Ten leaders from the Birmingham area joined others from across the country in learning about public-private partnership collaborations as part of the Havard University Young American Leaders Program.
The 10 Birmingham-area leaders who completed the program were:
- Staci Brown Brooks, director, marketing communication, Alabama Power Co.
- Anil Chadha, executive vice president, Regions Bank.
- Jay Eichelberger, general manager, southern operations, Altec Inc.
- Miller Girvin, executive vice president, innovation and entrepreneurship, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.
- Rachel Harmon, executive director, Birmingham Promise.
- LaRhonda Magras, CEO, YWCA Central Alabama.
- Mark W.C. Martin, CEO, Build Urban Prosperity.
- Mashonda Taylor, executive director, Woodlawn United.
- Ford Wiles, independent creative and strategic partner.
- Emily Wykle, director, external affairs, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“The Young American Leaders Program grows out of a deep concern and a great hope uncovered by our research on U.S. competitiveness,” said Jan Rivkin, professor and co-chair of Harvard Business School’s U.S. Competitiveness Project. “We’ve found that the most promising innovations for competitiveness are local, they span sectors, and they require long-term commitment. The young leaders nominated from Birmingham over the last few years have a remarkable track record of coming together across sectors to transform their hometown. This year’s Birmingham cohort had so much to share with — and to learn from — other regions.”
The 130 YALP participants represented 13 metro areas: Birmingham, Boston, Chattanooga, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and San Jose.
The focus of their workshops and classes with Harvard Business School professors was public-private collaboration to improve workforce and economic development, and quality of life for all in their cities.
