Invest. Grow. Advocate.

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, husband to Kendall and father to Hunter, Hays, and Addie, is a small business owner and farmer from Marshall County. Prior to entering public service, he worked as a youth pastor at Albertville’s Grace Fellowship Church.

A co-founder of Dream Ranch hunting lodge and the Tennessee Valley Hunting and Fishing Expo, he currently owns Ainsworth Real Estate and Ainsworth Homes, which specialize in residential real estate construction and development. Ainsworth also operates a commercial cattle operation in Guntersville.

After feeling the call to serve his community through elected office, Ainsworth won a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in 2014. While serving in the House, he was a champion for Pre-K, K-12, and higher education, passed election integrity legislation, and emphasized issues relating to business, agriculture, and family values.

Keeping a self-imposed legislative term limit promise, Ainsworth declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor in 2018 and received the most votes of any candidate for constitutional office on the general election ballot.  He was elected to a second term without major party opposition in 2022.

During the 2023 legislative session, Ainsworth was the chief architect and proponent of the largest tax cut in Alabama history – a $300 million reduction in the state sales tax on groceries.

Ainsworth also lead the charge in renewing Alabama’s economic incentives, the Alabama Jobs Act and Growing Alabama, to ensure Alabama remains competitive in recruiting high-paying 21^st century jobs.

Through the work of the Lieutenant Governor’s Commission on a 21st Century Workforce, he has focused on improving workforce development and training in order to recruit long-lasting, high-paying jobs to the state.

As chairman of the Alabama Small Business Commission, Ainsworth also works to promote policies that grow and expand both new and existing businesses – ranging from small, mom-and-pop operations to Alabama’s largest employers.

Ainsworth chairs the Alabama Military Stability Commission, which has passed dozens of bills in the Legislature to ensure Alabama remains the nation’s most welcoming state to active soldiers and veterans. His efforts on behalf of military members and their families earned Ainsworth the Pete Taylor Award from the U.S. Department of Defense.

He also served as national chair of the Aerospace States Association, a group of elected officials, academics, and private sector entities from states with ties to the aviation and spaceflight industries.  Ainsworth has served as a strong advocate for Alabama’s aerospace industry, promoted STEM education in K-12 schools, and has pushed the Pentagon to maintain its commitment of placing U.S. Space Command Headquarters in Huntsville.

Cynthia Lee Almond is an Alabama native, born and raised in Tuscaloosa. Upon graduating from Central High School, she then attended Vanderbilt University and received her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Alabama, majoring in history and minoring in Spanish. She continued her academic journey at The University of Alabama School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor. Cynthia has had a verified legal career, both in the private practice of law as well as at The University of Alabama School of Law, where she served as an assistant dean.  

Cynthia brings extensive experience to the APSC and has consistently demonstrated her strong commitment to public service. She served four terms on the Tuscaloosa City Council, where she was elected by her peers as president pro tem of the council and served as chair of the Finance Committee. In 2021, Cynthia was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for District 63 in Tuscaloosa, where she served as chair of the Tuscaloosa County Local Legislative Delegation, as vice-chair of the Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee and as a member of the following committees: Ways and Means Education, Judiciary and Rules.  

Cynthia’s commitment to public service and love for her community extend well beyond her professional career. A graduate of Leadership Alabama, she later went on to co-chair its West Alabama Regional Council. Her civic involvement includes service on the Capstone Health Services Foundation and its Finance Committee, the Hank Poore Foundation, the Alabama Women’s Commission and the BankFirst Advisory Board. She is also a past chair of the Alabama State Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Section. In addition, she has previously chaired the West Alabama Regional Commission and served on the Tuscaloosa County Tax Board.  

An active member of First United Methodist Church, Cynthia also teaches Sunday school, reflecting her deep-rooted commitment to faith and community. Outside of her professional and civic responsibilities, she enjoys an active lifestyle and can often be found mountain biking, kayaking or playing tennis. She is the proud mother of two grown children and one grandchild.  

Anthony Daniels is a dedicated public servant who is proud to represent Alabama’s 53^rd District in the Alabama House of Representatives, where he also serves as Minority Leader. 

Since being elected to the Alabama Legislature in 2014, Daniels has been a strong advocate for education, healthcare access, criminal justice reform, and economic development initiatives. His ability to build consensus—among his caucus and across the aisle—and to advance legislation that strengthens Alabama’s economy, creates good-paying jobs, equity, and opportunity for all Alabamians, quickly earned him the respect of his colleagues.

In recognition of his hard work and dedication, Alabama House Democrats named him Legislator of the Year in 2015. In 2017, Daniels became the youngest Minority Leader in state history and the first African American to hold the position.

