Business Alabama - February 2024 by Business Alabama

FEB 2024

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

PHOTOGRAPHER STEVE DUNLAP HAS TRANSFORMED HIS BUSINESS BY USING DRONES

PAGE 39

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEETING PLANNER

35 BUILDING BIRMINGHAM SPOTLIGHT ON

43 FAYETTE, LAMAR AND MARION COUNTIES

Volume 39 / Number 2

FEBRUARY 2024

CONTENTS

Schoel Engineering has played a key role in many of Birmingham’s best-known structures. Among the leaders of the 135-year-old company are, from left, James Parsons, Taylor Schoel and Brooks Schoel. Photo by Art Meripol.

Features 13

MEETING PLANNING CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEETING PLANNER Alabama experts offer tips for finding the right person to facilitate your planning.

TOURISM TOUTING TOURISM TOGETHER Regional groups boast multiple organizations working toward a common goal.

CREATING TODAY’S HIGH SCHOOLS Working on high schools is complex and demanding, but those who design and build them find it rewarding to develop a focal point for the community.

A FIFTH-GENERATION FAMILY BUSINESS Birmingham-based Schoel Engineering, still going strong after 135 years.

EXPLORING ALABAMA’S OUTDOORS Get ready for the great outdoors with the inaugural EcoWild exhibition in Mobile in May.

CONSTRUCTION HOW TO BUILD AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER A tall building with a small interior demands meticulous planning.

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NOT YOUR SAME OLD JOB ABOVE AND BEYOND Steve Dunlap has mastered drone photography to take his career to new heights. RETROSPECT BUILDER HORACE KING LEFT ELEGANT LEGACY The renowned craftsman helped build and connect communities across the South with the bridges and buildings he created.

On the Cover: Steve Dunlap captures a unique perspective on Birmingham with his drone-based photography. Photo by Art Meripol.

Departments

39: Photographer Steve Dunlap captured this aerial perspective of Birmingham’s Sloss Furnaces. 21: Tourist attractions, like the Gulf Coast, draw more visitors when cities and counties team up to boost their region. 30: Homewood High School’s 100,000-square-foot addition is designed to be functional, attractive and safe.

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68 TOP RANK 19 ALABAMA’S MEETING FACILITIES GEOGRAPHIC SPOTLIGHT 43 FAYETTE, LAMAR & MARION COUNTIES

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

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 5

FEBRUARY 2024 BusinessAlabama.com Volume 39 / Number 2

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 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 2024 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.

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Benchmarks

Boeing missile interceptor test a success

THE U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY and a BOEING

An upgraded GMD Interceptor launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Photo courtesy of U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

team successfully tested the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system with an interception of an intermediate-range ballistic missile in space. The test validated the GMD’s capability configuration, giving the missile defense operators more time, space and flexibility to intercept ballistic missile threats to the U.S. homeland. During the test, the GMD interceptor released a kinetic-force Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle or EKV during the rocket booster’s second stage of its normally threestage flight. “This successful test is important because it opens up the window of opportunity to intercept threats to our homeland,” said Debbie Barnett, vice president of Strategic Missile & Defense Systems. Boeing has been the lead system integrator for the GMD program since its inception in 1998. The GMD has been on alert for nearly two decades.

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B R I E F S

SABAN RETIRES Nick Saban is retiring as coach of the University of Alabama football team. Saban-led teams, which included stints at LSU, the Miami Dolphins and, for the last 17 years, UA, have won seven national titles and 11 SEC titles. Experts have long applied his methods for achieving success on the field to methods for achieving business success.

GROWING PORT The Port of Mobile has more than doubled its trade volume over the past 10 years — a 124.8% increase — ranking it as the nation’s second-fastest growing port. Figures were calculated for seaports, airports and border crossings.

OLYMPIC WATER WORKS Montgomery Whitewater Park will host the 2024 canoe slalom and kayak cross Olympic team trails April 13-14. Participants will be competing for a spot on the U.S. team in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

LEARNING TO WORK A $4.4 million federal grant will provide free job skills training to unemployed people in north, southeast and west Alabama. The U.S. Department of Labor grant is available through the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Alabama Works! Program or by visiting an Alabama Career Center.

Boeing employs approximately 3,300 people in Alabama. The company’s Huntsville operations help develop missile and weapons systems, as well as Space Launch Systems and the International Space Station.

UNION VIBES In mid-January, the United Auto Workers Union announced that 1,500 workers at the MercedesBenz plant in Vance — about a quarter of the workforce — have joined the union. The following day, Gov. Kay Ivey said with the union move the state’s “model for economic success is under attack.” JOB OPENINGS Online job ads in Alabama were up 7.4% over October, with registered nurses and retail salespeople topping the list of job openings. Other occupations in the top five, listed by the Alabama Department of Labor, are

supervisors of retail sales workers, fast food and counter workers, and sales reps. NEW MANAGEMENT U.S. Steel, the Pittsburghbased steel producer with a long history in Birmingham, has been purchased by Japan’s Nippon Steel in a $14.1 billion deal. The combined company will be among the top three steel-producing companies in the world. U.S. Steel will retain its name. Nippon Steel is also a part owner of the AM/NS plant near Mobile. President Joe Biden has asked for “serious scrutiny” of the deal.

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BENCHMARKS

$100M riverfront development planned in Mobile A planned $100 million development will change the face of Mobile’s riverfront, Mayor Sandy Stimpson said at a press conference in December. RIVER WALK PLAZA will be a mixed-use development, including hotel, residences, office space, retail and restaurants. It will be adjacent to the Mobile Convention Center along Water Street and the Mobile River. “It’s an image-changer,” said Stimpson. “It’s going to provide so many things that we don’t have today. It continues to raise the bar in the city of Mobile.” The city is developing the property with Burton Property Group and Kessler Capital. “This is an exciting opportunity for Mobile to have a truly world-class, mixed-use development on the downtown waterfront,” said Philip Burton, president and CEO of the Mobile-based Burton Property Group. “This project is still in its early stages, but the right team is in place to bring this project across the finish line. We have had incredible support from the city of Mobile and our Mobile community to bring this vision forward. When completed, River Walk Plaza will be a destination for Mobilians and visitors alike.” Burton said the project will cost “north of $100 million.” “This is too valuable of a site to do something small,” he said. “We wanted to do something to really maximize the potential.” Burton said the plan calls for 50,000 square feet of office space, 30 condominiums, a 100-key hotel, two restaurants and a rooftop bar.

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FIRE TRAINING CREDIT The Anniston Regional Fire Training Center has been designated a Gadsden State Community College campus. In addition, it has received accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on College.

WWII HERITAGE Foley is one of 11 cities in the U.S. newly designated as American World War II Heritage Cities. Foley was the site of the U.S. Navy’s Barin Field, which was a training center for pilots. In addition, Camp Foley was a prisoner of war camp that held about 250 Axis prisoners.

DOTHAN REDO Dothan is beginning a city center revitalization this winter with renovations to the Dothan Opera House. Birminghambased Brasfield & Gorrie is general contractor for the project.

TOUR SELMA Selma will be the site of an Innovative Tourism Hub, thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Delta Regional Authority. The money will go toward a new transportation hub serving tourists and visitors to the Civil Rights Visitor’s Center.

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A rendering of River Walk Plaza planned for the Mobile waterfront.

Kessler Capital, based in Savannah, Georgia, is a hospitality developer with a history of developing high-end hotels and resorts. “We see momentum and opportunity with all the success and growth that Mobile continues to experience,” said Laura Kessler, president of Kessler Capital. “These are remarkable times in the Port City, and our team is excited to be part of Mobile’s momentum and bright future.” Alabama native Gray Reese, president of Gray Reese LLC Architects, is designing the project. Groundbreaking is slated for late 2025, Burton said.

REFINANCED Jefferson County has refinanced $2.24 billion in sewer revenue warrants, which will save $1.17 billion as the county pays off the sewer debt. The transaction comes a little more than a decade after the county came out of bankruptcy. BUILD IT Construction on the $50 million Star Amphitheater in Birmingham’s Druid Hills neighborhood is slated to begin this spring. The 9,000-seat venue could open as early as summer 2025. SHIP IT Austal USA has delivered

the 14th Expeditionary Fast Transport, the USNS Cody, to the U.S. Navy. It’s the first EPF ship that features enhanced medical facilities and naval medicine afloat capabilities. NEW AT THE TOP Chris Susock has been named president and CEO at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Sungil Kim has been named head of purchasing at HMMA. Mac Caddell has been named CEO of Montgomerybased Caddell Construction, succeeding long-time leader Eddie Stewart. At Coastal Alabama Community College, Aaron Milner has been named president.

BENCHMARKS

ULA launches payload toward moon An Alabama-made nextgeneration Vulcan rocket powered the January launch of a private moon lander carrying two payloads to the moon. Vulcan Centaur launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, powered by a rocket built by

The Alabama-made Vulcan Centaur launched in early January from Cape Canaveral. Photo courtesy of United Launch Alliance.

UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE

in Decatur. The launch was successful, but Peregrine, the Astroboticbuilt lunar lander, encountered problems shortly after the launch and was expected to head back toward Earth, burning up as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere. The launch itself, though, was a milestone for ULA. “Vulcan’s inaugural launch ushers in a new, innovative capability to meet the ever-growing requirements of space launch,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “Vulcan will provide high performance and affordability while continuing to deliver our superior reliability and orbital precision for all our customers across the national security, civil and commercial markets. Vulcan continues the legacy of Atlas as the world’s only high-energy architecture rocket.” Decatur’s Beyond Gravity facility supplied the payload fairings, interstage adapter, heat shield and payload attachment fitting to ULA in support of the launch. The lunar lander contains five NASA experiments, as well as commercial payloads. ULA has sold more than 70 Vulcan launches, including 38 missions for Amazon’s Project Kuiper and multiple national security space launch missions as the part of the country’s Phase 2 launch procurement.

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LEADERSHIP MOVES Louis Maisel has been named chief operating officer at Gulf Distributing Co., and Jimmy Marston has been promoted to chief commercial officer. The company also announced plans to add 60 employees. Elliot Maisel remains CEO.

says the expansion, set to be completed by the summer of 2025, will create 85 jobs over five years.

BIGGER & BETTER MAAS Aviation has announced plans to add two more paint hangars to the three it already operates alongside the Airbus final assembly lines in Mobile. It’s a $1.6 million investment. Brasfield & Gorrie has announced an $18.9 million expansion of its Birmingham headquarters. The contractor

time. Lonestar provides spacebased situational awareness data to the military.

LEADERSHIP SEARCH Artemis Shielding in Fort Payne announced that Buddy Lockwood will step down as CEO and a search is on for new leadership. COO Chris Linder will lead the company during the search.

BIG BUCKS FOR HIGHER ED The Alabama Commission on Higher Education has approved a $2.12 billion budget for state public higher education institutions for the fiscal year 2024-2025. The budget covers both two-year and four-year institutions.

SPACE SUCCESS The Lonestar tactical space support vehicle developed by Leidos Dynetics in Huntsville has successfully completed its one-year demonstration and an additional six months of space

WATER WARS TRUCE Alabama and Georgia have reached an agreement, ending the “Water Wars” lawsuit filed in 1990. It started when Alabama sued the Army Corps of Engineers to prevent it from

providing Atlanta water from Lake Lanier and Altoona Lake. The agreement assures sufficient water flows during times of drought for citizens in both states who live and work in the Chattahoochee River Basin. GENEROUS The Tennessee Valley Authority and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation have given a $1.1 million grant to Sheffield’s Rescue Me Project for its new STEM center. The grant will provide computers, a 3D printer and more. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded $240,000 in literacy grants to help expand literacy programs provided

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BENCHMARKS

Autocar teams with GM to make zero-emission trucks Truck plant will use GM Hydrotec power cubes.

Birmingham’s AUTOCAR TRUCK PLANT will begin producing zero-tailpipe-emission trucks in partnership with General Motors beginning in 2026. The jointly developed trucks will use GM’s Hydrotec power cubes. Initially, the built-to-order vehicles will be cement mixers, roll-off and dump trucks. Eventually, the offerings will include refuse trucks and terminal tractors. “Autocar provides customized vocational trucking solutions,

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by the Community Care Development Network, a Birmingham-based nonprofit. The grants also went to several Alabama nonprofits, libraries and schools. The owners of McIntosh’s Optimized Technical Solutions are giving more than 200 hot meals and $10,000 in gifts to needy residents. In addition, the company will donate to McIntosh Elementary, McIntosh High School and the McIntosh Volunteer Fire Department.

$95 million gift in 2021, added another $5 million to his gift at the end of 2023. The medical school has been named in his honor since the initial gift. The additional funds will help support endowed chairs for faculty.

GENEROUS, PART TWO Marnix E. Heersink, who presented the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS Birmingham’s Eventive Sports, formerly the Bruno Event Team, has been sold to Arizona-based Troon. Wickles Pickles has been acquired by Fenwick Food Group, which also acquired Moore’s Marinades and Sauces. All three are Birmingham-based. Two Birmingham architectural

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and as regulations change, we see Hydrotec fuel cells as an additional avenue for our customers to meet their EPA requirements with zero tailpipe emissions vehicles,” said Eric Schwartz, president of Autocar. “GM’s scale, reliability and the capability of their Hydrotec fuel cell technology will enhance Autocar’s existing platforms.” The GM Hydrotec fuel cells are lightweight and can meet the demands of heavy-duty applications, the companies say. “EV propulsion systems like GM’s Ultium Platform are great solutions for electrifying passenger vehicles, but larger vehicles like Autocar’s class 8 trucks, refuse trucks and terminal tractors require robust solutions that enable significant energy carrying capacity and fast refueling times,” said Charlie Freese, GM executive director, Global Hydrotec. “We want to enable zero-tailpipe-emissions solutions for the largest, highest energy consuming vehicles, and fuel cells are ideal for the most energy intensive applications.” The Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes will be produced by GM in Michigan.

firms have merged, with Line Scale Form joining Poole & Company. The combined firm has 24 employees. Birmingham-based Waverly Advisors, a wealth management company, has purchased StrategiQ Financial group, based in Merrillville, Indiana, increasing Waverly’s assets under management by about $1.5 billion. Dothan-based Construction Partners, which specializes in roadway construction, has acquired Huntsville’s SJ&L General Contractor, a hot-mix asphalt plant and sitework company, and Littlefield Construction Co., based in Waycross,

Georgia, which is a soil base, surface treatment and sitework company. INDUSTRIAL PARK PLAN The Mobile City Council has approved a $650 million industrial park in the Dog River Watershed. The 87-acre project hinged on rezoning a 40-acre parcel of land that will be used as a residential area. CHILTON CARE The Chilton County Health Care Authority has broken ground on a $6 million medical office building at Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton. It should open this fall.

