Leadership, Clarity and the Future of Alabama’s Workforce
Reflections from Session Rewind 2026
At Peritus Public Relations, we believe Alabama moves forward when its leaders stay in conversation with one another.
That belief was on full display at our recent Session Rewind event on May 14, where students, elected officials, communicators, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs and business executives came together in one room. Different perspectives. Shared responsibility.
And that’s exactly what makes Alabama special.
What Makes Alabama Special
Looking around the room that day, one thing stood out clearly: what makes Alabama special is its leaders’ willingness to collaborate and learn from one another.
From students to seasoned leaders, the group reflected a wide range of experiences and viewpoints, yet everyone shared a common commitment to where our state is going next.
Leading with Clarity and Conviction
Leaders today are navigating more complexity and consequences than ever before. In this kind of environment, communicating well is not enough.
Trusted leadership requires:
Clarity in how you show up
The conviction to live out your values when the stakes are high
Peritus’ Commitment
At Peritus, we are committed to bringing people together for a brighter Alabama.
It’s why we invest in work that unites rather than polarizes. It’s why we believe healthy discourse matters. And it’s why we are trusted with issues and stories that shape the fabric of Alabama’s culture, workforce and community.
This year marked our seventh year providing legislative resources designed to help leaders across Alabama better engage in issues shaping our state.
Focus on Workforce and CTE
This year’s Session Rewind focused on one of the most practical issues facing Alabama: workforce development.
Workforce continues to be a top priority for the state, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) initiatives are preparing students with more hands-on learning, technical skills and career pathways.
We were fortunate to hear from an inspiring group of panelists who are helping shape that future:
Chairman Danny Garrett, a trusted voice in connecting education, workforce readiness and long-term economic growth
Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood, who brings an important local perspective and champions opportunities through community partnerships
Dodd Hawthorne, who has spent his career helping translate policy into classrooms for students
Todd Stacy, who guided the conversation as moderator and brought his experience as a respected reporter and storyteller
A Personal Note on Opportunity
One theme that resonated throughout the conversation was the power of opportunity.
For many young professionals and students, the path forward is often shaped by a single moment, someone willing to give them a chance, open a door or invest in their future.
That truth reinforces an important reality: a strong workforce ecosystem doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when education, business and community leaders intentionally work together to create pathways for students.
Moving Forward Together
Our hope for everyone who attended was simple:
Leave with a clearer understanding of what happened during the legislative session
Gain more confidence to engage in the process
Build at least one new relationship to help move Alabama’s workforce development and CTE momentum forward
Alabama gets better when leaders stay in conversation with one another.
Session Rewind was a testament to that, and a reminder of what’s possible when leaders continue to learn from one another and move forward together.