Business Alabama - August 2023 by Business Alabama

AUG 2023

30 ATHLETES, LAWYERS & NIL 37 WHAT CEOS GET PAID SPOTLIGHT ON

43 LIMESTONE &

MORGAN COUNTIES

INSIDE BUSINESS OF SPORTS

The

SABAN Way

HOW COACH NICK SABAN’S ‘PROCESS’ CAN TRANSLATE TO THE BUSINESS WORLD

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AUGUST 2023 BusinessAlabama.com Volume 38 / Number 8

PUBLISHER Walker Sorrell / wsorrell@pmtpublishing.com ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Stephen Potts / snpotts@pmtpublishing.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alec Harvey / alec@pmtpublishing.com EDITOR Erica Joiner West / ewest@pmtpublishing.com COPY EDITOR Nedra Bloom / nedra@pmtpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR Vic Wheeler / ads@pmtpublishing.com DIGITAL EDITOR Kathryn Dorlon / kdorlon@pmtpublishing.com ACCOUNTING Keith Crabtree / acct@pmtpublishing.com ADMINISTRATION/OFFICE MANAGER Lauren Sullivan / lsullivan@pmtpublishing.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Birmingham: 205-802-6363 Hal Cain / Ext. 111 / hcain@pmtpublishing.com Lee Mills / Ext. 102 / lmills@pmtpublishing.com Mobile: 251-473-6269 Joe Hyland / Ext. 214 / jhyland@pmtpublishing.com DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MEDIA & EVENTS Sheila Wardy / swardy@pmtpublishing.com BIRMINGHAM OFFICE 3324 Independence Drive / Homewood, AL 35209 205-802-6363 MOBILE OFFICE 166 Government Street / Mobile, AL 36602 251-473-6269 CORPORATE T.J. Potts, President & CEO Thomas E. McMillan, Partner & Director Business Alabama is published monthly by PMT Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright 2023 by PMT Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited. Letters to the editor are welcome. Moving? Please note US Postal Service will not forward magazines mailed through its Bulk Mail unit. Four to six weeks before moving, please send old mailing label and new address to Business Alabama, P.O. Box 43, Congers, NY 109209922 or call 1-833-454-5060.

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 3

Volume 38 / Number 8

AUGUST 2023

CONTENTS

Joel Lamp leads Huntsville's efforts to provide great athletic facilities for residents and to attract the tourist revenue associated with athletic travel teams and tournaments. Photo by David Higginbotham.

Features 10

BUSINESS OF SPORTS THE SABAN WAY Alabama’s head football coach has a process that works in the business world as well as on the field.

REELING IN TOURISTS Fishing tourneys bring visitors and revenue to Alabama’s lake and Gulf waterfront communities.

IF YOU BUILD THEM, THEY WILL COME Recreational facilities are the crux of Alabama’s growing sports tourism business.

COMPLETING A COMEBACK Northwest-Shoals Community College is playing sports again after a 12-year timeout.

LAW NIL SEEKERS New rules involving name, image and likeness are creating challenges in college athletics. LEGAL AID When legal issues loom, smaller businesses are wise to think outside their own offices.

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ALABAMA STOCKS WALL STREET PUMMELED WITH RATE HIKES AND INFLATION Business Alabama’s year in the stock market. RETROSPECT MONEY BALL The saga of the 1914 Montgomery Billikens.

On the Cover: Coach Nick Saban's "process" is well-known, and it has applications in the business world. Associated Press photo.

43 43: Look to the skies — it's the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic at Decatur's Point Mallard Park. 18: The Northwest-Shoals Community College Patriots are back on the diamond after a decade without sports. 12: Fishing mingles tranquil time on the water with a chance for big rewards — for those equipped with rod and reel and for the communities that host the tournaments.

TOP RANK 29 ALABAMA’S LARGEST LAW FIRMS 37 CEO PAYCHECKS 38 ALABAMA’S PUBLIC COMPANIES

Departments

SPECIAL SECTIONS 21 TOP RANK PROFILES 39 BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA GEOGRAPHIC SPOTLIGHT 43 LIMESTONE & MORGAN COUNTIES

69 71

BENCHMARKS: MONTHLY BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFING COMPANY KUDOS: A MONTH OF ACHIEVEMENTS CAREER NOTES: WHO’S MOVING UP BA INDEX: HUNDREDS OF LEADS EACH MONTH HISTORIC ALABAMA: A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE ALABIZ QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 5

Benchmarks

Microreactor module plant announced for Gadsden

Rendering shows plans for microreactor plant in Gadsden. ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR CORP., based

in Seattle, Washington, plans to invest $232 million in a microreactor assembly plant in Gadsden. The plant will manufacture, assemble, test and inspect non-radiological modules needed to construct its advanced microreactors. USNC says the Gadsden plant will be the country’s first commercial-scale microreactor production facility and that no radioactive material will be used or stored at the new facility. About 250

jobs are expected to be created at the 578,000-square-foot facility. “Alabama is home to an impressive array of highly innovative companies, so our state is an ideal place for Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.’s new advanced microreactor assembly plant,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “This unique facility will benefit the Gadsden community through a significant investment and the creation of good jobs, while also reinforcing Alabama’s reputation for cutting-edge manufacturing operations.”

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MORE BROADBAND Alabama is set to receive $1.4 billion from the U.S. Commerce Department to help expand broadband access in underserved areas.

growth of entrepreneurship in Alabama.

COST OF RENTING Renting? You’ll need $58,800 income to make ends meet comfortably, according to a new study by the University of Alabama and two other colleges. That’s more than the state’s median household income of $56,900. ENTREPRENEURIAL BOOST The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation has received three federal grants totaling just over $300,000 to accelerate the

SUPER SPEEDER Huntsville’s Dynetics has completed a large-scale test for its MACH-TB system that raises the testing speed for hypersonic systems. The Dynetics system includes an experimental glide body that can gather and validate data. MORE AT THE WHARF The Wharf in Orange Beach has launched Portside on Main, a 33,000-square-foot expansion that will include retail, office and entertainment space. The expansion will include 26,000 square feet of green and open space with an outdoor stage.

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USNC’s search for a location spanned 16 states and hundreds of potential sites, the company said. Greg Canfield, secretary of Alabama’s Department of Commerce, called USNC’s technology “safe and amazing.” “USNC’s microreactors will be produced at the state-of-the-art facility in Gadsden and shipped as modules to sites around the world, allowing for the generation of reliable energy anywhere,” he said.

SOLAR GO A $40 million solar project near the Toyota plant in Huntsville received a permit. The collaboration among Huntsville Utilities, Toyota Alabama and Toyota Tsusho America will lead to more than 70% of Toyota Alabama’s power coming from solar energy. BAMBOO NEWS Alabamboo, based in Newton, is helping farmers in Lowndes, Butler and Crenshaw counties learn the benefits of bamboo farming and helping them connect with the marketplace. HEALTH AT HOME The UAB Health System, the city of Birmingham and Cooper Green Mercy Health

Services are teaming to provide follow-up care for patients at home, easing the strain on the city’s emergency facilities. PORT FUNDS The recently signed $3 billion Alabama General Fund budget includes $20 million for upgrades to McDuffie Coal Terminal at the Port of Mobile. The governor also signed a bill that expands credits that Alabama businesses can receive for using Alabama ports. NEW AT THE TOP Yolanda W. Page became Stillman College president, effective July 1. She replaces Cynthia Warrick, who announced her retirement last fall.

BENCHMARKS

Viridi Energy announces renewable natural gas project in Baldwin County plans for a similar project in Marathon County, Wisconsin. In June, the company also announced plans for a complex food waste-to-natural gas project in Yaphank, New York, in Rendering of a renewable energy plant planned for New York. partnership with American Organic Energy. VIRIDI ENERGY has announced plans for The New York project “represents a histhree new renewable natural gas projects, toric step toward circularity in waste disincluding one in Baldwin County. posal, housing the first anaerobic digester The Alabama project will harvest to process food waste in the New York natural gas from the county landfill in City metropolitan area. The project will Summerdale, transforming the emissions divert food waste from landfills located up into clean energy. to 300 miles away and transform it into “The facility is expected to produce RNG, via anaerobic digestion, and into more than 160,000 MMBtu of RNG other renewable products, such as fertilannually,” the company said in announcizer. The project will generate emissions ing the project. reductions equivalent to nearly 100,000 Also this year, Viridi has announced

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ON CAMPUS Tuition rates have been frozen for in-state students at several Alabama universities including the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the University of West Alabama. The University of North Alabama has announced plans for a new stadium, slated to open in 2026 or 2027, and to be called Bank Independent Stadium.

for the Fleet Readiness Center. Huntsville-based System Studies & Simulation has been awarded an $85.8 million U.S. Army contract to work with weapon systems. Austal USA, in Mobile, has been awarded a $72 million contract for an additional Navy ocean-going tug, salvage and rescue ship. Interfuze, based in Huntsville, has won a $31 million contract from the Department of Defense for hardware and software support. Huntsville-based Integration, Innovation Inc. was awarded a $24.5 million contact to provide support services for Tactical Electronic Warfare Simulation for the. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Bhate

CONTRACTS Arrow’s Edge LLC of Huntsville has been awarded a $200 million U.S. Navy contract for maintenance, repair, overhaul and logistics support

tons of CO2 per year and is projected to produce renewable fuels equivalent to 10 million gallons of gasoline annually,” the company said. Writing about the Baldwin project, the company said, “While the county’s landfill is relatively small compared to other projects in our portfolio and development pipeline, Viridi recognizes the immense potential of developing smaller-scale RNG projects. These smaller landfill sites present unique financial and development challenges, but they also represent a significant portion of the remaining landfill development opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. We are confident that our deep experience in facility design and engineering can make such sites profitable for our investors and productive for our municipal and offtake partners.” Viridi is based in Northridge, California. It has partnered with global energy company BP to distribute the natural gas. Viridi also names Canadian firm Quadrogen as playing a role in developing the Baldwin site, which is slated to begin operations in the third quarter of 2024. 

Environmental Associates, based in Birmingham, has been awarded a $7.8 million contract to build military working dog kennels at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. BIG BUILDS OLD & NEW Austal USA has begun work on a floating dry dock for the U.S. Navy, a new type of project for the firm’s year-old steel shipbuilding line. The $128 million contract was awarded in mid-2022. Within days of the start of the dry dock project, Austal celebrated the keel laying for the future USS Pierre, the last of 19 littoral combat ships to take shape on the aluminum shipbuilding line.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS Texas-based builder D.R. Horton has acquired Truland Homes, which it describes as the largest private homebuilder on the Gulf Coast with operations in Alabama and Florida. Truland Homes is based in Spanish Fort. Birminghambased financial planning and wealth management firm Waverly Advisors has acquired Silicon Hills Wealth Management, based in Austin, Texas. Birmingham-based Imaging Business Machines LLC has acquired Texas-based Exela Technologies’ IntelliScan Smart Scanning Solutions. IBML provides a portfolio of products for high-volume digitization. Virginia-based Akima has

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 7

BENCHMARKS

Cerrowire opens $100M expansion in Hartselle

Inside Cerrowire’s expanded plant. Photo by Jennifer Williams.

CERROWIRE officials recently opened a

$100-million, 270,000-square-foot Metal Clad (M-C) Cable plant in Hartselle — the first phase in an ambitious expansion plan for the 100-year-old company. Officials cut one of their own armored cables instead of a ribbon June 13 to celebrate the new facility, which is expected to bring more than 100 high-tech manufacturing jobs to North Alabama. Located in the Morgan Center Business Park just off I-65, the new facility is the first of three planned expansion phases for the company. Cerrowire President Stuart Smallwood said that adding M-C cable to the company’s product portfolio allows it to leverage its core business — manufacturing building wire — and to provide a strong solution that fulfills a growing need. M-C cable is a metal-jacketed cable containing insulated conductors used for most types of building construction — primarily in commercial, but also for some residential and industrial applications.

Gov. Kay Ivey has called Cerrowire “a top-class manufacturer” and said the expansion will bring “high-quality jobs” to the state. Smallwood spread the credit for the expansion. “The State of Alabama, Morgan County, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the City of Hartselle are excellent partners in creating an environment for our business to flourish,” he said. “I [also] want to thank the amazing people and members of the Cerrowire team and your families,” continued Smallwood. “From the hardworking individuals on the production line all the way to our dedicated leaders — you are

the reason for our success.” The celebration included a look at the facility and demonstrations of the production line, along with a cookout and activities for Cerrowire employees and their families. Cerrowire is headquartered in Hartselle, with plants in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Utah. The company has been in the Hartselle community for 50 years. “We are happy to be members of the Hartselle community and excited to be a part of the area’s economic progress,” said Smallwood. — Jennifer Williams

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completed its acquisition of Huntsville-based Pinnacle Solutions. Akima is a federal contractor offering products and services; Pinnacle provides training and sustainment to defense customers.

population of senior citizens and lack of access to primary health care. Sage plans two more Mobile locations and facilities in Mississippi, Arkansas and Maryland.

HOT STUFF Aerojet Rocketdyne has successfully hot fired a large solid rocket motor designed for the Missile Defense Agency’s Medium Range Ballistic Missile.

SCRUMPTIOUS SEAFOOD Brody Olive, executive chef at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, won the Alabama Seafood Cook-Off and will represent the state in the national competition.

MINE MOVING ON Peabody Coal’s Shoal Creek Mine has sealed off areas damaged by fire in March and is preparing to resume longwall mining in another area of the mine, which underlies parts of Jefferson, Walker and Tuscaloosa counties.

PLAINS PLACE Graduate Auburn, a new 177room hotel with a rooftop bar and restaurant, is going to be built on Magnolia Avenue across the street from Auburn University’s campus. SAGE FOR SENIORS Sage Health, a health care center focused on senior citizens, has opened its first facility in the U.S. in Mobile. The company says it chose Mobile because data indicates a higher

ER FOR PELHAM Ascension St. Vincent’s has received state permission to build a freestanding emergency department in Pelham and hopes to have it open by summer 2025.

8 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

HOME CHANGES Danny Lipford, who has hosted the TV show “Today’s Homeowner” for 25 years, has announced plans to retire next year, leaving his daughter in

charge of the media company. His Lipford Construction will continue to offer remodeling services and his radio show will also continue to air. BATTER UP — SOON Auburn University plans a $30 million renovation of Plainsman Park, its baseball stadium on campus. The project is scheduled to start in July and be ready for the 2025 season. FARMS ABUNDANT Limestone County has the most farmland in Alabama, with nearly 165,000 acres and almost 2,000 farms. It’s followed by Houston, Lawrence, Dallas and Geneva counties.

BENCHMARKS

Monopoly meets Birmingham The heck with Marvin Gardens. Now you’ll be able to invest in Magic City businesses and landmarks as the classic game MONOPOLY plans a Birminghambased edition. Mayor Randall Woodfin teams with Mr. Monopoly, the game’s cartoon face, to announce that Top Trumps USA, a division of Winning Moves International, plans an edition of the game featuring Birmingham. And until it comes out, there’s a chance for Birmingham residents to suggest just which landmarks should be featured. You can submit suggestions for landmarks, businesses and nonprofits to be added to the board by emailing ideas to Birmingham@toptrumps.com for consideration. “Our team is excited to bring the historic Magic City their very own Monopoly edition,” said Katie Hubbard, representative from Top Trumps USA. “Birmingham is a lively and growing city with a rich history in arts, sports and food. We are looking forward to hearing what the people of Birmingham love most about their city, and it’s an honor to bring their ideas to life.” The game should be out by March 2024. 

Mayor Randall Woodfin teamed with the Monopoly man to plug the new version of the game.

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VISIT HISTORY The A.G. Gaston Motel, where key figures of the Civil Rights Movement gathered in Birmingham in the 1960s, is open to visitors Thursdays through Saturdays for a limited time.

Construction has completed the first phase of renovations at UAB Highlands Hospital. KPS Group is serving as architect and Interior Elements is providing casework and furniture solutions.

110,000 barrels to Idemitsu Apollo Renewable Corp., a California-based subsidiary of Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan.

be Enviva’s biggest, will have the capacity to produce 1.1 million metric tons of pellets annually, mostly destined as fuel for European and Asian markets. GRID GRIEF A snake knocked out power to some 19,000 customers of Marshall DeKalb Electric Cooperative in early July when it crawled into the Albertville Primary Substation, officials report.

TRAIN JUNCTION Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX Corp. and Genesee & Wyoming Inc. have reached an agreement to create a new direct CPKC-CSX interchange west of Montgomery.

BANK OF AMERICA ADDS ALABAMA Alabama is one of nine new markets for Bank of America. The bank plans a financial center in Birmingham by 2025 with more the following year and in Huntsville by 2026.

POWER SITES The Tennessee Valley Authority is identifying sites throughout its seven-state footprint for small modular nuclear reactors. North Alabama falls into TVA’s coverage area and the federal utility already owns land there along the Tennessee River.

HEALTH MILESTONES Robins & Morton has completed a two-story, 64-bed addition at Marshall Medical Center South in Boaz. TRO Jung|Brannen was the architect. Doster

RENEWABLE DIESEL SALE Specialty refiner Vertex Energy Inc. announced in late June the first commercial sale of renewable diesel from its refinery in Mobile. The sale included

PELLET PLANT PREP Maryland-based Enviva Inc. broke ground in late June for a new biomass pellet plant in Epes Industrial Park in Sumter County. The Epes plant, slated to

HAIL & FAREWELL Don Bigler, founder and chairman emeritus of Daphnebased BBB Industries, which makes starters, alternators and other auto and engine parts, has died at age 91.

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BUSINESS OF SPORTS

THE SABAN WAY Alabama’s head football coach has a process that works in the business world as well as on the field By CARY ESTES

t is a statement that John Talty heard repeatedly during nearly a decade of being around the University of Alabama football program as a reporter and editor for the Alabama Media Group. Players, parents and even opposing coaches all had the same thing to say about Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. “Over and over again, people would tell me that Nick Saban runs that organization just like a business,” says Talty, who explored that concept in his 2022 book, “The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban.” “There are a number of things he does in football that are very applicable to the business world.” That opinion is echoed by University of Alabama Culverhouse School of Business faculty member Lou Marino. A professor of entrepreneurship and strategic management, Marino says that equating Saban to a corporate CEO “is an excellent comparison.” In fact, Marino often evokes Saban’s approach to the Crimson Tide football program while discussing certain business concepts and strategies with his students. “A lot of the same lessons and skills that need to be taken and applied in the CEO’s role are very similar to what Coach Saban does every day,” says Marino, who has been at Alabama for 26 years. “He is a great example of a leader who builds a strategy, makes difficult choices to implement that strategy and is willing to adapt if the strategy isn’t working in order to find a way to be successful.”

