Executive Board

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 took over as Executive Director of the Senior Bowl in June 2018 after spending 18 years in the National Football League. In his time in the NFL, Nagy worked as an area scout in the West, Midwest, and Southeast regions, as well as in a national scouting capacity for four years with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a part of six Super Bowl teams and four Lombardi Trophy winning clubs (Green Bay Packers XXXI, New England Patriots XXXVIII and XXXIX and Seattle Seahawks XLVIII). Prior to his time in the NFL, Nagy worked for a sports agency in New York City representing NFL players and had various jobs in the media, including a consultant role on the NFL Today pregame show on CBS and writing his own football column in The Sporting News magazine. He graduated from the University of Michigan and his family has resided in Mobile, Ala., since 2007.

Ira Bates Jr. is a native of Mobile, AL. He is a graduate of Davidson High School. After high school, he attended several colleges and universities before settling down and graduating from the University of Mobile where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Management. Ira has worked extensively in the area of non-profit development where he is responsible for helping raise over $30 million and helping hundreds of thousands of people in our local community. Currently, he is the Assistant Vice President and Community Development Officer at The First, A National Banking Association where he oversees their community development efforts.

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.

Litigation attorney Angela Grace works in international executive recruitment, site selection, executive coaching and governmental affairs. She is fluent in German and English. She graduated from Vanderbilt University and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Angela has worked with German companies for over 20 years and focuses her practice on the automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing industry sectors. She also coaches small businesses and law firms in managing their brand and expanding their networks.

Melanie is a native of Mobile, Al. She is a graduate of C.F. Vigor High school. After completion of high school, Melanie attended Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy. After receiving her bachelor’s degree Melanie moved to Atlanta, Ga to further her education where she received her master’s degree in Public Health at Argosy University.

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.

Vanessa has been a professional photographer since 2009 beginning as a photojournalist for the Hawaii Marine Newspaper while she served in the U.S. Marine Corps. She attended and graduated from the Defense Information School, Hawaii Pacific University and The New York Institute of Photography. She earned her MBA in Marketing and continues to use her skills to help her community. She enjoys working with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, The Palmer Williams Group, and Life Sync Academy.