Montgomery Business Journal - April 2010 by Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

APRIL 2010 5

Letter from the Publisher

Executive Editor’s Column

Calendar

Investor Proﬁle: Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc.

West Montgomery Follow-Up

Q&A with Retail Coordinator Ken Reynolds

Montgomery’s Employment Ranking

Redstone Research Park

Member Proﬁle: Chappy’s Deli

Emerge Montgomery Nurtures Leaders

Guest Commentary: Sherry Weeks

Guest Commentary: Sandra Nickel

Monthly Food Survey

Business Buzz

Members on the Move

Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings

STERIS Corporation Honored

New Members

Economic Intel

Contents

14 42

30 22 31

24 April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

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

Randall L. George EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Tina McManama MANAGING EDITOR

David Zaslawsky COPY EDITOR

Michelle Jones DESIGN

Copperwing Design PHOTOGRAPHY

Jamie Martin ON THE COVER:

Carolyn Kinney, president of Emerge Montgomery, and Donald Dotson, president of Leadership Montgomery ADVERTISING:

Robert Edmonds 334-221-7948 mbjsales @montgomerychamber.com

Montgomery Business Journal c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Post OfďŹ ce Box 79 41 Commerce Street Montgomery, Alabama 36101 Telephone: 334-834-5200 Fax: 334-265-4745 Email: mbj@montgomerychamber.com www.montgomerychamber.com/mbj The Montgomery Business Journal is published monthly except for the combined issue of November/December, by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, 41 Commerce Street, Montgomery AL 36104, (334) 834-5200, www.montgomerychamber.com. Subscription rate is $30 annually. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Montgomery, Alabama. POSTMASTER send address changes to Montgomery Business Journal, c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 79, 41 Commerce Street, Montgomery AL 36101, or email mbj@montgomerychamber.com. The Montgomery Business Journal welcomes story ideas from its readers. Email to: editor@montgomerychamber.com. Subscriptions are a part of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce dues structure. Subscriptions can also be purchased for $30 per year at www.montgomerychamber.com/mbjsub.

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Letter from the Publisher

EMERGING CHANGE When the Chamber’s Imagine a Greater Montgomery strategic plan was conceived, one of the four critical goals of the strategy was to “embrace diversity and enhance leadership capacity.” Recognizing that the Chamber had no internal system to produce the outcomes in the leadership area that we felt would meet the scope and depth of this goal, we began to look for a partner. Although it lacked in scope, we knew that the foundation for this goal was in place with the Leadership Montgomery organization, an entity formed in the early 1980s. After meeting with their leadership for many months, working to describe the outcomes of leadership that we wished to achieve, especially regarding a young professionals leadership program, Leadership Montgomery agreed to take on the challenge in partnership with the Chamber. Together, we would develop a new breed of leaders – “change agents,” if you will – capable of taking Montgomery to new heights. Probably the most important early success was securing the services of Cheryl Carter as the executive director of this program. Cheryl does a fantastic job of orchestrating demanding programs for the legacy leadership program, Leadership Montgomery, which challenges the conventional ideas of its participants as they learn about the strengths and weaknesses of Montgomery’s key attributes, i.e., education, economic development, health and human services, military, government, quality of life, criminal justice, etc.

Focus groups of people ages 20-40 were put in place to explore what this cohort thought and wanted in terms of a place to live, work and play. In 2008, the first general meeting of young professionals was held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. We expected about 150 participants, but more than 500 attended. With that meeting, Montgomery’s 24to 40-year-old young professionals’ organization, Emerge, was launched. Today, Leadership Montgomery and its Emerge program are stronger than ever, and your Chamber plays an integral role in the program’s outcomes. Our senior staff serves on the governing board, and the Chamber provides in-kind staff support and financial resources to Leadership Montgomery to help ensure programmatic success. Whatever your age, should you have an interest in helping build a stronger, more vibrant region, you need to engage with one of these organizations. To be an effective “agent of change,” you must be well informed. Understanding the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats a community faces is essential to the advancement of its economic well-being and quality of life. In this issue, we highlight some of the activities of Leadership Montgomery and Emerge. I hope you will take a hard look at the opportunities that engagement in these programs present, for your own fulfillment or for the fulfillment of the members of your team.

As important as the legacy Leadership Montgomery program is, it was not designed to serve a community segment essential to the Chamber’s “Imagine” strategy – the young professional. A program had to be built to help Montgomery attract and retain young professionals who are critical to the community’s workforce and its future. Randall L. George, PUBLISHER PRESIDENT, MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

EXECUTIVE EDITOR’S COLUMN I remember coming to my first Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. I think it was in 2001, or maybe it was 2002? Don’t remember the year, but I do remember being amazed at how many businesses and people were there. The company I worked for at the time transferred me to Montgomery, and the combination of Expo and Business After Hours was just what I needed. I met new people, made important business contacts, and found companies that could help me be successful – all in a fun social atmosphere with finger food and drinks. Just this week I used a handy rubber Round Tuit I picked up at that Expo to open a jar of spaghetti sauce. It was one of those what-canI-throw-together-and-call-it-dinner nights. Anyways, I remember the company that made that Round Tuit – because when I needed a specialty item a couple months later, I pulled out their business card and called them. Over the years, I spent a lot of money with them. And I recommended them as well. That’s why you need to invest in a booth at the 2010 Business Expo & After Hours. This is your opportunity to truly connect with your potential customers. Nothing sells your business like you do! People do business with people they know. The 2010 Business Expo and After Hours will be at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center on May 20th and will start at 1:00 PM with a variety of business seminars. At 4:00 PM the Expo & After Hours begins with hor d’oeuvres, a cash bar and booths filled with the really smart and successful businesses in the area. (Hint: I am talking about you!) The Expo details are at www. montgomerychamber.com/expo, including how to register for seminars, the list of businesses that will have a booth, and how you can take advantage of this business opportunity with a booth for your business. The deadline is May 7 and booth space is limited. You better get a Round Tuit before we sell out!

Tina McManama, EXECUTIVE EDITOR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MONTGOMERY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Calendar Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Events

APRIL

MAY

PROCUREMENT MATCHMAKER 11:30 AM @ Small Business Resource Center 600 S. Court St., Montgomery Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/matchmaker ALABAMA UPDATE Sponsored by Wilson Price IT Noon @ RSA Activity Center 201 Dexter Ave., Montgomery Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/alupdate

60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored by Auburn Montgomery Outreach 8 AM @ Auburn Montgomery TechnaCenter 75 TechnaCenter Drive, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by The Oaks Plantation 5 PM @ The Oaks Plantation 500 Avenue of the Oaks, Pike Road Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

LUNCHWORKS Sponsored by Aliant Bank Noon @ Small Business Resource Center 600 S. Court St., Suite 460 Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/lunchworks

Convention Calendar

6-9 7-10 9-11

Pilot International Alabama District Convention

9-12

AEA Professional Rights & Responsibility Conference

12-14 14-16

12 20 21

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NETWORKING MIXER Presented by State Farm 5 PM @ The Convention & Visitor Center 300 Water Street, Montgomery Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/mixer 60 MINUTE COFFEE Sponsored by City of Montgomery Riverfront Facilities 8 AM @ Harriott II on the River Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members BUSINESS EXPO AND AFTER HOURS Sponsored by Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center 4 PM @ 201 Tallapoosa Street Reserve your booth now! Details at www.montgomerychamber.com/expo CEO ROUNDTABLE BREAKFAST Presented by IKON OfďŹ ce Solutions 7:30 AM, Location TBA Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/ceo

compiled by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitor Bureau

APRIL Alabama Pre-K Conference

SMALL BUSINESS LOAN WORKSHOP Noon @ Small Business Resource Center 600 S. Court St., Montgomery Registration: www.montgomerychamber.com/sbloan

National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Convention

Hyundai National Dealer Meeting Alabama Gerontological Society Conference

16-18 19-21

Alabama Alpha Delta Kappa State Convention

22-25 23-25 26-28

Family Life Conference

Evangel Temple Assembly of God Alabama District Council Conference

Alabama State Council Knights of Columbus Convention Southern Plant Board Meeting

MAY 2-4 16-20

State Farm Insurance Meeting AFCEA Technology Conference

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Investor ProďŹ le

Don Henderson is the president and chief executive ofďŹ cer of Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc.

ALWAYS

ON CALL Jackson Hospital operates with a spirit of community service by David Zaslawsky

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Jackson Hospital can measure its community service in ways most businesses cannot. “Our first and foremost contribution is that we are a safety-net hospital for the uninsured in the Montgomery area,” said Don Henderson, the president and chief executive officer of Jackson Hospital. “We estimated that over 30 percent of our emergency room visits are for people that are uninsured. That’s a huge commitment and support to the community because these folks don’t really have anywhere else to go for their medical care.” Jackson Hospital and Baptist Health share the burden of treating the uninsured, Henderson said. About 12,000 emergency room visits per year are not paid for, and about 10 percent of all of the hospital’s admissions are not compensated, he said. That community service results in hefty price tag for Jackson Hospital. “We estimated that last year we did over $20 million in our costs in providing free care of all types to the residents of this area,” Henderson said. To help alleviate some of that burden and crowded emergency room conditions, Jackson Hospital has donated more than $1 million worth of land on its campus for a federal clinic. The clinic is being funded with an $11.2 million grant from stimulus money as well as $2.5 million from the city and county. It is expected to be completed in August of 2011. The new clinic will replace the aging Lister Hill clinic. Another federal clinic is being planned and may end up in the old Montgomery Mall, according to Henderson. There is also a clinic currently operating in the basement of the Montgomery County Health Department on Mobile Highway. The federal clinic is run by Health Services Inc., which operates 10 clinics for the underinsured. “Folks that need primary care can find it,” Henderson said. “We can treat the emergencies, but then refer (the patients) for follow-up care through the federal clinics that will be very convenient. We’re hoping that we can gently ask the patients to get their followup care at the federal clinic, which is a better setting for primary care than a hospital.”

Jackson Hospital is heavily involved in the region’s nursing programs. Henderson said the hospital provides three instructors at no charge to help train nursing students. He said that five years ago there were a couple of dozen nursing students at Jackson Hospital and that has grown to 200-plus students (three different classes) who undergo their clinical training at Jackson Hospital. Jackson Hospital provides free physicals to all the high school athletes. “That’s a huge deal,” Henderson said. “There are thousands of children that show up every year.” The hospital also draws 80 to 100 people for doctors’ health-related lectures. The hospital conducts monthly, free seminars on a host of issues ranging from driving skills for seniors to health and wellness and health fairs. Jackson Hospital offers My Hospital Card for $20 a person or $35 a couple. The card provides access to health and wellness benefits as well as discounts on products and services from the hospital, local and national businesses. Some of benefits are: > A free annual health screening including total cholesterol, TC/HDL ratio, glucose and blood pressure. > Free valet parking at Jackson Hospital. > A 10-percent discount at Jackson Hospital Flowers & Gifts. > A 15-percent discount at the Jackson Hospital Pine Street Café. > Free copying/faxing and notary services for important documents. “I think the goal for My Hospital Card is to try to bring a different level of knowledge and care,” Henderson said. “What we would like to suggest to the community is that it is a good idea to get to know Jackson Hospital before you have an emergency – get to know the facilities. It’s really a way to facilitate communication, but also provide some additional services to the community.” Jackson Hospital is one of the largest employers in the region with about 1,500 employees. “We are one of two main health care delivery systems, providing complex

JACKSON HOSPITAL & CLINIC, INC. YEAR FOUNDED

1946

SIZE OF JACKSON HOSPITAL CAMPUS

20 ACRES

NUMBER OF MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS

3 – GOODE BUILDING, JACKSON CLINIC AND PARK PLACE

NUMBER OF BEDS

344

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

1,500

ANNUAL ADMISSIONS

ABOUT 14,000

TOTAL NUMBER OF SURGERIES PERFORMED ANNUALLY ABOUT 23,000 (SPLIT BETWEEN JACKSON SURGERY CENTER (12,000) AND JACKSON HOSPITAL (11,000)) TOTAL NUMBER OF ANNUAL OUT-PATIENT VISITS

ABOUT 100,000

NUMBER OF PATIENTS TREATED ANNUALLY AT JACKSON IMAGING CENTER

ABOUT 36,000

NUMBER OF DOCTORS ON ACTIVE MEDICAL STAFF

185

NUMBER OF DOCTORS WHO PRACTICE AT JACKSON AND OTHER SITES

ABOUT 340

care,” Henderson said, referring to cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and spinal surgery. “Being a good corporate citizen means ﬁrst and foremost trying to provide the most health care to the most people that we can,” Henderson said. “The staff is very involved in community service. We try to do as much as we can with the public school system. We are part of the Health Care Career Academy Task Force. I feel we should try to support as many health-related charities as we can.” •

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

“Our Reputation is on the Line” Ambitious agenda outlined for West Montgomery revitalization by David Zaslawsky

It is so much more complicated than “build it and they will come.” Developers and investors require more than a snappy slogan. That’s why one of the critical steps in the West Montgomery revitalization is adopting the plan and code. The code tells those all important developers and investors what type of buildings are permitted. “One of the mistakes we used to make in conventional planning in this country was not tying the regulatory process to the plan,” said Ken Groves, director of planning and development for the city of Montgomery.

“They (developers and investors) are buying into this concept that is going to drive property values up,” Groves said. “It’s going to mean a good investment and if we don’t have the regulations in place, we can’t control it.”

