Mobile Bay THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTIES
January 2018
THE STATE OF THE BAY Our most precious resource faces major challenges — are we up to the task?
40 UNDER 40: MEET THIS YEAR’S LIST OF IMPRESSIVE MOVERS AND SHAKERS
DR. RUTH CARMICHAEL Dauphin Island Sea Lab
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FEATURES JANUARY 2018
VOLUME XXXIV / ISSUE 1
ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON GRANT ZARZOUR, FROM THE NEWEST CLASS OF 40 UNDER 40, RELAXES IN THE LOBBY OF THE FUSE FACTORY. PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN.
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Saving the Bay Take an in-depth look at the challenges facing our beloved Mobile Bay. What problems does it encounter, and how can we keep this vital resource healthy for generations to come?
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40 Under 40 Meet the ninth class of MB’s famed 40 Under 40! Influencers from a variety of local industries — including law, entertainment, finance, wellness, and business — share the secrets of their success.
ON OUR COVER
One of many who are working hard to study and preserve Mobile Bay, Dr. Ruth Carmichael takes a break at 5 Rivers Delta Center to talk with MB about the challenges ahead. PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN
This year’s class of 40 Under 40 honorees are involved in more than 135 local charities and philanthropic organizations. Get to know the newest crop of outstanding young professionals starting on page 45.
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DEPARTMENTS JANUARY 2018
VOLUME XXXIV / ISSUE 1
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LEFT Delicate pottery made from Baldwin County clay awaits the volcanic temperatures of Zach Sierke’s wood-fired kiln. PHOTO BY LEIGH BANCROFT RIGHT Marinated crab claws at Southwood Kitchen are bright, flavorful and fresh — you’ll never crave the fried versions again. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU
9 EDITOR’S NOTE 10 REACTION 12 ODDS & ENDS 14 THE DISH 17 GUMBO Predictions 2018 A local tarot reader foretells the year ahead for Mobile from fame and fortune to politics and Mardi Gras. 22 GOOD STUFF Make a Run for It With a new year comes New Year’s resolutions. Deck yourself out with the gear for fitness success.
24 TASTINGS Southwood Kitchen Fine dining meets down-home hospitality and laid-back vibes. 27 BAY TABLES 40 Under 40 Fête Chef Chris Rainosek of the Noble South serves up a seasonal familystyle meal at The Steeple. 32 SPOTLIGHT Earth, Fire and Community A massive kiln creates magic in Baldwin County. 68 JANUARY CALENDAR
74 ARCHIVES The Arson Ladies Frances Beverly tells the tale of a trio of Mobile women whose get-rich scheme was accidentally thwarted. 76 ASK MCGEHEE I heard Mobile has its place in bootleg history. Did Al Capone visit the city? The famed gangster had a brief layover in the Port City. 78 IN LIVING COLOR In Port, circa 1900 A group of unidentified seafarers pose in Mobile harbor.
Whether you’re up for the 50 mile-per-week pace of local marathon runner Shannon Beale or just looking for some downward-facing dog, we’ve got the gear to help you make (and keep!) those New Year’s resolutions.
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Mobile Bay VOLUME XXXIV
No1
JANUARY 2018
PUBLISHER T. J. Potts Stephen Potts Judy Culbreth EXECUTIVE EDITOR Maggie Lacey MANAGING EDITOR/WEB Abby Parrott SENIOR WRITER Breck Pappas COPY EDITOR Chelsea Adams PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Gin Mathers ART DIRECTOR Laurie Kilpatrick
ASSISTANT PUBLISHER
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
ADVERTISING
SALES MANAGER
Joseph A. Hyland
Adelaide Smith McAleer ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Anna Pavao
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
ADMINISTRATION CIRCULATION Anita Miller ACCOUNTING Jody Chandler
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Frances Beverly, Mallory Boykin, Emmett Burnett, Adrian Hoff, Tom McGehee CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Leigh Bancroft, Colleen Comer, Matthew Coughlin, Fernando Decillis, Elizabeth Gelineau, Kathy Hicks, Elise Poché ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL OFFICES
3729 Cottage Hill Road, Suite H Mobile, AL 36609-6500 251-473-6269 Subscription rate is $21.95 per year. Subscription inquiries and all remittances should be sent to: Mobile Bay P.O. Box 923773 Norcross, GA 30010-3773 1-855-357-3137 MOVING? Please note: U.S. Postal Service will not forward magazines mailed through their bulk mail unit. Please send old label along with your new address four to six weeks prior to moving. Mobile Bay is published 12 times per year for the Gulf Coast area. All contents © 2018 by PMT Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or the management of Mobile Bay. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions will be edited for length, clarity and style. PUBLISHED BY PMT PUBLISHING INC .
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EXTRAS | EDITOR’S NOTE
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU
Setting Goals
TREAT YOURSELF WITH HEALTHY DARK-CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMONDS FROM THREE GEORGES CANDY SHOP, CELEBRATING THEIR 100TH BIRTHDAY!
Maggie Lacey
[LOVE THIS ISSUE]
PHOTO BY KATHY HICKS
As the calendar flips to not just another month but an entirely new year, we all feel a little lighter and full of promise. We have been given a fresh start. The holidays are behind us — we all survived somehow — and now we have a chance to fix the bad habits. Scratch that — there are only 26 days until the first Mardi Gras parade, where we’ll throw it all out the window again, anyway. C’est la vie in the Port City. Needless to say, it’s impossible to hit your goal for the new year if you never set one to begin with. As you read through our feature on the challenges facing Mobile Bay, page 36, I hope you add a few green initiatives to your list of resolutions for 2018. While the problems are many and seemingly insurmountable, if we don’t set goals, we will certainly never reach them. I grew up on the shores of Mobile Bay, and that brackish water was a part of my everyday life. Now that I have a family of my own, I want my kids to experience a childhood full of boats and waves and crabtraps without fear of toxic pollutants and raw sewage. Call me crazy. I’ve found in recent days that everywhere I go, people are talking about the Bay. Those who would never identify as “granola” or “green” are suddenly discussing water quality, and I figure it’s time to point out that it is going to take a village (or two) to come together and solve these tough challenges and protect this most precious body of water for my kids and yours. As we look for strong leaders to take our fair city into the coming decades with ingenuity and integrity, I feel confident more than a few of them are listed in the pages of this issue. We are thrilled to introduce the ninth annual 40 Under 40 honorees, all of whom are doing impactful work in their jobs and in their communities. It’s safe to say our future is in good hands with these young professionals blazing a trail for our area into 2018 and beyond.
WE LOVE MOBILE BAY! CAN WE COME TOGETHER AND SAVE HER?
LOCAL MARATHON RUNNER SHANNON BEALE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISING: “GETTING STARTED IS THE HARDEST PART.” THIS STICKER FROM FLEET FEET WILL GET YOU MOTIVATED!
START EACH DAY OF 2018 WITH SOMETHING GREEN!
GREEN MACHINE SMOOTHIE BY FOY SUPERFOODS 5 slices cucumber 1/2 cup spinach 1/2 cup pineapple 1/2 avocado 1 teaspoon honey 4 ounces almond milk 1 cup ice
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
maggie@pmtpublishing.com
Meet the most impressive young professionals from around the Bay area in our ninth edition of 40 Under 40, page 45!
Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Add additional liquid as needed to keep blender turning. Serve garnished with optional herbs or baby greens.
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EXTRAS | REACTION
Tell us how you really feel... TWO GREAT MEN On November’s Ask McGehee on Surgeon General William Crawford Gorgas
DR. BILL WALTON / PHOTO BY FERNANDO DECILLIS
Both [Josiah] Nott and [William] Gorgas were public health legends to me, and their stories fed my interest in public health from childhood. I’m not sure if it is still in use, but when I was a kid, Mobile had an elementary school named for Gorgas. - Larry Lynam
JOIN THE BROOD On November’s “A Backyard Poultry Primer”
OYSTERMAN On November’s “The Doctor is In” on oyster specialist Bill Walton A great story of brains, courage and affection for a small sea creature who, with a little guidance and patience, has always been glorious. - Richard Rush Thanks to Dr. Bill Walton, MississippiAlabama Sea Grant Consortium, Auburn University, Dauphin Island Sea Lab and all others in support of this oyster farming effort. Through your vision and dedication, there is now a new industry being created to supply the most delicious oysters to the local and national markets on a consistent and sustainable basis ... a success story! - Buzz Sierke Bill Walton ... the hero to oyster growers everywhere. - George Doup 10 mobilebaymag.com | january 2018
On behalf of the Mobile Bay Area Backyard Chicken Club, I wanted to say thank you and extend our appreciation for including us in this article. We are an amazing chicken community where education and “responsible flock management” are our primary focus. I would like to extend an invite for your readers who want to know more about backyard chickens to join us on our Facebook group page. We have approximately 2,500 members and guests in that group. For club members, we meet monthly where we enjoy formal presentations to help properly educate our members. Club dues are only $20 a year, and that includes your entire at-home family. We are truly a family friendly organization!
A WONDERFUL ISSUE On our September issue
I’ve just got to say, I was so impressed by September’s Arts Issue. I took one look at the cover photograph [of Yo Jonesy] and thought, “I’ve just got to know who she is!” As a grandmother, I had no idea that Mobile was home to such a thriving music scene. I think it was the single best issue of the magazine in recent memory ... I even read the ads! Sign me up for another three-year subscription! - Susan Dube
- Travis Rayner, President, Mobile Bay Area Backyard Chicken Club
Editor’s note: In December’s “Angels on Earth,” we mistakenly reported that Delta Dogs pairs emotional support dogs with veterans at Eagle’s Landing. “The Jenns” provide veterinary care to the animals, who are paired with vets by other organizations. Our a-paw-logies for the error.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU Do you have an idea for a story or want to share your thoughts and reactions to this issue with us? EMAIL maggie@pmtpublishing.com MAIL P.O. Box 66200, Mobile, AL 36660 WEB mobilebaymag.com
[MORE ONLINE]
Get even more local coverage on this month’s stories on mobilebaymag.com. Here’s what’s new! What do you predict? Do you agree with Bethany’s predictions for Mobile in 2018 (page 17)? Tell us your predictions for the city, and we’ll share our favorites online!
Meet the winners
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU
Go online for extended interviews with the impressive young leaders featured in this year’s 40 Under 40, page 45.
Calling all local brides The deadline to reserve your wedding announcement in Mobile Bay Bride 2018 is January 31. Visit shoppmtpub.com to select your layout and to purchase.
Share your proposal story Did he pop the question over the holidays? Go online to share your proposal story with us, and we’ll feature your engagement on our website — for free!
Party Pics Share your event! Just fill out the Party Pics registration form on our website and submit your event photos to be featured in a gallery on the Web.
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EXTRAS | ODDS & ENDS
New Year, New Stories Galore text by CHELSEA ADAMS
People who explicitly make New Year’s resolutions are
UNCHARTED TAROT-TORY Tarot card readings are a fascinating, if enigmatic, art form. How do the cards work? Each deck of 78 cards is divided into the Major Arcana (dealing with the material world and intuitive mind) and Minor Arcana (dealing with specific situations such as conflict, relationships, ambition and finance). There are hundreds of decks available with a wide variety of artwork and symbolism. Contrary to popular belief, tarot cards aren’t necessarily tools for predicting the future. Rather, they instigate deep thinking about one’s unconscious self. See what the cards have revealed about the city of Mobile’s future on page 17.
40
The average age of successful start-up founders. Get an up-close look at 40 local professionals in MB’s 40 Under 40, page 45.
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1,000 % Happy 100th birthday to
THREE GEORGES CANDY!
more likely to reach their goals than those who do not make explicit resolutions.
Three Greek immigrants of the same first name — George Pappas, George Pope and George Spero — founded the iconic Mobile shop in 1917. Not much has changed in 100 years; they use the same handwritten recipe cards and the original marble slab to make their scrumptious treats. Here’s to another century of sweet indulgence! [JANUARY 10TH]
NATIONAL
TAKE-THE-STAIRS DAY Start the year on a healthy note. Skip the elevator and get moving this January!
“Small things, like refusing a plastic straw at a restaurant, empower people to feel like they’re doing something, and they are. We need to value those steps and give people more tangible things they can do.” — DR. RUTH CARMICHAEL, senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
MB takes an in-depth look at the threats to our waterways in Saving the Bay, page 36.
