Progress 2015

A look at those who aren’t always in the spotlight in Hartselle and Morgan County A special supplement to the Hartselle Enquirer • March 25, 2015 Progress 2015 • 1

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It’s lucky year No. 13

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f you are reading this you have opened up a copy of our 2015 Progress edition. This year we worked to feature folks who are very important to all of us, but perhaps someone you have not met. You may also not realize the job or profession they work at each week. The most important thought however is, you may not realize the job they perform may affect your daily life.

“Behind the Scenes” was a work of our entire staff to highlight those who work truly behind the scenes to keep our city and county operating. In fact, some of the tasks completed by these folks would go undone if not for their dedication to their jobs. Some perform thankless jobs and go about their daily activities with very little attention brought to them.

Our purpose was to bring to light folks in our city and community and show our support to them and the jobs they do each day. While many would shy away from publicity, being able to highlight these fine folks and their jobs will show them how much they are appreciated. After all, everyone needs a little notoriety sometime in his or her lifetime.

As we concluded this edition I have finished 13 of these sections. During these 13 years, we have honored and memorialized hundreds of

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fine folks in our community. One of the best parts of being a local newspaper is the ability to “shine the light” on folks and give them “a hand” in the newspaper.

We have highlighted unsung heroes, sports heroes, educators, pastors, students, law enforcement folks, politicians and many more.

We have saluted the arts, schools, historical figures and memories of days gone by. Churches, family-owned businesses, unusual facts and well-known Hartselle natives have been written about over the years.

All of us at the Hartselle Enquirer work each day to make Hartselle and the other areas we cover a welcoming and inviting place to live, work and play. As much as possible, we strive to promote the good things about our part of the world. We believe most of our readers want to read the “good news” and see their family, friends and neighbors stories and photos on the pages of the newspaper, magazines and web sites that we produce each week.

It has been a great experience working on these editions each year and I look forward to many more as we move forward. Thanks to those who allowed us to share their stories this year. Much thanks and appreciation goes out to those who advertised in this section this year.

Randy Garrison • Publisher Without your support, we would not be able to publish and print this section this year. Please share with those folks when you frequent their businesses how much you enjoyed this section and thank them for supporting it with their advertising.

Thanks to you our readers, for your continued support over the years.

Good reading and God Bless.

table of contents 6. Closing the deal 8. Perfect Preparation 12. Costume Designers 16. 52 years and counting 18. Building a series 20. The public’s lifeline 22. A helping hand 26. On her own time

28. Creating their niche 34. A Perfect Fit 36. The right recipe 40. Unlikely path 42. Life of learning 46. Service with a smile 48. Daily Devotion 52. A family tradition

56. Second Chances 60. Saving bow hunters 62. Safety first 64. The way it should be 66. For the kids 70. Feeding our students 76. Making some green

staff on the cover Hartselle High School students prepare for a video shoot inside the new HHS Auditorium. (Photo

by Joy Haynes)

President and Publisher Randy Garrison Editor Brent Maze Contributors Clif Knight Joy Haynes

Advertising Pam Gray Office Staff Ann Kirby April Thompson Copyright 2015 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

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Behind the

scenes

Closing the deal Jeremy Nails leads the county’s team to bring jobs to the area 6 • Progress 2015

Story and Photo

by Brent Maze

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hen it comes to bringing a new industry to Hartselle or Morgan County, it takes a team.

The head of that team is Jeremy Nails, president of the Morgan County Economic Development Association.

Over the last several years, the MCEDA has been instrumental in helping numerous businesses and industries land in Morgan County.

Nails said that process for each business is a little different.

“It really depends on the company,” Nails said. “Every business has a list of priorities that it looks for in a site.

That includes anything – infrastructure, proximity to certain types of transportation, having a skilled workforce, quality of life, education, schools, incentives and much more.”

The MCEDA learns of companies seeking industrial development from many different sources. That includes hearing about it from existing compa-

nies, the North Alabama Industrial Development Association, TVA, State of Alabama and many other sources.

At this time, it’s up to Nails’ team to put together a proposal that will help them get past the first cut.

“It’s extremely competitive,” Nails said. “The thing you want to do is to get past that first round of cuts. It’s similar to the Economic Development Game that we play with kids to teach them about how companies select sites. You have to have everything that they’re looking for just to get to the next step in the recruiting process.

Only a handful of sites are picked out of hundreds of sites to take the next step.”

If a Morgan County site makes it past the first round, that’s only the beginning. Nails said that he and his team meet with the business executives to begin negotiations.

“We will meet with a company several times to let them see the property

themselves in person,” Nails said.

“We’ll take them on a tour of the area.

“The most important part of this process is to be completely honest with them,” Nails said. “We want this to be a win-win for everyone. It needs to be a good fit for not only the company, but also for the community as well.

If the community isn’t going to get behind that business, then it might not be in the best interest of them to come here.”

But once a business selects the area, the recruiting process doesn’t end there. Nails said it’s an ongoing process to help the company in any way possible.

“We want to assist them in whatever endeavors they continue to pursue,” he said. “We hope that each business will want to expand after they locate here.

The key is to keep the lines of communication open.”

Nails is a native of Morgan County, growing up in the Eva area. n

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From left, Stephanie Roman, Ali Kent and Madison Williams practice on the birthing simulator in the clinical lab at Hartselle High School.

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Behind the

scenes

Perfect preparation HHS medical academy prepares students for health care jobs Story and Photos by Joy Haynes

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he newly established medical academy track at Hartselle High School has grown tremendously in its efforts to prepare Hartselle High School students for careers in health care.

Lynne Shelton teaches foundations of medical professions and a medical internships class for sophomores through seniors. These two classes combine with Diedrah English’s human anatomy class to form the medical academy track.

English said the classes combine textbook learning with hands-on experience to more fully prepare premedical students.

“Both the physical procedures and the science behind them are extremely important for any job in the medical profession,” English said. “Being in all three classes gives them a better understanding of why procedures and treatments are done. I have a lot of students who talk about understanding a certain aspect of their medical professions

class better after we cover the section in anatomy.”

English said she often collaborates with Shelton, and they hope to have a medical anatomy class in the future to really integrate the classes and have cross-curriculum learning.

Shelton said her students learn more aspects of the profession than she ever learned in school herself.

“I don’t ever recall covering a lot of the basic health care characteristics covered in my class when I was in

Savannah Lemmons, left, practices sutures and Mason Pettey practices intubation in the clinical lab at Hartselle High School.

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Above: Sydnee Wiley, center, and Sydney Crow practice performing an EKG on fellow student Cooper Wright in the clinical lab at Hartselle High School. Below: Hayden Jones practices drawing blood on a simulator from fellow student Madison Timmons.

nursing school,” Shelton said. “We go over entry level safety skills, HIPAA policies, basic communication with coworkers and patients, how to identify patients and how to explain procedures.

They realize that all of these soft skills are necessary, but they might not be taught it in other classes. Everything in this class is going to be used daily in the real healthcare world.”

The medical internship class offers about 40 clinical and job shadowing opportunities to pick from and experience. The two-credit class gives students about 40 hours of supervised practice in different healthcare careers.

“The clinical practice really helps students decide if the jobs they are shadowing are something they are interested in or not,” Shelton said. “They also get valuable hours that can be counted towards their internship hours they will need in college. I have had multiple students come back and tell me that they were so glad they had done these clinicals in high school because they were more prepared for their clinical experiences in medical school.”

The medical profession classes have been available to students for many years, but they have exploded in popularity since the medical academy track was established. Shelton began teaching at Hartselle in 2011 when the class expanded 10 • Progress 2015

the choice of internships and was remarketed to students.

English said she has heard success stories from many of her former students.

“I have former students text me all the time to tell me thank you for being so tough and thorough in their AP Biology or anatomy class,” English said. “Now they are acing their biology classes at UAB, Alabama or Calhoun, and they are seeing their classmates struggle. It’s easier because they learned it once from me already, and I give them what they need.” n

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Costumer Cindy Davidson works on a costume for one of 80-plus actors in the 2013 College Street Players production of “Willy Wonka.”

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Behind the

scenes

Costume creator

Cindy Davidson plays important role for College Street Players Story by Clif Knight

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orking behind the scenes of College Street Players productions is something Cindy Davidson loves to do.

She is the designer and creator of the costumes worn by cast members, and she also works backstage during production to assist with make-up.