Jeff Downes

Groves said that documents are being prepared for the Planning Commission to adopt the plan and work on the regulatory process. Those are just two of the goals for the first year. Other first-year goals include beginning construction of Genetta Creek Park, finding a location for either a police substation or police precinct, planning one courtyard housing project and identifying more locations for future courtyard housing projects. “I think we’ll have no trouble getting those things done,” Groves said. “Those are all pretty doable. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that happens.” Montgomery Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes put it succinctly: “Our reputation is on the line.” “All you have to do is look at the charrette,” Downes said, noting that during the first presentation, the reaction was, “show me something.”

Ken Groves

“We would put plans out there that were nothing more than hopes and dreams. In some circumstances, you couldn’t implement the plans with the laws that you had. You kept wondering why we could never get this vision in place. All of a sudden we had an epiphany – we had the wrong set of rules out there. We needed to have the rules paired with the plan.”

That’s the plan for West Montgomery – quick, early successes. Once developers, investors and builders see those successes, they become more interested.

The regulatory part of the plan is the application of the city’s smart code, which has been used in the redevelopment of downtown.

Five-year goals include the completion of Genetta Creek Park, moving utility poles off West Fairview Avenue and erecting a police substation or precinct. A police substation is not a 24-7 operation, but a precinct is. A precinct also employs all police functions, including a holding cell. A west precinct could reside near Lanier Place, Groves said.

“What’s being prescribed here (West Montgomery) is the creation of a main street in an urban-form environment,” Groves said. “For that to succeed, the first players have to know that if they do it, everybody else will do it, too. Without a regulatory system, no one else can depend on that.” Groves said the regulatory plan will stop the person who wants to build a suburban-style gas station that won’t fit the master plan, which calls for an older-style filling station.

“What we have done in the downtown plan is try to show people that we mean business, and thus, the necessity of creating some quick wins – show some quick, early successes,” he said.

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Then there are the goals to be accomplished within ﬁve years, or as Downes put it, sooner “if the stars align.”

“Those are all good ﬁve-year time frame (projects),” Groves said. “Everybody out there needs to see something good that symbolizes or is evidence of our commitment.” There are a few 10-year goals, and one major goal to be completed within our lifetime: A Fairview trolley line from H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College to Huntingdon College.

1-YEAR GOALS > Adopt the plan and code > Establish a tax incremental finance district > Identify funding for one good block > Plan one courtyard project > Identify more courtyard locations > Begin West Fairview right of way design (part of the streetscape) > Organize façade program to upgrade frontage > Complete Phase One of Lanier Place > Begin residential infill > Begin construction of Genetta Creek Park > Site the police substation/precinct 5-YEAR GOALS > Complete police substation/precinct > Start to build one good block of infrastructure > Complete Genetta Creek Park > Move utility poles off of West Fairview Avenue > Begin commercial infill development 10-YEAR GOALS > Redevelop the Sears block > Secure development at I-65 > Finish street improvements LIFETIME GOALS > Fairview trolley line from Trenholm Tech to Huntingdon College

As goals are realized, the city and county will reap economic benefits, with increased property values and additional tax revenue. “We all deserve a healthy, happy, vibrant city and part of that is generating the revenue it takes to get there,” Groves said. “That’s certainly an expected outcome. That’s certainly one of the things that justifies our use of the public money in this case – the public benefit.” “We are not a disposable city,” Downes said. “We are not a city that can sit by and continue to grow outward without ever returning to the core to redevelop itself.” •

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

SHOW ME THE MONEY Charrette participants want a bank in the neighborhood by David Zaslawsky

If you were asked what amenities you would like in your neighborhood, what would you say? If you’re like most people – including those who participated in a weeklong “charrette” meant to generate ideas for the revitalization of Montgomery’s west side – you’d want banks, movie theaters, restaurants and a place to gather with your community. Well, west side residents are no different. The results of a survey administered during the Dover, Kohl & Partners-directed charrette show that a majority of participants asked for the same thing: A bank. “The private market has abandoned this area as evidenced by the fact there is not a bank on West Fairview,” said Ken Groves, director of planning and development for the city of Montgomery. “You have businesses producing income and they have to take it out of the neighborhood to get it in the bank.”

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Participants were asked to pick two choices from a list compiled from earlier suggestions: movie theater, ﬁne dining, bowling alley, splash park, multi-cultural center, ﬁtness center/gym, bank, Internet café and jazz bar. More than 50 percent wanted a bank and the next closest was a movie theater (35 percent). Fine dining was the third favorite at 22 percent and the only other selection with 20 or more percent was a multi-cultural center (20 percent). “One of the things we learned (from the charrette) is that the things that you and I like are the things that everybody else likes,” Groves said. “We are all living in the same era. We have similar exposure to other things. Everybody said they want a decent place to live and don’t want bars on the windows. We all want good housing.” Results from the survey show that residents also want a police substation in the area (73 percent), affordable housing (55 percent),

sidewalks and street trees (61 percent), beautify existing buildings (44 percent) and reduce trafﬁc congestion (43 percent). The city and private developers are working on affordable housing. The city is developing Lanier Place, a subdivision because “we haven’t been able to pay someone to do it,” Groves said. “The bottom line is we are re-establishing a marketplace (for housing),” said Montgomery Deputy Mayor Jeff Downes. “We’ve created a vision of what the market could bare as far as residences. We create a relatively small area of these styled homes and then establish comparables.” A relatively quick way to establish those “comps” is the use of courtyard houses, ranging in size from 480 square feet for a two-bedroom home to 1,112 square feet for a three-bedroom house. You can build seven units on a 20,000-square-foot lot.

The cost of the homes would range from $64,000 to $120,500 and require annual incomes ranging from $17,000 to $28,500. Those courtyard houses, according to Dover, Kohl & Partners, would raise property values, make good use of undervalued properties and meet community’s needs – and the housing is eligible for federal funding. Groves said that Ed Starkey, an economist with Urban Advisors, Ltd., suggested the use of courtyard housing to “get the real estate values up the fastest.” Of course, the properties for courtyard housing must be acquired. Downes said vacant property or property whose owners are three or more years delinquent on their property taxes may be purchased for $100. “We’ve got a lot more work to do in coming up with the right proportion,” Groves said. “How big is the market? How fast can it be realized? Courtyard housing doesn’t need to be the predominate method of housing – it needs to be a component of it. We also have housing on the other end of the spectrum, like we’re doing at Lanier Place, and how do we get these two things to work together?”

There are a wide range of housing options recommended for West Montgomery: live/working units, townhouses, duplexes, quadplexes, apartments, small, medium and large houses, as well as something called “accessory dwelling” units.

Groves said. “They are coming back big time. They call them ‘granny ﬂats’ now.” It’s all about reinvention. Downes said the point of the West Montgomery initiative is to take an area

A majority of participants asked for the same thing: Accessory dwellings are an old concept. Groves said people once had carriage houses that provided quarters for the groomsmen and the horses. As the times changed, Carriage houses were later converted to apartments for aging family members. The concept later fell out of vogue, especially in the suburbs. But now accessory dwellings are hot commodities. “It’s a way of using land more efﬁciently and provides a wider variety of housing,”

A bank. where the private sector has not invested appropriately; not grown properly, and establish a market for them. “All we’re trying to do is prime the pump,” he said. The charrette participants must agree with these efforts: Eighty-six percent of them said the plan is on the right track. •

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

THE NEW KING OF KA-CHING Q&A WITH KEN REYNOLDS Ken Reynolds is the retail development coordinator for the City of Montgomery. He was recently interviewed by Montgomery Business Journal Managing Editor David Zaslawsky. Montgomery Business Journal: You are the retail development coordinator for the City of Montgomery. What are your responsibilities?

Ken Reynolds is the retail development coordinator for the City of Montgomery.

Reynolds: I work with businesses that are interested in coming to Montgomery. I work with existing businesses in Montgomery that are interested in expanding or in some instances relocating. I am a business recruiter so I’m also going out and looking at different types of businesses and taking input from various sources as to the types of businesses that different areas would like. I’m working with property owners; working with developers; and taking input from pretty much any source. MBJ: What are various sources telling you about the types of businesses that would be a good ﬁt? Reynolds: Obviously, there is a big interest in grocery stores. There is a big interest in restaurants and entertainment venues and also general merchandise. A great example are the things you saw at the (West Montgomery) charrette, where people are saying these are the things we want. We want nicer restaurants. We want entertainment venues for our children. A big thing for downtown is a market. What I am trying to do is work with different areas and help develop the infrastructure. Downtown has been a hot button and we have more and more loft living coming on line. In order to make that loft living viable for the people who want to live downtown, we are looking at the things they need, like a place to buy a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, butter and maybe a glass of wine or a steak. MBJ: A dry cleaner? Reynolds: I’m working with a dry cleaner for downtown, but that dry cleaner has also expressed an interest in (another location).

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

MBJ: What other types of businesses are people interested in seeing downtown? Reynolds: Some people have talked about a gift shop. One of the developers has signed a lease for an art gallery. (The Dauber Gallery is owned by Mark Dauber, an associate broker with John Stanley & Associates Inc.) We are working to get a convenience store. We have some people who have expressed an interest in a gas station downtown. We are not just working on Commerce (Street) or The Alley. Attending the charrette for West Fairview Avenue was a terrific experience. The first night they had about 150 people show up and they expressed some very, very interesting ideas about the things they would like to see in their neighborhood. Some of the things were surprising; some were not. MBJ: What were some of the surprising things you learned at the charrette? Reynolds: Grocery store. I think there were two grocery stores already – the Piggly Wiggly and Calhoun Foods. But for some reason in that area, they feel the need for either another grocery store or a different type of store. I think part of it is the prospect of having something new and different. They talked about restaurants. MBJ: There is a lot of potential for new businesses in that area. Reynolds: The area between Court Street and the interstate on West Fairview is a very, very vibrant commercial district and one of the things that the charrette brought out was the fact that while there are a lot of businesses there – there are other businesses that the neighborhood would like to see come into that area to provide goods and services. There is a terrific need in that area to promote pedestrianism. I am working with the West Fairview Business Coalition, which is an organization of the business owners on West Fairview. We’ve already had one meeting and scheduled another meeting. We are

also looking to revitalize the Downtown Business Association. MBJ: Is all that interest in downtown starting to spread out to midtown? Reynolds: Once you get the synergy of The Alley, which was an area that got a huge amount of attention, the developers have done a terrific job down there. I’m looking forward to and working toward having The Alley filled up; and having that spill out on Commerce Street and turn up Dexter. I actually have some folks that are interested in Dexter. MBJ: What are they planning to do? Reynolds: There is a gentleman who has a contract on a building on Dexter. He wants to do retail on the ground floor and loft living on the second and third floors of the building. What’s also interesting is that I got a call yesterday afternoon from a developer in Los Angeles, who apparently had done some work for someone who referred him to an attorney here in Montgomery and that attorney referred him to me. I have a developer out there asking what type of incentives are out there; what type of programs are available;

what type of properties are there; and can you put together a packet for me of downtown Montgomery? He speciﬁcally mentioned Dexter Avenue. MBJ: What incentive packages are available for retail outlets? Reynolds: We used a portion of our Community Block Grant money in the past. We have put together some incentives for new business. MBJ: Are those incentives mostly tax credits? Reynolds: No, they are grants and lowinterest loans. Basically those loans are based on creating jobs. It’s normally $25,000 per job as I understand it. Part of it can be in the form of a grant and part of it can be in the form of a low-interest loan. I have a group coming in from Atlanta. We just got a grant approval for them and it was in the works for quite a while. They are going to open up a blues and jazz club and tapas restaurant downtown. It’s called Ziggy’s Blues and Jazz Café and the genre is smooth jazz. MBJ: Where downtown? Reynolds: The Alley.

MBJ: How many employees? Reynolds: They will have between 14 and 20 employees, is the estimate at this point. MBJ: When will it open? Reynolds: Probably summer – they think they can do their build-out in 45 to 60 days. MBJ: Are there any other commitments using grant money? Reynolds: No, because at this point the allocation of grant money has been used up, which is sad. I have an awful lot of people that are calling me and saying we would like to do something – can you help us? MBJ: Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange recently announced that Ziggy’s, Nancy’s Italian Ice, MarChelle’s Bakery and The Dauber Gallery were all coming to The Alley. I also heard that there may be another restaurant coming to downtown. Reynolds: They are negotiating with landlords. MBJ: What type of restaurant? CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Reynolds: No.

Reynolds: Unpretentious white-table cloth.

MBJ: What is the business climate like? Has it been improving since you started?

MBJ: On Commerce Street? Reynolds: Yes. MBJ: Isn’t the economy adding challenges to recruiting retail outlets? Reynolds: Yes, in this economy it has been so difﬁcult for small businesses to get loans because the credit market is so tight. I have a pretty thick folder of ideas and people that want to come downtown, but at this point it’s just being able to match up spaces, match up ﬁnancing and match up ideas. MBJ: Are you saying there are dozens of leads? Reynolds: Yes. A restaurateur from Birmingham is interested in looking at space. MBJ: Is the restaurateur interested in The Alley? Reynolds: They are interested in the downtown area. MBJ: Without saying the name of the restaurateur, is it a chain?

