Initiatives - October 2017 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

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 clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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.

bradley.com

200 Clinton Ave. W | Suite 900 | Huntsville, AL 35801 | 256.517.5200 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: Frank2017 M. Caprio., 256.517.5142, fcaprio@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP,A 200 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 900, Huntsville, AL 35801. PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER 2 initiatives oct

FRIDGE WORTHY. As report cards go, we are proud of these.

U.S. News & World Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 2 spot in Alabama for Overall Excellence and High Performing in seven clinical areas Healthgrades 2017 Top 5% in the Nation for Cardiac Surgery, Top 10% in the Nation for Spine Surgery and Top 5% in the Nation for Cranial Neurosurgery

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

welcome new chamber members Joined in August 2017 Alabama Association of Accountants and Tax Preparers Big Creek Winery The Casual Pint CFA Society Alabama Farm & Fable

Joined in July 2017

Five Star Industrial Service Support Center, LLC Five Star Industrial Services, Inc.

Applewhite Movers, LLC

Granger, Thagard & Associates, Inc.

Badcock Home Furniture & More

Junior League of Huntsville

Big Shake’s Hot Chicken & Fish

Materials Sciences Corporation

Brenda Blevins, ATP, AFSP

Mr. Big Guns LLC

Cavender’s Western Outfitter #83

Omega Group LLC

CK Mann Realty Clockwork Solutions, Inc. Hey Girl! Hair Co.

Park Properties Real Estate, Inc. - Jed Park Park Properties Real Estate, Inc. - Nick J. DeMarte SEC

HomeLift, Inc. Huntsville Futbol (dba Huntsville Soccer Club) J-Max Logistics Inc The Landings at Edgewater Apartments Liberated Specialty Foods Lincoln County Mayor - Government Lucida Construction Mattress King - 3024 University Dr. Mattress King - 8410 Memorial Parkway S Mattress King - 8498 Madison Blvd National Multiple Sclerosis Society Pine Tree Village Apartments Renew Huntsville Medical Spa

PeopleReady Queen Bee of Beverly Hills Scott Wilson Architect, LLC Scout & Molly’s of Downtown Huntsville Shapiro Metals Soles Dance Center Syndesi Solutions, LLC Top Key Market, LLC Trane - Alabama United Waste Solutions, LLC Urban Cookhouse Vintage West Zoom Indoor Cycling

Rocket City Digital Strickland Paper Company, Inc. Summer Tree Apartments Team Worldwide TheTechService Woodbridge Alabama LP XMC 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.

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

HU N TS VI LLE / M A DI S ON

C OU N T Y

C H A M BE R

DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

REGIONAL PARTNERS

LEADERSHIP FORUM

Huntsville Hospital

Port of Huntsville

ADTRAN, Inc. The Boeing Company City of Madison Landers McLarty Corporation Redstone Federal Credit Union Vertiv

Madison County Commission

Tennessee Valley Authority

Regions Bank

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BBVA Compass • Crestwood Medical Center • Dynetics, Inc. • General Atomics • Lockheed Martin Corporation PNC Bank • SAIC • SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC • Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.

CHAMBER TRUSTEES AEgis Technologies Group • Aerojet Rocketdyne • All Points Logistics, LLC • Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. • First Commercial Bank • Five Stones Research Corporation Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation • Jerry Damson, Inc. • KBRwyle • Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. Northrop Grumman Corporation • PARSONS • Raytheon Company • S3 • Sealy Management Company, Inc. SportsMed Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center • Torch Technologies

PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus • ASRC Federal Analytical Services • Baron Services, Inc. • BASF Corporation • BB&T • Bill Penney Toyota, Scion & Mitsubishi Bradley • Coates Transportation Group • Colliers International • Connected Logistics • Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) Davidson Technologies, Inc. • Google • Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association • IBERIABANK • Hexagon US Federal J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company • Keel Point, LLC • L3 Technologies • LMI • LogiCore • The Orthopaedic Center Progress Bank • Radiance Technologies • Re/Max Alliance • Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (DBA Steak Out) SCI Technology, Inc. • SELEX Galileo Inc. • ServisFirst Bank • Turner • Vencore, Inc. • Wells Fargo Bank • Woody Anderson Ford

PROGRESS INVESTORS 4SITE, Inc. • AECOM • Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. • Amanda Howard Real Estate • Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong, PC • Averbuch Realty Co., Inc. – Scott Averbuch BancorpSouth • Brown Precision, Inc. • Bryant Bank • CB&S Bank • Century Automotive • CFD Research Corp. • CGI Federal • Coast Personnel Services • deciBel Research Decisive Analytics Corp. • Deloitte LLP • DESE Research, Inc. • Digium, Inc. • Fite Building Company, Inc. • Foreign Language Services • Fountain, Parker, Harbarger • Garver HEMSI • Hiley Cars Huntsville • Huntsville Botanical Garden • Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau • Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. • InterFuze Corp. Investor’s Resource/Raymond James • IronMountain Solutions • Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider • LINE-X LLC • The Lioce Group, Inc. • LSINC Corporation MSB Analytics, Inc. • National Bank of Commerce • nLogic, LLC • North Alabama Multiple Listing Service • PALCO Telecom Service • PHOENIX • PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Public Financial Management, Inc. • QTEC • RE/MAX Distinctive – Sandra Lowrey • Renasant Bank • RJ Young Company • S&ME, Inc. • Sierra Lobo, Inc. • Sigmatech, Inc. Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. • Technicolor • Troy 7, Inc. • Venturi, Inc. • West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. • Wilmer & Lee, P.A. • Worxtime, LLC A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

