The Business View - February 2012

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

FEBRUARY 2012

the

VIEW

Looking

Forward to the Next 175 Years

$72 Million, 14-Mile

Bridge Opens

Chamber Wraps Up

Annual Report

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Mobile, AL Permit #346

the

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

VIEW

February 2012

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News You Can Use – Positive updates for local and state business

The Business View spent the past past year reflecting on 175 years of Mobile Chamber history. Win Hallett looks to the future, and past, present and future Chamber chairs provide their perspectives on what’s to come.

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6-7

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Small Business of the Month:

Paris Love Productivity Institution

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CEO Profile: Bonnie Tully, Evonik Degussa

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Annual Report: A special section devoted to 2011, focusing on the accomplishments of each of the Chamber’s departments as they work closely with area businesses.

Investor Focus: AT&T Business Spotlight: La Moda’s Hair Salon Business Spotlight: Cherokee Scrubs4All

Cover

The Mobile Area Chamber believes no history is complete without an emphasis on improving our future. Pictured on the cover are the Chamber’s past, present and future leaders. From left to right they are: Robbie Baker, immediate past chair; Michael Pierce, chair; and Mike Saxon, chair-elect. Read more about the future of the Chamber on pages 6-7. Cover photo by Jeff Tesney.

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Ambassadors of the Month: Lydia Farmer and Nick Morisani

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Economic Indicators

Chamber welcomes new staff

member Carolyn Hunt

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Member News

Anniversaries New Members

The Mobile Area Chamber was awarded a five-star rating by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the highest designation given.

Of the 6,936 chambers in the U.S., only 301 are accredited, and of those only 43 have achieved five-star distinction.

The Mobile Area Chamber has been accredited by the U.S. Chamber since the designation’s inception more than 40 years ago.

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Calendar

FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

the business VIEW is published monthly, except for the combined issue of December/January, by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 451 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2012 Publisher.....................................Winthrop M. Hallett III Executive Editor................................Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor....................................... Jennifer Jenkins Copy Editor............................................Michelle Matthews

Additional Writers and Editors Ashley Horn, Lara Menke, Susan Rak-Blanchard, Carolyn Wilson

Printing Services.. . . . . . . . . . . Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wise Design Inc. Advertising Account Executive.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . René Eiland 431-8635 reiland@mobilechamber.com

New Addition Gives TK Stainless ‘A Unique Selling Point’ The latest phase of operations at ThyssenKrupp Stainless marks another first for the Mobile County facility. The manufacturer is the only one in the United States or the NAFTA region to offer 72-inch coils, a special size used in making large tanks for the chemical, oil and gas industries,

as well as for milk tanks. The extra-wide coils and sheets offer processing and welding advantages for customers.

“This addition to our product portfolio gives us a unique selling point in the U.S.A. and enables us to move into a new market with great potential,” explains Dr. Ulrich

Albrecht-Frueh, chief executive officer of ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, a company of the Inoxum group. Construction work on the 1 million-ton-per-year-capacity melt shop is continuing to proceed on schedule. ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA currently employs more than 550 people.

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The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

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Quality Filters

Expands Manufacturing Plant

Robertsdale-based Quality Filters Inc. is expanding its manufacturing plant by 20,000 square feet to accommodate additional manufacturing, warehouse and fulfillment space. The company manufactures products for the HVAC industry, including high-quality pleated and grille air filters, inserts, rings and accessories, as well as gas phase and paint filtration products.

Its Baldwin County site already includes 10,000- and 35,000-square-foot buildings,, both currently undergoing renovations and upgrades as part of the construction project.

The design and construction of the new facility is being handled by Mobile-based construction service providers including

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Cowles, Murphy, Glover & Associates, Bowden Architecture and Termac Construction Inc. Company officials expect the project to be completed during the first quarter of this year. The expansion represents a capital investment of $1.5 million, which includes the building and equipment.

Quality Filters currently employs 100 people. Jim Gates, the company’s brand manager, expects the workforce to at least double over the next five years.

“We’re experiencing growth in the commercial and industrial filtration markets,” said Gates. “Our customer service, shorter lead times and consistency of pricing make us competitive.”

FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

Drawbridge Finally Complete at 14-Mile Bridge

“G

reat things are done by a series of small things brought together,” said the impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh.

Though the artist was referring to his work, the same concept applies to the picturesque skyline created with the newly-renovated 14-Mile Bridge, owned by CSX and named for its location north of Mobile.

Twelve years after the project was approved – it took 10 years for the Alabama Legislature to raise the funds – a new $72 million span was replaced with a vertical lift drawbridge. The move more than doubles the previous horizontal clearance of 138 feet to 300 feet, according to Larry Merrihew, president of the Mobile-based WarriorTombigbee Waterway Association.

Built in 1927, the bridge’s former center span swung open to let barges pass. But with the size of today’s barges, explained Merrihew, there was barely 2½ feet on either side.

“The wind and tide in the delta can shift, so instead of daring the pass, barges were stopping and unloading shipments, increasing time and costs,” he said.

With the growth of the steel industry along the rivers and its need for raw materials and finished product shipped through the Port of Mobile, the outdated bridge became even more of an issue.

According to a 1998 study, 13,000 barges carrying 19 million tons passed through the bridge annually.

ThyssenKrupp Steel added another 3 million tons annually and, Merrihew said, Alabama Power’s Barry Steam plant added another 3 to 5 million tons.

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The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

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Looking Ahead to the Next 175

Chamber Leaders Look Forward

O

By Win Hallett, President, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

ver the last 14 issues of The Business View, we’ve taken a look at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s 175 years. No modern-day look at history is complete without challenging leaders to look to the future.

Win Hallett, president of the Mobile Area Chamber and publisher of The Business View, offers his thoughts on Mobile’s future.

On the following page past, present and future Chamber chairs were asked their thoughts about Mobile and the Chamber’s future, including where the business organization should focus its efforts over the next decade, and how to remain relevant in the next 175 years.

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M

ost positive progress has a catalyst: a moment, an idea, an inspiration that starts a conversation, raises hope or widens a vision toward a goal.

Once a seed is planted, or a future is imagined, one person, or a group of people, must step forward to embrace the opportunity and guide it to fruition. In communities across the country, those people often rose from the business community and pooled their resources into organizations we know today as chambers of commerce.

Throughout 2011, we took an in-depth look at that process in our town. Over the past 175 years, Mobile has grown in population, in area and in influence.

Myriad individuals and groups have contributed to Mobile’s evolution over the years, people from every walk of life – public and private, religious, secular, academic, business and industry.

This is the story of the efforts of the business community, first organized in 1836, to positively impact their community. On this foundation, we have built 175 years of progress and success.

What will we build in the coming 175 years?

What opportunities will we pursue, or choose to forego? Will our choices and actions continue to build a more vibrant region? Will we be worthy of the legacy that has been left to us?

I would love to borrow Dr. Emmett Brown’s Delorean, à la “Back to the Future,” but the truth is no one can answer these questions for sure. Our history, however, gives us some insight.

Mobile is situated at the head of Mobile Bay and drains four states, culminating in the confluence of

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2012 2012 || The The Business Business View View

the Alabama River and the Mobile River along with the Tensaw, making up the fourth largest watershed in the United States.

This factor will loom large in our future inventory of dramatic resources and will continue to contribute to our quality of life.

As the population continues to grow throughout the world, there will be an ever-increasing premium on water to sustain both life and commerce. The Port of Mobile will continue to play a significant role in our economic future.

Our area will become dramatically more cosmopolitan as countries from around the globe make direct investment here. Why here?

Our workforce has an outstanding work ethic that translates into great productivity. Our climate and quality of life are most desirable, and because the future workforce will, for the most part, be able to live and work wherever they choose, we will experience significant growth.

The key to maintaining our quality of life will be determined by the choices we make about how that growth unfolds. Those decisions must be analyzed with future generations in mind to ensure that our economy grows in a manner that contributes to livability and attractive surroundings. Sustainability will continue to increase in significance and will be the linchpin of most political and commercial discussions and decisions.

It is vitally important that we continue to work together, as in the past, to be a preeminent city/region now and throughout future generations.

Joel Kotkin notes in his book, The City, that great cities, states, regions, countries and civilizations ebb and wane throughout history. If we are to stand the test of time, we must remain focused on what we wish to become, remain highly competitive, be disciplined and sacrifice to achieve the greatness we deserve.

Robbie Baker Board Chair 2011 I believe the Mobile Area Chamber will have to stay focused on workforce development to ensure all components of that system, i.e. K-12 and higher education, are constantly updating the job skills and competencies needed by the employers of the 21st century.

Secondly, we must continue to advocate for fair and equitable pro-business policy-making at the local, state and federal levels of government.

The ability to convene the decision makers, i.e. business owners, state and local elected officials, policymakers, etc., and then build consensus has been the driving force of the Chamber and will keep the Chamber relevant for the next 175 years.

Joe Bullard Board Chair 1990 From my perspective, there are three areas of focus for the Chamber over the next 10 years.

First, work closely with the Coastal Alabama Leadership Council to be a force of positive change. Second, be the business community’s advocate with our representatives at the state and federal levels as increasing governmental involvement and regulations are undermining the integrity of the free enterprise system. And third, continue the strong economic development effort that was started in the late 1980s.

Understanding the heartbeat of the business community and maintaining its independence from any governmental or quasi-governmental agency will keep the Chamber relevant.

Dianne Irby Board Chair 2000 The Chamber has been at the forefront of many important changes in the past. Healthy and thriving businesses come from healthy and thriving communities.

Over the next few years, our Chamber has the opportunity to foster and nurture the enhanced sense of community that was created during the dark days of the oil spill by leading efforts to forge a regional alliance such as we saw in Pittsburgh on a recent leadership trip. A regional alliance could advocate for regional solutions to pivotal issues such as economic development, mobility, workforce development, education, and quality of life and place. Our business community and citizenry need and expect that kind of leadership.

Staying relevant for any organization requires flexibility, adaptability and forward-thinking leadership to adjust as the times change. To remain relevant, the Chamber must lead efforts to identify, enhance or create the attributes and characteristics of communities that attract good employers and corporate citizens. The Chamber must also champion efforts to continuously improve the building blocks that are so important to that mission

– education, workforce development and cooperation on every front for regional economic development. That means improving our graduation rates to maintain productive, skilled and educated workers in the region, and nurturing industries that provide career choices so our best and brightest have the career opportunities that allow them to remain in our region and contribute to its future prosperity.

Frank McRight Board Chair 1989 In the coming years, we will learn whether our country is capable of making sensible decisions regarding the allocation of limited resources in a zero-sum environment. The difficulty of that task would be daunting under any circumstances, but is made much moreso by widespread denial and the absence of honest debate.

What seems clear at this stage is that selfish and constituent-driven politics has transformed the representative government that our founding fathers gave us into something more than what was intended. And, in becoming something more, it has become something less.

What is essential to restoring sanity to the process is for organizations such as the Chamber to not only remain focused on the big picture, but to help inform and shape public opinion in support of rational public decision-making. Without that effort, we can expect to continue the drift into a morass of selfishness that could cost us not only our future, but also our freedom.

Michael Pierce Board Chair 2012 The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce must continue to focus on business retention and expansion and economic expansion via national and international company recruitment. Sustaining these efforts will ultimately produce new capital investment, greater employment opportunities and increased revenue for the city, county and the Mobile County Public School System.

Accordingly, the Chamber’s economic development efforts will have a positive impact on the citizens’ quality of life.

The Chamber will remain relevant for the next 175 years by being agile enough to provide client-specific solutions in an increasingly complex economic development environment. The ability to provide client-specific solutions for domestic and international clients will make the Chamber an invaluable economic development entity within the region.

Andrew Saunders Board Chair 1997

In good times and bad, our Chamber has always been an advocate for our community’s best interests as well as for the interests of commerce. In the next 10 years, capitalizing on our strength and maturity, we should seek to provide bold leadership which consciously places community first – leadership that displays hope, tolerance, and compromise in its programs and practices.

Commerce can prosper long-term only in a community that is solidly healthy, livable and progressive. First things first.

For 165 years after these next 10, we may look back at this coming decade of challenge and be guided by its lessons.

Mike Saxon Board Chair-elect 2013 The Chamber will need to continue to work closely with all stakeholders in the region to help insure that Mobile and southwest Alabama continues to have a strong pro-business and pro-smart industrial development mindset.

Wow, 175 years is a long time. To be relevant the Chamber must be even more flexible and adaptable to what will certainly be ever-changing economic and social change.

Bill Seifert Board Chair 2008 Over the next 10 years, the Chamber must continue its focus on economic growth, infrastructure improvements, effective government relations and public education advancement. Particular emphasis also needs to be placed on crime prevention, airline service, workforce development and sound environmental policies.

The successful partnerships that the Chamber has developed with both prospective new companies and existing businesses have to continue in order to maximize opportunities. The Chamber must be a leader in recognizing and developing possibilities in the Mobile area and ensuring positive awareness to the community of such potential. And the accomplishments that have been made in the area need to be made known in order to make sure that the community is a believer in itself.

To keep the Chamber relevant in the next 175 years, it will have to be successful in its basic mission: serving as the progressive business advocate. As in the past, it will have to adapt to changes that affect the business environment and, importantly, provide value to the membership. Effective, respected leadership in the chamber staff as well as in the volunteer positions will be essential.

As a major factor in Mobile for 175 years, our Chamber surely has experienced times of great promise, excitement and success as we have enjoyed for most of the last 25 years. Surely, too, there have been periods of deep unease, as now – times during which our institutions seem to wobble, and worry over our future course is an overarching concern.