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Of course, some of this simply is the nature of modern-day college football. It is, after all, now a multi-billion-dollar enterprise where the top teams (companies?) produce revenues in excess of $100 million. The Alabama program, for example, reported record revenue of nearly $131 million for fiscal year 2021-2022. “Nick Saban is running a $100 million organization and managing a group of more than 120 players and 100 employees,” Talty says. “College football is big business, and Nick Saban has been the best CEO in college football.” The proof on the field is obvious. Since going 7-6 during his transitional first season as Alabama head coach in 2007, Saban has compiled an impressive record of 187-21 with six national championships. The team has never been outside the top-10 in the final national rankings during that 15-year span and has finished outside the top-five only once in the past nine seasons. Saban’s Xs-and-Os abilities as a coach account for much of his success, but there is more to it than that. Saban has created such an analytical, business-minded approach to running the program that it has been given a catchy nickname: The Process. “The Process is all about doing the small things right,” Marino says. “It’s not about winning the game, but winning the seven seconds per play. And when you don’t, take the opportunity to learn from it and improve. So, focus on what you can control, execute it the best possible way you can, and keep evolving as you

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

need to. If everybody does that, then as a team you’ll be successful.” The Process has become popular not just in sports but also in the business world. Wikipedia even has an entry, first posted in 2016, about “process thinking.” It is described as “a philosophy that emphasizes preparation and hard work over consideration of outcomes or results.” The conclusion of the entry’s first paragraph states, “The philosophy was popularized by American football coach Nick Saban.” Saban is quoted on the page as saying, “Don’t think about the national championship. Think about what you need to do in this drill, on this play, in this moment. That’s The Process. Let’s think about what we can do today, the task at hand.” “Much of what he does applies outside of football,” Talty says. “There is a lot to be gained by people taking a page out of The Process playbook and implementing it into their businesses.” According to Talty and Marino, three things in particular stand out: • THE ABILITY TO DELEGATE. Yes, Saban is the head coach and has the final decision on all matters, but he doesn’t try to decide all matters. “He knows he can’t be an expert in every area, so he hires experts and empowers them to be successful,” Marino says. “Doing that means he has to give them certain latitude in order to implement things the best way they see possible. And when it doesn’t work, he’s responsible for figuring out what cog is missing in the system in order to get it hitting on all cylinders again. “A good CEO tries to stay out of the day-to-day business because they’ve identified the right people, made sure they had the proper training, and then empowered them to be successful. That’s the same thing Coach Saban does.” • THE ABILITY TO MOTIVATE. Building a championship program — or establishing a successful business — can be such a daunting, all-encompassing task that once it is achieved, there can be a natural tendency to relax a bit. Saban’s approach through The Process mitigates such letdowns because the goal is to focus on the task immediately in front of you

“Nick Saban is running a $100 million organization and managing a group of more than 120 players and 100 employees. College football is big business, and Nick Saban has been the best CEO in college football.”—Author John Talty instead of larger accomplishments. “A lot of times businesses will have that initial ramp-up to a certain level of success, but being able to maintain that and drive it even further is very difficult,” Talty says. “You’ll see complacency. ‘I spent all this time on this one goal, and now I’ve accomplished it. What do I do next?’ How Nick Saban has avoided that is by not allowing his organization to get too high or too low off any one result. “That’s something businesses can use. In many ways, we’re wired that when things are going well, we ease up. Nick Saban is the opposite. When they’re winning and everything is going great, that’s when he is pushing even harder to avoid complacency.” • THE ABILITY TO ADAPT. After winning three championships in four years from 2009 through 2012, the Crimson Tide had consecutive two-loss seasons in 2013 and 2014. That’s not much of a dip, but what concerned Saban was his team allowed more than 40 points in four games during that stretch, something

that had not happened a single time the previous five seasons. The proliferation of up-tempo, no-huddle offenses was partly to blame, as scoring started to rise significantly across college football. So, at age 63 and after four decades in coaching, Saban altered his approach. “(The game) has changed dramatically,” Saban told the media after the 2014 season. “So, we are going to have to change a little bit in terms of the kind of guys we recruit to play against the kind of offenses we see.” The change worked, as Alabama won three more national championships over the next six years. “One of the chapters in my book is called ‘Evaluate Constantly, Evolve When Necessary,’ which kind of sums up the Nick Saban approach,” Talty says. “Nick Saban didn’t wait until Alabama was 5-7 to make a big change. Alabama was still at the top of the game, but he thought, ‘This is getting away from us a little bit. We need to make a change before it’s too late.’ He was constantly evaluating how things were going. “We’ve seen plenty of businesses that believe the good times are going to last forever. But you can’t be so sure of what you’re doing that you’re not willing to change.” Marino agrees, pointing out that such companies as Kodak and Blockbuster did not adapt during the early days of smart phones and streaming services. “They didn’t have the vision to be able to change with the environment,” Marino says. “When I teach my class in Strategic Management, there is a concept we talk about called dynamic capabilities. Those are things that allow organizations to change and rearrange the core elements, resources and processes that are needed for success. “Coach Saban’s approach is by its very nature a dynamic capability. When he recognized what needed to change, he took the time to develop a new plan. He adapted to the game. Some CEOs are able to do that. But the ones who do, like Coach Saban, that’s what makes them successful now, and successful in the future.” Cary Estes is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama. August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 11

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo draws thousands of anglers to the Gulf Coast.

Reeling in tourists Fishing tourneys bring visitors and revenue to Alabama’s lake and Gulf waterfront communities By KATHY HAGOOD

ishing tournaments are frequent in Alabama and provide an economic impact to the communities — typically small towns — near the bodies of water where they are held. Three of the major fishing tournament players in Alabama are B.A.S.S., the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) and the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. Birmingham-based B.A.S.S. is internationally recognized for its popular Bassmaster tournaments held across the country. ABT is considered one of the country’s top state bass tournament series. And the Rodeo, put on by the Mobile Jaycees, is renowned as one of the largest fishing tournaments in the world, drawing more than 3,000 anglers to fish onshore and offshore in 33 categories. ALABAMA DEEP SEA FISHING RODEO

The Rodeo, now held annually on Dauphin Island, began in 1929, the brain child of Mobile businessmen. The popular fishing event, which today draws about 75,000 spectators over three days, helped raise the Mobile area’s profile as a salt-water angler destination and now is a huge boon to the Dauphin Island economy each year, says Matt Glass, vice president of publicity for the 2023 Rodeo event held July 21-23. “Our goal each year is to sink the island,” he says. After the Rodeo grew, the Mobile Junior Chamber of Commerce took over organizational duties in 1948. They have since provided donations including more than $475,000 for the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama, 12 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

Glass says. In addition, the tournament gives the Dauphin Island Sea Lab the opportunity to collect scientific data on fish. More than $450,000 in prizes were awarded to participating anglers in July thanks to entry ticket sales and sponsor donations, including a boat, motor and trailer. The event typically draws about 120 sponsors. While many Rodeo participants come from Mobile, Baldwin and south Mississippi counties, the contest also draws anglers from all over the Southeast plus Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, Glass says. Jaycees volunteer to manage the event, starting on the next year’s version days after the end of this year’s. “We do this in our quote spare time as we all have other jobs and most of us have young children,” Glass says. The Town of Dauphin Island helps support the event in various ways. The Dauphin Island mayor and police chief, for example, served as two of the nine judges for the Liar’s Contest, which showcases the tall tale telling talents of anglers. “The Liar’s Contest, held Thursday night, is always a popular kick off to the event,” Glass says. “Spectators are treated to a variety of bands and other attractions, including sponsor and vendor tents, live fish tanks and the touchable fish box Friday, Saturday and Sunday.” Mayor Jeff Collier says the town appreciates the positive economic impact. “Being an annual event, local businesses and tourists look forward to it, and vacations hinge around it,” he says. “We’re excited to host it as any community would be. It’s a family friendly event.”

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

ALABAMA BASS TRAIL

ABT is in its tenth season, being modeled after the success of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail as a major draw for state tourism, says Kay Donaldson, program director for the Alabama Bass Trail. “Alabama has numerous fishing tournaments during the year, but we are the largest state sponsored and the largest in the Southeast besides two Texas tournaments,” Donaldson says. “The smaller tournaments ask us for our schedule before they schedule their tournaments now.” The trail is a cooperative effort among the Governor’s Office, Alabama Tourism Department, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. It includes 13 of Alabama’s best bass-fishing lakes in two divisions, North and South Alabama. Fourteen events each year include 10 qualifying events (five in each region), a championship and three special ABT 100 events. “These lakes are in outlying areas, so it’s rural and bedroom communities that generally benefit,” Donaldson says. The economic impact of the 12 ABT events held in 2019 was $7.2 million, Donaldson says. “Regular events generated between $350,000 and $500,000 in direct impact and the championship $750,000,” she says. Impact includes lodging, food and other expenditures of participants and spectators. Trail events also are showcases for local areas as TV coverage of ABT runs 36 weeks beginning April 1. Shows are broadcast at 7 a.m. Sunday mornings April through December on Alabama Bass Trail TV on Bally Sports Southeast. This year the ABT championship is set for October 20-21, 2023, on Weiss Lake, one of Alabama’s lesser-known lakes. Donaldson points to improvements made by Leesburg leadership and the Chestnut Bay development, which includes a campground, for making that possible. “Communities bid for events and must have the resources to hold them,” she says. Anglers, who come from 17 states including Alabama, can participate in one or both divisions, each maxing out at 225 boats. Teams pay a registration fee, now at $1,600 per division, for the regular series

Bassmaster tournaments, like this one at Lay Lake, draw media coverage.

Nolen and Robbie Spencer on the Alabama Bass Trail.

of five tournaments per division. The 75 winners from each division, as well as a handful of top couples, student and college teams, progress to the championship. “This year the regular season will award a total of $580,000 in prize money and next year that will go up to $720,000,” Donaldson says. “We pay anglers all the money they put in for registration plus some.” For the 100 series, 100 boaters pay $1,000 for each of three tournaments to compete for $100,000 in prize money. “Both the regular and the 100 contests draw strong fishing teams, but the 100 tends to attract more serious anglers because of its cost,” Donaldson says. Sponsorship proceeds pay for the overhead costs of running ABT tournaments,

including the trail’s 18-wheeler, rescue, TV and polygraph equipment, contractors, the team’s hotel stays and more, Donaldson says. B.A.S.S.

Owned by the Anderson Media Group, B.A.S.S. is based in the Birmingham area and publishes “Bassmaster Magazine” for its half-million members. The company features multiple bass fishing tournament circuits and is best known for the Bassmaster Classic tournament, considered “the Superbowl of bass fishing” with its top 50 competitors, says Eric Lopez, director of event operations. Alabama last hosted a Classic in March 2020 at Logan Martin Lake. The tournament attracted more than 122,000 August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 13

spectators and 256 members of the media. It generated $35.9 million in direct and indirect economic impact, according to the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The economic impact (of major tournaments) will be felt for years because of the coverage,” Lopez says. “It’s the best national advertising you could have. The additional indirect impact can be significant.” This year Alabama lakes have hosted Elite, Open, College, High School, Junior and Kayak tournaments. The biggest event was the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake in Shelby County May 11-14. “Lay Lake drew a relatively small crowd of 3,000 because of significant weather problems, but typically the number of fans in Alabama for an Elite tournament is 7,000 to11,000 over four days,” Lopez says. The Elite series and Classic championship tournament draw top professional anglers from across the world. “To be among the 104 qualifying boats for the Elite series, the entry fee is $60,000 for the series, but they can win up to $100,000 per tournament,” Lopez says. “The pros make their living fishing and have sponsors like in any major sport.” Communities bid for the chance to host Bassmaster tournaments and must have the infrastructure, including boat ramps, parking and hotel rooms, plus support from law enforcement and paramedics, Lopez says. “Chambers of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureaus want to partner with us because of the potential economic impact to their communities,” he says. “Elite tournaments and the Classic are broadcast live on Fox Sports for eight hours.” Some communities are able to provide more resources for tournaments than others, Lopez says. “A large community in Texas might be able to provide a concert night, fireworks and kids activities, which will draw more spectators, but smaller communities may only be able to bring in five food trucks and 10 local vendors, which is fine.” Kathy Hagood is a Homewood-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

14 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

If you build them, they will come Recreational facilities are the crux of Alabama’s growing sports tourism business By ALEC HARVEY — Photos by DAVID HIGGINBOTHAM

orld-class pickleball facilities in Opelika. A brand-new multi-purpose Protective Stadium in downtown

Birmingham. Sixteen outdoor fields and an indoor facility in Foley. Cross country in Huntsville, and fishing tournaments in the Shoals. Pick a community, big or small, in Alabama, and chances are you’ll find new or refreshed facilities to welcome sporting events and tourism dollars. College football, NASCAR and professional golf have always been big draws, but sports tourism is drawing even more visitor dollars to more places now that they’re actively seeking out the likes of baseball, basketball, lacrosse and many other sports on a local, regional, national and sometimes international level. “Sports tourism has been around for years and years and years,” says Joel Lamp, convention sales manager and sports manager for the Huntsville/ Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “But then with the growth of

travel sports it really kind of took off in the last 15 to 20 years. Cities realized that there is a ton of money in sports tourism.” In Huntsville, that means venues like John Hunt Park, known for its cross-country facilities; the Merrimack Soccer Complex; Joe Davis Stadium; and more. “There’s been a commitment from Huntsville to own the cross-country market,” Lamp says. “We built a disc golf course into the cross-country course, and now we’ve got multiple sports in that venue, along with a world-class beach volleyball complex.” Lamp says that sports tourism is “something that any city with smart investment can get involved in,” and he’s launched a sports tourism podcast with colleagues from Fort Worth, Texas; Spokane, Washington; and Grand Junction, Colorado, to talk about it. “There are so many opportunities out there that you can scratch the surface really quick and realize, hey, I can invest $5 million and build a really nice softball complex, and now I’m in the softball business.”

“If it’s on a rectangle field, we have a great stadium,” says Joel Lamp, convention sales manager and sports manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Huntsville is home to Joe Davis Stadium.

And Alabama is just scratching the surface of what sports tourism can bring in. “The world of sports is so massive,” Lamp says. “It can start locally and slowly build momentum until you’re hosting the national championship of cross country. Or the renovation we’ve made at Joe Davis Stadium, turning it into a rectangle field. Now the possibilities have gone from being the home of the soccer team to can we bring a rugby match there, or lacrosse or field hockey? If it’s on a rectangle field, we have a great stadium.” It translates into big money. For example, Huntsville hosted 59 sporting events last year, bringing in more than $32 million in economic impact and generating more than 52,000 room nights, according to Lamp. Room nights — or how many hotel rooms are booked — are especially important, and that’s why sports tourism can help put “heads in beds” during time periods that would otherwise be slow. In the case of Foley, it helped put heads in beds following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. “Nobody wanted to come to the August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 15

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

Events bought 111 acres in 2022 in northeast Gulf Shores expressly to “maintain and grow sports and event tourism in the future.”

Opelika has a world-class pickleball facility that draws athletes.

beach, and yet we were able to still attract people to come and compete in athletic events over the summer,” says David Thompson, executive director of leisure services for Foley Sports Tourism. That kicked off the city of Foley’s investment in athletic facilities, including 16 outdoor fields and a 90,000-squarefoot indoor center, and the city hosts soccer, cross country, volleyball, gymnastics and other events, mainly during off-season at the beach. “We were good during the peak seasons, but during the off-season, we didn’t have much going on,” Thompson says. “Our goal is to drive the economy during that time by bringing people to town.” Sports tourism on the coast, which also includes many events in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and the Mobile area, also helps overall with maintaining seasonal workers, according to Thompson. “The coastal communities hire seasonal workers, and we’re trying to make them year-round workers, because hiring seasonal workers can be a challenge,” he says. “But once they get through the season, we do a really good job of keeping them busy during the weekends during a season they normally wouldn’t have had jobs.” Sports tourism is competitive across 16 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

Alabama, but often the state works together to try and get sporting events to come here. Sports Alabama is a group that includes 12 organizations from around the state that often will attend conventions together to market not only their specific venues but the state as a whole. “At the end of the day, if we can bring people to Alabama vs. a Mississippi or Tennessee, then we’ve done a really good job,” says Tami Reist, president and CEO of Visit North Alabama, which represents more than 20 communities. The statewide group also compiles economic data, and some highlights from the Sports Alabama 2022 annual report help tell the tale of the success of sports tourism in the state: Auburn-Opelika Tourism reported $21.7 million in economic impact, including three regional NCAA championships and four pickleball events that brought in $800,000. Visit Dothan reported $22 million in economic impact from events including a USTA junior clay court event and an LPGA Q Series tournament. The Shoals hosted a number of fishing tournaments that contributed to an economic impact of $15 million. Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Sports and

ports tourism is such a big deal in the tourism world, and still relatively new, but many folks don’t know it exists, so Reist has spearheaded a Sports, Travel & Tourism high school career and technical education course that will be available in high schools beginning this year. The curriculum was put together by Lamp, Reist and Auburn-Opelika Tourism Sports and Event Development Director Anthony Terline. “It’s something that will give kids an opportunity to learn about an industry that now many people know about,” Lamp says. “There are so many different opportunities in this industry, and giving kids an opportunity to get started early and learning through this curriculum is a big step for the state.” Reist hopes the new curriculum will help organizations meet the demand for employees in the growing sports tourism industry. “It’s growing to the point that a lot of your tourism bureaus are adding people just to handle the sports,” she says. “We are just trying to educate our highschoolers and get them acclimated to it, so if they take this course, they might eventually move to the college level. Then, when they’re ready to graduate, they could be interning with us and eventually have the opportunity for a job.” All agree that sports tourism is just getting started in Alabama. “The big thing is the commitment from leadership to invest in facilities that work both for the population, the citizens of the community, and that can create an economic impact outside of that,” Lamp says. Alec Harvey is executive editor of Business Alabama, based in Birmingham. David Higginbotham is a freelance contributor based in Decatur.

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

Completing a

COMEBACK Northwest-Shoals Community College is playing sports again after a 12-year timeout By CARY ESTES Patriots practice softball this fall.

he call to play ball has returned to Northwest-Shoals Community College. A dozen years after the school halted its athletic program because of financial issues, NW-SCC is back in action when it comes to sports. The college began fielding baseball and softball teams during the spring of 2023 academic year and plans to add men’s and women’s cross-country this fall, with additional sports to follow in the coming years. “I’ve talked with so many people across the Shoals area who are excited that our sports teams are back,” says NW-SCC Athletic Director Taylor Franks, who has worked at the school in several roles since 2014 before being name AD last April. “It’s added a layer of excitement to student life and created enthusiasm from the community.” In the process, the decision to reinstate athletics has brought fresh attention to the school, which is showing up in the enrollment figures. NW-SCC has added more than 900 students in the past year, increasing enrollment by 32% to nearly 4,000. “We’ve had some record numbers lately, and I feel like athletics has contributed to that,” Franks says. “We want to have the community invested in this school, and sports is a way to do that.” While the school’s bottom line might be improving now that athletics has returned, that definitely wasn’t the case in 2011 when the decision was made to stop the program. Back then, in the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008-09, numerous public schools throughout Alabama were struggling with budget cuts.

18 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

Zach Hill pitches a complete game shutout in his first game.