Meet Our Huntsville Lending Team

DeMarco McClain Vice President

Barry Bryan Senior Vice President

Tim Singleton Madison County Area President

256-533-7834 | bibank.com | Member FDIC

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017

coverstory

2017 SBA Winners Annual Small Business Awards are Big for Business

26 20 12 31 28 23 19 14

communitybuilding communitypartners economicdevelopmenthighlights educationnews government&publicaffairs inc500|5000 specialrecognition technologynow

editorial staff publisher

Chip Cherry, CCE editorial designer

4 5 8 10 30

Welcome New Chamber Members HREGI Investors Message from the President | Board Listing Community Profile Chamber Staff | Associated Organizations

Kristi Sherrard contributing writers

Claire Aiello Carrie Rice ad sales Tina Blankenship tblankenship@hsvchamber.org

Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org

Tiffany Miller

tmiller@hsvchamber.org

Eloise Stanley

estanley@hsvchamber.org

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

HSVchamber.org

(additional contact information on page 30)

Submissions for editorial content are not accepted. Information in this and other Chamber publications is at the discretion of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2017 Executive Committee

Joe Newberry, Chair, Redstone Federal Credit Union Gary Bolton, Chair-Elect, ADTRAN, Inc. Rose Allen, Immediate Past Chair, InterFuze Corporation Ron Poteat, Chamber Foundation Chair, Regions Bank Cynthia Streams, Secretary/Treasurer, Domino’s (Valley Pizza) Kim Lewis, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry Relations, PROJECTXYZ, Inc.

A Message from

Kevin Byrnes, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs,

Chip Cherry

Raytheon Company

Tharon Honeycutt, Vice Chair, Membership, MSB Analytics, Inc. Penny Billings, Vice Chair, Workforce & Education,

Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders and Friends:

BancorpSouth

Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events,

I have a special place in my heart for entrepreneurs – those men and women who believe that they have a superior product or service. When I was 12, my father started a wholesale floor covering company, and the office was a room over the garage (which served as our sample warehouse). Growing up, I watched as he struggled with all aspects of running a business. Securing working capital, dealing with problem employees and slow or no paying customers, and working to gain market share. The countless hours paid off, and the company grew. However, when he passed away, the company did not survive the transition to the next generation. In contrast, the company founded by my grandfather in the 40’s is now operating with the third generation of leadership. I experienced small business from a unique perspective and appreciate just how special they are. I am proud that the Chamber celebrates excellence in Small Business, and I encourage you to support them whenever possible – they are the spirit of free enterprise and the foundation of our economy. I recently attended a meeting of my peers, and one of them made a statement that resonated with me: “We do what other people think just happens.” While this applies to chambers of commerce, it applies to other organizations as well. Two of them are highlighted in articles in this edition. Huntsville Utilities (HU) recently cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art water treatment facility. Few of us think about where the water comes from that we use. We just assume that it will be there when we need it. Thanks to the great work of HU, it ‘just happens’. HudsonAlpha is another example of something that started as the vision of two people and is now a fixture in our community. These are but two examples – I encourage you to think about how our community has grown into the great place we call home. Then engage in making more great things just happen! Our ChamberON volunteers are doing an outstanding job, and I greatly appreciate their engagement and partnership. Well done: Lisa Abbott, Cadence Bank; Katie Bosarge, Davidson Technologies, Inc.; Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group; Camille Gardner, AEgis Technologies Group; Clint Kirkland, Progress Bank; Joe Knoch, Air Essentials, Inc.; Lee Lester, Retired Banking Executive; Leslie McGill, First Commercial Bank; Michelle Omenski, Keller Williams Realty; Chris Russell, Cadence Bank; Tiffany Taylor, CPA; David Whitaker, CALIBRE Systems, Inc. I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon!

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

initiatives oct 2017

Brown Precision, Inc.

Jeff Gronberg, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications, deciBel Research, Inc.

Beth Sippel, Vice Chair, Member Engagement, First Commercial Bank

Mark Curran, Chair-Appointed, L3 Technologies, Inc. Tim Thornton, Chair-Appointed, n Logic, LLC Frank Williams, Chair-Appointed, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep

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

Tracy Marion, General Counsel, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison Co. Chamber

Elected Board Mike Alvarez, Venturi, Inc. Bill Bailey, Radiance Technologies, Inc. James Barclay, S3, Inc. Mike Bertoldi, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Janet Brown, Belk Frank Caprio, Bradley Lynn Collyar, Deloitte LLP Deke Damson, Jerry Damson Honda Acura Dr. Dorothy Davidson, Davidson Technologies, Inc. Bryan Dodson, PHOENIX John Eagan, BB&T Joe Fehrenbach, Hexagon US Federal Trip Ferguson, U.S. Space & Rocket Center David Fernandes, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Gene Goldman, Leidos Mike Gullion, SCI Technology – a Sanmina company Jan Hess, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Steve Hill, AEgis Technologies Group Dr. Pam Hudson, Crestwood Medical Center Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions John Jordan, KBRwyle Sean Kelly, Regions Bank David King, Dynetics, Inc. Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Janice Migliore, PALCO Telecom Service, Inc. Craig Naudain, SAIC Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Leigh Pegues, PNC Bank Mike Randolph, Par Pharmaceutical, an Endo International Co. Joe Ritch, Sirote & Permutt, PC Jim Rogers, Lockheed Martin Corporation Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Dr. Gurmej Sandhu, Sigmatech, Inc. Charlie Sealy, Sealy Management Company E.J. Sinclair, SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC Sameer Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Robert “Bob” Smith, Booz Allen Hamilton Nilmini Thompson, Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. Lynn Troy, Troy 7, Inc. Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Danny Windham, Digium, Inc.

