Initiatives magazine, August 2009 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Initiatives August 2009

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August 2009 Initiatives

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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 SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center

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

Progress Partners

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

AEgis Technologies Analytical Services, Inc. Applied Data Trends, Inc. BAE Systems BASF Catalysts LLC CapitalSouth Bank 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.

President’s Circle ($25,000 - $49,999 invested annually)

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

August 2009 Initiatives

Progress Investors

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 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. 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 Progress Bank QinetiQ North America QTEC Qualis Corporation Radiance Technologies, Inc. ServisFirst Bank SESI 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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Initiatives August 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 taking care of you from the hospital that you’ve trusted for generations.

huntsvillehospital.org 6

August 2009 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

august 2009

Small Business: Foundation of Economic Growth page 34 on the cover

Jan Smith – 2008 winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award Cover design by Kristi Sherrard and J. Hanshaw Photography

features Economic Development Highlights

including Analytical Services, O&S Holdings, Applied Data Trends, Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville International Airport, Draper Laboratory, Huntsville Utilities, Forbes, Appleton Learning, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Sentar and Dynetics

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.

Huntsville Prepares Welcome Mat Getting into the FMS Game BRAC Update Winning Over YPs TBE Expands Legacy Intuitive Celebrates 10 Years

23 24 25 28 31 35

Courtesy of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

developments HREGI Investors Chamber Board Listing Community Profile Growth Through Networking Chamber Staff Listing Waving the Checkered Flag Employee of the Quarter “Shaping History”

4 8 10 22 38 39 42 43

editorial staff

Publisher Brian Hilson Executive Editor John Southerland

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

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard

contact Chamber of Commerce of

ontributing Writers Lucia Cape, Harrison Diamond, C John Southerland, Loren Traylor, and Mike Ward Photography Chamber of Commerce staff & publications (if not credited) Certain images from Shutterstock.com

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

Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000

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

Advertising Sales Ray Johnson The Huntsville Times Initiatives August 2009

Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2009 Executive Committee

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: You’ve probably heard the saying “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” For the founders of successful small businesses, one thing is for sure: they had a vision. They also likely had some combination of other attributes which helped them become successful – mentoring, a sound business plan, resources, luck, “sticktuitiveness”, and the list goes on. Fortunately, small businesses represent a critical element of any community’s economy. In the Huntsville area, our small businesses each have their own unique situation, while collectively they generate a major impact on our regional economy. Because small businesses are so important, most communities offer some form of assistance to start-up and existing small businesses. Most prominent among the small business services of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is our annual Small Business Awards Celebration, which happens to be one of our largest events in terms of attendance, but when it comes to excitement, is unmatched by anything else we do. This edition of Initiatives is dedicated to the many small businesses which make the Huntsville area home, and is timed with our annual Small Business Awards Celebration, scheduled for September 1 at the Von Braun Center. Pictured on the front cover is Jan Smith of S3, Inc., our 2008 recipient of the Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year award. We encourage you to watch very closely Huntsville’s growing role in foreign military sales (FMS). As a result of the most recent Base Realignment & Closure process, the headquarters of the United States Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) is relocating to Redstone Arsenal, and with it, the role of the Huntsville area as an active player in international business markets continues to grow. You can read more about USASAC/FMS beginning on page 23. Also in this Initiatives is an update article on BRAC, and special stories on Huntsville’s attractiveness to young professionals (YPs), Teledyne Brown Engineering and Intuitive Research. In our economic development highlights section you’ll find updates on Analytical Services, Applied Data Trends, Draper Laboratory and Dynetics, among others. Whether they are now large or still small, each of the companies listed above began as a small business, each planning wisely and working hard to achieve success. Please join us on September 1 at the Von Braun Center as we celebrate the achievements of these and many other small businesses who did know where they wanted to go, and made the right decisions to get there!

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

August 2009 Initiatives

Irma Tuder, Chair, Analytical Services Don Nalley, Chair-Elect, Beason & Nalley Evans Quinlivan, Immediate Past Chair 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 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, Booz Allen Hamilton 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

community profile

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS

Population

Madison County

2000 Census

276,700 158,216

29,329

342,376

Current Estimate*

319,510

38,275

395,570

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

*May 2009

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 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

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August 2009 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2009

August 2009 Initiatives

Legislative Updates Keep Business Community Informed The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recently hosted several legislative updates, including Washington Updates with U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and Congressman Parker Griffith; and the Alabama Update with Gov. Bob Riley. The events are designed for the speakers to inform local business leaders about current issues that may impact the Huntsville/Madison County community. Each of the events were sold out and drew and average attendance of 1,100 people.

Initiatives August 2009

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

ASI Breaks Ground on Second Building in CRP Analytical Services Inc. (ASI) recently broke ground on its second facility in Cummings Research Park. When complete, the new facility will be roughly 27,000 square feet and will house both ASI and two fellow subsidiaries of parent company ASRC Federal, ASRC Aerospace Corporation and ASRC Research & Technology Solutions. “ASI in many ways represents what is so unique about this community, the belief that anyone can envision and create a sustainable business that attracts great people. And when you hire people who feel invested into the company, they extend and develop that vision and take the company to even higher levels. I can say with great certainty that is the case with ASI, as evidenced by what we are doing here today,” said Irma Tuder, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors and founder of ASI. Tuder founded ASI 17 years ago as a federal contractor providing engineering and management support to the federal government. ASI was purchased by ASRC Federal in 2007, making it part of nine subsidiaries. Cynthia Achorn, former president of ASI and current Chief Strategy Officer for ASRC Federal, spoke on its behalf. “At ASI I went from a program manager to a director to a vice president to president and now I am a senior representative with ASRC Federal. It just makes you imagine what all you can do with this company,” Achorn said. “We are committed to investing in Huntsville and committed to our employees.” Ken Barnett, ASI president, said he was excited to begin construction on the new building and said he hopes to outgrow it just like the other building.

John Horan, President of ASRC Aerospace; Cynthia Achorn, Chief Strategy Officer of ASRC Federal; Irma Tuder, Chamber of Commerce Board Chair and ASI Founder; Ken Barnett, President of ASI; Mayor Tommy Battle; and Greg Einfalt, President of ASRC Research & Technology turn over dirt at ASI’s groundbreaking cermony for its second building in CRP. “I’m eager to start building,” Barnett said. “Thanks to the employees and the efforts you put forth. We wouldn’t be here without you. I ask that you continue to support our customers and our community.” Mayor Tommy Battle congratulated the company on its growth.

“This really is an amazing day. You have done some great things over the years and are truly one of the companies that make this community so great. In just 17 years you have built something that will go on for many more years,” Battle said. •

O&S Holdings Announces Expansion at BSTC O&S Holdings, the development firm that manages Bridge Street Town Centre, renewed its commitment to Huntsville/Madison County by announcing plans to continue expanding by adding a new office tower as well as new amenities to the Westin. Construction on a new six-story, 130,000 square-foot building is expected to begin early next year. The new office building will mirror the current building that was recently rented by CSC. When consolidations are completed, 400 CSC employees will work at Bridge Street. The new tower represents an investment of some $35 million. Garry Safady, managing partner of O&S Holdings, said the announcement is great news in light of the current national downturn in the market. “In today’s market, it is a wonderful experience to be able to announce something so great for this community,” he said. Safady added that he is already taking pre-leasing offers. In addition to the new tower, plans are underway to create six professional-level tennis courts and an executive putting green for the Westin’s guests as well as those who pay to use the facilities. Safady also announced that a major department store is being contacted about possibly becoming a tenant. While Safady would not go into details because of confidentiality agreements, he did say it would require 100,000 to 200,000 square feet. Company officials say that a department store at Bridge Street has been one of the most frequently requested types of stores. • 14

