Initiatives magazine, August 2006 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

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initiatives Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ M adison County

august 2006 in this issue

Small Business: The Magic Spark That Ignites the Economy

Blake Mathis

Page 22 Portrait by S&S Photography

f eatures 2005 Small Business Award Winners Executive of the Year Personal/Wholesale/Retail Manufacturing & Construction Business Services Technology Non-Profit

Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama is located in the middle of the southeastern United States, with more than four million people within a 100-mile radius. The Huntsville community is the primary economic hub of the northern Alabama/southern Tennessee region. Huntsville/Madison County’s economy is one of the strongest in the South, with low unemployment, strong job growth and income levels leading the region. Business growth and investment from U.S. and international companies have made it one of the country’s top “hot spots” for growing a business and raising a family.

13 17 19 25 29 35

New Face in NEARSBDC

2006 Total Resource Campaign

Rod Reilly (inset by Dennis Keim)

d e v e l o p me n t s

mission

The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville /Madison County is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.

contact

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville /Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000

Chamber Board Listing

Chamber Staff Listing

SCORE Developments

HREGI Investors

Community profile

Membership Happenings

ed i t o r i a l s t a f f Publisher

Brian Hilson

Executive Editor

Holly McClain

Editorial Designer

Kristi Sherrard

Contributing Writers

Holly McClain Danielle Sorrell Loren Traylor Jenni Jeffers

Photography

Holly McClain

on the web HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

unless otherwise credited

Advertising Sales

Cassandra Darby The Huntsville Times

Initiatives August 2006

Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2006 Executive Committee Dave Hargrove, Brad Jones,

Chair

Chair-Elect

Jim Link, Immediate Past Chair Evans Quinlivan,

Secretary/Treasurer

Irma Tuder, Vice Chair Economic Development Joe Ritch,

Vice Chair Governmental Affairs

Charley Burruss,

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends:

Vice Chair Image Development

Gerald Toland, Vice Chair Investor Relations

In this issue of Initiatives, you’ll see that the magic of small business is a big deal in Huntsville/Madison County. Winners of the Chamber’s 2005 Small Business Awards receive their final salute as an anonymous panel of judges evaluates nominations for the 2006 honorees. Also in this edition, Chamber services and programs geared to small business development are reviewed, plans for our Business EXPO 2006 are presented, and the success of the Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign – including volunteers from small and big businesses alike – is celebrated. We also welcome Dr. Larry Crowson as the new director of the Northeast Alabama Regional Small Business Development Center, which is located at the Chamber.

Bill Watson,

Vice Chair

Research & Information Services

Dr. Dorothy Huston, Vice Chair Small Business Jim Bolte, Vice Chair Workforce Development Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed Bill Gurley, Chair-Appointed Ron Klein,

Chair-Appointed

Mayor Loretta Spencer, Brian Hilson,

With big dreams and plans, small business owners and employees in Huntsville/ Madison County step up to the daily challenge of shifting markets, increasing overhead and competition. Where others might see problems, they see opportunities. Their contribution to our overall economy is impressive. From “nation-building” companies like Taos to companies like All Seasons One Hour Heating & Cooling that keep us comfortable at home, area small businesses make our lives safer, brighter and a lot more enjoyable.

Chair-Appointed

President/CEO

Elected Board Joe Alexander, Camber Corporation Chuck Allen, The Boeing Company Pete Apple, Torch Technologies Scott Averbuch, Averbuch Realty Co., Inc. Clayton Bass, Huntsville Museum of Art Jim Bolte, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.

Please make plans to attend the Chamber’s Business EXPO on August 22 followed by the annual Small Business Awards Celebration the evening of August 24. These are among our largest – and most important – Chamber events each year.

Frank Caprio, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne John Cooper, Avocent Corporation Dick Fountain,

Small business success also stimulates a greater sense of responsibility to help others. With big hearts, small business owners and their employees gladly accept community leadership roles. The impact of small business on our quality of life is profound. Public service – through elected and appointed positions – and contributions of time, products and services, show small businesses at their finest. As Nina and Terry Roberts of The Roberts Group point out, “A good work ethic and the importance of service” are among the finest things we can teach our children.

Dr. Frank Franz, UAH Dr. Greg Gum, Radiology Associates Bill Gurley, SAIC Jeff Hamilton, The Orthopaedic Center Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Dr. Eric Janssen, SportsMed Dr. Robert Jennings, Alabama A&M University Charlie Kettle, First Commercial Bank Frederick Lanier, J. Smith Lanier & Co. Dan Montgomery, Northrop Grumman Caroline Myers, Foreign Language Services, Inc. Jim Owens, AmSouth Bank Jerre Penney, Bill Penney Toyota Pete Schofield, SPARTA, Inc. Scott Seeley, Regions Bank David Spillers, Huntsville Hospital Karen Stanley, Stanley Construction Co., Inc. Sandra Steele, Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. Paula Steigerwald, Huntsville Botanical Garden Herman Stubbs, Colonial Bank Al Sullivan, COLSA Corporation Gerald Toland, Redstone Federal Credit Union Irma Tuder, Analytical Services, Inc. Gail Wall, Beason & Nalley, Inc. Bill Watson, Wachovia (retired) John Wilmer, Wilmer & Lee, P.A. Tom Young, Qualitest Pharmaceuticals

Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates

Salesman and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said that success is something you can’t pay for at one time. You buy it on the installment plan and make payments every day. I believe that’s true. Through consistently providing good ideas, good service and goodwill, our area small businesses are paying our community with interest. Their success is found in customer loyalty, community leadership roles and, of course, profitability. Successful small business truly is a big deal!

Brian Hilson President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

August 2006 Initiatives

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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Staff 2006

Brian Hilson, president & CEO Holly McClain, communications director Laura Kendrick, executive assistant

Moving to North Alabama?

Economic Development Ethan Hadley, VP, economic development Steve Finnell, director, industrial development Rick Davis, director, Cummings Research Park Amy Locke, industrial development assistant Danielle Sorrell, economic development specialist

Governmental Affairs Mike Ward, VP, governmental affairs Tina Leopold, program assistant

Investor Relations Loren Traylor, VP, investor relations Jenni Jeffers, director, small business/membership services

Check out one of “America’s 50 Hottest Cities”

Debra Dunbar, director, Launch Program Donna McCrary, investor relations coordinator

Lillie Ben, events coordinator Davion Walker, workforce development coordinator

Terrie Ledbetter, membership sales representative

We think Huntsville is a great place to live, work, play and raise a family. And others must, too. Expansion Management, a business magazine for executives of companies actively looking for a place to expand or relocate their facilities within the next one to three years, has released its 8th annual ranking, published in the January-February 2006 issue. Huntsville MSA ranks #22!

Beverly Carthen, membership retention coordinator

Research & Information Services Ken Smith, director, research & information services

Kristi Sherrard, publications/graphic design specialist

Hiroko Sedensky, research assistant Judith Short, information services assistant Cheryl Crowe, resource desk coordinator

Finance & Administration Ken Williams, director, finance & administration

At Compass, we know there's more to life than

Desman Holt, network administrator Lindsay Southard, financial assistant Ginny Buie, financial assistant Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

banking. Like earning the trust and respect of those around you. And taking pride in our community. If this sounds like a bank you want to do business with, give us a call and let us help with your transition to one of the “Hottest American Cities"!

Associated Organizations & Staff Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Sarah Savage, executive director Allison Gregg, program/PR manager Mary Stewart, program coordinator Allison Bowman, administrative coordinator

7 Huntsville banking center locations Commercial Banking 256-532-6226 Executive Private Banking 256-532-6236

Northeast Alabama Regional Small Business Development Center Dr. Larry Crowson, director, SBDC

1-800-COMPASS www.compassbank.com/go/northalabama

Hanson Howard, business counselor Patsy Nayman, executive secretary

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Felita Flores, secretary

Member FDIC

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, Alabama 35801 (256) 535-2000 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

August 2006 Initiatives

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“Winning the Retail Small Business of the Year Award in 2005 was a great honor for us. We’re proud that our bank invests in small businesses that keep our community growing. Our strong banking relationship gives us the "nancial con"dence we need to continue to grow our own business.”

