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 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, which 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.
To be successful and to become the source of knowledge, experience and support that was envisioned for the program, the class members have to represent not only the businesses that call Hoover home, but also the characters and backgrounds of our community members: their races, genders and ethnicities.
We are celebrating all of our Leadership Hoover “Women in Business.” These ladies 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.
When asked about the importance of the relationships between our women in business, Tynette Lynch, Chairman of the Leadership Hoover Board of Directors, said: “They are absolutely essential. The trust and support you share contributes greatly to your success. Over the years, the “men in business” built their own “boys’ clubs” — across the lines of their separate businesses — and they helped each other.”
Diana Shaw Knight, Treasurer of the Board, added: “Ladies often did not have that opportunity OR the time as many were juggling work responsibilities with family responsibilities. An organization such as LH brings together peers in the business world and often gives ladies a means to build their own “club” — comprised of brilliant, similarly-minded and challenging women. The trust and relationships that are built during class sessions and activities carry over to the real world and are precious.”
THE WOMEN OF LEADERSHIP HOOVER
CLASS OF 2017-18
- Toni Herrera-Bast: VP – Public Relations and Mission Impact – YWCA of Central AL
- Kem Marks Bryant: Founder/Chief Attorney – Just in Time Legal Solutions Inc.
- Susette Clark Walker: Realtor – RealtySouth OTM
- Jessica Coates: CEO – Howard County Assn. 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 – Legal and Compliance Leadership - Southern Nuclear
- Shannon Isbell: News Director – WBRC FOX6 News
- Sarah Johnson: Realtor – ARCRealty 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 Assn.
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 - Member, Hoover Library Board of Directors
- 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 - BBVA
- April Stone: Former Executive Director – Hoover Chamber of Commerce
- Bevin Tomlin: Community Development 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: VP, Community Engagement – 2022 World Games
- Karen Bruce: Campus Director/Operations Executive – Faulkner University
- Jennifer Campbell: Marketing Consultant
- Kechia Davis: Criminal Judge – Jefferson County Circuit Court
- Shannon Driver: Chief Marketing Officer – Gagliano Mortgage Inc.
- Bernadette Beavers-Forrest: Instructional Designer – iLawVenture
- Donna Francavilla: President – AL Media Professionals, Owner – Frankly Speaking Communications
- Angela Jarrett: VP, Claims and Customer Benefit Admin. – 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, Ed.D.: HR Specialist – Hoover City Schools
- Melanie Posey: Public Information Officer – City of Hoover
- Kela Pryor: Financial Management – Renaissance Credit Solutions
- Cherinita Reese: Talent Manager
- Alison Howell Steineker: Government and Community Relations Manager - Alabama Power Company
CLASS OF 2020-21
- Christina Almanza: Business Development Coordinator – Buffalo Rock Co.
- Jeannine Bailey: Talent & Employee Engagement Manager – Alabama Power/Southern Co.
- Yolanda Barbour: Commercial Account Manager – Alabama Power Company
- LaVeeda Battle: Owner – Battle Law Firm
- Danielle Buchanan: Human Resources Supervisor – Regions Bank
- April H. Collins: Owner/Attorney – Collins Law LLC
- Jennifer Harris: Director of Client Relations – Weber Mortgage
- Yolanda Hicks: Senior Sales Executive - TownSquare Media/Ignite
- 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
- Tanver Patel: Co-founder and President - Concertcare
- Kristin Powell: Psychologist – Blankenship & Seay Consulting Group
- Debbie Rutherford: Fashion Consultant/Model/PR – Town & Country Clothes
- Samata Shah: President/Owner – Kopri Signs & Graphics LLC
- Mary Smith: VP Treasury Operations – 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
Terry Shea: Founder and Former Owner – Wrapsody - Leadership Hoover Board of Directors – Inaugural Member
Lori Leonard: Executive Director
