Initiatives magazine, August 2008 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Initiatives August 2008

August 2008 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2008

August 2008 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2008

August 2008 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Photo by J Spencer, © Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

august 2008 cover story

Small Business: Taking the World by Storm Page 24 Cover design by Kristi Sherrard Photos of Bob Baron by Brian Morris of Just B, Incorporated

features Economic Development Highlights

including Calhoun Community College, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Baron Services, BFA Systems, The Boeing Company, JANSON Communications, Solvability, FPMI, AEgis Technolgies Group, Verizon Wireless, Global Science & Technology, and Belzon

Photo by Rod Reilly

Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama is located in the middle of the southeastern United States, with more than four million people within a 100mile radius. The Huntsville community is the 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.

Meeting the Workforce Challenge

Small Museums, Living Large

Special Accolades

Small Business Services

2008 Total Resource Campaign Finalé

Armed Forces Celebration

developments

Chamber Board Listing

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

on the web www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com www.aSmartPlace.com

Community Profile

Chamber Staff Listing

Growing Through Networking

Employee of the Quarter

HREGI Testimonial

HREGI Investors

editorial staff

Publisher Brian Hilson Executive Editor John Southerland

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard ontributing Writers Lucia Cape, John Southerland, C Loren Traylor, Mike Ward, April Windham Photography Chamber of Commerce staff & publications (if not credited) Advertising Sales Becky Fentress The Huntsville Times

Initiatives August 2008

Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2008 Executive Committee

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends:

Maynard, Cooper & Gale

Bob Baron. Ron Klein. Elizabeth Morard. If you don’t know them, you should. They’re among Huntsville’s many small business heroes, past, present and future. While their respective businesses differ—Baron Services, Belzon and Qualis Corporation, one thing these three and other successful entrepreneurs have in common is their determination to succeed. Coincidentally, Bob, Ron and Elizabeth and/or their companies have all received special awards recently for their small business achievements. Their successes are the feature story of this edition of Initiatives.

Charlie Kettle, Vice Chair - Investor Relations, First Commercial Bank Jim Bolte, Vice Chair - Workforce, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Ala. Elizabeth Morard, Vice Chair - Small Business, Qualis Corp. Ron Poteat, Vice Chair - Research & Information Services,

Huntsville/Madison County is well known for its leadership in economic development. Not surprisingly, the recruitment of major employers tends to garner the majority of the attention. Recruitment “victories”, especially when they involve major companies, and when the projects are competed among cities, are widely publicized and celebrated. Our local small businesses, however, make up a substantial part of our growing economy. Small businesses tend to establish themselves and grow without much fanfare, and as they expand, their growth is sometimes hardly even noticed. Oftentimes, however, small businesses turn into large employers, and even when they don’t, the collective economic impact they generate is enormous.

Joe Ritch, Chair-Appointed, Sirote & Permutt, P.C. Mayor Loretta Spencer, Chair-Appointed, City of Huntsville Brian Hilson, President/CEO,

Huntsville is a haven for entrepreneurship, technology development and the emergence of successful small businesses. Our technology-driven economy gives Huntsville the advantage of having many aspiring entrepreneurs with great ideas that can be turned into successful businesses. Our community is now home to hundreds of unique small businesses, and a network of small business support organizations also exists to aid in the start-up and continued expansion of these businesses. The Chamber of Commerce, through our small business programs, plays a key role in helping small businesses start and succeed. This edition of Initiatives also features highlights on recent economic developments, a profile on the Chamber’s 2008 Total Resource Campaign, an article on how we are meeting regional workforce challenges, and a quality of life feature on local small museums. The Chamber will pause to celebrate the achievements of local small businesses at our annual Small Business Awards Celebration, scheduled for August 21 at the Von Braun Center. This is one of the Chamber’s largest events each year, and if we measured it for enthusiasm, it has no rival. Chamber members and investors are invited to join Bob Baron, Ron Klein, Elizabeth Morard and numerous others for a memorable evening as we recognize their accomplishments and thank them for their many contributions to our local economy.

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

Evans Quinlivan, Chair, RBC Bank Irma Tuder, Chair-Elect, Analytical Services, Inc. Dave Hargrove, Immediate Past Chair, AT&T Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, retired Jan Smith, Secretary/Treasurer, System Studies and Simulation Don Nalley, Vice Chair - Economic Development, Beason & Nalley, Inc. Linda Maynor, Vice Chair - Governmental Affairs,

August 2008 Initiatives

Regions Bank

Ralph Malone, Vice Chair - Image Develop., Triana Industries Joey Ceci, Chair-Appointed, Main Street Strategies Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed, Madison County Commission

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Elected Board

Joe Alexander, Camber Corporation Clayton Bass, Huntsville Museum of Art Frank Caprio, Bradley Arant Rose & White, LLP Derrick T. Copeland, Applied Data Trends, Inc. Gina DeSimone, The Boeing Company John Eagan, Wachovia Bank, N.A. Joe Fadool, Continental AG Kerry Fehrenbach, Intergraph Corporation Ron Gray, Gray Research, Inc. Dr. Greg Gum, Radiology of Huntsville, P.C. Jeff Hamilton, The Orthopaedic Center Tom Hancock, Booz Allen Hamilton Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Dr. Eric Janssen, SportsMed Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center Dr. Robert Jennings Jeremiah Knight, Verizon Wireless Frederick Lanier, J. Smith Lanier & Co. Frank Libutti, Digital Fusion John McMullan, Colonial Bank Dan Montgomery, Northrop Grumman Caroline Myers, Foreign Language Services, Inc. Jerre Penney, Bill Penney Toyota Pete Schofield, SPARTA, Inc. Crystal Shell, WILL Technology Scott Seeley, Bryant Bank Keith Smith, SAIC David Spillers, Huntsville Hospital Tom Stanton, ADTRAN Sandra Steele, Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. Paula Steigerwald, Huntsville Botanical Garden Al Sullivan, ABT, Inc. Dr. Dave Williams, UA Huntsville John Wilmer, Wilmer & Lee, P.A. Daniel Wilson, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. Danny Windham, Digium, Inc. Dr. Ernie Wu, ERC, Inc.

Initiatives August 2008

community profile

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS

Population

Madison County

2000 Census

276,700 158,216

29,329

342,376

2007 Estimate

312,734

168,1231

36,8241

386,632

70,322

11,143

City of Huntsville

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,601 Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,126 Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 CINRAM, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,861

Households & Income 148,226

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,555

Avg. Household Income $66,949 $64,501 $72,4322 $65,374 $26,156 Per Capita Income $27,065 $27,449 $27,8212

Intergraph Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,450

# of Households

121,955

2006 Estimate 2 2000 Census 1

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2006 American Community Survey

Sanmina-SCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,199 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,150 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

August 2008 Initiatives

Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in 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.

Initiatives August 2008

Attention Chamber Members:

2008 Alabama Update with Governor Bob Riley Wednesday, August 20 beginning at noon Von Braun Center North Hall Presented by:

Gold Sponsors: COLSA Corporation, Crestwood Medical Center, Port of Huntsville, ServisFirst Bank, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and United Space Alliance Silver Sponsors: BFA Systems and Layer 8 Technology

For more information contact Tina at 535-2031 or register online at: HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

August 2008 Initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Staff 2008 Brian Hilson, president & CEO John Southerland, communications director Laura Kendrick, executive assistant Kristi Sherrard, publications/graphic design specialist

Economic Development Ethan Hadley, VP, economic development Steve Finnell, director, industrial development/ existing industry

Rick Davis, director, Cummings Research Park Amy Locke, industrial development/existing industry assistant

Harrison Diamond, economic development coordinator

Governmental Affairs Mike Ward, VP, governmental affairs Tina Leopold, governmental affairs assistant Doris Riccelli, OEA grant director

Workforce Lucia Cape, VP, workforce Mark Brown, director, workforce recruitment Mitzi Floyd, workforce coordinator

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

Terrie Ledbetter, membership sales representative

Donna McCrary, investor relations specialist

Alinka C. Johnson, events coordinator

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

Hiroko Sedensky, information services specialist

Judith Short, information services assistant Betty Dalton, resource desk coordinator

Finance & Administration Ken Williams, director, finance & administration Desman Holt, IT manager Debbie Olivares, accounting specialist Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Associated Organizations & Staff Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Sarah Savage, executive director Allison Gregg, program/PR manager Sasha Sealy, alumni/development director Mary Stewart, program coordinator Allison Bowman, administrative coordinator Small Business Development Center Alabama A&M University

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 / fax 256-535-2015 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com Initiatives August 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Left: Gov. Bob Riley announces that Calhoun will be the location for a state-of-the-art robotics training and education center; (pictured l-r) Ala. Rep. Bill Dukes, Ala. Rep. Mac McCutcheon, Calhoun President Dr. Marilyn Beck, Gov. Riley, and Ala. Sen. Tom Butler. Below: Artist’s rendering of the Advanced Technology Robotics R&D Complex at Calhoun Community College. (design by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc.)

