Executive Leadership Conference 2026 Speakers
Teri Smiley, IOM, GCCE
President, Walton County Chamber of Commerce
Owner, Starfish Partnerships, LLC
With more than 30 years of experience leading the Walton County Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, Teri Smiley brings unmatched energy, insight, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build strong chambers, boards, and business communities. Under her leadership, Walton County's chamber membership more than tripled, its budget grew significantly, the chamber purchased its own building and new programs—including Leadership Walton, Youth Leadership, Reality Check, and the Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament—were created and expanded to meet the needs of a growing community.
Teri has served as Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association and as Chair of U.S. Chamber Institute, Southeast Site. She is a Georgia Certified Chamber Executive and she was recognized as the Executive of the Year from GACCE in 2015.
In 2021, Teri launched Starfish Partnerships, where she now works with chambers, nonprofits, businesses, and leadership teams to help them find clarity, strengthen relationships, and build strategies that actually work. She's known for her down-to-earth delivery, contagious positivity, and the ability to turn even the most complex challenges into approachable, engaging steps forward. Whether she’s facilitating a board retreat, training new chamber execs, or helping a team work better together through CliftonStrengths, Teri brings both structure and heart to every session.
As she transitions from her full-time chamber role—moving to part-time in 2026 and officially retiring in June 2028—Teri is expanding her work through Starfish Partnerships. Her mission is to help others find their purpose, lead with confidence and connection, and guide organizations toward a future where they can truly thrive.
Teri is a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach, a John Maxwell Team member, and a passionate believer that one person can make a difference—and that every ripple matters.
Loren Gibson
The FUND
Loren Gibson is the Director of Program Development for the Alabama Self-Insured Workers’ Compensation Fund. For the past eight years, she has been working with independent agents across the state to provide best-in-class coverage to businesses that make up Alabama’s economic engine. She is the former Vice President for Investor Relations for the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. For most of her career, she has been responsible for retaining and growing revenue and community awareness for the organizations that she has served, which contribute to the economic vitality of Alabama. Loren was recently recognized by the Young Agents of the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents Association as the first Mentor of the Year for her efforts in mentoring young female professionals in her industry and beyond.
Loren was a featured columnist for Just For Women magazine and The Huntsville Times, and she is currently writing her first book.
Chrissy Clay
Founder, Beach Girl Coffee & Beach Girl at Home
Chrissy Clay is an Alabama born entrepreneur, founder, and passionate creator behind Beach Girl Coffee and Beach Girl at Home. With a love for coastal living, southern hospitality, and creating beautiful everyday moments, Chrissy has built brands that reflect her belief that life should be enjoyed, celebrated and shared. A proud Alabama native, Chrissy grew up in Talladega, Alabama and graduated from Good Hope High School in Good Hope, Alabama. She went on to study Interior design at the University of Arkansas, where she developed an appreciation for design, beauty, and the way to thoughtfully created spaces that would one day help her develop something as special as Beach Girl Coffee. Life eventually took her away from the South and into the Midwest, where she built a life and gained experiences that shaped the woman and entrepreneur she would become. but the South was calling her to come back home. In 2016, Chrissy and her family made their way south and settled in Gulf Shores, Alabama, returning to the coastal lifestyle she loved.
Through Beach Girl Coffee and Beach Girl at Home, Chrissy bought together her entrepreneurial spirit, love of home, coastal inspiration and passion for creating spaces and experiences that make people feel welcome.
Chrissy’s journey - from small town Alabama girl to life in the Midwest, and ultimately finding her way back to the south - has shaped her perspective and her purpose. Chrissy believes there is something special about coming home, following your dreams, and creating a life that feels authentically yours.
At her core, Chrissy is a storyteller, entrepreneur, wife, mom, and lifelong southern girl who believes the best parts of life are meant to be savored, celebrated, and shared.
