Founded in March of 2015, the Breathe Easier Alliance of Alabama (BEAA) is a paid membership of vape/e-cig business owners and individuals seeking to protect vaping in Alabama.
The BEAA believes vaping is a financial and public health boon for our state. The vaping industry is responsible for creating over 200 new small businesses (since 2012) that employ over 2000 people in Alabama, all while facilitating a reduced-harm alternative for millions of adult tobacco users across the state.
We are partnered with Angi Stalnaker (lobbyist) to ensure our industry and lifestyle are protected and treated fairly under Alabama law.
Because we are the only vape and e-cig lobby group in Alabama, everyone who has an interest in vaping should like and support us. Our efforts have already resulted in two vape tax bills being killed within 2015.
In addition to our direct legislative influence, our efforts are focused on public awareness, local and state level calls-to-action, and data collection.
If you want to protect vaping in Alabama, join the BEAA as a member/owner or an individual, and help us maintain a financially-backed, imposing, and influential presence in Montgomery and jurisdictions everywhere across the state.
President: Stacey Hamilton | President@BEAA-AL.org
Owner of Kaleidoscope Vapor, smoked for over twenty years. She quit smoking seven years ago after trying everything possible, vaping was what finally worked. Stacey opened her first store in 2014 and now owns three stores. Shortly after opening her first store she began to see our industry come under serious attack. Out of fear that this great product that could help long-term smokers finally quit was going to go away she began her work in advocacy. She has traveled to Washington DC, Chicago, Montgomery and numerous other places fighting negative legislation and learning about advocacy. Stacey has been the president of the BEAA for the past year. She has served on the board in some capacity since a few months after it’s inception. Stacey also serves on the board of the national association, the Vapor Technology Association and is a member of CASAA and TSFA.
Vice-President: Jay Hardesty | VP@BEAA-AL.org
Director Of Membership and Communication: Gordon Tinsley |
Owner and operator of five vape shops and Earths Bounty Ejuice. Gordon smoked for more than twenty years about two and a half packs a day. He switched to vaping in 2012 to save money and quickly recognized the tremendous health benefits. This led him to opening his first vape shop and developing Earths Bounty Ejuice. 20 plus year smoking 2.5 packs a day. Switched to Vaping originally to save money and it did so much more than just that. Gordon joined the BEAA board last year and has been an invaluable asset. He is never afraid to step up and speak out for our industry. He manages this while raising four children and running his businesses.
Treasurer: Rob Roberts | Treasurer@BEAA-AL.org
Owner Nuway Vape originating in Florence. Rob’s wife Tina also owns TJ’s Juice and together they have opened multiple stores throughout Alabama and one in Mississippi. Rob was one of the original members of BEAA. He has served on the board in multiple capacities since it’s conception. Rob and his wife Tina have fought for this industry in a full on “Whatever it takes” attitude. Wherever the fire that needs to be put out is, he is there. He has been a devoted and dedicated member of BEAA and a strong voice for advocacy within the entire industry for several years.
Director of Information and Adminstration: Rhonda Osment Lambert
Partner/GM of The Vapor Apothecary. 46 year old, married 28 years, mother of 2 beautiful children and Lolli to 2 gorgeous grandkids. She was 12 years old when she started smoking. In 2011 (at age 39), Rhonda noticed a difference in her cigarettes (She felt like she had been licking stamps all day after smoking). After doing a little research, Rhonda found that a new “Fire Safe” law had been implemented and cigarettes now contained ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer which, according to my research at the time, is literally carpet glue. She stopped smoking cold turkey and struggled for a year without them She discovered vaping thanks to her brother Danny. In 2013, while vaping was still in it’s infancy, The Vapor Apothecary was born! In the following years they opened 2 more stores in Alabama. Her health has improved. She says her heart will be broken if the government regulates us out of business and she fully expect that many, many people will return to smoking combustible cigarettes if they don’t have access to this industry. PLEASE support the BEAA. We are fighting for YOU!
Director Of Special Events and education: Joe Ferrell
Joe lives in Southside with his wife Kim. He has dedicated his entire adult life in service to public safety. He was a police officer, firefighter and EMT. He decided to open his business after witnessing the struggle of many of his patients suffering with COPD and other respiratory conditions while still smoking combustible cigarettes. Four years and a great deal of research later, he currently owns Southside Vapes, Attalla Vapor, Gadsden Vape and Centre Vapes. He also owns Switch eliquid. Joe has served on the board of BEAA for the past year. Joe has passionately supported advocacy efforts during and even before his tenure on the board.
Events/Membership Facilitator: David Chadwick
David recently joined our team. He is employed by the BEAA as the Director of Events and Membership Facilitator. He smoked to 28 years until vaping came along. David was one of the very first people to see the need for BEAA to exist and was instrumental in bringing shop owners together. In March 2015 as a last-ditch effort to combat HB224, he personally brought in shop owners to fight. That meeting is when the BEAA was originally formed as an association. David still enjoys getting out and meeting shop owners and encouraging them to join BEAA. He is well known in the industry for his passion and drive to help keep our industry alive and thriving.