Initiatives - June 2023

Sponsored by

GIFTING

UAH BREAKS GROUND ON JONES ENGINEERING BUILDING

Focused On You

When it comes to managing the challenges facing your business, it’s critical to partner with a legal team that has a sophisticated understanding of your goals. As a full-service law firm with extensive experience in general litigation, product liability litigation, pharmaceutical litigation, class action, labor and employment law, government affairs, public finance, utilities law, and the representation of municipalities, our attorneys can address the unique needs of every client. At Bradley, we’re focused on providing you with innovative solutions, dependable responsiveness and a deep commitment to success.

Trust one of the best orthopedic and spine teams in America while you experience your care in our new Orthopedic & Spine Tower at Huntsville Hospital.

huntsvillehospital.org/ost

Let’s get you doing the things you love.

new chamber members

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Joined in March

Advance America

Affinity Recruiting and Consulting

Alabama Court Reporting, Inc.

AR Business Consulting, LLC

Bomani Solutions

Capital One Business Cards & Payments

Crown Castle

Dave & Buster’s Everbee’s Bright, LLC

gener8tor

Globe Life Huntsville

GRAMI (Getting Real About Mental Illness)

GSA Focus, Inc.

High Point Climbing & Fitness - Lincoln Mill

Huntsville City Football Club (HCFC)

INTEGRITYOne Partners Inc.

JAMIS Software Corp.

Jessica Lee Photography

Matlock Realty Group

RightDirection Technology Solutions, LLC

Second Mile

Signal 88 Security of Huntsville

Square Foot Consulting, LLC

Stars and Strikes

Talentscale

The Rockwell

Thermal Service USA

Virtual VP, Inc.

W.H. Councill Community Development Corporation

Zellus Human Resources, Inc.

If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and the community, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is the place to start. Contact Crystal Baker, Membership Retention Specialist: 256-535-2039 or cbaker@hsvchamber.org.

Joined in April

333 Designs

ADT Commercial

All Dry Services of Huntsville

Apollo Ridge Apartments

ASI Recruiting, Inc.

Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group

Butler Snow LLP

CE Solutions Inc.

Community Free Dental Clinic

CSI Erosion ALA Inc.

DaikyoNishikawa USA, Inc. (DNUS)

Dyestone Hospitality Group

Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers

Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers - Providence

Floor & Decor

GovConPay

Health & Wellness Center of Huntsville, powered by WeCare tlc

Hedge Security Solutions, LLC

Jay Newkirk Business Consulting, LLC

M.A.D Youth Training

Madison Core Laboratories

MidCity Residential, LLC

Rice Signs LLC

RimTyme

SS&L Architects

Walton’s Southern Table

Wilcock Builders

Wise Mind Empowerment & Leadership

ZLA Solutions, Inc

Become a Chamber Member

In addition to investing in the economic growth of the entire region, as a Chamber member, you receive a variety of important benefits:

■ Build business relationships, create partnerships, and grow your business

■ Listing in the online Membership Directory

■ Specially designed professional development programs to grow your talent and strengthen your business

■ Brand exposure through the Chamber’s multimedia platforms to fellow member companies and the region’s business community

■ Priority communications to keep you updated on the latest business news and information impacting your business

Mission: To prepare, develop, and promote our community for economic growth.

HSVchamber.org

(see staff listing on page 38)

Chamber members: You are encouraged to contribute ideas for our publications. Please send items to comms@hsvchamber.org

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber maintains editorial control.

on the cover

Photo by Mike Mercier / UAH

editorial staff

publisher Chip Cherry, CCE

editor Claire Aiello

editorial designer Kristi Sherrard

contributing writers

Kayla Brown

Lucia Cape, CCE

Annie Davis

Ashley Engles-Ross

Lyndsay Ferguson

Mike Ward, CCE advertising

Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org

Lakeysha Brown lbrown@hsvchamber.org

HUNTSVILLE MADISON COUNTY ALABAMA

Military, space, telecommunications, biotechnology, diversified manufacturing, and a variety of emerging specialties provide challenging work in delightful surroundings. The area enjoys a favorable cost of living and quality of life. Mountains, lakes, woodlands, and the Tennessee River accommodate numerous recreational activities. A temperate climate enhances the season for outdoor sports, including world-class golf, hiking, biking, and fishing. Major concerts, Broadway and symphony performances, extensive permanent collections, and traveling exhibitions contribute to a wonderful way of life.

Chamber

feature stories

COVER

GIFTING A LEGACY

a message from chip cherry

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders, and Friends:

If you are like me, you need to take a break from the day-to-day activities to appreciate your blessings. We recently hosted a group of out-of-town community leaders who wanted to learn how we were able to create such a dynamic community. Prior to that visit, our community hosted the Leadership Alabama Class. People want to learn about the secret sauce of our success.

I believe the core of our success is comprised of two things – focusing on the possibilities and a focus of what’s in the collective best interest. Believe it or not, not everyone approaches challenges and opportunities the way we do here. The difference between beginning the conversation with “we can’t do it because” and “we can do it this way or combine these two ideas” may seem small. However, when you focus your energy in a positive way it makes a huge difference. No one is on the defensive and, in most cases, the conversation gains energy. The other core driver is leadership – having people who are more focused on enhancing and growing our community than they are on taking credit. These two subtle differences, when coupled with amazing public and private sector teams building on the foundations laid by our predecessors, yield results!

We celebrate all those who participated in the Best Places to Work® program and offer congratulations to the winners. Being open to secure feedback from your employees is a humbling experience. Using what you learn from the experience is the hallmark of a world class organization. See the companies who won on pages 3336. If your company hasn’t participated in Best Places to Work® yet, I encourage you to join in the process when we kick it off again in December.

I have shared in previous letters my admiration and appreciation for those who serve and have served our country in the Armed Services as well as those who support them in the roles of civil servants, contractors, and most of all the silent service (no, not the submarine force) – their families. I grew up in the waning years of the Vietnam War in Tidewater, VA. The MIA-POW bracelets my classmates wore were not something they picked up in a novelty store, and the names on those bracelets were those of their fathers or members of their father’s squadron or division. I will never forget how badly those returning home were treated. People failed to realize the difference between those who were implementing policy and those who developed it. Thanks in large part to our Veterans, we respect those who serve our country in the Armed Forces. Thank you to all those who serve, have served, and those who support them! I encourage you to join us during Armed Forces Celebration Week June 25–July 1 as we celebrate these brave women and men!

I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon.

Chip Cherry, CCE President & CEO Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Executive Committee & Board of Directors 2023

Executive Committee

Lynn Troy, Board Chair – Troy7, Inc.

Sameer Singhal, Chair-Elect – CFD Research Corporation

Greg Brown, Immediate Past Chair – Brown Precision, Inc.

Ron Poteat, Board Chair, Chamber Foundation

Wayne Sisco, Secretary/Treasurer – Redstone Federal Credit Union

Jeff Samz, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Workforce –Huntsville Hospital

Michelle Jordan, Vice Chair, Economic Inclusion & Diversity – TARCOG

Ronnie Chronister, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs –Lockheed Martin Corporation

Beth Sippel, Vice Chair, HREGI – Synovus

Blake Bentley, Vice Chair, Investor Relations – SportsMED

Jason Puckett, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications – Toyota Alabama

Dr. Karockas Watkins, Vice Chair, Small Business – Ability Plus, Inc.

Jeff Gronberg, Liaison, Redstone Regional Alliance – deciBel Research, Inc.

Brett Crain, Chair-Appointed – Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc.

Jami Peyton, Chair-Appointed – Canvas, Inc.

John Watson, Chair-Appointed – Torch Technologies

Mayor Tommy Battle, Ex-officio Member – City of Huntsville

Mayor Paul Finley, Ex-officio Member – City of Madison

Chrm. Mac McCutcheon, Ex-officio Member – Madison Co. Commission

Chip Cherry CCE, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Elected board

Ted Baudendistel, InterFuze Corporation

David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C.

Penny Billings, Cadence Bank

Mark Brazeal, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM)

Thomas Busby, SouthState Bank

Katie Comer, Meta Platforms, Inc.

Michael Cox, Raytheon Technologies

Dr. Patti Dare, Davidson

Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc.

Tyler Evans, Aerojet Rocketdyne

Kevin Fernandez, L2 Mindset

Greg Fortier, SAIC

Owen Franklin, Blue Summit Supplies

Dr. Greg Gaddy, Five Stones Research Corporation

Greg Hall, Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT)

Scott Hall, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.

Ginger Harper, First Horizon

Josh Herren, Yulista

Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc.

Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Transcend, The Fearless Company

Lincoln Hudson, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Tyce Hudson, Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC

Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions

Sean Kelly, Regions Bank

Tim King, Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI)

Clint Kirkland, United Community Bank

Rich Kretzschmar, Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3)

James Lackey, Parsons

Todd May, KBR

Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Chrystal Morgan, The Boeing Company

Collin Orcutt, Schoel Engineering Company, Inc.

Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc.

Zack Penney, Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi

Sharné Rice, U.S. Army

Alicia Ryan, LSINC Corporation

Charlie Sealy, Sealy Management Company, Inc.

Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC

Mitch Stevison, Mercury Systems, Inc.

Nilmini Thompson, Systems Products and Solutions, Inc.

Mark Vaporis, Intrepid

Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

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community highlights

COMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO

Lockheed Martin celebrates 60 years in Huntsville

Lockheed Martin recently celebrated 60 years of driving growth and innovation from its Huntsville, Ala. campus. Located in Cummings Research Park, Lockheed Martin now has a workforce of 1,800 employees here and additional facilities across multiple north Alabama sites.

Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering proven results and high performance to support mission readiness for the U.S. Armed Forces and government agencies. The company has been trusted for decades in the Huntsville community, supporting U.S. Department of Defense and government missions like homeland missile defense, hypersonic strike, military aviation and deep space exploration. In 2022, Lockheed Martin added 200 jobs in north Alabama and is scheduled to open a new missile defense lab later this year in Huntsville.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to be a partner for 21st Century Security missions in this community for the past six decades. Our growing workforce is dedicated to helping ensure our customers stay ahead of evolving threats and deter conflicts,” said Jeff Kepley, vice president of Missile Defense Programs and Huntsville executive site lead at Lockheed Martin. “We remain committed to innovation, investment, and customer and community partnerships here in north Alabama, enabling us to deliver leading technologies with excellence as we enter our next era in Huntsville.”

The company broke ground at 4800 Bradford Drive NW in Huntsville on May 22, 1963. In the early decades, the Lockheed Martin team developed advanced missile defense technologies that are at the foundation of today’s solutions. Six decades later in Huntsville, Lockheed Martin now supports programs including the U.S. Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, Black Hawk helicopter and Future Vertical Lift; Missile Defense Agency’s Next Generation Interceptor, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, and Command and Control Battle Management and Communications system; and NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle as part of the agency’s flagship Mars Sample Return program.

Lockheed Martin is committed to developing a strong talent pipeline across Alabama, investing in key training programs, and supporting our local communities. In 2022, Lockheed Martin employees volunteered nearly 4,600 hours in the state.

Davidson hosts groundbreaking of new global HQ building

Akima to acquire Pinnacle Solutions

Akima, LLC, a premier provider of products and services to federal agencies, announced on April 10 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. (Pinnacle), a leading provider of innovative training and sustainment products and services to defense customers around the globe.

Leveraging a highly skilled workforce, Pinnacle provides aviation operations and maintenance services; flight operations and training services; and develops state-of-the-art training products and services for air, ground, unmanned, and maritime platforms. The specialized capabilities offered by Pinnacle will complement Akima’s portfolio and drive significant value for customers through broader delivery of operations and training capabilities.

Davidson broke ground on its new global headquarters building on May 2, located at 5300 Redstone Gateway.

“To our employees, you’re the ones that got us here,” said Major General John Holly (USA, Ret.), Davidson CEO. “It is your focus on performance excellence every single day that has brought us to the situation where we can accommodate and must have a new, modern facility.”

It will be a 46,000 square-foot, build-to-suit development, and should be complete by early next year.

Davidson supports the Department of Defense with artificial intelligence, missile defense, and cyber security and contracts out to various sectors of our nation’s military.

“Akima and Pinnacle share a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations and delivering exceptional value to our customers, employees, and shareholders,” said Bill Monet, President and CEO of Akima. “Combining Akima’s experience and technical expertise with Pinnacle’s differentiated mission readiness capabilities will enable us to solve our customers’ toughest challenges through innovative technology solutions.”

Make Music Day: June 21

The Huntsville Music Office welcomes everyone in the city to celebrate Make Music Day Huntsville! For the first time ever, Huntsville will join over 1,000 cities in 120 countries around the world throwing citywide music celebrations on June 21.

continued on page 12

Unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone is invited to play music or host performances. Participation is encouraged from all ages, genres and abilities, from indie rock to R&B to a cappella, from music students to professional artists and everything in between. It is open to anyone who wants to take part, and every kind of musician who wants to share music with friends, neighbors, and strangers.

“The most exciting aspect of Make Music Day is that literally anyone who wants to participate can do so,” said Matt Mandrella, Music Officer for the City of Huntsville. “All ages, abilities, genres, styles -- if you want to perform, there’s a venue for you. If you want to throw a concert in your backyard, there are musicians who want to make that happen for you. Whether you want to display your talents or just pull up a chair and listen, there’s a way for you to get involved in the fun. We want to make music happen on every street in Huntsville!”

You can make music at work! If you have a co-worker who sings or plays the guitar, have a little concert in the front lobby.

The goal of Make Music Day Huntsville is to provide an equal platform for musicians of all skill levels, interests and walks of life and to inspire the next generation of musicians. All performances are free and open to the public. More information is published at makemusicday.org/huntsville

Polaris plant ships first all-electric off-road vehicles

Polaris Inc. announced a milestone for its Huntsville, Ala. manufacturing facility in late April. The team shipped the first fully electric RANGER XP Kinetic off-road vehicles to dealerships.

“The RANGER XP Kinetic demonstrates the game-changing performance advantages that an electric powertrain can provide, and we look forward to getting these vehicles into the hands of our dealers and consumers across the country,” said Steve Menneto, president of Off Road at Polaris.

Production began in early April. Polaris plans to take additional orders on the RANGER XP Kinetic this summer.

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Real estate accounting demands a specialized grasp of the industry. Our team of over 40 real estate professionals stays up to date on regulatory changes and strategies concerning real estate taxes to best serve you. Whether you need counsel on developing a feasibility analysis or a cost segregation study, we have you covered.

Mill Creek Elementary Greenpower Racing Team wins national championship

Mill Creek Elementary School of Madison recently took the top prize in its division at the National Greenpower Racing championship. They won the National Championship in the Goblin division.

Mill Creek races three cars, and two ended up in the top 10 in the country. One car took the number one spot while the other finished at number 10. The team’s amazing achievement is a testament to their perseverance and commitment to excellence, along with excellent guidance from their teacher, Ms. Jacqueline Smith.

Contact Cindy in Huntsville for more information on how we can help you.

Cindy.Hill@warrenaverett.com

256.704.6441

“These students have worked so well together since the fall. They come to practice ready to go, listen to each other’s feedback and have cheered each other along the entire season,” said Smith, a National Board Certified Teacher. “This incredible group of students and their supportive families have made this season one to remember. It’s been fun watching the students grow in their confidence and skills since day one.”

The team consists of 14 students in fourth and fifth grades, which competed four times during the 2022-23 season. Greenpower USA is headquartered in Huntsville, AL, but teams across the country participate. The Goblin division is for grades 4-6 and is an opportunity for students to learn critical thinking, effective communication and the basics of driving safety, repair and green power.

The final race of the season took place in late April, and Mill Creek competed against other teams from Alabama as well as Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.

CPA, MTA

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Medical Practice of the Year

Johnson & Hayes PT

Becoming Medical Practice of the Year at the 2022 Small Business Awards was a huge honor for the team at Johnson & Hayes Physical Therapy. Since 2003, J&H PT has stayed committed to providing the community with the care it needs thanks to their highly respected staff at their two locations in Huntsville and Hampton Cove and their two locations in Madison.

J&H PT was founded by Scott Johnson and Todd Hayes in January 2003 with the opening of their Huntsville office. The two would later open a Madison office two years later to reach the growing Madison community. A third location eventually opened in Madison, and most recently they celebrated the grand opening of their Hampton Cove location off Highway 431 in July of 2022.

Johnson and Hayes were childhood friends who played high school and college baseball together. That shared love of sports history mixed with their fair share of sports injuries eventually led to their interest in the physical therapy business. Both would later graduate from the University of Alabama – Birmingham with Master’s degrees in Physical Therapy, and they opened up their first clinic in Huntsville.

“Why wouldn’t you start a company with someone you can trust completely and that you’ve known since 8th grade? We complement each other extremely well,” Johnson said about his partner Hayes.

Their history as friends and business partners runs deep into their business model. Patients of J&H PT typically see “sixfourthree, llc” on their insurance statements after a visit to their provider. Johnson said the story behind that name dates back to their baseball days. In 2022, before they officially opened their first clinic, they needed a name to become incorporated so naturally they chose 6-4-3, which in baseball terms is the way a double play is recorded in the scorebook.

“We quickly came up with the name, not realizing patients would see that name on every visit they’ve ever had at J&H,” Johnson said.

The team at J&H PT makes sure to stay involved in the community as a way to keep their business thriving. They make sure to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities and participate in various Chamber events throughout the year. They are also very active on their social media platforms! Learn more about their business at johnsonandhayes. com

– Kayla Brown

Rocket Fuel

Huntsville creates buzz at Space Symposium

On April 17-20 the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber exhibited at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo. Our delegation participated in more than 25 meetings, working meals, and receptions that connected us with corporate leaders from companies in north Alabama and those with an interest in doing business in the Rocket City. According to the Space Foundation which hosts the event, there were 230 exhibitors and 15,000 attendees. This was the 38th Space Symposium.The event was canceled in 2020 and delayed in 2021 because of COVID.

The delegation included Chamber Board Chair Lynn Troy, Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mike Ward and Lucia Cape from the Chamber staff, and Bob Smith, assistant director of Business Development from the Alabama Department of Commerce. Our booth was staffed by Kayla Brown and Annie Davis from the Chamber.

“The Chamber delegation was very successful as a team,” said Chairman McCutcheon. “During the conversations and meetings, every member contributed to the goal and mission of promoting our local economy and quality of life for employees of the companies.”

Space Symposium provides an opportunity to deepen relationships with existing partners and start conversations with new companies across the civil, commercial, and defense space sectors.

“Our booth was occupied from start to finish,” said Mayor Finley. “And we met with a spectrum of opportunity, from long-time, existing companies in our area looking to grow their presence to targets that we feel are critical to our continued growth success.”

The Chamber held a reception at our booth that attracted nearly 200 attendees from Huntsville-based companies as well as prospects, and we handed out nearly 2,000 giveaways branded with ASmartPlace.com . While the Chamber has attended the Space Symposium for many years, this was only the second year to exhibit. Our presence reflects the increasing diversity of our space economy and the opportunities that such a large and concentrated event provides.

“The booth gives us the flexibility to host meetings with companies who are not exhibiting while reaching attendees who might not have heard of Huntsville before,” said Lucia Cape, senior vice president of economic development for the Chamber. “It also provided a base of operations between meetings and a focal point for our delegation.”

SPACE FOUNDATION_FLICKR

Multi-Purpose

Joe Davis: More Than a Soccer Stadium

untsville City FC is now playing at the beautifully renovated Joe Davis Stadium, with more than a dozen home games remaining in the season. The games have had strong attendance and local soccer fans are excited about watching the team play. But did you know the venue is more than a soccer stadium?

“We have 14 home games in the season, but we’re open 365 days a year,” said Chad Emerson, the team’s managing director of Business Operations. “We definitely want the community to know this is a private event venue, and there are lots of different options on what sorts of outings you can do here.”

There is an agreement in place with Huntsville City Schools for Joe Davis to serve as an additional venue for high school football games this fall, and there are also conversations happening about band competitions, SEC women’s soccer games, company outings, and more.

“We even got a call to host a quinceañera,” Emerson said. “For us, it’s about raising awareness about all the different options for private events. You can come to the field and do sporting events. If you’re in business suits, we have a beautiful hospitality suite with an open-air terrace next to it, with a premium bar.”

Depending on what parts of the stadium you want to use, there is a cost associated with activating the facility. However, hosting a networking event in the Biergarten is easy.

“The Biergarten will be open on match days, but also other days,” said Emerson. “We plan to open that up maybe Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. for people who would like to come and get a drink. These events are super easy to do.”

Groups can potentially also add in tours, walk through the locker room, then out through the tunnel on to the field.

Most of Huntsville City FC’s games are on Fridays and Sundays, but there is also a Wednesday night game in the mix, scheduled for August 9. That was intentional, Emerson said.

“That is during the Space and Missile Defense Symposium, and we scheduled that to correspond with SMD. We’re expecting to have company receptions at the game,” he explained.

The field itself is designed to accommodate American football, soccer, rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee. The field also has washable lines so new markings can be added before the next game. That was strategic as well.

“It is a little more expensive, but the Convention & Visitors Bureau is working with several partners to host and film some games here, and they wouldn’t have done that with several sets of lines on the field,” Emerson said.

For more about hosting an event at Joe Davis Stadium, visit mlsnextpro.com/huntsvillecityfc .

– Claire Aiello

With a capacity of 6,000, Joe Davis Stadium will have additional spaces to accommodate groups for its various events. In addition to soccer, its multi-use fields will be available for football, ultimate frisbee, rugby and lacrosse, and other non-sporting events.

Isaiah Johnston #8, Midfielder

INVESTOR PROFILE

Tell us about yourself and your role with Fite Construction.

I am principle, president and CEO of Fite Building Company. My primary role is business development, new market sectors, culture and succession planning. I recently turned over the chief operating role to a trusted 20+ year team member, and I support him and operations as well.

What projects has your company been working on lately? Radiance Technologies, Huntsville Training Phase II, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, TOC (4 locations), Drake State Workforce Development Center, UAH Campus Commons (July start), Gregory Industries, PolyPlex, Home 2 Suites at Town Madison, Fairfield Inn Decatur, Renasant Bank Decatur, Decatur parking garage, Nucor Steel, Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, and Alabama Craft Training.

What have you gained through your partnership with HREGI?

HREGI gives us as a business the confidence that Huntsville and the Chamber are taking a lead in promoting a coordinating growth for Huntsville and north Alabama. This gives potential new industries the confidence that the Huntsville area will support them as well. We are now, as a community, harvesting the fruits of the intentional efforts led by HREGI. The growth of Huntsville and north Alabama is a direct result of the work and emphasis put on creating a vibrant and receptive environment for high-tech businesses to locate in Huntsville. This is good for all of us.

What is your advice to members who might be considering investing in HREGI?

Invest in proven success initiatives like HREGI. It is good for your business and your children’s and grandchildren’s future, here in north Alabama. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Jack Fite Fite Building Company

Culinary Business of the Year

The Veggie

Having the city’s only 100 percent vegan full service café is just one of the many reasons The Veggie was on our radar for a Small Business Award. The owner and executive chef, Adyre Mason, is a woman of many talents, but her passion for food is something to be admired which is why she and her business were named our Culinary Business of the Year in 2022.

To understand her passion behind her culinary business, it is important to know where she started. At the ripe age of 16, Chef Adyre began her college career. After graduating as Valedictorian of her high school class, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a Master of Engineering degree in Systems Engineering from George Washington University. Her knowledge in science was growing, but her passion behind her work was still feeling unfulfilled. In 2017, she suddenly lost her mother and the emotions she felt from that experience led her to follow her passion in the culinary industry.

Chef Adyre’s love for fresh and original vegan recipes has swayed many reluctant minds in the Rocket City. Her work has been seen all over Huntsville and recently all over the country. In 2022, Chef Adyre was selected to compete on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. The episode was a special vegan-themed episode where she was able to show off and highlight her culinary skills and represent Huntsville in a shining light.

You can find The Veggie in person at Lowe Mill or online at eattheveggie.com. Chef Adyre offers various lunch and dinner options, as well as catering for your events.

– Kayla Brown

Top 15 Employers: Huntsville & Madison County

community profile

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

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. Currently, 44,000 people work at Redstone Arsenal and NASA, managing some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs.

Research & Technology

Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park (CRP) has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology research park in the U.S., CRP is home to 320 companies and 26,500 people involved in technology research and development.

For more information, visit: hsvchamber.org

A new 80,000-square-foot engineering facility is under construction at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and it will be named in memory of Raymond B. Jones, longtime business and community leader and past chairman of the UAH Foundation.

continued on page 22

COVER STORY BY CLAIRE AIELLO

The University broke ground on April 14 in a ceremony that included the UA System Board of Trustees, UAH faculty, many elected and community leaders, and members of the Jones family.

“The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, Chancellor Finis St. John and the UA System leadership understand the significance of a modern facility and what this means to UAH’s future growth, and I want to thank them for their leadership and guidance,” said UAH President Dr. Charles L. Karr. “In an effort championed by Senator Tom Butler, Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama State Legislature appropriated funds to make this needed building a reality, and we will forever be indebted for their commitment to higher education here in Huntsville, especially in the fields of engineering and science. I also want to thank the UAH Foundation, chaired by Dag Rowe, for its significant support. Mr. Jones was a past chairman of this philanthropic body, and because of his leadership, this university was set on a path for exponential growth.”

This construction will be for Phase I of the engineering building project. The facility is being built to the west of the existing Engineering Building, adjacent to the campus lake along John Wright Drive. It includes plans for new construction that will replace the Wernher von Braun Research Hall, which was built in 1964. Phase II is the renovation of the current Engineering Building.

Huntsville and north Alabama comprise both the fastest-growing region of the state and a high-tech hub with a continual need for a highly educated STEM labor force. The new Jones Engineering Building will feature modernized, world-class research and collaborative teaching facilities that will ensure UAH continues to meet the state’s workforce needs. UAH’s College of Engineering is the school’s largest, with more than 2,850 students as well as 90 faculty and staff.

“UAH is known for our talented faculty and students who go on to become some of the brightest leaders in national security, space exploration, healthcare, the arts, and business sectors,” continued Dr. Karr. “Our new engineering building will enhance our students’ experience.”

Karr said 75 percent of UAH’s graduates stay in north Alabama to work in our community.

20-Year Growth Period

The UA System Board of Trustees met at UAH from April 12-14, and the groundbreaking was the final event on their calendar. They authorized construction of the new $62 million engineering building, with funding coming from a variety of sources, including state appropriated funds, gifts through the UAH Foundation, and reserve funds.

This construction will kick off a “20-year period of explosive growth,” according to Stancil Starnes, President Pro Tempore of the Board of Trustees.

“We foresee the day when UAH will be to Huntsville and Alabama what UAB is to Birmingham and Alabama, and what UA is to Tuscaloosa and Alabama,” said Starnes. “The potential of UAH is unrivaled.”

Dr. Shankar Mahalingam, Dean of the UA College of Engineering referred to that potential in his remarks.

“The Jones Engineering Building will help transform education and research at UAH. It will serve as a centerpiece for UAH, enabling us to recruit the very best and brightest students from all 67 counties in our state, from states across the nation, and beyond,” he said. “It will enable us to graduate students with bachelors, masters, and

continued on page 24

L-R: Alabama State Senator Tom Butler & Dr. Chuck Karr

L-R: Stancil Starnes & Lisa Yokley

L-R: Charger Blue & UAH employee Caroline Aiello

PhDs, to contribute to filling the rapidly growing workforce needs in our region.”

“This building will serve as a beacon for that young child growing up in Alabama, dreaming about pursuing a career in engineering to help make the world a better place for everyone around her,” Dr. Mahalingam added.

Gratitude for Jones Family

All who spoke offered gratitude to the family of Ray Jones. Several of Jones’ children, grandchildren, and extended family members were in attendance.

“When I arrived in Huntsville 16 months ago, Ray Jones was one of the very first people to meet me, embrace me, and make me feel welcome here,” Dr. Karr said. “I considered him a friend and I miss him dearly. UAH is forever grateful for your loved one and your family’s generosity to our University. Your father and grandfather’s name will be enshrined in our history.”

Lisa Yokley, daughter of Ray Jones, accepted a resolution on behalf of the Jones family.

“As was stated at Daddy’s funeral, he wore many hats. He loved God, he loved his family, he loved our country, he loved our community, and one of his very favorite hats was UAH,” said Yokley. “He began serving on the UAH Foundation Board in 1985 and was still participating and involved at his death last summer. He and mother loved all the activities they did, and events they attended associated with UAH. This is particularly special to our family and all because it feels fitting.”

– Claire Aiello

The Jones family and others in attendance at the event.

MIKE MERCIER / UAH

MIKE MERCIER / UAH

Redstone Profile:

BG Christine Beeler, Army Contracting Command

Army Contracting Command (ACC) Soldiers and Army civilians enable predictive logistics and precision sustainment through contracting solutions in support of the Army and unified land operations worldwide.

Headquartered at Redstone Arsenal and commanded by Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler, ACC is a major subordinate command of Army Materiel Command comprised of a subordinate one-star command, six major contracting centers, and eight contracting support brigades with approximately 6,000 employees supporting over 100 permanent locations worldwide.

As the Army’s principal buying agent, ACC officials support Army readiness and modernization by using best practices and expert-level oversight to provide warfighters with premier contracting support. The command procures everything from clothing, bullets and bombs to tanks, trucks, and aircraft. Every day around the world the ACC team of acquisition civilian and military personnel enables operational contracting in a variety of theaters and contingency operations, ensuring Soldiers have what they need to be successful.

ACC enterprise executed approximately $97B with more than 128,000 contracting actions in fiscal 2022 to deliver people, readiness, and modernization outcomes to the Army. That translates to 83 percent of all Army contracts, 23 percent of Defense Department contracts and 14 percent of all federal agency contracts.

“There is a uniqueness to what this command does,” said Beeler who assumed command of ACC in June 2021. “One day we are working to improve living conditions for our Soldiers and families, and the next day we could be working with our allies in European Command to support operations in the Ukraine. Our ability to provide accountable and credible business options with agility and precision

has allowed us to maintain our position as the Army’s premier buying agent of choice.”

ACC contracts awarded to American small businesses resulted in a $1.93B increase over the previous fiscal year to the small-disadvantaged business program. The ACC was designated as the DoD’s lead procurement activity for the international COVID response and to date has awarded over $84B in contracts for vaccines, therapeutics and facility expansions to enable domestic manufacturing of commodities that may be required during any future health crisis. Other major accomplishments by the ACC enterprise include $1.6B for Operation Allies Welcome, $615.1M toward Ukraine operations and another $649M toward the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

“Army Contracting Command’s success stems from our diversity of thought and experiences that, when combined with creative thinking and innovation, improve our effectiveness,” Beeler said. “It is crucial that we focus our efforts on attracting and retaining talent to acquire, develop, employ, and retain a highly skilled workforce to meet our mission requirements and deliver the power of contracting to win! I want ACC to be the employer and unit of choice.”

ACC’s acquisition efforts to sustain the Army’s readiness posture are critical for the Army’s fight today. The Soldiers, Army civilians and contractors of the command conserve resources to stretch the dollars available for readiness while delivering business solutions for tactical, operational, and strategic effects across the Army.

With a vision of accountable and credible business options with agility and precision – today, tomorrow and in the future, ACC is postured to win today and to deliver the power of Army contracting anywhere, every time.

– Contributed by the ACC Public Affairs Office

Contracting professionals from across the globe gather for the Army Contracting Command Spring Senior Leader Forum April 12 on Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

ARMY PHOTO: BEN GONZALES

Taking CARE of Business

Child care study, grants & updates

According to Harvard Business Review, an estimated 50 million workers have a child under age 14 in their households. These employees make up one third of the U.S. workforce, and it means employers are dependent on efficient child care infrastructure for their organizations to function, grow, and thrive.

For this reason, in December 2019, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber hosted a summit in partnership with the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) focused on convening business leaders to discuss the role of child care in the regional labor force. From that effort, a child care task force was formed in early 2020. That task force, like many things, made a pivot in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the immediate needs for working parents with young children. During that time, the task force commissioned a study to identify best practices across the nation. The findings from that study were compiled, and a follow-on summit with APC was hosted in November 2021 with more than 100 business, industry, and child care experts from our community. One area of identified need was to understand the local landscape. In response, the Chamber commissioned a local child care market study in April 2022. That study determined the supply of child care providers as the largest barrier to child care enrollment in our region.

Since that time, the Chamber has engaged in ongoing efforts that seek to support working parents and increase the supply of child care. One of those efforts is made possible through the Chamber Foundation’s partnership with the national Best Place for Working Parents® program, which was identified as a best practice from the task force study. In addition, the Chamber serves on a national early childhood education advisory group with early childhood administrators and Chamber representatives from nine other communities across the country to share best practices and identify opportunities at both local and national levels. Many of those best practices focus

on how to attract and retain child care providers. Child care comes in a variety of formats and child care decisions are very personal for working parents. Therefore, solutions require a multi-pronged approach that includes child care centers, home-based child care providers, and more.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) recognized that many potential providers don’t know where to begin, especially those that may want to care for children in a home-based environment. In partnership with DHR and APC, the Chamber piloted a localized marketing and digital media campaign to share awareness of opportunities for individuals to become licensed in-home child care providers. DHR will follow up with those individuals directly to assist them with the licensing requirements and process. Building the capacity of home-based providers and supporting them as entrepreneurs and small business owners is a priority for the Chamber. We are actively seeking grant funding and partnership opportunities to expand this work.

In addition, we continue to support efforts that advance quality and quantity of child care offerings in our community. One of those programs is the DHR Temporary Assistance for Stabilizing Child Care grants, which provides qualified applicants with $2,000 in funding for each daytime child care slot they are licensed to serve. Allowable grant expenditures include employee pay, facility maintenance, purchases of classroom materials, cleaning supplies, and meals. Providers can also use the funds to offer tuition relief to families. These grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and have proven to successfully inject necessary funding into the child care ecosystem. The application deadline for this program is June 16, 2023.

For questions or to learn more about the Chamber’s efforts, contact the Chamber’s VP of Workforce, Lyndsay Ferguson, at lferguson@ hsvchamber.org

Family Friendly

Huntsville represents at Best Place for Working Parents® National Summit

From May 3-5, business leaders from around the country attended the second annual Best Place for Working Parents® National Summit in Fort Worth, Texas. As a national movement, the Best Place for Working Parents® is a workplace initiative recognizing and collaborating with organizations who are setting a new precedent for what it means to be family-friendly – through workplace policies that benefit working parents AND businesses’ bottom line. The 2023 Summit featured national experts on the most critical workforce topics of today, as well as industry leaders who shared their experiences and best practices for building a stronger workforce.

Three leaders from Huntsville attended to represent our community’s workforce (pictured L-R) : Jami Peyton, CEO of Canvas, Caitlin Sampson, HR manager for TriVector Services, and Annie Davis, director of talent initiatives for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

As one of the summit speakers, Peyton shared how Canvas has implemented family-friendly workplace policies and developed a company culture that supports working parents and employees across multiple generations and familial needs. Both Canvas and TriVector Services earned the designation of Best Place for Working Parents®,

and Huntsville is one of 15 communities across the country with a notable presence of businesses who have been awarded the 2023 designation.

In fact, nearly 115 businesses have earned the designation so far this year – already topping last year’s number. You can take the free assessment on our website: hsvchamber.org/bp4wp For more information, please contact:

Washington DC Trip

March 26–28, 2023

For the first time in four years, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber was able to return to our Nation’s Capital in full force for our DC Fly-In. Over 175 travelers joined us on the 2023 trip. This was the first Chamber DC Trip since 2019 – soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic and security concerns severely restricted access to the Capitol Hill complex.

Much changed over the course of that four-year absence. Alabama has elected two new U.S. senators and the Fifth Congressional District elected a new congressman. But even with all the changes, the trip was a terrific success according to all who participated.

The Monday breakfast keynote speaker was Heidi Shyu, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). She serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Defense (DoD), and she also oversees the activities of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the DoD Laboratory and Engineering Center enterprise. Monday’s keynote luncheon speaker was Casey Swails, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Business Op-

erations. She gave an update on the Artemis campaign and the impact the program is having on Alabama. The Monday breakout sessions featured presentations from SDA, DIA, the FBI, NIH, the U.S. Chamber Foundation, and the Department of Commerce.

The Chamber hosted a Congressional Reception on Monday evening in the Russell Senate Office Building’s Kennedy Caucus Room and Tuesday breakfast meetings with Senators Britt, Tuberville, Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Later Tuesday morning, we heard updates from Congressmen Robert Aderholt, Dale Strong, Jerry Carl, and Gary Palmer in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and meeting rooms.

Leading this year’s trip were Chamber Chair Lynn Troy, Vice Chair of Government Affairs Ronnie Chronister, National Government Committee Chair David Cook, and Co-Chair James Lackey.

– Mike Ward, cce

Montgomery Trip

April 11–12, 2023

On April 11-12, the Chamber hosted our largest Montgomery Trip to date, with over 125 people attending. It kicked off with a Tuesday evening reception honoring State government leaders, co-branded with participants from the Alabama “Space Day.” Several aerospace companies joined NASA to support a series of activities and outdoor exhibits in Montgomery earlier on Tuesday, April 11, as a part of Space Day activities.

The Chamber’s Montgomery Trip included Wednesday morning budget updates from the Chairs of the House General Fund Committee, Rep. Rex Reynolds, and the Senate Education Fund Committee, Senator Arthur Orr, both of whom represent portions of Madison County. Both budgets included record revenues, allowing significant additional investments, as well as supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year.

After breakfast, the group assembled on the Floor of the Alabama House of Representatives and heard from Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter; Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth; Minority Leader, Rep. Anthony Daniels, and Superintendent of the Alabama Dept. of Education, Dr. Eric Mackey.

Gov. Kay Ivey was the keynote luncheon speaker. In her remarks, she focused on the efforts to renew and enhance Alabama economic development efforts and incentives.

Chamber leadership guiding this year’s trip included Chair Lynn Troy, Vice Chair Ronnie Chronister, State Government Committee Chair Chrystal Morgan, and State Government Committee Co-Chair Tracy Doughty.

The key issues included in the Chamber’s 2023 State Agenda are: Renew and Enhance our Economic Development Incentives; Pre-K–12 Education; Workforce Development/Career; Child Care Tax Credits; Health Insurance Coverage Expansion; Investments in Higher Education and Alabama’s Community College System; Infrastructure; Cyber; Biosciences; Support for Appointed Superintendent and Boards of Education; Putting a Stop to Predatory Lending; and support for an Alabama National Guard Armory Project in the region.

– Mike Ward, cce

Closer to Home Construction underway on Crestwood’s new freestanding ER in Harvest

People who live and work in northwestern Madison County will soon have closer access to emergency healthcare services. Crestwood Medical Center broke ground on its freestanding Emergency Department on April 20, and the facility is anticipated to open early next year.

It will be located at 1337 Burwell Road (at the corner of Highway 53), and the site was selected to improve accessibility and better serve the growing population.

“The leaders of this community have an incredible vision for the future of this area, and we are honored to be a part of this rapid growth,” said Matthew Banks, Crestwood CEO (pictured right) . “Currently, residents depend on the heroic efforts of volunteer fire departments and local emergency medical services (EMS) for emergency healthcare. We are committed to bringing more access to healthcare services that the residents need and deserve.”

Banks spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony along with Dr. Ric Koler, medical director of Crestwood’s ER, and Madison County Commissioner Phil Vandiver. The event also included music by the Sparkman High School Jazz Band and a shovel ceremony featuring local elected leaders, Crestwood leadership, and longtime team members.

The freestanding ER will provide emergency healthcare services to Harvest, Toney, Bobo, Ardmore, and surrounding communities in Madison County, northeastern Limestone County, and southern Tennessee. Volunteer fire departments and emergency personnel from many of those areas attended the event, including a Medflight crew. The grounds will include a helicopter landing pad.

The freestanding ER is different from an urgent care center because it can offer a higher level of care, Banks said, than an urgent care center or physician’s office. It will offer services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with advanced imaging equipment like CT scan, and emergency medicine-trained physicians and other providers.

Crestwood says the facility will create an additional 40 positions, including registered nurses, laboratory and imaging technicians, respiratory therapists, and other support staff.

Crestwood is partnering with Wold Architects & Engineers and Doster Construction on the project. It will be 11,100 square feet once completed, with 10 beds.

Taking Off gener8tor’s gBETA Cohort helping two Minority Business Owners

If you’ve spent any time trying to understand what it feels like in the Small Business/Entrepreneur underground scene in Huntsville, then you have probably visited a co-working space, attended a co-working night and maybe even attended a local “shark tank” style event.

These and other programs being hosted around town are parts of Huntsville’s ever evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem. It’s a community within our community that is working to leverage support for entrepreneurs and increase their capacity to contribute to the local economy.

That support looks like spaces and networks that allow for and promote the fast flow of talent, information, and resources that help entrepreneurs quickly find what they need at each stage of growth.

One of the organizations working in this space is gener8tor, a business accelerator that, in partnership with MidCity Accelerator Foundation, provides access to valuable resources and networks in a consolidated amount of time through their gBETA cohort program. This program recognizes entrepreneurs need to be working their business

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while coming alongside them and providing them quick access to strategic resources that are crucial to their growth and viability.

The gBETA cohort is a free seven-week, no-equity accelerator program that provides startup founders with intensive concierge coaching and access to its national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors. The programs are designed to set a path for startups to participate in equity-based accelerator programs and investment opportunities.

Participating in the next gBETA cohort are two entrepreneurs who joined the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber for a panel discussion with Minority Business Owners. The panel discussion, hosted in February, provided a space for them to talk about their businesses, and challenges they face as they grow.

Kayla Joseph, owner of LAID Hair Care, and Jonathan Hambrick, owner of My Kitchen, will both participate in the gBETA cohorts (there are two cohorts this round) that kicked off in April.

