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 a 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.

Justin Drummond is President of Stone Building Company, a regional commercial and industrial general contractor based in Birmingham, AL.

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.

Paul DeMarco is an Attorney at Parsons, Lee & Juliano, P.C., specializing in civil litigation with clients nationwide to provide full and complete representation in state and federal courts throughout Alabama and across the Southeast.

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 Director of Strategic Communications at Big Communications, a full-service, integrated agency that lives to solve problems. We specialize in creative, digital, marketing, PR and media services.

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.

Catherine Pittman-Smith is Administrative Director for Community Grief Support, a nonprofit organization offering counseling, support groups, education and events for people who are grieving.

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.

Along with her position as Chair of the Vulcan Junior Leadership Board, Cailen is very active in the Birmingham community and describes herself as ‘Birmingham’s Biggest Cheerleader’. Cailen Raines serves as a Project Coordinator for the ADIP Project Management department at AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company. She works in areas of environmental ownership, community engagement, and educational enrichment in her free time. Cailen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the UAB College of Arts and Sciences.

Tatianna is the Manager of Market Intelligence at Birmingham Business Alliance, a role she has served in since 2022. Over the last 2.5 years, she has supported the Greater Birmingham Region and business community in making data-driven decisions to grow, retain, and succeed. She attended Samford University, where she studied Political Science. She is also an alum and founding member of the Epsilon Xi chapter of Tri Delta. Outside of her role as the Vice Chair of Vulcan JLB, she is an active member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham, and other organizations dedicated to bettering the community.

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

James Parker is originally from Attalla, AL now residing in Birmingham. He is employed full-time at Faith Chapel where he is the Retail Sales Manager. James is no stranger to the Birmingham area where he is the Past Immediate President of the Vulcan Junior Board, Past Immediate President of the Alabama Young Democrats, Secretary for the Birmingham Education Foundation Junior Board, a member of the Growing Kings Junior Board, Birmingham Zoo Junior Board, Prosper Community Connectors Advisory Board, Vice Chair of Youth Affairs for the Alabama Democratic Party and serves on the Judicial Council for Young Democrats of America.

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.

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.

Kingston Hall was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated from Troy University with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance. I currently serve as President and Vice President on two insurance boards, while also being actively involved on the junior boards for On River Time and Vulcan. Additionally, I am a member of the Junior League of Birmingham. My passion for community involvement and professional growth drives me to stay engaged in both my industry and local philanthropic efforts.

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.

Jordan Kirk is a Recruiting Coordinator at Brasfield & Gorrie, supporting our talent acquisition efforts. In 2023, I served as our company’s Loaned Executive with the United Way of Central Alabama. I earned a degree in Communications with a minor in Spanish from Auburn University. Additionally, I am an active member of the Junior League of Birmingham, contributing to community service and leadership initiatives.

Alexia McCall was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she is a proud graduate of Ramsay High School. She then obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Ashford University. Alexia has a passion for real estate and helping clients achieve homeownership. She’s been a licensed realtor for 4 years and dedicates countless hours to helping clients buy and sell property within the Birmingham metro area.

Michael Pace graduated from the University of Alabama double majoring in accounting and psychology. After attending graduate school at College of Charleston where he obtained an MBA, Michael took his position at EY where he worked for the next two years before transitioning to a career at SCA Health. During his time here in Birmingham, Michael has been involved in his community and its people, which led him to having a seat on the Vulcan Junior Board.

Julia Ryczak was raised on the east coast north of Baltimore, MD, Julia first attended Auburn University before moving to Birmingham in 2014. Since then, she has been an active member of the community. Julia has previously worked with hospitals around the area in the lab before obtaining her Masters of Public Health at UAB and finding her current job as an Epic Beaker Analyst. From kickball to the Junior League of Birmingham, Julia loves involving herself in various types of activities and can most commonly be found walking her beloved dog, Stanley, on the many trails around the city.

Morgan Smith is a graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in Communication Studies and a Masters in Marketing.

D’Bria Stallworth is a proud graduate of Ramsay High School and currently serves as a Senior Credit Analyst at PNC Bank. With a commitment to personal and professional growth, she is pursuing a Master of Public Administration, aiming to blend her financial expertise with a dedication to public service. A lifelong resident of Birmingham, Alabama, D’Bria enjoys spending quality time with her wife and two children, cherishing the moments that strengthen their family bonds. In her free time, she is actively involved in community service, believing in the power of giving back. An avid listener of audiobooks, D’Bria embraces the opportunity to learn and grow through the diverse stories and ideas she encounters.