Category: Past Speakers

Aaron Beam
Bio
Aaron Beam was a founder and the first Chief Financial Officer of Healthsouth from 1984 until 1997. Today he lives in Loxley, Alabama with his wife of 45 years, Phyllis. In 1996 he took part in the accounting fraud at Healthsouth. In 2003 he pled guilty to the fraud and spent time in a federal prison for his crime.
He began his public speaking career in 2009 and as of January 2017 has spoken to over 325 different groups. These include universities, associations, companies and civic groups. His primary message is about corporate fraud: Who is actually responsible for these frauds, how they take place, and what can be done to prevent frauds such as Enron and Healthsouth.
Mr. Beam is also an author. His first book “Healthsoth:The Wagon to Disaster” was published in 2009. His second book was published in January 2015 and is titled “Ethics Playbook:Winning Ethically in Business”

Dr. Terry Ellis served as pastor of six churches in his 34-year career. He holds a doctorate in Greek, a Masters in biblical studies, and a B.A. in Psychology. He has authored numerous commentaries and articles on biblical and spiritual topics. GraceWaves, the title of his recent book and his weekly blog, is widely read and distributed.
And he nearly lost his life to alcoholism.
For more than three decades Dr. Ellis has stepped into the chaos of people’s lives to bring direction and peace. Through addiction he entered his own chaos. His recovery began when someone said “we need to get you well.” After treatment for alcoholism he returned to the pastorate but soon felt led to devote his life to helping alcoholics/addicts and their families find hope and peace. Today he is a professional, certified interventionist, speaks in churches and civic organizations on the topics of addiction and recovery, and works with treatment facilities on the spiritual component of recovery. His goal is to help people and their families escape the shadows of addiction, and help a wider audience understand addiction and the hope of recovery.
http://videomicloud.com/?c=140&k=dbfd633796

Cartledge Weeden Blackwell, III
Cartledge Weeden Blackwell, III was born in Selma. Blackwell serves as the Assistant Director of the Mobile Historic Development Commission. His scholarly focus is on the architecture and decorative arts of the American South. Blackwell obtained undergraduate degrees in art history and historic preservation from the College of Charleston He received his MA in Architectural History from the University’s School of Architecture in 2008. Cart is currently working on two monographs. One focuses on Alabama artist-designer Clara Weaver Parrish. A second on architect George B. Rogers is the beginning stages of development. In addition to his work with the Mobile Historic Development Commission and research endeavors, Cart also serves as the Alabama representative to the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, a board member of the Cahaba Foundation, a board member of the Friends of the Magnolia Cemetery, and a board member of the Friends of the Alabama Department of Archives & History.

Scott is a native of Mobile, Alabama and graduated from Baker High School. After attending Auburn University and receiving a B.S. in Secondary Education, Scott earned a J.D. at the University of Alabama School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Scott entered into the private practice of law having worked at both a civil defense firm as well as in-house counsel and Chief Operating Officer for an international security firm. Scott has served as a personal aide to President George W. Bush and has appeared on the ABC reality show “Shark Tank.”
Before founding Gulf Coast Ducks Scott was the Executive Director of The Grounds. During Scott’s tenure the organization was awarded Community Partner of the Year Award by the Mobile County Public School System and the Rebranding Campaign of the Year by the American Advertising Federation for its transformation of the Greater Gulf State Fair into the “cleanest most family-friendly event in America.”
Currently Scott serves as a Partner of Gulf Coast Ducks and Activation Management as they seek to continue to grow the tourism scene in Mobile. As a graduate of the Disney Institute Scott focuses on using the fundamentals and effort based techniques used by Disney Parks and Resorts in his businesses.
Scott and his wife, Beth, have three daughters Mary Scott, Julia, and Ann Gibson and are active members of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church

Jason McKenzie was recently named Executive Director of the Joe Jefferson Players. He first got involved with the group in 2001 and has since performed in over 16 shows. He also served as the Vice President of Marketing since 2012 until accepting this role as the Executive Director. Many of you know Jason from his banking days in the past and more recently, as the associate director of development for the Mitchell Cancer Institute. Jason holds a BS from Louisiana Tech University and an MBA from Auburn University

Ofir Rozenberg is a 27 year old female from Israel. She recently graduated with a degree in Social Work from Tel-Hai Academic College in Northern Israel. Prior to her academic studies, she travelled to different countries in Asia, Central America and Europe. Like every Israeli woman, she served in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) for two years, where she was a squad commander of Intelligence soldiers.
Ofir worked as a counselor at an American High School right outside of Jerusalem. Her family resides in a small community in the Galilee, where she was born and raised. She arrived in Mobile on August 19th to be an emissary at the Mobile Area Jewish Federation. Her goal is to spread love and truth about Israel and show its beauty and different sides. She speaks to different groups; synagogues, schools, civic organizations and churches around the city about Israel-related topics, such as history, culture, technology etc. and shares her life story about growing up in Israel.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Danielsville, Georgia, Rear Adm. Thomas Ishee graduated from the University of Georgia in 1987, where he majored in mathematics and computer science. He was commissioned in 1988 after attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Air War College.
His early sea tours included assignments in submarines as a division officer onboard USS Narwhal and USS Sea Devil (SSN 664); engineer officer onboard USS Tunny (SSN 682); and executive officer onboard USS La Jolla (SSN 701).
Ishee commanded USS Key West (SSN 722). While in command, the ship was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Arleigh Burke Trophy and Battle Efficiency Award. He also commanded Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 11, where he ensured the readiness of six fast attack submarines and oversaw the operations of three torpedo retrievers, a floating drydock and the Navy’s submarine rescue systems.
Tours ashore included assistant professor of Naval Science at the University of Texas at Austin; executive officer of Moored Training Ship 626; executive assistant to the deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; director of Intelligence and Special Operations for Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; director of Operations for Commander, Submarine Group 7 and Task Force 54/74; senior advisor to the secretary of Defense for U.S. Pacific Command Plans; and executive assistant to the chief of Naval Operations.
Ishee serves as the deputy commander, JFCC-Global Strike, responsible for planning, synchronizing and assessing strategic assurance, deterrence and global strike activities for United States Strategic Command.
His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal.

For over forty years, Sandy Stimpson has dedicated his life to leading and serving others focusing his efforts on the pillars of faith, family, and education. His successful career in the private sector and his decades of experience serving on countless boards laid the foundation for him to serve as the 108th Mayor of Mobile, Alabama.
Sandy’s mission is for Mobile to become the safest, most business and family friendly city in America by 2020. His visionary goal, known as “One Mobile,” has empowered every person to have a voice. A culture of transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency is being cultivated at City Hall, allowing each stakeholder to invest in the advancement of Mobile. During his short time in office, the Mayor has worked hard to address issues of public safety, fiscal responsibility, downtown revitalization, and blight eradication.
Upon graduating from the University of Alabama in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Sandy returned to his hometown of Mobile, and began a nearly 40-year career in his family’s lumber manufacturing business. Starting at an early age, he worked his way up through virtually every position in the family business including serving as its CFO and ultimately its Executive Vice President.
Sandy’s mark on Mobile is most evident in his selfless and passionate dedication to improving education and equipping children with the life skills they need to succeed. He has been the chairman and a long serving board member of both UMS-Wright Preparatory School and Prichard Preparatory School. He is a member of the University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of South Alabama.
Sandy’s business and civic endeavors are numerous and varied. He has served on the board of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Governor’s Conservation Advisory Board, Partners for Environmental Progress, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, where he served as Chair in 2009, the Business Council of Alabama, where he served as chair in 2010.
Sandy and his wife Jean have been married since 1975 and have four grown, married children and ten grandchildren. They are longtime, active members of Ashland Place United Methodist Church.