May 2016

ALABAMA POWER ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGES
Alabama Power announced changes to the company's leadership.
 
Quentin Riggins, vice president of governmental relations, has been elected senior vice president responsible for governmental and corporate affairs.
 
Alexia Borden, a partner in the Montgomery office of Balch & Bingham LLC, has been elected vice president with responsibility for governmental affairs.
 
Richard Hutto, vice president of Southeast division, has been named vice president responsible for regulatory affairs.
 
Myla Calhoun, general counsel and senior vice president for regional development and public policy at the Birmingham Business Alliance, has been elected vice president of charitable giving.
 
Ashley Robinett, area manager for Birmingham division, has been elected vice president with responsibility for corporate real estate.
 
Myrk Harkins, vice president and director of corporate real estate, has been named vice president responsible for special projects.
 
"These individuals bring extraordinary expertise and insight to our leadership team," Mark Crosswhite, chairman, president and CEO of Alabama Power, said in a statement. "Combined with our recent leadership changes, Alabama Power is in a strong position to meet our ongoing responsibilities to customers and stakeholders and to tackle new challenges."
 
CENTRAL ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE CHEF
Central announced that Brandon Burleson is the executive chef.
 
Born and raised in Georgiana, Burleson is an Auburn University graduate with a degree in hospitality and restaurant management. He started his culinary career at The Hotel at Auburn and Dixon Conference Center followed by an executive sous chef position at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. While there, Burleson was responsible for overseeing four restaurants and a banquet/conference facility spanning nearly 50,000 square feet.
 
Prior to coming to Central, he returned to Auburn University for the opportunity to once again work alongside Chef Leonardo Maurelli III.
 
His cooking style is influenced by the flavors from New Orleans to the Caribbean; the availability of fresh gulf seafood; and the traditional Southern dishes he grew up with.
 
Burleson has represented Alabama across the country competing in the National Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge and taking home top honors. Following his win, Burleson competed in the World Food Championship in Las Vegas, where he placed in the Top 10 at World Seafood Championship, competing against chefs from nearly 40 states and eight countries. That same year, he was recognized by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance as a finalist for Chef of the Year. He most recently served as guest chef for Auburn University's Awards at the United Nations.
 
"We are excited to have Brandon as our executive chef and are confident he will continue to elevate the dining experience at Central and become a great addition to the community," Jake Kyser, co-owner of Central, said in a statement.
 
THE A&P SOCIAL HIRES EXECUTIVE CHEF
The A&P Social announced that Randal Gresham Jr. is the executive chef.
 
Gresham, who was born and raised in Houston, has worked at acclaimed restaurants throughout the country. He was executive chef at Central in downtown Montgomery.
 
As the executive chef of The A&P Social, his focus is showcasing the bounty of the River Region and Gulf Coast. He will create food that highlights new flavors and ideas while maintaining a level of comfort and familiarity in menu options.
 
The A&P Social is open from 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday. It is located at 503 Cloverdale Road Unit 102. The phone number is (334) 356-3814.
 
BAPTIST HEALTH APPOINTS CEO OF PRATTVILLE BAPTIST HOSPITAL
Eric Morgan has been appointed the chief executive officer for Prattville Baptist Hospital.
 
He joined Baptist Health in 2004 as a staff pharmacist and was promoted in 2005 to pharmacy manager of Prattville Baptist Hospital. He has served the facility as interim CEO since last summer.
 
Originally from Prattville, Morgan holds a pharmacy degree from Auburn University. He has 10-plus years of experience in leadership roles.
 
IHEARTMEDIA NAMES MONTGOMERY PRESIDENT
iHeartMedia has named Jackie Toye its market president for the Montgomery area.
 
She has served as senior vice president of sales for iHeart/Tuscaloosa for the past two years. Toye began her radio career in her hometown of Albany, Ga., in 2003 as an account executive. In 2005, she was promoted to local sales manager of WJIZ-FM, WMRZ-FM and WJYZ-AM. She was promoted to general sales manager in 2007 and transferred to Clear Channel in Jacksonville, Fla. She returned in 2009 to Albany, Ga., and Clear Channel as general sales manager of all five stations in the cluster: WJIZ-FM, WMRZ-FM, WJYZ-AM, WOBB-FM and WGEX-FM.
 
AMERIFIRST BANK HIRES THREE VICE PRESIDENTS
AmeriFirst Bank has added three relationship managers in the Montgomery office: Will Hickman, Josh Myers and Dawn Fain.
 
Hickman, who joined the bank as a vice president and commercial lender, has 16 years of experience in the Montgomery market specializing in medical and professional lending.
 
Myers has 14 years of local experience and joined AmeriFirst Bank as a vice president and commercial lender. He specializes in manufacturing, distribution and wholesale lending.
 
Fain was hired as vice president of private banking and retail lending. She has 27 years of experience in banking, including prestige coordinator, corporate security, retail banking and private banking.
 
"We are excited to have these three experienced lenders join our team," AmeriFirst Bank CEO Robert R. Ramsey said in a statement. "All three are proven business developers, but more importantly they are excellent relationship bankers. They are hands-on, high-touch individuals who will fit in perfectly with the way we do business."