Montgomery Business Journal – September 2015

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FOCUS ON DIVERSITY PAGE 8

JOB SURGE

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PREPPING FOR PRINCIPALS PAGE 46

A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY

THE TOTAL RESOURCE CAMPAIGN SUPPORTS THE MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INITIATIVES

CONTENTS

14

MEMBER NEWS 28 Chamber Notebook

CHAMBER NEWS 06 Calendar 18 Reporter’s Notebook 56 Business Buzz 65 Members on the Move 70 Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings 72 New Members 74 Economic Intel

SEPTEMBER 2015

The city, county and Montgomery Chamber partnership recruited SYKES and 500 jobs.

FEATURES 8

BATTLING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS Q&A with Joe Gerstandt

14 PARTNERSHIPS PAY OFF City, County, Chamber recruit SYKES to Montgomery 16 EXPERT GLOBAL SOLUTIONS EXPANDS EGS to add 300+ new jobs 24 TOP-FLIGHT CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE Montgomery has it all when it comes to the cyber infrastructure at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex 26 COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER Mike Jenkins IV receives national leadership award 30 ROLLING WITH THE TIMES McClinton Commercial Real Estate relies on brokerage, investment fees 34 STATE SHARPENS INCENTIVE TOOLS New package makes state more competitive

37 SESSIONS REELING FROM SUPREME COURT RULINGS U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions at Eggs & Issues 38 (SOUTHERN) LIVING RIGHT Southern Living names Hampstead an inspired community 40 A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY Companies benefit from participation in the Total Resource Campaign 46 DEVELOPING PRINCIPALS Leadership Academy takes school CEOs to the next level 52 A WAVE OF OPTIMISM Montgomery business executives have a positive outlook for Alabama’s economy 54 INVESTING IN NATIONAL SECURITY Maxwell-Gunter is ground zero for a cyber-security center

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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THE NUMBER ONE BUSINESS SOURCE FOR MONTGOMERY AND THE RIVER REGION

Thank You to Our 2015 Campaign Pacesetter Organizations Alabama Gas Corporation Aldridge, Borden & Company • Belk C&S Wholesale Grocers Caddell Construction Company • Capell & Howard Carr Riggs & Ingram • Dillard’s Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church Hancock Bank • J.F. Ingram State Technical College Jackson Thornton • LEDIC Realty Company, LLC Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce The Montgomery Country Club Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board Morgan Stanley • Regions Bank River Bank & Trust • Saint James School ServisFirst Bank • Sterling Bank • Target Trustmark Bank • UBS Financial Services USAmeriBank • Warren Averett

Resources pledged by these and other organizations across our area allow the River Region United Way to impact nearly 140,000 lives in the areas of Education, Incom and Health. Income

PUBLISHER

Randall L. George EDITORIAL

Tina McManama David Zaslawsky Lashanda Gaines Melissa Bowman DESIGN

Copperwing Design PHOTOGRAPHER

Robert Fouts ON THE COVER

Beth Walker McBride (left) is vice president and co-owner of Workforce Walker Personnel; Edward V. Welch Jr. is president and CEO of Welch Hornsby; and Monte Burney is general manager of Capitol Chevrolet and Classic Buick GMC Cadillac. 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 7, 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 2015

September

9 > 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

CHAMBER NEWS

EVENTS

11> IT FORUM Presenting Sponsor: Auburn University Montgomery Outreach 8 AM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery Registration: montgomerychamber.com/IT

BUSINESS 16> DOING WITH THE GOVERNMENT In partnership with the Montgomery Chamber 9:30 AM @ Montgomery Chamber Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery Free Chamber Member event, registration required

21

> BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR

Sponsored by BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door

AFTER HOURS 24 > BUSINESS Sponsored by Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center 5 PM @ Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

29 > DIVERSITY SUMMIT Presenting Sponsor: Stivers Ford, Lincoln, Mazda 9 AM @ Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery Registration: montgomerychamber.com/ Diversity

October

5 > BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR Sponsored by BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door

REGION ECONOMIC SUMMIT 6 > RIVER 7:30 AM @ Wynlakes Golf and Country Club 7900 Wynlakes Boulevard, Montgomery Registration: montgomerychamber.com/RREC

7 > 60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored by Joy To Life Foundation 8 AM @ Lakeview Center 2660 Eastchase Lane, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

PLANNING SEMINAR 19 > BUSINESS Sponsored by BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door

DOING BUSINESS 21 > WITH THE GOVERNMENT In partnership with the Montgomery Chamber 9:30 AM @ Montgomery Chamber Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery Free Chamber Member event, registration required

22 > CONVERSATIONS: ROUNDTABLES FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

Presenting Sponsor: Morgan Stanley 11 AM @ Montgomery Country Club 3001 Narrow Lane Road, Montgomery Registration: montgomerychamber.com/ Conversations

22 > BUSINESS TAXATION WORKSHOP Two Sessions: 11 AM & 3 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery Free event, open to the public

22 > BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by New Waters Realty Company 5 PM @The Waters-Blue Heron Pool Club, 41 Lucky Lane, Pike Road Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

The Montgomery Chamber Event Calendar is at montgomerychamber.com/events 6

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

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Joe Gerstandt is a co-author of Social Gravity: Harnessing the Natural Laws of Relationships, and one of the featured speakers at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Diversity Summit. He was recently interviewed by the Montgomery Business Journal’s David Zaslawsky.

Q&A 8

BATTLING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Montgomery Business Journal: You write that many leaders and organizations understand that diversity means difference and the importance of it, but “few” understand the dynamics that get in the way. What are those dynamics that get in the way? Gerstandt: There are probably a number of different things, but I think there are two basic answers to that question. One is that a lot of leaders don’t realize that as you bring more diversity into an organization or a group or a process, you also bring in more potential for tension and conflict into that group or process. Conflict done the right way – there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s a valuable thing, but to benefit from that diversity, one of the things you have to be able to deal with… you have to be able to have a healthy relationship with conflict. You need to have the right kind of conflict – respectful disagreements. A lot of organizations are not very good at that and management as well. n

What is the other basic factor? n It is what I’m planning to talk about when I come to Montgomery and that is the – it’s not brand new, but it’s still fairly new – emerging field of unconscious bias or unintentional bias.

I read that on your blog. By definition, we don’t realize it. Right. Kind of the mindset behind much of what is done in the name of diversity and inclusion today is based on the idea that there are good people in the world and good people are open-minded and not judgmental and not biased. And then there are bad people and bad people are biased. The work is kind of about finding the bad ones and fixing them. That’s the mindset that’s behind a lot of this work and we know enough today about human beings and especially the human brain to know that actually there is no such thing as a non-judgmental human being. You might not have hatred in your heart – it doesn’t require that – but part of the brain has a job to do. It’s trying to keep you alive. In order to keep you alive, it’s jumping to conclusions and making assumptions all the time – constantly. It does that outside our conscious awareness because it’s a lot faster that way. It’s not a good thing or a bad thing – it’s just a true thing. There are pros and cons to it. n

What can we do about it? n One of the things we can do as we come to a better understanding of this, we can take a look at the decisions that we make about people. For instance, who to hire; who not to hire; who to promote – those types of things – with an understanding of behavioral economics and the new brain science – we can take a look at those decision-making processes. Rather than believe they are unbiased because we are good people with good intentions, we can look at those processes realizing that we may have good intentions, but we’re still naturally and automatically biased. Are we doing anything to mitigate that bias? Do we mitigate the impact of that bias in some of these formal decisions that we make about human beings?

Are you going to talk about how to mitigate those unintentional biases? Will that be the thrust of the speech? n Yes, the thrust of it is unpacking a little bit of what we’ve learned – some of the new science; some of our new understandings about human nature that have (come) in the past 10 years. I’m going to talk a little bit about what unconscious bias is; why it happens and where it comes from, but the other part of that is, so what do we do about it? There is some individual stuff, but there is also some organizational stuff that we can do. It really helps us get closer to that place where we are actually able to hire the best person for the job. The problem is, a lot of folks already think they’re good at that, but we’re not. We are a little bit more naturally wired to identify people that we’re comfortable with. That has often times a lot to do with people that we think are like us.

Is it possible to reduce most of our unintentional biases?

Montgomery Chamber Diversity Summit is September 29. A schedule of speakers is on page 11.

n I don’t know if people completely eliminate it, but I do know and I believe very strongly that you can use things to reduce the impact of it. One the individual level, there is some pretty good research that shows that just being aware of the fact that we have unconscious bias, you’ve already started to reduce it because you’re thinking about your decision-making with that in mind. You’re just more aware of it. A pretty powerful practice is making sure that you have relationships with people from a lot of different social groups. There’s some research that says as long as I have real-life relationships from this particular social group, I’m much

Continued on page 10

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

9

Continued from page 9

less likely to be influenced by stereotypes. Absent those relationships, the fear is that even if I’m an intelligent, rational human being, I know that … my brain knows what a stereotype is and it has undue influence without those real-life relationships.

Are there some individual things a person can do to reduce their unintentional biases? n Some individual things you can do to be more aware of it is look for and challenge assumptions; to expose yourself to different stimuli and different relationships with people from different groups, but there are also things you can do that are more about operational ideas.

The number of women in orchestras. n Yes, the number of women, and it’s almost at parity today. You could say that I think those guys (conductors) were actually biased and they just didn’t want to admit it and there could have been some of that. But I think a lot of that was probably unconscious bias. Not a lot of us interview for jobs behind screens, but are there things we can do to remove some of that stuff especially early on in the process.

Does this refer to one of your blogs about first thought vs. second thought? n

“We can do a better job of keeping an eye on the difference between things that we know about people and things that we think we know.”

- Joe Gerstandt

Such as? In his book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell – it’s maybe 10 years old already – but it’s kind of about this topic. It’s about unconscious, automatic decision-making. He tells the story toward the end of the book about orchestra musicians. If you go back to around 1980, most of the musicians in the big orchestras in this country and in Europe were men. Every once in a while there was the claim of gender bias. The orchestra conductors that were making those choices couldn’t be more offended every time they were accused of gender bias because they felt that was just ridiculous. We believed that all they cared about was talent. In the middle 1980s, they started changing the audition process. Now, when you auditioned for an orchestra spot, you did so behind a screen. They (conductors) no longer knew who the music was coming from and guess what changed immediately? n

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Yes.

People can easily adopt that process of focusing on their second thoughts. Right, and what is the first thought based on. It’s usually not based on much in the way of new information. It’s based on what you see in front of you and essentially based on what meaning you assign to that. I get to speak at quite a few conferences and not always, but sometimes I’m very under-dressed to speak at a conference. I show up in T-shirts and tattoos showing and jeans and tennis shoes. And I talk about this very topic. After I talk, usually someone will run up to me in the hallway and say, ‘I just love the way that you dress. You’re just down-to-earth and relatable. You’re different than all these other speakers in their big business suits’, and I say, ‘Thank you very much.’ Then what usually happens a day or two later, I get an email from somebody that was in the exact same session and they say, ‘Dear Mr. Gerstandt, I enjoyed your session. I probably could have taken you a little bit more seriously if you would have been dressed more professional.’ Two, competent, fully-formed adults in the same session looking at the same image…The point is that it meant something different to each one of them. The way that I’m dressed at that conference doesn’t mean that I’m down-to-earth or relatable or authentic. It might mean that my suitcase didn’t make the trip with me. It also doesn’t mean that I’m unprofessional, but it means something to them. Most stuff that we see and hear – social stimuli – doesn’t come with a lot of meaning. It’s often times pretty vague. n

Continued on page 12

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Where does the meaning come from? n The meaning comes from the context and their perspective. There is a lot of choice and a lot of interpretation going on that we’re doing automatically. We’re not even thinking about it. We’re looking at stuff and we’re giving it meaning. We think that it’s positive or we think that it’s negative and it’s not necessarily any of those things. Just by keeping that in front of us and remembering that our brain is making decisions; making choices; jumping to conclusions – we can do a better job of keeping an eye on the difference between things that we know about people and things that we think we know. A lot of times there is a big difference.

A huge difference. Please talk about how diversity and inclusion lead to creativity and innovation. I’m not sure if company executives and business owners realize that connection. This is a part of the conversation that is as relevant and timely now as it ever has been because there is so much focus on innovation. If you really break innovation down to its basic architecture, what you find is that there is usually the tension of difference somewhere in there. There are different ideas; different experiences; different identities; different perspectives bumping into each other. That’s usually at the root of creativity and innovation. Organizations need to be able to consistently bring different experiences; different identities; different ways of thinking into their organization and make sure that – n

other respectfully; the ability to challenge each other is kind of at the root of group creativity and innovation. You have to be able to first source that difference and you’ve got to make sure that you create spaces where three to four people share that difference.

Please talk about the differences between assimilation and inclusion and how that impacts a company or an organization. It kind of comes down to how you define those two things: assimilation and inclusion are defined in different ways. Most organizations and most teams that think they are inclusive are actually pretty assimilatory in nature. The difference between the two as I see them is that assimilation means that I can join a team; I can be a member; I can be an insider; I can sit in and belong. But for me to do that there are some unwritten rules about what it means to be a member. There are unwritten rules and they not about the organizational values; they are not about the performance standards; they are not about explicit written policy, but they are about the other kind of unwritten rules that we tend to make up and operate on in our (workplace). There may be an explicit drug policy, but there may be some unwritten expectations about how we dress in this department or where we sit when we have our team meeting or what roles do we play. n

“The key is individual authenticity; you’re different and that’s a good thing.” - Joe Gerstandt going back to what I said earlier about conflict – not only teams come together with some diversity, but they are also willing and able to share that diversity. We seem to be kind of operating under the idea that if we just hired talented individuals and put them together we will have talented teams or smart teams or creative teams. At the group level, it doesn’t really work that way because individual ability becomes a small variable. What becomes a really big variable especially for things like problem solving and decision-making is a certain amount of difference and the willingness and ability to share – the ability to disagree with each

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

How do you define inclusion? n Inclusion is different than assimilation. Inclusion is I can sit in; I can be wrong; I can be an insider here and I’m different than everybody else. We know that and it’s OK. It’s just part of the deal. Assimilation is focusing on the belonging … and I’ve got to play down some aspects of my personality or identity. I’ve got to stick a little bit more neatly in, where inclusion is not about that. The key is individual authenticity; you’re different and that’s a good thing. Most organizations have a lot of unwritten rules and a lot of those unwritten rules not only do they not come from the organizational values or the performance standards or explicit policy expectations – they actually run counter to those things. n

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Rob Duncan, senior vice president of North American operations for SYKES (left) with W. Russell Tyner, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, announced that his firm would hire 500 people over a threeyear period for its back room operation.

PARTNERSHIPS PAY OFF by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

When the Montgomery Chamber recruits a company, or when existing companies expand, one of the deciding factors mentioned time after time is the the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County and Chamber working together.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

“It seems like they (Montgomery officials) were always together and That was again the case when Tampa, Fla.-based SYKES Enterprises Inc. announced it was opening a call center in East Montgomery and would hire 250 people this year and double that number over a three-year period. “It seems like they (Montgomery officials) were always together and working together to get the same outcome,” said Rob Duncan, senior vice president of North American operations for SYKES. “The difference is how well they all work together. They were on the same page before they came to us with anything. That helps a lot. “We’ve been involved with other communities and they’ll say go talk to the economic development council or go talk to the Chamber.” It certainly helps that the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce contains a Corporate Development division, which works on economic development projects. It certainly helps that the Chamber, City of Montgomery and Montgomery County work closely together. And are on the same page. During the news conference to announce the new call center, Duncan said, “I can tell you from the reaction that we got from Montgomery and the leadership … it was just a perfect fit for us.” The global firm, which has a European division as well as Middle East Africa, is investing $3 million in the new site – a three-story building with 45,000 square feet located in Technacenter Park. The call center is expected to be operational by midSeptember, Duncan said. He said that 80 percent of the jobs will be full time and that the company needs trainers, recruiters, managers and someone to oversee the Montgomery operation. Starting pay is $10 per hour. Interviews were actually conducted a day before the announcement at the Chamber Blount Boardroom.

working together to get the same outcome. The difference is how well they all work together.” Rob Duncan, senior vice president of North American operations for SYKES

SYKES, which had annual revenue of $1.3 billion in 2014 and $57.8 million net income, operates in 60-plus locations in 21 countries in primarily financial services, communications and technology industries. The current client at the Montgomery site is a financial institution. “We are going to become part of your extended sales force, marketing force or whatever that you do,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean in welcoming SYKES. “If you’re successful – we’re successful. If we’re successful – you’re successful.” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said it was a tribute to the area “to have a company of SYKES’ caliber and quality to be looking at Montgomery, Ala.” He said local officials have been working on the project for about a year and that SYKES will receive performance-based incentives from the state, city and county. “SYKES joins a growing list of companies that are choosing to invest in Montgomery and the River Region,” Chamber Chairman of the Board of Directors W. Russell Tyner said in a statement. “A global corporation like SYKES wanting to have a presence in this community shows how Montgomery just keeps moving forward.” n

Being in the customer service business, SYKES needs friendly, nice, kind and thoughtful people to handle callers, Duncan said. “This town just exudes that,” he said. “We are a people organization.”

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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Expert Global Solutions Site Director Pat Deprospo (second from left) announced a job expansion at the firm’s back office operation. He is flanked by (from left) Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr. and W. Russell Tyner, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The problem now is that Montgomery needs people to develop call centers “because, frankly, we’re out,” Strange said. EGS has been in Montgomery since 2001, but under different ownership. Back then it was called Outsourcing Solutions Inc. and then was purchased by NCO Financial Systems in 2009. EGS Financial Care Corp. bought NCO in 2013.

EXPERT GLOBAL SOLUTIONS ADDS 300 JOBS by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

After all the fanfare and hoopla surrounding an announcement of 300 new jobs in front of business and civic leaders, an Expert Global Solutions executive said don’t be surprised if there is another announcement by January.

Of course, the firm could have selected another of its call centers for expansion. As of late July, the firm was looking to fill 100-plus jobs including agents, supervisors, managers and support positions.

That’s how confident EGS Site Director Pat Deprospo is about the Montgomery location adding more clients. The company invested $1 million to refurbish the third floor of its site at Executive Park. It already operated on the second floor.

“It’s one thing to recruit here, but it’s (another) thing to have those that are already here and have an opportunity to take new jobs anywhere that they have platforms and make that investment here and to hire an additional 300 people …” Strange said.

“We’re definitely not maxed out here,” Deprospo said. “There is opportunity for future expansion.”