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FOOD | THE DISH
Bite of the Bay
MARY COURTNEY CANE, President, Courtney and Morris Real Estate
PHOTO BY ELISE POCHÉ
MUSCOVY DUCK AT FAIRHOPE INN “Head chef Tyler Kean is back in the kitchen and is cooking better than ever! I started with the shrimp, carrot and fennel soup, which was an incredible combination of flavors and without being too heavy. My main dish was the Durham Ranch Muscovy Duck served on creamed spinach (pictured). Wow! It was the most tender duck I have ever eaten and was prepared perfectly with mushroom demi-glace.” FAIRHOPE INN AND RESTAURANT 63 S. CHURCH ST., FAIRHOPE • 928-6226 THEFAIRHOPEINN.COM
HOSEA LONDON, Leader and Manager, The Excelsior Band
FRIED CHICKEN AT HERON LAKES “Occasionally, great dishes can be found at buffet brunches. My experience at Heron Lakes Country Club Sunday Brunch introduced me to a very delicious fried chicken. It was cooked with a light batter and a great combination of seasonings and fried to a golden brown. This 40-yearold Southern delicacy, accompanied with waffles, vegetables and a mimosa, certainly is a special, delicious treat.” HERON LAKES COUNTRY CLUB • 3851 GOVERNMENT BLVD. • 666-7040 • HERONLAKESCC.ORG
DR. ASH PRAKASH, Asst. Professor of Oncologic Services, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
BUFFET AT YAK, KATHMANDU KITCHEN “The buffet comprises a mix of rice and naan (Indian bread) that can be accompanied by a variety of vegetarian curries, chicken dishes and occasionally a goat curry. Each vegetable / lentil dish is made with its own set of spices that tantalizes the taste buds and brings out unique flavors without being overly spicy. I usually go back for seconds because it is hard for me to stop eating. If you’re looking to try something new in the area, this is probably the best Indian food you’ll get. ” YAK THE KATHMANDU KITCHEN • 3210 DAUPHIN ST. • 287-0115 • THEKATHMANDUKITCHEN.COM
What dishes made you drool and left you hungry for more? Share them on our Facebook page! 14 mobilebaymag.com | january 2018
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GUMBO | PREDICTIONS
It’s in the Cards Mobile’s most famous tarot card reader holds our future in her hands. text by EMMETT BURNETT
Y
ears ago, I interviewed a psychic who was not a good psychic. We met, shook hands, and he asked, “How ya doing?” A good psychic wouldn’t have to ask. I was skeptical back then, but fast-forward to today. I’ve been dispatched to meet Bethany, a professional tarot card reader based in Mobile who has clients around the world. My assignment? Seek answers about the future of Mobile for the coming year. What is in store? Who will make headlines? How many more Alexander Shunnarah billboards can be installed without blocking the sun? Deal the cards. Admittedly, I expected a dimly lit room containing a mysterious gypsy with a Hungarian accent. I was happily incorrect. Bethany is a warm, friendly person, a young woman in a suburban home. She could be your neighbor. Actually, she lives in an undisclosed location, so she might be your neighbor.
But here is the difference: Bethany predicts her clients’ futures and, based on customer feedback, her accuracy rate is 94 percent. She correctly predicted Donald Trump would be president when no one else did, over a year before the election. Born in New Orleans, her interest in predicting the future developed from what she describes as “a long line of intuitive women,” including a Crescent City grandmother who could size you up within minutes. Bethany moved to Mobile 11 years ago and opened her business, “Readings by Bethany,” accessible by her website, readingsbybethany.com. Her online card reading service fees vary: five minutes for $20; 10 minutes for $40; 15 minutes for $60; and 20 minutes for $80. On average, she sees five or six clients daily — not physically, but through tarot cards and the internet. Truth-seekers from around the world interact with her through virtual chat rooms.
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Today, Bethany’s client list will grow from five to nearly 195,000 (the population of Mobile), and we want answers for 2018. “Of all the people you have worked with, who has had the strangest request?” I ask Bethany as we begin. She smiles, answering, “You.” The card interpreter typically works with individuals inquiring about love, relationships, money, health — all facets of life. This will be her first tarot card reading for an entire city. Get ready to shuffle. As inspiration, I offered her a shoebox of Mobile artifacts: A toy replica of the USS Alabama, Jimmy Buffett’s “Volcano” album, a photograph of the beloved Peanut Man, a leaf from the grave of Joe Cain and a Jake Peavy bobblehead. Now deal me in. Here is what I learned about the future of the Port City.
Jobs and Economic Growth
With the toy battleship on the table, Bethany shuffles the deck, and one card prominently sticks out. It displays pentacles, the symbol of money. “I see January through next June as great for Mobile’s tourism industry, tourism jobs and employment in general,” she says. “However, there will be a drop-off of employment in the summertime, but it will pick back up.” Another economic forecast: “It appears we will have a big company or industry move into Mobile that was hoped for but maybe never confirmed,” she adds. “This business will bring jobs and opportunity. It will be a very good surprise.”
Politics and Fame
The cards show some political change for Mobile coming up in 2018. “Look for the city to go more moderate politically,” Bethany predicts. “No particular government or party leader stands out, but someone new is on the horizon and not necessarily in politics.” Next from the shoebox, I place a photograph of Mobile’s much beloved Peanut Man in front of Bethany. She shakes the deck, and out comes the Sun Card. “The Sun Card usually refers to younger people,” she says. “And though the Peanut Man was older, he was also locally famous. The cards could be telling us that a Mobile-area child
or teenager will see local stardom in 2018.” Examining a Jimmy Buffett record provided by MB, she adds, “Whoever the new person is, I do not see an age. I see fame not necessarily in the entertainment field, but for anything — such as the Peanut Man was famous for selling peanuts.”
Let the Good Times Roll
Next, I display a leaf taken from the gravesite of Mardi Gras icon Joe Cain. The leaf is discolored in spots, perhaps stained by the tears of a Merry Widow or stamped by the supernatural presence of Carnivals past — or maybe because, at six months old, that leaf was deader than Elvis. A card falls from the deck picturing three women, laughing, celebrating and drinking. If that ain’t indicative of the Merry Widows, what is? “Mardi Gras will continue to be a great time in 2018,” says the fortune-teller. “Based on what I see, in 2018, more people will participate in Mobile’s Mardi Gras activities. It will have a broader appeal to families as well.”
That’s the News, and now to Sports and Weather
As we stare at the tarot, Mobile’s professional baseball player Jake Peavy’s presence commands the room, personified by a
bobblehead doll from his BayBears days. “The cards say a BayBears exit from Mobile will be eventually successful, but it will not be an easy transition,” Bethany warns. “I see a strong emotional attachment and ties to Mobile.” As for 2018 hurricanes, she predicts, “We will have a lot of ‘whew!’ moments and several near-misses but not significant impact from a direct hurricane hit.”
And in Other News...
“There will be big changes in the school system, perhaps forced legally,” notes Bethany, while drawing the Justice Card from the deck. Other cards reveal Mobile’s airport will begin transitioning from Bates Field in West Mobile to Brookley Field downtown. “Plans will be revealed in late 2018. Initial construction starts late in the year, too.” All things considered, the cards show a good year ahead for Mobile. “Our struggles will be few,” Bethany proclaims. “The future looks relatively smooth.” However, as a final question, I pose, “What about all of those Alexander Shunnarah signs and 2018?” “Expect 10 more,” she replies. Happy New Year, Mobile. After all, it’s in the cards. MB
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GOOD STUFF | FITNESS
Make a Run for It Sometimes, all you need is the right gear to kick-start 1 healthy habits and energize your New Year’s resolutions. THE FAST LANE Whether you are knocking down records or gliding through a low-impact workout, goggles with precision fit and panoramic views help you slay the lanes. SWIM AND TRI • SPEEDO VANQUISHER MIRRORED RACING GOGGLES IN HORIZON BLUE • $22
SOAK IT UP Relieve sore muscles in a warm bath of organic olive oil, Epsom salts and pure essential oils. SOUL SHINE YOGA • EVERYONE EPSOM SOAK IN GERANIUM AND SWEET ORANGE • $13
H2O TO-GO Stay hydrated while showing the MOB love with this custom water bottle available in a dozen colors. FLEET FEET • RUN MOBILE WATER BOTTLE IN TURQUOISE • $25 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU
Engineer, mother of two and avid runner, Shannon Beale (left) shows MB how she gets moving! “Start slow, and don’t expect to love it immediately. Getting started is the hardest part.” For those wanting to take their jog to the next level, she suggests working in tempo runs in the middle of longer runs. After completing 12 (count them, 12!) marathons, including first place finishes in the Pensacola and First Light Marathons, she knows her stuff! You may not be up to Shannon’s 30- to 50-mile-a-week pace, but you’ve got to start somewhere. If running is not your bag, check out our top picks for yogis and swimmers, as well.
MEET SHANNON BEALE
FLEET FEET • NIKE BREATHE DRIFIT TANK • $35 FLEET FEET • DONA JO FIT WEAR EXERCISE TIGHTS IN GEO • $72 RED BEARD’S OUTFITTER • ON WOMEN’S CLOUD RUNNING SHOE • $120 PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN
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HOT STEPPER Maximum comfort and a lifetime guarantee will put a spring in your step. Cute colors don’t hurt, either. RUN-N-TRI COMPANY • ELITE RUNNING MAX CUSHION NO-SHOW TAB SOCKS IN NAVY AND BERMUDA BLUE • $16
THE RIGHT SHOT This nifty handheld has a zippered pocket to keep all your essentials close at hand. RUN-N-TRI COMPANY • NATHAN QUICKSHOT PLUS HYDRATION FLASK IN FUSION CORAL • $20
MAKE WAVES Grab a bold pattern or a fun color next time you hit the lanes. SWIM AND TRI • SPEEDO OPTIMISM SILICONE SWIM CAP WITH ELASTOMERIC FIT IN CAMO FOREST GREEN • $15
SUCH A TEES This tee is just what every jogger in the Port City needs! Show your hometown spirit while you beat the streets. FLEET FEET • RUN MOBILE T-SHIRT • $25 PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GELINEAU
STRIKE A POSE This eco-friendly, natural tree rubber yoga mat supports both your practice and the planet, sold in cool colors or limited edition artist designs! SOUL SHINE YOGA • MANDUKA EKO LITE NON-SLIP YOGA MAT IN RESOUND RED • $64
WATCH ME NOW When you’re ready to take your jogging to the next level, this watch tracks how far and how fast and captures every heartbeat along the way. FLEET FEET • GARMIN FORERUNNER 35 RUNNING WATCH • $200
RESOURCES FLEET FEET • 3972 AIRPORT BLVD. 461-6701. FLEETFEETMOBILE.COM RED BEARD’S OUTFITTER • 4354 OLD SHELL RD. 217-7466. REDBEARDSOUTFITTER.COM RUN-N-TRI COMPANY • 6345 AIRPORT BLVD. 340-8101. RUN-N-TRI.COM SOUL SHINE YOGA • 103 N. BANCROFT ST. 225-4597. THESOULSHINELIFE.COM SWIM AND TRI • 3607 OLD SHELL RD. 300-5928. SWIMANDTRI.COM
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FOOD | TASTINGS
Southwood Kitchen text by MAGGIE LACEY • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU
F
ine dining is no longer reserved for Saturday date nights at white tablecloth establishments. Chef Jeremiah Matthews offers fresh ingredients and haute cuisine cooking techniques in a laid-back setting at his new Daphne eatery. Matthews is a familiar face in Baldwin County, having steered the stoves at The Colony in Fairhope and Jesse’s in Magnolia Springs. His efforts have earned him a loyal following along the way. When the opportunity fell in his lap to take over a space on Highway 98 and create a concept from the ground up, he jumped. Southwood Kitchen was born. Matthews is well traveled and well educated, culinarily speaking. He got his start in restaurants as a kid, washing dishes and working the line, then quickly found focus and attended culinary school at the esteemed le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He worked in Michelinstarred kitchens there and sharpened his knives in the Burgundy and Dijon regions as well before settling back in the States. A stint as a backcountry chef in Wyoming sharpened his creative process — how, in the middle of the mountains, do you cook a world-class
meal with only ingredients that were packed in on horseback? Southwood Kitchen melds classic French preparations with bold creativity, decidedly Southern ingredients and seafood straight out of the Gulf. Matthews adds that most true Southern dishes have French ancestry, so it is a natural combination. Every protein listed on the menu has a farm name printed alongside it, a testament to his goal of offering fresh, high quality local ingredients. Although the staff takes great pains with the food, the dining experience is comfortable and casual. The word “approachable” comes up again and again. There are no tablecloths, no reservations, no pretension. Prices are also accessible. The dinner menu changes daily. Whatever fresh local seafood, meat and vegetables are available that day inspire his creations, so don’t expect to have your favorite dish every single time. There is always a prime steak available, although it’s often not printed on the menu. You need to ask for it, “like a super-secret club,” he laughs. This is the kind of place where it pays big to try something new, so go out on a limb and see what the chef has in store! MB
Southwood Kitchen • Lunch 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. M-S, Dinner 5 – 9 p.m. M-Th, 5 – 10 p.m. F-Sa 1203 US Highway 98 Suite 3D • 626-6676 • southwoodkitchen.com • Average dinner entree price: $20 24 mobilebaymag.com | january 2018
FOOD | TASTINGS
VENISON OSSO BUCO GNOCCHI
[ ON THE MENU ]
ALABAMA CRAB CLAWS Two dozen of the freshest jumbo blue crab claws are tossed in a lemon garlic miso butter sauce and topped with colorful local micro greens. While fried claws are the norm in this town, this delicious preparation of the crustacean takes the prize.
VENISON OSSO BUCO GNOCCHI Braised venison shank is fall-offthe-bone tender and served over delicate homemade gnocchi. Shiitakes, a few roasted root vegetables, edible flowers and the most divine pan juice finish this irresistibly comforting bowl.
RED SNAPPER
PORK BELLY
A delicate filet of fresh Gulf fish is breaded in almonds and sesame seeds for a super crisp crust, then served over creamy spaghetti squash and tender grilled vegetables. The whole thing is drizzled with a flavorful saffron chive beurre blanc.
This fatty cut of pork deliciousness is cooked to perfection with a crisp exterior and served over a sriracha sweet potato puree and roasted okra, then drizzled with a bit of pickled garlic chimichurri for a decadent bite.
