january 2019
Bright Lights By the Numbers Health Headlines Movers & Shakers Recent Events Small Business Synapse
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
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.
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: Frank M. Caprio., 256.517.5142, fcaprio@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 200 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 900, Huntsville, AL 35801.
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 October 2018 Advanced Technical Finishing LLC AIRESERV OF HUNTSVILLE Alabama Aging Resources, Inc Alan Waggoner State Farm American Senior Assistance Programs, Inc. Apple Bridge Street Association of Fundraising Professionals AL, North Chapter Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co. Buckner Chiropractic Center Carole Foret Fine Art Clean Supreme / Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning Cornerstone Detention Products Cowart Awards The Danny Kendall Johnson Foundation DCI - Diversified Contractors, Inc. Delta Solutions & Strategies, LLC Engenix, Inc Engility Corporation EyeCare Associates FirstFruits Bakery Five Star Food Service GCS - Government Contracting Services Heritage Propane Hixson Consultants, Inc. Keller Williams - Jake Reed Limestone Hunting Preserve & Sporting Clays PMI North Alabama Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc. ResourceTek True North Physical Therapy and Wellness Tyler Mann Injury Law, LLC Uniti Fiber Victoria’s Interiors
Joined in November 2018 Amanda Suciu State Farm Insurance BallCorps LLC Burkett & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. Business Development Support Services The Collins - Apartment Community Cozelos Data Dennen IP Law LLC EASTHAM CORPORATE SOLUTIONS, INC. Engineered Maintenance Services Eutaw Construction Company, Inc. Guidehouse Hair Queen Beauty LLC Irish Society of North Alabama Local Taco MBD 360 Modern Woodmen of America - Jeff Eastin Nicol Investment Company Patricia Haley Charity PeopleSec Rocket City RV LLC Southeast Commercial Stealth - ISS Cyber Group Swag University of North Alabama Foundation Victory Sweepers
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.
4
initiatives
online
jan 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
AS OF JANUARY 2, 2019
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 ■ SAIC SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Yulista
CHAMBER TRUSTEES AEgis Technologies Group ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ Akima, LLC ■ Bailey-Harris Construction ■ 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 Raytheon Company ■ 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 ■ The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ 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.) ■ Turner Construction Company ■ Wells Fargo Bank ■ Woody Anderson Ford PROGRESS INVESTORS 4SITE, Inc. ■ AECOM ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ All Points Logistics, LLC ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ BancorpSouth ■ 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. Digium, Inc. ■ Engineering Design Technologies/EDT-THA Architecture ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ Fernandez Financial Group ■ FITE Building Company ■ FLS Translation & Interpreting Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC ■ Garver ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Cars Huntsville ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau ■ Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. INTERFUZE Corporation ■ Investor’s Resource – Raymond James Financial Services ■ IronMountain Solutions ■ 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 Corporation ■ Ready Mix USA Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Company ■ 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 Company ■ Worxtime an Equifax Company
Build.
Go do what you do. We’ll take care of your banking. bibank.com/business | #goindependent | 877.865.5050
Member FDIC
Chamber Members: Send your company news to comms@hsvchamber.org
jan 2019 ON THE COVER: Huntsville Mayor Battle giving his 2018 State of the City Address page 33
Friends and colleagues enjoying the Chamber’s Holiday Open House page 23
By the Numbers
10
Bright Lights
14
Health Headlines
18
Movers & Shakers
26
Small Biz Synapse
28
Recent Events
32
More Thanks to Lee Lester: 16 Gratitude: 20 Life-Saving Technology: 22 Holiday Open House: 23 AI for Earth Innovation Grant: 24 Cecil Ashburn Drive: 30
Et cetera New Members: 4 HREGI Investors: 5 About IO & Board Listing: 8 Staff Listing: 34
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jan 2019 initiatives
online
7
About IO
HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER
Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2019 Executive Committee
Happy New Year! I hope you had a relaxing break with those you love, and you’re excited to start off 2019. My name is Greg Brown, and I’m the new Vice Chair of Marketing & Communications for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. I am happy to serve the Chamber, and you’ve seen me in other roles in recent years. I am also the Co-CEO/CFO of Brown Precision, Inc. Initiatives Online (IO) is published six months per year, and we intend for this to be a big avenue for your company’s news. Share it with local Chamber members and stakeholders by sending information and high-resolution photos to comms@hsvchamber.org. In this issue, we have a feature on changing your organizational habits. With the new year, it’s a good time to look at transforming your business and culture, and Pam Marmon of Marmon Consulting has some upcoming classes at the Chamber to help with that. Read more on page 28. Speaking of change, if you live in Hampton Cove or travel to or from there, get ready to adjust your commute on January 7 as Cecil Ashburn Drive closes for 10 months for a widening project. The contractors are incentivized to work ahead and open two lanes later this year, and then finish the other two lanes. Please check other routes and consider carpooling – the City has posted a wealth of information on huntsvilleal.gov to help you:
Change isn’t easy, but it’s the one constant in life. I hope to see you at a Chamber event soon!
Greg Brown 2019 Vice Chair for Marketing & Communications Chamber Executive Board
IO Staff Chip Cherry, CCE publisher Greg Brown 2019 vice chair, marketing & communications Claire Aiello editor Austin Bullock, Alexa Eason contributors
Kristi Sherrard editorial designer Hiroko Sedensky web designer
The mission of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth. Submissions for editorial content are accepted; however, placement is not guaranteed. Information in this and other Chamber publications is at the discretion of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. initiatives
online
jan 2019
Relations, deciBel Research, Inc.
Alicia Ryan, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, LSINC Corporation
David Fernandes, Vice Chair, HREGI, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications, Brown Precision, Inc.
Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Membership, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, Transcend LLC
Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, TV-BRAC, Sirote & Permutt, PC Mike Alvarez, Chair-Appointed, Venturi, Inc. Penny Billings, Chair-Appointed, BancorpSouth Craig Naudain, Chair-Appointed, SAIC 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, President & CEO, Chamber
Elected Board
bit.ly/CecilAshburnUpdates
8
Kim Lewis, Chair, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Kevin Byrnes, Chair-elect, Raytheon Company Gary Bolton, Immediate Past Chair, ADTRAN, Inc. Ron Poteat, Chamber Foundation Chair, Regions Bank Lynn Troy, Secretary/Treasurer, Troy 7, Inc. Jeff Gronberg, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry
Bill Bailey, Radiance Technologies, Inc. James Barclay Blake Bentley, SportsMED 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 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, Inc. Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC Cynthia Streams, Domino’s (Valley Pizza, Inc.) Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company Dr. Karockas Watkins, Ability Plus, Inc. Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama John Watson, Torch Technologies Dennis Weese, Line-X, LLC
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
EMERGENCY CARE WITH
LESS WAITING
E.R. In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at Crestwood Medical Center, you’ll find faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional with the shortest wait time possible.* And, as a full service community hospital, we can provide a lot more care if you need it.
For less waiting and faster care, count on the E.R. at Crestwood Medical Center.
One Hospital Drive • Huntsville 256-429-4000 • CrestwoodMedCenter.com *E.R. wait time, which is defined as the time it takes from check-in at the E.R. desk until a patient is initially seen by a provider, can change quickly. This time is dependent on the severity of the illness and other patients also in the E.R.
