Tate & Associates Assists Create Birmingham with CEO Search
July 1, 2021 – Melva Tate of executive search firm Tate & Associates has assisted in the placement Meghann Bridgeman as the new president and CEO of Create Birmingham, which is dedicated to the economic development of Birmingham, AL’s creative industries. She will succeed Buddy Palmer, who has served as president and CEO of the non-profit for 13 years. He will work with Mr. Bridgeman to ensure a smooth transition before he officially retires at the end of July.
Kathryn Corey, board chair of Create Birmingham, said Bridgeman’s over 13 years of non-profit experience made her a great candidate for the post. “Her experience in workforce development and her passion for the arts and culture sector is a powerful combination that is directly in line with the mission of our organization and the progress we will continue to make in our community,” she said.
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With over 13 years of non-profit experience, Ms. Bridgeman has excelled in developing community partnerships and managing programs, as well as in operations, fundraising and strategic planning. She most recently served as vice president of social venture partnerships at Per Scholas, a national organization focused on training underrepresented talent for careers in tech. Prior to that, she spent a decade as artistic director and chief operating officer of the San Angelo Civic Ballet.
“It is truly an honor to lead the organization in a new phase of growth and expand on the hugely impactful work of Buddy Palmer and the entire Create Birmingham team,” said Ms. Bridgeman, who is an Alabama native, an alum of the Alabama School of Fine Arts and former dancer at the Alabama Ballet. “Birmingham is a vibrant city with a burgeoning creative economy. I cannot think of an intersection more inspiring or an organization better poised to meet the creative community’s needs.”
As the only local agency exclusively focused on Birmingham’s creative industries, Create Birmingham plays a unique role in growing the creative sector, including performing arts, visual arts and crafts, culture and heritage, media and film, design and culinary arts. Create Birmingham’s mission is to invest in imagination and invention. Through its programs, the organization constructs and supports diverse avenues for commercial and nonprofit creative success. Through its advocacy, Create Birmingham works to ensure that Birmingham’s creative industries are recognized not only for their cultural impact but also for their contribution to the greater Birmingham area’s economic development.
Veteran Search Consultant
In 2008, Melva Tate established Tate & Associates in Birmingham, AL. The firm specializes in executive talent searches, human resource consulting, training and development, and career coaching to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations. Tate & Associates’ clients include The United Way of Central Alabama, YWCA of Central Alabama, REV Birmingham, Birmingham Business Alliance, Birmingham Education Foundation, City of Irondale, City of Tuscaloosa, City of Jasper, Alabama Public Television, Miles College and Bevill State Community College.
Ms. Tate is also a radio personality, best-selling author, and a feature writer and contributor to leading newspapers and magazines including, HR Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, The Birmingham News and the Birmingham Business Journal. In addition, she serves as an adjunct career management consultant for Warren Averett Workplace.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