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FOOD | BAY TABLES
Fêting Forty Under Forty MB honors the ninth class of 40 Under 40 honorees with dinner and a show at The Steeple on St. Francis. text by MAGGIE LACEY • photos by ELIZABETH GELINEAU
T
he Circus of Dreams pulled out all the stops for the 40 young professionals and their dates who were recently invited to the ninth Mobile Bay Magazine 40 Under 40 awards. It was an evening of mingling with friends, old and new, laughing, networking and enjoying a family-style dinner. But the show at the end of the night no doubt made the biggest impression on those assembled. Recipients were treated to a taste of what was in store as soon as they stepped across the wooden threshold of The Steeple on St. Francis, a former church built in 1895 that was recently converted into a music hall and event space. Mysterious ladies dressed in elaborate costumes lurked in windowsills and doorways, never breaking character as the guests filed past. Upon entering the grand hall, massive three-foot balloons filled the ceiling while an actor in top hat and steam-punk tailcoat ambled through the crowd on stilts that seemed a mile high. Little touches of circus spectacular dotted the cocktail party and dinner: striped linens
to caramel popcorn to cotton candy-topped Champagne for dessert. After a locally sourced dinner, prepared by The Noble South, the lights dimmed and the show began. Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre entertained the assembled with song, dance, acrobatics and whimsy. Erin Langley, a member of this year's 40 Under 40 class, directed this surprising treat for the senses. The dinner was generously sponsored by Alabama Power, Regions Bank and the University of South Alabama. Without their support, this event would not have been possible. The 40 Under 40 awards seek to honor young professionals who have made a significant impact in their field of business while at the same time giving back to the community with their time and talents. Each year, MB receives several hundred applicants, all of whom are impressive beyond measure. The panel of judges has the difficult task of bringing the count down to just 40 to be honored with a special event and coverage in the magazine. Turn to page 45 to learn a little more about this year's class of honorees. january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 27
ABOVE An actor tips his hat to welcome guests on mile-high stilts in an elaborate steam-punk costume. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Whimsical flowers, striped linens and party favors greet the 40 award recipients and their dates. The bard for the Circus of Dreams from Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre sets the scene in a macabre, high-fashion costume. Honoree Chelsea Lipford Wolf looks on as the Mayor of Mobile, Sandy Stimpson, congratulates the class. Champagne cocktails made with delicate fluffs of white cotton candy is served alongside butter-pecan caramel corn in cheery striped popcorn boxes as the dessert.
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Braised Beef Cheeks SERVES 6 3 tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper, to taste 4 pounds trimmed beef cheeks 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 1 rib celery, roughly chopped 1 medium carrot, roughly chopped 3/4 bottle red wine (burgundy) 4 cups beef stock 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 spring fresh rosemary 3 cloves garlic, crushed
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper and sear on all sides in the Dutch oven. Remove beef from pan and set aside. 2. Add onion, celery and carrot to pan and cook until caramelized. Add the wine to the pan to deglaze. Simmer the wine until reduced by half, then return the cheeks to pot. Add beef stock, thyme, rosemary and garlic. Bring to a boil, cover then cook in the oven for 2 hours and 45 minutes. 3. Remove the lid and cook an additional 45 minutes to reduce cooking liquid, rotating the cheeks every 15 minutes so they don’t dry out. Serve.
Charred Broccoli With Parmesan And Lemon Zest Bread Crumbs SERVES 6 4 tablespoons butter 1 cup panko breadcrumbs zest of 2 lemons 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 2 pounds broccoli, stalks removed 4 tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper, to taste
1. Melt butter in a sauté pan. Add breadcrumbs and toss to coat. Toast breadcrumbs in the
sauté pan until golden brown. Remove from heat and cool. 2. Combine cooled breadcrumbs with lemon zest and Parmesan and set aside. 3. Place broccoli in a mixing bowl with oil, salt and pepper and toss to coat. 4. Heat a large sauté pan over high heat. Add broccoli and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side until broccoli has dark brown edges. Toss with breadcrumbs and serve.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Herb Garlic Sorghum Glaze SERVES 6 3 pounds baby sweet potatoes 1/4 cup olive oil salt and pepper, to taste
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut baby sweet potatoes in half lengthwise and toss in a mixing bowl with oil, salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown. 2. Serve with a drizzle of Herb Garlic Sorghum Glaze (below).
Herb Garlic Sorghum Glaze MAKES 3/4 CUP 1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon thyme, chopped 1/4 cup sorghum molasses 3 cloves roasted garlic, smashed 1 tablespoon creole mustard 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar salt and pepper, to taste
ABOVE Family-style dinner service encouraged guests to visit with their neighbor, mix and mingle with new friends. Roasted sweet potatoes in an herb garlic sorghum glaze were shared from hand to hand across the long, candlelit tables. An actor in a romantic, steam-punk costume passes popcorn during the cocktail reception.
1. Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and serve.
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SPOTLIGHT | PEOPLE
Earth, Fire and Community An artist passionate about woodfiring creates a sense of camaraderie in Fairhope. text by ADRIAN HOFF • photos by LEIGH BANCROFT
Creating Volcanic Temperatures
T
he word passion does not do justice to the way Fairhope artist Zach Sierke approaches his craft. The ceramicist turns pottery into an obsession where the material is sourced locally from stream beds and is fired at temperatures you’re more likely to find on the sun. Sierke tends a giant woodfired kiln on his farm twice a year, and that lighting has become more than just a step in his art process. It is a real barn-raising. “Woodfiring ceramics brings together geology, ecology, the roots of human industry and technology, and community. It brings these worlds together on a human scale that empowers everyone who participates.” Sierke is a natural teacher. A simple question about how he digs his own clay morphs into a 15-minute lecture on geologic history, local topography and their dominant role in the area’s long association with potters and potteries. Sierke’s next lecture is about chemistry and the heat-related molecular bonding qualities of the clays and slips he uses. A single coffee cup he shows me elicits an explanation of how its position in the kiln (relative to the fire boxes and to its neighbors) combined with internal thermodynamics, flame quality, intensity, direction, and a thousand other variables to produce its unique surface texture and design. What appears to the untrained eye as a glazed surface actually is the result of its exposure, for several days, to the molten earth elements released from wood burned at extreme temperatures. Such knowledge, he points out, is as essential to the creative process as is throwing and trimming the pot itself. It’s all interrelated.
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Large firings in a massive kiln are inherently inefficient, but Sierke relishes the community that has sprung up around the practice. Each firing is an exhausting two-week communal event. Some 20 volunteers, spread across four six-hour daily shifts, support the three-day span in which volcanic temperatures must be maintained. “Everybody that comes here takes days or even weeks out of their lives to convene. And it takes every single one of them,” says Sierke, before showering thanks and praise on those currently filling that role, not the least of which includes Sierke’s partner, Leigh Bancroft. She not only assists with the entire creative process, but she documents it as well with her photographs. But before the volunteer shifts can begin, prefiring preparations culminate in meticulously loading some 600 pots into a kiln that produces radically different surface designs based on that placement. It’s mostly Sierke’s work, but several participants have added pots to the mix (including students from the University of South Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi). “Loading is sort of like a 3-D Tetris puzzle. You want to fill up all of the space, but in filling up that space you are setting up the patterns for the way the flame is going to hit each pot,” he says, comparing it to water flows around boulders in a stream. “At the volcanic temperatures, which we hold for about three days, all of the ash from the wood used as fuel, all of those earth minerals become molten and blow through the kiln and coat everything in its path. So as we load, there’s a windward and a leeward side,” Sierke continues. “And in order to create a dynamic surface on the pot, I nest pots within one another to mask certain sections.
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I’m extremely protective of that ritual. But for the last firing, Mark Rigsby (chair of the Department of Art and Design at USM) came down and immediately found a place helping me load the kiln. He’s awesome at it.” The firing lasts some six days, according to Sierke. “As soon as we finish loading and bricking up the doors, I light a little preheat fire in front of the kiln, in a separate firebox. I maintain oven temps, 200-400 degrees, to dry everything out and to coat the inside of the kiln with a layer of fine soot and a very light dusting of ash.” Then the kiln’s two internal fireboxes are ramped up, raising temperatures to between 2,200 and 2,400 degrees. Zach’s conversations become snippets interspersed with frequent interruptions. His crewmembers regularly shout out temperature readings from various sections of the kiln. He adds them to a ledger and responds with instructions, such as “four pieces of wet wood in the front” — specifying wood split in the past day or two that hasn’t dried. It slows things down a bit. As one person pulls aside a thick metal cover, another tosses wood through the opening. Similar activity occurs around the kiln’s back opening. Continuous monitoring and quick responses to the internal conditions are essential. “In the beginning we had an 80 percent loss rate in this kiln — the first two firings where everything was overfired in a big way,” explains Sierke, who has since learned to restrain the process. “I’ve gotten it dialed in pretty well. It’s more like a 20 percent loss right now.” The postfiring cool down adds another six days. He actively downfires for the first 14 to 16 hours. Still, says Sierke, “as we unload the kiln at the end of the process, there will be live coals. It will still melt the bottoms off your boots when you walk in there.”
Roots in Fire Homer Howard, who was Sierke’s great-greatgrandfather, operated a pottery near Baldwin County’s Clay City from 1870 until his death in 1900. For Sierke, reviving the family LEFT, TOP TO BOTTOM Sierke loads his kiln like a tetris puzzle, with works nesting inside each other to impact the flame patterns. The kiln after a firing sits ready to be unloaded. Some of Sierke’s completed works.
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“This woodfire process connects different global and universal systems,” he adds. “Woodfiring ceramics brings together geology, ecology, the roots of human industry and technology, and community. It brings these worlds together on a human scale that empowers everyone who participates.” tradition wasn’t exactly planned. He entered Eckerd College focused on writing. “I took a clay class in second semester. I got hooked,” he says, “like absolutely hooked.” After graduation, he returned to Fairhope expecting to build a small kiln on land owned by his parents. His inability to find the local bricks long associated with area potteries changed everything. He contacted an industrial firebrick supplier, sparking cheap access to materials left over from massive construction projects. He could now build the kiln of his dreams. He cleared an acre of the piney woods
surrounding the dilapidated 1870s farmhouse he then called home, salvaged a large tin roof, bought reject telephone poles for $10 apiece, and started construction. A decade later, it’s all under roof and the framing is in place, but nothing has been walled-in, so no heat or air conditioning, which restricts studio time. “Even with everything still very much incomplete here, people are coming to me. I’m building on that. I really like the camaraderie of community studios,” he says, likening it to his time at Eckerd. Bancroft, adds, “Zach is not the hermit potter. He
loves the fellowship with other artists and the collaborative spirit. I think knowing a dozen or more people are counting on him to have everything ready keeps him on task. And it all somehow miraculously comes together.” Sierke doesn’t sell his works immediately after the unloading. “There’s a lot of finish work to be done,” he says. “And I spend at least a week or two organizing the work, studying it and gathering information from what happened in the kiln. I loaded every piece with an intention. That deserves reflection time and information gathering: I learn from every single piece.” MB january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 35
SAVING
PHOTO BY KATHY HICKS
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THE BAY ARE WE UP TO THE TASK? text by BRECK PAPPAS
Mobile Bay faces an upstream battle of environmental challenges. While most agree it’s a battle worth waging, a bigger question arises — are we equipped to fight it?
january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 37
W
e don’t need a list of facts and statistics to tell us that water become lazy nights on the dock. But three years ago, an incident this place is special, but take this into consideration: involving Reily’s youngest son alerted the family to dangers unseen. Mobile Bay is the fourth largest drainage basin by “The kids were playing in the creek,” Reily says, “and our youngest, volume in all of North America. To put it another who was 4 years old at the time, hit his shin on the pier.” way, every ounce of water that falls west of the Appalachians and east The injury was no more than a scratch, but two days later, when of the Rockies will enter the Gulf of Mexico through the Mississippi the boy was stuck in bed with a fever, Reily noticed redness and and Mobile Bay drainage basins. While the Mississippi catches the intense swelling on the youngster’s shin. Antibiotics were of little majority of that flow, 43 billion gallons of water a day pour into the help, and the redness spread to his ankle and knee. When the family shallow, broad expanse of Mobile Bay. was sent to an orthopedic surgeon, the doctor took one look at the But for the past several decades, the same sedimentboy and admitted him to the hospital. driven river systems that have made our region so fertile “They couldn’t determine whether or not it was the and diverse have also made it vulnerable. The waterways water that did it,” Reily says, “but they felt pretty certain that tumble and flow towards Mobile Bay carry a lot of that was the case.” The young boy underwent surgery and baggage in the form of runoff pollution. And while a lot eventually got back on his feet, with the help of physical of it can come from as far as a state away, some of it comes million gallons therapy. But the ordeal was an awakening experience of raw sewage for Reily and Mitsy, who walked away with a greater from our own neighborhoods. spilled into Reily Murphy stands in the backyard of his Fairhope awareness of the local water quality. “We’re definitely Mobile Bay home, admiring the serene waters of Fly Creek. Kayaks more cautious now,” Reily says. “After the kids swim, it’s and life jackets scatter the grass haphazardly, and he immediately to the bath.” in 2017 apologizes for the disorder. “We had a ton of family over As coastal regions around the world grapple with issues here this weekend,” he explains. surrounding wastewater pollution, we’ve found that Mobile Bay and A lifelong outdoorsman, Reily adores his Fly Creek home, which its surrounding waterways are no exception. Defined as a byproduct he shares with his wife Mitsy. “Here, we’ve got the water, and we’re of agricultural, industrial or domestic activities, wastewater can close to town,” he says. “We have three boys and a daughter, and my both threaten human health and smother ecosystems. Ken Heck, boys live outdoors. So the water was a big selling point — to be able a senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, estimates to jump in a boat and go right out to the Bay and fish was huge.” that around half of the grass beds that used to exist in Mobile Bay And that’s exactly what the young family does. Fishing trips in and coastal Alabama have disappeared. The beds, which serve as a Mobile Bay conclude with dips in the creek, and lazy afternoons in the valuable nursery for baby shrimp, crabs, fishes and other Bay critters,
26
“I’m a businessman and a family man. I‘ve never been in a lawsuit before, and that’s about the last thing I would have thought would happen. But I find myself getting more and more involved in the political arena — I don’t want to get involved in politics at all, but at the same time, I want to make sure that the area where friends come over to play is a safe environment.” - Reily Murphy, Fairhope resident living on Fly Creek
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PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN
my children play and
are continually robbed of crucial sunlight by the ever murkier waters they inhabit. But the issue that’s drawn the most attention recently is sewage overflow, 26 million gallons of which entered Mobile Bay in 2017 from spills across Mobile and Baldwin counties (think 39 Olympicsized pools). On Monday, August 7, of this year, Fairhope Utilities personnel discovered that a malfunction at a wastewater lift station had deposited 266,250 gallons of raw sewage into Fly Creek. The spill, which had begun three days prior, was triggered by a blown fuse that both shut down the station’s pump and disabled its backup alarm system. As a result, anyone who entered the creek on that summer weekend unknowingly shared the water with raw sewage. The incident reignited public concern over the system’s reliability and capacity. “Our [sewer] system is so antiquated,” Reily says. “It was built for a certain population size, but [Fairhope has] doubled in size since then. And that was one of the big concerns with an apartment complex coming in upstream. They’ll be tapping into that same system.”
