MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL VOLUME 9 ISSUE 2 / MARCH 2017
MBJ
SKY’S THE LIMIT:
MEMBER BUSINESSES REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ABOVE& BEYOND
THUNDERBIRDS FLY OVER MONTGOMERY AGAIN
Aiming High
CITY & COUNTY: PA RT N E R S H I P K E E P S PROGRESS GOING
F-35 TASK FORCE FORMS
BIG & BOLD:
HOW INTERNET EXCHANGE W I L L T R A N S F O R M M O N T G O M E RY
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32
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CONTENTS MARCH 2017
THIS ISSUE: 10 16 32 36 44
Onward & Upward: The Thunderbirds State of the City & County New Life on Lower Dex
CHAMBER NEWS
Financial Footprint
08 Events
In the Mix: Montgomery’s Internet Exchange
48 Connect 50 Connect Resource Guide
20 #MGM
58 Members on the Move
24 Powerhouse Q&A
62 Business Buzz
27 Member Profiles
68 Members in the News
40 Regional Impact
72 Ribbon Cuttings
42 GiveBack
74 New Members
54 Small Business Briefcase
78 Intel
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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MBJ
THE NUMBER ONE BUSINESS SOURCE FOR MONTGOMERY AND THE RIVER REGION
MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT Randall L. George DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS Jina Miniard
EXPLORE MEDIA
We think that
AT EVERY CLEAN.
PUBLISHER
MANAGING EDITOR
Pam Mashburn
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay
ART DIRECTOR
DESIGN
Erika Rowe Tracy
Heather Cooper, Shelby Berry
CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL Meg Lewis, Wendi Lewis, Liz Vinson PHOTOGRAPHERS Stephen Poff, Robert Fouts, David Robertson Jr., Bryan Carter, Shelby Berry ON THE COVER Lt. Col. Edward D. Casey, 100th Fighter Squadron Director of Operations and F-16 Instructor Pilot, is a former Thunderbird #6 then #5 from 2006 to 2007. / By Stephen Poff ADVERTISING exploreMedia / 334-578-7810 / pam@exploremedia.org MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Post Office Box 79, Montgomery, Alabama 36101 Telephone: 334-834-5200 • mbj@montgomerychamber.com
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© Copyright 2017 exploreMedia and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MISSION STATEMENT
Committed to exceptional service, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce works to improve the economic well-being of the business community and enhance the quality of life of the area through the creation and preservation of jobs. The Montgomery Business Journal (USPS NO. 025553) is published bi-monthly by exploreMedia for 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 9, Issue 2. 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
Referred for a reason.
part of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce dues structure. Subscriptions and bulk subscriptions can also be purchased per year at www.montgomerychamber.com/mbjsub.
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CHAMBER NEWS
APR
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Events +
MA RK YO UR C A L E NDAR S FOR THE SE UP COMING C HAMBE R E V E NTS
Military Salute at Riverwalk Stadium, 6:30 - 10 p.m.
Join the Montgomery Biscuits as they honor our military. Presenting Sponsor: HCS Group
MAY
04
60 Minute Coffee & Business After Hours
Conversations: Roundtables for Professional Women,
These popular networking events are the perfect places to exchange business cards and meet potential customers.
at the Montgomery Country Club
The Chamber’s “Conversations” is an opportunity for professional women to come together to discuss business and share best
03/08
practices unique to women in the workforce.
60 Minute Coffee Sponsor & Location: Capitol Chevrolet
Boyd Stephens, founder of Netelysis, sheds light on women in the IT workforce and other topics relevant to professional women. Sponsored by: Morgan Stanley
03/30 Business After Hours Sponsor & Location: Montgomery Regional Airport
04/12 60 Minute Coffee Sponsor: Alabama Artificial Limb & Orthopedic Services; Location: Montgomery Antiques & Interiors
04/27 Business After Hours Sponsor & Location: Blackfinn Ameripub
MAY
11
Chamber Golf Classic at RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill
05/10 60 Minute Coffee Sponsor & Location: Alabama Ag Credit
The Chamber Golf Classic is the River Region’s premier business golf tournament. Golfers network on a beautiful course with
BUSINESS Resource Center
Business 101: Start it Up! March 7, 21; April 4, 18; May 2, 16, from 4 - 6 p.m. at the BRC No registration required. $10 fee. Establish a strong foundation for your new or existing business. Topics covered include locating financing, writing a business plan and finding expert advice. Presenting Sponsor: The BeneChoice Companies, LLC Use Video to Grow Your Business March 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the BRC David Allred, Agency Principal at STAMP Idea Group, will be presenting a workshop on ways to market your business with video. Presented by: STAMP Idea Group Chamber Member Orientation April 5, from 8 - 9 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce Join other members for this informal orientation and get an overview of the Chamber’s mission and history from the Chamber President. You’ll also have an opportunity to sell your business and network. Sponsor: CharterHR
+
Register online
Register online for Business Resource Center events and webinars at montgomerychamber.com/events
Chamber members, elected officials, community leaders and potential clients. Presenting Sponsor: KALM Services, LLC
All Ears JUN Military Family Appreciation Day
15
Upcoming Workshops
//
BizTalk MGM - The Official Podcast for Small Business in MGM Every Monday at 6 p.m. on WVAS 90.7FM, Montgomery Chamber staff
at the Montgomery Zoo
The Chamber’s Military Appreciation Day at
plus host Melissa Johnson Warnke from the Alabama Retail Association will
the Zoo is a fun day for all military personnel
talk with business experts on topics that are important to small businesses.
and their families. With a valid military ID
Sponsor: MAX Credit Union
(active duty and retired), the entire family can enjoy a great day with FREE lunch and admission. Presenting Sponsor: Guardian Credit Union 8
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
MY C ITY MY U N IVE RS I TY
MY TROJAN WARRIOR SPIRIT Ronda W., Alumna Commissioner. Wife. Mom. Cancer Survivor
Now more than ever, Troy Montgomery is fueling the success of our city. At our state university, working professionals are getting the degrees they need to not only seize opportunities but to also create them. That’s progress. That’s the Trojan Warrior Spirit, and it’s alive and well at Troy University. Feel it at troy.edu/Montgomery or call 1-800-414-5756. © 2017 Troy University
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MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
◆
MONTGOMERY
◆
ONWARD
T H E T H U N D E R B I R D S
BY JENNIFER KORNEGAY IMAGES COURTESY OF USAF THUNDERBIRDS
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
&UPWARD
R E T U R N T O M O N T G O M E R Y S K I E S
With its first Air Show and Open House in years, Maxwell Air Force Base is inviting the entire community to its “home” in April. The event will celebrate and honor the Air Force and the role it continues to play in Montgomery’s climbing economic trajectory.
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MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
“
D O N’T MIS S T HI S TH RI L L
The Thunderbirds and Patrouille de France squadrons show a commitment to excellence, and people respect the dedication and sacrifice associated
with defending the nation. These teams also instill a sense of pride and patriotism, and a sense of security. And the machines are awesome, and the
“
people who fly them risk their lives to do it. m
T
While it’s packed with excitement and exhila-
The air show and open house also honors and
ration for all ages, the air show means so much
celebrates the 70th anniversary of the found-
more. According to Dawn Hathcock, Chamber
ing of the United States Air Force and has a
his spring, for the first time
Vice President, Convention and Visitor Bu-
focus on the 100th anniversary of our coun-
in seven years, thousands
reau and Brand Development, the economic
try’s entry into WWI, which took place on April
of River Region residents and visitors will have
impact of the event for Montgomery in terms
6, 1917. According to Col. Doug DeMaio, Vice
their heads tilted back, staring skyward in an-
of tourism should skyrocket. “The base is pre-
Commander of the Lemay Center and air show
ticipation. They’ll hear it before they see it, but
dicting close to 100,000 folks at this show, and
director, the event serves several of the Air
then it soars into view: an F-16 Fighting Fal-
while not all of them will be from out of town,
Force’s missions. “The Air Force hosts open
con jet emblazoned with patriotic red, white
if even half are visitors, that is huge,” she said.
houses to enhance the public awareness of Air
and blue, a member of the Air Force’s fighter demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds. The team, created in 1953 to showcase “the pride and precision of today’s Air Force,” will be the main attraction at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Air Show and Open House on April 8 and 9. This is not the Thunderbirds’ first visit to Montgomery. In years past their presence at Maxwell AFB’s air shows has proven spectacular,
“That both the Thunderbirds and the Patrouille de France will both be at the show this year is a testament to the respect for Maxwell Air Force Base and the River Region.”
Force preparedness, to demonstrate modern weapon systems and capabilities, to promote positive community and international relations, to showcase our Airmen and to support Air Force recruiting and retention,” he said. And it puts a bright spotlight on Maxwell and its powerful legacy. “Maxwell has a rich history as the center of Airpower thought, and Air University commands the highest regard of our senior leaders and allies as a leader in military
with no shortage of thrills. The flips and dips
“We’ve put together some weekend packag-
strategy, concepts and education,” DeMaio
of aerial acrobatics, the precise formations
es that include tickets to the Biscuits baseball
said. “That both the Thunderbirds and the Pa-
and other flying feats, all performed at stel-
team’s opening weekend and the Clint Black
trouille de France will be at the show this year
lar speed by highly skilled pilots, consistently
concert at The Alabama Shakespeare Festival
is a testament to the respect for Maxwell Air
elicit “oohs,” “aahs” and gasps.
as a way to maximize and highlight everything
Force Base and the River Region.”
the city has to offer this spring.”
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
S E E T H E T H U N D E R BIRD S
/HEADS UP: April 8-9
MA X WE L L A IR F O RC E BAS E A IR S H OW & O PE N H O U S E CHECK OUT WWW.MAXWELL.AF.MIL OR FACEBOOK.COM/MAXWELLAIRSHOW/
M A X W ELL– G U NTER-MONTGOMERY
/A RICH HERITAGE Maxwell AFB’s air shows are always full of high-flying fun, but this event holds a special significance as it highlights the beginnings of powered flight in Alabama. Our state has been a major player in the aviation and aerospace accomplishments of the last century, and it began in Montgomery. On March 26, 1910, when the Wright brothers — the famous “fathers of flight” — established a civilian flying school in the capital city on land that is now part of Maxwell, the first powered flight in Alabama took place. And the Chamber played a role in the brothers locating here. Chamber officials made them feel welcome, helped them find the land they needed and strike the right deal. Though the Wright’s school lasted only a short time, its presence set the stage for things to come, including the decision to locate Maxwell in Montgomery. Our state has since become a hub of aviation and aerospace technology advancements and manufacturing as well as military aviation. And in Montgomery, the military presence contributes an estimated $2.6 billion to the local economy annually. It also adds 38,395 engaged citizens to our community.
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MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
BACKWARD & FORWARD
THUNDERBIRD HISTORY IN THE MAKING: A Thunderbirds air demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform approximately 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. More than 280 million people in all 50 states and 57 foreign countries have seen the red, white and blue Thunderbirds jets in more than 3,500 aerial demonstrations.
A F - 3 5 U PDATE
H O S T W I TH TH E M O S T
/SOAR ON
Montgomery and Maxwell Air Force base have always been close partners, and the capital city is proud to have a military institution of such stature as part of its
Montgomery has made the final five in the selection
community. In 2015, the warm welcome and strong support that Montgomery has
process for the F-35, and is now preparing for the
consistently provided to all who live and work at Maxwell earned the city a presti-
next phase of the process. Leading the charge is an
gious national award, the Altus Trophy. The city has also been named “The Best
F-35 Task Force, formed by Mayor Todd Strange and
Hometown in the Air Force.”
chaired by Leslie Sanders, Vice President Southern Division Alabama Power Company. Landing the F-35 would have a dramatic effect on the entire state. There
In addition to the Thunderbirds, Pa-
demonstrations to create all-day en-
is much to gain: a hugely positive economic impact
trouille de France, the French Air
tertainment, and it’s all absolutely free.
and a stronger, more secure future for Air National
Force’s demonstration team, will per-
Guard units across Alabama. Plus, it would provide a
form, and the Montgomery show will
Attending the open house and air
new level to our part in the Tuskegee Airmen legacy.
be the first the team has performed at
show deserves a spot on your cal-
The 187th Fighter Wing is home to the 100th Fighter
in the United States since 1986. Other
endar for the guaranteed good time
Squadron, which is one of the original Tuskegee units
aircraft flying include military fighter air-
alone, but it’s also a way to support the
—the famous Red Tails.
craft, an assortment of WWII Warbirds
base that gives so much to our com-
and several aerobatic performers.
munity, as Hathcock explained. “We
“Having the F-35 Mission here would provide an incredible economic impact to our region.”
should all take pride in being recogAnd there’s plenty to see on the
nized ‘The Best Hometown in the Air
ground too. Static exhibits of vintage
Force’, and live up to that,” she said. “At
aircraft from WWI and WWII as well as
the Chamber, we want to support and
Leslie Sanders, Vice President Southern
spacecraft displays combine with other
showcase all that Maxwell does. We
Division Alabama Power Company
activities like aviation-related ground
love our loud, fast airplanes here!”
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
Trustmark - Mont. Business Journal 7.625 x 4.9 HP4C
TATE SCity &
the
of
NEW JOBS 1,400
County
(Oct 2015-Nov 2016)
FY2016 SALES TAX REVENUE More than $102 million, up 1.8% from FY2015 Projection for FY2017: up 1.5%
HERE’S HOW THE NUMBERS ENDED
MBJ: WHAT’S THE BIG PICTURE FOR
the Camellia Bowl all coming here. One
UP FOR MONTGOMERY AND
LAST YEAR?
example: Getting the International Horse-
MAYOR STRANGE: Our numbers are going
shoe Pitching Championship may not sound
up across the board. Sales tax revenues
like much, but it brought 2,000 people here
have consistently grown since 2010, and
for two weeks, each an average age of 55
they’re higher again this year. Since 40
with a lot of disposable income. The annual
percent of our total revenue comes from
Firefighters Challenge draws thousands
sales tax, that’s important. We’ve also built
here, folks from all over country and world.
back our reserves. We closed the book
And Appalachian State came back to the
on 2016 with more than $22 million in that
Camellia Bowl in 2016. They were here in
fund, which gets us to a major goal: to have
2015 and wanted to come back. They could
MONTGOMERY COUNTY LAST YEAR AND WHERE OUR LEADERS BELIEVE WE ARE HEADED IN 2017. At the close of each year, we all pause to take stock of where we’ve been and begin to chart a course for the next year, a plan to help get us where we want to be (or at least
10 percent of our annual operating budget
have gone somewhere else. That speaks
closer to that destination). Our city and coun-
in reserves. Plus, we fully expect that reve-
volumes. All this travel is driving the addition
ty leaders do the same, and when Mayor
nues will continue to remain positive in 2017
of hotel rooms.
Todd Strange and our city council, along with County Commission Chair Elton Dean and
as we have had even more success in job recruitment and economic development.
Our IT sector is growing too. I see it as having amazing potential, particularly the Montgomery Internet Exchange. Its goal is
his fellow commissioners, tallied up the vital
MBJ: WHAT SECTORS ARE SHOWING THE
to connect every person, every household,
stats for our region, all the numbers point-
MOST GROWTH?
every business and every device to the
MAYOR STRANGE: Our sports travel keeps
rest of the world at the speed of light. It will
growing with high school sports champion-
bring internet service providers, content
ships and tournaments, coaches meetings,
providers, etc. who want to run through this
events like the Firefighters Challenge and
exchange.
ed to a robust, healthy 2016 and an even healthier 2017 headed our way. Here’s the Mayor’s take:
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
“
FY2016 LODGING TAX REVENUE
Mayor Strange and I served on
$9.4 million, up $400,000 from FY2015
the County Commission prior to him
Projection for FY2017:
becoming mayor. During that time,
up 3%
we developed a deep respect for one another and a lasting friendship. Because of this connection, the lines of communication are always open, and we are all striving to offer the best possible city and county for our citizens.
“
- Montgomery County Commission Chair Elton Dean
GROWING UP:
MBJ: WHAT ARE THE MAIN POSITIVES DRIVING GROWTH AND SUCCESS HERE? MAYOR STRANGE: Success breeds success. We always point out that we were named “Best Historic City” by USA Today Travel. We are an
+
MONTGOMERY I S LEADI NG THE WAY I N ALAB AMA I N SEVER AL AREAS:
“All American City.” Both of these awards are important. And of the 42 increases in invest-
The city’s numbers
ment and employment last year, 37 are existing
on new jobs, investment and new
companies, so that shows they have a lot of
or expanded companies represent
30%
confidence and trust in the community by making the decision to grow here.
of the gain in the entire state
MBJ: WHAT ARE THE CITY’S 2017 GOALS?
of Alabama.
MAYOR STRANGE: It is crucial that we have
FOR THE LAST
3
YEARS, Montgomery led the state in hotel occupancy on a percentage basis. In late 2016, Huntsville took the
and maintain the infrastructure and venues
In 2016, Montgomery was named
that allow the Chamber, the Central Alabama Sports Commission and individual hotels to go after convention, leisure travel and sports travel business. We also try to ensure that when they do come here, they have a good experience. We see it time and time again, someone at a convention goes home and raves about it, and
“BEST RUN CITY”
new rooms in Montgomery
in the state. It was ranked No. 51 in
increased the supply side
the country for city services like health,
of the equation. And the city
safety, the economy, as well as its
saw 51,149 more room nights
efficiency and budget use.
sold in 2016 than in 2015.
we get the opportunity for another convention.
