Hoover’s Pat Lynch remembered, “Integrity beyond reproach”
Friends and family of Pat Lynch will gather on Tuesday, August 13, for a memorial to honor his life and the many contributions he made to his community. Lynch and his wife Tynette, Hoover residents, have been active throughout the Birmingham area and have contributed personally and professionally to the City of Hoover for decades. Lynch passed away on Tuesday, August 6, due to complications from an ongoing respiratory infection after defeating cancer. “Pat took great delight in his family. He always said ‘this crazy amazing family’ was his greatest achievement in life,” his obituary read in part. He and his wife’s Facebook pages show images of a close-knit, loving family with posts of their children and grandchildren throughout the years. In January of 2023, Lynch was diagnosed with cancer which required his right kidney to be removed. Nearly a year after his diagnosis, he was honored by ROAR, the Radiation Oncology Accelerated Research, at their annual gala. According to an interview Lynch gave to the Over the Mountain Journal, “Due to his family history and long-held belief that cancer research is critical, Lynch has been a supporter of ROAR for several years.” His family noted that his wishes were that, in lieu of flowers, upon his passing donations be made to RoarTheCure.org in his name. In an interview with Senator Jabo Waggoner he highlighted their friendship saying that he’s known Lynch, “40 maybe 50 years”. Both Lynch and Waggoner’s wife were honored by ROAR for their work in cancer research which Waggoner described as making them closer over the last several years. Waggoner described the “mutual respect and friendship” among their families saying, “he was a great citizen and good friend to so many people. “He was a guy of character and we go way back and he’s always had a great personal reputation. You don’t hear anybody in this community criticizing Pat Lynch. He’s a class guy. He has a great wonderful and loving family. He will be missed in this community.” In 2009, Lynch retired from a long career as vice president and managing partner of Birmingham Budweiser, but he wasn’t ready for full retirement yet. In an interview with 280 Magazine in 2018, Lynch spoke about his “unretirement,” saying, “I didn’t know exactly what direction I was going to go after that. I had built, through my years at Budweiser, strong relationships. We were heavily involved in legislation in Montgomery that had to do with alcohol, and I knew a lot of people, a lot of local politicians. “So the natural progression for me would be to use those relationships to build a business. “I was really too young to stop and play golf, which is a really big hobby of mine, and I enjoyed making deals and getting involved in business,” Lynch said. “I’m having fun doing what I’m doing, even though it does take a lot of my time, but that’s OK.” The Hoover Sun reported that following Lynch’s departure from Budwiser, “Lynch started a business development and lobbying firm called Pat Lynch & Associates and another company called AlphaGov Consulting. His clients included beverage distributors, educational and health providers, nonprofit associations and large and small businesss. In Hoover, he has represented developers such as Will Kadish of Broad Metro, which is developing Stadium Trace Village.” Civic and community leaders have joined hundreds of friends and family in honoring the memory of Lynch with messages of support for his family. Alabama Today spoke with Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens who said, “Pat Lynch, an honored friend and staple of the Hoover community, will be missed by all. He always exhibited class and character in all of his actions; his integrity was always beyond reproach. I will miss Pat dearly, as will the entire Hoover community.” Hoover City Councilman Steve McClinton echoed those sentiments saying, “Pat Lynch was a true pillar of Hoover, exemplifying the qualities of a Southern gentleman while serving the city and its community with distinction. Pat was a devoted family man who adored his wife Tynette and cherished every moment with his chilren and grandchildren, always doting on them. He never missed an opportunity to lend a helping hand to others. Pat was a rare soul, and the world feels a little less joyful without him.” Read his full obituary and service details below: James “Pat” Lynch of Hoover Alabama beloved Husband, Dad and Papa and caring friend to many passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2024 surrounded by his wife and best friend Tynette Lynch and his family. Pat took great delight in his family. He always said “this crazy amazing family” was his greatest achievement in life. Retired in 2009 from a long career as vice president and managing partner of Birmingham Budweiser where his title the Budman followed him for his entire life. After retirement he started a very successful business development firm, Pat Lynch & Associates, using his passion of helping people succeed. A respected leader in the Birmingham business world Pat was also very involved in the Birmingham community through his kind giving and support of many charities that were close to his heart. Pat loved golf and drinking fine wine. Pat and Tynette enjoyed a Blessed life traveling and enjoying the beach with family and friends. He said often that he had lived his bucket list. Pat was born on January 10, 1948, in Tazewell Virginia. He was preceded in death by his mother Sadie Johnson Lynch and his father William P Lynch. He is survived by wife Tynette Gustin Lynch, brother William Paul Lynch of Clermont Florida, daughters Tracy Lynch Hays (Jason), Amy Lynch Goss, Stepsons Christopher Cerniglia, Jason Cerniglia (Angie) Grandchildren Alex Hays, Abby Hays, Gage Hays, Kalib McCoy, Kyleigh McCoy, Palmer Cerniglia, Peyton Cerniglia, Parson Cerniglia and Presley Cerniglia, and his nieces and nephews. Visitation is at 11 am and Funeral Mass following at 12 noon at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover on Tuesday, August 13 with lunch served after Mass. In lieu of flowers
Birmingham Business Alliance launching a talent recruitment initiative
