Initiatives magazine, June 2012 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Initiatives June 2012

June 2012 Initiatives

Initiatives June 2012

Thanks to Our Investors Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Development Partner ($200,000+ annually)

City of Huntsville Development Council ($120,000+ annually)

Huntsville Utilities Chairman’s Council ($75,000+ annually)

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. President’s Circle

($50,000+ annually)

Huntsville Hospital Port of Huntsville Regions Bank Tennessee Valley Authority Leadership Forum ($25,000+ annually) ADTRAN, Inc. BBVA Compass Bank The Boeing Company City of Madison Emerson Network Power - Avocent The Huntsville Times Lockheed Martin Corporation Madison County Commission Redstone Federal Credit Union Verizon Wireless

Executive Council ($15,000+ annually)

June 2012 Initiatives

AT&T BB&T CINRAM, Inc. Crestwood Medical Center Intergraph Corporation North Alabama Multiple Listing Service Northrop Grumman Corporation PARSONS Qualitest Pharmaceuticals SES Wyle CAS Group WEUP / Hundley Batts & Associates

Chamber Trustees ($10,000+ annually) AEgis Technologies Group Aerojet Agility Defense and Government Services Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. Dynetics, Inc. First Commercial Bank Jerry Damson, Inc. L-3 Communications Corp. – Huntsville Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Inc.

Progress Partners

Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Look Outdoor Advertising, Inc. MJLM Engineering & Technical Services Navistar Diesel of Alabama, LLC Raytheon Company SAIC SportsMed System Studies & Simulation, Inc. Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Wells Fargo Bank

($5,000+ annually)

Ability Plus Analytical Services, Inc. A-P-T Research, Inc. Available Plastics, Inc. BAE Systems Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, Inc. Baron Services, Inc. BASF Catalysts, LLC Beason & Nalley, Inc. The Bentley Automotive Group Bill Penney Toyota-Mitsubishi BlueCreek Investment Partners Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Cadence Bank Clearview Cancer Institute Coates Transportation Group Coldwell Banker Commercial McLain Real Estate Colonial Properties Trust Connected Logistics Consolidated Construction Company Cook’s Pest Control Davidson Technologies, Inc. DRS Technologies

ERC, Inc. Holiday Inn – Downtown Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association iBERIABANK Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation J. Smith Lanier & Co. LogiCore MTS, Inc. The Orthopaedic Center Pratt &Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. QinetiQ North America Radiance Technologies, Inc. Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (DBA Steak Out) Strata-G / Strata Form Torch Technologies Turner URS U.S. Space & Rocket Center WAFF-TV Wilmer & Lee, P.A. Yellow Book USA

Progress Investors ($2,500+ annually) Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. Amanda Howard Real Estate Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong, P.C. Averbuch Realty Co. Inc. / Averbuch Enterprises Aviagen, Inc. Bama Jammer, Inc. BancorpSouth Brown Precision, Inc. Bryant Bank Cerqa Century Automotive CFD Research Corporation Chapman Sisson Architects, Inc. Coast Personnel Services deciBel Research Decisive Analytics Corporation Decosimo Certified Public Accountants DESE Research, Inc. Digium, Inc. Ducommun Miltec First Financial Group Wealth Management Fite Building Company, Inc. Foreign Language Services, Inc. Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC 4SITE, Inc. GATR Technologies Gray Research, Inc. Halsey Foodservice The HDC, LLC HEMSI Hiley Cars Huntsville Huntsville Botanical Garden Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Investor’s Resource/Raymond James Financial Services

KPS Group Kudzu Productions, Inc. Leadership Huntsville/Madison County, Inc. Mattress King, Inc. MOOG, Inc. MTS, Inc. National Bank of Commerce PALCO Telecom Service, Inc. PeopleTec PHOENIX Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. Progress Bank PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Public FA, Inc. QTEC, Inc. Qualis Corporation Renasant Bank RJ Young SCS Exhibits ServisFirst Bank Sigmatech, Inc. Spencer Companies Inc. State Farm Insurance - Tim Roberts Insurance Agency Inc. The Surgery Center of Huntsville Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. United Space Alliance, LLC Wesfam Restaurants, Inc. (Burger King) West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. WHNT-TV WILL Technology, Inc. Woodland Homes of Huntsville Woody Anderson Ford Worthington Federal Bank

Initiatives June 2012

June 2012 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

june 2012

cover story

Rocket City Rowing Club, photo by Eric Schultz

The Best Places to Work Success is fueled by people power at this year’s awards event beginning on page 18 Cover image from Shutterstock.com

features Economic Development Highlights

including Dynetics, The Boeing Company, NAITA, SPS, Crestwood Medical Center and Emerson Network Power Avocent 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.

SBCS: Restore Your Niche 2 2 Chamber Presence at AAAA 24 LG (Ret.) Mark Curran Honored 2 5 Space Day in Montgomery 2 8 Annual Washington D.C. Trip 3 2 Rep. Brooks: STEM Education 33 SBA Spotlight: GATR Technologies 34

Sunset Landing Golf Course, photo by Jeff Hanshaw

developments

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 main line: 256.535.2000 fax: 256.535.2015

online www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com www.asmartplace.com

fyi

Submissions for editorial content are not accepted. Information in this and other Chamber publications is at the discretion of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Advertising inquiries go through The Huntsville Times.

