THE TEAM
Donna Watts
President & CEO
Donna has been the President of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce since September 1997. In addition, she is the President of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation. She serves on numerous Boards including G.U.M.B.O., Business Council of Alabama, past board member of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, and is currently a part of the Coastal Resiliency Coalition leadership team.
Greg Alexander
President & CEO
Greg is celebrating twelve years in the Chamber world, having first served as the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO in his native South Carolina. The leap into the role came after serving in the finance industry for nine years. While certainly a change of pace from what he was used to, the art of being a leader is in Alexander’s heart and soul. After graduating from Presbyterian College in 1992, he joined the US Army, rising to the ranks of Captain. His service led him to Germany to assist in Operation Joint Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia where he was directly responsible for 215 soldiers. Alexander’s work with the Laurens County and Hilton-Head Bluffton Chambers continued all the way to the summer of 2018 when a new opportunity came on the horizon. Tragedy struck the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber in January of 2018 when beloved President Ed Rodriguez passed away suddenly. In the wake of this news, the Chamber board of directors worked meticulously for nearly six months, sorting through nearly 100 candidates and finally landing Alexander in July of 2018. After traveling to the area through the interview process, Alexander and his family knew they wanted to call Coastal Alabama their new home. Since beginning in the office, Alexander has helped lead the charge in bringing positive change to the Chamber through enhancing member benefits and strengthening existing programs. A major steppingstone includes forming a partnership with the neighboring South Baldwin Chamber, leading to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber becoming a part of the workforce and business development program, the Gateway Initiative. In June of 2020, the Chamber experienced an expansion as a second office was opened in Orange Beach through strong collaboration with Orange Beach local government. As this new opportunity and others arise, Alexander and his teams are eager to continue delivering results and solutions to members and investors alike.
Travis Valentine
Chief Operations Officer
South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
Travis joined the South Baldwin Chamber team in 2015 and has forged many connections within the business community as Membership Director and now Vice President of Investor Relations, spanning Gateway and Chamber worlds. Travis was an integral element in the formation of the Gateway Initiative during its inception and eventual kick-off in 2018. His day-to-day job involves interacting directly with members and prospective members to help build their businesses and innovate to meet the demands of today.
Those who have gotten the chance to interact with Travis know he is full of energy and optimism, professionally and outside of the office. Although he never truly takes off his ‘chamber hat’, when he is away from his desk, he is an avid dad: his children Tatum and Holden, alongside his beautiful wife, Merritt, have a lot of fun living in South Baldwin.
Tyler Morgan
Director of Career & Business Development | Gateway Initiative Team
Tyler joined the Gateway team in March 2021 assisting and championing the Gateway Initiative. A Montgomery native, she grew up vacationing on the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast like many Alabamians. She has a B.F.A. from The University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) and a M.A. Ed. from Auburn University - Montgomery. Tyler’s experiences and skills in the education world were a key factor in the team’s decision to bring her on board; however, her background in the fine arts and years of event planning experience also brings a creative edge to the initiative. She taught junior high school for six years, managed events and sales for Perdido Beach Resort for three years, and later joined the Mobile Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, gaining additional experience in corporate, association, convention, and lodging sales with a market that expanded all over the country. “I am passionate about our ever-growing community, and truly understand why educating the workforce and employing our businesses with strong, sustainable, career-minded individuals in South Baldwin county is so important for the future,” said Tyler. She lives in Foley with her two fur babies, Mia and Stevie. In her spare time, she manages her own event planning business, enjoys working in her art studio, traveling the country, hiking with her dogs, and loves to spend time with her family and friends.
