Initiatives magazine, October 2009 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Initiatives October 2009

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October 2009 Initiatives

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sense of urgency your care truly deserves. Choose Crestwood.

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Initiatives October 0000114920-01 2009

Thanks to Our Investors Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

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

City of Huntsville

Development Council

(Up to $125,000 invested annually: public sector)

Huntsville Utilities

Chamber Trustees

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

Agility Defense & Government Services Avocent Corporation Beason & Nalley, Inc. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton Breland Companies Camber Corporation CINRAM, Inc. Cobham Analytic Solutions COLSA Corporation Continental AG Huntsville Area Association of Realtors

Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, Inc. Intergraph Corporation Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation L-3 Communications Lamar Outdoor Advertising Look Outdoor Advertising Northrop Grumman Parsons Corporation SES, Inc. SportsMED

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 BB&T The Boeing Company Compass Bank Crestwood Medical Center Deltacom The Huntsville Times Lockheed Martin Redstone Federal Credit Union SAIC Verizon Wireless Wachovia Bank, N.A. 4

October 2009 Initiatives

Progress Partners

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

AEgis Technologies Analytical Services, Inc. Applied Data Trends, Inc. BAE Systems BASF Catalysts LLC Coldwell Banker/McLain Real Estate Colonial Properties Consolidated Construction Dynetics Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. ERC, Inc. First Commercial Bank 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.

Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C. NAI Chase Commercial Realty

Progress Investors

Navistar Diesel of Alabama The Orthopaedic Center Parker Hannifin Corporation Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. RBC Bank Samples Properties Sirote & Permutt, P.C. SL1-Inc SOUTHBank Stanley Associates Superior Bank The Surgery Center of Huntsville System Studies and Simulation, Inc. 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 BFA Systems Bill Penney Toyota Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Brown Precision Bryant Bank Century Automotive Chapman Sisson Architects DESE Research, Inc. DHS Systems Digital Fusion DRS Technologies – A Finmeccanica Company Fountain Parker Harbarger & Associates Fuqua & Partners Garber Construction Co., Inc. General Dynamics Gray Research, Inc.

Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Jacobs JH Partners Architecture & Interiors Kelly Services Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. Kudzu Productions Lamb Commercial Services, Inc. North Alabama Gas District Progress Bank QinetiQ North America QTEC Qualis Corporation Radiance Technologies, Inc. ServisFirst Bank Torch Technologies Weichert Realtors – The Executive Group Wesfam Restaurants, Inc. – Burger King WHNT-19 Wilson Lumber Woodland Homes of Huntsville Woody Anderson Ford

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Must be an RFCU member and have a Business Share Account to obtain SBA loan. Loans subject to credit approval. Equal credit opportunity lender. Restrictions may apply.

800-234-1234 • www.redfcu.org 0000115246-01

Initiatives October 2009

Advancing Outpatient Surgery

Experience, excellence and now convenience

You’ve trusted Huntsville Hospital all your life for excellence in surgery. Now you can find that same expertise in a more convenient setting in Huntsville Hospital’s new Outpatient Surgery Center in the Governors Medical Tower on Gallatin Street. With easy in-and-out parking, plenty of space for family and even a Grab ‘N’ Go snack shop, we make your experience as simple as possible. And isn’t it nice to know that you are adjacent to one of Alabama’s largest surgical centers?

Visit us online at huntsvillehospital.org to see our facility. The technology and the team that you expect from the region’s leading hospital are now available to serve you in Huntsville Hospital’s Outpatient Surgery Center. It’s a new way of

huntsvillehospital.org 6

October 2009 Initiatives

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taking care of you from the hospital that you’ve trusted for generations.

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Big Spring Park, courtesy of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

october 2009

Here Comes the L-4: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (TMMAL) ~ page 35 on the cover

Jim Bolte, TMMAL president Photo by Craig Shamwell

features Economic Development Highlights

including SL1, Total Solutions, MWH, HudsonAlpha Institute, DHS, Jackson Center, local Inc. 500/5000 companies, City of Madison, Baron Services, nLogic, Aerodyne and Huntsville Hospital

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

Heroes of Small Business

Chamber Hosts Meetings

STEM Degrees: Do the Simple Math

2009 Business EXPO

Twickenham District (left) and Scarecrow Trail at Huntsville Botanical Garden (inset), photos courtesy of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

developments HREGI Investors

Chamber Board Listing

Community Profile

Growth Through Networking

Employee of the Quarter

Chamber Staff Listing

HREGI Testimonial

editorial staff

Publisher Brian Hilson Executive Editor John Southerland

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard

mission The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.

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

ontributing Writers C Photography

Lucia Cape, Harrison Diamond, John Southerland, Loren Traylor and Mike Ward Chamber of Commerce staff & publications (if not credited)

Advertising Sales Ray Johnson The Huntsville Times

Initiatives October 2009

Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2009 Executive Committee

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: The challenges of this weak economy cause Huntsville, like any other regional economy, to focus more intensively on the best ways to improve our economic situation. One of Huntsville’s greatest strengths is community leadership, and one of our greatest challenges is broadening our community image; i.e., causing more people to know Huntsville, and when they do, to think positively of it. That’s what a community’s image is all about. The Chamber coordinates a team effort that includes a broad spectrum of both public and private sector leaders, all with a keen interest in economic growth. Our responsibility is to tell the Huntsville story, both often and persuasively. Sometimes our audience is a specific company, and other times it is much broader – groups of businesses, workers and families. What is probably less understood, however, is that it is also our responsibility to listen. We need to be aware of what others may be thinking about our community, how they are reacting to what they hear, and how perceptions may be changing. Today, as we listen and learn, we are excited to know that Huntsville’s image is constantly broadening and improving. Companies are responding with strong interest to our proposals, families and workers are making plans to move here, and many young workers, such as recent college graduates (or “fresh outs”, as we sometimes call them), are putting Huntsville at the top of their list as the place they want to begin their careers. With every ranking and accolade, Huntsville’s image continues to improve, and we are using this momentum to our advantage, despite the weak economy. Those who are knowledgeable about the Huntsville economy often say something like, “Well, I guess Huntsville’s doing pretty well…maybe better than most places.” There’s a very important message in how people feel about their local economy, and the feeling in Huntsville is full of optimism. People understand that the impact of the economy has not been as severe in Huntsville as compared to most other places, and they understand that because of Huntsville’s diverse economic base, we are likely to rebound from the recession relatively fast. Available jobs are the magnet for attracting a talented, diverse workforce, and Huntsville area employers are continuing to create the job opportunities which are fueling local growth. This edition of Initiatives includes a feature article on the most recent expansion at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s engine production facility in Huntsville. It also includes a review of the Chamber’s recent Small Business Awards Celebration, and a number of recent economic development highlights. In a word, you can summarize the Huntsville economic situation as “resilient”. It’s not that we don’t have our local growth challenges – we do. However, optimism about the Huntsville situation abounds! If you want to know more, we’ll gladly tell you. And if you want to tell us what you’re thinking, we’ll be happy to listen!

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

October 2009 Initiatives

Irma Tuder, Chair, Analytical Services Don Nalley, Chair-Elect, Beason & Nalley Evans Quinlivan, Immediate Past Chair Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, consultant Jan Smith, Secretary/Treasurer, System Studies and Simulation Charlie Kettle, Vice Chair - Economic Development, First Commercial Bank Linda Maynor, Vice Chair - Governmental Affairs, Maynard, Cooper & Gale Ron Poteat, Vice Chair - Investor Relations, Regions Bank Joe Alexander, Vice Chair - Workforce, Camber Corporation Beth Martin, Vice Chair - Small Business Jeremiah Knight, Vice Chair - Research & Info. Services, Verizon Wireless Elizabeth Morard, Vice Chair - Image Development, Qualis Corporation Mayor Tommy Battle, Chair-Appointed, City of Huntsville Jim Bolte, Chair-Appointed, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed, Madison Co. Commission Joe Ritch, Chair-Appointed, Sirote & Permutt Brian Hilson, President/CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison Co. Elected Board

Cynthia Achorn, ASRC Federal Clayton Bass, Huntsville Museum of Art Penny Billings, BancorpSouth Frank Caprio, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Derrick Copeland, Applied Data Trends Elizabeth Dotts, Public FA Tracy Doughty, Huntsville Hospital John Eagan, Wachovia Bank Joe Fadool, Continental AG Kerry Fehrenbach, Intergraph Corporation Ron Gray, Gray Research Jeff Hamilton, The Orthopaedic Center Tom Hancock, Ares Corporation John Holly, Lockheed Martin Corporation Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Tony Jones, The Boeing Company Frederick Lanier, J. Smith Lanier & Co. Frank Libutti, Pegasus John McMullan, BancorpSouth Dan Montgomery, Northrop Grumman Caroline Myers, Foreign Language Services Joe Newberry, Redstone Federal Credit Union Tony Palumbo, Raytheon Company Pete Schofield, Cobham Analytic Solutions Crystal Shell, WILL Technology Todd Slyman, Village of Providence Keith Smith, SAIC Dr. O’Neal Smitherman, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology David Spillers, Huntsville Hospital Tom Stanton, ADTRAN Sandra Steele, Enfinger Steele Development Al Sullivan, ABT Dr. Dave Williams, UAHuntsville John Wilmer, Wilmer & Lee Danny Windham, Digium Dr. Ernie Wu, ERC

Choosing a Career with ADTRAN Is the Best Decision You Will Ever Make Real People. Real Networks. Real Value.

