Development Partner ($250,000+ invested annually: public sector)
Chamber Trustees
Applied Research Associates, Inc. Avocent Corporation Beason & Nalley, Inc. Bill Penney Toyota Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Ala. Booz Allen Hamilton Camber Corporation CINRAM, Inc. COLSA Corporation Express Jet Huntsville Area Association of Realtors
Progress Partners
Development Council (public sector)
Huntsville Utilities Madison County Commission Tennessee Valley Authority Huntsville Hospital City of Madison Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority
Chairman’s Council ($50,000+ invested: private sector)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Regions Bank
President’s Circle ($25,000 - $49,999 invested annually)
ADTRAN AT&T Colonial Bank Compass Bank Crestwood Medical Center Redstone Federal Credit Union The Boeing Company The Huntsville Times Wachovia
($10,000 - $24,999 invested annually)
($5,000 - $9,999 invested annually)
AEgis Technologies Analytical Services, Inc. Applied Data Trends, Inc. BAE Systems Balch & Bingham, LLP BASF Catalysts LLC CapitalSouth Bank Coldwell Banker/McLain Real Estate Colonial Properties Consolidated Construction Dynetics Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. ERC, Incorporated First American Bank First Commercial Bank HiWAAY Internet Services International Diesel Intuitive Research & Technology Corp. J. Smith Lanier & Co. Jerry Damson Honda Acura Keystone Foods Corporation
Progress Investors
Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, Inc. Intergraph Corporation Lamar Outdoor Advertising Northrop Grumman Panalpina, Inc. SAIC Siemens VDO Automotive SPARTA, Inc. SportsMed Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.
Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne LG Electronics Alabama, Inc. Main Street Strategies NAI Chase Commercial Realty Parker Hannifin Corporation Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. Radiology of Huntsville, P.C. Samples Properties Sirote & Permutt, P.C. SOUTHBank Stanley Associates Superior Bank System Studies and Simulation, Inc. The Orthopaedic Center The Surgery Center of Huntsville Turner Universal Construction WAFF-TV Wilmer & Lee, P.A. Yellowbook Anonymous
($2,500 - $4,999 invested annually)
3D Research Corporation 4-Site, Inc. Applied Geo Technologies Averbuch Realty / Averbuch Enterprises Ball Aerospace Baron Services Belzon Bentley Pontiac/GMC/Cadillac/Saab Bradley Arant Rose & White Century Automotive Chapman Sisson Architects Cintas Corporation Currie Systems DESE Research, Inc. Fountain Parker Harbarger & Associates Fuqua & Partners Gray Research, Inc. Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Jacobs ESTS Group JH Partners Architecture & Interiors
Johnston, Moore, Maples & Thompson Kelly Services Kudzu Productions Lamb Commercial Services, Inc. Madison Research Corporation Madison Square Chrysler/Jeep Mercedes Benz of Huntsville North Alabama Gas District Radiance Technologies, Inc. Science & Engineering Services, Inc. The Heritage Club Torch Technologies Weichert Realtors – The Executive Group Wesfam Restaurants, Inc. – Burger King Westar Aerospace & Defense Group WHNT-19 Wilson Lumber Woodland Homes of Huntsville Woody Anderson Ford
initiatives Chamber of Commerce of Hunt sville/ M adison County
june 2007
on the cover
The Facts on BRAC Page 20
f eatures
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.
Rocket Business Booming
13
Meeting Needs of Small Business
16
Foreign-Based Companies
26
Space Camp® Turns 25
27
Economic Development Highlights
30
A Smart Way to Recruit Workers
36
d e v e l o p me n t s HREGI Investors
4
Chamber Board Listing
8
Community profile
10
Huntsville Headlines
32
Chamber Staff Listing
34
Employee of the Quarter
35
Armed Forces Celebration
38
ed i t o r i a l s t a f f Publisher
Brian Hilson
Executive Editor
John Southerland
Editorial Designer
Kristi Sherrard
mission
The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville /Madison County is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.
Contributing Writers
John Southerland Danielle Moran Mike Ward
contact
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville /Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000
Photography
Chamber of Commerce staff & publications
Advertising Sales
Cassandra Darby
on the web HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com
The Huntsville Times
Initiatives June 2007
7
Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2007 Executive Committee
Evans Quinlivan, Chair, First American Bank Irma Tuder, Chair-Elect / Strategic Planning, Analytical Services, Inc.
Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: Welcome to a very special edition of the Chamber’s Initiatives magazine. As the front cover indicates, this Initiatives includes “the facts on BRAC”. The recruitment and transition of 4,700 employees and the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to prepare for those workers at Redstone is no small undertaking, and this article makes clear where things stand and what our community is doing to recruit and prepare for this incredible economic development success.
Main Street Strategies
Charlie Kettle, Vice Chair - Investor Relations, First Commercial Bank
Jim Bolte, Vice Chair - Workforce, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
Ron Klein, Vice Chair - Small Business, Belzon Ralph Malone, Vice Chair - Research & Information Services, Triana Industries, Inc.
BRAC, NASA programs and other major initiatives for north Alabama were the focus of our Chamber’s recent Washington fly-in. Our group of almost 200 Huntsville/Decatur area representatives was once again warmly received by Senators Shelby and Sessions and Congressmen Cramer and Aderholt and their staffs, and we can’t thank them enough for facilitating our visit and for all they do on an ongoing basis to support our growth. With almost 200 trip participants, it also doesn’t hurt to have one of the largest delegations for a Washington fly-in of any U.S. city!
Don Nalley, Vice Chair - Image Development / TRC,
This Initiatives also includes articles on the Chamber’s small business and workforce recruitment efforts as well as recognition of our community’s enhanced image. Huntsville was recently named America’s “#1 Small City of the Future” by Foreign Direct Investment magazine.
