Initiatives Online, March 2017

march 2017

Double Helix Movers & Shakers By the Numbers Small Biz Synapse Bright Lights digitalTRENDS The Classroom

a Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County publication

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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For more information or to register: bit.ly/chamber_events

Nominate through March 31: bit.ly/COCnominate

A plAn for HeAltHy employees Huntsville Hospital’s employee health program is designed to work handin-hand with helping local employers with their many employee needs.

And that’s where we come in.

WellnessWorks will assist in controlling costs associated with rising workers’ compensation and general health care costs. Our programs include: Occupational Health Services Workers’ Compensation Services Corporate Wellness Employee Concierge Services Available 24/7, discover how WellnessWorks can help you and your team.

(888) 567-3144

welcome new chamber members Joined in December 2016 3-GIS, LLC

Joined in January 2017

Acquire Commercial Real Estate Albany Bistro Allied Associates International, Inc

A.V.O. Communications, Inc. Alabama National Guard Recruiting & Retention BN

Anchor & Quill Consulting, LLC

Arete Associates

ATA Engineering, Inc.

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith LLC

Breland Companies

Botts Innovative Research Inc

Brooks Consulting, LLC

BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc.

Bruderer Machinery, Inc.

Charlotte Christian, P.C.

Coastal Mechanics Company, Inc.

Concepts In Production, LLC

Commercial Flooring Services

Dallas Mill Deli

DanTera Salon & Day Spa, Inc

Fernandez Financial Group

Das Stahl Bierhaus Bottleshop & Taproom

H.O.P.E. - Humans Optimizing Personal Empowerment

Fringe Salon

Huntsville Havoc

Hilton Garden Inn - Huntsville South/Redstone Arsenal

IHOP - University Drive

Hollywood Huntsville, LLC

Jeff Benton Properties

Home Mortgage of America NMLS #149932 La Fuente Meridianville, AL McDaniel & McDaniel Attorneys, LLC ML Grice, LLC Neighborhood Newsletters, LLC Nu Image Engraving & Awards Prairie Creek Enterprises, LLC Rand’s Blinds, Inc. Rocket City Arcade & Classic Console Rocket City Scholarship Granting Organization

Lojix Mariner Finance Movement Mortgage,LLC PassionHR Consulting, Inc. Platinum Mortgage, Inc. - Huntsville R.A. Lynch & Associates, Inc. Redline Steel Rodan + Fields - Fern Brazda Schnitzel Ranch Spectra Contract Flooring

Royal Funeral Home, Inc.

Stand Up Live

Saurabh ‘’Sam’’ Mehrotra

State Farm Insurance - Meri Beth Mabry

Schaeffer Eye Center, Inc. of Providence T.3.A.M.S

The Enrichment Center The High Tech Solution, Inc.

Taco Mama of Providence

Wrenn Technology Solutions and Consulting

Tennessee Valley Corridor Uncle Maddio’s Pizza of Huntsville Wayne’s Environmental Services Inc. Wholesale Trophies, Inc. Wireless Advantage, LLC Women’s Business Center of North Alabama Zagster, Inc.

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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.

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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 Regions Bank

Tennessee Valley Authority

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. • DynCorp International • First Commercial Bank 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 ASRC Federal Analytical Services • Baron Services, Inc. • BASF Corporation • BB&T • Bill Penney Toyota, Scion & Mitsubishi

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP • Coates Transportation Group • Colliers International • Connected Logistics Consolidated Construction Company • Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) • Davidson Technologies, Inc. • Google Hexagon US Federal • Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association • IBERIABANK • J. Smith Lanier & Co. • Keel Point, LLC L3 Technologies • LogiCore • The Orthopaedic Center • Progress Bank • Radiance Technologies • SELEX Galileo Inc. • ServisFirst Bank Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (dba Steak Out) • 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. • 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 • The Lioce Group, Inc. LSINC Corp. • 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 • 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. A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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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

march 2017

ON THE COVER: Downtown Huntsville Mural page 24

Double

Helix 10

Movers

& Shakers 11

Numbers 12 By the

Small Biz

Synapse

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Lights 22

Reception in Montgomery page 20

More...

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The Chamber Goes to Montgomery

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Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

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2017 Executive Committee & Board of Directors

Bright

The

Classroom

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Et cetera New Members : page 4 HREGI Investors : page 5 About IO : page 8 Board Listing : page 8

24 A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Staff Listing : page 28

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About IO

Chamber of Commerce

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2017

Greetings,

Executive Committee

In addition to our bi-monthly printed Initiatives magazine, beginning this month, the Chamber begins publishing a new digital publication, Initiatives Online – or IO for short. IO will publish every other month and will supplement our print magazine. Because this is a digital publication – not bound by a page count – we’ll have more space to focus on movers and shakers, contracts of note, small business features, and biotech and economic development news. Initiatives magazine and IO are the perfect combination that will give advertisers more marketing punch – in print and in the digital world.

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 &

This online publication allows us to capture and provide more business news as it happens.

IO content will include the best assets from the printed Initiatives magazine. We also will be able to add new sections as needed to highlight other key topics that we do not have space to print in Initiatives magazine. Additionally, the copy will not be bound by printed pages, so we can provide additional details, weblinks, videos and other cool Digital Trends.

Our IO sections include: Double Helix, Movers & Shakers, By the Numbers, Small Biz Synapse, Bright Lights, The Classroom, and Digital Trends. We want to share YOUR news, faces, ideas, and videos – so please send your ideas, pics, press releases, and organization news to: comms@hsvchamber.org Advertisers who buy ads in our print Initiatives magazine receive a FREE online ad of the equivalent size (full-page gets a full-page, ½ page gets a ½ page, etc.). This gives advertisers the staying power of a print issue that is highly valued by influencers – as well as providing a more global marketing reach through the online edition. We also will be evaluating future advertising opportunities exclusively for IO. For advertising opportunities, please visit bit.ly/2017ratecard We hope you enjoy our first issue of IO! Sincerely,

Jeff Gronberg 2017 Vice Chair for Marketing & Communications Chamber Executive Board

IO Staff Chip Cherry, CCE publisher Jeff Gronberg 2017 vice chair, marketing & communications Carrie Rice executive editor Kristi Sherrard editorial designer Hiroko Sedensky web designer Analyn Bengs writer/researcher

The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 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 Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.

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Industry Relations, PROJECTXYZ, Inc.

Kevin Byrnes, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, Raytheon Company

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

Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, 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, Chamber of Commerce

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 Michael Cox, PARSONS 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 Dr. David King, Dynetics, Inc. Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Janice Migliore, PALCO Telecom Service, Inc. Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Leigh Pegues, PNC Bank 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 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Double

Helix

Includes biotech developments and other topics surrounding the biotech industry. We’d love to feature your company in Double Helix! Send your story ideas to: comms@hsvchamber.org

HudsonAlpha Forms Economic Development Advisory Committee

To learn more about the committee members and more about HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology click HERE.

