Leadership Hoover Chooses Its Inaugural Class

HOOVER, AL - Following the lead of several other cities, Hoover has formed its first Leadership Hoover class, a group of civic and business leaders tasked with bringing together ideas and discussion over ways to improve the city's business, education and overall quality of life.

The class will meet once a month to learn about different aspects such as public safety, community organization, education, economic development, health care, government and business development. Each class will work on at least one project to improve the city. The Hoover City Council allocated $50,000 for Leadership Hoover. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

The inaugural Leadership Hoover Class:

• Tim Aho, president, Aho Architects
• Matthew Allen, sales director, Starnes Media
• Dan Blackman, president, Edmonds Engineering
• Kem Bryant, chief legal counsel, Birmingham Airport Authority
• Tom Chelewski, vice president, Iberia Bank
• Susette Clark-Walker, Realtor, RealtySouth
• Jessica Coates, government affairs director, Birmingham Association of Realtors
• Jammie Cowden, director of real estate, U.S. Steel Realty
• Paul Dangel, director of sales and marketing, Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel
• April Danielson, attorney, Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt
• Khristi Doss Driver, director of compliance and concerns, Southern Nuclear
• Josh Etress, business development, Wildsparq
• Toni Herrera-Bast, public relations and marketing manager, Birmingham Airport Authority
• Nathan Hinds, captain, Hoover Fire Department
• Sarah Johnson, marketing manager, High Cotton
• Melinda James Lopez, chief financial officer and information officer, City of Hoover
• Charles Lewis, principal construction manager, FFG Strategic Consulting
• Tynette Lynch, CEO, Aldridge Gardens
• Shannon Maze, news director, WBRC Fox 6
• Van Moody, pastor, The Worship Center Christian Church
• Jerome Morgan, president, Oncort Professional Services
• Derrick Murphy, Hoover City Council and civil engineer, Gresham, Smith & Partners
• Lynn Ray, president, Business Telephones
• Michael Ray, project manager, Plexamedia
• Nathan Reed, program manager, CB Richard Ellis
• Wayne Reid, senior sales director, ABC 33/40
• Lori Salter-Schommer, public information officer, City of Hoover
• Shelley Shaw, 2016-17 president, Hoover Parent Teacher Council
• Michael Staley, principal, Chain Link Solutions
• Ashfaq Taufique, president, Birmingham Islamic Society
• Joe Thomas, partner, Capstone Financial Group
• Janet Turner, executive director, Hoover City Schools Foundation
• Brandon Ward, vice president for business services division, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
• Jennifer Whisenant, president, Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association

Photo from the City of Hoover