The Montgomery site handles about 275,000 transactions a month – inbound and outbound calls – with clients from the telecom and utilities sectors. The transactions “are typically financial in nature,” Deprospo said.

He said there is capacity for additional hires on top of the 300 that were announced at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Blount Boardroom, depending on how successful the firm is with current clients. He said the additional business the firm landed, which created the new hires, “was because of the superior service we consistently deliver to our customers. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said, “We recruit call centers all day long because they like what’s in Montgomery.” He said that Montgomery is an ideal market because of the students at local colleges and universities as well as the spouses of airmen at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex. “If you want to have a ready-made client go develop a call center, because what we’re seeing is coming back (from overseas),” he said.

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“Our organization thinks highly of Montgomery,” Deprospo said. “We have sites in over 300 different cities and 13 different countries and Montgomery is considered one of the top sites. The decision for us to expand Montgomery was an easy one.”

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

“You are a great example of what you think about and believe in Montgomery, Alabama,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr. “We applaud you for bringing these jobs here.” Strange did point out that he had a third-floor office at the EGS location for nine years when he worked for Blount International Inc. “He took my office,” Strange said about the renovation. “If you continue bringing 300 jobs you can have both of (our offices),” Dean said. n

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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

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STEADY JOB GROWTH Montgomery has been one of the top metros for job creation the past three years. The Montgomery area added 7,800 jobs from 2012-2014 for a 5 percent increase, which tied with Birmingham for second place behind Huntsville’s 6 percent gain. Montgomery was also No. 2 for job growth for the Jan. 2014-Jan. 2015 period. There were 2,800 new jobs for a 1.7 percent increase. Birmingham was the top metro with a 2.1 percent increase. For the first seven months of the year, 1,003 new jobs have been announced for Montgomery with an $89.6 million capital investment.

GREAT DOWNTOWN

HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATES STAY HOT

INTRODUCING AIR FORCE CYBER COLLEGE

Southern Business & Development included Montgomery as one of 10 “great Southern downtowns … that is worth a visit.”

The hotel occupancy rate for Montgomery through June was 64.5 percent, which topped the state’s other metros.

Air University announced plans for a College of Cyber Air Power with classes scheduled to begin later this year at Maxwell Air Force Base.

Strange frequently talks about the importance of downtown. Here’s what Southern Business & Development wrote: “A downtown is the heart of a city. A great downtown is the heartbeat of a city, where residents and visitors come together to experience the art, architecture, food and culture that makes that community unique.” The magazine noted that $1.5 billion-plus in downtown/riverfront development since the late 1990s, Montgomery has “become of the South’s must-see travel destinations.” The article points out downtown’s loft apartments, entertainment district, The Alley; urban farm, Riverwalk Stadium and the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center along with the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. Other cities on the list were Canton, Miss; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Little Rock; Memphis; Mt. Sterling, Ky.; Oklahoma City; Owensboro, Ky.; and Roanoke, Va.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

FAIRVIEW MARKET GETS NEW LANDLORD The City of Montgomery has purchased the Fairview Farmers Market from the state for $1 and will use some of the space for a Montgomery Police Department substation. The purchase enables market owner Flora Brown to keep the business open, according to Strange. He told the Montgomery Advertiser that the city’s purchase “will give her the confidence to expand and do the things she hasn’t done in a long time.”

Not only was Montgomery ranked first, but its percentage increase from JanuaryJune 2014 was also the most at 4.5 percent. Birmingham’s occupancy rate was 64.4 percent followed by Mobile at 63.2 percent and Huntsville at 62.3 percent. The downtown Montgomery hotels had an occupancy rate of 75.2 percent – an increase of 7.9 percent from the previous January-June period. The hotels by EastChase had a 76.5 occupancy rate, which was 2.9 percent more than January-June 2014.

“The college will be a learning institution where our students from the active duty and reserve forces, sister services and international partners can study together and innovate solutions to cyber challenges that face our nation,” Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, commander and president of Air University, said in a statement. Cyber college will focus on meeting “national security strategies in the next decade,” according to a press release from Maxwell.

Gen X: Caught between the Boomer/Millennial Workforce Divide Gen Y May Soon Dominate the Workforce, but Gen X Will Lead It First Much has been said about the great Boomer exodus from the workforce and the rise of the Millennial generation. With each of these cohorts roughly 75 million strong, they tend to overpower the smaller generation sandwiched between them. Gen Xers—born roughly from the mid-’60s to late ‘70s—are now in their peak earning years. The career trajectory for many of them is approaching a pinnacle (if it has not already been breached). While they may be fewer in number, Gen Xers are increasingly holding the reins of power. Knowing what motivates them and how to engage them is no less important than understanding the generations that surround them.

Understanding the Multi-Generational Workforce For nearly 20 years, the Emerging Workforce® Study, sponsored by Spherion®, has been exploring shifting trends and changing attitudes in the American workforce. According to Angela Swarts, owner of Spherion in Montgomery, “The workplace is undergoing a generational adjustment of values that HR and business leaders need to understand as they craft workforce strategies. We’ve found through our research that for many workers, age matters. It influences how they find jobs, what engages them and how to retain them. While some things stand out across the multi-generational landscape, there are also a number of characteristics unique to each generation. Gen X is no different in that regard.”

How to Attract and Retain Gen X Like other generations, more Gen Xers rely on in-person referrals to find a job than any other method. While they find both classified ads and company websites useful, Gen Xers are more likely than any other generation to use a staffing agency to find a job. In terms of what is attractive in a potential employer, salary reigns supreme for every generation. Next on the list for Gen X is location/commute, the person they will be working for, company reputation and the ability to work from home. The potential manager is of greater importance to Gen Xers than to other generations. Once you’ve secured Gen X talent, you will need to engage them for maximum productivity and performance. With only 43% highly engaged, there is significant opportunity for improvement. While Gen Xers are less likely to jump ship than other generations, 26% plan to leave their employer within 12 months.

Taking Their Turn With Boomers delaying retirement and Millennials quickly rising to join them at the executive table, Gen Xers may have little time to dominate the leadership ranks. Despite that, Angela Swarts advises: “Whether leading or not, Gen Xers possess a wealth of knowledge and experience critically needed to bridge the transition from Boomers to Millennials. Employers would be wise to keep that in mind as they develop strategies and implement policies to engage and retain their highest performers. Gen Xers are most definitely among them.”

What Motivates Gen X at Work? The Emerging Workforce Study provides insight into Gen X on a number of levels.

Issue

Viewpoint

Career Opportunities

Limited because of my age/generation

28%

Employer Reputation

Impacts profitability

63%

As importatnt as any job offer I am given

44%

Influence of Social Media A policy prohibiting posting would negatively impact my perception of my employer

How Many Gen Xers Agree

40%

Access allows me to be more productive at work

36%

It’s ok for my boss to “friend” me on social networks

33%

I am expected to be social media-savvy in order to succeed in my job

33%

If I were changing jobs, my social network would be the first place I’d go to find potential options

28%

Utilizing social media during work factors greatly in my job satisfaction

25%

Founded in 1946, Spherion is a staffing leader with 175 offices nationwide. Spherion offers clients the personalized service of a local business combined with the resources and expertise of a $2 billion workforce leader. Local owner Angela Swarts and her staffing team have been serving the recruiting and staffing needs of Montgomery and the River Region for more than a decade. From flexible to direct hire, they specialize in administrative, light industrial, customer service, non-clinical healthcare and professional placements. Find out how Spherion can help you build a high-performance workforce to propel growth.

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CHAMBER HONORED

ANOTHER HYUNDAI MILESTONE

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce was one of the three best economic development organizations in the state, according to Southern Economic Development Roundtable. The Montgomery Chamber was listed along with Cullman Economic

The Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery produced its 3 millionth vehicle in June and it was a 2015 Sonata Limited. It took 53 months to reach the 1 million mark and another 36 months to reach 2 million vehicles. Now, that HMMA added a third shift, third crew in September 2012 it took just 33 months to produce another 1 million. The facility currently manufactures both the

Sonata and Elantra, which are the Korean automaker’s top-two selling vehicles in the U.S. Hyundai also built the Santa Fe in Montgomery, before moving production to its sister Kia plant in West Point, Ga. More than 60 percent of the 3 million vehicles manufactured in Montgomery have been Sonatas (1.9 million) and another 700,000-plus have been Elantras.

Development Agency and City of Auburn Economic Development.

PARK PROJECT COMPLETED The Fairview Environmental Park has opened and will treat storm water that flows into Catoma Creek. The nearly three-year project cost $3.5 million, which was mostly funded by grants.

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NEW EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS The leaders at Auburn University at Montgomery and Trenholm State Community College signed an agreement for Trenholm students to transfer credits to AUM as well as using the university’s wellness center, library and career development center.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Trenholm students will be eligible for scholarships when they transfer to AUM. AUM Chancellor John G. Veres III told the Montgomery Advertiser, “This is going to be, frankly, the most important agreement we have with one of the two-year schools.” Students can work on their bachelor’s degree while obtaining an associate degree from Trenholm.

MORE ACCOLADES FOR SONATA The 2015 Hyundai Sonata has been receiving some pretty impressive compliments. It was ranked No. 1 as Cars. com’s Most Affordable Midsize Sedan. It was named one of the Best Family Cars by Edmunds.com and Parents magazine. Cars.com Managing Editor Dave Thomas wrote: “Not only is the Sonata the most affordable in its class, but it is also one of the best.” The midsize sedan rankings were based on price, long-term cost and options.

Meanwhile, Edmunds. com and Parents magazine determined their top 10 family vehicles based on safety, reliability and best performing family friendly models. “Families look to their cars to keep them safe while delivering versatility for daily activities and we are proud that the Sonata continues to exceed the expectations of parents on what matters most to them,” Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning for Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement.

TRADE PACT WOULD BENEFIT ALABAMA U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told the Montgomery Advertiser editorial board that the Trans-Pacific Partnership – a trade deal with 11 countries – would boost Alabama exports. He said that Alabama companies face a 70 percent tariff on automobiles; 40 percent tariff on poultry and 10 percent tariff on cotton. “If we can eliminate those barriers, the items Alabama exports are going to increase greatly,” he told the editorial board. Alabama exported $6.6 billion worth of automobiles last year

while poultry exports were $319.5 million and cotton exports were about $130.6 million. The top international destination for vehicles was Canada at nearly $2 billion in 2014. Canada is one of the 11 countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Other countries on the list include Mexico, the state’s No. 4 importer of vehicles at $344 million. Australia is No. 6 ($145 million); Chile is 13th ($31 million); Peru is 15th (nearly $15 million); and New Zealand is 16th (nearly $14.3 million). Mexico ranked No. 3 for Alabama poultry exports at $31.5 million and Canada was fifth at $24.9 million.

Vietnam was No. 5 on the cotton export list at $2.4 million; Peru was seventh ($943,000); Japan was 14th ($121,000) and Malaysia was 15th (about $85,000).

ASTON MARTIN CONSIDERS ALABAMA The upscale British automaker Aston Martin is seriously looking at Alabama to build a manufacturing plant. The company’s CEO told Automotive News Europe that Alabama is the “obvious choice” for a site in the U.S.

That’s because Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, is an industrial partner of Aston Martin and Mercedes has a manufacturing facility in Vance. Aston Martin is seeking a location to build its DBX crossover.

the capacity through incentives to accomplish this and we believe we’ve got the efforts under way in the education community to build the workforce,” Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield told al.com.

“We do believe we have the locations and

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September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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REGIONS BANK RANKED MOST REPUTABLE The largest bank that has its headquarters in Alabama has been ranked as the most reputable bank in the U.S. by American Banker magazine and advisory firm Reputation Institute.

The Montgomery Regional Airport saw passenger gains for 12 straight months, including three increases of more than 20 percent and one of 19 percent. During

AIR TRAVEL CONTINUES TORRID PACE

one of those months, passengers filled 86 percent of the total available seats. “Our partnership with the Chamber, the airport’s awareness campaign, and the awareness of MGM’s role in economic development have all played a part in the increases in passenger traffic,” said Chester Mallory, chairman of the Montgomery Airport Authority. A new website has also been launched: www.flymgm.com. The website has travel tools and passenger information and even boasts a cost calculator to show the total cost of travel, including driving time, mileage and parking fees.

UNIQUE CONCEPT FOR AUTOMAKER Montgomery now has one of a few – perhaps as little as two others – where a Toyota dealership is connected to a Lexus dealership, which is the Japanese automaker’s luxury brand. Reinhardt Motors celebrated its 45th anniversary of its Toyota dealership Montgomery by holding a grand opening ceremony for its Toyota and Lexus dealerships, which are connected by an inside walkway. There are separate main entrances. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange saluted the Reinhardt family as “epitomizing everything that is good” about Montgomery and family. The new $17 million facility is 83,000 square feet and has 40-plus service bays. The company has about 160 employees.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Regions Bank, which has $122 billion in assets and 1,650 offices in 16 states, received a score of 83.26 out of a possible 100 among customers and also had the highest combined score from customers and noncustomers in the annual survey. Regions was ranked first in three categories: performance, leadership and workplace. It placed in the top five in the products and services and governance categories. “We have built our company culture on a foundation of creating shared value - providing quality financial products, services and advice in a manner that benefits customers, associates, communities and shareholders,” Regions Bank chairman, president and CEO Grayson Hall said in a statement.

Area Housing Sales Up Montgomery area residential sales jumped 9.2 percent in June vs. the same period last year and were up 11.7 percent year to date. The 404 units sold in June were the best June since 2007, according to the Alabama Center for Real Estate. In another positive sign, the area’s housing inventory fell 13 percent from a high in June 2008, which is the equivalent of about 450 units. There was a 7.5-month housing supply this past June, which is still more than the designed sixthmonth supply, but was down 5.8 from June 2014.

PARADE OF HOMES RETURNS

MONTGOMERY RANKED NO. 6

After a five-year hiatus, Parade of Homes returned as 57 homes from 22 builders were showcased in Montgomery, Millbrook, Wetumpka and Pike Road. The event featured homes at Sturbridge Plantation, Hampstead, Deer Creek, StoneyBrooke Plantation and Breckenridge in all Montgomery; Grand Park in Millbrook; The Cove at Quail Run in Wetumpka; and The Waters, Woodland Creek and Stone Park in Pike Road.

The Capital City was ranked the sixth-best medium-sized city for first-time homebuyers by WalletHub. Cities were ranked in 18 metrics in three broad categories: housing affordability, real estate market and living environment. Huntsville was No. 22 with Birmingham ranked 27th and Mobile ranked 52nd.

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Montgomery does have it all. No, really it has it all when it comes to the cyber infrastructure at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex. Here is what Montgomery has: >> One of two military cloud centers. >> One of two Department of Defense global service desks. >> One of two locations running both Air Force and Army traffic across the same network. >> One of two Joint Regional Security stacks that secure traffic and reduce potential hacker entry points in the Air Force network. Joe Greene is the vice president of Military Affairs for the Montgomery Chamber.

TOP-FLIGHT CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN MONTGOMERY? ABSOLUTELY. by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

>> The Program Executive Office for Business and Enterprise Systems that develops, acquires and sustains Air Force software and hardware. >> Computer Integration Environment that is a test facility for new software and changes to existing software. Montgomery is the “only site for testing and upgrades to existing Air Force business systems,” said Joe Greene, vice president of Military & Governmental Affairs for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. >> A redundant energy source at Gunter Annex. >> College of the Cyber Air Power, which is being launched this year at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base. “Montgomery has all those pieces that don’t exist anywhere else in one single location,” Greene said. “Everybody has different pieces, but we have them all.” The Defense Information Systems Agency is located at Gunter along with the 26th Network Operations

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Squadron and the Program Executive Office for Business and Enterprise Systems. “We have a unique cyber infrastructure that will make Montgomery a center for potential rapid innovation and a test bed for improving cyber security within the Air Force and Department of Defense,” Greene said. Greene said that the cyber infrastructure “has the potential for drawing companies to have a presence in Montgomery to get in on the ground floor of new and exciting cyber partnership.” He said that the Cyber College at Air University “will bring together the best minds in the country to resolve the nation’s cyber challenges.” He said that “with all of these pieces that come together we can become the virtual sandbox for testing different kinds of theories and applications and processes. Not only can they bring together the great minds to do these things, but to be able to rapidly innovate and test that to make sure it’s effective.

“There is no other location that we believe that has all the pieces in the same location that allows for that to happen.” n

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COMMUNITY TRAILBLAZER Jenkins receives national award from leadership organization by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Leadership Montgomery was formed 32 years to get people talking to each other instead of at each other. A confrontation between Taylor family members and Montgomery police officers on Todd Road turned violent and it shook the Capital City. The impetus for creating Leadership Montgomery was “that communication between the black and the white community was through the press,” recalled Mike Jenkins IV, who founded Leadership Montgomery along with George Goodwyn, Lanny Crane and Solomon S. Seay Jr. “It wasn’t sitting down like you and I are doing,” Jenkins said. “Communicating through the press is not an efficient way or effective way of leading.” The goal was bringing together a diverse group of people – black and white; men and women from all walks of life. It was not about leadership training, but about “getting that leadership together and getting to know each other and learning something about the community. Out of those relationships things have happened – positively.”

Mike Jenkins IV is a founding member of Leadership Montgomery.

He is a well-known and beloved member of the business community. Mr. Jenkins has been active in numerous civic and professional organizations and has received many honors for his commitment to community.” So, what has changed from 32 years ago? “If we had a community crisis today – and this has been said by many people, it’s likely that whatever the nature of it might be – I think there would be enough telephone calls from across the city to do something about it,” Jenkins said.

She also praised Jenkins’ 40-plus-year career with Jenkins Brick Co. He started as a salesperson and rose to plant manager, senior vice president, and president, and was chairman when on Jan. 31, 2011 he sold Jenkins Brick Co. to Acme Brick, a Berkshire Hathaway company.

He rejoined the Leadership Montgomery Board of Directors last year. “I don’t know if it’s (the organization) any different. My impression is that the people in the room are having a good time. They like each other. It’s very relaxed.”

“Under his leadership, Jenkins Brick grew in its reputation as a major national manufacturer of brick as it built up a network of retail outlets across the Southeastern U.S., selling brick, ceramic stone, tile and other ceramic construction material,” Carter wrote. “At its peak in 2007, Jenkins Brick was one of the largest brick manufacturers in the U.S.”

