Nathan Anderson is the executive director of Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism. Under Anderson’s leadership, the group received the coveted AAPRA National Gold Medal and two international awards for Wildwater Park, and in 2019 the agency achieved national accreditation. Anderson is a graduate of Athens State University.
Cliff Beall is plant manager of Jasper Lumber Co., where he has worked since he was 14. He is a graduate of Walker High School and Bevill State Community College. He is a member of Jasper’s Planning Commission, the Grant Review Team for the Walker Area Community Foundation and a board member for North Central Alabama Works WIOA Board. He also is a past board member and chairman of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce and team captain of the Youth Leadership Walker County program.
Jonathan Bennett is general manager of Bassett Outdoor Alabama, an outdoor furniture manufacturing facility of Bassett Furniture Industries for its Lane, Venture and Bassett outdoor brands. He has served four terms as a Haleyville city councilman, is past president of the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce and past vice chairman of the Haleyville Winston County Healthcare Authority/Lakeland Community Hospital.
John M. Bullard is chief administrative officer and CFO for the Cullman County Commission. He is responsible for operational, financial and personnel administration for the county with a budget of approximately $82 million and more than 500 employees. Bullard earned an associate degree from Wallace State Community College in Hanceville and then graduated from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Government Financial Manager and holds a Certificate in Public Management from the Government and Economic Development Institute at Auburn University.
Tim Culpepper is CEO of Cullman Electric Cooperative, which provides electric power to more than 47,000 homes and businesses in North Alabama, and internet service to 12,000 customers through its Sprout Fiber Internet subsidiary. Culpepper is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law. He also serves on the boards of Cullman Regional Medical Center, the Alabama Fiber Network and the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association.
Jason Grimmett is vice president and a partner in Drinkard Development LLC, his family business, which develops shopping centers in Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. He was an Alabama State Trooper from 1996 to 2000 and was recognized as State Trooper of the Year. He is a graduate of Wallace State Community College, Jacksonville State University and the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center. He has served as chairman of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce executive board and of the Cullman County Industrial Development Authority. He is active in F.O.P., Masons and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Ben Harrison is director of Cullman Regional Airport. He is chairman of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce board and a member of the Cullman Park and Recreation Foundation board. Harrison is a board member of the General Aviation Alliance of Alabama and the Aviation Council of Alabama and is active with the National Aviation Transportation Association. He has a degree in business, is a licensed pilot and has worked with local school athletics.
Christopher “Boo” Haughton
is vice president of sales of the Regional Builders Group, based in Double Springs, and operating three manufactured housing facilities in Winston and Marion counties. He is a Haleyville native who graduated from the University of Alabama. He is president of the Haleyville City school board, sits on the Alabama Manufactured Housing board and is a member on the non-profit Alabama Housing Foundation board.
Mitzi Houk is community relations manager for Walker, Fayette and Marion counties for Alabama Power Co. An Auburn University graduate, she works in external affairs for Alabama Power and is active with the company’s service organization. She also serves on the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County and recently graduated from Leadership Walker County. She works with the Jasper Industrial Development Board and Walker County Development Authority.
Woody Jacobs is mayor of Cullman. He joined his family business as an accountant, then supervised commercial construction projects for Eidson & Associates until he retired in 2016. He has been president of the local American Red Cross and the Cullman County Fair Association, treasurer of the Cullman Lions Club and president of the Cullman Parks & Recreation Board. Jacobs is a board member of the Fixed Point Foundation and coaches in the Miracle League.
Sean Johnson was named CEO of Walker Baptist Medical Center in November 2023. He is a health care veteran with more than 25 years of administrative experience. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a master’s from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Vicki P. Karolewics is president of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. Karolewics has served two terms on the American Association of Community Colleges board, serves on the Alabama STEM Council, and has chaired the Alabama Community College System’s College Readiness Task Force. She earned a diploma from Reid State Technical College, an A.S. from Patrick Henry State Junior College, a B.S. from Troy State University in Montgomery, and a M.Ed., Ed.D. from Auburn University.
April Knight is executive director of Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center, serving Walker, Winston, Fayette, Marion and Lamar counties. Knight holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s from Troy University. She is a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor and a certified prevention manager. Knight is certified in Healthcare Lean Six Sigma and has served on numerous state and regional boards.
Matt Kinsland is director of Cullman County Economic Development and has been instrumental in securing more than $15 million in grant funding. He serves on three committees through the National Association of Counties. Locally, he is vice chair of the North Alabama Agriplex Foundation Board and a member of the Cullman Civitan and Cullman Farm-City Committee.
Jennifer Ray is district director for Congressman Robert B. Aderholt, serving Cullman County and 13 other North Alabama counties. A graduate of Wallace State Community College and the University of Alabama, she has served on various boards throughout her 25-year career and currently serves on the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee.
Samantha Southerland is vice president and director of strategic operations at Alabama Farm Credit. As a founding board member of the Together We Grow Foundation, she champions scholarships for students pursuing agriculture careers in Alabama. She is also active with Les Dames of Cullman, Women United of United Way of Cullman and Momentum Leadership. She is a Troy University graduate with an Executive MBA from Auburn University and further credentials from the Project Management Institute.
Green Suttles III is executive director of the Jasper Industrial Development Board. Earlier, he was CEO of the Pickens County, Georgia, Development Authority. Prior to that, he owned Vibrant Futures Consulting LLC in Mobile. A graduate of the University of South Alabama, he holds additional credentials from Georgia Tech’s Basic Economic Development Course, University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute, Auburn University’s Intensive Economic Development Training Course and Leadership Mobile.
Jeff Tolbert Sr. is president of Trident Marina, which he operates with his sons, Jason and Jeff Jr. A pilot with more than 15,000 hours and some 3,000 medical evacuations in 100 countries, he founded both MedJet & AirMed International and has spearheaded companies with operations in Birmingham and overseas. In 2014 he sold the medical evacuation business in favor of the Smith Lake marina. He currently chairs the new Cullman County Tourism Bureau and is treasurer of the Cullman Regional Hospital Foundation.
Jamie Troutman is assistant director and governmental affairs at Cullman Economic Development. An Auburn University graduate, she is also a graduate of Leadership Alabama. Troutman is incoming 2025 president of the Economic Development Association of Alabama. She also serves on the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce governmental affairs committee.
Josh Wiggins is owner of Johnny’s Bar-B-Q in Cullman. He has been a part of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce for 11 years and will become chairman of the board in March 2025. He also represents the restaurants of Cullman on the Cullman County Tourism Bureau.
Allen Wood is Cullman city president for Citizens Bank & Trust. A native of Cullman and graduate of Athens State University, Wood serves as vice chair of the board of Cullman Regional Medical Center and is on the board of the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments.
Jeremy Wootten is president and CFO of HomTex, headquartered in Cullman. A graduate of Harvard University, he began working with his father, Gerald “Jerry” Edward Wootten Jr., founder of HomTex. He also is president and CFO of Sovereign American Industries, Southern Proper, Haleyville Drapery Co. and Brigand Arms; the CEO/CFO of DB Technologies and Intelli-Pole; and the managing director of Wootten Investment Group. He serves on the boards of the Business Council of Alabama, the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Bernard Preparatory School.
This article appears in the November 2024 issue of Business Alabama.
