Board of Directors
2024-2025 Executive Committee
John Holley*
Chairman of the Board
Calhoun Community College
John Holley
John Holley is the Chairman of the Board for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. He is the Dean for Technologies at Calhoun Community College where he oversees twenty-three workforce development programs. Prior to his career at Calhoun, John was in mechanical contracting.
John is an elected member of the Morgan County Schools Board of Education. He represents the Union Hill and Lacey’s Spring areas. As a product of Morgan County Schools, Calhoun Community College, Athens State University, and Faulkner University, John believes in education opportunities for all Alabamians and understands the value of lifelong education and personal development.
John’s faith is instrumental in directing his path and decisions in life. He has led and participated in international mission work. John is married to Tracy and they have one son, Spencer. They reside on and operate a working cattle farm in east Morgan County.
Leifje Dighton*
Chairwoman of the Board - Elect
GE Appliances, a Haier company
Leifje Dighton
Leifje Dighton is Chairwoman of the Board - Elect for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. She is the Executive Director at GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier company’s, top-freezer refrigeration manufacturing Center of Excellence in Decatur, Alabama where she is responsible for total business operations, product quality and the development of a team of 1,500 employees. GEA has invested over $125 million in the Decatur plant since 2020 to expand capacity and implement the latest technology to improve safety, quality and manufacturing efficiency.
Leifje has provided exceptional leadership throughout her 23-year career at GE Appliances. Her experience is grounded in manufacturing operations, and she has held roles in numerous areas of the business including employee health and safety, material flow and lean manufacturing.
Leifje is a champion for women in manufacturing. She serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Morgan County and the Alabama Chapter of Women in Manufacturing (WiM). She is a mentor for GE Appliances’ Women in Operations and is on the recruiting committee for 100 Women Strong at Auburn University. In 2022, Leifje was awarded the WiM STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which recognizes the outstanding leadership and accomplishments of women at all levels of the manufacturing industry.
Leifje graduated from Auburn University with an Industrial and Systems Engineering degree. She and her husband have two wonderful children and live in Madison. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, gardening and college football.
Jamie Reeves
Past Chairwoman of the Board
MeritHouse Realty &
Capital Management
Jamie Reeves
Jamie and her husband, homebuilder, Steve were foster parents now turned adoptive parents. The Reeves have a beautiful blended family of six girls – Jessica, Emily, Maysen, Hunter & Ascher and grand-daughter Lenox. Jamie is passionate about child advocacy and her community.
Her advocacy for children began in her young adult life as an AmeriCorp VISTA at Mosaic Mentoring, formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morgan County Inc., where she spearheaded a program teaching high school students how to give back to the younger generation through mentorship. She has led with a servant's heart by giving her time to several nonprofits such as the Morgan County Child Advocacy Council, the Decatur Charity League, Parents & Children Together (PACT) Board of Directors, CASA of North Alabama Board of Directors, Morgan County Association of REALTORS Community Liaison Chair & Safety Chair, Morgan County Residential Task Team and by serving as the Vice Chair of Development for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
Her devotion to enhancing the lives of others is what brought her to the decision of forming MeritHouse Realty in 2020. MeritHouse Realty & Capital Management is a direct reflection of the way she chooses to serve others in our community as a portion of sales is invested back into their clients nonprofit of choice.
Kent Lawrence*
Treasurer
Inline Electric Supply Company
Kent Lawrence
Kent Lawrence is treasurer for the Chamber’s Executive Committee. Kent is a Decatur High School graduate and owned TVW Electrical Supply for 28 years. He recently sold his business to InLine Electrical and is currently the Decatur Branch Manager.
Kent was named the Chamber’s Raymon Baker - John Cook - Ralph Jones Small Business Person of the Year for 2021. TVW Electrical Supply went on to win the 1-10 Employee Small Business of the Year award for 2021 from the Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.
Kent currently serves as chair of the City of Decatur Planning Commission, is on the Board of Directors for the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Decatur’s Board of Directors, and a past president, Received the Hixson Award from the Kiwanis club in 2022. He is a member of Leadership Alabama Class XXXII. He and his wife, Mamie, have two sons, Jeremiah and Taylor, and two grandsons.
Kelli Powers
Vice Chairwoman,
Community Building
Decatur Morgan Hospital
Kelli Powers
Kelli Powers is the President of Decatur Morgan Hospital and has been there since August 2020. Decatur Morgan Hospital consists of two acute care inpatient hospitals, a free-standing psychiatric hospital, an outpatient rehab facility, a Medical mall in Hartselle and 18 clinics all located in Morgan County and is part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System. Prior to Decatur, she was the Chief Financial Officer of the Huntsville Hospital Health System for six years. She came to North Alabama as the Chief Executive Officer at Athens Limestone Hospital in 2010. She has over 33 years of health care experience.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from The University of Alabama and a Master of Management in Health Care from Vanderbilt University. She has worked at several hospitals across the state of Alabama including Lanier Health Services, UAB Baptist of Montgomery, East Alabama Medical Center and the DCH Health System.
