Initiatives magazine, April 2014 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Initiatives April 2014

Welcome New Chamber Members Joined in November 2013 ACE Home Health Care, LLC Anderson Motor Company Capstone Lawn Care & Landscaping Co., a division of Capstone Realty Group, Inc. Deep Blue Concepts Erin Michael - Silversmith / Visual Artist Halliburton Surveying & Mapping, LLC Mac Resource Murray Moving & Storage, Inc. Outpatient Diagnostic Center PZI International Consulting Richland Golf Center Shamrock Private Investigations

Joined in December 2013 Animal Medical Clinic, PC Aon Water Technology Asperger Connection, Inc. (North Alabama) Baymont Inn and Suites Madison / Huntsville Airport Dunkin’ Donuts Firestone Complete Auto Care Five Guys Burgers and Fries GGS Information Services Hart & Taylor Media LaLeigh Da’s Reimagined Furniture & Custom Upholstery Maximum Technology Corporation Millie Models Morard & Company, Inc. Nelco Express Convenience Store Northwestern Mutual Life OLLI@UAH (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UAH) ProModel Corporation Sady’s Bistro Veterans Ramp Up

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. 2

April 2014 Initiatives

Initiatives April 2014

Thanks to Our Investors Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Development Partner ($250,000+ 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 The Boeing Company City of Madison Emerson Network Power Avocent Lockheed Martin Corporation Madison County Commission Redstone Federal Credit Union

Executive Council ($15,000+ annually) BB&T CINRAM Crestwood Medical Center Intergraph Corporation Northrop Grumman Corporation Parsons PNC Bank Qualitest Pharmaceuticals SAIC SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC 4

April 2014 Initiatives

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.

Progress Partners

Jerry Damson, Inc. L-3 Communications Corp. – Huntsville Ops Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C Raytheon Company S3 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 Deloitte LLP ERC, Inc. Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc.

Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association iBERIABANK J. Smith Lanier & Co. Kudzu Productions, Inc. LEAN Frog Business Solutions, Inc. LogiCore MJLM Engineering & Technical Services MTS, Inc. The Orthopaedic Center Progress Bank QinetiQ North America Radiance Technologies, Inc. Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc. & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (Steak Out) SELEX Galileo Inc. Torch Technologies Turner U.S. Space and Rocket Center WAFF-TV Woody Anderson Ford

Progress Investors ($2,500+ annually) Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong, PC Averbuch Realty Co., Inc. – Scott Averbuch Aviagen, Inc. BancorpSouth Brown Precision, Inc. Bryant Bank CB&S Bank Century Automotive CFD Research Corporation Coast Personnel Services deciBel Research Decisive Analytics Corporation DESE Research, Inc. Digium, Inc. Ducommun Miltec First Financial Group Wealth Management Fite Building Company, Inc. Foreign Language Services Fountain, Parker, Harbarger 4SITE, Inc. G.W. Jones & Sons Consulting Engineers GATR Technologies Halsey Foodservice HEMSI Hiley Cars Huntsville Huntsville Botanical Garden Huntsville/Madison Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc.

Investor’s Resource/Raymond James Joseph Decosimo and Company, LLC KPS Group Leadership Huntsville/Madison County, Inc. The Lioce Group, Inc. MacAulay-Brown, Inc. (MacB) Moog, Inc. National Bank of Commerce North Alabama Multiple Listing Service PALCO Telecom Service, Inc. PeopleTec, Inc. PFM Group PHOENIX Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. PROJECTXYZ, Inc. QTEC, Inc. Qualis Corporation Renasant Bank RJ Young ServisFirst Bank Sierra Lobo, Inc. Sigmatech, Inc. Spencer Companies Incorporated Synapse Wireless, Inc. Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. URS Corporation Wesfam Restaurants, Inc. (Burger King) West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. WHNT-TV

Welcome New Chamber Members Joined in January 2014 Automatic Data Processing Brueggers Bagels Buffalo Wild Wings - Carl T. Jones Buffalo Wild Wings - University Drive Chief Entertainment, LLC Chorba Contracting Corporation Joined in February 2014 Cyber Huntsville Inc. Easy Money AARP Alabama Edward Jones - Chris Harper Alabama Credit Union - Whitesburg Drive EXPRESS Employment Professionals Alabama Health Guidance Fidelity Ban ARMAG Corporation FMS Aerospace Best Buy H&R Block - North Madison Clear Shine Maintenance Massage Envy Spa - Huntsville Columbus Technologies and Services, Inc. Outpatient Diagnostic Center - Madison Compass Remodeling and Restoration Paladin Group Deep Roots of Alabama Schooley Mitchell Scott Howell & Associates, Inc. – a Clinton Orr Agency Edward Jones - Jennifer Ray She’s All That, Inc. Humana MarketPOINT Taxplus J. Gumbo’s US Mulch Makarios Events Waddell Properties, Inc. Lehr Middlebrooks & Vreeland, PC What’s Popp’N Reliance Bank - Huntsville Roto-Rooter Plumbers SPITFIRE Solutions, Inc. Technical Innovation TranServis, LLC The Tutelar Group Underground Pipe Solutions (Chadwick Plumbing Service, Inc.) Urban Chez

Make plans now to join the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County for the annual Washington D.C. Trip Sunday-Tuesday, May 11-13, 2014. Just a few seats remain on the chartered 120-seat passenger jet, departing Huntsville International Airport on Sunday at 2 p.m. and arriving at Reagan National Airport â&#x20AC;&#x201C; call 256-535-2031 for availability. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve planned a rooftop welcome reception for that evening, adjacent to our host hotel, the Hyatt on Capitol Hill. Monday speakers will include former Director of the CIA and NSA Gen. Michael Hayden, NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot and key military and public policy analysts. Tuesday features meetings with the Alabama Congressional Delegation and other key leaders of Congress on The Hill. The charter jet is set to depart Reagan National at 4 p.m., arriving in Huntsville a little after 5 p.m.

April 2014 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

april 2014 on the cover

Courtesy of U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Setting their Sights Remington Outdoor Company to begin production in Huntsville mid-2015 pages 18-20

features Economic Development Highlights

including The Boeing Company, GATR Technologies, GE Intelligent Platforms, Correlated Magnetics Research, CFD Research Corporation, Cummings Aerospace, Schwarze Industries, ASRC Federal Analytical Services, Deloitte, Raytheon Company, Teledeyne Brown Engineering and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama

Courtesy of The Arts Council

State of the Schools 2 1 Awards & Accolades 2 2 Annual Membership Meeting 2 8 Small Business Awards in the Spotlight 3 0

Courtesy of Huntsville Botanical Garden

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.

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.HSVchamber.org 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.

developments New Chamber Members 2,5 HREGI Investors Listing 4 Chamber Board Listing 8 2014 Chamber Leadership in photos 1 0 Upcoming Events 16 Community Profile 29 Chamber Staff Listing 32 Wonders of Dubai Trip 34

editorial staff

Publisher Chip Cherry, cce Executive Editor Patricia C. McCarter

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard Contributing Writer Patricia C. McCarter Photography Chamber of Commerce staff, publications/archive, or Shutterstock unless otherwise noted Advertising Sales Chris Soren Alabama Media Group csoren@al.com Initiatives April 2014

Chamber of Commerce

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2014 Executive Committee

A Message from Chip Cherry

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

Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: The reference Arthur Orr makes in his article (page 19 of this issue) to Ecclesiastes, that a cord with three strands is not easily broken, is a great way to frame one of the main reasons our region is both vibrant and successful. We have shown through efforts such as TV-BRAC, education, transportation and economic development that we understand our fortunes are tied together like a Gordian knot. The success of our individual communities is tied to the success of the region. We have proven this concept through our accomplishments in supporting the development of Redstone and most recently with the recruitment of Remington Outdoor Company. I was honored to be invited to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s celebration of the production of its three millionth engine and the launch of its new V6 production line. The Huntsville facility is the only Toyota plant in the world that has four different production lines. To put how much their capacity has grown in perspective, compare the rate of production. It took 11 years to produce three million engines; it will take approximately four years to produce the next three million. Congratulations to all the TMMA team members for your outstanding performance! Congratulations also to Joe Ritch for being named the Chairman of TVA. Joe has been a tireless champion of our region, and he will do an outstanding job as TVA’s Chairman. The pages of this issue are full of stories of success and accomplishment; I encourage you to read about the many positive developments taking place in our business community. As spring finally arrives, we look forward with much anticipation to the reopening of the open air version of the Green Street Market. Maybe I will see you there!

