Montgomery Business Journal – September 2014

DIVERSITY SUMMIT

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MAKE COMPANIES STRONGER, MORE SUCCESSFUL

CLEANUP HITTER

A LITTLE TLC FROM THE TRC

MONTGOMERY BISCUITS WERE KEY TO REVITALIZATION

BUILDING A STRONGER WORK FORCE

2015 TAX CREDITS COULD BOOST DUAL ENROLLMENT AT TWO-YEAR COLLEGES

COMPANIES BENEFIT FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE CHAMBER’S TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

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MONTGOMERY, AL

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

CONTENTS

40

CHAMBER NEWS 8

14 Reporter’s Notebook

20 IGNITING DOWNTOWN REVIVAL Riverwalk Stadium has been the cornerstone of Montgomery’s downtown revitalization

65 Members on the Move 72 Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings 74 New Members 76 Economic Intel

COVER STORY:

Companies benefit from participating in the Total Resource Campaign.

FEATURES

06 Calendar

54 Business Buzz

SEPTEMBER 2014

Q&A WITH PAT HARRIS

24 CREATING A NICHE Angela Woodruff-Swarts is the franchise owner of Spherion Staffing 26 EARNING THEIR WINGS Airlines make significant changes at Montgomery Regional Airport 28 REVVING THE JOBS ENGINE Tax credits expected to expand dual enrollment

32 TORRID PACE 2015 Hyundai Sonata has two of its best months in June and July 33 READY TO GROW The world’s no. 2 automotive parts supplier sets up shop in East Montgomery 37 LET THE FREEDOM RING! Ribbon cutting at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Freedom Park 52 SURGICAL PRECISION Jackson Hosptial’s Stryker iSuites feature cuttingedge technology

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

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

Randall L. George EDITORIAL

Tina McManama David Zaslawsky Lashanda Gaines Melissa Bowman DESIGN

Copperwing Design PHOTOGRAPHER

Robert Fouts ON THE COVER

L-R: Matt Collins is vice president (owner/operator) of Newk’s Eatery. Charlotte Evans is owner of Charlotte’s Jewelry. Kim Herbert is executive director of Brantwood Children’s Home.

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 6, 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.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

I want a bank that moves as fast as our production lines.

Les Massey, CEO of Whitfield Foods with his banker, Gene Crane of River Bank & Trust.

River Bank & Trust understands the needs of a fast-paced business. That is why in addition to your own professional banker to save you time and service your needs, we also have a

complete line of products available to assist you with managing and accessing your funds. Your job is to keep your business on the fast track and not worry about your banking. That’s why we’re here.

S E R V I C E

U N S

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Member FDIC

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30 > DIVERSITY SUMMIT Presenting Sponsor: Stivers Ford, Lincoln, Mazda 8 AM @ Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery. Registration: montgomerychamber.com/Diversity

October 6 > BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR

CHAMBER NEWS

EVENTS

September 10 > 60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored by Brantwood Children’s Home 8 AM @ Brantwood Children’s Home 1309 Upper Wetumpka Road, Montgomery. Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

15 > BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR Business Basics Presenting Sponsor: BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery. $10 at the door

25 > BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by Associated Business Services 5 PM @ Shashy’s Bakery & Fine Foods 1700 Mulberry Street, Montgomery. Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Business Basics Presenting Sponsor: BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery. $10 at the door

8 > 60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored

by Auburn Montgomery Outreach, 8 AM @ AUM Wellness Center, 7420 AUM Drive, Montgomery.

Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

15 > EGGS & ISSUES WITH CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL Presenting Sponsor: Troy University 7:30 AM @ RSA Activity Center, 201 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery. Registration: montgomerychamber.com/Sewell

20 > BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR Business Basics Presenting Sponsor: BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery. $10 at the door

22 > EGGS & ISSUES WITH CONGRESSMAN BRADLEY BYRNE Presenting Sponsor: Troy University 7:30 AM @ RSA Activity Center, 201 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery. Registration: montgomerychamber.com/Byrne

23 > BUSINESS TAXATION WORKSHOP Two Sessions: 3 PM & 6 PM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery. Free event, open to the public

29 > CONVERSATIONS: ROUNDTABLES FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN Presenting Sponsor: Southeast Cherokee Construction, Inc. 11 AM @ Wynlakes Golf & Country Club, 7900 Wynlakes Boulevard, Montgomery. Registration: montogmerychamber.com/ Conversations

30 > BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by Capri Theatre 5 PM @ Capri Theatre 1045 East Fairview Avenue, Montgomery.

Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

Pat Harris is global chief diversity officer for McDonald’s Corp.

Q&A

DIVIDENDS

THROUGH DIVERSIT Y interview by David Zaslawsky

Montgomery Business Journal: What does diversity mean to you? n Harris: Simply put, diversity is a celebration of all the things that make us different, including race, gender, backgrounds, experiences and more.

Why is it important to have a diverse work force? n It’s important to have a diverse workforce because diversity and inclusion makes our organization stronger and more successful.

How does diversity/inclusion accomplish that? n This is accomplished through leaders that build diverse teams because they make sure everyone feels included based on what they bring to the table. By utilizing diverse backgrounds, experience, and – perhaps most importantly – creating an environment that allows everyone to contribute equally, the groundwork is set for maximum impact.

Don’t you need to have a diverse work force to understand a diverse customer base? n It certainly helps to have a diverse work force that reflects the diversity of the customer base.

Understanding the diversity of customers helps your business grow.

Do businesses now get it? n No, unfortunately not all businesses get it. Oftentimes, some companies “check off the boxes” in terms of hiring women and people of color. However, the most important thing an organization can do beyond simply hiring diverse individuals is listen and learn from their different perspectives.

Please talk about the importance of engaging a diverse work force? n It’s critical to engage and listen to all your employees. The different perspectives, ideas and input will only help the organization become better and more prosperous.

Continued on page 10

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

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“Diversity education helps create an environment that encourages conversations that help employees talk about things that make them uncomfortable in the workplace.

Education creates the environment that makes this possible.”

Pat Harris, global chief diversity officer for McDonald’s Corp.

Do you have some tips for senior management and supervisors to become better listeners and engage all employees? n McDonald’s employee business networks and employee resource groups are both initiatives that effectively engage employees. Furthermore, diversity roundtables and listening sessions can also be effective ways to listen and dialogue with employees to gain further insights.

You wrote in The Washington Post, “We have learned through the years that the more voices we hear in developing our strategies, the more sound our decisions are.” Please elaborate. n When we engage all our employees in developing strategies, the different perspectives and ideas are powerful in implementing the right solutions for our organization.

Would you give some examples of how listening to employees lead to new policies? n Actively listening to employees allows for idea sharing on products, benefits and other policies that help make the organization better.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Please talk about how diversity impacts employee productivity. n When employees feel valued and respected, they are more productive, contribute more and in turn, feel better about the organization.

Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t diversity make good business sense because you can better understand your customer base, which leads to an increased customer base? n When you understand your customer base, it helps you determine a strategy to help satisfy them in terms of creating a memorable, relatable experience that increases future visits.

How can small businesses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 or fewer employees â&#x20AC;&#x201C; become more diverse? n As is the case with large corporations, they can demonstrate that they have created and foster a diverse and inclusive work environment. When people know a company encourages and supports that type of environment, they will want to work for that particular organization regardless of its size.

You wrote a book â&#x20AC;&#x201D; None Of Us Is As Good As All Of Us. You said the book is â&#x20AC;&#x153;important because there are so many others who can benefit from our experience.â&#x20AC;? Please elaborate. n McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has a unique story to tell about the evolution of

diversity within our company that is different from most corporations. We think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to share this story for the benefit of others.

Would you provide a couple of examples that companies can learn from McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience? n One priority is ensuring that diversity is fully integrated in the daily business environment, meaning everyone â&#x20AC;&#x153;ownsâ&#x20AC;? diversity and inclusion. Also, making education a priority is essential. People must be educated so they understand why diversity and inclusion is actually a business driver and not just a nice thing to do or a talking point.

Please talk about the key role of senior leadership on diversity and inclusion? n The role of senior leadership is about commitment and accountability. They must demonstrate and communicate their commitment and hold other leaders accountable for supporting diversity and inclusion.

Continued on page 12

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September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal 11 30

Continued from page 11

In your book you talk about the importance of training and education.

Please elaborate. n Education is key, and one of McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success factors lies in our evolution.

Most companies want to do the right thing, but they often donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where or how to begin.

Diversity education helps create an environment that encourages conversations that help employees talk about things that make them uncomfortable in the workplace. Education creates the environment that makes this possible.

The third element is creating networks.

What are those networks and why are they important? n Our seven employee business networks are important because they are the best way to engage all our employees in the business beyond their daily responsibilities. They also provide an opportunity to gain insights from employees of all backgrounds. Our employees are excellent brand ambassadors as they live in the communities where our restaurants are located. These networks are just one way that McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helps foster a work force that is proud to work for the company.

Please talk about those three elements are not â&#x20AC;&#x153;temporary programsâ&#x20AC;? but a part of every business cycle. n A key to ensuring diversity and inclusion success is to not look at it as a program. Diversity and inclusion must be integrated in the business, where everyone shares accountability.

The theme of the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seventh annual Diversity Summit is â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Clear and Present Opportunity.â&#x20AC;? What does that mean to you? n It means we have a clear and present opportunity to do the right thing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now is the time!

It could also mean that we need to be clear about the opportunities that are present today to better understand diversity and inclusion and its impact on the business community moving forward.

Talk about the importance of the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diversity Summit and how it impacts attendees. n Participation in the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diversity Summit is just another important way to educate the attendees on the impact diversity has on their business and society at large.

How do you lead todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more diverse workplace? n I have a team that provides diversity and inclusion support and resources to the leaders of our organization across the world. We create leaders and they know weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there to support them in every way.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

“When we Please talk about diversity in terms of skill sets. n It’s about leadership, commitment and understanding what will make your organization better because of the differences that exist amongst individuals in the workforce.

Talk about diversity/ inclusion and how that relates to hiring and retaining top talent? n One should understand that hiring and retaining top talent doesn’t change when you talk about diversity. It’s a mindset; I know my team will be better and stronger because I’m hiring the best talent from diverse backgrounds.

Has there been somewhat of a diversity shift from perhaps race and gender to age (millennials) and what that means for companies? n It’s all about inclusion and we should understand that age demographics are essential in the workplace and must be respected and viewed as another dimension of diversity.

engage all our employees in developing strategies, the different perspectives and ideas are powerful in implementing the right solutions for our organization.”

Pat Harris, global chief diversity officer for McDonald’s Corp.

Please talk about the dynamic of baby boomers supervising millennials. n The dynamics are pretty simple, as it’s all about inclusion. Whether baby boomers are supervising millennials or millennials are supervising baby boomers – feeling respected and valued is paramount for all employees regardless of their differences.

What does diversity and inclusion look like five years from now? n Diversity and inclusion is constantly evolving; I’m not sure what it will look like in five years, but I do know that it will be different.

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

TURNING A PROFIT ON TRASH

For now, the City of Montgomery is actually making money on its agreement with the Infinitus Renewable Energy Park (IREP), which recycles municipal waste. When IREP recycles 80 percent of the waste and sends 20 percent to the city’s landfill, the company will receive $28 a ton from the city and will pay the city $28 a ton it sends to the landfill. At that time, the city will pay IREP about $2.1 million and IREP will pay the city about $560,000 for sending waste to the landfill.

Right now, IREP is recycling closer to 60 percent and sending 40 percent to the landfill. The city still pays $28 a ton, but as a disincentive IREP pays the city $56 a ton for sending waste to the landfill.

The city would pay IREP $1.7 million for 60,000 tons of trash while IREP would pay the city about $2.2 million for sending 40,000 tons to the landfill.

State Ranked 17th Alabama was ranked the 17th best state to do business in the 10th annual survey of CEOs conducted by Chief Executive.net.

The state received three out of five stars in the following three categories: taxations

and

regulations,

work

force

quality and living environment. Alabama fell one spot from last year’s survey.

Texas was ranked No. 1 while California was 50th.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

by David Zaslawsky

TWO POTENTIAL PROJECTS Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange is working with developers on two projects along Maxwell Boulevard.

One is a 120-unit apartment building and the other is a 60,000-square-foot office building.

Strange said the office building is very likely – a 95 percent chance, but the apartment complex has a 60-40 chance of being built. One of the developers is local, Strange said.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS NO. 1 Montgomery County was tied with DeKalb County for the most new industries announced in 2013 – six. Jefferson County was third with five new industries and Cullman and St. Clair counties tied for fourth with four new industry announcements last year.

Montgomery County was the state’s only county ranked in the top three in total jobs announced (1,176) and capital investment ($333 million). Montgomery was ranked third in job announcements and second in capital investment.

The top-ranked county for job announcements was Jefferson with 1,755 and Madison was second at 1,602. Mobile County was No. 1 in capital investment with $1.4 billion.

HEALTH CARE PARTNERSHIP Baptist Health and American Family Care have formed a partnership to provide primary and urgent care services in Central Alabama.

The three existing American Family Care locations and five PriMeds, owned by Baptist Health, will now be called AFC PriMed. The partnership is expected to create 75 to 100 jobs – physicians, clinical and clerical – in the region.

“Baptist Health is committed to quality patient care and we are very excited to partner with American Family Care, a company that shares our goals and plans for growth of an exceptional primary care network for our community,” Baptist Health President and CEO Russ Tyner said in a statement.

ALL-TIME RECORD Hyundai sold a best-ever 70,907 units in May, including the company’s first all-new 2015 Sonata, which is produced at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s plant in Montgomery.

It marked the first time that Hyundai’s monthly U.S. sales topped 70,000 units. The previous all-time high was 69,728 units in March 2012. Both the Sonata and Elantra models, manufactured in Montgomery, topped 20,000 units in May.

OPTIMISTIC BUNCH Once again, Montgomery business executives are the most optimistic of the state’s four metro areas in the latest Alabama Business Confidence Index. Montgomery participants in the thirdquarter survey had an index rating of 59.0, an increase of 0.2 points from the previous quarter.

Birmingham-Hoover was second at 56.9; Mobile third at 55.5; and Huntsville fourth at 53.4.

This marks the second straight quarter that the Montgomery region was the most optimistic.

Three of the components topped 60 for the Montgomery panelists: Alabama economy (62.8); industry sales (61.5); and capital expenditures (60.9). An index of 50 or more shows growth.

The survey is conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research in the University of Culverhouse College of Commerce.

HYUNDAI SALES FOR MAY

70,907 UNITS

STOCK MARKET LISTING Birmingham-based ServisFirst Bank received $52.5 million from its initial public offering of 625,000 shares at $91 a share.

The bank has branches in Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile, Dothan, Pensacola, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn.

ServisFirst Bank CEO Tom Broughton told al.com: “We had a strong balance sheet and we had the opportunity to make it stronger. You want to do it at a time when it looks like you have smooth sailing for a couple of years and the timing for us seems to be good.”

ServisFirst also announced a three-for-one stock split in the form of a dividend.

The number of common stock shares will jump from about 8.2 million to 24.5 million. The firm is listed on the NASDAQ as SFBS and company management rang the closing bell in late June.

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

15

WORDS OF WISDOM Small business owner Stacia Robinson said that “networking is actually a skill and not a destination” during a speech at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Development mixer.

Speaking to an estimated crowd of 85 at the Chamber’s Small Business Resource Center, Robinson said that the attendees should not be selling their products or services at the mixer. “The goal should be meeting people you don’t know. The purpose of networking is a way to meet people, but the whole goal of meeting people is to establish credibility and gain trust.”

Robinson is the agency principal of The BeneChoice Companies.

Montgomery Reels in a Big One Montgomery beat out three other cities as the host site for the 2016 National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World Championships. And

LANIER PLACE EXPANSION Community Action Partnership of North Alabama will build 25 to 75 homes for rent or lease to own on a 5-plus acre site at Lanier Place in West Montgomery.

Strange said that the city is using Community Housing Development Organization funds for the project.

16

yes, it is a big deal with as many as 2,000 people staying in the city over a two-week period.

The estimated economic impact of the event is $2.5 million, according to

WALLACE ATTENDS NATIONAL SECURITY FORUM Alan Wallace, a senior financial adviser and a principal for Ronald Blue & Co.’s branch office in Montgomery, received a personal invitation from the Secretary of the Air Force to attend a forum at Maxwell Air Force Base.

The 61st annual National Security Forum, which was at the Air War College, provided about 150 people the opportunity to meet with senior military leaders and discuss national and international security issues.

Dawn Hathcock, vice president of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitor Bureau.

The tournament is tentatively scheduled for July 25-August 6, 2016 at The Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

New Retailer Coming Soon The outdoor specialty store Gander Mountain will open a Montgomery location this fall in an existing 44,000-square-foot building in the Promenade Montgomery North shopping center.

“As a community comprised of avid outdoor enthusiasts and situated on some of America’s most pristine outdoor resources, we welcome Gander Mountain to the Capital of Dreams,” Strange said in a statement. “A high-caliber retailer of this type is a great addition to our city.”

This will be Gander Mountain’s eighth store in Alabama.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

LOCAL FIRMS RANKED Jackson Thornton Asset Management and Warren Averett Asset Management, LLC were ranked as two of the Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Management Firms in the country, according to CNBC’s inaugural list.

Jackson Thornton Asset Management, said in a statement. “We appreciate the trust our clients have shown in us over the years and this is really a recognition of those long-term client relationships.”

The CNBC Digital team recognized Jackson Thornton Asset Management as No. 18 and Warren Averett Asset Management as the 24th firm among the Top 100 Fee-Only Firms in the nation. Jackson Thornton oversees $900 million while Warren Averett advises on assets of $1.7 billion-plus.

“We strive to provide proactive, personal service by listening and fully comprehending our clients’ financial goals,” Josh Reidinger, president of Warren Averett Asset Management., said in a statement. “I’m excited that CNBC recognizes fee-only firms with comprehensive and collaborative services, not based on selling products, but helping our clients thrive and achieve their financial goals.”

“We are very proud to be named to this list by CNBC,” George Smith, managing principal of

“Mergers and acquisitions are an imperfect science. But with the right partner they can be TURNING POINTS that move you forward.”

John Falconetti

Drummond Press

Get the whole story at regions.com/drummondpress

John Falconetti grew up working summers in almost every department of the family business, Drummond Press. So when he stepped into a leadership role, he was ready to focus on growing the business. A turning point came when he saw a huge acquisition opportunity with a value not readily apparent to most banks. Regions immediately stepped up and helped him close a deal that led to a fourfold increase in revenue over the past 12 years. Today, managing a multi-location business is another turning point for Drummond Pre ss, but John is confident he has a financial partner in his Regions Banker, Jessica Evans, who shares his vision for moving forward.

