Three Leaders, One Community
Partnering to Advance Madison County Cover story on page 20 Initiatives February 2009
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February 2009 Initiatives
Initiatives February 2009
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Development Partner ($250,000+ invested annually: public sector)
Development Council
(Up to $125,000 invested annually: public sector)
Huntsville Utilities Madison County Commission Tennessee Valley Authority Huntsville Hospital City of Madison Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority Chairman’s Council ($50,000+ invested: private sector)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Regions Bank President’s Circle ($25,000 - $49,999 invested annually)
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ADTRAN AT&T The Boeing Company Colonial Bank Compass Bank Crestwood Medical Center DeltaCom The Huntsville Times Lockheed Martin Redstone Federal Credit Union SAIC Wachovia Bank, N.A. February 2009 Initiatives
Chamber Trustees
($10,000 - $24,999 invested annually)
Avocent Corporation Beason & Nalley, Inc. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton Camber Corporation CINRAM, Inc. COLSA Corporation Continental AG Huntsville Area Association of Realtors Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, Inc.
Progress Partners
($5,000 - $9,999 invested annually)
AEgis Technologies Analytical Services, Inc. Applied Data Trends, Inc. BAE Systems BASF Catalysts LLC Bryant Bank CapitalSouth Bank Coldwell Banker/McLain Real Estate Colonial Properties Consolidated Construction Dynetics Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. ERC, Incorporated First Commercial Bank HiWAAY Internet Services J. Smith Lanier & Co. Jerry Damson Honda Acura Keystone Foods Corporation Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne LG Electronics Alabama, Inc. M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc.
Progress Investors
Intergraph Corporation Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation L3 Communications Lamar Outdoor Advertising Look Outdoor Advertising Northrop Grumman Parsons Corporation SPARTA, Inc. SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center
Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C. NAI Chase Commercial Realty 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 Century Automotive Chapman Sisson Architects Cintas Corporation Currie Systems DESE Research, Inc. DHS Systems Digital Fusion DRS Technologies, Inc. Fountain Parker Harbarger & Associates Fuqua & Partners Garber Construction Co., Inc. General Dynamics Gray Research, Inc. The Heritage Club
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 Oak Ridge Partnership Office Progress Bank QTEC Qualis Corporation Radiance Technologies, Inc. ServisFirst Bank SESI Torch Technologies Weichert Realtors – The Executive Group Wesfam Restaurants, Inc. – Burger King Qinetic N.A., Systems Engineering Group WHNT-19 Wilson Lumber Woodland Homes of Huntsville Woody Anderson Ford
Initiatives February 2009
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February 2009 Initiatives
initiatives
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Photo by Classic Air Works, © Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
february 2009
cover story
Three Leaders, One Community Partnering to Advance Madison County Page 20 Cover photo by J Hanshaw Photography
features Economic Development Highlights
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including Key Engineering, enGenius, WestWind Technologies, Camber Corporation, The Spine & Neuro Center, The Boeing Company, UAHuntsville, Calhoun Community College and Stanley Associates
Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama is located in the middle of the southeastern United States, with more than four million people within a 100mile radius. The Huntsville community is the economic hub of the northern Alabama/southern Tennessee region. Huntsville/Madison County’s economy is one of the strongest in the South, with low unemployment, strong job growth and income levels leading the region. Business growth and investment from U.S. and international companies have made it one of the country’s top “hot spots” for growing a business and raising a family.
Torch on a Tear!
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Legislative Visit 2008
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Foreign-Based Firms Add Diversity
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More Than a Helping Hand
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Courtesy of Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
developments HREGI Investors
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Chamber Board Listing
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Community Profile
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Chamber Staff Listing
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HREGI Testimonial: Deltacom
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2009 Executive Committee
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2009 Board of Directors
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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 Rick Davis, Harrison Diamond, C Ethan Hadley, John Southerland, Loren Traylor, and Mike Ward Photography Chamber of Commerce staff & publications (if not credited) Advertising Sales Becky Fentress The Huntsville Times
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Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2009 Executive Committee
Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is pleased to present to our members, investors, friends and residents of the greater Huntsville/Madison County area this first edition of Initiatives for 2009. This edition is important because it emphasizes some of the core values that make our community and local economy strong and progressive. Communities which are consistently successful in economic development maintain a growth strategy and a commitment to community preparation and marketing, which, in turn, make the community distinguishable from other competing cities. The essential ingredient, however, which must be in place before anything else matters, is leadership. Huntsville/Madison County has been fortunate to have visionary and committed leaders at all levels for many years. This is true of our elected officials, and it is true of key community organizations, especially the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. This edition of Initiatives introduces an exciting partnership of our top local elected leaders. Pictured on the front cover are Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison Mayor Paul Finley. Their commitment to work closely together for the benefit of our greater community is exciting, and no doubt will help lead to a stronger economy and quality of life for all of our citizens. This Initiatives also introduces the Chamber’s 2009 Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Evans Quinlivan, Senior Market Executive of RBC Bank, served as the Chamber’s Chair of the Board in both 2007 and 2008. Under Evans’ leadership, Huntsville/Madison County made significant economic development achievements, continuing to rank higher among America’s best cities to live, work and do business. Evans also led the Chamber of Commerce to becoming a stronger and more focused organization. Evans has turned the Chair’s gavel over to Irma Tuder, Chair and Founder of Analytical Services, Inc. We are excited to have someone of Irma’s caliber leading our organization in 2009. The Chamber thanks Evans for his tremendous leadership over the past two years, and we welcome Irma into her new position as our Board Chair. With exceptional leaders in all key positions and organizations, Huntsville/Madison County’s best days truly do lie ahead.