Chip Cherry, CCE

President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

April 2014 Initiatives

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 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, Wyle CAS Group 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

Initiatives April 2014

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County : 2014 Executive Committee

Robert Mayes CEO, BlueCreek Investment Partners Board Chair

Rey Almodóvar

Ron Poteat

Tommy Beason

Chair-Elect

Immediate Past Chair

Chamber of Commerce Foundation Chair

Gary Bolton

Danny Windham

Vice Chair – Membership

Vice Chair – Member Engagement

chief executive officer, Intuitive Research & Technology Corp.

consultant

Joe Newberry

Rose Allen

Mark Curran

Secretary/Treasurer

Vice Chair – Economic Development

Vice Chair – Government Affairs

Greg Brown

Kim Lewis

Everett Brooks

Tommy Battle

Penny Billings

Vice Chair – Workforce & Industry Relations

Vice Chair – Small Business & Events

Vice Chair – Image Development & Communications

Chair-Appointed

David Spillers

Dale Strong

Troy Trulock

Dr. Casey Wardynski

Chip Cherry, CCE

Chair-Appointed

president/chief executive officer, Redstone Federal Credit Union

co-chief executive officer/CFO, Brown Precision, Inc.

chief executive officer, Huntsville Hospital

north alabama area executive, Regions Bank

April 2014 Initiatives

principal, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

chief executive officer, PROJECTXYZ, Inc.

chairman, Madison County Commission

vp army programs/huntsville operations, L-3 Communications Corporation

director, marketing & business dev., AEgis Technologies Group

mayor, City of Madison

vice president, global marketing, ADTRAN, Inc.

mayor, City of Huntsville

superintendent, Huntsville City Schools

chief executive officer, Digium, Inc.

division president, BancorpSouth

president & chief executive officer, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County : 2014 Board of Directors

Dr. Robert Altenkirch

Bob Baron

Dr. Marc Bendickson

Miranda Bouldin

Greg Bragg

Janet Brown

Micah Bullard

The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Baron Services, Inc.

Dynetics, Inc.

LogiCore

Consolidated Construction Co.

Belk

Turner

Kevin Byrnes

Kevin Campbell

Frank Caprio

Dorothy Davidson

Gene Goldman

Jeff Gronberg

Raytheon Company

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP

Davidson Technologies, Inc.

Aerojet Rocketdyne

deciBel Research, Inc.

John Gully

Natalie Hasley

Steve Hassell

Tharon Honeycutt

Dr. Pam Hudson

Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr.

Tony Jones

SAIC

Bama Jammer, Inc.

Emerson Network Power Avocent

MSB Analytics, Inc.

Crestwood Medical Center

Alabama A&M University

The Boeing Company

Jeremiah Knight

Rich Marsden

Janice Migliore

Jim Owens

George Prueitt, Ph.D.

Tom Ray

JXC Consulting Group

Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C.

PALCO Telecom Service, Inc.

First Bank Mortgage Partners

Wyle CAS Group

Consultant

Jim Rogers

Alicia Ryan

Dr. Gurmej Sandhu

Charlie Sealy

Andrew Shambarger

Crystal Shell

E.J. Sinclair

Lockheed Martin Corporation

LSINC, LLC

Sigmatech, Inc.

Sealy Management Company

BB&T

WILL Technology, Inc.

Science & Engineering Services, LLC

Dr. Ashok Singhal

Todd Slyman

Mike Stanfield

Cynthia Streams

Nilmini Thompson

CFD Research Corporation

Village of Providence

Ducommun

Dominoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizza (Valley Pizza, Inc.)

SPS, Inc. Initiatives April 2014

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Boeing Lands Research Center in Huntsville Boeing Research & Technology realigns for growth and productivity in five states Boeing announced on Dec. 12 that it would establish Research & Technology Centers in five cities where it is already doing business – including Huntsville – as it continues to lay the foundation for increased competitiveness and future growth. An anticipated 300 to 400 jobs in simulation and decision analytics will be created in Huntsville as a result. The company will restructure its Boeing Research & Technology organization – the company’s central research-anddevelopment unit – through the establishment of research centers in Huntsville; southern California; St. Louis, Mo.; North Charleston, S.C.; and Seattle. The new centers will operate independently but cooperatively with one another and with Boeing technology centers in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Spain and Russia. The international centers conduct research to benefit the environment, aviation safety, air traffic management and other areas. “We are reorganizing and realigning our research-andtechnology operations to better meet the needs of our Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security business units, as well as our government R&D customers,” said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Research & Technology. “Our customers have a common need for new technology that can be integrated quickly and efficiently into current products and production lines, as well as enable new marketleading products and services. With these changes, we are

enhancing our ability to provide effective, efficient and innovative technology solutions.” Says Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle: “This represents another new area of technological depth in Huntsville and is further validation of Boeing’s continued investment in our city. The program reaffirms our dedication to the STEM disciplines we teach in our schools that will prepare students for the future workforce.” “This announcement shows that Boeing understands this is a great place to do business and that we stand ready to support any new program or mission that they choose to locate in our community,” said Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong. “Boeing has a rich history in our community solving some of the most difficult technical challenges our nation has ever faced.” Earlier this year, Boeing announced the geographic diversification of its Information Technology organization, as well as engineering design centers within Boeing Commercial Airplanes. BR&T’s realignment continues the company’s strategy of pursuing future growth and competitiveness while consistently delivering on the company’s promises to its customers. The new research centers will consolidate technology development of strategic importance to Boeing over the long-term –

up to 30 years into the future. They will be chartered to accelerate technical capability in specific fields, and enhance and build networks of collaboration with university, industry and government research centers around the world. The new locations and centers are: • Huntsville: Simulation and Decision Analytics • Southern California: Metals and Chemical Technology; Flight Sciences; Electronics and Networked Systems; Structures • St. Louis: Systems Technology; Digital Aviation and Support Technology; Metallics and Fabrication Development • North Charleston, S.C.: Manufacturing Technology • Seattle: Manufacturing Technology Integration. The unit will continue to provide manufacturing technology integration support at Boeing business unit production sites in Washington state, as well as Arizona, California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing Research & Technology collaborates with customers, suppliers, universities and R&D agencies throughout the world to provide a broad base of innovative and affordable technologies for Boeing’s business units. •

GATR Answers the Call for Communications Help in the Philippines When asked to help with emergency communications in the Philippines following the deadly typhoon there in November, GATR Technologies said yes. GATR and customers Global DIRT and emergency.lu, along with Cisco® Tactical Operations (TACOPS) and Intelsat General, contributed GATR inflatable ground-based satellite terminals, networking equipment, satellite bandwidth, and support for recovery efforts in the Philippines. High-bandwidth communications are vital in coordinating efforts of this magnitude, especially when the communications infrastructure has been destroyed. Seven GATR inflatable systems were deployed in the Philippines to support the recovery efforts. GATR sent two systems to support Cisco TACOPS (a mobile team that quickly deploys to support emergencies that affect communications), and customers Global DIRT and emergency.lu also deployed their GATR systems. Together these were among the first high-bandwidth satellite communications terminals deployed in key areas. GATR sent an operator to assist in the deployment of the two GATRsupplied systems, and also facilitated a donation of satellite 12

April 2014 Initiatives

bandwidth from Intelsat General to support the effort. “GATR is proud to help and thanks our customers, industry teams, and volunteers lending support for this effort,” said GATR President Paul Gierow. “It is part of GATR’s mission to share in our success. GATR has contributed communications and support for relief efforts following storms Katrina, Ike and Sandy; tornado outbreaks in Alabama and Oklahoma; as well as the Haiti earthquake and several medical missions.” The key innovation of GATR’s antenna is its flexible parabolic dish mounted within an inflatable sphere, reducing weight and packaged volume by as much as 80 percent and thereby improving the agility of disaster response personnel. The GATR can dramatically cut transportation expenses due to the ability to pack a 2.4m satellite terminal into as few as two cases (weighing less than 99 lbs. each). Finally, the larger dish size enables more efficient use of satellite bandwidth capacity, increasing bandwidth for users and allowing more users to communicate simultaneously. GATR has fielded over 300 terminals since 2008, proving the technology’s strength and reliability. •

~ continued on page 14

Stay

PRODUCTIVE . Feel refreshed. AMENITIES

L-R: Gov. Robert Bentley, Chamber Board Chair Robert Mayes, Rod Rice and Jody Markopoulos of GE Intelligent Platforms, Alabama Dept. of Commerce’s Greg Canfield, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison Co. Commission Chairman Dale Strong

GE Intelligent Platforms Expands Huntsville Operations Gov. Robert Bentley was in attendance when GE Intelligent Platforms announced the expansion of its facility in Huntsville with the formal opening of a new building on Jan. 23. At least 50 new jobs will come to Huntsville as part of the expansion. Huntsville is a key location for GE Intelligent Platforms, serving the defense and aerospace industries as well as multiple industrial markets. Also attending and speaking were Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield and Jody Markopoulos, President/ CEO of GE Intelligent Platforms. The new building creates a Center of Excellence that will be at the heart of GE Intelligent Platforms’ growing systems business, which sees GE delivering the value that is increasingly required by demanding prime contractors, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers in defense and other industrial industries as those organizations look to focus on their core competencies. “In the current economic climate, our customers are looking hard at their business model,” said Markopoulos. “They’re looking to eliminate risk, to minimize cost, to shorten time-tomarket. Increasingly, they’re turning to GE to provide subsystems rather than board-level products – solutions rather than piece parts. This new Center of Excellence in Huntsville allows us to be even more responsive to our customers’ needs.” In his remarks, Gov. Bentley referenced a $75 million expansion of GE Aviation in Auburn.