Cally D'Angelo, IOM
Founder, Collective Edge, LLC
Cally D'Angelo, IOM is the Founder & Principal of Collective Edge, LLC, a consulting firm that helps chambers of commerce, associations, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations strengthen engagement, grow revenue, and execute strategic initiatives. Blending consulting with hands-on implementation, Collective Edge provides fractional leadership, organizational strategy, and the ideation and execution needed to move priorities from concept to completion.
Before launching Collective Edge, Cally spent nearly 20 years serving in chamber leadership roles. A change agent driven by innovation, she has led initiatives—from solopreneur to C-suite—that have increased engagement and generated revenue growth of more than 500%.
Her expertise spans professional development, event strategy, membership recruitment and retention, sponsorship and sales, organizational development, volunteer engagement, and strategic planning. Known for connecting big-picture thinking with practical execution, Cally is passionate about helping organizations create meaningful impact while strengthening their communities.
A respected leader in the chamber profession, Cally has served as Chair of the Events Division Board and an Ambassador for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), as well as a member of the Georgia Chamber's Diversity & Inclusion Council. A proud graduate of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organization Management, she has since served as a Class Advisor, Board of Regent member, and Faculty member. She was nationally recognized in ACCE's 40 Under 40 and is a frequent speaker and instructor for state and national organizations, including the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, Indiana Chamber Executives Association, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and numerous chamber networks across the country.
Locally, Cally is a graduate of Glance Gwinnett, Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy, the Gwinnett Tourism Education Program (GTEP), and the Gwinnett Young Professionals Leadership Institute. She previously served as Chair of the Gwinnett County Community Outreach Advisory Board, serves on the Advisory Council for Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs' Women's Business Center, and is a former board member of the World Trade Center Atlanta.
Trevor Sutton
Chief Economic Development Officer, Birmingham Business Alliance
Trevor Sutton serves as Chief Economic Development Officer for the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), leading the organization's economic development team in attracting new business and investment across the seven-county Greater Birmingham region. He is responsible for strategy development and execution across business attraction, retention, and expansion, with the team's efforts concentrated on BBA's target industries.
Under Trevor's leadership in the past 2 years, the economic development team has generated more than 2,500 new jobs and over $36 billion in capital investment for the Greater Birmingham region over the past two years.
Trevor has led the development and rollout of BBA's strategic plan for regional economic growth. He created and launched BHM IQ, BBA's business intelligence function.
Trevor also leads BBA's talent and workforce strategy, including FUEL, a talent retention program he built to keep more graduates of Alabama's in-state universities in Alabama.
Born and raised in the Birmingham region, Trevor is proud to help drive the area's continued growth and expand opportunity for its residents. He holds degrees from Berry College and the University of South Carolina.
Jefferson Traywick
Economic Development Advisor, Jefferson County
Since May 2023, Jeff Traywick has served as the Economic Development Advisor for Jefferson County where he manages the county government’s economic development activities. Before joining Jefferson County, Jeff Traywick served with the Birmingham Business Alliance where he served as partner on the Alliance’s Growth Team. Additionally, Jefferson spent 10 years with the Bessemer Industrial Development Board, eventually managing the organization’s portfolio of $20 million in assets and managing business recruitment efforts with the organization.
During his nearly 23 years in the economic development profession, Jefferson has managed numerous economic development and commercial projects within the Birmingham Metro Area. Since 2011 these projects have resulted in more than 230 announced projects in the Birmingham Region, resulting in the creation of more than 22,000 jobs and more than $58.6 billion in capital investment. Jefferson’s career focus has been on aiding new and growing industries in the Birmingham Region with a goal towards developing new economic opportunities for its citizens.
Jeff has been involved in various data center projects since 2011, including dedicated enterprise and co-location facilities. Over the past two years he has been involved in several large-scale projects within Jefferson County and has dealt with the complex analysis, incentive negotiation, and community concerns associated with modern AI and hyperscale data center projects. His support for well-designed and properly cited data center projects has been covered by the Birmingham Business journal and The New York Times. He is currently writing a book focused on community preparation, public benefit, and communication strategies for communities dealing with, or preparing for data center projects.