He sees men and women; he sees black and white; and Jenkins sees people from all walks of life together – developing relationships. “Coming back subsequently and seeing the dream in reality,” he said. Jenkins, the former president and chairman of Jenkins Brick Co., was also on the steering committee for Leadership Montgomery and chairman of the board of directors. He along with fraternity brother Bill Smith founded Leadership Alabama, which earlier this year celebrated its 25th anniversary. Having been so instrumental in both Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Alabama, Jenkins was one of 16 nominees who received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Association of Leadership Programs. He said he was grateful for the award and what meant the most to him was forming Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Alabama. Jenkins said that he was very appreciative of comments made by Harold Boone, former Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce vice president for Minority Business Development & Leadership Programs; and Leadership Montgomery Executive Director Cheryl Carter. Boone, who nominated Jenkins, wrote: “Mike is the consummate business and community leadership professional. His footprint and positive commitment have resulted in a singular difference in the quality of life and significantly improved race relations in the River Region. “He was an instrumental founder of Leadership Montgomery over 32 years ago and has recently rejoined its Board – still committed to seeing the organization remain relevant today. He is well known for his work in both preservation of civil rights history and building bridges between community leaders.”

In 2007, the company had 652 employees and operated 25 locations in five states. From 1985 to 2007, Jenkins Brick grew by a multiple of 26 times while the brick industry output grew from 8 billion bricks per year in 1950 to 10 billion in 2007 – a 25 percent increase. In the spring, Jenkins spoke at Leadership Alabama’s 25th anniversary in Birmingham and said it was “a radical organization in as much as it doesn’t promote anything. What we do is get leaders who are otherwise disconnected together, and over the course of a class year, you can’t help but get to know each other.” The classmates develop relationships and “momentum occurs and the vapor comes together to create stuff. It is really an organization with the intent to connect already established leaders and develop relationships and in doing so changes the community.” n

“MIKE IS THE CONSUMMATE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROFESSIONAL. HIS FOOTPRINT AND POSITIVE COMMITMENT HAVE RESULTED IN A SINGULAR DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED RACE RELATIONS IN THE RIVER REGION.” Harold Boone, former Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce vice president for Minority Business Development & Leadership Programs

Carter wrote: “As a founding member of Leadership Montgomery, Mr. Jenkins has selflessly dedicated himself to the success of this program since its beginning 32 years ago. September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

27

CHAMBER NOTES UNITED KINGDOM TOUR OPERATORS VISIT MONTGOMERY The Chamber hosted a group of 14 tour operators based in the United Kingdom, who are evaluating destinations in the United States.

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION The Chamber’s 13-week Entrepreneurial University is under way at the Business Resource Center on S. Court St. The session, which ends Nov. 17, is for people looking to start a business or grow an existing business. Topics include financial planning, cash flow, marketing, budgets and legal matters. Tuition is $200, which includes class materials.

WOMEN AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Conversations: Roundtables for Professional Women introduced a new format at a recent gathering, with a brief talk about finances and investing for people in their 20s to their 70s. Casey Donovan, regional representative for John Hancock Investments, spoke to the group. The more structured program, as opposed to ice breakers, at the networking event could lead to similar discussions in future gatherings, according to Sheron Rose, Vice President, Community Strategies for the Montgomery Chamber.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

SPREADING THE MESSAGE The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce turned to local ministers to help spread the word about workforce development to their congregations. About 30 attended the first in a series of meetings in which ministers learned about workforce development programs at Montgomery Public Schools, Trenholm State Community College and Alabama Industrial Development Training, which is part of the Alabama Commerce Department. Dual enrollment for high school students and the Montgomery Regional Workforce Training Center were also discussed. The ministers were encouraged to talk to their congregations about all the opportunities of helping people acquire the skills for a job and keeping that job. Offering words of encouragement were Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr., City of Montgomery Chief of Staff Anita Archie; AIDT Director Ed Castile; Trenholm President Sam Munnerlyn; and Chamber staff. There was talk about holding Trenholm general educational development (GED) classes at a church. Those sessions would be open to everybody in the community and not just church members.

SALUTING THE MILITARY The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Military Appreciation Day at the Montgomery Zoo, when all active-duty and retired military personnel and their families received free admission. “Military Appreciation Day at the Zoo is just one small way to express our gratitude to the military families who sacrifice so much for our country and who also contribute greatly to making the River Region a better place to live,” said Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board of Directors W. Russell Tyner. Military families also received free admission to the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum as well as free train rides. Lunch, beverages and refreshments were also provided.

HONORING MILITARY, PART II The Chamber along with Montgomery County and the City of Montgomery provided discounted tickets for military personnel to see “Beyond Glory” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Stephen Lang portrayed eight men from World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor.

BIKE TOURS AVAILABLE Those bright green bicycles from Regions Bank are available for rental at the Montgomery Visitor Center. The four bikes – Capital Cool Cruisers – come equipped with a helmet, lock and basket. The rental rates are $14 for two hours; $20 for four hours; and $30 for eight hours. There is a two-hour minimum and riders must be at least 16.

Rentals are available 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MondaySaturday, but those hours may be extended. “We encourage everyone to take a spin around the city,” Dawn Hathcock, vice president, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitor, said in a statement. Now visitors and residents can tour downtown

on bicycles; Blake’s Segway tours; and Meet Montgomery Gem Car tours. All three options begin and end at the Montgomery Visitor Center located at 300 Water St. Blake’s Segway tours are available by reservation and the Meet Montgomery Gem Car tours are available by reservation at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays.

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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ROLLING WITH THE TIMES

MCCLINTON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE RELIES ON BROKERAGE, INVESTMENT FEES by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

“We were able to secure a site that is in the middle of everything.” David McClinton is president and CEO of McClinton Commercial Real Estate.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

There is a prominent sign across from the Publixanchored Dalraida Commons shopping center with the words: “Retail Development Coming Soon.” You also can’t miss the company’s name: McClinton Commercial Real Estate and its logo – a dog, the president and CEO’s Labrador called Remington. The name McClinton has been synonymous with developing shopping centers such as Festival Plaza and Walmartanchored sites at Midtown Plaza in Montgomery; Premiere Place in Prattville and Hillcrest Shopping Center in Millbrook. The 22,000-square-foot Perry Hill Crossing shopping center is being developed by McClinton Commercial Real Estate, which was formed in December 2014 and is operated by David McClinton. Zaxby’s and Burger King will have sites at outparcels along with Mapco, a gas station/convenience store. That will be Zaxby’s fifth location in Montgomery and eighth in the River Region. Mapco will have its third location in Montgomery. In addition to the outparcels, there will be eight restaurants/retailers on the site that was the former location of Head Elementary School on Atlanta Highway, including three restaurants that are new to Montgomery and were announced at a late July groundbreaking: Shane’s Rib Shack; SOL – Restaurante Mexicano & Taqueria and The Wharf Express, which does have a location in Prattville.

The outparcel businesses should open in the late fall and construction of the shops is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. McClinton expects spring openings. Once the Montgomery Public Schools district decided to close the school, McClinton knew the location was just too good to pass up. He had the property under contract for years and then needed a zoning change. “There are a lot of good commercial components there that made it a natural fit for another commercial project,” he said, referring to the nearby Publix, WinnDixie, Walgreens, CVS and a Wells Fargo branch. Downtown is just a couple of miles away. “We were able to secure a site that is in the middle of everything.” What gets him really excited is the traffic count of 40,000-plus vehicles a day. There are 12,150 people living within one mile of the shopping center, according to McClinton’s website; 81,138 living within three miles and 161,231 people living within five miles of the Perry Hill Crossing shopping center. It may not be terribly surprising that leasing interest has been off the charts. Shortly after he started marketing the available sites, he had “six letters of intent that are either signed or in some stage of negotiation.” Continued on page 32

Plain-spoken words in a complicated world are refreshing. That’s just the way we do business.

jacksonthornton.com 334.834.7660

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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Continued from page 31

“What I’m looking to build this business on is the brokerage side, which is helping anybody who needs assistance selling their property.� - David McClinton, president and CEO of McClinton Commercial Real Estate

“I can’t help, but spot an opportunity,� McClinton said. “What I’m looking to build this business on is the brokerage side, which is helping anybody who needs assistance selling their property.� He also represents buyers. He described McClinton Commercial Real Estate as first a brokerage; and second as an investment-oriented firm; and lastly as a development firm. He works with high-net worth people or companies looking to invest

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32

He is working to grow the brokerage client list. “You’ve got to get your name out there,� McClinton said. “You have to educate people that we’re no longer McClinton & Co, who’s developing shopping centers as the primary vehicle of the business model.�

Estate is not primarily a shopping center developer as was McClinton & Co., which is now actually a client of the commercial real estate firm. He is paid a fee by McClinton & Co. rather than a salary.

The reason for the business model change was the Great Recession and its impact on the commercial real estate market, which dried up for six or seven years. With the brokerage and investment vehicles, “you’ve got a much steadier stream of fee income that’s built into your business model,� he said. I think from where we just came from – it’s a smart thing to do.� n

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He gave an example of investing in a 20-year lease with Walmart – a fairly safe investment. “It’s not going to pay a 10 percent return because it’s not indicative of a 10 percent risk,â€? McClinton said. “It’s going to play a lower return, however, you can pretty much bank on it ‌â€?

Although he is developing the Perry Hill Crossing project, McClinton Commercial Real

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in commercial real estate projects. As an investment consultant, he can show potential clients projects across the country. Deals can range from a single tenant to a 20-year income stream from a lease to owning the land and structure and being the landlord.

He expects to see more infill type of projects on Atlanta Highway; on Perry Hill Road; and downtown Montgomery. “There’s a lot happening downtown,� McClinton said. “You can’t ride through downtown right now and tell me there’s no opportunities. There are other pockets of Montgomery that are the same way. This was an opportunity on Atlanta Highway only because once you tore the school down – it was the only available 12-acre site anywhere nearby.�

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

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Photo Cutline

WALMART WILL BOOST FESTIVAL PLAZA by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

When the president and CEO of McClinton Commercial Real Estates talks about a Walmart Neighborhood Market coming to the Festival Plaza shopping center in East Montgomery, he sees a stronger shopping center. What he doesn’t see is Walmart adding to the traffic congestion at the intersection of Taylor and Vaughn roads. David McClinton said the traffic counts won’t change, but some people may decide to go to Walmart instead of Winn-Dixie or Publix. The Walmart Neighborhood Market is the giant retailer’s version of a grocery store – a 40,000-plus square foot building vs. a Walmart Supercenter that ranges from 180,000 square feet to 200,000 square feet. McClinton calls it ‘Wal-Mart’s grocery store brand.” He said the concept is designed on the company’s “growing prowess in the grocery business.” “It will add a consistent daytime anchor,” McClinton said about Walmart coming to Festival Plaza. “What we’ve always had in that project was a great nighttime entertainment weekend kind of project, but what we’ve always missed with that project is a good daytime anchor and a good daytime draw. That daytime draw will help our other shop users immensely.” Customers who go to Walmart will likely visit other tenants at Festival Plaza, McClinton said. “That’s really the whole point of merchandizing and leasing. We’ve been looking for that type of user for a long time so we’re very excited about that and for what it will do long term for the leasing at Festival Plaza and the overall vibrancy and strength of the center going forward.”

The Walmart is being built on a 6.5-acre site adjacent to Festival Plaza on Vaughn Road. There is also a Walmart Neighborhood Market being built on Federal Drive in which McClinton acted as a broker representing the owner of the former Bonnie Crest Country Club location. The developer on that project is Dallas, Texas-based Cypress Equities. McClinton said he was asked by the developer to lease space to two to three restaurants and eight to 12 shops. “That area has not seen any new development in a number of years,” McClinton said. “I think what’s planned for the site will be good.” Depending on how well the Walmart Neighborhood Markets perform there could be up to four more in the River Region, according to McClinton. “I think they’ll take a look at the market and see how it’s absorbed; see how they’re competing. They will take some temperature guides on things and then they will act accordingly.”

“It will add a consistent daytime anchor… That daytime draw will help our other shop users immensely.” - David McClinton

The business model for the Walmart Neighborhood Market is being located at least two miles away from a supercenter and “providing a service to a nearby residential area,” McClinton said. The stores typically have 65 employees. n

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State Sharpens Incentive Tools by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

While neighboring states were examining and retooling their incentive packages to recruit companies, Alabama stood pat, and well, that did not work out very well.

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield

Although there have been recruiting victories here and there, there have been some high-profile setbacks such as Yokohama Tire selecting Mississippi; Benteler Steel selecting Louisiana; and Hankook Tire choosing Tennessee. Alabama officials asked site consultants why. They learned that the capital credit incentive had almost no value to companies considering Alabama. It was designed so that a company would receive 100 percent of its capital investment over a 20-year period – 5 percent a year against the state income tax liability.

“With our taxes as low as they are in this state and with the way the capital credit was designed and the restrictions in how it was applied – a 100 percent utilization and recapture never worked,� Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said. The incentive package did not focus on job creation, according to Canfield and worse yet, it relied on the unsustainable path of borrowed money. Now, Alabama has its groove back with the Made In Alabama jobs incentive package – three bills passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley. Those three bills not only make the state competitive again, but in some instances, give the state a competitive edge, according to Canfield. Site consultants have also taken notice. “We’ve had great feedback from consultants,� Canfield said. “Overwhelming, the support was very, very positive. Site consultants are excited about this. They are also eager to see how it’s going to be applied.� Armed with a new incentives package, Alabama is currently competing for “some very high-quality brand, high-name-recognition companies with the types of brands you want to attract to the state,� Canfield said.

Louisiana, South Carolina and Mississippi. The Alabama Jobs Act also made Alabama “a little more innovative than the next guy,� Canfield said. Companies can now receive a 3 percent jobs credit a year for up to 10 years, but it’s also a pay-as-yougo approach. A company receives the credit after operating for a year. That credit could increase to 4 percent a year as part of the Alabama Veterans and Targeted Counties Act. If a company decides to build a facility in one of those targeted counties – the most challenged counties in the state and ones that are mostly rural – the jobs credit rises to 4 percent a year. The Alabama Jobs Act features an investment credit. “We don’t need to promise a company that they can recapture 100 percent of their investment – nobody does that,� Canfield said. The investment credit enables a company to recapture 1.5 percent of its investment for 10 years. “We’ve limited our exposure and it’s a lot less than 5 percent a year, which the old capital credit was providing – theoretically, which it almost never did,� Canfield said. Continued on page 36

The legislative centerpiece was the Alabama Jobs Act, which according to Canfield, put Alabama “a few steps ahead� of the competition: Georgia, Florida, Tennessee,

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35

Continued from page 35

If a company has not received the full 15 percent credit over 10 years, it has an additional five years to collect the remainder of the credit – a five-year, carry-forward option. A key feature of the investment credit is that the Alabama Department of Commerce or governor can make the first three years of the credit transferrable. Companies need the credit the least during the first three years because they are ramping up to full production and “won’t necessarily have a big tax liability,” Canfield said. “You can sell the credit to another taxpayer and in return, they will have cash that they can then, in turn, apply back into a project again to make Alabama more competitive and to lower their costs of acquisition and start-up.” Another bill that passed – the Alabama Reinvestment and Abatement Act – is for existing industry, and that’s something new. “What this allows us to do is

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

“What this allows us to do is to work to encourage companies that are here to maintain their competitiveness so that they can stay here.” Greg Canfield, Alabama Secretary of Commerce

to work to encourage companies that are here to maintain their competitiveness so that they can stay here,” Canfield said. “We’re trying to avoid companies aging out, and then closing and dislocating or laying off Alabama workers.” The amount of reinvestment to an existing facility and equipment over a property value baseline is abated over 10 to 20 years, except the portion for education. It does require $2 million of new capital. With the new incentive package in place, would Alabama have won the Yokohama Tire project or Hankook Tire or Benteler Steel? “We know that we don’t know what the final decision would have been had the Made In Alabama incentives been in place, but here’s what we do know,” Canfield said. “With them, we would have been in a much more competitive position relative to the states that won these projects. Without them, we weren’t (competitive).” Incentives are only one factor in a company deciding where to build its plant. Other factors include infrastructure, workforce, quality of life and business environment. “We look at incentives as something to even the playing field,” Canfield said. “When we can do that, we have a better chance of winning those projects.” n

“The president is very, very proud to have appointed activist judges to advance agendas,” Sessions said. “I don’t know how to push back or what Congress should do.” He said he was “uneasy” about how the Supreme Court “can undermine the rule of law.”

Using humor, sarcasm and condemnation, Sen. Jeff Sessions blasted recent U.S. Supreme Court landmark rulings like retaining individual subsidies in the Affordable Care Act.

He recalled that during now-Chief Justice John Roberts’ nomination hearing, Roberts said the role of a judge is to function as an umpire calling balls and strikes and not taking sides. Now, Sessions worries that Americans will feel that judges are not neutral and have an agenda. On other matters, Sessions said:

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions

Sessions Reeling from Supreme Court Rulings by David Zaslawsky

The former U.S. Attorney and Alabama Attorney General, Sessions called the Supreme Court decisions “very troubling.” He said the 6-3 decision on the Affordable Care Act “was a statutory misconstruction.” The Court ruled that individuals living in states with a federal health care exchange may receive subsidies although the Affordable Care Act language gave subsidies to only those individuals in states with their own exchanges.

The cyber program at Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex has the potential to grow and “become more and more important.” A member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Sessions said the group asked the military to report on its vulnerabilities to cyber attacks and what it will take to fix it. About $200 million has been budgeted for cyber and Sessions hopes that Maxwell-Gunter receives some of that funding.

Sessions, speaking at a Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues at the RSA Activity Center, said a Supreme Court majority added words “that weren’t in it to make it say what they wanted it to say. It’s a big deal. The courts are a wholly equal branch. This whole idea that some people have a superior branch is not accurate in my opinion. It’s really not accurate in my opinion.”

The interest on the debt is currently $234 billion a year, but will grow to $800 billion in 10 years based on estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, which includes a return to normal interest rates. The current Social Security budget is $790 billion. The interest on the debt will erode funding for roads, research, health care and education.

Sessions, R-Mobile, a four-term senator, said that 535 members of Congress “should be as good as nine on the Supreme Court.” He pointed out that those 535 members of Congress were elected. “You can vote me out of office,” he said. The Supreme Court justices are appointed for life.

The entitlement programs “continue to absorb a larger and larger percentage of money.” We’ve got to get spending under control and it cannot be fixed just by raising taxes.” The U.S. military left Iraq too soon and perhaps a force as small as 10,000 could have stopped the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

He also raised one of Justice Antonin Scalia’s arguments that all nine justices were educated at either Harvard University or Yale University. “Not one from middle America,” Sessions said.

