SPEAKERS

Mayor William R. "Ronnie" Marks

Mayor Marks has served in the role of mayor since Nov. 3, 2010. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the City of Athens, which includes Athens Utilities. Prior to becoming the mayor, he served on the Athens City Council from 2004 to 2010. He also served as a council member from 1982 to 1986. Mayor Marks helped create the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission in 2012 in an effort to educate high school students about their local government’s role as well as their role as citizens. The program gives students the opportunity to get hands-on experience with city-related jobs and community service projects with the goal of them becoming informed and engaged citizens.

Career history:

• December 2005 – February 2008 - Field Operations Manager for Gov. Bob Riley’s Emergency Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina victims.

• September 2001-April 2004 – Contract employee with SCB assigned as Senior Functional Analyst with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

• March 1999 – September 2001 – Contract employee with SCB assigned as Project Consultant/Functional Manager with the Department of Human Resources, Office of Child Day Care.

• February 1997 – March 1999 – Project Director for the Southern Alliance of States (SAS) with Lockheed Martin, IMS.

• June 1971 – February 1997 – Alabama Department of Human Resources, starting in Limestone County and retiring as regional manager.

• 1966 – 1968 – Teacher w/ Limestone County Schools at West Limestone.

• January 1971 – May 1971 – Teacher w/ Limestone County Schools at New Hope.

Education:

• Master’s Degree of Social Work (1975) – University of Tennessee, Nashville, TN

• Bachelor of Science Degree – University of North Alabama, Florence, AL

• High School Diploma – Tanner High School, Tanner, AL

Military experience:

• 1968 – 1970 U. S. Army

• 1969 – 1970 Platoon Sgt. – 198 Lt. Infantry Brigade in Vietnam

• 1970 – 1978 Alabama National Guard

• Recipient of the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces (Vietnam)

Chairman Collin Daly

Collin Daly is the Chairman of the Limestone County Commission in Alabama, a position he has held since first being elected in November 2018. A lifelong native of Limestone County, Daly was born and raised in the area, graduating from Elkmont High School in 1995. He comes from a family with a legacy of public service; his father, Gary Daly, also served as a Limestone County Commissioner and Chairman. Initially reluctant to follow in his father’s footsteps due to the challenges he observed, Daly eventually felt compelled to run for office after years of reflection and encouragement from his family. Daly has built a career rooted in local infrastructure and community service. Since 2003, he has worked for the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority, giving him extensive knowledge of the county’s physical and operational landscape. Before that, he worked for the Utilities Department of the City of Huntsville and spent time on his grandfather’s farm, experiences that deepened his connection to the region. Married to Penny Williams Daly, he is a father to three children: Jordan, Timmy, and Bennett.

Politically, Daly identifies as a strong fiscal conservative, emphasizing balanced budgets, low taxes, and reduced regulation to support both small businesses and economic growth. He won his first term by defeating incumbent Mark Yarbrough in the 2018 Republican primary and then Democrat Roger Williams in the general election. In 2022, he was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term, allowing him to focus on governance without the demands of campaigning. His tenure has coincided with significant growth in Limestone County, which has been the fastest-growing county in Alabama in recent years, driven by population increases and major employers like Mazda Toyota Manufacturing and Amazon. Daly’s leadership focuses on managing this growth responsibly, improving infrastructure—particularly roads—and enhancing quality of life for residents. He has highlighted achievements like paving 52 miles of roads in a single year and increasing the county budget from $38 million to over $48 million in four years, reflecting the area’s expanding needs. Known for his approachable style, Daly values direct engagement with constituents, often citing interactions like meeting with senior citizens or speaking to Boy Scout troops as highlights of his role. He aims to leave Limestone County in better shape for future generations, balancing progress with preserving its community charm.

Dr. Elizabeth Bowden

A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Bowden is currently the Director of Teacher Education Services and Certification at Athens State University. Prior to this role, she served as a Career Consultant for the university and the Interim Director of Lunchbox Initiatives, which are grant-funded programs aimed at supporting small businesses. Dr. Bowden holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, a master's degree in Adult Education and Distance Learning, and a Bachelor of Arts in History. She has worked in higher education for over 25 years, training students, faculty, and community members in career and leadership education in the North Alabama area. In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Bowden is deeply involved in her community and church. She is an active member of the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she has organized community programs in Education and the Arts. Dr. Bowden and her husband, Daryl Bowden, have two adult children, Dion and Daryl Jr., and reside in New Market, AL, with their four-year-old grandson, Anthony.

