PHOTO: TYLER MARTIN, NASA
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 August 2019 Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Bedzzz Express Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions Bolt Movers
Joined in July 2019 American Leak Detection
Bow Tied Incentives Breland Companies Dixie Moving & Storage, Inc. Dogtown West Furniture Outlet
Capital One Chenega Defense & Aerospace Solutions Computer Support Systems, Inc. Corvid Technologies LLC Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Miranda Yount Grand Canyon University Gray Accounting & Tax Service Hyatt Place Huntsville - Research Park International Paper Huntsville Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. Key Finders Group at Keller Williams Realty
Dominion Senior Living at Fleming Farms The ELM Foundation Empire Defense Consulting Inc. FASTSIGNS of Huntsville Foam Design, Inc. Freedom Medical Center Jessix LLC Joral Technologies Kier Real Estate, LLC The Lash Lounge Legacy Health Chiropractic LLC
Nexinite
Madison School of Massage Therapy
OCI Alabama LLC PEGASUS TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS, INC.
Martinizing Dry Cleaning Michael Tryon Consultancy
Perdido Beach Resort Planet Smoothie Store # 19258 Sleep Number - Parkway Place Mall Store # 10465 Southern Fidelity Mortgage Group of Huntsville State Farm - Katherine Morgan Your CBD Store Huntsville Y-tec Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama (YKTA)
MPIC Inc My Size Marketing Olympia Gardens, L.P. Quality Glass Company, Inc. RealtySouth - Tennessee Valley Redhawk Wealth Advisors - Kathleen Sanford Regymen Fitness - Huntsville Relocate Rick-N-Ball Restoration + Construction Security Sales and Solutions, Inc. Shoot Like A Girl / SLG2 Consulting Simple Helix, LLC Southern Reclaimed Salvage Barn TTL, Inc U.S. Army Recruiting Company - Huntsville
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.
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initiatives oct 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 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 ■ 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. ■ CenterState Bank ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Davidson Technologies, Inc. ■ Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association ■ IBERIABANK ■ J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company ■ Keel Point, LLC ■ L3Harris ■ 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 ■ Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC ■ Garver ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Automotive Group ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau ■ 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. ■ 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
oct 2019 initiatives
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TWO FULL-SERVICE LOCATIONS to serve MADISON and HUNTSVILLE
featuring Deposit-taking ATMs | Debit Card instant issue on site Madison drive-thru hours: Monday –Saturday 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
or visit our new DIGITAL SALES OFFICE for anywhere in between.
MADISON 7564 Highway 72 West
HUNTSVILLE 132 Holmes Avenue NW
BIBANK.COM | MEMBER FDIC | 877.865.5050
oct 2019
SOUND JUDGMENT
COVER STORY
BRING IT ON!
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Economic Pillar: Implications of Huntsville’s Music Audit
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center sets sights on Moon by 2024
Local scene, venues take shape, more entertainment spots pop up
On the Cover: Lifting the final structural test article for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) core stage into Test Stand 4697 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville – The liquid oxygen (LOX) tank is one of two propellant tanks in the rocket’s massive core stage that will produce more than 2 million pounds of thrust to help launch Artemis 1, the first flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft and SLS, to the Moon.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
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HREGI INVESTORS
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT | BOARD LISTING
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS
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THE NEXT BIG THING: Lockheed Martin, Hypersonic Jobs in Alabama
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HEALTHY MINDS: Huntsville Hospital’s SPEAK program continues
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WORKFORCE UPDATES: Recruitment strategies & asmartplace Career Prep
editorial staff publisher Chip Cherry, CCE editor
Claire Aiello
18 HREGI PROFILE: Carey Rosenblum with Rosenblum Realty
editorial designer
31 CONGRATULATIONS: 2019 Small Business Award Winners
Kristi Sherrard
33 SPOTLIGHT: Randy Riley, Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award Recipient 34 ALABAMA COUNTS: Encouraging all to participate in 2020 Census 36 HEALTHY BODY: Crestwood Women’s Center emphasizes mammogram importance 39 FRESH FACES: Del Smith, Alabama A&M University 40 MADISON: Historic living meets modern amenities 41
COMMUNITY PROFILE
42
CHAMBER STAFF | ASSOCIATED ORGS
contributing writers
Katelyn Sides Baker Kent Ballard, Jr. Devon Elston Dennis Madsen Samantha Magnuson Wendy Reeves ad sales Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org
Richard Bigoney rbigoney@hsvchamber.org
Tina Blankenship tblankenship@hsvchamber.org
Our mission: To prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.
HSVchamber.org (additional contact information on page 42) 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
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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2019 Executive Committee 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,
A Message from
Chip Cherry
Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders, and Friends: Back to the Moon! Who knew conversations about going back to the Moon would bring back so many wonderful memories. I am the oldest of three boys and remember how special it was for me to stay up with my Dad watching coverage of the moon landings. I was amazed that we were able to land humans on the Moon – it was awe inspiring to me. Soon a new generation of children will be able to watch as we launch the SLS and visit the Moon again, and then look ahead to Mars. It’s fun to watch people perk up when they talk about going back to the Moon and the role Marshall Space Flight Center and companies like locally grown Dynetics will play in making that happen. Our citizens continue to build on Huntsville’s rich heritage of solving hard problems, impacting both the nation and mankind with these accomplishments. Speaking of solving hard problems – Hypersonics are key to our national defense, and a number of local companies are playing a vital role in developing this technology. On September 16, we had the honor of traveling to Courtland to celebrate with Lockheed Martin as they stand up some of their Hypersonic production operations there. Congratulations to Lawrence County on the creation of 72 new jobs! Growth in Hypersonics is a big win for the region. I encourage you to read all about the awards given to the heart and soul of our community – the Small Businesses. These men and women are doing amazing things, and it is an honor to be able to recognize excellence among a truly amazing group of nominees and contenders! We need your help getting the word out about the 2020 Census. Census results drive many things, including funding for education, roads, and social services. One of the significant outcomes of the Census is reapportionment of members of the U.S. House of Representatives among the States. An undercount of Alabama residents could result in our losing representation in Congress. Over the coming months, you will receive communications on how you can help ensure an accurate count. Please join with us to ensure that all our residents are counted. I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon!
Chip Cherry, CCE President & CEO Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
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LSINC Corporation
Jim Rogers, Vice Chair, HREGI, Lockheed Martin Corporation 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 Systems, Inc. Blake Bentley, SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center David Bier, Rocket City Trash Pandas 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. April Mason, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Kevin McCombs, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Janice Migliore, PALCO Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Zack Penney, Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi Jami Peyton, Canvas, Inc. 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
PINK. It’s not just a color, It’s a call to action.
