Our Team

Reggie Ash

President & CEO

Reggie Ash

Reggie Ash was named president and CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce in July 2026. He is an accomplished executive leader and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with more than 24 years of service in cyber operations, international affairs and organizational leadership. He commanded Communications Squadrons at Travis Air Force Base in California and at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and later served in senior political-military roles at U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany and at the U.S. Department of State as the Senior Military Advisor for European and Eurasian Affairs. His final military assignment was as Commander of the 21st Mission Support Group at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, where he led a diverse workforce supporting global operations.

After retiring from the Air Force, Reggie continued his commitment to public service and community impact. He founded Colorado’s first military-themed charter school, the Colorado Military Academy, and later served as Chief Defense Development Officer at the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, where he led regional initiatives in defense, aerospace and cyber economic development. Known for his collaborative leadership style and his ability to build strong partnerships across business, government and nonprofit sectors, Reggie brings a deep commitment to community, economic vitality and mission-driven service.

Since beginning my role as president and CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce on July 27, 2026, I have been grateful for the warm welcome from our members and community. I am honored to serve a community with such a strong foundation and exciting future. Our business community is the engine of our region’s growth, and supporting the success of our members remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Chamber team and Board of Directors are committed to serving our members and creating opportunities that strengthen our businesses and our community. Through education and workforce development, advocacy, networking and leadership opportunities, we work alongside our members, elected leaders and community partners to build relationships, address needs and support continued growth across our region.

As we look to the future, my priority is to listen, learn and collaborate with those we serve. Together, we will build on the Chamber’s strong foundation, embrace new opportunities and continue moving our community forward.

I invite you to connect with our team and discover all our Chamber and Decatur-Morgan County have to offer.

Click on any of our team photos to email us.

Janelle Brown

Chief Financial Officer

Read Bio

Janelle Brown

Janelle Brown has joined the Chamber as Chief Financial Officer on December 15, 2025 succeeding Leissa Hill, who will retire following her last day on March 31, 2026.

A native of The Shoals, Janelle is a graduate of the University of North Alabama, where she earned a double major in Accounting and Human Resource Management. Her academic foundation led to an 21-year career in finance and banking.

Janelle has a strong passion for real estate and is a licensed Realtor in Alabama, recently advancing to Associate Broker. Through this work, her family is committed to providing quality, affordable housing for single mothers and the elderly.

She is a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Biden–Harris Administration.

Janelle developed a passion for reading at an early age and has a life mission to increase literacy in marginalized communities. This resulted in her greatest venture, Brown Books & More bookstore. She is also deeply committed to mentorship and encouraging others to grow, lead and succeed. When Janelle isn’t reading, she loves to travel with her husband and two children.

Mishay Clemons

Leadership & Events Manager

Read Bio

Mishay Clemons

Mishay Clemons joined the Chamber as the Leadership & Events Manager in March 2026. In this role, she leads the Chamber’s Excellence in Leadership and Edge Student Leadership programs while managing several of the organization’s signature events.

Growing up in the Priceville community, Mishay developed an early appreciation for leadership by watching her neighbors consistently support one another in both big and small ways. This sense of community has shaped both her educational path and professional career.

Mishay earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising from the University of Alabama. During her time in school, she focused on building a career centered on storytelling and creating meaningful connections through strategic communication.

Before joining the Chamber, Mishay gained experience through roles with System Studies & Simulation (S3), Inc., The University of Alabama Career Center, and The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. She is also a Fellow of The Blackburn Institute, a leadership and civic engagement organization dedicated to improving the state of Alabama, where she previously served as the organization’s 2023 Communications Chairperson.

Amber Fortenberry

Director of Education & Workforce Programs

Read Bio

Amber Fortenberry

Amber joined the Chamber staff in 2018, bringing experience in human resources management with Toray Carbon Fibers and more recently with Intergraph Services Company in Huntsville. During her career, she has worked in all phases of employee development and training, including employee recruitment through state and national networks, career fairs and outreach events.

She received her Bachelor of Arts with a major in human resource management from Athens State University in Athens and is responsible for the Chamber's education and workforce programs.

Margaret Jones

Director of Investor & Business Development

Read Bio

Margaret Jones

Born and raised in Decatur, Margaret developed a deep appreciation for her hometown’s people and progress from an early age. She attended Auburn University, but when the COVID-19 pandemic brought her back home, she quickly began working and building connections in the community.

Her entrepreneurial spirit soon led her to open a women’s clothing store, followed by a men’s clothing store, where she combined her love of creativity with her passion for customer relationships. Through these ventures, she gained valuable experience in business, marketing and community engagement. During this time, she served on the Downtown Business and Merchants Association, focusing on event planning, member engagement and community initiatives.

Margaret’s commitment to Decatur runs deep, inspired by family members who were also actively involved in local causes. She thrives on meeting new people, collaborating on ideas and finding ways to make her community stronger and more vibrant.

Rachel Keith

Director of Communications

Read Bio

Rachel Keith

Rachel joined the Chamber staff in January of 2022. Rachel is responsible for communicating the work of the Chamber to its members and the community through media relations, website and social media management and coordination of annual events.

Rachel spearheads the development of our Public Policy Agenda and leads our advocacy efforts. By collaborating with local, state, and federal elected officials and representatives, she ensures our members have meaningful opportunities to engage and influence policy.

She facilitates our Emerging Leaders bi-monthly lunch and learn events, actively engaging young professionals. She also serves on the Positively Decatur committee providing valuable insight as we highlight the many attributes of our city.

Rachel graduated from West Morgan High School and received a degree in Communications from the University of North Alabama. Prior to joining the Chamber, Rachel spent 20 years in television news, where she most recently served as assignment manager for WAAY 31. During her news career, she served as the Decatur bureau multimedia journalist, chief photographer and is a FAA certified drone operator. She has also worked on numerous community service projects to help bring awareness to area non-profits.

Maddison Kendrick

Member Engagement & Workforce Manager

Read Bio

Maddison Kendrick

Joining the Chamber as the Member Engagement and Workforce Manager, Maddison has built a career rooted in community outreach, relationship-building and creating meaningful connections with organizations and the public they serve. She previously spent the last 8 years working in Minor League Baseball working behind the scenes collaborating with community leaders, coordinating events and establishing initiatives that united fans and local businesses.

Originally from Pennsylvania, she holds a B.A in Communication Studies and French Minor from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Alex King

Administrative & Events Coordinator

Read Bio

Alex King

Alex King joined the Chamber team as Administrative and Events Coordinator in January 2025. A 2012 graduate of Hartselle High School, she earned an associate degree from Northwest Shoals Community College in 2017.

With a strong background in organization, problem-solving and collaboration, Alex brings valuable experience to her role. Her work as a substitute teacher and office aide at Hartselle City Schools, along with her volunteer efforts, sharpened her skills in office management, scheduling and event planning.

A dedicated working mother, Alex is passionate about balancing career and family life. She is the proud mom of three children and aims to instill in them values such as hard work and perseverance. With a positive attitude and strong work ethic, she looks forward to making a meaningful impact at the Chamber and in the community.

Our Team

Reggie Ash

Janelle Brown

Mishay Clemons

Amber Fortenberry

Margaret Jones

Rachel Keith

Maddison Kendrick

Alex King

Get In Touch with the Chamber!

Additional Chamber Resources

Stay Connected!

Proud Members Of: