Author: peggy

Arizona’s Katelyn Cai was named the Distinguished Young
Woman of America for 2022, during the 65th Annual
National Finals.
Katelyn is a graduate of BASIS Scottsdale. Her academic
honors include being named a 2022 U.S. Presidential
Scholar, National AP Scholar, Robertson Scholar, Bank of
America Student Leader, and one of Arizona’s 18 under 18.
Outside of the classroom, Katelyn is passionate about
education and equality. The project she devotes most of her
time to is a nonprofit she founded, “Invest in Her.” The idea
was sparked from watching her mother fight for her own
right to an education, inspiring Katelyn to provide equitable
opportunities for women to be successful.
Katelyn enjoys pouring her whole heart into everything she
does. Aside from her nonprofit, Katelyn is also extremely
passionate about speech and debate. She was ranked
Number 2 in the country for extemporaneous speaking.
In the fall, Katelyn will attend Duke University on a full-ride
scholarship as a Robertson Scholar. She will be majoring
in Public Policy and Economics with goals to attend law
school in the future and pursue a career in legislature. After
completing high school with a graduating class of only 77
students, Katelyn says she’s excited to meet lots of new
people and experience life in a new environment!
Winning $46,000 in cash scholarships and a gold medallion
at the national program, Katelyn will represent the Class of
2022 as the Distinguished Young Woman of America during
this year

Rachel Webb is the founder and Executive Director of Fostering Together Gulf Coast. Originally a Texas native, Rachel graduated with a business degree from Texas A&M University in 2005 and moved to Birmingham to begin a job as an Event Coordinator with Student Life Camps. Alabama quickly became home as she found the love of her life and began a family. After having two children of their own, Rachel and her husband Stephen became foster parents in 2013 with the hope of providing a safe, loving home to children in need within their community.

 

While their intentions were noble, it only took a few months of fostering to realize this calling required much more than good intentions. Foster care was a whole new world of parenting traumatized children while also having to navigate the child welfare system, the juvenile court system, and families in crisis. It would have been easy to become discouraged by the overwhelming needs of the kids and the dismal lack of resources available. But rather than give up, Rachel sought out ways to make things better. Fostering Together Gulf Coast was born out of this desire to help children in foster care and to provide support to the families who have taken up the charge to care for them.

 

Begun in 2019, Fostering Together Gulf Coast now has foster care resource centers located in Mobile and Spanish Fort that help to meet the needs of children as they come into foster care and also provides ongoing parent trainings, support groups, and fun family events to foster families. Each month over over 3,000 pieces of clothing, toiletries, school uniforms, birthday presents, toys, and more are passed along to these kids and families. The organization is also a bridge for the community to get involved in helping with foster care by donating clothing, sponsoring Easter baskets and Christmas gifts, volunteering at the centers, and providing financial support. It really does take a village to raise a child, and together we’re making a big impact in the foster care community where we live.

Mark Berte’s Biographical Information
In October of 2011, Mark Berte was asked to serve as the Executive Director of the
Alabama Coastal Foundation (ACF). Prior to serving at the ACF, Mark was Director of
Community Engagement for the Mobile Area Education Foundation and the Executive
Director of the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform Foundation.
Mark received his bachelor’s degree at Birmingham Southern College and his master’s
degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas. He is a graduate of both
Leadership Mobile and of Leadership Alabama.
Mark serves on the boards of several organizations including Dauphin Way United
Methodist Church, the Islands of Perdido Foundation, the South Alabama Coalition of
Nonprofits, the League of Women Voters of Mobile, and the Friends of the Bon Secour
National Wildlife Refuge.
Mark and his wife, Leigh Ann, who is a professor at Spring Hill College, have a twenty
one year-old daughter named Julianne and a sixteen year-old daughter named Linden
Elizabeth.

Marty Heslin, MD, MSHA is the Executive Director of the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama. Prior to this position, Dr. Heslin was the Associate Director of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Executive vice chair of the Department of Surgery, the Chief of the Medical staff and was the James P. Hayes Jr. Endowed Professor in Gastrointestinal Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His clinical interests include hepatobiliary, pancreatic, colorectal and endocrine surgery and his research has focused on a variety of topics from surgical outcomes to physician management. Heslin graduated from Cornell University in microbiology and obtained his medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse. He completed a general surgery residency at New York University Medical Center. Following the completion of a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, including two years as a research fellow, he joined the UAB faculty in 1996. Heslin holds a master’s degree in health administration from UAB. He is author or co-author on more than 120 publications and 10 book chapters. As the leading cancer research facility on the upper Gulf Coast, the Mitchell Cancer Institute serves as a center for advanced services in the treatment of cancer with radiation, surgical and medical oncology. The MCI operates in three locations in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Michael E. Pierce is a 1991 graduate of Tulane University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.  While at Tulane, he excelled as a student athlete becoming Tulane’s All Purpose Yardage Leader and Pre-Season Street & Smith All-American candidate in 1989 after having graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile Alabama as the All-Time Leading Rusher three years earlier.  Pierce was invited to join the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in 1990.  Unfortunately, a lingering knee injury caused his retirement before his NFL career could begin.

