Montgomery Business Journal – September 2013 by Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

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Calendar

Chamber News: Small Business Resource Center advocates on behalf of Chamber members

Q&A with Steve Bucherati

Imagine a Greater Montgomery II Legacy Founder and Public Sector Partners

Chamber News: 2013 Total Resource Campaign is in full swing

Rep. Mike Rogers warns about potential military cuts

Investor Profile: Industrial Development Board for the City of Montgomery

Major Expansion: DAS North America increases capacity

Hyundai enjoys torrid sales pace

Member Profile: JESCO Inc.

Reporterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notebook

Questplex will provide a lifelong learning experience

UPS Store owner grows company with five stores

Leadership Montgomery brings about positive change

Officials dedicate Wright Brothers Park

Citiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; top executives work hand in hand

Business Buzz

Members on the Move

New Members

Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings

Economic Intel

SEPTEMBER 2013

Contents

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

THE NUMBER ONE BUSINESS SOURCE FOR MONTGOMERY AND THE RIVER REGION PUBLISHER

Randall L. George EDITORIAL

Tina McManama David Zaslawsky Lashanda Gaines DESIGN

Copperwing Design PHOTOGRAPHER

Robert Fouts ON THE COVER:

Carolyn Bryan is the president of Leadership Montgomery.

ADVERTISING:

Linda Drumheller 334-240-9494 mbjsales@montgomerychamber.com Montgomery Business Journal c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Post Office Box 79 41 Commerce Street Montgomery, Alabama 36101 Telephone: 334-834-5200 Fax: 334-265-4745 Email: mbj@montgomerychamber.com www.montgomerychamber.com/mbj The Montgomery Business Journal (USPS NO. 025553) is published monthly except for the combined issues of June/July/August and November/December, by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, 41 Commerce Street, Montgomery AL 36104, (334) 834-5200, www.montgomerychamber.com. Subscription rate is $30 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Montgomery Alabama, 36119+9998, USPS NO. 025553. Volume 5, Issue 7 POSTMASTER send address changes to Montgomery Business Journal, c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 79, 41 Commerce Street, Montgomery AL 36101, or email mbj@montgomerychamber.com. The Montgomery Business Journal welcomes story ideas from its readers. Email to: editor@montgomerychamber.com. Subscriptions are a part of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce dues structure. Subscriptions can also be purchased for $30 per year at www.montgomerychamber.com/mbjsub.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Calendar Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Events

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

16 17 19

60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored by HEALTHSOUTH 8 AM @ HEALTHSOUTH 4465 Narrow Lane Road, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR 4 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door DIVERSITY SUMMIT Presenting Sponsor: Troy University 8 AM @ Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery. Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/diversity2013 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by Jackson Hospital 5 PM @ Rehab Associates at Jackson Hospital 1215 Mulberry Street, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

9 21 24

BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR 4 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door 60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored by Auburn Montgomery Outreach 8 AM @ Auburn Montgomery 7440 East Drive, Taylor Center, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR 4 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door IT FORUM Presenting Sponsor: Auburn University at Montgomery 11:30 AM @ Capital City Club 201 Monroe Street, Montgomery. Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/IT-Forum BUSINESS TAX SEMINAR Two Sessions: 3 PM & 6 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery Free event, open to the public BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by Larry Puckett Chevrolet 5 PM @ Larry Puckett Chevrolet 2101 Cobbs Ford Road, Prattville Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Promoting Members Companies benefit from Chamber’s matchmaking by David Zaslawsky

Randy Brown is owner of RB Painting Contractors, LLC.

When the Montgomery Housing Authority wanted a recommendation for a subcontractor for a large painting job, the organization turned to the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Resource Center.

and Lisa McGinty, director of Small Business Development – are well versed about the capabilities of numerous Chamber members and are able to play matchmaker. Just as importantly, the three know different businesses.

That’s how Randy Brown of RB Painting Contractors, LLC, landed a $300,000plus contract. He was invited to a pre-bid conference for phase I of the Plaza at Centennial, where he met with the general contractors. The first phase is 129 mixedincome units.

“Folks call us and will say, ‘We’re planning an event and we need some advice on who we can get as a small business owner,’ ” Boone said. “We pull out that tool kit that we carry. We don’t just refer one. We give them the option of looking at more than one business owner. It’s a big sphere of influence that we have.”

“I submitted an estimate for this particular project,” said Brown, who is a contractor for Walgreens and mostly works outside the area. “I really didn’t think I was going to get the bid. We got called in to participate in the project.” That’s just one way that executives at the Small Business Resource Center assist small businesses as do other Chamber staff. Brown said that Chamber executives are “advocating for the minority contractors here in Montgomery and across the state. It helps us get around the table to showcase our talents and let these (general contractors) know that we can participate and we can perform these type/size projects.”

That sphere of influence comes in handy when out-of-state contractors and business owners are bidding on federal, state or local contracts and are required to have a certain percentage of minorityowned businesses as sub-contractors. “What we do is look at our lists and say, ‘Who fits the requirements and is a business owner in these particular trade areas,’ ” Boone said. “What we have to do is get the right information to the right business owner at the right time so they can be competitive.”

Three of those Chamber executives – Harold Boone Sr., vice president, Minority Business Development and Leadership Programs; Douglas Jones, vice president, Business Services and executive director of the Small Business Resource Center;

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

“What we have to do is get the right information to the right business owner at the right time so they can be competitive.” - Harold Boone Sr., vice president, Minority Business Development and Leadership Programs for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

He was invited to join a task force to encourage businesses to join the Chamber. Of course, he met a lot of people, who learned about his restaurant and might become customers. “Being a small café, there’s a lot of people who know about us and there are a lot more people who don’t know about us,” Dallas said. That’s why it is important to have people in your corner, promoting your business. Boone, Jones and McGinty work behind the scenes, too. They meet a wide variety of people in their normal Chamber business operations.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Wishbone Café owner Paul Dallas said that he relies on word-of-mouth comments and recommendations because he is at his restaurant 80 percent of the time. Top: Marilyn Winborn is owner of Winborn Web Design, LLC. Left: Paul Dallas is owner of Wishbone Cafe. Right: Gwen Massey is owner of ASE Cakes & Catering.

That makes it difficult to build relationships, which are critical to a business’ success and Boone, Jones and McGinty are doing just that – building those all-important relationships. Together, they have 30-plus years with the Chamber. “You never know what’s being done behind the scenes (to promote your company),” said Dallas, who opened his Wishbone Café five years ago and has six employees.

Boone said, “That’s when we’re able to say, ‘Have you thought about using so-and-so for this event? Have you thought about using company X-Y-Z to provide the catering?’ They do a great job.” Just ask Marilyn Winborn, owner of Winborn Web Design, LLC, which has been in operation for 10 years. “If you’re trying to take your business in a certain direction, you can ask them (Boone, Jones and McGinty), ‘Who in our community is instrumental or has knowledge that I could tap into?’ They will certainly point you in the right direction. “If you come out to a networking event, they may point someone out to you – ‘This person is in charge of procurement’ – and then they will make a one-on-one introduction.” Winborn, whose services range from building a website from scratch or fine tuning an existing website to teaching classes or

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

implementing an email marketing campaign, said that she has been introduced to future clients by the Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) officials. She attended Entrepreneurial University at the SBRC so Boone, Jones and McGinty know the type of projects that would interest her. “If they hear of something they will pass my name on and give me contact information,” said Winborn, who also owns Brass Wraps, home of African Killer Beads, which is a home-based jewelry business. “They have given me leads for opportunities in Tuskegee and Selma and those things are still in the negotiation phase. I have people calling me this year that I met four or five years ago (at networking events).” At those networking events, which include monthly coffees and after-hours, new Chamber members give that elevator speech

about their business. Dallas said that he used that platform. “I had the opportunity to meet a lot of people at that time and it gave me opportunities to tell exactly what I did.” He took that opportunity to not only describe his restaurant, which he said focuses on CajunCaribbean cuisine, but to tell participants about catering, dine-in and hours of operation. He did gain a client – the Chamber had Dallas cater an event.

“I get people calling me all the time that say, ‘I got my card from you or I met you at a (Chamber) 60-minute coffee,” said Massey, the former owner of Bandana’s, who closed the restaurant last December. Chamber employees have also recommended Massey’s services for weddings. She not only caters and makes cakes, but she also works on decorations and linens. •

Gwen Massey, owner of ASE Cakes & Catering, has catered numerous Chamber events and at those events has business cards and sometimes posts signs of her business so guests learn who did the catering. She has catered for the Chamber’s Women in Business luncheons and received calls from attendees. Massey said that people have contacted her after being recommended by Boone, Jones, McGinty and other Chamber employees.

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

DIFFERENCES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Q & A WITH STEVE BUCHERATI Steve Bucherati is the chief diversity officer for Coca-Cola. He is the keynote speaker for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s sixth annual Diversity Summit. He was recently interviewed by Montgomery Business Journal Managing Editor David Zaslawsky. Montgomery Business Journal: What does diversity mean to you?

Steve Bucherati is the chief diversity officer for Coca-Cola Co.

Bucherati: I try to keep this really simple. Diversity means having difference – difference in whatever relevant terms you’re discussing. It can be real obvious like gender and race, but it can also mean things like differences in thinking styles or educational background or parental status. You have to think about diversity as difference and think about it broadly. It all depends on the conversation you’re having and that’s what ends up defining diversity. MBJ: Has there been somewhat of a shift from an emphasis on race and gender to age or educational backgrounds and parental status?

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Bucherati: I don’t think there’s been a shift first of all from any one or two things to anything else. I think the focus has just broadened. You have to take a wider view of diversity than ever before because the reality is that we are all diverse in any number of ways. When you are leading a business or organization, you have to understand that we are all diverse and take that into account in everything that you do and that allows you to run your business better. MBJ: What has been the impact of a much broader definition of diversity from 10 years ago? Bucherati: In the United States, it is not shifting the importance away from race and ethnicity; from gender; from generation; from religion; etc. I think of this as additive because you cannot take your eye off of things like gender, race, ethnicity, generations, religion – not for one second. You have to use both eyes and make sure you are looking broadly at the things that impact people. Here’s an example: Not everybody has the same thinking or learning style. If you as a leader communicate in a way that is always … that you think everybody will always understand exactly what it is I’m saying – that’s not the case because people have different thinking and learning styles. As a result, the message that you think everybody is getting – everybody may not get or everybody may get it differently. You have to be aware of stuff like that. I’m not trying to water down diversity. I don’t want to take away from what I call the traditional norms of diversity. I just want to say use both eyes and understand it’s (diversity) broader, too.

MBJ: In your role, you are responsible for “leading diversity and fairness as a fully integrated part of the company’s business strategy …” Please explain the fairness aspect and doesn’t diversity incorporate fairness? Bucherati: This is actually one of my favorite topics to discuss. Diversity is about difference, but just because you have difference doesn’t mean that you’re making equitable and fair decisions about that difference. I’ll give you an example: Let’s say your work force was 50 percent female and 50 percent male and let’s say that all of that work force was equally qualified, but males were getting 75 percent of the promotional opportunities inside your organization. You would be diverse, but you really wouldn’t be making fair decisions in all likelihood because everybody is equally qualified, but men keep winning the day. In all likelihood there is something inequitable going on in the process. You have to think about fairness and diversity both because you can have diversity all day long, but if you’re not making the right decisions overall … I would say that fairness is the litmus test. If you ask most people how do you think we’re doing with diversity, whether it’s my company or a company in Montgomery – I would guarantee you that nine times out of 10 their answer is actually based on something that is fairnessrelated. It could be an experience they had or a friend or a colleague. MBJ: Why is it important to have a diverse work force?

207 countries. Here in the United States, it’s a very diverse consumer population as you know and it’s growing more diverse all the time. Here’s where see and seize comes in. In order for us to seize those marketplace opportunities and sell more Coke, we have to be able to see those opportunities. I will tell you that a homogenous work force likely cannot do that as well as a more diverse work force. A more diverse work force is more likely to see more opportunities than a homogenous work force. A more diverse work force is also more likely to be innovative because the more diverse work force is typically bringing more variety in their life experiences, which means they can look at an opportunity or a problem or challenge from more varied perspectives. MBJ: An article in the Georgia Trend magazine quotes you as saying: “The bottom line is there is a lot of money to be made in understanding the diversity of the consumer landscape. Failure to do that will lead to failure of your business.” That’s what you were just saying about seeing opportunities and seizing them.

A more diverse work force is more likely to see more opportunities than a homogenous work force.

Bucherati: By its very nature, any company is in business to make money. You’re in the business to make money for your shareholders if you are a publicly traded company. You’re in business to reinvest the money into the business so you can grow your business. You want to make money so you can invest in your own employees CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Bucherati: For us this is pretty easy and I’ll talk about see and seize later. For us at Coke, there is a very clear and convincing business case for diversity. Our products are sold to this incredibly diverse consumer population across the United States and across the world. We sell in 207 countries every day. Here’s some trivia: We sell 1.8 billion drinks every single day to the most diverse population on the planet because it’s

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

and you want to make money so you can invest in the communities where you operate – give back. Like I said a minute ago, we need to reach out to this diverse consumer population in relevant ways – relevant to them. We should talk to them in a relevant way. If we are going to sustain our business and if we are going to grow our business and therefore sustain and grow the bottom line … You have to understand that it’s about making money to start with in a business environment. MBJ: Coca-Cola is a global company, but how can small businesses with 25 and fewer employees and much less resources become more diverse? Bucherati: Let me take a second to talk about the concept of large companies and small companies. In my mind, the same principles apply to all companies – large or small. All businesses are focused on making money; of sustaining and growing their profits. All

places where you can source talent. Even if you are doing it online, there are all kinds of niche job boards, where jobs are posted and people look. MBJ: The theme of the Chamber’s sixth annual Diversity Summit is “New Perspectives for Today’s Workplace.” What does that mean to you? Bucherati: That takes me back to the innovation piece. I really strongly believe that diversity drives greater creativity and problem solving. As a leader; as a manager; I would always want to be surrounded by a more diverse team so that I could benefit from the diverse perspectives they bring to any and all opportunities in any and all situations that we face. I think anybody in the City of Montgomery in any kind of leadership role would want to surround themselves with diverse perspectives because I really do believe that it leads to greater creativity and problem solving.

I really strongly believe that diversity drives

greater

businesses have some kind of what I call a hook. They all have a hook – a reason – why diversity matters in making that money. If you’re a B to C company like we are (business to consumer), but let’s say you’re a B to B (business to business) and sell to other businesses. Let’s say your primary customer has a business with the U.S. military. Let’s say you live near Fort Rucker. You would still want a work force that could fully understand that customer from all of these different perspectives or could innovate for that customer from all these different perspectives. That would let you be more successful with that company. We all have a need to be more diverse with a business setting and that means any organization, whether it’s large or small, tends to have a mindset. The mindset says, ‘This is how I typically find the talent and hire talent.’ Maybe if you want to focus on diversity, you have to change that focus. Maybe the way you have been doing it isn’t good enough. You’ve heard the proverbial “cast a wider net” or “fish where the fish are”. We learned that a long time ago. In today’s language, not every single person goes out and looks at monster.com for a job. There are all kinds of

who leads or runs a business, you have to understand that. It’s nothing personal. It’s just who they are. It also means that you have to think about what is important to them if you want to retain and attract them. MBJ: What’s important to millennials at the workplace? Bucherati: Social values really matter to millennials. Is my employer sociallyconscious? That’s a prime attraction and retention focal point for millennials. Millennials also look for jobs that provide them great, personal fulfillment. They want flexibility. They think like this: ‘I know what you expect of me and I will deliver for you, but I also want to be personally fulfilled. I need you to know that I need flexibility in how, when and where I work.’ If you can open your mind to that, then you can do just fine. There are four generations at today’s workplace and the key is opening your mind to that. Each of these four generations is really different, which means they all have different motivators. It’s not one size fits all. You have to speak to the different generations differently.

creativity and problem solving. MBJ: What are the implications for companies using more part-timers and allowing some employees to work at home?

MBJ: Please talk about the changing work/life expectations of today’s younger workers and how that impacts a company.

Bucherati: I’m a boomer and I was raised by two working-class, uneducated children of the depression. Their advice throughout my youth was twofold: One, get a good education, which is terrific considering they didn’t have any education. And two, they said get a good job with a good, secure company. Today, the younger generation doesn’t think that way and typically, doesn’t get advice that way like the parents you and I had. I have three millennials – three kids between the ages of 21 and 28. My wife and I have coached them always to do what interests them and what makes them happy. When they lose interest or they are no longer happy, then we tell them that’s when you move on. Millennials do not naturally see themselves as people who have to stay in one place forever. As somebody

Bucherati: It’s about thinking whether your business can operate differently. We have a few very large call centers around the country. The thinking a decade ago was that everybody in those call centers had to be in the office and under direct supervision. Guess what that means? That means there is a large population of extremely talented individuals who will never, ever consider your company for employment because they don’t want to work like that. The question is: Can you flex your business and take advantage of all that talent or not? Do you want to shut yourself off from some of the best talent available just because of how you run your business? We used to think we had to have everybody at these call centers all the time, but then we thought about it differently. We had technologically enabled them to CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

work from home. Now, if you’re a consumer and you call into Coca-Cola, sometimes you get someone actually sitting in the call center, but sometimes you get someone sitting at home. But you (consumer) will never know because you get the same level of service no matter what. What we as a company have received in return is critically important. We have better and more talent that want to work for us and we have greater retention. By the way, if I’m running my own business that matters, too, because that’s about saving me money. If I lose people because they don’t want to work for me any longer, it costs me money to lose them because then I have to go hire somebody else. I have to train them. There’s a cost to the business by not opening your mind to flexibility and with this younger generation, more than ever, you will shut yourself off from great talent by thinking you can’t do that. MBJ: There is a theme from your comments about how people at the top of the business or organization need to turn everything upside down and re-examine how they have always done things. Bucherati: Exactly. You have to be very open-minded. Let’s say you run a business and you periodically examine some process of that business to be sure that you’re being as efficient and effective as possible. It’s the same thing. You have to examine your business when it comes to your employee population. You have to open your mind to the fact that you have this wide variety of people who work for you and if you want them to be fully engaged, highly productive and doing their best job for you … you can’t just say, ‘I’m giving you employment – isn’t that good enough?’ You really have to do what you can to fully engage and leverage and value that talent.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

You have to open your mind to some pretty different things. MBJ: If you don’t do those things, won’t that talent go somewhere else? Bucherati: Yeah. You might still be successful at business or you might not, but I guarantee that you will be more successful if you do things like this. MBJ: I read a website that stated: “The Coca-Cola Company considers diversity to be fundamental to its success in the workplace and the marketplace.” That statement certainly shows how important diversity is. Bucherati: I’ll say this to folks in Montgomery when I’m there. You always need to start with the business case. You and I and everybody else knows that diversity is the right thing to do, but in a business environment that is not enough – because remember, a business is out to make money. The fact that we can all hold hands and sing Kumbaya isn’t enough. This is a business and you have to start with the business case that helps drive the sustaining and growth of your business and that makes the case for diversity very simple like we have been talking about. If you start with the senior leadership in your organization, you get what I call share of mind – something leaders can get their minds around. If you can get share of mind – if you can say to them, ‘Let me show you how I can make you more money in the marketplace and let me show you why a diverse work force will be best for you to do that.’ If you get that share of mind, you get share of resources, which means you get more financial resources; you get more manpower resources and that allows you to make that diversity work for your business. •

Visionary Leaders. Extraordinary Results. The Imagine a Greater Montgomery II strategy is a collaborative effort between the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County Commission and private investors. A special thank you to the elected leaders who are among the founding visionaries behind the Imagine a Greater Montgomery II strategy.

