Category: Past Speakers

Dr. John Valentine, Executive Director
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Biographical Information
Dr. John Valentine serves as the Executive Director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). Prior to being named the Executive Director, he served as Chair of the Sea Lab’s University Programs. Since arriving at DISL, he has written or co-authored over 95 grant proposals for research. Support for his research has come from both federal and state agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) and The Nature Conservancy.
In 2015, a research team led by Dr. Valentine was awarded $6.5M to conduct studies on the role of biodiversity in determining the resiliency of the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon accident. More than 75 students, technicians and post-doctoral students were supported by these efforts. He has been lead or second author on over 70 scientific articles in addition to serving as an academic editor for the scientific journals Marine Ecology Progress Series and PLoSOne. He has also served as a panelist for U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, and NOAA’s National Undersea Research Program.
In addition to his national leadership in the marine sciences, he currently serves on the Executive Boards of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, and Alabama’s Forever Wild Program. Recently, the Governor’s Water Agencies Working Group charged Dr. Valentine with assessing the impacts of future watershed withdrawal on coastal Alabama resources. Dr. Valentine is also a recent graduate of Leadership Alabama.

Introducing Andrew Saunders to the Downtown Rotary Club
Andrew Saunders is Chairman of the Executive Committee of Mobile Botanical Gardens. Previously he served as President of the Gardens.
Andrew and his wife, Carolyn, recently deceased, have been active participants in the growth and development of Mobile Botanical Gardens for many years as board members, officers, and underwriters.
Andrew was CEO of the Saunders family enterprises in the marine service industry throughout the Gulf region for his entire career. He was also active in the leadership of several civic and industry organizations including the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce–Chairman, The Nature Conservancy of Alabama–Chairman, The Seamen’s Foundation—Chairman; The Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Association—Vice-chairman; The American Boatbuilders Association—Vice-chairman; GulfQuest—Executive Committee member.
Under Andrew’s leadership, the Saunders Companies supported the communities in which they operated, particularly Mobile, which was headquarters.

Casi (kc) Callaway,
Executive Director & Baykeeper –
Mobile Baykeeper
Casi Callaway grew up in Mobile, Alabama, graduated from Emory University and moved to DC where she organized and lobbied on environmental legislation at the local, state and federal level. She came home in 1998 to work locally to protect her favorite watershed. Under Casi’s leadership, Mobile Baykeeper has grown into the Mobile Bay area’s largest environmental advocacy organization and one of the largest local organizations along the Gulf Coast with over 4,000 members and more than a half million dollar budget. She and the Baykeeper team are responsible for organizing, researching and educating the community on issues that affect public health, environment and quality of life.
Casi received the Liberty Bell Award from the Mobile Bar Association, was named a “Remarkable Woman” by Lifetime Television, Coastal Hero by Coastal Living magazine and a “Woman Shaping the State” of Alabama by al.com. Casi served on the Gulf of Mexico Program’s Citizen Advisory Committee and as a Commissioner to Alabama’s Coastal Recovery Commission.
She is a member of the Junior League of Mobile, Board Member of Waterkeeper Alliance and liaison to the international organization’s Board of Trustees, graduate of the Leadership Mobile class of 2012, Chair of the Leadership Council for Mobile United and is actively involved in environmental groups at the local, state, regional and national levels. She lives in the Mobile Bay area with her husband and wonderful 8-year-old son.

Jeff Carter is the Executive Director for the City of Mobile’s Innovation Team. Jeff is a lifelong resident of Mobile County, and proud alumni of The University of South Alabama. Throughout his professional and volunteer experience, Jeff has utilized his diverse background to impact large municipal and non-profit organizations by focusing on data driven policies and procedures that result in increased efficiency, flexibility, and financial stability Jeff served on the board of The Grounds for five years,though its renewal and re-branding, and is currently working with the Fuse Project to provide the spark for innovation, funding and implementation of projects benefiting children along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

OysterSouth: A Revolution in Oyster Farming
Bill Walton is an associate professor in Auburn University’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences, a marine Extension specialist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and a senior scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Working along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico at Auburn University’s Shellfish Lab (Dauphin Island, AL), he conducts applied research with local shellfish farmers, shellfishermen (commercial and recreational), and national and local organizations. Before moving to the Gulf, he did similar work along the coast of Massachusetts. His interests include all aspects of marine invertebrate fisheries, restoration and aquaculture. Bill has a BSc in Biology from Tufts, a MSc in Ecology from Rutgers, and a PhD in Fisheries Science from the University of Maryland.

Speaker: Rod Frazer – March 3
Title for Presentation – Send the Alabamians – 167th (Alabama Infantry Regiment of Rainbow Division of WWI)
Born December 10, 1929, Rod Frazer is the son of a Purple Heart veteran of the regiment and is a Silver Star veteran of the Korean War. He received an MBA from The Harvard Business School and is a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame. From 1950-1953, Rod was Tank Platoon Leader (Lieutenant) in the Korean Campaign receiving numerous military decorations including the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, US Presidential Unit Citation, ROK Presidential Unit Citation, Letter of Appreciation, 37th Infantry Regiment, 12th Republic of Korea Infantry Division Korean Campaign Ribbon with three Battle Stars U. S. Parachute Badge. Rod is a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member 20th Special Forces Society, and Member of 140th Tank Battalion Association.
Rod business career includes a broad range of professional experience in finance, real estate and other industries, as well as numerous public and civic service positions, including former positions as Chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board of Montgomery, Trustee, State of Alabama Department of Archives and History, Member, University of Alabama Medical Center Advisory Council, Trustee, Atlanta International School, Trustee, Albright Institute for Archaeological Research, Jerusalem, Israel, Trustee, Huntingdon College, Trustee, Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, Inc., Founding Director, Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery, Founding President, William Knox House Association, Member, Board of Visitors, The Air University, USAF, Maxwell AFB, President, Lurleen B. Wallace Cancer Foundation, Director, Alabama Mental Health Association, Director, Montgomery Association for Retarded Children, and Member, Alabama Economic Developers Association, among others. Rod’s interests include physical fitness, American History, genealogy, and the Middle East and Islamic World (Travels in Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Tunisia, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan).

WILLIAM B. SISSON
BIO
William B. Sisson is president and chief executive officer of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. He has worked in the field of economic development for more than 20 years.
Sisson earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama, and a bachelor’s in business administration from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. He also holds a diploma from the Institutes for Organization Management, and is a graduate of Leadership Mobile and Leadership Alabama.
Sisson is a member of the International Economic Development Council, Economic Development Association of Alabama, Southern Economic Development Council and Rotary International. He also serves on the boards of many community organizations throughout the state.

Andy Newton is a founding member of Southern Light where he has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 1998. In that capacity, he stewards the overall operations and strategic guidance of the company. Southern Light is currently the leading provider of fiber optic networks and high-capacity transport solutions along the Gulf Coast with over 5500 miles of fiber networks. The company has been listed in “America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies” by Inc. Magazine during each of the last nine years. In the 2007 edition of that publication, Southern Light was ranked 151 in the country and number 1 in Alabama. In 2010, Southern Light was named the “Innovator of the Year” by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Fortune Magazine ranked Southern Light the 51st Best Place to Work for Women.
Andy is active in the Gulf Coast community serving on such boards as the Alabama School of Math and Science Foundation Board, Downtown Mobile Alliance, University of South Alabama School of Computing, and UMS-Wright Preparatory School.
He is an Alabama native and received a degree in Economics from Birmingham Southern College.