August 2009 Initiatives

Applied Data Trends Celebrates 15 Years in Business and Growth with Ribbon Cutting Applied Data Trends (ADT), a locally-owned defense contractor specializing in software development, celebrated 15 years of business in Huntsville and continued growth with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Cummings Research Park. Ron Poteat, vice chair for investor relations of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Board of Directors, congratulated the company on its accomplishments. “This is not only a great day for the founders and employees of ADT, but also for the community as we celebrate the success and growth of a company that in so many ways is symbolic of a community that is truly identified as a smart place to live, work and play,” Poteat said. “I am proud to say that over the past 15 years ADT has certainly enhanced our community’s image.” ADT, which started in 1994 amid sharp budget cuts to

military spending, developed a niche market and now has revenues of $27 million. The company’s lead product, Tacti- L-R: Ron Poteat, vice chair for investor relations for the Chamber of Commerce Board of cal Office® Software TechnolDirectors, presents Applied Data Trends CEO Derrick Copeland a plaque commemorating the ogy, serves as the core for all company’s 15 years in business. Army Air and Missile Defense Command Post Force Operations. The company added some have grown a lot since then and have been recognized for 50 employees this past year bringing its total headcount to our success, but the chaos has never stopped and neither 170, according to ADT president Derrick Copeland, who was have the opportunities.” the 2007 winner of Entrepreneur of the Year at the Chamber’s Those new opportunities have led to increased business Small Business Awards Celebration. which in turn has led to the company winning numerous “We have a principle that success is not the key to happiawards and recognitions. ADT was ranked on the Inc. 500 ness; happiness is the key to success,” Copeland said. “When list of fastest growing private companies in the nation at I started my business 15 years ago, at the age of 29, people No. 101 in 2001 and in 2005 the company was named thought I was crazy to start a business amid all the chaos [of Small Business of the Year in the technology category by budget cuts for the military]. Chaos is really opportunity. We the Chamber. •

Huntsville Hospital Ranked 9th Largest System in Nation Huntsville Hospital was recently ranked ninth largest public healthcare system in the nation by Modern Healthcare, a national healthcare business news weekly magazine. The list, featured in the June 15 issue, ranked hospital systems by the number of staffed acute-care beds reported in a 2009 survey. Huntsville Hospital was ninth on the list with 912 beds. It was the only system with two or fewer hospitals to make the top ten. •

Business Travelers to Fly Direct from Rocket City to Windy City Huntsville International Airport recently announced United Airlines will offer two new daily roundtrip non-stop flights from Huntsville International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport beginning Sept 2. The flights will be operated on 50-seat regional jets, and will be operated by United Express partner Mesa. “We are thrilled that United is expanding its service at Huntsville International Airport to include Chicago, which will complement its existing daily service to Washington D.C. – Dulles and Denver,” said Mark McDaniel, chairman of the Huntsville International Airport Board of Directors. “Chicago is one of our top 20 markets and a major business travel destination for the Tennessee Valley region, so this additional non-stop service will provide our passengers with more choices when traveling to the Windy City.” • Initiatives August 2009

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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August 2009 Initiatives

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 15

Leading High-Tech Aerospace Research Lab Expands in Huntsville Draper Laboratory, a not-for-profit research and development laboratory that employs more than 850 engineers, scientists and technicians across the country in a broad array of programs for government and commercial sponsors, cut the ribbon on its new facility in Huntsville and announced its expansion in Huntsville. The lab hired 15 people in the last year and Draper officials announced plans to continue growing its presence in Huntsville.

Draper, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., has played an important role in every human spaceflight program since Apollo, including the Space Shuttle and Space Station, and today is working on the Ares-1 crew launch vehicle and other elements of Project Constellation. Darryl Sargent, vice president for programs at Draper Laboratory, said opening operations in Huntsville was an important move for the lab because of the work at Redstone Arsenal. “With the opportunity to work directly with Marshall on the Ares-1, the Laboratory made a strategic decision to open an office in Huntsville. It seems particularly appropriate that we are opening this office just as the nation prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing in July,” said Sargent. “We are proud to be part of the community of scientists and engineers that develop our nation’s space systems and provide the technology for our nation’s defense. We are looking forward to contributing our ideas and technologies to the needs of Marshall Space Flight Center, the Army and MDA here in Huntsville.” Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, welcomed Draper to the community. “I am proud to say that Draper Laboratory is enhancing our community’s image as a leading technology area – where innovation, entrepreneurship and technology have met and continue to forge our future. We are defined in many ways by the technology and the genius of those who helped put America into space and man on the moon,” Nalley said. We are so fortunate to have become a research and development hub for technology.” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said Huntsville is a great fit for the lab. “We are very excited to have you here. This city is made for R&D and made for technology. This city is a great fit for Draper,” Battle said. “And we look forward to helping you grow and become an even bigger part of the community.” •

Darryl Sargent, vice president for programs at Draper Laboratory, explains that opening operations in Huntsville was an important move for the lab because of the work at Redstone Arsenal.

Supervisory Development

Begins September 21

If your goal as a supervisor, manager, or team leader is to increase individual and organizational productivity, then updating your skills is a must. Your ability to supervise effectively plays a big role in earning co-workers’ respect, efficiently running day-to-day operations, and moving your organization forward. Knowing yourself and your team, combined with effective communication, is key to a successful operation. This three-course certificate program provides new and experienced supervisors the tools and skills for building confidence in leadership roles within the workplace, resulting in the enhanced productivity of teams. Courses include:

• Principles of Supervision • Understanding Human Relations at Work

• Effective Communication: The Key to Success

Build leaders for your company! We can present these courses on a customized basis to meet your organization’s specific needs. Contact JoAnn.Jones@uah.edu or 256.824.6372 for details.

Project Management

Begins September 17

Tangible evidence of project management professional proficiency is a global industry standard. All four courses are designed to focus on the practical application of project management concepts, particularly in a government/contractor environment. You will immediately acquire the knowledge and tools needed to get your projects completed successfully. Courses Include:

• Project Management Foundation • Project Quality and Risk Management

professional Development An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution

• Project Scope, Cost and Schedule Management • Project Procurement and Contracting Management

The University of Alabama in Huntsville www.ConEd.uah.edu • 256.824.6015 • pdinfo@uah.edu

Phone or visit our website today for complete details and easy registration! Initiatives August 2009

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 17

Standard and Poor’s Upgrades Huntsville Forbes Names Huntsville a Top Place for Recession Recovery Utilities Water Bond Rating to AAA Citing low water rates and solid operating procedures, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) has upgraded Huntsville Utilities water bond rating from AA+ to AAA. Strong economic development within the system’s service area was also cited as a contributing factor. Other points influencing the rating agency’s opinion included the water system’s low water rate compared to regional and national peers, solid financial performance, strong management team and expanding customer base with above-average wealth and income levels. “This credit rating is a positive signal to the community and the financial sector that Huntsville Utilities has one of the very best water systems in America,” said Bill Pippin, CEO of Huntsville Utilities. The rating agency profiled local businesses with strong growth in the area as well as the low 2008 average unemployment rate and strong buying income levels as contributing factors to the area’s strength. S&P also noted the water system serves more than 82,000 customers within the city limits as well as supplying other area retail water providers. The analysis mentioned that “management has put tremendous effort into cost reduction” as well as noting “the water system has some of the lowest operating costs compared with those of its regional peers.” Over the years, the water department has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and Gov. Bob Riley for exceptional water quality and service to its customers. •

Forbes recently named Huntsville the No. 4 Best Place for Recession Recovery in the Nation. The report highlights Huntsville’s economy being high-tech as well as the presence of Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the U.S. and fourth largest in the world, and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. To determine the 10 cities poised for recovery, Forbes used data on gross domestic product from Moody’s Economy.com, unemployment and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home prices and affordability from the National Association of Homebuilders and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data are for Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Forbes wrote the following: “In a recession characterized by battered housing, banking and manufacturing markets, having an economy with a heavy focus on technology helps. Huntsville is home to one of the country’s largest research parks and a major NASA center (not to mention Space Camp).” Forbes has recognized Huntsville and Madison County several times in the past year, including: • “Leading Cities for Business,” April 2009 • “Top Five Cites for Defense Jobs,” April 2009 • “Best Place to Live to Weather the Economic Downturn” •

Appleton Learning selected as National Finalist for Dell / NFIB Small Business Excellence Award Dell and NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses) announced that Appleton Learning was one of only 10 companies nationally selected to be a finalist for the Small Business Excellence Award. This award recognizes small businesses that innovatively use technology to improve their customer experience and overall operations. The Huntsville company was selected out of more than 3,000 companies nationally for the honor. MBA students at George Washington University’s School of Business helped select the winner. Appleton, a tutoring and test prep provider, was selected as a finalist based on its innovative custom software system. “It is very unusual for a local tutoring company of our size to have invested in the creation of a completely new type of software. Our system allows us to manage hundreds of tutoring sessions efficiently and with a better customer experience than otherwise would be possible,” Glenn Clayton, founder, said. • 18

August 2009 Initiatives

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Initiatives August 2009

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 19

U.S. Space & Rocket Center Wins Star Wars Exhibit

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center was selected to host Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. The exhibit is expected to have a major impact on both the state and local economies as thousands of tourists come to experience the exhibit.

August 2009 Initiatives

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center recently kicked off a oneyear campaign to welcome its newest exhibit to Alabama’s top tourist attraction. The world-renowned Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit will enter the Rocket City in July 2010. “We’ve got a year to get ready, so we’re going to have some fun with it,” said Larry Capps, the Space & Rocket Center’s CEO. “I suspect you may see some of the Star Wars characters pop up at venues across the state and all around the Southeast promoting this,” he added. At 12,000 square feet, it is the largest temporary exhibit in the Space Center’s history. It will fill the center’s original museum building with costumes, models and props from all six movies in the Star Wars saga, along with many interactive exhibits, hands-on displays and laboratories where guests can conduct their own scientific experiments on magnetic levitation and experience augmented virtual reality. Even a replica of the Millennium Falcon cockpit will be a part of the exhibit, where guests can experience a multimedia presentation about making the jump to light speed. Visitors will be able to see footage from the Star Wars saga and investigate the numerous parallels between technologies in the films and those in the real world. They will explore prototypes in progress and learn about the engineers and designers who are creating new technologies. Throughout the exhibit, visitors will learn about similarities between how scientists and filmmakers think. “This is a major coup for us. We’ve wanted this exhibit here for several years, and we’re delighted to be able to bring it to the Space & Rocket Center,” Capps said. In fact, it is a coup for all of Alabama. This exhibit is expected to draw thousands of additional visitors, which could translate into a substantial increase in sales for area hotels, restaurants and other attractions. Space Center officials are teaming up with the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and the Alabama Department of Tourism to maximize the potential benefit statewide as an effort to bring vacationing families to Alabama next summer. “From the mountains to the beaches, from Shakespeare to the space program, there’s so much to see and do in Alabama,” said Holly Beach, the USSRC’s vice president of marketing. “We see this as a means of bringing in additional families to spend a night or two here in North Alabama, and then perhaps continue their vacation through Birmingham, Montgomery, right down to the beaches,” she added. “We also anticipate a lot of families will schedule their time at Space Camp around a visit just to see this exhibit,” Beach said. “You’d be amazed at how many parents drive their children to our camp, drop them off and then spend the week in Florida or somewhere else before coming back for graduation. This gives us a better chance to direct them to some of the other attractions in Alabama, and keep them in Alabama a little longer.” •

~ highlights compiled by John Southerland & Harrison Diamond

Admin Taps Local Company for Input on Cyber Security Some local companies will benefit from increased spending for new defense initiatives - particularly cyber security. Such is the case for Huntsville-based Sentar, Inc. The company recently provided research on the topic for the Obama Administration’s official Cyberspace Policy Review. “Cyber security is a very high priority for President Obama,” said Peter Kiss, CEO and founder of Sentar, Inc. Obama directed a 60-day, comprehensive, “clean-slate” review to assess U.S. policies and structures for cyber security. Cyber security policy includes strategy, policy and standards regarding the security of and operations in cyberspace, and encompasses the full range of threat reduction, vulnerability reduction, deterrence, international engagement, incident response, resiliency, and recovery policies and activities, including computer network operations, information assurance, law enforcement, diplomacy, military and intelligence missions as they relate to the security and stability of the global information and communications infrastructure. Sentar representatives also serve as members of various federal level committees that shape strategy and policy objectives for the Administration, and Sentar is considered a “thought leader” in cyber security. The company was recently named one of the two prime contractors for the STARS-IO contract, which has a potential value of $24 million. Under that contract, Sentar will provide security-related analysis, test, evaluation and assessment support and program support for Department of Defense programs across information assurance, information operations and computer network defense activities. •

Dynetics Wins Contract from Defense Intelligence Agency’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center The Defense Intelligence Agency/Missile and Space Intelligence Center (DIA/MSIC) recently awarded Dynetics a contract valued at $89 million to provide Defensive Systems Analysis. This is the fourth consecutive competitive win of this contract for Dynetics and marks the company’s 34th continuous year of support to DIA/MSIC. Dynetics will provide MSIC with technical analysis to assess the physical characteristics, performance, signatures, vulnerabilities and employment of Foreign Surface to Air Missile Systems, anti-tactical ballistic missile defense and ballistic missile defense systems. “Dynetics is honored to continue supporting DIA/MSIC in this challenging and important Scientific and Technical Intelligence mission area,” said Dr. Marc Bendickson, CEO of Dynetics. •

Initiatives August 2009

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:

Breakfast & Biz June 16, sponsored by and located at Grille 29 in Providence.

Photo by J. Hanshaw Photography © Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Members enjoyed a great breakfast, networking and new business opportunities at the second B&B of 2009.

Summer Chamber Golf Classic June 26, presented by S3 – located at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Hampton Cove. SAIC had the winning team and Trideum’s Kurt Lessmann won a $1,000 travel voucher from Huntsville International Airport.

Business After Hours June 30, sponsored by and located at The Westin at Bridge Street Town Centre. The room was filled to capacity with about 500 Chamber members, who used the opportunity to network and meet potential clients. Chamber members benefit from networking events, electronic and printed publications, educational programs for small business and perhaps most importantly, the knowledge that they are part of a collective effort to establish Huntsville/Madison County as a stronger, more visible community in the global competition for economic growth.

August 2009 Initiatives

Huntsville Prepares Welcome Mat for U.S. Friends and Allies Thanks to BRAC Move

s a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act that will move thousands of jobs to Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville and Madison County, the community will have the distinct opportunity to host dignitaries from around the world that have the authority and the ability to purchase million-dollar defense systems and services for their countries. These prominent visitors will have high expectations for their trip to the United States Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters for foreign military sales. Huntsville is an international city in its own right dating back to Wernher von Braun and his German rocket team calling the city home. With cosmopolitan residents and world class infrastructure and entities, the North Alabama region is a globally competitive community, but is all this visible to a first time foreign visitor upon arrival? Now is the time to make preparations for these special visitors and extend some true Southern Hospitality, according to one expert who knows first-hand the ins and outs of hosting, meeting and negotiating with foreign countries for sales of weapons and supplies. In fact, more than charm and hospitality are needed to make these guests feel welcome in the Rocket City. Participants at the 26th Annual World Trade Day Luncheon in Huntsville, hosted by the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA) and the Madison County Commission, heard firsthand what the community must do to embrace the opportunity of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) moving to town and the inherent challenges that come with this move. This command is the Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focal point for all Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and the command is scheduled to finalize its move to Redstone Arsenal by 2011. NAITA had the honor of hosting that expert, Maj. Gen. (Retired) Bruce Scott, the former Commanding General of USASAC and current President of ITT Defense International, who was the World Trade Day keynote speaker. Scott has the unique perspective of Scott having led USASAC when it was headquartered at Ft. Belvoir, Va. He serves in private industry selling defense products and services to the U.S. Government for transfer to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allies through Security Assistance. Having hosted foreign dignitaries as the head of USASAC in Virginia, Scott shared his insight on what the community should consider in hosting these foreign visitors. Scott emphasized that the initial arrival at Huntsville International Airport must go smoothly to meet or exceed expectations. The foreign dignitaries who visit will be accustomed to arriving at Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., being met by drivers, diplomats, and staff of their own Embassy to help make them feel right at home while making a nice transition to the U.S. Since these Embassies will not be relocating to Huntsville, this will not be the case here. Currently, Huntsville International Airport signs continued on page 27 Initiatives August 2009

Getting into the FMS Game:

FMS & Security Assistance at Redstone Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is a big game with players from 140 different Armies, 47 Air Forces, 26 Navies and 26 other country entities – leading to strength in cooperation around the world. The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) currently manages 4,306 FMS cases valued at $95.5 billion. From 1994-2004, USASAC cases averaged $3.6 billion; in 20052006, sales were greater than $5 billion; in 2007 sales were more than $9 billion; 2008 sales exceeded $14.5 billion ($5.4B in support of Iraq and Afghanistan); and in the first quarter of 2009, sales were already valued at $13.5 billion. These rapidly growing sales figures indicate that there is increasing business and more activity in this realm. The increase in regional conflicts around the world has led to the large increase in FMS cases – reflected in the increased contract awards for these cases. As the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s (AMC) executive agent for Security Assistance (SA)/Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, USASAC executes the security assistance mission in accordance with policies established by Congress and the Departments of State and Defense. USASAC, which is moving to Redstone Arsenal as a result of 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), is responsible for life cycle program management of all Army Foreign Military Sales and assigned security cooperation materiel programs, and it enables other Army implementing agencies’ FMS efforts in support of U.S. national interests. USASAC handles the transfer of defense articles and services and military training. The Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) – led 24

August 2009 Initiatives

by Dr. Thomas Pieplow, director – is responsible for managing the transfer and sustainment of 24 Army aviation and missile systems to more than 70 foreign nations and organizations. SAMD – one of several subordinate commands of USASAC – accomplishes its mission at Redstone Arsenal with a multicultural staff of more than 250 specialists who have consistently realized annual sales in excess of $3 billion and growing. While other commands are also involved, AMCOM is a major player in the FMS game, accounting for a large amount of total army sales to allied forces and friendly foreign nations. continued on page 41

BRAC Update Editor’s Note: Working with the commands at Redstone Arsenal, Initiatives will continue to provide periodic updates on the status of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) activities occurring at Redstone Arsenal. The updates will include the status and photos of facilities construction and personnel moves and timelines, along with other information of note.

Progress continues to be made related to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) moves to Redstone Arsenal as facilities and position transfers remain on track to be completed and implemented by the close of fiscal year 2011. To accommodate the BRAC jobs moving onto the installation, nearly 1.5 million square feet of office buildings at a cost of approximately $435M will be constructed on Redstone Arsenal. Almost 1,700 of the nearly 4,700 “BRAC jobs” have already transitioned to Redstone as of May 2009. The U.S. Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade Headquarters and the U.S. Army 2nd Medical Recruiting Battalion Headquarters are the first success stories. Both organizations are fully operational with new facilities and all personnel in place. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will account for more than 2,200 of the BRAC relocating jobs. The first phase of MDA’s Von Braun Complex III building is on schedule to be completed in mid 2010; the second phase will be finished in late 2010. The relocation of the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) and the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) will bring another 1,700 federal jobs. There are already about 300 AMC and USASAC personnel here at Redstone. Construction of the headquarters is on track; starting in June, steel construction is well underway as evidenced by the crane now in place to move the steel beams. The AMC/ USASAC building is expected to be complete by early 2011. While several hundred AMC/ USASAC jobs will transfer to Redstone during 2009, the majority of the job transfers will coincide with the opening of the new Headquarters facilities. The final BRAC construction projects are the headquarters and hangar facilities for a new organization, the Redstone Technical Center, created by the merger of the Fort Rucker-based Aviation Technical Test Center and the Redstone Arsenal-based Redstone Technical Test Center. There are two projects funded and planned for construction: a hangar/flight test support facility to house the additional aircraft, maintenance shops, and laboratories; and an administrative facility to facilitate the merger. The contract to construct both projects is scheduled to be awarded by the end of July. • Mike Ward

Photo 1: Construction of the four-star Army Materiel Command facility at Redstone is underway and on target. The relocation of AMC and the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command will bring about 1,700 federal jobs to the community. Photo 2: Photo 2: Not all construction at Redstone is confined to the 2005 BRAC. Construction is underway on the Department of Justice’s new National Center for Explosives Training and Research. The facility will be completed in 2010 and consist of three explosives ranges, eight classrooms, laboratories, a conference facility and office space.

Photos 3 & 4: Two views of the ongoing construction of the Missile Defense Agency’s Von Braun III 800,000-plus square foot facility. The construction will be done in two phases with both being completed in late 2010. The entire Von Braun federal complex will hold more than 5,000 employees. Initiatives August 2009

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Huntsville Prepares Welcome Mat, continued from page 23 – are in English, which is a major business language around the world, but it may not be the language of the entire travelling party, Scott said. Rental cars and hotel rooms should be more plentiful, as these groups may want to rent an entire fleet of cars or a floor of rooms. Hotel staff, others in the hospitality industry, and business people should be prepared to welcome these visitors who may have special needs. An awareness and ability to meet those needs must be fostered, which in itself may be a tremendous business opportunity for entrepreneurs in the community, Scott said. “First and foremost is cultural sensitivity,” according to Scott, “and taking time to let them get to know you.” Local hosts should be aware of obvious issues like language of the travelers and special diets, but there are also less obvious issues like holy days in foreign countries and needs of the family and entourage who may travel with the delegation to the U.S. The accompanying family and staff will often want to spend extended time here – to see sites, dine in restaurants, and tour the area. And that is where the Huntsville/Madison County community may have a great advantage. As Scott pointed out, “the warmth of this com-

munity is far greater than in D.C,” and he said Huntsville has “a tremendous advantage being a great town with lots to offer.” Scott called attention to some of Huntsville’s star attractions, including the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Bridge Street Town Centre, and the new Westin hotel – as well as the warmth and hospitality of the entire North Alabama community compared to the National Capital Region. Possible solutions to the challenges faced by the community as a result of USASAC’s move include a partnership of entities, like the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Chambers from across the Tennessee Valley, NAITA, and Team Redstone helping to educate the community on international business and cultural issues. Several existing organizations, including the International Services Council of Alabama, Huntsville International Society, and various cultural groups may also get involved in working with the city, county, and others to accommodate our distinguished guests. General Scott suggested working with international groups in the community who could provide assistance for visitors from the same part of the world. International business takes time, espe-

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cially when dealing with the large contracts involved in FMS cases (see FMS and Security Assistance at Redstone on page 24). USASAC handled about $14 billion in contracts in 2008, and earlier this year they had already surpassed that amount with an additional $7 billion worth of contracts. The U.S. Government is working to train and equip foreign militaries to take care of their responsibilities, and USG takes very seriously the relationship between the two countries when negotiating these sales. The bottom line is that FMS impacts national security strategy goals. For Huntsville, a positive first impression and continued positive visits will go far in creating relationships and future economic development benefits for the community. As has been shown in the past thanks to the presence of more than 50 foreign-owned businesses in the Huntsville/ Madison County community, the sky is not the limit for international business in Huntsville, and the dollar volume of FMS cases handled here is equally limitless. • Amanda P. Berkey Sr. International Trade Specialist Madison County Commission/NAITA Planning & Economic Development

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Winning Over YPs Bridges Changes Hearts, Minds About Huntsville Area The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Bridges program provides information to young professionals about living, working and playing in the community. However, the program is also an opportunity for the community and the Chamber to receive information from YP’s to better promote the community as a smart place to live, work and play. To date, Bridges has served seven classes of co-ops, interns and recent college graduates in the past three years, and many of them have gone on to give back to the Chamber and the community. The following five Bridges participants were selected to share their thoughts about the Huntsville/Madison County community as well as the Bridges program:

Amanda Elliot

Junior Designer, Panciera Design BFA in Graphic Design, Auburn University, 2008 Bridges Class 6 Growing up, I felt like Huntsville had little to offer to young people. I honestly came back thinking Huntsville would be an interim between college and my first job. I started working at Panciera and quickly found that much had changed during my time at Auburn. I am currently involved in several organizations that I would not have found out about had it not been for the Bridges program, and I really enjoy living in Huntsville. Like most other YPs, I am looking for a fun, energetic city that is easy to get around and keeps me entertained without breaking the bank. I think Huntsville offers a lot. There is always something going on. You may have to look a little harder than in bigger cities, but there are plenty of things to do. Huntsville has a ton of wonderful local restaurants featuring live music, great food and local beers. 28

August 2009 Initiatives

Amanda Elliot cleans a donated toy at Christmas Charities, part of a Bridges service project. Bridges reminded me of things that I had forgotten about during my five years away at Auburn and clued me in to things I didn’t even know existed. While going through the Bridges program I learned that Research Park is one of the largest in the country, about the Huntsville Land Trust and the Arts Council and many other organizations and volunteer opportunities.