Calhoun Community College Chosen for Robotics Center Alabama Governor Bob Riley recently announced that Calhoun Community College has been selected as the site for a new state-of-the-art, world-class robotics research, education and training campus that will help the state of Alabama attract new industry, support the needs of existing industry and train workers for high-tech careers. The Advanced Technology Robotics Research and Development Complex will consist of three separate facilities, each targeted to meet a specific industry need. Riley first proposed the robotics campus in 2006. “This will make Alabama the nation’s leader in robotics research and development. It will make Alabama the national leader in robotics technology education. The benefits will be remarkable for our economy, for our workforce and for our future,” said Riley. In choosing Calhoun as the site for the robotics complex, he stressed that it met all the needed requirements, including proximity to Huntsville. “Our vision from the beginning was a state-of-the-art robotics campus affiliated with a two-year college that is close to Huntsville’s aerospace research hub and easily accessible to our manufacturing industries. Calhoun Community College is a perfect fit for what we envisioned,” he said. Robotics manufacturers pledged to provide $42 million worth of robots for the robotics campus during a meeting with Riley in September. Representatives from 12 robotic companies were brought together with Riley by Alabama Industrial 14

Development Training (AIDT) and agreed to also help design different elements of the campus. Calhoun President Dr. Marilyn Beck pledged to utilize the college’s resources to make the Governor’s vision a reality. “Calhoun has become known as one of the leaders in education in our region, and this new robotics campus will definitely take the college to the next level,” Beck said. “I know I speak for the entire Calhoun family when I say how appreciative we are to Governor Riley, members of our local legislative delegation and the Limestone County/Athens and Morgan County/ Decatur leadership for their tremendous support of Calhoun in this project,” she added. AIDT Director Ed Castille said, “This robotics complex is a major part of Governor Riley’s vision for Alabama in his quest for our state to be the world leader in manufacturing technology, continued research and development of cutting edge robotics technology, and the mecca for companies that want to be leaders in their respective markets.” He said the center means Alabama has taken “another huge step in making that vision a reality. I applaud the Governor and look forward to the opportunities going forward.” The robotics campus will consist of three individual training facilities, each targeted to a specific industry need. The first building will be a 40,000 square-foot facility where technicians will be trained to work on robotic machinery. It will be staffed by trainers supplied by top robot builders. It will

Teledyne Brown Adds 200 Jobs Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. recently announced a new 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility that will add 200 new jobs at its SouthPoint Industrial Park location in Huntsville. The facility will be used to manufacture and deliver 540 gas centrifuge service modules as part of a $92 million follow-on order from USEC, Inc. The company expects to deliver the service modules through early 2011. The new facility triples Teledyne Brown’s previous manufacturing capabilities. “This contract results from Teledyne Brown’s capabilities and reputation as a supplier of nuclear quality hardware,” said Teledyne president Rex D. Geveden. “It is a key milestone in the company’s expansion of its share of the nuclear manufacturing market.” The order is in addition to the previously announced $19.4 million contract from USEC Inc. to manufacture an initial complement of 36 service modules. The modules are a key component of USEC’s new gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant that will supply fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Fluor Corp. is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction management of USEC’s American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio. Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., headquartered in Huntsville, is a full-service technology solutions company with core capabilities in technology development, engineered systems, design, prototype development, testing, manufacturing, logistics, and operations and maintenance. • also be the home of several major robotics and automation brands and each will have a significant space for training and product demonstration. Construction for this first phase of the robotics complex is expected to take approximately 18 months. Plans are for 450 people to be trained at the facility each year. The second facility will be used by NASA and the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for research, development and testing of leading edge robotics used for military projects and space exploration. The structure will have the appropriate infrastructure to support these activities, with substantial outdoor areas for testing in a variety of environments. The third building of the robotics campus will allow companies to build and adapt robots for new industries. Start up plants will be able to set up manufacturing lines to integrate software and equipment, test systems and train maintenance and production staff. All three buildings will have an investment of about $71 million, including robotics equipment. •

Economic Development Highlights continued on page 16 August 2008 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 14

Baron Services Inc. Celebrates Expansion Baron Services Inc. recently celebrated the completion of a 13,500 square-foot expansion to provide additional space for further development of its weather detection technologies. The facility includes a tornado-hardened state-of-the-art operations center housing the company’s forecasting, data processing and technical support services. The company features a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week forecasting operation, which is responsible for data quality assurance. “I am so proud of this new facility,” said Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services. “Our continued success has compelled us to double the size of our headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. We now have the space and technologies we need to support our customers for years to come.” Don Nalley, director of Beason & Nalley and the vice chair of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, said that Baron Services offers cutting edge technology that has put the company at the forefront of severe weather tracking and analysis. “In a technology-driven community steeped in technological innovation, Bob Baron and Baron Services stand tall,” Nalley said. Nalley, who served as master of ceremonies at the event, said Baron shared many similarities with other business pioneers in the community, “those who possessed the vision to

August 2008 Initiatives

create innovative solutions to real problems while having the technical expertise to make that vision a reality. We congratulate Bob and all the employees at Baron Services.” Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer congratulated Baron and the employees on the company’s growth and said the international success of Baron Services has created great community pride. Bill Proenza, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration National Weather Service, southern region, was one of the featured speakers at the event and said he was proud of the partnership between NWS and Baron Services that is creating technology and tools to better forecast severe weather across the country. Baron, a local meteorologist at the time, started the company after an F-4 tornado struck Huntsville on Nov. 15, 1989. That day, Baron said, changed not only the lives of those impacted by the devastation but his life as well. That dark day sparked his drive to create more sophisticated severe weather tracking and analysis tools to warn people much faster than ever before when severe weather is approaching. Fast forward nearly 20 years and Baron Services now has more than 100 employees, five divisions and offices in Huntsville, Oklahoma, Florida and North Carolina. Baron Services has become XM Radio’s weather partner for the award-winning XM WX Satellite Weather service, a trusted information source for professional pilots and mariners. An extension of that partnership resulted in XM NavWeather™. The XM NavWeather service utilizes Baron’s exclusive Threat Matrix™ technology to track and provide drivers with immediate alerts on developing weather threats, such as hail, floods, tornado and storm warnings. “The backbone of our company is certainly meteorological innovation,” said Baron. “That innovative spirit and advanced engineering has spurred the company’s growth across all five divisions enabling it to thrive in a variety of industries.” •

BFA Systems Expands Government Business BFA Systems, Inc. celebrated three years in business and its expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 19. The woman-owned small business is located in Cummings Research Park and provides analytical innovations for the warfighter in the air, space, force protection, and missile defense community. Master of Ceremonies and the Vice Chair for Economic Development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County, Don Nalley, commended the company’s solid reputation and success in the community since their 2005 inception. “In a community with a lot of competition, BFA Systems is already making a name for itself thanks to a group of highly qualified professionals who are working diligently each day to meet and exceed the demands of their government customers,” he said. “To say that we’re a family is an understatement. We have some great team members,” said Jeff Brown, executive vice president of BFA Systems, Inc. “I changed careers two years ago because I wanted a company that would make it easier for a young professional to grow in their field of ex-

BFA Systems, Inc., located in Cummings Research Park, recently celebrated the expansion of its business. The company started in 2005 with one employee and is currently up to 48 employees. Company leaders indicated that they expect to grow to 75 employees by the end of the year.

pertise. Based on my research, BFA was the perfect fit for my goals.” The day also marked the three-year anniversary of the company’s first contract, according to Dr. Mike Foust, co-founder and company president. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our employees. We don’t sell products, we sell brainpower,” said Foust. CEO and co-founder Dan Bodeker noted that BFA Systems, Inc. has expanded to 48 employees and expects to grow to 75 by the end of the year. “Everyone has been so helpful. The Chamber has been fantastic to us the last three years, and it

has been an incredible experience,” said Bodeker. He also emphasized the importance of giving back to the community, noting that the company has started an employee-managed charity called BFA Hope. “We are fortunate to have our jobs at BFA, and we would like to give back the community,” he said. To date, the charity has raised more than $5,000 from employee contributions. • Economic Development Highlights continued on page 18

Initiatives August 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 17

Boeing Contributes $700 Million Annually to Alabama Economy The Boeing Company, through its work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program, contributed more than $700 million to Alabama’s economy in 2007 and supported nearly 5,600 direct and indirect jobs, according to a new University of Alabama study. The study, conducted earlier this year, found that Boeing’s work on the GMD program contributed $198 million in Alabama household earnings and that in 2007 the average Boeing GMD worker earned nearly twice the average wage of Alabama workers in 2006. Boeing is the prime contractor for GMD, the central element of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s overall layered ballistic missile defense architecture. “As one of Alabama’s largest employers, Boeing contributes significantly to our state’s booming economy,” said Sen. Richard Shelby. “Ground-based Midcourse Defense is crucial to our nation’s missile defense capabilities, and I am proud of the contribution the people of Alabama have made to this critical asset. I look forward to continuing my strong support of GMD and national missile defense.” Boeing Vice President and GMD Program Director Greg

Hyslop said the GMD program’s success is due in part to Alabama’s business environment. “Since Boeing was awarded the initial contract for the GMD program in 1998, Alabama has led the way in bringing the best workforce and supplier base together on this program,” Hyslop said. “It’s exciting to see that our work has supported the overall growth and health of the state’s economy.” The Center for Business & Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Alabama conducted the study on Boeing’s behalf. In operation since 1930, CBER is a major repository for business, economic and demographic data for Alabama and the surrounding region. The Boeing GMD study looked at payroll, non-payroll purchases and expenditures and vendor commitments in the state to determine the overall impact of Boeing’s work on the GMD program. Major economic impacts for 2007 include: • Nearly 5,600 direct and indirect jobs • $80 million payroll • $198 million in Alabama household earnings

• 38 jobs created in Alabama for every 10 Boeing GMD jobs • The

highly skilled, high-income GMD program work force earned an average of 1.9 times the average 2006 wage for an Alabama worker.