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Reynolds: I started the ﬁrst of August and when I started there were maybe half a dozen leads and part of that is having someone

MBJ: Are retail business owners becoming more optimistic – are they considering the Montgomery market? Reynolds: More people from outside the area are expressing an interest.

Once we get them to town it’s not a hard sell.

in this position. There never had been a retail development coordinator for the city before. Another thing that is drawing interest is having facilities like 129 Coosa St., which is a fabulous facility, as is the new one that has been built above Alley Station. That’s also pulling more people downtown and getting more people exposed to what is happening in this particular area.

MBJ: As the retail development coordinator, you are selling Montgomery. Reynolds: Absolutely. MBJ: How do you sell Montgomery – without giving away all your trade secrets? Reynolds: Once we get them to town it’s not a hard sell. Once they see what’s going on;

once they see our riverfront; once they see all the exciting things that are going on. It’s a breath of fresh air for me because these folks I’m talking to that will be in next week said, “Everywhere we go we see people in a holding pattern and huddled up.” He said that when “we look at Montgomery, we see – y’all are doing things.” That’s the impression we want to make. MBJ: It sounds like you’re saying Montgomery sells itself. Reynolds: No, it doesn’t sell itself. When you look at what the Chamber of Commerce is doing; when you look at what travel and tourism is doing; when you look at what the Renaissance is doing and drawing in more conventions every year; when you look at all the things that happen to make tourism work in Montgomery – those are all things that will continue to drive businesses to come in as well.

(recently) started leasing loft apartments and according to the manager over there, the units are already about 80 percent rented. There are 16 and there are plans for 10 more above Dreamland. MBJ: And how long did that take? Reynolds: About two weeks and Mr. (Jerry) Kyser has plans for 10 loft apartments above Dreamland. Sam Adams is working on his (loft) project on Washington Street and there is another building downtown that will most likely go retail/loft. MBJ: We’ve talked about downtown, West Montgomery and a little bit about midtown, but what about East Montgomery? Any new retail projects on the horizon? Reynolds: There’s a new grocery store coming. MBJ: Where?

MBJ: There is a lot more residential development downtown as well.

Reynolds: It’s going to be at EastChase. They are just now breaking ground and probably open by the end of the year.

Reynolds: The residential (projects) downtown has been a huge incentive as we continue to develop that. The Alley Station

MBJ: Any other retail projects or prospects for East Montgomery?

Reynolds: One of the things that I’m also working on – we had a tremendous success with the Pub Crawls downtown. I would like to get with the folks that are sponsoring the Pub Crawls and see about doing an east side Pub Crawl to help those businesses out there and to generate some buzz on that side of town about the entertainment opportunities out there. The developers are so active on the east side. I hear a lot about downtown and I’m hearing more and more about the west side and the things that are going on there. MBJ: I read that former football star Fred Beasley is trying to bring Freddie B’s Grill and Game to Montgomery. Is that correct? Reynolds: Fred Beasley has had an uphill struggle with a number of things, but as far as I know at this point it’s still on track. MBJ: What’s the location? Reynolds: It’s going to be at the Atlanta Crossing shopping center in the old Albertson’s location. Once again, one of the things that slowed him down was the credit market. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

MBJ: It was reported that Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange wants you to bring in five times your salary. What does that mean to you? Reynolds: It means I’ve got to stay busy. One of the things about this job that has probably been the most difficult is to realize things won’t always happen as quickly as I would like them to. When you’re putting these things together – these guys that are coming in for the blues and jazz club – I’ve been working on that since August. Nothing happens very quickly. A lot of these projects that we are working on – in reality – are one-, two- or even three-year projects. There are some challenges there. The other thing that is really surprising is sometimes it’s very difficult to match up the business with some of the empty spaces that we have. We have a number of empty buildings, but they may not meet the criteria (of the prospect). I have worked diligently to familiarize myself with the real estate that’s available. I have walked, climbed, crawled through pretty much all the buildings on Dexter Avenue. Another thing I’ve done is work closely in developing relationships with commercial Realtors because they are a great source. A lot of times people will see a building and they will call and say, “I want to do this” and the building may not fit that. But if they (Realtors) call me and say, “I’ve talked to somebody who wants to open this type of business,” then that allows me to go out and look for other things that might be a good fit. MBJ: It must depend on where the buildings are. You might have some retailers who want to be anywhere downtown. Reynolds: Exactly. That’s a big thing right now because downtown has been the hot (point) because of everything that has gone on there. What we’re wanting to do is take that model and move it out. MBJ: You have a one-year contract. What do you hope to accomplish by the end of your year? Reynolds: Hopefully we’ll bring some of the things we’re working on to fruition. I think there is a need for this position in the City of Montgomery or I would not have accepted this position to start with. Basically, bring in more things and get more things working in the pipeline; continue to promote the city. At the end of my contract, it will be up to Mayor Strange and Deputy Mayor Downes as to whether or not they want to renew this contract and carry forward what we’re doing. MBJ: Would you like to continue as the retail development coordinator? Reynolds: Oh yeah – absolutely. I love what I’m doing. There is a great deal of personal satisfaction of having someone come to me with an idea; then working with them; taking that idea; creating a plan; and then bringing that plan to fruition. As we’re adding new things to the mix and we’re out recruiting businesses, we also want to make sure that we are recruiting a diversity of businesses – that everybody that comes in brings something unique and different. I love Dreamland, but we don’t need 15 barbecue places downtown. We are also working on a market for downtown. That has been one of the major goals – a market for downtown. MBJ: Is there a site for a downtown market? Reynolds: Yes, there absolutely is. •

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Great Expectations Montgomery’s employment growth rate will surge in 2012, economist says by David Zaslawsky

A robust recovery usually follows a severe recession, and that’s exactly what Montgomery’s economy will reﬂect. Moody’s Economy.com predicted in a recent report that Montgomery’s recovery will begin next year and gather momentum through 2013. Recovery will be so brisk that the area Neal Wade recently was ranked 29th out of 387 metro areas for employment growth. “We’re beginning to see evidence that Alabama’s economy is improving, and this report validates that,” said Gov. Bob Riley. Employment growth in Montgomery will be barely visible in 2010, showing just 0.5 percent growth this year, growing to 2.9 percent in 2011 and leaping to an impressive 4.8 percent by 2012. Employment growth will remain steady at 4.3 percent in 2013. Alabama Development Ofﬁce Director Neal Wade said the state’s economy will begin to recover later this year and into 2011, “especially as we see major projects that were recruited several years ago begin to start up operations this year.” Montgomery’s employment rate will recover faster than other metro areas because it is buffered by state government, said Martin Soler Garcia, an assistant economist with Moody’s Economy.com. Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex and Hyundai are other stabilizing factors. “Employment growth will shoot up because of pent-up demand,” Garcia said. “After years of strong contraction, there is sizeable growth for a couple of years.” The metro area’s unemployment rate is projected to decline to 7.4 percent by 2013, and personal income is expected to grow 3.3 percent the same year to nearly $34,200. Other Alabama metros also were ranked by Moody’s: Huntsville was ranked second; Mobile was fourth; Auburn-Opelika was 23rd; Birmingham-Hoover was 53rd; and Tuscaloosa was 61st. 2010

2011

2012

2013

Employment Growth Rate

0.5

2.9

4.8

4.3

Unemployment Rate

10.8

10.9

8.2

7.4

Personal Income Growth Rate

0.3

1.7

3.3

Note: Percentage rates Source: Moody’s Economy.com

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Jim Wilson & Associates Clears Hurdle Redstone Technology Park construction could begin by spring by David Zaslawsky

The massive $1 billion Redstone Gateway Business Park is moving forward. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed a bill approved by the state legislature that will create an enhanced use lease partnership between the City of Huntsville and Montgomery developer Jim Wilson & Associates. The Montgomery firm recently announced the formation of a joint venture with Corporate Office Properties Trust to develop the project. Construction on the 450-plus acre site adjacent to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville could begin in the spring or early summer. It is a long-term project that once completed will have more than 4.5 million square feet of office and retail space. The business park will be developed in three phases, featuring three- to six-story office buildings containing 80,000 to 165,000 square feet.

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

“Redstone Gateway is a premier project positioned to meet the growing needs of Redstone Arsenal through the construction and operation of an outstanding Class A business park,” Jim Wilson III, chairman and chief executive ofﬁcer of Jim Wilson & Associates, said in a statement. Phase one includes 100,000 square feet of retail and ofﬁce space and a hotel. Space for research and development is planned, as well as academic facilities, a conference center, hotels and restaurants. Eventually, there could be as many as 50 buildings located at the technology park. This “visionary” plan will accommodate about 14,000 people and generate $80 million in construction materials alone, Sen. Tom Butler (D-Madison) told the Huntsville Times. “With over four years of background work to make this a reality, the team of Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Madison

County and the developers, Jim Wilson & Associates and Corporate Office Properties Trust, are now ready to see the landscape change on this great site with the commencement of the installation of infrastructure and the construction of new buildings,” Will Wilson, president of Jim Wilson & Associates, said in a statement. Under the Army’s enhanced use lease program, the private sector develops under-utilized real estate on Army and some Department of Defense military installations. The government-owned land will be annexed by the city of Huntsville. The city will benefit from the taxes paid by the technology park tenants. The creation of a tax incremental financing district will help fund infrastructure costs. Jim Wilson III said that income generated by the Redstone Technology Park will remain at Redstone Arsenal, funding infrastructure improvements. •

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Member Proﬁle

David Barranco is principal manager of the family-owned Chappy’s Deli.

Chappy’s Deli Makes Guests Feel Welcome – and Full by Tom Ensey

David Barranco loves the restaurant business so much, his idea of fun is wiping down the counter, busing tables, ringing up orders and most of all, shaking hands with customers.

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

CHAPPY’S DELI MONTGOMERY LOCATIONS:

1989: PERRY HILL ROAD 1997: BAPTIST SOUTH 1998: PEPPERTREE PLAZA BIRMINGHAM LOCATIONS:

2000: INVERNESS

2006: MOUNTAIN BROOK He’s the kind of guy who was born to be a restaurateur. And it’s that personal, one-on-one with customers that seems to be Chappy’s trademark.

EMPLOYEES

Celebrating more than 20 years in the business, the popular Montgomery eatery has three locations here: Perry Hill Road, a small version in Peppertree Plaza on Vaughn Road and one inside Baptist Medical Center South. There are two locations in Birmingham as well.

ANNUAL PAYROLL

250

$3 MILLION

But no matter how much they grow, it all comes back to the “guest,” as Barranco calls them. Several items on the menu, like the turkey burger, were recommended by customers. And a few were dropped because of an old restaurant trick Barranco learned a long time ago: check the dishwasher.

and fell in love with the deli business. Chappy’s on Perry Hill opened when The Old Town Deli closed, and the restaurant took off immediately. Now his son has joined the family business.

“If you see these loads of grits or salads getting scraped off the dish before they put the plate in the dishwasher, you know you have a product people don’t like,” he said.

The restaurant employs about 250 people with a combined payroll of about $3 million. While they are keeping their eyes out for a good location in The Alley in downtown Montgomery, they are not looking to be the next Subway or McDonald’s.

Unlike most restaurants of its kind, Chappy’s is a “sitdown” restaurant, where servers come and take your order instead of the customer ordering from the counter. The ambience is New York, but the service is down-home.

“We’re a ‘mom and pop,’ he said proudly as the last of a big lunch crowd trickled out of the Perry Hill restaurant on a cold, rainy day. “We don’t want to become “ChapCo” or something with 150 restaurants nationwide. We are what we want to be.”

Barranco, a self-described member of a “big Italian family that likes to eat,” is the youngest of four brothers. Although he is the principal manager of Chappy’s, he doesn’t make any big decisions without talking things over with his brothers.

The restaurant has moved heavily into the catering side of the business; Barranco promises they can get you what you need when you need it. If there’s a hurricane or a power outage and rescue workers need 500 sandwiches to feed emergency workers, he said people call Chappy’s because they deliver good food fast.

The restaurant is in every way a family business. It was born from a family tragedy when as a 6-year-old David’s father died. His mother, a 45-year-old homemaker, was suddenly thrust into the role of breadwinner. She took a job in the cafeteria at Catholic High School and loved it, sharing her newfound joy with her sons.

His most unusual catering request? Somebody ordered a roast suckling pig, the kind they serve at luaus and such. “We outsourced that one,” he said. “We found somebody else to do it.” •

“Every night she came home with a funny story about something that happened in the kitchen,” he said. “She liked making people happy and people are usually happy if you feed them well.” Barranco worked his way through Auburn University at his older brother’s restaurant, “The Orange Bowl.” That’s when David realized, like his mom before him, that he loved restaurants and feeding people. After college, he went into the restaurant business with his brothers, owning several different businesses – including a cinnamon-bun store. The family then bought The Old Town Deli,

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

GROWING LEADERS EMERGE MONTGOMERY PROVIDES YOUNG PROFESSIONALS A PLATFORM TO SPEAK OUT ON IMPROVING THE REGION

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

BY DAVID ZASLAWSKY

At a recent Emerge Montgomery social event, one of the attendees actually belonged to decidedly older demographic. Donald Dotson is the president of the board of Leadership Montgomery. He was crashing the Alive After Five event of the young professionals’ organization at the Alley Bar in downtown Montgomery. Leadership Montgomery is the parent organization of Emerge, an organization for professionals ages 22 to 40. “I walked around and you could see the dialogue going on – seeing the youngsters and I can say youngsters – having conversations and just networking,” Dotson said. He was watching a young, white professional male introducing himself to a young, African-American professional woman and their easy conversation. “I thought, this is great – no more will we be isolated as that happens,” Dotson said. And that is the goal of Emerge – to eliminate racial barriers as it shapes and grooms Montgomery’s future leaders. To give them a platform to form a bond as they move forward with their careers. Diversity is a major goal of Emerge. ““The older people that see that are like, ‘Wow, can you believe they’re all talking to each other,’” said Julia Ventress, the ﬁrst president of Emerge and a vice president with Baptist Health. “ I think there is a generational difference in reality in Montgomery. We are an inclusive, diverse organization that’s trying to meet all those needs.”