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

At the time, NW-SCC officials said the college had lost more than $1 million in annual funding through state proration and the end of federal stimulus funds. Eliminating the school’s six athletic teams saved approximately $600,000 per year in coaches’ salaries, athletic scholarships, travel costs and facility maintenance. “It is very disheartening to have to make cuts of this magnitude,” then NWSCC President Humphrey Lee said in 2011. “However, we must make budgetary decisions that allow us to maintain our mission of providing students technical, academic and lifelong educational opportunities.” NW-SCC was far from alone in putting athletics on the bench during that economic downturn. Bevill State suspended its program the same year (it was reinstated at the school in 2017), while Jefferson State Community College and Gadsden State Community College kept several sports while eliminating others. But while the NW-SCC sports were

Patriots pitcher Michael Pfeiffer celebrates with his teammates.

suddenly out of sight, they never were completely out of mind for many people

in the Shoals area, according to Trent Randolph, the school’s director of public

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 19

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

relations and marketing since 2003. “Ever since sports was discontinued, it was something the community has wanted back,” Randolph says. “You kept hearing that from people. There was a need and a desire for sports to return here.” School officials eventually agreed, and in October of 2021 it was announced that athletics would be reinstated for the 2022-23 academic year. Then the hard part began — because rebooting an athletic program after a 12-year hiatus is not a simple process. “It’s a totally different time (from 2011) as far as recruiting and social media and things like that. So, you’re basically starting from scratch,” Franks says. “When I came in (as AD) it was, ‘Here’s the budget we have. Make it work.’ We had nothing. We were completely starting over. “We had to get all the finances in order and then the facilities. We had new turf installed on the baseball and

softball fields, and now we’re working on the press box, dugout, batting cages. Everything. We’ve been working with the facilities director, architects, contractors, trying to get everything in place and ready.” Both teams went through nearly a month of their schedule before finally having a chance to play a game at home. Even then, work on the grandstands still was not complete, and there were no restroom facilities. “We knew there would be a lot of work going into these first few years to get our foundation set,” Franks says. “But we want to get things right in the beginning so it will be a solid program that’s here to stay.” Then there was the matter of actually fielding a team. Most college sports programs benefit from decades and even a century-plus of repetition. Players are recruited steadily, and an ebb-andflow of departures and replacements is established. Athletic departments develop

continuity. A culture is formed. Sure, things change along the way, but they do so under an established umbrella of experience. This was not the situation for new NW-SCC head baseball coach David Langston and head softball coach Angel Brown. They both had less than a year to create a team out of nothing. “We have 29 players, and 25 of them are freshmen who have no college baseball experience,” Langston says. “We’ve had to guide them on what it means to be a student-athlete at this level. There have been some things that have made it difficult, but it’s been fun to watch them grow both on and off the field.” Brown agrees. Most of her 15 scholarship players are from the immediate Shoals area, and she says during the recruitment process she began to truly realize the benefits to the community of having sports at NW-SCC. “The impact for our players has been huge. We have some players who if they couldn’t have come here, they might not have gone to college at all,” Brown says. “We’re giving them an opportunity to be a college athlete and play for their local school, and we can help them with things off the field as well. Sports helps give them that support system where they can get an education and be successful later in life.” And, of course, there is the simple fact that having a sports team to cheer for is fun. It has been a staple of college life since the late 1800s, giving students and members of the local community a chance to come together and root, root, root for the home team. “I had a faculty member tell me he was excited to see all the T-shirts and signs around campus for our teams,” says Langston, who also coached the NWSCC baseball team from 2002 through 2011. “I have to admit, our first home game was a little emotional for me. To have sports back here has definitely been a big deal for the community and for the institution itself.” Cary Estes is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

20 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

The People Make the Company.

2023 TOP RANK PROFILES

ach year, Business Alabama’s book of lists — Top Rank Alabama — provides our readers with a comprehensive look at the major firms in Alabama industries. Top Rank gives a snapshot of the key players in a variety of industries and business sectors — from banking, accounting and insurance to manufacturing, health care and construction. Depending on the industry sector, rankings are based on factors such as number of employees, assets or value of contracts.

In 2023 Top Rank Profiles, we have invited some of the standouts from these lists to tell us more about themselves, beyond the statistics detailed in the Top Rank book. On the pages that follow, you’ll find profiles of leaders of top companies from various fields. Our goal is to bring the lists to life by showing the faces behind the rankings. Join us in learning more about these individuals who are leading the way in their industries.

To purchase a print or digital copy of the 2023 Top Rank book of lists, visit https://shoppmtpub.com/collections/top-rank.

SPECIAL SECTION

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 21

2023

BRYANT BANK Members of the Mobile team: (left to right): Todd Henderson, SVP and Commercial Banker; Rena' Davis, VP and Private Banker; Michael Holland, Mobile Market President; and Andrew Odom, VP and Commercial Banker

n the historic port city of Mobile, Alabama, one banking team stands out for its unwavering commitment to its customers

and the community: The Mobile team at Bryant Bank. With a combined experience of almost 115 years, this team is deeply

rooted in the local community; they understand the unique financial needs and challenges faced by Mobile's residents and

businesses. By forging strong relationships, the Bryant Bank team is able to tailor services to meet the specific needs of their

customers, which fosters financial growth and success. True to their Community Banking promise, their commitment to Mobile extends beyond banking. They actively engage in community initiatives, support local charities, and participate in events

that enhance the quality of life for all Mobilians. Call or stop by their office on Airport Boulevard and learn what Unbeatable Service and Legendary Results are all about.

BRYANT BANK 6151 Airport Blvd, Mobile, AL 36608 1-855-4BRYANT BryantBank.com

22 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

SPECIAL SECTION

2023

CULLMAN REGIONAL NORTH ALABAMA’S FASTEST GROWING HEALTH SYSTEM Cullman Regional Senior Leadership Team L to R: Charna Brown, CNO; Nesha Donaldson, CFO; James Clements, CEO; Lisa Courtney, VP Physician Services; Dr. William Smith, CMO

entrally located in North Alabama, Cullman Regional is mirroring the region’s impressive economic and population

growth. When the hospital health system opens a freestanding emergency department at its Hartselle facility in 2024, it

will be the fourth major expansion project completed in just three years.

“At a time when health care in general is facing a challenging economic landscape, we’ve been able to maintain our growth

initiatives by staying focused on high quality care, efficiency and recruiting premier physicians,” said CEO James Clements. The recent growth began in 2021 when the health system opened a second campus in Hartselle, a community about 30

miles northwest of Cullman, bringing more local outpatient services to residents. Since then, Cullman Regional has expanded its ER, increasing capacity by 80%, and completed a four-story, 30-bed tower expansion making it a 175-bed hospital. CULLMAN REGIONAL 1912 Alabama Highway 157, Cullman, AL 35058 256-737-2000 cullmanregional.com

SPECIAL SECTION

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 23

2023

PERDIDO BEACH RESORT General Manager Karl Groux and his wife, Penny Groux, Director of Corporate & Community Affairs

erdido Beach Resort has been

welcoming guests to the white

sand beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast for over 35 years.

Independently owned and operated, the resort is a premier destination

located directly on the beach — great for business events or a haven for

vacationers. The resort underwent an extensive rebuild in 2020 after

the devastation of Hurricanes Sally,

Delta, and Zeta, and upon reopening in 2021, a beautiful, reimagined resort was unveiled.

“We are committed to ensuring

guest satisfaction while promoting

the betterment of the Gulf Coast community as a whole,” said Karl Groux, general manager. He and his wife, Penny Groux,

director of corporate & community affairs, have made it their mission to make the resort a true Gulf Coast Paradise for visitors and locals alike. With a resort team boasting an average of 15 years of experience with the property, the focus on family and friendships creates a distinct environment where hospitality abounds.

“The resort team is akin to an extended family, cherishing tales from long-standing patrons who have frequented our estab-

lishment for years, as well as warmly welcoming first-time visitors,” said Karl. “We are blessed to give back to our community

by hosting annual events like “Wildflowers Toys for Kids” in support of the Christian Service Center, the MAAAC Gala ben-

efitting the Orange Beach school system, and a brand new event on behalf of the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation beginning

in 2024. Our independence allows us the flexibility to give back in a way that most chain properties cannot do, and for that, we feel very fortunate.”

The resort boasts 340 guest rooms, almost 50,000 square feet of meeting space, and six dining facilities.

PERDIDO BEACH RESORT 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561, (251)-981-9811, perdidobeachresort.com

24 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

SPECIAL SECTION

2023

STEPHEN BRADLEY Principal || Stephen Bradley & Associates LLC

tephen Bradley & Associates is a unique, full service public affairs firm offering both public relations and

governmental affairs services in one agency, setting us apart from the rest.

From the state’s financial center, Birmingham, and

its political center, Montgomery, the firm’s experienced public affairs professionals advise clients in public relations strategic planning and execution, crisis

management, environmental issues management, grassroots and community relations, governmental and

legislative relations, comprehensive internet marketing and innovative social media.

STEPHEN BRADLEY & ASSOCIATES LLC

2023

205-933-6676 PRAlabama.com email: ebrad@bellsouth.net

MARK CHAMBERS CEO and President || Southern States Bank

outhern States Bank CEO and President Mark

Chambers fosters a culture of customer engagement,

talent development and strong performance on behalf of stockholders. He leads the Bank’s disciplined efforts to

expand and diversify to strengthen its financial founda-

tion and consistently provide high-end service and products to customers throughout Alabama and the South.

Chambers joined the Bank at its founding in 2007. After leading its Southeast Region for more than a decade, he is now CEO and President.

Member FDIC/Equal Housing Lender NMLS#410611

WWW.SOUTHERNSTATESBANK.NET

SPECIAL SECTION

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 25

26 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

L AW

Alabama’s Largest Law Firms RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN ALABAMA

EMPLOYEES IN AL

YEAR FOUNDED

KEY PRACTICE AREAS

Maynard Nexsen PC Jeff Grantham

1901 6th Ave. N., Ste. 1700 Birmingham, AL 35203

205-254-1000 205-254-1999

maynardnexsen.com

268

448

2023

Corporate/M&A, litigation, labor & employment/ benefits, health care/public finance, real estate, cybersecurity, intellectual property

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Jonathan M. Skeeters

1819 Fifth Ave. N. Birmingham, AL 35203

205-521-8000 205-521-8800

bradley.com

236

506

1870

Commercial litigation, corporate/M&A, construction, banking & finance, health care, real estate, economic development

Burr & Forman LLP Ed Christian

420 N. 20th St., Ste. 3400 Birmingham, AL 35203

205-251-3000 205-458-5100

burr.com

144

298

1905

Banking & financial services, corporate and tax, manufacturing, litigation, health care, labor & employment, cybersecurity & data privacy

Balch & Bingham LLP M. Stanford Blanton

1901 6th Ave. N., Ste. 1500 Birmingham, AL 35203

205-251-8100 205-226-8799

balch.com

117

219

1922

Business, energy, environmental & natural resources, financial industries, litigation, labor & employment, government relations

Dentons Sirote PC Jim Vann

2311 Highland Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35205

205-930-5100 205-930-5101

dentons.com

175

1946

Banking & finance, corporate, labor & employment, litigation, real estate, tax, and trusts, estates & wealth preservation

Carr Allison Thomas C. Logan

100 Vestavia Pkwy. Birmingham, AL 35216

205-822-2006 205-822-2057

carrallison.com

145

1997

Transportation, workers' compensation, labor & employment, construction, professional liability, insurance coverage

Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles PC Thomas J. Methvin

218 Commerce St. Montgomery, AL 36104

334-269-2343 334-954-7555

beasleyallen.com

282

1979

Personal injury, product liability, class action, mass tort, consumer fraud, toxic torts, whistleblower

Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC Roger L. Bates

104 Saint Francis St., Ste. 300 Mobile, AL 36602

251-432-5511 251-694-6375

handfirm.com

151

1941

Real estate development & community association representation, public finance, business/commercial litigation, employment & labor, business & finance

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys Alexander Shunnarah

2900 1st Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233

800-229-7989

shunnarah.com

220

2001

Personal injury, auto accidents, trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, mass torts

Starnes Davis Florie LLP Jay M. Ezelle

100 Brookwood Place, 7th Floor Birmingham, AL 35209

205-868-6000 205-868-6099

starneslaw.com

104

1975

Complex litigation: appellate, arbitration, class actions, product liability, commercial, medical malpractice

400 20th St. N. Birmingham, AL 35203

205-581-0700 205-581-0799

lightfootlaw.com

1990

Appellate, commercial litigation, environmental & toxic torts, medical malpractice, product liability

205-328-0480 205-322-8007

bakerdonelson.com

118

1928

Financial institutions, real estate & finance, mergers & acquisitions, labor & employment, construction, health law, litigation

RANK

ATTORNEYS IN AL

compiled by ERICA JOINER WEST

FIRM MANAGING PARTNER

Lightfoot, Franklin 11 & White LLC Melody Eagan

ADDRESS

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, 1901 Sixth Ave. N., Ste. 2600 12 Caldwell & Berkowitz PC Birmingham, AL 35203 W. Patton Hahn

PHONE FAX

WEBSITE

Butler Snow LLP Executive Committee

1819 Fifth Ave. N., Ste. 1000 Birmingham, AL 35203

205-297-2200 205-297-2201

butlersnow.com

2011

Business services, labor & employment, finance & real estate, commercial litigation/correctional litigation, pharmaceutical & medical device, product liability litigaton

Phelps Dunbar LLP 14 Allen E. "Teeto" Graham, George Morris

101 Dauphin St., Ste. 1000 Mobile, AL 36602

251-432-4481 251-433-1820

phelps.com

1853

Admiralty, business, health care, insurance, labor & employment, litigation

Lanier Ford 15 Shaver & Payne PC Graham Burgess

2101 W. Clinton Ave., Ste. 102 Huntsville, AL 35805

256-535-1100 256-533-9322

LanierFord.com

1988

Litigation, corporate & business, real estate, tax, estate planning, intellectual property

Wallace, Jordan, 16 Ratliff & Brandt LLC Jay H. Clark

800 Shades Creek Pkwy. Ste. 400 Birmingham, AL 35209

205-870-0555 205-871-7534

wallacejordan.com

1987

Litigation, insurance, construction, banking, estate planning and more

Lloyd, Gray, 17 Whitehead & Monroe PC Stephen E. Whitehead

880 Montclair Rd., Ste. 100 Birmingham, AL 35213

205-967-8822 205-967-2380

lgwmlaw.com

1989

Professional liability defense, construction defect, insurance coverage, catastrophic injury defense, worker's compensation defense, employment practices litigation defense

Capell & Howard PC Courtney Williams

150 S. Perry St. Montgomery, AL 36104

334-241-8000 334-323-8888

capellhoward.com

1947

Litigation, business/commercial law, estates & trusts, commercial real estate, construction law

Adams and Reese LLP Guilford F. Thornton Jr.

RSA Battle House Tower 11 N. Water St., Ste. 23200 Mobile, AL 36602

251-433-3234 251-438-7733

adamsandreese.com

1951

Government relations, economic development, transactions, financial services, business litigation and more

Wilmer & Lee PA Ashley Jones

100 Washington St., Ste. 100, Huntsville, AL 35801

256-533-0202 256-533-0302

wilmerandlee.com

1991

Corporate, banking & business; tax, estate & probate; employment & labor law; insurance defense; government contracts & municipal law

For more law firms, visit BusinessAlabama.com

Source: Business Alabama Survey

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 29

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

NIL Seekers

New rules involving name, image and likeness are creating chaos in college athletics By CARY ESTES

Since its inception (in 1906), the NCAA has always had an amateurism rule, which prevented college athletes from accepting compensation, including to promote any kind of product. But ultimately, the NCAA caved to the realities of our modern world.” —Burr & Forman partner Bill Lawrence

hen it comes to getting paid, college athletes have suddenly gone from nil to NIL. And the ripple effects from that change are being felt across the sports landscape in ever-widening ways. For more than a century — as universities, coaches and television networks raked in the cash from college sports — athletes were prohibited by NCAA rules from receiving any financial compensation while in school beyond scholarships covering the basics like tuition, room and board. That changed in 2021, when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in NCAA v. Alston that it is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act to limit education-related compensation for college athletes. In response, the NCAA quickly changed one of its rules and began allowing athletes to make money for the use of their name, image and likeness, better known these days as NIL. “That decision actually pertained to other NCAA regulations,” says Rudy Hill, a partner at Bradley Arant in the firm’s litigation and intellectual property practice groups. “But the way the Supreme Court came down unanimously on that case suggested that if an NIL case was presented to the court, it would be an uphill battle for the NCAA to keep those regulations in place. So, the NCAA backed off that area.” As a result, Joey Football and Judy Soccer can now sign agreements to promote all types of goods and services, from national products to local car dealerships. Athletes can be paid for appearing in advertising, signing autographs and even posting on social media. This already has proven to be a million-dollar opportunity for

30 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

star players such as former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who had NIL deals last season with Dr. Pepper and Nissan while playing for the Crimson Tide. But lesser-known players are benefitting as well through smaller agreements providing a few thousand dollars here and there (which can seem like a million bucks to a college student). “Since its inception (in 1906), the NCAA has always had an

“

It’s a patchwork right now of policies and legislation. There’s no uniformity of what the rules actually are. Without clear rules on what’s acceptable and what’s not, it’s going to be tough. Right now it’s difficult enough for an attorney to navigate all this, much less a young athlete.” — Rich Lee, CEO and co-founder of New Era ADR

“

BUSINESS OF SPORTS

amateurism rule, which who leads one of the most successRight now, you prevented college athletes ful programs in the country, has have numerous from accepting compensaexpressed concern that some schools tion, including to promote states with their have a significant financial advantage any kind of product,” says under the current NIL setup. own NIL laws Burr & Forman partner Bill “You think there’s disparity in colwith various Lawrence, whose practice lege football right now? There’ll be a focus includes corporate and provisions, lot more in the future,” Saban said in business transaction law. “But May at the annual Southeastern Conand some of ultimately, the NCAA caved ference spring meetings. “The way those states are to the realities of our modern Southern Cal, Texas and Texas A&M world.” changing their are spending money … it hasn’t hit Which, in the short term, yet. What are you willing to spend? NIL laws to gain has resulted in turmoil. Since “If it’s going to be the same for eva competitive there is no federal legislation eryone, I think that’s better than what governing NIL, it falls to the advantage. States are starting to amend we have now. Because what we have individual states to create now is some states and some schools their laws to remove restrictions, allowing their own regulations and in some states are investing a lot more more flexibility.” enforcement. Approximately money in terms of managing their one-third of the states still — Jonathan Wohlwend, associate in the roster than others,” Saban said. don’t have any type of law in The NCAA has come to a similar intellectual property practice group at place regarding NIL, leaving conclusion. In June, NCAA President Bradley Arant Charlie Baker said the U.S. governit to the individual schools to establish their own policies. ment needs to establish a federal Meanwhile, the legislation law regulating the use of NIL for that has passed in the other states varies significantly. college athletes and establishing uniform contract standards for Rich Lee, CEO and co-founder of the Chicago-based disputeall colleges. resolution company New Era ADR, compared the NIL situation “I think it was a big mistake by the NCAA not to do a frameto the disparate laws currently in place from state to state work around NIL when they had the opportunity to,” Baker said regarding such issues as data security and cryptocurrency. during the Future of College Athletics Summit. “I think there “It’s a patchwork right now of policies and legislation,” Lee were too many people in college sports who thought no rules says. “There’s no uniformity of what the rules actually are. would work really well for them. And what everybody’s discovWithout clear rules on what’s acceptable and what’s not, it’s going ered is no rules, no transparency, no accountability, no frameto be tough. Right now it’s difficult enough for an attorney to work, doesn’t work well for anybody.” navigate all this, much less a young athlete.” Alabama Senator and former Auburn University Head FootThe situation also is leading to concerns that college athletball Coach Tommy Tuberville agrees. “We have to come to some ics — especially in the big-revenue sport of football — will be kind of agreement where we can help the NCAA make improvefurther divided between a few dozen schools that have large pools ments to this runaway NIL situation that we’re in,” he said at the of NIL revenue and those with more modest NIL funds. Wealthy Future of College Athletics Summit. alumni of some schools are establishing collectives, which raise Whatever the eventual outcome, the bottom line is that college funds to help facilitate NIL deals for athletes and operate sepaathletes now have the ability to profit off themselves, a right that rately from the university. This, in essence, could lead to bidding nearly all other U.S. citizens have long enjoyed. And Lawrence, wars for star athletes. for one, believes that is a good thing. “That is one of the concerns of having a bunch of states run “I hear people say this is going to ruin college athletics,” NIL and not having any control over it,” says Jonathan WohlLawrence says. “My response is always the same. Give me a good wend, an associate in the intellectual property practice group at reason why college athletes should not be able to exploit their Bradley Arant. “There’s no standard contract for NIL deals and NIL like everyone else? The only reason has been the NCAA no real way to monitor the program. That’s one of the NCAA’s amateurism rule. gripes, that there is so much going on that they can’t control it “I’m sure there will be some good, some bad and some ugly and don’t have the resources to monitor this activity. come out of all this. But that’s not the real issue. The real issue is, “Right now, you have numerous states with their own NIL shouldn’t college athletes be able to take advantage of their NIL, laws with various provisions, and some of those states are changespecially at a time when the value of their NIL may be higher ing their NIL laws to gain a competitive advantage. States are than it will ever be?” starting to amend their laws to remove restrictions, allowing more flexibility.” Cary Estes is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Even University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban, Business Alabama. August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 31