“GE certainly does have a large footprint in Alabama,” Bentley said. “… The cooperation we see between local officials, our economic development teams, the state and all of us working together makes a difference.” Bentley also said that it is a “compliment” for existing industries to expand locally, “and we need to thank them for that.” GE’s Huntsville facility is home to 235 employees, including engineering, manufacturing and administrative functions. The expansion allows for consolidation of operations into a single facility housing the designers and developers of GE’s high performance, rugged integrated systems in the same building in which those systems are manufactured and built. Housed in the new building are advanced capabilities for extended testing and analysis of the effects of vibration as well as for examining and implementing innovative cooling technologies. GE is an experienced developer of rugged embedded computing solutions in the defense industry, which requires computing that can withstand the rigors of deployment in environments that are subject to extremes of shock, vibration and temperature as well as the ingress of water and contaminants. Construction of the new facility – which includes a number of innovative technologies, such as GE’s LED lighting, that are designed to make the building more environmentally friendly began last March, and first systems shipments took place at the end of the year. •

• 170 guest rooms and suites • Free Be Our Guest Breakfast • Free high-speed Internet access • Business Center • Free Freshly Baked Cookies • Club CarlsonSM Hotel Rewards Program • Shuttle Service • Fitness Center • Pet Friendly • Meeting Room • Guest Laundry on-site

AREA ATTRACTIONS

US Space & Rocket Center HSV Botanical Gardens Madison Square Mall Parkway Place Mall Bridge Street Town Centre The Early Works Museum Sci-Quest Huntsville Museum of Art

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson 4880 University Drive • Huntsville, AL 35816 +1(256)837-4070 • countryinns.com/huntsvilleal_west AL-06058322-01

Initiatives April 2014

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 13

CFD Research Corporation Relocates in New HudsonAlpha Building

CMR Ships World’s First Magnetic Printer Correlated Magnetics Research has shipped the first magnetizing printer for permanent magnet materials and the first software catalog of advanced magnetic functions. The CMR MagPrinter is a production magnetization system that “prints” arrays of magnets onto a single piece of magnetic material to produce a Polymagnet – a patterned magnet tailored to perform novel magnetic functions. The MagPrinter software comes with the CMR Polymagnet Catalog that contains hundreds of magnet functions that designers can integrate into consumer and industrial products. Polymagnets are a new type of integrated magnetic system that deliver stronger local forces and exhibit unique behaviors such as precision auto-alignment, high torque transfer and even magnetic effects that reverse forces based on separation distance. Rather than one north pole and one south pole, a Polymagnet contains tens or even hundreds of smaller magnet regions, called maxels, arranged in special patterns of north and south poles. Each maxel pattern produces a unique magnetic behavior when the Polymagnet is brought near metal or other Polymagnets. “With CMR’s unique technology, magnets can now be described in software for strength, reach and function, in contrast to conventional magnets which are fixed by size and strength of material,” said Andy Keane, president and CEO of Correlated Magnetics Research. When used for attachment, the magnetic field of a Polymagnet is concentrated closer to the surface, which not only increases the attachment strength more than five times that of a conventional magnet, but also reduces the risk of accidental attraction of surrounding metal or other magnets. With more sophisticated patterns, Polymagnets can hover, align with very high precision at prescribed positions and change from repel to attract at a programmed distance. •

CFD Research Corporation is the first company to locate in the new 88,000-square-foot Building 3 at the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology. CFDRC was an original tenant at HudsonAlpha when it opened in 2008. “Our new facilities are evidence that we have embarked on a new path of innovation and applications by broadening our aerospace base with biomedical, energy and materials,” said President Joseph M. Cosumano Jr., a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general. “We call this quest CFDRC version 2.0.” When CFDRC expanded at HudsonAlpha five years ago, there were only nine employees working there. Over the years, the number of workers has grown to 22, sparking the need for an expansion. CFDRC recently won three Small Business Innovative Research Phase I awards from the Missile Defense Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. The woman-owned small business founded in 1987 was also awarded a $750,000 Air Force research contract to further develop its patented paper-based Bio-Battery technology. CFDRC develops and commercializes cutting-edge technologies for aerospace, biomedical, energy and other markets. It has a 26-year legacy of successfully serving US federal agencies and global industry. CFDRC’s initial focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics produced a suite of software products which achieved worldwide use. Cosumano was Commanding General of Space and Missile Defense Command until 2004 and since then has worked in senior executive positions in industry. His leadership is accelerating applications and transitions of CFDRC technologies for national programs. This change has also allowed CFDRC’s co-founder, Dr. Ashok Singhal, to focus on out-licensing of selected technologies and formation of new companies/joint ventures. •

Cummings Aerospace to Expand in Cummings Research Park Cummings Aerospace has signed a contract to buy 10 acres on Mark C. Smith Drive in Cummings Research Park for $650,000 for new corporate headquarters, which has been approved by the Huntsville City Council. The city – which owns the research park – also approved spending up to $50,000 to run utilities to the building site and construct an access road. President and CEO Sheila Cummings said the company plans to develop a four-building campus over time with room for as many as 380 employees. Currently, the company has 44 employees in Huntsville, and it also has offices in Florida. For the past four years, Cummings 14

April 2014 Initiatives

Aerospace has operated in leased space behind Madison Square Mall. Cummings hopes to complete the land purchase by the year’s end and start building in the spring. Matheny Goldmon Architects of Huntsville is designing the campus.

Tactical and ballistic missile system engineering is Cummings Aerospace’s primary field now, but Sheila Cummings said she is pushing to diversify into other areas. The new campus will include space for hardware and software prototyping, she said. •

~ continued on page 17

Schwarze Industries Opens Sweeper Training Academy Schwarze Industries cut the ribbon on its new Schwarze Training Academy in response to increased demand for more hands on training and as part of their ongoing initiative to further strengthen customer satisfaction. The 7,000-square-foot academy is located across from the company’s manufacturing plant on Jordan Road and is expected to be one of the most advanced sweeper training facilities in the industry. The company says the sophisticated engineering and implementation of new innovations in today’s Schwarze sweepers and patcher products require technicians to have a strong technical background and the ability to acquire new expertise on a continuing basis. Greg Heyer, vice president of sales, marketing, customer service and product management for Schwarze Industries, said the facility opened in October and held its first training session last month. “This (facility) allows customers to use all of their senses,” he said. “Instead of just looking at something, you’re touching it, feeling it, trying it. That way, what they’re learning actually stays with them and allows them to take care of things in the field by themselves.” After the ribbon cutting, Heyer noted that Schwarze’s investment in the Training Academy was “in the six-figure area.” The facility offers advanced training in several areas, such as electrical and control system diagnosis, noise, vibration, harshness diagnosis and repair. After nearly 40 years in the street sweeping industry, Schwarze provides a comprehensive sweeper line, including models for parking area cleaning, industrial sweeping, mall and shopping center sweeping, airport runway sweeping, street sweeping, milling cleanup, storm water runoff management, as well as a complete line of velocity pothole patchers.

Dignitaries cut the ribbon on Schwarze Training Academy. “Street sweepers are a vital industry, but it’s also an industry that’s kept Huntsville’s economy going year after year,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “For as long as I’ve been in Huntsville, I can remember Schwarze Industries providing jobs, providing for our economy and providing a great economic base for us.” The company, which was acquired by Alamo Group in 2000, is headquartered in Huntsville but operates a second location in Australia. Schwarze employs a combined 150 workers at both sites. •

Initiatives April 2014

April 2014 Initiatives

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 15

~ continued on page 31

Analytical Services Gets New Work, New Faces, New Name Huntsville-based ASRC Federal Analytical Services – a key part of the ASRC Federal Information and Technical Solutions operating group – has implemented a new growth strategy with renewed investment in the Huntsville market with both a rebranding campaign and new strategic hires. The renewed investment started with the successful bid and award to ASRC Federal ASI for the $450 million Missile Defense Agency Data Center contract. The win keeps over 100 jobs with a Huntsville based company and positions ASRC Federal ASI for further growth and expansion in the market. Under the contract, ASRC Federal ASI provides comprehensive test product data management services across MDA in support of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Recently, ASRC Federal ASI embarked on a new unified identity initiative to reinforce ASI’s commitment to the Huntsville market while providing customers access to the extensive resources of the larger parent organization, ASRC Federal. To further strengthen ASRC Federal ASI’s position, the company added two Huntsville natives to the ASRC Federal ITS team. William R. “RJ” Humphries Jr. and Donna Klecka are both based out of ASRC Federal’s Voyager Way office and will provide executive oversight for ASRC Federal ITS Huntsville operations. Humphries, serving as vice president, brings 31 years’ experience in the space and defense communities. He most recently served as CIO at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Throughout his career, Humphries has managed and directed a variety of spaceflight and information technology projects and programs, including managing the solid rocket booster project at Kennedy Space Center and leading exploration and space operations at Marshall Space Flight Center. For his work, Humphries has been recognized with numerous awards, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and the astronaut-awarded Silver Snoopy. Klecka, serving as senior director of operations and a proud Alabama graduate, brings more than 22 years’ experience in the information technology industry. She most recently held the position of director of High Performance Computing Center of Excellence at CSC. Klecka’s extensive federal program management experience and technical background provide the foundation for operational excellence, ensuring ASRC Federal ITS customers receive cost-effective, innovative solutions to support their missions. •

Deloitte officials and local leaders commemorate the company’s expansion into Huntsville.

