June 2010 The Business View

THE

BUSINESS VIEW Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

How to...

June 2010 Vol. XXXXI, No. 5

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How the Healthcare Bill Affects Your Business USA’s Economic Impact Tops $2 Billion

Mobile’s Economic

Progress – Partnership with Chamber, City, County

...have a productive lunch hour

...exercise at your desk

...be a good listener ...text like a professional

...present your business card

CONTENTS

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 ©2010

Publisher.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Winthrop M. Hallett III Executive Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor.. .. . . . . . . . . . Susan Rak-Blanchard Copy Editor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cori Yonge Additional Writers and Editors

Ashley Horn, Michelle Roberts Matthews, Carolyn Wilson

Printing Services.. . . . . . . . Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wise Design Inc. Advertising Account Executive.. .. . . . . . . . René Eiland

431-8635 reiland@mobilechamber.com

A D V E R TISE R S Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic...................................... 26 Alabama Power........................................................... 22 Bit-Wizards....................................................................8 Bug Master Exterminators Inc.................................. 26 CH fulfillment services...............................................30 Community Bank..........................................................7 Gwin’s Commercial Printing.....................................29 Gary Adams, Principal Financial Group................... 32 Interstate Printing...................................................... 12 Jubliee Landscape Management................................ 16 Lagniappe....................................................................29 Mensura Capital LLC & Mensura Securities LLC.....28 Mobile Regional Airport............................................. 35 Online Payroll Services Inc.........................................27 Premier Medical Management.................................. 25 RBC Bank......................................................................8 Safe Archives............................................................... 25 Server Corps................................................................ 13 Springdale Travel.......................................................... 6 Spring Hill College...................................................... 13 Sunbelt Business Sales & Acquisitions...................... 13 WAVENet Technologies................................................ 15 Whitney Bank.............................................................. 22 Windmill Market......................................................... 14

ON THE CO V E R THE

BUSINESS VIEW

How to...

...have a productive lunch hour

...exercise at your desk

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

8-11 With construction projects topping $400 million, the University of South Alabama is influencing both education and Mobile’s economy.

...be a goo listener d

...text like a professional

13-14 Find out what healthcare reform means for

...present your business card

small businesses and what employers need to know about new regulations.

23-24 Learn what Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and Mobile

On the cover: How to – The Business View’s County Commission President Merceria Ludgood most extensive section on how to do everything had to say about Mobile’s future at the 13th annual from having a productive lunch hour to texting State of the City and County. And read about the like a professional. See story on pages 17-21. successful collaboration between the city, the Cover design by Wise Design Inc. county and the Mobile Area Chamber.

F EAT U R ES 3-4 News You Can Use – Positive update for businesses in the area and around the state – Aker Solutions adds high-paying jobs, money allocated to retrain area workers, Alabama- based Fortune 500 company boosts economy and Mobile attracts media attention.

Reach 22,200 Decision Makers EACH Month 5 ETC – Organizational updates and business briefs, including a USA College of Medicine grant helping primary care doctors transition Advertise in The Business View to electronic records, the latest Gulf Coast Exploreum exhibits and a new director for workforce development.

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17-21 How to... business tips from texting, e-mail, productivity and more.

FIND THE CHAMBER ON THE WEB facebook.com

Group - mobileareachamberofcommerce linkedin.com Group - mobileareachamberofcommerce mobilechamber.com/chamberblog.asp twitter.com/MobileChamber youtube.com/MobileChamber

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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M ONTH LY F OC U S 7 Small Business of the Month: 29 Board of Advisors Artcraft Press 26 SCORE: Cover Up – Choosing Small 29 Who’s in Town?

Business Insurance to Meet Your Needs

30 Chamber@Work 27 Business Spotlight of the Month: Dr. Chris 30 Economic Indicators Corsentino & Associates, Chiropractors 31 Calendar 27 Diplomat of the Month: Lee Teague, Bay Bank Contact René Eiland to discover how advertising

32-33 Member News in The Business View can complete your 27 CEO Profile: R. Michael Saxon,

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Anniversaries marketing plan at 251.431.8635 or e-mail Alabama Power

reiland@mobilechamber.com.

34 New Members 28 Investor Focus: Cardiology Associates www.mobilechamber.com/view/media_kit.pdf of Mobile Inc.

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

•Positive PositiveBusiness BusinessNews NewsWhen WhenYou YouNeed NeedIt It• •Positive PositiveBusiness BusinessNews NewsWhen WhenYou YouNeed NeedIt It• •Positive PositiveBusiness BusinessNews NewsWhen WhenYou YouNeed NeedIt It• •

NEWS You Can Use EADS North America Is In Company Will be Sole-Source Bidder in Tanker Competition

Just six weeks after its partner decided not to bid in the aerial refueling tanker competition, EADS North America announced it would be a sole-source bidder, offering up the KC-45, an Airbus A330. If successful, the tankers will be built in Mobile, according to EADS North America executives Ralph Crosby and Sean O’Keefe.

EADS North America as prime contractor opens “a new chapter” in the company’s quest to provide the world’s most capable aerial refueling platform to American war fighters. Previously, Northrop Grumman (NGC) had been in partnership with EADS North America to bid on the U.S. Air Force contract. NGC decided in March not to re-bid the competition, which has seen its fair share of difficulties.

According to Crosby, chairman of EADS North America, the company’s decision to enter the competition is guided by a number of key principles, including the proven quality of its KC-45 and the aircraft’s international success. “It’s not

ambiguous that we have the world’s best tanker,” said Crosby. “Every time we have competed with our counterpart, we have won – five different times, with essentially the same aircraft.”

Mobile Area Chamber President Win Hallett said EADS North America’s decision to bid on the tanker is the right one. “We’ve spent more than five years working to get this plane built and flown in Mobile,” he said. “It’s been an emotional roller-coaster. If I wasn’t 100 percent convinced this was the best plane for the U.S. military, we wouldn’t still be in the game.”

O’Keefe, CEO of EADS North America, said a significant amount has changed since the company entered its previous teaming agreement for the Air Force’s competition five years ago. “Time is the best analyst. Over the course of the past five-plus years, we have developed more than a concept or artist rendering – we have an aircraft being tested, doing all the things it’s designed to do,” said O’Keefe. “That

didn’t exist even when the last award was made – when we won the first time in 2008. Today, it’s a different case.”

Troy Wayman, vice president of economic development for the Mobile Area Chamber, added, “We have every confidence in their abilities and their decision that they can not only be competitive, but actually win this program.

We are prepared to once again stand shoulder to shoulder with EADS through the process and see tankers built in Mobile. We know EADS did not make this decision lightly and would not allocate the resources it will take to bid this program if they did not fully believe they have a fighting chance at a win.”

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and information about EADS North America’s bid in the aerial refueling tanker competition. Go to: www.kc45now.com.

Regions Impact Adds Up A recent study conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at The University of Alabama credits Regions Financial Corp. with an economic impact of $1.5 billion, 23,810 direct and indirect Alabama jobs and $11.2 billion in lending to state businesses and consumers.

The statistics are based on 2008 figures, prior to the worsening of the financial crisis.

Regions Financial is the parent company of Regions Bank and Morgan Keegan & Co. Statewide, the organization employs more than 11,500, with 675 in the Mobile-Baldwin area. The remaining jobs are related to the company’s activities across diverse industries.

“While we had a good idea of the direct spending and employment impacts we had in the state, we were less

certain of the ancillary impacts and multiplier effect,” said spokeswoman Evelyn Mitchell with Regions Financial, who explained this is the first time the company has commissioned a study of this sort.

“Regions is the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Alabama. The Mobile-Baldwin market is important because we see long-term potential,” said Joel Daves, the bank’s area president. Locally, Regions built nine new branches in the last 15 months. “We’re not doing that in any other market,” Daves added.

According to the study, in Mobile, Baldwin and Washington counties, Regions had the following economic and lending impacts in 2008: more than $2.4 billion in new loans to businesses and consumers; $36.5 million-plus Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

in payroll expenditures; $18.6 million in non-payroll expenditures, including purchases, employee benefits, taxes and other charges; and 2,057 direct and indirect jobs.

The report’s findings were based on Regions’ employment, output, value-added and income, utilized the Regional Input Output Modeling System (RIMS II), a tool developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. The study also documents the bank’s loan originations, which facilitated additional economic activity throughout Alabama.

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

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• Positive Business News When You Need It • Positive Business News When You Need It • Positive Business News When You Need It •

Mobile Still Drawing Column Inches State, national and international journalists are featuring businesses in the Mobile area.

In March, the Mobile Area Chamber hosted a reporter from French TV working on a segment about Northrop Grumman’s decision to pull out of the aerial refueling tanker competition. In late April, the Chamber also welcomed four international journalists: writers represented China’s People’s Daily, reaching 3 million Chinese professionals; Economic Daily, also based in China with a circulation of 2 million, covers international finance as well as general business news; Information, one of the leading newspapers in Denmark with a circulation of 103,000; and Handelsblatt, a German national daily newspaper focused on economic and political news, reaching 149,000. The groups toured Airbus Engineering Center, Brookley Complex, Evonik Degussa, Mobile Container Terminal, the Port of Alabama and ThyssenKrupp’s facilities. They also attended the Chamber’s State of the City and County luncheon and met with executives from Downtown Mobile Alliance, Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau and ST Aerospace Mobile.

The latest issue of Alabama Construction News focused on the area’s construction activity. The article highlighted local projects by Bay Gas, Brookley Complex, Performance Contractors, ThyssenKrupp and the University of South Alabama. The publication is published by the Alabama Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors and reaches 8,500 architects, engineers, constructionexecutives and economic development officers.

Of course, EADS North America’s decision to pursue the U.S. Air Force contract brought dozens of mentions of Mobile as the production site if EADS is again successful in the competition.

International reporters toured several sites of foreign-based investors in late April. Pictured here on a tour of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA and ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA are (from left to right): Louise With, Information (Denmark); Dr. Uli Albrecht-Frueh, ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA; Yanchun Yang, Economic Daily (China); Yun Wu, People’s Daily (China); and Matthias Eberle, Handelsblatt (Germany).

Back to Work –

Money Allocated to Retrain the Unemployed “Let us be part of your solution.” That’s the message to area industries and dislocated workers from Cindy Nelms, vice president of planning for Mobile Works. The organization got word in April that it would help manage a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Awarded to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, this grant will be operated by the Alabama Workforce Investment Area and Mobile Works Inc. It is intended to assist workers affected by documented and projected layoffs from companies in southwest Alabama, including Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.

A key focus of the grant will be to retrain and transition affected workers to growing sectors of the regional economy, such as aerospace, construction, healthcare, industrial maintenance, maritime and steel manufacturing. Any industry looking for a workforce can potentially tap into this opportunity, Nelms said.

Approximately $200,000 is expected to go to the South Alabama Workforce Development Council to fund planning

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efforts for handling the region’s dislocated workers in the future.

“In the short-term it is about getting people back to work. In the long-term, we will identify where we really need to put our efforts to find secure, career-oriented jobs,” said Nelms. “For example, 10 years ago, steel manufacturing was not even on our radar and now ThyssenKrupp is hiring dozens of employees a week.”

Employers can also take advantage of subsidized hiring through on-the-job training, emphasized Dr. Leida Javier-Ferrell, the Mobile Area Chamber’s director of workforce development.

“Over a million dollars will come back to employers and training providers to produce the region’s needed workforce and that’s an incredible incentive that will help the bottom line of businesses,” said Javier-Ferrell.

Of the $1.7 million announced, $867,015 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance.

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

Aker Solutions

Prepares for Growth New contracts and prospects for additional growth in the energy sector are driving a $6 million expansion at Aker Solution’s Mobile Middle Bay Port operations, according to Marc Quenneville, the company’s vice president.

This expansion was planned before President Barack Obama’s announcement to open Florida waters for oil drilling, according to Quenneville, and is already under way.

The project’s completion date is set for this October. It is expected to generate an additional 20 high-paying positions.

Currently the company employs 155 local workers.

“We are increasing our output and expanding our manufacturing portfolio,” said Quenneville. “Previous successes in Mobile make it the obvious choice to increase output and expand our manufacturing product base.”

This is the third expansion since the facility located in the area in 2002, then as Kvaerner Oilfield Products.

Following a restructuring in 2004, the company became Aker Kvaerner in 2004, and changed its name to Aker Solutions in 2008. Late last summer, the company announced it would add 30 jobs and make a $2.3 million investment.