L AW

Legal Aid

When legal issues loom, smaller businesses are wise to think outside their own offices

By DEBORAH STOREY

hen occasional staffing or contract problems arise for small businesses, they need to seek out legal advice. Most can’t afford to keep an attorney on staff for times like that. That’s when the concept of external legal counsel “at a fraction of the cost” can help, according to one Alabama firm. Hiring an outside attorney can be advantageous for a smaller business that doesn’t need or can’t afford a staff attorney or may simply want advice on something specific, explains attorney

‘‘

Bert Spence, of Birmingham firm Rumberger Kirk. “Every business is going to have some legal issues that they need to take care of,” Spence says. “They may have tax issues. They may get sued from time to time. They may encounter a situation where they need to sue someone for breach of contract — maybe something didn’t come through like it was supposed to,” he says. Spence has quite a few clients who have experienced such issues. “They’re not big enough to have people on staff for that kind

Every business is going to have some legal issues that they need to take care of. They may have tax issues. They may get sued from time to time. They may encounter a situation where they need to sue someone for breach of contract — maybe something didn’t come through like it was supposed to,” — BERT SPENCE, RUMBERGER KIRK

32 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

L AW

of thing,” he says. When a legal matter does come up, they call and ask him what they need to do. “It may be something I can handle for them,” Spence says. “It may be something that I need to say, ‘This is a very specialized situation. We need to find you a very specialized lawyer that does exactly this.’” According to Forbes magazine, businesses can benefit from engaging outside experts in areas like regulatory compliance, corporate governance, employment laws, customer privacy, advertising and intellectual property. Other needs are more boilerplate, so to speak. “Matters that are often outsourced successfully include administrative work such as transcription, legal research and analysis and contract work such as drafting and review,” Forbes states. The term “external general counsel” really means “being a kind of general counsel for one of your clients,” Spence says. “It’s like putting your office in their office but not sitting with them all day long. You’re just there when they need you.” For example, if a client has a tax need, Spence — not being a tax specialist himself — would refer them to Rumberger’s tax attorney. If something really unusual happens, he may send them outside his own firm. “There would be some occasional things where I would have to say, ‘We don’t have anybody who does that because this is a very narrow specialty and you may need that higher degree of expertise,’” Spence says. In such a case he would say, “Let me introduce you to an old friend of mine who’s at a different firm but knows exactly how to do what you need done.” Even when it involves recommending another firm, “your duty is to that client,” Spence says. Such a trusting relationship between one attorney and a client tends to evolve over time, he adds. As for the type of issues that arise, a small business that is trying to expand may need help with a construction problem. In the commercial real estate world things can go wrong with a loan, he says, or there may be quality issues with the

‘‘

Outside counsel brings a higher level of objectivity, and often clarity, than inside counsel. A good use of outside counsel is to assign non-recurring issues requiring different experience or ability.” — TOM OLDWEILER, ARMBRECHT JACKSON

building. “The bulk of what I do all day long is litigating mostly commercial disputes, some personal injury defense work for manufacturers, and this hybrid commercial loan/real estate nexus where you’re dealing with commercial mortgages and defaults on those mortgages,” Spence says. In today’s legal minefield of personnel issues, too, a proactive approach can go a long way toward avoiding future lawsuits. Spence says some of his partners put together employment handbooks for human resource planning. That kind of front-end assistance will help guide a business in their employment relationships “so they don’t get into problems,” he says. Another example of when an outside attorney may prove helpful is when the company is required to use its insurance company’s recommended lawyer to handle a claim. Spence explains that if a company is sued for something covered by liability insurance, the insurer will pick the lawyer

to work on the defense. “That’s going to be a lawyer, generally speaking, that the company has never worked with, doesn’t know or never met,” he says. The company could call the attorney they have a relationship with and ask him or her to become involved in sort of a peripheral way. The attorney they know might help the insurance company’s designated lawyer answer questions that surface during the discovery process. “That’s a thing that can come up when you’ve got a long-term relationship with a client,” Spence says. Tom Oldweiler, an attorney with the Armbrecht Jackson firm in Mobile, says one advantage of outside general counsel is that he or she can call on the resources of an entire firm instead of just a department. An outside attorney has experience from working with other clients as well, he says. “Outside counsel brings a higher level of objectivity, and often clarity, than inside counsel,” he adds. Many businesses with internal counsel focus them on recurring issues, Oldweiler adds. “A good use of outside counsel is to assign non-recurring issues requiring different experience or ability,” he says. Companies tend to trust attorneys who have offered helpful advice through the years. Spence says he’s had a relationship with one company since 1988. Even companies that can afford their own staff lawyers often use outside legal help, he says. Spence himself for years was the chief litigation counsel in the legal department of one of the top 10 banks in the U.S. Many larger businesses have staff, or “in house” lawyers, but specialized situations may drive those attorneys to seek someone else on the outside with more expertise in a particular area, he says. Or the business may have one staff attorney who would like to engage a specialized attorney from time to time to help with a case. “The real job of in-house lawyers is hiring outside lawyers and overseeing their work and supervising them,” Spence says. Deborah Storey is a Huntsville-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama. August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 33

Alabama Stocks

Wall Street pummeled with rate hikes and inflation by MARGOT CRABTREE

Business Alabama’s year in the stock market

all Street officially entered a bear market in June 2022, and that set the tone for the rest of the year, which ran from May 31, 2022 through May 31, 2023. Inflation dominated the skyline, and as our year ended, the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes seemed to be taking effect in many sectors — the exception being the persistently sturdy labor market. However, whiplash-inducing July 2022 ended as the best month since November 2020. Wall Street and exchanges around the world responded in kind to the Federal Reserve’s unusual step of hiking interest rates by three-quarters of a point in June, followed by another hike of the same size in July. As our year closed, the Fed hiked rates another quarter point, with hints that the central bankers might pause their rate increases in June but resume them in July 2023, pending economic news. The Business Alabama indices ended down, with local stocks falling 337.84 points, or 14.33%, and closing at 2,019.08. Declining issues beat out advancing issues by a 7-to-1 margin. The Comprehensive Index fared better, adding 107.06 points, or 5.32%, and ending at 2,117.68. However, declining issues still bested advancing issues by a 41-to-14 count. The national markets reflected the turbulence on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 Index starting and ending our annual session in nearly the same place. The other national indexes showed a similar pattern. The low point of the year for both the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 was September; for the Nasdaq, September was also low, but the bottom came in Decem-

34 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

INDEX VALUE 5/31/23

INDEX VALUE 5/31/22

NET CHANGE

PERCENT CHANGE

BA Alabama Stock Index

2,019.08

2,356.92

-337.84

-14.33%

BA Comprehensive Stock Index

2,117.68

2,010.62

107.06

5.32%

Dow Jones Industrial Average

32,908.27

32,990.12

-81.85

-0.25%

S&P 500 Index

4,179.83

4,132.15

47.68

1.15%

NASDAQ Composite

12,935.29

12,081.39

853.90

7.07%

MARKET HIGHLIGHTS ALABAMA INDEX* LARGEST $ GAINER

COMPREHENSIVE INDEX**

Vulcan Materials Co. 30.63

Boeing Co. 74.30

TOP $ LOSER

ServisFirst Bancshares Inc. -43.06

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. -59.58

LARGEST % GAINER

Construction Partners Inc. 20.36%

Boeing Co. 56.54%

TOP % LOSER

Medical Properties Trust Inc. -55.60%

Endo International -92.45%

Advancers: 2

Advancers: 14

Decliners: 14

Decliners: 41

INDEX RECAP

{

*Alabama public companies. **Companies of interest to Alabama. Source: Trade Trends

ber. Inflation began to take a toll on consumers’ moods. The Conference Board reported that consumer confidence fell again in July 2022; at 95.7, it compared with June’s 98.4, the lowest reading since February 2021. The rest of the year see-sawed, with a high of 109 in December. Despite the strong labor market, confidence began eroding then, and, with minor fluctuations, ended May 2023 at 102.3. Since 70% of the U.S. economy is generated by the consumer, this gauge, and retail sales, are important figures in any assessment. Retail sales see-sawed throughout the year. Fears of recession kept cropping up, but the blessing, and perhaps also the curse this year, came from the surprisingly robust

labor market, which increased despite the Fed’s tightening efforts. It also kept the economy from tipping into a recession. Despite the tension between working from home and returning to the office, job creation continued to produce a healthy number of jobs and unemployment generally stayed above the benchmark of 200,000 weekly claims; the percentage of unemployment hovered near 50-year lows. Monthly job creation exceeded 200,000 most months. June began with the addition of 293,000 jobs; July stunned market-watchers with 537,000 jobs; outsized strength in January at 511,000 jobs, February with 311,000, and May with 339,000 jobs. Still, the employment picture has changed since the pandemic

AL ABAMA STOCKS

Alabama Stocks - Year in Review EXCHANGE

TICKER SYMBOL

PRICE 5/31/23

NASD

ADTN

Adtran Holdings Inc.

8.91

NASD

AUBN

Auburn National Bancorporation Inc.

NASD

CPSI

NASD

PRICE 5/31/22

52WEEK HIGH

NET CHANGE

PERCENT CHANGE

18.53

-9.62

-51.92%

25.47

22.24

30.29

-8.05

-26.58%

Computer Programs & Systems Inc.

23.86

31.89

-8.03

ROAD

Construction Partners Inc.

27.67

22.99

OTC

CULL

Cullman Bancorp Inc.

10.67

NYSE

EHC

Encompass Health Corp.

62.02

NASD

FUSB

First US Bancshares Inc.

NASD

HIBB

NYSE

52WEEK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

MARKET ($000) CAPITALIZATION

7.90

78,660

700,861

30.35

20.50

3,500

77,840

-25.18%

34.47

22.06

14,530

346,686

4.68

20.36%

32.98

18.89

41,400

1,145,538

11.10

-0.43

-3.87%

13.25

10.40

7,380

78,745

65.54

-3.52

-5.37%

66.44

42.19

100,240

6,216,885

7.32

10.93

-3.61

-33.03%

11.13

6.39

5,870

42,968

Hibbett Sporting Goods Inc.

36.02

50.75

-14.73

-29.02%

75.38

35.80

12,750

459,255

MPW

Medical Properties Trust Inc.

8.25

18.58

-10.33

-55.60%

18.78

7.10

598,300

4,935,975

OTC

OAKC

Oakworth Capital Inc.

30.50

36.50

-6.00

-16.44%

40.00

30.50

4,860

148,230

NYSE

PRA

ProAssurance Corp.

12.15

22.21

-10.06

-45.29%

24.50

11.87

54,030

656,465

NYSE

Regions Financial Corp.

17.27

22.09

-4.82

-21.82%

24.33

13.94

938,310

16,204,614

NASD

SFBS

ServisFirst Bancshares Inc.

40.30

83.36

-43.06

-51.66%

93.83

40.27

54,400

2,192,320

NASD

SSBK

Southern States Bancshares Inc.

20.00

23.08

-3.08

-13.34%

31.00

19.86

8,730

174,600

NYSE

VMC

Vulcan Materials Co.

195.50

164.87

30.63

18.58%

199.10

137.54

133,060

26,013,230

NYSE

HCC

Warrior Met Coal Inc.

32.78

33.62

-0.84

-2.50%

42.95

26.11

51,990

1,704,232

COMPANY NAME

Note: National Security Group was dropped because it sold to an out-of-state owner; Oakworth Capital was added.

with no clear conclusions yet. Manufacturing, while not beset with as many supply chain issues as the year before, still remained lackluster. The S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) was most robust in June, at 52.7; while relatively strong, it was the slowest growth in factory activity since July, 2020. Manufacturing mostly shrank except for September; the lowest month was December, at 46.2, well below forecasts of 47.7. Incremental increases followed, except for an unexpected jump in April, with a reading of 50.4; economists had expected 49. The index slid to 48.4, amid fewer new orders and a softening of demand. One of the most dramatic results of the Fed’s rate hikes played out in home sales as mortgage rates rose. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index began June with a reading of 67, tumbling to a low of 31 in December, and slowly gaining ground in 2023 to a reading of 50 in May. Any figure below 50 indicates contraction.

Higher mortgage rates joined with fewer sales of existing homes to create a troubling housing market for buyers and renters alike. However, the National Association of Realtors said that existing home sales jumped in February to the strongest rate in six months. Sales bounded ahead 14.5%, from January, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.58 million homes, the best figure since September and higher than expected by economists polled by FactSet, which pegged sales at 4.2 million. In April, however, sales of existing homes were still 23% below their level a year before. For the Business Alabama Index, perhaps the most salient influence was bank failures that began in March 2023. They started with tech-heavy banks in the Silicon Valley, but soon the tremors were felt throughout the banking industry, especially with mid-sized banks and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Although actual failures were few and deposits were shored up by the actions of the federal government, the results were felt and reflected in our yearly results. Investment

in housing dropped at a 0.2% annual rate from January through March. Despite all the churning, inflation remains the hot topic in the stock market. “Consumers — the critical lynchpin to the U.S. economy — are still spending, tapping into savings and credit to be able to do so,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer for Plante Moran Financial Advisors. “That can’t persist indefinitely though, raising the risk of a more pronounced slowdown or recession the longer the Fed’s battle with inflation drags on.” Medical Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust headquartered in Birmingham, shed 10.33 points, or 55.60%. For 2022, MPW posted total revenue of $1.543 billion, from $1.545 billion in 2021. Net income was $902.6 million, or $1.51 per share, from $656.9 million, or $1.11 per share in the previous year. MPW ended at 8.25, and was the top percentage loser in the Alabama Index. Vulcan Materials was the top dollar gainer this year, jumping 30.63 points, or 18.58%, to close at 195.50. For 2022, August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 35

AL ABAMA STOCKS

VMC posted net income of $575.6 million, or $4.21 per share, compared to net income of $670.8 million, or $5.02 per share in 2021. Revenue was $7,315.2 million, versus $5,552.2 million last year. The company cited cold and wet weather in the fourth quarter that pressured shipments and construction. In February,

the company announced an increase in its dividend, to $0.43 per share, from $0.40 per share last year. ServisFirst Bancshares tumbled 43.06 points, or 51.66%. For the year, SFBS posted interest income of $559,315,000, compared to last year’s $416,305,000. Net income was $252 million, or $4.61 per

share, versus $208 million, or $3.82 per share in 2021. SFBS ended at 40.30, and was the top dollar loser. Margot Crabtree covers stocks for Business Alabama, under contract with her company, Trade Trends.

National Companies with Alabama Interests EXCHANGE

NYSE

TICKER SYMBOL

COMPANY NAME

MMM

93.31

Airbus Group

131.50

OTC

EADSF

NYSE

BHE

ASX

NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE OTC

NYSE NYSE

NASD NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE TOR

ASB BA

CRS

CSTM DXC

EMR

ENDPQ GL

NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE

NASD NYSE NYSE NYSE NYSE

NYSE

NASD

Boeing Co.

205.70

Carpenter Technology Corp.

45.61

Constellium N.V.

14.90

DXC Technology Co.

25.03

Emerson Electric Co.

77.68

Endo International

0.04 13.73

IN8bio Inc.

3.04

International Paper Co.

29.44

Jacobs Solutions Inc.

109.60

Johnson Controls Inc.

59.70

LMT

Lockheed Martin Corp.

444.01

Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc.

147.06

NFI

NFI Group Inc.

IP J

JCI

MAA

PNC

NASD

23.61

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

INAB

NYSE NYSE

1.29

Benchmark Electronics Inc.

103.18

NOC

NYSE

Austal Limited

Globe Life Inc.

NYSE NYSE

PRICE 5/31/23

NUE PII

RTX

SANM SO SR

SCS STE

SNV TDY TFC

TRMK TSN X

VFC

WWR WRK

WTW

6.52

Northrop Grumman Corp.

435.49

Nucor Corp.

132.06

PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

115.83

Polaris Industries Inc.

107.71

Raytheon Technologies Corp.

92.14

Sanmina-SCI Corp.

53.04

Southern Co.

69.75

Spire Inc.

64.57

Steelcase Inc.

6.49

Steris Corp.

199.97

Synovus Financial Corp.

27.09

Teledyne Technologies Inc.

388.65

Truist Financial

30.47

Trustmark Corp.

20.88

Tyson Foods Inc.

50.64

United States Steel Corp.

20.92

VF Corp.

17.22

Westwater Resources Inc.

0.84

WestRock Co.

28.01

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Co.