Brian Hilson President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
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February 2009 Initiatives
Irma Tuder, Chair, Analytical Services Don Nalley, Chair-Elect, Beason & Nalley Evans Quinlivan, Immediate Past Chair, RBC Bank Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, retired 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, RBC Bank 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, Analytical Services 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, Booz Allen Hamilton John Holly, Lockheed Martin Corporation Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Dr. Robert Jennings Tony Jones, The Boeing Company Frederick Lanier, J. Smith Lanier & Co. Frank Libutti John McMullan, Colonial Bank Dan Montgomery, Northrop Grumman Caroline Myers, Foreign Language Services Joe Newberry, Redstone Federal Credit Union Tony Palumbo, Raytheon Company Pete Schofield, SPARTA 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
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community profile
TOP 10 EMPLOYERS
Population
Madison County
2000 Census
276,700 158,216
29,329
342,376
Current Estimate*
312,734
38,275
386,632
City of Huntsville 171,327
City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area
Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,373 NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,177 Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,126 The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,200 Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000
Households & Income 147,283
CINRAM, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,861
Avg. Household Income $69,882 $65,558 $85,820 $67,466 Per Capita Income $28,209 $28,316 $32,180 $26,874
Intergraph Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,450
# of Households
121,186
*July 2008
69,229
13,875
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2007 American Community Survey
Sanmina-SCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,199 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,150 Source: Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
*includes onsite 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
For more information visit: HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com
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February 2009 Initiatives
Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to more than 285 companies and 25,000 people involved in technology research and development.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY
Forbes ranks Madison County the country’s Best Place to Live to Weather the Economy
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battles giving his State of the City Address last December to more than 1,200 attendees.
Mayor Battle: BRAC job growth will pull Huntsville out of recession ahead of schedule The jobs Huntsville will gain from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act will lift the city out of the nationwide recession before the rest of the country, according to Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. Battle recently gave his first State of the City address, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and presented by Northrop Grumman, to a sold out crowd of more than 1,200 at the Von Braun Center North Hall. Battle discussed some of the challenges and opportunities he sees coming in the near future and also focused on the need for cooperation among Huntsville, Madison and Madison County government, especially as it relates to community road projects. “I recently spoke with Gov. Bob Riley down in Montgomery about Huntsville’s roads. After I had spoken with him,
[Madison Mayor] Paul Finley spoke with transportation administrators. We are presenting the same message to Montgomery,” Battle said. “We [Huntsville and Madison] have got to ask for more help from our governor and our legislators.” Battle also spoke about workforce challenges facing the community and the critical requirement to fill available high technology jobs. “How workforce development works is by selling your community, but not just Huntsville, but also Athens and Madison. People will come here for jobs, but we want them to stay,” Battle said. He also issued a task to the audience. “Every one of us needs to ask how we can make our community better. We have a job to do and that is to do better.” •
Well-priced homes, enviable job growth and proximity to vibrant cities made Madison County the top choice in the United States in the Forbes list of best places to live in recessionary times. In compiling the list, the writers at Forbes looked at three factors in communities located within the U.S.: affordability, property taxes and job growth. With the local unemployment rate less than four percent, property taxes the lowest in the country and the Huntsville/ Madison County community accounting for more than 66 percent of new and expanding jobs in Alabama over the past seven years, Madison County was a likely choice for the list’s top spot. “Local economic development leaders have made recruiting a diverse business base a primary strategic goal for growing the economic base in this community,” said Don Nalley, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. “As a result, Huntsville/ Madison County has experienced two decades of record job growth,” he added. Huntsville/Madison County is home to more than 300 defense and aerospace engineering and technology companies and more than 50 percent of the jobs in Madison County are related to these industries. Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research and development park, employs more than 25,000. Other primary industries include: life sciences, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. •
Decatur-based engineering firm expands into the Huntsville market Key Engineering, an engineering firm based in Decatur, recently held a ribbon cutting for the company’s new office in Huntsville. “Despite an economic downturn that is negatively impacting communities across our nation right now, our community continues to enjoy tremendous economic growth from companies that are either expanding or relocating here or are just opening their doors for business,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Board of Director for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. The company specializes in facility and process work to include mechanical, piping, machine design, electrical, automation, instrumentation process and IT network. Key is one of the few local consulting firms that 12
February 2009 Initiatives
offer in-house civil and structural engineering services. Key Engineering president Hafeez Butt praised the Huntsville community and economy. Butt has more than 25 years experience in project management, interoffice and field coordination, structural analysis and design of steel and concrete structures for various chemical, cement and fossil power plants. He prides himself and his company having a consistent record of accomplishment for completing projects on schedule and under budget. “We are really excited to be in Huntsville. I have been watching Huntsville grow for years now. I expect our company to continue to grow with it,” Butt said. Evans Quinlivan, right, presented a plaque to Key Engineering The company has already done work for the City of President Hafeez Butt to commemorate their expansion. Huntsville and local developers. • Economic Development Highlights continued on page 14
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
Staff 2009 Brian Hilson, president & CEO John Southerland, communications director Laura Kendrick, executive assistant Kristi Sherrard, publications/graphic design specialist
Economic Development Ethan Hadley, VP, economic development Steve Finnell, director, industrial development/ existing industry
Rick Davis, director, Cummings Research Park Amy Locke, industrial development/existing industry assistant
Harrison Diamond, economic development coordinator
Governmental Affairs Mike Ward, VP, governmental affairs Tina Leopold, governmental affairs assistant
Workforce Lucia Cape, VP, workforce Mark Brown, director, workforce recruitment Mitzi Floyd, workforce coordinator
Investor Relations Loren Traylor, VP, investor relations Jenni Jeffers, director, small business/membership services
Terrie Ledbetter, membership sales representative Donna McCrary, investor relations specialist Brittany Taylor, events coordinator
Research & Information Services Ken Smith, director, research & information services Hiroko Sedensky, information services specialist Judith Short, information services assistant Betty Dalton, resource desk coordinator
Finance & Administration Christy Nalley, director, finance & administration Desman Holt, IT manager Debbie Olivares, accounting specialist Cassie Scott, accounting specialist Joe Watson, facilities supervisor
Associated Organizations Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Small Business Development Center Alabama A&M University, UAHuntsville 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 Initiatives February 2009
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 12
Atlanta-based IT company expands Huntsville operations enGenius, an Atlanta-based information technology (IT) company recently expanded its operations in Huntsville to serve a growing list of clients in the Huntsville/Madison County area. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony to open its new office in Cummings Research Park. enGenius specializes in computer software engineering,
systems engineering, IT infrastructure and project management for such clients as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County,
praised the company’s growth. “We are honored to be here today to celebrate the expansion of yet another company in Cummings Research Park. Companies like enGenius are perfect examples of why the second largest research park in the country continues to thrive,” Quinlivan said. Keith Zook, vice president for Huntsville operations, then addressed the audience consisting of employees of enGenius and representatives from Alabama’s Congressional delegation. “This is a special occasion for the enGenius family. Over the past 20 years I have had the good fortune to work in several research park facilities and am thrilled to call this research park home once again,” Zook said. Zook said that the new facility will provide an “exceptional workspace” for the company’s employees and that the facility will allow the company to expand and further grow in Huntsville. The move into the new facility came about after a contract was awarded by the Army Corps of Engineers to enGenius. The contract expanded operations beyond the capacity of its existing Huntsville office. Ed Blalack, enGenius President, said of the Huntsville community, “enGenius is proud to begin this new chapter in our corporate history today in Cummings Research Park and with the support of this community where the sky is not the limit.”
