Faces of Hoover - Lori Salter-Schommer

Twenty-seven years ago Lori Salter-Schommer walked into Hoover City Hall to interview for her first job out of college and never left. Today she runs much of what happens behind the City Hall walls.

Salter-Schommer worked for Hoover’s Parks and Recreation Department for 16 years before moving to run public relations for the Mayor in 2002. Since then she’s been Mayor Barbara McCollum, Tony Petelos and now Gary Ivey’s right hand, writing speeches and handling other media relations for whoever is in office and whatever personality he or she brings.

“It’s so much fun,” she said. “I love people. When I meet a new person, it’s like reading a new book.”

Over the years as Hoover’s population has nearly tripled, Salter-Schommer helped start services for seniors such as the Hoover Express transportation services and was part of adding different green spaces to the City. With the Mayor’s office she has been near the helm for the opening of Ross Bridge and building of the John Hawkins 459 flyover construction.

“It’s never dull, and I thrive on that,” she said of working for the City. “The mayor has a big heart. He wants to help people, and he and the City Council work well together.”

Outside of city government, Salter-Schommer has been a Riverchase United Methodist Church member since she moved to Hoover in 1986. She now makes her home in the 280 area of Hoover, where her parents Dianne and John Salter of Inverness and brother and sister-in-law David and Diana Salter of Greystone are close enough to get together every with her and her husband for dinner every Sunday night.