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

“We have topics such as business etiquette, and we’ll spend about 2 ½ hours on that during the retreat, and then we’ll follow that with a reception with the business community,” said Cheryl Carter, executive director of both Emerge and Leadership Montgomery. “The idea being to teach them (young professionals) how to shake hands properly; how to introduce someone; how to mingle with people they have never met; and how do you make small conversation rather than sitting with your back to the wall.” Students in the Torchbearers’ class also study civic topics, such as economic development, civil rights, education, growth and infrastructure, political involvement and commercial revitalization.

KEEPING THEM HERE “We want to retain and not lose that brain pool of talent,” said Harold Boone, vice president, minority business development and leadership programs, for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Boone is also a program director for Leadership Montgomery and Emerge Montgomery. “We’ve got kids here who are educated at Auburn, Huntingdon, University of Alabama and why take that brain to Destin, Fla., or Charlotte or somewhere else? We want to keep them here and have them raise their families here and add to the tax base,” Boone said. Keeping the talent here will require job opportunities, places to go and things to do. Ventress said that young professionals need a lifestyle that provides for fun and entertainment, and that doesn’t require a drive to a bigger city to ﬁnd that.

Emerge employs several programs to develop young talent. Among them is the Torchbearers Leadership Class, where participants undergo a rigorous, eight-month training program focused on professional development.

“But you need jobs. You have to have advancement opportunities. As a community we have to have an evolving job market, where people can advance and be successful.”

The program begins with a two-day retreat, where students learn about personal and professional etiquette, networking, communication skills, self awareness, personal commitment and accountability.

Carolyn Kinney, the current president of Emerge and media relations coordinator for Auburn Montgomery, said young professionals would liked to see more green spaces, more parks, more places where people can walk their dog, ride bikes and run.

There are training sessions that concentrate on problem solving, fairness, delegating, teamwork, characteristics of effective leaders and critical thinking.

“We all think The Alley is going in the right direction, but we want that to grow,” Kinney said.

A SEAT AT THE TABLE Thanks to Emerge, young professionals now have a seat at the table, a way to voice their ideas and inﬂuence decision-making. The Emerge president sits on the Chamber and Leadership Montgomery boards. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange created a mayoral council to hear what the young professionals have to say, and the Montgomery County Commission might follow suit. Small business owners are listening, too. “You have all kinds of venues that now want young people to come to their establishments,” Carter said. “There are now things for young professionals to do in the community that were never there before.” One of those activities is kickball. Suzanna Wasserman, program coordinator for both Emerge and Leadership Montgomery, recently went to work forming a kickball league after receiving a call from a national kickball association. There are now 11 teams. “It all started as a result of Emerge,” Carter said. There are plenty of social opportunities for Emerge members – Alive After Five, Rally in The Alley, New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day events, Cinco de Mayo and Oktoberfest celebrations – but Emerge is not a social club, Ventress said. Emerge also hosts political forums, lunches with business executives and panel discussions with chief executive ofﬁcers. “We are not a social wine and cheese club ... it’s an opportunity to meet people that they otherwise would never meet in Montgomery,” she said. Now going into its third year, the organization is a well oiled machine. Boone said he expects that Emerge will become a model for other communities in how to develop its young talent. “You have to get the hook to get them engaged, and this (Emerge) is one of the hooks to do that,” he said. •

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Montgomery; whether they planned to stay here; what they liked about the city; and what they thought it lacked. It was a very interesting discussion.”

Julia Ventress

NEW VOICES, NEW DIRECTION by David Zaslawsky Where have all the young professionals gone? That was the cry from River Region employers who saw the area’s best and brightest leave for better opportunities. But what if those young and diverse professionals were carefully groomed to become the future leaders in the community? What if those young professionals were engaged in community service? Would that type of personal investment keep young professionals from leaving? Those were all goals when Emerge Montgomery was formed a short few years ago, and the answer to those questions is: yes, yes and yes. Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce President Randy George is the braintrust behind Emerge. One of the goals of the Chamber’s ﬁve-year strategic plan is enhancing diversity and leadership capacity, and George felt the city was not retaining and attracting young professionals. He approached Leadership Montgomery Executive Director Cheryl Carter and then Leadership Montgomery President Jenny Ives about adding “a leadership piece” for the Chamber. Carter recalled inviting young professionals to the Chamber boardroom for a lunch meeting. “I wanted to start a focus group and get their opinions on what they thought of

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Carter said that many of the participants were not planning to stay in the River Region. Some said they would leave as soon as they found a job. Larger cities like Birmingham, Atlanta and Nashville, Tenn., were more attractive, she said. Carter asked the group, “‘If you could describe Montgomery in terms of an automobile, what kind of an automobile would Montgomery be?’ They said it would be a Ford without air conditioning.” The criticism from the young professionals was extensive and varied: the leadership was old and stuffy and lacked forward thinking, not enough green space, not enough restaurants, not enough family venues and nowhere to go on the weekend. Carter posed a second question, “‘If you helped develop downtown and if you could change Montgomery, would you be willing to meet with me for the next six months to develop a young professionals’ organization and help make the changes that you think Montgomery needs?’ They jumped at the chance.”

events; Torchbearers’ Leadership Class; and Torchbearers’ Alumni Association. The goals of the organization are: > Grow professionals. > Connect with the community. > Interact with peers. > Voice opinions. Ofﬁcers were elected, committees were formed and chairs and co-chairs were named. The curriculum for the Torchbearers class was developed. Baptist Health Vice President Julia Ventress, who was the ﬁrst president of Emerge, said she along with Aisha McGough, Perry Varner and Josh Mandell led the effort. Ventress and McGough, both graduates of Leadership Montgomery, continued to develop Emerge, researching other young professional organizations and writing guidelines. “When I look back 2 ½ years ago there was nothing going on (for young professionals),” Carter said. “We had these focus groups and they were sitting around the table and saying, ‘There is absolutely nothing to do here; there

They said “yes,” but were doubtful their ideas would have any weight. “I told them, ‘You might be surprised.’” For planning purposes, the group was split into two parts. One of the segments planned the leadership class, which is called Torchbearers. The other part planned the social segment. A mission statement was developed and the three legs of the organization were deﬁned: Networking and special

Cheryl Carter

is nothing for us. Nobody cares about us. Nobody wants to know what we think.’ “And now, everybody wants to know what they think. The elected officials want to know. It has blossomed into something huge. I don’t think most people realize exactly how it got started and what a tremendous influence it is having on the city.” In its short existence, Emerge has grown to about 250 dues-paying members and almost 900 people affiliated with the organization. And what do the young professionals now say about the city, once being compared to a Ford without air conditioning? “It has air conditioning, and I think we’re about to trade-in and update,” Ventress said. •

SEEING SUCCESS FROM ALL SIDES by David Zaslawsky The list of Leadership Montgomery graduates reads like a Who’s Who of the River Region’s movers and shakers. For the past 25 years, the program, which works in partnership with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, has brought diverse community leaders together and provided them a comprehensive inside look at what makes Montgomery tick.

“We want them (Leadership Montgomery participants) to be engaged in public policy – how to change things for the betterment of the quality of life for this community,” said Harold Boone, vice president, minority business development and leadership programs, for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Boone said the classes help the attendees, who are in many cases seasoned leaders, see issues in a different perspective to help them make better-informed decisions. Leadership Montgomery broadens the participant’s feel for what Montgomery has to offer, according to Dotson. “We want them (participants) exposed to Montgomery and the River Region so they can do their part in making Montgomery a great place to live, work and play,” Dotson said.

Donald Dotston

After a retreat where the 40-or-so Leadership Montgomery participants get to know each other and more about themselves, they attend monthly thematic classes. Those classes include law enforcement, economic development, education, government, health and human services, military and board training. “When I went through my particular (Leadership Montgomery) class, we had an arts day,” said Donald Dotson, a graduate of the XVII Leadership Montgomery class and the president of the organization’s board of directors. He also wears two hats during the day: interim director of career technical education for Montgomery Public Schools and director of logistics and services. “We visited several events and during the class day you would report on those things. I considered myself at that time pretty upwardly mobile and pretty in tune with things, but I was seeing so many things with the arts that I didn’t know even existed. That opened up my eyes to those types of things that are here in Montgomery and that’s what Leadership Montgomery does well.” The classes, attended by those who are mostly 40 and older, are conducted by community leaders who have expertise in the various areas.

“You know exactly what’s going on in Montgomery. You know the issues we have to deal with and Leadership Montgomery helps you to develop processes to eradicate some of the issues that you see.” Each Leadership Montgomery class is a diverse group. The mix is not just by race or gender, but from all walks of life – from all sectors of the economy to community organizations and religious groups. Everybody brings a distinct perspective to the conversation. “It’s about diversity,” Boone said. “How do we make organizations, communities and businesses understand that it’s not tolerance, but appreciation for what other people bring to the table? We have moved from – ‘I can tolerate you because you’re African-American or Asian or Hispanic’ – to ‘I’ve come to accept what you bring to the table.’ That is real critical to what we do in all of our leadership programs. It’s critical in the business community and that’s why the Chamber has invested time and resources in these programs.” Dotson said that Leadership Montgomery has “opened up the dialogue and debate. Old wounds are hard to heal. When you have two groups that are passionate about a particular item, it’s hard to say we are all going to agree. But if you are not included at the table, you wonder who is making the decisions for you. I think Leadership Montgomery has allowed a lot of its alumni to be at the table and I think that has helped a great deal.

Harold Boone

“One of the things that Leadership Montgomery has helped me with is it allows you to see how the other person thinks. You may have an issue, and if I have my blinders on, I only see it one way and I can only see it beneﬁting the group one way. With Leadership Montgomery, I was able to see how other people thought about an issue and why they thought that way. When you sit down and have those dialogues, you are able to see someone else’s point of view.” Dotson stressed the ﬁrst step is being able to have healthy debate and dialogue. “I think Leadership Montgomery opens the door for that dialogue in some way, shape or form through their connections with Leadership Montgomery as alumni.” And there is another key element of Leadership Montgomery – the bonding – establishing relationships that go on between the class participants and the graduates, who increasingly turn to each other for advice, guidance, networking and sharing best practices. Dotson fondly recalled telephone calls from Leadership Montgomery alumni: “Who do we know that does such and such? OK, tell them you are from Leadership Montgomery Class … There’s a connection there.” Boone said that Leadership Montgomery is constantly modifying programs to ensure the subject material is fresh and up-to-date. “We are looking at our board structure; board governance; and looking at our academic program to make sure it’s current,” Boone said. “We look what is going on in California and Destin, Fla. Just as technology changes from one year to another, so do the programs that we do in Leadership Montgomery. You have to change the programs or you won’t survive.” Dotson: “We need to be forward-thinking and we are. We have to make sure that the curriculum matches the city and the needs of the city. If we’re going to be vibrant we CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

RALLY IN THE ALLEY: HOW SERVICE GREW A COMMUNITY by David Zaslawsky What has Emerge become really good at? Judging by last summer’s Rally in The Alley, it’s taking a kernel of an idea and making it bloom beyond their wildest imagination. Rally in The Alley had the most modest of beginnings: Goodwill Industries had asked the organization to help collect clothing. The recent economic downturn meant donations to Goodwill were down, and they needed clothing to sell in its stores, said Carolyn Kinney, president of Emerge Montgomery and then-chairman of the community outreach committee. A clothing drive was planned, but then Emerge’s Torchbearers Leadership Class got involved. They had been tasked with coming up with a volunteer drive to get people involved in community service. At an Emerge meeting, ServisFirst Bank Vice President Richard Bradford suggested a rally to encourage people to volunteer for community service, Kinney said. “We slowly started bringing in all the people with businesses in The Alley,” Kinney said. “I told them our idea about having a rally.” Emerge decided to merge the clothing drive with the rally for community service volunteers. But then the event grew again when one of the Dreamland owners, Richard Younger, got involved. Younger is a manager at Aldridge, Borden & Co. and a member of the United Way board of directors. Another partner in the ﬁrm, Dave Borden, was volunteer chairman for the United Way campaign.