S.P. Reddy, enGenius founder, took the opportunity to give his perspective on business. “Leadership is about shaping expectations and management is about delivering expectations. Our office management here has done a fantastic job in hiring quality people and providing quality services to our clients,” Reddy said. “What is fascinating about business is not the physical engineering, but the financial architecture. The basic business strategy is to dream big and make the dream a reality and that requires the ability to think laterally and work to execute excellence,” he added. Reddy closed his comments by announcing a scholarship fund in Huntsville and Madison County. “It is my hope that this scholarship ties into the Chamber’s motto of the Sky is not the limit.” • 14
February 2009 Initiatives
Stanley Associates Opens New Facility in Huntsville Stanley Associates recently held a ribbon cutting for its new facility in Cummings Research Park. Stanley is a provider of information technology (IT) services and solutions to U.S. defense and federal civilian government agencies. Headquartered in Arlington, Va., Stanley has more than 4,700 employees at more than 100 locations in the U.S. and worldwide. “The Huntsville economy and the community at large remains a benchmark of success in this time of economic uncertainty and companies like Stanley remind us all that Huntsville really is a smart place to live, work and play,” said Don Nalley, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. “Not only is Stanley continuing to grow in Huntsville, they are also contributing to the overall growth of this community by investing in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI). As Progress Partners, Stanley has made a great investment in the future of our region and we thank them for it,” Nalley added. Chris Torti, Senior Vice President of Stanley’s Technical Programs Group, stated his pleasure with the direction Stan-
ley is taking in Huntsville. “The past year has been phenomenal. Our customers come back time and time again. I can’t tell you how proud I am,” Torti said. The company won several accolades over its years in business. In 2005, Stanley was named the mid-sized Government
Contractor of the Year by the Northern Virginia Government Contractors Council, the Professional Services Council, and Washington Technology. In 2007 and 2008, Stanley was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.” •
Economic Development Highlights continued on page 16
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 15
New Mountain Capital acquires Camber
WestWind Technologies breaks ground on new aircraft facility WestWind Technologies recently broke ground on a new 64,000-square-foot facility in Jetplex Industrial Park known as the Huntsville Aircraft Modification and Integration Center. The facility represents an investment estimated at about $14 million. The facility will be WestWind’s second facility in Huntsville. WestWind was founded in 1999 and moved to Huntsville in 2000 as an aircraft parts manufacturer. The new facility will serve as an expansion of services for the company’s military and commercial aviation clients. The facility was specifically designed around every helicopter located on Redstone Arsenal. WestWind’s new facility was made possible by a completely privately funded venture. “The new facility marks a new level of service for this region,” said Roger Messik, chief operating officer of WestWind.
“This is absolutely a great project. We have enjoyed a fruitful relationship with WestWind over the years and they have served an integral part of the Jetplex community,” said Jeff Sikes, Chairman of the Huntsville Airport Authority. Both Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison Mayor Paul Finley were on hand to give congratulatory remarks and comments about the event. “What happened with WestWind is a culmination of a big dream. The city of Huntsville looks for companies with longrange plans such as WestWind,” said Battle. Finley talked about the importance of partnerships in doing business as well as the importance of partnerships in civic matters. “I have worked with WestWind in the past and I can tell you how innovative they were looking for partners,” said Finley. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that this has occurred.” •
Camber Corporation recently announced that New Mountain Partners III, L.P., a private equity fund sponsored by New Mountain Capital, L.L.C., is making a majority investment in Camber. The Camber senior management team will remain in place. New Mountain identified Camber through its long-standing, proactive focus on the federal services sector. Walter Batson, Camber founder, president and CEO, said, “We are very enthusiastic to be entering into this partnership with New Mountain today. New Mountain’s previous success with federal service-related companies such as Apptis, Inc., and Deltek, Inc., and the firm’s proven skill as a business builder will help our company grow even faster and enhance our service offerings. New Mountain and management’s mutual goal is to add significant value to Camber while preserving the culture that underlies Camber’s success to date.” Alok Singh, managing director of New Mountain, stated, “Camber has demonstrated very rapid sales and earnings growth consistently since its founding and over the last five years. We believe Camber has opportunities for significant continuing growth in the years ahead, and we are very impressed with the quality and accomplishments of the Camber management team.” •
$37 million Governors Medical Tower opens with ribbon cutting for first major tenant
Governors Medical Tower, a four-story medical facility, recently celebrated its opening with the ribbon cutting of the building’s first major tenant, The Spine & Neuro Center. The 124,500-square-foot tower opened to patients in November with the relocation of The Spine & Neuro Center from Rand Avenue. The $37 million building’s most notable feature, its curving glass façade, offers energy efficient windows to conserve power. Patients and physicians have convenient access to Huntsville Hospital via a new pedestrian sky bridge located on the second floor. An attached parking deck with more than 460 parking spaces will provide convenient entry for patients. Governors Medical Tower is expected to generate $225,000 in annual property taxes for the City of Huntsville. • 16
February 2009 Initiatives
Boeing grant to UAHuntsville will expand M&S education, workforce The Boeing Company recently provided a $100,000 grant to support education and workforce development activities at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Boeing Advanced Systems’ Analysis, Modeling, Simulation and Experimentation (AMSE) organization is sponsoring the grant effort. Boeing executives furnished the education grant to the Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (CMSA) to develop advanced degree programs as well as enhance the university’s participation in a professional certification program. The company is also supporting the programs by providing financial reimbursement to company employees who choose to enhance their M&S skills through the programs. The grant will be used to support two activities, according to CMSA Director Dr. Mikel Petty. One is curriculum design and course content development for planned M&S graduate degree programs. Those degree programs, if approved at the state level, will offer M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in M&S and will be the first such program in Alabama. According to Petty, the second activity is participation in the process of updating and enhancing the Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional program, which is an examination-based professional
certification process that is gaining wide acceptance in the M&S community. “Boeing’s generous grant will enable a more substantial effort that will ultimately benefit M&S workforce development,” said Petty. “Boeing has a growing need for highly qualified modeling and simulation practitioners,” said Guy Higgins, Boeing vice president of AMSE. “By partnering with academia, we can play a role in ensuring that the next generation of modeling and simulation professionals has the skills it needs to be successful.” UAHuntsville President Dave Williams said Boeing’s grant strengthens the community’s modeling and simulation capabilities. “Huntsville is a leader worldwide in modeling and simulation, and Boeing’s support to enhance our educational programs will further distinguish our region and state in this emerging field,” Dr. Williams said. “The university’s existing research in M&S, combined with advanced academic degree programs in this critical technology, will provide our students with a tremendous learning advantage.”