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has established the HudsonAlpha Economic Development Advisory Committee. The committee is comprised of thought leaders in site selection and economic development who will collaborate on strategy and action focused on the retention, expansion, and attraction of life science companies on the HudsonAlpha biotech campus and throughout North Alabama.

“The life sciences community PUB/DATE: PUB/DATE: CI CI February February 2016 2016 at HudsonAlpha has drawn PUB/DATE: CI February 2016 SIZE: 8.25 x 5.45 SIZE: 8.25 x 5.45 extraordinary bioscience talent — SIZE: 8.25 x 5.45 $800.00 both in nonprofit research and inCOST: private companies COST: $800.00— and has a proven reputation COST: $800.00 TOPIC: of fostering startups and spinouts, as well CUSTOMIZED as a market for established life sciences TOPIC: CUSTOMIZED TOPIC: CUSTOMIZED companies seeking to expand,” said Erin Koshut, director of Cummings Research Park.

The committee held their first meeting in January and discussed ways to build on the success of HudsonAlpha’s biotech campus and reputation as the prime location to work alongside peers and successfully bring biotech discoveries to market.

HudsonAlpha Receives NIH Grant to Expand Encyclopedia of DNA Elements Project The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology a four-year, $6.7 million grant from for the next phase of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project, a fundamental genomics resource used by many scientists to study human health and disease. Funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the NIH, the ENCODE Project strives to catalog all the genes and regulatory elements – the parts of the genome that control whether genes are active or not – in humans and select model organisms.

“ENCODE has created a high-quality and easily accessible set of data, tools and analyses that are being used extensively in studies to interpret genome sequences and to understand the consequence of genomic variation,” said Elise Feingold, Ph.D., a program director in the Division of Genome Sciences at NHGRI. “These new awards

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A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

provide the opportunity to strengthen this foundation by expanding the breadth and depth of the resource.”

The lab of Richard Myers, PhD, president and science director and a faculty investigator at HudsonAlpha, will continue its collaboration with Eric Mendenhall, PhD (shown at right), an assistant professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville who is also an adjunct faculty member at HudsonAlpha, to form an ENCODE mapping center, which has been a part of the project since its inception. The goal is to pinpoint where the genes and regulatory elements and the proteins – called transcription factors – that bind to those proteins and control genes are located within the human genome. Barbara Wold, PhD, of the California Institute of Technology and a long-time collaborator with Myers, is an advisor for the HudsonAlpha ENCODE project.

“We knew that finishing the human genome sequence in 2003 was just the beginning,” Myers said. “ENCODE is concerned with an even larger undertaking: understanding the function of every element in the human genome.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number

Movers

& Shakers

ADTRAN Appoints Senior VP of Global Sales

Marsh

ADTRAN announced that Charles Marsh has been appointed as senior vice president of global sales. Marsh will be tasked with assisting ADTRAN’s continuing efforts to bring solutions to market that network operators require to get, expand, and improve upon the high-performance services and applications needed to move their businesses forward.

Pammie Jimmar Appointed to Southeast Board of Regents, Institute for Organization Management The Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, has appointed Pammie Jimmar, IOM, Director of Small Business and Events of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County, to the Southeast Board of Regents. As a member of this Board, Jimmar will implement the policies created by the Jimmar Institute’s National Board of Trustees. To read more about the Board of Regents and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, click HERE.

Red Sage Comm. Hires Marketing Director Award‐winning marketing and website development company Red Sage Communications, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation and filling of a new Marketing

UM1HG009411. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

To read more about NIH, NHGRI, and ENCODE’s cutting edge technique, click HERE.

Wanna share your news about new hires, promotions, and recognition of talent? Are there any Movers & Shakers in your company? Let us know at: comms@ hsvchamber.org – and include a photo/headshot!

Director position. Kacey Neely has joined Red Sage full time as a Marketing Director. Neely, a Huntsville native, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Auburn University.

Red Sage president Ellen Didier adds, “The hiring of our first ever Marketing Director represents the next phase of growth for Red Sage as we enter our second decade of business. We’ll be able to Neely meet our customers’ needs and adapt to the changing marketing landscape better than ever before.” Read more about Kacey Neely and Red Sage Communications HERE.

WZDX-TV Announces New General Sales Manager Alex Biles has been named General Sales Manager for WZDX/WAMY/MeTV/ESCAPETV and Rocketcitynow.com, a Nexstar Media Group, Inc. property. Over the past eight years, Alex has held national and general sales managers positions at stations including NSM at WAAY-31 in Huntsville and general sales manager tenure at KBSI-WDKA in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Prior to joining WZDX, Biles held sales positions with WEMT, WFXR, WWCW and WAAY in Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama. To learn more about Alex Biles, click HERE.

Securities Law Veteran Robert Dow Joins Maynard Cooper & Gale Maynard Cooper & Gale is pleased to announce that Robert F. (“Bob”) Dow has joined the firm as a Shareholder. He will practice in the firm’s Securities Law Practice Group.

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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By the

Numbers

Has your organization recently won a contract?

If so, we’d love to feature your company in By the Numbers! Send us the details of your federal, state of municipal contract to: comms@hsvchamber.org

U.S. NAVY Awards Raytheon $235 million contract

Huntsville to Support Bell-Boeing JPO

Raytheon has been awarded $235 million by the U.S. Navy contract to build the SM-6 missile in Huntsville. The SM-6 is a multi-mission missile that can target aircraft, missiles and other ships. “The SM-6 offers three missions, making it the most affordable missile per defended area and threat set,” said Mike Campisi, Standard Missile-6 senior program director. “The SM-6 effector continues to perform beyond expectations and beyond its original mission.” Check out more details HERE.

Bell-Boeing JPO, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $138,616,043 cost-plus- fixed-fee modification to delivery order 0112 previously issued against a basic ordering agreement N00019-12-G-0006 in support of the V-22 aircraft. This modification provides for the procurement of non-recurring engineering in support of the development, qualification test, integration, airworthiness substantiation, flight test demonstration, validation/ verification and incorporation of the government of Japan (GOJ) configuration into MV22B Block C aircraft and the MV-22 containerized flight training device. Additionally, kits for the government of Japan unique configuration will be procured as part of this effort. Read more about this contract, and other contracts being awarded HERE.

Lockheed Martin Awarded $345,580,000 Modification

Camber Awarded $26,115,368 Modification

Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, California, is being awarded a $345,580,000 modification (P00031) for an existing sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (HQ0147-12-D-0001) for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense element development and support services. This modification brings the total maximum ceiling value of this contract to $1,340,780,000 from $995,200,000. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for additional incremental development, support to flight and ground test programs, and responsive support to warfighter requirements to sustain the Ballistic Missile Defense System throughout the acquisition life cycle. Expected completion dates will be established under subsequent task order awards. The work will be performed at Sunnyvale, California; and Huntsville, Alabama. No funding is being obligated at the time of award.

