The inaugural Culverhouse African American Alumni Network (CAAAN) Conference was held on February 24, 2023, on The University of Alabama campus. CAAAN is designed to provide a platform for engagement and connection between African American Culverhouse alumni and current Culverhouse students and to recognize early Culverhouse graduates and outstanding achievements among African American alumni.
The Alumni Recognition Luncheon was held in conjunction with the CAAAN Student Development Conference on Friday, February 24th at 11:30 a.m. on The University of Alabama campus. The luncheon highlighted and celebrated the professional and societal contributions of exemplary alumni of the Culverhouse College of Business.
Participating organizations include Acclinate, ACRE, Aldi, AMJ HR Solutions, LLC, EY, PepsiCo, Kemp Management Solutions, Merrill Lynch, PROJECTXYZ, PwC, Raymond James, Sherwin Williams, SouthState, Southern Company, Synovus, UA Athletics, UA Black Alumni Association, and Volkert Inc.
Proceeds from the event support the DEI Support Fund.
Cynthia Almond, Owner, Capitol Park Title, LLC and State of Alabama House of Representatives, District 63, Tuscaloosa, AL
Mildred Black, Founder and CEO, People Optimum Consulting, LLC
Lisa Blatter, First VP, Dir. of Campus Recruiting and Career Development, South State Bank
Tracy Comas, President, TPM Research
Tracy Croom, Dir., Financial Management at Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Vishal Gupta, Professor of Management, Culverhouse College of Business
Troy Haas, President & CEO, Brownell Travel
Alice Holloway, Clinical Instructor, Management, Culverhouse College of Business
Alesia Jones, Former Chief HR Officer, University of Alabama – Birmingham
Caitlin Jones, Global Dir. of Talent and Development Delivery, Coca-Cola Company
Jacqui Jones, Owner and CEO of One Degree Marketing
Dr. James E. King, Jr: Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Miles-Rose Professor of Leadership, Culverhouse College of Business
Charli Matthews, Founder and CEO, Empowering Brands
Maura Mills, Associate Professor of Management, Culverhouse College of Business
Cherie Moman: Clinical Instructor, Marketing, Culverhouse College of Business
Rob Morgan: Director, STEM Path to the MBA/CREATE Path to the MBA, Phifer Fellow and Professor of Marketing
Sandra Mortal, Associate Professor of Finance, Culverhouse College of Business
Debra Nelson, President, Elevate Communications
Daphne Palmer, Clinical Instructor, Department of Accounting, Culverhouse College of Business
Pritha Powell, VP, Commercial Card Account Management Team Manager, Regions Bank
Laura Razzolini, Professor of Management, Culverhouse College of Business
Stacey Robinson, Associate Professor of Marketing, Culverhouse College of Business
Amy Savoie, Vice President, Senior Counsel, Protective Life
Gina Simpson, Clinical Instructor, Management, Culverhouse College of Business
Alexa Stabler, Sports Agent and Owner of Stabler Sports
Darlene Wilson, Managing Principal, Relay Accounting Management
Culverhouse DEI African American Alumni Recognition Luncheon is an annual gathering to highlight and celebrate the professional and societal contributions of exemplary alumni of the Culverhouse College of Business and is held in conjunction with the Culverhouse African American Alumni Network Conference.
Schedule
11:30
Reception
12:00
Lunch
1:15
Honorees Speak at First Conference Session
Management & Industrial Relations (1974)
First African-American Homecoming Queen
Retired Professional, Community Volunteer
Finance (1977), Master’s of Finance (1981)
First African-American to major in finance and complete the dual JD/Business degree program.
Chair and CEO, Securities Capital Corporation
![Stokes Headshot[3740]](https://diversity.culverhouse.ua.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/elementor/thumbs/Stokes-Headshot3740-scaled-e1673457038707-q0iivnph85z0bnltx0mhbe05wx5zflxu5blu6aj07k.jpg "Stokes Headshot[3740]")
Marketing (1975)
Among UA’s first group of African-American football players
Author, “One of the First”
Vice President, PGA Superstores
General Admission | $100
General Admission | $50
UA Student Admission
(ID Required) | $25
Support a student by sending them a ticket to the 2023 CAAAN Conference and Luncheon.
Donation Cost | $25
General proceeds go to the DEI Support Fund.
Organization Fair tabling fee proceeds go to participating student organizations.
General proceeds go to the DEI Support Fund.
Contact Tamiko Oglen (tvoglen@culverhouse.ua.edu) about sponsorship opportunities or questions.
Ed Fields, Senior Advisor and Chief Strategist for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office
Mildred Black, Founder and CEO, People Optimum Consulting, LLC
Ryan Coleman, Senior New Logo Program Manager, Salesforce
Tracy Croom, Director of Financial Management, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Alesia Jones, Former Chief HR Officer, University of Alabama – Birmingham; Principal Consultant and Owner of AMJ HR Solutions, LLC
Kenneth Kelly, Chairman and CEO, First Independence Corporation and First Independence Bank
James Kemp, Co-founder & CEO, Frameworq and Director, Kemp Management Solutions
Larry Lewis, CEO, BizTech and President, PROJECTXYZ
Kelsi Long, Attorney, Balch & Bingham, LLP
Kelly Mehrtens, Executive Director, The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA)
Del Smith, Co-founder and CEO, Acclinate
Isaiah Young, Associate Director of Career Services, Manderson Graduate School of Business at The University of Alabama
Alesia Jones