Schedule your annual screening mammogram today! 2D and 3D Mammograms are available at our Huntsville and Madison locations! To schedule your mammogram, please call 256-429-4888. Madison • Crestwood Madison Outpatient Center 20 Hughes Road Huntsville • Crestwood Women’s Center 185 Chateau Drive CrestwoodWomensCenter.com *For a list of risk factors and American Cancer Society recommendations, visit www.Cancer.org. Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. An order from a physician or qualified healthcare provider is not required, but the patient must provide a physician/provider name when an appointment is made. If the patient does not have a physician/provider, a list will be provided for selection. All mammogram reports will be sent to the physician/provider, and the patient is responsible for follow-up. Check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage for a screening mammogram.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS SNAP:
Compiled by Claire Aiello
Vuteq’s facility will be built at 7306 Greenbrier Parkway NW, and construction is scheduled to begin in October. “Vuteq USA Inc. is very pleased and excited to be opening our next plant in Alabama,” said Kazumasa Watanabe, president of Vuteq USA. “Our company is thankful for the support provided by the City of Huntsville and State of Alabama as we begin a new chapter.” ■
Leidos opens office in CRP
On August 6, we welcomed leaders from Mazda North American Operations to talk about their first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility under construction in Huntsville. In 2021, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A. (MTMUS) will produce up to 300,000 vehicles annually.
DNUS Groundbreaking
Leidos opened its new office on Explorer Boulevard in Cummings Research Park (CRP) on September 5. The company brings transformational, innovative technology and sector expertise to customers in the defense, intelligence, civil and health markets. ■
EU Space Delegate Jean-Luc Bald visited North Alabama on September 17. He is the First Secretary for Space at the Delegation of the European Union to the USA. During his time here, Bald visited Marshall Space Flight Center and Cummings Research Park, and also toured Dynetics, RUAG Space USA, and ULA. Chris Chessner, Decatur facility manager of RUAG Space USA, led Bald and Lucia Cape, the Chamber’s senior VP of economic development, industry relations & workforce, on a tour of the manufacturing facility. ■
DaikyoNishikawa US (DNUS) broke ground on its $110 million manufacturing plant in Huntsville on August 23. The facility will be located on-site at the Mazda Toyota plant. DNUS will produce plastic automotive parts for MTMUS, and will employ 380 people at full production. “As our first manufacturing facility in North America, DNUS is proud to serve Mazda Toyota and call Huntsville our new home,” said Nariaki Uchida, president of DaikyoNishikawa Corporation. “Together with our business and community partners, our aim is to be a good corporate neighbor and a premiere Tier I automotive supplier.” ■
Vuteq Announcement
Vuteq also announced in August it will build a manufacturing facility in Huntsville. It will produce interior and exterior plastic-injected parts and various sub-assemblies for MTMUS. 10
initiatives oct 2019
What could you do with a Dream Chaser®? On Aug. 15, Sierra Nevada Corporation joined local partners of the Dream Chaser® landing initiative in Huntsville to share new opportunities that would help fund a commercial space science mission to land in Huntsville. There are pending contract vehicles from NASA that would help defray launch costs, enabling companies who have not been able to afford to operate in microgravity to send payloads to low Earth orbit. Rhodium Scientific from Houston also shared A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
tips for “why and how” your company should take these first steps. View the presentations at hsvchamber.org/dream-chaser and contact Lucia Cape (lcape@hsvchamber.org) if you’re interested in learning more. ■
USACE Huntsville Small Business Forum 2019 open for registration Registration is open for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Engineering and Support Center’s Small Business Forum 2019 set for Oct. 24 at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, located on the U.S. Space & Rocket Center campus. It is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon and features a general overview of upcoming acquisitions. The event also provides an opportunity for interested firms to interact directly with program managers and contracting officials representing the Center’s more than 40 programs. Registration is open through October 11 at bit.ly/2krZM99 or call 256-895-1694 for more information. ■
Wagner new CEO of HSV Botanical Garden The Huntsville Botanical Garden has a new chief executive officer. Sue Wagner started in her role on October 1, moving from the Chicago area. For the past decade, Wagner served as vice president for education and information at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. The Garden’s board of directors hired Wagner after a six-month nationwide search to fill the post after the retirement of Paula Steigerwald, who served as president and CEO of the Garden for 17 years. Wagner “I am excited to join the team at the Huntsville Botanical Garden,” said Wagner. “I am honored to steward this magnificent garden along with the community of supporters to build upon a firm foundation for future success. I look forward to working with the staff, board and volunteers to achieve great things moving forward.” As the staff at the Garden likes to say, “there’s always something growing on,” and that’s definitely the case right now. The Scarecrow Trail is up through October, and Galaxy of Lights will begin the following month. Visit hsvbg.org to see the full calendar of events. ■
Madison voters pass property tax increase for schools On Sept. 10, Madison residents overwhelmingly approved a property tax increase to address school construction needs in the city. The measure passed with more than 70 percent of the vote. “Madison has a history of supporting its schools and that is reflected by this vote of confidence,” said Robby Parker, Madison City Schools Superintendent. “It is not easy asking for a tax increase. But this was necessary to continue the world class education Madison City Schools delivers and citizens have come to expect.” The additional funds raised from the 12mil increase will help pay for construction of a new elementary school, a new middle school, expansions at Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools, as well as instructional and safety needs throughout the school system. “Proud for the City of Madison,” added Mayor Paul Finley. “Now it is time to manage growth, build some schools, and continue to improve quality of life!” ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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JOBS ANNOUNCEMENT
The Next Big Thing Lockheed Martin makes Northern Alabama Flagship for Hypersonic Strike Work
L
ockheed Martin announced big new developments for two locations in North Alabama on September 16. The company will establish a new facility for the assembly, integration and testing of hypersonics programs and locate the management and engineering workforce for many of these programs in Huntsville. This investment by the company includes additional modernization of THAAD, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense. Meanwhile, the Courtland expansion will bring two new buildings in support of the company’s portfolio of hypersonics programs. Courtland will gain 72 new jobs, and Huntsville will gain 200 new jobs over the next three years, with additional job growth expected.