Under his leadership, House Democrats have successfully fought for an agenda that will build vibrant, innovative, and inclusive communities, put in place common sense tax policies that benefit workers and families, balance the needs of big and small business, and foster economic opportunity and entrepreneurship across the state. To advance this agenda and Alabama, Leader Daniels has relied heavily on bipartisanship, collaboration, and public-private partnerships.

Daniels serves on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Innovation Corporation—the first public-private and bipartisan entity in Alabama tasked with fostering Alabama's innovation economy. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Main Street Alabama, a group focused on revitalizing the economic and cultural centers of Alabama's many local communities. He was appointed by Republican Governor Kay Ivey to serve on the Alabama Pandemic Response and Preparedness Commission during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also a board member of the One Country Project, an organization focused on issues impacting rural America, as well as on the board’s of the Global Forum Advisory Council and State Legislative Leaders Foundation—organizations focused on preparing future leaders.

Prior to his career in public service, Anthony Daniels was a teacher. He grew up in the small town of Midway, Alabama, and graduated from Bullock County High School prior to earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education from Alabama A&M University. Together with his wife, Dr. Teneshia Daniels, he is a small business owner, and they have two daughters, Madison and Abigail, and a son, Anthony.

Helena Thomas Duncan was born and raised in Opelika, AL, and is the youngest of five children. She received her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Duncan began her professional career as a teller at SouthTrust Bank. Throughout her career in the financial sector, she provided support to individuals and main street businesses to help them succeed. In 1994, Duncan became Executive Vice President of Colonial BancGroup, Inc., where she oversaw Human Resources for more than 5,000 employees across five states and was responsible for executive-level recruitment. Her additional responsibilities included managing corporate security, developing and managing private banking, and contributing to the team that prepared the strategic plan and coordinated mergers and acquisitions.

In 2005, Duncan opened American Legacy Mortgage in Montgomery. As Owner and Broker, she helped clients identify the best mortgage products to meet their needs while building and maintaining strong relationships with real estate agents. Two years later, she joined First Tuskegee Bank in Montgomery as Executive Vice President. In that role, she was responsible for branch growth in both loans and deposits, as well as corporate governance relationships with federal, state, and local supervisory authorities. She also oversaw IT, operations, bank security, the compliance department, Human Resources, and supervised all bank legal matters.

Prior to joining the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), Duncan served as Regional President of Liberty Bank & Trust, where she was responsible for the overall growth, development, and safety of all Alabama branches. She joined BCA as Director of Strategic Operations and Growth, later moving into the role of Senior Vice President of Operations and Investor Relations. In that capacity, her primary focus was membership growth, including member satisfaction and enhancing the BCA membership experience. She also oversaw Human Resources, Finance, Operations, and the coordination of communications, marketing, and events.

Duncan stepped into the role of BCA President and CEO in December 2022 and has continued to strengthen the organization’s advocacy efforts as the voice of Alabama’s business community on both the state and federal level.

Duncan was recognized as a Yellowhammer 2022 Woman of Impact and has been consecutively honored on Yellowhammer’s Power & Influence 50 list for her contributions to Alabama’s business community. Beyond her work at BCA, Duncan remains active in Montgomery community affairs, having served on several boards, including Dixie Electric Cooperative, the Montgomery Committee of 100, the YMCA Board of Directors, and Synovus Advisory Board in Montgomery. She is also the former Chairman of the Board at Saint James School.

Helena and her husband, Clarence, reside in Montgomery. They are the proud parents of two sons, CJ, who is married to Patricia, and Collin. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first granddaughter in the spring of 2026.

Grayson Everett has contributed to Yellowhammer’s portfolio of publications since 2022, putting his business and political background to work in service of Alabama storytelling. A Huntsville native, Grayson studied at The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. He was the Capitol Reporter for YHN during the 2023 legislative session and continues to cover politics, government and the people who shape Alabama.

Steve Flowers was born and raised in Troy, Alabama. He attended public schools in Troy. He became a Page in the Alabama Legislature at age 12 and worked at the State Capitol throughout his high school years. Upon graduation from high school in Troy, he continued to the University of Alabama where he was a student leader and served in the student Senate. He graduated from the Capstone in 1974 with a degree in Political Science, History and English.

In 1982, at age 30, he entered politics and was elected state representative from his home county of Pike. In that, his first race, he received the largest number of votes for any person in the history of Pike County. In his first year in the legislature, “Alabama Magazine” named him the most outstanding Freshman member. He was overwhelmingly reelected four times. He left undefeated and uncontested choosing not to seek reelection in 1998.

