservation.
Sept. 9, 2018–Scott Posey, Director of Communications, AM/NS Calvert
Having worked in public, private and non-profit communications in Alabama, Louisiana and northwest Florida for over 25 years, Scott was named Director of Communications for AM/NS Calvert by former owner ThyssenKrupp AG in January 2008 prior to the facility’s construction. In 2014, the facility was acquired by a joint venture of ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, the world’s first and second largest steel producers.
Under this new joint venture ownership, he is responsible for all aspects of internal and external communications and corporate responsibility for the state-of-the-art steel processing facility, which has an annual production capacity of 5-million tons of exposed and non-exposed material for the automotive, pipe and tube, appliance and steel service center industries. The facility employs approximately 1,700 team members.
Prior to joining the facility, he held communications and governmental affairs related executive management positions at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the State of Alabama Public Service Commission.
A native of Andalusia, Alabama, he is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, the Mobile Area Education Foundation, Mobile Baykeeper, and is 2018 Board Chair of the Alabama Iron and Steel Council. He is a past board member of the Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center.