“After my children left home, I was looking for something to do in the community,” Davidson said. “In 2008, my friend Dena Nagel asked me if I would help with the production of ‘Charlotte’s Web.’ I said, ‘Whatever you want me to do, I will do it,’ only to find out it was costuming, not designing, building or painting sets.”

“I hate to sew but I love to craft and create,” she added. “We had 36 cast members in that show. I only made a few of the costumes, but I took note of what the other cast members would be wearing.”

In 2010, College Street Players produced “Alice in Wonderland” with 64 cast members.

“I began to think, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’” Davidson said. “Some of the characters needed unique uniforms. After collaborating on what we wanted them to look like, my biggest challenge to date began. The hardest costumes were the flowers.

I wanted them to be large enough to make a statement. They turned out to be worth all of the blood, sweat and tears that went into making them.”

Every year since, the demand for costumes has grown: 2011,“Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS,” 80 cast members; 2012, “Wizard of Oz,” 80 cast members; 2013, “Willy Wonka,” 80 cast members; 2014, “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” 80-plus cast members; and 2015, “The Rockin’ Tale of Snow White,” 90 cast members.

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“I begin working with Dena on costumes months before we decide what show to do,” Davidson said.

“We’ll talk about the show and its characters and once a decision is made, she gives me a free rein on the costumes.

“I frequent yard sales and thrift stores looking for ideas and costumes, and I’ll even buy costume pieces before casting is done, based on ages,” she said. Even though it’s stressful at times, it’s fun to wisely spend someone else’s money to make a costume for their child. I couldn’t do this by myself, however. I have volunteers who sew the harder costumes.

“The only way I can do it is to be well organized,” Davidson said. “I start on costumes three weeks to a month before dress rehearsal, working entirely in my home. After fittings are done, my house looks like a train wreck.”

Davidson is following the example of her mother as a crafter.

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“For as long as I can remember, my mother loved to do crafts and was good at it too,” she stated. “I enjoyed being a room mother when my kids were in grade school, especially when we were working on crafts. Later, I created a drum major’s uniform for one of them.

“Each production we do at College Street Players is a total team effort,” she said.

“We all love, respect and appreciate each others abilities. I love the freedom the director gives me to plan, create, organize and execute the costumes. The parents, grandparents, children and all those involved are what drives me to continue.

“I appreciate the confidence others place in me to design and create a costume,” she said. “It is so rewarding to see how much we have grown through the years. It makes us happy to offer children an opportunity to grow and become better people, better citizens. That’s what College Street players is all about.” n

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Behind the

scenes

52 years & counting Sonoco’s Verlie Benefield still going strong as forklift operator Story and Photo by Clif Knight

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ork is no stranger to Verlie Benefield of Somerville.

The 71-year-old forklift operator has been employed at Sonoco’s Baker Industries Division wood reels plant in Hartselle for nearly 53 years.

He has worked at the plant longer than anyone else and has five guns to commemorate his 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th and 50th anniversaries.

“I wish I had 100 more like him,” said John Womack, plant production manager. “He’s the employee who’s here every day, never misses work and never complains. We don’t have to bother him because he knows his job well and gets the work done with a steady hand.”

“He’s here and ready to go every day around 4:30 a.m. even though we don’t start up the plant until 6 a.m.,” department supervisor Richard Long said.

Benefield was hired by Sonoco’s predecessor Baker Wood Reels in March 1962 at age 18 when the company was located on Railroad Street.

Company records show his start date was in April 1962; however, Benefield said he worked two weeks before he received notice he was hired.

Benefield acquired strong work habits while working on a family farm and those of his neighbors in rural Cullman County.

“My dad died when I was 3,” he said. “Me and my older brother had to do a lot of the farm work. I remember helping him turn land with a two-horse plow when I was 6.”

“At age 13, I began working for the public,” he said, “doing farm work for neighbors. I was hanging sheet rock when I took this job.”

Benefield’s first job in the wood reels plant was off-bearing lumber from an angle saw. He later became a forklift operator working outside in the lumberyard.

“Working outside in the wintertime was tough to deal with before the company began using enclosed forklifts,” Benefield said. “I had to wear several layers of clothes to stay warm and dry. When I got home and took them off, I’d feel sore as if someone had beaten me with a stick.

“Sonoco has been good to me,” he said. “I’ve never seriously considered leaving and working somewhere else. There were not all that many jobs available when I hired in and the benefits

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Verlie Benefield, the longest-tenured employee at Sonoco’s wood reels plant in Hartselle sits inside the forklift he operates in the lumberyard.

and pay are a lot better today.”

Benefield’s work record is near flawless. He can recall missing only a day and a half of work due to the flu but admits there were a few days when he should’ve stayed at home.

“I’ve been fortunate to have good health,” he said. “The only medication I take is blood pressure tablets.”

Benefield’s workday is far from done when he leaves the plant. He manages a 65-head herd of registered Santa Gerturdis cattle on the Betty Kelsoe Cloud Farm.

Benefield is giving no thought to retirement. “I think you’re better off to go to work,” he said.

He is the husband of Jane Benefield. They have a son, Ken Benefield, and two grandchildren, Cheyenne, 5 and Cotton, 4.

He also has a stepdaughter, Sandra Glass, and a stepgrandchild, Nathaniel, 23. n

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Behind the

scenes

Building a series Local author has four-part series in the works Story and Photo by Joy Haynes

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onnie Moore’s first book of Ronnie Moore often works the Nocturn quartet came out on his four-part series at his in July of 2013, but the secrestaurant, the Back Alley ond book in the series should Bistro in downtown Decatur. be published by this Christmas.

The Decatur entrepreneur published his first book with Before Sunrise Press before it dissolved. He plans to self-publish his second book after seeing online success with “Book I: The Golden Lantern.”

Moore says his inspiration comes from the endless reading he did as a child.

“I guess you could say I didn’t really have a lot of friends, but I liked being alone, and I read mythology and historical fiction constantly,” Moore said.

“I knew that I would want to focus any novel I wrote in the historical fiction genre, but I also like to blend several genres and bend the rules of each.”

Moore said he accepted the challenge to write a non-traditional vampire novel from a friend.

“I was dared into an original vampire novel,” Moore said. “I love mythology, so I wanted to tackle the story of the origin of vampires. I was always obsessed with Dracula, and I love the horror genre of Poe and Lovecraft. I decided to take a familiar subject and put it in a larger mythological context.”

Moore was flattered after his first attempted novel was picked up by a publishing company. He sent it to Before I usually have other commitments,” Moore said. “I do Sunrise Press with no expectations after hearing about a lot of my writing in the restaurant, so I have to create the company through a friend. that solitary ‘log cabin’ atmosphere in my mind. It’s an Writing a book is an ominous task that takes disciisolating hobby, but you have to sneak away mentally pline, Moore found. during those hectic days.”

“I try to write every day, but since I own a restaurant, Moore often blogs about his writing process.

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“Good writing requires the writer to put down what they don’t like,” Moore said. “Some even say writers should torture their characters to make it as realistic as possible. I have reread some of my own chapters and felt highly uncomfortable with it.”

He has been delightfully surprised by the positive feedback he has received so far.

“I was really surprised to hear that anyone who didn’t classify it as young adult fiction had positive feedback,” Moore said. “It was a huge shock to hear that people thought it was unique on Good Reads. Others who only see it as a specific horror or dark genre don’t seem to like it as much.”

Nocturn is available on Amazon and at the Back Alley Bistro in downtown Decatur. An audio book Moore plans to record himself will be available soon. n

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Brie Livingston responds to an emergency call at the E-911 dispatch center in Decatur.

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Behind the

scenes

The public’s lifeline Livingston finds personal fulfillment assisting those needing help Story and Photos by Clif Knight

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to a patient before the rapid responder arrives on the scene. f you have an emergency and call 911, chances are you’ll be Livingston has 13 years of experience as an emergency talking to Brie Livingston or one of the other dispatchers at dispatcher. She joined the E-911 staff three years ago and was the Morgan County Emergency Management Communicapreviously employed as a dispatcher with Hartselle Police Detions District Office in Decatur. partment for 10 years. Before that, she worked for an ambulance They’re trained and have the resources they need at their company as an EMT. fingertips to dispatch a rapid responder to your location with a A native of Arkansas, Livingston said she entertained the idea minimum delay no matter where you are in Morgan County. For of pursuing a career that would enable her to help people in instance, Hartselle Fire and Rescue averages responding to an their deepest time of need when she was a second grade student. emergency in six minutes.

“Rapid responders rely on us to direct them to an emergency,” After relocating to Hartselle, she enrolled at Wallace State ComLivingston said. “That’s the most important part of the dispatch- munity College where she earned her EMT certification.

Since then, she has completed training sponsored by Amerier’s job.” can Public Communications officials, NCIC, Emergency MediThe dispatch center has 30 employees and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It handled on average 44 calls per hour in cal Dispatching and National Incident Management Systems.

“I’m fortunate to be one of the employees at the E-911 disJanuary and about 240,000 calls in 2014. patch center,” Livingston said. “We do a lot of multi-tasking, “When we take a call, the first thing we do is get the name work well together and consider ourselves to be one big family.” of the caller and the location and type of emergency,” she said.

Livingston is married to Keith Livingston, a veteran employ“This information is needed to guide the rapid responder to an ee of General Motors and a volunteer firefighter. n emergency in a timely manner.

“We maintain contact with the caller and responder until he or she is on the scene of the emergency and make status checks every 10 minutes until the emergency is over.”

“When a young child makes an emergency call, the dispatcher’s job can reach a higher level of difficulty,” Livingston said. “If the child is alone and unable to give us an address, we calm them down and seek the name of a family member or neighbor. If necessary, we can go to stored information in the center to pinpoint the location.”

The dispatcher may also be called on to become a responder in cases where a medical emergency is ongoing.

Medical procedures cards, which have been approved by a physician, may be used to guide the caller in E-911 director Ryan Welty observes dispatcher Brie Livingston as she answers an giving emergency medical assistance emergency call.

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Teacher Dana Sharp works with Bryson Tapscott on a lesson at Community Task Force’s after-school tutoring program.

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Behind the

scenes

A helping hand After-school study program pays dividends for students Story and Photos by Clif Knight

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free after-school tutoring program is paying dividends for its students under the leadership and direction of the Hartselle-Morgan County Community Task Force.

The program took a step up in January when it relocated to a building formerly used for vocational educational classes at Hartselle Junior High School. It has an office, four classrooms, restrooms and a snack room.

“This was made possible with the

support of the Hartselle City School System,” said Cleo Stubbs, president of the Hartselle-Morgan County Community Task Force. “Words can’t express the appreciation and gratitude we feel toward Superintendent Dr. Vic Wilson and others in the community who made it possible.

“It’s a good fit for what we do,” Stubbs said, “and having Tera Tapscott as our administrator puts us in good position to grow and improve.”

The after-school study program has

25 students from grades K-12 enrolled and averages working with 18 students from 4 to 5:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday each week.

The program has four teachers and two student volunteers from Hartselle High School. They teach and tutor students in spelling, English, math and science.

Working with Tapscott as teachers are Ann Stinson, Dana Sharp and Lisa King.

“We have students referred to us by

Tera Tapscott, administrator of the Community Task Force’s after-school mentoring program, helps a student during tutoring.

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Hartselle City Schools’ administrators and teachRandy Love, a retired air ers,” Tapscott said. “Each one is evaluated to traffic controller, serves as determine where they fit in our program and foldirector and treasurer of the low-up reviews are made and goals are set based Hartselle Morgan County on progress reports and report cards.

Community Task Force.

“I make sure I’m interacting with our students’ teachers,” Tapscott said. “They give me a heads up on how the students are performing, and I do the same for them.”

“Our curriculum includes teaching our students leadership skills, self-control and self-respect,” Tapscott said.

The Community Task Force was organized in 1992, offering a six-week summer school program called the Summer Program Utilizing and Developing Skills. The founders included Larry The after-school program depends on contributions and Beasley and Lee Sr. and Glenda Greene. fundraisers.

Recent donors include State Sen. Arthur Orr, Community Task Force board members, other than Stubbs and Love, are George Hearring, vice president; Shirley Bon- R-Decatur, and State Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle.

“People who have love in their hearts for kids is what ney and Johnny Jones, assistant treasurer.

Gracie Orr, Brenda Sharpley, Danielle Hearring and Joyce keeps our program going,” Stubbs said. “Students feel this Williams form a committee that provides snacks for students without being told, and it motivates them to strive for excellence.” each day.

Individual contributions are welcomed and may be made “Our goal then and now is to make a difference in the lives of kids in the community,” Stubbs said. “We’ve taught payable by check and mailed to Hartselle-Morgan County Community Task Force, P.O. Box 1462, Hartselle, AL kids who’ve gone on to become medical doctors, dentists 35640. n and Army officers.”

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Landen Rodriquez listens as his teacher, Christy Stinson, offers help on an after-school study project.

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Doris Self conducts a one-on-one study session with Crestline Elementary School kindergartner Peyton Mixon to help him improve his reading skills.

Behind the

scenes

On her own time Volunteer Doris Self helps CES students with reading skills Story and Photos by Clif Knight

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ommunity Action foster grandparent Doris Self found her niche in education when she joined Crestline Elementary School as a part-time reading coach for kindergarten and first grade students nine years ago.

The 69-year-old grandmother works one-on-one with students in a quiet hallway space in the kindergarten/first grade wing of the school building. “ Our teachers send students to her for help when their reading level needs a boost or some other need arises,” said

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Principal Robin Varwig. “She’s part of our staff and does a wonderful job of working with the kids.

“She rarely misses a day, but when she does, we’re always excited to have her back,” Varwig said. “The gentle, patient touch she has with the students is amazing. They get a boost in confidence when they’re with her.”

“I’m here from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.,” Self said. “I work one-on-one with students from nine classes, spending about 15 minutes with each one. Each day’s schedule is subject to change depending upon the student’s specific need, which is

determined by his or her teacher.

“For example, I may be helping one student learn the letters of the alphabet in one session and helping another one sound words from flash cards in the next session.”

A teacher at the school donated her a miniature library, which she uses to store a variety of teaching aids, including kindergarten and first grade reading books.

“Students learn at a faster pace today than they did when I was in grade school,” Self said. “Public schools didn’t offer kindergarten back then, and we didn’t have computers or handheld electronic devices. Kindergarten students today have computers and are expected to develop reading skills before they reach first grade.

“I think it’s really something for a child to be able to read while in kindergarten, especially for those who have to overcome a challenge to get there,” she said.

“Last year, I had a little boy who cried the first time he came to me,” Self said. “He told me ‘I can’t do that.’

I told him ‘I’m here to help, and you will learn to read.’

He was so excited and I was too when he succeeded.”

Self joined the Foster Grandparent Program 10 years Crestline Elementary School volunteer reading coach Doris Self is surrounded by some of the kindergarten students she works ago at Crestline. After a few months, she switched from being a foster grandparent to working as a senior with to help them improve their reading skills. The students companion. She was having lunch with her grandson at are Lydia Robinson, Gage Benefield, Carley Reeves, Paxton the school a short time later and received an invitation Brown, Rebecca Hobby, Chloe Eady, Connor Maxwell, Taven Drexel and Peyton Mixon. from principal Varwig to return to her former job. giving back to the community and making a difference in the “I gladly accepted and have never looked back,” Self lives of these children.” said. “I love working with the children.”

Self is marred to Benny Self, who recently joined Com“I get attached to the kids and they to me,” she said. “I had munity Action’s Senior Companion Program. They have two one of the teachers say ‘I can tell when Mrs. Self is at the adult sons and reside in Hartselle. door. All of my students want to go out and read for her.’

Foster grandparent and senior companion programs offer “I look forward to going to work even though there are part-time employment for seniors 59 and older. Employment times when I don’t feel like it,” Self said. “I get up and press applications are available at Community Action Partnership on because I know the kids are expecting me to be there.” of North Alabama Inc. at 1909 Central Parkway SW in DeSelf said she had childhood dreams of one day being a school teacher, but college was not practical because she had catur. n 11 brothers and sisters in her family.

“It makes me proud that I’m doing something worthwhile –

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Kirk Miller is one of the founders of Dragonfly Athletics.

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Behind the

scenes

Creating their niche Hartselle company plays important role in sports information Story by Joy Haynes

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ports fans may think they know everything there is to know about their favorite pastimes, but they probably didn’t know that every Division I football program in the nation does business with a company with an office in Hartselle.

Dragonfly Athletics engineered the game film transfer software used by Division I teams. Stephen Quattlebaum of Hartselle and Kirk Miller of Tuscaloosa came up with the idea for the system and engineered it while Miller was working as the director of technology at The University of Alabama.

“I was working at UA when I kind of got roped into a project that was trying to set up a way to transfer game

Dragonfly Athletics has an office in Hartselle.

film,” Miller said. “The project didn’t go well, but it gave me an idea of how to make it work. Stephen is one of the best programmers I have every come across, so together we have been able to build the entire software from scratch. We have tried outsourcing some of the work, but we have never found someone who could do it as well as we could do it ourselves.”

Dragonfly is in their ninth season since they started in 2006. They use a peer-to-peer system to transfer the extremely large files from one school to another and one device to another. After their initial testing phase with UA, LSU and Tennessee, they quickly gained clients and eventually became a provider for every Division I school including the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

“Really we only have to come up with the idea and find a way to make it work,” Miller said. “Due to the market share of our system, we heavily focus on maintaining it and making improvements as technology evolves. We added a digital playbook software for coaches to digitally keep up with plays and distribute them to players. We also are in the beta testing process of a new mobile injury tracking software we are collaborating with Encore on.”

This new Dragonfly MAX system would allow trainers, coaches, administrators, parents and athletes to work together to help with injury treatment from their iPhone or Android device. Trainers could log information about the severity of an injury and directions for treatment or exercises that parents, coaches and athletes could access any time. Administrators and coaches could track data on injuries to help future injuries.

“We are really excited about Dragonfly MAX,” Miller said. “It will be a way for us to nurture the ecosystem of the injury treatment process. Recent studies are showing that student athletes are getting increasing amounts of their medical attention from a trainer, so we feel it’s important to have accurate information for everyone involved in the treatment.

This is also a way we can offer something to the local community. Before, our closest client was UAB Progress 2015 • 29

an hour away, but soon we can offer Dragonfly MAX to local high schools.”

Miller said they are working with Hartselle High School as a test school to see how Dragonfly MAX works.

“So far from our several test schools, we have had great feedback,” Miller said. “We are working with IBM Healthcare to integrate with IBM’s Watson cognitive computing technology to provide medical assistance for trainers to reference while on the field.”

Dragonfly is not a large company, but it definitely has a large impact.

“We only have five full-time employees at the moment, but during the football season we usually have seven,” Miller said. “The beauty of technology is that it has an exponential impact. Colleges don’t have to manually transfer the videos like they did before the system. Couriers used to literally drive the videos to

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the school they wanted to share with or drive them to the airport for them to be shipped off. Now, the schools send it at their leisure, and we are here for customer support and security.”

Miller considers their company’s niche a dirty job on a microscopic scale. They deal with the never-seen code and infrastructure behind a software that transfers the behind-the-scenes part of collegiate sports.

“We are one of the many behind the scenes jobs that it takes to create the game-day pageantry and experience of college football,” Miller said. “Our job is really technical, but it’s nice to have our special niche in all of it.” n

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Behind the

scenes

A perfect fit HFD’s Turrentine is picturesque firefighter Story and Photos by Joy Haynes Brandon Turrentine has been a firefighter since he was 18.

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H

artselle firefighter Brandon Turrentine didn’t dream of the big red trucks when he was little, but the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks put a firefighting career in the back of his mind.

The 30-year-old joined the Neel Volunteer Fire Department 12 years ago when he was 18 at the request of his best friend.

“My best friend at the time asked me if I wanted to be a volunteer firefighter, and I figured it was a good idea,” Turrentine said. “I was in high school when 9-11 happened, and watching it made me realize the important and selfless job firefighters had. Once we started running calls, I really enjoyed the job, and I loved the feeling of being needed.”

Turrentine said firefighting fits him like a glove.

“I feel like God has called me to be a firefighter,” Turrentine said. “It just fits my personality. I was always a helper, and I was the go-to person for family and friends if they ever needed anything. I have always had a lot of the qualities firefighters need to have.”

Turrentine has received several certifications through Fire College and is now a senior firefighter at the Hartselle Fire Department, where he has been for the last seven years.

He is married with a 2-year-old son. His job can be

dangerous with long 24-hour shifts, but he has the full support of his family.

“My wife married me knowing I was a firefighter, so she has never had a problem with it,” Turrentine said.

“If my son ever had questions about my job, I would give him positive feedback. I wouldn’t mind encouraging him to become a firefighter, but I wouldn’t want to push him into it. This job can be tough when you see people in need, and there’s not much you can do to help.”

Turrentine is also a decorative concrete contractor with Turrentine Concrete Finishing. He said he has been pouring concrete with his father since he was very young.

Many Hartselle children have probably encountered Turrentine during one of his many public appearances with the fire department.

“My shift began the Fire Academy a while back, which is probably one of our biggest public events,” Turrentine said. “I work with a bunch of good guys, and we love to be around the kids. We are more than happy to teach them what we can. Getting to go to the schools or have kids stop by the station to look around is the bright part of our day.” n

MORGAN.ALACOURT.GOV

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Fred and Sandra Smith stand in front of the wall-size world map that’s displayed in their business offices on Main Street.

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Behind the

scenes

The right recipe Customer service leads to success of local business Story and Photos by Clif Knight

C

ustomer service means a lot more than making a sale to veteran Hartselle businessman Fred Smith. It’s the main ingredient in a recipe he has used to achieve success in a business career that spans more than 39 years.

Smith’s introduction to customer service came as a teenager when he worked for his father in a Western Auto Associate Store. It grew roots later when he worked at Minor’s Refrigeration & Furniture Co., refined when he was a co-owner of Minor Furniture Co. and perfected after he and his wife Sandra established Adventures Unlimited – Travel 16 years ago.

“I was 14 or 15 when I started working after school and on weekends for my father at Western Auto,” Smith said. “My jobs included the assembly of bicycles and tricycles and carrying customers’ purchases to their cars.”

Before he settled on a business career, Smith attended college at The University of Alabama, worked for U.S. Pipe in Birmingham for a short time and, after moving to Hartselle in 1971, was employed in the sales department at Baker Wood Reels for nearly five years.

While still in Birmingham, Smith had the good fortune of meeting, dating and later marrying Sandra Minor, an education major at Samford University and daughter of a well-liked and successful Hartselle businessman.

Smith’s future business career received a jumpstart in 1971when he was offered a job by his wife’s father, Sam Minor, at Minor Refrigeration and Furniture.

“I worked on the delivery truck and did whatever needed to be done,” he said. “At that time, the store operated on Main Street but had four other buildings around town where the inventory was stored. Downtown was the hub of the business district, and it always had many shoppers, especially on Saturdays and on the days leading

up to Christmas. I remember we ran two delivery trucks on Christmas Eve and delivered as many as 50 furniture Christmas gift orders between 8 a.m. and nightfall.”

“Over time, I learned how to operate a successful family business thanks to the encouragement, direction and assistance I received from Mr. Minor,” Smith said. “At the same time, I saw over and over again just how important giving good customer service is to the success of a business.”

After Minor’s death in 1981, Smith’s career took another turn as he assumed management of the business in a partnership with his mother-inlaw, Lurlene Minor and wife Sandra.

After the purchase of a 7,000 square-foot building at the corner of Main and Sparkman, the business, which included four other commercial buildings, was consolidated under one roof.

“This turned out to be a good move for us,” Smith said. “It enabled us to display our merchandise so that our customers could see how it would look in their homes.

“We continued to offer full service with sales, and as business grew, we added personnel,” Smith said. “Mr. Minor taught me how to work on air conditioners and televisions, and I went to school to learn how to repair microwave ovens.”

“We began thinking about going in a new direction in 1997,” Smith said. “Mom and pop furniture and appliance dealers were in decline and our children had no interest in following us. We were either going to have to get much bigger or liquidate our stock and close the business.

“The only other thing I wanted to do was be a travel agent,” Smith said. “Sandra and I had taken a cruise to Alaska and made other trips from awards the furniture company had received from its wholesale dealers. It was a lot of fun and I believed I would enjoy selling travel.”

In 1998, Smith arranged with a travel company in Arizona to enter a six-month training program Progress 2015 • 37

Smiths. An Alaskan cruise to become an independent ranks at the top of the travel agent. popularity list.

“They gave me three “Booking trips for CDs and told me to study groups of family memthem and learn as much bers, friends and honeyas I could about the travel mooners is a big thing business within the next now,” Smith said. “You six months,” Smith said. can go online and book a “I memorized those tapes trip yourself, but it costs and that’s what convinced no more if you book with them I was qualified to us. With our training and sell travel for them.” experience, we can offer Smith opened his good advice, answer any travel business under questions that may come the name of Adventures up and handle all the deUnlimited – Travel in a tails.” partitioned-off space in “We’re very fortunate the front part the furniture that our parents taught store building. In 2002, us the value of work and the store closed after most Fred Smith goes online to get airline schedule information for how to treat others the of its stock was purchased a customer. way we would want to be for the renovation of the in another building the Smiths own treated,” Smith said.

Lurleen B. Wallace Cenwhen it became vacant four years ago.

The Smiths have an adult son and ter. Within 30 days, the building was Adventures Unlimited is currently daughter and three grandchildren. n rented to another retail business. booking four to five cruise trips every The travel business outgrew its space and was relocated a block away year, three of which are hosted by the

HARTSELLE What a hometown should be www.Hartselle.org

Mayor and City Council

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Morgan Business Park

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Behind the

scenes

Unlikely path Wilson never imaged that art teaching was in her future Story and Photo by Joy Haynes

Michelle Wilson teaches art classes at the Hartselle Art Studio with her furry helper, Mary Jane.

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he Hartselle Art Studio and Gallery is a small, but vibrant space.

The ceiling tiles, walls, tables and chairs are full of student artwork. Some are framed, some are in stacked in drawers, some are painted straight on the ceiling or furniture and some are scribbled on the paper tablecloth. The fun and creativity the room holds is clearly evident.

Owner Michelle Wilson said the art studio was not a lifelong dream, but a stepping stone.

“I have a very artistic family, but I never went to art school and I never thought I would teach art,” Wilson said. “I’ve always been somewhat of a spontaneous person, so when I decided to buy the studio, I didn’t know if it would be the final destination on my journey or not.

I was just following the stepping stone God put in my path.”

The mother of three has been teaching all types of art to students from 3-75 for the past seven years.

“I bought the studio in 2008 after renting a place for a year once I had too many students to teach from home,” Wilson said. “We do all kinds of art - drawing, painting, sculpture, realism, abstract and a lot more. My classes are project-oriented, so students will work on long-term pieces for shows and exhibits we participate in around the state.”

Wilson’s first student was Briley Durand, whose mom came to Wilson looking for an art teacher for her daughter. Durand went on to graduate from the Art Institute of Chicago. Wilson has other former students currently working in New York, at the Savannah School of Art and Design and at Carnegie Mellon University.

When Wilson first opened the studio, she said she had to turn students away. Since the economy declined, her student base has declined as well. She now has the studio up for sale with the hopes of passing it along to another artist.

“I really hope I can let another artist take over and continue the classes,” Wilson said. “Art is very important, and I would like to see art classes continue in Hartselle.

It was never about me, the money or even art. Art just happens here where I see a lot of changes in the students just from a little encouragement. Some of them use it as self-expression or a confidence booster. It’s a sort of therapy for some.”

Wilson said she is following another stepping stone and going back to school for a nursing degree.

“In the studio and in another job, I have worked a lot with special needs children,” Wilson said. “I had this crazy idea to go back to nursing school so I can help people, which I absolutely love. I’m hoping this journey will be like the studio where I was given one thing and it turned into something completely different. If not, I’ve learned from my failures in the past, and I guess I will again.” n Progress 2015 • 41

Behind the

scenes

Life of learning Hartselle resident chose writing career in call to Christian work Story and Photos by Clif Knight

A

farm boy turned writer who now lives in Hartselle can look back on a 48-year career with the satisfaction of knowing he got it right when it came to heeding God’s call to full-time Christian work.

“I surrendered my life to Christ when I was a young boy growing up in a rural Baptist Church,” Knight said.

“Everyone around me just assumed I would become a pastor of a church and offered encouragement toward that end.

“However, after much prayer and study, I still didn’t know what gift I had that God wanted me to use for Him, even though I was a student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Like so many other students, I sought after and was called to be pastor of a small Baptist church in Indiana.

“I loved the congregation and gave the work my best shot but still was unsure if I was doing what God wanted me to be doing.

“Perplexed, I sought the advice of one of my professors who said, ‘knowing your background, the Lord may be calling you to be a religious writer.’ It was my calling; God opened the door for me and I never looked back.”

Following his seminary studies in1968, Knight joined the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tenn., as a writer and editor.

Over the next 11 years, he established two magazines, “Proclaim,” A resource for preachers and “The Deacon.” He also edited “Home Life,” a magazine for Southern Baptist families for

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This bookcase is filled with some of George Knight’s contributions to religious literature.

eight years.

His career turned in 1979 when he opted to leave his job and launch a freelance writing and editing contract business from his home. He continued to do work for the Sunday school board under contract as well as for several publishing companies in the Nashville area.

“I can’t say the number of manuscripts I reviewed and edited during those years,” Knight said.

The largest and most time-consuming project he worked on as a freelance writer with the Holman Christian Standard Bible manuscript, which was published in 2004 by Lifeway Christian Resources.

Knight devoted three days a week to the project for over three years, working as a reviewer and English stylist on

a staff of over 100 scholars, translators, editors and writers.

“He also edited the study notes that appear in the study Bible based on this translation, which was published in 2010.

Knight served as project coordinator for “Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary,” which was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1986. His job was to assign articles to writers, edit their materials, select artwork and coordinate typesetting and proofreading.

“The biggest challenge was reshaping the ponderous prose of Bible scholars into articles that every Bible student could understand.”

The dictionary remains in print under a different cover and has sold more than 750,000 copies.

“Layman’s Survey of the Bible” is the title of Knight’s latest contribution to Christian literature. Its manuscript is in the hands of Barber Publications and will be released in 2016.

“It’s the Bible’s 750,000 words boiled down to 110,000,” Knight said.

“It’s broken down into periods instead of books with the idea of presenting the Word as God’s one grand drama.

“If I had to choose a career again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Knight said.

“I have learned more about the Bible doing this work than I ever thought I’d know.”

Knight was married to the former Dorothy Boster of Hartselle in 1963.

They have two married daughters and four grandchildren. They relocated to Hartselle from Tennessee in 2013. n

George Knight of Hartselle displays some of the books he has either contributed to or written as a freelance religious writer.

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Behind the

scenes

Tiffany Wilemon has been an administrative assistant at the HACC for over a year.

Service with a smile Wilemon brings a smiling face to the HACC Story and Photo by Joy Haynes 46 • Progress 2015

T

he Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce is run by an enthusiastic two-woman team.

Between the two of them, they host events, keep up with social media, handle memberships, connect local merchants, direct customers, distribute welcome packets and more. Susan Hines is the chamber president and the newest member of the team is administrative assistant Tiffany Wilemon, a 22-year-old Hartselle High School graduate.

She has a lot to do at the chamber, but she does all of it with a smile on her face.

“I think being positive in every part of my job is very important,” Wilemon said.

“I try to do everything with a smile, even answering the phone, because it really makes a difference. A happy face makes for more pleasant interactions.”

Wilemon takes care of the weekly email blast that acts as free advertisement for chamber members.

“The Tuesday email is a big part of my job because it gives chamber members an opportunity to advertise to other members,” Wilemon said. “They get to

put anything they want in the email and network themselves to others in the area.

It’s a really valuable tool for our local merchants who are chamber members.”

The chamber hosts numerous events through the year, including Depot Days, the Cotton Pickin’ BBQ Cook-off, Hartselle’s Spring Fling, monthly Networking at Noon luncheons, the State of the City address, the City Employee Appreciation luncheon and more.

“Depot Days is my favorite event, and I really enjoy that day,” Wilemon said.

“We get here around 4 a.m. telling vendors where to set up and everything. It’s a really fun day, even though it’s so long.

We usually don’t leave until 8 or 9 p.m. that night. I was told that if I could make it through Depot Days, I could handle most any chamber job, so I’m glad it was a good experience.”

Wilemon considers her job mostly public relations with a lot of extra responsibilities such as membership dues and event coordinating.

“I do a lot of work on social media and keeping up with our website,” Wilemon

said. “I also have to take care of our mailouts and invite people to our events.

It’s a very public job, so I’ve met a lot of new people since I started here in January 2014.”

Wilemon said she and Hines work very well together, but they have plenty of help with events.

