Mobile, Alabama 36695
Phone: 251-633-8055
Fax: 251-633-5577
Biographical Profile for Ben Hansert
Ben Hansert joined the Board of Covenant Christian School in 2010.
Ben’s professional career includes working for numerous healthcare organizations across the country to include Vencor Hospital Corporation, Integrated Health Services and Meridian Healthcare Group, where he served as Vice President of Operations. Today he is Director of Operations for Infirmary Medical Clinics, a division of Infirmary Health System. He is responsible for the administrative oversight of medical groups in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
Upon graduating from the University of South Alabama in 1991 with a bachelor degree in Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Ben began his career which evolved into healthcare administration. Over the next fifteen years, he has worked for various healthcare organizations across the contiguous United States before he accepted his current position with Infirmary Health System in 2008.
Ben is a native of Manchester, Tennessee. He moved to Mobile in 1987 to attend college and soon after graduating from college, he married Lea Ann Fletcher of Semmes. Lea Ann holds dual master degrees in Speech Pathology and Educational Media. She currently serves as the media specialist for the Regional School for the Deaf and Blind in Mobile.
Ben and Lea Ann have one son, Jonathan. Jonathan attended Covenant Christian School from the first through eighth grades and now attends a local high school. He continues to draw from the positive experiences, core Christian values and excellent education he received from Covenant Christian School.
Ben is a member of the national American Hospital Association and national and local chapters of the Medical Group Management Association.
Biographical Profile for Bill HightowerBill Hightower joined the Board of Covenant Christian School in 2009 as its interim Chair.
Bill’s career includes working for numerous Fortune 100 corporations including Emerson Electric, AlliedSignal/Honeywell, and Eaton. Today he is President of Tower Strategies, Inc., a corporate strategy and corporate mergers and acquisition consulting practice. He works with clients in the U.S., Europe, and China in defining their growth strategy and implementing it through acquisitions and alliances. He also works with various private equity firms regarding operational support and capital raising efforts.
After graduating from the University of South Alabama, in Finance, and additional studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, London, England, Bill moved away from Mobile for 16 years. While away he received his MBA from the Owen School of Business Management, Vanderbilt University, and moved 7 times for multiple company jobs. He returned to Mobile in 2002. Bill is also a writer and public speaker, co-authoring several business/economics publications regarding European Community dynamics and the introduction of the Euro.
Having originally moved to Mobile in 1969 at the age of eight, he attended Murphy High School and later married Susan Binegar from Grand Bay. Susan is a realtor with Dauphin Realty and owner of a children’s clothing business with both on-line and retail outlets.
Bill and Susan have three children, Will, Haven, and Ben. All of them have attended Covenant Christian School at various levels, in addition to public schools and home schooling while living in other states. It is because of the excellent education and experience his children have received from Covenant, that Bill serves as a Board member.
Some of Bill’s philanthropic efforts include Board level membership at Bethany Christian Adoption Services, United Way Leadership, the Boris Trajkovski International Foundation, the Middle East Project, and the European & U.S. National Prayer Breakfasts.
Biographical Profile for Dennis Braswell
Dennis Braswell hails from San Antonio, Texas, and has lived in Mobile since 2001. He and his wife, Carol Anne Braswell, have been married for 22 years. Carol Anne was born in Mobile, and she and her family have been members of Covenant Church of Mobile for many years. Carol Anne and Dennis have two children, John and Anna, who attend St. Paul’s Episcopal School.
Dennis received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1985, and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1990.
He attended elementary and high school at a relatively small school on an army base in San Antonio, and values the environment and special kind of educational experience that can be fostered in a private setting.
Dennis is an intellectual property attorney, and also is part owner of and works in a family business that owns and operates local convenience stores. Before coming to Mobile, Dennis practiced law at Baker Botts, LLP and at The Coca-Cola Company. His law practice focuses on licensing and enforcing patents, and on negotiating technology-based agreements.
Dennis is an Elder at Covenant Church of Mobile, and serves as class pastor to Colleen Clover’s 7th grade class. He also serves on the Board of Directors of a New England paint company that develops and markets advanced anti-fouling paints for marine and other applications.
Biographical Profile for Donny Savage
Donny Savage joins the Board of Covenant Christian School in 2010.
With a child who graduated from Covenant and himself a former board president of the school, Donny is excited to be reunited to such an outstanding program. “I look forward to building on the foundation laid by others for future generations to obtain an excellent education and develop their God-given callings.”
Donny’s career includes his present position as Vice-President and Part Owner of Merchants Adjustment Service, Inc. Merchants Adjustment Service, Inc. is a leading medical collections agency serving the southeastern United States. His career there spans thirty years involving management, sales, and product development. He is a member in good standing of several professional associations including American Collector Association, Healthcare Financial Management Association, and the Medical Group Managers Association.
After graduating in 1973 from the University of South Alabama with a degree in Psychology, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Alabama. Donny spent four years in the mental health field serving as the Director of Mental Retardation Services for Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center from 1977-79.
Born and raised in Chickasaw, he graduated from Vigor High School in 1969. Donny married his wife of thirty-five years Janis Pope, from Eight Mile, in 1974. Janis is an excellent homemaker who has given herself to raising their family. They have three wonderful children: Mendolyn, Samuel, and Lauren. Mendolyn is married to Dr. Clay Rainer and resides in Fairhope with her four children. Samuel is presently in law school at Ole Miss scheduled to graduate in December 2010. Lauren is a senior at UMS-Wright Prep School and plans to attend the University of Alabama this fall.
Donny serves on the board of International Gospel Outreach and actively supports local Christian ministries. He is an active member of Christ Anglican Church in Mobile. He strongly desires to join with the other board members of Covenant Christian School, administration, teachers, and support staff to insure a bright tomorrow for all the future graduates. His prayer is that Covenant Christian School will build a legacy of service to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom through the accomplishments of the graduates. To God be the glory!!!
Biographical Profile for Jonathan Charest
MSFS, RFC, CFS
Jonathan attended the University of South Alabama and obtained his undergraduate degree in Communications with a focus in Marketing. He obtained his Master in Financial Services (MSFS) and his Certified Fund Specialist (CFS) from the Institute of Business and Finance. He is Board Certified in Mutual Funds, Asset Allocation and Estate Planning.
Jonathan has achieved the professional designation of Registered Financial
Consultant (RFC) from the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants.
In his time away from work, Jonathan and his wife, Ashlie, enjoy spending time on their lake with their two daughters, Emily and Kimberly. They also spend time together in their cabin in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
Jonathan is an Alumnus of Covenant School, having graduated in 1998, and currently a parent of two children at Covenant. He recognizes that many of his character traits were formed as a student of Covenant Christian School. As such, he desires to help this great institution for many years to come.
Biographical Profile for Robert Brenner
Robert Brenner is a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and VP of Marketing at Integrity Music. Earning his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, he pastored an inner city ministry for five years. During this time he worked in the building industry as a general contractor until presented with the opportunity of managing a Christian bookstore. That store’s success opened the door to becoming the Director of Membership for the Christian Booksellers Association in Colorado Springs, where he served for four years. In 1990, he moved to Mobile to work for Integrity Music. He is currently Integrity Music's Vice President of Worship and Resource Product Marketing. Additionally, he oversees marketing for the new Integrity Worship Institute Online School of Worship and leads Intercessory Prayer for the company.
Robert’s definition of marketing is centered in “the Great Commission” as written in Matthew 28:18-20; where we are commanded to “go and make disciples”. Marketing is essential as we craft our story in ways that cause others to desire to “taste and see” the goodness of the Lord in what we have to offer.
As time allows, he teaches a series called Foundations of Worship in various seminar settings and heads up the Men’s Ministry at Christ Anglican Church. The Brenner’s are very involved in many areas of this church’s ministry. Eight months of the year, Robert spends most of his leisure time mowing many acres of grass and balances his dislike of cold weather with gratitude for the few months in Mobile that the grass does not grow.
Robert and his wife Sarah have been married 42 years and have three married children and three grandchildren. The Brenner’s find great joy traveling to the Seattle area as frequently as possible to see these grandchildren.
Biographical Profile for Alison Richardson
Alison Richardson has served on the Finance Committee of Covenant Christian School for the past four years, beginning in 2006.
Alison is married to Mark Richardson and has four children, Mary Katherine 16, Sarah 14, Ryan 12 and Matthew 9. All have attended or are attending Covenant School. Mark and Alison both believe they are truly blessed to have found Covenant School.
Graduating from the University of South Alabama in 1987, with a BA in Accounting, Alison worked with a multinational CPA firm in Mobile. Leaving the accounting firm in 1989 Alison went to work for Integrity Music as a staff accountant. While with Integrity for 14 years, Alison served as corporate controller and CFO. Currently Alison owns her own accounting firm Richardson and Associates, LLP and an employee leasing company Reliant Staffing, Inc.
For Alison, Mobile, Alabama has always been home. Born and raised on Dog River, Alison attended First Independent Methodist High School. Alison is involved in the community with Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Resource Center as a volunteer.