sonic programs,” said Governor Ivey. “Both Courtland and Huntsville will gain new jobs, which is always welcome news. I am proud and confident that Alabamians will help advance Lockheed Martin’s goals as we begin working towards the advancements of the future.” Executive VP Ambrose hosted an event later in the day at the Huntsville campus to celebrate the increased workforce expansion as part of this effort. Lockheed Martin team members and event attendees signed a partition to commemorate the expansion, which will later be displayed as part of the new workspace being added on. A hypersonic weapon is one that travels at least five times the speed of sound. Hypersonic strike capabilities have been identified by the U.S. government as a critical capability that must be addressed in support of the U.S. National Security Strategy. “The decision to bring hypersonic manufacturing to this region would not have been possible without the support of the State of Alabama, our local partners including Lawrence and Madison counties, the cities of Courtland and Huntsville and Tennessee Valley Authority as well as those elected representatives in Congress,” said Scott Keller, vice president and general manager for Strategic and Missile Defense for Lockheed Martin. “On behalf of Lockheed Martin, we are honored to expand our presence in Northern Alabama and watch as the next cohort PHOTO: HAL YEAGER, OFFICE OF GOVERNOR KAY IVEY of innovators takes advanced defense The company held two events to mark the announcements. technology to levels we once thought were impossible.” During an official ceremony in Courtland, Marillyn Hewson, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said this fits right in with the Chairman, President and CEO for Lockheed Martin was joined by type of work being done in the Rocket City. Senator Richard Shelby, Congressman Robert Aderholt, Congress“Hypersonic technology complements all the great work hapman Mo Brooks, Governor Kay Ivey, Gen. James McConville, Chief pening on Redstone Arsenal at the Space and Missile Defense of Staff of the Army, and Rick Ambrose, Executive Vice President Command and Missile Defense Agency,” said Mayor Battle. “With of Space for Lockheed Martin. The group officially broke ground this announcement, Huntsville will once again be doing what we on the site for the new hypersonic production facility. do best. Playing a leadership role in the engineering and develop“Lockheed Martin has a longstanding relationship with the ment of the military’s future weapons systems.” state of Alabama, and I am proud to see that strengthen even Lockheed Martin employs more than 2,100 people across the more as they make our state the flagship location for their hyperState of Alabama. ■
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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
“Don’t just stand for the success of other women - insist on it.” - Gail Blanke,
President and CEO, Lifedesigns
www.iberiabank.com
HEALTHY MINDS
SPEAK Up: Lives are at stake Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Suicide Prevention & Awareness campaign now in third year
I
t used to be that suicide was a topic schools and families shied away from discussing. That is no longer the case, and Huntsville Hospital Foundation is working to keep the conversation active through its SPEAK Program. The letters stand for Suicide ■ Prevention ■ Empowerment ■ Awareness ■ Knowledge, and the program was founded in 2016 to address the need for more awareness in schools and in families. Five people founded it: Candy Burnett, Dr. Aparna Vuppala, Amelia Ragland, Rena Anderson, and Janet Gabel. They saw an immediate need to get the message to students that help is always available, no matter what pressures you are facing. “The rising rate of teen suicides in the country and state was the main reason Candy Burnett approached me to see if we can develop a program to help prevent youth suicide,” said Dr. Vuppala.
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Dr. Vuppala is the SPEAK program’s medical director, lending expertise from her work as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. The team also consists of two suicide prevention educators who go in schools to talk with students. Taylor Yeazitzis works in Huntsville City Schools, and Melissa Knight works in Madison City and Madison County Schools. Additionally, Anna Manning serves as the program’s coordinator through Huntsville Hospital Foundation. “In the beginning, they were able to slowly start getting in the schools, and the first year they reached about 1,500 students,” said Manning. “This year, it was almost 5,000. The schools are much more receptive to it now, because they know us.” Manning says one of the problems with a topic such as suicide is that sometimes it takes incidents happening to get people to talk about it.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
COURTESY: HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
“Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of loss. Last year, during the school year, we lost three students – one from each school system to suicide – and there are probably more. Those are just the three we know about,” said Manning.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SERVE AS SPEAK AMBASSADORS AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION WITH THEIR PEERS.
Every year, SPEAK training is offered to all 8th and 10th grade students in Huntsville City Schools and Madison City Schools, and 7th and 10th graders in Madison County Schools. The team also conducts annual training for teachers, school counselors, social workers, nurses, and school resource officers. There is also an annual conference for physicians and nurse practitioners, so they are up to date on the latest suicide awareness and prevention training. Manning also meets with student ambassadors monthly to talk about issues that affect mental health, such as self esteem, abuse and loss. “The ambassadors come and learn as much as they can, and take that information back to their friends, to be more aware, more informed,” Manning said. “They also come and volunteer at SPEAK events.” The program is always looking for more student ambassadors in grades 10-12. If your teen is interested, please call 256-541-5131 or email anna4speak@gmail.com. Additionally, please be on the lookout for community SPEAK sessions in your local high school in the near future. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
SPEAK North Alabama app There is a free SPEAK North Alabama app that offers confidential, immediate help for suicide prevention. For example, after downloading the app, if you choose “Signs”, the app allows you to select different symptoms you might be noticing in a friend or co-worker. After you make selections, it will tell you if these are mild, moderate, or severe, and suggests action steps, as well as what to say and what not to say to the person. The app also lists contact information for all mental health care providers and programs in north Alabama, so you can encourage your friend to get help. The app also has section for veterans and LGBTQ. Search ‘SPEAK North Alabama’ in your phone’s app store. ■ Claire Aiello
Vice President, Marketing & Communications A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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Recruitment Strategies, Opportunities, and Student Career Prep Move Forward
T
he new asmartplace brand was relaunched last fall. Over the past year, asmartplace.com has seen a 50 percent increase in site sessions which is exciting news, especially as web traffic doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Companies and hiring managers, we encourage you to create a free account for your company if one is not already created. If your company posts multiple job openings on a continuous basis, we can work with you to set up an employer feed where your jobs will post directly to the site. Recruitment strategies are a huge focus for asmartplace. There are a variety of recruitment-focused events and initiatives that happened this summer and are also coming up this fall: ■ asmartplace on the Road is our new recruitment initiative focused on taking companies on the road to colleges and universities in the southeastern region. Our first event is October 17 at
Auburn University where we will talk to students from colleges of business and engineering. This is a great opportunity to get in front of identified students about internship, co-op and full time opportunities! ■ This summer, asmartplace held two intern events where more than 200 interns attended from more than 20 different companies and 40 different colleges. ■ asmartplace is also attending numerous career fairs to make sure students and job seekers are aware of the career opportunities in our area, as well as job postings on our search site: asmartplace.com. ■ asmartplace recently formed a YP Council that meets periodically to discuss young professional recruitment strategies and retention objectives. This council consists of young professionals with diverse backgrounds who work in a wide variety of industries.
Work. Eat. Stay.
The ultimate in convenience– modern workspace with onsite amenities.
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James Lomax main: 256.517.7023 mobile: 256.698.3101 james.lomax@copt.com
redstonegateway.com 16
initiatives oct 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
FUN, FOOD, AND FRESH AIR AT ONE OF THE 2019 INTERN COOKOUTS THIS SUMMER.