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Care. When your family needs it. Not three days later.

Looking for Convenient Healthcare? We’re accepting new patients. Crestwood Medical Group with locations throughout Madison County offers primary care along with a variety of specialties to meet your family’s needs. We accept most major health plans. Find a complete list of locations and providers at CrestwoodMedGroup.com. Online scheduling is now available for select providers.

MEDICAL GROUP Same-Day Appointments Available! 1-888-261-3422 Online scheduling at CrestwoodMedGroup.com

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

communityprofile Madison City of County Huntsville

Population

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

Top Ten Employers Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,866* Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,129

2010 Census

334,811

180,105

42,938

417,593

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000

2016 Census est.

356,967

193,079

47,959

449,720

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

6.6%

7.2%

11.7%

7.7%

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

% Growth

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

Households & Income 16,857

169,980

Avg. Household Income $79,044

$71,430 $110,662

$76,897

Per Capita Income

$30,979

$30,792

# of Households

137,767

78,554

$32,131

$41,596

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,229 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 The University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,675 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 41,000 people work at Redstone Arsenal and NASA, managing some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs including missiles, aviation, and space exploration.

Research & Technology Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and

For more information, visit:

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

hsvchamber.org

research and development.

to more than 300 companies and 29,000 people involved in technology

Your Partner for Medical Staffing Finding the right talent is critical for healthcare providers. The wrong fit will cost your business valuable time and money. At Snelling, we deliver value. We’re flexible, responsive and invested in your long-term success. Snelling is your direct conduit to exceptional talent for both clinical and back-office medical professionals. Snelling provides short-term, PRN, direct hire and payroll service for: • RN/LPN

• Respiratory Therapist

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• Ultrasound/Radiology Techs • Laboratory Techs/ Phlebotomist

• Dental Assistants

• Reception/Scheduling/ Intake Coordinators • Billing/Coding Professionals

Huntsville.snelling.com • 256-382-4000

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Leadership that can take you places Empowered to make decisions locally, close to our clients, our IBERIABANK leadership team is committed to delivering a superior level of service at every point of contact. Our leaders have over 60+ years of experience collectively and are focused on understanding your unique financial needs and helping you meet both your short-term and long-term goals.

Eric Sanders Market President

Ginger Harper Private Banking Manager

20 years banking experience

17 years banking experience

Chris Patty

Commercial Group Manager 24 years banking experience

Call or visit us at a branch near you today! 400 Meridian Street, Suite 108 | (256) 519-4340 | 53 Hughes Road, Madison | (256) 519-4360 4700 Whitesburg Drive SW, Suite 150 | (256) 519-4300 www.iberiabank.com

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

economicdevelopmenthighlights BASF completes expansion to produce more mobile emissions catalysts

snap: Matt Curtis Real Estate is celebrating several recent achievements, including being named the #2 Real Estate Team in Alabama. The team was also named one of America’s most productive sales associates as a part of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents, a ranking report produced by REAL Trends and sponsored by Zillow Group. The team is now a member of “America’s Best Real Estate Agents.”

“This group of highly successful real estate sales agents represents less than one percent of all real estate practitioners in the United States,” says Steve Murray, publisher of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents and president of REAL Trends. ∏

BASF has finished the expansion of its Huntsville site, which will allow the company to continue creating emission control technologies for cleaner air while also helping the automotive industry grow. This expansion has also added 10 new jobs. “The Huntsville facility is our largest emissions catalyst manufacturing site in North America, and this expansion demonstrates our commitment to our business growth strategy,” said Ken Lane, President of BASF’s Catalyst Division. “The additional capacity will meet the growing market demand and customer technology needs in the region.” At a recent briefing, BASF celebrated a manufacturing milestone: the production of the 400 millionth automotive catalytic converter. The journey to 400 million catalysts began in 1973 when the automotive catalytic converter was first developed. The first catalytic converter was mass produced and featured in a 1975 automobile, and since its inception has eliminated more than 95% of harmful emissions from gasoline-engine exhaust. There are currently more than half a billion cars on the roads worldwide, and nearly 200 million trucks, and the automotive catalyst is incorporated into nearly every vehicle. “We have a world-class team at the BASF Huntsville facility,” said Dirk Demuth, BASF Senior Vice President, Catalysts Division. “This facility and all 400 million catalytic converters are visual representations of the important work that is accomplished here every single day. Our employees ensure that our products are developed with integrity and the highest attention to detail, safety and environmental responsibility – and we can proudly say that we are creating chemistry for a sustainable future.” ∏

A financial planning and wealth management firm.

3800 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 300 Birmingham, Alabama 35243, Phone: (205) 208.8700 400 Meridian Street, Suite 200, Huntsville, Alabama 35801, Phone: (256) 970.6888 bridgeworthllc.com • Bridgeworth, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser.