The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Read more about this contract, HERE.

AEgis Wins Two Contracts to Build High Fidelity 3D Models for U.S. Army Game Studio The AEgis Technologies Group Inc. has been awarded two competitively solicited contracts to create high fidelity “AAA Game Quality” Three Dimensional (3D) models for the U.S. Army Game Studio (AGS) based out of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. The award amount is $1 million. These contracts support the U.S. Army’s goal to create a library of high quality virtual 3D models for use in next generation simulations, training and gaming platforms to be distributed via the Military Gaming Portal. “AEgis is proud to have been selected and has already delivered the first phase of models to the customers’ highest satisfaction,” said Lauren Johannesmeyer, AEgis Business Development. Read more about these contracts, and other AEgis announcements HERE. 12

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Camber, Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $26,115,368 modification (P00003) to contract W58RGZ-13-D-0119 to increase the ceiling, making the estimated face value $61,071,361 for Apache simulation and modeling, acquisition and training for the AH-64 helicopter. Work location and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 1, 2019. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Read more about this contract, HERE.

R&D contracts!

BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services, Rockville, Maryland (W9113M17-D-0001); Dynetics Inc., Huntsville, Alabama (W9113M-17-D-0002); Kbrwyle Technology Solutions LLC, Columbia, Maryland (W9113M-17-D-0003); Northrop Grumman Technical Services Inc., Herndon, Virginia (W9113M-17-D-0004); QWK Integrated Solutions LLC, Huntsville, Alabama (W9113M-17-D-0005); Raytheon Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts (W9113M-17-D-0006); Science Applications International Corp., McLean, Virginia (W9113M-17-D-0007); and Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., Huntsville, Alabama (W9113M-17-D-0008), will share in the award of a $3,038,000,000 order dependent contract for a research and development effort for the design, development, demonstration, and integration, domain-one of space/high altitude and missile defense hardware and software solutions. The program is being awarded as a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts in support of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command. Bids were solicited via the Internet with eight received.

Work locations and funding will be determined with each order; with an estimated completion date of Feb. 8, 2026. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Redstone Arsenal, is the contracting activity. For more information about this contract, click HERE.

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Small Biz

Synapse

This section is always fun! For March, we’re featuring a Q & A with some of the 2016 Chamber’s Small Business Award Winners! If you want to nominate a company for 2017, please see page 2.

Signs By Tomorrow Huntsville

won the Chamber’s 2016 Small Business Award in the Retailer of the Year category.

Here’s an interview with owner Barry Bowerman.

Q. Give a brief history and your role in the company.

A. Signs By Tomorrow is a Columbia, MD based franchise, founded in 1986. We purchased the Huntsville market in 2000.

Q. Explain what your company creates/sells.

A. Business Signs, acrylic lobby signs, wall & window graphics, banners, vehicle graphics, tradeshow displays, yard signs, name tags, and much more.

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

A. Providing a workplace where our employees work here because they want to, not because they have to.

Q. Share your educational and professional background and how you came to Signs

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

A. I’ve never made winning awards a priority or spent time or thought on how to win

them. The fact that we were nominated for and won this award, gives me great pride because other people, not us, believe we deserve it. It gives me confidence that I have instilled the best practices, attitude, and culture in my business.

Q. What key piece of advice would you give other small businesses?

A. Build your business on service and relationships, not on price. Always try to find

the best solution for your customer, not the most profitable solution for you. But when you find that solution, be sure to make a reasonable profit on it.

Q. How has being active in the Chamber impacted Signs By Tomorrow Huntsville’s success?

A. The Chamber is one of our primary networking avenues, which helps with brand recognition and gives us exposure to other businesses. This networking accounts for a large percentage of our overall sales.

By Tomorrow Huntsville.

A. I have a Bachelors Degree from Murray State University in Engineering Physics &

Computer Science. I have 20 years experience in the defense industry. When I decided to start my own business, I researched many types of business, franchise and not. I decided on the Signs By Tomorrow franchise for several reasons, one of the most important being the people.

Q. What are your goals for Signs By Tomorrow Huntsville over the next 10 years?

A. Continue to grow at a reasonable rate. Add more product capabilities. Make the work place even better for our employees.

Straight to Ale

won the Chamber’s 2016 Small Business Award in the Brewery of the Year category.

Here’s an interview with brewer Dan Perry.

Q. Give a brief history and your role in the company.

A. Straight To Ale started as a homebrew shed in my backyard. Brewing has been

a passion of mine for many years, and I spent a lot of time making beer for my family and friends. After meeting a group of like-minded, extremely talented homebrewers through the local Rocket City Brewers homebrew club, some of us decided to take the plunge and start a small commercial brewery. I had been working with the local Huntsville chapter of Free The Hops for years, and once we managed to get the ABV level in Alabama raised from 6.0 percent to 13.9 percent, we could brew the full-flavored beer styles that we loved. So, immediately after the bill was signed into law, we filed our paperwork to form Straight To Ale. I have served as its president since we started and been involved in pretty much every aspect of the brewery at one time or another over the last eight years.

Q. Explain what your company creates/sells.

A. We sell top quality, hand crafted beer in our two local facilities (Leeman Ferry and

Campus 805) and throughout our current seven state southern footprint. At our new location at Campus 805, we also produce cider, mead, and distilled spirits as well as a full menu of food from our scratch made kitchen.

Jeff Gronberg (center) presenting the 2016 Retailer of the Year award to Barry Bowerman and Jessica Moore of Signs By Tomorrow Huntsville.

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

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product quality, and don’t give up no matter what.

Q. How has being active in the Chamber impacted Straight to Ale’s success?

A. The Chamber has provided us with a lot of great advice over the years, and

continues to work to help us to this day. They have helped raise awareness for our facilities, promoted the craft brewering industry on the state level, and helped us to meet some of the other great business owners here in Madison County.

BrookeMD Jeff Gronberg (center) presenting the 2016 Brewery of the Year award to Straight to Ale owners Bruce and Jo Weddendorf.

A. In my opinion, our greatest achievement to date has been our lineup of world

won the Chamber’s 2016 Best Medial Practice Small Business Award. Here’s a Q&A with Dr. Brooke Uptagrafft and David Uptagrafft.