CITY OF MONTGOMERY Top Row (Left to Right): District 8, Glen Pruitt, Jr.; District 6, Jon Dow; District 2, Charles Smith; District 1, Richard Bollinger; District 7, Arch Lee Bottom Row (Left to Right): District 5, Cornelius “C.C.” Calhoun; District 3, Tracy Larkin, President Pro Tem; Mayor Todd Strange; District 9, Charles Jinright, President; District 4, David Burkette

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMISSION Bottom row (Left to Right) Chairman Elton N. Dean, Sr. and Vice Chairman Dan Harris. Second row Commissioner Reed Ingram; Commissioner Jiles Williams, Jr.; Commissioner Dimitri Polizos.

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

SOMETHING FOREVERYBODY The Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign is in full swing by David Zaslawsky

At the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s 60-Minute Coffees and Business After Hours, new Chamber members are given an opportunity to introduce themselves and their company – give a two-minute elevator speech.

Vice President of External Affairs for PowerSouth Energy, Horace H. Horn Jr. is the 2013 Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

At one of those coffees, Kim Hall, who owns Kreative Moments, introduced herself and her company, which is an event planning/ services company. She brought balloons to her show-and-tell at the coffee and impressed the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board of Directors Horace H. Horn Jr. He hired Hall for a granddaughter’s birthday party. He said that those new members benefit from their exposure at those coffees and after hours events. Those are two of the dozens and dozens and dozens of events, products and programs that members may sponsor during the Chamber’s eighth annual Total Resource Campaign (TRC).

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

The campaign, which was launched the week after Labor Day and concludes Oct. 25, also funds the Chamber’s publications, electronic media and aids in recruiting members. The previous campaigns have raised more than $5.3 million, including a record-setting $1.1 million in 2012. One of the new products last year was the Chairman’s Circle, which raised $125,000 from 50 sponsors, who paid $2,500 a piece. “I think if you could interview all 50 members of the Chairman’s Circle you would get 40 different reasons why they chose to participate,” said Horn, who is vice president, external affairs for PowerSouth Energy. “It has really worked well,” he said. “All the feedback that I have gotten has been really positive and just observing the group at the different meetings and functions that we’ve had – they have gotten involved; gotten engaged.” The Diversity Summit was introduced in the 2008 TRC and has become a signature event. “Everybody that has participated in the Diversity Summit over the last few years has taken something away – something very positive from that meeting,” Horn said.”The attendance continues to grow. The feedback continues to be more and more positive.”

In 2009, the Montgomery Business Journal was added to the TRC lineup and it, too has come into its own. “It’s become a good vehicle for communicating not only what the Chamber is doing, but things going on in the community,” Horn said. “It has been very, very well received. People are accustomed to it.” The Chamber is considering adding informational sessions to this year’s campaign, according to Patsy Guy, vice president, Member & Investor Relations. The Chamber partnered with members and held three, free informational sessions on the Affordable Care Act. BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Warren Averette and Alliance Health Care Group each provided different perspectives on the impact of health care reforms. There may be additional sessions early next year. After one of the sessions, a Chamber member told Guy, “ ‘This is worth all of my dues.’ ” Guy said, “I would like us to stay alert to

information that our members need and use being the source to provide that information to our members.” The Alabama Department of Revenue asked Guy to inform Chamber members about the state agency’s one-stop program. “The TRC is important for the same reason the Chamber is important and that’s what it does for the local community and the business community and all of the different programs we bring to the community,” Horn said. Those programs range from networking events to governmental affairs to education to small business to websites and publications to the Annual Meeting. The sponsorships range from $300 to $7,500. “There is something there for everybody,” Horn said.

and all the supporters of the Chamber are not being contacted 12 months out of the year for financial support. People appreciate this concept.” Being able to choose sponsorships enables a company to target its customers. “If you know that small business is their customer, they may want to sponsor something at the Small Business Resource Center so it allows them to use their marketing dollars,” Guy said. Horn said that his company benefits from its Chamber involvement. “The Chamber members and the community are people that our company serves,” Horn said. “It’s important to us to support an organization like the Chamber that makes a difference and certainly improves the quality of life in the community.” •

He likes the format that the TRC is for a set period of time and businesses can budget for their sponsorships. “I think a real important aspect of it is that your corporate sponsors

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

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‘The time to prepare is now’ Rogers warns about potential military cuts by David Zaslawsky

If the business community and elected leaders are proactive in protecting Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex from future Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) cuts, the local installation could actually gain missions. That’s what U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, told the audience at a Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues event at the RSA Activity Center. Rogers expects a BRAC to be formed in either 2016 or 2017 with Congress authorizing it in 2015. “The time to prepare is now,” said Rogers, who sits on the Armed Services Committee, Agriculture Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. “Let us know what you need and we will try to get you those missions out there, but we need to know

pretty soon because I see a BRAC coming. “If Maxwell gets another two or three missions and things that Rep. Mike Rogers make it stay off the list (for cuts) – BRAC won’t be bad because you’re going to wind up being a recipient,” he said, referring to additional missions moving to Maxwell. To help protect Maxwell and the Gunter Annex, which have a combined economic impact of more than $1.6 billion a year, the state has hired Anthony Principi’s company.

He was a former chairman of BRAC and formed a company that advises officials how to stay off BRAC’s list for cuts. One way to strengthen Maxwell/Gunter is by creating a cybersecurity center here and Rogers, who was first elected to Congress in 2002 and served as the minority leader in the Alabama State House, said that the installation is “well suited to become a center of that technology.” In a wide-ranging speech, Rogers talked about the scandals rocking the Obama administration; immigration reform; tax reform; farm bill; and Internet sales tax. He said the scandals about Benghazi, where four Americans were killed in a CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

terrorist attack; the IRS; and the government’s viewing phone records of reporters “don’t help anybody. Anything that causes or questions people’s confidence in their government is not a good thing. I don’t like the fact that people can’t have confidence that the IRS is going to treat them fairly whether they are conservative or liberal.” There likely will be a special counsel or select committee investigating the IRS as well as the Justice Department’s handling of journalists’ phone records, according to Rogers, but he opposes the same format for Benghazi because five

board to certify border security and Rogers said that the Democrats want to let Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano decide. He said that immigrants who are already living here illegally will end up with legal status instead of citizenship. Rogers said those immigrants don’t care about citizenship – they are “desperately poor” and want jobs. On other topics, Rogers said: He supports a flat tax and thinks tax reform is still possible. He would at least like to see the tax code simplified and improve fairness.

“Anything that causes or questions people’s confidence in their government is not a good thing.” - Rep. Mike Rogers

congressional committees are already investigating and there is no point starting over. The IRS targeted conservative and progressive political groups. He fears that immigration reform will get bogged down because of the scandals. He said that Republicans understand the importance of improving their relations with Hispanics after President Obama received 71 percent of that vote compared to GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who received 27 percent of the same vote. The key factor blocking a new immigration bill is securing the border, Rogers said. The Republicans want border governors or an independent

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

The Republican House leadership wants to see a farm bill passed by Sept. 30, the end of the government’s fiscal year. “That’s a big deal for Alabama. Most people don’t realize because it’s not sexy like automobile manufacturing or Airbus, but it’s the No. 1 industry in the state.” The farm bill is passed once every five or six years. He supports collecting Internet sales taxes and believes a bill will pass that would most likely exempt companies, which have annual revenues of $5 million or less. •

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Investor Profile Robert “Buddy” Harwich Jr. is chairman of the Industrial Development Board for the City of Montgomery.

CREATIVE

APPROACH Industrial Development Board considers new ways to obtain land by David Zaslawsky

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

photography by Robert Fouts

The Industrial Development Board for the City of Montgomery is looking at some new and creative ways to obtain land for economic development projects. The board owns about 300 acres at Interstate Industrial Park and another 60 acres at Montgomery Industrial Terminal, but would like to have additional land, according to Robert “Buddy” Harwich Jr., chairman of the Industrial Development Board (IDB). The IDB is a volunteer board. “This day and time, it’s very difficult to go out and just buy and hold land,” Hardwich said. “Very few people or entities can go out and pay $10,000 an acre or whatever the cost may be for undeveloped land for future use that may or may not ever come about in the next 25 years,” he said. “There are pieces of property that people have that aren’t going to have the access to a company that maybe be looking at Montgomery plus 25 other cities. “There are some things we might be able to bring to the table to a seller that perhaps somebody else couldn’t and that is the ability to have access to companies that may have interest in coming to Montgomery.” He said the IDB is discussing – he stressed these are just concepts at this point – having an agreement with that landowner to sell the land. There may be grants available for infrastructure improvements that make that piece of land more attractive to companies being recruited to the area. “We’ve never done this,” Harwich said. “If we could do something like that it would be advantageous not only to the city; not only for the individual who may own the land; but also for the clients who would be coming in here. “I think that type of concept is going to be something that is appealing and I think it’s going to be a way for people to do business in the future because once again, the price of land is too expensive … to sit and hold land.” A landowner has no way of knowing if a company is interested in buying that piece of land and when companies are being recruited by Montgomery officials they are also being recruited by scores of other cities in the preliminary stages. The IDB can work with landowners in the later stages of the recruiting process.

Hardwich described the IDB as “a conduit for the abatement of funds.” The city, county and state are prohibited from giving incentive money directly to a company. The IDB is able to abate taxes, which is used to recruit companies to Montgomery and to assist existing industries with expansions. When there is a request for an abatement, the 11-member board votes on it. If the board approves the request, it is then submitted to the state’s Department of Revenue for final approval. Hardwich said he could not recall a time when the Department of Revenue rejected a request approved by the IDB. Anytime there is an abatement of taxes, the IDB is part of the agreement, said Hardwich, who traveled to Korea as part of the team recruiting Hyundai Heavy Industries to Montgomery. That company invested $100 million-plus to build a facility and buy land at Interstate Industrial Park, including 20 acres from IDB. Hyundai Heavy also purchased 80 acres from the former site of the Liz Claiborne factory. The local company is called Hyundai Power Transformers USA. Other companies located at Interstate Industrial include Lear Corp., Hager Companies, Viscofan USA and Genpak. •

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS

11 (nine appointed by the City Council; two appointed by the Montgomery County Commission) LENGTH OF TERM

6 years

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

EXPAN MAJOR

When DAS North America moves into its new, 300,000-square-foot facility next year, the automotive seat manufacturer will have a capacity of equipping 750,000 vehicles a year. That production capacity will be needed in April when the company supplies its seat structures for the Sonata, produced at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery. That is why the company, which currently supplies seat structures to the Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia plant in West Point, Ga., announced plans to double the size of its new, permanent home at Montgomery

Industrial Park in East Montgomery. The new facility is part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $50 million investment in Montgomery. DAS North America currently supplies seat structures, which include all the steel and mechanisms, for the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento at the Kia plant. The company has also announced that it will eventually employ about 400 people and that is nearly a 70 percent increase from the original plan of 240 employees. The $37 million investment is for the first two phases of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital spending in Montgomery, according to James Uhm, chief operating officer for DAS North America. The company, which currently is leasing a facility at Interstate Industrial Park, has plans for additional investment at the new plant, but the details are not available, Uhm wrote in an email.

NSION DAS North America increases capacity

by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Left to right: Montgomery County Commissioner Dimitri Polizos, Montgomery County Commissioner Jiles Williams Jr., Montgomery County Commissioner Reed Ingram, Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Harris, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr., Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama President Gi Il Chun, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, DAS Corp. President Kyung Ho Kang, DAS Corp. Vice President Dong Hyoung Lee, DAS Corp. Director Si Hyoung Lee, HMMA Senior Vice President Administration & Advisory General Counsel Rick Neal, and DAS North America COO James Uhm.

Uhm said that DAS North America could also supply other automotive manufacturing plants in the region, including Mercedes-Benz near Vance; Honda’s facility in Lincoln; and Nissan’s facility in Canton, Miss. DAS does supply Ford plants from Korea.

about a company once it arrives. “We don’t do that in Montgomery and the State of Alabama,” Dean said. “We are always here for you. Once you start doing the things you want to do and be successful, we are still going to be right behind you.”

Industrial Park, talked about the importance of a team approach. “This would not have happened if we all did not come together as a team – the mayor, the governor, city, state, the county, the Chamber – it takes everybody.”

The company held an official groundbreaking for its facility at Montgomery Industrial Park, which is owned by Montgomery County. The new facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told DAS that “if there are any obstacles that are in the way, we will move those obstacles out of the way and we’ll make sure that everything is a smooth transition.”

“The project that we are celebrating today has required distinguished leadership, careful planning and much dedication,” said Kyung Ho Kang, president and CEO of Das Corp. “This is just the first step to bringing prosperity to both the Montgomery area and DAS for years to come.”

The governor also did some bragging. “As you will see and I know that you have already been told, we have the best work force; the best work force training; the best people of any part of the United States and I think – any part of the world.” He told Kang that Alabamians “will make your company successful and they will make great products for the people that you supply to.”

Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman-Elect Leslie Sanders said, “The real strength of Montgomery is to have great elected officials who understand the value of economic development and creating jobs in our area.” Sanders, who is vice president of the Southern Division of Alabama Power Co., also cited the vision of the Montgomery County Commission to create Montgomery Industrial Park.

Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr. said that DAS North America is now part of the Montgomery family. He said other communities forget

Montgomery County Commissioner Reed Ingram, whose district includes Montgomery

“It takes vision to get to where we are,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. “This is a testament to the automotive industry in the State of Alabama. Automotive put us on the map. Automotive will keep us on the map. And automotive very soon will be the biggest thing … in the State of Alabama.” •

HYUNDAI ENJOYS TORRID SALES PACE Elantra overtakes Sonata as top-seller this year by David Zaslawsky

From 2000 to 2004, the top seller for Hyundai in the U.S. was Elantra and during that same time span, Sonata was twice second; twice third and was actually fourth once.

the U.S. and Elantra was second for seven of those eight years. There were 50,000 more Sonatas sold in 2006 than Elantras and in 2010 the difference was larger – almost 65,000 units.

Back in 2000, there were almost 60,000 more Elantras sold than Sonatas and in 2001 the difference between the two was nearly 50,000. Both of the vehicles are now built at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant in Montgomery.

That brings us to 2013, when the Elantra is well on its way to regaining its throne as the No. 1 seller in the Hyundai lineup. Through the first seven months of the year – about 28,000 more Elantras had been sold (150,202) than Sonatas (121,913). The Elantra sales increased 29 percent through the first seven months of the year compared with 2012.

That was then. For the following eight years, the Sonata was the Korean automaker’s top seller in

The Elantra has had five of its best sales months ever this year through July: March – 26,153 units May – 25,090 units April – 24,445 units July – 23,958 June – 22,163 units. Those March and May numbers top the best month for Sonata, which was 24,872 units sold in December 2007. The Elantra sales in July were 29 percent more than July 2012. Meanwhile, May marked the first time that combined sales of the Elantra and Sonata topped 45,000 units (45,284 units). “Our plants continue to work at maximum capacity to meet record demand levels across our lineup,” John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement. May was the first time since December 2010 that the HMMA plant produced more Elantras than Sonatas – 18,843 vs. 18,531. The following month, about 1,000 more Elantras were built than Sonatas. “Our core products – Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe – all performed exceptionally well,” Krafcik said about the May numbers. “We’re selling each of these three U.S.-built products as fast as we can build them.” The automaker enjoyed its bestever July with 66,005 units sold. “It was a good month for Hyundai with an all-time record in July and two big milestones – we sold our two millionth Sonata and our one millionth Santa Fe.” The Santa Fe was built in Montgomery, but is now manufactured at the Kia plant in West Point, Ga.

The Montgomery plant, which produces more than 1,500 vehicles daily, is likely to exceed its 2013 production goal of 388,000 units (200,000 Sonatas and 188,000 Elantras), according to Rick Neal, senior vice president administration & advisory general counsel for HMMA. “I would not be surprised to see us exceed that external target,” Neal said. “We keep getting requests for additional demand from our sales and marketing company.” Krafcik said the inventories of the company’s top three sellers – Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe – “remain leaner than we’d like with just n30 days of stock on hand of these core volume products.” The company invested $43.2 million in its Montgomery manufacturing facility to convert engine shop No. 1 to build new Theta engines and hired six people. During the summer, HMMA implemented its one-kit system in the chassis area and final trim area. That system, which increases efficiency and speed, features mostly smaller parts in a moving container traveling alongside the vehicle during assembly. Employees don’t have to hunt for the proper parts. The one-kit system was earlier implemented on the door line. “Continuous improvement is one of Hyundai’s hallmarks and we never rest,” Neal said. “We are always looking for ways to improve our processes.” •

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Investor Member Profile Profile BUSINESS BUZZ (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63)

Billy Williams is vice president of pre-construction services for JESCO Inc. and Trey Hard is vice president of operations.