UAHuntsville will also collaborate with M&S community efforts including the M&S Body of Knowledge project and the Modeling and Simulation Professional Certification Commission – programs established to identify what M&S professionals need to know, and how to measure their understanding and ability to apply their knowledge. •
UAHuntsville President Dave Williams, left, talks to Boeing executives Bill Tucker and Tony Jones.
Economic Development Highlights continued on page 18
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 17
~ highlights compiled by John Southerland & Harrison Diamond
Courtesy of the Governor’s Office
Calhoun officially breaks ground on Robotics Technology Park
A robot hands Gov. Bob Riley a shovel for the groundbreaking of the new Robotics Technology Park across from the Decatur campus of Calhoun Community College. Riley said he believes the park will make Alabama an international leader in workforce development.
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February 2009 Initiatives
Ground was officially broken on the first stage of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park located across from the Decatur campus of Calhoun Community College. The Park is a collaborative effort among the state of Alabama, the two-year college system, AIDT and robotics industry leaders. Dr. Marilyn Beck, Calhoun Community College president, opened the event by explaining the importance of the new facility for the state. “This event shows Alabama as a leader in workforce development nationally and internationally,” she said. Gov. Bob Riley was the featured speaker for the groundbreaking. Riley said the creation of the robotics park is vitally important to the state. “I can’t think of another project in my administration that I am more excited about,” Riley said. “We are going through a tough economic time that most adults have never seen before. But if we are going to continue to have the same economic success we have had over the past years, we are going to have to stay on the cutting edge of technology.” Riley said that Alabama’s “work ethic” would no longer be good enough to move the state ahead. It would take programs like the robotics park to push Alabama ahead of the rest of the country and perhaps the world. “I want Alabama to do what no other state has done—take workforce development to an international level.” Riley pointed out that Alabama is doing slightly better in terms of unemployment and said the state is experiencing a rate of about five percent unemployment compared to most other states having unemployment rates between seven and eight percent. “The national economy will have an impact on Alabama, but we have to realize that at the end of it we have to have training ready.” He mentioned that Alabama has developed industry training facilities in Mobile (maritime industrial training) and Ozark (aviation industrial training). Riley says the robotics facility will allow all the industries in the state to benefit. The governor ended his speech by saying the robotics park will be one of the many ways Alabama will not only be an economic development leader in the south, but in the country. Riley also recently appointed seven industry representatives to the board that will help direct the complex. The seven will join the governor, Dr. Marilyn Beck and AIDT Director Ed Castile on the board. The robotics complex will consist of three separate facilities, each targeted to meet a specific industry need, and will provide training for 450 or more people each year in robotics. Robotics Complex Executive Board members include: Jim Bolte, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama; Brian Buckner, Alabama Cullman Yutaka Technologies; Nancy Jan Davis, Jacobs Engineering; Ralph Malone, Triana Metal Fabrication; David Minor, Topre Corporation; Jason Putman, Pro-Air Services; and Joe Sparks, Booz Allen Hamilton. •
Torch on a Tear! Company Growth, Employment Practices Ignite Awards, Honors
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n a year that some companies may want to forget, 2008 is one that Torch Technologies will always remember. As one of Huntsville’s fastest rising corporate stars, Torch capped a memorable 2008 with its annual employee holiday reception and on hand to help Torch employees celebrate was Dennis Long, vice president of Principal Financial Group of Des Moines, Iowa. Long was there to personally greet Torch employees and to tell them that their company was named one of the nation’s Top 10 Employers for Financial Security. “It was special for a number of reasons,” said Torch President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Roark. “We were a bit of an odd duck in the top 10. We were the only aerospace and defense contractor, and the only company in the Southeast to be included. The others were primarily financial institutions and insurance companies.” “We agreed to participate in the competition because Principal does such a rigorous job of examining your benefits package. They
had hundreds of applicants and those were then whittled down to 30. When we found out we were in the top 30, we were pretty excited, because we knew it was a great way to benchmark our company against the best in the country,” said Scott Parker, Torch Chief Operating Officer. In its news release touting Torch as a role model for employers everywhere, Principal said “Torch Technologies understands that benefits are more than a cost, they are an investment in a company’s greatest asset, its employees. We are proud to showcase Torch as an exceptional role model.” The recognition by Principal validates the baseline strategy devised by Roark and cofounder Don Holder, both former Nichols Research Corporation employees, who opened Torch in 2002. Torch currently employs more than 170 people in Huntsville, reflecting consistent growth of better than 30 percent per year
over that period. And more than 70 percent of those employees own stock in the company. “We wanted to create a company that was employee owned and employee focused,” Roark said. “When the employees are the owners of the company, it’s a great investment for them and your customers.” As a precursor to the Principal award, Torch also was named as one of Huntsville’s Best Places to Work for 2008, winning the medium-size category in the Chamber’s annual competition for local companies. Finally, Torch captured the Large Business of the Year Award by the Alabama Information Technology Association, becoming the third straight Huntsville-based company to win the award after Intergraph in 2007 and Analytical Services in 2006. “It was a very good year,” Roark said. “We’re excited about the future.” • Rick Davis
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Three Leaders, One Community Partnering to Advance Madison County As elected officials representing interests that often complement but occasionally conflict with the other communities, new Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, new Madison Mayor Paul Finley and returning Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie have publicly stated their intent to work together for a common good that benefits all of Madison County. The three officials recently met at the Chamber for a question and answer session to discuss some of the challenges each face in their respective communities and collectively in Madison County, as well as how they plan to resolve any conflicts or differences that may arise. Why is it so important for the three different communities to work together and cooperatively?
