Initiatives magazine, August 2014

Miranda Bouldin LogiCore 2013 Executive Leadership Award winner

Initiatives August 2014

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August 2014 Initiatives

Welcome New Chamber Members Joined in June 2014

Joined in May 2014 CFO Solutions, LLC Cheeburger Cheeburger CRISP Communications D & B Plumbing Divine Expressions Family Dentistry Eagle Consulting, LLC Hill Technical Solutions, Inc.

A-One Cleaning Services, Inc. Aegirine Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund BDPA Huntsville The Benefits Group - David Hoover Chicken Salad Chick Direct Auto First National Bank Garage Shape Ups, LLC Greater Ala. Council - Boy Scouts of America

Holt & Holt Entrepreneurship, LLC

Heaven’s Closet Boutique

Matsumoto U.S. Technologies, Inc.

Holiday Inn Express Huntsville West

Mike Segrest Rose Magers Rocket City Volleyball Club Ross Medical Education Center Rhodes Construction Security Engineers, Inc. Tower Loan of Huntsville University KIA Woodforest National Bank

The Jones, Paparella & Thomas Group at Merrill Lynch Kemp & Sons General Services, Inc. Kitchen Magic nVue, Inc. Padgett Business Services Professional Fire & Security LLC Quality Testing Services, LLC Red Wing Shoe Store Spherion Staffing of Huntsville State Farm Insurance - Joe Demos Vulcan Materials Company

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

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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

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

Jerry Damson, Inc.

Progress Partners

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

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. President’s Circle

($50,000+ annually)

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

Executive Council ($15,000+ annually)

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August 2014 Initiatives

BB&T CINRAM Crestwood Medical Center Intergraph Corporation Northrop Grumman Corporation PNC Bank Qualitest Pharmaceuticals SAIC SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC

L-3 Communications Corp. – HSV Ops Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C PARSONS Raytheon Company SportsMed Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center 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 IronMountain Solutions J. Smith Lanier & Co. Kudzu Productions, Inc. LEAN Frog Business Solutions, Inc. MJLM Engineering & Technical Services MTS, Inc. The Orthopaedic Center Progress Bank Radiance Technologies Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc. & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (Steak Out) SELEX Galileo Inc. The SI Organization/QinetiQ NA 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 Decosimo DESE Research, Inc. Digium, Inc. Ducommun First Financial Group Wealth Management Fite Building Company, Inc. FLS, Inc. (Foreign Language Services) Fountain, Parker, Harbarger 4SITE, Inc. GATR Technologies Halsey Foodservice HEMSI Hiley Cars Huntsville Huntsville Botanical Garden Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc.

Investor’s Resource/Raymond James KPS Group Leadership Huntsville/Madison County, Inc. Littlejohn Engineering Associates, 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 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

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August 2014 Initiatives

initiatives

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

august 2014 on the cover

Get Your Groove On Getting ready for the 29th Annual Small Business Awards Celebration page 18

dKstudio.com

In the Spotlight: Miranda Bouldin – 2013 Executive Leadership Award page 19

features SES Announces 450 New Jobs Economic Development Highlights

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including HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, UAB School of Medicine, Baron Services, WBCNA and Celsion Corporation 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.

NASA, Boeing: Space Launch System 14 Curse Voice 1 6 Small Business Awards in the Spotlight 22-23 Awards & Accolades 2 4 Retail Update 2 9 Small Business Center Stage 3 0 Women’s Business Council 32

developments New Chamber Members 3 HREGI Investors Listing 4 Chamber Board Listing 8 Wonders of Dubai Trip 9 Community Profile 17 Small Business Awards Celebration 21 Alabama Update in photos 3 1 Chamber Staff Listing 33 Making Connections 35 Armed Forces Celebration 35

editorial staff

mission

The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.

contact Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 main line: 256.535.2000 fax: 256.535.2015

Executive Editor Patricia C. McCarter

Editorial Designer Kristi Sherrard Contributing Writers Patricia C. McCarter and Hannah Wallace

www.asmartplace.com

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

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

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

online www.HSVchamber.org fyi

Publisher Chip Cherry, cce

Initiatives Initiatives August June 2014

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Chamber of Commerce

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2014 Executive Committee

A Message from Chip Cherry Dear Chamber of Commerce Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: What a difference a year makes. You can feel the power of good news pulsing through the community. Boeing, GE, Verizon, Curse and SES are among those who have announced local expansions, and Remington Outdoor Company is ramping up its new facility.

Whole Foods and Cabela’s have announced that they are opening locations here, and we are just a few months away from the opening of the new flagship Belk. Couple this news with the increased activity in downtown Huntsville, and you have a great story of positive economic growth.

The goal of economic development is to enhance the opportunities of our citizens and the small businesses that are the backbone of this community. Our success in recruiting and growing companies is mirrored by the growth in our small businesses throughout the region.

I encourage you to trade locally whenever you have the opportunity. Local companies support everything, from Little League to Boy and Girl Scout Troops. When is the last time you saw a Little League team sponsored by an internet retailer? Give our local companies a try – I think you will enjoy the experience!

I mentioned in a previous paragraph that one of the goals of economic development is to enhance opportunities for our citizens. Many of the jobs that are being and will be created will require a two-year degree or certificate. If you are still in school, I encourage you to meet with your counselor or advisor to discuss career opportunities. There are many career opportunities in our region, and you would be well served to research your options.

There are certificate, two-year associate, four-year bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees available from a variety of outstanding education institutions in our region.

Doing your homework will help you select the right path.

For those who are in the workforce and want to enhance skills, I recommend you do your homework as well. There are numerous opportunities that will be created due to our economic growth, and you should position yourself to benefit from it!

Chip Cherry, CCE

President & CEO Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

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August 2014 Initiatives

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

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

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 • 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 • 256-532-3505 (There will be an extra charge for arrangement of business appointments.)

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SES to create

450 jobs with expansion of Huntsville manufacturing operations A

by Patricia McCarter

L-R: Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, SES CEO E.J. Sinclair, Gov. Robert Bentley and SES Senior Vice President for Aviation Derek Paquette at Farnborough International Air Show.

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August 2014 Initiatives

mazing new repercussions continue to be felt in Huntsville nearly 20 years after the U.S. Army announced that its Aviation and Troop Command in St. Louis would be merging with its Missile Command to form the Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal.

The 450 new aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) jobs at the manufacturing facility expansion by Science and Engineering Services LLC (SES) announced at the Farnborough International Air Show on July 15 are being created in Huntsville as a positive by-product of that Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision made two decades ago. Without that move, those jobs would likely not be added in Huntsville.

“It’s a great convenience factor when you’re located right next to your customer,” said SES General Manager Ralph Pallotta at the company’s massive facility in Jetplex Industrial Park.

Intense remodeling will take place over the next several months for the nearly $70 million expansion. The company will construct additional hangar bays, add office space, construct a new parking lot, build an additional helipad to support its military and commercial customers and add aircraft parking spaces.

In 2008, SES began occupying a chunk of the huge former Goodyear Dunlop tire plant, and now the company will take over much more of it, giving SES a total of 1.3 million square feet of hangar, manufacturing and integration space.

Currently, SES employs 750 people in Huntsville. The additional 450 jobs will be phased in at the expansion site over the next five years.

SES - based in Columbia, Md. - is a leading provider of MRO services for airplanes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and ground combat systems. Key customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and international governments.

Because the expansion was made possible by a partnership with state and local entities, Gov. Robert Bentley made the announcement at the Farnborough International Air Show and was joined by Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield, SES executives, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and other local leaders and economic development team members.

“As always – any great jobs announcement is dependent on all our economic development team members coming to the table together – in this case to support a great industry partner at SES,” said Chamber Chair Robert Mayes. “Congratulations to SES for its continued growth.”