Boone, a member of Leadership Montgomery Class XXI, said he has witnessed a “signiﬁcant growth and a more strategic planning of the program.” He said the program is more focused and efﬁcient. Carolyn Kinney

When Kinney mentioned the concept of the rally to Younger, a light bulb went on in his head. He suggested the United Way team up with the Emerge rally and clothing drive for its own campaign kick-off. The original clothing drive now had been transformed into a major event – Rally in The Alley. Emerge members met weekly to finalize details. One of the goals was to sign up volunteers for specific times and days. Kinney said almost 600 people showed up at the Rally in The Alley – even though it rained. “We tried to get everybody to fill out a form,” Kinney said. “Nearly 300 signed up to volunteer.” Some organizations had 20 to 30 people sign up as volunteers, Kinney said. The Auburn Montgomery women’s basketball team attended the event and all signed up to assist one organization. The participants who attended the Rally in The Alley received a T-shirt for bringing a bag of clothes. Kinney said that 312 people donated clothes. Dreamland provided free food and discounted drinks. The United Way kicked off its campaign. “It grew into this great event that we want to do every year,” Kinney said. “We had so many (organizations) that wanted to come and set up a table we had to turn some nonprofits away.” The next Rally in The Alley is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 12. •

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

are going to have to change with our student base and you also have to change what you offer your alumni. You have to keep your alumni engaged and you can’t keep them engaged offering something that is stale and old that you have done here and there. You have to change that because your alumni will be different each year.”

Dotson, too, has watched Leadership Montgomery grow and mature. He said the organization was founded on a diversity base, but has evolved “more into a leadership organization that enhances economic development … while trying to infuse and embrace the diversity piece as well, which is needed here in Montgomery.” •

CHAMBER FORGES CLOSE BOND WITH LEADERSHIP MONTGOMERY by David Zaslawsky The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce has always been involved with Leadership Montgomery, but that relationship has expanded in the past few years. Harold Boone, program director for Leadership Montgomery and Emerge Montgomery, is also vice president for minority business development and leadership programs for the Chamber. Now, when a Leadership Montgomery class is in session, up to 50 percent of his time is devoted to that program. The Chamber’s investment in both the Leadership and Emerge programs is evident. The Chamber provides ofﬁce space for them, as well as in-kind services and one full-time staff member paid by the Chamber. “The Chamber ... has helped build what I call ‘the capacity’ of Leadership Montgomery to expand its horizons and be more efﬁcient with the collaboration between the two organizations,” Boone said. •

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Guest Commentary

A Good Time for Home Sweet Home Americans still dream of home ownership by Sherry Weeks

Sherry Weeks

Aside from the dream of owning your own business or seeing your children surpass your own accomplishments, what is more American than the dream of owning your own home? A recent survey shows that 77 percent of Americans still dream of home ownership, despite the pall that lingers over the national media’s coverage of the real estate market. There is no better time than right now to both buy and sell a home. Here’s why.

TAX INCENTIVES AND INTEREST RATES You should know that the price a homeowner can get for his home is greater today than it will be on May 1. Why? Because the ﬁrst-time home buyer under contract by April 30 can qualify for the $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit. The “move-up” buyer can also qualify for a $6,500 credit. After that April 30 date, buyers will begin demanding better (lower) prices for houses. The market won’t come to a shrieking halt – the National Association of Realtors predicts 5 million homes will be sold this year – but the price you can get for your home could go down. In addition, we are waiting to see what will happen to interest rates after the Federal Reserve’s planned debt buying program comes to an end. Morgan Stanley

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

predicts that the current rate around 5 percent could inch up slightly.

everything possible to make his loan current and prevent foreclosure.

Typically, late spring and early summer is prime selling season, but that tax credit changes the climate. Right now is the hot selling season.

Today, we are seeing a different homeowner, and there are reasons for that.

FORECLOSURES There are going to be a large amount of foreclosures on the market in 2010. The National Realtors Association predicts that almost 50 percent of sales in 2010 will be short sales and foreclosures. Let’s talk about why that is. First, there has been a shift in the mindset of homeowners who ﬁnd themselves in trouble on their mortgage. Typically, a homeowner behind 90 days would do

Many of the loans made in 2005 through 2007 were not within federal guidelines. Adjustable rate mortgages, reduced wages, record unemployment and plummeting home values mean that many of those borrowers – approximately 5 million nationwide – may have no way of paying back their loans. Now, many homeowners who are 90 days delinquent will simply walk away. And this will place a large number of foreclosed properties on the market in 2010. To help offset this, the Obama administration has implemented a new program called HAFA to encourage the lender to work with a CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Guest Commentary

Overcoming the Fear Factor Lack of consumer conﬁdence harms real estate market by Sandra Nickel

Today, we are bombarded with doomand-gloom scenarios, and we simply cannot look away. This breeds fear, and fearful people are understandably reluctant to buy 30-year mortgages.

Sandra Nickel

When I was a newly licensed real estate agent in the early 1980s, the economy was as bad as it is today. Unemployment was higher than 10 percent and mortgage rates were in the double digits. Yet, buyers were eager to become homeowners. They did not exhibit the intense fear that today’s potential home buyers have. Why? Well, let’s take a look at one major factor that has changed over the past 30 years: The power of the national media to inﬂuence mood and buying decisions has reached an unprecedented level. In 1980, CNN was born, soon followed by FOX, MSNBC and CNBC. And Al Gore had not yet “invented” the Internet.

The first challenge in unsticking the gears of real estate is restoring consumer confidence. Getting there is half the battle. But there are many things that Washington, the lending industry and our local business community can do to grease the wheels. And by the way, “we the people” have some responsibilities, too. WHAT WASHINGTON CAN DO OFFER TAX INCENTIVES. Continue to offer tax credits for first-time homebuyers, as they are mostly the ones absorbing the bargainpriced foreclosures and short sales that have pushed the number of homes for sale beyond the ideal ratio of six-months-supply (one half the total number of homes sold annually). REHABBERS INCENTIVES. Urge people to buy, renovate and either resell or rent distressed properties. Such incentives might include extending to non-owner occupants the FHA 203K program and reducing the capital gains tax on the resale of newly rehabbed properties. LOWER RATES. Continue through the Federal Reserve the purchase of mortgagebacked securities to hold mortgage rates at affordable levels. We can sell houses at rates higher than 5 percent, but a much higher rate will be a challenge. DECREASE REGULATIONS Resist adding burdensome regulations and ease or undo some well-intentioned, but impractical measures that prove a nightmare for real estate agents, lenders and closing agents – as well as the buyers whom they were intended to aid.

WHAT LENDERS CAN DO EASE CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFIED BORROWERS – BOTH OWNEROCCUPANTS AND INVESTORS. Until it is possible to obtain attractive conventional 30year financing on loans above the $271,050 FHA loan limit, much of Montgomery’s newer housing stock will sit unsold and builders will find it impossible to add new housing. SIMPLIFY AND STREAMLINE THE SHORT SALE PROCESS. Most buyers don’t have the time to wait the five to six months it takes to get the typical short sale approved and closed. One key step would be to hire and train people “with a servants’ heart,” who want to make things work rather than throwing up obstacles. MODIFY LOANS. While there has been a lot of talk about help for qualified homeowners, little has actually occurred. WHAT THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN DO CREATE NEW JOBS. The Central Alabama Sports Commission, founded to attract sports tourism, is one example, as tourism creates hospitality-industry jobs for people who are not qualified for high-tech positions. Another example is Gov. Riley’s “jump-starting jobs” legislation. Tell your representative we need that bill given priority on Goat Hill. INNOVATE. Create incentives for employees to become homeowners, as that will provide a more stable workforce. Such incentives might include an outright financial gift for down payment funds, or loans forgivable over time. It might also include funding “I lost my job” insurance, such as the Rainy Day Foundation. EDUCATE. Use newsletters or seminars to tell employees that NOW is a good time to buy. Prices are low, and people who buy now will enjoy the added equity certain to accrue as prices return to normal. In many areas, the cost to rent a home is 87 percent or more of the after-tax-mortgageCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

A GOOD TIME FOR HOME SWEET HOME

OVERCOMING THE FEAR FACTOR

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30)

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31)

short sale in lieu of foreclosure. This program will pay homeowners relocation money to persuade them to stay and sell at a loss.

payment on a home of similar size and amenities – the magic number where people will choose ownership over renting.

Taking effect on April 5, the program hopes to encourage hundreds of thousands of delinquent borrowers who have not been rescued by the loan modiﬁcation program to shed their houses through a process known as a short sale, in which the property is sold for less than the balance of the mortgage.

WHAT YOU AND I CAN DO

The Obama administration hopes this will keep a second wave of foreclosures from undermining or reversing the current economic recovery – the last thing anyone wants in an election year. The short sale is not a way for the borrower to just walk away – there are certain conditions that must be met in order to qualify. You have to have done everything you can, used all your savings, borrowed money to get current, lost your job or relocated to another area and have documentation to prove this. Don’t forget that your Realtor can be a great resource if you ﬁnd yourself unable to meet your mortgage obligations.

First, it’s time we redeﬁne the primary beneﬁts of home ownership. It had become the new norm to regard your “house” as a short-term investment with a built-in ATM. The real reason for home ownership is stability for one’s family, and the rewards of a settled neighborhood. The upside is that now is a great time to both buy and sell a home in Montgomery. Inventory is high, government incentives are in place and all signs point to a robust economic recovery through the year 2013. Just because the national media has led everyone to believe that real estate is not a sound investment, that doesn’t mean that’s the case in the River Region.

Young people also should be reminded that it’s important to start small and move up – to buy only what you can afford. It used to be that newly married couples would start out with a small, twobedroom cottage with a single bathroom. Now, young buyers expect everything their parents worked years to afford.

The American dream of home ownership is alive and well in our community! •

And ﬁnally, turn off the TV. Focus on what’s good about Montgomery. See the opportunities instead of the obstacles. Become a champion for your hometown. •

Sherry Weeks is owner of ERA Weeks & Browning Realty Inc.

Sandra Nickel is broker/owner of Sandra Nickel Hat Team, Realtors

Cost of Groceries Rises Slightly MONTGOMERY – Though the sweetest deals along grocery aisles in February included chocolates and candy hearts rather than chuck roasts and sweet potatoes, shoppers found that several staples were still affordable. According to the latest results from the Alabama Farmers Federation’s monthly food price survey, Alabama shoppers experienced a slight increase of 1.36 percent, or 71 cents, this month for 20 basic market items, which had a total average cost of $53.08. A signiﬁcant portion of this increase came from several items in the meat case. Pork chops were up 10 cents to $3.37 a pound; T-bone steaks were up 17 cents to $8.07 a pound; ground beef was up 10 cents to $2.41 a pound; chuck roasts were up 28 cents to $3.46 a pound; and bacon was up 22 cents to $4.15 a pound. Chicken breasts

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

were up 7 cents to $2.18 a pound, while whole fryers increased 2 cents to $1.21 a pound. While most meats were higher this month, shoppers did ﬁnd savings on Boston butts, down 3 cents to $1.57 a pound. Eggs were priced at $1.78 a dozen, an increase of 16 cents from January. News on the produce aisle was a little better this month as prices decreased a penny on average. Tomatoes were up 5 cents to $2.01 a pound, while red potatoes increased 5 cents to 79 cents a pound. Sweet potatoes also saw an increase, up 9 cents from January to 93 cents a pound. The savings on lettuce, however, more than made up for the increase on other vegetables. Lettuce was down 24 cents this month to $1.42 a head. Shoppers looking for savings in the dairy case found a pleasant surprise, as milk, ice cream,

cottage cheese and butter all decreased in price. Milk decreased 5 cents to $2.89 a half gallon, ice cream decreased 5 cents to $4.11 a half-gallon, butter decreased 2 cents to $3.60 a pound and cottage cheese decreased 8 cents to $2.55 a pound. Regional reports collected by volunteer shoppers throughout the state showed the market basket averaged $51.18 in Northeast Alabama, $51.22 in Northwest Alabama, $53.74 in Central Alabama and $56.86 in South Alabama. Alabama Farmers Federation, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, is the state’s largest farm organization. Its county members conduct the informal monthly market basket survey as a tool to reﬂect retail food price trends. •

Member News

BUSINESSBUZZ CENTURY 21 BRANDT WRIGHT REALTY, INC. RECOGNIZES AWARD-WINNING AGENTS

and Wetumpka markets, but has plans to expand to Montgomery and Dothan within the year. The new billboard will be located at 602 U.S. Highway 231 in Wetumpka.

MONTGOMERY – Century 21 Brandt Wright Realty, Inc. recently recognized the following Realtors as the company’s top producing sales associates: From the Montgomery ofﬁce: Top New Agent, Amanda Zink; Top Referral Agent, Mary Huey; Top Overall Agent, Kyle Richburg. From the Wetumpka ofﬁce: Top Referral Agent, Pam Stein; and Top Overall Agent, Clay Boshell. “These agents all excel with great dedication, knowledge and commitment to quality service to their clients. They are leaders in our local real estate market and an asset to homebuyers and sellers,” said owner Brandt Wright.

VINTAGE MEDIA ADDS HIGH-TECH BILLBOARD WETUMPKA – Local outdoor media company Vintage Media is adding a thirdgeneration digital billboard – the ﬁrst of its kind – to its outdoor advertising arsenal. The billboard’s manufacturer describes it as “the most advanced digital billboard ever.”

Amanda Zink

MONTGOMERY ZOO ANNOUNCES ZOO WEEKEND DATES

Pam Stein

MONTGOMERY – The Montgomery Zoo’s popular, twoday Zoo Weekend will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 24 and 25.

Mary Huey

Kyle Richburg

Vintage Media owner Tim Allen said the new LED display improves long-distance readability without distortion so it can provide real-time RSS feeds, such as breaking news, sports scores, stock quotes and weather updates.

