Lynsey Todd, co-owner and operator of Monograms Plus of Cullman, and Dustin Beaty, co-owner of Lavish Boutique and Lavish Coffee Barhas have been elected to the Alabama Retail Association’s board of directors. Their two-year terms begin Jan. 1.

Monograms Plus, a 9,000-square-foot jewelry, gift and apparel shop that offers onsite monogramming, opened in 1999. The store in the Warehouse District of Cullman has been an Alabama Retail member since its opening 19 years ago in 1999. It employs 14.

Todd, a former jewelry vendor and customer of Monograms Plus, was handpicked to lead the business by its former owner/operator and past Alabama Retail Association board member, Margaret Hamm. In June of this year, Todd and her husband, Tommy, became the store’s owners. Todd worked as the store’s manager for one year prior to becoming the co-owner. The 35-year-old’s previous retail experience includes nine years as store manager and part of the new store opening team for Cracker Barrel and eight years as a store manager and regional trainer for Pier 1.

“I’m excited to network with other business owners and advocate for shopping local,” said Todd.

Todd, her husband and their 4-year-old daughter, Lucy, reside in her native Cullman.

In 2005, Beaty, an Auburn University School of Pharmacy graduate, founded Hospital Discount Pharmacy in Jasper. His wife, Shannon, began a corner boutique in the pharmacy in the summer of 2012. It has grown into two free-standing boutiques, one with an 800-square-foot coffee bar inside. Lavish Boutique opened in 2013 and Lavish Coffee Bar in 2016. The couple opened a second Lavish Boutique in August of this year in the Cullman Warehouse District.

Lavish Boutique and Coffee Bar earned the title of Alabama’s 2018 Silver Retailer of the Year Award in the Annual Sales $1 Million to $5 Million category. It also was recognized as the Alabama Retailer of the Year Customers’ Choice Award winner for 2018.

The Beatys live in Jasper with their twins, Jon Bryant and Maci, and their son, Hunter Poe.