CapstoneEngineerMagazineFall2026 - Flipbook - Page 33
Rajesh “Raj” Kalathur ’92 announced his retirement
as president of John Deere Financial and chief
information officer of Deere & Company.
Rick Nail ’94 was named an emeritus board member
after 15 years of service to the Capstone Engineering
Society.
Stephanie A. Groves ’95 was named partner at Gulf
States Engineering Inc.
Kevin Hayes ’95, M.S. ’98 was hired as the first
professor of practice in the Styslinger College of
Engineering, where he leads the foundry in the
department of metallurgical and materials engineering.
Kenneth N. Reed ’95 retired from the U.S. Army
as a brigadier general after 38 years of service.
Jill S. Stork ’95 was selected as chair-elect of the
board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce
of West Alabama.
Joseph “Joe” M. Adams ’96 was appointed assistant
general manager of operations at Kenworth.
Michael “Mike” D. Johns ’97 was recognized on
Birmingham Business Journal’s 26 People to Watch
in 2026 list.
Tera B. Tubbs ’97, M.S. ’98 was named city
administrator for Northport, Alabama.
Shawn E. Gilliam ’98 was appointed to the board of
directors of the United Way of West Alabama.
Joseph “Joe” B. Hampton ’98 became president
of Spire Tennessee following Spire’s acquisition of
Piedmont Natural Gas and was named to the
Birmingham Business Journal’s 2026 Power 60 list.
Nik Budney ’99 started a new role as vice president
and senior production officer at Alabama Power.
Keith T. Owens ’99 was recognized on Birmingham
Business Journal’s 26 People to Watch in 2026 list.
2000s
Edgar “Ed” R. Hauser III ’01 was sworn in as
chairman of the board of directors of Associated
Builders and Contractors of Alabama.
L. Justin Burney ’04, M.S. ’05 was named to the
2026 Legal 500 Southeast Elite list.
E. Christian Palmer ’01 was named the
2026 Outstanding Alumni Volunteer by the
Styslinger College of Engineering, an honor
recognizing alumni who provide exceptional
service and support to the College.
Palmer began his career
with the Tennessee Valley
Authority in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. He is currently a
member of the new nuclear
and transmission projects
group within TVA, working
as a scoping specialist with
a concentration on
renewable projects.
Outside of his
professional career,
Palmer serves on the
Capstone Engineering
Society Board, is treasurer of Chattanooga’s
Bessie Smith Cultural Center, and serves as
communications and outreach chair for the East
Tennessee chapter of the American
Association of Blacks in Energy.
Palmer has received numerous honors for
his leadership and volunteerism, including
the Volunteer of the Year Award from Young
Professionals of Chattanooga and the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Philip
J. Sutton People-to-People Award. Palmer
continues to invest in future engineers through
mentorship, outreach and volunteer service.
When he’s not giving back to his community,
Palmer enjoys traveling with family and friends,
practicing photography, and cheering on the
Crimson Tide.
Kenneth W. Todd ’04 was reelected to the board
of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of
West Alabama.
Jody Beck ’06, M.S. ’23 celebrated one year of
outreach partnership in robotics education and
coaching in Tuscaloosa and the West Alabama area.
Dr. Shonteria L. Johnson ’08 received the
Mary Ann Drake Award for mentorship and
advocacy at Mercer University.
2010s
Anna-Wesley Corhern ’10 was named to the
Birmingham Business Journal’s 2026 40 Under
40 list.
FALL 2026 | CAPSTONE ENGINEER | 33