By the Numbers FEDERAL, STATE, OR MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS ACQUIRED BY CHAMBER MEMBERS
Black Hall Aerospace awarded ID/IQ contract Black Hall Aerospace, Inc. (BHA) has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract valued at up to $25.5 billion from the U.S. Army’s Multi-National Aviation Special Project Office (MASPO) to provide worldwide Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) capabilities for non-standard rotary wing aircraft for the Department of Defense (DoD), its allied countries and the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. This is a five-year contract, with an option to extend for an additional five years. “BHA has evolved significantly over the past 3 years to become a credible and legitimate contract logistics service provider for non-standard aircraft,” said Dotson Wells, President. “We are excited about the opportunity to support this mission critical requirement and we are committed to the success of MASPO, its customers and the WLSS-C contract vehicle.” BHA continues its investment in supporting the WLSS-C vehicle, strategically aligning with vendors and suppliers and refining its capabilities in order to provide the best service possible to its customers. Black Hall has strategically positioned itself, hiring key talent and developing infrastructure, specifically for supporting MASPO and its end customers. And with this win, “Black Hall is here to stay and look forward to a long, prosperous relationship with the MASPO and other Redstone Arsenal based customers” said Joe Webb, Vice President. BHA is an Alabama-based, FAA Part 145, AS9100 Rev D, and AS9110 Rev C certified, aviation solutions provider that offers a wide variety of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft services to customers around the world. ■
LSINC Corporation awarded MDA TEAMS Human Resources contract Following a competitive solicitation, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded Huntsville-based Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) LSINC Corporation its Technical, Engineering, Advisory, and Management Support (TEAMS) Human Resources (HR) contract. Work under this contract will support MDA with HR activities in the areas of execution of human resources operations; human capital data; military personnel planning and support; recruitment and staffing; training and curriculum development; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach; equal opportunity; and total force management. The cost-plus fixed-fee TEAMS HR contract has a five-year period of performance including options, at a value of $38.9M. LSINC will provide personnel support for this contract in Huntsville, Ala.; Fort Belvoir, Va.; and Colorado Springs, Colo. LSINC is joined in this effort by subcontractors Deloitte Consulting, LLP and Canvas, Inc. “We are pleased to continue to serve our MDA customer under the HR contract,” said Alicia Ryan, LSINC CEO. “We have been providing MDA with counterintelligence 10
initiatives
online
jan 2019
and security and program protection support and are excited to help the Agency identify and hire expertise in support of the warfighter and our nation’s critical defense programs.” ■
SES awarded $25M contract in Foreign Military Sales program Science and Engineering Services LLC, in Huntsville has been awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed value of $25,437,426 for the refurbishment, modification, and delivery of four SH60F aircraft for the government of Spain under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and is expected to be completed in March 2021. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $6,035,232 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-4. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0022). ■
IronMountain Solutions awarded $9M in Foreign Military Sales modification IronMountain Solutions in Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $9,000,081 Foreign Military Sales (Brazil, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Slovakia, Sweden, Tunisia, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates) modification (000024) to contract W31P4Q-17-A-0001 for support services for non-AMRDEC technical support for the Utility Helicopter Project Office. Bids were solicited via the internet with three bids received. Work will be performed in Huntsville with an estimated completion date of May 14, 2019. Fiscal 2018 foreign military sales; research, development, test and evaluation; and other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $9,000,081 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. ■
Radiance Technologies awarded $28M contract for high energy laser support Radiance Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $28,217,815 cost-plusfixed-fee contract for high energy laser lethality assessment and program support. Twenty-three bids were solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 15, 2023. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $724,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9113M19-F-0015) ■
Yulista named in $473M Air Force contract ACR Technical Services Inc., Newport News, Va. (FA4890-19-D-1001); APRO International Inc. Vienna, Va. (FA4890-19-D-1002); Goldbelt C6 LLC, Chesapeake, Va. (FA4890-19-D-1003); Science and Management Resources Inc., Pensacola, Fla. (FA4890-19-D-1004); and Yulista Support Services LLC, Huntsville, Ala. (FA4890-19-D-1005), have been awarded a ceiling $473,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Air Force Enterprise Contracted Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratories Services II. This contract provides Air Combat Command, the Air National Guard, and other major command and combatant command customer management, supervision, personnel, equipment, tools, materials and other items necessary to perform equipment calibrations by professional and technical metrologists. Work will be performed at various Air Force bases in the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2028. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,300,000 will fund the current requirement. Headquarters Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity. ■
The Boeing Company awarded separate contracts for Avenger, Harpoon programs The Boeing Co. Huntsville Division, Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $23,700,000 firmfixed-price contract for the manufacture, test and deliver of Avenger fire control computers. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala.; and Tukwila, Wash., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $23,700,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W13P4Q-19-C-0024). Meanwhile, The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $244,714,371 not-to-exceed, firm-fixed-price contract to procure long lead material for Harpoon fullrate production Lot 91 in support of multiple Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Mo. (54 percent); McKinney, Texas (23 percent); Toledo, Ohio (8 percent); Burnley, United Kingdom (3 percent); Middletown, Conn. (2 percent); Grove, Okla. (2 percent); Elkton, Md. (1 percent); Lititz, Penn.(1 percent); Galena, Kan. (1 percent); Huntsville, Ala. (1 percent), and various locations within the continental U.S. (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. FMS funds in the amount of $244,714,371 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0016). ■ continued on page 12 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jan 2019 initiatives
online
11
BY THE NUMBERS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
Lockheed Martin Corporation awarded several contracts ▶ Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, Calif., is awarded $28,574,689 for cost-plus-
fixed-fee modification P00002 to a previously awarded contract (N00030-18-C-0025), to exercise options for hypersonic booster technology development seeking to demonstrate technologies related to intermediate range capability through booster design, fabrication and validation testing. Work will be performed in Magna, Utah (51.03 percent); Elma, N.Y. (14.08 percent); Sunnyvale, Calif. (14.03 percent); Denver, Colo. (10.52 percent); Titusville, Fla. (7.53 percent); Huntsville, Ala. (1.08 percent); Mooresville, N.C. (1 percent); Cape Canaveral, Fla. (0.52 percent); and Valley Forge, Pa. (0.21 percent), with an expected completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $28,574,689 are being obligated on this award, which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
▶ Lockheed Martin Corp. - Rotary and Mission Systems, Colorado Springs, Colo., is being competitively awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a maximum amount of $240,000,000. Under this new contract, the contractor will support the development, deployment and sustainment of the Objective Simulation Framework Modeling & Simulation framework that leverages existing or mature capabilities with a modular, scalable, reconfigurable, and composeable architecture. A task order in the amount of $49,703,444 is being issued immediately after the award of
COMPILED BY ALEXA EASON
this contract. The work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala. The ordering period is from Nov. 19, 2018, through Nov. 18, 2023. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website with three proposals received. Fiscal 2018 research and development funds in the amount of $1,700,000 are being obligated on the award of the first task order and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-D-0002). ■
▶ Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $129,483,864 noncompetitive, cost-plus-incentive-fee and firm-fixed-price contract under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under this new contract, the contractor will provide maintenance and sustainment for two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Batteries for UAE. The maintenance and sustainment scope of work includes software and hardware development, contractor logistics support, engineering services, and missile field surveillance. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Dallas, Texas; Huntsville, Ala.; Anniston, Ala.; Troy, Ala.; Lakeland, Fla.; and the UAE, with an expected period of performance of Nov. 1, 2018, through July 2, 2021. One offer was solicited and one offer was received. UAE FMS funds in the amount of $129,483,864 will be used to fund this effort. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (HQ0147-19-C-5001)
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. invresource.com
12
initiatives
online
jan 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Bright Lights ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HUNTSVILLE METRO
Barfield Murphy Shank & Smith joins forces with Hall Albright Garrison & Barnes As part of a planned growth strategy throughout the state of Alabama, Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith (BMSS) is proud to announce its merger with Huntsville-based CPA firm Hall Albright Garrison & Barnes, effective January 1, 2019. The existing BMSS location in Huntsville will relocate to HAGB’s office at 400 Meridian Street. Once the merger is complete, the combined entity will have 29 partners, 94 CPAs and approximately 225 employees. The two firms will consolidate under the name BMSS, LLC. “We have spent a great deal of time with Hall Albright’s leadership over the past year,” said BMSS Managing Member Don Murphy. “Through our time together, we have come to see how we both reflect and complement our respective firm’s cultures and values. Our combined forces will take BMSS to a new level that will continue to grow and expand just as the Huntsville metro area is growing and expanding.” BMSS ranked 12th on Accounting Today’s 2018 Regional Leaders list for the Top Firms in the Gulf Coast region with an expected $25 million in annual revenue by the end of 2018. In addition to the CPA firm, the BMSS family of companies includes a
14
initiatives
online
jan 2019
wealth management company, BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions, a payroll and benefits company, PBS, a PEO company, PBS PEO and an IT company, Abacus IT Solutions. Since 1998, BMSS has also been an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA, a nationwide association of independently owned accounting firms. Keith Barfield, Don Murphy and John Shank created BMSS in 1991 with the vision of a CPA firm that would provide an exceptional client experience while sustaining a healthy, happy work culture for its employees. The shareholders of Hall Albright Garrison & Barnes recognized their firm’s shared vision in BMSS. “We share similar cultures, we share similar beliefs and we share similar core values,” said HAGB Shareholder Scott Garrison. “Bringing our two firms together just makes sense.” Hall Albright Garrison & Barnes is a full-service public accounting firm whose team of CPAs and consultants have served the North Alabama area for over 30 years. The firm offers tax, audit, payroll and bookkeeping services and specializes in serving government contractor clients. The firm was formed in 2009 through a merger of House and Albright, P.C. and Hall and Garrison. With the addition of Greg Barnes in 2016, they became Hall Albright Garrison & Barnes, P.C. “For many years, we have witnessed, admired and respected how BMSS has taken
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
care of its people and its clients throughout the state,” said HAGB Shareholder Jon Hall. “Their culture and primary mission closely mirror ours. The skill sets of both firms are complementary to one another. It just seemed to make sense to bring the two firms together.” “This merger is significant for all of us,” said BMSS Founding Partner Don Murphy. “In Hall Albright, we found people who, like us, could add real value at every stage of an organization’s life cycle with strengths that complement and extend our own. Beyond that, we feel that they’re a great fit with our people, our culture and our mission of delivering an exceptional client experience.” ■
Dynetics to supply Army nanosatellites The Army has selected Huntsville, Alabama-based Dynetics to supply its next pair of nanosatellites, the company announced in November. The Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command Technical Center have been developing tactical satellites about the size of a football to help fill remote sensing gaps. One example is Kestrel Eye, a 110-pound, low-cost technical demonstration satellite launched in August 2017. It is designed to give battlefield commanders near real-time imagery, according to Army press releases. Service leaders at the time of its launch lauded their ability to completely control the imaging process, from the tasking of the spacecraft to disseminating the information, without relying on the other services’ remote sensing platforms. The Gunsmoke-L small satellite program will host the next generation of tactical space support payloads designed to operate in low-Earth orbit for a minimum of two years. They will “demonstrate advanced information collection,” according to an Army website. Dynetics will work with the technical center’s space and strategic systems directorate, which will include research, development and demonstration of the support payloads. “We have won many civilian space contracts, and to move into the military space arena strengthens our portfolio. We are looking forward to taking on this challenge of creating small satellites that will meet the Department of Defense’s space support goals,” said Mike Graves, Dynetics space systems department manager and Gunsmoke-L program manager. The company will take two years to develop the pair of spacecraft and qualify them for launch. It will also support on-orbit demonstrations utilizing the technical center’s small satellite ground control system located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to provide command, control and communication for at least one year, with an option for a second year, the statement said. ■
Anglin Reichmann Armstrong named among 2018 Best Small Firms to Work For
MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZE RESOURCES
Advance your career with project management tools and credentials!
PMP® CERTIFICATION BOOTCAMP Earn one of the most valued credentials in project management. Our intensive, five-day program will prepare you to pass the PMP® and CAPM® exams while gaining the 40 required contact hours of project management education. January 28 – February 1. Also available online.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE Build a solid foundation in project management and ensure your projects are set up for success. This certificate is responsive to the PMBOK® and is focused on practical applications, particularly in a Government/contractor environment. Take one course or the complete certificate. Begins February 5. Also available online.
MICROSOFT PROJECT CERTIFICATE Gain a competitive edge by learning to utilize Project’s flexible features to keep your projects organized and on time. Take one course or the complete certificate. Begins January 28
REGISTER TODAY!
Anglin Reichmann Armstrong has been named among the 2018 Best Small Firms to Work For by national publication Accounting Today. The publication is a leading information resource for public accountants and each year selects the Best Accounting Firms continued on page 16 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
CPCS.uah.edu/PDSolutions | 256.824.4430 jan 2019 initiatives
online
15
BRIGHT LIGHTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
to Work For in three categories: Small, Midsized and Large. The small firm category is comprised of firms with 15-49 employees. According to Accounting Today, the annual survey and recognition is conducted in partnership with Best Companies Group, and is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the accounting profession. “This is an incredible honor to be recognized among the best places to work,” said Managing Partner Gary Anglin. “We value every member of the team and strive to make this a great place to work for each and every one of them. Even as we grow, we try to maintain that small firm feel in how we treat our most important asset – our people.” “Over the past two years, not only have we added unique benefits such as unlimited PTO, remote working and dress for your day, but we have focused intently on our Career Development Plan,” said Director of Staff Training & Development, Wendy Tucker. “We want to see each of our employees successful in their career and position them to contribute to the success of our clients, and their own career. Our Career Development Plan positions them to do just that.” Formed in 1990, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. is the largest, locally owned public accounting and business advisory firm in Huntsville, Alabama. With its newest office in Pensacola, Florida, Anglin serves clients throughout the Southeast and nationally. Services include CFO Services, Outsourced Accounting, Specialized Tax Credits (R&D Credits), Business Valuations as well as Audit and Assurance and Tax Advisory Services. Anglin is a member of CPAmerica International. ■
Thanks, Lee! We’d like to thank Lee Lester for his many years of service with our annual ChamberON sponsorship campaign. He’s been with us since the beginning. Lee is a retired banking executive, and he and his wife, Toni, love to spend time at the beach. “Lee has been a co-worker, a competitor, a teammate, but most importantly – a friend,” said fellow ChamberON volunteer Clint Kirkland. “Lee’s ‘no-nonsense, get down to business’ attitude… along with his keen understanding of the job at hand, has helped him achieve great success in his career and for our community.” Lee, thank you for serving as a volunteer, and ROLL TIDE!
