Category: Past Speakers

Andrew Elliott
Director/Counsellor of the Northern Ireland Bureau Washington, DC
Andrew was appointed to his US Diplomatic Post in November 2019.
He joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1988 and the Senior Civil Service in 2000.
His previous diplomatic post was as Head of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive
in Brussels from 2015 until November 2019, where a major priority related to the
particular challenge of Brexit for the region of Northern Ireland.
From 2010 he was responsible for a programme of major reform to the delivery of EU
Common Agricultural Policy grants and subsidies to farmers in the Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. As a result of this work, the
exposure of the Department to financial correction by the European Commission was
significantly reduced.
From 2005 until 2010, he was responsible for directing the development of population
health policy in Northern Ireland, including the introduction of legislation to ban
smoking in enclosed public spaces and the preparations for pandemic influenza.
From 2000 to 2004 he was Secretary to the Parades Commission with responsibility for
providing senior advice to the Commission on the discharge of its duties and powers in
relation to issues concerning human rights and the promotion of mediation and peacebuilding.
Andrew is married with two children.

Ricardo A. Woods is a trial lawyer and shareholder in Burr & Forman, LLP’s Mobile office. He is a creative problem solver who provides his clients with innovative and cost effective solutions and strategies. Ricardo has first-chair jury trial experience, as well as extensive pre-trial litigation experience. He has successfully defended matters, which included allegations of wrongful death, paralysis, severe bodily injuries, and toxic torts.
Ricardo currently serves as the Chair of DRI’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He also serves as the City Attorney for Mobile.

Doug Otto recently retired from the Corps of Engineers’ Mobile District,
where he served as the Chief of the Engineering Division. A licensed
Professional Engineer, he was responsible for all engineering services for the
District’s Civil Works and Military programs. In addition to his engineering
career, he also served in the Air Force Reserve for over thirty years, retiring
as a Colonel in 2015. As a Command Pilot with over 4,000 military flight
hours, he is a veteran of Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield, and
over 150 hurricane eyewall penetrations while serving as the Commander of
the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters”. He earned
a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech, a
Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from Auburn University, and is a
graduate of the USAF War College. As a spouse of a working wife, his
current career goals are to ensure the meals are made, the laundry folded,
and the kids get where they need to be . .

About Governor Ivey
Official Portrait
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Growing up in the small town of Camden in Wilcox County, Alabama, and working on her father’s farm taught Kay Ivey to value hard work and living within one’s means. Her parents instilled values of faith, family, and community.
After graduating from Auburn University in 1967, Kay worked as a high school teacher and a bank officer. She served as Reading Clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives under Speaker Joseph C. McCorquodale and was Assistant Director of the Alabama Development Office, where she worked to spur job creation and economic development across the state.
In 2002, Kay became the first Republican elected State Treasurer since Reconstruction and she was re-elected in 2006. As Treasurer, Kay was committed to making the office more open, transparent, and efficient. Kay was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2010, becoming the first Republican woman to hold the office in Alabama’s history.
She again made history on November 4, 2014, by becoming the first Republican Lieutenant Governor re-elected to the office. The Lieutenant Governor’s primary Constitutional duty is to preside over legislative proceedings of the upper house as President of the Senate.
Kay has been honored to receive numerous awards for her service to the State of Alabama, including the 2015 ALFA Service to Agriculture Award, Newmax’s 50 Most Influential Female Republicans in the country and, most recently, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2016 Public Service Award; 2017 Citizen of the Year, by River Region Living Magazine. In September 2019, the Alabama-Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America distinguished Governor Ivey as a Golden Eagle for her ‘scout like service’ and being a trailblazer for women.
On April 10, 2017, Kay was sworn in as the 54th Governor of the State of Alabama in the Old Senate Chamber in the Alabama State Capitol by Acting Chief Justice Lyn Stuart. Following a successful nineteen months in office, the people of Alabama made history again in November 2018 by electing Governor Ivey to a full term. She is the first Lt. Governor of Alabama elected to a full term after taking over as governor due to a vacancy in the governor’s office.
On January 14, 2019, Governor Ivey was officially sworn in for her full term by Associate Justice Will Sellers. Kay will continue to bring conservative leadership with effective results to make this generation more productive and the next generation more prosperous.
She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery, the Montgomery Rotary Club, and the Board of Directors of the Montgomery YMCA. Kay is also the first Girls State alumnus to be elected to an Alabama Constitutional Office.

TONY SHEFFIELD
President, Canfor Southern Pine
Tony Sheffield was appointed President of Canfor Southern Pine (CSP) in January 2021. His responsibilities involve leading the company’s operations in the US South, continuing to build upon the company’s exceptional reputation as a preferred supplier of quality wood products, and focusing on HR and recruitment.
Previously, Tony held the role of Vice President of Southern Yellow Pine Sales and Marketing for CSP, overseeing sales across North America and overseas. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the wood and lumber industry in a variety of roles, including finance, wood procurement, operations and sales.
Tony graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Alabama Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Tony has been a member of several professional boards, including the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturing Association and the Southern Forest Products Association, and has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Biography of Scott Bannon
Scott Bannon is the Director for the Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The mission of the Marine Resources
Division is to manage the State’s marine fishery resources through research, enforcement, and
education for the maximum benefit of the resources and the citizens of Alabama. The Division
consists of enforcement, fisheries, and administrative sections.
Scott has been with the Marine Resources Division for 24 years has been the Director since 2017.
He began his career as a municipal police officer before becoming a Conservation Enforcement
Officer. He has held the positions of officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Chief of
Enforcement. In 2006, he was selected as the Alabama Wildlife Federation Officer of the Year for
actions taken during Hurricane Katrina, 2014 recipient of the Order of the Purple Heart Award for
bravery for actions taken in historic flooding in Baldwin County and is the 2020 Fisheries
Conservationist of the Year.
Scott is retired from the US Coast Guard after having 30 years in active and reserve capacities. He
achieved the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E9). He has served as a boarding officer, boat
coxswain, Underway Officer of the Deck and Conning Officer (ship driver), navigator and
Command Master Chief. He has been stationed in Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Connecticut and
Alabama serving on three patrol boats, 2 small boat stations, Naval Academy Prep School, Port
Security Unit and Sector Mobile. Additionally, he has deployed to operations in Cuba, South
America, Mexico, Haiti and other Caribbean Islands.
Scott was born in Louisville, KY and resides in Mobile, AL. He is a graduate of Columbia
Southern University and is active member of First Baptist Church Tillman’s Corner where he
teaches College Life Group, coaches soccer and basketball and participates in the drama ministry.
He is married to Pamela and has 2 children, Brandon a Special Tactics Captain in the US Air Force
and Bailey, a sale representative for Thompson Caterpillar, and has 3 grandchildren

