Alabama Leads the Way with Female Government Leadership: Kay Ivey, Katie Britt, and Twinkle Cavanaugh

By Steve Flowers, Guest Columnist

There has been a lot of talk about the advancement of women in politics over the past year.  It has been suggested that more progressive states have led the way with this change. Alabama can very well make the case that we lead the nation in women taking leadership roles in our state.

It is very doubtful that any state in the nation can claim a female governor and a female chief executive of their states leading business organization.

Kay Ivey became Governor on January 14, after having been elected to her own four-year term in November.  Kay had previously been the State Treasurer for eight-years and Lt. Governor for six-years.  She was serving an unexpired term as Governor for two-years prior to her election last year.

On January 2, Katie Boyd Britt took over the reins of the state’s most powerful political organization, the Business Council of Alabama. She is the first woman to serve as the BCA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  She is not only the first woman CEO, she is by far the youngest CEO in BCA history.

Katie Britt comes to the BCA from Senator Richard Shelby’s office where she has been our Senior Senator’s Chief of Staff. Alabama Power CEO, Mark Crosswhite, who chairs the BCA’s Executive Committee said, “As the top staff member for Senator Shelby, she has worked daily with businesses and elected officials from Alabama and the country.

Katie has always been a bright star on the Alabama political stage.  She grew up in Enterprise and served as President of the Student Government Association at the University of Alabama then graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law.  Before becoming Chief of Staff, she worked in several posts in Senator Shelby’s office including Press Secretary.  She is married to Wesley Britt, a former Alabama and professional football player and they have two children.