Sen. Jeff Sessions applauded the release of the economic data. “Boeing is an example of a world-class organization that has enjoyed great success in Alabama, and the company’s robust defense activities in the state have played a big role in sustaining Alabama’s strong economy,” Sessions said. “The economic development numbers released today are evidence of the significant positive impact that the GMD program has in North Alabama.” Rep. Bud Cramer also praised Boeing employees for their work. “Boeing’s North Alabama workforce has not only significantly impacted the state’s economy, but more importantly, it has provided the capability to defend our country from a ballistic missile threat,” he said. A 2006 CBER study determined that The Boeing Company as a whole contributed $1.5 billion annually to Alabama’s economy. •

JANSON Comes to Huntsville JANSON Communications, a premier strategic communications provider, formally celebrated its expansion into Huntsville. Janet Chihocky, CEO of JANSON Communications, expressed her pleasure at being in the city and the company’s warm reception in the community. “Though we are starting small in Huntsville, we absolutely expect to grow as the Huntsville community continues to grow,” said Chihocky. She also stated that she expected to use Huntsville as the catalyst for growth of her team; 11 of the company’s 14 team members are stationed in the city. With customers such as NASA, Booz Allen Hamilton and MTC Technologies, JANSON has a wealth of experience in providing research and analysis and marketing support for the defense and government technology sectors. With these areas of expertise, the company is a welcome addition to Huntsville, a city which is known for its development in these fields. •

August 2008 Initiatives

Solvability Expands and Adds Training Center in CRP Solvability, Inc. celebrated its business expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 12. The company has expanded its operation into new offices to accommodate its internal growth over the past year and expected growth in the coming year. The expansion includes a new training center which allows the company to be located closer to its clients. “We are excited to be in our new location at Research Park,” said Jenny Clark, CEO of Solvability. “Our new offices and training facility, along with our new remote support and training services, allows us to support our clients even more. Our goal is to have defense and aerospace leadership focus on their priorities: clients, contracts and workforce. With Solvability providing DCAAcompliant accounting systems that minimize the indirect labor for tracking costs and maintaining competitive rates, Government contractors can concentrate on growing their business.” “Solvability is a Deltek partner with extensive knowledge in Government contracting and we are very excited by their growth,” said Taylor MacDonald, vice president of Worldwide Channels and Sales Alliances for Deltek. “Their ability to now offer remote support and training classes through their new location and training facility in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park allows them to be conveniently located and accessible to their clients.” Solvability is a Huntsville-based, woman-owned company that delivers DCAA compliant accounting and financial management systems for government contractors, integrating the process of time reporting and accounting with required indirect rate tracking, billing, project control and reporting. With the new training facility, Solvability will offer full-day classes on basic accounting and government contracting along with a full range of software training for Deltek products. “In a community that has a wonderful mixture of small, medium and large government contractor companies, it means a great deal to hear the words ‘DCAA-compliant’ and it certainly carries weight and adds credibility to government contractors when they operate under DCAA-compliance,” said Evans Quinlivan, master of ceremonies and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board. “Solvability helps clients across the southeastern United States implement accounting and financial solutions to meet these standards.” Clark, has worked with Deltek software since 1989, including several years as a direct Deltek employee, implementing and supporting Deltek software. Solvability was formed in 1997 to provide outsourced accounting and financial management services to government contractors, and over time evolved into a Deltek subcontractor and alliance partner. Solvability has completed more than 100 accounting software implementations, primarily with GCS Premier®, but also including Costpoint®, Time and Expense® and Employee Self Service®, with integrations to outside payroll and HR solutions, such as ADP. •

Chamber Board Chair Evans Quinlivan, left, presents a plaque to Solvability CEO Jenny Clark, right, while Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, center, looks on.

Economic Development Highlights continued on page 20 Initiatives August 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 19

Chamber Wins 2008 State Economic Development Award The Economic Development Association of Alabama awarded the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County as the outstanding economic development organization in Alabama for communities in the state with a population of more than 100,000. As a result being listed tops in the state in the high population category, Huntsville/Madison County will represent Alabama in a competition against communities from 17 southeastern states at the upcoming Southern Economic Development Council’s annual conference. Huntsville/Madison County was selected after once again leading the state in job growth in 2007 with 55 economic development announcements representing almost 4,200 new jobs, marking 15 of the last 18 years the community has led the state in announced job growth. Cummings Research Park Director Rick Davis accepted the award at the EDAA summer conference on behalf of the Chamber. •

FPMI Solutions Opens New Contact Center Operation FPMI Solutions recently expanded its operation to accommodate a new contact center to support the Department of Homeland Security. The company celebrated its growth with a ribbon cutting ceremony held Thursday, June 26. “FPMI has enjoyed remarkable success and growth in all of its business lines, which include contact center services, human capital services and training services, and the company has provided excellent support of more than 30 other Federal agencies, including the U.S. Army and the Transportation Security Administration, as well as commercial clients,” said Chamber Board Chairman Evans Quinlivan, who served as master of ceremonies at the event. “With this new facility, FPMI will continue its unparalleled contact center support for the Department of Homeland Security.” “I’m very proud to have this ribbon cutting ceremony today. We intend to continue to grow, and I’m looking forward to that growth,” said Joseph Saponaro, president and CEO of FPMI. “I do appreciate all the employees who work so hard.” Barry Prokop, director of business development, acknowledged that there are a lot of acronyms used in the government and government contracting vernacular. “And when people ask me what FPMI stands for, I tell them value,” he said. “This has been an extremely exciting time. We’ve got a lot to offer Huntsville, and I want to applaud the employees. We have some wonderful people here,” said Sandra Richards, director of program development. FPMI’s human resource consulting and outsourced services offers human capital planning, analysis, and support; workforce development and optimization; career management

services; performance management and learning solutions; employee and labor relations; talent acquisition; and staff augmentation. FPMI’s enterprise contact center services provide clients a resource for incoming and outgoing communication utilizing multiple communication modes to collect and integrate information from multiple sources into a single reporting system. •

Sandra Franklin-Richardson, director of program development for FPMI Solutions, discusses the company’s new contact center in Huntsville.

2008 Economic Development Summit Provides Snapshot of Community’s Explosive Growth The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County held its 3rd annual Economic Development Summit, presented by Turner Universal, at the Huntsville Marriott on June 10 to a crowd of more than 100 business leaders. The Summit is an opportunity for the Chamber to give an update to investors on the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI). “Our community continues to enjoy nearly unparalleled economic growth. We know that Huntsville/Madison County continues to lead the state in announced jobs. We have led this category in 15 of the last 18 years. That is sustained, measurable growth,” said Evans Quinlivan, chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Quinlivan also noted that the Huntsville/Madison County community has one of the most favorable economies of any community in the country in a state that is considered to have the best economic outlook of any state in the country. Speakers at the Economic Development Summit included: • Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, who discussed the remarkable growth and some of the history of Cummings Research Park; • Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie, who 20

along with Commissioner Jerry Craig, Madison County Sheriff Blake Dorning, and Madison County Emergency Management Agency Director Rusty Russell, discussed what the County is doing to plan and prepare for the phenomenal growth that is currently occurring and which is expected to continue; • Jim Bolte, the Chamber’s vice chair for workforce, who discussed what the Chamber is doing to pave new roads with its innovative workforce recruitment and development initiatives that have become a benchmark for other communities across the country; • Todd Hutto, representing the U.S. Army Garrison, and Joe Ritch, chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee, both of whom discussed why the 2005 BRAC at Redstone is considered the largest economic development project in the State’s history. Ritch also thanked the North Alabama legislators who were able to secure $750,000 to help in efforts to recruit BRACimpacted employees to this region; • Rick Tucker, executive director of the Port of Huntsville (Huntsville International Airport, the International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park). Tucker updated attendees on the numerous improvements and expansions occurring at the airport, which has been recognized as one of the fastest

growing cargo airports in North America; • Keynote speaker Dr. O’Neal Smitherman from the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, who provided insight on why the Institute is already considered one of the world’s most innovative biotechnology institutes; and • Don Nalley, the Chamber’s vice chair for economic development, who updated attendees on the status of economic development in Huntsville/Madison County and how it compares with the rest of the state and against peer technology cities such as Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina and Austin Texas, to name a few. “In 2007 we achieved 4,181 jobs and $183 million in capital investment against our goal of $150 million. Cumulatively, our four-year results show 19,847 jobs created against a goal of 10,000, or 2,500 jobs per year. Similarly over that same four-year period, we’ve had $1.3 billion in new capital investment against a goal of $600 million, or $150 million per year. This is just a snapshot of the incredible economic growth we are experiencing right now. We should all be proud of this achievement – it takes a special community to build an economic engine like this,” Nalley said. •

Economic Development Highlights continued on page 22 August 2008 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 20

AEgis Technologies Group Breaks Ground On 50,000 Square Foot Modeling, Simulation & Microsystems Technologies Facility

L-R: Evans Quinlivan, John Blue, Robbie Farquhar, Steve Hill and Bill Waite.