TERRANCE SMITH, DIRECTOR
M.A. Instructional Design and Development, University of South Alabama
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, University of South Alabama
A native of Prichard, Alabama, graduate of C.F. Vigor, and a University of South Alabama Alumnus; Terrance has a deep-rooted connection to Mobile County and the surrounding areas. He continuously pours himself into fostering community growth by mentoring local youth, serving as a board member to several organizations, and building relationships with city leaders to help blur the line between city officials and the residents that they serve.
As the director of the Mayor’s Innovation Team, he leads a team of professionals who are responsible for developing strategies to uniquely solve problems within the City and its communities. This is often achieved by creating a connection with those affected and gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of issues on both external and internal stakeholders.
A few of his professional accolades include Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 under 40, Leadership Mobile Class of 2014, and al.com’s Young Rebel of the Year Award. Most importantly he is a husband, friend, and an active community member. He lives by the motto “Make Mistakes, Make Improvements, Never Make Excuses”.
Terrance was named in the top 5 of the ELGL’s Traeger Awards in honor of those making the greatest impact in local government all across the nation.

Judy Haner
Marine Programs Director – Alabama
Contact Information
E-mail: jhaner@tnc.org
Brief Biography
Judy Haner has been the Marine Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Alabama for the last 11 years, where she oversees marine restoration, coastal ecology, regional conservation efforts, and linking communities with resources.
Judy completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Lynchburg College in VA with a biology/chemistry dual major. Her master’s degree in Marine Science was completed at the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Judy has worked for almost 28 years with several state agencies from Puerto Rico to Florida to Alaska in partnership with NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve Program, linking watershed activities with estuarine health to promote long-term and targeted coastal restoration. Judy has secured more than $51M in competitive grants to implement coastal planning and restoration projects that link science and management with on-the-ground actions and communities. Her strong focus on partnerships has engaged agencies, organizations, and citizens in collaborative restoration.
When not at work, Judy can be found in her garden or on her boat with her husband and 2 dogs, fishing and enjoying the Gulf coast.

Michael Ledger joined Feeding the Gulf Coast in June 2019 as the Florida Branch Manager. Under Michael’s leadership, the Florida Facility distributed nearly 15 million pounds of food throughout the Florida Panhandle, equating to over half of the food bank’s distribution. Michael consistently implemented strategies to serve those in need while overcoming challenges presented by limited facility space and ongoing Hurricane Michael and Covid-19 response efforts. While serving as the Florida Branch Manager, Michael was responsible for setting the stage for expanding the Milton, Florida warehouse.
Michael was appointed to replace Cathy Pope as President & CEO in July 2020. Prior to working with the food bank, Michael served four years in the United States Navy as an electronics technician and then earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Illinois. He has previously worked as Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Operations for Design Ideas, Ltd. in Springfield, Illinois, and Owner and Chief Operations Officer at Vine in Navarre, Florida. Michael has over 30 years of experience with business development and operational strategy and has brought food bank experience and diverse management leadership to Feeding The Gulf Coast. He enjoys music, athletics, travel, and spending time with his two adopted dogs Floyd and Dolly.

D. Mark Nix
President/Chief Executive Officer
Infirmary Health
Mark Nix is President and Chief Executive Officer for Infirmary Health, Mobile and Baldwin County’s largest private employer and the largest nongovernmental, not-for-profit healthcare system in Alabama. Nix embraces the history of the 110-year-old institution while leading Infirmary Health in serving the growing healthcare needs of 11 surrounding counties and more than 700,000 residents along the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi. Prior to assuming his current role in 2009, Nix also served as President and Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the system as well as Vice President of Real Estate and Vice President of Infirmary Medical Clinics – a network of 60 physician office locations.
A native of Alabama, Nix graduated from the College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He obtained his Certified Public Accounting (C.P.A.) designation in 1981 and practiced public accounting with a national firm before joining a real estate development and management company in Mobile.
Nix currently serves as a Director on numerous organizational Boards including Mobile Arts and Sports Association (Reese’s Senior Bowl), Regions Bank-South Alabama Advisory Board, Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) Federal Legislative Committee, Leadership Alabama (Chair 2012-13), Vizient Southeast (Board and Executive Committee member), Mobile Infirmary Association and Infirmary Health System.
He previously served on the Boards of Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce (Chair 2016), Leadership Mobile, Presbyterian Retirement Corporation, Mobile Works, Celebrities for Children, United Way of South Alabama, Mobile Area Water System (Chair 1999-2006), Boy Scouts of Greater Mobile, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, and UMS-Wright Preparatory School.