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.Stewart is responsible for the oversight of more than 500 employees across 88 locations, who manage early intervention, community services, employment support, and residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
In his tenure, Stewart has grown The Arc’s relationships with federal and statewide entities, as well as monetary supporters such as the United Way of Central Alabama and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Stewart increased fundraising efforts through the creation of new events, procurement of grants, and by concentrating heavily on increasing community awareness. Prior to Stewart’s leadership, fundraising income was under $100,000 in any given year, and has increased to over $600,000 annually.
Under Stewart’s leadership, The Arc has seen additional growth by optimizing business operations and leveraging the organization’s strength to annex operations of smaller providers who could no longer sustain services. Since Stewart 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.
Stewart has received several appointments from Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and has been bestowed honors from different organizations, including:

• 2017 Alabama Council of Executives’ Executive Director of the year
• 2017 National Award for Distinguished Service from Alabama Disability Conference
• 2018 National Conference of Executives’ Explementary Mentor Award
• 2019 Birmingham Business Journal’s Executive of Influence
• Alabama Department of Mental Health DD Subcommittee
• State of Alabama Individual Residential Budgeting Instrumental Committee
• President, Clastran Paratransit Authority Board (2016-2019)
•  President, HARC III HUD Housing Authority (2014-Present)
• President, Cerebral Palsy Housing Foundation (2014-Present)
• 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)

Stewart has had the opportunity to speak to both the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate Committees in Montgomery, Alabama, on the effects of pending and passed legislation on the IDD community. He has been called upon by the Centers for Medicare & 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. Stewart is a graduate of Troy University and holds both Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) certifications. He resides in Birmingham, Alabama, 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.

In one of Mitchell’s most recent accomplishments, he successfully supervised 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, but 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. Mitchell 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, Mitchell 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 Foundation Fellow 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, Alabama. He also is a liaison to the Blount County Public Transportation Steering Committee.

Mitchell 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.

Mitchell holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Faulkner University and a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education, recreation and dance from the University of Montevallo. He lives in Trussville, Alabama, with his wife, Donna. He 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. Mitchell 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 2013. Greene 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 six HUD projects. Greene 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, Greene spent nine years in public accounting, focusing on financial accounting engagements in the nonprofit 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 nonprofit arena by managing audit engagements for the largest nonprofits in Alabama. Along with overseeing audits at multiple field sites, part of his responsibilities included consulting with more than 50 nonprofits regarding fraud reduction, financial reporting, and their overall business operations.

Greene attended the University of Alabama and holds a master’s degree in accountancy. He currently holds the designations of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CFMA). 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.

Greene 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. Greene 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 of The Arc of Central Alabama’s programming in Blount County. Delfin supervises both the day and employment programs at campuses in Oneonta and Cleveland, Alabama, respectively, 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 (IDD).

Delfin 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. Delfin also represented The Arc of Tuscaloosa County at speaking engagements, fundraisers, and media events.
Delfin 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. Delfin 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.

Delfin also worked at Crowne Health Care and the Independent Living Center.

Delfin holds a master’s degree in counseling and development from Auburn University, Montgomery, and a bachelor’s 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. Delfin has also held a leadership role with the Alabama Council of Executives for The Arc. He lives in McCalla, Alabama, with his family.

Adam joined The Arc of Central Alabama as the Vice President of Day Program Services in March 2019. He oversees all aspects of the Day Program — covering community experience outings, five 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, Tyus 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, Tyus’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, Tyus 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 intellectual and developmental disabilities (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.

Tyes holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Jacksonville State University, and a master’s degree in 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.

Tyus 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 Medical Services, Clinical Services, and Positive Behavior Support Department ensuring that the medical and clinical needs of the more than 400 adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Arc programs are met.  She also provides leadership to The Arc’s HOPE Early Intervention Program, which provides services to families and their children who present developmental delays. Nancy has served at The Arc for over 25 years.

Prior to her current leadership role, she served as Associate Director overseeing Arc day programs, residential services, early intervention, clinical records, and medical services.  In past years she served as Director of Adult Day Services, Wellness Coordinator, Clinical Records Coordinator, and Day Services Unit Manager.

Nancy received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.  After her graduation she worked in research with stroke survivors and their caregivers before beginning her career with The Arc.

Before Nancy’s career took a turn into the health care/social services sector, Nancy was an educator.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics Education from Mississippi State University.  Her experience in the field of education includes teaching first grade, junior high English, and home economics in Mississippi.

Nancy has resided in Vestavia for over 30 years.  She has two grown sons and two grandchildren.  Nancy is an active member of Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Teena Miles became the Vice President of the Employment Services for The Arc of Central Alabama in 2015. A former special needs school teacher, Miles 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.

Miles has spent the last 14 years at The Arc in various roles. Two of her greatest accomplishments have been the implementation of the newly created adolescent residential unit, serving teenagers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) 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. Miles also held the positions of Residential Coordinator, Unit Manager, and Training Technician at the organization.

Prior to joining The Arc, Miles 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. She also served as a special education teacher, modifying the general education curriculum to help her students. While at Wenonah, Miles served as the cheerleader sponsor and ACT tutor.

Miles holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Miles College, a master’s degree 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. Miles 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.

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

Jonathan Davis became the Vice President of Residential Services for The Arc of Central Alabama in January 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.

Davis 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, Alabama. 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.

Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Jacksonville State University, and a master’s in 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, Alabama. 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.