To see how we can help your business move forward when it’s at a turning point, turn to Regions.

Loans | Treasury Management | Can-Do Attitude © 2014 Regions Bank. All loans and lines subject to credit approval.

Lower Dexter Projects Move Forward New York basedMarJam Supply Co. has purchased One Dexter Plaza and closed on the sale of four Dexter Avenue properties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are looking forward to developing all our properties, making (One Dexter Plaza) a significant attraction to the people of Montgomery and the people who travel here,â&#x20AC;? attorney Jim Holiber told the Montgomery Advertiser.

MPS PROPOSALS The Montgomery Public Schools district is reviewing its Career Academies and Montgomery Technical Education Center (MTEC).

The firm will now begin renovating the four Dexter Avenue buildings, which includes the former Kress site.

It is expected that the buildings will have retail on the first floor and loft apartments on the upper floors. MarJam, a building material distributor, created a new company â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ELSAJA Dexter, LLC, to buy the properties.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be exciting to watch these buildings come back to life,â&#x20AC;? Mac McLeod, director of business and commercial development for the City of Montgomery, said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The next few months will be a game changer for downtown Montgomery with additional retail and residential units becoming available in the block of Lower Dexter.

This is a big win for the City of Montgomery.â&#x20AC;?

It was also proposed that MTEC would provide the following programs: building science and construction; electrical technology; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; welding and metal fabrication; and advertising and design. MTEC would also be the home for the second IT and health and science programs and the site for the Law & Public Safety Career Academy.

The new Park Crossing High School would have Agriscience and Business Marketing Career Academies.

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It was recommended to the Montgomery County Board of Education that a Mechatronics Career Academy be established; a Pre-Engineering/ Drafting Career Academy be established; a second Health Science Career Academy be created; Law and Public Safety Career Academy be moved to the former site of the Montgomery Mall; and a second Information Technology Career Academy be created.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

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MAYOR RECEIVES HONOR

ARONOV DEVELOPING SUBDIVISION

Strange received the Alabama Department of Tourism’s Government Advocate award, but gave all the credit to the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and current and former community officials.

Aronov Realty Management announced a new 800-acre subdivision between Ray Thorington Road and Park Crossing Boulevard. Ansley Lakes will have residential and retail. The development’s first phase will have 130 acres of residential and 18 acres of retail.

Current plans include lakes, recreational areas, parks, green spaces and a swim club.

The award is for leading downtown development and preparing for next year’s 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery March. “While I am the mayor, I’m not doing a lot of that stuff,” Strange told the Montgomery Advertiser. “It is really done at the Chamber level (and) it is certainly done at our leadership level and throughout our community.”

Ansley Lake will feature what Aronov Realty Management Chairman and CEO Jake Aronov called “villagestyle retail.”

EASTCHASE EXPANSION EastChase is growing again. A 109-room, four-story Hilton Garden Inn will be built and there will be a new multi-tenant shopping center called EastChase Station.

The hotel will feature Hilton Garden Grill, 24hour business center, state-of-the art fitness center, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and an outdoor seasonal pool.

“Adding Hilton Garden Inn to EastChase’s hospitality selections further solidifies the EastChase development as the

region’s No. 1 retail and hotel destination,” Wil Wilson, president of Jim Wilson & Associates, said in a statement.

Jim Wilson & Associates and Alfa Realty Inc. sold a 2.7acre parcel to Rams Hotels to build the Hilton Garden Inn. The first business coming to EastChase Station is Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar. The 7,300-square-foot restaurant, which is scheduled to open in the spring, features Hibachi cooking.

There will be more tenants announced, which are new to the region. EastChase Station, which has 16,000-plus square feet, is being developed

by Terra Equities and Allen Hawkins.

“Coming to EastChase was important and provides an outstanding venue for new and well-known retail venues,” Hawkins said in a statement.

A new thoroughfare is being developed – Selas Drive at the intersection of EastChase Parkway and EastChase Lane.

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

19

Riverwalk Stadium has been the cornerstone of Montgomery’s downtown revitalization story by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

IGNITING THE DOWNTOWN REVIVAL When people talk about game-changing projects for Montgomery you will hear about the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center, which also includes the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.

You will also hear about The Alley, but long before people even conceived of the word game-changer, Riverwalk Stadium was built and the Montgomery Biscuits AA baseball team came to town 10 years ago in April.

That was and is the game-changer because without that downtown stadium there would be no Renaissance; no massive convention center; no performing arts center; no Alley; no new projects on Lower Dexter Avenue; no new project on Commerce Street; and nowhere near as many downtown loft apartments.

20

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

There would be none of the synergy and excitement, which has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in what has become a vibrant downtown.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange has another name for the Biscuits’ impact on downtown and that is a gamestarter. “What they started was a reintroduction in the revitalization of downtown activities,” he said.

Downtown Montgomery needed a jolt and the infusion of a $26 million stadium was definitely a starter.

“I have to tell you that for many decades, I didn’t bring anybody downtown,” Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner said. “There was no interest in staying downtown. You went to your hotel (Embassy Suites Montgomery – Hotel & Conference Center) and you hung out in the hotel or you left. You can’t revive a downtown just hoping that somebody is going to hang around. You’ve got to have things for them to do.”

Bronner talked about how blighted downtown was – “somewhat close to a desert and non-existent.” He was being charitable with that description.

Jerry Kyser, president of Jerry Kyser Builder Inc. and a downtown developer, was not as diplomatic. “We felt as a business community that we didn’t know many

successful cities that had a deplorable, dilapidated downtown. You could shoot a shotgun down every street and not hit anybody.” He talked about how in the middle of a state capital, the birthplace of the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement, “was this eyesore.”

Montgomery City Councilman Charles Jinright, who is now council president, was a vocal proponent for a downtown stadium, but Mayor Emory Folmar was not an advocate and worried the project might fail.

Bronner said that he told Folmar that even if the stadium failed, youths would have a baseball field and the blight would be removed. “If the project failed, the city would benefit, but if the project was successful then the city could be extremely successful,” Bronner said. “And that’s actually what happened, because that was the integral first piece, followed by the restoration of a pretty-shabby looking convention center that turned into one of the jewels of not just the Southeast, but the country, with the addition of the performing arts center, the hotel and the convention center all stuck together.”

“It’s amazing the comments that we get from people who have an opinion about Alabama before they get here and what the opinion is when they leave.”

Jerry Kyser, president of Jerry Kyser Builder Inc.

The Retirement Systems of Alabama funded the hotel and all but $29 million of the cost to transform the civic center into the convention center. Bronner said that he never would have built the Renaissance without the ballpark. “You can’t revive a downtown just hoping that somebody is going to hang around. You can’t have a downtown area without some kind of (activities),” he said. “You’ve got to have things for them to do. It’s going to empty out unless people want to come back at night. People are what generate activities that make somebody else want to go there.

Continued on page 22

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

21

KEEPING THE BISCUITS FRESH

by David Zaslawsky

About 11 years ago – a year before Montgomery’s Double-A baseball club played its first game at Riverwalk Stadium in downtown Montgomery, the club conducted a name-the-team contest.

That was something that co-owners Sherrie Myers and her husband Tom Dickson had done with all the minor league teams they operated. “People like to endorse things they are involved in,” Myers said. “We want our opinions to count.”

What club officials were looking for was a name that “should be campy, quirky and fun because we have done this enough times now that we know that stodgy and stuffy doesn’t work,” Myers said.

That’s why the team was named the Biscuits and it was so popular that the club’s merchandise was among the best-selling in all the minor leagues.

Yes, that is ancient history and Myers acknowledges that “this market is a challenging market. They want bright and shiny.”

She said that people here “can be a little fickle.”

That’s why it is so crucial to the team’s success and it has been drawing more than 4,000 fans a game through 10-plus seasons, to “keep it fresh and fun,” Myers said.

22

She rejects the old adage ‘build it and they will come.” It’s not that easy, said Myers, who has been involved in baseball for 19 years.

“The total work effort for this particular team has been more than any of the other eight cities in which we built a stadium or owned a team or operated a team or consulted for a team,” she said. “What that means is that the demands and expectations are pretty high from the region.

We have to continue to find ways to keep ourselves in the hearts and the conscious awareness of the people here in our core market (Montgomery).”

stadium; during the game; before the game; after the game; fireworks; musical acts – you name it. It’s an entertainment venue.”

For Myers, it’s about “affordable, family fun. I think that some people who try to take a baseball team and make it all about baseball in today’s age – it doesn’t work.”

Myers and Dickson “are fabulous marketers,” said Jerry Kyser, president of Jerry Kyser Builder Inc. “Keep in mind that this baseball team has been here through the last six or seven years during the worst economic times I’ve

“When you have a meeting, you’ve got to have something for people to do at night. If you don’t they are never going to come back. Lots of business travelers that stay at the Renaissance go (to Biscuits’ games). The key is customers, and if you don’t have some activity, you’re not going to have any customers. You might as well have a field of cotton or a field of corn because neither one of those are going to grow a city.”

Montgomery Biscuits co-owner Sherrie Myers said that the ballpark needed to be built before the convention center and hotel. “The stadium and the team is an anchor and you’ve got to have an anchor to everything that you do. A convention center is not an anchor. A convention center is a roof for people who are bringing their events here. You need an event here. All the stadiums that we built, we learned that lesson. You need the big lights and a place where events are happening and you’re not bringing events to.”

The Biscuits have brought about 3 million people to downtown in their 10-plus seasons, including postseason crowds. This is the 10th year for Tampa Bay Rays’ affiliated minor league team.

When the team’s name was revealed in 2003 at the Jubilee CityFest, the club’s mascot, Big Mo, was also introduced.

What changed downtown was bringing 4,000 people 70 times a year to Montgomery Biscuits’ games on weeknights, weekends and sometimes during the day.

Now, 11 years later, the club conducted a name-the-mascot contest for its micro mini, pot-bellied pig.

There were 4,200 names submitted, including Bacon, Pork Chop, Butterball, Chubs, Abraham and Hamlet. The winning name was Gravy, who is the duchess of pork.

“I’ll tell you, she’s a handful,” Myers said.

“If you revitalize your downtown, it goes back to your roots.”

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange praised the Biscuits’ ownership.

“They were not necessarily baseball people – they were marketing people. It’s about entertainment and not about baseball, whether it’s at the

ever experienced in 50 years of doing business.

For them to accomplish what they have under these trying times is absolutely amazing.” n

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Continued from page 21

Sherrie Myers, co-owner of the Montgomery Biscuits

“When you get thousands and thousands of people coming to town that have not been down there, that gives you an opportunity for restaurants,” said Kyser, who owns several buildings in The Alley, a short block from Riverwalk Stadium. He owns Central restaurant in The Alley and the Dreamland Bar-B-Q building.

“You get a few nice quaint restaurants and bars and a variety of different things and you get some unique loft apartments going in and you can attract some young professionals, who like to be in that environment. The Biscuits were the turning point to get us in the right direction.”

There is so much energy, excitement and vibrancy that development has spread to Lower Dexter Avenue and even Maxwell Boulevard as well as a restaurant/loft apartment project on Commerce Street.

“It gives you the sense it’s not the old Montgomery,” Bronner said. “The old Montgomery was drab at night. Just lighting the tower at night gives a sense of feeling toward the baseball park and the action going on there.”

It may be hard to imagine, but back in 2002 and 2003, flashing traffic lights greeted Myers during a visit to downtown. She was shocked that the city virtually shut down by 6 p.m. The starting point for her was changing the timing of the flashing lights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you revitalize your downtown, it goes back to your roots,â&#x20AC;? Myers said. She said that decades ago everything was downtown in small- and mediumsized cities. Then the retail left for the suburbs and downtowns deteriorated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so important (to) what we do is if we put a brand, spanking new thing in a place that is dead and you put these big lights up there â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the bad stuff doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to hang around any longer because of the big lights. All of a sudden, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not quite as boring to go down there and then you work with the city to do a total revitalization.â&#x20AC;?

Another impact from the Biscuits and Riverwalk Stadium was that all the development afterward has been instrumental in attracting young people to return to Montgomery after leaving the area for college. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accomplished that objective,â&#x20AC;? Myers said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but again, you had to have the anchor first.â&#x20AC;?

Strange often talks about how officials from Huntsville, Mobile, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Pensacola, Florida, have visited downtown Montgomery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken the lead,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of that leads not only to the retail side of the equation, but the residential side of the equation.â&#x20AC;?

When Kyser strolls through his Central restaurant and chats with customers, about 70 percent are from outof-town and about one-quarter of those were making their first trip to Alabama, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing the comments that we get from people who have an opinion about Alabama before they get here and what the opinion is when they leave,â&#x20AC;? Kyser said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They come to downtown and have their meetings and get exposed to the historical aspects and it makes all the difference in the world.â&#x20AC;?

Kyser said that customers say: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m shocked that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in a downtown like this in Alabama. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m shocked at how nice the baseball stadium is. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m shocked at the hotel Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m staying in.â&#x20AC;?

And it all started with the Biscuits. n

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just lighting the tower at night gives a sense of feeling toward the baseball park and the action going on there.â&#x20AC;?

David Bronner, CEO, Retirement Systems of Alabama

She said that people living in smaller markets with an affiliated minor league club â&#x20AC;&#x153;stand up taller and feel better about where (they) live. And now, you can brag about the quality of life.â&#x20AC;?

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September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

23

CREATING A NICHE When Angela Woodruff-Swarts became franchise owner of Spherion Staffing Services in Montgomery she found a niche in skilled manufacturing. story by David Zaslawsky photo by Robert Fouts

24

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

“We’re all about connecting top talent with business and industry across the River Region,” Woodruff-Swarts said. In Augusta, it’s the Central Savannah River Area.

She saw a sector that she believed was underserved and concentrated on it. After all, Woodruff-Swarts also found a niche with her Spherion franchise in Augusta, Georgia, years before she expanded to Montgomery.

She got out of the manufacturing sector and discovered the market for administrative professionals was wide open. “By focusing, it’s narrow, but deep,” she said.

The next niche in Augusta was the evolving contact center (call center). She had a contact center staffing program in 2000 and learned “every facet” of the business. “You might be a great customer service professional, but that doesn’t mean you can sit at a contact center and take calls,” said Woodruff-Swarts, who opened her Montgomery franchise in August 2005 – “on the curtails of Hurricane Katrina.” She opened her Augusta franchise in December 1995.

“In Augusta, we’re call center experts,” she said. “We have a specialized recruiting, staffing and management program for contact centers.” She once helped a contact center hire 500 people in two months.

In Montgomery, she said there is high demand for machine operators, machinists, maintenance technicians. One of her recruiters concentrates on higher-level automotive-manufacturing jobs such as engineers, plant managers, procurement professionals and quality assurance professionals. Another recruiter focuses on highly skilled manufacturing workers, including machine operators, industrial maintenance technicians and CNC (computer numerical control).

She has a recruiter who previously worked in the human relations department for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s facility in Montgomery.

One of her recruiters in Georgia specializes in automotive/manufacturing and will send job candidates to Montgomery.

There has been tremendous growth in the automotive sector when Hyundai added a third shift and production reached about 400,000 units last year.

Many of Hyundai’s suppliers added employees to keep up with the increased production.

“It’s understanding your market and where the needs are and putting together programs and solutions that address the needs in the community,” she said.

“Companies that dominate have been really good at finding a niche; something that they do different from everybody else and do better than; and they are addressing a market need that’s otherwise not being served. I think I’ve found that in my markets …”

Spherion places temporary workers; permanent workers; and will operate a company’s department with Spherion employees and a Spherion manager. “We manage the entire function process and the work force associated with it,” she said.

She said that during the Great Recession, companies turned to Spherion. “Partnering with a staffing agency like Spherion gives you that flexibility to go with the ebbs and flows of the business climate,” WoodruffSwarts said. “It helps companies be flexible; meet productivity requirements; and it does work well for the bottom line because it can be a much more costeffective way to outsource that vs. loading up payroll and all the management and time to oversee that percentage of the work force.”

“We’re all about connecting top talent with business and industry across the River Region.”

Angela Woodruff-Swarts, owner of the Spherion Staffing Agency

Spherion has a lot of competition in the staffing agency community, but what sets it apart is the company’s tagline, Woodruff-Swarts said. “Recruiting and staffing excellence. I can honestly say that’s more than a tagline. It’s the point that matters with Spherion.”

Spherion is the franchise arm of Randstad, the world’s second-largest human resources provider, which operates in 40 countries. “From a global perspective, we have that reach and resources to support us in what we do locally,” she said.

“We have the best of both worlds. We get to own our business and operate it as we need to and what we feel is appropriate in our respective communities.

It’s very personalized. Every client is different. All customers’ needs are unique and being able to sit down and understand those needs and then build work force solutions around those – that’s what makes it very personalized.”

Spherion places a wide range of candidates from general clerical to sales, accounting, marketing, human resources, engineering and information technology.

“We want to make sure that we are meeting everyone’s expectations and exceeding those,” she said. “In order to do that it takes a lot of time and investment from our team to make sure that happens.”

Lately, her franchise has been in a growth mode, adding one employee earlier this year and was expected to hire another recruiter, which gives her six employees in Montgomery and nine in Augusta.

The firm was up 64 percent year-over-year with temporary staffing and up more than 200 percent with permanent placements. n

Woodruff-Swarts, who has been in the staffing agency arena for 25 years, said the bulk of her business in Montgomery revolves around administrative/office professionals and that includes accounting and finance – her specialty.

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

25

A comprehensive study of the Montgomery Regional Airport has led to a couple of surprising or perhaps even startling results of the top final destinations: No. 3 is Philadelphia and No. 8 is Seoul, Korea.

That knowledge is ammunition for Chip Gentry, vice president of Air Service Development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery Airport Authority, which oversees the airport. It also means that airport officials need to adjust their strategy, according to Gentry.

“Philadelphia is becoming a very significant hub for the new American Airlines,” Gentry said, referring to the merger with US Airways. One of Montgomery’s long-term plans is a direct flight to Philadelphia, where

EARNING THEIR WINGS

AIRLINES MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AT MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT story by David Zaslawsky

“That was a huge achievement,” Gentry said.

Now, airport officials are working with American Airlines to upgrade aircraft and offer both first-class and coach seats on flights to Dallas/Fort Worth. The airline, which is still in merger mode according to Gentry, is taking delivery of 100-plus dual-class regional jets.

The first-class seats are important because some businesses only allow employees to fly first class or business class.

