Kay Ivey appoints former Air Force Captain Stacia Robinson to lead Alabama Office of Minority Affairs
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced she has appointed Stacia Robinson to serve as director of the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs. Nichelle Nix, who has served in the role for the last six years, is moving to the private sector to practice law. “As we prepare to turn the page and reset state government with the upcoming Inauguration in January, I am proud to assemble the strongest team possible to serve every Alabamian to the best of our abilities. Today in 2022, we can reflect on the significant progress we have made during my first term and can be excited for what work remains ahead, and I am proud to have Stacia Robinson be part of that effort,” stated Ivey. “From looking to engaging our students at Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities to supporting minority and women-owned businesses to ensuring every Alabamian has the opportunity to provide for their families, we are setting important and necessary goals and having Stacia at the helm of the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs will be instrumental. I am sure that good things are in store for our folks.” Robinson is leaving BeneChoice Companies, LLC, a benefits and financial choices company. She also serves as district manager of Colonial Life Insurance Company. Ivey says that Robinson is a small business champion and that her expertise in business involvement includes employee benefits design and administration, advertising consulting, and professional speaking. Robinson recently sold her BNI-Business Network Int’l Franchise, which she owned for 25 years. Robinson serves on the Industrial Development Board of Montgomery, the Leadership Council of the NFIB, and the Alabama Small Business Commission, among many other ventures. She was also the first African American female to serve on the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. As the chairman of the Marketing & Promotions Task Force for the Council of Small Business Enterprises (COSBE), she won an ADDY award for the “Buy Greater Montgomery” campaign. Robinson says she is excited to bring her experience to the Ivey Administration. “I am looking forward to serving the great state of Alabama in this role on behalf of women and minorities,” said Robinson. “I hope to bring my own experiences and curiosity of others to the role as this Administration strives to make ‘Alabama the Beautiful’ also Alabama the better for its citizens, especially for its women and all minorities.” Robinson spent seven years in the Air Force as a communications-computer officer. She completed her Master of Science degree in Counseling and Human Development at Troy University in Montgomery. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Outgoing director Nichelle Nix said, “It has been an absolute honor to lay the foundation for the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs and to serve the people of Alabama for more than six years in this role. I am truly grateful to Governor Ivey for giving me this tremendous opportunity and look forward to all the good things I know are still to come from the Ivey Administration.” Kay Ivey was recently re-elected to a second term as governor in a landslide. Robinson’s appointment is effective January 1, ahead of the governor’s second term. Governor Ivey will be inaugurated Monday, January 16, 2023. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Robert Bentley signs order creating Office of Minority Affairs
On Wednesday, Gov. Robert Bentley signed an Executive Order creating the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA). The newly formed office will look into issues facing women and minorities in the state. Specifically, the office will be tasked with: Conduct community outreach throughout the state to assess and address issues facing women and minorities Encourage public debate on issues affecting Alabama minority populations, including open access to public services and fair and equitable implementation of public policy Assess efforts by state agencies to assist women and minorities, promoting self-sufficiency through education and training Collaborate with business and industry representatives, the Alabama Workforce Council, higher education stakeholders and the Alabama Small Business Commission to facilitate identification of minority and women-owned businesses and to provide recommendations on how to better foster economic development opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, with the goal of increasing the number of minority and women-owned businesses Advise the Governor concerning the coordination and administration of state programs serving minority populations Monitor existing legislation and programs designed to meet the needs of minorities Research and analyze all areas affecting the quality of life of minorities At the helm of the office will be Nichelle Nix, who noted during Wednesday’s press conference that it would be her goal to “ensure fairness and equality.” “I know we have a challenging road ahead of us,” Nix said. “I am resolute in my efforts to help the Governor… together we will lift every voice in the state of Alabama.” Most recently Nix has served as an attorney in the Governmental and Regulatory Affairs Division at Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. in Birmingham. She studied Political Science at Spellman College in Atlanta and earned her Master’s Degree in Public Health from Emory University. During the press conference, Bentley praised Nix for being a “great person” with “great credentials” and a vast array of training and experience. While all of the details are not worked out for funding the office, Bentley noted that it will fall under the governor’s office and be funded from there. Further details will emerge as those involved have a better idea of how many people will be employed by the office. “Alabama has a unique history in promoting civil rights for minorities, and the courage and boldness of our citizens is a testament to the principles on which our state and country were founded,” Bentley said in a news release. “The newly created Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs will be a great resource and a new perspective on addressing minority and women’s issues. My goal is to make Alabama stronger, and minorities and women are an important component of the Great State 2019 Plan.”