The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

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FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

small business

of the month

Pictured in a client’s office, Paris Love, founder and owner of Paris Love Productivity Institution says she’s a born natural for organization.

In 2012, she changed the name of her business, formerly Organize with Love, to reflect her new life-coaching and public-speaking services.

Paris Love: A Friend,

Organizer and Therapist

Go to mobilechamber.com/award.asp to submit a Small Business of the Month nomination, or contact Danette Richards at 431-8652 or drichards@mobilechamber.com.

Who wouldn’t want to be more organized? After all, organizing your life can save time and money, make you more productive and eliminate stress.

Paris Love, the founder of Paris Love Productivity Institution (formerly Organize with Love) had been organizing friends’ and relatives’ homes for 25 years before she realized her hobby could become a lifelong career.

Love, a productivity and organizing consultant, established her company in Atlanta before her husband’s career brought her to the area four years ago.

She works with clients in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois, as well as Alabama and Tennessee. Paris Love Productivity Institution – which recently changed its name to reflect Love’s life-coaching and public speaking services ­– is the Chamber’s Small Business of the Month.

Love holds a master’s degree in human resource management and business administration. She has two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and fashion design. Currently, she is working on her doctorate in industrial organizational psychology. She is also an ex-Army sergeant who spent eight years with the Psychological Battalion Division, and she has taught classes at the University of Phoenix and Huntingdon College.

Love says she approaches all customers’ cases in the same manner, no matter their age. Initially she consults with the client over the phone, then arranges a time to visit the location that needs organizing. An average time for a session is three to four hours but can last as long as five days. She organizes projects as small as a closet and as large as an entire house.

Her company’s clientele is 70 percent residential and 30 percent

commercial. Many of her friends and relatives have turned into her clients and are instrumental in referring new clients. As the company grows, Love hopes to reverse the percentages.

A solo entrepreneur, Love has a contract team of seven that includes an image consultant and a handyman.

The essential tools of her trade include a label maker, twist ties, manila folders, hanging files folders and magazines or catalogs to give clients an idea of how their space could look.

A strong believer in customer service, Love says she will work nights and weekends to accommodate a customer’s needs. “I help clients be more efficient so they don’t need to look for stuff,” she says.

Recently, she was one of three featured organizing professionals on A&E’s “Hoarders,” helping a family in crisis. “I love what I do,” she said.

“I get to be a friend, an organizer and a therapist all in the same day.”

The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

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10 FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

CEO profile

Bonnie Tully

Company: Evonik Degussa Corp.

Title: Vice president and site manager for the Mobile facility Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas Education: Tully earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

First job: Tully worked as a project engineer for Rohm and Haas Inc.’s facility in Deer Park, Texas. She managed design, engineering and construction for a wide variety of plant projects including civil, structural, piping, instrumental, electrical, architectural and controls.

Previous experience: Plant manager, Evonik RohMax Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Singapore Accomplishments: Tully says she managed a staff of 54-plus contract staff and oversaw all aspects of a plant start-up, including hiring and training all personnel, fulfilling all statutory/regulatory requirements, commissioning all equipment and meeting ambitious business targets such as producing commercial product in 60 days.

What changes can we expect at Evonik? “We’re positioning the Mobile site for future growth. The facility will continue to play an important role in Evonik’s North American operations. Mobile is Evonik’s largest multi-user site in North America, where five of Evonik’s six business units have operations. We hope to build on that synergy. Also, we are spending millions of dollars each year to improve our infrastructure so that the Mobile site is competitive and attractive for new investment.”

Secret to success: Teamwork, says Tully.

“You can’t do any of this without good people. You have to have a good staff to assist you – and we do in Mobile thanks to my predecessor, Tom Bates.”

Brief company description: Evonik Degussa, a German-based chemical company, employs more than 34,000 people worldwide.

Most common household items such as toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel include Evonikmanufactured ingredients. Evonik also plays a large role in the green economy. For instance, “green” automobile tires contain Evonik’s silica and silane components.

The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

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12 FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

MOBILE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2011 ANNUAL REPORT From the Chairman What an honor it has been to represent the business interests of Mobile during such a significant time in the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s history – 175 years. I am proud of the work this organization accomplished in 2011 and, like Michael Pierce who will succeed me this year as chairman of the board would agree, we have a lot left to do.

Looking back over the last year, and reflecting on my remarks to attendees of the Chamber’s annual meeting in January, I am impressed with the work we’ve completed in a short time. I remember saying during that meeting, “…what your Chamber has an ability to do is uncanny. What we represent is a fabric that weaves between political and business interests to improve the quality of life for all residents in this region.”

I’ve seen this in action firsthand this year, and it’s impressive. Just a few successes of the goals I outlined at the beginning of the year include: • Remaining aggressive in our quest

for new companies in Mobile – In 2011 the Chamber announced

four new companies and seven

expansion projects for Mobile County.

• Solving common business complaints

our members have with the city of

Mobile, Mobile County and the state

with everyone working toward a

solution in the areas of codes and

permitting – The Chamber has

been working for several years with

commercial developers and the city of

Mobile to streamline the permitting

process. This year an online permit

application process was launched.

• Aggressively recruiting federal programs designed to support small business owners to link with our current Chamber services – In 2011, a federal program, Commerce Connect, was recruited to Mobile to work directly with small business owners, and the contract to support the MBDA - Mobile was extended.

• Securing a YES vote for public

education on a property tax renewal

vote – More than 85 percent of Mobile

County voters agreed continued support

for children was important.

In the end, the accomplishments of the Mobile Area Chamber, the support we provide, the jobs we announce and the policies we are working to change only happen because of the continued support you, our members, provide.

As Mobile and the Chamber turn attention toward the next 175 years, I will remain a champion for the work of this organization, and its talented and dedicated volunteers and staff. It has been a privilege that I will not soon forget.

Best Wishes, G. Robert Baker Jr. Hancock Bank/Whitney Bank and 2011 Chairman of the Board of Directors Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT As the lead economic developer for Mobile and Washington counties, the Mobile Area Chamber was involved with 11 new company locations and expansions. Representing industries from aerospace to manufacturing and fabrication to steel to oil and gas to shipbuilding, announcements came from AeroStar, Aker Subsea, Austal USA, Gulf Coast Asphalt, Horizon Ship Building, Huntsman, Krispy Mixes, Serimax North America, Steel Warehouse, Tate & Lyle and Vail Rubber.

Together the four new projects and seven expansions at local existing companies are valued at $130.6 billion and are expected to create more than 600 jobs.

Also of significance, two of the department’s initiatives were recognized in 2011. The business and retention program received the Business Retention and Expansion International Award, the highest award given, to a community with populations greater than 50,000, and honored the creation of Offshore Alabama.com the oil and gas taskforce.

And the international trade division received the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ inaugural Going International Award for creating export opportunities for local businesses.

Disappointed but Not Deterred In March, Mobilians watched in disappointment as the U.S. Department of Defense awarded the aerial refueling tanker contract to Boeing, not EADS. While the news captured headlines around the world, Team Mobile had worked since 2004 to bring this contract home.

Team Mobile Makes Headway in Paris Interest in the Mobile area piqued by the EADS project was stron

Pictured here attending an Aerospace Alliance reception are from left to right, Jason Dean, Aerospace Alliance; Robbie Baker, Mobile Area Chamber and Hancock Bank/Whitney Bank; Sam Adcock, EADS North America; and Claudia Zimmermann, Mobile Area Chamber.

Interest in the Mobile area, piqued by the EADS project, was stronger than ever at the Paris Air Show in June 2011. The Chamber’s economic development team partnered with Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor representatives and attended more than 50 prescheduled meetings throughout the show. The city of Mobile, Mobile County, Mobile Airport Authority, Alabama State Port Authority and the Chamber were the key local partners.

Chamber Joins Aerospace Alliance Chamber President Win Hallett joined The Aerospace Alliance, a group of representatives from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi working to establish the Southeast as a world-class aerospace corridor, advocating for policies and programs, and working on specific aerospace economic development projects.

Post-Panamax Service Increases at Port The largest steel shipment to date at the Port of Mobile was offloaded through the Pinto Island Steel Terminal in June, thanks to harbor and terminal investments. A total of 98,694 short tons or 4,243 individual carbon steel slabs were offloaded from the M/V BRITANNIA G, representing the first PostPanamax vessel (ships that will be able to travel through the Panama Canal once the expansion is complete in 2012) to call on Mobile’s Port. After the steel was offloaded, the ship shifted to McDuffie Terminal to load one of the largest export coal shipments to date.

AeroStar Prepares for Takeoff AeroStar, an aircraft repair facility located at Brookley Aeroplex, opened shop in 2011. The FAAcertified company specializes in repair and overhaul of hydraulic and pneumatic components for commercial, commuter and military aircraft. The company operates out of an 8,000-square-foot building, and initial startup costs were nearly $800,000 for renovations, equipment and machinery.

The city of Jackson joined forces with the Washington County Economic Development Initiative (WCEDI) to enhance efforts in recruiting jobs to the area.

Pictured above are Chatom Mayor Harold Crouch and WCEDI chairman (left) and Jackson Mayor Richard Long (right).

City of Jackson Joins Partnership With the ThyssenKrupp plant open in north Mobile County, Washington County’s elected officials forged a regional partnership with its neighbors to the north. The city of Jackson, located in Clarke County, in early 2011 joined the Washington County Economic Development Initiative, a program of the Chamber’s economic development department.

According to Jackson Mayor Richard Long, the goal of joining the initiative is to take full advantage of the growing economic prospects.

A ‘Sweet’ Return An increase in the demand for sucralose, the key sweetening ingredient in Splenda, marketed by McNeil Nutritionals, prompted company officials to announce in early 2011 it would reopen its Washington County plant, investing an additional $20-30 million and hiring 100 employees. The Tate & Lyle plant expects to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2012.

The newest business at Brookley Aeroplex is AeroStar. Pictured here is Greg Guzman (right), general manager and executive vice president of marketing and sales, with two other team members Pat Kicheler (left) and Frank Latcheske (center).

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Vail Grows into Mobile Vail Rubber Works announced it had secured work with ThyssenKrupp in 2010, and in 2011 the company announced it would construct a roll processing facility in north Mobile County with an initial capital investment of $2.07 million. The first phase includes a 14,800-square-foot-facility located on eight acres in Axis, and it is expected to employ five to seven workers with average annual wages of more than $60,000.

Pictured at the SSAB groundbreaking were: Terry Russo, SSAB Alabama; Merceria Ludgood, Mobile County Commission; David Britten, SSAB Americas; Linda Swann, Alabama Development Office; Troy Wayman, Mobile Area Chamber; and Chuck Schmitt, SSAB Americas.

SSAB Breaks Ground on $300 Million Expansion SSAB Americas broke ground on a $300 million expansion project to maintain the steelmaker’s position as a global leader in the supply of high-strength steel.

Construction on the 300,000-square-foot facility progressed throughout 2011, and is expected to be complete in 2012. Once complete, SSAB will produce more than 200,000 metric tons of steel annually. The Mobile steel mill produces nearly 200 tons of liquid steel an hour and is capable of converting finished steel plates ready to be shipped to a customer in less than five hours.

Advocating for Alabama’s Offshore Leases Steve Russell, director of business retention and expansion for the Chamber, presented at a hearing for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement held in Mobile. Russell, speaking on behalf of the Chamber and OffshoreAlabama.com, advocated for the continuation of the process of offshore leasing in the Gulf of Mexico to boost economic growth and to continue developing America’s natural energy resources.

2011 Business Retention and Expansion Committee Meets Goals The Chamber’s business retention and expansion (BRE) committee, chaired by Mike Lee with Page & Jones, set its 2011 goals to focus on the hospitality and tourism industry and the logistics and warehousing sectors. Meetings throughout the year included speakers on export logistics and the role of the freight forwarder in the export process; successful exporters; overcoming export concerns such as financing export transactions; mechanisms for getting paid and credit insurance; and services (some free) available to assist with transitioning into foreign markets, including counseling, training and assistance with export financing. More than 50 people are members of this committee.

Jackson Gets ‘SET’ for Growth SET Enterprises Inc. (SET), a steel processing service provider with operations in the Midwest, announced in April its plans to open a plant in Jackson. The company is investing $12 million and creating 40 jobs, including building a 65,000 square-foot state-of-the-art steel processing and service center. It will process more than 360,000 tons of materials to support steel production at the ThyssenKrupp Steel USA plant, and steel manufacturers and producers in the Southeast.

BRE Program Wins International Award The Mobile Area Chamber’s BRE committee won the Business and Retention Expansion International (BREI) Award for Excellence for a ‘Single Community with a Population over 50,000’ at the BREI 2011 Annual Meeting. The award was given for the creation of the Oil and Gas Task Force OffshoreAlabama.com and its impact on the area’s economic development.

Lenzing Fibers Grows in Mobile In January, Lenzing Fibers announced a $30 million expansion for its Mobile County facility in Axis.

Company officials said the move was driven by rising cotton prices, available cotton and the demand for manmade cellulosic fibers. All of these combined boost the local production of Lyocell (marketed as Tencel) by 20,000 tons annually, a 70 percent increase.

The expansion is set to come online in early 2012, and the company expects to hire nearly 100 local contractors and add 63 permanent positions.

Austal’s Ship Keeps Coming In It’s been a banner year for shipbuilder Austal. As 2010 closed, the company was awarded a $3.8 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build Littoral Combat Ships, and they have not slowed down during 2011.