Deloitte Opens Office in Perimeter Park Deloitte, a consulting firm that provides organizational transformation and efficiency services, has opened a Huntsville office. Deloitte’s new Huntsville office will utilize the firm’s capability as one of the largest cyber security practitioners in the world to complement the city’s booming technology sector and its commitment to cyber excellence. Deloitte will collaborate with small and mid-sized businesses through initiatives such as Cyber Huntsville to grow the area’s market position as a leading cyber research and development center. In addition, Deloitte’s Huntsville office will feature deep expertise in organizational transformation/efficiency and cost takeout, bringing these services to bear for federal/defense, local and state businesses. “The fact is cyber security impacts everything,” said Carey Miller, Deloitte & Touche LLP director, cyber specialist and Huntsville office partner. “If you don’t have your human capital, if you don’t have your human resources business in order from a cyber security perspective, then the insider threat that

we’ve seen from Snowden and Wikileaks becomes another issue.” Miller serves as the on-the-ground senior business leader and key relationship manager for all current and future small business partners in Huntsville and Madison County. Leading market development and managing the entire business pipeline for the region, Miller is currently implementing a recruiting plan for the Huntsville office to capitalize on the capabilities of the local workforce and leverage experienced resources from other areas. Retired four-star U.S. Air Force General Charles Wald, a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours and 430 combat hours, leads Deloitte’s strategy and relationships efforts with the U.S. Department of Defense. Deloitte, which posted $32.4 billion in revenues for fiscal 2013, has 200,000 professionals at member firms specializing in tax, audit, financial advisory and consulting services in more than 150 countries. •

Initiatives April 2014

Setting

Cover story art provided by Remington Outdoor Company

How to get a job or do business with Remington • For individuals seeking employment: Remington is working with its partner AIDT (Alabama Industrial Development Training) on all individual career opportunities in Huntsville. Further details will be provided through AIDT in the coming weeks and months. Any individual seeking additional employment information with Remington should go to aidt.edu/jobs. Job openings will also be posted on the corporate website, remington.com • For contractors and suppliers offering start-up activities associated with the project: Remington has selected Burns & McDonnell to design and manage this project. Contractors and suppliers that would like to be considered for work should contact Keith Royston at kroyston@burnsmcd.com. The first step in the process will be registering on the Burns & McDonnell website to become a contractor/supplier: burnsmcd.com/Company/Supplier-Subcontractor-Registry • For contractors and suppliers offering ongoing/long-term services: Please contact Brad Cook for indirect work, brad.cook@remington.com, and Bob Skinner for direct work, robert.skinner@remington.com 18

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wo months after Remington Outdoor Company announced it was establishing a manufacturing facility in Huntsville, it posted openings on its website for the first 20 of an eventual 2,000 jobs. In no time, thousands of online applications were submitted. Thousands. The interest the Tennessee Valley is showing in Remington (or ROC) is unprecedented, likely because all sorts of skill levels and education requirements will be sought, from line supervisors to engineers to analysts to technicians to custodial staff. When making the announcement in Huntsville on Feb. 17, Gov. Robert Bentley said the area’s workforce and business climate were leading factors in the country’s oldest firearms manufacturer’s decision to expand in Huntsville. Remington selected Alabama over two dozen other states after a thorough site-selection process. Remington Chairman and CEO George Kollitides said the Huntsville facility will help the company meet record customer demand and support the launch of new products. He said the choice turned out to be an easy one. “Huntsville won hands down,” Kollitides said. It was through cooperation of the Tennessee Valley – as well as state officials in Montgomery – that the deal came together. “Your state motto says it all,” Kollitides added. “...We Dare Defend Our Rights.”

The Need to Expand In 2013, Remington made significant strides, including an expansion of its ammunition facility, firearm capacity growth, winning a multitude of highly competitive military and law enforcement contracts, launching its 1816 clothing line, and introducing a series of new products such as Ultimate Defense Handgun Ammunition and the 783 bolt action rifle.

A message from State Sen. Arthur Orr

their

Sights

Remington Outdoor Company to begin production in Huntsville mid-2015 “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,” Kollitides said. Remington already had manufacturing facilities in New York, Kentucky and Arkansas, but its growing line of products necessitated more space. Company officials found that space in the former Chrysler building at the Port of Huntsville, which includes an intermodal center with rail service from Norfolk Southern as well as ample runway space at the Huntsville International Airport. As an incentive to bring 2,000 jobs to North Alabama, the City of Huntsville and the Madison County Commission negotiated to buy the 145-acre site for $10.5 million; the $1.25 million annual mortgage payment will be waived, as long as the company moves forward with employment plans. Huntsville contributed $9.5 million and Madison County put in $3 million. Equipment purchases will be made with the overages. Limestone and Morgan Counties, City of Athens, and Limestone County Economic Development Association are contributing $2 million for employment incentives. The Tennessee Valley Authority – which supplies energy to the area – is another contributor and played an important role with rate programs and other offerings. “TVA is proud to be a partner on the Remington project win, which has a huge jobs impact in Alabama,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development. The State of Alabama is contributing more than $38 million to help retrofit and equip the 843,000-square-foot facility. Additionally, the state has pledged long-term continued on page 20

n the weeks and months that follow the major Remington announcement, many will study the recruitment process to determine what made it a success. This “win” is the latest in a long string of economic development projects in North Alabama. The jobs created, both direct and indirect, along with the ripple effect throughout our economy, should impact North Alabama in the near future and for generations to come. In addition to the near-term and long-term economic benefits Remington will bring to our area, perhaps as significant and historic was the unprecedented partnership among Madison, Morgan and Limestone Counties, and the cities of Athens and Huntsville. There is no doubt that Huntsville and Madison County took the lead, but for the first time ever, Morgan and Limestone Counties committed millions of dollars to an economic development project outside their borders to ensure this project came to North Alabama – because it will undoubtedly benefit everyone in our region. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that a cord of three strands is not easily broken. I think this wisdom applies here. Economic development prospects often look to the responsiveness of county and municipal governments during the site selection process, in addition to that of the state. This partnership between Madison, Morgan and Limestone Counties, and the cities of Athens and Huntsville not only strengthens our North Alabama region, but it builds a solid foundation for future growth and prosperity through cooperation on projects that will benefit our entire region. The three counties’ success in recruiting Remington to North Alabama is proof positive of the benefit to our region of functioning as one and seeing each other as partners, not competitors, in economic development projects that will benefit our entire region. The Remington announcement will result in 2,000 new jobs to our area and an $87 million impact on our economy, indicating that our state and region are poised for continued economic growth. It shows that there is strength in numbers, as the writer of Ecclesiastes told us long ago. • Initiatives April 2014

Setting their Sights, continued from page 19 – workforce recruitment and training valued at nearly $16 million. Huntsville’s Industrial Development Board will provide incentive payments to Remington of $500,000 each time the company hits a key employment milestone – 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 jobs created in the Huntsville facility. At full employment, Remington will become Madison County’s third largest private employer. Local counties and municipalities participated in this project recognizing that employ-

ees will be drawn from across the Tennessee Valley. “Not everybody wants to be an engineer or be in a technical field,” Chamber President and CEO Chip Cherry said. “We think this is a great opportunity to grow that segment of the economy that employs skilled and semiskilled employees with a company that has a very rich history and makes a quality product.” While the incentives to attract Remington to Huntsville were generous (nearly $69 million over the course of the company’s ramp up), the tax base will increase to more than cover it. Cherry said a low-end estimate on the return

on investment is $87 million. And based on an industry-standard multiplier of 1.852, another 3,460 job will be created in service and retail sectors.

Production Timeline Retrofitting an automobile parts manufacturing facility to accommodate the needs of a firearm and ammunition company will take time, but the company has been working with local officials to ensure a quick ramp up. Remington estimates production in Huntsville will begin by mid-2015. The company projects that by the end of 2015, at least 280 full-time workers will be employed at its Huntsville facility, earning a minimum average hourly wage of $19.50, which translates to $40,560 a year, plus regular incremental raises. The employment plan it has provided shows a rapidly increasing workforce: 680 workers in 2016; 1,018 in 2017; 1,258 in 2018; 1,498 in 2019; 1,698 in 2020; and 1,868 in 2021. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said this employment plan is another example, “of Huntsville fulfilling its economic development promise. Our workforce is among the best and brightest in the nation, and they deserve challenging career opportunities, along with the high quality of life Huntsville provides. We are thrilled to welcome Remington to our city and region.” Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong said: “Our pro-business environment, along with the region’s extensive manufacturing experience, helped us outmaneuver two dozen other states looking to attract Remington. This announcement represents new diversity to our local economy.”

Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship When making the announcement of Remington’s expansion into Huntsville, Gov. Robert Bentley welcomed the corporate officials present and said they had made a wise choice. He’s also asking residents to sign an online letter to Remington in which he thanks ROC for selecting Alabama. “Twenty-four states recruited your top-notch company to their state. I know many of them jumped through many hoops in hopes that Remington Outdoor Company would move to their state. “But you chose Alabama. I know I speak on behalf of Alabamians across the state when I say thank you. This is the beginning of a long and prosperous partnership and we couldn’t be more proud to welcome you to Sweet Home Alabama.” • Patricia McCarter 20

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2014 State of the Schools Second annual event delivered to capacity crowd at Jackson Center

he superintendents of the Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County schools shared with a sold-out crowd at the Jackson Center updates of what’s happening in their districts. Also, State Board of Education representative Mary Scott Hunter of Huntsville saying that three of the state’s top five high schools for producing college-bound seniors were from Bob Jones (Madison City), Sparkman (Madison County) and Grissom (Huntsville City). She commended Madison County Superintendent David Copeland for increasing his district’s graduation rate by 10 percent (up to 86 percent); Madison City Superintendent Dee Fowler for being named presidentelect of the Alabama Superintendents Association; and Huntsville City Superintendent Casey Wardynski for “winning the first prize for innovation.” Wardynski is currently promoting a rezoning proposal created with the goal of the Department of Justice lifting a 1970 desegregation order. Per Wardynski’s outline, the plan includes a new Grissom High School, a new Whitesburg P-8 school, a new Huntsville High School ninth grade academy, a new elementary school to be named after Huntsville civil rights pioneer Sonnie Hereford, the relocation of the Academy for Academics and Arts and Jemison High and McNair Middle schools set to share campus space off Pulaski Pike. Butler High School and McDonnell Elementary will close under the new plan. Fowler told the crowd that the Madison City School District is much more diverse – economically and ethnically – than most people recognize, with one-third of its students living in poverty situations. And

because of that the district has purchased a building it is converting into a pre-K center. Also, 57 languages are spoken in the homes of Madison City students. Even with those challenges, Madison has a 97 percent graduation rate and one-half of its graduates receive college scholarships. Because of its geographic size, Copeland said Madison County school buses carrying 11,000 students collectively travel 10,000 miles a day, making safety the top concern of the district. To tackle that challenge, Co-

peland said staggered start times are being considered. He said the county system cannot afford to purchase a laptop or tablet computer for all of its students, but it is encouraging Bring Your Own Device – or BYOD – programs in the schools. He said the district is also in the planning stages of a new high school in Monrovia, a new intermediate school in the Hazel Green area and additions to Harvest and Madison County elementary schools. • Patricia McCarter

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A wards &

A ccolades

~ compiled by Patricia McCarter

Cepeda, GaN, PPT Win National Blue Ribbon Awards from U.S. Chamber The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced on Feb. 19 that three local companies were winners in the annual Blue Ribbon Small Business Awards, a program that recognizes companies for their dedication to the principles of free enterprise and contributions to restoring jobs and supporting economic growth. Local winners were Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis Inc. of Madison, GaN (Geeks and Nerds) of Huntsville, and PPT Solutions of Huntsville.

This year’s winners were selected from a “record number of applicants across the nation, and each demonstrates exceptional business practices in areas including strategic planning, employee development, community involvement, and customer service,” said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce media release. “As the business community has worked hard to do its part in moving the country forward economically, small businesses have continued to be the driving force responsible for much of our progress,” U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said. “Our Blue Ribbon Award winners are the best of the best – growing and succeeding despite significant challenges.” “We are very honored to receive this award,” PPT CEO and President Jim Reeb said. “We know there was significant competition for this award from many outstanding companies. We would like to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce for all they do to help promote growth within and across communities.” “CSSA’s holistic approach to our business is to glorify God through excellence in engineering and process improvement, to serve our customers well, and to nurture our caring employee culture through outreach to the greater Huntsville/Madison County area and across the globe,” said CEO Sandra Cepeda. “This award is an indication that our approach is working!” “I am humbled by the support of our customers, U.S. Small Business Administration, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, and, most of all, our employees who work hard to make us better each day. Without them, we would not be the company it is 22

April 2014 Initiatives

today. I am so grateful,” GaN President/CEO Jonn Kim said. GaN also won this award last year. The U.S. Chamber will announce seven regional finalists on March 19 and honor all of this year’s Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners at the 10th annual America’s Small Business Summit, taking place June 11-13 in Washington, D.C. During the summit, one regional finalist will receive the DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Sam’s Club®, and a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the U.S. Chamber. All Blue Ribbon winners are also eligible for the Community Excellence Award, which will be decided through online public voting February 19-28. “The Chamber is proud to honor these outstanding small businesses for their contributions to the country’s economic recovery and continued hard work in their communities,” Donohue continued. “They represent the creativity, the determination, and the resilience of the U.S. business community and are examples of the enormous potential of businesses and employees across the country.”

Aladdin and PESA Win Governor’s Awards Gov. Robert Bentley honored eight Alabama companies – including two from Huntsville - on March 6 for success in exporting goods ranging from advanced audio/video equipment and aviation sensing devices to giant steel pressure vessels and waterworks system products. Local winners were Aladdin Light Lift Inc. and PESA Switching Systems Inc. The companies, which reflect a mix of different industries from across the state, each received a Governor’s Trade Excellence Award at a ceremony at the State Capitol. The program was established in 2005 to recognize Alabama manufacturers and service companies for expanding their business activities on the global stage. Aladdin Light Lift Inc.: This Huntsville company, which produces a motorized winch system to raise and lower chandeliers or decorative lighting from high ceilings, now exports to 11 countries. One of the company’s most notable projects has been the Sheikh Abdullah Palace in Dohar, Qatar, where eight Aladdin light lifts were installed. continued on page 24

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Awards & Accolades, continued from page 23 – PESA Switching Systems Inc.: PESA’s advanced audio/video digital routing switcher products are made in Alabama and sold around the world. Clients include international broadcasters, NASA, the Defense Department and Fortune 500 companies. PESA equipment has been used to support space launches, the Weather Channel and broadcasts of sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the Olympics. “Alabama products are among the best in the country, and the companies recognized show how successful Alabama products are reaching the global marketplace,” Gov. Bentley said. “In 2013 Alabama exports total $19.3 billion, which represents a 57 percent increase since 2009. The Export Alabama Alliance is connecting Alabama companies with exciting new opportunities, and that’s good business for this state.”

U.S. Space and Rocket Center No. 1 in Alabama’s Visitor Attractions Alabama’s Tourism Department made it official; the U.S. Space & Rocket Center was visited by more people than any other paid destination in Alabama in 2013. The center recorded more than 580,000 visitors. “This honor speaks volumes about our heritage and our future, and it recognizes the importance of Huntsville to our state and our nation,” stated Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Barnhart added, “The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is one of the top NASA Visitor Centers and the only science center that is a number one tourist attraction in its state.” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, “We are thrilled the Space & Rocket Center is back on top as Alabama’s Number One Tourist destination. This is great news for the Center and for all of North Alabama. It’s also great economic news as we continue to grow our region and prove that Huntsville is a superb destination for everyone to visit.”

The newest traveling exhibit, Raise the Roof, was designed and managed by the Science Museum of Minnesota. In the photo above, visitors can raise a domed roof overhead and then safely let it collapse around them using simple machines. The Alabama Tourism ranking listed Space & Rocket Center first, April 2014 Initiatives

followed by the Birmingham Zoo with 574,000 visitors. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail came in third with 531,000 visitors. The Huntsville Botanical Garden had 225,000 visitors, and EarlyWorks Museums in Huntsville had 189,500.

Dynetics’ King Named AIAA Fellow The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has named Dynetics President David A. King an AIAA Fellow. The distinction of Fellow is conferred upon those members of the Institute who have made notable and valuable contributions to the arts, sciences or technology of aeronautics or astronautics. “The title of AIAA Fellow is among the highest honors that one can earn in the aerospace community. It represents the acknowledgement of peers that one’s work is truly outstanding, and that you have made lasting contributions to significantly advancing the state-of-theart of aerospace science and technology,” said AIAA President Mike Griffin. “This year’s selection committee has done an outstanding job of identifying those who meet these standards. I congratulate each member of this year’s class of Fellows.” In 1933, Orville Wright became AIAA’s first Honorary Fellow. Today, AIAA Honorary Fellows and AIAA Fellows are the most respected names in the King aerospace industry. AIAA is the largest aerospace professional society in the world, serving a diverse range of more than 35,000 individual members from 80 countries, and 100 corporate members. AIAA members help make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous.

