Events

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

Friday, July 20th, 2007

Will Brooke, Executive VP / Managing Partner -- Harbert Management
Managing Partner

Mr. Brooke joined HMC in 1994. Mr. Brooke is a Partner of the Harbinger/Aurora Venture Funds and serves on those funds’ Investment Committee and Members’ Advisory Committee. He serves on the boards of Aldagen, Innovative Biosensors, Maxcyte and Optimal Readings, as well as Southeast BIO, Atlanta Venture Forum, BioTech Association of Alabama and Innovation Depot. He has been advising start-up companies for more than twenty years and has also served on the boards of AV Holdings (Atherotech), Visador, Nationwide Homes and Emageon (NASDAQ: EMAG). An Executive Vice President and Board member of HMC for over ten years, Mr. Brooke initially served as the firm’s General Counsel and later as its Chief Operating Officer. Before joining HMC, Mr. Brooke served as General Counsel of Harbert Corporation. Prior to that role, he was founder and managing partner of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt, a law firm in Birmingham, AL. He is a guest lecturer on venture capital for the MBA programs at the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and he previously served as Chairman of Southeast BIO. He holds a degree in law (J.D.) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama.

Friday, June 15th, 2007

Lex Williamson, CLU, LUTCF
Managing Partner

Managing Director Lex Williamson has been guiding the 32-year-old Alabama General Agency for the past twe;ve years. Sixty well-trained, experienced representatives offer their clients customized solutions from a comprehensive menu of financial services, tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual or business. Specialists represent a broad spectrum of financial products, including insurance, investments, government securities, employee benefits, and more.
Williamson entered the business in 1975, joining Northwestern Mutual 32 years ago. The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network of Alabama is well respected in the industry and is proud of its integrity and performance.
Involved in a number of civic and charitable organizations, Williamson is especially interested in and supportive of Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Young Life. A number of Northwestern Mutual committees and boards have benefited from his leadership, including the Advanced Planning and Life Committees.
Lex Williamson graduated from Vanderbilt University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. Additionally, he is insurance licensed in several states and holds Series 7, 8 and 63 securities registrations as well as his CLU and ChFC designations. He has authored numerous articles for publication and is a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable.
The Williamsons, Lex and his wife Mary, reside in Birmingham where he serves on the Session at Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The Network Office has been active since 1975.

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Marc Corsin

Marc Corsini, founder of Corsini Consulting Group, will be our guest speaker on April 20th. Corsini Consulting Group offers companies and individuals a wide range of services ranging from sales training to business development and goal setting. Marc is a great motivator and offers great advice to professionals. Marc is a graduate of Georgia Tech and has a wife and three kids. Please visit www.corsini.com to learn more.

Friday, March 16th, 2007

Sheldon Haygood

Sheldon Haygood began his career as a Sports Reporter at FOX6 back in 1994. Since then, Sheldon has developed into one of the city's favorite Weekend Sports Anchors. During the week, he is busy covering sports events in the Birmingham area and the Southeast.
Sheldon grew up in the great state of Texas. San Antonio to be exact. His desire to make sports reporting a career grew out of his love of sports in general. During his high school years, Sheldon was involved in team sports. But once out, he tried his hand at radio, working as a disc jockey. He received his degree in Journalism from Southwest Texas State.

His first stint in television landed him a job in Midland, Texas at KMID-TV. There, he worked as a reporter and weekend anchor. From there, Sheldon moved to Lubbock as Sports Director. Then an offer from WHOA-TV (now WNCF-TV) in Montgomery, Alabama took him from his home state. FOX6 came knocking in 1994, and Sheldon has been here ever since. Sheldon is married and the father of four beautiful children

Friday, February 16th, 2007

Patrick Cooper
Maynard Cooper and Gale

Patrick Cooper is a successful Birmingham attorney that is going to run for mayor of Birmingham in the next election cycle. For more about Patrick Cooper please go to the following website. http://www.mcglaw.com/attorney_bio.aspx?AttorneyID=23

Friday, January 19th, 2007

Luther Strange

Luther Strange is a graduate of Tulane University undergraduate and Tulane Law where he also played collegiate basketball. In the year between college and law school, Luther worked on an oil field supply ship operating in the North Sea between Aberdeen, Scotland and Stavanger, Norway. He and his family live in Mountain Brook and he currently is the Chair of Bradley Arant's Governmental Affair Practice Group. He represents a broad range of clients on legislative, regulatory, and economic development issues at the federal, state and local levels. His background includes the running of the Washington, D.C. office for a Fortune 500 company. Luther serves as an advisor on issues related to economic development and corporate political activity for major U.S. corporations, including Vulcan Materials Company, Energen Corporation, Russell Corporation, Regions Financial Corporation, Rock-Tenn Company, and HealthSouth Corporation. Luther has a strong interest in government and recently ran for Lt. Governor of Alabama in what turned out to be a very close race.