Elected Board
Last month’s Initiatives talked about teamwork in economic development – one of our key partners is the Alabama Development Office (ADO), and ADO was recently recognized by Site Selection magazine as the #1 state level economic development organization in the U.S. Our Chamber was ranked by the same publication as one of the top 20 local economic development organizations in the country. This Initiatives represents the first “solo” publication for the Chamber’s new communications director, John Southerland. John is one of our incredibly talented and dedicated staff who support the Chamber’s role in helping Huntsville/Madison County continue to grow and prosper. We have always been fortunate at the Chamber to have a strong board of directors. Due to a career change and relocation, Brad Jones has resigned his position as chairman of the Chamber. While we will miss Brad, we are fortunate that he is being succeeded by another gifted leader, Evans Quinlivan, to serve as our chair in 2007 and 2008. Thank you, Brad, and welcome, Evans!
Brian Hilson President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
8
Dave Hargrove, Immediate Past Chair, AT&T Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, retired Herman Stubbs, Secretary/Treasurer, Colonial Bank Ron Poteat, Vice Chair - Economic Development, Regions Bank Joey Ceci, Vice Chair - Governmental Affairs,
June 2007 Initiatives
Beason & Nalley, Inc.
Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed, Madison County Commission
Joe Ritch, Chair-Appointed, Sirote & Permutt, P.C. Mayor Loretta Spencer, Chair-Appointed, City of Huntsville Tom Young, Chair-Appointed, Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Brian Hilson, President/CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
Joe Alexander, Camber Corporation Clayton Bass, Huntsville Museum of Art Frank Caprio, Bradley Arant Rose & White John Cooper, Avocent Corporation Derrick Copeland, Applied Data Trends, Inc. Kerry Fehrenbach, Intergraph Karen Stanley Fleming, Stanley Construction Co., Inc. Dick Fountain, FPH Financial Services, LLC Dr. Frank Franz, University of Alabama in Huntsville Ron Gray, Gray Research, Inc. Dr. Greg Gum, Radiology of Huntsville, P.C. Bill Gurley, SAIC Jeff Hamilton, The Orthopaedic Center Tom Hancock, Booz Allen Hamilton Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Dr. Eric Janssen, SportsMed Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center Dr. Robert Jennings, Alabama A&M University Frederick Lanier, J. Smith Lanier & Co. Dan Montgomery, Northrop Grumman Caroline Myers, Foreign Language Services, Inc. Jerre Penney, Bill Penney Toyota Pete Schofield, SPARTA, Inc. Scott Seeley, Regions Bank Jan Smith, System Studies and Simulation, Inc. (S3) David Spillers, Huntsville Hospital Tom Stanton, ADTRAN Sandra Steele, Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. Paula Steigerwald, Huntsville Botanical Garden Al Sullivan, consultant Gerald Toland, Redstone Federal Credit Union Gail Wall, Beason & Nalley, Inc. Bill Watson, retired John Wilmer, Wilmer & Lee, P.A. Dr. Ernie Wu, ERC, Incorporated
c o m m u n i t y p ro f i l e
TOP 10 EMPLOYERS
City of Huntsville
City of Madison
Huntsville Metro Area
U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,601
Population
Madison County
2000 Census
276,700
158,216
29,329
342,376
Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,000
2006 Estimate
304,307
166,313*
35,893*
376,753
The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,000
Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,126
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,555 Households 2000 Census
CINRAM, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,500
109,955
66,742
11,143
134,643
Avg. Household Income
$57,220
$55,856
$72,432
$55,343
City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,199
Per Capita Income
$23,091
$24,015
$27,821
$22,073
Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,150
Sanmina-SCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,500 Intergraph Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,450
Income
*2005 estimate
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 14,500 direct DoD and 2,500 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: HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com
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June 2007 Initiatives
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 285 companies and 25,000 people involved in technology research and development.
The game is on... Volunteers should be bringing the Chance your way. Many Properties have sold out, but there’s still time and opportunities. Make sure to purchase your Real Estate before time runs out. The Community Chest of opportunity for all Chamber members will be locked June 21. Call 535-2027 for information.
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June 2007 Initiatives
Artist’s renderings of an Ares I launch
Rocket Business Booming for Huntsville
B
y the end of this year, NASA will award contracts worth potentially five billion dollars for the development of the next rockets to carry people into space. Huntsville is positioned to be a big beneficiary of the new program. The last time such procurement contracts were awarded was more than 25 years ago when the space shuttle contracts were let in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After nearly 30 years of service, the space shuttle will be retired at the end of the decade. These new rockets will ultimately do things that the shuttle could never do – like taking people to the Moon and Mars – keeping our country in the human space exploration business for the foreseeable future. It is a rare and potentially very profitable opportunity for the businesses lucky and smart enough to be on the winning team. The first in the next series of rockets, dubbed Ares I, will carry the crewed Orion space capsule to orbit for missions to the space station. Later Ares rockets will carry people and cargo to the Moon. The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) figures prominently in this next generation launch vehicle development effort. All of the major launch components for Ares I, including the solid-rocket first-stage and liquid-fueled upper-stage, its engines and motors, will be managed by MSFC. Most of the near-term competition among business is focused on contract opportunities to build the upper stage of the Ares rocket and the instrument unit that will house the computers and guidance and control systems for the upper stage. Just how alluring this business opportunity is became crystal clear when the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County partnered with NASA to host an Ares Industry Day seminar in Huntsville last year. The seminar was intended to familiarize local businesses with the work opportunities that the new launch vehicle program will bring to the region. Marketing for the conference was focused locally. By the conference registration deadline though, more than 475 anxious aerospace company representatives from about 20 states had signed up. Clearly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for companies in the continued on page 14
Rocket Business, continued from page 13
Artist’s renderings of the Ares V (above) and Ares I (below)
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June 2007 Initiatives
Ares Crew Launch Vehicle Programs ARES I Program
Competition
Award Recipient
First Stage Engine
Sole Source
ATK Launch Systems
First Stage Roll &
Full & Open
TBD
Lunar Lander
Full & Open
TBD
Upper Stage Instrument Unit
Full & Open
TBD
Upper Stage J2 Engine
Sole Source
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
Upper Stage Production
Full & Open
TBD
Upper Stage Pre-Valves
Full & Open
TBD
Upper Stage Vent & Relief Valves
Full & Open
TBD
Program
Competition
Award Recipient
Cores Stage Engine
Full & Open
TBD
Earth Departure Stage
Full & Open
TBD
RS-68 Engine
Sole Source
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
Control Engine Thrusters
business of building rockets and making rocket components. A whole new group of aerospace businesses have set up shop in Huntsville in the last few months as they jockey to better position themselves, literally and figuratively, in the rocket procurement competition – a slew of contractors not seen in Huntsville since the days of the Saturn program. MSFC Director David King has been encouraging companies to consider putting much of the Instrument Unit work in the vicinity of the Marshall Center. Development and manufacturing King of the similar Saturn V instrument unit was likewise done in Huntsville. Local small business will also be likely winners when the dust from the competition has settled. NASA procurement guidelines will call for targets of up to 20 percent of the contract revenues to go to small, women-owned or disadvantaged businesses. The program faces a series of critical political hurdles in the next few years as a new administration sets its space policy agenda. Future funding battles loom in the congress as well. The members of the Alabama congressional delegation have been stalwart defenders of the new space exploration program. They’ve been successful in positioning themselves on several pivotal committees and have already played important roles in keeping the program alive and funded. During the Chamber’s 2007 Washington D.C. Trip, the delegation made it a point to inform Chamber members and the media of their collective intention of ensuring that the program stays on course. If all goes as planned, the first new launch system is slated to be operational in 20142015.
