Personnel note: Birmingham Business Alliance names Fred McCallum interim president, CEO
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) announced retired AT&T Alabama President Fred McCallum has been named interim president and CEO on Thursday. McCallum is a former BBA chairman. “We are proud to have Fred join the BBA in this transitional time,” said Nancy Goedecke, 2019 Chairwoman of the BBA. “His leadership and prominence in the business community – both local and statewide – will ensure the BBA remains on solid ground during the search for a permanent CEO. We are confident Fred will set a strong example of collaboration and cooperation for the organization moving forward.” In addition to serving as Chairman of the BBA in 2013, McCallum was an active member of the Public Policy Committee for many years and served in volunteer roles during the creation of the BBA in 2009 and in its first strategic plan, Blueprint Birmingham. He will oversee daily operations of the BBA during the search for a permanent president and CEO, being conducted by the BBA’s Executive Committee. “I’m excited to return to the work of the BBA and serve its investors and the Birmingham business community in this role,” said McCallum. “My priorities will be to ensure that the BBA remains focused on growing jobs in the Birmingham region and that we are meeting the needs of our investors. This isa transformative time for Birmingham and the BBA, as we recognize our 10th year of helping our region grow.” McCallum is taking over for current BBA CEO Brian Hilson who announced his resignation last month in order to take another economic development position in the state. His new position has yet to be announced.
Personnel note: Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth appoints Jess Skaggs as deputy chief of staff
Alabama’s new Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth announced on Thursday he has tapped a former administrator with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to serve as his deputy chief of staff. Has selected Jess Skaggs for the role. “As lieutenant governor, I plan for my office to be the most active and engaged in Alabama’s history, and Jess Skaggs has the experience, dedication, and energy necessary to help make that plan a reality,” Ainsworth said. “Jess has a deep desire to serve his fellow Alabamians and to make our state an even better place to live for all of its citizens. I’m happy to have him on my team as we work to provide Alabama with more jobs, better schools, and a higher standard of ethics among its elected officials.” Skaggs will work with Chief of Staff Judy Miller, who Ainsworth appointed the week following the election. About Skaggs Prior to joining Ainsworth’s staff, Skaggs served as the deputy commissioner for external affairs in the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. In that role, he spearheaded economic development opportunities for the department, worked with Alabama Legislature to promote the state’s agricultural economy, and assisted the commissioner with public policy research and other matters. Skaggs previously served as the delegation director for the Baldwin County Legislative Office and worked closely with the area’s two senators and five state representatives. There he oversaw constituent services, drafted and researched legislation and coordinated community service grants for the delegation members. He also worked as a legislative aide to former Montrose-Republican, State Sen. Trip Pittman, who chaired the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. The bill that authorized historic improvements to Gulf State Park and the lodging options it offers was among the measures Skaggs worked upon at Pittman’s behest. A graduate of Montgomery’s Huntingdon College with a degree in political science and history, Skaggs has also worked on numerous political campaigns as a general consultant and fundraiser. He and his wife, Charlanna, an attorney specializing in business law, have three daughters and one son.
Personnel note: Eagle Forum of Alabama names Becky Gerritson Executive Director
The Eagle Forum of Alabama has named a new executive director. On Thursday, Eagle Forum of Alabama President Eunie Smith and Foundation President Jim Cooper announced Becky Gerritson announced Becky Gerriston will fill the vacancy left by Deborah Love, who was the past Executive Director through Sept. 2018. Gerritson,the fiery Wetumpka Tea Party co-founder and President, exploded on to the political scene in 2013 garnering national attention when she testified before Congress having been politically targeted by the IRS. In 2016, she received Heritage Action Sentinel’s Firewall for Freedom Award, was named in Yellowhammer’s 2017 Power and Influence List, and was on AL.com Twenty Most Influential List in 2015. She was also a Republican candidate for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd U.S. District in 2016. “It is an honor to welcome Becky Gerritson as our Executive Director,” Smith said. “Becky is an effective conservative leader with a long history of championing the values that Eagle Forum exists to preserve. I have every confidence in Becky’s leadership abilities, and I believe that as Eagle Forum of Alabama Executive Director she will continue to be a bold and respected voice of conviction, principle, and informed policy in Alabama.” Gerritson said she is thrilled to join the group. “Eagle Forum has been an influential powerhouse of principled conservative thought and grassroots activism for decades,” Gerritson said Thursday. “I am thrilled to be on the leadership team of this incredible organization. As Alabama moves into 2019 and beyond, it is crucial that our principled conservative voice be stronger and more compelling than ever. I look forward to continuing the fight for our future and our republic with Eagle Forum of Alabama.” Conservative icon Phyllis Schafly, who founded the Eagle Forum PAC, a conservative public policy organization that supports candidates who are committed to a conservative philosophy of limited government, national sovereignty and traditional values and served as chairman of its board until her death, in 2016 wrote a glowing endorsement of Gerritson during her Congressional run. “Becky Gerritson is a proven leader. She understands that sound governance doesn’t mean just passing bills that the president will sign, as the current Congress continues to do,” said Schafly. “She knows that sound governance means upholding and defending the Constitution, protecting the security of the American people, and defending the values that have made our country great. Her dedication and passion for the conservative cause has been seen not only by Alabamians but by the nation as she has fearlessly and tirelessly fought against the progressive agenda and big government.”