Quad A Honors Efforts in Supporting Aviation The Prototype Integration Facility at the Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center was recognized in February at the 40th annual Joseph P. Cribbins Aviation Product Symposium for accelerating the Army’s widespread adoption of composites in aviation systems. The PIF’s Advanced Composites Lab received the Materiel Readiness Award for a Contribution by an Industry Team, Group or Special Unit. The 2013 award was presented by the Army Aviation Association of America at the Cribbins symposium’s awards luncheon. “There is no higher validation for one’s efforts than an award such as this,” said Greg Mellema who, along with Kimberly Cockrell, received the award on behalf of the civilian and contractor employees who work at the PIF’s Advanced Composites Lab. During 2013, the Advanced Composites Lab developed and fielded composite repair procedures for the UH-60M and the AH-64E composite stabilizers. Also during the year, PIF employees trained more than 100 soldiers and many more civilians in these repair processes as well as general advanced composite fundamentals, all applicable to most composite structures in the Army. Other local awardees at the awards ceremony included: • General Dynamics C4 Systems, recipient of the Materiel Readiness Award for Contribution by a Major Contractor – General Dynamic’s Tactical Airspace Integration System performance-based lo-

gistics team has provided unparalleled assistance to TAIS users in 37 states and seven foreign countries. The team has maintained a greater than 99 percent contracted operation readiness of the TAIS fleet, increasing reliability, maintainability and system operational availability to the soldier. • Gary Simmons of L-3 Vertex, recipient of the Materiel Readiness Award for a Contribution by an Individual Member of Industry – As the regional manager for the Contractor Logistics Support of Army fixed wing aircraft deployed to Southwest Asia, Simmons has the overall responsibility for fixed wing aircraft sustainment in support of critical combat mission in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Africa. The Fixed Wing Project Office, PEO Aviation, relies on Simmons to ensure the aircraft are maintained to the highest standard and can be safely operated in an austere environment.

NASA Ranked Best Government Employer For the second year in a row, NASA has been named by the Partnership for Public Service as the Best Place to Work in Government. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said the honor “is a testament to the excellence of our workforce and their determination to maintain America’s leadership in space exploration.” “In a year of budget uncertainty and a government shutdown, NASA employees never missed a beat,” Bolden said. “In the tradition of the ’can do’ spirit that has enabled us for more than 50 years to turn science Bolden fiction into science fact, they have consistently rolled up their sleeves and worked hard at achieving our major goals which include leading the expansion of a domestic commercial space industry for low-Earth orbit transportation, and developing a heavy lift launch capability to take humans farther than they have ever explored – to an asteroid in the next decade and to Mars by the 2030s.” He added that NASA employees are focused on continuing the ambitious programs of aeronautics modernization, technological innovation and scientific and planetary exploration to achieve new breakthroughs in space and to bring critical benefits to Earth.

Chamber’s Top Volunteers Recognized At the Annual Membership Meeting, Outgoing Board Chair Ron Poteat commended some of the Chamber’s most prolific volunteers. He commended the Ambassador and Emissary groups as a whole for representing the Chamber at groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings, as well as forging relationships with new Members. He then recognized Greg Glass of The GO Consulting Company as the Emissary of the Year and Tabitha Ivey with RSVP North Alabama as Ambassador of the Year. (pictured L-R) A new award was named in honor of “probably the most prolific Chamber volunteer in the history of the world,” Poteat said, referring to the Tom Ray Volunteer Award. Winning that inaugural award was Joe Knoch of AirEssentials Inc. To learn how you can become an Emissary or Ambassador, contact Membership Retention Manager Donna McCrary at dmccary@ hsvchamber.org.

BBB Announces Local Torch Awards The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama hosted its 16th Annual Torch Awards celebration to announce the winners and finalists of its Torch Award for Ethics. It also recognized five North Alabama “Students of Integrity” who were selected to receive this years’ Torch Scholarships. GaN Corporation, a Huntsville based company and Nucor Steel – Decatur served as the event’s Presenting Sponsors. Both companies were winners of the 2011 Torch Award for Ethics. BBB awarded the 2013 Torch Award for Ethics to: LEAN Frog Business Solutions, Inc. in the Small Business Category (1 to 25 employees); AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists in the MidSize Company Category (26-99 employees); BP Amoco Chemical Company - Decatur Site in the Large Business Category (100+ employees); Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) in the Government Contractor Category and National Children’s Advocacy Center in the Non-Profit Category.

More than 275 companies and non-profit organizations were initially nominated for the Torch Award for Ethics and were given the opportunity to submit information regarding their ethical relationships with customers, employees and vendors. A prestigious panel comprised of representatives of the academic and business community judged the entries from numerous businesses and organizations that accepted their nomination and provided an entry for the award.

Klein, Burruss Officers in Committee of 100 Belzon founder Ron Klein and Kudzu Productions president Charley Burruss have both been named to leadership roles within the Committee of 100 in Huntsville. Klein, a former BizPac chair, was elected to serve as the Committee of 100 chair, while Burruss, who has served two terms on the BizPac board, will become BizPac chair for the 2014-15 year. Klein, a graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County and Leadership Alabama, previously served as Klein president of the Madison Rotary Club. He also founded Leadership Academy, a business management training program. Before taking on the BizPac role for the Committee of 100, Burruss served in several leadership positions, including the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and Huntsville Housing Authority boards. Burruss, who said BizPac identifies, interviews and supports potential candidates for local office, also graduated from Leadership Huntsville/Madison County and Leadership Alabama. Founded in 1995, the Committee of 100 is a business organization composed of 220 chief executive Burruss officers and other professionals who concentrate on economic development and public education in Huntsville. continued on page 26 Initiatives April 2014

Awards & Accolades, continued from page 25 –

Huntsville on Top Techie List Huntsville was the only city in Alabama to make Techie.com’s new Most Promising Tech Hubs of 2014 list. Other U.S. cities featured on the list, which was released Monday, were Atlanta; Burlington, Vt.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Champaign/Urbana, Ill.; Detroit; Kansas City, Mo.; Orlando, Fla.; Minneapolis/St. Paul; and Sioux Falls, S.D. “One of the most important factors in naming our most amazing tech hubs is the presence, or at least the emergence, of a tech and startup culture,” said Dan Blacharski, Techie.com editor-in-chief. “Without the culture, the meetups, and the fun places to go in the city, tech startups just won’t want to come.” Techie.com editors also considered other factors, including the presence of incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces, city and community support and available infrastructure, such as high-speed Internet. A Techie.com article highlighting the top 10 cities lauded Huntsville’s Cumming Research Park, aerospace and military technology companies, and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. “But it’s not all government and academia;

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April 2014 Initiatives

Huntsville is rapidly emerging as one of the best places in the South for small, emerging tech businesses,” Blacharski said. The piece also features quotes from BizTech Chief Executive Officer Gary Tauss and Huntsville entrepreneur and Small Business Meetup Group creator Brandon Kruse. “For a great place to launch a startup, entrepreneurs need look no further than Huntsville,” Blacharski said. “The entrepreneurial scene, and vibrant incubators like Biztech – along with good old fashioned southern hospitality – has made Huntsville one of the greatest laboratories for tech startups in the country.”

UAH Mentoring Award Winner Helps Others as He Was Helped When he received the National Role Model Faculty Mentor Award from Minority Access, Dr. Emanuel Waddell said he sees a steady line of continuity and responsibility that spans high and low points in the campus history of The University of Alabama in Huntsville. “Wilson Hall here on campus is named after Dr. Harold Wilson, who is deceased and was the dean of the College of Science,” said Dr. Waddell, an associate professor of chemistry. “He mentored Waddell Dr. Adriel Johnson, and Adriel mentored me.” Johnson, whose minority outreach efforts were well-known, was one of three faculty members who lost their lives in a 2010 campus shooting. “It was a big honor to be nominated because Adriel Johnson was the last one from UAH who won it,” said Waddell, who accepted the award in Washington D.C. Johnson’s work included working with the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, the Minority Graduate Student Association, minority students who were on track for pre-med careers and one-on-one mentoring with large numbers of graduate and undergraduate students. “We are working at it, but there’s still work to do,” Waddell said of mentoring, citing as his driving influences those who influenced him early in his life. “I can go as far back as to high school, when a professor at North Carolina State named Dr. Richard Felder mentored me. “…It’s starting to grow… Demographic trends indicate that we must do more for minorities.” Mentoring students involves helping them with navigating undergraduate or graduate

school to offering encouragement and support in life decisions. “You’re just an open ear, in terms of my philosophy,” said Dr. Waddell. “I don’t sugarcoat stuff. It’s not supposed to be easy. And when I’m talking with students, I try to be transparent about my personal stories in relating to them, as well.”

