- January 10th, 2024
Gordon Martin, J.D. joined The University of Alabama Honors College on Monday, Oct. 2 as the inaugural Kennemer Center Director.
Martin retired from Alabama Power as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Administrative Services this year, where he led the company’s Facilities Services, Supply Chain Management, Fleet Services, Meeting and Event Services, and Corporate Real Estate organizations. He has also been responsible for Corporate Security, Business Assurance, and Information Technology.
Previously, Martin served as the company’s General Counsel as well as its division vice president in Montgomery. He has held multiple management positions within Alabama Power in Generation Planning and Development, Fuels, as well as External Affairs. He began his career with Alabama Power in 1994, representing the company in its former Washington, D.C., office. He has since held leadership positions in Birmingham with both Southern Company Services and Alabama Power. Prior to joining Alabama Power, Gordon was a legislative attorney with Hogan Lovells, one of the largest law firms in Washington, D.C., and a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Howell Heflin.
In addition to his years of service with the company, Martin has made a lasting, community impact in the areas of economic development, education, charitable giving and civics. His commitment is reflected in his numerous board positions and leadership roles, including: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of the Board of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of American Village Citizenship Trust; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the A+ Education Partnership; and three-time Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Alabama, to name a few.
“Gordon’s bio outlines an illustrious business career, paralleled by a lifetime of service leading numerous charitable, civic, educational, and other non-profit organizations with missions high in social impact,” said Jim Kennemer, UA Kennemer Center benefactor. “Gordon is the perfect person to lay the foundation and build the infrastructure for the Center, and to lead it toward the goal that any Bama fan has: to be the best there is.”
“I could not be more pleased that Gordon will be at the helm of the Kennemer Center,” said Tiffany Sippial, Honors College Dean. “He is absolutely the ideal leader for the center and a stellar addition to our Honors College team.”
“My hope is to help realize Jim’s vision to create opportunities for students to gain an entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on making the world a better place, just as Jim has done with Vision Research Corporation,” said Gordon Martin. “Students will learn what it takes to innovate, take an idea from conception to reality, and in some cases, start a business or program that serves the greater good. Our goal is to be a hub for innovation in the state and expose students to the opportunities they have to stay and contribute to Alabama’s advancement.”
Martin is a Birmingham native and graduated cum laude from The University of Alabama. He earned a law degree from The University of Alabama, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University. He studied international law in London and has completed executive coursework at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University in England. He is also a graduate of Leadership Alabama, Leadership Montgomery, and Leadership Shelby County.