ARES V
Source: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center
• Mike Ward Initiatives June 2007
15
Meeting Needs of Small Business T
here are several stages to operating a business successfully – from envisioning and starting a business to surviving and ultimately thriving as one. Within each stage, small businesses face different challenges that, if handled, can help them progress to the next stage in getting established and becoming successful. For instance, a prospective business owner has certain needs that an established business would not, such as where possible sources
of start-up funding can be located once the choice is being made to start the business. Once a business has been created, there is a different set of challenges that small businesses may face over the next 24-36 months, such as how to successfully navigate through a variety of daily operational issues despite having little or no previous experience in handling. A third stage is for those small businesses that have made it through those first 24-36 months, have the day-to-day
operations under control and have gained the ability to focus on networking, community involvement and having training needs met that can help the business flourish, grow or maximize its potential. Helping all companies meet those goals is of primary importance to the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. In fact, 52 percent of the Chamber’s 2,245 members employ between one and five people. Thirty-five percent of the members employ between six and 50 people compared to 11 percent that employ between 51 and 500. Two percent of the members employ more than 500 members. “Eighty-seven percent of our members employ 50 or less people,” said Jenni Jeffers, the Chamber’s director for small business/ membership services. “It is critical that we do everything we can to help these companies – who make up a large majority of our community – do everything they can to succeed. We are here for them and it is because of them our Chamber started the small business council to better serve and meet the needs of these companies.” Karen Stanley Fleming, the vice president of finance and marketing for Stanley Construction Co., Inc., previously served as the Chamber’s vice chair for small business and created the council during her tenure to address those needs. “When I was first named to vice chair of small business by Ronnie Boles, I moved to that position from vice chair of workforce development. Ronnie was familiar with Fleming my organizing work, because when Ronnie was vice chair of Small Business, I was working with the Women’s Business Council in the timeframe of 19992001. Ronnie was very supportive of WBC, and attended several of our meetings and events. Ronnie and I both saw the excitement generated when small business owners take an active role in ongoing activities of the Chamber. Prior to this, most small businesses only interacted with the Chamber through the small business awards, an annual event, but nonetheless an event. The women’s business council met monthly, and we planned quarterly meetings for women business owners to network through an educational seminar such as human resources issues, how to apply for and win a small business award, securing your office computer network and more. This group cultivated loyalty to the continued on page 18
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June 2007 Initiatives
Meeting Needs of Small Business, continued from page 16 Chamber, and was a recruitment tool for new members,” she said. When Fleming accepted the vice chair of small business position, she wanted to create a similar opportunity for small business owners to find more extensive Chamber involvement. “It was a good thing that I was vice chair for two years in a row, because new ideas take a while to get up and running,” said Fleming. During that time, the Chamber began benchmarking peer cities to learn and to improve our activities regarding economic development. As an extension of
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June 2007 Initiatives
that work, Fleming brought together other community leaders and initiated a benchmarking study of small business departments in other chambers of commerce. The study team included Ron Klein, Dan Currie and Jenny Clark, among others. They looked at peer operations in Birmingham, Nashville, St. Louis, Charlotte and Austin and found that other chambers were providing more opportunities for small business involvement including small business councils, small business expos in addition to awards events. Fleming said the council continued to
grow in structure and excitement when Loren Traylor joined the Chamber as vice president of investor relations. “Loren was also enthusiastic about engaging small businesses in ongoing activities. In addition to helping with the first Expo, Loren accepted the challenge of getting small business owners involved in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI). Shortly after the first Business Expo, and the beginnings of the small business council, we implemented the Chamber’s Take Stock investor level, which offered HREGI sponsorship recognition at levels that small businesses could afford. Again, it takes time for such ideas to root themselves in the organization,” she said. Fleming is very proud of the advancement of the small business department, under the direction of Jeffers and current board Vice Chair Ron Klein. The members of the chamber who are small business owners have a voice, and through that voice, will generate new ideas and opportunities to ensure that the chamber serves this important block of its membership. In return, this group will grow and continue to support our community’s economic base. Klein, the Chamber’s current vice chair for small business, is the CEO of Belzon, Inc. – a service-disabled, small veteranowned, small business – and is the latest to lead the Chamber’s charge to help the area’s small businesses. At a recent council meeting a suggestion was made to attempt to bring together other community organizations that represent or assist small businesses. “The idea was to assemble a committee representing small businesses or that were small business advocates,” Klein said. “We had our first meeting in February and we wanted to look at what everyone was doing and to see if there was a way that we could support each other and perhaps avoid duplicating each other’s efforts. We also wanted to see who is doing different things to support small businesses, Klein see where there may be overlaps and voids. It was important to get us all in the same room.” This community wide small business coalition, which included government small business liaisons from NASA and the Army, the Women’s Business Center of North Alabama (WBCNA), small business owners and others, created training that meets current needs for many Huntsville/Madison
County small businesses. As a result, the Chamber recently held training for small contractors that needed to learn more about earned value management systems to stay competitive in the government contracting industry. This followed training classes on human resources workforce recruitment and non-profit training. All classes were heavily attended. More classes are coming. “Soon we are going to have a threephased course for small contractors that need to understand all the places and services they can use to find federal contracting opportunities,” Klein said. “Then we will follow up with training these companies on how to make effective go, no-go decisions about whether to pursue these opportunities. There has to be an internal structure that these companies need to establish that helps them effectively evaluate their win chances and things that they need to consider when making these decisions. Then we will have a third course that will help companies effectively write winning proposals once they have made a go decision on a contracting opportunity,” Klein said. Several more training classes are scheduled during the next year including: • executive leadership • supervisor development • sales development • customer service • managing/supervising with confidence • working together as a team The Chamber will continue to inform small business members about training opportunities and other activities planned to assist small business concerns and needs through email blasts to members, through the web site as well as having information distributed by other organizations such as the WBCNA. For more information about the small business council, please contact Chamber small business director Jenni Jeffers at 535-2000 or via email at jjeffers@hsvchamber.org. • Initiatives June 2007
19
“We all understand that, without question, Huntsville is a desirable place to live.”