The Birmingham Business Alliance has enjoyed great success bringing industry to the metro area. A new initiative aims to bring people to the area to fill the jobs of tomorrow. At the 2018 BBA Chairman’s Meeting at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center at UAB, the metro area’s leading economic development organization unveiled a talent recruitment plan that officials said will be critical to growth. “Without question, workforce issues including availability of our workforce, the workforce’s alignment with career opportunities and, third, the perception that Birmingham can deliver a workforce to attract and support employers will be the most important economic development issues we will face in years to come,” said BBA CEO Brian Hilson. The BBA has hired New York-based Development Counsellors International (DCI) to help develop the talent recruitment plan. The BBA has worked with DCI for the past few years promoting and building the metro area’s image and recognition in national and international media. Andrew Levine, DCI chairman, said Birmingham has a good story to tell companies and potential workers. “You’re at a 3.5 percent unemployment rate in the Birmingham metro area, so companies right now, if they’re going to be able to grow, they have to find employees, they have to find workers,” Levine said. Levine said by taking this on as a key initiative, the BBA is taking the lead on other cities. “It is kind of a new day. This unemployment rate has gone down so much and the labor market has gotten so tight, it’s really in the last two years that people have started focusing on talent attraction,” Levine said. “There are some good models out there. I don’t think anyone has completely figured it out. The BBA is really a bit ahead of the game in terms of what other communities are doing, so there is a running start here that we have.” DCI is compiling data by interviewing human resources directors at Birmingham companies, employees and potential employees and mapping out the important components of talent recruitment in the metro area. Levine said the question they need to answer is: “How do you market Birmingham not just to companies, not just to visitors, how do you market Birmingham to potential residents?” He believes the key is to marry talent recruitment with tourism and business recruitment. “The three things should work all together and be integrated,” he said. DCI recently surveyed 1,000 millennials, who now make up the largest part of the workforce. The survey sought to discover what is most important to them in choosing a place to live and work. While the expectation was that issues like arts, entertainment and culture would carry the most weight, the results showed that millennials are practical and care most about the cost of living, housing costs and employment opportunities for their spouses. Hilson said that shows that any strategy must appeal to a wide range of workers. “Talent recruitment comes in lot of different flavors and shapes,” he said. “It’s based upon quality of life perceptions. It’s based upon job availability.” Nancy Goedecke, CEO of Mayer Electric, took over as BBA chairwoman at Tuesday night’s meeting, taking the gavel from Lee Smith from BBVA Compass, who ended his term. Goedecke said she has found with her business and her efforts in promoting Birmingham to others that the biggest hurdle is getting them to the Magic City to experience it for themselves. “We have got to continue to develop our talent, get people interested in coming to Birmingham,” she said. “The key is, once we get them to Birmingham they don’t want to leave. We’ve got a real plus in that area, but we’ve got to get them here. There is enough excitement in the air that will attract people to do just that.” Addressing workforce needs will be necessary for the BBA to build on its momentum since the Great Recession of a decade ago. Since 2011, metro Birmingham has announced 23,423 new jobs by new and expanding companies that have announced $5 billion in new investment. So far in 2018, Hilson said the metro area has announced 3,908 jobs by 24 new and expanding companies in the BBA’s core business sectors. That’s about 1,000 more new jobs than at this time last year. Also this year, the seven-county metro area has seen $958 million in new capital investment announced, a $450 million increase over what was announced a year ago. “While we are on track to meet the job and investment goals that are part of our BBA current five-year strategy, we all agree that a higher level of economic development accomplishment is attainable,” Hilson said. “Therefore, the BBA is adjusting our strategy and our expectations, and we will begin implementing those plans beginning early next year.” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is coming off his first year in office and said he recognizes what BBA has done while acknowledging more needs to be done. “As a city, I believe we’ve seen strong economic progress over the last year,” he said. “We’re grateful to our partners at BBA who have helped us build momentum and we look forward to the work we will continue to do together to move our community forward.” But not everyone shares in that success, Woodfin said. “Birmingham is a tale of two cities and each time I have the chance to speak to a set of leaders like each of y’all sitting in this room, I want to share that tension between the success some our businesses feel and the real struggle some our neighborhoods are up against,” he said. Woodfin noted that 30 percent of the city’s residents and 42 percent of its families live in poverty. The unemployment rate is twice as high among black residents compared to white, and four in 10 black adults have stopped looking for work altogether, he said. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield praised BBA for tackling tough issues related to growing the region.“The bottom line is that we are making progress, but we are not yet where we need
Carly’s Law study at UAB finds medical marijuana oil helps epilepsy patients