17
top spot, but just barely, and that’s mainly because
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
A FIRM HANDSHAKE COUNTY
The City of Montgomery and Montgomery
LODGING TAX
County have long enjoyed a strong, friendly
REVENUE
working relationship. It’s something many take
$2.7 million
for granted but is by no means the norm in municipal government, as Mayor Todd Strange explained. “We have a fairly unique situation in Montgom-
COUNTY FY2016
SALES TAX REVENUE $43.8 million, Pictured left to right: Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, Montgomery
up 1 % from FY2015
County Commission Chair Elton Dean and Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast
ery County as we have one major metropolitan center, Montgomery, then smaller communities,” he said. As opposed to some other counties in the state, the city and county officials see the two entities as almost one and the same. And Mayor Strange’s experiences before becoming
CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTY Montgomery County Commissioner Elton Dean’s thoughts on the past and future.
mayor bring another layer to the partnership. “I was chairman of the Montgomery County Commission for five years and was chairman of the Montgomery Chamber, so I understand the capacity and capabilities of both,” he said. That makes it even easier for the city and county to work together. “We don’t have to negoti-
MBJ: HOW WOULD YOU RATE 2016 IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND PROSPERITY FOR THE COUNTY? COMMISSIONER DEAN: Each year, the county sees financial improvements from the previous year. During the economic downturn several years ago, we worked together as a team to streamline our budget and make sound economic decisions for the citizens’ tax dollars. MBJ: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN STORE FOR THE COUNTY FOR 2017? COMMISSIONER DEAN: We will continue to focus on providing the superior services that our citizens have come to expect from Montgomery County. We look to hire an independent contractor that will work with minority- and women-owned businesses in the county and show them how they can participate in the county’s bidding process. We will continue to partner with the city and Chamber to bring good jobs to our area.
ate economic incentive packages because we are on the same page,” he said. “Elton [Dean] and I are kinda joined at the hip. We are both very aware of what the other is doing.” Thanks to multiple joint projects in the past, the two have a deep understanding of how and why working together benefits everyone, but that doesn’t mean everything is perfect. “We have faced challenges and had disagreements, but, overall, we all know that when you combine resources, you get increased efficiency at lower costs for our citizens.” Russ Tyner, one of the Chamber’s past chairmen, agreed. “One of the major positives of
+
CO U N T Y CO N ST RUC T IO N RE NOVAT IO N P RO J ECTS
(Projects Completed since 2013)
• Probate and Revenue East Office,
$545,000
• Annex III Probate Judge offices,
$1.5 million
• Montgomery County Youth Facility,
$8.6 million
our current business climate is cooperation,” he said. “The unprecedented teamwork between county and city leadership and the business
• Public Defender’s Office, $534,000
community makes Montgomery a somewhat
• Renovations to add handicapped
unique business environment. When you add
accessible restrooms at Probate/ Revenue West, $125,000
• Probate Revenue South,
McGehee Road, $1.5 million
• District Attorney offices, $3.5 million
18
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
the intellectual horsepower of local military leadership and the influence of a well-run Chamber, Montgomery becomes a diverse and absolutely unique business community.”
CELEBRATING YEARS OF CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. Since 1946, Jackson Hospital has earned a reputation for clinical excellence and awardwinning care. Today, we’re proud to serve Montgomery and the River Region with leading-edge technology and outstanding facilities. As we look forward to our next 70 years we’ll continue to embrace innovations while staying true to our mission of providing superior personal healthcare in a safe, compassionate environment.
JACKSON. THIS IS MY HOSPITAL.
Halcyon Pointe
Executive Class “A” Office Space I-8 5 (Exit 9 ) & Taylor Road Montgomery, AL
19
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
MyMGM
IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK / by JENNIFER S. KORNEGAY AND THE WINNERS ARE… Here’s who stole the show and snagged the cash in each category:
COMMUNITY IMPACT – ART/ EMILY HAYES, DOWNTOWN ART WALK IDEA: Create a quarterly Art Walk event downtown where
MAKING IT HAPPEN So who is behind IgniteMGM? The Downtown Business Association, The Gumption Fund, Pictured left to right: Scott Bell, Clay McInnis, Temisha Young, Emily Hayes, Aquan Robinson and Nick Jernigan.
Gumptioneers, the Five Points Cultural Commission and Title Sponsor, Bell Media.
businesses partner with a lesser-known, non-traditional local artist and showcase their work in their business.
DIGITAL-SOCIAL MEDIA/ AQUAN ROBINSON AND TEMISHA YOUNG, SOUTH CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT PODCAST IDEA: Create a weekly
Every journey, no matter its length, begins with a
McInnis is also a leader in The Gumption Fund, a
podcast that highlights
single step. While forging a path forward can be hard,
group funded by donations from local businesses,
the businesses that have
it starts with the simple decision to do it. That’s the
that gives micro-grants to bring good ideas to life.
stayed in the city’s South
mindset behind IgniteMGM, an event that’s essen-
When Simone Byrd, a communications professor at
Central Business District and
tially an idea competition – with the last round held
Alabama State University, offered the idea of a pitch
promote new businesses lo-
live – that rewards the winning concepts with the fuel
competition for students that would encourage them
cating there all in an effort to
needed to make that decision, the money necessary
to create something for social media that would ben-
encourage more investment
to turn visions into realities.
efit the city, McInnis saw the potential to go bigger.
and growth in the area.
“We loved her idea, but thought we could go beyond While the notion of live idea pitches isn’t new, it’s new
students, open it up to the entire community and
in Montgomery. And the organizers believe it’s just
include other categories,” he said.
FOOD TRUCK/ NICK AND DAVENA JERNIGAN, ON A ROLL
one piece of a needed strategy to keep talent here. Clay McInnis, executive director of the Downtown
IgniteMGM invited anyone and everyone to partici-
IDEA: Do the needed
Business Association, one of the groups behind the
pate and vie for funds by submitting their idea for a
work on their food truck to
event, explained. “We feel like there is opportunity
project in one of three categories: Digital-Social Me-
get it up and running and
here, but we have to cultivate that,” he said. “We
dia, Community Impact: Art and Food Truck. Each had
then take their delicious
have to bring folks together to see that they can
to have a strong positive community impact associat-
South-meets-Pacific North-
be successful here. That’s what this is about: really
ed with it. The grant for the Digital-Social winner was
west flavors truly “on a roll”
opening up a dialog, connecting people with ideas to
$2,000, with $5,000 each going to the Food Truck
throughout the city’s newly
resources and connecting our community.”
and Art winners, for a total of $12,000 handed out.
designated food truck areas.
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
IMAGE BY CARTER PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN
Learn how several groups have come together to spark some creative ideas and fan the flames of innovation in the capital city.
The process for all began by filling out an
The Arts category contestants went first,
And the winners earned more than money;
application that outlined their idea. Based
taking the stage in turns to deliver their
they’re also getting support and expert
on this information, the event’s judges
two-minute (strictly timed) pitch to the judges
advice from the individuals behind the event.
narrowed it down to three top contenders
sitting on stage with them. From an art walk
“For the food truck winner, we’ve already
in each category. These three squared off
to a series of murals that would only be vis-
been working with the city to help with the
in the live event on January 28, held at
ible when wet, all three ideas had merit and
regulations and other things that it takes to
the Sanctuary, a multi-purpose venue in
got standing ovations.
start one that aren’t directly related to money,” McInnis said.
Montgomery’s 5 Points area on the edge of downtown, where they presented their ideas to a panel of judges. To pull it all off, organizers brought in other partners, like Bell Media, whose CEO, Scott Bell, shared McInnis’ enthusiasm. “From the beginning, our feedback on this was really great. There was so much excitement around it,” Bell said. “We were at capacity for
Dream On “When you build relationships, and get ideas flying, magic can happen, and it can happen here.” - Clay McInnis, executive
For those who missed it, they can add their ideas or attend the event again next year. “It exceeded our expectations,” McInnis said. “There were so many great ideas. We’re really excited about next year.” Both McInnis and Bell are Montgomery natives and passionate about their home-
the live event weeks before, and for anyone
director, Montgomery Downtown
town’s future. They stressed the importance
who runs events here, they know what a big
Business Association
of initiatives like IgniteMGM. “There is such a need and demand in this community,” McIn-
deal that is.” The Digital and Social Media contestants
nis said. “Folks want an outlet for creativity
On January 28’s sunny afternoon, an
were next, and the Food Truck folks ended
and collaboration in all forms.” Bell agreed.
energetic crowd packed The Sanctuary
the event on a tasty note. While the partici-
“I want people in Birmingham, Huntsville
and applauded the welcoming words of
pants’ concepts were diverse, they shared
and Atlanta to know what we are dong here.
both McInnis and Bell. “I love Montgomery
a common thread: a sense of camaraderie
I want to get applications from people in
and want to bring people together to make
and common purpose (to make Montgomery
those places in years to come, people who
things happen,” Bell said.
better) that outshone the competitive aspect.
want to come here and invest here.”
Coming SOON
No.1 SPOT
TACO TIME!
Best Value Destination for travelers looking to explore Black History
The Lightning Line is bringing back one of its most popular (and tasty!) events this spring. Taco Libre is set for April 29 at the Yards at Western Rail, a new 40-acre outdoor venue on the edge of downtown, with more than 20 area restaurants serving up various interpretations of tacos for guests
MGM TAKES TOP SPOTS Montgomery was named the No. 2 “Best Value Destination” in the country for 2017 by trivago.com, a popular hotel booking website. Determined by an exclusive algorithm that considers both hotel prices and guest reviews, the 17 destinations that top the list aren’t
to enjoy. There will also be live music, Frios Pops and plenty of ice-cold beer. The folks of Lightning Line stressed why you don’t want to miss this year’s event. “There will be more food, bigger music acts on a bigger
only easy on the wallet but also offer entertainment options for nearly every type of traveler.
stage, and it’s all at this amazing new venue,
The city took the No. 1 spot in Best Value Destinations for travelers looking to explore Black
where downtown is the backdrop. When the
History Month thanks to the significant role it has played in African-American history.
21
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
sun goes down, it lights up the skyline.”
MyMGM
+ EVEN MORE AWARDS
C H AM B ER’S CVB RECOGN IZED FOR TOURIS M EFFORTS
On January 19, MAX held its 14th Annual
also become a destination tourists are eager
MAX Community Reception, an annual event
to visit. “We are thankful to have the opportu-
that brings together business, political and
nity to honor and recognize the Montgomery
community leaders to celebrate community
Chamber Convention and Visitor Bureau,”
successes and recognize organizations and
said Jessica Pigg, AVP Retail Marketing. “The
individuals who have made a significant
great work of the Convention and Visitor
difference in the quality of life in Central and
Bureau provides unprecedented econom-
East Alabama.
ic impact for the city of Montgomery—on average, visitors are spending a staggering
This year, MAX honored The Montgomery
$1.4 million each day through hotel, food, gas
Chamber Convention and Visitor Bureau with
and entertainment. This boost to our local
the MAX Community Achievement Award
economy in turn helps to make Montgomery
for the broad work they do in Montgomery,
a greater place to live, work and play.”
working tirelessly to help “Imagine a Greater Montgomery.” Their work has unquestionably
Along with the MAX Community Achieve-
established Montgomery as a destination city.
ment Award, MAX was also honored to present the Montgomery Chamber Convention and Visitor Bureau with a check for
Whether it is the rich history our city is surrounded by, or attracting world-class
Bowl, Montgomery is not only a place that
$2,500 to support its mission for the city of
sporting events such as the ESPN Camellia
residents are proud to call home, but it has
Montgomery.
Plain-spoken words in a complicated world are refreshing. That’s just the way we do business.
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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VESTOR IN
OFIL
Q&A
E
RICHARD HANAN Most of us take clean, running water for granted. We turn the knob or lift the lever on our faucets, and it’s always there, streaming out, free and clear. But a lot of work goes into keeping the flow going in Montgomery, and Richard Hanan, Chairman of the Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board for the past two decades, is on top of it all. Explain how our water works system is set up in Montgomery. The water board is a private corporation
Are there any infrastructure issues? We have
that operates under a franchise from the city. Our leadership
years old. We continually work to upgrade pipes and recently
is composed of nine board members who are appointed and
replaced a lot on the south side of the city. We actually
elected for six-year terms by the Montgomery City Council.
budget more than $1 million each year for rehab purposes.
The board members are compensated, but it is truly minimal.
But interestingly, some of the really old stuff is still holding up
Our water works is an almost $85-million-a-year business.
great, like the brick manholes on Dexter Avenue downtown.
How long have you been involved? I founded and ran Loeb & Hanan Home Builders with my brother, and that
How do you work to balance services and the protection of our natural resources? We just built
was my primary job until we retired and shut the business
a new wastewater treatment facility in East Montgomery that
down. I’ve been with the Water Works board for decades
became operational last November, and it has made us more
though. I’m entering my 54th year as a board member, and
efficient. The technology in our industry is always changing,
I’ve been chairman for more than 20 years. When I first
but we stay current. The regulations from Alabama Depart-
started, there was a lot of work to do to get it in better order;
ment of Environmental Management and the EPA change
things weren’t running smoothly. But now they are.
often too, but we work very closely with them. We are also a
some really old pipes in our city, some that are probably 100
part of the Alabama Water and Waste Water Institute, of which
What are Water Works’ main services and responsibilities in our community? We provide
I am president, which is made up of some of the largest cities
water and wastewater treatment, and we do it at a very low
together on environmental concerns. The relationships it
price. We continually monitor our lines and water quality and
creates also gives us a way to collaborate with other areas if/
address issues when they arise. Our mission is to provide the
when there is a natural disaster that affects our services.
in the state and was set up to share knowledge and work
highest quality water and sewer service in harmony with the environment.
How do our water costs compare to other states and regions? Montgomery enjoys some of the
How much water a day does Water Works deal with? We can treat about 56 million gallons a day if need-
lowest costs in the Southeast. For instance, we are much
ed, but we average about 35 million gallons a day.
our facility to learn what we are doing.
Are there water quality issues in our area?
How do you keep costs down? Our employees—We
No. We recently met with the new commander of the Corps
have 278 right now, and many have been with us more than
of Engineers, and they were very pleased with our water
20 years—are very efficient and very dedicated to their jobs.
cheaper than Birmingham. We actually have lots of folks visit
quality. We have our own lab certified to do all of the required every two hours. Our lab also does tests for other smaller
Are there any problems posing a threat to our water system? One really big issue is common fats, oils
cities. We maintain that we put water back in the river cleaner
and greases (FOG) generated from cooking being poured
than when we took it out.
in sinks and down drains. Most people just don’t think about
Environmental Protection Agency tests, and we test the water
24
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
IMAGE BY ROBERT FOUTS
PR
PO W E RHOUSE
Flowing FINE Our Water Works treats an average of 35 million gallons of water a day and can handle up to 56 million gallons if needed.
“
“We have our own lab certified to do all of the required EPA tests, and we test the water every two hours. -Richard Hanan
25
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
“
OCTOBER 27 NOVEMBER 5, 2017 www.alnationalfair.org
“The Alabama Water and Waste Water Institute, of which I am president, is made up of some of the largest cities in the state and was set up to share knowledge and work together on environmental concerns.” it being harmful, but as FOG cools, it becomes solid and constricts and, ultimately, blocks pipes. We have three vacuum trucks that go out every day to deal with this.
How are you raising public awareness of this issue? We’ve started a campaign to inform people why they shouldn’t pour FOG down their drains, and we provide free jugs they can use to store and then dispose of the grease instead. We call it our Grecycle program. It seems to be helping.
You’ve been in business in this area in one form or another for a long time. What’s your impression of the current business climate here? We have a great working relationship with the city, and we also work closely with the Chamber when it is working to bring industry here. We see new companies here as new customers, and we think our low costs are one of the positives that draws business here.
What, outside of the Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board, gets your time and attention? I’ve been involved as a board member at the McInnis School, a school for mentally and physically disabled people in the greater Montgomery area, for 40 years, and I’m president of the Special Olympics of Alabama. I’m also on the Montgomery Housing Authority Board, a member of AUM’s Advisory Board and a member of USAmeriBank’s Board. 26
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
M EM BER profile
GARY A. COBBS PRESIDENT AND CEO, YMCA OF GREATER MONTGOMERY With a positive presence in the capital city for almost 150 years, the YMCA of Greater Montgomery is one of our community’s longest-standing organizations. President and CEO Gary A. Cobbs may be new to Montgomery (here since 2013), but he has 21 years of YMCA experience and explains how and why the organization does its good work.
What is YMCA’s mission here? We strengthen the foundations of our region by working to give everyone an opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of youths and teens and improves our community’s well-being.
Number of people served: Approximately 80,000 people in the River Region each year.
What are some of the Y’s main programs and services? We offer a wide variety including youth and adult sports; preschool and pre-K; mentoring; swim team, swim lessons and aquatics; overnight and day camps; wellness and exercise classes; summer learning loss prevention; and numerous teen programs.
What challenges does the Y face? Finding more resources to continue our programs and serve those in our community that need assistance and trans-
In the Community:
forming our older and outdated buildings so we can
In addition to my work with the Y,
deliver our mission in a more effective manner.
I’m on the Baptist East Advisory
Board, Montgomery Education
What solutions do you see for these issues?
Foundation Board, am a member of
We have to develop the right partnerships, continue
Noon Rotary, am a YMCA Blue Ridge
developing relationships, effectively communicate our
Assembly Board Member, serve on
vision and our needs to the community and friends of
The Montgomery Area Chamber of
the Y, and secure more targeted grants and annual gifts.
Commerce’s Board and the Capital
What’s do you love about your job? I enjoy
City Club’s Board. I’m also a graduate of Leadership Montgomery.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID ROBERTSON JR.
being a servant leader and helping people. I’m biased, but I believe the Y is the best organization in the world, and we get a chance to serve the community and meet people where they are. COMPANY FOUNDED 1868 www.ymcamontgomery.org 27
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
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334.262.1958 | MooreCompanyRealty.com 312 CATOMA ST, SUITE 200 | MONTGOMERY, AL 36104 Moore Company Realty, Inc. | Moore Property Management, LLC
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
M EM BER profile
MICHELLE REEDER OWNER OF THE BARKERY, LLC Built on a passion for providing pets with healthy treats and compassionate care, Michelle Reeder is redefining the phrase “gone to the dogs” with her new shop, The Barkery.