4 8 10 20 21 26

HREGI Investors Listing Chamber Board Listing Armed Forces Week Schedule Community Profile Chamber Ambassadors Chamber Staff Listing

editorial staff

Publisher Chip Cherry, cce Executive Editor Patricia C. McCarter

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard ontributing Writers Kathleen Byrne, Lucia Cape, C Harrison Diamond, and Patricia McCarter Photography Chamber of Commerce staff, publications and archive unless otherwise noted Advertising Sales Becky Fentress The Huntsville Times becky.fentress@htimes.com Initiatives June 2012

Chamber of Commerce

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2012 Executive Committee

A Message from Chip Cherry

Jim Bolte, Chair, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Ron Poteat, Chair-Elect, Regions Bank Charlie Kettle, Immediate Past Chair, First Commercial Bank Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, Consultant Frederick Lanier, Secretary/Treasurer, J. Smith Lanier & Co. Rey Almodóvar, Vice Chair - Economic Development, Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: In Madison County, we are blessed with a robust small business community. Of the 19,982 resident companies in Madison County, 7,225 of them are self-employed, and 10,637 are companies with 2-9 employees. Together, these two groups represent 89 percent of our resident companies and employ 40,626 people (2009 data from YourEconomy.org). The entrepreneurs who run these small businesses are a very special group of people. These are people who have decided to embrace the free enterprise system on which this country is founded and blaze their own path. They know that the hours are long, the challenges great, yet they hope for a reward that is often more one of satisfaction than financial benefit. These individuals and the people they employ are a vital part of our economy. National Small Business Week was celebrated May 20-26, and I encourage you to thank those small businesses you do business with for the services they provide and to look for the Chamber decal. Those are the businesses that are the best of the best! In this issue of Initiatives, we celebrate the Best Places to work and the Best Employees in our community. Congratulations to all the winners!

Chip Cherry, CCE President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Congratulations Toyota! Our print deadline for this issue prevented us from a full story on Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s recent expansion announcement in Huntsville. Toyota officials announced the company would expand the local engine facility to increase its North American production of V6 engines. The 300,000-square-foot expansion will include an $80 million investment into our community and create 125 high-paying jobs. Be sure to look for more information on the economic impact of this significant announcement in the August issue of Initiatives.

June 2012 Initiatives

Rose Allen, Vice Chair - Governmental Affairs, Booz Allen Hamilton Kim Lewis, Vice Chair - Member Services, PROJECTXYZ Danny Windham, Vice Chair - Workforce, Digium Miranda Bouldin, Vice Chair - Small Business, LogiCore Dr. O’Neal Smitherman, Vice Chair - Research & Information Services, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Crystal Shell, Vice Chair - Image Development, WILL Technology Mayor Tommy Battle, Chair-Appointed, City of Huntsville Mayor Paul Finley, Chair-Appointed, City of Madison Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair-Appointed, Madison County Commission Robert Mayes, Chair-Appointed, BlueCreek Investment Partners Joe Ritch, Chair-Appointed, Sirote & Permutt David Spillers, Chair-Appointed, Huntsville Hospital Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Elected Board

Joe Alexander, Camber Corporation Cathy Anderson, Woody Anderson Ford Bob Baron, Baron Services Dr. Marc Bendickson, Dynetics Penny Billings, BancorpSouth Greg Bragg, Consolidated Construction Company Everett Brooks, Incrementum Consulting Group Micah Bullard, Turner Universal Construction Kevin Byrnes, Raytheon Company Frank Caprio, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Glenn Clayton, Appleton Learning Joe Collazo, COLSA Corporation Mark Curran, L-3 Communications Corporation - Huntsville Operations Kerry Fehrenbach, Intergraph Corporation Ron Gray, Gray Research John Gully, SAIC Natalie Hasley, Bama Jammer Steve Hassell, Emerson Network Power John Holly, Lockheed Martin Corporation Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Dr. Andrew Hugine, Alabama A&M University Tony Jones, The Boeing Company Simon Kim, LG Electronics Alabama Rich Marsden, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne Angie McCarter, Davidson Technologies Elizabeth Morard, Qualis Corporation Joe Newberry, Redstone Federal Credit Union Jim Owens, BBVA Compass George Prueitt, Wyle CAS Group Charlie Sealy, Sealy Management Company Dr. Ashok Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Todd Slyman, Village of Providence Jan Smith, S 3 Tom Stanton, ADTRAN Cynthia Streams, Domino’s Pizza (Valley Pizza) Nilmini Thompson, Systems Products and Solutions Dr. Ernie Wu, ERC

Initiatives June 2012

Monday, June 11

Wednesday, June 13

Friday, June 15

9:30 a.m. - Veterans Memorial Proclamation Signing Ceremony

Noon – VBC North Hall Armed Forces Salute Luncheon

5 p.m. - Kiwanis Sportsplex GAME 1 – Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team vs. Team Redstone

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – FREE ADMISSION Contact: Tina Leopold – tleopold@hsvchamber.org Alternate location: Chamber of Commerce

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – FREE ADMISSION * F-16 “Honor Fly-Over” 187th Fighter Wing Alabama Air National Guard at 4:45 p.m. before the game. www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org

6:30-9:30 p.m. - Big Spring Park Concert in the Park

7 p.m. - Kiwanis Sportsplex GAME 2 – Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team vs. Senior All-Stars “The Rockets”

AMC Band (multiple configurations), presentation of Community Covenant and plaques, ending with fireworks

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – FREE ADMISSION Contact: Joanna Broad White – jwhite@artshuntsville.org

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – FREE ADMISSION www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org

8 a.m. - The Links at Redstone AUSA “Iron Mike” Golf Tournament

Guest Speaker: Major General Lynn Collyar, the next Commanding General of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command; also featuring members of the AMC Band.

Pre-registration required. Contact: Mike Kelley – mkelley@knology.net

Pre-registration required. Contact: Tina Leopold – tleopold@hsvchamber.org

4 p.m. - Kiwanis Sportsplex GAME 3 – Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team vs. City of Huntsville Team

2 and 7 p.m. – U.S. Army Soldier Show Huntsville High School (limited seating)

Thursday, June 14

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – FREE ADMISSION www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org

June 1 – CAC Center (Redstone Arsenal) June 4 – Chamber of Commerce

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Redstone Arsenal Parade Field 237th Army Birthday Celebration

6:43 p.m. – Joe Davis Stadium AUSA Huntsville Stars Military Appreciation Night

Contacts: Natalie Crawford - natalie.r.crawford@us.army.mil; Tina Leopold – tleopold@hsvchamber.org

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Contact: Bill Tillman – bill_tillman@msn.com

Contact: Bob Whiteford – (256) 721-1111

Tuesday, June 12

FREE Soldier Show tickets available:

Saturday, June 16

ARMED FORCES WEEK schedule is subject to change. For updates, additional information or sponsor listing, please visit www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com or email/phone the contact listed per event or

#RedstoneAFCW.