Personnel note: Charles Daniels named ADOC Deputy Commissioner of Operations
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) appointed Charles Daniels as Deputy Commissioner of Operations, the ADOC announced on Facebook Monday. ”I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Charles Daniels as Deputy Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections Operations Division,” said Jeff Dunn, ADOC Commissioner. “Mr. Daniels brings to the Department a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience that will prove invaluable to the fulfillment of ADOC’s mission and build upon a leadership team that has made tremendous progress working to strengthen a prison system that is in need of major reform.” Daniels is a career correctional professional who began his service with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 1988. He rose through the ranks in the corrections profession from correctional officer to holding key executive staff positions and culminating in serving as warden of several major facilities within the Bureau of Prisons. During his service, Daniels was responsible for developing curriculum used by the Bureau for the professional development and internal training of federal prison officials. H created an Emergency Response Model entitled, Immediate Incident Resolution, which is a five-step emergency response continuum designed to respond to, and resolve emergent situations within a correctional environment. Throughout his career, Daniels has held many special staff positions that include the following: Hostage Negotiation Team Leader and Regional Trainer; member of the Bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and Negotiation Teams; Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor; Black Affairs Program Manager. Daniels is a graduate of the Aspen Institute Justice and Society Program, Center for Creative Leadership, and he holds a degree in Criminal Justice. He is also a Military Veteran with service in the United States Air Force.
Personnel note: Del Marsh hires Derek Trotter as his chief of staff
Anniston-Republican and Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh announced Monday he has hired Derek Trotter as his chief of staff. “I look forward to having Derek serve as my Chief of Staff,” Marsh said. “His previous experience in the Pro Tem’s office makes him uniquely qualified to ensure that the Alabama Senate continues to run smoothly and serve the people of Alabama as it has in the past.” Trotter returns to the Pro Tem’s office after a stint in the Governor’s Robert Bentley‘s Legislative office as well as a stint the private sector at Butler Snow. In Bentley’s office, Trotter represented the governor before the Alabama Legislature and built and maintained relationships with key legislative leaders on behalf of the governor. He also managed and implemented strategies to pass key items on the governor’s legislative agenda. Trotter frequently advised the governor’s 22-member cabinet on legislative matters impacting their agencies. In 2016, he joined Butler Snow’s Montgomery, Ala., office where he practiced with the firm’s regulatory and government relations team. Prior to that he served as communications director for Marsh. “Having spent the majority of my career working with the Alabama Senate, both in the President Pro Tem’s Office and Governor’s Legislative Office, I am thrilled about the opportunity to serve as Senator Marsh’s Chief of Staff,” Trotter said. “Every member of the Alabama Senate has a shared commitment to serving their constituents to the best of their ability and I look forward to working with them in an effort to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and raise a family.” Derek is a native of Trussville and a graduate of Auburn University. He and his wife Kala reside in Pike Road with their two children. Trotter’s first day was Monday.