THE FACTS ON
Artist’s renderings of the AMC Headquarters on Redstone Arsenal
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June 2007 Initiatives
– Adm. David M. Altwegg, MDA
R
est assured, the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) realignment that will add about 4,700 jobs to Redstone Arsenal, including the relocation of headquarters of the Army Materiel Command (AMC), the U.S. Army Assistance and Security Command and the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), as well as a large portion of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), is on target and on pace. Building construction, and the money that funds it, is on schedule for all of the major activities being relocated to Redstone. And the jobs that come with this realignment have to be moved here, according to law, no later than Sept. 15, 2011. Even as the various commands and entities that are relocating to Redstone are making plans to move, some have questioned if there is anything that can still happen to derail this major BRAC initiative. But during the 2007 Washington Trip, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, leaders from the three biggest movers, AMC, SMDC and MDA, reiterated to about 200 Chamber members that the jobs were coming, the buildings would be built, plans were already being made. And the area’s federal delegation, including Congressmen Bud Cramer and Robert Aderholt as well as Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, reinforced those words. Money, they all said, will be there to build the buildings. With vacant office space non-existent on the Arsenal, people have to first have a place to physically move into. As a result, some of the concerns about the jobs being relocated to Redstone have centered more on funding for construction of the new buildings that will house all of those incoming jobs. The concerns were elevated over the past year when some of the funding designated for BRAC construction at various installations around the country was moved to other projects designed to directly support the war efforts. Not to worry, Shelby reiterated to the audience. “We’re gonna get that money to get BRAC. We will get the $500 million in brick and mortar funding to implement BRAC at Redstone,” Shelby promised. In fact, to reinforce that BRAC is not only going to happen but is already happening, Army and MDA officials, along with elected officials, consistently pointed out that BRAC work has already started. For instance, MDA has construction on the base on-going as the second building of the planned multi-facility Von Braun Complex nears completion and will house about 900 MDA employees beginning in August. The pre request-for-proposal for the third phase of the complex, which will house both MDA and SMDC employees who will fill BRAC-related jobs, has been released for comment with the final RFP due to be released in a few months and a contract to be awarded in the early fall. Furthermore, SMDC is scheduled to officially open its headquarters office on Tuesday, June 26 – bringing with it the first three-star continued on page 22
The Facts on BRAC, continued from page 21
Von Braun Complex
general (Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell) to be based on Redstone Arsenal. During the BRAC panel discussion, Adm. David Altwegg from MDA reiterated MDA’s commitment to get the jobs filled to Campbell ensure there is continuity of operations. “We must not suffer mission impairment,” Altwegg said. “We must move the jobs in 2010 and 2011 – a timeframe that ensures that Von Braun 3 will be available for occupancy and will enable us to accommodate the move.” In the 1995 BRAC, more than 60 percent of the impacted employees from St. Louis
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June 2007 Initiatives
moved to Redstone – a national BRAC record. Whether that number of incumbent employees from the various commands will move is uncertain, and likely won’t be determined until the actual move dates get closer. But nonetheless, MDA is not sitting around waiting, Altwegg said. The agency is already signing a contract with a company to launch a national recruitment campaign to help fulfill the estimated 2,248 MDA positions that will be relocated to Redstone. All panel members, who included Altwegg from MDA, Robert Harrison Altwegg from AMC and Col James
L. Bedingfield from SMDC, said that they were not concerned with being able to fill any vacancies. “If we need to bring in new blood, we will. We all understand that, without Bedingfield question, Huntsville is a desirable place to live,” Altwegg said. AMC has also moved out on its construction plans, Harrison said. The request-forproposal development process began in April. The RFP to build the new 600,000 square-foot AMC headquarters is expected to be awarded in March 2008 with construction to begin in April 2008 and be completed in July 2010.
