John D. Kemp
President & CEO
John D. Kemp, Esq., is an accomplished executive widely respected for his many achievements in the corporate and nonprofit worlds. He has decades of experience in the disability movement as a disabled leader. His previous leadership roles include serving as the National Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy Associations, President and CEO of VSA Arts and VSA Arts International, and as General Counsel and Vice President of Development for the National Easter Seal Society, among others. In 1995, he co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities. He recently served as president and CEO of the Viscardi Center and Henry Viscardi School.
John is a recipient of the Henry B. Betts Award, widely regarded as America’s highest honor for disability leadership and service, and the Dole Leadership Prize from the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, whose recipients include Nelson Mandela and former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
As board chair/member or partner, John has supported numerous leading disability and nonprofit organizations. In 2001, he became a partner in the Washington, DC law firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C., where he developed an active federal legislative and lobbying practice. A much sought-after global speaker, in 2019 John spoke at the inaugural Symposium on Disability Rights, co-sponsored by Lakeshore and the UAB Institute for Human Rights.
His latest book, Disability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive, is a clarion call to businesses around the world to realize the opportunities presented by employing people with disabilities. It explains the potential of disabled employees, how to create a culture of inclusion, and, in the process, help people with disabilities become proud contributors.
John graduated from Georgetown University and Washburn University School of Law. He has received two Honorary Doctorate degrees, the first an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Washburn University School of Law, and the second, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Connecticut, while serving as the Graduate School Commencement Speaker.
Jen Remick Allred
Chief of Programs & Special Projects
As a member of the senior leadership team, Ms. Allred is responsible for the development, implementation and management of the programs of physical activity as well as the membership programs which annually serve thousands of individuals with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions in the Birmingham region. A 1994 graduate of the University of Dayton with a B.A. in Communications, Ms. Allred returned to her hometown of Baltimore to work for the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and later served as a marketing manager for the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Ms. Remick moved to Alabama in 2000 and has been with Lakeshore ever since. In her tenure she has also worked in the fields of development, special events and communications for the organization. Allred has been honored to serve in a volunteer capacity as part of the communications staff for Team USA at the London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Ms. Allred serves on the Board of the Alabama Association of Non Profits.
Cathy Miller
Chief Operating & Financial Officer
Ms. Miller currently serves as Chief Operating & Financial Officer of Lakeshore Foundation. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of North Alabama and a MBA from Samford University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant. At Lakeshore, Miller oversees the accounting, human resources, information technology and facility operation departments. Since joining Lakeshore in 1997, the organization has experienced significant growth and increased activities. Prior to working at Lakeshore Cathy worked at Ernst & Young, an international accounting firm and Vulcan Materials Company.
Miller was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal in 2007 as a Mover and Shaker in the Finance World and in 2009 as a Top CFO Finalist for Nonprofit Organizations. She was a member of the Leadership Birmingham Class of 2009, the 2011 Momentum Women’s Leadership Class and the 2013 Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute.
Chris Thomason
Chief Advancement Officer
Dr. Thomason is the Chief Advancement Officer of Lakeshore Foundation. He is a veteran of the United States Navy. He holds a B.S. degree and a M.P.A. in public
administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has an Ed.D. from the University of West Alabama in Higher Education Administration. Thomason oversees the development, advancement services, and communications departments for Lakeshore. Prior to joining Lakeshore, Chris worked at the University of West Alabama as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
Dr. Thomason is a member of the Board of Directors for Vistar, Inc. He has been actively engaged in raising over $800 million for YMCAs, higher-education institutions, and Lakeshore Foundation. He is an expert in philanthropy, sponsored programs, and development communications, having honed his craft for over thirty years of practice. His most recent article, Reimagining the relationship between advancement and sponsored programs, was published in the National Council of University Research Administrators Sponsored Research Administration Guide February 2023. He has played a vital role in strengthening the education and training of development and sponsored programs professionals in higher education and the non-profit sectors.
Amy Rauworth
Chief Research & Innovation Officer
Amy E. Rauworth is the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Lakeshore Foundation, a renowned leader in physical activity, advocacy, and research for individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions. She is dedicated to fostering inclusion through advocacy and strategic partnerships. Ms. Rauworth leads sports science research and innovation, community health initiatives, and policy efforts at Lakeshore Foundation.
A clinical exercise physiologist by training, she brings over 25 years of experience in public health practice at state, national, and international levels. She has served on numerous advisory panels and executive committees, including the Paralympic Research and Sport Science Consortium and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Health and Wellness Advisory Panel. Currently, she serves on the Physical Activity Alliance Board of Directors. She holds leadership roles in various organizations across Alabama such as the Alabama Trails Commission, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Alabama Management Committee, Red Mountain Park Board, Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition Board, Jefferson County Greenways Foundation, and Innovate Alabama’s Outdoor Recreation Advisory Roundtable. She is a member of Leadership Alabama Class of XXXI and Leadership Birmingham Class of 2020.
An avid advocate for outdoor recreation, she enjoys nature with her husband, two children, and two dogs.