It’s official: cannabidiol, or CBD oil, oil derived from marijuana plants, helps reduce the number of seizures in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy. That’s according to findings by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) released earlier this month. CBD oil, which contains little of the “high-inducing” chemical THC, came into the Alabama lexicon with the passage of “Carly’s Law,” in 2014 after piece of legislation provided the UAB Epilepsy Center and Children’s of Alabama the ability to conduct clinical trials of cannabidiol, a component of cannabis. Starting in 2015, UAB launched the landmark study, which focused on 132 patients, 72 children and 60 adults, with intractable epilepsy who did not respond to traditional therapies. “The study analyzed data from the 132 patients at baseline and at visits at 12, 24 and 48 weeks. Seizure frequency decreased from a mean of 144 seizures every two weeks at baseline to 52 seizures over two weeks at 12 weeks into the study. The reduction remained stable through the 48-week study period,” wrote Bob Shepard at UAB. “This is a highly significant reduction in the number of seizures that the majority of patients experienced, nearly a two-thirds reduction across the entire study population,” said Martina Bebin, M.D., professor in the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine and principal investigator of the pediatric arm of the study. “Some patients experienced an even greater reduction of seizure frequency.” The investigators also noted parallel decreases in both seizure severity and seizure frequency, indicating that, for many patients, use of CBD oil led to both fewer and less intense seizures. UAB research makes national impact Thanks in part to the research coming out of UAB, on June 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex® for seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, marking the first FDA approval of a purified drug derived from cannabis. “This approval serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programs that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies. And, the FDA is committed to this kind of careful scientific research and drug development,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “Controlled clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of a drug, along with careful review through the FDA’s drug approval process, is the most appropriate way to bring marijuana-derived treatments to patients. Because of the adequate and well-controlled clinical studies that supported this approval, prescribers can have confidence in the drug’s uniform strength and consistent delivery that support appropriate dosing needed for treating patients with these complex and serious epilepsy syndromes.”
Alabama’s largest county looks to continue economic development momentum
With the recent announcements of thousands of jobs coming into Jefferson County in connection with Amazon’s advanced robotics fulfillment center, DC BLOX’s data center and Shipt’s decision to keep its corporate headquarters in Birmingham, local officials are working from a playbook that has four steps, they say. It all begins with Alabama’s business climate that has been ranked as best in the United States for growth potential and workforce training by Business Facilities magazine, said Commissioner David Carrington, chair of the county’s Finance, Information Technology and Business Development Committee. The second is that Jefferson County is the economic center of the state, with the largest population and number of jobs. In 2016, companies announced they were going to create 14,500 jobs and invest $5.1 billion in Alabama. The Birmingham-Hoover metro area accounted for about 20 percent of those jobs and 25 percent of the capital investment. Jefferson County alone was responsible for 1,436 announced jobs and $506 million in capital investment. “In fact, the metro area’s gross domestic product is greater than Mobile, Montgomery and Huntsville combined,” Carrington said. “In 2017, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce, Jefferson County led the state with 2,200 new announced jobs in targeted industries.” The next step is collaboration among partners that often include the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and, if a proposed site is in a city, the city. “As in most successful projects, it was a well-coordinated community effort that led to a successful conclusion, and we’re very grateful to our partners and allies for their great work on this project,” said Lee Smith, East Region CEO for BBVA Compass and 2018 chairman of the BBA, after the area secured Amazon’s $325 million investment. “The county actively listens to the prospect’s needs and then participates in the development of an aggressive marketing plan with (those) partners,” Carrington said. Fourth, a project team is in place that “leverages our community’s assets,” Carrington said. “. . . We will talk about our enviable road and rail transportation network when talking to a distribution company; or UAB, Southern Research and Innovation Depot when talking to a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) company; or our central, geographic proximity to Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Kia and the soon to be open Toyota/Mazda plants when talking to an automotive supplier.” All of those steps are done under a positioning umbrella, he said. “Even if we don’t win a project, we want the company and their consultants to ‘have a good feeling’ about the community so we will be considered for a future project,” he said. Carrington pointed to the community’s Amazon HQ2 “BringAtoB” campaign. “The primary project team knew that Birmingham was at best a long shot, but, despite the odds, we put together an innovative vision and proposal for the company to consider,” he said. “While we didn’t win the headquarters, we caught Amazon’s attention and less than a year later announced an 855,000-square-foot advanced robotics fulfillment center in Bessemer.” Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
UAB’s $37.5 million state-of-the art Collat School of Business opens
The University of Alabama at Birmingham bridges collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship with the opening of the $37.5 million state-of-the-art facility that will house the Collat School of Business and Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE). UAB’s Collat School of Business welcomed students Aug. 27. (Adam Pope/UAB/Alabama Newscenter) “This beautiful new building changes everything,” said Collat School of Business Dean Eric Jack. “This addition to UAB’s campus heralds a new era of leadership in business education that will help drive innovation at UAB and in Birmingham for many years to come.” The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Friday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m. at 1201 University Blvd. Students began classes for the fall semester Monday, Aug. 27. The 108,000-square-foot building was designed with input from students and community business leaders so that every detail enhances the learning experience while preparing students to work in modern