Cindy Lowry

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Cindy is the executive director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance. She joined the staff in 2005 as Watershed Leadership Coordinator and was promoted to Executive Director in 2007.

A native of Alabama, Cindy was born and raised in Oneonta, Alabama.  She received her BS degree in Wildlife Science from Auburn University and her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  The focus of her masters’ thesis was citizen participation in public policy.  Cindy has more than 15 years of experience in the conservation nonprofit sector. She joined the staff of the Alabama Rivers Alliance in 2005 and was promoted to executive director in 2007.

Cindy has been recognized as a “Wonderful Outstanding Woman” from the Metro Birmingham branch of the NAACP (2012), named one of the “Women Who Shape the State” by al.com (2016) and awarded an Auburn University Alumni Spirit of Sustainability Award (2017).  Cindy currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Alabama Arise and is a long-time member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Locust Fork River.

Kelly Marshall

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Kelly Marshall joined the Alabama Rivers Alliance team in mid-2015 bringing significant experience in public relations and communication strategies. She has been an avid believer in and promoter of the wealth of talent, cultural history and natural beauty throughout Alabama for many years. Prior to joining ARA, she managed the public relations campaigns for Birmingham Artwalk, Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival (now Sidewalk Film Festival), Birmingham Arts & Music Festival and other events. In addition to her non-profit and event experience, Kelly also developed and implemented communication strategies for a variety of companies including Simply Fashion, Confederate Motor Company, Village Tavern, WorkPlay and many more.

She is currently on the Birmingham Artwalk Board of Directors and has volunteered for the annual arts festival for more nearly fifteen years. She keeps busy by watching nearly everything on TV, wrangling her giant sheepdog Dignan and occasionally pretending to paint.

Martha Hunter

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Martha Hunter is the latest addition to the Alabama Rivers Alliance team as Alliance Coordinator, where she will work to build and support our network of more than 60 grassroots partners across the state. Martha is a natural fit for the team as she has spent her life celebrating and protecting rivers throughout the Southeast. Martha trained as a river guide and then served as the business manager for Wildwater at their headquarters on the Chattooga River.  She later worked as executive director for Friends of the Locust Fork River.  Her passion for sustainability and conservation of our natural resources is infectious and her enthusiasm for organizing partner groups for Alabama Rivers Alliance is unparalleled. Her experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sector brings a unique level of professionalism to this position that will enhance the benefits and services we provide to our Alliance partners.

A graduate of Auburn University, Martha is also an organic gardener, beekeeper, and lives 100% off the grid with photovoltaics and solar hot water.

Gilda Brame

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Gilda is the handler of all of the Alabama Rivers Alliance’s administrative details. A Chicago native, her family roots begin in Alabama where her mother has born and where she has been visiting her whole life. After graduating with a BS in Communications from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, she moved to Atlanta where she became a technical engineer and news photographer for major TV stations, She has also worked in marketing, operations and project management for The Georgia Dome, Coca Cola, Phase, Inc., restaurant chains and other companies. Gilda brought her rich and varied history of career experience to Birmingham in 2007 and has worked for several organizations including Operation New Birmingham (now REV Birmingham), Kinetic Communications and Railroad Park.