BW_Huntsville Initatives_october2017.indd initiatives oct 2017

9/15/17 5:30 PM A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

compiled by Claire Aiello

Library honored for marketing and PR strategies The Huntsville/Madison County Public Library (HMCPL) has 13 branches, and the library works very hard to make sure you know about the closest one to you. Earlier this year, the American Library Association (ALA) identified the HMCPL as a leader among libraries for its marketing and public relations strategies. HMCPL received national recognition at the annual ALA conference in June in Chicago for its advocacy and awareness efforts. HMCPL won PR Xchange Awards in two categories: the “Your Library, Your Future” advocacy video for the Huntsville Library Foundation (HLF) won in the Advocacy/Fundraising Materials (electronic) category, and the “Check It Out!” e-newsletter won for the Calendars, List of Events, Newsletters (electronic) category. You can watch the video on the Huntsville Library Foundation website at huntsvillelibraryfoundation.org/about. The “Check It Out!” e-newsletter goes out twice a month and highlights programs for all ages, upcoming special events, and book recommendations. You can sign up to receive it at hmcpl. org/contactus. ∏

Financial advisors earn Forbes honors Two HighTower Twickenham advisors working in the Huntsville and Birmingham offices were recently named to the Forbes list of America’s Top Next Gen-

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Warren

eration Wealth Advisors. This is a ranking of the nation’s top Millennial advisors. Rob Warren, Private Wealth Advisor and Planning Specialist, based out of the HighTower Twickenham Huntsville office, and Lauren Pearson, Managing Director and Partner of the HighTower Twickenham Birmingham office, both qualified to receive this award. It is based on several criteria, including advisor Assets under Management (AUM), compliance records, industry experience and client

service models. “I look forward to continuing our practice’s tradition of excellent service and personalized guidance both now and in the future,” said Warren. “I’m honored and humbled to be ranked among so many of my talented peers,” said Pearson. According to Cerulli Associates, only 10 percent of financial advisors are under 35. HighTower Twickenham says it is both proud and honored to celebrate its advisors’ Pearson tremendous achievements. ∏

Torch makes Top Contractor list for third year Torch Technologies has again earned a spot on Washington Technology’s Top 100 Government Contractors List. This year, Torch was ranked number 68. The list ranks the largest government contractors by their prime contract dollars in IT, systems integrations, telecommunications, engineering and professional services.

continued on page 25

oct 2017 initiatives

technologynow

Cyber Camp Coming Soon Gov. Ivey Presents $10 Million to U.S. Space & Rocket Center

initiatives oct 2017

LEE ROOP | LROOP@AL.COM

labama Governor Kay Ivey recently presented a $10 million economic development grant to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) to establish a new cyber camp and for campus expansion. The grant will enable the Rocket Center – home to Space Camp® and Aviation Challenge® – to expand its facilities to include U.S. Cyber Camp for high school students. The state support allows the USSRC to seek matching funds and support for additional Center growth, including science exhibit space. “Expanding Cyber Camp in Alabama’s No. 1 tourist attraction, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, was a logical investment for the state,” Governor Ivey said. “More students will have the opportunity to train in cyber security-related fields of study and contribute to the increasing demand for cyber security professionals in Alabama and across the country.” Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, welcomed the support. “We deeply appreciate Gov. Ivey’s wisdom in investing in Alabama’s future and its workforce and are energized by her confidence to invest in that future with us,” Dr. Barnhart said.

Governor Kay Ivey (center) presenting the check to U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

continued on page 22

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Does Your Office Space Make It Easy to Attract Top Talent? Upgrade to modern workspace and gain a hiring advantage.

Call to learn how a move to Redstone Gateway can help you attract and retain top talent. REDSTONEGATEWAY.US

A Mixed-Use Office, R&D, Data and Retail Community RIDEOUT ROAD AT GATE 9 OF REDSTONE ARSENAL

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

DAVID CANADAY 256.517.7034 david.canaday@copt.com

oct 2017 initiatives

coverstory

Photography by: Kaboom Crash Media & Ronald Pollard Photography

2017 SBA Winners

ON THE COVER: Small Business Awards Celebration emcees: Demetria McClenton (WAAY-TV) and Greg Brown (Brown Precision)

Annual Small Business Awards Are Big for Business

he Huntsville/Madison County Chamber has always believed that it is important to recognize the big impact of small businesses in our community. This is why, every fall, the Chamber hosts the annual Small Business Awards Celebration. On August 15, the Chamber honored an incredible group of small businesses and individuals who make a tremendous impact in our community every day. This was the 32nd anniversary of the awards and served as a special tribute to our small business innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. The “Great Gatsby”themed event was dedicated to those who possess the talent, the drive, and the determination to succeed – and whose ideas and ideals inspired them to start a business, and inspired others to help make that business grow. A special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama! This year, we received 428 nominations and 84 Contenders for the 2017 Small Business Awards. To see all of our photos, please visit bit.ly/HMCCflickr. Carrie Rice Presenting the award to all the winners: Greg Brown, 2017 Chamber Vice Chair, Small Business & Events

Government Contracting–Technology Services of the Year: TriVector Services, Inc.

Medical Practice of the Year: Thrive Alabama

▲ Retailer of the Year: University Pickers Service Business of the Year: Express Employment Professionals

Emerging Business of the Year: NXTSTEP Family Law

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Culinary Business of the Year: Catering by Narvell

Woman-Owned Business of the Year: Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis

Government Contracting–Business/Professional Services of the Year: LSINC Corporation

Business / Professional Services of the Year (tie): Alabama Psychological Services Center Business / Professional Services of the Year (tie): Longview Financial Advisors, Inc.