Taking it to the Students Supporting our school systems in Madison County is directly tied to the mission of the Workforce & Education department at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. Our mission is to ensure our region has sufficient quantity and quality of talent to meet employer needs and support sustained growth. This includes immediate needs of employers and job seekers, as well as partnerships with our education community. We are proud to announce that our support and connectivity to our local education community will significantly increase during the 2019-2020 school year! We have developed a 10-unit Career Preparedness curriculum which is accessible online through asmartplace.com. This curriculum: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Carefully follows state and national standards Expounds upon our local history Explains Smart Careers in Huntsville/Madison County Exposes students to thousands of local careers Challenges participants to consider career pathways Escorts students along a journey toward their future careers
Career Preparedness is a required course in the State of Alabama, and all students must pass in order to graduate high school. The asmartplace curriculum was created to educate and capture a focused audience and provide students with relevant information to help them make wise career-based decisions in the future. This will provide educators with a myriad of resources they can use to empower their student population. The curriculum will also provide a Teacher and Student Guide which includes a syllabus, PowerPoints for teacher-led instruction, assessments, lesson plans, and is directly connected to more than 800 career-oriented videos to help students explore. Currently, the asmartplace Career Prep curriculum is accessible to more than 54,000 students in all of Madison County. Over 5,000 students are currently enrolled in Career Prep courses, and more than 60 teachers are using the online curriculum. The opportunity to provide our school systems with a student-centered, career-based Career Prep curriculum ensures the Chamber is encouraging our future workforce while strategically supporting educators. Learn more at asmartplace.com today. Look for updates from our team in each issue of Initiatives, and contact us if we can help you! ■ Katelyn Sides Baker Workforce Recruitment Director, Chamber ■ Kent Ballard, Jr.
Workforce Education Specialist, Chamber Foundation A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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CAREY ROSENBLUM
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Q: What makes Rosenblum Realty different from other real estate companies? A: Rosenblum Realty was started in Huntsville and is a family-owned, fourth generation company that has been in business for 62 years. We feel that being non-franchised and locally grown, we have well-grounded roots of knowledge and experience to share with our clients. Built on principles of honesty and trust, we have served many repeat customers and multiple generations, as well as newcomers. With over 300 years of combined experience, our agents offer a high degree of skill to our clients, and comprehensive advice and judgment, whether buying or selling. Q: Huntsville’s real estate market is experiencing major growth which can bring challenges. What advice can you give buyers and sellers now in this hot market? A: The phenomenal growth we are experiencing in the area has certainly put a squeeze on the housing supply. New
and existing homes supplies are at an all-time low. In order to be able to purchase a home that meets their needs, buyers need to (1) partner with a competent Realtor who will help search for the best options available and navigate you through the process; (2) get pre-approved for financing; and (3) be patient – once educated on the market, be ready to move quickly on the right property. Sellers have to remember that even though the market supply is low, you still have to keep the same guidelines in place when selling your home. It always centers around pricing the home in the market, having the home in good condition to show, and being able to alter your schedule for showing opportunities.
Q: What value do you get from your HREGI investment? A: Being involved with HREGI gives me a view of the “big picture” of what is happening in our area, in regards to
economic growth. Attending special updates and meeting community leaders makes for a great environment to see how the community is pulling together to make things better for everyone.
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HUNTSVILLE SCENE
Sound Judgment Economic Pillar: Implications of Huntsville’s Music Audit
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on how to transform the Rocket City into a music city. This doesn’t mean we’re trying to become the next Nashville. Quite the contrary, the report focuses on how Huntsville can embrace its own local music talent and culture, leverage its proximity to music epicenters like Nashville and Muscle Shoals, grow the local music ecosystem through Huntsville City Schools, and recruit high caliber touring music acts by investing in and building out our music infrastructure. The audit was far reaching with exciting implications for Huntsville’s future. To read the report in full, visit HuntsvilleAL.gov/musicaudit. For a quick synopsis, read on. Per the recommendations of the Music Audit, one of the first big steps is to establish a Music Board of Directors. This board, consisting of local industry professionals from a variety of backgrounds, will function as a partner with the City. The board will be essential in ensuring the audit’s recommendations are carried out. Once the board is officially created and appointed, one of its first tasks will be developing a process to establish a Music Office, starting with hiring a full-time Music Officer. The officer would serve in a capacity similar to that of an executive director and would be the person to, as Sound Diplomacy CEO Shain Shapiro puts it, “when the industry calls Huntsville, there is someone to answer the phone.” Having the board, and subsequently the first music officer, will set the stage for almost every other initiative to follow. Other early opportunities to be implemented by the City, the board, and the music officer, as time and opportunity allow, include: COURTESY: ARTS HUNTSVILLE
hen businesses, and their employees, consider making a move to Huntsville, Alabama, quality of life can be the critical tipping point in their decision making process. We frequently hear decision makers point to Huntsville’s natural beauty, low cost of living, and eclectic entertainment offerings as a pivotal factor in choosing the Rocket City. More recently, we’re hearing industry – those already here and those considering a move – share mounting excitement about how the City is embracing music.
Our music odyssey began in April 2018 when the City of Huntsville hired an international consulting group, Sound Diplomacy, to conduct a music audit. The company was tasked with providing an analysis of Huntsville’s current music economy coupled with tangible recommendations on how we can grow it through new infrastructure, updated zoning regulations, and creative collaboration opportunities. This past August, Sound Diplomacy officially presented their recommendations to Mayor Tommy Battle and the City Council
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
■ Assisting with the programming of music into various public spaces around the City ■ Investigating how and when to restart an old music or cultural event ■ Establishing a North Alabama-centric “Music Week”
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Continued from page 19 – L-R: DENNIS MADSEN LOOKS ON AS SHAIN SHAPIRO OF SOUND DIPLOMACY PRESENTS THE FINDINGS OF HUNTSVILLE’S MUSIC AUDIT.
■ Engaging the local public school systems to look for opportunities to expand music programming within the schools at an early age ■ Holding a minimum of two Open Forums each year as a “check-up/check-in” on progress ■ Creating a coordinated and music-specific events calendar ■ Building and maintaining a music database as a catalog of local resources that can be used by musicians and other industry professionals Huntsville doesn’t do anything in a vacuum. Everything we do, from the building of a world-class amphitheater to the recruitment of industry, is meant to work together in a synergy that uplifts all. The same is true of the Music Audit. It will assist us with workforce development, highlighting a music scene that will serve as a draw for relocating businesses and their workers. It will further the goal of economic diversification, taking advantage of an otherwise underleveraged industry to create jobs and opportunities for the artists who live here and those who Madsen support them. It will broaden our tourism footprint. Finally, and most importantly, it will contribute to the ongoing improvement of our quality of life for our residents. A thriving music scene is a core part of a community’s local culture.
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As Mayor Battle says, “Music is the great unifier.” It connects neighbor to neighbor, and it contributes to the pride of a place, helping people feel connected to something bigger than themselves. After all, when all is said and done, developing Huntsville’s music economy is another strong pillar in the foundational success and longevity of a prosperous Huntsville. ■ Dennis Madsen Manager of Urban and Long-Range Planning City of Huntsville
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PHOTO: NASA
THE “GREEN RUN” TEST OF THE CORE STAGE FOR NASA’S SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM (SLS) WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE B-2 TEST STAND AT NASA’S STENNIS SPACE CENTER NEAR BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI. THE HISTORIC TEST STAND HAS BEEN USED TO TEST STAGES FOR MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE SATURN V AND THE SPACE SHUTTLE. THE TEST STAND WAS RENOVATED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SLS ROCKET’S CORE STAGE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST STAGE NASA HAS EVER BUILT.