Among the company’s 2011 accomplishments were: • The Secretary of the U.S. Navy was in

Mobile in March to name two LCS ships; • JHSV SPEARHEAD was christened

in September; • JHSV 2 moved to the final assembly bay, while fabrication on JHSV 3 began in October; • Construction of an assembly bay and phase II

of the Modular Manufacturing Facility, set to

double existing manufacturing floor space, is underway; • A three-story office complex to house 450

employees began construction; and • The company’s employment now stands at 2,400.

Austal hosted the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus (fourth from left) this spring. Mabus was joined by Rep. Jo Bonner, Austal President & CEO Joe Rella, Mayor Sam Jones and Sen. Jeff Sessions. While here, Mabus announced the names of the next two Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) of the recently awarded 10-ship contract to Austal. The ships will be named the USS JACKSON and USS MONTGOMERY. The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Gulf Coast Technology Council Awards Scholarships to Local Tech Students Networking, professional development and raising awareness of the technology sector in Mobile are goals of the Gulf Coast Technology Council (GCTC), a program of the Chamber. Through 2011, the council met bi-monthly for lunch meetings featuring speakers on timely topics of interest.

In addition to bringing business people together for networking, the GCTC awarded $7,000 in scholarships to local students with the goal of growing a highly skilled workforce in the Mobile area and keeping local talent in Mobile after graduation.

Scholarship sponsors are Logical Computer Systems, Orion Engineering, Pilot Catastrophe, Prism Systems, Remington College and Star Services.

Recipients of the 2011 scholarships were: Marlena Slaughter, USA; Rosanna Lindsey, ITT Technical Institute; Jonas Simmons, USA; Kathryn Joy Allred, University of Mobile; and Jacob Taylor, Spring Hill College.

Aker Subsea Expands Again Aker Subsea, a manufacturer of umbilicals for the oil and gas industry, announced a $5.3 million expansion in 2011. Company officials came to the Industrial Development Authority in May with plans to build an additional carousel to hold completed umbilicals. The company said increasing capacity to hold the completed umbilicals was necessary to avoid splitting a contract between the Aker locations in the U.S. and Norway.

Allies Study Mobile The Chamber’s economic development department partnered with the Mobile Airport Authority, Alabama State Port Authority and the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance to host 13 state allies for a familiarization tour in April. The group toured the Port of Alabama, Brookley Aeroplex, Mobile Regional Airport and several industrial sites in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The group included representatives from private industry and state government.

Supporting USA During 2011, the Chamber’s economic development team supported the University of South Alabama Real Estate Division, hosting two well-attended events. The Commercial Real Estate Summit in March was attended by more than 225 people and focused the

local and national commercial real estate markets.

In September, the Coastal Economy Outlook attended by more than 134 people and covered the local and national economy.

New MAWSS Central Location Opened In 2011, Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) invested $2.7 million to renovate a 42,000-square-foot facility that will serve as the organization’s central location. Located at 4725 Moffett Rd. in the Park Forest Plaza, the new facility was dedicated as the Wesley A. James Operations Center in honor of James, a longtime member and past chairman of the MAWSS board of directors, who died in 2010.

Spearheading Local Jobs Commission In March, the Chamber hosted Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard and members of the Speaker’s Commission on Job Creation for a business exchange in Mobile. Chamber members Cheryl Williams, owner of Spherion Staffing Services in Mobile, and Denise Knox, owner and president of Private Gallery, were asked to serve on the commission. Nearly 45 area business executives participated and spoke on a variety of topics including small business healthcare deductions, state incentives for historic renovations and insurance challenges.

Saad Healthcare Expands to Meet Patient Needs Citing an increased demand for services, Saad Healthcare invested more than $750,000 to convert 10,000 square feet of warehouse space into a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation clinic used for physical, occupational and speech therapies; add to its certified nursing assistant school; and increase office space.

Krispy Mixes Expands to Theodore Krispy Mixes’ exceptional growth of more than 44 percent in one year meant the distributor and blender of coatings and breadings for chicken, fish and seafood had to expand its operations. The company renovated a 10,800-square-foot facility in Theodore, hired 11 additional employees and invested in stateof-the-art equipment to automate the manufacturing process.

BMW Likes Mobile BMW of Mobile completed a $3 million renovation of its showroom and service repair facilities in 2011. The dealership is one of 105 owned and operated by Group 1 Automotive, a Fortune 500 company.

Largest Non-Manufacturing Employers in the Mobile Area – 2011

Largest Manufacturing Employers in the Mobile Area – 2011

Name

Industry

Name

Mobile County Public School System Infirmary Health System USA and USA Medical Facilities Wal-Mart City of Mobile Providence Hospital County of Mobile Springhill Medical Center CPSI AltaPointe

Education Medical Education/Medical Retail Government Medical Government Medical Information Technology Medical

Employees

7,900 5,300 5,300 2,900 2,200 2,200 1,450 1,300 1,000 740

Austal USA ThyssenKrupp Steel USA ST Aerospace Mobile BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Evonik Degussa Kimberly-Clark ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA Press-Register BASF Continental Motors

Industry

Shipbuilding Steel Aerospace Shipbuilding & Repair Chemicals Paper Products Steel Newspaper Publishing Chemicals Aerospace

Employees

2,400 1,750 1,500 800 680 600 550 510 430 410

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Maritime Training Center Opens In January, AIDT opened a $12 million, 60,000-square-foot Maritime Training Center, located on the causeway, just east of the Wallace and Bankhead tunnels. The center was designed to support area shipbuilders by training potential employees in areas such as intensive welding and shipfitting.

Manufacturer of the Year – Berg Spiral Pipe Corp.

With increasing national demand for natural gas, Berg Spiral Pipe Corp. invested $96 million in 2008 to locate a new spiral pipe manufacturing facility at the former International Paper site in Mobile. This stateof-the-art facility produces large-diameter, spirally welded pipe used in oil and gas transmission that ranges in size from 24 to 56 inches and has an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons. Nearly 200 highwage employees work at the Mobile plant. Because of its investment and success in Mobile, the Chamber named Berg Spiral Pipe Corp., Manufacturer of the Year for 2011.

Innovator of the Year – Austal USA As the world’s largest builder of high-speed aluminum ships, Austal is at the cutting edge of aluminum structural design.

Increasingly, the shipbuilder is using social networking to communicate with and track customers and suppliers. Twitter provides early warning on breaking news from main customers, and the company uses Facebook to keep in touch with many of the commercial and defense customers. LinkedIn provides Austal with a network of acquisition personnel, as well as a quick link to the supplier base, to coordinate meetings and stay up-to-date on personnel developments. Austal was named the Chamber’s Innovator of the Year for 2011.

CENTER FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (CWD) The Chamber’s Center for Workforce Development continues to focus on addressing area employers’ hiring needs and preparing youth for tomorrow’s jobs.

The Chamber is a strategic partner of the Bay Area Healthcare Coalition, the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council, the Hispanic American Business Association of Alabama and the Mobile Area Education Foundation.

HABAGC Continues to Grow with Chamber Support The third annual meeting of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast was held in October with honored guests including a delegation of 23 business and government officials of the State of Campeche in Mexico. The annual meeting’s topic was “One Gulf: The Role of the Port of Mobile between U.S., Mexico and Cuba in the New Frontiers for Oil and Gas Exploration.” Jose Serrano from Pemex and Jorge Piñón, retired AMOCO and BP executive, were keynote speakers.

Worlds of Opportunity Expands The CWD continued its relationship with the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council by working on the Worlds of Opportunities project.

Held in September, the event was attended by more than 9,700 eighth grade students in 75 schools and more than 970 teachers, counselors, volunteers and business representatives.

Summer Scrubs a Success More than 170 Mobile and Baldwin County high school students were selected to participate in the Bay Area Healthcare Coalition’s ninth annual Summer Scrubs program, managed by the Chamber’s Center for Workforce Development. Students were selected based on grades, teacher recommendations and essays on their interest in a healthcare career. Students spent a week rotating around 24 healthcare sites in both counties, sampling various health-related careers through hands-on activities.

Tracking Past Summer Scrubs Participants To learn more about the career choices of past Summer Scrubs participants, the Center for Workforce Development conducted a survey in 2011. Responses show 69 percent of all former students are currently enrolled in healthcare studies and 24 percent are currently employed in the healthcare field. Summer Scrubs is a week-long immersion in a wide variety of healthcare-related careers, and open to selected 10th through 12thgrade students in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Workforce Development Creating New Task Force The CWD organized the first meeting of a staffing agencies’ task force in the fall 2011. The goal of the task force is to secure participation of staffing and placement professionals to better understand the staffing processes, learn about the region’s skill gaps to assist the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council, and gather additional information on jobs that are difficult to fill.

The Health Occupations Career Fair was held in November for high school students in Baldwin and Mobile counties. The two-day event, a program of the Chamber’s Center for Workforce Development and the Bay Area Healthcare Coalition, drew more than 2,000 students who were able to experience a wide range of healthcare career paths in a hands-on learning environment.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In October, the Chamber led a delegation of more than 14 business executives from the Southeast to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The trade mission was aimed at helping local and state businesses increase exports with this trading partner and promote Alabama as a world-class business center.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the major cities of the seven-country UAE region.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIVISION International companies kept up their investments in the Mobile area in 2011, and the first China-headquartered company (AVIC International) now has operations in Mobile after purchasing the former Teledyne Continental Motors (now Continental Motors). To date there are more than 27 international companies located here representing Australia, France, Japan, Singapore and Spain, among others.

Exports continue to rise in Alabama.

International trade was $15.5 billion in Alabama, with manufactured goods from Alabama shipped to 1,981 foreign destinations – an increase of 25.5 percent over the prior year. More than 300,000 jobs for Alabama citizens were supported by the $15.5 billion in manufactured exports.

Mobile Companies’ Interest in Trade Grows During 2011, the Chamber’s international trade division continued its outreach to encourage more local companies to export their products. To increase participation, the division hosted or co-hosted several meetings and briefings throughout the year. Events held, and the number of participants, included: • Japan-America Society of Alabama New Year’s Open House, 100 • Statewide Market Briefing: The United Arab Emirates, 64 • “Demystifying the European Union,” 26 • Statewide Market Briefing: Ireland, 48 • University of Alabama’s International Advisory

Board Annual Meeting, 100 • Alabama Germany Partnership Annual

Meeting, 200 • Statewide Market Briefing: Poland & Hungary, 50 • Regional Trade Partners Annual Meeting, 10

Chamber’s Trade Division Receives National Recognition

Leadership Tours Dublin Port In May, the Chamber participated with the Alabama Development Office (ADO) in a trade and business development mission to Dublin and Belfast, Ireland, including a Port of Dublin tour. The Chamber and ADO hosted a group of 15 Alabama business executives, scheduling one-on-one appointments with potential importers to sell product.

World Trade Conference Hosted

by Chamber In May, the Chamber hosted more than 75 participants of the World Trade Conference’s “Doing Business with the United Arab Emirates: Gateway to the Middle East and North Africa.” The World Trade Conference brings together representatives from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi annually to highlight opportunities, challenges and how to do business with other countries.

The Mobile Area Chamber’s trade division team Tony van Aken (right), director, and Christina Stimpson, program manager (center), pose with Chamber President Win Hallett and the organization’s first international award bestowed by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

The Chamber’s international trade division received the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) inaugural Going International Award, presented during ACCE’s annual conference in August. The award was presented to the trade division for its work to create new opportunities for local businesses to begin exporting.

Demystifying the EU The Chamber’s international trade division hosted 26 people for a “Demystifying the European Union” seminar in March to help attendees achieve a better understanding of the issues involved in doing business with the European Union and to establish and foster broader relationships with the EU. The session also offered participants an opportunity for networking and knowledge-sharing.

Local Company Receives Trade Award Mobile-based OPICO (Oppenheimer International), a leading exporter of farm equipment, was among eight Alabama companies recognized

by Gov. Robert Pictured with Gov. Robert Bentley for excellence Bentley (left) is Bill demonstrated in Oppenhiemer, OPICO’s exporting. The Governor’s secretary-treasurer.

Trade Excellence Award recognizes businesses and new-to-export companies across the state. OPICO is an active participant in the Chamber’s international trade division.

Thailand Official Visits Mobile The Chamber’s trade division hosted Sunsupa Klaisuban, customs technical officer in the Rules of Origin Division of the Customs Tariff Bureau from Bangkok, Thailand. Klaisuban was invited to visit the U.S. under the auspices of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program and met with several U.S. international programs and organizations.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT In 2011 the Chamber’s small business development department assisted more than 1,600 entrepreneurs and small business owners and managers with training programs and one-on-one counseling. The department has a wide variety of resources including SCORE, the MBDA Business Center - Mobile, the Small Business Council, Small Business Administration and CommerceConnect.

All of the resources are designed with the small business owner in mind, and the department’s focus is helping small business owners start, grow and manage their business.

Small Business of the Year – Callis Communications As technology advanced over the last 12 years, so has the mission of Callis Communications. In 1999, the company started by Dean Parker was a paging provider, and has transformed to meet the needs of its clients.

Callis offers the communication services a business needs without having to invest in the infrastructure, giving clients constant availability to voice, data, security, phone and email.

Inc. magazine recognized the company for the fourth consecutive year as one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies. And as proof it deserves this distinction, Callis has grown 32 percent each year since 2007.

Opportunities for Professional Development More than 80 business owners and managers attended two sessions on employee development. A local human resource expert addressed the need to identify and prepare your company’s successor by developing the right people to move into leadership roles in the session on “Succession Management.”

And in the “Talent Management” session, participants learned the art of finding, keeping and growing a company’s human assets. The session included a discussion on techniques to source, identify, grow, reward and retain the most talented employees.

