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Donna Watts, IOM, AACE | President & CEO
(251) 943-3291 | Email
Donna has been the President of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce since September 1997. In addition, she is the President of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation. She serves on numerous Boards including G.U.M.B.O., Business Council of Alabama, Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and is currently a part of the Coastal Resiliency Coalition leadership team.
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Travis Valentine, BS, IOM | Vice President of Investor Relations
(251) 943-1036 | EMAIL
Travis joined the South Baldwin Chamber team in 2015 and has forged many connections within the business community as Membership Director and now Vice President of Investor Relations, spanning Gateway and Chamber-worlds. Travis was an integral element to the formation of the Gateway Initiative during its inception and eventual kick-off in 2018. His day-to-day job involves interacting directly with members and prospective members to help build their businesses and innovate to meet the demands of today, which is what he loves the most; he said, “creating connections and sharing the genuine benefits of membership is my favorite thing about this job – it is a pleasure to witness positive change in someone’s life or their business.”
Those that have gotten the chance to interact with Travis know he is full of energy and optimism, professionally and outside of the office. Although he never truly takes off his ‘chamber hat’, when he is away from his desk, he is an avid dad: his children Tatum and Holden, alongside his beautiful wife, Merritt, have a lot of fun living in South Baldwin. In full Travis-spirit, you might be interested to know a few things about him: although he is from Colorado, he’s never been skiing; he can name all 46 US Presidents and all 50 states/capitals (without using Google) and has spent many hours willingly coaching youth basketball! And speaking of, he’d ask that you remember that “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” obviously a personal motto for Travis, in a role that relies heavily on positivity and resolve.
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Jeanette Harris | Executive Assistant + Member Services Representative
(251) 943-1064 | EMAIL
Jeanette joined the Chamber team in February 2013. Managing information and database functions, Jeanette is in close contact with businesses, communicating their benefits regarding membership. She provides information on various programs offered through the chamber and does new member orientation sessions. Jeanette also assists the CEO/President of the chamber and attends all chamber functions and events. Residing in Foley with her husband Ricky and dog Zena, Jeanette enjoys reading, visiting the beach and spending time with her family, especially her two grandsons in South Carolina.
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Derrick Cook, CPA, MBA | Vice President of Finance
(251) 943-1065 | EMAIL
Derrick joined the Chamber team in January 2021. Originally from the small town of New Brockton, AL, he moved to Foley after obtaining his Master's in Business Administration from Troy University in 2011 to work with a local public accounting firm. Derrick earned his CPA license in 2015 and has eight years of experience in public accounting. During that time frame, he built a relationship working with the Chamber of Commerce through various member events and assisting with financial services. When not at the office, Derrick lives an active lifestyle playing various recreational sports, volunteering at his church, and enjoying the beautiful variety of scenery that southern Baldwin County offers. "I truly enjoy being able to continue my work as a CPA with the Chamber, Foundation, and Gateway team. Outside of the finance area, I also love getting opportunities to network and support our members and community. It's a multifaceted role that keeps my workdays busy and fun."
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Rachel Spear | Director of Events
(251) 943-5550 | EMAIL
Rachel is the Event Director for the South Baldwin Chamber. She is a native of Foley, AL, and graduated from Foley High School in 2006. Rachel has just over 10 years of experience in the hospitality/restaurant industry where she held many different roles including corporate certified trainer. During her career in the hospitality industry, Rachel completed her associate's degrees in Hospitality & Restaurant Management and Event Planning. She began her involvement with the South Baldwin Chamber through volunteering with events and was offered a part-time position with the Chamber Foundation in 2014. Since then, Rachel has held the position of Executive Assistant of the Chamber Foundation, Event Assistant of the Chamber, and was promoted to the Event Director in October of 2016. "It has always brought me a great deal of pleasure to plan things that make people happy! Quality of life is so valuable, and I believe that by being a part of planning community events that bring businesses, locals and tourists together to experience memorable moments is my way of giving back to this community that I have called home my whole life. I do more than just plan events though and I am very honored to be a resource for businesses and individuals in this community to connect". Rachel and her husband, Daniel, have been married since 2015 and reside in Foley where they raise their daughter, Lena.
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Reagan Watkins, BA | Program & Events Assistant
(251) 943-5590 | EMAIL
Reagan joined the South Baldwin Chamber team in August 2022 to serve as the Programs & Events Assistant. A native of Montgomery, she played collegiate softball at Jacksonville State University, where she graduated with highest honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. Reagan moved to Foley full-time in 2021, where she has since worked in youth development, serving in special events, outreach, and membership services. She has a passion for the people in our south Baldwin communities and is especially eager to build new relationships through her work at the Chamber.