Medical supply firm plans Birmingham production hub

PRIMORDIAL VENTURES, a startup

producing medical supplies, will put a $3.3 million manufacturing facility in Birmingham. Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said the minority-owned company will create 30 jobs at the facility and is expected to begin operations in early 2024. “Primordial Ventures will do more than just create new jobs at its Birmingham operation — this promising startup’s facility will also help to lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign sources for in-demand medical supplies,” McNair said. “The pandemic’s supplychain disruptions exposed the need for domestic production of these critical items, and that’s a core mission for this company.” Nicholas C. Alexander is president and managing director of Primordial Ventures, which will have markets including the U.S., Mexico, Chile and Colombia. “Birmingham’s appeal stems from its alignment to our mission and vision,” Alexander said. “We have found it to be accessible, amenable to establishing network affiliations, and most importantly, committed to supporting our business after we land in Birmingham.” Primordial Ventures also considered locations in Florida and Georgia before choosing Birmingham for the manufacturing hub, according to the Department of Commerce. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 11

MEETING PLANNING

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEETING PLANNER

Alabama experts offer tips for finding the right person to facilitate your planning

By GAIL ALLYN SHORT

hether it’s a board meeting, a gathering of shareholders, a team-building excursion or a conference, convention or expo, organizing professional gatherings like these require logistical planning, savvy and steady nerves. If a company, however, lacks the in-house bandwidth to organize a meeting, conference or convention, hiring a meeting planner might be the best and most efficient option. Meeting planners can scout out and secure bids on meeting venues, reserve hotel rooms, arrange transportation and secure staffing, food and beverages and even entertainment. But experts say that when it comes to finding and hiring the

right meeting planner, it pays to start early, especially when planning a meeting for a large crowd. “The sooner the better is always better,” says Jenny Askins, the founder and CEO of Touronimo Destination Management Group. The company, based in Huntsville, plans events ranging from corporate retreats to conferences. “A lot of places like convention centers are booked years in advance,” Askins says. Sherry Pierce, owner of the corporate event planning company Studio08 in Mobile, agrees. “Give yourself plenty of time,” Pierce says. “For a 300-plus conference where we have multiple days, you really need nine to February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 13

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“

Give yourself plenty of time. For a 300-plus conference where we have multiple days, you really need nine to 12 months to plan, just so you can find the event space that you need. Then you’ve got transportation and whether people can make their flights and having to book hotel room blocks. There’s just a lot of logistics that has to happen behind the scenes.” — Sherry Pierce, owner of Studio08

12 months to plan, just so you can find the event space that you need. Then you’ve got transportation and whether people can make their flights and having to book hotel room blocks. There’s just a lot of logistics that has to happen behind the scenes.” On the other hand, a meeting of 30 of your VIPs may only require three to six months of planning, Pierce says. The obvious question, then, is figuring out where to look for a meeting planner. One quick way is to conduct a Google search online using a combination of the keywords “meeting planners” and the city where you plan to host the meeting. Or try the chamber of commerce where you plan to meet; chambers generally maintain a list of their city’s businesses. Recommendations from colleagues can also help. Also check with hotels and other venues that regularly host meetings. In fact, some venues have their own lists of “preferred” local meeting planners on hand, Pierce says. And those venues can include destination sites such as resorts, says Pierce. “So many resorts work with very specific planners and have a preferred vendor list.” In some cities, a good option may be to contact the local county convention and visitors bureau. The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, for example, provides meeting services ranging from planning and promotion to staffing, says 14 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Director of Convention Sales Steve Pierson. On its website, the bureau lists other services such as assistance with registration, bags and brochures. They also connect organizers with local vendors, local tours and nearby attractions. “We know the city. We know the area. We know who to get them in touch with for what they need,” Pierson says. The bureau even offers complimentary site inspection trips for clients to see prospective meeting venues in the area, Pierson says. “We’ll design a unique site inspection of the city and the facilities designed around what their requirements are, so they’re not wasting time,” says Pierson. “We’ll pinpoint what they’re trying to accomplish during the meeting, what the goals are during the meeting, what kind of experience they want their attendees to have, either in the meeting facilities or outside social events that may be included.” With names of meeting planners in hand, it is time to narrow the list by conducting deeper research and interviewing each one to see who is the best fit for the job. “You have to find the one that aligns with your vision, your needs and your working style, and the person that you’re the most comfortable with because you’re going to be building something with them, and you want somebody you can trust and communicate with,” Askins says. She says it helps to ask meeting planners about meetings they

M E E T I N G PL A N N I N G

“

You have to find the one that aligns with your vision, your needs and your working style, and the person that you’re the most comfortable with because you’re going to be building something with them, and you want somebody you can trust and communicate with.” — Jenny Askins, founder and CEO of Touronimo Destination Management Group

have organized in the past. “I may request a reference or look at the testimonials on their website. To be honest, I don’t think it hurts either to look at their LinkedIn page and at their connections. Reach out to some you might have in common and see what those people think,” Askins says. During the consultation, describe for the meeting planner the company’s vision for the event, including details such as the number of anticipated attendees, whether conference rooms are needed, the number of box lunches required, the guest speakers and whether the meeting will encourage excursions to local attractions between sessions. Then lay out the budget and ask what services the meeting planner can offer, Pierce says. “You really need to talk with your planners about that to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. For example, what kind of staff are they bringing on board?” Pierce says. Other questions might be if they can handle the logistics of a meeting of 50 or 500 people? Is the budget large enough for the kind of meeting the company wants to hold? “I always ask my clients what their budgets are, and if I feel like in the interview with an initial consultation that their budget isn’t going to meet the needs of what they’re requesting for me to do, I’ll quickly explain that to them,” Pierce says. In those cases, Pierce says meeting planners should help clients rethink ideas and pivot to more affordable options. Askins says, however, that it is important to choose a meeting planner who pos-

sesses a positive attitude and a willingness to make things happen, describing what is possible for the size of the budget instead of simply nixing ideas without offering attractive alternatives. “You want someone you can trust so that you can say, ‘Look, this is what I want. I get it. We can’t afford the circus, but how can I make this look like a circus?’ and a good meeting planner will come in and figure that out for you,”

Askins says. Besides a positive attitude, the experts say to look for red flags such as a meeting planner who is slow to return calls. “If you haven’t heard from someone in 24 to 48 hours, then you should move on because that means that they’re either overwhelmed, overbooked or just not a good communicator in general. And no one wants to be sitting waiting for an answer for something that they might need

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immediately,” Pierce says. Finally, before signing a contract, a clear understanding of the cost is critical so there are no surprises on the invoice. Does the meeting planner charge a flat fee, by the hour or by a certain percentage of the budget? After hiring a meeting planner, it is then time to let the professionals do their job.

“I wouldn’t sit back,” says Askins, “but if you’ve done your due diligence, hopefully you can trust the person that you put this event in their hands. But, in my opinion, a good planner or a good event coordinator will keep you informed,” Askins says. “We have lots of tools now. There’s Google Task reminder. You can put

“

We’ll pinpoint what they’re trying to accomplish during the meeting, what the goals are during the meeting, what kind of experience they want their attendees to have, either in the meeting facilities or outside social events that may be included.” — Steve Pierson, director of convention sales for The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau all kinds of things on your calendar to remind yourself to reach out to that client and let them know that things are moving along. It takes five minutes to reassure your client that things are moving along like they should, and that I’m available for any questions or if you’d like to touch base or have a quick Zoom meeting,” Askins says. “You either have the heart for this business or you get out because it’s not easy,” Askins says. “But the hospitality industry is just so fulfilling to me. I couldn’t do anything else.” Gail Allyn Short is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

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M E E T I N G FAC I L I T I E S

Alabama’s Largest Meeting Facilities Ranked by total square footage of meeting space. RANK

MEETING FACILITIES

ADDRESS

Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex

2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Birmingham, AL 35203

Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center

PHONE WEBSITE

compiled by ERICA JOINER WEST

MEETING SPACE

205-458-8400 bjcc.org

1 S. Water St. Mobile, AL 36602

Exhibition halls, 220,000 sq. ft.; Forum, 23,000 sq. ft.; 74 meeting rooms, 100,000 sq. ft. total; 18,000-seat Legacy Arena; 2,800-seat Concert Hall; 1,000-seat theatre; 276-seat Forum Theater.

251-208-2100 asmglobalmobile.com

317,000 total sq. ft., including two exhibit halls totaling 100,000 sq. ft., two ballrooms and 16 meeting rooms.

Von Braun Center

700 Monroe St. Huntsville, AL 35801

256-551-1953 vonbrauncenter.com

170,000+ sq. ft. of exhibit space including 100,000-sq.-ft. Exhibit Hall; 1,350-capacity music hall; 502-seat playhouse; 9,000-seat arena; 1,955-seat concert hall; lobby & prefunction space 20,000; 22 meeting rooms; full-service restaurant and rooftop bar.

ASM Global Mobile Civic Center

401 Civic Center Dr. Mobile, AL 36602

251-208-7261 asmglobalmobile.com

15 meeting rooms seat 50-400; arena: 80,000 sq. ft. (seats 10,112); Expo Hall: 28,000 sq. ft. (seats 2,200 retractable seating/3,000 concert); theater seats 1,940.

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center

201 Tallapoosa St. Montgomery, AL 36104

334-481-5000 marriott.com

100,000 sq. ft. meeting and convention space; 1,800-seat Performing Arts Center.

Foley Event Center

1001 E. Pride Blvd. Foley, AL 36535

251-970-3042 foleysportstourism.com

90,000+ total sq. ft., 55,000 sq. ft. contiguous space plus 3 smaller meeting rooms.

Hoover Met Complex

5508 Stadium Trace Pkwy. Hoover, AL 35244

205-739-6400 hoovermetcomplex.com

83,000 sq. ft. of continuous space; 4,000+ parking spaces; event lawn area; access to Hoover Met Stadium; concourse and banquet rooms; equipped to handle sporting events, concerts, trade shows.

Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center

1314 Shocco Springs Rd. Talladega, AL 35160

256-761-1100 shocco.org

57,579 sq. ft. on 800 acres including chapel, meeting rooms, lodges and classrooms.

Perdido Beach Resort

27200 Perdido Beach Blvd. Orange Beach, AL 36561

251-981-9811 perdidobeachresort.com

42,996 sq. ft. total of meeting space, including ballroom and meeting rooms that accommodate 16 to 1,000; outdoor space available.

Lodge at Gulf State Park, A Hilton Hotel

21196 E. Beach Blvd. Gulf Shores, AL 36542

251-540-4000 lodgeatgulfstatepark.com

40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 12,160-sq.-ft. Gulfview ballroom; accommodates groups from 10-800.

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Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Fox Sports 1 Dome at International Motorsports Hall of Fame

64 S. Water St. Mobile, AL 36602

251-438-4000 marriott.com

P.O. Box 1018 Talladega, AL 35161

256-362-5002 motorsportshalloffame.com

37,000 sq. ft. total; 1,500 for dinner setting and 2,500 for seminar setting; 30x50 stage 5 ft. high; wired for live TV production; dressing rooms; holding kitchen; 12 ft. loading doors.

500 Amphitheater Rd. Pelham, AL 35124

205-620-6448 pelhamciviccomplex.com

37,000 sq. ft. total; banquet hall 7,000 sq. ft.; 30,000-sq.-ft. trade show/convention services (interchangeable floor) arena can seat 3,000.

251-928-9201 grand1847.com 205-699-7275 barbermuseum.org

Pelham Civic Complex

Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

One Grand Blvd. Point Clear, AL 36564 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy. Birmingham, AL 35094

Garrett Coliseum

1555 Federal Dr. Montgomery, AL 36107

334-356-6866 thegarrettcoliseum.com

Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa

10 Hightower Place Florence, AL 35630

256-246-3615 marriottshoals.com

Bryant Conference Center

University of South Alabama Mitchell Center

Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa

Daphne Civic Center

Florentine Building

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Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill

39,500 sq. ft.

240 Paul Bryant Dr. Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

37,000 sq. ft. 36,000 sq. ft., with five meeting rooms and banquet seating for 750; motorcycle museum with motorsports track view; theater; motorsports facility and track. Amenities include presentation theater, parking. Coliseum floor space is approximately 33,000 sq. ft.; fixed seating capacity is 8,529, with up to 2,000 additional floor seats. Smaller meeting rooms available. Ed Teague Arena is 7,800 sq. ft. 32,000 sq. ft.

5950 Old Shell Rd. Mobile, AL 36688

205-348-8600 bcc.ua.edu

251-461-1632 southalabama.edu

30,000 sq. ft.; Sellers Auditorium, at 10,044 sq. ft., seats 1,000 theater style, up to 640 for banquets or 504 for classroom. Classrooms, board rooms, prefunction space.

26 N. Royal St. Mobile, AL 36602

28,500 sq. ft.

2603 Hwy. 98 Daphne, AL 36526 2101 2nd Ave. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 241 S. College St. Auburn, AL 36830

251-338-2000 marriott.com

251-626-5300 daphneal.com 205-503-4470 florentinebuilding.com 833-975-1221 auhcc.com

2500 Legends Circle Prattville, AL 36066

334-290-1235 marriott.com

20,000 sq. ft.

205-424-7469 bessemeral.org

18,600 sq. ft; main hall: 13,000 sq. ft.; East meeting room: 4,000 sq. ft.; North meeting room: 900 sq. ft.; South meeting room: 700 sq. ft.

Bessemer Civic Center

1130 9th Ave. SW Bessemer, AL 35022

Orange Beach Event Center

4671 Wharf Pkwy. W. Orange Beach, AL 36561

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

4000 Grand Ave. Birmingham, AL 35226

29,228 sq. ft. total, including 3 meeting rooms, Grand Globe Lobby, John Counts Room and Arena floor (18,080 sq. ft.); concourse available for exhibitors.

25,200 total sq. ft.; exhibit hall: 11,800 sq. ft.; meeting rooms: 3 totalling 1,980 sq. ft.; lobby: 4,900 sq. ft.; two galleries totalling 2,400 sq. ft.; stage and kitchen areas. 25,000 sq. ft. in three rooms, planners, on-site gourmet catering, renovated historic property in downtown Birmingham. 22,000 sq. ft. total; 15 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, the largest of which seats 550 for dinner service; 356-seat auditorium and executive board room.

251-981-6629 18,600 sq. ft., with capacity of 2,500 standing, 1,700 theater, 800 banquet. orangebeachal.gov/eventcenter 205-916-7677 marriott.com

For more meeting facilities, visit BusinessAlabama.com.

18,000 sq. ft. Source: Business Alabama surveys and facility websites.

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 19

TOURISM Ecotourism is big on Alabama’s coast, and hunting in Selma with bird dogs is a draw in the Black Belt.

Regional groups boast multiple organizations working toward a common goal By ALEC HARVEY

rising tide lifts all boats. That phrase comes up more than once in conversations with Tami Reist, Pam Swanner and Wiley Blankenship. All three are at the helm of multi-partner groups across the state — Reist as president and CEO of North Alabama’s 16-county Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, Swanner as director of the 23-county Alabama Black Belt Adventures and Blankenship on the coast as president and CEO of the Coastal Alabama Partnership, which serves Mobile and Baldwin

counties and other areas of southwest Alabama. Each of these groups has a focus on tourism, banding sometime competitors together to bring tourism dollars to their areas. “I tell people that we’re that added cheerleader for those 16 counties,” says Reist, who has been with Alabama Mountain Lakes for 11 years. “We want to see this region grow. We’re able to share the story of our region.” Alabama Mountain Lakes is the granddaddy of the regional groups, formed in 1964 by then-Gov. George Wallace, who February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 21

TOURISM

signed a bill authorizing an extra 1% of lodging sales tax in the region, with the income split between Alabama Mountain Lakes and the state of Alabama. Since then, the group’s budget has grown from $30,000 to close to $3 million, Reist says. Alabama Black Belt Adventures came along in August 2009, the brainchild of Thomas Harris, a Hope Hull businessman and avid outdoorsman who spotted an opportunity, Swanner says. “It’s the natural resources and the abundance of our wildlife that really is the driving tool for our region, and there had never been a collective marketing effort to promote the region as an outdoor destination to those beyond the state of Alabama,” she says. “In the beginning, we focused on hunting and fishing, but since then, we’ve expanded to include all assets of the Black Belt, including birding, camping, hiking, whitewater rafting and more.” The outdoors, specifically ecotourism, is also a focal point of Coastal Alabama Partnership, formed in 2012. “The vision statement was for coastal Alabama to become a competitive destination recognized around the world as THE place to work, live and play because of our unique quality of life,” says Blankenship, who joined CAP soon after its founding. Tourism is one of five CAP initiatives, which also include policy and planning, 22 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

infrastructure, the seafood industry and insurance issues. “We focus on these areas because those are the core areas that we have to be sure are trucking in the right direction or this region can’t progress and compete,” Blankenship says. “Tourism is one of the best ways to tell our story.” Ecotourism — travel centered around sustainability and a region’s natural resources — is something that can complement convention tourism and beach tourism, both of which are already strong on the coast. “This, hopefully, will give our tourism organizations more to share with people,” Blankenship says. “We’re giving our tourism groups the tools and the information and the plan to be able to tell those stories.… Our tourism organizations are all on the same page with ecotourism.” Both Alabama Mountain Lakes and Alabama Black Belt Adventures are constantly creating tourism trails, publications and other things that help make tourism in their area regional rather than site-specific. Alabama Mountain Lakes, for instance, touts trails for wine, murals, craft beer, train depots and churches (the Hallelujah Trail), among others. The newest trail is the Agriculture Adventures Trail, pointing visitors to orchards, farms and wineries in the region.