ADTRAN, Inc. 901 Explorer Blvd. Huntsville, AL 35806 256 963-8000

If you want a challenging and rewarding career at one of the nation’s leading telecommunications companies, look no further — ADTRAN is the place for you. From the telephone to the Internet to IP Television, ADTRAN is powering the networks that keep us connected. Every time you pick up the phone, visit your MySpace page, download your favorite video or watch the game on your High Deﬁnition TV, you are likely being serviced by a piece of ADTRAN equipment.

Working alongside some of the best and brightest engineers in telecommunications, you will have the opportunity to build a real career and help shape real networks that deﬁne the way we communicate both today and tomorrow. As an engineering-driven company, our success is the result of the skills and abilities of our employees — making you our most valuable resource. When you combine this opportunity with a competitive compensation and beneﬁt package and a relaxed work atmosphere, it soon becomes clear why ADTRAN is one of the 200 best small companies in America. For more information on how you can join the ADTRAN team, visit us online at www.adtran.com/careers

www.adtran.com

Initiatives October 2009

community profile

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,373

Population

Madison County

2000 Census

276,700 158,216

29,329

342,376

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

Current Estimate*

319,510

38,275

395,570

The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,200

City of Huntsville 171,327

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

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

Households & Income # of Households

121,186

69,229

13,875

147,283

Avg. Household Income $69,882 $65,558 $85,820 $67,466 Per Capita Income $28,209 $28,316 $32,180 $26,874 *May 2009

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,177

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2007 American Community Survey

CINRAM, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,800 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,199 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,150 SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,120 Sanmina-SCI Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,971 Source: Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

*includes on-site contractors

Aerospace & Defense Huntsville/Madison County is home to the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center which combine to drive a thriving aerospace and defense technology industry. More than 32,000 people work at Redstone Arsenal and NASA managing some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs including missiles, aviation and space exploration.

Research & Technology Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global

For more information visit:

park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to more than 285 compa-

HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

nies and 25,000 people involved in technology research and development.

leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology

Your needs are unique. So we come prepared.

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October 2009 Initiatives

Jackson Center features 13,000 square feet of versatile meeting space with a beautiful two-story atrium. It is technologically advanced with a Wireless Touch Panel Audio Visual System, Wireless Internet throughout the center, Video and Audio Conferencing capabilities. The conference center supports the development, coordination and implementation of professional, educational and research oriented conferences, seminars and meetings while encouraging participation, interaction and stimulating innovative thinking. Our professional staff can accommodate you with all your meeting and conference needs.With our solution for One-Stop Planning, we will arrange all food & beverage requirements, complete meeting packages, hotel accommodations, and transportation to and from the conference center.

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CALL US ABOUT OUR HOLIDAY SPECIALS!!! THE PUB IS OPEN WEDNESDAYS FOR HAPPY HOUR 5PM-7PM!!!

Initiatives October 2009

October 2009 Initiatives

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Left: Gen. Ann Dunwoody Below (l-r): Richard Alpaugh and Brig. Gen. Christopher Tucker

BRAC Rolls On as USASAC Officially Moves Command to Redstone

he U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) became the most recent command to officially move its headquarters to Redstone Arsenal as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision. Known as USASAC, the department officially transitioned its headquarters from Ft. Belvoir, Va. to Redstone Arsenal at a recent special ceremony held at the Bob Jones Auditorium at the Sparkman Center complex. According to Army officials, the move comes two years ahead of schedule. Brigadier General Christopher Tucker, former program manager for the Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program, assumed command of USASAC from Executive Director Richard Alpaugh at the ceremony officiated by Gen. Ann Dunwoody, commanding general of the four-star Army Materiel Command (AMC) – of which USASAC is a subordinate command. Dunwoody is the Army’s first female four-star general and is scheduled to move to Redstone when AMC officially moves its headquarters there in 2011. Tucker said Huntsville will not just be the center for all Army foreign military sales (FMS) but will also be a representation of America as a whole. “Our international partners will come, will visit us at our headquarters and will get an opportunity to see more of America through the eyes, ears and locations of the Tennessee Valley,” Tucker said. “There is a tremendous opportunity for this community to reach out not only just to the Army, but also become a spokesperson for the United States.” The Army Materiel Command and USASAC are just two of the commands coming to Redstone from the 2005 BRAC decision that is bringing 4,700 direct jobs to the arsenal and another 5,000 contractor support positions. The Army’s Security Assistance Command was designated a major subordinate command of AMC in 1975. The mission of USASAC is to implement approved U.S. Army security assistance programs, including sales of defense articles and services to eligible foreign governments. USASAC is responsible for life cycle management of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases, from pre-letter of request, development, execution, and closure. The command manages about 4,300 FMS cases valued at more than $85 billion. The command is also responsible for Army security assistance information management, financial policy, provides procedural guidance to the Army security assistance community. Today, USASAC is increasingly responding to the global war on terrorism, support of U.S. government emergency assistance, humanitarian relief and United Nations peacekeeping operations. • Harrison Diamond

Initiatives October 2009

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

SL1, Inc. Opens Cummings Research Park Office SL1, Inc. recently held a ribbon cutting for its new office in Cummings Research Park. SL1 is a locally owned company specializing in architecture engineering development, analysis, testing and program management for the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense (DoD). The company also has offices in Florida and New Jersey. “SL1 is a company that continues to enhance our image as a leading technology and engineering community,” said Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. “In its support of the U.S. Army and DoD, this company is in many ways representative of the remarkable growth we have enjoyed in Huntsville/ Madison County as the Army’s presence and programs here have continued to grow.” Steven Burkett, SL1 COO, said that the company was formed after his previous employer relocated him and his wife to Huntsville. Shortly after arriving, Burkett decided to start his own company, which won its first defense contract just months after incorporating. The company began by offering software-blocking technology to the Army, but has since grown its services. “We chose Huntsville because of the great support this community shows small businesses,” he said. “It is a fantastic place to start your own company.” Burkett said that the company is moving into the nondefense sector. SL1 now offers a 3-D modeling system that has medical and law enforcement applications. Burkett explained that the system can take multiple images from PET and CAT scans to create 3-D models of organs for quantitative analysis.

Lori and Steven Burkett receive a plaque commemorating the expansion of SL1 into Cummings Research Park from Chamber Board of Directors Chair-elect Don Nalley. “No one does this here,” said Burkett, “and we think there is a market here.” Burkett, who is also an investor in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI), advised those in atten-

dance to consider investing in HREGI. “Economic growth in Huntsville is important to us because we raise our kids here. I encourage other companies to do the same,” he said. “This is a great community to do business.” •

Area Business Owner Honored by SBA as 2009 Alabama Minority Businessperson of the Year

L-R: Morayma “Mo” McKinney and Elaine Jordan celebrate McKinney being named “Alabama Minority Business Person of the Year” by the Small Business Administration. 14

October 2009 Initiatives

Morayma “Mo” McKinney, majority owner and CEO of Total Solutions, Inc., was presented as the Alabama Minority Businessperson of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA) at a special reception held at the Westin in Bridge Street Town Centre. Total Solutions is a Madison-based government services contractor specializing in program management, professional services, training, and technical and administrative services for clients such as the Army Corps of Engineers, Centers for Disease Control, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the Redstone Arsenal Garrison. The honor coincided with Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, which commemorates the contribution of the nation’s minority entrepreneurs and firms. Tom Todt, Alabama District director of the SBA, attributed Total Solutions success to the leadership of McKinney. “For a company to excel and reach the pinnacle of success that Total Solutions has, it all comes from leadership, which is something you obviously have,” he said. McKinney, who was born in Cuba and later became a U.S.

citizen, spent much of her early career as project manager on many NASA programs (she was the first Hispanic female engineer hired by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center) before leaving the government to start her own business in 2001. She joined Total Solutions and shortly after became majority owner and CEO in 2005. Over the past four years, McKinney has helped grow the company’s employment base by 700 percent (from 35 employees to more than 250). “This award is not mine; it belongs to all of you. I would like to thank the SBA for recognizing our efforts at serving our federal government with integrity. It is so important for small businesses to have the opportunity to prove ourselves,” she said. About the selection process According to Teresa Wilson, public information officer of the SBA Alabama district, companies were judged on their financial growth (sales and profits), employees and satisfactory completion of all contracts. The business must have been in business for three years or more. •

Global Engineering Firm MWH Enters North Alabama Market

Kevin Kennoy cuts the ribbon at a ceremony marking MWH’s entrance into the North Alabama market. MWH specializes in the engineering of wet infrastructure (dams, wastewater treatment and others) for municipal governments in North and South America.

MWH Americas announced its expansion into the North Alabama market with a ribbon cutting at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. MWH Americas provides comprehensive consulting management, engineering and technical services and construction management services to North, Central and South America. The company provides wet infrastructure expertise for municipalities, governments and private-sector clients that span not only the company’s core business in water and wastewater treatment, but also the significant opportunities North and South America have in hydropower, water resources and services to the energy industry, including renewable and sustainable energy sources. MWH is currently contracting with the City of Huntsville on a number of projects. The company currently employs five people, but company officials said they expect to grow the company’s presence in Huntsville/Madison County. “We employ five people now, but there is significant opportunity to grow quickly here,” said Robert Thompson of MWH. Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie welcomed the company to Huntsville. “MWH is a great addition to this community. We look forward to working with you and will continue to support you.” Gillespie said.

World Class Enterprise IT Solutions

HudsonAlpha Adds Two Faculty Investigators

www.asd-inc.com

103 Quality Circle, Suite 200 Huntsville, AL 35806

BRAC Re-location Support Services

Secure IT Infrastructure Engineering & Installation

Software, Database & Web Engineering

Information Assurance & Information Security IT Enterprise Operations 0000112989-01

Huntsville continues to add to its cadre of world-renowned scientists with a recent announcement by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology regarding the addition of faculty investigators Drs. Greg Barsh and Shawn Levy. Both scientists bring experience in human diseases as it pertains to genetics and genomic research. “This is a young organization and it is tremendously gratifying to attract outstanding scientists who will have a profound impact to not only the institute and its growth, but to the entire biomedical research field,” noted Richard Myers, director of HudsonAlpha. The skills and experience that Barsh and Levy bring, he added, are highly complementary to the institute’s current and planned programs of research. Barsh, a physician-scientist who comes to HudsonAlpha from the Stanford University School of Medicine, has provided valuable insights to pigmentation biology, diabetes and obesity, neurodegeneration, bone marrow failure and melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Levy comes to HudsonAlpha from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he founded and directed the Vanderbilt Microarray Shared Resource. The VMSR is recognized as a world-class genomics facility that has attracted numerous clients. •

Kevin Kennoy, who heads MWH in Huntsville, said that he is committed to Huntsville for more reasons than just business. “We are not just here in Huntsville for business. My family and I actually live here, and we want to help this city grow responsibly. We are always thinking about how our work affects the city,” Kennoy said. Kennoy’s father spent much of his career working for the Tennessee Valley Authority, which has helped the region’s economy flourish for more than 70 years. “It’s a great tie to be here – my Dad worked for TVA and I am proud of that and proud to be a part of this community. Once you are a part of it, it is easy to see why this community does so well and we want to be part of this and do our part to grow the economy in North Alabama.” Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, said that the company’s expansion into Huntsville is representative of Huntsville’s economy. “It is always nice to see companies grow and expand into our community – and this expansion reflects nicely on our current business climate,” said Hilson. “Our community continues to receive national, and in many cases international, attention for a growing, robust economy, and the arrival of MWH certainly illustrates that point.” •

Proudly serving our customers in Huntsville:

US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT)

Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC)

History of Performance-Future of Dedication

Initiatives October 2009

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 15

DHS Celebrates Milestone Production Military shelter and trailer manufacturer DHS Systems recently celebrated the production and delivery of the company’s 2,500th Trailer Mounted Support System (TMSS) to the United States Army at its 130,000 square-foot production plant in Huntsville. DHS Systems opened its Huntsville manufacturing facility in January 2008 to meet the increased manufacturing requirements of TMSS under the Army’s Standardized Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) contract. Under the firm, fixed-price contract, which is valued at $240 million and will run through January 2013, DHS Systems is teamed with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems to produce, integrate and deliver two TMSS variants -- TMSS-Medium and TMSS-Large. Each TMSS consists of a trailer and shelter and provides climate control and power for lighting, computers and large screen displays. Frequently used as mobile command posts for the Army’s combat brigades, 945 systems have been fielded by the U.S. Army since September 2008. According to the Huntsville facility’s general manager, Brig. Gen. Jerry McAbee, USMC (Ret.), the first TMSS unit the company delivered was to Fort Hood, Texas in March 2006. Since then, TMSS units have been deployed to soldiers across the world.

Brig. Gen. Terry “Max” Haston, assistant adjutant general of the U.S. Army Tennessee National Guard, praised the company’s technology from the perspective of the soldier. “This system truly makes a difference. It gives us more planning time to devote to operations. Having more time to devote to operations saves lives,” Haston said. Jon Prusmack, founder and CEO of DHS, described why he chose to locate the bulk of the company’s manufacturing capacity to Huntsville. “We chose Huntsville because of the strong military presence here,” he said. Prusmack also added that the workforce in Huntsville is a key to the company’s success. “The people at the facility are a testament to the statement that ‘Failure is not an option.’” Soon after moving to Huntsville, DHS recognized the importance of investing in the local economy and became an investor in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI). Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the milestone is important for Huntsville and the entire area. “This is an amazing day. This is not just a Huntsville success, this is a community-wide success,” Battle said, adding that he was speaking on behalf of multiple mayors and communities represented in the DHS workforce. •

DHS employees assemble one of the company’s rapidly deployable shelters. U.S. soldiers stationed around the world use the shelters.

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Belk, Inc.’s Jan Clevenger (left) and American Behavioral’s Bobbie Harris 16

October 2009 Initiatives

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0000108003-01

American Behavioral

New Conference Center Opens in CRP

Courtesy of HudsonAlpha Institute

Above: Irma Tuder, board chair of the Chamber, presents a plaque to Cindy and Richard Jackson of the Jackson Center. Below: The Jackson Center is the second building in the planned CRP Biotech Campus.

The Jackson Conference Center recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its grand opening in Cummings Research Park (CRP). The 22,000 square-foot Jackson Center is the second building of the planned CRP Biotech campus anchored by HudsonAlpha. It features more than 13,000 square feet of meeting space and has a wireless touch panel audio visual system, wireless internet and both video and teleconferencing capabilities. “This is exactly what the visionary behind this center, behind the HudsonAlpha Institute, and behind the concept of a biotechnology campus had in mind. And that visionary is Jim Hudson,” said Irma Tuder, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. “The opening of this conference facility is the next phase in this biotechnology corridor that will become a foundation of Cummings Research Park.” Jim Hudson, founder of the HudsonAlpha Institute, spoke about the importance of the center. “The facility serves a niche market in Cummings Research Park for companies with a need for medium-sized meeting space,” Hudson said. His daughter, Cindy Jackson, is co-founder of the center with her husband Richard and played a significant role in the facility’s design. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the CRP Biotech campus and to be a part of CRP,” Jackson said. “We want this to be a facility for learning. Across the street you have collaboration happening at the institute and I hope that there will also be collaboration happening here.” •

Initiatives October 2009

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 17

Madison County Leads State in Twenty-one small businesses from Madison County recently made the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the country, the highest number from any county in Alabama. Huntsville-based GATR Technologies (Alabama’s highest-ranked company) and ALATEC were the only Alabamabased companies to rank on the Inc. 500. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the companies reinforce the uniqueness and diversity of the local economy. “Every day we see examples of the strength of our community. I am ecstatic that our success story is continuing to grow – and we could not be more proud of the 21

small businesses named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastestgrowing companies,” Battle said. “Our community works together every day to stand out nationally and I want to offer a special congratulations to Huntsville’s GATR and ALATEC – their work made us the only community in the state with two companies in the Inc. 500. Congratulations to all of the companies recognized and to our entire community for more national recognition.” Chamber Board Chair Irma Tuder also praised the companies and talked about the importance small businesses have on the economy. “It is a wonderful testament to our business community that the Huntsville/Madison County small business commu-

Rank

Company

Location

Industry

Revenue

Growth

259

GATR Technologies

Huntsville

Telecommunications

$3.0 million

866.1%

300

ALATEC, INC.

Huntsville

Government Services

$10.6 million

790.2%

561

Wolde Flooring, LLC

Madison

Construction

$5.2 million

482.3%

577

GaN Corporation

Huntsville

Government Services

$5.7 million

466.9%

806

Intuitive Research and Technology Corp.

Huntsville

Government Services

$43.4 million

364.8%

1,062

Future Research Corporation

Huntsville

Government Services

$34.2 million

291.1%

1,280

Qualis Corporation

Huntsville

Government Services

$41.5 million

247.1%

1,332

MaxVision, LLC

Madison

Computer Hardware

$22.7 million

239.3%

1,753

Torch Technologies

Huntsville

Engineering

$26.8 million

180.6%

1,999

Advanced Federal Services Corporation

Madison

Government Services

$25.5 million

159.6%

2,482

Inline Electric Supply Company

Huntsville

Construction

$51.8 million

121.2%

2,789

deciBel Research, Inc.

Huntsville

Government Services

$11.8 million

102.6%

3,235

Freedom Information Systems, Inc.

Huntsville

Government Services

$3.5 million

80.8%

3,450

STI Electronics, Inc.

Madison

Manufacturing

$14.2 million

71.3%

3,686

Belzon, Inc.

Huntsville

Government Services

$13.4 million

62.5%

3,798

ERC, Inc.

Huntsville

Government Services

$113.7 million

58.4%

3,814

Bevilacqua Research Corporation

Huntsville

Government Services

$5.8 million

58.0%

4,372

Shearer & Associates, Inc.

Huntsville

Government Services

$6.2 million

36.5%

4,382

Quantum Research International, Inc.

Huntsville

Government Services

$64.1 million

36.1%

4,653

A-P-T Research, Inc.