36 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

218.85

NET CHANGE

PERCENT CHANGE

52WEEK HIGH

149.29

-55.98

-37.50%

152.30

1.42

-0.13

PRICE 5/31/22

117.75 25.49

13.75 -1.88

11.68% -9.15%

-7.38%

142.20 1.80

30.00

52WEEK LOW

SHARES (000) OUTSTANDING

93.19

551,670

1.16

356,500

82.66 20.58

789,060 35,620

MARKET (000) CAPITALIZATION

51,476,328

103,761,390 459,885 840,988

131.40

74.30

56.54%

221.33

113.02

601,590

123,747,063

16.89

-1.99

-11.78%

17.57

9.82

144,300

2,150,070

-10.98

-12.38%

72.41

571,500

44,394,120

95,550

9,858,849

35.23

10.38

35.22

-10.19

0.53

-0.49

88.66 97.57 12.92 2.21

5.61 0.81 0.83

29.46%

-28.93% -92.45%

0.02

37.56%

3.95

1.02

6.27%

54.51

5.19

9.52%

3.90

0.94

87.87

-39.24%

440.11

99.65

22.11

123.85

-19.01 -30.49

36.00

24.76

5.75%

48.45

140.09

54.89

15.69 48.51

235,220 283,430

29.41

347,060

45.52

686,100

140.82

106.78

0.89%

508.10

373.67

-31.80%

25.08

8.19

126,850 253,250

9,409

3,891,494 90,440

10,217,446 13,902,760 40,960,170

112,445,533

-18.75%

467.97

-32.48

-6.94%

556.27

429.10

151,860

66,133,511

175.41

-59.58

-33.97%

176.34

110.31

399,680

46,294,934

95.12

-2.98

-3.13%

75.66

-5.91

132.46 106.55 43.89

-0.40 1.16

-0.30%

1.09%

182.68 123.87 104.91

91.86

76,027,500

6.20

93,540

228.20

-28.23

-12.37%

229.98

159.21

405.15

-16.50

-4.07%

448.71

325.00

-28.22%

38.47

20.28

42.65 49.74

-15.56

-36.48%

-19.27

-38.74%

89.61

-38.97

-43.49%

50.46

-33.24

-65.87%

48.49

-20.48

29.09 25.07 1.23

211.07

-8.21 -4.15 -0.39

7.78

-16.55% -31.71% -42.24%

3.69%

78.83 12.43 44.91 52.22 92.32 31.55 51.40 1.81

49.74

258.93

6,129,776

1,090,000

-17.54%

-47.06%

33,176,113

60.71

-13.73 -5.77

56,910

406,978

134,524,400

78.30 12.26

251,220

17,156,020

1,460,000

20.85%

80.57

62,420

80.27

9.15

-7.81%

69.28

100.13

116,660

5,288,088

-33.94 -3.04

138.68

29,750

2,214,366

181.00 9.56

190.17

211,270

9.66

-21.76%

69.60

48,550

38.36 61.52

58,170 52,600

3,085,337 3,396,382 607,075

98,650

19,727,041

47,050

18,285,983

25.17

146,120

25.56

1,330,000

47.11

285,600

14,462,784

16.96

388,680

6,693,070

16.41 0.77

26.84

187.89

61,070

226,460 50,900

256,130

106,410

3,958,391

40,525,100 1,275,142 4,737,543 42,756

7,174,201

23,287,829

PU B L I C CO M PA N I E S

CEO Paychecks

compiled by MEGAN BOYLE

STOCK AWARDS

OPTION AWARDS

NON-EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN COMP.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

CHANGE IN PENSION VALUE AND NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMP. EARNINGS

ALL OTHER COMPENSATION

TOTAL COMPENSATION

2021 COMPANY NET INCOME

SHARES OWNED

% OF TOTAL SHARES

59 1,000,000

600,000

12,380,000

1,900,000

145,213

16,025,213

903,819,000

1.77

3,116,010

<1%

Regions Financial

John Turner Jr.

61 1,055,096

3,305,994

6,011,572

3,885,359

294,344

14,552,365

2,245,000,000

0.65

995,878

<1%

Adtran

Thomas Stanton

865,676

8,632,599

963,768

14,669

10,476,712

-8,888,000

-117.87

603,450

<1%

Vulcan Materials

J. Thomas Hill

64 1,235,000

5,429,583

1,356,768 2,598,400

-1,009,604

471,392

10,081,539

576,500,000

1.75

365,292

<1%

Encompass Healthcorp.

Mark Tarr

61 1,050,000

4,357,861

1,055,281 1,180,721

92,106

7,735,969

365,900,000

2.11

818,399

<1%

Warrior Met Coal

Walter Scheller III

781,149

3,453,483

1,952,873

321,271

6,508,776

150,881,000

4.31

272,862

<1%

ProAssurance Corp.

Edward Rand Jr.

987,499

2,000,000

1,278,000

101,633

4,367,132

-402,000

-1,086.35

147,661

<1%

ServisFirst Bancshares

Thomas Broughton III 67

700,000

67,500

691,000

1,102,500

51,554

2,612,554

251,504,000

1.04

809,489

1.49%

Construction Partners

Fred Smith III

571,396

250,000

1,179,480

287,500

74,251

2,362,627

21,376,000

11.05

131,877

<1%

10 Hibbett Sports

Michael Longo

850,000

1,200,010

14,415

2,064,425

128,057,000

1.61

70,485

<1%

Computer 11 Programs and Systems

Christopher Fowler (1)

550,000

1,238,352

217,970

2,000

2,008,322

15,867,000

12.66

83,701

<1%

Stephen Watley

517,500

132,500

800,092

75,000

294,630

36,228

1,855,950

27,071,000

6.86

629,777

7.20%

Computer 13 Programs and Systems

J. Boyd Douglas (1)

315,000

738,338

242,863

317,000

1,613,201

15,867,000

10.17

178,459

1.20%

Lakeland Industries

Charles Roberson

425,000

67,111

10,709

927,820

1,873,000

49.54

121,577

1.70%

First U.S. Bancshares

James House

375,000

89,762

253,125

20,810

738,697

6,864,000

10.76

156,658

2.64%

Auburn National Bancorp.

Robert Dumas

358,944

100,000

60,866

519,810

10,346,000

5.02

41,131

1.18%

Cullman Bancorp.

John Riley III

250,000

87,500

36,912

142,784

480,284

4,183,000

11.48

429,419

5.80%

RANK 12

Southern States Bancshares

BASE SALARY

Edward Aldag Jr.

AGE

Medical Properties Trust

CEO

COMPANY

BONUS

TOTAL COMPENSATION AS % OF COMPANY NET INCOME

What the CEOs of Alabama’s public companies get paid, and how it compares to company performance. CEOs are ranked according to their total compensation. Figures reported here are from each public company’s proxy statement for fiscal 2022.

(1) Christopher Fowler was named president and CEO of Computer Programs and Systems as of June 30, 2022, in connection with the retirement of J. Boyd Douglas.

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 37

PU B L I C CO M PA N I E S

Public Company Performances

compiled by MEGAN BOYLE

Non-Financial Companies

STOCK PRICE GROWTH (%)

2022 STOCK PRICE 2021 STOCK PRICE

EQUITY GROWTH (%)

2022 SHAREHOLDER EQUITY 2021 SHAREHOLDER EQUITY

NET INCOME GROWTH (%)

2022 NET INCOME 2021 NET INCOME

EPS GROWTH (%)

ASSET GROWTH (%)

Vulcan Materials

7,315.2 5,552.2

31.75

14,234.6 13,682.6

4.03

4.33 5.05

-14.26

576.5 670.4

-14.01

6,952.2 6,567.7

5.85

$175.11 $207.58

-15.64

Encompass Health (1)

4,348.6 4,014.9

8.31

5,636.5 6,864.9

-17.89

2.72 4.15

-34.46

365.9 517.2

-29.25

1,826.3 2,357.0

-22.52

$59.81 $65.26

-8.35

Warrior Met Coal

1,738.7 1,059.2

64.15

2,028.1 1,464.2

38.51

12.40 2.94

321.77

641.3 150.9

324.98

1,447.5 872.0

66.00

$68.67 $25.71

167.09

Hibbett Sports

1,708.3 1,691.2

1.01

939.2 703.2

33.56

9.89 11.63

-14.96

128.1 174.3

-26.51

376.2 291.5

29.06

$66.13 $59.53

11.09

Medical Properties Trust

1,542.9 1,544.7

-0.12

19,658.0 20,519.8

-4.20

1.50 1.11

35.14

903.8 656.9

37.59

8,594.4 8,445.7

1.76

$11.14 $23.63

-52.86

Construction Partners

1,301.7 910.7

42.93

1,095.5 806.6

35.82

0.41 0.39

5.13

21.4 20.2

5.94

455.9 408.9

11.49

$26.69 $29.41

-9.25

ProAssurance

1106.7 1124.4

-1.57

5,700.0 6,191.5

-7.94

-0.01 2.67

-100.37

-0.4 144.1

-22.71

1,104.0 1,428.4

-22.71

$17.47 $25.30

-30.95

Adtran

1,025.5 498.8

105.59

1,881.9 569.0

230.74

-0.03 -0.18

83.33

-8.9 -8.6

-3.49

1,303.6 569.0

129.10

$18.79 $22.83

-17.70

Computer Programs and Systems

326.6 280.6

16.39

431.0 383.4

12.42

1.08 1.26

-14.29

15.9 18.4

-13.59

231.7 222.6

4.09

$27.22 $29.30

-7.10

10 Lakeland Industries

112.8 118.4

-4.73

142.3 140.8

1.07

0.25 1.44

-82.64

1.9 11.4

-83.33

120.0 125.1

-4.08

$14.48 $21.02

-31.11

11 National Security Group (2)

n/a 66.2

n/a

n/a 151.7

n/a

n/a 0.23

n/a

n/a 0.6

n/a

n/a 43.8

n/a

n/a $9.20

n/a

2022 EPS 2021 EPS

COMPANY

2022 ASSETS 2021 ASSETS

RANK

REVENUE GROWTH (%)

2022 REVENUE 2021 REVENUE

Ranked by Sales in 2022. Figures are in millions except percentages and share prices. Stock prices are quoted at close of last trading day of companies’ fiscal years.

(1) A 1257 for 1000 split of Encompass Health stock occurred on July 1, 2022. (2) Fiscal year 2022 data is unavailable for National Security Group following acquisition of the company by San Francisco-based VR Insurance Holdings as of July 1, 2022.

STOCK PRICE GROWTH (%)

2022 STOCK PRICE (3) 2021 STOCK PRICE (4)

EQUITY GROWTH (%)

2022 SHAREHOLDER EQUITY (1) 2021 SHAREHOLDER EQUITY

NET INCOME GROWTH (%)

2022 NET INCOME (1) 2021 NET INCOME

EPS GROWTH (%)

2022 EPS (2) 2021 EPS

ASSET GROWTH (%)

Ranked by Assets. Figures are in millions except percentages and share prices. Stock prices are quoted at close of last trading day of companies’ fiscal years.

2022 ASSETS (1) 2021 ASSETS

COMPANY

RANK

Financial Companies

Regions Financial Corp.

155,220.0 162,938.0

-4.74

2.29 2.51

-8.76

2,245.0 2,521.0

-10.95

15,951.0 18,326.0

-12.96

$21.56 $21.80

-1.10

ServisFirst Bancshares

14,595.8 15,448.8

-5.52

4.63 3.83

20.89

251.5 207.7

21.09

14,595.8 15448.8

-5.52

$68.91 $84.94

-18.87

Southern States Bancshares

2,045.2 1,782.6

14.73

3.08 2.23

38.12

27.1 18.6

45.70

181.7 177.2

2.54

$28.95 $19.57

47.93

Auburn National Bancorporation

1,074.7 1,025.3

4.82

2.95 2.27

29.96

10.3 8.0

28.75

82.9 1,025.3

-91.91

$23.00 $32.30

-28.79

First U.S. Bancshares

994.7 958.3

3.80

1.13 0.7

61.43

6.9 4.5

53.33

85.1 90.1

-5.55

$8.68 $10.57

-17.88

Cullman Bancorp

423.2 354.7

19.31

0.59 0.25

136.00

4.2 1.8

133.33

100.2 99.7

0.50

$11.49 $12.28

-6.43

38 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 39

SPOTLIGHT

Limestone County

Morgan County

Limestone & Morgan Counties by KATHERINE MacGILVRAY

Water is abundant in these counties that border the Tennessee River, Wheeler Lake and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.

United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-68 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off on June 22, 2023. Photo courtesy of ULA. Downtown Athens. MORGAN COUNTY

Located in north central Alabama, Morgan County is home to a variety of industries, including aerospace and defense, chemical manufacturing, metals and food processing, as well as several Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies, among them GE Appliances, Nucor Steel, Cerrowire and Sonoco Products. Employment opportunities in the area are plentiful, as reflected by the county’s low unemployment rate: 1.9% in 2022, one of the lowest in the state. One major draw for business and industry — Morgan County’s location on the Tennessee River and proximity to I-65 make it a gateway to national and global markets. It is also served by one of the country’s best rail-barge systems and three public port facilities. As the workforce continues to grow, new residential development projects are underway to keep up with demand. One of the largest new developments is an 80.86acre subdivision in Decatur with 432 homes, including 180 townhomes. The city’s first upscale gated rental property,

which will consist of 100 townhomes and five retail spaces, also is under development as well as a 175-unit luxury apartment complex. Each of Morgan County’s seven cities and towns offer easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment. Decatur is an arts-based community with a vibrant cultural scene, including four free museums, the landmark Princess Theatre and the Alabama Center for the Arts. Two of its historic neighborhoods make up the largest concentration of Victorian-era craftsman and bungalow homes in Alabama. Morgan County’s entire northern border lies along the Tennessee River and Wheeler Lake, which offer a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Fishing, hunting and hiking options, along with great vantage points for viewing wildlife, abound in the 35,000-acre Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. LIMESTONE COUNTY

Just north of Morgan County, Limestone County is the fastest-growing county in

the state and shows no sign of slowing down. Located within the Huntsville metropolitan statistical area, Limestone County enjoys the benefits of the area’s rapid development, while remaining committed to maintaining the small-town charm of its communities. Like Morgan County, Limestone County boasts a low unemployment rate: 1.6%. That’s due in large part to it being home to five Fortune 500 Companies — Tenneco, Polaris, Steelcase, WestRock and Target Distribution Center — as well as newer arrivals like Gregory Industries, Amazon and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. Limestone County is also home to Robotics Technology Park. The stateof-the-art training center, the first of its kind in the country, offers free robotics training to employees and companies located in Alabama. The park has three facilities: the robotic maintenance training center, the advanced technology research and development center and the integration, entrepreneurial and paint training center. August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 43

S P O T L I G H T: OV E R V I E W

To accommodate its rapidly growing population, the Limestone County Commission approved residential development on more than 2,300 lots in 2022, and as of January 2023, almost 3,500 residential units have been approved to pull a building permit, with many more in various stages of the approval process. Construction of a 256-unit luxury apartment complex in Athens also is underway. In step with residential development are improvements to roads and infrastructure and finding ways to address increased traffic in the area. Athens, the county seat, prides itself on its classic Southern character, and its historic downtown square is a popular desti-

nation for residents and visitors alike, thanks to Athens Main Street, a community-based non-profit focused on the renovation, revitalization and future growth of the downtown area. The county is bounded by the Elk River to the north and west and the Tennessee River and Wheeler Lake Reservoir to the south, making it a great area for fishing, kayaking, boating and other aquatic activities. Add to that miles of walking, biking and hiking trails, and you’ve got an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

M E D I A N H O U S E H O L D I N CO M E

P O P U L AT I O N Total Alabama Population: 5,074,296

Madison County: $71,153 Limestone County: $70,736 Baldwin County: $64,346 Jefferson County: $58,330 Morgan County: $56,128 Marshall County: $52,938 State of Montgomery County: $52,511 Alabama Mobile County: $51,169 $54,943 Jackson County: $43,785 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Katherine MacGilvray is a freelance contributor to Business Alabama. She is based in Huntsville.

Jefferson County: 665,409 Mobile County: 411,411 Madison County: 403,565 Baldwin County: 246,435 Montgomery County: 226,361 Morgan County: 124,211 Limestone County: 110,900 Marshall County: 99,423 Jackson County: 52,981 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Economic Engines coated flat roll steel. In February Nucor announced that its newly formed Nucor Towers & Structures business unit plans to build a $125 million transmission tower production plant next to the Nucor Steel Decatur sheet steel mill, adding about 200 jobs.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing.

MORGAN COUNTY AEROSPACE

Decatur is home to one of United Launch Alliance's two manufacturing, assembly and integration operation centers. The 1.6 million-square-foot facility, the largest rocket factory in the country, is the production site for Atlas V and Delta II and IV rockets and, more recently, the next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket. In October 2022, ULA broke ground on a $300 million, 500,000-square-foot expansion to accommodate a contract to build 38 Vulcan rockets that will deploy Amazon’s “Kuiper” broadband satellites into orbit. The company and its partner Beyond Gravity also are investing in a new building that will increase manufacturing capacity of Vulcan’s payload fairings and add 250 jobs.

B U S I N E S S MORGAN COUNTY JUNE 2023: Stogie Holdings LLC announces it is working with a Memphis development company on a 140- to 180-unit apartment complex in historic Decatur. Once approved, construction is expected to take about 18 months. JUNE 2023: Decatur Morgan County Tourism announces a new partnership with American Cruise Line that will see the company’s riverboats

Zurich-based Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space) has its U.S. office headquarters in Huntsville and has operated a production facility for launcher structures in Decatur since 2015. The company works closely with ULA. METALS

GE Appliances’ top-freezer refrigerator plant in Decatur celebrated its 45th anniversary last year. With 1,500 employees, the plant is the largest employer at a single location in Morgan County. In 2022, the company invested millions of dollars to improve efficiency and expand capacity. The company also announced it is reshoring production of two top freezer models from China to Decatur. Nucor Steel Decatur, a division of North Carolina-based Nucor Corp., manufactures hot rolled, cold rolled and

Headquartered in Hartselle, Cerrowire is a copper wire manufacturer that supplies building wire and cable throughout North America. This spring, the company opened a $100 million, 270,000-square-foot metal clad cable manufacturing facility. Wolverine Industries is the largest integrated aluminum solutions provider in North America. The company headquarters and an aluminum extrusion plant are in Decatur. CHEMICALS

3M operates a materials plant and a film plant, with 950 employees and some 400 on-site contractors. Other key chemical companies include Ascend Performance Materials, which has been operating in Decatur since 1952, and Indorama Ventures Xylenes and PTA, Daikin America and Polyplex USA. FOOD & AGRICULTURE

With 1,640 employees, WayneSanderson Farms LLC is Morgan

B R I E F S

docking in Decatur as they carry travelers along the Tennessee River. MAY 2023: The Renasant Gateway Decatur bank opens. The two-story, 7,800-square-foot allglass front building is part of an ongoing effort by city officials to revitalize the entrance to the city. APRIL 2023: Cullman Regional Medical Center wins state approval to build a freestanding emergency department in Hartselle.

46 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

APRIL 2023: Bunge North America Inc. announces a $28.6 million expansion of its Decatur plant. A new building, upgrades to existing buildings and added equipment to improve the unloading and distribution capabilities should be complete by December 2023. FEBRUARY 2023: Nucor Corp. announces plans to build a new $125 million transmission tower production plant, Nucor Towers & Structures, next to the Nucor Steel

Decatur sheet steel mill. Nucor plans for 200 full-time jobs at the new facility. OCTOBER 2022: Toray Composite Materials America Inc. announces a $15 million investment to upgrade its Decatur carbon fiber facility, doubling the production capacity of the highperformance carbon fiber. OCTOBER 2022: United Launch Alliance breaks ground on a $300 million, 500,000-square-

foot facility to support a commercial launch contract with Amazon, which plans 38 Vulcan rocket launches to deploy its “Kuiper” broadband satellites. MAY 2022: Cerrowire breaks ground on a $100 million manufacturing plant that will incorporate advanced systems and equipment. Plans call for 80 more employees at first, with 120 within three years.

S P O T L I G H T: ECO N O M I C E N G I N E S

County’s largest employer, producing 250,000 pounds of fresh meat daily and other products. More than 60% of chickens come from Alabama farmers. Gemstone Foods in Decatur also produces fresh poultry products.

Production at the plant is supported by 15 on-site partners that operate either under the roof of MTM’s massive 3.7 million-square-foot facility or on its nearby campus. Suppliers include plastic parts maker DNUS; plus YKTA, TBAKI, Toyota Boshoku America and AKI USA.

OTHER INDUSTRIES

Toray Composite Materials America Inc. is the world’s largest producer of carbon fiber and advanced composite materials, used in aerospace, defense and automotive products. A $15 million upgrade to the plant will double production capacity of carbon fiber. Packaging company Sonoco Products operates two facilities in Hartselle — a steel reels plant and a nailed wood and plywood reel producing plant. Decatur is the metals fabrication hub for Turner Industries’ Southeast operations and specializes in pipe, vessel, steel and modular fabrication services.