Q. Give a brief history of BrookeMD (ne: Innova Primary Care) and your role.

A. BrookeMD Primary Care was founded in 2011 within the clinic incubator system at

Gleneagles Family Medicine Associates. Dr. Brooke Uptagrafft is the founder and Medical Director, and her husband, David Uptagrafft, is the Director of Operations for the clinic. Since winning the 2016 award, BrookeMD has rebranded and will change its name to Innova Primary Care (IPC) this spring/summer. In addition, the clinic will be moving this summer to a new, larger location to accommodate their growth – 247 Chateau Drive SW, Huntsville, AL 35801.

class craft beer that we manufacture right here in Huntsville. We’ve been very lucky and appreciative to have won some awards and gotten some national recognition over the years, but it’s always all about the beer.

Q. Share your educational and professional background and how you came to Straight to Ale.

A. I was born and raised here in northwest Huntsville, graduating from J.O. Johnson

High School in 1986. I enlisted in the U.S. Army after that, serving my time at Fort Stewart, GA, which is where I began brewing. After my enlistment, I came back to Huntsville and worked for an engineering company, General Standards Corporation (GSC), designing printed circuit boards. My boss at GSC was a big supporter of my brewing and really encouraged me to give it a shot commercially.

The name Straight To Ale actually comes from an old Drivin’ and Cryin’ song. I was at the Southern Brewers Convention in Chattanooga, and Kevn Kinney was on stage singing the song “Straight To Hell”. After many, many beers that day, it seemed like the perfect name for our upcoming Alabama brewery.

Q. What are your goals for Straight to Ale over the next 10 years?

A. We are going to continue to try and build our brands (Straight To Ale, Ale’s Kitchen, and Shelta Cavern Spirits) throughout our current distribution footprint, and we hope to start exporting some products overseas as well. We will also be concentrating on finishing out our facility by completing our onsite music venue at the Campus 805 location.

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

A. Winning this award in its first year was an honor – especially when you look at

Jeff Gronberg (center) presenting the 2016 Medical Practice of the Year award to Dr. Brooke Uptagrafft and David Uptagrafft of BrookeMD.

Q. Explain what your company creates/sells/supports/or services offered?

A. The product/service we offer is the physical, mental, and emotional health of the

entire patient, including overseeing the coordination of care with other physicians.

The days of defining Primary Care as a single, discrete service encounter are ending. We form relationships with our patient guests and focus on a servicedifferentiated business model.

the talented competition we were up against. Our entire team worked so hard to complete our new brewery, and it’s a great feeling to be recognized for evidently doing it right.

Q. What key piece of advice would you give other small businesses?

A. Develop a good, detailed business plan early on – above all, focus on your

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

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Small Biz Synapse, continued from page 15

A. Our greatest achievement is surviving as a small business in healthcare. This is

a challenging time to be in the healthcare business – we’ve transitioned from paper charts to electronic medical records, taken over a portion of patients for two retiring physicians, received Diabetes Recognition Program status from the NCQA, implemented our Medicare-initiated Compassionate Care Management Program, and submitted our completed application for accreditation from the NCQA as a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Q. Share your educational and professional background and how you came to IPC? A. Dr. Uptagrafft graduated from medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at St. Vincent’s East Family Medicine Residency in Birmingham. She very much appreciates practicing medicine in Huntsville – home of HudsonAlpha. Her interest in the Human Genome Project started her journey to medical school.

Q. What are your goals for IPC over the next 10 years?

A. Our goal at IPC is to lead in the challenging healthcare landscape while remaining

Q. Give a brief history and your role in the company.

A. Transcend was founded in 2002, and we grew from a single-person consultancy to a full team over the past 15 years – recently moving into new office space and expanded our business in Nashville and Birmingham.

As founder and CEO, I drive the strategic direction and lead many of our key customer relationships, providing some of our most senior customers with executive coaching, strategic consulting and public speaking.

Q. What does Transcend create/sell/support/offer?

A. Transcend creates high performing teams by breaking down silos to help our

customers maximize human capital, and deliver revenue and profit growth. We are peers and partners for senior leaders, and our extensive experience places us squarely in the shoes of our customers. That experience – combined with proven, well-researched tools – makes us an innovative partner who can help create measurable, sustainable change.

intensely focused on the wellness and experience of our patients. In 2017, this means completing our relocation to a larger facility, adding providers and staff, expanding care plans and health coaching as well as continuing to focus on LEAN principles to improve convenience and efficiency of coordinated health services.

So to anyone reading this – if you are excited about moving healthcare forward – send us a resumé!

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

A. Being nominated by the community and recognized by the Chamber for IPC’s

efforts to move forward was a tremendous affirmation. It gave us a renewed burst of energy to keep pushing forward. Professionally, it has increased our name recognition and put us in contact with other local companies and individuals with similar “DNA” to improve quality through effective use of technology. This community sequences genomes and explores the stars, it deserves better than faxes for critical healthcare information in 2017.

Q. What key piece of advice would you give other small businesses?

A. For small business owners with children, keep an eye on the shore when you’re

swimming out into the ocean. Be prepared for failures with your successes. With each success, enjoy it and praise your team. With each failure, ask yourself two questions: What will I learn from this? And, when will I try it again?

Q. How has being active in the Chamber impacted IPC success?

A. As a small and woman-owned business, it has allowed us to connect in the

community and encouraged us to work on developing our “elevator pitch” and refine our message. It has also provided our staff and providers with development opportunities to represent the clinic.

Transcend LLC

won the Chamber’s 2016 Small Business Award in the Business/Professional Services category. Here’s an interview with CEO Lauren Huckabee-Jennings.

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Jeff Gronberg (left) presenting the 2016 Business/Professional Services award to Lauren Huckabee-Jennings of Transcend LLC.

Q. What has been Transcend’s greatest achievement?

A. In late 2016, Transcend became the first Certified B Corporation™ in the State of Alabama. Being one of less than 2000 companies worldwide who achieved the stringent certification was great; however, the true achievement was the fact that we really do ‘practice what we preach’. Becoming a B Corp perfectly complemented our organizational culture and strategic plan. So, our greatest achievement has been fostering a ‘fearless’ culture and living up to the standard we set for Fearless Leadership.

Q. Tell us more about yourself: A. Since I’m from Huntsville, it may be no surprise that I wanted to be an astronaut.

However, my eyesight wasn’t good enough for the Air Force Academy, so I went to Princeton and earned a degree in Physical Chemistry. From there, I continued my education overseas with a Master’s in Comparative Culture in Japan and an MBA from INSEAD in France. I’ve worked for Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola and technology start-ups. My career has taken me around the world – Japan, China,

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Israel, Switzerland, Poland – and back home to the US. I brought all of that experience to the table when I started Transcend.

Q. What are your goals for Transcend over the next 10 years?

A. Our long-term goals include developing a licensing and partnering model that will allow us to leverage technology to package and deliver our products and services in a more scalable way. I like to say that, ‘continuous improvement is part of our DNA’ and we will continue to educate ourselves as we use leading behavioral science and neuroscience to drive our innovation. We will also continue our expansion into other geographic areas as we focus on building a leadership culture in the markets we serve.