CHECK THESE CHAMBER MEMBER ATTRACTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL MILITARY DISCOUNTS FOR ARMED FORCES WEEK: U.S. Space & Rocket Center & IMAX Theater • Huntsville Botanical Garden • Burritt on the Mountain 10

EarlyWorks Museum Complex • Huntsville Museum of Art • Sci-Quest, Hands-On Science Center • Veterans Museum June 2012 Initiatives

~ continued on page 14

Initiatives June 2012

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Dynetics Opens New Solutions Complex 226,000-Square-Foot Facility Will Expand Company’s Hardware Capabilities Dynetics held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of the Huntsville-based company’s new 226,000-square-foot Solutions Complex. The new facility will expand capabilities in research and development and production for aerospace, cyber and defense products. The opening of the new facility is intended to add 250 to 300 additional jobs over the next three years. The latest facility means expanding Dynetics’ hardware prototyping capabilities in Huntsville to more than 300,000 square feet. It is designed to accommodate commercial and government programs and to provide flexibility for specific customer requirements. Dr. Marc Bendickson, Dynetics CEO, said, “The name of this facility, ‘The Solutions Complex,’ is intended to convey to our customers our goal to provide a solution here locally to their expanding set of requirements.” The new facility will provide space for the company’s hardware integration programs; small-quantity specialty item production; large-scale targets programs; space systems work (including satellite integration); and specialized systems, subsystems and tools development. It will enable consolidation of electronics fabrication and assembly, as well as mechanical test equipment including a thermal vacuum chamber and a shaker table.

The complex will offer the ability to locate government and industry engineers together for collaborative research and manufacturing. Tom Baumbach, president, said, “Examples of successful projects that have involved collaboration between government and industry engineers include FASTSAT (the Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology SATellite) and lunar lander testbeds, as well as several classified Army missile programs.” Dynetics employees working on the mating and integration system for Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch air launch system will be located in The Solutions Complex, and more employees will be added to accommodate future projects. Ron Poteat, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said the announcement is reflective of the community’s workforce and innovative companies. “This is a very special day for not only Dynetics but for our community. This facility will house one of the most innovative and highly-skilled workforces in the nation,” Poteat said. Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield said the announcement from Dynetics is perfectly suited for the State of Alabama’s new economic develop strategic vision Accelerate Alabama.

Dynetics recently cut the ribbon for its 226,000 squarefoot Solutions Complex. The project is expected to add 250 to 300 jobs and will allow the company to expand its research, development and production capabilities. Below: Dr. Marc Bendickson, CEO of Dynetics, explains at the ribbon cutting what the facility will enable the company to do.

“It’s always good to be here in Huntsville/Madison County. The opening of this facility is important to Alabama. This particular announcement is the perfect fit for Alabama’s strategic vision for the state as we move forward. We created a five-year plan called Accelerate Alabama. This type of research that will be done and development this creates represents one of our targeted sectors. Dynetics represents one of those growth opportunities.” Mayor Tommy Battle lauded the work of Dynetics. “The state of Alabama has been a true partner in the growth of this community,” Battle said. “This is a partnership between local and state government and a company that has been at the forefront of our economic growth over the past 20 years. Thank you to the employees of Dynetics. You make the foundation for that growth.” • 12

June 2012 Initiatives

Boeing Celebrates 50 Years in Alabama The Boeing Company celebrates 50 years in Alabama this year, where employees play a vital role in building and sustaining the United States’ space and defense programs. In Huntsville, Boeing maintains its Strategic Missile & Defense Systems headquarters, as well as its largest program, Ground-based Midcourse Defense. Huntsville also hosts Boeing Exploration Launch Systems, which oversees the Space Launch System -- NASA’s new heavy-lift launch vehicle -- and support to the International Space Station. “Alabama and the Tennessee Valley region are rich in resources that have helped to make Boeing successful here -- an excellent work ethic, innovative and talented people, and valued community partners,” said Tony Jones, Boeing vice president and Huntsville site leader. “We are very proud, but not surprised, to have achieved this significant milestone. “This community has been instrumental in creating an environment that is good for business, good for the customers here and good for Boeing,” Jones continued. “We’re thankful that Boeing and Alabama have been a great team for many years, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship.” Throughout Boeing’s 50 years of operation in Alabama, local employees have built a reputation for innovation and engineering excellence in space technology, systems engineering,

and missile defense. Boeing engineers have achieved significant technology advances with programs such as the Saturn S-1C booster rocket that delivered astronauts to the moon; the Lunar Roving Vehicle that allowed human exploration of the moon’s surface; the Skylab Orbital Workshop; and the crew habitat for the International Space Station. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle declared the week to be Boeing Employee Week. “Boeing has made a significant difference in our community in its 50 years doing business here,” said Battle. “Their commitment has attracted new business to foster economic development, funded our schools, strengthened our arts and civic life, and led the way in important new areas, like environmental sustainability and conservation. We’re looking forward to another 50 years of partnership with The Boeing Company.” Current company operations in Huntsville include support to the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB program, the Arrow Weapon System, the Avenger air defense system, and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seeker. The site also hosts Boeing’s Rotorcraft Support business and provides engineering support for commercial and commercial-derivative airplanes. With innovative and affordable capabilities to support the customer, Boeing in Huntsville is a low-cost, high-tech center of excellence. •

Above: Tony Jones, vice president and site executive for Boeing in Huntsville, cuts the cake to celebrate 50 years in Alabama, with Gov. Robert Bentley. Below: Also in attendance was Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield.