Team Players Integrity tops the list of core values at JESCO by Jennifer Kornegay

photography by Robert Fouts

At JESCO Inc., a commercial builder doing business in Montgomery since 1982, camaraderie seems to be key to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longevity and productivity.

While JESCO does work all over the Southeast, in the last five years, approximately 50 percent of its work has been in the River Region, and the majority of the other projects has been done in Alabama. The company is currently the construction manager on the National Veterans Shrine being built at the American Village at Montevallo University.

Vice president of pre-construction services Billy Williams operates the Montgomery office of the Tupelo, Miss.-based company sideby-side with Trey Hard, vice president of operations. The two have worked together for 35 years and as Hard explained. “Billy and I have known each other and worked together since 1979, when we worked at Blount International together. I came to JESCO in 1985, and Billy came in 1986,” he said.

Hard explained the role the company plays when working as construction management on a project. “We advise and support and are the facilitators of the construction process, but we do not do any of the construction work,” he said. “We take the design and develop a plan to build it, get bids for work, choose the best-qualified, low bidder for each part and then manage it all. But we don’t just pass information between the contractors and clients; we are very handson and are involved at every step.”

“We equally share responsibility for this office, and that is a bit unusual, but we have come up in the industry together and work well together. We bring that attitude of teamwork to our projects, and clients like that; they like commitment from top to bottom. All of our people have the same attitude and it just works.”

Williams and Hard complement each other by being different in both their interests and approach, but they agree on particularly enjoying one aspect of their jobs: people. “I really enjoy working with our team and being involved in so many different kinds of projects,” Williams said. “We get to learn a lot of different things and create relationships with a lot of different people.” Hard added, “My favorite part of this job is interacting with the people that make this company run. I also like building something I can see - a real tangible accomplishment.”

JESCO’s business is general contracting and construction management, and the company builds everything from distribution and manufacturing centers, steel mills and poultry processing centers to retail buildings, hotels, high-rise offices and baseball fields.

And they’re both looking forward to a bright future for construction in Alabama thanks to some recent economic development scores. “Airbus coming here will be big for the entire construction industry in the state,” Williams said.

The men’s partnership is a model for the relationships between the company’s 50 River Region employees and for those with its clients, and these relationships are an integral part of the company’s success. “I’m very proud of our low turnover. Out of 30 of our 50 people, the average length of employment is over 10 years; we have some carpenters and laborers who have been with us over 20 years,” Williams said. “That is rare in this industry, but proves our dedication to relationships and helps us do our job better. It would be hard to do what we do with new people all the time.” Hard echoed Williams. “Every single employee is as important as another here,” he said. “And we are very client-focused; we forge true relationships with them as well.” The importance placed on relationships is why integrity is the foundation the company’s business philosophy. “I attribute our success to our four core values: integrity, safety, passion and commitment. Integrity is at the top of our list,” Williams said.

JESCO INC. YEAR FOUNDED

1941, IN MONTGOMERY SINCE 1982 PRIMARY SERVICES

GENERAL COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

RECENT HONORS/AWARDS

JESCO WAS NAMED “CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR” FOR 2012 BY THE LOCAL AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS CHAPTER

A dedication to the remaining three is evidenced in the multiple and varied projects JESCO has completed and the fact that it survived the recession. “It has been tough and profit margins have been lower, but we’ve been able to sustain our services without cutting manpower,” Hard said. JESCO has done a large volume of work for the Retirement Systems of Alabama, of which Hard is especially proud. “That’s a tough gig to get and keep, and our work on RSA project speaks volumes to our other clients,” he said.

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

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Reporterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notebook by David Zaslawsky

SHEDDING POUNDS

TWICE AS BIG obesity rate of 27.6 percent, Montgomery is ranked 67th from the bottom out of 189 cities. That means that 30,000 fewer people are obese. That means that about $50 million has been saved on medical costs because an obese person spends $1,500 to $1,700 more a year on health care expenses than someone who is not obese.

Montgomery was tied with Stockton, Calif., for the highest obesity rates in the country, but now the Capital City is shedding that image. About 35 percent of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population was considered obese while the national average was 25 percent. The River Region Obesity Task Force was formed and the following year Montgomery was ninth from the bottom. Then it was ranked 18th from the bottom and now with an

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Midlothian Laboratories nearly doubled the size of its facility by acquiring an adjacent unit at the Montgomery Industrial Park. Midlothian will expand its facility from about 12,000 square feet to more than 23,000 square feet.

THREE IS NOT A CROWD Three development groups from three different areas are looking at buying space at the old Montgomery Mall. There is a group from Dallas; another from Minneapolis; and one from New York.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

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TURNING RECYCLING INTO JOBS Infinitus Energy is building a recovery facility that will result in 110 new jobs and a $35 million capital investment. Infinitus Renewable Energy Park at Montgomery (IREP Montgomery) will eliminate up to 85 percent of the waste that goes to city’s landfill. An 80,000-plus squarefoot facility will be located on Louisville Street and is expected to be completed in late June.

WALKING TRACK BACK ON TRACK Strange has talked about a walking track at the old Montgomery Mall for a long time. When the estimate was $300,000, Strange went to option B. He now thinks it can be done for around $100,000. CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

SOMETHING FROM NOTHING

ANOTHER MONTH, ANOTHER RECORD

The county’s juvenile facility, which was built in the 1960s, will undergo a $10 million renovation, but just one year ago the county did not have any funds for the project. With an assist from the city, the county obtained $4 million from an energy bond; $3 million from the state’s Department of Youth Services; and about $2.5 million by refinancing debt. “I’ve never seen anything go from zero to $10 million in a year,” said Montgomery County Administrator Donnie Mims.

The Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama facility set an all-time monthly production total of 37,374 vehicles in May, breaking the April record by two units. The production staff worked 24 days in May, which included two Saturdays to meet the demand of the Korean automaker’s Sonata and Elantra. Two more Saturdays were worked in June. The company had manufactured 210,413 vehicles in the first six months of the year compared with 176,962 units in the first six months of 2012, a 19 percent increase.

ANATOMY OF A BIKE TRAIL Montgomery City Councilman Richard Bollinger said a team of volunteers worked 1,000 hours to develop a bicycle trail at Lagoon Park. Then the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation pitched in. Then attendees from Air University’s Officer Training School became involved. Corporate donations were made. Bollinger called it a “true public-private partnership.” A trail has been cut out and there will be a loop of five miles. Some cross-country bicyclists said there could be meets now at Lagoon Park.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

CITY ANNOUNCES NEW POSITIONS Purser “Mac” McLeod is the City of Montgomery’s new director of retail and business development and Anita Archie has been named an executive assistant to the mayor. Mac McLeod McLeod is president and CEO of The Colonial Co. and will continue to work for the firm while he works in his new position with the city. Archie comes to the

city from the Business Council of Alabama, where she was the senior vice president of intergovernmental affairs, advocacy and communications/legal Ms. Anita L. Archie adviser. The two are replacing Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes and director of development Chad Emerson, who both left their posts in July.

NEW HOME FOR HALL OF FAME Rep. Joe Hubbard, D-Montgomery, said he hoped a public-private partnership could bring the Alabama Music Hall of Fame from Shoals to Montgomery. “I think that it could be an incredible boon and Montgomery could be a place with some quality museums and some quality destinations,” Hubbard said. “And that’s not something that will cost the city or the county or the taxpayers a whole lot of money if we do it right.”

MONTGOMERY FIRST IN JOB CREATION Montgomery ranked first among the state’s four metro centers in job creation from May 2012 to May 2013. Montgomery added 1,600 jobs during that time span compared with Mobile (1,500 jobs); Birmingham (700 jobs) and Huntsville (-100 jobs), according to the Alabama Department of Labor.

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

Much has been written about Alabama State University’s new on-campus $62 million, 26,500-seat football stadium and all for good reasons. Yet for Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr., who is also chairman of the ASU Board of Trustees, one of the things he is most proud about is the university’s library – the Levi Watkins Learning Center, which underwent a $20 million renovation. Dean has those same feelings for Questplex, which will be the combined home of the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library and The Children’s Museum of Alabama. The $22.5 million-project, which will be built at One Dexter Plaza, is being billed as a one-of-a-kind facility in not only the state, but the country.

LIFE-LONG LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Questplex launches $5.5 million fundraising campaign by David Zaslawsky

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

“You have to be crazy not to invest in it,” Dean said at the kickoff for a $5.5 million fundraising campaign for Questplex. “You can’t ask for anything better than this. This is important. This is one of the biggest things going on in Montgomery.” But to turn the dream into a reality, Questplex needs donors/sponsors. There are 30-plus modules available for naming and sponsorship opportunities from the global classroom to current events, multi-media center, music video experience, social media, language lab, digital health center, and hands on technology to name just a few. Some of the modules in the children’s museum are exploring, learning about skyscrapers, how the body works, manufacturing, music and karaoke, digital television and movie production as well as an outdoor playhouse. A handful of donors already contributed $174,000 in the early days of the campaign. “We are creating a place where knowledge has no boundaries,” said Colin Coyne, acting fundraising campaign director. “Questplex is a global education and discovery center.” Colin Coyne

The campaign’s theme of “Knowledge Knows No Boundaries” stresses a life-long learning experience. “ … Questplex will promote a stronger community, increase social inclusiveness, encourage global engagement and endeavor to make a positive difference in every life,” according to a brochure. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said, “From the very beginning, the dream that we had was to do something that would be spectacular; do something that was different; do something that nobody else has done. It’s going to be a spectacular facility.” Questplex will occupy more than 120,000 square feet of the building, which also may contain a planetarium or possibly a dome theater. Plans also call for a gift shop and there has been talk about a café. Construction is expected to begin in September. The third floor consists of about 40,000 square feet of leased office space. The interior of the building will be gutted and there will be new exterior and interior walls.

“It’s another venue that really will attract people to Montgomery,” Strange said. “What really is exciting is we’ve now turned the lights on in Lower Dexter Avenue – such a historic piece of our city.”

Elton N. Dean Sr.

He said he would like to see a 40-foot-by-40foot mural that is being stored at City Hall be displayed at Questplex.

“This is going to be something … that the City of Montgomery can be proud of and the State of Alabama can be proud of.” - Elton N. Dean Sr., chairman of the Montgomery County Commission

“This is going to be something … that the City of Montgomery can be proud of and the State of Alabama can be proud of,” Dean said. “People will come from miles and miles to see what Montgomery is really known for.”•

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT QUESTPLEX AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT WWW.QUESTPLEX.ORG

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

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on social media. “You have to have lots of ways to touch people,” Weil said. “It’s not as easy today to market to people.”

Clare Weil was employed at the Mail Boxes, Etc. store on Zelda Road in Midtown Montgomery when the company was purchased by UPS. Then came an opportunity to buy the store from the franchise owner she worked for. “I thought it was a good investment, but it was a lot of hard work because the early years were a little lean,” she said. “It’s hard to own your own business – it’s a challenge.” Weil recalled that she was earning less as an owner than as an employee. That was back in April 2001. In November 2002, she bought The UPS Store at Sturbridge Village at Taylor and Vaughn roads. Then in 2007, she purchased The UPS Store at EastChase. Even the Great Recession could not slow down Weil. She built her Prattville location from scratch and opened it on April 1, 2009. At that time, she was the last tenant at Prattville Town Center. “I thought anyone crazy enough to open a store in that market at that time needed to do it on April 1st,” she said.

She has 16 employees and uses the Zelda Store location as a training center. “We try to always be in training mode,” she said. “There is something new at every turn and keeping abreast of the changes is critical in this market. “I have tried to build a good work environment so you have the stability within our stores and that makes customers come back, too, because they know the level of service. I have the world’s best people working for me. They make my company what it is today.

to printing to distribution (packing and shipping),” Weil said. “We are a small business and understand the needs of other small businesses.” The business has changed dramatically over the years. Printing now includes posters and banners. Two of her stores have large digital presses and three of the stores have wideformat capabilities for posters and banners. Other features at The UPS Stores are expanded office supplies; notary service; and greeting cards, which Weil called a “sassy line.” Her company has experienced growth in freight services – shipping larger packages.

d e p l e h e w w o n k o t y a d e o h t d f e o w d s n g e n i e h h t t t y a n a g n m i y e It is gratif ccomplish one of th os meone a several times a day. each day – There is depth because of the length of time they have been with the company.”

N O I T N A O I T

A C O She was still not done. Weil added her fifth UPS Store in November 2012 on Atlanta Highway.

“It’s location, location, location,” said Weil, who is president of C. Weil Enterprises Inc. “UPS Stores have to be convenient for people and where we’re located currently, I think they are very convenient and there is little overlap.”

N O I T Her top store is at Zelda Place shopping center and that area has grown up around her store since Aronov Realty Management purchased the property. Weil credits Aronov with improving the property and improving her business. “This is a great location in Midtown.” She does not have plans to add additional stores – “Five keeps me plenty busy,” she wrote in an email.

Weil credits her success to location, marketing, employees and customer service. “One of the things I think is the most important is marketing and that can be so many things,” she said. “It can be marketing myself. It can be being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and showing up (at events) because people have to know who you are; where you are; and what you do.”

And those employees and the boss understand that it all comes down to customer service. “If you don’t take care of your customers – you won’t have any and you won’t be in business,” Weil said. “They key is treating everybody like you would want to be treated. I think that’s a lost art these days.”

She talked about anticipating the wants and needs of your customers. Customers walk past the store’s copiers and don’t realize that copies are available. Weil said customers walk past the company’s mail boxes and don’t know about all the services that are available.

“We help people every day,” Weil said. “We are not just in the shipping business. We are in the business of getting an individual’s precious package to the intended recipient safely and quickly. “We don’t just print things. We help people tell their story. We just don’t notarize a document. We help someone who is in need. It is gratifying at the end of the day to know we helped someone accomplish one of the many things we do each day – several times a day.” •

The focus this year has been on small businesses. “We cater to the needs of small businesses from mail box service

She is a chairman of the national marketing committee for UPS and she is concentrating

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leadership Montgomery is so important because it brings all of us together to do good in the community.â&#x20AC;? Carolyn Bryan, president, Leadership Montgomery

Organization informs participants about all things Montgomery by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Leadership Montgomery participants – and there are about 45 per class – learn all about the community during a nine-monthlong program.

They attend monthly classes about criminal justice, economic development, board of directors, government, quality of life, education, health and human services, and for the last couple of years – the arts and philanthropy. Class participants gain a keen understanding of city. Leadership Montgomery takes the participants out of their regimen – out of their safe and comfortable environment. As Leadership Montgomery Executive Director Carter said, it gets the bankers out of the bank; and the CEOs away from their desks. “That’s why we have all these class days because someone who is principal of a school knows about the education system, but can’t get out of his school enough to know anything about the human services that are available to kids in his or her school,” Carter said. “It opens up people’s eyes who are so busy with their careers that they have tunnel vision. They are experts in one area. It really makes better citizens and better voters out of everybody once they go through this program. They are able to see the whole picture rather than just one aspect of it.” The Leadership Montgomery graduates are highly educated during that nine-month program that exposes them to all things about Montgomery. “Leadership Montgomery is so important because it brings all of us together to do good in the community,” said Leadership Montgomery President Carolyn Bryan, who is director of advancement at Montgomery Academy. “You throw us together for a yearlong (program) and we’re working on projects; and we’re learning the good and the things that need to be worked on in the community through all these class days. “There are things that you learn that you never knew about Montgomery. People every day don’t have the experiences that we do going through these classes.”

These well-informed Leadership Montgomery graduates have the tools to become effective change agents and that is one small part of the organization’s legacy. The organization, which is an initiative of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “We’re educating people,” Bryan said about Leadership Montgomery. “We’re connecting people. Everybody can be a leader – you don’t have to be at the top of your company.” And from the beginning, the organization has opened the all-important lines of communication among a widely diverse group of individuals. The classes bring together people participants might never have met. “With Leadership Montgomery you’re meeting people that have different viewpoints; that raise your awareness of things that you didn’t realize – either good things or things that need to be (improved),” Bryan said. Lanny Crane, one of the Leadership Montgomery founders, said that the organization played a prominent role in leadership development. “It’s much easier to sit down and talk about a difficult situation with someone who you have some familiarity with,” said Crane, a principal at Jackson Thornton. “You enter the room as equals – as friends and not as two people with very different agendas that can’t communicate with one another.” The importance of communication cannot be overly stressed. “It opens up the lines of communication so the people are more comfortable talking about issues that before they wouldn’t have broached,” Carter said. “Among those of us who are alumni of Leadership Montgomery, we can sit down and talk with each other about most anything. There are no subjects that are off-limits that we feel uncomfortable discussing. You get to the point where there is nothing off-limits and you really want to know how they feel about something and what they would do about it. And before, that wasn’t the case.” A key impact of Leadership Montgomery is better understanding across racial lines. George Goodwyn, a Leadership Montgomery founder and one of the founders of the architectural/engineering firm of Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, pointed out the lasting friendships from participating in a Leadership Montgomery class with 20, 30 or nearly 40 others. Those friendships reach across racial lines.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

When Goodwyn, who was recently named the Montgomery Advertiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Citizen of the Year for 2012, was asked if Leadership Montgomery fostered a better understanding and relationships between the races, he said the organization â&#x20AC;&#x153;was a small part of the transition. My experience is when you work with somebody and they have the same goals you have; the same education youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got; and you have the same job to do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you absolutely donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see color.â&#x20AC;? Leadership Montgomery class participants and graduates have a new network of business colleagues to share best practices and turn to each other for advice about both professional and personal development. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A city is a lot more complicated than you might think,â&#x20AC;? Crane said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a lot of moving parts. There is a lot of leadership out there. You may not walk down the street and identify it, but when you get into meetings with Leadership Montgomery, you come away very impressed with the quality of people.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Race is not a barrier; age is not a barrier â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they have become very, very close,â&#x20AC;? Carter said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are confidants.â&#x20AC;? Goodwyn said that the graduates form lasting bonds and friendships across racial lines â&#x20AC;&#x153;and that has a tremendous impact.â&#x20AC;? Leadership Montgomery classes complete projects that have a lasting impact on the community. One recent project helped feed homeless high school students on the weekends. Another project exposed higher education to high school students from the Montgomery Public Schools district and helped those students fill out financial aid forms. Another project promoted local attractions by commissioning artists to craft cutouts by the attractions.

