Cate Garner leads with faith, focus and heart
By Carter Ward
Cate Garner has spent her college years stepping into roles that place her at the center of communication, leadership and service. A marketing major at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Garner works in political communications while also serving in nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Across those spaces, her work centers on connecting with people and carrying responsibility for the opportunities she has been given.
As an assistant press secretary for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s U.S. Senate campaign, Garner works in communications and public relations, interacts with members of the press during campaign events and produces media and social content. She also leads the Students for Marshall communications team, coordinating digital outreach and managing a group of college interns working on campaign messaging.
Her involvement in campaign communications has shaped how Garner thinks about the responsibility connected to public messaging. She said the work directly affects people across the state through elections, making the role feel significant and carry real weight.
“But it’s also an honor that we can influence someone for good.”
Beyond politics, Garner serves as the social media and communications lead for Church on the Hill. She produces photography, graphic design and digital media while working with a team responsible for the organization’s online presence. She previously interned with Church on the Hill and the Well Network, where she helped organize college events, retreats and conferences and coordinated guest services teams.
Garner has also worked in several service-focused positions. She served as a camp administrator with Joni and Friends, a nonprofit organization that supports families affected by disabilities. She organized and led groups of more than 400 individuals each week, trained volunteers and helped lead teaching sessions for volunteers and families participating in the program.
During the summer of 2025, Garner worked as an administrative intern at Life Action Camp, where she coordinated volunteer teams and led teaching sessions for high school groups.
Experiences across politics, nonprofits and faith communities have shaped how Garner understands leadership and responsibility.
“The best leaders are the ones who actually know the people who are following them.”
For Garner, leadership is closely tied to serving others and should not be driven by personal gain.
“If you’re helping people but you don’t actually care about them, then what are you doing?”
Relationships also remain central to how Garner approaches the teams she works with.
“You have to be relational. These people are your friends, not just your co-workers.”
Garner said she began learning lessons about influence when she was growing up through observing the people around her.
“They didn’t even know my name, and they didn’t do anything special except walk down the halls, but I remember thinking I wanted to be like them.”
“That stuck with me because people are always watching how you live your life, even when you don’t realize it.”
Garner’s faith also guides the way she approaches leadership and service.
“I want people to feel like I truly loved them and cared about what I was doing.”