Initiatives June 2012

Economic Development Highlights continued from page 13

Export-Import Bank Board Member Addresses World Trade Day in Huntsville Sean Mulvaney, a member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, said that with a great inland port and skilled workforce, Huntsville is well-positioned for international trade. Mulvaney was the keynote speaker at the North Alabama International Trade Association’s Annual World Trade Day Luncheon. The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees (pre-export financing); export credit insurance; and loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). Since 2007, more than $37 million in sales for North Alabama companies have been supported by the bank. “The aerospace and defense industry as well as all the competencies here have led to important spin-offs in Cummings Research Park. There are lots of opportunities here,” Mulvaney said. Trading is a major opportunity for the nation as well. Mulvaney estimates that trade amounted for 25 percent of gross domestic product. There may be many opportunities, but according to Mulvaney, few companies in America take advantage of trade. Of the more than 30 million companies in the United States, only one percent of comMulvaney panies are active in exports. Of that, 58 percent of the exporters only trade with one or two countries. Mulvaney discussed the importance of a “21st Century growth strategy.” “We need to leverage growth. Internal growth is no longer enough. There will soon be fewer people in the workforce. Getting the economy back on track is not all about austerity. It is about a pathway to prosperity. It will be determined about how well we play outside our borders. Middle classes across the world are booming.” One company that is taking advantage of trade in business is Digium. Digium was the recipient of NAITA’s Global Trade Award for 2012. The company saw international sales account for 35 percent. Countries that purchase Digium products include Japan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Digium created, owns and is the innovative force behind Asterisk, the most widely used open source telephony software. Since its founding in 1999, Digium has become the open source alternative to proprietary communication providers, with offerings that cost as much as 80 percent less. Digium offers Asterisk software free to the open source community and offers Switchvox, Digium’s Unified Communications solution, to power a broad family of products for small, medium and large businesses. The company’s product line includes a wide range of telephony hardware and software to enable resellers and customers to implement turnkey VoIP systems or to design their own custom communications solutions. • 14

June 2012 Initiatives

Systems Products and Solutions Opens New Headquarters Huntsville-based Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. (SPS) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on April 19 in recognition of the relocation of their corporate headquarters facility to 307 Wynn Drive in Huntsville. SPS offers a wide range of logistics and training services. SPS’ portfolio includes defense and commercial support of Operational Logistics, Training Services, Modeling and Simulation, New Equipment Fielding, and OCONUS Deployment Support. In 2011, SPS was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest growing small businesses. The new headquarters includes state of the art information technology, classrooms, multiple conference rooms, secure storage and meeting areas, and a fitness center. SPS CEO Nilmini Thompson expressed her gratitude to the community for its support stating, “We are very proud to be a member of this community and honored to be able to provide the very best support for our customers.” Ron Poteat, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said SPS is representative of the entrepreneurial base of the community. “Huntsville/Madison County has a long history of entrepreneurism. Many of our finest corporate citizens have common roots: they identified a market or issue, provided solutions, hired and recruited the most talented people, and most importantly grow and continue to invest in this community. That is exactly what has happened here at SPS,” Poteat said. •

Crestwood unveils da Vinci Robotic Assisted Surgery System With a $2 million investment, Crestwood Hospital is providing its surgeons some of the most cutting-edge equipment with the da Vinci Si Robotic Assisted Surgery System. The platform removes many physical limitations of the surgeon’s hand. Robotic assistance enables them to have greater precision, greater control, and clearer access to areas that are difficult to reach, allowing complex operations to be performed through smaller incisions than traditional open surgery. The new system was unveiled on April 10. “We believe that the da Vinci Si platform and Firefly will help Crestwood’s phyHudson sicians provide the best possible outcomes for patients,” said Crestwood CEO Dr. Pam Hudson. “This new technology emphasizes our commitment to provide the community access to the latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery such as faster recovery times, smaller surgical incisions, and less risk of infection.” • Initiatives June 2012

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 15

Local Economic Growth, Jobs Creation Praised Governor Robert Bentley said in spite of numerous issues Alabama has had to face over the last year, he remains optimistic because unemployment continues to drop. “We hit a high of unemployment of 10 percent. Much of that was due to the tornadoes. In Tuscaloosa alone, they lost more than 100 businesses and 10,000 jobs. But since then we have seen a precipitous drop in unemployment. We have dropped more than any other state over the past six months. That is because we have things to offer,” Bentley said. He added that he is steadfast in his commitment to creat-

June 2012 Initiatives

ing jobs, and that should be the state’s primary goal. “You make it easy for me to bring industry here. You have a great economic development team in place here…I like to come to Huntsville because when I do we are always talking about creating jobs,” Bentley said. Bentley touted a number of successes for his administration and the state such as saving money for schools, fixing public employee pensions, as well as coming up with “common sense” solutions for disaster recovery such as the SAF-T-Net software developed by Baron Services and granting UAHuntsville money for tornado research. He also said challenges await, including remaining competitive in industrial recruitment as well as funding Medicaid at an adequate level, especially if the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014. Bentley also stressed the importance of Redstone Arsenal for the entire state. “It is essential that we support Redstone Arsenal and that we are prepared for the next round of BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure]. We need to put in place everything necessary to support Redstone. You have a great Representative in Mo Brooks and continued support from the entire Congressional delegation.” •

Gov. Bentley discussed numerous successes and goals for the State at his Alabama Update, presented by Aerojet. At left: Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie talks with Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, Commanding General of Army Materiel Command, at the event reception.

Economic Development Highlights compiled by Patricia McCarter & Harrison Diamond

Emerson Unveils its Avocent Universal Management Gateway Emerson Network Power recently unveiled its new Avocent Universal Management Gateway system, a data center appliance that was engineered and developed in Huntsville. When combined with data center infrastructure management software, Gateway delivers comprehensive real-time infrastructure management capabilities, including the first and only solution in the industry for embedded service processor management across multiple heterogeneous server environments. Emerson Network Power president Steve Hassell, who serves on the Chamber’s board of directors, said when his company was ready to “solve a very big problem” in the IT realm, it looked around for a world-leading technology provider, and they became interested in Avocent. They acquired the Huntsville-based company in 2009. That marriage allowed the production of the Gateway, which allows all kinds of devices to “talk” in real time to one another. The Avocent Universal Management Gateway appliance efficiently and intelligently stores, processes and translates the huge volumes of real-time data generated by these systems enabling rapid, accurate problem identification, escalation and resolution. •

