Nov. 5, 2026–Paul Miller / U.S. Army National Guard (ret.)

Paul B. Miller served 16 years in the Army National Guard, including three overseas deployments, two in Iraq and a third primarily in Kuwait. Throughout his military career, he served in several roles, beginning as an 11B Infantryman, later reclassifying as a Combat Medic with 20th Special Forces Support Group, and eventually returning to the 167th Infantry, where he served as a Squad Leader.

In 2016, Paul was medically discharged after developing a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitis, which temporarily took away his ability to walk and required extensive rehabilitation at UAB to regain mobility. Approximately a year later, he was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, presenting additional challenges as he navigated his transition into civilian life.

Following his military service, Paul faced the difficult process of rebuilding his life while adapting to significant physical, personal, and emotional challenges. His experiences led him to explore the role that mindset, identity, and personal responsibility play in how people respond to adversity and navigate difficult seasons of life.

Today, Paul draws on his military background and personal journey to speak about overcoming adversity, rebuilding after life’s most difficult challenges, and taking ownership of the path forward. His message emphasizes that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can learn to change how we respond, challenge the beliefs that hold us back, and intentionally shape who we become moving forward.

 

Oct. 29, 2026–Joseph Mason / President, Farmers in Action Disaster Relief

Joey Mason is a South Alabama entrepreneur, community leader, and the visionary founder of Mason Hills Farm, an innovative farm-to-table cattle operation and butcher shop. Despite launching his venture with zero prior agricultural background, Mason successfully built a state-of-the-art, USDA-inspected meat processing facility in Grand Bay, Alabama, and recently expanded with a new location in Summerdale. Deeply rooted in faith and community stewardship, a central focus of his mission is Farmers In Action, his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to disaster relief and feeding people across the Gulf Coast. Mason actively integrates his philanthropic goals with his business, hosting high-profile community benefits like the annual “Smoke at the Park” and “Smoke on the Farm” events to fundraise for Farmers In Action, while prioritizing ethical hiring practices to provide opportunities for overlooked workers in his region

 

Oct. 22, 2026–Josh Smith / CEO, OPe

Bio:

Joshua Smith is CEO and lead inventor of OPē Technologies, a technology venture company developing breakthrough innovations in photonics, advanced computing, cybersecurity, and semiconductors. With more than 20 years in computing and 15 years in photonics, Joshua works at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercialization. He is an inventor on more than 48 patents worldwide spanning photonic computing, optical encryption, cybersecurity, and advanced systems. At OPē, Joshua leads deep-technology companies advancing optical computing, hardware-based encryption, secure communications, and semiconductor manufacturing, translating laboratory innovations into manufacturable, scalable products. His work spans technical development, IP strategy, company building, and commercialization alongside scientists, engineers, industry partners, and government stakeholders. Based in Mobile, Alabama, Joshua is a husband and father of three, balancing frontier technology with a family-centered life.

 

Oct. 15, 2026–John Milham / Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher

 

YOGA BIO

John Milham is a musician and yoga practitioner who began practicing yoga in 2003. He received his RYT 200 in 2013 with Rolf Gates, Augusta and David Kantra (Founders of CALM Living School of Yoga, and Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teachers). John furthered his training with them in 2015 and is now a certified RYT 500. Through his yoga and meditation practices, John has gained skills that have helped him to find discipline, courage, self-compassion, strength, patience, contentment, gratitude, peacefulness and open-heartedness in his life as a father, husband, musician and friend. His yoga classes are centered around a vinyasa flow style while incorporating many elements of mindfulness meditation to help his students learn breath, body awareness, and relaxation techniques helping them deal with the stress and busyness of everyday life. John lives in Laurel Mississippi with his wife and three children and is currently is studying with teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in a 2 year MMTCP (Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program) to become certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher.

MUSIC BIO

Freelance drummer and recording artist John Milham has spent the last 30 years touring and working in the studio with many talented artists. John studied jazz performance at Berklee College of Music, along with summer jazz studies at Loyola University.

In 2018, John released his first album, Ardens Garden, which received the 2019 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for Best Album in the Music Composition Contemporary category and was featured in the CBS television series God Friended Me. John currently plays and tours with Grayson Capps, Molly Thomas and the Rare Birds, Nerf the World, Johnny Sansone, and Eric Erdman, among others, while occasionally fronting his own group in support of his solo record. He has also performed with Bo Diddley, Jennifer Hartswick, George Porter Jr., Rick Hirsch, Mike Dillon, Kermit Ruffins, Taylor Hicks, and many others.

John also produces, engineers, and mixes music from his home studio in Laurel, Mississippi, where he lives with his wife, three children, two cats, and a dog.