Huntsville

Engineering

$12.6 million

23.0%

4,880

Eagle Support Services Corporation

Huntsville

Government Services

$46.3 million

5.3%

The Inc. 500/5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by the first week of 2005, and therefore able to show four full calendar years of sales. Additionally, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit and independent -- not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies -- as of Dec. 31, 2008. 18

October 2009 Initiatives

Companies

nity continues to lead the state,” Tuder said. “The growth and expansion of our small businesses are vital to the overall success of the economy in Huntsville and Madison County. The companies listed in the Inc. 5000 continue to showcase why our community continues to lead our great state in economic growth.” Tuder also said that small businesses have an advantage in the Huntsville metropolitan statistical area. “We have a business environment that is very conducive to growth,” Tuder said. “In North Alabama you will find an educated and available workforce, competitive operating costs and an excellent quality of life.” •

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 19

Courtesy of the City of Madison

City of Madison Named Second Best Place to Grow Up by U.S. News & World Report At a time when the Madison County community has received nearly unprecedented rankings and recognition for its job growth, technology creation, and quality of life, along comes yet another major media recognition for this community—U.S. News & World Report named the City of Madison the second best place in the country to grow up. The report cites numerous outdoor activities that are available in Madison as well as its proximity to Huntsville and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp. The report also says that residents of Madison “tend to be well-paid and highly educated.” “Honors like this continue to validate what a wonderful community we live in,” Madison Mayor Paul Finley said. “The scoring criteria of low crime, strong schools, green space and fun activities describe Madison to a tee. U.S. News & World Report is a highly respected publication. We are honored to be included in their national list of best places to grow up. A happy childhood stems from parental involvement. Our community focuses on our children and the activities that enhance their lives.” Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board Chair Irma Tuder said the benefits of the recognition would help the community in its recruitment efforts. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a year where our community has received so much positive recognition – and they don’t get

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much better than this one. Congratulations to Mayor Finley and everyone in Madison – this U.S. News & World Report ranking is a tribute to the entire area. Obviously this kind of recognition certainly helps us in our continued efforts to attract targeted industries and skilled workforce to our community.” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle praised Madison and Mayor Finley for contributing to the quality of life of the community. “I want to offer my congratulations to the City of Madison on this terrific recognition. From day one, Mayor Paul Finley and the City of Madison have not only helped to celebrate in Huntsville’s successes – but they have helped contribute such an incredible part to our community’s quality of life. This community is a special place because we each pull together and realize that our successes are not because of individuals – but because we work together. We are proud to celebrate this recognition with them,” Battle said. The recognition associated with the ranking will benefit all of Madison County, according to Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie. “It is the City of Madison, the City of Huntsville being part of Madison County and working together that makes this a great community,” Gillespie said. “And we are all in this together working to improve the quality of life and job opportunities in our community. This is just a tremendous honor not only for the City of Madison, but for all of us in this community,” he said. Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler cited the community’s commitment to education as a major incentive for the ranking. “This is a great honor for our city. We feel that this accolade is grounded in the dedication and commitment that our community has to education and the general welfare of our children. Our school district is so fortunate to have such a caring staff, devoted parents and supportive city government,” said Fowler. U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Grow Up of 2009: 1. Virginia Beach, Virginia 2. Madison, Alabama 3. San Jose, California 4. Overland Park, Kansas 5. Boston, Massachusetts 6. Denver, Colorado 7. Rochester, Minnesota 8. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 9. Plano, Texas 10. Edison, New Jersey

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October 2009 Initiatives

U.S. News & World Report analyzed about 2,000 different communities based on the criteria of low crime rate, strong school system, amount of green space and family events present, and number of children in the area. The top 10 communities were selected upon further review of the 2,000 other places. •

Courtesy of Baron Services

Baron Installs First NEXRAD Dual-Polarization Upgrade for National Weather Service

Huntsville’s Baron Services, in partnership with L-3 Enterprise IT Solutions, installs the first NEXRAD dual-polarization upgrade in Norman, Oklahoma.

Baron Services, in partnership with L-3 Enterprise IT Solutions (EITS), announced recently that the EITS/Baron Services team has installed the first of the U.S. National Weather Services’ (NWS) 171 NEXRAD upgrades in Norman, Okla. A culmination of the team’s 12-month design phase and the successful completion of the Critical Design Review last October, this prototype will serve as a test bed for rigorous hardware and software trials until May 2010. “Not only will this installation demonstrate successful proof of design, but also, it is a prime example of the strategic partnerships Baron Services has created with the National Weather Service and our teammate L-3 Enterprise IT Solutions,” said Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services. “Though the installation is a huge accomplishment, we understand the greater magnitude of this project, and the team is focused on meeting our customer’s requirements.” The EITS/Baron team was awarded the five-year NEXRAD contract in October 2007, and is providing design, development, and production of a comprehensive, system-wide upgrade of the 171 NWS, Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense NEXRAD radars to dual-polarization. “We’re very excited to be a part of a program that will dramatically improve the quality of radar information over the next five years, and equally pleased that this technology was developed and all units will be manufactured right here in Cummings Research Park,” said Baron. “As we move into the production phase next year, it will require both more building space and more engineering personnel.” •

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 21

nLogic Opens in Huntsville nLogic, a company formed by a buyout of Huntsville-based Torch Systems, recently held a ribbon cutting to announce its opening. nLogic currently employs 32 people at its office in Cummings Research Park (CRP). The transaction of Torch Systems to nLogic was facilitated through a management/employee-led buyout. Historically, Torch Technologies has provided services di-

rectly to government customers while Torch Systems, LLC was primarily focused on providing services to prime contractors. Tim Thornton, the president of Torch Systems before the buyout, now leads nLogic and indicated that the company would maintain the same employee-owned atmosphere that has helped make Torch Systems so effective, even if the company will have a different focus than that of its mentor.

“We will focus on product development as opposed to consulting,” he said. As a result, the company, which provides both scientific and engineering services to aerospace and defense customers, is already seeking systems engineers; systems analysts; modeling and simulation engineers; threat/ environment modelers; and hardware and software engineers, among other high tech fields. Thornton praised Torch Technologies for its high ethical standards and Torch CEO Bill Roark. “Torch’s ethics are impeccable. The number of awards Torch has won over the past years is representative of the leadership of Bill Roark,” he said. Roark said that he expects the company to be a success. “I have known them for a long time and I expect big things from nLogic. We wish you the best of luck and longterm success,” he said. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle congratulated the company on its founding in Huntsville. “Companies like nLogic are the backbone of our economy. We are proud that you are a homegrown company and because you are a homegrown company we know that you will stay here and continue to grow.” Event emcee Rick Davis, director of CRP, said Thornton brings a proven methodology and experience to make the company a success. “This is a great story of how vision is applied to expand companies and increase clients,” Davis said. “And Tim has tremendous background and experience to lead this and make this another great technology-driven company in our community. It’s companies and leaders like this that make the Huntsville and Madison County business community so widely respected and emulated.” •

Tim Thornton, president of nLogic, speaks at the company’s ribbon cutting. After a management/employee-led buyout of Torch Systems from Torch Technologies, nLogic was established to provide product development. 22

October 2009 Initiatives

~ highlights compiled by John Southerland & Harrison Diamond

Huntsville Hospital Recognized for Quality in Heart, Stroke Care Huntsville Hospital, the region’s largest not-for-profit hospital, is included in the August edition of U.S. News & World Report for reaching a higher standard of care for patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke as recommended by the American Heart & Stroke Associations. Huntsville Hospital received the national recognition by earning the 2009 Triple Performance Achievement Award for quality care in all three areas through the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” program. Huntsville Hospital is one of only two facilities in the state and only 40 in the country to receive this level of achievement in all three areas. “Get With The Guidelines” is a joint program between the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association to provide hospitals with the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines for the care of coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke patients. Awards are presented to participating hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels of care. Bronze, silver and gold awards are earned based on the length of time a hospital has been participating. At the time of the magazine’s deadline, Huntsville Hospital had earned the Silver Achievement Award in all three areas, meaning the facility had demonstrated compliance with the evidence-based treatments for more than a year. The hospital has since been awarded the Gold Achievement Award for quality stroke care after hitting the two-year mark of compliance in that category. “Our greatest reward is serving our patients, and we’re dedicated to making our care for heart disease and stroke patients among the best in the country,” said Huntsville Spillers Hospital CEO David Spillers. “That’s why we’re committed to turning treatment guidelines into lifelines.” Huntsville Hospital was also recently recognized as the ninth largest public healthcare facility in the nation by Modern Healthcare. •

MCR Acquires Aerodyne Aerodyne Inc., a Huntsville, Alabama-based company that provides aeronautical and technical services to the military was purchased by MCR, LLC, a provider of integrated program management services to the federal government. Founded in 1995, Aerodyne has 75 employees and supports numerous Army customers at Redstone Arsenal. Aerodyne specializes in aeronautical systems and provides full spectrum technical solutions, including program management, aviation integration, testing and certification, training and requirements development, and system lifecycle management for manned and unmanned systems. Aerodyne President Peter Blocker will continue to manage the organization under its new name, MCR Aerodyne, a wholly owned subsidiary of MCR. “We are very excited about Aerodyne’s future with MCR and the resources they can bring for future growth opportunities,” Blocker said. “MCR is a recognized leader in our market, has significant experience working in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems community and will provide us great opportunities across the Department of Defense and other federal agencies.” Neil F. Albert, MCR chief executive officer and president, said the purchase of Aerodyne will greatly expand the company’s customer base. “The acquisition of Aerodyne will enable us to expand the breadth of our systems engineering and other program management services, and provides new opportunities to serve both civilian and defense clients,” said Albert. “Huntsville is a growing market in the defense and space business. In one location, we are touching nearly all of our major customer bases, which include aviation and space support for the Air Force, Navy, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, missile defense, intelligence agencies and now the Army.” •

Unmanned aerial vehicles like the Warrior, above, are mission essential to Army aviation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Aerodyne, a wholly owned subsidiary of MCR, LLC, is a leading aeronautical engineering and technical consulting company headquartered in Huntsville.