Mayes also thanked Gov. Bentley and the Alabama Department of Commerce, AIDT, Mayor Battle and the City of Huntsville, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Huntsville Utilities and the Madison County Commission for making it possible for SES to meet current and future demands.

Construction is expected to be completed before year’s end.

“We are very excited about the expansion of our SES facilities and projected employment growth for Huntsville, Madison County and North Alabama,” said SES Chief Executive Officer E.J. Sinclair.

Sinclair also thanked government bodies and the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County for working together to make the project possible.

“SES will continue to provide great support to our current customers, but we will also be bringing in some new key programs supporting the Department of Defense, aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and foreign military customers,” Sinclair added.

Gov. Bentley said the SES announcement was great news for Huntsville and the entire state.

“We have positioned ourselves to be a leader in aerospace and aviation, and the SES expansion is further proof of that success,” Bentley said. I appreciate the leaders at Science and Engineering Services LLC for the investment in Alabama, and I look forward to the company’s continued success in Huntsville.”

SES Senior Vice President for Aviation Derek Paquette said Huntsville remains a strategic hub in the aviation industry and SES continues to grow in its core mission areas.

“The expansion of our facilities and capabilities will allow us to even better support our customers and ultimately, the young men and women who fly, drive or operate the products we develop,” Paquette said.

Commerce Secretary Canfield said the SES expansion project is moving forward because the company has confidence that it can assemble a skilled workforce in Alabama.

“The capabilities of Alabama aerospace workers are so broad-ranging that our workforce can design, engineer and manufacture just about everything that flies,” Canfield said.

Mayor Battle concurred.

“With this announcement, SES is demonstrating what we’ve been saying for quite some time now. In Huntsville, you can do your research, development, engineering and manufacturing all in the same location,” Battle said. “This systems approach is why Huntsville continues to be on the radar for companies looking to innovate and create.”

John Bradley, TVA’s Senior Vice President of Economic Development, said the federally-owned utility and its partner Huntsville Utilities are proud to be a part of industrial-recruitment alliances that “help existing companies like SES make long-term growth commitments in the community.” •

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Local Governments Partner With Baron Services in Critical Weather Initiative

UAB School of Medicine, HudsonAlpha Create Center for Genomic Medicine The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine have created the UAB-HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine to accelerate discoveries in genomics and propel those discoveries into clinical practice.

The UAB-HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine will span human genome research with clinical care, incorporating research knowledge into predicting and diagnosing diseases and developing personalized therapies and cures.

“This partnership elevates UAB into a much higher tier of genomic science and clinical medicine for our patients,” said Bruce Korf, M.D., chair of the Department of Genetics in the School of Medicine. “Very few academic medical centers have direct access to the technology and expertise that HudsonAlpha represents. They have tremendous depth in genomics and bioinformatics, and UAB has depth in clinical genetic medicine. ” “Our alliance to provide personalized care for patients is very exciting,” said Richard M. Myers, president and science director of HudsonAlpha. “UAB is an outstanding institution that has provided world-class medical care to our state for decades. Human genomic medicine is an important part of our research portfolio, which also includes our research in basic genetics, plant genomics, bioenergy and animal genomics. We look forward to expanding even further into genomic medicine with UAB because our projects to-date have yielded important discoveries that will impact patient care.”

Korf and Myers will co-direct the UAB-HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine, with the administrative function managed by UAB’s Department of Genetics. It will yield economic, scientific, clinical and educational rewards, including the ability to recruit more world-class scientists and physicians to the region and a competitive edge when applying for research grants and contracts, Korf said. • 12

August 2014 Initiatives

In an effort to promote countywide weather preparedness, the City of Huntsville, the City of Madison, Madison County and Baron Services have joined together to launch a Critical Weather Initiative.

The Initiative extends Baron Services’ proprietary weather alerting tool Alabama SAF-T-Net, its two-way communications capability in particular, to municipalities throughout Madison County. With the service, city and county officials will have the ability to communicate 24/7 with Alabama SAF-T-Net subscribers prior to, during and after episodes of critical weather, all via a Web-based portal backed by geospatial technology.

Baron Services is headquartered in Cummings Research Park in Huntsville.

“The partnership between Baron Services and Madison County officials provides another layer of communication to help share timely and accurate information with area residents before and during a crisis,” Gov. Robert Bentley said. “Two of the Tornado Recovery Action Council recommendations address the need for individuals to receive localized severe weather updates, and I appreciate the hard work of Bob Baron and his staff at Baron Services for making the recommendation a reality.”

The service works based on the subscriber’s current GPS location, giving its users unparalleled precision in performing detailed situational weather analysis. During any type of critical weather event, city and county leaders may access the portal and communicate with Alabama SAF-T-Net app subscribers in or near an impacted area. The service supports direct, two-way communication with Alabama SAF-T-Net app subscribers, allowing both parties to share weather-related messages and pictures.

“Bob Baron is one of the finest entrepreneurs to come out of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “He has transformed the way we monitor severe weather, and we are all safer for his innovations in weather alert notifications. We look forward to working with Bob as he continues to improve his citizen alert tools.”

“Families in north Alabama know first-hand how important it is to stay weather aware and that accurate and timely information saves lives,” said Madison County Commission Chairman and EMT Dale Strong. “With this new tool developed by Bob Baron our emergency services will now be able to communicate directly with the people - not only to warn about dangerous storms but to help track their path, assess damage and provide quicker response to those hardest hit.”

Alabama SAF-T-Net is available in the App Store and on Google Play. It is compatible with Apple iOS and Android phone operating systems. •

Courtesy of Beth Ridgeway

L-R: Ernie Blair, Director, Huntsville-Madison County 9-1-1 Center; Rusty Russell, Director, Madison County EMA; Dale Strong, Madison County Commission Chair; Bob Baron, President and CEO, Baron Services; Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville; Larry Muncey, Police Chief, Madison City

~ compiled by Patricia McCarter

Celsion Acquires Huntsville-Based EGEN

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and WBCNA CEO Joanne Randolph unveil TechRich logo.

WBCNA to Manage TechRich: Newly Named Huntsville Advanced Defense Cluster Initiative The U.S. Small Business Administration Alabama District Office announced on June 11 that the Huntsville Advanced Defense Cluster Initiative will be managed by the Women’s Business Center of North Alabama (WBCNA). A $375,000 grant transfers to the oversight of the cluster.

The program will have a new name, TechRich, which stands for Technology Regional Innovation Cluster-Huntsville.

John Spears, SBA’s Director of Clusters and Skills Initiatives, said, “We have successfully novated the contract from the Von Braun Center for Science & Innovation (VCSI) to the WBCNA and expect the great work being done in the Tennessee Valley to continue seamlessly for those small businesses being served. It only makes sense that one of the top-performing Women’s Business Centers in the country is now managing one of the top-performing Cluster Initiatives.”

Joanne Randolph, WBCNA President & CEO, who has been involved with the Cluster Initiative since its inception four years ago, will serve as the Program Manager of this effort. Terry Griffin will continue in his role as Project Manager and Christi Jackson as Deputy Project Manager.

“The Cluster Initiative is very good for our community and our region’s small businesses and we are honored to be asked to continue the great work initiated by VCSI,” Randolph said.

SBA’s Director of Clusters and Skills Initiatives John Spears defined clusters as geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers, academic institutions, service providers and associated organizations with a specific industry focus.

Spears said women-owned businesses have grown 20 percent in five years.

“With such growth, the SBA will revisit the contracting landscape to ensure women have optimal access to the federal government supply chain,” he said. “And we know that through the cluster service provided by the WBCNA, more women and small businesses in the aerospace and defense industries will have the necessary mentoring, business skills and resources to win more federal contracts.”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said four companies in the Huntsville area started as small businesses in someone’s garage and transformed into Fortune 500 companies.

