meet the
speakers

As a former Engineer, Andrew uses a systems thinking approach to helping organizations build workplace cultures that attract and retain the best talent, while ensuring a focus on the Mission. With his experience in working Internationally, coupled with industry experiences ranging from industrial control system, biotechnology and non profits, he has a unique perspective on how the people system of an organization effects its outcome.

Kristina is an award-winning Creative, Art Director and Brand Strategist bringing proven creative strategy, vision, communication, leadership, and management capabilities to brands in editorial, advertising and marketing. Her work has been recognized by Graphic Design USA, the AAF, and the Association of American Publishers. With over a decade of experience working for in-house agencies, she has a focus on rethinking legacy brands, overseeing digital experiences, video production, and visual storytelling. Kristina is currently the Senior Director of Marketing and Storytelling for the Jeremiah Program. Previously she was Senior Creative Lead at the Southern Poverty Law Center for 10 years. She also has proudly served on the board of the American Advertising Federation-Montgomery chapter and on the District of AAF District 7 for many years. Kristina is a self-proclaimed Blerd (Black + Nerd). She is the creator of The Fan Squad, an online blog for all the blerds out there that need a squad. She is the proud parent to a pit mix Shuri T’challa Turner (3 years old).

Mark B. Moore is the hero that mission-focused organizations and small businesses have been waiting for. After moonlighting as a graphic designer for nearly 30 years, Moore opened Nonprofit Hero LLC in 2024 to offer graphic design, website development, and fundraising consulting services. Most recently he was the Development Director of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Education Foundation. His career includes stints as the Director of Public Relations at Drake State Community & Technical College, Development and Marketing Director at Thrive Alabama, and Art Director at Red Sage Communications. He has served as Board President of the American Advertising Federation North Alabama, member of the Huntsville Public Arts Committee, and member of Leadership Greater Huntsville Class 34. Moore regularly speaks to groups about his experience as a Black, gay man in the South and shares those perspectives as part of multiple Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees including the Alabama Conference of Theatre DEI Committee and Huntsville’s Human Relations Commission. Moore holds an MBA from Louisiana State University Shreveport and a BA from the University of Montevallo. He has also been involved in community theatre for more than a decade and has directed productions that include "The Watsons Go To Birmingham," "Daddy’s Dyin’: Who’s Got the Will?," "Deathtrap," "Sordid Lives," "The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee," "Crowns," "A Christmas Story," and "Radio Golf." He and his husband Chris Maynard live in Huntsville with their pups Artemis and Puck.

Jonathan Palmisano is an artist and designer with over 15 years of industry experience. He currently serves as Manager, Strategic Communications for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Outside of the office he can be found making fine art and doing freelance illustration as JPALMISANOart.

Muhammad Al-Kahlout, Head of Marketing at Cummings Creative Group (CCG), is a dynamic marketing strategist with over a decade of experience across various sectors, including healthcare and real estate. Mo’s dedication extends to volunteering with the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for the last six years and some highlights include receiving the AAF National Chic Davis Memorial Award and was named President of the Year for AAF Birmingham. He’s an avid cyclist, competing with Eleven Productions Racing team and enjoys family life with his wife Melody and their two daughters.

Fathia Hardy has over ten years of broad-based experience in leadership, management, planning, and training. Ms. Hardy is the Director of the Office of Professional and Continuing Education (OPCE) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). She has served the UAH community for the last decade, providing training for nonprofits, local, federal, and state government institutions, and companies. In her current role, Ms. Hardy provides leadership of the UAH OPCE based on its strategic priorities and in alignment with the strategic priorities of the College of Business (COB) and UAH. She leads and manages the day-to-day operations and administrative aspects of OPCE. In addition, Ms. Hardy develops and manages the OPCE budget to assure overall financial sustainability with the generation of revenues and management of costs. She recruits, trains, supervises, and supports five full-time and over 100 part-time OPCE teaching, professional, and clerical staff and student assistants. She is the liaison between UAH on and off-campus partners for OPCE. In addition to her regular duties, she is a past President of the UAH Staff Senate, former Advisor and Coach to the UAH Dance Team, and served on numerous UAH committees. Ms. Hardy is a graduate of Connect Class 23 with Leadership Greater Huntsville. She also serves her community as a Board Member, ADEI chair, and Secretary for the Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre and Academy, serves as a mentor with the Madison CEO program, and volunteers with the Leadership Greater Huntsville Connect and Flagship programs. Before her career at UAH, Ms. Hardy worked at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center; Woodrow Hall in Birmingham, AL; and the American Lung Association in Cincinnati, OH. Ms. Hardy is a native of Birmingham, AL, but resides in Madison, AL, with her two beautiful children, Malik and Farrah Starr.

John Allen is the CEO of the Huntsville Committee of 100.  The Committee of 100, founded in Huntsville, AL in 1995, is a business advocacy organization of 331 CEO's – including 56 young professionals — committed to long term strategies that impact economic vitality, supporting high-quality public education, and encouraging cooperative local government.      A Huntsville native, John graduated from Auburn University in mechanical engineering working at bp Chemicals for 5 years.  After obtaining his professional engineering license, worked in a multitude of industries in North Alabama from poultry processing to rockets. Following this, he was President of Southern Construction & Design (SCD) Inc., a family residential construction company for 15 years.  SCD was awarded the Huntsville Chamber Small Business of the Year in 2006 and 2016 and won the BBB Award for Marketplace Ethics in 2014.   He has been involved in numerous community, political, and business leadership experiences. A graduate of Leadership Greater Huntsville and Leadership Alabama, he brings a deep and broad perspective to goal setting and growth. An avid Crossfit member and outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys the physical and mental challenges of outdoor adventure.  Since 2020, he has twice mountaineered on Mount Rainier in Washington, trekked to Mount Everest base camp in Nepal, and 3 times raced Chattajack a 31 mile kayak endurance event.  He is married to Tami Culver Allen and they love to travel and the joy of living life together.

Dr. John F. Kvach, serves as the Executive Director of the Singing River Trail, a 200+ mile greenway trail system that will span North Alabama. Previously, Dr. Kvach spent ten years as an Associate Professor of Southern History at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and wrote two books and many articles on local and state history, southern history, historic preservation, and the culture of the American South. Dr. Kvach now works with nine counties, 25+ towns and cities, and many private/public stakeholders who see regional collaboration and the Singing River Trail as part of the collective future for the people and communities of North Alabama.