“The Chamber Ambassadors and sponsors handle most of the decorating and help us staff events,” Wilemon said. “We have help from the North Alabama Council of Governments, especially when we rent out the depot for parties. We also have a junior ambassador from Hartselle High School who has been volunteering once a week for a few years now. She kind of shadows me and helps me with work.”

One of Wilemon’s most important jobs is making referrals to inquiring customers.

“We have a lot of people calling for referrals around town,” Wilemon said. “I give out the contact information of chamber members out, so hopefully our area merchants can benefit.” n

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Behind the

scenes

Daily devotion Groundskeeper devotes 13 years to parks and rec Story and Photo by Joy Haynes

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A

thletes and coaches get all of the attention during sporting events, but the groundskeepers have been on the field long before everyone else shows up.

Stanley Smith retired March 1 from the Morgan County Parks and Recreation department as a groundskeeper for South Park in Falkville. He has spent the past 13 years of his life making sure the baseball, softball, football and soccer fields of the park were in top shape.

He could usually be seen mowing the fields at 7 a.m. and working up the infields during the afternoons.

He spent many evenings watching ball games and making sure everything ran smoothly in the park.

“He did anything that was needed in South Park,” said Alton Hill of the Falkville Parks and Recreation department. “He was always helping no matter what, even if he was just watching games while he was off duty. He made sure all the little things like keeping the bathrooms stocked on toilet paper were done.”

Smith played in a tournament softball league for many years before working for parks and recreation.

“I played ball for a long time, and my children and grandchildren have played ball at South Park,” Smith said. “I really enjoyed the job, and I enjoyed getting to watch the games.”

Hill said Smith is a familiar face at the park.

“Everybody knows Stanley at the park,” Hill said. “He is a super great guy who was always good with the kids. He has been up there for games for so long with his kids and grandkids and then working up there.”

Smith will be greatly missed by the parks and recreation department, according to Hill.

“He is always as friendly and nice as can be,” Hill said. “He made sure every aspect was in order, and we never had to worry about anything. He and the other groundskeeper Ronnie did a wonderful job of keeping up the park.

The parks and recreation department really appreciates him and all his hard work.” n

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Behind the

scenes

A family tradition Danville farmer follows in footsteps of his father Story and Photos by Clif Knight

Jason Fields is shown with some of his beef cows in the Danville community.

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N

ot many young men or women – even those who have a farm background – choose to become a career farmer.

Jason Fields of Danville is an exception.

He and his father, Jack Fields, grow cotton, soybeans, wheat and corn on land they own and lease in the Danville community. They also own and manage a 95-head herd of beef cattle and grow hay to feed them during the winter months.

A 2004 graduate of Hartselle High School, Fields returned to the family farm in 2010 after completing his third year of studies in agricultural business and economics at Auburn University.

“I was born and raised on the farm and had a small

herd of cows when I left home for college,” he said.

“I was drawn back to it and take pride in being a fourth generation farmer in the Fields family. Some of the fields I’m working in are fields that were tilled by my great-grandfather, Lewis Fields.

“My dad and I work together in a partnership,” he said. “We stay busy because we do most of the work ourselves. No-till farming makes that possible. Soybeans are grown behind winter wheat and we practice crop rotation. Chemicals are used to control weeds and grass.

“We hire a few workers to help out during harvest and use a consultant to monitor our cotton and wheat fields for damaging insects.”

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“It helps me stay up-to-date on what’s new in agriculture and “Farming is more than a job to me,” Fields said. “It’s a gives me access to resources that can be used to make our lifestyle. I was fortunate to have a family farm and a supfarm more efficient and profitable. portive family to fall back on when I decided I wanted to be Fields and his wife Bridget, who is employed by HGA as a a full-time farmer. My dad’s experience and know-how is an home health specialist, have a 1-year-old daughter, Jaycie. n asset that money can’t buy.”

Fields said that technology plays an important role on conserving costs and improving efficiency and productivity.

“Our tractors are equipped with GPS and we use it in planting and spraying to prevent overlapping,” he said. “A smartphone allows us to monitor the weather while we’re working in the fields and computers are used for bookkeeping as well as other functions.”

Fields, 29, said he sees a bright future for farmers even though the numbers of farms in production continue to decline.

“It will continue to be a risk because of adverse weather and fluctuating markets for agricultural products,” he said. “But I wouldn’t change what I’m doing. It’s the right fit for me.”

Fields plays an active role in farm-related organizations. He is chairman of the Young Farmers Committee with the Alabama Farmers Federation and is a member of the Cotton, Wheat and Feed Grains Committee.

Fields stands beside a model 8120 John Deere tractor, which is “Networking with other young farmers and having used on a farm owned and operated by he and his father, Jack fellowship with them is a good thing,” Fields said.

Fields, in the Danville community.

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Milestone’s executive director Kim Upton, center, is shown with Miranda McShadden, left, and Tina Jones, both of whom were employed at Milestone’s after completing a 12-month drug addiction recovery program.

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Behind the

scenes

Second chances Milestones Ministries gives drug addicts new lease on life Story and Photos by Clif Knight

H

artselle’s Milestones Recovery Ministries, a haven for women suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, has come a long way since it was founded

by Kim Upton five years ago.

Upton acted on her vision to help women struggling with drug addiction after recovering from her own addition at a drug recovery center in Birmingham in 2000.

“It was a struggle at first,” Upton said. “We started with $253 and a leap in faith that God would provide for our needs. We have been blessed spiritually and materially.”

Milestones currently has 26 women in its recovery program, with a capac-

ity of 30. They attend a work therapy program, which teaches them job skills for the future. They also attend classes, religious services and counseling sessions.

“We’re not eligible to receive state and federal funding because religion is an important part of our recovery program,” Upton said. “We are a 501C organization and do welcome private tax deductible contributions and used clothing and household items for our thrift shop.

Milestones is owner and operator of three business establishments: The Bargain Center on U.S. 31 South, Dixie’s Cafe on Main Street and an auto detailing shop. It also operates a warehouse

for The Bargain Center on College Street and has plans to open a second thrift store next to the café in the near future.

Milestone’s office and businesses are staffed with women in recovery and those who have graduated and hired on as employees.

“All of the profit from our businesses goes back into the program,” Upton said.

Among the women who have graduated from the program and been hired as employees are Tina Jones and Miranda McSpadden. They completed a 12-month recovery program and have been drug free for over two years.

Jones became addicted to prescripTina Jones is personal assistant to the executive director at Milestone’s Recovery Ministries

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recalled. “I was knocking on the tion drugs after undergoing sinus devil’s door. I thought I’d lost my surgery as a young married womkids forever.” an.

“I was walking down a street “After 15 years of addiction, talking to God,” she said. “I asked in and out of treatment, my life Him to show me a sign if he could was out of control,” she said. “My help me. That’s when a preacher daughter would have nothing to came by, stopped and picked me do with me, and I had to give up up. my son to a family that was will“My sister went through the ing to keep him. I was broken, program and graduated after 12 damaged, had no self-worth and months. I was determined to foleven tried to take my own life. low in her footsteps.

“When I woke up from an over“I was blown away by the love dose, the first person I saw was a family member. She referred me Miranda McSpadden is managing Dixie’s Café on and support I received at Milestone’s and so thankful to God for to Milestones Recovery MinisMain Street after recovering at Milestones. his mercy and grace,” she said. tries. My soul cried out to God for son. It took God to do that.”

After graduation, Miranda moved in help.”

After graduation, she assumed the with her sister, found a job at a local “When I met Kim Upton and the duties of personal assistant to the execfast food restaurant and later was ofwomen in recovery they were laughing utive director and was reunited with her fered the job as manager of the Mileand having a good time,” she said. I children in a home of their own. stones’ Dixie Café on Main Street in saw hope for the future and told myself Miranda, a drug addict for five years, downtown Hartselle. ’this is something you’ve got to comwas homeless and hopeless when she Miranda was married to a Christian plete. turned to Milestone’s for help. man in December. They have their own “Had it been humanly possible,” she “I lost my three children, my home, home and custody of her children every said, “I could’ve overcome my addicmy car and my family cut me off,” she other weekend. n tion with the help of my daughter and

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Hunter Safety System prostaff member Chris Keefer shows off an Ultra-Lite Flex harness.

Behind the

scenes

Saving bow hunters Danville company offers safety harnesses to hunters nationwide Story by Joy Haynes

A

n oversized banner donning the phrase “Saving lives is what we do,” hangs across the Hunter Safety System warehouse in Danville.