“This is a great asset for our community, an asset that will take that innovation we have in this community, and turn it into more businesses that could turn it into more jobs and turn it into more work for our economy.” •

New Jersey-based oncology drug development company Celsion Corporation has acquired Huntsville-based EGEN, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

The acquisition was announced June 10. Under the terms of the agreement, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celsion will acquire the assets of EGEN and assume certain liabilities in exchange for cash and shares of Celsion totaling $14 million.

The upfront payment consists of $10.6 million in Celsion common stock representing approximately 16.4 percent of Celsion’s outstanding shares, and $3.4 million in cash.

The new combined company is expected to retain all 15 EGEN employees and will be headquartered in Lawrenceville, N.J. Discovery and preclinical operations will be based at EGEN’s current leased facilities at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, where Celsion also plans to consolidate all of its analytical service and laboratory functions.

The boards of directors of both Celsion and EGEN have unanimously approved the transaction.

“This transaction offers an immediately well-defined strategic fit, bringing together discovery and preclinical expertise with clinical and operational excellence, groundbreaking technologies with high-value clinical assets, to form a company whose synergy provides substantially more than its parts,” said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Khursheed Anwer, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of EGEN, said, “Since EGEN was founded 12 years ago, our team has worked to develop technologies that overcome the delivery barriers that have kept nucleic acid-based therapies from achieving their full potential and significant promise. By joining with Celsion now, we add not only the operational and managerial expertise to accelerate development of these assets and technologies, but gain access to the added financial resources of an established public company.” •

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NASA, Boeing sign Space Launch System contract for oeing has finalized a contract with NASA to develop the core stage of the Space Launch most powerful B System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever built and destined to propel America’s return to human exploration of deep space. $2.8 billion contract validates Boeing’s earlier selection as the prime contractor on the SLS rocket evers coreThestage, including the avionics. In addition, Boeing has been tasked to study the SLS Exploration Upper Stage, which will further expand mission range and payload capabilities.

The agreement comes as NASA and the Boeing team completes the Critical Design Review (CDR) on the core stage – the last major review before full production begins.

“Our teams have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the SLS – the largest ever - will be built safely, affordably and on time,” said Virginia Barnes, Boeing SLS vice president and program manager. “We are passionate about NASA’s mission to explore deep space. It’s a very personal mission, as well as a national mandate.”

During the review, which began June 2, experts examined and confirmed the final design of the rocket’s cryogenic stages that will hold liquefied hydrogen and oxygen.

This milestone marks NASA’s first CDR on a deep-space human exploration launch vehicle since 1961, when the Saturn V rocket underwent a similar design review as the United States sought to land an astronaut on the moon. Boeing participated in that CDR as well, as the three stages of the Saturn V were built by Boeing and its heritage companies Douglas Aircraft and North American Aviation.

Scheduled for its initial test flight in 2017, the SLS is designed to be flexible and evolvable to meet a variety of crew and cargo mission needs. The initial flight-test configuration will provide a 77-ton capacity, and the final evolved two-stage configuration will provide a lift capability of more than 143 tons.

SLS is NASA’s next-generation space rocket, and it is being developed by NASA’s Marshall space Flight Center to carry crew and cargo into deep space. The rocket’s two main tanks will hold 1,000 tons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel and will be 30 percent larger than the external tank of the Space Shuttle. •

This artist concept shows NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, rolling to a launchpad at Kennedy Space Center at night. SLS will be the most powerful rocket in history, and the flexible, evolvable design of this advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle will meet a variety of crew and cargo mission needs.

Courtesy of NASA/MSFC

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NASA continues testing on 3-D printing, composite tank

by Patricia McCarter

T

o reach deep space, NASA needs a composite cryogenic fuel tank on its Space Launch System that won’t crack or leak.

Astronauts need a 3-D printer that functions in zero gravity that can create crew tools and payload parts on the International Space Station and other future missions.

Both of those necessities are being tested for safety and efficacy, and NASA officials reported on testing progress during a media conference at Marshall Space Flight Center in late June.

Both the printer and composite fuel tank have a genesis in NASA’s need to launch as lightweight a rocket, crew vehicle and payload as possible; it costs $10,000 to lift each pound into orbit.

Because safety is such a concern for the space agency, much testing is performed before human lives could be impacted by malfunctioning products. But NASA associate administrator for space technology Michael Gazarik said that Wernher von Braun himself understood the risks involved in getting humans into space and that the founder of NASA would approve of the testing timeline.

Gazarik even agreed that von Braun might think the wait between tank tests was too long. He added that Huntsville is about the development of technology, and technology drives exploration.

“In D.C., you see PowerPoints and a lot of blogs,” the Washington D.C.-based NASA executive said. “In Huntsville, you get to see the exciting things.”

For the Space Launch System, NASA will use a composite fuel tank because it will weigh thousands of pounds less than traditional metal ones. Testing the tank involves filling it with super-cold liquid hydrogen – which is a key rocket fuel – and pulling it to simulate the pressure it will encounter during a launch.

The composite rocket fuel tank built by the Boeing Company arrived at Marshall Space Flight Center on March 26 on NASA’s Super Guppy airplane.

The rocket is scheduled to take its first flight in 2017.

The 3-D printer, provided by Made In

Space of Mountain View, California, will head to the International Space Station aboard the upcoming SpaceX-4 mission. This technology has the potential to enable explorers to print tools wherever they are in the universe.

The project is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is in-

novating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in NASA’s future missions.

Over the next 18 months, the directorate will make significant new investments to address several high-priority challenges in achieving safe and affordable deep space exploration. •

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Curse Inc.

already expanding W in its new Huntsville headquarters

by Patricia McCarter

Screen viewed by gamer using Curse Voice to communicate with League of Legends players.

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ith a popular new product, an expansion in its new headquarters and newly acquired $16 million from venture capitalists, online gaming media company Curse Inc. is growing in every possible way.

Much of that growth capability resulted from CEO Hubert Thieblot’s decision to relocate Curse – founded in 2006 - from San Francisco to Huntsville. The cost of doing business is dramatically higher in the Bay Area, and the competition for maintaining a quality workforce is intense there.

“If you want to build a long-term company, you might have a better chance of keeping people outside of San Francisco,” Thieblot said in an interview with TechCrunch, a leading news site for the technical market. “The job market is too crazy.”

With costs under control and a stable-but-growing employee base, Curse developers remain busy doing what makes them beloved by millions of online gamers. The most recent offering is Curse Voice, which gives players a way to collaborate and communicate more securely than ever before.

The beta version was ready in May, and it already has 1.5 million users.

“It was rolled out (to be used by) League of Legends gamers,” said Alex Basso, recruiting manager for Curse who moved to Huntsville from Austin, Texas, in June with her new husband. “That’s a game you play with five people, and you might not even know them, but you want to be able to communicate about the game. In the past, you might have to do that with Skype.

“Curse Voice gives them a way to collaborate in a more secure environment.”

Basso said Curse Voice was “dreamed up” by Curse developers as “a hobby.” When they realized how much gamers would love it, they knew League of Legends would be a great fit to roll it out. She describes the interface as being “very clean, very easy.”

Curse consists of more than 45 sought-after gaming websites, attracting more than 28 million unique visitors worldwide and in excess of one billion page views per month, according to comScore data. Curse empowers gamers with premium resources and content, resulting in an enriched, authentic and more enjoyable experience. Worldwide, gamers depend on Curse for the tools and expertise they need to take their gaming to the next level.

Curse recently announced $10 million in Series B financing, led by new investor GGV Capital, a multi-stage venture capital firm with investments in the U.S. and China. With this financing, the company has raised $22 million in equity funding since its inception. Hans Tung, managing partner for GGV Capital, joined the Curse Board of Directors as part of the financing.

In addition, Curse announced it has obtained $6 million from Multiplier Capital, a venture debt fund with offices in Maryland, New York and Los Angeles earlier this year.