Clay Boshell

The manufacturer, Watchfire Digital Outdoor, says the billboard is more energy efficient, more technologically advanced and even more user friendly. The billboard offers refined image quality along with “renowned durability,” Allen said. “I am very excited about this new technology, and I feel privileged to be the first outdoor media company in the world to put this technology to work,” Allen said. “This board will be a tremendous asset to Vintage Media’s competitive advantage.” Vintage Media currently has billboards in the Millbrook

Zoo Weekend will feature local and regional entertainment, performances by Ronald McDonald, a petting zoo, pony and camel rides, fun games and many other enjoyable activities. Admission is $7 for children ages 3 to 12, and $10 for ages 13 and up. Admission is free for Montgomery Zoo Friends and children age 2 and younger. Discounted annual Zoo and Mann Museum memberships will be available for sale at Zoo Weekend, and will become effective immediately.

BEASLEY ALLEN ANNOUNCES SECOND WINNER OF THE ‘Wii GIVE BACK!” CAMPAIGN MONTGOMERY – Beasley Allen Law Firm announced the Jimmie Hale Mission in Birmingham as (CONTINUED ON PAGE 34)

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33) the second organization selected as a recipient in its yearlong “Wii Give Back” campaign. The campaign will give one Wii gaming system to a deserving Alabama charity each month in 2010. The Wii is becoming popular as a therapeutic tool. The game console’s unique, motion-sensitive controller requires body movements similar to traditional therapy exercises, while engaging the brain and the imagination. Established in 1944, the Downtown Jimmie Hale Mission, Inc. is a Christian-based, nonproﬁt organization whose ministries include a homeless shelter for men, a shelter for women and children, recovery programs, learning centers and thrift stores. The mission plans to use the Wii gaming system at its Jessie’s Place location. “The Wii gaming system helps charitable organizations provide a little bit of normalcy to the folks they serve, with recreational and social activities,” said Beasley Allen Managing Shareholder Tom Methvin. In January, Beasley Allen presented a Wii to Harriet’s House in Demopolis.

SUPERINTENDENT JOINS A+ EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP BOARD MONTGOMERY – Dr. Jeff Langham, superintendent of education for Elmore County Public Schools, was recently elected to the board of directors for the A+ Education Partnership. “We are delighted that Dr. Langham has agreed to join our board,” said A+ Education Partnership President Caroline Novak. “He is an outstanding and forward-thinking superintendent, and his input will enrich our work to achieve great schools for every child.” 34

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Jeff Langham

A+ is an independent, nonproﬁt organization based in Montgomery that works statewide to achieve great schools for every child and a bright future for Alabama. Langham is currently in his second term as superintendent.

Camille Leonard

LWT HONORED WITH 47 ADDY AWARDS MONTGOMERY – LWT, a Montgomery-based marketing, media and interactive ﬁrm, received 47 ADDY Awards, more than any other local ﬁrm, in the American Advertising Federation – Montgomery’s 2009-2010 American Advertising Awards. LWT earned 10 gold ADDY Awards, 37 silver ADDY Awards, the Best of Show Public Service Award, two Judges Choice awards and the People’s Choice award. Cindy Scott was honored with the Silver Medal Award for outstanding contributions to advertising. And for the sixth consecutive year, LWT’s Camille Leonard was awarded Designer of the Year. The event was held February 20 at the Capital City Club in Montgomery.

BUSINESS BUZZ Celebrating its 51st year, LWT is one of Alabama’s ﬁrst advertising and marketing ﬁrms. The company recently placed sixth in the 2010 ranking of the top Alabama advertising agencies compiled by Business Alabama.

since July 2009. Among these are Ashley Miller Designs (www. ashleymillerdesigns.com), a local interior decorating business and Project: Start-Up winner; American Advertising Federation-Montgomery (www. montgomeryadfed.com), Montgomery’s local American Advertising Federation club; and AmeriFirst Bank (www. ameriﬁrstbank.com), a fullservice bank based in Union Springs, Ala., with branches located in the River Region.

SQUARE ROOT INTERACTIVE PARTNERS WITH KENTICO SOFTWARE

“Square Root Interactive continually looks for ways to expand its ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ viewpoint, and Kentico Software’s vision of creating a content management system (CMS) that ‘fits all needs’ blends well with the agency’s philosophy,” said Andy Martin, Square Root Interactive president and co-founder. Square Root Interactive has implemented a number of Web sites using Kentico’s flagship product, CMS for ASP.NET,

ICS offers a diverse portfolio of security-driven IT solutions for global businesses and government. The company is in its 12th year of providing state and federal agencies with IT security services and products, and has recently been awarded similar contracts by the State of Florida and the State of Alabama.

MIDLOTHIAN LABORATORIES SUPPORTS AMERICARES HUMANITARIAN AID WORK

Andy Martin

MONTGOMERY – Square Root Interactive, a Montgomerybased, full-service Web site design and development agency, has partnered with Kentico Software (www. kentico.com) to provide custom Web site solutions that meet the design, functionality and budgetary needs of companies and organizations. Square Root Interactive is Kentico’s ﬁrst Alabama-based partner to offer its easy-touse content management system (CMS) enabling nontechnical users to manage and update their Web sites.

these agencies are able to serve their citizens effectively and efﬁciently, each and every day,” he said.

Steve Goldsby

ICS AWARDED STATE OF MISSISSIPPI SECURITY CONTRACT MONTGOMERY – Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. (ICS), a full-service information security and technology consulting firm, is one of only five companies to be awarded a two-year contract by the State of Mississippi for IT security and risk assessment services. The contract will allow all Mississippi state, county and municipal agencies to acquire IT security and risk assessment services that meet the highest standards for legislative and regulatory compliance. “ICS is proud to continue our legacy of providing the highest quality information security and technology services to our state partners,” said Steve Goldsby, chief executive officer of ICS, Inc. “ICS understands the unique challenges that face agencies and institutions in state government, and we are recognized for providing solutions that help ensure

MONTGOMERY – Montgomerybased Midlothian Laboratories recently donated more than $3 million worth of essential vitamins and nutritional supplements to AmeriCares for people in the developing world living in extreme poverty and suffering from chronic malnutrition. The donation is enough to provide 90,000 people with a 30-day supply of vitamins that improve health and nutrition and prevent anemia in new mothers. AmeriCares is distributing the vitamins to hospitals and health clinics in Malawi, Kenya, Vietnam, North Korea and Gaza. “As a healthcare organization it is our responsibility to contribute to the needs of the ill and less fortunate in any way we can,” said President of Midlothian Laboratories Bryce Harvey. A division of Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc., Midlothian Laboratories is a pharmaceutical company that provides niche generic products to the U.S. market. Its home ofﬁce and distribution center are located in Montgomery.

Angela Stiff

COPPERWING WINS ADDY AWARDS, SPECIAL JUDGES AWARD MONTGOMERY – Copperwing picked up a Special Judges Award along with 16 ADDY Awards at the Montgomery Advertising Federation’s 50th Annual ADDY Awards. The Special Judges Award recognized Copperwing’s direct marketing campaign for Neptune Technology Group. Copperwing also earned ADDYs for its efforts on behalf of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s Montgomery Business Journal, Bella, Schreiber Water, the City of St. Jude, Jackson Thornton Asset Management, the Montgomery Airport Authority, Habitat for Humanity and First Community Bank. “We’re proud of the work we’ve done, and continue to do, for our clients,” said the ﬁrm’s founding partner and creative director, Angela Stiff. “While we love being recognized for our creativity, we never lose sight of the fact that it’s all in service to strategy, to build brands and fulﬁll a client’s needs. It’s that focus that continues to gain us respected new clients such as Montgomery Cancer Center – and it’s that which gives us the most pride.”

AUBURN MONTGOMERY RECOGNIZES WILSON AS OUTSTANDING BUSINESS LEADER MONTGOMERY – The Auburn Montgomery School of Business (CONTINUED ON PAGE 36)

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35) care organizations. This move brings Turenne & Associates into the dot.com world.

Jim Wilson III

Jennifer Solt

recognized Montgomery native Jim Wilson III, chairman of the board and chief executive ofﬁcer of Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC, as this year’s Outstanding Business Leader.

was presented the award at the American Advertising Federation-Montgomery Chapter’s 50th Anniversary ADDY Awards Gala at the Capital City Club on Feb. 20.

Wilson joined the family business in 1988, serving as vice president of ﬁnance for the multi-faceted, multimillion-dollar corporation. In 2007, he assumed the role of chairman of the board and CEO for Jim Wilson & Associates, managing the diverse ﬁnancial holdings and investments for the Wilson family.

The ADDY award presented to 24 Communications was the only one in its category of Mixed/Multiple Media, National, Business-to-Business Campaign. Credits go to Jennifer L. Solt, creative director and copywriter, and Rondall Scott III, designer.

Jim Wilson & Associates is currently developing New Park, a 1,500-acre residential community featuring single and multi-family residences, retail, recreation areas, a YMCA and James W. Wilson Jr. Elementary School in east Montgomery. Redstone Technology Park is a mixed-use, master-planned development located adjacent to the main gate to Redstone Arsenal, a U.S. Army post that is home to over 2,300 full-time military personnel and over 20,000 workers.

24 COMMUNICATIONS WINS SILVER ADDY AWARD MONTGOMERY – 24 Communications, a Montgomery-based boutique advertising agency, was recognized for advertising excellence with a silver ADDY Award for a multi-media national campaign developed for ICS, Inc. 24 Communications

The ADDY Awards is a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation. The awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.

The Compliance Store is a one-stop Web site offering the most current regulatory and support documents for quick referencing or downloading, among other useful features. The company will be managed by Turenne PharMedCo, Inc., a full-line medical supply distributor, Medicare billing agent, and long-term care pharmacy from that company’s distribution complex in Montgomery Industrial Park.

The Feb. 16 ceremony recognized Alfa’s best agents and managers for their dedicated work and commitment to policyholders. Bradford has served as an Alfa agent for 21 years and serves policyholders at 4331 Atlanta Highway. This is the 16thstraight DSA award for Bradford. He is past-president of the Montgomery Life underwriters, and in 2002 was named Advisor of the Year by that organization.

“This is truly an exciting milestone for our company,” said Roger Turenne, owner. “As a resident-focused company, The Compliance Store gives us one more tool, one more way we can provide the highest quality of resident care.” Since building the facilities in 2009, PharMedCo has grown its stafﬁng by 20 percent. In addition to PharMedCo and The Compliance Store, Turenne & Associates operates three skilled nursing facilities and a subacute rehabilitation company.

Jim Leonard

David Allred

LWT DONATES 24 HOURS TO NON-PROFITS

Roger Turenne

Billy Bradford

TURENNE & ASSOCIATES ACQUIRES ONLINE HEALTH CARE RESOURCE

ALFA AGENT RECEIVES PRO AWARD

MONTGOMERY – Turenne & Associates, LLC, a health care management company headquartered in Montgomery, announced it has acquired The Compliance Store, a leading online resource for health

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Alfa Insurance agent Billy Bradford received the PRO award for 2009 during the company’s annual awards ceremony in Birmingham.

MONTGOMERY – LWT, a Montgomery-based marketing, media and interactive firm, is closing its doors Oct. 7 to aid local nonprofit organizations in their individual marketing efforts. The firm is inviting organizations to submit applications for CreateAthon, a 24-hour creative blitz during which staff members provide marketing and creative services to select River Region nonprofits free of charge. These services may include conceptual development,

BUSINESS BUZZ copywriting and design on projects such as brochures, direct mail, outdoor boards, identity/logo development, marketing plans, Web site development and others. “CreateAthon has become part of the fabric of LWT,” said Jim Leonard, LWT partner. “This event allows us to stay deeply connected to the community and allows an opportunity for every LWT employee to give back to area organizations in need. It’s just the right thing to do.” The deadline for applications is June 4. Organizations selected to receive the pro bono services will be announced by June 25. Please visit www.lwtconnect. com for an application or call Cindy Scott at 334.244.9933 for more information.

Brian Key

COPPERWING NAMED AGENCY OF RECORD FOR MONTGOMERY CANCER CENTER MONTGOMERY – Copperwing has been selected by Montgomery Cancer Center as its new agency of record for integrated branding and creative marketing services. “Copperwing is excited and extremely proud to partner with them, and to use our brand management tools to build even more awareness of what they can do,” said Brian Key, Copperwing Account Executive.

Montgomery Cancer Center, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2010, is a community oncology center with national recognition. The center was among the first outpatient facilities of its kind, performing cancer care in a physician office setting. At its main site in Montgomery, Montgomery Cancer Center offers the convenience of modern cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment at one campus. Montgomery Cancer Center is staffed by 14 physicians and 225 employees, and is recognized as a leader in the fields of oncology and imaging. “To get our message out, and to acknowledge and celebrate 20 years of service, we went to Copperwing. The professionalism and responsiveness of the Copperwing team was an

immediate draw for us,” said Venty Butts, Montgomery Cancer Center administrator. Copperwing will also head all branding efforts for Carmichael Imaging and Montgomery Breast Center, subsidiaries of Montgomery Cancer Center.