Jeff has been the recipient of the 2012 Birmingham Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 award,
in 2015 he received recognition by Development Counsellors International as one of the Top 40 Rising Economic Development Stars Under Forty and in 2018 he was selected as one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America by Consultant Connect. He is currently a gubernatorial appointment to the Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Commission, and he serves on the board of the Alabama Chapter of the Commercial real Estate Development Association. He is also a member of the Economic Development Association of Alabama, the Alabama-Germany Partnership, the Southern Economic Development Council, ICMA, and the International Economic Development Council.
Ali Rauch, IOM, CCE
President & CEO, Opelika Chamber of Commerce
Ali Rauch, IOM, CCE, is a high-achieving, community-rooted force of nature with a bias toward action and an obsession with excellence. As President & CEO of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, she has transformed bold ideas into real impact—leading her team to national recognition as the 2024 ACCE Chamber of the Year and earning 5-Star Accreditation. Previously, Ali helped grow Chicken Salad Chick from a small startup to 160+ locations, fueling her entrepreneurial mindset and results-driven leadership style. An optimist at heart, Ali thrives at the intersection of vision and execution, always leading with energy, authenticity, and a full heart.
Chris Stallings
Associate Administrator, ODR&R, U.S. Small Business Administration
James “Chris” Stallings is the Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience (ODR&R) at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role, he leads the agency’s efforts to assist small businesses, homeowners, renters, and communities in recovering from disasters. He improves disaster loan processing efficiency, enhances customer service, and strengthens coordination with federal, state, and local partners to ensure a swift and effective disaster response.
Before joining SBA, Stallings served as Director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), where he led the state’s response to emergencies, including coordination of nine mass vaccination sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, he was Director of the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s Dignitary Protection Unit, responsible for safeguarding high-profile officials.
Stallings has also served as Vice Chairman of the Georgia Board of Homeland Security and been an active member of the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the Georgia Cybersecurity Advisory Board. His extensive experience in emergency management, public safety, and homeland security uniquely positions him to lead SBA’s disaster recovery and resilience efforts.
Lenzi Womack
Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy, Opelika Chamber of Commerce
Lenzi Womack serves as the Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy for the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, where she leads communications, branding, media relations, social media, and storytelling. She has a passion for connecting with people, uncovering the stories that matter, and finding creative ways to tell them to the right audience.Lenzi has helped grow the Chamber’s reach, strengthen its media presence, and build a recognizable brand that connects with both members and the greater community. Her work has contributed to the Opelika Chamber’s recognition as the 2024 ACCE Chamber of the Year and has earned multiple communications and marketing awards. Lenzi believes great communication starts with great relationships and loves finding creative ways to make chambers, their members, and their communities impossible to overlook.
Ryleigh Solomon
Director of Programs and Government Affairs, Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce
Ryleigh Solomon serves as the Director of Programs and Government Affairs for the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, where she has been part of the Chamber team for two years. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, Ryleigh earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and gained experience in government through internships in both Washington, D.C. and Montgomery before making her way to Cullman. She and her husband, Hayden, are proud to call Cullman home and enjoy being involved in the community, especially when Oktoberfest rolls around each year!
Joey Orr
President, Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce
Joey Orr serves as President of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the Chamber's efforts to support local businesses, strengthen community partnerships, and advocate for continued growth throughout Cullman County. Prior to joining the Chamber in 2023, Joey served seven years on the Cullman City School Board and brings a background in education, ministry, small business, and community leadership. She holds a master's degree in School Administration and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. Joey is passionate about building relationships, developing strong teams, and finding practical ways for chambers to better serve their members and communities. She and her husband, Richard, have proudly called Cullman home since 2004, and she can think of no better place to live, work, serve, and play.
Carly Rager, IOM
Founder & Creative Director | Rage Designs | The Creative Collective
At heart, I'm an artist. With a background in graphic design and advertising, I've always believed great branding is about more than beautiful design—it's about telling stories that connect people.