“Curse is a high-growth company that is creative at using technology to build highly engaged gaming communities online. We are thrilled to be working with such a dynamic team that has the ability to both enhance how games are currently played and introduce more interactive alternatives,” said Hans Tung, Managing Partner, GGV Capital.

Most of Curse’s 110 employees work at its Huntsville headquarters. Some remain in San Francisco, while others are involved in international sales across the globe.

On June 20, Curse took part in the monthly downtown Huntsville food truck rally and gave away 500 t-shirts in just 12 minutes. Curse’s flame logo can also be seen on the jerseys of its Huntsville rec league hockey team. •

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 August 2014

17

Small Business Awards

celebrate O our local business spirit

by Patricia McCarter

A bird’s eye view of the 2013 Small Business Awards Celebration at the Von Braun Center.

Photo by Lauren Tomasella Photography

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August 2014 Initiatives

ftentimes proprietors of small businesses handle everything, from the hiring to the firing, from making the deals to taking out the trash… particularly when their companies are in their infancy.

Those business owners will have a shot at some of the glory of “the executive life” on Sept.

4 at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s 29th Annual Small Business Awards at the Von Braun Center.

The theme for the 2014 awards ceremony is “Get Your Groove On,” and the more than 1,000 Chamber members who will attend are encouraged to wear their finest disco apparel, from bell bottoms to jumpsuits to platform shoes.

This year’s categories are as follows: Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award; Young Professional of the Year; Nonprofit of the Year; the categories for businesses with 50 or less employees are Technology, Government Contracting Services, and Business/Professional Services.

Another award will be given to a company with 51 to 350 employees.

The top three finalists in each category will be announced, and then the ultimate winners will be recognized.

“The Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards gives our local companies a chance to shine,” said Kim Lewis, president of PROJECTXYZ and vice chair of the Chamber’s Small Business & Events division.

“That is why every year the awards program gets bigger and better. Companies want to be recognized by the Chamber because of the status of this award.”

The nomination process for individuals and companies is comprehensive. Nominees for the Executive Leadership Award and the Young Professional of the Year must complete detailed profiles. Company submissions must meet very strict standards: The nominee must have started the company or is currently the CEO/president of that company, which must consist of 350 or less employees and have been operational for a minimum of two years.

The company must be licensed in Madison County and be in good standing with both the Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. Other considerations include the financial state of the company, and community involvement is essential.

Final selections are made by a panel of CPAs who blindly judge based on the documentation, without knowledge of the names of the nominees.

“The selection process is highly sanitized and based purely on merit and not on popularity or politics,” said Pammie Jimmar, director of Small Business & Events for the Chamber.

“We love our business community, and we want to encourage them to continue to have a positive impact on our economy, schools and community. The Small Business Awards are our way of recognizing achievements and allowing these businesses to have their moment in the sun.”

Lewis added that small businesses are the biggest boosters of the local and national economy, and she appreciates being part of an event that celebrates them.

“These companies employ some of the brightest minds in our community,” Lewis said.

“They have the capabilities to work on amazing projects, from the makeup of your DNA to the water on the International Space Station.” •

in the spotlight:

Miranda Bouldin 2013 Recipient, Executive Leadership Award

by Patricia McCarter

A

s the founder and CEO of the defense contracting company LogiCore and as a volunteer devoted to charitable causes, Miranda Bouldin had all the right credentials to win the Russell Brown Executive Leadership Award at the Chamber’s Small Business Awards last year.

She wasn’t born into that kind of life. She grew into it from many challenges and hardships, and she appreciates the lessons she learned along the way.

“I grew up in Moulton, where I was raised by my grandmother,” Bouldin said. “We were very poor and barely able to make ends meet.

My grandfather died a couple years before my 12th birthday and left several acres of land to manage so there was always work to do.

“From a very early age, I was able to see what work needed to be done and look for ways to accomplish it. Whether it was mowing the lawn, working the garden, pulling weeds, washing dishes or laundering clothes, there was always a job assignment for each of my siblings, and it fell to me to corral them and keep them on task.”

Her first job off of the farm came at age 15, at Cowan’s Sportswear where baby clothes were manufactured. She worked during the summer months folding, cutting excess strings and applying buttons. There, she learned to enjoy country music, because that’s what was played.

Her next job was at a bank, where she learned about the importance of credit scores.

“It is a numerical representation of your financial habits, and I learned that many assumptions and decisions are made about you based on your credit score,” she said.

“This lesson proved to be critical in launching and growing my business.”

Her introduction into the defense industry didn’t come from an internship or a career fair. She first went onto Redstone Arsenal as an office furniture salesman.

“This is where I first learned about the mission of the Army Aviation and Missile Command,” she said.

Her first government technical experience was gained while working in program management at NASA on Cape Canaveral, immediately following her graduation from Alabama A&M University. Then she worked at Lockheed Martin in Owego, N.Y., as a project control analyst supporting a Navy program.

She returned to Huntsville and established LogiCore Corporation in October 2002 as a small and disadvantaged woman-owned business.

“My first Army contract was in 2003 with the Research Development and Engineering Center’s (RDEC) Software Engineering Directorate (SED),” she said. “I provided air worthiness training to civilian personnel. Afterwards, I was a subcontractor to the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Alabama A&M University on some of their Army missions.”

That led to various work assignments supporting the development, production and sustainment of aviation and missile systems at various AMCOM agencies. LogiCore now provides logistics, engineering and programmatic services as a prime contractor and subcontractor/ team member to the Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), Missile Defense Agency continued on page 20

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19

In the Spotlight, continued from page 19 – (MDA), Electronics Proving Ground (EPG), Missile Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), Navy Personnel Command, Army Materiel Command (AMC), Program Executive Offices, Program Management Offices, other federal government defense agencies and contractor team members.

Those services are provided throughout the United States and in foreign countries.

Bouldin said continuous learning is a key element of her success. In April, she graduated from the Harvard Business School’s three-year Owner/President Management (OPM) Executive Education program. And she’s always reading books to learn new ways of doing things.

“This keeps me in touch with current and cutting-edge processes, products and events,” she said. “Continuous learning gives me a broader perspective on issues that I might not otherwise get in my own local community.”

Bouldin decided while a senior at Alabama A&M that she would found her own company.

“I liked the concepts that applied to

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August 2014 Initiatives

the logistics framework, such as the design influence on man-machine interface, economical repair analyses, and the design for sustainability including cost, maintenance and supply chain management,” she said.

“These things were important to me in my everyday life, and I wanted to tie my passion for entrepreneurship into my educational field of study and the local defense industry.”

She liked the thought of controlling her own schedule, “but most of all I liked the challenge of holding myself accountable for achieving success.”

She has some advice for other entrepreneurial spirts: Don’t start a company unless it’s a passion and something that you will not give up on. You must have an understanding of all

aspects of your business and be willing to put in the time it takes to grow yourself and remain relevant in your field of expertise. This commitment will sometimes interfere with other things including family, friends, and social activities. You must be able to successfully prioritize the things that compete for

your time and be willing to miss out on a lot of fun – unless, like me, you find fun in your work.

Know your company’s core competencies and focus on being the best at them.

Hire only the best and don’t settle for less.

Hire employees that fit into your company culture and like what they do. It’s important for each employee to like his work and be committed to being the best at it.

Keep the organization lean. Only hire

what you need. ’Nuff said.

Get Comfortable With the Unknown.

There will always be “known unknowns,” and “unknown unknowns.” You will never know everything. You will often be forced to make gut decisions or educated guesses. Continuous learning and the wisdom gleaned from others’ experiences or by observation will help with this. As a founder, you have to be able to comfortably and rationally work through these situations.

It’s Not Just About You. Your reward is only a byproduct of what you do for others. continued on page 34

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21

2013 Small Business Award Winner: Business/Professional Services category

SPOTLIGHT ON

NETWORx of Huntsville NETWORx of Huntsville won the 2013 Chamber’s Small Business Award in the Business/Professional Services category.

