July Newsletter 2021

• Blackmon earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2019 from Auburn University at Montgomery, and is currently pursuing a Master degree in Psychology at AUM. After graduating, she hopes to work in her own clinic or be a part of a mental health clinic. Her dream is to be able to help anyone and everyone become the best version of themselves.
• Mann earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2020 from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is currently pursuing a Master degree in Public Administration at AUM. Mann has a passion for the work of non-profit and community development organizations. She hopes to work in a field where she can have a positive impact on the community.
• Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations & Marketing in 2014. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Auburn University at Montgomery. Martin owns a small family business, and hopes to advance and grow it with his foundational business background.
• McDaniel earned a bachelor’s degree in Business in 2003. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Healthcare Administration at Auburn University at Montgomery. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and earned the AUM College of Business Outstanding Student Award for the 2020-2021 academic year. After graduating, she plans to use her degree to advance her role and succeed where she is currently employed.
• Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication in 2020 from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is currently pursuing a Master degree in Public Administration at AUM. Her long-term goal is to establish a bridge between her volunteering and communications role.

Underwood’s visionary leadership led the organization to 30 years of steady growth, including the expansion and construction of the Homewood, Alabama fitness, aquatics, and sports center to include dedicated research facilities and other programs. More than bricks and mortar, his leadership took Lakeshore to the national and international stage including being designated as an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site in 2003, which resulted in Lakeshore Foundation’s long history of advancing adaptive sports. As a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site, Lakeshore hosts national team training camps and international competitions. Since the training site designation, Lakeshore has produced 52 Paralympic athletes, coaches and staff, and those athletes have captured 30 Paralympic medals. In addition, Lakeshore is also the High Performance Management Organization (HPMO) of USA Wheelchair Rugby.

Additionally, the Lima Foxtrot program for injured military members and the formation of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) – Lakeshore Research Collaborative, are among the milestone events of his tenure. Underwood also led the development of new facilities, an advocacy department, and many sports and recreation programs for youth and adults.

While the past 30 years have been a period of expansion, Underwood continued to prioritize the Lakeshore members and the work to make an impact on the community. “I am very proud of the fact that, in the midst of all the national attention, our extraordinary staff and board have kept our members, local athletes and community at the very center of all we do. They are truly the heart and soul of Lakeshore,” Underwood said.

Lakeshore’s mission is to encourage and provide opportunities for people with disability to live a healthy lifestyle through activity, research, advocacy and health promotion. Supporting this mission included partnerships with many other organizations, such as the collaboration with Apple to develop the activity tracker for wheelchair users and the construction of dormitories and cottages for visiting Lima Foxtrot participants and athletes.

“When I decided to accept the position at Lakeshore, I saw it as an opportunity and a challenge,” Underwood said. “It was opportunity to come into an organization where there was a strong commitment by the board to build a successful program, and a challenge to test myself to see as the first full-time employee, if I could be successful in that situation.”

Underwood is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Paralympic Advisory Council. In 2008 Underwood was named by the United States Olympic Committee as the Chef de Mission for the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Beijing Paralympic Games.

Prior to Lakeshore, Underwood worked at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and served as a Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Congressman Ben Erdreich. He also served as president of the Homewood, Alabama City Council and as a state senator. He has served on the boards of several community and civic organizations including the Homewood City School Board, the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program, and the national Board of Disabled Sports USA. He was a member of the Leadership Birmingham Class of 1998 and the Leadership Alabama Class of 2011.

Underwood received his Master of Science in Liberal Arts and Social Sciences from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1976.

Eller’s professional education background and accomplishments are quite impressive. Under her watch at Eufaula, the school won the Champion of Computer Science Award, and each school improved one letter grade on the state report card from the 2018-19 school year. In 2019, she was nominated to serve on the Governor’s Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways where she serves as the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) expert. She also received the Public Relations Award from the Alabama Career Technical Association in 2018 and was nominated to serve on the ACTA board.

Eller’s accomplishments seemingly go on forever. BOE President Amy Price is excited to bring one of the state’s top educators to the Marble City.

“This is an exciting time for Sylacauga City Schools. We’re excited about Dr. Eller’s arrival and look forward to working with her to create an environment of academic excellence and opportunities for every student, ” Price remarked.

Eller earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1998 as well as a Master of Education in 2006 from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Original article found here.

Johnson’s desire to care for others has gained much appreciation, as she’s been nominated by Opelika-Auburn News readers as one of the area’s top nurses. Her biggest reward, however, is the time she spends with up-and-coming nurses.

“While there are many rewarding opportunities in the nursing field, I can truly say one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences as a nurse is the opportunity to share my knowledge with the younger nurses,” Johnson said. “Seeing them connect knowledge with practice is a great feeling.”

As the director of case management at EAMC, among other roles, Johnson is responsible for overseeing duties such as insurance certification and social work discharge planning.

“In my current role, I would say one of the biggest challenges is connecting our patients to the resources in the community that will aid them in becoming self-sufficient,” she said. “Sometimes the resources are scarce and having the opportunity to be a patient advocate can be challenging.”

Despite the challenges, Johnson said, “there is no better feeling than identifying the right blend of resources to get the patient what is needed to succeed.”

“This was particularly challenging during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “I always believe that we should never settle for less when we are pooling resources for our patients and community. I approach each situation as if I am working for my own family. If I would do it for family, I am willing to do it for our patients.”

Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2000 as well as her Master of Business Administration in 2014 from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Original article found here.

Ashley Reid ‘20
Stamp Idea Group’s newest addition to the creative team, Ashley Reid, is also the 2021 ADDY® Awards Student Designer of the Year. In addition to the coveted Student Designer of the Year Award, Reid also took home a total of six ADDY® Awards in the Student Division for the American Advertising Federation (AAF), Montgomery Chapter 2020 – 2021 American Advertising Awards. Reid earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2020 from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Marina Gilmore ‘15
Montgomery Veterinary Associates welcomes its newest member of the MVA Vaughn Road family, Dr. Marina Gilmore, DVM. Her special interests include surgery, emergency and preventative medicine, and she looks forward to serving you and your pet. Gilmore earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2015.

Bradley Bedwell ‘12
Bradley Bedwell, a political newcomer, is running in the District 3 race for a seat on the City Commission of Dothan. Bedwell’s platform is focusing on providing good customer service to constituents. Bedwell, a Selma native, obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Accountancy in 2012 from Auburn University at Montgomery. He opened a CPA firm in Dothan, where he works as a certified public accountant.

Ashlee Thompson ‘11
Graduate student Ashlee Thompson presented her thesis exhibition in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery inside Woods Hall. Thompson has been affected by mental illness for 12 years, and her exhibition “Synaptic Transmission” aims to advocate for mental health awareness. Her art featured various colors and shapes birthed from strokes of acrylic paint, some featuring scientific elements like trace outs of brain neuron chemical structures. “I use abstraction because I believe that complex concepts like mental health cannot be represented objectively,” Thompson said. “This is my version of creating something that’s making the invisible visible.” Thompson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a minor in Art History in 2011 as well as a Master of Liberal Arts degree in 2013 from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Ian Brooks ‘00
Dr. Ian D. Brooks, MS is the chief executive and founder of Rhodes Smith Consulting, leading transformations of people and organizations for over 24 years. His new book, “Intention: Building Capabilities to Transform Your Story,” provides a fundamental piece of his approach, switching focus from a single change to a total transformation of self. Dr. Brooks has extensive experience in executive and leadership development, change management, business performance consulting, and communication planning. Brooks earned a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Auburn University at Montgomery in 2000.

James Wood, Jr. ‘98
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of James Wood, Jr. to the Florida Mid-Bay Bridge Authority. Wood is a former Destin City Council Member who served 20 years in the United States Army, receiving an honorable discharge. He has been involved with the Lions Club, Destin Chamber of Commerce, Active Retired Men of Destin, Destin Seafood Festival and the Mattie Kelly Arts Festival. Wood earned a Master of Public Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1998.

Terri Bozeman Lovell ‘92
The Alabama State Bar (ASB) announced the selection of Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell as its new executive director. Lovell will become the first female executive director of the organization since its founding in 1879. “We are thrilled to have Judge Lovell bring her vision, experience and never-ending enthusiasm for the legal profession to the Alabama State Bar. This is an exciting hire for all Alabama lawyers,” said ASB President Bob Methvin in announcing Lovell’s selection. “After an exhaustive national search that produced 80 candidates, Judge Lovell stood out, not only for her abilities, but because of her understanding of the needs of Alabama lawyers and the Alabama legal community.” Lovell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1992 from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Craig Nixon ‘82
Castellum, Inc. announced Brigadier General Craig Nixon (Retired) has joined the Company’s Advisory Board. Castellum’s Advisory Board seats individual entrepreneurs and senior cyber security/information technology executives with business, government and technical expertise useful for assisting in identifying, integrating and growing acquired companies. Over a 29-year Army career, Brigadier General Nixon served in a wide range of assignments including seven tours of duty in special operations units. He is a combat decorated soldier whose awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. Nixon earned a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1982 from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Pete Knight ‘81
Renasant Bank announced that Pete Knight was recently promoted to Division President of South Central Alabama. “Pete’s promotion reflects the excellent job he has been doing to enhance Renasant’s presence not only in Montgomery, but also in the South Central Alabama region. He has been an asset and a leader for the South Central Alabama team, and we look forward to watching him continue to grow in this new role and leadership at the bank,” said John Bentley, President of Renasant’s Central Region. Knight earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1981.