Initiatives magazine, October 2010 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Initiatives October 2010

October 2010 Initiatives

Initiatives October 2010

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

Development Partner ($200,000+ invested annually: public sector)

City of Huntsville

Development Council

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

Huntsville Utilities Madison County Commission Tennessee Valley Authority Huntsville Hospital City of Madison Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority

Chairman’s Council ($50,000+ invested: private sector)

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Regions Bank

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

ADTRAN AT&T The Boeing Company Deltacom The Huntsville Times Lockheed Martin Redstone Federal Credit Union SAIC Verizon Wireless 4

Wells Fargo October 2010 Initiatives

Chamber Trustees

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

Agility Defense and Government Services Beason & Nalley, Inc. BBVA Compass Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton Breland Companies Camber Corporation CINRAM, Inc. Cobham Analytic Solutions COLSA Corporation Crestwood Medical Center Emerson

Progress Partners

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

AEgis Technologies Group, Inc. Applied Data Trends, Inc. BAE Systems BASF Catalysts, LLC Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Coldwell Banker Commercial/ McLain Real Estate Colonial Properties Trust Consolidated Construction Company Dynetics, Inc. Enfinger Steele Development, Inc. ERC, Inc. First Commercial Bank Intuitive Research and Technology Corp. J. Smith Lanier & Co. Jerry Damson Honda Acura Keystone Foods, LLC Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C

Progress Investors

Huntsville Area Association of Realtors® Huntsville/Madison County Builders Association, Inc. Intergraph L-3 Communications Lamar Outdoor Advertising Look Outdoor Advertising Northrop Grumman Parsons Corporation Science & Engineering Services, Inc. SportsMed Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center

LG Electronics Alabama, Inc. M.B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc. Navistar Diesel of Alabama, LLC The Orthopaedic Center Parker Hannifin Corporation Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. Samples Properties, Inc. Sirote & Permutt, P.C. Stanley Associates Superior Bank The Surgery Center of Huntsville System Studies and Simulation, Inc. Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Turner Universal Construction URS Corporation WAFF-TV Wilmer and Lee, P.A. Yellow Book USA

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

Analytical Services, Inc. Applied Geo Technologies, Inc. Averbuch Realty Co., Inc. Bama Jammer, Inc. BancorpSouth Baron Services, Inc. Belzon, Inc. BFA Systems, Inc. BID Designs, LLC BlueCreek Investment Partners Brown Precision, Inc. Bryant Bank Century Automotive Cerqa Chapman Sisson Architects, Inc. Cintas Corporation Decisive Analytics Corporation Decosimo Certified Public Accountants DESE Research, Inc. DHS SYSTEMS, LLC (DRASH) DRS Technologies Edward Jones Investments – Jana Hinley Wise FITE Building Co., Inc. Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC 4SITE, Incorporated

Garber Construction Co., Inc. General Dynamics C4 Systems Gray Research, Inc. Hardin-Junkin & Company Wealth Solutions, LLC Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Investor’s Resource/ Raymond James Financial Services KPS Group Kudzu Productions, Inc. Lamb Commercial Services, Inc. OakRidge-Huntsville Partnership Office Precipio, Inc. Progress Bank QinetiQ North America QTEC, Inc. Qualis Corporation Radiance Technologies, Inc. ServisFirst Bank Torch Technologies UBS Huntsville Wealth Management Group United Space Alliance, LLC Wesfam Restaurants, Inc. – Burger King WHNT-TV Woodland Homes of Huntsville Woody Anderson Ford

Initiatives October 2010

October 2010 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

october 2010

on the cover

Economy Gets Boost with Federal and State Partnerships pages 22-24 Twickenham Historic District

Cover design by Kristi Sherrard Photos courtesy of Raytheon

features Economic Development Highlights

including Dynetics, Nektar Therapeutics, Davidson Technologies, Norris Cylinder, Mercury Computer Systems, Inergi, Siemens, 5 Stones Research, WILL Technology, UAHuntsville, MicroTech and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

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 nation, 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.

Moody’s Continues High Rating Sight Set on BioDefense Helicopters to Tanks 2010 Business EXPO HREGI Investor Spotlight Continued Growth: BRAC Update Memories: Small Business Awards

20 25 27 30 32 33 36

developments HREGI Investors Chamber Board Listing Growth Through Networking Employee of the Quarter HREGI Testimonial Chamber Staff Listing Community Profile

4 8 28 29 35 38 40

The Ledges

editorial staff

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

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

contact

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000

on the web www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com www.asmartplace.com

Publisher Brian Hilson Executive Editor John Southerland

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard ontributing Writers Rick Davis, Harrison Diamond, C Holly McClain, Ken Smith, John Southerland and Loren Traylor Photography Chamber of Commerce staff, events & publications; Shutterstock.com

Advertising Sales Ray Johnson The Huntsville Times Initiatives October 2010

Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2010 Executive Committee

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: In a recent meeting with several UAHuntsville faculty members, I was introduced to someone who recently moved from the Midwest to our community. As we engaged in the usual “How do you like it here?” discussion, I heard the comments that we so often hear from newcomers, and the bottom line is, “We’re glad to be here – we just wish we had made the move sooner!” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that said. The strategy for attracting newcomers to our community has for many years centered around getting someone to visit – “If we can just get them to visit, they’ll like it here.” This situation has changed dramatically in the past decade, and for the better. Until about 10 years ago, our Chamber staff often encountered comments from business prospects and potential newcomers like, “I may be forced to move there – will you help me?” Up until a couple of years ago, business prospects and potential relocatees more often said, “I’m thinking about moving there, and can you help me when I arrive?” Now, the typical comment we hear is, “I’ve heard great things about Huntsville and north Alabama – I’m moving there regardless. Can you help my business, or help me find a job?” Without question, this change in attitude and perception about Huntsville and the surrounding area as a place to live, work, and do business is directly tied to the community’s ever-expanding and improving image, which itself is linked to the numerous positive articles, recognitions and rankings the community continues to achieve. Many of those results are born out of the Chamber’s image development strategy, and to be honest, some of them just happen. There’s an old saying: “Shoot anything that flies and claim anything that falls.” That’s exactly what we’re doing in building upon the continuous national and even international recognition the Huntsville community is receiving. The improved image makes it easier to recruit businesses, workers and their families. Nowadays, when someone tells us they’ve seen Huntsville ranked by Moody’s, Forbes or other major publications, we usually just smile and let them do the talking. When your community image speaks for itself, why interrupt!

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

October 2010 Initiatives

Don Nalley, Chair, Beason & Nalley Charlie Kettle, Chair-Elect, First Commercial Bank Irma Tuder, Immediate Past Chair, Analytical Services Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, consultant Ron Poteat, Secretary/Treasurer, Regions Bank Jim Bolte, Vice Chair - Economic Dev., Toyota Motor Manufacturing Ala. Joe Alexander, Vice Chair - Governmental Affairs, Camber Corporation Jan Smith, Vice Chair - Investor Relations, System Studies and Simulation Jeremiah Knight, Vice Chair - Workforce, Verizon Wireless Danny Windham, Vice Chair - Small Business, Digium Robert Mayes, Vice Chair - Research & Info. Svs., BlueCreek Investment Angie McCarter, Vice Chair - Image Development, Davidson Technologies Mayor Tommy Battle, Chair-Appointed, City of Huntsville Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed, Madison Co. Commission Elizabeth Morard, Chair-Appointed, Qualis Corporation Joe Ritch, Chair-Appointed, Sirote & Permutt Brian Hilson, President/CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison Co. Elected Board

Cynthia Achorn, ASRC Federal Rose Allen, Booz Allen Hamilton Rey Almodóvar, Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation Clayton Bass, Huntsville Museum of Art Penny Billings, BancorpSouth Greg Bragg, Consolidated Construction Company Everett Brooks, Consultant Micah Bullard, Turner Universal Construction Frank Caprio, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Tracy Doughty, Huntsville Hospital John Eagan, Wells Fargo Kerry Fehrenbach, Intergraph Corporation Elizabeth Dotts Fleming, Public FA Ron Gray, Gray Research Jeff Hamilton, The Orthopaedic Center John Holly, Lockheed Martin Corporation Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Dr. Andrew Hugine, Alabama A&M University Tony Jones, The Boeing Company Simon Kim, LG Electronics Alabama Frederick Lanier, J. Smith Lanier & Co. John McMullan, BancorpSouth Dan Montgomery, Strategic Defense Solutions Caroline Myers, Foreign Language Services Joe Newberry, Redstone Federal Credit Union Jim Owens, BBVA Compass Tony Palumbo, Raytheon Company Crystal Shell, WILL Technology Dr. Ashok Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Todd Slyman, Village of Providence Keith Smith, SAIC Dr. O’Neal Smitherman, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology Tom Stanton, ADTRAN Al Sullivan, ABT Dr. Dave Williams, UAHuntsville Dr. Ernie Wu, ERC

Initiatives October 2010

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Dynetics to Lead Google Lunar X Prize Team Dynetics announced recently that it will lead a group of Huntsville businesses, educational institutions and non-profit organizations into the Google Lunar X PRIZE, a $30 million competition that challenges space professionals and engineers from across the world to build and launch to the Moon a privately funded spacecraft capable of completing a series of exploration and transmission tasks. Headquartered in Huntsville, “Team Rocket City Space Pioneers” are developing a low-cost lunar lander/rover system for conducting commercial and scientific missions on the moon and potentially other planetary bodies. The Huntsville team is comprised of seven organizations and is among 23 teams from a dozen countries that are registered in the competition. Tim Pickens, Dynetics’ chief propulsion engineer, will lead the team. No stranger to space competition, Pickens was also the lead propulsion engineer for the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE- winning SpaceShipOne team. “We have hand-selected a Huntsville-centric, winning team for the Google Lunar X PRIZE that has the excitement, experience and capability to produce a successful technical solution and, more importantly, a business case to make this endeavor a viable solution,” Pickens said. “Having participated on a winning X PRIZE team, I appreciate the gravity and benefits of such a technically challenging endeavor. The Ansari X PRIZE jump-started commercial space and an entrepreneurial spirit throughout the country and created opportunities for further innovation and commercialization.” Governor Bob Riley was on hand to announce his support for the effort. “This is one of the most significant things I have heard about since I’ve become Governor,’ said Gov. Bob Riley. “We

L-R: John Horack, Marty Kress and Gov. Bob Riley at the Dynetics announcement. grew up expecting more from Huntsville and Madison County and the rest of state is in your debt. I hope we can do something highly significant that tells the world they can turn to the State of Alabama. And I will pledge $1 million if you call it the Alabama Explorer 2,” he added. Dr. Marc Bendickson, Dynetics CEO, said that the Huntsville team’s experience and capabilities will produce a quality product. “We are excited to bring together such a qualified team. Dynetics’ experience and capabilities plus our partners’ outstanding past performance histories equal an unbeatable combination for producing an outstanding product.” The lander/rover system is capable of making a soft landing on a planetary body and deploying a rover measuring approximately 20x30x40 centimeters and weighing less than 10 kilograms. The lander, when stowed, measures approximately 60x60x98

centimeters and weighs approximately 200 kilograms. Chamber member companies and organizations affiliated with “Team Rocket City Space Pioneers” include Teledyne Brown Engineering, UAHuntsville, Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation and Draper Laboratory. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, “We’re fortunate to have some of the best and brightest minds in the country in the Rocket City. With this community’s technical aptitude and strong impact on space exploration, it is imperative that we take advantage of opportunities such as this. I have confidence this team will make our city proud.” “We are extremely excited to welcome the Rocket City Space Pioneers in to the Google Lunar X PRIZE,” said William Pomerantz, Senior Director for Space Prizes at the X PRIZE Foundation. “This team can draw on decades of impressive achievements.” •

Nektar Breaks Ground on Plant Expansion; New Jobs Expected Nektar Therapeutics, a growing leader in the biopharmaceutical industry based in San Carlos, Calif., recently broke ground on a second manufacturing facility in Huntsville. This expansion will give Nektar more than 85,000 square feet of research laboratories and manufacturing facilities in Huntsville. And the expansion gives Nektar, with 150 workers locally, the opportunity to add a number of manufacturing jobs at the new site. Nektar develops novel medicines to treat cancer, as well as new painkillers and other therapies to address serious diseases and medical needs based upon technology that it develops in Huntsville. The company also partners with the top biopharmaceutical companies such as Bayer, AstraZeneca and Baxter to bring new products to market. The plant expansion is an important component of the company’s continued growth. It will allow the company to manufacture key raw material components used in its products on location adjacent to its existing manufacturing operations, as opposed to relying only on an external supply chain. Jim Bolte, vice chair of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that the company’s work in Huntsville is representative of the kind of research and manufacturing done in Huntsville/Madison County. 10

October 2010 Initiatives

“Nektar is a global company that has made an important investment in Huntsville and to their employees here. Their work is truly representative of the cutting-edge research science and discovery work that can be accomplished here in this area, as well as the core manufacturing capabilities that can be accomplished here as well,” said Bolte. Bharatt Chowrira, Nektar Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said the company is proud of the research and manufacturing being done in Huntsville and that the products developed in Huntsville are improving the lives of patients being prescribed its products. “Our polymer conjugation platform was invented by our team here in Huntsville and we are tremendously proud of that team and their scientific work, as we are proud of our manufacturing group. Nektar’s drug development platform has generated nine approved products over the last ten years and the manufacturing group here in Huntsville is responsible for manufacturing related to these drugs. Many of these important therapies have greatly improved the lives of patients with cancer, hepatitis, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis,” said Chowrira. •

~ continued on page 13

Madison County Leads State in Inc. 500/5000 List Once again, Madison County led the state in number of companies making the Inc. 500/5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the country. Madison County had 24 companies total make the list. The Huntsville Metro Area, which includes Limestone County, had 26 companies make the list. The 2010 Inc. 500/5000, produced by Inc. Magazine, is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2006 to 2009. Despite the fact that most of this year’s measuring period of 2006-2009 took place during the latest recession, aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year. “The leaders of the companies on this year’s list have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression,” said Inc. president Bob LaPointe. “The 2010 list showcases a particularly hardy group of entrepreneurs.” Chamber-member companies that made the new list and their overall ranking: ✦ Pikewerks – 282 ✦ GATR

Technologies – 524

✦ Alatec – 598 ✦ Intuitive

Research and Technology – 664

✦ PeopleTec – 1,076 ✦ Future

Research Corporation – 1,105

✦ nLogic – 1,148 ✦ Torch

Technologies – 1,705 Technical Solutions – 1,764 ✦ GaN Corporation – 1,816 ✦ deciBel Research – 2,425 ✦ Bevilacqua Research Corporation – 2,466 ✦ Shearer & Associates – 3,172 ✦ MaxVision – 3,286 ✦ T&W Operations – 3,361 ✦ STI Electronics – 3,497 ✦ ERC – 3,728 ✦ KAYA Associates – 4,108 ✦ Trideum – 4,268 ✦ U.S. Diagnostics – 4,420 ✦ AEgis Technologies Group – 4,631 ✦ Solid Earth – 4,838 ✦ APT Research – 4,969 ✦ Pro-Air Services – 3,047 (Decatur) • ✦ Manufacturing

Initiatives October 2010

October 2010 Initiatives

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 11

~ continued on page 14

Norris Cylinder Expands into Huntsville

Davidson Technologies was the 2009 Small Business Awards winner for the Technology category. L-R: Doug Bryant, Dr. Julian Davidson, Pam Peterson and Gerry Gotvald.

Davidson Technologies Selected as One of the Best in the Nation for Benefits Huntsville-based Davidson Technologies, Inc., was named one of only 10 growing companies in the U.S. to earn national acclaim for maintaining its commitment to offer employees extraordinary benefits, despite a challenging economy. Davidson Technologies was established in 1996 by one of the founding fathers of missile defense, Dr. Julian Davidson. The company provides cutting-edge, innovative engineering, technical and management solutions for defense and aerospace customers. Davidson Technologies is renowned in the aerospace and missile defense industry. Today, the firm employs nearly 180 administrative and technical professionals – including noted experts and experienced engineers and scientists. Employees focus on these principles: customer first, excellence always and integrity before all. An independent judging panel of employee benefits experts named Davidson Technologies as one of the 2010 winners of The Principal® 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security, citing its unwavering commitment to its employees. “Davidson Technologies faces the same challenges as other businesses. What makes them extraordinary is the priority they place on employee financial security,” said Luke Vandermillen, vice president at The Principal Financial Group®. “Davidson Technologies added benefits and also continued paying 100 percent of health care premiums despite a 26 percent increase. They understand the direct connection between strong benefits, a strong workforce and a strong bottom line – in the best and worst of times.” The Principal® sponsors the national program, which is now in its ninth year. It honors growing companies for their commitment to their employees’ financial security. “I was impressed by the commitment and pride that Davidson Technologies has for its benefits programs. The company contributions, especially to the retirement plan, are clearly something that other companies should really look at to imitate. They are committed not just to the physical wellness of employees but also financial wellness, because the company pays for individual financial advice,” David Wray, 10 Best judge and president of the Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America said. A summary of best practices from Davidson Technologies and other winners will be published and available in January 2011 at www.principal.com/10best. Benefit highlights include: • 100 percent employer-paid medical insurance premiums for employees and dependents • 401(k) plan with a 50 percent match up to 5 percent of pay, plus a 10 percent non-matching contribution; average deferral rate of 7 percent • 100 percent employer-paid premiums for short- and long-term disability insurance • 100 percent employer-paid premiums for life insurance •

Norris Cylinder, which recently acquired Taylor-Wharton, celebrated its official grand opening in Huntsville at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Norris Cylinder is part of the publicly traded TriMas Corporation which is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-pressure and low-pressure gas cylinders for storage, transportation and dispensing of compressed industrial gases. Norris plans to move a product line from its California plant to Huntsville, which could lead to the company adding employees to take on new work, company officials said. Jerry Van Auken, president of Norris Cylinder, said that he and his team are committed to the Huntsville plant and see many similarities between the Huntsville plant and its headquarters in Longview, Texas. “The first thing I noticed about this plant is how similar it is to the one in Longview. One such example is that at our Texas plant, the average employee has been there for 14 years and at the Huntsville plant the average employee has been there for 18 years. You just don’t see that much anymore. We are looking forward to a great future here and hope to bring a lot of volume down here,” Van Auken said. David Wathen, President and CEO of TriMas, said that the investment in the Huntsville plant is in line with TriMas’ goal of making advanced products. “TriMas tries to be in business with products that are hard to design and hard to manufacture. That is why the Huntsville facility is so important to us,” he said. Norris Cylinder announced the acquisition of Taylor-Wharton, previously Coyne Cylinders, in Huntsville to expand its client base and to capitalize on unique market opportunities in the Huntsville/Madison County community. Coyne Cylinders had been in business for 50 years before being acquired by Taylor-Wharton. Don Nalley, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that the acquisition of the plant shows the confidence companies have in the Huntsville community and its skilled workforce. “This move signifies confidence in our community and in the quality of our local workforce,” said Nalley. Mayor Tommy Battle welcomed Norris to Huntsville. “We welcome Norris to Huntsville and know that you will find that we really have something special to help you grow in our dedicated, intelligent workforce,” Battle said. Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie committed to partner with the company to help it grow. “We are here to be your partner to make sure that you are as successful as you can be,” Gillespie said. •

Jerry Van Auken, president of Norris Cylinder, David Wathen, President and CEO of TriMas and Don Nalley, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce celebrate the acquisition of Taylor-Wharton. Initiatives October 2010

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 13

Mercury Computers Celebrates New Production Lines Mercury Computers Systems Echotek Product Group recently celebrated the unveiling of new production lines at the company’s office in Cummings Research Park. The company provides embedded computing systems and software that combine image, signal, and sensor processing with information management for data-intensive applications. Mercury serves a broad range of industries that include aerospace and defense, homeland security, telecommunications, and other computationally challenging commercial markets. L-R: Mayor Tommy Battle, Steve Anderson, Mercury vice president of product operaThe new manufacturing lines will allow tions; Bill Ceccherini, general manager of the Echotek Product Group; Mark Aslett, the company to grow its production capa- Mercury CEO; Charlie Kettle, chair-elect of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. bilities significantly. In 2008, the company was able to complete 3,315 individual units, 6,290 units in Bill Ceccherini, general manager of the Echotek Product 2009, and in 2010 will likely surpass last year’s mark. Group, said that the company’s investment in the Huntsville facil“We have invested heavily in this company,” said Mercury ity is a sign that the company is committed to being in Huntsville. CEO Mark Aslett. “We have been very impressed with the eco“It is a real privilege to be in one of the nation’s smartest nomic climate and infrastructure here in Huntsville.” tech cities. We have invested $2 million into the building. We Charlie Kettle, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of are proud to be part of this community and we like to get Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said Mercury is one involved as much as we can. This is a great place to grow, be of the reasons why Huntsville has such a diverse industry base. part of the community and have fun while doing it,” he said. “One of the most critical challenges for any community is to Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said that the company is ensure that there is a diversity of industry and businesses prespart of Huntsville’s reputation of excellence. ent to better insulate the local workforce and protect the local “You are part of the excellence of Huntsville. Every day economy. Today reminds us of the success we have had as a we work hard to create a center of excellence. We look forcommunity thanks to companies like Mercury,” said Kettle. ward to you growing here,” Battle said. •

Inergi Celebrates 10 Years In Business Inergi recently celebrated 10 years of business with a ribbon cutting and open house ceremony. Inergi began as a product design and exhibit group within Huntsville’s Intergraph Corporation in 1998. Two years later, the employees of the Inergi group moved out on their own by purchasing the division from Intergraph. Today, Inergi has evolved into a full-service, concepts-to-

L-R: Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Don Nalley presents a commemoration plaque to Austin Boyd, CEO of Inergi. 14

October 2010 Initiatives

completion provider that offers engineering, product design, advanced rapid prototyping, low to mid-volume manufacturing, large-format printing, exhibits and trade show services, marketing communications and museum displays to commercial, industrial and governmental clients throughout the U.S. and abroad. “We have the type of motivation that makes it possible to get ahead. I see innovation when looking at Inergi. We have found new ways to show things,” said Austin Boyd, CEO of Inergi. Don Nalley, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that the company is just one of the many home grown success stories in the community. “Inergi is another in a long line of stories that illustrates what can happen when people come together with a common vision, commitment, focus and determination,” said Nalley. Mayor Tommy Battle said that the company helps promote Huntsville’s reputation, which he says is one of excellence. “The reputation of Huntsville is one of excellence and Inergi is part of that reputation,” Battle said. •

~ continued on page 16

Mayor Battle Announces Cyber Initiative Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle announced plans at the 2010 Space and Missile Defense Conference to create a Cyber Systems Innovation and Security Center (CSISC) in Huntsville to capitalize on the industry, government and academic foundations already in Huntsville. Battle’s initiative proposes that the CSISC facilities be located at the Redstone Gateway complex at the entrance to Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 9. CSISC’s tenants will include government agencies and private domestic and international companies, as well as other groups that are engaged in public and private cyber security research, development, testing, and engineering projects. Mayor Battle will extend an invitation to all relevant parties to participate in this initiative. To see his presentation, visit www.huntsvilleal.gov/cyber. •

Siemens Government Services Opens New Office in Huntsville Siemens Government Services (SGS), an integrator of Siemens’ innovative technology products, services and solutions to the federal government, opened a new office in Huntsville. The office will be home to SGS’ Program Management Office, supporting current contracts and work initiated under its Utility Monitoring & Control Solutions III (UMCSIII) and Electronic Security Systems IV (ESSIV) contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Center of Excellence (CEHNC). SGS currently employs four in Huntsville and plans to add five more employees by the end of next year. “With a recognizable footprint in the federal market, innovative solutions capabilities and a global network of technicians, the new office allows SGS to continue to meet the increased requirements for building automation, energy management, and integrated security solutions for CEHNC projects,” said Rick Gonder, Vice President of SGS’ Security and Infrastructure Practice. As the need for Siemens’ products and services continue to grow, the company anticipates so too will its physical presence in this geographic region. According to Harry Feuerstein, SGS’ President and CEO, “We are quite pleased to continue developing our Program Management Office in Huntsville, directly in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts. The establishment of this new office clearly signifies our continued investment to provide more focused support and dedicated personnel to the Corps of Engineers, while ultimately helping to stimulate local job creation within the Huntsville area.” •

Initiatives October 2010

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 15

Huntsville Named a Top Place to Retire Huntsville is quickly becoming known as a smart place to live, work and play. But according to CNNmoney.com, Huntsville is also a smart place to retire. CNNmoney.com ranked Huntsville number 8 on its list of “Top 25 Places to Retire” recently. The ranking highlighted Huntsville for its numerous community amenities and opportunities for retired people to participate in activities such as life-long learning classes at UAHuntsville, featuring diverse topics like winter gardening, German language and Zydeco dancing. “Space buffs know Huntsville as ‘The Rocket City’ because the Marshall Space Flight Center was the original NASA and it still plays a major role in civilian and government spacecraft and rocketry. Architectural aficionados know it for its 19th century architecture; the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Huntsville one of America’s

October 2010 Initiatives

Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010. And nature lovers know this Northern Alabama outpost for its parks, botanical gardens and nature preserves,” the article says. “Rankings like these really tell us about where we stand as a community. We have one of the lowest tax rates in the state, a commitment to continued financial stability, an incredibly stable job market and a very strong housing market,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “When you combine those factors with an incredible quality of life, it’s easy to see why our community is continuously recognized in these kinds of publications. Our residents get an incredible value for their tax dollar and that is a big reason we receive accolades like this. We’ve always said that Huntsville is a great place to live, work and play – and now we can add retire to that list, too,” Battle said. •

~ continued on page 18

5 Stones Research Cuts Ribbon For New Office 5 Stones Research recently opened a new office in Huntsville with a ribbon cutting. 5 Stones is a government contractor with specialties in IT, Engineering & Operations, Program Management, and logistics. “Opening this office is so exciting,” said Joni Green, CEO of 5 Stones. “This is a major milestone we’ve achieved,” she said. Jim Bolte, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that it is inspiring that small businesses continue to thrive in Huntsville. “It is fitting that we are here today cutting a ribbon for this small business because just this week we held the 25th Annual Small Business Awards Ceremony. It truly is inspiring to see the community’s small businesses such as 5 Stones continue to grow in Huntsville,” said Bolte. Steve Willhelm, 5 Stones president and recently retired program manager for JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor), said that after 25 years in uniform, it is special to continue to serve soldiers as a civilian. “I used to say, at events like this, ‘Today is a good day to be a soldier.’ Now I say, ‘Today is a good day to work for a soldier.’ After spending 25 years in uniform, it is special to see what we do here,” Willhelm said. •

L-R: Jim Bolte, vice chair for economic development for the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; 5 Stones Research Co-founders Tony and Joni (CEO) Green; Steve Willhelm, president of 5 Stones Research.

WILL Technology Celebrates 10 Years

It was 10 years ago that WILL Technology had only one employee in Huntsville. Now the company has 100 employees in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida with satellite locations in Colorado, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and the Kwajalein Islands serving numerous government clients. “10 years is a major milestone for WILL Technology. The corporate team is the real backbone of the company,” said Crystal Shell, founder, president and CEO of WILL Technology (shown above). Ron Poteat, secretary/treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that WILL Technology is representative of the spirit of success in Huntsville. “I can tell you that WILL Technology embodies the very spirit of success – and illustrates what is so unique and good about our community and why our community receives such positive national recognition,” said Poteat. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said that WILL is among the many successes in Huntsville. “This is just one more great example of the many magical stories of Huntsville,” Battle said. •

Popular Science Names UAHuntsville Lab Third “Most Awesome College Lab in America” The Propulsion Research Center at UAHuntsville was named the third “most awesome college lab in America,” according to a recent article in Popular Science. The Propulsion Research Center conducts research, produces publications and mentors students in advanced propulsion technologies and their applications. The lab connects the academic research community and propulsion community through interdisciplinary collaboration. Each year, 20 aeronautical and mechanical engineering students get eight months to design, construct, and fly a rocket to a height of exactly 5,280 feet. These aren’t hobby rockets, which typically fly to less than 1,000 feet (any higher requires an FAA permit), says the article. • Initiatives October 2010

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 17

~ highlights compiled by John Southerland & Harrison Diamond

Fastest-Growing Hispanic-Owned Business Opens First Local Office MicroTech, the nation’s fastest-growing Hispanic-owned company, recently opened its first office in Huntsville. MicroTech provides systems integration, technology solutions, and unified communications and collaboration to the Department of Defense and key civilian agencies. MicroTech is also responsible for managing more than a half-million tech users each day. Tony Jimenez, CEO of MicroTech, said Huntsville is an important location for the company. “With the relocation of the Army Materiel Command from Washington to the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, we knew we had to have a strong presence there,” said Tony Jimenez, MicroTech CEO. Charlie Kettle, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that companies such as MicroTech lead to community recognitions. “The Huntsville/Madison County community has enjoyed its share of number one rankings over the past few years. And it’s because of the success of companies such as L-R: Charlie Kettle makes the plaque presentation to Tony Jimenez, CEO of MicroTech. MicroTech that has made these recognitions possible,” Kettle said. •

Intuitive Research and Technology Honored as Great Place to Work® Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation ranked #6 on the 7th Annual “Great Place to Work® Rankings: 2010 Best Small & Medium Workplaces” presented by Entrepreneur. The list represents the best workplaces separated into two categories: small companies with 50-250 employees and medium companies with 251-999 employees. It was the only Huntsville-based company to win. Intuitive was selected by the Great Place to Work Institute through a process that includes a survey of the company’s employees based on the Trust Index and a completed questionnaire by Intuitive about programs and company practices. The Great Place to Work Institute evaluated the company based on five areas: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. “Our company culture of ‘Excellence is in our Nature’ is built around mutual trust and empowerment in our employees. Our commitment to upholding these values has provided our company with a reputation of always standing above the rest,” says Intuitive CEO, Rey Almodóvar. Intuitive President Harold Brewer states, “Intuitive’s underlying framework is valuing employees and their quality of service. Our unique benefits package, open door management structure, approach to internal reassignment and employee health focus create the foundation for our ‘best company’ work culture.” • 18

October 2010 Initiatives

Huntsville Makes Cover of Government Executive Magazine The Chamber’s efforts of reaching out to key media outlets has resulted in front-page coverage from the widely-read Government Executive magazine. Government Executive featured Huntsville in the cover story titled “The New Federal City” and included interviews with several workers who have relocated to Huntsville from the National Capital Region. As an authoritative voice on the business of government, the publication also covers homeland security, defense, outsourcing, and procurement with a print publication circulation of more than 77,000. Among the several people interviewed for the story was Harvey Player, a retired Army colonel and now special assistant to the executive director at the Missile Defense Agency, who said of Huntsville, “The only regret I have is we didn’t make the decision to move to Huntsville sooner.” Chamber Board Chair Don Nalley praised the article and said that “this coverage is critical to our workforce recruitment efforts. The magazine’s target audience includes our target audience, high-level government workers with the Army Materiel Command, the Missile Defense Agency and several others. The article does an excellent job of showcasing many of the advantages of living and working in our community.” •

Initiatives October 2010

Moody’s Continues to Rate Huntsville Economy High

he Huntsville economy continues to receive strong marks from the nation’s leading financial analysts, with the latest Moody’s Economy.com report highlighting the area’s expected employment and population growth. Moody’s Analytics is a leading independent provider of economic data, forecasting and credit risk services and provides in-depth analysis of the country’s 384 metro areas three times a year. For the past three reporting periods, Moody’s has given the Huntsville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) high marks for employment and population growth. The community has ranked as one of the Top 10 metros in the country for current and projected job growth driven by strong employment gains in the government and defense industry. Three-year growth projections for employment show an average annual increase of 2.6 percent per year and five-year projections stand at 3.5 percent. This is significant when compared to the U.S. as a whole with projections as low as 0.5 percent per year over three years and 1.8 percent over five years. Population growth has also remained strong with moves from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act cited as one of the reasons the growth trend will continue. Projected three- and five-year growth rates for Huntsville are 3.5 percent and 3.0 percent per year respectively, ranking the Huntsville metro second in the nation ahead of Austin, Raleigh-Durham and Atlanta. The report cites some potential challenges facing the Huntsville area economy, including recent layoffs and budget tightening measures. However, the overall picture compared to the rest of the country is very favorable. The agency’s measure of risk-adjusted return, which measures the stability of an area’s employment growth, has ranked 20

October 2010 Initiatives

Index

U.S. Rank

Population Growth, 2009-11

3.5% per year

Risk-Adjusted Return, 2009-14

2.38% per year

Employment Growth, 2009-11

2.6% per year

Source: Moody’s Economy.com; Precis METRO, July 2010.