Local airport officials along with Eugene, Oregonbased Sixtel Consulting Group, which conducted the true market study for the airport, requested some new departure times from both Delta and American. And the requests were approved. A later Delta flight out of Montgomery opened up four international departures from Atlanta as well as 86 other connections.

Meanwhile, a later American flight out of Montgomery opened up 100-plus departures from Dallas/Fort Worth.

Gentry said there is demand for a fourth daily American flight to close the gap between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. when there are no departures.

“In this day and age, you have to educate the airlines,” Gentry said. He said it’s important “getting in front of an airline and showing what you have – stay ahead of it; stay in front; and tell the story.”

The true market study also revealed that Delta has one focus city on the Montgomery’s Top 10 list while American has six. “For strategic purposes, we would want to focus on what’s a better fit for Montgomery,” Gentry said.

The Top 10 final destinations (in order) are: Washington, New York/Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles Basin, Dallas/ Fort Worth, Seoul, Denver and South Florida.

passengers can board 30-minute flights to Washington, D.C. and New York/Newark N.J., the region’s No. 1 and No. 2 final destinations, respectively.

He said the Seoul flight is of particular interest to the airlines, which are growing with international flights.

“These individuals are able to purchase business-class seats,” Gentry said, referring to the highly sought and highly profitable tickets.

Working with Delta officials, the airline upgraded its Montgomery flights with three, 76-seat Bombardier CRJ-900 jets. The jet has 12 first-class seats, 12 comfort and 52 economy.

26

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Although perception is reality, Delta’s ontime performance in Montgomery was 72 percent last year and ranked in the top three airports in the state compared with Mobile, Huntsville, Birmingham, Dothan and Muscle Shoals (until October).

And what about that final Delta flight from Atlanta to Montgomery? It was canceled six times out of 312 flights – 2 percent of the time. Three of those times, Delta brought a spare aircraft to Montgomery so the first flight to Atlanta would not be canceled. “People like to remember what has happened to them,” Gentry said. “They don’t look at it that that flight operates six or seven times a week.” That’s every week.

There were a total of 82 flight cancellations at the Montgomery Regional Airport – out of 8,400 flights.

That’s 1 percent of the time and that’s the reality. n

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Revving the Jobs Engine:

Scholarships for Skills Tax credits expected to expand dual enrollment

by David Zaslawsky photos by Robert Fouts

28

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Armed with tax credits and needing more and more highly-skilled workers, employers are expected to give the state’s dual enrollment program a big boost next year.

Starting in January, individuals and companies receive a 50 percent tax credit capped at $5 million a year for scholarships for the dual enrollment program, which enables high school students to attend two-year colleges while still in high school.

The goal is to increase the number of statewide scholarships from about 2,100 high school students to 10,000-plus. An estimated 31,000 are eligible.

While a lofty goal, companies are so desperate for skilled workers that they are expected to donate money for scholarships, which in turn represent their future hires. The dual enrollment scholarships cover tuition and fees so it’s free to the students. There are no partial scholarships.

“As a mother, as a businessperson I am thrilled because I think finally we are going to move where we need to be to truly be competitive.”

Leslie Sanders, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman

“And I think in this scenario everyone’s a winner,” Mark A. Heinrich, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, said at a news conference promoting dual enrollment. “Students seeking high-demand, high-wage jobs win and business and industry seeking highly-skilled workers win. I don’t see any losers in this scenario.”

Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Leslie Sanders said, “As a mother, as

a businessperson I am thrilled because I think finally we are going to move where we need to be to truly be competitive.”

Those companies and individuals who donate money are permitted to designate where 80 percent of their contribution goes. Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said, “They know they have some skin in the game. They understand they are helping to educate a future work force that can benefit them. And we believe, that’s going to be extremely successful.”

Earmarking up to 80 percent of the donation makes H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College President Sam Munnerlyn quite pleased.

“What we’re trying to do is get more people into the pipeline,” Munnerlyn said. “And to get more into the pipeline you need more money dedicated to dual enrollment so those students can take those courses in high school; earn that college credit; and therefore they are going to graduate high school and have college credits at the same time and get that degree earlier.”

This past spring semester there were 103 students in the dual enrollment program at Trenholm and that represented just four schools: Lanier High School, Bullock County High School, Macon County High Continued on page 30

Proven.

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September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

29

Continued from page 29

School and Brewbaker Technical Magnet High School. Only two high schools in the Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) district have students in the dual enrollment program: Lanier and Brew Tech. Munnerlyn is working to change that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing now is pushing this program in Montgomery County because with the five major high schools we have now, this program (dual enrollment) could gain more traction,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a matter of us working with MPS to work out those arrangements.â&#x20AC;?

His goal is having 400 students in the dual enrollment program, with half coming from Montgomery County. Right now, Montgomery, Bullock and Macon counties each comprise about one-third of the dual enrollment students. Trenholm officials are also working with counselors and career coaches in Autauga and Elmore counties to attract students to the dual enrollment program.

There have been Elmore County students in the dual enrollment program, but none this spring.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are expecting that the businesses in our area will want to support dual enrollment because that would get these workers into their particular businesses sooner,â&#x20AC;?

Munnerlyn said.

The state was forecast to have 790,000 job openings from 2010-2020, â&#x20AC;&#x153;most of which will be in the area of high-skilled, high-wage positions,â&#x20AC;? Heinrich said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dual enrollment is the answer to our work force needs.â&#x20AC;?

High school students who take â&#x20AC;&#x153;two combined courses in career technical educationâ&#x20AC;? have a 98 percent graduation rate, said Tommy Bice, superintendent of the State Department of Education. The overall high school graduation rate is 80 percent.

While the program is a no-brainer for business owners and executives who talk about a shortage of skilled workers, there have been obstacles in increasing the number of students in dual enrollment. A key requirement is a 3.0-grade-point average and students must be on track to graduate.

Another stumbling block has been math.

a good student â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to make it in industrial maintenance. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to make it in machine tool. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to make it in automotive manufacturing.

In welding, you may do a little better, but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you have to understand measurements in welding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The mistake that the public makes is that when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to one of these high-skill, high-demand, high-wage jobs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are highskill, high-demand, high-wage for a reason.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because it requires knowledge. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make a lot of money in a program that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require any knowledge.â&#x20AC;?

Munnerlyn encourages parents and students to consider dual enrollment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parents who have children that need to go to college and they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if they go through this program (dual enrollment) it will cost them absolutely nothing. That means that you can get your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education â&#x20AC;&#x201C; half or sometimes three-fourths paid for while still in high school. When they graduate, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to come out of the parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pocket.â&#x20AC;? n

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like you can walk in and this work is automatic,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

Munnerlyn said.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

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The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas is concerned about a shortage of skilled workers, which is holding back the labor market.

Six of 12 Fed districts reported trouble finding skilled workers. He told Bloomberg that “there is a skills mismatch; that’s part of the problem.” He also said “we don’t have the educational basis” for some highly-skilled jobs.

Scaling Up to Meet Skills Demand story by David Zaslawsky photo by Robert Fouts

That is not news to Angela Woodruff-Swarts, who is the franchise owner of Spherion Staffing Services in both Montgomery and Augusta, Georgia. She said she could place maintenance technicians in permanent jobs tomorrow as well as welders. “I’m networking with people in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky trying to get them south because we can’t find the people locally,” she said. “We need more individuals to embrace the opportunities within manufacturing that will go and pursue the education to get the required skills they need.”

H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College President Sam Munnerlyn is trying to increase the skilled workers labor pool and one of the ways is through the dual enrollment program.

High school students can take classes at Trenholm while still in high school and end up with certificates or even degrees in the following programs: > Accounting > Air conditioning and refrigeration technology > Automotive manufacturing technology > Culinary arts > Drafting and design technology > Graphic design > Industrial maintenance technology > Office administration > Welding

“We can place as many welders as we can graduate – or industrial maintenance technicians,” Munnerlyn said. “Those are high-skilled, highwage, high-demand jobs.”

He said 22 students were expected to graduate from the welding program and three to five students as industrial maintenance technicians.

The industrial maintenance technicians will have starting salaries between $65,000 and $80,000, according to Munnerlyn, and welders are making upwards of $100,000 “especially if they are going to South Alabama,” he said.

The need for welders throughout the state is so great that Trenholm spent about $550,000 to double the size of its welding shop from 4,400 square feet to 9,500 square feet and will have 54 welding booths. Nearly 50 students are in the dual enrollment welding program, including about 20 students in Bullock County.

Automotive manufacturing technology is another popular dual enrollment program, which is for students in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade with grade-point averages of 3.0 or better and who are on track to graduate.

Students in automotive manufacturing technology learn a wide variety of skill sets that Munnerlyn said could lead to assembly line jobs or diagnostic jobs.

“They could work at any of the (auto) suppliers; any of the auto manufacturers,” he said, adding that those students could also work in non-automotive jobs as well.

Machine tool technology and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) are other high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs. There is a major shortage of machine tool technicians “in this area and all around the state,” Munnerlyn said. It’s difficult to attract students to the program because “they don’t know what it is,” he said. Starting pay for machine tool workers is the mid $60,000s.

The shortage of HVAC workers is so acute that Munnerlyn has heard company officials on the radio looking for workers.

Students in those programs have been leaving early “because once they get the skill set they get a job,” Munnerlyn said. Of course, that impacts Trenholm’s retention and graduation rates. “On the other hand, that student got a job,” he said. “We train for jobs.” n

Sam Munnerlyn is president of H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College.

September 2014

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Seamus McElroy of Autoline wrote: “Regardless of how you feel about the new design, Hyundai improved the Sonata where it counts and that’s while you’re behind the wheel.”

2015 SONATA SELLING AT A TORRID PACE

by David Zaslawsky

Hyundai Motor America invited automotive writers to Montgomery to take out the all-new 2015 Sonata for a spin or two and kick the tires.

The sales and marketing arm of Hyundai also invited the writers to tour Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s plant in Montgomery, where the Sonata and Elantra are produced.

The headline for a USA Today column about the vehicle was: “2015 Hyundai Sonata a Champ.” James R. Healey wrote: “If the new Sonata isn’t the best midsize, mainstream sedan on the U.S. market, we’d be hardpressed to figure out why.” He wrote that the Sonata “comes closest to the right blend” of features that a midsize sedan must have.

He wrote that the vehicle “drives smoother, goes better, provides more features, yet carries starting prices lower than the previous model.”

Michael Harley of autoblog wrote: “Without reservation, I like the new Sonata. After a full day inside its cabin, I emerged with a smile, no aching appendages and at a loss to reveal any glaring negative qualities or traits that would prevent me from recommending it to friends or family.”

What a ride for 2015 Sonata, which set an all-time sales record of 25,195 units sold in June, breaking a 6½-year record and topped its June 2013 sales by 30 percent.

Sonata topped its previous record of 24,872 units back in December 2007. Sonata also had a strong showing in July with its sixth-best monthly total of 22,577 units sold.

Hyundai posted its best June with 67,407 sales and had its best six-month total at 364,434 units sold. The all-time monthly record of 70,907 vehicles sold was set in May and is the only time the Korean automaker has topped 70,000 units.

The automaker followed that recordsetting June with an impressive July – 67,011 units sold – the seventh-best monthly total. The Sonata and Elantra each had 22,000-plus units sold and accounted for 67 percent of all the company’s vehicles purchased in July.

Hyundai had sold 431,445 vehicles the first seven months of the year, about 4,400 ahead of last year’s mark.

“As the summer weather heated up across the country, so did the selling season,” Bob Pradzinski, vice president of national sales for Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement.

For the company to maintain its market share, which ranked seventh at 4.8 percent for June, Hyundai Motor America President and CEO Dave Zuchowski said that the automaker is talking about expanding its manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the 2015 Sonata range from $21,150 to $33,525, including option packages.

The base price does not include an $810 freight charge.

The 2015 Sonata SE has a MSRP range of $21,150 to $22,350, the latter includes a $1,200 popular equipment option package.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

The Sonata Sport model has a base price of $23,175 and adding both the premium package ($1,700) and technology package ($1,750), brings the total to $26,625.

The technology package requires the premium package.

The Sonata Limited starts at $26,525.

The technology package is $3,500 and the ultimate package, which requires the technology package, is $1,550. The vehicle fully loaded is $31,575.

The Sonata Sport 2.0T model starts at $28,575. The ultimate package adds $4,950 for a MSRP of $33,525. n

Top Months HYUNDAI May 2014 70,907

May 2012 67,019

March 2012 69,728

July 2014 67,011

May 2013 68,358

March 2014 67,005

March 2013 68,306

April 2014 66,107

June 2014 67,407

Aug. 2013 66,101

ELANTRA March 2013 26,153

July 2014 22,213

May 2013 25,090

June 2013 22,163

Aug. 2013 24,700

April 2011 22,100

July 2013 23,958

May 2014 21,867

April 2013 24,445

Dec. 2013 21,692

SONATA June 2014 25,195

July 2014 22,577

Dec. 2007 24,872

April 2011 21,738

March 2012 23,281

Aug. 2010 21,399

March 2011 22,894

May 2010 21,195

May 2011 22,754

July 2012 20,978

WORLD’S NO. 2 AUTOMOTIVE PARTS SUPPLIER SETS UP SHOP IN EAST MONTGOMERY story by David Zaslawsky photos by Robert Fouts

READY TO GROW Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange was teasing when he said that automotive parts supplier DENSO will grow its new Montgomery manufacturing facility from 30 employees to the announced 45, then to 90, then to 200 and “we’ll keep on growing.”

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

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He talked about a “foothold on the beachhead and that beachhead is not only going to grow, but it is going to prosper because of you,” he said, referring to DENSO’s employees.

In all seriousness, he has a point. DENSO Manufacturing Michigan Inc.-Alabama (DMMI-A) will supply heating, ventilation and air conditioning components for the Sonata, which is produced at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s facility in Montgomery. The Japanese company is not supplying components for the Elantra, which is also manufactured in Montgomery. And DENSO is not supplying components to the three vehicles – Kia Sorento and Optima and Hyundai Santa Fe – that are manufactured at the Kia plant 75 miles away in West Point, Georgia.

Although DENSO Plant Director Mike Bowman did not say what the company’s capacity is at its new, 103,000-square feet facility on Smothers Road off the Interstate 85 Mitylene Exit, he said the company looks to add contracts. “DENSO is always open to grow,” he said.

The company has already made a $2.2 million investment in its Montgomery plant, which first shipped components in May. It was actually

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

May 9, which Bowman said was his birthday – not a bad gift for a plant director. The facility will handle warehousing, shipping and light assembly.

The company has been competing with Germany’s Robert Bosch GmbH for top billing on the world’s stage for parts suppliers. DENSO, which has been No. 1 at various times, is currently ranked No. 2 in the world behind Bosch with annual sales of $35.8 billion.

Bosch has annual sales of $40.2 billion.

“You are joining a very elite organization,” Strange said told DENSO’s 30 employees attending the company’s grand-opening ceremony. “Any time you can be employed with the No. 2 anything in the world that’s a step forward.”

And speaking of a step forward, Strange encouraged and prodded the employees to move from the back of the ceremony area to the front while praising and congratulating them.

“The most important part of opening this beautiful facility was recruiting and hiring some outstanding Alabamians,” Bowman said. “DENSO is known worldwide for building quality automotive components and we recruited dozens of highly qualified individuals to help us build a top-quality DMMI-A.” He said the work force would increase from 30 to 45 “in the coming months.”

DENSO is actually both a tier 1 and a tier 2 automotive parts supplier, sending components directly to the Hyundai plant in Montgomery and sending components to other suppliers such as MOBIS Alabama.

“We’re so excited to bring our DENSO spirit and the strength of our global corporation here to Montgomery,” Bowman said. He talked about delivering on the commitments that DENSO had made back in October when the company announced it was coming to Montgomery.

The supplier, which has about 140,000 employees worldwide including 17,000 in North America, is leasing the former facility of Hussmann Corp., which sold refrigeration equipment and supplies. The facility, which was built in 1979 and expanded by about 50,000 square feet in 1985, was also the home of Stone Martin Builders.

The building is owned by Industrial Partners, which spent close to $1 million on renovations, according to the company’s general manager, Nim Frazer. The truck yard was greatly expanded for larger vehicles; new loading docks and doors were installed; and the inside was painted.

The investment in Montgomery is part of DENSO’s four-year plan of investing $1 billion in North America.

The company has 14,000-plus employees in the U.S. across 12 states.

“Today is certainly an exciting day for Montgomery as we celebrate our new partnership with DENSO,” Sanders said in a statement. “This new chapter not only signifies more jobs and expanding industry, it also demonstrates once again that world-class companies such as DENSO see Montgomery as a place they want to do business.” n

“The most important part of opening this beautiful facility was recruiting and hiring some outstanding Alabamians.”

Mike Bowman, DENSO Plant Director

“This is a wonderful $2.2 million investment,” said Leslie Sanders, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “We welcome you and we’re excited that you’re here.”

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

35

EVERY COMPANY FACES CHALLENGES. WORKING WITH YOUR LAW FIRM SHOULDN’T BE CHALLENGING. YOUR LAW FIRM SHOULD BE OUT IN FRONT, REMOVING CHALLENGES. THIS IS WHAT WE DO FOR SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED COMPANIES IN HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRIES — AND WE HAVE TAKEN BOLD STEPS TO ENSURE A CLIENT EXPERIENCE AS FREE FROM CHALLENGES AS POSSIBLE.

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

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Wa shi ngto n , DC

Children and dignitaries participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Freedom Park, located at Maxwell Air Force Base.

RINGING IN FREEDOM PARK When the business community came to Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex and asked the top brass what they needed, the answer was something for the military families.

story by David Zaslawsky

photos by Robert Fouts

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

37

The idea of a park came from Col. Trent Edwards, who was commander of the 42nd Air Base Wing that includes Maxwell.

Leslie Sanders, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce the Board of Directors, said that Edwards even had a location picked out – “the central part of the base, where we can all come together and have fun; share memories; and build relationships that last a lifetime.”

It took about a year, but the 3.5-acre Freedom Park now beckons to the military families at Maxwell and Gunter Annex with three playgrounds, swings and soccer field and will have a pavilion or two, exercise stations, barbecue facilities, walking track and restrooms.

“It is our privilege and our great honor to be a small part of hopefully creating memories and fun times ahead for all the families,” said Sanders, who is vice president of the Alabama Power’s Southern Division.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange (right) and Col. Trent Edwards were two of the speakers at the Freedom Park ribbon-cutting ceremony.

At the official ribbon-cutting for the $500,000-plus park, an unofficial speaker who was one of about 20 children, thanked the community and said: “This makes us happy.” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said that’s what it is all about – making the children happy. Those happy children then ran off to play on the equipment.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

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With a garrison-sized American flag in the background that was hanging on a fire truck ladder, Freedom Park was officially opened thanks to the efforts of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, City of Montgomery, Maxwell officials and Hunt Military Communities as well as companies and individuals, who donated money and/or in-kind services, including the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association.

“We call this a donation, but truly this is more than a donation – this is a gift,” said Stacia Schuster, director of operations for Hunt Companies, which oversees the privatized military housing units at Maxwell and will manage the park.

“This is a gift to Maxwell family housing, MaxwellGunter Air Force Base and their families that serve here,” she said. “It was truly a vision, a hope and a plan that now has become reality.”

Edwards, who left Maxwell in late May to become commander of the 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, recalled that the December groundbreaking was just five months before the park dedication ceremony. “That is a testament to what can be done when people don’t care who gets the credit, but are committed to doing the right thing.

“This park symbolizes the incredible partnership we have with the local community, but more importantly it represents the friendship and the respect the local community has for the men and women who serve.

I can’t think of a better name than Freedom Park.

“The men and women who serve; who dedicate their lives to protecting freedom and democracy; and to have the local community generate donations to build this park for us and call it Freedom Park, is just incredible. I am humbled.”

Strange pointed out that once the airmen leave the base, they become ambassadors for the Capital City. “If they had an experience that was positive in Montgomery, then they will be talking about that wherever they go.”

He said that “there is nothing that brings us together more than our military here in the River Region.

Freedom Park is but one way we are saying how much we appreciate the airmen, their families and their kids as they grace us in Montgomery for a short period of time … Please accept this gift on behalf of the citizens of the River Region as a way of saying thank you for your service. Let’s get this park open!” n

“It was truly a vision, a hope and a plan that now has become reality.”

Stacia Schuster, director of operations for Hund Companies

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

39

TLC FROM THE TRC Companies benefit by participating in Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Total Resource Campaign

by David Zaslawsky photos by Robert Fouts

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Total Resource Campaign benefits many companies and organizations. (From left) Matt Collins, vice president (owner/ operator) of Newk’s Eatery; Charlotte Evans, owner of Charlotte’s Jewelry; and Kim Herbert, executive director of Brantwood Children’s Home.

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

41

When Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce members converge on Charlotte’s Jewelry for an after-hours event in November or December, at least 15 to 20 of the female attendees fill out a wish list.

What better way to spread the message about Brantwood Children’s Home than sponsor a coffee and have 125 to close to 200 people attend the event?

“Several of them come back and add to their list,” said Charlotte’s Jewelry owner Charlotte Evans.

“Once the ladies start adding to the list and it starts paying off, they keep up.”

Those wish lists are sent to the significant others with all the pertinent information to buy jewelry for a birthday or anniversary or Christmas or other occasion and buy what somebody wants. The women may show their gifts to friends and family and of course add where they got it from.

“Nine out of 10 women want a piece of jewelry and the other is lying,” Evans said. Her goal is when people have a jewelry need, they think of Charlotte’s Jewelry. That is why she has sponsored the Chamber after-hours for the past four years; is sponsoring another this year; and plans to purchase a sponsorship this year for 2015 during the Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign (TRC).

It is during the TRC that businesses and individuals can sponsor a wide range of Chamber programs/ events with a wide range of prices. The TRC, which is under way and scheduled to end in November, also funds publications and websites while assisting in recruiting new members.

One of those networking events is a 60-minute coffee, which Brantwood Children’s Home has sponsored the past four years. Unlike Charlotte’s Jewelry, which is widely known and located two short blocks from the busy intersection of Taylor and Vaughn roads, not everybody has heard of Brantwood or knows where it’s located. Those coffees exposed the business community to Brantwood, a non-profit organization that simply put, “for 97 years has provided a home for young people, who have no home to grow up in,” said executive director Kim Herbert.

What better way to spread the message about Brantwood Children’s Home than sponsor a coffee and have 125 to close to 200 people attend the event? “What a great problem to have, with absolutely no parking (left) on campus, and you couldn’t fit one more person in our dining room area,” Herbert said. “Those are great problems to have.”

One direct result of sponsoring a coffee was that an Alabama Power employee noticed that the facility had old, single-pane windows – not terribly energyefficient. The utility worked with Brantwood for new double-pane windows and an energy-efficient grant

Kim Herbert is the executive director of Brantwood Children’s Home.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN?

paid 100 percent of cost, according to Herbert.

The facility also changed to more energy-efficient light bulbs to reduce costs. “Those kinds of things have certainly been by-products” of sponsoring the coffees, Herbert said. “It doesn’t take long to walk around our campus and realize that there are some things that money could change.”

Some of the young people living there – ages range from 10 to 21 – have received part-time jobs from people who attended the coffees. If the coffee is held close to a fund-raising event such as a golf tournament – that is promoted.

The coffees have resulted in numerous partnerships with businesses and individuals, Herbert said. “If you can do a good deed for Brantwood and then put that on résumé – ‘That hey, this company … look at what they do and partners with Brantwood Children’s Home,’ then that’s a win-win for both people.”

The coffees help Brantwood Children’s Home connect with the business community. “If everybody leaves with a positive impression of what’s going on up here, (that benefits) our young people,” Herbert said. “People that come to this Chamber coffee … when they are in their Sunday school class or their civic group and trying to decide what they are going to do with the money they have collected, somebody thinks: ‘I noticed that all the trim at Brantwood needed painting or Brantwood was using that old, old, old this or that and let’s put together a service project to help with that or a fountain that wasn’t working.”

And now that fountain that wasn’t working on the patio is, thanks to partnerships “from people who have attended the coffees,” Herbert said. “It’s such Continued on page 44

Stivers participates in the total resource campaign because we believe in the work done by the Chamber on behalf of Montgomery business. Of all the cities in which we do business there is no better synergy between the public and private sector than in Montgomery. And, I know of no other town as organized and focused on growth and prosperity thanks to the Chamber of Commerce.

HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY? Our title sponsorships have allowed us to reach across cultural lines and immerse our business in the diversity of our community.

WHAT VALUE DO YOU RECEIVE? As a business person still relatively new to Montgomery, the events funded by the TRC have introduced me to thousands of wonderful professionals. I can say with certainty that involvement in these events has helped me to brand Stivers Ford and assisted me in making hundreds of connections, resulting in even more hundreds of business relationships.

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT?

Eddie Stivers, Dealer Principal, Stivers Automotive Group

We carefully select our TRC sponsorships to promote events that align with our corporate culture.

While we only promote on merit, more than half of our management team is comprised of minorities.

We live in and do business in a very diverse community. We believe that there is no more important event in Montgomery than the Diversity Summit.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? I hope that if somebody were asked to describe Stivers Ford that they would say two things: “price sells cars” and “they really believe in investing in our community.”

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

43

WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN? To find marketing opportunities that costeffectively target our prospective audience and at the same time financially support the Chamber’s business recruiting efforts.

HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY? The Chamber’s overall efforts have been crucial to the success of our business. Many of our customers’ businesses are in Montgomery because of companies the Chamber has recruited over the last 10 years. A few have been companies directly recruited by the Chamber, and many more serve businesses that were recruited by the Chamber. I often mention the large multiplier effect on business that each new industry brings to Montgomery. There are “tier 4, 5, 6” suppliers that are helping all of us because of the initial company recruited.

WHAT VALUE DO YOU RECEIVE? We feel our advertising efforts through TRC investments on Chamber web sites, Chamber publications and Chamber events have helped us reach prospects and keep our name in front of our market in a positive manner. We have large clients today that have mentioned that they first saw us in Chamber materials. It gives our

44

Lance Hunter, CEO, Hodges Warehouse + Logistics company, a relatively small local company, more of a substantial image to national companies looking for our services in Montgomery.

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT? Like I mentioned, I like to see my advertising dollars work overtime.

I think the advertising opportunities provided in various ways through TRC purchases are the most cost-effective advertising we do. At the same time, the money spent on advertising also supports the Chamber’s efforts in work force education and business recruitment.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? Current clients have mentioned that they were impressed with our presence in Chamberrelated advertising or advertising facilitated

by Chamber links. We have been very lucky.

The payback has been extraordinary. Our company has changed and grown with all the new businesses in Montgomery.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

AMOUNT RAISED

BY THE TRC

BY YEAR 2006 $553,365

Chairman: Ray Petty

2007 $706,000

Chairman: Larry Puckett

2008 $669,928

Chairman: Gene Crane

2009 $683,360

Chairman: Guy Davis

2010 $760,974

Chairman: Nim Frazer

2011 $860,376

Chairman: Larry Puckett

2012 $1,082,401

Chairmen: Lee Ellis/ Larry Puckett

2013 $1,092,702

Chairman: Horace Horn

Total $6.4 million

Charlotte Evans has sponsored the Chamber after-hours for the past four years; is sponsoring another this year; and plans to purchase a sponsorship this year for 2015 during the Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign (TRC).

Continued from page 43

a pretty area. The kids love that area in the evening especially. It’s shaded; it’s cool. That patio area is full of our kids playing cards; some others play basketball; sometimes there is a lot of music going and (people) practicing their new moves – all around that fountain area,” she said.

Brantwood Children’s Home was scheduled to sponsor a coffee earlier this month and plans to buy a sponsorship during this year’s TRC to sponsor another in 2015.

Meanwhile, the owners of Newk’s Eatery – JMH Dining – became Chamber members before their restaurant opened last year on Halloween. Matt Collins, who is vice president (owner/operator), and his wife, Amberly Collins, who is the marketing director, were a sponsor of the 15th annual Chamber Open and the military salute at Riverwalk Stadium through last year’s TRC. Continued on page 46

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WHAT VALUE DO YOU RECEIVE? The value I receive is to build my visibility and credibility as I grow my business to the next level.

Stacia Robinson, President The BeneChoice Companies WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN? To stay involved and informed about economic development in Montgomery.

Amberly Collins, marketing director, and Matt Collins, vice president, (owner/operator), joined the Chamber before Newk’s Eatery opened.

Continued from page 44

Being a part of the Chamber and really getting involved in things they do to support the community – we wanted to be a part of that.”

Matt Collins, vice president (owner/operator), Newk’s Eatery

“We’re originally from Mississippi and coming into a new market, we really saw a lot of value in the Chamber of Commerce as a way to meet new people and help get a new brand into a new market,” Matt Collins said. “The Chamber is a great way to make connections and we’ve met some really good people. It’s also a good opportunity to get involved.”

Amberly Collins said: “Name recognition was one of the things we wanted to do so when we came, people had heard of us because we were breaking into a new market. We wanted to get our name in front of people and as many eyes on our logo as possible. We definitely view (Newk’s) as a business-lunch kind of place or a family dinner place and that those were the types of people we wanted to get our logo in front of.”

Matt Collins met John Foshee, owner of Foshee Design & Construction, at a Chamber event and Foshee became a Newk’s customer. The two have discussed opening a Newk’s in the Foshee’s Market District on Lower Dexter Avenue in downtown Montgomery. That may be a couple of years from now, but the family owns another Newk’s in Opelika and is looking to open restaurants in Columbus, Georgia, Dothan, Troy and Prattville. The Prattville Continued on page 49

HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY? I have been exposed to initiatives and business leaders through my participation that I would not have otherwise been aware of.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

My direct intention with my investment is to promote and market my business services and capability while meeting other business owners.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? The impact on my company is perhaps intangible and indirect.

I hope my involvement has helped raise my credibility to participate in Montgomery’s business growth.

Alan Wallace Senior Financial Adviser Ronald Blue & Co. WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN? It supports the Chamber and provides positive exposure for our firm within the local business community.

HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY? It has heightened public awareness of who we are as a firm and our unique value proposition.

WHAT VALUE DO YOU RECEIVE? Better name recognition and credibility as a member of the River Region business community.

46

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT?

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT? Public awareness of who we are and what we do, as well as a sense of solidarity within the business community.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? Improved name recognition and appreciation of the role we play.

Tara M., Alumnus The Johnson Center. MBA.

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The 2014 Total Resource Campaign offers a diverse mix of marketing opportunities to Montgomery Chamber Members.

Contact a volunteer for a complete list of sponsorships!

These are a few of the sponsorships available.

143RD ANNUAL MEETING This is the largest and most anticipated business event of the year. Close to 1,000 community and business leaders attend the Chamber’s Annual Meeting. This signature event celebrates the economic development CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE The Chairman’s Circle is for Member executives and business owners who want to connect on an influential level. Circle Members receive targeted information on the Chamber’s initiatives and strategic priorities. They attend briefings by key leaders and government officials, and invitations to exclusive functions and announcements.

MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL ADVERTISING During the Total Resource Campaign, ads for the Montgomery Business Journal are reduced 25% to 33%. As the number one source of business information in Montgomery and the River Region, this is the best way to reach business, elected and community leaders.

NEW! Banner ads are available on the new MontgomeryBusinessJournal.com.

ALABAMA UPDATE Governor Robert Bentley presents an update on Alabama’s issues and challenges to an audience of 300-plus. Community and business leaders attend this popular annual luncheon, along with local elected officials.

CONVERSATIONS – ROUNDTABLES FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN Professional women come together and discuss business and quality-of-life issues unique to women in the workforce. The facilitated roundtables provide women valuable networking and mentoring.

IT FORUM - EDUCATION & INFORMATION SHARING AMONG IT & CYBER ORGANIZATIONS This quarterly breakfast event brings IT professionals and users together for discussions on the latest in security, networking, data storage, and wireless technology.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/ AIR UNIVERSITY GOLF CHALLENGE (MACC/AU GOLF CHALLENGE) This annual golf invitational is a friendly competition between the military and business communities.

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT APPRECIATION SERIES This series of events includes a reception and dinner honoring local, state and regional economic development professionals during the EDAA annual meeting. This is a unique opportunity to build relationships with the people who bring new business to the state.

RIVER REGION ECONOMIC SUMMIT The Summit is a partnership between the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Auburn Montgomery and the Montgomery Area Committee of 100.

Business leaders and elected officials receive regional economic information and projections, and insights on issues impacting business in Montgomery and the River Region.

VISITOR CENTER ADVERTISING PANELS Historic Union Station is the centerpiece of the city’s riverfront and home to the Montgomery Area Visitor Center. Ad panels are placed throughout the Visitor Center, visible to the 50,000+ visitors who come through each year.

“WHAT’S COOL THIS WEEKEND” EMAIL The Montgomery Chamber Convention & Visitor Bureau’s weekly email includes a list of COOL local events and attractions.

WEBSITE BANNER ADS Banner ad locations throughout newly redesigned montgomerychamber.com are available.

Details on products and contact information at montgomerychamber.com/TRC.

Continued from page 46

location would at The Exchange at HomePlace next to either Outback Steakhouse or Panera Bread, which is under construction. Matt Collins said they hope to open the Prattville Newk’s in the first six months of next year.

Each of the restaurants has 50 to 55 employees.

“Not being from Montgomery, we wanted to show that we were not coming in just to open a restaurant and make a dollar,” Matt Collins said. “We wanted to come in and be part of the community. We bought property here and we spend half our time here. Being a part of the Chamber and really getting involved in things they do to support the community – we wanted to be a part of that.”

At last year’s after-hours event at Charlotte’s Jewelry, one of the attendees didn’t know that the business has a jeweler on her 10-person staff. “She thought we had to send everything out,” Evans said. “She had been quoted a price someplace else – almost 2½ times the price we quoted her to correct the problem she had with her ring. And she left it that night.”

To ease some customers’ concerns, Charlotte’s has a camera and will take pictures of their diamonds “so we Continued on page 51

Joe Andrew, VP Business Development, MAX Credit Union WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN? Honestly, it takes the work out of the decision making process. Being able to see in a comparative form and select those items that would best represent our brand at MAX is a real plus. At MAX, our goal is to remind the folks that at MAX, It’s Banking Only Smarter, and we can do this through the TRC. HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY?

WHAT VALUE DO YOU RECEIVE? New clients.

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT?

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? More recognition and contacts which we hope will choose MAX.

We want to keep the MAX brand in front of the public and create new banking options for those who are interested.

We enjoy being able to answer and serve the questions that arise from our sponsorships.

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

49

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Referred for a reason.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN? I participate in the TRC for a number of reasons; however, the number-one reason is to, in a small way, contribute and give back to the Chamber so they can continue to provide and develop all the fantastic programs and networking opportunities for the business community that they do today as well as support Angela Woodrufftheir economic Swarts, Licensee development Owner, Spherion initiatives which Staffing Services further defines our thriving community.

HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY? The benefit has been tenfold the investment – from being able to stay abreast of what’s happening at the heart of our community, through participation with the Chairman’s Circle, to the new business partnerships that develop from interactions across the many programs and networking functions that my team and I attend, to being recognized as a good corporate citizen through the investment in sponsorships of various chamber programs.

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT? The annual investment is a given; however, the programs I choose to invest in change year to year based on my business goals and which ones will provide me the exposure to my target audience. It’s all about branding and being able to interact with individuals with whom I wish to develop potential partnerships and business relationships.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? Consistent growth at greater than market/industry rates year over year for three consecutive years and a highly-engaged team that continues to grow and develop personally as well as professionally.

Continued from page 49

can show them this is the diamond you left and this is the diamond you’re picking up,” Evans said.

For Herbert, bringing people to Brantwood benefits the young people there. “It’s an opportunity for them if they like to dress up and be a greeter,” she said. “Usually that morning after everybody leaves, it’s a great celebration because they all feel so good about themselves. It’s a great opportunity for their self-esteem.

“The things that are closest to our young people that touch them and impact them every day – we want that part of their lives to look the same as any other family out there.

Young people come here with very little and our community connects and helps them have all of what they need and some of what they want.” n

Nan Lloyd, Manager, Associated Business Services

WHAT DO YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR TRC INVESTMENT? WHY DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN? It’s a broad-based and easy way to market my business, reaches the “interested” business community HOW HAS YOUR TRC INVESTMENT BENEFITED YOUR COMPANY?

Community recognition of my company, brand, logo - respect.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR COMPANY? Confidence to get out there with the movers and shakers in the business community and promote my business to get their respect.

Many new clients.

WHAT VALUE DO YOU RECEIVE? Community recognition of my company, brand, logo - respect

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

51

Jackson Hospital’s Stryker iSuites feature cutting-edge technology

by David Zaslawsky photo by Jackson Hospital and Clinic

Surgical Precision Before Dr. Patrick Ryan performs a spinal surgery at one of the two Stryker iSuites at Jackson Hospital and Clinic, a computer-generated three-dimensional navigation shows him the path to take.