 

Michael is Chief Executive Officer of the Mobile Housing Authority (MHA).  He has total responsibility for administering, managing, maintaining, planning, and directing the Agency’s programs.  Pierce is the Agency’s primary liaison with the Board of Commissioners (BOC), HUD, and state and local entities.  He has contact with a broad range of individuals including: the news media; BOC; federal, state, and local government personnel; social service personnel; housing residents; the general public; various special interest groups; and all levels of Agency personnel.  MHA currently oversee 4,506 HCV (Section 8) vouchers and 3,278 Public Housing Units.

 

Pierce served as Executive Director of the MLK Avenue Redevelopment Corporation (MLK) for 25 years before taking over MHB.  His primary responsibility was to develop and implement a comprehensive community and economic redevelopment program in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue community.  Since 1993 MLK invested HUD HOME Funds in excess of $15 million to construct 137 new affordable homes benefiting several hundred Low to Moderate-Income Mobilians.  MLKARC has also invested $3.4 million to develop commercial retail space on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Broad Street.  The retail centers were developed to provide area residents convenient access to goods, services and employment opportunities.  Renaissance Plaza on Broad Street was a catalyst for the development of a Dollar Tree Store on an adjacent parcel and a Family Dollar Store across the street.

 

Pierce is also active in civic and community affairs.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Infirmary Health System, Member of the Whitney New Markets Advisory Board, Former Co-Chair of Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s Transition Team, Past-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Commonwealth National Bank and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and Past-President of the Rotary Club of Mobile.  He serves on the Board of the Mobile Arts & Sports Association, was named Senior Bowl Game Captain for 2018-19 and is chairman of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame Committee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Mobile Airport Authority and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

Pierce is married to wife, Daphne; they have two sons, Michael, Jr. and Myles, and two pets Simone and Aspen and one grand pup Princeton.

BRIEF BIO OF THOMAS “CHRIS” CURRY

 

Thomas “Chris” Curry serves as the President of the Mobile Airport Authority. For the past 5 years, Curry has placed airline recruitment, changing roles of Mobile Regional and Downtown Airports, and expanding business opportunities on the Mobile Aeroplex at the top of his priorities.

 

Prior to his tenure with MAA, Curry was the Director of Aviation for the City of Tallahassee, where he guided the transition of the airport from a regional to international facility. He also served as Executive Director of the Collier County Airport Authority and Project Manager of Airspace and Procedure Design for the Boeing Company.

 

Curry began his military career in the United States Air Force in 1982 as an air traffic controller and retired in 2001. During his tenure, he served as manager of air traffic control radar, tower, and airfield management.

 

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Mr. Curry earned his associate degree in airway science from the Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, AL. He also earned a bachelor’s degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in professional aeronautics.

and how it can transform our region.

Michon Trent Bio

For 17 years, Michon Trent has contributed her time and talent to building stronger coalitions with Baldwin and Mobile Counties agencies. She has been an active member in children’s policy initiatives, helping to push for licensure of and higher standards in childcare agencies while fighting for access to free preschool for children statewide.

 

She worked to re-open the Baldwin County Boys and Girls Clubs and has advocated for people experiencing homelessness along the Gulf Coast. Through this work, Michon created a yearlong work group and hosted a homeless summit highlighting positive results. Michon also organized a roundtable discussion to address the continued needs of the homeless community.

 

A mother of two, Michon is a connector, and she is willing to share her expertise when needed. She is also a thought partner to those working to solve complex community problems by putting together people who would not normally interact to share creative solutions.

 

Michon has served in many community leadership roles, including service on the statewide boards of Alabama Humanities Foundation as Chairman, Chair of Fund Development of Voices for Alabama’s Children’s, and on the local boards of Bank On South Alabama, Distinguished Young Women, United Way Women’s Initiative, and Mobile Community Action, Inc., Homeless Coalition Alabama Gulf Coast Continuum of Care and has served on the boards of Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Providence Hospital Foundation, Family Promise and Historic Mobile Preservation Society. She also served on the board of Family Promise and was a church coordinator for five years.