Huntsville among the top three communities in the country each of the past three reporting periods. Citing a low cost of living and a low cost of doing business, combined with positive and stable employment growth, Moody’s rates Huntsville with a business vitality index well above the national average. Chamber Board Chair Don Nalley cited sustained positive momentum among business and community leaders among the reasons for the optimistic projections. “This shows we maintain a community spirit of teamwork, vision and dedication to making the Huntsville metro a smart place to live, work and play. That team effort continues to pay off, considering recent successes such as Redstone Gateway, Raytheon Missile Systems and AirTran,” Nalley said. • Ken Smith

Initiatives October 2010

boost

Economy Gets

s clichés go, “a little good news goes

a long way” is certainly near the

top of the list. For Huntsville and Madison County, the most recent bit of good news – maybe great news – came from a long way away.

Raytheon’s Dr. Taylor Lawrence announces plans to build a missile production facility in Huntsville with Sen. Richard Shelby and Gov. Bob Riley. Also in attendance at the announcement were community leaders and Alabama Speaker of the House Seth Hammett (background). 22

October 2010 Initiatives

COVER STORY Initiatives October 2010

Images courtesy of Raytheon

On July 19, at 1:30 p.m. in London (7:30 a.m. in Huntsville), Raytheon Co. announced it would construct a $72 million missile production facility on Redstone Arsenal, one of the most technologically advanced facilities the company has built. Dr. Taylor Lawrence, President of Raytheon Missile Systems and an Alabama native, made the announcement at the 2010 Farnborough Air Show, about an hour southwest of London, at one of the world’s premier gatherings of aerospace, aviation and defense companies. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) and Gov. Bob Riley joined Lawrence for the announcement, which will lead to the creation of 300 jobs over a four-year period. The facility, known as an “all-up-round” facility, will be used for integration and testing of the Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6, both key components of the nation’s layered missile-defense program. “Raytheon’s SM-3 is the centerpiece of the nation’s new missile-defense strategy,” Lawrence said at the announcement, “and SM-6 will provide the U.S. Navy with a newer, much-needed weapon system. Combining these two programs into one facility in Huntsville will enable Raytheon to increase productivity and efficiency.” Lawrence added the new factory will use automated robots in the manufacturing and assembly process to “enhance quality and safety and deliver lower-cost products to the Missile Defense Agency and our U.S. Navy customers.” The state-of-the-art facility (another top-of-the-list cliché) will be 70,000 square feet, and will be built in two phases, each tied to SM-3 and SM-6 production contracts. Raytheon will also build an engineering and support facility in Huntsville, at a site to be determined later. “This new weapons integration center means more jobs for Alabama, and is a clear demonstration of Raytheon’s strong partnership with the state,” Gov. Riley said. “Raytheon continues to be an important piece of Alabama’s economic picture.” The move to Huntsville is also a homecoming for the man who will run the program here, Randy Stevenson. Growing up in Elkmont in Limestone County, Stevenson has traveled the world for Raytheon, and at last gets a chance to return to his roots. continued on page 24

Economy Gets Boost, continued from page 23 – “I’m excited about it because it gives me the opportunity to take advantage of the tremendous technology infrastructure that exists in Huntsville and North Alabama,” Stevenson said. “We will bring the most technologically advanced missile-production facility we have to Huntsville. To be able to put my headquarters here, in what I consider to be the center of the universe in missile technology, is a significant event in my career. “We’re very comfortable we made the wisest choice for this facility, because Huntsville offers so much, from quality of life to an industry-friendly attitude. It’s just second to none.” The SM-3 is a key component in MDA’s sea-based AEgis Ballistic Missile Defense System. The missiles are deployed on Navy cruisers and destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the ascent and midcourse phases of flight. The SM-6 is an extended range anti-air warfare missile, also deployed on Navy ships. SM-6 provides over-the-horizon capabilities against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. The term “all-up-round” refers to a facility that produces the finished product for the customer. In this case, when the missiles leave Huntsville, each unit is ready for immediate deployment. Stevenson said Raytheon hopes to begin production at the Redstone facility in the first quarter of 2012. Interested applicants should contact the Alabama Industrial Development Training office and specify that they are interested in the Raytheon missile facility. As Stevenson said, “the future holds what it holds,” but assumptions can clearly be made that Raytheon views Huntsville as an important growth market for its support of the country’s warfighters and our allies around the world. Production of the SM-3 and SM-6 is expected to increase significantly over the next few years and could feasibly continue for many years to come. “That’s true,” Stevenson said. “It’s not just day one, but there’s a natural progression to this process. The possibilities for future growth are very much there.” • Staff Reports 24

October 2010 Initiatives

Sight Set on BioDefense New company connects community strengths to fortify the nation

ast month’s anniversary of the 9/11 events offered a sobering reminder of national vulnerabilities to attack. Federal mandates to better protect the nation from harm have opened new opportunities for mature, as well as start-up businesses. Concero Scientific, a woman-owned, small business, is leveraging Huntsville’s unique engineering, information technology and biotechnology strengths to address a growing pledge to citizen and solider protection. “Our goal is to take life sciences discoveries and connect them with engineering and computer science technologies to develop tools for preventing, responding to and controlling infectious diseases and bioagents,” said Lynn Buckle, president of the company. She recently launched and located Concero Scientific at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. continued on page 26

Initiatives October 2010

Sight Set on BioDefense, continued from page 25 – According to Buckle, Concero Scientific is the only company in the area to concentrate solely on biosecurity. “Several entities within the U.S. Department of Defense are interested in utilizing our capabilities to develop and field technologies related to identification and characterization of bioagents,” she added. The company is also addressing a proprietary technology for use in developing vaccines and therapeutics for protection against bioagents. Buckle has degrees in both nursing and electrical engineering. She previously worked for a local defense company where she gleaned insight to emerging biodefense needs. “I want to help safeguard the U.S. homeland and military personnel, who are both home and deployed, from infectious diseases and biological threats,” said Buckle.

Huntsville BioDefense Symposium Buckle is also part of a team assembling the first Huntsville BioDefense Symposium. Hosted by HudsonAlpha and the Partnership for Biotechnology Research, the BioDefense Symposium will be held October 1920 at the Jackson Center, located adjacent to the institute on the Cummings Research Park Biotech Campus. “Our goal is to raise awareness among regional defense companies that there are markets for them in the biomedical area,” said Troy Moore, another chief symposium organizer. “The biotech community here can assist those defense companies in developing these opportunities,” he added. Generally, projects address basic and applied research on biological threats, resulting in medical solutions to protect civilians and military service members. “Huntsville is an excellent venue to further explore and collaborate on our nation’s deBattle fense,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. He noted that the BioDefense Symposium is an opportunity to ensure that the nation’s biodefense is “better, stronger and second-to-none.” Additional information and registration for the BioDefense Symposium are available at www.hudsonalpha.org/biodefense. • Holly McClain 26

October 2010 Initiatives

Helicopters to Tanks Services Expand to Support U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command

estWind Technologies, long a fixture in supporting the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, has expanded its service offerings and support to the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM). The contractor recently won a multi-year, $376 million contract with TACOM for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. WestWind will supply the Command, Control, Communications and Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Digital Backbone B-Kits in production quantities and package them for integration onto the vehicles. This land vehicle program integrates additional capability to the vehicles, enables future growth, and improves operational capability for the crews. The company has already received the

first $35 million order under the new contract and will begin performance immediately. Deliveries on the initial order are scheduled throughout the first half of 2011. Roger Messick, WestWind’s chief operating officer, said, “This contract award builds on our long heritage as a world-class provider of kitting services and our record of on-time deliveries. We know the importance of the work we do to help secure the safety of our nation’s war fighters, and we are excited to expand that role as we begin this work for TACOM.” WestWind will perform the contract work at its assembly and distribution facilities in Huntsville’s Jetplex Industrial Park. DRS Test and Energy Management, also located in Huntsville, will produce the video data distribution system which is a key component of the Digital Backbone Kits. • Staff Reports

U.S. soldiers load supplies into a mine-resistant, ambushprotected vehicle in Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Theodore Schmidt/Released)

Initiatives October 2010

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:

Business After Hours July 20, presented by and located at All Needz Rental Center

The networking was hot at the BAH in July as new members connected with existing members to grow their businesses together.