Chamber Letter Addresses Government In-sourcing Issue Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Commander Maj. Gen. Jim Myles recently held a meeting with local contractors to explain guidance issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding the conversion of contractor positions to civil servant positions. This process, known as “in-sourcing,” will affect about 15 percent of the contractor positions at AMCOM and the program executive office’s (PEOs) for Aviation and Missiles and Space. Additional positions at the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), the Aviation and Missile Research Design and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) and other DoD organizations are being in-sourced as well. In response to the in-sourcing initiative, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County held meetings with affected members, Redstone leaders and Congressional delegation staff. A letter was sent to Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn outlining concerns about the timing of in-sourcing relative to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure implementation and the impact on small businesses. In the letter, the Chamber requested that in-sourcing be delayed at organizations on Redstone Arsenal until 2014, the end of the implementation period specified in the deputy secretary’s prior guidance. The delay would give area companies the opportunity to synchronize in-sourcing losses with BRAC gains. Copies of the letter with personalized cover letters were sent to the North Alabama delegation and the heads of the major DoD organizations on Redstone Arsenal. • Initiatives October 2009

Heroes of Small Business Honored at 24th Awards Ceremony

Personal Services category Winner: Eagle Collision Center (above) Finalist: Appleton Learning (top left) Finalist: Enfinger Steele Development (left)

Business Services category Winner: MSSI (right) Finalist: ALOG (top right) Finalist: Foliage Design Systems (above) 24

October 2009 Initiatives

or the 24th year, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recognized the heroic achievements of its small business community and emerging leaders of the future. And once again, the support for small businesses was overflowing as the North Hall of the Von Braun Center filled to capacity. Presented by Redstone Federal Credit Union, four organizations were crowned Small Business of the Year in their respective categories at the ceremony, while one exceptional leader was crowned Entrepreneur of the Year and one imminent leader was acknowledged as the Young Professional of the Year. According to Beth Martin, the Chamber’s vice chair for small business, the success of small business in Huntsville/Madison County is the backbone of the local economy. “This event is truly an inspirational showcase of the talent and contributions our small businesses, entrepreneurs and young professionals make on our community,” she added. Chamber Board Chair Irma Tuder said the winners and contenders were all elite. “Collectively, we represent a community that continued on page 28

Technology category Winner: Davidson Technologies (above) Finalist: Digium (top right) Finalist: deciBel Research (right)

2009 SBA finalists and winners: Personal Services Eagle Collision Center, Inc. H Appleton Learning Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. Business Services Millennium Systems Services, Inc. H Foliage Design Systems ALOG Corporation

Entrepreneur category Winner: Glenn Clayton (left) Finalist: Paul Gierow (above) Finalist: Jonn Kim (right)

Technology Davidson Technologies, Inc. H deciBel Research, Inc. Digium, Inc. Non-Profit of the Year Downtown Rescue Mission H Choose Life of North Alabama, Inc. Harris Home for Children Young Professional of the Year Olly Orton, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney H Allison Gregg, Leadership Huntsville/Madison County, Inc. Khalilah Burton, J.F. Drake State Technical College Entrepreneur of the Year Glenn Clayton, Appleton Learning H Paul Gierow, GATR Technologies Jonn Kim, GaN Corporation

Young Professional category Winner: Olly Orton (right) Finalist: Allison Gregg (lower right) Finalist: Khalilah Burton (not pictured)

Non-Profit category Winner: Downtown Rescue Mission (right) Finalist: Choose Life (lower left) Finalist: Harris Home for Children (lower right)

Photos taken by S&S Photography and Chamber staff Initiatives October 2009

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October 2009 Initiatives

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Initiatives October 2009

Heroes of Small Business, continued from page 24 –

Jamie McGriff, left, and John Malone, below, kept the crowd engaged throughout the evening as 18 finalists and six winners were announced. Irma Tuder, right, commended all of the small business “heroes” in the Huntsville/Madison County community at the 24th annual Small Business Awards.

has seen top rankings by nationally renowned publications such as Kiplinger’s, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report, reporting our community as a smart place to live, work and play,” Tuder said. “Many of these positive recognitions have occurred since we gathered in this room a year ago to celebrate our 2008 small business winners. That says quite a bit about our community and it also shows that to win an award in this community, against this kind of competition, is really a phenomenal achievement.” There were many inspirational stories filled with incredible achievements from the contenders throughout the evening. From the more than 250 nominations which were received, 85 contenders vied for the 18 finalist slots from which five winners were ultimately selected by a panel of anonymous judges. John Malone, Lite 96.9 and Jamie McGriff, WHNT News 19, emceed the event which culminated with the Entrepreneur of the Year award, presented jointly by John Horack, vice president for research at UAHuntsville, and Jan Smith, president and CEO of System, Studies and Simulation and the 2008 winner of the same award. The 2009 winner was Glenn Clayton, CEO of Appleton Learning. At just 23 years old, Clayton is the youngest winner ever to receive this award. In fact, Clayton was not even born the first year this award was given. “This award is one of the biggest honors I have ever received. It also validates to me 28

October 2009 Initiatives

that what we have been able to achieve with Appleton is truly remarkable and that others see the value in what we’re doing to change our industry,” he said. “I feel that this award is not for me, but rather for our entire staff of amazing employees and partners. Without all the hard work and long hours that our entire team puts in everyday, Appleton would not be what it is today,” said Clayton, whose company also was a finalist in the personal services category. The theme of the evening paid homage to the heroes of small business who implemented their dreams and overcame the challenges and adversity of starting a business to succeed not just in any economy but in the toughest economy this generation has faced. “Ninety-five percent of our membership is comprised of companies smaller than 350 employees. It is no stretch to state that the success of our region is dependent on the success of these small businesses. Tonight we are proudly represented by some of the very best our community has to offer. And the best of our best stacks up very well with the best in our nation,” Tuder said. Also mentioned at the awards were other honors received throughout the year. One of the unique elements of the local econ-

omy is not only the diversity of the various industries, but the diversity of its business leaders. In 2009, five Alabama-based companies were selected among the top 500 Hispanic-owned companies in the U.S. by Hispanic Business Magazine. It is not surprising that four of those five are from Huntsville/Madison County and include COLSA; Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation; Advanced Federal Services Corporation; and SEI Group, Inc. In the recent Inc. 5000 listing, more than 20 small businesses from the Huntsville/Madison County community made the list, including the only two in Alabama to make the Inc. 500 – GATR Technologies at 249 and ALATEC at 300, both of which were contenders. Huntsville/Madison County is also home to 12 of the top 500 minority-owned companies in the U.S., including small businesses Analytical Services Incorporated; LESCO; Qualis Corporation; Intuitive; Will Technology; Maximum Technology; Total Solutions; Bama Jammer Promotions; ASPE; Armstrong Relocation; Millennium Systems Services, Inc (MSSI); and Tabor Machine. “This diversity of small business products and services, cultures and leadership illustrate why this community is widely considered a smart place to live, work and play for people from all walks of life who come together to build a better future,” Tuder said. For the third year, the Chamber again

Left: Mary Grace Evans welcomed more than 1,100 attendees to the ceremony. Middle (L-R): Donna Coleman was presented WBCNA’s Business Start-Up of the Year award by Sonja Enfinger. Right: David Seitz accepts the Small business Advocate for Excellence award from HASBAT.

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partnered with two local non-profit organizations dedicated to helping our small business community grow and prosper. Sonja Enfinger, board chair of the Women’s Business Center of North Alabama, presented the Small Business Start-up of the Year award to Aetos Systems. The Huntsville Association of Small Businesses in Advanced Technology (HASBAT) presented its Small Business Advocate for Excellence award to David Seitz, chief of the Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM). “One of the most important things I have learned as an entrepreneur – and especially a young entrepreneur – is that if you are truly passionate about something and willing to do whatever it takes to see that dream come to life, you can accomplish anything. That is especially true in a community like Madison County and Huntsville,” Clayton said. “Business and entrepreneurship are not only supported, but encouraged and fostered in a community such as this. Starting a business is one of the most challenging undertakings a person can attempt. It requires enormous sacrifice, dedication, and hard work – often with little payoff at the beginning. But if you have the passion, success is often right around the corner if you just keep pushing forward.” As small businesss continue to prosper in a time of unprecedented growth in the Huntsville area, they remain the cornerstone and foundation of our business community. The 25th annual awards will bring with it a challenge to top the 2009 event and continue the tradition of creating a night to remember for everyone.

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Chamber Hosts Meetings with Former NASA Administrator; Current Deputy Administrator

he Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recently hosted separate meetings with former NASA Administrator and current UAHuntsville faculty member Dr. Michael Griffin and newly appointed NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver. Both meetings included a small group of community and NASA leaders. Garver is NASA’s second in command and began her duties as deputy administrator in July. She is responsible to NASA Administrator Garver Charles Bolden for providing overall leadership, planning, and policy direction for the agency. Garver was in Huntsville recently with Bolden for the Space and Missile Defense Conference in August and meetings at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Chamber also hosted a reception for Dr. Griffin and members of the Chamber’s ex-officio and elected board of directors. Griffin joined the faculty at UAHuntsville in 2009 following his retirement from NASA. Chamber Board Chair Irma Tuder welcomed Griffin, stating “many years ago, Griffin one of this community’s great leaders Carl Jones said ‘those of us who were born here are just plain lucky, and those who moved here are just plain smart.’” Tuder said Griffin moving to the community made for another “smart” addition to a place known as a smart place to live, work and play. • Mike Ward

Growth 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:

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SBA Nominee Reception August 27, presented by CB&S Bank, and hosted by Ruth’s Chris Steak House & the Embassy Suites.

THE RIGHT TALENT IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

L-R: Sonja and Jeff Enfinger along with Katherine Enfinger and Olly Orton enjoyed meeting other contenders for the 2009 Small Business Awards.

TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-701-0898 OR EMAIL sales@al.com

New Member Luncheon August 18, presented by Look Outdoor Advertising.

The Best Local Jobs

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.

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With more than 150 new members joining this summer, this event was a great way for new members to become acquainted with the Chamber and its services as well as meet other area business owners.

Initiatives October 2009

STEM Degrees: Do the Simple Math Innovation, Job Satisfaction Drive Push for Students to Consider Science, Technology, Engineering or Math Degrees

lthough the number of American students receiving degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees has not met current workforce demands, some encouraging news is that American teens are embracing those subjects with increasingly positive attitudes. Yet many lack the necessary encouragement from mentors and role models in these fields, according to this year’s Lemelson-MIT Invention Index. The Lemelson-MIT Program is a nonprofit organization that recognizes outstanding inventors and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention. The 2009 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index found an overwhelming majority of teens surveyed (85 percent) were interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and cited a “curiosity about the way things work” as

the driving factor for their interest. Less than one-fifth (18 percent) said they were motivated to pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics for the purposes of becoming rich or famous. Building on the success of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative that dramatically raised test scores in participating K-12 schools across the state, several local programs support development of the critical skills necessary to pursue STEM careers while broadening students’ understanding of what STEM professionals do. Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County Board Chair and Analytical Services Incorporated founder Irma Tuder emphasized the role of the local community in steering students toward STEM. “Developing the skilled workforce of the future is a community effort. We possess all the requirements including local K-12 schools

and universities which prepare our students to meet the high-technology needs of local employers,” she said. “We must work harder to foster student interest in the fields related to science, technology, engineering and math. It has been the legacy and is the future of our community.” Joe Alexander, vice chair of workforce for the Chamber and president of Camber Corporation, said the benefit of more local students graduating in STEM fields would be a “win-win” for the community. “One of the largest chalAlexander lenges this community is facing is being able to fill the engineering jobs coming to the region over the next couple of years through BRAC. Rather than counting on being able to recruit young engineers continued on page 34

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STEM Degrees, continued from page 32 –

October 2009 Initiatives

to come to Huntsville to fill those jobs, it would be much more cost effective to keep the highly talented high school graduates we already have by encouraging them to pursue STEM-based college-level degreed programs available from very qualified local universities,” he said. “The whole community benefits when we encourage our young high school graduates to pursue STEM-based degrees from one of our local universities. The universities benefit from a ready supply of highly capable students graduating from our outstanding secondary school systems, local companies benefit by being able to hire locally-produced STEM-educated college graduates, and organizations on Redstone Arsenal benefit by being able to hire STEMeducated college graduates to fill entry-level job positions.” To further raise awareness of the importance of getting more students to consider STEM degrees and to encourage more mentors, the Chamber partners with local organizations that help students learn more about STEM careers in order to draw them into the high-demand jobs in the Huntsville/Madison County economy. Career Quest – Sci-Quest hosts monthly sessions for middle and high school students and their parents that profile local careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The Chamber helps identify the career fields and speakers from local employers. Representatives from local 2-year and 4-year schools attend the sessions to talk about degree programs that support the featured careers. Admission is free but seating is limited. Call 876-0606 to reserve your seat. All sessions are from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Sci-Quest. Engineering Academies – Nine regional high schools participate in the Engineering Academy Initiative for Alabama. The Chamber supports the North Alabama Engineering Academy Alliance, a way for teachers in the academies to share best practices and challenges while receiving materials and professional development support through UAHuntsville. Students at Athens, Austin, Bob Jones, Buckhorn, Decatur, Grissom, Guntersville, Lee, and Sparkman high schools can take classes with specialized curriculum focusing on engineering. For more informacontinued on page 40

COVER STORY

Here Comes the L-4! Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Announces Additional $147 Million Investment and 240 Jobs to Produce L-4 Engines ith the automotive industry taking a hit globally over the past year, news of shutdowns, losses and bailouts have dominated media reports about the automotive industry in North America. And then there was Toyota. Doom and gloom, meet Huntsville/Madison County – site of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (TMMAL), where workers produce both V-6 and V-8 engines. Despite this downturn, Toyota recently announced it would add capacity at its engine plant in Huntsville to increase North American production of four-cylinder engines. The expansion will allow the Huntsville plant to produce 216,000 four-cylinder engines annually with production to begin by summer 2011. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley applauded the company for choosing Huntsville for the expansion and said what is good for Huntsville is good for the state. “This is exciting news for Alabama. All over the country you hear about cutbacks and layoffs, but you don’t hear about many expansions. Yet in Alabama, Toyota is not just maintaining their production line, they’re expanding it, bringing more than 240 new jobs to the Huntsville area,” Riley said. “Toyota’s investment in Alabama is an example of what happens when we create an environment in which business can succeed and offer the best-trained, most flexible workforce you’ll find anywhere in the world.” Riley praised the TMMAL workforce for its expertise and professionalism in helping win the business case for the expansion. “This is also a testament to the work ethic and professionalism of the production team at the Huntsville plant,” Riley said. “From the plant leadership to the assembly floor, the team at Toyota is a model of quality and efficiency. Their success has bred more success.” continued on page 36

Photo by Craig Shamwell

Initiatives October 2009

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Here Comes the L-4!, continued from page 35 –

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October 2009 Initiatives

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The expansion will bring its annual engine capacity to 577,000. At least 240 new employees will be hired, raising total employment at TMMAL to more than 1,000. New capital investment will be $147 million, bringing Toyota’s total to $637 million. Perhaps most significant is that the additional line makes the Huntsville plant the only facility in the world to make four-cylinder, V-6 and V-8 engines under one roof (Huntsville is the only Toyota plant manufacturing V-8 engines outside of Japan). But to win the L-4 production, Huntsville had to compete against such foreign countries as Australia, China and even Japan for the project. Brian Hilson, president & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County, joined Riley and said that the expansion can be credited to the local workforce and is the primary reason Huntsville won the competition. “This development is a real acknowledgement to not only the company’s expansion in Alabama and the greater Huntsville community, but also their workforce at the plant here,” Hilson said. “Local Toyota workers continue to prove they are exceptional and there is no question this announcement says a lot about the dependability and the quality of the local workforce. With the addition of 240 jobs here we are certainly happy for the community, but we are even happier for the families here that will benefit.” He added that the expansion would not be possible without cooperation from the State of Alabama. “As has been the case since Toyota first looked at Alabama before selecting us as the site for its engine production facility, the state of Alabama played a leading role in meeting Toyota’s needs for this project. Governor Riley’s leadership and the commitment made to Toyota through Alabama Industrial Development Training proved critical in Toyota’s decision to select Huntsville for this project,” Hilson added. “The cooperation that we have continued to have from state and local officials gives us a tremendous advantage over other places in economic development, and we are thankful for that.” According to TMMAL President Jim Bolte, the additional line will allow the company more flexibility.

