CONVENTION SPEAKER FOR FRIDAY NIGHT KEYNOTE
KAYLEE TOW
Kaylee Tow is a former All-American for the University of Alabama softball team where she graduated with a Bachelors’ Degree in Marketing and a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration. Kaylee graduated Summa Cum Laude, was a nominee for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, and earned the NCAA Elite 90 Award given to the athlete with the highest GPA competing in the NCAA Tournament. Kaylee currently works as a financial analyst at the Boeing Company, and in her free time, she enjoys giving back to the game of softball, attending church, and inspiring young women to become the best version of themselves. Kaylee has been an advocate for mental health issues in our young people, specifically student-athletes, and she hopes to help educate about areas where we can all grow and be better for each other.
CONVENTION SPEAKER FOR SUNDAY MORNING KEYNOTE
MISS ALABAMA 2022
LINDSAY FINCHER
Miss Alabama 2022 Lindsay Fincher is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with degrees in political science in dance. Lindsay was recognized as one of the 31 most influential women on the campus of the University of Alabama, was a recipient of the Presidential Elite Scholarship, and was a member of the Blackburn Institute and numerous honor societies and organizations. Lindsay’s social impact initiative is Catalyst: Arts for All, which promotes arts education and exposure and participation in the fine arts. She has written a children’s book entitled A B C – The Arts and Me. An accomplished dancer, Lindsay has been a scholarship recipient to the Institute for American Musical Theater, the Joffrey Ballet School, and the Broadway Dance Center Summer Musical Theater Intensives in New York.
SATURDAY PRESENTATION SPEAKERS
Margaret Ila Christian
Intern Pathways Program Lead, Lockheed Martin
Presentation Title: Ready for Launch, Early Prep for Professional Success
A three-time graduate of The University of Alabama, Margaret Ila Christian serves as the Intern Pathways Lead with Lockheed Martin. Prior to this role she was a Campus Recruiter at LM- managing the enterprise’s recruitment relationship with six universities. She spent eleven years with The University of Alabama in the department of Enrollment Management recruiting incoming students and managing the Bama Bound Orientation Program before moving into her role with Lockheed. Beyond her professional life, Margaret Ila serves her local community as an ally on the Druid City Pride Board as well as the president of her local Delta Zeta Alumnae Chapter. Beyond this, Margaret Ila enjoys all things beach, iced venti Starbucks drinks, and spending time with her labsky- Jelly Bean. Roll Tide!
Troy Fountain
President of The Wiregrass Foundation
Presentation Title: Paying Your Civic Rent through Community Engagement
Born and raised in Hueytown, AL, Troy now calls the Wiregrass area home and has lived here for 20 years. He has a professional background in ministry, consulting, business, and education. Most recently Troy served as the Founding Pastor of Wiregrass Church in Dothan, AL. Troy has also coached and consulted with various ministries and organizations to grow and positively portray their brand in the community. He also spent three years as a public school teacher in Tuscaloosa, AL. Troy graduated from the University of Alabama and Dallas Theological Seminary. Troy lives in Dothan, AL with his wife Stacy and has four children, Kate and her husband Bennett, Mary Dean, Bess, and Edward.
Ellery Hill
Student, The University of Alabama
Presentation Title: Financial Wellness Fundamentals
Ellery Hill is a Senior at the University of Alabama studying finance and women’s studies. She has been involved in a variety of academic organizations focused on investing and financial research. Over the summer, she worked in Goldman Sach’s Private Wealth Management Division. It was at the firm that she discovered how valuable a financial wellness education can be to young adults especially given that 76% of college students wish they had more help to prepare for their financial futures (KeyBank). Since coming back to school, she has made it her purpose to increase student accessibility to financial resources and education.
Dr. LeNá Powe McDonald
Director of Internal Affairs and UA System Board Liaison for the Office of the President at the University of Alabama
Presentation Title: Making A Lasting Impression
A Birmingham native, Dr. LeNá Powe McDonald has served in a variety of roles with area nonprofits, government, and economic development agencies throughout central Alabama. LeNá holds a Bachelor of Arts (Community Development and Dance) Master of Arts degree (Communication Studies) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Higher Education Administration and Leadership) from The University of Alabama. She is also an alumna of the Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium at The University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Her academic and professional research focuses on leadership development. She remains involved with several organizations in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas including the Birmingham Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, the Junior League of Tuscaloosa, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Lillian Brand
Account Director for KC Projects Public Relations
Presentation Title: Telling Your Story through Personal Branding
Lillian Brand is a Montgomery, Alabama native and serves as Account Director for KC Projects Public Relations in Birmingham. Her creativity and leadership are her trademarks as she oversees a variety of client accounts including ServisFirst Bank, Full Moon Bar-B-Que, and Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys. In this role, she manages social media content, brand development, and public relations, securing press coverage for her clients in countless local, state, and national media outlets. Lillian completed her graduate and undergraduate work at The University of Alabama, earning her Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree and Public Relations & Political Science dual-Bachelor’s degree. As a sophomore, she was elected SGA President — the youngest to ever represent the student body. In recognition of her campus involvement and leadership, Lillian was selected for membership in all four UA senior honor societies: Blue Key, Mortar Board, ODK and Anderson Society, the latter of which she served as President. She later served as the MBA Association President during her time in graduate school.
Ed Fields
Senior Advisor & Chief Strategist, City of Birmingham Office of Mayor Randall L. Woodfin
Presentation Title: Community Leadership
Ed Fields serves as Senior Advisor and Chief Strategist for the City of Birmingham where he drives the agenda of Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. In his role, Ed leads key strategic initiatives in support of the mayor’s agenda as well as national and local public-private partnerships, strategic and integrated communications, as well as social justice, racial equity and civic innovation efforts. Ed spent 15 years as an association management professional, first through service at the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and later through Relax, It’s Handled, an award-winning association and event management company he co-founded in 2007. Ed’s leadership as an executive, producer and coach has helped leaders crack the code on new innovations, new customers and millions of dollars raised through non-dues revenue and new donor acquisition. More important, the people Ed serves feel heard and included in his approach to organizational transformation. In 2017, Ed served as campaign manager for the data-centric grassroots campaign to elect Randall Woodfin as Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama. The campaign brought 11,000 new voters to the polls, including 5,000 voters 18 - 35 years of age. Ed received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from Alabama State University and earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Alabama’s Manderson School of Business. He has also received his Institute of Management (IOM) designation, a nonprofit management certification, from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.