Ryan Coleman is the owner and principal of Difference Architecture LLC, a Sylacauga firm focused on community-driven design across commercial, civic and adaptive reuse projects. His work is rooted in a “citizen architect” approach — immersing himself in the community and contributing his expertise to support meaningful growth and long-term investment. Coleman chairs the Sylacauga Commercial Development Authority and is a member of the Sylacauga City Schools Foundation board, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Pursell Farms Tax District board. He is a former chair of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce and coach of the Sylacauga High School tennis program.
Tim Crist is program manager for gener8tor’s gAlpha earth program, based in Sylacauga and serving East Alabama. The program aims at assisting entrepreneurs in their startup journey, regardless of their industry of focus. He also serves on the board of Adoption Can Transform Families, a 501(c)(3) founded by his daughter, Peyton, to bring awareness to adoption and foster care and associated resources. They recently began an initiative to bring a Safe Haven Baby Box to Sylacauga to serve the region.
Lorie Denton is director of CREATE, East Alabama’s Regional Workforce Center, which serves students and adults in a variety of high-wage, high-demand career pathways. Previously, she served as the spokeswoman for the city of Oxford, after spending several years as the director of business development for the Calhoun County Economic Development Council. She is a life-long resident of Oxford, where she has raised her three children, and continues to serve her community on numerous boards and councils.
Karla Eden is executive director of Main Street Anniston, working to transform downtown into a thriving, inclusive hub of opportunity. She also oversees the Anniston Downtown Development Authority and serves on the Jacksonville Commercial Development Authority. Eden founded GETUP Anniston, a free small business accelerator empowering local entrepreneurs to grow and succeed. She is a full-time student at Jacksonville State University and currently pursuing an EDP (Entrepreneurship Development Professional) through the International Economic Development Council.
Jo Ann Fambrough is mayor of Munford. Her work history includes 25 years in manufacturing with Medline Industries Inc. in Monroeville, where she worked as training supervisor, assistant plant manager and plant manager. After the factory closed, she retired and moved back to Munford. She was elected mayor in 2016 and reelected in 2020 and 2025.
Nathan L. Hill is a native of Jacksonville and serves as military liaison for the Calhoun County Economic Development Council and Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center. He assumed his position after 18 years as the deputy to the Commander of the Anniston Army Depot, where he received the DOD’s highest civilian award, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He works with local, state and national officials on military and homeland security issues, sectors that account for about 26% of Calhoun County’s real gross domestic product. Hill serves on the Alabama Military Stability Commission and is a member of the Berman Museum Foundation board. In 2025, he was inducted into the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command’s Hall of Fame.
Chad Jones is president and CEO at First Bank of Alabama, where he is a member of both the bank and holding company boards. He is a leader with the First National Bankers Bank board and the Independent Community Bankers of America. Locally, he is treasurer for OneEast Alabama, chairman for Talladega First (Ritz Theatre), vice chairman for the Talladega Economic Development Authority and serves on the AIDB foundation board and Citizens Baptist advisory board. He is a graduate of Troy University and Leadership Alabama, with additional banking credentials, and has been director of the Alabama Bankers Association’s Alabama Banking School.
Mark Jones, a Guntersville High School graduate, came to Jacksonville State University as basketball team manager until graduating with a master’s degree. He served as recreational sports director from 1984 until 2016 when he was hired as director of officials for the Alabama High School Athletic Association. He is currently executive director of the Alabama Sports Officials Foundation. He has been selected in the AHSAA Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Officials Hall of Fame and the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame. He was elected to the city council in 2008, council president in 2012 and mayor in 2025.
Dr. Don C. Killingsworth Jr. is the 13th president of Jacksonville State University, where he has dedicated most of his professional career. A Jax State alumnus, he holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Alabama. Since becoming president in 2020, he has helped guide the university’s continued growth and momentum, with a focus on student success and regional impact. Active in the community, he serves on the city of Jacksonville Industrial Development Board, is chair of the Alabama Council of College and University Presidents and of the Conference USA Board of Presidents.
Kim Knight is the career and technical education director for Talladega County Schools. With more than 23 years in education, Knight specializes in building industry partnerships and securing grants to expand pathways across construction, cybersecurity, health sciences, manufacturing and other fields. Students earn industry credentials, complete work-based learning and transition directly into employment and postsecondary opportunities. She has served on the Governor’s Alabama Attainment Committee and currently serves on the Alabama Health Occupations Students of America board, Talladega County Education Foundation, Charlee Tayt Foundation and multiple workforce advisory boards.