Young Professional of the Year (tie): Lindsey Sisco, Yulista, and Michael Bertoldi, PROJECTXYZ Technology Services Business of the Year: Practical Energetics Research, LLC Nonprofit of the Year: Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy

Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award: Alicia Ryan, LSINC Corporation A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

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initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

specialrecognition

Dreaming to Succeeding Huntsville Company Wins Honor from U.S. Chamber of Commerce n September 12, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. was honored with the Women-Owned Business Achievement Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This was presented during the Dream Big Small Business of the Year Awards program in Washington, D.C. Kim Lewis, the company’s CEO, accepted the award. “We at PROJECTXYZ are blessed and honored to be recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,” said Lewis. “The Women-Owned Business Achievement Award shows the strength of women-owned small business, and we want to thank the Chamber for supporting us. We look forward to working with the U.S. Chamber and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber on strengthening the growth of small businesses.” PROJECTXYZ’s Larry Lewis and Michael Bertoldi also attended the event, along with Pammie Jimmar, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Vice President of Small Business & Events. “This is huge for small businesses in our community, region, and state,” said Jimmar. “We are so proud of PROJECTXYZ – they competed against more than 300 small businesses across the country. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, cre-

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

L-R: Michael Bertoldi, Kim Lewis, and Larry Lewis celebrate PROJECTXYZ Inc.’s win from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

ating 70 percent of job growth, and this is why small business is big business!” PROJECTXYZ, Inc. is a technical solutions company that works with federal and commercial customers at various locations throughout the U.S. It is headquartered in Huntsville. • Claire Aiello

You love growing your business.

Then you’ll love this bank. Whether you’re ready to expand the office or fine tune your cash accounts, Progress Bank has all the features of a big bank but with the local connections and welcoming service of the local bank we are.

You’ll find: • lending options • checking & savings accounts • electronic services • treasury & merchant services

Huntsville • Jones Valley • Madison • Decatur Florence • Birmingham • Vestavia • Destin

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

myprogressbank.com

oct 2017 initiatives

communitypartners

Flowing Forward Huntsville Utilities Plans for Future Growth with Treatment Plant

he Huntsville metro area continues to experience tremendous growth, and Huntsville Utilities is working to make sure its water system is well ahead of the curve. In August, the utility held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the new Owens, Statum and Wall Southeast Water Treatment Plant. This is the system’s third deep water intake, pulling from the Tennessee River. The other two intakes are located off South Memorial Parkway and further downstream in Triana. The $90 million plant is located on 266 acres on Walker Road in Marshall County. It currently treats 12 million gallons of surface water a day with a potential build-out capacity of 96 million gallons per day. Construction on the plant started in 2015, but it has been in the planning stages since 2005, when the system experienced high demand due to extreme heat and drought. The same situation also played out the following summer. “We hit 80 percent of our pumping capacity,” said Huntsville Utilities spokesperson Joe Gehrdes. “That was the trigger for any responsible water utility to increase its capacity.” Gehrdes said this new plant gives the system more redundancy – which is important for several reasons. “That helps protect us from problems with the system, or if there is a problem on the river – such as a spill –or a problem with one of the plants. We still have two other plants online to pick up the slack,” he explained. Water from the plant is piped back to Madison County, joining in with Huntsville Utilities’ system in New Hope.

Preparing for Growth Huntsville and Madison County have experienced tremendous growth, and leaders knew it was vital to build this new plant as more people move to the area every day. The plant was finished on time and under budget. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, speakers commended all who were involved, from construction partners, employees, supervisors, and utility 20

initiatives oct 2017

Dr. Dorothy Huston (center), President of the Huntsville Utilities Natural Gas and Waterworks Board, cuts the ribbon on the new Owens, Statum and Wall Southeast Water Treatment Plant. Pictured with her are leaders of Huntsville Utilities, the City of Huntsville, the Natural Gas and Waterworks Boards, the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber, and other organizations. A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Naming Honors

boards for a job well done. “It is a testament to the partnership between Huntsville Utilities, Tetra Tech, Brasfield & Gorrie, and the Gas and Water Board,” said Wes Kelley, Huntsville Utilities CEO. “Their mind is fixated on protecting the customer. This isn’t a widget we hope to produce and sell. This plant provides life. It protects the community’s health and wellness.” “Huntsville is popping at the seams. This plant is built for well into the future,” Kelley added. Other areas of the U.S. experiencing high growth have suffered from water shortages. This new plant ensures we won’t face the same challenges. “Never in our history have we had to issue mandatory conservation because of lack of water,” said Gehrdes. “Having access to the river is key to that, and now we have an additional intake. At buildout, it would double our daily pumping capacity.”

The Owens, Statum & Wall Southeast Water Treatment Plant is named after Tony Owens, former President and CEO of Huntsville Utilities, Stanley “Shot” Statum, former board member of the Huntsville Utilities Natural Gas and Waterworks Boards, and Dr. James Wall, Jr., Secretary of the Natural Gas and Waterworks Boards. The three men were in attendance at the ceremony, and each received individual honors, including resolutions and plenty of applause. “Sharing my name with Tony and Shot on this building is something I’ll always cherish,” said Dr. Wall. Brasfield & Gorrie served as general contractors for the construction, and Tetra Tech provided engineering and design services. “It’s so valuable that Huntsville Utilities has the foresight, and looks so far into the future in relation to growth and economic development,” said Christian Dunaway, Vice President of Tetra Tech. “We’ve had all the stars align perfectly.” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle thanked the employees of Huntsville Utilities for seeing the project to fruition. “This plant is looking forward to 15-20 years from today, to what this community will be,” said Mayor Battle. “You’ve set this community up for success for years and years and years.” •

Claire Aiello

Enabling Success for Our Customers Our Employees Our Community

WWW.VENTURIAEROSPACE.COM A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey shakes hands with Alex McCool, one of the original members of NASA in Huntsville and an emeritus docent at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Watching is Brooks Moore, another docent and member of Dr. Wernher von Braun’s rocket team.