Hospitality Association Awards Highest Honors at Pineapple Dinner The Huntsville-Madison County Hospitality Association recognized the outstanding accomplishments of its members at the Huntsville Marriott on Jan. 21. The presentation of the Pineapple and Red Ribbon awards are the hospitality industry’s highest honors. The winning individuals work to enhance the area’s image, promote tourism, are considered role models and are active in the hospitality industry and in the community. The following individuals were presented the prestigious Red Ribbon Award. Hotel Category: Bill Dowling, director of sales/catering, The Westin Huntsville Attraction Category: Charity Stewart, advertising/social media manager, U.S. Space & Rocket Center Affiliate Category: Cindy Isaacs, visitor center manager, Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau The Pineapple Award, an award given for the contributions of a group or individual not employed in the hospitality industry who has had an outstanding impact on the industry, was presented to Bob Stagg. Stagg was a founding board member for the Von Braun Center and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

“Bob’s 45 years of service on the Von Braun Center and Convention & Visitors Bureau’s boards as well as his leadership of numerous committees underscore his commitment to the community,” CVB President/ CEO Judy Ryals said. “He’s served in every board position on the CVB’s board, and we are very grateful for his service.” •

Initiatives April 2014

2014 Annual Membership Meeting Tommy Beason named Chamber’s Distinguished Service Award winner

t its 78th Annual Membership Meeting on Jan. 16, retired accountant Tommy Beason was named the Distinguished Service Award winner, the highest honor that the Chamber gives each year. Outgoing Chamber Board Chair Ron Poteat of Regions Bank presented the honor, referring to Beason – who is the longtime chair of the Chamber Foundation and former board chair and interim CEO – as “the epitome of grace under pressure” to an audience of 1,000 business and community leaders. Beason has also served as the chair of the Huntsville Housing Authority Board of Directors and interim CEO of SciQuest, along with many other philanthropic efforts. Poteat also said that the DSA winner possessed “wisdom, level-headedness and his knack for getting to the crux of a problem and figuring it out.” “Even though he is technically retired, this man has found a way to keep being named ‘president’ of various entities in Huntsville,” Poteat said. “I’ve never known anyone to get more promotions in retirement than during his actual career.” The keynote speaker at the Annual Meeting was author/economist/professor John Doggett, who outlined what he thought would be great industries for a progressive city such as Huntsville to ponder in the future. Among those ideas was providing sustainDoggett able energy by creating the technology to turn sea water into electricity. Poteat reflected on economic development activities of the past year in which the Chamber has been involved in announcing, including: 28

April 2014 Initiatives

Tommy Beason (left) named DSA winner by Ron Poteat • Curse Inc., one of the largest gaming-information companies in the country, moved its headquarters from the San Francisco Bay area to downtown Huntsville. • Wyle’s CAS Group opened its new 120,000-square-foot facility in Cummings Research Park. • Davidson Technologies broke ground on its $3.5 million corporate headquarters, also in CRP. • CFD Research became the first tenant in the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology’s beautiful new building. • The University of Alabama in Huntsville began work on a new $7 million Severe Weather Institute of Research and Lightning Laboratory, which has the appropriate acronym of SWIRLL. • DynCorp and Sierra Nevada established

a Fixed-Wing Aircraft Center of Excellence in Huntsville. • Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama announced it was investing another $150 million in machinery for the Huntsville plant. • Parker Instrumentation unveiled its new Engineering Center of Excellence, which represents a $4 million investment in Chelsea Industrial Park. • Teledyne Brown Engineering won a $120 million services contract for the International Space Station. • The Boeing Company opened its new Huntsville Headquarters at Redstone Gateway in April, and then in November, it announced that up to 400 new research and engineering jobs are moving here. • Patricia McCarter

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS Population

Madison County

City of Huntsville

2010 Census

334,811

180,105

42,938

417,593

2012 Census

343,080

183,076

44,402

430,734

% Growth

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

2.5% 1.6% 3.4% 3.1%

130,791

Avg. Household Income $76,967 Per Capita Income

$30,845

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*

75,912

15,986

162,405

$69,008 $112,273

$74,407

$29,530

$29,550

$40,481

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

Initiatives April 2014

2013 Small Business Award Winner: Technology Category

SPOTLIGHT ON

Cepeda Systems

Cepeda Systems and Software Analysis, Inc. was selected the Small Business of the Year in the Technology Category at the Chamber’s 2013 Small Business Awards. An interview with owner Sandra Cepeda...

A brief history of the Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis, Inc. In 2001, when told I was being transferred to Virginia, I decided to resign my position from another company so I could continue living in Huntsville. After much prayer, I sensed God’s encouragement to begin my own company. When sharing my struggles at a Bible Study, I was asked if I had a name for the new company, to which I answered, “Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis … CSSA.” As the Bible Study class began, the instructor‘s first slide contained four paragraphs – each beginning with a bolded letter: C S S A. This was clear affirmation that I should begin the adventure of forming a new small business. Since starting in 2001 with a zero client base, CSSA has grown to 31 employees, enjoying 12 years of debt-free, successful operation as evidenced by our 100 percent customer satisfaction. Q. What does CSSA do?

Above: Sandra Cepeda receiving her award from Dr. Jonn Kim of GAN, the 2012 Small Business of the Year in the Technology Category. Below: CSSA staff.

A: CSSA provides software engineering, systems engineering, and process improvement services to the Army, NASA and commercial sector customers. Our systems and software engineering services support our country’s war fighters and NASA’s mission to develop the next generation space flight systems. Providing both software development and oversight activities, we ensure that products meet requirements and fulfill operational needs. CSSA’s services span the complete product life cycle and result in lower defects, a higher level of end-user satisfaction, reduced risk, improved communication and project visibility, enhanced operational correctness and better quality products. Our process improvement services enhance customers’ operations through innovative approaches for optimizing processes. We use the world’s leading process improvement models and quality management standards such as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), International Standards Organization (ISO 9001:2008) and Lean/Six Sigma as the basis for our process improvement services. We offer training, consulting, coaching and appraisal services that help customers establish best practices and sustain them over time. The result? Enabling our customers to do more with less, while improving the quality of their products and services, time to market, productivity, customer satisfaction and cost reduction. CSSA’s engineering competency and process improvement expertise converge to provide a natural framework to support innovative and streamlined approaches needed to ensure mission success.

Photos by Lauren Tomasella Photography

Q. What has been the company’s greatest achievement?

April 2014 Initiatives

A: Our greatest achievement is that we are living our mission statement, to honor God and to become our customers’ trusted advisor by delivering best-value services that exceed their expectations and contribute to their success. The “Honor God” in our mission statement is our “why” and “how” we do everything we do as a company. We start with God because He inspires and enables us to serve our employees, customers and partners. Talent and innovation are a necessary and critical part of our paradigm, but becoming our customers’ trusted advisor requires our commitment to their success as we serve them. CSSA’s

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 17 dedication to providing honorable and technically effective services to each customer flows from the top of the company down. Q: What goals do you have for Cepeda Systems for the next five or 10 years? A: CSSA’s primary goal is to continue to glorify God through the services we provide to our customers, the environment we provide for our employees, and the relationships we build with our partners and the community. We focus on adapting our services to align with a changing market as well as leverage our innovation capability to continue to exceed customer expectations. We are working to expand our business base to provide support to additional Department of Defense and commercial customers. As blessed as we have been to serve our current prime contractors, we intend to increase our presence in DoD and NASA as a prime contractor. Finally, I plan for our CSSA Community Outreach Program to continue to grow strong relationships in our community as we collaborate with those we serve to create a better Huntsville and Madison County area. Q: What does it mean to you, both personally and professionally, to receive this award? A: Winning the Small Business of the Year Technology Award in Huntsville, a recognized technology center of excellence, is an amazing testimony to our employees’ dedication, talent and hard work, and it affirms our leadership team’s strategic planning based on our core principles of servant leadership. This award validates the values that Huntsville holds important; we live in a community that not only recognizes outstanding business performance but that also appreciates and encourages community service, compassion and generosity. Above all else, I am grateful God has blessed us with this humbling recognition. While I was clearly called by God to start CSSA, I never imagined the wonderful things He had in store. Q: How has being active in the Chamber helped you? A: The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce is, without a doubt, one of the most active in the country. The networking opportunities that the Chamber provides are second to none. Through the many events the Chamber offers its members, I have been able to build relationships with other company owners who share CSSA’s values and goals. The Chamber helps us get more visibility in the community and provides effective tools for recruiting and marketing. •

~ continued on page 32

Raytheon Unveils New Capabilities on Redstone Arsenal

Raytheon is adding to its capabilities on Redstone Arsenal. At a March 4 announcement, Raytheon officials explained the expansion at its high-tech facility for assembly and test of the company’s Standard Missile-3 and SM-6 interceptors. This new test area boosts production and enables Raytheon to keep up with growing missile demand. Raytheon Corporate President Dr. Taylor Lawrence (shown above) said the facility was initially built with growth in mind, and “we will grow as the needs of our customers demand it.” The expansion will allow Raytheon to boost production by up to 30 percent and keep up with the growing demand for missiles. Lawrence added that the need for missile inceptors “is real,” and that no other nation in the world has the capability in this realm as the United States. Raytheon cut the ribbon in November 2012 at its 70,000-square-foot facility on the arsenal, employing 200 people and utilizing high-tech robots for missile assembly and testing. It is currently delivering Standard Missiles 3 and 6 to the U.S. Navy. Raytheon also recently opened a 42,000-square-foot office building on Bob Heath Road in Research Park where more than 100 engineers work. “With more than 700 Raytheon employees in Huntsville, we’re expecting our business will continue to grow and expand within the Rocket City,” Lawrence said. Raytheon is the world’s largest missile maker. •