She chairs and serves on numerous boards. She is currently the Chairman of the board of HWCF, a state healthcare worker’s compensation fund, Chairman of the board of Partners Cooperative, a national GPO, Chairs the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama’s Hospital Advisory Committee, a member of the Calhoun Community College Foundation board, and the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee. She also serves on the Morgan County Economic Development board and many other boards.
In 2012, she was named the Citizen of the year for Limestone County by the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and in 2015, one of Alabama’s most powerful and influential women. She is very active with the American Heart Association, chairing the 2020 Huntsville Heart walk. Kelli was in the Huntsville Leadership Flag class L33 and Leadership Alabama class XXXI. She has two children, two grandchildren and two grand dogs.
Linda Schoo*
Vice Chairwoman,
Development
Marco's Pizza
Linda Schoo
Linda Schoo is Vice Chair of Development on the Executive Board of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. Linda, alongside her husband Jerry and son Danny, serves as a franchise owner of Marco's Pizza in Decatur. They established their Marco’s store in December 2017 and are grateful for the immense support from the Decatur community. Linda and Jerry have been married for 43 years and are proud parents of three children and five grandchildren.
Linda's professional journey began in the medical field as a radiologic technologist. Upon relocating to Decatur in 1992, she transitioned to the American Red Cross, where she taught health and safety courses and facilitated the placement of AEDs in our community. Later, she joined the Philips Healthcare sales team, where she spent several years traveling the United States, assisting the military and federal government with medical equipment needs. Her recent position was as a field marketing manager for Marco's Franchising, LLC, where she provided support to fellow franchisees through marketing and sales training.
She also serves as a board member of Decatur Morgan County Tourism. Additionally, Linda actively participates in the Decatur Morgan County Tourism Association and serves as a Commodore for the Chamber, offering guidance to fellow business owners. Engaging with the Chamber and serving as a Commodore allows her to connect with inspiring individuals, contribute to community initiatives, find support as a business owner, and enhance the community's well-being.
In her leisure time, Linda treasures moments with her grandchildren, traveling with friends and family, and exploring all the new businesses in downtown Decatur.
Cindy Smith*
Vice Chairwoman,
Leadership & Networking
Edward Jones
Cindy Smith
Cindy Smith is the Vice Chairwoman of Leadership and Networking. a financial advisor with Edward Jones. She was born and raised in Selma, AL. She and her husband moved to Decatur in 2009 after graduating from Auburn University. Cindy later received her MBA from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. She enjoys being an active part of the community through various volunteering opportunities, board positions and leading small groups with Church of the Highlands. Cindy and her husband Byron are proud to call Decatur home where they are raising two kids, Addy Jo and Rand, and rescue dog Rocky.
Cindy opened her Edward Jones office in 2019 in Decatur and currently serves on her region's leadership team. As a financial advisor, Cindy is committed to helping her clients effectively manage their investments and keep them track to reach their financial dreams and goals. Her team takes pride in helping individuals, families and business owners while caring about them deeply in a professional manner. To better serve her clients, she has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification.
Cindy has been involved with the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce since she moved to Decatur and so naturally it was the first place she went when starting her financial advising business. "The Chamber has had a positive impact in me leading a successful career in Decatur and raising my family here," said Cindy.
Terry Welch*
Vice Chairman,
Talent Development & Education
Contractor Service &
Fabrication, Inc.
Terry Welch
Terry Welch is Vice Chair of Talent Development & Education. He is the Chief Business Development Officer with Contractor Service & Fabrication, Inc. Terry is a graduate of Lamar University with a Bachelor of Science in engineering and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird University.
Terry and his wife Janelle have been married for 21 year and have four daughters and 9 grandchildren. He is currently on the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, the One Decatur Implementation Committee, the Industrial Development Board, serves on The Alabama Commission on Higher Education and serves as Chair of the Lamar University College of Engineering Advisor Council. In his free time, Terry enjoys golfing, watching college football and basketball and spending time with his grandchildren.
2024-2025 Board of Directors
Cindy Anderson*
Community Action
Partnership of North AL
(President, Women's Chamber)
Cindy Anderson
As president of the Women's Chamber of Commerce, Cindy Anderson represents the organization on our Board of Directors. Cindy is the Director of Community Services at Community Action Partnership of North Alabama. She has worked there for 30 years. She is passionate about serving others and her job allows her to do that every day.