business environments. The facility features breakout rooms, an innovation lab, classrooms designed for team-based learning, a high-tech finance lab, sales role-playing rooms, a three-story atrium, an auditorium, a career center and quiet study spaces. “The generous gift from Charles and his late wife, Patsy, for our new Collat School of Business has already enabled us to build on our reputation as one of the premier business schools in the nation,” said UAB President Ray Watts. “The Collats have been actively engaged with our School of Business and contributed to its success for nearly three decades, and their outstanding example of philanthropy underscores the power of partnership to advance all areas of UAB’s mission. This is a transformational moment for the Collat School of Business and our university, and we look forward to the tremendous impact this facility will have for years to come – providing exceptional opportunities for tomorrow’s business leaders and entrepreneurs and helping to grow a robust innovation-based economy for Birmingham and Alabama.” Located along the north side of University Boulevard between 12th and 13th streets south, the building will offer a modern learning environment and the technology infrastructure expected to competitively recruit the next generation of business leaders, as well as top faculty and staff dedicated to educating them. Open seating areas throughout the building promote collaboration and a sense of community, affiliation and connection to UAB while furthering innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities. “Locating the HIIE in the new Collat School of Business Building creates a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship right in the heart of campus that serves students, faculty and also the wider Birmingham innovation community,” said Kathy Nugent, Ph.D., associate vice president and executive director of the Bill L. Harbert Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “The new space supports our commitment to leveraging UAB’s powerful research engine to transfer discoveries into products that positively impact quality of life and highlights our goal to generate a pipeline of companies that promote economic development within the region.” The facility houses administrative and student function space for the Collat School of Business and HIIE, as well as the Center for Sales Leadership, the Nielsen Innovation Lab, the Healthcare Leadership Academy and the Regions Institute for Financial Education. The co-location of these cross-discipline entities will foster increased collaboration and create a bridge between undergraduate and graduate students and the marketplace. “We also want to thank our incredible business community, alumni, faculty, staff and students,” Jack said. “We would not have this incredible new learning facility without their generous support.” Gifts given by local businesses such as the Joy and Bill Harbert Foundation, Medical Properties Trust, Regions Bank and Kassouf & Co. exemplify the support of the community in furthering this project, which is the cornerstone of efforts to expand technology commercialization to attain positive impacts on economic development for the community, state and beyond. From an exterior perspective, the overall architecture of the building is in keeping with the recently completed Hill Student Center and soon-to-be completed School of Nursing, featuring a combination of traditional building materials and contemporary building elements. The building is four stories in total, with a primarily traditional brick enclosure and conventional windows on the western and eastern elevations, while the northern and southern elevations are primarily glass storefront. Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York City and Williams Blackstock Architects of Birmingham designed the building so that all 100-plus offices have a window that is exposed to natural light from the exterior of the building. This was accomplished by having full-height atriums, or light-wells, on the east and west ends of the building. The Coca-Cola UNITED Dining Alcove offers dining options for students, faculty and staff, including Jamba Juice and Sandella’s Flatbread. UAB’s student-run investment fund, the Green & Gold Fund, will be housed in the new Chad Thomas Hagwood Finance Lab. Blazer Pride Plaza, a large landscaped courtyard on the east side of the building, leads students to the main entrance of the Collat School of Business, while the main entrance to the HIIE will be on the northern side of the building. The auditorium in the basement of the building has a FEMA-rated storm shelter that can accommodate more than 200 people in the event of severe weather. Williams Blackstock and Robert A.M. Stern served as the architects of record on this project. Brasfield & Gorrie served as general contractor and self-performed all concrete work, including foundations, foundation walls and site hardscapes. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
UAB to bring awareness to transgender rights
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will host an event to bring awareness to the rights of transgender people in September. The Human Rights of Transgender Persons event will be held at the UAB Hill Student Center on Thursday September 13 at 6:00 p.m. Several guest speakers will be there to discuss issues facing the community, including Brianna Patterson, a transgender rights activist. According to the event’s Facebook description, Patterson is a “military veteran, former firefighter, and current graduate student who is working hard to change the narrative about Transgender people in the South.” Patterson is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, an educational organization devoted to transgender health. She first posted her story of overcoming discrimination in the work place on the Invisible History Project’s (IHP) website. According to the same site, the IHP is “designed to be a repository for the preservation of the history of LGBTQ life first in the state of Alabama and then the entire Southeast.” The UAB Special Collections Library is a partner of the project. Married couple, and screenwriters, Tony Phelan and Joan Rater, will also be speaking on how having a transgender son has transformed their lives. Phelan and Rater were both executive producers and writers for the popular hospital drama television show Grey’s Anatomy. For more information on the event click here.
