Stephen was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Logistics & Supply Chain Management from Athens State University. He is a Project Management Professional with over 10 years of Utility Experience.

In his current role as a Key Account Representative, he manages over 50 of Huntsville Utilities’ largest Commercial & Industrial customers.

He is going into his 4th year in the Chamber Ambassador & Emissary Program. This will be his first year as an Emissary. He previously held positions as Ambassador and then Ambassador lead in 2023.

Stephen and his wife Rachel live in Gurley, AL with their daughter Avery and two dogs.

Susie Brock began her Marketing career in Madison MS in 1996 when she answered an ad in the newspaper, asking for Part Time workers that had a good phone voice. Since that day in 1996 she has created produced and implement award winning campaigns for Godwin Group Advertising Agency and Sourelink. She relocated to Huntsville AL with her family in 2010.

With a career spanning over two decades, Susie has been a stalwart in the ever-evolving field of marketing. From the early days of traditional advertising to the digital revolution, she not only witnessed the shift but has been at the forefront, navigating and driving change. This quality has not only defined her career but has become a guiding principle in her life, inspiring others to approach change as an opportunity for growth. Her expertise in branding, strategic planning, production, and consumer engagement has cited her ability to inspire teams and navigate the complexities of the industry with finesse.

In her current role as an Account Executive at Rocket City Broadcasting, Susie continues to shape the marketing landscape, leveraging her wealth of experience to drive success for both clients and her team. Whether she’s spearheading an event, a radio ad or a digital campaign, Susie remains dedicated to making a difference both in her professional career and her personal growth.

Additionally, Susie loves living in Huntsville. This is evident in her deep involvement in the community and the enjoyment she derives from her surroundings. When she is not working you can find her on the tennis courts indulging in her love for the sport. Her active participation in tennis highlights her competitive nature to always striving to be better and her commitment to maintaining a happy, healthy, balanced lifestyle.

John Buckley is a Senior Business Development Analyst at JRC Integrated Systems since 2020. As a Senior Business Development Analyst, his primary efforts are focused on identifying bid opportunities by engaging with other potential industry partners and DoD and Federal agencies to generate new business and sales by leading the team in the pursuit of various opportunities. In addition, John leads capture campaigns, black hat reviews, attending trade shows to increase visibility of the organization, customer visits, strategy development, color team reviews, complex bid responses, and negotiate with industry partners and customers.

John Buckley completed his Bachelor of Accountancy in Accounting from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 1991 and completed studies for the Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His graduate work focused on Acquisition and Contracting. John retired from the Navy in 2020 and served 30 years as a Supply Corps Officer supporting submarines and amphibious assault ships.

In addition, he represents JRC as a Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador since 2021 and was chosen to serve as a Chamber Emissary for the 2024 calendar year. The Ambassador and Emissary Programs allow Chamber members to become more engaged with the community. Chamber Ambassadors are individuals who help represent and promote the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, as well as promote their own business to other companies. Chamber Emissaries are chosen individuals who act as messengers to advocate the Chamber to current members.

Furthermore, John has been chosen to serve as a Catalyst Center Board member for the 2024 calendar year. The Catalyst is open to any business-minded individual, we provide resources to foster success for entrepreneurs and small businesses aspiring to get started, achieve growth, or take their ideas to the next level. We aim to provide best-in-class coaching, in-demand services, and relevant program events to enable success for anyone having an entrepreneurial spirit or wanting to embrace a small business journey.

He enjoys pickleball, hiking, kayaking, and supporting local live mu

Katie Burroughs is a Huntsville native and has been with the Von Braun Center since January of 2009. Since then, she has held many roles with her current position being Senior Sales Manager. As part of her job, she travels to other cities to help bring conferences to the Rocket City. She also works with local groups planning parties, fundraisers, galas, really anything you can think of we have probably done it. With over 140,000 square feet of meeting space, we can accommodate many groups at the same time.

Katie has been booking the Chamber’s events for almost 10 years now. It wasn’t until 2020 that she became more involved with the Chamber and joined the Ambassador program. This is her first year as an Emissary and she is so excited to be more involved and work with some of the best in Huntsville.

