Steven Arnberg is vice president of real estate sales for Russell Lands on Lake Martin, one of the largest waterfront developers in the South. He has been with the company for more than 20 years, overseeing new development sales for Russell Lands and managing Lake Martin Realty. Sales for the combined companies exceeded $400 million in the recently completed fiscal year. He holds an undergraduate degree from Auburn University and a master’s in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and serves on the advisory board for the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama.
Curtis “Woody” Baird is mayor of Alexander City. He brings a diverse background in public service, health care and business. He holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Troy State University and spent six years as a nurse before dedicating 20 years to the U.S. Army, where he served in the Special Forces. An entrepreneur, Baird operated a business in Alexander City for 24 years. An NRA-certified training counselor, he also holds leadership roles in the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, the Lake Martin Economic Development Authority, the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission and the executive board of the Tallapoosa County Republican Party.
Chad Calhoun is vice president of construction and real estate development at Russell Lands on Lake Martin and president of Classic Homes, Russell Lands’ residential construction company. He graduated from Auburn University and worked for Brice Building Co. in Birmingham before coming to Russell Lands 18 years ago. His responsibilities include overseeing and managing the construction of new developments, corporate-owned facilities and residential construction projects. He is active in several volunteer and civic organizations, including the Rotary Club of Alexander City and the Lake Martin Auburn Club.
Sara Norred Crutchfield is office manager at Auburn Pediatric Dentistry, where she has been employed for 12 years. She is director of The Valley Local, a non-profit organization that she and her husband operate to help local small businesses advertise and contribute to the community. For example, the organization hosted Valley Fest ’24, which raised money for charitable groups, and has since hosted more. She serves on the Chattahoochee Humane Society board.
Sandra Fuller is president and CEO of Lake Martin Tallapoosa County Tourism, which she helped organize. A board member of the Alabama Travel Council, she was appointed by the governor to help rewrite the career technical education curriculum for hospitality and tourism. Prior to joining tourism, she worked with Lake Martin Economic Development as marketing and workforce development director. Her involvement in various projects resulted in the creation of more than 3,500 new jobs and $800 million in capital investment.
DeAnna Hand is executive director of LaFayette Main Street. She is a native and resident of LaFayette and Chambers County. She is a graduate of Auburn University Montgomery with a master’s degree from the University of Alabama. Prior to joining LaFayette Main Street in 2022, she served as state director for Alabama Mentor for 12 years and earlier worked for the state as a social worker advocating for social services and child welfare resources. She is a licensed master social worker and serves on the board of Integrea Community Mental Health System. She is active with the Rotary Club of LaFayette.
Jeff Lynn is president of Central Alabama Community College. He came to ACCS in 2016 from Louisiana Economic Development, where he developed LED FastStart, which was nationally recognized as the No. 1 workforce development program in the U.S. He also lived in Georgia, where he held a similar role in state workforce development leadership. He is a Certified Economic Developer Trainer. He specializes in large-scale manufacturing startups. He has served on numerous statewide workforce boards and currently serves on the boards of Lake Martin EDA, the Alexander City Chamber, Sylacauga SAFE and NCCER. He is a graduate of Auburn University.
Ericka McCullough is office manager at the Chambers County Development Authority. A native of Chambers County and a graduate of Auburn University, she brings more than 20 years’ experience to the agency, including 10 years in municipal government. She serves on the Interfaith Food Closet board and is a member of EDAA. She also holds economic development credentials from Auburn University.
Jeff Nelson is the sheriff of Chambers County. He is a former Alabama State Trooper assigned to Chambers County. He also served as a special agent for the Alabama Bureau of Investigations’ homicide/major crimes unit. He also has worked with the U.S. Department of Justice as a narcotics taskforce agent and received extensive training, including at the DEA Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He has been assigned to and worked with the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police on congressional and presidential details.
Jose Reyes Jr. is superintendent of the Alexander City Schools. He has 28 years of experience in public education with 11 of those years in Alexander City. He also has served as superintendent in Scottsboro and Calhoun County schools. He is a graduate of Troy University with a doctorate from Alabama State University.
Andie Roberts is a project manager at Chambers County Development Authority. She is a graduate of Auburn University where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree. She also works in community marketing for the Chambers County Commission and Chambers County Highway Department. She serves on the Chambers County School District Counseling & Guidance committee and Innovation Center advisory board. She also is a founder of Leadership Chambers County. She has additional economic development credentials from the University of Georgia.
Denise Walls is executive director of the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, which is the lead industrial development arm for Tallapoosa and Coosa counties. She is a graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery, with additional economic development credentials from Auburn University. A native of Tallapoosa County, she serves as an ex officio member of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce and is a representative on the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission board.
This article appears in the December 2024 issue of Business Alabama.