The Norway-based company is a leading provider of engineering and construction services, manufacturing umbilicals, flexible steel tubes carrying bundled lines of communications and fluids from oil and gas platforms, and other sub-sea equipment used to extract oil and gas beneath the ocean floor.

ETC (Sea) Lions, Lizards and Robots, Oh My! Just in time for summer vacations, the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center announced three exhibits for 2010, including a state-of-the-art engineering and technology center, exotic reptiles from around the world and a live sea lion exploration and adventure.

On May 1, a new permanent exhibit called Explore TEC (technology & engineering careers) opened. Through a $500,000 NASA grant, exploreum staff will have the equipment and expertise to offer instruction in robotics, engineering design, 3D design, architecture and more.

No other science center in the country offers this level of engineering and technology programming, according to Hela Sheth, the exploreum’s director of marketing and public relations.

The exploreum also announced “Reptile Planet,” a traveling exhibit opening Monday, July 5, and running

Workforce Council Hires New Executive South Alabama Workforce Development Council Region 9 (SAWDC) announced Laura Davis Chandler is its new executive director.

“Chandler’s experience and leadership ability will add tremendously to our organization’s efforts to meet the workforce needs of our area,” said Bob Higgins, SAWDC’s board chairman and vice president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.

In her previous position, Chandler was president and chief executive officer of the Gulf Coast Renaissance Corp., a nonprofit, public-private partnership formed following Hurricane Katrina. In that capacity, she directed efforts to remove obstacles to the rebuilding effort and to stimulate private real estate development and investment in the three coastal counties of Mississippi.

SAWDC is a local partnership charged with planning and coordinating workforce development efforts and funding in eight counties, including Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington. The industry-led and industry-driven council’s board includes business leaders who comprise 75 percent of the council, with the remaining positions held by elected and community leaders and workforce training providers. The Mobile Area Chamber is a key investor and partner with the group.

Chandler holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Auburn University and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

through Oct. 24. The exhibit showcases live reptiles from 20 different countries, including Burmese pythons, snakenecked turtles, veiled chameleons and American alligators.

An interactive zoological experience, Sheth believes the exhibit will leave families with a newfound appreciation for these often misunderstood creatures. Tickets for “Reptile Planet” go on sale Tuesday, June 1, at www.exploreum.com.

Lastly, from Nov. 10 - 21, “Sea Lion Splash,” a new exhibit, will be housed at the Mobile County Annex lot on Royal Street. The exhibit features live shows that entertain audiences as sea lions balance balls, shoot hoops and dance, as well as educate guests about the habits of these fascinating creatures.

For tickets visit www.exploreum.com.

Local Public Relations Professional Association Plans ToolKit for Business Professionals Research and planning are key elements to any successful business model. They’re also critical in helping a business and its employees communicate a message, sell products and promote themselves.

On Thursday, June 24, the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) Mobile Chapter is hosting a half-day seminar to help business owners, marketing and public relations professionals and area students gain valuable insight on how to develop a successful communications plan and build a strong team to implement it. The event will be held at the Junior League of Mobile, 57 N. Sage Ave. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $55 for PRCA members or $65 for guests, and includes lunch.

The day begins with an interactive presentation using a case study to reveal how to create a communications plan. John Walker, senior vice president of telecommunications and technology with Edelman Public Relations.

Walker’s clients include Motorola, QualComm, Samsung and SouthernLinc, where he works with them to create brand value and community relations.

Carolyn Akers of the Mobile Area Education Foundation will speak about how she has successfully used the book “Now, Discover your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham to identify the foundation staff’s strengths and utilize them to create an effective organization. The book is based on information from the Gallup organization, which interviewed over 1 million business executives to form a test to discover workers’ strengths.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

The day will end after lunch presentations from two local experts, Judy Marston who will speak on understanding and working with multiple generations and Hayley Hill, a local image and style consultant who will help attendees learn what creates a professional image, especially when seeking career advancement and being the “face” of your organization.

To learn more about this event, or to register, contact Susan Carothers with Wilkins Miller Hieronymus LLC at: scarothers@wilkinsmiller.com.

Fast Facts: Who: Any business owner, marketing or

public relations professional in

the Mobile Bay region What: Public Relations Council of Alabama

Mobile Chapter “ToolKit” When: Thursday, June 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Junior League of Mobile, 57 N. Sage Ave. Cost: $55 for PRCA members; $65 for guests;

and $25 for students, and includes lunch

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

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Bob Bender 25 Years

Springdale Travel American Express Thanks to all of our loyal clients for over 30 years of support.

We look forward to serving you for the next 30 years Awarded American Express Rep Excellence Award for the Fourth Consecutive Year - recognizing Highest Sales Volume and Superior Customer Service ~ Repeat Winner of the Carnival Cruise Lines’ Pinnacle Award - awarded for Highest Sales Volume ~ American Express Vacations’ Best of the Best Award for Top Accounts for 2008 and 2009 recognizing Highest Sales Volume ~ Winner of the Mobile Press Register‘s Reader’s Choice Award For All Eight Years

Amanda Collier 5 Years

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Mandi Robinson 3 Years

Cathy Clarke 30 Years

Carol Fountain 35 Years

Debra Smith 5 Years

Rebecca Lytle 6 Years

Jahala Woods 39 Years

Terri Shoda 25 Years

Melissa Bliss 16 Years

Liz Hedberg 32 Years

Galyna Henry 6 Years

Jennifer Fagan 4 Years

David Reed 18 Years

Claudine Powell 15 Years

Mary Bender 20 Years

Nicole Massingill 7 Years

Maggie Guggenbiller 2 Years

Monica Domning 19 Years

Barbara Driver 27 Years

Janet Phillips 38 Years

Soraya King 18 Years

Carrie Mann 35 Years

Michelle Phillips 12 Years

Ann Meredith 32 Years

Todd Dubose 28 Years

Sam Corsentino 15 Years

Linda Bennett 20 Years

Colin Martin 12 Years

Mendy Tanner 7 Years

Stacy Murphy 4 Years

Denise Winship 25 Years

Sue Bruno 25 Years

Beverly Beckman 26 Years

Carolyn Utsey 14 Years

Leigh Dunlavy 26 Years

Tiffany Holder 5 Years

Hal Dunlavy 18 Years

Mark Washington 14 Years

With Offices in Mobile and Pensacola See www.SpringdaleTravel.com for more information or call (800) 874-0550.

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

Portia Thompson 12 Years

Angela Barrett 17 Years

Jennifer McKnight New Hire!

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

S

mall Business of the Month

Artcraft Press A family business, Artcraft Press has operated in Mobile since the early 1900s .

Artcraft Press is the Mobile Area Chamber’s Small Business of the Month.

As a pressman for the Mobile Press Register, company founder Leon Nicholas knew he would need additional income to support his wife Laura and their five children (the couple would go on to have nine).

In 1929, he began a small print operation out of the family garage in Toulminville and with the help of his wife and kids, the venture quickly turned into a full-time printing business.

Through the years, Artcraft expanded with additional equipment, outgrew the garage, moved into a second location and recruited family members such as Leon’s son Claude Nicholas and nephew John Nicholas to join the company.

After 35 years, Leon retired in 1964, turning the business over to Laura, Claude and John. In the early 1970s, Artcraft relocated to its present location at 12 Tacon St. and is now run by Leon’s daughter Joan McInnis, as well as John Nicholas and his children Todd, Kip, Angela and Candy.

The business currently has 20 employees.

Decade by decade, the Nicholas family has seen the printing business transform from handset type and letterpress to printing offset and digital, and Artcraft has kept up with the changing times. “We can still do a little letterpress work, but now almost everything prepress is digital and there is no longer a two-week timeframe to print most jobs,” said John Nicholas.

The company prides itself as a small family business providing quality work for its clients. “We offer personal customer service and when clients deal with our company, they are dealing with our family and that makes it personal to us,” said Todd Nicholas.

From black and white to four-color process printing, the owners of Artcraft say they can tackle any size job and offer print services including business cards, wedding invitations, booklets, copies, foil stamping, embossing and more. And with its history deeply rooted in Mobile, John believes it is more important than ever to print locally.

“When people print in Mobile, it means tax dollars stay in Mobile,” said John.

Located on Tacon Street since the 1970s, Artcraft owners are (from left) Todd Nicholas, Christopher “Kip” Nicholas, Joan McInnis and John Nicholas.

Though computers have changed the business, Artcraft kept its original name dating back to the early days of printing when it was considered a type of art and craft to set the words and apply the right

amount of pressure behind each letter to print. “Also, Leon wanted to be the first name in the phone book with the letter A,” explained Todd.

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Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

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JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

4/8/10 2:09 PM

Beyond Education, USA’s Impact is Shaping the Community

I

t is widely understood that the greatest impact of any college or university is in shaping the future of its students. However, recent changes at the University of South Alabama (USA) are also shaping the community’s economic landscape. Over the last decade, USA has created a technology and research park, the first academic cancer research institute on the Central Gulf Coast and construction projects have topped $400 million.

Swift Biotechnology, a spin-off of the Mitchell Cancer Institute, was the first park tenant to place in the state’s business plan competition, Alabama Launchpad.

Less than two years ago, the Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) opened its doors as a world-class comprehensive research and treatment facility developed by USA and Mobile Infirmary. With a $135 million-plus investment, MCI is the single largest research endeavor in the university’s history. Currently, the facility employs 250 physicians, researchers and staff.

Moulton is grateful for the business community’s support of this initiative. “MCI was named the Chamber’s top legislative priority and was later awarded the Innovator “All the changes we’re making are designed to play on of the Year by the Chamber. I’m not sure if that’s been done the strengths of the university and address the needs of the anywhere else,” he said. community,” said university president Gordon Moulton.

Fiscal responsibility and conservative spending is what The Technology and Research Park is home to 21 has allowed the university to proceed with its building tenants and academic programs. Since 2002, park-based program according to Moulton. Two of the buildings companies have created more than

expanded the Colleges of Nursing USA By the Numbers: 600 local, private-sector jobs in and Allied Health Professions and

computer science, information

the College of Engineering and 65,000 - Degrees awarded technology and biomedicine.

School of Computer Sciences. The

14,757 - Total enrollment By design, it fosters a unique

other four are aimed at enhancing 2,824 - Graduate student enrollment partnership between entrepreneurs student life – “the things students

250,000 - Patients treated annually and university professors,

are looking for when they choose a 5,500 - Employees researchers and students said school, like a recreation center,”

$2 billion - Annual economic impact Ker Ferguson, the park’s director.

said Moulton. $289 million - Annual payroll As the area’s economic develop $93.5 million - Amount raised in the

ment base has expanded and first Capital Campaign diversified, so has that of the Source: University of South Alabama

university. “And I would give a great deal of that credit to President

Gordon Moulton and the university’s governing board.

Gordon has the mind of an entrepreneur. He has vision. And when a good idea comes across his desk, he acts quickly,” said Win Hallett, the Mobile Area Chamber’s president.

Established in 1963 with the first classes taught in 1964, USA is today an entity that has grown from 928 students to 14,757. According to Moulton, its annual impact tops $2 billion. There are 5,500 employees drawing an annual payroll of $289 million. For the 2009-10 school year, its revenues are reported at $757 million. Gross licensing revenue for USA patents and developments for 2009 were $2.6 million, enough to rank the university 68th among U.S. universities in licensing proceeds, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Mouton initially came to Mobile to “test the waters of university teaching” as a business professor 44 years ago. He was offered an administrative position and he continued to advance, becoming the second president in the university’s history in 1998. Fred Whiddon founded the university in 1963 and served as its president until he retired in 1998.

Among the school’s alumni are one-third of the area’s doctors and 85 percent of local teachers, along with entrepreneurs, U.S. military generals, accountants, engineers, nurses and more.

But in the end, Moulton is an educator at heart, saying, “The most important thing about this university is that parents hold their head up high because they know the quality and the strength of the education their child is getting.”

USA’s board of trustees named its bell tower the Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza in honor of the “exceptional service” of President Gordon Moulton and his wife, Geri.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

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USA Campus Construction Tops $400 Million In the last few years, the University of South Alabama (USA) has built or has under construction eight buildings to expand learning facilities or enhance student life. The value of these endeavors top $400 million.

