JED BLACKWELL is executive director of the Southeast Alabama Regional Airport (SARA) and was selected as 2025 Alabama Airport Manager of the Year by the Aviation Council of Alabama. Blackwell joined SARA in 2002 and worked in each department before joining the management team in 2008. Under his leadership, the airport has grown significantly, with annual averages of more than 80,000 aircraft operations and more than 1 million gallons of fuel sold. The airport also has secured more than $36 million in grant funds for airport improvements, attracted three aviation businesses, added hangars, a café and hosted two air shows. Blackwell is a graduate of Faulkner University in Montgomery.
LINDA BODY is a retired social worker from the Lowndes County Department of Human Resources who has built a second career as a community volunteer. After a town hall meeting revealed that litter and town cleanup was one of the top community concerns in Fort Deposit, Body led a group of concerned citizens to pick up litter around the city. Friends describe her as “a one-woman beautification machine,” as she takes daily walks to pick up litter. Body has deep roots in the Fort Deposit community, as her mother and aunt were local civil rights activists, and she says she hears the echo of their voices about improving her community.
JAE’QUES BROWN is the new mayor of Greenville, elected in September 2025. He is the city’s first new mayor in 25 years and its first Black mayor. A graduate of Greenville High School and a lifelong resident of the city, Brown’s goals as mayor, as stated on the city’s website, include open communication, responsible budgeting, transparency and ensuring the city’s finances remain healthy and strong. Prior to his new post as mayor, Brown served on the city council for five years.
DEBBIE FRANKLIN is the chief executive officer of Mizell Memorial Hospital in Opp. She has more than 45 years of health care experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in health education from Troy University. She began her career as a new graduate registered nurse at Mizell and has held various positions there including chief quality and risk officer for 12 years. She also served as a risk consultant for an insurance company for nine years before taking on her current CEO role at the hospital.
GREG HENDERSON is president and CEO of Southeast Gas, serving in that role since 2006. He also serves as president and CEO of Southeast Gas’s sister companies, Southeast Energy Authority and Southeast Gas Supply. An Auburn University graduate and a Certified Public Accountant, he serves on the Auburn School of Accountancy Alumni Advisory Board. He has led the American Public Gas Association, the Alabama Natural Gas Association and Easter Seals Alabama and several local organizations. Currently, he serves on the boards of the Covington County Economic Development Commission, American Public Gas Association, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and CCB Community Bank, and is an active member of C12 Business Forums.
DONNA HOOD is the founder and owner of BDR Equipment Service, a diesel repair and equipment shop in Fort Deposit. A native of Montgomery, Hood graduated from John Patterson State Technical College, now known as Trenholm State Community College, and has worked as a diesel mechanic for more than 30 years. She launched BDR Equipment Service more than 10 years ago and opened her company’s first storefront in September 2025. She recently purchased the former Chevrolet dealership across the street from her shop and is working to renovate it to be used as a parts supply house. Hood and her staff also travel for on-site diesel equipment repairs for customers throughout Autauga, Butler, Lowndes and Montgomery counties.
BROCK KELLEY is president of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia. Previously, Kelley served as director of workforce development for the Alabama Department of Education, principal of Charles Henderson High School and behavior specialist with Enterprise City Schools. He is a graduate of and former baseball player at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and Troy University. He earned a Ph.D. in adult education from Auburn University in 2018 and was recognized in 2024 as one of Auburn University’s Top 20 Alumni under the age of 40.
MAEGAN FAULK MARSHALL owns Maggie’s Coffee House in downtown Luverne. She received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at Troy University and worked as an adjunct instructor of marketing at Troy before moving to Florida for 10 years with her family. After returning to Luverne, Marshall opened her coffee shop in October 2024. She expanded the business to open Maggie’s To Go, an app-based curbside coffee pickup location, in February 2026. In addition to running Maggie’s Coffee House, Marshall is deeply involved in the redevelopment of downtown Luverne. Through DF Investments, Marshall and her mother, Donna Faulk, have renovated seven downtown buildings and brought seven businesses to the area.
CHANCE McCURLEY was elected mayor of Opp in September 2025. A lifelong resident of the city, McCurley is the owner of CTM Transportation Services LLC, a freight broker and logistics consulting company, and Small Town Donuts. Prior to starting his businesses, he worked in sales in the automotive dealership industry. Since becoming mayor, he has prioritized attracting new business to the city.
MADELENE MEANS is the mayor of Fort Deposit and a retired Navy captain. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received her commission through its Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Means became an intelligence officer in 1998 and commanded the Navy’s largest cryptologic enterprise as Commander Task Force 1070 and Commander of Navy Information Operations Command in Hawaii from 2018 to 2020. She completed her 30-year career as chief of staff at the Naval Information Warfighting Development Center. She holds master’s degrees from University of San Diego and the Air War College. After retiring from the Navy in 2023, Means returned home to Fort Deposit and was elected mayor in January 2026.
MARK PARKER is president and CEO at Covington Electric Cooperative. A graduate of Troy University in Dothan, Parker has worked at Covington Electric Cooperative (CEC) for 39 years. Over the years, he has attended Economic Development Institutes at both Georgia Tech and Auburn University and has worked with a number of CEC businesses on USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant programs. Currently, Parker serves as chairman of the Covington County Economic Development Commission board and is a member of the Wiregrass Economic Development Commission board. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Andalusia and serves on the board of the Kiwanis Club Fair. He also serves on the boards of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives.
This article appears in the April 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
