Personnel Update: Stephanie Smith is the new President and CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute

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Photo Credit: Thatcher Coalition

The Alabama Policy Institute (API) announced in a statement that it has named Stephanie Smith as API’s third president and CEO. She will succeed Caleb Crosbywho is stepping down as President and CEO.

Smith has been a consistent conservative political voice in Alabama since 1998. Her professional experience includes serving as Director of Governmental Affairs for Regions Financial, President of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Director of Finance for the State of Alabama, Deputy Director of Finance for the State of Alabama, and Principal of the Thatcher Coalition.

“I am honored by the confidence of API’s leadership and look forward to building upon the successes of the organization by actively engaging elected officials and other Alabamians in substantive public policy conversations,” Smith said. The mission and vision of API are sound, and it is my privilege to have the opportunity to champion conservative principles statewide.”

“Stephanie has been working alongside the API team since 2021,” said API Board Chairman Richard Stimpson. She brings a wealth of political knowledge and decades of practical policy experience to the team. Stephanie is a stalwart for the principles upon which API was founded: free markets, limited government, and strong families.”

Tom Bradford is the founding board chairman and former API Interim President and CEO.

“It’s clear that Stephanie is the right person to serve as the next President and CEO of API,” Bradford said. “She is grounded in her faith and articulates the positions of the conservative movement with precision and passion.”

Smith is married to Dalton Smith and is the mother of seven. Stephanie is a cum laude graduate of Auburn University and a cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. While attending graduate school at UAB, Stephanie created and managed Region’s grassroots platform. She also has lobbied in nine states and DC. Smith was an advisor and legislative manager for the Governor regarding budgetary issues and was the lead economic development and public finance coordinator for the State.

She is the 6th Congressional District Chairman for the Alabama Republican Party, is a Board Member of Eagle Forum of Alabama, and is a member of the Republican Women of North Shelby County and the Shelby County Republican Party. She is also a contributor at the 1819 News.

As a former lobbyist, Smith brings a great understanding of legislative affairs and how both Montgomery and Washington actually work. This experience could be helpful going forward as API works towards promoting its ideas into actual legislation.

The Alabama Policy Institute was founded 34 years ago as a conservative think tank associated with Focus on the Family by Tom Parker and Gary Palmer. Since then, it has advocated for smaller government and free market principles.

Palmer led API as President and CEO for many years, establishing a nationwide following with allied think tanks in almost every state. Palmer left API in 2014 to run for Congress. Today he is serving in his fifth term representing Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District.

Crosby succeeded Palmer in August 2014.

While Crosby was President and CEO, API became more involved in communications – spinning off 1819 News and Rightside Radio – in an attempt to more actively communicate the values and principles of conservatism through a statewide multi-media strategy. API also created the Alabama Center for Law and Liberty (ACLL) to play a more active role in the judicial system.

“It has been an honor to lead API in its ongoing pursuit to be the premier resource for conservative policy ideas in the state,” Crosby said. “Building upon the accomplishments of the past, API and its subsidiaries have asserted themselves as the authority and voice of conservative principles for the State of Alabama.”

“Caleb has been an incredibly innovative leader for API. His years of service have benefitted API, and the legacy of his work will benefit the entire state,” Stimpson said.

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