 

Oct. 8, 2026–Melissa Rankin / Community Outreach & Training Coordinator, U.S. District Court and Probation Office

Melissa Rankin – Bio
Melissa Rankin is a longtime Mobilian and a graduate of McGill-Toolen Catholic
High School and Auburn University, where she earned a degree in Criminology
with a minor in Spanish. Her love of language and culture led her to spend a
summer studying Spanish at the University of Salamanca in Spain.
Melissa began her professional career in Atlanta, Georgia, as a bilingual probation
officer, where she supervised a caseload of approximately 200 Hispanic men. In
1997, she returned home to Mobile after accepting a position at the U.S. Probation
Office in the Southern District of Alabama.
During a 27-year career in federal service, Melissa served as a Probation Officer
Assistant, Probation Officer and Probation Officer Specialist. As a Program
Development Specialist, she discovered a particular passion for education, training
and helping others recognize and develop their strengths. She facilitated “Civil
Discourse and Difficult Decision-Making,” a monthly program hosted by the U.S.
District Court that brings high school students into meaningful conversations about
challenging issues, differing perspectives and thoughtful decision-making.
Melissa retired from federal probation service in 2023 but never really retired from
serving others. Today, Melissa serves as the Community Outreach, Education and
Training Coordinator for the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of
Alabama, where she works to connect the federal courthouse with the community
it serves. Through educational programs, courthouse tours, student engagement,
professional development and community partnerships, she and her colleagues are
dedicated to making the federal judicial system more accessible and
understandable to the people of South Alabama. She is particularly passionate
about creating opportunities for young people to see the courthouse not simply as a
place where cases are decided, but as an institution that plays an important role in
their community and in the preservation of civic responsibility. Her work today
allows her to combine her years of experience in the federal justice system with her
passion for education, communication and community engagement.
Melissa’s commitment to community service has been recognized throughout her
career. In 2012, she was named one of Mobile Bay Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” In
2015, she participated in Leadership Mobile, where she was honored to serve as
president of her class. Her Leadership Mobile small group established the
Downtown Mobile Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that continues to
serve Mobile today.
In 2014, Melissa founded She’s a Pistol, a women-focused firearm education
business built on her desire to educate, strengthen and empower others. Through
safe, confidence-building instruction in a supportive environment, Melissa teaches
personal safety while emphasizing responsible firearm ownership and operation.
Her goal is to help others become more knowledgeable, confident and prepared,
while fostering a healthy respect for the responsibility that comes with firearm
ownership.
Melissa and her husband, Clay, have been married for 21 years and are the proud
parents of AnnaRose, 18, and Jackson, 16. Family, faith and service remain at the
heart of her life. She and her family are parishioners at the Cathedral Basilica of
the Immaculate Conception, where she serves as an Extraordinary Minister.
Melissa believes that meaningful community service begins with education,
connection and a willingness to open doors for others. Whether working with
students, colleagues, women seeking greater confidence and personal safety, or
members of the community simply looking to better understand their federal court,
she is passionate about helping people feel informed, welcomed and empowered.
At the heart of all she does is a desire to serve her community and help others find
their own opportunity to make a difference.

Oct. 1, 2026–Nalim Sanchez / Director, Continental Kitchen

Nailim Sanchez Biography
Nailim Sánchez Milián is a Puerto Rican business woman, wife and mother., She moved to Mobile in
2008 since her father got a job here. She attended W.P. Davidson High School graduating with
honors where she also participated in Navy JROTC, Key Club, National Honor Society,
Yearbook/Newspaper, DIMUN, Cross Country, Soccer, and SWAT.
She has worked as a model and actress in commercials and ads. Nailim attended the University of
South Alabama and in 2022 graduated from Coastal Alabama Community College with a degree in
Event Planning. She also started a successful event planning business in 2020.
While studying at Coastal Alabama, Nailim did an internship with the Hispanic American Business
Association of the Gulf Coast during the 1st Mobile Latin Fest and for 3 years she helped to organize
and was in charge of the logistics, stage manager and entertainment manager. Nailim also held the
position of Secretary on the board of HABAGC.
Nailim has been a community leader, volunteer and VP of Hispanic Community Services which linked
people to basic resources needed. Along with a partner she created a “Lazos de Amor” to give away
toys during Christmas to Hispanic children of low income and “Verano Camp,” a bilingual summer
camp.
In 20____, Javier Calametti got a grant from Mobile United and started a Culinary business
preparedness in Spanish. The 12 week class, with the support of HABAGC, was delivered through
Bishop State and Coastal Alabama Community Colleges. Nailim worked with the curriculum and
eventually taught the course, successfully graduating almost 60 adult students. This project led to
assessing the crucial need for a commissary kitchen in our community.
Since 2023, Mrs. Sanchez has been the Director of Operations of The Continental Commissary
Kitchen, bringing this nonprofit idea into fruition. Recently she graduated from Leadership Mobile
Class of 2026 and was named the Executive Director of the project she will be talking about.
Nailim, who now identifies as a MobiRican, is a leader in her community, loves her family and her
church, loves praise dancing and being a Sunday school teacher. She also enjoys gardening, the
beach and watching Marvel films.