2023 Annual Membership Meeting: Masquerade Gala
Event Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
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Photo Booth Sponsor
Floral Sponsor
Date and Time
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
4:30 P.M. - 6 P.M - Music & Happy Hour
6 P.M. - Dinner & Program
Location
Alabama Veteran's Museum
100 Pryor Street W
Athens, AL 35611
Fees/Admission
Member Ticket: $60
Non-Member Ticket: $75
Contact Information
Brooke Pettus
Send Email
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Description
One of the Athens-Limestone County Chambers highest profile events, the Annual Membership Gala brings together local professionals, elected officials, and business owners. This event marks the transition between program years and the ceremonial hand-off between Board Chairs.
Our Keynote Speaker for this event will be Larry Leopard, Associate Director, Technical, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
It also serves as an awards ceremony to recognize individuals in the community who impact Athens and Limestone County through their leadership. Awards this year include:
- Young Professional of the Year Award
- Business Person of the Year Award
- Community Hero Award
- Excellence in Public Service Award
- Executive Leadership Award
Larry Leopard, Associate Director, Technical, at NASA?s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Alabama, provides expert advice in all facets of the Center's responsibilities by conducting special
studies; provide authoritative advice and assistance in policy review; manage and report on Center-wide
and directorate metrics, and developing benchmarking strategies. He was appointed to the
position in December 2020.
Prior to his appointment, Leopard served as director of the Engineering Directorate from 2018 to 2020. From 2014 to 2016, Leopard was director of the Engineering Directorate?s Space Systems Department, and was its deputy director from 2011 to 2014. From 2008 to 2011, he was deputy manager of Engineering?s Propulsion
Systems Department.
In 2008, Leopard was appointed to the Senior Executive Service, the personnel system covering top managerial positions in federal agencies.
Following his selection to NASA?s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in 2006, he completed developmental assignments at NASA Headquarters in Washington, in Marshall?s Space Shuttle Propulsion Office, and at United Launch Alliance?s Delta II and IV Manufacturing and Assembly Plant in Decatur, Alabama.
Leopard joined NASA and Marshall in 1990, supporting a variety of NASA programs and projects, including space shuttle propulsion elements; the Space Shuttle Main Engine Technology Test Bed; Rocket-Based Combined Cycle propulsion technology; Fastrac 60K engine; International Space Station payloads, International Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and research facilities; Small
Satellite technology demonstrations; and multiple science instruments.
His aerospace engineering career began as a propulsion engineer at Martin Marietta in Huntsville, supporting Marshall?s Propulsion Systems Laboratory from 1988 to 1990.
A native of Athens, Alabama, Leopard graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1987 with a bachelor?s degree in mechanical engineering.
Leopard has received numerous NASA awards, including the Medal for Outstanding Leadership in 2007 and 2011; the Medal for Exceptional Achievement in 1997 for leading the Integrated Propulsion Technology Demonstrator team; multiple Center Director?s Commendations; and numerous group achievement and special service awards. In 1993, he was awarded the Silver Snoopy, the NASA astronaut corps? award to those who have made significant contributions to the success of NASA?s human spaceflight missions.
Leopard and his wife Shane live in Athens and have two children.
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