Ritch Becomes TVA Board Chair Huntsville attorney Joe Ritch will become the first Alabama chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority in May when he succeeds Knoxville businessman Bill Sansom as head of TVA’s eight-member board. Ritch, who was appointed to the TVA board by President Obama in late 2012, was unanimously elected as chairman-elect during a quarterly board meeting Thursday in Chattanooga. He will chair the next TVA board meeting in Memphis in May when new board committee assignments will be made to help oversee the nation’s biggest government-owned utility. Sansom is the longest serving TVA director on the part-time board. His second 5-year term expires along with fellow director Barbara Haskew of Chattanooga in May, although the two may serve through the end Ritch of the year or until their successors are nominated and confirmed. “I think we’re in one of those transition periods where we are improving financially, nuclear issues are improving and we’re becoming much more efficient,” Ritch said. “Our organization is starting to become what I think it should be and I’m fortunate to come in at a good time.” Ritch said he will spend the next three months learning more about TVA under Sansom before announcing any board changes. Ritch, a partner at the Sirote & Permutt law firm in Huntsville, has worked for the past two decades as chairman of the Tennessee Valley Base Realignment and Closures Committee and has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit agency boards in Huntsville, including Axiometrics, the Von Braun Center for Innovative Science and Appleton Learning. “I think he’s a great choice,” Sansom said. “He’s the first TVA chairman from Alabama, but I’ve learned as chairman you can’t represent just the state you’re from. You have to represent the whole valley.” • Initiatives April 2014

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 31

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

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

Ken Smith, research & information services director Harrison Diamond, existing business director | project manager

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

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

Government Affairs Mike Ward, vice president, government affairs Tina Leopold, government affairs assistant

Bostick Retires as City Planning Director; Jordan Takes Spot Marie Bostick, the City of Huntsville’s Manager of Planning Administration, has retired to assume a new position as executive director of the Land Trust of North Alabama. “Marie is one of the best in her field, and she has served this city tirelessly and admirably throughout her tenure,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “Her leadership, intellect, and vision will be greatly missed.” Said Shane Davis, Director of Urban Development for the City: “Marie is one of the most honest, straightforward and dedicated persons I know. We will certainBostick ly miss her leadership in City Hall, but you can bet she will continue to do great things for our community through the Land Trust.” Michelle Gilliam Jordan will leave her post as director of economic development for the City of Huntsville to lead the planning department. Jordan spent 10 years as Decatur’s director of planning and development before joining Battle’s administration in 2009. She holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Alabama A&M University. Bostick served in the City’s planning department for 26 years. In addition to the daily management of planning initiatives and supervising a staff of 33, Bostick was the primary point of contact for the city regarding land use projects with

developers, engineers, and realtors. She was a key facilitator in numerous public-private projects including Twickenham Square and The Avenue. Bostick was also recently named Downtown Advocate of the Year 2012-2013 by Downtown Huntsville. Inc., and she received the prestigious Torchbearer Award and the Benjamin Banneker award from Alabama A & M’s Department of Community Planning and Urban Studies Alumni Association. Battle announced Jordan’s promotion on March 4. “Michelle’s depth of experience in planning and her leadership role in economic development make her uniquely qualified for this position,” the mayor said. In her new role, Jordan will work closely with Huntsville Urban Development Director Shane Davis and oversee four different divisions: long-range planning; community development; planning administration; and geographic information systems. “I am delighted to take on this new challenge at a time when Huntsville is Jordan focused on master planning and strong economic growth,” said Jordan. “The city has an outstanding planning staff, and I look forward to working with our team, learning from them, and partnering with the citizens in our community. •

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 Donna McCrary, membership retention manager

Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, small business & events director Alexandra Gonzalez, event 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, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 / fax 256-535-2015

www.HSVchamber.org 32

April 2014 Initiatives

NASA Selects Teledyne Brown to Design Key SLS Component NASA has selected Huntsville-based Teledyne Brown Engineering to design and build a key component of the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket the agency is developing to send humans farther than ever into deep space. The component is the Launch Vehicle/Stage Adapter (LVSA), which will be used to connect the rocket’s 27.5-foot diameter core and 16.4-foot diameter interim cryogenic propulsion stages. Under a five-year, $60 million contract, Teledyne Brown will design, develop, test, evaluate and certify the LVSA assembly and manufacture the structural test article and two flight units. The cost reimbursement, fixed-fee engineering solutions and prototyping contract has a potential performance period of five years and includes an option for a third flight unit. •

~ compiled by Patricia McCarter

Toyota’s Huntsville Plant Produces 3 Millionth Engine Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has reached yet another milestone: Today it celebrated the launch of its second V6 engine line and featured the plant’s three millionth engine produced. Witnessing this were U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks in a ceremony that capped off Toyota Alabama’s fifth significant investment since it began operations 11 years ago. “The launch of an additional V6 engine line and production of our three millionth engine are milestones that speak directly to the incredible 1,200 team members at Toyota Alabama,” said Jim Bolte, president of Toyota Alabama. “Our new V6 is particularly monumental because we are now the only Toyota engine plant in the world with four separate production lines.” Bentley said Toyota’s latest expansion is proof that Alabama continues to be a great place for automotive manufacturing companies to be successful. “Automotive manufacturing is one of the targeted sectors for growth in Accelerate Alabama, and this expansion will provide 125 more good paying jobs for the people of Alabama,” Bentley said. “I appreciate Toyota’s investment in Alabama, and I am proud that our partnership with the company is stronger today than ever before.”

Toyota Alabama’s total investment will exceed $850 million by July 2015 when its current $150 million machining project is completed. Last year, Toyota Alabama produced more than 540,000 engines, a plant record. Maximum annual engine capacity is nearly 750,000 engines. The plant is the only Toyota facility globally to produce fourcylinder, V6 and V8 engines under one roof; it produces engines for seven North American-built Toyota models: Camry, America’s

best-selling passenger car; Highlander; RAV4; Sequoia; Tacoma; Tundra; and Venza. To commemorate the milestone event, Toyota Alabama donated $25,000 to the Harris Home For Children (a Huntsville-based foster care institution) and $25,000 to Nexus Energy’s Alabama Wise Program, a community energy program that empowers Alabama families to take control of their energy costs. •

Initiatives April 2014

Wonders of Dubai Trip B

usiness opportunities abound in Dubai, and Chamber members have the chance to see what that can mean for them. The Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA) to offer “The Wonders of Dubai,” an eight-day trip Oct. 18-25. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has overtaken Saudi Arabia as the largest market for American products in the Middle East, making travel to this exotic country a smart move for many Chamber companies. For the first half of 2013, American exports to the UAE increased by 25 percent, with leading export sectors being aerospace and defense equipment, computers and electronic equipment, and transportation and infrastructure related goods and services. The cost is $2,849, which includes airfare and land transportation, hotel, meals and day trips. For more details and reservations, contact Chamber Finance Director Christy Nalley at cnalley@hsvchamber.org, 256-5352010. For optional business-to-business appointments through the U.S. Embassy in Dubai, contact NAITA Executive Director Anne Burkett, aburkett@madisoncountyal. gov, 256-532-3505. (There will be an extra charge for arrangement of business appointments.) “This trip is a good opportunity for Chamber members to become familiar with a potential new market for their products and services,” said Burkett. “Familiarization with the culture and customs can be key to successful business in the U.A.E.” • April 2014 Initiatives

The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County presents a business networking venture to discover the

OCTOBER 18-25, 2014 from $2,849 air and land eight days, six nights including hotels, meals, day trips and airfare from Huntsville International Airport

Business opportunities abound in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) represents a major market for U.S. exports and serves as an important regional hub for American companies conducting business throughout the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The UAE has overtaken Saudi Arabia as the largest market for American products in the Middle East. For the first half of 2013, American exports to the UAE have increased by an additional 25%, with leading export sectors being aerospace and defense equipment, computers and electronic equipment, and transportation and infrastructure related goods and services.

For more details and reservations, contact: Christy Nalley, Finance Director, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County cnalley@hsvchamber.org â&#x20AC;˘ 256-535-2010 For optional Business to Business Appointments through the U.S. Embassy in Dubai, contact: Anne Burkett, Executive Director, NAITA aburkett@madisoncountyal.gov â&#x20AC;˘ 256-532-3505 (There will be an extra charge for arrangement of business appointments.)

Initiatives April 2014

“It is often said that economic development is a team sport. Listed below are many of the players who made it possible to bring Remington to the Tennessee Valley. Their support, coupled with the outstanding workforce in the region, convinced Remington Outdoor Company that this is where they should grow their company!” – Chip Cherry, CCE President / CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

City of Huntsville Madison County State of Alabama Alabama Department of Commerce TVA Huntsville Utilities City of Athens Limestone County Morgan County Huntsville International Airport AIDT Industrial Development Board of the City of Huntsville Limestone County Economic Development Association City of Madison

North Alabama Industrial Development Association April 2014 Initiatives