New Member Luncheon August 19 at the Chamber, presented by iBERIABANK

New members took advantage of the opportunity to learn how to use the tools available through the Chamber.

Small Business Awards Contenders Reception August 24 at the Chamber, presented by CB&S Bank

Patrick Josh Baker was one of 98 contenders for awards at the 25th Annual Small Business Celebration. 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.

October 2010 Initiatives

E M P L O Y E E

O F

T H E

Q U A R T E R

Donna McCrary Investor Relations Specialist

or more than 10 years at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Donna McCrary has been behind the scenes ensuring that members receive a significant return on their investment from their Chamber membership. Whether it’s reviewing the printed membership directory for accuracy or putting name badges on tables or programs in chairs, Donna McCrary, investor relations specialist, is a smiling face and welcoming voice to many of the volunteers and members who interact with the Chamber. McCrary understands the needs and challenges facing many of the Chamber’s members and has put this knowledge to use by growing the events, programs and services offered by the Chamber to both small and large businesses in the Huntsville/Madison County community. “I enjoy the fast paced environment, working with a great team and working collaboratively and creatively with our team

and partners to develop solutions to meet our members’ needs,” said McCrary. McCrary has taken a lead role in enhancing the Total Resource Campaign (TRC) and growing it into one of the most successful in the country. From brainstorming new themes to making sure all of the sponsorships give good value to members, McCrary leaves no detail to chance. “We enjoy working with Donna. She challenges us to make our software better for all of our customers,” said Joyce Powell, president, YGM and the Chamber’s TRC consultant. “Donna works hard every day to resolve issues and brings fresh ideas to improve the services we provide to our members. She works with all of our staff to develop creative solutions and is always looking for new ways to include our volunteers in events,” said Loren Traylor, the Chamber’s vice president of investor relations. “She is truly the wind beneath the wings.” •

Initiatives October 2010

Commerce in Action 7th Annual Event Promises to Be Biggest, Best Yet

ore than 230 local businesses will be displaying their products and services at the 7th Annual Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Business Expo presented by RJ Young, on Oct. 28 from 1 – 6 p.m. in the South Hall of the Von Braun Center. The Expo will showcase a variety of business services and products that can be purchased locally to enhance the economic growth and vitality of the business community. “Each year, the Business Expo gets bigger and better. As we raise awareness of the diversity of products and services that are available locally, our local businesses really see the benefit from participating,” said Jenni Jeffers, the Chamber’s director of small business and membership services. “We want to show our members that our Chamber is a smart place for small business connections,” added Jeffers. In addition, seminars will be offered which are designed to give small businesses the information needed to take advantage of Huntsville’s dynamic economy and the opportunities that will be available in the next few years as more companies and workers relocate to the Huntsville area. “The goal here is to educate residents about local businesses and services that are available in their own backyard. The businesses in the Huntsville community offer unique services and benefits. We want to encourage local business to buy local and support our local economy. In doing so, we help each other and grow business for everyone,” said Danny Windham, the Chamber’s vice chair of small business. • Staff Reports 30

October 2010 Initiatives

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 39 40 51 52 53 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 77 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 91

Cumulus Media (WZYP/WVNN/WUMP/WHRP/WWFF) Monaco Pictures Look Outdoor Advertising, Inc. Port of Huntsville For booth availability, contact CBL and Associates Donna McCrary: Crosby Performance Consulting (256) 535-2027 or email Regions Bank Consolidated Construction Co. dmccrary@hsvchamber.org. CRE8IVE Partners Already a vendor but have Allied Photocopy, Inc. questions? Contact Zazzy’s, LLC First Commercial Bank Mitzi Floyd: Executive Flight Center, Inc, (256) 535-2089 or email Daniels Photography mfloyd@hsvchamber.org C & A Catering J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier Computer Training Center of Huntsville Professional Carpet Systems Presented by: New Market Bar-B-Q 5 Linx Enterprises Focus Radio Communications (WTKI) Bama Jammer, Inc. Orkin Pest Control Integrity Home Repair J.F. Drake State Technical College Edward Jones - Kitty Davenport al.com (Alabama Live, LLC) Taziki’s Greek Fare Virginia College at Huntsville KTI Express Courier (also 32) WZZN Radio (also 34) Momma Goldberg’s Deli 92 The Storage Neighbor H & R Block 93 The Salon Professional Academy Elite Remodeling and Repair 94 Always Reddy 2 Move Superior Bank 95 Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa Designers Closet 96 Tom Jeffreys Sign & Banner Huntsville Flight Center 97 YMCA of Metropolitan Hsv - Corp. office Tech USA 98 Action Builders, Inc. Tastebuds Boutique Catering 99 Snelling Staffing Services CB&S Bank - Hampton Cove 100 DATA VENTURES Trav-Ad Signs, Inc. 102 State Farm Insurance - Bradley Hamner Von Braun Center 103 Olde Towne Brewing Co. BlueCreek Investment Partners 104 ColorXPress CenturyLink 105 Matrix RJ Young (also 64) 106 Educational Outfitters (J&W Sales) WAY-FM (also 66) 107 Nesin Therapy Services, PC UAHuntsville 108 Hertz Car & Truck Rental Holiday Inn - Downtown 109 UAHuntsville Happy Tails Ranch 110 Sterling Travel American Express Alabama 4-H Center 111 J. R. Enterprises Oakwood University 112 What Women Want American Family Care - Urgent Care/Family Care 113 Eagle Collision Center, Inc. Small Business Technologies, Inc. 114 Lyons HR Farmers Insurance - Sady Zayas Agency 115 InfoPro Corporation Sunbelt Business Brokers 116 Creative Promotions FASTSIGNS of Huntsville 117 SCS (also 118 ,127, 128) LogiCore 119 Romano’s Macaroni Grill Skyline Alabama, LLC 120 XMC of North Alabama NETWORx of Huntsville 121 Allied Waste Crestwood Medical Center (also 86) 122 Wright Line, LLC Athens State University 125 Metro Signs of Huntsville Costco Wholesale 128 THR & Associates, Inc. Bath Fitter (also 90) 129 Blue Point Strategies, LLC 130 Women’s Business Center of N. Ala. Bizphones

BUSINESS EXPO

Business EXPO Booth Listing

Booths sold at time of publication

131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 141 142 143 145 146 147 149 150 151 152 155 156 157 159 160 161 162 163 165 166 167 168 169 170

Calhoun Community College Business Interiors/Office Furniture USA Phoenix Strickland Companies SpineCare Valpak of North Alabama Marco’s Pizza Interweave Technologies Chamber of Commerce (140,153,154) AHI Corporate Housing The Business Card Holder Rocket City United Foliage Design Systems Bank of America Huntsville Hospital (also 148) Good Samaritan Hospice of Madison Techni-Core, Inc. Hamilton-Ryker of Huntsville elleven salon Green Mountain Glass Design Branding Bentley Auto Group (also 158) Fourroux Prosthetics, Inc. 18 Watercress Green Ruth’s Chris Steak House Convention & Visitors Bureau The Huntsville Times (also 164) Halo Branded Solutions UA Executive MBA Program Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Inc. McAbee Medical, Inc. Accent Cleaning and Supply, Inc. Dr. Jacquelyn Collins & Associates

171 172 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 195 200 201 202 203 204 208 213 205 207 209 211 221 A

Mama Annie’s BB&T Rocket Town Solutions If It’s Wood Cabinetry, Granite & Tile League & Jones Roofing & Siding Budget Blinds of Huntsville EXPRESS Employment Professionals Blackwater Hattie’s SourceLink MAILINGS, COUPONS & MORE, INC. Quality Quick Printing, Inc. United States Army Recruiting Redstone Federal Credit Union Jani-King of Huntsville Maximum Promotional Products Infinity Technology Murray Moving & Storage, Inc. ADS Security Cotton States Insurance - Rodney Wells Apple Lane Farms Eagle Rehab Texas Smokehouse Barbecue So. Mgmt. Janitorial Services & Lawn Office Furniture Outlet Diversified Business Solutions Hampton Inn & Suites - Hampton Cove Royal Cup Coffee WRSA Lite 96.9 (also 206) The Lioce Group, Inc. (also 229 & 230) Sealy Mgmt. Co., Inc. (also 210) Landers McLarty (also 212) Tennessee Valley Barter Exchange Verizon Call Center Initiatives October 2010

Q&A with John Eagan Wells Fargo Senior VP Looks to Expand Locally Following Merger Q: How many employees do you have company-wide?

A: Wells Fargo has more than 278,000 team members throughout the country. Q: How many employees do you have in Huntsville?

A: In Huntsville and Madison County, we have nearly 160 team members in several lines of business, including retail and business banking, mortgage and brokerage. Q: What are the strengths of your organization?

A: Our vision and values, along with our time-tested business model, provide us with a competitive advantage – now more than ever. We can’t control the economy, so we focus on what we can control: satisfying all our customers’ financial needs to help them succeed financially. Our vision and values guide us in all that we do.

October 2010 Initiatives

Another strength of Wells Fargo’s is that we are lending. We made more than $800 million in loans in Alabama just in the first seven months of 2010. Q: How will the purchase of Wachovia help Wells Fargo future growth?

A: We believe the Wachovia merger – combined with Wells Fargo’s time tested business model – has made and will make us even stronger financially with the opportunity to earn even more business. Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America. Our strength, conservative financial discipline, and commitment to doing what’s right for the customer enable us to help our customers succeed financially. Q: What are the opportunities for growth of the organization in Huntsville?

A: The benefits of Wells Fargo made their appearance in Huntsville before our name even changed. Our customers

have had access to new products, innovative envelopefree ATMs and, we’ve added jobs. The Wells Fargo model means more people to take even better care of our customers in community banking. We’ve already hired nearly a dozen new team members in Huntsville in the past several months and eventually, you’ll see us hire more people to better serve our customers. We look forward to serving our clients and growing our customer base here in Huntsville and Madison County. Q: What are the advantages of being located in Huntsville?

A: This is a great market. While we have experienced some slow down, we still have a healthy and growing economy. This is a smart place to live, work and play, and our emphasis on technology is in line with the community’s demand to stay one step ahead. continued on page 34

BRAC UPDATE

Continued Growth Communities’ Targeted BRAC Efforts Result in Thousands of Jobs

ecently a group from Crane Naval Base visited the Huntsville/Madison County community to get tips and best practices from community leaders on how to grow a region. Both Crane and Redstone have similar histories, yet Redstone has grown exponentially since its inception in both responsibility and employment while Crane has remained stagnant. Redstone has evolved from a U.S. Army munitions base into a federal technology campus that includes more than 34,000 employees and contractors working for more than 55 different departments and agencies. Since the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) announcement in 2005, several communities have called upon the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee to talk about best practices and how it has been so successful over the years in helping position Redstone and the Tennessee Valley region for growth. “We learned from our past mistakes,” said Joe Ritch, chair of the TV BRAC Committee since 1993. “We work together as a region and by that I mean all of north Alabama and southern Tennessee. We welcome any community into our fold with the understanding that we will support each other and do what is best for the region and set aside local agendas.” The BRAC gains and associated job growth illustrates Ritch that the philosophy has been working exceptionally well. In 1995, the U.S. Army Aviation and Technical Command in St. Louis merged with the U.S. Army Missile Command at Redstone and located the new U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) headquarters at Redstone. Despite a national BRAC relocation average of less than 30 percent, the TV BRAC Committee’s outreach efforts resulted in 60 percent of the aviation workers associated with the transferred positions from St. Louis moving

to the Tennessee Valley – the highest percentage in BRAC relocation history. Prior to 1995, less than one percent of Redstone’s budget involved aviation. Today, 25 percent of the more than $30 billion dollars that flow through the arsenal is related to aviation, with more increases expected in the next several years. “Without that 1995 success there is a chance that Redstone would have lost significant jobs in the 2005 BRAC. We were able to build upon the strengths created and make a good business case for moving more commands to Redstone in 2005,” said Ritch. “And we hope to be just as successful in the next BRAC,” he added. According to a study commissioned by the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and completed in 2008, more than 5,500 additional defense contractor positions will be created in the Huntsville/Madison County community related to the 2005 BRAC decision. Already, more than 9,000 aerospace and defense contractor jobs have been created since 2005, many of those related to both the 1995 and 2005 BRAC decisions. To date, almost 3,100 of the 4,700 jobs slated to move have been transferred to Redstone. Of those, 2,500 have been filled and more than half of those came from out of town. “A lot of effort has been put into recruiting the experienced personnel that currently hold these positions,’ said Lucia Cape, vice president of workforce for the Chamber of Commerce. “We hired one full-time staff person to travel around the country talking about the career opportunities in our area and have developed a personalized presentation that illustrates what we think are great reasons why people should consider moving with their jobs.” According to Ritch, these presentations have been very successful in helping the commands move their workforce and it has now grown to include companies moving large

groups of employees to the area because of BRAC. “Once people hear our story, they want to at least come take a look at the Tennessee Valley. And once we can get them here, they want to stay,” said Ritch. Local business leaders and elected officials have been working hard to ensure that infrastructure does not fall behind, Ritch said, adding that working with State legislators across north Alabama, five bills were passed this past spring in Montgomery that will enable the region to support the growth associated with moves. These included a bill to reallocate $6 million in-lieu-of tax money that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been paying to Alabama and to the communities that use TVA energy. In addition, the Barron Road Bill was passed that earmarks $40 million for road money to north Alabama. And with support from Alabama Education Association, the Butler Education Bill was also passed that will enable $175 million in bond money to be available to eligible communities if certain benchmarks are met. State legislators also have allocated $750,000 toward workforce recruitment efforts. And lastly, the State passed the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) legislation that paved the way for the biggest commercial development project in the United States. The long-term, multiple phase development broke ground in August. Full implementation of the 2005 BRAC is far from over. More than 1,600 jobs are still left to move once final construction of the 840,000 square-foot Missile Defense Agency Von Braun III complex and the near 450,000 square-foot Army Materiel Command headquarters are complete. If the 2005 BRAC growth resembles the 1995 BRAC growth that continues in 2010, the entire Tennessee Valley region can expect continued and dramatic growth over the next 10 years. • John Southerland & Loren Traylor Initiatives October 2010

Q&A with John Eagan, continued from page 32 –

Q: What are your goals over the next year for the bank?

A: We are driven by our vision to help customers succeed financially and our goal is to communicate that vision to our customers. We’re honored that our region is among the first to change officially to Wells Fargo in the East. We look forward to serving our customers as Wells Fargo. Q: What is the importance to Huntsville in having a bank like Wells Fargo as part of its business base?

A: We want to be Huntsville’s best local bank, with all the advantages of a great national bank. In our shorthand you may hear us express it this way: we try to “out-local the nationals and out-national the locals.” Huntsville will also benefit from several charitable contributions to local organizations and non-profits that we will be announcing this fall – and the Wells Fargo stagecoach will be on hand to help us celebrate.

October 2010 Initiatives

Q: You are not from here, what attracted you to this community and what are your impressions of this community before and after your move?