August 2008 Initiatives

AEgis Technologies Group Inc. recently broke ground on the site of its new 50,000 square-foot headquarters facility in Cummings Research Park in Huntsville. AEgis, a leading provider of modeling, simulation and microsystems technologies, currently employs 175 professionals and researchers in Huntsville with plans to grow to 250 by 2010. “This is a proud day for all of us,” said AEgis President and co-founder Bill Waite. “At AEgis, our vision is to lead the world in modeling and simulation.” “AEgis Technologies Group is an internationally recognized leader in providing advanced modeling and simulation capabilities in this community’s targeted industry recruitment areas of aerospace and defense, automotive, and biomedical, to name a few,” said Chamber Board Chair Evans Quinlivan. “So this is a great occasion to celebrate a company that provides excellent services that support the areas of business that serve as this community’s economic foundation. Many of you may not know that Huntsville is becoming known as one of the premier centers for modeling and simulation technology – and that is in great

part thanks to companies like AEgis and to the incredible talent of the people who work here.” “We are committed to innovation, and this new facility is being built to allow us to continue to be innovative and to diversify our customer base and our products and services,” said AEgis CEO and co-founder Steve Hill. AEgis is involved in a range of projects including nanotechnology, directed energy, micro photonics, training simulation development, 3D imagery terrain geospatial services, and systems engineering. “Our new facility includes a state-of-the-art laboratory that has been designed for nanoscale research and manufacturing,” said Hill. “This large ‘clean room’ is equipped with a still-growing array of state-of-the-art tools for making, testing and characterizing prototype nanoscale devices and materials. Also included in the facility is a simulation development demonstration laboratory with tactical level simulation integration capabilities.” Other features of the building include window offices for the majority of employees and collaboration rooms. •

Verizon Wireless Unveils Data Solutions Lab at Huntsville State Headquarters Verizon Wireless unveiled a new Data Solutions Lab at its Huntsville Call Center and state headquarters. The lab is designed for devices used on the company’s network to meet the highest standards of reliability and provides customers with the best possible wireless experience. “The work that’s done here is key to Verizon Wireless’ industry leadership and will support our customer base throughout Alabama and the United States,” said Peter Kurth, Data Solutions manager for Verizon Wireless, Alabama. “This quality assurance approach is one of the reasons more people use our brand than any other wireless brand.” The first of its kind in Alabama, the Data Solutions Lab helps employees trouble-shoot and assist nationwide government accounts. The lab provides hands-on demonstrations; training on advanced PDA devices and new products; server setup and integration and technology training on wireless solutions for customers. Verizon Wireless offers 24-hour, 7-day-a-week technical support for its mission-critical government customers. “The phone or device tested is the customer’s window to our network and must equal the network’s reliability and quality to ensure the very best customer experience,” said Michael Maiorana, Vice President -- National Government Sales and Operations for Verizon Wireless. The 152,000-square-foot call center, located at Thornton Research Park, opened in 2007 and is already staffed with nearly 1,000 employees. •

Renowned Science, Technology Firm Invests in Huntsville; Opens Office Global Science & Technology, Inc. recently opened an office in Huntsville. The company made the announcement as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. “Investing in Huntsville is a key part of our strategic plan,” said Chieh-san Cheng, president of Global Science & Technology, Inc. “We are strongly committed to partnering with the Huntsville business and government community by applying our well-known technical services and capabilities.” Since it was founded in 1991, the company has worked closely with many Government and commercial organizations, including the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Justice, NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the state of West Virginia. The company’s focus is on applying its expertise in science and IT to enable customers to create, archive, share, and distribute mission critical data in a more efficient manner to support decision making and operations. As an example, the company is a prime contractor for NOAA’s Comprehensive Large Array Stewardship System (CLASS), the world’s largest weather-data archive. In addition, the company supports scientific visualization as well as sensor development, testing, and characterization. For DOD, the company provides enhancements to advanced tactical communications equipment for the Army warfighter in Iraq in both land and space networks. • Economic Development Highlights continued on page 32

Initiatives August 2008

Imagine the following words scrolling across a large movie screen: COMMERCE WARS: The Entrepreneur Strikes Back Big business has taken over the community. Global corporate giants such as Wal-Mart, Microsoft, and General Electric hold an iron grip on the U.S. economy with products and services worth billions of dollars. But with equal part dream and determination emerges a group of small business entrepreneurs daring to challenge the colossal corporate empire and to excel. For some the hope is to stay small, carve out a slice of a niche market to survive, thrive and sustain. For others, it is to become one of those large companies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but to do so will require that the company buck the odds and make the statistically near-impossible

possible.

Bob Baron 2007 Small Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year (See story on page 38) 24

August 2008 Initiatives

Thursday, August 21 Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Von Braun Center North Hall Presented by

Platinum Sponsors: First Commercial Bank and Superior Bank Gold Sponsors: Bama Jammer; Beason & Nalley; The Boeing Company; CapitalSouth Bank; Comcast; Cumulus Media; The Huntsville Times; Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne; Regions Bank; and Taos Industries

Fade to Reality. Elizabeth Morard speaks with a similar voice as thousands of other small business leaders in Huntsville/Madison County. As the president/CEO of Qualis Corporation, Morard remembers very clearly staring at needle-in-a-haystack odds that a start-up business can even survive. To avoid the statistical probability of failure, Morard and her business partner began utilizing every available resource to help businesses help themselves. The first step, she remembers, was recognizing that there were organizations out there that could not only offer her guidance, but also provided a forum to expand her business. For the entrepreneurial small business to have a happy ending, there are many activities that business owners can participate in that can help them establish, grow and maintain their business, Morard said, and one place to start is with the Chamber. “Fifteen years ago, my business partner and I sought out the Small Business Development Center at the Chamber for assistance in putting a business plan into a format that would be acceptable to financial institutions and eventually the Small Business Administration,” Morard said. “I recall the staff to be knowledgeable, friendly and eager to help in the first year or two when we needed advice on getting the business up and running. I attended several training seminars offered by the Chamber and routinely participated in Chamber sponsored events,” she said.

continued on page 26 Initiatives August 2008

Small Business, continued from page 25 – Networking. Building relationships. Exchanging information. Building a client foundation. The template has expanded to the growing Qualis workforce. “As the company grew, other employees began attending seminars and events. Several of us still do so today,” Morard said. And today, Qualis Corporation employs more than 350 people and has 15 years of proven performance on more than 60 contracts supporting the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, NASA, large contractors and commercial clients. Qualis also ranked number 1,967 on the first-ever Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. And today, Morard is not only celebrating Qualis’ 15th year in business and its continued success, she is giving back to other small businesses in Huntsville and Madison County by serving as the Chamber’s vice chair of small business. In this role, Morard helps oversee a list of programs and services offered by the Chamber to assist small businesses – such as the Small Business Council, a group of designated members serving as a liaison and advisory group to the Chamber on small

August 2008 Initiatives

business issues and ways the Chamber can serve its members more efficiently. Or the CEO Roundtables, which offer a forum in which CEOs, presidents, owners and organizational leaders can obtain valuable insights into each others’ successes and achievements, and learn how to avoid the pitfalls of past mistakes. And of course there is the Women’s Business Council (WBC), a group of designated women small business owners that serve as an advisory group to the Chamber on issues affecting women entrepreneurs. WBC members also offer mentoring and quarterly forums. “In 1999, I became one of the charter members of the Women’s Business Council,” Morard recalled. “In the few years during which I was involved in that organization, I gained a greater understanding of the broader scope of resources available to small businesses and the Chamber’s commitment to helping all small businesses.” Through it all, Morard has a message to small businesses in the community. “Your Chamber is ready to serve you and help you reach your goals. Follow up on the Chamber’s outreach and learn more about the resources available to you. Participate in Chamber events and become visible in the community. Volunteering in Chamber activities will not only increase your visibility in the community, but will broaden your understanding of the Chamber’s offerings and provide a mechanism for you to give back to the community,” Morard said. “Any of these connections provides an opportunity to form a relationship with another business – from company infrastructure support to teaming alliance for new business – that could very well help you execute your company’s mission at some point in the future,” she said. Small business is such a big part of the Huntsville/Madison County business community – and with the Base Realignment and Closure Act moves we are going to see even more small businesses starting up in this area,” said Chamber Small Business Director Jenni Jeffers. “Our Chamber devotes a lot of time and support in helping these small businesses because we realize how important they are to our local economy. Sharon Steelman of Bama JammerTM Promotions shares a similar story. In the past few years, her company was twice named

by the Advertising Specialty Institute as the “Number One Fastest Growing Promotional Products Distribution Company in America.” Likewise in 2004, Bama JammerTM Promotions was named Small Business of the Year in the retail division of the Chamber’s annual small business awards ceremony. In October 2006, the South Regions Minority Business Council named Bama JammerTM Promotions “The Class II Minority Supplier of the Year in the Southeast. ” And in November 2007, Bama JammerTM received the “Torch Award” for Ethics in Business by the North Alabama Better Business Bureau. But before the awards and the local and national recognition, the company’s leaders had to sell the company’s capabilities and talk targeted clients into taking a chance. “The small business programs facilitated by the Chamber have been very beneficial to Bama JammerTM Promotions primarily through networking with other business people,” Steelman said. “Our staff has attended Breakfast & Biz, Business After Hours, WBC Forums, Open Houses and training sessions. People like to do business with those that they know. These networking programs have really made our sales calls much more friendly and easy.” Steelman said small business owners should take advantage of the Chamber’s small business services, facilitated by the Chamber and comprised of business owners and community leaders. “The Chamber provides numerous opportunities for small businesses to network with other businesses. There is a wealth of knowledge to be tapped. You have to get out of the office to meet people, to look them in the eye, to learn about who they are,” Steelman said. In my opinion, the Chamber of Commerce offers small business owners exceptional and numerous educational programs, networking opportunities, marketing events, and expert advisors. Simply joining the Chamber won’t make a difference in your business. You have to get involved and take advantage of the opportunities before you. And doing so could make for a very happy ending. For more on the Chamber’s small business programs and services, visit the web site at www.huntsvillealabamausa.com. • John Southerland Initiatives August 2008