Charleen Laughlin

Senior Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton BS in engineering, Olin College, 2007. Pursuing dual master’s degrees in engineering and business administration through Purdue & Indiana Universities. Bridges Class 4 I’m an Army brat, so I was lucky enough to grow up all over the world. My parents retired here when I went off to college, so after I graduated, I moved here to be closer to my

family. I also knew Huntsville was a great place to start my career as an engineer. In Boston, I lived within walking distance of restaurants, theaters, and stores, but my commute was an hour each way and the cost of living was very expensive. Huntsville is smaller and more spread out, but still offers many of the same amenities you’d find in a bigger city, like museums, malls, and diverse restaurants. Living here is very affordable, especially compared to Boston; my husband and I were able to buy a house sooner than we might have elsewhere. Huntsville also offers many opportunities to get involved, whether this means taking art classes, volunteering, or joining a lacrosse team. Working in Huntsville is particularly exciting because we are a technology/engineering center that serves so many different markets, from defense to biomedical. The work is challenging and incredibly relevant: what we do matters and that is both fulfilling and motivating. Personally, I really enjoy working for Booz Allen, partly because of its employee focus and corporate values, but also because Huntsville is an exciting place to be right now with any employer. Bridges introduced me to aspects of

Adam Kimberlin and Charleen Laughlin participate in the ropes course at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center as part of the Bridges program.

Huntsville I did not know about, like the local music and theater scene. I also learned about different organizations where I could get involved to meet other young people, like Huntsville Young Professionals.

Adam Kimberlin

NASA Co-op Senior studying mechanical engineering at Tennessee Technological University Bridges Class 4 In terms of ‘live,’ Huntsville has got it right. Cost of living and infrastructure are fantastic. The museums here are great and the public areas such as Bridge Street are excellent places to just get out and relax, catch a movie, shop, eat, etc. For ‘work,’ I look for things out of the ordinary. I look for tasks that are constantly changing and making me adapt. Fortunately, I have been able to say that my job here has been nothing short of a passion ever since I started last year. With that said, there are interesting jobs floating around all over this city, so it wouldn’t be hard to find something to like. I really enjoy the outdoors so this area is heaven for me. I like to go caving whenever I get the chance and I also like to go hiking. There are some really nice trails at Monte Sano State Park and then there are places a little ways outside of town like the Walls of Jericho near Hytop, which is an absolutely amazing hike. Then there are things like rock climbing and whitewater rafting that are very close by. We usually try to get a group of interns here at Marshall to go rafting at some point during the summer. Last summer, we had roughly 40 people raft the Olympic section of the Ocoee and they all had a blast. When I first moved here, I had really never even heard of Huntsville to be totally honest; however, I knew that this town was far from ordinary from the moment I drove into town and saw the mighty Saturn V along the interstate and then all the companies in Cummings Research Park. Then through the Chamber’s Bridges program and NASA’s orientations, I got a glimpse at how truly

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Bridges Built to Help, continued from page 29 –

Craig Gilmore (center, standing) and his teammates complete a challenge on the ropes course at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a component of the Bridges “play” day.

amazing this town really is. Then, the statistics you hear really stick in your mind. Seeing how this city stacks up against other cities around the country really gives you a feel for how fortunate you are to be living here. Even though Huntsville’s glory days were back in the 60s and 70s, I think this town has yet to see its finest hour, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I love this city and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Craig Gilmore

Project Manager, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. BA Electrical Engineering with a concentration in computer science, Alabama A&M University, 2006. Bridges Class 7 Born and raised in Detroit, I was attracted here by the affordability of Alabama A&M University’s accredited courses in electrical engineering. I look for diversity in a community and like being around people with different backgrounds and opinions. I enjoy most being around people when the only thing that is common is the drive to want more in life. Bridges provided me with more resources that I never knew existed in the city. There is much more to do than meets the eye, and Huntsville gives you more “bang for your buck” than most cities. Although I have only lived in Detroit and Huntsville, I frequently visit other cities, especially larger metropolitan cities, and they make me appreciate Huntsville more each time. • Compiled by Lucia Cape

For more information and to submit your application for the Bridges program: www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA. com/workforce/bridges.html Contact Mitzi Floyd for more information: mfloyd@hsvchamber.org 30

August 2009 Initiatives

Teledyne Brown Engineering Expands its Legacy as a Leading Technology-Based Engineering and Manufacturing Company

t a time when advanced manufacturing is experiencing a downturn, Huntsville’s Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., is bucking the national trend by capturing the title of Alabama’s Large Manufacturer of the Year and expanding its manufacturing business. “Manufacturing has become about onefifth of our total business revenue in Huntsville,” Geveden said. “We had 50 to 60 people in manufacturing in 2007. Today we are at 300. Not only are we going against the trend, we are in a growth trajectory and we expect that to continue.” Why is this company different from other manufacturing companies? One reason could be that Teledyne Brown continues to be a leading technology innovator. It has carved a niche for itself as a mid-sized, agile company that can take a napkin sketch, transform it into a design, develop a prototype and manufacture the product at either of its two manufacturing plants. “That is definitely a competitive differen-

Nuclear waste storage containers, pictured, are an example of nuclear-qualified manufacturing done by Teledyne Brown. They are used by Washington Savannah River Company to store high-level nuclear waste material in vitrified glass.

tiator for us,” Geveden said. “It is a strategy of ours to tie engineering and manufacturing together. This allows us to manufacture highly engineered complex systems in support of Department of Defense (DoD), NASA and nuclear products.” An example of this strategy is the company’s contract to build a Joint Material Decontamination System (JDMS) for DoD. The system will handle chemical, biological, and nuclear decontamination of sensitive electronic equipment, electronics, and enclosed areas. Teledyne Brown is taking this project from concept to manufactured hardware to field support and operations. The company recently shipped its 100th PAC-3 Missile Round Trainer (MRT) to the U.S. Army. These simulator training units – when redesigned by Teledyne Brown shortened the production schedule and reduced costs. Geveden pointed out other areas of TBE’s manufacturing focus: • Hardware for space programs such as external payloads and equipment on the International Space Station, for example, and roll control motors for the Ares I rockets; • Nuclear, which constitutes the biggest percentage of sales associated with the production of gas centrifuge models; and • Commercial “This is a priority for us too. The other companies in Teledyne Technologies (TBE’s parent company) see us as the manufacturing hub.” Teledyne Brown’s manufacturing expertise is paying off in statewide recognition. The company was recently selected Alabama’s “Manufacturer of the Year” in the large manufacturer category by The Alabama Technology Network and the Business Council of Alabama. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley gave the award in recognition of a company’s superior performance in the areas of operational excellence,

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Teledyne Brown Engineering, continued from page 31 –

ABOVE: The AQS-20 Towed Body Mid-Section, shown, is being machined at Teledyne Brown’s manufacturing facilities under contract to Raytheon’s AQS-20A program. BELOW (l-r): Bill Canary, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Gov. Bob Riley, TBE’s President Rex Geveden and Alabama Technology Network President Mike Bailey celebrate TBE being named “Large Manufacturer of the Year” in Alabama.

leadership, profitable growth, continuous improvement, customer focus, employee commitment and investment in training and retraining. “Huntsville has a reputation for excellence in engineering and analysis. This award is an indication of Huntsville and North Alabama’s emergence as a manufacturing power in the southeast,” Geveden said. Business Council of Alabama president and CEO Bill Canary praised TBE for its ability to respond to changes in the marketplace. “In a field of strong competition, Teledyne Brown’s close attention to shifts in a dynamic marketplace, and its ability to respond rapidly while staying focused on quality and customer service were among its many strengths,” said Canary. Five other Madison County companies were nominated for this year’s award: STI Electronics, Phoenix Industries, ADTRAN, PPG and Tara Manufacturing. “To win with this kind of competition is really something,” Geveden said. “And they are all great companies – we are fortunate that we do not compete in the same space with any of them.” Geveden emphasized that the company’s success, including the manufacturing segment, is thanks to the hard work and competence of its employees. The company has been very pro-active in attracting a workforce that is highly skilled and shares its corporate vision. Innovation applies here as well. Teledyne Brown recently remodeled its facilities to modernize their appearance adding hardwood flooring and contemporary furnishings. It offers employees an incentivized wellness program, oncampus gym, exercise classes, a styling salon, a 10-year management training program for junior employees, and an engineering fellows program as well. It could be the reason why the company captured another award recently – one of Huntsville’s 2009 Best Places to Work. • John Southerland

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August 2009 Initiatives

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*2006 Economic Impact Study, University of Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research Initiatives August 2009

Small Business: Foundation of Economic Growth the number of small business owners has actually increased during a national economic recession, according to Joanne Randolph, president of the Women’s Business Center of North Alabama (WBCNA). “The demand for our services is up. Last year, the WBCNA counseled and trained more than 1,300 individuals,” she said. People start new businesses for many reasons: control of their own destiny; they are tired of being “right-sized”; or they simply want to be their own boss. Because of the strong aerospace and defense industry in this region, many budding entrepreneurs start a business to do business with government. In addition, Randolph says that she is starting to see a growing trend in people starting homebased businesses because they want to work from home and are tired of commuting. Whatever the industry, small business owners face many challenges. While many start a business based on a skill or a trade they know continued on page 37

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wning a business is a dream for many. But, it takes someone with an ironclad stomach to actually turn the dream into a reality and become a hero to those who wish they had the guts to do it. Small business owners employ more than half of the American workforce and account for nearly 60 percent of the net new jobs created annually. Locally, those numbers don’t change much. According to the latest figures released by the Small Business Administration, small businesses make up almost 90 percent of employers in the state and accounted for almost 50 percent of the net new jobs. The entrepreneurial spirit lies at the core of the Huntsville/Madison County community’s economy and identity. In fact, Huntsville was recognized as an entrepreneur hotspot by Entrepreneur Magazine. And as the U.S. economy shows signs that it is recovering from the recession, clearly it is the local small business owner who can take pride in this accomplishment. And people may be surprised to learn that

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August 2009 Initiatives

Intuitive Research and Technology Celebrates 10 years with National Award

he current year has so far been a year of No. 1’s for Huntsville/Madison County. The City of Huntsville started the year off by receiving Standard & Poor’s highest bond rating possible – AAA. Fast forward a few months later and Huntsville was named the No. 1 City in the Nation by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. But the top recognitions keep coming this way. Huntsville Utilities’ Water Department was also upgraded to Standard & Poor’s highest rating when it was awarded AAA status. But these top rankings are not restricted to the community and public utilities. One of Huntsville’s very own companies – Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation – also secured a top-national ranking. Intuitive recently celebrated 10 years of business and capped off that anniversary by winning the Small Business Administration’s highest honor for contractors – the 2009 National Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year. “Welcome to the House of Intuitive.” That would be a sign that sums up the atmosphere of Intuitive, a local engineering

company founded by long-time friends A.R. “Rey” Almodóvar and Harold R. “Hal” Brewer 10 years ago. Intuitive is not just a business. Instead, it is almost a culture. Almodóvar and Brewer founded Intuitive after long careers in civil service working for The U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC). The two decided to start a business that would be a premiere engineering and analytical services company. What started out as a twoperson operation out of a house turned into a 150-employee, multiple-award winning corporation. But if you ask the two co-founders of Intuitive what has changed in those 10 years, you get a simple answer – “We have more people.” A steady stream of work has led to fast growth for the company. Since its inception, Intuitive has seen annual growth rates of 50 percent. As the company has grown, it has been recognized many times for its work and hiring practices. AARP has twice named Intuitive one of the country’s “50 Best Employers for Workers Over 50,” and the Chamber of Commerce

L-R: Rey Almodóvar, Intuitive CEO; Mitchell Morand, SBA Director of District IV; Hal Brewer, Intuitive president, display the company’s SBA Prime Contractor of the Year Award at a reception held at The Westin in Bridge Street Town Centre.

of Huntsville/Madison County has recognized them as a top employer for the past two years. But Brewer is quick to point out that winning the awards came after hard work. “We have gotten tons of awards but it hasn’t been all glamorous,” says Brewer. “It’s not always easy to find the right people at the right time to quickly respond to customer needs.” Commitment to its customers and employees led to the award from the SBA. Intuitive held a special awards reception in Huntsville after winning the award. Customers, employees and friends of the company all gathered at the Westin to celebrate the SBA win, and also toast to the first decade of business. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle congratulated the company for its accomplishment. “To Intuitive, I say job well done. We just had six of the 10 finalists for ‘Alabama Manufacturer of the Year’ announced from Madison County and now we have Intuitive being named the No. 1 company in the country through the SBA process in the No. 1 city in the nation. We have done well. You have really made us a shining star in the state and we wish you the best of luck,” Battle said. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Deputy to the Commanding General Ronnie Chronister, whom the company explained was instrumental in the nomination of Intuitive for the award, said the win was significant because a Huntsville company received the distinction. “This community would not be what it is without companies like Intuitive. We applaud Intuitive. Now what are you going to do next year?” Mitchell Morand, SBA Director of District IV, formally presented Intuitive the award at the reception. He explained the process of how Intuitive was selected among the thousands of nominees. continued on page 36 Initiatives August 2009

Intuitive Research and Technology, continued from page 35 – “David Seitz of AMCOM submitted information about Intuitive among thousands of firms. Once the nominations were submitted, Intuitive competed with several larger primes across the Southeast [District IV],” Morand said. After Intuitive’s success in the regional competition, the company was eligible to compete for the national honor. “This honor is well deserved. Intuitive won the competition based on it management style and employees – its greatest asset. This award is not just for Intuitive, but this is truly

August 2009 Initiatives

an award for the community,” Morand said. Intuitive has already made plans for the next 10 years as the company continues to grow and look into new opportunities. “I see us bigger in 10 years. We set out to establish a premier engineering and analytical services company. We set up a road map 10 years ago and we have done a good job of following it. I would like to see us move into the non-military industry,” Brewer said. Brewer sees the Department of Defense creating spin-off companies in the community

the way NASA did in the 60s and continues to do today. Almodóvar says Army hardware sustainment will be a major opportunity for the company when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are finished. “I would like to see us less in services and more into hardware. Sustainment of equipment as it comes in from Iraq and Afghanistan will be a large project,” he said. “ If you look at other businesses, once you get to a certain size you need to move into hardware integration in order to sustain your employee base.” No matter what direction the company takes, employees will be at the center of its growth. According to Brewer, Intuitive’s retention rate is 90 percent. Of the 10 percent who leave Intuitive, 90 percent of those go on to work for the government. Those who don’t work for the government might start their own company. “Intuitive has been very fond of mentoring those who start their own companies. If someone has a niche skill, we can use them,” Brewer said. That commitment to employees has made the company a winner two years in a row at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Best Place to Work ceremony. Both laud the support they have gotten from local community leaders and commend the tremendous infrastructure in this area from its universities, banks and insurance companies to real estate companies that know how to support and foster small businesses. Both Almodóvar and Brewer agree that Huntsville provides the near perfect environment for starting up a high -technology business. Ray Kendall has been with the company for seven years. He proudly says that he was employee number 13. He worked at several different engineering firms ranging from small businesses to large corporations. Kendall recalls that when he first joined the company things were still new and he was a bit nervous. “When it was a small company it was a little scary. Rey and Hal’s planning and hard work have kept the company a good place to work,” Kendall said. He said that numbers have been the only thing to change around Intuitive. “We share a lot of pride because we are an engineering company in Huntsville, the engineering Mecca. I feel proud to work here and proud to wear my Intuitive shirt,” Kendall said about the award. • Harrison Diamond

Small Business, continued from page 34 – well such as engineering support services, welding or cosmetology, what they often do not realize is that having the skill and the knowledge in a specific area of expertise is only half of the equation. The real challenge is in learning how to run a successful business. “It is easy to start a business. The hard part is making money and staying in business,” said Randolph. Several years ago, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County formed the Community-wide Small Business Coalition to bring together local organizations that were trying to serve the multitude of needs of small business owners. The Coalition forged partnerships among the participating organizations and quickly determined where there were overlaps and where there were gaps in services. “Our small business members were asking us to help them help themselves and we asked them to tell us what they needed,” said Jenni Jeffers, director of Small Business Services for the Chamber. According to Jeffers, the Chamber’s Small Business programs are carefully designed to provide assistance, information, networking opportunities and opportunities for growth for small and home-based businesses. “As a result of this increased communication and partnering, we have been better able to serve our small business community and provide meaningful help to budding entrepreneurs all the way up to the seasoned small business owner,” she said. Thanks to the increased partnership and a need to provide onsite expertise, in 2008 the WBCNA co-located with the Chamber. Recognized as the 2007 Non-Profit of the Year by the Chamber, WBCNA services include startup assistance and nurturing, counseling and formal mentoring, access to reduced-rate services, referrals to other resources, access to financing, business training, and a ready-made network of contacts. Their flagship program, FastTrac® began as a way to help small business owners delve into every aspect of running a business. “We have people enrolled in these classes that are just getting started all the way up to businesses that have been open for many years and are multi-million dollar industries and many will say I didn’t know what I didn’t know,” said Randolph. This year, many of the organizations supporting small businesses have been focusing on survival in a recession and giving small business owners the tools to not only

survive but to thrive in this tough economy. Much of this effort focuses on marketing and the importance of developing an effective plan. “Often marketing budgets are the first thing to be cut, but the last place they should cut,” said Felicia Sparks, vice president and CFO at Cre8ive Partners. Proof of this is a marketing study conducted by McGraw-Hill in the 1980s that showed companies that maintained or increased their marketing budgets in a recession thrived for years after a recession. The Huntsville economy continues to grow

and opportunities abound for people with smart ideas and smart implementation. Together with fortitude and tenacity, small business owners in Huntsville and Madison County work hard, put their plans to the test, and succeed like no other small business owners in the country. Thanks to those efforts, our community continues to be among the nation’s leaders in job growth and opportunities, proving that small business owners are some of the true heroes in Huntsville. • Loren Traylor

Initiatives August 2009

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

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

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

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

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August 2009 Initiatives

Waving of the Checkered Flag Community, Businesses, Organizations All Win the 2009 TRC Race for the Championship

hat happens when a group of more than 100 highly energized volunteers put pedal to the medal to compete in selling sponsorships and events to companies and organizations while serving to promote economic development? According to 2009 Total Resource Campaign Chair Harry Waugh the answer is simple: “An incredible campaign that benefited participants and the community and far exceeded the top speed reached on any speedway.” The Total Resource Campaign allows companies to efficiently align their marketing budgets with the many sponsorship opportunities for events and publications available through the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County each year. These sponsorships are sold over an eight-week cycle so companies can maximize their return on investment and specifically sponsor events and activities that make the most sense for them. As the Chamber’s 2009 TRC race approached the checkered flag, Waugh announced that a TRC record $1.6 million had been raised. With 14 teams crossing the finish line, the Repeat-O-Fenders driven by co-captains Joe Green, SAIC and Regina Underwood, A Realty Group, led their team to victory by raising $345,843 – another TRC record. Having a record-setting year in an economic downturn illustrates the strength of the Huntsville/Madison County economy, according to Ron Poteat, Regions area president and Chamber vice chair for investor relations. “In these times, it is absolutely amazing what we were able to accomplish through this effort and it speaks to the strength and fabric of our economy and community,” Poteat said at the final victory celebration sponsored by Monaco Pictures. “This outstanding TRC effort, which includes Chamber staff and business volunteers, is perhaps the best TRC in the country. This record year shows that when you put the best and brightest together to accomplish a common goal, nothing can stop the momentum. It is so critical that everyone understand that our economic development growth depends on people like you,” Poteat said. The 2009 campaign surpassed the announced goal of $1.2 million announced in April by almost 35 percent and surpassed the 2008 results by more than $100,000. “This campaign allows our Chamber, which is the lead economic development organization in Huntsville/Madison County, to spend more money on helping grow our economy through targeted industry and workforce recruitment. And this investment also allows organizations the opportunity to more effectively and strategically market their products and services and create more visibility for continued on page 40

ABOVE: Volunteers celebrate record breaking success at Monaco Pictures and commemorate the end of the campaign. LEFT: Chad Rogers and Shannon Drake learn their way around the Chamber during a TRC Chamber challenge. BELOW: Harry Waugh, 2009 TRC Chair, Regions Bank, thanks all of the volunteers and staff for their efforts during the eight week campaign.

Initiatives August 2009

Waving of the Checkered Flag, continued from page 39 – their organizations, which creates opportunities for more growth. And these volunteers are incredible. What they do on behalf of their Chamber is phenomenal. They make this possible – and because of their excitement and enthusiasm, we are seeing new records every year” said Chamber President/ CEO Brian Hilson. For the first time in the five-year campaign, there was a change on the leader board. Joe Green, the third place finisher for the past three years, was crowned 2009 Top

Volunteer and raised more than $100,000. He was followed by the top producer from the previous four campaigns, Carrie McCrillis, Kelly Services, who raised $75,533. Lee Lester, Regions Bank, was close on McCrillis’ bumper in third place with $72,380. In addition to winning the individual title, Green also was able to ensure that his entire team met their personal goals. Bandit and the Dames of Thunder, led by team captain Lisa Lane, Savvy Gifts, came in second with $317,474. The Grease Monkeys,

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August 2009 Initiatives

led by Patti Holmes, CaptialSouth Bank, finished third by raising $190,528 – almost double the original goal set by team members. Holmes also took the Volunteer Choice Award – awarded thanks to a vote of all TRC volunteers because of her enthusiasm, teamspirit and willingness to assist all TRC teams and volunteers throughout the campaign. Holmes has been a volunteer since the inception of the campaign and continues to provide outstanding service and leadership to the companies she works each year. “This year, the staff and the volunteers really seemed to come together as one team. Over the past four years that I have participated, I have really gained tremendous knowledge of what the Chamber does to grow our community and it makes me proud to know that I have been an integral part of a program that makes that happen,” said Holmes. Natalie Steelman of Bama Jammer took home the “2009 Top Rookie Award” based on her impressive showing in her first year of the campaign and established herself as one to watch for the 2010 campaign. Waugh said his goal for 2009 was to get more volunteers involved and engaged, increase the foundation of the campaign and ensure that all participants had fun while learning a little NASCAR trivia along the way. “The energy and enthusiasm from the start was contagious and enabled us to far surpass our expectations. The Chamber support for the volunteers was incredible and allowed us to be successful. In addition, I think our members now know that our TRC allows all businesses, both large and small, to get access to other community leaders and new clients as well as gain name recognition and tremendous networking opportunities that help them meet their business goals,” said Waugh. “The Huntsville/Madison County TRC is a model for TRC campaigns throughout this country,” said Joyce Powell, president of and founder of YGM Total Resource Campaigns and lead consultant for the initial campaign in 2005. “You guys rock,” she added. Based on the 2009 results, plans are already underway for the 2010 campaign and volunteers are already signing up to participate. 2010 TRC…it just keeps getting better. • Loren Traylor

