RONALD POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Better Together At Bradley, we combine legal experience and knowledge with a sophisticated understanding of the industries that drive Huntsville. We use our talents, judgment, work ethic, and experience to come up with practical, strategic solutions specifically tailored to our clients’ business operations. We go above and beyond expectations to help our clients meet their goals. Our Huntsville attorneys leverage a broad range of perspectives to help achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand.
200 Clinton Ave. W | Suite 900 | Huntsville, AL 35801 | 256.517.5100 No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Frank M. Caprio., 256.517.5142, fcaprio@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 200 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 900, Huntsville, AL 35801. Š2018
Improving lives across the Tennessee Valley
We are the Huntsville Hospital Health System, a team committed to bringing better health care to you and your family. We’re all across the Tennessee Valley with more resources, more services and more locations — we’re improving lives, together.
Huntsville Hospital Health System includes Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Madison Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospitals, Helen Keller & Red Bay Hospitals, Marshall Medical Centers, Lawrence Medical Center and Lincoln Health System in Tennessee.
welcome new chamber members Joined in March 2019 1st Family Mortgage Company A Head for Profits
Joined in April 2019
AFC - American Family Care Hampton Cove Char Restaurant
5R Design Professional Corporation
Charter Senior Living at Wellpoint
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Childress Accounting, LLC
Anytime Fitness - Jones Valley
Cyberspace Solutions
Aquiller Cole Events
Direct Auto & Life Insurance
The Brass Tap
Diversified
Chanda Davis Real Estate
Durante Home Exteriors
Clear Channel Airport Advertising
Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers
THE COMPANY You Keep LLC
FINA - Fertility Institute of North Alabama
Cracker Barrel Store #612
Flourish Consulting Services
CTI LLC
Granite Empire of Huntsville
Divorce Without Lawyers
ISSAC Corp
Faces of Huntsville-Madison Magazine
J3 Web Technologies
Felines & Canines Hunter Stephenson Rescue Center
K. Pierce Consulting, LLC
Flexicrew
Kirkland Outdoor Solutions Legend Realty Madison - Loraine Cordule LifeCenters Communities, LLC
Holston Gases, Inc.
loanDepot Madison Behavior Therapy
Huntsville Hearing Aid Center, a division of North Alabama Audiology, Inc.
Madison Street Wealth Advisors Magic City Parking Meyer & Lee Fine Jewelry Reliant Technologies, Inc. The Rhapsody, LLC Rocket City Vital Care Rooster’s Crow Coffee Roastery Sequatchie Concrete Service, Inc. UAVsPOINT UIC Maintenance & Mfgr/Bowhead Holding Company University Medical Transformational Beauty Verta Technologies
HX5, LLC IHS Construction Solutions IHS Human Resources, LLC Jay S Arnold Consulting Lakeshore Foundation MSS Huntsville, LLC Nature Bare LLC Neely Coble Company, Inc. Olivia Reed Photography The Paige Brown Team - Keller Williams Poitevint Financial, Inc. - Raymond James The Poppy R. Fathers M.A.D., Inc.
Walmart Store #332
Rooter-Man
We Chunk Junk Williams Sonoma Parkway Place ZMicro Systems
The Fret Shop, Inc. GE Aviation - Huntsville Operations
LMS Metal Sales
YS, Inc.
The Flying Locksmith of North Alabama
Superior School of Real Estate by Chanda Team Worldwide The Tennessee Valley Press, Inc. UAB School of Medicine - Huntsville Campus The Westmoreland Company Inc.
If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and the community, the Chamber is the place to start. Contact Donna McCrary, Membership Retention Manager: 256-535-2027 or dmccrary@hsvchamber.org.
4
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
AS OF MAY 20, 2019
INVESTORS HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
REGIONAL PARTNERS
LEADERSHIP FORUM
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BBVA Compass ■ Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) ■ Crestwood Medical Center ■ Dynetics, Inc. General Atomics Electromagnetics ■ Lockheed Martin Corporation ■ Northrop Grumman Corporation ■ PNC Bank Raytheon Company ■ SAIC ■ SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Yulista
CHAMBER TRUSTEES AEgis Technologies Group ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ Akima, LLC ■ Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi ■ Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. ■ Five Stones Research Corporation ■ Intrepid ■ Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation Jerry Damson Honda Acura ■ KBR ■ Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep ■ Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. ■ PARSONS ■ S3, Inc. Sealy Management Company, Inc. ■ SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center ■ Synovus ■ Torch Technologies ■ Turner Construction Company
PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus ■ Anglin Reichmann Armstrong ■ ASRC Federal ■ B. L. Harbert International, LLC ■ Baron Services, Inc. ■ BASF Corporation ■ BB&T ■ Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Brown Precision, Inc. ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Davidson Technologies, Inc. ■ Google Fiber ■ Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association ■ IBERIABANK J. Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company ■ Keel Point, LLC ■ L3 Technologies ■ LMI ■ LogiCore ■ LSINC Corporation ■ The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ Progress Bank Radiance Technologies ■ RE/MAX Alliance ■ SCI Technology, Inc. ■ SELEX Galileo Inc. ■ ServisFirst Bank ■ Sirote & Permutt, PC ■ Spirit Coach, LLC Steak-Out (Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc.) ■ Wells Fargo Bank ■ Woody Anderson Ford PROGRESS INVESTORS 4SITE, Inc. ■ Air Essentials, Inc. ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty ■ Armstrong Relocation Company Huntsville LLC ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ Bailey-Harris Construction BancorpSouth ■ BID DESIGNS, LLC ■ BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc. ■ Bryant Bank ■ Canvas, Inc. ■ CB&S Bank ■ Century Automotive ■ CFD Research Corporation ■ CGI Federal ■ Coast Personnel Services ■ Croy Engineering, LLC DC Blox, Inc. ■ deciBel Research ■ Deloitte LLP ■ DESE Research, Inc. ■ Engineering Design Technologies/EDT-THA Architecture ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ Fernandez Financial Group ■ FITE Building Company FLS Translation & Interpreting ■ Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC ■ Garver ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Cars Huntsville ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. ■ INTERFUZE Corporation ■ Investor’s Resource ■ IronMountain Solutions ■ The Karen Morris Team at Keller Williams Realty ■ Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider ■ LINE-X, LLC The Lioce Group, Inc. ■ MAG Aerospace ■ MSB Analytics, Inc. ■ National Bank of Commerce ■ nLogic, LLC ■ PALCO ■ PFM Financial Advisors LLC ■ PHOENIX ■ PROJECTXYZ, Inc. ■ QTEC Aerospace ■ Quadrus Corporation Ready Mix USA ■ Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Company ■ Rosenblum Realty ■ RUAG Space USA ■ S&ME, Inc. ■ Sigmatech, Inc. ■ Snelling ■ Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. ■ Technicolor ■ TriVector Services, Inc. Troy 7, Inc. ■ U.S. Space & Rocket Center ■ ValleyMLS.com ■ Valor Communities ■ Venturi, Inc. ■ Volkert, Inc. ■ Warren Averett, LLC ■ West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. ■ Wilmer & Lee, P.A. ■ Wiregrass Construction Company
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
5
MORE than a
JOB
Why have over 600 people across North Alabama joined our team? We think it’s because Bank Independent provides our team room to grow and serve. We are also proud to offer great pay, excellent benefits and a rewarding environment where you can make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Connect with us and apply at BIBANK.COM.
BIBANK.COM | 877.865.5050 MEMBER FDIC | E.O.E.
jun 2019
MOVING PARTS
COVER STORIES
GOOD WORK CULTURE
PAGE 16
PAGES 20-24
PAGE 36
Two MTMUS suppliers announce 1,000+ additional jobs for new plant
Hiring Outside the Box: Rocket City Drywall, Second Chance Job Fair
4
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
5
HREGI INVESTORS
8
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT | BOARD LISTING
10
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS
11 HREGI PROFILE: Sandy Allbee with BID DESIGNS, LLC 12 RECRUITING? WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Employees of Best Places to Work® tell us what their employers do right
editorial staff publisher Chip Cherry, CCE editor
Claire Aiello
13
GET ENGAGED: Here’s how your Chamber membership helps the community grow
editorial designer
14
LEGENDARY LANDING: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
Kristi Sherrard
18
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: MartinFederal
26 SENIOR SPRINT: Connecting high school graduates with a career 28 REDSTONE PROFILE: LTG James Dickinson, SMDC / ARSTRAT 30 IN ANOTHER PERSON’S SHOES: Leaders participate in poverty simulation 32 2019 WINNERS: Best Places to Work@ Awards 35
COMMUNITY PROFILE
38
CHAMBER STAFF | ASSOCIATED ORGS
contributing writers
Katelyn Sides Baker, Kent Ballard, Devon Elston, Lira Frye, Amber Greenwood, Erin Koshut, Lydia Pennington, Wendy Reeves, Mike Ward, and Amberly Ware ad sales Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org
Richard Bigoney rbigoney@hsvchamber.org
Tina Blankenship tblankenship@hsvchamber.org
Keith Johnson kjohnson@hsvchamber.org
Our mission: To prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.
HSVchamber.org (additional contact information on page 38) Chamber members: You are encouraged to contribute ideas for our publications, including Initiatives magazine. Please send items to comms@hsvchamber.org. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber maintains editorial control. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
7
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2019 Executive Committee
A Message from
Chip Cherry
Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders, and Friends: Last issue I wrote that our partnership efforts to provide high school seniors with an opportunity to engage with employers, and provide career “second chances” for those seeking a fresh start, would soon produce positive results. In this month’s issue of Initiatives, you can read how those events are affecting people in our community. Please read the cover story “Hiring Outside the Box” about Alana Parker, who is following in her grandfather’s footsteps at Rocket City Drywall and giving people a much needed second chance. These stories have a common theme – we are human and make mistakes. However, the desire to be engaged and productive is a powerful force. I was inspired by their stories and hope you will be as well. The Chamber’s Mission is to ‘prepare, develop, and promote our community for economic growth’. The objective of our economic growth strategy was to grow activities on Redstone Arsenal, reinvigorate Cummings Research Park, diversify the economy, and provide opportunities for the underemployed in the region to take the next step up the socioeconomic ladder. The good news is that, due to the efforts of an outstanding team from the public and private sectors, we are realizing an amazing level of success. With success comes challenges, though. We are fortunate that City leaders implemented the Restore Our Roads Program, which identified $250M in priority road projects to ensure our key transportation arteries could meet our future needs. This, coupled with the recent action of the State Legislature and the Governor to shore up the revenue stream for transportation in the State, places us in a much stronger position to ensure that key transportation issues are addressed. The next significant issue is workforce. Workforce is a top priority of the Chamber and the Chamber Education Foundation. Katelyn Sides Baker has joined our team as Workforce Recruitment Director. Her role – coupled with that of Lydia Pennington, Industry Relations Manager – will significantly improve our ability to assist employers who are having challenges filling positions within their organizations. I encourage you to reach out to them and learn how they can help you with your recruitment activities: kbaker@hsvchamber.org and lpennington@
hsvchamber.org I am proud of the role we have played in creating this dynamic community we call home! We look forward to engaging with you to ensure that as we grow, we are the type of community where you can establish roots, raise your family, grow your company, and propel your career. I encourage you to share your thoughts on how we can be more effective in supporting you and your organization through our activities and programming. I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon!
Chip Cherry, CCE President & CEO Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
8
initiatives jun 2019
Kim Lewis, Chair, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Kevin Byrnes, Chair-Elect, Raytheon Company Gary Bolton, Immediate Past Chair, ADTRAN, Inc. Ron Poteat, Chair, Chamber Foundation, Regions Bank Lynn Troy, Secretary/Treasurer, Troy 7, Inc. Jeff Gronberg, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry Relations, deciBel Research, Inc.
Alicia Ryan, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, LSINC Corporation
David Fernandes, Vice Chair, HREGI, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications, Brown Precision, Inc.
Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Membership, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, Transcend LLC
Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, Tennessee Valley BRAC, Sirote & Permutt, PC
Penny Billings, Chair-Appointed, BancorpSouth - Huntsville Craig Naudain, Chair-Appointed, SAIC Dr. Karockas Watkins, Chair-Appointed, Ability Plus, Inc. Mayor Tommy Battle, ex-officio member, City of Huntsville Mayor Paul Finley, ex-officio member, City of Madison Chairman Dale Strong, ex-officio member, Madison County Commission
Chris Pape, General Counsel, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Chip Cherry, CCE, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Elected Board Mike Alvarez, Venturi, LLC Bill Bailey, Radiance Technologies, Inc. James Barclay, FLIR Blake Bentley, SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. Lynn Collyar, Deloitte LLP John Dansby, Polaris Industries, Inc. Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc. John Eagan, BB&T Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group, LLC Dr. Joe Green, Davidson Technologies, Inc. Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation Mike Gullion, Spur John Hall, All Points Logistics, LLC Ginger Harper, IBERIABANK Josh Herren, Yulista Lee Holland, Turner Construction Company Melody Holt, Holt & Holt Entrepreneurship, LLC Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Amanda Howard, Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty
Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions Lauren Johannesmeyer, Google Fiber, Huntsville Sean Kelly, Regions Bank David King, Dynetics, Inc. Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Kevin McCombs, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Janice Migliore, PALCO Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Jami Peyton, Canvas, Inc. Jim Rogers, Lockheed Martin Corporation Ashley Ryals, Homegrown, LLC Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Sameer Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Beth Sippel, Synovus Robert “Bob” Smith, Booz Allen Hamilton Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC Cynthia Streams, Domino's (Valley Pizza, Inc.) Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama John Watson, Torch Technologies Dennis Weese, Line-X LLC A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
EMERGENCY CARE WITH
LESS WAITING
E.R. In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at Crestwood Medical Center, you’ll find faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional with the shortest wait time possible.* And, as a full service community hospital, we can provide a lot more care if you need it.
For less waiting and faster care, count on the E.R. at Crestwood Medical Center.
One Hospital Drive • Huntsville 256-429-4000 • CrestwoodMedCenter.com *E.R. wait time, which is defined as the time it takes from check-in at the E.R. desk until a patient is initially seen by a provider, can change quickly. This time is dependent on the severity of the illness and other patients also in the E.R.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS Chamber Wins Prestigious Mac Conway Award SNAP:
careers at local Park companies and organizations. This day could help solidify what they want to do, change their career path or just serve as a good influence into the next step of their journey following graduation. Students spent the day at each participating company and walked away with memorable experiences. They were excited about the future, informed about what it takes to pursue their career interests and learned what jobs look like on a day-to-day basis. Thank you to these participating companies and organizations that hosted students: ADTRAN, CFD Research, CUBIC/Gatr, David Park Photography, Davidson Technologies, Intrepid, Kord Technologies, LogiCore, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville Research and Economic Development department. Interested in participating next year? Contact Erin Koshut: ekoshut@hsvchamber.org
Cecil Ashburn on Target
Garden CEO to Retire Paula Steigerwald, CEO of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, is preparing to retire at the end of August. She has served in her current role since joining the garden in 2002, overseeing tremendous transformation and growth. “The past 17 years have been marvelous, and we have achieved great things at the Garden,” said Steigerwald. “It is my hope that the things we have achieved will be just the beginning of great things yet to come for the garden.” Under Steigerwald’s leadership, the garden recently hosted a wildly popular exhibit, the Chinese Lantern Festival. It has also added The Children’s Garden and Nature Center, the Teledyne Terrace, the Parking Garden and Column Gateway Steigerwald Garden Entrance, and the most recent addition, the Eloise McDonald Propst Guest Center, that opened in 2017. The Garden was named the Attraction of the Year for the State of Alabama (2008), the Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year (2008), and the #3 tourism attraction which charges admission in the State (2017 and 2018). A national search is underway to fill the CEO role.
Columbia High School & CRP Partner for Inaugural ‘Intern for a Day’ Program In April, 21 seniors at Columbia High School participated in the first-ever Intern for a Day program in Cummings Research Park. The idea is to give seniors an opportunity to align their potential career interest with
Another Large Group for 2019 DC Trip From May 5-7, the Huntsville/Madison Chamber traveled with nearly 200 people to our nation’s capital to meet with our Congressional delegation and discuss issues that are important to North Alabama. We were again proud to partner with the Decatur/Morgan County Chamber, hosting receptions and panel discussions with leaders of the FBI, NASA, ULA, Department of Defense, U.S. Chamber, and more. We also presented our federal agenda, developed in partnership with our Chamber board and local community leaders.
AC Hotel Opens in CityCentre The new AC Hotel by Marriott Huntsville Downtown held its official opening in April. The hotel is stunning, and is the anchor of CityCentre at Big Spring, a new development at Williams Avenue and Monroe Street. The AC Hotel has a cocktail bar and restaurant, a second-floor terrace overlooking Big Spring Park, large and small meeting spaces and many more amenities. Not to mention beautiful rooms for your stay! This is one of several hotels being added around downtown.
New development, Hays Farm, announced for South Huntsville In May, developers announced a new, dramatic project to transform the area around Grissom High School and bring a new retail corridor to Memorial Parkway. Hays Farm is an 850-acre development that will include high-end housing, a nature preserve, a mixed-use segment with restaurants, retail and condominiums similar to Providence Main in west Huntsville. The area will also include city parks and a dog park. The development is already underway off Haysland Road with land being cleared for more than 500 homes. – Source: AL.com ■ Compiled by Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications
10
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
AL.COM
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber has won a prestigious Mac Conway Award, which was revealed in the May 2019 issue of Site Selection Magazine. These awards recognize the top local and regional economic development agencies in the U.S. for their roles in helping to deliver prosperity to their communities. Our area saw record growth in 2018, with five new companies adding 4,207 jobs and $2.3B in capital investment.
Good news – work is moving along quickly to widen Cecil Ashburn Drive from two to four lanes between Old Big Cove Road and Four Mile Post Road. As of early May, clearing operations were complete and blasting operations were approximately 90 percent complete. The contractor is on schedule to restore two-way travel to the road by this October, and the project is expected to be fully complete by May 2020.
SANDY ALLBEE
SENIOR PARTNER, PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING & COMPLIANCE OFFICER
BID DESIGNS, LLC
PROFILE
Tell us about BID DESIGNS:
We were established in 2006, and from the beginning, we set out to establish a proposal support model the way proposal companies should work. Every day, our employees model strong ethics, trust, and reliability. BID DESIGNS brings to our clients repeatable procedures and exquisite detail to compliance and quality. Q: What makes your company unique? A: Unique to BID DESIGNS is the way we invest in our clients year after year. The proposal industry is one that leaves buyers baffled at which way to turn. From hiring internal employees to individual consultants, many companies struggle to find the perfect balance and do what is most important – focus on the win. Proposal costs are higher than ever, and everyone knows it. Companies must bid more and do so as effectively as possible if they are to thrive and survive the increasing competitive landscape. That’s where BID DESIGNS comes in. We have set the standard for clients to consistently BID MORE, SPEND LESS, and WIN MORE. No company provided the proposal support model needed by government contractors – until BID DESIGNS. Q: What value do you get from your Chamber membership and HREGI investment? A: BID DESIGNS is excited to support HREGI again in 2019. By looking at the incredible winning GOVCONs participat-
ing in HREGI, it is easy to see where BID DESIGNS recognizes the value of HREGI for its clients and the community as a whole. BID DESIGNS is a Huntsville success story now with a client portfolio of half its clients in other parts of the nation. While BID DESIGNS is proud to have grown nationwide, we know it all began right here in Huntsville – thanks in large part to the work of HREGI.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
11
Recruiting? We’re here to help H
ello! I’m Katelyn Sides Baker, the new Director of Workforce Recruitment under the Economic Development division at the Chamber. I am very excited about my role and being responsible for the management of workforce recruitment as well as the retention efforts here at the Chamber. I will be utilizing and advertising the new asmartplace.com website. This site is the “go-to” place for any job seeker and student looking for employment in the North Alabama area. For job seekers, this site allows you to see new and current job openings based on your interests and experience. For students, this site allows you to explore different careers as well as look for part-time work and internships. Here are some of the things I’ll be doing to help our members: ■ Promote available jobs through digital marketing and social media ■ Contact target audiences on college campuses and build relationships with their career centers ■ Create digital marketing campaigns for ASmartPlace
■ Raise the national awareness of the quality of life and professional opportunities in Huntsville/Madison County ■ Focus on the Chamber’s young professional recruitment and retention initiatives I am here to recruit the type of workforce your companies need and the type of workforce we want here. This is an exciting time to be in Huntsville. Just in the five years of living here, I have seen drastic changes that have helped our community to continue to grow and rise to the top. Huntsville is THE place to be, and I am excited to help recruit and retain the workforce here in our community. ■
■ Conduct targeted recruitment for identified skills and experiences needed ■ Work with and recruit transitioning military ■ Create a national workforce recruitment campaign
Recruiting Resources We offer resources on our websites to help in your recruiting efforts. We have several professional videos we have produced about what makes Huntsville attractive, including one dedicated to young professionals and another targeted to C-Suite executives and spouses. Visit hsvchamber.org/ videos to watch and share these as you recruit talent here. Additionally, Huntsville/Madison County is often mentioned by national media outlets. You’ve probably read a few of these – they include articles and rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Indeed, 24/7 Wall Street, Livability, The New York Times, and others. It’s a lot to track – and we make it easy for you! Visit hsvchamber.org/accolades to see them all and download the list you can email to your recruiting team at bit.ly/HSVmedia We also have a new Huntsville Metro Community Overview to supplement your recruitment efforts. This PDF brochure includes an Executive Summary of our area, details on what fuels our economy, cost of living and workforce information, education, real estate, recreation, and more. Find it at hsvchamber.org/hsvoverview 12
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Get Engaged: Here’s how your Chamber membership helps the community grow Have you ever considered what your community would be like without a vibrant Chamber of Commerce? While you are focused on your efforts as an executive, business owner or employee, you need a team advocating for your community and collaborating with others to ensure continued growth and investment in the community where you live, work and play. The Chamber is a critical part of your community’s success. Your investment in the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber helps us achieve our mission to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth. Your membership dollars support our operations and staff needed to make this happen. Many times, our members assume other businesses, companies, retailers, non-profits, churches and others are members. At 2,160 members in a community our size, there is room to grow our membership base. Equally important – we want our members to become engaged! You can do this in a number of ways: ■ Volunteering ■ Attending our events for networking and professional development ■ Showcasing at a career fair ■ Participating in our government and public affairs events ■ Marketing through our communication resources (including Initiatives magazine) ■ Utilizing our workforce platform, asmartplace.com Another way to engage is to partner with us through sponsorships. Our opportunities are vast with target audiences for every business. Another benefit of a large membership base is the effectiveness of our voice at a local, state and federal level. The larger our group, the more impactful we are with our advocacy for issues and policies that help our region grow. Case in point: Just last month, we took nearly 200 people on our annual Chamber trip to Washington, D.C. Therefore, as you meet existing companies and new businesses, ask if they belong to the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. If they are members, thank them on our behalf and if not, encourage them to meet with us to be a part of the momentum happening in their great community! Your testimonial and referral is the biggest compliment we can receive: “At a recent Chamber event, I had the pleasure of meeting Heather Mason with HEALS, Inc. It is an outstanding nonprofit organization that provides free medical and dental clinics in schoolbased settings. Even though I was not able to support them with staffing assistance, I was able to connect them with a technology vendor Sowash that has used demo equipment to provide a less expensive telemedicine option. This will help so many children with their annual check-ups at the school-based clinics.” – Jason Sowash, Branch manager, Job Impulse ■ Amber Greenwood Vice President, Investor Relations A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
13
SPACE MILESTONE
Legendary Landing Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
T
he week of July 15, Huntsville, along with the rest of the world, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the week that Apollo 11 sent the first men to land on the moon. The week-long celebration will include a world record-setting simultaneous launch of over 5,000 rockets, a memorial dinner with some of the surviving Apollo astronauts and a “people’s march” from the Von Braun Center to Huntsville’s courthouse square, where several bands will perform. Huntsville’s Apollo 11 celebrations started late last year and have included weekly panel discussions from former astronauts, Apollo engineers and various community representatives. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center has completely refurbished the world’s only fullscale vertical Saturn V rocket to its gleaming original beauty. The Center also premiered its new traveling exhibition, Apollo: When We Went to the Moon, chronicling the timeline from the beginning of the Space Race – a time when the U.S. and Soviet Union competed over their accomplishments in space exploration – to the collaborative culture of the International Space Station program and beyond.
We Care About Your Business
Personal relationships, honest evaluations, sound advice, details, and your businesses success --- we care because those things matter. As you continue to plan for 2019, contact Bryant Bank today! Our Huntsville team aspires to be a collaborative partner that helps your business invest in its full potential.
Located Downtown & Southeast Huntsville 14
initiatives jun 2019
BryantBank.com A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
UPCOMING EVENTS: July 11: Space Authors Book Signing & Reception, Saturn V Hall, 4:30 p.m. July 13: Apollo Celebration Car Show, East USSRC Grounds, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. July 15: Concert in the Park (50s– 70s music), Big Spring Park, 6:30 p.m. July 16: Guinness Book of World Records Rocket Launch, USSRC, 8:32 a.m. July 19: Celebration Parade and Dancing in the Streets, Downtown Huntsville, 6 p.m. Trying to contextualize the significance of landing of humans on another heavenly body is challenging, to say the least. When Wernher von Braun was asked how humanity might view this accomplishment hundreds of years from now, he compared it to the moment when life first emerged from the ocean. Huntsville’s role, contributing the mighty Saturn V rocket that took the men and materials to the moon, is considered by many to be the greatest technological achievement by humankind. ■ Mike Ward, cce
July 20: Rocket City Summer Fest Moon Landing Concert, USSRC, 5 p.m. July 20-21: Amateur Radio Event, USSRC Davidson Center, 2:30 p.m. For a more complete list, please visit huntsville.org/apollo-50th-anniversary www.rocketcenter.com/Apollo50
Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs
Work. Eat. Stay.
The ultimate in convenience– modern workspace with onsite amenities.
Office Leasing:
James Lomax main: 256.517.7023 mobile: 256.698.3101 james.lomax@copt.com
redstonegateway.com A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
15
JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Moving Parts
L-R: Shuji Yamamoto, President of Y-tec; Tony Oya, President of Toyotetsu North America; Ryuji Fujimoto, President of YKTA; Alabama Governor Kay Ivey; Mitsuru Iwao, President of Keylex; and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.
MTMUS suppliers announce more than 1,000 additional jobs for new plant
C
onstruction is steadily moving along at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A. assembly plant, and in the past few weeks two large suppliers have announced more than 1,000 new jobs for the North Alabama region. On May 22, YKTA announced it will invest $220 million to build a facility on the MTMUS site, creating 650 new jobs. Governor Kay Ivey joined company leaders to welcome them to Huntsville and participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking. “YKTA is a significant addition to the growing automotive cluster centered around the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A. auto assembly plant in Huntsville,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This venture will not only create 650 well-paying jobs but also solidify the foundation of the automotive supply chain that is emerging in North Alabama.” YKTA is a joint venture between Y-tec, Keylex and Toyotetsu, which are three existing Japanese automotive suppliers with operations in North America. Toyotetsu has a long history as a Toyota supplier, while Keylex and Y-tec are highly regarded suppliers
YKTA donated $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama. L-R: Jackie Hogan, YKTA; Ryuji Fujimoto, YKTA; Patrick Wynn, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama; and Richard Morse, YKTA.
16
initiatives jun 2019
to Mazda. Toyotetsu has six other locations in North America, and Y-tec and Keylex have a joint venture in Mexico. “We are proud to call Alabama our home and celebrate our commitment to North Alabama as our community,” said YKTA President Ryuji Fujimoto. Job listings are posted at yktal.com.
DaikyoNishikawa Earlier in the month, Japan-based DaikyoNishikawa announced it will invest $110 million in another on-site facility at MTMUS. The company, called DNUS for short, will create approximately 380 jobs and produce plastic automotive parts, such as bumpers and instrument panels. YKTA and DNUS are the first on-site partners announced for MTMUS, a $1.6 billion joint-venture assembly plant being built on a 2,500-acre site in the Limestone County portion of Huntsville. “DaikyoNishikawa is a welcome addition to Alabama’s rapidly growing network of high-caliber international auto suppliers,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “With this significant investment, the company is signaling its strong confidence in Alabama workers and the state’s business environment. I know we can build a great future together.” Aside from the jobs added by these suppliers, MTMUS will employ up to 4,000 workers at full production. Beginning in 2021, MTMUS will produce up to 300,000 vehicles annually, split evenly between Mazda and Toyota. DNUS has already established a temporary office in Huntsville and a human resources director to prepare for hiring. It has posted positions on joblink.alabama.gov. “Huntsville welcomes DaikyoNishikawa to our growing regional network of automotive suppliers,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “They’re joining an outstanding partnership with Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A, and we’re collectively witnessing the birth of a major automotive hub for the U.S. and the world.” ■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Partnering for a brighter future for our community
&
www.iberiabank.com
RONALD POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHY
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT MartinFederal Winner of the 2018 Small Business Award for Government Contracting: Professional Services Business, MartinFederal serves as a Prime Federal Contractor and is headquartered in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. As such, the company provides solutions through four main services: laboratory support, advanced IT, training and development, and space and mission support. Corey Martin serves as the President and CEO of MartinFederal. He is a former Navy Intelligence Officer, with degrees in both Management Information Systems and Computer Engineering. Looking for opportunities outside of the Navy, Martin did a stint with Colonial Bank Group (now BB&T) as their Chief Privacy Officer. He was later approached by a few government contractors, and began working for intelligence entities in the Washington, D.C. area. He went on to work for Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was during this time that he began his journey to opening his own small business. Coming from very humble beginnings, Martin grew up on a farm near Horseshoe Bend in Dadeville, Alabama. He started MartinFederal in the third bedroom of his childhood home, eventually spending the next four to five years growing his company in a building he purchased in his hometown. In fact, Martin still lives in Dadeville, splitting time between Huntsville and the small town he calls home. MartinFederal has maintained steady growth as a multi-million dollar company, growing to about 15 employees in the corporate office, and about 120 employees altogether. This is a far cry from just two years ago, when there were just two employees. Talk about a small business doing big things! This growth is what motivates and inspires Martin and his team to do their best each day. “Watching your dream come alive... as you sit here and you think about how you started and where you came from... it just makes me happy. There’s a lot of joy there,” Martin said. Martin says his team is a close-knit group that works hard, yet enjoys the work that they do. Employees are given a sense of ownership in their different divisions. Martin prides himself on his lack of interest in micro-managing, pushing his employees to make their own decisions
L-R: Corey Martin accepting the 2018 Small Business Award from Hank Isenberg, then-vice chair of Small Business & Events.
and create their own processes that are within company policy and procedures. For them, this dynamic is crucial to the company’s success. “It’s a family oriented culture. One of the things I wanted to do when I started MartinFederal is that I wanted it to be a place that when you came to work, you enjoyed coming to work... so I worked on the culture. From the get-go, we were very family oriented,” said Martin. “Along with that too, you also want to hire the best of the best. So, we’re also a culture of entrepreneurial spirit.” The MartinFederal team also gives back to the community, frequently donating funds to local walks and homeless shelters. “We have developed a nonprofit called MartinConnects. The company puts funds into the nonprofit once a month, and it’s not just where me and David [David Mathis, Chief Financial & Operations Officer] think the money should go. If we have an employee that has a need [or has a specific nonprofit they would like to support] we contribute… we try to give back, and it has to be meaningful,” Martin said. As the business continues to grow, Martin consistently invests revenue back into the company as he looks to the future. His advice for those looking to start their own small business? Keep your ‘rainy day fund’ well stocked! “They need at least a year and half’s worth of salary in the bank. This is not a get rich quick industry. I don’t think any small business is. I don’t think you can just go open up a business and say ‘hey, I’m here’ and then money starts flowing in. You’re going to need something to fall back on,” he said. ■ Devon Elston Small Business & Events Coordinator
WHAT DO WE DO? WE HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT. TRADITIONAL ACCOUNTING CORPORATE ADVISORY SERVICES TECHNOLOGY AND RISK SOLUTIONS
If you’re wondering why we didn’t just answer with “tax and accounting,” it’s because there’s so much more to it than that. Warren Averett provides you with the assurance you need to trust the numbers—for your business, your family and your future. Our goal is to help you accomplish more of what’s important to you. When you know the important things are handled, you sleep better at night. Learn more at warrenaverett.com.
HR SOLUTIONS FINANCE TEAM SUPPORT PERSONAL SERVICES Alabama | Florida | Georgia
| www.warrenaverett.com
Alabama | Florida | Georgia | www.warrenaverett.com 18
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Alana Parker continues family legacy
by Lydia Pennington
Rocket City Drywall was established in 1985 by Alana Parker’s grandparents, who understood and appreciated a hard day’s work. When Alana purchased the company from her grandfather, she did not deviate from the principles he set in place. In fact, she was recently recognized as the 2019 Alabama Small Business Person of the Year.
RONALD POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Hiring Outside the Box
“Business owners and managers are entering into an age where we have to view ourselves as mentors more than ever before. It is not that foreign; people used to go to work with their father and grandfather and learned work ethic from them. This day, many are not seeing work ethic modeled every day.” – Alana Parker – Her grandfather would pick up people at the mission and say, “If someone wants to work, you give them a job.” This mindset remains part of the company culture as Parker continues to provide opportunities to those who are willing to work hard. Her desire to be intentional to bridge the gap between public and private efforts for workforce development came from her involvement in the CornerStone Initiative and their Jobs for Life program. She said she was hearing from other companies that they couldn’t find the people to work, but she also heard from CornerStone’s clients that they couldn’t find companies to give them a chance. Parker decided to start utilizing resources such as Jobs for Life that are already working with these individuals. “Taking someone beyond an interview or application puts a humanity element back into your staff,” said Parker. “That’s Parker what gives more value to the employer, the company and its employees. You just have to remind yourself that some challenges look different and remember everyone has shortcomings, and not to treat some more harshly knowing that they come from a different background baseline.” Instead of always looking to hire the best, Parker says she also looks for those with the most room for improvement. Then, she says, you have the relationship and loyalty, plus you are as invested in them as they are in you. She admits this sometimes brings challenges, but stresses that Rocket City Drywall does not turn to this type of employment to save on labor costs. For her, the employees she hires have a strong work ethic. “It takes humility to take on a difficult job, and there’s not a fear of hard work among the unemployed and underemployed,” Parker said. “Business owners and managers are entering into an age where we have to view ourselves as mentors more than ever before. It is not that foreign; people used to go to work with their father and grandfather and learned work ethic from them. This day, many are not seeing work ethic modeled every day,” said Parker. She attests that a willingness to mentor, express clear expectations, and continually state expectations is important to creating a strong team. Parker smiles brightly when she shares stories about some of her employees who have overcome great obstacles. One man spent six years in federal prison and was unable to find anyone willing to hire him. His “champion” mentor at Jobs for Life introduced him to Parker. “He had a lot of skills that were valuable; he advanced and within a year had keys to the company,” she said. Another man was on work release, and his wages allowed him to find housing and a vehicle. “The strenuous physical demand ultimately led him to going back on the road as a commercial driver, but he was fiercely loyal, and I am grateful for his time with us,” Parker added. An employee named Quez proudly declared that he just celebrated four years with Rocket City Drywall on April 18. He admits that he lacked direction prior to joining the company, but now says his foundation is set with endless possibilities. Quez has A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
learned how to be on time, save money, and how to get along with other personalities. He said he is now “persistent and consistent”. It is obvious Parker has been a huge influence in his life. He shared that she wants him to continually improve and work up to greater challenges, even if that means he goes elsewhere. “That’s the person she is; she wants me to do better,” he said. Parker emphasized that some of her employees live in dangerous neighborhoods. A scar across Quez’s cheek is evidence to this depiction, as only a year ago four people were shot outside his home during an afternoon barbecue, with one of the bullets grazing him. Parker acknowledges that these types of challenges look different from other employees, but she’s reminded that they are not unique to them. She spoke on the importance of leadership and self-reflection – and fair treatment of an employee who is entry level. “You have to value them all equally; they are all human lives,” Parker said assertively. She does admit that there are real issues to address to get to a base line, but once employees such as Quez reach this level, they bring as much to the company as Rocket City has given to them. Alana Parker is a humble leader who is making a difference in the lives of others within our community. We’re certain her grandfather would be proud to see that his values that helped build Rocket City Drywall are rooted in her own philosophies. “Find people who are ready to accept the challenge when given the opportunity and offer them strong wages to support their family,” she said. “It matters!” ■ Lydia Pennington Industry Relations Director
Quez pictured with Parker jun 2019 initiatives
21
Hiring Outside the Box, continued
Second Chance Success Sharing some of the hiring stories from the recent Second Chance Job Fair
V
WENDY REEVES
anessa Watkins walked a couple of miles to get to the Second Chance Job Fair. She left with a new housekeeping job at Candlewood Suites. “I saw it on the news, Channel 48,” Watkins said. “I went on the website and scrolled down the list of who was going to be there, and I saw Candlewood on there and decided to go.” Jennifer Middleton hired Watkins on the spot. Middleton is the director of sales for Candlewood Suites Huntsville-Research Park. “I came through the door, went straight to (Middleton) and told her she was the reason I came and that I needed a job ASAP,” Watkins said. “I’ve been working all my life, and this is a perfect fit for me.” Watkins said she is happy with the results. “I love my job, and I’m not going anywhere. This is a blessing to me, and I come to work faithfully because it’s the best thing I’ve ever had,” Watkins said. “When I leave this earth, it will be L-R: Vanessa Watkins and Jennifer Middleton of Candlewood Suites. from here.” Watkins is one of many people who found work through the ties are endless in the hospitality industry, from housekeepers to Second Chance Job Fair, held on February 27 at the Jaycee Comengineers. munity Building in Huntsville. She said Candlewood’s parent company, the IHG Group, spon“Many of the people in Huntsville who want to work already sors the IHG Academy, offered to motivated individuals from any do,” Middleton said. “Our unemployment rate is low, and finding background who want to get a head start in their hospitality capeople to work is hard.” reer. Middleton mentors underserved youth at area high schools “When the opportunity to participate in the Second Chance Job where she talks about her job and how the industry offers reFair came along, I knew there’s no better industry for someone to sources for them to stay in school and graduate. She also finds out get a chance in because I know so many success stories,” Middleif they would enjoy a career in hospitality. ton said. Whether it’s a college student who isn’t sure what they want to She believes Watkins is on track to be added to that list of sucdo, or someone who needs an opportunity, she says the possibilicess stories. 22
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
L-R: Judy Upton of LifeSouth talks with a candidate at the Second Chance Job Fair.
Other Hires Judy Upton, who handles human resources for LifeSouth Community Blood Center, says the Second Chance Job Fair was among the best in which she’s ever participated. She was there looking for phlebotomists. “I was pleasantly surprised at the diverse group of candidates,” Upton said. “We met people with everything from GEDs to master’s
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
degrees, and I was quite impressed with the traffic. It was a very well organized career fair.” Upton received several resumes at the fair and made three conditional offers of employment. She said one of the new employees is working out, but she still has four positions she’s trying to fill. “It’s tough right now because there is a lot of competition. From the medical perspective, Huntsville is huge so one thing is we try to be competitive with wages.” She says finding candidates who can work a schedule that varies beyond traditional work hours is hard. Upton says she is looking forward to the next Second Chance Job Fair. Cassie Watson Scott says her experience with the Second Chance Job Fair was not what she expected — in a good way. “It was a huge success for us,” said Scott, director of Corporate Development for Quadrus Corporation and Capital Management Services. She hired three of four new employees that have worked out from the job fair. “The three are still with us and one is a fast track for a lead position,” Scott said. “One is working with us as a second job, and we are trying to figure out if we have something internally she can do so she can work both jobs with us.” – continued on page 24
jun 2019 initiatives
23
Continued from page 23 –
She says she enjoyed the atmosphere at the job fair that included competing businesses doing the same type of community outreach. “We wanted to make sure we were helping those who walked in the door. If someone didn’t fit with us, we knew exactly where to point them to,” Scott said, “and it was neat to be a part of an event where everyone in the room had the same focus, so it was difScott ferent in a good way.” Scott says the janitorial business is hard work, but they are able to provide employees with benefits like helping them prepare to take a General Education Diploma (GED) course or learn how to better budget their money. “We have one employee who is no longer in Section 8 housing because of those extra benefits we try to provide to help our employees have a better a life,” she said. If it hadn’t been for the job fair, Scott says one new employee probably wouldn’t have been given an opportunity. “We took the chance because he came to us from the Second Chance Job Fair … He has been fantastic, and we would have missed out on the opportunity to have him with us if not for the fair,” she said. “We are already excited about the next one because we’re looking to hire even more people by ramping up our contracts.” Patricia A. Dosdall, a senior tax analyst with H&R Block says her office found several prospects through the Second Chance Job Fair. “This was a wonderful opportunity for employers and applicants, as it enabled us to have one-on-one time with possible applicants,” Dosdall said. “We will be contacting those interested in the August-September time frame when recruitment opens for Tax Season 2020.” The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is planning another Second Chance Job Fair on August 14. We’ll share more details soon. ■ Wendy Reeves Contributing Writer
CMS employees meet with candidates at the Second Chance Job Fair.
24
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Packaging Colonial has over 28 years experience in the Packaging and Multi-Meda industry. Through our long history of satisfied clients, we have learned that meeting deadlines is critical in the success of our customers. To that end, we are staffed 7 days a week in production so that we are available to meet the most demanding of deadlines and offer the widest range of products. From Digi Paks, Wallets, Slip Cases, Booklets, Retail Cartons to Cassette Wraps, Laminated Box Wraps, etc., we are equipped to handle it all. Visit our website for additional information
Our Perspective is Excellence
1505 The Boardwalk Huntsville, Alabama 35816 256.539.2279 www.colonialpmp.com
G7 Master Printer Certified GMI Certified Print Facility
WORKFORCE & EDUCATION
Senior Sprint Connecting high school graduates with a career
M
ay 1, 2019 brought a turning point in the lives of many local high school seniors. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber hosted the Senior Sprint Career Fair, which was the first type of career fair in our county’s history to focus on graduating high school seniors. The vision was to create an environment for students that was full of hope and expectation. The inaugural Career Fair welcomed 161 students from 11 of the 13 high schools in Madison County. Some schools provided transportation for their students, while others allowed seniors to take a College and Career Day from school and drive themselves. The first students walked in the doors at 8 a.m. and the race for personal success quickly started!
“This was a great opportunity for our students. So many were just beaming as they walked out with a job.” – Christy Hubbard Career Coach for Huntsville City Schools
We hosted 56 companies and organizations from various fields, including Huntsville Hospital, Publix, C4 Connections (an AT&T subsidiary), Vulcan, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and Candlewood Suites, to name a few. J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College was our inaugural Gold Sponsor. Calhoun Community College attended along with other excellent credential-granting organizations such as Huntsville STEAM Works and KTech. Several organizations reported they had an outstanding experience and look forward to attending next year. More than 90 percent of the students were offered interviews. Of that group, more than 35 percent were offered jobs on the spot! Students walked in confident and left with actual careers starting the week after graduation. Statistics across Madison County show that 34 percent of students do not go to college directly after high school. The aim is to create a new statistic in the county that reflects the number of students who effectively transition to a sustainable wage post-graduation. This statistic, coupled with the 66 percent of students who traditionally attend college after
WE CREATE CHEMISTRY THAT MAKES CLEAN AIR LOVE VEHICLES. Smart solutions to the challenges of the future
Protecting the atmosphere from harmful emissions is the focus of innovative solutions within BASF’s portfolio. New engine technologies, tightening emission regulations and fluctuating precious metals prices create emissions control challenges. We help make our customers more successful with innovative, cost-effective solutions to meet the toughest emissions control regulations. We are the Emissions Professionals. Located in Huntsville, Alabama www.basf.us/alabama or www.catalysts.basf.com
26
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Students meet with companies and learn about career opportunities at the Senior Sprint.
“Out of the seven students who turned in a permission slip and attended from Hazel Green, two decided to join the military, two got jobs, and one had two or three interviews set up.” – Janell Jagielski College & Career Coach at Hazel Green High School
leaving high school, can provide a holistic perspective to our county’s graduates. Our county has amazing plans under our three School Superintendents and Career Technical Education Directors to ensure that more students are well equipped and certified prior to graduation. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is proud to partner with our school systems and rally viable organizations around their efforts, and the Senior Sprint was a reflection of what can happen when we work together for a specific cause. In a post-event survey, more than 84 percent of the organizations that joined us said this was a very important event for our region. The Senior Sprint Career Fair sought to use collaboration and creativity to focus on developing a younger workforce and it is clear that the first year was a success. We look forward to Senior Sprint 2020! ■ Kent Ballard Workforce Education Specialist, Chamber Foundation
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
27
Redstone Arsenal:
Leadership Profile
Lt. Gen. James Dickinson, SMDC / ARSTRAT
T
he man leading Army space and missile defense grew up thinking about a career in the Air Force. Lt. Gen. James H. Dickinson, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, wanted to become a pilot. “I planned to join Air Force ROTC at Colorado State University and study engineering,” he said. The youngest of four, Dickinson planned to follow his father who was a pilot in training in the Air Force during the Korean War era, but fate had other plans. “After meeting with the CSU Air Force ROTC office, I happened to run into the Army ROTC commander who was standing in the hall. He talked with me about the Army and said he could give me a four-year scholarship immediately. I said yes, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.” An outdoorsman at heart, Dickinson said the military lifestyle appealed to him. He immersed himself in CSU’s Army ROTC program and quickly discovered his passion.
“The ROTC program set me on my life’s course,” Dickinson said. “It served as a foundation for my next 33-plus years of Army service.” Dickinson started his military career in 1985 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant following his graduation from CSU with a degree in engineering. Key assignments include serving as the deputy of the Inspector General in the Office of the Secretary of the Army and as the commanding general for both the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. He also commanded the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Eighth United States Army, and he deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Dickinson first served at Redstone Arsenal as the director for Test at the Missile Defense Agency. He then served as the chief of staff of U.S. Strategic Command before returning to Alabama to assume command of USASMDC/ARSTRAT and JFFC IMD. Today, Dickinson leads a team that develops and provides lead28
initiatives jun 2019
ing-edge space, missile defense and high altitude forces and capability for the Warfighter and for the Army, wherever and whenever required. “With the Army in the midst of the largest modernization effort since the end of the Vietnam War, the demand for space, missile defense and high altitude capabilities continues to grow,” Dickinson said. After more than two years in command, Dickinson said he has seen countless examples of how his command’s strength lies in its agile and adaptive space and missile defense workforce. The roughly 2,800 Soldiers and civilians perform missions in 23 different locations in 11 time zones around the world. From trained and ready space and missile defense forces, to pioneering doctrine and concepts, to innovative research and development, the USASMDC/ARSTRAT team tackles readiness and modernization efforts every day. “Together, their hard work, ingenuity and perseverance enable us to overcome any challenge,” he said. “The common link uniting our team is a commitment to defending our nation and its allies.” Like USASMDC/ARSTRAT with its worldwide missions, Dickinson’s military career has taken him across the globe, both in combat zones and to the Pentagon. Having lived in many different communities, he finds the Tennessee Valley region, with its long history of support to the warfighter and veterans, one of the best places to live for both active duty and retired military. “I had always heard how great it was to live in the Huntsville/ Madison County area,” he said. “It lives up to that billing and more. The sense of community, the genuine Southern hospitality, the respect for the military, it doesn’t get any better.” Dickinson said that the community demonstrates a constant drumbeat of support for active duty military, veterans and Gold Star Families. “Look at Armed Forces Week and Veterans Week, I had never seen anything like it in my career until I came to Huntsville,” he said. “This community never forgets the sacrifices our service members and their families have made.” ■ Contributed by Lira Frye, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
COMMON GROUND
In Another Person’s Shoes Business owners, community leaders participate in poverty simulation to experience what others often face
T
ake a moment and put yourself in this scenario: your spouse walks out, leaves you with $10 to your name, a 14-year-old daughter, a 17-year-old son, and $800 worth of bills due in a matter of days. You’re not employed. This is a crisis, but you must act quickly to keep your family afloat. This is what the Fuentes family faced in real life. They are one of the families portrayed in an Executive Poverty Simulation, an exercise recently organized by the Committee of 100, Leadership Greater Huntsville, and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. The groups invited local business, community, and elected leaders to participate in the simulation on April 23 in the gymnasium of the Downtown Rescue Mission. Participants were assigned to different families, all facing various challenges including job losses, mounting bills, medical crises, and homelessness. The biggest problem many faced, though, was a lack of transportation – which is the reality for many in our community who struggle with poverty. On that day, the Fuentes family consisted of Justin Johnson of Google Fiber; Joshua Baker, an intern for the City of Huntsville; and Makinsie Gifford of Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty. The three put their heads together to consider the best ways to use the limited resources they had, in the few hours of the exercise that represented a month in the family’s lives. These included decisions on medical bills, buying food, medicine, and more. They used a limited number of transportation passes with every stop they had to make, too, which helped them understand this hurdle further. The intent of the simulation was to help participants see what people in our community face on a daily basis. Some are their employees or co-workers. These struggles impact their ability not only to work, but often just to get to work. “It breaks that misconception that this is chosen, or there are homeless individuals who just aren’t working hard enough,” said Joshua Baker. “The extent that you have to be resilient, the extent that you have to be strategic to survive homelessness, is a real challenge.”
30
initiatives jun 2019
L-R: Joshua Baker, Makinsie Gifford, and Justin Johnson read about the Fuentes family’s real-life struggle and consider their next steps.
Lyndsay Ferguson, President and CEO of Leadership Greater Huntsville, led the exercise. We asked her what she observed among all of the families. “It’s interesting to see what decisions people make first, where they go first, and what they try to do,” said Ferguson. “So, as they go through the weeks, they also start to realize that they may need additional resources that they weren’t aware of in the first week, and they also realize that some of those resources have diminished because they didn’t engage with them early on, and now they don’t have those same things available to them.” Unfortunately, the exercise didn’t end well for the Fuentes family. During weeks three and four, they had their utilities shut off. Their chairs were turned over in the gym, symbolizing that they were evicted, and they moved to the homeless shelter. They were not the only family to be evicted during the simulation either. After the exercise, community groups gave feedback on what families could have done differently, that may have brought a different outcome. Participants also learn about the lack of cohesion among these agencies. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
EMILY ROGERS
The chairs that are turned over represent families who were evicted during the exercise.
Easier Access for Help Downtown Rescue Mission is establishing a Community Resource Center that could help solve some of this disconnect, putting many federal, state, and partner agencies in one location. These include agencies that can help with food assistance, veterans’ benefits, job readiness, and GED classes. Huntsville Hospital is already visiting the Mission with its mobile medical unit, and another group, the Bearded Warriors, comes to provide free haircuts to people living in the shelter. “The resource center is designed to reduce the barriers between
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
the homeless population and the community services they need,” said Jennifer Geist, Senior Director of Community Partnerships and Resources. “We plan to open it in early summer, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.” Geist says the Mission has reallocated a few staff members to be dedicated to the resource center. “This is a great reorganization that is happening,” Geist added. “We are committed to making this successful.” ■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications
jun 2019 initiatives
31
2019 Best Places To Work® Awards
MICRO CATEGORY
On April 30, winners of Huntsville and Madison County’s 2019 Best Places To Work® were announced during a luncheon at the VBC. The winners are determined by employee surveys, calculated by Quantum Workplace. Categories are set by employee count: Micro (10-24 local employees); Small (25-50 local employees); Medium (51-100 local employees); Large (101-250 local employees); and X-Large (251+ local employees). Thank you to our hosts, Laura Huckabee-Jennings, our Vice Chair of Small Business and Events, and Dennis Madsen, Long Range Planner for the City of Huntsville. Congratulations to all the winners and contenders, and thank you for continuing to support this event. Most importantly, thank you for creating a good workplace culture to support your employees! ■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications
SMALL CATEGORY
GOLD: Crossflow Technologies, Inc.
GOLD: Matt Curtis Real Estate, Inc.
SILVER: Summit Information Solutions, Inc.
BP2W PHOTOS BY HEADSHOT HSV
SILVER: Invariant Corporation
BRONZE: New Beginnings Family Law, P.C.
– continued on page 34 BRONZE: Nesin Therapy Services, P.C. 32
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
You love this town, this neighborhood, this house!
Then you’ll love this bank.
For a great foundation to your new start, come to Progress Bank for your mortgage. You’ll find competitive rates with quick-turn, in-house decisions and closing. But our true value is in welcoming you to our community, our banking family. New beginnings to last a lifetime. Experience Progress.
Birmingham • Decatur • Destin • Florence Huntsville • Inlet Beach • Jones Valley • Madison • Vestavia
myprogressbank.com
Continued from page 32 –
MEDIUM CATEGORY
SILVER: National Children’s Advocacy Center
GOLD: Brockwell Technologies, Inc.
BRONZE: Monte Sano Research Corporation
LARGE CATEGORY
X-LARGE CATEGORY
GOLD: Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation
SILVER: Avion Solutions
SILVER: Integration Innovation Inc. (i3)
BRONZE: IronMountain Solutions
BRONZE: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI)
BP2W PHOTOS BY HEADSHOT HSV
GOLD: IERUS Technologies, Inc.