Growing Through Networking The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County hosts numerous events each month to create networking and business growth opportunities for members, and to coordinate efforts to grow our community. Examples of recent events include:

Industry Appreciation Event – June 3 at Sci-Quest L-R: Butch Massey, TVA, Tate Godfrey, NAIDA, and Jim McCamy, Congressman Bud Cramer’s Office, enjoyed the musical sounds of the Snake Doctors at this annual event honoring our local industries.

New Member Luncheon – May 27 at the Chamber Randy Matthysse, Tool Ventures, Inc., introduces himself to the other attendees at the quarterly new member luncheon.

Breakfast & Biz – June 12 Presented by Parkway Place More than 200 people attended this structured, networking event designed to help members promote their companies.

Chamber members benefit from networking events, electronic and printed publications, educational programs for small business and perhaps most importantly, the knowledge that they are part of a collective effort to establish Huntsville/Madison County as a stronger, more visible community in the global competition for economic growth.

August 2008 Initiatives

E M P L O Y E E

O F

T H E

Q U A R T E R

Mitzi Floyd workforce coordinator

ommunity workforce recruitment and development has become one of the most vital and critical programs undertaken by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County. In fact, over the past few years the Chamber’s workforce initiatives have become a benchmark for numerous other communities across the state and the nation. To assist with these initiatives, the Chamber hired Mitzi Floyd as its workforce coordinator in late 2007. And in that short time, Mitzi has already made a great impact on the success of those workforce programs as well as a positive impact on all areas of the Chamber. “In a short time, Mitzi has shown such initiative and attention to detail that I really don’t know how we managed without her,” said Chamber Workforce Vice President Lucia Cape. “She’s taken ownership of her responsibilities

and is also aware of protocol. I know when I need something from her that I will get high quality work on time or ahead of schedule. She’s been such a pleasure to work with and has proven to be an incredible asset to the entire Chamber.” Mitzi said working for the Chamber has been everything she had hoped it could be. “This is such an incredible community,” she said. “You see so many people working so hard, it just makes you want to do a good job. The business community is very active here and that is a great help when it comes to helping us with our workforce recruitment and development efforts. Huntsville/Madison County truly is a smart place to live, work and play.” Mitzi has spent most of her life in the community, and she and her husband Jeff have three children. •

Initiatives August 2008

August 2008 Initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

“

At Toyota, we believe in “Moving Forward”. HREGI supports moving our community forward by setting measurable goals and providing accountability to

“

investors wanting to support the economic viability of our community now and for the future.

Jim Bolte Senior Vice President Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.

HREGI Investor since 2003

For a list of investors, see page 36 or visit: www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com Initiatives August 2008

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 23

Belzon Celebrates Growth Belzon Inc., which performs various services such as information technology, project management, and logistics services for its government clients, recently celebrated its job growth and the expansion of its business. Ron Klein, founder and CEO of Belzon, was also recently named a finalist for the National Small Business Association’s 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year. “I am so appreciative you’ve come to celebrate our progress. Ten years ago, we were a one-man company, and now we have 80 employees,” said Klein. The company has grown from $331,000 in revenue in 1998 to $11.6 million in 2008. “We are pleased that Ron Klein recognized Huntsville as a smart place to start a business and that this company has continually expanded its presence in our community,”

said Ron Poteat, vice chair of Research and Information Services for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Poteat served as master of ceremonies at the event. “I want to thank you, Ron, for investing in Huntsville and participating in the community,” said Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer. “We’re looking forward to your continued success, and we thank you for what you do for our military.” Klein was one of only five finalists for the National Small Business Association’s 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Klein served as the vice chair for small business for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Through his Chamber volunteer work, he worked to create, staff and populate many successful business training classes, and oversaw myriad small-business programs. He volunteers regularly for area small-business initiatives, has served as an entrepreneurial mentor, and spurred the development of a community-wide, inclusive small-business coalition. Under Klein’s leadership, Belzon, a defense services business, has grown from $331,000 in revenue in 1998 to $11.6 million in 2008. •

Belzon founder and CEO Ron Klein

Chamber D.C. Trip Packs Big Punch 2008 Washington DC trip ranks as one of country’s top five Chamber trips to Capital City More than 180 community leaders from North Alabama spent three days in Washington D.C. meeting with key government and military officials and discussing critical issues facing the region, making the community visit one of the largest in the country. The 2008 trip included meetings with some of the most powerful figures in the nation’s Capital, including Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. The first full day featured presentations from the administration, space policy experts, military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) planners, updates on the nation’s changing energy needs with the Department of Energy, national workforce strategists, and the acting administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Dr. Larry Sabato, the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, provided insightful predictions for the presidential and congressional elections at a luncheon on the first meeting day. Dr. Sabato is “probably the most quoted college professor in the land,” according to the Wall Street Journal and Fox News Channel calls him “America’s favorite political scientist.” Members of the Alabama congressional delegation were honored at the Monday evening reception in the Russell Senate Office Building in the ornate Caucus Room. The reception featured a tribute to Congressman Bud Cramer by the other

members of the delegation and Chamber representatives. Tuesday morning began with a breakfast on “the Hill” with Alabama’s U.S. Senators and several of their colleagues. Senator Jeff Sessions addressed the gathering and introduced presentations from Senators Thad Cochran and Mitch McConnell followed by Sen. Richard Shelby who introduced Senators Barbara Mikulski, Ted Stevens and Daniel Inouye. Tuesday afternoon sessions in the Rayburn House Office Building included remarks by Congressmen Cramer and Aderholt and presentations from Speaker Pelosi, and Congressmen John Murtha, C.W. Bill Young, and Silvestre Reyes. Additional speakers Monday morning included the Federal Highway Authority Chief Counsel Marcus J. Lemon and the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Dean G. Popps. Pelosi discussed the emerging trend of public-private partnerships as how the nation’s infrastructure needs will be met in the future, saying “it has been said that public-private partnerships offer the greatest economic development opportunity in the history of the country,” something of particular importance given the Huntsville/Madison County community’s emphasis on creating more road infrastructure. •

Economic Development Highlights compiled by John Southerland 32

August 2008 Initiatives

New Procurement Technical Assistance Center Counselor Provides Free Services The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, the Institute of Commerce (IOC) and the Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program recently announced the addition of a full-time counselor dedicated to the PTAC program in the Huntsville area. Terrell Stewart, PTAC procurement consultant, provides free government contract counseling and assistance to large and small businesses. His office is located on the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. “We are so pleased to have this opportunity to help our Chamber members with these services,” said Elizabeth MoStewart rard, vice chair of small business for the Chamber. “The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is dedicated to supplying the utmost in training and education for the citizens of Huntsville and Madison County in order to help them succeed in their business endeavors.” “The IOC is honored to partner with the state’s PTAC program and the Chamber to offer small business owners and entrepreneurs free counseling services in order to better understand and navigate the government contract procurement process,” said Ben Johnson, executive director of the Institute of Commerce. “The Huntsville area has experienced more growth in the government sector than any other city in the state. The need was apparent, and we are happy to have played a small part in bringing this to the community.” The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) offers many services to businesses and entrepreneurs, including: • Free government contracting assistance • One-on-one counseling • Business development at all levels • Assistance with certifications, registrations and database inclusions • Explanation of forms, codes, regulations and requirements involved • Bid and proposal preparation assistance and solicitation development • Tradeshows, workshops and networking events • Industry specific contractor and agency contact lists • The PTAC specific “Bid Match” program • Information on subcontracting opportunities and purchase procedures • Contact point and liaison for buyers and sellers • Assistance with research, data collection, assimilation and assessment PTAC offers a bid matching service, which provides information on bidding opportunities from the Department of Defense, federal agencies, state and local government and educational institutions. Notices of subcontracting opportunities are also available through PTAC. • Initiatives August 2008