Paving the Way to Financial Freedom More than 25 Chamber members took advantage of a workshop designed to help small business owners prepare to approach lenders for capital. The panel discussion, led by area banking experts and the Small Business Administration, also introduced alternative capital resources available to small businesses.

Plan, Prepare, Recover Twenty-five small business owners participated in a disaster training seminar featuring representatives from the Small Business Administration, American Red Cross, Emergency Management Agency and International Shipholding Corp. The seminar was designed to help attendees develop a disaster plan, know how to put it in place and get back to business quickly.

The Chamber recognized Touching Hearts Senior Care and Don’s Café and Catering with Eagle Awards honoring minority-owned businesses. Pictured above left is Touching Hearts Senior Care President Gina Germany (right) with the family of a client. Donald Torrance, pictured above right, is owner/operator of Don’s Café and Catering.

Critical Legal Issues Impacting Small Businesses Legal issues are ever-changing in today’s world, and with the new healthcare, immigration and employment regulations coming from state and federal government, 40 Chamber members benefited from hearing a panel of local attorneys speaking during a seminar in September about the Internal Revenue Service, Alabama’s new immigration law and the Alabama Employment Act. Healthcare Exchange Focus Group In the summer, the Chamber helped the Alabama Department of Insurance host a focus group in Mobile for small business owners to assess options for developing a Healthcare Exchange for Alabama. The focus group facilitated dialogue on issues faced by individuals and small business owners to obtain affordable health insurance, addressed the issue of healthcare reform and received input for the Healthcare Exchange being administered by the state of Alabama.

SCORE Update During 2011, SCORE confidentially counseled more than 215 clients on a variety of topics, including marketing, business planning and securing capital.

SCORE is a program of the Small Business Administration and local counselors are housed at the Chamber.

Contacts and Contracts Designed to give small and minority business owners the opportunity to meet representatives from large companies and governmental agencies, the Chamber hosted four Contacts and Contracts networking events in 2011, including one in conjunction with Business After Hours. More than 160 people attended these sessions where small business owners were able to learn more about larger companies’ supplier needs and bidding procedures.

Obama Appointee Speaks at Minority Business Awards Luncheon Dr. Winslow Sargeant, chief counsel for advocacy for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, was the keynote speaker during the Minority Business Awards luncheon in October. Sargeant talked Sargeant about the outreach his office does on behalf of small businesses. More than 160 attended the luncheon. Receiving Eagle Awards in 2011 were Don’s Café and Catering and Touching Hearts Senior Care. Mitchell Industrial Contractors Inc. was named the Minority Construction Firm of the Year, Gulf Shore Assembly LLC received the Minority Supplier Distributor of the Year, and Bridgewater Interiors LLC was named Minority Manufacturer of the Year.

Minority Business Advocate – Alabama Power Co. Alabama Power Co. received the 2011 Minority Business Advocate Award during the minority business week award luncheon in October. Judges selected the company based on its commitment to expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses through its day-to-day operations, including goals for using local minority-owned businesses and procurement processes to help develop new and innovative mentoring/partnering programs with local minority-owned businesses.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Dozens of Googlers descended on Mobile in November to assist Mobile area business owners mobilize their websites. The Mobile Area Chamber partnered with Google, Duda Mobile and Modify, and more than 450 one-on-one appointments were held, along with free seminars and several special events for Chamber executives.

GoMo In November, the Chamber partnered with Internet giant Google to help area small business owners “GoMo.” The Chamber and Google worked to mobilize Mobile, and over a two-day period, more than 450 local small business websites were customized to mobile sites that are user-friendly on smartphones. In addition to the free mobile website hosted for one year, business owners attended Google classes on mobile strategy and advertising and attended one-on-one consulting sessions with Google reps.

Small Business of the Month Featured each month in The Business View and honored at the monthly board of directors meeting, Small Business of the Month winners are selected by a volunteer task force. Criteria for the award include: membership in the Chamber, being in business for at least two years, having a growing financial base, and outstanding reputation, community involvement, location in Mobile or Baldwin County, and employing fewer than 100 people.

2011 winners were: • Bayview Ford-Lincoln-Mercury LLC • Chiropractic Works PC • Express Employment Professionals • Fremin’s Contractor Services LLC • Gwin’s Commercial Printing • Long’s Human Resource Services • McNorton Ishee & Jones PC • Palette Café • Plan Focus Financial Services • SaucyQ Bar B Que • Spring Hill Comprehensive Dentistry PC • TriNova Inc.

MBDA BUSINESS CENTER - MOBILE The Mobile Area Chamber has operated the MBDA Business Center (MBC) - Mobile since 2007. This is a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, formerly known as the Alabama Minority Business Enterprise Center. MBC has exceeded its goal of securing $154 million in federal contracts for business owners. Also during this time, MBC has assisted more than 350 clients, helping them create more than 462 jobs.

In 2011 alone, $4.5 million in contracts were awarded to minority businesses through the MBC’s efforts.

Funding for Minority Business Development Continued In the spring, the Chamber received word from the U.S. Department of Commerce that its MBC would receive an additional five years of funding, potentially continuing the program through at least 2016.

Mobile’s MBC was one of only 27 centers funded in the United States, and the only one in Alabama. The Mobile center also supports the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle. The total contract awarded was $1.5 million.

MBC Recognized for Job Creation Mobile’s MBC was ranked fifth in job creation over similar operations around the U.S., according to a performance report by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.

The report, released in the summer of 2011, used 2010 data and stated Mobile’s MBC helped local minority businesses create 314 jobs.

Need to Know Minority-Owned Businesses in Mobile?

In 2011, the MBC produced a Minority Business Directory, listing more than 500 minority-owned businesses in the region. The directory is the first of its type in several years and was developed to build awareness for minority companies and serve as a resource for companies looking to diversify their client and vendor lists.

Support for Minority Businesses In October, the Chamber’s small business development department and MBC partnered on professional development and training for MBC clients and Chamber members. Moderating a panel of local experts who discussed best practices was Sharon Patterson, president and CEO of Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR), founded in 2001 for member companies that purchase more than $1 billion annually from minority- and women-owned businesses. More than 30 people attended this event.

CommerceConnect a Reality In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the Chamber’s small business development team and MBC aggressively sought U.S. Department of Commerce support to bring the assistance and benefits of the 54 bureaus that make up the Department of Commerce to Mobile-area businesses. The Gulf Coast Commerce Center was opened in Pensacola in 2011, and MBC clients and Chamber members are supported by this office.

COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 2011 was a banner year for pro-business legislation in the state of Alabama. The Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee supports a Chamber member-driven legislative agenda on the local, state and federal levels. In addition to the department’s work on legislative issues, it also supports a community enhancement program of work.

Renewal of Ad Valoreum Taxes for Public Schools In March, citizens of Mobile County overwhelmingly supported the renewal of three tax assessments, amounting to $55 million annually for the Mobile County Public School System. The Chamber was an active supporter of this campaign and worked behind the scenes for more than two years in preparation of the vote. More than 85 percent of those casting a ballot voted YES, YES, YES. Legislative Agenda Gets Results With nearly 1,200 bills introduced and more than 40 signed into law, the 2011 Alabama Legislative session ended in June with passage of several initiatives advocated by the Chamber. These included: property insurance discounts, the Responsible Budgeting and Spending Act, tort reform measures and the Small Business Healthcare Credit.

U.S. Senator and Congressman Speak to Sold-Out Audiences Both Sen. Richard Shelby and Rep. Jo Bonner spoke to sold-out audiences during two Forum Alabama sessions. Shelby, who spoke in February, offered attendees his perspective on pressing issues facing the U.S., including healthcare, environmental regulations, free trade agreements and financial regulatory reform. Bonner spoke in October and gave updates on the RESTORE Act legislation created in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, economic development and the efforts to prevent costly new regulations to business. More than 600 people attended the two events.

Leaders Exchange delegates gather in front of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville on June 14, where they heard how Louisville is working to build two new bridges over the Ohio River. More than 75 of the region’s top business, community and civic leaders participated in the exchange, studying efficiencies in local government services, workforce programs, entrepreneurial development and the creation of urban park systems.

Mobile Leaders Gather in Louisville The June Leaders Exchange, formerly known as leadership trip, included a delegation of more than 75 local business and community leaders and elected officials who spent three days in Louisville, Ky., studying some of its most successful private and public programs.

The group learned more about community-wide education goals and initiatives, the city’s massive construction project building two bridges over the Ohio River and saw how a blend of public and private dollars are creating an urban park system. They also studied how Louisville’s city and county government operate as one program, saving millions of taxpayer dollars.

State Legislators Honored at Reception in Montgomery In May, the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee hosted a reception in Montgomery for local business executives to network and discuss Chamber legislative issues with legislators from across Alabama. More than 100 people attended the reception with more than 50 legislators.

City/Developer Roundtable Discussions Continue In March, a roundtable for exploring and developing solutions to enhance the city of Mobile’s permitting process was reconvened. This committee has worked with city planners since 2009 on various permit-related issues, including focusing on improving interaction between city planners and commercial developers. The city/developer task force in 2011 assisted the city in launching an online web application designed to streamline the development review process.

New Relationship Building Bridges Not long after John Cooper was named director of the Alabama Department of Transportation under Gov. Robert Bentley, a group of Chamber volunteers and staff began meeting with him to discuss the proposed I-10 bridge over the Mobile River. The Chamber is nearing 15 years of support for this massive infrastructure project that is expected to alleviate I-10 congestion at the tunnels and create 2,490 construction-related jobs annually during the five years it takes to construct the bridge.

Veterans Commission Honors Its Own The Mobile Area Veterans Day Commission honored Mobile native J. Lloyd “Doc” Abbot Jr., a decorated retired rear admiral for the U.S. Navy, as Patriot of the Year during its annual Veterans Day luncheon. Abbot served the Navy as a commissioned officer for 35 years. Capt. (Ret.) Joe Birindelli of Fairhope was named Mobile Bay Area Veteran of the Year for his service in the U.S. Army.

Group Takes on D.C. In September, the Chamber took a group of 20 community leaders with federal interests to Washington D.C., to meet with members of Congress and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Topics of discussion included the national economy, offshore oil and gas exploration and healthcare, among other issues.

Armed Forces Day a Success The annual Armed Forces Day luncheon was held in May at USA’s Mitchell Center. More than 200 people attended the event, which featured keynote speaker Col. Steven J. Roemhildt PE. Service members were recognized for outstanding community service and performance in uniform.

ENVISION COASTAL ALABAMA Economy, education, environment and equity – these are the building blocks upon which Envision Coastal Alabama was founded in 1997 with Baldwin and Mobile County residents in mind. Guided by this overarching framework, individuals of varied backgrounds, expertise, interests and passions have worked over the last 14 years on a shared vision for growth.

Much has changed in the Coastal Alabama counties since Envision was first created. From manmade and natural disasters to some of the greatest residential growth in the nation to a national recession, the need for a shared vision has never changed.

Envision Sustainability Forum Lists Most Critical Areas In February, more than 80 Envision volunteers and community stakeholders from both sides of Mobile Bay attended an Envision regional planning session. During the day-long meeting, attendees were broken into work groups and identified four critical issues Envision volunteers would take on in 2011 and beyond. They were: • Create a campaign utilizing existing resources to provide ways to positively impact air quality; • Improve communications with elected/

appointed officials to create broader citizen understanding, trust, participation;

responsibility and commitment in resolving critical community issues; • Establish an education subcommittee to regularly meet with stakeholders and become

better informed on current regional

educational successes; and • Strengthen family well-being and community

cohesion to promote a safe and healthy living

environment.

Neighborhood groups and area students volunteer each year in support of Keep Mobile Beautiful in its efforts to prevent litter, reduce waste, and improve the beauty of the communituy.

Envision Co-Chairs Share Regional Vision Charles Dickens’ opening line in “A Tale of Two Cities,” describes how Envision co-chairs Shirley Sessions and Ray Moore must have felt in their new positions: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” It was the best of times due to Coastal Alabama’s unique position for success, and the worst of times due to the double whammy of the oil spill and a sluggish economy. Sessions is vice president/ community affairs manager for Regions Bank and Moore is vice president of Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch LLC.

Education Team

• Terry Burkle (Baldwin County) South Baldwin Chamber Foundation • Amanda Carr Outlaw (Mobile County)

Alabama Cooperative Extension System Economy Team

• Donna Givens (Baldwin County) Baldwin EMC System • Frederick Rendfrey (Mobile County) Downtown Mobile Alliance Environment Team

• Dr. Thomas J. Ward Jr. (Baldwin County) Spring Hill College • Jennifer Denson (Mobile County) Partners for Environmental Progress

Take the Clean Air Challenge While many communities await the Environmental Protection Agency’s new ozone standards, Envision Coastal Alabama started getting its volunteers involved well in advance. Through its web-based Clean Air Challenge located at www.envisioncoastalalabama.org, Envision volunteers are encouraged to sign up to improve Coastal Alabama’s air quality. Launched in September 2011, the goal is to have 100 people take the challenge by the end of 2012.

Envision “Cleans Up” Valuing the importance of a clean and safe community, Envision Coastal Alabama announced it would partner with Keep Mobile Beautiful (KMB) on the Great American Cleanup campaign. KMB has been involved with the national campaign, the nation’s largest community improvement project, for 20 years. KMB volunteers have contributed more than 10,000 hours cleaning and beautifying Mobile parks, neighborhoods and city streets.

