Staff
Meet the LGH team. Have a question about a program? Want to grab coffee and learn more about LGH? Connect with us!
Christie Finley. L-35
Chief Executive Officer
Christie Finley is a veteran educator with more than 30 years of experience in public education. Serving students, families, and staff members was an important part of her educational career. Christie’s career in education has been marked by versatility and adaptability. She has served in various capacities, including superintendent, deputy superintendent, director of secondary programs, principal, teacher, and counselor. Her academic journey includes an undergraduate degree from Auburn University, a master’s degree in school counseling from Alabama A&M University, and an educational leadership degree from the University of South Alabama.
Christie received the 2020 Legislative Engagement Award for her collaborative efforts and partnerships with state legislators. In 2021, she was named the Alabama SSA District 9 Superintendent of the Year and was recognized as a “Women Honoring Women” honoree by the Women’s Economic Development Foundation. She served on the board of directors for the Alabama State Superintendents Association and Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. She is a member of the Huntsville Committee of 100, the Huntsville Rotary Club, the Junior League of Huntsville, and the Huntsville/Madison County Auburn Club Board.
Christie is an L-35 graduate (best class ever). She is married to Kirk, and they have two sons. She enjoys exercising, gardening, and Auburn athletics. She is excited about supporting Leadership Greater Huntsville's mission to identify, educate, inspire, and connect leaders to build a better community.
Kevin Walker
F-40, L-35, MA-13
Chief Financial Officer
Kevin is a native of Brea, California, but now calls Madison County home. A graduate of UCLA, he returned to the Bruin campus for graduate school and completed his MBA at the UCLA Anderson School of Business. As a member of the UCLA Men's Basketball Team, Kevin played in three NCAA tournaments and continued his post-graduate playing career in Japan and Argentina.
Kevin came to Alabama to work as the Senior Manager of Business Operations for the Huntsville Flight of the NBA's G-League. After two years of working with the Flight, Kevin moved to hockey and served as president of the Huntsville Channel Cats and Huntsville Havoc until 2014. He joins our team after serving as the Executive Director of the Downtown Express YMCA at Big Spring Park East.
Kevin is a single father to his teen son, Simon. In his spare time he does his best to stay in shape and is active in his son's athletic career.
Diana King
F-36
Flagship Program Director
Diana King’s introduction to Leadership Greater Huntsville began in 2014 as she assisted with the NASA portion of the day to Focus and Flagship for the LGH program. She is a graduate of F-36.
Diana retired from NASA after 32 years in May of 2022. She began her career with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas in 1990. In her 23 years at JSC, she was a secretary, executive officer, and protocol officer. She handled all high-level visits and events, itineraries of legislative and congressional visitors, logistics for agendas and itineraries of senior officials visiting JSC and protocol/planning Center-wide receptions and events. In 2013, Diana relocated to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. She established and maintained effective working relationships to varies commands as the NASA representative to Team Redstone. She identified, developed, and executed opportunities to enhance public awareness and understanding of Marshall projects and programs. She handled all high-profile visits including heads of state.
Diana currently lives in Huntsville with her husband Dave. She has a son, Trent who currently attends the Riley Center. She is also a step-mother to Katie who is married to Mitch and has one son who Diana loves to spoil. Bethany is married to Luke and they live in Tampa, Florida. When Diana isn’t working, she enjoys walking, shopping, traveling, hanging out with her crew and playing golf.
Katelyn Sides Baker
C-19
Alumni, Focus & Spark Program Director
Katelyn moved to Huntsville in 2014 after graduating Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. Her first role was with Downtown Huntsville, Inc. This was when Katelyn fell in love with the Rocket City. She has also worked with local government contractor Radiance Technologies, Inc. and global tech leader Google Fiber. Most recently, Katelyn was the Workforce Recruitment Director at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.
Katelyn has over seven years of experience in the events, PR, marketing and communications industries. Katelyn loves helping "move the needle" in our community. She is heavily involved in the Women's Economic Development Council, and she is also a part of Hudson Alpha's Connections Group.
Her introduction to Leadership Greater Huntsville was back in 2016. She completed the Connect program, C-19 (Best Class Ever!). She has since then volunteered for almost every Connect class following her graduation.
In her spare time, you can find Katelyn hiking at a local trail with her two dogs that she adopted from A New Leash on Life, or you can find her planning her next trip with her favorite travel partner, her husband!
Sam Cooper
C-17, F-45
Management Academy Program Director
Since graduating from Auburn University in 2002, Samantha has specialized in financial services including Bank Branch Management, Loan Origination and Commercial Lending. She has had the privilege of helping people attain their financial goals in both their personal and professional lives.
She enjoys being active in various non-profit organizations which strive to improve our community and the quality of life for our residents. For this reason, she has transitioned out of financial services into a full-time role with Leadership Greater Huntsville. She is a Connect Class-17 graduate and now the Program Director of Management Academy.
Her family moved to Madison 10 years ago. Her husband Tim has an exciting career in Missile Defense on Redstone Arsenal. They have 4 sons ages 14-20 who all play lacrosse and love fishing. She loves a good psychological thriller to read and spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.
Kayla Clark
F-42
Connect, Challenge & Marketing Program Director
Kayla made her way south one small step at a time from Indiana University to Nashville, TN to Huntsville. Kayla is involved in the small business community and works hard to bring the best health and fitness experience to Huntsville through her work at REGYMEN Fitness. She has headed up 4 charity events that raised over $7,000 for local and national non-profits, including the STAAR Charity 5K benefitting Ovarian Cancer Research. When not at the gym or spending time with her family exploring all the trails Greater Huntsville has to offer, she volunteers as a youth sports coach with Huntsville Wolfpack to share a passion for sport, fitness and character development with our city’s youth ... the LGH Alumni of tomorrow!