Bryan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re equipping and connecting leaders to effect change and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I think is important. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end at graduation. We have to continue.â&#x20AC;? Carter said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a passion about Leadership Montgomery that the class members feel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to explain if you have never been in the program. They hate when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s over. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to graduate.â&#x20AC;? Another Leadership Montgomery founder, Mike Jenkins IV, who was CEO and chairman of the board of Jenkins Brick & Tile, talked about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;gratification of knowing that as a group we overcame something that has through the years been perceived to be insolvable in a racial perspective.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The projects are wonderful and they have a huge impact, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s after the graduation that we need all of our leaders and all of our Leadership Montgomery alums to work together to further the good of Montgomery,â&#x20AC;?

Carter said that she has heard from Leadership Montgomery graduates who call somebody from their class about workplace issues, years and years after they were in the program together.

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

The founders of Leadership Montgomery are (from left) Mike Jenkins IV, Solomon S. Seay Jr., Lanny Crane and George Goodwyn.

home on Todd Road. Officers and Taylor family members were beaten and two were shot. Nearly all the charges were dismissed against the Taylor family members, but there was a trial for one defendant, which ended in a mistrial. The incident rocked the City of Montgomery. “There was a story over here in the black community; there was a story over here in the white community and they were divided and different,” recalled George Goodwyn, one of the founders of the architectural/ engineering firm of Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood and a current vice president.

A LEAP OF FAITH by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

Mike Jenkins IV still gets choked up when he talks about the Todd Road incident that happened 30 years ago. Jenkins, who was CEO and chairman of the board of Jenkins Brick & Tile, said he was driving back from Birmingham and listening to the radio. He heard a black leader requesting that the National Guard be activated in Montgomery. “The way it hit me was ‘here we go again shooting ourselves in the foot.’ It’s not good for the community. It’s not good for families. It’s not good for anybody.” What happened back on Feb. 27, 1983 was a confrontation between Montgomery police officers and members of the Taylor family, who after attending a funeral for a family member gathered at a relative’s

Jackson Thornton Principal Lanny Crane said, “Todd Road was rather frightening. We knew very little about who was right and who was wrong, but we just knew things were tense. We didn’t know what was going on. We didn’t know if we were going to have riots. We didn’t know if anybody was trying to calm the situation down – get the parties together and promote a peaceful solution.” He said one of the biggest problems with Todd Road was that “you had a group of leaders that didn’t talk to one another.” Meanwhile, Jenkins had been a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, a group that met monthly in Atlanta and still do. Within that group, Jenkins learned about another organization that he said was either called Leadership Macon or Leadership Georgia. He thought a similar organization could work in Montgomery. “I came back (from Georgia) and got with Lanny and said, ‘Lanny, here’s a mechanism that has been used. I’ll never forget Lanny’s response: ‘Dare we, Jenkins?’ ” Goodwyn was invited to join Jenkins and Crane. The three met with then Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar and asked him who they should contact in the black community about forming this organization. “We all realized that we had no racial relations,” Goodwyn said. “None; zero; couldn’t even name a black as a friend or an associate.” It was ironic that Goodwyn had worried about his children attending a private school and

not having “any relationships with those that are economically different than they are and racially separated.” Goodwyn was asked if he associated with anyone who is black and said the answer was no. Crane said that he grew up in Cloverdale and “the only people I knew were those who went to school with me; went to church with me. We lived in a very walled-off neighborhood – figuratively speaking.” The mayor’s suggestion was to contact attorney Solomon S. Seay Jr., who according to Jenkins had “crossed swords innumerable times on social issues” with Folmar. Jenkins and Crane explained to Seay that this new organization would build networks and relationships. Jenkins said the organization would get “leaders from every walk of life and town to not only develop relationships, but a leap of faith out of which good things will come.” Participants in the organization will be introduced to education, government, history and other aspects in the city during a year-long program.

Jenkins said that Seay was interested and responded without hesitation: “ ‘I’ll do that.’” Seay asked how they came up with his name and when somebody said the mayor, Seay was so surprised he almost choked on his cigarette, Jenkins said. A steering committee was formed of men and women and blacks and whites. The committee was split and some members helped designed the class year and others decided who would be in Leadership Montgomery’s first class. “It was time to stop and move,” Jenkins said about being one of the founders of Leadership Montgomery. “Having lived here all our lives, we just had enough.” Crane: I don’t know at the time if George Goodwyn thought of himself as a leader or Mike Jenkins thought of himself as a leader, but they became leaders. You cannot go out and point to someone and say, ‘You’re a leader.’ Leaders are leaders. Once people emerge as having the capacity for leadership;

the willingness to get involved in things – bring them together where they can learn (about) each other and from other leaders.” Jenkins said if there was a Todd Road or similar incident now, “there would be hundreds of telephone calls across the community.” Goodwyn equated Leadership Montgomery “as a small, bright light” that helped build the foundation – along with other organizations – for working across racial lines. A commonly used phrase during the creation of Leadership Montgomery was “a leap of faith,” Jenkins said. “… if you get people of goodwill together with a broad array of interests – good things are going to come out of it. Somebody who has an interest in a topic of civic value will discover someone else they hadn’t met before that has that same passion and out of that good things will happen. And they have.” •

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

MAKING NEW FRIENDS by David Zaslawsky

There is a special connection for those 1,000plus people who participated in a Leadership Montgomery class. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You meet some doggone neat people,â&#x20AC;? said Mike Jenkins IV, a founder of Leadership Montgomery, who is now semiretired. He was CEO and chairman of the board of Jenkins Brick & Tile. Often small talk between individuals leads to camaraderie when they learn they attended a Leadership Montgomery class. There is a bond. Lanny Crane, a principal with Jackson Thornton, who was one of the Leadership Montgomery founders, said that class participants â&#x20AC;&#x153;will say how much Leadership Montgomery meant to them; how it equipped them to participate in activities and problem solving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People who had not much in common otherwise than having gone through Leadership Montgomery and how much

easier it makes dealing with things when you have commonality in your history.â&#x20AC;? A Jackson Thornton employee recently graduated from the Leadership Montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 29th class. Crane said that he asked the employee about their experience and was told, â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just been the most enjoyable year. I know so many people now who I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know â&#x20AC;&#x201C; people who do important things. I feel like I can pick up the phone and have a discussion with a friend.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;? Making friends, but more importantly making friends with people you would not have met. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Leadership Montgomery fosters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a special bond between not only classmates, but graduates from the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter what class you were in,â&#x20AC;? Leadership Montgomery President Carolyn Bryan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You all went through the legacy class. You all learned about all aspects of this wonderful community we live in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You got to know people you never would have had a chance to meet before in your life. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great networking, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than just networking. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where you can work together to do something. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just talking. You actually do it.â&#x20AC;?

Cheryl Carter is the executive director of Leadership Montgomery since 2007 and introduced class projects. Each class is split into groups and there are six to seven projects per class. Working in a small group on those class projects helps nurture that special bond. One of the aspects of Leadership Montgomery is that participants are encouraged to express themselves, sharing their innermost thoughts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You should be able to say what you want to say and not feel youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re being judged by anybody because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all different and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all entitled to our own opinions because all we have is our own personal experiences,â&#x20AC;? Carter said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich to be able to share those opinions with others without being judged.â&#x20AC;? It is sharing ideas that strengthen the bond between class participants and the groups working on projects become even closer because they are dependent on one another, Carter said. They must all participate in the project and present it to other class members. Team members are â&#x20AC;&#x153;so proud of what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done,â&#x20AC;? Carter said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not participating, you have seven other people that are quite unhappy.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

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Maxwell Boulevard has again been transformed – this time, with Overlook Park modernized into a much broader expanse and user-friendly Wright Brothers Park, complete with a conversation piece. It’s that conversation piece – a 25-footby-40-foot Wright Flyer steel replica – that officials hope will attract motorists on the busy Interstate 65 to take a closer look and maybe stay for lunch; maybe buy some gas and maybe spend some more money.

Officials dedicate Wright Brothers Park by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

It will definitely get people talking and will draw more people to downtown Montgomery. And that’s the point. It is the focal point of the new Wright Brothers Park, which also features a knee-high wall and eventually stairs leading to EAT South, an urban farm behind the Montgomery Advertiser. Playground equipment is being added to the park.

“It is something that I’m proud of and that I hope the citizens of Montgomery are proud of,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange told the Montgomery Advertiser. The park was officially dedicated in early July and included a heartfelt speech from Amanda Wright Lane, a great grandniece of Wilbur and Orville Wright, whom she lovingly referred to as Uncle Will and Uncle Orv. “When you honor the Wright Brothers, you are honoring a true American family and a success story that (shows) integrity, curiosity, persistence, courage, a little bickering – and a lot of humor – can lead to great things for all of us,” Lane said. “When you honor the Wright Brothers you are honoring a fraternity of men and women who have pushed the limits of what we thought was humanly possible. When you honor the Wright Brothers, you are honoring a technology that has changed our world like nothing else.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held for Aronov Pavilion, which is located at Wright Brothers Park. The pavilion is in the shape of an airplane wing. Owen Aronov, president

of Aronov Realty Management Inc., said his grandfather started his scrap metal business across the street from the Aronov Pavilion on what is now Maxwell Boulevard. His grandfather also started an auto parts/tire shop and one of his uncles opened a fabrics manufacturing business near the same location. His father went into the real estate business. “When I think about this particular location, it’s really where we all started,” Aronov said. An upscale apartment project is now planned for the site of where Aronov’s grandfather started his scrap metal business.

Lt. Gen. David Fadok, commander and president of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex, noted the close ties to the Wright Brothers and Maxwell, where the brothers opened the country’s first civilian flying school. Montgomery was also the site of the world’s first nighttime flight. “ … This park and its spectacular memorial to the 1903 Wright Flyer not only represent the historic bond between the River Region and American aviation, but they also signify the enduring friendship between the Capital of Dreams and the best hometown in the Air Force,” Fadok said.

When you honor the Wright Brothers, you are honoring a technology that has changed our world like nothing else. - Amanda Wright Lane, great-grandneice of Wilbur and Orville Wright

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

WRIGHT FLYERS MAKE MILITARY MEMBERS FEEL IMPORTANT by David Zaslawsky The top brass at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex have said that Montgomery is the best hometown for military. They say that because of the tremendous importance that elected leaders and the business community place on the military. The 100-member Wright Flyers Association, an initiative of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, plays a significant role in supporting the military and letting the airmen and officers know just how much they are valued and appreciated. The members’ $200 annual dues helps support military appreciation events, but where the Wright Flyers make their largest contribution is through volunteers’ staffing activities, including the Military Family Appreciation Day at the Montgomery Zoo. “It’s a big deal with us because it’s very visible to all the families,” said Bill Stevenson, who is chairman of the Wright Flyers Association. He said the organization has 30 to 40 volunteers helping out at the Zoo Day, which is for active military, including local Guard/Reserve units as well as retired military and all of their immediate family members. There is no charge to visit the zoo and the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum. The military families are also treated to a free lunch and free train ride. “It is such an outpouring of civic leaders having a chance to see what the families of the military community are like and to see these young individuals who are serving our country – with their families at an event that they (maybe) couldn’t otherwise afford to do,” Stevenson said.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

That event shows how deeply the leadership in Montgomery cares about the military. Another key event for the Wright Flyers is hosting a welcome reception for the Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex senior leadership – both military and civilian – in January or February at the Chamber’s Small Business Resource Center. Stevenson said it’s a very important meetand-greet event. The Wright Flyers are also involved in other events, including the Chamber/ Air University Golf Challenge at Maxwell, where military and civilians are paired up.

The Wright Flyer replica, which was made by Burt Steel Inc., was a concept that was born at the City of Montgomery Development Department’s idea factory. It was suggested that a Wright Flyer replica be displayed where all could see it. “As important as 103 years ago was when Montgomery was looking forward to the future and a new direction – this (Wright Flyer) on this hill is ready to take off, as is Montgomery,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said at the park dedication. “It’s the heart and soul of what we want to be in the future – looking toward the future – celebrating and honoring our past, but looking forward to the future. We celebrate our history in air. We celebrate all the things that are good about Maxwell and Gunter and the Air Force.” •

The military reciprocates with several River Region Forums, where a speaker informs the community about the latest developments. One of those speakers talked about helping to establish the Afghan Air Force. The Wright Flyers were established when then-Montgomery Mayor Emory Folmar wanted an organization of civic leaders to “to build on military affairs and the community,” Stevenson said. “The mission of the Wright Flyers is to function as a liaison and support agency between the local military and business communities, implementing programs which provide greater interaction and understanding between Department of Defense/military personnel and Chamber members,” according to the group’s by-laws. Stevenson represented the Wright Flyers at a dinner with Amanda Wright Lane, a great grandniece of Wilbur and Orville Wright, the night before the Wright Brothers Park dedication. It is all about strengthening the relationship between the military and community. “What the members get out of it is the opportunity to help the community,” Stevenson said.

Bill Stevenson is chairman of the Wright Flyers Association.

Mayoral Buddies Cities’ top executives work hand-in-hand Boats could not be launched by downtown Montgomery’s riverfront for the Bassmaster Elite Series Alabama River Charge. It was a last-minute decision, so the 100 professional anglers needed a new launch site immediately. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange placed a call to Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. and asked if the boats could launch at Cooter’s Pond in Prattville. “No hesitation – Bill said absolutely,” Strange recalled. Montgomery’s Parks and Recreation Department worked with the City of Prattville “and in about eight hours, it was all switched over there,” Strange said. “That was truly a River Region deal.” Now that says partnerships with a capital P. Of course, partnerships work both ways and Gillespie recalled a time when he asked the City of Montgomery to help during a parade. Montgomery sent over a trolley car to help Prattville transport its war heroes – veterans from World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Gillespie talked about “a willingness and ability to pick up the phone and ask for something and not have to be worried that you’re going to be ridiculed or shot down. It never hurts to be able to reach out and ask for a little bit of help when you need it.” Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone praised those partnerships, which he said have worked together to bring jobs to the area. “All of us who are in bedroom communities and surrounding communities owe a debt of appreciation to the City of Montgomery; to the greater Chamber of Commerce here for the work that you guys do because you (help) bring in employment and help us build this overall region. I thank you for that.”

by David Zaslawsky

Gillespie also expressed his thanks for Montgomery. “We appreciate everything Montgomery has done for this area. Anything that is good for Montgomery and anything that is good for Maxwell (Air Force Base) usually equates back to what is good for Prattville.” The trio of mayors was at an Auburn University at Montgomery breakfast event and delivered short speeches when tornadoes in the Dallas area kept featured speaker and author Kevin Elko from making the flight to Montgomery.

allure; transportation infrastructure; and business tax burden. “This is truly a River Region recognition for the work that we all – private and public sector – have been doing to make our communities better communities,” Strange said about the rankings. “The relationship of the whole River Region is very important,” Gillespie said. “I just see a very great future for all of us.”

Strange cited Alabama Policy Institute’s rankings of the state’s most business friendly cities. Millbrook was ranked No. 2 behind Fairhope; Prattville was No. 6 and Montgomery was No. 8 and the only metro ranked in the top 35. Huntsville was No. 36 while Mobile was No. 40 and Birmingham was No. 47. The rankings were based on four categories: economic vitality; community

“The relationship of the whole River Region is very important. I just see a very great future for all of us.”

Three mayors in the River Region attended a breakfast. (From left) Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr; (top) Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone and (bottom) Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange.

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

Member News

BUSINESS BUZZ firm is a full-service advertising, interactive and media agency.

David Allred

Jim Leonard

With more than 90 years’ combined agency experience, partners David Allred, Jim Leonard and Bruce Reid will lead the newly merged firm. “We have always had a high degree of mutual respect for each other’s businesses and unique strengths, so, as conversations evolved about ways to work together, combining our operations and rebranding as a single agency made the most sense,” Allred said. “Together, we have an even more strategic, intensely passionate and creativelydriven team that will continue to produce great work for great clients.” Leonard said, “Advertising has moved beyond just ads and commercials into an everchanging new media world, and now, it’s time to put our Stamp on it.”

Bruce Reid

LWT, REID/O’DONAHUE FORM NEW COMPANY MONTGOMERY – LWT Communications and Reid/ O’Donahue Advertising formally announced that they have merged to become Stamp Idea Group, LLC. Stamp brings together a combined team of 29 professionals with $16 million in annual capitalized billings and experience with local, regional and national clients. The new

Reid said, “People do business with people they like and trust, and those who can deliver dynamic work in an increasingly fragmented yet converging media environment. And that’s exactly who Stamp is.”

A growing body of evidence suggests that communication plays an integral role in the quality and safety of patient care, according to J. Michael Horsley, president of the Montgomerybased Alabama Hospital Association. It is a statewide trade organization that represents more than 100 hospitals and numerous other health care providers. “In fact, Alabama ranks eighth in the nation when rated by patients on their hospital experience, which includes communication with doctors and nurses,” Horsley said. “However, we know there is more work to be done, which is why we’re emphasizing communication in the second phase of our Join the Health Journey state campaign.” Horsley explained that the campaign is an ongoing effort to focus on things hospitals can do to improve the care they provide and enlist the help of patients and their families. The first phase focused on infection prevention, and the second phase deals with communication. “We believe that the questions and suggestions of patients and their families can make a big difference in their care, and we’re going to be encouraging them to do more of it,” Horsley said. All of the resources, including short videos, topic-specific flyers and links to other web information are located at www. jointhehealthjourney.com.

HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS

Consumers can also find hospital-specific information about infections, quality efforts and the latest scores on the hospital patient experience on the website under “Quality Reports.”

MONTGOMERY – Alabama’s hospital employees worked on their communication skills and asked patients to speak up and ask questions during the national celebration of Hospital Week.