16
initiatives
online
jan 2019
COMPILED BY ALEXA EASON
Mission Multiplier, Sentar enter into SBA Mentor Protégé Agreement; form Joint Venture Company – Cybernauts LLC Mission Multiplier and Sentar have recently entered into a Mentor-Protégé agreement approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This agreement brings together two Huntsville-based cybersecurity companies, who collectively bring unparalleled cyber thought leadership and innovative new cyber technology to our region and the country at-large. As a key component of the SBA agreement, Sentar and Mission Multiplier have created a joint venture – a HUBZone certified small business called Cybernauts LLC. Cybernauts LLC is poised to bring innovative cybersecurity services and solutions to the Federal government to help secure our nation’s critical infrastructure, and to drive increased revenue to the Tennessee Valley region. Founded in 1990, Sentar is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) whose mission is to protect nation security by innovating, building, and securing mission critical assets. Sentar supplies advanced intelligence and cybersecurity services and products that empower their customers to securely leverage their computing and network assets to their fullest potential. Mission Multiplier is an award-winning and innovative HUBZone company based in Huntsville, Alabama, recently nominated as a finalist for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Small Business of the Year awards. It has developed one-of-a-kind cybersecurity technologies and support services to meet the current and future needs of our Federal government, all while helping to support the local community. Mission Multiplier’s business model is unique in that for every hour a Mission Multiplier employee works, the company gives a percentage of profit to a local charity of their choice. The SBA Mentor-Protégé program encourages private-sector collaboration and industry partnership – through the creation of Joint Ventures, like Cybernauts LLC – with the aim of increasing the capability and know-how for small businesses; so that they successfully compete for federal government contracts and bring the Federal government new solutions, while supporting and growing talent and capability in the local community. “Sentar is pleased to formalize our mentoring relationship with Mission Multiplier which will be a win-win-win for Sentar, Mission Multiplier, and our customers,” said Bridget Abashian, CEO/President of Sentar. “Sentar has been looking at establishing a MPP for nearly two years. With Mission Multiplier we have the all the ingredients we have been looking for to ensure mutual success,” said Peter Kiss, founder of Sentar. As the Mentor, Sentar will make available managerial, technical, business development support, and participate in technology transfer to help Mission Multiplier grow its revenues and client base, and to help enable the Federal government to get easier access to Mission Multiplier’s innovative products and services. “Mission Multiplier is incredibly grateful to partner with Sentar as part of the SBA Mentor-Protégé program, and we have no doubt that our partnership will directly improve the lives of our customers, employees, and the overall Tennessee Valley community,” said Jamie Miller, CEO/ President of Mission Multiplier. ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Bridging the world’s post-sales supply chain
WHAT WE DO
THE SOLOMON2 ADVANTAGE POST SALES SUPPORT & REVERSE LOGISTICS PALCO specializes in post-sales managed services (RMA, Life-Cycle Management, and Sustainability) that enable our clients to optimize efficiencies, improve profitability, and deliver exceptional customer experience. PALCO services enable our clients to optimize their businesses by aligning Post-Sales Support models to realize their operational objectives, achieve long-term business goals while reducing risks and lowering total overall costs, and utilize global service deployment strategy maps and optimized methodologies. PALCO’s approach provides consistent global processes and assures post-sales supply chain predictability.
PALCO
Solomon2 SOLOMON2 is PALCO’s proprietary data acquisition and management software. This superior technology is designed
INTEGRATION SERVICES
specifically to support and improve post-sales
PALCO offers customers a total solution to their system integration requirements. Products are delivered to you or your customer fully integrated, racked, stacked, cabled, labeled, with OS and custom imaging installed, end-to-end test validation, and extended burn-in. PALCO also offers white-glove services.
operations. Through SOLOMON2 clients receive actionable, real-time global information. They also get business intelligence specific
to post-sales supply chain services
MANUFACTURING SUPPORT SERVICES
(RMA, Product Life-Cycle, and Sustainability)
PALCO leverages over 30 years of servicing leading-edge technology. We offer some of the most technically advanced circuit board rework, repair, and ECO implementation in the industry, as well as testing, troubleshooting and repair services that meet precise OEM specifications. Additionally, PALCO performs 3rd party inspection services.
helping them better support the most demanding mission critical service agreements.
www.gotopalco.com | Contact Us: 256-883-6231 or 256-883-3408 | Email: info@palcotelecom.com
Health Headlines MEMBER NEWS IN BIOTECH, MEDICINE, AND HEALTHCARE
Calhoun hosts opening for new Huntsville Campus Nursing Lab On November 29, the Calhoun Community College Nursing Department celebrated the opening of its new Nursing Simulation Lab. It is in the Sparkman Building at the Calhoun Huntsville campus, located at 102 Wynn Drive. The nursing lab is the result of a partnership between Calhoun and Huntsville Hos-
18
initiatives
online
jan 2019
pital and represents the final piece necessary for the establishment of a new nursing program at Calhoun’s Huntsville campus. The new Huntsville program, similar to Calhoun’s nursing program in Decatur, was created to help fill the growing need for additional nurses for the region. The new two-year program admitted its first students this fall, and plans to graduate up to 48 Registered Nursing students by 2020. In 2018, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey presented a $1 million grant from the Alabama Capital Trust Fund to assist with the cost of constructing the nursing simulation lab. The remaining construction costs were assumed by Huntsville Hospital, with Calhoun overseeing the actual construction project. Final cost for building and equipping the lab has been estimated at $1.5 million. ■
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Myers
HudsonAlpha home to four most cited researchers in the world, according to 2018 list New accolades are in for four scientists at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. According to Clarivate Analytics, they are on the 2018 list of Highly Cited Researchers. The list requires a citation count that ranks a researcher in the top one percent in their field. The 2018 list aims to identify the “small fraction of the researcher population that contributes disproportionately” to the advancement of science. It measured influence across 21 different fields from 2006-2016. HudsonAlpha President and Faculty Investigator Richard M. Myers, PhD, made this list for his work in Molecular Biology & Genetics. Specifically, Myers has recently published advancements in understanding psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. His work has explored the genetic underpinnings of illnesses including schizophrenia, depression and Alzheimer disease. Devin Absher, PhD, a faculty investigator, was also put on the list for his contributions in Molecular Biology & Genetics. Absher focuses on epigenetics, the study of what leads some genes to be expressed more than others. That research covers a
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Absher
Schmutz
Grimwood
broad range of human health, from heart disease to cancer. Faculty investigators Jeremy Schmutz and Jane Grimwood, PhD, were both recognized for their work as well, much of which stems from the Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) at the Institute, which they co-direct. Their research focuses on developing our understanding of agricultural genomics, pushing us closer to the foods and biofuels of the future. Schmutz was listed specifically for his contributions in Plant & Animal Science. Grimwood was listed as having Cross-Field contributions. “It’s gratifying to have the quality of our researchers recognized by this list,” said Myers, “but we’re also extremely proud that our work has proven foundational to other researchers. We continue to strive not only to push boundaries ourselves but also to lay the groundwork for even more scientific discovery.” ■
jan 2019 initiatives
online
19
Gratitude Drake
Knowles
Brennan
20
initiatives
online
We would like to offer a sincere thank you to our Chamber Emissaries and Ambassadors for 2018. You help spread the Chamber’s message throughout the community, and we couldn’t do it without you! We also send a special expression of gratitude to our leads. Shannon Drake, Corporate Community Relations Coordinator for IronMountain Solutions, served as our Lead Emissary this year. Our Emissaries advocate for the Chamber to current members as a way to increase membership value and retention rates. “Shannon has been a volunteer for many years and is always dependable. She is beautiful inside and out,” said Donna McCrary, the Chamber’s Membership Retention Manager. Harmony Heard, Senior Sales Manager at The Westin, served as Lead Ambassador for 2018. “Harmony did a wonderful job,” said McCrary. “We could not have had a nicer person in that role. She brought spunk and sincerity, and we thank her for her dedication.” In 2019, we will have two people serving in each of these roles. Our Lead Emissaries will be Dave Knowles of Rosenblum Realty and Tyler Brennan of AAA Alabama. Our Lead Ambassadors will be Julia Cherry of the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama and Megan McCahey of Hiley Mazda Volkswagen Audi Huntsville. ■
jan 2019
Heard
Cherry
McCahey
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
L O N G
A
PA RT
O F
A M E R I C A’ S C U LT U R A L FA B R I C
470,100
U. S. JOBS
$23 billion
U. S. INVESTMENT
$700 million
CHARITABLE GIVING
For 60 years, our team members have proudly built cars and trucks all across this great country. We are also driven by a commitment to the communities we call home.
