Lewis Brooks is superintendent of the Shelby County School District, the seventh largest in the state. Brooks has led the district to undertake a $43 million capital campaign to provide classroom upgrades and facility improvements, and he has fostered innovative instructional initiatives. He has received numerous awards for his service. He holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Montevallo and a doctorate from Samford University.
Keith Brown is president of Jefferson State Community College, where he worked earlier as dean of campus development and general counsel. A colonel in the Alabama Air National Guard, he is the State Staff Judge Advocate, the senior attorney for the Alabama Air National Guard. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama. He is on the boards of Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Business Alliance and Central Alabama Partnership for Training and Employment, and is a member of Kiwanis Club of Downtown Birmingham. He is an alumnus of Leadership Alabama, Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Pell City.
Allison Sullivan Chappell is a physician with Ascension St. Vincent’s Primary Care Greystone Village, which opened in 2020. Chappell is board-certified in family medicine. Chappell attended medical school at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan. She completed her family medicine residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Chappell has a special interest in preventive medicine, as well as advocacy for overall health; adolescent and women’s health and chronic disease management.
Holly Dean was appointed CEO of Shelby Baptist Medical Center in 2022. An Alabaster native, she comes to Shelby with 18 years of hospital administration experience, most recently as COO at Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City, Florida. She has a master’s degree in health/health care administration/management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Mike Evers is vice president of Sealing Equipment Products Co. (SEPCO) in Alabaster. He has been with SEPCO for 24 years. A University of Kansas graduate, he is vice chair of 58 Inc., the county’s economic development agency. He is part of the first group to start the county’s apprenticeship program for machinists in an effort to increase workforce development.
Dee Fowler is superintendent of Hoover City Schools. Earlier, he served as deputy state superintendent and in other roles. A graduate of Lipscomb University, he has a master’s from Vanderbilt University, an AA Certification in Education from Alabama A&M University and a doctorate from the University of Alabama. He was named Superintendent of the Year by the Alabama Parent Teacher Association.
Meribeth Gilbert is vice president of human resources at McLeod Software. A graduate of Clemson University, Gilbert was honored as among the Top 40 Under 40. She is secretary of the 58 Inc. board, a board member with the Central Alabama Partnership for Training and Employment and the Shelby County Chamber and serves on the Hoover Parks Comprehensive Plan steering committee. She has helped the company navigate a tight labor market and win designation as one of Birmingham’s Best Places to Work in 2022.
Chuck Ledbetter is superintendent of Pelham City Schools. An Auburn University graduate, he has a master’s from Auburn University Montgomery and a doctorate from Auburn University. He is president of the American Association of School Administrators Century Club 100. He also serves on the boards of the Council for Leaders of Alabama Schools and the School Superintendents of Alabama.
Kirk Mancer is president and CEO of the Shelby County Chamber. The organization has the Alabama Accredited Chamber designation from the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. He previously served as president of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and served in several positions for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University.
David Mitchell is mayor of Columbiana and serves as vice chair of the Shelby County Mayors’ Association and on the advisory board for the Shelby County Arts Council. He is a Certified Municipal Official. He is retired from a career in the aerospace and defense industries. A graduate of Auburn University, he has a master’s from Webster University. He is a combat veteran.
Chad Scroggins is county manager for Shelby County. He holds undergraduate, master’s and MBA degrees from Samford University. He is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Alabama and is active with Leadership Shelby County, Shelby 911, 58 Inc., the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, the Birmingham Business Alliance, Local Government Health Insurance Board, Alabama Solid Waste Association of North America Board and the National Association of Counties.
John Stewart is president of the University of Montevallo. The university has gained more than $100 million in support during his term. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University, with a master’s from Washington College and a doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Amy Sturdivant leads the professional economic development team at 58 Inc., Shelby County’s economic development agency. She serves on the boards of both BIO Alabama and Southeast Life Sciences, and she has served as an Alabama Launchpad judge. She is also active with the Shelby County Chamber.
Wayne Vickers is the first superintendent for the Alabaster City School System, formed in 2013 and now serving more than 6,000 students. Since Vickers joined the Alabaster system, the district has completed a five-year strategic plan and gained AdvancED District Accreditation. Vickers is currently leading a $100 million construction project with plans for a new high school, career technical academies and an athletic complex.
David Willingham is Shelby County engineer. A graduate of the University of Alabama, he serves on the 58 Inc. board and various Regional Planning Commission committees. The Shelby County Highway Department is responsible for more than 950 miles of roads and 190 bridges.
This appears in the February 2023 issue of Business Alabama.