UAS Deputy the Recipient of the 2012 Exceptional Civilian Service Award Ed Gozdur, deputy for Common Systems Integration in the U.S. Army’s Unmanned Aviation Systems (UAS) Project Office at Redstone, was recognized as one of the top six Department of the Army Civilians for Exceptional Civilian Service at the 2012 Secretary of the Army Awards Ceremony. Gozdur is the only Department of Army Civilian from Redstone to be recognized by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. He was lauded for his ‘unrivaled’ technical abilities and program management skills that have ensured the most innovative and cutting edge capabilities to the warfighter and have delivered them both efficiently and effectively. He is credited for his innovation and pioneering efforts that launched the RQ-7B Shadow, the RQ-11B Raven Small UAS, and the One System Remote Video Terminal. “I want my team to know that they have made a difference in the UAV community, in Army aviation. There were no UAVs 15 years ago,” said Gozdur. “Then there were a bunch of folks who needed information, and we figured out how to get it. It’s a testament to the UAV community to go from nothing to where it is today in such a small time. And I’m glad I was part of it.” • Initiatives June 2012

The Best Places to Work Photos by Captured Moments Photography © Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Success is Fueled by People Power for This Year’s Awards Event

Micro category winners (top to bottom): QuantiTech, QTEC, Edward Jones, Pinnacle Solutions, and Nesin Therapy.

June 2012 Initiatives

ne glance at the national media accolades that Huntsville, Madison and Madison County routinely receive and it quickly becomes obvious that the area is a good place to work and do business. So if a local company is recognized at the Best Places to Work event, it doesn’t just mean that they are the “best.” It means they are the “best of the best.” Calling out the winners of the Best Places to Work recently took a little longer than in previous years. The Fifth Annual BPTW saw an expanded list of trophy-getters as the Chamber of Commerce added a new “micro” category to reflect the high percentage of Chamber members that have between 25 and 35 employees. This year, there were four size categories and five winners in each category. Additionally, three individuals were recognized in each size group as the Most Valuable Employees in Huntsville/Madison County. First Commercial Bank was the presenting sponsor of the event, held at the Von Braun Center. BPTW was again co-hosted by the North Alabama Society for Human Resource Management (NASHRM). More than 200 organizations were initially nominated for the award, and more than 60 completed surveys to qualify for the honor. Winners were based solely on surveys completed by employees. Angela Dunaway, who serves as president of NASHRM, told the 650 people in attendance that because most of the attendees worked for a company which qualified for the award, there was a good chance that their benefits and compensation are set to attract and retain top job candidates. “And you know this because you periodically participate in surveys, such as the Chamber Wage Survey, to ensure the job, the location and the industry are in line with the markets that you serve,” Dunaway said. “You listen to their feedback and input, because you know that one idea, one efficiency or one new process can spark a new product, a new service or something even bigger that can have a grand impact on your bottom line.” “Despite facing numerous challenges locally while dealing with a still-recovering economy, our business community still continued to be recognized as one of the nation’s leading places to launch, sustain and grow a business,” said Danny Windham, the Chamber’s vice chair for workforce. Quantum Workplace measured and selected companies based on criteria such as team effectiveness, retention probability, trust with co-workers and senior leadership, manager effectiveness and feeling valued. Once nominated, Quantum, specializing in measuring workplace satisfaction around the country, administered a survey to employees and tabulated the results. Winners were based exclusively on the outcome of the employee surveys. • Patricia McCarter

micro category (25-35 workers) Winners: QuantiTech; QTEC; Edward Jones; Nesin Therapy Services; and Pinnacle Solutions

small category (36-70 workers) Small category winners (clockwise from top left): Willbrook Solutions, Brockwell Technologies, Venturi, Maynard Cooper & Gale, and MTS.

Winners: Willbrook Solutions; Brockwell Technologies; Venturi; Manufacturing Technical Solutions (MTS); Maynard Cooper & Gale

medium category (71-200)

Medium category winners (clockwise from right): PeopleTec, i3, AEgis Technologies Group, Avion Solutions, and MTSI.

Winners: PeopleTec; Avion Solutions; Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI); Integration Innovation Inc. (i3); AEgis Technologies Group

large category (201+ workers) Winners: Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation; Dynetics, Inc. URS Corporation; Torch Technologies; Camber Corporation

micro category (25-35 workers) Winners: Kelly Foshee, QTEC; Tara Williams, QuantiTech; Mark Pepper, CANVAS

Large category winners (clockwise from left): Dynetics, Torch Technologies, Camber Corporation, INTUITIVE, and URS Corporation.

small category (36-70 workers) Winners: Kim Leach, Willbrook Solutions; Wendy Graves, Brockwell Technologies; Pam Cooper, Venturi

medium category (71-200) Winners: Chris Hemphill, PeopleTec; Jennifer Franklin, Tec-Masters; Susie Vaughn, PeopleTec

large category (201+ workers) Winners: Billy Cannon, URS; Sonya Tolliver, Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation; Jill Curtis, URS Initiatives June 2012

community profile

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,000

Population

Madison County

City of Huntsville

2000 Census

276,700

158,216

29,329

342,376

Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,919

2010 Census

334,811

180,105

42,938

417,593

Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,079

21.0% 13.8% 46.4% 21.9%

The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,600

% Growth

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389

Households & Income* # of Households

125,564

Avg. Household Income $73,304 Per Capita Income

$29,918

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000

73,235

14,840

156,592

$67,940 $101,574

$71,906

$29,255

$28,761

$37,883

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), *2010 American Community Survey

SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,229 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 ADTRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,740 UAHuntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,675 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 36,000 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 300 compa-

HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

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

June 2012 Initiatives

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

Ambassadors to help discover, orient new Chamber members T

he Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County is committed to furthering the mission of preparing, developing and promoting the community for economic growth. The Ambassador program consists of enthusiastic volunteers from the Chamber membership who donate their time to help build member commitment and raise community awareness of Chamber activities and benefits. From this group of Ambassadors two committees have been formed: The Discovery Team and the Orientation Committee. These committee members will play a key role in the membership recruitment and retention process. The committee members will be highlighted and recognized during the year in various ways including the Chamber website, printed publications, and meeting presentations. The Discovery Team will seek out companies who would benefit from being members of the Chamber. They will be promoting the Chamber message of, “The Chamber works for me. Do you know how it can work for you?” Committee members will emphasize to companies that a membership can be tailored to fit their specific business needs. Discovery Team members: Joe Copp, Roto-Rooter; Jennifer Few, Madison Weekly News; Shannon Drake, Drako Engineering & Communications; Angelina Pettway, Renasant Bank; Jennifer Daniel, Value Exchange; Joe Knoch, Air Essentials, Inc.; Lou Sams, Averbuch Realty; Jennifer Middleton, LBA Properties. The Orientation Committee will assist in welcoming new members. Within the first two to three weeks of signing up a new member, the committee will deliver membership plaques, inserts and door stickers. They will also write thank you notes and include a note with their personal business card. The committee will be calling those members who have joined within the past six months to schedule a time for staff of the Membership division to meet with them to make sure they are getting the full value and