To the Moon, Mars, & More by Claire Aiello
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center preps for landing Hopefully, you’ve heard about NASA’s mission to go back to the Moon by 2024. The team at Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center is laser focused on meeting that timeline, as work is happening in a number of ways. You may be asking, though, “why are we going back to the Moon? We’ve already been there.” Indeed, we have, with the Apollo missions, and this July we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our first visit. There is a lot that’s different about this trip, though. “We will go with innovative new technologies and systems to explore more locations across the surface than was ever thought possible,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “This time, when we go to the Moon, we will stay. And then we will use what we learn on the Moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.”
Vehicles: Saturn V vs. Space Launch System (SLS) Our city is proud of the Saturn V that stands over Interstate 565 in front of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. It is our Golden Gate Bridge, our Statue of Liberty, the icon marking Huntsville’s gateway – and our significant role in the Apollo missions. Marshall Space Flight Center employees led design in rocketry, propulsion, guidance and control, and thermal dynamics. NASA took best practices from the Saturn V, as well as the Space
NASA ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE VISITS HUNTSVILLE ON AUGUST 16.
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Lisa Watson-Morgan’s new role On July 22, Dr. Lisa Watson-Morgan was named program manager for NASA’s Human Landing Systems, tasked with rapid development of the lander that will safely carry the first woman and the next man to the Moon’s surface in 2024. Watson-Morgan is a Huntsville native and 30-year NASA veteran engineer and manager, and previously served as deputy director of the Engineering Directorate at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Her team is agency-wide, comprised of experts in every engineering discipline needed to perform insight into the commercial-led effort to get humans back to the Moon. About 135 people will work on the program at Marshall. “Much of the team was part of the early formulation of the program. We have team members from all 10 NASA centers helping in some way for the lander program,” said Watson-Morgan. “MSFC and JSC comprise the majority of the team, but we have experts from across the entire agency helping us.” NASA will partner with private industry to play a much larger role in the new lunar mission. Watson-Morgan said this is part of a much larger, sustainable exploration campaign with commercial partners. “NASA’s exploration campaign cuts across three strategic areas: low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars and deeper into space. This lunar effort will involve the whole of the nation, uniting the brightest minds of academia, businesses and communities of all sizes and types, and early career professionals,” said Watson-Morgan. “The Broad Agency Announcement is a unique vehicle for this lunar lander mission. NASA is trying to use the speed of industry with the safety experience of NASA. We will use industry processes as much as feasible and their cadence of development. Through this vehicle American leadership will drive an open, sustainable and agile architecture, with international and commercial partners, to get astronauts back on the lunar surface as quickly Watson-Morgan as possible.” Watson-Morgan began her NASA career in 1989 as a cooperative education student, working in the Mission Operations Laboratory as a data management controller for the ATLAS-3 Spacelab mission. “There, I learned the value of real-time operations, instant decision making and knowing the systems you manage,” she recalled. Watson-Morgan later became a branch chief in Ground Systems Operations leading the infrastructure in the Huntsville Operations Support Center. She said NASA’s culture is supportive to moving around if you choose, and she did. Watson-Morgan transferred to the Science and Mission Systems Office, working in various engineering and project leadership positions. Other moves included being named chief engineer of Marshall’s Flight Programs and Partnerships Office in 2011, and then being appointed in 2013 to the Senior Executive Service, the personnel system covering top managerial positions in federal agencies, as manager of Marshall’s Chief Engineer’s office. From 2015 to 2018 she led the Spacecraft and Vehicle Systems Department, and then from 2018-2019 was deputy director of Marshall’s Engineering Directorate, Marshall’s largest organization, helping oversee more than 2,000 civil service and contractor personnel. Watson-Morgan’s father supported Marshall Space Flight Center as a contractor for many years. “I can recall him taking me to work on Take Your Child to Work Day,” she said. “He is the reason I became an engineer.” She has also taken her three children to work on this day. 24
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Shuttle, to build the massive Space Launch System (SLS). The new megarocket will be the most powerful booster ever built. It does have some similarities to the Saturn V but there is one big difference. “The Saturn V was built to get human beings to the Moon. That was its mission. SLS is designed to be evolvable,” said Brian Odom, NASA Historian at Marshall. “It’s not just meant to do this one thing. It’s part of this huge portfolio of missions that it’s capable of. SLS is the first vehicle since the Saturn V to go beyond lowEarth orbit.”
New mission: Artemis Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology, and now personifies the new path as we return. We’re aiming for a new destination where no human has ever been before: the Moon’s South Pole. This area is of special interest because ice is present there. Ice, and water, lead to a whole array of possibilities to sustain life for long periods of time. We’ll get to that in a little bit.
NASA ARTEMIS LANDER CONCEPT
Watching for SLS Green Run Administrator Bridenstine has said NASA will perform a “green run” test of the SLS core stage. The core stage and four RS-25 engines will go through an eight-minute test firing, and these are the actual flight articles that will be on Artemis-1. This test will help ensure astronaut safety, and helps the team discover issues earlier rather than later, Bridenstine said. The green run will take place at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, and we hope to hear a time frame soon. In the meantime, SLS employees in Huntsville are testing various elements of the rocket, including the core stage, the liquid hydrogen tank, the liquid oxygen tank, and flight software. ■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications – continued on page 27 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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Written by Claire Aiello
ECLSS: Environmental Control and Life Support Systems There’s a sign in Marshall building 4755 that says “Keeping Astronauts Alive Since 1973.” The ECLSS team takes pride in that mission, because the work is all about life support – reusing and recycling what’s on the space station to keep the crew alive and healthy. Water and oxygen are the two biggest drivers – providing clean water primarily by recycling crew member urine and cabin humidity condensate. Work is also done to manage trash and human waste. Recycling what’s on the station keeps astronauts alive, but it also significantly reduces cost. Sending cargo isn’t cheap – and it will be way more costly when we’re out much further than the Moon. Jennifer Pruitt, an ECLSS project manager (shown left), explained that it costs $48,000 to transport a liter of water to space. Being able to recycle what’s already available on the space station saves money, and it’s taught the team valuable lessons on how to make this technology go further on future missions. One of the challenges that still exists includes what to do with carbon. For example, we release carbon dioxide when we breathe. On the space station, ECLSS can extract the oxygen to reuse it for life support, but the carbon isn’t usable. “They haven’t found a good use yet. In my mind, if you could pressurize it, it would be cool to make space diamonds,” Pruitt said jokingly. “Right now, there’s not a good way that we’ve been able to implement, so that’s what a lot of people in the high bay here are doing, trying to figure out if there’s a way to pull it out of the system once it builds up and reuse it. Or is it just garbage, or can somebody else use it?” ECLSS’ core mission is to keep astronauts alive, recycling oxygen and water, but Pruitt says Marshall has many bright minds who might come up with something no one has thought of yet. “So much science is done out here,” she said. “You have a lot of resources you can pull on, to just stop by someone’s office and say ‘hey, is there something we can do for this? Can we help to overall not have as much waste?’”