Personnel note: Daniel Coleman named President of Birmingham-Southern College
Aa Birmingham resident with more than three decades of experience in finance, has been named president of Birmingham-Southern College, a small, liberal arts school located in Birmingham, Ala. College officials announced Daniel Coleman as the new president, Thursday, Nov. 15. Coleman, who was CEO of the global financial services firm KCG Holdings until its 2017 sale, has been a member of the college’s Board of Trustees and is currently an adjunct professor of finance at the college. He said he wants Birmingham-Southern College to continue to expand its educational reach as it builds for its second century in Birmingham and to solidify its longtime role as “the intellectual heart of the city.” “I feel like the best way for me to have a positive impact on the city is to help Birmingham-Southern thrive,” Coleman said. “It has always been a special place here in Birmingham, and has such a history of and culture of service to the community.” Coleman, 54, who will take office as president on Dec. 3, has played a leading role in the evolution of automated trading in global financial markets. Until its 2017 sale to Virtu Financial, New York-based KCG was a leader in the securities and financial services industry, Before KCG, Coleman was CEO of GETCO, a privately-held automated trading firm based in Chicago. Prior to that, he worked for 24 years for UBS and its predecessor firms, ending up as global head of equities for UBS Investment Bank. “We are fortunate to have someone with such a thorough understanding of the college and broad experience shaping and growing complex organizations,” said BSC Board Chair Denson N. Franklin III ’85, who introduced Coleman to the campus at an event Thursday afternoon. “His love for Birmingham-Southern is apparent, but more than that, he brings an incredible skill set and perspective and impressed us with his ideas for moving BSC forward.” Coleman’s credentials Coleman earned his B.A. in English at Yale University and an M.B.A. at the University of Chicago. Coleman said his own background and work experience has epitomized the value of the kind of personalized liberal arts education that BSC provides. “I started my career in finance on a trading floor, but now, those jobs are almost all gone,” said Coleman. “When I think about college, I think about that kind of rapid professional evolution that’s happening in every field. We need to make sure students have jobs when they graduate, but we also have to make sure they have the ability to adapt so they have careers decades later. That’s something the liberal arts does like no other form of education.” Coleman replaces BSC President Emerita Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith, who retired from Birmingham-Southern earlier this semester due to health and family reasons.
Personnel note: Lt. Gov.-elect Will Ainsworth taps Judy Miller as Chief of Staff
Less than a week after winning the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican Will Ainsworth on Monday announced who he has chosen to serve as his chief of staff. Ainsworth has tapped Judy Miller, who has more than three decades of experience having served as the executive director of the Marshall County Legislative Office. During her career directing the Marshall County Legislative Office, Miller worked with a dozen state legislators and was tasked with handling constituent casework, grant programs, research and development of legislation, scheduling, communications, and other state government duties. “Judy Miller has more than 30 years of experience in working with legislators of both parties, drafting bills and resolutions, and handling constituent services, which will prove invaluable to the citizens of Alabama and to me, as lieutenant governor,” Ainsworth said. “During my service as a state representative in Marshall County, Judy’s professional and political talents were obvious, and I am proud to have her lead my staff and help enact my agenda.” Miller, who is believed to be the first female appointed as chief of staff to an Alabama lieutenant governor, said she looks forward to the challenges that service in Montgomery offers. “Throughout the past four years, I have witnessed firsthand Will Ainsworth’s commitment to the citizens in his legislative district and his deep desire to improve their quality of life. Now he is ready to devote that same work ethic and vision to all Alabamians,” Miller added. “Will has instructed me to make his lieutenant governor’s office the most active and responsive in Alabama history, and I will work hard to carry out that mission.” Miller has a lengthy resume of community service in Marshall County which includes holding seats on the boards of the United Way of Marshall County, the Child Advocacy Center of Marshall County, and the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau. A graduate of Leadership Marshall County, Miller founded the Marshall County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition and was selected as a “Local Hero” by the Sand Mountain Reporter newspaper in 2014. A life-long resident of Arab, she and her husband, Jimmy, a veteran law enforcement officer, have two married children and two grandchildren.
