Schedule | February 18, 2026
Schedule | February 18, 2026
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Location: Red Mountain Theatre
1600 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
*Schedule shown in Central Standard Time (CST), UTC-5
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration
Attendees check-in, pick up conference materials, check your schedule, and enjoy a light breakfast to kickstart the day.
Conference Program Managers
Bob Dickerson & Gaynelle Adams Jackson
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome
Bob Dickerson
Sponsor Remarks
Sponsors
Leroy Abrahams | Regions Bank
Dr. Tracey Morant Adams | Renasant Bank
"A.G. Gaston: The Man"
Speaker
J. Mason Davis | Attorney
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Sponsor Remarks
Sponsors
Wesley Mindingall | PNC Bank
Alex Morton | First Horizon
“A.G. Gaston: The Entrepreneur and Philanthropist”
Moderator
Bob Dickerson
Panel
Carol Jenkins | Co-author, Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and The Making of A Black American Millionaire
Brian Hamilton | President, A.G. Gaston Construction
Andre McFadden | CEO, A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Sponsor Remarks
Sponsors
John Canty | Wells Fargo
Ledon Jones | SouthState Bank
“A.G. Gaston: His Connection to the Civil Rights Movement”
Moderator
Gaynelle Adams Jackson
Panel
Dr. Rolando Herts | Superintendent, Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Brian Hamilton | Former Education Specialist, Alabama Department of Education
Rev. Thomas Wilder Jr. | Pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Collegeville
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Reflections
Speakers
Dr. Rochelle Gaston Malone | Founder, Women Empowered
Barry Williams | Asst. Gen. Mgr.-Finance & Management, Birmingham Water Works
11:30 AM
Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Sponsor Remarks
Sponsor
Norman Ross | Coca Cola United
Fireside Chat
Speakers
Victor Blackwell | Award-winning journalist, anchor, host, CNN
Art Franklin | Award-winning journalist
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Sponsor Remarks
Sponsor
Sam Martin | The Birmingham Times
"Spotlight: Birmingham Black Journalists"
Steve Crocker | Art Franklin | Harold Jackson | Sherri Jackson | Roy S. Johnson | Linda Mays | Jeh Jeh Pruitt | Guy Rawlings | Shelia Smoot | Sherrel Stewart | Sarah Verser | Roy Williams | Barnett Wright | Ingrid Kindred (Posthumously)
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Green Power: Money in Action
Moderator
Bob Dickerson
Speakers
Dr. Velma Trayham | President & CEO, Black Chamber of Arizona
Dr. Ken Harris | President & CEO, National Business League
3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
Green Power: Money in Action
Moderator
Gaynelle Adams Jackson
Speakers
Charlotte Shaw | CEO, Birmingham Jefferson Co. Transit Authority
Dontrelle Young Foster | CEO, Housing Authority of the Birmingham District
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Black Business Owners' Spotlight
Courtney French | Owner, WATV AM-FM
Mike Kemp | President, KMS
Carol Kirby | President & Managing Agent, Kirby Insurance Agency
Rashada LeRoy | CEO, LRY
Sam Martin | Publisher, The Birmingham Times
Gary Richardson | Owner, WJLD AM-FM
Salena Rodgers-Dickerson | President, SARCOR LLC
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Bob Dickerson
5:00 PM
Post-Conference Reception & Award Presentations
