Stephanie Mell

About

Stephanie Kennedy-Mell is an award-winning hospitality executive and community leader, serving as Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer of ChurchStreet Family Hospitality. She oversees internal operations for seven restaurant and bar concepts across Huntsville and Athens, directing purchasing and non-consumable inventory systems, HR, technology implementation, reporting, marketing strategy, charitable giving, catering and events, and overall brand experience. A visionary leader and creative force behind the group’s concept development and atmosphere, she also manages its private dining clubs, including Purveyor Supper Club and North Alabama’s first sit-down food and wine tasting club.

Stephanie serves on the Alabama Retail & Hospitality Association (ARHA) State Board, where she actively advocates for the hospitality industry in Washington, DC as a member of the association’s “Hill Runner” program. She also serves on the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board as Small Business Vice Chair, and sits the Finance Committee, since 2024. Concurrently she sits on the HMA Collection Acquisition Board, Advisory Council for Arts Huntsville, and HMA Women’s Guild member since 2016. Stephanie is an active Huntsville Rotary member.  

Recognized statewide as Restaurateur of the Year (2023) and Retailer of the Year Annual Sales More Than $5 Million category (2024), Stephanie’s restaurant Purveyor earned the prestigious Michelin Recognition in 2025 for the inaugural Michelin South. In 2026, she was one of only 21 women chosen nationwide to participate in the James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership WEL Cohort.

Most recently she and ChurchStreet Family were awarded the Community Impact Award – Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, The Humanitarian Award – State of Alabama (ARHA) and in 2026 She & her Husband, the Downtown Huntsville Inc. Advocates of the Year.

• In 2019 she was the first female to ever chair the Downtown Huntsville Inc board.
• Graduate of the Huntsville/Madison Leadership L-30 program.
• Graduate of Leadership Alabama Class XXXI.
• Winner of the Red Ribbon Award for Food & Beverage in 2018 & 2020, Hospitality Association.
• 2019 Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Award Winner for Local Creative.
• Member - Huntsville Women’s Guild for the Art Museum, received the Rising Star award in 2020.
• 2022 Honoree of the Women’s Economic Development Council for Women Honoring Women.
• HSV/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Small Business Vice Chair
• Member of Rotary Club
• Member of Committee of 100

Bullet Points: 

Leadership & Board Service

• Board of Directors, Downtown Huntsville Inc. (First female Chair, 2019)
• Huntsville/Madison Leadership L-30 Graduate
• Leadership Alabama, Class XXXI
• Board of Directors, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Finance Committee (since 2024)
  • Small Business Vice Chair, Executive Board
• State Board Member, Alabama Hospitality & Restaurant Association
• HMA Collection Acquisition Board
• Advisory Council, Arts Huntsville
• Active Member, Huntsville Rotary Club
• Member, Huntsville Women’s Guild for the Art Museum

Honors & Recognition

• HSV/Madison County Hospitality Assoc - Red Ribbon Award for Food & Beverage (2018 & 2020)
• HMA Women’s Guild - Rising Star Award (2021)
• WEDC Women Honoring Women Honoree (2022)
• Restaurateurs of the Year, State of Alabama (2023)
• Retailer of the Year, State of Alabama (2024) – Annual Sales > $5M
• Michelin Recognition (2025) – Purveyor, inaugural Michelin South
• Community Impact Award – Huntsville/Madison County Chamber (2025)
• Humanitarian Award – State of Alabama (ARHA) (2025)
• Downtown Huntsville Inc. Advocates of the Year (2026)
• James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership WEL Cohort (2026)