Governing Board
Courtney French
Board Vice President
COURTNEY FRENCH
G. Courtney French is a top-rated attorney selected to Super Lawyers (2014 – 2020). He is a founding partner of the law firm of Petway, French & Ford, LLP, in Birmingham, Alabama. He has devoted his entire legal practice to representing individuals and families who have suffered serious personal injuries and wrongful death.
Courtney completed legal studies at Samford University Cumberland School of Law and graduated with the class of 1998. He passed the bar in 1998.
Gabriel Kim
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GABRIEL KIM
Gabriel has 20 years of industry and consulting experience focused on financial advisory, business transformation, and corporate restructuring. He has advised companies across industries, including financial services, technology, media, and entertainment, including many Fortune 100 companies.
Gabriel is a respected expert in the field of mergers and acquisitions. He has led or participated in managing and negotiating more than $5 billion in mergers and acquisitions, as well as $20 billion in technology and business process outsourcing deals. Prior to founding Exoro Global with his partners, Gabriel served as an executive with IBM Global Services and was a founding leader of Deloitte’s consulting practice.
Terry Mills
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TERRY MILLS
Terry attended the University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science, in Criminal Justice in 2006. After graduation he attained employment with Judicial Correction Services as a Probation Officer. During his tenure there he was promoted the Probation Director for Central Alabama.
Terry started his Real Estate career with Keller Williams, Vestavia in June of 2015 as a part-time agent. He quickly embraced the Keller Williams training and business systems. During his first year he became the “Rookie of the Year”. This was only the beginning, life’s challenges served only as fuel for his future career in Real Estate; where he is currently ranked as one of the top 100 agents in Alabama, by Real Trends.
At the end of 2022 Terry decided to step out on faith, leave Keller Williams and open his own Real Estate Brokerage alongside his Mother Deborah Andrews entitled, TMills Realty Group. In this capacity he still helps families buy and sell real estate but he now has the opportunity to teach other agents to do the same thing.
Embracing his passion for giving back, Terry started the TMills Scholarship Fund, to support High School Seniors entering college. He serves on the Deacon Board at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, Fairfield, AL; he also speaks at local schools and mentors young boys on life. He considers himself an ambassador for supporting and promoting other entrepreneurs.
Terry’s life experiences, ups and downs and challenges in life led him to write his book titled, “NOBODY CARES, WORK HARDER”; to let people know that you just must keep pushing through your adversities!
Terry is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity inc in which he serves as the Vice Basileus of the Beta Mu Nu Chapter and also had the honor of being a part of the hop team for the 2022 World Games step show.
Terry is a family man who thanks his wife for her unending support of his career and personal growth. Terry is the father of 2 sons, they are his pride and joy and his big WHY!
Colonel Al Niles, Jr Colonel Al Niles, Jr. graduated from A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama and attended Tuskegee University where he was commissioned through the ROTC program as an Army Aviator. While obtaining his Master’s degree in Aeronautical science, he earned a Commercial Airplane and Helicopter Pilot license with the FAA. Colonel Niles is a combat veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient with over twenty-five years of dedicated service in Army Aviation. He is a senior Army Pilot with extensive experience in Special Operations Forces aviation training, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), aircraft maintenance, and flight simulation. Col Niles is devoted to giving back to his country and community and inspiring the younger generation to seek careers in STEM and Aviation.
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COLONEL AL NILES, JR
Luis Pineda Dr. Pineda has served in medical community for over 28 years in Birmingham, Alabama as a Hematologist and Oncologist. Born in Guatemala he came to the United States to complete his medical training. He attended the University of Nebraska and the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB). He is multi-disciplined in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology, and Psychiatry. He also holds a Master of Science in Health Administration and is an Executive Chef from the Culinary Institute of Virginia College. In 2000, after years of seeing his patient’s nutritional needs fail due to chemotherapy and radiation, he decided to enroll in culinary school to combine his knowledge of medicine with the art of cooking. His motivation was his patients and to provide an alternative option of nutrition through re-stimulating their affected taste buds. Cooking with Cancer, INC. is a non-profit organization founded in 2005. Our mission is “helping those afflicted with cancer to enjoy a better quality of life through good food.”
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LUIS PINEDA
Merrick Sims Merrick is a career educator and STEM professional. Merrick brings experience and expertise as both a math coach and engineer. As a Birmingham native, he also is deeply committed to improving educational options for all students in the city of Birmingham.
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MERRICK SIMS
Jeff Smith
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JEFF SMITH
R.J. Smith
Board Treasurer
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R.J. SMITH
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) R. J. Smith has over 29 years of service in multiple branches of the military. He is currently an International First Officer for United Parcel Service (UPS) Airlines flying the Boeing 757 and 767 aircrafts. R. J. has over 7500 total flying hours with over 130 combat missions in multiple operations and is qualified in rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft.
R. J. volunteers with The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy and is a past volunteer with Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham. It is R. J.’s belief that success comes when preparation meets opportunity.
Scott Underwood
Board Chair
TIERRA WRIGHT
Tierra Wright is a career educator with experience in both K-12 education and higher education. She currently serves as the adult education director at Jefferson State Community College.