COMMUNITY
ASU Scores Record $24.7 Million Grant for MPS Students
Alabama State University has received a $24.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the largest single grant that the university has ever received. Spanning seven years, the grant will fund the creation and implementation of a program to increase the readiness of Montgomery Public School students for college and other postsecondary education opportunities. ASU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Pettis will serve as the primary investigator on the grant, and he expects the program to provide “academic preparation services” to more than 26,000 MPS students by 2028. This year, it is starting with the 4,495 sixth and seventh graders across MPS middle schools.
Faulkner University’s President Mike Williams to Step Down
Faulkner University and Harding University announced in simultaneous press conferences that Faulkner’s President Mike Williams would be stepping down from his position at Faulkner effective May 6, 2022, and stepping into his new role as Harding’s president on June 1, 2022. Williams is Faulkner’s 8th president in its 79-year history and came to Faulkner in 2015. Under his watch, Faulkner has grown to include a new College of Health Sciences, which acts as the foundation for Williams’ vision to create an autism center on campus. He has also been mission-driven since coming to Faulkner to help the community and has helped impress that vision on staff and students by partnering with Davis Elementary School and HEAL Alabama.
Rotary Park Wins Urban Design Award
Rotary Park in downtown Montgomery is not only a destination for lovers of dog parks, food trucks and greenspaces, but it is an award-winning case study in urban planning and design. The Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association presented the City of Montgomery with the Franklin M. Setzer Outstanding Urban Design Project Award for Rotary Park.
Montgomery Community to Benefit from Financial Education and Counseling
In November, Trustmark announced a community-wide partnership with Operation HOPE and the City of Montgomery to offer opportunities for financial education and counseling. An Operation HOPE Inside location is now located at Trustmark’s Carmichael Road location in Montgomery.
Rising Stars in Alabama Banking
The Alabama Bankers Association Rising Stars program launched this year as a collaborative effort between the association and Business Alabama to recognize and identify the emerging leaders in the Alabama banking industry. Those selected for this honor were chosen because of the impact they have made in both the bank and the community. The honorees include several River Region bankers: Chase Chambliss, Vice President and Relationship Manager of River Bank & Trust in Montgomery, Rebecca Hallman Vice President and Human Resources Director of River Bank & Trust in Prattville, Scott Killman, Senior Vice President and Commercial Banker with CB&S Bank and Jason Kocher, Assistant Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at Trustmark National Bank.
Montgomery Restaurants Awarded
Montgomery restaurants shone brightly in the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association’s (ARHA) 2021 Stars of the Industry Awards. There were more than 110 nominations submitted statewide, and the winners in each of the 18 categories were presented with trophies by the ARHA Chairman, Bob Omainsky. The Bartender of the Year was Nick Ware from Lower Lounge; Vintage Café/Year Chef Eric Rivera was the Chef of the Year Finalist; and Restaurateur of the Year was Jud Blount of Vintage Hospitality Group, which owns The Vintage Year and Vintage Café and is set to open its downtown restaurant Ravello early in 2022.
Jackson Thornton Asset Management
Recognized as a Top 100 Financial Advisor Firm Jackson Thornton Asset Management (JTAM), a wealth management firm with offices in Montgomery and Dothan, has been named to CNBC’s 2021 Top 100 Financial Advisors. From an initial list of more than 38,000 firms considered, JTAM was ranked 79th of the Top 100 firms across the United States. The methodology for the 2021 edition of CNBC’s annual FA 100 ranking of registered investment advisors (RIAs) was prepared in partnership with data provider AccuPoint Solutions. A variety of core data points from AccuPoint Solutions’ database were analyzed, ranging from the firm’s compliance record and years in business to total accounts and assets under management.
AWARDS
AFCEC Announced 2021 Air Force Design Award Winners
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center recently announced the winners of the 2021 Air Force Design Awards, recognizing 10 standout building projects in design and efficiency. The design awards program, in its 46th year, honors the Air Force’s top projects. The New Squadron Operations Facility of the Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery was the Facility Design award winner.
Bradley Attorney Inducted as Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers
Charles A. “Chuck” Stewart III, a partner in Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Montgomery office, has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Stewart has more than 35 years of experience with complex trials involving business disputes, product liability, intellectual property, construction, employment and catastrophic personal injuries in multiple states.
Bradley Rakes in Honors
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has been named the “Law Firm of the Year” in the area of Construction Law in the 2022 edition of U.S. News—Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.” Only one firm per legal practice receives this designation, making it particularly significant. Bradley was named “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law in the 2020 and 2018 editions as well. It was also awarded the Tier 1 national rankings in the practice areas of Construction Law; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation—Construction; and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions—Defendants. The firm also earned 156 Tier 1 metropolitan rankings across all 10 of its offices.
Gilpin Givhan Named In 2022 “Best Law Firm” List by U.S. News – Best Lawyers
Gilpin Givhan received national rankings in the U.S. News—Best Lawyers 2022 edition of “Best Law Firms.” Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” ranking are recognized for professional excellence and have persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving this ranking signals a unique combination of quality practice and breadth of legal expertise.