In 2023, Joseph saw her products hit the shelves of over 900 Walmart stores. She has posted on social media about her excitement to be a part of the next cohort. “Through a pretty competitive process, I am honored to be part of the first all-woman cohort for gBETA Huntsville as part of the gener8tor program!”

And Hambrick, recently winning a Best in Business award from the Madison Chamber of Commerce, met Donna Ehart while participating in the Huntsville Chamber panel which led to his application and selection for this gBETA cohort.

“It was so exciting to see Kayla and Jonathan at the gBETA kickoff, and I can’t wait to hear about their experience as they go through the program,” said Ashley Engles-Ross, VP of Small Business for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

Seeing programs like the gBETA cohort offered by gener8tor, as well as other accelerators, incubators and co-working spaces in Huntsville are indications that the community values and wants to see small business owners succeed and excel. And as understanding and support for these efforts grows, we can expect to see area businesses continue to thrive! ■

Redstone Gateway Buildings 8200 & 8300

Top photo (from Facebook): Kayla Joseph is pictured with Robbie Gaskin and Katherine Henry, two other members of the all-woman gBETA cohort.

Lower photo: Jonathan Hambrick accepting his award at the Best in Business Awards in Madison.

Best Places to Work® Awards

May 9, 2023

On Tuesday, May 9, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber announced this year’s winners for the annual Best Places to Work® Awards during a luncheon at the Von Braun Center. Companies win based on results from employee surveys, and also use this feedback to improve. Results are tabulated by Quantum Workplace and were kept confidential prior to the event.

Congratulations to the 2023 winners, and all 109 companies that recognize their employees as their most valuable asset and use the Best Places to Work® survey as a tool to gauge and improve their corporate culture. We had over 9,000 employees provide feedback on this year’s survey and look forward to more next year.

Thanks to longtime Presenting Sponsor

– Ashley Engles-Ross –Chamber Vice President, Small Business

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER Chamber Board Chair Lynn Troy and Chamber President Chip Cherry Chamber Board members Dr. Karockas Watkins and Beth Sippel

MICRO CATEGORY (10-24 EMPLOYEES)

Systems Technology & Research, Inc.

Focus Physiotherapy

Huntsville Patriots International

SMALL CATEGORY (25-50 EMPLOYEES)

Mission Driven Research

Cortina Solutions

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

MEDIUM CATEGORY (51-100 EMPLOYEES)

LARGE CATEGORY (101-250 EMPLOYEES)

PDW

KODA Technologies Inc.

QTEC Aerospace

Avion Solutions

NTA, Incorporated Thompson Gray, Inc.

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

continued from page 35 –

WINNERS

X-LARGE

CATEGORY

(250+ EMPLOYEES)

IronMountain Solutions

Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3)

Torch Technologies

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER

chamber staff

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Executive Staff

Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO

Meghan Chambliss, business administration specialist

Economic Development & Workforce

Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president

Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park

Lyndsay Ferguson, vice president, workforce

Ken Smith, senior director, research & information services

Ross Ivey, senior director, industry relations

Annie Davis, director of talent initiatives

Finance & Administration

Mary McNairy, IOM, vice president

Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Kim Weeks, accounting specialist – receivables

Dionne Scales, accounting & HR specialist

Diana Baccus, director of event management

Stefanie Davis, resource desk coordinator

Government & Public Affairs

Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president

Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI)

Kristy Drake, IOM, vice president, investor relations

Investor Relations

Kristy Drake, IOM, vice president, investor relations

Lakeysha Brown, director of member engagement

Richard Bigoney, membership account executive

Dennis Euting membership account executive

Crystal Baker, retention specialist

Marketing & Communications

Claire Aiello, IOM, vice president

Hiroko Sedensky, web designer

Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer

Kayla Brown, communications & social media specialist

Small Business | Economic Inclusion & Diversity

Ashley Engles-Ross, vice president, small business

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS

PUBLIC EVENTS FOR THE 2023

JUNE 25–JULY 1

PLEASE JOIN US!

Proclamation Signing

Monday, June 26 • 8 a.m. • Veterans Memorial, downtown Huntsville (Rain location: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber)

AFC Concert in the Park

Monday, June 26 • 6:30 p.m. • Big Spring Park, downtown Huntsville

Concert in the Park is sponsored by Randolph School (Rain location: VBC South Hall) Maneuver Center of Excellence Band • Fireworks at dark (weather permitting)

FIREWORKS SPONSORS

Presenting: SMX

Gold: Brockwell Technologies, Inc. & Meta Platforms, Inc.

Community Softball Game

Tuesday, June 27 • 5:30 p.m. • Toyota Field*

Team Redstone vs. Community Leaders

Free admission & parking – gates open at 5 p.m. *no-cash stadium – concessions available; clear bag policy

AUSA YP EVENT

Wednesday, June 28 • 6–8 p.m. • Butler Green @ Campus 805

Entertainment by Brandon Elder

AUSA’s iron mike golf tournament

Thursday, June 29 • 8 a.m. • The Links at Redstone Register @ tinyurl.com/ironmike23

U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER Biergarten

Thursday, June 29 • 4:30–7:30 p.m. • Davidson Center

Partner Organization: AUSA

Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon

Friday, June 30 • Noon • VBC South Hall Ballrooms

Presenting Sponsor: Northrop Grumman Corporation

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. For updates – as well as information on area attractions with military discounts – please visit hsvchamber.org/afcw2023

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gas and restaurants

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1.5% all other purchases

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Redstone’s MyChoice Rewards points are earned for qualified transactions made with the participating card. Points are rewarded to the primary member on the account, are non-transferrable, and subject to expiration and spending caps. Purchases over the spending cap will earn reduced rewards. To be eligible to receive points, the account must remain open. Rewards are only earned on eligible net purchases: the sum of eligible purchase transactions minus returns and refunds. Promotional offers are included in the calculation. Rewards are not earned for ATM, cash advance, or balance transfer transactions. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, view the MyChoice Rewards Terms and Conditions and the FAQs. Membership and other restrictions apply. Loans subject to credit approval. RFCU is an Equal Credit Opportunity Lender.

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