Friday, November 17th, 2006

Hatton C. V. Smith
ROYAL CUP COFFEE

Hatton C. V. Smith is the President and CEO of Royal Cup Coffee and is currently involved with many other civic and business organizations. A few such organizations are Church of the Advent, Servis1st Bank, Baptist Health Systems and Mt. Brook City Schools. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee and is married with three children.

Friday, October 20th, 2006

Eddie Lumpkin
METRO COMPANIES

Eddie Lumpkin, owner of Metro Trailer Rentals, Metro Truck Rentals, and Metro Mini Storage will be our speaker at the monthly meeting on October 20th. Eddie is an entrepreneur who has grown a successful business in the rental and storage business with millions in annual revenue. Eddie has also become a major player in the Birmingham real estate market. Eddie has quite an impressive portfolio of land in North Shelby County as well as self-storage facilities and office/warehouse properties throughout the area. Eddie is a graduate of the University of Alabama and continues to be a major advertiser on local sports shows such as Paul Finebaum.

Friday, August 25th, 2006

MARK WOMACK
EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

Mark Womack joined the Southeastern Conference staff in 1978 upon graduation from the University of Alabama and has served the conference in numerous capacities ranging from Assistant Public Relations Director to Acting Commissioner.

His current duties include negotiating and monitoring television contracts for football, basketball and other conference sports; liaison between post-season bowls and member institutions (assisted in the development of the Bowl Championship Series); oversee the conference budget including the receipt and distribution of conference funds to member institutions; liaison with conference athletics directors; oversee operation of the SEC Football Championship Game and the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and conference scheduling for football and basketball.

Womack currently serves on the NCAA Championship/Competition Cabinet, is the chairman of the NCAA Division 1 Football Licensing Subcommittee and is a member of the NCAA Playing and Practice Seasons Subcommittee. He is a member of the Board of Directors of NCAA Football and chairs the Budget and Finance Committee of NCAA Football.

Womack, 51, began his duties with the SEC as Assistant Public Relations Director with responsibility for publicizing all conference sports. In 1979 Womack was promoted to Assistant to the Commissioner for Information and Administration, continuing his media responsibilities as well as working in areas of eligibility and financial aid for sprig sports and office-wide administrative duties.

In 1981 Commissioner Boyd McWhorter named Womack Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for conference championships, meetings and office administration. In 1988 Womack served two months as Acting Commissioner for the SEC when Commissioner Harvey Schiller accepted the job of Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee before deciding to return to the SEC. Upon his return he promoted Womack to Associate Commissioner. Womack again served the Conference as Acting Commissioner for four months during 1989-90 before Roy Kramer was hired as Commissioner in 1990. Kramer promoted Womack to Executive Associate Commissioner upon his arrival.

While at Alabama, Womack worked in the athletic department’s sports information office for two years before receiving his degree in Communications with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Promotional Management. Womack grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and attended Tuscaloosa High school where he was a three-year starter at quarterback, leading his team to the semifinals of the state championship his senior year.

Womack is married to the former Stephanie Keller and they are the parents of a five-year old son, John David.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Archie Lamb
The Law Offices of Archie Lamb

The Law Offices of Archie Lamb are managed by general partner and attorney Archie Lamb. Over the past 5 years, Archie Lamb has been a driving force in national class-action litigation concerning major healthcare and business issues. His experience and expertise on healthcare policy and small business interests along with his record in multi-district class-action litigation has garnered national recognition. He was recently honored with the prestigious President’s Award from the California Medical Association.

Representing over 700,000 physicians nationwide, Archie Lamb took on managed care. Archie believed the system in place took advantage of physicians, deprived patients of quality care and gave excessive power and control to insurance companies. Settlements with two of the nation’s largest for-profit insurance companies have proven the system must be changed to preserve the relationship between doctor and patient. Changes are set to take place, as specified in the settlement agreements won by the physicians. This suit has already lead to substantial reforms by the managed care industry including improvements in billing practices and the creation of a multi-million dollar foundation focused on improving healthcare.

Archie Lamb also represents over 25,000 independent, local pharmacists seeking national class-action status against Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for illegal activity and abusive business practices. This action has been brought to ensure patients’ access to their selected pharmacists and to ensure that independent pharmacists will be able to provide quality care to the people who seek over 1.3 billion prescriptions from them each year.

In November 2002, The Law Offices of Archie Lamb successfully led a landmark case against the makers of Metabolife. It was the first case of its kind to be decided on behalf of four injured purchasers of the product and their families.

Archie Lamb is also a certified NFL player representative.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Steve Upton
Vice President, CraneWorks

Brothers, David Upton, President, and Steve Upton (pictured bottom left), Vice President founded CraneWorks in 1996. CraneWorks is their 2nd successful venture after Reliable Rentals. They are focusing on improving and expanding CraneWorks' services in Alabama and Tennessee. The brothers are constantly expanding CraneWorks' equipment fleet and strive to provide their team with all of the necessary tools to offering the best customer service. CraneWorks' goal is to be the best (not the biggest) crane rental company in the country in terms of services and customer satisfaction.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Gene Hallman
President and CEO of Bruno Event Team

Gene Hallman is a person synonymous with making sporting events happen in Birmingham. He cut his teeth as a sports agent, progressed to running one of the most successful golf tournaments on the Senior PGA Tour, which he continues to oversee as Tournament Director of the Regions Charity Classic, helped found the Alabama Sports Foundation and is President and CEO of Bruno Event Team, the governing body for this Senior Tour event, many other golf events and numerous other sporting endeavors.