Q. What did winning this award mean to you?

A. Our company specializes in helping companies build high performing teams, so

it was especially gratifying to see our team recognized for its hard work. We always tell our clients that it’s important to celebrate success, and this is probably the biggest reason we’ve had to celebrate so far. We’re part of such a thriving business community that it was a huge honor to be among the nominees, and then to actually win the award.

Q. Any advice for other small businesses?

A. You know, as organizational and management consultants, we give a lot of

advice. Unfortunately, we’re sometimes brought into fairly desperate situations.

Although that’s when we do some of our best work, we wish that business leaders would not wait for a crisis. It’s more effective to invest in leadership, strategy and culture consistently over time, and to be fearless enough to admit you don’t have all the answers – no matter who you turn to for help. The best organizations have a plan for continual development, so that when change happens, they have the resources and skills to manage it and use it as a force for growth.

Q. Has being active in the Chamber been impactful?

A. We have found our partnership with the Chamber to be very valuable, as it gives

us common ground for establishing business relationships in the community. We feel strongly about developing leaders in our community, and, in turn, growing businesses and contributing to economic development and quality of life. The Chamber shares that vision and helps fuel our mission locally.

Jeff Gronberg (left) presenting the 2016 Culinary Business of the Year award to Jim Kelley of LawLer’s Barbecue.

A. Good food fast ... not fast food – that’s what we sell. Of the BBQ kind, of course.

We are honored when customers trust us to feed their families ... over and over ... for years! Genuine, sincere, down-home ‘tickled pink service’ served up by caring people is what we strive for. We want to be a tradition at YOUR family table.

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

A. It has to be lasting 39 years through some incredibly difficult economic times, in an industry with one of the highest failure rates of any. Thank you, Lord.

Another is mentoring and molding young people’s minds. Many times LawLers is the first job a teenager has, or it’s one of their earliest experiences of a career.

We teach them business manners as well as business acumen, and it is rewarding to watch a young person grow and mature personally and professionally. Many kids go to work for us in high school and stay with us through college graduation; they are part of our extended family.

And of course, becoming a part of the communities that support us. We find ways to say yes to our schools, churches, veterans, and nonprofits when they need help. We believe, as the Good Book says, “by watering others, you also water yourselves”. We have found that the more we give away, the more we get back.

Q. Please share your educational and professional background and how you came to LawLers Barbecue.

A. My academic background is of very little consequence, as I spent only 2 quarters

at Auburn University, majoring in beer and chess. My true education came in my work experience and life. There’s something about 100-hour weeks and not giving up that builds character and resolve when it doesn’t kill you. The short version of how I came to LawLers is that Phillip called me to help in 1999, and I bought out their 3rd partner in 2001.

LawLers Barbecue

won the Chamber’s 2016 Small Business Award in the Culinary Business of the Year category. Here’s an interview with Managing Partner Jim Kelley.

Q. Give a brief history and your role in the company.

A. Started in 1978 in Pulaski, TN, with two brothers from Athens, AL, Jerry and

Q. What are your goals for LawLers Barbecue over the next 10 years?

A. Because the Huntsville/Tennessee Valley area is experiencing exponential

Phillip Lawler, we have grown to 10 locations in Alabama and Tennessee. Phillip’s job is the product side. I have the easy job ... everything else.

Q. Please explain what your company creates/sells.

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growth, we will continue to open new restaurants as we develop or find capable managers. Operating capital, product, and places come easy ... good people do not. Our new cooking facility allows us to expand tremendously beyond our current 10 stores, either company-owned or franchised. continued on page 19 march 2017 initiatives

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Movers & Shakers, continued from page 11

Dow

“We are excited to add Bob to our corporate practice group,” said Greg Curran, Chair of the firm. “Bob adds unique securities law bandwidth to our existing deep bench of corporate and securities lawyers. His accounting experience in the banking industry will also be valuable to our thriving banking practice.”

To read more about Robert Dow, click HERE.

MCS District IT Coordinator Tommy Whitten named by Computerworld: ‘One of the top 100 Technology Leaders’ Tommy Whitten, coordinator of technology for Madison County Schools, was named one of Computerworld’s Premier 100 Technology Leaders for 2017. These technology leaders were selected from across the globe for their exceptional technology leadership and innovative approaches to business challenges. The Whitten list includes leaders of industry and technology from across the globe. To learn more about the program and to see a full list of honorees, click HERE.

Small Biz Synapse, continued from page 17

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

A. It proved that if you work hard every day, over and over, striving for excellence,

in a short 39 years you can be an overnight success! Winning awards is not what we are in business for, but this award validated for us that our food, our ideas, and our ideals are recognized and acknowledged. Personally, it gave me a shot of confidence that a five-hour energy drink can’t. AND, at the same time scared me – knowing our peers would be watching to see how we operate, and why we won the inaugural culinary business of the year award.

Q. What key piece of advice would you give other small businesses?

A. Going in business is easy. Staying in business ain’t. Success requires tremendous

patience, planning, and perseverance. In any business, just having a good product isn’t enough. Learn about the other thousand things it also takes, and get really good at them quick. NEVER count how many hours you are working. Work as long as it takes. Period. In order to be an overnight success and have what others only hope for, you must do things others can’t do, or won’t do.

Litigation I Businesses Litigation I Businesses Governments Governments Individuals I Non-Profits Individuals I Non-Profits

Q. How has being active in the Chamber impacted LawLers’ success?

A. Belonging to the Chamber adds a level of support that an

independent business does not have. Most “small” businesses are sole proprietorships or family operations which means the owners work ALL THE TIME. There is little budget or time for meetings/seminars and social interactions other than with their customers. It seems the Huntsville Chamber is doing more and more to understand and address that dynamic. Helping a small business owner find ways to be involved makes us feel like a vital part of our growing community.

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No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of No representation is made that the quality of legal legal services performed by other lawyers. services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. march 2017 initiatives

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The Chamber Goes to Montgomery

A

labama State government has a tremendous impact on what happens in Huntsville and Madison County. Decisions made in Montgomery play a critical role shaping everything from our education policy to determining what improvements we do or don’t get to our infrastructure.

The State of Alabama is our partner in helping our region prepare for and promote our growth, so for over two decades, the Chamber has been taking members to Montgomery to meet with leaders in state government and formally deliver our State Agenda to the Governor.