He opposes a nuclear program agreement with Iran, which he said could lead to other Middle Eastern countries with nuclear weapons such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Sessions said it should be left to the people and states to decide about the legality of same-sex marriage. “They’re (Supreme Court justices) now taking it on themselves to decide matters that have always been the people’s issues to decide. If they are so smart and so brilliant, why did four of them dissent?”

European allies need to show more strength against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The court just needs five votes for a majority and the Senate needs 60 votes to pass legislation, Sessions said. The justices don’t have “superhuman wisdom,” he said.

European countries need to step up and spend more on defense. He said that Germany spends 1.3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense; and England manipulates its numbers and spends less than 2 percent of its GDP on defense. The U.S. spends between 3.6 percent and 3.8 of its GDP on defense. n

For Sessions, the court’s same-sex ruling “is more troubling” than the Affordable Care Act decision. He said there is nothing in the Constitution that provides for same-sex marriage and criticized the argument of equal protection.

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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(Southern)

Living Right Southern Living names Hampstead an inspired community

Anna Lowder and Harvi Sahota are codirectors of design and development for Hampstead.

by David Zaslawsky photography by Josh Moates

The co-directors of design and development wanted to create something very special with their Hampstead project in East Montgomery. They enlisted Miami-based town planners Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. (DPZ) to develop their residential project. They even discussed Hampstead with DPZ at a downtown Montgomery hotel during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

That’s right, the planning for Hampstead began 10 years ago and it opened in 2008. “They (Southern Living magazine) told us that they have been watching Hampstead since it opened,” said Anna Lowder, who is a co-director of design and development with husband Harvi Sahota. Now, the 416-acre project, which is tentatively scheduled to have 3,000 homes of various sizes and types, is the first residential development in Alabama to be recognized as a Southern Living Inspired Community. And what makes that even more astounding is that Southern Living is just up Interstate 65 in Birmingham. “There are great communities and a lot going on in the state,” Lowder said. “We were the first (in Alabama) they wanted to approach and we were really pleased with that.” Sahota said the honor is “the combination of years of hard work and doing things in a certain way with a vision. It is a stamp of approval from Southern Living to come aboard as a partner with us. It’s something we’re extremely proud of not just only for the development of Hampstead, but also for the City of Montgomery.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

“I think it’s a big deal on wider scale of putting Montgomery on the map for having a great community like Hampstead located within the City of Montgomery.�

Lowder: “The overall vision being a place that is multigenerational, and it’s fun and it’s just active and inclusive of all different ages as well.�

Residential developments do not apply to Southern Living, but are selected. The magazine, which is the eighth-largest in the country with almost 20 million readers, considers developments with “lasting performance; integrity with the architectural design; and their building and a sense of community,� Lowder said. The magazine’s focus is “what areas are we seeing that are enhancing the sense of what it means to be in the South today.�

Being a Southern Living Inspired Community was an arduous process that took months, according to Lowder. There were 12 to 15 conversations and site visits. Magazine officials wanted to ensure that Hampstead was financially stable and would continue growing – adding schools, churches and parks.

Hampstead is so much more than a live-work-play development, although there are 18 businesses there, including three restaurants. There is the Montessori School at Hampstead; a public library branch; YMCA; and an urban farm whose crops are used at restaurants on the site. “The overall vision is a place that is active and combines living and working and learning and playing,� Lowder said. There is a lot of playing with Hampstead Lake, pool, tennis courts, dog area, and parks as well as a wide variety of events from sporting events to watching films or sporting events outdoors.

Now being in such select company, means a close partnership with Southern Living. It means being mentioned in the magazine’s social media as well as the publication. If Southern Living is promoting healthy lifestyles, an outdoor yoga class at Hampstead might be mentioned. “We supply the information and the images and they’ll help us get to a wider audience,� Lowder said. There is the potential for Southern Living to bring its test-kitchen chef to Hampstead for a photo shoot of farm-to-table dishes. There may be an opportunity to team up with Southern Living for a wine tasting event, Sahota said. n

“A place that is walkable; healthy in its design,� Sahota said about Hampstead. “A genuine sense of community.�

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September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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Beth Walker McBride (left), vice president and co-owner of Workforce Walker Personnel; Edward V. Welch Jr., president and CEO of Welch Hornsby; and Monte Burney, general manager of Capitol Chevrolet and Classic Buick GMC Cadillac; are investors in the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Total Resource Campaign.

Companies benefit from Total Resource Campaign participation

A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

As a vice president and co-owner of a staffing agency, Beth Walker McBride invests capital to grow her business – Workforce Walker Personnel. She buys advertising in the Montgomery Business Journal, a publication of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. She invested $2,500 last year to join the Chairman’s Circle, which is a Chamber initiative. Walker McBride plans to make similar investments in Montgomery Business Journal ads and the Chairman’s Circle, which are products in the Chamber Total Resource Campaign (TRC). The 10th annual TRC, which began in late August and runs to late October, funds Chamber events, publications, programs while helping to recruit members. Make no mistake about the reason for Walker McBride’s investment in the TRC – it’s to make money. “The Business Journal is a great publication,” she said. “It is everywhere. You can go into almost any type of business and you’re going to see a Business Journal on the coffee table.” There were Business Journals in the company’s lobby and on a table at an executive’s office. “We felt it was a great opportunity to advertise our business and show people the wide variety of services that we offer,” Walker McBride said. “I feel like we have definitely gotten our money’s worth out of the advertising. It’s been a good investment for us.” She likes the idea that the magazine is mailed to business owners and executives – just the type of decision-makers that Walker McBride hopes to reach with her advertising. “That is the exact market we’re trying to target,” she said.

“Membership in the Chamber, especially involvement in the Chairman’s Circle, has allowed us to nurture old professional relationships and foster new ones.” Beth Walker McBride, vice president, Workforce Walker Personnel Edward V. Welch Jr., president and CEO of Welch Hornsby, an investment advisory firm, is the presenting sponsor for the Chamber’s 143rd Annual Meeting later this year. It is the organization’s highest-profile event. “First and foremost, it truly is an investment back into the community,” Welch said about the firm being the presenting sponsor for the Annual Meeting. “We’ve been a quiet company for 25 years. Now, we’re a Southeast firm and it’s probably time that Montgomery realizes that we exist here. Selfishly, we hope to get a little exposure out of this, but I can’t stress enough that it is kind of a gift to the community – that’s our first priority.” The firm has quietly grown to $4 billion-plus in assets under management with clients in 16 states and offices in Birmingham and Charlotte, N.C., in addition to its downtown Montgomery headquarters on the top floor of the eight-story building at One Commerce St. Continued on page 44

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

“I wanted to reach out and let people know my vision – what I believe in – and how you run a good dealership and run a business the right way.” Monte Burney, general manager, Capitol Chevrolet and Classic Buick GMC Cadillac

I think it’s right and appropriate that we’re now capable and able to invest in Montgomery and this is just one small way to do that.” Edward V. Welch Jr., president and CEO of Welch Hornsby

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

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Continued from page 42

I can’t stress enough that it is kind of a gift to the community – that’s our first priority.” Edward V. Welch Jr., president and CEO of Welch Hornsby

Monte Burney, general manager of both Capitol Chevrolet and Classic Buick GMC Cadillac, sponsored eight different Chamber products in last year’s TRC. For Burney, the goal was exposure – introducing the dealerships, which are part of Sonic Automotive that also owns Capitol Hyundai and BMW of Montgomery. Sonic Automotive, a Fortune 500 company based in Charlotte, N.C., has 122 dealerships in 14 states and 25 major metropolitan markets. Burney oversees 215 employees. “I wanted to reach out and let people know my vision – what I believe in – and how you run a good dealership and run a business the right way,” he said about hosting a Chamber 60-minute coffee event earlier this year at Capitol Chevrolet. Of course, the event brought hundreds to his car lot and to the showroom. Some of those attendees returned to the dealership and bought vehicles. “The more you invest and do and show your face and show your business – the more it’s going to bring people in,” Burney said.

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He introduced himself at the 60-minute coffee as well as the company and staff. That’s important, because as Burney said, people in Montgomery are used to familyrun dealerships. “If you look at Sonic Automotive, it is like a family-owned dealership because everybody here mostly lives in Montgomery.” The 60-minute coffee is a popular networking event. Walker McBride sees the Chairman’s Circle as a great opportunity to network – chatting with others at various events. “At the Chairman’s Circle, I have the opportunity to talk to other business leaders about their business and share information about my business,” she said. “There have been many times that I’ve been able through networking to gain prospects. Membership in the Chairman’s Circle has been a wonderful experience.” At one event, she said another member of the Chairman’s Circle told her that he was having a difficult time finding qualified employees. That person is now a prospect. Some of Burney’s TRC products have more to do with being a good corporate citizen – giving back. He was the presenting sponsor for the Military Salute at Riverwalk Stadium and the Wright Flyer Annual Meeting. He said that the military has a special place in

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

his heart with family members in the military. He said that seeing all the military personnel in the uniforms around town “touched me.” Burney, who moved from Tennessee to Montgomery, said, “I wanted to make sure that I would have a direct impact on giving back to not only the military, but their families and the community. With all of our support, we show how much we do care and respect our military.”

here. I graduated from public schools here; raised my family here. I started a business here. While we do have clients in 16 different states, early on it was really our Montgomery clients who gave a young firm an opportunity. They really invested in us. I think it’s right and appropriate that we’re now capable and able to invest in Montgomery and this is just one small way to do that.”

He also advertises in the Montgomery Business Journal as part of the dealerships’ marketing/ branding campaign.

Welch Hornsby, which has 26 employees, has three business lines: high-net worth individuals and families; institutions, endowments and foundations; and retirement services, which deals strictly with 401(k) plans. n

Workforce Walker Personnel, which has been around for 58 years, has two divisions. Walker Personnel is the clerical and office staffing as well as professional placement. Workforce is the industrial division. “When it comes down to it, staffing is a relationship business,” said Walker McBride, who has 18 employees, but employs on average about 2,500 people a year. “Membership in the Chamber, especially involvement in the Chairman’s Circle, has allowed us to nurture old professional relationships and foster new ones.”

Total Resource Campaign runs through October 30th. Details at montgomerychamber.com/trc or contact Lynn Norton at lnorton@montgomerychamber.com.

For Welch, being the Annual Meeting presenting sponsor was all about giving back to the community. “Montgomery is my home,” Welch said. “I grew up

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Principals attend a session of the Montgomery Public Schools Leadership Academy.

DEVELOPING PRINCIPALS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TAKES SCHOOL CEOs TO THE NEXT LEVEL

by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

As the chief executive officers of their schools, principals are the guiding forces behind what happens at each of Montgomery Public Schools’ 53 schools. Their interaction with staff, faculty and students is a major factor in that school’s success or lack of success. It’s no surprise that MPS Superintendent Margaret Allen told Auburn University at Montgomery Outreach that her No. 1 need is “developing principals,” according to Katherine Jackson, vice chancellor for AUM Outreach and Strategic Initiatives.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Partnering with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and with assistance from principals and the district’s Central Office, AUM Outreach designed the MPS Leadership Academy. The goals, according to Nicole Pinkham, a senior training consultant for AUM Outreach training solutions, are for about 20 principals participating in the nearly year-long program to: >> Model the way. >> Inspire shared vision. >> Challenge the process. >> Empower others. >> Encourage the heart. Continued on page 48

Left: Nicole Pinkham (left) and Katherine Jackson. Right: Margaret Allen

“Being part of

Continued from page 46

this Leadership

“We want to see those practices embedded in their day-to-day work with their faculty; with their staff; and with their students,” Pinkham said. “That’s modeling the behavior they want to see. We talk a lot about trust, engagement and credibility. We want them inspiring people around them. That’s what a leader does – is inspire passion. We really want them challenging the process.

Academy has “This opportunity has given me the tools that I need to become a leader that will have positive, impactful, and long-lasting change in the lives of the students and teachers I

equipped me with the knowledge and tools needed to maximize my leadership ability, which in turn will increase the success of my teachers, students, parents and community.” – Antonio Williams, principal of Lanier High

care about.” – Michelle Harris, principal of Dalraida Elementary

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

“We want to see every school in Montgomery Public Schools have engaged teachers, who love their students and are requiring them and causing them and pushing them to do things they couldn’t do. We want to see happy students and faculty.” It all begins at the top with the principals and this program is so critical to the district’s success that it is funded by local the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, AUM Outreach, and local corporate sponsors known as the Montgomery Chamber’s Education Champions: > Alabama Power Co. > Information Transport Solutions Inc. > Faulkner University > SABIC Innovative Plastics > McKee & Associates

“The principal is the key to the functioning of everything in that school: processes, behaviors that make those processes work,” Allen said. “First of all, leadership is critical to the work that we are doing … starting in the superintendent’s office,” Allen said. “There are individuals that look to leadership to be able to do what they do. I’m talking specifically about teachers and all the resource people that work alongside. There has to be direction given. There has to be modeling done that influences what teachers do.” Principals who complete the leadership academy will have “an enhanced self-awareness, greater confidence and renewed vigor,” according to the program guide. Another expected outcome is removing a lack of trust, Pinkham said, “which creates a greater efficiency as they work together. That is something that cannot be understated.” Trust is being created by the principals forming bonds during the leadership academy, Pinkham said. “They build trust within each other because what we say is:

GOALS

MODEL THE WAY. INSPIRE SHARED VISION. CHALLENGE THE PROCESS. EMPOWER OTHERS. ENCOURAGE THE HEART.

‘What happens at leadership academy stays there.’ Now, they are not questioning the motives and intents of the hearts of those they are working with. We know that research tells us the higher the trust, the faster the work.” And this is no ordinary leadership academy. The first three months were spent on self-awareness and “trying to get them to bond as a cohesive team,” Pinkham said. The principals learn about their leadership philosophy; who they are; what are their talents. Some of the other sessions focus on teamwork; leadership at the principal’s school; leadership and strategy at the Central Office; leadership and finance; leadership and problem solving; leadership and student engagement; and leadership through coaching your team. Continued on page 50

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Continued from page 49

A key aspect of the leadership academy is working in teams on solutions for three problems facing the district or as Pinkham called them, “opportunities.” Those three opportunities are dealing with social media, addressing/preventing bullying and how to build greater trust between the Central Office and administrators and teachers. The principals will “present their solutions, findings and recommendations” to Allen during the last week in September. “The purpose and goal (of leadership academy) is to take an educational leader and get them to become more self-aware to manage who they are as leaders more successfully and ultimately take that knowledge back to their faculty and staff and infuse them with how to do that,” Pinkham said. “Once that’s done, they will have a cohesive, functional team at the school, which is going to create a greater culture for the students. They are learning what it takes to be a leader.

Then they are also teaching that to their faculty and, in turn, their faculty and staff are teaching it to the students.” For Pinkham, the “big piece” is growing what the leadership academy calls the “emotional quotient,” which sets apart a good leader from a great leader. “That’s what we’re growing. We all have the ability to grow – how we understand who we are what we are and how we manage relationships with others.” n

“This opportunity has given me the tools that I need to become a leader that will have positive, impactful, and long-lasting change in the lives of the students and teachers I care about.” Michelle Harris, principal of Dalraida Elementary

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

STANDING UP FOR PRINCIPALS by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

John Curvey observed one of the sessions of the Montgomery Public Schools Leadership Academy for principals. The general manager of SABIC Innovative Plastics was quite impressed. He was no idle spectator. His is one of five local business/organizations, along with Auburn University at Montgomery Outreach, which is conducting the program that is funding the leadership academy. They are education champions, which was a sponsorship from the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Total Resource Campaign. “Leadership training is critical, right?” Curvey asked. “Every organization really does need to have a leader.” He said that a leader sets the vision, but just as importantly, creates an environment so their team can be successful. “You can’t have one without the other,” Curvey said. “An organization is really a reflection of its leader and its leadership team and you see that played out. I certainly see that many times myself. If that’s the case, you really want to get the whole piece of leadership right. It’s not just picking a person – it’s really developing the skill base of that person.” As a vice president for university advancement at Faulkner University, Ben Bruce understands the importance of education. Faulkner University is another education champion of the leadership academy for about 20 of the district’s principals, which started in January and ends with a graduation luncheon scheduled in November. “I think everything rises and falls on leadership,” Bruce said. “Leadership sets the pace and molds the future. Faulkner University dovetails with education in every facet – that’s why we exist. We exist to train future leaders and teachers and we are very excited about partnering with our local educators and community leaders.”

“We wanted to fund the program and also be a partner to a high school,” she said, referring to AUM Outreach’s initiative Boardrooms to Classrooms, which pairs a principal with a business leader. “It was important to Alabama Power Co. to be an education champion and fund the initiatives, because to get it off the ground, we were able to bring in the right kind of instructors and training opportunities and fit everything to make it work for the principals.” The ultimate goal of the leadership academy is that by helping principals become more efficient and effective, it filters down to staff, teachers and students. Those students are the future workforce.

John Curvey

Leslie Sanders

Ben Bruce

“We want to make a difference not only in our community, but throughout the world with our Christian mission – every individual matters every day,” Bruce Said. Those public school students could wind up going to Faulkner University or teaching there or working at Alabama Power Co. or SABIC Innovative Plastics. The other education champions are Information Transport Solutions Inc. and McKee & Associates.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IS THAT BY HELPING PRINCIPALS BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, IT FILTERS DOWN TO STAFF, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THOSE STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE WORKFORCE.

