Initiatives magazine, December 2014

Initiatives December 2014

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Welcome New Chamber Members

Joined in September 2014 200 West Side Square (SFRC, Inc.) American Senior Assistance Programs, Inc. Auburn University Office of Professional and Continuing Education Glenn Baeske CBM Associates Crown Leasing, Inc. D & D Floors and Moore, LLC DEI Earfinity Floor Coverings International of Huntsville HAPPI, Inc. (second location) Hargrove Engineers & Constructors Hyde Homes, LLC INX International Life Leadership Military Child Education Coalition New Beginnings Family Law, P.C. Pretty Particular Rocket Hatch University of North Alabama Foundation

Joined in October 2014 AIG Financial Network Alabama Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics Alabama Sleep Clinic CH2M HILL, Inc. ChargeDefense Charlotte Christian Law Cowart Awards Fern Parc Apartment Homes FLYQUEST, INC. FMC Huntsville Home Therapies Glenwood, Inc. Horton Auction Company Huntsville Premiere Mathematics and Science Consotium J. R. Enterprises Juno Kieyos, LLC Lightwire Solutions Madison County Sheriff’s Office Mary Kay Cosmetics - Rebecca Allen MetLife Morton’s Pest Control Phoenix Emergency Care Silicon Forest Electronics SubZero Ice Cream Shop The Orvis Company USRA Science and Technology Institute Walmart Market # 2235 Walmart Market # 3779 Walmart Market #3185 Walmart Store #376 Whitespace Innovations, Inc. Windham Entertainment, Inc.

If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and the community, the Chamber is the place to start. Contact Donna McCrary, Membership Retention Manager: 256-535-2027 or dmccrary@hsvchamber.org.

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December 2014 Initiatives

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Thanks to Our Investors Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Development Partner ($220,000+ annually)

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

Huntsville Utilities

Chamber Trustees ($10,000+ annually) AEgis Technologies Group Aerojet Rocketdyne Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. DynCorp International Dynetics, Inc. First Commercial Bank Intuitive Research and Technology Corp.

Jerry Damson, Inc.

Progress Partners

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

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. President’s Circle

($50,000+ annually)

Huntsville Hospital Madison County Commission Regions Bank Tennessee Valley Authority Leadership Forum ($25,000+ annually) ADTRAN, Inc. The Boeing Company City of Madison Emerson Network Power - Avocent Redstone Federal Credit Union Remington Outdoor Company

Executive Council ($15,000+ annually) BB&T Crestwood Medical Center Intergraph Corporation Lockheed Martin Corporation PNC Bank Port of Huntsville Qualitest Pharmaceuticals SAIC SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC 4

December 2014 Initiatives

L-3 Communications Corp. – HSV Operations Landers McLarty Corporation Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. Northrop Grumman Corporation PARSONS Raytheon Company SportsMed Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Wyle CAS Group

($5,000+ annually)

Ability Plus ASRC Federal Analytical Services A-P-T Research, Inc. Baron Services, Inc. BASF Corporation 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 Colliers International Connected Logistics Consolidated Construction Company Corporate Office Properties Trust Davidson Technologies, Inc. ERC, Inc.

Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association iBERIABANK IronMountain Solutions J. Smith Lanier & Co. LEAN Frog Business Solutions, Inc. Logicore MJLM Engineering & Technical Services MTS, Inc. The Orthopaedic Center Progress Bank Radiance Technologies Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (Steak Out) SELEX Galileo Inc. Torch Technologies Turner Vencore, Inc. Woody Anderson Ford

Progress Investors ($2,500+ annually) 4SITE, Inc. Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong, PC Averbuch Realty Co., Inc. – Scott Averbuch Aviagen, Inc. BancorpSouth Brown Precision, Inc. Bryant Bank Century Automotive Coast Personnel Services deciBel Research Decisive Analytics Corporation Decosimo Deloitte LLP DESE Research, Inc. Digium, Inc. Ducommun Miltec Fite Building Company, Inc. Foreign Language Services Fountain, Parker, Harbarger Halsey Foodservice HEMSI Hiley Cars Huntsville Huntsville Botanical Garden Huntsville/Madison Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau

Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Investor’s Resource/Raymond James Kudzu Productions, Inc. The Lioce Group, Inc. Littlejohn Engineering Associates, Inc. Moog, Inc. National Bank of Commerce North Alabama Multiple Listing Service PALCO Telecom Service, Inc. PeopleTec, Inc. PHOENIX PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Public Financial Management, Inc. QTEC, Inc. Qualis Corporation Renasant Bank RJ Young ServisFirst Bank Sierra Lobo, Inc. Sigmatech, Inc. Synapse Wireless, Inc. Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. URS Corporation West Huntsville Land Co., Inc.

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December 2014 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

december 2014

cover story

Metro Rising Area economy poised for liftoff 2014 © SellersPhoto.com

beginning on page 12 Cover design by Kristi Sherrard Photography by Marty Sellers, SellersPhoto.com

features Government & Public Affairs Update Did You Know?

Fabulous Food, Creative Caterers Economic Development Highlights

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.

including Engility, Intuitive Research & Technology Corporation, ATEC, Aerojet Rocketdyne, PPG Aerospace, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Synapse Wireless, The Boeing Company, Dynetics, Fleet Feet and Century Automotive

Small Business Awards in the spotlight 3 2 Wage & Benefits Survey Available 34

developments

Galaxy of Lights, Huntsville Botanical Garden

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 NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 main line: 256.535.2000 fax: 256.535.2015

New Chamber Members HREGI Investors Listing A Message from the President Chamber Board Listing Community Profile 79th Annual Membership Meeting Chamber Staff Listing

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editorial staff

Publisher Chip Cherry, cce Executive Editor John Southerland

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard Contributing Writers Elizabeth Saba, John Southerland & Mike Ward

www.asmartplace.com

Photography Chamber of Commerce staff, publications/archive, or Shutterstock unless otherwise noted

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.

Advertising Sales Chris Soren Alabama Media Group csoren@al.com

online www.HSVchamber.org fyi

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Initiatives December 2014

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Chamber of Commerce

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2014 Executive Committee

A Message from Chip Cherry Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: We are so fortunate to live, work, and play in a community that is experiencing as much growth and excitement as we are currently enjoying in the Huntsville Metropolitan Statistical Area. In this edition you will see just a glimpse of those developments mixed with some stunning photographs that illustrate a community under construction.

Part of our job in economic development is to make sure a prospect or a site selection consultant has accurate information about our community. One of the data points we share is that nearly 50 percent of the people who call our community home have moved here from outside the region. One area that positively separates us from other communities is that new residents can get acclimated and engaged immediately. It is a community that embraces outside opinion, leadership and involvement and that culture is a great selling point.

The holidays are a special time for having an opportunity to gather with family and friends and reflect on our many blessings. One of those blessings is living in a place that has such a storied history of dedicated men and women serving our country in the military and as civil servants supporting our Armed Forces across the world. We appreciate what you do every day in support of Redstone, the United States and its allies. We thank you for your service and commitment.

Throughout the holidays please remember to shop locally and help patronize those who support the economic growth and continued vitality of our region. And always look for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County decal when deciding which businesses to patronize. These member companies are recognized among the best in their areas of expertise and I encourage you to visit them first.

As you will see in the magazine, the activity at the Chamber continues to be exciting and dynamic. I encourage you to read Mike Ward’s update on Government and Public Affairs activities and begin making plans to attend our annual Washington D.C. trip and our Montgomery trip as we deliver our 2015 Federal and State agendas to our elected leadership. And in our second article in the new “Did You Know” series, Elizabeth Saba captures some interesting tidbits and facts about some of our existing industry partners that you may be surprised to learn.

I will close with a sincere thank you to our local, state and federal elected officials and community leaders whose support and engagement have allowed us to be successful in the global competition for economic development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Officers and the Chamber staff we wish you a happy and safe holiday season!