Mayor Finley: I think it is important for our communities to work together because one, we are all in Madison County and two, Madison and Huntsville touch on almost all sides. In this day and age when we are trying to stretch a dollar in the best possible way, working together allows us to make a bigger impact. Many people living in Madison work in Huntsville or on the Arsenal. And from a roads standpoint, the connector roads that tie the community together make an impact in people’s lives. Chairman Gillespie: Teamwork is what this community is built on. The more we work together, the better it’s going to be for the community at large. BRAC didn’t happen because Huntsville, Madison and Madison
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County worked against each other. We have never been successful because we worked against each other. It is because we had coordination and teamwork and the more we have that the more successful we will be. Mayor Battle: We have to get back to a sense of community. We are all in one community. When the Secretary of the Army was here, he asked if our schools could handle the influx of BRAC. He wasn’t asking if Madison City Schools or Madison County Schools or Huntsville City Schools could handle it, he was talking about our community. When BRAC people come down here, they don’t delineate between Huntsville or Madison or Madison County. Each of you has different challenges – how do you represent your interest without conflict with another community?
L-R: Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie, and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle discuss challenges ahead for the community and how much will depend on communication
Chairman Gillespie: Communication. We talk to each other. We actually like each other and regardless of that fact, it is vital to our communities that we stay in contact with each other and communicate regularly. Mayor Finley: The more we communicate, the better our relationships are. We are going to have disagreements, but we talk to each other and we work them out. You work the plan you have. Sometimes you work the city of Madison, which is what our needs are but there are several plans that go across boundaries and that is where we can make a difference by communicating. Mayor Battle: A prime example is when we went to Montgomery to talk about our road plans. Paul knew what I said and I knew what Paul said. Paul has an emphasis on County Line Road. I have an emphasis on North Parkway. Mike has an emphasis on Winchester Road. We all have our number one priority. We come together on our number two priority Martin and Zierdt Road, which is on a portion of all of our property. We all work together to make sure it becomes a reality. In regards to the jail issue, we had a transition group meeting
February 2009 Initiatives
County and other partners that work with the Chamber, particularly as they relate to economic development, to continue to make this community the greatest community around. We continue to lead economic development, we continue to drive the budget for the state, and the vision is that we have to have more state participation in what we do. They have to be a stronger partner.
Photos by J Hanshaw Photography
Mayor Battle: I want to see a thriving downtown for the city of Huntsville, like to see expanded biotech industries and sustainable industries that have a huge future on the national scene. I would also love to see us maintain and even improve our quality of life, which is what makes people come from Virginia to here and realize they save two hours of their life every day not being on the road stuck in traffic. Quality of life is one of the most important things that we offer and we have to maintain that.
on the jail the other day with several elected officials. It was a great feeling to know that everyone is in there to make sure it works.
Where do you see the community going, and how we will get there?
What are the biggest challenges facing all three communities over the next year?
Mayor Battle: Our challenges go back to funding. You have to think, for their tax dollar, the citizens of Huntsville and Madison County get a lot. We have stretched that dollar almost to the breaking point but we try to return the best investment we can to the citizens. That is our job and that is our biggest challenge to continue doing that on the budgets we have.
Mayor Finley: It is funding. That is both funding for our school system and roads. With the growth that we have had, it is critical that we have a second high school and in turn, that will have a big impact on our community and obviously the funding for roads. Chairman Gillespie: General (Jim) Myles said that he defined relationships, really good relationships, not by how high you can high-five each other when things are going great, but by how close you come together when things are not so great. I think that is significant. We love to celebrate our successes, but in order to get there we have some challenges along the way and it all comes down to coordination and communication and the relationships we have built along the way to work through whatever issues face us. We hear a lot about infrastructure challenges facing our community. Are we going to be ready for the population boom associated with BRAC and other economic development opportunities next year and over the next few years? How can the state help us?
Chairman Gillespie: If you look at the history of this community, we have never gone out and recruited an industry or a family that we were not ready for. I think we are continued on page 22
Mayor Finley: My vision for the future is to enhance and improve the quality of life for every resident of not only Madison but for the entire Tennessee Valley. What do I see 10 years from now? I see one major metropolitan area with Athens, Decatur, Madison and Huntsville all coming together. We have to plan for that in our growth not only for the east and to the north but as we grow to the west and work together for BRAC and the future of BRAC. Chairman Gillespie: Forbes just talked about Madison County being the best place to ride out the recession. I don’t look at it like we are riding out anything. We continue to compete with other communities like we always have. I don’t see anything slowing down. Led by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison Initiatives February 2009
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Photo by J Hanshaw Photography
The three leaders have quickly developed a working relationship. All three realize the importance of cooperation, especially in regards to attaining funds for roads and other infrastructure needs.
Three Leaders, continued from page 21 – doing the same thing now. We recently got a grant to study and plan for the challenges the communities will face regarding BRAC. We are addressing all those challenges and are identifying all of them and then it all boils
down to funding. We have all these great opportunities, but we have to have funding which goes back to state help. Mayor Battle: There is some education we have to do with the state to explain what the emphasis is with this BRAC. I still don’t think they are completely aware. This is the biggest economic development project to hit this area and the state of Alabama. They have not contributed to our success with BRAC like they have with other economic development projects. We are continually looking at the dollars sent down to Montgomery in highway funds and we have traditionally received much less than we have sent down. There comes a time when we have to educate and start working with future administrations as well. It’s not reinventing the wheel it is just doing it more. If all of us sing from the same sheet of music and sing in the same tune, we will be able to get what is needed for the community. Mayor Finley: It all goes back to vision. I think people want to know that you see where you need to get to and have the game plan to get there. Working together and going down to Montgomery with an aligned, documented message on where we need help with roads that is consistent across the board will make a huge impact too.
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Chairman Gillespie, left, and Maj. Gen. Jim Myles talking at the State of the City reception held in December. Mayors Finley and Battle and Chairman Gillespie plan to work together for the incoming growth associated with BRAC. All three believe that cooperation among the different entities is the only way for the area to address the challenges and opportunities facing the community when all BRAC jobs are relocated here by 2011.
What are you doing to increase state awareness of the infrastructure challenges we face?