As a Madison County native, Abby Lee Casey knows the power of the Rocket City. Huntsville, once a hidden gem on the Tennessee River, has transformed into a technology and U.S. military defense hub. While serving as an Emissary and ChamberON Volunteer for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, Abby Lee has had a front row seat to many of these changes.

Through her service with the Chamber, Abby Lee gets the privilege of connecting North Alabama businesses with each other. She’s seen firsthand how strong relationships fuel growth for these organizations and the Tennessee Valley.

Abby Lee has over a decade of sales experience and currently is the Director of Sponsorship Sales at the Von Braun Center (VBC). In this role, she secures partnerships for the VBC owned events and offers onsite advertising opportunities for businesses looking to grow their local reach.

She graduated in the top 5% of her class at the University of Alabama with a degree in Commerce and Business Administration (and is a passionate Crimson Tide fan). Abby Lee and her husband, Craig, reside in Fayetteville, TN with their children, Bailey and Brady, and their dog, Bentley James.

Ron is President/Owner of CIMSgts, a dynamic organization that provides document management, automated forms processing, workflow, and custom database applications solutions. He is a seasoned expert on technology innovation that improves workplace efficiency. Ron helps companies find opportunities to evaluate internal and external workflow business practices, and then launches new solutions designed to seize these opportunities to increase workplace efficiencies. Improving the workplace by making it more efficient creates a workplace that everyone loves, and performance is maximized.

Ron’s educational background includes a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ron has over 30 years of technical experience in helping organizations evaluate and implement the process improvements required that truly propel companies in their pursuit of excellence in the fast paced and changing business world.

Since Maria Cayse moved into her home in Huntsville in 1976, she has been an immensely proud resident and goodwill ambassador of Madison County. In September 1981, as a junior at Grissom High School, Maria began her career in fine jewelry which led to a lifelong career in fine jewelry store management and buying. Maria continued her education while working and holds degrees and certifications in Accounting, Interior Design, Jewelry Appraising and Diamontology. Her career in Retail spanned 39 years and Maria Cayse worked as a multi-store manager, inventory manager and buyer for several multi-million-dollar fine jewelry stores and major department stores.

In 2020 Maria Cayse left retail and started her own company Clarity Consulting helping small business owners with all aspects of business ownership and assisting jewelry stores online with inventory management and buying. Maria is a concierge jeweler for a curated clientele and assists customers in purchasing timeless fine jewelry gifts.

Maria is passionate about staying involved in the vibrant community that is Huntsville/Madison. Maria Cayse represents The Rose’ Society, Inc. a group of women raising money for deserving women and children non- profits in North Alabama. Maria Cayse has served as Secretary, Vice President, President (2023-2024) and now as Past President/Mentor on the Executive Board. Maria is now proudly serving in her first year as an Emissary while representing The Rose’ Society Inc. Maria has been an Ambassador for the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber for almost 20 years.

Maria Cayse is a member of Asbury Church Madison where she sings in the Chancel Choir, manages the choir music library, and serves as a small group leader in a Women’s Bible Study. Maria is a Master Gardener of North Alabama and serves as the Historian for the group. She participates in design and relandscaping of local Historical properties. In 2023 Maria completed a redesign and planting of the Mark C Smith Memorial Garden at Burritt on the Mountain Mansion and in 2025 will be collaborating with a small team on designing a learning garden at the Weeden House in Twickenham.

Maria Cayse was involved as a lead/performer in the local theatre community and has served on the board of Lyrique Music Productions and most recently on the E-board as the Secretary and as the Development Committee Director for Theatre Huntsville. She is a member of Focus Class of twenty-five with Leadership Greater Huntsville and served as a Rotarian and achieved a Paul Harris Fellowship. Maria also served as the Vice President of BNI Chapter Madison. Maria is eager to continue to use her diverse and decades long business and firsthand experiences combined with her insatiable desire to learn and expand her knowledge to promote and support this wonderful community we are so proud to live in and serve.

LeJuan George is a dedicated business professional with over 27 years of combined marketing and business development experience. He has served the North Alabama community for numerous years as Marketing Coordinator for the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama. Currently, he is the Senior Business Development Officer of Alabama’s largest credit union - Redstone Federal Credit Union, holding a Credit Union Business Development Professional Certification (CUBPD) from the Credit Union National Association. During his tenure with RFCU, he has held many marketing, corporate & community relations roles all designed to help the Huntsville and surrounding business community succeed.

LeJuan yields savvy articulation and business acumen skills. He understands the pitfalls and challenges businesses face day-to-day. Therefore, each interaction with clients is always met with the intent to help and foster a business relationship built on partnership principles of quick follow-up, respect, and trust.

Originally from Birmingham, AL, he has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Alabama A&M University. He is a member of Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Having several hobbies, he most enjoys a wanderlust life - national and international, a penchant for health/fitness, and volunteering with the Huntsville Arts Council.

A Full-Time, Full-Service Realtor, Karen Harrison has a proven track record of success in the real estate market since 1999. References can be made available per your request. She strives to stay ahead of the status quo in knowledge of the local real estate market as well as familiarity of loan products. Looking to sell? Karen will sit down with you and discuss a detailed, results-oriented market plan that will be innovative and aggressive in helping you achieve your goals. Karen's sellers achieve near and above asking price for their properties. If you are looking to purchase, Karen will provide you with comparable sales information and market conditions at her disposal to help you make a well-informed decision. It is of the highest importance to Karen that you know she will work with care and confidence to maximize the value of your real estate investment.

As an experienced, professional business executive and master networker/relationship-builder, Dave Knowles is honored and excited to return to serving as an Emissary for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Originally trained as an educator, since 2002 he has provided sales and marketing expertise to two highly visible local companies – as the Director of Sales at the high-quality, niche publications Who’s Who in Huntsville and Who’s Who in Huntsville Technology magazines and as the Sales and Marketing Director at nationally/locally recognized LEAN Frog Business Solutions, Inc. He is now pleased to be the Community Liaison for Rosenblum Realty.

Since 1957, Rosenblum Realty has offered realtor services in residential sales and leasing, property management, and commercial sales and leasing in the Huntsville/North Alabama area. A family-owned, fourth generation, award-winning business, Rosenblum Realty is known for its professionalism and integrity.

Dave is also actively involved in the All Saints Lutheran Church’s “Outreach Committee – Kitchen Ministry”.

A 1983 graduate of Daniel Webster College in Nashua, NH with a BS in Business Management Jeff brings his years of experience in the Information Technology industry along with his Networking expertise in business. Jeff started JEDORI PC Services, Inc. in 2001 bringing IT Services to Huntsville and, envisioning a need for more resources, purchased a Computer Troubleshooters Franchise in 2004. Since then, Jeff has grown his business through the Chamber of Commerce and Networking and, in the meantime, earned the “2018 Franchisee of the Year”. He continues to grow his business through adding Cyber Security and much more.

A volunteer with the Chamber since 2002, Jeff has used his experience to not only grow his business but, also, assist others through mentoring and training to grow their business.

Stewart Schuerr has worked in the office equipment industry for over 20 years. Since 2015, he has served as the Division President for the JT Ray Company. Before moving into the office solutions industry, Stewart worked as a software programmer with interactive projects for public and private sector customers, including projects with Honda, Nasa and Mercedes.

With his background in software development, the transition into the office automation world was a perfect fit. Over the years, the industry has evolved from simple copy, fax and print capabilities to software as a service (SAS) offerings. The JT Ray Company serves the North Alabama and North Mississippi areas.

He has been involved as a Chamber representative in the North Alabama area since 2015 and has been an Ambassador since 2016. He currently serves on the Board of Governors for Valley Hill County Club. In his private time Stewart enjoys playing golf, spending time with his wife, two Grandchildren and family.

Pat Schwerman is a true entrepreneur. She has started multiple businesses whenever she saw an opportunity that she could capitalize on. One of her more successful companies was PartyWorks, an independent retail party supply store in Huntsville, AL. She operated PartyWorks for 25 years, responsible for the marketing, accounting, and managing the myriad responsibilities of a successful small business, which included talent management and balloon artistry. She attended balloon college on the campus of University of Georgia, and was known for her innovative decorations, even decorating the Davidson Center for the 90th birthday of Alan Sheppard.

Upon divesting of that business, she became a real estate professional where she has been able to buy and manage multiple commercial properties and operates as the CFO of those and other business opportunities in which she engages. In conjunction, she and her husband have a consulting business that provides advice and guidance to young, starting entrepreneurs, mid-level professionals in logistics and other businesses - and even providing support to local cyber security organizations in North Alabama. To summarize her career and aspirations, she has become a world traveler, seeking out like-minded people in such diverse places as Scotland, China, the United States.

Andrea Simpson AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, NOMA, IIDA
329th African American Female Licensed Architect in the US
Architecture & Design (A+D) Regional Market Manager
OSCO | turnerboone, Authorized Haworth Dealership

Andrea Simpson is a licensed architect in Huntsville, AL. Receiving her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Auburn University in 2005, Andrea practiced architecture in a traditional setting for 10 years; working for reputable firms such as Gensler and HEERY International in Atlanta, GA. In 2015 she decided to pursue a career in the commercial furniture industry. This transition allowed her to leverage her past experiences and seamlessly collaborate with architects and designers.

You can find her at OSCO | turnerboone, the local Haworth dealership, providing a holistic design approach for clients by applying her knowledge of construction and building design to create thoughtful interior solutions. Andrea understands there are many factors to consider beyond furniture when an organization is thinking about moving or updating an existing space. She excels at developing case studies, space planning, and workplace solutions that fit the function of each individual client. As a consultant in the corporate furniture industry, Andrea strives to educate clients on how a great work environment can promote productivity, wellness and employee retention.

Andrea spends her free time with her family and loving husband, Neville Simpson. They enjoy traveling and college football games. As philanthropists of The Boys and Girls Club and Tuskegee University, they freely support financially and with their time. In 2020 Neville and Andrea partnered with the Madison County Department of Human Resources and began to serve as licensed foster parents to children throughout the North Alabama region.

Additionally, Andrea proudly serves her profession as an elected member to the AIA Alabama (American Institute of Architects) Board of Directors and the IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Board of Directors for the state of Alabama.

As a lifelong resident of Madison County, Victoria Willmon graduated from Madison Academy and began her career with Huntsville Utilities in 2007. A proven track record of excellence in various roles at Huntsville Utilities propelled her to her current position as Key Account Coordinator. As a coordinator, Victoria is responsible for offering support to representatives, understanding the needs of her customers, and representing Huntsville Utilities in the community. Victoria holds a Bachelor's degree in Science/Business from Faulkner University, APPA Key Account certification, and Advanced APPA Key Account certification.

Victoria is involved in her treasured community. She and her daughter serve as members of Twickenham Church of Christ. Victoria joined the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador program in 2021, quickly learning the organization's value. Victoria currently serves as a board member for Enable of Madison County and a board member for Community of Hope. Furthermore, she serves as a South Huntsville Main Business Association member and regularly volunteers with various nonprofits around the community through the Huntsville Utilities Volunteer Council. Victoria served as the 2023 Ambassador Chair of the Madison City Chamber of Commerce: grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to continued support as an ambassador. Victoria truly understands the importance of community service and outreach. By involving her daughter in volunteering activities as often as she can, she is positively impacting her community and teaching valuable lessons about empathy and social responsibility.

Eager to make a difference, she embarks on her inaugural year as an Emissary, ready to become a pillar of support for the community.

Todd Zelenka is the driving force behind Interweave Technologies' growth as the Vice-President. With a passion for building meaningful relationships and a track record of success, Todd is the go-to expert when it comes to unlocking untapped potential.

Todd's diverse background spans management, sales, and even the medical field, where he served as a skilled assistant, X-ray, and Lab tech. This unique blend of experiences has shaped his holistic approach to business, allowing him to see challenges from different angles and provide innovative solutions.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Todd is a man of many talents. When he's not strategizing for Interweave, you might find him strumming his guitar or rocking out on the drums. As a true movie buff, Todd's love for cinema dates back to his teenage years in Germany, where he curated an extensive VCR movie library. With hundreds of films at his fingertips, he developed a keen eye for storytelling and a knack for captivating audiences.

Todd's philosophy is simple yet powerful: 'Do unto others.' He firmly believes in exceeding customer expectations by delivering genuine solutions that address their unique needs. For Todd, true success lies in the ability to take care of customers by going above and beyond.