Bruno Event Team is a Birmingham, Alabama-based sports marketing and event management company formed in 1996 by Ronald Bruno and Gene Hallman. Bruno Event Team is experienced in all facets of event management, employing a year-round staff of 60+ employees in six different offices across the United States. The company services each client with expertise in strategic planning, marketing, advertising, public and media relations, ticket and merchandise sales, sponsor relations, hospitality consulting, event operations, event financial planning/accounting and volunteer coordination. Bruno Event Team has a steadfast commitment to excellence utilizing vast event experience, a strong work ethic and a demanding attention to details.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Annetta W. Nunn
Chief of Police

Annetta Nunn, a native of Birmingham and an honors graduate of the University of Alabama, joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1980. During her time of service she has been assigned to various divisions including Detention, Patrol, Detective Bureau and Administration. Chief Nunn received training in several areas and graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1997. On March 24, 2000, she was promoted to Deputy Chief and commanded the Field Operations Bureau. She was the first African-American woman to hold this rank in the department. On February 11, 2003, she was appointed Chief of Police and assumed office on March 7, 2003.

Nunn is married to Robert Nunn, Sr. They have two sons, Robert Jr. and Stephen.

Previous Meeting : Friday, February 17, 2006

Mark Whitworth
Associate Commissioner for External Affairs at the Southeastern Conference

Mark Whitworth is the Associate Commissioner for External Affairs at the Southeastern Conference. Mark’s primary responsibilities include developing and implementing marketing and branding programs for all 20 SEC sports. Mark is also the staff liaison for the SEC corporate Sponsorship Program, the Head Football Coaches, Men’s Golf Coaches, Marketing Administrators, Chief-Development Directors, Alumni Directors, and Media Rights Holders. In addition Mark coordinates the SEC Men’s Basketball schedule and is in charge of the SEC TV package on FSN South.

Mark was born and raised in Louisville, KY. He is a 1984 graduate of Asbury College, and has a Masters degree from the University of Tennessee in 1987. He is married and has two children.

Previous Meeting : Friday, January 20th, 2005

Kevin Slaughter
Owner of Antlers and Anglers Worldwide, LLC
www.antlersandanglers.com

Owner, Kevin Slaughter has been an obsessive hunter since he was eight years old.  He was born and raised in Dallas with a loving fanatical hunting dad, “Bubba”.  Bubba instilled in his young son a love for Jesus, people and nature.  As an eagle scout, Kevin learned discipline, safety and respect for God’s creation.  Kevin graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1985.   
Antlers and Anglers Worldwide exists because Kevin’s dream business became a reality.  In this business Kevin gets to live his passions every day.  In booking hunting and fishing trips for people all over the world, he spends his days visiting with hunters and anglers.  Of course, in order to recommend locations, Kevin must first be forced to visit them in order to screen them for prospective trips.  In his sacrifice he gets to spend time with friends old and new enjoying Gods creation and spinning tales of new adventure.

Kevin’s favorite hunting buddy and best friend is his wife of fifteen years, Corinna.  She checks out locations with Kevin and is the final litmus test for wives and lady hunters.  They live in Corinna’s hometown, Birmingham, Alabama with their beautiful daughter and future hunter and angler, Josie.

Kevin’s contagious passion for hunting and fishing extends to everyone he encounters.  He gains as much satisfaction from his clients successful trips as he does his own. 

Previous Meeting : Friday, December 16th, 2005

Ray Melick
Sports columnist for the Birmingham News

Ray Melick is a sports columnist for the Birmingham News, coming to the News in October after 20 years as a columnist and sports reporter for the Birmingham Post-Herald. In addition to writing for The News, for the past four years Ray has been co-host of the sports talk show, ``The Big Time,'' with Herb Winches and Kelly Hunter on WJOX 690-AM, from 3-6 p.m. On Sunday nights, Ray appears on ``The Zone,'' a 30-minute discussion of sports, with Mike Raita and Doug Segrest. ``The Zone'' can been seen at 10:30 p.m. on ABC 33/40.

Ray grew up in Atlanta, and has a degree from the University of Georgia. He is married with three children and lives in a comfortable home in Cahaba Heights while his wife renovates another home in Vestavia Hills that, at the rate she's going, we quite possibly may not be able to afford once it's completed.

Besides sports, Ray enjoys coaching his sons baseball and basketball teams, history, and his latest death wish, a Honda 750 NightHawk motorcycle that his wife thinks he actually bought in order to save on gas.

Meeting location

Phoenix Club meetings are held at Park Lane.
Please RSVP below by noon Wednesday, the day before the meeting.