Hospital leaders are encouraging patients to do the following things to help ensure good outcomes: make a list of questions; don’t be afraid to ask questions; share information with your doctor;

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

and be sure you understand instructions from doctors and nurses.

Larry H. Gibson Jr.

Lyman Ramsay Jr.

James L. “Jimmy” Bassett

AGRIBUSINESS LEADERS ELECTED TO ALABAMA AG CREDIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MONTGOMERY – Two members of Alabama Ag Credit’s Board of Directors were reelected during the stockholder’s annual meeting. Larry H. Gibson, Jr. of Aliceville and Lyman Ramsay Jr. of Grand Bay were both reelected after the expiration of their threeyear terms on the board. The board of directors is responsible for establishing policies, providing strategic direction, and overseeing all major institution functions. After the annual meeting, the board of directors then elected agribusiness owner James L. “Jimmy” Bassett as chairman of the board. A resident of Downs,

Bassett is a full-time farmer of 18 years and operates about 2,400 acres in turf and timber in Bullock, Lee and Macon counties. In addition, Bassett operates a nursery business. Prior to farming, he spent eight years as a commercial banker in Union Springs. Bassett has served on the board since 2008. Also elected to the board was Gibson as vice chairman. Gibson is president of Gibson Forest Management, a forestry consulting firm. He owns about 1,400 acres of timberland and also manages another 50,000 acres of timberland for clients in West Alabama and East Mississippi.Gibson has served on the board since 2010. Alabama Ag Credit provides financing for farms, timber and forestry operations, agribusinesses, recreational land and other rural property in 40 counties in southern Alabama. The financing co-op operates offices in Demopolis, Dothan, Enterprise, Loxley, Montgomery, Monroeville, Opelika, Selma and Tuscaloosa.

Russell Dunman

RIVER REGION UNITED WAY CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT MONTGOMERY – Russell S. Dunman has announced his retirement as president and CEO of the River Region United Way effective Dec. 31. In a letter announcing his plans to retire, Dunman said, “As I prepare to part with the work I love, I do so in the full knowledge that it is time for me to pass the torch to new leadership who will

guide the River Region United Way into the future.” Dunman began his volunteer service with the River Region United Way (RRUW) on the Community Council in 1981 and has held several volunteer leadership positions within RRUW, including serving as president of the board of directors from 2004 to 2005. He was hired as the organization’s executive director in 2010. Before joining RRUW, Dunman spent 34 years in the banking industry with Regions Financial Corp. A transition team of the RRUW board of directors will be put in place to identify a new president/CEO. “After all Russ has done for River Region United Way and his hard work in support of our community as a whole, we are in full support of his decision to retire,” said Roger Spain, board chair of the RRUW. “We are appreciative of his service and also privileged to have his willingness to help with the transition as we work together to advance the common good in the River Region.” Dunman said, “I wish to thank the RRUW board members for their confidence, vision and support; our remarkable staff members; the many volunteers for their long hours of service and dedication to improve the lives of others; and all our donors for their support to make this a stronger community. It has been an honor to serve this organization, but more importantly, to serve the people of the River Region and assist them in serving each other.” SERVISFIRST BANK OPENS BRANCH IN TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, Tenn. – ServisFirst Bank announced the opening of its new banking center in Nashville, Tenn. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 54)

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ

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“We are excited about the opportunity to open ServisFirst Bank in Tennessee’s diversified business environment,” said Tom Broughton, president and CEO of ServisFirst Bank. “Our team of service-oriented banking professionals will offer the Tennessee region a new and higher level of banking.” The Birmingham-based bank has branches in Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, Dothan and Pensacola, Fla.

Jack Galassini

Rob Robison

GALASSINI RECEIVES AWARD FROM MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ALFA VICE PRESIDENT JOINS INSURANCE ADVISORY BOARD

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School presented the 2013 Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award to Jack Galassini. The Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award was established by the Harbin family and awarded by the school to recognize individuals who have significantly served Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and exemplified its values in their lives. Galassini’s support of Montgomery Catholic spans three decades, beginning in the mid 1980s and through the mid 1990s while his three children were students at the school. He continued into the new millennium, where he served as the emcee for several school events, including the annual school spring fundraiser, and filled in wherever and whenever he was asked.

He was involved with backto-school nights, picnics and rummage sales, and hosted school Halloween parties at his home. Galassini was a school board member and a booster club member who was instrumental in getting the club started. He provided the school with extensive knowledge and ideas for the Faith in Education Capital Campaign, which enabled the school to add the Belke Lab, middle school and athletic fields.

MONTGOMERY – An Alfa Insurance executive has joined the Alabama Insurance Planning Commission. Rob Robison is senior vice president of life operations and policy administration at Alfa Insurance in Montgomery. He is a graduate of Huntingdon College and has a master’s degree in business administration from Auburn University at Montgomery. The Alabama Insurance Planning Commission (AIPC) is an advisory board for the Insurance and Financial Services/Risk Management/Actuarial Science Program at the University of Alabama and organizes the annual Alabama Insurance Day, which will be Oct. 23. SEVEN CAPELL & HOWARD ATTORNEYS IN ALABAMA SUPER LAWYERS MONTGOMERY – Seven attorneys from Capell & Howard, P.C., were included in the

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

2013 publication of Alabama Super Lawyers. The firm’s attorneys listed in the annual publication were James N. Walter, business litigation; Richard H. Allen, construction litigation; Henry C. Barnett Jr. and Bruce J. Downey, employment and labor; Henry H. Hutchinson, mergers and acquisitions; and William K. Martin and Shapard D. Ashley, real estate law. Candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement and no more than 5 percent of all attorneys in the state are selected.

Stephen Suggs

Steve Jackson

BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH RECEIVES TWO AWARDS MONTGOMERY – Baptist Medical Center South has received awards for its stroke and heart failure programs. Baptist South received the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award. “Baptist South is dedicated to making our care for stroke patients among the best in the country,” said Dr. Stephen

Suggs, a neurologist and medical director of Neuro Hospitalist Services at Baptist Health. “The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines –Stroke program helps us to accomplish this goal.” Get With The Guidelines – Stroke helps Baptist South’s staff develop and implement processes to improve patient care and outcomes. The program provides hospitals with a webbased patient management tool; best practice discharge protocols and standing orders; along with a robust registry and real-time benchmarking capabilities to track performance. The stroke award recognizes the hospital’s success in implementing a higher standard of care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted guidelines. The achievement award for dealing with heart failure signifies that Baptist has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients according to the guidelines of care recommended by the American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology. “The Cardiovascular Care Center at Baptist South is dedicated to making our care for heart failure patients among the best in the country,” said Steve Jackson, a registered nurse and director of Cardiovascular Services at Baptist South. “This recognition demonstrates that we are on the right track and we’re very proud of our team.” The quick and efficient use of guideline procedures can improve the quality of care for heart failure patients, save lives and ultimately reduce health care costs by reducing the recurrence of heart attacks.

BUSINESS BUZZ

Phyllis Ingram

year term by the nominations committee and ratified by the AICPA Council. The Joint Trial Board provides for uniform enforcement of professional standards by adjudicating disciplinary charges against state society and AICPA members. Its decisions affect both AICPA and state society memberships.

ACCOUNTING FIRM PARTNER JOINS TRUSTMARK BANK’S ADVISORY BOARD MONTGOMERY – Carr, Riggs and Ingram partner Phyllis Ingram has joined Trustmark Bank’s Advisory Board of Directors for the Montgomery market. Ingram, who has 25-plus years’ experience in the accounting profession, provides accounting, auditing and taxation services to insurance companies; workers compensation self-insurance funds; closely-held businesses; and nonprofit organizations throughout the South. Carr, Riggs and Ingram is the 28th largest accounting firm in the country.

Mehmet Sahinoglu

Kyle Taylor

NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS CERTIFIES AUM’S INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM

Jason Westbrook

ALDRIDGE, BORDEN EMPLOYEE NOMINATED FOR BOARD MONTGOMERY – Jason Westbrook has been nominated to serve on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) Joint Trial Board. Westbrook is a certified public accountant with the Montgomery accounting firm of Aldridge, Borden & Co. The Joint Trial Board consists of 36 members elected for a three-

MONTGOMERY – The Committee on National Security Systems has awarded certification to Auburn University at Montgomery’s Cybersystems and Information Security (CSIS) graduate degree program. Meanwhile, Auburn University at Montgomery’s Medical Laboratory Science program has been reaccredited for seven years by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Certification is one of several milestones the young program has achieved. Established in 2010, it became the first college degree program in information security to gain approval from the Alabama Commission on (CONTINUED ON PAGE 56)

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55)

is the largest affordable housing provider in the City of Montgomery. It serves 4,000plus families and is the third largest in the State of Alabama.

Higher Education. It also gained accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools that same year. Students enrolled for the first time in fall 2011. “NSA certification is an additional indicator of how committed our program is to providing a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge education to the future creative leaders in the field of information and network security,” said Mehmet Sahinoglu, CSIS program coordinator and director of AUM’s Informatics Institute. “The demand for local and international experts in the cyberspace field to respond to and prevent cybersecurity threats is only going to grow. This is why we are working to provide our state and nation with highly trained and educated professionals to plan ahead proactively.” AUM’s CSIS program offers a master’s degree that prepares students for careers in homeland security, government and state agencies, private businesses and the military. The booming field of medical and clinical laboratory science is expected to grow as much as 14 percent between now and 2018. Medical laboratory scientists play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases through their analysis of body fluids, tissues and cells. AUM’s training program offers a certificate to those seeking degrees in biology. “Seventy percent of all medical decisions are based on results obtained from the laboratory, and the additional 30 percent comes from physicians and other health care personnel,” said Kyle Taylor, director of the AUM program. “We prepare students to become integral members of health care teams.”

Evette Hester

Scott Grier

MONTGOMERY HOUSING AUTHORITY RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD

ALDRIDGE BORDEN PRINCIPAL INDUCTED INTO TROY UNIVERSITY’S ACCOUNTING HALL OF FAME

MONTGOMERY – The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) selected the Montgomery Housing Authority for an Award of Merit in Housing and Community Development for its renovation of The Terrace, formerly known as Richardson Terrace. Built in 1969, The Terrace was a 100-unit high-rise building for elderly and disabled residents. Before the renovation, capital improvements to the property at 1301 Adams Ave. were minimal and sporadic. The Montgomery Housing Authority used $7.7 million of stimulus and capital funds to complete the renovation in 2012. The new apartments are now equipped with modern conveniences and communal spaces that improve the quality of life for the residents. The apartment building, which now has 90 units, features updated kitchens and baths, energy-efficient appliances, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and a new fire protection system. The residents also enjoy communal space including outdoor patio and picnic areas, a library equipped with computers, and an updated laundry facility and state-of-the-art security system. The Terrace also boasts a new community garden. Evette Hester is the executive director of The Montgomery Housing Authority, which

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Bonnie Ponstein

RED BLUFF COTTAGE BED & BREAKFAST RECEIVES CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE MONTGOMERY – Red Bluff Cottage Bed & Breakfast announced that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the second year in a row. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. To qualify for a certificate of excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months. “Red Bluff Cottage is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Bonnie Ponstein, owner/innkeeper at Red Bluff Cottage Bed & Breakfast. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”

TROY – Aldridge Borden Co. principal Scott Grier has been inducted into Troy University’s Accounting Hall of Fame. The university’s school of accountancy selects three recipients each year to be inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame – two are Troy University alumni and the third one is a non-alumni supporter of the university. Grier is an Auburn University at Montgomery alumnus.

Nim Frazer

INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS OWNER ELECTED MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL DIRECTOR MONTGOMERY – Industrial Partners owner/manager Nim Frazer was recently elected to a two-year term as the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) Membership Council Director. Since receiving his SIOR designation in 1997, Frazer has served in many leadership roles. Most recently, he served on the Specialty Practice Board. He has also served a number

BUSINESS BUZZ of years in various leadership positions on the Council of Chapter Presidents. Frazer will oversee the member recruitment, member retention and young professionals committees for the SIOR. He will act as the official liaison between the committees he represents and the board of directors.

we have developed in the last 20 years,” said Southern, who is president of LogoBranders. “We felt that this anniversary was an appropriate time to stop and express our thanks and to officially recognize the loyalty of some of our longerterm customers.”

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“I look forward to pursuing new and existing organization initiatives working with the executive committee and board of directors,” Frazer said. SIOR is the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association with more than 3,000 members in more than 580 cities in 28 countries.

Sandra Nickel

SANDRA NICKEL HAT TEAM CELEBRATES 20 YEARS MONTGOMERY – Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team have closed 2,700-plus real estate transactions in the 20 years since she established the business.

Terry Southern

LOGOBRANDERS HONORS PARTNERSHIPS AT 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION MONTGOMERY – LogoBranders celebrated its 20th anniversary with an open house and presented partnership awards to corporations and institutions, which had been conducting business with the firm for 10, 15 or 20 years. The company that started with one person – Terry Southern – has grown to 35 employees and is located in a 17,500-squarefoot facility. LogoBranders is a provider of imprinted promotional products and logos on corporate apparel. The company offers in-house embroidery and screen printing services. “The overall success of our business is based on the relationships and partnerships

Nickel, who celebrated 20 years in July by donating money to the Capri Theatre, said she expects to close more than 100 transactions this year. She has specialized in Midtown and historic neighborhoods, including Cloverdale, Garden District, Capitol Heights and Cottage Hill.

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“Helping a client find just the right home to meet their individual needs and lifestyle is very rewarding,” Nickel said. “It’s a risky business, but after more than a quarter century of selling homes, I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” She recently hired two agents and plans to add more, including recent college graduates and former military personnel. “We may not be the biggest in terms of Realtors, nor are we backed by an expensive brand name, but we do have a very attractive track record for producing results,” Nickel said.

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ

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Judy Kamnikar

Thomas Ratcliffe

AUM ACCOUNTING PROFESSOR NAMED OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

WARREN AVERETT ADVISER RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants has named Auburn University at Montgomery accounting professor Judy Kamnikar its 2013 Outstanding Educator of the Year. The award recognizes a distinguished educator in Alabama who has made major contributions to the field of accounting in higher education. Kamnikar has been a professor of accounting at AUM for more than 25 years. She is nationally recognized in her field of governmental accounting. “She is a professor who impacts your life,” said Annamarie Jones, a principal in the Jackson Thornton accounting firm and a 1994 graduate of AUM’s accounting program. “She cares about the student. Her goal is that you will be able to apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to real-life situations. To this day, I can still hear her voice when I encounter certain accounting issues – and that is almost 20 years after graduation.” Dean of the AUM School of Business Rhea Ingram said, “We are all very proud of her. I know this is a great honor for Dr. Kamnikar, being publically recognized for her many accomplishments and dedication to the accounting profession.”

BIRMINGHAM – Warren Averett adviser Thomas A. Ratcliffe received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. Ratcliffe, a senior accounting and auditing technical adviser for Warren Averett, LLC, is director emeritus of the School of Accountancy at Troy University. He also serves as founder and executor of PlainEnglish Accounting, an online, membership-based accounting and auditing resource for certified public accountants and accounting firms. He has published more than 100 technical works in accounting and auditing, including several books and other documents that are widely utilized in practice. The award was established in 2005 and recognizes an individual who has significantly influenced and improved the accounting profession in Alabama as well as industry-wide. He is the fourth recipient of the lifetime achievement award. SAINT JAMES SCHOOL EXPANDING FIELD HOUSE MONTGOMERY – Saint James School held a ground breaking for an expansion to the school’s field house. The expansion adds 4,620 square feet to the current field house and will provide a new, larger wrestling room; a new

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

entryway to the field house, and new restroom/changing areas for boys and girls. The new construction also expands the football locker room and provides outside access to the training room. Completion of the expansion, which is adjacent to Carlisle Field, is expected in late September or early October. “The field house expansion is a continuation of our efforts to have the best resources and facilities available for all our students, wherever their interests lie,” said Melba Richardson, head of school. NEW RESTAURANT OPENS AT THE SHOPPES AT EASTCHASE MONTGOMERY – Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opened its first location in Central Alabama at The Shoppes at EastChase. Montgomery marks the 24th location for the company – only the second location in Alabama – with future expansion plans for the northeast over the next several years. The restaurant features an indoor and outdoor stone fireplace, firebar and outdoor patio for dining alfresco. Customers can also enjoy halfpriced firebar appetizers and drink specials 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. The restaurant features steaks grilled over an open flame, burgers, salads, herb-roasted prime rib, fresh seafood and more. “Grilling over the open flame gives all of our food a tremendous flavor,” said owner and restaurateur Dennis Thompson. “Our blend of bold seasonings, spices and sauces is designed to create an innovative style of American cuisine that makes each dish flavorful from beginning to end.” Signature dishes include the Lobster Spinach Queso, BLT Salad, Firebirds Meatloaf, Pecan Crusted Trout and Crème Brulee Cheesecake. Firebirds also

features its own private label red and white wines. “Firebirds is unique in that it offers an upscale dining experience, but it’s still a place where customers can enjoy a casual atmosphere and relax while enjoying a great meal,” said property manager Jeff Branch. General Manager Ken Everett will head up operations at the Montgomery location while Kola Ojeikere serves as head chef. LAW FIRM MOVES OFFICE TO DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY – The law firm of Sasser, Sefton, Brown, Tipton & Davis, P.C., has moved its office to downtown Montgomery. The firm’s offices are now located at 445 Dexter Ave., suite 8050. The firm’s clients include some of the South’s largest lending and financial institutions, employers and several publicly traded companies as well as utilities and many nonprofit and grantfunded organizations.

Tom Walters

CH2M HILL VP RECEIVES AWARD DENVER – CH2M HILL executive Tom Walters received the George Warren Fuller Award for his service to the Alabama-Mississippi Section of American Water Works Association (AWWA). Walters, vice president and senior water and wastewater project manager, was inducted into the Fuller Society. The Fuller Award is presented annually to members of AWWA for their service to the water supply field for engineering

BUSINESS BUZZ skill, diplomatic talent and constructive leadership.

largest association of real estate professionals.

