UACED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Interim Executive Director
- Board Member of the Alabama Communities of Excellence Program
Dr. Arturo Menefee is the Interim Executive Director for The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. He has more than fifteen years of professional and academic experience in leadership, community, workforce and economic development. As a successful community development practitioner, Dr. Menefee has led several teams of professionals that have provided leadership development, community engagement, resource development, organizational wellness and disability research services to the citizens of Alabama.
Dr. Menefee is a board member of the Alabama Communities of Excellence Program (ACE), the Alabama Association of Community Development Corporations (AACDC) and the Greater Peace Community Development Corporation (GPCDC). While serving as President of GPCDC, he was instrumental in the development of the Youth Leadership Academy, the establishment of an entrepreneurship training program to assist non-custodial fathers and led an initiative to construct 48 single-family homes in an economically distressed community in Opelika, Alabama.
He is the author of Engaged Leaders, Better Communities, a leadership development curriculum. Arturo received his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Auburn University. He is also fellow at the Manufacturing Diversity Institute (MDI) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Menefee is committed and passionate about empowering people and building communities.
Job Titles:
- Communication & Research Student Assistant
Job Titles:
- Director of Economic Development Initiatives
Job Titles:
- Director of Tourism and Community Development
Daniel Ogden has served as a Research Specialist since June 2023. His work consists of a variety of topics such as research, community planning and development, and outreach with rural communities. Daniel also leads the Student Research Assistants, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed not just in the field of economic development but also in the world.
Daniel is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, and moved to Tuscaloosa to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Public Administration at The University of Alabama through the Accelerated Masters Program. During that time, he worked as a Student Research Assistant for the Center starting in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Student Research Assistant
Job Titles:
- Branding & Communications Development Manager
Martha Whitson retired from The University of Alabama in 2008 after 26 years of providing administrative assistance to the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, Capstone College of Nursing, and the Office of Economic and Community Affairs. Whitson provided overall management and coordination for each office during her tenure at the University and assisted in linking resources of the University of Alabama to state and local agencies.
Currently Whitson provides part-time assistance on special projects of the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development including publicity, and outreach for various economic development projects. Whitson is a former board member of the Alabama Boychoir and has been involved in the Girl Scouts in Alabama and Boy Scouts of America in various capacities. Ms. Whitson is a graduate of Your Town Alabama and provides coordination and logistics for the annual workshop held at Camp McDowell near Nauvoo, AL. The 2 ½ day program is a participatory leadership workshop designed to provide planning and design training for citizen leaders of Alabama.
Ms. Whitson is a native of Tuscaloosa and attended The University of Alabama.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Sally Brown joined the staff of The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED) as Administrative Coordinator in October 2012. In this position, Sally is responsible for overseeing UACED's administrative activities, managing student assistants and providing support for the Center staff to make their jobs possible by providing general management and organization to enable the expansion of Alabama's economic growth.
Sally's previous employment with the UA System - Office of Chancellor, Secretary of the Board afforded her the skills and opportunity to provide support to the Board of Trustees and assist the Chancellor as needed.
Sally is a native of Tuscaloosa; and studied at The University of Alabama majoring in Retail Merchandising and Marketing and minoring in Art History.
Job Titles:
- Communication & Research Student Assistant
Uyen Truong is a junior from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, majoring in management information systems with a minor in social innovation and leadership. Uyen joined UACED in January of 2023 as a Communication & Research Student Assistant helping with communications for community development projects like the Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative and tourism projects, as well as compiling economic data to study and promote economic growth in Alabama.
Zack Summy is the Accountant II for The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. Prior to his role at UACED, Zack served as the Accounting Manager at Artia Solutions, LLC headquartered in Tallahassee, FL.
Zack received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from The University of North Alabama in 2012 and his Master of Accountancy degree from The University of Alabama in 2013.
He has ten years of accounting and finance experience, including roles within public accounting firms, in higher education at Vanderbilt University and Florida State University, and corporate accounting and finance, including Morgan Stanley and Gannett.
When not working, Zack enjoys spending time with his family and friends, exercising, being outside, and watching a Crimson Tide sporting event or two.
Zack resides in Tuscaloosa with his wife, Rebecca, his two children, Lewis and Bonnie, and their dog Marvin. Roll Tide!