Personnel Update: Allison Ross joins Huntsville Hospital Health System as VP of Government Affairs
The Huntsville Hospital Health System (HH Healthcare System) announced earlier this week on its social media pages that former Yellowhammer News owner Allison Ross has joined its senior management team. In a LinkedIn post the HH Health System said, “We are excited to welcome Allison Ross to HH Health System’s senior leadership team!” They described her and the position as follows: “Our very first senior vice president of government affairs, Allison is known throughout the state for her business savvy. She is the former owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia, which includes Yellowhammer News, YHN News radio network, the lifestyle content site SoulGrown, and 256 Today, serving local news to North Alabama.” Last August, Ross sold Yellowhammer News and its affiliates to Paul Shashy and Thomas Harris. According to the LinkedIn post, Ross’s background includes serving “as vice president of the Morgan County Economic Development Association and worked for the international site selection and consulting firm Hickey and Associates.” According to her LinkedIn page, Ross has been with the HH Healthcare System since July. She worked at Yellowhammer News for just over eight years, owning it for six years. She was also the President and CEO of Alabama Tax Credit Exchange from 2016-2018. Ross replied to the announcement of her hiring, saying, “The impact this organization has across north Alabama and southern Tennessee is remarkable. I’m proud to join the team and look forward to joining the mission of improving the health of the communities we serve.” Last month, the Huntsville Hospital Health System announced that it was included in Forbes magazine’s “2024 America’s Best-In-State Employers rankings.” This was the system’s second year on the list. “HH Health is honored to receive the Forbes Best in State Employer recognition for another year,” said Jeff Samz, CEO of Huntsville Hospital Health System. “We value our employees and strive to provide opportunity and advancement for our staff. They are the heart of our organization and the reason for our accolades and achievements.”
Steve Flowers: Two new U.S. Senators for Alabama
Richard Shelby walked out of the U.S. Senate this week after 36 years. Walking out with him is almost all of Alabama’s seniority and power in Washington. Seniority equates to power in the Halls of Congress, especially in the Senate. National publications have illustrated the fact that Alabama has benefited more than all 50 states from federally earmarked funds due to one man, Richard Shelby. It will be impossible to replace Shelby. His legacy will last for generations, especially in Huntsville, Birmingham, all defense facilities in Alabama, and the new docks he built in Mobile. No senator brought more federal dollars to their state unless it was Robert Byrd of West Virginia. You would think that we would be what some say, “up the creek without a paddle.” We are a state that depends on federal defense dollars, and we have zero seniority in the U.S. Senate. Our senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, has two years seniority, and our junior Senator, Katie Britt, has zero years. That probably makes us 50th in seniority in the Senate. However, I contend that our freshman senators, Tuberville and Britt, are the best and right choices for this time. First of all, they will work together as a team. They like each other, and deeper than that, Tuberville’s people covertly and almost overtly campaigned for Katie Boyd Britt. She well knows that and appreciates it. Primarily, Tuberville’s and Katie Britt’s personalities will prevail to Alabama’s advantage. They both have larger-than-life gregarious, vivacious, winning personalities, and in a 100-member body, this is admired, respected, and appreciated. You have some pretty big personalities and egos in that 100-member elite chamber. Shelby has shared with me in past years that you can recognize the prima donnas and show horses who are running for president immediately. Then there are those that want to be a long-term, effective workhorse senator for their state. The first group immediately starts looking for a TV camera to get in front of. The second group is finding their offices, making friends, building a solid staff, and jockeying for committee assignments that help them be effective for their state. Katie Britt Boyd will be greeted and treated like a rockstar. She is young and looks even younger than she is. She is a very articulate and attractive media subject. However, if you know Katie, she will not be swayed by this allure from the national media. She is grounded and has already made inroads with the senate GOP establishment leadership and will be rewarded with surprisingly powerful committee assignments. She will settle into being in Washington as a Senator for Alabama rather than a show horse. Tuberville is now our senior U.S. Senator. When he ran and won two years ago, most of us thought it was a whim, something he wanted to do in his later years. When you first meet him, you can gather that he is a very patriotic fellow. He is doing this for the right reason. He truly wants to serve his country. Tuberville, from the get-go, fell in love with politics. He campaigned—especially one-on-one. But, when he got to the Senate, it has been like Katie bar the door. Folks, he likes it, and the other Republican senators like him. He has really fit in. He has the brightest, happiest contented smile on his face. He looks ten years younger than his 68 years. He is always around his GOP senate buddies. He votes totally with the Republican caucus and does not seek fanfare. He knows the golden rule of politics, “Your word is your bond,” and, “You dance with those who brung you.” He knew the Alabama Farmers’ Federation (Alfa) was an integral part of his election. His first allegiance was to gravitate to committees that could help Alabama farmers as well as Alabama military veterans. He has put together a good staff. It will not surprise me if Coach runs for another six-year term in 2026. The aforementioned Alfa Farmers’ Federation is the most important lobbying group in the state with our two U.S. Senators. Alfa early and ardently supported both Tommy Tuberville and Katie Boyd Britt. Their endorsement of Britt and Tuberville were pivotal and instrumental to their wins. Both know it. Another young man named Paul Shashy was an integral part of both Britt’s and Tuberville’s campaigns. We may be in better shape in the Senate than some think. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
32 Powerful and Influential Alabamians to know
