Better Together At Bradley, we combine legal experience and knowledge with a sophisticated understanding of the industries that drive Huntsville. We use our talents, judgment, work ethic, and experience to come up with practical, strategic solutions specifically tailored to our clients’ business operations. We go above and beyond expectations to help our clients meet their goals. Our Huntsville attorneys leverage a broad range of perspectives to help achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand.
200 Clinton Ave. W | Suite 900 | Huntsville, AL 35801 | 256.517.5100 No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Frank M. Caprio., 256.517.5142, fcaprio@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 200 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 900, Huntsville, AL 35801. Š2018
Good health begins with good information. Healthgrades has announced that Huntsville Hospital is the only hospital in Alabama to be included in America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery for five consecutive years (2015-2019). The respected national organization also recognized Huntsville Hospital as the only one in Alabama to be among the Top 5% of hospitals in the nation for Spine Surgery for 2019. And if you’re counting stars, Healthgrades also gave a Five-Star distinction (its highest rating) to Huntsville Hospital’s Total Knee Replacement program.
Improving lives.
huntsvillehospital.org
welcome new chamber members Joined in January 2019 The Abercrombie Group Alabama School of Cyber & Engineering Foundation, Inc. Axxeum, Inc. BitBros, LLC Blue Summit Supplies Joined in February 2019 Cogentica, LLC 256 Realty, LLC Davis, Redding & Associates LLC Aquaphase, Inc. DRIVESMARTUSA Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken of Madison Enterprise Ventures Corporation CrossTek Construction Farmers Insurance Group - Lori Brewer Electronic Express Forever Young Senior Veterans Every Child Has a Story Fully Promoted Exchange Media Group GenConnect Recruiting & Consulting, Inc. Facebook Data Center Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama Family Security Credit Union Health Originz, LLC Floor Coverings International of Huntsville Home 2 Suites by Hilton Gray Analytics Hometown Lenders, Inc. Healthy Fun Worx Humatics The Hendley Group Huntsville ChemDry Hoar Construction La-Z-Boy Home Furniture Holder Construction Company Luminous Counseling & Consulting LLC HoneyBaked Ham Company Martin Industrial Supply Huntsville STEAM Works MDW Associates Interconnect Systems Corp. Meridian Brick & Masonry Supply JMA Designs Microtel Inn & Suites Job Impulse, Inc. PMI North Alabama Chapter KG Consulting Group Inc. Radial Solutions Inc. Maestro Maintenance Management Redmond Construction Company LLC Mortgage Right - Huntsville Schoel Engineering NB Holdings Silverbeet Creative Phased N Research, Inc. Technical Micronics Controls, Inc. Politically Correct Consulting Trident Security Solutions, LLC. SJ&L General Contractor Twin Peaks Suburban Extended Stay Xtralis by Honeywell Team Buxton, Keller Williams Realty Technologie, Inc. TIAG Vinny’s Greek and Indian Grill Viz3Dspace Design & Photography Ward Scott Architecture 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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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
AS OF MARCH 20, 2018
INVESTORS HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
REGIONAL PARTNERS
LEADERSHIP FORUM
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BBVA Compass ■ Crestwood Medical Center ■ Dynetics, Inc. ■ General Atomics Electromagnetics Lockheed Martin Corporation ■ Northrop Grumman Corporation ■ PNC Bank ■ Raytheon Company ■ SAIC SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Yulista
CHAMBER TRUSTEES AEgis Technologies Group ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ Akima, LLC ■ Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi ■ Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. ■ Five Stones Research Corporation ■ Intrepid ■ INTUITIVE ■ Jerry Damson Honda Acura ■ KBRwyle Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep ■ Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. ■ PARSONS ■ S3, Inc. ■ Sealy Management Company, Inc. SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center ■ Synovus ■ Torch Technologies
PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus ■ Anglin Reichmann Armstrong ■ ASRC Federal ■ B. L. Harbert International, LLC ■ Baron Services, Inc. ■ BASF Corporation ■ BB&T ■ Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Brown Precision, Inc. ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) ■ Davidson Technologies, Inc. ■ Google Fiber Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association ■ IBERIABANK ■ J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company ■ Keel Point, LLC ■ L3 Technologies ■ LMI ■ LogiCore LSINC Corporation ■ Progress Bank ■ Radiance Technologies ■ RE/MAX Alliance ■ SCI Technology, Inc. ■ SELEX Galileo Inc. ■ ServisFirst Bank ■ Sirote & Permutt, PC Spirit Coach, LLC ■ Steak-Out (Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc.) ■ The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ Turner Construction Company ■ Wells Fargo Bank ■ Woody Anderson Ford PROGRESS INVESTORS 4SITE, Inc. ■ Air Essentials, Inc. ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty ■ Armstrong Relocation Co. Huntsville LLC ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ Bailey-Harris Construction ■ BancorpSouth Bid Designs, LLC ■ BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc. ■ Bryant Bank ■ Canvas, Inc. ■ CB&S Bank ■ Century Automotive ■ CFD Research Corp. ■ CGI Federal ■ Coast Personnel Services ■ Croy Engineering, LLC ■ DC Blox, Inc. deciBel Research ■ Deloitte LLP ■ DESE Research, Inc. ■ Engineering Design Technologies/EDT-THA Architecture ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ Fernandez Financial Group ■ FITE Building Co. ■ FLS Translation & Interpreting Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC ■ Garver ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Cars Huntsville ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville/Madison Co. Convention & Visitors Bureau ■ Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. ■ INTERFUZE Corp. Investor’s Resource – Raymond James Financial Services ■ IronMountain Solutions ■ The Karen Morris Team at Keller Williams Realty ■ Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider ■ LINE-X, LLC ■ The Lioce Group, Inc. ■ MAG Aerospace MSB Analytics, Inc. ■ National Bank of Commerce ■ nLogic, LLC ■ North Alabama Multiple Listing Service ■ PALCO ■ PFM Financial Advisors LLC ■ PHOENIX ■ PROJECTXYZ, Inc. ■ QTEC Aerospace ■ Quadrus Corp. ■ Ready Mix USA Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Co. ■ Rosenblum Realty ■ RUAG Space USA ■ S&ME, Inc. ■ Sigmatech, Inc. ■ Snelling ■ Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. ■ Technicolor ■ TriVector Services, Inc. ■ Troy 7, Inc. U.S. Space & Rocket Center ■ Valor Communities ■ Venturi, Inc. ■ Volkert, Inc. ■ Warren Averett, LLC ■ West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. ■ Wilmer & Lee, P.A. ■ Wiregrass Construction Co. ■ Worxtime an Equifax Co.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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Tammy Pratt • DeMarco McClain • Angela Ford • Tim Singleton • Angelina Pettway • Will Alexander • Cynthia Webster • Barry Bryan
The STRENGTH of COMMUNITY At the heart of every community are the dreams, aspirations and goals of its people. Bank Independent is committed to helping our customers achieve their goals and make a positive difference in our communities. SERVICE Bank Independent has served the communities of North Alabama since 1947 and grown in strength to manage over $1.6 billion in assets. Now the seventh largest bank in Alabama, we have expanded into Madison County and continue to grow by helping our communities grow. CONVENIENCE With 28 physical locations to serve North Alabama plus our Digital Sales Office to serve customers anywhere in the country, our vision is to be the bank of choice in the communities we serve. Our team members are dedicated to offering the convenience our customers expect. COMMUNITY Bank Independent is committed to helping our communities grow by investing locally and sharing our success. We are proud to bring our financial strength to Madison County to help our customers make dreams come true, continue to aspire and meet their goals.
Banking with strength. Bank Independent.