Alabama Black Belt Adventures boasts ample fishing in the area, while Alabama Mountain Lakes has brochures for trails and podcasts showcasing North Alabama.

Reist’s north Alabama group has also created a podcast (“Unexpected Adventures”), a book placed in hotel rooms and other lodging that tells North Alabama stories, a wedding venue magazine, online retirement guide and other efforts that tout all the region has to offer. “We’re here to enhance efforts,” Reist says. “We’re not going to be their marketing director, but we’re going to help them market what they have.” A region like the Black Belt is a prime location for a regional marketing group like Alabama Black Belt Adventures, Swanner says. “If anybody can benefit from it, it’s the Black Belt region, the reason being that there are very few marketing dollars across the region,” she says. “That’s why people in this region are willing to come together for a common cause. They realize they don’t have the marketing dollars to attract visitors, so to be competitive, we have to pool our resources and work together toward that common goal.” One of Alabama Black Belt Adventures’ recent efforts is the Flavors of the Black Belt, featuring locally made food

items in the region, Swanner says. “Food is big attraction when it comes to tourism, so we’re trying to capitalize on that.” The groups often take cues from Alabama Tourism and its director, Lee Sentell. For instance, both Alabama Black Belt Adventures and Alabama Mountain Lakes have their own mural trails, building on the statewide mural trail created by the tourism department. Blankenship says he often works with the groups headed by Reist and Swanner. “There’s an exchange of ideas, a collaboration,” he says. “These three organizations are trying to connect the dots around the state.... We all should be working toward the same goal. Those resources that come into the state through tourism get redistributed, and the bigger the pie grows, everybody gets a return on it.” Swanner says all three of the regional groups are working in tandem to boost Alabama tourism. “We draw people to our regions to spend their money to generate revenue for the people we serve,” she says. “When that happens, it also supports the state.… While we all have our particular boundaries that we serve, we all three work collectively together across the state.” Alec Harvey is executive editor of Business Alabama, working from the Birmingham office. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 23

TOURISM

Celebrating the great outdoors

EcoWild expo will put the focus on outdoor adventures, equipment

labama is unique — from northern Alabama mountains to southern coastal beaches, the state offers something for everyone to explore and do in the outdoors. Now all of those opportunities will be featured at the new EcoWild Outdoor Expo, May 1012 at the Mobile Convention Center. The event will feature 100,000 square feet of booths, activities and education, showcasing the latest in gear and equipment for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and other outdoor activities. When PMT Publishing, publishers of Mobile Bay Magazine and Business Alabama, decided to develop the show, “We wanted it to reflect the character of Mobile and the Gulf Coast, and to be family-friendly, not just ‘miles of aisles’

like other expos,” said Stephen Potts, assistant publisher at PMT. To create the kind of event where people want to bring their children and spend a fun day, the expanded expo has lots of unexpected elements — a handson classroom for kids, Expo Hall features a rock-climbing wall, interactions with the Auburn eagle, beekeeper hives, birds of prey and touch-tanks, hunting and fishing expert talks, local artisan foods and crafts, food trucks on site and a gallery of nature-inspired art. A key element of the expo is the inclu-

sion of local and national conservation and ecology organizations, giving demos and talks on “the things we need to know to protect our environment, so we can continue to enjoy these outdoor activities,” said Potts. PMT Publishing will be donating to the top three organizations on site, as voted by attendees. Top Alabama organizations have already signed on, including the Poarch Band of Creek Indians as the presenting sponsor, Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association, Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Wild Alabama and more. In addition, there are national sponsorships from The Nature Conservancy and Audubon. For more information on EcoWild, visit ecowildexpo.com.

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 25

CONSTRUCTION

HOW TO BUILD AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER With a tall building and a small interior, meticulous planning is essential By JANE NICHOLES

t sounds like a futuristic physics challenge: Build a seven-story, 87-foot-tall air traffic control tower with an interior of 25 feet by 25 feet, and make sure all of it can withstand hurricane-force winds of 174 miles per hour. White-Spunner Construction LLC did just that with the new air traffic control tower at Gulf Shores International Airport at Jack Edwards Field. The result serves an airport with the second-largest number of takeoffs and landings in the state. Completed in 2021, it is thought to be the first new tower in Alabama in 30 years. It was named General Aviation Project of the Year by the American Association of Airport Executives. “There were some unique aspects of it,” says Adam Bryce, the construction superintendent on the tower for WhiteSpunner. “The height wasn’t really so odd — 87 feet is a tall building, but it’s not like a skyscraper. “What did make it unique was the small footprint — 25 by 25, straight up, brings up challenges in itself because you just don’t have much room inside the building.” Working with AJT Engineering of Cocoa, Florida, and Barge Design Solutions, with three offices in Alabama and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Mobile-headquartered White-Spunner had to emphasize coordination and advance planning even more than on a project with a larger footprint. The basic materials were pre-cast concrete and steel. “The amount of steel that is in those precast panels is amazing. Each panel weighed around 53,000 pounds,” Bryce

26 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

The tower at Gulf Shores International Airport.

CO N S T R U C T I O N

says. The entire structure weighs more than 2 million pounds.” Everything going into the concrete had to be placed exactly. Two feet off the mark could make a big difference within limited space, he says. “The challenge itself was because the tower was so straight up and small, you had to coordinate and think about how much stuff you’re really going to pack with manpower up the stairs.” Speaking of stairs, the stairwell had to go up before people could really work on the upper floors, but the elevator was one of the last parts of the structure to be installed. Only a limited number people could work inside on one floor at a time. In areas where glass had not yet been installed, construction materials and equipment could be lifted into place with cranes. Overall, the control tower was not built from the ground up with upper elements stacked on top of each other, Bryce says. In fact, the glass-enclosed top floor, the so-called cab where the air traffic controllers do their work, was erected on the ground, then lifted by crane and set down gently on top. “We had the glass in it,” Bryce says. “We had the cabinets in it, probably about 70% finished when we picked that thing up as one unit and set it on top and welded it off. It was pretty cool.” The tower has seven floors, but the

TOP: The air traffic controller’s view from the tower. MIDDLE: Every element of the structure is built to withstand strong category 5 hurricane winds. BOTTOM: The tower’s fifth story has amenities to support workers, like this break room and access to catwalk and balcony.

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 27

CO N S T R U C T I O N

elevator only goes up six floors, so the controllers must climb one flight of stairs to get to their cab. The entire tower sits on 49 piers driven 15 to 20 feet into the ground and filled with crushed stone. The first floor, on top of four feet of fill and the foundation, contains the lobby, elevator and mechanical room. The second and third floors are for shelf space and storage. The fourth floor is the manager’s office and a conference room where training takes place. The fifth floor contains a break room, kitchen and access to the catwalk and balcony so employees can sit outside on their breaks. The sixth floor holds what Bryce calls “the brains of the building,” including computers, servers and electronics equipment. Bryce lives in Gulf Shores and is well aware of the damage hurricanes can do. “Everything on that tower is designed for 174 mph winds, even down to the enclosure on the generator,” he says. “As

28 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

far as the glass is concerned, you have large-missile and small-missile impact glass all the way around that tower.” The glass in the cab weighs more than 500 pounds per panel. For all the planning that went into the project, and even contending with delays in receiving supplies because of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction was finished on time in less than a year, Bryce says. The total construction cost was $4.3 million. The Gulf Shores International Airport is owned privately by its airport authority, but must meet FAA regulations as well as state and local building codes. “There’s not that many private towers that go out (for bid),” Bryce says. “The FAA builds towers as well.” White-Spunner Construction is aware of other towers currently on the drawing board in Mobile and Auburn, and plans to bid on those projects when they are released for bid, according to Kayla Seawell, external

affairs manager for White-Spunner. White-Spunner is currently involved as the construction manager at risk for the multi-use cargo warehouse facility being built at Brookley Aeroplex for Mobile’s Airport Authority and is building a hangar for a private client adjacent to the airport in Fairhope, says Emily Stewart, communications specialist with White-Spunner. It is White-Spunner’s first construction project serving Fairhope’s growing airport. Whether or not another new tower comes along, White-Spunner will be able to tout its experience in such construction. “It’s a good-looking building,” Bryce says. “You’re not in Atlanta or in D.C. You’re in Gulf Shores. They put a lot of effort into the design. It’s a very good-looking building.” Jane Nicholes is a Daphne-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

CO N S T R U C T I O N

CREATING TODAY’S HIGH SCHOOLS Working on high schools is complex and demanding, but those who design and build them find it rewarding to develop a focal point for the community By DEBORAH STOREY

uilding a new school is amazingly complex. Safety considerations are critical. Accommodating technology is essential. Flexible classroom space must allow for modern teaching styles. Companies that design and build new schools in Alabama no longer use cookie-cutter designs that worked for generations. Gary L. Owen Jr. is regional vice president and Birmingham office leader for Goodwyn Mills Cawood architecture and engineering company. GMC is the architect of record for a new Gulf Shores High School expected to cost more than $133 million. The firm recently completed design of a roughly 100,000-square-foot addition to Homewood High School, which Owen’s own children attended. The expansion includes a fine arts program with areas for band, dance and theater; space for sports training and workouts; plus offices and classrooms. At Little Ridge Intermediate School, at the base of a mountain in Fort Payne, GMC reflected the school’s STEM emphasis, Owen explains, with a solar system, periodic table and musical notes incorporated in the design. “Everywhere in the building were these hints of things kids could learn as they moved through parts of the building,” Owen says. Just like modern office spaces, new schools accommodate multiple uses. The traditional rigid design of multiple classrooms and hallways has evolved. “That model has really changed to where they have more collaborative-type learning spaces, where multiple disciplines

30 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Goodwyn Mills Cawood designed a major addition to Homewood High School to be functional, inviting and safe.

CO N S T R U C T I O N

Homewood High School recently expanded by 100,000 square feet. Below, new music and fitness facilities are part of the addition designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood.

can use the same spaces,” he says. Those flexible spaces accommodate small breakout study areas or gatherings of larger groups. Another feature of the modern school building is “the ability for people to learn all over the school,” Owen says. Teachers do presentations in common areas, he says, and “cafeterias are now learning spaces for kids to study. “Media centers have totally changed,” he adds. “They’re much less about stacks of books and more about digital learning.” BUILDER’S VIEWPOINT

Doster Construction, of Birmingham, was the general contractor on the $99.9 million Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City and is a veteran of many school construction projects in Alabama. The company completed Austin High School in Decatur in 2018 and breaks ground on a new Moody High School this year. “It is the technology in the schools that has changed the most,” says Doster Operations Manager Jim Davis. “Additionally, the finishes have kept up with the changing times.” Because this is storm-prone Alabama, “tornado shelters are designed for all new schools, under strict requirements and supervision of state inspectors,” Davis says. Book lockers are disappearing, too. It’s all about wireless technology. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 31

“It relates to the way kids are learning,” says GMC’s Owen. “They can have a Chromebook, a Macbook, phone or laptop literally in any space in that school and be able to study or receive material and interact with their peers or their teachers.” These modern, flexible spaces better prepare students for college or careers, Owen observes. “The real world is more collaborative. You work together in teams.” Davis says schools can be great projects for general contractors, though complex because design must accommodate programming. Aesthetics are still important. At Benjamin Russell High School, “the cafeteria is designed to look like a lake lodge,” Davis says. Auditoriums bring their own design challenges. “Most people do not realize when they go watch their children perform in their school’s auditorium that that is one of the most complex structures you can build,” Davis says. “Sloped floors for the seating are not conducive to operating conventional construction lifts.” Stages are intricate, too, with curtains, rigging, lighting, acoustic considerations and more. At Russell High, “the stage rigging system in the auditorium is comparable to any high-end production theater,” Davis says. Schools today also must accommodate teaching aids like 3-D printers, STEAM labs, robotic training, broadcast studios, film equipment and green screens. In the Gulf Shores school, Owen says, “we have a classroom and a lab that is set up to bring in large aquariums and holding tanks. They do research on oyster beds and oyster reproduction.” Safety, naturally, is one of the biggest issues in constructing today’s schools. One focus is “hard, structural-type practices like secure vestibules, access control that deals with hardware, limited access with doors so all the administrators and staff use certain doors to get into the building,” Owen says. When the morning bell rings, all visitors must come to one entry point. “You basically have a secure perimeter 32 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

where no doors are able to be opened from the exterior, except from a vestibule,” he explains. From there visitors are cleared, obtain credentials and walk in with an escort. “A lot of this is controlled through technology and electronic devices, which 10 or 15 years ago it was unheard of,” says Owen. Almost every school GMC has worked on in the last five years has such technology, he says. Though no national guidelines regulate school safety measures, GMC invites interested parties to participate during planning for this crucial need. “We have the local police, local fire department and emergency management agency representatives at the table,” he says. “We talk through the philosophy of the school, the access to the school from a site standpoint, vehicular access – they always want to know where’s my firetruck access – how do I get to the school in the event there’s an active shooter? “They come up with all kinds of scenarios you don’t even think about,” Owen says. Company-wide, GMC has 24 offices in seven states and more than 500 employees with “about six schools going on all the time.” Despite the challenges of designing school buildings in the 21st century, the work is fulfilling, says Owen, who has dedicated his career to it. He went to Homewood High and one of his children was attending during the renovations. “It’s very, very rewarding to do a new school, especially in some areas where they may build only one or two schools in 20 years,” he says. A new school brings the community together. The Gulf Shores school was a legacy project that would be “the only high school they would build in most of our lifetimes.” Davis says Doster takes great pride in building new schools, too. “Everyone on the team would be proud to send their children to the schools we are building,” he says. Deborah Storey is a Huntsville-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 33

CO N S T R U C T I O N

A FIFTH-GENERATION FAMILY BUSINESS

For 135 years, Schoel Engineering has helped engineer the basics of iconic structures in Birmingham and beyond. The youngest generation of leadership — from left James Parsons, Taylor Schoel and Brooks Schoel — at Protective Stadium. Photo by Art Meripol.

