Leading with Purpose
Meet the passionate leaders and dedicated team members who guide BCCC's mission to help immigrant and refugee families flourish in Birmingham.
Servant Leadership
Our leadership team embodies the values of compassion, collaboration, and commitment to serving vulnerable populations in our community.
Heart for Service
Each leader brings a passion for serving immigrant and refugee families with dignity and respect.
Collaborative Spirit
Working together across church and community partnerships to maximize our impact and effectiveness.
Proven Excellence
Bringing professional expertise and ministry experience to ensure quality programs and sustainable growth.
Our Staff Team
Dedicated professionals who work daily to serve families and coordinate our comprehensive programs.
Katherine Woods
Executive Director
Executive LeadershipKatherine currently serves as the Executive Director of Birmingham Cross Cultural Connections and Chairman of the Board for Oak Tree Ministries. Katherine has over ten years of experience in the non-profit sector in management, consulting, and fundraising. Katherine has a heart to see the immigrant of Birmingham feel loved, seen and cared for by the church. With a BA in Christian Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a MA in Justice & Advocacy, Katherine is uniquely equipped to lead in this endeavor.
Elizabeth Cook
Director of Operations
Ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, volunteer coordination, and organizational efficiency.
Dylan Peters, LMSW
Restoration & Development Director
Managing long-term client support, case management, and community development programs.
Brenda Aguirre
Resettlement & Placement Case Manager
Providing direct support to refugee families through our World Relief partnership and resettlement services.
Jessica Roberts
Director of Education
Overseeing educational programs including ESL classes, cultural orientation, and skill development initiatives.
Amy Cotton
ESL Director
Leading our English language programs across multiple locations and coordinating with church partners.
Chandra Ryals
Volunteer Coordinator
Emilee Gibbons
Youth Services Director
Board of Directors
Community leaders providing governance, strategic oversight, and organizational accountability.
Erin Bounds
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Erin Bounds is a business entrepreneur and executive who holds a BS in Consumer Economics from the University of Georgia and MDiv from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Erin is a licensed general contractor, co-founder and CEO of The ESB group, Inc., a commercial audio, video, and theatrical lighting company. Erin has served in several advisory roles. She is currently a board member for Designs for Hope, an engineering-based ministry that works in developing countries. She also just completed an eight-year term on the Board of Trustees for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). She served four years as Chair of the Financial Services Committee, and in her final year she was asked to serve as Chairperson of the Board. Erin has a passion for equipping others and “work as missions” endeavors.
Jim Foxworthy
Vice-Chairman of the Board & Treasurer
Jim currently serves as the Director of Short-Term Global Missions at The Church at Brook Hills. Fox loves developing partnerships in other contexts and connecting members of the local church to those partnerships. Jim recognizes the importance of caring for internationals in Birmingham so that they may thrive in their new home.
Lesley Russ
Secretary of the Board of Directors
Lesley is a seasoned mortgage professional with national management experience and has forged a successful career navigating the complexities of the industry. Adopted from Korea, Lesley is not only a devoted mother of two and a wife of sixteen years to Chandler, but also brings a unique perspective and resilience to her personal and professional life. Rooted in her Christian faith, she maintains a steadfast commitment to integrity and excellence in her endeavors.
Alex Leath
Board of Directors
Since 1987, Alex Leath’s law practice has primarily focused on economic development, site selection and incentive negotiation. From the start of his career working as part of the team to recruit Mercedes-Benz to Alabama, Alex has had a significant role in projects of all scopes and sizes for companies, including Airbus/EADS, Audi, Boeing, Booz|Allen|Hamilton, Canoo, Daiken, Dollar General, Form Energy, Georgia-Pacific, Honda, Isuzu, Northrop Grumman, Ogihara, Panasonic, Qualitest, Raytheon, REHAU, Rockwool International, RxBenefits, Tesla, Thyssenkrupp, Torch Technologies, Toyo Tire, Toyota, VF Corporation, Vinfast, Volkswagen and one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies. Excluding his work on the search for the second headquarters for the e-commerce company, Alex has worked on projects in 35 states that have invested over $50 billion and created over 45,000 jobs. Today, Alex is a partner at the Bradley Law firm.
How We Work Together
Our organizational structure ensures accountability, effectiveness, and mission alignment across all programs.
Governance Structure
Board Oversight
Strategic direction and organizational accountability
Executive Leadership
Daily operations and program coordination
Department Directors
Specialized program implementation and management
Community Partners
Church partnerships and collaborative service delivery
Transparency
Open communication about our work, impact, and stewardship of resources.
Accountability
Regular evaluation of programs and outcomes to ensure effectiveness.
Excellence
Continuous improvement in all aspects of our service and ministry.
Collaboration
Working together across organizational boundaries for greater impact.
Connect with Our Team
Have questions about our programs or want to learn more about partnership opportunities? We'd love to hear from you.
Get in Touch
Address
2025 Patton Chapel Road
Hoover, AL 35216
Phone
(205) 201-1095
Join Our Mission
Whether you're interested in volunteering, partnering with us, or learning more about our work, our leadership team is here to help.