This year, our Government & Public Affairs team put together another powerful program that included Chamber members meeting with the key leaders who are setting the course for our State. Presenting and discussing our State Agenda with state leaders allows the Chamber to present a collective membership voice on critical issues that are important to the development and success of the region. To view the 2017 State Agenda, click HERE. This year, attendees met and heard from: Governor Robert Bentley; Rep. Mac McCutcheon, Speaker of the House; Sen. Arthur Orr; Clinton Carter, State of Alabama Finance Director, Mark Colson, Sr. Vice President for Governmental Affairs and Chief of Staff for the Business Council of Alabama, and Michael Sentence, Superintendent, Alabama State Board of Education; and also networked with Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, Senators Clay Scofield, Bill Holtzclaw, Steve Livingston, Paul Sanford, Tim Melson; House Minority Leaders, Rep. Anthony Daniels, and Representatives Mike Ball, Laura Hall, Ritchie Wharton, Jim Patterson, Howard Sanderford, Phil Williams, and many others.

Many thanks to the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Montgomery trip—Raytheon.

Raytheon is a model corporate citizen and we’re grateful for all that they do for the Chamber and community. Please check out the event photos, HERE.

Above: Luncheon with keynote speaker Gov. Robert Bentley.

Below: Chamber Board Chair Joe Newberry and LSINC’s Alicia Ryan.

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President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Speaks to UAH Audience

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he Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta serves Alabama, Florida, and Georgia as well as parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. There are branches in Birmingham, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, and New Orleans. The current office holder is Dennis Lockhart who took office March 1, 2007 as the 14th President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He is responsible for all the banks’ activities including monetary policy, bank supervision and regulation, and payment services. In addition, he serves on the Federal Reserve’s chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). He also serves as the Director of the Metro-Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Commerce Club.

Lockhart began his talk at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) on Valentine’s Day with a joke about how he was envious of the students, stating that they have a whole lifetime of “Fed-watching” ahead of them! You see, Lockhart was planning on retiring just two weeks later, and he was glad that this speaking opportunity could afford him to be more candid with the audience while still representing the Federal Reserve. He went on to explain what the Federal Reserve is, what it does, and current issues relating to the economy and monetary policy.

He explained that in 1907, there was a financial panic that catalyzed a movement to reinstate the Fed led

by J.P. Morgan and other bankers and financiers (Andrew Jackson had refused to sign their charter back into effect in 1830). It took them several years to construct a model, and, in 1910, a delegation of politicians and Lockhart bankers disguised themselves as a hunting party and went to Jekyll Island, Georgia, and deliberated for 10 days on how to design a central bank. By 1913, the laws had been passed, and the system began operating in January 1914.

Each Reserve Bank has a President, and they are not political appointees – a local citizen board of directors appoints them.

Although the Federal Reserve carries out functions of the Central Bank which is a government entity, they are a hybrid public-private institution. President Lockhart reports to a board of directors, and there is also oversight done by the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. The Atlanta Bank oversees the payment system, and all the check

processing in the U.S. is done in Atlanta. Lockhart mentioned that there were more than 30 check-processing shops when he joined in 2007, and now there is only one. He told students that, “Your generation uses debit and credit cards, and that is the way of the future.”

Additionally, they provide cash to banks or remove cash if the bank has too much. “Interestingly, there is more U.S. cash outside the United States than inside the U.S.,” Lockhart said. Part of his responsibilities include exporting cash to the more than 40 countries that require U.S. dollars.

The FOMC decides the monetary policy, like setting interest rates and the FOMC answers to Congress. Congress has given the Federal Reserve two objectives: full employment and an acceptable rate of inflation. With the official employment rate at 4.8 percent, Lockhart feels that the Federal Reserve has achieved as close to full employment as possible. The inflation rate targeted by the Central Bank in the long run is 2 percent. That is the percentage at which the economy can function in the healthiest possible way. Lower rates can be too close to a deflating economy, while higher rates mean an erosion of purchasing power, which can have serious consequences. Currently, the inflation rate is about 1.6 percent; the Federal Reserve is trying to push that inflation rate up.

One of the questions asked by a UAH student was about the housing market crash and the financial recession. It started a few months after Lockhart took office. He recalled those years as a “trial by fire”.

The Federal Reserve Chairman at the time was Ben Bernanke who recommended dropping the interest rate, and, after the government bailouts, there were a number of emergency measures in place to hold up the market. Lockhart went on to explain that, fortunately for the country, Bernanke had studied the Great Depression and knew intuitively (and in theory) what legal tools the Central Bank had to respond to the crisis. Lockhart credits Bernanke’s quick decisionmaking for the Federal Reserve’s ability to keep up with the situation.

Overall, Lockhart said the economy is very “solid” and growing at about 2–2.5 percent which he deems “pretty satisfactory”. With a new administration, he says there is debate as to how many moves the economy will make. As of March 1, Lockhart says he looks forward to seeing what the Federal Reserve will do as he joins the ranks of the American public as a “Fed-watcher.”

Lockhart said working for the Federal Reserve has been an amazing experience, and he was privileged to do the work and help make decisions that affect the U.S. economy.

– Analyn Bengs A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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Lights

Bright

The section features significant economic development news and growth in local organizations. We’d love to include your company in Bright Lights! Send us your news and press releases to: comms@hsvchamber.org

Intergraph Government Solutions Announces Corporate Name Change to Hexagon US Federal

Intergraph Government Solutions has rebranded and is now Hexagon US Federal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure serving the U.S. federal government market. The new name allows the company to closely identify with a global technology leader and better offer the Hexagon family best-of-class technology directly to U.S. government customers.

“We’re excited about this change and what the future holds,” said Joe Fehrenbach, president and chief executive officer. “We also look forward to continued success with our partner and customers.”

Hexagon US Federal will continue to operate with an independent board of directors and the current leadership, and structure will remain intact. The Intergraph name will still be seen on some product lines, and no business will be interrupted.

“Six years ago, we were acquired by Hexagon, and now it’s time to evolve,” said Fehrenbach. “Our commitment to high quality services, solutions, and products – as well as our core values of accountability, integrity, relationships, and excellence that guide our business – will not change.”

The new name and brand includes a new logo, brand creative identity, a new website, and more.

Check out the full announcement HERE.

HudsonAlpha Breaks Ground on New Building HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology broke ground on the newest addition to the biotech campus. The 100,000-square-foot building, located at 800 Hudson Way, will house components of HudsonAlpha’s research, Educational Outreach, genomic medicine and informatics programs, as well as new and expanding associate companies.

Speakers included Jim Hudson, cofounder of HudsonAlpha; Alabama Governor Robert Bentley; Dr. Richard Myers, president and science director of HudsonAlpha; Chairman Dale Strong, Madison County Commission; and Mayor Tommy Battle, City of Huntsville.

To learn more about HudsonAlpha’s new addition, click HERE.

Energy Alabama Receives $77,680 Grant The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a Federal agency, awarded Energy Alabama a technical assistance grant in the amount of $77,680 to study strategies to develop an advanced energy economy with an emphasis on coal-impacted communities.