Volunteers from Baldwin and Mobile County Round Out Leadership Positions Envision co-chairs and team chairs who served in 2011 were:

Equity Team

• Rebecca Byrne (Baldwin County) United Way of Baldwin County • Brooks Chew (Mobile County) Office of U.S. Congressman Jo Bonner

Envision Co-Chairs Ray Moore and Shirley Sessions

Corporate Community Service Award – The SSI Group The SSI Group was selected as the winner of the 2011 Corporate Community Service Award for its involvement in a variety of hands-on projects supporting a number of local charitable organizations throughout the Mobile area. With more than 395 employees, SSI leads the healthcare industry with its claims management technology, and remains dedicated to giving back to the community. This award is co-presented by Envision Coastal Alabama, HandsOn South Alabama and the Mobile Area Chamber.

MEMBERSHIP Membership in the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce grew in 2011. In 2011 more than 350 businesses joined the Chamber. To date there are more than 2,000 Chamber members, representing 104,000 employees. Of these member companies, approximately 59 percent employ less than 10 people.

The Chamber remains committed to meeting the changing needs of its members. New programs are implemented, various seminars are offered and a variety of communications tools are used.

“Ladies Only,” Please In 2011, the Chamber capitalized on its successful roundtable networking programs, introducing a bimonthly Women’s Roundtable. This forum is open to Chamber-member women business owners and managers to hear a featured presenter, network with one another and share information to help grow their business. Each of the sessions had more than 20 participants, and feedback indicates this will grow even more in 2012.

No Excuses Providing members with a wide variety of networking opportunities held at various times throughout the day is one reason the number of people participating in Chamber networking events increased in 2011. More than 2,000 people attended Chamber networking sessions, including Nonprofit Roundtable, a bi-monthly forum for member nonprofit organizations to build relationships and promote networking with other members; the monthly Business After Hours; Networking@Noon; Coffee with the Chamber; Speed Networking; and a customer service seminar.

Chamber Investors In 2011, more than 17 companies joined or upgraded membership dues to join the Board of Advisors (BOA), bringing the total number of companies represented to 242.

The single largest group of dues investors, the BOA has an exclusive opportunity to network with one another three times a year. During a breakfast meeting in March, the group heard Bill Sisson with the Mobile Airport Authority and Troy Wayman with the Chamber talk about “Mobile’s Mojo”; and Lt. Daniel Christman, senior vice president for international affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the group in July during an afternoon reception.

In addition to the tri-annual meetings, BOA members have been meeting in small groups for breakfast, giving valuable feedback and input on key community and economic issues and how the Chamber can assist.

Pictured here are some of the early leaders of the 2011 Chamber Chase campaign. From left to right: Stephen Schlautman, Regions Bank; Terri Owler, Arkema; David Hagan, BankTrust; Kay Williams, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama; Harris Oswalt, Mobile Gas; Sharon Murrill, Alabama Power Co.; Mark Spivey, Regions Bank; and Larry Hanisch, Diplomat Team.

Chamber Chase’s Record-Breaking Year Terry Harbin, chief operating officer of BankTrust, was selected to lead the 2011 Chamber Chase campaign, and in May faced a $1.32 million goal measured in new members, sponsorships, in-kind donations and advertising. Not one to back down from a challenge, Harbin and the more than 80 volunteers exceeded the goal by raising $1.409 million.

Top producers during the 2011 campaign were Harris Oswalt (Mobile Gas), Top Cash Producer; Lisa Owen (BankTrust), Top Overall Producer; and Sherry Coker (BankTrust), Top New Member Recruiter, and BankTrust, the campaign’s Top Team.

Diplomats Key Ambassadors for Chamber The Chamber’s diplomat program continues to remain strong, with a dedicated group of 60 members attending ribbon cuttings, working various event registrations, making member visits and holding monthly networking meetings. The Diplomat of the Month is featured in The Business View, and is selected based on activity. 2011 Diplomat of the Month winners were: Trish Banker, Millie Sue Hawk, Kasie Irby, Leilani Reed-Logan, Nick Morisani, Nancy Peoples, Saty Putcha, Michael Sullivan, Lee Teague and Garrett Wolf. *Diplomats can be awarded this distinction more than one time annually.

Just to Say Thanks Each year the Chamber plans a special lunchtime event for all Chamber members, which doubles as an open house. Dubbed Membership Appreciation Day, the 2011 event took place in April and was attended by more than 220 members. Attendees were provided a meal and live music on the lawn, and indoors had access to a variety of information tables, booths and chair massages.

Diplomat of the Year Annually, Chamber diplomats compete for the Diplomat of the Year award, presented to the top diplomat.

Saty Putcha, co-owner of Padgett Business Services, received this award in 2011.

Putcha Putcha, who has been a diplomat since November 2009, earned the Diplomat of the Month award several times. Putcha is often seen at various Chamber events, visiting with Chamber members.

Get Connected 2011 In August, the Chamber held its annual Get Connected, with the majority of the events at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The day started with 140 people attending a luncheon featuring Dr. Mark K. Weaver, Ben May Chair of Entrepreneurship for the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama. His presentation on this new position at USA was followed by the Business Expo and Resource Fair.

More than 225 exhibitors presented at the expo and fair. The Resource Fair was created to provide small business owners face-to-face time with local, state and federal resource providers that can help them succeed. Attendance at this event was more than 1,750. Following the expo and fair, more than 250 attendees and exhibitors met at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel for Expo After Hours.

The Need for Speed Another new event, Speed Networking, was held three times in 2011 with nearly 100 participants total.

Based on a similar premise of speed dating, this event put people face-to-face for 45 seconds to give a quick commercial about their business, goods and services.

The fast-paced, highly energetic event was a sell-out each session.

Chamber Weather for Golf Tourney The weather could not have cooperated more in March, when the Chamber hosted its annual golf tournament. The sold-out event featured 220 players in idyllic conditions at TimberCreek in Daphne.

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING The Chamber gives the business community in the Mobile area a voice, as it represents more than one-third of the area’s total workforce. The 2,200 members receive information from the Chamber’s communications and marketing department and in a variety of methods, including The Business View, The Business View Weekly, www.mobilechamber.com, monthly online calendar of events, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, telephone calls and member visits. The department also works with local, regional, national and international media to promote Mobile’s economy and its members.

Mobile Does Well in National Rankings Mobile did very well in its rankings in 2011.

Southern Business and Development magazine, in its Winter 2011 issue, recognized the Chamber’s economic development efforts, and named Mobile Bay among the Top 10 “Pro-Business” beach communities. The magazine also placed Austal’s expansion announcements on the Top 10 “Deals for 2010,” “Jobs 100” and “Investment 100” lists.

Business Facilities magazine named Mobile as one of the “Top Logistics Distribution and Shipping Hubs” for metro areas. The magazine credited Mobile’s deepwater port, container terminal, two airports, five Class I railroads and two major interstate systems as its greatest assets.

Also, fDi magazine, in its first-ever ranking of American Cities of the Future 2011/2012, ranked Mobile in the No. 10 spot among small cities as defined as those with a population of 100,000 to 250,000.

Department Changes Chart New Direction In April, the Chamber’s communications department added “marketing” to its name, and with it sweeping changes in staff duties. The most significant change was bringing all web-based duties under the department. The move provides greater consistency in the organization’s messaging.

Best in Show The Public Relations Council of Alabama awarded HowTheySeeMobileBay.com with the Best in Show during its annual conference held in April.

The website features seven area business executives discussing why their businesses started and grew in Mobile. The site was created in partnership with Lewis Communications.

The department also won a Medallion award during the competition, as did three other Chamber projects – the 2010 Annual Meeting, an annual meeting speech and The Business View.

City and County Leaders Speak to Sold Out Business Audience

Pictured above are Robbie Baker, Chamber Chair (left) at the State of the City and County Luncheon with Mobile County Commission President Merceria Ludgood and Mayor Sam Jones.

More than 850 business leaders, public officials and community volunteers attended the 14th annual State of the City and County luncheon in May. City of Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and Mobile County Commission President Merceria Ludgood were the featured presenters for the event, which included a first-look at the city’s new campaign to market Mobile to industries and the county’s video presentation on the benefits of living and working in Mobile County.

Final Strength in Numbers Campaign Launched 2011 was the final year of the Chamber’s successful “Strength in Numbers” local marketing campaign, featuring six member businesses and its top executive. In the campaign, featuring print ads appearing in The Business View, Lagniappe and Steppin’ Out, and on Lamar Advertising, Yellow Cab Co. and Mobile Regional Airport billboards, executives share the benefits of Chamber membership. Ads are also featured on the Chamber’s website. During the life of the effort, a total of 30 Mobile-based businesses were included.

Featured in the 2011 campaign were: • David Clark, Grand Hotel Marriott Resort,

Golf Club and Spa • Sally Greene, Wilmer Hall • Mike Marshall, Press-Register • Bo Mattei, Thames, Batre, Beville & Ison Insurance • LaBarron McClendon, formerly of Mobile Gas • Patrick Wilson, Mobile Bar Pilots LLC

www.MobileChamber.com

Written History of Chamber’s 175 Years Documented Throughout 2011, snapshots of the Chamber’s 175 years as a business organization were documented.

Local writer Nedra Bloom spent hundreds of hours reading Chamber minutes, talking with local businesses and interviewing staff and historians to document the organization’s history. Stories about the Chamber from 1836-1936, 1937-1961, 1962-1986, 1986-1999 and 2000-2011 were published in The Business View. In addition, the package featured stories on Chamber members whose businesses opened during various time periods, and about key community issues impacting the lives of Mobile residents.

In 2012, in celebration of the Chamber’s 175 years, a collector’s coffee table book chronicling the Chamber’s history will be produced and distributed to attendees of Opportunity 175, a gala celebrating the organization’s history. Tom Mason with Tom Mason Communications was the book’s designer and editor.

Gwin’s Printing published the book, which includes rarely seen historical photographs and an abbreviated written history.

Groups Travel to Spain and Australia In March, the Chamber led a group of 46 people to Costa del Sol, Spain, for a week-long tour of the Mediterranean coast, which also included Gibraltar and Tangier, Morocco. In September, a group of 23 people traveled to Sydney, Australia, on another Chamber-led tour. While there, the group explored Sydney’s botanical gardens, the famed Sydney Opera House and a bridge climb over Sydney Harbor. The Chamber began offering its members and guests international tours in 2009 to offer business people a chance to travel together around the world.

Getting More Social In its quest to stay ahead of the ever-changing world of technology and communications, the Chamber worked with wellbornIdeas, a Mobile-based agency, to develop a social media audit and strategy for the organization. The Chamber actively posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Promoting the Chamber’s 175th The Chamber celebrated a historic milestone in 2011, one reached by fewer than 10 chambers of commerce across the country – 175 years of continuous operations. To celebrate the significant achievement, the Chamber used a special logo throughout the year, designed by Verge – a Mobilebased marketing agency – and draped the interior and exterior of the building with larger-than-life-sized photograph banners.

Conveying the marketing message “Stability of 175 Years – Vision & Leadership for the Next 175,” this campaign was featured on billboards and in specialty programs and ads.

CHAMBER NEWS Two Longtime Chamber Supporters Mourned

Guthans

Myers

In 2011, the Chamber lost two of its greatest champions, Bobby Guthans and Hap Myers. Both men served as Chamber chairmen and had remained ardent supporters of economic development – for large and small companies alike. Guthans also served as chairman of the Chamber’s foundation following his retirement from Midstream Fuel. After his work with the Chamber, Myers found a passion for public service and served as a senator in the Alabama Legislature while maintaining employment as an engineer.

SAWDC Wins National Grant The Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council received a $300,000 grant from The National Fund for Workforce Solutions. It was one of six organizations in the South and Southwest to receive monies. The grant will establish and support four fully functioning workforce partnerships in the areas of maritime, aerospace, healthcare and process manufacturing.

Chamber VP Named Chairman of SAWDC In September, Chamber Vice President of Economic Development Troy Wayman was named chairman of the Southwest Alabama Wayman Workforce Development Council (SAWDC). This group facilitates workforce development programs in an area designated by the state of Alabama as “Region 9.” Wayman will continue in this position throughout 2012. The Chamber is a founder and funding partner for this effort.

Chamber Staff Named to Civil Rights Council Dr. Leida Javier-Ferrell, the Chamber’s director of the Center for Workforce Development, was appointed to the Alabama State Javier-Ferrell Advisory Council of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Members are appointed for two years as federal employees to assist the commission with fact-finding and dissemination activities pertaining to discrimination or denial to equal protection under the law.

The Mobile Area Chamber held two receptions for the area’s new CEOs. New CEOs honored during the reception held in the spring, pictured from left to right, are: Jay Burdette, Alabama Power/Barry Steam Plant; Gregg Gustafson, Mobile Symphony; Leslie Beard, C.H. Robinson Worldwide; Bob Sain, Centre for the Living Arts; Lance Covan, Mitternight Boiler Works; Bill McLaughlin, Thomas Hospital; and Daniel Dennis, Roberts Brothers.

New CEOs in Mobile Honored In the spring and fall, the Chamber held receptions to honor new CEOs in the Mobile Bay region. Attendance at each reception was more than 100, and invitees included Chamber directors and advisors, Partners for Growth investors and elected officials. Prior to the receptions, city of Mobile, Mobile County elected officials and Chamber leadership met with the honorees to encourage their civic and community involvement.

GulfQuest Takes Shape In the Spring, GulfQuest, the long-awaited, 90,000-square-foot, vessel-shaped national maritime museum, began construction. At the end of 2011, the exterior of the building was beginning to take shape, and it’s expected to open in late 2012. The museum will feature interactive exhibits centered on ship design, propulsion and navigation that will incorporate historic and modern-day maritime tools.

