API Newsletters

Alabama Policy Institute

• Viewpoints - a weekly column sent viw email, is our President's issue-based newspaper column that appears in papers statewide. It is short, thought provoking, and packed with historical fact.
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• API UPDATE! - an email in short bullet form that is sent whenever API has new information to offer.
• API UPDATE! includes:
• • Issue summaries featuring bottom-line insights in bullet form with an emphasis on state policy.
  • A summary of legislative sessions, special sessions bills
  • Immediate notification when a paper is released; complete with Web address and a brief summary.
  • Announcements of API upcoming events, live debates with API staffers, media interviews, online chats and more.
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• The Alliance - is a new publication of API. It is a Quarteryly Newsletter that is sent out to friends, associates and patrons of API keeping them informed of upcoming events and current policy issues.

Michael Ciamarra

Vice President

Michael is a widely published columnist and a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council's National Task Force on Tax Policy and The Heritage Foundation Resource Bank. He is an advisor to the National Center for Health Transformation.

Michael writes and recommends legislation to Alabama's Legislature through Legislative Agenda, an Alabama Policy Institute publication. He serves as the Policy Institute's legislative liaison to members of the Alabama Legislature and the Executive branch of state government. He was appointed a Commissioner to serve on the governor's 2003 Citizens Constitution Revision Commission.

Michael was former Governor Fob James' policy advisor and legislative director. He is an international chess master having played in tournaments around the world and a much sought after chess coach. Michael is a former engineer with Martin Marietta Aerospace and a graduate of Tulane University School of Engineering. Michael is married to the former Melody Adams of Trussville. Michael has five children, Mark, Allison, Michael, John and James.

Jeff Fink

Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Jeff joined the Alabama Policy Institute in 2002 after serving as Manager of the Kilby Steel Company in Anniston, Alabama. Jeff is a member of the Anniston City Council and helps determine all matters of policy for the city.

His responsibilities at API include handling all financial matters for the organization, general office management, overseeing the research, communications and policy departments, establishing office procedures and documentation and audit of API's quality performance. Jeff and his wife Farley reside in Anniston and have three daughters, Grace, Adele and Camille.

J. Bart Fletcher

C.A.E., Vice President - Advancement

J. Bart Fletcher is a native of Wichita, Kansas and a 1984 graduate of Wichita State University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in marketing. Upon graduation from WSU, Bart joined Koch Refining Company, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc.

In 1989, Bart left Koch and accepted the position of Executive Director of the Alabama Oilmen's Association (AOA), a state trade association for wholesale and retail petroleum marketers and convenience store operators, a position he held for 15 years. While at AOA (later the Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama) Bart earned the designation of "Certified Association Executive (CAE)" from the American Society of Association Executives. In 1997 the Southeastern Association Executive magazine named him Alabama's "Association Executive of the Year," and in 2001 he was recognized by The Montgomery Advertiser as one of the city's "Leading 40 Under 40."

Bart joined API in June 2006 as Vice President for Advancement.

Bart and his wife Christy reside in Birmingham and have two children, Austin and Mary Kathryn, who are students at Briarwood Christian School.

John Hill

PhD., Director of Research

Dr. John Hill is Director of Research for the Alabama Policy Institute, which he joined in 1995.

He holds bachelors' degrees in Broadcasting and Bible from Freed-Hardeman University (1988) a master's degree in speech from the University of Memphis (1990), and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Alabama (1996).

In the past 12 years, John has authored more than two dozen publications and has appeared on dozens on radio and television programs across the state. His two most recent publications are The Effects of Cohabitation on Personal and Relational Well-Being and Cultural Indicators 2006. He has also written extensively about the social and economic effects of legalizing gambling in Alabama, the effects of family structure on education outcomes, and responsible environmentalism.

In addition to his work with API, John manages his own statistical consulting service and is an adjunct instructor for Faulkner University. He and his wife Cheryl have two daughters, Amelia Grace and Emma Rose.

Helen Holmes

Secretary

Helen Holmes joined API in November 2000. Helen disseminates incoming information, works with data entry, handles regular mailings and provides administrative support to staff. She is responsible for mailing out Gary's weekly column twice each month, and is responsible for ordering and maintaining all supplies. She is the voice of welcome to those who contact the Policy Institute.

Helen resides in Hoover, is a member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church and has three grown children, Elizabeth, Leslie and Derrell, and two grandchildren, Chelsea and Brandon.

JoAnne Lindley

Executive Assistant to President

JoAnne joined API in April 2002. Her primary responsibilities include planning and coordinating API events including the annual dinners in Birmingham and Mobile, the annual board retreat and other functions. Administrative duties in the president's office include travel coordination, scheduling, communications, database management and maintaining donor and board relations.

She previously worked as a staff manager with BellSouth. She and her husband, Bill, a manager with BellSouth, reside in Hoover. They have two children, Krissy, 19, a freshman at the University of Alabama, and Erik, 15, a freshman at Hoover High School. They are members of Gardendale's First Baptist Church.

Gary Palmer

President

Gary co-founded the Alabama Policy Institute, formerly known as the Alabama Family Alliance, in 1989. Gary was previously employed by Rust International in cost analysis, and prior to that with Combustion Engineering in the environmental systems division.

Gary is responsible for the leadership and direction of the Policy Institute. He identifies, maintains and promotes the vision of the Policy Institute by ensuring that the entire staff has the resources needed to fulfill the mission. Gary and his wife Ann reside in Hoover and are active members at Briarwood Presbyterian Church. They have three children, Claire, Kathleen, and Rob.