Linda Maynor didn't plan on being in the position she is in now.

“I really wanted to be a psychologist,” she said. “It was always a dream of what I wanted to do.”

Maynor, managing partner of Maynor & Stiers LLC, has spent decades raising money, managing campaigns, and lobbying in politics on behalf of defense companies in Alabama.

In his role, Mr. Maynor has strong working relationships with decision makers in the federal legislative and executive branches. Maynor & Stiers has entered into a strategic alliance with Butler, Snow, a law firm with offices in Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery, as well as offices throughout the United States and internationally.

“This was not a planned career for me,” she said. “It was a snowball phenomenon. You do one thing, and then another thing happens, and then another thing happens.

“And before I knew it, I was campaigning and fundraising for governors, congressmen, senators, state leaders, city council members and more.”

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Maynor has built a practice focused on defense, aerospace and technology-related sectors. She maintains national security clearance.

Maynor said the key to success is believing in people and working to support them.

“I have never charged a penny for a single fundraiser in my life because I have always supported people who support my ideals and what is good for Huntsville and the country,” she said. said. “I always really wanted to do that.”

It certainly had an effect. Between her civic and political fundraising efforts, she has raised millions of dollars for causes she believes in and for her candidates.

Maynor said this wasn't the path she had planned, but it was something she could do to influence change for the better. And she believes anyone can do it.

“You can join in,” she said. “You can contribute, you can participate in events, you can learn. When people say that I don’t get involved in politics because it doesn’t affect my life, I don’t think politics is an important part of every aspect of my life. I wonder why people don't understand that it affects people.”

Maynor has spent decades as a major power figure, often the only woman in the room, but she had a predecessor to look up to.

“I had a very strict grandmother,” she said. “She was born in 1890, and she got a scholarship to attend Baylor University at a time when women could only graduate from school.”

Her grandmother had a very deep and lasting influence on her life.

“My grandmother was valedictorian of her academic class at Baylor University,” she said. “She was the editor of her yearbook. I have all four of her yearbooks, and her words her senior year were 'Let's do it.'

“And that's how I was raised.”

Maynor said her grandmother has proven that being tough can be an advantage.

“I've always worked in men's fields,” she said. “It's only recently that I've actually started working with women. And all the women I work with are tough. They're tough women, they're smart women. And I really respects them.

“So don't be afraid of the 'tough' label.”

Mr. Maynor's many accomplishments include serving as a representative to the president of the Czech Republic, being elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and serving on the Republican Platform Committee. She also serves on the board of the USO, a nonprofit organization that serves America's military by connecting them with family, home, and country.

Don't limit yourself, Maynor said.

“Try anything,” she said. “Just do it.” “I mean, there have been so many times where I thought I really didn't want to do it, I didn't know how to do it, but I did it anyway. And then I thought, 'Why in the world did I think I couldn't do this?' .”

But Maynor said stepping out of her comfort zone doesn't mean she's no longer afraid.

“I have fear and always have,” she said. “But fear is also paralyzing. And I never intended for that to happen.”

It was a great experience, she said.

“I started having anything come my way, any opportunity, any time. No matter how difficult it seemed at the time, I was just going to try it and see what would happen,” Maynor said. .

“And usually it worked out pretty well.”

Maynor, best known for her longtime work with Sen. Richard Shelby, credits him with always encouraging her to stand up for herself.

“He's probably one of the smartest guys I've ever met,” she said. And he is very good at reading. He was very tough and never backed down. But he didn't make it public.

“He knew I would never back down and pushed me to stand up sometimes. There were many. I grew up in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, and men didn't always appreciate women going out. ”

Looking back on her long and successful career, the Mayor takes particular pride in her role supporting defense companies.

“I feel strongly that I am in a position to help protect America and keep it free,” she said. “The fact that it was successful is very rewarding for me because I feel like I'm doing something very positive and meaningful, not only helping the country, but also helping the warfighter. ”