APRIL 2023
LEADING THE WAY HELENA DUNCAN IS THE NEW PRESIDENT, CEO OF THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA
Page 36 COLLEGE 12 NEW PRESIDENTS TAKE THE HELM
PICKING THE RIGHT ACCOUNTANT
32 FOR YOUR BUSINESS
SPOTLIGHT ON ETOWAH,
39 ST. CLAIR, BLOUNT COUNTIES $4.95
BusinessAlabama.com
APRIL 2023
Volume 38 / Number 4
CONTENTS
41
Matthias Goetz came to Alabama for a job at Fehrer, but he found a new home in Gadsden. Photo by Joe De Sciose.
Features 12
EDUCATION NEW AT THE TOP Three new presidents take the helm at universities in Alabama.
15
TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP Entrepreneurs in residence, on-campus business accelerators and more boost startup businesses at Alabama colleges.
20
BACK INTO THE WAR ZONE UAB surgeon John Holcomb volunteers to help in war-torn Ukraine.
25
NEW ATHENS STATE LAB HELPS TEACHERS PRESENT STEM TO LITTLE ONES Northrop Grumman is a benefactor to new education lab.
4 | BusinessAlabama.com April 2023
30
32
EVENTS THE INAUGURAL BUSINESS ALABAMA AWARDS Winners honored in seven categories, plus five Lifetime Achievement honorees. ACCOUNTING PICKING THE CORRECT ACCOUNTANT FOR YOUR BUSINESS Some tips to help you find the best fit for your needs.
36
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS LEADING THE WAY BCA’s new CEO is advocating for businesses in Alabama.
66
RETROSPECT FORGING INDUSTRY James W. Sloss and his furnaces.
30
30: The Business Alabama Awards celebrated the best in Alabama business. 15: University of Alabama student entrepreneurs. 12: Dr. Charles Karr is the University of Alabama in Huntsville's 10th president.
On the Cover: Helena Duncan leads the Business Council of Alabama, advocating for businesses across the state. Photo by Art Meripol.
TOP RANK 22 ALABAMA’S INCUBATORS 35 LARGEST ACCOUNTING FIRMS IN ALABAMA SPECIAL SECTION 61 BUSINESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA GEOGRAPHIC SPOTLIGHT 39 ETOWAH, ST. CLAIR AND BLOUNT COUNTIES
15
Departments 7
65
68 69 71
12
71
BENCHMARKS: MONTHLY BUSINESS NEWS BRIEFING COMPANY KUDOS: A MONTH OF ACHIEVEMENTS CAREER NOTES: WHO’S MOVING UP BA INDEX: HUNDREDS OF LEADS EACH MONTH HISTORICAL ALABAMA: A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE ALABIZ QUIZ: TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
April 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 5
APRIL 2023 BusinessAlabama.com Volume 38 / Number 4
PUBLISHER Walker Sorrell / wsorrell@pmtpublishing.com ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Stephen Potts / snpotts@pmtpublishing.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alec Harvey / alec@pmtpublishing.com EDITOR Erica Joiner West / ewest@pmtpublishing.com COPY EDITOR Nedra Bloom / nedra@pmtpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR Vic Wheeler / ads@pmtpublishing.com DIGITAL EDITOR Anne Emerson Sorrell / aesorrell@pmtpublishing.com ACCOUNTING Keith Crabtree / acct@pmtpublishing.com ADMINISTRATION/OFFICE MANAGER Lauren Sullivan / lsullivan@pmtpublishing.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Birmingham: 205-802-6363 Hal Cain / Ext. 111 / hcain@pmtpublishing.com Lee Mills / Ext. 102 / lmills@pmtpublishing.com Mobile: 251-473-6269 Joe Hyland / Ext. 214 / jhyland@pmtpublishing.com DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED MEDIA & EVENTS Sheila Wardy / swardy@pmtpublishing.com BIRMINGHAM OFFICE 3324 Independence Drive / Homewood, AL 35209 205-802-6363 MOBILE OFFICE 166 Government Street / Mobile, AL 36602 251-473-6269 CORPORATE T.J. Potts, President & CEO Thomas E. McMillan, Partner & Director Business Alabama is published monthly by PMT Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright 2023 by PMT Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited. Letters to the editor are welcome. Moving? Please note US Postal Service will not forward magazines mailed through its Bulk Mail unit. Four to six weeks before moving, please send old mailing label and new address to Business Alabama, P.O. Box 43, Congers, NY 109209922 or call 1-833-454-5060.