University President Gordon Moulton says he has a “Warren Buffett strategy” when it comes to capital investment in a tough economy. Buffett is known for his valueinvesting philosophy. Moulton says he has stayed conservative and built the university’s reserves. In addition he had bond money and dollars set aside. “If we would have

waited for the economy to recover, we would have a missed this construction market. Right now construction costs are down. What better time to build what you know the campus is going to need?” queried Moulton.

The USA’s board of trustees in April approved plans to construct a new residence hall on campus by fall 2011.

While it is too soon to have a rendering or costs, the board committed to a 300-bed dorm to help keep with the growing student population.

Projects underway or recently completed include: Shelby Hall Engineering and Computing Sciences, to be completed fall 2011, College of Engineering and School of Computer Sciences Size: 155,000 square feet Cost: more than $40 million Architect: Bargainer, Davis, Sims (Montgomery) Contractor: Elkins Constructors Inc. (Jacksonville, Fla.) Student Dining Facility, to be completed summer 2010 Size: 20,000 square feet Cost: $8.8 million Architect: Walcott, Adams, Verneuille (Fairhope) Contractor: Trademark Construction (Mobile)

Rendering of Shelby Hall Engineering and Computing Science

Rendering of USA Student Dining Hall

Student Recreation Center, to be completed summer 2010 Size: 116,000 square feet, plus outdoor recreation areas including indoor and outdoor pools.

Cost: $30 million Architect: Washer, Hill, Lipscomb, Cabaniss (Baton Rouge, Fairhope) Contractor: White-Spunner Construction Inc. (Mobile) Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza, completed spring 2010 Size: bell tower base is 1,600 square feet with seating for 140 people in an open-sided multi-activity space Cost: $6 million Architect: Bargainer, Davis, Sims (Montgomery) Contractor: White-Spunner Construction Inc. (Mobile) Football Field House, completed August 2009 Size: 40,000 square feet Cost: $4.7 million Architect: Coast Architects (Mobile) Contractor: Trademark Construction (Mobile) Health Sciences Building, completed May 2009 Colleges of Nursing and Allied Health Professions Size: 186,000 square feet Cost: $45 million Architect: Bargainer, Davis, Sims (Montgomery) Contractor: White-Spunner Construction Inc. (Mobile)

USA Student Recreation Center

Football Field House Health Sciences Building

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JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

USA Healthcare Helps Economic Development Efforts From the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and only neonatal intensive care unit to educating one-third of area doctors to the Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama (USA) has an integral role in the community’s healthcare.

USA’s medical technology and expertise is a tremendous asset when recruiting companies to do business in Mobile, according to Troy Wayman, the Chamber’s vice president of economic development. “While our companies are committed to meeting OSHA’s stringent rules, there is still a possibility for accidents. USA’s Level 1 trauma center is vital to getting the best possible care as quickly as possible.”

For example, when the site selection committee for ThyssenKrupp was comparing potential communities for its U.S. steel and stainless steel operations underway in north Mobile County, they wanted details on what Mobile’s trauma, burn and emergency room services could handle, said Gordon Moulton, USA president.

Nearly two years after opening, Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) officials expect its patient visits to reach 45,000 by year’s end – nearly double the number estimated for the first year. Patients come from the Mississippi Coast, Southwest Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, with the majority living in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

MCI is the first academic cancer research institute center on the Central Gulf Coast and brings cancer research

alumni are one-third of the area’s doctors.

It is the only academic medical center along the central Gulf Coast region. And, while it is relatively small in size, about 75 students per class, it is noted for its exceptional educational programs and success in the training of physicians and scientists. “Small class sizes are conducive to more hands on experience for students as well as closer relationships with faculty and patients. That’s fairly uncommon,” said Paul Taylor, public relations director with USA’s College of Medicine.

USA Healthcare: and treatment under one roof, including 250 physicians, researchers and staff.

On the heels of winning the university’s largest competitive grant, $14.5 million to support infectious diseases and bioterrorism agents research, USA’s College of Medicine was awarded a $7.5 million to help state primary care providers transition to electronic health record systems.

USA’s College of Medicine has a mission is to increase the number of doctors practicing in the state. There continues to be both a nationwide and state shortage, particularly of primary physicians. Since it was founded in 1973, the college has graduated 2,100 doctors. Counted among its

• Only neonatal intensive care unit • Only Level 1 trauma center • Mitchell Cancer Institute USA College of Medicine has: • 2,100 alumni • 28 clinics and doctors offices

• • • •

USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital USA Medical Center 250,000 patients treated annually 3,000 babies delivered annually

Source: University of South Alabama

Distinguished Alumni, A Few Key Three star generals, noted PhDs and MDs, entrepreneurs,

Accomplishments chief executive officers, major league baseball players,

No story would be complete with at least some coverage of USA sports. Last fall the university’s newly added football team and marching band performed in front of 126,000 fans in Ladd Peebles stadium.

When you add basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, track and field, and volleyball – fan support climbs to 182,000 people at USA sporting events.

authors, a rising country music star, a world-renowned sculptor, a child protégé, even the cofounder of “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” all have the University of South Alabama as the source of their education on their resume.

Over the university’s 46-year history of educating students, it has granted 65,000 degrees.

Local readers may be most familiar with USA alumni like former Mayor Mike Dow, AT&T’s Regional Director Gigi Armbrecht, co-founder and former general manager of the embedded systems division of Mentor Graphics, known as Accelerated Technology Neil Henderson, founder of the world-wide Christian music company Integrity Media Michael Coleman, retired U.S. congressman Sonny Callahan or author and former editor of Working Mother magazine Judsen Culbreth, who now serves as executive editor of Mobile Bay Monthly – a minute few.

Here a few that may not be so familiar with key roles: • Dr. Terrence M. Tumpey – researcher with the Center for Disease Control • Tina Allen – world renowned sculptor of AfricanAmerican art • Health Slocum – played in the 2010 Master’s Tournament • Jon Lieber – major league baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies • Laurie Beth Owen – nationally renowned cancer researcher, now with the Mitchell Cancer Institute • Michael Kearney – the world’s youngest college graduate at 10 years old • Mark Hoffman – president and CEO of North American operations for Corporate Express • Allison Moore – Grammy nominated country music artist and Shelby Lynne’s sister Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

This sculpture was created

by USA alum Tina Allen, world renowned sculptor of African-American art. She is famous for her works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Sojourner Truth and Alex Haley.

USA has Educated: • 17,000 teachers and school administrators, including 85 percent of Mobile’s public school teachers • 10,400 business and accounting professionals • 7,600 nurses • 6,000 engineering and computer science professionals • 2,100 physicians, one-third of the area’s doctors Source: University of South Alabama

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

11

USA Research & Outreach $37 million - contracts and grants

for fiscal year 2009

$159 million - federal direct

appropriations since 1998

USA research and outreach touch a wide range of important issues, including:

• Healthcare • K-12 Education • Coastal weather, environment and seafood industries • Economic issues – polling and real estate • Gulf Coast history and culture • Energy and alternative fuels • Technology • Art, cultural and athletic activities

A Center for High-Tech Entrepreneurs One phone call and one executive committee meeting back in 2002 led to the creation of USA’s Technology and Research Park. The committee approved Mentor Graphics as the first tenant, following the company’s deal to acquire Mobile-based Accelerated Technology. Neil Henderson, a USA graduate and founder of Accelerated Technology, thought the park was essential in securing a commitment from the Oregon-based company to keep operations and employees in Mobile.

The park was an economic development initiative the university contemplated for several years. It gained momentum following the Chamber’s Leadership Trip to Richmond, Va., in 2000. Gordon Moulton, USA’s president, says his conversation with Henderson was the inspiration the university leadership needed to move forward.

Today the park that sits on 160 acres just north of the main campus has three buildings totaling 285,000 square feet, 19 tenants, plus two academic programs and more than 550 employees.

The greatest advantages for companies are their access to university resources and faculty expertise as well as trained students who intern or turn into full-time employees, said Ker Ferguson, the park’s director. He is quick to point out the university benefits as well, as a number of these companies collaborate on research, provide classroom content and lectures, and provide internships and jobs for students.

“The park has helped create economic diversity and high-paying jobs,” said Ferguson. He estimates wages are close to twice the area’s average. “Within the park we have

Source: University of South Alabama

highly innovative and entrepreneurial-minded business owners who are spinning off separate entities.”

Currently the park is in negotiations with two national companies but with the economy plans are on hold, said Ferguson. Since the park is 98 percent occupied, the new deals would mean additional buildings.

Reliability - For 174 years, the Mobile Area Chamber has worked to make our area the best place to start, manage and grow your business.

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JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

with stories featuring Chamber initiatives.

Spring Hill College

Forming leaders engaged in learning, faith, justice and service for life

Spring Hill College announces a new interdisciplinary degree designed especially for the Mobile business community:

Bachelor of Arts in Human & Organizational Performance For more information call (251) 380-3065 or visit www.shc.edu Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

13

How Healthcare Reform Will Affect Small Businesses

On the one hand, Karen G. Mills, administrator of the Small Business Administration said, “Healthcare has been the biggest concern for small business owners for decades. As a result of this legislation, about four million small businesses will get tax credits this year, which, along with the new health insurance exchanges, will make it easier for small business owners to provide affordable insurance for their employees.”

On the other hand, despite the tax credits, Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the 2,800-page bill will “drive up premiums, requiring small businesses to provide insurance that they cannot afford – or else pay steep fines,” a move Donohue believes will eliminate jobs.

That’s also the sentiment of Congressman Jo Bonner of Mobile, who voted against the legislation. Bonner wrote in his March 29 column, “This Week in Washington,” that he “opposed its job-killing tax increases on small businesses.”

While some small businesses currently provide health insurance for workers, Danette Richards, the Mobile Area Chamber’s director of small business development, said she is concerned if small businesses are not already offering healthcare to their employees, “there’s a reason.

It’s going to be tough. They have to find that money somewhere, either by bringing in more money or cutting expenses.”

Though there are many opinions about healthcare legislation, there’s no disagreement that the new law is a complicated one, and most local business owners seem uncertain how it will affect their bottom line. Accountant Keith Graham of Graham, Brown and Dutton in Mobile heard so much buzz about healthcare reform from his clients, he decided to read the legislation (posted online at the Library of Congress web site, www.loc.gov). Noting that there was an opening for a speaker at his Kiwanis Club meeting at the end of March, he prepared a presentation to address the issue.

Mark Allen, who owns Instant Photo Corporation of America (IPCA), a special events photography company headquartered in Mobile, was at that Kiwanis Club meeting and described Graham’s Power Point presentation as “very enlightening” and “pretty scary.” “In general, I’m adamantly opposed to (the new law).

Healthcare costs are going to go up a lot,” he said.

Allen’s business has already been dramatically affected by the economy, he said. Two years ago, IPCA had five full-time employees and hired some 500 seasonal, part-time employees. Now there are two full-time employees and some 100 parttimers. He said his company is as lean as it can possibly get.

However, Allen believes the impact of the law on his business might be minimized by the fact that so many employees work part-time. “I think you have to work a certain number of hours to qualify, but I’m not sure,” he said. “Who knows what all is in the bill?”

Graham has made a point to understand the complicated bill, which he said may eventually have a “potentially negative” effect on small businesses. Until 2013, the law will “possibly have a positive impact on some of my clients, with some nice tax credits,” he said. For the next couple of years, “Employers who qualify can get tax credits to reward them for providing healthcare coverage,” he said.

Graham’s concern is once the state exchanges come into play, the tax credits will only apply to those using the exchange for healthcare, not to those who are already providing health insurance through a provider such as Blue Cross Blue Shield or United Health Care. If an employer loses participants in an existing plan because employees choose the exchange, then the employer loses the ability to receive discounts for larger numbers of participants, as well as any negotiating power.

“It seems driven to move employers and employees to a state-run plan,” Graham said, adding that he’s curious to see what private insurance companies will do to compete with the state exchanges.

Graham also noted the “potential burden” employers will face “in terms of payroll compliance through the IRS. There are a lot of reporting requirements.”

Overall, the healthcare reform legislation has “a lot of potential pitfalls,” in his opinion.

For more information about health insurance reform, go to www.healthreform.gov.

For the Eastern Shore’s freshest foods, shop the WestSide!

Courtesy Michael Thomas

Windmill Market’s new WestSide Grocery offers farm-fresh produce, baked goods and meals to go from your favorite restaurants.