TOYOTA timeline Feb. 2001 Toyota announces plant in Huntsville to produce V-8 engines and add about 400 jobs, $220 million investment

June 2001 May 2003 Line-off of first V8 engine

0000113002-01

Groundbreaking ceremony

June 2003 Announcement to expand for V6 engine production, additional $20 million invested, 150 jobs

Sept. 2004 Announcement to expand for production of 5.7 liter V8 for nextgeneration Tundra, 350 jobs, $250 million investment

August 2005 Line-off of first V6 engine

Feb. 2007 Line-off of first 5.7 liter V8 engine

Aug. 2009 Toyota announces expansion to produce four-cylinder engines (to go with V-6 and V-8) an additional 240 jobs plus another $147M investment (bringing total to $637M). 0000113010-01

“The addition of a four-cylinder engine to our product mix will allow TMMAL to better react to changes in market demand,” Bolte said. “Our team members have shown great flexibility and dedication over the past few challenging months and the addition of this project shows the confidence our company has in the ability of our Alabama workforce.” The workforce played a pivotal role in the latest of several expansions at the TMMAL plant, Hilson said. Toyota’s entrance into Huntsville was in 2001, when the company announced it would build an engine production facility in Huntsville to produce V-8 engines. The initial announcement was for 350 jobs. Since then TMMAL has announced several expansions and added the V-6 engine and now the L-4 engine to its production here. • John Southerland Initiatives October 2009

2009 Business EXPO

It’s Still A Smart Place for Businesses

Photo by Craig Shamwell

ore than 150 local businesses will be displaying their products and services at the 6th Annual Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Business EXPO Oct. 29 from 1-6 p.m. in the Von Braun Center South Hall. The EXPO, presented by R.J. Young, showcases a variety of business services and products that can be purchased locally to enhance the economic growth and vitality of the Huntsville, Madison and Madison County business community. “We want to educate residents about local businesses and services that are available in their own backyard. The businesses in our community offer unique services and benefits. We want to encourage local business to buy local and support our local economy. In doing so, we help each other and grow business for everyone,” said Beth Martin, vice chair of small business for the Chamber. Every year the EXPO has gained popularity as more and more businesses see the benefit of marketing through this event. This year in order to make the experience for both exhibitors

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October 2009 Initiatives

and attendees more beneficial, the Chamber partnered with SCS, a local company that designs and fabricates trade show exhibits, as well as provides support throughout the United States with shipping logistics, set up and dismantle labor, and storage. This group is providing the layout and basic booth equipment for this year’s Business EXPO. “This is a fantastic event and a great way for businesses to showcase what they have to offer,” said Felica Sparks, senior partner for Cre8ive Partners, a local PR and marketing firm. “We deliberately encourage a diversity of businesses to participate from telecommunications companies to aerospace and defense contractors to show consumers that they can buy almost anything locally,” said Jenni Jeffers, director for small business for the Chamber. “The idea for the EXPO was an outgrowth of our small businesses asking us how to market to the larger businesses. And today this is an annual event that people in our community look forward to in order for them to seek out services easily in one setting.” To help companies gain business from their 2009 Business EXPO experience, the Chamber offered a training class to exhibitors designed to teach them how to make the most of the time they invest in this event. Participants in the class learned that in order for their booths to be most effective they should: focus on the core message the company wants to broadcast; use graphics that are concise, yet informative and visual; make sure the exhibit space is not cluttered; and have the exhibit staffed by a person who is energetic and focused on meeting attendees with a well thought out message. “Companies should participate in trade shows so that they can accomplish marketing and sales goals which include introducing new products; positioning their products within the marketplace; and generating new sales leads,” said Bryan Boyd, SCS chief operating officer. According to Boyd, the most important thing an exhibitor can do to ensure success is to follow up on leads. “Eighty-five percent of show leads are not followed up on. Do not expend effort and money without following up on the leads your booth generated.” Admission to the EXPO is free. • Loren Traylor

Business EXPO Booth Listing

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 34 43 44 45 47 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84

1 2 3 Monaco Pictures Main Entrance from Prefunction Cumulus Media Area Hallway Huntsville International Airport/Port of Huntsville Regions Bank 63 64 62 The Boeing Company 86 85 Deltacom, Inc 61 Look Outdoor Advertising, Inc. 60 Consolidated Construction Company 87 88 First Commercial Bank Cre8ive Partners 110 109 Buzzingboard To check for booth Uniquely You by Shelva availability or for more Abbey Glenn - A Quiet Cove 59 information, please 111 112 Tommy’s Pizza contact Mitzi Floyd 58 J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier 134 133 at the Chamber: Computer Training Center 57 WAY-FM (256) 535-2089 56 Mr. Bar B Que or email mfloyd@ Lounge Alabama Credit Union 55 hsvchamber.org. Area Bama Jammer, Inc. Orkin Pest Control Patriot Flag J.F. Drake State Technical College 54 159 160 Leukemia & Lymphoma 53 Bethel University 182 181 Tellini’s Café & Grill Virginia College at Huntsville Second Entrance Athens State University from Prefunction 183 184 Area Hallway Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Alabama 206 205 Superior Bank Icemakers of Huntsville Transcend Business Coaching & Consulting The Cheatham Group 52 51 50 Hampton Inn & Suites – Hampton Cove Xocia Healthy Chocolate Winsome Vagabond Photography 86 The Station The Printer Connection 87 Brian’s Tires & Service Metropolitan Disc Jockey 88 Costco Huntsville Flight Center 89 Bath Fitter Lily Flagg Apartments 90 Bath Fitter TechUSA 91 AEgis Technologies Group, Inc. Grille 29 93 The Guardian Company CB&S Bank 94 The Little Gym – Village of Providence Trav-Ad Signs 95 HiWAAY Internet Services VBC 96 HiWAAY Internet Services Blue Creek Investment Partners 97 YMCA Workwell Occupational Health Center 99 BridgeStreet Worldwide RJ Young 100 Classic Air Works.com RJ Young 101 Knology Business Personnel Solutions 103 Koorsen Fire and Security The Payroll Source 104 ColorXPress CB&L 105 Holloway & Assoc. – Tremad Dunham Holiday Inn Downtown 106 Spherion Staffing Happy Tails Ranch 107 Nesin Therapy Services Modern Brides, Inc. 108 Hertz Car &Truck Rental Oakwood University Intermission Massage & Neuromuscular Therapy 109 Huntsville Stars Baseball Club 110 Sterling Travel Courtyard Marriott 111 J.R. Enterprises Tomas Friend LLC 112 Miche Bag of Alabama Farmer’s Insurance - Sady Zyas Southern Directory Publishing/Alabama Directory 113 Eagle Collision Center, Inc. 114 Granville’s Gourmet Ribs & Barbeque Scott Lighting Supply, Inc. 115 InfoPro Corporation UAHuntsville - SBDC 116 Salon Professional Academy Skyline Alabama, LLC NetwoRx 117 SCS, Inc.

Booths sold at time of publication 4

11 12 13

14 15 16

18 19

Lounge Area 21 22

106 105

108 107

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100 99

24 25

113 114

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27 28

137 138

Chamber Area

156 155

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29 30 31 32

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Lounge Area

48 47

118 119 120 121 122 123 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 137 138 141 142 143 144 150 151 152 155 156 159 160

46 45

44 43

SCS, Inc. S.S. Nesbitt Lee Company Express Employment Professionals Alexander’s Martial Arts Hilton Garden Inn - South WAAY-TV New Horizon Computer Learning Center Imagine Media Imagine Media UAHuntsville Professional Development WBCNA Calhoun Community College Olde Towne Brewing Phoenix Strickland Companies Scene Lounge at Monaco Pictures Interweave Technologies ITT Technical Institute The Business Card Holder U.S. Army Recruiting Allied Waste Executive Flight Center Technicore Keller Williams - The Petroff Team Ruth’s Chris Steak House Embassy Suites Minuteman Press Printing Daniel’s Photography

40 39 38

161 162 163 164 165 166 167 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 A

36 35

Sterling Silver Gals - Silpada Designs Convention & Visitors Bureau The Huntsville Times The Huntsville Times Allied Photocopy CenturyTel Swampwater Enterprises LLC American Family Care Ability Plus The BARCO Firm The BARCO Firm City of Elkton Olsen Chiropractic WEUP WEUP Jani-King SpineCare MDL Innovations Personalized Prints Honey Baked Ham University of Tennessee Office Furniture Outlet Office Furniture Outlet Lite 96.9 Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Verizon Wireless Initiatives October 2009

STEM Degrees, continued from page 34 – tion, contact Brenda Terry at brenda.terry@ uah.edu. Junior Achievement Job Shadowing – The Chamber has partnered with Junior Achievement on job shadowing for many years, but this year the program has gone online. Students still shadow real people in real work environments, but the registration has moved to cyberspace. Although the program is not limited to STEM careers, the new format is employer-driven rather than student-driven, so local employers can better promote their STEM opportunities. To register a job or to sign up for a shadowing opportunity, visit www.janaonline.org. A+ College Ready – Alabama is one of six states selected for the National Math and Science Initiative’s Advanced Placement program. Managed locally by The Schools Foundation and supported by the Chamber, this training and incentive program to increase participation and achievement in math, science and English is being implemented at 10 schools beginning this year: Huntsville, Lee, Columbia, Butler and Johnson in Huntsville City and Buckhorn, Hazel Green, Madison County, Sparkman and New Hope in Madison County.

The total investment from corporate partners will total almost $4 million over five years. Corporate partners include Boeing, SAIC, COLSA Corporation, RBC Bank, Compass Bank, First Commercial Bank, ERC Incorporated, AZ Technologies, WILL Technology, PublicFA, Belzon, Redstone Federal Credit Union, S3, and QinetiQ North America. Results from the 2008/2009 program in Birmingham and Montgomery showed an astounding 202 percent increase in the number of AP exams taken and an 81 percent increase in passing scores. Students’ enthusiasm for STEM is also evident in their perceptions of people employed in the related professions. The stereotype of the “geeky scientist” is going out the window as more than half of teens surveyed (55 percent) believe scientists, engineers and mathematicians are best described as “intelligent” and one-quarter (25 percent) chose “successful.” Only five percent of students chose “nerdy” as the best description. But getting students interested in pursuing STEM degrees can be difficult if there is a preconceived notion that the curriculum is too difficult. However, Huntsville’s own astronaut Jan Davis faced some of those same stereotypes and perceptions, and

took them as a challenge. “I would not call them ‘hard’ courses,” Davis recalled. “They weren’t hard for me. History was ‘hard’ for me. My parents encouraged Davis me, but so many people told me that engineering was a man’s field, and usually I was the only female in my engineering classes. I thought it was silly for them to say that engineering was for men only, and I’m glad that I was determined to go to school and work as an engineer. It is a wonderful profession for women, and women have made great strides in the field of engineering,” she said. “I would encourage students to persevere through school and not be discouraged by people who say they can’t do it. Don’t limit yourself based on what someone else tells you – that is their limitation, not yours. If you are determined to do what you want to do, and be good at it, then the world and all of its opportunities are open to you.” And while money may not be the prime motivator it certainly does not hurt that STEM-related professions are highly compensated. Two recent surveys show that UA-

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October 2009 Initiatives

Students from Huntsville/Madison County schools participating in the A+ College Ready advanced placement initiative stand with Governor Bob Riley (center), State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton (second from left) and Boeing Vice President and Senior Site Supervisor for Huntsville Tony Jones (right) at the announcement ceremony in January.

