IO - March 2020 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

mar 2020

Bright Lights By the Numbers The Classroom Digital Trends Extra! Extra! Movers & Shakers Recent Events Small Biz Synapse A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Improving lives across the Tennessee Valley

We are the Huntsville Hospital Health System, a team committed to bringing better health care to you and your family. We’re all across the Tennessee Valley with more resources, more services and more locations — we’re improving lives, together.

Huntsville Hospital Health System includes Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Madison Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospitals, Helen Keller & Red Bay Hospitals, Marshall Medical Centers, Lawrence Medical Center, Russellville Hospital and Lincoln Health System in Tennessee.

welcome new chamber members Joined in December 2019 1st Franklin Financial Corporation - Mastin Lake 1st Franklin Financial Corporation - S Parkway Joined in January 2020 Aevum, Inc. Allstate - Bo Cochran Agency ACES Science Labs, llc American Esoteric Laboratories Agency54 AR Services Limited Aviles Brothers Landscaping, LLC Bell Media BlueCats US, LLC BrightStar Care of Huntsville Candy Cane Coated Candles Continental Consulting Group Corporation (CCGC) Challenger Defense Solutions Columbia College Dental Care of Huntsville Crean & Associates, Inc. Dentistry Downtown with Dr. Rebecca Howell CyberReach Diana Lockmiller - State Farm Engel & Völkers Huntsville Direct Auto & Life Insurance - WalMart Huntsville Location EQC Southeast USA Envistacom The Exercise Coach Madison Expo Displays - Method One Fabricated Technologies, Inc. FiberRise Communications, LLC Ms. Robin Goldsmith G3-Greater Guidance Group HAPPI Health Innovate Huntsville Center Hops N Guac IZsam Jeff White Photography K&K Technical Group Joy Bender - Legend Realty Le Macaron French Pastries - PASMI INC LinQuest Corporation Lean Kitchen Company Liquid Measurement Systems McCorqoudale Transfer Huntsville MACH-20, LLC McWilliams Marketing MaDonni Group, LLC Paradise Cleaning Service Mango’s Caribbean Cook House, LLC Partnership for a Drug-Free Community, Inc. Mason & Hanger Pottery Barn Rent Sons Premier Urgent Care Inc. Rucker Management Consultants, LLC Proto Machine Works SAFY of Alabama Publix - The Pinnacle at Providence Store Tech Innovation Global Inc #1612 -Monrovia Travel Tech On-Site Computer Service Publix Supermarket #574 Whitesburg Drive The UPS Store StoneCreek Dental Care Vision Technology, Inc. (VTI) Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA) Woodall and Hoggle Insurance Taziki’s Mediterranean Café - Huntsville Tcherneshoff Consulting, Inc. TeamingPro

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

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2020

INVESTORS HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

REGIONAL PARTNERS

LEADERSHIP FORUM

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BBVA Compass ■ Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) ■ Crestwood Medical Center ■ Dynetics, Inc. General Atomics Electromagnetics ■ Lockheed Martin Corporation ■ Northrop Grumman Corporation ■ PNC Bank Raytheon Company ■ SAIC ■ SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Yulista

CHAMBER TRUSTEES AEgis Technologies Group ■ Akima, LLC ■ Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi ■ Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. ■ Facebook Data Center Five Stones Research Corporation ■ Intrepid ■ Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation ■ Jerry Damson Honda Acura ■ KBR Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep ■ Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. ■ PARSONS ■ S3, Inc. ■ Sealy Management Company, Inc. SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center ■ Synovus ■ Torch Technologies ■ Turner Construction Company

PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ 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. ■ CenterState Bank ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Davidson Technologies, Inc. Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. ■ Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association ■ IBERIABANK ■ J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company ■ Keel Point, LLC ■ L3Harris LMI ■ LogiCore ■ LSINC Corporation ■ The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ Progress Bank ■ Radiance Technologies ■ RE/MAX Alliance ■ RUAG Space USA ■ Selex Galileo Inc. Spirit Coach, LLC ■ Steak-Out (Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc.) ■ Verizon ■ Wells Fargo Bank ■ Woody Anderson Ford PROGRESS INVESTORS Air Essentials, Inc. ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty ■ Armstrong Relocation Company Huntsville LLC ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ Bailey-Harris Construction ■ BancorpSouth BID DESIGNS, LLC ■ BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc. ■ Bryant Bank ■ Canvas, Inc. ■ CB&S Bank ■ Century Automotive ■ CFD Research Corporation ■ CGI Federal ■ Coast Personnel Services ■ Continental Consulting Group Corporation (CCGC) Croy Engineering, LLC ■ DC Blox, Inc. ■ deciBel Research ■ Deloitte LLP ■ DESE Research, Inc. ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ Fernandez Financial Group ■ FITE Building Company ■ FLS Translation & Interpreting Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC ■ Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC ■ Garver ■ Hexagon US Federal ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Automotive Group ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau INTERFUZE Corporation ■ Investor’s Resource ■ IronMountain Solutions ■ The Karen Morris Team at Keller Williams Realty ■ Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider ■ LINE-X, LLC ■ The Lioce Group, Inc. ■ MAG Aerospace ■ MSB Analytics, Inc. nLogic, LLC ■ PALCO ■ PFM Financial Advisors LLC ■ PHOENIX ■ Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. ■ PROJECTXYZ, Inc. ■ QTEC Aerospace ■ Quadrus Corporation ■ Ready Mix USA ■ Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Company ■ Rosenblum Realty S&ME, Inc. ■ Schoel Engineering Company, Inc. ■ ServisFirst Bank ■ Sigmatech, Inc. ■ Signalink ■ Snelling ■ Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. ■ TriVector Services, Inc. ■ Troy 7, Inc. ■ U.S. Space & Rocket Center ValleyMLS.com ■ Valor Communities ■ Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties Inc. ■ Venturi, Inc. ■ Volkert, Inc. ■ Warren Averett, LLC ■ West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. ■ Wilmer & Lee, P.A.

voted one of the 2019 Best Banks to Work For

“We strive to create a culture where it’s fun to come to work, where our team members can live our mission to make a positive difference in people’s lives.” - Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent

“Our team members are committed to investing their time and talents back into the communities we serve. Thank you for acknowledging our commitment to business excellence.” - Macke Mauldin, President of Bank Independent and CEO of Bancindependent, Inc.

BIBANK.COM | MEMBER FDIC | 877.865.5050

Chamber Members: Send your company news to comms@hsvchamber.org

mar 2020

ON THE COVER: Huntsville Mayor Battle explaining the importance of the upcoming Census page 24

Getting ready for April’s Rocket City Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition page 16

By the Numbers

Bright Lights

Extra! Extra!