“I look forward to many more years working side-by-side with my industry colleagues to continue to help improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond,” said Walters, who has 33-plus years of engineering experience. Walters serves a dual role with CH2M HILL as the project delivery and quality manager for the U.S. client sector and the East Region in the water business group. He also is client manager for a number of clients in Alabama. He has a master’s degree from Tennessee Technological University, where he also received his bachelor’s degree.

Sally Hudson

LOCAL REALTOR ACHIEVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION MONTGOMERY – Sally Hudson with Aronov Realty Brokerage, Inc. has been awarded the Accredited Buyer’s Representation designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. She joins more than 30,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the ABR designation. All were required to complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on a buyer representation specialty, both in addition to submitting documentation verifying professional experience. The Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, which was founded in 1988, is the world’s

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Jonathan Hand (left), executive director of Electric Cities of Alabama (ECA), presents Fred D. Clark Jr. with ECA’s 2013 Public Service Award. Clark is president and CEO of Alabama Municipal Electric Authority.

ALABAMA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AUTHORITY CEO RECEIVES PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD MONTGOMERY – Alabama Municipal Electric Authority President and CEO Fred D. Clark Jr. received a prestigious public service award. Clark, who served as Electric Cities of Alabama (ECA) first executive director from 19992006, was presented with the organization’s public service award. During his tenure at ECA, he also established the Alabama Public Utilities Alliance, a state legislative monitoring service for Alabama’s public utilities. Clark has been involved with energy policy development and advocacy during the past 20 years. “Fred Clark is certainly deserving of this award because of his outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing the ideals and goals of public power,” said Jonathan Hand, executive director of the Electric Cities of Alabama. “Electric Cities would not be as strong and successful today without Fred’s guidance and commitment.”

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Montgomery-based Alabama Municipal Electric Authority is the wholesale power provider for 11 public power utilities in Alabama which serve some 350,000 customers.

Referred for a reason. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 60)

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

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Technologies. “CubCrafters manufactures an exceptional line of certificated, LSA and kit aircraft. Their selection of the X-Dive starter for their upgraded Carbon Cub SS LSA is an outstanding endorsement.”

Ashley Aaron

CHARTER HR BENEFIT SOLUTION EXECUTIVE RECEIVES CERTIFICATION MONTGOMERY – Charter HR Benefit Solution executive Ashley Aaron has become certified through the National Association of Health Underwriters as a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Professional. Aaron is senior vice president and agency director for the company, which is a professional employer organization providing human relations administration, payroll, workers’ compensation and employee benefits. “By taking this course, Aaron has joined an elite group who is uniquely qualified to assist clients in complying with the new law,” said Janet Trautwein, CEO of National Association of Health Underwriters. “He understands how the market is likely to change over the next few years, and is in the perfect position to advise families and businesses in planning for the future.” HARTZELL ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES CONTRACT WITH CUBCRAFTERS MONTGOMERY – Hartzell Engine Technologies, LLC, announced that CubCrafters has selected Hartzell’s new X-Drive lightweight starter as standard on the company’s upgraded, highperformance Carbon Cub SS light sport aircraft (LSA). “This is our first OEM (original equipment manufacturer) application for the newgeneration X-Drive lightweight starter,” said Mike Disbrow, president of Hartzell Engine 60

Disbrow said that the weight savings is especially important in LSA category aircraft such as the Carbon Cub SS. “Every pound matters and the fact that the X-Drive is 1.7 pounds lighter than the previous starter is a significant contributor to helping CubCrafters meet the performance goals for the Carbon Cub SS,” he said. “With its overall lighter weight and exceptional performance, the X-Drive has proven to be ideally suited for not only light sport and kit aircraft, but certificated aircraft as well,” Disbrow said. “Just because a unit is designated as lightweight, doesn’t mean it lacks in performance and reliability.”

Brooke Covington

ASE CREDIT UNION EXECUTIVE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD MONTGOMERY – Alabama State Employees’ Credit Union Executive Vice President Brooke Covington is the first recipient of the Young Professional of the Year Award from the League of Southeastern Credit Unions. The League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU) was formed in 2009 to represent almost 300 credit unions in Alabama and Florida. LSCU provides advocacy, compliance support, education, training and information with relevant services and

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

business strategies to support its members. ASE Credit Union, which was established in 1954, has four offices in Montgomery, Millbrook and Wetumpka and is affiliated with 5,000-plus service centers nationwide.

Collin Gaston

WSFA 12 NEWS CAPTURES 10 AWARDS MONTGOMERY – WSFA 12 News won 10 awards from The Associated Press at the organization’s annual banquet and award ceremony. WSFA 12 News was named the Outstanding News Operation for the second straight year. The station received team awards for Best Investigative Reporting, Best Extraordinary Coverage of a Planned Event and Best Series. The WSFA 12 News photojournalist team received the Victor Irving Best Staff Photography Award; and Andre Morgan received the Best Photographer Award. Other individual honors went to Max Reiss, Best Specialized Reporter; Derek Steyer, Best Sports Anchor; Jennifer Oravet, Best Reporter; and the WSFA 12 News digital team received the in Best Web Journalism Award. Vice President/General Manager Collin R. Gaston said, “Being named the Outstanding News Operation and also receiving recognition in nine other news operation areas is tremendously exciting and humbling. It serves as a testament to our mission and the great work of everyone on the team at WSFA 12 News.”

NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGY GROUP ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH IDMODELING TALLASSEE – Neptune Technology Group Inc. announced its agreement to work with IDModeling Inc. as a premier enterprise partner in Neptune’s new “Connected Utility” partnership program. Neptune’s Connected Utility Partnership Program was created to meet the growing needs of water utilities to operate an Advanced Sensor Infrastructure (ASI) and smart utility network with shared, analyzed data across utility applications. By adding ID Modeling’s flagship software Sedaruˉ as a premier enterprise partner, water utilities and Connected Utility partners can use the power of Neptune’s AMR/ AMI systems to bring data into a comprehensive system that provides breakthrough functionality for monitoring, analysis, automation and field mobility to serve critical utility functions. “Our customers realize the value of their investments in Neptune R900 and R450 through the information that these systems can provide beyond meter reading,’ said Chuck DiLaura, president of Neptune. “The addition of IDModeling’s Sedaruˉ software makes that information even more accessible and meaningful as it’s shared across various utility departments and enhances communication between the office and the field.” COUNTRY ARTIST PLANS ALBUM TO HONOR HANK WILLIAMS MONTGOMERY – Country artist Joey Allcorn plans to record an album that salutes Hank Williams and will raise money for the Hank Williams Museum. He will be joined on the project by artists Jake Penrod, Rachel Brooke, David Church, Arty Hill, Andy Norman, and Bobby

BUSINESS BUZZ Tomberlin. The album will be available exclusively at the Hank Williams Museum and all proceeds from sales will benefit the museum. MONTGOMERY HAMPTON HOTEL RECEIVES CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hampton Inn & Suites Montgomery-EastChase announced that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award. The accolade, which recognizes hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We strive to provide our guests with high-quality accommodations, delivered with friendly, authentic service â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

what we call â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hamptonalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to create a memorable experience for each traveler and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thrilled to see that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor,â&#x20AC;? said Phil Cordell, global head, focused service and Hampton brand management, Hilton Worldwide. ACCESS EXPANDS IN ALABAMA WITH DATABANK SERVICES LIVERMORE, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Access recently acquired Montgomerybased DataBank Services, Inc., which also included operations in Birmingham. The acquisition is the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 53rd since its founding in 2004. Andrew Garner, general manager of Access in Montgomery, will lead the integration of the client accounts from DataBank Services. He will be assisted by DataBank Operations Manager Cameron Sauce, who has now joined the Access Team.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited about this expansion in Montgomery and our new presence in Birmingham,â&#x20AC;? said Access President John Chendo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are pleased to welcome our newest team members and clients in the Southeast.â&#x20AC;?

can be purchased by calling the theatre office at (334) 2419567. Davis Theatre is located in downtown Montgomery at 251 Montgomery St. All shows have a 7 p.m. curtain time. A season ticket package ranges from $110 to $190.

Access is the largest privately held records and information management services provider in the United States and serves 29 markets across the nation and in Latin America.

Other performances in the season lineup include:

HUMPERDINCK HEADLINES DAVIS THEATRE SEASON MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iconic crooner Engelbert Humperdinck will open the 2013-2014 season at Troy Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts with a Sept. 10 performance. Season tickets are on sale now for the series that features a lineup of Broadway favorites, acclaimed musical acts and other performances. Season tickets

> Ray Parker, Jr., Thursday, Oct. 24 > The Heart Behind the Music: Christmas Showcase, Tuesday, Dec. 3 > â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bring It On: The Musical,â&#x20AC;? Friday, Jan. 31 > Broadway musical â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sweet Charity,â&#x20AC;? Thursday, March 13 > The music and comedy act â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Water Coolers,â&#x20AC;? Tuesday, April 22 In addition, season-ticket holders will receive free tickets to shows (CONTINUED ON PAGE 62)

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ

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in the Community and University Bonus Series, including the Montgomery Ballet on Thursday, Sept. 26, and the Troy University Symphony Band on Tuesday, Feb. 18. For information on the upcoming season, visit www.troy.edu/ davistheatre, or call the theatre office at (334) 241-9567. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayThursday and 8 a.m.-noon Friday. MONTGOMERY INDUSTRIAL PROJECT SITE RECEIVES ADVANTAGE DESIGNATION MONTGOMERY – Representatives from the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce were recognized by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama for developing one of the state’s premier industrial sites. To receive an AdvantageSite designation, community development organizations must provide documentation certifying that a proposed industrial site

meets a specific set of standards that make it ready for industrial prospects. The 415-acre Wasden Russell property is located partially within the city limits of Montgomery and is easily accessible from Interstate 65. “The AdvantageSite designation of Wasden Russell Property is extremely important to our business recruitment efforts,” said Ellen McNair, senior vice president, Corporate Development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “This designation proves to our clients that this site is ready for any prospective industry and that we are able to meet short project timeframes.” The Chamber worked in cooperation with a team of local entities to complete the AdvantageSite application process for the Wasden Russell property. The property is the 44th AdvantageSite in the state.

For information about the Wasden Russell property, contact Rachel Madore at (334) 240-9432 or rmadore@montgomerychamber. com. For information about the AdvantageSite program, visit www.edpa.org/bsc/ advantagesites.asp. WELLS PRINTING CO. FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH HP DIGITAL MONTGOMERY – Wells Printing Co. has formed a partnership with HP Digital with the installation of two HP Indigo 3550 digital presses. These additions at Wells’ 4521 Troy Highway location enable the firm to offer HP Indigo’s reliability and versatility to its customers. Short-run color demand has increased dramatically over the past few years, and Wells believes that these state-of-theart HP devices will aid them in meeting, and even exceeding, their clients’ needs. Wells Printing Co. CEO Irvin Wells said that improving the firm’s

ability to serve clients who need offset and digital printing as well as mailing and distribution must continue to be the goal of management, sales, customer service and plant personnel. ARTIST/CANCER SURVIVOR WILL SPEAK AT WOMEN OF HOPE LUNCHEON MONTGOMERY – Artist and breast cancer survivor Martha Murph Bell is the scheduled keynote speaker at the Women of Hope signature luncheon, 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 3. Tickets, which cost $30 each, are available from Women of Hope members or online at: www.thewomenofhope.org. Doors will open at 11 a.m. for the luncheon at Frazer United Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall at 6000 Atlanta Highway. Women of Hope helps educate, promote awareness and provide hope for families coping with breast cancer. •

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Thomas Tsekouras

Curvey has worked for SABIC, General Electric and Borg Warner Chemicals for 22 years. He has more than 30 years of experience in the plastics and chemical industry and during that time he has held multiple leadership positions, including employee health and safety manager, plant manager, customer service/ master planning manager, unit operations manager and human resources manager.

Member News

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE He has held leadership positions in consumer banking, wealth management and business and community banking, and Regions’ investment group. In addition, he served as a city president and most recently led Priority Banking and the company’s branch business banking efforts.

SABIC ANNOUNCES TWO PROMOTIONS

Mitchell has served the City of Montgomery for 25 years. Before becoming second in command of the Montgomery Police Department in 2011 when she was appointed as its first chief of staff, she served as police major, commanding four of the five divisions within the department, including the Patrol Division, Detective Division, Training and Recruiting Division and Juvenile Division.

BURKVILLE – SABIC, an innovative plastics business unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corp., has announced two promotions.

An AUM alumnus, Mitchell received a master’s degree in criminal justice from the university in 2008.

He has a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and industrial technology from Illinois State University.

John Curvey

Tom Tsekouras has been promoted from general manager to manufacturing leader for SABIC’s ABS Plastics Business. The plant’s new general manager is John Curvey, who was formerly the plant manager for SABIC’s facility in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Tsekouras, who was plant manager at the Burkeville facility since 2007, has 27 years of experience in the plastics industry, working at SABIC, General Electric and Borg Warner Chemicals. Prior to his position as general manager, he held various roles of increasing responsibility for facilities at Mount Vernon, Ind., and Ottawa, Ill. He was employee health and safety manager; and plant manager for the company’s prominent product families Ultem resin and Lexan compounding. Tsekouras received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in business administration from Lewis University.

Sean Johnson

REGIONS BANK NAMES AREA PRESIDENT MONTGOMERY – Regions Bank has named Sean Johnson as its area president for Central Alabama. He will be responsible for leading all lines of business and driving continued growth in the 17 counties in Regions’ Central Alabama area, served by some 47 branches, and including cities such as Montgomery, Selma, Dothan and Auburn/Opelika. “Sean has distinguished himself by his versatility and leadership and brings a wealth of experience to one of the most important markets for Regions,” said John Turner, South Regional president for Regions. “He will be leading a great team that is focused on our customers and who share his passion and commitment for the community.” Johnson, 43, joined Regions in 1994 as part of the company’s management training program.

Brenda Mitchell

MITCHELL WILL LEAD POLICE OPERATIONS FOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY – Brenda Mitchell, former chief of staff for the Montgomery Police Department, has been named director of police operations at Auburn University at Montgomery. Mitchell, who was director of the city/county Emergency Management Agency, will oversee AUM’s day-today police operations, law enforcement services and crisis response measures. “I am excited about what Chief Mitchell brings to not only the campus police department, but the entire university – particularly the expertise she will provide in creating public safety programs,” said Ricky Adams, chief risk management officer and senior director of public safety for AUM.

Britt Barley

BB&T ANNOUNCES BUSINESS SERVICE OFFICER MONTGOMERY – Britt Barley has been promoted to business service officer for BB&T’s commercial lending team in the Montgomery market. He was previously sales and service officer for the Birmingham commercial lending office and has been with BB&T for more than six years. Barley received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama in commerce and business administration.

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

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Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in business management from Auburn University in 1991.

Steve Meany

The changes were part of the company’s move from an owneroperated business model to an executive leadership model. The company is growing in the health care and financial industries after concentrating in the educational sector. “Steve Meany, Quincy Minor and Jeff Drury have quickly bonded as a team and the results speak for themselves,” said Tomi Selby, president and founder of ITS. Minor, who began his ITS career in 2003 as a senior engineer, was promoted to information technology manager. Drury previously worked for the Lee County Board of Education as a technology coordinator.

Quincy Minor

compliance program and code of ethics; and educates advisers in adhering to the firm’s policies and procedures as required by the SEC. “With her firm history and outstanding performance leading our portfolio accounting department, Ginger Glenn is well prepared for this new challenge of carrying Welch Hornsby forward in today’s ever-changing financial regulatory environment, said Edward V. Welch Jr., president and CEO of Welch Hornsby.

Wallace will also advise students and families regarding educational opportunities and options, admission and other requirements. She brings several years of experience in college admissions and business-tobusiness sales. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she received her bachelor’s degree in communications management and health education.

Glenn received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University at Montgomery. Welch Hornsby Inc. is an independent, fee-only investment adviser firm serving clients in 12 states with offices in Montgomery and Birmingham.

Christopher M. Hagen

MCDONALD & BARRANCO ADD PARTNER, CHANGE FIRM NAME MONTGOMERY – McDonald & Barranco announced that Christopher M. Hagen has been promoted to senior vice president and is now a partner in the firm.

Ginger B. Glenn

WELCH HORNSBY NAMES CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER Jeff Drury

INFORMATION TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP WETUMPKA – Information Transport Solutions Inc. announced its new executive team. Steve Meany, a 27-year veteran of the technology industry, was hired as CEO after nearly 20 years with Cisco Systems, where he led global teams. Quincy Minor was hired as chief operating officer. He was vice president of operations. Jeff Drury was named chief financial officer after serving as vice president of finance. He also served in a dual role as CEO/CFO.

MONTGOMERY – Welch Hornsby Inc. announced the promotion of Ginger B. Glenn to chief compliance officer. Glenn, who has been with Welch Hornsby for more than 16 years, was most recently a portfolio accounting manager. She is a shareholder in the investment advisory firm. Chief compliance officer is a senior executive who is knowledgeable regarding the Investment Advisers Act; is empowered with the full responsibility and authority to develop and enforce Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) policies and procedures; establishes firm auditing policy and procedures as well as registrations and internal controls; devises and implements the firms

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Makina L. Wallace

FORTIS COLLEGE HIRES DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS MONTGOMERY – Fortis College announced that Makina L. Wallace has been hired as director of admissions of its Montgomery campus. Wallace, a native of Montgomery, will oversee campus admissions events. She will evaluate and advise students on admission requirements and options and related issues. She will establish and administer programs for targeting, recruiting, and retention of students. In addition, she will determine admissibility for new students; classify and place students into appropriate academic units.

In addition, the firm’s new name will be McDonald, Barranco, and Hagen, Wealth Management. Hagen has 11 years of experience as a financial adviser. He is a 1997 graduate of Faulkner University, where he majored in business administration. He received a master’s degree in finance and economics at Troy University in 2002. Hagen advises clients on all financial-related issues and he is proficient in multiple securities classes such as mutual funds, stocks and bonds. “I am honored and excited to take on a greater role as a partner in our firm,” Hagen said. “I am very passionate when it comes helping my clients achieve financial success. I look forward to helping shape the future of our firm in the many years to come.”

Managing partner Brandt McDonald said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chris is an invaluable asset to our firm and we are proud to welcome him as a partner.â&#x20AC;? McDonald, Barranco, and Hagen is a Southeastern independent branch office of LPL Financial with headquarters inÂ Montgomery.

