Coach Tuberville Assembles Golden Age Action Team

From the Tuberville campaign

July 23

 AUBURN – Coach Tommy Tuberville today announced the Golden Age Action Team tasked with setting up a beachhead for the official transition in November. This team of accomplished Alabama corporate executives, entrepreneurs, business operators, attorneys, and policy professionals will prepare the Tuberville administration to clean up Montgomery and fundamentally change how state government operates.

The Golden Age Action Team includes Jordan Doufexis, Jonathan Gray, Gibson Vance, Jim McLane, Chad Witcher, Loree Skelton, Bruce Culpepper, Reid Dove, and Kyle Burt.

Together, the team brings nearly 200 years of business, legal, policy, and government experience. Its members have led major corporations and nationally recognized companies, founded and grown successful businesses, designed and implemented major government reforms, managed thousands of employees, and served in senior executive and board roles connected to Fortune 500 and Fortune Global 500 enterprises.

“This is a team of heavy hitters. And each and every member is an Alabamian with deep roots in our state,” Tuberville said. “Most importantly, there are no lobbyists, legislators, or former elected officials involved with this. Instead, the team is made up of successful Alabamians who have led major companies, built businesses, reformed government, managed large organizations, and prosecuted cases at the highest levels. They know how to make hard decisions and cut through the bull. We’re going to streamline our state government and sell Alabama's values, beauty, and southern grit to the world.”

Although transition teams typically are formed after an election, Team Tuberville has been studying proposed changes for over a year because Alabama can’t afford to wait.

“We’re going to snap the ball when the whistle blows. That’s why we started preparing in 2025,” Tuberville said. “Most politicians wait until they win to start figuring out how to deliver on what they promised. We’re not going to spend our first year holding meetings and making excuses. We’re going to walk in prepared and ready to win on day one.”

Doufexis, Tuberville’s longtime Chief of Staff, will lead the Golden Age Action Team’s review of state agencies and development of personnel, spending, and policy priorities.

“Coach has given us a clear assignment: find the waste, expose the duplication, and build a government that doesn’t waste a single cent that comes in from the Alabama taxpayers,” Doufexis said. “We are not coming to Montgomery to maintain the status quo. We’re going to ask the hard questions, make the tough recommendations, and give Coach a plan to clean up the place.”

The team is conducting top-to-bottom reviews of state departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. From prisons and public safety to transportation, health care, education, energy, and economic development, the team will identify what works, what is broken, and what Alabama taxpayers should no longer be funding. 

The group is also consulting with conservative leaders in neighboring states through a working group known as Southeastern Conservatives – an SEC of government – to identify successful reforms Alabama can implement quickly and effectively.

Tuberville will build on Governor Kay Ivey’s education accomplishments and ensure every graduating student is ready for life after school. The team will explore expanded career-technical programs developed in partnership with colleges, universities, and Alabama employers.

“We’re going to make a major push to lower Alabama’s dropout rate to zero,” Tuberville said. “There are too many opportunities in today’s economy for us to allow young people to fall through the cracks. Our goal is simple: every Alabama student should not just graduate career-ready or college-ready, but LIFE READY. Every Alabamian should have the opportunity to stay in the state with a great job and raise a family.”

Tuberville believes Alabama must be prepared to capture more than its fair share of the jobs and investment generated by President Trump’s push to bring American industries back home.

“We need a government that moves at the speed of business instead of standing in the way,” Tuberville said. “Organization is the key to victory. And we’re ready to win.”

GOLDEN AGE ACTION TEAM LEADERS

Jordan Doufexis

Jordan Doufexis, from Rainsville, serves as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville. He has more than a decade of experience in Alabama politics and government and previously served as Tuberville’s State Director and Deputy Chief of Staff. Doufexis will lead the Golden Age Action Team’s review of government operations and development of policy, personnel, and organizational recommendations.

Jonathan Gray

Jonathan Gray, from Fairhope, is President of Strategy Public Relations and an experienced Alabama policy and communications strategist. He has advised candidates, public officials, corporations, and organizations on political strategy, public affairs, government policy, crisis communications, and reputation management. His work includes successful campaigns and major public policy reforms at all levels of government.

Gibson Vance

Gibson Vance, of Montgomery, is principal at Beasley Allen and former president of the Alabama State Bar. A nationally recognized trial lawyer, Vance is currently president of the Southern Trial Lawyers Association and a past president of the American Association of Justice. He has practiced law for more than three decades, prosecuting complex civil and class-action cases nationwide, and currently serves on the Troy University Board of Trustees.

Bruce Culpepper

Bruce Culpepper, of Guntersville, is the retired President and Country Chair of Shell Oil Company. During a four-decade career with Shell, he held senior leadership roles involving energy, manufacturing, petrochemicals, corporate strategy, and workforce management. As President and Country Chair of Shell Oil, he oversaw U.S. strategy and operations for one of the largest energy companies in the world. Since his retirement, Culpepper serves on numerous civic, conservation, and economic development leadership roles across Alabama. 

Reid Dove

Reid Dove, from Dothan, is Chairman of AAA Cooper Transportation and has served on the Board of Directors of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings since 2021. He joined AAA Cooper in 1994 and helped guide its growth into a major national transportation and logistics enterprise. Dove brings extensive experience in corporate leadership, transportation, workforce management, acquisitions, and economic growth.

Jim McLane

Jim McLane, from Birmingham, is the founder and owner of NaphCare, a national correctional health care company serving local, state, and federal facilities across the country. A pharmacist and entrepreneur, McLane founded NaphCare in 1989 and brings decades of experience improving health care delivery, implementing new technology, and solving complex operational problems within America’s correctional systems.

Chad Witcher

Chad Witcher, from Cullman, is Chief Operating Officer, co-founder, and partner of Synergi Partners, a national firm focused on tax incentives. He is a nationally recognized advisor with more than 25 years of experience in business operations, tax credits, and organizational leadership and serves as the chairman of Coach Tuberville’s gubernational campaign finance committee.

Loree Skelton

Loree Skelton is a Hoover-based health care attorney, businesswoman, and real-estate developer with more than four decades of experience at the intersection of health care law and economic development. Her family has been involved in skilled nursing care; she is the owner and developer of South Haven Surgical Plaza. She has previously served as an administrative law judge and Deputy Attorney General for the state.

Kyle Burt

Kyle Burt, from Vance, is President of KyKenKee, a century-old, family-run industrial wood-products company. Dating back to 1920, the company operates its own manufacturing and transportation infrastructure, including a fleet of trucks and specialized trailers. Burt brings experience in rural economic development, forestry, manufacturing, logistics, and workforce management.

Visit CoachforGovernor.com for more information on Coach Tuberville's campaign.