“We’re a global company,” Curvey said about SABIC, which operates in 50-plus countries. “If there is a role that our business wants to try to play, it’s to inspire the next generation to pursue education. We recognize that schools turn out the next generation of employees and leaders.” He said that watching the leadership academy session “made me feel proud; it made me feel good. You step away and say, ‘Man, that was a great investment.’ ” n

One of those partners is Alabama Power Co. “We felt it was very important to do more than just talk the talk,” said Leslie L. Sanders, vice president of Alabama Power Co.’s Southern Division and last year’s chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and now chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

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A Wave of Optimism Montgomery business executives have a positive outlook for Alabama’s economy by David Zaslawsky

For the sixth straight quarter – that’s 1 and ½ years – Montgomery business leaders have been the most optimistic in the state’s four metro centers. As impressive as that is, Montgomery business leaders have been the most optimistic in 13 of the past 17 quarters in the Alabama Business Confidence Index. In the 2015 third quarter index, Montgomery lost 2.7 points to 57.4, but actually increased its lead over No. 2, which this time is Huntsville with a 55.1 index, followed by Mobile at 54.3 and Birmingham-Hoover at 53.1. Mobile fell the most – 4.8 points – from the second quarter. Montgomery’s 57.4 third-quarter index was actually its lowest since a 55.4 index in the first quarter of 2014, but the Capital City topped all the other metros in four of the six individual components. Montgomery had the highest index for the third-quarter national economy outlook (54.5); industry sales (62.5); industry profits (59.8); and industry hiring (58.0). Montgomery (53.6) ranked second to Birmingham for capital expenditures and was third behind Huntsville and Mobile in the Alabama economy component at 56.3. Montgomery panelists in the ABCI, which is conducted by the Alabama University Center for Business and Economic Research in the Culverhouse College of Commerce, expect the third quarter will be the same for both the national economy and state economy. About 35 percent expect an improvement in the national economy and 39 percent forecast an improving Alabama economy.

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A majority – 54 percent – are forecasting third-quarter sales to improve compared with 39 percent expecting no change. Another 50 percent expect third-quarter profits to increase and again 39 percent expect no change from the second quarter. The panelists were not quite as upbeat about third-quarter hiring and capital expenditures. Thirty-nine percent are forecasting an increase in both those components compared with 54 and 50 percent, respectively expecting no change in hiring and capital expenditures. Those expecting declines in the third quarter range from 14 percent (national economy) to 7 percent (sales and hiring). The overall third-quarter Alabama Business Confidence Index declined 2.8 points from the previous quarter to 54.8, which still shows expansion. All of the components declined from the previous quarter. The following is a component-by-component third quarter breakdown: NATIONAL ECONOMY This component dropped the most – 5.8 points to 50.7, which is barely positive. About a quarter expect a decline in the quarter compared with nearly 28 percent expecting an increase. About 46 percent expect the quarter to remain the same as the second quarter. The most optimistic sectors are finance, insurance, real estate, construction, professional, scientific and technical services while retail trade is the most pessimistic. ALABAMA ECONOMY The component fell 1.8 points to 56.6, which is the second best component. Nearly three times as many panelists expect an improved quarter than those forecasting a decline. About 47 percent expect the quarter to remain the same. INDUSTRY SALES Although the component declined 3.2 points from the second quarter, at 58.3 it has the highest index of any component. About 48 percent expect an increase in sales compared with 17 percent expecting a decline. About 35 expect no change. The most optimistic sectors are professional, scientific and technical services, wholesale trade and finance.

ABCI FOURTH-QUARTER BREAKDOWN '02

'03

'04

'05

'06

'07

'08

'09

'10

'11

'12

'13

'14

'15

Q1

54

58

67

62

59

54

47

32

49

55

51

45

52

57

Q2

63

56

67

61

61

56

43

32

50

56

57

48

56

58

Q3

60

61

69

60

59

57

43

46

52

51

50

53

56

55

Q4

56

61

66

54

54

51

44

47

48

46

48

52

54

Source: Center for Business and Economic Research in the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce

INDUSTRY PROFITS The component declined the least, falling 1.1 points to 55.7. About twice as many expect an increase vs. a decline while 40 percent expect no change. All sectors except retail trade are forecasting an increase in profits. INDUSTRY HIRING This component also declined 3.2 points from the second quarter and fell to 53.9. Once again, twice as many survey respondents – 29 percent vs. 13.5 percent – are forecasting an increase vs. a decline. Another 57 percent expect no change. The most upbeat sectors are construction, health care and finance. Retail trade is the most negative sector.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES The component fell 2.2 points to 53.2. About 27 percent are forecasting an increase in third-quarter spending compared with 15 percent expecting a decline. About 57 percent are expecting capital expenditures to remain the same as the second quarter. The most optimistic sectors are health care, manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, professional, scientific and technical services; wholesale trade, transportation, information and utilities. The construction and retail trade sectors are the most pessimistic. n

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Investing in national security MAXWELL-GUNTER COULD BECOME A CYBER-SECURITY CENTER by David Zaslawsky

Rep. Mike Rogers said that Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex are well positioned to become a “center of excellence for cyber security.” Speaking at a Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues, the seven-term Republican lawmaker said, “We are about to get much more, much more aggressive in cyber security technology capability. You have a commander who gets it,” he said, referring to Air University President and Commander Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast. “I think Maxwell-Gunter will become one of the leading if not the leading installation in the country dealing with that threat.”

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Rogers, who sits on the Agriculture, Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, said that Congress passed a budget with a $38 billion increase in defense spending. The budget has not been signed by President Obama. He said that the increase in defense spending was “particularly important given that we have had six years of defense spending cuts and we have gotten to the point where we are hollowing out or already hollowed out our defense infrastructure.” He warned that even top military officials have said that “we’re past the breaking point. We’ve stopped maintaining. We’ve stopped procuring. Now, we can’t even do basic training and that’s what gets people killed.” Now that national security has taken the spotlight on the nightly news and in newspapers, according to Rogers, this may be just the turning point in defense spending. “It’s going to be a long, tough slough for us to get back to the position where we should be because we have seen degradation in our military infrastructure.” Although Rogers said the country is “broke,” the $38 billion increase in defense spending would come from borrowed money. “It doesn’t matter if Social Security is solvent; Medicare is solvent – if you’re dead and there are people that want to kill us. We know it; we see it around the globe; and we’ve got to be prepared to meet that challenge. “The good news for our nation is that we’re going to start seeing some significant investment in our national security and I think that’s key.” For Rogers, the country’s most serious threat in the near term is Russia with President Vladimir Putin who “wants to re-establish some semblance of the Soviet Union.” China is the primary concern in the long run because the Chinese “have every intention of being a military superpower.”

“We are about to get much more, much more aggressive in cyber security technology capability. ... I think Maxwell-Gunter will become one of the leading if not the leading installation in the country dealing with that threat.” U.S. REP. MIKE ROGERS

On other topics, Rogers said: Montgomery’s chances “are good” that a group of new F-35 Strike Fighters will be stationed at Dannelly Field for the Air National Guard.

He expects more collaboration in Congress and cited the passage of a bill to fix Medicare’s payments to doctors. There was also bipartisan support for trade bills.

About 35 GOP congressmen “are against everything. It doesn’t matter how practical it is; how important or how essential it is.” He called them “problem children.”

That the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should respond to injuries instead of looking for violations and fining companies before issues can be addressed.

“Compromise is not a dirty word.” He said you have to compromise when you share power with another party. “It’s the way you have to do things if you want to govern and move forward.”

There will not be tax reform this year because Congress and Obama “disagree on what it should look like. We are not even in the same hemisphere.” n

Jacob will be one of the engineers working on our most recent project awards at Eglin AFB, Misawa AB - Japan and RAF Lakenheath AB - UK. He just finished a renewable Energy Platform design off the coast of Nicaragua consisting of wind and solar systems supporting a counter-narcotic off shore marine base. HCS Group shows proven leadership in the following engineering fields worldwide: • Electrical Engineering • Commercial Engineering • Renewable Energy • Transmission, Substations and Distribution • Energy Monitoring and Evaluation • Energy Studies and Proactive Solutions • Military Programs • Government Agencies • Prime and Standby Generation • Healthcare Specialty Systems

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September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

55

MEMBER NEWS

BUSINESS BUZZ COPPERWING WINS GOLD AWARD IN WATER INDUSTRY COMPETITION ANAHEIM, Calif. – Copperwing received the Gold Award in large exhibit design during the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Best of Show Competition at ACE15. The exhibit for Tallasseebased Neptune Technology Group Inc. was among 515 that were entered in the international exposition’s competition. “We are very honored to win this award. This project is the result of true teamwork and creative collaboration with our client and resource partner,” said Angela Stiff, creative director for Copperwing.

Angela Stiff

Copperwing collaborated with Neptune as well as with ExpoDisplays to create the top-prize-winning exhibit. Bright, airy and open, the design effectively tells the Neptune story, allowing visitors to explore innovations for automatic meter reading and advanced metering infrastructure systems. Displays along both sides of the central corridor illustrate the central benefits of system components; how they are engineered to help water utilities measure, communicate; and analyze data to boost water efficiency, productivity, and customer service. Exhibits were voted on by the AWWA Manufacturers/Associates Council and included criteria such as originality of design and the educational value of the exhibit.

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

Copperwing is a creative consultancy offering design, digital media and integrated brand management services based in Montgomery. Serving thousands of water utility customers across North America from its Tallassee, Alabama headquarters, Neptune Technology Group develops automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies for the water industry.

THREE GOODWYN, MILLS AND CAWOOD EMPLOYEES ATTAIN ENGINEERING LICENSES MONTGOMERY – Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood Inc. announced that three employees – Justin Barrett, Michelle Conway and Matthew Walker – have attained their professional engineering licenses upon passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.

restoration; environmental site assessments; storm water permitting and inspection; construction best management practices; and Alabama Department of Environmental Management regulation and permitting. He received a bachelor’s degree in bio-systems engineering from Auburn University in 2009 and is also a certified floodplain manager.

Conway has served numerous municipalities and airport authorities during the last seven years as part of the airport planning and engineering team. She has managed an array of aviation projects, including the first instrument landing system Justin Barrett (ILS) with an end-fire glide slope designed by a private engineering firm in the United States.

Michelle Conway

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in 2011.

Walker’s experience encompasses municipal and civil engineering projects ranging from To become licensed, single building site engineers must receive plans to large scale a four-year degree water and wastewater from an accredited lines and pumping engineering program; stations. He has served as pass the fundamentals of Matthew Walker an inspector for water and engineering exam; complete wastewater projects. Walker works four years of progressive engineering with clients in both the private and experience under a professional public sectors, including helping to engineer; and pass the PE exam. obtain grant funding. Barrett, a member of the firm’s He graduated from Auburn University environmental team, has more than with a bachelor’s degree in civil six years of experience working on engineering in 2010. a variety of environmental projects throughout Alabama. His expertise includes wetland and stream

MAX4KIDS AWARDS $25,000 TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS MONTGOMERY – The MAX4Kids Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 to 10 River Region high school seniors. The 10 seniors were selected from nearly 75 applicants.

He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Alabama.

LATTICE INN RECEIVES FIFTH CONSECUTIVE TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

MONTGOMERY – The Lattice “MAX4Kids is proud Inn received its fifth straight to celebrate and give TripAdvisor Certificate of back to the youth Excellence award. of Central Alabama With its fifth consecutive by providing them a award, Lattice Inn foundation for bright qualified for induction into futures,” MAX4Kids TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Foundation President Jim Yeaman Excellence Hall of Fame. The Wayne Blackwell said in a honors are given to establishments statement. “We want to congratulate that consistently receive outstanding all of the students who competed reviews from travelers on TripAdvisor. for the scholarships this year and look forward to hearing about the “Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate accomplishments and continued of Excellence for five consecutive education of each winner.” years is a true source of pride and we’d like to thank all of our past The MAX4Kids Foundation is a guests who took the time to complete nonprofit organization created in a review of the their stay at The 2001 by MAX associates as a way Lattice Inn on TripAdvisor,” Lattice to give back to the community. Inn owner/innkeeper Jim Yeaman To date, the foundation has said in a statement. “And to be awarded more than $340,000 inducted into the TripAdvisor Hall through the MAX4Kids Scholarship of Fame is an even greater honor Program to high school seniors and recognition.” for their scholastic achievements. The Lattice Inn, located at 1414 S. Hull St., is a bed and breakfast in the city’s Garden ALFA District. For information, call MUTUAL (334) 263-1414.

HONORS AGENT

MONTGOMERY Billy Bradford – Alfa Mutual has awarded Alfa agent Billy Bradford the gold distinguished sales award at the company’s annual meeting. Bradford, an Alfa agent for 26 years, has been recognized with the distinguished sales award by Alfa every year for the last 20 years. He specializes in health insurance for individuals and businesses with an emphasis on the Affordable Care Act.

BEASLEY ALLEN FIRM, ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED MONTGOMERY – The law firm of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., as well as principal and founder Jere L. Beasley, were ranked in Band 2 in the litigation practice area in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA guide. Principal and lead products liability attorney J. Greg Allen, and principal and mass torts section head Andy D. Birchfield, were also ranked in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA guide.

London-based Chambers and Partners 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.

BEASLEY ALLEN ATTORNEYS NAMED TO 2015 SUPER LAWYERS LIST MONTGOMERY - Sixteen Beasley Allen attorneys were selected for inclusion on the 2015 Super Lawyers list.

Jere Beasley

Greg Allen

Included on the list are the firm’s founding shareholder, Jere L. Beasley, as well as shareholders J. Greg Allen, Michael J. Crow, J. Cole Portis, Daniel W. “Dee” Miles III, Andy D. Birchfield Jr., Rhon E. Jones, Benjamin E. Baker Jr., Julia A. Beasley, Andy Birchfield Kendall C. Dunson, R. Graham Esdale, Christopher D. Glover, Ted G. Meadows, Roman A. Shaul, W. Roger Smith III, and C. Gibson Vance. Three Beasley Allen attorneys also were included on the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list, which recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys – those who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing 10 years or less. Beasley Allen’s Rising Stars are Christopher D. Boutwell, Danielle Ward Mason and J. Parker Miller. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a research-driven, peer influenced rating service of lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The Super Lawyers lists are published in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines across the country. CONTINUED ON PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE

57

ALABAMA SUPER LAWYERS LISTS SEVEN CAPELL & HOWARD ATTORNEYS MONTGOMERY – Seven attorneys from Capell & Howard, P.C., were included in the Alabama Super Lawyers 2015 issue. The firm’s lawyers in the 2015 issue are Richard H. Allen and J. Lister Hubbard, construction litigation; Bruce J. Downey, employment and labor; Henry H. Hutchinson, mergers and acquisitions; and William D. Coleman and James N. Walter, alternative dispute resolution. Candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement and no more than five percent of all attorneys in the state are selected.

SASSER, SEFTON AND BROWN HAS TWO ATTORNEYS ON PRESTIGIOUS LIST MONTGOMERY – Patrick L. W. Sefton and Bowdy J. Brown have been named to the 2015 Alabama Super Lawyers list from the firm of Sasser, Sefton and Brown, P.C. Sefton specializes in banking and while Brown’s area is creditor/ debtor rights. Lawyers are nominated by their peers and selected for inclusion after an evaluation by the publication. The selection process identifies attorneys within the state who have attained the highest level of peer recognition and professional achievement.

AUM STUDENTS SECURE $2.7 MILLION IN TAX REFUNDS FOR ALABAMIANS MONTGOMERY – During the 2015 tax season, 13 Auburn University at Montgomery students helped working families in Alabama secure $2.7 million in tax refunds through the service-learning volunteer initiative SaveFirst. The students helped prepare more than 1,400 tax returns 58

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

and, in addition to the refunds, saved Alabama families more than $420,000 in commercial tax preparation fees.

our customers and their needs first has brought us the success we are able to enjoy today.”

AUM students were part of a coalition JACKSON THORNTON ASSET of more than 660 students from 21 MANAGEMENT RANKED campuses across the state to assist FOURTH BY CNBC low-income, working families. In total, SaveFirst students assisted MONTGOMERY – Jackson Thornton more than 8,600 families Asset Management was who claimed $15 million recently ranked fourth in refunds and saved among the Top100 Feeapproximately $2.6 Only Wealth Management million in commercial Firms in the country preparation fees – a by CNBC. 15 percent increase CNBC, along with in families served Meridian-IQ, evaluated compared to the previous George C. Smith wealth management firms tax season. based on multiple criteria. Teresa Lang, a professor in AUM’s “We are very proud to be named to School of Accountancy, supports the this list by CNBC,” George C. Smith, program at AUM. She has 15 years managing principal of Jackson of accounting experience working for Thornton Asset Management, said some of the largest certified public in a statement. “We appreciate accounting firms, a few small local the trust our clients have shown in firms and civil service overseas. She us over the years and this is really has experience in both audit and a recognition of those long-term taxation. Lang has a master’s degree client relationships.” in accountancy and a doctorate from Auburn University.

SERVISFIRST BANK RANKS 13TH ON AMERICAN BANKER’S LIST BIRMINGHAM – ServisFirst Bank is ranked 13th in American Banker’s list of mid-tier performers with $2 billion to $10 billion of assets in the U.S. The criterion is based on three-year average returns on equity (ROAE) for 2012-2014. ServisFirst, a subsidiary of ServisFirst Bancshares Inc., had a three-year average ROAE of 15.40 percent and is the only bank headquartered in Alabama included in the ranking.

JUSTICE NETWORK LAUNCHES IN MONTGOMERY ATLANTA – Justice Network, the free over-the-air multicast television network, is now available in Montgomery. The networked launched on W17DX 17.1, a new signal operated by WCOV-FOX20 and its owner Woods Communications.

With John Walsh as on-air host/ spokesperson, the network features stories of true crime and mystery while also aiming to make communities safer by empowering viewers to take action. Justice Network dedicates 90 seconds to public David Woods service every hour to help “It is an honor for ServisFirst capture most-wanted fugitives; help Bank to again be recognized as a locate missing children, and provide top performer among its peers,” safety tips. This initiative has led ServisFirst Bank President and CEO to the safe return of nine missing Tom Broughton said in a statement. children and the capture of 15 most“Our commitment to always putting wanted fugitives.

The network works in partnerships with The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of which Walsh was a founder; Crime Stoppers USA; and other law enforcement agencies. “We are thrilled to have our good friend John Walsh back on the air in Montgomery,” WCOV owner David Woods said in a statement. “We feel that John Walsh and the Justice Network will be a public service to the Montgomery viewing area as we all will work together to help locate and capture fugitives.”

JUBILEE RUN RAISES $18,000 FOR RELAY FOR LIFE MONTGOMERY – The Relay for Life of the Montgomery area received about $18,000 from the Jubilee Run For Cancer Committee. The event raised $18,240.25 for Relay for Life, which is part of the American Cancer Society.

“We were shocked to see the donation amount when the check was unveiled,” Jeannie Smith, community manager for Relay for Life, said in a statement. “A donation like this means so much in the fight against this terrible disease.” Funds will be used for several programs, including cancer research and the Hope Lodge in Birmingham, a facility for families of cancer patients who are receiving treatments. Donations were from local company sponsorships, registration fees and runners’ fundraising efforts. Alfa Insurance has sponsored the race since 2012, and Alfa Life Insurance Co. served as the presenting sponsor this year. “We hope these funds can help find a cure for cancer and improve the lives of those afflicted with cancer,” event chairman Kathy Wood said in a statement. Since 2012, the Jubilee Run For Cancer has raised more than $36,000 for Relay for Life.