Beth Chapman

ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION HIRES POLITICAL CONSULTANT MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alabama Farmers Federation announced the hiring of outgoing Secretary

of State Beth Chapman as a politicalÂ consultant. Federation President Jimmy Parnell said Chapmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge, character and experience with the electoral process will serve the organization well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beth is a friend of farmers and shares the values, goals and concerns of our members,â&#x20AC;? Parnell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is respected for her integrity and citizenship. We look forward to working with Beth as the federation supports candidates who will fight for Alabama families.â&#x20AC;? Chapman is prohibited by law from seeking re-election to a third term as Secretary of State. She earlier announced plans to leave public office and pursue opportunities in the privateÂ sector. Brian Hardin, director of the Federationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of

Governmental Affairs, said Chapman will serve as a contract employee in charge of research and campaign services.

Sheila Austin

AUM SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES NEW DEAN MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sheila Austin has been named dean of the Auburn University at Montgomery School of Education. Austin was as an associate dean of education and the head of the AUM Department of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education. She arrived

at Auburn Montgomery in 2007 having retired from Toledo Public Schools in Ohio. She worked at every level of the K-12 system â&#x20AC;&#x201C; teacher, assistant principal, deputy superintendent and chief of staff â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and spent half of her 32-year career in the classroom. She also served as an assistant professor at the University of Toledo, where she co-directed the AmeriCorps program. As an AUM professor, she teaches courses in instructional leadership, educational facilities and school leadership. Austin received a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction in 1995 from the University of Toledo, where she also received a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in early childhood education in 1993 and a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in elementary education in 1974. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 66)

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

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As dean, Austin said plans to focus on recruiting middle and high school students to AUM, increase online courses and programs, expand exchange opportunities for faculty and students, and increase partnerships with local school districts and community agencies. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as dean for the School of Education,” Austin said. “I look forward to reaching out to the community as we work to strengthen and enhance our outreach efforts.”

industry and began her career as a teller. “We are very excited to have Melissa take this leadership role for Trustmark,” said Brad Armagost, community bank president for Trustmark. “Melissa’s relationship and management skills are excellent and her attention to operational detail is exceptional. We are proud of her accomplishment; she has earned it.”

said Robin Barca, chief operating officer for Baptist Health. “He is an excellent choice to follow Peter Selman and continue the legacy of outstanding performance at Baptist Medical Center East.” Selman is the new chief executive officer at Baptist Medical Center South.

“I am so excited about working with Director of Admissions Aimee Steineker and her terrific team to tell potential families about the quality, benefits and value of a Saint James School education.” Pearson said.

Cathy Pearson

Copeland received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham. His earlier professional posts include service as the upper school director at Saint Luke’s Episcopal School in Mobile. He was a math instructor and coach at The Montgomery Academy and Eastwood Christian School in Montgomery. Copeland also previously taught at Saint James School from 1997–2005 as a math instructor. He was also a varsity basketball coach.

Kocher, who attended Auburn University, has 15 years of experience in retail banking and training in the Montgomery area. Trustmark Corp. is a financial services with about 220 offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. The company is headquartered in Jackson, Miss.

master’s degree from Troy University’s Montgomery campus in counseling and human development.

Melissa M. Britton

James Robert Copeland

“I am so very pleased to be returning to the Saint James family,” Copeland said.

SAINT JAMES SCHOOL NAMES DEAN, PRINCIPAL Jeff Rains

BAPTIST EAST MEDICAL CENTER NAMES NEW CEO Jason Kocher

TRUSTMARK BANK PROMOTES TWO MONTGOMERY – Melissa M. Britton has been promoted to branch manager of the Taylor Road office of Trustmark Bank (formerly BankTrust). The bank also promoted Jason Kocher to branch supervisor at the same location. Britton will be responsible for client service, sales and operations at the 951 Taylor Road location. She has more than 12 years of experience in the

MONTGOMERY – Baptist Medical Center East has named Jeff Rains as the chief executive officer. Rains was the CEO of DeKalb Regional Hospital. He has more than 13 years of health care leadership experience. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University. “Jeff has an excellent track record of building strong physician, staff and community relationships and ensuring high levels of organizational performance,”

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

MONTGOMERY – Saint James Middle School Principal Cathy Pearson has been named dean of admissions for Saint James School. James Robert Copeland, a 16year veteran educator, is the new middle school principal. A 1976 alumnus of the school, Pearson has served as a math teacher and middle school counselor in addition to her principal position within the middle school. Her professional association with Saint James School spans 28 years, beginning in 1985. Pearson completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Alabama. She received a

Chris Carver

RIVER BANK & TRUST HIRES VICE-PRESIDENT MONTGOMERY – River Bank & Trust has hired Chris Carver as vice president and relationship manager. He has 12-plus years of banking experience in the River Region and will work in the East Montgomery office. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree international business and a

concentration in finance. Carver has a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss. River Bank & Trust is a locally owned and operated community bank with offices in Montgomery, Prattville and Wetumpka.

Wright, who has more than 10 years of experience, was previously with Remax TriStar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am excited to be a new homeowner in The Waters and a new sales agent,â&#x20AC;? Wright said. New Waters Realty Co. is the marketing and sales company for The Waters. Jennifer Atkins, qualifying broker and vice president for New Waters Realty Co., said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Water Realty Co. is proud to welcome someone with Linetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and personal touch. She has made a great addition to our sales team.â&#x20AC;?

Linette Wright

NEW WATERS REALTY CO. HIRES HOME SALES SPECIALIST PIKE ROAD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Linette Wright has been hired as new home sales specialist for the New Waters Realty Co.

The Waters, which offers new homes starting for $200,000plus, features numerous amenities, including the 200-acre Lake Cameron â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the largest lake in Montgomery County.

and assisting customers with all aspects of records and informationÂ management.

Bud York

ADMIRAL COMPANIES NAME TWO TO MANAGEMENT TEAM MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Admiral Movers and Admiral Records Management hired Bud York and Ann Louise Harrell. York joins the Admiral Companies as a senior move consultant for Admiral Movers, where he will coordinate moving operations. He will also serve as an information services consultant for Admiral Records Management, ensuring costeffective program administration

He has more than 20 years of industry experience specializing in office moving, residential moving, storage and logistics solutions. York has led sales and marketing initiatives in addition to operations management positions. He attended the University of South Alabama and Troy State University. Harrell has been hired as a customer service specialist for Admiral Movers. She will also serve as an information services consultant for Admiral Records Management, where she will assist with the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scanning, shredding, records storage, secure transfer, medical records services and document destruction services. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 68)

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 67)

She graduated from Faulkner University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Harrell received a master’s degree in special education and collaboration, specializing in autism and behavioral disorders from Auburn University. She most recently worked at Trinity Presbyterian School teaching the fifth and sixth grades. “I’m pleased to welcome Bud and Ann Louise to the Admiral family,” said Scott McNelley, president of Admiral Movers and Admiral Records Management.

Mac Caddell, the grandson of company founders John and Joyce Caddell, has been promoted to vice president of domestic operations. He has worked in many aspects of the company’s domestic operations, serving both in the field and in the home office. He worked summers since 1995 until his graduation from Auburn University. Montgomery-based Caddell Construction Co. is an international contractor with a varied project résumé that includes U.S. Embassies, prisons, courthouses, barracks, airports, headquarters complexes, hotels, power plants, manufacturing plants and research and development facilities.

nonprofit sector makes to Alabama’s economy and the people our members serve,” Baxter said. The Alabama Association of Nonprofits is a membershipbased organization formed to serve the needs of Alabama’s growing nonprofit sector through professional development programming and advocacy. “Billy’s experience in supporting 23 Red Cross chapters in Alabama should serve well the AAN mission to support nonprofits in the state,” said Gigi Armbrecht, chairperson of board.

of Alabama as well as parts of Georgia and Florida. “Mary’s knowledge of the mortgage industry, coupled with her experience in Montgomery, make her a valuable addition to our team,” said Aliant Bank CEO Harlan C. Parrish. “She has been extremely successful in her career, and we look forward to having her at Aliant.” Aliant Bank, a division of USAmeriBank, is a community bank with corporate offices in Birmingham and Alexander City. The bank operates 15 offices in Tallapoosa, Jefferson, Lee, Montgomery, Elmore, Shelby and St. Clair counties.

Monte McKinney Mary Sandlin

ALIANT BANK HIRES MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER Billy Baxter

ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS SELECTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mac Caddell

CADDELL CONSTRUCTION CO. ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS MONTGOMERY – Caddell Construction Co. announced the promotions of Monte McKinney and Mac Caddell. McKinney, who has been promoted to executive vice president, has not only 19 years of experience at Caddell, but also worked 21 years at Blount International. For the last 18 years, he has been instrumental in leading the successful domestic operations of Caddell.

BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Association of Nonprofits (AAN) announced that the board of directors has unanimously selected Billy Baxter as its chief executive officer. Baxter has served as the Red Cross executive in Jackson, Miss.; Winston-Salem N.C.; Montgomery; Birmingham; and, most recently as the executive for the Alabama Red Cross Region. “As a native Alabamian, I am excited about the opportunity to partner with nonprofits, the AAN board, and others in continuing to elicit support for and awareness of the huge contribution the

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

MONTGOMERY – Mary Sandlin has joined Aliant Bank as a mortgage loan officer, bringing more than 20 years of management and sales experience in the mortgage industry. Sandlin, based out of Montgomery, is responsible for finding leads for mortgage loans; establishing relationships with Realtors, builders and others who may provide referrals; while also looking to grow Aliant’s mortgage business by developing new initiatives and ideas. Sandlin has previous experience as a mortgage loan officer in the Montgomery area for Renasant Bank and ServisFirst Bank. For nine years, she was the regional sales manager for Synovus Mortgage Corp., overseeing all

Hannah Chaddee

JACKSON HOSPITAL NAMES DIRECTOR OF PHYSICIAN RELATIONS MONTGOMERY – Jackson Hospital announced that Hannah Chadee is the hospital’s new director of physician relations. In her role, Chadee will be working closely with Jackson Hospital medical staff members in recruitment and as a liaison to the hospital and its administration. Chadee joined the hospital after working with Envision 2020, where she was the director of The River Region Physician Recruitment and Retention Initiative. She has a master’s degree in public health and a bachelor’s degree in health science from the University of Florida.

Robert Grandfeldt Jr.

ADVERTISER MEDIA GROUP HAS NEW PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER McLEAN, Va. – Robert Granfeldt Jr. has been named president and publisher of the Advertiser Media Group. Granfeldt comes to Montgomery after serving as vice president of digital media at Southern Community Newspapers Inc. “Throughout his career, Robert has had a proven track record of sales success,” said

Robert Dickey, president of U.S. Community Publishing for Gannett Co. Inc. “His understanding of the digital consumer, as well as his experience across multiple platforms, makes him the ideal person to lead the Montgomery Advertiser.” Prior to his position with Southern Community Newspapers, Granfeldt was senior vice president for sales at NewsBank Inc. He also held several executive positions with Morris Communications, including vice president at Morris DigitalWorks. Granfeldt helped found the website LubbockOnline.com, later becoming director of online services at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in Texas. Granfeldt previously worked as marketing manager for circulation at The Florida Times-Union.

received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UAB and a master’s degree in management from Troy University. In 2009, she received a doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Alabama. Ramona Hart Hicks

REGIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL NAMES DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS MONTGOMERY - The Montgomery Regional Medical Campus of the University of Alabama School of Medicine announced the appointment of Dr. Ramona Hart Hicks as director of student and academic affairs.

She has previously served UAB as the admissions coordinator for the Occupational Therapy School; admissions coordinator for Student & Academic Affairs for the Physical Therapy School; program coordinator for the UAB Neuroscience/Vision Science Research Center; and most recently as program manager for the Vision Science Graduate Program. •

Her responsibilities include counseling, student services and curriculum development. She

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NEW MEMBERS Associations/Non-Profit SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS OF ALABAMA Eric Mackey 400 South Union Street Suite 495 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-262-0014 Automobile Repair Services MAGIC TOUCH ONSITE LUBE, INC. Robert Clark 5133 Meadow Brook Road Birmingham, AL 35242 205-381-9910

Elevators-Sales/Service

WILLIAM DELANEY CONSULTING, INC. William Green 1850 Coral Lane Montgomery, AL 36116 949-439-4730

KONE, INC. Jeff McNorton 265 Lyon Lane Birmingham, AL 35211 205-944-1032

Concrete-Repair

Financial Services

PRECISION CONCRETE CUTTING Dale Walker 10519 Vaughn Road Pike Road, AL 36064 334-356-6500

SPRAGUE STEVENSON WEALTH ADVISORY GROUP Jeff Sprague 8310 Crossland Loop Montgomery, AL 36117 334-356-7300

Consulting Services

Bakery

MIMS MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC Krystal Mims 3480 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 334-819-4500

JOZETTIE’S CUPCAKES Ida McCrary 1404 South Decatur Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-239-9289

THE BERNEY GROUP, LLC Neal Berney 33 Creek Court Montgomery, AL 36117 334-451-4400

Beauty Salons/Spas/Barber

Convention/Conference Centers

HOWARD’S HAIR STYLISTS & DESIGNERS Andre F. Howard 143 Wilkinson Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3421 334-265-1504

KELLOGG HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER Patricia Buchannon P.O. Box 1243 Tuskegee Institute, AL 36087-1243 334-727-3000

Call Center

Counseling

HEWLETT PACKARD Scott Meyer 100 Capital Commerce Center Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 scott.meyer@hp.com

DAWN A. ELLIS-MURRAY, LGSW Dawn Ellis-Murray P.O. Box 230354 Montgomery, AL 36123 334-313-2767

Catering Services

Dance

FLEUR DE LIS CATERING Preston Williams 2029 East 2nd Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-414-1271

ALABAMA RIVER REGION BALLET Priscilla Crommelin-Ball Festival Plaza 7981 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 334-356-5460

NEWK’S EATERY Matt Collins 7880 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 601-936-6027 Churches/Ministries EASTMONT BAPTIST CHURCH Mike Northcutt 4505 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-277-6300 HUTCHINSON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH G.W.C. Richardson 860 East Grove Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-265-8615

Computers-Consulting

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Gifts & Specialty-Retail QUITE THE PAIR Adrienne Bell 15 Mitylene Park Lane Montgomery, AL 36117 334-221-8188 Government Agency MONTGOMERY COUNTY PROBATE COURT Steven L. Reed 100 South Lawrence Street Montgomery, AL 36101 stevenreed@mc-ala.org Groceries-Retail CASH SAVER Todd Vowell 5458 B Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-272-5500 Hotels/Motels DOUBLETREE BY HILTON Tom Quatrochi 120 Madison Avenue Montogmery, AL 36104 334-245-2320 Information Technology Firms

Disc Jockey Services

ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS SERVICES LLC Timothy C. Wells 415 River Oaks Drive Wetumpka, AL 36092 1-866-638-1387

POWERSOUNDS USA Frank Jirik 307 NW Main Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 907-350-7559

INDYNE, INC. Gregg Billman 600 South Court Street, Suite 314 Montgomery, AL 36104 703-903-6900

Doors

Insurance Companies/Services

OVERHEAD DOOR & FIREPLACE CO INC Kayla Cleveland P. O. Box 445 Millbrook, AL 36054-0008 334-285-5275

COLONIAL LIFE BATES DISTRICT Frank Bates 644 Oliver Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-452-1952

Janitorial Service/Supplies

Model & Talent Agency

Pharmacy-Long Term Care

OFFICE PRIDE COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICES Tanisha Girley 4319 Atlanta Highway, Suite 149 Montgomery, AL 36109 334-294-8179

BABY GIRL, INC. Mae Riley P.O. Box 210961 Montgomery, AL 36121 334-669-5070

INSTITUTIONAL PHARMACY SOLUTIONS Krystal Mims 3480 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 334-819-4500

Mortgage/Finance

NORTHEAST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Krystal Mims 3480 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 334-356-7627

Landscaping/Lawn Services

HOMETOWN LENDERS, LLC Tyler Tullis 1749 Platt Place Montgomery, AL 36117 334-647-1900

HORIZON LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION Matt Combs 4113 Johnstown Drive Montgomery, AL 36109 334-324-8260

Nursing Homes/Assisted Living

Legal Services - Attorneys AMANDA B. COOK COUNSELOR AT LAW Amanda Cook 5748 A Carmichael Parkway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-356-7879 Medical Equipment/Supplies HAUSTED PATIENT HANDLING SYSTEMS, LLC Leon Allison 2511 Midpark Road Montgomery, AL 36109 334-215-5151

GOLDEN LIVING CENTER-MONTGOMERY Jamelyn Akins 2020 N. Country Club Drive Montgomery, AL 36106 334-263-1643 Party Services KREATIVE MOMENTS Kim Hall 3301 Willow Lane Drive Montgomery, AL 36109 334-233-4318

Photographers STONE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY Heath Stone 3721 Honeysuckle Court Montgomery, AL 36109 334-467-1900 Propane AMERIGAS PROPANE Jason Edwards 41 Propane Lane Greenville, AL 36037 334-382-6553

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September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

NEW MEMBERS Psychologists ASSOCIATED PSYCHOLOGISTS Marnie Dillion 4146 Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 334-409-0210 Public Relations MOWERY CONSULTING GROUP, LLC David Mowery 260 Commerce Street, 4th Floor Montgomery, AL 36104 334-207-9906 Radio & Broadcasting Companies WQKS-HD4/THE POSSUM Terry Barber 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-244-0961 Recycling IREP-MONTGOMERY MRF, LLC Kyle Mowitz 8211 West Broward Boluevard, Suite 230 Plantation, FL 33324 954-838-8118

Rental Equipment

Sporting Goods/Equipment

UNITED RENTALS Billy Bonner 2901 Wetumpka Highway Montgomery, AL 36110 334-277-3330

FLEET FEET SPORTS Avery Ainsworth 2934 Carter Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-356-5412

Restaurants

Travel Agencies/Services

ARBYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Curtis Gates 5759 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-277-6379

