You are invited as Birmingham Corps deepens its commitment to building the bridges that connect this city's talent to its future and invites Birmingham's employers, partners, and civic leaders to grow with us.

This evening is a chance to meet Tiffani Saxton, Birmingham Corps' new Executive Director, hear how we're building career pathways that move Birmingham forward, and explore together how we can expand our impact across the city.

Birmingham Corps has spent three years rooting residents in careers and connecting employers to hard-to-find talent. We're ready to go further. And we need Birmingham's businesses and community leaders in the room to do it. We hope you’ll join us.

Evening Agenda

• 5:00 PM — Doors Open + Lite Bites

• 5:20 PM — Welcome + Event Kickoff

• 5:30 PM — Remarks from Executive Director, Tiffani Saxton

• 5:45 PM — Our Opportunity Panel

• 6:15 PM — Overview of Birmingham Corps Programs

• 6:30 PM — Networking

Our Opportunity Panel

Hear from leaders shaping workforce development across our region:

Featured Speakers

Meet the voices
shaping the conversation.

Tom McNeal

Workforce Development Manager

Alabama Power

---

Tom McNeal serves in the role of Workforce Development Manager for Alabama Power, leading talent pipeline development for 9 college program partnerships. Tom also serves on the boards of North Central AlabamaWorks, Alabama SkillsUSA, the State Rehabilitation Council, the AL Construction Industry Craft Training Board and Hope Inspired Ministries.

Tara Walton

Director of Workforce Development

Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

---

Tara Walton is the Director of Workforce Development for the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB), where she leads the strategic planning and execution of workforce initiatives designed to strengthen the hospitality talent pipeline for Birmingham and Jefferson County…

Tara Walton is the Director of Workforce Development for the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB), where she leads the strategic planning and execution of workforce initiatives designed to strengthen the hospitality talent pipeline for Birmingham and Jefferson County. In this newly created role, Walton focuses on developing and managing internship and career pathway programs for high school and college students, while cultivating strong partnerships with educational institutions, industry leaders, community organizations, and employers to ensure workforce readiness aligned with current market demands. A 35-year veteran of GBCVB, Walton brings extensive industry knowledge and institutional experience to her position. Her career spans roles including Director of Tourism, Tourism Sales Manager, and Tourism Servicing Manager. She began her tenure in entry-level positions, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the tourism and hospitality industry from the ground up. Throughout her career, Walton has represented Birmingham at domestic and international travel marketplaces and trade shows and has been a featured speaker and panelist at numerous industry events. She holds an Associate Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Lawson State Community College and has earned both the CTIS and CTP designations.

Read more → Read less ↑

Leah Bigbee

Dean of Workforce Education

Jefferson State Community College

---

Leah Bigbee is the Dean of Workforce Education at Jefferson State Community College and has more than a decade of experience with strategic corporate engagement and workforce development…

Leah Bigbee is the Dean of Workforce Education at Jefferson State Community College and has more than a decade of experience with strategic corporate engagement and workforce development. Prior to joining Jefferson State in 2019, she held leadership roles at UAB Career Center, UAB Collat School of Business, and Generation USA, a global workforce development nonprofit. Her career began as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in workforce development at a local nonprofit serving senior citizens displaced in the workforce. Leah is an Alabama native and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also has a Nonprofit Management Certificate from UAB and is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham.

Read more → Read less ↑

We hope you’ll join us for an evening of connection, insight, and opportunity.