When was The Barkery founded? I started selling dog treats and cakes from my home in January 2016, and in November 2016, I opened my storefront.
What is The Barkery’s main product or service? The dog bakery is the central part of the business, but we also offer grooming, daycare and boarding.
How are your homemade dog treats different? All of our treats are handmade by us, using high quality, human-grade ingredients. A large portion of our recipes are grain-free, and all are wheat-free. We use no chemicals or additives.
What sets your boarding and grooming services apart? Our boarding is suite-only, no cages. Each pet or pet family is housed in its own individual apartment home. Our grooming is top notch, with a groomer who has 22 years in the pet industry and can trim like Edward Scissorhands. We also have many “Spaw Packages” to choose from. Plus, we offer a cage-free daycare concept where dogs get to play in our 1,000-square-foot indoor playroom for about seven hours a day as compared to a typical dog daycare, where the dogs are kenneled the majority of the
On the Horizon:
day and have only a handful of play sessions.
For 2017, we want to expand our boarding capacity, add training
What’s your favorite thing about your job? The joy in our customer’s face when they see
classes, add dog care seminars, add a “Yappy Hour” and add cat treats.
how much love and attention we have for their dog.
How many pets do you have at home? PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID ROBERTSON JR.
I’ve got three dogs and one cat as well as two “granddogs.” COMPANY FOUNDED 2016 thebarkery.dog
29
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
THE RIVER REGION’S PREMIER BUSINESS GOLF EVENT THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 ROBERT TRENT JONES @ CAPITOL HILL $155/person Chamber Members $175/person Nonmembers Registration 11:30AM l Tee Time 1PM Lunch 11:30 AM Awards Reception following play
PRESENTING SPONSOR REGISTER online at montgomerychamber.com/golfclassic For information, contact Lynn Norton at 334-240-9431 or lnorton@montgomerychamber.com
THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT. 30
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
M EM BER profile
A Good Start: I enjoy providing the first work experience for so many young
JASON SORIANO
people. Our goal is to teach them excellent work habits that will stick
OWNER/OPERATOR OF
with them through the rest of their
EASTDALE MALL CHICK-FIL-A
career. My favorite thing is to see a timid high school kid transform
Chick-fil-A’s beloved chicken sandwiches, crispy
into an inspiring leader during their
waffle fries and more bring folks to the Eastdale Mall
time working in my restaurant.
location of the popular franchise, but it’s the people, like owner/operator Jason Soriano, who make a meal there a truly pleasant experience.
How did you get involved at Chick-fil-A? My family has a rich history with the company. My grandfather opened the Eastdale Mall location in 1977. My father and mother both worked with him in that business. In 1982, my parents opened their own franchise in Auburn. In 1992, my family and I transferred back to Montgomery to open the area’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A. My father now has the EastChase and RSA Tower locations and my uncle works with him at those locations. My sister is operator of the franchise in Northport, Alabama.
How many chicken sandwiches do you sell in a week? Approximately 2,000 How do you keep the level of service at your Chick-fil-A so high? Our service philosophy is best summed up in the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:41 where he says, “and whosoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.” When we go above and beyond what is expected of us, we are living in the second mile and having a positive impact on those around us. My desire is for our guests at Chick-fil-A to experience some element of second mile service on every visit. I continuously recalibrate my team on the Chick-fil-A Service Model to confirm we are giving fantastic guest experiences.
What challenges has your business faced? As shopping trends have changed, we have seen a decrease in foot traffic within the mall. PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID ROBERTSON JR.
How are you addressing this? While all areas of the business are important, we have put a renewed emphasis on catering. We offer delivery for our catering clients and no event is too large or small. OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 2016 chick-fil-a.com/eastdalemall 31
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
>>>>>>>>
2015 Network infrastructure installed, configured and tested.
2016
2016
2016
First two members actively peering (Akamai/ Troy Cable) 25Gb
WOW upgrades Akamai transit. 1.0Gb
Camellia Communications and Southern Light join network actively peering. 1.6Gb
JA N
Don’t know what the Montgomery Internet Exchange (MGMix) is?
Don’t worry. Most don’t. Leave the details to the technical folks, but don’t miss out on the transformative power this “magic box” holds for Montgomery’s economy and maybe even your business.
JUNE
AU G / S E P T
IN THE
PROGRESS REPORT
2016
OCT
WOW becomes the fifth network actively peering. 2.0Gb
2016
N OV
Verisign becomes the 6th network actively peering. 5.1Gb
Breaking down the basics of the new Internet Exchange and what it means for you, your business and Montgomery’s future.
The Montgomery Internet Exchange (MGMix): It’s the only Internet Exchange in Alabama and one of only four in the entire Southeast. It’s securely locked away inside a small box, behind layers of encryption and firewalls inside the RSA Datacenter in Montgomery. Most importantly, it has the ability to transform your business and Alabama’s economy in ways you’ve never imagined. Led by a visionary collaboration between Montgomery County, The City of Montgomery, research universities, Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base and the new Cyber College of the Air Force, it’s a powerful economic weapon for the capital city.
How does it work?
If you’ve ever experienced lag on a video conference call or webinar or had to wait too long for a simple file upload or for your Netflix movie to buffer, you’ve encountered one of the great limitations of the World Wide Web. While your network may offer lightning fast speeds, the distance that information has to
BY MEG LEWIS
travel to be exchanged between networks, and the quality of the
32
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Glossary Don’t let high-tech talk keep you out of the conversation.
A FASTER COMMUTE:
Here’s a quick guide to some
“Think of the Montgomery Internet Exchange as if we
of the words and acronyms
moved the Atlanta airport to Montgomery. You can go
you’ll want to add to your
anywhere in the world when you go through the Atlanta
vocabulary.
Airport. That’s exactly what we’ve done. We’ve now moved that capability to move that Internet traffic right
Cyber – a prefix used to describe a person, thing or
here out of Montgomery.”
idea as part of the computer
- Steve Meany, CEO Information Transport Solutions, Inc.
and information age.
Forward Caching –
exchange point, significantly
switch, probably a fiber-based
A forward cache is a cache
affects your experience. That
switch, and in that switch you’ll
outside the web server’s
email you send to your cowork-
have connections from all of
network, e.g. on the client
er in the office down the hall
the members,” Stephens said.
computer, in an ISP or within a
may have to travel to Atlanta,
“The switch can sit there, but
corporate network.
Chicago or even farther before
that’s not the exchange. The
it arrives in their inbox.
exchange is the partnership
Gig City – a city that can
between the members. The
provide one-gigabit upload
A solution is a local Internet Ex-
members all agree that they
speeds across the entire city.
change. Service providers who
will share information. The
peer in an Internet exchange
owner of the switch provides
ISP Peering – the
can talk directly to each other,
the bandwidth and maintains
arrangement of traffic
reducing the distance the infor-
a comfortable environment for
exchange between Internet
mation has to travel. Add for-
the exchange to work in.”
service providers (ISPs)
ward caching capabilities and
Smart City – an approach
you get much faster speeds at
Lou Ialacci, the Chief Informa-
lower costs for the user.
tion Technology Officer for the City of Montgomery who
to municipal government that emphasizes the use of IT
Having these capabilities at the
manages the exchange along
systems to help increase oper-
Montgomery Internet Exchange
with his staff, explained further.
ational efficiency, disseminate
(MGMix) could mean both seri-
“There are two elements to
information to residents and
ous savings and performance
the Montgomery Internet
visitors, and improve the quality
improvements for companies
Exchange: the first is peering,
of government services.
that move massive amounts
where the big companies peer
of data.
with each other. The other side
Transit – the connection to
is providing content to the local
and use of a telecommunica-
Boyd Stephens, CEO of Nete-
area, such as entertainment
tion path provided by a vendor.
lysis and whose expertise as
media and cloud services,
Transit may be billed
a network engineer has given
which can free up bandwidth
separately or, where peering is
him insight into many exchang-
to allow larger companies to
also provided, may be billed as
es around the country, broke
move content.”
part of the peering charge.
it down some. “You’d be surprised at what’s not there. The core of it is going through a big
33
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
>>>>>>>>>>>
What
MAKES IT
unique?
What does the Montgomery Internet Exchange mean for economic development?
>>>>>>>>
According to Steve Meany, CEO Information
ment media producers can now more easily
Transport Solutions, Inc., it means big things.
afford access to audiences around the world
“Businesses will want to move closer to the
through the exchange.
Exchange because one, it’s going to offer them faster speeds on the internet, as well
The prospect of an Innovation District, an
as lower prices, and potentially the ability to
area that would include office space, hotels,
Alabama’s economic stealth weapon is not
bring traffic or bring content locally and store
restaurants, bars – places to sit and work
where you might expect. A powerful combi-
it at the exchange level,” he said.
and have high capacity internet service and
nation of unique assets set the Montgomery
security – could also leverage the internet
Internet Exchange apart from any other.
In addition to lower costs and better service,
exchange to support the city’s recruitment
One is the fact that it is collocated in the
companies who connect to the exchange
and tech start-up efforts.
state-of-the-art RSA Datacenter, where com-
can locate employees in Montgomery where
panies that handle highly secure informa-
they will find lower costs of living, a high
“In addition, the infrastructure of an innova-
tion, such as financial institutions, defense
quality of life and a burgeoning tech and
tion district could offer Maxwell Air Force
contractors or even the U.S. Air Force itself,
innovation scene.
Base the ability to collaborate with commercial entities and innovators through this
can not only tap into the high speed of the exchange, but rest assured that their data is
The exchange also creates an opportunity
fast, secure connection,” said Greene. “This
backed up and locked down.
for local entrepreneurs to start their own
common data network to find collaborative
Internet service provider companies, which
solutions to civic challenges would also be
“We pride ourselves in having a world-class
can offer the same high quality service for
part of making Montgomery a Smart City.
datacenter, and our job is to continue to
competitive prices, again exerting pressures
This feeds back into the vision for Maxwell as
recruit ISPs,” said Renee Borg, Technical
that drop prices and make the environment
a Smart Base.”
Marketing Specialist with the RSA Dexter
more attractive for businesses.
Datacenter. “Along with that, we encourage them to connect to the exchange.
The benefits extend to recruiting the creative
The success of the Montgomery Internet
class. Content providers such as entertain-
Exchange relies heavily on the success of the Datacenter.”
So
Stephens praised the Datacenter’s capa-
what’s next?
bilities. “It’s fortuitous when an exchange is collocated in a datacenter that is well run and operated. I’ve seen larger datacenters,
Meany summed it up. “We’ve done a lot
but not one that is more technically accom-
of good work developing the Montgom-
modating,” he said.
ery Internet Exchange, but there’s a lot
“THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THE RSA DATACENTER MIXED WITH THE POWER OF THE AKAMAI EDGE SERVER FURTHER ENHANCES SECURITY AND SPEED IN SUCH A WAY THAT BUSINESSES CONNECTING TO OUR EXCHANGE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE.”
more work left to do. We’ve got to make But how does the Montgomery Internet
sure that the Microsofts, the Netflixes and
Exchange stand up against “Gig City”
Ialacci and his team with the exchange,
the Googles of the world all understand
capabilities such as those in Chattanooga,
along with others in the business and cy-
that the exchange exists here, and that
Opelika or Kansas City, places that offer
ber community in Montgomery, are work-
there is fertile ground for the develop-
one-gigabit upload speeds across the
ing to recruit more service and content
ment of the tech community,” he said.
providers, as well as businesses that can
entire city. Joe Greene, the Chamber’s Vice
benefit from connecting to the exchange.
President of Military and Government Affairs
Representatives from the MGMix have
and Innovation sees a distinct economic
“The tipping point for the larger content
attended two meetings of North American
advantage. “The difference between us and
providers is traffic through the exchange,”
Network Operators Group (NANOG), the
a utility-provided internet is that businesses
Ialacci said. “If we can get to five gigabits,
most recent trip resulting in Verisign, a
have access to high-speed service from
we’ll start getting people’s attention.
leading Internet security company, choos-
more ISPs than just one. More options pro-
We’ve already hit that once – during the
ing to connect.
election coverage.”
vide greater competition for better service.”
34
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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HAPPENING NOW
NEW LIFE ON LOWER DEX The restoration of old buildings to create new retail and residential spaces along lower Dexter Avenue and Court Square downtown represents more than a lucrative project for one homegrown real estate developer. / by WENDI LEWIS
W
hen Golson Foshee, owner of Foshee Residential Manage-
Lower Dexter is a cooperative project involving two developers, Fos-
ment Company, looked at the long-shuttered and faded
hee Residential Management Company, and ELSAJA 39 Dexter LLC,
buildings along Dexter Avenue four years ago, he didn’t see blight.
which is an offshoot of ELSAJA Holdings LLC and the sister company
He saw opportunity. As a developer, of course, he is used to looking
of Marjam. It will include a mixture of retail and residential develop-
at land and buildings and seeing what they could be. But this vision
ment. Parts of the area will be closed to vehicle traffic on weekends
went beyond the potential in a particular property. It was the vision
and for special events, creating a family-friendly pedestrian mall.
for his hometown, his downtown, his city — the place where he hoped his children would decide to put down roots of their own. A
Foshee acquired buildings along the south side of Lower Dexter,
place where they would want to live.
buildings on South Court Street and three buildings on the south side of the fountain. Foshee also will renovate the alley between the
The vision was originally called Market District, in tribute to the area’s
Dexter and Washington Avenue parking deck, providing an attractive
original name, Market Street. However, it has recently been rebrand-
area with outdoor seating and lighting. Already open on Lower Dex-
ed as Lower Dexter to more accurately represent the geographical
ter is the new Cuco’s Restaurant. Additional retailers are expected
footprint of the development area. Nestled at the foot of what is
to open by May or sooner, including Frios Pops, The Alabama Sweet
arguably one of America’s most historic streets, the area includes
Tea Company, Momma Goldberg’s, River Region Sweet Treats and
mainly the buildings that face Dexter on the lower block, as well
Island Delight. There is also a planned 10,000 square feet of “makers
as some buildings around Court Square and the fountain at Court
space,” to house artists, artisans and craftspeople.
Square.
36
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
KRESS BUILDING 39 Dexter Avenue
•
A total renovation and
rehabilitation of the historic Kress department store building
•
Addition of 32 residential
apartments, 15,000 square feet of office space and 45,000 square feet of retail space.
@ KRESSONDEXTER
IMAGES COURTESY OF STEVEN LAMBERT
Watch as this historic building transforms by following along square by square on Instagram.
There are more than 100 apartments available or under construc-
could not announce specifics. There is additional space available
tion, including 35 skyline apartments in the 40 Four Building, 28
for lease, with flexible floor plans depending on the needs of the
apartments at the Lofts at District 36, 15 apartments being devel-
business, ranging from 500 square feet to up to 5,000 square feet.
oped at The Lofts at District 76 and planned residential apartments
ELSAJA also owns seven additional buildings, including 1 Court
above the retail spaces along Dexter.
Square, and will continue to renovate and roll out new plans.
The centerpiece of the ELSAJA portion of Lower Dexter is Kress on
Foshee has been developing properties in the downtown area
Dexter, involving a total renovation and rehabilitation of the historic
for several years, primarily residential buildings like the 40 Four
Kress department store building, including adding two stories of
Building. Foshee says as his company began to develop the proper-
residential apartments above the existing structure. Kress on Dexter
ty, the vision for Lower Dexter began to grow. “We had purchased
will include 32 residential apartments, 15,000 square feet of office
the 40 Four Building about four years ago, and we were sitting on
space and 45,000 square feet of retail space. There will be an
Dexter looking at it; we thought it would be nice to eventually have
entrance to the property on both Dexter Avenue and Monroe Street,
Dexter developed. This was before the city did any RFP work that
connecting the two. Apartments are already pre-leasing, and the
enticed developers to come in and renovate other buildings,” Fos-
entire property has a planned grand opening date of July 2017.
hee said. “We had always taken the position that if you were going to develop them you needed to develop them together and make
ELSAJA Vice President of Construction Development Zac Gibbs
it a destination.” Foshee says he wanted to “turn the lights back on”
says several commercial tenants are committed, but at press time
on Lower Dexter.
37
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
THE FUTURE VIEW
“We feel like we have
all the pieces coming together to create a vibrant
destination downtown. It’s been our desire that it needs to be a family-friendly destination.” - Golson Foshee
Already, Lower Dexter has all the com-
culture, food and residential apartments and
ponents in place – from an attractions
condos.”
LOWER DEXTER
standpoint — to bring people to the site. It is rich in history, as the point where two settlements — New Philadelphia and East
South Dexter Avenue
Alabama Town — came together at the
Planned Foshee Developments
fountain to create one city, Montgomery.
•
Andrew Dexter donated the land for the Capitol and other buildings around town and brought the cities together, and the street was renamed from Market Street to Dexter Avenue in his honor. “We feel like we have all the pieces coming together to create a vibrant destination downtown. It’s been our desire that it needs to be a family-friendly destination. Not a lot of bars and late-night places — the Alley has that and they do it really well. We love what that does for the nightlife here. We envision activities like a weekend Farmer’s Market, concerts and other performances, a lit-up fountain, great dining, great experiences.” Gibbs agreed. “It’s a beautiful setting and probably underappreciated by people who live here,” he said. “A lot of pedestrians are walking the historic trail and reading
Renovated alley between
the Dexter and Washington Avenue parking deck, providing an attractive area with outdoor
That idea of creating life in the city center is the key, according to Foshee. It goes beyond economic development and hits at the heart of building quality of place and recruiting and retaining talent, which are two of the Chamber’s top priorities. “One of our biggest concerns is making Montgomery attractive
seating and lighting.
for young people,” he said. “I want my kids
•
to want to be here. That is one of the main
10,000 square feet of “makers
space” to house artists, artisans and craftspeople planned.