THE FACTS on BRAC ■
■
All BRAC reorganizations must be completed by Sept. 15, 2011 Incoming realignments for Redstone Arsenal include: • Headquarters, AMC and USASAC (about 1,700 positions) • Headquarters, SMDC (about 180 positions) • MDA (about 2,248 positions) • Aviation Technical Test Center and Rotary Wing Air Platform (about 400 positions) • 2nd Recruiting Brigade (about 113 positions)
■
Other BRAC-related construction
includes: • A 161,000 square foot research and testing ATTC rotary wing facility/hangar • A 9,000 square foot ATTC Rotary Wing storage facility • A 37,800 square foot ATTC Rotary Wing Center of Excellence administrative facility • A 25,000 square foot 2nd Recruiting Brigade administrative facility for its headquarters
■
Total estimates include: • Military construction money – $427 million • Personnel moves/jobs – about 4,700 • Square footage – 1.6 million square feet
• A renovated theater that will become a 6,000 square foot AMC Band facility • A 10,000 square foot practice facility for the band • A 3,200 square foot AMC mail facility
The Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee is doing its best to ensure that all of the BRACaffected employees considering relocating to the area have enough information about the region and Redstone Arsenal to make an educated decision. The committee promotes the numerous advantages of relocating to the Tennessee Valley. Among the most attractive to potential new residents are the shorter commute times, low real estate prices, quality of education, overall quality of life, and a cost of living ratio nearly half of that in the Washington D.C. area. In other words, much more bang for a buck. The Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee markets the region by showing employees how these advantages contribute to an improved quality of life. The committee also touts regional attributes such as the creative and performing arts community, a renowned symphony orchestra, nationally recognized and award-winning local colleges and universities offering numerous master and doctoral programs. When you package all those advantages together, it’s not a tough sell, according to Joe Ritch, chairman for the TV BRAC Committee. Indeed, prior to the Chamber’s annual Washington DC trip, the TV BRAC Committee held a series of Town Hall meetings and a job fair for spouses of those MDA continued on page 24 Initiatives June 2007
23
The Facts on BRAC, continued from page 23
The Sparkman Complex
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June 2007 Initiatives
employees considering making the move. The importance of reaching out to those communities cannot be overstated, Ritch said. “Once they see what we have to offer – many of them decide to take a chance. As we showed in the 1995 BRAC, getting the word out and educating those employees is key. Once they see the advantages, word starts to spread pretty fast. We are content to take them one at a time if necessary because we know they will talk to their friends and co-workers. It is up to us to make sure that they have the facts in front of them to make an informed decision. When you stack things up – it is very clear that we come out way ahead in any comparison.” Other activities designed to help inform and educate workers who will be faced with relocation include more town hall meetings; development of information web sites; print and electronic publications to impacted employees; and maintaining partnerships with the affected commands to address relocation issues. Ritch said that the questions about whether BRAC will occur have long been answered. “BRAC is coming. It’s happening now. And we are ready.” •
Initiatives June 2007
25
Foreign-Based Companies Feel at Home in Huntsville L
ong known as an area friendly to U.S.based aerospace and defense contractors, the Huntsville/Madison County community has opened its doors to the international business community as well. Indeed, several of the top 25 employers in the community are foreign-based employers. From the automotive industry with companies like Toyota Motor Manufacturing, to the electronics industry with companies like LG Electronics, the area has quickly become one of the preferred sites for foreign-based companies to conduct business. One of the area’s largest employers is CINRAM, a Canadian-based audio-video replication company with 2,500 workers, the sixth largest employer in Madison County. German-based Siemens VDO Automotive, with 1,700 workers, is the area’s twelfth largest employer. Toyota is in
the top-25 with more than 950 employees. Nearly 50 foreign-based companies now have operations in Huntsville/Madison County, making it one of the most diverse business communities in the world for a community this size. Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County said the region is increasingly being recognized as a global community for economic development. “We have a large number of foreignbased employers for a community our size, and the number of companies represented indicates a strong global business awareness, high overseas trade and transportation activity, and cultural diversity,” he said. Foreign based employers are increasingly choosing Huntsville/Madison County for many of the same reasons that domestic employers are: • The community offers a highly skilled workforce • The community is experiencing dramatic growth in the
automotive industry • The community is currently experiencing and will
continue to experience dynamic growth in the aerospace and defense industries thanks to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure gains and next-generation NASA manned space flight programs • Cost of living and quality of life issues
When Foreign Direct Investment magazine recently rated Huntsville as its “#1 Small City of the Future” in the U.S., other factors included having the “Best Development & Investment Promotion in North America” as well as finishing in the top five in the “Quality of Life” and “Infrastructure” categories. “We look at various criteria when selecting a community,” said Jim Bolte, the vice president for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Ala. “We look to make sure the area has a pro-business climate. One of the first things we ask is if there is a qualified workforce available. In our case, the answer was clearly yes since we have already expanded twice since we located here. We also want to make sure the state, city and county are businessfriendly and that the infrastructure is there to support it – that it has all the logistics advantages you need,” he said. “In the case of Huntsville/Madison County – it had all of the things we were looking for.” • 26
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Huntsville’s Space Camp® Turns 25
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he U.S. Space & Rocket Center® (USSRC), home of the world renowned Space Camp® and Aviation Challenge® programs, is gearing up for an out of this world celebration in June that will include a season full of special guests and extraordinary events. The USSRC will mark the 25th anniversary of Space Camp with special opportunities for Space Camp alumni to renew old friendships, enjoy special alumni weekend camp programs, and get a first-hand look at the myriad of improvements that have taken place at Space Camp since their last visit. The celebration begins with a giant birthday party on June 9. Of special interest to many is the creation of the Space Camp Hall of Fame and the first Induction Banquet, scheduled for June 13. Space Camp is celebrating 25 years of helping to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians to reach for the stars. William Shatner will emcee the first annual Space Camp Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at Huntsville’s Von Braun Center. Tickets for this once in a lifetime event are now on sale at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and are available online at www.spacecamp.com. NASA astronauts Jim Halsell and Story Musgrave will join Shatner onstage to welcome and congratulate each inductee. Individual tickets are $150, and corporate seating is available at $1,500 per table for eight. Discount ticket pricing is available for Space Camp alumni only. “Many of our graduates and counselors have distinguished themselves in their careers, and we want to recognize their accomplishments,” said Larry Capps, the Space Center’s CEO. The USSRC is also creating a Space Camp alumni database to allow graduates to renew old friendships and share in the continued on page 28 Initiatives June 2007
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Space Camp, continued from page 27