And when it comes to surgery, the path is very important. “Taking out a herniated disc is not a big deal – it’s getting there that’s the big deal,” said Ryan, a neurosurgeon. “The pain and recovery is related to getting to the disc more so than taking out the disc.”

He said that patients will have less blood loss; less pain; and a quicker recovery time.

Not all patients are candidates for minimally invasive surgery, Ryan said. “That’s a decision that the surgeon needs to make.”

Jackson is the only hospital in the state with the Stryker iSuite for spinal and brain surgery. “The latest in spine care is right here in Montgomery,” Ryan said in a press release.

The equipment, which includes the threedimensional navigation system as well as monitors, does not make Ryan or others at Jackson better surgeons. It does make them more precise surgeons.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

He said there are sensors on the tips of instruments that â&#x20AC;&#x153;show me the direction that instrument is taking in real time. As I move it I can actually guide it and even though I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t physically see it, I see it on the computergenerated image,â&#x20AC;? Ryan said.

With the cameras in the iSuite, nurses are able to anticipate what the surgeons need, Ryan said.

Jackson Hospital, which has a partnership with Stryker, has the capability of broadcasting surgeries in the iSuites for teaching purposes at the hospital or at another facility. The broadcast capability will most likely be used in the future, according to Ryan.

Jackson Hospital President and CEO Joe Riley said the Stryker iSuites are â&#x20AC;&#x153;added tools. The key ingredient to care for our patient is the physician. This gives the physician and his team better tools to do what they have always done.â&#x20AC;?

Gerald Pennington, manager of marketing/ communications for Stryker Corp., said in a statement: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The iSuite brings together the latest technology with the experience of the surgeon to create a superior result for patients.â&#x20AC;?

The hospital, which was certified in stroke care earlier this year, is working to have its spinal and brain surgeries certified as a center of excellence by the Joint Commission of Center of Excellence.

Riley said the Stryker iSuites â&#x20AC;&#x153;allow us to take care of the communities that we serve and outlying areas. It (enables) patients to come from all over the region and the state.â&#x20AC;? He said it puts Jackson Hospital on the map for cutting-edge technology.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The iSuite brings together the latest technology with the experience of the surgeon to create a superior result for patients.â&#x20AC;?

Gerald Pennington, manager of marketing/ communications for Stryker Corp.

That cutting-edge technology has reduced the time a patient is in the operating room for brain surgery by 50 percent, Ryan said. Surgeons can perform computerguided brain surgery â&#x20AC;&#x153;without having to attach a huge metal frame to the skull like we would have before,â&#x20AC;? he said. The new process is safer for the patient and more efficient for the surgeon and their team, Ryan said. n

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53

MEMBER NEWS

BUSINESS BUZZ WARREN AVERETT’S COAKER WINS LEADERS AWARD BIRMINGHAM – Sandra J. Coaker Warren Averett’s Sandra J. Coaker received the American Institute of CPAs Women to Watch – Established Leaders award.

The award is given to a woman who has made significant contributions to the accounting profession or who demonstrates characteristics that have enabled them to become leaders in the profession. Coaker, who is a certified public accountant, received the award during the Alabama Society of CPAs annual Women’s Summit.

She joined Warren Averett Certified Public Accountants and Advisors in 2005 and is a leader within the firm’s outsourced services practice group. Coaker has 25-plus years of experience working with privatelyheld companies in a broad range of industries including health care, hospitality and professional service firms. She specializes in providing business advisory, accounting and taxation services, and her experience as a chief financial officer and as a

practicing CPA help her to provide day-to-day financial and management advisory services to clients.

“Sandy has been a driving force for the promotion and leadership of women’s initiatives within Warren Averett,” Richard M. Stabler, managing member of the Montgomery office and a CPA, said in a statement. “Through her leadership in the Warren Averett ‘Connections’ initiative, Sandy has significantly impacted our firm’s workplace and our community.

Sandy’s personal investment in the people of Warren Averett is on display every day through the many accomplishments of the professionals she has mentored and touched over the years.”

MAX CREDIT UNION OPENS BRANCH IN WETUMPKA WETUMPKA – MAX Credit Union recently held a grand opening for its new state-of-theart branch in Wetumpka.

D.G. Markwell

Local leaders, MAX employees, MAX board of directors and the Wetumka Area Chamber of Commerce were on hand to celebrate the new facility’s opening at 94 Captain Crommelin Road.

The full-service branch features lobby and drive-thru service. It also has the latest in modern design and technology with a concierge to assist

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

customers as they enter the branch, a technology bar stocked with the latest mobile devices and MAX mobile technology, and a MAX Perks refreshment center.

“Wetumpka residents and businesses are going to love this new branch,” D. G. Markwell, senior vice president of marketing for MAX, said in a statement. “Our new Wetumpka facility is built for unmatched convenience and the latest in banking technologies. For our customers, it’s all about banking, only smarter. We’re looking forward to serving our Wetumpka and Elmore County customers at this sparkling new facility.”

BEASLEY ALLEN FIRM, ATTORNEYS ON CHAMBERS USA LIST OF BEST LAWYERS MONTGOMERY – The law firm of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., as well as founding shareholder Jere L. Beasley, were given the highest honor awarded to Alabama law firms and attorneys, ranking in Band 1 in the Litigation practice area.

Shareholder Andy D. Birchfield Jr. was ranked in Band 3 nationwide in the products liability practice area. He manages the firm’s mass torts section.

The rankings were included in the 2014 edition of Chambers USA guide. Chambers and Partners, based in London, England, has been publishing the world’s leading guides to the legal profession since 1990.

The company has a team of more than 130 full-time researchers who interview thousands of lawyers and their clients around the world.

THE LATTICE INN HONORED FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

CADENCE BANCORP RECEIVES INVESTMENTGRADE RATINGS

MONTGOMERY – The Lattice Inn has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the third consecutive year.

HOUSTON – Cadence Bancorp, LLC and its subsidiaries, Cadence Financial Corp. and Cadence Bank, have received ratings from Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA).

The accolade honors hospitality excellence and is only given to establishments that consistently Jim Yeaman achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.

TripAdvisor determines the honorees by examining review ratings. Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five as well as volume and recency of reviews. Additional criteria include a business’ tenure and popularity ranking on the site.

“Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review of their stay at The Lattice Inn on TripAdvisor,” Jim Yeaman, owner/ innkeeper at The Lattice Inn, said in a statement.

“There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”

The Lattice Inn, located in Montgomery’s historic Garden District at 1414 S. Hull St., is an updated 1906-era cottage. For information, call (334) 263-1414.

Cadence Bancorp also announced the successful completion of a $245 million debt issuance to support growth and a continued solid capital position. The debt transaction is structured in four tranches over five to 15 years.

KBRA assigned Cadence Financial Corp. and Cadence Bancorp, LLC, BBB- for senior long-term debt, BB+ for subordinated debt, and K3 for short-term debt.

Cadence Bank, which has a branch in Montgomery, was assigned BBB for senior deposits, BBB- for subordinated debt, and K2 for short-term debt.

KBRA noted in its report that the ratings were supported by Cadence’s “strong management team, profitability, and improving asset quality.” The report also stated the company’s strong controls over risk, liquidity and business continuity as well as sound funding mix and improving equity levels.

“This is a tremendous step forward in our operating strategies,” Paul B. Murphy, CEO and president of Cadence Bancorp, said in a statement.

“We believe the ratings reflect our progress over the past three years as we have built out a meaningful franchise in Texas and across the Southeast.”

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Surpassing expectations.

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MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC PREPARATORY SCHOOL ANNOUNCES SERVICE AWARD WINNERS MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School announced the winners of the 2014 Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award.

Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar presented Gaylon and Mary McAlpine with the Charlie Harbin Distinguished Service Award and an engraved clock.

The award recognizes individuals who have significantly served Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and exemplified its values in their lives. The McAlpines served as members and president of the booster’s club and as members and president of the high school advisory council.

TWO GOODWYN, MILLS AND CAWOOD EMPLOYEES ATTAIN PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE MONTGOMERY – Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. (GMC) announced the professional licensure of two employees.

Dale Brasher

Dale Brasher recently passed the landscape architect Brian McBrayer registration exam (LARE) and has now fulfilled all requirements to be a registered landscape architect in Alabama. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Brian McBrayer received his professional engineering license after passing the principles and practice of engineering exam (PE).

He is a civil engineer.

To become licensed, engineers must receive a four-year degree in engineering from an accredited engineering program, pass the fundamentals of engineering exam, complete four years of progressive engineering experience under a professional engineer and pass the PE exam.

McBrayer graduated from the University of Alabama in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

ADVENTURE SPORTS II CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY MONTGOMERY - Adventure Sports II celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ribbon cutting.

“We’re happy to celebrate operating for 25 years in the River Region area,” owner Tom Mann said in a statement.

The store carries a full range of scuba products and offers specialty courses with certified dive instructors and is connected to organizations such as Dive Pirates, a nonprofit foundation, which has programs to help provide support, training and dive travel to individuals with disabilities.

“We’re delighted to equip customers locally for scuba diving and other aquatic experiences to last a lifetime,” Mann said. “With a variety of training levels from snorkel, diver to instructor as well as one-on-one swim lessons, lifeguard instructor classes and pool parties, there is something for everyone.”

Another feature the scuba shop has offered is travel options. Each

year there are scuba diving trips to Pensacola, Panama City, Gulf Shores with wreck dives of the Oriskany and the LuLu, Vortex Springs and Morrison Springs, Bonaire, Roatan and Cozumel.

“It’s like family when we go on a scuba trip and we make sure that the customer has the tools and the skills to make the most of their water experience.”

Mann said.

Adventure Sports II carries a full line of rental gear, including regulators, tanks, buoyancy compensators and wet suits.

“We ensure our gear is safe and worry-free because of our strict maintenance schedule,” Mann said. “We won’t let anything leave this store that we wouldn’t dive with ourselves.”

The scuba shop offers annual service and inspection for most regulator brands and also can provide air and nitrox fills, hydrostatic and annual visual testing for scuba tanks.

Adventure Sports II specializes in prescription lenses for scuba masks, custom-cut weight belts and can order custom-made wet suits for a perfect fit or exact color coordination.

NEW PARK ADDS 34 LOTS MONTGOMERY – Another 34 lots will be available this October at New Park in East Montgomery.

The developer, Jim Wilson & Associates, began construction and development on the lots in July. The 1,000-acre subdivision was established in 2008 with about 180 lots and will top 200 lots this year. Available builders include D.R. Horton; Hugh Cole Builder Inc., Elegant Homes, LLC; Nathan Watson Builders Inc.; W.J. Sellers Custom Homes Inc.; and Milton Strickland Builders Inc.

Located on Park Crossing Road, the subdivision features Wilson Elementary School, James W. Wilson YMCA, a 14-acre lake, pool and access to nearby retail and Park Crossing High School.

THE NEVER ENDS...

BARGANIER DAVIS SIMS ARCHITECTS ASSOCIATED CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY MONTGOMERY – The architectural and interior design firm of Barganier Davis Sims Architects Associated is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The firm was founded June 14, 1974 by Jim Barganier, who was initially working out of his home with his wife, Jane, handling all administrative and typing services.

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A growing project led to the addition of architectural partners and today the partner group includes Barganier, Dart Davis, Lee Sims and Ray Williams.

From the beginning the firm has been a general practice architectural firm, handling a variety of projects from residential to commercial and institutional.

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The firm also designed the more recent Shelby Hall Building at the University of South Alabama in Mobile and has designed buildings at Alabama State University, the University of Alabama and Auburn University, as well as 35 K-12 school districts in Alabama.

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The firm has received 33 design awards from state, regional and national levels.

CRAWFISH BOIL RAISES $22,500 FOR EASTER SEALS CENTRAL ALABAMA MONTGOMERY – The 10th annual Autism Crawfish Bowl raised $22,500 for Easter Seals Central Alabama.

The organization’s Summer Seals Speech Camp is one of the beneficiaries of the Mudbug Ball Committee contribution.

LOWDER RECEIVES MASTER’S DEGREE IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT MONTGOMERY – Colonial Commercial Realty Inc. President Josh Lowder received a master’s degree in real estate development from Auburn University.

Josh Lowder

Lowder completed the twoyear program while working full time in real estate.

stand out as special, both personally and professionally. Allison Guice is certainly one of those.”

JACKSON THORNTON MANAGER RECEIVES WOMEN TO WATCH AWARD

The awards are given in two categories: emerging leaders and experienced leaders.

Allison H. Guice

MONTGOMERY – Jackson Thornton manager Allison H. Guice was recently recognized by two organizations as an emerging leader among Alabama’s female certified public accountants.

The award was presented by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA) at the sixth annual Women’s Summit.

Guice, a graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery, has more than eight years of business valuation experience. In addition to the certified public accountant designation, she has received the certified valuation analyst and the accredited in business valuation designations.

She is a member of the AICPA and the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, where she serves on the course review committee. She is the past-president of the Montgomery chapter of the ASCPA and currently serves on the ASCPA board of directors.

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES RANKED NO. 9 BY AMERICAN BANKER BIRMINGHAM – ServisFirst Bancshares Inc. is ranked ninth in the Top Mid-Tier Banks between $2 billion and $10 billion in assets in the U.S. by American Banker for 2014.

Based on a three-year average return on equity, ServisFirst. is the only bank headquartered in Alabama to be included in the ranking.

American Banker uses regulatory data to determine the rankings, but since those registered as subchapter S corporations are not subject to federal corporate income tax, the return on equities for those institutions are adjusted accordingly to allow for fair comparison with their peers.

SAINT JAMES STUDENTS TAKE SPOTLIGHT IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP ARENA

MONTGOMERY – Saint James School’s Win Woodson was elected Melba Richardson “I have had the pleasure of Governor of Girls State, chosen working with many young from a select group of 2014 junior professionals in my 40-plus years in girls from across Alabama. this profession,” Jackson Thornton principal Ed Sauls wrote in his Guice Woodson is the most recent in a long nomination. “Over those years, a few line of Saint James School students to hold city, state, and national positions of prominence throughout the school’s 59-year history, including Girls Nation president to Outstanding Senate Statesmen honors.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Saint James School boasts bragging rights in the youth leadership arena for 2013-14 when students have claimed the positions of Montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Mayor, Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Governor-Elect, Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Girls State Governor and one of the two Hearst U.S. Senate Youth Delegates from state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact that all these young leaders are Saint James students speaks volumes about the education they are receiving,â&#x20AC;? Saint James Head of School Melba Richardson said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also speaks to the support and inspiration our faculty provide, motivating students to get involved, take a challenge and succeed. We are thrilled that each of these young student leaders calls Saint James their school home, and that our school continues to put an indelible STJ stamp on youth leadership in Montgomery, in Alabama and even in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital.â&#x20AC;?

NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL CAMPUS COMES TO JACKSON HOSPITAL MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A new medical school campus for the clinical training of third- and fourth-year osteopathic medical students will be located at Jackson Hospital and Clinic.

Fourteen students from the Alabama Medical Education Consortium (AMEC) are working alongside Joe Riley Jackson Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physicians performing their clinical rotations. For the past 10 years, Jackson Hospital has been a host site for rotations for students through AMEC, which will become incorporated into the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) this fall.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A community-based education site like Jackson Hospital will be a premier teaching site for students,â&#x20AC;?

Dr. Wil Baker, executive director of AMEC and associate dean of ACOM, said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been connected to Jackson Hospital now for several years and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten to know the hospital and the physicians.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve time-tested Jackson Hospital and it will be as good as it gets when it comes to educating students for their third and fourth years.â&#x20AC;?

AMEC will have eight third-year students and six fourth-year students on the newly developed Jackson Hospital medical school campus.

The first class of ACOM will become third-year medical students in July 2015. When fully developed, ACOM will have about 20 students in both the third and fourth years of medical school on the Jackson Hospital medical campus.

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BOLDLY GO, KNOWING WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT YOUR BACK

Warren Averett Members Richard Stabler, CPA Tommy Sisson, CPA and Ray White, CPA

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“Jackson Hospital understands the importance of training physicians for our community’s needs,” Jackson Hospital President and CEO Joe Riley said in a statement. “As the Affordable Care Act and the development of Medicaid’s Regional Care Organizations make medical care more readily available to our patients, we must respond by also increasing the physician work force.”

PALOMAR INSURANCE CORP. CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Tony Craft

MONTGOMERY – Palomar Insurance Corp. is celebrating its 60th year and is one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the region.

The firm, which has 85plus employees, was founded in 1954 and the corporate headquarters is in Montgomery.

“Independence sets us apart in an industry in which the acquisition of independent agencies is the norm,” Palomar President and CEO Tony Craft said in a statement. “We are dedicated to serving our clients and community. We have the flexibility to create customized, creative and cost-

Len Skipper

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

effective solutions for clients who rely on us to help manage their risks.”

technology for growing food in space during human space missions.

The firm has offices in Birmingham, Troy and Atlanta.

SNC will begin lectures at Tuskegee University on the future of the country’s space program. Tuskegee University faculty will join SNC’s Space Systems Dream Chaser program advisory board to provide critical feedback on SNC’s plans for human space flight activities.

SNC will support the academic activities of Tuskegee University at large, in addition to the Department of the Aerospace Science Engineering through membership on the department’s industrial advisory board.

“Establishing and nurturing relationships has been instrumental to our success,” Len Skipper, chief operating officer for Palomar, said in a statement. “We are incredibly proud of the long-term relationships we’ve built with our employees, our clients and carriers. I think that says a lot about how we do business.”

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH SIERRA NEVADA CORP. TUSKEGEE – Tuskegee University and Sierra Nevada Corp.’s (SNC) Space Systems announce they have signed a letter of cooperation to initiate collaborative efforts related to SNC’s Dream Chaser Orbital Transportation System.

The organizations will jointly promote aerospace engineering education, research and development, scientific exploration, and recruitment and training of a diverse work force.

Tuskegee University is now a university partner with SNC on the Dream Chaser program. SNC will support research projects for Tuskegee University faculty and students to advance the technical design of SNC’s Dream Chaser.

The projects are expected to create internships and future job opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and non-STEM disciplines for Tuskegee University students. The university already has one of only two centers funded by NASA to develop a

THREE TENANTS COMING TO PRATTVILLE TOWN CENTER PRATTVILLE – Three tenants – Wharf Express, ADT Security Services and Armstrong McCall – are coming to the Prattville Town Center.

The Florida-based Wharf Express is a 2,500-square-foot fast-casual restaurant with nine locations across the South. The restaurant, which was scheduled to open in late summer, features seafood specialties, Po-Boys and salads for lunch and dinner.

ADT Security Services is expected to open in early fall and will offer both commercial and residential security services.