•
to come back to Montgomery. I want them drivers behind our downtown development.” “Every city needs a vibrant downtown to
More than 100 apartments.
be able to grow throughout the city, and I
COMING THIS THIS SUMMER SUMMER COMING
is going to do,” said Mac McLeod, Director
Keep an eye out for these new businesses hitting Lower Dexter by summer.
think that’s what Lower Dexter is doing and of Business and Commercial Development for the City of Montgomery. “People are interested in living downtown again.” The
• Frios Pops • The Alabama
city invested grant money to update and
• • •
livable feel as the buildings are renovated,”
Sweet Tea Company
Momma Goldberg’s River Region Sweet Treats Island Delight
the markers and visiting, but our goal is
renovate the streetscape from Court Square up Dexter Avenue. “Lower Dexter now has a he said. “It will completely change the entire feel of downtown.” For more information and on-going updates, visit montgomerymarketdistrict.com.
to bring life and community through arts,
38
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
MILITARY Appreciation Day at the Zoo THURSDAY JUNE 15TH 9AMM5PM Come join the Chamber and enjoy a great day at the Montgomery Zoo and Mann Museum with lunch served from 11:45 to 2:00.
* FREE WITH A VALID MILITARY ID 39
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
Presenting Sponsor:
Regional Impact
A POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP The partnership between Montgomery and Greenville yields positive results
“A rising tide lifts all ships.” This oft-quoted sentiment is an appropriate and concise way to highlight the beneficial impact that Montgomery has on its smaller neighboring communities. Time and time again, the benefits that come with economic development in the capital city have spilled over into nearby cities as well. Case in point: Greenville, Alabama, 45 miles due south of Montgomery. Greenville (population 7,900) and Butler County can trace thousands of jobs directly to their proximity to and relationship with Montgomery, as Greenville Mayor Dexter McClendon explained. “We have three Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama [HMMA] suppliers here,” he said, “and we got a lot of help with that from Montgomery’s mayor at the time, Bobby Bright, from Ellen McNair at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and from the then-ADO director Todd Strange.”
“We are not in competition with Montgomery. We embrace how close we are and what we can do for each other. That is why we as a city are members of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.”
Greenville Mayor Dexter McClendon believes a close partnership with Montgomery city leaders has impacted Greenville citizens in a great way.
But he didn’t just sit back and rely on Montgomery officials to make everything happen. One of his more innovative ideas definitely played a role in the city landing the suppliers. “We put a billboard up at Montgomery’s
The three suppliers combined (Washin, Hyundai Steel and AIA) employ more than 1,000 people and account for more than 8 percent of the Butler County workforce. “Washin is the largest, with 830 employees. But in addition to the jobs created,
in Greenville. “It’s a real snowball effect,”
Southern Boulevard, a spot that Hyundai
McClendon said.
execs would have to go past when staying downtown, that said: ‘Welcome Hyundai! We
It has rolled on and on and grown into a
[Greenville] are open for business!’ We got a
massive positive. Thanks to HMMA’s deci-
lot of press out of that,” he said.
sion to locate in Montgomery, the number of jobs created in and around Greenville (both
While Greenville’s proactive approach was
directly and indirectly) is approaching 2,000,
important, McClendon pointed out that a
including around 200 people who drive to
close partnership with Montgomery leaders
McClendon.
Hope Hull to work at HMMA.
was – and still is – key. “It is all about
And just like HMMA drew the supply compa-
This impact can’t be overstated, according
and how those relationships help Greenville
nies to meet its needs, the suppliers them-
to McClendon. “I hate to think where we
citizens and make my job easier,” he said.
selves attract other companies to work with
would be as a town and county if Hyundai
“Mayor Strange is a great leader. I have
them, like a trucking company that located
had not come,” he said.
learned a lot from him.”
their taxes help our school system, and the companies have been very supportive of our community in other ways as well,” said
relationships and looking at the big picture
40
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
MONTGOMERY
GREENVILLE
GREENVILLE-BASED SUPPLIERS: Washin AIA Hyundai Steel
A FEW FACTS: Three suppliers combined (Washin, Hyundai Steel and AIA) employ more than 1,000 people and account for more than 8 percent of the Butler County workforce. The number of jobs created in and around Greenville (both directly and indirectly) is approaching 2,000.
Make the first
STEPS EASIER!
Around 200 people from Greenville drive to Hope Hull to work at HMMA. 85% of the jobs in the River Region are in Montgomery, but the city draws people from all over the area to fill these jobs,
With an Associate Degree from Trenholm State, transferring to a 4-year college or university is easy and affordable. www.trenholmstate.edu
providing an impact that positively affects the entire region.
And like any good relationship, there’s give and take, and Greenville is reciprocating. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange echoed McClendon and identified other ways Greenville and Montgomery work together. “Greenville has been a valuable part of the Camellia Bowl as a member of the Central Alabama Sports Commission,” he said. “Mayor McClendon, along with other River Region mayors, is a part of that.” He also stressed the importance of forming and maintaining relationships that are built on give-and-take and on open communication. “I see all our River Region communities as partners,” he said. “Not a week goes by that we are not talking with someone. We all work together for benefit of all.” McClendon agreed with his colleague and friend. “We are not in competition with Montgomery,” he said. “We embrace how close we are and what we can do for each other. That is why we as a city are members of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.”
The College for Real Careers
GiveBack
A COMMON GOAL Montgomery’s Common Ground has found just that with several area businesses
IMAGES COURTESY OF COMMON GROUND
that share its vision and contribute to help it realize its goals. / by LIZ VINSON
Common Ground Montgomery, led and developed by Found-
tion has gained many supporters who make donations to help
er and Executive Director Bryan Kelly, is a non-profit organiza-
fund the organization. From First United Methodist Church
tion focused on revitalizing the neighborhood of Washington
to St. James School and Trinity Presbyterian School, Kelly’s
Park by fostering leaders from urban youth and transforming
mission touches many, including area businesses like Beasley
their lives through Christian leadership.
Allen and Alabama Power, who’ve cho-
Above all, Kelly values the principles of
sen to pitch in.
unity and change, and he is dedicated to revamping this neighborhood so that at-risk youth and underprivileged, low-income households have a fair shot at life.
Feet on the ground.
“The only way our world can be changed for the better is to change individuals,” said Willa Carpenter, Human Resources Liaison for the Beasley Allen Law Firm,
“Common Ground is focused on seeing community development in Washington Park, and we are trying to see that neighborhood thrive,” Kelly said. “That
“We need more people to get involved. It takes a lot of people to do what we do.”
area is faced with violence, poverty and
who explained why the firm supports Common Ground. “They will change communities, cities and beyond, and through the leadership of Bryan Kelly, we can transform young lives into men and
shootings, and the children who grow up there are in hard
women who will grow up to build strong families, embrace
times. There is a lot of hopelessness, and we want to see that
education and secure jobs. Common Ground has opened
neighborhood put back together. We want to see husbands
a window of opportunity for underprivileged youth, allowing
and wives be leaders and mentors for their families.”
them to see beyond poverty, beyond the place where they are. These kids have the chance to experience a transformed
Since the inception of Common Ground in 2006, the organiza-
42
life in Christ Jesus, and this will change their world and ours.”
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
GIVEBACK
BRIEFS
outreach at Troy University, along with receiving a Master’s degree in Divinity and Reformed Theological Seminary, all led him to create an organization
“
I want to see long-term change with two-parent households and more leaders, children who grow up and break the patterns of early dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, violence and crime. We think this could be altered by changing the odds and connecting across racial lines.
“
Kelly is steadfast in his mission, and his goal for the neighborhood has expanded beyond the parameters of Washington Park. From summer camps and youth development, to getting first-time homebuyers into formerly dilapidated, newly renovated homes, and partnering with Valiant Cross Academy, an all-male private school on Dexter Avenue, Kelly has managed to expand the vision so close to his
that, for him, serves a higher purpose.
BBVA Compass Delivers Cheer to Local Students
“My second chance gave me a lot of
This past December, The BBVA Compass
opportunity,” Kelly said. “I became a Christian in college, and I redirected my thinking on race, moving from an ‘us vs. them’ mentality to a ‘we’ mentality. I want to see long-term change with two-parent households and more leaders, children who grow up and break the patterns of early dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, violence and crime. We think this could be altered by changing the odds and connecting
Foundation brought its fourth annual Project Blue Elf initiative to Montgomery. Project Blue Elf is the bank’s signature holiday initiative that provides toys to children in low- to moderate-income areas. The program reached more than 5,000 students in 29 markets across the bank’s footprint, including the 84 kindergarten and first- and second-grade students at Johnson Elementary School. After a reading of “Snowmen at Night,” members of the bank’s executive team and employee vol-
across racial lines.”
unteers surprised the students with toys, de-
While the organization continues to
the bank deliver on its mission and brand
leave its mark on the city, making great
livering one to each child. The project helps promise of banking on a brighter future.
strides where all might seem lost, Kelly hopes that his message is heard as Common Ground seeks to recruit new volunteers and donors. “We rely on the investment of others,” Kelly said. “We need more people to get involved. We need mentors and tutors for developmental electives such as sports and the arts, and we need help in administrative ways. It takes a lot of people to do what we do.”
Pictured: YMCA Achievers
YMCA Hosts Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service On January 14, the YMCA of Montgomery
heart. Kelly was charged with drug traf-
More info:
encouraged residents to honor Dr. Martin
ficking as a young adult and notes that
For more information on Common
supporting their neighbors by joining the
upon receiving a second chance, he realized there was room for change in this world. His background working in
Ground Montgomery or to get your business involved, visit www.cgme.org or call 334-593-5803.
Luther King Jr.’s legacy by giving back and YMCA and the City of Montgomery at the Cleveland Avenue Branch of the YMCA for a Day of Service. After a brief program, participants chose to either stay at the Cleveland Avenue YMCA to help with projects there or
The Chamber wants to share the good news of businesses doing good. Please send story ideas for Giveback to jminiard@montgomerychamber.com.
43
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
went to a different part of the city to work on a unique project on their own.
Financial FOOTPRINT
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED – AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO – BUT IT’S STILL AN IMPORTANT ASSET TO MONTGOMERY. In the last decade, the way we bank has changed a lot. The institutions we bank with
DR. KEIVAN DERAVI, economist and Dean of the College of Public Policy and Justice at Auburn University Montgomery
have changed just as much. But one constant is the size and scope of this industry in our region and the major positive impact it has on our area economy. According to Dr. Keivan Deravi, economist
MIKE HART,
REGIONS BANK MARKET PRESIDENT
and Dean of the College of Public Policy
high-tech aspects with the base, and that
and Justice at Auburn University Montgom-
means there are people with good jobs
ery, the sector plays an integral role here.
and, therefore, a steady stream of good
“The GDP associated with the financial
income here,” Deravi said. Plus, the conver-
sector [which includes wealth management
gence of two major interstates brings the
firms and insurance] in the Montgomery
type of development that always sprouts up
community for
metro area is about $2.6 billion,” said Dera-
around the critical mass of population found
vi. “And this is not deposits and assets. This
along transportation thoroughfares. “Banks
150 years
number only represents economic activity.”
like stable,” Deravi said. “They want their
The industry brings with it approximately
risk to be measurable; they want their loans
$430 million annually in wages and salaries,
paid back.”
“Regions has been delivering banking services in this
so, obviously, we feel like this
is a great place.”
which translates to an economic impact of $4 to 5 billion. “It is no doubt a large indus-
With 41 years in the financial services indus-
try, an important industry here,” he said.
try (32 at MAX), Greg McClellan, president and CEO of MAX, has seen a lot, and he
Montgomery and the tri-county area have
agreed with Deravi about the region’s pos-
had no trouble attracting and keeping
itives while praising local leadership. “The
financial services companies. There are
city and county governments of Montgom-
currently more than 25 banks and credit
ery and the River Region have developed a
unions with branches in Montgomery. Dera-
good business climate. They work hard to
vi explained the area’s appeal.
attract new businesses and events to the area,” he said.
“The River Region has economic stability Mike Hart, market president of Regions
ment. It is always here; there will always
Bank in Montgomery, echoed McClellan.
be state employees, state expenditures,
“Regions has been delivering banking
state buildings, etc.,” he said. The military
services in this community for 150 years so,
presence of Maxwell Air Force Base only
obviously, we feel like this is a great place,”
adds to the draw. “There are some very
he said.
44
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIVISIONS IN ANY BANK NOW IS ITS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, AS THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST AND SAFELY DELIVER AND STORE DATA.
+
due to the large presence of state govern-
+
But how these institutions deliver their services is quite different from 2007. The recession changed the business model for banks, pushed them to reengineer their product offerings and their delivery modes. Many of the changes relate to a slew of new regulations put in place to prevent the abuses of the
THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN 25 BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH BRANCHES IN MONTGOMERY
HIGH LIGHTS
ers increase. “Customers want on-demand services now,” Deravi said. But Hart sees opportunity as well. “I have seen banking evolve from a service that was exclusively delivered face-to-face in brick and mortar branches to one that is now available
past that led to the economic downturn. “A lot
around the clock and in the palms of our
of the regulatory requirements are reporting
customers’ hands,” he said. “The digital revo-
get ‘too big to fail’,” Deravi said. Jimmy Stubbs, CEO of River Region-based River Bank & Trust that was established in 2006, believes most of these regulations are too tough and are actually holding the industry back. “Our primary challenge is absorbing the cost of and conforming to the barrage of regulations brought on by the Dodd/Frank Regulatory Reform Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,” he said. “Regulatory compliance is quite complex and expensive. Dollars to comply take away dollars to invest back into the communities we serve.” Deravi noted that banks are now very heavily regulated, possibly even over-regulated, but
BILLION
$2.6
and are there to make sure the banks don’t
FINANCIAL
SECTOR GDP
$430
lution has certainly changed our industry, and with that change have come opportunities as Regions continues to develop partnerships with leading on-line lenders and platforms that enhance the speed and convenience in which we deliver the bank whenever and however our customers elect.” Technology is
MILLION WAGES&SALARIES
ECONOMIC
IMPACT $4-5 BILLION
stressed an important point. “Dodd/Frank was a reaction to the collapse. The financial sector is the heart and soul of our economy, so it’s
threats. It’s an item that was far lower on
crucial that they don’t fail,” he said. “There is a
financial institutions’ priority lists in the past.
balance between safety and profitability, and,
But in just the last few years, as technology
in reaction to a crisis, the pendulum goes too
has entered every facet of our lives, online
far sometimes. But it usually corrects itself as
and mobile banking have grown, and con-
the crisis goes away.”
sumers have become more tech-savvy and tech-driven. It’s both a blessing and a curse
And regulations are not the only issue. Other
for the industry.
obstacles are facing the industry too, both in our region and across the country, as Stubbs
“Technology is convenient for consumers, but
explained. “We’ve got to maintain an econom-
it is really quite inconvenient for the banks,”
ic climate in this country where businesses
Deravi said. “It imposes a heavy cost on finan-
can grow and prosper,” he said. “This creates
cial institutions. One of the biggest divisions
lending opportunities to businesses and
in any bank now is its IT department, as they
individuals.”
figure out how to best and safely deliver and store data.” And it only gets trickier as
Stubbs also pointed to the need for contin-
technology constantly changes, and changes
ual investment in protections against cyber
faster, and as the expectations of consum-
45
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
JIMMY STUBBS, CEO OF RIVER BANK & TRUST
“Regulatory compliance is quite
complex and expensive. Dollars to comply take away dollars to
invest back into the communities we serve.”
+
THE RIVER REGION HAS ECONOMIC STABILITY DUE TO THE LARGE PRESENCE OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
affecting far more than how we bank; it’s
promising. Deravi sees some light on the
also influencing our choices on where
horizon too. “Now that balance sheets
we bank. “Mobile banking is transform-
of banks are much stronger, I think the
ing the nature of the sector,” Deravi said.
pendulum will find an equilibrium right
“They used to give away toasters to get
in the middle,” he said. “I think we might
customers. Now, they’re using technolo-
get to that happy medium in terms of
gy to create highly targeted advertising.”
regulations.”
And with the ability to bank exclusively
Most of the leaders of the financial
online and to compare rates, services
services industry in the River Region are
and other factors with just the click of a
equally optimistic.