It’s true, the words “powerful and influential” can be vague and subjective. However, it’s fair to say among the universally accepted definitions within politics and policy is an individual’s ability to create change, start a conversation, influence the public or public officials, move an agenda forward or stop one in its tracks. There’s no doubt that a good number of people are moving Alabama forward in politics and business. Recently, Yellowhammer published its 2021 annual list of who they consider the most influential and powerful. They noted it was a “Peek behind the curtain.” That it always is – a peek into the mind of the editorial team, writers, and friends of the site. With the same people on it year after year, often in the same companies and offices and the standard members of the legislature and statewide offices. Dozens of whom certainly would belong on any list of power or influence: Jo Bonner, Katie Britt, Bob Geddie, Dax Swatek. No one can deny the influence any of them have. Others on the list begged the question “Why?” while others were glaringly missing. This list purposely does not duplicate any name already appearing on that list. Not all influencers within the public arena are lobbyists or lawmakers. Some within the media or in advocacy organizations can shape or change public opinion. In addition, some influencers have the ability to position themselves, loved ones, or friends to the front of the line for coveted appointments or jobs. There’s so much to power and influence; while it may hard to describe, you know when you see it, and you know who lacks it. It could be argued that 1-5 are no brainers and would be list repeats, but heck, I say repeat them until it changes. So with that, let Alabama Today offer 32 additional notable people who were nominated by a ragtag group of incredibly biased judges. Did I mention how incredibly biased we are? This, combined with the YH list, might give one a better view of the movers and shakers with power and influence in the state’s political world. Worth noting, some of them are the bosses, mentors, elders statesman, and wise counsel of many on the YH list, while a couple of others are up and comers. Jimmy “Yellow Fella” Rane, President/CEO at Great Southern Wood Preserving Not only is the Yellow Fella the wealthiest man in Alabama and Board of Trustee at Auburn, but there’s also no doubt he’s used his financial success to the betterment of the state, giving him great power and influence. His contributions are well documented, politically, economically, and through philanthropy. From 2013 to May 2021, his company has given 178 contributions totaling $2,079,316.40. He also has the Jimmy Rane Foundation, which has more than doubled his political donations with $4.7 million in scholarships. His influence is undeniable and unmatched, which is why he is number one on our list. Mark Crosswhite, CEO Alabama Power Crosswhite’s voice carries a lot of weight, so much so that multiple people on the YH list answer to him in one way or another. Which begs the question, how can anyone deny his place on any list of power and influence? He chaired the BCA board during a critical time when the organization’s future was in peril, saving a key organization critical to the state’s business development, growth and success, and ensuring a better economic future for the state. As the organization continues to grow and evolve, there’s no doubt he’s still helping steer the ship. 3. Fess St. John IV, Chancellor of The University of Alabama System Finis “Fess” St. John IV comes from a storied line of Alabama influencers, including his father and grandfather. He’s currently the Chancellor of The University of Alabama (UA) System. Which makes him the chief executive officer of Alabama’s largest employer with multiple school campuses and a massive healthcare system. According to the school’s website, “Total enrollment in the UA System achieved a new record this fall, with more than 70,400 students enrolled at UA, UAB, and UAH. The System’s annual economic impact surpasses $10 billion annually, and upwards of 1.7 million patients are served every year in the System’s hospitals and clinics.” 4. Chris England, House of Representatives, District 70 While many have tried over the last couple of decades, England was able to stop the further deterioration of the Democrat party (with a reputation that was nationally marred by chaos, a lack of structure, oh, and that one toilet story) and begin its rebuilding. One long-time democrat described the infrastructure as stronger now than it has been since the days of Bill Baxley. England is a graduate of Howard University and the University of Alabama School of Law. His father grew up in Circuit Court Judge John H. England Jr., who served as a justice on the Alabama Supreme Court in 1999-2000. To leave him off the Top 5 of any influential list is to deny reality. 5. Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair and CEO for the Poarch Creek Indians No one should question the top female on this list. It’s no coincidence that she heads one of the biggest political powerhouses in the state of Alabama. PCI has capitalized on the shift in public attitudes towards a more tolerant attitude towards gaming and lottery to push for changes in the law that would allow their tribe’s operations to grow. This session’s gaming proposal wasn’t successful, but it got further than expected and may come up again in a special session. She is a political player that many say could be the most powerful over the next couple of campaign cycles. 6. Tom Coker, The Southern Group Rare can someone survive with the longevity and respectability of Tom Coker. His strength is the state senate, but he can get things done. His firm’s website names him as President of Tom Coker & Associates since 1982. Tom Coker offers a full range of governmental
Doug Jones of Alabama calls rival Tommy Tuberville ‘Coach Clueless’
Jones criticized Tuberville’s reaction to tapes of President Donald Trump saying in February that he knew the severity of the coronavirus.
New ad for Tommy Tuberville outlines deep policy differences
Tommy Tuberville will begin airing a new campaign ad today, according to a press release from Paul Shashy. These ads will outline the policy differences between Tuberville and his opponent, Democrat Doug Jones. The ad also aims to link Jones and his policies with Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Sashy, Tuberville’s campaign manager, stated, “Since becoming interim senator, Doug Jones has opposed everything that Alabamians support and supported everything that Alabamians oppose. Coach Tuberville’s ad makes the case that on issues like abortion, gun control, and taxes, Doug Jones represents liberal California and New York values, not conservative Alabama values.”
Tommy Tuberville’s campaign bus catches on fire
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s office posted on social media that a lane of Interstate 59 was shut down after a recreational vehicle caught on fire. The photos showed the Tuberville campaign bus ablaze.
