The Hoover Sun’s Women in Business issue typically features several of Hoover’s female business leaders and highlights them individually. However, so much of the strength of ANY community — business or personal — comes from relationships developed by its members: their knowledge and experiences shared with each other. Hoover’s Women in Business are leaders — leaders who were trained, mentored, and supported along the way. They in turn provide counsel, mentoring and their support to others — both formally and informally. Our City’s Leadership Hoover program, just launched in 2017, has already proven to be a catalyst for the development and growth of these important relationships between the members (women and men) of our business community.
Our City is one that is extremely diverse; therefore, the diversity of each of Leadership Hoover’s classes has been a priority from the beginning. To be successful, and become the source of knowledge, experience, and support which was envisioned for the program, the class members have to represent not only the businesses who call Hoover home, but also the characters and backgrounds of our community members – their races, genders, and ethnicities. Each class has done so, and the Women in Business who are graduates of the first four classes, as well as the current class, are stellar representatives of the leadership of our community.
Today, we are not highlighting a particular female Leadership Hoover graduate or class member. We are celebrating all of our Leadership Hoover Women in Business. These ladies — leaders in business — grew their circles of support, sources of knowledge and shared experiences, through their Leadership Hoover class-year journeys. Most continue to do so – even after graduation — as the relationships built during their class year do not end with graduation. They continue to flourish. Our graduates also remain ingrained in the LH program and live its philosophy by engaging with new classes as mentors, speakers, sponsors, board members, and class leaders, as well as resources for our emerging business leaders.
The relationships they made, maintain, and develop — both professionally and personally — have become lasting connections in a myriad of ways.
“Our alumni group grows as each class graduates — which in turn expands our own trusted circle of support. We always know who we can call,” said Diana Knight (’19) with Sovereign CPA. Diana serves on a number of non-profit boards in Hoover and serves as the Treasurer to Leadership Hoover.
Tynette Lynch (’18) serves as Chairman of the Leadership Hoover Board and remarks, “Being involved in Leadership Hoover has meant so much to me. When I first started in the Hospitality Industry, I was in the minority as a female General Manager in a predominately male position. I learned the importance of positive leadership throughout my life, personally and professionally, and our Leadership Hoover program epitomizes just that.” Tynette is the CEO of Aldridge Gardens and the Director of Hospitality & Tourism for the City of Hoover.
Christy Williams (’22) VP of Sales at ITAC Solutions and a member of the current class said, “In a world where women are constantly stacked against each other, it is key that we break that cycle. We have to shift our minds from intimidation that causes hatred to motivation that causes mentorship. We are truly all in this together.”
“Authentic leaders lead by example and not by intimidation,” said Dr. Jamie Bell (‘20), a physician at Birmingham VA Medical Center and a board member.
“Participation in Leadership Hoover is growing strong among women. The inaugural class was 45% female compared to the current class that has 62%. Around 70% of our applicants for the 2021-22 class were women,” stated Lori Leonard, Executive Director since 2018.
The Ladies of Leadership Hoover include Women in Business from a very wide and varied range of employers, businesses, and professions. We are delighted to celebrate them all!
Class of 2017–18
► Toni Herrera-Bast – VP – President/CEO - Hoover Chamber of Commerce
► Kem Marks Bryant – Founder/ Chief Attorney – Just in Time Legal Solutions, Inc.
► Susette Clark Walker – Realtor – RealtySouth OTM
► Jessica Coates – CEO – Howard County Association of Realtors
► April B. Danielson – Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Attorney – Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LLC
► Khristi Doss Driver – Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Associate General Counsel– Southern Nuclear
► Shannon Isbell – News Director – WBRC FOX6 News
► Sarah Johnson – Realtor – ARC Realty Hoover
► Melinda James Lopez – Adjunct Professor – Auburn University
► Tynette Lynch – Chairman, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – CEO – Aldridge Gardens/ Director of Hospitality and Tourism – City of Hoover
► Lynn Ray – Secretary, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors–President – Business Telephones, Inc. (BTI)
► Lori Salter Schommer – Retired – Public Information Officer – City of Hoover
► Shelley Shaw – Executive Director – Hoover City Schools Foundation
► Janet Turner – Educational Consultant – College Admission Pros
► Jennifer Whisenant – Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Executive Director – Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association
Class of 2018–19
► Dr. Jamie Bell– Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Physician – Birmingham VA Medical Center
► Kenya G. Bledsoe – Owner – Bledsoe Counseling, LLC
► Ruth Cole – Community and Civic Leader– President, Hoover Library Foundation and Board Member, Greystone Residential Homeowners Association
► Whitney Culpepper – Pharmacist
► Diana Shaw Knight– Treasurer, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – CPA/CVA – Founding Member – Sovereign CPA Group, LLC
► Jessica Payne – Senior Vice President of Public Finance– PNC
► Bevin Tomlin – Business Strategy and Financial Manager – Alabama Power Company
► Mesha K. Walker – Assistant Director of Human Resources – City of Hoover
► Chastity Stevenson Westry – Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Retired Senior Director of Sales – Pepsico/Frito Lay
Class of 2019–20
► Brooke Adams – Sr. Auditor & Project Leader – Office of Inspector General
► Kathy Boswell – Executive Vice President, Community and Volunteer Engagement – The World Games 2022
► Karen Bruce – Campus Director– Faulkner University
► Jennifer Campbell – CEO - Cherry Grove Creative
► Kechia Davis – Criminal Judge – Jefferson County Circuit Court
► Shannon Driver – Chief Marketing Officer – Gagliano Mortgage, Inc.