Reagan adds, “Our cities and towns are made of such extraordinary people who have so much to contribute to our ever-growing communities. There are so many opportunities to create enjoyable and exciting events and programs that both locals and visitors will remember for years.” She enjoys running and competing in both local and national races, exploring regional landmarks and sites, trying new coffee shops, and enjoying the beauty of Baldwin County alongside her family and pup, Shiloh!
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Lori Pressley | Director of Communications
(251) 943-5510 | EMAIL
Lori joined the Chamber team in October 2018 as the Director of Communications. Lori's career in education and industry, along with an associate's degree in business administration, as well as being a long-time Baldwin Countian serves her well coming into the chamber world: 22 years as technology coordinator/teacher and child transportation extraordinaire at St. Patrick Catholic School, and 6 years at Rohr Southern Industries (Collins Aerospace). For the Chamber, Gateway, and the Foundation, she has led the charge on revamping many key communications outlets including digitizing many of the Chamber's regular media like the Monthly Newsletter, continually updating the chamber website, social media content, news releases, and emails on announcements, and business spotlights like ribbon-cutting videos and SBAwesome (customer service award) videos. Outside of the office, Lori enjoys boating along the Gulf Coast and spending lots of time with her family, especially her grandbabies.
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Kylee Raulerson | Executive Director of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation
(251) 943-5520 | EMAIL
Kylee joined the Chamber team in November 2016 as the Event and Foundation Assistant, and soon after advanced to Event Operations Manager for the South Baldwin Chamber. In January 2021, she accepted a new role as the Executive Director of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation. In her career with the Chamber of Commerce, she has made quite a name for herself for her skills in event planning and execution, and marketing. As a Foley High School Alumni and mother of two children who attend our Baldwin County Public Schools, Kylee is passionate about serving this community and the schools our Foundation serves. In her role as Executive Director, she manages the Chamber Foundation's education enrichment programs and development efforts, coordinating grants and leadership development throughout ten public schools and three private schools in South Baldwin County. These schools also benefit from the SBCF Student & Teacher Grants program and connections with corporate partners and funding opportunities through the Foundation. In her spare time, Kylee can be found up in the gym working on her fitness, on the ball field cheering on her two sons, or cooking up some delicious (cajun-inspired) meals for her whole family.
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Ed Bushaw, MSED | Vice President of Workforce Development
(251) 751-7070 | EMAIL
Ed Bushaw joined our staff in June 2018 and will lead a talent development program via collaboration with regional, community and educational partners to provide an educated and trained workforce fully prepared to fulfill the needs of local businesses and industry, as well as establish a recruitment program to bring qualified employees from across all industry segments to South Baldwin County. Ed holds the position of Vice President of Workforce Development for the Gateway Initiative, a collaboration between the South Baldwin and Coastal Alabama Business Chambers of Commerce. Ed’s business experience includes Acquisition and Development with the Statler Hotel Corporation and the Western New York Hotel Management Corporation. Bushaw left the industry to accept a teaching position in Hotel/Restaurant Management at SUNY Jefferson where he rose to the position of Business Division Chair and Associate Professor. In 1994, Ed accepted a position with Faulkner State in Gulf Shores and retired from the college in 2018 as Division Chair and Campus Director. For the past 15 years, Bushaw has held the position of President of the consulting firm - Hospitality Innovations Group. Ed holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo and a master's degree in Technical Education from SUNY Oswego. Ed’s wife Kristy is an associate broker with ReMax Paradise in Orange Beach and they have three children, Jacob, Caitlyn, and Regan. || Ed also serves on the following committees/councils: Governor's Technical Education Advisory Committee, Alabama Destinations Career Academy / Virtual School Advisory Committee, State Commerce & Information Technology Advisory Council, Alabama Business Education Alliance, Coastal Resiliency Coalition, Foley High School Business Advisory Council, Gulf Shores High School Technical Education Advisory Council.
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Tyler Morgan | Director of Career & Business Development
(251) 422-0942 | EMAIL
Tyler joined the Gateway team in March 2021 assisting and championing the Gateway Initiative. A Montgomery native, she grew up vacationing on the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast like many Alabamians. She has a B.F.A. from The University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) and an M.A. Ed. from Auburn University - Montgomery. Tyler’s experiences and skills in the education world were a key factor in the team’s decision to bring her on board; however, her background in the fine arts and years of event planning experience also brings an edge to the initiative. She taught junior high school for six years, managed events and sales for Perdido Beach Resort for three years, and later joined the Mobile Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, gaining additional experience in corporate, association, convention and lodging sales with a market that expanded all over the country. “I am passionate about our ever-growing community, and truly understand why educating the workforce and employing our businesses with strong, sustainable, career-minded individuals in South Baldwin county is so important for the future,” said Tyler. She lives in Foley with her two fur babies, Mia and Stevie. In her spare time, she manages her own event planning business, enjoys working in her art studio, taking her dogs on adventures, and loves to cook while spending time with her family and friends.