benefit from their membership. Orientation Committee members: Andrew Chapman, Clowers Wealth Management Group; Tina Blankenship, Allegra Marketing Print and Mail; Paula Sorg, A New You Massage and Bodywork; Angela White, Randstad Staffing; David McElhaney, Global Recruiters of Huntsville; Jonathan Hornsby, First Financial Group; Maria Cayse, Grogan Jewelers; Linda Putnam, Restore Your Niche; Jay Morris, Regions Bank; Adam Stephens, RJ Young; Ashley Polesak, Homewood Suites by Hilton; Megan McFerran, Nexus Energy Center; Tabitha Ivey, NETWORx of Huntsville; Laney Moore, Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Their dedication and participation in the effort to maintain strong relationships with the membership continues to benefit the business community and the Chamber. • Kathleen Byrne

Initiatives June 2012

Restore Your Niche prepares small businesses, homeowners before disaster strikes

fter watching an acquaintance be unable to recover their business following a fire at their Texas swimming pool company, Linda Putnam had an idea. If the family had back-up files and other critical data stored off site, they could’ve rebuilt their business. She began contemplating how she could turn that into her own company. And then, when several hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast, the quality analyst was even more motivated to create a product – Restore Your Niche – to store all sorts of data for small businesses and homeowners in the event of fire, flood or other disasters. Putnam moved to Huntsville three years ago to be closer to her parents and work remotely as a training specialist. Following the tornadoes of April 2011, she decided it was time to restart her business here. “So many small business owners lose everything because they don’t have a plan to use in order to recover,” she said. “Restore Your Niche helps them create a plan so they can keep going without weeks or possibly months of losing their niche in the marketplace. “As a small business owner, I know what it is like to stay awake at night, playing the ‘what if’ game. I hope Restore Your Niche prevents other small business owners from having as many sleepless nights.” Without proper preparation, natural disasters or burglary can wipe out everything a business owner has worked so hard to create. “An air conditioner falls through the roof, a car comes through the front door,

June 2012 Initiatives

bad guys break-in overnight, or firefighters are in your house when you come back from the store,” she said. “Disaster happens every day. Restore Your Niche gives peace of mind along with the details to recover from catastrophe and get on with your family or customers with minimum disruption.” Currently, Putnam is her only employee, but she has plans to expand within the next few months. Typically, her customers have between one and 10 employees. “Larger businesses usually have someone in-house who creates a plan, or they are required to meet ISO or OSHA standards,” she said. Putnam “Some homeowners have taken the pictures and think they have all the bases covered. There is so much more they can do in order to move from disaster to recovery with minimum down time. I want to provide that service.” Putnam said she usually spends four documenting a business or home and then another hour to explain the completed product. She creates the owner’s list of resources and other business information, and she takes about 200 photographs of assets. Expansion plans include franchises and on-line services. For more information, go to: restoreyourniche.com. • Patricia McCarter Initiatives June 2012

Chamber members have strong presence at AAAA

The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County along with elected officials such as Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley attended the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual convention in Nashville.

June 2012 Initiatives

verywhere you turned in the exhibit hall of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center during the Army Aviation Association of America’s Annual Professional Forum during April 1-4, you felt the presence of Huntsville and Madison County. This area is Army Aviation, and local Chamber members want to hold on to and even grow that industry more. While they weren’t listening to speakers or taking in the amazing sights of helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and weapon systems in the exhibit halls at Quad A, they were seeking new ways to serve the Army aviation community at Redstone Arsenal. U.S. Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) from Huntsville helped found the Army Aviation Caucus, and he addressed the group about his concerns to keep the military strong while paying down the “800-pound gorilla” of the federal debt. Also speaking about meeting aviation requirements were Maj. Gen. Jim Rogers and Maj. Gen. William Crosby from Redstone, who agreed that this isn’t the first time the Army has faced austere budgets. Crosby “We are trying to preach balance,” Crosby said, in regards to not trying to remedy all budget woes in a single year. Rogers stressed that because the Army will have fewer soldiers, it is more necessary than ever to have enough helicopters to get those soldiers exactly where they need to be in rapid fashion.

Also at AAAA, Andrew Ksepka, who is the assistant project manager for modifications at the Utility Helicopter Project Office at Redstone, was named Joseph P. Cribbins Department of the Army Civilian of the Year.

Mark Curran named to AAAA Hall of Fame

L-R: MG Anthony G. Crutchfield, Commanding General United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence, and LG (Ret.) Mark Curran of L3 Communications. One of the annual highlights of AAAA is the induction of the Hall Fame class. This year, Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Curran was included in that honor. Curran now works as site executive for L3 Communications in Huntsville. Curran served as Deputy Commanding General, Futures Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), a position he held from 2003 until his retirement from the U.S. Army in October 2007. Reporting to the Commanding General of TRADOC, Curran was responsible for the design, development and integration into a joint war fighting environment of all aspects of the future U.S. Army force. Prior to this assignment, Curran served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala. “I was fortunate to serve at a time when Army Aviation became renowned as a force dedicated to the ground commander and soldiers. I was privileged and am honored to have served in this time of history and to advance Army Aviation.” • Staff Reports

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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

2 0 1 2 S TAF F Executive Staff Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Tammy Gregory, executive assistant Ashley Shady, resource desk coordinator Becky Moretti, resource desk assistant

Economic Development Ethan Hadley, VP, economic development Lucia Cape, VP, workforce & industry relations John Southerland, director, Cummings Research Park | project manager

Ken Smith, director, research & information services Harrison Diamond, project manager Amy Locke, economic development, workforce & industry relations administrative assistant

Communications Patricia McCarter, communications director Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer RĂŞvĂŠ Smith, communications specialist

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

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

Membership Mike Brazier, director, membership Donna McCrary, membership specialist Amy Brantley, membership representative Melissa Putzier, membership representative

Small Business & Member Services Pammie Jimmar, small business manager Mitzi Floyd, small business coordinator Kathleen Byrne, events coordinator Amanda Bishop, events assistant

Associated Organization WBCNA (www.wbcna.org)

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 / fax 256-535-2015 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com 26

June 2012 Initiatives

Initiatives June 2012

Space Day: Taking NASA to Montgomery The ability to get up close and personal to a space shuttle main engine is nothing new in Huntsville, but it was a big deal in Montgomery on May 3 when an SME was loaded on a flatbed trailer and hauled down to the State House for Space Day.