► Bernadette Beavers–Forrest – Instructional Designer – iLaw Venture
► Donna Francavilla – Chair – Alabama Media Professionals Sponsorship & Foundation
► Angela Jarrett – VP, Claims and Customer Benefit Administrator – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of AL
► Jessica Johnson – Attorney/ Partner – Burns, Brashier & Johnson, LLC
► Leslie Schiffman Moore – Attorney at Law – Moore & Moore
► Kerry Pate, EdD – HR Specialist – Hoover City Schools
► Melanie Posey – Public Information Officer – City of Hoover
► Kela Pryor – Chief Executive Officer - Kela Pryor, CPA
► Cherinita Reese – Senior Director of Care – Faith Chapel
► Alison Howell Steineker – Government and Community Relations Manager – Alabama Power Company
Class of 2020–21
► Christina Almanza – Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Business Development Coordinator – Buffalo Rock Co.
► Jeannine Bailey – HR Project Implementation Manager – Alabama Power/Southern Co.
► Yolanda Walter – Commercial Account Manager – Alabama Power Company
► LaVeeda Battle – Owner – Battle Law Firm
► Danielle Buchanan – Human Resources Operations VP, Mergers and Acquisitions – Regions Bank
► April H. Collins – Owner/Attorney – Collins Law, LLC
► Jennifer Harris – Director of Client Relations – Weber Mortgage
► Yolanda Hicks – Account Success Manager- Cumulus Media
► Traci Fox – Owner – T. Fox SalonSpa
► Jennifer L. Maye – Director of Professional Learning – Jefferson County Board of Education
► Patricia Davis–McCulland – Deputy Compliance Officer – Encompass Health
► Tanveer Patel – Co–Founder and President – ConcertCare
► Kristin Powell – Psychologist – Blankenship & Seay Consulting Group
► Debbie Rutherford – Fashion Consultant/Model/PR – Town & Country Clothes
► Samata Shah – Member, Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – President/ Owner – Kopri Signs & Graphics, LLC
► Mary Smith – VP Treasury Operations, Retired – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of AL
► Carrie Steinmehl – Technology Manager – Hoover Public Library
► Michelle Torbor – Owner/Licensed Professional Counselor – Cardinal Wellness
► Kimberly Nash White – Principal – Gwin Elementary – Hoover City Schools
► Tahara Evans Wood – Director – Hoover Randle Home & Gardens
Class of 2021–22
► Katrina Cade – Owner – PrideStaff
► Pooja Chawla – Attorney at Law – Pooja Chawla, P.C.
► Anita N. Clemon – Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity – The University of Alabama at Birmingham
► Erin Colbaugh – Assistant Director Hospitality, Tourism & Events– City of Hoover
► Terri Coleman – School Counselor – Hoover City Schools/Trace Crossings Elementary
► April DeLuca – Partner – Magic City Law, LLC
► Mitzi Eaker – President/Owner – Mitzi Jane Media
► Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox – Physician Owner – Leesha M. Ellis-Cox, MD, MPH, LLC
► Robin Gerstenberg – Realtor – Keller Williams Realty
► Heather Harvill – Associate Counsel – Preferred Growth Properties
► Porsha Hicks – Engineering Business Partner Manager – SVP – BBVA Now a Part of PNC
► Laura Jackman – Member – Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, L.C.
► Kimberly L. Jackson – Government and Community Relations Manager – Alabama Power Company
► Shaquana Lamar – I & C Renewables Project Supervisor – Southern Company Services
► Kimberly Ray – Builder Services Manager – SouthWest Water Company
► Marcella Roberts – Esq- Principal/Owner/Developer – M. Roberts & Associates, LLC
► Takeria Stephens – SVP, Fair Lending & Redlining Compliance Manager – Regions Bank
► Dr. Chijioke Ulasi – Dental Director – Whatley Health Services
► Mary Veal – Director of Human Resources – Hoover City Schools
► Christy Williams – VP of Sales – ITAC
► Nina Williams – Sr. Project Manager – Jacobs Engineering
► Honorary Member: Terry Shea – Founder and Former Owner, Retired – Wrapsody – Inaugural Board Member
► Executive Director: Lori Leonard