Additive Manufacturing
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NASA
3D printing is already in use on the International Space Station (ISS). Think of it this way: say you’re packing for a camping trip and you forget tent stakes, or cooking utensils. You can probably get by, by visiting a store or just making do for the night. When you’re up in space for weeks, months, or even longer, it’s a different matter. Astronauts are using 3D printing in microgravity to make many of the items they need (shown right), including tools, spare parts, and medical equipment such as tweezers. This technology can change how NASA completes exploration missions, and even the way science is conducted
on the station. The team at Marshall has performed structural and mechanical tests on the pieces made in space as well. In terms of metal printing, Marshall’s team also uses large 3D printers in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab to make metal and metal alloy parts – some of which are used in rocket engines. Marshall employees also perform hot-fire testing (shown left) to make sure the parts stand up in extreme temperatures. ■
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QUALITY OF LIFE
ARTIST’S RENDERING OF MID CITY’S FUTURE 8,500-CAPACITY AMPHITHEATER
Bring It On! Local scene, venues continue taking shape as more entertainment hot spots pop up
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resh fun, entertainment, and food seem to pop up at every turn as construction moves at a fast clip in Huntsville. On the Westside, Stovehouse on Governors is starting to make its mark as an interesting destination hot spot. The adaptive reuse project features multiple common use areas for dining and relaxing indoors and outside. “The Hub Stage is open now with entertainment multiple days of the week,” says Steven Jackson, director of marketing. “The Booth Stage is a small stage that will be open in cold weather and rain. Additional restaurant, brewery, and bar spaces are in the works and will have live entertainment as well.” The Food Garden and Leisure Lawn are open daily for lunch and dinner with eclectic dining options, with some of Huntsville’s best “backyard seating” and indoor, climate-controlled seating available as well. So far, Jackson says Clyde’s BBQ, Kamado Ramen, Burn Collec-
tive Fitness, and Oak River Design are open or will be open before the end of the year. The site has a hot history: In 1929, the Rome stove company built it to manufacture its Electric Belle heaters. Then gas heaters and ranges by Martin, King, and more were made there. With World War II came bomb crate construction. Visitors will find quirky and historical elements throughout the site once it is completed. “Everything is taking a bit longer, but the longer timeline is because we also have bigger and better concepts coming to the campus,” Jackson says. “In 2020, we’ll be leasing and building out Gaslight Alley, an old-world style shopping lane that will bring 15 shops to the vibrant Stovehouse dining, drinking, and entertainment experience.” Event space is also planned – more than 15,000 square feet of it, in fact. The exact opening isn’t set yet, but as soon as it is, Stovehouse will begin scheduling events a year out.
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MidCity At the former Madison Square Mall site, MidCity is taking shape and attracting big crowds of people. The northern side of the park is completed and includes Topgolf, High Point Climbing, Dave & Buster’s, and The Camp, says Lindsey Pattillo-Keane, marketing and activation for RCP Properties. Dave & Buster’s opened Aug. 19 at 950 Makers Way, and business has been going strong ever since, according to Eric Drescher, general manager. “Even before opening day, we hired about 240 team members, which was fantastic for us, but also helped the community from an economic standpoint,” said Drescher. “We’ve been full every weekend, and we’ve seen great evening crowds during the week.” The restaurant and entertainment hub features 26,500 square feet of arcade games, premium sports viewing and delicious food and drink offerings. It is the second Dave & Buster’s to open in Alabama and the 131st overall.
In addition to games like PacMan, classic arcade and carnival games still give winners tickets based on scores. Instead of the paper tickets, players get a ticket card that tracks their results. Starting in October, players of the redemption arcade games can choose to use the Dave & Buster’s app to keep up with their tickets. Then there are the 41 TVs, ranging in sizes up to 16 feet in diameter, that provide great sports viewing. “We work with UFC, and we turn up the volume for the mixed martial arts competitions,” Drescher says. “If Alabama or Auburn is playing, we also turn up the volume so you can come here, watch the game, eat and have a cold beer in a fun atmosphere.” Pattillo-Keane says construction at MidCity includes more than 100,000 square feet of retail, including the future sites of REI, Wahlburger’s, a chef-inspired barbecue restaurant, and more. Additional projects breaking ground in late 2019 include a 300-unit residential mixed-use development, a 250-unit independent living project, two boutique hotels, a “best-in-class” specialty grocer, and 70,000 square feet of additional retail shops and restaurants. “MidCity offers a balanced mix of uses connected by urban plazas, green spaces, and walkable streets adjacent to a 40-acre public park,” Pattillo-Keane says. “When completed, the district will include 350,000 sq. ft. of retail, dining, and entertainment space; approximately 350,000 sq. ft. of high-tech Class-A office space; up to 1,400 residential units; and approximately 650 hotel rooms.” Another exciting feature will be an 8,500-capacity amphitheater built with a $55 million design to provide destination travel and daily traffic at MidCity. “The amphitheater will provide a regional amenity for top-tier concerts as well as festivals, markets, and civic events curated by Madison House Presents, an AEG Subsidiary, and Communion Music, which was co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons,” she said. – continued on page 30 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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Times Plaza The new Times Plaza, on the former site of The Huntsville Times, is also beginning to come to life with two new restaurants, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar and Super Chix. Bad Daddy’s opened for business at 2317 S. Memorial Parkway on Sept. 23, making it the restaurant’s first Alabama location. “Huntsville is a high growth market with a demographic base that fits well with Bad Daddy’s core customer — very educated and mid to upscale incomes,” says Boyd Hoback, president and CEO of Bad Daddy’s parent company, Good Times Restaurants, Inc. “This is a community which appreciates quality ingredients and has a heavy family focus.” Since Huntsville is projected to be larger than Birmingham within the next five years, the city fits well with the company’s southeastern expansions in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. “We hope to do two stores in the market,” but Huntsville was
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chosen as the first, he said. Hoback says Bad Daddy’s philosophy is simple: “We prepare good food with attitude. By doing so we have ignited a craving among restaurant-goers for burgers, salads and sandwiches unlike anything they’ve ever eaten before.” He said Bad Daddy’s recipes are artfully created using artisan, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and the menu features unique, house-made selections every day. ■ Wendy Reeves
Contributing Writer
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CONGRATULATIONS
to the 2019 Small Business Awards Winners
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e were thrilled to celebrate with you on August 13 in a Game of Thrones-themed gala at the Von Braun Center. More than 1,000 people attended the Small Business Awards Celebration, and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber hosts this annual event to recognize the outstanding work businesses and individuals are doing in our community. “We are so proud of our contenders and winners, and we are thrilled to celebrate with each of them,” said Pammie Jimmar, the Chamber’s vice president of Small Business & Events. “It is no easy task to start and grow a small business, but our community is blessed with individuals who aren’t afraid to tackle tough challenges, and Huntsville continues to grow because of their dedication.” This year’s judging was completed by the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, and the awards were presented by Chamber Vice Chair Laura Huckabee-Jennings. When it’s time to nominate a business next year, please do! Look for the announcement in early Spring 2020.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: LAUREN JOHANNESMEYER, GOOGLE FIBER NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR – TIE: GREATER HUNTSVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY; TOP OF ALABAMA REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (TARCOG) CULINARY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: CYN SHEA’S CAFÉ & CATERING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: HIGHERECHELON, INC. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: PALCO EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: OUTPOST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PHOTOS: RONALD POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHY & SIGH PHOTO BOOTH
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Continued from page 31 – PHOTOS: RONALD POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHY, SIGH PHOTO BOOTH, & HIROKO SEDENSKY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: LOCAL “CREATIVE” OF THE YEAR: CHURCH STREET WINE SHOPPE SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: ARMSTRONG RELOCATION COMPANY, HUNTSVILLE, LLC MEDICAL PRACTICE OF THE YEAR: DUNAGAN YATES & ALISON PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING – TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: MISSION MULTIPLIER RETAILER OF THE YEAR: HALEY’S FLOORING & INTERIORS WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: NESIN THERAPY SERVICES, PC RUSSELL G. BROWN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD: RANDY RILEY, ARCHARITHMS, INC.