Birmingham hosts Smart Cities Readiness Workshop
Strategic plans for how Birmingham will become a smart city are being laid out over the next two days during the Smart Cities Readiness Workshop. The workshop is part of the Smart Cities grant awarded to the city of Birmingham earlier this year. “I believe our city is in the middle of an evolution that is really changing what and how we are doing things in our city,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in his opening remarks. “This is fueled by the Smart Cities grant, which helps us become a more inclusive and competitive government. This gives us the opportunity to integrate our systems and raise the bar for tech and innovation, as well as provide more coordinated, user-centered services for our residents and small business owners.” The workshop aims to use technology and data to improve public safety and quality of life in Birmingham. Projects underway include smart street lighting, bus rapid transit and community Wi-Fi. Strategy sessions will address community health, transportation and mobility and economic empowerment. Birmingham hosts Smart Cities Readiness Workshop to address key issues from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo. Woodfin stressed the importance of the partnership that collaborated to win the grant, saying it took a coalition to obtain the grants, and it will take a coalition to do the work. “Alabama Power and the University of Alabama at Birmingham partnered with the city of Birmingham with additional support from the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, the Jefferson County Commission and the city of Hoover,” Woodfin said. “These coordinated strategies helped secure Birmingham’s winning application. We’re here because of all your hard work. And on behalf of the residents of Birmingham, we thank you.” To speak on the importance of this partnership, Alabama Power’s Vice President of Birmingham Division Jonathan Porter and the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s President Dr. Ray Watts were on hand to give remarks. “Mayor Woodfin and I are both natives of Birmingham and we are serious about serving our people,” Watts said. “We’re going to do that with the great resources of UAB. Partnering with the city and Alabama Power, really there is no limit to what we can do.” “The ongoing dialogue and discussion that will take place over the next few days during the workshop – and the strong collaboration to follow – will set the stage for Birmingham to become a better place to live and work while improving social equity and economic competitiveness,” Porter said. “These efforts will ultimately incorporate digital technology to help improve public safety, community health, economic empowerment, transportation, energy and more.” Attendees for the workshop include people from both Birmingham’s public and private sectors to provide insight into what they can offer and their thoughts on how Birmingham can use technology and data to tackle local challenges. The first half of the day included presentations from grant partners on smart city initiatives already underway, like smart street lighting. Dr Mashariki addresses Birmingham Smart Cities Readiness workshop from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo. Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki shared best practices on how New York City used data to become a smarter city. Mashariki was involved in numerous smart city initiatives as the chief analytics officer and head of Urban Analytics for New York City. “Our job was to be responsive to problems that cropped up on a daily basis that operational agencies needed help with,” Mashariki said. “Data analytics helps drive efficiency toward a city’s operations.” The day concluded with breakout sessions to develop strategic plans. The areas of focus were transportation, economic empowerment and community health. You can check out the entire opening program below. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
Personnel Note: Libba Vaughan to serve as new executive director for Leadership Birmingham
Libba Vaughan has been selected as Leadership Birmingham’s new executive director, the group’s board of trustees announced today. Vaughan, currently executive director for the Freshwater Land Trust, will serve as Leadership Birmingham’s fourth executive director, effective Sept. 1. Her selection follows an extensive search and selection by the organization’s executive search committee. Vaughan fills the role previously held by Ann Florie, who served in the position 14 years and recently announced her retirement. Vaughan previously directed the Freshwater Land Trust’s philanthropy and communications and served as the director of UAB’s office of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research.“Libba is an extremely talented and community-focused leader, and she’s just who is needed to carry on Leadership Birmingham’s long tradition of developing successful leaders,” said Mike Warren, chairman of Leadership Birmingham board of trustees. “Her drive to help make our city better now and for future generations is evident in her accomplishments with the Freshwater Land Trust and with other efforts she continues to successfully lead today. We are thrilled she is joining us.” “We are excited Libba is bringing her experience to this new role. Her enthusiasm for connecting people and bringing businesses and communities together to accomplish great things is infectious,” said Guin Robinson, chair of Leadership Birmingham’s executive search committee. “Our committee conducted a very extensive search and vetted a number of wonderful candidates. I am proud of their hard work and dedication in finding the best fit. Libba will undoubtedly help take Leadership Birmingham to the next level.” Vaughan is on the board of Alabama Possible, the UAB Honors College Leadership Board, and the One Great Community Council. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham and The Women’s Network. Vaughan, a 2018 graduate of Leadership Birmingham, led the Freshwater Land Trust’s successful land conservation, restoration and Red Rock Trail System projects, including the recently completed Kiwanis-Vulcan Trail. She also raised funds for the organization’s largest operating budget increase during her tenure. At UAB, she launched a faculty development program that increased university and community engagement. “Leadership Birmingham is vital to the success and prosperity of greater Birmingham,” Vaughan said. “It is the incubator and inspiration for ideas and connections and actions that make our region a better place for all of us, not just its graduates. “I am so proud of what the board, staff, partners and I have accomplished together at the Freshwater Land Trust and what they are positioned to do in the future. I am honored to be asked to build on my collaborative experience to serve Leadership Birmingham and continue and grow its transformative impact,” she said. More than 1,700 people have graduated from Leadership Birmingham since it began in 1983. The program’s purpose is to inform and educate participants through a series of issue-oriented monthly programs and is based on the belief that knowledge and relationships are key elements of effective community leadership. In addition, Leadership Birmingham directs programming for the Alumni Association and Youth Leadership Forum, a program for 10th- and 11th-grade students from public, private and parochial schools in Jefferson County. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
Five things you need to know about Miranda Joseph
Miranda Joseph ran unopposed as the Democratic nominee for the State Auditor’s seat in the June 5 primary, but now that the primaries are over, the real battle has begun. Joseph will face incumbent Jim Zeigler in the November 6 general election, giving those who remember déjà vu — the two were opponents in the 2014 general election. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Miranda Joseph: 1. She is a board certified internal auditor. Joseph is a certified internal auditor. The certification she received from the the Institute of Internal Auditors means she is competently prepared to communicate and understand the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, and how to apply them in any position. Her opponent, Zeigler, is not a certified auditor. 2. She has been the democratic nominee for the state auditor’s office in every election since 2010. Joseph is not new to the election scene, having first begun her run for State Auditor in the 2010 general election. However, she has never prevailed against her opponents in the deep red state. In 2010 Joseph lost her first election to Samantha Shaw. When she ran again in 2014, she faced against Zeigler who also bested her. But after two lost elections and years spent campaigning, she’s not giving up. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to say, for the first time in Alabama, we actually elected a certified auditor to be the State Auditor of Alabama? Alabama, let’s send a Certified Auditor to Montgomery to do an Auditor’s job,” Joseph told her Facebook followers. 3. She has a B.S. in accounting, an M.B.A. and twelve years of experience in the accounting field. Joseph earned her Bachelors degree in accounting and M.B.A. from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and began her twelve year career in the accounting field; holding positions as a bank teller, staff accountant, tax accountant, and external auditor. “Just as we sit at our kitchen tables to save and watch our pennies, our government should do the same with our tax dollars,” Joseph’s campaign page reads. “Government should be fair and accountable and I have the experience we need to make sure we have this in Alabama.” 4. She was endorsed by the ‘Republicans for Doug Jones’ group. Although she’s received endorsements from several organizations including Citizens for Better Government, Joseph also collected an endorsement from the Republicans for Doug Jones: 5. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. The Delta Sigma Theta sorority “a sisterhood called to serve,” was founded in 1913 to give women in the greater Birmingham community a place to serve beside other women. The sorority focusses it’s efforts on implementing programs in economic and educational development, political awareness and involvement, international awareness and involvement, and physical and mental health. “From the core of these five areas, we implement programs for youth that increase scholarships, scholastic achievement, leadership skills, and promote high self-esteem,” reads the sorority’s website. “We feed the homeless, support educational awareness at home and abroad, support scientific studies, voter registration and voter education.”