Birmingham-based Schoel Engineering still going strong after 135 years By CARY ESTES

n the 1880s, a German emigrant named Herman Schoel brought his civil engineering knowledge to Birmingham to be part of the building boom taking place in the rapidly growing city. And his family descendants have never left. Today, the Schoel Engineering Company is the fifth-generation iteration of what began in 1888 as H. Schoel, C.E. The original one-Schoel show has slowly but steadily grown over the past

century-plus and now has more than 100 employees with additional offices in Huntsville — initiated through the acquisition of the civil engineering firm 4Site in 2019 — and Tuscaloosa, which opened in 2022. Through it all, the company has remained primarily a family-owned operation. Herman Schoel’s son, Walter, was the first to continue running the business, followed by Walter Schoel Jr. The current lineup has Walter Schoel III February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 35

CO N S T R U C T I O N

as CEO, with his sons Taylor and Brooks serving as company president and CFO, respectively. For a company to make it to the fifth generation is extremely rare. Various research studies indicate that less than 3% of family-run businesses are passed down to even a fourth generation, while fifth generations barely register statistically. “We are very proud of being fifth generation. When we work with other companies, that’s a big talking point for us,” Brooks Schoel says. “But it also makes you a little bit nervous, because you don’t want to be the generation that messes it up. That makes us work extremely hard to keep the company going and make it even better.” Despite the longevity, the Schoel name is not necessarily well known to the general public. That’s because unlike architects and contractors, the work done by civil engineers can often go unnoticed to people outside the construction industry.

36 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Herman Schoel.

“We don’t offer a tangible product,” Taylor Schoel says. “We design technical drawings and maps and surveys that

require a specific education and a specific set of skills. Basically, we’re responsible for everything on a project outside the building. So that’s things like topography, drainage, erosion control, utility infrastructure, roads, parking lots, environmental impacts and protecting the surrounding properties from the construction activity to build the project. “We also do a test-fit of the property. What will physically fit on the site? Is what the developer wants to build allowed through current entitlements, or will they have to get the site rezoned or go through other entitlement processes? Then what will it cost to do all this? Can the owner get the return they need to make the project viable?” For decades, this process remained largely the same. Things began to change significantly in the latter half of the 20th century with the advancements in computer technology. According to Taylor Schoel, the company was at the forefront of adapting to this new approach, which

CO N S T R U C T I O N

is one of the reasons it was able to continue operating into a fifth generation. “Our grandfather (Walter Schoel Jr.) was the first person in our family to go through higher education,” Taylor Schoel says. “He used that knowledge to start changing the way we did our business, then our dad (Walter Schoel III) sort of piggybacked off that when the computer age hit. “Our dad had a Ph.D. in hydrology from the University of Alabama, and he did a lot of computer work early on. He spearheaded the shift from human drafting — developing maps and drawings by hand — to computerized drafting. The whole industry has made that shift, but our dad really spearheaded that with his education background.” All of which has enabled a company that began in the 19th century to thrive into the 21st century. In addition to numerous neighborhood and municipality developments, Schoel has worked on several major projects,

including Protective Stadium, Regions Field, the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children and Vulcan Park — all in Birmingham — as well as the Honda Manufacturing plant in Lincoln. But possibly the biggest development for the company in recent years has taken place internally. Beginning in 2020, Schoel expanded its ownership to include people from outside the family. While the majority of the business is still family held, the ownership group now includes five non-family members. “Opening up to outside owners has been a major change for us,” Taylor Schoel says. “As we’ve grown and tried to attract new folks to join us, providing the opportunity for ownership has been an important push for us.” James Parsons was the first of these new owners. Parsons started at Schoel shortly after graduating from Auburn University in 2008 and worked closely

Herman Schoel created this map of Birmingham not long after arriving from Germany. The map bears an 1888 copyright date by Elyton Land Company.

with Walter Schoel III on projects over the ensuing decade. He helped the company acquire 4Site in 2019, joined the ownership team in 2020, then was named chief operating officer in 2023.

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 37

CO N S T R U C T I O N

‘‘

We have a number of experienced people in leadership roles, but our management team is relatively young with a lot of folks in their 30s. So, we have a lot of goals to see what we can do and where the business can go.”

“My goal is to continue the Schoel legacy,” Parsons says. “I learned a lot from working with Walter, and one of the first things he said was to spend the client’s money like it’s your own. So don’t spend money on a project that costs too much or just isn’t feasible. “Their definition of value is not measured in dollars. It’s measured in engineering excellence and taking care of clients. Understanding a client’s vision and talking very honestly with them when they have a bad idea or something isn’t going to work. Be very upfront and tell them. That’s what has kept the company

38 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

so viable for all these years. They truly understand how to take care of people.” Taylor Schoel says that element will continue to be the primary goal for the company moving forward, even as it continues to evolve with a new generation leading the way. “We have a number of experienced people in leadership roles, but our management team is relatively young with a lot of folks in their 30s,” Taylor Schoel says. “So, we have a lot of goals to see what we can do and where the business can go. “The main ingredients to our success

— TAYLOR SCHOEL, PRESIDENT

are staying technically sound and excellent through robust training and hiring. And we have a big focus on business development and client service. We want people to hire us because we’re good at what we do, but also because they trust us. And you build that trust through relationships. If we do those things, then we should continue to grow and have success.” Perhaps even into a sixth generation of Schoels. Cary Estes is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

NOT YOUR SAME OLD JOB

Steve Dunlap uses a drone to capture photographs of Birmingham locations, including Sloss Furnaces.

ABOVE AND BEYOND Steve Dunlap has mastered drone photography to take his career to new heights

By ALEC HARVEY — Photos by ART MERIPOL & STEVE DUNLAP

ake a look at Steve Dunlap’s remarkable photos of Birmingham’s Elyton Hotel, and you’ll see something the photographer hopes is completely different — the view from above and around the top of the historic building that you haven’t seen before. “I’m looking for things that people can’t see from the ground very well,” he says. “It’s all about a different perspective, seeing things that people can’t see from the ground. … One of the first things I shot was the Elyton Hotel, very high up, to show the detail of the architecture of the hotel around the top floor. Nobody had really seen that without a drone.” Drones — the unmanned contraptions that can fly a camera to dizzying heights and amazing angles — have changed the way Dunlap and other photographers ply their trade. For Dunlap, it’s opened up a whole new source of revenue. “I sell unique artistic photographs of Birmingham architecture and icons and skylines,” he says. “People will use them in their

homes, or corporations will put them in their board rooms, or hotels will buy them and put them on display.” EARLY ADOPTER

Dunlap began dabbling in drone photography around 2016, first with a Christmas gift from his son and then with a couple of borrowed drones. “In 2016, the drones really came into their own technologywise and became viable for video and still production,” he says. “I just kind of fell in love with it. I got into it right at the right time.” Initially, Dunlap used drones to enhance his videos, not for still photography. “Since I came from video production, my first entrée into it was just shooting video from the drone,” he says. He got the required insurance and drone certification from the FAA, and he was up, up and away. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 39

N O T YO U R S A M E O L D J O B

Steve Dunlap’s subjects include, clockwise from top left, the 16th Street Baptist Church, the Rotary Trail, downtown Birmingham and the Alabama Theatre.

Dunlap began by shooting things he thought were interesting in Birmingham, including a video of the statue of Vulcan in the evening. “I sent that to Alabama Power, and they wrote me right away and said they wanted to buy the rights to it,” he recalls. That led to him shooting Alabama Power’s statue of Electra and “ultimately, they had me shoot all of their power plants across the state.” FOCUSING ON STILL PHOTOGRAPHY

Dunlap’s work included banks, real estate, commercials, documentaries and some news, and in December 2022, he started doing still photography. “In the wintertime, things slow down 40 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

for drone work, and I wanted to take that opportunity to feature Birmingham architecture,” Dunlap says. “I posted some stuff on Facebook and got some great feedback. One thing led to another, and I started doing art shows. I’ve been happy and surprised with the response. It’s become very satisfying.” Take a look at Dunlap’s website, dunlapproductions.com, and you’ll see stunning shots of many Birmingham landmarks — Electra, Vulcan, the Rotary Trail entrance, Sloss Furnaces, the City Federal Building, 16th Street Baptist Church, City Walk Bham and Regions Field, to name just a few. “There are a lot of excellent photographers that have shot pretty much every-

thing I’ve shot, so I made the conscious decision to shoot with the drone because I didn’t want to duplicate what others have done,” Dunlap says. “I want to do it in a way that’s evocative and different.” He points to his shots of Electra and the Elyton as two that “stand out” as far as accomplishing what he wanted to accomplish. “I like it when people respond in a way like, ‘What is that? I’ve never seen that in that way before,’” says Dunlap, who lives on Southside in Birmingham. Dunlap pilots his drone from the ground, keeping tabs from below on its “view.” “The remote control for the drone has a monitor, and I always have line of sight of the drone,” he says. “That’s an

N O T YO U R S A M E O L D J O B

Steve Dunlap uses a drone for a different look at landmarks such as, clockwise from top, the Elyton Hotel, the Electra statue and City Walk Bham.

FAA regulation.” There are other FAA regulations governing drone use — he can fly his drone about 400 feet in the air, depending on how close he is to the airport, for instance, and there are regulations about flying when aircraft are in the area. “The drones now will tell you if there’s a manned aircraft in your vicinity,” Dunlap says. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

Over the years, Dunlap has seen technology increase safety aspects and what drone cameras can produce. “Drones come with very sophisticated cameras now,” he says. “Cameras are about the size of a fist. Now, I can stay a good distance away. My drone has three

different lenses … that will let me zoom in, which I couldn’t do before.” The drone’s GPS technology is also “very sophisticated,” the photographer says. “I can plot courses for the drone using the GPS.” Flying drones doesn’t come without a cost, but it’s “relatively cheap” in the world of fine photography, Dunlap says. “I have multiple drones, but I have about $4,000 invested in one,” he says. “You can get a similar drone at Best Buy for $1,800 to start. Mine’s about $3,500 for the drone and the controller and then you add additional batteries and filters and auxiliary things.” Dunlap, who sells prints of his work online and at art shows, very much sees

his drone photography as fine art. “I’ve done documentations of buildings and structures and power plants and that stuff,” he says of previous work. “This is much more creative.” And it’s changed the way Dunlap runs his photography business. “As soon as I picked up a good drone, I realized I could make it work for the video production side of my business,” he says. “Pretty much from the beginning, I was making money. It was slow at first, but it’s built into a nice business.” Alec Harvey is executive editor of Business Alabama. Art Meripol is a freelance contributor. Both Harvey and Meripol are based in Birmingham. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 41

SPOTLIGHT

Marion, Fayette & Lamar Counties by LORI CHANDLER PRUITT

MARION COUNTY

LAMAR COUNTY

FAYETTE COUNTY

arion, Fayette and Lamar counties in northwest Alabama offer a highly desired small-town quality of life along with close proximity to two interstates, large metro areas and job opportunities. Target industries include advanced manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, food production, logistics, distribution and warehousing, metal fabrication and wood products. About 30% of the workforce in this area is employed in manufacturing that requires industry-specific credentials and experience. Manufacturers make products from automotive and forklift parts to cabinets, reflective signs and tile. The metals section is growing, and several of those companies are among the largest in the area. Although many workers commute out of county for manufacturing jobs, more are coming to the three-county region. A potential game changer is a project underway by Warrior Met Coal — a $154 million investment in Fayette County to facilitate the option of railcar transportation for its Blue Creek coal reserves from the company’s longwall mine in northern Tuscaloosa County. Once completed, it will reinforce the

Living in Marion, Fayette and Lamar counties offers tranquil settings coupled with job opportunities in an array of industrial sectors.

company’s position as the premier U.S. pure-play producer of premium metallurgical coal products. Production should begin in 2025, with a job count of 400500, officials say. The move is expected to generate substantial tax revenues for Fayette County’s school system, officials say, as an above-ground conveyor system will be located near the town of Berry in Fayette County. Fayette County commissioners granted a 10-year tax abatement for the conveyor system, but those abatements do not affect education taxes, so schools will benefit. Shane Hughes, vice chair of the Fayette County Commission, says the move also helps the county’s goal of adding more rooftops. “This is a 40–45-year project and there will be a lot of opportunity for us,” he says. Nearly 100% of all three counties will have high-speed fiber optic internet, which will continue to help drive economic development. And communities that have a direct connection to Interstate 22 from Birmingham to Memphis also benefit. The city of Fayette is still anticipating a four-lane West Central Alabama connector between the city to the interstate and three industrial parks. School systems and higher education

are developing career technical programs for students and arranging for dual enrollment with nearby community colleges — all aiming to dovetail higher education with local industry needs. One of the newest endeavors is in Winfield City Schools in Marion County. The system is renovating the former 85,000-square-foot Sitel call center building into a career technology center to serve local students and those from neighboring counties. And Bevill State Community College recently launched the CertifyNow: FastTrack Your Success initiative that includes a wide variety of online workforce certification programs. Several of the region’s cities are planning improvements to parks, sports facilities and downtowns, hoping to attract residents and visitors. Festivals and events help boost community spirit. These counties also have a great deal of interest in preserving the historic integrity of the area. The cities of Fayette, Sulligent and Guin were chosen for the Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative, a program led by the University of Alabama that works to improve health and recreational spaces for physical and mental health outcomes. ENI also works with the communities to February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 43

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

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: 5,073,903

Madison County: $78,058 Baldwin County: $71,039 Jefferson County: $63,595 Tuscaloosa County: $61,645 Montgomery County: $56,707 Mobile County: $55, 352 Walker County: $52,987 Marion County: $49,743 Lamar County: $49,565 Winston County: $49,494 State of Franklin County: $47,359 Alabama Fayette County: $45,650 $59,609 Pickens County: $45,339 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Jefferson County: 665,409 Mobile County: 411,411 Madison County: 403,565 Baldwin County: 246,435 Tuscaloosa County: 236,780 Montgomery County: 226,361 Walker County: 64,339 Franklin County: 31,932 Marion County: 29,156 Winston County: 23,755 Pickens County: 18,697 Fayette County: 16,118 Lamar County: 13,705 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

develop a local health equity plan, draft a health resource directory and develop “healing zones.” In the city of Sulligent, for example, the healing zone will include walking paths, lighting, seating and a gazebo, along with a sensory-friendly area, officials say. The zone will be in the middle of the city on the site of a former historic home, says Bradley Long, city administrator. Tourism is important here, as well. This region is already

popular for ecotourism. It is No. 1 in the state for deer hunting, and major rivers and lakes offer great fishing, canoeing, campgrounds and more. Waterways include the TennesseeTombigbee Waterway, the Sipsey Valley River Wilderness Area and Bear Creek Lakes.

44 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Lori Chandler Pruitt is a freelance writer for Business Alabama. She lives in Birmingham.

Economic Engines

Birmingham-based O’Neal Industries and provides carbon steel and aluminum parts for a variety of industries.