Getting into the FMS Game, continued from page 24 –

Pieplow presented a briefing on the Foreign Military Sales process to the local aerospace and defense contracting community during the North Alabama International Trade Association’s (NAITA) annual World Trade Day Celebration. He discussed the FMS process and the difference between FMS and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) to foreign governments and entities. Pieplow was joined by a panel of leaders involved in the FMS process to discuss how businesses in North Alabama can get in the FMS game – or learn about and take advantage of the opportunities afforded by Security Assistance and FMS cases at Redstone. Retired Maj. Gen. Bruce Scott, President of ITT Defense International, provided the keynote address at the NAITA/Madison County Commission World Trade Day luncheon, and remained to provide his perspective on the FMS panel discussion. Also on the panel were Alfred S. Thomas III, Director for Pacific and Southern Command Regional Operations for USASAC, and Randy J. Richardson, Command Ombudsman for AMCOM. Pieplow said that AMCOM/SAMD generated about $3.5 billion in foreign business last year, and SAMD already had $9.8 billion booked early this year. He appealed to the audience of local defense contractors, saying that we need more players in the game. They will definitely be needed to execute the future workload on the horizon. When combined with USASAC’s other cases, there is an enormous amount of work to be done in support of these contracts. Please visit www.naita.org for further information on this briefing and to view a copy of Pieplow’s presentation.

Dr. Tom Peiplow presenting at the 2009 NAITA World Trade Day Celebration.

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Initiatives August 2009

E M P L O Y E E

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Hiroko Sedensky web designer / research specialist

hen companies and site selection consultants are studying expansion or growth opportunities that exist in the Huntsville/Madison County community, most of the time the first impression they get comes from www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA. com – the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s website. This website features the latest information available on important demographics and other key performance indicators pertinent to economic development. Thanks to the efforts of Hiroko Sedensky, the Chamber’s most recent Employee of the Quarter, the first impression they get is of a high tech, professional community. Sedensky manages the Chamber’s award-winning site as well as other Chamber-affiliated sites such as the Chamber’s career site www.ASmartPlace.com and the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee’s www.Tennessee-Valley.org relocation information site. In addition to her work on the web, Sedensky provides vital assistance in gathering information and designing maps for the

Chamber’s many economic development projects. “The community and our membership can be proud knowing they have someone as talented and hardworking as Hiroko on our team. Not only does the work she performs help to raise the professional image of the community and the Chamber, she is a pleasure to work with and is always eager to go the extra mile to do what it takes to make the Huntsville community successful,” said Ken Smith, director of research and information services at the Chamber. Sedensky said she is honored by the award and enjoys the challenging atmosphere. “Winning employee of the quarter is special because I always try to do the best job I can. Being recognized for having gone beyond what is necessary is something I am very proud to achieve,” she said. “I enjoy working with the people here and meeting all the guests who visit us at the Chamber. I enjoy the day-to-day challenges to provide good information about our community.” •

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Prologue

Shaping History: The University of Alabama Huntsville Foundation

Editor’s Note: Mike Ward, vice president of governmental affairs for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, has recently written Shaping History: The University of Alabama Huntsville Foundation. The book chronicles the creation of the Foundation and how this was critical in helping a stagnant Huntsville economy evolve into the internationally acclaimed center for research and development in science, engineering and technology that it is today. The following is the prologue from the book and has been reprinted with permission by the UAHF.

n every community’s history there are moments and choices that forever shape its future. For some communities, those choices have been ruinous, relegating them to dismal fortunes that seem to inextricably spiral downward. For other communities, luck and good judgment have created opportunities that bear unlikely fruit and set new directions. Huntsville, Alabama found itself at a crossroad mid-way through the last century, when opportunity knocked hard at its front door. In 1949, Huntsville was the thirteenth largest Alabama city, outranked by Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Anniston, Selma, Gadsden, Dothan, Florence, Decatur, Phenix City and Tuscaloosa. Madison County was the seventh most populous Alabama County behind Jefferson, Mobile, Montgomery, Calhoun, Etowah and Tuscaloosa Counties. The City’s population stood at 16,406; the County’s at 73,032. Huntsville and Madison County’s economies were unspectacular in perhaps every regard. Its surviving cotton mills were marginally performing. The end of WWII had prompted the close of the area’s largest employer, one of two U.S. Army arsenals. Fast forward 60 years to 2009: Huntsville’s population outstrips all but three other Alabama cities and Madison County ranks behind only Jefferson County in the number of resident jobs. Why has Huntsville prospered as other Alabama communities have seen their fortunes stall or decline?

by michael d. ward

To be sure, Huntsville was dealt some very lucky and unlikely cards. The fateful decisions to locate two U.S. Army arsenals in Madison County in 1941 were certainly future-altering opportunities, not entirely within the control of local leaders. Undoubtedly, though, other communities faced with similar fortunes on the eve of the United States’ entry into WWII have not enjoyed such follow-on success. Community leadership and vision have proven to be the magic ingredients propelling Huntsville’s growth. The inspired decisions by a relatively small group of people, beginning in the mid 1940s, transcended the good fortune of having the arsenals in Madison County. This is a story about a group of community leaders who made critical choices through a variety of related and unrelated organizations and helped change Huntsville’s fortune.

The names of these leaders are perhaps not as well known as they should be. The organizations through which they worked and their histories are all but unknown today. Men like Patrick Richardson, Carl T. Jones, George Mahoney, Charles Shaver, Louis Salmon, Beirne Spragins, Robert K. “Buster” Bell, Tom Thrasher, Kenneth Noojin and Vance Thornton provided the inspired leadership at critical moments. Key partner organizations included the local Chamber of Commerce, the Huntsville Industrial Expansion Committee, the City of Huntsville, and Huntsville Industrial Sites. Later, those efforts included the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. At the heart of accelerating Huntsville’s growth were the University of Alabama Huntsville Foundation and its predecessor organizations. continued on page 44

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Prologue, continued from page 43 –

Mike Ward signs a copy of his book “Shaping History, The University of Alabama Huntsville Foundation” at a recent book-signing event held at the Chamber and hosted by the UAH Foundation.

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TIMELESS DESIGN. INNOVATIVE THINKING.

The middle of the last century was a period of great change for a community that had seen very little change for the previous 100 years. Like much of the rest of the South, the foundations of Huntsville’s economy were based largely on the meager living that its people could scratch from the earth and earn at the local textile mills. Huntsville had been among the leading cotton-producing and milling communities in the southern United States in the 19th century. Manufacturing was dominated by the textile mills that first located to the county in the early 1800s. Later, in the 1930s, Huntsville would boast of being the “Watercress Capital of the World,” a tribute perhaps more to the marketing skills of the exotic industry than the economic impact that cress had on the region. As the decade of the 1940s was drawing to an end, only three of the area’s nine cotton mills were still operating. The Huntsville Arsenal, one of the two WWII arsenals located in Madison County, had been closed and declared surplus by the federal government. Virtually all of the 11,000-15,000 people who had worked making chemical munitions during the years of the war effort had lost their jobs. Against this bleak backdrop, two unrelated but very important opportunities emerged. In 1949, the Army decided to use the arsenal’s nearly 40,000 acres for its rocket research program and to relocate the German V2 rocket team from Fort Bliss, Texas. The second significant decision came just a couple of weeks later when the University of Alabama announced plans to open an extension office in Huntsville. Both decisions would be implemented in 1950. Ultimately these two completely unrelated events would create a demand for an institution of higher education and, as business interest in the region heightened, a demand for ready industrial property on which business could locate their operations. Those two interests would later find common ground in the University of Alabama Huntsville Foundation. Luck, timing, perseverance, hard work, political muscle and a healthy concern about the community’s future ultimately would carry the day for Huntsville. •

Initiatives August 2009

August 2009 Initiatives

Initiatives August 2009

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