Cindy graduated from Austin High School and Calhoun Community College. She is a graduate of Leadership Morgan County. She is a member of Rotary Club of Decatur Daybreak and serves as the Fundraising Chair. She was the recipient of the 2021-22 Rotarian of the Year from the Rotary Club of Decatur Daybreak.
Cindy and her husband have been married for 32 years, have three children and are expecting their first grandchild very soon. They worship at First Bible Church in Decatur where they serve on the "welcome team". Cindy enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family, especially long weekends at Smith Lake.
Janelle Brown*
Brown Books & More
Janelle' Brown
Janelle Brown is a native of The Shoals and a graduate of The University of North Alabama, double majoring in Accounting & HR Management. This led to an 18-year career in finance and banking. She absolutely loves real estate and is a licensed Realtor in Alabama, recently becoming a broker. From this passion, her family provides quality, affordable houses to single mothers and the elderly.
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. When Janelle isn’t reading, she loves to travel with her husband and two children. Not to mention, she absolutely loves to encourage people to be their best selves.
Jim Brown*
Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC
Jim Brown
Not Available
Todd Bullard
3M
Todd Bullard
Not Available
Dewayne Eddy*
LPL Financial
Dewayne Eddy
Dewayne Eddy is a registered principal and financial advisor at LPL Financial in Decatur. After graduating from Danville High School, he earned degrees from Calhoun Community College and the University of Alabama Huntsville. He and his wife Nancy live in Hartselle with their three children – Jasper, Lillie Kate and Gracie.
He enjoys volunteering in the community that has given him so much. He is currently a Commodore and Board member for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce and member of Kiwanis. He served as the President of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Morgan County and is now serving as the Past President. He also has been on the WCU Credit Union and CASA boards.
When Dewayne is not with clients or at sporting events watching his children play, he and Nancy are antiquing. They’re convinced that a rare find is waiting for discovery. And until they find it, they’ll enjoy the hunt.
David Hendrixson
Daikin America, Inc.
David Hendrixson
Not Available
Jeni Jordan*
TTL, Inc.
Jeni Jordan
Jeni Jordan is a Project Engineer with TTL, Inc. Jeni is a graduate of Priceville High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2013.
Jeni is as active member and former Vice President of the Huntsville Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Jeni and her husband, Noah, met as lifeguards at Point Mallard in high school and have been married 12 years. They have four children, three boys and a girl, who keep them busy. They are members of Shoal Creek Baptist Church and love spending time outside enjoying God’s creation.
Gene Kanikovsky
Joe Wheeler
Electric Membership Corporation
Gene Kanikovsky
Not Available
Lorri McNutt*
Redstone Federal Credit Union
Lorri McNutt
Lorri McNutt has worked at Redstone Federal Credit Union for thirty-four years. She currently serves as branch manager at the 6th Avenue location. She graduated from Hartselle High School and attended the University of Alabama. She is a graduate of Leadership Morgan County and has served on the American Cancer Society Board.
Sam Mozeb*
Access Real Estate
Sam Mozeb
Sam Mozeb is the owner of Access Real Estate and APM Leasing & Management. Sam opened his first business in Michigan. In 2004, he sold the business and moved to Decatur. He then owned and operated several convenience stores in the area. In 2007, Sam became a real estate agent and opened his own business two years later.
Access Real Estate is a commercial business brokerage company that helps guide customers who are looking to buy, invest or sell a commercial property or business of any size. Sam enjoys connecting people and helping his customers plan and execute a successful business sale. In 2019, Sam purchased APM Leasing & Management (previously Advantage Property Management) and focused on improving the company and adding commercial property management.
Sam lives in Decatur with his wife of 20 years and their four children. He enjoys meeting new people, traveling with his family and exploring the area. Sam says he is excited for the future of Decatur-Morgan County with all the growth and opportunities we are now seeing.
Arthur Orr
Alabama State Senate
(Chairman of MCEDA)
Arthur Orr
Sen. Orr had a distinguished academic record at Wake Forest University, University of Alabama School of Law and, more recently, Austin Peay University.
After graduation from law school, while his classmates pursued legal careers, Arthur joined the U.S. Peace Corps. He was assigned to a remote Himalayan village in Nepal, where he lived primitively with no indoor plumbing and dirt floors, and conducted teacher trainings throughout the region.
After completing his Peace Corps commitment, he returned to Decatur and practiced law. Although Arthur was a partner in a law firm and active in his community, he felt led to return overseas to do what he could to help the poor in the developing world. He was hired by Habitat for Humanity International and was assigned to establish a new Habitat program in Bangladesh. To date, that program has constructed more than 2000 houses.