LEE ROOP | LROOP@AL.COM

Development of U.S. Cyber Camp is currently underway with the collaboration of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the University of Alabama Huntsville, and Cyber Huntsville, a cyber-security industry group chartered by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “With Space Camp, our mission has been to light the fire of imagination and inspire our children to become the next generation of explorers,” Dr. Barnhart added. “Cyber Camp is the first step in defending our freedom to explore, to protect our homeland, and to ensure our privacy.” The inaugural U.S. Cyber Camp, held in July 2017, included 32 students from across Alabama. Additional programs are being planned this year to further develop the Cyber Camp curricula for students across the state. U.S. Cyber Camp will target Alabama’s awareness of careers and degrees in cyber security, and as an extension of the Space Camp model, foster leadership and team building skills, and increase students’ confidence and performance in math and science. In addition to Space Camp and Aviation Challenge, the USSRC is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and is also home to the Apollo 16 capsule, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket, and world-class traveling exhibits. It is the Official Visitor Center for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and a showcase for national defense technologies developed at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal. To learn more about the exciting programs and activities at the USSRC, go to rocketcenter.com.

LEE ROOP | LROOP@AL.COM

Cyber Camp Coming Soon, from page 14

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A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

The List is Out! 2017 Inc. 5000

The 2017 Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies is out, and 28 Huntsville/Madison County companies made the list – an increase from 25 companies recognized in 2016. We also had two companies break into the top 500. Statewide, Alabama has 59 companies on the Inc. 5000 list. To qualify, all companies must be independent, for-profit, and privately held in the U.S., and have a minimum revenue in 2013 of at least $100,000. Revenues must exceed at least $2 million in 2016. Congratulations to these Huntsville/Madison County companies on the Inc. 5000 list, listed with their 2016 Operating Revenue and three-year percentage growth:

Rank 381 458 609 988 1171 1326 1479 1533 1535 2006 2025 2342 2469 2933 3114 3117 3479 3518 3555 3556 3889 3947 4253 4582 4627 4721 4761 4964

Company/City Operating Revenue % Growth R2C Support Services, Huntsville $2.3 million 1,130.04% Mission Driven Research, Huntsville $2.2 million 962% MSB Analytics, Huntsville $9.8 million 744% Appleton, Huntsville $34.8 million 437% Pinnacle Solutions, Huntsville $45 million 355% Monte Sano Research, Huntsville $9.7 million 307% Sentar, Huntsville $25.4 million 274% IronMountain Solutions, Huntsville $20.2 million 262% Hill Technical Solutions, Huntsville $5 million 261% Five Stones Research, Brownsboro $22.9 million 187% nou Systems, Huntsville $10.7 million 185% Matt Curtis Real Estate, Madison $2.4 million 154% PROJECTXYZ, Huntsville $15 million 144% nLogic, Huntsville $31.2 million 115% Thompson Gray, Huntsville $29.9 million 106% Manufacturing Technical Solutions, Huntsville $39.9 million 106% Torch Technologies, Huntsville $293.7 million 90% Keel Point, Huntsville $14 million 88% PeopleTec, Huntsville $76.7 million 87% enVention, Huntsville $3.1 million 87% Yorktown Systems Group, Huntsville $21.2 million 75% Amanda Howard Real Estate, Huntsville $4.2 million 72% Cornerstone Detention Products, Madison $36.9 million 62% MartinFederal, Huntsville $6.4 million 53% AvaLAN Wireless Systems, Madison $4 million 51% Simulation Technologies, Huntsville $18 million 48% Trideum, Huntsville $17.4 million 47% PPT Solutions, Huntsville $5.9 million 41%

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

#CFAdifference

WELCOME CFA CHARTERHOLDER CLASS OF 2017. ®

Congratulations to all who became CFA charterholders in 2017. You are now part of a community of 142,000 CFA charterholders worldwide. Join CFA Society Alabama by visiting CFAsociety.org/alabama.

Lauren Bates, CFA Trey Cartledge, CFA John Darby, CFA Jim Falbe, CFA John Gibson, CFA Leslie Self, CFA

Alabama 24

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

ED Highlights, continued from page 13 –

Torch, a 100% employee-owned small business, ranked 86 in 2015 and 75 in 2016, now moving up 7 spots for this year’s ranking. Torch was the highest ranked Huntsville-headquartered company named to this year’s list. Torch completed 2016 with over $293M in total revenue. “On behalf of our employee-owners, I am proud that Torch has been recognized for the third year as one of the largest prime contractors of engineering services to the federal government, and we continue to strive to be recognized as the best services and solutions provider to our DOD customers,” said John Watson, Torch President. Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, also headquartered in Huntsville, came in at 75 on the Top 100. ∏