Five things you need to know about Walt Maddox
Walt Maddox won the democratic nomination for governor, with nearly 55 percent of the votes. His closest competitor, former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb held only 28.98 percent of the vote. But now that the primaries are over, the real battle begins. Maddox will face against incumbent governor and Republican candidate Kay Ivey in the November 6 general election. With that in mind, Here’s five things you need to know about Walt Maddox: 5. While at UAB, he was a four-year letterman on the football team. Maddox attended the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1991, and played on the college’s football team for four years. In his freshman year 120 players walked on and after four season Maddox was one of only 16 lettermen left. “I’m very proud of that,” Maddox told the Tuscaloosa news. “I wasn’t that good, but I worked so hard to do it. I feel like I’ve spent my life trying to prove myself. I have this desire within me to do that. It gives me the drive to do well.” Maddox was invited back in April of 2013 to coach a UAB scrimmage game to raise funds for the victims of the tornados that swept through the state on April 2, 2011 destroying parts of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Not only did the game provide Maddox with a way to help his constituents even more, but he also achieved a life-long dream of his, coaching football. 4. His background is in public education, which is a tradition in his family. After earning his Bachelors degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration, from UAB, Maddox began his career in public education, a family tradition. In 1996 Maddox served as a field director for the Alabama Educational Association, until 2001 when he was appointed to be the Executive Director of Personnel for Tuscaloosa City Schools where he served until he was elected as mayor of Tuscaloosa. 3. He garnered national attention for his role in recovery efforts after “tornadoes demolished one-seventh of his city” in 2011. During his second term as mayor, tragedy struck the city of Tuscaloosa on April 27, when one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history demolishing one-seventh of the city. The recovery process has been long and hard for the city, but Maddox received national attention for his demeanor and leadership during the process. “Though Tuscaloosa’s long-term recovery process has had its critics, Maddox emerged from the disaster beloved by his constituents, who saw a young and energetic leader guiding the traumatized community with a steady hand and calm disposition,” said the New York Times. In commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the tornado that tore through Tuscaloosa, the City – under Mayor Maddox’s leadership – launched the website 5 Yrs Fwd, highlighting how recovery from the disaster has progressed. 2. He is the youngest mayor in the history of the city of Tuscaloosa. In 2005, longtime Tuscaloosa mayor Al DuPont retired, and Maddox faced against city council member Sammy Watson in the election. The race resulted in a runoff later that year which Maddox won with 54 percent of the vote. He was only 33 years old when he was elected Mayor of Tuscaloosa, making him the youngest mayor in the history of the city. 1. His favorite hobby is running, and he has completed 9 marathons and several half-marathons. Running can do wonders for your overall mental health, immune system, and is an excellent stress reliever. Maddox’s favorite hobby is running; he has run nine marathons and several half marathons. Only .5 percent of the U.S. population has run a full marathon, with even fewer people completing more than one.
UAB ranked No. 1 young university in the U.S.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham(UAB) has been ranked the top young university in the United States and No. 10 worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2018 Young University Rankings. Times Higher Education’s university rankings are among the world’s most comprehensive, balanced and trusted — a vital resource trusted by academics, students, their families, industry and governments globally. “This prestigious recognition directly reflects the dedication and hard work that our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community supporters have contributed to build tremendous, growing momentum in every pillar of our mission in less than 50 short years,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “I celebrate and share this tremendous honor with everyone in the UAB community, as well as with those who came before us and built the strong foundation from which we continue to effect positive, global change.” The full rankings are available online [timeshighereducation.com]. Students walking on campus prepping for summer months at UAB. (UAB) Times Higher Education ranked 250 institutions from 55 countries in this year’s Young University Rankings, which explores the same rigorous 13 performance indicators as the overall Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings — with young universities measured across their teaching, research, citations, international outlooks and industry incomes. However, the methodology has been carefully recalibrated, with less emphasis on reputation since younger universities are still building their reputations. Times Higher Education defines a young university as aged 50 years or under. UAB, which spans more than 100 city blocks — roughly a quarter of downtown Birmingham — will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2019. With nearly 21,000 students and more than 23,000 faculty and staff, UAB has become the largest single employer in Alabama, with an annual statewide economic impact exceeding $7.15 billion. It boasts many nationally ranked programs, including 13 graduate programs ranked in the top 25, according to U.S. News & World Report. Bird’s eye view of the UAB campus. (UAB) With annual research spending exceeding $562 million, UAB continues to create new knowledge and solve critical worldwide issues as a leader in federal research funding — ranking 23rd (top 4 percent) nationally and eighth (top 2 percent) among public institutions in funding from the National Institutes of Health. UAB Hospital, the centerpiece of the UAB Health System, is among the 20 largest hospitals in the United States. UAB Hospital’s American College of Surgeons Verified Level 1 Adult Trauma Center is the only one of its kind in Alabama and sees more than a million patient visits a year. The U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals report listed 10 of UAB’s medical specialties in the nation’s top 50 programs of their kind, and UAB has the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Alabama and a five-state region. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Women of Influence: Autism Society of Alabama VP Dr. Caroline Gomez