Here’s an interview with NETWORx General Manager Ty Fauscett

A brief history of the general manager and company...

My life had hit a point where I was going to be stuck at a boring job unless I went to college, so I did just that. I enrolled in Virginia College in Huntsville. After two years of hard work and late nights, I graduated with highest honors and began my career in the IT field as a help desk technician. Several months later I received a phone call from someone I had met in school, regarding an open position. I decided to go ahead with the interview, and in May of 2009 I began work with NETWORx of Huntsville as a network Engineer. I progressed in the job after a few years and later took on the role of general manager.

Q. What does NETWORx of Huntsville do?

A: NETWORx of Huntsville provides the Huntsville/Madison County area small businesses IT support that cannot afford a dedicated full time IT staff, and it also provides the means and access to a team of IT staff at the fraction of the cost of an IT worker’s salary. NETWORx of Huntsville also gives anyone access to the knowledge of IT professionals. Even if someone doesn’t need our services, we welcome questions regarding technology. So many people do not understand how technology can help their business be more successful and efficient. We have the ability to help people without formal IT training understand complex technology.

Above: James Mazikowski, Ty Fauscett, Jason Alley and Josh Bell at the 2013 event.

Below: Sherika Attipoe and Tabitha Ivey, Small Business Awards committee members, escort Ty Fauscett down the red carpet to receive NETWORx’s award.

Q: What are your goals for NETWORx of Huntsville over the next 10 years?

A: The 10-year goal for NETWORx of Huntsville is to be the premier one-stop shop for any business in the Huntsville/Madison County area for IT needs.

Q: What did winning this award mean to you, personally and professionally?

A: Personally, winning the Small Business of the Year award meant to me that I was doing something right as a network engineer, as a customer service representative and as a manager.

Professionally, winning Small Business of the Year meant that we were all doing something right for our customers and my employees.

Q: How has being active in the Chamber impacted the

work that NETWORx of Huntsville does?

A: The Chamber of Commerce has helped NETWORx of Huntsville broadcast our message to its many members and has given us an avenue in which to help other businesses. The Business After Hours and other networking events the Chamber hosts have provided the opportunity to meet and network with small businesses. •

Photos by Lauren Tomasella Photography

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August 2014 Initiatives

2013 Small Business Award Winner: Nonprofit of the Year

SPOTLIGHT ON

HEALS, Inc.

In 2013, HEALS, Inc., was named the Chamber’s Nonprofit of the Year.

Here’s an interview with HEALS Executive Director Connie Carnes, who has been with the organization for five years.

A brief history of the executive director and organization...

(The late Huntsville City Councilwoman) Sandra Moon came to me on behalf of the HEALS Board of Directors to ask if I would come to work with HEALS. At the time, I had a private therapy practice. Previously, I had served as clinical director/executive director for the National Children’s Advocacy Center for 12 years. In that capacity, I worked with a team that protected children from abuse, provided therapy and held offenders accountable when abuse did occur. I have a master’s degree in psychology, and I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Alabama.

Q. What do HEALS clinics do?

A: There are four HEALS medical clinics, one dental clinic, and one dental/optometry clinic under construction. The agency serves over 2,000 children a year. The clinics are located at Title 1 elementary schools: Madison Crossroads, Martin Luther King, Morris and University Place. HEALS provides free school-based medical, dental, optometric and mental health care for the community’s most vulnerable children who would not otherwise be able to afford it.

The HEALS clinics are open during the school year and also during school breaks, including summer break. Children can remain HEALS patients until they are 19 years old. HEALS provides care not just to the students at our site elementary schools, but to their younger and older siblings, too. HEALS assists families in applying for public insurance if they are eligible and connects families with school-based mental health service professionals and other community service providers to provide comprehensive care.

HEALS provides preventive education that decreases immediate and long-term costs of health care. Children and their families learn dental hygiene basics, how to manage chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes, and the importance of nutrition, weight management and exercise.

Above: Connie Carnes receiving her award from Catherine Hereford of the National Children’s Advocacy Center, the 2012 Nonprofit of the Year. Below: Carnes poses with Kim Lewis, the Chamber’s Vice Chair for Small Business & Events.

Q: What are HEALS’ goals for the next 10 years?

A: Our first goal is to complete the construction and open a dental/optometry clinic at Madison Crossroads Elementary School. We are also making preparations to open a medical and dental clinic at Lincoln Academy. Within our existing clinics, we plan to expand services to include optometry, dental and in-house mental health services.

Q: What did winning this award mean to you?

A: Personally, it was an exciting experience for an agency I care about so much to be recognized by an organization I respect so much. Professionally, it was a wonderful validation of the work we have done and of the agency we have created and developed.

Q: How has being active in the Chamber impacted the work that HEALS does?

Photos by Lauren Tomasella Photography

A: We have enjoyed the business educational experiences offered and the opportunity to participate in the Small Business Awards program. We have been positively impacted by the credibility and validation of having been finalists for a couple of years, and this year, being recognized as the Non-Profit of the Year.

HEALS could not do the work that we do without the support of many businesses and individuals throughout the community. Being actively involved in the Chamber has provided an opportunity for HEALS to connect with compassionate, civic-minded people who want to support services for children in need by volunteering, organizing supply drives and offering financial support. • Initiatives August 2014

23

Awards &

A ccolades

~ compiled by Patricia McCarter

TVA Top Ranked for Renewable Energy Sales The Tennessee Valley Authority is No. 9 in the country for renewable energy sales among U.S. utilities in 2013. It was the only utility in the southeast to crack the top 10.

This is the first time since 2003 that TVA made the list. The utility cited customer support for its Green Power Switch program as a key reason for the sales performance being listed ninth in the U.S. Department of Energy rankings.

Green Power Switch, which began in 2000, allows utility customers to signify if they would like to purchase a small amount of green power as part of their monthly bill. Money from that initiative is then used to buy renewable power – such as wind or solar - in the Tennessee Valley.

There’s room to grow. Thus far, only a fraction – about 12,600 households out of 4 million across seven states – of TVA customers has signed up.

Nearly 1,100 residential and 14 businesses are Green Power Switch customers in Alabama. Those figures include 939 Huntsville Utilities customers, TVA said.

“TVA is proud to be recognized nationally for our strong and growing support of renewable energy,” said Patty West, director of TVA’s Renewable Energy Solutions. “Cost-effective, renewable energy is an important part of TVA’s diverse portfolio of energygeneration sources.”

The program offers customers a chance to buy defined percentages of their estimated monthly electricity usage from green sources, on top of their current rates. A given home’s participation doesn’t mean green power goes directly to that customer, but rather to TVA’s overall system.

TVA spokesman Duncan Mansfield said solar power is the most common source for renewable energy purchased by the utility in the Tennessee Valley.

He said there are nearly 2,000 solar photovoltaic installations in the valley and TVA has approved 340 more that are “on the way.” TVA will buy the power and offer incentive programs to encourage solar installations in homes and small businesses. •

10,000 Motorcyclists to Bring $3 Million for 2015 Gold Wing Conference Huntsville did such a great job welcoming the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) in 1998, the group has announced it will return for its next conference, to be held Labor Day weekend 2015.

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August 2014 Initiatives

The conference, “Wing Ding 37,” is a prestigious motorcycle gathering with four days of activities surrounding Honda’s famed Gold Wing motorcycle.

An estimated 10,000 motorcycle enthusiasts will gather in Huntsville to celebrate the group’s 37th meeting, bringing more than $3 million in economic impact to Huntsville and Madison County, according to the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The 1998 GWRRA conference held in Huntsville garnered the largest attendance of any Gold Wing conference at that time.

“We are excited to welcome GWRRA back to the Rocket City and to share with conference attendees how much our city has grown,” said Judy Ryals, CVB President & CEO. “Our CVB team is working diligently to ensure their time in our community is among the best they’ve spent anywhere in the world.”