Chip Cherry, CCE

President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

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December 2014 Initiatives

Robert Mayes, Chair, BlueCreek Investment Partners Rey Almodóvar, Chair-elect, INTUITIVE Ron Poteat, Immediate Past Chair, Regions Bank Tommy Beason, Chamber Foundation Chair, Consultant Joe Newberry, Secretary/Treasurer, Redstone Federal Credit Union Rose Allen, Vice Chair - Economic Development, Booz Allen Hamilton Mark Curran, Vice Chair - Government Affairs, L-3 Communications Gary Bolton, Vice Chair - Membership, ADTRAN Danny Windham, Vice Chair - Member Engagement, Digium Greg Brown, Vice Chair - Workforce & Industry Relations, Brown Precision Kim Lewis, Vice Chair - Small Business & Events, PROJECTXYZ Everett Brooks, Vice Chair - Image Development & Communications, AEgis Technologies Group

Mayor Tommy Battle, Chair-Appointed, City of Huntsville Penny Billings, Chair-Appointed, BancorpSouth David Spillers, Chair-Appointed, Huntsville Hospital Chairman Dale Strong, Chair-Appointed, Madison County Commission Mayor Troy Trulock, Chair-Appointed, City of Madison Dr. Casey Wardynski, Chair-Appointed, Huntsville City Schools Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Chamber of Commerce Elected Board Dr. Robert Altenkirch, The University of Alabama in Huntsville Bob Baron, Baron Services Dr. Marc Bendickson, Dynetics Miranda Bouldin, LogiCore Greg Bragg, Consolidated Construction Company Janet Brown, Belk Micah Bullard, Turner Construction Kevin Byrnes, Raytheon Company Kevin Campbell, Northrop Grumman Corporation Frank Caprio, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Dorothy Davidson, Davidson Technologies Gene Goldman, Aerojet Rocketdyne Jeff Gronberg, deciBel Research John Gully, SAIC Natalie Hasley, Bama Jammer Steve Hassell, Emerson Network Power Avocent Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Dr. Andrew Hugine, Alabama A&M University Tony Jones, The Boeing Company Jeremiah Knight, JXC Consulting Group Rich Marsden, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne Janice Migliore, PALCO Telecom Service Jim Owens, FirstBank George Prueitt, INTUITIVE Tom Ray, Consultant Jim Rogers, Lockheed Martin Corporation Alicia Ryan, LSINC Dr. Gurmej Sandhu, Sigmatech Charlie Sealy, Sealy Management Company Andrew Shambarger, BB&T Crystal Shell, WILL Technology E.J. Sinclair, SES - Science and Engineering Services Dr. Ashok Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Todd Slyman, Village of Providence Mike Stanfield, Ducommun Cynthia Streams, Domino’s Pizza (Valley Pizza) Nilmini Thompson, Systems Products and Solutions

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Government & Public Affairs 2015 Leadership Team Announced for Chamber Division

C

hamber Board Chair-elect Rey Almodóvar, co-founder and CEO of Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, has set the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville Madison County’s 2015 Government & Public Affairs leadership team.

Leading the division’s volunteer team will be Vice Chair, MG (USA ret.)

Jim Rogers. Rogers is the former commanding general of the Army’s Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone and is currently LockRogers heed Martin’s vice president, Army, SOF, and missile defense programs, corporate domestic business development.

Heading up the National Government Committee will be GEN (USA ret.) Kevin Byrnes, vice president and site executive with Raytheon, Huntsville. The co-chair is former Marshall Space Flight Center Director Gene Goldman, site director, Huntsville operations, Aerojet Rocketdyne. Byrnes and Goldman have already begun leading the committee’s efforts to develop the Chamber’s 2015 Federal Agenda.

The Chamber’s 2015 Washington DC Trip is set for April 19-21. Thanks to an engaged membership, the Chamber’s DC trip has become one of the largest such trips in the U.S, ranking in the top-five nationally of all chambers of commerce, including state and local chambers.

Tucker Leading the State Government Committee will be Ken Tucker, Boeing’s government operations manager for the southeast region. Co-chairing the committee will be Joe Vallely, Lockheed 10

December 2014 Initiatives

Martin Space Systems Company’s director of government relations for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Tucker and Vallely have also already begun leading the effort to develop the Chamber’s annual State Agenda.

Next year is the first year in the quadrennial legislative cycle, which means the legislative year will begin in January with an “Organizational Session” followed in March with the “Regular Session.” By statue, the regular session can last up to 105 calendar days, into which they fit the 30 days when the legislature actually meets. The dates for the Montgomery trip have yet to be finalized, but will likely occur in early to mid-March.

Stay tuned for more information on this important visit to Montgomery.

The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee will be chaired by Joe Fitzgerald, Decision Sciences, and co-chaired by LTG (USA ret.)

Kevin Campbell, former commanding general of the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command and vice president and corporate lead executive, Northrop Grumman CorporaCampbell tion. Fitzgerald also serves as the civilian aide to the secretary of the Army (CASA) for North Alabama.

The Chamber also plans to initiate a Marshall Space Flight Center support committee.

Dave King, former Marshall Space Flight Center director and the current president of Dynetics, will chair the committee, and Tracy Lamm with Lockheed Martin will serve as co-chair.

Lamm is also serving as the chair of the Huntsville Chapter of the National Space Club.

The Chamber is hosting a reception to celebrate the launch of the Orion Capsule on EFT-1 on Dec. 3 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. The

Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) will verify launch and high-speed re-entry systems such as avionics, attitude control, parachutes and the heat shield.

During the mission, Orion was expected to travel to an altitude of 3,600 miles and orbit the Earth twice before reentering the atmosphere for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Baja Peninsula.

Within about four hours, engineers and flight managers on the ground can verify that critical Orion systems performed as planned to validate the spacecraft design that will safely carry humans into deep space on future missions.

The mission is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, between 7:03 and 9:33 a.m. Special thanks to ATK, Aerojet Rocketdyne, The Boeing Company, ERC, Jacobs, UAH, Dynetics and ASRC Federal for co-sponsoring the reception.

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) could be back on Congress’ plate in 2015.

The Obama Administration has requested two additional rounds of BRAC in the last two years. There’s speculation that if another round of BRAC is going to happen, approval in 2015 for a BRAC round (or rounds) in 2017 or 2019 is possible.

• Mike Ward

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS

Population

Madison County

City of Huntsville

2010 Census

334,811

180,105

42,938

417,593

2013 Census

346,892

186,254

45,799

435,737

% Growth

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

3.6% 3.4% 6.7% 4.3%

131,263

15,895

162,449

Avg. Household Income $77,819

$70,546 $110,359

$75,389

Per Capita Income

$30,299

$30,072

$31,367

Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,129 NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000 Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,079 The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,600 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389

Households & Income # of Households

Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,500*

74,778

$41,490

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2012 American Community Survey

SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,229 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 The University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,675 ADTRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,522 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 37,500 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 leader in technology development. The second-largest science and

For more information, visit:

technology park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to more

www.HSVchamber.org

development.

than 300 companies and 29,000 people involved in technology research and

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December 2014 Initiatives

In 1990, population for the two-county Huntsville Metropolitan Statistical Area hovered around 294,000 residents. Between 1990 and 2000, the MSA, which includes Madison and Limestone Counties as well as the cities of Huntsville and Madison, accounted for almost 25 percent of the population growth in Alabama.

Between 2000 and 2010, once again almost 25 percent of the entire state’s population growth occurred in the Huntsville MSA. Today, the metro population is knocking on the door of 440,000 residents‌and climbing. The surge has allowed the Huntsville Metro to rise to the second most populous in Alabama behind only Birmingham.

A mixture of targeted industry recruitment successes, an economy that fared far better than many around the nation, an influx of high-paying federal and contractor jobs and the diversity of high-technology companies and entrepreneurs has the metro surging.

Story by John Southerland Photography by Marty Sellers Initiatives December 2014

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Metro Rising, continued from page 13 –

While the economy has long been driven by the growth of Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park, new sectors and areas are primed for industrial and retail growth.

The exponential population growth during the 1950s and 60s saw engineers and scientists flocking to the area to develop and manage the nation’s missile and space programs.

Long time residents still mention accounts of “building a new classroom a week” during that period. But at no time has there been more economic activity occurring in all areas of the metro than what is happening now.

From industrial to retail, the “classroom a week” catchphrase of the 1960s may be one-upped with “an announcement a week” tagline for the new millennium.

The calendar year started off with a bang (pun intended) with the announcement in February that the Remington Outdoor Company will add a new manufacturing facility in Huntsville – an announcement that generated buzz across the country.

“With the acquisition of this facility, we plan to create 2,000 jobs in Huntsville over the next decade,” said George Kollitides, Chairman and CEO of Remington Outdoor Company. “This additional capacity is essential to fulfill demand and introduce new products. Having watched our company grow from 2,400 employees in 2008 to 4,200 employees by the end of 2013, a five-year, 75-percent increase, it is easy to see why we’re investing now.”

Remington chose Huntsville over 24 other sites in its quest to find a suitable location for a 900,000-square-foot facility. And Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said the ripple effect of such an announcement would benefit all of Alabama.