Armstrong McCall, L.P., owned

by Sally Beauty Supply, is also scheduled to open in fall and will be adjacent to Belk store’s west entrance. Armstrong McCall provides beauty and grooming supplies both to individuals and salons.

Montgomery-based Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, is the leasing agent for the center.

EXPERIENCED AGENTS FORM HOUSE & HOME REAL ESTATE MONTGOMERY – Carol Andrews, Daun Cioban, Blake Green and Kelly House have formed a new real estate agency called House & Home Real Estate.

The firm, which now has 11 agents, ranks sixth in overall listings in the Tri-County area. It is a fullservice real estate firm, handling residential properties, lots and land, new construction, lake properties, commercial real estate and home rentals. Its primary goal is to provide a new, innovative approach to real estate while maintaining professionalism with every client.

House & Home Real Estate is located at 2857 Zelda Road. The phone number is (334) 230-5777.

INFORMATION TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS ENGINEER RECEIVES HIGHEST CERTIFICATION IN FIELD WETUMPKA – Information Transport Solutions Inc. (ITS) announced that Vice President of Operations Justin Wasden passed the networking industry’s Justin Wasden most difficult certification.

A Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) requires an intense written exam followed by a full-day practical exam that many fail on the first attempt. Wasden received the CCIE Data Center, which international networking company Cisco says “certifies the expert-level skills required to plan, prepare, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot complex data center networks.”

“We are proud of Justin for studying hard and applying his deep base of knowledge,” ITS President Quincy Minor said in a statement. “His new CCIE certification shows how dedicated he is to his craft, and we are glad to have him on our team.”

Cisco introduced the CCIE certification in 1993 to assist the industry in distinguishing the top echelon of internetworking experts worldwide. “Passing the CCIE Data Center is a huge milestone for me,” Wasden said in a statement. “I’m honored to have a certification that less than 1 percent of the networking professionals worldwide achieve and I am glad that I can add this to ITS’ portfolio.”

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ALABAMA WORLD TRAVEL STAFFER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS CERTIFICATION

Kaitlyn Brett Wilkinson

MONTGOMERY – Alabama World Travel employee Kaitlyn Brett Wilkinson recently received the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from The Travel Institute.

Travel professionals must complete a rigorous certification program, demonstrate essential industry knowledge and experience and maintain high standards of professionalism to receive the certificate. The CTA curriculum covers four key skill areas: communication and technology, geography knowledge, sales and service and travel industry trends.

Wilkinson, a Montgomery native, has been advising clients at Alabama World Travel since 2011.

WSFA 12 NEWS WINS EIGHT AWARDS

Collin R. Gaston

MONTGOMERY – WSFA 12 News won eight Associated Press awards competing against television stations in the Huntsville, Montgomery and Dothan markets.

The awards were for Best Spot News Story (Midland City Crisis); Best Sports Program (BCS Pregame Show) and received honorable mentions as a staff for Best Regularly Scheduled Newscast and Best Coverage of a Planned Event (BCS Coverage).

Political Reporter Max Reiss and videographer Doug Gooden received recognition for Best Hard News Feature Story (Secrets in Sylacauga) and Best Series (Medicaid). Reiss

was also honored as the Best Specialized Reporter. Reporter Bryan Henry was recognized for Best Soft News Feature Story (Ladybug Quilters) while Mark Bullock received top honors for Best Investigative Reporting (Old Tires). Bullock also received an Honorable Mention for Best News Anchor. Reporter Tametria Conner was selected as Best Reporter and also garnered Honorable Mentions for two specific stories: Best Hard News Feature Story (Police Officer Racing Incident) and Best Spot News Story (Police Chase/Shots Fired).

“The staff at WSFA 12 News is what separates our station from the competition,” Vice President/General Manager Collin R. Gaston said in a statement. “I am tremendously proud of the accomplishments of our individual award winners and the entire WSFA 12 News organization.”

BEASLEY ALLEN ATTORNEY NAMED TO LAWYERS OF COLOR 2014 HOT LIST MONTGOMERY – Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. associate Danielle Ward Mason has been named to Lawyers of Color second annual Hot List.

Honorees, Danielle Ward Mason who are early- to mid-career minority attorneys, were profiled in Lawyers of Color’s Hot List 2014 issue in July.

Mason joined Beasley Allen in 2009 and is an associate attorney in the firm’s mass torts section, investigating claims involving medications and medical devices.

She has handled cases involving hormone replacement therapy, Reglan, hernia mesh patches and transvaginal mesh.

The honorees were selected through a two-pronged process. The selection

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committee spent months reviewing nominations and researching bar association publications and legal blogs to identify candidates, and accepted nominations from mentors, peers and colleagues.

The selection committee also made editorial choices of attorneys, who had noteworthy accomplishments, especially those active in legal pipeline initiatives.

CAPELL & HOWARD ATTORNEY RECEIVES PRO BONO AWARD MONTGOMERY – Capell & Howard’s Jimmy Walter was recognized as the recipient of this year’s Alabama State Bar Pro Bono Award for Mediation.

Jimmy Walter

The award was given in recognition of Jimmy’s pro bono mediation services to the Montgomery County district and circuit courts. Walter, who is the co-chair of the firm’s litigation department, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Alabama Super Lawyers in the specialties of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

HISTORIC STANDARD CLUBHOUSE DONATED TO HOSPICE OF MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY – The Historic Standard Clubhouse and its grounds have been donated to the Hospice of Montgomery for the future River Region Hospice Home.

Hospice of Montgomery, which has been providing services for patients and their families for 30-plus years, will begin a $10 million capital campaign this fall.

The Historic Standard Clubhouse and grounds were donated by Bill and Lucy Jackson, along with Warren and Phyllis Jackson.

For information about Hospice of Montgomery, contact Amy Godsoe Capps at (334) 279-6677 or agodsoe@hospiceofmontgomery.org.

WVAS-FM CAPTURES MEDIA AWARDS MONTGOMERY – WVAS-FM, the “Voice of Alabama Candy Capel State University,” received top honors at the Alabama Associated Press Media Editors (APME) awards banquet.

Marcus Hyles won the Alabama APME first-place award for Best Anchor. Hyles is WVAS-FM’s senior news correspondent, who has been with the station since 2009. He also received an honorable mention for Best Commentator or Editorialist.

Scottie Hunter took home a firstplace award for Best Sports Reporter

and received an honorable mention for Best Reporter. Hunter is an ASU alumnus who has been with the station since 2013.

Candy Capel, WVAS station manager, said the awards reflect the station’s commitment to providing the best news and public affairs programming to its listening community.

“These awards are a validation of the hard work performed by our awardwinning news team each and every day,” she said in a statement. “We strive for excellence in everything that we do, and we are grateful for this type of recognition that brings honor to WVAS-FM and to Alabama State University.”

Other awards for WVAS included an honorable mention in the Best Specialized Reporter category for Melanie Hogan and an honorable mention for the Best Regularly Scheduled Newscast for the WVAS News Team.

The awards are for coverage in 2013 and were presented to newspapers, radio and TV stations across Alabama.

WARREN AVERETT’S SELLERS ELECTED TO ACCOUNTING GROUP’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIRMINGHAM – Greg Sellers of Warren Averett, LLC, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors has been selected to the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants’ (ASCPA) board of directors.

The ASCPA is the statewide, professional membership organization representing more than 6,700 Alabama certified public accountants in public practice, industry, government and education. The CONTINUED ON PAGE

Greg Sellers

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September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

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ASCPA’s 2014-2015 officers and board members were selected at the association’s annual meeting. Sellers will serve a two-year term.

Sellers joined Warren Averett in 1986 and is a member in the tax division, and a leader of the estate and trust practice. He has 28 years of experience in public accounting and specializes in estate, gift and trust tax planning and preparation.

He works in the firm’s Montgomery office.

DOTHAN – Four Star Freightliner Inc. Jerry Kocan has created the Four Star Freightliner Diesel Technician Training Program.

AUM FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN UNION STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTGOMERY – Auburn University at Montgomery signed an agreement with Southern Union State Community College, formalizing a partnership aimed at better supporting students interested in transferring to AUM. AUM Chancellor John G. Veres III and SUSCC President Glenda Colagross participated in a signing ceremony on Auburn Montgomery’s campus, agreeing to: > Work closely together on student advisement, creating a pathway for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree to easily transfer into AUM. > Allow SUSCC students to “reverse transfer” credits back to SUSCC and receive an associate’s degree while completing a bachelor’s at AUM. > Provide scholarships to incoming AUM students.

Beginning in the fall 2015, all SUSCC students transferring to AUM with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average will be provided a $1,000 to $2,500 scholarship. The top SUSCC student transferring to AUM, as selected by the SUSCC administration, will receive tuition and fees for two years.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

“The Central Alabama Sports Commission and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitor Bureau are working hard to ensure that the next three championship games at the world-class Cramton Bowl and Multiplex are the best and most memorable in SIAC history,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said in a statement.

FOUR STAR FREIGHTLINER CREATES DIESEL TECH TRAINING PROGRAM

It was created by dealer principal Jerry Kocan in Montgomery to fill a void and to secure future technicians for the company’s five dealerships across the Southeast.

HARTZELL ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES BUYS PLANE-POWER ASSETS

“We’ve had to go out and find young men and groom them through our own internal systems,” Kocan said in a statement.

David Carroll was appointed to lead the training program from the Dothan location of Four Star Freightliner.

Mike Disbrow

Four Star Freightliner has partnered with the diesel and heavy equipment mechanics program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Opp. The instructor, Eddie Spann, recommended three of his students for this pilot program, which allows the students to work in the shop on a part-time basis while they complete their formal training at LBW.

SIAC FOOTBALL TITLE GAME MOVES TO CRAMTON BOWL MONTGOMERY – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will hold its football championship at the Cramton Bowl for the next three years with an estimated annual economic impact of $1.3 million.

The title game, which will played in Montgomery this year, is expected to attract 15,000 fans. Tuskegee University is a member of the SIAC along with Alabama schools Miles College and Stillman College.

OSHKOSH, Wis. – Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC, announced that the company has finalized an agreement to purchase the assets of Plane-Power LTD.

“When the opportunity came to acquire the Plane-Power line, we saw it as having tremendous potential, not only to complement Hartzell’s family of alternators, but to gain immediate access into new markets,” Mike Disbrow, president of Hartzell Engine Technologies, said in a statement. “In particular, Plane-Power is strong in the kit-built/ experimental market. They also have several (supplemental type certificated) generator-to-alternator conversion kits that will open new opportunities to us.”

Disbrow stressed that the purchase of Plane-Power does not include any Sky-Tec starter products.

While Sky-Tec and Plane-Power were closely associated, they were separate companies. n

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE relationship with its residential, business, and industrial customers across the state.

ALABAMA POWER ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP POSTS BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Power board of directors has elected Tony Smoke vice president of the company with responsibility for marketing.

Scivley is responsible for facilities and fleet management as well as real estate operations.

Tony Smoke

His election is part of a number Don Scivley of leadership moves.

Smoke succeeds Don Scivley, who has been named vice president of corporate services. Bob Weaver, who served Bob Weaver as corporate services vice president, has been named vice president of customer services.

In his new position, Smoke will oversee all elements of marketing, including market planning, sales development and support, power contracts and power quality and energy-efficiency programs.

Smoke previously served as area manager for the company’s Birmingham division.

The company also announced two other leadership changes focused on the Birmingham area.

Foster L. Ware III has been named the area manager for the north region of the Birmingham division, succeeding Smoke.

Ashley Robinett has been named area manager for the south region of the Birmingham division.

Smoke has more than 30 years of experience at Alabama Power, having held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in transmission design, substation design and distribution engineering in corporate and division operations. He has served as manager for commercial and industrial energy sales and efficiency for the Birmingham division.

He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law.

“Tony has been a valuable member of the Alabama Power family for years,” Mark Crosswhite, president and CEO of Alabama Power, said in a statement. “His broad experience and strong commitment to serving our customers make him an outstanding choice to head our marketing team.”

Weaver joined Alabama Power in 1980 after graduating from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management. He has served in roles of increasing responsibility, including positions in human resources, power delivery, engineering and operations, commercial and residential marketing and sales and service.

He was statewide manager of residential sales and the assistant to the executive vice president of Alabama Power.

Weaver is responsible for integrating all facets of the customer experience, including the use of technologies and research to enhance the company’s

Scivley began his career with Alabama Power in 1984 as a junior accountant in the Tuscaloosabased western division. He has

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progressed through supervisory and management posts and has served as assistant to the executive vice president and assistant to the senior vice president of Alabama Power.

He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

BRABHAM NAMED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR PRATTVILLE CHAMBER PRATVILLE – Amy Brabham has been named the director of economic development for Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Before joining the Chamber staff, Brabham was vice chancellor for Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development for the Alabama Community College System, Department of Postsecondary Education.

She has worked with local governments, state educational entities and statewide economic development organizations such as the Alabama Department of Commerce, Alabama Industrial Development Training agency and Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. Her extensive career includes Wallace Community College’s Corporate Education unit; Alabama Technology Network; and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development.

“I am excited and honored to serve as the new director of economic development for the Prattville Chamber,” Brabham said in a statement. “I look forward to serving on the Chamber’s economic development team as we continue to build upon an already strong economic development effort in Prattville and Autauga County.”

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She received a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University; a master’s degree from Troy University; and a doctorate of education from the University of Alabama.

“We are thrilled to have Amy join our team,” Patty VanderWal, president of Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement.

“Amy’s background in work force development will prove invaluable to our community. One of the greatest challenges and opportunities our state faces is the ability to supply a skilled work force that meets the needs of existing and prospective industry. Amy understands this issue and will be able to provide special insight and actions for connecting education and industry.”.

FOUR STAR FREIGHTLINER HIRES IT MANAGER DOTHAN – Stacy Smith has joined Four Star Freightliner Inc. as information technology manager and Chuck Cole has joined the firm as brand manager to represent its Western Star line of trucks.

Stacy Smith

Smith will manage the Four Star computer network and provide technical assistance to staff members in all five locations: Montgomery, Dothan, Tallahassee, Fla., Tifton, Ga. and Valdosta, Ga.

Smith brings 15 years of experience to his new job. He previously served as an operations manager for a Dothan company. “I wanted to get back into the IT field because it is my passion,” Smith said in a statement.

Chuck Cole

Cole has more than 35 years of sales experience and has spent the last seven years in the trucking industry. He will be working out of the Montgomery office and covering Four Star Freightliner’s area of responsibility, which includes Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.

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“I’m looking forward to a long relationship with Four Star Freightliner and growing the Western Star brand,” Cole said in a statement. “I love the challenge of a new venture and building new relationships.”

New truck manager David Turner said in a statement: “We decided the time was right to separate the Western Star and Freightliner brands as they have overlapping products and we need to really focus on both products in the marketplace. This will allow Chuck the opportunity to become an expert with the Western Star brand and he will represent it well.”

ZIEGENFELDER ALLSTATE ADDS EMPLOYEE MONTGOMERY – Sid Mickle has joined Ziegenfelder Allstate. The Chambers County native has 25 years of sales/ Sid Mickle sales management experience with firms such as Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Outer Circle Products before joining Allstate. He is a Troy University graduate.

The Allstate office is located at 8417 Crossland Loop. For information, call Mickle at (334) 288-7095 or send an email to sidmickle2@allstate.com

LIBRARIAN NAMED FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL MONTGOMERY – Martella M. Nelson has been appointed medical librarian for the Montgomery Regional Medical Campus Martella M. of the University Nelson of AlabamaBirmingham (UAB) School of Medicine and Baptist Medical Center South.

She will be responsible for all library and medical literature research for medical students at the Montgomery campus; nursing, pharmacy, dietary, physical therapy, and medical technology students; emergency medicine, family medicine, and internal medicine residents at Baptist Medical Center South; and all members of the medical staff.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in English from UAB in 2004, Nelson received a master’s degree in instructional technology from Troy University followed by further postgraduate degrees in leadership and management from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of West Alabama.

Prior to her appointment in Montgomery, Nelson served at Birmingham Southern College, Samford University and at UAB.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY INTRODUCES NEW PRESIDENT TUSKEGEE – Brian Johnson has been named president of Tuskegee University Brian Johnson and his family has pledged $100,000 over five years for student scholarships.

Johnson, the university’s seventh president, said during his introduction that he would assess the university and meet with various groups including faculty, students and staff. He said he wanted the university to be an “outcomesoriented organization.”

He emphasized five areas: > Creating a student-oriented culture > Fully inaugurating 21st century higher education > Overseeing efficient resource management > Increased student enrollment > Fostering a culture of advancement and development.

“I am asking Tuskegee University to do two things – trust the Tuskegee tradition and trust the Tuskegee trajectory,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day, what Tuskegee University will be judged by internally amongst ourselves and also externally will be by what we are producing.”

Wisconsin-Madison (1998); and a bachelor’s degree in English from Johnson C. Smith University (1995).

He has held administrative and academic posts in the following capacities: vice president for Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness; assistant provost for Academic Affairs; associate vice president for Academic Affairs; chief of staff; director; coordinator; associate; and assistant professor of English.

MONTGOMERY – Garrett Jemison has joined the firm of Franklin Resources Group, LLC, as a member.

He received a doctorate in 17th19th century American literature at the University of South Carolina at Columbia (2003); a master’s degree in English from the University of

FRANKLIN RESOURCES GROUP ADDS MEMBER

In addition to joining the team at Franklin Resources Group and assisting their clients at the state and local level, he has formed Jemison, Inc. which will represent clients in Washington, D.C. Franklin Resources Group is a Montgomery-based corporate and public affairs consulting firm that formed in 1996. The firm provides governmental affairs, media relations, strategic planning, crisis

management, lobbying, research and communication services to an array of local, state, national and international organizations.

“I have been very fortunate in my life to have gained from many meaningful experiences while working for U.S. Sen. (Richard) Shelby and look forward to doing whatever I can to help the State of Alabama in my new capacity at Franklin Resources Group,” Jemison said in a statement.

Franklin Resources Group President Johnny Crawford said in a statement, “Garrett Jemison epitomizes the personal and professional qualities we all seek to attain. He is a leader, a professional and most important, an individual that cares deeply for this state.

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A-KEEP ADDS PROGRAM COORDINATOR MONTGOMERY – Jiho “Joe” Yi is the new program coordinator for Alabama-Korea Education & Economic Partnership Inc. (A-KEEP).

Jiho “Joe” Yi

He previously worked as a Korean manager of The Midfield Group in Australia; an intern at Korea Electric Power Corp. in the Philippines and as an Korean/ English interpreter at Seoul Samsung Hospital in Korea.