Abel Gallardo, President of GWRRA, expressed the group’s excitement to return.

“GWRRA is truly excited to return to Huntsville, Alabama,” Gallardo said. “It’s been over 16 years since our last visit, and we are doing everything to make this visit even more memorable than the first!”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle joined Madison, Wisconsin, dignitaries for the official announcement of Huntsville as the 2015 host location to attendees at the 2014 Wing Ding conference being held there.

“We are extremely excited to welcome the Gold Wing Road Riders back to Huntsville and for the opportunity to showcase our Southern hospitality,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Our departments have been working closely with event organizers to help support new and unique events for the conference, which we hope will create lasting memories for thousands of attendees.”

The CVB and the City will coordinate GWRRA conference events such as rider safety training, a charity benefit and a light parade.

Wing Ding 37 will also include seminars and scheduled programming that includes seminars on motorcycle touring, demo rides and precision drill team maneuver competitions. •

Huntsville Tops Best Cities for Employee Recognition List Leveraging employee surveys from nearly 5,000 organizations and 400,000 employees that participated in the Best Places to Work program, Quantum Workplace aggregated the contest data to identify cities where employees were most satisfied with employee recognition.

The information collected examined employees’ perceptions of recognition frequency on items such as a pay increase, access to new learning or training materials, granted time off and praise from senior leadership.

Huntsville’s percentage of “satisfied employees” is 73 percent. Cities that followed were Nashville (69 percent), Austin (68 percent), San Antonio (68 percent) and Washington, D.C. (68 percent).

Quantum Workplace’s 2014 Recognition Trends Report examined more details on employee recognition. The report analyzed employees’ preferences of 11 different types of recognition and the frequency at which each was received.

The recognition findings were segmented across eight unique demographics—including gender, position level, age, and race—in order to give a more in-depth view of recognition nationwide. •

Crestwood, Community Foundation Partner on New Fund Crestwood Medical Center and the Community Foundation of Huntsville/ Madison County announce the charter of a new fund – the Crestwood Women & Families Fund. This fund will be managed by the Community

Foundation and represents the first “giving circle” managed by the Foundation.

The mission of the Crestwood Women & Families Fund is to establish a grant-making fund for high-impact grants to address the issues and meet immediate needs of women and families in our community. Not-for-profit organizations who serve women and families will follow a formal process of applying for funds.

An advisory committee consisting of members of the Crestwood Women’s Advisory Council, Crestwood Medical Center employees and volunteers will meet regularly to review applications and recommend grants to selected organizations.

Go to communityfoundationhsv.org/CWFF for more information.

Since its founding in 2009, the Community Foundation has raised or managed more than $13 million for charitable causes and has distributed, on behalf of donors, more than $3 million to local, regional and national nonprofit organizations. •

Community Foundation Executive Director Stuart Oberman and Crestwood CEO Dr. Pam Hudson. continued on page 26

Initiatives August 2014

25

Awards & Accolades, continued from page 23 –

Spillers Officer for Alabama Hospital Association Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers will serve as secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA).

“David has been an integral part of the Association’s Board of Trustees for several years now, and he has proven to be a strong leader with a strategic vision,” said J. Michael Horsley, FACHE, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, shortly after the group’s annual meeting this summer. “We’re pleased that he will fill the role of secretary-treasurer for the next year.”

Spillers has served as Huntsville Hospital’s chief executive officer since 2006. Previously, he was with Mission Hospitals in Asheville, N.C., a regional referral center that served 17 counties. During his 18-year tenure with the North Carolina system, he served in numerous leadership positions, including his last as chief operating officer.

Spillers The Alabama Hospital Association, based in Montgomery, is a statewide trade organization that represents more than 100 hospitals and numerous other health care providers by offering membership services designed to enhance the provision of health care in Alabama.

Spillers’ professional associations include membership in Rotary, the Huntsville Committee of 100 and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is currently serving on the Alabama Hospital Association Board of Directors and Executive Committee and is a member of the Alabama Hospital Association Medicaid Future Task Force.

In addition, Spillers is a member of the Regional Trauma Advisory Council of North Alabama, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and the VHA Southeast Board of Directors and Executive Committee. •

TripAdvisor® Puts Space & Rocket Center on Top 10 The U.S. Space & Rocket Center made the top 10 list of the best spacethemed attractions in the U.S., based on feedback from TripAdvisor® reviewers. The Center made the list along with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.

26

TripAdvisor® announced the top 10 space-themed attractions following a space tourism survey of more than 2,200 respondents across the country. The timing of the survey coincides with the 45th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, which took place July 20, 1969.

The Center scores a 4.5 out of 5 on reviews posted by TripAdvisor® users, with the travel site quoting one reviewer as saying the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is “a must-see if you travel to Huntsville. It’s educational, interactive and fun.”

August 2014 Initiatives

“We are thrilled to make the TripAdvisor® Top 10 list of space-themed attractions,” said USSRC CEO Dr. Deborah Barnhart. “We work hard every day to provide the best possible experience for our guests, and making this list is a tribute to the dedication of our Center employees and to the amazing collection we have in our museum.”

TripAdvisor® recently awarded the Center a Certificate of Excellence award for the second year in a row. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor® and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.

The center, which is the official NASA Visitor Center for Marshall Space Flight Center and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, has on display America’s first satellite, Explorer I, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V moon rocket, the world’s only full-stack space shuttle display, and the Apollo 16 command module. •

Sequencing Pioneer Receives HudsonAlpha Life Sciences Prize Noted scientist and geneticist Jay Shendure, M.D., Ph.D., was presented with the 2014 HudsonAlpha Life Science Prize for his innovative work in the development and application of genomic technology, including completing a detailed sequence of DNA from HeLa cells, the first “immortal” human cell line grown in a lab.

The HudsonAlpha Life Sciences Prize recognizes outstanding achievements that exemplify one or more of the three key missions of HudsonAlpha—scientific discovery, economic development and contributions to public science appreciation Rick Myers, Ph.D., and Jay Shendure, M.D., Ph.D. and education.

“Jay Shendure’s work represents a remarkable example of the synthesis between technology development and genetic principles,” said HudsonAlpha President Rick Myers, Ph.D., who presented the award to Shendure.

An associate professor in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington, Shendure researches the development and application of new technologies in genomics and molecular biology, in particular next generation sequencing technologies.

In 2012, as part of his effort to develop new sequencing techniques, Shendure’s lab completed a detailed sequence of DNA from HeLa cells, the first “immortal” human cell line grown in a lab and the most commonly used cells in scientific research. HeLa cells were first cultivated in the 1950s from a biopsy of a cancerous tumor removed from Henrietta Lacks.

Shendure noted parallels in his research interests and the ongoing research at HudsonAlpha. The similarities in research methods and the types of human health conditions being studied, Shendure said, create a unique two-way synergy where each institution is able to mutually inform the other’s efforts.

“HudsonAlpha has a fantastic set of investigators, led by Rick who is well-known and respected in the field of genetics,” Shendure said. “It’s been a great collaboration, and I look forward to working with Greg Cooper and others in the future.”

The HudsonAlpha Life Sciences Prize was established by HudsonAlpha co-founder Lonnie McMillian in 2007. •

Amanda Howard Real Estate Ranks on Wall Street Journal Publication Amanda Howard Real Estate was again named a member of the “REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal Top Thousand”, a national awards ranking sponsored annually by the two respected entities. Amanda Howard Real Estate is now ranked in the top one half of 1 percent of the more than 963,000 Realtors nationwide.

According to the REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal Top Thousand, Amanda Howard Real Estate served 394 families in 2013, ranking them #79 in the nation.

“The best individual agents and teams - including Amanda Howard Real Estate’s award-winning efforts - were nothing short of phenomenal considering the recovering real estate market,” said Steve Murray, founder of Denver-based publishing and communications company REAL Trends, which compiled the list.

