THE HOMEGIRL INDUSTRY TEAM
DIRECTORS
I'm a graduate of Auburn University, a property manager for 28 years, a property broker for 9, a mother & visual artist for life. I grew up in Clanton & moved to Los Angeles as a young adult. When I returned to my hometown, there was this idea to create a wonderful hub of hope for deserving Alabama women, but I had no idea what to name this organization. Knowing this mission would take the whole village, I began asking the advise of locals. Fortunately, I found many 'villagers' who passionately wanted to help raise this child. Also, I was reminded that Clanton folks are very apprised of whether you are from here, or not. I was often qualified by others by being introduced, in so many words like this, "She's been out in California for a long time . . . but she’s a homegirl." Thus, Homegirl Industry was named. Homegirl is about a homegirl coming home in order to enable young women of Alabama to have a safe, serene, & creative environment to find their wings.
Sallie Juliet Higgins, CABRE
Founder/Executive Director
Founder/Executive Director
BOARD of DIRECTORs
James is a Chilton County, AL, native and is both a US Army Veteran and an Air Force Combat Veteran. He holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resources & a Juris Doctorate from Birmingham School of Law. He is the owner of Fancher Law & Fancher Farms. An avid sportsman, James is as adept outdoors as he is in a courtroom. If something needs doing it's very likely James knows how to do it & has the tools to do it with. Skilled at all aspects of D.I.Y. & knowledgable of construction, James cares deeply for historic preservation. Nothing surpasses his love of faith & family. He has a wife, 4 children, 2 grandchildren, & is a very active & hands-on husband, father, & grandfather. An enthusiastic supporter of Homegirl Industry right from the start, James offers Homegirl his numerous skills sets & strong desire to improve the community for the next generation.
James Derrell Fancher, ESQ
Board President
James Derrell Fancher, ESQ
Board President
Vicki was raised in Millbrook, AL, & for the last 19 years, has been a resident of Marbury, Al.. Graduating from Auburn University in Building Science she worked in commercial construction & engineering for over 30 years in projects all over the U.S. This included work in, pulp & paper, food & beverage, refuse to energy, storm water pumping, water & waste-water management & in the hazardous waste incarceration industries. After taking off work to care for a family member with a terminal illness, Vicki changed hats. She went back to Auburn & received a Bachelor degree in Nursing. She then worked as an RN for 9 years at Montgomery's Jackson Hospital. Now 'retired', she brings a wealth of knowledge to Homegirl from her two former professions. She's a mother, grandmother & daughter & her greatest joys are her strong family & dog. SEC football is however a very close second.
Vicki Bartlett, BSN, RN
Board Treasurer & Building Director
Board Treasurer & Building Director
Born & raised in Clanton, I serve as City Councilman for District 5, & have for the past 20 years. I have been on The Clanton Utility Board, The Chilton County United Way Board, & The Chilton County Airport Authority Board. For my dedication to municipal & greater community improvement, I have achieved top tier of state certification for municipal officials, Certified Municipal Official Emeritus. I worked for U.S.P.S. for 25 years & served as Director of Clanton First Baptist Church Preschool for 15 years. All of my experience serving my community along with academic coursework requirements have made me a better municipal officer. My love for this city is surpassed only by the love I have for my family, I am a wife, mother, grandmother, & great grandmother. Clanton is my home & I want the very best for Clanton. Looking to the future, I believe that Homegirl Industry will make Clanton better & feel fortunate to be part of this organization.
Mary Mell Smith
Board Secretary
Board Secretary
U.S. Navy Police veteran, Tamera Hinton, holds a certification in Business Consulting, a degree in Criminal Justice, a degree in Business, & a Life & Health Insurance producer license. She extends her professionalism & enthusiasm for excellence from her military service into her entrepreneurship. Tamera lives in Clanton, AL with her husband & three children & co-owns Peach City Benefits & Insurance Agency. She is also co-founder of Reset GED Prep, a non-profit GED Prep course offering FREE GED Prep classes. Tamera is passionate about helping others manifest their dreams into reality & her alliance with Homegirl includes providing GED educational services to Homegirl beneficiaries. Additionally, Tamera shares her military opportunities.
Tamera Hinton, Co-founder, Reset GED Prep, Inc
Board Director & GED Director
Board Director & GED Director
Dr. Myriam (Mimi) Savage is a registered drama therapist & board-certified trainer. Her alma maters include Lesley University, Cal State University LA, Princeton University & The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, NYC. She has developed drama & expressive therapy programs in acute inpatient units for children & adults for several years & facilitated help to the following, neuro-diverse populations, homeless women, adolescents in residential rehabilitation & children in educational settings. Serving as education chair for the NADTA (North American Drama Therapy Association) she devised the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Initiative to positively impact Black diaspora inclusion & education within drama/expressive therapy fields. She is creating a program plan with Alabama's 14 HBCU's & Homegirl Industry.
Dr. Myriam Savage, PH.D.,RDT/BCT
Board Director & HBCU Graduate Student Internship Director
Board Director & HBCU Graduate Student Internship Director
Born & raised in Clanton, Sheila has been a leading proponent of physical fitness for her entire life. She coached women's sports for many years & is a physical education instructor at the Clanton Elementary School. She is a graduate of UAT & proud mom. Her son Taylor is also a graduate of UAT. He majored in Business & is now serving his country abroad as a Navy IT specialist.
