2024 OFFICERS
President Cade Armstrong, DVM:
Cade Armstrong is a veterinarian and Co-Owner of Montgomery Veterinary Associates. He attended the University of Georgia and graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. He has been active in numerous Montgomery Community organizations, including the Montgomery Humane Society, Tuskegee University Board of Trustees, and the YMCA soccer board. Cade is the exclusive veterinarian for Service Dogs Alabama, donating thousands of dollars in services each year. Cade is married to Aynsley and has four children, Mary Weldon, Greer, Martha, and Harris, plus five dogs. He lives in Montgomery and is an active First United Methodist Church member.
Vice President - Jeremy Walker
Jeremy S. Walker is the CEO of the Alabama Association of REALTORS® (AAR) located in Montgomery. Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Alabama—where he played football and served as a student assistant coach—and a Juris Doctor from the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Before joining AAR, Jeremy practiced civil and criminal law at a local law firm.
Treasurer Preston Cauthen
Preston is the Manager of Constituent Relations at Alabama Power Comany. He has his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Mississippi and attained his Masters of Business Administration from Auburn University.
Secretary - Marianne McLeod
Marianne founded Jubilee CityFest, a regional music and arts festival whose mission was to enhance quality of life and community development in the River Region. Marianne served as the organization’s Executive Director for 20 years where she led a small staff, worked with a board comprised of top community leaders and hundreds of volunteers to fund, organize and stage the annual event. Prior to her tenure at Jubilee CityFest, she was Vice President of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. She has served on various nonprofit boards and is a graduate of Auburn University.
Chip Garrard, MD
Dr. Ralph “Chip” Garrard is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Montgomery, Alabama and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Baptist Medical Center East and Baptist Medical Center South. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1977 and the Tulane School of Medicine in 1981 . Dr. Garrard completed his post-graduate training at the Medical University of South Carolina. He has been in practice for more than 30 years. Along with a medical partner, Dr. Garrard started Physicians for Women in 1994. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Alan Hackel, PhD
Alan grew up in Delaware, Ohio, and studied at Case Western Reserve University (BA and MA) and completed studies for the Ph.D. at Ohio State University. He served as Dean of Continuing Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and later at Auburn University at Montgomery from which he retired. He has been actively involved with the River Region United Way and served as the chair of its Community Council. He is a member of the Montgomery Kiwanis Club and, after retiring from AUM, started his own consulting firm. He is married to Joan and they have two daughters, Margo and Julie. Joan and Alan have trained therapy dogs and service dog recipients to work with their dogs.
Guice Slawson, Jr.
Guice Slawson, Jr is a manager at Southeast Forest Products in Montgomery. A 1984 graduate of the University of Alabama, he served in the U.S. Navy before returning to join the family business in 1991. He has served on boards for Trinity Presbyterian School, Montgomery Christian School, The Alabama Forestry Association, and other civic organizations. He and his wife Leah have two adult children, and currently live in Equality, Alabama with their dogs Grizzly and Wally.
Colonel Jeff Tuggle, USMC (RET)
Jeff Tuggle is an Auburn University Civil Engineer from Alexander City, AL. He joined the United States Marine Corps immediately after college and spent the next 30 years traveling the world surrounded by the best cross section of servant leader patriots that America has to offer. Upon retiring, Jeff has joined the local Volunteer Fire Department, supports a local veteran/first responder suicide prevention non-profit called AHERO, and has been honored to be a part of multiple Boards in between spending a lot more time with his wife and two daughters.
Heather McConnell
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Heather McConnell graduated from the University of Alabama in '93 with a BS in Biology. I've been married to William McConnell for 30 years, and we have two wonderful daughters, Sellers (24) and Mary Jane (22). Throughout her life, I've been actively involved in various community organizations, including the Junior League, where I served on the Nominating Committee and the Holiday Market Board. I also held the position of League Larks Chair. At Montgomery Academy, I volunteered in the lower school library and chaired the lower school book fair. I also served on the Parents of the Academy Board and had the privilege of being the Eagle Gala Chair. However, my greatest joy and passion lie in my work with Dogs on Call, where I've dedicated my time to making a difference in the lives of others through the power of therapy dogs.
Will Brannon
Will served as President of SCSWORX, an experiential marketing company for a decade before moving into sales management at US Pipe. He is also a real estate investor. 2008-2011 Will received the Gates Scholarship to Auburn and worked with the Gates Foundation as part of a world hunger project. He traveled to Uganda to pass the research to local labs for further study and implementation. Will has also worked with Business by the Book to support business owners spiritually while consulting on strategic challenges. Will is married with two daughters. They are all avid dog lovers.