Jan. 29, 2026–Denise Riemer, Mobile Co. Public School System-District Social Services Supervisor & Mental Health Services Coordinator

Denise Riemer, LICSW-S, PIP has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS and a B.A. in English and History, magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.

 Ms. Riemer has 28 years of social work practice experience, ranging from ranging from private outpatient therapy practice to inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment services to school social work and mental health coordination for the largest school system in Alabama.

From 2003 to present, she has worked for Mobile County Public School System, first as a school social worker/homeless and foster care liaison and since 2017 as the Social Services Supervisor and Mental Health Services Coordinator for the district.  Ms. Riemer is responsible for coordinating, developing & implementing programs to facilitate and strengthen the social, emotional, and academic growth of all students by promoting equal access to educational opportunities through the elimination of barriers. She and her team of thirteen social workers serve as liaisons between students, schools, families & the community through support, advocacy, case management, crisis intervention and referrals to community resources.

From 2011-2025, Ms. Riemer worked with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools as a presenter for the REMS/TA Center on disaster preparedness and recovery for school systems, specifically on the topic of resilience, compassion fatigue and self-care for educators and students. Ms. Riemer has presented at national, state and regional conferences regarding collaboration between schools and community partners, the importance of mental health in schools, and addressing students’ educational and mental health needs in crises.

Ms. Riemer is married to Ken Riemer,  a local consumer protection attorney, and they have two children, a daughter, Haley (age 30), and a son, Barrett (age 26) and a golden lab named Cooper (age 12).

Jan. 8, 2026–Dr. Krista Williams / CEO & Founder, Floretta P. Carson Visual & Performing Arts Academy

Dr. Krista Williams is the Founder and CEO of Floretta P. Carson Visual and Performing Arts Academy—ranked among the highest-performing secondary schools (6-12) in the State of Alabama. The Academy has also been recognized as the “Top Performing Arts Academy of 2025” in the nation. Dr. Williams’ professional success is rooted in her extensive background in education — encompassing both practice and leadership. Her experience as a K–12 teacher, school leader, and college professor has informed her work across instructional leadership, school operations, and transformative organizational management. In addition to her background in leadership, Dr. Williams has performed with notable orchestras such as the New Orleans Philharmonic, New Orleans Symphony, Mobile Symphony, and others. Williams has won numerous piano competitions during her career as a classical concert pianist, including the New Orleans Concerto Competition and MMTA Sonata Competition. She has performed for over 100 recitals and professional concerts during her career as a concert pianist with notable orchestras and universities across the country. Williams specialized in solo piano performance under the tutelage of Floretta P. Carson. As an advocate for arts education, Williams has presented numerous research papers and practitioner workshops at state, national, and international conferences, including the International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education (ISSME) in Oslo, Norway and the Music Education and Social Inclusion (MESI) Symposium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a 2023 and 2024 Grammy Nominated Music Educator, 2023 4.0 Schools Fellow, 2023 New Schools for Alabama Founders Fellow, and 2021 Boston University SOM Award winner, Dr. Williams has earned the respect and admiration of mentors, colleagues, students, and the community through her dedication and commitment to arts education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dec. 18, 2025–Tom McGehee / Museum Director, Bellingrath Gardens & Home “A Forgotten Disaster at Sea – The Tragedy of the S.S. Morro Castle”

Tom McGehee

Tom has served as Museum Director for Bellingrath Gardens and Home for 31 years.  In his capacity as curator over the collections there, he has participated in numerous study courses dealing with decorative arts and garden estates in the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany.

In addition he has been researching the history of Mobile and south west Alabama for more than 35 years and has appeared weekly on NBC’s Gulf Coast Today with his series “Lost Mobile” while his Ask McGehee column has been a regular feature in Mobile Bay Magazine for more than 20 years.

He is a past president of the Rotary Club of Mobile where he is a Paul Harris Fellow and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2012.  He is the author of “A Century of Service Above Self:  A History of the Rotary Club of Mobile, 1914-2014.”

Tom serves on the board of the Rotary Children’s Foundation, the Friends of Magnolia Cemetery, the Historic Restoration Society and the Friends of the Alabama Governor’s Mansion.

Tom is married to the former Ceil Smith of Monroeville and he has a daughter, Megan, currently residing in Athens, Greece.

Dec. 4, 2025–Matthew Capps / Director, Alabama State Parks

Matthew Capps bio

Matthew Capps leads the Alabama State Parks, a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Alabama State Parks System manages 21 state parks, encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water. The parks provide opportunities and facilities from basic day-use activities to resort convention lodging, restaurants and golfing areas.

He became the Director of Alabama State Parks in 2024 after serving as its deputy director for three years. Matthew is a graduate of Auburn University and began his professional career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant program in Mobile. He previously served as director of the Dauphin Island Parks and Beach Board and worked for the City of Mobile Parks and Recreation Department. Matthew also worked in the private sector for several years before joining the Alabama State Parks Department.