The study will identify the advanced energy industry of the coal-impacted areas, the available jobs within that industry, the resources of community colleges to support workforce training, and the career centers that can facilitate placement in the advanced energy industry of unemployed workers. The project will also support stakeholder engagement to explore and harness additional careers in sectors such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and information technology.

Energy Alabama is also a partner of West Alabama Works’ $1.5 million ARC grant and will help them develop business-specific plans that will speed the adoption of 22

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sustainable energy in Alabama’s automotive industry. To learn more about Energy Alabama, click HERE.

Transcend Recognized for Highest Standards of Social and Environmental Performance Transcend, an award-winning leadership development company, has become the first company in Alabama to become a Certified B Corporation™. Called “the highest standard for socially responsible businesses” by Inc. magazine, B Corp certification recognizes companies who voluntarily meet standards of transparency, accountability, and social impact. Transcend joins a growing community of more than 1,900 Certified B Corporations globally, including Warby Parker, Etsy, Ben & Jerry’s, and Patagonia, and is the first company in the state to meet the rigorous standards that measure a company’s impact on its employees, suppliers, community, and the environment.

“We’re proud to become a Certified B Corporation™,“ said Transcend CEO and Founder Laura Huckabee-Jennings. “B Corporations are all about using business for good. They are important because they inspire all businesses to compete – not only to be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world.”

Transcend was named 2016 Business/Professional Services Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, and Huckabee-Jennings is the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year award by the Women’s Business Center of North Alabama. The company was also named a Fastest Growing Partner by Wiley, a powerful force in the workplace learning industry.

Click HERE to learn more about Transcend, LLC and “Fearless Leaders.”

Turner Construction Gives Relief to Community Members from Turner Construction’s Huntsville offices spent several days in Rosalie, AL and Gatlinburg, TN offering their help in the relief efforts following the recent wildfires and tornadoes that caused significant damage in those communities.

They traveled to Rosalie after it was hit by a tornado, where they set up at the volunteer fire department for a day. They prepared, served, and delivered almost 200 meals during lunch to victims and rescue support crews. They also donated enough food for an additional 200 meals.

The Turner team also spent two days in Gatlinburg where they prepared and served three meals a day, feeding 300 people at each meal. They also donated enough food for 300 more meals. While they were there, the kitchen staff – who had been working around the clock – was extremely grateful because they could take a much needed break. You are wonderful community stewards – thank you, Turner Construction!

Check out their website HERE. A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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If your company has created fun digital marketing videos; virtual, augmented or mixed reality; slideshows; etc., send them our way so we can feature them in digitalTRENDS as well! Send them to: comms@hsvchamber.org

CPAs On Fleek: XXV We always love to see how creative our Chamber members are and this instance is the perfect example!

To commemorate Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith’s 25th anniversary, the CPA firm decided to make a YouTube video that would reflect their truly unique company culture. Two supervisors wrote, sang and starred in the video that is posted on the company website as well as YouTube. Keep an eye out for cameo appearances by their founding fathers: Keith Barfield, Don Murphy, John Shank and Steve Smith.

Click HERE to watch the video (and prepare to be amazed).

RedBrick Strategies’ Downtown Mural RedBrick decided to bring “forced perspective” art to Huntsville and painted a 100 foot, 3-D mural by hand! This is just one example of the creativity Huntsville has to offer, and we are excited to see your marketing videos featured in our digitalTRENDS. To see the video and learn more about RedBrick’s epic murals, click HERE.

Media Fusion Gives Glimpse into the Future Media Fusion has partnered with Pufferfish to create spherical display content that allows users to experience interactive, 360 degree video. Check out the video HERE.

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is pleased to announce

30 Years in Business (please tell less than 1,000 people)

∏ Largest number of commercial listings in North Alabama for 16 years running. ∏ Our signs are seen by 1,387,480 vehicles every day. ∏ Russ Russell has a Real Estate degree from the University of Alabama and is on the Leadership Council for the Alabama Center for Real Estate. Less than 1% of all Realtors have a Real Estate degree. ∏ Russ Russell is the 1st and only Realtor in the U.S. to hold the Top Two Commercial Real Estate designations (CCIM, SIOR), the Top Land Designation (ALC) and the Top Tax-Deferred Designation (CEA). Less than 5% of all Realtors have any one of these designations. ∏ Russ Russell is the 1st Realtor in Madison County to use a drone in marketing our listings. ∏ Russ Russell is a Huntsville native and has 5 Real Estate-related trademarks. ∏ Russ Russell is the 1st and only Realtor in the U.S. to have a real estate mascot (Ruff Russell).

Who’s Your Broker? russrussell.com

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

2017 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Gary Bolton

Rose Allen

Ron Poteat

Cynthia Streams

Chair-Elect

Immediate Past Chair

Chamber Foundation Chair

Secretary/Treasurer

Kim Lewis

Kevin Byrnes

Tharon Honeycutt

Penny Billings

Greg Brown

Vice Chair – Economic Development & Industry Relations

Vice Chair – Government & Public Affairs

Vice Chair – Membership

Vice Chair – Workforce & Education

Vice Chair – Small Business & Events

Jeff Gronberg

Beth Sippel

Mark Curran

Tim Thornton

Frank Williams

Vice Chair – Marketing & Communications

Vice Chair – Member Engagement

Chair-Appointed

Chair-Appointed

Chair-Appointed

Tommy Battle

Paul Finley

Dale Strong

Tracy Marion

Chip Cherry, CCE

Ex-Officio Member

Ex-Officio Member

Ex-Officio Member

General Counsel

Joe Newberry

vice president, global marketing, ADTRAN, Inc.

president/chief executive officer Redstone Federal Credit Union

president, InterFuze Corporation

Board Chair

chief executive officer, PROJECTXYZ, Inc.

president, deciBel Research, Inc.

mayor, City of Huntsville

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vice president & center executive, Raytheon Company

president/chief executive officer, First Commercial Bank

mayor, City of Madison

march 2017

president, MSB Analytics, Inc.

vice president, army programs/HSV operations, L3 Technologies, Inc.

chairman, Madison County Commission

north alabama area executive, Regions Bank

division president, BancorpSouth - Huntsville

president & ceo/owner, nLogic, LLC

attorney, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C.

vice president/treasurer, Domino’s (Valley Pizza, Inc.)

CFO / Co-CEO, Brown Precision, Inc.

general manager, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep

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

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike Alvarez Venturi, Inc.

Bill Bailey

James Barclay

Michael Bertoldi

Janet Brown

Frank Caprio

Lynn Collyar

Deke Damson

Dr. Dorothy Davidson

Bryan Dodson

John Eagan

Joe Fehrenbach

Trip Ferguson

Gene Goldman

Mike Gullion

Jan Hess

Steve Hill

Dr. Pam Hudson

Hank Isenberg

Radiance Technologies, Inc.