 

Her education supports her career path as Michon graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Azusa Pacific University and a master’s degree in Social Welfare from the University of California at Los Angeles. She attended Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Fundraising School and is certified as a School Social Work Professional.

 

Chief of Staff James Barber served with the United States Marine Corps prior to beginning his 28-year career with the Mobile Police Department. During that time, Barber was assigned to various specialized units within MPD, including Narcotics and Vice, Intelligence, Organized Crime, Drug Enforcement, and Internal Affairs. He rose through the ranks to become an executive officer before being appointed Chief of Police in 2013. As Chief, Barber implemented an Intelligence-led policing model that targeted criminals, not communities — leading to some of the lowest total crime rates the City of Mobile had recorded in nearly four decades. 

 

Barber is credited for launching two MPD programs that are now nationally recognized. The first is Bridging the Gap, which brings young people together with law enforcement officers to teach kids how to best conduct themselves when encountering the police in various circumstances. Barber also launched the Second Chance or Else (SCORE) program, which works to connect low-level, non-violent drug offenders to community resources instead of arresting them. The goal of the program is to get participants out of the drug scene and into the workforce.  Both programs are still used today by MPD and other law enforcement agencies around the country.

 

Barber was appointed Public Safety Director for the City of Mobile in 2017. In this new role, Director Barber oversaw MPD as well as the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Under his direction, a new leadership team was established at MFRD, which lead the department from ISO-3 to ISO-1. This is a fire service rating only achieved by 432 of the more than 45,000 fire departments in the U.S.

 

As Public Safety Director, Barber also sought to address the problem of repeat violent offenders being released on bail only to commit more acts of violence in the community. That quickly grew into a statewide effort to change Alabama’s Constitution. Working with Rep. Chip Brown, Barber helped draft a bill that would give judges more flexibility to withhold bail from clearly dangerous defendants who are likely to re-offend. That bill would later be named “Aniah’s Law” in honor of Aniah Blanchard, who was kidnapped and killed by a man out on bail for charges of kidnapping and attempted murder. In 2021, Aniah’s Law passed the Alabama Legislature with bipartisan support. It was ratified by an overwhelming majority of voters on November 8, 2022.

 

In 2020, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson appointed Barber to serve as his Chief of Staff. In his current role, Chief Barber oversees all the City of Mobile’s departments and executive directors. Despite a broader focus, he maintains a core belief that the fundamental purpose of government is public safety.

Rob Holbert is co-publisher and managing editor of Lagniappe, Mobile’s weekly newspaper. Rob helped found the newspaper after a career that started as a police reporter and columnist at the Mississippi Press in Pascagoula. He followed that with a stint as a deputy press secretary for then-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in Washington, D.C.

 

After leaving Capitol Hill, Rob worked ghost-writing opinion articles for publication in some of the nation’s largest newspapers. From 1999 – Aug. 2010 he was the faculty adviser for the University of South Alabama student newspaper, The Vanguard, and in 2002 started Lagniappe with his business partner Ashley Trice. The paper now prints 25,000 copies every week, is distributed throughout Mobile and the Eastern Shore and is one of Alabama’s largest weekly newspapers.

 

According to Scarborough Research, Lagniappe has nearly 80,000 print readers each week and an additional 40,000 readers a month online and in newsletters, and 37,000 followers on Facebook.

 

Rob has won numerous statewide and regional awards for column writing and was a finalist for the 2022 Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s David Carr Award for investigative reporting.

 

Dr. Lasseigne serves as Executive Director Bellingrath Gardens and Home, a position he started in September 2020.  He joins a team of board members and professional staff working to bring forward the legacy of Walter and Bessie Bellingrath at their renowned estate and gardens located on the Fowl River south of Mobile.

 

Prior to coming to Bellingrath, Todd was President and CEO of Tulsa Botanic Garden (Tulsa, Oklahoma), an institution he led for over nine years, working to build it from the ground up with over $20 million raised and invested during his tenure.  Dr. Lasseigne also served as the founding Executive Director of Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden (Kernersville, North Carolina) from 2005 through early 2011, and as Assistant Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum (Raleigh, North Carolina) for 5 years.

 

Todd is a highly respected plantsman, horticulturist, and public garden leader.  He is widely recognized as a leading horticulture expert among nursery professionals and in the public garden world.  He has delivered invited lectures across the U.S., in Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.  Todd has visited over 450 gardens around the world during his career.  He lives with his wife (Heather) and five cats in Grand Bay, Alabama.