BIBANK.COM | MEMBER FDIC | 877.865.5050
APR 2019
JOB JUMPSTART
COVER STORY
21ST CENTURY LIBRARIES
PAGE 12
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New kind of Career Fair planned for area high school seniors
Toyota’s $288M investment to increase production by 35%
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
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HREGI INVESTORS
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT | BOARD LISTING
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HMCPL moves forward with two new libraries for Huntsville
On the Cover: Darrius Watkins works on the 4-cylinder engine line at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS
12 SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR RECAP 13 SPRING IN THE PARK: Upcoming events in Cummings Research Park 14 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING RECAP + ANNUAL REPORT 18 TOWN MADISON: Development will be home of Rocket City Trash Pandas 22
CHAMBER UPDATES: New staffer plus ChamberON
23 BICENTENNIAL LEGISLATIVE KICK-OFF RECAP 26 OPPORTUNITIES DOWN UNDER: Aerospace, defense targets at Avalon Air Show 27 CHAMBER FOUNDATION UPDATE 30 REDSTONE PROFILE: LTG Ed Daly, U.S. Army Materiel Command 33 SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS 36 BRIGHTER FUTURE: Dr. Altenkirch to leave UAH in a better position 37
COMMUNITY PROFILE
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CHAMBER STAFF | ASSOCIATED ORGS
editorial staff publisher Chip Cherry, CCE editor
Claire Aiello editorial designer
Kristi Sherrard contributing writers
Kent Ballard, Lucia Cape, Georgina Chapman, Devon Elston, Amanda Falkner, Ray Garner, Megan Gully, Samantha Magnuson, Melanie Thornton, Mike Ward ad sales Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org
Richard Bigoney rbigoney@hsvchamber.org
Tina Blankenship tblankenship@hsvchamber.org
Keith Johnson kjohnson@hsvchamber.org
Our mission: To prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.
HSVchamber.org (additional contact information on page 38) Chamber members: You are encouraged to contribute ideas for our publications, including Initiatives magazine. Please send items to comms@hsvchamber.org. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber maintains editorial control. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
APR 2019 initiatives
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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2019 Executive Committee Kim Lewis, Chair, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Kevin Byrnes, Chair-Elect, Raytheon Company Gary Bolton, Immediate Past Chair, ADTRAN, Inc. Ron Poteat, Chair, Chamber Foundation, Regions Bank Lynn Troy, Secretary/Treasurer, Troy 7, Inc. Jeff Gronberg, Vice Chair, Economic Development &
A Message from
Chip Cherry
Industry Relations, deciBel Research, Inc.
Alicia Ryan, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, LSINC Corporation
David Fernandes, Vice Chair, HREGI, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders, and Friends:
Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications,
The concept of a second chance is compelling. As we move from the classroom to start our working life, sometimes people make choices they regret. Over 600 people had a chance for a fresh start because of the Second Chance Job Fair. Sixty-five employers met with 637 people during the event. As a result of employers willing to consider hiring people who were looking for a second chance, and people willing to engage in the job fair, lives will be changed in a positive way. Thank you to all those who made the event a huge success. We look forward to being part of the team that hosts another Second Chance Job Fair this fall.
Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Membership,
We tip our hats to the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Team for being selected by Toyota for yet another expansion! Corporate Toyota has faith in the TMMAL Team – they know that the men and women who make TMMAL a high functioning organization are both willing and capable of successfully launching the new product lines with the quality and reliability Toyota is known for worldwide. We are honored to have you as our partners and look forward to growing with you! The Chamber’s Education Foundation is launching the Senior Sprint Career Fair to help those seniors who will graduate soon and have not decided on a direction for life after high school. Helping our young people make an informed decision about a career and zeroing in on a path prior to graduation is powerful. I encourage you to read more about the program on page 12 and to get involved. I am excited to welcome Amber Greenwood to our team as the Vice President of Investor Relations. Amber has a solid background in Chamber work, having worked her way up through the ranks of the Waco, Texas Chamber to a similar position in that organization. She will be learning about Huntsville/Madison County while ramping up in her new role here. I know you will welcome her and her family as they weave themselves into the fabric of our community. Thank you to our State Leaders, Senators, and Representatives for crafting and approving the Rebuild Alabama Act. Infrastructure makes prosperity possible, and Alabama’s roads needed a capital injection in order for our State to continue to grow and prosper. Your actions will have a long, lasting positive impact on the citizens and the economy of Alabama. I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon!
Chip Cherry, CCE President & CEO Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
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Brown Precision, Inc. Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, Transcend LLC
Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, Tennessee Valley BRAC, Sirote & Permutt, PC
Penny Billings, Chair-Appointed, BancorpSouth - Huntsville Craig Naudain, Chair-Appointed, SAIC Dr. Karockas Watkins, Chair-Appointed, Ability Plus, Inc. Mayor Tommy Battle, ex-officio member, City of Huntsville Mayor Paul Finley, ex-officio member, City of Madison Chairman Dale Strong, ex-officio member, Madison County Commission
Chris Pape, General Counsel, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Chip Cherry, CCE, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Elected Board Bill Bailey, Radiance Technologies, Inc. James Barclay Blake Bentley, SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. Lynn Collyar, Deloitte LLP John Dansby, Polaris Industries, Inc. Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc. John Eagan, BB&T Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group, LLC Dr. Joe Green, Davidson Technologies, Inc. Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation Mike Gullion, Spur John Hall, All Points Logistics, LLC Ginger Harper, IBERIABANK Josh Herren, Yulista Lee Holland, Turner Construction Company Melody Holt, Holt & Holt Entrepreneurship, LLC Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Amanda Howard, Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty
Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions Lauren Johannesmeyer, Google Fiber, Huntsville Sean Kelly, Regions Bank David King, Dynetics, Inc. Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Kevin McCombs, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Janice Migliore, PALCO Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Jami Peyton, Canvas, Inc. Jim Rogers, Lockheed Martin Corporation Ashley Ryals, Homegrown, LLC Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Sameer Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Beth Sippel, Synovus Robert “Bob” Smith, Booz Allen Hamilton Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC Cynthia Streams, Domino's (Valley Pizza, Inc.) Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama John Watson, Torch Technologies Dennis Weese, Line-X LLC A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Colorectal Cancer is...
PREVENTable. TREATable. BEATable.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the United States.* Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone who is 45 years of age and up were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. Schedule your screening today! It could save your life. To schedule a screening at Crestwood, North Alabama’s only ASGE certified Endoscopy Center, call 256-429-4986.
*American Cancer Society
CrestwoodMedCenter.com
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS Huntsville City Schools hosts Career Tech Signing Day SNAP:
Just like you’ve seen with athletic scholarship signings, these seniors in Huntsville City Schools signed letters of intent for different technical career opportunities on February 21. The students are from various clusters, including Building Science, Engineering Design & Advanced Manufacturing, Welding, Government & Public Administration, Information Technology, Precision Machining, and Project Lead the Way. After the signings, students met with various companies to talk about what next steps to take to secure jobs.
New high bay facility On February 21, Teledyne Brown Engineering held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new High Bay Manufacturing Building on the company’s main campus in Huntsville. This facility will support work across the company’s multiple business areas, and provide the capability to manufacture larger hardware and increased quantities. “We have invested significant resources to expand our capabilities and enable us to support our robust rate of growth. We are already beginning to plan our next expansion,” said Jan Hess, President of Teledyne Brown Engineering.
Chamber supports Rebuild Alabama Act On March 8, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber joined with Chambers from Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile, and with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama to support Governor Kay Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama Act. The measure passed, and was signed into law a few days later. “Transportation infrastructure is critical to the economic vitality of our region and the State. We applaud the efforts of Governor Ivey, Speaker McCutcheon, Senate Pro-Tem Marsh, and members of the Alabama House and Senate for crafting the Rebuild Alabama Act,” said Chip Cherry, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. “The increase in funding for transportation infrastructure projects will make the roads safer for our citizens, support economic development, and provide one of the key foundational elements needed for future growth and development.”
