Press Release

October 30, 2008
Contact: Cassidy Grimes, Public Relations Director
800-256-5435, cassidy@ajm.org

AMERICA’S JUNIOR MISS INSTALLS 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

America’s Junior Miss is pleased to announce of its 2009 Board of Directors and Officers. AJM celebrates its 52nd Anniversary in 2009, and looks forward to a successful year under the leadership of the new officers and members.

Dee Gambill, Senior VP of Personal Trust for Regions Bank, will serve as president for the upcoming year. Dee has served on the AJM board for many years and recently served as treasurer of the board. Her knowledge of the program and her business acumen is sure to make her a strong leader for the organization.

Paige Plash of Encore Rehabilitation will serve as AJM’s Vice-President. Jeff Howard of UBS Paine Webber will serve as secretary, and Rob Diehl of BankTrust will be the organization’s treasurer.

AJM is thrilled to welcome five new Board members for 2009: Tom Clement (Summer Classics); Shea Grandquest (NBC15); LaBarron McClendon (Mobile Gas); Shakesi Morris (RBC Centura Bank); Tammy Smith; Stacey Pearce (Alabama Organ Donors); and John Wilson (Mobile Paint Manufacturing Company of Delaware, Inc.). Ronnie Beard, State Chairman of Louisiana Junior Miss, will represent AJM’s state programs on the Board of Directors.

America’s Junior Miss will welcome back many returning Board members: Jeff Adams (Adams & Associates); Rusty Allman (Regions Bank); Jim Barnes (Jim Barnes Enterprises, Inc.); Jessica Barrick (Bellingrath Gardens and Home); Ashley Brown; Allen Carroll (Wilkins Miller, P.C.); George Dembski (Merrill Lynch); Buffy Donlon (Wintzell’s Restaurants); Amy Goodman; Robert Greer (Autrey Greer and Sons); Joy Grodnick; Shirley Justice (Sirote & Permutt, P.C.); Phil Kaiser; Chris King (Roberts Brothers Real Estate); Paul Klotz (Thompson Engineering); Geri Moulton (University of South Alabama); Andy Newton (Southern Light); Eric Patterson (Alabama Power Company); Steve Robinson (Robinson Brothers Lincoln Mercury Volvo) Al Stokes (Mobile Mayor’s Office); Jay Stubbs (First Protective); Cynthia Tindell; David Turner (BancorpSouth); Susan Veasey (ICS Communications); and George Waldron (GJW Enterprises, Inc.).

AJM is the oldest and largest scholarship program for high school senior girls. The nonprofit program’s mission is to empower outstanding high school women by providing scholarship opportunities, developing life skills, and encouraging positive values; and to impact the lives of all young people through the Be Your Best Self outreach program.. During the past 51 years, AJM has awarded cash scholarships totaling more than $90 million to girls across the nation. More than 700,000 young college-bound young women have competed in the program and have achieved success in many fields such as business, medicine, education, and performing arts.

AJM’s national sponsors are the City of Mobile and Mobile County. Category sponsors are Alabama Power, Encore Rehabilitation, Mobile Gas, and Regions Bank.

The 52nd AJM National Finals will take place in Mobile on June 25-27, 2009.

For more information about AJM, please visit www.ajm.org or contact Cassidy Grimes, Public Relations Director, at 800-256-5435 or cassidy@ajm.org.

-AJM-