Category: Past Speakers

Rod Cate Bio:
Rod Cate, partner at Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, LLC in Mobile. Practicing lawyer for 26 years. Married to Tamberly Cate, 3 children Cullen 24, Connor 23, and Corbit 20. Graduated from Davidson College with a BA in economics in 1988. Graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill with a JD/MBA in 1992.
Topic: When I was 15 years old, I broke my neck playing high school football. The injury left me paralyzed from the neck down. I plan to discuss my recovery and how my disability did not stop me from living an extraordinary life. I’ve recently self-published a book on Amazon entitled “Get Back Up,” A memoir on how to not allow a devastating life-changing event ruin you quest for a great life. That will be part of my discussion.

Bio: Bri Altier Ard is currently the Interim Director at the University of South Alabama, where her responsibilities include overseeing daily study abroad operations, advising study abroad students, managing the International Education Ambassador internship program, maintaining the study abroad program database, liaising with international and domestic partners, and more. Bri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Tulane University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Instructional Design from the University of South Alabama.
Topic of conversation: Global Engagement at the University of South Alabama, including where we are, where we came from, and where we are going. In 2012-2013 academic year, USA had 62 students studying abroad. During the 2017-2018 academic year, USA had just under 300 students studying abroad. This almost 400% increase was due to many factors, including Global Engagement being included on USA’s strategic plan, collaboration across departments and colleges, increased scholarship opportunities, and increased student access by removing barriers. These actions have allowed for hundreds of USA students to see and experience the world

JAMES E. JEWELL
Special Agent in Charge
Mobile Division
On December 21, 2017, Director Christopher Wray appointed James E. Jewell as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Mobile Division. In this role, SAC Jewell leads all FBI operations and personnel within the State of Alabama’s Middle and Southern Judicial Districts. SAC Jewell joined the FBI in 1996 and prior to his appointment as SAC he served as a Section Chief within the FBI’s Training Division in Quantico, Virginia with oversight of the Training Services Section. In this role, SAC Jewell’s duties included executive management of key strategic educational and leadership programs to include the National Academy, the Basic Field Training Program, and various executive leadership programs offered through the FBI Academy for federal, state, local and international participants. In addition, SAC Jewell managed the division’s logistics, space, facilities, and administrative programs while also maintaining responsibility for the FBI’s conference and event processes.
Prior to his service at Quantico, SAC Jewell worked in the Charlotte Division from January 2007 to February 2014 serving as both an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) and Field Supervisor. While in Charlotte, SAC Jewell led the division’s Operational Support Branch with responsibility for the administrative and intelligence programs and personnel located throughout North Carolina. He directed significant intelligence efforts in a variety of high profile counterterrorism, counterintelligence, criminal and cyber program matters.
SAC Jewell served previous assignments at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. from 2003 to 2006 and with the FBI’s Houston Division from 1996 to 2003. During his time at HQ, SAC Jewell served as a supervisor within the Directorate of Intelligence’s Career Management Section and as a Congressional Appropriations Liaison within the Finance Division. SAC Jewell served successful periods in the Houston Division’s White Collar Crime program, the ENRON Task Force, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He primarily investigated matters involving financial institution fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and international terrorism. In recognition of his professional achievements, SAC Jewell was awarded a LEGIS Fellowship in 2003 by The Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.
Prior to his career with the FBI, SAC Jewell worked as a Senior Litigation Consultant within Coopers & Lybrand’s Financial Advisory Services Group in Birmingham, Alabama and as a Senior Consultant within Ernst & Young’s Dispute Resolution & Litigation Services Group in New Orleans, Louisiana. SAC Jewell is a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, serving on active-duty from 1988 – 1992 and in the naval reserve from 1992 – 1996. He received his undergraduate degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1987 and obtained a Masters in Accounting from Louisiana State University in 1993. SAC Jewell is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy.

Yael joined the Weeks Bay Foundation in the spring of 2015 and has been the Executive Director since June 2016.
Prior to coming to Alabama, she worked in North Carolina for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy seeking improved farmland access. There, she was in charge of developing an Incubator Farmer program that provided farmland and guidance for young and beginning farmers to start their farm dreams.
She also worked for the Western North Carolina Alliance assisting the French Broad Riverkeeper with water quality monitoring and the management of a multi-day paddle trail.
Before starting her land conservation journey, Yael held an assortment of other jobs. This includes working as a National Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, guiding river rafting trips in Georgia, California and Montana, and assisting with whitewater rescue classes.

Van Sims – Bio
Van was raised in the small town of Jackson, AL and has resided in Mobile for over 15 years. Growing up in a rural community helped Van appreciate the outdoors and sparked his interest in conservation. Upon arriving in Mobile after college, he began his involvement with the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) and the Mobile Jaycees. Over the past 12 years, Van has served in numerous roles within the organization including Vice President of Finance, Vice President of Awards, Vice President of Technology, member of the Board of Directors, President of the 84th annual ADSFR in 2017, and is currently serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 85th ADSFR. Van is committed to assisting the ADSFR in expanding its mission of conservation of the Gulf of Mexico fisheries.
Justin Thompson – Bio
Justin grew up in Mobile County and in the ADSFR. Justin’s grandfather served as Chairman of the Board in the 1950’s and his father, Joe Thompson, served as President of the 66th ADSFR (1998). After graduating from Auburn University, Justin moved back to Mobile County and became involved within the organization himself. He has served various roles as Vice President of Publicity, Vice President of Awards, Vice President of Weights and Measures, Jaycee Chapter Board member, and was recently selected to serve as President of the 86th ADSFR. Justin plays an integral part in the growth of the ADSFR and in aiding its legacy of conservation.