Space Campers – 1982 accomplishments of others through the Space Camp alumni newsletter. Registration is free. Simply visit www.spacecamp.com and click on the “alumni” link. While there, users are free to share memories and photos. If returning to Space Camp has been a consideration for any alumni or their children, there’s no better time than the 2007 anniversary season – which will see a summer filled with guest appearances by astronauts who will share their experiences. Attendees will also meet some of the unsung heroes of manned space flight – those men and women behind the scenes who helped make space travel a reality. The season will officially begin with the giant birthday bash in June and conclude with the planned grand opening of the new Saturn V Center, which will house the massive Saturn V rocket that has been on display at the center since its opening in 1970. The Saturn V rocket is among the most recognizable symbols of the 20th century and was even a finalist for the “Eighth Wonder of the World” national media competition. The USSRC is working with several nationally known people to participate in these events. “We’re talking to some rather well known people about emceeing some of these events, and participating in other events next year,” according to Holly Beach, the USSRC’s Vice President of Marketing. She adds, “We’re not only tapping several of the legends of the manned space flight program, but we’re also in negotiations with people in the entertain28
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ment industry. When we’re finally able to release their names, you’re going to be surprised.” Space Camp officially opened in June, 1982, with a handful of youngsters who slept in sleeping bags on the museum floor, and practiced flying into space with cardboard replicas. Today, campers work in ultra-realistic, scale-sized shuttle simulators, each operated by a bank of computers. They conduct experiments during their simulated shuttle missions aboard life-like components of the International Space Station actually built and provided by NASA. They sleep in a futuristic “Habitat” dormitory. In 2007, Space Camp will graduate its 500,000th trainee. Its graduates span the globe and all walks of life. From NASA’s research laboratories to the newsrooms of America’s most important newspapers, Space Camp grads are doctors, lawyers, pilots, scientists, engineers, mathematicians, teachers, journalists and, predictably, in NASA’s Astronaut Corps. Those who apply for admission to the nation’s military colleges will often note their Space Camp and Aviation Challenge experiences on their resume. Space Camp’s 25th Anniversary launches in June. Graduates of one of the Space Programs are already a part of the Center’s history – but are now encouraged to also be a part of the celebration. Visit www.spacecamp.com for more information and check back regularly for updates. •
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS Quinlivan Elected To Chair Chamber Evans Quinlivan, CEO of First American Bank, Madison County, was recently elected to chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County to fulfill the remaining term of Brad Jones, who resigned his position to become vice president of operations for Health Management Associates, Inc., based in Naples, Fla. Quinlivan will also chair the Chamber in 2008. Jones recently resigned Quinlivan his position as president and CEO of Crestwood Medical Center. Irma Tuder, president/CEO of Analytical Services, Inc., is the new chair-elect and will serve in that role the remainder of this term as well as in 2008. Charles Kettle, president of First Commercial Bank, was also elected to serve as the Chamber's vice chair for investor relations. He replaces Chuck Allen of Boeing, who recently relocated to Philadelphia.
D.C. Trip Sees Record Turnout for Members The Alabama congressional delegation knows when Huntsville and Madison County come to D.C. Instead of a handful of leaders and local officials that they see from other communities on their annual flyins – the Chamber members from Huntsville/ Madison County and Decatur attending the 2007 Washington D.C. trip numbered almost 200 people – a record number for this community. Former Chamber chair Brad Jones said the amount of interest in the D.C. trip speaks volumes about the business community in Huntsville/Madison County. “It truly is a great thing for our Alabama congressional delegation to see the support we give them and the interest we have in growing our business community,” he said. “This sends the right kind of message to Washington about our commitment to grow and to ensure our voices are heard. We have tremendous economic growth potential and it is a great way to show that we are aware and will be taken seriously.” Among the agenda items the Chamber members shared with elected officials included: 30
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• Continued diligence and support in BRAC implementation, military construction and funding support • Additional support for the community’s science and technology funding needs • Full funding for Missile defense programs and ground based missile defense programs • Passing a robust NASA budget • Army aviation funding and rotary wing science and technology funding
Hargrove, regional manager for the new AT&T and immediate past chair for the Chamber; Dr. Mary Jane Caylor of the Alabama Board of Education; Lynn Kilgore, executive director of the HuntsvilleMadison County Builders Association; Heather Madry, representing young professionals in Huntsville; as well as Congressman Robert Aderholt (RHaleyville); Lt. Gen. Trey Obering, director, MDA; and Dr. Patricia Sanders, executive director, MDA.
BRAC Town Hall Meetings, Job Fair Held for MDA Workers
We’re Number One!
Just prior to the Chamber’s annual Washington D.C. trip, member communities of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee converged on D.C. for three days to educate Missile Defense Agency employees who are considering relocating to the area as part of the 2005 BRAC realignment. The town hall presentations were coupled with a job fair that included local companies with potential job openings for spouses of workers who are considering relocation as jobs are moved to Redstone Arsenal. Joe Ritch, chair of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee – said he was Ritch pleased with both the Town Hall meetings and the job fair and that the job fair would again be considered for the next BRAC town hall meetings. Ritch pointed to the tremendous financial advantages the area’s housing market offers compared to the D.C. area, shorter commute times and quality of life and education as powerful recruiting tools. In fact, the cost of living in D.C. is more than 50 percent higher than in the communities comprising the TV BRAC Committee. Featured speakers at the Town Hall event included Tharon Honeycutt, of MSB Analytics, who moved to Huntsville seven years ago from Sacramento and offered a personal perspective about how much he and his family have enjoyed the community, as well as MDA employee Honeycutt Harvey Player, who worked in D.C. before relocating to the area last year. Other presenters included Dave
Huntsville was selected the #1 Small City of the Future in the United States by Foreign Direct Investment magazine – continuing the city’s recent surge of economic growth and increasing national attention as one of the nation’s best places to live, work and do business. In its April/May edition, fDi, a publication of Financial Times, named Huntsville as the top ranked “Small City of the Future” in the U.S. thanks to its high scores in development and investment promotion categories as well as for its infrastructure and quality of life. As a part of the selection process, judges reviewed nominations from 108 cities, evaluating more than 60 criteria designed to assess cities’ potential to attract business investment projects. In addition to taking overall top honors for U.S. cities with population under 500,000, Huntsville also took first prize for the best development and investment promotion program in North America. Huntsville was the leading “Small City of the Future” in the U.S. and ranked second in North America. Huntsville was also named one of “America’s 50 Hottest Cities” by Expansion Management in its January/February issue – based on a poll of 80 site location consultants and their experiences over the past two to three years. The consultants were asked for their opinions on the nation’s best cities for expanding and relocating companies. Birmingham-Hoover and Mobile also made the list. Huntsville was also named a “5-Star Knowledge Worker Metro” in the March issue of Expansion Management. The rankings were focused on the number of college educated workforce, doctors and Ph.D’s and others with graduate and postgraduate degrees – which the magazine calls its Knowledge Worker Quotient. Huntsville was the only city in Alabama to make the list.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY Company Expansions Northrop Grumman Opens New Facility Northrop Grumman recently held a ribbon cutting and open house dedication for its new state-of-the-art facility at Cummings Research Park. The building is the first of four planned buildings to complete the Northrop Grumman CRP Campus. Gov. Bob Riley (pictured) attended the event and praised the Northrop Grumman employees for dedicating themselves to helping create technology that helps defend the nation and save American lives. “What you do here is just so important and cannot be overstated,” Riley said. Other featured speakers included Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; former Chamber chair Brad Jones; Northrop Grumman Chair and CEO Ronald Sugar and Northrop Grumman Vice President Dan Montgomery.
Booz Allen Hamilton Expands Its Presence in CRP Booz Allen Hamilton recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion of its facility in Cummings Research Park. The ceremony was emceed by Evans Quinlivan (pictured far left), chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Featured speakers included Mayor Loretta Spencer as well as Booz Allen Hamilton Sr. Vice President Neil Gillespie and Booz Allen Hamilton principal Tom Hancock (also pictured). Booz Allen officials indicated that the expansion was just the beginning and that the goal was to get the Huntsville office up to 500-plus employees. “It is very gratifying to see a globally recognized company such as Booz Allen Hamilton continue its success and expansion in our area,” Quinlivan said.
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HUNTSVILLE HEADLINES: Investing H
untsville/Madison County has garnered praise from national and international media in recent years. Huntsville’s name is in the headlines of major print and web publications touting the community’s green policies, its enviable quality of life, its talented workforce, and its economic development success among other attributes. People who live in Huntsville/ Madison County already know the community is a smart place to live, work, and play,
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but why the sudden media attention? The Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI) increased the Chamber’s focus on image enhancement as part of its strategic plan. The Chamber’s mission is to prepare, develop, and promote our community for economic growth, and HREGI identified image enhancement as a key strategy to achieve that goal. “HREGI defines our goals and priorities. It is the catalyst for economic growth in Huntsville/Madison County. By
emphasizing the importance of image enhancement, HREGI allows us to commit more resources and staff time to promote Huntsville/Madison County’s image,” said Ethan Hadley, vice president of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. “A community can’t buy this recognition,” he continued. “We have to do our homework to identify the appropriate publications and ensure they have the information to accurately tell our story and allow their writers to judge us for themselves.” Image enhancement is an important factor in Quinlivan workforce recruitment and economic development. “In order to be successful at recruiting companies and workers, the Chamber must increase public awareness of Huntsville/Madison County’s assets and ensure public perception accurately reflects our community’s strengths,” stated Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. “We employ numerous tactics in our overall strategy – from national perception surveys and contracts with a professional media firm to image enhancement roundtables with image stakeholders throughout the community.” Don Nalley, vice chair of image development for the Chamber, has organized a series of roundtable meetings with representatives of various community organizations that have a stake in Huntsville/ Madison County’s image. “Our goal is to provide a forum in a roundtable discussion format with a focus of strategically enhancing the image of Huntsville and Madison County to internal clients and targeted, strategic external commuNalley nities and companies for purposes of economic development and growth,” Nalley declared. “While looking at image enhancement, we also want to serve as a think tank that representative organizations/entities utilize to enhance their marketing and image enhancement initiatives.” The City of Huntsville, Madison County, the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Port of Huntsville, and the Von Braun Center are among the roundtable participants.
in Image Enhancement Huntsville named #1 U.S. Small City of the Future Foreign Direct Investment magazine, April 2007
Image enhancement is truly a community-wide effort. It takes image stakeholders across the community working together to educate publications and organizations about Huntsville/Madison County’s successes. The City of Huntsville’s Operation Green Team Director Joy McKee publicized the city’s dedication to green policies by providing information to The Green Guide about the city’s environmental initiatives. Her work resulted in national media recognition in The Green Guide’s list of Top Ten Green Cities in the U.S. The Chamber and other image stakeholders are working to align their image enhancement resources, but that alone is not enough. Huntsville/Madison County’s image depends on each citizen being an ambassador for the community. The Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign, which utilizes volunteers to sell Chamber sponsorships, equips community members with information to help them market Huntsville/Madison County. Because they are making an important contribution to the community’s success, these volunteers feel connected to Huntsville/Madison County’s image and are energized about telling the community’s story. This citizen-based image promotion paired with a structured image enhancement strategy is precisely how Huntsville/Madison County can ensure its success in business and workforce recruitment. • Danielle Moran
HREGI Investment Strategy #4 Community Image Enhancement Public perception of a community, or worse, a lack of any perception at all, is often an indicator of the viability of a community to attract companies and workers to live, work, and do business. We will conduct a strong image enhancement campaign for Huntsville to generate the awareness and enthusiasm required for fast-paced economic growth that will position our community as a desired destination and a true competitor with leading peer cities. Strategic Initiatives • Enhance our multi-media capability at the Huntsville/Madison County Economic Development Center to achieve state-of-the-art technology to facilitate persuasive presentations to new and expanding companies in our market area in order to effectively compete with peer cities • Present Huntsville’s unique technological assets in a convincing manner so that everyone from local citizens to state and national leaders will fully understand & appreciate our strategic advantages • Create a new brand identity which can be utilized to promote our community on a global basis Utilize electronic marketing to significantly increase business relocation and local business expansion project opportunities Initiatives June 2007
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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
Staff 2007 Brian Hilson, president & CEO John Southerland, communications director Laura Kendrick, executive assistant
Economic Development Ethan Hadley, VP, economic development Steve Finnell, director, industrial development & existing industry
Rick Davis, director, Cummings Research Park Amy Locke, industrial development assistant Danielle Moran, economic development specialist
Governmental Affairs Mike Ward, VP, governmental affairs Tina Leopold, program assistant
Workforce Lucia Cape, VP, workforce Davion Walker, workforce development coordinator
Investor Relations Loren Traylor, VP, investor relations Jenni Jeffers, director, small business/membership services
Donna McCrary, investor relations coordinator
Amber Underwood, events coordinator Alinka Carrinton, events coordinator Terrie Ledbetter, membership sales representative
Research & Information Services Ken Smith, director, research & information services
Kristi Sherrard, publications/graphic design specialist
Hiroko Sedensky, information services specialist
Judith Short, information services assistant Cheryl Crowe, resource desk coordinator
Finance & Administration Ken Williams, director, finance & administration
Desman Holt, IT manager Summer Behel, accounting specialist Ginny Buie, financial assistant Joe Watson, facilities supervisor
Associated Organizations & Staff Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Sarah Savage, executive director Allison Gregg, program/PR manager Mary Stewart, program coordinator Allison Bowman, administrative coordinator
Northeast Alabama Regional Small Business Development Center Cassandra Zeigler, Alabama A&M University Hanson Howard, University of Ala. in Huntsville
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 / p 256-535-2000 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com 34
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Employee of the Quarter:
Danielle Moran Economic Development Specialist, Economic Development Danielle Moran wears multiple hats at the Chamber – from creating and giving economic development presentations to writing and editing articles for various Chamber publications to supporting the needs of Cummings Research Park. Her ability to not only master those responsibilities, but to excel at them while continuing to be such a vibrant ambassador for the entire Chamber and all of its groups and organizations made her the obvious choice for the Employee of the Quarter. Danielle joined the Chamber in April 2006 and immediately found she loved having such a strong connection to the community. “I love promoting the community,” she said. “And knowing that I have a real connection to what is going on in Huntsville and Madison County and the people here.” Being an active part of the community is one of the things she likes most about working for the Chamber. “It is great to feel like I have a stake in the community’s future,” she said. It is very rewarding.”
Danielle received her bachelor’s degree in history from Athens State University. She then followed that up to receive her master’s degree in history from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. New communications director John Southerland said that Danielle has been a great asset to the communications division. “Danielle has so many skills that are pertinent to what we do here. She is an excellent writer and editor and was just a tremendous asset to this division when I first came on board.” Rick Davis, the Chamber’s director of Cummings Research Park, praised her efforts. “She is a living example of what can be accomplished when one brings a positive outlook and tireless energy to the workplace,” he said. Ethan Hadley, the Chamber’s vice president for economic development, said Danielle was equally supportive. “During her time here – Danielle has brought the position of economic development specialist to life,” he said.
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A Smart Way to Recruit Workers www.asmartplace.com
The Chamber of Commerce launches its new workforce recruitment web site prototype design
This new recruitment web site is part of the Chamber’s overall workforce development strategy, which includes retention and development initiatives such as the EmYrge Council, the Bridges program, a partnership with Junior Achievement for K-12, and cooperation with colleges and universities in workforce training. Pictured at right is one of the recent Bridges classes taking a tour of historic Huntsville.
Companies can contact Lucia Cape at LCape@hsvchamber.org or 256-535-2033 for information on posting jobs. Marketing materials that publicize the site will be ready in June for Chamber members to use in their recruiting, and the Chamber’s recruiting trips will begin this fall. 36
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“Those of us who were privileged to be born in Huntsville are just plain lucky. Those who moved to Huntsville are just plain smart.” – Carl T. Jones
H
untsville/Madison County’s success story is a smart story – one filled with smart people who made smart decisions about the community’s future. In keeping with that history, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County developed its new marketing campaign around the slogan “a smart place.” It’s no secret that Huntsville/Madison County is home to some of the smartest people on the planet: biotech entrepreneurs; innovators in IT, telecommunications, and electronics; and arguably the largest concentration of rocket scientists in the world. Some of this talent is homegrown, but much of it resulted from the community’s openness, its aggressive growth strategies, and its visionary leadership in attracting human capital. As business leader and community patriarch Carl T. Jones said, “Those of us who were privileged to be born in Huntsville are just plain lucky. Those who moved to Huntsville are just plain smart.” As Huntsville/Madison County embarks on an unprecedented period of growth, the need for a smart growth strategy is imperative. The Chamber of Commerce, the lead economic development organization for Huntsville/Madison County, developed the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI) in 2003 as a strategic plan to ensure continued smart growth for the community. The plan is updated annually to address new challenges and changing community needs. In 2006, the need for a comprehensive workforce development and recruitment plan became apparent, and the Chamber was proactive in creating a new workforce division. The primary goal of the workforce division is to ensure that there are enough people with the appropriate skill levels to fill the record number of jobs moving into Huntsville/Madison County. To meet the growing demand for workers, Huntsville/Madison County must market itself. Because jobs are one of the key reasons to relocate, the Chamber of
Commerce has launched its new workforce recruitment web site, www.asmartplace.com. It features a jobs site searchable by keyword or category and also promotes the quality of life in the region – often the make-or-break reason to relocate for a job. In order to sell the community and its jobs, Huntsville/ Madison County needed a single site to help people find a job and then convince them that the Tennessee Valley is the place to be. The Chamber will market the site in several ways: through printed materials that will be shared with its members to support their own recruiting efforts; through face-to-face meetings with prospective recruits at job fairs, on college campuses, and at trade shows; and through print and web advertisements. The Chamber is working with a professional recruiting firm to identify the top recruiting markets (colleges, communities, conferences, publications and web sites) for the highest job growth markets – engineering, IT and other science and technology professions. The success of the web site and of all the Chamber’s workforce programs will be measured by our members’ ability to attract and retain employees, and member support is crucial. “I hope investors will get more engaged,” says Jim Bolte, the Chamber’s vice president for workforce and senior vice president for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama. “We need their involvement – not only their financial investment but their input, their energy and their time. Chamber members should use this site to post open positions. It’s critical to our workforce efforts.” A successful site will have a high number of jobs posted with a high turnover (because the jobs are being filled). The key feature of the site is the job search engine, and the Chamber offers it as a free service to its members. The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County is working hard to ensure smart growth for the community. Smart people are key to the community’s success, and www.asmartplace.com offers companies a smart way to recruit workforce. • Initiatives June 2007
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