34
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Population
Madison City of City of Huntsville County Huntsville Madison Metro Area
2010 Census
334,811
180,105 42,938
417,593
2018 Census est.
366,519
199,585
48,861
462,693
9.5%
8.0%
13.8%
10.8%
% Growth
COMMUNITY PROFILE Top Ten Employers: Huntsville & Madison County Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,000* Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,228 NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,500
Households & Income
Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000
17,530
174,639
Avg. Household Income $82,287 $75,789 $115,779
$80,893
SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,746
Per Capita Income
$32,676
Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389
# of Households
As of May 2019
142,253
81,296
$34,232 $33,070 $43,917
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,900
City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 Dynetics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,953 The University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,660 Source: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber *includes on-site contractors
Aerospace & Defense Huntsville/Madison County is home to the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center which combine to drive a thriving aerospace and defense technology industry. More than 43,500 people work at Redstone Arsenal and NASA, managing some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs including missiles, aviation, and space exploration.
Research & Technology For more information, visit:
hsvchamber.org
Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology research park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to nearly 300 companies and 26,500 people involved in technology research and development.
Experience the Difference Risk Consulting for Businesses, Employee Benefits and Individuals
EBSCO Industries is pleased to announce the rebrand of its risk consulting and insurance division to Valent Group. While Fortune 1000 risk consulting experiences have traditionally been reserved for only the largest of companies, we think differently. Middle market businesses, employer benefit groups and individuals deserve the same trusted level of expertise and service. It’s a difference worth experiencing.
valentgroup.com | 256-534-1944
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jun 2019 initiatives
35
HEALTHY WORKPLACE
Creating Good Culture Longtime employees of winning companies tell us what their employers do right
A
s we reflect on the Best Places to Work® Awards, we’re taking a closer look at some of our repeat winners. We talked with some longtime employees at these companies to see why they believe their employers are consistently rated the best. Leslie Pensa wasn’t familiar with engineering services and technology solutions company Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) prior to interviewing with them, but after the first phone call, she felt they were warm, genuine, and excited about her. “Nine years later, I still feel the same way,” she says – even after the company tripled in size. Pensa Gordon Fogg says MTSI has a vision of being an “enduring” company and is 100 percent employee-owned, which helped him make the choice to work there. He says he has stayed at MTSI for the last 11 years because of the highly accessible leadership. Why should someone choose to work at MTSI? Aside from the educational and professional opportunities, Fogg says, “It’s the culture, it’s the leadership, it’s the social aspect of the company... it’s just everything.” As a contract employee, Pamela Thomas said she feels blessed to have been on the same contract with research, development, Fogg and engineering services company Torch Technologies for 12 years. She has faith that Torch will find a new position for her there if her current contract ends. Thomas said she thinks of Torch as a family. “A lot of people go above and beyond knowing they’re a part of this – you’re an employee-owner,” she says, since Torch is 100 percent employee-owned. At Torch, Thomas said she feels her voice matters. She said the company also surveys employees and implements chang36
initiatives jun 2019
es accordingly, “proving they have an invested interest in making you better.” Torch has been able to keep the same company culture that Thomas fell in love with when she first started. Through planned events like bowling leagues and family movie nights, employees have plenty of fun together. “We enjoy you, and we want you to enjoy us,” she says of the culture. Bill Burkard was approached by former Thomas coworker Brad Hill to join his new dynamic system engineering contracting firm, Hill Technical Solutions, Inc. (HTSI). Burkard came on as the company’s first full-time employee and has remained with HTSI for seven years because of the company’s values. In a highly technical industry, Burkard says, “We hire to values first, and technical abilities second.” That’s how firmly they believe in their company values. He says HTSI implements policies to help team members have a good work-life balance. “Integrity” is the word Burkard used most, particularly when referring to comBurkard pany founders Brad and Stacey Hill. “It’s really an honor, it’s a pleasure – I really consider it to be a blessing to be working for Brad and Stacey,” he said. “As far as I am concerned, I have no reason to ever leave HTSI.” Huntsville is a great place to live, work, and play thanks to the great companies that have chosen to be part of our community. Thanks to Modern Technology Solutions, Torch Technologies, and Hill Technical Solutions for consistently making Huntsville a better place! ■ Amberly Ware Resource Desk Coordinator A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Proclamation Signing Monday, June 24 ■ 8:30 a.m. ■ Veterans Memorial, downtown Huntsville (Rain location: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber)
AUSA Iron Mike Golf Tournament Monday, June 24 ■ 10:30 a.m. ■ Valley Hill Country Club Register at bit.ly/AUSAgolf2019
AFC Concert in the Park Monday, June 24 ■ 6:30 p.m. ■ Big Spring Park, downtown Huntsville (Rain location: VBC South Hall) Fort Benning | Maneuver Center of Excellence Band ■ Fireworks at dark (weather permitting) Fireworks Sponsors – Presenting: Lockheed Martin Corporation; Gold: Brockwell Technologies
Community Musical Performance Tuesday, June 25 ■ 7 p.m. ■ Bob Jones High School, Madison Fort Benning | Maneuver Center of Excellence Band Check for availability of tickets: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, MWR office on Redstone Arsenal, Madison City Hall, or the Hogan Family YMCA on Park Square Lane.
Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon Wednesday, June 26 ■ Noon ■ VBC North Hall ■ Register at bit.ly/AFC-lunch Presenting Sponsor – Northrop Grumman Corporation
Community Bike Ride Saturday, June 29 ■ 9–11 a.m. ■ Redstone Arsenal ■ Register at bit.ly/AFCbikeride
SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. For updates – as well as information on area attractions with military discounts – please visit bit.ly/AFC2019HSV or contact Austin Bullock @ 256-535-2031 or abullock@hsvchamber.org.
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
STA FF Executive Staff
Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Chambliss, executive assistant / economic development coordinator
Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Katelyn Sides Baker, workforce recruitment director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, economic development project director
Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Austin Bullock, program manager
Marketing & Communications Claire Aiello, vice president Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer
Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, IOM, vice president Devon Elston, coordinator
Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Kim Weeks, accounting specialist – receivables Lori Warner, accounting specialist – payables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor Amberly Ware, administrative assistant
Membership Amber Greenwood, vice president, investor relations Kristy Drake, director, investor relations & ChamberON Donna McCrary, retention manager Richard Bigoney, account executive Tina Blankenship, account executive Keith Johnson, account executive
Chamber Foundation Georgina Chapman, workforce director Kent Ballard, workforce education specialist
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber 225 Church Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 | fax 256-535-2015
HSVchamber.org
Associated Organizations
theschoolsfoundation.org uah.edu/sbdc
38
initiatives jun 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
FOR MORE INFORMATION: William Stroud | 256-428-0405 | wstroud@triadproperties.com
EARN 50x
the National Average Savings Rate with a *
Brighter Day Savings Account Get 5.09% APY on balances up to $2,500 and keep earning with 0.95% on balances over $2,500.
Visit a branch or open online.
800-234-1234 | redfcu.org Must be eligible for membership and open a share savings account in order to join Redstone Federal Credit Union and obtain any product or service. Minimum balance of $5.00 is required to open and be maintained in the share savings account at all times to join. Fees and other restrictions may apply. Must have online banking user name and PIN/password to open account online. Only one Brighter Day Savings Account is allowed per member. There is no minimum balance required to open the Brighter Day Savings Account. As of May 1, 2019, the annual percentage yield (APY) for the Brighter Day Savings Account is 5.09% and is subject to change monthly. There is no minimum balance required to earn the disclosed APY, but the maximum balance to earn 5.09% APY is $2,500. Any deposits beyond $2,500 will earn 0.95% APY, which is subject to change monthly. The APY is accurate as of the last dividend declaration date. Fees and other conditions could reduce earnings on the account. Please contact Redstone for current share savings rate information. *The rate for our Brighter Day Savings Account is 50x the national average at 5.09% APY, based on the national average of savings account rates published in the FDIC Weekly National Rates and Rate Caps, accurate as of 5/1/2019. https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/rates/ ÂŽ
Federally insured by NCUA