A: The great quality of life, education and the progressive nature of the community helped my family and I decide that this was a place we could call home. Q: What is the main reason you consider it important to invest in the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County and in the economic growth of this community?

A: We want the Huntsville community to prosper and grow and we want our local businesses to succeed. We believe strongly in investing locally in our communities through philanthropy and the volunteer time of our team members. We encourage them to get involved in causes that matter to them and we have numerous team members who are actively engaged in the community, serving on the boards of nonprofits, churches, athletic organizations and more. •

strength in

numbers

connects business prospects

“

With our vision comes a

strong commitment to the local community. We believe that we are responsible for being leaders to promote long-term economic prosperity and quality of life for everyone in our communities. You’ve never seen a thriving bank in a struggling community.

John Eagan, Market President for Huntsville/Madison County, Wells Fargo Senior Vice President

Wells Fargo

HREGI Investor since 2004

”

For a list of investors, see page 4 or visit: HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

Initiatives October 2010

memories timeless

Tribute to Russell Brown Showcases 25 Years of Small Business Excellence

2010 Finalists & Winners Government Contracting Services Sigmatech, Inc. (winner) Aranea Solutions Kaya Associates, Inc. Professional Services Appleton Learning (winner) Cyn Shea’s Complete Catering Terramé Day Spa & Salon Technology Services deciBel Research, Inc. (winner) Bevilacqua Research Corporation GATR Technologies Non-Profit of the Year Huntsville Botanical Garden (winner) Choose Life of North Alabama, Inc. Junior Achievement of N. Alabama Young Professional of the Year Charlie Wilson – Digium (winner) Beth Martin – Worthington Federal Bank Glenn Clayton – Appleton Learning Russell Brown Executive Leadership Rey Almodóvar – Intuitive Research and Technology Corp. (winner) Jonn Kim – GaN Corporation Janine Nesin – Nesin Therapy 36

October 2010 Initiatives

he 25th Annual Small Business Awards Celebration, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, was a night of remembrance, reflection and anticipation for 1,200 business and community leaders. Throughout the evening, speakers left little doubt that small businesses are the lifeblood of the Huntsville/Madison County community, with Chamber Board Chair Don Nalley punctuating the claim by stating “the continued health and vitality of our small businesses are intrinsically tied to the growth of the entire region.” Sponsored by Redstone Federal Credit Union and emceed by Amy George of the Melissa George Neonatal Foundation and Melissa Riopka from WAAY-TV, the evening kicked off with a tribute dance to the late Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire performed by Marianne Windham and James Drake. The award’s theme was meant to honor the grace and elegance of past and current recipients and give future winners something to strive toward. “Tonight’s celebration is dedicated to those who possess the talent, the drive and the determination to succeed and defy the odds and the uncertainty. This room is filled with innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Those whose ideas and ideals inspired them to start a business and in so doing inspired others to help them grow it,” said Don Nalley, chair, Chamber Board of Directors as he opened the evening.

A record number of nominations and a record number of contenders ensured that the 25th awards ceremony would also be the most competitive. But the highlight of the evening was a retrospective about one of the community’s greatest leaders and the recipient of the Chamber’s very first recipient of the Executive Leadership Award 25 years ago. In recognition of that first award, Bob Ludwig, former Chamber chair and publisher of The Huntsville Times, announced that it would henceforth be named the Russell Brown Executive Leadership Award in honor of the late business and community leader’s impact. Ludwig then presented a special award to Brown’s widow Shirley Brown and the family. “Naming this award in Russell’s memory recognizes his many years of service to the Chamber and memorializes his legacy as a true champion of small business in America. Without question, Russell was passionate in his belief that entrepreneurialism, innovation and service are the things that make our community a great place to do business and improve lives. We, along with the Chamber, look forward to recognizing future recipients of this important award,” said Shirley Brown to a visibly moved audience. During the ceremony companies, organizations and individuals were honored in several categories to include: Contracting Services; Professional Services; Technology

Small Business Awards photos taken by J. Hanshaw Photography

SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Rey Almodóvar, Intuitive Research and Technology

Above: Bob Ludwig, publisher of The Huntsville Times, paid a special tribute and announced the renaming of the Executive Leadership Award to the Russell Brown Executive Leadership Award in memory of the first Executive Leadership Award recipient and community leader. Opposite page: The 25th Annual Small Business Awards Celebration was opened with a tribute to the grace and elegance of the 1940s with a dance performed by Marianne Windham and James Drake. Services; Non-Profit; Young Professional and the Russell Brown Executive Leadership. Consequently, the diversity of industry and reasons for starting a business were truly highlighted this year among the finalists and winners. As one such example, Bassem Muhafza, deciBel Research president and winner of the Technology Services award, saw a gap between technology and innovation and academia and created a company that facilitates and accelerates bringing great ideas into the field where people benefit. According to Muhafza, “It’s about making a difference not about the revenue of our company. It’s about how much we contribute to our community, our customers, our employees and our families.” For this reason, one of the qualities that make Huntsville/Madison County a smart place to live, work, play and start a business is that dedication to giving back to the community and providing a product or service that makes a difference. Steigerwald Another organization dedicated to that philosophy has been making a difference in the area for the past 22 years. The Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden was recognized as the 2010 NonProfit of the Year. “Public gardens have a place in helping our community understand the importance

of the environment and it is a way to bring people together and to share common goals,” said Paula Steigerwald, CEO. “We have an incredible staff that believes in what they are doing and that are inspired by our volunteers who stand up behind and along side of them to keep our garden growing. And winning this award is unbelievable,” she added. Recently, Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation was recognized by HispanicBusiness Magazine as the seventh fastest growing business in the country and on this night they kept the good news coming for their company as Rey Almodóvar, CEO, was named the first recipient of the Russell Brown Executive Leadership Award. Since moving the corporate headquarters from Texas to Huntsville in 2007, Intuitive grew almost 500 percent. “Winning this award is the validation that I have been doing the right thing for a long time. To be a leader you have to have a following. I have a great team and the team has grown with us. This is the icing on the cake. We have been in business a long time and we have done the right things at the right times with the right people and with the right management,” said Almodóvar. Each of the contenders, finalists and winners are the stars that keep lighting the way for a new generation of small businesses in Huntsville/Madison County. Russell Brown would have been proud. • Loren Traylor

Charlie Wilson, Digium

Dr. Bassem Mahafza, deciBel Research

John Chapman, Sigmatech Initiatives October 2010

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Staff 2010 Brian Hilson, president & CEO John Southerland, communications director Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Laura Kendrick, executive assistant

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

Rick Davis, director, Cummings Research Park Harrison Diamond, economic development coordinator

Amy Locke, industrial development/existing industry assistant

Governmental Affairs Mike Ward, VP, governmental affairs Tina Leopold, governmental affairs assistant

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

Hiroko Sedensky, web designer/research specialist

Kathleen Byrne, information services specialist Donna Dingler, resource desk coordinator

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

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

Terrie Ledbetter, investor relations representative Mike Brazier, investor relations representative Donna McCrary, investor relations specialist Laura Patterson, events coordinator

Finance & Administration Christy Nalley, director, finance & administration Jamie Gallien, IT manager Mary McNairy, accounting specialist Lori Warner, financial assistant Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Associated Organization WBCNA (Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Center of North Alabama)

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 / fax 256-535-2015 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com 38

October 2010 Initiatives

Initiatives October 2010

community profile

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

Population

Madison County

City of Huntsville

2000 Census

276,700

158,216

29,329

342,376

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

Current Estimate*

327,744

179,653

39,876

406,316

The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,006

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

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

Households & Income # of Households

127,342

Avg. Household Income $73,430 $30,334 Per Capita Income *July 2010

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

69,278 $65,159 $28,444

14,624

153,326

$93,488 $35,847

$71,267 $28,779

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

CINRAM, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,800 SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,303 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,199 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,150 Sanmina-SCI Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,971 Source: Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County *includes on-site contractors

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

Research & Technology

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

For more information visit:

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

HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

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

October 2010 Initiatives

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

Initiatives October 2010

October 2010 Initiatives

Initiatives October 2010

October 2010 Initiatives