Leadership

Chris Stewart became the President/Chief Executive Officer at The Arc of Central Alabama, formerly The Arc of Jefferson County, in April of 2013, after serving as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer since 1999. Chris is responsible for the oversight of more than 650 employees across 89 locations, who manage early intervention, adult day activity, employment and residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Chris reports to The Arc of Central Alabama’s Board of Directors, which is made up of more than twenty professionals who share a passion for the organization’s mission. He has grown The Arc’s relationships with federal and statewide entities, as well as monetary supporters like the United Way of Central Alabama and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Chris ramped up the fundraising efforts for The Arc of Central Alabama through the creation of new events, procurement of grants, and by concentrating heavily on increasing community awareness. Prior to Chris’s leadership, fundraising income was under $100,000 in any given year, which he has increased to over $600,000 annually.

Chris has not only grown The Arc of Central Alabama through fundraising efforts but also through strategic business operations. Over the last five years Chris has leveraged the organization’s strength to annex three providers that could no longer sustain quality services under Alabama’s poor state reimbursement rates. Since Chris became President/CEO, he has increased the number of people supported by 22% and the overall revenue of the organization by 20% without increasing the amount charged (72%) to the individual for rent, room, and board.

In 2009, Chris was nominated as a finalist for Top CFO of the year by the Birmingham Business Journal. In that nomination, the former CEO of The Arc of Jefferson County noted, “Chris’s ability to manage personnel costs, numerous regulatory agencies, and streamline functions is a major reason for our success.” Chris was the 2014 recipient of The National Conference of Executives (NCE) Rise Star Award. In that same year, he was awarded the Marvin Densmore Award for Outstanding and Dedication Leadership and Advocacy. In 2017 he was the recipient of the Alabama Council of Executives’ Executive Director of the Year award at Governor Ivey’s Disability Conference. At the same conference, Chris also received The National Award for Distinguished Service. In 2018, he was also awarded the National Conference of Executives’ Explementary Mentor Award, and Governor Kay Ivey appointed him to serve on the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council. Most recently, Chris was named by the Birmingham Business Journal as the 2019 Executive of Influence, received The National Award for Distinguished Service, and became the chairman of the Autism Council’s Finance Committee.

Chris is a CPA and CGMA who graduated from Troy University. He is serving or has served on many federal, state and local committees and boards in the following capacities: He was elected by his peers to the National Conference of Executives (NCE) of The Arc Steering Committee, then later elected to be a regional representative is the past Second chair, and was most recently elected First chair of NCE; he was appointed to serve on The Arc of The United States Strategic Planning Committee for long range IDD services; he was selected as the Chairman of Alabama DD Rate Setting Committee Work Group; and he has been a member of the National Dialogue on Mental Health Executive Committee, State of Alabama Management Steering Committee, State of Alabama DD Subcommittee, State of Alabama Employment Work Group, State of Alabama Combined Work Group, State of Alabama MRSIS Committee, State of Alabama ADIDIS Committee Member, National Conference of Executives Charting the Future of Service Committee, and the HUD Medicaid Special Placement Committee.

Some of his other accolades include:

• Member, U.S. Office of Disability Policy Employment (ODEP) Four State Vision Quest Committee
  (2015-2017)
• Member, National Dialogue on Mental Health Executive Committee Long-term Supports
  Committee (2014)
• Chairman, Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee Rate Setting Work Group (2014-2017)
• Member, U.S. Health and Human Services Delphi Panel (2015-2016)
• Member, Alabama Department of Mental Health Management Steering Committee (2015-2017)
• Member, Alabama Department of Mental Health DD Subcommittee (2015-2017; 2019-present)
• Member, State of Alabama DD Subcommittee Employment Work Group (2014-2016)
• Member, State of Alabama DD Subcommittee Combined Work Group (2014-2015)
• Member, State of Alabama Individual Residential Budgeting Instrumental Committee (2010-
  present)
• Member, HUD Medicaid Special Placement Committee (2007)
• Member, United Way of Central Alabama Bold Goals, Improving Mental Health Work Group
  (2015-2016)
• President, Clastran Paratransit Authority Board (2016-2019)
• Ex-officio Board Member, Jefferson County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Authority
  (2014-present)
• President, HARC III HUD Housing Authority (2014-present)
• President, Cerebral Palsy Housing Foundation (2014-present)
• Member, National Council of Executives of The Arc Awards Committee (2015-2018)
• Co-Chair, National Council of Executives of The Arc Engagement and Recruitment Committee
  (2016-2017)
• Member, National Council of Executives of The Arc Scholarship Committee (2016)
• Member, National Council of Executives of The Arc Program Planning Task Group (2016-2019)
• The Arc of The United States Catalyst Awards Selection Committee (2015 and 2017)
• Treasurer, Alabama Service Providers Association (2018-present)
• President, Alabama Council of Executives of The Arc (2016-2017; 2019-present)
• Co-Chair, NCE Summer Leadership Institute (2016-present)
• Co-Chair, NCE Professional Development Seminar (2016-present)

Chris has also been asked to speak at meetings of the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate Committees in Montgomery on the effects of pending and passed legislation on the IDD community.  He has been called upon by The Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Association for Community Living (ACL) to comment directly on the state of Alabama’s Medicaid Programming and Home and Community Based Transition Plan.