GREG MCCLELLAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MAX
mouse or tap of a finger, today, banks don’t just contend with other institutions
And Stubbs believes our new presi-
in their area, they’re up against other
dent could open the door to renewed
banks all over the country. “The competi-
progress. “If the Trump administration
tion is intense,” Deravi said.
follows through with some of their prom-
“The city and county governments of Montgomery
ises, I feel like banks will have a better Yet as Hart pointed out, his industry has
opportunity to serve our communities
faced and overcome changes and chal-
by providing more loans to existing and
lenges before, and he, along with others
emerging businesses and individual
in the sector, think the future looks
consumers,” he said.
and the River Region have developed a good
business climate. They work hard to attract new businesses
CREDIT UNIONS RIVER REGION CREDIT UNIONS**
and events to the area.” River Locally Region Alabama Branches Branches Employed
Statewide Deposits
Total Members
Name
Online address
APCO Employees
apcocu.org
$ 2,440,154,842
1
15
1-10
71,801
MAX
mymax.com
$ 1,047,228,140
10
15
101+
104,902
Avadian
alatelco.org
$
652,103,832
1
19
1-10
78,094
Guardian
myguardiancu.com
$
313,014,562
4
11
51-75
47,783
ASE
yourasecu.com
$
217,536,655
2
5
21-35
31,022
1st Resource
my1resourcecu.com
$
31,798,943
1
2
1-10
2,298
Alabama Rural Electric
arecu.com
$
29,607,860
1
1
1-10
3,706
Tri-Rivers Federal
tririversfcu.org
$
14,630,101
1
1
1-10
5,988
Navy Federal
navyfederal.org
-
1
-
1-10
6,721,14
**Montgomery Chamber Members in Good Standing Source: credituniondirectory.net/Alabama-credit-unions.html
46
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
BANKS RIVER REGION BANKING INSTITUTIONS**
Tri-County Deposits*
River Region Branches
Alabama Branches
Locally Employed
regions.com
$ 1,633,680,000
22
228
101+
BBVA Compass Bank
bbvacompass.com
$ 1,172,087,000
7
88
101+
BB&T
bbt.com
$ 956,992,000
11
86
101+
Wells Fargo
wellsfargo.com
$ 749,865,000
12
138
101+
Sterling (Synovus)
synovus.com
$ 618,981,000
3
38
36-50
ServisFirst Bank
servisfirstbank.com
$ 498,996,000
2
11
21-35
USAmeriBank
usameribank.com
$ 441,151,000
6
15
51-75
River Bank & Trust
riverbankandtrust.com
$ 415,192,000
6
10
76-100
Trustmark National Bank
trustmark.com
$ 224,638,000
7
39
21-35
PrimeSouth Bank
primesouthbank.com
$ 135,566,000
3
4
1-10
PNC Bank
pnc.com
$ 122,059,000
6
70
1-10
Hancock
hancockbank.com
$
74,360,000
2
11
-
Renasant Bank
renasantbank.com
$
59,308,000
2
18
1-10
AmeriFirst Bank
amerifirstbank.com
$
57,217,000
2
4
11-20
Cadence Bank
cadencebank.com
$
47,376,000
1
26
1-10
formerly Wilshire Bank
bankofhope.com
$
27,545,000
1
1
1-10
Oakworth Capital Bank
oakworthcapital.com
$
27,011,000
1
3
1-10
Liberty Bank & Trust Company
libertybank.net
$
23,121,000
2
1
11-20
Metro City Bank
metrocitybank.com
$
17,854,000
1
2
1-10
Woodforest National Bank
woodforest.com
$
4,878,000
6
41
1-10
Name
Online address
Regions Bank
Bank of Hope
*Montgomery, Autauga and Elmore counties for June 30, 2016 **Montgomery Chamber Members in Good Standing Source: www.fdic.gov/bank/statistical/
47
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS
Connect +
NEWS, R ESO U R C E S AN D A LOOK IN S IDE THE MAN Y WAYS YOUR CHAMBER WORKS FOR YOU
TEAM REPORT Behind the Scenes:
In Action
CO M MUN ITY STRATEGIES
5,000 Sheron Rose leads the Chamber’s Community Strategies Team, which includes Temisha Young and Bonnie Evans and works to provide outreach and engage-
people have
How does the community in general benefit? TY: Building a strong minority business sector
embraced Diversity through
strengthens the overall quality of life for the
ment programs that encourage and
Montgomery community. Business growth
enhance diversity in business in our area.
is essential in this sector because minority
They shared a bit about the role they play
businesses typically create jobs in minority
in bettering our city.
communities, which builds prosperity among
the Chamber’s Annual Diversity Summit
minority families.
SR: The community benefits from our ability to manage and maintain strong professional relationships with key business development organizations and leaders in the community to foster partnerships that will enhance the growth and development of small, large,
2017 will be the
women-owned and minority businesses. In Left to right: Sheron Rose, Bonnie Evans and Temisha Young
addition, an educational system that produces
What do you and your team oversee for the Chamber? SR: Our team leads and manages business
the workforce or into additional educational
10TH YEAR of the Diversity
students who are prepared to go directly into
Summit
training results in increased quality of life for our community.
diversity outreach and engagement activities,
force-development-led initiatives. Our goal is to
What resources do you and your team provide Chamber members? SR: We are often a liaison between the busi-
align and develop strategies and programs for
ness community and education and connect
those impacted by workforce development and
them to implement mutual initiatives.
strengthen small and minority businesses.
including the creation of innovative platforms and communication channels to enhance work-
How does the local business community benefit from what you and your team do? SR: Partnering with area educational systems and industry/business partners allows us to cre-
What do you consider some of your team’s most significant achievements? BE: I consider the Diversity Summit and the Women in Business initiative, Conversations: Roundtables for Professional Women, as two of our most creative and exciting achievements.
ate a workforce/talent pipeline that aligns with and meets current industry/business needs. It is
SR: The Diversity Summit, Women in Business
also essential for the retention of jobs and the
Roundtable and MGM Biztalk are initiatives that,
recruitment of additional jobs. We support and
in my opinion, have provided the most “take-
encourage increased funding to support pre-K
aways” by connecting people and business
classes, understanding that a solid foundation
and providing opportunity for personal and
for learning is essential for the future.
professional growth. 48
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
What is your team’s role in the Chamber’s governmental relations efforts? SR: In addition to conveying the Chamber’s positions on policy, our department has the privilege of developing, cultivating and sustaining relations with members of city, county and legislative branches of government as well as industry leaders, community and executive officials.
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49
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Connect CO NNEC T I NG YO U TO T H E M A N Y CHAMBER RES OURCES AN D S ERVICES AVAILABLE
“
GET CONNECTED
WHAT THEY SAY
CELE B RATE YOUR BU S I N ESS Ribbon cuttings, ground breakings and grand openings for your business: . . . . . . Kappes McGough, kmcgough@montgomerychamber.com Press releases and announcements: . . . . . . . . . . . Jina Miniard, jminiard@montgomerychamber.com
CHAMBER MEMBERS SPEAK OUT ON HOW THEIR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS THEIR BUSINESS.
Event calendar: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . montgomerychamber.com/events SAV E MONE Y Member-to-Member discounts: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Kelley, skelley@montgomerychamber.com Notary public service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . Paul Redhead, predhead@montgomerychamber.com Membership mailing lists and labels: . . . . . . . . . Sandra Kelley, skelley@montgomerychamber.com MEET MORE CLIENTS & VENDORS Networking events: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Kelley, skelley@montgomerychamber.com Ambassador program: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Norton, lnorton@montgomerychamber.com Online membership directory: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . montgomerychamber.com/directory Government contract resources: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa McGinty, lmcginty@montgomerychamber.com HIRE & TRAIN YOUR WORKFORCE Job board: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . montgomerychamber.com/jobboard Corporate recruitment: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justice Smyth, jsmyth@montgomerychamber.com Corporate retention:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Horsley, jhorsley@montgomerychamber.com
“When my boss said our accounting and tax firm should be a Chamber member, I agreed, but I wasn’t really sure what we’d get out of it. I went to an after-hours event to learn more, and there, found out about the Tips Club. I just thought that was the neatest thing, people sharing information like that. I got more and more involved in the Chamber and have since found the network-
Workforce training:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Constance Calambakas, ccalambakas@montgomerychamber.com
ing opportunities it provides to
BUILD YOUR B USIN ESS Research information: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Madore, rmadore@montgomerychamber.com
contacts made and information
Small business counseling: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa McGinty, lmcginty@montgomerychamber.com
be invaluable. Armed with the gleaned at Chamber events, our business really started to grow. I
Diversity and inclusion programs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Temisha Young, tyoung@montgomerychamber.com
encourage all members to take
Entrepreneurial development: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa McGinty, lmcginty@montgomerychamber.com
advantage of all the Chamber’s
Seminars and training: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa McGinty, lmcginty@montgomerychamber.com Temisha Young, tyoung@montgomerychamber.com Co-working space: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa McGinty, lmcginty@montgomerychamber.com Office space to rent in the Chamber’s Business Resource Center: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa McGinty, lmcginty@montgomerychamber.com
events. They are an amazing resource. Being there and staying ‘in the know’ can make all the difference for your business.” - NAN LLOYD, ASSOCIATED BUSINESS SERVICES
HOST MEE TINGS I N M O N TG O M ERY Meeting and event venue information: . . . . . . . Keely Smith, ksmith@montgomerychamber.com Special hotel rates for meetings, events & sporting events: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keely Smith, ksmith@montgomerychamber.com
50
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
OUR CHAMBER. YOUR VOICE.
CHAMBER NEWS Connect A LO O K B AC K AT T H E FACES AN D PLACES OF RECEN T CHAMBER EVEN TS
STATE OF THE CITY & COUNTY JANUARY 24, 2017 RSA Activity Center
MEMBER EVENTS:
There was record attendance for the annual State of the City & County with Mayor Todd Strange and County Commissioner Elton Dean, and special guest, Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone. Presenting Sponsor: Baptist Health
JAN 10
ASU/SBDC Small Business Tax Workshop at the BRC
Participants gained knowledge of current tax laws that affect their business
CHAMBER NEWS // Notebook SUCCESS STARTS HERE BUS TOUR TOUTED JOB CREATION In mid-December, The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce held its seventh annual “Success Starts Here” bus tour, which recognizes expanding industries that have made significant capital investments year-to-date. The $320.3 million in capital investments and 1,514 new jobs these industries have announced have helped secure 18,626 existing local jobs.
JAN 11
60 Minute Coffee at Classic Buick GMC Cadillac Sponsored by Classic Buick GMC Cadillac
“The purpose of the ‘Success Starts Here’ tour is to thank our existing industries for contributing to our economic prosperity,” said Montgomery Chamber past Board Chairman A. Bruce Crawford. “These companies are creating jobs, driving innovation and expanding opportunities in our community.” “Success Starts Here” attendees included elected officials, community business
JAN 27
leaders and local media. Following a news
At each stop on the tour, company officials
conference at the Montgomery Chamber,
announced economic successes of 2016.
attendees boarded a bus to travel to the
Alfa Companies announced $100 million
three existing industries highlighted on the
in capital investments. Baptist Health an-
2016 tour: Alfa Companies, Baptist Health
nounced $17 million in capital investments
Sponsored by
and Jackson Hospital. The three compa-
and 270 new jobs, and Jackson Hospital
Guardian Credit Union &
nies were selected not only because they
announced $6.65 million in capital invest-
Wind Creek Montgomery
have expanded, but also because they are
ments and 50 new jobs.
Casino & Hotel
making innovations in IT and health care.
Business After Hours at Wind Creek Montgomery
51
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Connect N E WS, R ESO U R C ES AND A LO O K I NS IDE THE MAN Y WAYS YOUR CHAMBER WORKS FOR YOU
A SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE NEW 2017 MEMBERS OF THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE. They are engaged and impacting the issues and developments that fuel growth and prosperity in our region.
2017
JAKE CARLTON Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery
RAYMOND BROWN Sykes Enterprises
BRIAN BONIKOWSKI Avis & Budget Car Rental
AMBASSADORS
Ambassador Chairman Kris Stallworth, State Farm Insurance, Kris Stallworth
Nicholas J. Andrews, Farmers Insurance
TODD HANSEN US Foods
The Chamber would like to welcome our new group of Ambassadors for 2017 and to thank them for committing to represent the Chamber in the year ahead.
Emilyn Espiritu, Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
Aquan Robinson, Wealth Management Group, LLC
Krystal Floyd, Brantwood Children’s Home
Rusty Salter, AKD Screenprinting & Embroidery
Josie Fountain, Alabama News Network
George Sanders, Holiday Inn Express Montgomery East
Keisha Gatson, Regions Bank Stephanie Glover, ERA Weeks & Browning, Inc. Melanie Golson, City of Montgomery
Michael Andrews, Warren Averett, LLC
CALVIN CHERRY ASE Credit Union
Leticia Gregory, Stifel D. Brent Hargett, Sasser, Sefton & Brown, P. C. Allison Hendley, Eastdale Mall
Latisha Simpson, Woodforest National Bank Johnnie Smith, Alabama Association for Justice Craig Snell, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC Jason Soriano, Chick-fil-A Jamar Stanford, Cellular Sales-Verizon
Jonathan Avant, PNC Bank
Melanie Hogan, Alabama State University
Jennifer Barringer, Sys-Con, LLC
Ricky Hollon, MAX Credit Union
Cierra Belser, Hire Level
Carson Howe, River Region United Way
Tiffany R. Stinson, Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc.
Amanda Benson, Aldridge Borden & Company, PC
LaCheryl Lacour, 2 Sweet 2 Be 4gotten
Tinita Teal, Addison Park Apartments
Kenneth Laneaux, Country Financial
Natasha Terrell, Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc.
AK Latham, ABS Technology, LLC
Heath Thomas, Strickland Companies
John McFarlin, Trustmark National Bank
Jamal Thomas, Gumptown Magazine
Amanda Meeks, Regions Bank
James W. Thomas, WCOV TV
Mia Mothershed, Health Services, Inc.
Stephanie L. Turner, Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc.
Cheryl Blake, Blake’s Segway Tours at Union Station Renee Borg, Alabama Technology Foundation Joseph Brooks, Jr., National Association of Social Workers - Alabama Chapter Ray Brown, Homewood Suites by Hilton Valeria Cobb, iHeartMedia Christy Cruse, Regions Bank Shawn Daley, Regions Bank Randall Darnell, PrimePay Cindy Davis, Cadence Bank Andrea Diggs, Associated Business Services
LaSheena Nation, Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Summer Steele, iHeartMedia
Betty Washington, Starting Point, Inc.
Marie Ottinger, Faulkner University
Demetrius Washington, MAX Credit Union
Nia Pagniacci, Lighthouse Counseling Center, Inc.
Ginger Willcoxon, Willcoxon Properties
Melba Parks, Hilton Garden Inn Daniel Paulk, BBVA Compass
Courtney Doss, Addison Park Apartments
Latoria Perdue, Express Employment Professionals
Cathy Duncan, Trustmark National Bank
Heather Phillips, Trustmark National Bank
52
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Lisa Ann Williamson, New York Life Insurance Lori Wright, Dreamland Bar-B-Que Amber Wright, Alabama & More, LLC
ALL AMERICAN WEEKEND APRIL 6 - 9, 2017 Mark
yo u r ca l e n da r s n ow f o r a w e e k e n d f u l l o f f u n e v e n ts a n d act i v i t i e s c o M i n g to
M o n tg o M e ry
in
april.
“HERITAGE TO HORIZONS” AIR SHOW Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. FREE and open to the public | http://maxwellairshow.com The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the French aerial demonstration team, Patrouille de France, and many other acts fill the skies over the River Region.
AN EVENING WITH CLINT BLACK Saturday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m. | $30 asf.net | 334.271.5353 The Alabama Shakespeare Festival hosts Grammy Awardwinning country music star Clint Black in an outdoor concert. Active duty military are entitled to one free ticket with proof of identification. Active duty military tickets can be obtained through the ASF Box Office.
BISCUITS BASEBALL OPENING WEEKEND an Weeken eric d m A
Al l
g reat weekend packages available ! d etails at visitingMontgoMery . coM
$9 - $13 | biscuitsbaseball.com
A pr
Cheer on our hometown team against the Biloxi Shuckers! 53
2 il 6 - 9,
01
7
Thursday, April 6 at 7:05 p.m. Friday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, April 8 at 6:35 p.m. & MAX Fireworks show! Sunday, April 9 at 2:05 p.m.
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
Small Business Briefcase +
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FREE & LOW-COST BUSINESS TOOLS
APPS & PROGRAMS TO KNOW
While any successful small business will always be built on sound ideas, determination and hard work, there is no doubt that advances in technology, specifically a slew of easy-to-use free or almost free apps and info-packed websites, have simplified many aspects of running one. We’ve pulled a couple of our favorites and a few that Paul Moseley, Program Director at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighted in a recent article.
SURVEY MONKEY / FREE OR LOW FEE
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Want to know what your customers think of
This website is a one-stop shop, offering an
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lished one refine and grow. Its clutter-free
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design and plain-English approach to explain-
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ing things make it a valuable resource and
vey Monkey makes it easy to
earned it a spot on Forbes magazine’s “100
quickly get essential feedback
Best Websites for Entrepreneurs” list in 2015.
from any group you choose. Its free option lets you do a simple poll to a small audience, but for $25 a month, you can conduct unlimited surveys to any number of people, plus you get
SOCIAL MEDIA / FREE hootsuite.com or buffer.com You probably already use social media, but are you using it to your advantage? If you
Read Moseley’s entire article on great tech tools for small businesses on a budget.
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medium.com/@paulmsly
WORTH A MENTION One of the most important things to look for when choosing apps and software tools for your
data reports, in-depth analysis and more.
feel like you’re floundering in a sea of noise
business is ensuring that
when it comes to what to post and when, you
they work well together.
MAIL CHIMP / FREE OR LOW FEE
need a social media marketing plan. Check
mailchimp.com
into tools like Hootsuite and Buffer to find the
E-mail marketing works, and Mail Chimp re-
latest news on social media strategies and to
duces the process to something so effortless
streamline your social presence.
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ONE MORE THING:
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This collection of integrated, cloud-based
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apps from Google works together seamlessly
tion’s website, SBA.GOV. Its
product promotion
and on any device. It combines Google Docs,
blog posts, broken into different
e-mails to your
Drive, Gmail and Calendar, allowing everyone
categories, offer a wealth of
email lists and then use Mail Chimp’s tracking
in your business to collaborate and stay on
timely information and time-test-
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ed advice from industry experts
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and other business owners.
54
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Meeting the Mortgage Needs in Our Community
As a community bank, we can offer alternative loan options and local decision making to help finance personal or investment properties. Get there...start HERE! 55
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
Todd Mote, NMLS 994793 tmote@primesouthbank.com (334)387-1655 Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
56
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
M EM BER Spotlight
BACHELER TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C. When Craig Bacheler saw a need for a more personalized approach to IT services in the River Region, he stepped up and filled it, creating his company Bacheler Technologies.