MARRIOTT TO OPEN FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES HOTEL IN MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY – Fairﬁeld Inn & Suites by Marriott is scheduled to open its 105-room Montgomery location in April. Located at 8970 EastChase Parkway, the Fairﬁeld Inn & Suites Montgomery EastChase will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by Peachtree Hotel Group of Atlanta. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 38)

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

BUSINESS BUZZ (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37) Located 17 miles from the Montgomery Regional Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Montgomery, the hotel offers guests convenient access to the Shoppes at EastChase, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Halcyon Summit, Alabama TechnaCenter, Montgomery Industrial Park and Auburn University at Montgomery. Rates begin at $119 per night. “This hotel offers business and leisure travelers convenient, quality accommodations at an affordable price. We look forward to welcoming guests and providing the friendly service that sets Fairﬁeld Inn & Suites apart,” said Brian King, senior vice president, Select Service and Extended Stay Brand Management, Marriott International.

HANDS UPLIFTED’ EXHIBIT TO HONOR CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT PARTICIPANTS MONTGOMERY – A new permanent exhibit honoring men and women who contributed to the civil rights movement opened in March at Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum. The “Hands Uplifted for Freedom and Justice” exhibit will consist of more than 50 bronze handprints of people who played various roles in the civil rights movement throughout the ’50s, ’60s and early ’70s. Project Originator/Coordinator Janet Adams of Montgomery said she envisioned the exhibit as a way to honor civil rights movement participants whose service is less widely known. “For every well-known participant, there were many others whose dedication and service gave the movement its solid base,” Adams said. “These faces in the crowd joined protest organizations, spearheaded

student demonstrations, attended rallies, raised their voices in song, and sheltered outsiders who came to offer moral support.” Adams worked with Dr. Gwen Patton, a civil rights participant, author and archivist, to identify individuals to be included in the exhibit. Activists whose handprints will be on display include Ruby Nell Sales from Columbus, Ga., the Rev. Bob Graetz, Judge Thomas Gray and Ameila Boynton Robinson.

The Greater Montgomery Insurance Professionals is an industry association whose members meet monthly to discuss current insurance topics, continue their education, network with other insurance professionals and enhance the industry image through community service.

TROY UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY, SHRM TO HOST EMPLOYMENT SKILLS WORKSHOP MONTGOMERY – Troy University Montgomery and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Montgomery Chapter will host an Employment Skills Workshop to help participants in their job search during these very tough economic times.

Trey Starke

STARKE AGENCY PRESIDENT NAMED BOSS OF THE YEAR MONTGOMERY – Starke Agency, Inc., an insurance brokerage and risk management company based in Montgomery, announced that Trey Starke, president of Starke Agency, was named Boss of the Year by the Greater Montgomery Insurance Professionals (GMIP). Starke was chosen from a ﬁeld of six nominees by a team of three judges. He was nominated by Judy Payne, GMIP member. “Mr. Starke was selected Boss of the Year based on his twenty-six years of dedication and service to the insurance industry,” said Donna Bibb, GMIP president. “It was evident from the nomination essay that Mr. Starke is not only dedicated to the insurance industry, but to God ﬁrst, then his family, employees and community.”

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

The workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 4, at the Troy University Montgomery campus. It will focus on a variety of areas designed to improve job search techniques, including resume writing, interviewing etiquette, using technology and social networking in the job search and polishing your presentation skills. Workshop speakers are seasoned human resource professionals from various industries, many of whom have extensive experience in selecting candidates for positions. The deadline to register is April 15. To register, visit SHRM Montgomery’s Web site at http://shrmmontgomery. shrm.org. The cost is $10, and seating is limited to the ﬁrst 140 conﬁrmed registrants. Or pick up a registration form in the lobby of Whitley Hall, 231 Montgomery St., and then mail your payment to P.O. Box 231056, Montgomery, AL 36123.

Linda Browder

BNI NAMES BROWDER VP OF MY MARKETING TEAM CHAPTER MONTGOMERY – Linda M. Browder, SPHR director of Strategic Placement Services, LLC, was recently named vice president of the My Marketing Team chapter of Business Networking International. Browder is the immediate past president of the Family Guidance Center, and former president of the Society for Human Resources Management Montgomery. The BNI chapter meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at the Marriott Courtyard in Prattville. Strategic Placement Services is a full-service stafﬁng and human resources consulting ﬁrm and a division of Wilson, Price, Barranco, Blankenship & Billingsley CPAs. To submit your business news for publication, email a press release to editor@montgomerychamber. com. Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Members only.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE MELISSA JOHNSON NAMED BAPTIST EAST CFO MONTGOMERY – Melissa Johnson has been appointed chief financial Melissa Johnson officer of Baptist Medical Center East. She has more than 14 years of healthcare financial management experience with HMA, Inc. Before joining Baptist East, Melissa was chief financial officer of Natchez Community Hospital in Natchez, Miss. Her work history includes serving as controller at Venice Regional Medical Center in Venice, Fla., and as director of Patient Financial Services at Riverview Regional in Gadsden. Melissa received her master’s of business and public administration from Jacksonville State University and her Bachelor’s from Auburn University. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Financial Management Associates and Rotary Club. STARKE AGENCY ADDS COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT ADVISOR MONTGOMERY – Starke Agency, Inc., an insurance brokerage and Robert Weldon risk management company, announced the addition of Robert W. Weldon, CIC as a Commercial Account Advisor. Weldon will take over the clients of Betty Vincent, CIC, CISR, a longtime employee who retired in March with more than 29 years of service at Starke Agency. A graduate of Auburn University and originally a Montgomery resident, Weldon has more than 23 years of experience in the insurance industry. “With Robert’s experience and vast knowledge of the insurance industry, he will complement our values of being an advocate for our clients. Furthermore, Robert will help Starke Agency continue

onward in our mission to give clients confidence moving forward,” said Trey Starke, CPCU, CIC, president of Starke Agency. GOODWYN, MILLS AND CAWOOD HIRES ARCHITECT MONTGOMERY – Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. announced Elia Sorice a new addition to their architecture department. Elia Sorice joins GM&C as a recent honors graduate of the University of Notre Dame Architecture School. While studying at the University, she was awarded an Excellence in Classical Design award and the Dean’s Undergraduate Award for Design Excellence for her exemplary thesis work. Sorice also studied abroad in Rome and took part in the Parson’s Summer Intensive Studies Program in New York City. She specializes in traditional design and urban planning. Currently Sorice is working on designs for the new Selma High School. ALFA INSURANCE NAMES RUTLEDGE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MONTGOMERY – Alfa Insurance announced the promotion of Steve Rutledge to Executive Vice President for Business Development. Rutledge, who has served as Alfa’s chief financial officer and senior vice president of investments, will oversee corporate development, marketing strategy, product development, property and casualty, actuary and research activities of the company as well as provide guidance for Alfa’s Internet, call center and communications activities. “Steve’s experience in working with all departments of the company, as well as his understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the insurance industry

as a whole, will serve Alfa well as we work to improve customer service, develop new products and expand our customer base,” said Alfa President and CEO Jerry Newby. Rutledge said he appreciates the opportunity to further develop Alfa’s capabilities to serve its policyholders. “Our vision includes an expanded product portfolio delivered through a professional agency force supported by our Internet and call center initiatives,” Rutledge said. “We are investing in all of the tools needed to be the market leader in personal service.” A 25-year veteran of Alfa, Rutledge began his career as a securities analyst in the Investments Department. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University and is a CPA. ELWELL NAMED AUM PROVOST MONTGOMERY – Auburn University Montgomery Chancellor John Veres announced Jeffery Elwell that Dr. Jeffery Elwell has been chosen to become the school’s ﬁrst provost. Elwell will serve as the university’s chief academic ofﬁcer and will replace the position previously called vice chancellor for academic affairs. He will oversee many of the day-to-day operations of the campus, in addition to joining the university’s faculty as a tenured professor in the Department of Communication and Dramatic Arts. “I am absolutely thrilled to have someone of Dr. Elwell’s broad academic experience and high energy level in this key position,” Veres said. Elwell served for six years as professor and dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at East Carolina University. He will begin work June 22. “I am delighted and humbled by the opportunity to become a member of Chancellor Veres’ leadership team and CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

CONTINUED ON FROM PAGE 39

work with the faculty to bring Auburn Montgomery to even greater prominence,” said Elwell. “My family and I are looking forward to moving to Montgomery and becoming involved in the community.” WATKINS WINS PRESTIGIOUS RE/MAX AWARD Pat Watkins with RE/MAX of Montgomery recently received the Platinum Pat Watkins Club Award at the RE/MAX International Convention in Orlando. The award is achieved by just 4 percent of agents in the RE/MAX network. Watkins has been a real estate agent for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in residential sales. She has received several past awards and recognitions, including Chairman’s Club and Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame. Her designations include Certiﬁed Residential Specialist, Graduate of Realtor Institute, Senior Residential Specialist and Accredited Buyers Representative.

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

ANGELA HARRISON JOINS CAREER PERSONNEL MONTGOMERY – Jack Rainer, President of Career Personnel, Angela Harrison announced that Angela Harrison has joined the firm as operations manager. She will oversee the internal staff as well as spearheading Career Personnel’s business expansion in the River Region. “Angela brings extensive staffing and human resource experience to our firm,” Rainer said. “Before joining us, she was an HR account manager for the third-largest staffing firm worldwide. She also managed the HR functions of a multi-million dollar call center account. Angela is well versed in medical and physician recruiting, so we look forward to building in that sector as well.” In addition to the HR field, Angela is a former City of Montgomery police officer. Career Personnel has been in business for 51 years and is the oldest staffing firm in the River Region.

FAITH RADIO HIRES DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY RELATIONS Faith Radio announced the hiring of Billy Irvin in the position of director Billy Irvin of ministry relations. He will be responsible for planning Faith Radio fundraising, making personal visits and speaking at churches and public events that promote Christ at work. Irvin participates in an on-air ministry team, making remote broadcasts throughout Alabama, southwest Georgia and the Florida panhandle – a potential audience of 750,000 listeners. “Faith Radio is a regular part of my daily life and has taught me to be a better father, husband, bible teacher and follower of Christ,” Irvin said. Irvin has more than 25 years’ experience in computer technology and software design, and ﬁve years’ experience in radio broadcasting. Faith Broadcasting, Inc. (WLBF -89.1FM) is a nonproﬁt Christian radio station based in Montgomery.

BB&T NAMES GUY DAVIS CITY EXECUTIVE FOR MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY – BB&T named R. Guy Davis Jr. city executive for Montgomery. Davis brings more than 20 years of commercial banking and insurance experience to the position. The North Guy Davis Carolina-based BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is the nation’s 10th largest financial holding company. “We are pleased to welcome Guy to BB&T. He brings a strong background to the position in both commercial banking and commercial real estate in the Montgomery market. He will add depth and experience to this area,” said Jodie Hughes, regional president for South Alabama. Davis comes to BB&T from The Cone Company, a local insurance firm. Prior to that, he had served as area president for BankTrust since 2000. A native of Montgomery, Davis is a board member of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the River Region United Way, serving as the 2010 Campaign Chairman. He serves on the boards of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Montgomery Zoological Society. He is a member of the Montgomery Lions Club and the Montgomery Area Committee of 100. Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. •

STERIS Corporation, Montgomery named Alabama’s 2010 Medium Manufacturer of the Year MONTGOMERY – The Business Council of Alabama announced that STERIS Corporation, Montgomery was named Alabama’s 2010 Medium Manufacturer of the Year. The Medium Alabama Manufacturer of the Year award goes to a manufacturing company with 100-399 employees that has demonstrated superior performance in the areas of customer focus, employee commitment, operational excellence, continuous improvement, proﬁtable growth and investment in training and retraining. STERIS Corporation, Montgomery is a leading provider to infection prevention and surgical products and services for the health care industry, serving thousands of customers in 60 countries. The Montgomery facility’s 260 employees produce a variety of products for the operating room and surgical environment. The award was given by The Business Council of Alabama and The Alabama Technology Network, in partnership with The Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and The National Association of Manufacturers at a luncheon March 24. Look for more coverage of the prestigious award in the May issue of the Montgomery Business Journal. • April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GROUND BREAKINGS

HERE WE GROW AGAIN

TURNER AND EAVES INSURANCE AGENCY 9190 Boyd Cooper Parkway Montgomery, AL 318-6005 Adrianne Eaves and Garnet Turner, Owners Insurance Companies/Services & Financial Services

BLUE HERON CAFÉ The Waters 61 Bridge Street Pike Road, AL 36064 272-3200 Christi Millo, Accountant Restaurants

TRENHOLM STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE Automotive Services Building 3920 Troy Highway Montgomery, AL 420-4200 Sam Munnerlyn, President Colleges/Universities

New Members AccountingTax Returns ALABAMA BOOKKEEPING, LLC. Katie Lockhart 2926 Chestnut Street Montgomery, AL 36107 334-221-9980

Aluminum Extrusion/ Heat Exchange THERMALEX, INC. Mel Johnson 2758 Gunter Park Drive West Montgomery, AL 36109-1016 334-272-8270

Associations/ Non-Proﬁt MAGGIE STREET COMMUNITY Development Corporation Derrick Dean 642 Maggie Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-221-8692

Beneﬁt Administration/ Beneﬁt Broker RHYNE & SON INSURANCE Daniel H. Rhyne P.O. Box 11688 Montgomery, AL 36111-0688 334-272-2424

Computers-Software/ Hardware/Consulting SKR, INC. Dusty Rhodes 715 turkey Trail Wetumpka, AL 36093 334-514-1587