Prior to his career at The Arc, Chris worked for New South Federal Savings Bank, and Jackson Thornton & Company.  He lives in Shelby County with his wife and two children.

Mike Mitchell has been with The Arc of Central Alabama for more than twenty years, becoming its Chief Operating Officer in the spring of 2013. Mike previously served as a Director, Associate Director and Assistant Director of Adult and Employment Services. He is responsible for directing and improving the operations of the organization, along with providing day to day leadership and management of various departments.

One of Mike’s most recent accomplishments was successfully supervising the team tasked with directing and the acquisition of The Arc of Blount County, when it was originally acquired by The Arc of Central Alabama a few years ago. Not only did he complete the agency licensure within three months of the takeover, the Blount County unit also met compliance with state and federal guidelines quickly and implemented The Arc of Central Alabama’s policy’s and philosophy to staff. Mike delivered dramatic improvements to quality and health and safety for those previously served by The Arc in Blount County.

Prior to his career at The Arc, Mike served as the head basketball and baseball coach and special education teacher at Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama, where he was named Coach of the year. He was also selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Fellowship in its Ladder to Leadership program to enhance the community based, health initiatives serving vulnerable populations throughout the United States. He attended the Alabama Association of Nonprofits’ Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute as well as the Arc’s Summer Leadership Institute. He is a former board member of the Alabama Department of Human Resources “Welfare to Work” Jobs Advisory Board and the Alabama Department of Human Resources Childcare Resources in Oneonta. He also is a liaison to the Blount County Public Transportation Steering Committee.

Mike is an active contributor and volunteer for The Equal Justice Initiative and The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute assisting the national movement for equal justice and civil rights for all people.

Mike has a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Faulkner University and a Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance from the University of Montevallo. He lives in Trussville with his wife Donna and has two adult daughters, Hayle who is a music teacher in the Alexander City school system and Dr. Whitney Lowe who is a local Optometrist. Whitney and her husband Jim have one son, Jonathan. Mike is an active member of The Guiding Light Church where he serves in the leadership team working with Campus Safety and Pastoral Care.

N. Brooks Greene became the Chief Financial Officer/Vice President of The Arc of Central Alabama in the spring of 2013. Brooks oversees all of the financial, business and human resource applications of The Arc as well as nine other entities. Currently the financial and business operations maintain a $30 million budget, provide representative payee functions to more than 300 individuals, and manage 6 HUD projects. Brooks also directs the human resources department, which facilitates the recruitment, benefits, scheduling, and training of more than 600 Arc employees.

Prior to joining The Arc, Brooks spent nine years in public accounting focusing on financial accounting engagements in the non-profit sector. Immediately prior to joining The Arc he was the audit manager with Haynes Downard LLP for six years. In that position he specialized in the non-profit arena by managing audit engagements for the largest non-profits in Alabama. Besides overseeing audits at multiple field sites, part of his responsibilities included consulting with more than 50 non-profits regarding fraud reduction, financial reporting and their overall business operations.

Brooks attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a Masters of Accountancy. He currently holds the designees of Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He is a member of the following organizations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants; and Southeastern Affordable Housing Management Association.

Brooks lives in Shelby County with his wife Amy and two children, Helen and Libba. He is an active member of his church community at Cross Bridge Church, where he serves as the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. Brooks also is committed to community service outside of The Arc. He serves on the Board of Directors of Project SHARE, Service to Help Alabamians with Relief on Energy, providing emergency energy assistance to elderly and disable Alabamians in peak summer and winter months. His service also extends to the Rate Setting Committee of that organization.

Ryan Delfin is the Vice President over The Arc of Central Alabama’s programming in Blount County. Ryan supervises the day and employment programs at campuses in Oneonta and Cleveland, along with the residential supports across the county. He is the liaison to the community, ensuring full integration and acceptance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Ryan is the only member of The Arc of Central Alabama’s senior leadership team to serve in some capacity at three Arcs in the state. He returned to The Arc of Central Alabama in 2014 after serving as the Executive Director of The Arc of Tuscaloosa County for six years. While there, he oversaw the agency’s finances, services and staff. Ryan also represented The Arc of Tuscaloosa County at speaking engagements, fundraisers and media events.

