BANKING
Bank Independent has promoted Macy Gooch to officer-assistant controller, Becky Hughes to paralegal/loan processing officer, Tyler Martin to applications services officer and Justina Weston to payroll officer.
Regions Bank has named Jeff Sundheimer head of Government, Institutional and Nonprofit Banking. The bank also appointed Melissa Hancock corporate trust client services executive in the Institutional Services division of Regions Wealth Management.
DEFENSE
Aviation & Missile Solutions, of Huntsville, has promoted Steve Thomas to president. Thomas co-founded the company in January 2022 and previously served as chief financial and operating officer.
EDUCATION
The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation has added Clarence M. Ball Jr., Nathaniel Drummond, Barbara Estep, Larry Howell and Jeremy Wootten to serve on its board of directors through June 30, 2029.
Andrew Wren, of Wren Solutions, has been named executive director of Auburn University’s New Venture Accelerator.
Christian Stanley, of Goshen High School in Goshen, has been presented the Alabama Milken Educator Award for 2025.
HEALTHCARE
Ben Hansert, a respiratory therapist at Mobile Infirmary, has been elected member at large of the Alabama Hospital Association board of trustees.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Jennifer Rudden Conway has been appointed to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. Conway will fill the vacancy left after the resignation of Darryl Littleton.
LAW
Mark Debro, of Grace, Matthews & Debro LLC, has been elected president of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. He succeeds Bains Fleming, of MMPO Defense, who is now immediate past president.
Bradley Partner Julia Bernstein has been elected as a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Firm Partner Edward S. Sledge IV has been appointed to the International Association of Defense Counsel board. In addition, the firm has added Rita L. Hullett to its Birmingham office.
Brandi Frederick has joined Fisher Phillips’ Birmingham office as a partner.
MUNICIPALITIES
The city of Montgomery has named Lawrence Davis Jr. as its new chief operating officer and Kwasi K. Obeng as its new chief of staff.
ORGANIZATIONS
Joy Jones has been named executive director of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
REAL ESTATE
Cushman & Wakefield/EGS Commercial Real Estate has added Casey Howard and Lacey Scott. Howard will serve as executive managing director-retail and Scott as senior vice president-retail.
Capstone Development Partners, of Birmingham, has added Nick Martin as chief financial officer; Josh Smith as executive vice president of P3 Development; Sally Langford as vice president of transitions and university partnerships; and Taylor Thompson as development manager.
RETAIL
Owa Parks & Resort has added Melissa Sells as senior director of operations and Danny Lyons as general manager of Tropic Hideaway RV Resort at Owa.
SPORTS
Shannon Jackson, former CEO of SAFE Shelter, has been named chief executive officer of Special Olympics Alabama.
This article appears in the September 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
