Executive Board
Life Sync Academy is backed by a talented and professional Executive Board. We also have Board Advisors who work within our community to provide our program with insight and support. Get to know our board below:

Sherman Williams
President
Born in Alabama, Sherman Cedric Williams is an All American football player. Williams experienced his first championship while attending Mattie T. Blount High School in Prichard, Alabama where he left his mark as the school’s powerhouse running back. He was the first running back in the state of Alabama to rush for over 3,000 yards in one season.
Sherman’s career continued at the University of Alabama, playing for the renowned Crimson Tide. There he developed his signature touchdown celebration, the ‘Sherman Shake,’ and led the Crimson Tide in rushing yards and broken carries. He also earned All SEC and second team All American honors. He was a member of the University’s 1992 Championship team.
In 1995, the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys drafted Sherman in the second round as a number one pick. During his rookie season, the Dallas Cowboys won the Super Bowl XXX championship, again making Sherman a champion. Unfortunately, a series of poor decisions resulted in Sherman’s incarceration for fifteen years. Since his release, he focuses on improving the lives of others by sharing his story and acting as a role model and mentor for young people and student athletes.
Sherman is the author of “Crimson Cowboy”, where he chronicles his life from early years to being recruited by the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, as well as the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Brutally honest, the book recounts wrong decisions. Drug sales. Prison. Through his book the Crimson Cowboy and his non-profit organization, The Palmer Williams Group, Sherman partners with former NFL player and University of Alabama team mate, David Palmer, to provide youth development programs to assist and guide disadvantaged youth to overcome interpersonal obstacles, embrace family values, encourage education, and avoid life’s pitfalls. By returning to the streets where he made poor choices, Sherman now makes a difference to youth growing up in similar circumstances by sharing how to make good choices and decisions for a successful life. Sherman resides in Prichard, Alabama.

Jim Nagy
Vice-President

Ira Bates, Jr.
Treasurer
Executive Board, LSA
Ira is also a graduate of Alabama Banking School Class of 2019. He has served in many capacities as a volunteer and board member in our community. Ira has been recognized for many achievements most notably, he is a member of the inaugural Mobile Bay Magazine’s top forty under 40 leaders. In addition, he was the board President of The Grounds (Greater Gulf State Fair) where he and his board were instrumental in making the fair and The Grounds a more family friendly experience. He has been married to his wife, Jennifer for 19 years, and they have a 16 yr. old daughter, Ryan.

Angela Grace
Secretary

Melanie Bagsby
Executive Director, LSA
Melanie has worked extensively in the management and program development field. She worked with Assisted Living and Retirement homes developing programs and activities for seniors. In 2010, she took on the position as Recreation Director in DeKalb County where she implemented programs, camps, activities and special events for the community. Melanie is known for implementing the very first Special Population Summer Camp in which is still a growing success. During her time with Dekalb County she served as chairman on the Georgia Special Olympics Board and volunteered her time in the DeKalb County School System during Special Olympics competitions.
In 2014, Melanie decided to move back to her hometown Mobile, AL to pursue her passion in youth development programs and health & fitness. She started two small business, healthy meal prepping (FreshlyPrep’d) and fitness program to assist and promote individuals in improving healthier lifestyles and a Valet Trash pick-up service (Take Me Out). Melanie has been married to husband, Charles Bagsby Jr. for four years and they have together a 3yr old son, Princeton Charles Bagsby. In addition, two bonus children Jordan Payne, 13 and Gianni Bagsby, 11.

Eaton Barnard (Attorney, Andy Citrin Law)
Executive Board, LSA

Dr. Peggy Nikolakis (Former President, Mobile County Public School Board)
Executive Board, LSA

Joe Fesenmeier (Owner, Gotta-Go Portables)

Greg McDonald (Finance, Sandy Sansing)
Executive Board, LSA

Vanessa AmericanHorse (Marketing Specialist)
Executive Board, LSA

James Dennis (President of Charleston Lighting)
Executive Board, LSA

Susan Young (Mobile Community Corrections)
Board Advisor, LSA

Dan Williams (Mobile Area Interfaith Conference, Inc)
Board Advisor, LSA

Jim Backes (Mobile Area Interfaith Conference, Inc)
Board Advisor, LSA
3811 Old Shell Road
Mobile, Alabama 36608
Phone/Email
(251) 300-4793
info@lsamob.org
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