Ryan began his Arc career at The Arc of Blount County, prior to its acquisition by The Arc of Central Alabama. He served as its Day Division Director, many times representing the agency in the absence of an Executive Director. Ryan has held the positions of Assistant Director of Employment Services at The Arc of Central Alabama and Program Coordinator at The Arc of Tuscaloosa County. Ryan also worked at Crowne Health Care and the Independent Living Center.

Ryan received his Master of Education degree in Counseling and Development from Auburn University Montgomery and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Human Services from Troy State University. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Association for Persons in Supported Employment and as Secretary for Tuscaloosa Employment Support Services Association. Ryan has also held a leadership role with the Alabama Council of Executives for The Arc. He lives in McCalla with his family.

Adam joined The Arc of Central Alabama as the Vice President of Day Program Services in March of 2019. He oversees all aspects of the Day Program — covering community experience outings, 5 campuses and their classes, and the individual placement of 300+ individuals — all in an effort to help those served connect with their community and benefit from external opportunities and resources.

As the Vice President of Day Programs, Adam led The Arc’s transition into compliance with the Home and Community Based Services Settings Rule (HBCS) by expanding programming such that the people served by The Arc can live, work, and receive services in integrated, community settings where they can be fully engaged in community life.

Academically and professionally, Adam’s work has focused on utilizing communication and mediation to resolve conflict and broaden access to services for those in need, as well as creating systems of service that are sustainable and easily replicable. His graduate research focused on developing sustainable group-home programs for at-risk youth that both empowered the participants of services, as well as prioritizing staff retention with limited funding. During this time, he also volunteered his expertise with many organizations by teaching mediation practices and safety protocols to vulnerable populations.

Throughout his career, Adam has expanded upon his academic background to work in many capacities connecting people in need with resources, as well as working with providers to maintain federal compliance within their services. Prior to The Arc, he worked as the Residential Program Director at Ability Plus in Huntsville, Alabama, serving people with IDD and ensuring agency compliance with federal and state statutes. Then, he worked as a Resource Manager at the Alabama Head Injury Foundation, where he connected people with traumatic brain injuries to resources in their communities, as well as aiding in fundraising and advocacy efforts. Most recently, he was the Supervisor of Developmental Disabilities Services for the State of Nebraska, where he oversaw all recipient assessments and maintained program compliance for waivers, housing, funding, Medicaid, and more.

Adam has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Science from Portland State University. His passion for serving the disability community comes from seeing a need for increased awareness and meaningful dialogue about the reality of people with disabilities: that they deserve the same rights, freedoms, accessibility, opportunities as anybody else.

Adam currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife and two children, and is native to the South. He enjoys hiking, camping, woodworking, and spending time with his family.

Nancy Cook is The Arc of Central Alabama’s Vice President of Clinical Services. She oversees the agency’s clinical aides, clinical records and nursing departments, ensuring the
medical and clinical needs of the more than 400 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Arc programs are met. Nancy also directs The Arc’s HOPE Early Intervention program, which helps young families affected by disability.

Nancy has served The Arc for more than twenty years. Prior to her leadership role with The Arc’s clinical and medical services, she served as Associate Director, Wellness Coordinator, Assistant Director for Adult Day Services, Clinical Records Coordinator, and Day Services Unit Manager.

Nancy received her nursing degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham. After her graduation she served as a research assistant to a study following stroke survivors and their caregivers. Relevant undergraduate clinical experience while she was a nursing student included a rotation at the geriatric unit of the UAB Center for Psychiatric Medicine.

Before Nancy’s career took a turn into the health care/social services sector, Nancy was an educator. Her experience includes teaching first grade, junior high English and Home Economics in Mississippi.

Nancy also holds a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education. She lives in Vestavia and has two sons and two grandchildren.

Teena Miles became the Vice President of the Employment Services for The Arc of Central Alabama in the summer of 2015. A former special needs school teacher, she oversees day programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at five day program campuses and employment programming at two of them. Her team provides daily direct care and training for close to 400 people.

Teena has spent the last fourteen years at The Arc in various roles. Two of her biggest accomplishments have been the implementation of the newly created adolescent residential unit, serving teenagers with I/DD who had been tossed about the foster care system and needed a permanent home, and the successful transition of The Arc’s sheltered workshop at ArcWay Industries into Day Habilitation and Supported Employment programming for over 100 individuals. Teena also held the positions of Residential Coordinator, Unit Manager, and Training Technician at the organization.