Mayor Finley: Both Tommy and I have been down to Montgomery talking with the Alabama Department of Transportation and Governor Riley with a consistent message. Each city has their own needs and the county has its own needs. We talk consistently. We would eventually like to go down to Montgomery together and up to D.C. with the same message. Chairman Gillespie: Continue to support the Chamber of Commerce and its message. We have Governor Riley for two more years and I’m not sure there is any money left that he can give. Our challenge is to let whoever is elected know that spending money in Huntsville, Madison County and North Alabama is the only investment that is going to make the state money. The more they give us the more they are going to get back. We know that when we go into an office in Washington and Montgomery, someone is leaving asking for the same things we are. Our story is different, in that it truly is an investment in our community that they are going to get a return bigger than anyone else. Mayor Battle: We just recently had our legislative weekend. Most of the functions were designed to get our story to the legislators. I met with all the legislators from this area one-on-one for two reasons: a) to get to know them and b) to tell them our story and see what their vision is for our area. I am getting ready to go to Washington D.C. again for the incentives package. It’s a continuing process, which means you need to be on the road. • Initiatives February 2009
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Photo by J Hanshaw Photography
Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Seth Hammett, left, talks with Jim Hudson, founder of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
Community Calls for Support During Weekend Visit from State Delegation
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t critical moments in Huntsville and Madison County’s growth historically, state government has made key infrastructure investments to sustain the region and make future growth possible. As the region faces its next wave of growth, state support will once again be critical to help build the necessary local physical and intellectual infrastructure. To ensure that state political leaders understand the current growth challenges facing the Huntsville/Madison County commu-
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nity, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County recently led an effort to host the entire Alabama Legislature and members of the governor’s cabinet for a weekend-long series of tours and briefings. Heading up the volunteer committee organizing the effort was the Chamber’s vice chair for governmental affairs Linda Maynor and state government committee chair Todd Slyman. “As evidenced by many of the comments we received during and after the visit, the legislators can hear about the opportunities and needs of
our area, but until they were able to visit and experience what is actually happening here, they truly did not have an understanding of the great opportunities or the challenges we face in attempting to continue the growth we have experienced,” Slyman said. “It is important for us to help the legislators understand that with the opportunities we have and continue to pursue also come many challenges in which we need assistance in order to help our area and the state continue to prosper.” Huntsville/Madison County has experienced several major waves of growth in the last century. Currently, the region is on the verge of its fifth, and perhaps largest, wave of growth. In just the last four years, government and industry have announced plans to create 21,000 more new jobs in Madison County. Some of these jobs have already been filled, but many won’t be until 2010-2011 when more than 3,000 of the 4,700 jobs associated with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) are consolidated at Redstone Arsenal. These jobs will in turn create additional induced or indirect jobs, leading to an ultimate impact of tens-of-thousands more people living in the Tennessee Valley region. Previous periods of growth have each brought their own unique set of challenges and opportunities. In the 1950s, housing was a critical issue. In the early 1960s infrastructure improvements included new water, gas, electric, and sewer systems and hundreds of new classrooms (for seven straight years, from 1957 to 1963, the city of Huntsville averaged building one new school room per week). Today’s infrastructure and workforce challenges are no less daunting. “We face some keen challenges. Keeping our available work-
force in step with the growth in jobs will be difficult,” said Chamber Chair Irma Tuder. “We know that we will need to recruit people from all across this country. We will also need to educate our kids so that they can help us meet this demand for smart workers.” “Keeping up with the infrastructure requirements will also be challenging. We need the state’s help to keep up with our growth,” Tuder added. The legislative visit included presentations from Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, Maj. Gen. Jim Myles and Marshall Space Flight Center Deputy Director Robert Lightfoot at a Friday evening dinner at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The following day’s activities included tours of Redstone Arsenal where attendees and saw demonstrations of NASA technologies and the U.S. Army helicopter and missile systems managed on the Arsenal. “We were able to give the Legislature a complete drive through and aerial view of our City, Redstone Arsenal and NASA and explain some of the infrastructure issues we are facing with BRAC coming to Huntsville,” event chair Linda Maynor said. “We also had continued on page 28
Above: Members of the Alabama Legislature get some “hands-on” time with the Army’s Avenger anti-air craft system.
Courtesy of Redstone Arsenal
At right: The Legislative visit included a Blackhawk helicopter tour over Redstone Arsenal and several areas of Madison County experience significant growth.
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strength in
numbers
connects business prospects
“
Home to DeltaCom’s
corporate headquarters and many of its employees and customers, we are committed to the growth and prosperity of the Huntsville and Madison County community and the
”
people who help it flourish.
For a list of investors, see page 4 or visit: 26
HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com February 2009 Initiatives
L-R: David Harwell & Randy Curran
DeltaCom, Inc. HREGI Investor since 1995
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Legislative Visit, continued from page 25 –
Photos by J Hanshaw Photography
Above (l-r), State representative Howard Sanderford and his wife Dot enjoy the hands-on experiment at the HudsonAlpha Institute. At right, legislators and guests gather in the HudsonAlpha atrium. Below (l-r), Senator Roger Bedford and his wife Maudie extract strawberry DNA.