Personnel note: House Speaker Mac McCutcheon hires Mark Tuggle as Chief of Staff
Monrovia-Republican, Alabama Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon on Wednesday announced former State Rep. Mark Tuggle of Alexander City will serve as his office’s chief of staff effective immediately. “As a member of the Alabama House, Mark set himself apart as a leader and proved a valuable source of wise counsel, so I’m pleased to continue utilizing his talents as my chief of staff,” McCutcheon said in a statement. “Alabama faces many challenges that the Legislature must resolve, and Mark will play a large role in developing and passing needed solutions to those important issues.” Tuggle said he appreciated the confidence that McCutcheon placed in his abilities and looks forward to continue working with the members of the Alabama House. “When I decided against seeking another term in the House, I assumed my work in state government had ended, but Speaker McCutcheon convinced me to continue serving the citizens of Alabama in this new role,” Tuggle added. “As a former member, I’ll be able to advise the new House members with the perspective of someone who has once held the same responsibilities, and I will work with the returning members as someone they already know and trust.” Out of an overabundance of caution, McCutcheon secured approval from the Alabama Ethics Commission regarding Tuggle’s appointment to his new post. Tuggle replaces McCutcheon’s outgoing chief of staff Jimmy Entrekin, who became general counsel for the Legislative Services Agency earlier this year. About Tuggle Tuggle, who was twice elected to the House District 81 seat, served as chairman of the House State Government Committee and also held a seat on the House Internal Affairs Committee. For the past eight years, he served on the prestigious House Ways and Means Education Committee, which allocates more than $6 billion in education funding to Alabama’s K-12 public schools, community colleges, and public colleges and universities. A professional forester for more than two decades, Tuggle retired from the Alabama Power Company prior to his House service and later worked as a freelance consultant on forestry and timber matters. He and his wife, Michelle, have one daughter, Dee.
Personnel note: Alabama Robotics Technology brings on Chuck Ernst to direct strategic upgrades
The Alabama Department of Commerce and AIDT announced that Chuck Ernst, a former Honda manufacturing executive, has been appointed to lead Alabama Robotics Technology Park (RTP) as it embarks on a strategic plan to prepare the training facility for new technologies and additional capabilities. The goal of the “RTP 2.0” initiative is to ensure that the $73 million center in Tanner is positioned to meet the evolving workforce development needs of Alabama companies as technology brings radical changes to manufacturing techniques. As part of the initiative, RTP will add needed next-generation technologies, manufacturing simulation areas and training solutions that support key Alabama industry sectors including automotive, aerospace, aviation and logistics. “Alabama Robotics Technology Park is a unique asset for the state and the manufacturers that utilize this facility to provide cutting-edge training for their workforces,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “The RTP 2.0 initiative will increase our leadership position in advanced job training, even as technology continues to change how factories operate. And, with his experience at Honda Alabama, Chuck Ernst is the perfect choice to direct this effort.” Alabama Robotics Technology Park near Decatur is a one-of-a-kind training facility that serves companies in the state. (contributed) ‘Technological resource’ Ernst, who retired from Honda in 2014 after nearly three decades, will play a key role as plans are developed to advance the park and design its next level of services. He will work alongside RTP’s robotics and automation professions and AIDT leadership as the 2.0 initiative is implemented. “The opportunity to work with the Alabama Robotics Technology Park as it has developed and matured over the last several years is a career high for me, personally and professionally. We are extremely proud of the RTP as it has served as a great technological resource for Alabama manufacturers as well as the brilliant staff who are the very heart of the work there,” said Ed Castile, director of AIDT and deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce for Workforce Development. “We are looking forward to RTP 2.0 as we take the park to the next level with the assistance of Dr. Jay Baron’s strategic planning and the leadership of Chuck Ernst. With Chuck leading the RTP along with our incredible staff, we are confident in the RTP’s ability to assist our Alabama companies in becoming more successful in the ever-changing manufacturing world,” Castile said. Baron, the former CEO of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Group at the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Center for Automotive Research, has provided his expertise for the RTP 2.0 initiative. Ernst’s assignments at Honda included serving as project manager and operations executive at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, a $2.6 billion assembly plant in Lincoln. He finished his 29-year career with the automaker as the Powertrain Division’s chief engineer at the North American Shared Services Group in Marysville, Ohio. “The opportunity to join the AIDT team at the Robotics Technology Park and assist the business community in Alabama to study and utilize technology that improves their future competitiveness is a chance of a lifetime for me,” Ernst said. “I can’t wait to get started.” Alabama Robotics Technology Park opened in 2010 and now comprises three buildings dedicated to highly specialized, company-specific training. (AIDT) Commitment to manufacturers State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said he is committed to supporting efforts to secure the funding needed to implement any new technologies at RTP, which opened in 2010 and now comprises three buildings for highly specialized, company-specific training. “By retooling our leadership at the RTP, we are setting the standard of having a nationally recognized reputation for a well-trained and highly skilled Alabama workforce in the usage and repair of robotic technology and advanced manufacturing machinery,” Orr said. Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the RTP 2.0 initiative reflects Alabama’s commitment to ensure that manufacturers operating in the state are prepared for disruptive technologies. “At Alabama Robotics Technology Park, we intend to prepare companies for a new world in manufacturing by providing them with technology and facilities dedicated to research and development, simulation, modeling, product design and training,” Canfield said. “Supporting companies in this way creates and preserves jobs, while making Alabama a more attractive location for business.” This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Personnel Note: Jon Barganier leaving Kay Ivey staff to head Alabama Petroleum Council
Governor Kay Ivey‘s Deputy Chief of Staff Jon Barganier is leaving his long-time post in Alabama’s capitol to serve as the Executive Director for the Alabama Petroleum Council. Barganier earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, majoring in Journalism, then attended Auburn University at Montgomery to earn an M.B.A. while working at the State Department of Finance. He has served in Montgomery since 2006, beginning his career as a state planning analyst and division manager of IT Operations at the Alabama Department of Finance. From there, he served as the Director of the Executive planning Office in the same department. After a brief one-year stint in the private sector he joined former Governor Robert Bentley‘s staff as a legislative liaison working his way through the ranks to become the deputy chief of staff, and finally Bentley’s chief of staff, according to his LinkedIn profile. He’s since served as Ivey’s deputy chief of staff for over a year; his resignation goes into effect August 31. According to Yellowhammer News, “the Alabama Petroleum Council is a division of the American Petroleum Institute and represents upstream (exploration and production) and downstream (refining, supply, marketing and transportation) interests and investments of major integrated oil and natural gas companies.”
Personnel note: Philip Bryan departing Pro Tem’s office for private sector opportunities
Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh‘s longtime Chief of Staff, Philip Bryan, announced on Wednesday he will be leaving his post on August 31 to pursue private sector opportunities. Bryan has served as Chief of Staff since 2011. “Working under President Pro Tem Marsh and interacting with the members of the Alabama State Senate on a daily basis has been a highpoint of my career, and I will always value the experience, memories, and friendships that resulted from my service,” Bryan said. “I leave the Pro Tem’s office with pride in the job we have done and deep appreciation for the opportunity that Sen. Marsh provided me.” Marsh thanked Bryan for his service to the State Senate and wished him well in his future employment. “Philip has been an outstanding chief of staff and developed good and trusting relationships with senators on both sides of the aisle,” Marsh said. “His service helped us make Alabama an even better place to live, work, and raise children. While we will greatly miss his counsel, I know that he will bring enormous value to any position that he holds in the future.” Bryan’s first began his political career as communications director at the Alabama Republican Party. He worked there for nearly four years before jumping over to the State Senate after helping the Republican Party capture the majorities in the Alabama House and Senate for the first time in 136 years back in 2010. He is a 1999 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Communications, and is is married to the former Brittany Woodham of Montgomery, Ala. They have one son.
Personnel note: Kelly Butler named Alabama’s Acting Director of Finance
Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday named Kelly Butler as Acting Director of the Alabama Department of Finance. Butler began his career with the Alabama Department of Revenue more than thirty years ago. He later worked for the Legislative Fiscal Office before joining the Alabama Department of Finance as Assistant State Budget Officer in 2012. Since that time, Butler has served as State Budget Officer and most recently as Assistant Finance Director for Fiscal Operations. As Assistant Finance Director, Butler will oversee the State Comptroller’s Office, the State Purchasing Division, the State Debt Management Division, and the State Business Systems Division. “Kelly Butler has more than two decades of experience working with the state’s budgets and more than three decades experience as a fiscal analyst. I know he will do an excellent job leading the Alabama Department of Finance during this interim period,” Ivey said. “I appreciate him stepping up as acting director and his commitment to my administration.” In addition to his new duties, Butler will continue his work on building the governor’s budget proposals leading up to the 2019 Legislative Session. “I am honored that Governor Ivey has asked me to lead the Department of Finance. The department has many talented employees who work hard to provide excellent services to other state agencies and to the people of Alabama. I look forward to working with them to continue those excellent services,” Butler said. Butler’s appointment is effective on Wednesday, August 15, 2018. He will replace outgoing Director of Finance Clinton Carter whose last day is August 14, 2018. He will serve in this position until a thorough search for a permanent Finance Director can be conducted.
