Personnel note: Jonathan Nugent joins Birmingham Business Alliance as VP of Innovation and Technology
The Birmingham Business Alliance, a lead economic development organization for the Birmingham region,announced Jonathan Nugent has joined the agency as Vice President of Innovation and Technology on Wednesday. Nugent, a technology executive with more than 20 years of experience, will be responsible for the growth and development of new businesses within the region with a special focus on emerging and early-stage research, development and technology companies. He also will be a key connection between institutional research and development technologies and the market place. “It is rare to find in any market an economic development leader with Jon’s depth of academic and industry experience in activities ranging from research and development, business development and entrepreneurship,” said Bob Crutchfield, chairman of the BBA’s Innovation and Technology Committee and general partner at Harbert Growth Partners. “Combined with his relational skills, Jon will be a dynamic add to our region’s desire to accelerate our economic growth in technology and innovation. We are very fortunate to have his abundant professional talents deployed here in Birmingham.” Nugent most recently served as the Director of Marketing for the School of Health Professions at UAB, where he led the development and direct marketing plan for graduate programs, including biotechnology, which led to enrollment increases. Before joining UAB in 2011, he held strategic positions within companies like Discovery BioMed, LifeSci Advisors, ARYx Therapeutics, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Burns McClellan and Eyetech Pharmaceuticals. “Jonathan has a deep knowledge of the life sciences, technology and investment worlds,” said Dr. Ray Watts, president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and 2016 chairman of the BBA. “This is an exciting time for tech companies in Birmingham right now. Jonathan will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap for technologies and entrepreneurs, and ensuring they have the resources needed to grow jobs here in Birmingham.” Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the BBA, said the addition of Nugent will strengthen the BBA’s economic development efforts. “Technology and innovation is an emerging sector in our economy and connects to every industry in Birmingham,” he said. “With Jon serving as a knowledgeable connector between researchers, inventors, entrepreneurs and investors in that sector, Birmingham’s economy can reach its potential and beyond.”
Gov. Robert Bentley, ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler visit the MPD to say thanks
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley visited the Montgomery Police Department Wednesday to thank the law enforcement officers from across the state for their service and dedication. Bentley was joined by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Stan Stabler for the appreciation visit that began at 6 a.m. “Everyday you put your lives on the line. You get up and go to work and you expect to come home, your families expect you to come home and I expect you to come home.” Governor Bentley said to the officers in the room. Bentley is honoring the men and women who willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect Alabamians on a daily basis. “I want everyone across this country to know that as Governor of this state, we are going to have your back and we are going to do whatever it takes and whatever is needed to protect you,” Bentley continued. Tuesday, Bentley announced the Alabama State Capitol will be illuminated blue through Friday night to show appreciation for the 16,000 law enforcement officers in Alabama and others across the nation, in the wake of the shootings in Baton Rouge and Dallas that killed several officers.
Liar. Lucifer. Lock her up. GOP denounces Hillary Clinton
Liar. Lucifer. Lock her up. Republicans may have mixed feelings about nominating Donald Trump for president, but one thing they can all rally around is a deep dislike for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Convention speakers have “prosecuted” Clinton at a mock trial, accused her of being a serial liar and even linked her to the Devil himself. Throughout the campaign, Trump has reveled in referring to his opponent as “Crooked Hillary.” The attacks are an echo of the 1990s when conservatives denounced President Bill Clinton as the chief executive dealt with scandal and impeachment. The most blistering assault at the GOP convention came Tuesday night when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took on the role of prosecutor and put Clinton on trial “for her performance and her character.” The audience responded with chants of “Lock her up! Lock her up!” But others have piled on. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told the crowd scandal follows Clinton and former President Bill Clinton “like flies.” “She lied about her emails. She lied about her server. She lied about Benghazi. She even lied about sniper fire. Why, even she lied about why her parents named her Hillary,” McConnell said. And Wednesday, Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort said the airport meeting between former President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch last month probably helped Clinton’s wife escape criminal charges over her use of a private email server. He told ABC that Lynch “probably” gave Bill Clinton special information that helped his wife. Manafort even tried to blame Clinton for the controversy over Melania Trump lifting passages of her convention remarks from a speech that Michelle Obama delivered in 2008. “For people to try and disparage that speech and say that it was something that it wasn’t is once again politics,” he told Fox News. “It’s Hillary Clinton once again feeling threatened by a woman and trying to destroy the woman and demean her as a way of positioning her own fate.” Perhaps the wildest attack on Tuesday came from former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson, who told the crowd that one of Clinton’s “role models” — community activist Saul Alinsky — “acknowledges Lucifer” in a 1971 book. “So are we willing to elect someone as president who has as their role model somebody who acknowledges Lucifer?” Carson said. “Think about that.” Clinton wrote a college thesis about Alinsky and has said she agreed with some of his opinions on social change, but disagreed with his view that the system could only be changed from the outside. Some Republicans are wary of going too far. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, one of the more prominent Trump skeptics, Tweeted late Tuesday: “@HillaryClinton now belongs in prison? C’mon. We can make the case that she shouldn’t be elected without jumping the shark.” But attacking Clinton may be the most effective tactic with polls showing high unfavorable ratings for both candidates. An Associated Press-GfK poll this month found that three-quarters of voters say their pick for president is motivated by a desire to cast their ballot against Clinton or Trump. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Republican Convention: what to watch for on Day 3
It’s official the Republican National Convention is officially Donald Trump‘s convention as he was formally nominated Republican candidate for President Tuesday night, putting an end to anti-Trump efforts on the Convention floor. Wednesday will be a day when the Trump campaign endeavors to unite the Party and move past the distractions of the first two days of the convention. Themed “Make America First Again,” expect no shortage of references to American exceptionalism. The convention program provides insight of what to expect from Wednesday’s lineup of speakers: America has always been an exceptional nation. Our Founding Fathers created a system of government that has protected our liberty, allowed American ingenuity to flourish, and lifted people out of poverty by creating the conditions for opportunity and prosperity. Unfortunately, years of bad policies and poor leadership have weakened our position in the world. Under a Trump administration, America will once again be a beacon of progress and opportunity. For many Americans, Wednesday night will be their first introduction to GOP VP candidate Mike Pence when he delivers the final speech of the evening. It’s been less than one week since Trump tapped him for the vice presidential nomination, and despite the fact he’s been Governor of Indiana the past four years and served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, he’s still a relatively unknown politician. Wednesday’s keynote speech is an opportunity to make his case to the nation and win over those Republicans who may be put off by Trump’s bombastic nature. The full list of Wednesday’s primetime speakers: Laura Ingraham: radio Host Phil Ruffin: businessman Pam Bondi: Attorney General of Florida Eileen Collins: Astronaut (retired) Michelle Van Etten: Small Business Owner Ralph Alvarado, Jr.: Kentucky State Senator Darrell Scott: Pastor Harold Hamm: Continental Resources Scott Walker: Wisconsin Governor Lynne Patton: the VP of the Eric Trump Foundation Marco Rubio: U.S. Senator from Florida Ted Cruz: U.S. Senator from Texas Eric Trump: Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization Newt & Callista Gingrich: former Speaker of the House and his wife Mike Pence: candidate for Vice President and Governor of Indiana