“I truly believe that I can enrich the Montgomery community through A-KEEP’s global youth leadership training program,” he said in a statement.

TTL INC. HIRES SENIOR CLIENT MANAGER

Lynn Sisk

MONTGOMERY - TTL Inc. announced that Lynn Sisk has joined the firm as a senior client manager in the Montgomery area.

Sisk, who brings 30 years of experience in water quality and water resources management to TTL, is a native of Greene County. He is retired from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management where, for the last 13 years, he managed the water quality branch of the water division Sisk holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University and is a registered professional engineer in Alabama.

TTL has provided geotechnical engineering, analytical laboratory testing, construction materials testing, and environmental consulting services for clients nationwide for the past 50 years.

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TROY UNIVERSITY NAMES GIVHAN TO SENIOR LEADERSHIP POST Maj. Gen.

TROY – Maj. Walter D. Givhan Gen. Walter D. Givhan has been named senior vice chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development at Troy University.

Givhan, a native of Safford, who received a master’s degree from Troy, retired this year as a major general in the U.S. Air Force. He served as vice commander of Air University in Montgomery, where he oversaw all of the Air Force’s higher education – with the exception of the Air Force Academy – including the Community College of the Air Force, the world’s largest community college system.

He has also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in charge of U.S. global assistance programs and as commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio, the Air Force’s graduate school of engineering and management as well as its institution for technical professional continuing education.

In his role at Troy, Givhan will lead development and outreach efforts, including fundraising, sponsored programs, governmental relations and marketing and communication. In addition, he will lead the university’s efforts at promoting economic development across the state and region.

“Walter Givhan’s experience in military education has prepared him to excel in this important leadership role at Troy,” Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. said in a statement. “His experience in Washington, D.C., will be invaluable to our government relations efforts and his administrative and leadership skills will benefit his division as well as the university as a whole.

He is committed to the mission of higher education and will do an outstanding job.”

Givhan received his undergraduate degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and joined the Air Force in 1981. He is a command pilot and flight instructor with more than 2,500 flying hours and served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and received 15 major awards and decorations for his service. Givhan is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations who also speaks French, German and a dialect of Afghan Farsi called Dari.

“As a Troy alumnus, I’m pleased and honored to have this opportunity to serve my alma mater,” Givhan said in a statement. “I am passionate about the critical work Troy University is doing around the world. Troy University is headed in an exciting direction, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Hawkins and the rest of the Troy team, and I’m grateful to be a part of it. My family and I are delighted to join the Troy family.”

Givhan said that the position with Troy provides him and his family a welcome opportunity to return to his home state.

“Alabama is in my blood and I’m eager to return,” Givhan said, pointing out that his Alabama roots date to the early 19th century. “My family has long been highly involved in the economic and political life of the state, my grandfather having served in the state Legislature for nearly 40 years and my father having served as a bank president in several cities.”

Givhan succeeds John Schmidt, who is retiring after 20 years of service at Troy University in several senior leadership positions.

ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL HIRES MARKETING DIRECTOR MONTGOMERY – Katherine Perkowski has been named director of marketing and communications for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Perkowski has worked overseas as the United States Air Force community program director at Royal

Air Force Mildenhall in England and as the business manager of the Roadside Theater in Germany.

As an arts marketing consultant she has worked with the Atlanta Opera, Community Foundation of Lorain County, Opera Cleveland, Lorain Palace Theater, Arcanum Productions and Arbor Opera Theater. For the past two years she has served on faculty at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music as the opera program assistant director/ stage manager.

She has also served as a media adviser and marketing assistant for ASF’s Southern Writers’ Project Festival of New Plays as well as serving as a consultant on numerous other promotions and sales opportunities for ASF. “Katie not only brings a wealth of experience from markets across the country and around the world, but as an arts professional with roots in Montgomery, she understands the unique qualities and needs of this market,” Michael Vigilant, ASF’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.

“The ASF family is excited to have her on board.”

Perkowski will oversee ASF’s marketing efforts as well as the front of house, box office, gift shop and restaurant, the Black Swan Bar and Bistro.

Perkowski has a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo.

In addition to Perkowski’s appointment, David Roberson has been promoted to the position of associate director of marketing. A 10-year veteran of ASF’s marketing department, Roberson has risen from box office agent to ticket services manager to marketing manager.

Roberson received a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery and a master’s degree from Troy University.

GOODWYN, MILLS AND CAWOOD HIRES LEAD INTERIOR DESIGNER BIRMINGHAM – Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. (GMC) recently named Catherine Brooks as lead interior designer for the firm’s health care department. Brooks is a certified designer with more than 17 years of experience.

“Adding an experienced designer like Catherine to our team allows us to stay at the forefront of the Catherine Brooks ever-changing health care landscape,” GMC Director of health care Steve Alby said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have her on board and are confident that her talents and expertise will help us continue to better serve and meet the various needs of our clients.”

Brooks is already working on several projects, including the Great Falls Clinic Medical Center in Great Falls, Mont.; Infirmary Health Diagnostic and Medical Clinic in Mobile; and the Lauderdale Assisted Living Facility in Killen.

Prior to GMC, Brooks served as a project manager for Mary Schmidt Designs, managing clients such as HealthSouth, Michelson Laser Vision, Alabama Power Co. and more. In addition, she has worked as an interior design instructor at the Virginia College School of Interior Design and a segment contributor for Fox 6 as an interior design expert.

She has an associate degree from the Southern Institute School of Interior Design and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Troy University.

JACKSON HOSPITAL HIRES DIRECTOR MONTGOMERY – Jackson Hospital has hired registered nurse Twila Wheat as director of medical, surgical and pediatrics.

Twila Wheat

Wheat joins Jackson Hospital from Gulf Coast Medical Center in Panama City, Fla., where she served as director of general surgery, orthopedics and oncology. She has more than 20 years of health care experience.

“Twila comes to us with a great deal of nursing management experience,” Jackson Hospital’s Vice President of Patient Care Services Sharon Goodison said in a statement.

“We are very happy that she is on our team.”

Wheat received a degree in nursing from the University of Louisville, and later obtained her master’s degree in health care administration from Webster University.

LANGHORNE NAMED PRESIDENT OF JWA VENTURES MONTGOMERY – Rick Langhorne has been named president of JWA Ventures, a newly formed company.

The new company, an affiliate of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, will focus on single-purpose real estate investments, including buildto-suit development for single tenant buildings as well as other developments and redevelopment projects.

Langhorne brings 20plus years of real estate Rick Langhorne investment experience to Montgomery-based JWA Ventures.

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He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. A certified public accountant, Langhorne’s prior experience was in the Atlanta office of Pricewaterhouse; chief financial officer at Jim Wilson & Associates from 1995 until 2002; president of Ronus Properties 2002-2012; and most recently he served as chief financial officer for The Hutton Co. in Chattanooga, Tenn.

SAINT JAMES SCHOOL HIRES THREE EXECUTIVES

Larry McLemore

Elizabeth Fritz

MONTGOMERY – Saint James School announced three new hires, including Larry McLemore as the director of advancement and Elizabeth Fritz is the new controller and business manager. Lani Ashner has been hired as director of public relations and marketing.

In his new position, McLemore will direct the school’s development program and assume responsibility for facilitating continued interaction between the school’s admissions, marketing, alumni and development programs.

Lani Ashner

“Our advancement team is dedicated to connecting with our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends in a way that attracts resources, new families and volunteers to Saint James School,” McLemore said in a statement. “It is inspiring to be part of a school where 100 percent of our faculty, staff, board members make a gift to our annual fund – Giving for Continued Excellence.”

McLemore, a class of 2000 alumnus of Saint James School, received a bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College with a double major in political science and history. He received a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University in 2006 and a doctorate degree in history from Auburn University in 2012. Since beginning his employment at Saint James, McLemore has served as an AP history teacher, football coach, high school counselor and dean of student programs.

Ashner began her marketing career in marketing working in Atlanta, Harlingen, Texas; and then Montgomery. She served as an account director at three advertising agencies across the Southeast.

Fritz, a native of Montgomery, replaced Bill Furr, who retired from the position after 17 years. “I am so thrilled to be working for the school that has given my children so much, both academically and outside the classroom,” Fritz said in a statement. “I had such respect for the administration of Saint James as a parent. And now, what an honor it is to be a part of this team of professionals.”

Allison Guice and Ben Wallace have been promoted to senior manager; Selina Sexton has been promoted to firm administration; David Tew has been promoted to manager; and Sakina Kochi has been named the new information technology helpdesk manager.

She received her accounting degree from Auburn University at Montgomery. Prior to Saint James, Fritz was the business manager for 13 years at a local school. She also manages the business aspect of her husband’s law firm.

In her post, Ashner will direct the school’s media communications, its internal and external marketing efforts and work with the faculty coordinator for the school’s student publications.

“Every day, there is something new to share about our school and our accomplished students,” Ashner said in a statement. “Saint James School is truly the leader in Central Alabama for 21st century learning.

The classroom structure, the course offerings and the enrichment opportunities are preparing our students for college – as early as elementary school.”

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in speech communications,

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JACKSON THORNTON PROMOTES FIVE MONTGOMERY – Certified public accounting and consulting firm Jackson Thornton announced five promotions.

Guice, who joined the firm in 2006, specializes in business valuation, overseeing that side of the valuation and litigation group’s practice.

Allison Guice

Ben Wallace

Wallace specializes in small business tax and audit.

He has been with Jackson Thornton since 2005.

He received Selina Sexton his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Auburn University.

Sexton joined the firm in 1992 and became firm administrator in 2000. She chairs the firm’s

utilization committee and oversees scheduling for all staff accountants.

She also oversees and provides guidance for administrative functions throughout the firm.

She is a graduate of Holmes Junior College.

ALABAMA NEWS NETWORK NAMES NEWS DIRECTOR MONTGOMERY – The Alabama News Network has named long-time Montgomery news anchor Glenn Halbrooks as news director.

Glenn Halbrooks

Halbrooks has 30-plus years of experience in television news at stations in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and most recently as co-anchor of the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts on the Alabama News Network’s CBS8 and ABC Montgomery stations.

Halbrooks has held positions in news, promotions and TV management. He got his start working for a local station while in high school in Chattanooga, Tenn., before landing his first on-air reporting job as a college freshman

in Macon, Ga. He also anchored the noon news at WSFA in Montgomery in the early 1990s.

Glenn, who was born in Huntsville, is a graduate of The McCallie School in Chattanooga and Mercer University in Macon.

The Alabama News Network’s state-of-the-art facility features full high-definition, three studios, 23 cameras and three master control rooms capable of providing information for multiple networks.

The three primary networks are CBS8, ABC Montgomery and CW Montgomery. There are also three sub-channels: MeTV, Heartland and a 24-hour-a-day weather channel.

The Alabama News Network produces 28 hours of news per week for four of the five primary networks in the market with 16 field units, four remote microwave units, two broadband-based transmission units and three interconnected news bureaus in Troy, Greenville and Selma.

The network also produces a live, hour-long talk show, “Good Afternoon Montgomery”, that airs weekdays on the CW at 1 p.m. n

To submit your business news for publication, email a press release to editor@montgomerychamber.com. Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Members only.

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CHAMBER NEWS

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GROUND BREAKINGS

RAINBOW INTERNATIONAL RESTORATION OF MONTGOMERY 630 Oliver Road, Suite A, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-819-4800 • www.rainbowintl.com/montgomery Ashley Williams & Joseph Williams - Owners Restoration Services

THE SAFETY SHOPPE, LLC P.O. Box 242215, Montgomery, AL 36124 334-531-9382 • www.thesafetyshoppe.com Marcil McClammy - Owner/CEO Mary McClammy - Owner Safety Products

PEYTON’S PLACE

CARMIKE CINEMAS-CHANTILLY 13

5336 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109 334-396-3630 Sissy Shaw & Richard Shaw - Owners Restaurants-Southern

10477 Chantilly Parkway, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-386-8017 • www.carmike.com Laura McCauley - General Manager Theatres

SCOTT STREET DELI

CONCIERGE SERVICES, INC.

HOUSE & HOME REAL ESTATE

412 Scott Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-264-9415 • www.scottstreetdeli.com Kathy Powell & Rusty Powell - Owners Restaurants - Deli • Catering Services

P.O. Box 971, Montgomery, AL 36109-0971 334-538-6383 • www.csiground.com David Sadler - Owner Airport Shuttle & Transportation Services

2857 Zelda Road, Montgomery, AL 36106 334-230-5777 • www.housevaluesinmontgomery.com Carol Andrews-Broker/Owner Kelley House, Daun Cioban & Blake Green - Owners Real Estate - Agents/Real Estate - Rental

SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

CHARLIE’S DONUTS & YOGURT

CAPITAL CITY CLUB

213 Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 334-324-3553 • www.charliesdonuts.com Jeff Ratcliffe - Owner Doughnuts-Sales & Mfr.

120 Monroe Street, Suite 2100, Montgomery, AL 36104 334-834-8920 • www.capitalmontgomery.com Patrick Skelton - Club Manager Private Clubs

•

225 Peachtree Street Northeast, Suite 1975 Atlanta, GA 30303 • 404-221-1041 • www.thesiac.com Gregory Moore - Commissioner Associations/Non-Profit

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REGUS 445 Dexter Avenue, Suite 4050, Montgomery, AL 36104 334-498-1360 • www.regus.com Laura Senn - General Manager Office Space - Flexible

OAK GROVE INN INDEPENDENT AND ASSISTED LIVING 3801 Oak Grove Drive, Montgomery, AL 36116 334-215-8881 • www.oakgroveinn.org Julie Benson - Administrator Retirement Communities

GUARDIAN CREDIT UNION 2755 Taylor Road • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-241-8769 • www.myguardiancu.com Summer Rowe - Branch Operations Manager Credit Union

SCHOOLEY MITCHELL

ADVENTURE SPORTS II, INC.

GUMPTOWN

6424 Halcyon Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-649-7535 David George - Business Optimization Specialist Telecommunications/Consulting Services

1546 East Ann Street, Montgomery, AL 36107 334-269-3483 • www.adventuresports2.com Tom Mann - Owner Diving

P.O. Box 201412 Montgomery, AL 36120 334-245-4127 • www.gumptown.net Jamal Thomas - CEO/Founder Publications

LOGOLAND MARKETING

ALLMED PHYSICIANS

SHRIMP BASKET MONTGOMERY

2501 Bell Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-850-7645 Linda Gleason-Owner Advertising - Specialties

9188 EastChase Parkway, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-323-4000 • www.goallmed.com Joe Herrod - CEO Hospitals/Clinics

7900 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 334-523-0466 • www.shrimpbasket.com Eddie Spence - Owner Restaurants - Seafood

ABS TECHNOLOGY, LLC

MONTGOMERY CURB MARKET

3201 Bell Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 334-244-2929 Michael Lange - Partner/Manager Nan Lloyd - Partner Computers - Software/Hardware/Consulting

1004 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104 334-263-6446 Billy Gibbons - Board President Attractions - Markets

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CHAMBER NEWS

NEW MEMBERS

COMPUTERS-CONSULTING

MONEY MACHINE HACKING Boyd Stephens P.O. Box 230546 Montgomery, AL 36123 334-213-1128

TOWER LOAN OF MONTGOMERY Nathan Rhymes 111 Brown Springs Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-386-8025 FOODS-SPECIALIZED

ADVERTISING SPECIALTIES

LOGOLAND MARKETING Linda Gleason 2501 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-850-7645 APPLIANCES-SALES/SERVICE

FRIENDLY HOME RENTALS, LLC. James H. Simmons 4103 Norman Bridge Road Montgomery, AL 36105 334-517-1100 ASSOCIATIONS/NON-PROFIT

AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION Aimee C. Johnson 3918 Montclair Road Suite 218 Birmingham, AL 35213 205-870-5172 Ext 3070 CAMELLIA BOWL Johnny Williams 166 Commerce Street 2nd Floor Montgomery, AL 36104 334-239-0546 DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Clay McInnis P.O. Box 1807 Montgomery, AL 36102 334-834-2044 SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Greg Moore 225 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1975 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-221-1041 ATTRACTIONS-MARKETS

MONTGOMERY CURB MARKET Randall Headley 1004 Madison Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 334-263-6445 AUCTIONS

GRANGER, THAGARD & ASSOCIATES, INC. Jack F. Granger 1806 Oxmoor Road Birmingham, AL 35209 205-326-0833

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AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS

DENSO MANUFACTURING MICHIGAN ALABAMA PLANT (DMMI-AL) Mike Bowman 101 Smothers Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-495-4003 BANKS

PNC BANK Dan Green 1465 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-240-8462

CONSULTING SERVICES

DAVMOOR Gene Moorhead 8650 Minnie Brown Road Suite 126 Montgomery, AL 36117 334-244-5044 JOHN E. O’CONNOR, JR. John O’Connor 937 Silver Creek Circle Prattville, AL 36066-6177 334-358-9708 SCHOOLEY MITCHELL David George 6424 Halcyon Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 334-649-7535

BEAUTY SALONS/SPAS

ANN LAWSON SALON Kelly Norton 7853 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 334-386-9848 BEAUTY SUPPLIES

BEAUTY & BEYOND Ashraf Hijaz 2762 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-538-9963 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

CAPITAL BUSINESS SERVICES John Brasch 600 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-391-0658 CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS

GIFT OF LIFE FOUNDATION Martha Jinright 1348 Carmichael Way Montgomery, AL 36116 334-272-1820 COFFEEBREAK SERVICE/ SUPPLIES

RED DIAMOND, INC. Janet Chambless P. O. Box 2168 Birmingham, AL 35201-2168 800-292-4651

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

CONSULTING SERVICES/EDUCATION

TANDEM EARLY EDUCATION CONSULTING, LLC Dawn B. Owens 8982 Stoneridge Place Montgomery, AL 36117 334-300-2900

BERDEAUX’S VINTAGE SAUCES, LLC Jim Berdeaux 205 Willow Springs Road Wetumpka, AL 36093 334-538-3792 FURNITURE-RENTAL

FRIENDLY HOME RENTALS, LLC. James H. Simmons 4103 Norman Bridge Road Montgomery, AL 36105334517-1100 HOSPITALS/CLINICS

ALLMED PHYSICIANSCHANTILLY Emily Lauderdale 9188 EastChase Parkway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-323-4000

DENTISTS-SPECIALIZED

ALLMED PHYSICIANSDALRAIDA Emily Lauderdale 4335 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-323-4000

SARELL DENTAL Cara Brenner 3439 B McGehee Road Unit 22 Montgomery, AL 36111 334-288-1868