FOUNDED: 2008 WHAT’S THE MOTIVATION BEHIND BACHELER TECHNOLOGIES? I realized that local business owners didn’t just need someone to keep their networks up and running, they needed someone dedicated to helping them achieve their business goals. That’s the mission of Bacheler Technologies: to support the mission of every client.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 14 PRIMARY SERVICES: Bacheler Technologies is an Information Technologies consulting firm supporting businesses throughout the River Region. We have developed partnerships with industry giants like Dell, Microsoft, Ingram Micro, CDW and Cisco to bring state-ofthe-art support and services to our local clients. Each client is supported by not just one technician, but our entire team who manages and maintains clients’ networks to minimize downtime and maximize results, including preventive maintenance, dependable backups, powerful virus protection and software updates, as well as a number of monthly and quarterly reviews.
IS THE NEED FOR IT SERVICES GROWING IN THE RIVER REGION? Absolutely, and we’ve seen it first-hand. Since its founding, Bachelor Technologies has grown significantly.
WHAT IS DRIVING THIS GROWTH? It is a direct result of the ever-increasing demand for IT services and automation integration not just in the workplace, but in nearly every aspect of our lives. That means the need to mitigate the risk of down time becomes more and more imperative; therefore, the need for IT services and technologies is constantly growing.
WHAT TYPES/SIZES OF COMPANIES DOES BT WORK WITH? Our client base is made up of diverse types of industries and business sizes. While we are staffed to handle very large networks and businesses with multiple locations, we take pride in our client referrals, which sometime consist of startup companies or small businesses.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? I never seem to have a repeat day. Every day brings new challenges in the IT world, so we stay on top of the ever-evolving technology solutions.
7005 BROCKPORT COURT, MONTGOMERY / 334-669-4530 / WEAREBT.COM 57
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Members on the Move K EEP U P W I T H O U R M EM B ER S W ELCOMIN G N EW HIRES AN D ACCEPTIN G N EW POS ITION S
JACKSON THORNTON NAMES NEW PRINCIPAL
Casey Earnest has also joined the company. Earnest is
Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and
an Auburn University at Montgomery graduate with a
consulting firm, announced that
bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and comes to Sutton & As-
James B. Marshall, III, has been
sociates from her most recent position as Meeting Planner
selected as the firm’s newest
with Alfa Insurance in Montgomery. Earnest joins Sutton &
Principal. Jim Marshall is a prin-
Associates as a Program Manager and works with incen-
cipal in the firm’s Montgomery
tive travel programs.
office, where he has worked for more than 10 years. Marshall, a
MAT POPE JOINS PALOMAR INSURANCE
Certified Energy Procurement
Mat Pope has been appointed to the position of Director
Professional (CEP), specializes in financial forecasting, cost of service and rate design consulting projects for electric, water, sewer and gas clients throughout the Southeast.
of Sales for Palomar Insurance Corporation. In this new role, Pope will be responsible for working with select producers in developing and attaining their
GILPIN GIVHAN ADDS FIRM ADMINISTRATOR
annual sales plans. Pope will also
Gilpin Givhan announced the addition of Bonita S. Heart-
be responsible for identifying and
sill, SHRM-CP, PR as the Law
recruiting new producers for all
Office Administrator. Heartsill will
of the Palomar Office locations.
oversee finance, operations and human resources for the firm.
ATTORNEYS NAMED SHAREHOLDERS
She has worked as Senior Payroll
Hill Hill Carter announced that Jesse K. Anderson and
Consultant, Controller and Retail
Brad A. Everhardt were named Shareholders of the firm.
Accounting Manager for various
Anderson joined Hill Hill Carter in 2015. He received his
mid-sized companies in Alabama.
J.D. from Cumberland School of Law and is admitted
She was president of Heartsill Payroll Professionals where she provided payroll processing, payroll tax payments and returns, HR consulting and
to practice before the United States District Courts for the
training services to companies in the River Region.
Northern, Middle, and Southern
all Courts in the State of Alabama
Districts of Alabama, as well as
EARNEST & DICKERT JOIN SUTTON & ASSOCIATES
and Tennessee. His practice
Sutton & Associates announced
range of civil litigation matters,
will continue to include a broad
that Ashley Dickert has joined the
with an emphasis on insurance
company. Dickert is an Auburn
defense. Brad Everhardt joined
University at Montgomery grad-
Hill Hill Carter in 2015. Everhardt
uate with a bachelor’s degree in
represents governmental entities
Liberal Arts, with a concentration
and insurance companies in
in Hospitality Management and
federal and state courts. His
comes to Sutton & Associates
practice focuses on civil litigation
from her most recent position
as well as administrative law. As
as Conference Coordinator with
a shareholder, he will continue to
GovDeals Inc. in Montgomery.
concentrate his practice on insurance defense and munic-
Dickert joins Sutton & Associates
ipal law matters. Prior to joining Hill Hill Carter, Brad was a
as a Program Manager and works
partner at a firm based in Toledo, Ohio.
with incentive travel programs.
58
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
CHAMBER NEWS Members on the Move K EEP U P W I T H O U R M EM B ER S W ELCOMIN G N EW HIRES AN D ACCEPTIN G N EW POS ITION S
THOMAS M. MCCARTHY NAMED PARTNER
BUILDING & EARTH PROMOTES NEW PRESIDENT
Holtsford Gilliland Higgins Hitson
Building & Earth, a leading professional engineering
& Howard, PC announced that
firm, has promoted Jeff Cowen, P.G., P.E., to President.
Thomas M. McCarthy is now a
Cowen, a founding partner of Building & Earth, has held
Partner in the firm. McCarthy will
a multitude of positions within the company throughout
continue to represent individual
his tenure. Prior to his appointment as president, Cowen
and business clients statewide
was Chief Operating Officer.
from the firm’s central Alabama
Cowen will assume the position
office. This continues Holtsford
from Deepa Bhate, Chairper-
Gilliland’s growth over the past
son and Chief Executive Officer
25 years from two to 20 lawyers.
of Building & Earth. He will be responsible for implementing the policies and procedures
ANDREW E. BRASHIER PRINCIPAL AT BEASLEY ALLEN LAW FIRM
that align with the strategic vision, as well as provide over-
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., has
sight for corporate services, such as human resources and
named Andrew E. Brashier as
accounting.
a new Principal. Brashier works in the firm’s Consumer Fraud Section. He joined the firm
HIRELEVEL INTRODUCES CIERRA BELSER AS DIVERSITY RELATIONS MANAGER
in September 2010 and has focused primarily on consumer
HireLevel, powered by Extra Help, one of the region’s
class actions along with qui tam
largest Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) Sup-
litigation under the False Claims
pliers in the Montgomery region, has appointed Cierra
Act. He has also represented whistleblowers through the IRS, SEC and Department of Transportation/NHTSA whistleblower programs.
Belser to its leadership team as Diversity Relations Manager. In her new role, she will be responsible for developing and setting the strategic direction and acting as the primary
RICHARD BRADFORD JOINS RENASANT
advocate for supplier diversity
Richard Bradford joined Renasant Bank in November
partnerships within the organi-
of 2016. He is serving in the
zation. Cierra brings a wealth
position of Senior Vice President/
of experience in building mu-
Relationship Manager. In his role,
tually beneficial relationships,
Bradford will be responsible
capturing new business opportunities and supporting the
for building relationships with
continued growth in the Montgomery market.
Renasant clients and managing a commercial lending portfolio. Bradford attended the University of Alabama, graduating with a
ALABAMA NEWS NETWORK WELCOMES SPORTS DIRECTOR
Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.
Alabama News Network announced that Adam Solomon
+
has been hired as Sports DirecS U B M I T T I N G NEWS ? Submit information to Jina Miniard
tor. Solomon has made his way to
at jminiard@montgomerychamber.com. Attach press
the capital city from the sunshine
releases as a Word document and include high-resolution
state, where he was Sports
headshot (at least 300 dpi). An accompanying headshot is
Director for three years at WCJB
required for Members on the Move announcements.
in Gainesville, Florida.
59
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Members on the Move K EEP U P W I T H O U R M EM B ER S W ELCOMIN G N EW HIRES AN D ACCEPTIN G N EW POS ITION S
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Patricia A. Everett,
Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J.
Elaine J. Fincannon,
Canary recently announced new titles and duties for BCA staff
Cherry Smith Ragan,
members. Patricia A. Everett has been named Accountant
Kimberly Langley and
and Deputy Treasurer for ProgressPAC. Everett has been with
Nancy Wall Hewston.
the BCA since 2009. Everett is responsible for daily general accounting and maintaining the books and reporting for ProgressPAC. Elaine J. Fincannon, CAE, has been named Senior Vice President for Investor Relations, Services and Development for the BCA. She serves as part of the BCA’s Advocacy Team. In addition to providing services to BCA-member companies, Fincannon serves as a BCA liaison to Alabama chambers of commerce and works with The Partnership between the BCA and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama. Nancy Wall Hewston has been named Senior Vice President for Communications, Strategic Information and Federal Affairs. She is responsible for the development and integra-
BCA’s federal legislative agenda. Kimberly Langley has been named Director of Investor Relations. Langley is responsible for the BCA’s membership database, membership renewal notices, and new member processing for Investor Relations. Cherry Smith Ragan has been named Office Manager/Ex-
tion of the BCA’s communication strategy to promote the BCA
ecutive Assistant for Finance & Administration. Ragan’s duties
and its policy agenda to its key audiences. Hewston also is
include assisting in daily office and front desk operation and
responsible for the development and implementation of the
providing support to BCA’s leadership team.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
OW EN IB CR BS SU
BRING YOUR
MEETING
HOME.
START HERE. request your meeting planner online at
MEETINMONTGOMERY.COM
MONTGOMERY MEETING PLANNER Are you involved in associations, conferences & meetings or participate in continuing education? Why not have those meetings right here, in your own backyard! We have a full staff that can help you plan it, get the best hotel rates, plan after hour activities for you and your attendees, help with registration and make the planning process as seamless as possible.
60
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
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MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
WANT YOUR NEWS IN THE MBJ? Submit information for consideration to Jina Miniard at jminiard@montgomerychamber.com. Please attach press releases as a Word document or a PDF
MAJOR MILESTONE FOR LOCAL BUSINESS
financing, and is also one of the oldest
Ralph Smith Motors is celebrating 75
selling cars alongside his grandfa-
years in business this month, making
ther when he was 18, left to pursue a
it the oldest active pre-owned car
counseling career but came back to the
dealership in the state. Now owned and
family business in 1991. He has stayed
operated by Joe Smith, the business
committed to the principles his grandfa-
was founded in 1942 by his grandfather
ther instilled in him. According to Smith,
Ralph Smith. The dealership special-
the secret to the company’s longevity is
izes in used auto sales and in-house
“taking great care of our customers.”
members of the Chamber. Smith started
(Word documents preferred), and please include high-resolution (at least 300 dpi) photos with your press release if possible.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES: MAY ISSUE - MARCH 17 AUGUST ISSUE - JUNE 20
ALABAMA MEDIA GROUP DONATES COLLECTION TO DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
from the 1940s through the end of the
continuous power at lower engine
twentieth century. Most were likely never
RPMs than any other aircraft alternator,”
published and have been seen only by
Disbrow said.
the photographer and perhaps an editor.
“Because of
The Alabama Department of Archives
The donation comes at a time when
their outstanding
and History and Alabama Media Group
the Archives is committing additional
performance,
recently announced that Alabama
resources to the digitization of its collec-
value and instal-
Media Group is donating its massive
tions to prepare for Alabama’s bicen-
lation flexibility,
collection of photographic negatives to
tennial in 2019. “Alabama Media Group
the Plane-Power
the Archives, where the images will be
has presented Alabama an extraordinary
ALT-FLX series of high output belt-driv-
preserved, digitized and made available
and early gift for its 200th birthday,”
en alternators was very popular with
to the public. Containing an estimated 3
Murray said.
customers. Unfortunately, as with some
million images, the collection is the larg-
other Plane-Power products, we en-
est gift of historical content received by
scores of photographers who worked
PLANE-POWER RE-INTRODUCES POPULAR LINE OF ALTERNATORS
at the Birmingham News, Mobile’s
Montgomery-based Hartzell Engine
Press-Register, and the Huntsville Times.
Technologies’ president Mike Disbrow
They document occasions ranging from
recently announced that the company is
presidential elections to city council
re-introducing its Plane-Power ALT-FLX
meetings and from civil rights demon-
line of FAA-PMA certified, 28V/150 Amp
strations to high school football games.
to 14V/100 Amp high output, belt-driven
The earliest images are from the 1920s,
alternators. “The Plane-Power ALT-FLX
but the bulk of the collection dates
belt-driven alternators deliver more
the Archives since its founding in 1901. The negatives were produced by
62
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
countered component sourcing issues that needed to be resolved before we could again meet market demands with new products.” In the interim, the company’s solution is to offer factory-rebuilt units until the new component suppliers can be brought on line. “It is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring our customers get the best possible experience from our products,” Disbrow said.
CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
G O O D R ETAIL NEWS CC’S DAIQUIRIS GRAND OPENING CC’s Daiquiris celebrated its grand opening in downtown Montgomery in mid-December. “We’re so happy to be able to bring an Tetsuya Ishiyama, Lidded Water Vessel, n.d., stoneware with natural-ash glaze, Collection of Gordon Brodfuehrer / Photograph courtesy of Tim Siegert
authentic taste of New Orleans to Montgom-
DON’T MISS THESE EXHIBITIONS
our entire Krewe couldn’t be more pleased
The Montgomery Museum of
received from our wonderful customers.” A
Fine Arts is showcasing several
native of New Orleans, Capel is grateful for
winter exhibitions. The 28 quilts
all of the assistance that she has received
in “Sewn Together: Two Cen-
as she worked for more than nine months
turies of Alabama Quilts” are
to bring to life her vision of the “Big Easy” in
presented as “exemplary pairs,“
the River Region. She credits Liberty Bank,
demonstrating and illustrating
the City of Montgomery, the Small Business
comparisons of the varied tech-
Development Center at the University of West
niques, themes and traditional
Alabama, and all of her service vendors for
patterns as seen in 200 years of
making her dream a reality. She also praised
Alabama quilt making. “Nature,
her manager. “Qiana James, our Krewe
Tradition, & Innovation: Con-
Manager, is a non-traditional student who
temporary Japanese Ceramics
recently graduated at the top of her class
from the Gordon Brodfuehrer
from the College of Business Administration
Collection” provides a dynamic
at Alabama State University,” said Capel.
ery,” said owner Candy Capel. “It’s exciting to be part of all of the growth in downtown, and with the reception that we have already
NEW RETAIL DEVELOPMENT FOR MONTGOMERY-EASTCHASE CENTRAL Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC (JWA) recently announced EastChase Central, the newest retail development for EastChase. Located on 6.7 acres at the midway point of EastChase Parkway and directly across from the highly successful Hampton Inn & Suites, EastChase Central will bring new merchants, as well as some more familiar names, to EastChase and the Montgomery market. Completion and grand opening are scheduled for late Fall 2017. EastChase Central’s stores will include a Marshalls/HomeGoods superstore and Five Below. JWA continues to lead the Montgomery market with its EastChase development. “We continue to see excellent demand for outstanding real estate at EastChase,” said Will Wilson, the company’s president, “and EastChase Central, led by the Marshalls/ HomeGoods superstore and Five Below, will certainly make the outstanding shopping environment at EastChase even better.”
survey of the diverse and innovative practices of ceramic-making in Japan, revealing the earthly will also feature two other exhi-
FOUR STAR FREIGHTLINER CREATES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
bitions throughout the season:
Four Star Freightliner, Inc. is honor-
“Picturing Springtime” and “Pairs
ing one of its employees, Zachary
and Partners Curatorial Conver-
Sizemore, by creating a scholarship in
sations: Chiaroscuro.” The artists
his memory. Zachary, 32, worked in the
in “Picturing Springtime” have
accounting department at the Dothan,
depicted subjects that remind us
Alabama location and lost his battle
of the beauty of spring, as well
with cancer in late 2016. He is remem-
as the dramatic, and destructive,
bered as a resilient man with a strong
turn the season can take. The
will to live. The announcement of the
exhibition “Pairs and Partners” is
scholarship creation was made to his parents, Lorri and Stevie Sizemore, during the Four Star
a new initiative of the MMFA cu-
Freightliner Year End Employee Celebration in December. The scholarship is Four Star Freight-
rators designed to share different
liner’s way of sharing how important he was to the company. “I felt it was important to honor
points of view on topics that are
Zack because he was such an inspiration to all of us because of the way he fought cancer
related to artists and their works
time after time and never quit,” said Jerry Kocan, Four Star Freightliner Dealer Principal.
beauty of ceramics. The MMFA
in the Museum’s collections. 63
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
PSIF G OING STRONG WITH B US IN E SS E S S UP P O RT
HOPE INSPIRED MINISTRIES EXPANDS Hope Inspired Ministries was started to help as many men and women in Montgomery as possible gain full-time employment, reduce dependency and create self-sufficient lifestyles. “I wanted each person to understand they were created with gifts and abilities by God and
In an age where the nation’s police officers
year, coverage was expanded to include offi-
for them to use those gifts to be produc-
are facing life-threatening attacks on an
cers in the Alabama Department of Conserva-
tive members of their community,” said
almost weekly basis, a group of River Region
tion and Natural Resources law enforcement
Executive Director Michael Coleman. “We
businesses and individuals have demonstrat-
division (game wardens) and now encom-
began praying for God to present HIM
ed their profound respect and gratitude for
passes more than 2,500 public safety officers
with opportunities to impact other cities
the area’s public safety officers. For the 15th
in the River Region and Alabama. Standard
in our state, and this led us to the city of
year, the Public Safety Insurance Fund (PSIF),
Insurance and Palomar Insurance serve as
Birmingham, specifically Woodlawn.” HIM
a 501c3 charitable foundation, has endowed
the insurance brokers on these policies. PSIF
is now collaborating with the local YMCA
the nation’s first free life insurance program
consists of more than 165 River Region busi-
to offer its adult education classes and
for public safety officers. Since the program’s
nesses, individuals and organizations and was
programs in the Woodlawn area and is
inception, PSIF sponsors have donated more
created by Montgomery businessmen Grant
housed in its Family Resource Center.
than $600,000 to fund these policies. This
Sullivan and Jerry Wills.
