Thirteen College of Arts and Sciences alumni were honored as members of the 2017 class of the  Excellence in Business Top 25 on Friday, June 23, at the UAB National Alumni Society House.

These deserving graduates were among 25 UAB alumni recognized for their success at a company they founded, own, or manage. Bates and Stephens also received additional awards in the Top 3 Fastest Growing Companies category. Donohoo was named No. 1 and Bates was named No. 2 in the category of Top 3 Fastest Growing Companies with revenue over $10 million, and Stephens was named No. 2 in the category of Top 3 Fastest Growing Companies with revenue under $10 million.

Congratulations to our deserving graduates!

Janet Anderson

Anderson is Director of Business Development for The Legacy Connection, a full-service telecommunication company based in Tuscaloosa that provides answering, receptionist, and other business services. She graduated with a degree in communication studies in 2001.

Johnny Edward Bates, M.D.

Bates is founder, president, and CEO of Quality Correctional Health Care (QCHC) in Birmingham. He received his Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1978 before completing his Doctor of Medicine in 1983.

Chris Donohoo

Donohoo is is the founder of DonohooAuto, LLC in Pelham, a dealership specializing in pre-owned vehicles with an inventory of more than 1,000 cars and trucks and a staff of more than two dozen. He earned his Bachelor of Science in history from UAB in 2000.

Mark Gray

Gray is Vice President of Sales for Lighting Solutions, Inc., which provides lighting products and services, as well as energy solutions, for customers across the State of Alabama, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the Florida Panhandle. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice in 1998.

Michael Guest

Guest is CEO of Guest Associates, a Huntsville-based firm that provides business development, consulting and marketing to companies seeking business with the Department of Defense, NASA, and a wide range of other agencies companies. He graduated with an individually designed major in 1987.

Valerie Hunter

Hunter is Managing Partner at Hunter & Hein, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, a Charlotte, North Carolina firm. She graduated with a degree in political science in 2009.

Sandy Killion

Killion is CEO and Principal of Vulcan Industrial Contractors, a certified, woman-owned industrial contractor providing industrial construction, maintenance, operations support, and environmental services. She graduated with a degree in history in 1981.

Joy O'Neal

O'Neal is the executive director at The Red Barn in Leeds. After completing her Bachelor of Science in History from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1990, she earned her Master of Public Administration in 2010.

Blake Prime

Prime is co-owner of Godspeed Elite Sports Academy, a full-service gym and training facility in Pelham. (Read more about Prime and Godspeed on page 34.) A former UAB football player, Prime graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in biology in 2006 and an MBA from the Collat School of Business in 2011.

Charles M. Reuse

Reuse is President of Alabama Controls, Inc., an energy management and security technology company with offices in Pelham, Montgomery, Huntsville, and Gulf Shores. He received his degree in communication studies in 1994.

Lance Rhodes

Rhodes is founder co-owner of Godspeed Elite Sports Academy, a full-service gym and training facility in Pelham. (Read more about Rhodes and GodspeedIn the Fall 2017 issue of Arts & Sciences Magazine.) A former UAB football player, Rhodes graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in history in 2006.

Alexander Shunnarah

Shunarrah is CEO of Alexander Shunnarah Personal Injury Attorneys, P.C., a firm with 19 offices in 5 Southeastern states, with 85 attorneys working in 24 practice areas. Shunnarah graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in political science in 1991.

Tim Stephens

Stephens is the vice president of Strategic Partnerships for SportsManias in Miami, Florida. He completed his individually designed Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2015.