The facility will allow Teledyne Brown Engineering to continue providing complex systems and hardware for the Defense, Maritime, Space, and Energy markets. Some of the initial programs that are supported from this building include hardware for NASA’s Space Launch System, Navy subsea vehicles, weapons systems for the Littoral Combat Ship, and systems for the Department of Energy. The company currently has approximately 40 new positions available to support its increased capacity and programs.
New construction at Redstone Gateway
LARRY CALLAHAN
Facebook’s Huntsville Data Center is coming along nicely. The $750 million project is being built on 340 acres in North Huntsville Industrial Park and will be one million square feet once complete. Facebook has a handful of jobs posted for the data center – visit Facebook.com/HuntsvilleDataCenter to learn more and apply. Once construction is finished, the data center will employ approximately 100 people.
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On March 7, Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) broke ground on a 76,000-squarefoot building at Redstone Gateway, a growing development located just outside Redstone Arsenal Gate 9. Half of the building is already pre-leased. Once construction is finished this fall, Georgia Tech Research Institute will occupy half of the space. Paul Adkins, COPT’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said the company is “committed to developing a first-class, pedestrian-friendly and highly visible development that offers conveniences to attract and retain talent.” KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH
Data Center update
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
State-of-the-art Planetarium The U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE®) held an event on February 28 to open the new INTUITIVE Planetarium. The former IMAX™ SpaceDome Theater has been completely renovated for the new planetarium, which employs the cutting-edge Evans & Sutherland ESX system with Digistar 6 capabilities on a new Spitz NanoSeam dome. The Rocket Center is the only place in the southeast to showcase this advanced “8K” technology.
building, designed by Chapman Sisson Architects, is directly across from the hospital’s main entrance and will be connected to it by a walking bridge. The new tower will feature 375,000 square feet of surgical, patient care, and specialized physical therapy space.
Chinese Lanterns are here! The Huntsville Botanical Garden’s biggest exhibit to date is now open! The Chinese Lantern Festival is at the Garden through May 19, and boasts more than 1,000 illuminated lantern displays of wildlife from around the world. Festival activities include live Kung Fu performances, Chinese shadow puppetry and a marketplace with authentic Chinese folk arts and crafts. The lanterns are enchanting in the sunlight and magical in the moonlight. Special tickets are required for nighttime visits, and it’s recommended you purchase them in advance. Membership or garden admission covers viewing during the day. Please visit hsvbg.org for more information.
“This is the finest investment INTUITIVE could have made in our community for space education,” Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of USSRC, said. “Huntsville deserves a world-class planetarium, and you have to travel outside this region to see anything comparable. This is an investment for decades to come.” In addition to full-dome planetarium shows, the USSRC will offer a mix of in-house programming and live performances created by its astronomy education team as well as space- and science-themed films. After-hours events are also planned.
Hospital Construction Huntsville Hospital’s new Orthopedic & Spine Tower is under construction at the corner of Gallatin Street and St. Clair Avenue. Scheduled to open in 2021, the new seven-story
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
■ Compiled by Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications
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WORKFORCE & EDUCATION
Job Jumpstart New kind of Career Fair planned for area high school seniors
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recent article in Inc.com highlighted the Top 6 Workforce Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2019. The article quoted Codie Sanchez, an entrepreneur, investor, and speaker who discussed the incoming boom of younger workers in the workforce. “The high rate of employment allows a younger generation to enter the workforce at a faster rate than usual,” Sanchez said. The article continued by discussing mentorship as an effective strategy for younger employees. Madison County has experienced a swelling of occupational opportunities in the last year. More than 5,000 jobs were added in our area in 2018. This recent growth was greater than the total number of jobs added in the region in 2016 and 2017 combined! Now, we face the challenge of preparing the workforce for these new opportunities. In order to adjust, there is no doubt that employers in the region will have to open the doors of employment to a younger workforce in order to fill jobs and retain long-term employees. Our Chamber has developed a fundamental solution to creating a bridge into the
workforce for younger individuals. The Senior Sprint is a unique opportunity for graduating high school seniors in Huntsville and Madison, and Madison and Limestone counties. Employers: please join us May 1 at the Jaycee Community Building in Huntsville as we bring in students from Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools and Madison County Schools who have not fully developed a post-graduation plan and introduce them to several training and entry level career-based opportunities. Homeschool and private school students are also welcome to join us. Companies are invited to participate for free. Please register at bit.ly/senior-sprint We are very excited about the new opportunities and the positive impact of a younger workforce. Our ability to remain flexible when faced with positive challenges is one of the reasons we are considered A Smart Place! ■ Kent Ballard Workforce Education Specialist, Chamber Foundation
Second Chance Job Fair: We’re already planning the next one!
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e want to thank everyone who participated in the Second Chance Job Fair, held February 27 at the Jaycee Community Building in Huntsville. Nearly 650 job seekers came through the doors to meet with employers and community partners, and many scheduled interviews in the coming days. We are so grateful for our members’ support – and to everyone who helped spread the word, from our media partners, to community agencies and others who encouraged people to attend and take the opportunity for a “second chance”. We are already planning the next event – look for this in late summer or early fall. Here are a few comments from companies who participated: ■ “This was a great event!” – Aurora Esquivel, Onin Staffing ■ “We set up interviews the day after the job fair. All the candidates came by, and we hired about 10 people from the event.” – Veronica Borjas, Alabama Lawn Masters ■ “We hired an experienced housekeeper, and she’s already started with us!” – Jennifer Middleton, Director of Sales, Candlewood Suites Huntsville-Research Park ■ “TLG [The Lioce Group] received over 30 resumes from the show. We have one candidate already in for an interview which looks promising. Our time at the job fair was more than worth it.” – Nick Lioce, President, The Lioce Group ■ 12
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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Spring in the Park
S
pring in Cummings Research Park means more fantastic outdoor opportunities! With several events each month, we hope you’ll come network with other professionals in the area or simply socialize with colleagues and friends. Back by popular demand, Food Truck Fest (FTF) is rolling up a whole month early. Starting in April, join us for a fun lunch experience featuring four unique vendors and a dessert option to satisfy any sweet tooth! The kind folks at Intrepid have again volunteered their parking lot as the FTF hot spot, so you can find us there the second Tuesday of each month through November. If you enjoyed the Pop-Up Coffee events, you won’t want to miss Pop-Up Popsicles starting in May. Throughout the summer, you can delight in free popsicles from local vendors every other Thursday afternoon. We all know the intensity of Alabama summers, so what better way to cool down than with a nice, cold popsicle? Last, but certainly not least, Happy Hours at THE LOT are back
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
CUMMINGS RESEARCH PARK
and better than ever. If you still haven’t heard about The Lot, this unique event space is located on Voyager Way near Bridge Street, directly across from LogiCore. Enjoy a free selection of craft beer and wine, and each monthly Happy Hour features a one-of-a-kind theme. On April 11, the “Park in the Park” theme will bring all the fun of micro rec parks to CRP with live music and creative displays. For more event information and to keep posted on all things CRP, visit cummingsresearchpark.com. There, you’ll find more about each event and can subscribe to our newsletter. Also follow CRP and CRP: The Lot on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ■ Amanda Falkner, CRP Intern
@CRPHuntsville
@CRPHSV
@crphsv
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SIGNATURE EVENT
Getting from ‘No’ to a ‘Yes’ Annual Membership Meeting keynote offers unique perspective
I
PHOTOS BY JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
t can be tough in business to get someone to say “yes.” Heck, it can be tough to get a “maybe.” Why not go for “no” instead? That was the suggestion offered by Chris Voss, CEO and Founder of The Black Swan Group, our keynote speaker at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Annual Membership Meeting on February 6. Voss is a former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and suggested tactics he used in talking with kidnappers can also be applied to business negotiations. Try for the “no” instead. The person you’re talking with finds it liberating to say “no” – and he or she likely isn’t expecting your question to be phrased this way. For example, you might phrase your question as: Would you be opposed to me offering X figure as a starting point? “No” is the answer you’re seeking. Keep trying that type of questioning, going for more “No’s” until the other person says “That’s right.” You’re establishing rapport, creating momentum to keep the conversation going, and eventually, you can reveal the real stakes. Voss explains various tactics like this in his book Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It. In many cases, lives did depend on what he said to people on the other end of the phone.