Digital Trends

Movers & Shakers

Save the Dates

The Classroom

Recent Events

Small Biz Events

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

More Hwy. 231 Closure: 12 Census 2020: 24

Et cetera New Members: 4 HREGI Investors: 5 About IO & Board Listing: 8 Staff Listing: 34

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About IO

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2020 Executive Committee

Hello! We have an important article in this issue about the 2020 Census. You’ll receive an invitation in the mail later this month to participate, and this is very important. Companies, we need your help to communicate this to your employees. The information on p. 24 details the timeline, and the importance of making sure everyone is counted. What is your favorite type of Girl Scout cookie? Personally, I love the lemon ones. We all enjoy these sweet treats, but they help local girls learn important lessons about entrepreneurship and money management, as you will read about on p. 25. Please remember this next time a neighbor asks you to buy cookies, or when you pass a cookie stand on your grocery store trip. These girls are learning good, foundational skills to use in business one day! SIEMENS is one company supporting our future STEM workforce. They are very active in the Rocket City Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition, which will be held April 1-4 at the Von Braun Center. Several other companies support this event, including Jacobs, The Boeing Company, and Booz Allen Hamilton. These companies know the students involved in this work are excellent candidates to join their teams one day. If you have a child who is interested in robotics, take them to see these teams in action. The public is welcome to attend. The next issue will be in May, and you can send information and high-resolution photos to comms@hsvchamber.org. I hope to see you at a Chamber event soon! Sincerely,

Frank Williams 2020 Vice Chair for Marketing & Communications Chamber Executive Board

IO Staff Chip Cherry, CCE publisher Frank Williams 2020 vice chair, marketing & communications Claire Aiello editor 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.

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Kevin Byrnes, Chair, Navigator International, LLC Jeff Gronberg, Chair-Elect, deciBel Research, Inc. Kim Lewis, Immediate Past Chair, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Ron Poteat, Chamber Foundation Chair, Regions Bank Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Secretary/Treasurer, Transcend LLC Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry Relations, Brown Precision, Inc.

Craig Naudain, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, SAIC Jim Rogers, Vice Chair, HREGI, Lockheed Martin Corporation Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep

Lynn Troy, Vice Chair, Membership, Troy 7, Inc. Sameer Singhal, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, CFD Research Corporation

Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, TV-BRAC, Sirote & Permutt, PC Dr. Karockas Watkins, Chair-Appointed, Ability Plus, Inc. Dr. Joe Green, Chair-Appointed, Whitespace Innovations, Inc. Alicia Ryan, Chair-Appointed, LSINC Corporation Mike Watkins, Chair-Appointed, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

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

Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Chamber

Elected Board Blake Bentley, SportsMED David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. Penny Billings, BancorpSouth- Huntsville Mike Dewitz, PARSONS Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc. John Eagan, BB&T Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group, LLC Owen Franklin, Blue Summit Supplies Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation Mike Gullion, Spur John Hall, All Points Logistics, LLC Ginger Harper, IBERIABANK Josh Herren, Yulista Lee Holland, Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Amanda Howard, Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty Lincoln Hudson, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions McKinley James, Polaris Industries, Inc. Lauren Johannesmeyer, Google Fiber, Huntsville Sean Kelly, Regions Bank April Mason, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Todd May, KBR Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Kevin McCombs, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Zack Penney, Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi Jami Peyton, Canvas, Inc. Chris Russell, Cadence Bank Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Beth Sippel, Synovus Wayne Sisco, Redstone Federal Credit Union Tom Stanton, ADTRAN, Inc. Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Company Cynthia Streams, Domino’s (Valley Pizza, Inc.) Margetta Thomas, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company John Watson, Torch Technologies Dennis Weese, Line-X, LLC Danny Windham, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Colorectal Cancer is...

PREVENTable. TREATable. BEATable.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the United States.* Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone who is 45 years of age and up were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. Schedule your screening today! It could save your life. To schedule a screening at Crestwood, North Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only ASGE certified Endoscopy Center, call 256-429-4986.

*American Cancer Society

CrestwoodMedCenter.com

By the Numbers FEDERAL, STATE, OR MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS ACQUIRED BY CHAMBER MEMBERS

Aerojet Rocketdyne, Northrop Grumman awarded contracts for Glide Breaker work Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $12,131,241 cost-plusfixed-fee contract for the base period of the Glide Breaker program. Work will be performed in Huntsville (46%); Sacramento, Calif. (29%); Orange, Va. (14%); Healdsburg, Calif. (8%); and Sunnyvale, Calif. (3%), with an expected completion date of February 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $12,131,241 is being obligated at the time of award. This contract is a competitive acquisition in accordance with the original broad agency announcement, HR001119S0008. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR001120C0030). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, Calif., has been awarded a $13,006,683 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the base period of the Glide Breaker program. This contract provides for the research, development and demonstration of a technology that is critical for enabling an advanced interceptor capable of engaging maneuvering hypersonic threats in the upper atmosphere. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, Calif. (73%); Mesa, Arizona (21%); Sacramento, Calif. (4%); and Huntsville, Ala. (2%), with an estimated completion date of January 2021. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the amount of $13,006,683 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract is a competitive acquisition in accordance with the original broad agency announcement, HR0011-19-S-0008. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR001120C0025). ■

Dynetics awarded contracts for TSEC, GWEF support Dynetics, Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $92,999,625 basic, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Test Systems and Equipment Capabilities (TSEC) support and $30,934,550 delivery order for the Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility (GWEF) Radio Frequency (RF) Modernization Design. The contract provides for the specific needs to include: Hardware-inthe-loop simulators for the GWEF RF Modernization and AFRL Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware in the Loop Simulator system upgrades; joint multi-platform advanced combat identification development; calibration sets integration, and software updates; Air Defense Artillery Phased Technology Digital Command Link, and immediate need technologies to support Department of Defense (DoD) ranges. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala. and other DoD locations. The contract has a five year ordering period with work expected to be completed by Jan. 2025. This award is the result of a solesource acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in 10

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the amount of $2,500,000 are being obligated at the time of award via incremental funding. The Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2487-20-D-0071; first delivery order FA2487-20-F-0072). ■

Leidos named in two General Electronic Test Station contracts Leidos Inc., Reston, Va., was awarded a $7,741,646 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plusincentive-fee, and firm-fixed-price) contract for General Electronic Test Station test equipment, installation, test program set, hardware, software, upgrades, training, engineering services and repair parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 8, 2024. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $880,405 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0016). Leidos was also awarded a $23,034,241 cost no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed price Foreign Military Sales (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) contract for General Electronic Test Station (GETS-1000) test equipment and test program set hardware and software, test equipment upgrades and repair parts; and services including test equipment installation, training, in-country technical assistance, and engineering services support. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Huntsville with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2020 missile procurement, Army and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $23,034,241 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0015). ■

Ternion Corp. awarded $13.3M contract Ternion Corp., Huntsville, Ala., is awarded a $13,300,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the sustainment and upgrade of the Flexible, Analysis, Modeling, and Exercise System Automated System Trainer software applications, software maintenance, and upgrade and modification services in support of the Common Aviation Command and Control Increment I system. The program is managed within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Va.. Work will be performed in Huntsville and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2025. The ordering period of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract will be for five years and will begin on Feb. 1, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $670,480; fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $742,542; and fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $160,900 for a total amount of $1,593,092 will be obligated on the first delivery order at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

COMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO

(Marine Corps) funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-20-D-0013). ■