During his tenure in the legislature Steve sustained a perfect attendance record for 16 consecutive years. In 1988, his House colleagues passed a resolution naming him The Most Ethical Member of the House, and in 1992, his colleagues voted him The Most Outstanding Member of the Alabama House of Representatives.

After leaving the legislature, Steve began writing a weekly column on Alabama politics. Overnight, it became the leading and most widely read column on Alabama politics in the state.

Today, Steve Flowers is Alabama’s premier political journalist and commentator. His weekly column “Inside the Statehouse” appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers and publications with a circulation approaching 400,000. His dominance of Alabama political commentary is legendary and unparalleled in Alabama history.

In addition to his informative and entertaining weekly column he can be seen regularly on television outlets in Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Dothan. His weekly public television show, “Alabama Politics with Steve Flowers” is seen throughout the state. As Alabama’s premier columnist and commentator, Steve has analyzed Alabama politics for national television audiences on CBS, ABC, PBS, Fox, CNN, and the BBC.

His 2015 best selling book Of Goats and Governors, Six decades of Colorful Alabama Political Stories takes readers down memory lane with Alabama’s rich and colorful political history. It is the Hallmark of political Lore in the Heart of Dixie.

Steve Flowers has been an up close participant and observer of the Alabama political scene for more than 60 years. He had a 16 year illustrious career in the Alabama Legislature. He now has been Alabama’s leading and most widely read political columnist for the past 20 years. He is generally considered the ultimate authority on Alabama politics and Alabama political history.

Scott E. Latham serves as president and CEO of the Alabama Bankers Association, a professional trade association representing nearly 118 commercial banks across Alabama with combined deposits exceeding $182 billion in more than 1,927 locations across the state.

Having served in this capacity since 1997, he is an active member of the Alliance of State Bankers Associations, a division of the American Bankers Association.

He serves as a member of the board of trustees of Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, and currently serves as Chairman.

He holds an MBA from Auburn University in Montgomery and a degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

He and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters as well as two sons-in-law — Abby Walker (married to Burton) and Caroline Yates (married to Tyler). They also have one grandson, Ford, one granddaughter, Anne Margaret and are active members of the University Church of Christ. Scott serves as an elder, while both he and Michelle have taught Sunday School and participate in many church activities.

Nathaniel Ledbetter of Rainsville, who is serving his third term in the Legislature representing DeKalb County’s District 24., was unanimously elected as speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives in January of 2023.

During his freshman term as a lawmaker in 2017, Ledbetter was also elected to serve as the House majority leader, a post he held for five years.  As majority leader, Ledbetter directed the daily operations on the House floor and managed the flow of legislation.

A former mayor and three-term city council member in Rainsville, Ledbetter retired from the Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative after 30 years of service.

He is married to the former Teresa Wilks, and they have two adult sons, Nick and Nathan, and four grandchildren. The Ledbetters are members of Broadway Baptist Church.

Amanda is the Director of the Alabama Securities Commission where she has been employed since 2008.  She is responsible for advising the Commission on securities-related matters, investigating and prosecuting fraudulent actions surrounding the sales of securities throughout the state of Alabama, and has coordinated and litigated numerous multi-jurisdictional administrative, civil, and criminal matters. She also serves as a legislative liaison for the Commission.  In that capacity, she advocates for investor protections, market integrity, and promoting responsible capital formation in Alabama.

Amanda is involved on both the State and local level in various organizations which address issues and promote awareness of Elder Abuse and Investment Fraud; including the Montgomery County Elder Justice Task Force and the Alabama Interagency Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.  She is actively involved in the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), where she served as chair of the Cybersecurity Committee, Cybersecurity Investment Adviser Project Group, the Broker Dealer Market and Regulatory Policy Committee and is currently serving as Chair of the Enforcement Section.  She is a frequent speaker on Alabama’s securities laws, Elder Justice, Financial Literacy, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence in the securities industry, and an instructor in a securities litigation course offered through NASAA.  Amanda has testified before the United State House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services; the United States House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy on Fraud; and before the United States Securities Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee.  Amanda serves on various boards and is immediate past president of the Montgomery County Bar Association and the Alabama Association of Regulatory Boards. She serves on the advisory council for Innovate Alabama Access Capital Initiative and vice-chair of the Alabama Blockchain Study Commission. Amanda is a graduate of Leadership Alabama Class XXXIII.

Todd Stacy is the Publisher of the Alabama Daily News and host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television. He has worked in and around Alabama politics for 20 years, from the State House in Montgomery to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. His morning newsletter is a "must read" for Alabama politicians and policymakers in Montgomery and Washington. Todd hails from Prattville, Alabama and graduated from Auburn University.