Despite a suit filed by a handful of Fly Creek residents, including Reily, against the city of Fairhope, construction of a 240-unit apartment complex along Fly Creek is slated to move forward amidst concerns of increased creek pollution. Reily admits he “never would have dreamt” becoming involved in such a lawsuit, “but at the same time, I want to make sure that the area where my children play ... is a safe environment,” he says. Unfortunately, similar scenes are unfolding in creeks and rivers surrounding Mobile Bay — places like Dog River, Three Mile Creek, Eslava Creek and D’Olive Creek. And in this neck of the woods, all creeks lead to the Bay.
A Growing Problem
At the city of Fairhope’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, Director of Operations Richard Peterson lifts a metal grate to reveal a roaring torrent of water below our feet. After describing the step-by-step process of treating raw sewage, he’s brought me here, to the last stage. Before being piped out 3,000 feet into Mobile Bay, the treated wastewater passes through an ultraviolet light, a final act of disinfection. The entire process, I come to realize, is actually pretty marvelous. Peterson is frank about the issues facing the Fairhope treatment plant and other plants on the Eastern Shore. “The biggest hurdle will be how to balance the need to address the aging infrastructure … with the need to improve our capacity to accommodate new growth,” he says. Baldwin County is the fastest growing county in the state, having added 26,298 people from 2010 to 2016 — a rate of 12 newcomers a day. The simple fact is that the capacity of the existing sewer system is being pushed beyond its limit. Peterson has helped create meaningful conversation throughout Fairhope with his inventive, outside-the-box ideas about combating the city’s sewage issues. One such suggestion is the establishment of “satellite wastewater treatment facilities located near golf courses or areas with high irrigation demand. This can allow us an opportunity to preserve the potable water resources used for irrigation and replace it with ‘reuse quality’ wastewater effluent.”
ABOVE Cade Kistler, program director with Mobile Baykeeper, tests the water quality of Fly Creek following an August sewage spill.
“History will document and somehow judge our stewardship of Mobile Bay. Today, I would have to say that we are not being as responsible as we should be to protect the water quality of Mobile Bay for the future generations. That is PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN
not to call out any entity for failing to act, but to say we should both individually and collectively find the motivation to support goals for improved water quality.” - Richard Peterson, Director of Operations, City of Fairhope
january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 39
Other proposals Peterson has made to the city of Fairhope include the creation of a crew to continually assess the condition of and make repairs on the wastewater system. “We should also further develop the plant’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, which allows the utility plant to create maintenance alarms for abnormal conditions found in the data.” His recommendations include spending $4 million in the next three years to address sewage issues. “This proposed investment in the rehabilitation and upgrade of the system requires a rate increase for homeowners and a connection fee increase for new customers,” Peterson says. Such a financial commitment, he says, is “required by the community to make significant progress” on the wastewater problems. By comparison, Mobile’s population has held pretty steady in recent years — fallen, in fact. It begs the question, if a growing population isn’t the cause of the city’s sewage woes, what is? “I would say it’s 90 percent aging infrastructure,” says Paul Kleinschrodt, a project manager at Constantine Engineering. Kleinschrodt, who’s worked in conjunction with MAWSS (Mobile Area Water and Sewer System) to help repair damaged sewer pipes, explains that rainwater entering a faulty pipe is usually responsible for the sewage overflows downstream. During an extreme rain event, rainwater from above and a rising water table from below can inundate the sewer system. Downstream, an overflow is born. Barbara Shaw, public affairs manager for MAWSS, helps put the issue into perspective. “MAWSS has approximately 3,200 miles of sanitary sewer line in our service area,” Shaw says. “Placed end-to-end, that would go from Mobile to Los Angeles and halfway back.” Of the existing pipe, she says, 40 percent is over 50 years old and has reached or exceeded its useful life, and 54 percent is made of vitrified clay. It’s the clay pipes, which easily crack, that allow storm water to infiltrate sewer lines. MAWSS has several projects planned to reduce sewage overflows, most notably, the construction of a severe weather attenuation basin at Halls Mill Creek and the addition of two 12-million-gallon tanks at Three Mile Creek. “These storage facilities will hold overflows until they can be returned to the sewer line and transported to one of our wastewater treatment facilities,” Shaw says. “These are stopgap remedies until sewer lines can be replaced or rehabbed, a process that could take decades and hundreds of millions of dollars.” MAWSS is currently at work on a “master plan” to prioritize the projects ahead. BELOW This photo, provided by Mobile Baykeeper, captures a local sewer spill in progress. As explained on Baykeeper’s website, “Spills can be the result of blockages or broken lines, but most often they are the result of aging lines incapable of handling rainfall,” of which Mobile sees plenty. The watchdog organization has ramped up its efforts against sewage overflow over the past couple years. In September, Baykeeper filed a notice of intent to sue Daphne Utilities over its alleged false reporting of sewage incidents.
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600
total miles of tidal shoreline border all of the coastal bays, rivers
and bayous in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The shoreline around Mobile Bay accounts for about 100 of those miles.
“In March, the shrimp lay
43 billion gallons of water that enter Mobile Bay per day
26
million gallons of sewage spilled into Mobile Bay in 2017
their eggs in estuaries and grass beds up in the Delta, then they work their way back out into the Bay. That’s what we’re catching now — those big white mama shrimp.” - Captain Sidney
PHOTO BY KATHY HICKS
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Tracing the Tides
our interstates. “And as we do so,” Dr. Carmichael says, “we change When an overflow does reach our waterways, it’s good to know we the hydrology of the system.” Rainfall that once filtered naturally have experts looking out for us. On this winter Tuesday morning, through a forest floor now runs across pavement in sheets, testing Dr. Ruth Carmichael has jury duty. For folks like you and me, the capacity of storm drains and picking up contaminants that’ll this civic responsibility is a mere inconvenience — a slight speed likely end up in our waterways. bump in the workweek. But for a senior marine scientist at the “As we have changed our land-use mosaics, converted from natural Dauphin Island Sea Lab, whose days are spent observing horseshoe pervious surface to impervious surface and put more people on the crabs and tracking manatees, it might constitute cruel and unusual watershed, we’ve delivered more wastewater to systems,” she says. A couple years ago, a student of Dr. Carmichael’s took punishment. Thankfully, Dr. Carmichael is released sediment cores from the Grand Bay area and, like peering before lunch and able to make our appointment at the 5 back in time, was able to identify changes in the sediment Rivers Delta Center on the Causeway. She seems relieved layers corresponding with the heavy development of to be back within a cast-net’s throw of the water. the 1960s. As fascinating as it is to look backwards, Dr. Carmichael has worked at the Sea Lab for the past scientists now have tools that allow for a more immediate total days of 11 years and is an associate professor of marine sciences recognition and identification of pollutants. at the University of South Alabama. According to her shellfish harvest“Elemental analyses allow us to better define specific bio on the university’s website, her primary research ing closures due signatures of different types of wastewater,” Dr. focuses on “the mechanisms by which anthropogenicto poor water Carmichael explains. “By doing so, we can identify not driven perturbations affect coastal habitats and species.” quality in 2016 When we meet, she graciously elaborates. only what’s getting in the water, but potentially where it’s “I look at tracing human influence in coastal coming from.” Some possible wastewater sources could systems,” she says. “So basically, the effects of what people do on include overboard dumping, failing septic systems or aging municipal land, and how those activities affect food resources and habitats for infrastructure, among others. animals in the water. For the past 20 years or so, a big part of that The way forward, she explains, is an acute awareness of the issues has been human wastewater.” we face. “A big push has been made nationally for green buildings, For as long as human beings have stood on dry land, we’ve putting in driveways using materials that allow for infiltration of water altered it. We’ve plowed fields to grow food, we’ve dug foundations so it doesn’t just sheet off, supporting upgrades and maintenance on which to build our homes, we’ve paved our driveways and built of municipal wastewater treatment facilities — so I think there are
177
“As a researcher, I try to learn what the needs are for the public, municipalities or the agencies and then see where our science can fit to meet those needs. That may mean designing a project to help answer those questions, or it may mean taking a project that we’ve already completed that has relevant data and sharing those data. For a long time, science hasn’t been seek end-users in this way.” - Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
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PHOTO BY MATTHEW COUGHLIN
necessarily encouraged to
things that people have become more aware of as far as responsible construction and building. I think the public needs to encourage more municipalities to do that, so that when we plan ahead, we actually plan.”
On the Horizon
In her Government Street office at Mobile Baykeeper, Executive Director Casi Callaway hardly hesitates when asked to identify the primary threats facing Mobile Bay today: “Sewage and coal ash.” She’s referring of course to the coal ash pond at the James M. Barry Electric Generating Plant, operated by Alabama Power in north Mobile County. Coal ash, the toxic waste that remains after coal is burned, is a cocktail of unsavory ingredients, including mercury and arsenic. The ash pond at Plant Barry contains more than 16 million tons of coal ash and is bordered on three sides by the Mobile River. For Callaway, the threat of a catastrophic breaching event at the pond is what makes her lose sleep at night. Such a spill wouldn’t be without precedent. A 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, released more than 6 million tons of coal ash, contaminating rivers and burying homes. Callaway estimates that, based on “back-of-the-napkin calculations,” the worst-case scenario at Plant Barry could deposit a layer of ash three-feet deep along the Mobile River from the ash pond to the Causeway. Besides the obvious environmental ramifications of such an event, Callaway cites the effect that shutting down the Mobile River could have on industry — potentially millions of dollars a day for some companies. “The positive is that Alabama Power can fix it really easily,” Callaway says. “It will take money and be expensive, but not as much as cleaning up a coal ash spill.” While Alabama Power has agreed to “cap” the ash pond with an impermeable lid to seal out any water, Baykeeper would like to see the ash excavated and removed to an upland, lined landfill. The cap, Callaway says, will do nothing to prevent the leaching of dangerous chemicals into the groundwater below. Callaway notes that Georgia Power, Alabama Power’s brother company under Southern Company, has excavated ash ponds without a fight. “That lays the groundwork for us to demand it in Alabama,” she says. “Alabama Power is a hero to us over and over again. They’re the ones who turn our power back on after storms, they fund education and countless other things, and they still have the opportunity to be a leader on this issue.”
Playing the Hand that’s Dealt
Make no mistake, Mobile Bay is far from dead. Just ask the 300 bird species that migrate through the delta every year, the 350 species of freshwater fish, the alligators and American lotus, the manatees and mussels. And though the scope of the Bay’s problems seems large and imposing, there are success stories out there. Tampa Bay, Dr. Carmichael says, is a wonderful case study for a water body making great strides in the fight for better water quality, as evidenced by their successful seagrass restoration. “We should be careful not to beat ourselves up too much for past wrongs and recognize the fact that conservation science in general is young,” Dr. Carmichael says. ““We need to focus on what will move us ahead. We have to now say, ‘These are the cards we have before us. How do we best play them?’” MB
“ADEM [the Alabama Department of Environmental Management] is 50th in the nation for funding. Alabama puts less money in protecting our natural resources than any other state in the nation — by a lot. By tens of millions. So, the local community has to take ownership and has to get involved. And that’s what Mobile Baykeeper has done.” - Casi Callaway, Executive Director of Mobile Baykeeper
ABOVE An aerial view near the James M. Barry Electric Generating Plant appears to show wastewater discharge from a coal ash pond into the Mobile River.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY REPORT WHAT YOU SEE Any suspicious activities concerning sewage overflow or pollutants of any kind should be reported to city officials and Mobile Baykeeper. AVOID SINGLE-USE PLASTICS Refuse plastic straws at restaurants, take your own shopping bags to the store and pack lunches in a reusable container. USE A GREASE CONTAINER Help the fight against grease blockages by participating in your city’s grease recycling program.
BECOME A MEMBER OF MOBILE BAYKEEPER Help fund restoration projects, water testing, cleanups and more. Also, call Baykeeper for a “bite-sized” project of your own.
MAKE CALLS, SEND EMAILS AND WRITE LETTERS Make sure local and state officials know where you stand.
START CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE ISSUES Spread awareness of these issues through word of mouth.
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UNDER This year’s young leaders have professional savvy, big hearts and lots to say — so listen up. Our future’s looking bright. interviews by CHELSEA ADAMS AND BRECK PAPPAS photos by MATTHEW COUGHLIN location THE FUSE FACTORY
[ PROUDLY SPONSORED BY ]
[ SPECIAL THANKS TO ] Mayor Sandy Stimpson for his participation in the awards celebration, SOHO Events for providing the table settings for the dinner, Fuse Factory for opening their doors for the photo shoot and Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre for the spectacular entertainment!
january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 45
PAUL BECKMANN Attorney / Member, Hand Arendall LLC
Paul has practiced with Hand Arendall LLC since graduating from law school in 2006. He became a member of the firm in 2014, focusing on litigation issues involving admiralty, transportation and trucking, construction and medical malpractice, among many other issues. Paul was named an Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Star in Transportation / Maritime Law in 2014 and 2015 and is an active participant in the Mobile Volunteer Lawyers Program. Paul is a cub master for the Pack 66 Cub Scouts, coaches CYO sports and serves as a Big Brother. ALMA MATER B.B.A., The Univer-
sity of Mississippi; J.D., The University of Mississippi School of Law HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN
Kelli; Thomas (9), Grace (6), James (5) FIRST JOB
Bagging ice at Crystal Ice Co.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED Don’t be afraid to fail, and
learn from your failures.
IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
Work on upgrading Mobile’s aging infrastructure. HIDDEN TALENTS
I can juggle and wiggle my ears.
WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING MOMENT AS A “BIG BROTHER?” Seeing how excited my
Little was to tell me he had been adopted.
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CLAUDIA BJORK
BEN BLACKMON
LUCY GREER CHERIOGOTIS
Research and Development Engineer, Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries
Athletic Director / Head Football Coach, Spanish Fort High School
Corporate Spokesperson / V.P. of Deli Bakery, Autry Greer & Sons, Inc., Greer’s Markets
While in school for her engineering degree, Claudia was recognized as a Distinguished Student Leader. Since obtaining her degree in 2014, she has become an expert in bridge hydraulic studies and, after just a few years, she was promoted to become director of business development, bringing several multimillion dollar projects to the company. Claudia is on the planning committee for GEMS, an organization dedicated to showing girls the opportunities available in STEM fields. ALMA MATER
University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Moss Point, MS CHILDREN
Ayden (12)
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Engineering encourages outside-
the-box thinking, especially in R&D. Being part of an organization that builds ships for the US Navy is pretty cool, too! WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET KIDS INTERESTED IN ENGINEERING? Storytelling —
simplifying what engineers do. My daughter used to always ask me what I do during the workday. One day I jokingly replied, “I draw colorful lines that mean something.” From there, she was engaged!
Ben believes coaching extends beyond the field. As a three-time Coach of the Year for WKRG and ALFCA, Ben also traveled with the Nike Coach of the Year speaking circuit. He helped create the Football Player Mentor Program in Spanish Fort, in which football players become mentors for elementary school students. He also implemented the Character Education Sports Program at Spanish Fort High School, helping students focus on skills and traits important in sportsmanship as well as later in life. ALMA MATER
B.S., Troy University; M.S., Auburn University HOMETOWN Montgomery SPOUSE + CHILDREN
Misty; Elle Carolina (11), Cates (10), Mary Beasley (6) FIRST JOB Cart washer at Bonnie Crest Country Club
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT
Jesse’s in Magnolia Springs
WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE LIFE LESSONS YOU CAN LEARN THROUGH SPORTS AND ATHLETICS?
Athletics influence one’s character greatly by requiring hard work, discipline, commitment to a purpose that is bigger than the individual, and overcoming adversities.
Since the age of 9, Lucy has pulled her weight at the fifth-generation grocery store bearing her family’s name. Under her leadership, the deli and bakery departments have increased in sales and profits each year, and in her role as corporate spokesperson, she has helped create a deeper connection between Greer’s and its customers. Lucy helps coordinate service projects in all 30 store locations and is the assistant director of the Apples for the Students Community Program. She can also be seen every Wednesday cooking on Fox10. ALMA MATER
Auburn University and Culinard HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN Spiro; Jack and Nick (2.5 years), Elle (6 months) HOBBIES Cooking, traveling, chasing kids, and, as of late, campaigning for my husband who is running for District Court Judge in Mobile County. FIRST JOB Cashier at our store on Florida Street at 9 years old. I had to stand on a milk crate! FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Meeting our customers. I espe-
cially enjoy hearing stories of those who have shopped with us for generations, growing up going to Greer’s with their grandparents, parents and now bringing their children.
january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 47
LATISHA RHODES DAVIS Attorney, Armbrecht Jackson LLP
Latisha has distinguished herself as a talented and hardworking litigator, handling a wide range of employment-related cases on behalf of employers located throughout the Southeast. She has also demonstrated stellar networking skills, often resulting in new legal work for her firm, and she provides coaching to employers about their human resources departments. In 2014 and 2015, Super Lawyers Magazine named her an Alabama Rising Star. Since entering the legal profession in 2009, Latisha has shown, time and time again, an admirable commitment to her firm and community. ALMA MATER
B.A., Stillman College; J.D., The University of Alabama School of Law HOMETOWN Prichard, Ala. SPOUSE + CHILDREN Kantonio; Angela and Kendarius (17), Alivia (12), Kantonio, Jr. (6) FIRST JOB Star Cast Member (waitress) at Chuck E. Cheese’s. BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED
What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT?
Felix’s Fish Camp Restaurant
IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
Work with the Mobile County Public School System to improve educational equality.
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ERIN DELAPORTE
SAM DENNIS
KENDRICK T. DUNKLIN
Customer Service Manager, Alabama Power Company
Director of Operations, CigarClub.com
Director of Admissions, Spring Hill College
Erin has demonstrated again and again her aptitude for leadership in the workplace. She was one of 20 Alabama Power Company employees selected in 2009 to participate in the APC Leadership Development Class. In 2013, she was appointed to the APC Maximizing Leadership Potential Program. Slated to be Alabama Power Service Organization president in 2018, Erin has also helped produce an operations optimization study, in which she and a team evaluated APC’s customer service practices to increase efficiency. Additionally, she is a member of the 2018 class of Leadership Mobile.
After earning a master’s degree in urban planning from Auburn University, Sam conceived the idea for the Midtown Mobile Movement in 2014. Within a year, the nonprofit was established and a board of directors was assembled. The organization has since raised $62,000 for the Design Old Shell Road plan and received $500,000 in federal funding. As director of operations for the Mobile-based CigarClub.com, which hand-selects its customers’ cigars “based on your unique taste,” Sam has directed his efforts towards building the website’s brand from the ground up.
Hired in 2010 immediately after his graduation from Spring Hill College, Kendrick truly rose through the ranks of the Office of Admissions to his current role as director. This year, he led the recruitment team in welcoming one of the largest and most academically talented freshman classes in the college’s history. Kendrick works diligently with prospective students, ensuring that all have access to financial aid options to help make their college dreams a reality that they can afford and enjoy.
ALMA MATER
ALMA MATER
GUILTY PLEASURE Reality televi-
Auburn University; University of Alabama-Birmingham HOMETOWN Mobile
B.S., The University of Alabama; M.A., Auburn University HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE Mae
ALMA MATER
Spring Hill College HOMETOWN Mobile
sion, because it makes me feel like I have this thing called life figured out (although, I’m still a work in progress).
Chris; Will (14), Owen (13)
IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED “If someone tells you
Growing up, my mom always said, “Be the ‘I girl’: Take the initiative and get the task done.”
Tear down the Civic Center, reconnect the street grid, and build an urban ballpark within that grid — complete with a manual scoreboard and Dew Drop hot dogs.
you can’t do something, do it anyway. However, make sure you do it better than the person who told you that you wouldn’t be able to do it.” – My mom, Cynthia Shinn
SPOUSE + CHILDREN
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED
HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE YOUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING INTO YOUR JOB?
As a leader, it is the passion for making a difference that keeps me motivated when faced with challenges. It’s also knowing there is normally more than one way to solve a problem.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Bo Jackson HOW DID CIGARCLUB.COM COME ABOUT? Started by Mobile’s
own Jeff Zeiders and Chris Yockley. I am just riding their coattails! The response has been tremendous. Dollar Shave Club, watch out!
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Giving young students
the opportunity to experience the nurturement of a holistic learning environment that I experienced. To see the transformation and growth of students through their four years of Spring Hill College is fascinating.
january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 49
NATALIE FOX, DNP, PNP-BC
JEREMY FLETCHER, DPT, OCS, CSCS
KRISTI GALLOWAY
Director of Nursing for Ambulatory Services, USA Health
Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama; Major, U.S. Army
Area Marketing Manager, Regions Bank
With her recent promotion as director of nursing for ambulatory services, Natalie manages and mentors members of the clinical team and oversees the analytical functions necessary to support quality initiatives. Although this new title puts her in an administrative role, she chooses to continue seeing patients every week. Natalie also serves as adjunct faculty at USA and has also developed and implemented a new trifold approach to HIV testing in the USA adolescent clinic that has increased the rate of HIV tests completed by 47 percent.
Jeremy, a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve and doctor of physical therapy, has been active in multiple nonprofits throughout Mobile. As an active member of Veteran Recovery Resources, Dance Without Limits and Transitions EEAT, he helps those with special needs find assistance and resources. He’s also in the process of collaborating with the Fuse Project to create a coalition to assist families with special needs. While deployed in Afghanistan in 2013 and 2014, he provided physical therapy to more than 15,000.
In her role at Regions, Kristi manages the marketing department in south Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, overseeing brand management, community outreach and internal and external events. Her hyper-local approach to the communities she serves allows Kristi to drive revenue growth for the bank while simultaneously supporting community institutions. Outside of work, she currently serves on the board of directors for the Child Advocacy Center and Distinguished Young Women. She is also a member of the Junior League of Mobile.
ALMA MATER
University of Louisiana at Monroe; University of South Alabama
Undergraduate, masters and doctorate: University of South Alabama HOMETOWN York, Ala. SPOUSE + CHILDREN
Leah Nichols; Hayes (6)
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Profes-
sional basketball player in the WNBA HIDDEN TALENTS Appliance repair. I’ve taken apart and fixed my dryer, washing machine and dishwasher. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO NURSING? As a teenager, I
went on several mission trips to Honduras and volunteered in my Sumter County community with Alabama Rural Ministry. During these experiences, I realized that I had an undeniable compassion for those in need.
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ALMA MATER
HOMETOWN
ALMA MATER Meredith College HOMETOWN
Durham, N.C.
Baton Rouge, LA
SPOUSE + CHILDREN Michael;
Ruth Jamison (11), Isabelle (6), Ford (5)
GUILTY PLEASURES Chick-fil-A
Continue to focus on diversity and inclusion — it is our strength.
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED Put your big girl
SPOUSE + CHILDREN Cherish; IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
Will (6), Ellen (3)
and reading lifestyle blogs
WHAT EFFECT DOES A COMMUNITY HAVE ON SOMEONE IN NEED?
pants on and just get it done.
The effect of community is bidirectional. Each member of a community has something to offer, and every life has value. When a community serves those in need, the entire community is made stronger, more resilient, and quality of life is enhanced through a sense of connection to others and God.
statement is to improve the quality of life in our communities. My job allows me to play a direct role in executing that vision. I love working closely with community leaders, getting to know the people involved and seeing the impact Regions has in supporting our friends and neighbors.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Part of the Regions mission
ELIZABETH GARZA Owner / Operator, Foy Superfoods
A native Texan with a love of healthful living, Liz has already made her mark on Mobile. She was co-owner of the paleo meal delivery service Balance and, in 2017, opened a fresh-pressed juicery and restaurant downtown, Foy Superfoods, which has plans to expand in the future. She graduated with a business administration degree from Texas A&M then earned her master’s degree from Spring Hill College. When she’s not serving up inventive, tasty dishes, she donates her time to the Boys and Girls Club, Wesley Dumas Center, Prichard Prep and other organizations. ALMA MATER B.A., Texas A&M;
MBA, Spring Hill College
HOMETOWN Laredo, TX SPOUSE + CHILDREN John;
John II (5)
FIRST JOB Lifeguard and swim
instructor
HIDDEN TALENT I’m really good
at darts.
WHAT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A HEALTHFUL LIFE?
If I’ve learned anything on my journey to a healthy lifestyle, it’s that food is medicine. When I choose to eat good old-fashioned fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans, fish and lean meats, my body reaps the benefits. It’s a challenge to break addictions to sugar and processed foods, but I think it’s worth it!
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52 mobilebaymag.com | january 2018
SEAN H. GLEASON
HUNT GRIFFITH
ABE HARPER, JR.
Executive Manager / General Manager, INFINITI of Mobile, A Joe Bullard Company
Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
President / CEO, Harper Technologies, LLC
Since his hiring in 2005 as a sales consultant with Bullard Automotive, Sean has worked his way up to executive manager of Joe Bullard INFINITI of Mobile. In this role, he oversees every aspect of the dealership’s operations, including sales, service and parts operations. Under his supervision, the dealership has experienced a year over year sales increase of 27 percent in 2017, a testament to his vision and leadership. Sean is a member of the Senior Bowl Committee and attends Grace Community Church. ALMA MATER University of
In 2011, Hunt joined the Morgan Stanley team as a financial advisor, and he’s been rocketing to the top ever since. He has been recognized in the top 10 of his training class with Morgan Stanley, and he was even invited to New York to train new Morgan Stanley advisors from around the country. Aside from his career achievements, Hunt is also heavily involved in the Mobile community. A 2016 graduate of Connect Mobile, he volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama, the Senior Bowl Committee and Autism Avenue in addition to hosting St. Paul’s seniors for weekly Bible study.
Abe has been fascinated by technology since childhood, when he would take apart and put together his electronics. A graduate of ASMS, Harper is the founder of Harper Technologies, which this year will receive the Eagle Award, recognizing outstanding minority businesses, from the Mobile Chamber of Commerce. He participated in Commonwealth Bank’s Hack-a-Thon, an event encouraging students to solve problems with technology, and has donated IT equipment to Penelope House. He has also spoken to students in Murphy High School’s entrepreneurship class as well as Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
South Alabama
ALMA MATER
ALMA MATER Alabama School of
Shelbi Drew (6), Meryl (4)
University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE Mary Angela HIDDEN TALENTS Impersonations, and I enjoy singing all genres of music
Math and Science; Florida A&M; FSU Engineering; University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Daphne SPOUSE + CHILDREN Audra; Natalie Noelle (4) FIRST JOB Kool-Aid stand GUILTY PLEASURES Rubik’s cube and sweet potato pie
HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN Fallon; HOBBIES Pretty much everything
golf related — playing golf, practicing golf, watching golf FIRST JOB Full service gas station attendant
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE OUTOF-TOWN GUESTS TO EAT? Os-
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED “Work hard, do
the right thing, be genuine, and do what you say you will do … or better.” - Preston Griffith
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED “Be on time, do
man’s Restaurant and have them order the Jager Schnitzel with sauce on the side so they can eat it twice.
WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR JOB? The job is nothing like
what you say, pay your debts.” Also, “Live by these three Ws — Watch, Word, Wallet.”
ployees like family and pay them like royalty, and they will never leave you.” – My dad, Butch Gleason
you see in any “Wall Street” movie, and not all financial advisors are alike. Every advisor or team has a unique business model. No two businesses are the same.
problems. Using our technical creativity to resolve a problem plaguing someone is quite rewarding.
BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED “Treat your em-
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB I get to consistently solve new
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ASHLEY STEVEN HARRIS
CHIP HARTIN, MD
KASEE SPARKS HEISTERHAGEN
Attorney / Partner, Adams and Reese LLP
Surgeon-in-Chief / Chief of Pediatric Surgery, USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital; Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Surgery, University of South Alabama
Attorney / Burr & Forman, LLP
As a partner with Adams and Reese, Ashley has brokered some big deals since he joined in 2003. He’s worked on acquisitions as large as three million acres and financing of more than $1 billion. In 2010, he was recognized as an Alabama Rising Star for his work in real estate, and he was a member of the 2010 class of Leadership Mobile. Harris also participated in the Alabama Forestry Association’s Leadership Development Program and is a member of the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program. ALMA MATER Mississippi State Uni-
versity; University of Mississippi HOMETOWN Monroeville, Ala. / Starkville, MS SPOUSE + CHILDREN Jessica; Kathleen (10), Steven (7) FIRST JOB Bag boy HOBBIES Hunting, coaching youth sports, golf, watching college sports
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Resolving issues, whether minor
or complex, while assisting clients on timberland transactions throughout the U.S. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUALITY IN A LEADER?
The ability to make those that they are leading feel empowered. Great leaders make the members of their team feel like whatever role they have is an important and powerful piece of the team.
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Charles “Chip” Hartin has two major passions – technology and medicine. After receiving his medical degree from the University of South Alabama, Chip trained for 13 years in addition to four years of surgery training. A natural teacher, he initially taught computer classes at local community colleges while in high school and undergrad at UAB. He looks for unique ways to be involved with the current students via the USA College of Medicine’s Surgery Interest Group, which he founded. ALMA MATER University of Ala-
bama-Birmingham; University of South Alabama College of Medicine HOMETOWN Millbrook, Ala. SPOUSE + CHILDREN Amanda; Abigail (10), William (7), Maddie (5) GUILTY PLEASURE Rocky Road ice cream or Krispy Kreme doughnuts
As one of a slowly growing number of women with a specialty in maritime law, Kasee’s work has drawn national attention and appreciation. She was recently selected to serve as secretary to the U.S. Maritime Law Association Young Lawyers Committee, and her work has taken her all across the country. Kasee is single-handedly leading a movement to bring an international group of several hundred women to the Port of Mobile in 2019, an effort that she hopes will help further establish the city as a major player in global trade. ALMA MATER B.A., Washington &
Lee University; JD, The University of Alabama School of Law SPOUSE + CHILDREN Tim; William Crews (W.C.) (3); Teddy (1) FIRST JOB Working on my family’s farm. Turns out I am a much better lawyer than farmer.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB My clients are the best in their
BESIDES THE OBVIOUS, WHAT’S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEACHING MEDICINE AND PRACTICING?
fields. Nothing is better than doing a great job for them. HOBBIES In our nonexistent free time, my husband and I are researching and restoring a home built in 1855 in midtown Mobile.
Teaching medicine relies heavily on textbook knowledge; it’s either right or wrong. Practicing medicine requires thinking outside the textbook and exercising prudent judgement. I’ve never met a patient identical to a textbook illustration.
The original brick staircase has a brick with a dog paw-print in it. I can just imagine the poor 1800s brick-maker shooing a dog away from the wet bricks.
WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ABOUT THE 1855 HOME?
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AMANDA JONES, ED.D.
MELVA LAJOY JONES, CMP
Principal, Mary B. Austin Elementary / Mobile County Public Schools
Director of University Special Events, The University of South Alabama
With 16 years of teaching experience in the Mobile County Public School System, Amanda works to build a student-centered approach to help her students succeed. The Mary B. Austin principal’s doctorate dissertation, in fact, focused on real-world study into transitioning to more modern educational methods. In 2016, EntreEd recognized her school as one of America’s Entrepreneurial Schools, citing the implementation of a “ kidpreneur” elective class to help students develop communication and critical thinking skills. ALMA MATER
University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Fulton, Ala. SPOUSE + CHILDREN Ray; Carson (13), Conner (11), Cooper (8) FIRST JOB
Piano teacher
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT?
I enjoy taking out-of-town guests to Causeway restaurants. The view and food are both great.
WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE SEEN COME FROM THE “KIDPRENEURS” ELECTIVE CLASS?
Recently, our third to fifth grade kidpreneurs created and sold Christmas ornaments and donated their profits to our MBA Service Club. Our students are very community service-oriented, which is encouraging for our future!
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Since moving from Washington D.C. in 2015 to accept the role of USA’s first director of university special events, Melva has completely overhauled the way USA plans, manages, executes and follows up on events. Among her many accomplishments, she spearheaded a complete revision of the university’s master calendar system, resulting in a single-source solution for all online calendars. Melva currently serves as cochair of Empowering Change: Strengthening our Community Connections, to encourage social interaction among different perspectives in Mobile County.
NAME GOES HERE, AGEP.E. C. MICHELLE JONES, Instrumentation Engineer, Hargrove Engineers + Constructors; and Executive Director and Project Manager, HarGIVES
Having joined the Hargrove team more than 11 years ago, Michelle is responsible for managing fellow engineers and designers at Hargrove to develop detailed design while working across multiple disciplines. This includes managing the process electrical effort for local refining and industrial projects worth up to $110 million. She is also the founder and director of HarGIVES (Hargrove Innovative Volunteer Engineering Service) and is pioneering the HAT (Hargrove Adaptive Toy) Project, an initiative which adapts toy cars for mobility-limited children.
ALMA MATER Howard University
ALMA MATER
and Columbia University HOMETOWN I was born in Prospect, Connecticut, but I consider myself a Washingtonian since that is where I grew up and came of age.
University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Bay Minette SPOUSE + CHILDREN Matthew; John Michael Jones (9), Chase (6)
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Honestly,
I wanted to be my mother (Joyce) who was a special education teacher for over 30 years. HOW IS A D.C. EVENT DIFFERENT FROM A MOBILE EVENT?
Events in Mobile end early, before I can really show off my dance moves. (Mardi Gras being the obvious exception.) I once coordinated a reception and the guest of honor didn’t show up until almost midnight. If I tried to pull that off here, I think I would be dancing with myself.
IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
Continue the effort of making the Port City a beacon of opportunity for industry and small business. HIGH SCHOOL SUPERLATIVE
Most likely to never stop talking
WHY IS SOMETHING LIKE THE “HAT PROJECT” IMPORTANT?
Studies have shown that the ability to control one’s movement through space has a direct impact on social, cognitive and speech skills. Providing mobility-limited children with access to these adaptive toy EMMAs has the potential for life-changing impacts.
PAUL KLEINSCHRODT, PE, PMP Project Manager / Constantine Engineering, Inc.
As a civil engineer, Paul is one of the many professionals tackling Mobile’s sanitary sewer issues. Having completed numerous projects with MAWSS, Paul’s expertise includes water and wastewater design, storm water and transportation engineering and project management of public works projects. Among his many accomplishments, Paul helped execute a multimillion dollar sanitary lift station near 3 Mile Creek, thereby eliminating sanitary sewer overflows at that location. He is an avid sailor, and he won the Intercollegiate Sailing Association’s Sportsman of the Year title in 2008. ALMA MATER
University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN
Ashley; Joie (2) FIRST JOB Sweeping floors at Kleinschrodt Cabinets, my father’s business, family-owned since 1955. BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED Eat dessert first
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Seeing the community benefit
from the improved facilities. GUILTY PLEASURE
Scrolling Instagram
IF YOU COULD SAIL ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU CHOOSE? British Virgin Islands or
anywhere in the Caribbean Sea
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TODD M. LACOUR Client Advocate, Health and Benefits Practice / Willis Towers Watson
Todd has risen quickly through the ranks of Willis Towers Watson, where he’s been identified as an up-and-coming star. As a member of the employee benefits team, he’s had a major impact on the benefits practice and has become the go-to team member for new business relationships and industry educational forums. Todd is also a graduate of the Leadership Mobile class of 2016, serves on the board of directors for Victory Health Partners and is a founding member of the Fuse Project. ALMA MATER Auburn University HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE Libby; Lila (5), Margaux (3) HOBBIES Loading the boat for the
day and taking my wife and kids out on the water. BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED There are not many
things that you can choose in life but you can choose your attitude. Choose the right one.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE FUSE PROJECT? Fuse is
all about impacting and serving our community. One of the best ways to do that is empowering our next generation, the children here in the Mobile Bay area. The leadership in the group is tremendous, and Fuse is only scratching the surface of the monetary impact it is going to make.
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JEREMY P. LAMI
ERIN LANGLEY
MATTHEW LEMOND
Chief of Staff, Mobile Fire-Rescue Department
Executive Director / Artistic Director, Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre
Owner / Operator, O’Daly’s Irish Pub & Lemon T’s Screen Printing
Jeremy, a second-generation firefighter with the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department, has been with the department for 15 years. Over that course of time, he has risen through the ranks to his current role as chief of staff, where he oversees the department’s $35 million budget and the logistics division. Jeremy also serves as a safety officer for a federal disaster medical assistance team, tasked with deploying to areas negatively affected by significant events. Prior to joining the department, Jeremy served the U.S. Army overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. ALMA MATER
University of Alabama HOMETOWN Mobile
For theatre director Erin Langley, all the world’s a stage. After receiving her degree in elementary education from Spring Hill College, she taught second and third grade for two years before opening the Jitterbug Theatre in 2005. In 2011, the children’s theatre group became the Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre, which puts on traveling musical productions and competes in national competitions. The theatre reached 16,000 audience members in the 2016-2017 season. Her students have been named All-Stars at competitions, and she was one of eight national recipients of the Freddie G. Award for Teachers and Directors in 2015.
SPOUSE + CHILDREN Jessica; Zoe (11), Jackson (8), Harper (9 months) HIDDEN TALENTS My kids are impressed with my ability to create custom pancakes on demand. They love to request odd designs and logos just to see if I can make it happen.
ALMA MATER Spring Hill College HOMETOWN Portland, ME; Fairhope SPOUSE Karl; Ezra (8), Zoë (7) WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT?
Tough decision, but Dauphin’s is at the top of my list.
When people, children and adults alike, feel safe to reach out of their comfort zones, wonderfully creative things happen. Starting with that type of atmosphere propels each show — and each student — forward to its greatest potential.
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT?
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Being a part of a profession that
is rich in tradition and filled with determined, compassionate and selfless people.
Sage Lebanese Cuisine and Cafe HIDDEN TALENTS Ambidextrous WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?
Matt owns and operates five successful businesses in downtown Mobile, including O’Daly’s Irish Pub, Draft Picks, Dauphin Street Blues Company, Hole in the Wall and Lemon T’s. Due to Matt’s efforts, a previously blighted area of Dauphin Street has seen enormous revitalization at a crucial moment of development for the city. In addition, Matt is a huge proponent for good within the community, often providing free event space for deserving organizations or creating his own fundraising initiatives to meet an immediate need. ALMA MATER Spring Hill College HOMETOWN New Orleans SPOUSE Samantha WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A UPS
man. As a kid, I thought it would be so cool to drive a truck with no doors. Instead, I worked to make my first car a Jeep Wrangler, which I still have.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED Never doubt your instinct.
Follow your gut.
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT?
O’Daly’s Hole in the Wall of course. Our kitchen is still fairly new, but we have enjoyed WOW-ing customers with the food. I may be biased, but our 504 pizza is something special.
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KRYSTAL LOCKETT, RN-MSN
CHRIS MCCAGHREN
JUSTIN MCDONALD, P.E.
Co-Owner, Gloria’s Reliable Sitting Service
Provost / Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Mobile
With over 15 years of experience volunteering, serving and working in the healthcare industry, Krystal has demonstrated a dedication to caregiving matched by very few. The nurse practitioner currently works as a travel nurse in numerous cities and was recently presented with the Moment of Quality Award for outstanding work while on assignment at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. Krystal also assists her mother, Gloria Lockett, in growing a local sitting service designed to match elderly clients with compassionate caregivers. Krystal is a certified Zumba instructor.
Chris works toward growing the intersection of entrepreneurship and innovation in higher education. He’s also a member of numerous organizations, such as the Association for Study of Higher Education, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and the Online Learning Consortium. Since taking office at the University of Mobile, he’s increased the number of degrees offered by the school and worked with the president to improve the financial standing of the institution as well as connect meaning fully with the wider Mobile community.
