Birmingham, AL. – Charles Goodrich, Jr. of Timberline Investments has been elected Chair of the Main Street Alabama Board of Directors. Goodrich served two years on the board prior to accepting his new role as Chair and follows Barbara Patton of Opelika and Charles Ball of Birmingham in leading the organization. Goodrich is the Managing Director of Timberline Venture Capital Investments.
The Main Street Alabama board is made up of a statewide group of business, government and community leaders, including Barbara H. Patton, Opelika Chamber of Commerce; Carolyn Saia Powell, Grant Work LLC; David Fleming, REVBirmingham; Greg Knighton, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama; Jeremy L. Arthur, Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama; John L. Thornton, NARLF, a division of Neighborhood Concepts, Inc; Paul Carruthers, Regions Bank; Rob Bedwell, Protective Life; Sanquenetta M. Thompson, The University of West Alabama; and Wiley Lott, Southeast Alabama Gas District.
Five new board members also have joined the organization: Tim Blair, Shannon Waltchack; Lisa Miller, Alabama Municipal Electric Authority; Rebel Negley, Granny Hester’s Fine Foods LLC; JoJo Terry, Alabama Tourism Department; and Larry Watts, Goodwyn Mills Cawood.
Tim Blair is a veteran real estate professional with more than 20 years’ experience and has been a principal in Shannon Waltchack since 2010.
Lisa Miller is Manager of Communications and Marketing for Alabama Municipal Electric Authority. She has over 27 years of communications and marketing experience in the electric utility industry.
Rebel Negley serves as CEO of Granny Hester's Fine Foods, LLC. Located in Fort Payne, AL, Granny Hester's Fine Foods produces Granny Hester's Sweet Potato Biscuits, with distribution in Sam's Club's, Publix Super Markets, Trader Joes, US Foods and Gourmet Foods International.
JoJo Terry is the Digital Marketing Director for the Alabama Tourism Department. Prior to accepting her position with Alabama Tourism she worked at Global Marketing Solutions as a Community Manager.
Larry Watts is the Director of Community Planning for Goodwyn Mills Cawood and has acquired numerous accolades during his 30+ years as a planner, from election into the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows, to national project awards from some of the industry's most highly acclaimed institutions.
Main Street Alabama Ex Officio Members are Greg Canfield, Alabama Department of Commerce; Jim Byard, Jr., Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs (ADECA); Lisa Jones, Alabama Historical Commission; Anne Marie Bryan, Monroeville Main Street; and Paul Housel, Office of Congressman Robert Aderholt.
Main Street Alabama is a non-profit organization charged with bringing jobs, dollars and people back to the states’ historic commercial districts. Since June of 2014, Designated Communities have recorded 227 net new businesses; 2,363 net new jobs, $150,339,094 private investment, $32,495,455 public investment, and 25,220 volunteer hours in their downtown district. Main Street Alabama brings on three new communities each June. Communities interested in beginning a revitalization program in their downtowns are encouraged to join the Downtown Network to learn how the nationally proven Four Point Approach® focusing on Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Vitality can work in their commercial districts.
For more information, visit www.mainstreetalabama.org.