LIMESTONE COUNTY AUTOMOTIVE

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM), a joint undertaking between Mazda Motor Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., currently produces the Mazda CX-50, a crossover SUV, and the Toyota Corolla Cross at its Limestone County facility. The plant has the capacity to manufacture 300,000 vehicles annually.

LIMESTONE COUNTY APRIL 2023: EFI Automotive announces plans to invest $6 million in its North American headquarters in Elkmont to create two new production lines and add about 35 workers. APRIL 2023: The Pryor Field Airport Authority Board approves a 25-year lease with Acquisition Integration for a maintenance, repair and overhaul operation at the airport.

Polaris Inc.’s 900,000-square-foot facility in Limestone County is one of the company’s largest plants, making the Polaris Slingshot. EFI Automotive’s North American headquarters in Elkmont designs and manufactures sensors, activators and actuators for Ford Motor Co. The firm is investing $6 million to add two production lines.

TAXES PROPERTY TAX MORGAN COUNTY

13.8 mills outside Decatur/Hartselle 10.8 mills inside Decatur/Hartselle LIMESTONE COUNTY: 13.5 mills STATE OF ALABAMA: 6.5 mills

SALES TAX MORGAN COUNTY Decatur: 4% Eva: 2%

Bocar US in Tanner makes structural aluminum parts, which help reduce vehicle weight and trim emissions. Tris USA Inc., an automotive component company, has been manufacturing carbon brushes for DC motors at its Athens facility for more than 30 years.

Falkville: 4%

Hartselle: 4%

Priceville: 2%

Somerville: 2% Trinity: 4%

LIMESTONE COUNTY

AVIATION

The 100-acre GE Aviation complex is the company’s only facility in the U.S. that produces ceramic matrix composites components used in jet engines. Carpenter Technology Corp. has been manufacturing high-end specialty alloy

MARCH 2023: Athensbased Ming Commercial Real Estate Group announces the start of construction on a 2,500-square-foot Starbucks at the Publix at MidTown Centre in Athens. The Starbucks will be one of three tenants in an outparcel development on Highway 31. JANUARY 2023: Morgan Metals Inc. announces plans to expand its North Alabama operations with a new $286,000, 4,800-square-foot

building and loading dock. DECEMBER 2022: Bryant Bank opens a retail bank location in Athens, including office space available for lease to professional service providers. DECEMBER 2022: Gregory Industries breaks ground on a new G-STRUT manufacturing facility in Athens’ Elm Industrial Park.

Athens: 3%

Ardmore: 3% Elkmont: 2%

STATE OF ALABAMA: 4% Source: Alabama Department of Revenue

AUGUST 2022: ROW Manufacturing announces a $521,900 investment to expand operations to supply local automotive plants with machine parts. JUNE 2022: InTech Medical announces a $23.5 million expansion to meet global growth needs in the orthopedic market. It is expected to create up to 50 jobs.

MAY 2022: Old Black Bear Brewing announces plans to expand to Athens with a $1.5 million investment. It plans to hire 45 employees over three years once production begins. MARCH 2022: Elk River Health and Nursing Center of Ardmore opens a 74-bed skilled nursing facility. The new facility increases occupancy and will serve Ardmore’s veteran community as a VA service provider.

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 47

S P O T L I G H T: ECO N O M I C E N G I N E S

products for the aerospace and energy industries in its Athens facility since 2014. In 2019, the company opened an advanced additive manufacturing facility and Emerging Technology Center. DISTRIBUTION

In 2021, Amazon opened a fulfillment center in the Limestone County portion of Huntsville, with plans to add a second facility nearby for bulkier items.

Target Distribution also operates a distribution center nearby. MANUFACTURING

Steelcase, a producer of office furniture, InTech Medical, which produces devices for orthopedic surgery, and HDT Global, which produces military shelters, are also among the county’s top employers.

Largest Industrial Employers MORGAN COUNTY GE APPLIANCES, A HAIER COMPANY 1,395 employees Refrigerator manufacturing

WAYNE-SANDERSON FARMS LLC 1,640 employees Poultry further processing

3M COMPANY

950 employees Plastic sheets/industrial chemicals

NUCOR STEEL DECATUR LLC 725 employees • Steel mini mill

WAYNE FARMS FRESH FACILITY

719 employees • Poultry processing

UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE

742 employees • Rocket boosters

GEMSTONE FOODS LLC

486 employees • Poultry further processing

INDORAMA VENTURES XYLENES & PTA LLC

425 employees • Terephthalic acid (PTA)

High Capability, High Responsiveness. The Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time.™

LIMESTONE COUNTY MAZDA TOYOTA MANUFACTURING 3,900 employees • Automotive

POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.

2,500 employees • Off-road vehicles

TARGET DISTRIBUTION

1,443 employees • Distribution

AMAZON

1,100 employees • Distribution

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Scan the QR Code for more info hargrove-epc.com info@hargrove-epc.com 877.388.8356

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STEELCASE

780 employees • Office furniture

YKTA

664 employees • Automotive

FEDERAL MOGUL - TENNECO 546 employees Automotive gaskets and seals

BOCAR

401 employees Automotive - alum die-cast Source: Local economic development officials

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 49

Health Care

Decatur Morgan Hospital.

DECATUR MORGAN HOSPITAL

An affiliate of the Huntsville Health System, Decatur Morgan Hospital is a 457-bed acute care hospital with five campuses, including a dedicated psychiatric hospital. It is the second-largest hospital north of Birmingham and one of the largest employers in Morgan County. Residents in Decatur, Hartselle, Priceville and surrounding communities have access to nearly 400 physicians and a range of services, including advanced imaging, outpatient wellness and labor and delivery. Surgical services include a robust robotics program with three available surgical robots, as well as orthopedic, urologic, gynecologic, urogynecologic and vascular. Decatur Morgan has been recognized as a Blue Cross Blue Shield Tier One Facility and a Blue Cross Blue Shield Center for Distinction for hip and knee replacement and maternity care. The hospital earned “A”s from the Lown Institute Hospital Index 2022 for social responsibility, health equity, patient safety and inclusivity. The institute also listed Decatur Morgan among the top five in the state for social responsibility, patient safety and avoiding overuse. To meet the demands of the growing region, in the past two years the hospital has added more than 35 new physicians to its medical staff, including a vascular surgeon. In 2022, the hospital opened Decatur Morgan Occupational Medicine, which provides pre-employment testing and corporate wellness programs and treats and manages workplace injuries for the business community in Morgan County 50 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

and surrounding areas. Last year the hospital also partnered with Calhoun Community College to create a nurse apprenticeship program. Nurse apprentices are paid to work while receiving clinical instruction based on the college’s curriculum by hospital staff. The hospital also pays for students’ tuition and books. ATHENS-LIMESTONE HOSPITAL

Athens-Limestone Hospital, also an affiliate of Huntsville Hospital Health System, is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Tier 1 hospital, recognized for the highest level of compliance in quality awareness, patient safety and financial awareness. The hospital has three campuses and 20 physician clinics that serve residents of Limestone County, east Lauderdale County and south-central Tennessee. With 1,091 employees, it is one of Limestone County’s largest employers. The hospital’s main campus provides medical and surgical care for inpatient, outpatient and emergency room patients; Athens-Limestone Hospital.

labor and delivery services; and lab, imaging and diagnostic services. It also includes an emergency medical services station, a sleep clinic, pain center, wellness center and multi-specialty clinics. The tower campus provides outpatient surgery, pre-admission testing, a community pharmacy, outpatient lab, imaging and diagnostic services. The campus also includes The Orthopaedic Center, which recently performed its first robotic knee replacement surgery. The east campus, located down the street from the tower, includes occupational health, an advanced wound center, imaging and diagnostic services and physician clinics. Its advanced wound center was recently named a Center of Distinction from Healogics. ALH provides the second-highest volume level of surgical cases in the health system, and its surgical team boasts one of the lowest infection rates in the state. In 2022, the ALH Foundation was awarded three grants — a $10,000 emergency services grant for new radios for the hospital’s EMS team, a $1,000 grant from the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission provided new lead aprons and back braces for the radiology and surgical services staff, and a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville’s “Share Your Story Video Challenge” supported the foundation’s annual fund. In December 2021, Athens-Limestone opened Tanner Community Care, a partner clinic that offers preventative care, chronic disease management, labs, urgent care, wellness visits, physicals and women’s services to residents in the Tanner area.

Movers & Shapers MORGAN COUNTY KEITH JACKSON owns Jackson

Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Decatur, which was named the 11-50 Employee Small Business of the Year in 2022. Jackson was named the Raymon Baker - John Cook Ralph Jones Small Business Person of the Year by the Decatur-Morgan Chamber of Commerce in 2022. A Hartselle native, Jackson is a Calhoun Community College. He is president of the Decatur Kiwanis Club and on the boards of DecaturMorgan County Chamber and the North Alabama Better Business Bureau. LEMZEL JOHNSON is a motivational

speaker, trainer, author and goal coach and the owner and CEO of LifeVersation LLC. He also is the lead coordinator for the City of Decatur Youth Services Department. He studied economics and business administration at Tougaloo College and leadership education at MidAmerica Christian University. JACOB LADNER grew up in Decatur

Chamber of Commerce in 2021 and his business won the 1-10 Employee Small Business of the Year award that same year from the Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. Lawrence is Chamber treasurer, chair of the Decatur Planning Commission, treasurer of the Greater Morgan County Homebuilders Association and vice chair of the DecaturMorgan County Entrepreneurial Center board. JAMIE REEVES is chair of the

Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Community activities include the Morgan County Child Advocacy Council, the Decatur Charity League, Parents & Children Together board, CASA of North Alabama board, Morgan County Association of Realtors and the Morgan County Residential Task Team. A graduate of Athens State University, Reeves ran a family portrait photography business in downtown Decatur for more than 10 years before switching to real estate. In 2020, she formed MeritHouse Realty. CHEYENNE SANCHEZ is a

and graduated from the University of North Alabama. After working with Interstate Billing Service, in 2021 he became chief executive officer for Thirdmark Capital in Decatur. He is president of the Decatur City Council and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Decatur. He is a recipient of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce 2022 Small Business Award.

community educator for Affinity Hospice and Palliative Care. She is a Decatur native and earned a degree in public health at UAB with a global health minor. In 2021 Sanchez founded Young Professionals of Decatur, a nonprofit that connects young people and provides opportunities for them to grow professionally and personally through volunteer projects and community outreach. The organization has almost 300 members.

KENT LAWRENCE owns TVW

MAYTE SANCHEZ owns M&M Servs

Electrical Supplies in Decatur. Lawrence received the Raymon Baker - John Cook - Ralph Jones Small Business Person of the Year award from the Decatur-Morgan County

LLC, a concrete construction company in Decatur. She is a member of the Commodore program, a group of professionals that

serve as the public relations arm of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.

LIMESTONE COUNTY TRACI COLLINS, MSN, RN, is

president of Athens-Limestone Hospital. The Limestone County native received her nursing degree from Calhoun Community College and a master’s from the University of Alabama. Collins is a member of Alabama Hospital Association, the University of Alabama alumni board of visitors, the nursing advisory boards at Calhoun Community College and the University of North Alabama. She also is a member of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber and the Athens Rotary Club. TRACY COMPTON is mayor of

Elkmont. During his tenure, Elkmont has seen some notable improvements, including a new town hall, the relocation and renovation of the Elkmont Senior Center and the implementation of a large infrastructure project to improve traffic flow and access to the downtown. Compton also is a member of the Elk River Development Agency board. COLLIN DALY is chair of the

Limestone County Commission, after a 17-year career at the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority. He serves on the boards of the Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and ACCA and is active in TARCOG, the Library Foundation, Tennessee Valley Youth Services, NACO Agricultural Rural Affirmation, ATVG, Limestone County Economic Development Association and Elkmont FFA and chairs the Limestone County Solid Waste Authority. August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 55

S P O T L I G H T: M OV E R S & S H A PE R S

YOLANDIA EUBANKS is director

of the Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce. A University of Alabama graduate, she worked 33 years as director of field experiences for the university’s college

of education and with the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching for 15 universities across the country. She is a member of the Athens Rotary Club and serves on the board of Christians Helping Others Food Pantry and the Ardmore Public Library and is director of Neighborhood Bridges-Ardmore.

JIMMY HODGES is president

of Calhoun Community College. Earlier, he was regional workforce director for the Alabama Community College System and dean of applied technologies at Wallace State. A Calhoun graduate, he holds two bachelor’s degrees from Athens State University, a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Alabama. Hodges serves on the boards of the American Technical Education Association and the National Coalition of Certification Centers. PAMMIE JIMMAR is president of the

Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board of Regents, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Board, the State of Alabama Public Health Office of Women’s Health Steering Committee, and boards of the Alabama Small Business Development Council, the Alabama Microenterprise Network, Alabama Main Street, Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation and Athens-Limestone Council on Aging. She is a member of the Women’s Economic Development Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executives Diversity Roundtable, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism board, Limestone County Economic Development Board, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the Athens Rotary Club. RONNIE MARKS is mayor of Athens.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of North Alabama and a master’s from the University of Tennessee. In 2012, Marks established the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission to teach high school students about their local government and their role as citizens through city-related jobs and community service projects. He 56 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

S P O T L I G H T: M OV E R S & S H A PE R S

is active with the planning commission, Foundation on Aging, Veterans Museum and Beautification Board. BETH PATTON is superintendent of

Athens City Schools. A graduate of Athens State University, she has a master’s from Alabama A&M. She serves on boards for. She is a member of Education Solution’s Transformative Leadership Academy and the Athens Rotary Club. She serves on boards for Athens City Schools Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, Kids & Kin, the Limestone County Economic Development Association, Mission Athens and United Way. TERE RICHARDSON is executive

director of Athens Main Street, leading team efforts to make downtown more inviting. She is a graduate of Athens State University and Troy State University. She serves as the Limestone County

Club board.

Churches Involved board president and is a member of the community board of the First National Bank of Pulaski and the Athens Rotary

RANDY SHEAROUSE is Limestone

County Schools superintendent. Shearouse holds bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees from Georgia Southern University and earned his Ph.D. from Capella University. In Limestone County, he has worked with Ready to Work and other student-centered initiatives. BETHANY SHOCKNEY is president

and CEO of the Limestone County Economic Development Association. She is an architecture graduate of the University of Tennessee with a master’s

from Alabama A&M University. She serves on the boards of Committee of 100, Limestone County United Way, AthensLimestone Hospital, River Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce. CATHERINE WEHLBURG is interim

president at Athens State University, after a 30-year career as professor, dean and provost. She is the editor-in-chief for “New Directions for Teaching and Learning” and serves on editorial boards for several higher education journals. Wehlburg received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 57

Higher Education ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY

Athens State celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2022 with a weeklong series of events that coincided with homecoming and summer commencement. The upper-division university serves junior-level, senior-level and graduate students, a majority of whom are enrolled in online and hybrid online/in-person courses. More than 80% of its courses are available in online or hybrid formats. Athens State had 2,895 students enrolled in Fall 2022. In January, Dr. Catherine Wehlburg was named interim president of the university following the resignation of Dr. Philip Way. Wehlburg previously served as provost and vice president of academic affairs. Athens State prides itself on supporting non-traditional college students and recently announced a partnership with Calhoun Community College to establish a fast-track bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree that allows students to earn their associate and BSNs simultaneously. The program will launch this fall. Athens State has added several new degree programs in the last two years. The College of Arts and Sciences added a homeland and corporate security bachelor’s degree in the fall of 2021, a public health bachelor’s degree in the fall of 2022 and three new master’s degrees in computer science, cybersecurity and interdisciplinary studies in the fall of 2022. The College of Business added a bachelor’s degree in aerospace systems management and a master’s in accountancy, both of which started last fall. The college also introduced a master’s in acquisition and contract management this spring. In March, the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences received a $2 million UTeach grant from the Alabama Legislature. The grant will support the university’s new Athens Teach Program, launching this summer, recruit and provide scholarships to STEM students and hire faculty and staff to support the program. Athens State is one of six state universities to receive the grant. The Spring 2022 review by the

Founders Hall at Athens State University.

Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation listed Athens State as one of 35 newly accredited educator preparation programs. In January 2022, Athens State celebrated the opening of the Northrop Grumman STEM Learning Lab. Northrop Grumman donated $25,000 to support the College of Education’s new lab, enabling the purchase of smart boards, robotics, coding tools and STEM materials and providing hands-on training to an estimated 1,000 teacher candidates and in-service teachers over five years. Last year, the university’s Center for Lifelong Learning created the LaunchBox Entrepreneurial Center, which serves as a collaborative workspace for aspiring entrepreneurs, students, investors, small businesses and government and offers business development assistance, professional networking opportunities and community educational programs. It is the first of its kind in Limestone County. The center also launched a STEAM Roller initiative, supported by a grant from Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, to expand STEM education opportunities to underserved youth in Limestone County. CALHOUN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Calhoun Community College is the largest two-year college in the Alabama Community College System and the sixth largest higher education institution in the state, serving approximately 10,000 students at its main Decatur campus, its Huntsville campus in Cummings Research Park and the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur. The school offers more than 100 associate degree options

and career/certificate programs. In May, Calhoun and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) signed an advanced manufacturing memorandum of understanding that will create a seamless transferable career path for students participating in the community college’s additive manufacturing design degree program to transfer to UAH. In April, the Appalachian Regional Commission awarded $108,000 to support Calhoun’s STEAM: Merging Art with Technology and Engineering project. An additional $144,356 provided by local sources will bring the total project funding to $252,356. The STEAM project helps support the additive manufacturing, visual communications and computer information systems programs at the college and develop design innovations and video game design programs at the Alabama Center for the Arts. Inspired by a statewide initiative led by the Alabama Board of Nursing and the Alabama Community College System, last August Calhoun’s nursing and career services departments partnered with the Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospital and the South Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to create the college’s first nursing apprenticeship program. Students in the program will get hands-on training while being paid to work at one of the school’s partner facilities. Last spring, the Calhoun College Foundation announced it had been awarded a $500,000 renovation grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. The funds were awarded in exchange for naming rights to the college’s Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Lab, now the Gene Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing, located in the Advanced Technology Center on the Decatur campus. The grant also will help fund any future expansion plans and create more training opportunities for future manufacturing technology students. In September 2021, Calhoun opened a 4,000-square-foot dental hygiene lab, making it the second community college in the state to have a dental hygiene program.

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 59

Community Development MORGAN COUNTY

In June, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce announced that funding finalized by Gov. Kay Ivey will bring several new projects to the area, including a $30 million electric vehicle training center facility, a $30 million advanced manufacturing training facility at Calhoun Community College and a $19 million dance and music studio that will be part of the Alabama Center for the Arts. Additional funding will be allocated for a mental health crisis center, renovations to the original Morgan County courthouse in Somerville and renovations to Athens State University. Residential development is an ongoing issue here, as the area seeks to capitalize on the rapid growth in North Alabama. One of the largest planned developments in Decatur is Quinn Oaks Farms, just over 80 acres across from Jack Allen Sports Complex that will consist of 432 homes, including 180 townhomes. The city’s first upscale gated townhome rental property is under development, with plans for 100 townhomes and five retail spaces on 30 acres next to the Target Shopping Center on Point Mallard Parkway. Another apartment complex on Upper River Road with up to 175 units is also in the planning stages. And nearly 150 new residential units are either under construction or scheduled for the downtown area, including McGhee Square Townhomes and Rich Winstead Apartment Development. Last June, the Alabama Center for the Arts broke ground on its first residence hall. It will have 49 apartments, a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units, plus other amenities. In April, the Decatur City Council approved project development and ground lease agreements to build a $30 million, 75,000-square-foot riverfront development near Ingalls Harbor. The mixed-use development will include restaurants, retail stores and condominiums with boat slips. And last fall, ground was broken for a Fairfield by Marriott and a parking garage downtown. Three public school systems serve Morgan County — Decatur City, Hartselle City and Morgan County

Buc-ee’s breaks ground in Limestone County, its fourth Alabama location.