IT'S
Engagement Season! That means it is time to start looking for the perfect wedding location! Central has three private rooms to accommodate any of your wedding related events from the bridal shower to the ceremony and reception itself! Contact our events department to help you plan the day of your dreams!
Central @ 129 Coosa 129 Coosa St. Montgomery, AL 36104 334-517-1121 events events@central129coosa.com 64
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
HUNTINGDON ANNOUNCES NEW AWARENESS PROGRAM
CADDELL CONSTRUCTION CO. AWARDED TWO U.S. CONSULATE CONTRACTS Montgomery’s Caddell Construction was awarded a design/build
Huntingdon College President J. Cameron West announced the
contract by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Build-
formation of a summer seminar/awareness program focused on eco-
ings Operations for the new U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad, India. The
nomic and community development for rising high school seniors. The
multi-building complex will be situated on a 12-acre site in the new
Huntingdon College Economic and Community Development Schol-
high-tech area of Hyderabad, and will include a new office building,
ars Program, planned in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Marine residence, entry pavilion, new support annex/warehouse
Association of Alabama, the Economic Development Association of
and a utility building. Construction will commence in 2017 and project
Alabama, and the Alabama Department of Commerce, introduces
completion is anticipated in 2020. Caddell was also awarded the
young citizens who are poised to begin their professional journeys to
contract for the new U.S. Consulate in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The
the importance of economic and community development.
multi-building complex will be situated on a 10.5-acre site in the city of Al Khobar, and will include a new office building, U.S. Marine
“As we’ve talked with our partners, we’ve realized that there is a great
residence, entry pavilion, facilities for the community, including a
need to make rising professionals aware of the impact they can have
swimming pool, warehouse, utility building, underground parking
on a community’s ability to thrive,” said West. “The Millennial gener-
structure and a new residence for the consul general. This consulate
ation, who are in college now and about to begin college, will soon
will feature an intricate framework of diagonally intersecting architec-
be the largest generation in America. Their awareness of community
tural concrete, limestone, security windows, aluminum cladding and
needs and empowerment to effect change is tremendously import-
glass fiber reinforced concrete screens that will function to meet the
ant.” Chambers of Commerce across Alabama have nominated and
sustainability goals of the project. This design element will also maxi-
funded one rising high school senior each in their area to participate
mize daylighting and minimize heat gain. Construction will commence
in the program, which will be held June 12–14 on the Huntingdon
in 2017 and project completion is anticipated in 2020.
campus.
The ultimate goal is to grow the MBJ into a financially self-sustaining magazine that will connect the business community, increase Chamber awareness and drive more member participation. “Our team is doing what we do best: Connecting businesses with niche audiences,” said Pam Mashburn, publisher and owner of exploreMedia. “Our team of designers, writers, photographers and sales staff enjoys working with the Chamber and our Montgomery businesses. We work hard to produce a cost-effective publication that reflects the excellence of the Chamber while balancing
EXPLOREMEDIA LAUNCHES MAGAZINE COLLABORATION
the needs of the readers and advertisers.” exploreMedia was founded in 2005 and
exploreMedia has collaborated with the
off its newly revamped look as well as some
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
new content features.
produces five publications in its Montgomery
Business Journal. The company unveiled the
exploreMedia has provided the Chamber
tential and the Montgomery & River Region
January 2017 issue of the MBJ at the Cham-
with a turn-key solution that allows the Cham-
ber’s January 60-Minute Coffee, showing
ber to save money, resources and staff time.
to produce its magazine, The Montgomery
65
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
office, including Know the Community, PoVisitor Guide. It has been a proud member of the chamber for more than 10 years.
CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
RENEW OUR RIVERS RELEASES 2017 SCHEDULE Renew Our Rivers is kicking off its 18th year, with 31 cleanups planned across the state in 2017. Since the program started, about 100,000 volunteers have collected over 14 million pounds of trash and debris from waterways across the Southeast. The program began in 2000 with one man, Gene Phifer, who had a vision to improve the health and beauty of the Coosa River near Alabama Power’s Plant Gadsden, where he worked. Thousands of volunteers now participate in cleanups each year, devoting their time and labor to make a difference. In 2016 alone, 3,652 volunteers removed more than 346,700 pounds of trash from Alabama lakes, rivers and shorelines. Alabama Power employee volunteers assist at each cleanup, providing guidance and supplies to event organizers. Renew Our Rivers is just one of many initiatives in which Alabama Power partners with others to promote conservation and environmental stewardship in communities across the state. For an up-to-date listing of Renew Our Rivers cleanups, visit renewourrivers.com.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE IN THE RIVER REGION
KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS MAKES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
Mental illness and its impacts have been at the forefront of numerous
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., based in Montgomery and a
news stories in the last few years. In fact, 25 percent of the general
U.S. subsidiary of Kowa Company Ltd., a privately held, multinational
population will have some sort of mental illness in any given 12-month
company based in Japan, recently announced that it has entered into
period. There is now a one-day training session available for business
a licensing agreement with San Francisco-based CymaBay Thera-
owners, their employees and anyone else wishing to take it called
peutics (Nasdaq: CBAY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company,
Mental Health First Aid. The River Region now has 12 certified in-
for exclusive U.S. rights to arhalofenate, a compound in late stage
structors in the adult and youth versions of Mental Health First Aid, an
clinical development for the treatment of gout. Under the terms of
8-hour training session that takes the fear and hesitation out of starting
the agreement, Kowa Pharmaceuticals will license the product from
conversations about mental health and substance use problems. It
CymaBay, which has completed a combined 17 Phase 1 and Phase 2
teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to a
studies in over 1,100 subjects. Kowa Pharmaceuticals will manage the
variety of atypical behaviors and mental health situations. The training
Phase 3 clinical development program, the regulatory process and
gives participants the skills needed to reach out and provide initial
will commercialize upon approval of arhalofenate in combination with
help and support to someone who has a mental health or substance
febuxostat in the U.S. “In the United States, where approximately 8.3
use problem or is experiencing a crisis.
million Americans suffer from gout, there has not been a significant
Mental Health First Aid is an international program proven to be effec-
advancement in treatment in almost a decade,” said Ben Stakely, Chief
tive. Peer-reviewed studies published in Australia, where the program
Executive Officer and President of Kowa Pharmaceuticals. “Arh-
originated, show that individuals trained in the program:
alofenate has shown promise in early stage trials, and we are looking
•Grow their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental
forward to advancing the clinical program to demonstrate its efficacy and safety as a potential treatment.”
illnesses and addictions. •Can identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction. distress.
ASSOCIATED MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC. APPOINTS NEW OFFICERS
•Show increased mental wellness themselves.
Associated Mechanical Contractors, Inc. has three new officers effec-
•Increase their confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in
Studies also show that the program reduces the social distance cre-
tive March 1, 2017. Zachary E. Adams will serve as president. Adams
ated by negative attitudes and perceptions of individuals with mental
has been with the company 14 years and has served as vice president
illnesses. The one-day training is for groups of 12-30 individuals and
for the last five years. Kerry E. Henry will serve as Vice President of
will be taught by two certified instructors. The cost is $50 per person,
Operations. Guy White was named Vice President of Construction.
which includes the book. For more information or to set up a training
He started with the company in 1990. Andrew Duncan will continue as
session, contact Alana Barranco at SummaSource at Auburn Mont-
Secretary Treasurer. He has been with the company for 16 years.
gomery by email at alana.barranco@summasource.com.
66
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
CHAMBER NEWS Business Buzz CO M MUN ITY + COMMERCE N EWS
HUNTINGDON COLLEGE HONORS DR. KING The Huntingdon College community celebrated
excited about exploring
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
some of my longstanding
in January with a Day of
professional and personal
Service in memory of Dr.
goals, many of which I
King’s life and legacy. In
share with my best friend
partnership with the United
and wife, Virginia.”
Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Hunting-
WO M E N L E A D SO CI ETY SETS STU DENTS FOR SUCCE SS
don students prepared
LIGHTS OF LOVE
Homeless Kits and Health
Jackson Hospital’s annual
Women who choose to study at Au-
in professional development that
Kits for distribution in the
Lights of Love took place in
burn University at Montgomery now
encourages growth in areas of ser-
area and in areas of disas-
early December and invited
have an additional incentive to be-
vice, learning, leadership, globaliza-
ter or great need. Materials
River Region residents
come a Warhawk. A new organiza-
tion and mentorship.
for the kits were donated
to celebrate the holiday
tion is helping female students so-
While the students learn alongside
by Huntingdon faculty, staff,
season by honoring a
lidify their footing on campus while
other AUM students, their mentors
family members and friends
caregiver, friend, business
preparing them for success in the
check on them before midterms
as well as members of our
associate or family member,
workplace and in life. “It’s women
and finals and are available by
community.
and investing in the health
growing women,” said Dr. Nichole
phone and text to help advise the
Thompson, assistant vice chancellor
mentees when they have con-
of Student Affairs, who, along with
cerns or need additional guidance.
several other female leaders across
The mentors in the Women Lead
campus, launched the Women Lead
Society especially want to provide
Society in August. The first group of
encouragement so the students will
students taking part in the Society
of their community with a donation. For each contri-
WELCH HORNSBY CO-FOUNDER JOHN HORNSBY RETIRES
bution of $15, a symbolic light was placed on the towering Christmas tree
Welch Hornsby co-found-
on display in the hospital’s
be prepared to take on leader-
ers John Hornsby and
main lobby. A generous gift
resides on campus together in a
ship roles after graduation. “Their
Eddie Welch have been
of $100 or more purchased
living and learning community in
biggest challenge is balancing it all.
working side by side for
a miniature Moravian star.
the P-40 Place residence hall. Each
We’re in a world where you have to
over 28 years. As Hornsby
For a donation of $500
is paired with a mentor — a female
be able to balance a lot of responsi-
leaves the firm, he offered
or more, the honoree was
administrator or professor — and
bilities,” said Thompson.
a few thoughts on the
remembered as an angel.
milestone. “Going forward
The proceeds benefited
with Eddie’s leadership, the
Jackson Hospital’s oncolo-
leadership of our second
gy unit.
each month, the students take part
TROY UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY ADDS TREES Troy University Montgomery added some additional green to its campus with the planting of a tree in January as a part of the University’s Tree Campus USA program. Faculty, staff and students took part in the ceremony. The tree was donated to the University by the City of Montgomery. In 2016, all four of Troy’s Alabama campuses received the Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation.
generation and Welch Hornsby’s remarkable team of associates, the future remains bright for Welch Hornsby,” Hornsby said. “Relative to my departure from Welch Hornsby, I am
67
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Members in the News A Q U IC K LO O K AT O U R M EM B ER S’ MAN Y ACCOMPLIS HMEN TS , AWARDS AN D HON ORS
ership Class and a past recipient of REALTOR of the year. In
Community
addition, Carol Andrews, Broker for House & Home Real Estate,
HAMPSTEAD HONORED WITH SOUTHERN LIVING AWARD
has been elected to serve as President of the Montgomery Area
Southern Living has awarded its 2016 Excellence in Design
Board and as an Education Trustee of the Alabama Association of
Award to the Southern Living Inspired Home at Hampstead. The
REALTORS.
Association of REALTORS for 2017. Carol currently serves on the
home plan and its interior were designed by Harvi Sahota. The home was built by Mercer Home, and Matter Design Co. did the design implementation and marketing for the house.
MAYNARD COOPER ATTORNEYS PUBLISHED IN NATIONAL JOURNAL J.T. Malatesta’s and Sarah Glover’s ar-
Giving
ticle “A Clear and Present Danger: Mit-
RESURRECTION MISSIONS HONORS LONG-STANDING MONTGOMERY PHILANTHROPISTS Resurrection Catholic Missions hosted its Annual Benefit Gala celebrating 73 years of service to the people of the River Region in Central Alabama.
igating the Data Security Risk Vendors Pose to Businesses” about cybersecurity risk management was recently selected for publication in The Sedona Conference Journal, Volume 17, Number 2, a leading legal commen-
Resurrection’s Mission
tary dedicated to the advanced study
Director, Father Manuel
of law and policy. The article examines
Williams, C.R. was the
the regulatory landscape surrounding
MC of the lively evening
vendor management and outlines
touting a New Orleans
practical guidance for businesses to
Jazz theme. The dining
follow in order to reduce cyber risk.
room at the RSA Activity
“Our clients are increasingly depen-
Center was transformed
dent on vendors to operate their
into a Jazz Grand Ballroom. After dinner, guests were captivated by the well-appointed Silent Auction. In addition to the gala festivities, the focal point of the evening was Manuel’s announcement of the 2016 Veritas et Caritas Award recipients, Carol and Richard Hodges. Manuel shared a few stories highlighting the variety of ways the couple has served Resurrection Mission over the years, followed by a heartfelt thank you to the couple for their generous service. The proceeds from the Gala allow Resurrection Catholic Missions to continue providing services to the people of Alabama who need the most help - the poor, the elderly, disabled children and school children of Montgomery.
businesses. We’ve seen firsthand how data breaches at these business partners have impacted our clients, and we wanted to proactively identify a number of ways to mitigate this risk,” said Malatesta, Chair of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy practice.
PAUL WINN RECEIVES CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST CERTIFICATION Morgan Stanley recently announce that Paul Winn, a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor and CFP, CPA, in the firm’s Wealth Management office has been awarded the CIMA® certification. Winn has worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management since 1988. In addition to providing financial planning services, he
Achievements
provides a variety of other advisory and non-advisory financial
LOCAL REALTOR NAMED PRESIDENT OF ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
services, including brokerage services. The CIMA certification
Mugs Mullins with House & Home Real Estate has been elected
meet all eligibility requirements, including experience, education,
2017 President of the Alabama Association of REALTORS. Serving
examination, and ethics. Applicants must complete five steps in
in this role, Mullins will be responsible for serving on the Executive
order to earn the certification. The CIMA certification program
Committee of the state association. Mullins has previously served
also requires that certificants complete three certification renewal
as President of the Montgomery Area Association of REALTORS,
requirements during each certification renewal period. Those who
and he is active in both the Montgomery and Prattville Chambers
earn the certification must agree to meet ongoing continuing ed-
of Commerce, a board member of the Greater Montgomery
ucation requirements and adhere to IMCA’s Code of Professional
Home Builders Association, a member of the 2008 AAR Lead-
Responsibility and Standards of Practice.
68
program covers five core topic areas and requires that candidates
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
M EM BER Spotlight
PARTNERS REALTY At Partners Realty, owners TJ Williford and Graham Cook believe that a good down payment on relationships makes all the difference in the real estate business.
FOUNDED: 2008 OWNERS: TJ Williford and Graham Cook NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 29
SERVICES PARTNERS REALTY PROVIDES: We have experienced agents that specialize in almost every real estate category.
WHAT SETS PARTNERS REALTY APART? We feel that our commitment to innovation, technology and creative thought in negotiating creates the most value for our clients.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAS YOUR COMPANY FACED? Our company was founded in 2008, in the midst of the financial crisis. Diversification, hard work and faith have allowed us to experience growth in The Great Recession.
WHAT IS PARTNERS REALTY’S BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY? We believe that our client’s best interest is our most important
Pictured: TJ Williford and Graham Cook.
responsibility, and we reflect this through the relationships we build. As industry innovators, we utilize digital tools and resources to maximize our client’s experience. Our clients benefit from our creative and modern culture as well as our diverse expertise. The associates and staff of Partners are knowledgeable, trained real estate professionals as well as responsible members of the community. We have positioned ourselves as industry leaders due to our commitment to our client’s success.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL IN REAL ESTATE IN THE RIVER REGION? Commitment to service, relationships and innovation.
MILESTONES: In 2016, our agents closed 248 transactions total, just over $52 million in production. Per MLS statistics, this ranked us the highest producing boutique and non-franchise-owned company in Central Alabama, and sixth overall.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR PARTNERS REALTY? We are optimistic that our pace of growth will continue as our local and national economies continue to improve.
12 W. JEFFERSON STREET / 334-277-1077 / PARTNERSREALTY.INFO 69
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
CHAMBER NEWS Members in the News A Q U IC K LO O K AT O U R M EM B ER S’ MAN Y ACCOMPLIS HMEN TS , AWARDS AN D HON ORS
Awards & Honors NEW HBAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Several members of the Greater Montgomery Home Builders
JACKSON THORNTON PRINCIPAL RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting
Association have been appointed to
firm, recently announced that J. Robin
leadership roles for 2017 for the Home
Short was selected as the recipient of
Builders Association of Alabama
the Henry T. Hagood Associate of the
(HBAA), the fourth largest state Home
Year award by the Alabama Chapter
Builders Association in the United
of the Associated General Contractors
States. Jimmy Rutland of Lowder New
of America (AGC). The award was
Homes is serving as the HBAA 1st Vice
established to honor an AGC Associate
President for 2017. David Lisenby of
Member who exemplified the same
Lisenby Construction is serving as
dedication to the Alabama AGC that
Treasurer. Ben Byrd of Byrd Build-
was shown by Henry T. Hagood. It
ers LLC and Michael Toles of Toles
is awarded only when an Associate
Construction were each appointed to
Member has gone above and beyond in his or her service to
serve as Alternate National Directors.
the State AGC Association. Short, a principal in the firm’s Dothan
Chad Stearns of Chad Stearns Builder
office, received the award at the Alabama AGC’s Annual Banquet.
LLC is serving as the Education Com-
He has served as the Associate’s Chairman in the Dothan Section
mittee Chair. Jim Mathews of Mathews
for two terms and is currently serving his third term as the Associ-
Development Co. is serving as the
ate’s Vice President in Dothan.