Jerry Damson Honda Acura

David Fernandes Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.

Leidos

Sean Kelly

Par Pharmaceutical,

an Endo International Company

Davidson Technologies, Inc.

SCI Technology, Inc.

Dr. David King

Regions Bank

Mike Randolph

S3, Inc.

Dynetics, Inc.

PROJECTXYZ, Inc.

PHOENIX

Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.

Bob McCaleb

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Belk

BB&T

AEgis Technologies Group

Janice Migliore PALCO Telecom Service, Inc.

Bradley

Hexagon US Federal

Crestwood Medical Center

Craig Naudain SAIC

Deloitte LLP

IronMountain Solutions

Alana Parker

Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc.

Dr. Gurmej Sandhu

Charlie Sealy

E.J. Sinclair

Robert Smith

Nilmini Thompson

Lynn Troy

Ken Tucker

Mike Watkins

Danny Windham

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Systems Products and Solutions, Inc.

Troy 7, Inc.

Sigmatech, Inc.

The Boeing Company

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

Sealy Management Company

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

KBRwyle

PNC Bank

Jeff Samz

Huntsville Hospital

John Jordan

Leigh Pegues

Jim Rogers

Lockheed Martin Corporation

PARSONS

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Joe Ritch

Sirote & Permutt, PC

Michael Cox

SES – Science and Engineering Services, LLC

Sameer Singhal CFD Research Corporation

Digium, Inc.

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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

STAF F Executive Staff

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

Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce Lucia Cape, IOM, senior vice president Lyndsay Ferguson, workforce director Erin Koshut, Cummings Research Park director Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, project manager

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, IOM, senior vice president Tina Leopold, assistant

Marketing & Communications Carrie Rice, director Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer

Membership

C

Robert Recker, senior vice president, investor relations Donna McCrary, membership retention manager Tiffany Jordan, membership representative Tina Blankenship, membership representative Kristy Drake, engagement specialist | program manager

M C

Y M C

CM Y M

MY CM Y

Small Business & Events

CY MY CM

Pammie Jimmar, IOM, director Emma Williams, specialist

CMY CY MY

K CMY CY

Finance & Administration

K CMY

Mary McNairy, director Jamie Gallien, IT manager Kim Savage, accounting specialist – receivables Lori Warner, accounting specialist – payables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

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

www.HSVchamber.org

Associated Organizations

communityfoundationhsv.org

www.uah.edu/sbdc theschoolsfoundation.org

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A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

The

Classroom Huntsville Museum of Art Youth Art Month The Youth Art Month (YAM) exhibit at the Huntsville Museum of Art is now open and will be on view through April 30. The exhibit will showcase nearly 200 works of art by youth in Kindergarten through grade 12.

Schools that will be represented: Huntsville City, Madison City, Madison County, Athens City, Limestone County, Decatur City, and Scottsboro City.

In addition to the students’ works, the museum presented the Blue Ribbon Finalists’ artworks from the Visual Arts Achievement (VAA) Program in Alabama’s District V in the Great Hall. These will travel to Montgomery to be displayed at ASCA. Please note that the museum will be closed March 3-5 in preparation for their annual gala.

To read more about YAM and the upcoming exhibits at the Huntsville Museum of Art, click HERE.

Education is key to our success. That’s why our entire community is invested in high quality education for all ages. Want to give a shout out to an educator? Have cool campus news? Let us know at comms@hsvchamber.org Currently, there are 296 campuses across the U.S. that have received this recognition.

“Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment,” says Matt Harris, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for us all.”

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA® colleges and universities invested more than $46.7 million in campus forest management last year.

Read more about Tree Campus USA® HERE.

UAH Named Tree Campus by Arbor Day Foundation The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has once again been recognized as a Tree Campus USA® by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management. The university first received the designation in 2013 and has continued to receive it each year thereafter.

“The university’s commitment to Tree Campus USA is significant. Not only do urban forests benefit the health of the environment, but they also benefit our social and emotional health as well,” says Taylor Myers, the Sustainability Coordinator at UAH. “The grounds crew here at UAH has worked really hard to create a large and diverse tree canopy for all on campus to enjoy. Their hard work – and the support from the administration and the campus community – is what make this designation possible.”

Launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, Tree Campus USA® is a national program that honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees, and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. To obtain certification, campuses must meet five main criteria: • • • • •

Maintain a tree advisory committee Adhere to a campus tree-care plan Dedicate annual expenditures for its campus tree program Observe Arbor Day Sponsor a student service-learning project

Congrats to MDR on National Award!

Mission Driven Research Inc (MDR) is proud to announce that Taylor Presley received the National HUBZone Employee of the Year award for 2016. MDR uses interns to meet the HUBZone residency requirement, and the goal is to identify strong candidates from the intern pool that can be developed into full-time employees working directly on government contracts.

In his junior year while attending The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Taylor was the company’s first intern to be selected and hired based on the HUBZone residency as well as technical capabilities. In the award write-up, MDR recognized Taylor as an exceptional employee with a strong work ethic, fitting in well with the corporate mission. Upon graduation and the completion of his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, Taylor was selected for a full-time position, moving on-site with the government customer. He has been in this position for two years and has continued to perform well above his job requirements, volunteering for new opportunities as they arise. Congrats to Taylor and MDR on winning this prestigious national award!

A PUBLICATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY

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Earn CashBack

3

UNLIMITED

%

for your business!

CashBack on ALL purchases*

Until March 31st, earn 3% CashBack every time you use your Redstone Visa® Business credit card. No categories to keep track of. No spending caps. It’s easy – just get 3% CashBack on all purchases with your Visa Business card!

256-327-1104 | redfcu.org *Offer valid on qualifying net purchases made through March 31, 2017. Qualifying net purchases defined as purchases, less any merchandise returned for credits. The 3% CashBack earned during the promotional period of January 1 - March 31, 2017, will be deposited into the primary business deposit account no later than April 30, 2017. Fees, interest charges, cash advances, balance transfers, and payments are not considered purchases and do not apply toward this cash bonus. To be eligible for the rebate, the credit card account must remain open and current. Other restrictions may apply. See credit card agreement for additional information of terms and conditions about your credit card account.

At least one owner of the business must be, or become, a member of RFCU®, or be in our field of membership in order to obtain a business loan. Must be eligible for membership and open a share savings account to become a member. A $5.00 minimum balance is required to open the share savings account and must be maintained in the account at all times. Age and other restrictions may apply. In addition, a business share account must be opened in the business name in order to obtain a loan. Fees and restrictions may apply to some business accounts, products, and services. All loans subject to credit approval. Redstone Federal Credit Union is an Equal Credit Opportunity Lender.

This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

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