Are you connected...

to the latest business news in the Mobile area on a weekly basis?

If not, then subscribe now for FREE by sending an e-mail to jwinfield@mobilechamber.com

14

Now Windmill Market has even more market days—open Thursday through Sunday with arts, crafts, jewelry and Moe’s Barbecue, all under one environmentally friendly roof. Located at 85 N. Bancroft St., Fairhope, AL, 36532.

Check our website for new market days & new hours Visit www.windmillmarket.org or call 251.517.5444

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

Local. Seasonal. Sustainable.

What Employers Need to Know

By Jay Turner, Birmingham office of Constangy Brooks & Smith

President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordability Act (H.R. 3590) into law March 23. Highlights of the bill that will be of interest to employers are detailed below. The effective dates of the various provisions are also included.

• Employer “play or pay” mandate: Employers with more than 50 employees who do not offer group health coverage and have at least one full-time employee who receives a premium tax credit would be assessed a penalty of $750 per full-time employee if the employer fails to offer qualifying health coverage.

Employers with more than 50 employees who offer group health coverage but have at least one full-time employee receiving a premium tax credit will pay the lesser of $3,000 for each employee receiving a premium credit or $750 for each full-time employee. These provisions are effective beginning in 2014.

• Waiting period restrictions: Any employer who imposes a waiting period before employees can enroll in a group health plan would be required to pay $400

for any full-time employee in a 30 - 60 day waiting period and $600 for any full-time employee in a 60-plus day waiting period.

These provisions are effective beginning in 2014.

• Insurance exchanges: The bill creates state-based American Health Benefit exchanges and Small Business Health Options Program (“SHOP”) exchanges.

The goal is for state-based insurance exchanges to provide a more organized and competitive marketplace for consumers and small employers to purchase health insurance. The insurance exchanges must be in place beginning in 2014.

• Individual mandate: The bill requires individuals to purchase qualifying health coverage. Those without coverage would be required to pay a penalty tax of the greater of $750 per year up to a maximum of three times that amount ($2,250) per family or 2 percent of household income. These penalties become effective in 2014.

• Medicaid expansion: The bill expands Medicaid to all individuals under age

65 with incomes of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level based on modified adjusted gross income. This change is effective in 2014.

• Changes to healthcare spending accounts: The bill contains a change in the definition of “qualified medical expense” that affects reimbursements and withdrawals under all types of healthcare accounts, such as flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts and Archer medical savings accounts. Over-the-counter medications will no longer be a “qualified medical expense.”

Additionally, the amount employees could contribute to healthcare flexible spending accounts will be capped at $2,500. The effective dates of these provisions are likely to be modified by the House reconciliation bill.

• Elimination of lifetime caps: The bill eliminates lifetime caps on essential benefits provided under group health plans.

This prohibition on lifetime caps is effective six months after enactment of the bill (Sept. 23, 2010).

• Pre-existing condition exclusions: Group health plans may not impose

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

pre-existing condition exclusions beginning in 2014. Group health plans may not impose pre-existing condition exclusions for children under the age of 19 for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. These requirements will make substantial changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) portability requirements affecting group health plans.

• Dependent coverage: Effective immediately, group health plans that offer dependent coverage must allow dependent coverage to continue up to age 26.

• Subsidies for small employers: The bill provides for small employers (fewer than 25 employees) to receive tax credits for purchasing group health insurance for their employees. The subsidies shrink as an employer’s size and average pay increase. The subsidy is phased in beginning this year.

Jay Turner is an employee benefits lawyer practicing in the Birmingham office of Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLP. He can be reached at jturner@constangy.com.

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

15

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16

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

How to...

This special section originally ran in the March 2010 issue of the PRSA’s magazine, Tactics. Reprinted with permission by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) (www.prsa.org). © 2010 PR Tactics.

S

ometimes in our professional lives, the fast-paced business world catches up with us. We stress out and push ourselves – often becoming bogged down with problems that are too large for us to manage. Rather than drowning in this, why not turn to the basics?

There are a lot of simple things that you can do to improve your mentality and find that balance between your work and personal lives. Knowing how to execute everyday tasks seamlessly, save time or develop a fresh outlook on an old habit can help.

Here, we gathered tips on how to make you more productive, healthier, greener and more professional.

While some items in this listing Re ad r e gul a r may be familiar to you, it doesn’t l y and w f o l lo w h a hurt to remind yourself of them or t’s goin g on i n try a new way of doing things. And, Also, p the ne ay at t ws. e n t io n hey, you might learn something. indus t t

o your r y ne w s .

T – Amy Jacques r y an in Associate Editor, STRATEGIST

RSS re ader.

s t a l li n

g

Be productive on your lunch hour These tips can help you enjoy your lunch break, feel empowered and contribute to your well-being and productivity.

Get out – Enjoy the gorgeous weather, take your lunch to a park, visit a local museum, window shop or try a new café. This change of scenery can clear your head for a more productive afternoon.

Work out – Many people claim they don’t have time to exercise but invest in yourself and your health by spending your lunch break taking a walk or try a new class at a gym close to your office. Watch your afternoon energy soar.

Clean out – If you stay in your office during your lunch break, clean up your computer and sort your electronic files, delete old unnecessary e-mails, clear off your desk and wipe down all surfaces. You will feel lighter and more organized for the rest of the day – and week.

Source: Productivity – Getting More Done blog

Shake hands First impressions. Your handshake will do much to establish a first impression of yourself. Even if your hand is greasy, sweaty or otherwise less-than-presentable, give it a quick swipe and extend it anyway.

Firmness. Your handshake should be firm but not uncomfortable. Adjust your grip according to the recipient ... for example, if you are shaking the hand of an elderly person, ease up. Alternatively, you don’t want to be a “limp fish” either.

Present your business card When meeting someone for the first time, whether a planned event or coincidental, wait until you know the person before you offer your card. The person may not be someone you want to have your number.

Take your cards with you, even on social events. You never know when you might strike up a conversation with someone who is looking for help in your field.

Wait to present your card to an executive until you are asked. On the other hand, if you are talking with a potential client, it is acceptable to offer them your card so they can contact you.

Angle. Think perpendicular. The palm of your hand should be parallel to the hand you are shaking and perpendicular to the floor. This sends a message of equality and neutrality.

Present your card in private to show your interest in the individual. You should not give your card to everyone you meet at an event, nor should you place stacks of your cards around the room.

Eye contact. Always look in the eyes of the person whose hand you are shaking. Otherwise, you negate the point of shaking hands and instead send a signal of insincerity or even sneakiness.

When you present your card to someone, hold the card horizontally, with the wording so the recipient can read it.

Hold the card with your palm up and your thumb only slightly over the card and preferably in a white area of the card.

Cultural appropriateness. If you’re traveling in a foreign country, do your homework on whether or not a handshake is an appropriate form of greeting. In some countries, shaking hands is seen as far too intimate to initiate with a stranger.

Source: Ehow

Source: HowToDoThings.com

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

17

How to...

Text like a professional Use proper capitalization. When you use capitalization for proper nouns such as “American” or “Canadian” you will show your grammar skills.

Use proper punctuation. Even though it may seem easier to not include question marks or periods, it can make all the difference.

Text in complete sentences. No one likes to try to decipher fragments, so try to always make your text in complete sentences.

Avoid capitalizing all letters.

When you use capital letters, it often indicates yelling at the recipient, therefore this is considered rude.

Avoid multiple exclamation and question marks. Doing this can make the message harder to read and (often) seem immature.

Source: wikiHow

Protect yourself/defend your reputation online Find out what people are saying about you. Search for yourself on search engines weekly and set up Google alerts and Twilert (for Twitter tweets) on your name.

Sign up for free Web sites that allow you to create a brand for yourself, such as LinkedIn, Ziggs or Naymz.

Don’t respond to anyone who has said something negative about you on the Internet.

This will only feed the fire.

If someone has defamed you, check out the code of conduct regulations for the site where the comments were posted,and report the comments if they are a violation of the site’s abusive language policy. Copy the relevant regulation in your complaint.

Create a blog and keep it updated. The goal is to make sure this new, accurate content rises to the top of a search of your name.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Exercise at your desk Try the neck stretch: Touch your ear to your shoulder and hold it there.

For a chest opener, stretch your arms back as if you were trying to grab a pencil between your shoulder blades. Stand in a doorway, hold the door frame on each side and walk forward until you feel a stretch in your chest.

Try supported back extensions. Hold your hips and gently extend your back by bending backward.

To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, do the following each day: Stand at your desk, and arms straight, place your palms on the desk with your fingers pointed toward you. Lower your body slowly until you feel the stretch. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat as needed through the day.

For lower-body strength, try the “Wooden Leg.” Sit in your chair. Extend one leg straight out in front of you. Hold for two seconds. Then raise it up as high as you can, and hold it again for two seconds.

Repeat with each leg 15 times.

Other things you can do: Take the stairs (two at a time!), not the elevator. Get up from your desk and go talk to your co-workers instead of e-mailing them. Park in the farthest part of the lot, or walk or bike to work.

Source: Forbes

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JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

Type really fast Never ever use the “home” position.

If you type with the home position, it’s hard to see the keys under your hands and behind your hands.

Keep at least one thumb on the space bar at all times. You should never have to take both hands off of the space bar, but you should be able to keep both on it.

Never look down at the keyboard. I know its hard not to, but if you do, you will slowly gain a bad habit. Only look down at the keyboard once you first start typing a sentence, so you know where your hands are.

Source: wikiHow

How to...

Train a new employee Train people on day one.

Give them the materials and training that they need to jump right in. Too many companies give new employees brochures to read for a few hours to familiarize themselves with the company. Not only is this a waste of the employee’s time, but it sends a terrible message about the company culture. The message you want to send from day one is that you’re organized, efficient, running a tight ship and care about using employees’ time effectively.

• Any recent history of the department they should be aware of • The specifics of each component of their job • Tips they should know about working with other departments • How to locate important files • What kind of communication is expected and how often • What they do and don’t have the authority to do on their own • Types of e-mails and phone calls they’re likely to receive and how to handle them Create training outlines for • Common problems they’ll encounter each new employee. The training outline explains what will be covered during and how to handle them • What to do if deadlines can’t be met the first week. In addition to job specific • What to do if they need help information, training outlines include: • Expenditure authority and approval • An overview of the department the person is in (what the department does, Source: Ask a Manager blog how they do it and who does what)

Go green at work More work, less energy: Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day (standby settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). Printers, scanners and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed.

Be a good boss

Digitize: The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital whenever

possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office). Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out.

Be task-oriented and not personality-oriented An ideal boss defines the work to be done, specifies the boundaries of freedom to act, indicates the areas where the subordinates should consult him, explains the goals and targets to be met and offers his help and support in attaining the goals.

Don’t be a paperpusher: When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing.

Display a fair degree of humane qualities Being task-oriented need not mean that the boss should be heartless.

Bad bosses frequently forget that those who work under them have a family to take care of, have physical bodies that can get sick, can have interests and passions to pursue after office hours and are given holidays to relax and rejuvenate.

Use green materials: Some paper use can’t be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen.

Give freedom in proportion to the responsibility given When a boss wants his subordinates to use their knowledge, skills and authority to produce results, he should naturally allow them to make decisions within their limits without consulting him on every minor issue. He should give them the financial freedom appropriate to their levels.

Source: Planet Green

Pack a waste-free lunch Carry sandwiches and other main dishes, fruit and vegetables in a reusable lunch container.

Also use: • cloth napkins • stainless-steel forks and spoons • reusable drink containers • reusable lunchboxes

With this type of lunch, lunch food items can be bought in larger quantities. The packaging can be left at home for reuse or recycling. Waste-free lunches are not only a wise environmental choice, but they are less expensive as well.

Source: WasteFreeLunches.org

Source: Suite 101

Cl ar i f y your m e ssage Report . ers do n o t want re ce i v to e e-ma i l s t hat ar copie s e c ar b of pre s on s re le a f rom p se s, or e ople w c a l ls ho don what ’t k no t he y a w re pi tc ne ws t h i n g or t h e he y ar e anno uncing .

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

19

How to...

Be followed on Twitter Have a username that is similar to your name or a nickname you use elsewhere, so people recognize it.

Have actual content on your page! Don’t add people until you have several dozen messages sent through the service.

Make sure you already have as many people as possible following you. We know this shouldn’t matter, but it does, sorry. People like following important people.

Never let your following/followed-by ratio reach more than 1 (i.e., follow less than 100 people if you’re being followed by 101). This is a common rule of thumb people use to detect spammers.

@ people often, and respond to other users’ comments.

Participation encourages inclusion.

When you follow others, send them an @ message at the same time (i.e., @chrisbrogran or @julien when messaging us), so they’ll see a message to keep them at the top of your page if they look at it.

Source: “Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation and Earn Trust,” by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. Published by John Wiley & Sons Inc., © Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, 2009.

Survive the first two minutes of an interview Appearance counts. When you look good, you feel good. Make sure you look groomed and neat.

Your clothes and accessories should be conservative and neutral. Your clothes are your packaging and should not take attention

Acknowledge. Start any apology by telling the person that you accept that something happened. “I didn’t meet my deadline.”

Apologize. Make sure you clearly and simply say that you’re sorry, with no excuses tacked on. “I’m sorry, Ellie.”

Act. Explain what you’ll do to improve or rectify the situation. “I’ve finished the work now and will better scope my time next time.”

Source: “Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation and EarnTrust,” by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. Published by John Wiley & Sons Inc., ©Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, 2009.

away from the product.

Nonverbal communication sometimes conveys a stronger message than words. When you slouch, whether sitting

or standing, you’re saying volumes about yourself and your confidence level. Sit up straight – like your mother always told you to. When you stand, make yourself as tall as possible: shoulders back and head held high.

Eye contact and smiles can indicate a confident and upbeat attitude.

You will notice that many job postings ask for enthusiasm and energy. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your social and interpersonal skills as well as your excitement about the opportunity for which you’re interviewing.

The handshake sends a strong tactile message. Whether your hands

are hot and sweaty or cold and clammy, you can try some tricks to control the temperature.

To cool your hands, try running cold water on the insides of your wrists. Use hot water if your hands are cool. If you have particularly sweaty hands, try using a deodorant gel as a lotion.

face-to-face, you should speak with enthusiasm and use a firm voice.

20

Make solid eye contact.

This shows your audience you are listening to them and helps you focus on what is being communicated.

To e xte nd t h e l i fe o f ce ll ph your one, le t i t s bat ter f ul l y d y rain a t l e a s wee k , t o nc e which a a c t u a m ake s lly i t wor k more ef f icie nt ly.

Your voice and the volume of your speech convey a strong impression. Whether the interview is over the phone or Source: Monster.com

Be a good listener

Pause before answering. A pause

often encourages others to provide you with additional information.

Listen for changes in tone of voice, inflection or projection.

Be patient and avoid interrupting, even though you may believe what someone is saying is wrong or irrelevant. Indicate simple acceptance, not necessarily agreement, by nodding or perhaps injecting an occasional “I see.”

Encourage others to provide additional information with a phrase such as, “Tell me more.”

Take notes to capture key points and ideas.

Source: “Yes You Can! Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action,”

by Stacey Hanke & Mary Steinberg. Published by Author House, © Stacey Hanke & Mary Steinberg, 2008.

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

How to...

Make a positive impression at work

Get your written messages across coherently Effective communication is as important in these days of e-mail and Twitter as it’s ever been. Use these guidelines to ensure that your written messages come across clearly:

Step 1: Define your goal. Do this in one sentence. You should be able to define the purpose of your communication as a positive, constructive action.

Step 2: Identify your central emotion. Keep your emotions positive. You may be writing to express disappointment, but center the writing on your hopes for change.

Step 3: Determine who your audience is. This will help you determine your readers’ expectations and perspectives and guide you in your writing.

Job security depends on doing your job well, but it’s also about being the kind of employee people want to work with.

Little things go a long way in making a good impression on your boss and co-workers. Cultivate these habits to show you’re good to have around:

• Keep your desk neat. Cut back on

the clutter. Tidiness conveys that you’re organized and have things under control.

• Set a good example. Find out what kind of

behavior your managers and colleagues expect, and do your best to practice it.

• Be sincere and generous with compliments.

People like to be told you appreciate them – bosses and friends alike.

• Do your homework before meetings.

Know what’s on the agenda, and bone up on the information that may be covered.

• Return phone calls and e-mails promptly.

Step 4: Gather supporting information. Include statistics, anecdotes and other data that support the point of your communication.

It makes co-workers and customers feel valued.

Step 5: Draft. Write freely without thought of length or mistakes. Don’t stop to edit yourself until you’ve finished writing. Then …

• Be on time. Don’t make other people wait for you.

It makes them suspect that you feel your time is more important than theirs.

At le as t o nc e dur ing workd Step 6: Rewrite. In rewriting, you’ll be able t he a y , ge t ou to trim your message and rearrange the elements t of t h St udie e of f ic s show into their most effective structure. e. that s t ime o Source: FirstDraft, Ragan p e nding u tdoor s prov by re d ide a b ucing s o os t t r e s s h or m and lo wer ing one s blood p re ssur e.

Be human • Remember to ask about other people – first. How are you? What are you doing?

• Understand the culture: Digg users are not Twitter fans. Figure out how they’re different through lurking (watching) first.

• Promote others 12 times as much as you promote yourself or your company.

• Use your picture (a good one) as your avatar on your profiles on all these social sites (never your logo).

Source: FirstDraft, Ragan

Turn a volunteer job into a full-time position Be patient. A company may want to hire you but it may not have available money in the budget and is waiting for it to open up.

Make yourself invaluable to the company.

Take on enough responsibility for higher-ups to notice.

Give your unpaid job the same level of respect that you would give a paying job.

Help out with everything you can and, overtime, bosses will likely give you more responsibility without you asking.

Source: Monster.com

• If you mess up, remember the three As: acknowledge, apologize, act.

• Share a bit of your personal life in your professional. Turns out we all like that.

Alot is not a word.

Source: Successful blog

Always leave a space here.

Remember, there’s a lot of space in outer space.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

You don’t write alittle, abunch, acantaloupe, aporkchop So don’t write alot.

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

21

Compact fluorescent facts

MONEY-SAVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP No. 21

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF A COMPACT.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

By LaClaire Carter Alabama Power Engineer

CFLs can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

You’ve heard all the talk about compact fluorescents. The good news is, most of it’s true. They’re easy on the budget. And easy on the planet.

Regular old incandescent

10% efficiency just doesn’t cut it.

bulbs have served us well.

Take a look at some of those facts we’ve got

Or have they? Guess they

printed on the right. You’ll see that compact

were better than nothing,

fluorescents (or CFLs) make a lot of sense.

but consider that only 10%

And if you tried them a couple years back and

of energy used by incandescent bulbs is turned into

found them to be too dark or too flickery, give

light. The other 90% is converted into heat.

them another shot. Manufacturers worked out

I’m sorry but in these days of rising energy costs,

most of the kinks in the past year or so.

For more tips on compact flourescent bulbs, visit AlabamaPower.com/tips.

The two facts mentioned above come to life when you consider that lighting makes up an average of 6% on your electric bill.

Converting incandescent to compact fluorescent Incandescent

Compact Fluorescent*

60 watts

15 watts

75 watts

20 watts

90 watts

23 watts

100 watts

28 watts

* This comparison is an approximation.

The actual lumens or light output may vary from bulb to bulb. ©2010 Alabama Power Company

POWI-2148 CFL.indd 1

3/31/10 12:06 PM

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about my l ia c e p s o s s What’ ss Checking? e in s u B rt a m Free S

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Sign up today.

Call 251.665.1700

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22

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

3/8/10 2:19 PM

Pictured here at the Mobile Area Chamber’s annual State of the City and County address are (left to right)Mobile Mayor Sam Jones; Merceria Ludgood, Mobile County Commission president; and Dave Trent with Airbus Engineering, the Chamber’s board chairman.

From Contract to Commitment Both City and County Participate with Chamber to Woo Business Here For more than a quarter century, the Mobile Area Chamber has operated under contract to coordinate and staff economic development efforts for the city of Mobile and Mobile County. Many successes since the contract began have earned the area regional, national and international recognition.

Just a few of the new companies building Mobile’s economic landscape over the last 25 years include: Airbus, Aker Subsea, Austal USA, Ineos Phenol, Mobile Container Terminal, Ryla, ST Aerospace Mobile, SSAB, Technip, ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA and ThyssenKrupp Steel USA. Each of these companies has successfully integrated themselves in the Mobile market, and together brought tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in capital investment.

Yet none might be here if not for the unique partnership.

“Through our contract we work to expand economic opportunity in Mobile and to enhance the quality of life for all residents,” said Troy Wayman, the Chamber’s vice president of economic development.

“We are stronger, more efficient and present a united front as a team greeting and wooing prospective new businesses.”

Some recent Chamber highlights as a result of the contract include: • Over the last two and a half years, the Chamber has helped create more than 3,200 jobs.

• This does not include revenue from the Chamber’s economic development efforts prior to 2008. For example as of February 2010, ThyssenKrupp paid more

than $1 million in sales and use taxes, and the carbon steel plant is not yet operational.

This tax impact is expected to dramatically increase.

• In the first three months of 2010, more than $293 million in capital projects and 247 jobs were announced. During 2009, the Chamber recruited 1,230 jobs against a goal of 750 with average annual wages of $54,377.

• During 2009, the Chamber’s small business development department assisted more than 1,650 entrepreneurs with business issues, against a goal of 1,500.

• Minority-owned businesses in the Mobile area have secured more than $60 million in contracts, more than $8.6 million in financial assistance, increased their business sales by $1 million, and created

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

51 jobs through the Chamber-operated Alabama Minority Business Enterprise Center.

“All you have to do is look around the state and the Southeast, and Mobile remains the envy of every economic developer,” said Wayman. “Cities and counties around the county are finally beginning to catch on that the old model of every government entity operating its own economic development department is dated and a waste of taxpayer dollars and Mobile stands out as a community that gets it.”

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

23

The Economic Crisis Tops the State of the City and County Luncheon The economy was the main topic of discussion at the Mobile Area Chamber’s 13th annual State of the City and County luncheon featuring Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and Mobile County Commission President Merceria Ludgood.

In speaking to the more than 900 attendees, both leaders talked about the importance of working together through hard times and not working against each other, and putting aside political party lines and aspirations. “Mobile has been through storms before, and we have managed to keep our eyes focused on what is important to our city’s future growth,” said Jones.

“The economy has made us all conservatives,” said Ludgood.

In her first time attending the event as president of the commission, Ludgood’s speech featured an interplay with a video spotlighting how Mobile County is powered by people. Several times through her speech, she stopped to let the video show Mobile County employees hard at work on roads and bridges, grant writing, building libraries, senior centers and maintaining parks in an effort to improve Mobile

County citizen’s quality of life.

“We are 1,700 strong and we are everywhere –building better communities from Calvert to Bayou La Batre to the Mississippi state line,” she said.

As part of the county’s efforts, Ludgood highlighted the county’s pay-as-you-go road program that over the next four years will result in $136 million in road projects.

“Last year we launched our own local stimulus program by pushing out road projects at a much faster clip,” said Ludgood. “I am happy to report that we almost doubled the pace of work on infrastructure projects – most of them roadways – putting more dollars to work in the community now.”

“We endured decades of references to our ‘potential’ for economic growth, our ‘potential’ for high performing schools, our ‘potential’ to become a destination rather than a stop

on the way to somewhere else.

All that changed when we learned to turn to each other.”

When Jones took the microphone at the luncheon, he recognized the current problems within the city and that “in this world of uncertainties it does not matter that you are in a fight, but you know that there are others in the arena with you,” he said.

“We could go on and on, pointing to our city’s greatness and to the cause of our current economic crisis. We could point fingers, dissect the city’s operational fibers and argue over when the downturn hit.

The fact remains, the downturn has hit Mobile. And now what are WE going to do about it and how do we see our city in the midst of this crisis?”

In response to his own question, the mayor reassured the audience that city leaders have started the process of solving

the problems and plan to expand it by involving the business community and experts in the field.

“The urgency now is that the house is on fire and we can’t stop and paint the porch. We must first extinguish the fire,” he said. “The city of Mobile has some of the best, most talented and dedicated employees. They, not the critics of fatness in government, have dug deep and cut over $22 million from their respective budgets.”

“We have seen economic challenges in the past, but we have never allowed a challenge to deter our goal of being a great community that provides an excellent quality of life for all of its citizens. “On many occasions we have had to make tough decisions that were not our desire; they were unpopular and difficult but necessary at the time. There is no painless way to address a crisis. There is no adequate ceremonial patch that will sustain a great city. There is no room for procrastination, political posturing or just plain inaction.”

City of Mobile Officials – Mayor and City Council

Mayor Sam Jones

Fred Richardson District 1

William Carroll District 2

Jermaine Burrell District 3

John Williams District 4

Reggie Copeland District 5

Mobile County Commission

Merceria Ludgood District 1

24

Stephen Nodine District 2

Mike Dean District 3

Connie Hudson District 6

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

Gina Gregory District 7

Premier Medical Physicians ENT Physicians RONNIE E. SWAIN, MD W. CARTER BRYARS, JR., MD BARRY L. BROWN, MD WILEY H. JUSTICE, MD, FACS 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 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

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

25

SCORE

CAN WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE:

WE’VE BROKEN SOMETHING, , BIG NEWS!

The Mobile Chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a part of the national nonprofit organization of more than 10,500 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to small business owners.

Cover Up – Choosing Small Business Insurance to Meet Your Needs

Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic is proud to announce the opening of our new clinic at the Infirmary Medical Center.

From diagnosis to rehabilitation, our committed physicians and staff provide the most comprehensive and technologically advanced orthopaedic care available. Now with two convenient locations in Mobile, you could say we offer orthopaedic care that is as close as it gets to a house call.

coverage you don’t need, but also don’t Investing in small business insurance overlook seemingly minor risks simply for protects everything you have done to make the sake of saving money. If the probability your business successful. However, the is small, the premium will be too. Use a policy originally purchased when the comdeductible as high as your cash flow and pany opened might not be sufficient for savings will allow. current needs Making wise or the future. insurance decisions Like all policies is easier when workand practices, Before purchasing a policy ing with a reputable insurance coverage or increasing coverage, and qualified broker should be reviewed consider all the possible agent or consultant. periodically to ensure ways of holding down Conducting research the company is the costs. Cover the most on your own is also AOC-10-16.ifirm.busview.indd prepared for all risky and largest perils helpful, but a qualivalid risks. first, then work down fied professional can Start with a full make an informed assessment of the your list of priorities. evaluation of your company’s insurance small business needs. Business insurance needs, insurance safeand match them with available coverage guards property against the consequences options. Qualified professionals with experof fire, theft, liability and other common tise in small business insurance needs can risks. As the business grows, however, you be found in the Mobile Area Chamber’s may have added new services and specialonline member directory. ized equipment requiring policy endorseNote that many small business policies ments or modifications. offer the option of adding riders as opposed For companies along the Gulf Coast, to buying separate policies. That’s why purdisaster and business interruption insurance chasing all of your coverage from a single is becoming a must for owners concerned agency or broker can help reduce costs. If about damage or a prolonged shutdown resulting from natural disasters (hurricane multiple policies are necessary, make sure they cover separate risks. Otherwise, you’ll season starts this month), toxic spills, be making unnecessary payments for what transportation disruption or acts of terroris essentially the same coverage. ism. Though such events are rare, even a relatively minor event could disrupt For additional guidance on business insurance operations and the surrounding economy matters or to schedule a confidential one-on-one counfor several weeks. seling session at no charge, contact the Mobile SCORE chapter at 431-8614.

Before purchasing a policy or increasing coverage, consider all the possible ways of holding down the costs. Cover the most risky and largest perils first, then work down your list of priorities. Don’t purchase

26

New Mobile Infirmary Office

1720 Springhill Avenue • Suite 301 Mobile, AL 36607 251.410.3600 • alortho.com

New location will open June 2010.

1

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

4/5/10 4:51:45 PM

CEO

B

Profile

usiness Spotlight of the Month

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

R. Michael Saxon

Dr. Chris Corsentino & Associates, Chiropractors

Company: Alabama Power Co. Title: Vice President, Mobile Division Hometown: Pensacola Education: Saxon received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of West Florida and a master’s of business administration from Troy University.

First job: Like many young men, Saxon’s first paying job was cutting grass. He later washed cars at Gulf Power Co. Previous experience: Since 1974, Saxon has held several positions with Southern Co., including marketing, human resources, corporate and financial planning, and division operations for Gulf Power. He was regional manager for Georgia Power in Atlanta before moving to Alabama where he was Alabama Power’s Southeast division vice president in Eufaula.

Pictured here is Dr. Chris Corsentino, who owns his chiropractor business with his wife Dena.

Career-changing moment: Saxon said, “A decision to continue my college education at a time when I would rather have been a lineman at Gulf Power.”

Accomplishments: Saxon counts family as his first priority and noted his greatest accomplishment was “being smart enough to marry Phyllis,” his wife of 29 years, and raise a family together.

Secret to success: “Surrounding myself with the most talented people in the business combined with a heavy dose of the old Golden Rule.”

Family: Saxon and his wife have two daughters.

Which historical figure would you like to invite to dinner and why?

“Col. Joshua Chamberlain,” said Saxon. “Col. Chamberlain’s incredible courage and that of his troops at the Battle of Gettysburg might have arguably been the turning point of the Civil War, ultimately leading to the formation of the United States we enjoy today.”

Brief company description: Alabama Power, the second largest subsidiary of Southern Co., provides electricity supply and services to millions of homes, businesses and industries in the southern two-thirds of Alabama.

Owners: Dr. Chris and Dena Corsentino Location: 3501 Montlimar Plaza Dr. Member since: 2007 Brief description of business: Dr. Chris Corsentino & Associates, Chiropractors, provides pain treatment for biomechanical disorders of the back and neck as well as extremities such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and feet. Treatments include therapeutic ultrasound, laser therapy, traction and electric muscle stimulation.

What is unique or innovative about your business? According to Dena Corsentino, the chiropractors not only work to alleviate a patient’s pain, but also help them get back to doing the things they enjoy most in life. The company’s chiropractors strive to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and therapies available to create a good experience for patients.

Most significant challenge: Educating the public and other healthcare providers about the many services chiropractors provide. “We can often help patients who may not have responded well to traditional methods of care,” said Dena Corsentino.

Phone number: 445-2295 Web site: www.chirochris.com

D

iplomat of the Month

As a mortgage loan officer for Bay Bank, Lee Teague can be a prospective homebuyer’s best friend. He takes on that same mentoring role as a Chamber diplomat and is the Mobile Area Chamber’s Diplomat of the Month.

For 18 years, Teague has assisted potential homebuyers with preparing required documents for mortgage loan processing. His daily interaction with clients at Bay Bank, a locally owned and operated full-service community bank, makes him a natural at Chamber networking events and Teague can be found at most Business After Hours, Networking@Noon and Business@Breakfast events. “These functions are a great way to put names with faces and then connect them to a business,” he said.

Teague encourages fellow Chamber members to get more involved and non-members to join the organization.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

Photos by Jeff Tesney

Lee Teague

27

I

n v e s tor Focus

Cardiology Associates of Mobile Inc. Company officials: Gerry M. Phillips MD, president/chairman of the board, and Vance M. Chunn, chief executive officer/administrator Physicians: Gerry M. Phillips MD, Kenneth E. Francez Jr. MD, J. Andrew Morrow Jr. MD, Frank T. Bunch MD, M. Wail Hashimi MD, Stephanie D. Grosz MD, Richard J. Chernick MD, Brian D. Dearing MD, Erik A. Eways MD, Charles W. Parrott MD, Kenneth M. Burnham MD, David T. Trice MD, D. Scott Kirby MD, James R. Stinebaugh MD, Michael W. Monson MD, Karl V. Hakmiller MD, Ralph S. Buckley MD, Jason H. Cole MD, Glenn A. Cochran MD, James A. Storey MD, L. Daven Cave MD, J. McLean Trotter MD, Robert A. VerNooy MD, Arthur G. Grant III MD, John M. Galla MD, David C. Mayer MD, Lynn Arnold Batten MD, and Mary H. Honkanen MD Years in business: 25 Brief company description: Cardiology Associates of Mobile Inc. is a comprehensive cardiology practice providing a complete program for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in adults and children. The practice offers some of the most advanced treatment modalities in the detection of cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. In addition to traditional adult and pediatric clinical, invasive and interventional cardiology, the practice has fellowship-trained sub-specialists in the areas of electrophysiology (treatment of arrhythmias), heart failure, preventative cardiology and cholesterol and lipid management.

Why are you located in Mobile? Phillips, a Mobile native, began the practice of cardiology with the goal to serve Mobile and its surrounding areas with a complete source of diagnosis and treatment for cardiovascular conditions. Over the last two decades, Cardiology Associates has expanded and diversified in Mobile and Baldwin counties, as well as a number of other outreach areas within a 60-mile radius of Mobile.

mensura Capital, llC and mensura seCurities,

llC

(Member FINRA and SIPC)

Cardiology Associates physicians (from left) Wail Hashimi MD and Gerry M. Phillips MD with Vance Chunn, CEO/administrator.

Why do you support the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partners for Growth initiative? “It is important to the practice that it keep pace with the positive changes and growth of the area,” said Chunn. “The Partners for Growth initiative continues to positively impact our region, it is our duty to play our part in maintaining and exceeding the standards of living for individuals who have resided here for a lifetime or have just moved here to call Mobile or the Eastern Shore home.”

What do you see as Mobile’s greatest potential? “Mobile is in a convenient and strategic location for many industries as well as individuals and families searching for a place with an exceptional quality of life,” said Chunn.

Length of Chamber membership: Since 1991 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.

We . . . ◄ Listen – We learn from you. ◄ Analyze – We deepen the understanding. ◄ Communicate – We provide clarity.

Whether you seek to raise capital, sell your company, or buy or merge

◄ Coordinate – We manage the entire transaction. ◄ Close – We close.

with another company, we bring the partner approach to investment

We are your partners, adding value

banking, one that is founded on

from beginning to end

developing a valued relationship first . . . and building from there.

Please contact Alex Graham (404) 870-3122 Founder and CEO Randy Maner (404) 446-2855 Managing Director of Investment Banking

Giving Form to Substance

Visit us on the web at www.mensuracapital.com

Securities are offered through Mensura Securities, LLC, a commonly controlled affiliate of Mensura Capital, LLC, a transactional and operational advisory firm.

28

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

A

Featured Profiles

dvisors

James H. McDonald Jr. is managing partner of the law firm Alford, Clausen & McDonald LLC. He graduated magna cum laude from McDonald Spring Hill College in 1975, and earned his law degree at J.D. Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1978. McDonald has practiced law in Mobile since 1978, and served as vice chair and general counsel for a publicly traded, billion-dollar regional retailer from 1984 until 1995. He is a certified mediator and has a general business and corporate practice. He also represents local businesses in the defense of employment matters, and defends professional liability claims against architects, accountants, lawyers, realtors and appraisers. McDonald is a member of the Alabama Bar, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Council and the Mobile Bar Association.

W

The Mobile Area Chamber is proud to salute members of the board of advisors.

These business leaders represent companies whose significant dues investment lead the way in funding the Chamber’s programs and initiatives.

For more information contact Katrina Dewrell at 431-8611 or kdewrell@mobilechamber.com.

James F. Watkins is a shareholder in the Mobile office of the law firm Maynard Cooper & Gale PC. He is a member of the firm’s general Watkins corporate, commercial lending, real estate and estate planning practice groups. Watkins earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1989 and a juris doctorate from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1992. He is admitted to practice in Alabama and is a member of the Mobile Bar and the American Bar Associations. Watkins currently serves on the city of Mobile Planning Commission and has extensive experience with planning and zoning matters before various planning commissions and boards of adjustment in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Maynard Cooper & Gale is a full-service law firm with more than 180 lawyers and offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile.

ho’s In Town?

June 2010

The Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau (MBCVB) provides a list of the current month’s conventions coming to the bay area.

For more information contact the MBCVB at 208-2000.

June 3-5 Alabama Elks Association Delegates: 275 Phone: 251-928-1584 Hotel/Location: Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District June 4-5 Theodore High School Reunion Delegates: 175 Phone: 251-208-7632 Hotel/Location: Radisson Admiral Semmes Hotel June 11-12 The Production Co. Delegates: 2,500 Phone: 317-236-6515 Hotels/Location: Citywide/Downtown Mobile

June 19-23 Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools Delegates: 750 Phone: 334-265-3610 Hotels/Locations: Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel/The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa/Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center June 25-July 4 Christian Methodist Episcopal Delegates: 5,000 Phone: 323-233-5050 Hotels/Locations: Hampton Inn & Suites Mobile/Downtown, Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District, Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel/The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa/Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center

June 12-18 USET Inc. Delegates: 1,250 Phone: 251-253-5963 Hotels/Location: Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel/The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

29

C

hamber@Work

Chamber Assists Media The Chamber assisted several regional and national media organizations on a variety of projects to promote the area. The communications department assisted www. cnn.com and Chicago Public Radio with a “Fact or Fiction” project on whether Mardi Gras originated in Mobile or New Orleans (the American celebration). The story appeared on cnn.com – the international site and it was again confirmed, Mobile is the birthplace of U.S. Mardi Gras. In addition, the department worked on a special section highlighting Mobile County in Business Alabama.

Executive Roundtable Gaining Popularity Attendance is up at the Chamber’s monthly Executive Roundtable meetings, held the third Tuesday each month (see page 31 for more details on this month’s speaker). Recent presenters include Brent McMahan with the Small Business Administration, updating attendees on new and existing SBA programs to help small businesses during the economic downturn, and Bill Sisson with the Mobile Airport Authority, who discussed improvements

being made at the airport, as well as the new marketing strategy. To learn more about Executive Roundtable, contact Danette Richards at drichards@ mobilechamber.com or 431-8652.

Future Goals for Growth Offshore Alabama, the Chamber’s oil and gas task force, gathered recently to hear a presentation from Aker Solutions on the needs of the oil and gas drillers and producers with respect to the service and support for current operations and for future developments in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The committee identified potential and realistic targeted companies involved in oil and gas development in the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico as well as companies complementing services now offered in the Mobile Bay area. This will give the committee a target market to promote Offshore Alabama.

Career Fair The Bay Area Healthcare Coalition and the Chamber’s Center for Workforce Development participated in a three-day career fair at Faulkner Technical School.

Ninth-grade students from area schools attended the event to explore careers in the many technical areas offered, such as welding, shipbuilding and masonry.

Chamber Participates in Member Celebrations Chamber staff and diplomats helped cut ribbons and celebrate grand openings at Alacare Home Health & Hospice, Meggie B’s and Regent Technology Services.

Meeting Site Selection Consultants in Chicago Chamber Vice President of Economic Development Troy Wayman visited Chicago in March, participating in the Southern Economic Development Council’s annual “Meet the Consultants” event. Aside from the traditional panel discussions from international consultants addressing trends and issues affecting many business sectors and their location decisions, Wayman had several one-on-one appointments to discuss Mobile’s economy and its position for growth. While there, he met with internationally recognized site selection consultants from Jones Lang & LaSalle, as well as another group from Szatan & Associates, and introduced them to this region’s strengths. Development Counsellors International, the international economic development public relations firm the Chamber works with in partnership with the Alabama Development Office and the Huntsville Chamber, arranged these meetings.

Education Tax Renewal Vote Coming in 2011 The Chamber is working with the Mobile County Public School System, Saraland City Schools, the city of Mobile, Mobile County and the Mobile Area Education Foundation in advance of three renewal taxes for K-12 public schools coming up for a vote in 2011. It’s important to note these are not new taxes, or a renewal of the tax passed in 2001, rather this is a renewal of three countywide taxes, each last renewed in 1991, and originally enacted in 1915, 1942 and 1945, respectively. The Chamber will be supporting this renewal. Read more about this topic in upcoming issues of The Business View.

Chamber Pushes For Expedited Real Estate Legislation The Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee actively supported passage of local legislation for expedited quiet title and foreclosure action in circuit court. Sponsored

by Rep. Jamie Ison, this legislation is important to the revitalization of neighborhoods suffering from a concentration of tax-foreclosed and abandoned properties, and it will serve as an economic catalyst for area communities. Passage of this legislation will return properties to the city of Mobile’s tax rolls and enable the city’s land bank, along with local developers and nonprofits, to access federal stimulus and other grant monies for the property’s redevelopment.

30

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

C

omparative Economic Indicators

MARCH 2010 vs MARCH 2009 The Mobile Area Chamber’s research division collects a variety of statistics each month.

Business Licenses City of Mobile

328 2010 320 2009

Employed Mobile/Baldwin counties

230,071 2010 244,974 2009

Unemployment Rates Mobile/Baldwin counties

11.3% 2010 8.9% 2009

Homes Sold⌦ Mobile County

309 2010 286 2009

Average Selling Price Mobile County $128,112 2010 $139,401 2009

Building Permits City of Mobile

425 2010 239 2009

Value of Building Permits $17,121,724 2010 $14,291,493 2009

Air Passengers From Mobile Area 19,483 2010 20,971 2009

JUNE

9

C

BUSINESS @BREAKFAST *Members Only

Time: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Place: Mobile Area Chamber Cost: $10, includes breakfast Contact: Missy Hartley at 431-8638 or

mhartley@mobilechamber.com

ALABAMA BID LAWS –

DOING BUSINESS

WITH THE STATE OF ALABAMA

10

Time: 8:30 -10:30 A.m.

Place: Chamber McGowin Room,

451 Government St. Cost: $20 for members/ $25 for

potential members Contact: Brenda Rembert at 431-8607 or

brembert@mobilechamber.com

15

EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE*

*Members Only

Time: 8 - 9 a.m.

Place: Chamber Board Room,

451 Government St. Cost: Free Contact: Brenda Rembert at 431-8607 or

brembert@mobilechamber.com

16

GCTC LUNCHEON

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Place: Harbor Communications Center

at Hank Aaron Stadium Cost: $15 for members/$20 for potential

members/$5 for students Contact: Christina Stimpson at 431-8636

or cstimpson@mobilechamber.com

18

iTEN WIRED SUMMIT

Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Place: Space 301, 301 Conti St. Cost: $75, includes lunch Contact: Christina Stimpson at 431-8636

or cstimpson@mobilechamber.com

24

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Place: Café Royal, 101 Dauphin St. Cost: $5 for members/$10 for

potential members Contact: Missy Hartley at 431-8638 or

mhartley@mobilechamber.com

a l e ndar

Business@Breakfast* Business@Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, June 9, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

B@B offers members 45 seconds to introduce themselves and their business.

Following a brief presentation, introductions and breakfast, attendees are invited to continue networking. The cost is $10, includes breakfast and is open to only one representative per company.

Reservations and payment are required by June 7 for this event. No cancellations will be reimbursed after this date to cover the cost of breakfast.

For reservations contact Missy Hartley at 431-8638 or mhartley@mobile chamber.com. *Members only

GCTC Luncheon The Gulf Coast Technology Council will host its bi-monthly luncheon on Wednesday, June 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Harbor Communications Center at Hank Aaron Stadium. Cyber crime expert, Jim Hlavin, Special Agent, FBI - Mobile, will present “The Dark Side of Internet and Social Media.”

The cost to attend is $15 for Chamber members, $20 for potential members, and $5 for students, and includes lunch. Reservations and payment are necessary by June 14. For more information, contact Christina Stimpson at 431-8636 or cstimpson@mobilechamber.com.

Alabama Bid Laws – Doing Business with the State of Alabama Alabama Bid Laws – Doing Business with the State of Alabama will be Thursday, June 10, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Mobile Area Chamber’s McGowin Room, 451 Government St. Representatives from the state’s division of purchasing will cover topics including Alabama’s bid process, vendor registration and bid preparation and submission. They will also discuss bid laws – the dollar limits, minority set aside, general contractor license and bonds, and the importance of building rapport with the state of Alabama.

The cost is $20 for members and $25 for potential members and payment must be made with reservation

by Wednesday, June 9. For reservations, contact Brenda Rembert at 431-8607 or brembert@mobilechamber.com.

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

Business After Hours Join other Chamber members and diplomats from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for Business After Hours on Thursday, June 24, and enjoy a casual evening of networking with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages at Café Royal, 101 Dauphin St. This is one of the Chamber’s best opportunities to introduce yourself and your business to other members and make new business contacts. Reservations are not necessary. The cost to attend is $5 for members and $10 for potential members. For more information contact Missy Hartley at 431-8638 or mhartley@mobilechamber.com.

Executive Roundtable* Executive Roundtable, a monthly forum providing practical business information exclusively for Chamber member small business owners and managers, will meet Tuesday, June 15, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Mobile Area Chamber’s Board Room, 451 Government St. Dr. Bert Eichold, health officer for the Mobile

County Health Department, will discuss how businesses can reduce their healthcare costs. There is no charge to attend, but seating is limited. For reservations, contact Brenda Rembert at 431-8607 or brembert@mobilechamber.com.

* Members Only

iTen Wired Summit iTen Wired Summit will be held June 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Space 301, 301 Conti St. iTen Wired Summits promote technological advancements and technology-based entrepreneurship.

The focus of this summit will be “Fostering Growth Through Innovation in Targeted Industries.” This effort is led by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce with the Mobile Area Chamber, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, TEAM Santa Rosa, and the Okaloosa County EDC. The cost is $75 and includes lunch.

Registrations must be received by June 11. For more information visit www.itenwired.com/summit/ or contact Christina Stimpson at 431-8636 or cstimpson@mobilechamber.com.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

31

M

ember News

Clark Personnel hired Melissa Weeks.

Her responsibilities include staffing support, management of new employees, and marketing and promotion of the company’s online career portal, www.clarkcareer.com.

X Coastal Bank and Trust welcomed John L. “Jackie” Godwin III as a senior risk manager. Godwin earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Auburn University. He has more than 15 Godwin years banking experience in south Alabama.

X RE/MAX Partners welcomed Jennifer Ryan to the Casey Team. She will assist clients from the Grelot Road office.

Meagan Coughlin joined The CPI Group LLC as marketing and public relations coordinator. Coughlin received her bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University.

Beau Fleming joined Fleming Rehab and Sports Medicine as a licensed physical therapist.

Fleming graduated from The University of Alabama and holds a doctorate of physical Fleming therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Fla. X

Bolton

T. Musial

Prudential Cooper & Co. Inc. REALTORS added five new agents. Peggy Bolton, Clinton Cochran, Ted Musial and Arta Musial will work in the Cottage Hill A. Musial office. Ricky Dean is located in the Hillcrest office.

X New Horizons Credit Union announced several promotions and relocations. Branch manager Ellen Dunn is the new indirect lending manager. Sarah Gatson was promoted to branch manager and Thomasine Shelly was promoted to head teller at the Daphne office. Shaune Williams moved to the Midtown branch and Linda Brown relocated to the Saraland branch.

X Shelby D. Helton joined Russell Thompson Butler & Houston LLP accounting and consulting firm as a staff accountant specializing in financial auditing and taxation. Helton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of South Alabama.

X Springdale Travel American Express promoted Sam Corsentino to leisure travel manager and Mendy Tanner to manager of cruise sales and cruise quarters. Corsentino has more than 10 years of experience in the travel industry and Tanner has more than eight years experience as a cruise agent.

X Jeremy Knight is a new agent in Roberts Brothers West office.

Knight

32

Cochran

Clark Personnel Service launched “Career Portal,” a free online resource guide at www.clarkcareer.com. The site is designed to help participants with job search, career advancement and career transition.

X Gulf Coast Drug Testing LLC, a Mobile-based drug and DNA testing company providing products, services and comprehensive background checks, opened at 312-T Schillinger Rd. S. For more information, call 654-5985 or visit www.gulfcoast drugtesting.com.

X LifeSouth Community Blood Centers invested nearly $3 million to purchase the 18,000-square-foot facility at 967 Hillcrest Rd. that serves as the company’s coastal Alabama district headquarters. It is home base for two LifeSouth bloodmobiles and is the hub where blood donations are processed and distributed to area hospitals. The center employs 48 people.

X White-Spunner Construction expects to complete the $22 million Gulfport Municipal Complex in Mississippi by October. The 78,690-square-foot three-story public safety building is designed to meet stringent 200-mph wind requirements, compliance with FEMA 361 requirements and serve as a first responder’s shelter in the event of a hurricane. The structure is selfsupporting and able to function independently for up to 36 hours.

X In a partnership with Mobile’s Clear Channel Radio, the Mobile BayBears will broadcast all 140 regular-season games.

The radio agreement will place every inning of all regular-season contests plus postseason on ESPN Radio HD 107.32 FM, the station’s HD channel. The broadcasts will also be available online at www.baybears radio. com and on television with audio only on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 103.

X Cartridge World, a recycling and re-manufacturer of ink jet and laser printer cartridges, opened at 3664-A Airport Blvd.

For more information call 725-6380.

X Cam Marston, president of Generational Insight, was one of six speakers from across the country selected to present at the Million Dollar Roundtable.

He was selected from a pool of more than 8,000 applicants. The presentation was held in Canada and attended by more than 8,000 of the industry’s top producers.

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

The Senior Citizens Services (SCS) board of directors appointed Audrey Goldberg to its board. The SCS promotes a healthy, active, independent lifestyle Goldberg among adults and operates Via! programs.

X Allison Miller received the first University of Mobile (UM) history department Graduate Teacher of the Year award.

Miller is a social studies and Miller language arts teacher at Mary G. Montgomery High School and a UM graduate. Miller was chosen by a vote of the university’s history department faculty.

X

Busby

Reed-Logan

R. Smith

Ripp

T. Smith

Villarreal

Mobile’s Society of Human Resource Management (MSHRM)recognized newly certified members. Jennifer Busby, Melanie Cotton and Leilani Reed-Logan earned Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. Therena Smith and Randy Smith obtained certification as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Elizabeth Ripp acquired a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) certification and Peter Villarreal passed the PHR exam as a student. The certification, awarded by the HR Certification Institute, signifies theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management.

X Custom Closets by Kenney-Moise Inc. earned the ORG Solutions President’s Club award for excellence in 2009. ORG Solutions is a leading manufacturer of quality organization systems that recognizes its top dealers for exceptional accomplishments, dedication and outstanding performance. Custom Closets by Kenney-Moise Inc. is one of 15 ORG Solutions dealers to earn the honor.

A

Member News Homewood Suites by Hilton Mobile-East Bay-Daphne received two Southeast region awards, for “Best for Food and Beverage” and “Best in Engineering,” determined by satisfaction and loyalty racking scores on each of the 300 Homewood Suites by Hilton properties.

X Mike Loncono, president of Bay Benefits Group, a Mobile-based employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm, acquired his CEBS (Certified Loncono Employee Benefits Specialist) designation.

The Mission of Hope Ministries of Mobile earned accreditation from the National Financial Accountability Organization (ECFA) based on the ECFA seven standards of responsible stewardship, including financial accountability, transparency, sound board governance and ethical fund-raising. The Mission of Hope ministers to men and women with addictions.

nniversaries Members Are Our Greatest Asset!

50 YEARS

International Business Machines J.C. Penney Co. Larson & McGowin Inc. Merrill Lynch WKRG-TV

45 YEARS

Interstate Printing & Graphics Wachovia Bank WALA FOX 10/The CW WFNA TV

35 YEARS

SGS Minerals Services Mobile

30 YEARS

Crescent Towing Co. of Mobile

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.

Reach 22,200 Decision Makers EACH Month Advertise in The Business View By advertising in The Business View, you can reach the decision-makers at more than 22,200 area businesses every month plus another 7,500 business professionals who receive it electronically.

The Business View – an easy and economical way to get your company in front of the Mobile area business community.

25 YEARS

Infirmary Health System Inc. Mercy Medical Shell Exploration & Production Co.

15 YEARS

Auto Xtras Inc. Clear Channel Radio cnc reSOURCE Colonial Village at Huntleigh Woods The Museum of Mobile Olin Corp.

The Pelican Group Inc. SM Transportation & Warehouse

10 YEARS

100 Black Men of Greater Mobile Inc. Adams Homes LLC BASF The Chemical Co. Benchmark Homes Inc. First Federal Mortgage Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Inc. GMAC Bowl Reliable Staffing Inc. Royal Management Co. Inc.

5 YEARS

Blankenship’s Universal Supply Carnival Cruise Lines Dorsey & Dorsey Engineering Foshee Realty Co. Inc. Hadder Accounting Inc. Marshall A. McLeod PLS LLC Office Depot SmartWorkEthics.com Somerby of Mobile YWCA of Mobile Inc.

1-4 YEARS Contact René Eiland to discover how advertising in The Business View can complete your marketing plan at 251.431.8635 or e-mailreiland@mobilechamber.com. www.mobilechamber.com/view/media_kit.pdf

Advanced Disposal Airbus North America Engineering Air In Motion Inc. Alabama Credit Union Lucy Barr Designs

Bit-Wizards Custom Software Solutions Inc. Branch, Bell, Zoghby & Associates Burton Design Campus Book Store Catfish Junction CG Railway Inc. Cimco Refrigeration Inc. Commercial & Marine Insurance Brokers Inc. CORT Furniture dp Home Health Care Associates Inc. Drama Camp Productions at Sunny Side Theater Eastern Shore Centre Elof Hansson Inc. Timber Division Enterprise Telephony Group Inc. Exclusive Limousine Service LLC EXIT Realty Alabama F & S Equipment and Supplies Inc. FedEx Hill Marine Refrigeration Inc Jedson Engineering Inc. Kesco Landscape Workshop McFadden Engineering Andrew Meyers State Farm Agency Microtel Inn and Suites North Mobile Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Mobile County Personnel Board The Mobile Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Mr. Electric National Multiple Sclerosis Society Alabama Chapter NoJa Northwestern Mutual Financial Network-Mobile Nudraulix Inc. Olde Oak Apartment Homes Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP Pond Elegance Andre Reid & Associates RE/MAX Realty Professionals Slaton Moving & Warehouse Star Aviation Starnes & Atchison LLP Point Logistics LLC Polka ToT Designs Inc. Richardson Stevedoring & Logistics Shumock & Anderson LLC CPAs Stafford & Associates Inc. The Story Group Wal-Mart Supercenter - Dawes Rd. Warbama Industrial Services Inc. Sam Winter - Roberts Brothers Real Estate Zieman, Speegle, Jackson & Hoffman LLC Zoes Kitchen As of 3/31/10

Please show your support through the patronage of these businesses.

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

| The Business View | JUNE 2010

33

Clip and add to your Membership Directory.

N

e w Members

If you know of a company that may be interested in learning more about Chamber benefits, contact Rebecca Milam at 431-8647.

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

360clean Dennis Null 3750-A Airport Blvd.

Mobile, AL 36608-1618 251-243-9760 www.360cleanmobile.com Janitorial Service Autism Solutions Inc. Ray H. Miller III 164 St. Francis St., Ste. 205 Mobile, AL 36602-3517 251-432-0757 Learning Center Bank of America Home Loans Kimberly Brooks 6337 Cottage Hill Rd. Mobile, AL 36609-3112 251-602-0552 Mortgages The Blake at Malbis Natoshia Gallant 11626 US Hwy. 90 Daphne, AL 36526 251-366-9063 www.blakeliving.com Retirement & Assisted Living

Bruce Office Supply & Furniture Mick Crawford 3855 Trumbull Ct. Mobile, AL 36619 251-802-0597 www.bruceoffice.com Office Products & Furniture Camellia Trophy and Specialties John W. Nonnenmacher 1276 West I-65 Service Rd. S. Mobile, AL 36609-1307 251-342-9638 www.camelliatrophy.com Trophies & Awards Continental Safety Compliance LLC Dalton Barnhill 110 Travis St., Ste. 97 Lafayette, LA 70503-2452 337-257-4441 www.continentalsafetycompliance.com Safety Consultants Cornerstone Hard Surface Restoration David Blackburn Jr. 4004 Littledale Ct. Mobile, AL 36609-5912 251-232-2195 www.conerstonehsr.com Cleaning-Pressure

DFA Consulting LLC Dana A. Foster-Allen CPA 6831 Ching Lynch Rd. Mobile, AL 36618-4454 251-295-2136 www.dfaconsultingllc.com Accountants-Certified Public The Forum for Family Business Tommy Fulton 1261 Heron Lakes Cir. Mobile, AL 36693-4368 251-422-8556 www.theforumforfamilybusiness.com Speaker Global Tax Service Charles Harris 3700-B Government Blvd.

Mobile, AL 36693-4306 251-662-5990 www.globaltaxservice.us Taxes-Consultants/ Representative The Grapevine Advertising Co. LLC Jeri Centric 5265 Providence Rd., Ste. 504 Virginia Beach, VA 23464-4210 888-340-2090 www.hittgrapevineonline.com Advertising

Building for lease

There is Strength in Numbers...

A recent study showed that consumers are 63 percent more likely to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a Chamber member. For as little as 83 cents a day your membership will yield a return in: • Business assistance; • Professional development seminars and counseling; • Networking opportunities; • Advocacy aimed at protecting your business interests; and much more.

The Mobile Area Chamber, through a contract with the city of Mobile and Mobile

Gulf Coast Drug Testing LLC Neil E. Stuckas 312-T Schillinger Rd. S., #121 Mobile, AL 36608-5000 251-654-5985 www.gulfcoastdrugtesting.com Drug Screening-Detection Services HSIC Henry Schwarzberg JD CIMA AIF 6501 Sugar Pointe Ct. Mobile, AL 36695-2741 310-989-5693 Investment Advisory Service Kairos Communication Architects Dr. Moira Amado-McGittigan 4304 Marquette Dr. Mobile, AL 36608 251-643-5767 www.kairoscommunication architects.com Training & Development

location: 456 Civic Center Drive size: Approx. 5,000 square feet features: • Vaulted ceilings • Five private offices • Custom cubicles • Large conference room • Storage area • Kitchen/breakroom • Fenced parking

National Tax Credit of Mobile Tim Bowman P.O. Box 978 Gadsen, AL 35902-0978 800-467-1180, ext #2 www.ntc-mobile.com Payroll Preparation Service

availaBility: Immediately Contact Joe Mareno For More Information at (251) 431-8624 or jmareno@mobilechamber.com

34

JUNE 2010 | The Business View | Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

County, is the lead economic recruiter and collaborates with various entities to secure projects for the Mobile Bay area. More jobs increase your potential client base!

In addition, the Chamber focuses on quality of life. One small fee allows you to be involved in improving education, the economy, business and many other critical issues.

For more information about becoming a member, contact Carolyn Golson at 431-8622 or cgolson@mobilechamber. com or visit www.mobilechamber.com.

The Business of Mobile is Our Business.

PrimeLending Ron Bolton 7221 Grelot Rd., Ste. F Mobile, AL 36695-4367 251-509-0027 www.primelending.com Mortgage Loans

Ben Stewart Builders Benjamin Stewart 440 Azalea Rd. Mobile, AL 36693-1652 251-776-2888 Home Builders

Rodan & Fields Dermatologists Kariene Fortner 1156 Sturbridge Lp. Daphne, AL 36526-6646 251-214-5183 www.kfortner.myrandf.com Skin Care

Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration LLC Dr. Don Blancher USA Technology & Research Park 775 N. University Blvd., Ste. 2604 Mobile, AL 36608-3307 251-243-0376 www.restoreecosystems.com Environmental/Ecological Service

S.S. Nesbitt & Co. Danny O. Meadows 3500 Blue Lake Dr. Birmingham, AL 35243-1907 205-262-2700 www.ssnesbitt.com Insurance

United America Security Services Inc. Tina Dionne 13080 Larry Ln. W. Grand Bay, AL 36541-6602 251-865-2600 Security Consultants

The Scrub Shop Ross Vandenberg 3077 Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36606-4040 251-450-1150 www.thescrubshoponline.com Uniform-Retail

Windmill Market Gina Walcott 85 N. Bancroft St. Fairhope, AL 36532-2139 251-517-5444 www.windmillmarket.org Market-Retail

As of 3/31/10

News Get Positive Business Month ch Ea on Your Desktop up yourself, Whether you want to sign yee – or want plo em an or ker wor coa get The to “go green” – its free to Business View online.

E-mail Judy Winfield at om and jwinfield@mobilechamber.c ne issue. ask for the link to the onli ature in Be sure to include your sign ail. e-m the body of the

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ...keeps businesses rolling right along.

You might say the Fausak brothers have their eye on the road, especially when it comes to seeing the “business point-ofview on political matters.” They steer their Chamber activities toward advocacy, networking, marketing our city and being good community stewards. As one of 2,400 Chamber members, Chip and his brother Chris have access to resources, exposure and networking to grow their business and make it thrive – and that helps them track success.

Chip and Chris Fausak Fausak Tires & Service 42 Employees Member Since 1985

The Business of Mobile is our Business. joinmobilechamber.com 251.433.6951