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RANDY RILEY Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award Recipient for 2019
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andy Riley, president/CEO of Archarithms, said he experienced total shock as he heard his name called as the 2019 Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award recipient. “I had no idea or thought about winning… that was a big deal. A really big deal, it’s a huge honor,” said Riley. This award is given annually at the Chamber’s Small Business Awards Celebration to honor a business leader making a positive impact in the community. As a native of Russellville, Alabama, Riley has a lot of love and gratitude for our community. Since moving to the Huntsville area in 1986, Riley has had several offers to relocate to other major cities across the country for work, but has consistently declined. “[Huntsville] is a lot better in my opinion. It’s not gigantic, people seem to care about each other here, it’s a good place to raise your family,” he said. There’s a lot of opportunities, it’s a good technical environment… I enjoy living here. Probably never leave here.”
As is the case with most businesses, Archarithms was not an overnight success. Riley attributes much of the company’s progress to those who were willing to serve as mentors and champion for his vision. “You cannot get by, by yourself. You’ve got to have a lot of people helping you,” Riley explained. “You’ve got to be able to create a network and it’s up to you to manage that network – nobody’s going to manage it for you. You’ve got to nurture it along the way.” For Riley, being a true leader involves doing the right thing even when it’s not the most popular approach, while also being a source of encouragement and support for your employees. “You’ve got to have high moral standards. A leader is more about helping somebody else than them helping you. I kind of work in an inverted triangle, I’m here to help you, you’re not here to help me,” he explained. Ultimately, aside from continuing to grow his company and supporting the community, Riley aims to be someone others feel comfortable reaching out to for guidance and support. “I’m always the type of guy who wants to help you. If I can help you, I will.” Riley is certainly grateful to those who have been a part of his journey so far. ■ Devon Elston Small Business & Events Coordinator
Whether it’s a luncheon in the old Campus Cafeteria or a workshop in the former AV Room, the Stone Event Center can bring old school charm to any of your corporate events.
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Alabama Counts Please encourage your neighbors, co-workers to participate in the 2020 Census You will hear quite a bit about the 2020 Census in the coming months. The census is conducted every 10 years and is important to states because it determines federal funding. On or around April 1, 2020, each Alabama household will receive a postcard from the U.S. Census Bureau with instructions on how to complete the census. This is the first U.S. census to offer options to respond online or by phone, in addition to the option to respond on paper form as with previous censuses. We urge you to participate and be counted. Why does the census matter to Alabama? It determines funding for programs that impact you, your family, your schools and your community. Here are just a few: ■ Health care programs, including Medicaid ■ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ■ Head Start ■ Pell Grants and Student Loans ■ Highway Planning and Construction ■ Community Development Block Grants
I N N O VAT I O N B Y L S I N C 256.721.4011 | LSINC.COM | INFO@LSINC.COM
QUALITY BUILT. FROM THE GROUND UP SINCE 1976
The population count taken in the 2020 Census will be used to determine the allocation of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. States with the most population gains are projected to gain additional seats, while states with population losses or slow growth are at risk of losing seats. Many pre-census projections have Alabama losing a seat, and we want to make sure that doesn’t happen. Census data is also used to determine a number of political boundaries for State and Local offices. The Alabama Legislature and other elected bodies will re-draw district lines based on Census data. That’s why it’s important for you and every member of your household to be counted. In 2020, Alabama had a 72 percent response rate to the census, with lower rates particularly in west Alabama and in some urban areas. We must increase our participation rate in 2020. Alabama Counts is an advisory committee working to ensure an accurate census count for Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey created the committee by an executive order in 2018. “We as Alabamians have a tremendous opportunity to positively affect the future of our state and our children by simply taking about five minutes to say ‘I Count’ and completing our census forms in 2020,” Gov. Ivey said. “Our goal with Alabama Counts is maximum participation, and we are going to be working hard over the next year to attain that goal, so we can secure a brighter future for our communities.” What can your company do to help?
Cook Museum of Natural Science
Downtown Decatur, Alabama fitebuilding.com
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initiatives oct 2019
It’s easy to assist with the effort. Please help share information about the 2020 Census. Flyers are available at census.alabama.gov – please print these and share with your employees and encourage them to participate and be counted. An accurate count helps keep important funding in place for our state. ■ Claire Aiello
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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HEALTHY BODY
Every Year at 40 Crestwood Women’s Center emphasizes annual mammogram important for early breast cancer detection
T
here has been debate in recent years on how often women should get mammograms, and at what age they should start. Julie McCain is the Breast Care Manager for Crestwood Women’s Center, and she says this pretty clearly: every year, starting at age 40, and earlier if your doctor recommends it based on your health history. McCain has worked at Crestwood for 12 years, and has been in breast imaging for 20 years altogether. Her first job was at Hartselle Medical Center when the process was analog and involved film screen. “Everyone remembers you’d take the image, and then you’d have to go process them, and hope they would turn out, and the patient would have to wait and see if they turn out, and if a processor eats the film and all those things, you’d have to start over,” McCain recalled. “There were a lot of details that would have to be done to make sure we could get a good quality image.”
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initiatives oct 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
DR. LIGHTNER LOOKING AT A BREAST IMAGE ON COMPUTER SCREEN.