Senior Engineering Technical Lead for Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District
ALMA MATER
ALMA MATER
Auburn University / University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Daphne GUILTY PLEASURE Wine with jazz music and spa days
Samford University; Vanderbilt University HOMETOWN Montgomery SPOUSE Lauren; Callen (2) GUILTY PLEASURE Going to the trampoline park and jumping with my 2-year-old
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Serving and motivating others to
strive for complete wellness
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED “It is easier to invent the
Miss Daphne High School, Most Talented, Best Smile
future than to predict it.” - Alan Kay; and, “We all have the same 168 hours in every week; how we choose to spend them is what makes the difference.” - unknown
HIGH SCHOOL SUPERLATIVE
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK MENTORING YOUNG DANCERS
It has been extremely rewarding choreographing and mentoring young girls through praise dancing. I have choreographed and led the senior praise team at my church, Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, since 2011.
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FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB The people. I also like working to
transform students’ hearts and minds, and helping to shape the future of higher education.
Justin leads teams of engineers and scientists in the planning, designing and engineering of complex waste-resourcerelated projects across the Southeast. He currently oversees engineering efforts for over $450 million in construction projects and studies, including the restoration of Ship Island off the coast of Mississippi, a feasibility study concerning a deepening of the Mobile Harbor navigation channel and development of the Alabama Coastal Comprehensive Plan, which aims to identify and achieve the visions of coastal residents over a 50-year planning horizon. ALMA MATER Auburn University HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN Kim;
Bennett (6), Gaines (2) FIRST JOB Landscaping crew for Laura Kay’s Nursery when I was 15. GUILTY PLEASURE Ice cream from Cammie’s Old Dutch — usually cherry vanilla or blueberry cheesecake. FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB The type of work I do, the mag-
nitude of that work and the tremendous people I work with. Being a native Mobilian, I find it very enjoyable to work on projects that improve the ability of our coastal communities and natural environments to respond to future storm events and changing environmental and economic conditions.
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WILLIAM CURRY MCEVOY, MD Hematologist / Oncologist, Southern Cancer Center
Curry, a Baldwin County oncologist, is a vocal advocate for improving patient care by shaping and measuring the quality of care around the country. Named among 2016’s “Top Men and Women of Influence” by the American Cancer Society, he also researches treatment options for urological cancer. Curry received his medical degree from the University of Alabama, and is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Since returning to his hometown, he volunteers his time with the Anchor Cross Cancer Foundation, which provides resources and assistance for Gulf Coast cancer patients and their families. ALMA MATER
University of Alabama HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE Morgan; William (3), James (8 months) BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED The 3 A’s of a successful
medical practice are Ability, Availability, and Affability IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD... Focus more efforts on correcting the issues with sewage overflow and cleaning up our waterways. FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Forming close relationships with
patients and their family as they go through treatment for their illnesses.
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BRODY OLIVE
PRATT PATERSON
ASHLEY PETERSEN
Executive Chef, Perdido Beach Resort
Executive Director, Wilmer Hall Children’s Home
COO, DocRx, Inc.
As executive chef of the Perdido Beach Resort, Brody oversees the culinary team of all four restaurant and banquet facilities. In 2008, he took the top prize in the Southern Breeze Gulf Coast Cookoff. The following year, he won the Zatarain’s Annual National Shrimp Festival Challenge. In addition, Brody serves on the board of directors for the NUISANCE group, which raises awareness of invasive sea species in the Gulf. He’s also helped create events such as Grit and Game, a wild game cookoff benefiting Hunting for Healing.
With 15 years of experience working within agencies of the Episcopal Church, Pratt brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role at Wilmer Hall. In 2016, he began his tenure as director of development at the children’s home, where he made an immediate impact by increasing the annual fund by 26 percent. He and his family live on the Wilmer Hall campus, where he is able to enhance the safety of residents and staff as a state-licensed and wilderness-certified EMT.
ALMA MATER
Johnson and Wales University HOMETOWN Newnan, GA SPOUSE Nicole; Baylor (11), Grace (9) GUILTY PLEASURE
Warm chocolate chip cookies with Cabernet!
HIGH SCHOOL SUPERLATIVE
Most Laid-back
FOOD IS HUGELY CULTURAL. WHAT MAKES ALABAMA AND SOUTHERN FOOD SO SPECIAL?
It’s wrapped in pride. We honor our food with caring hands, and we also have the “sit and stay awhile” mentality. I am sure there have been many decisions made around the Southern table, both big and small. Kind of a culinary diplomacy, if your will.
ALMA MATER
The University of Alabama HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN Allison; Edie (12), McKee (12) FIRST JOB
Sweating in the Rayford’s warehouse when I was 15. GUILTY PLEASURE Vinyl records. Lots of them.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB The clarity and purity of the
mission. We help young people meet their basic human needs and then enable them to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness, abuse, etc. They become successful, independent members of our communities who have had instruction on job skills, life skills, personal finance, parenting, healthy relationships, nutrition, and more.
After nearly seven years with DocRx, Ashley has risen from account manager to COO. She has helped grow it into a multimillion dollar company, from a handful of employees to more than 40. A graduate of the University of South Alabama, Ashley has used her experience in sales to improve efficiency within each department as the company continues to grow. She works directly with healthcare attorneys and maintains HIPAA compliance across the company. ALMA MATER
University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Semmes SPOUSE + CHILDREN
Matt; Cole (3), Nolan (2) GUILTY PLEASURES
Watching The Big Bang Theory and Lickin’ Good Donuts
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB I love the family-first atmosphere.
I believe we all work a little harder knowing we won’t ever have to miss the important things with our families.
HOW HAS YOUR VIEW OF BUSINESS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS? I have an appreciation for
small business owners that I did not have early in my career. I now see that a small business owner carries the weight of all employees and their families on their shoulders, so the business I work for is very personal to me.
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JEREMY P. ROBERTS
BLAKE SMISSON
DREW WENZEL
Client Advisor, Commercial and Private Banking, Oakworth Capital Bank
Landscape Architect, WAS Design, Inc.
Lawyer, Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC
Jeremy has over 17 years of experience in the banking industry in trust services, retail banking, and, since 2012, commercial and private banking. Known for his extreme attention to detail, he has also been instrumental in the formation and success of two separate bank franchise operations within the past 10 years. Described by his coworkers as an “invaluable” member of the organization, Jeremy has also demonstrated a passion for civic service and has received numerous service awards throughout his banking career.
With 14 years of experience in landscape architecture and land planning, Blake was specifically selected to establish a Mobile branch of the WAS Design firm in 2013. Since then, the firm has grown dramatically in a short span. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional, marking him as a leader in energy and environmental design. He served as chair of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2015, and he will be the lead designer and landscape architect for the annual Festival of Flowers in March 2018.
ALMA MATER
ALMA MATER
Columbia Southern University HOMETOWN Semmes
University of Georgia HOMETOWN Fort Valley, GA
Drew has built a career on developing a recognizable and strategic brand. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, after which he served seven years as an aviation officer for the U.S. Army. After his honorable discharge, he went to law school and moved back to his hometown of Foley to found the Caldwell Wenzel and Asthana firm, where he is a trailblazer in identifying new markets. He also actively participates in development efforts in Foley as a member of the Foley Downtown Revitalization Task Force. He sits on the board for the City of Foley Museum Archives and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.
Jessica; Greyson (9), Graham (5)
Marty; Burton (8) FIRST JOB Selling peaches and produce at Lane Southern Orchards
SPOUSE + CHILDREN
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Even as a
SPOUSE + CHILDREN
ALMA MATER United States Military Academy, West Point; University of Western Ontario HOMETOWN Foley SPOUSE + CHILDREN Deepti; Ava (6), Elise (2), Lincoln (6 months)
child, I wanted to be a banker. Each Friday, I would go to the bank with my mom, and I would always make sure I was wearing my “clip-on” tie, regardless of the shorts and T-shirt I was wearing.
IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
Continue with the revitalization of downtown and work to make Mobile a destination city with a strong sense of place.
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT?
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL WITH THE 25TH FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS? The festival theme, “A
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN BRANDING YOUR COMPANY? It is important to have a
The Dew Drop Inn
Celebration Promenade,” provides a strong common thread that ties the entire site design together. My ultimate goal is for the featured attractions and events to provide entertainment, inspiration and education for visitors of all ages.
clear vision of the company’s mission and goals and review and evaluate how successful the company has been at living up to those standards that it has set for itself. This is a continuous process that helps shape and improve the company brand.
WHERE WOULD YOU TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWN GUEST TO EAT? BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED My father told me, “Be
respectful to everyone, whether they deserve it or not, because you never know what they may be going through.”
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Fisher’s in Orange Beach
CHELSEA LIPFORD WOLF Co-host of Today’s Homeowner Television / Host of Checking in with Chelsea, Today’s Homeowner Media
A born-and-raised home enthusiast, Chelsea is now a full-time co-host of the nationally syndicated TV series, Today’s Homeowner. In 2014, she launched her own brand called Checking In With Chelsea, a web series aimed at millennial homeowners. Southern Living and Hometalk have featured her projects online, and the series has earned two National Telly awards for outstanding achievement in video production. In addition, she volunteers with many organizations, such as Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity and Little Sisters of the Poor. ALMA MATER
St. John’s University HOMETOWN Mobile
SPOUSE + CHILDREN Brandon; Mary Helen (2), Gus (11 months)
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED Always take a second to scan
an intersection after the light turns green before going. It literally saved my life. WHAT’S HARDER: BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA OR THE WORK BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Like a lot of projects, the prep work is usually the hardest part and can make or break the outcome of your project. In this case, the work behind the camera and the prep work leading up to a video shoot is the hardest!
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RON YAEGER
WEISI YAN, MD, PH.D.
President / Cofounder, Fulcrum Construction Group
Director, Cyberknife Program / Staff Radiation Oncologist, University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute
In 2012, Ron cofounded Fulcrum Construction Group and helped turn it into a successful enterprise with a national footprint. Today, Ron oversees 23 building projects across the country, from New Jersey to California. Within five years of the company’s creation, Fulcrum ranked at number 345 in Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies, experiencing a growth rate of 1,300 percent between 2013 and 2016. Ron hopes to eventually work on international projects. An avid runner, he completed the San Francisco Marathon this past summer.
SPOUSE + CHILDREN
From China to Alabama, Dr. Weisi Yan has demonstrated his acumen for clinical operations and efficiency. With a medical degree from China Medical University in Shen Yang and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Yan joined the Mitchell Cancer Institute and helped streamline operations. He is a member of the Medical Society of Mobile County, the American Society for Radiation Oncology and is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology. In addition, Yan also has a passion for music, having performed with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra in 2017 and founded a music therapy program at MCI.
Jena; Grant (8), James (5), Janey (1) HIDDEN TALENTS Juggling performances for my kids.
ing, ballet, piano
ALMA MATER
East Carolina University HOMETOWN Fayetteville, N.C.
IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD...
Construct a connecting off-ramp in Spanish Fort to allow traffic to freely flow onto the Causeway and utilize the Africatown Bridge during peak traffic times. We need a band-aid solution while we wait on the bridge.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PROJECTS TO WORK ON? I enjoy
building in new markets and territories for the first time. It’s great to visit somewhere new and start from scratch creating relationships.
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HOMETOWN Shen Yang, P.R., China HOBBIES Meditation, singing, readBEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED Be more humble. WHAT DOES MUSIC OFFER TO THOSE FIGHTING ILLNESS?
Music is a powerful tool for healing through the mind. Music therapy is noninvasive and free of side effects, so it is integrated into standard care in major cancer hospitals to help relieve physical and psychological pain. If we can heal the body and mind at the same time, we can help patients fight cancer better or at least make the fight more enjoyable.
GRANT ZARZOUR, MD Total Joint Orthopaedic Surgeon, Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic
Grant has been repeatedly recognized for his achievements in orthopedics. He was one of two fellows selected for a Mississippi sports medicine joint replacement fellowship, and he was one of three orthopedic residents selected for the USA Medical Center after graduating in 2007. In addition, he’s also involved in the startup scene in Mobile. Grant cofounded the Fuse Project and still serves on its board of directors. He also helped with the launch of the Innovation PortAL and works with other local nonprofits, including Go Kickball, Gulf Coast Ducks and The Fort. Beginning in January 2018, he will sit on the board of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce. ALMA MATER
University of Georgia; University of South Alabama HOMETOWN Mobile SPOUSE + CHILDREN
Brie; Wyatt (2), Campbell (4 months) FIRST JOB X-ray film developer at West Side Bone & Joint
FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB Helping people walk without pain AS A SURGEON, WHAT DRAWS YOU TO ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL STARTUPS?
I want to live, work and play in a vibrant community where every kid has the opportunities I was given. Luckily, there are teams of like-minded people helping all of these big ideas come to fruition.
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018 ON STAGE & EXHIBITS PG. 70 • FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS PG. 72
WINTER CAMELLIA AND COLD HARDY DISPLAYS AT BELLINGRATH
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
[JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS]
through january 1
through february 28
january 1
Christmas Night of Lights
Winter Camellia and Cold Hardy Displays
The Polar Bear Dip
5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Drive through a magical spectacle of Christmas cheer at Hank Aaron Stadium. Tune radios to the designated radio station to hear Christmas music timed to the lights. Admission: $6. HANK AARON STADIUM CHRISTMASNIGHTSOFLIGHTS.COM
A variety of winter blooms and beauty thrive in the coastal climate at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Admission: $13 for adults, $7.50 for ages 5 - 12; free to members and to ages 4 and younger. BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME 973-2217 • BELLINGRATH.ORG
through january 14 Ice Skating Rink at The Wharf 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. M - F, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. S - Su. Lace up and skate around this winter wonderland. $10 for skating; $13 for skating and Ferris wheel; $80 for freq. skater pass. THE WHARF AT ORANGE BEACH ALWHARF.COM
Ring in 2018 in style by taking a dip in the Gulf of Mexico, then head in to the Flora-Bama for some warmth and comfort food. THE FLORA-BAMA • FLORABAMA.COM
january 3 - february 21 Winter Wednesdays
Travel back in time, examining the exotic creatures that roamed the swamps and seas during the age of the dinosaurs.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. On Thursdays, brush up on horticultural tips during the winter months with tips from experts at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Admission: $13 for adults, $7.50 for children 5 - 12; free to members and to ages 4 and younger.
