Ambassadors
The Ambassadors are an extension of the Chamber who are out and engaged in the community. They are the official welcome team for new members. They can be spotted at ribbon cuttings, greeting new Chamber members and volunteering at events.
Thank you to our 2024 Ambassador Sponsors, Cockrell's Body Shop, Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa and Soul Caffeine.
President - Debra Schmitt
Firewatch Entertainment
Greetings! My name is Debra Schmitt and I am the Business Manager for Firewatch Entertainment. We have been “Bringing the Party” since 2006! We offer full DJ services for weddings, birthdays, family reunions, corporate events and class reunions. We also offer music bingo for corporate events and fundraisers. I have extensive expertise in training and leadership development. I was born and raised in Pensacola and graduated from Saint Leo University with a BA in Business Administration. When not DJing parties, Hubs, Jason and I will be at the beach or in Tuscaloosa/New Orleans cheering on the Tide and The Saints!
Tracey Goens
Elite Real Estate
Tracey Goens, born and raised in Baldwin County, Alabama, received her license in real estate in 2005 and quickly became a well-known agent after receiving the Rookie of the Year Award in her first year as a Realtor. Today, she continues to shine as one of the top 10% of agents in Baldwin County and is wellknown for giving back to the community. She is a certified Baldwin County Specialist, which requires indepth knowledge of our area with numerous successful transactions. She was one of the first agents to become Certified in Fortified Housing, an important issue for our hurricane-prone area. With many awards and accolades for her volunteerism, also Tracey Goens also has a broad network of local business professionals that help her clients connect with things they need, including home repairs, staging, cleaning, inspections, financing, and mortgage lenders to name a few. As an experienced agent, Tracey negotiates hard for her clients and puts their interests above her own in any transaction. As a Realtor with Elite Real Estate Solutions, Tracey and the team specialize in buying, selling, property management, short sales, foreclosures, and investing for both residential and commercial markets. Like Tracey, Elite agents work on a personal level with their clients to make sure every part of the buying and selling process is handled with the utmost care. From negotiation skills, current market trends, and marketing expertise to simple advice and a helping hand… Tracey Goens and Elite Real Estate Solutions won’t stop until they reach 100% customer satisfaction for their client.
Martha Davidson
Infirmary Health
Martha Davidson was born and reared in the Mississippi Delta. She graduated with honors from University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in advertising and a minor in marketing. Her dream to be involved in healthcare led her to a career in healthcare marketing, and her dream to be involved in missions, led her to three children, all siblings, adopted from Costa Rica. Martha is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in organizational leadership with a concentration in healthcare from Claremont Lincoln University in Claremont, CA. Her personal mission is serve, encourage and inspire those around her in order to bring a positive light to every person and every project she encounters.
Garrett Hughes
Hughes Funeral Home
Garrett Hughes has served as an Eastern Shore Chamber Ambassador for four years. He has been actively involved with the Jubilee Festival committees, along with co-chairing the committee. Garrett is a resident and native of the Eastern Shore. He attended the University of Mobile and graduated with a degree in International Business. Garrett worked with City Hope Church in various roles, before joining the staff of University of Mobile in their Marketing and Admissions offices. He worked for the university for six years, before stepping down to join his family business, Hughes Funeral Home and Crematory, in Daphne.
As an Apprentice Funeral Director, Garrett assists with planning all aspects of the funeral services, from meeting with families, directing services, and continuing to grow the business. Garrett is excited to be part of the business that his family has built, but more importantly to help and comfort people in what could be the darkest time they may go through. Hughes Funeral Home was also voted Small Business of the Year in 2021, and Best Funeral Home in Baldwin County with Gulf Coast Media in 2021 and 2023.
Garrett lives in Daphne with his wife Melyssa, and their son JP. They enjoy cookouts with friends, watching the Auburn Tigers and New Orleans Saints, and traveling.
Mark Martin
Roberts Brothers Real Estate
Alabama has always been my home. I was born in Bessemer, AL, where my fathers family was from. In my fourth year of grade school our family moved to Woodstock, AL, where I graduated at West Blocton High School.
As a teenager my brother and I had our own lawn business and helped our father in his flooring installation business. After high school I took over the flooring business and added in-home sales of flooring products. Also during the same time, I managed a gas station and a country store. In my mid-twenties, after buying several properties and building a home, I decided to go to real estate school. Once I had my real estate license I decided that I wanted to live and sell at the gulf coast in Baldwin County. I sold there for 9 years then moved back to my home area and co-founded Warrior Real Estate in the Tuscaloosa / Northport area. After 13 years of co-owning my own company I decided that selling real estate at the gulf coast was the best way to live. I sold my part of our company, moved to the beautiful town of Fairhope, AL and joined the long successful team at Roberts Brothers Real Estate.
I have three fantastic step-children and with my wife Mia and eight beautiful grandchildren. My hobby is sharing my knowledge of the real estate business and helping others buy and sell real estate
Paula Knodel
Roberts Brothers Real Estate
I have been a realtor for 20 years. I enjoy introducing newcomers to our lovely area, or helping fellow long-term residents find their next dream home. I have been involved in the Chamber of Commerce for 10 years and serve as an Ambassador and on the Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast Committee.. I am married and have one son and one grandson who are all graduates of Auburn University. I also have a 3 year old grandson.