Gregory Industries breaks ground in Athens on a new G-STRUT manufacturing center.

Schools. This summer, Decatur City Schools swore in a new superintendent, Gyimah Whitaker, who served earlier as deputy chief academic officer for Fulton County Schools. Also this summer, Decatur City School officials introduced a new mobile STEM education lab, which offers lessons for students and training for teachers. The Morgan County School System boasts six nationally recognized Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, advanced placement course offerings in all of its high schools, pre-advanced placement courses in all middle schools, more than 18 career tech course offerings and a variety of career and technical programs. Hartselle City Schools, with 3,650 students PK-12, also earns kudos as a Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence District. Last fall, Hartselle City Schools broke ground on a new 65-classroom elementary school.

Calhoun Community College. LIMESTONE COUNTY

Limestone County is the fastest-growing county in North Alabama, and several new projects are underway to keep pace with its growing population. In 2022, the Limestone County Commission approved residential August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 61

S P O T L I G H T: CO M M U N I T Y D E V E LO PM E N T

development on more than 2,300 lots. As of January, almost 3,500 residential units have completed their approval process to pull a building permit and an additional 1,928 lots received preliminary approval. Last summer, the County Commission granted approval to move forward with three major subdivisions — the first phase of the 96-lot Charleston subdivision, the 101-lot Walton Creek subdivision and the 21-lot Lewterville subdivision. Construction is underway on Gateway Village Apartments, a 256-unit luxury apartment complex in Athens that will include a gated entrance, saltwater pool, splash decks and bar, a fitness facility, dog park and pet spa. As more people continue to move to the area, improvements to roads and managing traffic flow have taken priority. In June, the County Commission approved an agreement with Wisener LLC to serve as the consultant for the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of East Limestone and

62 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

Capshaw roads. Last year, the County Commission approved a $1.2 million project to improve the intersection at Mooresville Road and Highway 72 — an intersection used by half of Limestone County residents each week. In January 2022, Gov. Kay Ivey tapped Athens as one of 50 cities in the state to receive a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that will provide $500,000 for infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood around Vine Street. That summer, the Athens City Council approved a contract with Rogers Group Inc. to handle the project, which will include drainage, street repair and the demolition of dilapidated buildings. Also in January 2022, a project to improve the intersection at Highway 72 and Clinton Street in Athens received about $1.5 million in funding from the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II. Roads aren’t the only infrastructure seeing significant upgrades. Last year, the

Athens City Council allocated $1 million to transform a 32-acre property, previously home to the Pilgrim’s Pride chicken processing plant that shut down in 2009, into Sunrise Park. The park will offer a playground, splash pad, restrooms, shade structures and a parking area. Other park updates include new playground equipment and fencing at Jimmy Gill Park and renovations and new fencing at Robert Allen Tinnon Park, both in Athens. The city also has committed to retrofitting three tennis courts into pickleball courts at Athens Big Spring Memorial Park. Limestone County Schools serve 14,583 students with a range of elementary, high school and career tech options. Ground was broken last year for a new elementary school on Highway 127. The Athens City School System has 4,815 students and is consistently ranked as one of the best districts in the state.

Culture & Recreation GO TO THE PARK

Point Mallard Park offers golfing, a water park, campground and more. GET BUG EYED

Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur invites kids to connect with nature, viewing fish, turtles, snakes, baby alligators and insects and engaging in interactive exhibits. SEE THE QUAINT

Mooresville, often referred to as “Alabama’s Williamsburg,” was the first town incorporated by the Alabama Territorial Legislature in 1818, and the entire town of Mooresville is on the National Register of Historic Places. JUST THE FACTS

Historical records, old newspapers and more are available at the Morgan County Archives in Decatur and the Houston Memorial Library & Museum in Athens. MUSIC TIME

Head outdoors for concerts and events at Daikin Amphitheater in Decatur. Merchants Alley, in the heart of Athens, is a place for people to gather, listen to live music and admire murals that celebrate local music and art. ARTS ALIVE

Decatur’s Princess Theatre was built as a horse stable, converted to a vaudeville playhouse and now hosts music and theater performances. Carnegie Visual Arts Center, in the historic Old Decatur neighborhood, used to be the Carnegie Library, built in 1904, and now offers art exhibits and events throughout the year. In Athens, High Cotton Arts and The Scout House offers studio spaces where artists can work, exhibit and sell their art. 64 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

And the Athens Arts League is restoring the 1930s-era Scout House as a music venue with a student music lab. HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS

Built in 1905 by the Southern Railway, the Historic Depot & Railroad Museum was fully restored in 2015-2016 to show off original railroad artifacts, model trains and graphic panels depicting the city’s railroad history. Old State Bank in Decatur, built in 1833, now features exhibits on the history of banking in Alabama, plus displays of period furniture. In Athens, Donnell House, completed in 1851, was originally built by Presbyterian minister Robert Donnell and later used by the Athens public school system as a residence for principals. Today it is a museum and event space. Newby Gulf Station, built in 1933, was one of the first full-service stations in Alabama, and offers a glimpse of the Prairie style architecture, associated with Frank Lloyd Wright. Fort Henderson Historic Site and Trinity High School chronicle the history of race relations in Athens. Fort Henderson was built in 1836 and staffed mainly by Black soldiers who were later captured and returned to slavery. Trinity Congregational Church played a significant role in promoting racial harmony. Later, Trinity High School educated Black students from the 1930s through the 1970s and was the first school in North Alabama to provide kindergarten for Black students. In Athens, the Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives features displays of military artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the present day, with tours guided by local veterans.

Point Mallard Park in Decatur offers everything from 18 holes of golf to a water park, hiking and biking and a campground. Also in Decatur, Delano Park is known for its landscape design, including WPA-era buildings. The Trail of History walks visitors through the city’s heritage, while the Riverwild playground and splashpad, trails, tennis and basketball courts offer outdoor play. GoFAR USA Park features trails, ziplines, a climbing wall, a paintball range and all you need for electric trail boarding — plus a petting zoo. TAKE A HIKE

Limestone County has trails and walks for hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking. The Richard Martin Rails to Trails greenway takes hikers more than 10 miles through cotton fields and past Civil War battle sites and historic homesteads. The Limestone County Canoe and Kayak Trail on the Elk River lazily winds 21.9 miles through bluffs, forests and meadows. Noah Bike Trail’s 89-mile circular route is perfect for avid cyclists, and the wooded Swan Creek Greenway Trail runs parallel to Swan Creek for approximately 2.3 miles and offers scenic views. Mooresville is the headquarters for the Singing River Trail, stretching more than 200 miles throughout the Tennessee Valley. SPECIALTY TRAILS

Outings for history buffs include the architectural Antebellum Trail, the Civil War Trail and the African-American Heritage Trail. Birdwatching is great on the ADA-accessible Marbut Bend loop trail along the Elk River. Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk near Belle Mina is open year-round and is also a great spot for birding. Or you can enjoy Morgan County’s outdoor artwork on the MoCo Mural Trail. SEE THE BIRDS

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, on 35,000 acres along the Tennessee River, is great for birdwatchers, and offers fishing, boating and trails.

Company Kudos

by ERICA JOINER WEST

Aerobotix, a Huntsville-based AS9100certified FANUC robotics integrator for the aerospace and defense industries, has received the 2022 Outstanding Sales Growth Award from FANUC America. The recognition is the fifth time since 2010 that Aerobotix has received the award. Pictured is Samantha Stejskal, Aerobotix process engineer.

The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine has claimed its fifth national championship in the last seven years in the national simulation competition. ACOM fielded two teams in the competition, with the winning team being “Biohazards,” made up of Hannah Rose Mixon, Sireen Salin Hilo, Sandra Fanous, Sanjana Rasamsetti and Sonia Patel — all of whom are first-year female students. Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University recently claimed AllAcademic Achievement Awards from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Alabama State came in at No. 1, while Alabama A&M finished third. Cadence Bank, which has six locations in Alabama, has received the 2023 America Saves Designation of Savings Excellence (DOSE) for a ninth consecutive year. The recognition goes to financial institutions that have a strong commitment to promoting savings and financial education. For the 14th consecutive year, Children’s of Alabama has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Children’s Hospitals list. For a second time, Children’s came in at the top spot for the state of Alabama and was ranked in the top 50 nationally in eight categories. Hyundai has been honored in both newand used-car categories in the 2023 Best Cars for Teens by U.S. News & World Report. Among the vehicles making the list were the 2023 Tucson, the 2023 Santa Fe and the 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid. The Tucson and Santa Fe models are made at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery. Jackson Thornton, a public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in

Montgomery, and Jackson Thornton Asset Management, a wealth management firm with three offices in Alabama, have been named to multiple lists by Accounting Today and Forbes. Jackson Thornton made Accounting Today’s Beyond the Top 100 — Firms to Watch and the Regional Leaders Gulf Coast listings and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Tax & Accounting Firms 2023. JTAM was named a 2023 Wealth Magnet by Accounting Today. ShadowDragon, a Hoover-based provider of ethical open-source intelligence, unique datasets and APIs, was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Technology Pioneers. Sozo Trading Co., a thrift store in the Avondale community of Birmingham, is celebrating its 8th anniversary. A ministry of Birmingham-based Sozo Children, it serves vulnerable children in Uganda. The store also conducts outreach programs in the Birmingham area. Thompson Fabricating, in Tarrant, is celebrating its 70th year in business. The company manufactures engineered aluminum, stainless and steel fabricated products for a wide range of industries, including the construction of water and wastewater treatment plants. For an eight consecutive year, Torch Technologies, based in Huntsville, has been certified a Great Place To Work, earning a 92% approval rating from its employees. The undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs at the University of South Alabama have been recognized by the National Council on Teacher Quality, earning an A grade in strengthening elementary reading instruction.

SEPTEMBER Building Alabama Hot Projects & AGC 40 Under 40 Insurance in a Digital Age Geographic Spotlight: Tuscaloosa County

OCTOBER The Sky’s the Limit: Alabama Aerospace & Aviation Rising Stars of the Banking World Zoom: ’Dega Boosts Alabama Economy Geographic Spotlight: Jefferson County Check BusinessAlabama.com for daily business headlines and additional content

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 65

RETROSPECT

Money Ball

The Saga of the 1914 Montgomery Billikens

By SCOTTY E. KIRKLAND

aseball came early to Alabama’s capital city. Teams organized in Montgomery in the late 1860s, inaugurating there a long history of the American pastime. Throughout all the storied teams in Montgomery, there may be no sadder tale than the 1914 season, the year a plucky but cash-strapped baseball franchise came to an end. In 1903, Montgomery returned to play baseball as one of the eight teams in the Southern Association. Over the next 11 seasons, the franchise ranked in the league’s bottom half, with six losing seasons. Second-place finishes in 1905 and 1911 kept alive a glimmering hope among the faithful. But as one of the smallest cities in the league, Montgomery struggled with adequate ticket sales from the beginning. This, in turn, affected revenue. The team lost money

66 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

R E T RO S PE C T

nearly every season. also purchased advertisements in the team’s Local businessman Mit Wilcox served official 1914 “Score Book.” Within the as team president and was among several 20-page program were 71 advertisements, stakeholders in the franchise. For the 1914 including those for well-known local conseason he hired Bob Gilks as team manager. cerns like Montgomery Light & Water, the Though new to Montgomery, Gilks was Orpheum Theatre and Tatum’s Hat Store. seasoned in the business of baseball. The Nearly 25% of the ads were for businesses Ohio native’s impressive career as a player, selling alcoholic beverages, no doubt a cause manager and scout spanned four decades. for concern among the teetotaling set. The team adopted several names over the Although not a sellout crowd, nearly years in the league, including the Lambs, 3,500 people made the trip out to the ballGrays, Rebels and Black Sox — a name park for opening day. They paid 25 cents given over to baseball infamy after the 1919 for a general admission ticket and 50 cents World Series. For the 1914 season, the for a grandstand seat. The Billikens lost 3-0 franchise returned to a most unusual name: to the Pensacola Pelicans. The next month, The Billikens. a brief winning streak put the Billikens moA portly, mythical-looking creature with mentarily atop league standings. But it did oversized feet, the Billiken was a kind of not last. Losses mounted and attendance forebear to the Troll dolls made popular in fell. “Come out today and boost,” pleaded the 1980s. Billiken coins were sold as good one editorial. Previous page: A 1914 score book luck charms. One from the era read “I am What went unwritten in such appeals for the Montgomery Billikens and Montgomery's Cramton Bowl. This the god of luckiness, so always keep me was that Montgomery was in danger of page: Two unidentified ballplayers in nigh, misfortune’s frown will disappear, at losing its baseball franchise. The villain Alabama around the turn of the 20th one flash from mine eye.” of the piece was league president William century. Photos courtesy of Alabama The 1911 Montgomery Billikens finished Marmaduke Kavanaugh. Born in Eutaw, AlaDepartment of Archives & History. second in the league with a record of 77-58. bama, he had made his name in Arkansas as a Going into the 1914 season, perhaps Wilcox hoped a return to newspaper editor and elected official. Many felt that Kavanaugh the name might bring about a similar result. coveted the Montgomery franchise for Little Rock, his adopted But it was money, not charms, the team needed. hometown. In late August, Kavanaugh came to Montgomery, Flagging tickets sales in previous years left them hamstrung where he watched the “listless” Billikens lose 8-2 to the Atlanta for the cash necessary to field a winning team. The monthly Crackers. When pressed by local reporters on the fate of the budget for the Billikens was a scant $3,600 for the salaries of franchise, Kavanaugh offered a lawyerly dodge: Nothing would nearly two dozen players and staff. The funds depleted quickly. change “this season.” When it came to purchasing players, Montgomery could not Hope slipped away for the beleaguered Billikens. The team often compete. A month before the first game, Chattanooga finished dead last with an ignominious 54-99 record, the worst snatched an infielder from their roster. in league history. Only one player finished with a batting average But Gilks showed business acumen of his own as well. In over .300. No pitcher recorded more than 10 wins. Adding to the late February, pitcher Jack Lively sent letters to several teams grief, their instate rival Barons took home yet another pennant. announcing his free agency. One manager replied with an inIn November, Kavanaugh orchestrated a buyout of the vitation to try out. Sly Bob Gilks sent Lively a signed contract. Montgomery Billikens by an Arkansas businessman. The price The pitcher won nine games for Montgomery that year. With was a low, non-negotiable $15,000. If Wilcox refused the offer, the resources he had, Gilks assembled his team, a mixture of Kavanaugh threatened to have the other team owners vote to greenhorns and players near the end of their careers. relocate the franchise anyway. With his stakeholders in mind, The Billikens played their home games in a 5,000-person Wilcox acquiesced. It was a “business decision.” facility in the Capitol Heights neighborhood that was far from And so, the Montgomery Billikens became the Little Rock ideal. This was especially true when compared to the team’s Travelers. The following season the transplanted team again upstate rival, the Birmingham Barons, who played at Rickwood finished at the bottom of the league. But that was cold comfort Field, a state-of-the-art 7,000-seat baseball stadium — today to Montgomery baseball fans, indeed. In time, a baseball team the nation’s oldest operating ballpark. By the 1914 season there in Alabama’s capital city would compete for a championship were lights and electric fans to keep spectators comfortable once again. In the 1920s, some of those games were played in a at Rickwood. No such amenities existed at the Montgomery new multipurpose stadium known as Cramton Bowl, built not ballpark, which local sports writers backhandedly referred to as far from the “pastime pasture” where the Billikens played their a “pastime pasture.” ill-fated final season. Ticket sales and community support went hand in hand. Boosters encouraged local establishments to close their doors to Historian Scotty E. Kirkland is a freelance contributor to Business Alabama. aid opening day attendance. Many of the stores that complied He lives in Wetumpka. August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 67

Career Notes SAM JEFFCOAT

AARON WHITE

KIRK PRESSLEY

by ERICA JOINER WEST

BRIANA BRYANT

OWEN BAILEY

DAVID WISDOM JR.

WESLEY LAIRD

CHRISTY TAYLOR

Kayce Jones has joined Lake Homes Realty, working on and around the Warrior River.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

LESLEY PRICE

KAYCE JONES

DAVID DEHLER

BANKING

Bryant Bank has appointed Sam Jeffcoat senior vice president for Baldwin County. Aaron White has been named Bay County Market president of SmartBank. ServisFirst Bank has added Kirk Pressley as executive vice president of strategic planning in Birmingham.

COMMUNICATIONS

NP Strategy, a subsidiary of Maynard Nexsen, has welcomed Briana Bryant to its Birmingham office as director.

CONSTRUCTION

Hargrove Controls + Automation Senior Project Manager Sean Phillips received the Control Systems Integrators Association 2023 Rising Star Award.

EDUCATION

Adam Clemons, principal of Piedmont High School, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

HEALTH CARE

Owen Bailey, CEO and senior associate vice president for medical affairs at USA Health, has been honored with the Distinguished Service Award and the Grassroots Award from the Alabama Hospital Association.

LEGAL

David Wisdom Jr. has joined Gilpin Givhan PC. Wesley Laird of Laird, Baker & Blackstock in Opp has been elected president of the Alabama Association for Justice. 68 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

BRIT BLALOCK

LAUREN SHECKLER

MANUFACTURING

Christy Taylor has been named chief operating officer for transformation at Austal USA.

REAL ESTATE

Lesley Price has been named marketing director of NAI Chase Commercial Real Estate in Birmingham and Huntsville.

Southern Research has hired David Dehler as director of business RAUL PENA development, and Brit Blalock and Lauren Sheckler in marketing and business development leadership.

TOURISM

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism has appointed Todd Walton as its vice president of marketing.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

VLS Environmental Solutions has named Raul Pena to chief information officer.

Index

A guide to businesses (bold) and individuals (light) mentioned in this month’s issue of Business Alabama.