ALLMED PHYSICIANSPRATTVILLE Emily Lauderdale 1840 East Main Street Prattville, AL 36066 334-323-4000

TRULOVE & FOY ORTHODONTICS, PC Tim S. Trulove 4164 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106-3600 334-277-2980

ALLMED WELLNESS CENTER Emily Lauderdale 7085 Sydney Curve Montgomery, AL 36117 334-323-4000

FACILITY MAINTENANCE/ SERVICES

CORPORATE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, INC. J. L. Spratling 600 South Court Street Suite 311 Montgomery, AL 36104 205-481-2090 FINANCIAL SERVICES

FIRST LEASING, INC. David A. Jones P.O. Box 2562 Opelika, AL 36803 334-749-2780

ALLMED WOMEN’S CENTER Emily Lauderdale 7065 Sydney Curve Montgomery, AL 36117 334-323-4000 HOTELS/MOTELS

CAPITOL INN & SUITES Kris Patel 743 Madison Avenue Montgomery, AL 361042714 334-269-1561 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MONTGOMERY EAST George Sanders 5135 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-9199

INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

CHEROKEE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY, LLC William M. Martin 3028 Highway 21 Atmore, AL 36502 251-368-7001 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIRMS

APPTIS, INC. Olan G. Waldrop 60 Commerce Street Suite 1205 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-356-7056 INSURANCE COMPANIES/SERVICES

TONY RICHARDS STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENCY Tony Richards 7032 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-593-9385 INTERIOR DESIGN

ASHLEY GILBREATH INTERIOR DESIGN & PARISH Ashley Gilbreath 514 Cloverdale Road, #E & F Montgomery, AL 36106 334-262-3231 JANITORIAL SERVICE/ SUPPLIES

GO GREEN JANITORIAL SERVICES LLC MeKeisha T. Thomas 8448 Crossland Loop Suite 145 Montgomery, AL 36117 334-277-5880 MOVING TRANSFER & STORAGE

MJACKSON ENTERPRISES, LLC Michael Jackson 5348 Lola Lane Montgomery, AL 36108 334-313-9389 OFFICE EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES

RICOH BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Kent Dendy 2350 Fairlane Drive Suite 100 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-277-2630 PAWN SHOP

MONEY MIZER PAWNS & JEWELERS Brian Walker 644 North East Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-513-7183

PHOTOGRAPHERS

RESTAURANTS-DELI

PET PAWTOGRAPHY Diana Bunch 301 North Hull Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-590-1875

SCOTT STREET DELI Kathy Powell 412 Scott Street Montgomery, AL 36104-4308 334-264-9415

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

RESTAURANTS-DOUGHNUTS

MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT HAMPSTEAD Hillary Drinkell 5251 Hampstead High Street Unit 111 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-356-1969

CHARLIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DONUTS & YOGURT Charlie Mingus 213 Commerce Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-324-3553

PUBLICATIONS

RIVER REGION LIVING MAGAZINE Charles Shamburger 1430 I-85 Parkway Suite 228 Montgomery, AL 36106 334-265-0066 REAL ESTATE-AGENTS

HOUSE & HOME REAL ESTATE Carol Andrews 2857 Zelda Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-230-5777

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 1115 Coliseum Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36110 334-271-1035 HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 4023 Troy Highway Montgomery, AL 36116 334-288-2245

RESTAURANTS-FAST FOOD

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 5101 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 334-270-8557

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 2715 Taylor Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-2004

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 79 Folmar Parkway Hope Hull, AL 36105 334-613-9879

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 1183 West South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36105 334-281-7367

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 906 Ann Street Montgomery, AL 36107 334-262-0650

HARDEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Denise Meeks 1041 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36109 334-244-8989

RESTAURANTS-JAPANESE

MAKI FRESH Jack Belew 2938 Carter Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-356-4504

RESTAURANTS-SEAFOOD

JUBILEE SEAFOOD, INC. Bud Skinner 1057 Woodley Road Montgomery, AL 36106-2429 334-262-6224 SHRIMP BASKET MONTGOMERY, INC. Eddie Spence 7900 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116 334-523-0466 RESTAURANTS-SOUTHERN

PEYTONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PLACE Richard Shaw 5336 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-396-3630 RESTORATION SERVICES

RAINBOW INTERNATIONAL RESTORATION OF MONTGOMERY Ashley N. Williams 630 Oliver Road, Suite A Montgomery, AL 36117 334-819-4800

SAFETY PRODUCTS

THE SAFETY SHOPPE, LLC Marcil McClammy P.O. Box 242215 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-233-4532 SECURITY SYSTEMS

VECTOR SECURITY Rocky Windham 5295 Vaughn Road Suite 3 Montgomery, AL 36106 334-785-5012 THEATRES CARMIKE CINEMASCHANTILLY 13 Alyssa Harvey 10477 Chantilly Parkway Montgomery, AL 36117 706-576-3400 TRAVEL AGENCIES/ SERVICES

CRUISE PLANNERS Ruthelise Anderson 4004 Cheverly Crive West Lakeland, FL 33813 863-644-1014

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September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

75

HYUNDAI SALES

ECONOMIC INTEL

CHAMBER NEWS

VEHICLE

JULY 2014

JULY 2013

YTD 2014

YTD 2013

Accent

3,755

5,537

38,019

34,996

Sonata

22,577

18,903

128,924

121,913

Elantra

22,213

23,958

134,710

150,202

8,655

6,845

60,660

48,003

512

928

4,703

6,720

Santa Fe Azera Tucson

3,767

3,949

28,103

26,156

Veloster

2,237

2,868

17,207

17,912

0

2

1

169

2,990

2,842

17,036

19,244

305

173

2,082

1,700

67,011

66,005

431,445

427,015

Veracruz

MONTGOMERY METRO MARKET HOME SALES

Genesis Equus

JULY 2014

MONTH/MONTH % CHANGE

JUNE 2014

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

JULY 2013

STATEWIDE JULY 2014*

Median Price

$146,450

$141,000

3.87%

$141,400

3.57%

$139,499

Average Price

$161,240

$158,741

1.57%

$153,006

5.38%

$159,503

2,925

2,953

-0.95%

3,004

-2.63%

34,060

Months of Supply

7.9

8

-1.25%

8.8

-10.23%

7.8

Total # Sales

368

370

-0.54%

342

7.60%

4,373

Days on Market

135

138

-2.17%

114

18.42%

152

Units Listed

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

BUILDING STARTS Building Permits

New Construction Additions & Alterations Others Total

Building Valuations

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

DESTINATION

MGM

BHM

ATL

Baltimore (BWI)

$307

$327

$299

Boston (BOS)

$324

$421

$293

Charlotte, NC (CLT)

$255

$258

$278

Chicago (ORD)

$290

$255

$271

Cincinnati (CVG)

$292

$383

$273

Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)

$318

$296

$184

Denver (DEN)

$304

$323

$204

Detroit (DTW)

$290

$343

$278

JULY 2013

JULY 2014

JUNE 2014

JULY 2013

45

33

238

$8,971,000

$21,451,200

$51,922,000

Houston (HOU)

$289

$316

$173

113

75

592

$6,799,156

$3,080,200

$38,335,276

Indianapolis (IND)

$310

$461

$228

24

31

157

$129,100

$341,800

$994,000

Las Vegas (LAS)

$449

$504

$365

182

139

987

$15,899,256

$24,873,200

$91,251,276

Los Angeles (LAX)

$334

$411

$323

JULY 2014

JULY 2013

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2014

YTD 2013

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

935

942

-0.7%

6,031

6,218

-3.0%

5,270

5,219

1.0%

36,882

34,208

7.8%

Enplanements

15,683

13,176

19.0%

92,801

96,165

-3.5%

Deplanements

15,792

13,545

16.6%

92,813

95,756

-3.1%

Total Passengers

31,475

26,721

17.8%

185,614

191,921

-3.3%

Source: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) Dannelly Field

76

AIR FARES

JUNE 2014

MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT STATS

Total Operations

Source: Hyundai Motor America

JULY 2014

Source: City of Montgomery Building Department

Air Carrier Operations

Total

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Memphis (MEM)

$301

$301

$292

Miami (MIA)

$290

$283

$250

Nashville (BNA)

$503

$458

$340

New Orleans (MSY)

$459

$256

$226

New York (JFK)

$307

$302

$263

Orlando (MCO)

$259

$245

$204

Philadelphia (PHL)

$297

$243

$134

Pittsburgh (PIT)

$342

$384

$255

St Louis (STL)

$248

$245

$311

Seattle (SEA)

$354

$405

$409

$1,604

$1,249

$1,172

Tampa (TPA)

$248

$230

$209

Washington DC (DCA)

$447

$332

$283

Seoul (SEL)

Date of travel: Sept. 16-21, 2014. Date of pricing: Aug. 3, 2014. Source: travelocity.com

Civilian Labor Force

UNEMPLOYMENT

Unemployment Rate

AREA

JULY P 2014

JUNE R 2014

JULY R 2013

JULY P 2014

JUNE R 2014

JULY R 2013

Montgomery MA

167,141

166,401

167,555

7.80%

7.30%

7.00%

Autauga County

25,504

25,358

25,566

6.80%

6.10%

5.90%

Prattville City

16,243

16,166

16,325

5.80%

5.30%

5.20%

35,103

34,933

35,165

6.70%

6.40%

6.00%

3,923

3,882

3,975

12.90%

11.90%

13.00%

Montgomery County

102,700

102,228

102,849

8.30%

7.80%

7.30%

Montgomery City

91,897

91,513

92,021

8.20%

7.70%

7.20%

532,607

528,348

530,450

6.60%

6.20%

5.80%

90,086

89,225

89,639

8.80%

8.30%

7.90%

213,763

213,731

213,252

6.70%

6.20%

5.80%

90,956

90,927

90,865

6.90%

6.40%

6.10%

182,727

182,325

184,315

8.70%

8.10%

7.90%

Elmore County Lowndes County

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

85,025

84,804

85,837

9.10%

8.50%

8.40%

2,158,808

2,152,120

2,154,717

7.70%

7.10%

6.80%

157,573,000

156,997,000

157,196,000

6.50%

6.30%

7.70%

SALES TAX

MA=Metropolitan Area. pPreliminary rRevised Estimates prepared by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations in Cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, based on 2013 benchmark.

FEBRUARY 2014

FEBRUARY 2013

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2014

YTD 2013

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

Montgomery County

$2,918,926

$3,014,488

-3.17%

$6,777,326

$6,933,671

-2.25%

City of Montgomery

$6,769,622

$6,765,724

0.06%

$15,755,638

$15,936,413

-1.13%

Pike Road

$164,375

$180,277

-8.82%

$329,409

$334,556

-1.54%

Millbrook

$432,605

$429,230

0.79%

$991,060

$982,132

0.91%

Autauga County

$576,604

$601,709

-4.17%

$1,304,607

$1,313,802

-0.70%

$1,427,975

$1,447,765

-1.37%

$3,563,994

$3,617,648

-1.48%

$408,795

$434,536

-5.92%

$926,509

$1,004,594

-7.77%

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.

QUARTERLY REPORTS NAME

QUARTERLY REVENUES

NET INCOME

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS ESTIMATE

YEAR-AGO REVENUES

YEAR-AGO NET INCOME

NOTABLE

Kohl’s

$4.1B

$125M

$0.60

$0.62

$4.2B

$147M

Same-store sales declined 3.4%

Wal-Mart

$115B

$3.6B

$1.10

$1.15

$114B

$3.8B

Profit fell 5%

J.C. Penney

$2.8B

(-$352M)

(-$1.15)

(-$1.25)

$2.6B

(-$348M)

Same-store sales increased 6.2%

Dillard’s

$1.5B

$111.7M

$2.56

$2.38

$1.5B

$117.2M

Target

$17.1B

$418M

$0.66

$0.71

$16.7B

$498M

Profit declined 16%

Same-store sales up for 15th straight quarter

Home Depot

$19.7B

$1.4B

$1.00

$0.99

$19.1B

$1.2B

Revenue increased 3%

TJX Companies (TJ Maxx)

$6.5B

$454.3M

$0.64

$0.67

$6.2B

$452.9M

Sales rose 4.9%

$523.2M

$46.3M

$0.07

$0.05

$603.7M

$2.1M

Revenue fell 13.3% on fewer company-owned restaurants

Lowe’s

$13.4B

$624M

$0.61

$0.60

$13B

$540M

Profit increased 16%

Sears Holdings

$7.9B

(-$402M)

(-$3.79)

(-$1.91)

$8.4B

(-$279M)

Revenue dropped 7%

Wendy’s

Best Buy

$9B

$461M

$1.31

$0.19

$9.4B

(-$81M)

Tax benefit boosts earnings $1.01 per share

PetSmart

$1.7B

$104M

$1.04

$1.02

$1.7B

$102M

Service sales up 4.5% to $200M

GameStop

$2B

$68M

$0.59

$0.57

$1.9B

$54.6M

Same-store sales rose 5.8%

$2.4B

$156.9M

$0.53

$0.52

$2.3B

$142.5M

Profit climbed 10%

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

September 2014 Montgomery Business Journal

77

QUARTERLY REPORTS

CONTINUED

Gap (Old Navy, Banana Republic)

$3.8B

Willims-Sonoma Fresh Market Aeropostale Dollar Tree

$0.58

$0.57

$3.7B

$333M

Plans to open 30 more stores in China this fiscal year

$974.3M

$46.1M

$0.48

$0.44

$887.8M

$39.5M

Revenue rose 9.7%

$431M

$16.6M

$0.34

$0.43

$366.7M

$22.1M

Sales surge 17.6%

$395.9M

(-$76.8M)

(-$0.98)

(-$0.72)

$452.3M

(-$12.2M) Will close 125 mall-based stores during the fiscal year

$2B

$138.3M

$0.67

$0.66

$1.9B

$133.5M

Sales increased 7.2%

Dick’s Sporting Goods

$1.4B

$70M

$0.57

$0.52

$1.3B

$64.8M

Profit falls on weak golf, hunting sales

Ross Stores

$2.7B

$243.9M

$1.15

$1.16

$2.5B

$234.6M

Sales up 6%

Kirkland’s

$108.3M

$2.1M

$0.12

$0.10

$101.2M

$1.8M

Comparable store sales increased 5%

Foot Locker

$1.9B

$162M

$1.11

$1.06

$1.6B

$138M

Comparable store sales rose 7.6%

AutoZone

$2.3B

$285.2M

$8.46

$8.45

$2.2B

$265.8M

Costco

$25.8B

$473M

$1.07

$1.09

$24B

$459M

Revenue increased 7%

Big Lots

$1.3B

$3.3M

$0.06

$0.44

$1.3B

$32.3M

Income from continuing operations up $0.50 per diluted share

$822.4M

(-$23.7M)

(-$0.32)

(-$0.19)

N/A

(-$7.2M)

Sales fell 1.8%

DSW

$599M

$38.6M

$0.42

$0.48

$601.4M

$34.5M

Profit up 12%

Fred’s

$498.3M

$6.1M

$0.17

$0.20

$501.5M

$11.4M

Comparable store sales declined 1.9%

Ann

$590.6M

$5.2M

$0.11

$0.31

$574.50

$20.9M

Profit dropped 25%, including $10.2M restructuring charge

Abercrombie & Fitch

Dollar General

Profit grew 7.4%

$4.5B

$222M

$0.72

$0.73

$4.2B

$220M

Revenue rose 6.8%

Jos. A Bank Clothiers

$196.1M

$9M

$0.32

$0.40

$217.4M

$8.1M

Comparable brand sales increased 8.4%

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

$121.6M

$9.7M

$0.14

$0.23

$120.6M

$8M

RadioShack

$736.7M

(-$98.3M)

(-$0.97)

(-$0.54)

$848.4M

Ulta Salon

$713.8M

$50M

$0.77

$0.74

$582.7M

$41.8M

$6.5B

$41.4M

$0.04

$0.04

$6.3B

$91M

Profit plunged 55%

(Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse)

$2.3B

$86.5M

$0.65

$0.93

$2.3B

$133.2M

Profit declined 35%

Bed, Bath & Beyond

$2.7B

$187.1M

$0.93

$0.94

$2.6B

$202.5M

Same-store sales up 0.4%

Walgreen

$19.4B

$722M

$0.75

$0.93

$18.3B

$624M

Rite Aid Darden Restaurants

Revenue at company stores fell 1.8%

(-$23.3M) Loss increased to $98.3M Sales jumped 22.5%

Tax rate dropped from 38.7% to 31.5%

Wells Fargo

$21.1B

$5.7B

$1.01

$1.01

$21.4B

$5.5B

Family Dollar Stores

$2.7B

$81.8M

$0.71

$0.89

$2.6B

$120.9M

PNC Financial Services Group

$3.8B

$1.1B

$1.85

$1.77

$4.1B

$1.1B

Revenue fell 6%

Yum Brands

$3.2B

$334M

$0.73

$0.73

$2.9B

$281M

Revenue rose 10%

BB&T

$2.3B

$425M

$0.71

$0.75

$2.5B

$547M

Revenue declined 7.5%

Regions Financial Corp.

$1.3B

$292M

$0.21

N/A

$1.3B

$259M

New and renewed loan products up 22%

(KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut)

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Profit increased 3.8% Profit fell 33%

$1B

$110.3M

$3.50

$2.05

$816.8M

$87.9M

Same-store sales surged 17.3%

$34.9M

$11.6M

$0.46

N/A

N/A

$9.7M

Profit jumped 20%

$7.2B

$1.4B

$1.40

$1.43

$7.1B

$1.4B

U.S. same-store sales fell 1.5%

$149.4M

$32.9M

$0.49

N/A

N/A

$31.1M

$4.6B

$174M

$2.12

$1.96

$4.1B

$137

Sally Beauty Holdings

$949.3M

$67.8M

$0.43

$0.43

$912M

$72.5M

Same-store sales increased 2.1%

Marriott International

$3.5B

$192M

$0.64

$0.67

$3.3B

$179M

Occupancy rate up 1.7% to 77%

ServisFirst Bank McDonald’s Trustmark Corp.

Lear Corp.

Revenue increased 7.5% Profit jumps 26%

International Paper

$7.2B

$161M

$0.37

N/A

$7.3B

$259M

Profit fell 38%

Buffalo Wild Wings

$366M

$23.7M

$1.25

$1.20

$305M

$16.5M

Profit jumped 43.8%

$631.1M

$49.2M

$1.82

$1.75

$589M

$51M

$3B

$512.6M

$0.67

$0.66

$2.8B

$417.8M

Panera Bread Starbucks

78

$260M

Montgomery Business Journal September 2014

Revenue up 7.1% Plans to open 1,600 stores in 2015 fiscal year

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