“What Amanda Howard Real Estate did during these challenging times is impressive on so many levels,” said Marti Gallardo, vice president of classified advertising for The Wall Street Journal. “Their efforts topped 99.99 percent of the more than 963,000 REALTORS nationwide.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to be named to The Thousand,” said Amanda Howard. “Even with the market’s challenges, it’s incredibly gratifying to help clients find their dream homes as well as help them sell their properties quickly and for the highest price possible.”

This awards program was developed jointly by WSJ, Custom Studios and REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information for the residential real estate brokerage industry. •

AdhereTech and UAH-invented “Smart” Pill Bottle Gets Second Patent

AdhereTech and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have been awarded a second U.S. patent for the smart pill bottle that was invented at the university and is being commercialized by the company.

Already in use by patients, AdhereTech’s smart pill bottle automatically measures if patients have taken their medication. Data is wirelessly sent from the bottles to AdhereTech servers, where it is analyzed in real-time.

If a dose is missed, AdhereTech reminds the patient via automated phone call or text message – as well as on-bottle lights and chimes.

Additionally, if the system notices prolonged non-adherence, it can

continued on page 28

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Awards & Accolades, continued from page 25 – solicit feedback from a patient via text or phone call, asking why the dose was missed. If a patient is not taking medication due to intense side effects, AdhereTech can gather this information within the first few days of treatment, as opposed to the patient’s next appointment.

AdhereTech’s Generation 1 bottle is currently in use, and an improved, smaller and less expensive Generation 2 bottle will be released in 2015.

The new patent involves the bottle’s adherence notification and transmission system and further secures the intellectual property of the product, according to inventor Dr. Emil Jovanov, associate professor in UAH’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Joining Jovanov as inventors named in the patent are Josh Stein, CEO of AdhereTech; John Langhauser, the company’s chief technology officer; and Michael Morena, its chief operations officer.

“This is AdhereTech’s second patent, and it helps to define the company’s scope and vision, as a growing connected medical device firm,” Stein said. “In fact, we have more demand for our product than we can accommodate at the moment, so we are scaling up.”

That’s good news to UAH, which licensed its rights to the technology to AdhereTech.

“UAH’s goal was, and always has been, to see the fruits of our research be available for public consumption at the earliest possible time,” says Kannan Grant, director of the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization. “From the beginning, UAH’s and AdhereTech’s goals were aligned. This made it possible for us to come to an appropriate agreement that was forward leaning and in the best interest of UAH, AdhereTech and its shareholders, and most importantly, consumers.” •

DoD Announces Value Engineering Award winners The Department of Defense (DOD) announced winners of the fiscal 2013

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Department of Defense Value Engineering Achievement Awards, and a Redstone Arsenal project office was one of the winners.

During fiscal 2013, the department executed in-house value engineering proposals and accepted contractor-initiated value engineering change proposals producing a combined actual savings and cost avoidance of $5.5 billion.

The Joint Attack Munition Systems (JAMS) Project Office on Redstone Arsenal was an honoree.

Value engineering is DOD’s effort to continually analyze defense organizations, facilities, and processes to achieve essential functions and products at the lowest cost consistent with required performance, reliability, quality, and safety. Value engineering contributes to the department’s overall “Better Buying Power” initiative, which seeks to streamline operations, improve quality, and reduce or avoid costs.

“Affordability is an enduring principle of the department, and value engineering helps to deliver more capability at reduced cost to the taxpayer,” said Alan Shaffer, principal deputy, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. “Both DOD civilians and our contractors use value engineering to identify and implement innovative ideas that provide the department better solutions at lower cost.”

The Value Engineering Achievement Awards Program provides an incentive for government and defense industry partners to improve the value of weapon systems and programs by promoting innovation and creativity. The department selected award winners in five categories: program/ project, individual, team, organization and contractor. •

Retail Update Cabela’s announces plans for Huntsville store Cabela’s – outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear – announced on June 4 plans to open its first Alabama retail location in Huntsville.

Construction on the 80,000-square-foot store is scheduled to begin this fall and Cabela’s anticipates a fall 2015 opening. It is expected to employ 180 full-time and part-time employees, most from Huntsville and the surrounding area.

The store will be located in the newly planned Parkside Town Centre development near the intersection of I-565 and 255 at Governors West Road, near Bridge Street Towne Center.

“As we continue to expand our retail footprint in the Southeast, Cabela’s knew we needed a store in Alabama,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer. “With such a remarkable outdoor heritage and lifestyle, Alabama certainly is a Cabela’s kind of place.”

The store will be built in Cabela’s next-generation layout, designed to surround customers in an outdoor-like experience with a large mountain replica and museum-quality wildlife displays.

In addition to thousands of outdoor products, the store will include an indoor archery range and archery tech room, deli, gun library, bargain cave and fudge shop. It also will include a full-service boat shop and a comprehensive selection of wildlife and land management products, including tractors, attachments and implements.

The City of Huntsville has agreed to provide $1 million for improvements at Governors West Road to account for traffic coming in and out of the site. Director of Urban Development Shane Davis said the city’s total investment will be $3 million after a right-of-way is purchased and utilities are installed.

Currently, the company operates 56 stores across North America and has announced plans to open an additional 21 over the next two years. •

The Shops at Merchants Walk, Whole Foods break ground The groundbreaking for The Shops at Merchants Walk, anchored by Whole Foods Market, was held June 18. Additional tenants include Maki Fresh Sushi Rolls and Japanese Grill, Mountain High Outfitters, Orangetheory Fitness and Regions Bank.

The Shops at Merchants Walk, located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Bob Wallace Avenue and South Memorial Parkway, will generate an estimated $58.75 million in new sales taxes and $1.4 million in property taxes over 25 years.

“Whole Foods is internationally known for revolutionizing the experience of healthy eating through its commitment to selling high quality natural and organic food products,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This fits in with our Healthy Huntsville initiative. Whole Foods and REX developers have also selected a redevelopment site on Memorial Parkway, and this location is certain to infuse new energy into our commercial core.”

The Huntsville Whole Foods Market will cover 42,000 square feet of the 100,000-squarefoot shopping center. The Austin, Texas-based grocery store, which will employ 175-200 people, has been one of Huntsville’s most desired retailers. Shoppers will park in an adjacent two-story garage. “We look forward to opening our doors and welcoming the Huntsville community to a whole new shopping experience,” said Omar Gaye, Whole Foods Market South Region president. • Initiatives August 2014

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OLLI

makes learning a lifelong possibility W

The Move It or Lose It exercise class includes instructor Millicent Simmons and class members Nell Roberts, Alice Chang and Barbara Rice. This course will be offered again this fall.

hat’s one of the best things for local residents turning 50? They become eligible to participate at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

OLLI recently celebrated its 20th year providing affordable learning opportunities for residents ages 50-plus, whether retired, semi-retired or still working. OLLI – a nonprofit, volunteer, member-led organization – has more than 800 members, and its board members/volunteers work together with the Professional and Continuing Studies staff at UAH. And they obviously do good work. The Bernard Osher Foundation in San Francisco selected the local program as one of 120 on university campuses it would help fund.

More than 50 stimulating courses are offered during each of three terms per year providing varied subjects for members. Popular courses this spring included: Dangerous Ideas; Huntsville: History, Legends and Rumors; Ancient Cultures of South America; World’s Greatest Paintings; Elder Law; Classic Cars; Understanding the World’s Greatest Structures; Writing Your Life Story; Floral Arranging; and Natural Wonders of Alabama. There are no exams and no grades.

“OLLI is one of the brighter spots in my life,” said OLLI Board President Jerri McLain. “There’s always something going on, and OLLI members make the best friends.”

Courses are also offered in foreign languages, literature, art history, nature, finance, economics, health and psychology, civics and history, math and science, religion and handson learning.