Redstone Federal Credit Union opens first ‘in-school’ branch How early in your life did you start making regular bank deposits? Students at Hartselle High School now have that opportunity thanks to a partnership with Redstone Federal Credit Union. Redstone opened its first in-school branch on Sept. 5 and students and teachers staff the location. The branch, located in the school library, is open for business during the lunch period. Student customers can make deposits, cash checks, make transfers, and much more. Finance Academy teachers supervise the student employees as they handle transactions. “Our goals with the Schools Program are to build partnerships and relationships with the schools and to advance financial education. It is also an opportunity to find future employees among the students as they experience the working world,’’ said Joe Newberry, Redstone’s President and CEO. Redstone will also offer financial education workshops for students and staff throughout the school year. ∏

MartinFederal celebrates 10 years in business MartinFederal Consulting, LLC, an 8(a) minority Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) certified Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), recently marked its 10-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting. Corey Martin, Founder and President of MartinFederal, established the company in 2007 to push the bounds in delivering quality service to customers. Today, his team of 50 employees continues to think outside the box by developing and supporting missions highly critical to the U.S. national security. “I couldn’t be more excited about this accomplishment for the MartinFederal team,” said Martin. “Our team is poised for growth and has the capacity to provide solutions to our customers’ most complex problems. I look forward to the next 10 years of continued success.” MartinFederal currently serves customers such as the U.S. Army, Department of Energy, Department of Education, Department of the Interior, and NASA, among others. ∏ A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

communitybuilding

Dream Chaser Phase II ®

HSV International Airport Initiates Permitting Process with the FAA

untsville/Madison County is another step closer to landing a space vehicle at the Huntsville International Airport. The Airport has signed a contract to apply for licensing through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to land Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Dream Chaser® spacecraft on one of its commercial runways. This Phase II contract follows a Phase I contract completed in 2015 that examined the compatibility of SNC’s Dream Chaser with the existing runway and taxiway environments at the Airport. “The preliminary study proved the feasibility of landing, so now we are pleased to announce that we have initiated the permitting process with the FAA,” said Rick Tucker, executive director of the Huntsville International Airport. “This is much more than an economic development project that will bring additional business to the airport and the community. This represents a shared vision of Huntsville as a leader in the commercial space economy as the first community to make a commitment to this vehicle and its role in space commerce.” Local and state support for this project includes funding for the

contracts and marketing of the community’s assets that support landing the Dream Chaser in Huntsville. Teledyne Brown Engineering serves as the prime contractor, with subcontracts to be issued to Sierra Nevada Corporation and RS&H. Partners with the Airport include the City of Huntsville, Madison County, the City of Madison, the State of Alabama, UAH, and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. “We’re excited to continue our progress in this community-wide effort to land the Dream Chaser in Huntsville,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This initiative fits well with our expertise and portfolio as a hub for the fast growing commercial space industry.” “Madison County is excited to move to the next step in bringing Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser to the Huntsville International Airport,” said Madison County Commission Chairman Dale W. Strong. “Working to secure this permit through the FAA will allow this spacecraft to return to Earth’s orbit and land at Huntsville International Airport in Madison County, Alabama – home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, The University of Ala-

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initiatives oct 2017

C e l e b ra t i n g

10 YEARS in Huntsville

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

NASA/KEN ULBRICH

bama Huntsville, and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.” Phase II is expected to take at least 24 months. While the permits are being sought, the partners will be working to share the capabilities of the Dream Chaser with potential users while marketing the workforce and expertise of the Huntsville region to support payload design, development, integration, operations and processing. All science payloads aboard the International Space Station are managed by Marshall Space Flight Center at the Payload Operations and Integration Center (POIC) on Redstone Arsenal. The POIC has been in 24/7 operation since 2001, with hundreds of scientific experiments being completed each year. “We are very excited to be working with Huntsville as the first commercial airport that will apply for an FAA permit to land Dream Chaser after an orbital mission,” said John Roth, vice president of business development for SNC’s Space Systems business area. “We feel that the ability to land a space mission on a commercial runway anywhere in the world is a big advantage of our vehicle and will bring space up close and personal to thousands of people who can come out and see the landings. This will put us in

the forefront of commercial space activities, and it is no surprise that the ‘Rocket City’ is the first to join us on that journey.” “Huntsville is perfectly positioned geographically, economically and possesses an experienced workforce that is committed to making our city the key location for this significant effort,” said Jan Hess, president of Teledyne Brown Engineering. “Our company is proud to be leading an effort that showcases all that our community has to offer.” One marketing effort underway is the Chamber’s sponsorship of a contest with the European Space Agency (ESA). With Scottish aerospace company Astrosat, the Chamber sought ideas for utilizing the Dream Chaser beyond cargo transport. Deadline for entries was September 18 (space-exploration-masters.com). The prize includes business development support from Astrosat, a visit to Huntsville/Madison County, and a year’s worth of business incubation at BizTech. The winner will be announced in October during the Space Tech Expo in Bremen, Germany, at the Huntsville/Madison County booth. “The ESA competition has given us an international platform for sharing the space-related capabilities of Huntsville/Madison County,” said Lucia Cape, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Chamber. “We look forward to seeing what entrepreneurs from around the world would do with a Dream Chaser spacecraft, and we want to let them know that they can land it here.” Sierra Nevada Corporation was awarded a cargo resupply contract with NASA in 2016. Earlier this year, SNC announced that its first two missions would be launched on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, made in Decatur. Carrie Rice