Meeting the Workforce Challenge If You Get Them Here, They Will Stay

“I

f we can get them here to visit, they’ll want to stay.” That is the reality for workforce recruitment in Huntsville/Madison County. Many people unfamiliar with the Huntsville/ Madison County community have false perceptions of infrastructure, recreational opportunities and other aspects living, working and playing in North Alabama or the South in general. While it isn’t economically feasible to fly in all prospective job candidates to Huntsville for a weekend, community leaders and workforce recruiters can reach out to those who are here and encourage them to stay. During a 2007 meeting of the Chamber’s Workforce Coalition, Marshall Space Flight

August 2008 Initiatives

Center (MSFC) representatives discussed the 100-plus students hired through the various summer programs at the Center. Only a small percentage of those students were in programs that led directly to a NASA job offer, but all of them had an interest in the work done at MSFC. The question was raised: “Would other companies in the community be interested in meeting these students and making them more aware of the career prospects outside of NASA proper?” The answer was a quick and resounding “yes.” The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County responded by working with MSFC to set up a “meet and greet” between the NASA summer students and local companies who work in the fields represented by the students’ majors. The Chamber also presented an overview of the community and worked with partners to provide information on cost of living, continuing education, and recreation. These students represented more than 70 colleges and universities in 30 states, and their majors reflect the science, technology and engineering work performed at MSFC. Competition for summer hire positions with NASA is intense, so the caliber of the students is top notch. Organizers, participants and students considered the event a great success. More than 100 students and 16 employers participated, including ADTRAN, ADT, the U.S. Army Materiel Command, Davidson Technologies, Dynetics, Jacobs ESTS, ManTech SRS, Phase IV Systems, Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne, SAIC, SPARTA, Torch Technologies, Toyota, Turner Universal, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and Westar. Students said they were impressed with the career opportunities with 71 percent indicating they were more likely to live in Huntsville/Madison County after the event than before. Prior to the event, 73 percent

said they were not likely to live here. Student comments from the survey illustrated the event’s effectiveness for students and potential employers: “What I found most interesting about the event was the job opportunities that were out there for every individual in their field of study.” “I did not realize there are so many engineering companies in Huntsville. I knew about most of the larger ones, but I learned a lot about some of the smaller companies. Also, I did not realize housing was so affordable here.” “I learned how significantly the city was growing and that the trend should continue for the next several years.” “I learned that there are limitless opportunities for engineers in the Huntsville/Madison area and the rate at which Huntsville is growing.” “I learned about Cummings Research Park and how big it is. I didn’t realize how many companies were actually here. It also sounds like they have big plans for the City of Huntsville.”

The companies were equally impressed with the event. Survey results showed that 100 percent found it to be beneficial, and almost all said they would participate if the event were held again. In fact, responses ranged from “Yes,” to “Yes, absolutely,” to “YES! Please don’t say ‘if’ it is held. I really would hope that we can do it again.” Companies rated the students “cream of the crop” and “very diverse.” One company representative had even stronger praise for the students: “They were amazing! Just hearing what they are doing and what their future goals are made me believe there will be a future for our country in our children.” As a result of the success of those events, the Chamber and MSFC have partnered again, changing the focus to “Huntsville/Madison County 101” and adjusting the format to allow the students more time with the companies – a request of both students and companies following the previous event. In addition, the Chamber also sponsored a cookout for the students and their mentors at a Hunts-

ville Stars game, showing them more of why Huntsville/Madison County is considered a smart place to live, work and play. (The 2008 NASA Summer Student Day was held on July 22. At press time, the following companies had registered to participate: ADTRAN, Avion, Inc., BFA Systems, DRS Technologies, Jacobs ESTS, the Missile Defense Agency, SAIC and WILL Technology.) • Lucia Cape

Initiatives August 2008

Development Partner ($250,000+ invested annually: public sector)

Chamber Trustees

Progress Partners

Development Council

(Up to $125,000 invested annually: 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 The Boeing Company Colonial Bank Compass Bank Crestwood Medical Center The Huntsville Times Redstone Federal Credit Union SAIC Verizon Wireless Wachovia Bank, N.A. August 2008 Initiatives

($10,000 - $24,999 invested annually)

Avocent Corporation Beason & Nalley, Inc. Bill Penney Toyota Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton Camber Corporation CINRAM, Inc. COLSA Corporation Continental AG Huntsville Area Association of Realtors

($5,000 - $9,999 invested annually)

AEgis Technologies Analytical Services, Inc. Applied Data Trends, Inc. BAE Systems BASF Catalysts LLC Bryant Bank CapitalSouth Bank Coldwell Banker/McLain Real Estate Colonial Properties Consolidated Construction Dynetics Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. ERC, Incorporated First Commercial Bank HiWAAY Internet Services International Diesel J. Smith Lanier & Co. Jerry Damson Honda Acura Keystone Foods Corporation Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne LG Electronics Alabama, Inc. M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc.

Progress Investors

Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, Inc. Intergraph Corporation Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation Lamar Outdoor Advertising Northrop Grumman Parsons Corporation SPARTA, Inc. SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center

Main Street Strategies Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C. NAI Chase Commercial Realty The Orthopaedic Center Parker Hannifin Corporation Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. RBC Bank Samples Properties Sirote & Permutt, P.C. SOUTHBank Stanley Associates Superior Bank The Surgery Center of Huntsville System Studies and Simulation, Inc. Talent Connections Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Turner Universal Construction WAFF-TV Wilmer & Lee, P.A. Yellowbook Anonymous

($2,500 - $4,999 invested annually)

4SITE, Incorporated Applied Geo Technologies Averbuch Realty / Averbuch Enterprises BancorpSouth Baron Services Belzon Bradley Arant Rose & White Brown Precision Century Automotive Chapman Sisson Architects Cintas Corporation Currie Systems DESE Research, Inc. DHS Systems Digital Fusion DRS Test and Energy Management Fountain Parker Harbarger & Associates Fuqua & Partners General Dynamics Gray Research, Inc. The Heritage Club Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Jacobs

JH Partners Architecture & Interiors Johnston, Moore, Maples & Thompson Kelly Services Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Kudzu Productions Lamb Commercial Services, Inc. Madison Square Chrysler/Jeep Mercedes Benz of Huntsville North Alabama Gas District QTEC Qualis Corporation Radiance Technologies, Inc. Science & Engineering Services, Inc. ServisFirst Bank 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

Small Museums Another Part of How Being “Small” is “Large” in Huntsville

untsville is known for U.S. space and defense programs, information technology and software industries, and more recently its biotech campus. Many large business and government entities have “starring roles” in the area’s blockbuster economy, a cast of thousands that have launched and grown in support of leading industry players – that provide increased vitality, vigor and personality to the area economy. Similarly, just as small businesses add strength and personality to the economy, small organizations build community character in a big way. Four small museums are cultural hubs for families with children, young adults, seniors and everyone in between. EarlyWorks Museum Complex, The Huntsville Museum of Art, Burritt on the Mountain and Sci-Quest each create a sense of community that transcends individual buildings and properties to create a welcoming and culture-rich community at large.

experiences for our guests that they can not receive anywhere else.” EarlyWorks hosts many special events that add a unique character to the community, including the WhistleStop Festival and Rocket City Barbecue at the Huntsville Historic Depot, a Kansas City Barbecue Society professional competition. “WhistleStop brings visitors to town from all over the country and really gives Huntsville a chance to showcase itself,” Williams said. In December, Alabama Constitution Village transforms into Santa’s Village, where visitors can explore Santa’s hometown, complete with live reindeer and snow. Williams said museums like EarlyWorks play crucial role in creating a well rounded, enriched community. continued on page 42

EarlyWorks Museum Complex EarlyWorks is divided into three different museums – EarlyWorks Children’s History Museum, Historic Huntsville Depot and Museum and Alabama Constitution Village. With only 16 full-time employees managing three museums, EarlyWorks relies on volunteers to staff the museums. Bart Williams, EarlyWorks executive director, describes the complex as an educational experience with a twist. “We tell Alabama’s story in a fun and engaging way,” Williams said. “We like to think our museums provide educational

WhistleStop Initiatives August 2008

Special Accolades Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year Keeps Striking Back After being named the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County’s 2007 Small Business Awards Celebration, Bob Baron, president/founder and CEO of Baron Services, Inc. has done it again on a regional level. Baron, whose company creates and implements new technology to more quickly and more precisely forecast severe weather, was recently selected the Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young for the Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee region. He is now eligible for the Ernst and Young National Awards Program and the World Entrepreneur of the Year progams sponsored by Ernst and Young. Rewarded for his outstanding leadership and business acumen, Baron was one of only seven to receive the honor in the region and the entrepreneurs were selected by an independent judging panel consisting of regional business, academic and community leaders. The winners were announced at a gala event held at the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta. “While I received the honor individually for being a “visionary”, it is Team Baron, which included my wife and son, that helped turn that vision into the growing business we are today. When we started, Phylis put up with an in-home business and did all our bookkeeping. Bob Jr. came home from school with a CPA and great job prospects, but elected to give me and this fledgling business a year of his life for free. After 30 some years in weather, and 20 building the company, it is just

a wonderful honor that our team is recognized by our peers at a national level, and it is another tribute to the world changing technology being regularly accomplished by the various companies in Cummings Research Park,” Baron said. “Our early success was driven by a total focus on developing weather tools to save lives. We were very focused. Now what’s driving success is a very talented team that shares the same focus.” Baron founded his company in 1990 with the goal of helping people detect, disseminate and quickly respond to weather events. Baron’s secret to success: innovate aggressively and anticipate customers’ future needs, and always secure talented, creative individuals as the core employees of the company, the people Baron credits with his success. “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of the more than 100 hard-working employees spread across the Baron group of companies,” Baron said. “We heartily congratulate this year’s winners on their success,” said Joe King, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program director for Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee. “This group of winners is truly remarkable for all that they have accomplished.” Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. •

Former Vice Chair of Small Business Named Finalist for National Small Business Advocacy Award

Ron Klein, president and CEO of Belzon, Inc. was recently named a finalist for the National Small Business Association’s 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year. The award highlights outstanding achievements from the best in the small business community. The criteria used in determining award finalists included a commitment to small business advocacy, a proven history of volunteer activism on behalf of the small-business community, and success and growth as a small-business owner. Current vice chair Elizabeth Morard said Klein’s influence in helping the community’s small business programs made a lasting impact on the small August 2008 Initiatives

businesses in Huntsville/Madison County. “Ron is a successful small business entrepreneur with a keen interest in the area’s small businesses. As the Chamber’s 2007 vice chair for small business, he diligently worked with the Chamber staff to serve the needs of small businesses and helped strengthen the cooperative relationships with other organizations that serve local small businesses,” Morard said. “His commitment continues beyond his vice chair tenure as he works, at minimum, to bolster the CEO Roundtable program of which he has been a part for several years. His expertise is a much welcomed resource for the community.” •

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County: Here for You The following services and networking opportunities are intended especially for the Chamber’s small business members. Every aspect of the Chamber’s work supports the primary objective of growing and improving our local economy. If you have further questions about the Chamber’s offerings, please contact Jenni Jeffers, director of Small Business Services at (256) 535-2011 or jjeffers@hsvchamber.org. For information about becoming a Chamber member, contact Terrie Ledbetter at (256) 535-2043. Small Business Council This group of designated members serves as a liaison and advisory group to the Chamber on small business issues and ways the Chamber can serve its members more efficiently. CEO Roundtables Each roundtable offers a forum in which CEOs, presidents, owners and organizational leaders can obtain valuable insights into each others’ successes and achievements, and learn how to avoid the pitfalls of past mistakes. In addition, the Chamber holds bi-annual receptions where current and future members come together for a networking opportunity. This group is for Chamber members only. Women’s Business Council This group of designated women are small business owners that serve as an advisory group to the Chamber on issues affecting women entrepreneurs. They offer mentoring and quarterly forums. Training Seminars Seminars are offered focusing on small business issues such as Earned Value Management, Change Management and Recruiting. These seminars are priced minimally and are usually held over lunch. For an updated listing: HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com. Annual Small Business Awards This is an event held yearly to spotlight our local entrepreneurs for their outstanding accomplishments as small business leaders. The awards currently have seven categories and are attended by more than 1,100 community leaders, small business owners and dignitaries.

On-site Procurement & Technical Services Center (PTAC) Counseling small businesses on the procurement process and with marketing their products/services to the government and prime contractors. (See page 33) On-line Job Postings This service is for Chamber members only and provides companies with a venue to advertise current job openings at no cost. The website is maintained daily and can be found at www.asmartplace.com. Annual Business EXPO This event allows small businesses to come together in one location to showcase to the community their products and services. This is one of the Chamber’s best attended events, typically drawing over 1,000 participants. Business After Hours (BAH) This venue offers a networking opportunity for small business owners and large business representatives in a relaxed, professional atmosphere. BAH’s are usually held 6 to 8 times per year from 5-7 p.m. Small Business Library The Chamber offers an array of materials focused on starting or maintaining your small business. The library can be found on the second floor of the Chamber in the small business area. Ribbon Cuttings / Groundbreakings The Chamber offers ribbon cutting and groundbreaking assistance to small business owners. This is a great way to promote your company, receive community recognition and bring other Chamber members into their establishment. For information, email: info@hsvchamber.org.

Breakfast & Biz (B&B) These events are an excellent way to network in an intimate, structured environment. Individuals are placed in groups of eight and are given one minute to share with the group their organization’s benefits and services. Tables rotate six times during the event giving individuals a tremendous amount of exposure in a short period of time. These events are held quarterly and run from 7-9 a.m. Member-to-Member News This service offers an opportunity to promote special events or major announcements regarding their organization and is located on the Chamber website. All submissions must be directed to John Southerland at jsoutherland@hsvchamber.org. Ambassador Program This program offers members an opportunity to volunteer to serve as a Chamber representative at events such as our Business After Hours, ribbon cuttings, etc. It also allows individuals to broaden their networking opportunities and business relationships. Emissary Program This program is geared toward our more seasoned volunteers, having been involved actively with the Chamber for at least one year. The primary focus is to serve as a liaison between the member companies and the Chamber. They advise and educate on Chamber activities and provide feedback for improvement. Affinity and Member-to-Member Programs Both programs give members the opportunity to offer special discounts that are exclusive to Chamber members only. Initiatives August 2008

McCrillis Hits for the Cycle in 2008 Total Resource Campaign A

s thrilling as the contest to decide the 2008 U.S. Open golf winner, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s 2008 Total Resource Campaign ended in similar fashion – a down to the last minute race between two teams who were on top of the leader board all season. Ultimately, on the final day of competition and in the final at-bat, A League of Their Own, led by Carrie McCrillis and Marianne Windham, prevailed by relying on the pitching of veteran players to close the game. This team raised $342,355 McCrillis and edged out the Rocket City All-Stars, led by Joe Green, for the World Series title by less than a thousand dollars. The Chamber’s TRC is a unique way for volunteers representing a variety of industries and companies throughout a nine-week campaign to sell Chamber sponsorships and memberships. The move to a TRC approach took away the year-round marketing of Chamber events and condensed the year’s opportunities into a compressed nineweek campaign designed to allow companies to strategically align their sponsorship opportunities for the entire Green year and subsequently maximize the return on investment. In all, the 2008 campaign brought in more than $1.4 million in support of efforts to prepare, develop and promote the Huntsville/Mad-

ison County community for economic growth. Net revenue from TRC-sponsored programs is invested directly in the Chamber’s economic development and workforce efforts, as well as other activities in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative. Each TRC campaign has seen the volunteers meet and exceed the annual goals and 2008 was no different. In 2006 volunteers were given a goal of $600,000. They exceeded that by another 50 percent to $935,000. In 2007, volunteers were given a goal of reaching the magic million – and again went beyond to hit $1.2 million. In 2008 the goal was to meet the 2007 total of $1.2 million and the volunteers sold $1.4 million instead. So the past performance has clearly been established: Settle on the goal. Meet the goal. Exceed the goal. And the 2008 volunteers generated the most sponsorships ever. “All of you are juggling many balls in the air your families and careers, other groups and volunteer organizations and community activities that require your time and dedication. Without you creating this extra time, giving this extra effort and creating this extra push – with all other things you do, our success would not be possible. And as with any great baseball championship, it does take a team effort. Our economic development growth depends on people like you,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber board of directors and the North Alabama market executive with RBC Bank.

Top Sluggers A mere $265 separated third and second place

sluggers. Batting in the three hole position was Joe Green, SAIC, who raised $73,855. In the number two slot was Lee Lester, Regions Bank, with $74,120. And for the fourth consecutive year the 2008 Top Slugger was McCrillis, Kelly Services. McCrillis raised $122,256 by working closely with company leaders to help them choose the sponsorships that best fit with their marketing goals and objectives.

Rookie-Laden Team Challenges World Series Champs This year’s third place team had many rookies in the line-up but still managed to be competitive by raising $159,046 to secure third.

MVP Award This recognition is annually given to the volunteer that showed the most cross-team

2008 TRC Final Standings East Division:

$749,123

Frank Caprio, Bradley, Arant, Rose & White

Team Captains: Carrie McCrillis/Marianne Windham

$344,781

Patti Holmes, CapitalSouth Bank

$127,293

Chris Hanback, ServisFirst Bank

$31,742

Mike Woeber, Beason & Nalley

$84,570

Lisa Sparks, First Commercial Bank

$74,698

Mike Johnston, Bryant Bank

$61,839

Herman Stubbs, Colonial Bank

$24,200

West Division:

Harry Waugh, Regions Bank

$661,762

Team Captains: Joe Green, SAIC

$343,280

Lee Lester, Regions Bank

$159,441

Jennifer Dooling, Wachovia Bank

$53,672

Barney Heyward, RBC Bank

$48,427

Mark Bledsoe, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne $26,039

August 2008 Initiatives

Kevin Wright, Compass Bank

$20,702

Fred Coffey, Sirote & Permutt

$10,200

Left: Loren Traylor and Donna McCrary display the TRC total as Scott Seeley thanks the volunteers. Right: Taking the title as Top Team, “A League of Their Own:” (l-r) Mark Brown (staff mentor), Rebecca Billings, Lisa Lane, Sarah Taggart, Michelle Powell, Carrie McCrillis, Sofia Bledsoe, Marianne Windham, Jean Mulcahy and Shannon Drake.

spirit and positive attitude throughout the campaign. The 2008 MVP Award went to Terry Dumer, Woodall and Hoggle Insurance. Terry distinguished herself by quietly helping other volunteers and company representatives understand how TRC worked and showed volunteers how to help companies market themselves using a Chamber event.