PROPERTY TAX

MANUFACTURED HOUSING/ LUMBER/FURNITURE

A worker at Bolzoni Auramo in Sulligent manufactures a lift truck attachment. DIVERSE INDUSTRY/ ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

About a third of the workforce in this region is employed in manufacturing, making a wide range of products such as tile, automotive and forklift parts, mining conveyor systems, cabinets, commercial bamboo products, reflective signs, tub and shower stalls, recreational vehicles, clothing and commercial tile. Many companies that deal in metals are among the area’s largest manufacturing employers, including Komatsu Mining Corp., TBEI/Ox Bodies, plus companies working in fabrication, wire die repair, wiring harnesses, forklift parts, zinc oxide and steel dust recycling and metal roofing. One of the newest on the scene is O’Neal Manufacturing Services, located in Fayette, which invested $5.5 million to open a 130,000-square-foot steel fabrication facility in the former Fayette Fabrication building. It is expected to create 70 full-time jobs within three years after operations begin. It is a subsidiary of

B U S I N E S S DECEMBER 2023: Warrior Met Coal Inc. is investing $154 million in infrastructure in Fayette County to facilitate the option of railcar transportation for its Blue Creek coal reserves from the company’s longwall mine in northern Tuscaloosa County. Production should begin in 2025 with about 400 to 500 jobs, officials say. DECEMBER 2023: King Kutter is working on a

TAXES NOT INCLUDING SCHOOLS OR MUNICIPALITIES

Several companies in the region are involved in this sector, which continues to grow. In Marion County, Deer Valley Homebuilders, Buccaneer Homes, Clayton Homes and Hamilton Home Builders are among the largest manufacturers, building a variety of manufactured homes. In Fayette County, Interfor (formerly Georgia-Pacific) is a sawmill that is one of the county’s largest employers. And in Lamar County, larger employers in this sector include lumber mill Weyerhaeuser Co. in Millport, plus Brown Wood Preserving in Kennedy, making treated utility poles; Millport Lumber making pallets; and K&S Lumber in Vernon, which is among the newest. In Marion County, Kith Kitchens makes cabinet doors and sets in Haleyville, Hamilton Bath Ware makes tubs and shower stalls and Max Home Furniture, in Sulligent in Lamar County, makes upholstered furniture.

MARION COUNTY: 10.5 mills FAYETTE COUNTY: 11.5 mills LAMAR COUNTY: 15 mills

STATE OF ALABAMA: 6.5 mills

SALES TAX MARION COUNTY: 2% CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY:

BEAR CREEK: 3% BRILLIANT: 3% GUIN: 3% HACKLEBURG: 2 % HAMILTON: 3% WINFIELD: 5%

FAYETTE COUNTY: 2% CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY:

BELK: 1% BERRY: 3% FAYETTE: 3.5% GLEN ALLEN: 1%

LAMAR COUNTY: 2% CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY:

BEAVERTON: 2% DETROIT: 2% KENNEDY: 3% MILLPORT: 3% SULLIGENT: 3.5% VERNON: 3%

HIGH-SPEED FIBER OPTIC

This fiber optic project has been underway for some time in this area, with many cities already connected in northwest Alabama. The goal of Freedom FIBER, a subsidiary of Tombigbee Communications, is to provide ultrahigh-speed fiber optic internet service to

STATE OF ALABAMA: 4%

Source: Alabama Department of Revenue

all residents across 1,000 square miles in northwest Alabama. The company partnered with Alabama Power to facilitate the expansion.

B R I E F S

$5 million expansion of its Winfield farm equipment production facility. They expect to add 15 jobs.

department at the Hamilton campus and the nursing simulation lab on the Fayette campus, along with other improvements.

DECEMBER 2023: Winfield City Schools, in Marion County, is renovating the former Sitel call center building for a new career technology center.

NOVEMBER 2023: For the fifth year in a row, Fayette Medical Center has been recognized as one of Newsweek’s Best-In-State hospitals.

DECEMBER 2023: Bevill State Community College is upgrading the welding

NOVEMBER 2023: City, school and parks programs in Winfield

are upgrading facilities, using a 4% sales tax from the city and school system funding. NOVEMBER 2023: Construction continues on a $17 million Marion County jail facility being built in Bedford Industrial Park in Hamilton. NOVEMBER 2023: Robin Mixon becomes administrator at North Mississippi Medical Center Hamilton.

OCTOBER 2023: Three HUB Small Business Plan Workstations are launched in three locations in northwest Alabama — one at the Vernon Public Library and one each at Bevill State Community College’s Hamilton and Fayette campuses. The stations provide free access to a step-by-step process to create a professional lender-ready business plan. BSCC and the Northwest Alabama

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 45

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

Marion and Lamar counties have 100% coverage, and Fayette County should have more than 90% coverage by the first quarter of 2024, officials say.

Largest Industrial Employers Ox Bodies | FAYETTE

MARION COUNTY

Kith Kitchens | HALEYVILLE

Cabinet doors/sets • 600 employees

Dump truck bodies • 176 employees

HIGHER EDUCATION

Dal-Tile International | FAYETTE Commercial tile • 126 employees

3M Company | GUIN

Reflective signs and sheeting 302 employees

Phifer Wire Inc. | FAYETTE

Woven fabric for backer board 77 employees

Komatsu Mining Corp. | WINFIELD Mining conveyors and equipment 257 employees

Process Service Group | FAYETTE Contractors • 68 employees

Buccaneer Homes | HAMILTON

Manufactured housing • 250 employees

Kontoor Brands Inc. | WINFIELD Apparel • 234 employees

LAMAR COUNTY

Bolzoni Auramo | SULLIGENT

Lift truck attachments • 475 employees

Marathon | VERNON

Clayton Homes | WINFIELD

Onsite commercial/industrial trash compactors • 223 employees

Homebuilders • 225 employees

NTN Bower Corp. | HAMILTON

Max Home Furniture | SULLIGENT

Tapered bearings • 209 employees

Upholstered furniture • 175 employees

Hamilton Home Builders | HAMILTON Manufactured housing • 209 employees

Deer Valley Homebuilders Inc. | GUIN Manufactured housing • 189 employees

Weyerhaeuser Company | MILLPORT Lumber mill • 160 employees

Steel Dust Recycling | MILLPORT Zinc oxide • 149 employees

Hamilton Bath Ware | HAMILTON

Roof Mart LLC | VERNON

Tubs/shower stalls • 189 employees

Metal roofing • 110 employees

Vernon Milling Co. | VERNON

FAYETTE COUNTY

Pneumatic tanks • 85 employees

Showa* | FAYETTE

Nitrile gloves • 245 employees

Interfor (Fayette division) | FAYETTE Sawmill • 176 employees

*Editor’s Note: Showa, as of press time, is idle as the company installs equipment. County officials say the plant is expected to restart in 2024.

Source: Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance

B U S I N E S S Economic Development Alliance partnered on the stations. OCTOBER 2023: Bevill State Community College launches the CertifyNow: FastTrack Your Success initiative that includes a wide variety of online workforce certification programs. JUNE 2023: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces that

Bevill State Community College, with campuses in Walker, Marion and Fayette counties, along with an instructional site in Pickens County, is a very important driver in the community, not only for its own employees and student body but also its role in workforce development and education for high school students and adult education and training. It works closely with industry to ensure that programs match workforce needs. Facilities continue to be updated for workforce needs, and the college recently launched the CertifyNow: Fast-Track Your Success initiative that includes a wide variety of online workforce certification programs. HEALTH CARE

Three hospitals serve the three counties and surrounding areas — Northwest Regional Health in Winfield, North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton and Fayette Medical Center. These facilities are among the largest employers in the area and have a significant economic impact on their communities. Each of these facilities offers additional services such as rehab centers, nursing homes and specialty clinics. This sector continues to grow, with primary care clinics and rural health clinics in underserved areas.

B R I E F S

Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans on properties in Marion, Fayette and Lamar counties. JUNE 2023: Tombigbee Communications, a subsidiary of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, offers its 10G Freedom

46 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Fiber service to residents and businesses in Marion and Lamar counties. The utility is working to expand the same in Fayette County. JUNE 2023: A new $4 million emergency room opens at Northwest Regional Health in Winfield. The hospital is part of the UAB Health System.

FEBRUARY 2023: Bevill State Community College announces a $37,500 contribution for scholarships and student competition from the Gene Haas Foundation. The scholarships will be awarded to students interested in the machine-tool technology program on the college’s Jasper and Hamilton campuses.

DECEMBER 2022: O’Neal Manufacturing Services locates in Fayette, investing $5.5 million to open a 130,000-square-foot steel fabrication facility in the former Fayette Fabrication building. It is expected to create 70 full-time jobs within three years. It is a subsidiary of Birmingham-based O’Neal Industries and provides carbon steel and aluminum parts for a variety of industries.

Movers & Shapers VALERIE BRANYON is the Fayette area

materials engineer for the Alabama Department of Transportation. Prior to her present position, she worked with the Florida Department of Transportation as a geotechnical engineer. She is a University of Alabama graduate. Branyon has served on several ACE citizen committees for the city of Fayette, and she also serves on her local volunteer fire department board of directors.

PENNY DAVIS is an attorney, an

ZAC HALLMARK is the chief credit

officer and serves on the board of State Bank and Trust. He joined the bank after graduating from the University of Alabama and has since earned additional credentials in banking. He is active in the Winfield Chamber of Commerce, currently serving as the organization’s president. He is a former member of the Winfield Park and Recreation board. Hallmark co-owns Hallmark Furniture and Home Décor in Winfield with his family.

adjunct faculty member of the University of Alabama Law School and a legal author. She has more than 30 years of experience drafting legislation and providing legal training for judges and other government officials. She currently serves as one of the trustees for two trusts benefiting the town of Kennedy and South Lamar High School students. She received her JD, MA and BS from the University of Alabama. She has received several professional awards.

SHANE HUGHES, who retired as

DR. JOEL HAGOOD is president

DONALD JONES is administrator of

of Bevill State Community College. Before joining BSCC, he was superintendent of the Walker County schools, where he was District 7 Superintendent of the Year. He also served on the board of the Council of Leaders of Alabama Schools. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a doctorate in education from Samford University. He is active in the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce, West AlabamaWorks, Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments and Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance.

assistant chief after 20 years with the Winfield police department, is now a police officer at Bevill State Community College and a Fayette County commissioner. Active with two key projects, he helped pass Aniah’s Law, which prevents violent offenders from getting out on bail, and also works with Alabama Law Enforcement for Peer Support to help first responders and community members learn to deal with critical incidents.

Fayette Medical Center. Prior to coming to the DCH Health System, he was administrator of Marion Regional Medical Center and Nursing Home in Hamilton. Jones is a University of Alabama graduate with a master’s from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a licensed nursing home administrator. He is board certified in health care management and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is active in professional groups including the Alabama Hospital Association West Council and the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Hospital Advisory Board.

ROBIN MIXON is administrator of

North Mississippi Medical CenterHamilton. She is a fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators and the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women with a master’s from Trident University International. She is a licensed preceptor under the Mississippi Board of Nursing Home Administrators and enjoys mentoring. She is also a certified health safety professional, as well as a certified rural health care professional. Mixon is active in both professional and civic organizations.

EMILY NETHERTON MONTAGUE is

the executive director of the Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce. She serves as the Fayette Area Kiwanis vice president and works closely with the Fayette Leadership and Tourism Committees. She is a Valdosta State University graduate and worked earlier as a family service worker with the American Red Cross, assisting with disaster relief. She has more than 15 years of experience as a case manager in the Texas foster care system. She and her husband also have started their own company, Montague Drone Operations.

MYRA NICHOLS is founder of Fayette’s

Old Fashion Christmas, a popular downtown community event that features carriage rides, train rides, Santa pictures, live music, shopping and more. She taught kindergarten and first grade for 39 years, graduated from Bevill State Community College and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 47

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

Alabama. Active in community service, she also serves on Fayette’s tourism committee, the city’s DHR board, the Equitable Neighborhood Initiative committee and more.

ROD NORTHAM is mayor of Fayette.

He retired from 3M Company after 34 years, the final 16 as plant manager. A graduate of Fayette Academy, he earned an associate degree at Brewer State Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. He serves on the boards of Community Services of West Alabama, West Alabama Regional Commission, West Alabama Food Bank and the Fayette Community Foundation. He is active in the West Alabama Mayors Association,

the Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fayette Garden Club. ASHLEY WATSON PALMER is COO

of First National Bank in Hamilton. Earlier she was a staff accountant at Abroms and Associates in Florence. She holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of North Alabama. She is president of the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce board and a board member of Alabama Bankers Association B2L. She organized and conducted Hamilton’s first “Walk of Trees,” with more than 100 Christmas trees set up around the city’s walking track. A first responder for the Byrd Volunteer Fire Department, she is active in the Hamilton Kiwanis Club and a volunteer assistant softball coach.

PHIL SEGRAVES is mayor of Guin.

He created the first strategic plan for the city and led projects to revitalize downtown, winning numerous grants for infrastructure improvements. Guin was among the first Alabama Community of Excellence cities, and Segraves was ACE’s 2023 mayor of the year. A past president of the Alabama League of Municipalities, he serves on its executive committee and is a member of the workers compensation fund board of directors. He is a member of North Alabama Mayors Association, North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, Your Town Alabama and the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Government.

HILDA SMITH is manager of sales and

events for Hampton Inn Winfield. She began her career in hospitality at the Holiday Inn Guin. She is a former critical care registered nurse. She has attended Mercer University for the last two years on a hospitality scholarship. She serves on the boards of the Weldy Home, the Winfield City High School advisory board, C3 of Northwest Alabama and volunteers with the Alabama Association of Suicide Awareness and Prevention. She has organized several major community fundraisers and remains active with others.

48 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Health Care

Northwest Regional Health.

NORTHWEST REGIONAL HEALTH

Northwest Regional Health in Winfield is a 49-bed rural acute care hospital and serves more than 1,000 inpatients and 40,000 outpatients annually. It has about 235 employees, is owned and operated by the Healthcare Authority of Winfield and is affiliated with St. Vincent’s/Ascension and UAB. In June 2023, the hospital opened its new $4 million Emergency Department, with 10 beds, 9,500 square feet, spacious trauma bays, all private exam rooms, negative pressure exam room, separate negative pressure waiting room, as well as a decontamination area. The hospital also opened a fourbed Intensive Care Unit with negative pressure rooms in 2020. Other capital improvements include new 3D mammography and nuclear medicine camera, as well as facility renovations and enhancements. The hospital has added new providers in family medicine, sleep medicine, ophthalmology and oncology. Hospital services include inpatient services, swing bed services, emergency care, surgery services, imaging, lab, rehab, senior care, wound care, inpatient dialysis, a wellness center and sleep lab along with primary care and specialty clinics.

North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER-HAMILTON

North Mississippi Medical CenterHamilton is the only hospital in Alabama to receive the coveted five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It is a 49-bed acute care, not-for-profit hospital affiliated with North Mississippi Health Services in Tupelo, Mississippi. North Mississippi Medical CenterHamilton has more than 200 employees and includes a 79-bed nursing home, along with a wellness center in Hamilton that offers 24-hour access for members.

Hamilton Primary Care Center offers care for adults and children. In November 2023, Robin Mixon was appointed as hospital administrator. The hospital offers 24-hour emergency care, surgery, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, outpatient specialty clinics, lab services, respiratory therapy and cardiac rehabilitation. Radiology services include MRI, low-dose CT and 3D digital mammography. In 2020, the hospital received the Quest Award for High-Value Healthcare from Premier Inc. for providing outstanding patient care. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 49

S P O T L I G H T: H E A LT H C A R E

Fayette Medical Center.

FAYETTE MEDICAL CENTER

Fayette Medical Center, serving the county and surrounding areas since 1958, has been part of the DCH Health System since 1984 and has 61 licensed beds along with 122 long-term care beds. DCH Health System also includes DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa and Northport Medical Center. The hospital offers a wide range of

50 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

services, including an emergency department, full-service diagnostic imaging, ICU, swing bed rehabilitation, several inpatient and outpatient surgical services and advanced endoscopic procedures, eye surgery and orthopedic surgery, and a family medicine clinic. For the fifth consecutive year, Fayette Medical Center has been recognized in America’s Best-In-State Hospitals list

by Newsweek. FMC was ranked No. 2, just behind the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The hospital also received a patient satisfaction award. “This is outstanding recognition of everything our staff works to accomplish as a team,” says Donald Jones, FMC administrator. “I am proud to work with some of the most dedicated caregivers I’ve ever known.” The hospital also was honored on a national list for nurse communication and was one of five hospitals that made the list from Becker’s Hospital Review. Always working to enhance patient care, FMC recently added 3D mammography and a 64-slice CT scanner. The hospital’s long-term care facility continues to receive high marks for quality. It’s currently ranked as a five-star facility by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and in the latest Alabama Medicaid Survey Report in 2023, the center ranked in the 96th percentile nationally for customer satisfaction.