New Board Chair Installed, DSA Announced
Top photo: The 2019 Annual Membership Meeting Keynote Speaker Chris Voss; lower left: Gary Bolton, 2018 Chamber Board Chair presenting the Distinguished Service Award to LSINC’s Alicia Ryan; lower right: Kim Lewis accepting her role as 2019 Chamber Board Chair from Gary Bolton.
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During the meeting, our 2018 Board Chair Gary Bolton, officially handed over the reins to Kim Lewis for 2019. Lewis is the CEO of PROJECTXYZ and the first African-American woman to serve as our Chair. Bolton also surprised Alicia Ryan with the Distinguished Service Award. This is the Chamber’s highest award given to an individual. Ryan, who is CEO of LSINC Corporation, is helping to establish the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, a new state magnet school in Huntsville. – continued on page 16 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
VALUE
Training for Executors Essential Documents
Investments Lifestyle Sustainment
Transfer of Wealth
Wealth Preservation
End of Life Wishes
Tax Strategy
GOALS Long-term Care
Housing
Medicare
Healthcare
Elder Fraud
Caregiving
Liability Mitigation
Transportation
VISION
COMPREHENSIVE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Your Trusted Partner for Life 100 Essex Court, Suite C, Madison, AL 35758. 256-772-4646. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Investor’s Resource is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Neither Raymond James Financial Services nor any Raymond James Financial Advisor renders advice on tax or legal issues. These matters should be discussed with the appropriate professional. invresource.com
Continued from page 14 –
2018 Annual Report We also distributed copies of our 2018 Annual Report to those in attendance. If you need additional ones to share, please pick them up at the Chamber. It is also available on hsvchamber.org. Thanks to Davidson Technologies for sponsoring our Annual Report! â– Claire Aiello, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
The Chamber is the lead economic development organization for Huntsville/Madison County, one of the most dynamic economies in the United States.
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NEW companies
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existing companies
185
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4,207 jobs $2,363,367,600 in capital investment
982 jobs $346,653,096 in capital investment
existing industry visits
initiatives APR 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE CHAMBER’S 2018 ANNUAL REPORT: DAVIDSON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PUBLICATIONS
10,000
APPROX.
READERS PER MONTH
DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS:
12,408
PRINT ISSUE
TOTAL READS
53,700 IMPRESSIONS AVERAGE READ TIME: 5:58 MORE THAN
Huntsville ranks No. 7 Best Place to Live in the U.S. – U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, APRIL 2018
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valentgroup.com | 256-534-1944
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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REGIONAL GROWTH
Town Madison Development will serve as new home of Rocket City Trash Pandas
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visitors to see a ballgame, spend the night, and to shop and dine. Recent announcements include Duluth Trading Company and new hotel attractions, the likes of which our region has not experienced before. “With the addition of this multi-use venue and construction of the road infrastructure, Town Madison is off and running,” said land developer Louis Breland. “National and regional retailers and restaurants are working with us every day to find their spot in this development. “It’s truly exciting to see construction taking place, creating a genuine live, work, and play environment.” Along with an Avid Hotel and Hilton Garden Inn, a 12-field travel baseball complex called Pro Player Park is also joining the lineup with new restaurants being announced this Spring. With over 500 acres in Town Madison, you can expect to see announcements of new tenants and exciting projects for years to come. Residents and commuters can see the progress just off of I-565 in Madison. A full interchange close to Zierdt Road will positively impact the booming growth of the district. The steel frames and constant buzz of construction remind us that by year’s end, Town Madison and the multi-use venue will be open for business. Until then, you can find me happily humming “Take Me Out to the Ball Game…” ■ Contributed by Samantha Magnuson, City of Madison RENDERINGS BY POPULOUS
alt Whitman so wisely put, “I see great things in baseball. It’s our game – the American game.” If baseball promises to be America’s favorite pastime, then the North Alabama region is delivering a huge win! The AA Minor League Trash Panda nation is captivating a crowd, and the Town Madison district as a whole is thriving – keeping pace with multiple economic development news items in our region. Anchoring the project, a 7,000-seat multi-use venue will house the Rocket City Trash Pandas in addition to activities including corporate gatherings, movies in the park, concerts, and other community attractions. The 150-room Margaritaville Resort directly adjacent to the ballpark will allow patrons to soak in the lazy river resting just beyond the outfield. “With Margaritaville in our back yard, I anticipate fans traveling to stay for the weekend or even our locals taking time for a staycation,” says Ralph Nelson, managing partner and CEO of the Rocket City Trash Pandas. “The community support around the team has been electric. We haven’t even thrown out the first pitch, and the Trash Pandas shattered every known Minor League Baseball record for brand popularity.” Nelson says they also plan to announce a concert series in the coming months. With over two and a half miles of interstate frontage along Interstate 565, Town Madison is a regional development that will attract
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More Lines, More Jobs Toyota’s $288M investment to increase production by 35% by Claire Aiello Toyota has made several significant announcements since it first began production in Huntsville in 2003. The company isn’t slowing down, either. In fact, it announced its largest expansion to date on March 14: two new engine lines, one to produce 4-cylinders and another for V6 engines. This will increase the plant’s production volume by 35 percent by 2021. The $288 million investment comes with 450 new jobs, the largest hiring need in the plant’s history. The project also includes a building expansion. “I’m so proud of our team members and their commitment to building world-class engines,” said David Fernandes, Toyota Alabama president. “It is because of our workforce and statewide partnerships that Toyota has continued to grow and prosper in Alabama. The new engine lines will allow us to respond quicker to customer needs and strengthen our competitive edge in the industry.” This investment will increase annual engine capacity at the Huntsville plant from 670,000 to 900,000 by the end of 2021, to increase product flexibility and better accommodate market demand. It is the only Toyota plant globally to build 4-cylinder, V6, and V8 engines under one roof. This was one of several announcements made by Toyota nationwide. However, Huntsville’s plant expansion carries the highest investment and number of new jobs, increasing total employment to about 1,800. Other plants that announced expansions are in Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
DATE MILESTONE February 2001
Toyota announces $220 million investment to build a V8 engine plant. Named Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL), it will employ 350, and it will mark the first time ever that V8 engines will be produced outside of Japan.
April 2003
Production of V8 engines begins.
July 2003
TMMAL announces a new $20 million investment to expand operations to produce V6 engines; 150 new jobs will be created.
September 2004 May 2005 January 2008
August 2009
September 2011 March 2012
TMMAL announces a new $250 million investment to double its size and increase engine capacity; 300 new jobs will be created. Production of V6 engines begins. One millionth engine produced. TMMAL announces a new $147 million investment to produce fourcylinder engines becoming the only Toyota plant globally to produce 4-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines; 240 new jobs will be created. Production of 4-cylinder engines begins. Two millionth engine produced.
May 2012
TMMAL announces a new $80 million investment to increase V6 engine capacity; 125 new jobs will be created.
June 2013
TMMAL announces a new $150 million investment to boost machining capacity for V6 engines. TMMAL’s cumulative investment tops $850 million and employment is 1,200.
January 2014
Production of expanded V6 engine line begins.
February 2014
Three millionth engine produced.
September 2015
Four millionth engine produced.
February 2017
Five millionth engine produced.
