June 4, 2026–Stephen McNair / Director of External & Governmental Affairs, City of Mobile

Stephen McNair serves as the Director of External and Governmental Affairs for the City of Mobile with a focus on legislative and policy initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels. McNair is the former owner of McNair Historic Preservation, Inc., a national consulting firm representing clients with a focus on economic development, government relations, and economic incentives. Prior to establishing the firm in 2015, Stephen served in various government and non-profit roles in Montgomery, New Orleans, and the United Kingdom with a focus on policy and advocacy. McNair received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama, a master’s degree from Tulane University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh.

 

5-28-26–Deborah Murph / Director of Veterans Services-VOA Southeast & Eagle’s Landing Program Director

Deborah Murph serves as the Director of Veteran Services for VOA Southeast in Mobile, Alabama, where she oversees Eagle’s Landing, a transitional housing program supporting veterans at risk of homelessness. With nearly 19 years of service at VOA Southeast, Deborah has dedicated her career to helping individuals achieve stability, independence, and hope.

She began her journey with VOA Southeast as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP), working directly with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them maintain housing and live more independently. Her passion for empowering others led her to become Director of Supported Employment for IDD services, where she helped individuals secure and retain meaningful employment.

 

Inspired by her family’s connection to military service and a desire to make a greater impact in the veteran community, Deborah transitioned into Veteran Services. Over the years, she has served in multiple roles, including Case Manager and Navigator, steadily advancing into leadership through her dedication, compassion, and commitment to those she serves.

Today, Deborah leads VOA Southeast’s veteran programs with a deep understanding of the challenges veterans face and a strong belief in the power of stable housing, supportive services, and human connection to transform lives.

 

 

5-21-26–Merceria Ludgood / District One, Mobile County Commissioner

The Honorable Merceria Ludgood 

County Commissioner, District 1 

Attorney, civic leader and District One Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood’s life and work experiences are a testament to her personal motto: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

The native of Mobile’s Crichton neighborhood graduated with honors in 1970 from Toulminville High School. In 1974, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama, followed in 1976 by a Master of Arts degree. An avid supporter of higher education, Ludgood also earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Alabama Interdenominational Seminary in 1990.

Ludgood earned her law degree in 1981 from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. She also worked as a law clerk in 1980 to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Jurisprudence and Governmental Relations, chaired by Sen. Howell Heflin of Alabama.

She returned to Mobile in 1981 to begin her law practice with the firm of Figures, Irby and Ludgood, where she remained until 1988 when she opened her own office. In 1991, she continued her commitment to social justice when she was selected to lead the Legal Services Corporation of Alabama, which provides free civil legal services for income-eligible clients. She supervised 14 offices serving 60 of Alabama’s 67 counties.

The job led Ludgood back to Washington, D.C. in 1995, when she became director of the Office of Program Services in the national office of the Legal Services Corporation. She returned home to Mobile 1998 and served as a full-time assistant county attorney and assistant city attorney, respectively, until she was elected to her present position on Oct. 9, 2007.

Ludgood is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including being selected for Leadership Mobile, Leadership Alabama and the prestigious Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship. As a Kellogg Fellow, she traveled to 17 countries on five continents, interviewing women leaders. She has been honored for her public service by many community organizations including in 2008, recipient of Mobile United’s A.F. Delchamps Award for creating community by forging unity from diversity; 2012 Mobile Bar Association Trailblazer Award; 2016 al.com Women who shape the state; 2017 Governing Magazine Women in Government Leadership Class and 2016 Inductee Alabama Lawyers Association Hall of Fame.

The Commissioner has distinguished herself as a member of the inaugural class of “Herstory of Mobile,” a Museum of Mobile project recognizing the outstanding contributions of women to the social, economic and cultural heritage of the Gulf Coast region.

5-14-26–Jeff Carter / C4 Builds “Workforce and Attainable Housing Efforts”

Jeff Carter is the owner of C4 Builds LLC, a Mobile-based construction management and development firm focused on workforce housing, neighborhood revitalization, and public-private development partnerships. His work centers on creating practical housing solutions that support economic growth while strengthening communities across the Gulf Coast.

With experience spanning construction, governmental affairs, EMS leadership, and municipal innovation, Carter has worked across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to advance housing initiatives, redevelopment strategies, and community-focused investment. He is actively involved in affordable housing and mixed-income development efforts throughout the City of Mobile, including projects utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), CHDO partnerships, and other layered public financing tools to expand housing opportunities.

Carter is committed to bringing together public policy, private investment, and community partnerships to move complex housing initiatives from concept to construction.

5-7-26–Michael Berson / Federal Updates

Michael Berson is experienced in identifying, facilitating, and securing federal congressionally directed spending through the budget and appropriations process as well as both federal and state grant funding, specifically as such relates to economic development projects and client priorities. He represents hospital systems, non-profits, institutions of higher education and charter school clients, port, airport, and housing authorities, and other governmental entities including water and sewer authorities, utilities boards and industrial development boards.

Michael has developed and implemented federal policy and legislative funding and political strategies for defense, energy, telecommunications, higher education, and local government clients on Capitol Hill and within various governmental agencies. He formerly served as Director of Government Affairs and Associate General Counsel of the National Small Business Association in Washington, D.C. In this role, Michael oversaw all legislative activities including prioritization of issues, development of policy positions and formulation of strategies to advance small business interests before Congress and the White House. He focused on economic development, energy, environmental and regulatory affairs matters.

Michael clerked for The Honorable John R. Lockett, 13th Judicial Circuit in Mobile, working on all matters related to the Judge’s civil docket. While in law school, he was a board member of the Cordell Hull Speakers’ Forum, Dean’s List and Scholar of Merit Recipient.

Apr. 30, 2026–Courtney Nix, CRNP / Owner, homeRN

Courtney Nix, CRNP, Owner

Courtney was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. After completing her RN degree at the University of Alabama, she moved back to Mobile and began working at Mobile Infirmary in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.  She spent three years as a team leader before going back to school and earning her Masters degree. For the last 10 years, she has been blessed with the unique opportunity of working alongside her father, who is an MD, at his family practice in Saraland, AL. Courtney married her high school sweetheart, Morgan Nix, and together they have 3 boys, Mac (8), Lyles (5), and Lewis (5), and a pug named Ozzy. Together as a family, they enjoy time in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and boating. Courtney has a true passion for exercise and enjoys all things related to a healthy lifestyle while educating and empowering others to do the same. As her children are growing, Courtney is thrilled to pursue a career that allows her to continue to care for others, as well as the needs of her own family.  She is excited to enhance the lives of those in her community by providing compassionate, dependable, and accessible care in the comfort of your home through homeRN.

Apr. 23, 2026–Chris Stewart / Sports Broadcaster, University of Alabama

Chris Stewart has been a broadcaster since 1988, and has been the Alabama’s men’s basketball play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide Sports Network since 2002.

In addition to that role, Stewart also serves as the play by play announcer  for CTSN’s radio coverage of Crimson Tide Football and as the television host of “The Kalen DeBoer Show” and “The Nate Oats Show”, along with hosting “Hey Coach” during the football and basketball seasons. 

 

Stewart also served as the radio play-by-play announcer for Bama Baseball, for 24 seasons.

 

A 1992 graduate of the University of Montevallo, Stewart was honored with the school’s 2009 Alumni Achievement Award, and was a 2021 inductee into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame.

 

On six occasions he has also been named “Alabama Sportscaster of the Year” by the National Sports Media Association.