Board of Directors

Martha Raber is EVP & Managing Director, Head of Financial Risk at Regions Bank I Regions Securities LLC., an American bank holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, providing retail and commercial banking, trust, stock brokerage, and mortgage services.

Jason Frey is Director of Asset Management and Underwriting at Medical Properties Trust (“MPT”), the leading source of capital for hospitals, working with operators in the U.S. and Europe.

Erick Jones is Vice President Finance Southwest and Southern & Gulf Coast Divisions at Vulcan Materials Company, the nation’s largest producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel, and a major producer of asphalt and concrete.

D. Taylor Alexander is Vice President of Investments at Protective, a financial service holding company in Birmingham, AL.

Cynthia Cardona, President & CEO of Vulcan Park & Museum, is a native of Florida and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. and an M.A. in History. She has worked for over two decades in museums and arts organizations, transitioning from roles focusing on collections management, operations, and administration. Beginning her career as Photo Archivist and later Curator of Collections at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Cardona later served as Director of Operations for Art & History Museums-Maitland. Prior to joining the Vulcan Park & Museum in 2022, she served as Executive Director of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.

Cynthia previously served as Director of Operations for Vulcan Park & Museum in 2022 before being appointed as President & CEO in 2023.

Jessica L. Black is Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Staci Brown Brooks Vice President Charitable Giving Alabama Power Company and President of the Alabama Power Foundation, leading the company’s philanthropic, volunteerism and community support initiatives.

Nancy Fouad-Carey is Central Group Legal Director at Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC., one of the nation’s largest privately held construction firms, providing general contracting, design-build, and construction management services for a wide variety of markets.

Charles Goodrich manages Timberline Management’s venture portfolio, evaluating investment opportunities, establishing investment policies, and working with management of portfolio investments.

Earl Hilliard is Senior Public Affairs Officer for the City of Birmingham.

Karla Khodanian is Lead Associate of Corporate Communications at Protective Life.

Ikacus (Ike) Mathews is Director of Field Operations at Spire Energy, a gas company serving 1.7 million customers in Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi, providing natural gas to powers their homes and businesses.

L’Tryce M. Slade, MRP, JD, is Managing Director of Slade Land Use, Environmental, Transportation, Planning, LLC, often referred to as Slade, is a multi-disciplined construction and program management firm.

Garland Smith is a philanthropic leader and historic preservationist with ties to Birmingham and the Black Belt. She has served numerous Alabama organizations as an officer or board member, including the Alabama Archives and History Foundation, Friends of the Alabama Archives, the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, the Cahaba Foundation, Black Belt Treasures in Camden, and the Wilcox County Historical Society.

Christy Thomas is Chief Financial Officer at McKinney Communications Corporation, a southeastern-based, employee-owned company with more than 400 employees and four portfolio companies under management comprising Satellites Unlimited, Digital Electronic Supply (DES), Pixsys, and Techscape Solutions.

Cailen Raines serves as a Project Coordinator for the ADIP Project Management department at AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO). She is a native of Birmingham, AL, and a proud graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. Cailen has served as a member of the Vulcan Park & Museum Junior Board since 2020, having held positions as Secretary and Vice Chair before becoming Board Chair in 2024. She has a passion for community engagement and champions the city of Birmingham daily.

Tatianna currently serves on the Vulcan Park and Museum Junior Leadership Board as Vice Chair and has been a member of the board since August 2023. She currently works at the Birmingham Business Alliance as the Market Intelligence Manager for the Economic Development team. She is also a graduate of Samford University, where she studied political science.

Kristen Cottingham is a Marketing Executive. She is a graduate of Alabama A&M University, where she received a B.S. in Marketing and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing from Northcentral University. Cottingham, a Birmingham, Alabama native, is very active in her community through various organizations. She is a goal-oriented marketing professional and entrepreneur with extensive leadership experience. She is a member of: Vulcan Park and Museum Junior Board; Rotaract Club of Birmingham; Alabama A&M University Magic City Metro Alumni Chapter; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Grace Browning Unit (National Association of Parliamentarians). She enjoys crafting, traveling, and outdoor activities.

Nicole S. Daniel is an author, blogger, publicist, and award-winning journalist from Birmingham, AL. She currently serves as Secretary of the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists and the Vice President of Professional Development for Alabama Media Professionals. In addition, she is an instructor at Miles College.

Erika M. Dix is the Manager of Workforce and Talent Development for the City of Birmingham. She brings over a decade of experience working across nonprofit, corporate, and public sector industries, specializing in workforce and business development. In her role, Erika focuses on creating workforce pathways and cultivating partnerships that promote sustainable community and economic growth. She has led initiatives with Birmingham City Schools and Alabama’s HBCUs, while also advancing strategies to increase diversity and inclusion in the local workforce. Guided by her passion for education and workforce readiness, Erika embodies the principle of “Putting People First.” She is driven by the opportunity to transform ideas into impactful solutions that help build stronger communities for Birmingham residents.

Jasmine Fells is a dedicated Community Outreach Specialist within the U.S. Department of Justice. Her academic background includes a B.A. in Public Administration from Auburn University and a J.D. from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Jasmine’s leadership extends beyond her professional role, as she chairs the Prosper Birmingham Community Connectors Advisory Board (CCAB) and serves on the Junior Board of Vulcan Park and Museum. She is also an Executive Board Member for the Alabama Lawyers Association and the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Her unwavering dedication to professional growth and community betterment embodies her mission to enhance the lives of Birmingham’s residents.