September 2017
have become part of the fabric of the state of Alabama. They have become corporate partners that give back to the community.” “Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has been the backbone of Huntsville’s advanced manufacturing economy for 16 years,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This latest expansion, the company’s seventh in Huntsville, signals Toyota’s confidence in our workforce and its commitment to continued investment in this facility.” The plant occupies 200 acres, and has already grown to 1.1 million square feet. The team produced about 630,000 engines in 2018, including 4-cylinders for the RAV4, Highlander, and Corolla; V6 engines for the Tacoma and Highlander; and V8 engines for the Sequoia and Tundra. “We are thrilled to celebrate with Toyota, an incredible partner,” said Chip Cherry, President & CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. “Not only do they bring good paying jobs, their company and employees also give back to our schools and community. We appreciate all they have done during their two decades here, and we look forward to a bright future with more success.”
Student Recognition Fernandes also recognized students from Calhoun Community College and Alabama A&M University who were in attendance. The students currently participate in workforce development programs supported by Toyota. “When I look at these students here today, it just makes me more comfortable that our future is bright here at Toyota Alabama,” he said.
Literacy Gift In conjunction with the expansions, the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation announced a $1 million grant to the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) to help break generational cycles of poverty through family literacy. Of that amount, $500,000 will be directly invested in Huntsville and Decatur. This new donation brings Toyota’s total contribution over its 28-year partnership with NCFL to $50 million. To date, 420 Toyota Family Learning Centers have impacted more than 4.5 million parents and children across the United States. ■ ANNOUNCEMENT PHOTOS BY JEFF WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
To date, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has invested $1.26 billion in Huntsville. It has had seven major investments and five building expansions since breaking ground in 2001. Toyota Alabama currently employs 1,350 people. As of last year, the Huntsville team reached the incredible milestone of six million engines made at the plant. “The automotive sector in the state of Alabama is a story of tremendous success, and over a very short period of time,” said Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield. “The reason for that success is that we have great corporate partners like Toyota that
Toyota announces $106 million investment to upgrade 4-cylinder production line to produce TNGA next generation engines; 50 new jobs will be created.
August 2018
Six millionth engine produced.
March 2019
Toyota announces new 4-cylinder and V6 engine line to increase production volume by 35 percent; $288 million investment with 450 new jobs will be created.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
APR 2019 initiatives
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Chamber Updates: A new staff addition plus ChamberON starts strong
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e are excited to introduce you to a new member of our team! Amber Greenwood joined the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber on March 25 as our new vice president of Investor Relations. Greenwood moved here with her family a few months ago after her husband, Jim, was hired by Northrop Grumman. They previously lived in Waco, Texas, where Amber worked with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce from 2001 to 2018. There, she served as director of Membership and more recently as the vice president of Resource Development. “Through my involvement with the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, I was fully aware of how dynamic the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber was within our industry. It’s an entity that many chambers look to for best practices!” said Greenwood. “Then, when we relocated for my husband’s job, it was serendipitous that an opportunity would present itself. Chip and his team have an excellent reputation in this profession, and I’m very excited to join this amazing group.” Greenwood said she and her family are enjoying their new home. “Our family instantly felt welcomed in the very short time that we have been here,” she said. “We are enjoying the nature trails in
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the mountains and look forward to exploring the area even more. From an economic standpoint, I’ve been very impressed with the business community so far and what is on the horizon.” We are thrilled to have Amber on the team. Be sure to say hello to her at an upcoming event!
2019 ChamberON Campaign Underway ChamberON, our annual sponsorship campaign, is off to the races for 2019. This is an opportunity for you to purchase sponsorships for various events, and these get picked up quickly. Please act now if you want to secure one that might be good for your business. These include discounted pricing for sponsorships to luncheons and VIP meetings with our elected leaders, small business & networking events, membership and community information packets, as well as opportunities to interact with young professionals in Cummings Research Park and more. We encourage you to purchase through the ChamberON campaign. You’ll definitely find savings on events and opportunities that give you the chance to network and build your business. Please contact Kristy Drake, Director of Investor Relations and ChamberON, at 256-535-2036 or kdrake@hsvchamber.org ■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
ALABAMA BICENTENNIAL
Happy 200th! Huntsville hosts Bicentennial Legislative Kick-off Celebration
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rom July 5, 1819 through August 2 of 1819, Huntsville hosted delegates from across the Territory to draft Alabama’s first constitution. Then, beginning on October 25, 1819, Huntsville again played host to the first session of the Alabama Legislature. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of these two milestone moments in the State’s history, the Huntsville community hosted a Bicentennial Legislative kick-off February 22-24, 2019. More than 80 legislators, plus a number of cabinet officials, legislative staffers, and other State government leaders made the trip to Huntsville to participate in this historic occasion. Celebration activities started on Friday evening, with a reception at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Davidson Center Saturn V Hall. After welcoming remarks from Mayors Tommy Battle and Paul Finley, Chairman Dale Strong, and Dr. Deborah Barnhart, Representative Mike Ball and his Madison Hill Top Band entertained the visitors with a special musical performance while guests enjoyed some excellent German and southern cuisine. Saturday morning started with a breakfast presentation from Steve Murray, Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, concerning Alabama’s first Constitutional Convention and the First Session of the Alabama Legislature. Following breakfast, legislators attended the Alabama Bicentennial Stamp unveiling at Alabama Constitution Hall Village. Spouses toured historical Huntsville sites while legislators enjoyed a luncheon at UAH with a special presentation from NASA’s Marshall Space A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Flight Center Deputy Director Paul McConnaughey. Then, the group took tours of Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal. Before dinner, Othni Lathram, the Director of the Alabama Legislative Services Agency, gave an orientation on the key provisions of the Alabama Constitution that legislators needed to know. Saturday evening featured a special dinner at the Huntsville Botanical Garden with a presentation from Col. Kelsey Smith, the Redstone Arsenal Garrison Commander. Breakfast on Sunday morning included a short devotional service led by Senator Arthur Orr. Host Sponsors were the City of Huntsville, the Madison County Commission, and the City of Madison. Platinum Sponsors were The Boeing Company and Huntsville Utilities. Gold Sponsors were the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville Botanical Garden, Port of Huntsville, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Silver Sponsors were AT&T Alabama, Business Council of Alabama, Calhoun Community College, the EarlyWorks Family of Museums, Garver, Lockheed Martin Corporation, PPG, Raytheon Company, and Teledyne Brown Engineering. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Alabama Bicentennial Committee organized the weekend events. ■ Mike Ward, cce Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs APR 2019 initiatives
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COMMUNITY PROGRESS
21st Century Libraries T
he Huntsville Madison County Public Library (HMCPL) and the City of Huntsville are finalizing plans for two new state-ofthe-art libraries in Huntsville: the North Huntsville Library, which will replace the Bessie K. Russell Library on Sparkman Drive and the South Huntsville Library, which will replace the Bailey Cove Library. Both libraries have outgrown their current locations and require more space and amenities to better serve their communities. NORTH HUNTSVILLE
“Libraries are gathering places. When we were in the design phase of both projects, we asked ourselves: ‘What does the library of the future look like?’ said Laurel Best, Executive Director of HMCPL. “And that is what we will deliver to Huntsville – libraries that break the traditional mold and put technology and literacy hand in hand.” Fuqua and Associates designed the libraries, with input from the community and library staff. The North Huntsville Library, which will go out for construction bid in May 2019, will be 27,000 square feet. This new library at the Berachah Center, located next door to the Russell Library, will feature numerous amenities that are not offered at the current location, including a computer and workforce development lab. The Russell Library has the fourth-highest computer usage across HMCPL’s 12 branches, despite only having five public computers available. The North Huntsville Library will offer two meeting rooms, multiple study areas, an enclosed children’s area, a public lounge, and a Makerspace, which is a high-tech creative area with 3D printers and vinyl cutting machines. “The fundraising committee has been working for over two years 24
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to raise the funds to make this project happen,” said Kim Lewis, Chair of the North Huntsville Capital Campaign Committee and 2019 Board Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. “We are excited that we are one step closer to making it a reality. This new library will be a great addition to the north Huntsville community.” The South Huntsville Library is also in its final phases, with a planned construction bid date as early as April 2019. The new library will be the cornerstone of the Sandra Moon Community Complex, located on the old Grissom High School campus. The South Huntsville Library’s planned square footage is 39,000, an appropriate size for one of the busiest branches in the HMCPL system. It will feature a children’s area with puppet theatre, a quiet living-room style reading room, a Makerspace, and a teen area with a gaming center. It also will have a reception hall with a catering kitchen, a multi-purpose conference room, a classroom, multiple study rooms, and a café. “South Huntsville is going through a revitalization and the new library is a major part of that,” said Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick, District 5, who donated $2 million of county funds for the South Huntsville project. “And
SOUTH HUNTSVILLE
with the addition of much-needed meeting space, the library will also be able to better serve businesses in South Huntsville. It is an exciting addition.” For more information on both library projects, please visit huntsvillelibraryfoundation.org/capitalcampaigns ■ Contributed by Melanie Thornton, Huntsville-Madison County Public Library A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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Opportunities Down Under: Aerospace and defense targets at 2019 Avalon Air Show
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erospace and defense are high-growth markets in Australia, and the Chamber is making sure the Australians know about Huntsville/Madison County businesses and the federal organizations located here. In February, for the first time, the Chamber attended and exhibited at the Avalon Air Show in Geelong, close to Melbourne. We partnered with the Alabama Department of Commerce. Like the Paris and Farnborough (London) shows, Avalon alternates annually with the Singapore Air Show. Because of anticipated growth in Australian defense spending and the reestablishment of the Australian Space Agency in 2018, the time was right to explore this market. Also in 2018, Huntsville announced its first Australian company – EOS Defense Systems USA – and the Chamber led a delegation to Houston to meet with Australian space industry representatives.