Dr. Caroline Gomez is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) sage; working within the ASD community for over three decades, Gomez is determined to advise, guide, and work directly with those who would help and serve individuals with ASD. A Miami-native, Gomez spent most of her college and working career in the Yellowhammer state. Receiving her first degree, a bachelors in Special Education, from Troy University in 1983, she worked as a special education teacher at several schools within in the state until 1987. She then moved back to Florida for a brief stint as an elementary school teacher and team leader, before moving to Texas to begin working on her Master’s degree in Special Education, (including an Autism specialization) at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Earning her Master’s degree in 1995, Gomez moved across the pacific to Tachikawa, Japan where she worked as an English instructor for the Yokogawa Engineering Corporation while also working as an Autism Inclusion Consultant at the Yakota Elementary school on the Yakota Air Base. Continuing her education even further, Gomez moved back to the state of Alabama to earn her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation & Special Education, with a specialization in Autism, from Auburn University. While working on her Ph.D., Gomez continued to work with several different schools, and a mental health center until she started her own private practice in 2001, Autism Diagnostics, Consultation, and Training which she still maintains today. But she didn’t stop there, we’re only in the early 2000’s, and she only gets more impressive from here on in… In 2003 she earned her Ph.D, and became the co-director of the Auburn University Autism Center, overseeing and delivering several programs and services including: a model demonstration site for best practice education for children with ASD training for families, teachers, and related professionals outreach consultation services research opportunities relative to effective intervention strategies for children with ASD In 2007, Gomez took a position as Director of the Autism Hope Center in Georgia until 2009, when she relocated back to the Yellowhammer state. That year, Gomez was named the first ever Autism State Coordinator for the state. There, she led the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council and worked with then-Gov. Bob Riley to meet recommendations set forth by the Alabama Autism Task force. She continued to work as the state coordinator for two years, before jumping back into the private sector in 2011 to work as an autism diagnostic and consultation specialist at Glenwood Mental Health, Inc. in Birmingham, where she provided and planned program recommendations to Alabama school systems, a position she has held to this day. Gomez was also awarded the Resolution Honoring Professional Achievement by the Alabama State Senate, the same year. In 2012, Gomez added Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham to her already impressive resume, and became a full-on Professor, teaching online courses, at the American Public University System in 2013, a position which she still maintains to this day. During all of her long work history, Gomez has somehow managed to serve on several boards including the: National Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP) (2009-2015) Alabama Disabilities Leadership Coalition (2010- current) Lee County Autism Resource and Advocacy (2014- current) Alabama Annual Autism Conference Planning Committee (2007-current) Autism Society of Alabama (2004-2009; 2012- current) This year Gomez was selected to serve as Vice-President for the Autism Society of Alabama, a title she also held in 2009. She is a truly remarkable woman, who has spent a majority of her lifetime leading and encouraging others to serve those that some of us, whose lives are not affected by ASD, might forget; and was kind enough to answer some of Alabama Today’s questions about her life, work, and influences. How have other women influenced your success? I have been fortunate to have extraordinary women mentor me throughout my career. Dr. Consuelo Bossey at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio Texas encouraged me to become an expert in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At the time, the ASD prevalence rate was 1 in 500 children. Today, the ASD prevalence rate is 1 in 59 children. Dr. Bossey’s urging became my life’s work. Dr. Samera Baird, Auburn University Professor Emerita, guided me with patience and enthusiasm through my doctoral program and a national research project to identify earliest indicators for ASD. I truly want to be just like her when I grow up! However, I will always admire and adore two strong women above all others. My mother, Rita Crawford, has always been my example and pillar of strength. She raised four children with little support and no complaint all while assuaging any of our worries. My great aunt, El Notaro, who had to drop out of school to work after the 8th grade, proudly earned her high school diploma at age 65. She epitomized tenacity and grace in the face of adversity, even after losing both of her legs. My mother and Aunt El were strong women who told me I could do anything, and I believed them! What shaped your desire to work with special needs kids, specifically children with autism? I honestly always wanted to be a teacher. My two younger sisters could not escape my practice for my future career. I was also drawn to children with challenges. My first year as a special education teacher was exciting and terrifying. Special education had only been a federal mandate for seven years and to say that I was not prepared would be an understatement. However, I was always willing to raise my hand and ask for help when needed and I have continued that practice. That willingness gave me had the opportunity to learn from experts in other fields like speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. When I began my special education teaching career, the prevalence rate for ASD was 1 in 2,500 children. ASD was so rare that it was never mentioned in my undergraduate special education program. Darius, a three year old in my first classroom, introduced me