More Do Fly Mo Traffic at Mobile Regional Airport continued to track upward in 2011. Data from the Mobile Airport Authority shows increased traffic between Mobile and major markets such as Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Denver, Philadelphia and San Francisco. International traffic is also on the rise with 14 percent of travelers bound for international destinations.

USS LAWRENCE Commissioned in Mobile In June, the USS LAWRENCE DDH 110, a guided missile destroyer, was commissioned at the Alabama State Docks after a delay in dredging Pensacola Bay forced the commissioning to move from Pensacola to Mobile. The ship was named for Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, a highly decorated naval aviator.

Staff Graduates from Leadership Mobile and Chamber Institute, Selected for Alabama Leaders Initiative

Rak-Blanchard

Richards

Susan RakBlanchard, the Chamber’s director of communications and marketing, graduated from Leadership Mobile, a project of Mobile United.

Her group project was to Stimpson increase business participation in education-related programs. Danette Richards, the Chamber’s director of small business development, graduated from the Institute for Organizational Management, a four-year program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Also, Christina Stimpson, program manager for the Chamber’s international trade division, was selected to participate in the Alabama Leadership Initiative for emerging state leaders.

Chamber Board Members Named to Federal Reserve Bank Jimmy Lyons, director and chief executive officer of the Alabama State Port Authority, was appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Birmingham branch board of directors. In addition, T. Lee Robinson, president of OHC, was appointed to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s New Orleans branch. Both men are responsible for providing economic information on their industry and the branch territory relating to employment, inventory, sales and community headlines.

Administration and Finance CHAMBER STAFF Administration

Workforce Development

Winthrop M. Hallett III, President: 431-8610 Robert L. Chappelle Jr., Executive Vice President: 431-8644 Katrina Dewrell, Executive Coordinator: 431-8611 Jackie Davidson, Administrative Assistant: 431-8605

Communications and Marketing

Finance and Operations

Leigh Perry-Herndon, Vice President: 431-8645 Ashley Horn, Director of Digital Media & Design: 431-8623 Susan Rak-Blanchard, Director of Communications & Marketing: 431-8641 RenĂŠ Darden Eiland, The Business View Advertising Account Executive: 431-8635 Carolyn Wilson, Communications & Marketing Assistant: 431-8606

Community and Governmental Affairs

Leida Javier-Ferrell, Director: 431-8631 Carol Lambert, Project Manager: 431-8619

Ginny Russell, Vice President: 431-8618 Shayla Jones Beaco, Director of Local Affairs: 431-8628 Patty Howell, Director of Regional Affairs: 431-8601 Carolyn Hunt, Community and Governmental Affairs Assistant: 431-8621

Economic Development

Troy L. Wayman CEcD, Vice President: 431-8650 Claudia Zimmermann, Director: 431-8616 Shelly Mattingly, Coordinator: 431-8655

Joe Mareno, Chief Financial Officer: 431-8624 Matt Hariel, Director: 431-8625 LeMaris Alston, Technology Support Specialist: 431-8626 Chani Johnson, Finance Assistant: 694-0701 Donna Ikner, Finance Assistant: 431-8609 James Smiley, Security: 431-8658

Membership

Carolyn Golson, Vice President: 431-8622 Dawn Rencher, Member Relations: 431-8649 Marion Warren, Event Coordinator: 431-8640 Rebecca Milam, Senior Account Executive: 431-8647 Tricia Bradley, Account Executive: 431-8642 Missy Hartley, Membership Assistant: 431-8638 Odetta Stutts, Help Desk Receptionist: 433-6951

Small Business Development

Darrell Randle, Vice President: 431-8615

Divisions:

Danette Richards, Director: 431-8652 Brenda Rembert, Administrative Assistant: 431-8607

Herman Tinsley, Senior Project Manager: 431-8657 Al Ruffin, Research: 431-8656

MBDA Business Center - Mobile

Business Retention and Expansion

Machelle Leslie, Business Consultant: 433-2250 Lorrin Woods, Junior Business Consultant: 433-2250

Business Development

Pamela Ramos, Project Director: 433-2250

Steve Russell, Director: 431-8654

International Trade

Tony van Aken, Director: 431-8651 Christina Stimpson, Program Manager: 431-8648

2011 REVENUE

34%

2011 EXPENSE

17%

Events, Programs, Sponsorships and Donations

Membership

23%

4%

Center for Workforce Development

Administration, Finance & Operations

10%

Community and Governmental Affairs

10%

Small Business Development

14%

Communications

23%

Service Contracts and Grants

1% 4%

Other Publications

21%

Partners for Growth Economic Development Fund

22%

Economic Development

17%

Membership

2011-2013 STRATEGIC PLAN & 2012 PLAN OF ACTION Through a series of evaluations, retreats and staff and volunteer meetings, the Mobile Area Chamber annually sets a plan of action for the coming year. This annual blueprint is aligned with the organization’s longrange strategic plan. The following is a department summary and outlines where the Chamber will focus its efforts in 2012. The long-range strategic goals directing the plan of action summary items are noted in parenthesis.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Strategic Plan 2011-2013 Vision The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce will be the leading catalyst for economic expansion in the Mobile area, building more opportunity and an enhanced quality of life for its citizens.

Mission To serve as a progressive advocate for business needs to promote the Mobile area’s economic well-being.

Strategic Goals Jobs

Retain, expand and recruit businesses, investment and jobs in the Mobile area.

Advocacy

Create an environment that promotes business and community growth.

Value

Provide value, services, opportunities and recognition for our members.

Excellence

Operate the Chamber with excellence, innovation and efficiency.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Plan of Action Communications & Marketing

• Provide a constant, proactive and interactive communications program to Mobile Area Chamber members to encourage and maintain an interest in the Chamber and support of our efforts. (Value) • To improve the Mobile Area Chamber’s image in the minds of the public and make them better aware of who we are and our mission.

(Advocacy) • Promote the Chamber and the Mobile area via the Chamber’s websites, electronic publications and social media outlets. (Advocacy) • To improve dialogue with media outlets and promote Chamber activities and issues more heavily in the local media. (Advocacy) • Conclude the Mobile Area Chamber 175th anniversary program. (Excellence) • Assist the Economic Development Department with implementing the national marketing campaign. (Advocacy) • Assist the Chamber president in developing the organization’s next strategic plan, annual Plan of Action and Internal Handbook Guidelines.

(Excellence)

Community and Governmental Affairs

• Develop and obtain passage of the 2012 Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Community Legislative Agenda. (Advocacy) • Recognize and promote importance of transportation infrastructure to continuing business growth. (Advocacy) • Promote a local business-friendly political and legislative climate that encourages economic growth, is responsive to business needs and supportive of business success. (Advocacy) • Convene key groups and organizations to identify and work on vital community issues. (Advocacy) • Improve communication with the membership, elected officials and Chamber staff on key community issues. (Advocacy) • Sponsor the Leaders Exchange with a focus on workable solutions to regional and local issues.

(Advocacy) • Encourage positive military and civilian relationships. (Value)

Economic Development

• Aggressively market the Mobile region for business locations and expansions to support the five year Partner’s for Growth goal of creating an average of 750 new jobs per year. (Jobs) • Continue to staff and deliver economic development services for the Washington County Economic Development Initiative. (Jobs/Advocacy) • Support, where appropriate, the development and improvement of the Mobile area’s infrastructure (utilities, surface and air transportation) to make the community more attractive to potential investors and create a better business climate for existing businesses. (Advocacy) • Provide staff support and expertise to the Industrial Development Board, the Industrial Development Authority and the Industrial Park Board. (Value) • Involve Chamber volunteer leadership, City and County elected leadership and local agency allies in current Plan of Action implementation, as well as long-term economic development planning and funding. (Advocacy/Value) • Systematically generate, collect, organize, provide and publish information to support economic development activities. (Value) • Manage and market Mobile Commerce Park. (Jobs) • Further develop the Mobile region as a center for international trade and transportation, enhancing the foreign sales of area products and services and assisting in Mobile’s emergence as a hub for international commerce.

(Jobs/Advocacy) • Improve Mobile’s ability to respond to workforce needs. (Jobs/Advocacy) • Manage and support the activities of the Bay Area Healthcare Coalition. (Jobs/Advocacy) • Support Economic Development with workforce development resources as needed for manufacturing and other area business and industry. (Jobs) • Continue supporting the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast.(Advocacy) • Represent the Chamber in workforce development efforts in the community with partners such as Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Corp., the Mobile Area Education Foundation,

Mobile Works, Mobile County Public School System and community colleges and universities in the region. (Jobs/Advocacy)

Finance and Operations

• Provide and maintain financial control and related services. (Excellence) • Develop and maintain all records, forms and reports relating to human resource management. (Excellence) • Coordinate maintenance of the Chamber building, grounds, fixtures and equipment.

(Excellence) • Enhance Chamber and its foundation operations through improvement of processes and procedures. (Excellence) • Manage Crisis Response. (Excellence)

Membership

• Exceed budgeted goals for dues and non-dues income to support Chamber operations. (Value) • Provide innovative programs and services that members desire and value. (Value) • Ensure awesome customer service to improve member retention and development. (Value) • Coordinate the programs and activities of the ambassadors to assist with membership retention and development. (Value)

Small Business Development

• Market and provide technical assistance to area small businesses to help stimulate their development and foster job creation. (Jobs) • Provide business assistance to minority-owned businesses and encourage their participation in all Chamber activities. (Jobs) • Coordinate task force activities of select programs, products and services benefiting small businesses. (Value) • Create a system to share local funding sources with interested businesses. (Jobs) • Provide continuing education, training and business development opportunities for small businesses. (Value) • Serve as an advocate on issues of concern to the small business community. (Advocacy) • Facilitate assistance provided by other small business resources in the Mobile/Baldwin area.

(Advocacy)

VOLUNTEERS 2011 Executive Committee

G. Robert Baker Jr.

Hancock Bank/Whitney Bank Chairman of the Board

Cedric J. Hatcher RBC Bank Membership

Sumner G. Adams

Norton Lilly International Maritime Affairs

Robert B. Keyser PE

OHC Inc. Trade

University of South Alabama Technology

R. Michael Saxon

Alabama Power Co. Finance and Operations

Lynda Burkett

Armbrecht Jackson LLP Legal Counsel

Dr. Russ Lea

Thompson Engineering Inc. Military Affairs

T. Lee Robinson Jr.

Conrad P. Armbrecht

Marshall A. McLeod PLS LLC Small Business Development

Caroline C. McCarthy Phelps Dunbar LLP Governmental Affairs

Richard Sullivan Jr. Red Square Agency Communications and Marketing

Winthrop M. Hallett III

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce President

Henry F. O’Connor III BankTrust Economic Development

David L. Trent Airbus Americas Engineering Inc. Immediate Past Chair

Michael E. Pierce

Commonwealth National Bank Chair-Elect of the Board

Chester Vrocher

Boise Paper Workforce Development

In addition to the Executive Committee, serving on the 2011 Board of Directors were: Dr. Ulrich Albrecht-Frueh

Scott Delaney

Frank J. Lott III

Richard P. Salmi SJ

ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA LLC

Delaney Development Inc.

Heritage Homes of Mobile Inc.

Spring Hill College

Celia Mann Baehr

Tyrone Fenderson Jr.

James Lowe

Frank S. Seltzer Jr.

Celia Mann Baehr CFP

Commonwealth National Bank.

Bishop State Community College

Superior Masonry Inc.

Brad Beard

Carlos R. Gant

W. Hunter Lyons Jr.

William B. Sisson

Beard Equipment Co. Inc.

Mos Designs LLC

Gulf City Body & Trailer Works Inc.

Mobile Airport Authority

Ralph A. Hargrove

Ricky R. Mathews

Gordon Smart

Press-Register

Star Aviation

Kinley Bell Marine Rigging Inc.

K.W. Michael Chambers Swift Biotechnology

Thomas S. Damson Long’s Human Resource Services

Joel T. Daves IV Regions Bank

Hargrove Engineers + Constructors

Roy D. Nichols Jr.

Jeffery M. St. Clair

Hixardt Technologies Inc.

Mobile County Public School System

Springhill Medical Center

Jamie Ison

Michael Hicks Jr.

William W. Oppenheimer

Thomas M. Taul III

LLB & B Inc. Real Estate

Enveloc Inc.

Merchants Transfer Co.

Christoph Lackinger

Jacquitta Powell-Green

Mary G. White

Northside Check Exchange Inc.

Mobile Technical Institute/ MTI Business Solutions

ThyssenKrupp Steel USA

investor

focus

AT&T

AT&T’s involvement in the Mobile community includes outreach to students. Shown here is AT&T technician Karlos Crayton helping Grand Bay Middle School student Hannae Smyly attach a safety harness during the 2011 Vital Link program where middle-school students shadow workers in the community for a week.

Company Officials: Randall L.

Partners for Growth (PFG) is the Mobile Area Chamber’s long-term economic and community development program. For more information, contact Shelly Mattingly, the Chamber’s investor relations coordinator, at 431-8655 or smattingly@mobilechamber.com.

Stephenson, chairman and chief executive officer; Fred McCallum, president of AT&T-Alabama; and Gigi Armbrecht, regional director for the Mobile area

Years in Business: 100-plus Brief Company Description: AT&T

is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high-speed Internet and voice services. The company also offers advanced TV services.

Why are you located in Mobile?

“We have been providing communications services in Mobile since the late 1800s and look forward to creating innovative solutions and driving innovation for the next 100 years,” said Armbrecht.

Why do you support the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partners for Growth initiative?

What do you see as Mobile’s greatest potential? “Mobile’s

greatest potential is in the people who live here,” said Armbrecht. “The more time and money we spend on building up our human capital, the brighter our future will be.”