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Lucia Cape and Bob Smith, Alabama Department of Commerce, share information about Huntsville/Madison County with the U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires James Carouso and the U.S. Consul General in Melbourne Michael Kleine.
At the show, the Chamber met with EOS Space Systems CEO Craig Smith as well as the CEO of the Australian Defence Alliance Claire Willette, the U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires James Carouso, and the U.S. Consul General in Melbourne Michael Kleine. The Chamber also had the opportunity to deliver a presentation about the aerospace and defense economy in Huntsville/Madison County and the federal organizations on Redstone Arsenal. Prior to the air show, the Chamber attended a briefing from officials in the Australian Department of Defence on doing business with Australian companies. The trip resulted in prospective projects and partnerships as well as a much higher level of awareness about our economy among the attendees. Look for more opportunities from Down Under in the near future! ■ Lucia Cape, cce Senior VP, Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
WORKFORCE & EDUCATION
Chamber Foundation: Growing the future for students, teachers, and more
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wo years ago, the Chamber Foundation was re-launched to address our community’s evolving workforce development opportunities. Our goal is to connect every student with a career that best identifies their talents and enables them to participate in our growing economy. The way we do that is by engaging students, teachers, parents, career coaches, and counselors around the growing occupations in our region. Last year with our Industry Insights program, we introduced more than 150 teachers and career coaches to careers in healthcare, cyber, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and construction. These teachers and career coaches also learned about the post-secondary education and training available for students to pursue careers in these industries. We will continue to have these Industry Insights programs, but we knew we needed to do more. After months of research and discussion with business, education, and community leaders, we launched the asmartplace career portal on asmartplace.com. This powerful tool allows students to develop personalized profiles based on their interests and abilities and match them with hundreds of careers. The portal relies heavily on videos to allow people to tell their “smart career” stories, and these videos include many local employees, too. Please check out asmartplace.com to set up your free account, learn about careers, and watch these videos! This is a great resource for students and job seekers of all ages. In addition to asmartplace.com, the Chamber Foundation is putting boots on the ground with dedicated professionals to ensure the portal is being used to its full potential, not just in Huntsville, Madison, and Madison County, but across the North Alabama region. Georgina Chapman is the Chamber’s Workforce Director and manages the Chamber Foundation, and Kent Ballard is the Chamber’s Workforce Education Specialist, working directly with teachers, students, and parents (pictured). A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
A robust workforce development strategy is key to our continued success, and we know we can deliver results if we help every student explore their career options and give them the tools to achieve their goals.
Our goals for 2019 are bold: 1. Grow asmartplace.com to where it will be the one-stop shop for learning about careers in North Alabama 2. Strengthen our programming to increase the alignment between student choices and available careers 3. Provide meaningful career exploration opportunities for students and teachers 4. Fully fund Chamber Foundation operations through increased business support We can’t do this alone. In 2018, Chamber members rallied around the Chamber Foundation’s efforts, raising more than $47,000 through voluntary contributions. A $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation helped to kick-start our online presence, and a $500,000 grant from Mazda Toyota at their groundbreaking last November ensures we have funds for at least the first year of our campaign. But we need to continue the momentum. We need more companies to invest and engage in their future workforce by funding the Chamber Foundation, hosting Industry Insights, and providing developmental employment opportunities for students. We look forward to working with you to strengthen our workforce in North Alabama! – continued on page 28 APR 2019 initiatives
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Speaking of Industry Insights Days… Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and goggles – we certainly took teachers out of the classroom with the Industry Insights Advanced Manufacturing Day! The event provided teachers with a first-hand look at the advanced manufacturing industry with information they can bring back to their students. If teachers hear of students interested in pursuing this career path, they can describe what they learned about companies and programs right here in North Alabama! First stop: 40 teachers, career coaches, and counselors traveled by bus to Polaris Industries where they toured the facility and heard from Bryan Ogle, Engineering Manager, who discussed job opportunities, information on how the industry has changed, plus essential skills needed for jobs and internships. Ogle also described his work on the NASA Lunar Rover Project. Teachers heard from Courtney Taylor, Regional Director of Workforce and Economic Development at Alabama Community College System, who described NextFlex’s flagship workforce development program FlexFactor® and how this program is preparing the next generation of the advanced manufacturing workforce. This program is in partnership with The Boeing Company.
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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Next stop: Teachers visited PPG Aerospace where they saw how various aircraft windshields are made. During lunch, teachers listened to a presentation by Joe Taylor, Operations Manager, and his staff about the company’s hiring process and their need to sustain a growing workforce. Due to the threat of severe weather, the day was cut short and teachers were unable to tour Brown Precision, Inc. We will make plans to visit Brown Precision on our next Advanced Manufacturing Day. Throughout the tour, teachers also heard updates about asmartplace.com from Georgina Chapman, Chamber Workforce Director, and Kent Ballard, Chamber Workforce Education Specialist, with tips on how to include the career navigation portal in their classrooms. The next date is set for April 3 and will focus on healthcare with several tours and a panel of speakers from Huntsville Hospital. If you’d like more information about hosting a future Industry Insights Day, or if you’re a teacher, career coach, or community organization lead wanting to get on the mailing list, please contact Georgina Chapman at gchapman@hsvchamber.org ■ Staff Reports
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BRYANTBANK.COM A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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Redstone Arsenal:
Leadership Profile
Lt. Gen. Ed Daly, U.S. Army Materiel Command
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or Lt. Gen. Ed Daly, a person’s life centers on the “3-5-100” rule. He believes everyone has three defining moments, five key decisions, and hundreds of influential people who will impact their life. The U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Deputy Commanding General who also serves as Redstone Arsenal’s senior commander says his choice to attend West Point and join the Army was a key decision and defining moment. “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” he said. “That road, the road less traveled, led me to attend the United States Military Academy, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. West Point gave me the opportunity to serve something bigger than myself and prepared me for my next 30-plus years of service in the Army.”