Intrepid awarded contract with Missile Defense Agency Intrepid LLC,* Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $33,080,789 competitive commercial firm-fixed-price contract with a three-year base value of $16,338,912 for visual information and production center support. This contract will provide high quality, regionally-executed graphic design, photography, videography, documentary (non-analytical) flight test support and printing and production services for the Missile Defense Agency. The work will be performed in the National Capital Region; Dahlgren, Va.; Huntsville, Ala.; Colorado Springs, Colo., and other locations as directed, with an estimated completion date of January 2025. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website with three proposals received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $553,284 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (HQ0858-20-C-0004). ■

NOW LOCATED at Highway 72/Providence.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

The Boeing Company awarded $265,235,164 GMD contract The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $265,235,164 contract modification (P00033) to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) development and sustainment contract (HQ0147-12-C-0004/19-C-0004). The total value of the contract, including options, is increased from $10,944,499,963 to $11,209,735,127. Under this modification, the contractor will support the GMD Communications Network Modernization, the in-flight interceptor communications system data terminals technology upgrade, and complete the GMD fire control communication ground systems software build 8 early integration. This work will be performed by an industry team consisting of The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala.; Northrop Grumman Corp., Huntsville, Ala.; and L3Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla.. The period of performance is from Dec. 27, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2022. This acquisition was executed on a sole-source basis under the statutory authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Justification and approval #16-0052 was posted to Fed BizOpps on Sept. 13, 2017. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $19,401,000 were obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity. ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

DAMSON.COM

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Abaco Systems awarded $24M for work with MFTBOX computing systems Abaco Systems Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is awarded a $24,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for specially developed embedded computing systems known as Multiple False Targets Box Phase two (MFTBOX2) flight units, MFTBOX Phase three (MFTBOX3) flight units, and their associated spare components, to support fleet readiness training exercises in electronic warfare jamming. The flight units are partially integrated, high performance embedded computing systems, and when the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) completes final system integration with its NRL-owned software, they are used as electronic warfare jamming systems capable of generating advanced jamming techniques. The flight units will be used in fleet training exercises to train Navy radar operators in modern jamming techniques during their pre-deployment qualification trials in both air-to-air and air-to-surface scenarios. Work will be performed in Huntsville, and the ordering period is expected to be completed by March 2020. No funds are obligated with the base contract. Funding will be obligated for each issued task order. This contract was a sole-source acquisition under the authority of Title 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. â&#x2013; Has your organization recently won a contract? Send us the details of your federal, state or municipal contract to: comms@hsvchamber.org

Hwy. 231 remains closed in Morgan County due to significant road cracking Drivers who use U.S. 231 to head to and from Morgan County continue to experience significant delays. This will be the case for the foreseeable future, as the Alabama Department of Transportation has closed the road indefinitely. Both the north and southbound sides developed cracks from the wet weather and were closed February 13. Employers, please be aware this will continue to impact your team members who drive in from this way. The following detours remain in place:

Northbound Traffic: The official detour is AL 69 southbound to AL 67 northbound to AL 36 eastbound to U.S. 231. Commercial trucks will detour to AL 69 southbound, to AL 67 northbound, to I-65 in Priceville. Southbound Traffic: The official detour is AL 36 westbound to AL 67 southbound to AL 69 northbound to U.S. 231. Commercial trucks will detour to AL 36 westbound, to AL 67 southbound, to AL 69 northbound, back to U.S. 231. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and expect delays due to traffic being reduced to a single lane in each direction.

Companies: Join us for our recruitment event at The University of Alabama. ASmartPlace, along with local companies, will head down for the day to talk with UA students in the College of Engineering and the College of Business about career opportunities here in the Rocket City.

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Bright Lights ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HUNTSVILLE METRO

T-H Marine acquires First Source T-H Marine Supplies, LLC of Huntsville, Ala., announces that it has acquired First Source. First Source was the marine accessory division of Maurice Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods distributors in the United States. First Source will operate as a standalone division of T-H Marine in Fort Myers, Fla. “We’re thrilled to complete our largest revenue acquisition to date,” said T-H Marine CEO Jeff Huntley. “Our new First Source division will allow T-H Marine to expand into new product categories and continue to grow our product portfolio that we offer to both our OEM and Aftermarket customer bases. The First Source expertise also greatly strengthens our capabilities in aftermarket retail and e-commerce channels for our customers. We have built a strong platform for the past 45 years that is rooted in deep relationships with our customers, who depend on us for quality boating and fishing accessories. We look for great acquisitions like First Source that can really help us bring more value to our customers and continue to provide more awesome products for the boating and fishing enthusiasts that love our brands.” First Source was founded in 2004 as a turn-key direct import source, with deep overseas relationships, that helps to design, manufacture, package, test, and supply companies with marine and paddle sports products. Their expertise is highly valued by their customers, particularly with co-founder Read Samples leading and utilizing his more than 30 years in the marine industry.

“We are blessed to be joining longtime customer T-H Marine, a solid and rapidly growing company that truly knows the marine and fishing accessory markets,” Samples, general manager of First Source stated. “T-H will allow our team to expand into more product categories becoming more meaningful to our customers, including more OEM product opportunities. The T-H Marine team shares our passion for bringing awesome, innovative products to market and for really taking care of our customers.” First Source provides customers access to a broad range of design capabilities, procurement resources, products, packaging vendors, and logistics management services in a single source provider. T-H Marine has been a customer of First Source 14

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for many years along with many other manufacturers, distributors and major retailers. “This is our first acquisition this year, but it is our eighth acquisition in the past decade,” Huntley added. “We will continue working on more acquisitions and more organic product development to continue growing our stable of brands and our breadth of awesome products. We have such great customers who continue to buy and believe in us and our brands and that has allowed us to achieve a compound annual growth of more than 20 percent over the last decade. We hope we can keep this up and continue to find great products and brands that are ready to be launched or taken to the next level.” ■

Mason & Hanger expands U.S. locations to open Huntsville office Mason & Hanger celebrated the expansion of their southeast operations with a ribbon cutting celebration January 22 to officially open their new office in Huntsville. Mayor Tommy Battle attended the ribbon cutting reception and provided a warm welcome. “Our friends at Mason & Hanger are not new friends. We have known the Mason & Hanger name for a long time and we have worked together in this community for a long time,” Mayor Battle said. He provided additional words of support, “Our philosophy in this community is ‘if you are a success, we are a success.’ We look forward to seeing great things out of Mason & Hanger.” Mason & Hanger President Ben Lilly opened the event by stating “Much like Huntsville, recently celebrating a monumental bicentennial anniversary, we are excited to have our nearly 200-year history as the longest operating Architecture and Engineering (A/E) firm in the U.S., continue in the community of Huntsville.” Lilly, along with the firm’s four federal market directors, will lead the Huntsville office investment. It will be supported by four locations in Virginia and Kentucky. “At Mason & Hanger, we help to Build a More Secure World. In this important mission, our customers rely on us to stay ahead of global threats and the day-to-day challenges we face together,” he said. “Our new Huntsville office is part of that continued focus to remain agile and responsive against the threats facing our National Security Mission, here in the U.S. and abroad.” A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

COMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO

Located just outside the Redstone Arsenal gate, the office address is 600 Boulevard South SW, Suite 104. The firm’s current local clients include U.S. Army & Support Center, the FBI, and the U.S. Space & Missile Defense Command, among other agencies, as well as engineering and construction partners in the area. ■ Contributed by Holly Holt, Mason & Hanger

Noblis puts new footprint on Huntsville market Noblis, a new member of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, has secured office space in Huntsville to work with customers in this market. The company, based in Reston, Virginia, has secured office space on Market Street in Huntsville close to Redstone Arsenal, and as work and staff expand, the company anticipates moving into a larger space. “The Huntsville business community is emergent and vibrant. Many of our customers such as the FBI, NASA and the Army have growing operations in Huntsville and we look forward to expanding our work with them in Huntsville,” said Patience Samson, Director of Corporate Business Development, Marketing and Communications for Noblis. “Additionally, we have unique expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, modeling and simulation, robotic process automation and other areas that would be of value to many government activities based in Huntsville.” Noblis is a dynamic science, technology, and strategy organization dedicated to creating forward-thinking technical and advisory solutions in the public interest. Its team brings scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in

an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Noblis ESI, the company works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Noblis’ work in civil government has contributed to transportation systems running smoothly, government agencies managing costs effectively and efficiently, and citizens receiving high-quality, engaging services. Working with the Federal Aviation Administration, the company helped ensure the reliable delivery of communications infrastructure and services for air traffic control in the National Airspace System. Noblis also supports the intelligence community, applying experience with enterprise-wide program management, data science, advanced analytics and intelligence operations. Noblis has been recognized many times as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, as one of the Best Small and Medium Workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute, and recognized year after year as a “Top Work Place” by The Washington Post, a ranking based on employee reviews. For more, visit noblis.org. ■ Contributed by Patience Samson, Noblis

Stay Connected with the Chamber MAKE SURE YOU’RE FOLLOWING THE CHAMBER ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

@HuntsvilleAlabama @CRPHuntsville @ASmartPlace

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Encourage your coworkers to sign up for our e-news HERE. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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Extra! Extra! FOR YOUR INFORMATION & CONSIDERATION

Teams to compete in Rocket City Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition Photo from 2019 Rocket City Regional Day 2, courtesy of FIRST® in Alabama.

FIRST® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization devoted to helping young people discover and develop a passion for science, engineering, technology, and math. FIRST® means ‘For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.’ The mission of FIRST® in Alabama is to increase access to these programs so every student in our state has the opportunity to participate in these competitions. There are different programs for different ages: ■ FIRST® LEGO® League Discovery – Pre-K through 1st grade ■ FIRST® LEGO® League Junior – 2nd and 3rd grades ■ FIRST® LEGO® League – 4th-8th grades ■ FIRST® TECH Challenge – 7-12th grades ■ FIRST® ROBOTICS Competition – grades 9-12 The Rocket City Regional FIRST® event, scheduled for April 1-4, 2020 at the Von Braun Center, will bring in 40 to 50 teams from all over the world. “It’s a family event, and it’s open to the public,” said Peter Llewellyn, Business Development Manager for SIEMENS. “If you have a student or a child who’s expressed interest, or you might want to motivate in a STEM activity or project-based learning, it’s really an event you want to go to. It’s a lot like a rock concert – there’s a lot of energy, there’s a lot of motivated kids.” SIEMENS is one of several companies that supports the Rocket City Regional as a sponsor, and also hosts workshops on SolidEdge, one of its products used in the competition. Llewellyn says this involvement connects them with young people who are eager to learn. “We have to invest in young people so they are motivated to go into the engineering field,” explained Llewellyn. “The great thing about programs like FIRST® is anyone can 16

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participate. There’s not anything that restricts you. We want to encourage kids who want to use their heads, and apply those skills, and that’s what they do here, as well as get their hands dirty on building something that moves and works, which gives you some skills you won’t necessarily get in the classroom. Project-based academic programs like this are very valuable, and it’s an investment in the future. These are the kids you’re probably going to be hiring some day.” Dana Hobbs is the FIRST® Regional Director and echoed this, saying the companies know it’s important to get in front of these students. “We have great involvement from Booz Allen Hamilton, Dynetics, Marshall Space Flight Center, Boeing, Jacobs, all of them, because they know these are the kids they want to hire one day,” said Hobbs. ■ Claire Aiello, Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Courtesy: SIEMENS A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

EXTRA! EXTRA!, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Girls Inc. to host ‘Power of the Purse’ on March 19

2020 Campaign Dates: March 20–June 30

Pammie Jimmar of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is one of six local leaders who will bring their unique sense of style and fashion to the Power of the Purse fundraising event set for March 19, 2020 at the Westin Hotel. Power of the Purse is presented by Girls Inc. of Huntsville as a girls’ night out that features a live auction, fashion show and one-of-a-kind handbags. Guests will view and bid on custom designs inspired by Huntsville’s most notable leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, created in collaboration with local designers and Girls Inc. girls. Pammie is paired with international couture designer Willette Battle of Fit2BTied Couture, located in Willette’s Prism studio at Lowe Mill in Huntsville. Together they are creating a handbag titled “Sensational”. When asked about her design, designer Willette shared that this design “epitomizes the life and person of Pammie” with practical elements (six pockets!) so that business can get done and bling for that extra sparkle. Elise Walker, a 10th grader at Mae Jemison High School and a Girls Inc. alumna, will model the design at the Power of the Purse event. Elise, a young entrepreneur with her own fashion line, A Few Ideas Fashions, also leads the Fashion Club for Girls Inc. “Money raised during this event will support our STEM programs and provide scholarships for girls to attend our summer camp, as well as provide resources for us to add partner schools reaching girls who need our services the most,’’ said Stephanie Malone, Girls Inc. executive director. “It promises to be a fun evening offering something for everyone.’’ The list of Celebrity Purse-O-Nalities’ are: ■ Dr. Hayley DeGraaff, Advanced Life Clinic ■ Abbiegail Hugine, Alabama A&M University ■ Pammie Jimmar, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber ■ Julie Lockwood, Van Valkenburgh and Wilkinson Properties ■ Randy Roper, Randy Roper Interiors ■ Dr. Pat Sims, Drake State Community and Technical College Local Designers are:

Contact:

Kristy Drake

256-535-2036 kdrake@hsvchamber.org 18

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■ Willette Battle, Fit2BTied Couture ■ Jessica Burger, Silver Screen Couture ■ Holli Kai, Kai’s Closet ■ Denise Onwere, Denise Onwere Gallery ■ Ellena Smith, Alabama Fashion Alliance ■ Jeannie Vereen, Mill Village Wool ■ Contributed by Kiliaen Anderson, Girls Inc. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Digital Trends INFORMATION SHARED IN VIDEO FORM

New Video: Huntsville’s “It” Factor

What is the special “it” factor about the Rocket City? We look at this topic in a new video. We make these videos to help you, our members, in your recruiting efforts. We encourage you to share these as you market Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley. Check out all of our recent videos HERE or on our social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo and LinkedIn. ■

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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Movers & Shakers NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND RECOGNITION OF TALENT

Robert Dowling has joined the Auburn University Huntsville Research Center (AUHRC) as director of research development. In this role, he is responsible for identifying opportunities to apply Auburn’s research capabilities to solve challenging problems for government customers and industry partners in and beyond the Huntsville market. Dowling earned his degree in computer engineering from Auburn in 1986 then joined the Huntsville workforce to provide software and systems engineering support to Department of Defense and NASA programs. After 12 years in technical roles, he transitioned into business development for Northrop Grumman, SAIC and Dynetics. While at Dynetics, Dowling also managed the development, marketing and sales of commercial cyber risk management services for small to mid-size enterprises, developed partnerships with cyber insurance companies, created a channel sales program and became a frequent, nationwide speaker on the topic of Effective Cyber Risk Management. “Robert has a demonstrated background and skillset in business development for the defense, aerospace and commercial cyber sectors. He also has a deep connection to the Huntsville region and community,” said Rodney Robertson, executive director of the AUHRC. “I look forward to having Robert join us in telling the Auburn story in Huntsville, and sharing the university’s extensive research capacities to form partnerships and impact economic development in the region, state and beyond.” In addition to earning his degree at Auburn, Dowling was a member of Auburn’s 1983 SEC Championship football team. He and his wife, Lynn (AU ’86), live in Huntsville where they raised two more Auburn alumni, Diana (AU ’11) and Jared (AU ’15). ■

Dan Merenda has taken the helm as country manager for RUAG Space USA. In this role, Merenda has overall responsibility for deploying the operations strategy and performance of RUAG Space USA. In addition, he is responsible for the operational implementation of the division strategies on country level, including establishing and directing country operations functions and coordinating country organization towards contract execution. “I’m thrilled to be joining RUAG Space. We have an outstanding team to drive operational execution and exceptional customer satisfaction,” said Merenda. “We want to establish new relationships as we grow in the U.S. market, and I look forward to maintaining our strong heritage of quality customer partnerships. We have a lot of work to do and I am excited to be part of this incredible team!” Merenda joins RUAG Space USA from Northrop Grumman where he most recently served as the senior program manager for Space Launch System (SLS) Operations in Huntsville. In this role, he was the senior leader for the company onsite at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and led a cross functional team in support of company activities at MSFC. In addition, he was the site lead for yearly AS9100 audits – achieving zero findings in three years, and worked with Alabama’s Lieutenant 20

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Governor in driving workforce development for the Aerospace industry. Merenda serves as board chair of the National Space Club–Huntsville; is the vice chair of the Alabama Chapter of the Aerospace States Association; and leads several outreach activities in the community. He holds an Executive MBA from the University of Utah, and a BSE in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. ■

Chrystal Morgan is the director of State & Local Affairs for United Launch Alliance (ULA). In this role, she briefs key stakeholders on ULA’s current projects, future programs and strategic direction. She was recently named the vice chair of the Alabama chapter of the Aerospace States Association. Prior to joining ULA, Morgan served in management positions at a number of aerospace organizations including RUAG Space USA, MartinFederal, NASA, and Teledyne Brown Engineering. She also served as director of Research Communications at the University of Alabama Huntsville where she received several awards for her writing and marketing projects. Morgan is currently on the Board of Directors for the National Space Club Huntsville chapter, the FIRST Regional Robotics Competition and the Colorado Space and Business Roundtable. ■

Jon Levin has rejoined the Huntsville office of Maynard Cooper & Gale as a shareholder in its Government Contracts & Bid Protests, and Cybersecurity practices. “We are very pleased that Jon has decided to return to Maynard Cooper. We know his niche skillset will be missed at Aerojet Rocketdyne, but his knowledge and capabilities are a valuable asset to our Government Solutions practice,” said Andy Watson, Shareholder and Practice Group Leader of Maynard Cooper’s Government Solutions Group. “He is a talented lawyer and we are glad to have him back.” Levin has two decades of experience in government contracts law in private practice, the intelligence community, and in-house. Using his multifaceted experience, he helps clients achieve their business goals. Jon has extensive experience successfully representing clients at the GAO, Small Business Administration’s Office of Hearing and Appeals, Court of Federal Claims, Armed Services and Civilian Boards of Contract Appeals, and the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals. In his cybersecurity practice, Levin works closely with companies on regulations and policy. He monitors the constantly changing security landscape and advises clients on the latest cybersecurity threats and issues. Levin has also developed an expertise in international trade law and helps clients navigate the byzantine world of exports and imports. He routinely assists clients in export and import compliance and in classifying the goods and services they purchase and sell overseas. Levin received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

COMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO

Sean Kelly, Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking for Regions Bank, has been appointed to serve as market executive for the bank in Huntsville and surrounding communities. Regions made the announcement on February 10. Kelly is part of a team of Regions leaders who will leverage their local experience and market insights to expand Regions’ client base while also taking a strategic, proactive role in addressing needs affecting the broader area. Kelly will work with colleagues and community members in support of Regions’ community engagement initiatives, including volunteer service, nonprofit assistance, delivering financial education and more. Kelly will also continue serving in his Commercial Banking leadership role, guiding teams that deliver financial solutions for local businesses and major employers in North Alabama. “Regions Bank has a strong legacy of service in Huntsville, and our teams across North Alabama are committed to working with clients and helping them reach their financial goals while also taking a leadership role in community engagement and support,” said John Turner, Regions President and CEO. “Sean’s expertise, combined with the experience of our entire North Alabama leadership team, will help Regions further strengthen its focus on this thriving area. We are committed to the success of Huntsville and to consistently developing new ways to serve the Tennessee Valley.” Kelly succeeds Ron Poteat, a 36-year veteran of Regions, who has been elevated to serve as head of customer experience for the bank. “Our company’s presence in north Alabama dates back to 1835, when the First National Bank of Huntsville started as a local branch of the State Bank of Alabama. Today, we’re known as Regions, but our commitment to the Tennessee Valley remains strong,” Kelly said. “I am honored to lead the collaboration of our local teams as we help people and businesses succeed financially, while also serving as a valuable community partner.” Poteat’s Customer Experience leadership role will influence the quality of services customers receive not only in Huntsville, but also at Regions locations across the Southeast, Midwest and Texas. “It has been rewarding to lead our teams in north Alabama for the last 13 years,” Poteat said. “I’m proud of our growth in reaching more clients in this area while fulfilling our mission to make life better in the communities we serve. As Huntsville’s economy continues to thrive, Sean Kelly’s leadership and experience will ensure our bankers stay focused on meeting the needs of our customers and communities with excellence.” In addition to Kelly, Regions’ North Alabama leadership team includes Brandon Greve, Consumer Banking Executive responsible for Regions’ branch-banking operations across North Alabama, and Ken Griffin of Regions Private Wealth Management, who leads a team of investment professionals who deliver customized financial-management solutions for people throughout the Tennessee Valley. ■ continued on page 22 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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MOVERS & SHAKERS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Paul Bizier (PE, D.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE) was recently announced as the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Lifetime Achievement award winner. This award will be presented at the World Environmental & Water Resources Congress in May 2020. Bizier is currently a senior engineering manager at Barge Design Solutions, Inc. (Barge), which has 15 offices including one Huntsville location. Bizier is an EWRI founding member and current chair of their Congress Steering Committee. Founded in 1999, EWRI is an institute within the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Their mission is to “provide for the technical, educational, and professional needs of its members; promote the sustainable use, conversation, and protection of natural resources; and promote human well-being.” Bizier’s leadership experience extends beyond EWRI, with significant involvement in other professional organizations including ASCE and the Water Environment Federation. Bizier is a professional engineer with 33 years of experience. His career has focused on designing innovative water and wastewater systems. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We are fortunate to have Paul working for Barge as he is committed to serving others: clients, coworkers, and colleagues alike,” said Barge’s Director of Water and a Senior Vice President Jonathan Childs. “Paul’s passion for helping the environment and giving back to the industry through the important work of EWRI makes him a most deserving recipient of this award.” ■

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Ignite has announced two promotions: Chenoa Clark has been promoted to senior human resources (HR) generalist and takes on more responsibility and management within the Ignite HR department. She has been with Ignite since August 2019. Clark is currently completing her Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and is a member of the local and national chapters of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Carol Coffey has been promoted to vice president of proposals and marketing and is also taking on the duties of quality officer for Ignite. Coffey received CMMI Development and Services training from CSSA earlier this year. She has more than 30 years of experience in planning, developing and managing all areas of company proposal and marketing activities and has been a part of the Ignite team since August 2018. ■

Sarah Blackmon

has joined the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber as the administrative coordinator. A native Texan and Horned Frog, she is excited to now call north Alabama her home. With her passion for community service and engagement, and experience as a paralegal, she looks forward to providing support to the Chamber and its members here in Huntsville. ■

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

COMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO

Frank M. Caprio, managing partner of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings’ Huntsville office, has been nominated to serve on the NE Alabama/Huntsville Regional Council of Leadership Alabama. “We congratulate Frank on his new regional council role with Leadership Alabama in recognition of his many years of service to the state and local Huntsville community,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. Leadership Alabama is a network of established leaders across Alabama that also provides a structure for this network to seek mutual understanding of problems and priorities for Alabama’s future. Leadership Alabama encourages its members to act, individually and in concert, to move Alabama forward to help the state reach its full potential. Since its founding in 1990, more than 1,500 citizen leaders in Alabama have participated in the Leadership Alabama program. Caprio is a 2004 graduate of the Leadership Alabama Class XIV. Members are selected based on their leadership abilities, career accomplishments, volunteer activities, contributions to their communities, and commitment to help shape a better Alabama. Chair of Bradley’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, Caprio focuses his practice on intellectual property (IP) law and assists clients in the protection and use of their IP rights, and in the litigation of various technology-related disputes involving patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and computer issues. He also regularly speaks about IP issues to business owners and lawyer associations. Caprio has held leadership positions in local and state bar associations and has served as a board member for Huntsville Hospital, local YMCA, Biztec (business incubator), the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, Emergency Management Agency, and the Vanderbilt NROTC Advisory Board.

Kevin Fernandez, an agent for New York Life in Huntsville, has earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) for 2020. Achieving membership in MDRT is a distinguishing life insurance career milestone, attained only by those who have demonstrated superior professional knowledge, experience, sales excellence and client service. MDRT membership represents the top life insurance and financial service professionals worldwide. MDRT is an international, independent association of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals. In addition, this is the 64th consecutive year that New York Life has dominated the MDRT in the U.S. Fernandez has been a New York Life agent since 2011, and is associated with New York Life’s Huntsville General Office in Huntsville. He is the founder/CEO of Fernandez Financial Group LLC and current board member with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. He has been involved as a volunteer with several local nonprofit organizations for many years like Kids To Love and HEALS. Fernandez is happily married to his wife, Julie Yeager, a Huntsville native. Founded in 1927, Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®, is a global, independent association of more than 66,000 of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 500 companies in 72 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. For more info, visit www.mdrt.org. ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Save the Dates* for these 2020 events MARCH 10-11

Montgomery Trip MARCH 30

Women-Owned Business Celebration APRIL 8

ASmartPlace on the Road – UA APRIL 15

Best Places to Work® Awards APRIL 26-28

Washington DC Trip AUGUST 11

Small Business Awards Gala DECEMBER 10

Holiday Open House Register for our upcoming events and see all of our educational classes listed here:

cm.hsvchamber.org/events *dates subject to change mar 2020 initiatives

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Employers, Take Note: 2020 Census Coming Soon T

en minutes of your time could have a 10-year impact on the future of your quality of life. We’re talking about Census participation, and we urge you to be counted when you receive your Census form in the coming weeks. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire – online, by phone, or by mail. Over the next decade, the data collected will be used to make critical decisions about federal funding -- including money for roads, schools, and community services. The 2020 count also impacts local redistricting for City Council and School Board elected offices, in addition to Alabama’s number of seats in the U.S. Congress. Many groups are helping with Huntsville’s “Complete Count,” including representatives from government, nonprofits, and private industry. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is also supporting the effort through communications with employers. That’s where you come in. We ask you to share information about the Census with your employees. Some may not have participated in the Census 10 years ago, but it is crucial that everyone is counted this time. Please encourage your team members to look for their Census form in the mail and respond.

TIMELINE: March 12-20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail. April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. When you respond to the census, you’ll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020. April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count. May – July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted. December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law.

■ Claire Aiello

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

The Classroom ALL TYPES OF EDUCATION NEWS

Worlds of Work (WOW) coming to Calhoun’s Decatur campus March 19-20 Worlds of Work (WOW) is designed to expose youth to high-wage, high-demand careers available in north Alabama. More than 4,000 8th Grade students from Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County are invited to attend and explore career opportunities March 19-20 at Calhoun Community College in Decatur. Drake State Community & Technical College and Calhoun Community College are teaming up to host this exciting event, to show different “Worlds” to students, as they consider which career pathways to take to jobs in our region. Each “World” will provide hands-on demonstrations and interactive experiences to create career awareness for the students. You might be wondering what an interactive, hands-on exhibit looks like. Here are a few examples. For Agriculture World, students could climb into a commercial tractor or see livestock up close. For Healthcare World, students could perform chest compressions on a medical mannequin. For Public Service World, students could try on SWAT or firefighter gear. For Hospitality/Tourism World, students could participate in a culinary demo. These are just a few of the many great exhibits provided at WOW events by the companies and organizations of north Alabama!

Worlds of Work include: ■ World of Agriculture ■ World of Aerospace & Aviation ■ World of Communications & Media ■ World of Construction ■ World of Cyber Security & Information Technology ■ World of Energy & Utilities ■ World of Healthcare ■ World of Hospitality & Tourism ■ World of Manufacturing - Advanced & Automotive ■ World of Personal & Professional Services ■ World of Public Service ■ World of Transportation & Logistics Check out this VIDEO that shows what WOW is all about. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is proud to partner in this event! ■ Claire Aiello, Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs Girl Scouts is known for our cookies. Our iconic, delicious Girl Scout Cookies which have been a part of American culture for over 100 years. The same cookies that are only for sale for a few months out of the year. But, we don’t refer to this time of year as a “sale” – we call it the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Girl Scouts aren’t just making sales – they’re learning essential business lessons which will last a lifetime. From Daisies to Ambassadors (kindergarteners to high school seniors), Girl Scouts are setting goals, perfecting their marketing plan, creating a budget, and developing the people skills to make a pitch to friends, family members, and strangers alike. Essentially, girls as young as 5-year-olds are learning how to run their own business. It’s no surprise that, according to the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), 53 percent of female entrepreneurs and business owners are Girl Scout alums. According to a 2019 study from the GSRI, Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs, 92 percent of girls believe they are smart enough to become entrepreneurs. But, girls say they need support as they face challenges such as how to get started and fear of risk. To pave the way for more girls’ entrepreneurial success, they must have access to learning opportunities and role models. That’s where Girl Scouts comes in. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

On average, Girl Scouts were two times as likely to have done entrepreneurial activities than other girls. Through Girl Scout experiences (including the Girl Scout Cookie Program), girls develop the attitudes, skills, and behaviors they need to succeed in life. They develop the courage to fail and keep trying, the tools to create an independent future, and the power to do good in the world. In Madison County, Girl Scouts use their Girl Scout Cookie funds in amazing ways. Local troops have gone backpacking, canoeing, and camping in both tents and hammocks. continued on page 28 mar 2020 initiatives

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THE CLASSROOM, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

They have launched rockets on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 and earned new Girl Scout badges in topics like Coding for Good, Robotics, and Space Science. They have given back to their community by helping animals, veterans, foster children, and the elderly, and have taken action on issues they care about, such as increasing literacy in children and educating others about the cancer struggle. All of these adventures and community service projects are powered by Girl Scout Cookies. We know what you’re thinking: a cookie can do all of that? And the answer is: that’s exactly what a Girl Scout Cookie can do. So when you make your purchase of Girl Scout Cookies, ask Girl Scouts about their goals and know that you are helping to build the next generation of female business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Thin Mints, Samoas, and all your favorite Girl Scout Cookies (including brand new Lemon-Ups) will be available at booth sales across Madison County now through March 22. To find a booth near you, type in your zip code at girlscoutsnca.org. ■ Contributed by Allie Hulcher, Girls Scouts of North-Central Alabama

Huntsville High School teacher shares benefits of ASmartPlace curriculum Malcolm Parker had an interesting story for the crowd at this year’s State of the Schools Address on February 13. Parker is a 9th grade Biology teacher at Huntsville High School, and a week before the 2019-2020 school year started, he was asked to teach Career Preparedness.

“As nerve wracking as that is as a teacher, could you imagine stepping into the classroom with students who are ready to learn something new, and you’re still learning yourself?” Parker explained. Parker was introduced to ASmartPlace curriculum, which is available to all schools in north Alabama free of charge. It is available now for download on ASmartPlace. com. If you’d like to learn more about this curriculum or schedule a school visit with Kent Ballard, our workforce education specialist, please email kballard@hsvchamber. org or call 256-535-2025. ■

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The ultimate in convenience– modern workspace with onsite amenities.

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James Lomax main: 256.517.7023 mobile: 256.698.3101 james.lomax@copt.com

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Recent Events HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER & DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE

Alabama Legislative Update We kicked off the new year with a brand new breakfast event! On January 24, we held our first Alabama Legislative Update. For the first time in Alabama history, the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Alabama House of Representatives, and the Chair of the Senate Education Fund Appropriations Committee are all from north Alabama. We were honored to host Speaker Mac McCutcheon, Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, and Senator Arthur Orr at the breakfast, where they spoke on priority issues in our community for the current session, including education and prisons. They also spoke on the importance of moving Alabama forward. As always, we had fantastic support from our members, and we hope to continue being able to showcase our local legislators in these powerful leadership positions for many years to come. â&#x2013; Amberly Kimbrough Government & Public Affairs Events Coordinator

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RECENT EVENTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

State of the County Address On January 28, we were honored to host Chairman Dale Strong’s State of the County Address. Chairman Strong’s Address highlighted the growth happening throughout Madison County. “This has been a big year for our Commission,” he said, and and he’s right! New roads, new libraries, new schools, and new businesses are all in progress for our community. These were highlighted in a VIDEO the Chairman played for the crowd. The address was also full of celebration. Huntsville Hospital, the second largest employer in Huntsville/Madison County, has now been serving our community for 125 years. Dr. Deborah Barnhart, former CEO and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, was recognized for her “relentless and unfailing leadership” as she led the Center to be the number one tourist attraction in Alabama with record breaking numbers this past year. Commissioner Roger Jones was also honored for his many years serving District One. He has served since 2000 and is in his fourth and final term. As Chairman Strong said, “This is really an amazing time for Madison County.” Keep an eye out on all the amazing things headed our way! ■ Amberly Kimbrough Government & Public Affairs Events Coordinator

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Small Biz Synapse FOCUSING ON THE WORLD OF SMALL BUSINESS

Continuing the Celebration The Chamber’s Annual Small Business Awards aim to celebrate small businesses and individuals who have helped this city grow into the community we all love. Businesses from a variety of industries are given the opportunity to show how they are impacting Huntsville, and the work it took to get to where they are today. In the next several issues, we’ll check in with winners from our 2019 Small Business Awards. This year’s event is scheduled for August 11.

NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Greater Huntsville Humane Society (GHHS) Q&A WITH ANNE CALDWELL, CEO Q: Tell us who you are and what you do. A: The Greater Huntsville Humane Society is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill animal shelter. We celebrated our 50th year in 2019 and are so proud to be growing exponentially. Last year we completed over 1,000 adoptions for the first time ever! Our mission is simple: to save lives and advocate for the humane treatment of all animals. We strive every day to make our community a better place for animals through education, adoption, and advocacy. Q: Tell me a little bit about what services your business offers.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

A: GHHS is first, and foremost, an animal shelter. We offer rehoming services to pet owners who need to responsibly and safely find a new home for their pets. In addition to finding homes for animals in need, we also offer many services and assistance programs to our community members. For low-income pet owners, we operate one of Alabama’s only pet food banks called King’s Community Kitchen where we distribute pet food to families in need. Through our Pet Wellness Clinics with Rocket City Mobile Vet, we are able to offer deeply discounted veterinary care for services like vaccines, heartworm prevention, and general wellness exams. We also offer humane education programs like Paws for Reading and our Lucky Dog Humane Education program. We pride ourselves on not just rehoming animals, but truly doing everything we can to create a more humane world for animals in need. This can only be done through the programs mentioned above. More information about these programs can be found at ghhs.org. continued on page 32

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Q: What’s been your greatest challenge and your greatest success? A: GHHS’s greatest success is surpassing 1,000 adoptions in 2019. We, as a staff, were given the goal of increasing intake to complete 800 adoptions. Crushing that goal felt amazing! Those adoption numbers prove that we are doing something right. We have been faced with many challenges but no matter what comes our way, these numbers always help keep us centered and focused. I would say that the biggest challenge my entire team supports face is compassion fatigue. I try to protect my staff and volunteers from burnout because our line of work is tough. We see sick and hurting animals daily. We work long, crazy hours. We make sacrifices. To combat this, I focus on creating a supportive and positive culture at the shelter. Every day, I strive to build people up and empower the leaders at the shelter. GHHS is far from a “one man show” and without energetic, enthusiastic, and compassionate employees, Board members, volunteers, and community... we simply could not operate.

sometimes there will be disagreements between workers in the shelter, sometimes a nervous animal is bitey, etc. and of course the expectation is never to put the team in unsafe conditions but there always has to be enough hustle, heart, and humility to push forward and stay focused on the big picture… even if you’re being puked on! Q: What advice would you give someone trying to build their company brand? A: I believe that honesty and transparency are the single most important thing to a solid branding campaign. The public wants to really know a business or organization before deciding to support or become involved. Q: What was your reaction when you won a Small Business Award? A: I immediately thought: “Wow...I have big shoes to fill! No pressure, Anne!” I had only been in the position of CEO for about a month when the award was presented to us so, in truth, I had very little to do with the accomplishment. I have to give credit where credit is due and that means giving existing staff, leaders, employees, board members, volunteers, etc. kudos for working so hard in 2019! I was immediately filled with such gratitude and an enthusiasm for this organization.

PHOTO: RONALD POLLARD

Q: Has winning helped your business at all? If so, in what way?

Q: What sets your business apart from others in your field? A: I am continually impressed by the work that other shelters and rescues are doing in our area. I believe that while our services and community assistance programs set us apart from others, it truly takes a village to make North Alabama a more humane community. Without Felines & Canines transporting animals up north at the speed and volume they are, without Forgotten Felines focusing on cats, without A New Leash on Life pulling from high-kill shelters, without The ARK, without FOR, without MARF, without Furget Me Not, without all the incredible teams located here in North Alabama, we would not be making the strides that we are. We still have a long way to go but having this many enthusiastic and compassionate organizations makes a difference. Q: How would you describe your company culture and what’s your best advice for retaining employees? A: The culture that I strive to create and maintain at GHHS is one of hustle, heart, and humility. To work in rescue, you have to hustle. It’s busy. There is almost never a dull moment and I need my team to be on their toes, ready, willing, and able to jump in at a moment’s notice. To be involved at GHHS, you also have to have your heart in it. This line of work requires compassion, understanding, and a genuine love for animals. Lastly, I strive to create a culture that requires humility. Sometimes, the team is required to know when to put the animals before themselves. We often hear: “Oh, I could never do this job! How do you do it?” My answer is always the same: “It’s not about me. I can handle the extra mess, stress, etc. in my own life if it makes things better for them.” When lives are on the line, there is no time for pride or drama. My team knows that sometimes an emergency call will happen in the middle of the night, 32

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A: Absolutely! Not only did we receive some incredible exposure through the award, I think it also boosted the morale around here. Again, this line of work is tough and stressful and sometimes can feel thankless... getting a pat on the back helps tremendously! Q: What is one piece of practical advice for someone who wants to start their own business? A: Find your passion and run with it. If you truly have the passion to make a change or start something new, there’s not much that can stand in your way.

NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) Q&A WITH MICHELLE GILLIAM JORDAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Q: Tell us who you are and what you do. A: I’m Michelle Gilliam Jordan, and I am the Executive Director at the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG). I get to work with Elected Officials and community partners across our five-county region on Economic Development, Planning and Aging projects and programs. Q: Tell me a little bit about what services your business offers A: TARCOG offers Economic Development and Planning services to our Municipal/ County members throughout our five-county region – DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall Counties. We work with elected officials representing 46 municipalities and our five counties on workforce development, transportation issues, and programming focused on meeting community goals. We also serve as the Area Agency on Aging – coordinating services to 700+ elderly residents living independently in their homes, and fund the nutrition programs at 35 Senior Centers throughout the A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Region along with delivering meals to thousands of elderly residents every day through the Meals on Wheels program. We also offer free legal services to Seniors throughout our Region – our in-house attorney meets clients in each county every week, and prepares Will, Power of Attorney documents, etc – we served over 800 clients in 2018. Q: What’s been your greatest challenge and your greatest success? A: Our greatest challenge has been to continue to serve the growing needs of our municipal and county members. Our Region has had tremendous growth, and we want to continue to serve all 680,000 residents to the best of our ability. Our greatest success is implementing our Santa for Seniors program every year! We were able to deliver “Christmas” for over 500 Seniors throughout the region in 2019 with our generous partners! Q: What sets your business apart from others in your field? A: As a governmental nonprofit, we are able to help a variety of people in many different ways. Q: How would you describe your company culture and what’s your best advice for retaining employees? A: We are definitely a family at TARCOG. We are exploring new ways to attract and retain employees to our growing agency. Q: What advice would you give someone trying to build their company brand? A: Define your goal/mission and stick to what you do best! Q: What was your reaction when you won a Small Business Award?

PHOTO: RONALD POLLARD

A: We are still floating on Cloud 9! Our award is proudly displayed in our lobby, and we are still getting congratulations messages from our partners and friends! We could not believe that we were selected – but all of us are so grateful for this recognition.

Pictured left is Rene Breland, Director of Aging Programs, TARCOG

Q: Has winning helped your business at all? If so, in what way? A: Yes it has! Many of our partners have shared the news about our selection, and we believe that it has elevated our presence throughout our industry! Q: What is one piece of practical advice for someone who wants to start their own business? A: Even though I did not start this business, nor have I ever started one, I would recommend that a budding entrepreneur start a business focused on something they love doing! ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

STAF F Executive Staff

Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Chambliss, executive assistant

Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Katelyn Sides Baker, workforce recruitment director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director John Roberts, economic development project director Ken Smith, research & information services director Julia Kaye, marketing & events coordinator

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Amberly Kimbrough, events coordinator

Marketing & Communications

Meet Your Marketing Team. Red Sage Communications, Inc. offers full-service marketing and website support. We can serve as your entire marketing department or provide support to your in-house team! 50+ years combined communications & marketing experience 30+ years security-focused web programming expertise Award-winning, creative graphic design & videography Google Certifications in digital ads & data analysis

Call (256) 213-1503

for your FREE consultation.

Claire Aiello, vice president Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer

Investor Relations Amber Greenwood, vice president Kristy Drake, HREGI & ChamberON director Donna McCrary, membership retention manager Richard Bigoney, membership account executive Tina Blankenship, 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 Sarah Blackmon, administrative coordinator Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Chamber Foundation Georgina Chapman, workforce development director Kent Ballard, Jr., workforce education specialist

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

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Associated Organizations

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