Length of continuous Chamber Membership: 1966

“Mobile’s growth can’t be anything but good for business,” said Armbrecht. “We want to do our part to see that growth – and prosperity – is also good for all of the residents in the Mobile area.”

The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

29

Business Spotlight of the Month La Moda’s Hair Salon

Why? Faster Turn Times The Highest Quality (up to 1200 dpi) Personalization Tools Interstate Printing Service & Care

Why not?

See how digital printing can revitalize your marketing techniques while driving down your cost. Interstate Printing is your source for the latest technology and great service. Call us today to learn more!

30 FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

La Moda’s Hair Salon is a full-service salon providing hair and nail care, makeup, waxing, bridal packages and men’s grooming. The staff is professionally trained to educate clients on keeping hair and skin healthy, maintaining appearance and selecting the right products. For more information, call 633-7715.

Pictured from left to right are Chelsea Hipp, Mariet Kennedy, Jenice Coley (salon owner), Alex Myers and Jensen McCollough.

The Business Spotlight of the Month is selected at random from a business card drawing at the Chamber’s monthly Business After Hours event.

Business Spotlight of the Month Cherokee Scrubs4All

HEAVY HAULING FLATBED • HEAVY HAULING • BOAT HAULING • CONTAINER HAULING Agent since 1993

Specializing in Tanks, Pipes, Heavy Equipment and Machinery, and Over-Dimensional Boats Serving 48 States and Canada.

Cherokee Scrubs4All is a retail shop selling medical scrubs, footwear and accessories. Cherokee is among the largest selling brand of medical scrubs in the industry, and the company offers group discounts, office fittings and deliveries to any size office. For more information call 304-0083.

Pictured from left to right are Kelleigh Nicholes, Christina Carr (manager), Nick Mitchell (owner), Lyn Mitchell and Jennifer Beach at the store on Airport Boulevard.

Call anytime!

If you’re working, so are we.

7040 McDonald Road Irvington, AL 36544 Phone: 800-242-9212 or 251-653-7348 Fax: 251-653-1199 E-Mail: derekp@bellsouth.net www.wonderlandexpressinc.com

Premier Medical Physicians ENT Physicians RONNIE E. SWAIN, MD W. CARTER BRYARS, JR., MD BARRY L. BROWN, MD JAMES R. SPIRES, JR., MD JOHN S. WILSON, MD, FACS JAMES K. PITCOCK, MD P. VAN. CROCKER, MD MARK R. GACEK, MD ALFRED M. NEUMANN, JR., MD RONNIE E. SWAIN, JR., MD J. MARK HARRISON, MD KIMBERLY ELLIOTT, MD MICHAEL LEE, MD RICHARD L. PALESANO, MD Audiology JIM MCDILL, PHD JENNIFER TAYLOR-GUY, AUD Eye Physicians JAMES M. HARRISON, JR., MD CLAUDE M. WARREN, III, MD ROLLINS L. TINDELL, JR., MD CHARLES R. SALISBURY, MD MATTHEW W. MOSTELLER, MD CHARLES S. MOSTELLER, MD RICHARD J. DUFFEY, MD H. CHRISTOPHER SEMPLE, MD ANDREW P. TERRY, MD STUART F. BALL, MD WILLIAM F. MURRAH, III, MD MARK J. DOUGLAS, MD CURTIS M. GRAF, JR., MD BEN F. KING, OD GREGORY R. JACKSON, OD ROBERT E. EDGE, OD VALERIE L. VICK, MD JAY A. BROWN, MD CHARLES F. JONES, M.D. JEFFERY A. MORROW, O.D. CHRIS WALTON, MD ERIN E. LICHTENSTEIN, MD

The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

31

Comparative

Ambassadors of the Month

Economic Indicators October 2011 vs October 2010

Lydia Farmer Lydia Farmer, the regional catering sales manager for Panera Bread, a bakery café with three locations in Mobile, was named the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Month for October.

She has been in Mobile for three years, and she credits her Chamber involvement with helping her network and meet others in the community and learn more about Mobile.

Morisani

Photo by J. Tesney Photography

Farmer

Photo by J. Tesney Photography

The Mobile Area Chamber’s research division collects a variety of statistics each month.

Nick Morisani Nick Morisani is an associate at the law firm of Adams and Reese LLP who works primarily on insurance and commercial litigation. He is the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Month for November.

For Morisani, this program is an opportunity to meet, work with and socialize with other volunteers while getting more involved with the growth of Mobile’s business community.

Business Licenses City of Mobile

172 2011 188 2010

Employed Mobile/Baldwin counties

Building Permits City of Mobile

226 2011 236 2010

Value of Building Permits

248,141 2011

$22,167,375 2011

240,920 2010

$7,450,895 2010

Unemployment Rates

Air Passengers From Mobile Area

9.5% 2011 9.5% 2010

Homes Sold⌦ Mobile County

269 2011 233 2010

31,275 2011 25,825 2010

Average Selling Price Mobile County $110,846 2011 $130,182 2010

Specialists in Small Business Accounting, Tax Preparation, Payroll and IRS Representation Saty Putcha

Saty was selected as the 2011 Diplomat of the Year by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

SATy PuTchA Cell: 251-604-3802 Email: saty@putchallc.com Website: www.putchallc.com 1521 Dawes Rd. Mobile, Alabama 36695 Phone: 251-666-6624

32 FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

WEST MOBILE

SEMMES

•

•

Carolyn Hunt Joins the Community and Governmental Affairs Department

SPRINGHILL

INJURIES

DON’T KEEP BANKERS HOURS.

E. YO U NE ED ON OR S. WH EN GR EAT DO CT

om

UrgentCare.c

GreaterMobile

251.633.0123

The Mobile Chamber’s worked with her husband at community and Cornerstone Church in governmental affairs Tillman’s Corner since they department named moved to Mobile in 2005.

Carolyn J. Hunt as its She volunteers with a single administrative assistant. mom program, and teaches She most recently worked computer classes for part-time in the Mobile beginners. Prior to that, Area Chamber’s Hunt worked in the membership department insurance industry for 25 as a customer service years as an office manager Hunt representative. for State Farm Insurance.

In her new position, Hunt will “Carolyn has already proven to be maintain communications with the a valuable addition to the Chamber team department’s many committees and task through her good work in membership,” forces. Hunt will be responsible for the said Ginny Russell, the department’s vice department’s key annual events: Leaders president.

Exchange, Pork & Politics in the Park, Hunt said, “The atmosphere at the Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day events, Chamber makes you enjoy your work.” and the State of the City and County Hunt can be reached at 431-8621 or Luncheon. chunt@mobilechamber.com.

Before joining the Chamber, Hunt

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Café 3201 Dauphin Street Café The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

33

February Calendar of Events 8

9

Speed Networking Based on the concept of “speed dating,” this rapid-fire networking event guarantees you’ll talk to as many people as possible in a short period of time.

Held at the Mobile Area Chamber from 8 to 9 a.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Speed Networking event costs $10, which must be paid at the time of reservation. Coffee starts at 7:45 a.m., and the event starts promptly at 8 a.m. Reservations must be made by Monday, Feb. 6.

For reservations contact, Carolyn Golson at 431-8622 or cgolson@mobilechamber.com.

14

Contacts and Contracts What do a baker in Austin, Texas, a fashion shop owner in El Paso, Texas, and a real estate developer in New Orleans have in common? They were each given a loan to jump-start their American dream by Accion Texas, a multistate nonprofit organization granting business loans from $500 to $250,000.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, the organization’s chief lending officer, Bill Sabin, will speak at the Mobile Area Chamber’s Contacts and Contracts event, held at the Chamber, 451 Government St., from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Sabin will present loan programs available to minority and small business owners to either start, grow or sustain their company at the quarterly business development event.

Reservations are requested, and there is no charge to attend.

For more information, contact Brenda Rembert at 431-8607 or brembert@ mobilechamber.com.

Women’s Roundtable

*Members Only

The Mobile Area Chamber’s Women’s Roundtable, a bimonthly forum exclusively for Chamber member women business owners and managers, will have a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 8 - 9 a.m. in the Chamber’s Tricentennial Room.

Makeda Nichols, agent and registered representative for State Farm Insurance, will discuss exit plans for business owners and managers. What type of plans do you have in place in the event of a major illness or death? Nichols will discuss different scenarios and will also bring financial specialist Jerry Johnson to talk about what you can do to take preventive measures. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited.

For reservations contact, Carolyn Golson at 431-8622 or cgolson@mobilechamber.com.

15

For information on Chamber events, visit events.mobilechamber.com.

GCTC Lunch The Gulf Coast Technology Council will host its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5 Rivers. Tony Zodrow with GulfQuest will discuss the technology and automation in the maritime museum. The cost to attend is $15 for Chamber members or $20 for potential members and includes lunch.

Reservations are required and cancellations after Feb. 10 will not be reimbursed to cover the cost of lunch.

For more information contact, Shelly Mattingly at 431-8655 or smattingly@ mobilechamber.com.

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Chamber Closed for Mardi Gras

Pork & Politics in the Park Tuesday, February 28 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15

Reservation and cancellation deadline is February 23.

USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park

For reservations, contact Carolyn Hunt at 251-431-8621 or chunt@mobilechamber.com

Sponsored By: Alabama Power Co.; AltaPointe Health Systems Inc.; Austal USA; DuPont Crop Protection; G.A. West & Co.; Hargrove Engineers + Constructors; International Shipholding; Mobile Gas; and ST Aerospace Mobile Food by Chris & Carla's Catering & Heavenly Ribs; Event Photography by Davis Photography; Beverages provided by Buffalo Rock - Pepsi; Beer/Wine by Gulf Distributing

34 FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

2012 PPP TBV ad-blue2.indd 1

12/15/2011 11:22:45 AM

28

Business After Hours Join Chamber members and diplomats Thursday, Feb. 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for Business After Hours at Hilton Garden Inn - Mobile West. This popular Chamber event is a great venue to introduce your company and make new contacts.

The cost to attend is $5 for members and $10 for potential members. Reservations are not needed. For more information, contact Missy Hartley at 431-8638 or mhartley@ mobilechamber.com.

Executive Roundtable

*Members Only

Executive Roundtable, a monthly forum exclusively for Chamber member small business owners and managers, will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Mobile Area Chamber’s Board Room. Connie Hudson, president of the Mobile County Commision will provide an update on Mobile County. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited.

For reservations contact Brenda Rembert at 431-8607 or brembert@ mobilechamber.com.

Pork & Politics in the Park It’s the Mobile Area Chamber’s annual political rally, the much-anticipated Pork & Politics in the Park. Scheduled days ahead of Alabama’s primary election, the event is set for Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at USS ALABAMA Battleship Park.

This year’s attendees, for the first time, will have a chance to vote for their favorite candidates (both local, state and presidential) in a mock election.

Pork & Politics in the Park features a barbecue buffet catered by Chris and Carla’s Catering and Heavenly Ribs, with tickets priced at $15.

For reservations, call Carolyn Hunt at 431-8621 or chunt@mobilechamber.com.

Member News Who’s New Mobile Gas, a Sempra Energy Company, hired Kesshia Davis as director of community relations. Davis most recently worked at the Davis Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau.

X Jennifer Ogle joined Taylor Wharton Cryogenics as director of human resources. Ogle previously worked for Armstrong World Industries as a senior human resources manager.

X Jack Caravello, who has more than 37 years of experience in maritime and offshore industries, joined Rainmaker LLC as vice president of business development.

Caravello

Roberts

Robertson

Hall

Abercrombie

Bay Bank announced several staff promotions: Chris Roberts was promoted to vice president and commercial loan officer and Jessica Hall to branch manager at the Airport Boulevard office; James “Skeeter” Robertson to branch manager and loan officer at the Theodore branch; and Donna Abercrombie to branch manager and loan officer for both the Dauphin Island and Bayley’s Corner (Fowl River) branches as well as the business development officer.

The Alabama Coastal Foundation welcomed Mark Berte as executive director. Berte has more than 25 years of experience in the Berte nonprofit sector and is a Leadership Mobile and Leadership Alabama graduate.

X The physicians of Mobile OB-GYN PC welcomed Dr. Hope McLean, a graduate of Florida State University College of Medicine, as a physician at the McLean practice’s Providence Hospital location.

X Financial representative Jerome Sanders joined Principal Financial Group and works with individuals planning retirement.

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Alabama.

Henderson

Wallace

Agents James Henderson and Tim Wallace joined Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS Mobile Office.

X Thames Batré Mattei Beville & Ison welcomed Brian Munger as a personal insurance advisor for homeowners, automobiles, umbrellas Munger and related exposures.

Munger has 12 years of experience in personal insurance with a focus on insurance programs for high net worth individuals and families.

X Ken Ziegler joined Red Square Agency as a copywriter. Ziegler is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design.

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The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

35

Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

X

LeDoux

Estrada

Barr

Gard

Sosnowski

The University of South Alabama (USA) announced four appointments: Susan LeDoux as associate dean for medical education; Edwards Benjamin Estrada, assistant dean for educational strategies and faculty development; Anthony Gard, assistant dean for curriculum assessment and evaluation; and Jeffrey Sosnowski, assistant dean for curriculum integration.

In other news, USA named Karen Webster Edwards director of alumni relations. Edwards received a bachelor’s degree in communication from USA and attended the Leadership Development

Heisterhagen

Burr & Forman LLP added two new associates. Taylor N. Barr joined the firm’s commercial litigation practice group. She received a juris doctorate degree from The University of Alabama School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

Kasee Sparks Heisterhagen joined the firm’s creditors’ rights & bankruptcy practice group. Heisterhagen received a juris doctorate degree from The University of Alabama School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Washington & Lee University.