Suzanne Lacey is superintendent of Talladega County Schools. She was selected by Education Week as one of nine Leaders to Learn From in 2019 and as the 2022 Alabama Superintendent of the Year. She is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of Montevallo with a doctorate from Samford University. Talladega County Schools are known for innovative practices and an impressive graduation rate of 97%. Recently, the school teamed with Digital Promise to implement cybersecurity pathways for high school students to address the increasing demand for cyber-related careers.
Jeff Lynn is president of Central Alabama Community College, which has campuses in Alexander City, Talladega, Childersburg and Prattville. Recently, CACC enrollment has surged 45%. Lynn has served on several boards across Alabama including the Aerospace Alliance, Alabama Germany Partnership and currently serves on the boards of Lake Martin EDA, Alexander City Chamber, Prattville Area Chamber, SAFE, EARTH, NCCER and the ONE East Economic Development.
Jonathan Mosley is the Calhoun County market executive for Emblem Credit Union. A graduate of Jacksonville State University, he has more than 25 years of experience in commercial and business lending. Mosley is the chairman of the Interfaith Ministries of Calhoun County board and a past president and current board member of the local Rotary Club. His civic involvement also includes a 10-year tenure and former chairmanship of United Way, active participation in the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, and service to the city of Oxford. He also is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Calhoun County.
Gwen Parrish owns The Vine Chiropractic with her husband. She is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and has been active in community leadership and downtown development. She has served on the city of Oxford’s Historic Main Street Board since 2018 and has chaired the Historic Main Street Promotions Committee since 2019. She also serves on the Calhoun County Chamber’s Youth Entrepreneur Program, supporting and encouraging the next generation of local business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Amy Price oversees clinical delivery and patient care at Coosa Valley Medical Center. She has served two terms as a governor-appointed member of the Alabama Board of Nursing and a nine-year term on the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. She was honored as the Sylacauga Beautification Council’s Nanellan Lane Citizen of the Year. Price serves on the Auburn University School of Nursing Clinical Advisory Board, B.B. Comer Library Board and previously spent 10 years on the Sylacauga City Schools board of education. She currently serves on the HOSA State Board and received the 2023 national Caduceus Award.
Abby Quinn is a native of Anniston and a graduate of Wellborn High School and Jacksonville State University, and she is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Defense Financial Manager. She began her career at the Anniston Army Depot and has served at the Army Materiel Command headquarters in Huntsville. In 2023, she became deputy to the commander for ANAD, where she is the senior civilian advisor to the depot commander.
Joey Statum is mayor of Southside, guiding it through a season of steady growth. Recent additions include Johnson’s Giant Foods, Local Joe’s Southside Pit and Grill, Visionary Eye Care and Waffle House. His leadership focuses on bringing people together through small group meetings and open dialogue, with an emphasis on transparency and thoughtful planning to strengthen the local economy while preserving the small-town character.
Phil Webb owns Webb Concrete & Building Materials Inc. He serves on numerous boards, including Alabama Power, the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders, the Calhoun County Home Builders Association, executive committee for the University of Alabama President’s Cabinet, the Rising Tide Capital Campaign Cabinet for the University of Alabama and the Calhoun County Economic Development Council. Webb served six years as finance chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and two years as board chairman for the Greater Alabama Council Boy Scouts of America. He is chairman of the Alabama Workforce Board and a board member for the State Employee Insurance Board and the OneEast Board. He also serves on the boards of the Business Council of Alabama, ProgressPAC and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.
Matt Whitaker is EVP and city president at F&M Bank in Anniston with a primary focus on commercial lending. He is active with the Alabama Bankers Association, graduating from its Alabama Banking School and serving as a class director. He also is a graduate of the Bankers 2 Leaders Executive Leadership Class and serves on the B2L board. He is vice chair of United Way of East Central Alabama, treasurer of Calhoun County Quarterback Club, board member at the Calhoun County Chamber & Visitors Center and past president of Rotary Club of Calhoun County. He is a Jacksonville State University graduate.
This article appears in the July 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
