Huntsville-Madison County Chapter
Officers
Mary Peoples is the President of the Huntsville-Madison County Chapter and Executive Vice President of Region IV of BIG. Shortly after joining the national organization of Blacks in Government (BIG), she founded the chapter some 31 years ago. Her philosophy is to serve wherever needed to keep the chapter operating. During the course of her BIG membership, she has served as an officer at the chapter, regional and as a member of the Board of Directors for three terms at the national level. She is the recipient of BIG service awards at the chapter and regional level. In 2012 Mary was inducted into the organization’s Distinguished Service Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor bestowed on any BIG member for exceptional service.
Mary is a recent retired federal employee, having worked mainly in the Equal Employment Opportunity career program most of her 40 year career. She finished her career at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal as the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity.
Mary is a native of Huntsville. She is a graduate of Alabama A&M University with a B.S. degree in History and Government and a minor in Business Administration. She completed further study at the graduate level at the U.S. Army Management Staff College. Mary is the proud mother of two sons and “Gram” to five adorable grandsons.
Mary Peoples President
Mr. Hawkins serves as Vice President of HSV BIG. He is originally from Talladega, Alabama and spent over 20 years in United States Army and retired as a First Sergeant. Mr. Hawkins has over 30 years of specialized experience in managing and operating with in the business acumen within the U.S. Army as War-fighter and as Civilian in Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. He began his career in the United States Army as a Radio Operator and held numerous jobs in Telecommunications from Network Management to Cable Installers advancing to a Senior Leader. Currently, he serves as the Publications Lead, providing support to the Integrated Product Support Branch, Cargo Program Manager Office.
Mr. Hawkins is a graduate of University of Maryland where he earned a B.S. Degree in Management, and an MBA with a minor in Technology Management at Touro University International. He is a graduate of Junior Leadership Program, Basic Leadership Program, Advance Leadership Program, First Sergeant Course, Civilian Leadership Course, LEAD Course, Logistics Management Intern Program, and Darlene Young Executive Leadership Academy (DYLA) at Morgan State University in partnership with Blacks In Government.
He is active in the community supporting non-profit organizations that provide support to local charities, especially children and senior citizens. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, Blacks in Government (Life Member), DAV, American Legion, NAACP Life Member, Association of the United States Army, Federally Employed Women, Signal Corp Regimental Association, and Members Only Club. He and his wife, Mrs. Cynthia Jenkins-Hawkins, are the proud parents of three adult children and one teenager, and seven grandchildren.
Michelle serves as the Treasurer for the Huntsville-Madison County Chapter of Blacks in Government, where she is also a Life Member. She has a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from Alabama A&M University, along with a Master's of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
Currently, she works at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command as a Program Analyst in the Technical Center. She resides in Harvest, Alabama with her husband and has a son, daughter, two bonus sons, and two granddaughters.
Cassie Washington hails from the Midwest with a graduate degree in leadership. Has served in the capacity of both a federal and state employee for 10 years. Has been a member of the Huntsville-Madison Chapter of Blacks in Government for 3 years.
Cassie Washington Assistant Treasurer
Arlene Erskine is a retired Information Assurance Specialist at US Army NETCOM, with 30 years of Federal Government Service. She received her higher education from J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College and Alabama A & M University. Arlene is a Life Member of Blacks in Government and serves as the Assistant Secretary and the Chair for the Awards Committee.
Arlene also supports the BIG National, Regional and Local training that is held annually, and supports the local activities and events that are held monthly.
Ronnie Hawkins Vice President
Michelle Smith Treasurer
Arlene Erskine Secretary
Standing Committees
Eddie Williams currently serves as a Contract Price/Cost Analyst for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Center (USACE HNC).
Before joining USACE HNC in February 2020, Eddie worked as a Contract Price/Cost Analyst for the Army Contracting Command (ACC) on Redstone Arsenal. He also worked as an Auditor for the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCAA) as a member of the Alabama Regional Office. Eddie began his civilian Government career as a Military Technician with the 87th Training Support Division serving as Chief of the Internal Review Evaluation Team in Hoover, Alabama.
Prior his career as a Federal civilian employee, Eddie served in many capacities with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. which included positions as Regional Supervisor for Internal Audit, District Loss Prevention Supervisor, and Co-Manager for Supercenters. Eddie was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Alabama A&M University and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after serving twenty-eight years of active and reserve duties with the United States Army Reserve.
Eddie earned an Accounting Degree from Alabama A&M University and is currently enrolled in the universities master’s degree program.
Eddie Williams Chair - Finance
Cary M. Grant Jr is a media executive and independent film/TV producer, serving as CEO and Executive Producer for his company, Premo Network + Studios. Cary has been in the media/entertainment space for over 25 years, having worked with major media companies that include Discovery Communications where he served as Director of Distribution and Partnerships.
Cary works with various non-profits in the San Francisco Bay Area, including serving as a board member for ArtQuest, a magnet arts high school program in Santa Rosa, California. He also is the founder and executive director for Visionary Media & Film, which provides training and mentorship to underserved youth who wish to pursue a career in film and media.
With much of his family in Huntsville, he is a big supporter of BIG’s Hunstville-Madison County Chapter, having joined as an Associate Member in 2022.
