OUR BOARD MEMBERS
KENTON KENNEDY, PRESIDENT
Kenton Kennedy, LEED Green Associate, a Birmingham native, serves as a Building Inspector in Irondale. With a background in Construction Management and Architectural/Civil Design, he's active in community service, including roles as Co-Director of Anytown Alabama and volunteer work with PEACE Birmingham, Heritage Panel, Make a Change, HICA, Habitat for Humanity, and the Social Y. Kenton contributed to Mayor Williams Bell and REV Birmingham's Civil Rights District Vision Task Force. Certified in basic life support, he's trained in various areas like Safety Awareness, Diversity Training, and Suicide Prevention. In his spare time, Kenton enjoys travel, hiking, music, and quality time with his toddler. His dedication to ACE reflects a commitment to nurturing social and emotional skills in his sons and ensuring all Alabama children access social and emotional learning.
EMILY MCCLENDON, VICE-PRESIDENT
After earning her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her law degree from Birmingham School of Law, in March 2022 Emily received a Certificate in Financial Accounting from Harvard Business School Online. A lifelong Birmingham resident, she is involved in both the state and local bar associations, as well as various organizations throughout her community. Emily is also an Anytown "Anybuddy"!
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ESTHER JONES, TREASURER
Esther Jones was introduced to ACE through her close relationships with the organization's founders, and she has faithfully served as treasurer for the ACE BOD since the organization's inception.
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FANICY H. SEARS, SECRETARY
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Fanicy H. Sears is the owner of eMotion Therapy, LLC, a private practice mental health agency located in Birmingham, Alabama. Her life's work has been dedicated to understanding the psychosomatic effects of chronic trauma in family systems. Over the past 20 years, it has been her goal to help individuals, families and couples reduce the mental, emotional and psychophysiological symptoms that are often experienced because of persistent and severe Depression, Anxiety, Suicidality, Complicated Grief and PTSD.
She is licensed as both a Licensing Professional Counseling Supervisor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. As a supervisor, she oversees the post-graduate training and credentialing process for mental health clinicians seeking licensure in the state of Alabama. Ms. Sears believes that to be truly healthy and whole, we must reintegrate the parts of ourselves that we believe are unlovable, bad or undesirable and may have separated ourselves from while operating in survival mode. Ms. Sears believes to fully reintegrate our parts we must come to a deep remembrance and acceptance of who we are and our eternal connection to unconditional love. Fanicy is also an Anytown alumni (1990s), as are her children. |
NIGEL BROWN
Nigel Brown, an Alabama resident since August 2015 and a Wisconsin native, brings leadership and change expertise to healthcare and manufacturing. With family ties in Birmingham and Bessemer, Nigel holds a Masters in Business Management and recently graduated from UAB's Masters in Healthcare Quality and Safety program. As a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Blackbelt, he's passionate about inspiring people and improving processes. Nigel serves on advisory boards, including UAB's School of Health Professions, and coaches graduate students at UAB. A leadership instructor in South Africa, he aligns his philanthropic work with ACE's mission. In his free time, Nigel enjoys learning, exercising, traveling, and meeting new people.