Michael Wydner, the national sales manager and son of one of the founders, said they use the phrase as a motivational tool in the company that sells safety harnesses for tree stand hunters.

“We like to be reminded of the importance of our product to hunters and their families,” Wydner said. “It really makes

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getting out of the bed for work worthwhile. We have over 400 letters from hunters, wives, daughters and kids thanking us for saving someone they love from a serious or fatal fall out of a tree stand. It’s a very fulfilling job.”

The most common bow-hunting accident involves tree stand falls, and one in three hunters will experience a fall, according to Wydner.

Hunter Safety System’s safety harnesses, lifeline ropes and bow-hunting accessories are available in Cabela’s, Bass

Pro, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Dick’s Sporting Goods and more.

Wydner considers the company a national brand in a small pond, saying they are the only safety harness makers in the game.

The company was founded by lifelong bow hunters John and Jerry Wydner and their friend Jim Barta. Their inspiration came from a typical hunting trip in 2000 when John’s tree stand crashed to the ground, leaving him gripping the tree bark to keep from doing the same. The slide down to the ground left him bloody and shaken.

The group decided they could come up with a solution, finally making the first prototype and establishing Hunter Safety System in Danville in 2001.

Over the years, they have become a multi-million dollar company that is endorsed by several famous pros in the business.

“We really feel like God has provided this company for us,” Wydner said. “There have been several novice

decisions we made that might have been disastrous, but God made them into blessings for us. We don’t do a great job of letting everyone know we are based here, but we are very proud to be a family-owned business, an Alabama business, a north Alabama business and a Danville business. We want people to know that the brand they see in stores all over is a local company.”

Hunter Safety System has recently revamped some of their products and released an app. Their new lifeline rope allows hunters safety as they climb up and down the tree and doesn’t compromise stealth with a clip silencer and easy to spot reflective tape.

They also launched their Buck Spotter app that allows hunters to show off their trophy bucks and scout new possible hunting grounds. Sales manager Joe Laseter said the app’s concept came from the way he and other hunters typically interact.

“Most any hunter has a camera roll

full of trophy animals they are constantly showing their friends,” Laseter said. “One day I wondered why there wasn’t already an app to show off these photos among other hunters. I figured hunters would love to have something other than Facebook to show off their trophies quickly.”

Wydner said they are already looking into ways they can integrate a safety feature into the app and make overall improvements.

“We feel like this year will really be the exploding year for Buck Spotter since we launched it a little late in the hunting season last year,” Wydner said. “It’s a free app, but we are still innovating it and putting effort into it.

We have been marketing it through the TV shows we sponsor, but we hope to really endorse it for this hunting season.”

Hunter Safety System is also looking into ways they can branch out into other products that might be able to support local high schools. n

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Gov. Robert Bentley talks with Safe-T-Shelter’s Brent Mitchell during his visit to Maplesville after a tornado in 2012.

Behind the

scenes

Putting safety first Family need turns a local company into leader in storm shelters Story by Brent Maze

B

rent Mitchell knows what it’s like to survive a tornado.

He survived 12 of them in his lifetime. He uses that experience and his fabrication know-how to design Safe-T-Shelter safe rooms for Aqua Marine Enterprises, Inc. Mitchell is the vice president and chief operating officer for Aqua Marine.

“He knows how critical it is to have an accessible, safe place to retreat,” said Aqua Marine marketing director Chandler Bell. “Brent is dedicated to saving lives during the severe storms that we experience here in Alabama. He has devoted his time and energy to offer the saf-

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est storm shelters available. It started as a need for his family, but it has grown into a multi-million dollar business.”

Aqua Marine Enterprises opened in 1995 in Danville, offering mostly residential storm shelters.

Back then, most of them were underground shelters, but Mitchell soon realized the benefits of developing an aboveground shelter that is just as safe as being underground.

“One of the biggest advantages of having an above-ground storm shelter over an underground shelter is that it is handicap-accessible,” said manufacturing manager Sylaina Hinkle. “I personally

believe you aren’t safe unless you’re underground, but we have designed the shelters so they are just as safe as being underground.”

That also cleared the way for Aqua Marine to expand from a residential storm shelter business to providing safe rooms for hundreds of people.

If you see a community storm shelter in Alabama, there’s a good chance it was produced by the Morgan County company. Since the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak, Aqua Marine has seen its business skyrocket.

Gov. Robert Bentley and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency opened

up funding after the storms to help communities and homeowners statewide to secure funding for safe rooms.

Since then, Aqua Marine, a women-owned business, has installed numerous storm shelters for Alabama counties, including Morgan, Lawrence, Marshall and Cullman counties. Bell also said they won a bid to install storm shelters for the Jackson County School System.

Aqua Marine has also expanded relationships with private businesses and corporations to provide storm shelters for their workers. Bell said they have installed hundreds of storm shelters as the sole provider for Alabama Power.

“Companies want to have a safe place for their employees so they do not have to send workers home in the event of severe weather,” Bell said. “If a tornado warning is issued, they can evacuate the workers to the storm shelter and then return to work after the storm passes.”

Other corporate installations include Mercedes-Benz, U.S. Steel, GE Intelligent Platforms, BP, Ingersoll-Rand (LCN), Norfolk Southern Railroad, Modine In-

dustries, Huber Engineered Woods, Joy Global, Hunt Refining and Feralloy Corporation.

Bell said it doesn’t matter how big or how small the need is.

“We work closely with our customers to see what their needs are,” Bell said.

“We design storm shelters for two people to hundreds, but everyone gets the same level of customer service.”

To keep up with the increased demand, Aqua Marine recently opened a manufacturing operation in the Hartselle-Morgan County Industrial Park.

“All of our storm shelters are rated to withstand an EF-5 tornado,” Bell said.

“Our storm shelters have been tested by Texas Tech. We are also A+ Better Business Bureau Accredited and a licensed and bonded general contractor with the state of Alabama. We use Alabama-made steel, and we support local businesses as much as possible.”

In recent years, the Safe-T-Shelter has been put to the test, and it has passed with flying colors. Hinkle said that a homeowner in Limestone County survived

the EF-5 tornado on April 27, 2011, in his shelter that he had bought prior to the storm.

About 80 Phil Campbell residents survived that same EF-5 tornado minutes earlier in its community storm shelter. Another 50 people in Maplesville survived a tornado in January 2012.

One of the best feelings for Hinkle is when she drives through a community and sees a shelter that her company installed.

“As we travel around the area, I point out to my kids that we built that storm shelter,” Hinkle said. “It makes me feel great when I know that our company has helped provide a safe place for that community and many others.”

Bell said she’s happy to be a part of a business that started as a solution to a need and has grown into one of the leading storm shelter producers in the Southeastern U.S. “Keeping the public safe is a passion for our company,” Bell said. “That’s one of the reasons why I enjoy coming to work each day.” n

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Behind the

scenes Chef Bill Harden creates seasonal menus at the Back Alley Bistro in downtown Decatur.

The way it should be Local chef dishes out flavor and style at Decatur restaurant Story and Photos by Joy Haynes 64 • Progress 2015

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hef Bill Harden has made a name for himself in the greater Huntsville metropolitan area in the nearly two decades he has been in the culinary business.

Harden is the head chef at the Back Alley Bistro in downtown Decatur that boasts a different menu of “new American” food every 10 weeks. His creations include crafted burgers, artisan sandwiches, seafood entrées, homemade desserts and more. Harden says his notoriety came from the successful ventures he had been associated with through the years.

“I worked at 801 Franklin, a special occasion restaurant in Huntsville, for a while,” Harden said. “They had a lot of beer and wine dinners with lots of press. They did nice events like presidents’ dinners at UAH and stuff.

My name got tagged to a lot of the big name events they were doing, and my name started getting recognized.”

Harden feels his flexibility is his most identifiable quality.

“I will always say ‘yes’ to a request if it’s something I can do,” Harden said.

“That’s not something every chef will do because they feel their food should be experienced a certain way. I know that pleasing the customer is my number one priority. If I don’t do what they want, they may never walk into the restaurant again, which means I could be out of a job.”

Harden considers being a chef a job with instant gratification.

“As soon as I leave work,

I know what kind of day I had,” Harden said. “If the guests left happy, then I know I did my job right.

Some people work on long projects that may or may not work out in the end, but my work pays off very quickly.”

He went to culinary school in Georgia at the suggestion of his mother. She felt that should be his next step in life after he had followed The Grateful Dead on tour.

