“Innovation and entrepreneurship are more important than ever to Alabama’s economy, and Alabama Launchpad has been at the center of those efforts for 15 years. Beyond the monetary award, the competition is a great opportunity for early-stage companies to gain validation from and connections to invaluable mentors from across the state.”

-Greg Barker, EDPA President

Board of Directors

Our Board is comprised of some of the best and brightest leaders in Alabama. Many of our members either run, or have run successful companies of their own, or support our economic mission through related platforms, like education. One thing unites all of them, however: and that’s a passion for the state and a shared belief in its current strengths and the vibrancy of its future.

Jimmy Sanford

Foundation Board Chairman, HOME Place Farms, Inc.

Mr. Sanford has been involved with various economic development efforts for years. He chairs the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, co-chairs the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee, and directs the Autauga County United Way. He is a former Chairman of the Birmingham Branch Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and is a trustee of Auburn University. He brings extensive knowledge and leadership to the EDPA Foundation.

Bob Powers

President, The Eufaula Agency

Mr. Powers is active in numerous regional and statewide organizations including the Eufaula County Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Alabama, and the ASRA Task Force for Pre-K education. He has been on the board of directors of the Alabama Power Company since 1992. Mr. Powers graduated from West Point and received his MBA from the University of Chicago. He is an advocate for proven education and workforce initiatives.

Jim Hudson

Co-Chairman, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Mr. Hudson founded Research Genetics in Huntsville in 1987 and served as CEO until the company merged with Invitrogen in a deal valued at $138 million. Prior to the merger, Research Genetics had become the world’s leader in genetic linkage materials and an integral partner in the Human Genome Project. He co-founded the Hudson Alpha Institute in 2007, which pioneers genetic-based medical research.

Thomas R. Stanton

Chairman and CEO, ADTRAN, Inc.

Tom Stanton was named ADTRAN’s Chief Executive Officer in September 2005 and named Chairman of the Board in 2007. Tom joined ADTRAN in 1995 as Vice President of Marketing for the Carrier Networks (CN) Division. Since that time, he has held a number of senior management positions within the company including Senior Vice President and General Manager of the CN Division. Prior to joining ADTRAN, he served as Vice President of Marketing and Engineering at Transcrypt International and held several senior management positions with E. F. Johnson Company.

Michael Chambers

President & CEO, Swift Biotech

Prior to joining the University of South Alabama as Assistant Vice President, Research Innovation, Dr. Chambers founded and served as President and CEO of Swift Biotech, a company developing technologies to fight cancer. Before Swift, Chambers helped found and served as CEO of InnoRx Pharmaceuticals, an ocular drug delivery company. He negotiated its sale to SurModics (NASDAQ: SRDX) in 2005.