Toyota proudly operates 10 U.S. manufacturing facilities in nine states.
Alabama California Indiana Kentucky Mississippi Missouri Tennessee Texas West Virginia
Toyota ad_Final_9.25 x 12.25.indd 1
12/19/17 10:39 AM
Because We Care.
Bryant Bankers care because Alabama is our home, too. We rise by lifting others and proudly put our care into action to help fellow Alabamians invest in their full potential.
DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE SOUTHEAST HUNTSVILLE BRYANTBANK.COM | 256.535.1045 22
initiatives
online
jan 2019
Huntsville-based Venturi launches Kickstarter Campaign for Life-Saving Technology You’ve heard stories about children, the elderly, or pets getting trapped or left inside a hot car. While your first reaction may be, “How could that happen?”, the truth is that it could happen to any of us. Sadly, it occurs more often than you think. Between 2013 and 2018, a total of 231 children died of heatstroke in vehicles, according to KidsandCars.org. That’s an average of 38 deaths per year. Those figures don’t include near-deaths, nor deaths of older individuals or pets. VI-Enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary of Venturi, Inc., has launched its vehicle monitor system, Payton’s Charm. The company has worked for four years on design, development, research and testing, and there is now a Kickstarter campaign in place to help raise funding to produce it on a larger scale. Venturi founder Mike Alvarez knew his team could tackle this problem. “I would see press about children inadvertently left behind in cars and ending in tragedy,” said Alvarez. “It breaks your heart to see it … If you think about how distracted we are by technology – the cell phone is ringing, the boss is calling, the child falls asleep, rear-facing car seats – you can see how it can happen.” Alvarez offered his employees an incentive to find a solution. “It started keeping me up at night,” said Alvarez. “I thought of all the smart people we have in this company and came up with the idea of an X Prize. I wanted to find something that was not just a one-trick pony if a child was left in the car seat, but something that would detect if a child was playing hide-and-seek and got left in the car or if an adult or someone with special needs was left in a car.” Alvarez offered a monetary reward, and Ben Payment’s design came in first place. Payton’s Charm uses a patent-pending algorithm based on the relationship between the temperature inside the car and the CO2 level. Once a car’s environment crosses the threshold for life-threatening conditions, the device can send a text message to multiple contacts, and can then alert emergency services to save the life inside the car. “Payton’s Charm is unlike other devices because it passively monitors the vehicle, which means the driver doesn’t have to do anything except initially plug it in,” said Payment, software developer for Venturi. “I knew we needed a solution that monitored the entire inside of a vehicle. If we could monitor the air and still detect life, we would really have something.” The $100,000 Kickstarter campaign launched on December 4 and will run until January 17. The retail value of Payton’s Charm is estimated at $349, but backers of the campaign get a discount: $201 for the first 50 devices sold and then $250 for the duration of the campaign. For more information, visit PaytonsCharm.com. Payton’s Charm is named after a 17-month-old girl who died in a hot car in Florida in 2010. Payton’s father, Reggie McKinnon, works to raise awareness to prevent future deaths. Venturi came across his story during their extensive research about deaths from heatstroke in cars, and obtained his permission to name this life-saving technology in her memory. ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
PHOTOS BY HEADSHOT HSV
2018 Holiday Open House
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jan 2019 initiatives
online 23
UAH student chosen as recipient of Microsoft & National Geographic AI for Earth Innovation Grant A student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville has been selected as one of 11 changemakers to receive Microsoft and National Geographic AI for Earth Innovation Grants to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to help understand and protect the planet. Each AI for Earth Innovation Grant recipient will be awarded between $45,000 and $200,000 to support their innovative projects.
Africa Flores is a research scientist at the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She is originally from Guatemala, and her project will focus on developing a prototype of a
24
initiatives
online
jan 2019
harmful algal bloom (HAB) early warning system to inform Guatemalan authorities about upcoming HAB events in Lake Atitlan, a landmark of Guatemala’s biodiversity and culture. Flores’ project, and those of the other 10 winners, were selected from an impressive pool of more than 200 applicants. The high caliber of the applications prompted Microsoft and National Geographic to increase the funding for the 11 chosen projects from the initially planned $1 million to more than $1.28 million. This furthers the organizations’ commitment to investing in novel projects that use AI to help monitor, model and ultimately manage Earth’s natural systems for a more sustainable future. “Human ingenuity, especially when paired with the speed, power and scale that AI brings, is our best bet for crafting a better future for our planet and everyone on it,” said Lucas Joppa, chief environmental officer at Microsoft Corp. “The caliber of the applications we received was outstanding and demonstrates the demand we’ve seen for these resources since we first launched AI for Earth. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with the National Geographic Society to support these new grantees in their work to explore, discover and improve the planet.” The grant recipients were announced at an event in December at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C. ■
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
is proud to support the Arts as a Sustaining Donor of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
www.iberiabank.com
Movers & Shakers NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND RECOGNITION OF TALENT
Laken Laird has been named Director of Operations for LSINC Corporation.