TROY CHANCELLOR RECOGNIZED FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP TROY – Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. received an outstanding service award for creating and sustaining the Sino-American 1-2-1 Dual Degree Program. The award was presented in Xiamen, China, during the 1-2-1 President’s Conference at Huaqiao University. The 1-2-1 Program, which began at Troy Jack Hawkins Jr. University and has grown into a national model exchange program, brings students from Chinese universities who have completed their first year of studies to the United States for two years of study at a partnering American CONTINUED ON PAGE

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university. Those students then return to their home institutions for a final year. When the students complete their academic programs, they receive degrees from the home institution and the partnering American university. Twenty-one Troy students recently graduated through the 1-2-1 program.

‘NO JOB IS TOO BIG’ FOR NO STREAKS WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE MONTGOMERY – No Streaks Window Cleaning Service is a fullservice professional window cleaning company which specializes in residential and commercial window cleaning in the River Region. The motto for the company founded in 2008 is “No job too big, No job too tall.” No Streaks Victor Turnquest Window Cleaning Service is co-owned by Victor Turnquest and Ivin Watson. The hours are 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and Saturday if necessary. For information, contact the company at (334) 201-6940 or (334) 233-3653 or email at nostreakswindowcleaning@ hotmail.com.

WALKER360 WINS SIXTH NATIONAL TELLY AWARD MONTGOMERY – Walker360 was a bronze winner in the 36th annual Telly Awards. The Montgomery firm received the award for its “Cheetah vs. Ferrari” entry. With nearly 12,000 entries this year from all 50 states, Walker360 was selected for outstanding achievement in film and video. It was the firm’s sixth Telly Award.

CREDIT UNION GROUP NAMES MAX LEADER CEO OF THE YEAR MONTGOMERY – MAX Credit Union CEO Greg McClellan was chosen as CEO of the Year for credit unions with $250 million-plus in assets by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. The award recognizes the leadership and guidance that McClellan has displayed during his 30 years with MAX, specifically the last 10 as CEO. Under his leadership, MAX has nearly doubled in size from $627 million in assets to $1.1 billion today. He has guided MAX Greg McClellan through the most successful 10 years in its 60-year history. McClellan has also helped transform MAX’s internal brand by championing the institution’s core values to MAX employees from administration to the front lines.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

The award, now in its fifth year, recognizes hospitality excellence and is given to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor highlights the world’s top properties based on reviews and ratings from travelers around the globe. In addition to positive online guest reviews, hotels must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five. Volume and timing of reviews, as well as a hotel’s tenure and popularity ranking, are all factored into the selection process. “Our staff is committed to showing each of our guests that while they are here with us, they are part of our extended stay family,” general manager Francine Molette said in a statement. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by our guests and we are honored to receive this award based on our commitment to customer satisfaction.”

“This is an unprecedented national honor not only for Greg, but also for MAX,” D.G. Markwell, senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement. “With thousands of financial institutions in the U.S., it is a great distinction for Greg to be recognized as a top CEO by this prestigious organization. Greg would be the first to thank our board, our employees, and our customers, without whom none of this would be possible. He has built an invaluable trust with MAX over the years through humility, transparency and an instinct for making the right decisions influenced by the sound advice of others and wants to use that success to give back to the community.”

Homewood Suites by Hilton provides guests with free Internet, breakfast and evening social Monday-Thursday as well as fully-equipped kitchens and a complimentary grocery shopping service that does not include free groceries.

HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON MONTGOMERY RECEIVES TRIPADVISOR EXCELLENCE AWARD

CNBC recognized Warren Averett Asset Management as the 47th firm among the Top 100 Fee-Only Firms in the nation. Criteria included

MONTGOMERY– Homewood Suites by Hilton Montgomery has been 60

recognized with a 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award.

WARREN AVERETT ASSET MANAGEMENT RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS HONORS BIRMINGHAM – Warren Averett Asset Management, LLC is ranked as one of the Top Fee-Only Wealth Management Firms in the country by CNBC. The firm has also been named to the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers.

assets under management; staff with professional designations; working with third-party professionals such as attorneys or certified public accountants; average account size; client segmentation; growth of assets; years in business; number of advisory clients; and providing advice on insurance solutions. “We are excited that CNBC has recognized us for the second year in a row,” Warren Averett Asset Management President Josh Reidinger said in a statement. “We are grateful to our clients, who have placed their trust in us, and enjoy helping our clients thrive and achieve their financial goals.” More than 2,000 elite registered investment advisory (RIA) firms were invited to apply for consideration of the Financial Times top 300 list and 630 applied. The firms were graded on six criteria: assets under management; assets under management growth rate; years in existence; advanced industry credentials; online accessibility; and compliance records.

PALOMAR INSURANCE LAUNCHES PROGRAM FOR PLASTIC SURGEONS MONTGOMERY – Palomar Insurance Corp. announced the introduction of Aesthetisure, an insurance program for board-certified plastic surgeons that will pay additional patient expenses in the event of a surgical complication. Elective cosmetic surgery and complications that may arise are generally not covered by health insurance. Tony Craft

“As the original administrator of cosmetic surgery insurance, Palomar helped create this industry segment,” Palomar Insurance CEO Tony Craft said in a statement. “We’ve taken that knowledge and experience to refine our offerings in developing the Aesthetisure program. We’ve streamlined the application and

enrollment process. We’re able to utilize our relationships with our insurance carriers to offer lower rates for equal, if not better, coverage. Our experience with this type of program has enabled us to have a comprehensive understanding of the complications insurance industry, and our team is familiar with the needs of a plastic surgery practice.” Aesthetisure is underwritten by an A.M. Best A+ insurance carrier. Interested board-certified plastic surgeons can inquire about Aesthetisure or complete the online application to become a participating member through the company web site at www. aesthetisure.com. For information, contact an Aesthetisure representative at asure@palomarins.com or (800) 362-1542. CONTINUED ON PAGE

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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURIAL COUNCIL INVITES MCINNIS TO JOIN GROUP MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Downtown Business Association President Clay McInnis has been asked to join the Young Entrepreneurial Council. McInnis, who also represents Commerce Consulting and McInnis Clay McInnes Construction, will be only one of two from Alabama on the prestigious Young Entrepreneurial Council. The council, according to its website, is “highly selective” and an “invite-only group.”

SYNOVUS NAMED ONE OF U.S. MOST REPUTABLE BANKS COLUMBUS, Ga. – Synovus Bank, which operates in Montgomery and the River Region as Sterling Bank, has been named one of America’s most reputable banks by the American Banker/Reputation Institute Survey of Bank Reputations. Of 32 banks included in the survey, Synovus was one of three ranked in the top 10 among both customers and noncustomers. “We are proud of the way the Sterling Bank team cares for customers throughout the Montgomery and River Region,” Sterling Alan Worell Bank President and CEO Alan Worrell said in a statement. “We are also proud to be part of a company that places as much value and emphasis on serving people and giving back to our communities as we do the delivery of quality, competitive products and services.”

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Now in its sixth year, the annual Survey of Bank Reputations provides a detailed analysis of the components that together formulate corporate reputations, and how different banks rate on those measures. Synovus ranked fifth with customers and 10th with non-customers for its positive reputation. In addition, Synovus is one of eight banks with numeric rankings in the “excellent” category among customers, meaning scores of 80 or greater. This is the first year the Reputation Institute has seen banks score in the 80s.

JOINT CENTER OF ALABAMA OPENS AT BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH MONTGOMERY – The Joint Center of Alabama opened at Baptist Medical Center South and is the only one of its kind in the River Region. The 10,500-squarefoot center offers a full range of orthopedic services to help relieve pain and restore active lifestyles. There are four Peter Selman operating rooms, six preoperative beds and seven postoperative beds in the center, which cost nearly $3.5 million. “It is very easy to take a healthy body for granted until illness, injury or the normal aging process threatens to take it away,” Peter Selman, CEO of Baptist Medical Center South, said in a statement. “Joint pain becomes very real very quickly, and that pain can become a way of life. Fortunately, as the only joint center in Central Alabama, we are here to help. As a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, we are recognized for adhering to the best practices in joint surgery.” The Joint Center of Alabama also features state-of-the-art equipment, experienced orthopedic staff, specialized anesthesia, cutting-

edge procedures, and the latest perioperative pain management program. The Joint Center patient experience includes preoperative preparation, the operation itself, postoperative care, physical therapy rehabilitation and a specialized nursing unit dedicated to orthopedic patients and their families. There are large waiting rooms and lounge areas for families.

COMFORT CARE HOSPICE OPENS IN MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY – Comfort Care Hospice has been providing end of life care and services to terminally ill patients in Alabama for 15 years and now has a Montgomery location. Hospice care focuses on comfort and support for the patient and family. Since more hospice patients choose to live in their own homes, it gives patients and their families an opportunity to spend more quality time together. Family members receive support and counseling as well as bereavement care following a loved one’s death. For information about hospice services or bereavement support, call (334) 514-0244.

MONTGOMERY ENGINEERING FIRM WORKS ON LAKE MARTIN PROJECT MONTGOMERY – The civil engineering and land surveying firm of Larry E. Speaks & Associates Inc. has been retained as the engineer on a new project off the western shores of Lake Martin. Steven Speaks has provided engineering oversight of the group’s plans to develop the 51-acre property into 24 residential lots. Located approximately 45 minutes from downtown Montgomery, Cedar Point will feature custom-built homes designed with comfort and convenience in mind on lakefront property starting in the $600,000s.

“This is exactly the type of project I love for our firm to be associated with,” Speaks said in a statement. “We’ve done a lot of work throughout Montgomery and Elmore counties, and I can attest that it’s rare to find the complete package of a nice home and beautiful land available on the lake, for this price, and so close Montgomery.”

SERVPRO HONORS LOCAL FRANCHISE FOR OUTSTANDING REVENUE PERFORMANCE MONTGOMERY – SERVPRO recognized Brian H. Bowen and Bruce H. Bowen of SERVPRO of Montgomery North with the Heritage Bronze award for outstanding revenue performance.

Cedar Point is located in the Little Kowaliga Creek area of the lake, The awards were presented at the east of Real Island, and across from company’s 46th annual convention Trillium. Each of the available lots and a record-setting group of will include at least 140 more than 2,700 franchise feet of sandy shoreline, owners and key employees. unhindered lake views, and a choice “Winning this award of customized requires a partnership cottage floor plans. between the dedicated Groundbreaking team at SERVPRO of took place in early Montgomery North and July. Individual lots are our franchisor SERVPRO,” Brent Buchanan currently available. Bowen said in a statement.

MAGAZINE NAMES CYGNAL EXECUTIVE A REPUBLICAN RISING STAR MONTGOMERY – A national magazine named Cygnal’s Managing Partner Brent Buchanan a 2015 Republican Rising Star. Ten Republicans – ranging from pollsters to consultants to party officials – were honored by Campaigns & Elections at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award is given annually to a select few under 35 who are up-andcoming movers-and-shakers in American and international politics. “Who would have thought that starting out 11 years ago running and winning Reed Ingram and Dimitri Polizos’ County Commission campaigns would lead to receiving a national political award?” Buchanan said in a statement. “Those who have won the Rising Star award in the past have gone on to run presidential campaigns and manage multi-million dollar political firms so it’s an honor to be among many greats in the business.” Campaigns & Elections has been presenting the Rising Star award since 1988.

“We contribute by working hard to earn the trust and respect of home and business owners in our community. SERVPRO backs us up by providing us with the tools, training and knowledge to help us maintain our leadership position in our industry. Together, we are ready at a moment’s notice to step in with the highest level of professional assistance when disaster strikes.”

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TRUSTMARK RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD JACKSON, Miss. – Trustmark received the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Award, presented by the Financial Services Roundtable (FSR).

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The award was given to FSR member companies who demonstrated a commitment to strengthening the communities in which they serve through leadership, voluntarism, monetary contributions and promotion of financial literacy education. Referred for a reason. CONTINUED ON PAGE

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Trustmark, along with 22 other FSR member companies, was the recipient of this prestigious award and was recognized during a reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. “At Trustmark, we realize the significance of practicing good corporate citizenship and the added value it brings to all stakeholders involved,” Trustmark CEO Jerry Host

WHITFIELD FOODS RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FROM PEPSICO MONTGOMERY – Whitfield Foods won a national award from PepsiCo for the second time in four years.

Les Massey

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The award was PepsiCo Contract Manufacturer of the Year. There are 60-plus contract partners across the country.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

trips and service projects. “The truth of the matter is, The program is designed you can’t rest on your to help fourth-graders laurels,” Whitfield Foods gain new academic CEO Les Massey told the skills and prepare to Montgomery Advertiser. enter school in the fall The company packages ready to excel. various products for PepsiCo including Lipton, “Research shows Dole, Tropicana, Gatorade Gary A. Cobbs that the lack of learning and Sobe. The company also opportunities outside of school and, manufactures Alaga Syrup. said in a in particular, during the summer statement. months can cause a dramatic impact on students, especially those from low-income communities,” Gary A. YMCA OF GREATER Cobbs, president and CEO of the MONTGOMERY RECEIVES YMCA of Greater Montgomery, said $25,000 GRANT in a statement. “Thanks to our new partnership with Hyundai and their MONTGOMERY – The YMCA of generosity, we are able to bring the Greater Montgomery received classroom into the community and a $25,000 grant from Hyundai the community into the classroom. Motor America to support its Power Scholars Academy for Summer 2015. The Power Scholars Academy’s goal is to make sure our students are The program, in its second year, is ready when school starts to do their designed to curb summer learning very best and excel. Hyundai’s gift loss of children living in low-income will significantly help us reach our communities. The summer program goals to produce the next generation is a full-day learning experience that of young scholars.” n combines academic instruction with hands-on enrichment activities, field

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE MAX CREDIT UNION NAMES VICE PRESIDENTS MONTGOMERY – MAX Credit Union has named Montgomery native Tony Graydon as vice president of business services and commercial lending and named Ken Peavy as vice president of wealth management.

“I am excited to join the team at MAX,” Peavy said in a statement. “One of the main reasons is the great reputation MAX has in the community. Secondly, it’s the ownership and pride employees take in their work at MAX. That level of customer service makes me enthusiastic to be a part of Tony Graydon this team.”

Peavy built his financial career while living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Graydon, who has and Memphis, Tenn., been in banking since before returning home 1993 and has dealt to Montgomery, serving with the commercial most recently as a wealth side of banking since manager. Prior to starting his Ken Peavy 1998, will work with local career, he received a bachelor’s business clients and potential clients degree in economics from Auburn to grow lending and deposits at MAX. University at Montgomery. He graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and completed the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in 2009. “We at MAX are proud to have Tony on board with us,” MAX Chief Lending Officer Martin Head said in a statement. “It’s not just his wealth of banking experience that will help River Region businesses grow and prosper – it’s Tony’s demonstrated care and concern for people and their well-being that will help them be even more successful in the years to come.” Peavy will oversee the comprehensive wealth management for MAX customers in MAX’s Central and East Alabama footprint. His services will range from portfolio management and retirement planning (individual and business) to college savings and estate management.

MAX has more than $1 billion in assets and 15 branches.

TRUSTMARK ANNOUNCES VICE PRESIDENT, MANAGER MONTGOMERY – Trustmark announced that Kelley B. Hall has been named vice president at the Taylor Road office in Montgomery.

Cathy S. Duncan

The bank also announced that vice president Cathy S. Duncan has assumed a new role as private banking relationship manager at the Montgomery main office. Hall, who has 26 years of experience in the mortgage industry, serves as regional mortgage manager. She is responsible for managing sales and operations for the Central Alabama region as well as originating residential mortgage loans.

MEMBER NEWS

She attended Auburn University at Montgomery. In Duncan’s new role, she will be responsible for developing customer relationships and further establishing Trustmark’s footprint in the Montgomery market. She has 25 years of experience in the financial industry in various retail banking roles, including branch manager and regional sales manager in East Central Alabama. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Faulkner University.

EXIT HODGES REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCES HIRES MONTGOMERY – EXIT Hodges Real Estate in Montgomery announced the additions of Murlee Harris and Justin Worthington to its team of real estate professionals. Paul Hodges, broker of EXIT Hodges Real Estate, said in a statement that the firm was “excited” about hiring Harris and Worthington.

Murlee Harris

Harris, a multimillion dollar sales producer, is a native of Montgomery and has Justin Worthington concentrated her business in the Tri-County area. She attended high school, college and business school in Montgomery. Her real estate career spans 30-plus years. Worthington, a Montgomery native, has spent his entire adult life working in the service department of the CONTINUED ON PAGE

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automotive industry, including the past four years at Jack Ingram Motors. He attended real estate class at EXIT Hodges Real Estate. “I never imagined working anywhere else after I got my real estate license,” Worthington said in a statement.

CENTRAL NAMES EXECUTIVE CHEF, BANQUET CHIEF MONTGOMERY – Central restaurant announced the promotions of Randal Gresham Jr. and Kareem Wade to executive chef and banquet chef, respectively.

Randal Gresham Jr.

Gresham replaces executive chef Leonardo Maurelli III, who was appointed executive chef at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Gresham was the chef de cuisine at Central-second in command, and trained under Maurelli.

Wade has more than 20 years of culinary Kareem Wade experience from a corporate trainer at national chain restaurants to managing the banquet kitchen at large-service hotels. He is responsible for servicing all private event menu requests. He works closely with Central’s event director Autumn Lewis to develop and execute unique menu items. “I was always taught to leave something better than I found it and hopefully that’s what I’ve done,” Maurelli said in a statement. “I continue to credit Central’s culinary success to my entire team. They are all so talented and I know Central will prosper and continue to achieve greatness after my departure.” Central owner Jake Kyser said in a statement: “We are excited about our new culinary team and grateful

to have qualified chefs internally who were ready to step up to the plate. We are confident there is a bright future ahead of us.”

portfolio of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investments, including specifically monitoring of investment activity, accounting compliance, budgets and investor reporting. He will be based in Montgomery.

MONTGOMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CAMPUS NAMES PEDIATRIC CLERKSHIP DIRECTOR

Williamson, who has 25-plus years of experience in tax credit investment management for affordable housing investments, joins New York-based Kevin Fiore, Michael Haynes and Constantine Chigounis.