X Joe Gerard is now a licensed real estate agent at Roberts Brothers West office.

Gerard

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Gwin’s has hi-speed digital printing, full-color offset printing, die-cutting, embossing, foil stamping and so much more!

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36 FEBRUARY 2012 | The Business View

International Assurance Inc. welcomed agent Michael R. Sullivan as a commercial lines producer specializing in commercial insurance and bonds.

WebPoint Content Management System (CMS), which allows customers to add, remove and update web data anytime and anywhere.

Well Done Sullivan

Business Endeavors Sovereign Consulting Inc., a civil/ environmental engineering firm in Mobile, recently teamed up with a local architect to win the design and construction management contract to build the new McAdory Fire District Station #2 in the Bessemer area of Jefferson County, Ala. X Mobile-based Integrated Electronic Technologies Inc., a leader in systems integration, opened its newest branch office in Baton Rouge, La. X Mobile ARC is now growing and selling red lettuce, microgreens, Japanese eggplants and peppers. For more information, visit www.mobilearc.org.

X FusionPoint Media Inc., a multimedia company specializing in creative services and web development, recently launched

Hancock Holding Co. announced its Horizon Diversified International Fund received a five-star overall rating, the highest issued to the Top 10 percent of funds, from Morningstar. The Horizon Burkenroad Fund and Hancock Horizon Value fund also received five-star ratings for the 10-year period.

X Remington College-Mobile Campus, 828 Downtowner Loop West, graduated its first class from the campus Process Control Engineering Technology (PTEC) program.

The program provides training in the monitoring and control of processing equipment such as pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, distillation columns, boilers and furnaces.

X TAG/The Architects Group was ranked No. 8 in the state according to Business Alabama’s October 2011 issue featuring Alabama’s largest architectural firms. In addition, TAG was the only Mobile-based architectural firm listed in the Top 10. Firms were ranked by total design fees in 2010.

Johnstone Adams was named a topranked law firm in the U.S. News Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” national rankings as the only Mobile-headquartered firm in the area of admiralty and maritime law. In addition, the firm is one of only four Mobile-headquartered firms to make the Martindale-Hubbell list, the oldest legal ranking guide, in its first-ever Top-Ranked Law Firms list to appear in Fortune magazine in 2012.

Submission deadline for Member News is two months prior to publication.

News releases should be one or two brief paragraphs. Photos must be professional headshots, labeled with the person’s last name, and must be 300 dpi at full size and saved in an eps, tif or jpg format.

Send your information to news@mobilechamber.com.

Robert H. Cook of White-Spunner & Associates earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation from the CCIM Institute. Cook specializes in commercial sales and leasing, as well as property management.

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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic PC................4 BankTrust.....................................................3 BB&T........................................................... 35 Boteler, Finley & Wolfe............................... 37 Community Bank......................................30 FLC Living...................................................39 FusionPoint Media.....................................36 Greater Mobile Urgent Care......................33 Gwin’s Commercial Printing....................36 Harris Business Machines...........................4 HUB International....................................... 8

Interstate Printing & Graphics Inc..........30 Lagniappe................................................... 37 Logical Computer Solutions......................10 Mamun/ReMax Partners......................... 37 Mobile County Health Department............5 Padgett Business Services of Mobile........32 Premier Medical Management................ 31 Ron’s Catering............................................33 The University of Alabama.......................12 Wonderland Express.................................. 31

The Business View | FEBRUARY 2012

37

New Members

If you know of a company interested in benefitting from Chamber membership, contact Tricia Bradley at 431-8642 or Rebecca Milam at 431-8647.

View the complete membership directory at www.mobilechamber.com.

Clip and add to your Membership Directory.

Mia Burmeister-Laws Mia Burmeister-Laws 775 N. University Blvd., Ste. 260 Mobile, AL 36608 251-422-5756 Insurance - Long Term Care Career Women of Mobile Ceresa M. Frenkel 413-C Azalea Rd. Mobile, AL 36609-1681 251-342-1097 Nonprofit Organization The Center for Family and Community Development Tarrant Lanier 126 Mobile St. Mobile, AL 36607 251-599-0157 www.cfcdofalabama.org Nonprofit Organization Class Act Clips LLC Kelli Knight P.O. Box 851865 Mobile, AL 36685-1865 225-773-4286 www.classactclips.com Coupon Advertising Coastal Alabama Leadership Council Colby J. Cooper 9 S. Summit St. Fairhope, AL 36532 251-928-0265 Nonprofit Organization CostFlex Systems Inc. Mark Ryan 4320 Boulevard Park S. Mobile, AL 36609 251-343-9595 www.costflex.com Software Development Deep South Derby All Stars Jessica Wendling 108 Blacksher Ct. Mobile, AL 36608 251-591-0529 www.deepsouthderby.com Sports & Family Entertainment DFGS Consulting Daya Fields 4121 Yellow Heron Ln. Mobile, AL 36693-4371 617-650-1227 Marketing Consultants Dot Com Secrets Local Gary Lambert 1103 N. Hickory St., Ste. C Loxley, AL 36551 251-272-3632 www.DotComSecretsLocal.net Website Design

Laser and Skin Care Center of Mobile Darlene Miller 3 Mobile Infirmary Cir., Ste. 303 Mobile, AL 36607-3515 251-433-7546 www.laserandskincarecenter ofmobile.com Skin Care Little Language LLC April Bradley P.O. Box 7231 Spanish Fort, AL 36577 251-610-7968 www.littlelanguagellc.com Educational Programs Massage Envy Alexis Fonte 3659 Airport Blvd.

Mobile, AL 36608-1615 251-316-3110 www.massageenvy.com Massage Therapy Mattress Depot Stan Skipper 4679 Airport Blvd.

Mobile, AL 36608 251-341-1700 www.mattressdepotofmobile.com Mattresses Panini Pete’s LoDa Cheryl Blohme 19 S. Conception St. Mobile, AL 36602-2701 251-405-0031 www.paninipetes.com Restaurants Pet Supplies PLUS Scott Graham 803 Hillcrest Rd. Mobile, AL 36695-3909 251-343-9702 www.askpsp.com Pet Supplies & Foods Pettway Bookkeeping & Tax Service LLC Deborah Pettway 273 Azalea Rd., Bldg. 2 Ste. 518 Mobile, AL 36609 251-341-9400 www.pbtaccounting.com Bookkeeping Service Port City Self Storage Halls Mill Rd. Gary Brown 5363 Halls Mill Rd. Mobile, AL 36619 251-660-0247 Storage - Self Power & Rubber Supply Inc. Chris Jacobs 1778 Sixth St. Mobile, AL 36615-4210 205-759-5156 www.powerandrubber.com Bearings - Power Transmission Supply

The Business Business View View 38 FEBRUARY 2012 | The

Preble-Rish Inc. Joseph Bullock 9949 Bellaton Ave. Daphne, AL 36526 251-990-9950 www.preble-rish.com Engineers-Surveyors Procut Management, Inc. Ashley Pugh P.O. Box 9134 Mobile, AL 36691-0134 251-634-8930 www.procutmobile.com Landscape-Planning & Design Quality Filters Inc. Jim Gates 23351 Grissom Dr. Robertsdale, AL 36567 251-947-2400 www.qualityfilters.com Manufacturers Mickie Russell - Roberts Brothers Inc. Realtor Mickie M. Russell 559 N. Section St. Fairhope, AL 36532-2645 251-928-2109 Real Estate Sleep Apnea Professionals Fredrico A. Dixon III 1055 Montlimar Dr. Mobile, AL 36609 251-706-1499 www.sleepapneaprofessionals.net Sleep Apnea Tennessee Valley Training Center Brittney Rogers 4260 Halls Mill Rd. Mobile, AL 36693-5617 251-338-7470 www.tvtc.org Safety Training and Consultants Theodore Industrial Port Sean Curry 2640 Claudia Ln. Theodore, AL 36582 251-665-2599 www.theodoreport.com Port Operators Vail Rubber Works Inc. Bruce Merritt P.O. Box 64 St. Joseph, MI 49085 251-509-6572 www.vailrubber.com Rubber Products Virtual Contact Group LLC Sheila Holifield-Barnes P.O. Box 41081 Mobile, AL 36604 251-243-0943 www.virtualcontactgroup.com Internet Marketing

As of 11/30/11

Anniversaries Members Are Our Greatest Asset!

Please show your support through the patronage of these businesses.

45 YEARS

AT&T Cummings & Associates Gulf Coast Marine Supply Press-Register Rester & Coleman Engineers Inc. Robinson Brothers Lincoln Mercury Volvo Smith, Dukes & Buckalew LLP Standard Equipment Co. Inc. Volkert Inc.

40 YEARS

Lewis Communications Inc.

35 YEARS

Shell Chemical LP/ Shell Mobile Site Stuart C. Irby Co.

25 YEARS

Aaron Oil Co. Bel Air Mall Davidson & Co. Claims Inc. Delaney Development Inc. Folmar & Associates Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa Gulf Electric Co. Inc. of Mobile D.B. Henry Enterprises Inc. d/b/a The Maids Holiday Inc. IPCA La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Joe H. Little Jr., Attorney at Law Precision IBC Inc. Springhill Toyota Thames Batre’ Mattei Beville & Ison T. Malcolm Warren DMD Wade Distributors Inc. Wells Fargo Advisors LLC

20 YEARS

Ball Properties Inc. Mobile Airport Authority Ron Reams - The Compact Disc Jockey Teachers ‘N Tools Inc.

15 YEARS

Millsaps & Associates Inc. Toomey’s Mardi Gras

10 YEARS

Advanced Payroll Solutions Inc. Alabama International Trade Center Bill Baff Landscape Inc. Coastal Clinical Research MacKinnon Paper Co. Inc. Orion Engineering Inc.

5 YEARS

All Clean Janitorial Service LLC APM Terminals (Mobile Container Terminal LLC) Branch, Bell, Zoghby Coastal Bank and Trust

Downtown Mobile Alliance Embroidery By The Bay Employers’ Accounting Services LLC Entec Services Inc. Faulkner State Community College Jubilee BEST Robotics Inc. Liberty Roofing & Home Improvements Petrie’s Small’s Mortuary Inc. St. Luke’s Episcopal School Superior Masonry Inc. Terracon Walashek Industrial & Marine

1-4 YEARS

A&M Forest Consultants Academics Unlimited Alabama Coastal Foundation Alabama One Credit Union Ascent Audiology & Hearing Alliance Insurance Group LLC Barry’s U Pull It Auto Parts Inc. BaySide Café Big Communications Boy Scouts of America Broadway South Dance Studio Buffalo Wild Wings C & P Staffing Group LLC Callaghan’s Irish Social Club Case Construction LLC CertaPro Painters of Mobile and Baldwin Counties Chilton Property Preservation Specialists d/b/a Chilton Asset Services LLC Chiropractic Works PC Citrin, Rihner & Gupta Cardiology PC Community Bank Complete Safety Works Inc. The Complete Skin Care Center Conwell’s Pharmacy Ecovery LLC Elite Collections LLC Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Executive Shuttle Network 5 Star Marketing LLC Family Security Credit Union Floor Trader - Mobile Flowers Baking Co. FMS Engineering LLC The Gates of Fowl River Graham and Associates Gray Construction Hoar Program Management Holiday Inn Express & Suites Daphne Integra Water LLC Integrated Electronic Technologies Inc. James T. Murray III CPA LLC JMH Designs Kingdom Coach LLC The Lathan Co. Inc. Matranga Aviation

The McAleer Tunstall Co. LLC McNorton Ishee & Jones PC Mediterranean Sandwich Co. Millry Communication Inc. Mobile Screen Print & Embroidery/Ad Specialties MortgageAmerica Inc. The Mutt House National Alliance on Mental Illness/NAMI Mobile Newk’s Express Cafe North American Roofing Nustar Energy LP Paris Love Productivity Institution Partridge, Smith PC Penelope House Percy Associates Inc. Phillips & Jordan Inc. Pinnacle Systems Corp.

Port City Self Storage Magnolia Rd. PSI LLC PURE Quick Shot Trucking Inc. Raymond James Financial Services Redwire Residence Inn By Marriott Resolve U.S. Gulf Facility Resources for Independence Rite Way Service Inc. Roberds Commercial Realty Group LLC Rutherfoord, a division of Marsh & McLennan Agency S & K Machineworks and Fabrication Slaton Moving & Warehouse South Alabama Spay and Neuter Center Southern Avionics & Communications Southern Glass Inc. Southern Haulers LLC Spring Hill Comprehensive Dentistry PC State Farm Insurance Allison Horner Stone Ridge at Somerby Park Apartment Homes Sunbelt Building Products Total Safety Inc. Trademark Promotions LLC Tyndall Federal Credit Union URS Corp.

VIC Companies Waste Pro Windstream Communications Wiregrass Archaeological Consulting LLC World Ventures Dream Trips

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602 Azalea Road • Mobile, Alabama 36609 Phone: 251-661-9100 • Fax: 251-661-9102 • 1-800-350-7942

www.flcliving.com • solutions@flcliving.com

believe in mobile belong to the chamber we’re good for business … your business It’s tough running a business, but it’s easier when the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce has your back. Most of our more than 2,200 members are small businesses working to make a living and make a difference. The Chamber does more than build a strong economy – we offer prime networking venues to develop new contacts and solid resources to help you start, manage and grow your company. Believe in a strong future for Mobile. Belong to the Chamber – because it’s good for business and good for Mobile.

www.JoinMobileChamber.com