Past Speakers

John is a native of this city and a graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He has been licensed and active

Chris Barraza is the Director of Programs for Mobile United, working to create a continuum of development programs for emerging leaders of all ages and

John Kilpatrick is the founder of Veterans Recovery Resources which fulfills his calling to help military service members and veterans struggling with substance abuse and

Russell Ladd Mobile Tensaw River Delta Russell will give us a nostalgic look back at the yachts, houseboats, and camps in the Delta; then, bass

Roy Hoffman, a novelist and journalist, is the author of three novels: Come Landfall a novel of hurricanes and war, involving three women and the

Elyse Goonan is the Executive Director at One Mobile (www.onemobile.org), a local nonprofit that facilitates collaboration among Mobilians and helps bring their new ideas to

Dr. Tony G. Waldrop, President, University of South Alabama Dr. Tony G. Waldrop was named the third president in the history of the University of

Biography of Dr. Timothy L. Smith Dr. Timothy L. Smith serves as the 4th President of University of Mobile. He has an earned diploma in

James H. Barber Chief of Police Mobile Police Department Chief James Barber has served with the Mobile Police Department for 27 years. During his career

Dr. Christopher Puto ’64 was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2003. He is a well-known leader in business education and has held management

Paul Giardina Bio • Paul Giardina (Jar – D- na) • Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile since November 2010 • Native

Commander Dan Straub grew up in Womelsdorf, PA, graduated from Conrad Weiser High School, and joined the Navy in 1983. CDR Straub earned his Bachelor’s

Anna Katherine Ray is the Sponsorship and Community Outreach Chair for Girls on the Run South Alabama. In this position, she is tasked with harnessing

Amanda Sibert Amanda Sibert attended Auburn University and is the COO of The Kalifeh Media Group, a full service advertising agency in Mobile specializing in

Johnny Gwin loves his many lives. One life is being the Creative Director and Partner at Hummingbird Ideas Digital Advertising & Design Studio. Another life

BARRY CAVAN District Governor District 6880 Rotary Club of Montgomery-Sunrise, AL Barry began his Rotary relationship in the mid 1970’s when joining the Montgomery Rotary

Hayley Van Antwerp, Executive Director, Innovation PortAL Hayley Van Antwerp is the Executive Director of Innovation PortAL. The Innovation PortAL is a small business incubator

Pam Patterson Pam, originally from Birmingham, graduated from Briarwood Christian School and the University of Alabama Birmingham. She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of

Michael C. Rogers, Jr. President Rogers & Willard, Inc. 3005 Mill St. Mobile, AL 36607 www.rogerswillard.com mrogers@rogerswillard.com Office Direct Line 251-300-6580 Cell Phone 251-401-8798 Mike

Cartledge Weeden Blackwell, III Cartledge Weeden Blackwell, III was born in Selma, Alabama. Blackwell is the Assistant Director of the Mobile Historic Development Commission. His

Kate Carver Biography Kate Carver holds a bachelor of arts in English from University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has spent most of her career

Program: The Mobile Health Department: Celebrating 200 Years of Community Leaders Mobile has the distinction of having a Health Department which is older than the

Judge Edmond G. Naman has served as presiding Juvenal Court judge since 2007. A native of Mobile, he attended UMS Preparatory School, The University of

Bio of Al Hutchinson Having served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau for more than 11

Albert Watkins (Watt) Key, Jr. 220 Saint Michael Street Mobile, AL 36602 wkey@wattkey.com Home Watt Key is an award-winning southern fiction novelist, screenwriter, and speaker.

LIGHT OF THE VILLAGE Officers Founder/ Executive Director: John Eads grew up in New Mexico, and at the age of 14, he became a cadet