MONTGOMERY – Dr. Melissa S. McNally has been named clerkship director for pediatrics at the Montgomery Regional Medical Campus of the UAB School of Medicine.

McNally will succeed Dr. Mendy Blakeney, who served as the initial clerkship director for the campus.

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

CAPELL & HOWARD

A native of Fort Myers, Fla., McNally ANNOUNCES NEW received a bachelor’s SHAREHOLDER degree in biology from Emory University and MONTGOMERY – Carla subsequently served Cole Gilmore recently as a postgraduate joined the law firm of fellow at the Centers Capell & Howard as for Disease Control a shareholder. in Atlanta. She Gilmore has been practicing received a doctorate of Carla Cole Gilmore law in Montgomery for 20 medicine degree from years and focuses her practice the University of Florida College of primarily in the areas of labor and Medicine, where she also completed employment law, commercial her residency in pediatrics. litigation, probate and estate litigation She has been in practice with and administrative law. Partners in Pediatrics since 2012 She received a bachelor’s degree and a member of the UAB faculty in commerce and business since 2014. administration from the University of Alabama, where she majored in accounting. She received her juris doctor from the University of 42 EQUITY PARTNERS Alabama School of Law. HIRES DIRECTOR OF

ASSET MANAGEMENT MONTGOMERY – Rich Williamson has joined 42 Equity Partners, LLC, an affiliate of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, as director of asset management.

He will manage and direct the asset management of the firm’s 66

Melissa McNally

42 Equity Partners, which is located in New York with offices in Montgomery, focuses on a wide range of tax credit investments across the United States and Puerto Rico with an emphasis on the LIHTC program.

Rich Williamson

TROY UNIVERSITY NAMES DIRECTOR OF ROSA PARKS MUSEUM MONTGOMERY – Felicia A. Bell has been named the director of Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum.

Felicia A. Bell

BAKER ELECTED 90TH JUNIOR LEAGUE PRESIDENT

TRENHOLM TECH FOUNDATION HIRES DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

MONTGOMERY – Kimberly Baker has been elected the 90th president of The Junior League of Montgomery.

MONTGOMERY – The Trenholm Tech Foundation has named Adrienne Tickle as development officer working to further the organization’s mission and helping better the lives of its students.

Her focus this year will be An assistant professor to bring awareness of the of history at Savannah history and impact The State University Junior League has had since 2011, Bell on Montgomery and the previously served as River Region. director of education “I am truly honored to and outreach for the celebrate the work and legacy Kimberly Baker United States Capitol of so many women who have Historical Society in come before me,” Baker said in Washington, D.C. She also served as a statement. “The women of The director of education and programs Junior League of Montgomery have for the Coastal Heritage Society in blessed this city richly with their Savannah, Ga. time, energy, talent and funds from “Troy University is excited about the our many fundraisers. I am proud to appointment of Dr. Felicia Bell to share their success stories.” director of the Rosa Parks Museum,” Baker will lead organization during Lance Tatum, vice chancellor of the its 90th anniversary and part of University’s Montgomery campus, the celebration will be the league’s said in a statement. “The university #90for90 campaign. The organization went through an exhaustive search will select a nonprofit each month and Dr. Bell’s museum experiences to receive 90 gifts leading up to the and academic background matched April 7, 2016 gala. very well to the current and future activities of the museum.” “While we are celebrating 90 years Bell received a bachelor’s degree in history from Savannah State University; a master’s degree in historic preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design; and a doctorate in U.S. history from Howard University. She has long been an advocate for preserving African American heritage. Research for her dissertation garnered attention from Congress, and, in 2007 she gave an expert testimony before the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on House Administration about the use of enslaved and free black craftsmen to construct the U.S. Capitol. Her testimony, along with that of others, resulted in a bill to name the Capitol Visitor Center’s great hall, “Emancipation Hall.” The bill was signed into law in December 2007.

of passion and purpose here in Montgomery, we will spend most of the year doing what we do best – giving back,” Baker said. “We are an organization of women dedicated to serving others and expecting nothing in return other than the satisfaction of knowing we have truly made a difference.” In addition to the 90th anniversary gala and #90for90 campaign, the league will kick off a fall calendar of fundraisers and community events with College and Career Night on Sept. 14 and the 27th annual Holiday Market will be Oct. 15-17. The rummage sale will be at the City of St. Jude on Jan. 23 and Taste of the River Region will be March 6.

She will be responsible for continuing fundraising efforts and increasing academic success opportunities for Trenholm students. Tickle brings more than eight years of experience in marketing and communications. Previously, she served Adrienne Tickle as the community relations coordinator for a local financial institution. She also worked as a Department of Defense contractor and with several non-profit organizations. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s degree in public administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.

ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS NAMES VP OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT MONTGOMERY – Josh McFall has been promoted to vice president of strategic development for the Alabama Association of Realtors. He will lead the association’s strategic initiatives, member services, professional development and communication areas. McFall, who has been at the association since 2012, was previously the director of education and digital media. CONTINUED ON PAGE

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“I have seen Josh’s creativity and keen passion for his work as well as his collaborative style with our members and staff,” Alabama Association of Realtors CEO Barry Mask said in a statement. “This coupled with his team approach and communication skills will allow me and our leadership team to propel our association to the next level.” McFall has degrees from the University of North Alabama and Auburn University. He is a member of the Auburn University at Montgomery faculty.

WARREN AVERETT ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS MONTGOMERY – Certified public accounting and advisory firm Warren Averett, LLC, announced that Rick Blanton, Jessica Thompson and Chuck Burroughs have been promoted. Rick Blanton

Jessica Thompson

Blanton, a certified public accountant who joined Warren Averett in 2010, is a manager in the firm’s audit division. He primarily plans and conducts audits for governmental and nonprofit organizations. Thompson, who is also a CPA, joined the firm in 2008. She is a manager in the firm’s audit division, focusing on bank, benefit plan and real estate audits.

Burroughs is a manager in the firm’s information technology division. He has been with Warren Averett for more than two years and has 15-plus years in the IT industry. His primary responsibilities include IT project management and implementation.

Chuck Burroughs

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Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

JACKSON THORNTON PROMOTES DOZEN MONTGOMERY – Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm, is pleased to announce several promotions in its offices throughout Alabama and Tennessee.

Tuan Blank

Brian Driskill was promoted to Vice President & General Manager, Jackson Thornton Technologies. Driskill, who joined the firm in 2014, is responsible for the management and strategic direction of Jackson Thornton Technologies (JTT), a whollyowned subsidiary of Jackson Thornton. He is a member of the Alliance Network and the Alabama Medical Group Management Association. Driskill received his undergraduate degree from Samford University and his graduate degree from Troy University.

Tuan Blank, CPA, has been promoted to Senior Manager. Blank, who joined the Will Jones firm in 2005, specializes in healthcare consulting and small business In the Montgomery, tax. She is located in Alabama office, Jackson the firm’s Nashville Thornton also promoted office. Blank served Dana Hess, CPA; as a Southwest Elizabeth Stough, CPA; Chapter Board Will Tucker, CPA; Crystal Member of the Alabama Smith, CPA; Matthew Hilburn, Brian Driskill Society of Certified CPA; and Sarah Chandler to Public Accountants (ASCPA) from Manager and Wes Scardina to IT 2006 – 2012. She is currently a Project Manager. In the Wetumpka, member of the Nashville Medical Alabama office, the firm promoted Group Management Association and Ben Mustin, CPA, to Manager and Leadership Health Care, an initiative in the Nashville, Tennessee office, of the Nashville Health Care Council. Kristin Jackson, CPA, to Manager. Blank received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of West Florida.

ALDRIDGE, BORDEN

Will Jones, CPA, received & CO ANNOUNCE a promotion to Senior MANAGING PARTNER Manager. Jones, who joined the firm in MONTGOMERY – 2007, specializes in Aldridge, Borden & tax with a focus on the Co., P.C. announced Utilities industry and that Dane Floyd is the closely held businesses. accounting firm’s new He is located in the firm’s managing partner. He Dane Floyd Montgomery office. Jones succeeds James Blake, who holds professional memberships in has been the firm’s managing partner the National Telecommunications for 35-plus years. Cooperative Association (NTCA) and Floyd serves as a partner in Aldridge the National Society of Accountants Borden’s consulting group, which for Cooperatives (NSAC). He provides business valuations, completed the ASCPA Leadership Academy in 2015. Jones received his forensic accounting and business consulting services. He graduated undergraduate and graduate degrees from Auburn University in 1989 from Auburn University. and began his career in public accounting with Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young).

“We are grateful for the leadership that has created an environment of strong client service at our firm,” Floyd said in a statement. “Our professionals are eager to continue that level of service while constantly seeking better and innovative ways to collaborate with our clients as they work to succeed in their business pursuits.” Blake has worked his entire professional career at Aldridge Borden, coming to work at the firm following the completion of his accounting degree at Auburn University at Montgomery. Although he is stepping away from his duties as the managing partner, Blake will continue to serve clients with their accounting and tax needs. “The enduring principles that are engrained in the culture of Aldridge Boden are honesty, integrity and objectivity,” Blake said in a statement. “We have kept, and I believe always will keep, those as our core principles at the firm. I look forward to seeing our next

generation of professionals applying these principles in a dynamic business environment.” Aldridge, Borden & Co. is a fullservice certified public accounting firm founded in 1918.

WELLS FARGO ANNOUNCES PROMOTION

business banking manager, said in a statement. “This promotion will enable her to take the lead in acquiring, retaining and growing relationships with Wells Fargo customers and prospects. Amy’s extensive banking experience and knowledge of our products and services will certainly help our clients succeed financially.”

Dicks, who has been a teller, teller manager, MONTGOMERY – Amy financial specialist and O. Dicks was recently branch manager for Wells Amy O. Dicks promoted to business Fargo, was most recently a relationship manager at business associate II. Her previous Wells Fargo. duties included providing a high level Her new responsibilities include of sales, marketing and operations ensuring the overall success and support to a business relationship growth of an assigned portfolio with manager. She also consolidated, existing business customers and analyzed and interpreted acquiring new business customers customer activity in support of with sales between $2 million customer retention. to $20 million. She has been in the local banking “We are very fortunate to have field since 2001 when she worked for Amy as a member of our Business SouthTrust. She graduated from Troy Banking team,” Billy Livings, University with a bachelor’s degree in senior vice president and area banking and finance. n

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dĞůů ƵƐ ĂďŽƵƚ LJŽƵƌ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ƚŽĚĂLJ͊

'ƌĂƉŚŝĐƐ Θ DĂŝůŝŶŐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ /ŶĐ͘ ϮϬϮϲ >ŽĐƵƐƚ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ DŽŶƚŐŽŵĞƌLJ͕ > ϯϲϭϬϳ

ŝƌĞĐƚ DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ Θ ^ŽůƵƚŝŽŶƐ ϭ͘ϴϬϬ͘ϴϬϭ͘ϯϮϰϳ ǁǁǁ͘ŐƌĂƉŚŝĐƐĂŶĚŵĂŝůŝŶŐ͘ĐŽŵ

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

69

CHAMBER NEWS

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GROUND BREAKINGS

METRO CITY BANK

BUFFALO WILD WINGS

RAINBOW SALES & SERVICE

2779 Bell Road • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-260-4926 • www.metrocitybank.com Jin Kim-Vice President/Branch Manager • Banks

1414 Taylor Road • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-5547 • www.buffalowildwings.com Vince Saele-General Manager • Restaurants

6009-C Monticello Drive • Montgomery, AL 36117 205-240-4041 Marty Adams-Area Distributor • Vacuum Cleaners

BONEFISH GRILL

A-Z TOYS

MCCLINTON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

7020 EastChase Parkway • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-396-1770 • www.bonefishgrill.com RJ Reed-Managing Partner • Restaurants-Seafood

7248 EastChase Parkway • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-356-9648 Braden Lee-Owner • Ryan Wales-Owner/General Manager Toys

4165 Carmichael Road • Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-9177 • www.mcclintoncommercial.com David McClinton-President Real Estate-Commercial/Investments

RELLY RUE CREATIVE STUDIO

HOT SPOTS

1834 West Fifth Street • Montgomery, AL 36106 334-324-3476 • www.rellyruecreativestudio.com Sherrell Lewis-Owner • Gifts & Specialty-Retail Event Planner

600 South Court Street, Suite 103 • Montgomery, AL 36103 334-259-9273 • www.hot-spots.city Taujuonna Ware-Executive Marketing Director Marketing/Marketing Research

70

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

GREATER MONTGOMERY HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 230160 • Montgomery, AL 36123 334277-7766 • www.gmhba.org Jim Mathews-President • Associations/Non-Profit

MEDHEALTH URGENT CARE

COMFORT CARE HOSPICE

DRURY INN & SUITES-MONTGOMERY

2908 McGehee Road • Montgomery, AL 36111 334-546-7500 • www.medhealthurgentcare.com Dr. Anitra Lumpkin-CEO/Owner • Hospitals/Clinics

315 St. Lukes Drive • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-514-0244 • www.comfortcarehospice.org Candace Fales-Administrator Hospices

1124 Eastern Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-273-1101 • www.druryhotels.com Kirk Taylor-General Manager • Hotels/Motels

WOW WINGS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL

WILLCOXON PROPERTIES

BOOKS-A-MILLION

2701 Eastern Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-647-1901 Alvin Wright-General Manager/Franchise Restaurants-Bar/Grill

P.O. Box 241623 • Montgomery, AL 36124 334-318-0789 • Lee Willcoxon-Owner Real Estate-Commercial/Investments

7074 EastChase Parkway • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-273-4679 • www.booksamillion.com Randell Elton-Store Manager • Books-Retail

SHEAR EXPERIENCE

ASE CREDIT UNION

MICHAEL MOORER PHOTOGRAPHY

7933 Vaughn Road • Montgomery, AL 36116 334-801-9940 Jimmy Adams-Owner • Patricia Powell-Manager Beauty Salons/Spas

9190 EastChase Parkway • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-270-9045 • www.asecu.org Ned McHenry-CEO • Credit Union

12 West Jefferson Street, Suite 260 • Montgomery, AL 36104 334-782-5848 • www.michaelmoorerphotography Michael Moorer-Owner • Photographers

REINHARDT MOTORS, INC. - LEXUS

REINHARDT MOTORS, INC. - TOYOTA

911 Eastern Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-7147 • www.reinhardtmotors.com Ed Reinhardt-President/General Manager Automobile Dealers & Services

911 Eastern Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-7147 • www.reinhardtmotors.com Ed Reinhardt-President/General Manager Automobile Dealers & Services

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

71

CHAMBER NEWS

NEW MEMBERS

ADVERTISING

BUILDERS-RESIDENTIAL

DENTISTS-SPECIALIZED

GLASS

GITGO ADVERTISING, LLC Holmes King 3066 Zelda Road PMB 214 Montgomery, AL 36106 334-399-3295

STONE MARTIN BUILDERS Mitchell Martin 404 South Eighth Street Opelika, AL 36801 334-742-8050

ANY 1 GLASS, LLC Robert Landrum 5306 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-544-9752

ICU DISPLAY David Wilkerson P.O. Box 250452 Montgomery, AL 36125 334-549-7920

CAR WASH & DETAIL

AFFORDABLE DENTURESMONTGOMERY, P.C. Robert M. Gaskin 5011 Business Park Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 334-613-7795

ADVERTISING-OUTDOOR

LINK MEDIA OUTDOOR Sean Cash 8918 West 21st Street North Wichita, KS 67205 844-404-5465 ASSOCIATIONS/NON-PROFIT

CENTRAL ALABAMA CRIME STOPPERS, INC. Susan Moss 2190 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 334-240-4505 AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICES

JENKINS TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE Mike Jenkins 39 Madison Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 334-265-0792 BANKS

BANCORPSOUTH Robert M. Hertenstein 1825 Norman Bridge Road Montgomery, AL 36104 334-782-1680 METRO CITY BANK Jin Kim 2779 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-260-4926 WILSHIRE BANK Kay Taylor 1605 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-277-4118

72

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

SMOOTH WASH, INC. Darryl A. Hall 4068 Amesbury Drive, Apt F Montgomery, AL 36116 334-799-3546 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

JONES SCHOOL OF LAW Charles I. Nelson 5345 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-386-7210 CONSULTING SERVICES

VISIONARY CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC April Jones 9024 Pennington Place Montgomery, AL 36117 334-354-3411 CONSULTING SERVICES/

DEPARTMENT STORES

WALMART SUPERCENTER Joel McKee 6495 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-0263

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

EDOCHOME Laurice Webb 1436 Brighton Road Birmingham, AL 35228 205-540-6405 HEATING & AIR

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

CONDITIONING SERVICES

KONNECT GROUP Lee Yi 7956 Vaughn Road, Suite 111 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-642-5627

IHS SERVICES Mark McKee 2603 Highland Avenue Montgomery, AL 36107 334-264-1217

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

USA STAFFING SERVICES Harold Brooks P.O. Box 1246 Montgomery, AL 36102 334-430-0954

EDUCATION

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ACADEMIC COACHING CONSULTANT Monica M. Powell 2830 Creative Street Montgomery, AL 36110-2000 334-313-2776

SOUTHEASTERN PLANNING CORPORATION, LLC Derek Grissett 4256 Lomac Street, Suite 100 Montgomery, AL 36106 334-313-8736

CONVENIENCE STORE

FITNESS CENTER/GYM

MURPHY USA Jerome Wells 3801 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 870-866-9274

ORANGETHEORY FITNESS Lauren Adair-Goldasich 1645 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-409-2007

CREDIT UNION

FURNITURE

ASE CREDIT UNION Ned McHenry 9190 EastChase Parkway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-270-9045

HOME FURNITURE Zahi Abdelaziz 2001 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-280-1101

HOTELS/MOTELS

MONTGOMERY INN & SUITES Linda Gunn 1201 Townplace Drive Montgomery, AL 36106 334-409-9999 QUALITY INN Ray Patel 7731 Slade Plaza Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36105 334-280-0306 QUALITY INN & SUITES Nick Patel 4480 Northchase Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36110 334-270-0099 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIRMS

NETELYSIS Boyd Stephens PO Box 230546 Montgomery, AL 36123 334-213-1128 INSURANCE COMPANIES/SERVICES

LIBERTY MUTUAL-LYNN SWINK Lynn Swink 39 Boulder Drive Pike Road, AL 36064 334-799-6731

THE CONE COMPANY, INC. Loui P. Cone P.O. Box 230549 Montgomery, AL 36123-0549 334-272-4791 INVESTMENT BANKERS

CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC Darin Phillips P.O. Box 1694 Montgomery, AL 36102-1694 334-365-1234 LANDSCAPING/LAWN SERVICES

TRUGREEN Timothy Bradberry 801 Oliver Court Montgomery, AL 36117 334-279-6702 LEGAL SERVICES - ATTORNEYS

BROOKS, HUBBARD & JAMES, P.C. Joseph L. Hubbard 418 Scott Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-832-1001 MARKETING/MARKETING

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS

RACETRACKS

RESTAURANTS-JAPANESE

JONA HALL FILM & MEDIA Consultants Jona Hall 111 Arrowhead Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 347-708-3451

MONTGOMERY MOTOR SPEEDWAY Stan Narrison 480 Booth Road Montgomery, AL 36108 334-262-6101

YOKOHAMA JAPANESE RESTAURANT Seong C. Cheon 2767 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-517-1891

NURSING HOMES/

RADIO & BROADCASTING

RESTAURANTS-PIZZA

ASSISTED LIVING

COMPANIES

OXTON COURT AT WATERFORD PLACE Melody Phillips 3920 Antoinette Drive Montgomery, AL 36111 334-288-2444

LITTLE ENGINE BROADCASTING Terry Barber 2305 Upper Wetumpka Road Montgomery, AL 36107 334-834-3710

OXTON PLACE OF MONTGOMERY Melody Phillips 3300 Lynchburg Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 334-281-0808

COMMERCIAL/INVESTMENTS

OFFICE FURNITURE

DIVISION 12 CONSULTING Michael L. Washington 1570 Meriweather Circle Montgomery, AL 36117 334-245-3394

RESEARCH

PHARMACIES

HOT SPOTS Taujuonna Ware 600 South Court Street, Suite 103 Montgomery, AL 36103 334-259-9273

WALGREENS DRUG STORE #6843 Willie King 2281 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36111 334-286-6678

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

STAT MEDICAL Clint McClendon 10 Wax Myrtle Court Montgomery, AL 36117 334-398-4391 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES

VELOX INTEGRATION SERVICES, LLC. Sherrell Love 600 South Court Street, Suite 322 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-233-3328

PRINTERS/COPY CENTERS

KWIK KOPY SHOP Tommy P. Nichols 448 South Lawrence Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-262-8000 PSYCHIATRISTS

MONTGOMERY PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, LLC Babatunde Abolade 2430 Fairlane Drive, Suite C-7 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-551-0735

REAL ESTATE-

MCCLINTON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE David McClinton 4165 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-370-9177 WILLCOXON PROPERTIES Lee Willcoxon P.O. Box 241623 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-318-0789 RESTAURANTS-BAR/GRILL

RAILYARD BREWING COMPANY Bob Parker 12 West Jefferson Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-262-0080 WOW WINGS SPORTS BAR & GRILL Alvin Wright 2701 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-647-1901 RESTAURANTS-FAST FOOD

JIMMY JOHN’S GOURMET SANDWICHES W. J. Howard 130 Commerce Street, Suite 100 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-676-3803

CICI’S PIZZA Patrick Parker 981 Ann Street Montgomery, AL 36107 334-386-3086 ROOFING COMPANIES

PRECISION ROOFING, LLC Mike Dunn 1140 Monticello Road Madison, GA 30650 770-266-6150 TOYS

A-Z TOYS Ryan Wales 7248 EastChase Parkway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-356-9648 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

BML TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Thomas Hardy 400 Jeffrey Drive Montgomery, AL 36108 334-669-0501 VACUUM CLEANERS

RAINBOW SALES & SERVICE Marty Adams 6009-C Monticello Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 205-240-4041 WEB DESIGN/WEB HOSTING

KINDRED TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC Kenley Obas 600 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 866-546-4969

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

73

CHAMBER NEWS

ECONOMIC INTEL UNEMPLOYMENT

Civilian Labor Force

Unemployment Rate

Area

July p 2015

June r 2015

July r 2014

Montgomery MA

172,470

172,219

171,164

6.60%

6.50%

7.40%

Autauga County

25,819

25,733

25,585

5.90%

5.70%

6.60%

Prattville City

16,860

16,813

16,600

5.60%

5.50%

5.70%

Elmore County

36,747

36,671

36,460

5.60%

5.40%

6.30%

4,023

3,983

3,942

13.20%

12.70%

13.70%

105,881

105,832

105,177

6.80%

6.80%

7.80%

93,345

93,335

92,592

7.00%

6.90%

7.80%

541,688

540,991

537,349

6.00%

5.90%

6.70%

94,260

94,164

93,624

8.00%

7.90%

8.70%

Huntsville MA

210,653

210,008

209,367

6.10%

6.10%

6.90%

Huntsville City

91,745

91,476

90,721

6.80%

6.70%

7.10%

Mobile MA

184,111

184,799

185,584

790.00%

7.70%

8.60%

Mobile City

86,252

86,620

87,012

8.10%

8.00%

8.90%

2,156,496

2,165,371

2,132,369

6.20%

6.10%

6.60%

158,527,000

158,283,000

157,573,000

5.60%

5.50%

6.50%

Lowndes County Montgomery County Montgomery City Birmingham-Hoover MA Birmingham City

Alabama United States

July p 2015

June r 2015

July r 2014

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 2014 benchmark.

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

Montgomery County

$3,553,472

$3,488,644

1.86%

$25,061,942

$23,962,442

4.59%

City of Montgomery

$8,699,998

$8,552,494

1.72%

$60,049,894

$57,129,404

5.11%

$205,038

$71,833

185.44%

$1,270,401

$983,208

29.21%

$1,963,435

$1,792,731

9.52%

$12,828,845

$11,972,708

7.15%

Autauga County

$682,803

$720,197

-5.19%

$4,784,116

$4,592,780

4.17%

Elmore County

$238,057

$221,702

7.38%

$1,644,894

$1,502,310

9.49%

Wetumpka

$475,729

$494,296

-3.76%

$2,783,191

$3,319,658

-16.16%

Pike Road Prattville

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

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 2015 thru current month.

74

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

HYUNDAI SALES VEHICLE

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

Accent

4,276

3,755

40,252

38,019

Sonata

23,917

22,577

119,738

128,924

Elantra

22,135

22,213

150,833

134,710

Santa Fe

11,655

8,655

66,393

60,660

Azera

414

512

4,067

4,703

Tucson

3,908

3,767

26,542

28,103

Veloster

2,060

2,237

13,261

17,207

Veracruz

0

0

0

1

Genesis

2,474

2,990

19,744

17,036

174

305

1,333

2,082

71,013

67,011

442,163

431,445

Equus Total

Source: Hyundai Motor America

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

MGM

BHM

ATL

Baltimore (BWI)

$326

$218

$156

Boston (BOS)

$315

$318

$258

Charlotte, NC (CLT)

$276

$270

$101

Chicago (ORD)

$320

$241

$158

Cincinnati (CVG)

$319

$372

$148

Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)

$317

$251

$121

Denver (DEN)

$438

$332

$184

Detroit (DTW)

$327

$303

$196

Houston (HOU)

$306

$281

$206

Indianapolis (IND)

$301

$248

$98

Las Vegas (LAS)

$441

$361

$274

Los Angeles (LAX)

$447

$331

$307

Memphis (MEM)

$340

$331

$307

Miami (MIA)

$301

$302

$117

Nashville (BNA)

$451

$355

$380

New Orleans (MSY)

$451

$395

$157

New York (JFK)

$302

$324

$300

Orlando (MCO)

$269

$225

$87

Philadelphia (PHL)

$316

$300

$132

Pittsburgh (PIT)

$292

$294

$230

St Louis (STL)

$259

$239

$205

Seattle (SEA)

$502

$419

$400

$1,665

$1,326

$1,396

Tampa (TPA)

$269

$222

$96

Washington DC (DCA)

$305

$248

$248

Seoul (SEL)

Date of travel: Sept. 8-13, 2015. Date of pricing: Aug. 9, 2015. Source: travelocity.com

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

75

BUILDING STARTS

Building Permits JULY 2015

JUNE 2015

JULY 2014

New Construction

57

58

45

$17,906,600

$4,325,000

$8,971,000

Additions and AlterationsÂ

82

67

113

$11,057,643

$3,836,264

$9,599,156

Others

18

26

24

$137,240

$87,600

$129,100

157

151

182

$29,101,483

$8,248,864

$18,699,256

Total

JUNE 2015

Building Valuations JULY 2014

JULY 2015

Source: City of Montgomery Building Department

MONTGOMERY METRO MARKET HOME SALES JULY 2015

JUNE 2015

MONTH/MONTH % CHANGE

JULY 2014

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

STATEWIDE JULY 2015*

Median Price

$146,500

$150,000

-2.33%

$146,450

0.03%

$139,939

Average Price

$162,658

$166,052

-2.04%

$161,240

0.88%

$167,431

3,021

3,038

-0.56%

2,925

3.28%

33,863

Months of Supply

6.3

7.5

-16.00%

7.9

-20.25%

6.4

Total # Sales

482

404

19.31%

368

30.98%

5,293

Days on Market

127

135

-5.93%

135

-5.93%

146

Units Listed

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

76

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

QUARTERLY REPORTS NAME

QUARTERLY REVENUES

NET INCOME

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS ESTIMATE

YEAR-AGO REVENUES

YEAR-AGO NET INCOME

Wal-Mart

$114.8B

$3.3B

$1.03

$1.05

$115B

$3.6B

Profit declined 7%

Home Depot

$20.9B

$1.6B

$1.21

$1.15

$19.7B

$1.4B

Comparable U.S. sales rose 7.1%

Target

$17.1B

$635M

$0.98

$1.03

$16.7B

$418M

Profit jumped 52%

Best Buy

$8.6B

$129M

$0.37

$0.29

$8.6B

$461M

Plans to cut costs $400M over the next three years

TJX Companies (T.J. Maxx)

$6.9B

$474.6M

$0.69

$0.67

$6.5B

$454.3M

Dick’s Sporting Goods

$1.6B

$63.3M

$0.53

$0.53

$1.4B

$70M

Sales increased 8.8%

Lowe’s

$14.1B

$673M

$0.70

$0.74

$13.4B

$624M

Same-store sales up 5.2%

$394.9M

$16.6M

$1.16

$0.88

$340.5M

$11.9M

Revenue rose16%

L Brands (Bath & Body Works,

$2.5B

$250.5M

$0.84

$0.60

$2.4B

$157M

Profit climbed 60%

Ross Stores

$2.9B

$282.2M

$1.37

$1.28

$2.7B

$243.9M

Sales increased 10%

Dollar Tree

$2.2B

$69.5M

$0.34

$0.74

$2B

$138.3M

Plans to sell 330 Family Dollar stores for merger approval

Aeropostale

$318.6M

(-$45.3M)

(-$0.57)

(-$0.54)

$395.9M

(-$83.8M)

Sales plunged 20%

Advance Auto Parts

$3B

$148.1M

$2.39

$2.50

$3B

$147.7M

Sales increased 2.3%

Williams-Sonoma

$1B

$44.8M

$0.48

$0.44

$974M

$46.1M

Sales rose 5.8%

Ann (Ann Taylor, Loft)

$597.7M

$13.6M

$0.29

$0.33

$590.6M

$5.2M

Ann acquired by Ascena Retail Group

Hibbett Sports

$269.8M

$27.4M

$1.09

$1.14

$261.9M

$28.4M

Comparable store sales declined 0.9%

American Eagle Outfitters

$700M

$29M

$0.15

$0.12

$646M

$3.9M

Same-store sales jumped 7%

Foot Locker

$1.9B

$184M

$1.29

$1.22

$1.8B

$162M

Profit rose 17%

Gap (Old Navy, Banana Republic)

$3.7B

$239M

$0.56

$0.56

$3.8B

$260M

Profit fell 8%

AutoZone

$2.5B

$309.1M

$9.57

$9.52

$2.3B

$285.2M

Dollar General

$4.9B

$253M

$0.84

$0.82

$4.5B

$222M

Sales rose 8.8%

Fresh Market

$462M

$15.2M

$0.31

$0.49

$404.2M

$16.6M

Revenue increased 7.2%

Costco

$26.1B

$516M

$1.17

$1.19

$25.8B

$473M

Comparable store sales fell 1%

Chico’s FAS

$693.3M

$32.5M

$0.22

$0.28

$681.6M

$39.9M

Sales increased 1.7%

GameStop

$2B

$73.8M

$0.68

$0.58

$2B

$68M

Abercrombie & Fitch

$709.4M

(-$63.2M)

(-$0.91)

(-$0.34)

N/A

(-$23.7M)

Revenue declined 14%

Pacific Sunwear

$166.5M

(-$3.5M)

(-$0.05)

(-$0.11)

$171M

(-$10.4M)

Comparable store sales fell 2%

Big Lots

$1.3B

$32.2M

$0.60

$0.59

$1.3B

$28.6M

Comparable store sales increased 1.6%

Fred’s

$509M

(-$29,000)

(-$0.01)

(-$0.02)

$498.3M

$6.1M

Sales up 2.2%

Ulta Salon

$868.1M

$66.9M

$1.04

$0.93

$713.8M

$49.9M

Sales surged 21.6%

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

$132.5M

$10.7M

$0.16

$0.22

$121.6M

$9.7M

U.S. same-store sales rose 2.3%

$5.9B

(-$303M)

(-$2.85)

N/A

$7.9B

(-$402M)

Men’s Wearhouse

$885.1M

$10.4M

$0.21

$0.52

$847.9M

$16.5M

Sales increased 4.4%

Pep Boys

$542.3M

$11.9M

$0.22

$0.03

$538.8M

$1.6M

Comparable sales up 0.8%

Family Dollar

$2.7B

$79.9M

$0.70

$0.82

$2.7B

$81.1M

Sales increased 2.6%

Rite Aid

$6.7B

$18.8M

$0.02

$0.02

$6.5B

$41.4M

Profit fell 55%

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Victoria’s Secret)

Sears Holdings

NOTABLE

Comparable same-store sales up 5%

Sales increased 6.5%

Sales rose 8.1%

Has lost $7B during the past 4 years

September 2015 Montgomery Business Journal

77

MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT STATS JULY 2015 Air Carrier Operations

JULY 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

843

935

-9.8%

5,424

6,031

-10.0%

4,749

5,270

-9.9%

33,850

36,882

-8.2%

Enplanements

15,925

15,683

1.5%

102,166

92,801

10.1%

Deplanements

15,557

15,792

-1.5%

99,333

92,813

7.0%

Total Passengers

31,482

31,475

0.0%

201,499

185,614

8.6%

Total Operations

Source: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) Dannelly Field

QUARTERLY REPORTS NAME

QUARTERLY REVENUES

NET INCOME

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS ESTIMATE

YEAR-AGO REVENUES

YEAR-AGO NET INCOME

Sonic

$164.7M

$20.4M

$0.38

$0.37

$152.2M

$16.8M

Same-store sales rose 6.1%

Darden Restaurants

$1.9B

$105.3M

$0.82

$0.93

$1.7B

$86.5M

Split off 430 properties

Walgreen Boots Alliance

$28.8B

$1.3B

$1.18

$0.87

$19.4B

$714M

Profit jumped 82.4%

Wells Fargo

$21.3B

$5.7B

$1.03

$1.03

$21.1B

$5.7B

Quarter-end loans up 7% to $59.5B

Yum Brands

$3.1B

$235M

$0.53

$0.63

$3.2B

$334M

Sales fell for 4th straight quarter

$488.6M

$45.9M

$0.81

$0.80

$450.5M

$38.5M

Domestic same-store sales rose 12.8%

$2.4B

$454M

$0.69

$0.68

N/A

$424M

Non-interest income up $6.4% to $1B

$3B

$553M

$0.56

$0.53

N/A

$529M

Quarterly operating income topped $1B for the first time

ServisFirst Bancshares

$43.7M

$14.5M

$0.54

$0.55

N/A

$11.6M

Profit jumped 21%

Ruby Tuesday

$296.8M

$4.3M

$0.07

$0.11

$307.3M

(-$881,000)

Starbucks

$4.9B

$626.7M

$0.41

$0.41

$4.2B

$512.6M

Regions Financial Corp.

$1.4B

$285M

$0.20

$0.20

$1.3B

$296M

Chipotle Mexican Grill

$1.2B

$140.2M

$4.45

$4.41

$1.1B

$110.3M

Sales up 4.3%

Dunkin’ Brands

$211.4M

$42.3M

$0.44

$0.48

$190.9M

$46.2M

Revenue rose 10.7%

Carmike Cinemas

$219.1M

(-$1.4M)

(-$0.06)

N/A

$183M

$3.2M

Attendance rose nearly 14%

Hancock Holding Co.

$212.7M

$34.8M

$0.44

$0.50

N/A

$40M

Loans increased $420M

O’Reilly Automotive

$2B

$234M

$2.29

$2.26

$1.9B

$206M

Profit increased 14%

Buffalo Wild Wings

$426.4M

$21.5M

$1.12

$1.26

$366M

$23.7M

Revenue rose 16.5%

International Paper

$5.7B

$227M

$0.54

$0.92

$5.9B

$161M

Industrial packaging revenue declined 2.8% to $3.7B

Havertys

$187.7M

$4.8M

$0.21

N/A

$175.1M

$4.8M

Sales rose 7.2%

Panera Bread

$676.7M

$41.9M

$1.61

$1.63

$631.1M

$49.2M

Revenue increased 7%

Southern Co.

$4.3B

$643M

$0.69

$0.69

$4.5B

$611M

Kilo-watt hour sales up 2.2%

Whole Foods

$3.6B

$154M

$0.43

$0.45

$3.4B

$151M

Same-store sales up 1.3%

Marriott International

$3.7B

$240M

$0.82

$0.81

$3.5B

$192M

Added 20,000-plus rooms in the quarter

$454.7M

$21.1M

$0.30

$0.37

$395.4M

$23.1M

Total costs and expenses rose 18% ($423,000) in the quarter.

$37.2B

$1.3B

$1.12

$1.20

$34.6B

$1.2B

(Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse)

(KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut)

Domino’s Pizza BB&T CSX

(Alabama Power)

Texas Roadhouse CVS Health

78

(CONTINUED)

Montgomery Business Journal September 2015

NOTABLE

Revenue declined 3.4% Profit increased 22% Total loans rose $3.6B (5%)

Pharmacy segment revenue up 11.9% to $24.4B

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Post Office Box 79 Montgomery, AL 36101

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