The move was announced October 29, 2018. In her new role supporting the Chief Operations Officer, Laird will monitor day-to-day operational systems and processes; plan, monitor, and analyze key metrics to ensure efficient and timely completion of tasks; lead the team with integrity to maintain a trusting, inclusive and productive environment; and collaborate with executive leadership on budget and planning, as well as developing long term operational strategies. Laird has served as a Strategic Business Analyst for LSINC over the past three and a half years. “Laken is a brilliant business analyst who has been instrumental in building LSINC over the last three years,” said Alicia Ryan, CEO. Prior to joining LSINC in 2015, Laird was Deputy Director of Research and Publications for Intergroup Services (IGS), a healthcare consulting firm based in Baltimore, MD. Her background also includes time working in legislative affairs in Washington, D.C. She Laird has extensive knowledge in policy development and operational process management for the defense, health, and international business sectors. Laird is a native of Opp, AL. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of Alabama and her Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University. ■
Carrie Rice has joined the Swiss company RUAG Space as the Director of Communications for RUAG Space USA. RUAG Space is the leading supplier of products to the space industry with engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. and Europe. Rice’s role as part of the international RUAG Space communications team is to help craft the global RUAG Space story and implement initiatives and tactics to raise the company’s visibility among its key target groups. In her capacity for RUAG Space USA, Rice helps define, promote, and build brand awareness for RUAG Space at all five of its U.S. locations, as well as develop and expand relationships with industry press, government stakeholders, and key influencers. Rice has worked in strategic communications, marketing and Rice public relations roles in economic development at the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber, in the defense industry, and for local and Federal governments – including NASA and the United States Congress. Carrie grew up in Alaska and holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Alaska Anchorage. ■ Angel Stinson and Stuart Whitaker were recently hired by
ServisFirst Bank Huntsville – Stinson to Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer, and Whitaker to Assistant Vice President and Commercial Banking Officer. Stinson joins the Huntsville team as a Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. As Senior Credit Officer, she will oversee all aspects of credit administration including managing analysts, credit workflow, and credit management/policy, along with various compliance management for the Huntsville market. Stinson has over 28 years of experience as a financial professional, with the majority of her career focused
26
initiatives
online
jan 2019
on Commercial Banking and Credit Administration, most recently at Progress Bank. Her experience also includes working as Vice President of Finance for a large production homebuilder. She has spent the past 14 years of her career in Huntsville. Stinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree, with a concentration in Finance and Management, from Birmingham-Southern College. She is a graduate of multiple Leadership Programs, such as Focus 26 and Leadership Management Academy, and is a current member of Leadership Greater Huntsville’s L-32. Whitaker joins the Huntsville team as Assistant Vice President and Commercial Banker. Whitaker comes from Synovus where he served as Retail Market Manager overseeing their Madison and Downtown Offices and, most recently, as Assistant Vice President/Portfolio Manager. Whitaker graduated from Jacksonville State University in 2007. He is actively involved in the Huntsville community as a member of the Huntsville Rotary Club and was a 2016 graduate of the MS Huntsville Leadership Class. ■
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that
10 attorneys in the firm’s Huntsville office have been named 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. In addition, Bradley Huntsville partner Kimberly B. Martin was named to the 2018 Top 50 Women Mid-South Super Lawyers list. Across all the firm’s offices in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, 161 Bradley attorneys were named Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. “We are very proud of our Huntsville attorneys who are annually ranked by Super Lawyers as among the top attorneys in Alabama,” said Bradley Huntsville Office Managing Partner Frank M. Caprio. “Our clients are well served by Bradley lawyers who are regarded as leaders in their practice areas.” The eight attorneys in the firm’s Huntsville office to be named Mid-South Super Lawyers for 2018 are: ■ Frank M. Caprio (Intellectual Property) ■ Kevin C. Gray (Bankruptcy: Business) ■ Stephen H. Hall (Intellectual Property) ■ G. Bartley Loftin III (Business Litigation) ■ Scott E. Ludwig (Business/Corporate) ■ Kimberly B. Martin (Personal Injury – Products: Defense) ■ Scott Burnett Smith (Appellate) ■ H. Harold Stephens (Civil Litigation: Defense) In addition, two attorneys in the firm’s Huntsville A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
were named Mid-South Rising Stars for 2018: David W. Holt (IP Litigation) and Harold D. Mooty III (Business Litigation.) Only the top 5 percent of lawyers in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee are named Mid-South Super Lawyers. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in these states are selected as Rising Stars, who must be 40 years old or younger or have been in practice for 10 or fewer years. ■
time the foundation invested more than $1.1 million to advance and promote the administrative profession and provide opportunities to connect, learn, lead and excel. “Successful organizations depend on top-tier administrative professionals like Stacey Brewer,” said Lamb. “Admins are arguably the critical ‘connective tissue’ that keep a group informed and on track. Stacey is key to our educational outreach program’s success.” ■
Stacey Brewer, executive coordinator for Neil Lamb, PhD, at the Hud-
by Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, effective January 1, 2019. Kinzer, CPA, CFE, CGMA, MBA, joined Anglin as a first-year Associate in 2006 and Miller, CPA, joined as a first-year Associate in 2007. In 2018, Anglin was recognized by Accounting Today among the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in the U.S. Kinzer received his MBA in 2015 and has expanded Anglin’s Business Advisory services through the Audit & Assurance practice. He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner and Chartered Global Management Accountant, playing a key role in certified fraud examinations as well as ESOP Planning & Advisory Services. His clients include builders and contractors, not-for-profit organizations and privately held companies that require employee benefit plan audits. Miller provides leadership in the Audit & Assurance practice by serving as lead auditor on Single-Audit engagements and also overseeing Anglin’s Peer Review program. His areas of focus include audits of government agencies and not-for-profit organizations as well as CFO Services consulting and Merger & Acquisition Advisory Services. He has a particular focus on manufacturing consulting services.
sonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, was recently appointed as board chair for the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Foundation, the only 501(c)(3) organization in the nation whose sole commitment is to the success of the administrative profession. The IAAP is dedicated to helping office and administrative professionals advance their career in a demanding and ever-changing business environment. Together, IAAP and the IAAP Foundation form a support team for admins around the world. Brewer will serve a two-year term as board chair. “My involvement in IAAP played a significant role in turning Brewer what I once considered ‘just a job’ into an incredibly fulfilling career,” said Brewer. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to give back to the profession through my service to the IAAP Foundation.” As an active member of the IAAP, Brewer has held multiple leadership positions within the organization and is a 2015 graduate of the inaugural class of the IAAP Leadership Academy. He has served on the IAAP Foundation board since 2013, during which
Luke C. Kinzer and Jason L. Miller have been promoted to Partner
Send your news to: comms@hsvchamber.org – and include a photo.