and Madison County. The legislature plays a pivotal role shaping the environment that makes that possible,” Chamber Past Chair Evans Quinlivan said. “The truth is that we need state support every bit as much as we need support from Washington, D.C. Success on one front would not be possible if it wasn’t for the support of the other.” “We hope the visit gave the legislators an honest appreciation for how much we need the state’s partnership to help us to address some of this area’s opportunities and challenges. Ultimately, our success will pay
Courtesy of Redstone Arsenal
the opportunity to showcase some of our tourist attractions such as the Space & Rocket Center, Davidson Center, Botanical Garden, and Constitution Village as well as businesses in Research Park and the biotech research going on at the Hudson Alpha Institute. It was good for them to actually see some of the things the State has invested in.” Key issues discussed during the visit included roads, workforce and future biotechnology opportunities. “Our Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to the economic development of Huntsville
Legislators are briefed prior to test firing a Javelin missile on Redstone’s Test Area 1 missile range. 28
February 2009 Initiatives
Photo by Winsome Vagabond Photography
tremendous benefits to the entire state,” Quinlivan added. “We were especially pleased to be able to share the vision and work of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology with the legislative group,” said Dan Montgomery of Northrop Grumman, one of the key sponsors of the legislative weekend. Opened this past April, the Institute joins Alabama’s life sciences industry as a new kind of partner, specializing in genomics research and reaching out to academia statewide and renowned scientists worldwide. “Equally important is the exchange between scientists and entrepreneurs that is facilitated by the very architecture of the HudsonAlpha Institute,” Montgomery added. The legislative visit included a reception at HudsonAlpha and tours and demonstrations of the technologies unfolding at this world-class facility. “I have talked with many of the legislators since their visit to Huntsville and their comments have been extremely positive,” Maynor indicated. Huntsville is not alone in hosting such events for the members of the legislature. Both Mobile and Birmingham have previously hosted similar events to make the legislators aware of local issues of concern. Follow-up activities are being planned for 2009. • Mike Ward
Legislators were encouraged to bring their family members with them for the weekend’s events. Initiatives February 2009
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Foreign-based Firms Add Diversity to Community and Economy
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he Germans first put Huntsville on the map as a major hub for science and technology with the help of Dr. Wernher von Braun and his rocket team, but other countries such as Japan, Canada, Korea and England are further enhancing Huntsville’s reputation as the place to be for research and advanced manufacturing. For those not tracking the numbers, it might be a surprise to learn that there are now more than 50 foreign-based companies with operations in Huntsville. These 50 companies represent 14 countries and an array of business and industry sectors. Together, Huntsville’s foreignbased employers provide jobs for more than 9,000 area residents. “We want diversification in ownership and industry and yet want to maintain some focus to maximize on the efficiency of our workforce and continue to build a great place to live, work and play. No community can do that with homegrown companies alone,” Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County Board of Directors, said. “Foreign-based companies are part of that mix as diversification and stability Nalley components of any growthoriented community. Our foreign-owned companies have been great neighbors; they fit well in the Huntsville/Madison County melting pot and we’re glad to have them.” For would-be players in the aerospace and defense industries from countries allied with the United States, often the first hurdle to clear is acquiring an established storefront with existing government customers and a qualified workforce. Notable foreign aerospace and defense companies that have planted flags in Huntsville in recent years, either through the purchase of Huntsville-based companies or domestic firms that have operations in Huntsville, include BAE Systems, QinetiQ and Cobham, all from England, which purchased Mevatech, Westar and Sparta, respectively. England is not the only country seeing the value in Huntsville’s aerospace and defense market. Kuwaiti-owned Agility Defense and Government Services acquired Taos Industries. Finmeccanica, the leader in Italian aerospace and defense as well as the European leader
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February 2009 Initiatives
in satellite and space services, recently purchased DRS Technologies to enter the Huntsville market. Aerospace and defense are not the only industries gaining international attention. Netherlands-based Qiagen N.V. and Eurand N.V. now own Huntsville-based Genaco Biomedical Products, Inc. and SourceCF (both were part of the first dozen companies in the Associates Wing of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology), respectively. Not all foreign-based companies come here through acquisition. The Chamber is constantly pursuing new companies to establish new operations in Huntsville/Madison County. The Chamber’s efforts of attracting “greenfield” projects have resulted in several large foreign companies moving to Huntsville. At least one of these companies has made Huntsville not only its first home in Alabama, but its first home in the United States. In 1981, Korea’s Lucky Goldstar Company was shopping for the location of its first manufacturing facility in the U.S. Thanks to concerted efforts of the Chamber, the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority, the Alabama Development Office, and all of their local and state partners, the company now known as LG Electronics selected Huntsville. Today, LG occupies 450,000 square feet in five buildings on a 19-acre campus and employs more than 1,200 people. LG Huntsville serves as the company’s North American Customer Service Headquarters from its stateof-the-art call center and refurbishes cell phones on the factory floor, among other Kim activities. “Huntsville is attractive to foreign-based companies for its cost of living, concentration of engineering professionals and the ease of doing business in the area,” Simon Kim, President of LG Electronics, Alabama, said. “Huntsville is a relatively safe area and a bit of a hidden gem. Many people, when asked about Alabama, think about traditional southern stereotypes, however, if people come and give Huntsville an honest visit, they will see a difference compared to other areas in the south.” Three of Huntsville’s largest manufacturing employers are foreign-based. One such
manufacturer, Cinram of Canada, has 2,400 full-time employees who produce DVDs and CDs for the entire North American market. Many people across the U.S., Canada and Mexico who are watching a blockbuster movie at home may not be aware they are enjoying a made-in-Huntsville product. The Chamber and its partners in economic development also led an aggressive pursuit to lure one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers to the Tennessee Valley. When Toyota was looking for its first engine manufacturing facility outside of Japan, the automotive giant looked to the very place that put America into space and a man on the moon to build its engines. Toyota now employs more than 1,000 people at its V-8 and V-6 engine manufacturing facility in North Huntsville Industrial Park. Alabama has quickly become a major force in the automotive industry because of foreign companies who manufacture about 800,000 vehicles making Alabama the fifth largest manufacturing state. (Less than a decade ago, the state had not produced a single vehicle, except NASA’s lunar rover.) With the “Detroit Three” struggling, foreign automotive leaders and parts manufacturers have found a new home in Alabama. Continental AG of Germany manufactures DVD navigation and engine control systems for the automotive industry. Continental came to Huntsville in 2007 when it purchased Siemens VDO which had previously purchased the former Chrysler electronics facility that began as a contractor to NASA during the Apollo program. Continental employs 1,500 people at its Huntsville facility in Jetplex Industrial Park. Foreign-based investors are a significant contributor to Huntsville/Madison County’s strong and diverse economy and community, and provide credence for this area’s optimistic outlook for the future. At the Chamber’s 2008 Alabama Update, Gov. Bob Riley pointed to Huntsville’s diversity of industry and its inclusive welcome to foreign Riley companies as reasons why the Huntsville economy has remained resilient. “Huntsville has embraced a diverse economy more than anyone else. In this changing world, we can either embrace the change or retreat. You [Huntsville] reach out to the world like no other place in the South,” Riley said. • Ethan Hadley & Harrison Diamond Initiatives February 2009