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Huntsville alumni with STEM degrees are among the best compensated in the nation. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the 15 highest paying college degrees all involve math skills, with chemical engineering topping the list. Next in line are computer engineering, computer science and electrical engineering, all with national average entry-level starting salaries of $60,000 or more. A separate survey conducted by Payscale shows aerospace engineering in the number four spot for entry-level salary behind chemical, computer and electrical engineering but at number one for mid-career salary. Another Payscale survey of starting salaries by institution shows UAHuntsville to be in the top 100 state schools in the country. Auburn was the only other school from Alabama to make the top 100. This is good news for Huntsville/Madison County because 64 percent of UAHuntsville graduates remain in North Alabama. On the flip side there remains a critical shortfall of students nationally that are electing to pursue STEM degrees. Prominent UAHuntsville graduate Steve Hill, co-founder and president/CEO of Huntsville-based AEgis Technologies said the importance of having a technical background in any economy cannot be overstated. “The United States has a real shortage of young people receiving STEM degrees. Any young person who excels in college and earns a STEM degree from an accredited university is almost assured of receiving a rewarding job with excellent benefits,” he said. Hill’s company is a leading provider of high tech services, including modeling and simulation in the areas of simulation systems, geospatial programs, warfighter exercise support and systems engineering and analysis, among other areas. Though Hill knew his heart was in business, he knew having a technical degree would be the foundation for his success. “Most high technology companies’ senior management personnel have STEM undergraduate degrees. Managers and executives need STEM education and experience to competently oversee complex technical organizations and have vision for their constant technological evolution,” Hill said. “I have always had a passion for business, but chose to pursue an electrical engineering degree from UAHuntsville because I knew I would need a technical background to achieve my goals.” • Lucia Cape

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Initiatives October 2009

E M P L O Y E E

O F

T H E

Q U A R T E R

Harrison Diamond economic development coordinator

hile to many the idea of working in a Chamber of Commerce may sound rewarding, to recent college graduate Harrison Diamond it seemed like an offer too good to be true. Working in economic development, helping enhance the community’s image and providing the research that companies need to make informed business decisions were just the challenges that the Chamber’s most recent Employee of the Quarter needed to make the decision to stay in Huntsville and forego another business opportunity in Atlanta. With a degree in public relations and political science, Diamond began his job search thinking he wanted to go into corporate communications. But after interviewing at the Chamber, he found a position that could train him to be just about anything, anywhere. “Every day on the job is different, so I have to be prepared for whatever that day brings. That’s what makes this job so unique and interesting and keeps me challenged,” said Diamond. “And knowing the high standard of professionalism that the employees

in this organization exhibit, this award by my peers is quite an honor for me.” His supervisors said Diamond is a vital asset to the Chamber team. “Harrison picks up on things quickly and has become a tremendous asset to the Chamber. He has grown into this position and taken it to a new level,” said Rick Davis, director of Cummings Research Park. According to Diamond, “The breadth of the work from hosting high level elected officials to growing the next workforce is incredible.” In addition to his work at the Chamber, Diamond became involved in Rotaract, a Rotary club for young professionals that emphasizes social and professional development as well as service to the community. He felt that in order to learn more about the community and to put into practice the knowledge he was gaining at the Chamber this involvement would help him grow in his Chamber position. •

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October 2009 Initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Staff 2009 Brian Hilson, president & CEO John Southerland, communications director

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

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Investor Relations

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

Terrie Ledbetter, membership sales representative Donna McCrary, investor relations specialist Brittany Winkfield, events coordinator

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

Hiroko Sedensky, web designer/research specialist

Donna Dingler, resource desk coordinator

Finance & Administration

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Kathleen Byrne, information services specialist

Christy Nalley, director, finance & administration Jamie Gallien, IT manager Lori Warner, accounting specialist Cassie Scott, accounting specialist Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

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525 Madison St. · Huntsville, AL 35801 256-564-6460 · 800-233-2161

WBCNA (Women’s Business Center of North Alabama)

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

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Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank aﬃliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2009 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC 0909-1189 [80765-v1] 09/09 Initiatives October 2009

strength in

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connects business prospects

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because not only do we want to give something back to the community, but we know that by investing in the Chamber we are helping to grow our community in size, diversity, stature and representation.

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October 2009 Initiatives

Where to go • Who to see for products and services

Use a Chamber member... it's in your best interest 0000115771-01

Advertising

RBC Bank www.rbcbankusa.com.....................1-800-236-8872

Hospitals

al.com www.al.com

Regions www.regions.com..........................1-800-REGIONS

Crestwood Medical Center One Hospital Dr., SE, 35801..............256-429-4000

Media Fusion, Inc. 4951 Century St., 35816................... 256-704-0401

Servis 1st Bank www.servisfirstbank.com....................256-722-7800

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

The Huntsville Times 2317 S. Mem. Parkway..................... 256-532-4250

Business Services

Aerospace/Defense Contractors AEgis Technologies Group, Inc. 231 Discovery Dr., 35806...................256-922-0802 Arcata Associates, Inc. 1525 Perimeter Pkwy, Ste. 190, 35806..256-837-5331 ASD 103 Quality Cir., Ste. 200 35816.........256-837-2293 Boeing 499 Boeing Blvd., 35824....................256-461-2121 EG&G Technical Services 4910 Corporate Dr., Ste C, 35805......256-382-3110 Gideon 650 Wynn Dr., Ste 267, 35816...........256-585-3361 InfoPro Corporation 6705 Odyssey Dr., 35806..................256-382-9700 Intuitive Reserach & Technology 5030 Bradford Dr., Bldg 2, Ste 205, 35805...................................256-922-9300 SAIC www.saic.com

Eclipse Business Services www.eclipsehsv.com

Logicore 1015 Henderson Rd., 35816...............256-533-5789

Convention Facilities & Services

Manufacturers – Missiles & Space Vehicles

Jackson Center 600 Genome Way 35806...................256-327-7320

Credit Unions Redstone Federal Credit Union 220 Wynn Dr., 35893......................... 256-837-6110

Phoenix Industries 2939 Johnson Rd., 35805..................256-880-8671

Attorneys

Minuteman Press 2230 Sparkman Dr., Ste. 400 35810....256-859-6161

Solvability 688 Discovery Dr., 35806.................. 256-971-2728

Bill Poole Realty 100 Church St., 35801.......................256-533-0990

Education – Schools, Colleges, Universities

Corinne Bennett Marketing Group www.goashtonsprings........................256-603-0166

Calhoun Community College Hwy 31 N., Decatur, 35601................256-306-2500

Engineering Services – Research and Development Wavelink, Inc. 7800 Madison Blvd., Ste 503, 35806...256-776-7216

Clowers Wealth Management Group 525 Madison St., 35801.....................256-564-6460 First Financial Group of the South, Inc. 400 Meridian St., Ste 100...................256-536-0011

Banks

Printers

Real Estate

Financial Services

Bradley, Arant, Boult, Cummings 200 Clinton Ave. W., Ste 900, 35801...256-517-5100

Lockheed Martin Corporation 4800 Bradford Dr., 35805....................256-217-2717

Consultants

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

Association and Organizations – Non-Profit

Logistic Support Services

BancorpSouth 603 Madison St., 35801.....................256-564-8440

Healthcare

First Commercial Bank 301 Washington St., 35801 ...............256-551-3300

American Behavioral 550 Montgomery Hwy., 35216...........256-868-8714

Industrial Properties of the South 2903 Wall Triana Hwy........................256-461-7482 NAI Chase Commercial www.chasecommercial.com...............256-539-2983 Triad Properties Stone Mark 100 Church Street 35801...................256-551-1000

Rentals All Needz Rentals 6745 University Dr., 35806.................256-837-5322

Restaurants Ruthʼs Chris 800 Monroe St. SW, 35801................256-539-3930

Telecommunications Adtran, Inc. 901 Explorer Blvd., 35806..................256-963-8000

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

Initiatives October 2009

0000115251-01

October 2009 Initiatives

Initiatives October 2009

Passion. Commitment. Innovation. We are passionate about solving technical problems in defense and aerospace. SAIC is a leading non-OEM supplier of systems engineering, integration services, and virtual training development for aviation, missiles, space, and soldier systems in support of national defense and aerospace programs. For detailed information, visit us at www.saic.com Energy | Environment | National Security | Health | Critical Infrastructure 48

October 2009 Initiatives

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