Marshall Space Flight Center held a Space Day to educate members of the Alabama Legislature on the contributions of NASA to the state as well as the nation. The event included Marshall Space Flight Center Director Gene Goldman speaking to a joint session of the legislature as well demonstrations of Marshall technology, including a Space Shuttle Main Engine (SME) and model of the Space Launch System, NASA’s next-generation rocket being developed in Huntsville. 28

June 2012 Initiatives

Space Day had a dual purpose – educating state legislators on the importance NASA’s past and present missions have on the economic well-being of Alabama while highlighting technological advancements developed by and for NASA that benefit everyone. Gene Goldman, acting director of Marshall Space Flight Center, said NASA had a $2.9 billion impact on Alabama in 2009, and did $800 million in business with state companies. One-fourth of those were small businesses. Another highlight of Space Day – not to mention the display of moon rocks, freeze-dried veggie quiche and a rapid prototyping 3D titanium flow inducer – was the presence of NASA astronaut T.J. Creamer, who lived and worked aboard the International Space Station for six months in 2009 and 2010. While addressing a joint session of Alabama lawmakers, Goldman reminded legislators that Dr. Wernher von Braun – Marshall’s first center director – spoke to a rare joint session of the legislature in 1961 to urge them to earmark money for the creation of a research institute that could support Marshall’s work. continued on page 30

Initiatives June 2012

Space Day, continued from page 28 – “I believe by now the city of Huntsville, UAHuntsville and Marshall Space Flight Center have proven their value many times over to Alabama,” Goldman said. “Marshall is still making history and making an impact on Alabama and our world. We continue to be a powerful engine for exploration, discovery, science, technology, education, and economic vitality. “Today, Marshall supports NASA and the nation with more than 125 unique and specialized facilities and labs, even as we adapt to work smarter and more efficiently, recognizing the times we live in. We’re one of NASA’s most technically diverse centers, managing work that ranges from launch vehicles to human health, to instruments and spacecraft that study the Earth, the solar system and the universe.” Goldman told legislators that Marshall is the third largest employer in Huntsville, and more than 90 percent of its employees have four-year Goldman degrees or higher, compared to about a third of the population nationwide. Last year, that workforce gave a record $750,000 through the Combined Federal Campaign, the catalyst that allows federal workers to contribute to charities of their choice. “I know that space exploration may seem far away from the cities and towns that you all call home, but it’s really as close as that cell phone in your pocket or the GPS in your car,” Goldman said. “We have more than 250 ongoing collaborative agreements with industry and academia that leverage our unique capabilities in propulsion, space systems, science, and technology for the benefit of all Americans.” He said that technology created or supported by the work at Marshall to purify water on the space station has been adapted to provide clean drinking water to communities after disasters or to American troops in the field. “Technology that originated with our rocket engine research recently found its way into firefighting equipment that can stop a blaze seven times faster using 16 times less water than a conventional fire hose,” he said. “There have been hundreds of examples just like that since Marshall was created.” • Patricia McCarter 30

June 2012 Initiatives

Initiatives June 2012

Former Congressman Ronnie Flippo

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

2012 Washington DC Trip Presented by The Boeing Company

Dr. Subra Suresh

Ron Eidshaug

Dr. Larry Sabato

More than 160 local business and community leaders joined the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recently on the annual trip to Washington D.C. presented by The Boeing Company to visit with senators, congressmen and other federal officials. Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions invited numerous other U.S. Senators to address the group, while Congressmen Mo Brooks and Robert Aderholt procured several of their counterparts to speak to the Chamber members. They all spoke about issues that mattered most to their constituents who spent their precious time and resources to be there. “We shouldn’t have to depend on a Russian ship to get us to the Space Station,” Shelby said, to much applause. Sessions predicted there wouldn’t be a round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in 2013 because it costs too much money to implement and too long to reap financial rewards, given current budget constraints, “and it puts communities in total turmoil.”

June 2012 Initiatives

Members heard presentations from: Dr. Subra Suresh, director of the National Science Foundation, said the NSF now has a $7 billion budget, which happens to be the same amount Americans spend each year on potato chips. “I don’t know if I could say that to a chamber of commerce from Idaho… These are lean times. If we get any leaner, we will be anorexic.” George Nield and Jim Williams, from the Federal Aviation Administration, were asked about the Tennessee Valley’s chances of being chosen one of six national FAA sites to study the integration of unmanned aerial systems in commercial space. Both recommended any interested communities apply, but they offered no concrete recommendations of how to make it happen. “The market for the UAS commercial application is speculative,” Williams said. Ron Eidshaug, vice president with U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Larry Sabato, professor of politics at the University of Virginia, who recommended his listeners take a coin out of their pockets and flip it to determine who would be elected president in November. “It will be vicious,” Sabato said. “The voters are in a surly mood.” Robert Lightfoot, associate administrator of NASA, who was the director of Marshall Space Flight Center until earlier this year. He saw the retirement of the Space Shuttle program and the advent of the Space Launch System era: “We’re not debating any more what we’re going to do (referring to the SLS as the means to get man back into space). We are debating how we are going to do it.” Michael Chodos, associate administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Chris Inglis, deputy director of the National Security Agency, whose focus is on cyber security. “On average, after you turn on your computer, within four seconds, some (cyber prowler) is trying to get to you.” • Patricia McCarter