3M Co........................................................ 46, 48

B.A.S.S.............................................................12

Dallas County.....................................................8

Glass, Matt....................................................................12

A.G. Gaston Motel...............................................9

Bailey, Owen.................................................................68

Daly, Collin...................................................................55

GoFAR USA Park................................................64

Accounting Today.............................................65

Baird, Jim.....................................................................34

Dauphin Island Sea Lab....................................12

Graduate Auburn Hotel.......................................8

Aerobotix Inc....................................................65

Baker, Charlie...............................................................30

Dauphin Island, Town of...................................12

Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce...........55

Aerojet Rocketdyne............................................8

Bally Sports Southeast......................................12

Decatur Charity League.....................................55

Affinity Hospice and Palliative Care...................55

Bank Independent Stadium................................7

Decatur City Council.........................................61

Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.........................................12

African-American Heritage Trail.........................64

Bank of America.................................................9

Decatur City Schools.........................................61

Greater Morgan County Homebuilders Association..................................................55

AKI USA............................................................46

Bassmaster Magazine.......................................12

Decatur Morgan County Tourism.......................46

Gregory Industries..................................... 43, 46

Akima Corp........................................................7

BBB Industries...................................................9

Decatur Morgan Hospital............................ 50, 59

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism.................68

Alabama A&M University............................ 55, 65

Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk..........................64

Decatur Planning Commission..........................55

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Sports and Events.....15

Alabama Association for Justice........................68

Bevill State Community College........................18

Hargrove Controls + Automation......................68

Alabama Bass Trail...........................................12

Beyond Gravity USA Inc.....................................46

Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce......................................... 55, 61

Alabama Bass Trail TV.......................................12

Bhate Environmental Associates.........................7

Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center................................55

Hartselle, City of................................................8

Alabama Board of Nursing................................59

Big Spring Memorial Park, Athens.....................61

Decatur, City of.................................................55

High Cotton Arts...............................................64

Alabama Center for the Arts, Decatur..... 43, 59, 61

Bigler, Don......................................................................9

Dehler, David................................................................68

Hill, Rudy......................................................................30

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine.........65

Billikens, The...................................................66

Delano Park, Decatur........................................64

Hill, Zach.......................................................................18

Alabama Community College System.......... 55, 59

Birmingham City Council..................................71

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc...........................55

Hilo, Sireen Salin..........................................................65

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.....................12

Birmingham, City of...........................................6

Donaldson, Kay............................................................12

Historic Depot & Railroad Museum....................64

Alabama Department of Commerce.....................6

Birmngham Barons..........................................66

Donnell House, Athens.....................................64

Hodges, Jimmy............................................................55

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.................................12

Blalock, Brit...................................................................68

Doster Construction............................................9

Houston County.................................................8

Blockbuster Video Inc.......................................10

Dow Jones Industrial Index..............................34

Houston Memorial Library & Museum...............64

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.............50

Dynetics Inc........................................................6

Hubbard, Katie...............................................................9

Bocar Group.....................................................48

Eastman Kodak Co............................................10

Huntsville Health System.................................50

BP Plc................................................................7

Huntsville Utilities.............................................6

Bradley Arant...................................................30

Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.................................6

Alabama Public Health Office............................55

Brown, Angel................................................................18

Education Solution Transformative Leadership Academy...................................55

Alabama Seafood Cook-Off..................................8

Bryant Bank............................................... 46, 68

EFI Automotive.................................................46

Alabama Small Business Development Council...................................55

Bryant, Briana...............................................................68

Elk River Development Agency.........................55

Bunge North America Inc..................................46

Alabama Sports Initiative.................................15

Elk River Health and Nursing Center.................46

Burr & Forman..................................................30

Alabama State University..................................65

Elkmont FFA.....................................................55

Business Council of Alabama............................55

Alabama Territorial Legislature.........................64

Elkmont Senior Center......................................55

Cadence Bank..................................................65

Alabama Tourism Department..........................12

Elkmont, Town of..............................................55

Calhoun Community College ..........50, 55, 59, 61

Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives..............64

Elm Industrial Park, Athens..............................46

Canadian Pacific Kansas City...............................9

Alabama, State of...............................................8

Enviva Inc..........................................................9

Canfield, Greg.................................................................6

Alabama Microenterprise Network....................55

Epes Industrial Park, Sumter County...................9

Capella University............................................55

Alabamboo........................................................6

Eubanks, Yolanda.........................................................55

Carnegie Visual Arts Center...............................64

Amazon Inc.......................................... 43, 46, 48

Exela Technologies.............................................7

CASA of North Alabama.....................................55

American Cruise Line........................................46

FactSet Research Systems Inc.............................34

Cerrowire LLC......................................... 8, 43, 46

American Organic Energy...................................7

Fairfield by Marriott.........................................61

Children’s of Alabama......................................65

American Technical Education Association.........55

Fanous, Sandra.............................................................65

Christians Helping Others Food Pantry..............55

Anderson Media Group.....................................12

Fanuc America..................................................65

Civil War Trail...................................................64

Antebellum Trail..............................................64

Federal Mogul - Tenneco............................. 43, 48

Clemons, Adam............................................................68

Appalachian Regional Commission...................59

Federal Reserve................................................34

Collier, Jeff....................................................................12

Ardmore Public Library.....................................55

First National Bank of Pulaski...........................55

Collins, Traci..................................................................55

Foley Sports Tourism........................................15

Ascend Performance Materials..........................46

Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville.......................................50

Foley, City of....................................................15

Ascension St. Vincent’s.......................................8

Compton, Tracy.............................................................55

Forbes Magazine..............................................65

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives..................................55

Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching........55

Fort Henderson Historic Site..............................64

Control Systems Integrators Association............68

Fox Sports........................................................12

Athens Arts League...........................................64

Cook Museum of Natural Science......................64

Franks, Taylor................................................................18

Athens City Schools.................................... 55, 61

Cooper Green Mercy Health Services....................6

Fulton County Schools, Georgia.........................61

Athens Main Street..................................... 43, 55

Future of College Athletics Summit...................30

Athens State University........................ 55, 59, 61

Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation................................59

Athens-Limestone Beautification Board.............55

Cramton Bowl, Montgomery.............................66

Gateway Village Apartments, Athens.................61

Athens-Limestone Council on Aging..................55

CSX Corp............................................................9

GE Appliances....................................... 43, 46, 48

Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce.................................55

Cullman Regional Medical Center.....................46

Gemstone Foods LLC................................... 46, 48

Culverhouse School of Business........................10

Athens-Limestone Hospital................... 50, 55, 59

Gene Haas Foundation......................................59

Cummings Research Park, Huntsville................59

Athens, City of............................................ 55, 61

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.....................................9

D.R. Horton........................................................7

Atlanta Crackers...............................................66

Geneva County...................................................8

Daikin America.................................................46

Auburn University........................................8, 30

Georgia Southern University.............................55

Daikin Amphitheater........................................64

Auburn-Opelika Tourism...................................15

Gilks, Bob.....................................................................66

DaikyoNishikawa US........................................46

Gilpin Givhan PC..............................................68

Alabama Governor’s Office................................12 Alabama Hospital Association..................... 55, 68 Alabama Main Street........................................55 Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism Association............................... 12, 55

Arrow’s Edge LLC................................................7

Austal USA...................................................7, 68

Gadsden State Community College...................18

Hartselle City Schools.......................................61

Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.........................................15 Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama...........65 Idemitsu Apollo Renewable Corp........................9 Imaging Business Machines LLC..........................7 Indorama Ventures Xylenes & PTA LLC......... 46, 48 Ingalls Harbor, Decatur.....................................61 InTech Medical.................................................46 Integration, Innovation Inc.................................7 Interfuze Corp....................................................7 Interior Elements...............................................9 Interstate Billing Service..................................55 Ivey, Gov. Kay........................................................6, 8, 61 Jack Allen Sports Complex................................61 Jackson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling...............55 Jackson Thornton.............................................65 Jackson, Keith...............................................................55 Jeffcoat, Sam................................................................68 Jefferson State Community College..................18 Jimmar, Pammie..........................................................55 Jimmy Gill Park, Athens...................................61 Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville..........................15 John Hunt Park, Huntsville...............................15 Johnson, Lemzel..........................................................55 Jones, Kayce.................................................................68 Kavanaugh, William Marmaduke.................................66 Keurig Dr. Pepper Inc........................................30 Kids & Kin........................................................55 Kiwanis Club....................................................55 KPS Group..........................................................9 Ladies Professional Golf Association..................15 Ladner, Jacob................................................................55 Laird, Baker & Blockstock..................................68 Laird, Wesley................................................................68 Lake Homes Realty...........................................68 Lamp, Joel....................................................................15 Langston, David............................................................18 Lawrence County................................................8 Lawrence, Bill...............................................................30

August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 69

INDEX

Lawrence, Kent.............................................................55

National Coalition of Certification Centers.........55

ROW Manufacturing.........................................46

TRO Jung|Brannen.............................................9

Lay Lake...........................................................12

National Collegiate Athletic Association....... 15, 30

RUAG Space......................................................46

Troy State Universkity.......................................55

Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban, The................10

National Council on Teacher Quality..................65

S&P 500 Index.................................................34

Truland Homes...................................................7

Lee, Humphrey.............................................................18

National Register of Historic Places...................64

Saban, Nick.............................................................10, 30

Tuberville, Sen. Tommy................................................30

Lee, Rich.......................................................................30

Neighborhood Bridges-Ardmore.......................55

Sage Health.......................................................8

Turner Industries..............................................46

LifeVersation LLC..............................................55

New Era ADR....................................................30

San Francisco Giants.........................................71

TVW Electrical Supplies.....................................55

Limestone County........................................8, 43

Newby Gulf Station..........................................64

Sanchez, Cheyenne......................................................55

U.S. Army...........................................................7

Limestone County Canoe and Kayak Trail...........64

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.........................................30

Sanchez, Mayte.............................................................55

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.............55

Limestone County Churches Involved...............55

Noah Bike Trail.................................................64

Scout House, Athens.........................................64

U.S. Department of Commerce............................6

Limestone County Commission.........................55

North Alabama Better Business Bureau.............55

ServisFirst Bank......................................... 34, 68

U.S. Department of Defense................................7

Limestone County Economic Development Agency...................................55

Northrop Grumman Corp..................................59

ShadowDragon Federal LLC...............................65

U.S. Navy...........................................................7

Northwest-Shoals Community College..............18

Shearouse, Randy.........................................................55

U.S. News & World Report.................................65

NP Strategy......................................................68

Sheckler, Lauren...........................................................68

U.S. Supreme Court..........................................30

Nucor Steel LLC..................................... 43, 46, 48

Sherman Antitrust Act.......................................30

UAB Health System.............................................6

Old Black Bear Brewing....................................46

Shoal Creek Mine...............................................8

UAB Highlands Hospital.....................................9

Lipford Construction...........................................8

Old State Bank, Decatur....................................64

Shockney, Bethany.......................................................55

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.......................................6

Lipford, Danny................................................................8

Olive, Brody....................................................................8

Silicon Hills Wealth Management.......................7

United Launch Alliance............................... 46, 48

Little Rock Travelers..........................................66

Orpheum Theatre, Montgomery........................66

Singing River Trail............................................64

United States Tennis Association.......................15

Lively, Jack....................................................................66

Page, Yolanda.................................................................6

Smallwood, Stuart..........................................................8

United Way......................................................55

Logan Martin Lake............................................12

Parents & Children Together.............................55

SmartBank.......................................................68

University of Alabama................... 6, 7, 10, 30, 55

Lopez, Eric.....................................................................12

Patel, Sonia...................................................................65

Sonoco Products......................................... 43, 46

University of Alabama at Birmingham...........7, 55

Lown Institute Hospital Index...........................50

Patton, Beth..................................................................55

University of Alabama in Huntsville..............7, 59

M&M Servs LLC.................................................55

Peabody Coal.....................................................8

South Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center...................................59

Major League Baseball.....................................71

Pena, Raul.....................................................................68

Marbut Bend Trail.............................................64

Pensacola Pelicans...........................................66

Marino, Lou..................................................................10

Perdido Beach Resort..........................................8

Marks, Ronnie..............................................................55

Pfeiffer, Michael...........................................................18

Marshall DeKalb Electric Cooperative..................9

Phillips, Sean................................................................68

Marshall Medical Center South...........................9

Piedmont High School......................................68

Maynard Nexsen..............................................68

Pilgrim’s Pride.................................................61

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing...........43, 46, 48, 59

Pinnacle Solutions..............................................7

McDuffie Coal Terminal.......................................6

Plainsman Park, Auburn.....................................8

McGhee Square Townhomes, Decatur................61

Plante Moran Financial Advisors.......................34

Medical Properties Trust...................................34

Point Mallard Park, Decatur..............................64

Merchants Alley, Athens...................................64

Polaris Industries Inc.................................. 43, 48

MeritHouse Realty............................................55

Polyplex USA LLC..............................................46

Merrimack Soccer Complex, Huntsville..............15

Port of Mobile....................................................6

Mid-America Christian University......................55

Pressley, Kirk................................................................68

MidTown Centre, Athens...................................46

Price, Lesley..................................................................68

Ming Commercial Real Estate Group..................46

Princess Theatre, Decatur............................ 43, 64

Missile Defense Agency......................................8

Protective Stadium, Birmingham......................15

Mission Athens................................................55

Pryor Field Airport Authority.............................46

Mixon, Hannah Rose....................................................65

Publix Super Markets Inc..................................46

Mobile Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees).....................................12

Quadrogen Power Systems Inc............................7

Limestone County Foundation on Aging............55 Limestone County Schools.......................... 55, 61 Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority...........................................55

Quinn Oaks Farms............................................61

Mobile, Port of...................................................6

Randolph, Trent............................................................18

MoCo Mural Trail..............................................64

Rasamsette, Sanjana....................................................65

Monopoly Game.................................................9

Reeves, Jamie...............................................................55

Montgomery Light & Water...............................66

Reist, Tami....................................................................15

Mooresville, Town of........................................64

Renasant Gateway Decatur...............................46

Morgan Center Business Park.............................8 Morgan County............................................8, 43

Rich Winstead Apartment Development, Decatur.................................61

Morgan County Archives...................................64

Richard Martin Rails to Trails Greenway.............64

Morgan County Association of Realtors.............55

Richardson, Tere...........................................................55

Morgan County Child Advocacy Council.............55

Rickwood Field, Birmingham...................... 66, 71

Morgan County Schools....................................61

River Valley Habitat for Humanity.....................55

Morgan Metals Inc............................................46

Riverwild Playground, Decatur.........................64

NAI Chase Commercial Real Estate.....................68

Robert Allen Tinnon Park, Athens......................61

NASCAR...........................................................15

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.............................12

Nasdaq Inc.......................................................34

Robins & Morton................................................9

National Association of Home Builders..............34

Robotic Technology Park...................................43

National Association of Realtors........................34

Rogers Group Inc..............................................61

National Association of Secondary School Principals.........................................68

Rotary International.........................................55

70 | BusinessAlabama.com August 2023

Southern Association........................................66 Southern Railway.............................................64 Southern Research...........................................68 Southeastern Conference..................................30 Southwestern Athletic Conference.....................65 Sozo Trading Co................................................65 Spencer, Nolen.............................................................12 Spencer, Robbie...........................................................12 Sports Alabama................................................15 St. Louis Cardinals............................................71 Starbucks Corp.................................................46 Steelcase Inc............................................... 43, 48 Stejskal, Samantha.......................................................65 Stillman College.................................................6 Stogie Holdings LLC..........................................46 Sunrise Park, Athens........................................61 Swan Creek Greenway Trail...............................64 System Studies & Simulation..............................7 Talty, John.....................................................................10 Target Corp................................................. 43, 48 Tatum’s Hat Store.............................................66 Taylor, Chrisy.................................................................68 Tennessee Valley Authority.............................8, 9 Tennessee Valley Youth Services.......................55 Terline, Anthony...........................................................15 Thirdmark Capital............................................55 Thompson Fabricating......................................65 Thompson, David..........................................................15 Today’s Homeowner TV Show..............................8 Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments...........................................55

University of Florida.........................................55 University of North Alabama.........................7, 55 University of South Alabama....................... 12, 65 University of Tennessee....................................55 University of West Alabama................................7 USA Health.......................................................68 Vertex Energy Inc...............................................9 Viridi Energy......................................................7 Visit Dothan.....................................................15 Visit North Alabama.........................................15 VLS Environmental Solutions............................68 Vulcan Materials..............................................34 Wallace State Community College.....................55 Walton, Todd.................................................................68 Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.........................7 Warrick, Cynthia.............................................................6 Waverly Advisors...............................................7 Way, Philip....................................................................59 Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC....................... 46, 48 Wehlburg, Catherine..............................................55, 59 Weiss Lake.......................................................12 Wells Fargo......................................................34 WestRock Co.....................................................43 Wharf, The.........................................................6 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite..........................12 Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge............... 43, 64 Whitaker, Gyimah.........................................................61 White, Aaron.................................................................68 Wikipedia.org..................................................10 Wilcox, Mit....................................................................66 Winning Moves International.............................9

Top Trumps USA..................................................9

Wisdom, David Jr..........................................................68

Toray Composite Materials America Inc..............46

Wisener LLC.....................................................61

Torch Technologies...........................................65

Wohlwend, Jonathan...................................................30

Tougaloo College..............................................55

Wolverine Industries........................................46

Toyota Alabama..................................................6

Women’s Economic DevelopmentCouncil..........55

Toyota Boshoku America...................................46

Woodfin, Randall............................................................9

Toyota Tsusho America........................................6

Wright, Frank Lloyd......................................................64

Trail of History, Decatur....................................64

Y-tec Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama Inc............. 46, 48

Trinity Congregational Church..........................64

Young Professionals of Decatur.........................55

Trinity High School...........................................64

Young, Bryce.................................................................30

Historic Alabama

STILL PLAYING BALL

In this photo, a Dixie Series baseball game is being played at Birmingham’s Rickwood Field on Oct. 2, 1929. Built in 1910, Rickwood is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States. And it’s about to get a makeover. The Birmingham City Council has allocated more than $2.5 million for improvements to the field, partially in anticipation of a Major League Baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants planned for July 2024. Photo from Birmingham Public Library Archives. Do you have a photo you’d like us to consider for Historic Alabama? Send it to Erica West at ewest@pmtpublishing.com.

Alabiz Quiz

Challenge yourself with these puzzlers from past issues of Business Alabama magazine. If you feel pretty confident, send your answers via email to ewest@pmtpublishing.com or, beginning August 21, work the quiz online and check your answers at businessalabama.com.

August 2023:

August 2022: (one year ago)

August 2013: (10 years ago)

Q: A Supreme Court ruling a couple of years back now allows college athletes to receive compensation for advertising, endorsements and similar options. What’s the common acronym for this? A) ACA B) DOUGH C) NIL D) PAY

Q: Officials in South Alabama unveiled plans for a major new piece of infrastructure — one that’s been buzzed about for a decade and more but finally began inching toward reality. What is it? A) Bridge across Mobile Bay between Mobile and Daphne/Spanish Fort B) Bridge across Mobile Bay between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island C) New City Hall D) Western interstate bypass around Mobile

Q: Auburn’s college of business got a $40 million donation and a new name. For whom was it named: A) Raymond J. Harbert B) Jimmy Rane C) Bob Riley D) Tommy Tuberville

July 2023: (one month ago) Q: The Mobile County Health Department uses farmyard animals as sentinels against mosquitoborne illness, which has long been a bane to Gulf Coast living. What kind of animals? A) Chickens B) Cows C) Pigs D) Turkeys

August 2018: (five years ago) Q: In the spring of 2018, the 27-acre site of the former Trinity Steel found a new tenant, bringing a major investment in a new type of business for Birmingham. What kind of business. A) Auto plant B) Data center C) Electric generating facility D) Rocket construction

August 1998: (25 years ago) Q: In our annual look at public companies, we introduced “The Millionaire’s Club” of Alabama public company CEOs earning more than $1 million in compensation. These are the top four — which one topped the list with annual compensation of $13 million? A) Olin King, SCI Systems B) Brad Martin, Proffitt’s C) John Panettiere, Blount International D) Richard Scrushy, HealthSouth

Answers from July: D, B, C, C, B, C August 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 71