GULFQUEST NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM OF THE GULF OF MEXICO • GULFQUEST.ORG
BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME 973-2217 • BELLINGRATH.ORG
through april 21 Savage Ancient Seas
To have your event included in the online or print edition of Mobile Bay Magazine, email calendar@pmtpublishing.com. 68 mobilebaymag.com | january 2018
SERVISFIRST BANK FIRST LIGHT MARATHON
january 14 ServisFirst Bank First Light Marathon 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Jog through the Port City’s historic downtown neighborhoods at this event that benefits L’Arche Mobile Foundation. DOWNTOWN • FIRSTLIGHTMARATHON.COM
january 26 - february 13 Mardi Gras Let the good times roll! The spirit of Carnival takes over the Port City. DOWNTOWN MOBILE • MOBILE.ORG
january 27 The Reese’s Senior Bowl 1:30 p.m. See some of the nation’s top college football players take to the gridiron in The Reese’s Senior Bowl as they work to impress NFL scouts. LADD-PEEBLES STADIUM SENIORBOWL.COM
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[ON STAGE & EXHIBITS]
through january 7 Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! Explore the world of the beloved children’s book and TV series character Curious George. Play around in the apartment building, construction site, city park and more. THE GULF COAST EXPLOREUM • EXPLOREUM.COM
through january 7 5 Mobile Artists 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tu - Su. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Th. Get to know the works of five artists who have been an integral part of the Port City’s art scene. MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART MOBILEMUSEUMOFART.COM
through january 7 A Painter’s Hand: The Monotypes of Adolph Gottlieb 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tu - Su. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Th. View monotypes of one of the founding members of Abstract Expressionism in the United States. MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART MOBILEMUSEUMOFART.COM
through january 21 Posing Beauty in African American Culture 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tu - Su. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Th. This exhibit examines how African and African American beauty has been portrayed in a range of media platforms. MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART MOBILEMUSEUMOFART.COM
through june 1 Back to Havana Learn about the relationship between Mobile and its sister city Havana, Cuba, in this exhibit featuring multimedia projects from 15 of Cuba’s contemporary artists. ALABAMA CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER ALABAMACONTEMPORARY.ORG
january 5 The Black Jacket Symphony: Led Zeppelin “IV” 7 p.m. Doors open. 8 p.m. Show starts. The Black Jacket Symphony presents their unique spin on Led Zeppelin’s “IV.” Tickets: $22, $33. THE MOBILE SAENGER • MOBILESAENGER.COM
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january 7 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit 7 p.m. Doors open. 8 p.m. Show starts. Originally scheduled to perform in September, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit take the stage. THE MOBILE SAENGER • MOBILESAENGER.COM
january 7 Clay Walker 6 p.m. Doors open. 7 p.m. Show starts. The country crooner serenades locals at one of downtown’s hottest music venues. Tickets: $35 - $50. THE STEEPLE • THESTEEPLEMOBILE.COM
january 12 - 28 “August: Osage County” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. The Joe Jefferson Players stage their version of the award-winning family drama. Tickets: $10, $15 or $20. JOE JEFFERSON PLAYHOUSE JOEJEFFERSONPLAYERS.COM
january 12 - 21 “Fools” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2 p.m. Su. The Chickasaw Civic Theatre puts their unique spin on Neil Simon’s comic fable. Tickets: $15.75 $18.75. CHICKASAW CIVIC THEATRE CCTSHOWS.COM
january 19 - 28 “Assassins” 7:30 p.m. F / Sa. 2:30 p.m. Su. The Mobile Theatre Guild entertains with Stephen Sondheim’s musical. Tickets: $15 - $20. MOBILE THEATRE GUILD MOBILETHEATREGUILD.ORG
january 20 - 21 Mobile Symphony Orchestra: Four Seasons 7:30 p.m. Sa. 2:30 p.m. Su. The beauty of Vivaldi is on full display at the Mobile Symphony’s concert. Tickets: $15 - $45. MOBILE SYMPHONY • MOBILESYMPHONY.ORG
january 25 Kevin Burke in Concert 7:30 p.m. Experience traditional Irish music from the fiddle of one of the genre’s best. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. USA BALDWIN COUNTY PERFORMANCE HALL 110 ST JAMES STREET, FAIRHOPE • BROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM/EVENT/3179241
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PHOTO BY CAROL M. HIGHSMITH, COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
[ FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS]
january 26 - july 1 do it The Mobile Museum of Art is giving local artists, individuals and community groups the opportunity to participate in the do it competition that originated in Paris in 1993. As a part of the competition, participants interpret and complete selected works out of 250+ possible instructions. MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART MOBILEMUSEUMOFART.COM
january 26 - july 8 Alabama / Texas Art Exchange This Mobile Museum of Art exhibit features the work of artists from their respective states, presented concurrently at each venue. The event was originally scheduled for October 2017 but was postponed due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston. MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART MOBILEMUSEUMOFART.COM
february 13 Fat Tuesday This is the last opportunity to stock up on MoonPies, beads and other throws! DOWNTOWN MOBILE MOBILECARNIVALMUSEUM.COM
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february 16 MJ Live 7 p.m. Doors open. 8 p.m. Show starts. The No. 1 Michael Jackson tribute band brings hits like “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “I Want You Back” to the stage. Tickets: $30, $45, $55 or $75. THE MOBILE SAENGER • MOBILESAENGER.COM
february 16 - 18, 23 - 25, march 2 - 4 “The Mousetrap” 8 p.m. F / Sa. 2:30 p.m. Su. A snowstorm traps a group of strangers in a boarding house with an unknown killer in this Agatha Christie classic. Tickets: $12 - $20. THEATRE 98, FAIRHOPE • THEATRE98.ORG
february 17 Winter Gala Concert 8 p.m. The Mobile Opera presents their annual winter production. Tickets: $10 - $45. THE TEMPLE DOWNTOWN • MOBILEOPERA.ORG
march 6 Chris Dombrowski 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. The author of “Body of Water” heads to the Eastern Shore to discuss his latest work at The Book Cellar. PAGE & PALETTE • PAGEANDPALETTE.COM
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HISTORY | ARCHIVES
The Arson Ladies In 19th-century Mobile, one household of well-to-do women had mischief up their sleeves.
text by FR ANCES V. BEVERLY • illustration by COLLEEN COMER Frances Beverly Papers, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama
Born in 1865, Frances V. Beverly toiled away at her home on Government Street throughout the 1930s and ‘40s, writing what she hoped would become the almanac of Mobile. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Beverly died in Mobile in 1954, leaving behind piles of manuscripts hidden from the very audience whose lore and customs she so tirelessly documented for posterity — that is, until now. In this series, MB presents the Frances Beverly Papers.
T
he large, beautiful brick house, which formerly stood on the southwest corner of State and Jackson streets, was built during the “flush times” in Mobile, and a great deal of money was spent to make it one of the most beautiful on that street. There were nine [houses] on State Street between Franklin and Conception streets. The wide hall ran down the full length of the building on the west side, with two large drawing rooms on the right, with richly paneled doors, and sliding doors between the two rooms. A wide stairway led up to the second floor, with a carved newel post and solid mahogany railing. Upstairs there were two large bedrooms and a hall bedroom. The wing on the west side had several rooms up and down stairs. The two front porches had one of the most beautiful patterns of “iron lace,” and the long back and side porches, representing nearly 150 feet of porch, had slim bannisters. The rooms in the ell which extended north were used as a kitchen and servant quarters. Bathrooms had not made
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their debut in Mobile at that time. There was no thought of comfort in those days; the only requisite in building a home was to have it larger and handsomer than the next-door neighbor. They had money, just “scads” of it, as our boys and girls call a fortune these days. In the winter of 1884 or 1885, this house was occupied by a family, consisting of a mother and two daughters. They were very attractive girls and quite popular, and lived in a style adopted by people who had plenty of money. We, the girls in the neighborhood, never saw any men, nor did they mention any father or brothers, so we just accepted them as a fatherless family. About two o’clock on a January night, it was the coldest experienced in years, a fire alarm was sent in. A passerby saw a gleam of fire in the back drawing room through a broken slat in the closed blinds. He rushed to the nearest alarm box and soon had the fire companies there. The shouts of the people and the ringing of the bell did not seem to disturb the inmates, and the men were about to break down the door when it opened and the mother and eldest daughter came out. They were fully dressed, calm and as unperturbed as if they had been expecting callers. The firemen soon had the blaze extinguished,
and then came the revelation. It must have taken weeks of hard labor to prepare for this conflagration — the planning and the collection of necessary materials could not have been done hurriedly because it would have aroused suspicion. On the first floor, the plastered walls above the baseboard had been chopped away, the full length of the hall and the four sides of the drawing rooms, and in the spaces, light wood and quantities of cotton were stuffed and soaked with kerosene. The legs of the piano and the tables and chairs were “bandaged” with cotton batting and soaked with the oil. The same procedure had been carried out upstairs, and the dresser drawers were also filled with the same combustibles. The entire house had been given the same incendiary treatment, and it must have taken more than a cord of fat pine, hundreds of pounds of cotton batting and 25 gallons of kerosene. It was well planned and well arranged, and when the girls in the neighborhood were questioned, we suddenly remembered that not one of us had been inside of the house in weeks. We were always met at the door, and very tactfully steered off in some other direction by one of the daughters, who would be going to some interesting place and invited us to go along.
If it had not been for a meddlesome neighbor, who should have been in his bed at two o’clock in the morning, the affair would have been a perfect success, as it was being fired in a hundred places, but the neighbor got the fire department there before the downstairs rooms had been set fire. The younger of the two girls was not at home, she had been sent out to Spring Hill to spend the night, and the older women undertook to complete the job. As one of the policemen expressed it, “The ladies were all dressed up, with not an eyelash out of place, at two o’clock on a freezing cold night — queer doings if you ask me.” The insurance company reached the scene as soon as possible, and discovered that all of the valuables, even to the china and clothes, had been removed to an unknown place of safety. In fact, there was nothing to burn but the house and heavy furniture. Social prestige and political influence soon had the matter hushed up, and the ladies left town for parts unknown, but it could not stop idle gossip among the neighbors and before those most interested. The house was visited by everyone for miles around, and the fact well established that at least two Mobile women were experts at arson. MB january 2018 | mobilebaymag.com 75
HISTORY | ASK MCGEHEE
Did Al Capone ever visit Mobile during its bootlegging heyday?
text by TOM MCGEHEE LEFT The Alcatraz Island prison train carrying gangster Al Capone was ferried to the notorious island. PHOTO FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY. RIGHT Capone’s
smirk in his Alcatraz mugshot was short-lived, and he ultimately admitted that “Alcatraz has got me licked.”
I could find no direct link between Chicago mobster Al Capone and Mobile during the Roaring Twenties. Perhaps he was too busy arranging the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, in which gangsters dressed as policemen gunned down seven of his rivals in a garage. That was also the year that Capone’s empire was estimated to be worth more than $62 million. Not bad for a man who had started his career at age 12 by pimping out Brooklyn prostitutes. Prosecutors finally got Capone into court in 1931, and he was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. He was convicted of income tax evasion rather than the estimated 300 murders and countless criminal activities that had made him a household name. In May of 1932, Capone arrived at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary where he was treated like a celebrity and provided with every luxury. He had large sums of cash in his cell with which to “tip” the guards. The f loor was thickly carpeted and held fine furniture, luxury bedding
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and the latest radio. A nearby apartment building housed various relatives and cronies who visited him regularly. The fun in Atlanta ended in 1934 when a new waterfront facility was completed in San Francisco: Alcatraz. In August of 1934, Atlanta’s “model prisoner” joined 51 other convicts in two specially equipped railway cars for a trip west to the nation’s most secure prison. The men were accompanied by dozens of railway officials, FBI agents and U.S. Marshals.
A Visit to the Port City On August 19, a Sunday afternoon, that train made a stop in Mobile. The cars with barred windows were attached to a regular passenger train of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. When the train pulled into the L&N station at the foot of Government Street, news reporters anxious to see the train’s most famous passenger surrounded it. Although the press was ordered away by the security detail, a helpful prisoner called out that Capone was in the first
car, sixth window from the front. “Hi, Al!” a reporter shouted. According to the newspaper account, “A swarthy man who bore a marked resemblance to Capone waved his hand and smiled. A guard promptly pulled down the window and drew the shade.” The train pulled out of the station soon after, ending the brief visit to Mobile of one of history’s most notorious and colorful gangsters. The Register predicted in its account that Capone and his co-passengers were headed where “they would sit behind bars and watch the waves lashing against their island and long for freedom.” Capone found his California accommodations, with its strict warden and prison guards unmoved by his charms, far less plush than those in Georgia. He ultimately told the warden, “It looks like Alcatraz has got me licked.” He was released in 1939 and died in his south Florida mansion in 1947. Alphonse Gabriel Capone, nicknamed “Scarface,” was 48 years old. MB
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END PIECE | IN LIVING COLOR
In Port, circa 1900 Original photo from the Historic Mobile Preservation Society, William E. Wilson Collection, Minnie Mitchell Archives • colorization by Dynamichrome Limited
A seafaring crew poses for a group photograph at Mobile’s harbor. Origins of the crew are unknown, though their caps and other items of clothing may hold clues. It appears a seaworthy dog and cat have also managed to work their way up as members of the crew. Sailors such as these would have been a familiar sight in the city in the early 20th century.
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