category continues to
redefine what an SUV can be. The Honda CR-V delivers a
wealth of standard features
and conveniences, all backed
by the available Honda
Sensing® suite of safety and
driver-assistive technologies.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jan 2019 initiatives
online 27
Small Biz Synapse FOCUSING ON THE WORLD OF SMALL BUSINESS
The Power of Habits On August 13, 2008, Michael Phelps’ alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. in the Olympic Village in Beijing, and he slipped into his race-day routine. By 7 a.m., he ate breakfast, followed by his stretching routine at 8 a.m., and then warm-up laps in the pool at 8:30 a.m. After a 45-minute workout, Phelps slipped into his bodysuit, put on his ear buds and listened to hip-hop, and waited. For years, coach Bob Bowman had instructed him to “play the tape” every night before he falls asleep and every morning when he wakes up. Visualizing success, Phelps had trained his mind to imagine every element of a race, swimming it perfectly. Bowman equipped Phelps with habits that would make him “the strongest mental swimmer in the pool,” according to the 2012 Pulitzer-price winning author of The Power of Habits, Charles Duhigg. What gave Phelps a competitive advantage? With his “long torso, big hands, and relatively short legs,” Bowman knew Phelps could become a champion. He trained Phelps with habits that helped him remain calm and focused through visualization and relaxation. Some behaviors inevitably spilled over into other parts of his life, including his diet and sleep routines, making keystone habits. When the gun sounded at 10 a.m., Phelps hit the water and immediately knew
something was wrong. His goggles began to fill with water, and by the last lap, he could not see. Phelps had physically and mentally prepared for the unlikely situation that took place on the morning of the Olympic race. Coach Bowman had made him rehearse swimming in the dark in a pool in Michigan, so he can anticipate the unexpected. Phelps estimated it would take about 20 strokes to reach the end. Remaining calm, he accelerated as he usually does at the end of every race. Taking one extra stroke, his fingertips extended to reach the wall. The crowd erupted, and when Phelps emerged from the water, he had set a new world record for the 200-meter butterfly event. What prepared Michael Phelps, Tony Dungy, and Paul O’Neill for extraordinary outcomes in sports and business? Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit provides scientific research related to changing habits to achieve success in work, home, and life. By understanding how habits work, we can shift the way people work and communicate. Habits are made of three parts: a cue, which triggers your brain; a routine, which is a behavior that follows the cue; and a reward, which is a positive reinforcement that indicates to your brain that the routine is worth repeating. The most important habit to develop is willpower, because it triggers a series of consequential behaviors that shift the trajectory of an individual or a company. Key-
Welcomes James Lomax to our Huntsville Leasing Team CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
www.redstonegateway.us
JAMES LOMAX
Director Asset Management + Leasing main: 256.517.7023 mobile: 256.698.3101 james.lomax@copt.com
28
initiatives
online
jan 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
stone habits can trigger a chain reaction throughout an organization, and over time, the formation of keystone habits can change everything.
cell received the Fiscal 2018 Army Corps of Engineers Top District by Dollar award ($818M); Small Disadvantage Business Top Dollar award ($389M); Small Women Owned Business Top Dollar award ($123 M) and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Top Dollar award ($106M). These awards reflect not just the OSBI’s success but also highlight the attention and willingness to include small business in projects across Huntsville Center. “Huntsville Center’s small business policy is focused on providing ‘maximum practicable’ prime and subcontracting opportunities to small firms,” said Col. John S. Hurley, commander, Huntsville Center. “These awards show the commitment we have to ensure we are inclusive of small business as a stakeholder in all the work we do.” Goodsell said small businesses are the economic growth engine for America. She said small businesses represent 29.6 million companies in the U.S., create 63.3 percent of new jobs, export 34 percent of all U.S. exports, employ more than half of all private sector employees and generate more than half of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. She also noted the direct effect Huntsville Center’s projects have on the local and statewide economy. According to Goodsell, Huntsville Center awarded more than 500 contracts valued at more than $211 million to small business in Alabama last fiscal year. “We’re proud of the impact we’ve had globally, but locally as well and we look forward to working with more Alabama-based small businesses in the future,” Goodsell said.
Photo by Dennis Franklin
■ contributed by Pam Marmon
Pam Marmon is the founder of Marmon Consulting, a business management consulting firm that helps companies transform. Visit marmonconsulting.com for strategies to grow your organization. Check out her Change Management Series here at the Chamber: ■ January 15: Lead Strategic Organizational Change (to register: hsvchamber.org) ■ February 21: Change Management for Every Project Leader ■ March 12: Leading Change for Nonprofits & Social Enterprises
Huntsville Center Recognized for Inclusive Small Business Policy The U.S. Army Engineering & Support Center in Huntsville’s Office of Small Business Initiatives (OSBI) was recently recognized for its efforts during the 2018 Society of American Military Engineers Small Business Conference in New Orleans, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Aside from earning the distinction as a Small Business Program Team of Excellence, the office made up of Rebecca Goodsell, Nicole Boone, Betty Guillott, and Brandy Per-
■ Contributed by William S. Farrow, Huntsville Center Public Affairs
Is your company missing out on tax savings? You may need
QUALI-FINDER
™
State and federal governments offer tax credits, incentives and deductions to help companies reduce their tax burden and boost their bottom line; however, many companies may not be receiving all of the tax savings available to them. Quali-Finder™ is a free diagnostic tool designed to ensure that your company takes advantage of more than a dozen tax credits, incentives and deductions. Are you losing money? Get started now at warrenaverett.com/qualifinder or call 800.215.7804.
101 Monroe Street NE | Huntsville, AL 35801 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jan 2019 initiatives
online 29
Cecil Ashburn Drive Improvement Project: Closing road 10 months to expedite construction, minimize disruption for motorists
I
n just a few days, the City of Huntsville will begin critical roadwork to improve safety and increase capacity on Cecil Ashburn Drive, one of the City’s most heavily trafficked corridors. Listed as a priority improvement project in Huntsville’s “Restore Our Roads” agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation, contractors will widen Cecil Ashburn Drive from two to four lanes over an 18-month period. To expedite construction and shorten the project’s timeline, Cecil Ashburn Drive will close January 7, and the contractor is incentivized to reopen two lanes of traffic within 10 months. Remaining work is expected to be complete six to eight months later with all lanes open by May 2020. To keep the project on track or ahead of schedule, the contractor may earn up to $2 million in performance bonuses. Conversely, the builder will be financially penalized up to $2 million for schedule delays. This is the same model the City and State used to fast-track overpass construction on South Memorial Parkway, another Restore Our Roads project. “We changed the scope of the project to save time and money and to minimize the impact on our residents and businesses,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. schedule provides theInitiatives least disruption and gets Keel Point ad“This for April 2018 issue of magazine motorists safely back on the road before the 2019 holiday season.
Commuter 101 To minimize disruptions for commuters impacted by the road closure, City departments have been working closely with community organizations and businesses to address needs and concerns related to increased traffic and speeders on alternate routes, ride-sharing options, moving wrecks, accident alerts, and public safety. An easy reference sheet, Commuter 101, is available online with more information on these topics. “It will take everyone a few weeks to adjust to new routes and schedules, and we’ve found many businesses are willing to offer flex time to help their employees through the transition,” said Dennis Madsen, Long Range Planner. “We’ve had a lot of inquiries about carpools and ride-sharing programs, and the road closure presents an opportunity to explore these options and create some new healthy habits.”