Harden has been crafting his own style of cooking ever since.

“I like to hit all the senses with my dishes and make sure they are of the highest quality,” Harden said. “I love the relationships I form with local farmers. I’ve been doing seasonal and local foods since before it was a trend.

It always seemed like it was the natural way to do it.”

Harden considers himself a hands-on chef.

“I’m definitely not an office chef,” Harden said. “I touch about 90 percent of the dishes that leave the kitchen to make sure they are done properly. I enjoy the process and I don’t want to miss out on it. Most anything we can feasibly make in-house we do.”

His own experiences with food make it difficult for him to enjoy eating out anymore.

“There are too many places that don’t really care about food,” Harden said. “I try to make sure that everyone, no matter their preferences or dietary restrictions, can find a ‘wow’ item on the menu they will really love.

I hate mediocre food, so I never want people to have to settle on something they’re not excited about.” n Progress 2015 • 65

Jerrie Swann hugs one of the Por Los Ninos children she sponsors on a Honduran mission trip.

Behind the

scenes

For the kids Swann supports Honduran children through Por Los Ninos Story by Joy Haynes

T

he office at the Hartselle Church of Christ is filled with pictures of Honduran children smiling from framed photos and snapshots under magnets on filing cabinets.

Most of them have never been to America, but they are very dear to the heart of church secretary Jerrie Swann.

She has been working with these children through the Por Los Niños program since 1996.

The Por Los Niños is a children’s home in Catacamas, Honduras sponsored by the American Family Life Missions group. The campus houses nearly 50 children in four homes with host parents. They have an elementary school on the site, and they hope to grow to six houses in

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the future.

Swann said she felt compelled to join the effort when she heard the stories of the children.

“Most of these kids were eating out of garbage cans and living on the streets before they came to Por Los Niños,” Swann said. “There was no one to help them since many of them are orphans or being raised by a single mother who doesn’t have the means to care for them. I knew my dad was always sending supplies to them, and I wanted to help.”

Swann has since taken six trips to Honduras to organize supplies and help add to the campus. She has also started coin bank fundraisers and encouraged several church mem-

bers to sponsor children.

Swann also sends birthday cards to every child in the group throughout the year.

“My husband and I sponsor three children, and we have for several years now,” Swann said. “I’ve been able to help one of my Sunday school classes become a clothes amigo for a child as well. Even though this isn’t a specific mission funded by our church, I figured I would do everything I could to support them. I’ve had a lot of help from family and friends from church.”

Swann said the children’s gratefulness is heart warming.

“They are so loving, and they really appreciate everything,” Swann said. “Most of them don’t speak English but they show their gratitude in more physical ways.

We get lots of hugs, and one girl who I didn’t even sponsor drew me a picture and sent it home with someone when I wasn’t able to make the trip down there.”

Por Los Niños focuses on developing Honduran Christians who will be able to give back to their community. They allow the children to have a formal education from kindergarten

to high school and then give scholarships for them to further their education at a university. Most Hondurans have a third grade education, if they have a formal education at all.

“Por Los Niños is very special to these kids,” Swann said. “Most of them stay until they finish at a university, and many come back after that. Some of them become host parents and others help out in different ways until they find another job.”

During Swann’s trips, the groups have contributed in different ways.

“We have painted new dorms and beds before or had doctors who performed physicals,” Swann said.

“Dr. Echols and his son were on the trip once, and they are both dentists. They were able to use a local dentist’s office to give oral care. We also left toothbrushes and toothpaste for everyone. My favorite job is loving on the kids though.”

More information about Por Los Niños and the efforts of the Family Life Missions can be found on porlosninos.org or on their Facebook page. n

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Behind the

scenes

Feeding our students Mary Beth Henry directs child nutrition program in MCS Story by Clif Knight

M

organ County Schools Child Nutrition Program is a big business: 13 in-school cafeterias, 95 workers and 9,500 breakfasts and lunches served every school day.

The person shouldering the responsibility for this large-scale operation is Mary Beth Henry, a teacher turned businesswoman.

Henry began her education career as a home economics teacher at Priceville High School and served in that position for 21 years before transferring to the central office as the CNP director in 2007.

“I had no formal training for the job,” she said, “and I had no idea of the scope of work involved.”

Henry earned two bachelor’s degrees, one in home economics from West Virginia University and the other in elementary

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education from Athens State College. She received a master’s degree in home economics from Alabama A&M University and completed additional studies in education administration at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

As CNP director, Henry creates centralized monthly breakfast and lunch menus for all county schools, purchases food, supplies and equipment for the cafeterias, prepares an annual budget and trouble shoots kitchen equipment for repairs.

She is assisted by a secretary and a bookkeeper. A consultant was used to help her plan the layout and equip a new commercial kitchen and cafeteria for the new Priceville High School.

Funding for the school breakfast and lunch program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and trickles down to the school systems through the State Department of Education.

USDA commodities also play an important role in keeping the food costs down.

“We are now getting lots of meats – ground beef, chicken, turkey etc.,” Henry said. “It’s coming at a good time when meat prices are very high.”

To qualify for federal funding, certain guidelines must be met, Henry said.

All breads must be whole grain, including biscuits, pizza crust and breading for chicken nuggets. Each lunch must include three-fourths cup of vegetables and one-half cup of fruit. The number of calories per lunch is limited to 650 for K-5 students, 700 for 6-8 students and 850 for 9-12 students. The newest guideline is reduced sodium in prepared foods as well as condiments. A new guideline for breakfasts is the addition of one-half cup of fruit.

“In order to meet the guidelines, it was necessary to cut out desserts,” she said. “It’s a rare day when we have a cookie on the menu.”

Student is required to pick a minimum of three of the five items on the lunch menu and three of the four items on the breakfast menu. A salad bar and a la carte items are available.

“Our cafeterias serve meals that are both healthy and nutritious,” Henry said. “All CNP workers have Serv/Safe training, and I’m confident they’re safely handing the foods they prepare and serve.”

“I feel as a whole students are enjoying their meals,” Henry said. “I get very few complaints.” n

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Behind the

scenes

Making some green Wayne Harris stays a busy man when grass is green Story and Photo by Clif Knight

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reen is gold in the eyes of Wayne Harris of Danville, a self-employed lawn care worker who mows and trims grass for about 60 customers during the spring, summer and fall months. He has the help of his son, Taylor, for two or three days a week, when he’s not attending classes at Athens State University.

“It’s been a long winter,” Harris said.

“I’m counting the days until the grass turns green and we can get back to work.”

Harris, 58, began picking up yards to mow in the early1980s when he was employed at Wolverine Tube..

“I started mowing my grandmother’s yard,” he said. “Then a woman I worked with asked me if I would mow her yard.

Word got around and shortly I was busy in my spare time cutting grass for other people.”

His part-time grass mowing job turned into full-time in 2009 when he lost his job at Wolverine.

“I was already doing yard work and needed a full-time job,” he said. “That’s when I went full-time as Wayne Harris Lawn Service LLC. “The business has grown steadily, and I have been able to keep up with the workload with the help of my three sons and daughter,” Harris said. “We are getting close to capacity and aren’t advertising for more customers but will add more if they are referred to us.”

“On average, my son and I can mow, weed eat and clean up a yard in about 45 minutes,” he said. “However, one of our Lawrence County customers has a big yard that requires lots of weed eating and takes three to four hours to complete.”

A Gravely zero turn mower and walk behind self-propelled mowers are used for mowing. Auxiliary equipment includes blowers, trimmers, weed eaters and chain saws.

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Wayne Harris and his son Taylor mow yards for 60 customers in Hartselle, Decatur and Moulton.

Two pickups with trailers provide transportation.

“I enjoy working outside,” Harris said. “It’s great when the equipment is operating properly. When something goes down, it goes to Garnett Lawn Service for repair. I’m not a mechanic.”

A work day starts at 9 a.m., and lasts until dark.

“On hot days, we wear loose clothing, drink lots of fluids and take a short break occasionally,” Harris said. “Moving from one job to the next also gives us a break.”

When not mowing grass, Harris plays baseball for the Huntsville Diamondbacks in the Southern Senior Baseball League. In November, he and his wife Patricia pack their bags and head to Fort Myers, Fla. They will spend three week there while he plays baseball with the Diamondbacks.

“When Taylor graduates from college, I’ll probably have to cut back on the mowing, Harris said, “but I won’t stop as long as my health holds up.” n

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