Sheila Speaks, Physical Education Teacher
Board Director & Physical Fitness Director
Board Director & Physical Fitness Director
OPERATIONS COORDINATORS
I started this journey as a Dietetic Technician/Supervisor at a local Hospital & stayed there for 23 years. I attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pursuing a degree in Social Work & Sociology & received a Bachelor degree. Soon after I became the Independent Living Program (ILP) Coordinator for the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources (DHR) for 13 years. The populations I was serving were becoming homeless after aging-out of the system & I wanted to assist in being a part of the solution for young adult homelessness. Founding Youth Towers in 2012 has enabled me to give these young adults a fighting chance. Heading Homegirl's transitional housing program will enable me to do that in Chilton County too.
Alice Westery, E.D. of Birmingham's Youth Towers
Transitional Housing Coordinator
Transitional Housing Coordinator
Sherry is a Chilton County native & graduate of Jemison High School. Living in Jacksonville & other cities in Florida for many years, Sherry had an extensive career as a traveling nurse working for both the Alabama & Florida Prison Systems. She returned to Jemison in 2014 & opened Homeland Assisted Living & is currently the administrator & owner. With much experience organizing creative volunteer programs within her health industry, she will coordinate citizens to volunteer service hours on behalf of Homegirl & also, she will manage our beneficiaries volunteerism with other organizations, as giving back to the Chilton County community is a Homegirl Industry program initiative.
Sherry Young O'Toole, RN
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS
Born in southwest Louisiana, Carolyn’s Afro Creole heritage includes coming from a long line of amazing chefs. Her mother Angelina, was a particularly dominant force influencing her lifelong love of both cooking & helping others. Traveling around the world also influenced Carolyn’s desire to bond with others through food. Learning of other cultures through their cuisine inspired her to spend her spare time helping children in her community while becoming a Creole cookbook author. Working with The Prostart Culinary Program, she combined learning cooking skills with motivating at-risk youth to set goals to improve their lives. Through her specialized type of mentoring, she has a remarkable gift for empowering youth with the fundamental tools for getting along in the workforce, as well as making better life choices. Carolyn is bringing her cooking & social mentoring skills to Homegirl.
Carolyn Shelton, Etiquette Instructor & Cookbook Author
Etiquette & Culinary Instructor
Etiquette & Culinary Instructor
Christina is a phenomenally versatile actress, often unrecognizable from one role to the next. Known most recently for her work on the 2021 season of Law & Order: Organized Crime, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, & Queen of the South, her resume includes much more. Christina splits her time between Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles, with frequent visits to Clanton to see her family. Spending much of her childhood growing up in the care of her grandmother in Clanton, Christina is looking forward to contributing to the Homegirl Drama Therapy program & giving back to her Clanton community by supporting young women who, not unlike her, had an unstable beginning. Helping homegirls find themselves & their true passion through theatrical expression is her goal.
Christina Karis, Film and Television Actress
Drama Instructor
Drama Instructor
Madalyn’s life purpose has been to empower women. As a childbirth educator, she started a free Childbirth education program for low-income women at what used to be The Los Angeles Free Clinic which became The Saban Free Clinic in Los Angeles. She worked at Cedars Sinai Medical Center as a Childbirth Educator assisting thousands of couples. As a Doula, she continues to help women transition into motherhood. A lifelong Master Athlete, she does CrossFit & Olympic Weightlifting. As a personal trainer, she specializes in pre & postnatal fitness. A Certified Life Coach, Madalyn has helped many women realign with their values & gifts so they can discover what matters most to them. Her goal is to help our homegirls find their purpose so they may live their best lives.
Madalyn Morris, ICCE, CD (DONA), CLEC, CMT
ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator
Life Coach & Fitness Instructor
ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator
Life Coach & Fitness Instructor
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CONSULTANTS
Foshee Architecture is a licensed architectural firm based in Montgomery, Alabama, providing comprehensive architectural & interior design services. The firm was founded by John H. Foshee, a graduate of the Auburn University School of Architecture. As the 3rd generation in the design & construction industry, the Foshee family history is one of multi-family developers & contractors with projects throughout the Southeast. With over 42 million dollars in self-developed projects to date, Mr. Foshee has experience serving simultaneously on a project as its owner, developer, architect, general contractor & realtor. He is one of the few people in this country with this type of extensive background. His wide range of knowledge & experience contributes to architecture services on each design project.
John Hunter Foshee, Architect
Foshee Architecture, Montgomery, AL
Architectural Design
Foshee Architecture, Montgomery, AL
Architectural Design
Ovid's talents, first nurtured as an Imagineer within the Disney organization, have grown to encompass the art of story telling through the use of all visual mediums. These skills include: conceptualization, scripting, sculpting, sketching, model making, scenic painting, lighting, special effects, digital design, & a keen sense of what will achieve the desired impact: surprise, laughter, education, fear, or simply inspiration & awe. Ovid has also art directed music videos/films/commercials, been creative director for various retail spaces, such as the Zimmer Children’s Museum. Clients include Dreamworks, Universal Studios, Disney, etc. Ovid's creative effects will be added to Homegirl Industry capital improvements.
Ovid Pope
Artist/Inventor, Theme Park Designer
Special Effects
Artist/Inventor, Theme Park Designer
Special Effects