Key Alternate Routes ■ Governors Drive via U.S. Hwy 431 ■ U.S. Hwy 72 via Eastern Bypass/Rock Cut Road ■ Memorial Parkway (US 231) via Hobbs Island Road City Preparation City departments have worked on the following strategies to minimize disruption during the Cecil Ashburn Drive closure:
■ Adjusted traffic signalization on Governors Drive to improve the efficiency of traffic light timing to reduce congestion
■ Improved access to Rock Cut Road from the Eastern Bypass ■ Adjusted resources for Huntsville Police, Fire & Rescue to ensure they meet increased demand
■ Wreck clearance plan for alternate routes ■ Anti-speeding enforcement for alternate routes ■ Working with local businesses to offer flex-time options for employees
■ Promoting money-saving commuter and ride sharing programs More information is available at HuntsvilleAL.gov/Cecil. For questions, email cecil@huntsvilleal.gov or call 256-427-5100. For updates on additional roadwork projects within the City including road closures, visit HuntsvilleAL.gov/RoadworkUpdates. ■ 30
initiatives
online
jan 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
You love growing your business. Then you’ll love this bank.
MEMBER FDIC
Ready to open that restaurant? Grow your retail space? Progress can empower you with our expertise and be by your side as you make those big, and not so big, decisions. We’ll clear the path so you can focus on your growth.
Experience Progress. Birmingham • Decatur • Destin • Florence Huntsville • Inlet Beach • Jones Valley • Madison • Vestavia
myprogressbank.com
Recent Events HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER
2018 Redstone Update On November 29, the Chamber hosted the 2018 Redstone Update, an event dedicated to updating the business community on Redstone Arsenal operations. Accounting for over 40,000 jobs and an $18 billion impact, Redstone Arsenal is a vital partner in our community. The Redstone Update is still a fairly recent event in Chamber history. The first incarnation of this event was known as “BRAC to the Future.” Started in 2007, the BRAC to the Future Event was a tool to engage the community and provide updates on the changes resulting from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations, which brought over 5,000 jobs to the region. After 2012, we reformatted it to fit new needs and renamed it the Redstone Update. This year’s Update reached a record 750 people in attendance and featured a new panel format for the morning briefings. Panels were modeled to highlight four Redstone Arsenal directives: Logistics Services; Space Operations & Missile Defense; Research, Development, Test & Engineering; and Intelligence & Homeland Defense. Moderators included John Nerger, former Deputy to the AMC Commander and current senior military advisor to the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber; Robert Lightfoot, former Acting NASA Administrator and President of LSINC; Ronnie Chronister, former Deputy to the SMDC Commander and Vice President of Dynetics; and Greg Carl, a founder of the FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center. Panelists included experts such as MG Paul Pardew, Commander of the U.S. Army Contracting Command, David Burns of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, COL John Jones, Commander of the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center, and Rob Hamilton, Senior Executive of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Redstone Arsenal. Each panelist discussed successes, changes, and challenges for their respective organization and in the FBI’s case, the exciting announcement of 1,350 new jobs coming to Huntsville. LTG Ed Daly, Senior Commander of Redstone Arsenal, spoke at a luncheon following the morning briefings. LTG Daly provided an overview of Redstone Arsenal and its economic impact on our community as well as the Tennessee Valley and the State of Alabama. ■ Austin Bullock
32
initiatives
online
jan 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
2018 State of the City Address Largest Event in Chamber History On December 4, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber hosted the 2018 State of the City Address featuring Mayor Tommy Battle. With a bustling year of exciting economic development announcements like Mazda Toyota and Facebook, Mayor Battle had plenty of good news to share with the business community, and they were eager to hear it. This year’s State of the City Address was the largest Chamber event in history at 1,200 attendees! Mayor Battle noted the 2018 State of the City was a day of celebration. Highlighting the importance of a united front, the Mayor began by thanking community partners such as the City of Madison, Madison County, Redstone Arsenal and the Chamber. Huntsville’s metro population is experiencing the fastest growth in the state along with our economic growth. Mayor Battle revealed that 25,000 jobs have been created in Huntsville since 2010. He also credits accomplishments such as an “AAA” rating by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investors Service, low rent costs, and a commute of 20 minutes or less for Huntsville citizens combined with schools, hospitals, and new community developments as positive and important impacts on recruiting new industry. Mayor Battle also issued a two-part challenge: What must we do to stay relevant in the long-term future? What do we need from the community to help us do that? “The next five to 10 years are set, but what about the next 15 to 30 years?” he asked the crowd. Huntsville is approaching this challenge with next-generation infrastructure, smart streets, talent development, and continuing a “Live, Work, Play” focus. The City of Huntsville has a history of innovation and advancement that has skyrocketed in the last few years and, in the words of Mayor Battle, “Huntsville’s future as the Star of Alabama is brighter than ever.” ■ Austin Bullock A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
jan 2019 initiatives
online 33
Serving customers in the Manufacturing, Legal, Healthcare, and Technology Sectors
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
STAF F Executive Staff
Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Chambliss, executive assistant / economic development coordinator
Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce
Whether translation or face-to-face interpreting, 38 years of proven success means you can rely on the expertise of FLS translators and interpreters! 3609 A5 Memorial Parkway SW Huntsville, AL 35801
256-881-1120 info@flstranslation.com
FLStranslation.com
Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Georgina Chapman, workforce development director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, economic development project director Kent Ballard, workforce education specialist
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
Membership Kristy Drake, investor relations & ChamberON director Donna McCrary, membership retention manager Richard Bigoney, membership account executive Tina Blankenship, membership account executive Keith Johnson, membership account executive
Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, IOM, vice president Devon Elston, coordinator
Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Lori Warner, accounting specialist – payables Kim Weeks, accounting specialist – receivables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor Gina Gonzalez, administrative assistant Amberly Ware, resource desk coordinator
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 www.uah.edu/sbdc
34
initiatives
online
jan 2019
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Safety • Protect against access into hazardous points and areas • Cost-effective and maximum performance for every requirement and mobile or stationary task
Detection
Detection
Identification
• Detection of black, shiny, transparent, varying color and shaped objects • Measure large areas, e.g., multi-deep bays in storage and conveyor systems
Identification • Highly flexible code position, object height, and transport speed due to a large field of view • Perfect for high-speed applications and products, highly reflective metal parts and multicolored labels
An industriAl distributor for over 55 yeArs, providing the products And expertise you need to keep your plAnts And mAchinery running! Pneumatics • Hydraulics • Robotics • Vision & Safety • Hose & Fittings • Electrical Automation
Birmingham • Decatur • Huntsville • Montgomery • Tuscaloosa 866.270.7041 • www.airhydropower.com AHP representatives statewide!
Grow Your Business For over 66 years, Redstone has been providing members with the personal banking solutions they need to get ahead. Let our experts match your business with the tools it needs to thrive. Plus, keep your costs down with lower fees and better rates.
ÂŽ
Must be RFCU member or Membership Partner to open a business checking account, obtain a loan, or use any service. Must be eligible for membership and open a share savings account to become a member. A $5 minimum balance is required to open share savings account and must be maintained in share account. Minimum deposits, account balances, and transaction fees apply to some business accounts. Fees apply to some Cash Management services.
With a Partner You Trust.
Cash Management | Merchant Services | Business Loans & Accounts
Call us to get started or visit redfcu.org/trust
256-327-1104 | redfcu.org
This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Loans subject to credit approval. RFCU is an Equal Credit Opportunity Lender.
Initiatives_Online_Ad_7.75x10.25_BSOL.indd 1
10/31/2018 11:16:26 AM