The Leading Ladies Awards Brunch serves as a forum for recognizing outstanding women and organizations in southern Alabama and is an important fundraising event and promotion for Girl Scouting in the southern Alabama service area.
The Leading Ladies Award celebrates individuals who are making a positive impact in their professional lives and in their communities, especially when they are directing those efforts to support the advancement of girls and women.
The Leading Workplace for Women Award recognizes an organization that supports girls' and women's leadership and success. Equal opportunity in the workplace helps women reach their potential and allows the community to fully benefit.
Consider making a donation in honor of a Leading Lady or the event.
2020
Leading Ladies
Senitha Barnett is a teacher at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery where she serves as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator and Career and Technical Education Department Chair. She was named the 2018-2019 Lanier Teacher of the Year. Senitha also facilitates a girl’s advisory class, that meets bi-weekly at Lanier, where she mentors young women by teaching them leadership skills and encourages them to be involved in their community.
Amanda Davis is the first female to serve as Chief
Financial Officer at Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood (GMC), where is
responsible for managing and leading the firm’s financial operations
and is a trusted advisor of the firm’s leadership team. Amanda began
her career at GMC over 20 years ago, when she a participant in her
high school’s co-op program. Under her tenure, the finance department
has grown to include seven employees, five of whom are women. Amanda
also directs GMC’s charitable endeavors and is an active member of the
Pike Road PTA and Pike Road Ladies Auxiliary.
2020
Leading Workplace for Women
Leadership Montgomery seeks to develop and engage diverse
leaders to effect positive community transformation while advancing
servant leaders who will contribute to the community through unified
influence and continuous service. Leadership Montgomery provides the
opportunity for only its female staff to grow and succeed but also
equips women throughout Montgomery to lead and impact positive growth
and change. This organization connects female leaders with other
leaders within the city thus empowering them to gain new insight,
expand their network and perspective, and generate genuine change for
the betterment of their business, their city, and ultimately themselves
2019
Leading Lady
Major General Gordon assumed her duties as the Adjutant General of Alabama, August 1, 2017. As Adjutant General, she advises the Governor on military affairs and commands the Alabama Army and Air National Guard and its more than 12,300 citizen Soldiers and Airmen. During her many years of service, MG Gordon has been decorated with many awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters and other various federal and state awards. MG Gordon made history in 2009 when she became the Alabama National Guard’s first female general officer. She was promoted to Major General in 2011. MG Gordon’s priority is ensuring that soldiers and airmen are prepared with the proper training and equipment to be ready for anything. She is also a proponent of young women entering the National Guard, encouraging them to always behave in a professional manner.
2019
Leading Workplace for Women
River Region Dermatology was founded by Dr. Porcia Bradford Love in 2016. The practice employs fifteen medical professionals, all of whom are women. Due to a shortage of dermatologists in the area, Dr. Love decided to start her practice here in her hometown. Inspired by a true servant’s heart, Dr. Love infused this leadership component into the practice and encourages all her employees to give back on a regular basis. The practice works with many other non-profits in the community by providing free medical services to those without insurance. In addition, Dr. Love and her staff are serving as mentors and training medical students and resident physicians. When the women of the practice aren’t busy seeing patients, you will see them in the community involved in Junior League, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and serving on various non-profit boards.
2018
Leading Lady 2018 Leading Workplace for Women
USAmeriBank was founded in 2007 under the concept of building a bank that succeeds through local decision making, driven by bankers with deep roots in the local community. Earlier this year, a merger was announced with Valley National Bank. Valley believes that success can be measured through their actions in the local community. Valley is committed to supporting women in business, and they achieve that through their Women Entrepreneurs program. Valley’s mission is to become the “bank of choice” for women professionals by enriching both their personal and professional lives through personalized banking solutions, networking and educational opportunities. Valley values their female employees, promoting women throughout the company to executive levels.
2021
Leading Ladies
Michelle Browder owns and operates More Than
Tours; which is a social enterprise that provides educational and
interactive tours to students and tourists exposing the rich and
sometimes haunting history of Montgomery, Alabama. More Than
Tours has bridged the racial divide by reaching nearly 10,000
students and tourists via tourism. Through her social enterprise and
bodacious personality, Michelle has helped to amplify Montgomery,
Alabama, and its evolving persona; making it a sought-after tourist
destination for many. She has been featured on PBS NewsHour,
in Boston Globe, Preservation Magazine, National Geographic
Traveler’s Edition, New York Times, and Washington Post for the
experiential and interactive way she brings Montgomery, Alabama’s
history to life.
The Montgomery Advertiser honored Michelle with the Community Hero Award; presented to her by the Mayor of Montgomery Alabama, Todd Strange. She was recognized for her years of dedication, devotion, and her consistent efforts as a bridge-builder; connecting the community using art, history, and conversation. Governor Kay Ivey presented Michelle with the Rising Star in Tourism Award from the State of Alabama; recognizing the impact Michelle and her company has made in the industry.
Michelle lives in Montgomery, Alabama. In her free time, she spends quality time with her siblings, shops vintage, and paints her feelings on canvas.
Stephanie Peavy was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. She graduated from Huntingdon College where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management.
Stephanie started her banking career while in college. She has over 25 years of banking experience. Currently, Stephanie is the Vice President of Treasury Management at River Bank and Trust. She also holds a Certified Treasury Professional designation.
Stephanie has been involved in numerous civic organizations benefitting children over her expansive banking career. At present Stephanie is slated to become the first woman President of the 102-year-old Montgomery Kiwanis Club. Stephanie is the Secretary/Treasurer of Dream Court Tennis program which is an adaptive tennis program for children and adolescence with special needs. Stephanie also serves on the boards of the Samaritan Counseling Center and Child Protect. She has had the opportunity to mentor young ladies interested in or entering into a banking career. Stephanie and her husband Ken have taken numerous mission trips to serve orphaned children in Haiti through Children’s Hope. Ken and Stephanie have three children, two pets, and are members of First Baptist Church.
2021 Leading Workplace for Women
For more information on the Leading Ladies Brunch, how to sponsor, or how to nominate a Leading Lady, contact Chief Development Officer, Alicia Schneider.
