The July meeting will be led by John Bentley - Power2Transform. Topic: Emotionally Triggered...Now What?

We’ve all been there. One minute, you’re cool, calm, and collected—then BOOM! Someone says that thing, your heart races, and before you know it, you’re emotionally hijacked.

The good news? Emotional triggers aren’t the enemy. The not-so-good news? Ignoring them is.

In this engaging and fast-paced session, we’ll break down what really happens when emotions take over—and, more importantly, how to regain control. 

John closed out his career in the military as a master instructor at the Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, where he focused on developing the next generation of leaders. After retiring from the Air Force, John transitioned to serving as an Army Civilian, taking on roles such as Workforce Development Specialist, Human Resource Development Chief, Leadership Development Consultant, and Career Program Manager.

With the backdrop of 41 years of public service, he now leads Power 2 Transform Consulting, where he draws from over two decades of experience to create custom leadership programs for organizations.

Walt Maddox, Mayor of Tuscaloosa

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Mayor Maddox has done an incredible job and service for the City of Tuscaloosa. We gladly claim Mayor Maddox as one of our own, as he was formerly the Executive Director of Personnel for the Tuscaloosa City Schools.

Everyone, please make plans to hear what our Mayor is doing for Tuscaloosa at our September meeting. 

The October meeting will focus on the subject of "Implicit Bias: A Shift to Conscious Accountability," led by Alana Williams, JA Consultants & Training Solutions. 

Alana N. Williams is the founder and owner of J.A. Consultants and Training Solutions. She is an experienced consultant in professional training, leadership development, and work culture transformation. She empowers organizations to improve productivity by offering effective communication tools, nurturing team building, and providing conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. Also, she possesses extensive experience in addressing hostile conflicts in the workplace, including sexual harassment, retaliation, implicit bias, and discrimination. By utilizing data science and research analysis, Alana coaches employees on their role in minimizing conflicts and harmful acts, along with equipping leaders with essential skills to identify, address, and resolve conflicts ethically, safely, and lawfully.

The November meeting will be led by Jay Donahue, West AL Works. Topic: Career Connect Job Boards