Daly, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, and the son of a career police officer, was the first in his family to graduate from college. He attributes his father’s values and character with setting the foundation for his own work ethic and success. 30
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“My father worked three jobs to put me through high school,” Daly said. “From him, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and service to others.” Daly started his military career, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps, upon his graduation from West Point in 1987. From West Point, he arrived at the officer basic course in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he got off to a rocky start. “The day I reported, it had snowed and the fort was closing early, but I was relentless and wanted to report to my unit, introduce myself to the battalion commander, and tell him that I was ready to be a platoon leader,” said Daly. “So I parked in the only parking space that wasn’t filled with snow and went into the headquarters. After waiting, the battalion commander walked in shaking snow from his uniform and yelling about someone parking in his space. That’s when I realized my career was over.” Instead, Daly’s career progressed, with past assignments including serving as the commander of Army Sustainment Command, and chief of Ordnance and commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance School. He commanded in combat and led Soldiers during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. When Daly pinned on his third star in August 2017, he was one of the first in his West Point graduating class to reach the rank. “Every day, I am honored and grateful to continue wearing the uniform, and do my part to make even a small difference in the – continued on page 32 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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lives of our Soldiers and their Families,” he said. Today, as Deputy Commanding General of AMC, Daly enables the development and delivery of materiel readiness solutions around the world to ensure Soldiers have the equipment and supplies they need to win on the battlefield. In his dual role as Redstone Arsenal’s senior commander, he oversees base operations and Redstone’s strategic growth. “Redstone has grown significantly, and we know there are more opportunities for growth in the future,” said Daly. “So I have to ask myself, are we doing everything we can to remain relevant and an installation of choice?” That task is not his alone. Daly said that every senior leader on Redstone has a vested interest in the arsenal’s success. He works with Gen. Gus Perna, AMC Commanding General and the arsenal’s senior ranking officer, to look 10 to 15 years down the road and position Redstone strategically. “It is a collaborative effort between every leader on this post,” said Daly. “Every day, more than 40,000 people come to work on the arsenal. They provide critical support to our national defense and our way of life. My priority is to make sure they have every-
thing they need to accomplish their mission.” Redstone is an Army installation that has grown into a Federal Center of Excellence with more than 70 organizations from the Army, NASA, Department of Defense, FBI, and others. “It’s rare that you find a partnership like the one between Redstone and the Tennessee Valley community. This community is the center of gravity for everything we do, and one of my goals is to build on that partnership every day,” he said. Daly said potential opportunities include the north side of the arsenal, with Redstone Gateway and the proposed Exploration Park, which could make portions of Redstone easier to access for the public. After 30 years, for Daly, the Army is a way of life. “Being a part of a great team – the Army – has been unequivocally one of the greatest decisions of my life,” said Daly. “I have had the great privilege of serving with the best and brightest our nation has to offer, and to be a part of the noblest profession – the Profession of Arms.” ■ Contributed by Megan Gully, U.S. Army Materiel Command Headquarters
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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS Good Company Café
Pizzelle’s Confections
Tucked inside Main Street South Shopping Village, you’ll find one of the coziest, most inviting cafés in town. Good Company Café opened its doors in early 2018 with the goal of providing fresh cuisine and baked goods for the residents of South Huntsville and beyond. Co-owners Angela Ozbolt and Molly Jones met while attending Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. They stayed in touch over the years, weaving in and out of each other’s lives. Eventually, Angela, a Huntsville native, convinced Molly to come down to visit – (she lived in New York at the time.) It was during her stay that Molly discovered what was once known as Main Street Café & Bakery. While surfing Craigslist a few days later for kitchen equipment, Angela noticed that Main Street Café & Bakery was up for sale. The ladies had a strong gut feeling and started to do their research, and then seized the opportunity to do something great and launch their own small business.
If you haven’t tried Pizzelle’s Confections, what’s stopping you? The brainchild of sisters Michelle Novosel Pennell and Caitlin Lyon has quickly become a staple in the Huntsville community. As a dessert café, the Pizzelle’s team creates artisan chocolate truffles, custom cakes, ice cream, homemade soda, coffee, and so much more. Hailing originally from Pennsylvania, Michelle and Caitlin have lived in Huntsville for more than 30 years. Prior to Pizzelle’s, Michelle had various jobs exploring whichever occupation interested her at the time. However, she always knew she enjoyed food, different types of desserts, and candy. Opening a store was something she always kept top of mind, stating, “This was an idea that we had for a long time before this ever came to fruition, about seven years in the making before we ever opened the doors here,” said Michelle. “It was just kind of a fun thing to talk about. We got really serious about it through those seven years. I went to culinary school, we did chocolate courses, we researched and that kind of stuff. And then we had the opportunity to be here at Lowe Mill.” Caitlin has a bit of a different story. She received her B.A. in Sociology, serving as a licensed social worker for about 15 years before going back to school for her Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication. She proceeded to do technical writing for about eight years. In fact, she was still working as a technical writer when Pizzelle’s opened, with the intent to keep her job for three to five years. She ended up quitting her job after about nine months to help keep up with the demand of the store. For them, opening the store happened pretty organically. They were already very involved in the art scene at Lowe Mill back when the building housed only a few businesses. Admittedly, as is the case with some artists at Lowe Mill, they intended for Pizzelle’s to simply be a hobby. Upon opening, they soon found that there was a demand for what they were offering, and it wasn’t stopping anytime soon. What sets them apart? Individuality, high quality ingredients, and a highly skilled team of creatives. “There’s not really anyone else in town that’s making their own chocolate truffles and bonbons like we are. Everything we make here, we make from scratch. We make all the fillings, we make the cake from scratch, we make the buttercream from scratch, we do everything from scratch. And that’s not typically what you find,” says Lyon.
Upon walking into the café, it’s clear the Good Company team has really honed in on creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages their customers to stay awhile. With a variety of eclectic furniture and decor, you’re sure to be tempted to take a seat and unwind for a bit. “We’ve been trying to say that this is South Huntsville’s living room where we want people to come and feel comfortable and kind of have a communal feel,” says Jones. Both women have extensive culinary backgrounds, and one of their ultimate goals is to change Huntsville’s perspective of what makes good food. Together, they are actively pushing to ensure Good Company uses fresh ingredients, focusing on the craft of making great cuisine from scratch. From breakfast and lunch, to tapas, to fully catered weddings and events, Good Company has a wide variety of options. Aside from serving great food, one of their goals is to aid in the revitalization of the South Huntsville area. Coupled with being a new business, they often face certain challenges. “Getting customers in and getting them to understand who we are and what we do, where we are, and why we do it is a challenge. It’s a challenge to be able to keep up with how fast Huntsville is growing... but the customers we do get in here are all fantastic,” said Ozbolt. “Ninety percent of the customers that we’ve had are looking for a place like ours where the art of what we do is what we focus on, but getting new customers and reaching the rest of Huntsville is definitely a challenge.” Despite the challenges of being a young company, Angela and Molly are determined to remain unwavering of their belief in their business. The same can be said for their belief in their employees, holding integrity and good values at a high standard for all. “For us, I feel like what we like to do is first and foremost be honest and transparent with all of our employees. They know everything there is to know about us and about our company,” said Jones. In the same spirit, keeping regular team meetings, ensuring employee training is up to date, and spending time scheduling employees to give them the hours they want and need to survive is a priority, especially in regard to retaining quality employees. It’s clear from speaking with these women that they have a very clear vision and goal of where they see Good Company going in the future and the growth potential. For anyone looking to start their own business, they make it very clear that doing so involves a lot of hard work, and at times, uncertainty. But in the end, you are working toward something meaningful to both you, your employees, and to the community. Be sure to dine local and visit Good Company Café at 7500 S Memorial Parkway, Suite 123, in the Main Street South Shopping Village. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
In 2018, Pizzelle’s won the first ever Local Creative of the Year award at the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards. “It was a real surprise. It’s great to be recognized by your community. I mean, this is a tech community. So sometimes, the culinary or the arts fall a little bit to the background. So it’s really nice to be recognized,” said Pennell. Pizzelle’s Confections recently celebrated six years of being in business. With a healthy balance of passion, hard work, and fun, they are sure to continue to be a valued business within the Huntsville community. – continued on page 34 APR 2019 initiatives
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Capstone Realty
RONALD POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Capstone Realty serves as one of the first independent, locally owned real estate brokerages in the Huntsville area with more than 87 independent real estate agents working with them. Capstone Realty is essentially a family business comprised of owners Diane Hasley and Michael Tincher, along with Diane’s children, Darrin and Derek. She also has a daughter who serves as a real estate agent in Nashville.