Sometimes, OLLI members congregate off campus with picnics, dances and cultural outings, such as a trip to Atlanta to see Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s Girl With the Pearl Earring; the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Florence; Blackwell Swamp in the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge; and Belle Chevre Creamery in Elkmont.

As Dr. Ed Bernstein, a retired Alabama A&M University professor and OLLI Board member said, “OLLI provides an opportunity to be part of a community of people like us, no matter what kind of ‘us’ we are. It provides a source of new and old friends, a chance to satisfy and stimulate our quest to understand our world, a chance to once again use our skills that we acquired during our careers and a chance to develop new ones.

“OLLI provides a way to enhance our relevance to life.” •

To see class offerings and register for courses beginning in September, go to uah.edu/pcs/olli.

OLLI President Jerri McLain and OLLI instructor Vanitha Singh prepare to enter the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permafrost Research Tunnel during a trip that 25 OLLI members took to Alaska this summer.

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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

2 0 1 4 A L A B A M A U P D AT E

TOP (L-R): ROBERT CURTIS (CADENCE BANK) AND ROBERT MAYES (CHAMBER BOARD CHAIR); GOV. BENTLEY.

ABOVE: ATTENDEES AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY 2014 ALABAMA UPDATE.

BELOW (L-R): GOV. BENTLEY SHAKING HANDS WITH GEN. DENNIS VIA (ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND); MARK CURRAN (CHAMBER VICE CHAIR, GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS) WITH GOV. BENTLEY.

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WBC

tackles balance T in series of forum luncheons

by Hannah Wallace

Above: Attendees listen to a message on balance at a recent WBC forum luncheon.

Below: WBC member Dorothy Havens with Tech Stars, Inc.

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he Women’s Business Council, the advocate for women-owned businesses with the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, is conducting a four-part training series entitled “Balance”. In developing this forum, the WBC thought of one word that every professional woman could use.

“We came up with ‘Balance’ in terms of home life, professional life, and all of the other lives and roles women play in between,” said Pammie Jimmar, the Chamber’s Small Business & Events Director. “As an advocate for women-owned businesses, the council designed this series to offer mechanisms to help businesswomen balance personal and business situations that they may face on a daily basis.”

Part one of the series, held in April, focused on “Personal Care and Life Balance.” The second session took place in June, and it centered on “Balance and Support.” The third installment of this series is planned for Aug. 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and will focus on “Balance with Business.”

The final session, entitled “Balance – The Sandwich,” will be held on Oct. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This session will bring together all of the lessons on “Balance” into one cohesive package.

In terms of what one can expect from this forum, the second session focused on “Creating Balance by Developing an Engaging Support System.” The keynote speaker was Lori King-Taylor, a principal consultant in human performance training and organizational/personal development at Trinity Performance Solutions in Madison. Her presentation offered a wealth of information on the importance of work-life balance. She began by reminding the attendees that no one is promised tomorrow; she posed the question: Am I living the life I really want to live?

“Our jobs and careers are not the only things we’re passionate about,” King-Taylor said. Whether it is nurturing a hobby or simply spending more time with family, work-life balance is a necessity that is made possible by a holistic, comprehensive, trustworthy and reliable support system, she added.

According to King-Taylor’s research, the negative effects of no work-life balance range from irritability and forgetfulness to weight gain and heart attack. The higher your level of stress, the poorer your ability to cope with everyday life events, she said. Almost 90 percent of Americans say worklife balance is a problem, and 70 percent consider their work hours as having an adverse effect on their health.

Therefore, King-Taylor recommended making a commitment to build emotional/mental, physical and professional support systems. Employers can help their employees foster better work-life balance as well. King-Taylor said that in the end, we all want to be able to go to our graves saying “What a ride!”

Jimmar praised this forum for being most beneficial for businesswomen because “it gives a more intimate look at the concerns and successes of women, where they can bounce ideas and life lessons off of each other in a peer-to-peer setting.”

Register for the event at hsvchamber.org. Although the program is presented by the WBC, men are also welcome. The cost is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members for the breakfasts and luncheons.

The mission of the Women’s Business Council is to be the leader in developing and sustaining a fertile, creative environment in which diverse women-owned businesses realize a high level of success and make a significant contribution to the economic well-being of the community. •

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

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

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

Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, Economic Development Specialist | project manager

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

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

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

Tina Leopold, government & public affairs assistant

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

Lori Warner, accounting specialist Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Membership Wendy Kirk, vice president, member engagement Donna McCrary, membership retention manager Robert Ivory, membership services assistant

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

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

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

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In the Spotlight, continued from page 20 – Give it your all and do not give yourself too much credit when times are good or too much blame when times are bad. Be

humble and confident in carrying out your work, forever prayerful that God’s will be done and that he will take care of you.

Show, Don’t Tell. Let your good works speak louder than your words.

Tune out the Noise. Manage outside influences that compete for your time and energy. Focus on the positives, your strengths and your mission.

Don’t do it on someone else’s time. If you are still employed, be careful not to use your time at work and company’s resources to produce your product. Manage yourself to do what you know is right and to stop yourself from doing something that you know is wrong. Self-control, self-reliance and self-discipline are paramount to success.

When asked to name the “coolest” product that LogiCore provides, Bouldin said, “It’s our smart, knowledgeable, friendly, good-looking employees with a willingworker, can-do attitude! The top notch service provided by our employees is our best calling card.

“Outside of that, another one of our coolest products are the integrated electronic operation and maintenance instructions that are embedded in tactical aviation and missile systems and multi-configurable and hardened military facilities that support the Ballistic Missile Defense System.”

As the winner of the Russell Brown Leadership Award in 2013, Bouldin said she was both humbled and honored.

“To be recognized by your peers for your work is a vote of confidence and is a boost of inspiration,” she said. “It is good to be recognized for the work you do in the community and in the industry. It encourages me to continue to do things that positively impact my customers, workforce and my community.

“Most importantly, it is the litmus test to help keep me on track!” • 34

August 2014 Initiatives

Making Connections The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County hosts numerous events each month to create networking and business growth opportunities for members and to coordinate efforts to grow the local economy. Examples of recent events include:

Ambassador Luncheon presented by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Ambassadors listen to testimonials of how being involved in the program helps grow their clientele.

Armed Forces Celebration:

Remaining Events, Aug. 7-9 Thursday, Aug. 7 10 a.m.

Purple Heart Day awards program at the Purple Heart Memorial which is now located at the Huntsville/Madison County Veterans Memorial.

The community is invited.

Friday, Aug. 8

Mind Your Health Workshop

5 - 9 p.m.

Armed Forces Celebration Softball Games at the Huntsville Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex Field #2 at 3590 Patton Road. There is no charge to attend.

• Game 1 - Team Redstone Leadership against AUSA Leadership. First pitch: 5 p.m.

• Game 2 - Huntsville/ Madison County Leadership vs.

Senior All Stars. First pitch: 7 p.m.

Social workers, educators and concerned citizens attended a mental health workshop put on by Little Orange Fish and the Mental Health Center of Madison County.

Small Business Training Series Attendees learn email marketing tips during a Small Business Training Series seminar at the Chamber.

Chamber members benefit from networking events, electronic and printed publications, educational programs for small business and, perhaps most importantly, the knowledge that they are part of a collective effort to establish Huntsville/Madison County as a stronger, more visible community in the global competition for economic growth.

Saturday, Aug. 9 10 a.m.

F16 Red Tail Dedication at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Aviation Challenge to honor the legacy squadron.

Expected guests include three of the Tuskegee Airmen. The community is invited.

Also during AFC, free or discounted admissions to attractions for active or retired military I.D. card holders (and military families) are offered by: Huntsville Museum of Art; U.S. Space and Rocket Center; Burritt on the Mountain; EarlyWorks Museum Complex; Sci-Quest, Hands-on Science Center and Huntsville Botanical Garden.

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PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #40

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August 2014 Initiatives