Tere Richardson

Tere Richardson joined Athens Main Street as Executive Director in June of 2018. Since that time, Tere has led team efforts to establish an entertainment district, institute sidewalk dining, grow downtown events to record levels, renovate a blighted alley, and has just completed the transformation of the deteriorating and underutilized farmers market into a vibrant multiuse community gathering space. Prior to taking time to raise her sons, Tere was a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young Consulting where she led strategic planning, business process redesign, and large-scale computer software installation projects for clients of EY Consulting. Her clients included the J. Paul Getty Foundation, Honeywell, Cincinnati Milacron, Maytag, and other government, banking, and construction clients.

Before her career in Computer Information Systems Consulting, Tere was a Physical Education teacher and coach at the middle school level. She is graduate of Athens State University with a bachelor’s degree in Education and a graduate of Troy State University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. She is a member of the Community Board of the First National Bank of Pulaski and the Athens Rotary Club Board of Directors. She also has served on numerous other university, business, and civic boards. Tere and her husband Gary Van Wagnen are partners in Egypt Bluff Properties which owns and develops Brigadoon Subdivision, a gated community on the Tennessee River. She has two sons, one a graduate of the University of Alabama and CPA with PwC in Homewood. The other a graduate of Auburn University and an Electrical and Computer Engineer with Dynetics in Huntsville.

Leslie Walker

Leslie Walker CHSP, CATP, a seasoned veteran of the tourism and hospitality industry, has extensive experience in virtually every aspect of the visitor experience. She began her career at hotel front desks and quickly ascended through various roles, including hotel corporate sales, Director of Sales, and ultimately General Manager. Beyond the hotel industry, Ms. Walker excelled as a corporate meeting planner for international events and as Convention Sales Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. She now owns and operates Leslie Walker Consulting, a creative tourism consultancy, supporting communities in achieving their tourism goals. Her expertise encompasses social media and marketing for large global conferences, developing content creator campaigns, conducting visitor experience audits, and innovating new tourism products.

Tami Reist

During her more than three-decade long career in the tourism and travel industry, Tami has lived by the theme expressed by the famous American heroine Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” This theme is carried forth in all her speaking engagements across the country and has had proven results in her professional accomplishments. Tami is the President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA). Her duties include planning, implementing, directing, and evaluating all promotional programs as well as overall development of the tourism and travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the State of Alabama. The region currently generates more than $4.7 billion in travel expenditures on an annual basis. Tami’s responsibilities also include strengthening and expanding the membership base of AMLA, a not-for-profit organization that is supported by 500-plus members consisting of Chambers of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions, and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston.

Tami is a board member for a number of tourism and travel-related and civic organizations including: Governor Appointee to the Scenic Byways Committee, Main Street Alabama, Southeast Tourism Society Legislative Council, Alabama Travel Council, Alabama Council of Association Executives, Alabama Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, and numerous other local and state travel related groups. Tami is also an instructor at the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College and has been a contributing presenter to the tourism and travel field of study at Mississippi State University. Among her many recognitions are the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Travel Council Partnership Award, the Southeast Tourism Society Dorothy Hardman Spirit Award, inductee into the Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame, inductee into the Morgan County Leadership Hall of Fame and This is Alabama, Birmingham magazine’s Women Who Shape the State honoree, a “Women of Impact” award recipient from Yellowhammer News / Yellowhammer Multimedia, a 2021 graduate of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development program sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and was named 2024 Tourism Promoter of the Year from the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association. During her career, Tami has served as the President/CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau; as Project Manager and General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott - Decatur, Ala.; Regional Manager for Hampton Inn and Country Inn & Suites by Carlson - Decatur and Florence, Ala.; and as General Manager and Project Coordinator of the Amberley Suite Hotel - Decatur, Ala. Tami’s interest include interior design, "flying with her husband, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Jason Parks

Jason Parks is known for his visionary leadership and his anything is possible attitude. With 20 years experience in corporate communications, professional development and global ministry, Jason is a sought after motivational speaker and professional trainer. He’s spoken to over 2200 audiences, from professional development workshops to public diplomacy with world leaders, and frequently speaks on leadership, effective communication, conflict resolution and mental health topics. Jason is the President of The Parks Group, LLC, Senior Pastor of Refuge Church and CEO of The Possible Project. He is a subject matter expert in leadership at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and has earned the designation Certified Maxwell Leadership Speaker, Coach & Consultant. He's earned a BS in Communication Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity and is currently pursuing a PhD.