André Natta, executive director of the Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism, which publishes BirminghamWatch, has been named to Leadership Birmingham’s Class of 2025.

Natta is among 59 leaders who will serve in this class from a broad swath of sectors —including business, finance, government, religion, education, law, arts, health, social service organizations, other nonprofits and community volunteers.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to get better acquainted with Birmingham and learn from my classmates,” Natta said.

For the next 10 months, class members will take part in an intense program that involves in-depth conversations among themselves and with topic experts as well as site visits and retreats to explore the issues, challenges and opportunities that face the greater Birmingham area, as well as collaborating on projects to address those issues.

Before joining AIIJ, Natta worked with the MuckRock Foundation, most recently as product outreach manager for DocumentCloud. A 2018 John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University, he has held editorial and product management roles at news organizations in Alabama and Pennsylvania, including the Lenfest Local Lab at the Lenfest Institute for Journalism in Philadelphia and Birmingham’s NPR member station WBHM. Natta also launched and maintained an independent local news site in Birmingham, The Terminal, for 10 years.

The nonprofit Leadership Birmingham began its program in 1982. The Class of 2025 members are:

• Tony Ankar, O’Neal Industries, vice president of risk management.
• Tyler Barnett, CEO of New Schools for Alabama.
• Lance P. Black, Protective Life Corp., executive vice president of acquisitions and corporate development.
• Carol Clarke, executive director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham and a Birmingham City Council member.
• Danny Cohn, CEO of The Birmingham Jewish Federation.
• Julie Conrady, Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham, settled minister.
• Phillip Corley, Wallace Jordan Ratliff & Brandt LLC.
• C. Coston, community volunteer and retired president of Dickinson State University.
• Katie Crenshaw, University of Alabama at Birmingham, chief risk and compliance officer.
• Carla Crowder, Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, executive director.
• Steve Dapkus, ProAssurance, senior vice president of marketing and risk management.
• Angela Dixon, chief financial officer for Jefferson County.
• Janice Drake, Birmingham City Schools, principal.
• Danielle Dunbar, Alabama Association of Nonprofits, executive director.
• Seth Embry, Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, senior adviser and chief strategist.
• Sid Evans, Southern Living, editor in chief.
• Chris Falk, Shipt, chief financial officer.
• Kirk Forrester, community volunteer.
• Amanda Fowler, Williams Blackstock Architects, partner and CFO.
• Jeris Gaston, Bridgeworth + Savant Wealth Management, owner and adviser.
• Lindsey Harris, University of Alabama at Birmingham, assistant professor.
• Ashley Kaplan, Leadership Alabama, executive director.
• Susan Kennedy, Levitate Legal and Consulting LLC, senior director.
• Keneshia Kirksey, MD, MBA, owner of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Alabama PC.
• Silvia Espinosa Laxson, ¡HICA! – Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama, development and communications director.
• Alycia Levels-Moore, Polaris Birmingham/ASL Creative Firm, founder and CEO.
• Erik Lizee, McWane Science Center, vice president of exhibits, facilities and planning.
• John Martin, United Way of Central Alabama, senior vice president of resource development.
• Brian Massey, Children’s of Alabama, vice president of government relations.
• Emory Mauldin, Mauldin Law Firm, attorney.
• LeNá McDonald, Southeastern Conference, associate commissioner of academic relations.
• Jason Meadows, Birmingham Board of Education member; A+ Education Partnership, director of advocacy and partnerships.
• Wes Mindingall, PNC Bank, SVP, community development market manager.
• Grady Moore, Balch & Bingham LLP, partner.
• Patrick J. Murphy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Goodrich Chair of Entrepreneurship.
• André Natta, Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism, executive director.
• Matt Nesbitt, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, farm director.
• Ryan Philips, Vulcan Materials Company, vice president for commercial excellence.
• Mark Pledger, Pledger Architect PLLC, principal.
• Carolyn Ratliff, Pilates South, owner.
• Dulce Rivera, Mi Pueblo Supermarket, CEO.
• Scott Schamberger, Indian Springs School, head of school.
• Chad Scroggins, Shelby County county manager.
• Brett Shaffer, Regions Bank, SVP, head of community relations.
• Graham Smith, Mountain Brook City Council member.
• John Smola, Alabama Power Co., director of customer solutions and business development.
• Carlie Somerville, University of Alabama at Birmingham, associate professor, medicine and pediatrics.
• Susan Stabler, Brasfield & Gorrie, vice president and division manager.
• Bart Stephens, Lakeview Marina owner and founder.
• Valerie Thomas, the VAL Group Inc., president & CEO.
• Christy Thomas, McKinney Communications Company, chief financial officer.
• Nancy Tofil, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama, MD, professor of pediatrics.
• Reggie Torbor, Pylon Building Group, president.
• Stacey Walters, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, vice president, quality and value-based care.
• John Wells, Encompass Health, vice president of development.
• Melissa Wheeler, Luckie & Company, chief people officer.
• Christian White, Regions Bank, EVP, market executive.
• Nicole Williams, Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, CEO.
• Joan Witherspoon-Norris, Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers, executive director.