He presently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee as well as Chairman of the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering and Athens State University Boards of Trustees. Since his election, he has received numerous national, state and local awards and recognitions.
He is married to the former Amy Wallace Bethshares and has one son, Jack, and a daughter, Anna. He works as the Executive Vice-President of Cooks Pest Control. Senator Orr and his family reside in Decatur, Alabama. The Orr's are members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church where Senator Orr serves as an Elder and adult Sunday school class teacher.
Dede Quarry*
Miss Muldrew's & Tess' Place
Dede Quarry
Not Available
Michele Terry
Indorama Ventures
Michele Terry
She and her husband Burt have two daughters. Abby is pursuing a nursing degree at UNA and Sydney is a high school freshman.
Stuart Tubb*
United Community Bank
Stuart Tubb
Stuart Tubb is the Executive Vice President/Decatur Market President at United Community Bank. Stuart has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UNA and received his MBA from UNA while working full-time.
Stuart is also a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama, the Princess Theatre Center for Performing Arts, the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation and the Decatur National League Dixie Youth Baseball Organization.
Seddrick Williams
Renasant Bank
Seddrick Williams
Seddrick Williams is a native of Decatur and graduated from Austin High School. He obtained an associate degree in accounting and an associate degree in business from Calhoun Community College. He also received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Athens State University.
Seddrick is a Commercial Relationship Officer with Renasant Bank in Decatur. In this role, he works with Renasant Bank’s Commercial Lending Team to establish business relationships for the purpose of making commercial loans. He is also responsible for developing and maintaining a loan portfolio, which provides maximum profitability to the bank with minimum risk. Seddrick has been with Renasant Bank for 10 years. Prior to joining Renasant Bank in 2010, he worked for First American Bank for 14 years.
Seddrick is very passionate about community development. He actively promotes financial literacy and homeownership in the Decatur-Morgan County area. He is a past Member of the Board of Directors for The Industrial Development Board of the City of Decatur, the Decatur Long Term Recovery Committee, Habitat for Humanity of Morgan County and United Way of Morgan County. His is currently a Commissioner for the Housing Authority of the City of Decatur and a Board Member for the Volunteer Center of Morgan County.
Seddrick currently facilitates the Understanding YOUth program which educates students about financial literacy, homeownership and small business development. His hobbies include playing basketball, listening to music and occasionally writing poetry.
Heather Wilson
United Launch Alliance
Heather Wilson
Heather Wilson is the Southern States Director for United Launch Alliance. Prior to working at United Launch Alliance, she owned her own company, Politically Correct Consulting, which specialized in political consulting in federal, state, and local elections. She serves on the Business Council of Alabama’s Board of Directors and is a committee member of Manufacture Alabama. She is the Co-Chair for the State Government Committee for the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Decatur. She also serves on the Morgan County Economic Development Authority’s Industrial Council and is a member of the Limestone County Economic Development Authority.
She also served on Congressman Dale Strong’s transition committee and is a member of his Advisory Committee. Heather has a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University. She is a graduate of Hartselle High School. She is married to Randall Wilson, who is a nurse anesthetist at Athens Limestone Hospital. They have a ten-year-old son, Liam, and twin 8-year-olds, Colin and Reese.
Sean Zintel*
Magnolia River Services, Inc.
Sean Zintel
Sean Zintel has been with Magnolia River Services, Inc. for over eight years holding leadership roles in business development, operations, and most recently serving as the Director of Marketing. Prior to joining Magnolia River, Sean worked for multiple federal government contractors supporting programs for FEMA, the Federal Geographic Data Committee and multiple municipalities in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Sean graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Geography – Urban/Regional Planning with a minor in GIS. He holds a Master’s of Science degree from George Mason University in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences.
Having managed employees for most of his career, Sean is passionate about employing a leadership philosophy that promotes mentorship, empowerment, accountability and aspiration. As a leader, he is most proud when he sees his team or fellow colleagues be successful. Sean said Simon Sinek’s quote, “Leaders don’t look for recognition from others, leaders look for others to recognize” best captures his motivation for being a manager. Sean said Magnolia River’s culture and core values have provided the ideal corporate environment for him to grow and develop into the leader he is today.
Sean and his wife, Casey, a marketing consultant who is originally from Huntsville, met in Washington D.C., where they lived and worked for nearly 10 years. They relocated back to North Alabama eight years ago after getting married. Sean and Casey have two children, Calleigh and Colin, and a Goldendoodle named Zoey. Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with his family, beach vacations, great seats at any sporting event and believe it or not, following politics.
|
*Board Photos Courtesy: Jennifer Sherwood Photography
|