Darlene Wilson

Darlene Wilson is a distinct representative of how Birmingham businesses operate given effective and efficient leadership of their organization. With more than twenty-eight years in the corporate banking and public accounting industry, more than fifteen of those years as an entrepreneur in our city qualifies her as a leading entrepreneur in Metro Birmingham and other regions and states.

She is the founder and Managing Principal of Relay Accounting Management and Director of Classic Business Connect. Both companies focus on filling gaps through knowing your numbers and being compliant. Relay Accounting Management (RAM Firm) specializes in relationships with entrepreneurs through business growth and development opportunities by providing remote CFO services, business consulting, and accounting management services to include bookkeeping, payroll management, tax payment and tax preparation services. We are Accountants Turning Our Clients Vision into Value!

Darlene received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Montevallo. She is honored for being selected in July 2021 as Birmingham Top 60 that features the top 60 influencers across a broad range of industries and in 2019 to the Top 100 National Influential Execs in Finance. Her accounting firm was also nominated for ICIC’s 2019 Inner City 100 Award. The Inner City 100 is a national ranking of America’s fastest-growing urban businesses in inner cities. She completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program at Babson College in the Fall of 2018 and Emerging Leaders through the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2017.

Darlene is a member of the inaugural Board of Directors for National Black Empowerment Council formed in 2021 and she will serve on their executive committee as Treasurer. In February 2021, she was appointed to the National Black Bank Fund where she serves as Treasurer. Darlene was also selected to serve as Treasurer on Legacy Prep Charter School Board in 2021 where she has been a school board member since 2020. And for Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, she was selected to the Board of Directors in 2020 and now serves as Secretary in 2021. Darlene serves on Regions Bank Advisory Board for the Birmingham market and is also a member of the Small Business Council for the City of Birmingham for a second term and led the City Services Committee during her first term. Darlene was appointed by Mayor Randall Woodfin to Birmingham Airport Authority Board of Directors in 2018 and she served as Treasurer and the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee through September 2021 and is currently the Board Chair of the Birmingham Airport Authority. She is past Board Chair of REV Birmingham which is an economic development organization and a member of Foundation Capital where she serves on the Loan Review Committee. She continues to lend her talents to other organizations in focus group opportunities with Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Prosper Birmingham, and Congressional Black Caucus to name a few. You can also find Darlene in the “classroom” where she enjoys facilitating workshops, teaching course topics relating to entrepreneurship and accounting for businesses.

Darlene was recognized in June 2021 for Who’s Who in Accounting and as BBJ’s Women to Watch 2017 and 2015 CEO Finalist of the year in the Small Business Category presented by Birmingham Business Journal. She’s served as mentor for several years for Biz Women Mentoring Monday.

Darlene is the mother of one son, Christian who is a Spring 2021 graduate from MSU in Denver, CO with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and works as an Accountant/Account Manager at RAM Firm. As Darlene says it best, this is by far her most challenging job yet her greatest accomplishment in life. Family brings her the most joy! She is a native of Lake Charles, LA and has been in Birmingham, AL for more than thirty years and both are home to her. She enjoys cooking, wine tasting with a great cigar in hand, traveling the world, flower/vegetable gardening and reading. She simply loves life!