BIOGRAPHIES
Stephen L. Pryor, CEO
Steve Pryor, Partner and CEO, co-founded the independent firm that is now Pryor McCormick in 1989. Ten years before, in 1979, he entered the investment world with training in San Francisco as a Registered Representative with Dean Witter, Reynolds.
In 1981, Steve was one of three professionals who established the first E.F. Hutton brokerage office in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to building investment relationships with a growing number of clients, he was named Assistant Vice President. Duties included Pension Consultant and Consulting Services and Annuity Coordinator.
Establishing himself in the independent investment arena, Steve opened an office with Royal Alliance, which has its home office in New York City, in 1989. He built his independent firm, Cahaba Advisory, and became sole proprietor and Officer of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) in 1999.
Within NEXT Financial Inc. Steve is a member of the Compliance Advisory Board, as well as the Acquisitions and Development Committee.
Professional:
- 1979 General Securities Representative
Uniform Securities Agent State Law
1986 National Commodities Futures
1994 General Securities Principal
2000 Certified Funds Specialist
2003 Mutual Fund Securities Principal
2006 Registered Options Principal
2009 Certified Wealth Strategist
In November of 2007, Steve's office in Birmingham was named in Forbes Magazine list of "The Ten Most Dependable Wealth Managers of the Southeast."
Education:
1978, Masters Degree, Music, University of Alabama. 1975, Bachelor's Degree, Music, University of Montevallo.
Personal:
Steve has been married to Libby Taylor Pryor since 1991.
Steve has been a professional musician since 1973, having been a regular with Dick's Hat Band, Sunday Night Music Club, Everyday People, The Joe Giattina Orchestra, The Harrison Cooper Orchestra, and JB and Friends. He has appeared with acts including: The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bob Hope, Roy Clark, the OJ's, Natalie Cole and others. He has also performed for stage musicals such as "The Producers", "Chicago", and "The Full Monty". Steve has played with a number of traveling shows such as The Ringling Brothers - Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney On Parade, and The Ice Capades.
James Ira McCormick, CLTC
Jim McCormick, partner and COO, grew up in Vestavia Hills, Alabama with younger brother, Gregg, and parents, Jim and Tricia. Together they attended Shades Mountain Baptist Church where Jim is still an active member.
After graduating from Vestavia Hills High School, Jim went on to Auburn University. There he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Jim graduated from Auburn with a B.S. in Psychology in 2003. That same year, Jim began working with Mass Mutual.
It was around this time that Steve and Jim met through mutual contacts. Steve currently owned Cahaba Advisory Investments, and Jim was just starting out at Mass Mutual. Every Tuesday morning Steve would mentor Jim over breakfast. After seven months, Jim left Mass Mutual to work for Steve. After four years of mentorship and growth, the two men paired up to form Pryor McCormick in 2008. Jim has obtained his CLTC (Certified Long-Term Care) and is nearly finished with his CFP (Certified Financial Planner).
Personal:
In 2004, Jim married his long-time friend Jennifer Shallenberg. Jennifer gave birth to their son Daniel James McCormick three years later. Their daughter Caroline was born in November of 2009. In their spare time, Jennifer and Jim like to build and sell different business entities, travel, and work with non-profit organizations.
Jim currently serves on the Birmingham Angel Network Board, a group of executives, professionals and accredited investors who are interested in investing their time and money into new, cutting edge startup companies. Jim is on the board of Magic Moments, a local, non-profit organization that grants wishes to children ages 4-18 of Alabama living with life-threatening or life-altering medical conditions. Jim is also on the Young Leaders Board of the Haggai-Institute, one of the largest global Christian organizations.
In 2010 Jim was asked to be a part of the Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Class, which raises money for MS.
Jim serves on the WE2 Advisory Board as part of a team performing due diligence on money managers.
Jim along with Elizabeth Stewart started specialknowledge.org in the summer of 2009, a non-profit organization for Children with Special Needs.
Andrea Alford
Andrea Alford was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama with her
brother, Eric Beasley, and parents, Jerry and Judy Beasley. In 1990,
Andrea graduated from the Resource Learning Center with an Advanced
Academic Diploma. After high school, Andrea acquired a BA in Psychology
with a minor in Sociology from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Andrea started working for American Express Financial Advisors in 2000 where she was a financial advisor. In 2001, Andrea began working for Cingular Wireless in Sales where she stayed for two years. In 2003, Andrea started in the Cashiering Department at Morgan Stanley. In April 2008, Andrea came to Pryor McCormick. She currently serves as Executive Assistant to Steve and Jim.
Personal:
Andrea married Reid Alford in 2003. She and Reid reside in Hoover with their two Weimaraners, Oliver and Sophie. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys taking her dogs to the park, reading, and listening to music.
Melanie Dickinson
Melanie Dickinson joined Pryor & McCormick in 2009. As an investment advisor of a completely independent, full-service investment firm, her clients
have access to the full range of the firm's products, services,
knowledge and experience.
Melanie began her career in 2004 as a part-time representative with Primerica Financial Services while serving as an educator with a Master's degree in the elementary classroom. Melanie's heart for teaching has become an asset for her clients needing financial direction. Her complete transition from the classroom came in 2008 with inspiration from her father to educate individuals about investing.
Melanie's belief is, "It is imperative to know what type of investments that you have, how they benefit you, and how they are performing". Still in the classroom in important ways, she transcends the usual financial industry sales practices by using tactical strategies and assessments to meet her clients' investment objectives.
Personal:
Melanie grew up in Springville, Alabama sharing her Mother and Father as house parents at John Croyle's Big Oak Ranch. She spent 11 years in the ministry with her parents and graduated from Westbrook Christian School in Rainbow City, Alabama.
Attending Jacksonville State University, she met her husband, Timothy Dickinson. As Timothy served his country in Iraq, Melanie graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Tim went on to graduate with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice. Melanie acquired her Masters Degree in K-12 Instruction, Curriculum, and Assessment from Walden University and taught for four years in the Metro Atlanta area while her husband served as a police officer.
In September of 2008, Melanie and Tim were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Abigail Elizabeth Dickinson. They now reside in Odenville, Alabama and are active members of North Park Baptist Church in Trussville. Melanie is a member of the Junior League of Birmingham and founder of Women of the PowerGrid, a non-profit organization for women.
Shanna Cleveland
Shanna is a licensed assistant at the firm. Her professional background began with an advanced diploma from Walker High School. She then completed her Bachelors of Finance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham while working in the banking industry. Since then, she has served in the mortgage industry as the Director of Medical Staff Services at Walker Baptist Medical Center, and as a representative with Primerica Financial Services. In addition to her range of experience, she is securities licensed and enjoys helping others optimize their finances.
Personal: Shanna was born and raised in Jasper, AL. She and her husband, John, have been happily married since 1999 and now live in Clay. Together, they serve as resource parents at the Big Oak Girls' Ranch and enjoy traveling in their spare time. Shanna volunteers weekly at Serving You Ministries and assists her husband in teaching the Newlywed life group at Northpark Baptist Church. Her other interests include reading and running.
PryorMcCormick Investments
4000 Southlake Park, Suite 200
Birmingham, AL 35244
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Sterne Agee Financial Services.
Member FINRA/SIPC.
PryorMccormick is not an affiliate of Sterne Agee Financial Services.