“The Alabama workforce, our business climate and our quality of life continue to make Alabama extremely attractive to companies. Our relationship with Remington is just beginning, and I look forward to a continued partnership with the company.”

In 2013, Remington made significant strides including expanding its ammunition facility, increasing its firearm capacity, winning a multitude of highly competitive military and law enforcement contracts, launch14

December 2014 Initiatives

ing its 1816 lifestyle brand, and introducing a series of exciting new products such as Ultimate Defense Handgun Ammunition and the 783 bolt action rifle. All of which helped lead Remington to record sales.

“We are capitalizing on this momentum by strengthening our positions across the board,” said Kollitides. “With demand for our products at an historic high and more new product launches planned for 2014 than ever before in our 200-year history, we are investing in the future.”

The Huntsville expansion provides for future needed capacity to support existing product demand and a robust new product pipeline. Huntsville’s extensive history as a high tech, research and technology hub lends itself to Remington’s internal R&D efforts for design, development and testing of new products.

Fast forward from the Remington announcement in February to another major development that occurred in the MSA in October – the grand opening of the new $58 million, 5-story, 250,000 sq. ft. Intergraph headquarters in Madison that will add an additional 300 jobs, that will increase employment to more than 1,200.

While the two companies compete in

completely different industries, Remington and Intergraph have some shared characteristic: facilities and amenities for employees.

Remington, refurbishing the old Chrysler building near Huntsville International Airport, is treating its new facility as an innovation center with modern amenities and shared spaces. Since Remington will be designing and testing new products in the facility, innovation will be a central part of its culture as well, according to Vice President of Operations Trip Ferguson – who described the building redesign and shared open collaboration space as “Google for Guns”. The facility will include relaxation space designed to allow collaboration and innovation to naturally occur. It will also have break rooms, an on-site cafeteria and other employee amenities.

Intergraph’s facility features a 24/7 recreation area furnished with gaming equipment designed to give employees mental breaks.

Meetings can be held in the cafeteria…or wherever they happen. The entire facility is treated as each employee’s “workspace” said Intergraph Executive Vice President of Human Resources Ed Porter. continued on page 16

Bridge Street Town Centre (above) and future site of Cabela’s (below)

2014 Š SellersPhoto.com

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Metro Rising, continued from page 14 –

Throughout the company’s 45-year history, Intergraph employees worked in different buildings designed for functionality and compartmentalized by divisions and programs. Today all employees will be together in a unique and collaborative environment.

“For the first time in Intergraph’s history, we are bringing employees at this location together under one roof, which I’m confident will foster innovation and camaraderie,” says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “The building is a testament to Hexagon’s commitment to Intergraph and the Madison County business community.”

But it is not only “cool facilities and cool spaces” being constructed around the metro. It’s a cultural shift across a wide variety of industry and retail. While there are always challenges in protecting the various retail corridors within the local municipalities, the one word that could be used to describe all of the activity is “energy” according to Lucia Cape, the Chamber’s vice president of economic development.

“There is as much activity here as we have ever seen – and more diverse than ever. The expansion of existing companies and recruitment of new industry leads to high interest in retail development.

Retail looks at population growth. Population growth occurs by adding new jobs. It seems like each week there is an announcement for a retail project somewhere in the MSA. And this is thanks in part to the regional partnership across the metro that works to expand the area’s infrastructure to support each development,” Cape said.

And the number of retail development announcements and projects continues to swell. Consider: Cabela’s recently announced it would build its first Alabama retail store in Huntsville. The site preparation for the hunting, fishing and outdoor gear retailer has already started in the planned Parkside Town Centre located across from Bridge Street Town Centre. Soon afterward the City of Huntsville celebrated the grand opening of the 16

December 2014 Initiatives

Intergraph’s new building (top left), Village of Providence (top right)

and Twickenham Square (below)

2014 Š SellersPhoto.com

$20 million Belk at Bridge Street. Other recent announcements at Bridge Street included the opening or planned opening of several new stores and restaurants, including Texas de Brazil, Dicky’s Barbecue Pit, Bravo! Cucina Italiana and in the spring, the popular Homewood-based Steel City Pops.

In October, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle announced a $70 million hotel/residential/retail project for the former downtown Holiday Inn site. The project, Big Spring Square, will include a 100-room boutique hotel, 200 residential units, retail property and restaurants.

Other projects in and around downtown Huntsville include the $50 million Whole Foods Market at the new Shops at Merchants Walk development. The organic and natural food chain will be the anchor tenant in the 100,000 sq. ft. shopping center that broke ground in 2014.

The $100 million Twickenham Square, a live-work-shop development in downtown Huntsville anchored by the Artisan Square Apartment, a Publix supermarket and a Homewood Suites hotel, is nearing completion as shops and restaurants such as Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill and others are slated to fill in the remaining available space.

Likewise, commercial developer Scott McLain said negotiations continue with the planned $180 million Constellation live, work and shop development just to the west of the Von Braun Center that would include 280,000 sq. ft. of office space, new restaurants and shops, a new hotel and 150 apartments.

The Village of Providence has also continued its growth of restaurants, homes and retail shops. Founded in late 2003, the mixed-use neighborhood includes numerous restaurants, retail shops, offices, a Homewood Suites hotel, a SpringHill Suites

by Marriott hotel, high-end condos and hundreds of residential lots and growing.

Lendon, a mixed use development under construction in South Huntsville, will include a 400,000 square foot shopping complex with 19 retail parcels in the main center and 11 restaurants or retail out-parcels. The adjacent planned residential community will include a variety of house types, sizes and styles with interconnected walkways and a live, work, play culture similar to the Village of Providence. continued on page 18 Initiatives December 2014

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Metro Rising, continued from page 17 –

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said each area of Huntsville is poised for significant growth and that recruiting, planning and execution have made it possible.

“The growth we have experienced the past year has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it should not come as a surprise,” Battle said. “We have everything companies are looking for including prime land, strong infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a quality of life that is second to none. Retailers new to our market further recognize the growth and purchasing power in Huntsville. We are pleased our citizens can access the variety of shopping choices found in most major cities.”

In Madison – the biggest retail announcement of all was made in late summer when local and state officials announced the $400 million Town Madison development, which will include 900,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 450,000 sq. ft. of office space, 445 hotel rooms and 668 apartments. This development will also create new roads, and an interstate interchange on about 700 acres alongside I-565 and Zierdt Road.

The entire Huntsville Metro will benefit from all of the retail and industrial projects, said Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong.

“Over the past year our community has announced over 3,000 new jobs, a combined investment in new school construction of $300 million and over $400 million in new road projects.

I firmly believe that these investments along with the positive jobs news and hundreds of millions of dollars in new commercial development show that our economy is strong and our community will continue to invest in growth,” Strong said.

“The high bond ratings for Madison County that were recently announced are a reflection of the sound policies that this Commission has put in place to increase accountability and spend taxpayer money wisely. We will continue to do more with less and make investments to bring new jobs, continued on page 20 18

December 2014 Initiatives

Retail developments in Madison at Highway 72 and Nance Road (above),

Huntsville High School / Freshman Academy and future site of Whole Foods (above) and The University of Alabama in Huntsville (below)

2014 Š SellersPhoto.com

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Metro Rising, continued from page 18 –

support our schools and improve the quality of life across our County and all six cities that call Madison County home,” he said.

While Remington was the largest of the industrial project announcements, several notable expansions are helping to create the buzz that attract more industry and more retail options. Science and Engineering Services executives were joined by local and state leaders at the Farnborough Air Show this past summer to announce a $70 million expansion of its manufacturing operation at the former Dunlop Tire plant. The company, which provides support and maintenance, repair and overhaul services to military, commercial and unmanned aircraft, will add 450 jobs over the next three years.

General Electric Intelligent Platforms expanded in 2014 by adding a new production

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facility and 50 jobs at its Huntsville facility.

The Verizon Wireless announced last spring that it would hire an additional 300 workers at its call center in Huntsville.

Add to the industry and retail growth new energy and buzz attached to downtown Huntsville and downtown Madison, both featuring new events, concerts, gatherings and activities each week, and it is easy to see why residents are seeing radical changes.

Alex Moore, recruiting manager for Curse, Inc., spent eight years living in Austin, Texas before moving to Huntsville. What she sees happening in the metro area now reminds her of the growth and culture of Austin.

“I am a Texan born and raised, and I spent a lot of time visiting family and friends in Austin before I moved there for college. The Huntsville area has so many of the same char-

The Lendon Development in Jones Valley December 2014 Initiatives

2014 © SellersPhoto.com

acteristics of a younger Austin. Huntsville has the same government and technology foundation that Austin originally had in place 20 to 30 years ago. Once the abundance of technical talent became known to companies or entrepreneurs outside of Austin, they started either opening up offices there or starting a company there knowing they could hire the talent they needed locally,” Moore said.

“Another similarity I see is the artistic culture. It’s so important for people to see the work/life balance in a community if they are considering moving themselves, or their companies there.

So the fact that people can enjoy the arts in the community they live in outside of work is important.

Beautiful terrain and outdoorsy fit and culture are also similar – people are increasingly paying attention to their health, so opportunities to enjoy nature and stay fit exist in both areas,” she said. “And the growing craft brewery and local food/restaurant/bar culture is really similar. People in Austin love supporting local businesses – it makes them prideful about where they live and what great food and beverages are made there. I see a similar culture here. The fact that both areas have similar local food and beverage cultures is awesome.”

And more growth looks to be on the horizon, according to Cape. The community and state continue to work a number of projects that could continue the dramatic growth for years to come. “Working alongside the Alabama Department of Commerce, TVA, Huntsville Utilities and all of our economic development partners across the region, we are working more projects together than ever,” she said.

“The Huntsville metro is definitely on the radar of companies and site selection consultants. Our current projects are a good balance of new companies and expansions. Nearly half are commercial, and nearly two-thirds are manufacturing. Because of the high-tech economy, skilled workforce and solid infrastructure, we are very active right now.”

Metro rising indeed.

• John Southerland

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Elizabeth Saba Economic Development Specialist

Editor’s Note: Elizabeth Saba manages the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s business retention and expansion services. She is meeting with existing companies and conducting executive interviews to identify trends related to the current business climate, workforce development challenges and infrastructure needs.

With the data collected the Chamber will continue working closely with partners from local industry, government, educational institutions, Huntsville Utilities and TVA to keep the Huntsville Metro area competitive and to create and sustain a business climate conducive to the growth of the local industry base.

As she visits with business leaders from across the community she will share some interesting tidbits about the local industries ranging from advanced manufacturing, to aerospace/defense, to biotechnology and beyond. This “Did You Know” series will be a recurring feature in Initiatives to share a first-hand account of some exciting things happening with local industries.

PHOENIX I knew that my visit to PHOENIX would be special before I set foot in the door. The company is a United Way agency doing tremendous things for individuals with disabilities in our community. It manufactures more than 85,000 burial flags and thousands of parachute harnesses a year for the Federal Government and employs hundreds of people as custodians, grounds keepers, security officers, janitors, and landscapers for federal and commercial partners, including Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville City Schools.

In addition to these main divisions, PHOENIX also offers vocational training, job coaching and job placement services to help connect individuals with employment opportunities in the community, people who are often excluded from jobs in the competitive work place.

Wes Tyler, vice president of manufacturing, toured me across the 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility on Johnson Road. Little did I know that an item I was wearing was sewn at that very facility. Patti Yancey’s eclectic, artsy Kindred Spirit Style purses first caught my eye at her boutique in Memphis, Tenn. You choose the purse style and fabrics that fit your personality and Kindred Spirit seamstresses craft your own, custom-made bag. I love my backpack purse, carry it everywhere I go, and spotted one being sewn together by an employee at PHOENIX. Patti values her products being American-made, and formed a partnership with PHOENIX when she needed extra help filling her growing orders. Patti reminds us that a locally made gift is a gift that keeps on giving because you are also giving people jobs.

PHOENIX employs more than 650 people locally, 85 percent of whom have a disability.

PHOENIX is governed by a 20-member volunteer board of directors comprised of business, professional and civic leaders who donate their time to oversee their programs. Thank you to these board members, to PHOENIX staff and employees and to our many local manufacturers who create products, and jobs, in Madison County, Alabama. For more information about Phoenix or Kindred Spirit Style, please visit www.phoenixhsv.org and kindredspiritstyle.com. •

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December 2014 Initiatives

Aladdin Light Lift Aladdin Light Lift Inc. is reaching new heights with its new attic storage lift product just in time for the holidays. As a child, I always imagined having a secret passageway in my house, so you can imagine my delight when Matthew Barry, V.P. of Aladdin Light Lift, showed me this new product.

With the attic storage lift, you can lower part of your ceiling, place your Christmas tree and decorations on a motorized lift, and watch them rise out of sight and out of mind. No more lugging heavy boxes up to the attic.

Aladdin Light Lift is a local manufacturer located in Chase Industrial Park.

The company is well known for its motorized chandelier lifts that simplify the lives of people needing to clean and change the bulbs of their hard to reach residential light fixtures. In 2014, Aladdin Light Lift expanded its product to the commercial sector, manufacturing commercial light lifts for warehouses, hangars, office buildings, churches, gymnasiums and auditoriums. Some of their most well-known commercial customers include NASA and American Airlines. Aladdin Light Lift produces about 700 light lifts a month.

Aladdin Light Lift has also recently gone global, making its products available worldwide. Some common destinations include Australia, China, South Korea, Italy and Russia. In March 2014, Aladdin Light Lift was awarded the Governors Export Excellence Award in the small business sector for the State of Alabama.

It was one of only eight Alabama companies to receive the award, which recognizes excellence in international trade. PESA was the only other Huntsville company to receive the award in 2014. Check out this unique local manufacturer at www.aladdinlightlift.com and www.aladdinstoragelift.com. •

Sentar When I think of cyber security, I think of the soldiers of the future. I wonder about the vulnerabilities of our vital defense, healthcare and banking systems and who will protect them.

As I visited with Chandler Hall, product manager at Sentar, we discussed how cyber security is becoming more pervasive on both a national and local scale.

“The government is awarding more and more prime contracts to cyber security companies,” says Chandler, “and the jobs created will be jobs that stay in the United States.”

Sentar, a local small business focused on advanced cyber security solutions, recently announced the award of multiple task orders as prime contractor under the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Atlantic Integrated Cyber Operations (SPAWARSYSCEN ICO) contract worth $31 million over the next two years.

These awards will result in new jobs throughout Huntsville and Charleston, significantly enhancing Sentar’s established capabilities in cyber security and reinforcing Huntsville’s national reputation as a premier location for cyber security companies.

Cyber security is not a new topic of discussion in Huntsville. It is a natural fit for a community with the nation’s highest concentration of engineers and second high-

est concentration of STEM workers. More than 200 defense companies that support Redstone Arsenal already provide information assurance services to the Federal Government.

Mayor Tommy Battle recognized cyber security as an important community issue when he took office in 2008, and since then there have been major efforts to bring together government, industry and academia to provide support and collaborative opportunities for cyber security companies.

Cyber Huntsville, a community-led nonprofit organization, is a result of these efforts. The group is comprised of more than 200 members dedicated to making Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley region a national and international cyber leader, to growing the cyber security workforce through scholarships and educational programs, and to increasing cyber security events and networking opportunities.

This past June, about 700 people attended the 6th annual North Alabama Cyber Security Summit in Huntsville, led by the North Alabama Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (NAC-ISSA) and Cyber Huntsville. The 7th annual Cyber Security Summit is already scheduled for June 3-4, 2015 in Huntsville. For more information, visit www.sentar.com and secybersummit.org. •

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Fabulous Food, Creative Caterers Bi-annual Chamber Event Serves Up Tasty Treats

T

he Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County invites member caterers to participate in a special event held twice a year. The caterers provide samples of their tasty treats, and, in turn, the Chamber provides guests in the form of company event planners from a wide range of businesses.

The most recent “Fabulous Food”, held in October, was in the Arbor Room at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Check out these caterers who participated:

J.Gumbo’s

Landry’s Seafood House

Welcome to the place to be for genuine Cajun fare served up in bowls just as big as the Bayou. Every one of our authentic Cajun & Creole specialties is made from recipes our founder, Billy Fox, Jr., learned in his grandma’s kitchen in Grand Coteau, La. These recipes call for using only the freshest ingredients and zestiest spices. There’s something on the menu for every taste bud – from Sweet & Mild to Hot & Spicy.

J. Gumbo’s caters groups of any size. We also offer free sampling in our restaurant to find the perfect dish for you.

Serving the freshest seafood, most succulent steaks and the sweetest desserts, Landry’s Seafood has brought the unmatched freshness of the Gulf Coast to Huntsville.

Centrally located on Governor’s House Drive, Landry’s is just a short drive from some of Huntsville’s most unique attractions and has been part of the community for more than 18 years. For the perfect dinner after a day of shopping at Madison Square Mall, Parkway Place Mall and Bridge Street Town Centre, or a family dinner after a day at the park, Landry’s Seafood is the city’s premier choice for dining.

We love groups! Visit our Private Dining Restaurant page at www.landrysinc.com.

Hours Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

256.971.4400 6241 University Drive NW Huntsville, AL 35806

Juno Enter Brasserie Juno and discover a refreshing mix of French cuisine, wines from around the world, and an intimate venue for live jazz entertainment. Visit Juno soon to discover Huntsville’s newest place for great food and wine, and the best live jazz entertainment in the city. À bientôt! & bon appétit!

Hours Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

256.880.9920 964 Airport Road SW, Suite 3 Huntsville, AL 35802 24

December 2014 Initiatives

Hours Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Lunch Hours Monday-Friday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Dinner Hours Monday-Friday: 4 p.m. - Closing Saturday-Sunday: 11 a.m. - Closing Happy Hour Monday-Friday: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

256.864-0000 5101 Governors House Drive Huntsville, AL 35805

Brie served by Juno bodies the entire culture. Everybody is welcome at Moe’s. Except, of course, fugitives.

With more than 20 incredibly fresh ingredients like all-natural chicken, grass-fed steak and organic tofu to create one-of-a-kind meals, Moe’s has everyone covered, from meat lovers to tree huggers to vegetarians and flexitarians. While we are best known for our awesome burritos, our menu also features kids’, vegetarian and low-calorie options – all served with free chips and salsa.

The only thing we don’t have: microwaves.

Hours Monday-Sunday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

256.880.0113 Catering 423.902.1601 975 C Airport Road Huntsville, AL 35802

Moe’s Southwest Grill

Old Black Bear Brewing Company, LLC

The first thing you’ll hear when you walk into the restaurant is an enthusiastic “Welcome to Moe’s!®” It’s more than just our rally cry. It em-

Our decision to start brewing beer and sharing it with the public came from our desire to create a great beer that real people can

not only enjoy, but also relate to. Some beer companies try to market their beer as being able to bring you a life of leisure; others may try to convince you that higher alcohol content automatically means better beer; others may simply try to sell you beer of poor quality and claim, “It’s a craft beer.” People know better than that, and our goal is to make great beer and sell it at a fair price without using silly marketing gimmicks.

At Old Black Bear, we believe that you are rewarded as a product of hard work, and that your beer should not just represent your taste in beverage, but it should really represent the kind of person you are. Black Bears are very diligent, intense, and resolute workers. They work to survive. Not all that different from you or I. Have you ever seen a Black Bear catch a fish? It’s pretty awesome. It’s a great mascot to represent the kind of people we expect to drink our beer.

Old Black Bear Brewing Company is owned and managed by Todd Seaton.

Contact 205-368-0185 201 East Side Square, Suite 11 Huntsville, AL 35801

Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salad Chick is a premier casual dining spot for Huntsville residents looking for a convenient and delicious lunch or dinner.

Offering some of the most creative chicken salad flavors in the South, we are proud to provide a healthy and refreshing alternative from the usual fast food places. Come dine in with us and experience true southern charm and hospitality, along with some homemade food for your soul, too!

Chicken Salad Chick offers 15 different flavors of chicken salad, as well as a full-service deli to suit every taste. No matter what you like, you are sure to find it on the menu. Our side salads are also made fresh every day and pair perfectly with your favorite Chick. Spend time dining inside or pick up your meal to enjoy at home.

Have you been searching for a local catering option that offers exceptional food and service? Our caterers will create custom platters for a buffet style lunch or dinner, or you can order executive box lunches that are perfect for business meetings or smaller gatherings. We strive to meet every catering need and will work with you to provide the perfect catering menu.

Hours Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

256.213.1067 Westbury Square Shopping Center 975 Airport Road SW, Suite J-1 Huntsville, AL 35802 Initiatives December 2014

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Engility Opens New Office in Bridge Street Town Centre Engility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EGL) recently celebrated the company’s move to new offices in the nation’s second largest research park with a ribbon cutting ceremony and an open house that featured company executives and several area public officials and dignitaries.

The move to the new Cummings Research Park office in Bridge Street is part of the company’s focus on Huntsville as a strategic growth area.

Engility’s operations in Huntsville are staffed by about 80 people, most living in the Huntsville/Madison County area and support the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), the Missile Defense Agency, the Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation, as well as the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization. The company’s Huntsville office also supports 15 employees deployed in Afghanistan, providing field services for the Army’s PEO Soldier.

“We are proud to be members of the Huntsville community and I truly thank the Chamber of Commerce for its support,” said Engility President and CEO Tony Smeraglinolo.

“Engility professionals are working side-by-side with a number of government customers in Huntsville and we are dedicated to helping each of them achieve mission success.”

Event emcee Ron Poteat, immediate past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and the North Alabama Area President of Regions Bank, said Engility’s expansion is a coup for the area and will “help the community to continue attracting the best and brightest.

“Engility brings highly skilled and talented people to our community and they provide vital technical and engineering support to a range of Federal and military programs based in Huntsville,” Poteat said.

During the event, Darren Wheeler, manager for Engility

L-R: Ron Poteat, Regions, John Hamilton, City of Huntsville, Sandy Weand, Darren Wheeler and Charlie Rash, Engility, and Madison Mayor Troy Trulock prepare to cut the ribbon. operations in Huntsville, pointed out that 70 percent of Engility’s more than 7,000 employees are veterans. Wheeler was joined at the open house by Engility Executive Charlie Rash, account executive for Army programs. Rash is a West Point graduate and retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel. During his career he served as the chief of staff for SMDC. Engility also announced at the event that it will donate $1,000 to the Semper Fi Community Task Force of North Alabama (SFCTF), a local non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support to wounded warriors and active duty families from all branches of the military. The donation will be made in

addition to 100 percent of the proceeds from a raffle that the company sponsored during the open house.

Smeraglinolo also expressed support for the Semper Fi Community Task Force. “As a nation, we are indebted to our military and Engility appreciates the important work of the SFCTF as it provides comfort to our wounded warriors and active duty service men and women.”

Huntsville City Administrator John Hamilton and Madison Mayor Troy Trulock each offered congratulations to company leaders and thanked them for choosing to invest in the community. •

INTUITIVE Named No. 1 Great Place to Work in the U.S. Huntsville-based Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation ranks No. 1 on the 11th Annual Great Place to Work® Rankings, presented by FORTUNE Magazine.

This marks INTUITIVE’s fifth consecutive year as a national top ten Great Place to Work®, coming in at No. 2 the past three years. The rankings are divided into two categories, Small (50-250 employees) and Medium (251-999 employees). INTUITIVE has 279 employees.

Co-founder/President Harold Brewer and Human Resources Director Juanita Phillips accepted the award in Washington D.C. on behalf of the company. Chamber Board Chair-elect Rey Almodóvar is INTUITIVE co-founder and CEO. The Great Place to Work® selection process included an employee survey and a detailed questionnaire about benefit programs and company practices. Each application is evaluated based on credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

The FORTUNE article reported that the engineering and defense contractor offers unlimited tuition reimbursement to employees - including fees and textbooks: The only requirement is that the school and program have to be preapproved by management. And last year the company added an unlimited flu leave – if anyone in an employee’s household gets the flu, they are told not to come to work – it doesn’t count against regular PTO. Brewer said, “Each year we strive to improve our workplace and to build an even stronger corporate culture.

Winning this award is a true reflection on what is most important to INTUITIVE. Moreover, it is a reflection of our community, which encourages creativity and welcomes initiative.” • 26

December 2014 Initiatives

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ATEC Opens Headquarters Office in Cummings Research Park The Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC), a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and Honeywell, recently opened its new headquarters during a ceremony held at its office in the nation’s second largest research park.

The company was created in 2006 to meet the Army’s requirement for a new engine to be used in its Black Hawk and Apache helicopter fleet. The engine requirements include more power and more efficiency to be used in the current configurations of both aircraft.

“This is really an important moment in the history of ATEC,” said ATEC President Craig Madden. “As a former Army aviator, I can say this program needs to happen and will happen. It will save lives, carry soldiers farther and reduce the logistics footprint,” he said.

Jerry Wheeler, ATEC’s vice president for programs and Huntsville site lead, said the new engines will be a significant upgrade that will benefit the Army.

‘The engine will be 25 percent more fuel efficient with 50 percent more power,” he said. “This new engine will allow us to operate in higher, hotter conditions with greater power to support the warfighter.”

Wheeler said the competitive program is still in the testing phase for Army but as the program moves forward there is a plan to add more jobs to the Huntsville office.

“It was only a matter of time before we decided to establish a permanent presence here in Huntsville near Redstone Arsenal, which is the backyard of the Army Aviation community.

“Development of a new gas turbine engine is a lengthy process. It takes tens of thousands of hours to test some 2030 different test engines, on top of the thousands of hours of flight testing. We just completed ground testing on our second engine – with great results by the way – so it should be apparent that we plan to be on this program and here in Huntsville for the long haul,” Wheeler said.

“With the opening of our headquarters, it will be easier to bring talented teammates to Huntsville to further collaborate

and work closer together on this critical program. We’ve already worked extremely close with our customer and opening this facility only makes it more beneficial for all involved.”

Madden said the most critical factor of all is supporting the warfighter.

“You may not realize it, but if you are a soldier on the ground in contact with the enemy and you want air support from an Apache, you may be severely disappointed to watch the Apache have to turn around to leave and refuel. A new engine would not only allow that Apache to stay on station longer, it would also allow it to carry its maximum load of ammunition.”

“ATEC was formed to leverage the very best technologies and capabilities from the best of two industry leaders – Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney. Our companies have a strong track

record in engine development and in differentiating our products and services through innovation. Innovation is about more than technology – it is about thinking differently and challenging assumptions to create the best value for our customers.”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the program was important to not only Huntsville, but the nation.

“This is an important project to America and obviously to Huntsville because Army aviation is our foundation here.

We’re proud you are here and want to see you grow.”

U.S. Representative Mo Brooks, who represents the 5th congressional district, attended the ceremony and stated that in an era of declining federal budgets that this program was critical for support of the warfighter. Brooks co-founded and co-chairs the U.S. Army Aviation caucus. •

L-R: Chip Cherry, Chamber of Commerce, Craig Madden, ATEC, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Jerry Wheeler, ATEC and Congressman Mo Brooks prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the ATEC’s headquarters facility in CRP.

Aerojet Rocketdyne Establishes New Rocket Engine Office in “Rocket City” Aerojet Rocketdyne has established an Advanced Hydrocarbon Propulsion Development Office (AHPDO) in Huntsville, known for years as “Rocket City” thanks to its storied history in the development of rockets that helped put America into space and humans on the Moon, to focus on delivering a new rocket engine.

This development work will include the AR1 advanced large hydrocarbon rocket engine; the NASA Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration Risk Reduction program; the U.S. Air Force Hydrocarbon Boost Technology Development program; along with internal Aerojet Rocketdyne research and development involving the company’s Bantam Engine family for lower thrust applications.

Huntsville was selected as the home base of this 21st century research and development office due to the tremendous

capability in the area and alignment with key government, academic and private sector organizations, said Aerojet Rocketdyne President Warren M. Boley, Jr. “Making Huntsville home for this new advanced hydrocarbon propulsion development office is a logical extension of our company’s growing presence in the Huntsville community,” Boley said.

Huntsville native Dr. Jerrol “Jay” Littles will lead the new advanced hydrocarbon propulsion development office. He has been with Aerojet Rocketdyne in Huntsville for the past six years after working for Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, Fla., and East Hartford, Conn.

He will work closely with Gene Goldman, former acting NASA Marshall Space Flight Center director and Stennis Space Center director, who guides Aerojet Rocketdyne’s growth in the

Southeastern U.S. A Huntsville base for this new advanced hydrocarbon propulsion development office aligns with several other national advanced liquid rocket engine activities, such as work with Aerojet Rocketdyne’s strategic partner, Dynetics, including NASA’s current risk reduction work for key components of this type of rocket engine; important production capacity provided by strategic partner, Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville; and the ongoing efforts of the National Institute of Rocket Propulsion Systems. • Initiatives December 2014

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 27

PPG Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Alabama Aircraft Products Plant The 45th anniversary of PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) Huntsville, Alabama, facility was celebrated with an open house for employees and their families to tour the operations where aircraft windshields, windows and canopies are made. For nearly half a century, PPG and its employees have maintained leadership in the global aviation industry as well as in the Huntsville community.

It is a much different operation today, with greater efficiency and the ability to make larger and more complex parts, according to Plant Manager Tom Meyer.

“The biggest change since the plant opened is the ongoing transformation to a lean culture, which I would define as the continuing mission to remove waste from the workplace,” Meyer said. “Our transformation engages all employees to constantly look for opportunities to improve our process.”

Meyer cited several bright spots visible in the factory. “The most prominent is a work cell where we process parts for a commercial aircraft manufacturer. Through the efforts of the people in the work cell, we have been able to reduce lead times for select high-volume programs.”

A new window may require thousands of hours in design, development and qualification by PPG employees in Huntsville before it is certified for flight. On average, aircraft windows PPG makes today are significantly larger and more complex than those made decades ago.

PPG Huntsville Plant by the Numbers

64 Acres on which the plant was built May 27,1969 Date of first shipment from the plant 358,000 Size of the facility in square feet 700 People employed at the plant today “PPG has been able to maintain a leadership position in a highly competitive industry by continually securing new customers and new programs,” Meyer said.

He credited employees for their contributions to successes with lean and new program development. “It is a testament to the talent and dedication of the people who have worked here through nearly half a century that PPG continues to grow and meet the needs of the aerospace transparency industry.”

L-R: Ray Andrews, Manager Tom Meyer, Patti Tidwell, James Cashion, and Vivian Lyle celebrate the facility’s 45th anniversary.

In addition to housing production operations, the PPG facility has employees involved in design, development, testing and certification of new windows as well as ongoing support of windows for aircraft operators.

Community involvement is important to PPG, and its support includes U.S. Space & Rocket Center AVIATION CHALLENGE(R) program scholarships, University of Alabama-Huntsville Girls Day on Campus scholarships and donations to local public schools through Public Education Leadership Community grants of the PPG Industries Foundation that totaled more than $65,000 in 2013. PPG also provides community support through employee volunteerism grants that exceeded $30,000 in 2013, and it annually sponsors a community scholarship for a local high school graduate.

The company and its employees rank among the largest financial supporters of the United Way of Madison County. PPG’s memberships include the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Alabama and the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA).

Community leaders and government officials joined PPG employees and their families in celebrating the Huntsville plant’s 45th anniversary. Speaking on behalf of the Chamber

of Commerce was Robert Mayes, Chamber chairman of the board and CEO of BlueCreek Investment Partners. Attendees also heard from U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

PPG started construction of the Huntsville aircraft products plant in May 1968 on a 64-acre site and began production April 9, 1969, with about 100 employees. The first shipment was made May 27, 1969, of windshields for the Convair 340 commercial airliner, for which PPG still maintains tooling even though it has been years since it produced any of the windshields. Today, more than 1,000 different designs are made in any month from windshields for commercial airliners to helicopter windshields.

PPG makes transparencies for commercial and general aviation aircraft as well as several military programs.

PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer and distributor of aerospace coatings, sealants, and packaging and application systems. For more information, visit www.ppgaerospace.com. •

UAH Helping Develop Nanodevice To Catch Cancer Early Extremely early detection of cancers and other diseases is on the horizon with a supersensitive nanodevice being developed at The University of Alabama in Huntsville in collaboration with The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

The device is ready for packaging into a lunchbox-size unit that ultimately use a smartphone application to provide test results. Dr. Youngbin Lin is a research scientist at UAH’s Nano and Micro Devices Center who has been working on the nanodevice for five years. He said the sensitivity of the equipment holds promise for finding cancer at a very early stage, even while it is at the small cluster of cells level, he said. “At this stage, it is easier to treat.”

The scientists are also developing tests for Prostate Specific Antigen, an indicator of prostate cancer, bu the device could be calibrated to test for any protein antigen biomarkers.

He added the device would especially be a boon for countries that have limited medical facilities and budgets where the testing equipment could be valuable in fighting disease outbreaks like the Ebola virus in West Africa. • 28

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Huntsville Wins Big at EDPA Innovation Awards Huntsville entrepreneurs took home half of the awards given out at the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s Innovation Awards on Sept. 25 in Birmingham, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Alabama Innovation Awards honor outstanding accomplishments of businesses, institutions and people who impact the state and its economy through innovation.

Lonnie S. McMillian, co-founder of both telecommunications giant ADTRAN, Inc. and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, was honored for his entrepreneurial efforts as well as his generous heart. Said the judges: McMillian demonstrates a career-long commitment to innovate, coupled with a measurable record of success that has contributed to Alabama’s progress and to its potential for future growth. He mentors startups and also received at least nine patents. He has earned the greatest respect for his integrity, generosity and humility exhibited throughout his life and career.

Other Huntsville recipients were: Inventor of the Year: Emil Jovanov of the University of Alabama in Huntsville for his “SmartBottle” technology.

The technology measures when a patient has taken his or her medication and reminds users if they missed a dose

through an automated phone call or text message. Jovanov was lauded for his commitment to get the invention to market.

Outstanding Product or Service: Conversant Bio, a company launched in 2006 and located in HudsonAlpha, noted for exceeding the standards for developing and producing an innovative product. Conversant’s co-founders recognized a need in the market for bio-specimen procurement that quickly provides quality tissue and blood samples to researchers.

Outstanding Woman or Minority in Innovation: Gwen Fewell, co-founder and chief commercial officer of TransOMIC Technologies Inc., located in HudsonAlpha. Fewell, a native of India, has been tenacious in raising capital to fund TransOMIC, launched in 2012 and offers more than 1.4 million gene-based products that allow researchers to perform large scale screenings at once to identify gene function in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Other winners include: Corporate Innovator of the Year, Atherotech Diagnostics Lab in Birmingham; Outstanding Startup Business, BLOX LLC in Bessemer; Start-Up Executive of the Year, Michael Chambers of Mobile; and Outstanding University/College-Corporate Partnership, iK9 and Auburn University. •

Synapse Wireless Celebrates New Location, New Innovation One of the best-kept high-technology company secrets in the U.S. recently celebrated new growth, a new location in the heart of the nation’s second largest research park, and its eighth anniversary of its revolutionary wireless mesh network operating system (SNAP).

Synapse Wireless is an emerging leader in wireless solutions that empower the Internet of Things (IoT). It is now located in the SAIC building in Cummings Research Park and has added 65 employees, a 150 percent increase over the past year.

The Internet of Things is an industry that fosters the technological fabric to connect 26 billion devices – not including PCs, tablets and smartphones – by 2020. With the technology that Synapse has mastered, it is possible to build connected computers into light fixtures, medical devices, patient bracelets, combustion engines, kitchen equipment, merchandise racks, electric meters or solar panels.

Leading analyst firm, Harbor Research, said this about Synapse: “They are jumping ahead of the current market’s noise and confusion about wireless connectivity and Big Data and are re-defining how value is created from sensors and the data received.”

Since Synapse formed in 2007, it has received 21 patents, has more than 6,000 SNAP developers, and has attracted customers such as American Airlines, General Motors and the U.S. Army, just to name a few.

Speaking at the event were Key Foster, chairman and CEO of Synapse Wireless; Chad Markle, president of Synapse; and David Ewing, chief technology officer at Synapse. • Initiatives December 2014

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Boeing Awards SLS Work to Dynetics to Add to Huntsville Legacy Like its predecessor space exploration programs, NASA’s new deep space rocket program is taking on a distinctive Huntsville flavor. Boeing and Dynetics are now partnering on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) program, America’s heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and enable new missions of exploration across the solar system.

Boeing recently finalized a contract with NASA to develop the SLS Core stage and has selected Dynetics to provide some key elements of the stage including three structural test simulators and the Thrust Vector Control Exhaust Gas Heat Exchanger (TVC EGHE) for this stage.

Dynetics is headquartered in Huntsville, where Boeing manages its SLS program.

Dynetics engineers will manufacture and assemble the structural simulators at their Huntsville campus before delivering them to Boeing at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Dynetics will also design, build and test in Huntsville the TVC EGHE, a piece of flight hardware that will fly on the SLS Core stage.

Boeing is the prime contractor for the design, develop-

ment, test and production of the launch vehicle cryogenic stages, as well as development of the avionics suite. SLS uses a cryogenic rocket, leveraging liquefied gas stored at very low temperatures for optimal rocket efficiency. Boeing is designing the cryogenic stages concurrently to maximize the affordability of SLS rocket development and operations.

The initial flight-test configuration will provide a 70 metric

ton lift capacity while the final evolved two-stage configuration will provide a lift capability of more than 130 metric tons.

NASA selected Dynetics in 2012 to perform engineering demonstrations and risk reduction on advanced engines and structures for a future SLS Advanced Booster. The Dynetics SLS team designed and fabricated a full-scale cryogenic tank, which it will test at its Iuka, Miss., site, to verify the structural design of the affordable booster concept. The partnership with Boeing will expand Dynetics’ involvement in the SLS program.

“Dynetics is a key Huntsville business, and we’re excited to welcome them to the SLS team,” said Virginia Barnes, vice president and program manager for Boeing Exploration Launch Systems.

“We are pleased to work with Boeing, which has a rich heritage in NASA manned human spaceflight,” said David King, Dynetics president. “We look forward to providing additional support to the SLS program. This is a great step toward our two companies partnering together to support NASA’s exploration program.” •

UAH Opens SWIRLL Lab to Broaden Severe Weather Research Capabilities The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s new Severe Weather Institute – Radar and Lightning Laboratories (SWIRLL) is boosting the interest of prospective graduate atmospheric science students and reinforcing the university’s severe weather and lightning research prominence.

Built through a $7 million state grant made possible by Gov. Robert Bentley, SWIRLL also fulfills a recommendation of the state’s Tornado Recovery Action Council to use state universities for severe weather research.

Bentley was on hand at the recent ribbon cutting and reminded the crowd about the need for such a facility, given Alabama’s history with severe weather.

UAH President Robert Altenkirch said the impact of research conducted within the facility would be felt far beyond the state.

“Unfortunately, Alabama experiences frequent threats from weather events – from the Gulf Coast to North Alabama – and UAH researchers are at the forefront of finding ways to mitigate the impact of severe weather,” Altenkirch said. “We are truly appreciative of Gov. Bentley’s vision and support of making Alabama safer for its citizens.”

The SWIRLL building is designed to reflect its mission, with a prominent, tornado-shaped staircase as a key part of its architecture. A five-foot diameter globe is mounted in the center of the lobby’s staircase to serve as an iconic teaching tool. The globe is a mini-theater upon which projected images depict real-time weather patterns, rainfall, snow and ice, earthquakes, vegetation, lightning, drifting continents and more. It can also display the sky at night.

UAH’s atmospheric science department is ranked 17th in 30

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the nation in research activity, according to the National Science Foundation. The Atmospheric Science Department is also cited as being among the top 10 in the nation in scholarly production by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Director of the UAH Earth System Science Center Dr. John Christy said that the graduate program has already seen heightened interest “because just the anticipation of SWIRLL has drawn them to UAH.” •

Above: Governor Robert Bentley is joined by University of Alabama in Huntsville President Dr. Robert Altenkirch and Congressman Mo Brooks as he prepares to cut the ribbon on UAH’s new Severe Weather Institute – Radar and Lighting Laboratories (SWIRLL). The group was joined by a number of local elected officials and dignitaries for the ribbon cutting.

~ compiled by John Southerland

Century Automotive, Fleet Feet Honored at 2014 Retailer of the Year Awards Two Huntsville husband-and-wife companies were recently honored at the Alabama Retail Association’s 15th Annual Retailer of the Year Awards.

Tracy and George Jones, proprietors of Century Automotive Group, took the Gold Award in the competition’s largest category, “Annual Sales More Than $20 million.”

Suzanne and Dink Taylor, owners of Fleet Feet Huntsville, took the Bronze Award for companies with “Annual Sales $1 Million to $5 Million.”

Both companies were nominated for the Retailer of the Year Awards by Ken Smith, director of research and information for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.

“We are very pleased that two of our local companies and their owners were chosen as Alabama Retailers of the Year in their size classifications,” said Smith, who provides data to government entities to assist on large retail development.

“Small businesses and locally-owned retailers are a key component of our community and comprise the backbone of the local economy. Our congratulations go out to Century Automotive and Fleet Feet for being recognized for their strong company growth and contributions to Huntsville/Madison County.”

The presentations were made at Vestavia Country Club.

About Fleet Feet

About Century Automotive Group

“We are the hub for Huntsville’s running community,” the Taylors said in their Retailer of the Year entry. The 10-year-old business serves as the headquarters for many racing events. The store sponsors more than 100 races locally and sometimes sponsors up to four racing events in a week. It hosts Summer Runs every Thursday night during the summer.

In addition, the Taylors serve as race directors for the Rocket City Marathon, The Cotton Row Runs, Mountain Mist Trail Run, The Bridge Street Half Marathon and Running of the Bulls 5K. “With increasing competition from online/Internet sales and big box competition, we have to be creative with our marketing efforts to draw customers to Fleet Feet Sports,” the Taylors said. “Every day, we try to lead people to improve their life styles by exercising more.” Part of that effort is offering training for 5K to marathon distance as well as triathlon programs. In 2013 alone, the store had 14 training programs with more than 750 participants. The store publishes a weekly newsletter with a distribution of 20,000.

The store focuses on its customers. To help customers buy the perfect shoe, Fleet Feet Huntsville measures the foot in a weighted and unweighted position, then videotapes the customer on the treadmill running or walking to help them find the best shoe for their intended activity. The store this year added 2,100 square feet to its existing space to better serve its customers and all of the programming and services offered.

The Taylors also make sure their employees reach their full potential.

The Retailer of the Year judges made special note that over the past several years, the Taylors have sent several employees to Fleet Feet Sports Inc. to learn how to open their own stores.

Their community involvement goes beyond sponsoring runs. Fleet Feet Huntsville has raised $10,000 for Sandy Hook Fund and $3,000 for the Boston FundOne. It serves as a collection spot for various local organizations for recycling shoes and regularly donate shoes to under privileged children in the Gadsden area through Twelfth Street Baptist Church.

Tracy Jones is a third generation automobile dealer. Her father, John Shields II, started the current dealership – which currently sells the BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo brands – in 1969 as Royal Chevrolet. The dealership became Century Automotive Group in 1981. Tracy worked as a CPA with Price Waterhouse in Houston, Texas, before coming to work as controller for Century in 1988. Her husband, George Jones, brought his extensive marketing background to the company in 1989. Tracy became president in 1993 when her father retired.

High school sweethearts who attended the University of Alabama together, George and Tracy Jones have worked side by side since 1989.

George runs the day-to-day business, including sales and marketing, while Tracy oversees the finances of the six dealerships they manage.

The couple has four children.

The dealership has won many awards through the years from the various brands they sell. In addition, in 1999, Century Automotive won the Small Business Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. In 2002, Tracy Jones earned the Silver Alabama Retailer of the Year in the then Annual Sales More Than $10 Million category. In 2007, Time magazine named Tracy Jones and Century as the Quality Dealer of the Year among 60,000 dealerships nationwide for its dealership success and support of the community.

Tracy Jones is an annual speaker at the University of Alabama Culverhouse School of Business.

Century is currently building a new BMW facility on 5.5 acres adjacent to the existing dealership. They recently updated their website with focus on social media and reevaluated their collision center processes resulting in a reduction of their average repair time by four days.

In addition to business successes, the dealership also has supported a wide range of organizations and causes. It has been a supporter of and fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for 11 years. And for more than 25 years, it has supported the Huntsville Hospital Foundation by hosting their longest running fundraiser, The BMW Brunch.

(provided by the Alabama Retail Association):

(provided by the Alabama Retail Association):

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in the spotlight:

2014 Small Business of the Year: 51-350 Employees category

What exactly does nLogic do? nLogic is an employee-owned, small business that delivers logical solutions to our government and industry customers. Our customers include Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations, Missile Defense Agency, NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Core competencies include system engineering and integration, software life cycle, modeling and simulation, test and evaluation, logistics, information technologies and cyber security. Current office locations include Huntsville, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA; Fort Greely, AK; Colorado Springs, CO; and Arnold Air Force Base Tullahoma, TN. We support development and sustainment of aerospace and defense systems including command and control, sensors, missiles/interceptors, aviation & space systems. We have achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification, AS9100C compliance, CMM-I Level 2 certification, and ITAR registration.

in our industry. We are developing technologies and providing high technology services in some of the most challenging, technologically advanced programs. We recognize that prime contract wins are a key step to long term solid company growth. Some of these bids include agencies outside of Huntsville to enhance our diversification goals. We are committed to recruit and retain our employees with our generous fringe benefits including incentive and ESOP ownership. It is a long range goal to cre-

is clearly the hallmark of success for small businesses in a community that has been nationally recognized for economic growth.

The number of emerging and well-established small businesses in our local community is staggering. Huntsville provides a unique environment for high-tech enterprises to thrive that includes a number of government agencies and higher-education institutions. Small businesses are the driving force behind stronger economic growth and

What’s the owner’s educational and professional background?

Tim Thornton has more than 26 years of technical, management, and marketing experience supporting government and industry customers. He founded nLogic in 2009 and serves as CEO/president. He founded Torch Systems in 2005 and served as president. He was a vice president and a member of the board of directors for Davidson Technologies. His previous positions include director of advanced technologies for System Studies and Simulation; division manager of advanced technologies for Coleman Research Corporation; and a research analyst for Georgia Tech Research Institute. He has both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, graduating with Summa Cum Laude honors.

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The nLogic team dressed with 70s flair, embracing the theme for the 29th Annual Small Business Awards held in September. Tim Thornton led the way in his head-to-toe orange tux. ate significant wealth for our employees. We are on track to achieve our next revenue goal of $50 million. We are investing resources in business capture and proposal development to allow us to pursue bids in new markets. Our management team is committed to managing the company and our contracts to also achieve profitability goals.

What are nLogic’s corporate goals for the next 5 and 10 years?

What did winning this award mean to the company?

nLogic has a goal to be recognized by our customers and peers in the aerospace and defense industry as the premier technical service provider. Our business plan is focused on specific areas that will continue to produce new opportunities in areas where our employees can have a meaningful impact

We are truly honored to have been selected as the winner of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 2014 Small Business of the Year Award in the 51 to 350 category. We are humbled to share this prestigious award with the companies that have been recognized in previous years. This award

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job creation. The employee-owners of nLogic are most appreciative of the impact this award will have on our future growth.

How has being active in the Chamber impacted the company’s success?

The Chamber has been a valuable partner to enable our business growth. The Chamber has provided training services for me personally and also our staff members. The Chamber provides numerous opportunities to network and expand professional connections in the local community. It has provided a mechanism to market our company to customers. It promotes our company through the Chamber website, Initiatives magazine, ribbon cutting services and other events. •

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

STA F F Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Amy Locke, executive assistant Heather Lindsey, resource desk coordinator

Economic Development Lucia Cape, vice president, economic development John Southerland, Cummings Research Park director | project manager

Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, economic development specialist | project manager

Elizabeth Saba, economic development specialist Karessa Acosta, economic development assistant

Communications Carrie Rice, communications director Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, senior vice president, government & public affairs

Tina Leopold, government & public affairs assistant

Finance & Administration Christy Nalley, finance & administration director Jamie Gallien, IT manager Mary McNairy, accounting specialist | human resources

Lori Warner, accounting specialist Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Membership Wendy Kirk, vice president, member engagement Donna McCrary, membership retention manager Tiffany Jordan, membership representative Lisa Smith, membership representative Robert Ivory, membership services assistant

Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, small business & events director Alexandra Gonzalez, event coordinator Beverly Pike, small business coordinator

Associated Organizations The Community Foundation of Huntsville/ Madison County (communityfoundationhsv.org) The Schools Foundation (theschoolsfoundation.org) WBCNA (www.wbcna.org)

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

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2014 Wage & Benefits Survey Results Available

E

very year the Chamber conducts a wage survey for its membership. On alternating years the survey includes a section on benefits.

The survey helps local companies gauge their compensation against companies in the same industry for various levels within job categories. In 2013, the Chamber switched from a paper-based survey and report to an electronic survey with a searchable, interactive database that can be updated throughout the year. To provide a snapshot of the database, the Chamber also provides a printed version.

The 2014 Wage and Benefits Survey includes data from 122 companies that collectively employ 31,190 employees in the Huntsville/Madison County area. The participating companies reported data for 13,720 employees in survey benchmark jobs.

The cost of the online wage survey for participants is $200. To access the survey but not participate, the cost of the survey for the first year is $500. The price doubles each year of non-participation to encourage companies to take part. The cost for the print version is $15 for participants and $300 for non-participants, and the non-participant price doubles each year as well.

The objective is to provide company leaders with an accurate picture of wage and salary rates for benchmark positions in the Huntsville/Madison County area while abiding by the antitrust guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. Because of these federal regulations, the Chamber cannot show job categories with fewer than four responses. With decreased participation, more job categories fall below four and cannot be shared. Therefore, the greater the participation, the more useful the survey.

Lucia Cape, the Chamber’s vice president of economic development, said the wage survey is an important resource for local industry.

“We know the survey is important to companies, but we need to increase participation.

Ideally we would have 200 or more companies,” she said. “We lost a few companies in the transition from paper to online, and we hope to gain them back.”

The Chamber will be sending out the new survey in early 2015 to begin compiling data for the 2015 edition. • 34

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PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #40

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