Marcus Allgood
Summer Moon Coffee
see how I can help you. This is very reason I became an entrepreneur.
Over the last two decades of my sales career, after graduating from Oklahoma State University, I sold
everything from cell phones in the early 2000’s to gym memberships when I owned my own Cross Fit
gym for seven years, and everything in between. However, I found much of these interactions to be very
transactional. There was little opportunity to go above and beyond to let people know I cared.
As an entrepreneur, I now have that choice. I opened Summer Moon Coffee as a way to get know people on a more personal level as well as provide them an amazing cup of coffee or latte.
I have been happily married to my wife Kelly for over a decade. We have two young daughters, and a
golden doodle, Teddy. As Kelly and I were growing our family, we wanted our children to experience the
love and nurturing of extended family, so we moved to Fairhope to be closer to them. Additionally, we
have found a deep sense of closeness within our neighborhood and love the small-town feel of
Fairhope.
Faith is also very central to who I am. My family and I attend 3Circle Church every Sunday and my
children attend Bayshore Christian School, where my wife and I volunteer. When I am not spending time
with my family, church, or selling homes, you will find me working out, lifting weights, and golfing.
Heather Guy
Solace Massage Therapy LLC
Heather Guy, is a Licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Solace Massage Therapy, here in Daphne. She specialized in medical massage for pain relief and palliative care massage for oncology and hospice patients. As a cancer survivor, Heather is passionate about wellness and bringing the benefits of massage to those who need it most. Heather has training in lymphatic massage as well as End-of-life care and has won two Nappie Awards as Best Massage Therapist of Baldwin county, from the Lagniappe magazine. Heather lives in Daphne with her daughter Bella, and their dog Winston.
Madison Cruz
OberaConnect LLC.
Madison Cruz is the Sales Director of OberaConnect. OberaConnect is a local technology company specializing in connectivity, VoIP, Managed Services and Desktop Support. Madison has been in the technology industry for 5 years and has held many management roles. She is skilled in enterprise business, customer support, operations, and project management.
Originally born and raised in Fairhope, Madison graduated from The University of Alabama with a business degree and moved back home to be near family. She serves as the Treasurer for Eastern Shore Sertoma Club and is very active in the community. Madison enjoys cooking and being outside on the water. She lives in Fairhope with her Daughter Willa and dog Boone.
Wynona Rogers
Wynona's Insurance Agency
My name is Pamela Wynona Salter. My husband David and I own Wynona's Insurance Agency. Before Covid-19 we had a office in Gulf Shores now we work out of our house in Spanish Fort. I started working for ALFA Insurance Oct. 16,1986. The first year ALFA gave Commercial Agent of Year for the company I won. I also won Cabinet Award for AIG in 2006 beating out all the other agents in 48 states. I sat on the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo as a voting member from 2004 to 2008. I am licensed in Alabama and Florida. I am married to David Salter and have one son David Schoen(Little Dude). God Bless
Derek Rowan
Rowan Payments
Hi my name is Derek Rowan, owner of Rowan Payments, a local payment processing company here on the Gulf Coast. We provide Point-Of-Sale systems, payroll and payment processing to the businesses in our community. Our motto is simple, no contracts and local service!
I began my career in the hospitality & tourism industry as a director of marketing for a group of restaurants. I witnessed firsthand how important the POS system is and how it impacts every aspect of the business. Whether it was taking orders, tracking sales, or having employees clock in and out, it seemed to be at the center of operating our company.
I work closely with small business owners and supporting what they do is something that I’m grateful for.
At Rowan Payments, we offer competitive rates and no contracts ever. That means month-to-month terms and no early termination fees. We handle all installations and offer ongoing support. By working with us, you can avoid sitting on hold for hours with a big corporation to solve a simple problem. Our local touch is what makes all the difference.
Sandy Cooke
The Buckaroo Foundation
Sandy Cooke has served as an Ambassador with the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years. She has been actively involved as Chairperson for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast and the Ambassadors Group. In addition to her activities with the chamber, Sandy serves on the board of the Buckaroo Foundation. Sandy spent 25 years in healthcare before joining EFI Global where she serves as a Talent Acquisition Specialist, for the forensic engineering, fire investigation, and environmental consulting division. Sandy and her husband Troy, live in Spanish Fort. They have 3 daughters and 1 grandson.
Katherine Alsup
Kat Co. Design
Meet Katherine, a marketer and graphic designer, who received her degree in Marketing and Management from Troy University. Born and raised in Troy, AL, Katherine now calls Fairhope her home. She is passionate about helping businesses succeed by offering effective marketing strategies and innovative design solutions. Katherine's expertise includes web design, branding, and other related services. With her combined knowledge of marketing and design, she is able to provide comprehensive solutions to businesses in need of assistance in both areas.
