• McMillan Associates Staff Bios•

George D. H. McMillan, JR.
President
George is a 1966 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Auburn University and a 1969 graduate of the University of Virginia Law School. For 16 years, he was a partner in the Birmingham law firm of McMillan & Spratling which he founded. During that time, McMillan served one term as a State Representative, one term as a State Senator, and from 1979-1983, he was Alabamas Lieutenant Governor.

George served as Chairperson of Alabama’s delegation to the 1980 Democratic Convention. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board and, for seven years, was Chairman of Alabama’s Film Commission. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Black Belt Community Foundation.

In 1988, George formed McMillan Associates, a full-service special events production, management, marketing and consulting firm. McMillan Associates, based in Birmingham, administers all aspects of festival and event production, ranging from corporate sponsorships to marketing and talent brokerage to site construction and management. In addition, the firm handles a diversity of governmental consulting and fund-raising responsibilities. During the firm’s 20-year history McMillan Associates has created and produced signature events for an impressive array of clients, including national corporations, state and city governments and leading not-for-profit organizations.

George is married to the former Ann Dial, and they have two children, George III and Ann Dial, ages 34 and 32.

Denise Lovoy Koch
Project Manager - McMillan Associates
Executive Director - City Stages

Denise Koch is a native of Birmingham and a sixth-year member of McMillan Associates. Denise is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and a double minor in Spanish and Marketing. Denise has taken on significant roles in the management of Fiesta, a festival produced for the Hispanic Business Council of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, 3 Rivers Music Festival in Columbia, South Carolina, and City Stages. She was Project Manager of the 2005 Birmingham Mayor’s Arts Awards Ceremony, Project Manager for Fiesta 2005, 2006, and 2007, Project Manager for the BRAVO! Festival 2004, 2005, and 2007, Project Manager for the Helen Keller Birthplace Foundation Capital Campaign Kickoff Event, Project Manager for the 2007 Workplay New Years Evolution Event, Project Manager of the Auburn University Campaign Kick-Off Event and Donor Celebration, and Site Manager of the 2007 Sidewalk Film Festival. She is currently serving as Project Manager of Fiesta 2008, Site Manager of Sidewalk 2008 and as Executive Director of City Stages 2008-2009.

Denise has considerable knowledge and experience as it relates all aspects of event management including: site management and planning, programming, budgeting, financial management, volunteer recruitment and training, and public relations. She is excellent at identifying and managing subcontractors and has superior interpersonal skills.

Denise is married to John Koch and has a two-year-old son named Nicholas.

Stacy Kimbrough
Sponsorship Director
A 1991 graduate of Auburn University, Stacy worked in public relations in the banking industry before joining McMillan Associates in 1997. Stacy was initially hired as assistant to both President George McMillan and the then Sponsorship Director. Within two years, Stacy was promoted to Sponsorship Director and has served in that capacity since that time. Additionally, she oversees gateway operations and maintains financial records for Sloss Fright Furnance.

Stacy works directly with George McMillan in securing corporate sponsorships. She has worked on each McMillan project in which sponsor solicitations are involved and, thus, has a vast knowledge and contact base. Stacy is responsible for preparing sponsor proposals and researching and recruiting potential sponsors. She also ensures that contractual obligations are met, contracts are signed, payments are received, logos are obtained, tickets are distributed, all benefits are paid out and our sponsors are so pleased with association that they desire to renew their sponsorships year after year.

Two of Stacy’s greatest strengths are her people skills and attention to detail. She is also a masterful copy editor. Her personal warmth and diplomacy are definite assets to our organization.

Taylor Anderson
Project Manager- McMillan Associates

Taylor Anderson originally from Buford, Georgia now calls Birmingham home. Taylor is a 2008 graduate of Samford University, where he received a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and International Business. Taylor came to work with McMillan Associates in February of 2008 as an intern and came on as a full member of the team in May of 2008. Taylor has taken on many roles within the organization and is currently the Alabama PALS project manager.

Taylor has considerable knowledge and experience as it relates to site planning, budgeting, public relations, and artist hospitality.

Grant Thomas

As a Birmingham native Grant had the opportunity to begin working with McMillan Associates as early as high school, working as part of the site management crew for City Stages. Grant is a 2004 graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatrical design and technology. He then worked as a stagehand and carpenter for four seasons with the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespearean Festival. After returning to Birmingham he branched out as a freelance designer and carpenter, producing scenery for theatre and later special events.

Grant puts emphasis on a quality presentation, and his creations mirror that ideal. His work with McMillan Associates includes designing and producing elements for the Auburn University Capital Campaign Kickoff, Workplay’s New Year’s Evolution, and serving as the artistic director of Sloss Fright Furnace.

Jason Marchant
Assistant Project Manager
Assistant Creative Director
Jason is a Birmingham native who joined the McMillan team in 1996 and is one of the most multi-talented members of our organization. He is a skilled musician (who earlier in his career was an Atlantic recording artist) and assists in the selection of talent for the various musical events which we produce. In addition, Jason is adept at design and provides the graphic look for many of our proposals. Jason also serves as our office manager.

Kristie Cloud McCullough
Consultant
Kristie is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Kristie began her professional career as Special Events Director for City Stages, and subsequently held the position of Director of Operations before becoming the festival’s Executive Director, a position she held from 1993-2001.

Kristie was Executive Director of Oasis’ Women’s Counseling Center from 2001-2004. During her three-year tenure at Oasis, the agency’s budget and services doubled. Under Kristie’s leadership, Oasis secured funding from United Way and the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care. Kristie was responsible for the management of all agency programs, personnel, operations, fund development and financial management.

Kristie returned to City Stages as the Interim Executive Director from November of 2004 through August of 2007. As Executive Director, Kristie was responsible for all aspects of the event including budgeting, programming, financial management, site operations, ticketing, human resources and volunteer recruitment and training. City Stages has an operating budget of over $2 million and attracts 100,000 patrons annually to downtown Birmingham.

Kristie is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham, Class of 2004. Kristie is on the Board of Directors of The Women’s Network and the Creative Wellness Institute. She is also an active volunteer with Youth Leadership Forum, The United Way of Central Alabama, and Trinity United Methodist Church.

Kristie is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, where she earned her BA in Political Science.

Kristie has an eight year old daughter, Sarah Trammell McCullough.