Donna Watts
President & CEO
Since joining the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce in 1997, Donna Watts has been a cornerstone of business development and community enhancement in Baldwin County, bringing over 38 years of experience. Prior to her current role in Foley, Donna led the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce for 12 years, establishing herself as a pivotal figure in the local business community.
As President & CEO, Donna has also overseen the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation and contributed her expertise to numerous boards, including the Business Council of Alabama and the Coastal Resiliency Coalition leadership team. Her vision and leadership have driven significant initiatives such as the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival and the South Baldwin Chamber Total Resource Campaign. Donna's dedication to community service and business development has earned her multiple accolades and recognitions.
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Donna is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Georgia, the Intensive Economic Development program at Auburn University, the Economic Development program at Georgia Tech, Leadership Baldwin, and Leadership Alabama. She initiated the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival in 2004 and the Chicago Street Supper Club in 2011, launched the South Baldwin Chamber Total Resource Campaign – Chamber Choices, and created the Youth Leadership Development Program - Junior Ambassadors in 2000. Donna also established the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation in 2004 and was a founding member of the BCA/CCAA Partnership in 2008.
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In 2009, Donna served as the Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and was named Rotarian of the Year by the Foley Rotary Club for 2009-10. She has served on the boards of the Alabama Partnership for Children (2011-15) and the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (2013). In 2015, she received the BCA/CCAA Partnership Thompsonian Leadership Award and the CCAA Distinguished Service Award for 30 years of service in chamber executive leadership positions. She was accredited as a Chamber Executive by the CCAA (2015-19) and became a member of the 25+ Year Club of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2016. In 2018, Donna was awarded the Jamie Wallace Award by the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.
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Donna spearheaded the first Capital Campaign for Workforce Development, known as The Gateway Initiative, from May to December 2017. Deeply committed to helping individuals achieve the American Dream, she has witnessed the community's resilience through natural disasters and economic challenges, continuing to foster a sense of unity and perseverance in Baldwin County.
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Greg Alexander
President & CEO
Greg Alexander is celebrating sixteen years in the Chamber world, having first served as the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO in his native South Carolina from 2009 to 2016. The leap into the role came after serving in the finance industry for nine years. While certainly a change of pace from what he was used to, the art of being a leader is in Alexander’s heart and soul. After graduating from Presbyterian College in 1992, he joined the US Army, rising to the ranks of Captain. His service led him to Germany and to assist in Operation Joint Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia where he was directly responsible for 215 soldiers. Alexander’s work with the Laurens County and Hilton-Head Bluffton Chambers continued all the way to the summer of 2018, when a new opportunity came on the horizon. Tragedy struck the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber in January of 2018 when beloved President Ed Rodriguez passed away suddenly. Nearly 100 candidates applied for the role, which was then narrowed down to just a handful to bring in for interviews. Upon traveling down and seeing the area, Alexander and his family knew they wanted to call Coastal Alabama their new home. On July 24th, 2018, it was officially announced that the Chamber had found a new President & CEO, Greg Alexander. Since beginning this role six years ago, Alexander has directed the charge in bringing positive change to the Chamber through new programs while enhancing member engagement and growth. A major steppingstone included forming a partnership with the neighboring South Baldwin Chamber, leading to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber becoming a part of the workforce development program, the Gateway Initiative. In June of 2020 the Chamber experienced an expansion as a second office was opened in Orange Beach. He and his team are excited about the opportunities this addition brought for better serving the entire Coastal Alabama community. To further support the businesses and employees of south Baldwin County, Greg was part of a group of leaders who worked for the enactment of the South Baldwin Regional Workforce Development Authority in 2022 by the state legislature to address the housing, transportation, childcare and education needs of our workforce. Greg and his wife Julie have been married for 24 years and have two children, Noah 22 and Gabrielle 18.​
Travis Valentine
Chief Operations Officer
South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
Travis joined the South Baldwin Chamber team in 2015 and has forged many connections within the business community as Membership Director and now Vice President of Investor Relations, spanning Gateway and Chamber worlds. Travis was an integral element in the formation of the Gateway Initiative during its inception and eventual kick-off in 2018. His day-to-day job involves interacting directly with members and prospective members to help build their businesses and innovate to meet the demands of today.
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Those who have gotten the chance to interact with Travis know he is full of energy and optimism, professionally and outside of the office. Although he never truly takes off his ‘chamber hat’, when he is away from his desk, he is an avid dad: his children Tatum and Holden, alongside his beautiful wife, Merritt, have a lot of fun living in South Baldwin.
Tyler Morgan
Director of Career & Business Development | Gateway Initiative Team
Tyler joined the Gateway team in March 2021 assisting and championing the Gateway Initiative. A Montgomery native, she grew up vacationing on the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast like many Alabamians. She has a B.F.A. from The University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) and a M.A. Ed. from Auburn University - Montgomery. Tyler’s experiences and skills in the education world were a key factor in the chamber's decision to bring her on board; however, her years of event planning experience also brings a creative edge to plan, organize, and manage the initiative's many projects. She taught junior high school for six years, managed events and sales for Perdido Beach Resort for three years, and later joined the Mobile Convention and Visitors Bureau, gaining additional experience in corporate, association, convention, and lodging sales with a market that expanded all over the country. She is passionate about our ever-growing community, and truly understands why educating the workforce and employing our businesses with strong, sustainable, career-minded individuals in south Baldwin county is so important for the future. She lives in Foley with her goldendoodle Stevie. In her spare time, she manages her own event planning business, enjoys working in her art studio, traveling, hiking with her dog, beach days, live music, and loves spending time with her family and friends.
Lori Pressley
Director of Communications
South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
Lori has been an integral part of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce since October 2018, serving as the Director of Communications. With an associate's degree in business administration and a rich background in both education and industry, Lori brings a wealth of experience to the Chamber. Her career includes 22 years as a technology coordinator and teacher at St. Patrick Catholic School and 6 years at Rohr Southern Industries (now Collins Aerospace). A long-time Baldwin County resident, Lori has successfully revamped numerous key communication channels for the Chamber, Gateway, and the Foundation. Her efforts have led to the digitization of the Monthly Newsletter, continuous updates to the Chamber website, dynamic social media content, timely news releases, and engaging emails. Lori also produces business spotlights, including ribbon-cutting videos and SBAwesome (customer service award) videos, enhancing the Chamber's outreach and engagement.
Annie Lineberger
Marketing & Data Analyst Manager
Gateway Initiative Team
Annie Lineberger, the Marketing & Data Analyst Manager, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role. Born and raised in Fairhope, AL, Annie is deeply rooted in Baldwin County, yet her sense of home extends to Austin, TX, Worcester, MA, and Clemson, SC, where she forced lasting friendships and embraced diverse cultures. In May 2024, she earned a Master's in Marketing from Clemson University, complementing her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Visual Art from the College of the Holy Cross. In her spare time, Annie enjoys working out, swimming, arts and crafts, and exploring local restaurants, but she cherishes moments spent with family and friends at the beach above all.
"Having grown up in Baldwin County, I would love to play an integral part in the community that has gifted me so much. Working for the Gateway Workforce Initiative and two Chamber of Commerce is a great opportunity to utilize my skill set to give back to the place that raised me," said Lineberger. The initiative is excited to welcome Annie and have her join both chamber teams.