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oct 2017 initiatives

GOVERNMENT&PUBLICAFFAIRS

Listen, Learn, Help & Lead Gov. Kay Ivey Learns About Huntsville’s Successes, Challenges

overnor Kay Ivey visited several locations in Huntsville in August as part of her “Listen, Learn, Help & Lead” tour. The Governor spoke with community and business leaders, learning about the Rocket City’s successes and challenges, and discussing how she can contribute to our future. The Governor’s first stop of the morning was at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, located in Cummings Research Park. Gov. Ivey toured the facility for a primer on groundbreaking genomic research and education being done to fight diseases, including cancer. She then traveled to Redstone Arsenal to cut the ribbon on the recently relocated Gate 9. While making her remarks, the Governor presented a check in the amount of $1.3 million to help defray the cost of the $12.9 million project. Remarks took place during a beautiful reception at Rocket City Tavern, and the group then moved to the actual Gate 9 for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Gov. Ivey also visited the FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Ana-

The nomination period for the 2018 Best Places to Work® Awards is September 25–December 1.

lytical Center (TEDAC) on Redstone Arsenal. TEDAC coordinates the efforts of the entire government, from law enforcement to intelligence to military, to gather and share forensic data from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. TEDAC has received more than 100,000 IED submissions from more than 50 countries. Team members analyze these devices, gathering information to help prevent future terrorist attacks. The FBI has plans for continued growth on Redstone. Gov. Ivey’s team then moved to Science and Engineering Services (SES), where workers manufacture, repair, and refurbish military helicopters from the U.S. and foreign countries. SES employees met with the Governor to explain the specialized work they do on several types of helicopters, including Blackhawks, Chinooks, Cobras and Apaches. Their work also includes ground combat support, research and development, engineering, logistics and training. Gov. Ivey’s final stop on her tour was at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber for a lunch and working session with local business leaders on how to continue to help our city grow. Claire Aiello

To nominate, go to:

bit.ly/BestPlaces2018 Awards will be presented on April 10, 2018. 28

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

oct 2017 initiatives

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

STA FF Executive Staff

Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Amy Locke, executive assistant Annette Atchley, resource desk coordinator Margarita Horton, resource desk assistant

Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce

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Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Jill Bruton, workforce development director Erin Koshut, Cummings Research Park director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, project manager

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Claire Aiello, program manager

Marketing & Communications Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer

Membership Robert Recker, senior vice president, investor relations Donna McCrary, membership retention manager Kristy Drake, ChamberON & investor relations manager Tina Blankenship, membership account executive Tiffany Miller, membership account executive Eloise Stanley, membership account executive

Meadow Green

Madison, Alabama

Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, IOM, vice president

Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Kim Savage, accounting specialist – receivables Lori Warner, accounting specialist – payables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Bradford Office Center Huntsville, Alabama

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

HSVchamber.org

Associated Organizations

200 West Side Square Huntsville, Alabama

communityfoundationhsv.org

uah.edu/sbdc theschoolsfoundation.org

initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

educationnews

Achieving Tomorrow U.S. Chamber Foundation Goes Viral with Voices

hen it comes to workforce development, preparing talent for the future starts in the classroom today. The Huntsville/Madison County community is fortunate to be a role model in this work and is receiving national attention with a video and photojournalistic series produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation called Voices. The series highlights the outstanding role the business community, educators, parents, and policymakers play in preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow. The Foundation’s goal for the Voices campaign is to emphasize the importance high standards play in K-12 education to prepare students for life after high school. We are grateful for the role of all these voices in our community and we’re excited to feature some of the Voices of Huntsville in Initiatives magazine! The Huntsville video can be found at bit.ly/VoicesHuntsville, and more Voices of Huntsville testimonials can be found at achievingtomorrow.org/voices.

there. I can’t teach a child 5th grade math or 7th grade biology while they’re here for a week; but what I can do is show them the different tools that they’re going to need in their toolbox to create their future, so that they understand why they have to take physics and why they need that chemistry class. We truly believe that the potential for greatness exists in every child. The trick, for those of us who are leading and nurturing, is to bring that potential out. We take that responsibility very seriously. I’m reminded of a young woman who came through our visually impaired program. She was 10 years old the first time she came through. She came back a second and a third time. And today, that young woman is sitting on the console at the Marshall Space Flight Center, directing science experiments onboard the International Space Station. I think coming here lets the students’ dreams come alive. They begin to blossom into the person they know they can be. That’s the most important magic that happens here.

Dr. Neil Lamb Dr. Deborah Barnhart CEO, U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Space Camp cracks the cosmic egg of whoever comes here. We’ll let you really reach out and handshake the future, to try out what feels right for you, and discover what path you might be able to go down. Here at Space Camp, we’re teaching kids how to bridge themselves from where they are today to where they want to be, and helping them start to understand what that path really looks like. We’re trying to support formal education within formal experience in a way that gives them a creational feeling about how to get A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Educational Outreach, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

From the very beginning, education has been a critical part of HudsonAlpha’s mission. My team provides hands-on experiences to help students understand complex concepts and to equip them with the skills and knowledge essential to a career in biotechnology and related fields. One example of our approach are ChromoSocks®, which we developed to help explain cell reproduction and the nature of chromosomes to students. In the beginning, we tried using a lot of different tools and analogies, but as soon as we put the socks in their hands, it was like a light bulb went off and they understood that chromosomes come in pairs. ChromoSocks® are now in classrooms across Alabama and available all around the world through a partnership with Carolina Biological Supply Company. It’s really exciting to see. oct 2017 initiatives

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initiatives oct 2017

A PUBLICATION OF THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER