PenAir, Fort McClellan Credit Unions Plan Merger; Le Moyne’s Names New Chef in Business Roundup

MOBILE, Ala. — Two credit unions with deep roots on opposite ends of Alabama’s business map are planning to combine, a downtown Mobile steakhouse has a new chef in charge of its kitchen, and one of the state’s best-known personal injury firms has picked a veteran lawyer to run its Mobile office. Here is a look at recent business moves, hires and transactions across the region.

PenAir and Fort McClellan credit unions to merge

PenAir Credit Union and Fort McClellan Credit Union have announced plans to merge, bringing together two member-owned financial cooperatives with nearly 165 years of combined service.

The legal merger is expected to take place during the first half of 2027. Operational integration, the behind-the-scenes work of combining systems, accounts and branch operations, is expected to continue through 2027 and into 2028.

PenAir is based in Pensacola, Florida. Fort McClellan Credit Union takes its name from the former Army post near Anniston in northeast Alabama.

Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives owned by their members, which sets them apart from banks owned by shareholders. Mergers between credit unions generally must be approved by regulators and, in many cases, by a vote of the members of the institution being merged. Members of both credit unions can expect to receive notices from their institutions about the timeline and any changes to accounts, cards or online banking as the process moves forward. Until then, members should continue to use their accounts as usual and watch for official communications from their own credit union.

Le Moyne’s Chophouse names Kaleb Melvin chef de cuisine

Le Moyne’s Chophouse at The Admiral Hotel in downtown Mobile has named Kaleb Melvin as its chef de cuisine, the title typically given to the chef who leads a restaurant kitchen’s daily operations.

The change comes during a strong stretch for the restaurant. Le Moyne’s ranks as the No. 1 restaurant in Mobile on Tripadvisor and has been named the best steakhouse in Alabama for two consecutive years in the Best of Alabama Awards.

The Admiral Hotel itself has also drawn notice this year. As South AL News reported, the historic downtown hotel was named to the 2026 MICHELIN Guide, the only hotel in Mobile selected.

Jacob Fuller to lead Shunnarah’s Mobile office

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys has selected veteran Alabama lawyer Jacob Fuller to lead its Mobile office and oversee the firm’s work in South Alabama.

Fuller brings 24 years of legal experience to the role. He founded J. Fuller Law LLC, where he built and managed his own practice in Mobile and represented clients in a broad range of matters.

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is a Birmingham-based personal injury firm whose advertising is a familiar sight on billboards and television across Alabama and the Southeast.

Medical supplier leases space at Gateway Center West

Nashville-based Reliable Medical Supply has leased 4,700 square feet of office and flex space at Gateway Center West, 1201 Montlimar Drive in Mobile. Adam Metcalfe of Metcalfe and Company handled the transaction.

Office/flex space generally combines traditional offices with room that can be used for storage, light distribution or similar work, a mix that suits businesses that keep inventory on hand. The Montlimar Drive corridor in west Mobile is home to a large concentration of office buildings and medical and professional businesses.

Pine Beach Trail ranks among Alabama’s most peaceful places

A statewide survey by the mental health advocacy group A Mission for Michael ranked the Pine Beach Trail in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores as the No. 2 place in Alabama where residents find their “spiritual home.”

The survey asked 3,001 respondents which natural place made them feel most at peace, grounded and connected to something bigger than themselves. Little River Falls near Fort Payne, in the Little River Canyon area of northeast Alabama, took the top spot.

The Pine Beach Trail is one of the best-known walks in the Bon Secour refuge, a federally protected area on the Fort Morgan Peninsula west of Gulf Shores that is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The trail winds through coastal forest and past freshwater and saltwater habitats before reaching the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, giving hikers a chance to see migrating birds, wildflowers and other wildlife along the way. The refuge is free to visit, and the trailhead is along Alabama 180.

For many Baldwin County residents and visitors, the ranking will come as little surprise. The refuge is a popular stop for birders during spring and fall migrations and for anyone looking for a quieter stretch of beach away from the condominiums and crowds.

Shrimp Festival merchandise still available

Although Hurricane Isaias forced the cancellation of this year’s National Shrimp Festival, merchandise made for the annual event is still available. Festival shirts and other items can be purchased online and at the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber office, 3150 Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores.

The festival, which typically draws large crowds to the public beach in Gulf Shores each October, is organized by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. Buying merchandise is one way supporters can help the chamber after the loss of the event.

Previously reported

Several other items from recent weeks have been covered in depth by South AL News:

• USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute honored Dr. Debanjan Chakroborty with the 17th annual Mayer Mitchell Award for Excellence in Cancer Research for work on how cancer grows and spreads.
• Theodore shipbuilder Silver Ships Inc. won about $12 million in U.S. Coast Guard Foreign Military Sales work to build patrol boats for El Salvador and transport boats for the Philippines, with first deliveries expected in late 2027.
• Ellis G. Foster Jr. joined the Mobile Chamber as director of government affairs after serving as director of economic development for the Downtown Mobile Alliance.
• USA Health partnered with Greater Mobile Urgent Care, 5100 Rangeline Road, to expand access to prompt care in south Mobile County.
• The Hargrove Foundation will hold its 11th Summit & Gala on Nov. 19 at the Battle House Hotel, featuring Ben Raines, Lulu Gribbin, Sebastian Terry and singer-songwriter Mac McAnally.