According to Darrin, it was in their job prior to opening Capstone that really got them thinking of ways they might run their own business in the same industry. “I think it’s kind of like how most small businesses start in that we were actually working for a larger company, it was a franchise... and just through that you start realizing you might do things a little bit differently,
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and you don’t always have the flexibility to do that working for someone else. So, we had some ideas at the time of the way we wanted to run a company and open a company, and I guess that’s sort of how it started,” he said. Diane really felt there was a need in the community for a brokerage with a different approach. “We did feel like there was a void. A void in what brokerages offered to agents to help them succeed. Statistics show that real estate agents… they get into business, a lot of people go get their real estate license, but then don’t always stick it out because there are so many challenges with it. The biggest challenge is that there are so many things to do,” she told us. “People don’t realize how much work is involved. We felt like there was a void in that we can support them more through marketing and administrative support services, and they were freed up to go and sell more homes, list more homes, and help more customers.” Capstone’s overall goal is to be more agent focused – much like an incubator of small businesses all under one roof. With top-notch training and an abundance of resources, they aim to ensure that each agent grows and succeeds. Company culture also sets Capstone Realty apart from the competition. “Our culture is pretty simple. Be good to others – your customers, your family, your community. Give back to your community. Do the right thing. Guard your integrity because it’s all that we have in this profession,” Diane added. Philanthropy plays a crucial role in keeping morale high and agents engaged. Capstone Gives Back is a fund created to support a variety of charitable organizations. Each time an agent receives a commission, they can designate a portion to go toward that fund. By doing this, they’ve helped hundreds of local and national organizations. Their agents take great pride in giving back to the community and helping others in need. In 2018, Capstone Realty won the Professional Services Business of the Year award at the Chamber’s Small Business Awards. They also are celebrating their 10th year in business this year, and currently stand as one of the top brokerages in the city: Number 2 to be exact! From humble beginnings as one of the few non-franchise brokerages in Huntsville, Capstone looks forward to continuing to grow and give back to the community. ■ Devon Elston Small Business & Events Coordinator
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
is proud to support the Arts as a Sustaining Donor of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
www.iberiabank.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF UAH
WORKFORCE & EDUCATION
Dr. Robert Altenkirch has been President of UAH since October 2011. He will retire this summer.
Brighter Future Dr. Altenkirch to leave UAH in a better position than before
R
obert Altenkirch arrived at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) on Halloween Day in 2011. He followed Malcolm Portera, who had spent seven months as interim president following the sudden departure of David Williams. Dr. Altenkirch will be leaving for retirement this summer, but is leaving UAH in far better condition as a result of his leadership. He took his new assignment in stride with nine years of experience in leading a university, having been president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. His leadership was evident quickly, gaining support among the faculty and staff. He began carrying out his plan to move UAH forward through a strategic plan labeled “Expanding Horizons”. The plan’s priorities: enrollment growth of a diverse student body; recruitment and retention of an outstanding and diverse faculty and staff; a broadening and expansion of research; recognition for education and research in Aerospace and Systems Engineering; Biotechnology; Cybersecurity and Big Data; Earth, Atmospheric, and Space Science; and Gaming and Entertainment Arts. The plan established a direction for the future of UAH. During the next seven years, UAH had record growth in student enrollment, improvements through new and existing academic programs, growth in research, and major infrastructure improvements. With enrollment at 7,200 on his arrival, the strategic plan called for 10,000 students by 2020. Today, there are more than 9,700 students on campus and projections for the fall of 2019 call for 10,400 students – a goal met a year ahead of schedule. During Altenkirch’s tenure, research expenditures have been the highest in the school’s history at $99 million. Numbers from the National Science Foundation (FY 2017) showed UAH had five programs in the top 25 nationally, led by aeronautical and astronautical engineering at fifth. UAH ranked 11th in NASA
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expenditures and 28th from the Department of Defense. Altenkirch initiated the formation of UAH’s Department of Space Science in 2013, Honors College in 2014, and College of Education in 2014. He also implemented a number of new programs. In the fall of 2014, Altenkirch proposed that Rise of Huntsville, a nonprofit inclusion pre-school serving an equal mix of typical and developmentally challenged children, become the UAH Rise School. It had opened earlier in the year through a local church, modeled after the Rise School at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Board of Trustees approved this change, and Rise of Huntsville moved to campus in October 2014. The UAH Rise School is now a service and outreach unit of the UAH College of Education. Altenkirch also formed the Division of Student Affairs and enhanced the position of vice president for Research to include economic development. He secured conference affiliation for UAH’s Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and began Division II Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse in 2016. During 2016, Altenkirch brought several construction projects on campus – a 400-bed residence hall, the Dorothy S. Davidson Invention to Innovation Center (I²C), and a new sorority house. Another major advance he initiated is the purchase of Executive Plaza, a 58-acre office park across Sparkman Drive. His vision is to transform the property into a “town center” for UAH, complete with student housing, retail and office space. The changes that have been set in motion by Altenkirch are having immediate impact on the university, but the biggest impact of his success will be felt for generations to come. ■ Contributed by Ray Garner, University of Alabama in Huntsville A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Population
Madison City of City of Huntsville County Huntsville Madison Metro Area
2010 Census
334,811
180,105 42,938
417,593
2018 Census est.
361,046
199,585
48,861
455,448
7.8%
8.0%
13.8%
9.0%
% Growth
Top Ten Employers: Huntsville & Madison County Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,000* Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,228 NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,500
Households & Income # of Households
COMMUNITY PROFILE
142,253
81,296
Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000
17,530
174,639
Avg. Household Income $82,287 $75,789 $115,779
$80,893
Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389
Per Capita Income
$32,676
SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,277
$34,232 $33,070 $43,917
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,900
City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 The University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,660 ADTRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,549 Source: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber *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 43,500 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 For more information, visit:
hsvchamber.org
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology research park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to nearly 300 companies and 26,500 people involved in technology research and development.
APR 2019 initiatives
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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
STA FF Executive Staff
Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Chambliss, executive assistant / economic development coordinator
Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Lydia Pennington, industry relations director Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, economic development project director
Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Austin Bullock, program manager
Marketing & Communications Claire Aiello, vice president Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer
Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, IOM, vice president Devon Elston, coordinator
Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Kim Weeks, accounting specialist – receivables Lori Warner, accounting specialist – payables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor Gina Gonzalez, administrative assistant Amberly Ware, resource desk assistant
Membership Amber Greenwood, vice president, investor relations Kristy Drake, director, investor relations & ChamberON Donna McCrary, retention manager Richard Bigoney, account executive Tina Blankenship, account executive Keith Johnson, account executive
Chamber Foundation Georgina Chapman, workforce director Kent Ballard, workforce education specialist
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber 225 Church Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 | fax 256-535-2015
HSVchamber.org
Associated Organizations
theschoolsfoundation.org uah.edu/sbdc
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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
FOR MORE INFORMATION: William Stroud | 256-428-0405 | wstroud@triadproperties.com
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