Employment Agencies

Private Clubs

LABOR FINDERS Derl Fields P.O. Box 70491 Montgomery, AL 36107-0491 334-264-4506

ARROWHEAD COUNTRY CLUB John Cargill 50 Ocala Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-7180

Government Agency

Private Schools

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Evette Hester 1020 Bell Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-206-7200

Hotels/Motels HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MONTGOMERY Lorna Wright 4273 Troy Highway Montgomery, AL 36116 334-288-8844

Insurance-Life LIBERTY NATIONAL LIFE 012 Marcus Rich 2524 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-272-8629

Legal Services Attorneys JEFF PATTERSON, LLC Jeff Patterson Park Place Center-Suite 204 8650 Minnie Brown Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-215-4446

Pharmacies PARKS PHARMACY, INC. Demetrius Parks 1323-A Mulberry Plaza Montgomery, AL 36106 334-264-1416

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

EVANGEL CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL Rosemary Hean 3975 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-273-0730

THE CHOP HOUSE AT THE VINTAGE YEAR Patrick Skelton 405 Cloverdale Road Montgomery, AL 36106-1801 334-264-8463

Surveying ALABAMA LAND SURVEYORS, INC. James Monk 1900 Brooks Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-264-0266

Publications

Telecommunications

EXPLORE MONTGOMERY Pam Mashburn 7956 Vaughn Road #331 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-201-8787

UNLIMITED WIRELESS John Cosby 2301 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-649-2491

Publishing Companies

Television Stations

MILE MARKER MEDIA. INC. Wayne Goble P.O. Box 680549 Prattville, AL 36068 334-491-9995

ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION Mary Davis 1255 Madison Avenue Montgomery, AL 36107-1829 334-264-9900

Real Estate-Agents MURLEE HARRIS-ARONOV REALTY Murlee Harris 7027 Halcyon Park Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 334-221-0283

Restaurants STEAK OUT Si Mathison 3271 Malcolm Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 334-270-0747

ECONOMIC INTEL Unemployment Data Area

Civilian Labor Force

Unemployment Rate

Jan p 2010

Dec r 2009

Jan r 2009

Jan p 2010

Dec r 2009

Jan r 2009

162,315

162,514

168,291

11.20%

10.00%

8.40%

Autauga County

23,213

23,360

24,160

10.20%

9.50%

7.80%

Prattville City

15,048

15,134

15,643

8.60%

7.90%

6.10%

Elmore County

34,116

34,103

35,396

10.30%

9.00%

7.60%

Lowndes County

4,661

4,618

4,983

17.50%

15.50%

17.50%

Montgomery County

100,326

100,433

103,752

11.40%

10.20%

8.40%

Montgomery City

90,614

90,743

93,770

11.20%

10.10%

8.30%

Birmingham-Hoover MA

495,770

496,673

522,507

11.00%

9.90%

7.80%

Birmingham City

92,566

92,702

97,159

13.20%

12.10%

9.70%

199,121

199,272

203,167

9.10%

8.10%

6.40%

Montgomery MA

Huntsville MA Huntsville City Mobile MA Mobile City Alabama, Not Seaonally Adj. United States Not Seaonally Adj.

87,931

88,134

90,061

8.70%

7.80%

6.30%

178,511

178,226

184,370

12.60%

11.40%

8.30%

83,194

83,061

85,910

12.80%

11.60%

8.50%

2,054,518

2,055,850

2,134,266

11.80%

10.60%

8.70%

152,957,000

152,693,000

153,445,000

10.60%

9.70%

8.50%

pPreliminary rRevised Counties and Metropolitan Areas are comparable to the not seasonally adjusted labor force data.Estimates prepared by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations in Cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, based on 2009 benchmark.

Montgomery Metro Market Home Sales Current Month JAN 10

Last Month DEC 09

Month/Month % Change

Last Year JAN 09

Year/Year % Change

Statewide JAN 10

191

260

-26.54%

171

11.70%

2,072

Median Selling Price

$110,000

$128,848

-14.63%

$109,460

0.49%

$118,762

Average Selling Price

$133,574

$146,808

-9.01%

$126,721

5.41%

$138,991

105

17.98%

100

5.00%

153

3,082

2,954

4.33%

3,160

-2.47%

38,178

Total Home Sales

Average Days on Market Total Homes Listed

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

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Montgomery Regional Airport Current Month FEB 10

Last Year FEB 09

Year over Year % Change

YTD 2010

YTD 2009

Year over Year % Change

835

764

9.3%

1,780

1,643

8.3%

Total Operations

4,423

4,985

-11.3%

10,213

10,389

-1.7%

Enplanements

12,349

10,084

22.5%

25,106

19,546

28.4%

Deplanements

11,768

9,660

21.8%

24,969

19,732

26.5%

Total Passengers

24,117

19,744

22.1%

50,075

39,278

27.5%

Air Carrier Operations

Source: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) Dannelly Field

Sales Tax Collections Current Month FEB10

Last Year FEB 09

Year over Year % Change

YTD 2010

YTD 2009

Montgomery County

$2,848,672

$2,972,561

-4.17%

$6,556,345

$6,920,621

-5.26%

City of Montgomery

$6,348,854

$6,450,158

-1.57%

$14,767,008

$14,776,708

-0.07%

Pike Road

$143,305

$45,925

212.04%

$328,725

$90,579

262.92%

Autauga County

$576,910

$566,509

1.84%

$1,250,605

$1,234,351

1.32%

Prattville

$915,225

$990,182

-7.57%

$2,440,059

$2,538,113

-3.86%

Elmore County

$617,123

$629,828

-2.02%

$2,440,059

$2,538,113

-3.86%

Wetumpka

$390,891

$445,803

-12.32%

$896,493

$965,983

-7.19%

Millbrook

$396,625

$372,633

6.44%

$932,324

$865,509

7.72%

Sources: Montgomery County Commission, City of Montgomery, City of Pike Road, Autauga County Commission, City of Prattville, Elmore County Commission, City of Wetumpka, City of Millbrook

Year over Year % Change

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Airline Fares

Hyundai Sales

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

Montgomery

Birmingham

VEHICLE

Feb 2010

Feb 2009

YTD 2010

YTD 2009

Atlanta

Accent

5,308

4,334

11,055

7,894

7,506

4,743

12,812

13,251

7,966

8,978

15,656

12,285

Baltimore (BWI)

$315

$250

$221

Sonata

Boston (BOS)

$411

$366

$363

Elantra

Charlotte, NC (CLT)”

$297

$217

$208

Tiburon

629

1,019

Chicago (ORD)

$409

$303

$270

Santa Fe

7,964

5,223

15,168

10,247

Cincinnati (CVG)

$250

$174

$271

Azera

204

322

473

616

2,741

1,358

4,957

2,332

2,490

2,712

Dallas/Ft Worth (QDF)

$287

$233

$297

Tucson

Denver (DEN)

$408

$352

$304

Entourage

Detroit (DTW)

$415

$336

$291

Veracruz

553

1,281

954

2,458

Houston (QHO)

$372

$217

$290

Genesis

1,762

1,263

3,432

2,319

Indianapolis (IND)

$348

$242

$252

Total

34,004

30,621

64,507

55,133

Las Vegas (LAS)

$477

$374

$362

Los Angeles (LAX)

$376

$364

$279

Memphis (MEM)

$487

$348

$220

Miami (MIA)

$326

$239

$149

Nashville (BNA)

$248

$173

$290

New Orleans (MSY)

$248

$196

$253

New York (JFK)

$388

$314

$304

Orlando (MCO)

$318

$237

$304

Philadelphia (PHL)

$358

$232

$287

Pittsburgh (PIT)

$353

$260

$249

St Louis (STL)

$314

$205

$247

Seattle (SEA)

$393

$340

$427

Seoul, Korea (SEL)”

$1,372

$1,188

$1,177

Tampa (TPA)

$313

$238

$214

Washington DC (DCA)

$386

$290

$266

Source: Hyundai Motor America

Date of travel: April 12-18. Date of pricing: March 14. Source: travelocity.com

National Retail Sales Retail Store

Year

Wal-Mart

2010

Target Sam’s Club Costco Dollar General Best Buy JCPenney Kohl’s

(Monthly and Quarterly) January

February

2009

+2.1%

+5.0%

2010

+0.5%

+2.4%

2009

-3.3%

-2.0%

2010

Retail Store

Year

Gap

2010

+2%

+0%

2009

-18%

-12%

2010

-2.1%

-3.2%

2009

+1.0%

-0.9%

2010

-1.1%

+0.4%

2009

+0.4%

Rite Aid

-4.1% +0.7%

2009

+2.4%

+5.9%

2010

+0%

+2%

2009

+4%

2009

+9.4%

2008

+0.4%

2010

+8.2%

2009

-4.9%

2010

-4.6%

+1.2%

2009

-16.4%

-8.8%

2010

+6.5%

+3.7%

2009

-13.4%

-1.6%

Walgreens AutoZone Burger King Wendy’s Arby’s

January

February

-1.9%

2010

+1.0%

2009

+6.0%

2010

-3.3%

2009

+1.9%

2010

-3.0%

2009

+3.7%

2010

-11.0%

2009

-8.5%

U.S. same store sales compiled from 10-Q and 10-K forms (excluding fuel sales). Source: RetailerDaily.com

April 2010 Montgomery Business Journal

Quarterly Reports Name

Quarterly Revenues

Net Income

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Estimate

Year-ago Revenues

Year-ago Net Income

Hot Topic

$214.2M

$8M

$0.18

$238M

$14.2M

Sales slump continued

Men’s Wearhouse

$457.2M

(-$18.9M)

(-$0.36)

(-$0.16)

$476.4M

$1.5M

Same-store sales fell 7.1%

Books-A-Million

$157.2M

$11.9M

$0.76

$0.71

$164.7M

$11.2M

Sales declined 4.6%

Hibbett Sports

$166.8M

$11.8M

$0.40

$0.31

$147.9M

$7.6M

Proﬁt jumped 55%

Kirkland’s

$142.8M

$22.1M

$1.08

$0.81

$133.6M

$15M

Quarterly proﬁt surged 47%

AnnTaylor

$469.1M

$41M

$0.00

(-$0.01)

$483.4M

(-$375.6M)

PaciﬁcSunwear

$293M

(-$36M)

(-$0.56)

(-$0.29)

$352M

$27M

Big Lots

$1.5B

$105.4M

$1.27

$1.28

$1.4B

$78.8M

$355.2M

(-$48.2M)

(-$2.84)

$0.15

$355.5M

(-$136.9M)

Costco

$18.8B

$299M

$0.67

$0.72

$16.9B

$239M

AutoZone

$1.5B

$123.3M

$2.46

$2.35

$1.4B

$115.9M

Domino’s Pizza

$462.9M

$23.6M

$0.41

$0.25

$428.2M

$11M

Haverty Furniture

$162.4M

$9.2M

$0.42

$0.13

$161.8M

(-$9.3M)

$1.8B

$79.5M

$1.08

$0.92

$2B

(-$149.3M)

$3.1B

$356.1M

$1.08

$0.98

$3B

N/A

Slashed costs, tightened inventory

Blockbuster

$1.1B

(-$435M)

(-$2.24)

(-$0.17)

$1.3B

(-$360M)

Will close up to 545 stores in 2010

Papa John’s

$125.1M

$13.7M

$0.49

$0.37

$129.9M

$12.8M

Proﬁt increased 7%

$5.7B

$431M

$1.40

$1.37

$5.2B

$336M

Plan to open 30 stores in 2010

$4.2B

$352M

$0.51

$0.50

$4.1B

$243M

Old Navy same-store sales up 7%

Lowe’s

$10.2B

$205M

$0.14

$0.12

$10B

$162M

Quarterly proﬁt rose for ﬁrst time since 2007

JC Penney

$5.5B

$200M

$0.84

$0.82

$5.8B

$211M

Proﬁt declined 5.2%

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

$182.2M

$1.6M

$0.10

$0.15

$198.6M

$5.8M

Proﬁt fell 72%

Walmart

$112.8B

$4.6B

$1.21

$1.12

N/A

$3.8B

First sales decline in U.S. division

Winn-Dixie

$2.2B

$2.1M

$0.04

(-$0.16)

$2.3B

$16.1M

Abercrombie & Fitch

$2.9B

$48M

$0.53

$0.89

$3.5B

$68M

Proﬁt decline tied to closing Ruehl Stores

CVS Caremark

$25.8B

$1B

$0.74

$0.78

$24.1B

$949M

Proﬁt rose 11%

Marriott International

$3.4B

$106M

$0.28

$0.26

$3.8B

(-$10M)

Revenue per available room increased to 2% from -2%

Target

$20.2B

$936M

$1.24

$1.16

$19.7B

$609M

Proﬁt jumped 54%

TJX (T.J. Maxx, Marshalls)

$5.9B

$395M

$0.94

$0.91

$5.4B

$251M

Revenue increased 10.4%

Dine Equity (Applebee’s, IHOP)

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

Kohl’s Gap (Old Navy, Banana Republic)

Source: PR Newswire and Charles Schwab wire services

Montgomery Business Journal April 2010

Notable

Same-store sales dropped 7.3% Sales fell 19% Profit increased 34% Margins at Applebee’s rose to 13.4% from 10.7% Revenue increased 11% Profit rose 6% Ad campaign of new recipe, better taste drives up sales, profit Cut total expenses from $86.5M to $78.6M Cut costs and reduced inventory

Year-ago results included $22.4M from insurance settlement

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