That passion led me into the chamber world, where I spent eight years serving as a chamber professional, including as Director of Marketing & Events. During that time, I discovered the incredible impact chambers have on their communities and made it my mission to help our organization tell that story through intentional branding, marketing, and meaningful member engagement.
In 2024, I was honored to be named Tennessee Chamber Professional of the Year, followed by our chamber receiving Tennessee Chamber of the Year.
In 2025, I launched Rage Designs | The Creative Collective, combining my love for creativity, storytelling, and strategy to help chambers, nonprofits, tourism organizations, and small businesses build brands, create meaningful marketing, and confidently tell their stories through design, social media, AI, Canva, murals, and visual storytelling.
I believe every chamber has an incredible story to tell. My passion is helping chamber professionals discover the confidence and tools to tell it in a way that is authentic, memorable, and impactful.
Connie Bainbridge
Manager of Community and Economic Development, Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
Connie Bainbridge serves as Manager of Community and Economic Development for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, where she leads initiatives focused on economic growth, workforce development, tourism, and regional collaboration across Central Alabama. With more than 35 years of experience in economic development, strategic planning, business management, and integrated marketing, she has played a key role in recruiting and supporting major industrial, retail, and commercial projects throughout the state.
Over the course of her career, Bainbridge has helped facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investment and the creation of significant job opportunities through projects involving advanced manufacturing, healthcare distribution, automotive suppliers, retail destinations, and energy infrastructure. Her work has also included business park development, tourism product enhancement, workforce initiatives, and community revitalization efforts across Alabama.
Prior to joining Central Alabama Electric Cooperative in 2011, Bainbridge served as President of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce for 14 years and previously held executive leadership positions with the Chilton County and Hartselle Chambers of Commerce.
A respected leader in economic and community development, Bainbridge has served on numerous local, state, regional, and national boards and professional organizations, including the Chambers of Commerce of Alabama, the Economic Development Association of Alabama, the Southern Economic Development Council, and the National Rural Economic Development Association. She currently serves on the Region 5 Central WIOA Board.
Bainbridge is a graduate of Faulkner University, where she earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business. She is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and the Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia.
Her honors include being named a Woman of Excellence by the Montgomery Advertiser and Baptist Health, Chilton County Citizen of the Year, Chamber of Commerce Associaton of Alabama Chamber Partner of the Year, and induction into the 2025 Southern Business and Economic Development Magazine Hall of Fame for Economic Developers of the South.
Jim Byard, Jr.
Principal/Founder, Byard Associates, LLC
Jim Byard, Jr. is Principal/Founder of Byard Associates, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in business development, economic and community development, and strategic advisory services. Since founding the firm in 2017, he has worked with cities, counties, economic development organizations, and private-sector clients across Alabama.
Previously, Jim served as Mayor of Prattville for 12 years (1999–2011) and as Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) from 2011– 2017.
A respected leader in public service, economic and community development, Jim is a past president of the Alabama League of Municipalities and has served on the boards of the National League of Cities, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). He is a past chair of Main Street Alabama and DesignAlabama and currently serves on the boards of YourTown Alabama, the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, and the Prattville YMCA.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with minors in business and sociology from Troy University Montgomery. He is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and the Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy.
Jim and his wife, Beverly, live in Prattville’s Daniel Pratt Historic District. They have three children and are active members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Robert "Bob" S. Ellerbrock, III
Partner, Labor & Employment, Burr & Forman
Bob Ellerbrock is a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group, where he focuses on executive compensation, employee benefits, and ERISA.
Bob’s years of experience allow him to advise clients concerning qualified retirement plans (401(k), defined benefit, 403(b)), nonqualified plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), fringe benefits, health and welfare benefits, Affordable Care Act compliance, and HIPAA. His experience also includes advising clients on a full range of equity compensation issues, including stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and phantom equity.
In addition, Bob counsels companies and individuals on the tax and corporate aspects of 409A arrangements and has experience with the tax rules applicable to deferred compensation arrangements of tax-exempt and governmental organizations. He also advises clients on all facets of employee benefits and executive compensation issues in connection with M&A transactions, including advising through the due diligence process to post-transaction integration. Before joining Burr, Bob was a Founding Partner of Pierson Ferdinand, a full-service law firm with over 16 offices. He obtained his J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama and his B.A. from Webster University.
