Leadership Tuscaloosa Honors 2023-2024 Graduates

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama on Friday announced the 2023-2024 Class of Leadership Tuscaloosa following a graduation ceremony held Thursday night at the Bryant Conference Center.

Click here to subscribe to our free Tuscaloosa Daily newsletter and breaking news alerts

The keynote address was delivered by Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer and the class presented a $24,385 check to Tuscaloosa Transit Authority, the beneficiary of the class’s community service project, Shelter Up Tuscaloosa.

The Chamber says Laura Reeves of River Oaks Health, LLC was elected class president and Alyson Baxter of The University of Alabama was named the 2024-2025 chair of the Leadership Tuscaloosa program.

“Leadership Tuscaloosa Class of 2022 changed my life. My entire experience of living in Tuscaloosa took a huge turn," Baxter said. "I learned more about my community during this 9-month program than I did the prior 17 years I lived here. I’m forever grateful for all the amazing people I’ve met through the Chamber and the friendships formed that make Tuscaloosa home.”

JacQuan Winters of Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation was the 2023-2024 chair.

Here's a look at the 42 individuals who completed the nine-month program:

• Carol Agomo, The University of Alabama
• Teresa Bivens, The Croom Foundation
• Kevin Besnoy, Tuscaloosa's One Place
• April Blount, Eagles’ Wings, Inc.
• Emily Bryant, United Way of West Alabama
• Dakota Callaway, The Westervelt Company
• Ashley Chambers, The University of Alabama
• Andre Channel, Townsquare Media
• Beverly Foster, Shelton State Community College
• Jaime Garza, Hope Pointe Behavioral Health Crisis Care
• Michael Green, Shelton State Community College
• Emily Hall, Five Horizons Health Services
• Tyreece Hampton, The University of Alabama
• Jimmy Hart, Visit Tuscaloosa
• Cody Haycraft, Amazon
• David Howell, Tuscaloosa County Commission
• Cindy Huggins, DCH Health System
• Roosevelt Jackson, Tuscaloosa's One Place
• Marc Jonas, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.
• Karen Jones, Indian Rivers Behavioral Health
• Joshua Lowenthal, The Law Office of Joshua A. Lowenthal
• Jonna Martin, Alabama Credit Union
• Daniel McCullum, The Bear Trap
• Kyle McDermott, BFGoodrich
• Kortney Milien, The University of Alabama
• Audrey O'Neal, Bryant Bank
• Jennifer Phifer, The University of Alabama
• Ottia Phillips, Easterseals West Alabama
• Lesley Powell, Tuscaloosa City Board of Education
• Laura Reeves, River Oaks Health, LLC
• Alicia Richards, City of Tuscaloosa
• Quinn Roe, Way, Ray, Shelton & Company, P.C. – CPA
• Nicole Shine-Hopson, READY
• Exa Skinner, Kentuck Art Center & Festival
• Max Snyder, Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority
• Kyle South, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama
• Khouri Spencer, Parker Towing Company
• Yvonne Stevenson, Jackson Business Consulting
• Steven Thomas, Temporary Emergency Services
• Camisha Thomas-Shabazz, Tuscaloosa County Commission
• Jeff Thompson, Amazon
• Kayleigh Westbrook, Avenue Pub
• Paula Whitley, District Attorney's Office
• Lisa Young, Tuscaloosa County Branch of NAACP.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.