Membership Committee Chair, and Cathy Brown of Alabama Power is serving as Membership Committee Co-Chair.
MONTGOMERY BUSINESSES EARN HONORS
BEASLEY ALLEN RECOGNIZES FIRM’S LEADING LAWYERS
Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., announced that
Capell & Howard P.C. was named “2016 Alabama Small Business
Principals Ted. G. Meadows and Rhon E. Jones were selected as
of the Year” in the 51-100 employee category for the law firm’s re-
the firm’s Litigators of the Year for 2016. The annual recognition is
markable business success across the Southeast, high level of in-
presented to the attorneys who demonstrate exceptional profes-
volvement in the River Region and committed participation in the
sional skill throughout the course of the year and best represent
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Willie Durham State
the firm’s ideal of “helping those who need it most.” In addition
Farm Agency in Montgomery was a finalist in the “Small Business
to selecting the overall “top attorneys,” Beasley Allen recognized
of the Year” 1-10 employees category; C. Weil Enterprises was a
excellence in each of its sections, naming the Lawyer of the Year
finalist in the 11-50 employees category; and Popcorn Pizzazz was
in each. Honorees for 2016 are Chris D. Glover, Personal Injury
a finalist in the “Emerging Small Business of the Year” category.
Two of Alabama’s premier business advocate organizations, the Association of Alabama, handed out their annual awards recently.
Section Lawyer of the Year; LaBarron N. Boone, Products Liability Section Lawyer of the Year; Archie Grubb, Fraud Section Lawyer
CHAMBLESS KING RECEIVES AIA AWARDS
of the Year; David Dearing and Danielle Ward Mason, Mass Torts
Chambless King was recently honored with three awards from
Section Lawyers of the Year; and John Tomlinson, Toxic Torts
the Montgomery Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Section Lawyer of the Year. In addition to the professional awards
An Award of Merit was presented for the Tankersley Residence in
given each year, the Board of Directors elect to recognize an
Prattville and an Honorable Mention for the Chambless King Of-
attorney each year in memory of Beasley Allen lawyer Chad
fice in Montgomery. Along with these judged awards, the Design
Stewart, who passed away in 2014. The Chad Stewart Award
Award attendees also voted the Tankersley Residence as their
was created to recognize a lawyer who best exemplifies Chad’s
favorite entry and the recipient of the People’s Choice Award.
spirit of service to God, his family and the practice of law in the
“We are honored to receive recognition for these projects that we
task of “helping those who need it most.” The 2016 Chad Stewart
feel most closely represent our approach to design,” said Stephen
Award was presented to Roman Shaul. Roman practiced in the
King, Principal of Chambless King Architects.
firm’s Consumer Fraud section, and worked alongside Chad in his practice.
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MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
CHAMBER NEWS Members in the News A Q U I C K LO O K AT O U R M EM B ER S ’ MAN Y ACCOMPLIS HMEN TS , AWARDS AN D HON ORS
JOE HUBBARD NAMED A “TOP 40 UNDER 40” TRIAL LAWYER IN ALABAMA The National Trial Lawyers announced that Joe Hubbard of the Joe Hubbard Law Firm has been selected for inclusion into its Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Membership in this exclusive organization is by invitation only,
GOODWYN, MILLS & CAWOOD TAKES HOME AIA AWARDS
and is limited to the top 40 attorneys under the age of 40 in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have
The Montgomery Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the winners of the 2016 Design Awards at its annual awards gala, with GMC taking home awards for both the Van Antwerp Historic Renovation and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) New Student Residence Hall. The historic Van Antwerp Building Renovation received an Honor Award, the highest level of recognition the Chapter bestows to firms for projects displaying exemplary design exceeding the criteria set forth by the jury, in the commercial projects category. GMC was also recognized with an Award of
achieved outstanding results in their careers in either civil plaintiff or criminal defense law. The National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization comprised of the premier trial lawyers from across the country who has demonstrated exceptional qualifications in their area of the law, specifically criminal defense or civil plaintiff law. The National Trial Lawyers provides accreditation to these distinguished attorneys, and also aims to provide essential legal news, information and continuing education to trial lawyers across the United States.
Merit in the institutional projects category for the UAB New Student Residence Hall in Birmingham, Alabama.
HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
Appointments available Monday - Saturday* Walk-in provider for non-appointment Patients Adult Dentistry open until 7pm Optometry Services available for all ages *Hours: 8:30am - 10:00pm River Region Health* Corporate 1845 Cherry Street Montgomery, Al 36107
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Healthcare for every generation Autaugaville Health Capital Health Chisholm Health
Clanton Health Eclectic Health Hayneville Health 71
MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
Montgomery Primary Ramer Health Southside Health
CHAMBER NEWS Ribbon Cuttings NEW SP OTS NOW OPEN AN D READY FOR BUS IN ESS
OFFICE DEPOT
YOU & ME BOUTIQUE
5070 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116-1149 334-279-6633 • www.officedepot.com Lisa Pace-Store Manager Office Equipment/Supplies
2000 Mulberry Street, Montgomery, AL 36106 334-676-1667 Tanya Morgan-Owner Clothing & Accessories-Retail
CC’S DAIQUIRIS
MAX
213-A Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 334-676-3535 • www.ccdaiquiris.com Candy Capel-Owner Bars-Specialized
Baptist Medical Center South Branch 2055 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36116 334-260-2600 • www.mymax.com Onica Cannida-Lead MSC Credit Union
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CHAMBER NEWS Ribbon Cuttings NEW SP OTS NOW OPEN AN D READY FOR BUS IN ESS
YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE PC
BUBBLES ICE CREAM & SANDWICH SHOP
8630 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-676-4076 • www.yourdoctorsofficepc.com Irene Bailey, MD-Physician and Shaik Wahid, MD-Physician Tim Will-Practice Administrator Hospitals/Clinics
1278 Eastdale Mall, Montgomery, AL 36117 334-593-8511 • www.bubblesicecreamshop.com Tamekia Matthews-Owner Restaurants-Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt; Restaurants-Deli
Think Local. Think Guardian.
CALL
CLICK
VISIT
334-244-9999
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12 Guardian Locations
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73
| Equal Housing Opportunity
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CHAMBER NEWS New Members W ELCO ME TO OUR N EWEST MEMBERS
MARCH NEW MEMBERS ACCOUNT INGCE RT IFIED PUBLIC
Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP Brian Matney 9168 Cresent Lodge Circle Pike Road, AL 36064 334-224-8527
River Region Apartment Association Katie Suchocki P.O. Box 640422 Pike Road, AL 36064 334-450-1455 ATTR AC TI ON S -M A R K E TS
ADVERT ISING S P ECIALT IES
Southern Branders, LLC Kelly Haynes 136 Brookstone Road Wetumpka, AL 36093 334-799-6963 APAR TM ENTS
The Retreat at Dublin Creek Natalie English 3090 Alabama River Parkway Montgomery, AL 36110 334-261-2004 ARCHIT EC TS
Sherlock, Smith & Adams, Inc. Bob Snider P.O. Drawer 11006 Montgomery, AL 36111 334-263-6481 ASSOC IATIONS/ NON-PR OFIT
Boys and Girls Ranches of Alabama Nick Rauccio 2680 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-213-2071 Lending Families A Hand Horace Lewis P.O. Box 640522 Pike Road, AL 36064 334-398-4900
Sweet Creek Farm Market Karen Ingram 85 Meriwether Road Pike Road, AL 36064 334-280-3276 B A R S -S P E C I A L I Z E D
CC’s Daiquiris Candy Capel 213-A Commerce Street Montgomery, AL 36117 334-676-3535 B OUTI QUE & SA LON
You & Me Boutique Tanya Morgan 2000 Mulberry Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-676-1667 C L E A N I N G S E RV I C ES
Caring Touch Laventrence Underwood 4010 Greenacres Drive Montgomery, AL 36106 334-498-5168 CON C R E TE
Diamond Concrete & Slabs, LLC Clark Dunn 1141 Newell Parkway Montgomery, AL 36110 334-213-0522
74
CO N S U LT IN G S E RV IC E S
E L E C T R IC CO N T RACTORS
JDB Hospitality LLC Ashley Jernigan 4393 Wares Ferry Road Montgomery, AL 36109 510-812-5728
Garner Electric, Inc. Harris Garner P.O. Box 1225 Millbrook, AL 36054 334-285-0101
CO N T R AC TO R S
F IN A N C IA L S E RV I CES
NBC Acoustics, Inc. Neil Williams 153 Medical Center Drive Prattville, AL 36066 334-358-9010
Easy Money #841 Erika Cichanowicz 278 North Fifth Street Columbus, OH 43215 334-523-7020
Selby Davis Builder, LLC Selby Davis P.O. Box 240605 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-425-0408
FO O D/K IN D R E D P R O D U C TS - M F R .
CO U N S E L IN G
Grayson & Associates, P.C. Ann Phillips 4371 Narrow Lane Road Montgomery, AL 36116 334-323-3307 C R E D IT U N IO N
Avadian Credit Union Deanna Bush 2906 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109-3404 334-271-4526 MAX Onica Cannida P.O. Box 244040 Montgomery, AL 36124-4040 334-260-2600 D E N T ISTS
Johnny M. Griffin, DDS, PC Tiffany Belser 1401 I-85 Parkway Drive, Suite D Montgomery, AL 36106 334-274-9861 Montgomery Dental Arts Dominique Shamburger 10650 Chantilly Parkway, Suite 101 Montgomery, AL 36117 334-356-0228
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Blue Bell Creameries, L.P. Mark Hindman 130 Folmar Parkway Montgomery, AL 36105-5501 334-288-3688 FO O D S - S P E C IA L IZED
Berdeaux’s Vintage Sauces, LLC Jim Berdeaux 205 Willow Springs Road Wetumpka, AL 36093 334-538-3792 G IF TS & S P E C IA LTY-RETAI L
You Name It Jan Beale 5350 A Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-272-9878 G O L F E Q U IP M E N T/ SUPPLI ES
Your Golf Superstore Luke Cox 9100 EastChase Parkway, Suite C Montgomery, AL 36117 334-649-1119 G R O C E R IE S - H O ME DELI VERY
Adam Delivery Service Cornelius Smith 600 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-245-0787
To any given bank – this is: Acct. #53587790
To Oakworth Capital – this is:
Charles – owner-of-a-small-businessconsultancy-father-of-3-concerned-about-college-tuition-training-for-his-first10k-coaches-little-league-baseball-has-a-weakness-for-pecan-pie-with-ice-cream.
At Oakworth Capital Bank, we introduce each client to a dedicated, experienced advisor who gets
to know everything about them. Working with state-of-the-art technology, and alongside a team of highly specialized, veteran financial professionals, your Oakworth client advisor helps develop your financial plans, large and small. At Oakworth, we aren’t simply a bank, and you aren’t simply a depositor.
Complete Financial Services:
Commercial Banking * Wealth Management * Private Banking OakworthCapital.com | 3 3 4 . 2 4 5 . 2 9 0 0
member FDIC
7480 Halcyon Pointe Drive, Ste 101 Montgomery, AL 36117
CHAMBER NEWS New Members W ELCO ME TO OUR N EWEST MEMBERS
HEALT H & FIT NE SS
Rebar Performance Wendy Hudson 8200 Emma Court Pike Road, AL 36064 334-224-3946
I N S UR A N C E CO M PA N IE S / S E RV I C E S
State Farm Insurance, Mickey Watson Mickey Watson 6146 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-244-0000
HOLDING COM PA N Y The Holdings Company, LLC Pete Hall 4163 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-270-8400 HOTELS/M OTELS
Motel 6 - Hope Hull Exit Ashraf M. Chaudhary 8836 Dunlake Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 334-280-1866 INDIVIDUALS
Frank Johnston, Jr. Frank Johnston 5950 Monticello Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 334-551-1909 INFOR M ATION T EC HNOLOGY F I R M S
IPT Associates, LLC Michael Mordas 700 Technology Park Drive, Suite 204 Billerica, MA 01821 781-271-0696 JMF Solutions, Inc. Devon Harris 1008 Randall Avenue Daphne, AL 36526 251-517-5070 SJ Technologies Marty Glantz 60 Commerce Street, Suite 500 Montgomery, AL 36104 800-574-4518
J A N I TOR IA L S E RV IC E
Centaur Building Services Southeast, Inc., Lacey Miller 2776 Gunter Park Drive East, Unit Q Montgomery, AL 36109 334-260-0458 L A N D S CA P IN G / L AW N SE RV IC E S
River Region Straw Kenny Williamson P.O. Box 242068 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-669-5959 Southern Lawns Professional Lawn Service, LLC Reynolds Cook 1277 Financial Court, Suite C Auburn, AL 36830 334-466-0600 M OR TGAG E /F IN A N C E
Fidelity Bank Mortgage Jeff Collins 4720 Woodmere Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-551-5100 M US I C- P IA N O & VO C A L I N STR U C T IO N
Montgomery Arts Academy Diana S. Gray 1803 West 3rd Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-593-3419 Music Classes Live Online Eric Perkins 3908 Fairfield Drive Montgomery, AL 36109 334-676-0652
76
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
N U R S IN G H O M E S / ASS IST E D L IV IN G
Diversicare of Montgomery Dennis Davis 2020 North Country Club Drive Montgomery, AL 36106 334-263-1643 PAC KAG E STO R E
Alabama Beverage Center, LLC Jeremy Hubbard 3458 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-676-2548 IN T & PA IN T IN G S U P PLI ES PA BLP Mobile Paint Center Hal Coats 177-B Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-263-5507 P H OTO G R A P H E R S
Judy Barranco Photography Judy Barranco 9902 Dogwood Court Montgomery, AL 36117 334-652-2715 P H YS IC A L T H E R A P ISTS
PHOENIX Rehabilitation and Health Services Jason Harris 4810 Woods Crossing Drive Montgomery, AL 36106-3650 334-239-9316 P L A N TS /F LOW E R S
Little Mountain Nursery -Atlanta Highway Kathryn Stabler 3396 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-279-9799 Little Mountain Nursery -McGehee Road Kathryn Stabler 3072 McGehee Road Montgomery, AL 36111 334-613-9798
CHAMBER NEWS New Members W ELCO ME TO OUR N EWEST MEMBERS
RE AL ESTATE-AGEN TS
R E STAU R A N TS - D O U G H N U TS
STO R AG E
ERA Weeks & Browning, Inc. Sherry B. Weeks 8221 Old Federal Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-215-4470
Ross Donuts Rotana Huot 64 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-239-7822
Storage World Jack Johnson 3003 McGehee Road Montgomery, AL 36111 678-776-8850
RE/MAX Properties II Debbie Whitehouse 4215 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-649-4920
R E STAU R A N TS - IC E C R E A M/F R OZE N YO G U R T
U N IFO R M S - R E TA IL
RE AL ESTATE SALES AND DEVELOPM EN T
Bubbles Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop Tamekia Matthews 1278 Eastdale Mall Montgomery, AL 36117 334-593-8511
Uniformacy, LLC Rob Barranco 1721 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-215-5881 W E IG H T LO SS C L IN IC
Trinity Realty LLC Mary Charles Rampy 12575 Wares Ferry Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-551-1000
R OOF IN G CO M PA N IE S
Trotman Brothers Roofing & Construction, LLC Andrew Trotman 8961 Saw Tooth Loop Pike Road, AL 36064 334-657-8255
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MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
Down with the Pounds Medical Weight Loss & More Yolanda Williams 4770 Woodmere Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36106 334-386-3551
Numbers reflect 2016 Annual over 2015 Annual.
Economic Intel 100
TRANSPORTATION 345,000 TOTAL PASSENGERS IN 2016
MONTGOMERY WAS NAMED THE
SECTORS GOING UP
+ 2.6% + 1.9%
TRADE, TRANSPORTATION, WAREHOUSING & UTILITIES
+ 1.6% + 1.6%
+ 3.3%
DEMAND FOR HOTEL ROOMS
SUPPLYROOMS AVAILABLE
+
7.64% LODGINGS TAX COLLECTIONS
HIGHEST GROWTH SECTOR IN 2016:
Source: Smith Travel Research Report, City of Montgomery
+ 4.8%
Source: Alabama Department of Labor, MGM Metro Area
MORE ROOMS THAN IN 2015
+ 3.6%
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES
INFORMATION
SOLD 51,149
TOURISM
IN THE COUNTRY FOR 2017 BY TRIVAGO.COM
EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR
MANUFACTURING
IN DEMAND:
NO. 2 “BEST VALUE DESTINATION”
Source: MGM-Montgomery Regional Airport
FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
IN 2016, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CELEBRATED ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY
GOOD GROWTH
HOUSING
The IT sector is growing in Montgomery, and that’s a good thing.
LABOR FORCE
This emerging industry is a priority, creating new jobs that enhance our cyber strategy. This leads to additional increases in our tech
OVER
workforce, and the
$412 MILLION
cycle continues, getting
IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND
each turn.
bigger and better with
2,024
+ 4.2%
-11.8%
-7.2%
AVERAGE SALES PRICE
TOTAL HOMES LISTED FOR SALE
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET
= $160K
NEW JOBS
= 2,490
Source: Alabama Center for Real Estate MGM Area
Source: Alabama Department of Labor, MGM Metro Area
78
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
= 116 days
TECHNOLOGY & RISK SOLUTIONS
Pictured: Paul Perry, Jason Asbury and Amy Walker
TRADITIONAL ACCOUNTING CORPORATE ADVISORY SERVICES TECHNOLOGY & RISK SOLUTIONS HR SOLUTIONS
We often begin relationships with traditional tax or audit services, but clients quickly realize we can offer so much more. By listening to your needs, we connect you with our experts to help accomplish what’s important to you. From risk assessments and IT security to business software and backup disaster recovery solutions, it’s time to take a closer look at Warren Averett and all we have to offer. Let’s Thrive Together.
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| www.warrenaverett.com
MBJ
MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Post Office Box 79 Montgomery, AL 36101