Bria Hines, originally from Pleasant Grove, Alabama, holds a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Language Pathology with a minor in Deaf Studies and a Master of Education in Counseling, both from the University of Montevallo. She has experience as a professor in higher education and currently works for the non-profit organization, Communities Unlimited, as a Community Environmental Management Specialist, where she focuses on promoting sustainability and supporting rural communities throughout Alabama. Bria also works as a mental health therapist with Oddesty K. and Associates, serving clients across the state of Alabama. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, discovering new adventures, and spending time with her family and friends.

Tyler Hinton is General Counsel and Operations Manager at Empress Stationery, a wedding paper company with clients across North America, Europe, and Australia. A native of Atlanta, Tyler graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University in 2010 and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 2013. He lives in Mountain Brook with his wife Jessica, son Samuel, and dog Clementine.

AJ Johnson, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama and an MBA from Troy University. He is currently with Southern Company, where he leverages both technical expertise and business insight to advance key initiatives. AJ is dedicated to driving innovation and operational excellence within the energy sector. He brings a strong foundation in engineering and management to his role, with a focus on impactful results. Outside of work, he enjoys attending sporting events and spending time with his wife and son.

Jordan Kirk is a Recruiting Coordinator at Brasfield & Gorrie, where she plays a key role in supporting the company’s talent acquisition strategy. She is passionate about connecting people with opportunities and contributing to a strong, values-driven workplace culture. In 2023, Jordan served as Brasfield & Gorrie’s Loaned Executive with the United Way of Central Alabama, strengthening community partnerships and deepening her commitment to service. She holds a degree in Communications with a minor in Spanish from Auburn University.

Alexia McCall was born and raised in Birmingham, a Realtor and builder who loves all things real estate and construction. When she’s not working with clients or building homes, you can usually find her volunteering with Rotaract or Vulcan, hanging out with her golden doodle Maverick, traveling, trying new restaurants, or adding to her plant collection.

Megan McClung is a substance abuse and mental health counselor. She recently transitioned into clinical practice after spending six years in the field of education. Throughout her career in education, she taught kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 5th grade, and later served as a middle school counselor. Her passion for supporting individuals’ growth and well-being ultimately led her to pursue counseling full-time. She is currently completing her supervision hours toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Outside of her professional work, she volunteers as a middle school cheerleading coach at the same school where she previously served as a counselor, continuing to invest in the lives of young people in her community.

Anleia Nance is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and currently serves as an elementary school teacher at W. J. Christian School. She has nine years of experience in education, beginning her career as a Head Start teacher before transitioning to elementary instruction. She earned both a B.S. degree in Mass Communications and a Master of Education from the University of Montevallo. Her passion lies in creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for young students. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, shopping, traveling, and baking.

Michael Pace is a licensed CPA and finance professional who blends technical expertise with a people-first approach. He began his career at EY, where he specialized in capital markets and banking, serving in both advisory and audit capacities. His broadening skillset led him to transition into a new challenge by entering the healthcare sector by joining SCA Health. The robust opportunities given to him early in his career helped him develop a reputation for steady leadership, clear communication, and process improvement. Michael earned his MBA specializing in Corporate Finance and Risk Management from College of Charleston, building on a double major in Accounting and Psychology. He is passionate about using his skills to support organizations that make an impact and believes strong financial stewardship goes hand-in-hand with strong community service.

Dakota Patrick joined the staff of Red Mountain Theatre in 2021 as the Patron Experience Manager, responsible for the development of foundational structures for patron experience and engagement within the brand-new RMT Arts Campus. Recently, he was promoted to Operations Manager, taking on leadership in marketing, sales, finance, and development. Dakota is a native of Mobile, AL, and has been involved in theatre for over a decade through a variety of positions. In 2025, Dakota produced his first two staged play readings and fundraisers. Additionally, he has worked professionally as a stage manager at the Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham, AL, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, AL. Outside of theatre, Dakota serves on the Junior Leadership Board of Directors for the Vulcan Park & Museum, in addition to the Advisory Council for Positive Maturity, a volunteer placement program for retired seniors. Dakota is a proud graduate of the University of Montevallo with a B.S. in Theatre and minors in Arts Administration, Communication Studies, and Public Relations.

Shuntale V. Robinson is a proud native of Birmingham, Alabama, and an enthusiast for the city’s culture and growth. She is a graduate of the illustrious Stillman College, where she built a strong foundation in leadership and community engagement. With over five years of experience as an Assistant Property Manager, Shuntale has developed expertise in operations, compliance, and resident relations. She is passionate about creating positive change in her community and representing Birmingham with pride. Known for her creativity and dedication, Shuntale continues to seek ways to uplift others while leaving a meaningful impact.

Morgan Smith is a graduate from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and a Master’s in Marketing.

D’Bria Stallworth is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and currently serves as an elementary school teacher at W. J. Christian School. She has nine years of experience in education, beginning her career as a Head Start teacher before transitioning to elementary instruction. She earned both a B.S. degree in Mass Communications and a Master of Education from the University of Montevallo. Her passion lies in creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for young students. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, shopping, traveling, and baking.