EDUCATION UPDATE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Rep. Brooks held STEM Education in Action hearing U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks brought a little bit of Washington, D.C., to Madison County at a recent education hearing. The congressman is chair of the Subcommittee on Research & Science Education, one of five subcommittees of the House Committee of Science, Space, and Technology. He and ranking member Rep. Daniel Lapinski (D-IL) held a hearing at Bob Jones High School in Madison entitled, STEM Education in Action: Local Schools, Non-Profits, and Businesses Doing Their Part to Secure America’s Future. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Witnesses included Dr. Camille Wright, director of secondary instruction at Madison City Schools; Dr. Robert Altenkirch, President of the University of Alabama in Huntsville; Dr. Marilyn Beck, President of Calhoun Community College; Dr. Neil Lamb, Director of Educational Outreach at HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology; and Andrew Partynski, chief technology officer at SAIC. All organizations are partners with the Chamber in STEM education and career awareness. Testimony focused on what each organization is doing to attract and prepare students for STEM careers. The theme of the hearing was partnerships – how the organizations work together to create an educated and skilled workforce. From K-12, post-secondary and graduate education through employ-

ment with one of the community’s many technology-focused companies, local students have a wealth of opportunity and support. Examples cited include: • the acclaimed state-wide Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative or AMSTI, which got its start in Huntsville; • dual-enrollment and career technical education that bring together high school students and community colleges and technical schools; • the NASA InSPIRESS program for local high schools through UAHuntsville and its college-level component, Integrated Product Teams; • FIRST Robotics and Project Lead the Way, which are both supported by local companies; • the Advanced Placement Initiative funded by local companies through the Schools Foundation and a grant from A+ College Ready; • the array of educational opportunities developed by HudsonAlpha, from hands-on classroom activities and professional development for teachers to experiential and digital learning. After scripted comments, witnesses were asked what more could be done to attract and prepare students for STEM careers. Each emphasized the importance of connecting academia to the

workplace and collaboration among the education, industry and non-profit sectors. Huntsville/Madison County is an ideal place to talk about the partnerships between education, non-profits and industry. The 2010 American Community Survey performed by the Census shows that the Huntsville Metro Area has the highest per capita concentration of engineers in the country with 11,392 engineers making up 6 percent of the total employed residents. San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara is second at 5.1 percent. The community also ranks second in the nation, just behind San Jose, in high-tech workers overall. These characteristics of the local workforce are critical to future economic growth – highlighting the need to maintain and build on assets in aerospace and defense while diversifying into biotech and emerging markets. As part of a comprehensive workforce program, the Chamber has hosted the Huntsville/Madison County Workforce Coalition for more than five years. The Coalition brings together the three sectors – education, industry and non-profits – to support workforce development with an emphasis on STEM. Participation in the Coalition is open to representatives from all groups that play a role in attracting and preparing students for STEM careers. For more information, contact Lucia Cape (lcape@hsvchamber.org). •

Initiatives June 2012

SPOTLIGHT ON 2011 Small Business Award Winner:

Technology Category

GATR Technologies was selected as the non-government contractor technology award winner at the Chamber Small Business Awards. Here’s an interview with proprietor Paul Gierow. A brief history of GATR Technologies ... GATR Technologies (incorporated in 2004) had its beginnings in a wholesale florist shop where two employees built the first prototypes. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I pulled some strings to get satellite bandwidth, and my brother-in-law and I threw the antenna in the back of his SUV and headed to Mississippi. After establishing a high-bandwidth link at an elementary school in Woolmarket, Mississippi, we hooked up the computer lab allowing hurricane victims to communicate with their families, make calls, email, and file FEMA paperwork on-line. The GATR was even used for a live radio broadcast for a Los Angeles news reporter. GATR’s Inflatable Antenna then grew with internal company investment and two Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts; one with the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) and the other with Air Force Research Labs (AFRL). The technology was transitioned to US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in 2008 for evaluation. USSOCOM made the GATR inflatable antenna an evolutionary component to the SOCOM Deployable Node (SDN) family of satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals. In 2009 USSOCOM issued a Phase III SBIR sole source contact to GATR to procure terminals. To date, GATR has delivered nearly 200 terminals to all four branches of Special Operation Forces, Homeland Security, and Intelligence communities. From the initial patent to a successful company, GATR’s founder and president Paul Gierow has been instrumental in growing GATR Technologies from two to 40-plus employees and sustaining that growth through tough economic times and cut-backs.

Q: What has been the company’s greatest achievement? A: GATR’s primary achievement was being adopted by the elite U.S. Special Operations Command as a solution for deployable communications. In addition to the military use of our antennas, GATR has also gained worldwide use in several desperate disaster situations, supported by both GATR (donation of personnel and equipment), and by our customers using the GATR as emergency response communications.

Q: What goals do you have for the next 5-10 years? A: For the future, GATR’s goals are for continued growth and expansion of our technologies into larger system acquisitions with the US Marines, Army and Air Force. We plan to continue to design and manufacture hardware, and grow our workspace, work force and facilities in Huntsville. We also expect to continue to support disaster assistance missions around the world.

Q: What does it mean to you, both personally and professionally, to receive the technology award? A: It gave our employees recognition within the community and made us proud to be recognized as a “real” company just a few years after starting up with a very unique idea. Personally, it was a moment in time to celebrate our hard work with my family who has supported me during this risky adventure.

Q: In what industry is your business and what are your principal products and/or services? A: GATR manufactures deployable inflatable satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals in 1.2-, 1.8- and 2.4 meter sizes. GATR’s unique attribute is its inflatable radome, with a flexible, parabolic reflector mounted at the equator. This design results in an extremely portable packaged antenna that, when inflated with ambient air, produces a large-aperture dish (inside the ball), enabling the use of a precision satellite antenna for remote communications. 34

June 2012 Initiatives

Q: How has being active in the Chamber helped you? A: The Chamber has helped us with our business processes and recruiting, and the Chamber assists us with meeting local successful entrepreneurs and business owners. The Chamber also provides a place to make connections with a wide variety of local- and Washington, D.C.-based businesses and organizations.

Initiatives June 2012

June 2012 Initiatives