Stephanie Smith has been named the Alabama Policy Institute’s president and CEO, it was announced today. She will succeed Caleb Crosby, who is stepping down as president and CEO after eight years.

According to the API, Crosby recommended Smith as his successor. She has been a consistent conservative political voice in the state of Alabama since 1998, the institute said.

“Stephanie has been working alongside the API team since 2021,” Board Chairman Richard Stimpson said. “She brings a wealth of political knowledge and decades of practical policy experience to the team.

“Stephanie is a stalwart for the principles upon which API was founded: free markets, limited government, and strong families.”

Smith said she was honored by the recommendation and the API board’s confidence in her.

“I am honored by the confidence of API’s leadership and look forward to building upon the successes of the organization by actively engaging elected officials and other Alabamians in substantive public policy conversations,” she said. “The mission and vision of API are sound and it is my privilege to have the opportunity to champion conservative principles statewide.”

Smith’s professional experience includes serving as director of Governmental Affairs for Regions Financial, president of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, assistant director of Finance for the state of Alabama, deputy director of Finance for the state of Alabama, and as principal of the Thatcher Coalition.

“It’s clear that Stephanie is the right person to serve as the next president and CEO of API,” said Tom Bradford, founding board chairman, former API interim president and CEO, and 2021 Alabama Policy Warrior Award recipient. “She is grounded in her faith and articulates the positions of the conservative movement with precision and passion.”