President
Vince Wallace
Vince is a Tuscaloosa County farmer. He currently tends to approximately 70 colonies. He finds great enjoyment and challenge being involved with the ABA. Staying on the cutting edge of relevance in beekeeping requires deep involvement, dedication and continued study.
He lives in Fosters, AL with his wife Karen, he has 3 children, 7 grandchildren, a cat, 3 dogs and at least 100 chickens.
Vince.Wallace@alabamabeekeepers.com
14936 Cypress Creek Road
Fosters, AL 35463-9450
Vice President
Hal Hendrix
Hal Hendrix …
Hal.Hendrix@alabamabeekeepers.com
620 Stone Hedge Dr.
Oneonta, AL 35121
Secretary
Amy Seiber
Amy Seiber is a retired high school art teacher and artist who thinks honeybees are fascinating. She became a backyard beekeeper in 2014. She currently works at Foxhound Bee Company in Birmingham, making candles, teaching kids’ classes, and helping customers.
Amy is a Master beekeeper, completing her master beekeeper certificate in July 2024.
Amy is a member (and secretary for) the Blount County Beekeepers Association, and she was elected secretary of the Alabama Beekeepers Association in September 2023.
Amy.Seiber@alabamabeekeepers.com
425 Atwood Road
Hayden AL 35079
North Region (Director)
Ricky Grace
Ricky is a lifelong resident of Walker County and retired coal miner. He has been beekeeping for about 25 years. He is the current President of the Walker County Beekeeper Association, serving in this position for the past 4 years. He has been a member of the Walker County Beekeeper Association for 13 years. a member of The Alabama Beekeepers Association (ABA) for 12 years, and was elected to serve as a Director of the North Region Board of the ABA in 2021. He is always ready to help fellow beekeepers and people trying to learn about beekeeping.
949 Beny Short Road
Jasper, AL 35504
North Region (Director)
Bill Elliott
Bill is a Huntsville native who retired in 2017 after 35 years as a missile defense contractor. He has been beekeeping since he retired and became an Alabama Master Beekeeper in 2021. He is a member of the Madison County Beekeepers Association serving as Vice-president and Secretary. Bill enjoys helping new beekeepers and teaching. He sells nucs and queens as well as producing honey for sale in local markets.
2211 Colice Rd SE
Huntsville, AL 35801
Central Region (Director)
Celena Bennett
Celena was born and raised in Germany and moved to the United States in 2010. The past 12 years she has lived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and fell in love with the idea of keeping honey bees. In 2013 she acquired her first colony of bees and started attending local bee clubs. Since then she has become specialized in bee removals. She is currently serving her second year as President of West Alabama Beekeepers Association, is a mentor in the Alabama Young Beekeeper Scholarship Program, achieved her Alabama Master Beekeeper Certificate and is involved with the Bee Informed Partnership Sentinel Apiary Program.
13437 Gilmore Mine Road
Cottondale, AL 35453
Central Region (Director)
Scott Lucas
A Birmingham native, Scott has lived in Alabaster for over 20 years where he has been keeping honey bees since 2016 and currently has 40 colonies. He has served as vice president and president for the Shelby County Beekeepers Association. Employed at a local insurance company, Scott has two sons, one grandchild and two Boston Terriers.
104 Bermuda Lake Drive
Alabaster, AL 35007
Southern Region (Director)
Kate Pugh
A beekeeper since 2014, Kate is currently Vice President & Secretary of Lower AL Beekeepers Association and a 2020 Alabama Master Beekeeper. She has taught beginner beekeepers at the annual ACES conference, has visited multiple local schools through the 4 H program to educate children about the importance of honey bees, routinely gives classes at her local bee association & has mentored many new beekeepers.
Residing in Lowndes Co along the beautiful Alabama River, Kate and her husband, Ralph, own Sweetgum Ridge Apiaries. A 70 acre farm, they manage over 35 hives for honey production, raise and sell Nucs & Queens and nurture free range chickens for egg production.
115 New Port Landing Rd
Lowndesboro, AL 36752
Southern Region (Director)
Richard Woodham
During his work career, Richard served in International Operations with Fruit of the Loom, Russell Athletic and Swedish Match. He retired in 2012 to full-time volunteering with Hillcrest Baptist Church, Boy Scouts, Beekeeping, Fishing and, Community Service. Richard serves as Vice President of the Southeast Alabama Beekeepers Association in New Brockton, Co-Manages the apiary at Landmark Park (Alabama’s Agriculture Museum), speaks at schools and civic organizations and, mentors online and in-person.
32 Breckenridge Court
Enterprise, AL 36330