Gabriel Puello
Hat Rack Business Solutions, LLC
Robby Trione
Table Needs
Robby Trione is the marketing director of Table Needs, a fast-growing provider of restaurant technology and business services. With a focus on quick service restaurants, coffee shops, and food trucks, Table Needs offers scalable solutions without disruptive updates or hardware overhauls.
A Fairhope native and University of Alabama graduate, Robby's expertise lies in video production and film studies. He started his career as a videographer, editor, and motion graphics designer. Later, he became a video production and animation teacher, video commercial editor, and production account manager. Eventually, he transitioned to UX design at Table Needs.
Outside of work, Robby is an avid swimmer and a reluctant jogger, emphasizing the importance of exercise for overall well-being. He also pursues daily drawings. Wood carving, history, and BBQ bring him joy.
Passionate about supporting local businesses, Robby looks forward to contributing to the success and specialness of his community.
Michael Pugh
TBS Safety
My name is Michael Pugh, I am married to Savannah Pugh and have two little girls, Aria and Annabelle. I am currently employed at TBS Inc as a Project Manager and AI Coach. Our brand statement is to ensure safety of all towing and tugboat vessels on the water and to make life easier for anyone in the marine industry. My hometown is Bay Minette, Al & Alma Mater is the University of North Alabama Lions! My personal goals are to travel to 20 countries before it's all said and done and my professional goals are to continue developing and coaching my team into the future of AI and helping them to learn new projects that not only align with operational soundness, but things that help them grow as individuals as well. I enjoy playing tennis, attending church at City Hope in Daphne, and watching Auburn Football! War Eagle!
Steven Isbell
Synovus Bank
Steven Isbell is a native to the Baldwin County area, growing up in the Daphne and graduating from Daphne High School in 2006. He then attended Coastal Alabama Community College and graduated from Huntingdon College in 2014 with a BS in Business Management. He began his career in the financial industry in 2010 with an 8 year tenure with Mobile Educators Credit Union, where he held various positions from teller to marketing representative. He has been with Synovus Bank since 2019 and is the Branch Service Supervisor of the Daphne Branch. He and his wife of 12 years reside in Spanish Fort with their two boys. They enjoy spending time as a family outdoors. In the summers you can find them on the beach or kayaking down one of our rivers!
Cheryl Smith
Edward Jones
Throughout my life, helping others has been an integral part of who I am. I chose a career in financial services because I believe I can make a difference in the lives of families in my community.
After over a decade of working in corporate retail, I was ready for a new challenge. A challenge that would help me grow personally as well as professionally all while allowing me to do what I am truly passionate about.
At Edward Jones, we strive to make sure clients feel heard, and that we understand their unique story. We also work to help clients understand the investment world in terms they can relate to. With many years of business management experience, I am passionate about building lasting relationships and great teams, and helping others reach their goals. I hold a bachelor's degree in business administration and hold the Series 7, Series 63 and Series 65 licenses.
I work together with you to personalize each financial strategy specifically to meet your needs and aspirations. We understand that everyone is unique and there is no one size fits all plan. We can accomplish this by getting to know you and implementing a strategy that gives you the confidence to handle whatever life may throw your way.
When I am not in the office, I am spending time with my twin daughters. We love to craft, go antique shopping and spend time by the pool. I am also very active in our community helping with the local Food for Backpack program and Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, and I serve as a member of the Point Clear Rotary Club.
If you are interested in a financial partner that is passionate about helping you reach your greatest potential… Let's connect today. I would love the opportunity to get to know you, so give me a call today!
Bonnie Bell
Alabama Credit Union
Branch Manager – Alabama Credit Union
Bonnie has been in banking for over 12 years with wide-ranging experience in business development, relationship management, project management, team leadership and development, and branch operations. She has a proven record of outstanding member service due to in-depth knowledge of financial services and credit offerings. Bonnie also has strong leadership and communication skills that promote strong staff loyalty. She has been a member of Junior League of Mobile, the Daphne/Spanish Fort Rotary Club, and active in several community projects along the Eastern Shore. Prior to her years in banking she worked as a Preschool teacher at a local school.
Wendy Melton
Synergy HomeCare
Wendy Melton is the Administrator for Synergy HomeCare, responsible for HR, Quality Assurance, Scheduling, and Operations. Originally from Lakeland, Florida, Wendy graduated from Auburn University in 2002 and moved with her husband to Daphne in 2005 to be closer to family. Wendy has over ten years experience in hospital administration, and in the past five years serving in the private sector as Administrator over multi-speciality clinics. Wendy and her husband have two daughters and three dogs and enjoy spending time outdoors.
George Ferniany
Coastal Human Resources
George Ferniany, as the former Co-Owner and Director of Operation of L.A. Subs, a local chain of five deli-restaurants, I was associated as a member of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce in the late 90's and early 2000's. In 2022 as a licensed insurance producer working with Aflac I rejoined the Chamber in order to network with familiar businesses and associates I previously worked with. Joining forces with Coastal Human Resources in October of 2022 I because a Business Development Representative.
Meghan Battles
Merchants & Marine Bank