Prior to joining The Arc, Teena taught school for close to seven years. She worked for the Birmingham City School system, teaching 11th and 12th grade Government/Economics and U.S. History at Wenonah High School. Teena also served as a special education teacher, modifying the general education curriculum to help her students. While at Wenonah, Teena served as the cheerleader sponsor and ACT tutor.

Teena has a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from Miles College, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Strayer University, and a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. She has job coaching certification through the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Teena has an Alternative Certification in Special Education from UAB, has been certified by the National Council for Social Studies Teachers, and is a former member of the National Education Association.

Teena was raised in Marion, Alabama. She currently resides in Jefferson County and attends The Worship Center. Teena is a member of the National Association of Professional
Women and The Working Wives Club, the Association of People Supporting Employment First, and NCE of The Arc.

Jonathan became the Vice President of Residential Services for The Arc of Central Alabama in January of 2019. He began his career in social work before joining the The Arc as a Residential Coordinator in 2014. He has held the positions of Residential Coordinator, Assistant Director of Operations, and Director of Residential Services in his tenure at The Arc of Central Alabama. Today, he oversees the provision of services for the entire Residential Program, covering 80+ homes and 240+ individuals.

From his experiential expertise, his approach as Vice President of Residential Services is to prioritize employee appreciation, empowerment, and retention. His staff-centric initiatives have moved away from unit-specific practices to prioritizing teamwork throughout the entire program. Thus, he continues to improve the quality of care for the people served through The Arc’s Residential Program, as well as better support and retain his staff through a network of support.

Jonathan says that social work not only found him, but also led him to The Arc of Central Alabama. Prior to joining The Arc, Jonathon began his career at the Shelby County Department of Human Resources as a Licensed Protective Services Social Worker, then as a Family and Child Specialist Supervisor at Gateway Inc. in Birmingham, AL. From his time as a social worker to coordinating the effort of a team of licensed social workers, he helped broker the needs of clients with the resources available ranging from issues of homelessness, child welfare, mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse, poverty, limited access to resources, and racial barriers of individuals and families. In these roles, he mastered the ability to manage people with different personalities, abilities, and needs, while matching them with appropriate resources. He was recognized for his talent as a social worker and was pushed by his boss to pursue a position of leadership, which ultimately led him to The Arc of Central Alabama.

Jonathan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Public Administration with a Nonprofit Concentration from Troy University. He also served as a Loaned Executive with the United Way of Central Alabama in 2017. He is a member of the American Society of Public Administration.

He currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife and four children, but is originally from Phenix City, AL. He enjoys fishing, cheering on the Florida Gators, and traveling home to Phenix City to be with family. He says his passion for serving people with disabilities was sparked by the friendships he made in his mother’s special education classroom.

Emily Hamilton joined The Arc of Central Alabama in September 2019 as Director of Development. In January 2022, Hamilton was promoted to Vice President of Development. Hamilton oversees all fundraising efforts, advocacy events, corporate and community relations, agency marketing, and social media.

Hamilton holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations and a master’s in advertising and public relations from The University of Alabama. She began her career with a marketing firm and worked for several years in the mayor’s office at the city of Birmingham. There, she developed and managed many local and national initiatives, including TechHire/Innovate Birmingham and efforts to designate the civil rights district as a national monument with the U.S. Park Service.

In her tenure with The Arc, Hamilton not only drives awareness, but has also increased corporate giving, and she continues to push The Arc’s awareness in Birmingham’s communities. She previously served on Magic Moment’s Junior Board and was a member of Rotaract, and participated in Birmingham Business Alliance’s OnBoard Birmingham. Hamilton resides in the Vestavia Hills area of Birmingham with her husband and son.

Sally Almanza joined the Arc of Central Alabama as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in August 2019. In 2020, she became the Director of Positive Behavior Support, and then moved into the Vice President of Positive Behavior Support in January 2022. Almanza oversees all Positive Behavior Support services at the Arc of Central Alabama at both the Jefferson and Blount campuses.

Almanza received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, with a focus on Special Education, from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. After teaching for a couple years, Almanza relocated overseas to Mozambique, Africa, to tutor children of all ages and help them advance within the educational system. After two years, she returned to the United States and settled in South Carolina. There, she was introduced to Applied Behavior Analysis while working in a clinical setting. After some years of experience as a behavior technician, she began working toward the goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

In 2019, Almanza received a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Auburn University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst the same year. After graduating, began working for the Arc of Central Alabama and continues to enjoy providing behavior analytic services to adults living at the Arc.

Almanza also holds a master’s degree in Intercultural Studies, with a specialization in Children at Risk, from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. She resides in Homewood, Alabama, and was recently married.