T3 TRAVEL Josh Akright 11803 Kingston Pike, Suite 114 Knoxville, TN 37934 877-865-2018

NEWKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EATERY Matt Collins 7880 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 601-936-6027

Warehousing/Distribution

Restaurants-Local Favorites COOL BEANS AT THE CAFE Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ART Tracy Bhalla 115 Montgomery Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-269-3302 Restaurants-Steakhouse

AMERICOLD LOGISTICS Anthony Cubito 4550 Newcomb Avenue Montgomery, AL 36108 334-284-6900, 1-888-484-4877 Windshield Repair & Installation HUTCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AUTO GLASS Brian Hutchison P.O. Box 640127 Pike Road, AL 36064 334-296-1317

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE Reggie White 1040 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117-1919 334-270-9495

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings

HERE WE GROW AGAIN

KELLOGG HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER 1 Booker T. Washington Boulevard Tuskegee, AL 36088 334-727-3000 www.tuskegeekelloggcenter.com Patricia Buchannon - Director of Sales Convention/Conference Center Hotels/Motels

MALONE STAFFING SOLUTIONS 2101 Eastern Boulevard, Suite 111 Montgomery, AL 36117 334-229-9111 www.malonesolutions.com Donna DeMarcus - Branch Manager Employment Agencies

KREATIVE MOMENTS 3301 Willow Lane Montgomery, AL 36109 334-233-4318 Kim Hall - Owner Party Services

AIS GENERATOR SERVICE 6896 U.S Highway 231 Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-514-3040 www.centralenergysolutions.com Sandra Griffin - Owner Generators

MAPCO MART AND MY DELI STORE #7517 5550 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-277-8201 www.mapcoexpress.com Roderick McWilliams - General Manager Service Stations

THE MONTGOMERY AUBURN CLUB P.O. Box 231 Montgomery, AL 36101 www.montgomeryauburnclub.com Kim Mathews - President Associations/Non-Profit

DAS NORTH AMERICA, INC. 201 County Court Montgomery, AL 36105 334-284-2574 www.i-das.com James Uhm - General Manager Automobile Manufacturers/Suppliers

IREP-MONTGOMERY MRF, LLC 1551 Louisville Street Montgomery, AL 36104 954-838-8118 www.infinitus-energy.com Kylie Mowitz - CEO Recycling

GENTIVA HOSPICE 7075 Halcyon Park Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 334-260-0015 www.gentiva.com Melanie Mitchell - Executive Director Hospices

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

GRAY’S BROADWAY AUTOMOTIVE 5840 East Shirley Lane Montgomery, AL 36117 334-277-9664 www.graystirecenter.com Taylor Thames - Manager Automobile Repair Services

THE PRINTING PRESS LOFTS 215 North Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-273-0313 www.fosheeresidential.com Beau Daniel - Regional Property Manager Apartments

BLAKE’S SEGWAY TOURS AT UNION STATION 300 Water Street @ Union Station Montgomery, AL 36104 334-657-4195 www.segwaymontgomery.com Jeff Blake - Owner/Operator Entertainment & Recreation

HILTON GARDEN INN 1600Interstate Park Drive Montgomery, AL 36109 334-272-2225 www.hiltongardeninn.com Carrie White - General Manager Hotels/Motels

BLUEWATER BROADCASTING, WQKS-THE POSSUM 4101-A Wall Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-244-0961 www.bluewaterbroadcasting.com Terry Barber - General Manager Radio & Broadcasting Companies

T3 TRAVEL 11803 Kingston Pike, Suite 114 Knoxville, TN 37934 877-865-2018 www.tetravel.com Josh Akright - CEO/Founder Blinds-Retail & Cleaning

COPY PRODUCTS COMPANY 974 Plantation Way Montgomery, AL 36117 334-244-8700 www.copyproductscompany.com David Buckelew - Branch Manager Office Equipment/Supplies

CASH SAVER 5458 B Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-272-5500 Todd Vowell - Owner Groceries-Retail

BUDGET BLINDS OF SE MONTGOMERY 255 Silverleaf Drive Pelham, AL 35124 334-235-5450 Patrick Johnson - Owner/Design Consultant Blinds-Retail & Cleaning

MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT HAMPSTEAD 5251 Hampstead High Street Montgomery, AL 36116 334-356-1969 www.montessoriathampstead.org Betsy Hosp - Director Private Schools

MONTGOMERY AREA FOOD BANK 521 Trade Center Street Montgomery, AL 36108 334-263-3784 www.montgomeryareafoodbank.org Parke Hinman - Executive Director Associations/Non-Profit

MAKE-A-WISH ALABAMA 244 Goodwin Crest Drive, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35209-3713 205-2540-9474 www.alabam.wish.org Pam Jones - President & CEO Associations/Non-Profit

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

ECONOMIC INTEL

Unemployment Data Civilian Labor Force Area Montgomery MA

July p 2013

June r 2013

Unemployment Rate July r 2012

July p 2013

June r 2013

July r 2012

170,160

169,834

170,058

6.70%

6.90%

8.40%

Autauga County

25,738

25,713

25,653

5.60%

5.90%

7.00%

Prattville City

16,282

16,280

16,207

4.90%

5.20%

6.20%

35,345

35,365

35,419

5.70%

6.10%

7.50%

4,111

4,053

4,196

12.40%

11.50%

15.70%

Montgomery County

104,967

104,703

104,790

7.20%

7.30%

8.70%

Montgomery City

94,332

94,180

94,258

6.90%

7.10%

8.50%

Birmingham-Hoover MA

532,743

531,399

535,538

5.60%

5.90%

7.10%

90,511

90,241

91,473

7.60%

7.90%

9.60%

211,618

211,510

213,083

5.60%

5.90%

7.00%

90,825

90,762

91,466

5.90%

6.20%

7.30%

187,383

187,969

188,496

7.50%

7.80%

9.50%

Elmore County Lowndes County

Birmingham City Huntsville MA Huntsville City Mobile MA Mobile City Alabama United States

87,579

87,801

87,957

8.00%

8.20%

9.80%

2,171,645

2,168,765

2,178,836

6.60%

6.70%

8.20%

157,196,000

157,089,000

156,526,000

7.70%

7.80%

8.60%

MA=Metropolitan Area. pPreliminary rRevised. Estimates prepared by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations in Cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, based on 2012 benchmark.

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

Sales Tax Collections JULY 2013

JULY 2012

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2013

YTD 2012

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

Montgomery County

$3,313,190

$3,292,660

0.62%

$23,528,644

$23,379,737

0.64%

City of Montgomery

$7,880,942

$7,798,231

1.06%

$55,101,751

$54,203,615

1.66%

Pike Road

$155,984

$159,467

-2.18%

$1,146,687

$1,131,884

1.31%

Autauga County

$647,241

$602,446

7.44%

$4,550,150

$4,366,541

4.20%

$1,713,338

$1,624,564

5.46%

$11,938,351

$11,638,572

2.58%

$501,968

$494,754

1.46%

$3,550,735

$3,361,433

5.63%

Prattville Wetumpka

Sources: Montgomery County Commission, City of Montgomery, City of Pike Road, Autauga County Commission, City of Prattville, Elmore County Commission, City of Wetumpka, City of Millbrook. Note: YTD numbers are January 2013 thru current month. * Did not receive this month's numbers.

Montgomery Regional Airport JULY 2013 Air Carrier Operations

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

JULY 2012

YTD 2013

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2012

942

1,015

-7.2%

6,218

6,834

-9.0%

5,219

5,653

-7.7%

34,208

38,421

-11.0%

Enplanements

13,176

15,923

-17.2%

96,165

106,701

-9.9%

Deplanements

13,545

15,996

-15.3%

95,756

107,066

-10.6%

Total Passengers

26,721

31,919

-16.3%

188,921

213,767

-11.6%

Total Operations

Source: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) Dannelly Field

Airline Fares Roundtrip airfare comparisons from Montgomery, Birmingham and Atlanta airports to key destinations. DESTINATION

Hyundai Sales VEHICLE

JULY 2013

JULY 2012

YTD 2013

Accent

5,537

5,257

34,996

41,727

Sonata

18,903

20,978

121,913

138,390

Elantra

23,958

18,512

150,202

116,281

6,845

4,619

48,003

39,059

928

977

6,720

4,143

Tucson

3,949

4,062

26,156

27,895

Veloster

2,868

2,781

17,912

21,610

1,370

169

5,153

2,842

3,103

19,244

22,085

173

362

1,700

2,347

66,005

62,021

427,015

418,690

Santa Fe Azera

Veracruz Genesis Equus Total

Source: Hyundai Motor America

YTD 2012

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

MONTGOMERY

BIRMINGHAM

ATLANTA

Baltimore (BWI)

$424

$307

$239

Boston (BOS)

$426

$413

$267

Charlotte, NC (CLT)

$240

$229

Chicago (ORD)

$411

$245

$287

Cincinnati (CVG)

$365

$468

$282

Dallas/Ft Worth (QDF)

$383

$343

$208

Denver (DEN)

$434

$445

$238

Detroit (DTW)

$417

$261

$262

Houston (HOU)

$412

$366

$352

Indianapolis (IND)

$411

$462

$274

Las Vegas (LAS)

$461

$457

$377

Los Angeles (LAX)

$461

$557

$352

Memphis (MEM)

$429

$237

Miami (MIA)

$411

$325

$239

Nashville (BNA)

$432

$190

$325

New Orleans (MSY)

$434

$219

$261

New York (JFK)

$361

$313

$269

Orlando (MCO)

$401

$257

$243

Philadelphia (PHL)

$431

$242

$367

Pittsburgh (PIT)

$411

$438

$240

St Louis (STL)

$401

$222

$311

Seattle (SEA)

$471

$499

$367

$1,439

$1,314

$1,396

Tampa (TPA)

Seoul, Korea (SEL)

$401

$239

Washington DC (DCA)

$411

$222

$239

Date of travel: Sept. 17-22, 2013. Date of pricing: Aug. 11, 2013. Source: travelocity.com

Building Starts Building Permits JULY 2013

JULY 2013

JUNE 2013

JULY 2012

New Construction

$21,451,200

$4,431,200

$3,567,000

Additions and Alterations

$3,084,000

$5,768,000

$2,698,400

Others

$338,000

$260,200

$360,200

139

132

122

$24,873,200

$10,459,400

$6,625,600

Total

JUNE 2013

Building Valuations JULY 2012

Source: City of Montgomery Building Department

Montgomery Metro Market Home Sales JULY 2013

JUNE 2013

MONTH/MONTH % CHANGE

JULY 2012

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

STATEWIDE JULY 2013

Median Price

$141,400

$159,000

-11.07%

$134,500

5.13%

$134,371

Average Price

$153,006

$171,164

-10.61%

$144,862

5.62%

$161,609

Units Listed

3,004

2,965

1.32%

2,862

4.96%

33,919

Months of Supply

8.8

9.3

-5.38%

9.2

-4.35%

7.9

Total # Sales

342

320

6.88%

310

10.32%

4,281

Days on Market

114

115

-0.87%

31.03%

167

Source: Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), The University of Alabama

Quarterly Reports QUARTERLY REVENUES

NET INCOME

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS ESTIMATE

YEAR-AGO REVENUES

YEAR-AGO NET INCOME

J.C. Penney

$2.6B

(-$348M)

(-$1.31)

(-$1.06)

$3.2B

(-$163M)

Home Depot

$19.1B

$1.2B

$0.83

$0.76

$17.8B

$1B

Best Buy

$9.4B

(-$81M)

(-$0.24)

$0.24

N/A

$158M

Sold 50% interest in Best Buy Europe

Dick’s Sporting Goods

$1.3B

$64.8M

$0.52

$0.48

$1.3B

$57.2M

Sales increased 4.1%

Target

$16.7B

$498M

$1.05

$0.85

$16.9B

$697M

Opened first 24 stores in Canada

Lowe’s

$13.1B

$540M

$0.49

$0.51

$13.2B

$527M

Comparable sales declined 0.7%

GameStop

$1.9B

$54.6M

$0.46

$0.40

$2B

$72.5M

Profit fell 25%

PetSmart

$1.7B

$102.4M

$0.98

$0.96

$1.6B

$94.7M

Revenue from services increased 6% to $191.6M

Stein Mart

$321.4M

$14.7M

$0.33

$0.29

$309.7M

$10.8M

Profit jumped 35.6%

Dollar Tree

$1.9B

$133.5M

$0.59

$0.57

$1.7B

$116.1M

Revenue up 8.3%

L Brands (Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works)

$2.2B

$142.5M

$0.48

$0.46

$2.1B

$124.6M

Sales rose 5%

HH Gregg

$597.6M

$9.9M

$0.31

$0.29

$613.8M

$53.6M

Repurchased 1.9M shares in the quarter

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

$306.4M

$9.5M

$0.66

$299.5M

$10.6M

Customer traffic fell 0.6%

AutoZone

$2.2B

$265.6M

$7.23

$2.1B

$248.6M

Profit increased 6.8%

Kirkland’s

$101.2M

$1.8M

$0.10

$0.05

$97.8M

$2M

$679M

$28M

$0.18

$0.17

$709M

$39.7M

Revenue declined 4%

$442.7M

$5.1M

$0.13

(-$0.01)

$445.2M

(-$4.5M)

10 straight quarters of gains in same-store sales

$6.2B

$453M

$0.62

$5.8B

$419.2M

Sales up 7%

NAME

American Eagle Outfitters Zale Corp. The TJX Companies

(TJ Maxx)

NOTABLE Revenue dropped 16.4% Profit up 18%

Comparable sales fell 2.3%

September 2013 Montgomery Business Journal

Quarterly Reports The Children’s Place

$423.2M

$19.3M

$0.83

$0.61

$438.5M

$24.7M

Profit plunged 22%

$240M

$26.2M

$1.00

$1.07

$232.9M

$26.4M

Revenue increased 3%

$838.8M

(-$7.2M)

(-$0,09)

(-$0.05)

$921.2M

(-$21M)

Sales declined 9%

$3.7B

$333M

$0.71

$0.69

$3.5B

$233M

Profit surged 43%

Williams-Sonoma

$887.8M

$39.5M

$0.40

$0.37

$817.6M

$30.7M

Opened first stores in Australia

Aeropostale

$452.3M

(-$12.2M)

(-$0.16)

(-$0.15)

$497.2M

$10.6M

Revenue in stores open at least one year fell 14%

Ross Stores

$2.5B

$234.6M

$1.07

$2.4B

$208.6M

Sales rose 8%

Sears Holdings (Kmart)

$8.5B

(-$279M)

(-$2.63)

(-$0.60)

$9.3B

$189M

Sales fell $818M

Foot Locker

$1.6B

$138M

$0.90

$0.88

$1.6B

$128M

Profit up 8%

DSW

$601.4M

$34.5M

$1.00

$0.90

$558.6M

$39.9M

Increased quarterly dividend 39% to 25 cents

Chico’s FAS

$670.7M

$51.1M

$0.32

$0.36

$650.8M

$53.6M

Opened 46 stores in the quarter

Cracker Barrell Old Country Store

$640.4M

$24.6M

$1.02

$0.94

$608.5M

$19M

Profit rose 30%

Fresh Market

$366.6M

$22.1M

$0.46

$0.44

$324.8M

$19.3M

Sales up 12.9%

Costco Wholesale Corp.

$24.1B

$459M

$1.04

$1.02

$22.3B

$386M

Membership revenue surged $56M to $531M

Darden Restaurants

$2.3B

$133.2M

$1.01

$1.04

$2.1B

$151.2M

Profit declined 12%

Rite Aid

$6.3B

$89.7M

$0.09

$0.08

$6.5B

(-$28.1M)

Third straight quarter of profits

Walgreen

$18.3B

$624M

$0.65

$0.91

$17.8B

537M

Bed, Bath & Beyond

$2.6B

$202.5M

$0.93

$2.2B

$206.8M

Sales jumped 17.8%

Family Dollar Stores

$2.6B

$120.9M

$1.05

$1.03

$2.4B

$124.5M

Quarterly sales increased 9%

Yum Brands (KFC,

$2.9B

$281M

$0.61

$0.54

$3.2B

$331M

China sales decline estimated at 10% for June

ServisFirst Bank

N/A

$9.6M

$1.33

N/A

$8.2M

Net income rose 17.1%

$7.1B

$1.4B

$1.38

$1.40

$6.9B

$1.4B

Revenue rose 2%

$650.5M

$12.2M

$0.03

$0.06

$645.9M

(-$5.5M)

$4.1B

$1.1B

$1.99

N/A

$4B

$1B

Noninterest income up $240M (15%) to $1.8B

RadioShack

$844.5M

(-$53.1M)

(-$0.53)

(-$0.24)

$848.6M

(-$21M)

Loss more than doubles

Chipotle Mexican Grill

$816.8M

$87.9M

$2.82

$2.81

$81.7M

$690.9M

Revenue jumped 18.2%

Panera Bread

$589M

$51M

$1.74

$1.77

$530.6M

$44M

Revenue increased 11%

Norfolk Southern

$2.8B

$465M

$1.46

$1.50

$2.9B

$524M

Coal revenue declined 17%

Trustmark Corp.

$142.9M

$31.1M

$0.46

$0.44

N/A

$29.3M

Revenue up 7.2%

Ruby Tuesday

$316.1M

(-$29.1M)

(-$0.49)

$0.19

$357.9M

(-$5.8M)

Franchisee-owned samestore sales fell 5.1%

Office Depot

$2.4B

(-$-64.4M)

(-$0.23)

(-$0.12)

$2.5B

(-$64.3M)

Revenue declined 4%

Starbucks

$3.7B

$417.8M

$0.55

$0.53

$3.3B

$331.1M

Profit jumped 25%

$352.1M

$20M

$0.28

$0.29

$320.3M

$20.3M

Revenue rose 9.4%

N/A

$8M

$0.33

N/A

$6.3M

Profit up for the sixth straight quarter

Hibbett Sports Abercrombie & Fitch Gap

(Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse)

Pizza Hut,Taco Bell)

McDonald’s The Wendy’s Co. PNC Financial Services

Texas Roadhouse Renasant Corp.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2013

Filled 209M prescriptions in quarter, an 8.7% increase

Plans to sell 425 company stores

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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