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More Than a Helping Hand Volunteers Critical in Helping Chamber’s Economic Development Mission
E
mployees of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County know that it takes more than just a staff of 27 to create a prosperous business community. Consequently, the Chamber as an institution has cultivated and developed a group of volunteers to serve its existing business community while simultaneously building upon local and regional partnerships. Business leaders serve in many different capacities at the Chamber to include serving on the board of directors, the executive committee, or one of the more than 30 different committees or councils that were developed to meet specific business objectives. Some of the milestones this community has reached with the help of these volunteers and many others in the community include: • More than 22,000 announced jobs from new and expanding industry • More than $1.3 billion in new capital investment. • More than 2,300 members reached weekly
These achievements are possible because of the cooperation and partnership of many in the region. But, perhaps most importantly, these results are a direct outcome of the efforts put forth from the volunteers who support the mission of the Chamber in preparing, developing and promoting the community for economic growth. Two of these volunteer committees, the Ambassador Program and the Emissary Council, use a trained cadre to welcome and educate new and existing members about the services available through the Chamber. The Ambassador Program focuses on welcoming new and expanding companies and attending ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings. By splitting into teams responsible for attending events for each month, they are able to more effectively reach companies while allowing participants to balance these activities with their business responsibilities. continued on page 34
Lisa Lane Savvy Gifts, Inc. 2008 Emissary of the Year
Nansi Clark Holiday Inn Downtown 2008 Ambassador of the Year
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continued from page 33 – The Sandy Bottoms team claimed the 2008 “Top Team” title. Phil Riddick, Bill Poole Realty, led this team and was joined by Paul Reutter, Vulcan Heating & Air Conditioning Services; Philip Bifulco, Information Understructures, Inc.; Phil Thames, Intermission Massage and Neuromuscular Therapy; Brad Cardwell, Merrill Lynch; Tom Ray, Look Outdoor Advertising; Rebecca Billings, NetwoRx; and John Morgan, Mac Resource. The 2008 Ambassador of the Year was Nansi Clark, Holiday Inn Downtown. Clark only recently joined the volunteer ranks and took the past 12 months to really learn about the community and the impact the Chamber has on its growth. “My boss recommended that I get involved with the Chamber and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have even begun mentoring others to help them get the most out of the program,” Clark said. “My business has grown because of the relationships I have built by volunteering with the Chamber,” added Clark. The Emissary Council focuses on educating current members about ways to get involved with the Chamber. These volunteers focus their efforts getting existing members information about Chamber services and encouraging member engagement that will help their businesses grow. Lisa Lane, Savvy Gifts, was selected as the 2008 Emissary of the Year. “I often explain to companies that the best way to get something out of the Chamber is to put something in to it. Through my activities, I have been able to foster relationships that have helped me both professionally and personally,” Lane said. “I enjoy getting out and helping the community grow. That’s my favorite part of being involved with the Chamber. And, it’s a lot of fun,” she added. Both programs create increased membership value to Chamber volunteers and the companies they touch. Volunteers also learn more about the Chamber and the Huntsville/Madison County community through monthly meetings. In learning how to help other companies, they also are able to learn how to help themselves. It takes a committed group of staff to develop a strong scope of work. However, it takes an even stronger group of dedicated volunteers to help put successful programs in place and continue to make this community a smart place to live, work and play. For more information on becoming an Ambassador, please contact Donna McCrary at 535-2027 or dmccrary@hsvchamber.org. • Loren Traylor February 2009 Initiatives
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 2009 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Irma Tuder
Don Nalley
Evans Quinlivan
founder & board chair Analytical Services, Inc.
director Beason & Nalley, Inc.
NE Ala. market executive RBC Bank
Chair
Chair-elect
Immediate Past Chair
Tommy Beason
Jan Smith
Beason & Nalley, Inc. (retired)
president & CEO System Studies & Simulation, Inc.
I am thrilled to welcome to our Chamber’s 2009 Executive Committee and Board a group of business leaders who deeply value the importance of helping our community continue to grow and thrive and who strongly believe in the mission of your Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. We will follow the vision of those who have come before us by continuing to execute our strategic plan to ensure value and benefit to our HREGI investors while preparing, developing and promoting our community for economic growth.
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Chamber of Commerce Foundation Chair
Secretary/Treasurer
Charlie Kettle
Linda Maynor
Ron Poteat
president First Commercial Bank
government relations Maynard, Cooper & Gale
N. Ala. area executive Regions Bank
Vice Chair, Economic Development
Vice Chair, Governmental Affairs
Vice Chair, Investor Relations
Joe Alexander
Beth Martin
Jeremiah Knight
president Camber Corporation
vice president, private banking, RBC Bank
director, customer service Verizon Wireless
Vice Chair, Workforce
Vice Chair, Small Business
Vice Chair, Research & Information Services
Elizabeth Morard
Tommy Battle
Jim Bolte
president & CEO Qualis Corporation
mayor City of Huntsville
Vice Chair, Image Development
Chair-Appointed
senior vice president Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama
Mike Gillespie
Joe Ritch
Brian Hilson
chairman, Madison County Commission
partner Sirote & Permutt, P.C.
Chair-Appointed
Chair-Appointed
president & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County
Chair-Appointed
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cynthia Achorn
Clayton Bass
Penny Billings
Frank Caprio
Derrick Copeland
Elizabeth Dotts
Tracy Doughty
Analytical Services, Inc.
Huntsville Museum of Art
BancorpSouth
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP
Applied Data Trends, Inc.
Public FA, Inc.
Huntsville Hospital
John Eagan
Joe Fadool
Kerry Fehrenbach
Ron Gray
Jeff Hamilton
Tom Hancock
Wachovia Bank, N.A.
Continental AG
Intergraph Corporation
Gray Research, Inc.
The Orthopaedic Center
Booz Allen Hamilton
John Holly
Tharon Honeycutt
Dr. Pam Hudson
Dr. Robert Jennings
Tony Jones
Frederick Lanier
Lockheed Martin Corporation
MSB Analytics, Inc.
Crestwood Medical Center
The Boeing Company
J. Smith Lanier & Co.
Frank Libutti
John McMullan
Dan Montgomery
Caroline Myers
Joe Newberry
Tony Palumbo
Colonial Bank
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Foreign Language Services, Inc.
Redstone Federal Credit Union
Raytheon Company
Pete Schofield
Crystal Shell
Todd Slyman
Keith Smith
Dr. O’Neal Smitherman
David Spillers
SPARTA, Inc.
WILL Technology, Inc.
Village of Providence
SAIC
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
Huntsville Hospital
Tom Stanton
Sandra Steele
Al Sullivan
Dr. Dave Williams
John Wilmer
Danny Windham
Dr. Ernie Wu
ADTRAN
Enfinger Steele Development, Inc.
ABT, Inc.
UAHuntsville
Wilmer & Lee, P.A.
Digium, Inc.
ERC, Inc. Initiatives February 2009
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February 2009 Initiatives