Top Rookie First-year participants in the TRC often struggle and the Chamber’s 2008 top rookie started off quietly, devoting himself to understanding the available options and opportunities as well as learning the other players and products. Once he figKnoch ured out that the true game was in the relationships, he came out swinging. The 2008 Top Rookie Award was given to Joe Knoch, Air Essentials. Scott Seeley, 2008 TRC Commissioner and Bryant Bank market president, remarked that this year’s campaign which was designed to run only nine weeks, allowed businesses a tremendous opportunity to hit a home run. “Additionally, the TRC allows all businesses, both large and small, to get in the game, be exposed to community leaders and potential new clients. The TRC really does provide volunteers name recognition Seeley and tremendous networking opportunities that help companies and organizations meet their business goals,” he said. With more than 90 volunteers cheering for the Chamber, its no wonder this year’s campaign broke all previous records. Teams are already being formed for the 2009 campaign and the player trading has already begun. • Loren Traylor Initiatives August 2008

Small Museums, continued from page 37 –

“EarlyWorks helps provide Huntsville with a unique quality of life.” Williams said. “As people get involved with our museums, either by volunteering or visiting, they become more connected to their community gaining greater sense pride and ownership in Huntsville.”

Huntsville Museum of Art The Huntsville Museum of Art strives to bring people and art together through acquiring, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting the highest quality works of art. Clayton Bass, HMA president and CEO, said the museum’s focus is education, entertainment and enrichment for the entire community. “We present up to 15 exhibitions annually with dozens of additional programs like gallery tours, lectures, films and performances for audiences of all ages,” Bass said. Like EarlyWorks, the HMA cannot manage events and exhibits alone. The museum only has 20 full time and 15 part time employees and relies on volunteers a for support. “Both the museum and foundation boards are made up of all volunteer members,” Bass said. “Volunteers also work in other capacities within various museum departments. “With such a passionate audience for the arts in Huntsville, the museum is a keystone to the city’s identity,” Bass said. “It is a place of public pride that speaks volumes about the quality of life in the Tennessee Valley.” The museum has an additional mission of fostering and celebrating creativity within the community.

Huntsville Museum of Art “The HMA was created because of a shared passion for visual arts within the community,” Bass said. “Now the museum has come full circle, nurturing and building the community through the richness of its programs offerings, and the experiences and relationships that are formed as we seek to engage the entire community. 42

August 2008 Initiatives

Burritt on the Mountain According to Leslie Ecklund, executive director and CEO of Burritt on the Mountain, visitors of all ages have something to enjoy. “Burritt on the Mountain provides a wide range of educational learning experiences for children through field trips, camps, and our partnership with EarthScope, the environmental education program sponsored by the City of Huntsville,” Ecklund said. “Families enjoy our big festivals and monthly Step Back in Time programs and holiday events including Candlelight Christmas, Holiday Magic and the Easter Parade,” Ecklund added. “Adults enjoy our ever-expanding social events like Murder in the Mansion and Burrittinis on the Bluff and our educational series ranging from floral design to bird watching.”

Burritt on the Mountain Burritt on the Mountain provides artistic and recreational experiences with its world class City Lights and Stars outdoor concerts series, exhibits in the mansion, Shakespeare under the Stars and other theatrical events throughout the year. Burritt on the Mountain provides a place for people to gather, to volunteer together, to learn together and to experience education, arts and recreation together. Like EarlyWorks and the HMA, Burritt depends on volunteers for its success. “Volunteers are critical to the success of our organization,” Ecklund said. “We couldn’t carry out our mission without them.”

Sci-Quest Sci-Quest is an educational museum created for children to experience learning in a whole new way. Their mission is to inspire youth to discover the wonder of science, math and technology. “Our hands-on approach and informal education programs motivate our youth to discover and explore the wonders of science,

Sci-Quest mathematics and technology and to correlate their interest to the exciting career fields that exist in the region,” said Cyndy Morgan, Sci-Quest executive director. “At the Science Center, children can play with and explore over 100 different exhibits with our hands-on approach to learning,” Morgan said. “In addition, they can participate in education programs to augment their learning experience.” There is a wide range of experiences for families and individuals to explore and enjoy. “Whether you live in the country, the Tennessee Valley, or are vacationing from another area, you will find many things right here in our community to pique your interests and afford you with an exciting and satisfying experience at affordable prices,” Morgan said. “Museums and Centers make a community a great place to live, learn and play, and Huntsville, Ala. has so much to offer in this area,” Morgan concluded. Huntsville gives visitors many opportunities to learn and grow with experiences unique to Madison County. These museums don’t just contribute to the community, they play a vital role in creating the character of the city. • April Windham

Get Involved! All four museums and centers need volunteers to maintain daily operations. For information visit: EarlyWorks Museum Complex: earlyworks.com The Huntsville Museum of Art: www.hsvmuseum.org Burritt on the Mountain: www.burrittonthemountain.com Sci-Quest: www.sci-quest.org

Initiatives August 2008

Armed Forces Week Proclamation Signing: Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie and Madison Mayor Sandy Kirkindall all take part in honoring America’s soldiers. Photo by J Spencer Photography

Military Salute Honors Those Serving Our Nation

Armed Forces Week’s Concert in the Park at Joe Davis Stadium featuring the 389th Army Band (AMC’s Own) and local band Juice.

L-R: Maj. Gen. Jim Myles, Mayor Spencer and Huntsville Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Yates 44

August 2008 Initiatives

Concert in the Park photos taken by Matthew Beach, Winsome Vagabond Photography

he Huntsville/Madison County Armed Forces Celebration, held June 23-29, channeled an outpouring of community support for the nation’s military. Celebration events included concerts and performances by a number of military units; static displays; award ceremonies; luncheon salutes; and offered many other opportunities for the community to show its appreciation to the nation’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. The celebration, the 24th since the community began the tradition of hosting a luncheon or dinner to honor the military, has grown and now includes a proclamation signing ceremony; a special military-themed “Concert in the Park” the Redstone Arsenal soldier and NCO of the year luncheon; and three performances of the U.S. Army Soldier Show. For the last decade, the Chamber has alternated hosting the keynote Celebration meal event with the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA). The most recent celebration included a special “Community Covenant” signing ceremony with Gen. Richard Cody, vice chief of staff of the Army, who was also featured speaker at the Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon. The week kicked-off with a proclamation signing ceremony on the Parade Field at Redstone Arsenal with a brigade of 500 soldiers training to work on Army missile and electronics systems. BRAC 2005 directed that the Army’s Ordinance, Missile, Electronics and Munitions School (OMEMS) be relocated from Redstone Arsenal to Ft. Lee, Va., by September 2011, making the 2008 ceremony among the last featuring such a large contingent of soldiers. Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie and Madison Mayor Sandy Kirkindall signed

Armed Forces Week Salute Luncheon: Special performances by the U.S. Army Soldier Show (top left) and the 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus (top right); Gen. Richard Cody was the keynote speaker (below). Luncheon photos taken by J. Hanshaw Photography Photo by J Spencer Photography

Above: Armed Forces Week Proclamation Signing – Students at the Ordinance Missile Electronics and Munitions School (OMEMS)

the proclamation. Copies of the proclamations were presented to Redstone and AMCOM Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jim Myles and other key military representatives. Redstone’s NCO and Soldier of the year were named at a special luncheon later that afternoon. Staff Sgt. Anthony F. Marvan, HHC 59th Ordnance Brigade, was the NCO of the Year. Specialist Kenster M. Shannon, U.S. Army Medical Department Activities, was the Soldier of the Year. Monday evening concluded with a special concert and display of military hardware at Joe Davis baseball stadium. A local band, Juice, warmed up the crowd and was followed by the 389th AMC’s Own Army Band. Several events featured performances by the 82nd Airborne Division’s All American Chorus – a group of paratroopers serving in the chorus while maintaining their position as some of the nation’s most effective soldiers. In addition to singing at the luncheon, the U.S. Army Soldier Show performed three shows to sold-out crowds at the Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center. The highlight of the week was the Armed

Forces Celebration Luncheon, sponsored by The Boeing Company, featuring Gen. Cody. As a Master Aviator with more than 5,000 hours flying Army aircraft, Cody was especially familiar with the aviation and missile work done at Redstone. He credited the work done locally with saving an untold number of American lives. “Your work ethic and support to his Army is what drives you,” said Cody at the June 25 luncheon to a crowd of more than 900 attendees held at the Von Braun Center North Hall. “It gives me comfort to know the dedication of the work force and community to see that these soldiers go into combat with the best. You make hard days and sleepless nights worth it.” Larry Capps, President and CEO of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and Clif Broderick, his deputy, served as chair and vice chair of the events planning committee. The annual weeklong celebration is an opportunity for the community to say thank you to the military for their selfless service in the defense of our nation and for their profound economic impact on the Huntsville/Madison County community. • Mike Ward Initiatives August 2008

August 2008 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2008

August 2008 Initiatives