Erin Grantham, AACE
Executive Director, Enterprise Chamber of Commerce
Erin Grantham is the Executive Director of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, an Alabama Accredited Chamber and U.S. Chamber of Commerce 4-Star Accredited Chamber recognized for excellence in governance, operations, and member service. An Alabama Accredited Chamber Executive (AACE) with more than 13 years of chamber leadership experience, Erin has led strategic initiatives focused on organizational growth, board governance, membership engagement, workforce development, and community partnerships while advancing the Chamber's commitment to continuous improvement and accreditation standards.
A dedicated advocate for the chamber profession, Erin serves as Vice Chair for Programs on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. She is also completing the prestigious Institute for Organization Management (IOM) through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, further strengthening her expertise in nonprofit leadership and organizational excellence.
Passionate about helping chambers become stronger, more sustainable organizations, Erin enjoys sharing practical strategies, lessons learned, and real-world experiences that help chamber professionals navigate the accreditation process, strengthen governance, improve operations, and maximize their impact in the communities they serve.
Laura Strickland, IOM, AACE
President and CEO, Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce
Laura Strickland has served as President and CEO of the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce since 2017. She joined the Chamber in April 2016 as Marketing and Membership Director. Under her leadership, the organization earned accreditation from the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama in both 2021 and 2025.
A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in marketing and merchandising, Laura began her career with Russell Corporation in Alexander City, where she contributed to product development, event marketing, advertising, and public relations for the JERZEES brand. After working with a Birmingham advertising agency, she joined her family-owned business in Sylacauga in 1999 and served as co-owner with her brother for 15 years. Her experience as a small business owner—including service on the Sylacauga Chamber’s Board of Directors—gave her a valuable understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing local businesses.
Laura has continued to strengthen her expertise in chamber leadership, economic development, and community development throughout her career. In 2021, she completed Auburn University’s Governmental Economic Development Institute Intensive Course and earned its Economic Development Leadership Certificate. She received the Institute for Organization Management designation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2022 and the Alabama Accredited Chamber Executive designation in 2023. In 2025, she was named Alabama Chamber Professional of the Year.
At the state level, Laura serves as the 2026 Board Chair of Alabama Chambers. She is also actively involved in numerous local organizations and initiatives supporting education, workforce development, economic growth, and quality of life. Her current leadership roles include President of the Sylacauga City Schools Foundation. She is also a past president of the Sylacauga Rotary Club and participated in the 2019 Your Town Alabama program.
A longtime advocate for education, Laura has served in numerous volunteer leadership roles within the Sylacauga City School System and has twice been recognized as the system’s Volunteer of the Year.
Laura resides on her family farm in Coosa County with her husband, Barry, a retired educator with Sylacauga City Schools. They have two sons, Stephen and his wife, Landyn, grandson Stetson and Lane and his wife, Karson.
Paige Hutto, IOM
President, Alabama Chambers
Paige Green Hutto has spent 20+ years in the chamber world and has led the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama since 2021. A champion for chambers across the state, she provides advocacy, training, and professional development to help chamber leaders thrive.
She started chamber life in her early 20s at her hometown chamber in Eufaula, Al, followed by a stint with BASS/ESPN Outdoors—yes, the fishing folks. In 2008 she returned to the industry to lead the Gilmer County (GA) Chamber, launching economic development initiatives, boosting tourism, and growing the organization’s membership, programming, and influence.
Armed with an MBA from Troy University and professional designations like IOM, GCCE, and TMP, Paige currently serves as Vice Chair of the Southeast Board of Regents for the Institute for Organization Management.
She lives in Wetumpka with her husband, Chris, bonus sons- Jacob, a junior at Troy University (Go Trojans!) and Jaxon, a junior at Wetumpka High School and her husband’s cat B-man.