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Technology has rapidly changed, and answers come much more quickly now. With 3D mammography imaging, patients can get results within minutes if needed, and then have additional tests on the same day depending on what a mammogram reveals. “If we have a patient who is presenting a breast concern, now the radiologist looks at their image immediately, and can recommend ‘ok, I want you to do more mammogram pictures, or I want you to do an ultrasound.’ All of that can happen within the same visit,” McCain explained. “And patients who need a biopsy – most of the time, we do those that same day, so that’s another huge advantage.” She and her team work very hard to help reduce patient anxiety and worry, because not every visit is routine. “When we have to tell that patient ‘we see something we’re concerned about’ – that moment changes everything, and we know that,” McCain said. “Most of us have been there – we either have some story related to breast biopsy with ourselves, or our families, so we know those sleepless nights, and we try to limit those as much as possible for that reason, because at that point it is personal.” McCain urges her team to rotate and take care of different duties. She said everyone does a little bit of everything, including patient care, but also helping with marketing such as talking with churchJULIE MCCAIN WITH THE STEREOTACTIC BREAST BIOPSY TABLE es and community groups to share the importance of annual screenings. Continuity of Care is a phrase you often hear around the office. Colette Tronti, a mammographer, said it is one of the reasons she likes her job. “With X-rays, you take the image, say it’s of a broken finger, and then you never see the person again,” Tronti explained. “With mammography, we get to see them every single year. We get to be with them through different things. You don’t get that continuity of care with any other modality.”
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■ Claire Aiello
Vice President, Marketing & Communications A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
oct 2019 initiatives
37
a new series of people making impacts in local colleges and universities
Del Smith
Alabama A&M University
D
elmonize “Del” Smith joined the faculty of Alabama A&M University (AAMU) in 2015. He was hired as the Dean of the College of Business & Public Affairs, but his role has expanded; he also now heads economic development. Smith said he wants you to think of the school as a partner for businesses and the community. “Alabama A&M is rooted in the local community,” Smith said. “As a university, we control vast economic, human, intellectual and instiSmith tutional resources, and by working together, Alabama A&M University, our government, and businesses can jump start the economic growth and lead the transformation of North Huntsville and the opportunity zone.” The opportunity zone Smith refers to is a tract of land including the AAMU campus and adjacent community. It is three square miles, and stretches from Memorial Parkway east to the Chase area, all the way to Shields Road, then back west on Highway 72.
Designated Opportunity Zone
Governor Kay Ivey designated it an opportunity zone in 2018, along with nine other locations in Madison County, with the goal of fostering private-sector investment in distressed rural and urban areas. There’s an investment in the works, too. Smith hinted at a mixed-use development near the campus with a hotel, restaurant, and coffee shop to be announced soon.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Huntsville Educational Corridor Smith said there is a wealth of talent within a three-mile stretch on Meridian Street, when you consider what is located between Oakwood Avenue and Winchester Road. “In that less than three-mile strip, we have over 9,200 students between Alabama A&M University, Drake State, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, New Century Technology High School, and Lee High School, and these range from Pre-Kindergarten to PhD,” said Smith. “So, one of the things we’re doing is trying to designate that three-mile strip of land as what we call the Huntsville Educational Corridor. We’re trying to spotlight the fact that this is a very unique asset in our community. Nowhere else in Huntsville can you go and reach that many students in a three-mile radius, from Pre-Kindergarten to PhD, and what we want to do is figure out what can we do to boost that asset for the community.” Smith is charged with cultivating relationships and new partnerships for AAMU. In fact, this is how he ventured into his economic development role in 2017, after working with Redstone Federal Credit Union to establish a branch on campus. It opened the following year and is run by students. “We had a fantastic ribbon cutting, and to date, we’ve had a successful relationship with Redstone, and that has been a very, very successful venture. I think that’s the point where President [Andrew] Hugine said, ‘maybe we can do more of this.’” Smith emphasized Dr. Hugine’s leadership has made these new relationships possible, pointing out the university’s record enrollment for the past five years, stable finances, and significant investments in infrastructure. The school currently has approximately 6,100 students. “All these things that we’re able to do, and we’re talking about doing, would not be possible if it wasn’t for the fact that we have a stable, financially strong, growing university,” said Smith. “That is what allows me to go out and spend the time focusing on how we can really use our assets to benefit the community. It allows us to really ask the question, ‘how can we do even more when it comes to being an anchor institution in the community?’” ■ Claire Aiello
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
oct 2019 initiatives
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Madison living meets modern amenities M
adison’s quaint historic downtown continues to blossom with new boutique shopping, services, and local eateries including the addition of dinner now being served at Main Street Café. The next phase of improvements elevates the city center, heralding trend and change. The Avenue Madison is under construction directly off Sullivan Street. The Avenue, a Charlie and Sasha Sealy project, will offer 190 upscale residential apartments in a mixed-use development combining luxury living, dining, and more than 10,000 square feet of retail options. “The Avenue is a cornerstone project for our focus on downtown revitalization, providing another economic driver for the area,” says Mayor Paul Finley. “Improved road connectivity from Sullivan Street to the City Stadium as well as our soon-to-be middle school, along with the improvements to Homeplace Park, are additions that our community is extremely excited about.” The upgraded Homeplace Park includes plans for a performance stage, stadium seating, pavilion, upgraded landscaping, and walking paths. The project scope will link Kyser Road with Shorter Street, creating another east-west connection to the newly slated middle school development. With construction well underway and Homeplace Park out to bid, residents can look forward to an entertainment district in the heart of the city. The development fuses Madison’s historic district with modern livability and amenities.
ARTIST’S RENDERING OF THE AVENUE
■ Samantha Magnuson, Contributing Writer
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STAFFING & RECRUITING For more information, visit WAStaffing.com or call Taylor Fox at 256.532.0740.
BETTER RESULTS 40
initiatives oct 2019
Alabama | Florida | Georgia | www.warrenaverett.com 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
197,318 50,440
462,693
% Growth
9.5%
9.5%
17.58%
10.8%
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 September 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,030 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
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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.
oct 2019 initiatives
41
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
STA FF Executive Staff
Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Chambliss, executive assistant
Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce
Growing people while solving the Nation’s toughest problems. • Hypersonic Weapon Design • Full Life-Cycle / C4 Engineering Services • Cyber Security & IT Innovative Solutions • Interactive Multimedia Instruction • UAS & Intelligence Training • Digital Missile Simulation • Software & Security Engineering • Hypersonic Ground Test Facility Design & Development
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
i3-CORPS.COM
Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Katelyn Sides Baker, workforce recruitment director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director John Roberts, economic development project director Ken Smith, research & information services director Julia Kaye, marketing & events coordinator
Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president
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 Savannah Pedersen, resource desk coordinator
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
Chamber Foundation Georgina Chapman, workforce development 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
I N N O VAT I O N B Y L S I N C 256.721.4011 | LSINC.COM | INFO@LSINC.COM
theschoolsfoundation.org uah.edu/sbdc
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initiatives oct 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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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 September 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 0.70% 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 9/1/2019. https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/rates/ ÂŽ
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