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Terry and Nina Roberts, Owners The Roberts Group-Crystal Mountain Water

Images courtesy of The Huntsville Convention Bureau.

First Commercial Bank is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce 2006 Small Business Awards.

2005 Small Business Award Winner:

Executive of the Year Category

John Hamilton Building Trust, Carrying On

Fearless: It’s the adjective John Hamilton, president and chief executive of Taos Industries, uses to describe his managers. It’s also the adjective they use to describe him. In 2003, Taos Industries won the title of small business of the year from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Taos Industries, which delivers military spare parts, components and systems that are hardto-find and typically can only be acquired from European countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia, Ukraine and Poland, has had a banner year with Chief Operating Officer John Hamilton responsible for much of the company’s growth. There are

fewer than five companies in the U.S. with the experienced personnel, international contacts, financing and legal teams to perform this work well. Most of the Taos senior staff have served in the military and been on the receiving end of such items themselves. By early 2004, Taos Industries, a family-owned company with 27 employees, historically had annual sales of less than $20 million. In April 2004, the company received orders for $95 million of East European military equipment for urgent delivery to Iraq. Since time did not permit the hiring of additional staff, the company approached the opportunity to serve like a military operation, forming five functional teams to go to Europe and find suppliers, plan

inspections and shipping, manage contracts and purchase orders, obtain financing and manage the program. Standard reports and communications procedures were established to provide all traveling teams with current information. Managers in the field were given full decision authority based upon the situation as they saw it. Operations orders were issued daily to provide coordination and control. In less than 12 months, Taos delivered 106 planeloads of military ammunition and goods to Baghdad. These supplies were manufactured in 12 different East European countries and totaled $92 million in value. The company was the only one of five suppliers to be awarded an excellent rating for delivery by the U.S. military. Within the same period, the company suffered an unimaginable tragedy. A plane crash, on January 11, 2005, took the lives of both the company’s president and its chief financial officer. The plane wasn’t flying in skies above the Middle East. It was a small plane flying in airspace close to Huntsville International Airport. Brothers Craig and Steve Hogan were gone. Forty percent of the company’s key leadership was no longer available at a crucial time. The emotional loss and business risk could have easily crippled the company. Under most circumstances, it would have taken months to recover and find suitable replacements. Instead, Hamilton, then chief operations officer, was propelled forward. New officers – friends of the family and company – were hired. A clear message was sent to the business community and customers that the company planned to continue and meet its obligations. “This is not the John Hamilton show,” Hamilton stated modestly. “I am a strong continued on page 14 Initiatives August 2006

John Hamilton, continued from page 13

Vicki Douglas, Realtor 256-603-9399

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solid foundation: Ann Hogan and John Hamilton stand at the entrance to the new Taos facility located in Putman Industrial Park. A tribute to founders Craig and Steve Hogan greets employees and visitors.

August 2006 Initiatives

believer in hiring high quality employees, giving them the broad picture of what needs to be accomplished, and stepping aside and allowing them to do the work and make the decisions. I step in with coaching advice only when necessary. I plan our business over the long and short term, assign responsibility for achieving tasks to the staff and track progress toward our goals weekly.” He added that he treats employees like family members and expects them to treat each other the same. The company’s low turnover reflects a contented crew. John Hamilton was selected by Ernst & Young as a finalist for the 2006 Business Entrepreneur of the Year for the Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee region. Ernst & Young is famous for the program which runs in 35 countries. “Every organization has one person who has real passion,” added Hamilton. “And for us, Ann [Hogan] is that person. She’s been here since day one and she is a real motivator.” Ann Hogan is the widow of Craig Hogan. Now a vice president, Ann handles the organization’s community outreach activities. Further illustrating the family’s continuing solidarity, David Hogan, who started the company with his sons Craig and Steve, has come out of retirement to help with the business and be closer to his grandchildren.

tion, though; we do bid.” Hamilton continued, “But we have so many contacts and so much experience we’re in a strong position.” The mushrooming company outgrew its local facilities. In the first half of 2005, Taos purchased property, developed architectural plans and selected a general contractor to begin construction of a new 30,000 square foot facility. That facility is now open, providing offices for everyone, a bigger warehouse and the ability to expand. “We’re looking to expand that thing we know how to do best which is working overseas with foreign governments. That’s

where we have the competitive edge, rather than just spare parts,” confirmed Hamilton. “It’s the knowledge and experience. People are key to making it happen.” And John Hamilton is guiding the key to the lock. “I’m not so much the guy turning the wrench, but instead the guy who offers advice on how we approach a problem,” he commented. According to John Hamilton, “As these employees become the business owners and leaders in the future, our community will benefit tenfold. They have learned that working together for service to our community provides a better life for all.” •

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Employment at Taos is up over last year, but at 30 it’s still a relatively small workforce. Conversely, sales and revenues have risen exponentially over the last three years. The company has operations in fifteen foreign countries. Three major business areas addressed by the workforce include military spare parts (much of the business is outside of the U.S.); providing foreign radars, foreign vehicles and foreign systems for test ranges in the U.S.; and nation building. “Our primary business is supporting what we call nation-building which is Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Hamilton. “We’ve equipped over 100,000 policemen in Iraq and about 10,000 for Afghanistan in the last year.” Most equipment is brought in by air from Europe and includes such items as pistols, helmets, body armor, sniper rifles, flash bangs and ammunition. “Over 150 million rounds of ammunition have been delivered, and all that’s for training the police,” added Hamilton. The company is currently manufacturing some armored vehicles in Europe for the Iraqi Army. “We have a contract for 31 vehicles and we just delivered six of them,” informed Hamilton. The vehicles, used for tank recovery, typically tow the heavy, broken machinery back to base camp. Early in his career, Hamilton, who served as an officer in the U.S. Army for 22 years, was selected to manage the research and development of future Army vehicles and equipment. He spent more than seven years as a research analyst and Pentagon coordinator supporting the development and production of the Abrams tank. In 1989 he represented the U.S. Department of Defense in coordinating and presenting to the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia the first successful sale of the Abrams Tank to a foreign government. He also managed the establishment of a vehicle repair facility in Pakistan and served as the principal U.S. representative to NATO on military vehicle standardization. He ended his Army career as a program officer for the M113 family of vehicles, a program with an annual budget of over $300 million and development and production operations in Germany and South Korea as well as more than a dozen states. “After this year, we won’t be a small business anymore,” Hamilton stated. “It’s exciting to grow so fast in a short period of time. Our area is a very small niche; there aren’t very many people doing it. Eastern Europe; Third World countries – a lot of people don’t WANT to do it.” Hamilton noted that in many cases, the customer approaches them. “We do have competi-

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2005 Small Business Award Winner:

Personal / Wholesale / Retail Category

The Roberts Group Jump In, the Water’s Fine

They can’t taste it or smell it, but Terry and Nina Roberts certainly know the feel of success, and it’s wet! The Roberts Group, doing business as Crystal Mountain Natural Spring Water, was started in 1996 as a 5-gallon natural spring water company with one full-time employee working out of a makeshift home office, one small van and no existing customers. Just prior, the company Terry had been working for, the Miller Brewing Company – the same company that had transferred the family from Houston, Texas to Huntsville – wanted him to take a transfer to either upstate New York or New Orleans. “We had two small children and Nina had recently resigned from her job as a petroleum analyst in the oil and gas business. We really liked Huntsville and didn’t want to leave,” said Terry. “So, I came home and said, ‘Guess what, we’re going into the water business,’” recounted Terry. His reasoning was prompted by relatively flat sales for beer, wine and soft drinks. “I thought, ‘oh, no,’” admits Nina, who was skeptical of the plan to take all of their retirement savings and invest in water. “But Terry, he’s the optimist, and I guess that’s what keeps us balanced,” she added with a grin. “She’s my anchor,” Terry laughed. In the beginning, Terry went door-todoor in search of customers while Nina worked out of the home office, answering telephone inquiries and setting up bookkeeping. Those days are long gone. Today, in addition to the Huntsville operation, they have distributorships in Knoxville, Tennessee and Birmingham. About 85 percent of their business is commercial – including customers on Redstone Arsenal – and the rest is residential. “We’ve had double-digit growth every year since we’ve been in business,” said Nina.

And there doesn’t appear to be a slow down in sight. The company, which outgrew its first warehouse and office space, bought ten acres in Progress Center and built facilities in the complex which is close to Cummings Research Park. “Now, we’re about to grow out of this,” said Nina. Terry noted they are looking to move “across the street” and are working with Triad Properties. The Roberts are also very complimentary of Ty Samples of Samples Properties, another commercial realtor who has helped them grow their business. “That’s what, to us, is so nice about Huntsville,” said Terry. “People really bring you in, and other businesses network with you. The Samples

family has been here for generations and it was really neat the way he made us feel accepted.” Doing your homework is also helpful. “When we first started in the business, a friend of ours who sold us our coolers did a lot of research and said he found if bottled water has a name including the words crystal, mountain and spring – those three words – people will be more likely to purchase. So, Crystal Mountain Natural Spring Water became our name,” said Terry. Apparently the Roberts are excellent listeners in other ways. They are very active in community events. “We must get 25 requests a week for donating water,” said Nina. “We do specials for schools, for

running smoothly: Nina and Terry Roberts quickly confirm that the small business climate in Huntsville/Madison County is just right. For more information on Crystal Mountain Natural Spring Water, please visit their Web site at www.crystalmtnwater.com continued on page 18 Initiatives August 2006

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The Roberts Group, continued from page 17

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cheerleading programs, for wrestling, you name it.” Another of their community outreach initiatives, the Roberts supply water to the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “When visitors come into Huntsville they get those welcome packets and a bottle of water with the Huntsville logo on it. We don’t charge – we just do it. We feel like it’s giving back to the community.” It also happens to be a great way to increase their community and business network.

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Those private label bottles are integral to the explosive growth of Crystal Mountain Natural Spring Water. For more than five years, the Roberts have addressed requests from a wide variety of organizations. From the Von Braun Center and Big Spring Jam to water bottles emblazoned with university names and mascots, (The Roberts Group is an official water bottler for both the University of Alabama and Auburn University), the Roberts have an expanding list of customers for this niche market. Helpful, too, is the attention sugary soft drinks have gotten as a cause of childhood obesity. “The state of Alabama has decided we need to watch our children’s diets,” remarked Nina. “I’m on the Huntsville City PTA board and we have had a lot of discussions about dietary needs. Nina and Terry Roberts noted that quality products, along with a high level of service provided by friendly, courteous, efficient and well-trained employees, are their company’s strengths. “I’d say service is the biggest thing. And that’s what we tried to teach our kids – to learn a good work ethic and that service is so very important,” concurred Nina and Terry. The Roberts have been awarded dozens of recognitions from leading water industry organizations for quality and creativity. In addition to private label bottles, the Roberts have expanded the business by including coffee service – Crystal Mountain Coffee. They have also worked with area businessmen who ship their water and other products to China. “It’s a lot of fun,” confirmed Terry, “and what a great community we live in. The quality of living here is just unbelievable.” With sunny skies in the forecast for The Roberts Group, you might wonder why Terry and Nina applaud a dark cloud or two. “We worry when it doesn’t rain.” •

2005 Small Business Award Winner:

Manufacturing & Construction Category

All Seasons One Hour Turning up customer service to keep customers comfortable all year long

“It really doesn’t matter what kind of business you’re in…it’s all about customer service, really and truly,” said Donna Lanier, owner of All Seasons One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “That’s what we built this company on – maintaining a level of service that most of our clients don’t anticipate.” All Seasons One Hour Heating & Air provides residential service, repair and replacement for central heating and cooling systems along with indoor air quality products. “We pride ourselves in getting to know our customers and building a relationship with them. If we give the best possible service with a courteous attitude, fair

pricing and dependable service, customers will be loyal to our company,” noted Lanier. “We feel like anyone can put a system in, but it’s who backs it up and stands behind it that’s important,” Donna contends. She believes service begins with hiring the right kind of people, providing ongoing training and rewarding good work with competitive wages and benefits. “It’s all about implementing policies and procedures, checks and balances, and providing the best service that you possibly can.” It’s also important, she noted, to educate customers about the benefits of maintaining regular service.

taking care of business: Donna Lanier says that winning the Chamber’s small business award really instilled pride in what they do every day.

The company’s commitment to service was reinforced with a name change during the past year. All Seasons 500 Heating & Air changed to All Seasons One Hour Heating & Air. “We already felt like we were on the cutting edge of our service ability, but now we go a bit beyond.” Lanier noted she looked at the One Hour Heating & Air franchise for about three years. Last September she took the plunge. “That was a big step for us to take,” she added. National recognition, branding and purchasing support were among major advantages she cited for making the change. Lanier’s business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit were well-developed before she came to run All Seasons One Hour. She owned a Chevron service station on Drake Avenue in Huntsville for three years, before moving to California where she worked with corporate Chevron. She spent 15 years running a territory and helping convert full service stations to convenience store locations. Upon returning to Huntsville, Lanier was hired as a consultant by the previous owners of All Seasons. Her job was to grow the business and she did such a good job she was soon offered the position of general manager. “So, I was basically running the company and learning a lot,” commented Lanier. She admits that when she first came onboard she didn’t know anything about the heating and air conditioncontinued on page 21 Initiatives August 2006

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August 2006 Initiatives

All Seasons, continued from page 19

nance,” she said. A computer generates monthly lists for postcard reminders and follow-up calls. “We have a lot of clients who have parents living here and who want a company to take care of that for them. We take a lot of pride in that.” Lanier and her technicians also take pride in winning last year’s small business award. “It really instilled pride in what we do every day; internally it was a very healthy thing.” The business owner commented, “But it also causes a lot of eyes to look at you, so you have to step it up to the next level.” “Personal service is very important, and I think that’s what small businesses can provide for their customers,” said Lanier. “But I really want the community to know that we as small business owners really and truly have their best interests at heart. It’s not about making millions of dollars, because most small business owners don’t make millions of dollars, but it’s important to me to get to know my customers and take care of them. I want them to depend on us to give them the best service we can. If something goes wrong, we stand behind it.” 00345160

ing business. “I didn’t even know what kind of unit I had in my house. I just knew that you turn it on and off.” Since then, she has received several certifications and is now a licensed contractor. In addition to recruiting from a more general audience, Lanier also targets tech school graduates. “We have three technicians on board who came through Drake Technical College,” she supplied. “But I also have one technician who used to be a roofer and two technicians who came from the military. It’s a diverse background of employees.” Lanier added that candidates are also evaluated on their interpersonal skills. Plus, she conducts criminal background checks, “Not just local, but on a national level for our technicians and staff; everyone here has to pass that.” Club memberships are a big part of All Seasons One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “It’s kind of an elite service we provide,” explained Lanier. “When members call in we guarantee to be there within a certain amount of time. And then they get discounts on their diagnostic services, repairs and preventative mainte-

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Initiatives August 2006

2006 Small Business Week:

Business EXPO and Awards Celebration

Councils specifically geared to support small businesses in meeting individual goals that are housed at the Chamber:

New Face

The Chamber’s Small Business Council (SBC) helps businesses by:

Huntsville Native Returns Home to Lead NEARSBDC

• Promote the resources of the Small Business Development Center

Small Business:

• Review and implement resources via the Small Business Development Center that are targeted to development phases, from start-up and maintenance to expansion

Luncheon + Seminars = Chamber Member $140; Non-member $155 Luncheon = Chamber Member $95; Non-member $110 Admission to the EXPO = FREE

Contact Patsy Nayman at 256.535.2061 or panayman@hsvchamber.org

What do you believe is the most important function of the NEARSBDC?

The Magic Spark that Ignites the Economy

• Develop a business mentor program for new businesses locating in Madison County and for new executives of existing businesses. • Promote and expand the SCORE program and CEO Roundtables

The opportunity to own a business is part of the American dream, but successful entrepreneurs understand that opportunity requires more than meandering thoughts or smoke and mirrors. Imagination, determination, a good business plan and hard work are the not-so-secret ingredients necessary for dreams to flourish and economies to grow. Over 80 percent of the Chamber’s 2,100 member organizations are small businesses that create the magical conditions for economic success. Almost half of those small businesses have less than five employees! To salute small business owners and employees who “pull a rabbit out of the hat” on a daily basis, the Chamber will celebrate Small Business Week in mid-August. Exhibits at Business EXPO 2006 will open at 1 p.m. on August 22 at the Von Braun Center South Hall. Chamber members interested in securing booth space should call 535.2051 before August 10 for price and availability. The expo will culminate in a small business nominees reception honoring all past winners of the Chamber’s small business of the year awards, as well as current nominees. On August 24, the Chamber’s Small Business Awards Celebration will be held at the Von Braun Center North Hall. Sixty-one nominees will vie for this year’s top honors. The celebration recognizes small business leaders in the categories of technology; construction and manufacturing; personal services/wholesale/retail; business services; non-profit; entrepreneur of the year; and the new category, young professional of the year. The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s small business division ensures the needs of small business are uniquely met through networking opportunities and continuing education programs. The Chamber offers a wide variety of services and marketing opportunities to maximize small business exposure. These activities include networking events, small business recognition, ribbon cuttings and advisory councils. In addition, the Chamber partners with the Northeast Alabama Regional Small Business Development Center (NEARSBDC) and the Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE). Both organizations offer assistance to small business start-ups and existing small businesses. If you have further questions on any of the above mentioned programs or events, contact Jenni Jeffers, small business director, at 256-535-2011 or email jjeffers@hsvchamber.org. We look forward to serving you! •

August 2006 Initiatives

Not everyone finds their “magic kingdom” in the same place. Larry Crowson, the new director of the Northeast Alabama Regional Small Business Development Center (NEARSBDC) has learned there is no place like Huntsville/Madison County to live, work and raise a family. Crowson, a Huntsville native, most recently served on the faculty at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. Crowson, a 1976 Huntsville High School graduate, has learned a lot in the last 20 years that helps him address the needs and questions of current and would-be small business owners in the Tennessee Valley. His academic credentials include bachelor’s degrees from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Birmingham-Southern College in management information systems and business administration, respectively; a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama; and work toward a doctoral degree in marketing. In addition to teaching at UCF, Crowson has taught at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. At Florida Tech he created and managed the Center for Entrepreneurial Research (CER), forging relationships with the Florida/NASA Business Incubation Center, the Central Florida Manufacturing Technology Center, the Technology Research and Development Authority, the Space Coast Economic Development Commission, SCORE, the Melbourne-Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center at Brevard Community College. The CER provided business assistance for numerous businesses in central Florida, as well as collected economic data for the area. Crowson also has more than 15 years of consulting experience with dozens of firms. General Motors Corporation, Bush Hog, Raytheon, BellSouth, Converse, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Orange County Health Department and Melbourne International Airport number among his clients. However, for the past seven years, Crowson has concentrated consulting efforts on smaller technology firms and health care organizations. But with the new position at the NEARSBDC comes a new focus. Crowson recently answered a few questions regarding his thoughts and plans for the center.

• Identify external and internal community opportunities for existing companies • Organize small business networking forums

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The SBC is a group of small business owners and experts who have been appointed by the Chamber and meet on a bi-monthly basis.

EXPO Kickoff Luncheon

11:30 am to 1:00 pm / Von Braun Center South Hall Featured Speaker: Lou Heckler, CSP, CPAE

EXPO & Seminars

1:00 pm to 6:00 pm / Von Braun Center South Hall Seminars topics (subject to change)

◆ ‘Beg, Borrow and Steal’: Financing Your Business ◆ Doing Business with the Federal Government ◆ Best Practices in Human Resources ◆ What to do now that you own your Business

◆ SBA Certifications ◆ Buying & Selling Your Business ◆ Avoiding the Sins that Kill

Small Businesses

The Women’s Business Council (WBC) is an advocate for women-owned businesses and hosts quarterly luncheon forums that are focused on women entrepreneurs and executives on topics impacting effective business.

Admission (per person)

Thursday, August 24, 2006 Small Business Awards Celebration

Reception begins 5:30 pm / Ceremony begins at 6:00 pm / VBC North Hall

Reserved Seating Only

Individual = $65 Table = $600 (eight per table) Deadline for reservations: August 14 (first come, first served)

Contact Lillie Ben at 256.535.2051 or reservations@hsvchamber.org

The Chamber has established the CEO Roundtables to better serve small business members. The groups are comprised of seven to twelve CEO’s of comparable experience, from non-competing companies. Each roundtable offers a forum in which CEO’s, presidents, and owners can gain valuable insight into others’ successes and achievements, and learn how to avoid mistakes. CEO Roundtables are exclusive for single individuals responsible for the direction of their companies and with the authority to make final decisions. The Chamber also hosts two CEO Roundtable receptions yearly to recruit individuals to join and establish new groups.

“In general, our most important function is to bring knowledge, skill and resources together in one place so that small business owners have a focal contact for the assistance that can help them become more successful. We do this by offering a number of compelling and useful training opportunities and counseling with respect to specific needs. We provide the knowledge and assistance to help those who want to do business with the government get started and grow over time, and we develop partnerships with local business people and community leaders who can provide additional assistance to the business owner.”

What are the unique opportunities and challenges of the Huntsville/ Madison county market? “For many businesses, the challenges they face here are the same as those they would face in any market. The assumption, or perception, by many that Huntsville is this “high-tech corridor” is only partially correct. While there are certainly a number of technology-oriented firms in Huntsville, the vast number of businesses provide continued on page 31

Initiatives August 2006

Volunteers SCORE for Small Business Owners Ravi Agarwal and Hanson Howard recently received recognition from the local SCORE chapter for exemplary service. Mr. Hanson Howard was executive director of the SCORE office, located in the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, from 2003 until 2005. Mr. Agarwal was applauded for his counseling services over the past year. SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs. ✓ SCORE offers online email advice (www.score.org)

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Pictured with Hanson Howard is Nicole Borek, SCORE director and chapter chair

“Where Lives Are Built in Christ”

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(256) 881-0553 www.gls-hsv.org

Grace Lutheran School is part of the network of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), which sponsors the largest Protestant school system in the United States. 24

August 2006 Initiatives

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• Small Classes • Loving Teachers • Safe Environment • SAT scores are 2-6 years above grade level • New Computers • Foreign Languages

2005 Small Business Award Winner:

Business Services Category

Media Idea, Inc. A Leap of Faith

“I took that leap and started my own company,” stated Jeanna Reitmeier, owner of Media Idea. “The decision was just a matter of timing…but I thought ‘I have faith in myself and my abilities, and I’m just going to jump.’ And it has just grown from there.” Media Idea had its start in Reitmeier’s home in October 2002. Reitmeier emphasized, “It is so important that we do full service contract support.” Media Idea is an advertising company that began with a vision of one-on-one customer service. “We have maintained an outstanding reputation for quality, cutting-edge design, and excellent customer service. Exhibit support is one of our core capabilities.” She said the company currently has a lot of exhibit support contracts, doing everything from exhibit design and build, to the graphics. “And we coordinate with the show site. We make sure it is all delivered and set up, and

we man it though the show and transport it back and store it. So it’s 100 percent life cycle support of those exhibits.” She added that the knowledge behind Media Idea and their physical presence at the shows, “really puts our customers at ease.” Reitmeier’s career started with an internship in NASA’s media relations office where she gained advertising experience and began learning how small businesses win contracts to provide goods or services to the federal government. Later, as a government contractor employee, she began contemplating how she might reach for the American dream of owning her own small business. Reitmeier credits Irma Tuder, founder of Analytical Services, Inc., a government contractor, with providing valuable insight into starting a business. “She has been a great mentor; to watch her career, to watch her company grow as quickly as it has.

They are by far one of the leaders in the industry right now,” maintained Reitmeier. She also remarked that ongoing education is important. “I took several classes and seminars through the Chamber of Commerce on contracting with the government. As any contractor knows, there is a lot of paperwork involved. It’s a process, and you have a lot to learn.” Government contracts were extremely important to the early success of her business, and the government sector remains a large part of the company’s customer base. Media Idea continues to support the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, and the Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal. Reitmeier cherishes her relationships with other contractors. “It is so important to support your community and work together. We run some of our work through other contractors such as Torch Technologies and Analytical Services. Aviation & Missile Solutions has been key to our success. They have helped us at every turn by giving us advice. They are always willing to step up. Hopefully, I will be in the same situation one day to turn around and do that for other companies who are my size and growing,” said Reitmeier. Media Idea has recently expanded its commercial customer base, and Reitmeier expects that growth to continue. “We have picked up quite a bit of commercial work, and I would say that has been mainly due to the Chamber of Commerce award,” offered Reitmeier. “We were primarily military- and government-based, so having our name out there and getting recognized by the Chamber really helped us in the commercial sector. Last year when we won the continued on page 27

Jeanna Reitmeier

Initiatives August 2006

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award in August, we jumped 20 percent in the commercial sector.” Reitmeier welcomes diversification. In fact, she is eagerly pursuing new types of customers. “We’re actually starting to work on a political campaign, and we are bidding on a music video and Web site for a country music band.” She added, “Diversification is how we’ve grown the company. It’s really about getting out there and showing that we can do everything any other traditional advertising agency would do, but we do it with one-on-one customer support.” The business owner contended that her chief area of expertise is marketing design. “That would include traditional graphic design, as well as environmental, Web, 3D, and print media. Marketing is all about getting a plan together. We go in and meet with a customer and determine their core areas, their niche. We do research and tell them what their competition is doing; then we establish a marketing plan. We get to know our customers so well that sometimes people don’t know that we actually work for Media Idea. We are mistaken for our clients’ employees quite often.” Reitmeier’s enthusiasm for her company and her employees is evident. “We have assembled an experienced group of professionals who work great together. We firmly believe that a happy employee is the key to success,” noted Reitmeier. She added, “We have many employee benefits and programs such as flexible work schedules, a retreat week, and family-friendly policies to foster relationship growth between management and employees.” Media Idea maintains a 5 percent donation of billable hours to pro bono activities in local communities. Reitmeier explained, “We feel that this not only helps the community as a whole, but it also helps our employees grow as productive members of the community. Most of our pro bono work is graphic design and advertisements. This area is sometimes overlooked, but it is the most important way an organization gets its name out to receive donations from the community.” •

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Media Idea, continued from page 25

Initiatives August 2006

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August 2006 Initiatives

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2005 Small Business Award Winner:

Technology Category

Applied Data Trends, Inc. Command, Control, & Communication

Applied Data Trends (ADT) specializes in “system of systems, joint interoperability solutions.” The company provides capabilities that emphasize mission planning and preparation, battlespace situational awareness and communication among disparate systems. “We do software solutions to help defense systems – particularly air and missile defense and aviation combat systems such as PATRIOT/MEADS and groundbased midcourse defense – communicate better and help them communicate better with the warfighter who is conducting missions in the battlespace. We help them plan how to use those systems in the real battlespace environment. We do command, control, and communication,” said Derrick Copeland, founder and CEO of ADT. Copeland explained, “From the legacy of the way the military was fielded, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines fought as independent services. What we are trying to do is help provide technology solutions through our Tactical Office® software that help those systems work together better, not just talk to each other better. A warfighter is using systems much like you would use your computer at the office: We make it all work together seamlessly. So we’re like what Microsoft Office is to your office applications.”

Derrick Copeland

Copeland, a native of North Alabama, founded Applied Data Trends in 1994. Today, ADT is a small business niche leader among general industry giants. ADT’s Tactical Office® software technology serves as the core for all U.S. Army air and missile defense command post force operations. Applied Data Trends grew from a virtual office operating out of employees’ homes to a Cummings Research Park presence. Copeland reminisced about ADT’s growth. “We made that transition, and part of it was creating awareness of our company and becoming more active in the community. Chamber participation has helped that a lot.” ADT is involved with numerous community charities and education boards. “We take to heart our responsibility as a corporate citizen.” ADT’s success is impressive, especially when comparing its size relative to its defense industry neighbors in CRP. The company has enjoyed tremendous success and has garnered national recognition from Inc. magazine and Popular Science among others. Copeland explained ADT’s relationship with industry heavyweights such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, CSC, Boeing, SAIC, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Teledyne Solutions. “In some cases, we are teamed with those

giants in our niche specialty to compete for new work. In some cases, we work directly with government customers to come up with new projects that will help enhance the capabilities that we’re providing through those other programs where we support those industry giants. So we compete directly with them, and they are our customers as well.” Companies like ADT operate successfully in Huntsville in large part because of the technical ability of the workforce. Indeed, the 2000 census revealed that Huntsville has the highest concentration of engineers in the country. However, with so many high-tech companies competing for employees, workforce is a growing issue. “Workforce is definitely a challenge. Unemployment is low in this town. There have been some programs that have been cut back, and we’ve benefited from that, which is why it is so important for us to have a really good reputation as a familyfriendly place to work, to be a preferred workplace, and to be successful. Through growth, we offer not only new challenges for people, but we also offer security because we have synergistic customers that we build by specialization.” Copeland is proud of ADT’s commitment to what he calls a “fulfilling work style.” He said, “It’s more than having challenging work and good benefits. We offer employees a well-rounded career, and we’re a family-oriented organization where people actually have a very strong sense of belonging. We combine that with a flexible work environment and a really strong culture. That’s what creates the extra intangibles that keep people as employees.” Copeland noted that offering a rich benefits package is part of creating that fulfilling work style. “Our philosophy towards the continued on page 30 Initiatives August 2006

Applied Data Trends, continued from page 29

the right

jobs.

family dictates how we do some of those things.” ADT’s annualized workforce turnover rate is only 2 percent. ADT employees recently celebrated the milestone of having 100 employees. To celebrate, staff at ADT and their families prepared and sent 100 packages to soldiers deployed in the Middle East. Copeland commented on his business model. “We feel that as a small business we have to be good stewards of the taxpayer. We put the warfighter first – not just because that’s the thing to do in the industry, but because these are friends and family. We have employees in our company who have gone overseas to support the war on terror. We have employees in the National Guard who have been activated to support the war and disaster relief. What they do is absolutely important, and we’re 100 percent behind them. We’re not profit first. Putting the warfighter first is our bottom line.” •

the right

talent. all under one roof.

Supporting the warfighter ADT is especially proud of its employees who serve. “It really makes what we do a very personal mission,” noted Derrick Copeland, chief executive of the company. Currently deployed warfighters: Peyton McNully (pictured below) Recently deployed Warfighters (combat overseas or Katrina relief): Robert Rodgers, David Gregory, Stan Koryta Recent warfighter status: Jim Murphy, Brent Horrocks Past warfighter status: Scott Hays, Jim Samuelson

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New Face, continued from page 23

basic support infrastructure that really doesn’t change much from market to market – such as lawn care, maintenance, printing services, dry cleaning, etc. A challenge that I do see is a gap in the availability of affordable consultative assistance for businesses that are “on the bubble,” that is, those who are not too large, but are still fairly small. The government’s definition of small business is quite broad. I believe that we can play an important role in the community by providing services not only to very small businesses and start-ups, but also to those businesses which have been around for a while and really need affordable help that is more readily available to larger businesses with greater resource bases.”

As the new director, what programs will be receiving your greatest attention? “Right now, I would say that there are two areas that warrant immediate attention. The first is our procurement counseling function. Most people are not aware

that our small business development center – primarily through the work of one individual, Brenda McBride (pictured) – was first in the nation in assisting clients with government contract awards. Brenda and our office staff assisted clients in securing $1.5 billion in contract awards. There are ten Small Business Development Centers associated with various universities across the state. Statewide contract awards totaled $1.9 billion – so the Huntsville SBDC was responsible for roughly 80 percent of all government contract awards in Alabama. Brenda has recently retired and we know that her clients miss her greatly. She has agreed to work for us on a part-time basis in a consultative role to make sure that our procurement office remains the best in the country. Our second effort will focus on expanding and improving the availability and variety of training offerings. We hope to soon

provide a greater training capability for those moderate-sized businesses that I mentioned earlier. Providing training assistance that is useful and timely is absolutely critical to businesses operating in today’s highly competitive marketplace. An example of the expansion of our training offering is a conference on RFID [radio frequency identification] that we will hold in September in conjunction with our counterparts from Tennessee. RFID is a sophisticated DoD mandated form of barcoding and identification of parts and materiel that are provided to the DoD from its suppliers. There is a need for providers to understand this system, how to implement the process and identify companies that can assist them in meeting the requirement. We intend to do more of these kinds of seminars/conferences/workshops as market needs dictate.”

Do you have aspirations of creating some kind of model program? “I think that every center staff would continued on page 41

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Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Regions Bank

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City of Huntsville Huntsville Hospital Huntsville Utilities Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority Madison County Commission

Chamber Trustees ($10,000 - $24,999 invested)

Applied Research Assoc., Inc.; Avocent Corp.; Beason & Nalley, Inc.; Bill Penney Toyota; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Ala.; Booz Allen Hamilton; Camber Corp.; CINRAM, Inc.; COLSA Corp.; Express Jet; Huntsville Area Assoc. of Realtors; Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, Inc.; Intergraph Corp.; Lamar Outdoor Advertising; Northrop Grumman; Panalpina, Inc.; SAIC; Siemens VDO Automotive; SPARTA, Inc.; SportsMed Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center; Teledyne Brown Engineering

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Development Partners ($50,000+ invested: Public Sector)

ADTRAN; AmSouth Bank; BellSouth; Colonial Bank; Compass Bank; Crestwood Medical Center; Redstone Federal Credit Union; The Boeing Company; The Huntsville Times; Tennessee Valley Authority; Wachovia

August 2006 Initiatives

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AEgis Technologies; Analytical Services, Inc.; Applied Data Trends, Inc.; BAE Systems; Balch & Bingham, LLP; Coldwell Banker/McLain Real Estate; Colonial Properties; Consolidated Construction; Dynetics; Enfinger Steele Development, Inc.; Engelhard Corp.; ERC, Inc.; First American Bank; First Commercial Bank; FPMI Solutions, Inc.; General Dynamics; HiWAAY Internet Services; International Diesel; Intuitive Research and Technology Corp.; Jerry Damson Honda Acura; Keystone Foods Corp.; Lanier Ford Shaver Payne; LG Electronics Ala., Inc.; Main Street Strategies; Morgan Research; NAI Chase Commercial Realty; Parker Hannifin Corp.; Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.; Radiology of Huntsville, P.C.; Samples Properties; Sirote & Permutt; J. Smith Lanier & Co.; SOUTHBank; System Studies and Simulation (S3); The Executive Group Realtors; The Orthopaedic Center; The Surgery Center of Huntsville; Turner Universal Construction; WAFF-TV; Wilmer & Lee, P.A.; Yellowbook; Anonymous

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Alabama Psychological Services Center; Allied Photocopy, Inc.; Appliance Direct; Arnold Hornbuckle; Armstrong Relocation; Available Plastics; Bama Jammer Promotions; Bevilacqua Research Corp.; Bill Johnston, Jr.; Blue Creek Investment Partners; Charles G. Robinson, Attorney; Crabtree Rowe & Berger, P.C.; Crestani Family Medicine; Davidson Technologies; Dick, Riggs, Miller & Stern, LLP; FLS, Inc.; Grogan Jewelers; G.W. Jones & Sons; General & Automotive Machine Shop, Inc. Huntsville Marriott; Mercer and Associates, P.C.; O & S Enterprises, Inc.; OMI, Inc.; Padgett Business Services; Park Supply Co.; Pearce Construction; Phoenix; QuantiTech, Inc.; Renasant Bank; Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove; Russ Russell Commercial Real Estate; S & S Photography; Sellers Photo; Snelling Personnel Services; Southwest Research Institute; SRS Technologies; Stanley Construction; State Farm’s Marshall England; Suzuki of Huntsville Driving 2000; System Technology Assoc.; Taos Industries; Technology Management Training; Tetra Tech, Inc.; The Real Yellow Pages® from BellSouth; Vulcan Heating and Air Conditioning; West Huntsville Land Company; Westwind Technologies Corp.; White, Fleming & Co., P.C.

Initiatives August 2006

c o m m u n i t y p ro f i l e

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS

Madison County

City of Huntsville

City of Madison

Huntsville Metro Area

U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,601

Population 2000 Census

276,700

158,216

29,329

342,376

Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,000

2005 Estimate

298,192

166,313

35,893

368,661

The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,000

Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,126

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,555 Households 2000 Census

CINRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,500 109,955

66,742

11,143

134,643

Avg. Household Income

$57,220

$55,856

$72,432

$55,343

Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,150

Per Capita Income

$23,091

$24,015

$27,821

$22,073

SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,653

Intergraph Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,450 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,199

Income

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov)

Source: Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

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. Over 16,000 direct DoD and 2,676 NASA employees manage some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs including missiles, aviation and space exploration. More than 250 companies employing an additional 27,000 workers support the local aerospace and defense industries.

Research & Technology

For more information visit:

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HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a world center for technology development. The second-largest science and technology park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to more than 225 companies and 25,000 people involved in technology research and development.

August 2006 Initiatives

2005 Small Business Award Winner:

Non-Profit Category

The Arc of Madison County Working for the Community

“We consider ourselves one of the biggest, least-known agencies in Madison County,” said Susan Klingel, executive director of The Arc of Madison County, Inc. The Arc provides educational and vocational training for adults with mental retardation, as well as early intervention services for children who are at risk for developmental disabilities; critically important services to the community. The staff and board of directors of the 501(c)3 non-profit agency are committed to limiting the consequences of mental retardation/developmental disabilities through advocacy, support, education and provision of quality programs. “That was one of the great things about winning this award,” said Klingel of the Chamber’s small business awards. “It sort of put us on the map.” The Arc of Madison County was established in 1952 under the

name of Aid for Retarded Children. Later, the agency was referred to as the Association for Retarded Citizens. In 1992, the agency officially changed its name to the current form – The Arc of Madison County, Inc. The Arc’s services are more far-reaching and diverse than many might imagine. The organization’s recycle program employs about 45 Arc workers/clients in the collection and recycling of paper and cans at 111 sites throughout the community. “It shows individuals from the community that our clients can work.” Klingel expressed her gratitude to “fabulous local companies” which have welcomed their services. “We even have relationships that go beyond a vendor situation.” Klingel noted that one of the Lockheed Martin groups held a talent show for her clients. Also,

company employees sometimes take Arc workers to lunch when they recycle. Computer Sciences Corporation hosts a large golf tournament to raise funds for The Arc, and the agency has received grants from CAS, Boeing, Toyota and other companies in Huntsville/Madison County. The Arc’s main offices are located in the Civitan Opportunity Center, which is a division of The Arc of Madison County. The Arc’s largest partnership is with the Civitans. “We are a very blessed organization because of our partnership with the Civitans.” The Civitan Opportunity Center is named such because of the group’s dedication to The Arc and their support of its building projects and social activities. The Civitans not only offer financial support of the organization, but the group often spends time with clients at The Arc’s centers.

on the job: The Arc of Madison County offers valuable services for both its clients/workers and the overall community. The recycling program (left) provides services at more than 100 businesses and community organizations – including the Chamber – and Ribbons Unlimited (above) bestows that “special touch” for a variety of events and awards ceremonies. Susan Klingel, executive director of The Arc, (pictured with clients and the recycling supervisor) notes that the organization is very blessed by widespread support from both corporate sources and community organizations. continued on page 36 Initiatives August 2006

The Arc, continued from page 35 getting the word out: Clients of The Arc stuff ChamberPak envelopes for delivery to over 2200 Chamber members.

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August 2006 Initiatives

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LENDER

While Klingel is grateful for the community support The Arc receives, she asserts that the worst part of her job is “turning people away who need services now.” There are currently 60 individuals on the waiting list for the day program in Madison County and about 1,800 individuals on waiting lists in the state. “People come in and they want their child to start tomorrow.” Often, parents have nowhere else to turn, and they may be in danger of losing their jobs if they cannot find services for their adult children. Klingel regrets that a person can be on the waiting list for 10 years. “It’s based on criticality of need.” She explained by noting if someone shows up who has a greater need for Arc services, that person will move to the head of the waiting list. “Let’s say they’ve been living with their eighty-year-old mother and she passes away. And they are adults – they may be 50 years old or 60 years old – but have the mental age of a three-year-old. They’re not going to be able to live by themselves, so that becomes a crisis situation and something has to be done.” Both Senator Richard Shelby and Senator Jeff Sessions have appropriated money for The Arc over the past few years, and Klingel praised Governor Riley’s leadership and progress in mental health services. However, she said simply, “We have to have more state funding for our services.” Klingel finds her job rewarding. Her clients are the best part of her job. “Smiling faces all the time. It’s very rewarding. Seeing the progress, seeing them go out into jobs, seeing somebody who has been able to accomplish something that they weren’t able to accomplish last year.” “I think a lot of people see us as a daycare for adults, and that’s not what we’re here for,” stated Klingel. “The Arc is not a program that provides sitter service. We’re not a daycare. We are here to help people with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities become more independent – whether that’s moving into a job, whether that’s gaining pre-vocational skills, or whether that’s being able to cook using a microwave.” For more information on The Arc of Madison County, Inc., please visit www.thearcofmadisoncounty.com.

Infant and Toddler Program (ITP)— Serves 39 babies – This program provides services to children ages birth to three years old who have a significant developmental delay or a diagnosed mental or physical condition which is likely to result in delays. The program initially provides evaluations and developmental assessments to determine the functioning level of the child. After assessment, the child will receive speech, occupational, and physical therapies on an as needed basis. In addition, special instruction, family training, and social/psychological services are offered to stimulate learning and to support and empower families.

Residential Services – Serves 15 individuals – This program provides training for personal care, community education, housekeeping skills, and money management for individuals who reside in 24 hour residential group homes. Community outings are numerous!

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The Arc of Madison County and the Opportunity Center are synonymous for many in the community, but Susan Klingel, executive director of The Arc, wants the community to know, “We’re more than the Opportunity Center.”

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Arc Programs

Civitan Opportunity Center, Jane K. Lowe Center, McKemy Center Serves 171 adults – These day programs offers 5 days a week community-based educational, vocational, adaptive daily living skills training and support to adults with mental retardation. The goal of this program is for participants to become as independent and successful as possible.

Ribbons Unlimited – This vocational branch of The Arc provides work skills training to Arc clients through the manufacturing of printed napkins, rosettes, ribbons, and bookmarkers. Primary customers are schools, churches, civic organizations, clubs, businesses, and private individuals.

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Madison Area Supported Employment (MASE) —Serves 27 individuals – This program helps participants complete job applications and learn interview skills. MASE personnel develop job placements in the community for participants and provide on-going support to ensure employee-employer satisfaction and long-term job retention.

Recycling Program — The Arc employs 45 adults with mental retardation and provides recycle services at 111 community sites.

Initiatives August 2006

Membership Happenings

“Get the right connection in Madison County”

August Business Expo 2006

The Becky Hall Network

August 22, 2006 VBC South Hall, Huntsville Contact: Lillie Ben lillieb@hsvchamber.org

25 years of sales experience 23 million in inventory sold in 2005

Small Business Awards

Make the call to…Becky Hall

256.337.6632

August 24, 2006 Reception 5:30 / Dinner 6:00 VBC North Hall, Huntsville Deadline for reservations: Aug. 14

Contact: Jenni Jeffers jjeffers@hsvchamber.org

Associate Broker CRS, ABR

September

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September 26, 2006 – 5-7 p.m. R.J. Young 200 Sparkman Drive, Suite #6

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Deadline for reservations: Sept. 14

Contact: Lillie Ben lillieb@hsvchamber.org

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August 2006 Initiatives

October Business After Hours October 17, 2006 – 5-7 p.m. NAI Chase Commercial Location tba Deadline for reservations: Oct. 12

Contact: Lillie Ben lillieb@hsvchamber.org

November Regional Business After Hours 00345154

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September 26, 2006 Contact: Tina Leopold tleopold@hsvchamber.org

Business After Hours

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Annual Outing

November 30, 2006 – 5-7 p.m. Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa Florence, Alabama Contact: Lillie Ben lillieb@hsvchamber.org

Amazing Results Volunteers Spring Past Goal for the 2006 Total Resource Campaign

2006 Amazing Race Campaign Chair Scott Seeley knew he had a challenge when he signed on to lead the second Total Resource Campaign for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. After all, the 2005 campaign had shot well past its goal of $400,000 and consequently the 2006 goal had increased by 50 percent! But Seeley also knew he had some amazing, experienced volunteers, as well as many fresh faces. The result? Over $900,000 (50 percent over the $600,000 goal) was raised in the 2006 event and 111 new members invested in Chamber membership! “The Chamber is our community’s economic development organization and the financial resources generated out of this year’s campaign enable us to address our objectives in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative. Without this much-needed financial support, it would be more difficult for us to effectively market the community. We greatly appreciate the outstanding leadership and efforts of our volunteers,” said Brian Hilson, president and CEO. From the moment the Chamber kickedoff this event at Mama Fu’s Asian House restaurant until its grand finale celebration sponsored by Regions Bank and catered by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, volunteers gave it their all. After the first week, several individuals had raised over $20,000 with almost $500,000 raised in the campaign as a whole. By the campaign’s end, amid a lot of good-natured ribbing, Carrie McCrillis, district manager of Kelly Services and team captain for the Bury the Bankers team, was declared top producer with $68,265. Lee Lester, Regions Bank team and Tami Herrington, Exceeding Expectations team, were in second and third places, respectively.

ready to celebrate: At the TRC victory celebration, numbers topped out close to $900,000. Since then, figures have risen above that mark. 2006 campaign chair Scott Seeley (at podium) and Dave Hargrove, chairman of the board for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County, are as tickled pink as the flamingo decorations. “I was amazed at what we accomplished. This is only the second year of our campaign and last year’s campaign reached $130,000 over the goal. Our volunteers and Chamber staff did a fantastic job of making this beneficial for everyone; the volunteers, the companies who participated and the community!” said Seeley. City president of Regions Bank, Seeley served as campaign vice chair in 2005 and helped lead his bank to the “top producing” team title. Fifteen teams competed for that title in 2006. Interestingly, last year’s second place team renamed themselves Bury the Bankers and proceeded to live up to the name! During the nine-week campaign, more than 80 volunteers learned about the community and the work of the Chamber, and helped recruit new member businesses.

Opportunities for event sponsorships, Web- and print-based advertising, and other resources needed by large and small members were shared. “It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun,” said McCrillis. “As a Chamber emissary, I was able to make sure that the companies I ‘adopted’ were knowledgeable about the opportunities in the total resource campaign. I encouraged them to use the campaign services to meet their company’s marketing goals and objectives. Additionally, our team was made up of six dynamic women who were determined to use this campaign to help local businesses and expand our networking opportunities. During the weekly reward lunches we were able to share our strategies and enable other teams to reach more companies.” continued on page 40 Initiatives August 2006

2006 TRC, continued from page 39

2006 TRC Teams “AmSouth Bucks” – $67,068 Louis Michetti (team captain), Jennifer Dooling, Ty King, Chad Gardner, Linda Cinader “Beach Bound” – $29,985 Lisa Sparks (team captain), Henry Hobbs, Thomas Busby, Mary Turner

Team pictured: “The ProMoters” (see chart at right)

“Blue Eagles” – $19,540 Herman Stubbs (team captain), Lynn Pearce, Margaret Riethmaier, James Smith, Jason Speth “CoC2 Challengers” – $16,581 Deborah Boyd (team captain), Cathy Patterson, Karen Meredith, Todd Steigerwald “Compass Bank” – $18,671 Kevin Wright (team captain), Brandi Glenn, Tom Coblentz

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“E-I-E-I-O” – $87,234 Tharon Honeycutt (team captain), Michael Condry, Joey Ceci, Heather Johnson, Joe Green, Jennifer Gordon “Fab 3” – $20,295 Barney Heyward (team captain) “Harry’s Hotrods” – $38,112 Rebecca Billings (team captain), Meaghan Williams, Cassandra Darby, Katrina Jefferson “Movin’ & Shakin’” – $133,807 Regina Underwood (team captain), Cindy Clark, Dawn Mueller, Nancy Vela, Kelly Ellis, Jean Mulcahy, Andy Watwood “Non-Billable Hours” – $37,540 Mark Bledsoe (team captain), Wendy Babcock “Regions Bank” – $157,199 Mike Johnston (team captain), Chris Lindsey, Patti Holmes, Tracy Whorton, Faith Miller, Mary Hix, Teresa Wallace, Lee Lester “Sirote & Permutt” – $27,985 Fred Coffey (team captain), Mike Pillsbury, Bree Taylor, John Baggette “The ProMoters” – $191,434 Carrie McCrillis (team captain), Terry Dumer, Marianne Windham, Lisa Lane, Tami Herrington, Michelle Powell (team pictured above)

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“Usual Suspects” – $46,388 Ravi Agarwal (team captain), Blake Mathis, Mary Lynn Bishop

August 2006 Initiatives

“Wachovia” – $10,878 Frank Aldag (team captain), Clint Kirkland, Dana Crow

New Face, continued from page 31

“We see the person in the patient” like to believe that they do things better than anyone else. I believe that we are already a model program in terms of how we deliver our procurement services. We want to get even better at that. We look to other Centers to see what they are doing, and I don’t mind copying those programs that are successful elsewhere, just as I have no objection to others copying what we do well. I do believe that there are specific, identifiable areas where creating a “best practices” model is something to strive to achieve. We are attempting to study what we do, determine what is most successful and to focus on those things that we do well.”

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00345176

What piece of advice can all small business owners use? “This seems like it should be a difficult question, but I don’t think it really is. The most important piece of advice I could give the small business owner is to ask for help. There’s nothing really heroic in doing it yourself and going down with the ship. Business owners should ask questions, seek out those who can help them, and avail themselves of all of the resources that the community has to offer. They should develop a plan for reading and staying current with market trends and conditions. They should find a mentor. The SBDC is here to provide many of those things. We have very hard working and dedicated staff members who will do their best to help every business owner who comes through the door. Don’t be afraid to seek out and ask for assistance. My guess is that you would be amazed at what is already available to you, if you will just take advantage of what we and other groups in the community have to offer.” Crowson is married to fellow Huntsville native Glenda Dill Crowson. When he’s not addressing his new position, Larry Crowson is helping to raise three teenage daughters: Lawren, 19; Sarah Alison, 18; and Emily, 15. •

00345146

Traditional and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeries

celebrated the grand opening of our new facility at 2745 Bob Wallace Avenue, Suite D Huntsville, AL 35805, with a ribbon cutting and open house. We utilize electronic medical records to provide quality family care. Accepting new patients of all ages Accepting most major insurance including Tricare* Helping You Create a Healthier Family Please call us at 256.534.1323 or visit us today online at www.crestani.net

Taos Industries, Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters located at 480 Production Drive in Madison on May 18, 2006. In attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony were: John Hamilton, President & COO; Ann L. Hogan, VP-Administration; Mayor Sandy Kirkindall; Jerry Jennings, District 3 City Council; Debra Moder, Board President of the Madison Chamber of Commerce; Tommy Overcash, District 5 City Council; and Ethan Hadley, Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. 182 guests attended the ceremony. 00377659

Hyun’s Korean Garden is an authentic Korean restaurant that will grill menu items of your choice right at your table. The celebration of their grand opening was on June 5, 2006 and was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The NEARSBDC is located in the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. To contact Crowson or other SBDC staff members, call 256.535.2061. To learn more about programs offered by the center, visit www.nearsbdc.org.

Please visit us today! 7500 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 115 A Main Street Shopping Village 256-489-8888 www.HyunsKoreanGarden.com 00377660

Initiatives August 2006

Where to go • Who to see for products and services

Use a chamber member... it's in your best interest Credit Unions

Accountants

Insurance

Beason & Nalley, Inc. Redstone Federal Credit Union 101 Monroe St. 35801.......................256-533-1720 220 Wynn Dr. 35893..........................256-837-6110

Cox Associates, Inc. 115 Manning Dr. 35801 .......................256-533-0001

CDPA, PC 415 Church St., Ste. B 35801 ..........256-539-3555

Internet Service

Education - Schools, Colleges, Universities

Advertising

Calhoun Community College Hwy 31 N. Decatur 35601.............256-306-2500 al.com ...................................................www.al.com Grace Lutheran School The Huntsville Times 3321 S. Memorial Pkwy 35801 ........256-881-0553 2317 S. Mem. Parkway .....................256-532-4250

Aerospace/Defense Contractors

UAH Professional Development 210 Wilson Hall 35899 .....................256-824-6372

SAIC Virginia College at Huntsville 6725 Odyssey Drive 35806.............256-971-6400 2800-A Bob Wallace Ave. 35805......256-533-7387

HiWAAY Internet Services 2227 Drake Ave., Suite 28 35802 ....256-650-4900

Mortgage Companies Countrywide Home Loans 919 Merchants Walk 35801 .............256-534-5225 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 415 Church St., Ste 201 35801 .......256-533-5200

Physicians & Surgeons

Taos Industries, Inc. 480 Production Dr., Madison 35758...256-772-7743

Employment - Agencies & Consultants Crestani Family Medicine

Attractions

Express Personnel Services 5650 Sanderson St., Suite P 35805....256-721-5621

Kelly Services U.S. Space & Rocket Center One Tranquility Base 35805 ............256-837-3400 6241 University Dr. 35806................256-971-0113

Banks

Whitaker Medical LTD 11 Hughes Rd. Ste. 220 ...................256-830-9002

CapitalSouth Bank 2123 Whitesburg Dr. 35802..............256-513-4300

Entertainment

Renown, Inc. Compass Bank 114 Governors Drive 35801.............256-532-6240 www.renownhuntsville.com ...............256-520-2502 First American Bank 401 Meridian St. 35801..................256-519-6900

Financial Services

First Financial Group of the South, Inc. First Commercial Bank 400 Meridian St., Suite 100 ..............256-536-0011 301 Washington St. 35801.............256-551-3300 SOUTHBank 118 Jefferson St. N. 35801 ..............256-535-6000

Furniture

Black’s Furniture City Superior Bank 124 N. Brindlee Mtn. Pkwy Arab, AL ...256-586-5725 www.superiorbank.com .....................256-533-5422 Office Furniture Outlet 11507 Mem. Parkway, SW. 35803..... 256-882-9999

Communications Wireless, Phone Service, Systems

Geospatial Technology

2745 Bob Wallace Ave, Ste. D 35805 .. 256-534-1323 Surgical Solutions, P.C. 185 Chateau Dr. Ste. 302 35802 ....256-489-8600

Real Estate Martha M. Coffman, REALTOR 4000 Balmoral Drive 35801 .............256-650-0022 Concourse Group 303 Williams Ave. Ste. 117 35801....256-532-1250 David Couch, REALTOR 333 Franklin St. Ste. 300 35801.......256-755-0421 Vicki Douglas, REALTOR 7500 S. Memorial Pkwy Ste. 122 35802 ...256-603-9399 Becky Hall, REALTOR 3000 Bogey Circle, Hampton Cove 35763 ...256-337-6632 Tricia Orlock, REALTOR 8103 Highway 72 W, Ste.C, Madison 35758 ..256-655-3896 V V & W Properties, Inc. 204 Gates Ave., SE 35801 .............256-539-0505 Weichert Realtors - The Executive Group 2304 S. Memorial Pkwy. 35801........256-533-7210

BellSouth 3001, Inc. 620 Discover Dr. Bldg. 2, Ste. 350 35806 ...866-620-6000 658 Discovery Dr...............................256-327-9375

Restaurants

Consultants

Hyun’s Korean Garden 7500 S. Memorial Pkwy., Suite 115 A 35802 ...256-489-8888

Hospitals

Brillisense Crestwood Medical Center todd@brillisense.com ........................256-541-2964 One Hospital Dr. SE 35802 ...............256-882-3100

Contractors - Home Improvement Champion Windows, Siding and Patio Rooms 2995 Wall Triana Hwy Ste. A-6 35824 ...256-424-1110

Huntsville Hospital 101 Sivley Rd. 35801 .......................256-265-1000

Travel Sterling Travel www.sterlingtravel.com......................256-533-1301

Hotels & Motels

Get A Grip of Northern Alabama Pearl River Resort www.getagripinc.com ........................256-830-2865 www.pearlriverresort.com .................866-44PEARL

List your company in this Buyers Guide • For information call 532-4250 00343980

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