6 | BusinessAlabama.com April 2023
Benchmarks Korean automaker plans $128M plant in Tuskegee
SAMKEE CORP., a South Korean automotive supplier, will invest $128 million to open its first U.S. factory in Tuskegee. The project will create 170 jobs in Macon County, Gov. Kay Ivey’s office said. Samkee will be a Tier 1 supplier to Hyundai Motor Co. “Alabama’s auto industry is filled with world-class manufacturing companies from around the world, and Samkee will fit right in with that group,” Ivey said. “We’re proud that the company selected Alabama for its first U.S. production center and look forward to seeing it grow and thrive in the coming years.” Samkee specializes in high-pressure diecast aluminum components, including parts for engines, transmissions and electric vehicles. The company has factories in South Korea and China, and production in Macon County is expected to begin in 2024. “Samkee is a worldwide leader in qual-
ity manufactured aluminum die-cast products,” said CEO Chi Hwan Kim. “Our Tuskegee plant will allow our company to serve Samkee the North specializes American in die-cast market along aluminum components. with Hyundai’s market growth for both combustion engines and transmissions, as well as electric vehicle and battery parts.” An analysis by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama calculates that the Samkee factory will generate $140.2 million in annual economic output in Macon County. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said that AIDT, the state’s industrial training agency, is on board to help train workers. “The skilled workers in Alabama’s auto sector have proved they are ready for any challenge the industry can throw at them,
and they consistently turn out complex products of the highest quality,” Canfield said. “Samkee has come to the right place for its new U.S. industrial home.” Macon County Economic Development Authority Director Joe Turnham said the county will provide upgrades to the water and sewer system for the site at Tuskegee Commerce Park, as well as a new power substation. “Today’s announcement is another major step in Tuskegee’s progression as a city,” Tuskegee Mayor Tony Haygood said. “Samkee will be a great community partner for years to come and an example of how Tuskegee is open for business in the 21st Century marketplace.”
B U S I N E S S
B R I E F S
GOOD DEALS Mazda Toyota is raising salaries and adding incentives to reach its hiring goal of 4,000. The Huntsville joint venture has 3,700 people on its payroll, and its 4,000 employee number is one that it agreed to with the city of Huntsville and state of Alabama.
MORE FLY IN HUNTSVILLE More than 1.2 million people traveled through Huntsville International Airport in 2022 — an increase of almost 28% over 2021 making 2022 the airport’s second-busiest since 2011.
CHILD LABOR SPLIT Hyundai Motor Co. plans to divest its majority stake from an auto supplier accused of using child labor. Hyundai will divest its ownership interest in SMART Alabama, based in Luverne.
FLY AWAY Breeze Airways has launched a nonstop flight service from Huntsville to Orlando and Avelo Airlines has instituted a flight to Orlando from Mobile.
BUSINESS SPACE Local officials cut the ribbon on the 172-acre Kelly Creek Commerce Park in Moody, hoping to attract manufacturers, distributors and company headquarters.
BEST WALK USA Today has named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Baldwin County the top recreational trail in the U.S., according to its Readers’ Choice Awards. The 29-mile circuit of trails connects Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Gulf State Park.
ELECTRIFIED The Hyundai plant in Montgomery rolled out its first Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV in March. It’s the first Genesis model assembled outside of South Korea.
LOGISTICALLY SPEAKING Officials broke ground in early March for the Huntsville Logistics Center, a $200 million, 2.2 millionsquare-foot project in Limestone County. The industrial park is
being built on a 132-acre site. APM EXPANDS PORT RAIL APM Terminals, which operates the container cargo facilities at the Port of Mobile, is investing $60 million to improve its rail facilities with hopes of speeding cargo service and enhancing service in the Southeast. NEW IN GADSDEN Magneco/Metrel is investing $5 million in Gadsden to create a refractory plant. AXIENT IN HUNTSVILLE Axient, a defense and government contractor recently formed out of two mergers, will move into Redstone Gateway in Huntsville. Axient formed
April 2023 BusinessAlabama.com | 7