Welcome to

Marion County A L A B A M A

Live, Work & Play!

Marion County at a Glance Founded February 13, 1818 Named for Francis Marion Seat: Hamilton Largest city: Hamilton Area • Total: 744 sq mi (1,930 km2) • Land: 742 sq mi (1,920 km2) • Water: 1.3 sq mi (3 km2) 0.2%

Events

Population (2020) • Total: 29,341 • Density: 39/sq mi (15/km2)

Jerry Brown Arts Festival - Hamilton (March) Neighbor Day - Hackleburg (Last Saturday in April) MayFest - Guin (Second Saturday in May) CoalFest - Brilliant (Memorial Day) Mule Day - Winfield (September) Buttahatchee River Fall Fest - Hamilton (October)

Time zone: UTC−6 (Central) • Summer (DST): UTC−5 (CDT)

Education

Congressional district: 4th

Two public school systems, Marion County Schools and Winfield City Schools, operate in the county. Hamilton is home to a campus of Bevill State Community College.

2020 Census Marion County racial composition Race White (non-Hispanic) Black or African American (non-Hispanic) Native American Asian Pacific Islander Other/Mixed Hispanic or Latino

Num. Percentage 26,093 88.93% 1,094

3.73%

82 75 14 1,120 863

0.28% 0.26% 0.05% 3.82% 2.94%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29,341 people, 11,997 households, and 8,030 families residing in the county. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_County,_Alabama

Marion County School System • • • • • • • • •

Philips Elementary and High School (Bear Creek) Brilliant Elementary School Brilliant High School Guin Elementary School Marion County High School (Guin) Hackleburg Elementary and High School Hamilton Elementary School Hamilton Middle School Hamilton High School

Winfield City School System • • •

Winfield Elementary School Winfield Middle School Winfield High School

History of Marion County

arion County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census the population was 29,341. The county seat is Hamilton. The county was created by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818. The county seat was originally established in Pikeville in 1820, and moved to Hamilton in 1881. The county was named for General Francis Marion of South Carolina. The county was created by the Alabama Territorial General Assembly on February 13, 1818, preceding Alabama’s statehood by almost two years. It was created from land acquired from the Chickasaw Indians by the Treaty of 1816. Marion County included all of its current territory and parts of what are now Winston, Walker, Fayette, and Lamar counties in Alabama as well as portions of present-day Lowndes, Monroe, and Itawamba counties in Mississippi. The county was named in honor of General Francis Marion (1732–1795), an American Revolutionary War hero from South Carolina who was known as “The Swamp Fox.” Many early settlers of Marion County came from Kentucky and Tennessee after General Andrew Jackson established the Military Road. The first towns in the area were Pikeville, Hamilton (formerly named Toll Gate), Winfield, and Guin. The county’s first seat was settled in 1818 at Cotton Gin Port, near present-day Amory, Mississippi. It was moved in 1819 to the home of Henry Greer along the Buttahatchee River. In 1820, the first permanent county seat was established at Pikeville, now a ghost town, located between present day Hamilton and Guin, along U.S. Highway 43. Pikeville served as the county seat of Marion County until 1882. Although the town is now abandoned, the home of Judge John Dabney Terrell Sr., which served as the third county courthouse, still stands. In 1882, Hamilton became the county seat. The first courthouse in Hamilton was destroyed by fire on March 30, 1887, and the second courthouse, constructed in the same place, also burned. A new courthouse, constructed of local sandstone opened in 1901. In 1959, the building was significantly remodeled to give the structure its current 1950’s “international style” design theme.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_County,_Alabama

Higher Education BEVILL STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Bevill State Community College provides comprehensive education, workforce training and educational support services. It partners with industry, government, school systems and other entities on various workforce development projects and is a major economic driver in the area. Bevill State has a large reach in west Alabama. It has a campus in Hamilton in Marion County and a campus in Fayette County. It also has two campuses in nearby Walker County in Jasper and Sumiton, and an instructional site in Carrollton, in Pickens County. Bevill State offers dozens of workforce training and retraining courses that include basic skills education, occupational, career technical and prebaccalaureate programs. It has several degree programs in health sciences and other fields and offers dual enrollment in academic and career technical fields for high school students. It offers academic transfer to a four-year university. Online courses also are available. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. BSCC employs about 640 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, with a payroll of about $25 million. BSCC also has just launched the CertifyNow: Fast-Track Your Success program, offering a variety of online workforce certification programs. The Fayette campus recently hosted the first Bevill Making a Path for high schools in the area, giving students in ninth and tenth grades the chance to participate in hands-on activities with local businesses and industries. BSCC also recently launched its Dual Enrollment Student Ambassador Program, allowing older students to share insights about dual enrollment with high-school students. Bevill State’s automotive technician training program on the Hamilton campus recently received Master Automobile Service Technician reaccreditation through 2027 from the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation. It is the highest level of program accreditation recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service

Bevill State offers dozens of workforce training options including several welding courses.

Bevill’s automotive technician training program is accredited through the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation.

Excellence. And the college recently began providing additional services for adult learners. BSCC also has several agreements with colleges and universities that help students achieve a seamless bachelor’s

degree. The school has partnered with the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing as part of the UAB School of Nursing/Community College Joint Enrollment Pathway to offer Bevill State students a way from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree in nursing. February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 59

Community Development

Built in 1911-1912, the Fayette County Courthouse was constructed by LittleCleckler Construction Co. of Anniston. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

MARION COUNTY Marion County is building a $17 million jail in Bedford Industrial Park in Hamilton. It is expected to house about 220 inmates. The county also upgraded the courthouse entrance. The city of Hamilton, the county seat, has completed Phase 1 of a 47acre development that includes a cross country track, three soccer fields, a nature trail and more, says Mayor Bob Page. Phase 2 will include an amphitheater, he says. The development is on the former Munsingwear textile site, he says. “The (Marion County) school system gave us $1 million to help with the project since their students also will use the track,” Page says. “We really believe we will be able to help the economy and have more tournaments and events here.” The city also has opened pickleball courts connected with the city park and recreation center. And the city is busy with its downtown, which continues to attract retail and other shops. In the city of Winfield, the police 60 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

department and court facilities moved out of city hall and into a former National Guard armory building purchased by the city. The renovated building also has a large room that will be converted into two floors of training classrooms and more. In the city of Guin, the Holiday Inn near I-22 just renewed its agreement with franchise company IHG for 10 more years, and there is a major remodel planned, says Mayor Phil Segraves. The city will be upgrading the landscaping with sidewalks and water control improvements near the hotel. The city also received a Tesla charging station and four universal stations to recharge electric vehicles, located at the hotel, he says. And sometime next year, a former medical clinic will be remodeled and reopened as a medical facility, he says. Guin is on the Alabama Mural Trail and has a patriotic mural with a 40-foot eagle, with a new “Welcome to Guin” mural on the side of the post office designed by Marion County High School student Gracious Webb and painted by

artist and master mural painter Missy Miles. The Marion County School System has career technical programs at its five high schools in fields including agriculture, business, health science, human services, STEM, transportation and logistics and diesel tech. Winfield City Schools are renovating the old Sitel call center for career tech programs in fire college and cosmetology, says Randy Thomley, superintendent. “One room is ready, and we will be opening soon,” says Stefanie Weeks, career technical director. “Our students will be bused back and forth, and we are inviting Marion County High School, Brilliant High School and Fayette County High School students to participate as well.” The school system also partners with Bevill State Community College to offer dual-enrollment classes. The system also plans to move a primary school (PK-1) into a wing of the building to allow high school students in child development classes to visit these

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

Improvements to downtown areas have helped retain and attract a number of businesses to the area.

students, Thomley says. “We also are in the early planning stages of a new football stadium with a track and banquet room for graduating classes/first responders/military,” he says.

FAYETTE COUNTY Fayette County has a multipurpose complex, which can host several different events, says Shane Hughes, vice chairman of the Fayette County Commission. The county has welcomed some new homes, but is working toward many more, he says. “We are hoping to get more people to call the county home,” he says. “We want to take advantage of the growth in nearby Tuscaloosa County. We have a great quality of life and low property taxes and a low unemployment rate.” The county was instrumental in pushing Aniah’s Law, approved by Alabama voters in 2020, Hughes says. It is legislation that came about after the death of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard. The law allows judges to deny bond for

people suspected of committing violent felonies. “Both her grandparents live in Fayette County,” he says. The city of Fayette, the county seat, is still anticipating the four-lane West Central Alabama connector from Fayette to Interstate 22, says Mayor Rod Northam. “The project is still active, and it is huge for us,” he says. The road initially was proposed in 2022 to connect Fayette with three industrial parks from the interstate but there will be much more benefit from it, he says. Another project that will be underway soon is improvements at Alabama 18 and Alabama 171 to make it easier and more efficient for large trucks to turn. And the city will begin a $3 million upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant. While the city has attracted chain restaurants and other businesses, it also has more local businesses locating in the downtown area, Northam says. And the city has a new neighborhood underway. Fayette started a Fayette Junior City Council for 9-12 graders who meet every

other week to determine ways to engage young people. The city also reinstated its Leadership Fayette program. A new transportation program, created with the help of an Alabama Department of Transportation grant, will provide transportation for those who need it for doctor’s appointments, food and more. Broadband has been a priority, and Freedom Fiber expects the county to be 90% covered by the first quarter of 2024, officials say. The town of Berry has a DCH medical clinic that reopened last year, officials say. With Warrior Met Coal’s ongoing project in nearby Tuscaloosa County and a portion of Fayette County, officials expect more growth there. Fayette County schools offer several career technical programs, says Dr. Rene Nichols, career technical and attendance supervisor. Programs offered include HVAC/electrical, health science, business education, family/consumer sciences and agriculture. In addition, the system has partnered with Bevill State Community February 2024 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

Welders are in high demand in a number of industries in this part of the state.

King Kutter, in Winfield in Marion County, makes farm equipment.

Kontoor Brand’s Wrangler building in Hackleburg was rebuilt after a tornado destroyed the building in 2011.

College for dual enrollment. “Each year, we send out surveys to determine what our students want and what the needs are,” Nichols says. The system also has partnered with Phifer Wire for students who want to enter the workforce quickly.

LAMAR COUNTY In Lamar County, officials have several road projects underway. The county commission recently purchased a new building that will become the new courthouse annex, and many offices will be located there until officials decide what to do with the existing courthouse, says Suzanne Ives, county administrator. “There are some issues that would have to be addressed with the old courthouse,” she says. “We’d love to be able to do a complete overhaul, removing the third floor and putting the courthouse dome back up.” 62 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

In Vernon, the county seat, the city has completed a zero-entry pool that is part of the city park’s splash pad, baseball, T-ball and softball fields, says Don Dollar, city administrator. The city also has added a nine-hole disc golf course and is looking to add nine more holes. The city has added a new tennis court and a new outdoor basketball court. The region is very active in genealogy and Vernon has its genealogical society, which has a wealth of information, located in a new building, Dollar says. The city has added an employee to work there twice a week. The building also can host various events and will host three gospel singings this year, he says. In the city of Sulligent, federal funds will help pay for sewer system improvements on the west side, a $2.1 million project, says Bradley Long, city administrator. The city also will be addressing drainage issues.

The city continues to attract retail, with a Dollar General coming online soon. The town of Millport has received a $1.1 million grant from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to update part of the water system and to replace its oldest water tower, which is 75 years old, says Linda Ferguson, town clerk. Millport also received a grant from the Tombigbee RC&D, which partnered with Weyerhaeuser, a major employer, to build a pavilion, basketball court, a playground, a senior adult exercise area and a track area. Lamar County schools have their own school of technology serving about 150 students, says Matthew Byars, principal. Courses include cosmetology, precision machinery, automotive, welding and health sciences. Dual enrollment classes also are offered.

Culture & Recreation festivities and events: JERRY BROWN ARTS FESTIVAL — March | Hamilton This popular two-day festival

is an indoor, juried arts festival named in honor of the late Hamilton resident and Smithsonian potter Jerry Brown. NEIGHBOR DAY — Spring | Hackleburg

No one is sure how Neighbor Day began in Hackleburg, but this event is all about caring and getting to know your neighbor better. SPRING FEST — Spring | Guin This

Tribute to Jimmy Lee Sudduth by Missy Miles in Fayette is on the North Alabama Mural Trail. STEP OUTDOORS

With eight well-managed lakes and 170,000 acres of wildlife management areas and national forests, these three counties have an abundance of natural resources including the largest deer population in the state, many opportunities to canoe, kayak and tube, several campsites and more. Sipsey Valley River Wilderness Area, in the Bankhead National Forest, offers 12 trails and more. TAKE TO THE WATER

The 234-mile Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, running from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River, offers all types of water recreation. Bear Creek Lakes, in the pine hills of Northwest Alabama, offers camping, fishing, cabins, hiking and more. The four lakes are rated among some of the cleanest recreational waters in the South. JUMP IN

Fayette Aquatic Park at Guthrie Smith Park features a multi-purpose pool, interactive play features, a lazy river, multiple water slides and a splash pad. Guin Water Park, in Hayden Riley Park, features an Olympic-size pool with two diving boards, a large waterslide and a raintree. The park also offers walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and more. EYE TREAT

Guin, Hamilton and Winfield are home to about a dozen murals on the North Alabama Mural Trail.

HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS

Fayette Depot Museum is in the restored, historic train station that was built in 1887. It has many local historical artifacts, including a mint condition still, a Civil War-era drum and more. It is maintained by the Fayette Historical Society. In Hamilton, Hamilton-Sullins House, managed by the Marion County Historical Society, is the historic home of Captain A.J. Hamilton. CATCH A SHOW

Pastime Theatre Complex, in downtown Winfield, is a historic theater dating to the 1930s and restored in the 1980s by Winfield Main Street. The Pastime hosts children’s events, concert series and theatre productions. The Fayette Civic Center/Fayette Art Museum also sponsors performances year-round in a renovated 1930 school building with a 350-seat auditorium and more. JUST FOR FUN

Fayette Multi-Purpose Complex features barrel racing, motocross and more in its 1,500-seat arena. OUTDOOR MOVIES

Blue Moon Drive-In offers the nostalgic view-from-your-car experience at its twinscreen drive-in. SOMETHING OLD

Falkner Antique Mall, in Vernon in Lamar County, is home to more than 70 dealers offering antiques and collectibles.

annual festival in Guin features live entertainment, music, food vendors, games, carnival and more. MULE DAY — September | Winfield This

popular event began in 1975 when two citizens wanted to honor the hard-working mules of the day. Today, crowds of 25,000 enjoy arts and crafts, Civil War re-enactments, a pageant, a Pre-Mule Night Madness Sale from area business owners and more. FAYETTE ARTS FESTIVAL — September | Fayette One of the oldest, continual

art festivals in Alabama, this popular festival includes a juried outdoor arts and crafts show with free art lessons/ activities for K-6th graders and live entertainment.

BUTTAHATCHEE RIVER FALL FEST — Fall | Hamilton This annual festival features

arts and crafts, a motorcycle/tractor/car show, live entertainment, food, kid’s area and more. FROG LEVEL FESTIVAL — October | Fayette Live entertainment, an antique

car/truck/motorcycle show, frog jumping contest, bed race, a 5K run, arts and crafts and more can be found at this festival. OLD FASHIONED DAY — October | Sulligent This event features live

entertainment, a carnival, parade, barbecue, arts and crafts, a 5K run, games and more. OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS — December | Fayette This event features carriage

rides, train rides, pictures with Santa, live music, food vendors, shopping and family fun.

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 63

Career Notes BLAKE HUDSON

CHAD LONG

by ERICA JOINER WEST

MITZI COOGLER

TAYLOR BURKHALTER

JOANNA EVANS

BRENT JOHNSON

TAYLOR THORN

ALINDA GUYNES MCGOWIN TIMOTHY WHITE

RONNI FERRIS-METZGER

KATIE SCOTT

JOSH JOHNSON

MATT COBB

DANIELLE MASHBURN-MYRICK MAGGIE ARELLANO

BOSTON TOPPING

ROBIN RICKS

AMANDA SALAZAR

SARA MILES AGEE

KATHRYN FULLER

KAREN COLE

ROBERT BAXLEY

AGRICULTURE

The National Minority Supplier Development Council has added Niki and Brandon Gerrins of Sonkissed Meadows in Sylacauga and George Poindexter of I Am Health, Beauty and Wellness Farms in Sawyerville to the 2024 Acres: Cultivating Equity in Black Agriculture cohort.

BANKING

HEALTH CARE

USA Health has added Dr. Douglas Holmes, a board-certified otolaryngologist, to its ear, nose and throat division. Alinda Guynes McGowin, MD; Timothy White, OD; and Ronni Ferris-Metzger, OD have joined Premier Medical Eye Group.

Blake Hudson has been promoted to recruitment coordinator for Bank Independent’s human resources team.

Dr. Katie Scott, a general surgeon, has joined Infirmary Surgical Specialists in Mobile.

Chad Long has been promoted to Birmingham market president for FirstBank.

INSURANCE

CONSTRUCTION

Harrison Construction Co. Inc., of Tuscaloosa, has added Mitzi Coogler as chief financial officer, Taylor Burkhalter as controller, JoAnna Evans as senior project administrator and Brent Johnson as senior project manager. HPM has promoted Taylor Thorn to vice president of growth strategy.

EDUCATION

Gabe Miller, an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been named a member of the 2023-2024 Scholar Strategy Network’s Health Equity Scholars Program. Tuscaloosa Academy has extended the contract for head of school Beckie Share for five years. 64 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Josh Johnson and Matt Cobb have been promoted to senior vice president of marketing for Alfa Insurance.

LEGAL

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers LLP has added Richard Whitaker as an associate in its Birmingham office. Phelps has elected Danielle MashburnMyrick to partner in the firm’s Mobile office. The firm has also added Maggie Arellano, Taylor Johnson and Ryan Wheeler as associates to its Birmingham firm. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has promoted Chandler Combest, T. Brooks Proctor, Thomas Oliver III and Emily Ruzic to partner in the Birmingham office.

GABE MILLER

BECKIE SHARE

DOUGLAS HOLMES

TAYLOR JOHNSON

JENNIFER WHEELER

BRADLEY BAILEY

New partners at Burr & Forman are Lindsey Cochran in the Birmingham office and Mike Rich and Catherine Spann in the Mobile office. Boston Topping has joined Baker Donelson as an associate in the financial services transactions practice area. Robert Baxley has been promoted to partner at Balch & Bingham. He is in the firm’s Birmingham office. Maynard Nexsen has promoted to shareholder Seth Capper, Kyle Heslop, Claire Martin, Eric Nanfito and Jennifer Wheeler in its Birmingham office; Evan Parrott in the Mobile office; and Jonathan Mayhall in the Huntsville office.

MANUFACTURING

Manufacture Alabama has promoted Robin Ricks to vice president of policy and advocacy and Amanda Salazar to vice president of communications and membership.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

JJPR Agency has named Sara Miles Agee vice president and Kathryn Fuller client services director. In addition, Karen Cole was added as senior content producer.

RETAIL

Bradley Bailey, owner of Bradley’s Market in Tuscaloosa, has been elected to a two-year term on the Alabama Retail Association’s board of directors.

Company Kudos

by ERICA JOINER WEST

Coastal Alabama Community College currently is Alabama’s only community college with simulation accreditation, bolstering the school’s Nursing and Allied Health division. The Society for Simulation in Healthcare facilitated the accreditation. The college has two simulation labs — in Atmore and Fairhope — that feature high-tech mannequins and monitoring equipment that provides guided, yet autonomous, learning in a safe environment.

AAA Cooper Transportation has been named one of the Forbes 2023 Best Employers for Veterans for the third consecutive year. Forbes also recognized the Dothan-based less-than-truckload company as one of 2023’s Best Midsize Employers. Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law has been recognized as the fastest-growing law school in the U.S., according to the American Bar Association. Faulkner’s law school had the largest percentage increase in J.D. enrollment — 25.6% over 2023’s enrollment — of any ABA-approved law school in the country. Hyundai’s 2024 Elantra and Tucson have earned the Top Safety Pick+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both vehicles are made in Montgomery. Infirmary Health and Gulf Orthopaedics were the first in the state to offer the Intracept procedure, which is an innovative, minimally invasive procedure to treat chronic back pain. The first procedure was conducted at Infirmary Health’s Daphne Surgery Center. Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC has successfully completed a System and Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II audit. The accreditation is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

MARCH The 2024 Business Alabama Awards Automotive Rolls in Alabama Credit Unions Across Alabama LunarLab, a Birmingham consulting agency that designs products based on user feedback, has become a Certified B Corporation, the fourth company with this certification in the state. The certification measures the company’s positive impact on workers, community, customers and the environment. LunarLab also became carbon neutral in 2023. The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class SUV, built in Vance, was recently recognized for providing solid protection for front and back seat occupants in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s updated moderate overlap front crash test. It was one of three midsize SUVs to earn good ratings. Russell Medical, in Alexander City, recently installed the state’s first Zimmer Biomet Smart knee implant. The implant provides the same functionality as a standard implant, but also uses data-tracking technology for consistent monitoring of the patient’s activity after surgery. Thomas Hospital, in Fairhope, has been recognized as high performing by U.S. News & World Report in its 2023-24 Best Hospitals ranking for maternity care — the only hospital in Alabama to be recognized. The hospital was also recognized as high performing for heart attack, colon cancer surgery and knee replacement.

Geographic Spotlight: Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia & Monroe Counties

APRIL Higher Ed Builds Stronger Economy Accounting for Business Women in Technology Geographic Spotlight: Butler, Covington, Crenshaw & Lowndes Counties Check BusinessAlabama.com for daily business headlines and additional content

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 65

RETROSPECT

Builder Horace King left elegant legacy By SCOTTY E. KIRKLAND

n Feb. 3, 1846, the Alabama Legislature approved a bill of emancipation for famed builder Horace King. Born in bondage on a South Carolina plantation in 1807, he was brought to Alabama in the early 1830s to aide in the construction of the first bridge across the lower Chattahoochee River. A talented craftsman who specialized in heavy-timber construction, King ranked among the most respected builders in the South. During his career he built an estimated 125 structures, mostly bridges, in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The sturdy, gravity-defying wooden bridges of Horace King were marvels of construction. They helped to connect communities and expand commerce in the first decades of widespread white settlement along Alabama’s southeastern border. Still, we know virtually nothing about King’s early life. In the 1830s, when he was about 25, King was sold to South Carolina builder John Godwin. King may have learned techniques of the building trade from Godwin. By most accounts, though, he seemed to possess the intuitive skills necessary to become a renowned craftsman on his own. For his part, Godwin discerned the depths of King’s abilities early on and treated him more as apprentice than an enslaved workman. Their decades-long partnership — spanning King’s time in bondage and as a free man — lasted until Godwin’s death in 1859. Godwin and King arrived in Columbus, Georgia, in 1832, having won the contract to build a 900-foot covered bridge across the Chattahoochee’s muddy waters. The bridge connected Columbus with a small hamlet named Girard on the Alabama side of the river. Later that year, the Alabama Legislature named Girard the first seat of newly

66 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

A view of the staircase of the Alabama State Capitol. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

R E T RO S PE C T

established Russell County. Once the and other structures. He undertook the bridge was completed, Godwin estabwork with quiet reluctance, realizing lished himself in Girard, which merged there were few in southeast Alabama with Phenix City in 1923. He and who shared his feelings on the war. King built many of the earliest homes Careful not to endanger his family or and businesses there, including the first business interests, King “was as much of Russell County Courthouse. a Union man from beginning to the end Over the next decade, the pair as I dared to be,” he later recalled. constructed a number of other bridges King resumed a robust construction across the Chattahoochee and smaller schedule at war’s end. He also entered rivers in the region. These included public service as one of Russell Counprivate toll bridges in West Point, Georty’s first African American registrars. In gia, and Eufaula, Alabama, a structure 1867, he helped more than 2,600 freedwhich stood until 1924. Godwin likely men register to cast their first votes. The received a percentage of these bridge following year, King won election to the tolls and allocated a smaller portion for Alabama House of Representatives. But Horace King. Courtesy of King, his talented, irreplaceable forebuilding projects held more sway over The Columbus Museum. man and second. King’s time. He missed the first legislaIn the early 1840s, while Godwin remained in Girard, King tive session entirely. King served two consecutive terms, includraised bridges and other structures in places as far away as Coing time on the powerful Federal Relations Committee, which lumbus, Mississippi, and Wetumpka, Alabama, where he built a helped to navigate the oftentimes murky waters of the era. Still, 600-foot bridge spanning the rocky waters of the Coosa River. King seems to have been better suited to building actual bridges Both projects were financed in part by Tuscaloosa entreprethan political ones. He decided against reelection in 1872. neur and legislator Robert Jemison Jr., who enjoyed a lucrative Soon thereafter, King and his family relocated to a new partnership with Godwin for many years. Like Godwin, he held settlement near LaGrange, Georgia. There he joined into a new King in high regard. In 1845, Jemison referred to him as “the business partnership with his four sons and daughter, who conmost extensive and successful Bridge Builder in the South.” tinued the King tradition of building for decades to come. Poor It was Jemison who ably navigated King’s emancipation bill health slowed the pace of the patriarch’s work in his final years. through the halls of the legislature. The liberation of enslaved Horace King died on May 28, 1885, at the age of 77. persons by government act was a rare thing during the era. In Visitors to Alabama’s capitol can still use the elegant spi1846, only one other Alabama man was freed in such fashion. ral staircases built by a newly emancipated King more than Though the precise circumstances which led to King’s eman170 years ago. Few other structures built by his skilled hands cipation are lost to history, it seems to have been motivated remain. In 2017, state officials unveiled a portrait of the builder by Godwin and Jemison’s desire to continue in their unique on an adjacent wall, the only such likeness of an African Ameribusiness relationship with King. Neither of the men were can man on public view in the capitol. Horace King’s staircase is abolitionists, by any means; both held others in bondage. King’s a testament to his craftsmanship. His portrait is an acknowledgbiographers surmise he used his savings to pay the $1,000 ment of his enduring legacy. security bond required by the legislation, akin to about $34,000 today. Through the skill of his own hands, the builder helped Historian Scotty E. Kirkland is a freelance contributor to Business Alabama. secure his freedom. He lives in Wetumpka. After the Alabama State Capitol burned in 1849, King was among those who assisted in the new construction. Since the framework for the structure was comprised of the same type of heavy timbers King was accustomed to using for bridges, he made for a natural consultant. His more delicate project atop Goat Hill was the set of spiral staircases in the capitol’s main entrance, which he completed in 1851. During the Civil War, officials in Georgia and Alabama pressed King into service of the Confederate cause. They Dillingham Street covered bridge over the Chattahoochee River between tasked him with blockading the river apColumbus, Georgia, and Girard, Alabama, built by Horace King in 1870. proaches to several key cities, along with Photo courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives & History. the construction of a rolling warehouse February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 67

Index

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

16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham...........39

Bank Independent...........................................64

Construction Partners.......................................10

Godwin, John...............................................................66

3M Company.............................................. 46, 47

Bankhead National Forest.................................63

Coogler, Mitzi...............................................................64

Goodwyn Mills Cawood....................................30

4Site, Huntsville..............................................35

Barge Design Solutions....................................26

Council of Leaders of Alabama Schools..............47

Gray Reese LLC Architects....................................8

AAA Cooper Transportation...............................65

Barnett, Debbie..............................................................7

Dal-Tile International........................................46

Abroms and Associates.....................................47

Baxley, Robert...............................................................64

Davis, Jim.....................................................................30

Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.........................................13

Agee, Sara Miles...........................................................64

Bear Creek Lakes........................................ 43, 63

Davis, Penny.................................................................47

Agriculture Adventures Trail.............................21

Becker’s Hospital Review..................................49

DCH Health System............................... 47, 49, 60

Airbus Group......................................................8

Bedford Industrial Park, Hamilton.............. 45, 60

DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa..........49

AJT Engineering...............................................26

Benjamin Russell High School, Alexander City...30

Deer Valley Homebuilders.......................... 45, 46

Alabama Association of Suicide Awareness and Prevention...........................47

Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children.............35

Delta Regional Authority....................................8

Berry, Town of............................................ 43, 60

Dollar General Literacy Foundation.....................9

Alabama Black Belt Adventures.................. 21, 25

Bevill State Community College.............. 43, 45, 47, 59, 60

Doster Construction..........................................30

Alabama Career Center.......................................7

Beyond Gravity..................................................9

Alabama Commission on Higher Education.........9

Biden, President Joe......................................................7

Alabama Communities of Excellence.................47

Blanchard, Aniah..........................................................60

Alabama Department of Commerce...................11

Blankenship, Wiley.......................................................21

Alabama Department of Labor............................7

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.............47

Alabama Department of Transportation....... 47, 60

Blue Moon Drive-In..........................................63

Alabama Hospital Association...........................47

Boeing Co..........................................................7

Alabama House of Representatives...................66

Bolzoni Auramo Inc..........................................46

Alabama Law Enforcement for Peer Support......47

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP...................64

Alabama League of Municipalities....................47

Bradley’s Market..............................................64

Alabama Legislature.........................................66

Branyon, Valerie...........................................................47

Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.....21

Brasfield & Gorrie...............................................8

Alabama Mural Trail.........................................60

Brewer State Community College......................47

Alabama Power Co...................................... 39, 45

Brilliant High School........................................60

Alabama Retail Association...............................64

Brown Wood Preserving...................................45

Alabama State Capitol......................................66

Brown, Jerry.................................................................63

Alabama Tourism Department..........................21

Bruno Event Team............................................10

Alabama, State of...............................................9

Bruno, Tory......................................................................9

AlabamaWorks! Program....................................7

Bryce, Adam..................................................................26

Alexander, Nicholas......................................................11

Buccaneer Homes....................................... 45, 46

Alfa Insurance..................................................64

Burkhalter, Taylor..........................................................64

AM/NS Calvert....................................................7

Burr & Forman..................................................64

Amazon Inc........................................................9

Burton Property Group.......................................8

American Association of Airport Executives........26

Burton, Philip.................................................................8

American Bar Association..................................65

Business Alabama ...........................................25

American College of Health Care Administrators.....................................47

Buttahatchee River Fall Fest, Hamilton..............63

Alabama Bankers Association...........................47

American College of Healthcare Executives........47 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.......................................65

Byrd Volunteer Fire Department.......................47 C3 of Northwest Alabama.................................47 Caddell Construction..........................................9

American Red Cross..........................................47

Caddell, Mac...................................................................9

Aniah’s Law......................................................60

Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation...................................9

Anniston Regional Fire Training Center...............8

Capper, Seth.................................................................64

Arellano, Maggie..........................................................64

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services......49

Artemis Shielding..............................................9

Chilton County Health Care Authority................10

Ascension St. Vincent’s.....................................49

City Federal Building, Birmingham...................39

Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton..........................10

City Walk Bham................................................39

Askins, Jenny................................................................13

Clayton Homes........................................... 45, 46

Astrobotic Technology........................................9

Coastal Alabama Community College............9, 65

Auburn University............................................25

Coastal Alabama Partnership............................21

Austal USA.........................................................8

Cobb, Matt....................................................................64

Austin High School, Decatur..............................30

Cochran, Lindsey..........................................................64

Autocar LLC......................................................10

Cole, Karen...................................................................64

Bailey, Bradley..............................................................64

Combest, Chandler.......................................................64

Baker Donelson................................................64

Community Services of West Alabama...............47

Balch & Bingham..............................................64

Communty Care Development Network..............9

68 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024

Dothan Opera House..........................................8 Dothan, City of ..................................................8 Dunlap, Steve...............................................................39 EcoWild Outdoor Expo......................................26 Electra Statue, Birmingham..............................39 Elyton Hotel, Birmingham................................39 Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative............ 43, 47 Evans, JoAnna..............................................................64 Eventive Sports................................................10 Facebook Inc....................................................39 Falkner Antique Mall........................................63 Faulkner University..........................................65 Fayette Aquatic Park.........................................63 Fayette Area Chamber of Commerce..................47 Fayette Arts Festival..........................................63 Fayette Civic Center/Fayette Art Museum...........63 Fayette Community Foundation........................47 Fayette County..................................... 43, 47, 60 Fayette County High School..............................60 Fayette Depot Museum.....................................63 Fayette Fabrication...........................................45 Fayette Garden Club.........................................47 Fayette Historical Society..................................63 Fayette Junior City Council...............................60 Fayette Medical Center......................... 45, 47, 49 Fayette Multi-Purpose Complex........................63 Fayette, City of..................................... 43, 47, 60 Fayette’s Old Fashion Christmas........................47 Federal Aviation Administration.......................39 Fenwick Food Group.........................................10 Ferris-Metzger, Ronni...................................................64 First National Bank, Hamilton...........................47 FirstBank, FB Financial Corp..............................64 Florida Department of Transportation...............47 Foley, City of ......................................................8 Forbes Magazine..............................................65 Freese, Charlie..............................................................10 Frog Level Festival, Fayette...............................63 Fuller, Kathryn..............................................................64 Gadsden State Community College.....................8 General Motors................................................10 Georgia-Pacific LLC............................................45 Georgia, State of.................................................9 Gerrins, Brandon..........................................................64 Gerrins, Niki..................................................................64 Girard, City of...................................................66

Guin Water Park...............................................63 Guin, City of......................................... 43, 47, 60 Gulf Distributing Co............................................9 Gulf Orthopaedics............................................65 Gulf Shores High School...................................30 Gulf Shores International Airport......................26 Guthrie Smith Park, Fayette..............................63 H. Schoel C.E.....................................................35 Hagood, Joel................................................................47 Hallelujah Trail.................................................21 Hallmark Furniture and Home Décor.................47 Hallmark, Zac................................................................47 Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce...............47 Hamilton Bath Ware................................... 45, 46 Hamilton Home Builders............................ 45, 46 Hamilton-Sullins House....................................63 Hamilton, Capt. A.J.......................................................63 Hamilton, City of..............................................60 Hampton Inn Winfield......................................47 Harris, Thomas..............................................................21 Harrison Construction Co. Inc............................64 Hayden Riley Park, Guin...................................63 Healthcare Authority of Winfield.......................49 Heersink, Marnix .........................................................10 Heslop, Kyle..................................................................64 Hoar Program Management..............................64 Holiday Inn Guin........................................ 47, 60 Holmes, Douglas..........................................................64 Homewood High School...................................30 Honda Manufacturing of Alabama....................35 Hudson, Blake..............................................................64 Hughes, Shane.................................................43, 47, 60 Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.......9, 65 I Am Health, Beauty and Wellness.....................64 Infirmary Health..............................................65 Infirmary Surgical Specialists............................64 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety..............65 InterContinental Hotels Group Plc.....................60 Interfor Corp. ............................................. 45, 46 International Space Station.................................7 Ivey, Gov. Kay..................................................................7 Jack Edwards Field, Gulf Shores........................26 Jefferson County................................................8 Jemison, Robert Jr........................................................66 Jerry Brown Arts Festival, Hamilton..................63 JJPR Agency....................................................64 Johnson, Brent.............................................................64 Johnson, Josh..............................................................64 Johnson, Taylor.............................................................64 Jones, Donald.........................................................47, 49 K&S Lumber.....................................................45 Kennedy, Town of.............................................47 Kessler Capital...................................................8

INDEX

Kessler, Laura..................................................................8

Montague, Emily Netherton.........................................47

Reese, Gray.....................................................................8

Tesla Inc...........................................................60

Kim, Sungil.....................................................................9

Montgomery Whitewater Park............................7

Regions Field............................................. 35, 39

Thomas Goode Jones School of Law...................65

King Kutter......................................................45

Moody High School..........................................30

Rescue Me Project...............................................9

Thomas Hospital, Fairhope................................65

King, Horace.................................................................66

Moore’s Marinades and Sauces.........................10

Rich, Mike.....................................................................64

Thomley, Randy............................................................60

Kith Kitchens............................................. 45, 46

Mule Day, Winfield...........................................63

Ricks, Robin..................................................................64

Thorn, Taylor.................................................................64

Kiwanis International.......................................47

Nanfito, Eric..................................................................64

River Walk Plaza, Mobile....................................8

Tombigbee Communications............................45

Komatsu Mining Corp................................. 45, 46

NASA.................................................................9

Roof Mart LLC...................................................46

Tombigbee Electric Cooperative........................45

Kontoor Brands Inc...........................................46

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence........................................59

Rotary Trail, Birmingham..................................39

Toppins, Boston............................................................64 Touronimo Destination Management Group......13

Leadership Fayette...........................................60

National Minority Supplier Development Council...................................64

Russell County.................................................66 Russell Medical................................................65

Trident University International........................47

Leidos Dynetics..................................................9

Neighbor Day, Hackleburg................................63

Ruzic, Emily..................................................................64

Troon Golf LLC..................................................10

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC.........................65

Newsweek Magazine.................................. 45, 49

Saban, Nick.....................................................................7

Tuscaloosa Academy.........................................64

Linder, Chris...................................................................9

Nichols, Myra................................................................47

Salazar, Amanda...........................................................64

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers..............................9

Line Scale Form................................................10

Nichols, Rene................................................................60

Samford University..........................................47

U.S. Department of Labor....................................7

Little Ridge Intermediate School, Fort Payne......30

Nippon Steel......................................................7

Schoel Engineering Co......................................35

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...............45

Littlefield Construction Co................................10

North Alabama Mayors Association...................47

Schoel, Brooks..............................................................35

U.S. Missile Defense Agency................................7

Lockwood, Buddy...........................................................9

North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.......................................47

Schoel, Herman............................................................35

U.S. Navy...........................................................8

Schoel, Taylor................................................................35

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

Schoel, Walter...............................................................35

U.S. Olympic Team..............................................7

Schoel, Walter III...........................................................35

U.S. Steel............................................................7

Lamar County...................................................43

Long, Bradley................................................................43 Long, Chad...................................................................64

North Alabama Mural Trail................................63

Louisiana State University..................................7

North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton.............................. 45, 47, 49

LunarLab Benefit LLC........................................65

Northam, Rod.........................................................47, 60

Schoel, Walter Jr...........................................................35

UAB Health System...........................................45

MAAS Aviation...................................................8

Northport Medical Center.................................49

Scholar Strategy Network.................................64

United Auto Workers Union................................7

Maisel, Elliot...................................................................9

Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments......................................47

Schwartz, Eric................................................................10

United Launch Alliance.......................................9

Scott, Katie....................................................................64

University of Alabama.......................7, 35, 43, 47

Seawell, Kayla...............................................................26

University of Alabama at Birmingham..................... 10, 47, 49, 59, 64

Maisel, Louis...................................................................9 Manufacture Alabama......................................64

Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance............................ 45, 47

Marathon Equipment.......................................46

Northwest Regional Health...............................49

Segraves, Phil.........................................................47, 60

Marion County.................................................43

Northwest Regional Hospital............................45

Selma, City of.....................................................8

Marion County High School..............................60

NTN Bower Corp...............................................46

Sentell, Lee...................................................................21

Marion County Historical Society.......................63

O’Neal Industries.............................................45

Share, Beckie................................................................64

Marion County School System...........................60

O’Neal Manufacturing Services.........................45

Showa Corp......................................................46

Marion Regional Medical Center and Nursing Home.......................................47

Old Fashion Christmas, Fayette.........................63

Sipsey Valley River Wilderness Area............ 43, 63

Old Fashioned Day, Sulligent............................63

SJ&L General Contractor...................................10

Olivers, Thomas III........................................................64

Sloss Furnaces..................................................39

Optimized Technical Solutions............................9

Smith, Hilda..................................................................47

Owen, Gary L. Jr............................................................30

Society of Simulation in Healthcare...................65

Ox Bodies - TBEI Inc..................................... 45, 46

Sonkissed Meadows.........................................64

Page, Bob.....................................................................60

South Lamar High School..................................47

Palmer, Ashley Watson.................................................47

Southeastern Conference....................................7

Parrott, Evan..................................................................64

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...............................8, 59

Marshall Durbin Food Corp...............................70 Marston, Jimmy.............................................................9 Martin, Claire................................................................64 Mashburn-Myrick, Danielle..........................................64 Max Home Furniture.................................. 45, 46 Mayhall, Jonathan........................................................64 Maynard Nexsen..............................................64 McGowin, Alinda Guynes.............................................64 McNair, Ellen................................................................11 Mercedes-Benz U.S. International..................7, 65 Mercer University.............................................47 Miami Dolphins.................................................7 Miles, Missy............................................................60, 63 Miller, Gabe..................................................................64 Millport Lumber...............................................45 Milner, Aaron..................................................................9 Mississippi Board of Nursing Home Administrators...................................47

Parsons, James.............................................................35 Pastime Theatre Complex.................................63 Phelps Dunbar LLP...........................................64 Phenix City, City of...........................................66 Phifer Wire Inc.................................................46 Pierce, Sherry................................................................13 Pierson, Steve...............................................................13 PMT Publishing................................................25 Poarch Band of Creek Indians............................25 Poindexter, George.......................................................64

Mississippi University for Women.....................47

Poole & Co........................................................10

Mixon, Robin....................................................45, 47, 49

Port of Mobile....................................................7

Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley.............................26

Potts, Stephen..............................................................25

Mobile Airport Authority..................................26

Premier Inc......................................................49

Mobile Bay Magazine.......................................25

Premier Medical Eye Group...............................64

Mobile Convention Center............................8, 25

Primordial Ventures.........................................11

Mobile, City of..............................................8, 10

Process Service Group.......................................46

Mobile, Port of...................................................7

Proctor, T. Brooks...........................................................64

Montague Drone Operations.............................47

Protective Stadium...........................................35

University of North Alabama.............................47 USA Health.......................................................64 Valdosta State University..................................47 Vernon Milling Co............................................46 Vernon Public Library.......................................45 Vulcan Park, Birmingham.................................35 Vulcan Statue, Birmingham..............................39 Walker County Schools.....................................47 Wallace, Gov. George....................................................21 Warrior Met Coal Inc............................. 43, 45, 60 Waverly Advisors.............................................10 Webb, Gracious............................................................60 Weeks, Stefanie............................................................60 Weldy Home for Children.................................47

Space Launch System..........................................7

West Alabama Food Bank..................................47

Spann, Catherine..........................................................64

West Alabama Mayors Association....................47

Spring Fest, Guin..............................................63

West Alabama Regional Commission................47

Star Amphitheater..............................................8

West AlabamaWorks.........................................47

State Bank and Trust.........................................47

Weyerhaeuser Co....................................... 45, 46

Steel Dust Recycling.........................................46

Wheeler, Jennifer.........................................................64

Stewart, Eddie.................................................................9

Wheeler, Ryan..............................................................64

Stewart, Emily...............................................................26

Whitaker, Richard.........................................................64

Stimpson, Sandy.............................................................8

White-Spunner Construction LLC.......................26

StrategiQ Group Ltd..........................................10

White, Timothy.............................................................64

Studio08 Inc.....................................................13

Wickles Pickles.................................................10

Sudduth, Jimmy Lee....................................................63

Winfield Chamber of Commerce.......................47

Sulligent, City of ..............................................43

Winfield City Schools............................ 43, 45, 60

Susock, Chris..................................................................9

Winfield Main Street........................................63

Swanner, Pam...............................................................35

Winfield, City of...............................................60

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers LLP......................64

Your Town Alabama..........................................47

Tennessee Valley Authority.................................9 Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway................ 43, 63

February 2024 BusinessAlabama.com | 69

Historic Alabama FOR THE BIRDS In this photo shot in 1959, workers are shown in the new Marshall Durbin poultry processing plant in Jasper. The plant could process 9,600 birds an hour. The Jasper plant was expanded in 1967. Photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives & History. 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 Feb. 20, work the quiz online and check your answers at businessalabama.com.

February 2024:

February 2023 (one year ago):

February 2014 (10 years ago):

Q: Business Alabama features a fifth-generation family-owned company with more than 130 years in business so far. What company? A) Doster Construction B) Goodwyn Mills Cawood C) Schoel Engineering D) White-Spunner Construction

Q: Business Alabama included a feature on the Chinnabee Silent Trail in Talladega National Forest. Who built the trail? A) Boy Scout Troop from the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind in the 1970s B) Prison labor team in the 1950s C) Sierra Club volunteers in the 1990s D) WPA team during Depression

Q: Our February issue featured Stacy Brown, who founded a restaurant in Auburn that now has several hundred locations across nearly half the states. What restaurant? A) Alabama Eats B) Chicken Salad Chick C) Full Moon Bar-B-Que D) Wintzell’s Oyster House

February 2019 (five years ago):

February 1999 (25 years ago):

Q: Business Alabama featured hiking and paddling trails across the state, with six of them covering more than 20 miles. Here are the top four in alphabetical order. Which is longest? A) Chief Ladiga Trail in Calhoun County B) Lloyd Owens Canoe Trail in Cleburne County C) Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park in Franklin County D) Spoonbill Sandbar/Two Rivers Point in Mobile and Baldwin counties

Q: Our February issue featured three Baldwin County businesses involved in agriculture. Bon Secour Fisheries handles seafood; Flowerwood Nurseries raises ornamental plants. What kind of product does Woerner Group Resources work with? A) Bamboo B) Peanuts C) Sod D) Southern Pine

January 2024 (one month ago): Q: Nucor Steel is at work on a $280 million expansion in Alabama. Which of its locations is seeing this major expansion? A) Birmingham B) Decatur C) Dothan D) Tuscaloosa

Answers from December: B, A, A, B, C, D 70 | BusinessAlabama.com February 2024