74: It started as FrostKist, but now the familiar Blue Bell makes the ice cream in Sylacauga.
22: Warrior Met is adding infrastructure to support its new Blue Creek mine.
On the Cover:
Call it soccer, call it football, but recognize it as a partnership aimed at promoting tourism and business opportunities in our Birmingham via the namesake city’s sporting team. Scottish striker Scott Wright joined the Blues in 2024. Photo courtesy of Birmingham City Football Club.
13: Hiking, biking and paddling trails draw visitors to North Alabama; now businesses are springing up to serve them. Photo by Hanlon Walsh.
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 2025 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.
Benchmarks
German stainless plant set for Loxley
Global stainless steel pipe manufacturer BUTTING is coming to Baldwin County. The company plans to invest $61 million to establish its North American headquarters and its first U.S. production facility in Loxley.
“Our decision to locate in Baldwin County was driven by the area’s overall attractiveness to live and work, a skilled labor force, proximity to key transportation routes and welcoming business environment,” said Adrian Rochofski, CEO and managing director of Butting USA.
The project, which will unfold in two phases, is expected to create 100 jobs. The Loxley facility will be constructed on more than 50 acres.
Phase one will focus on the headquarters, engineering functions and the fabrication of stainless-steel spools, components and
BUSINESS BRIEFS
FBI TRAINING MOVE?
NOT SO FAST
The Federal Bureau of Investigation might move its National Academy from Quantico, Virginia, to Huntsville, according to The Washington Post in mid-June. The FBI has had operations at Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal for more than 50 years and has more than 2,000 employees there. By late June, the bureau hit pause on the plans to relocate its National Academy training facility, saying on social that “infrastructure limitations” were the reason.
PRESERVE TAKES
WILSON NAME
The 8,000-acre Mobile-Tensaw Delta preserve in south Alabama has been named the
E.O. Wilson Land Between the Rivers Preserve by the Nature Conservancy. The name honors the Alabamian known for his work in entomology. The delta is regarded as one of the most ecologically diverse places on the planet.
DRUG MONEY
Alabama will receive $75 million of a $7.4 billion nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, over their role in exacerbating the opioid crisis. Funds will be used to combat the problem and support recovery.
RINGS, BEAM, FLOOR & MORE
Birmingham is one of four finalists to host the U.S. Olympic
cryogenic pipe systems. Phase two will build out the production operations, integrating two stainless steel welded pipe mills, expanding the cryogenic production portfolio and expanding the fabrication capabilities.
“This is a historic project for our community, bringing new opportunities, long-term investment and international recognition to our city and our people,” said Loxley Mayor Richard Teal.
Lee Johnson, executive vice president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, said, “Butting’s decision to locate their North American headquarters in Baldwin County is evidence that we are a premier location in the United States for international companies.”
The official groundbreaking of Phase 1 is expected to occur this fall, with construction and hiring ramping up in the next weeks.
Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, added that Butting’s decision increases German companies’ investments in the state. “This investment not only brings high-paying jobs to Loxley but also supports the growth of a German industry cluster that will generate long-term economic benefits across the region. We’re proud to welcome Butting to Alabama, and we look forward to building a lasting partnership,” McNair said.
Founded in 1777 in Germany, Butting produces stainless steel pipe technology, clad pipes, customized spools and components, and cryogenic pipe and valve technology systems. The company has operations in Germany, Finland, Brazil, Canada, China and now the U.S.
gymnastics team trials for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The event would include the USA Gymnastic Championships.
CUE THE MUSIC
Birmingham’s Coca-Cola Amphitheater opened in June with a performance by comedian Matt Rife. Performers slated in August at the 9,100seat venue include Rod Stewart, Riley Green and Phish.
STAY-AT-HOME CARS
A South Korean news agency reports that Hyundai in Montgomery has produced just 14 vehicles for export this month, its lowest number since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when production was temporarily halted. The
news agency said it shows the company is prioritizing U.S. sales over foreign exports because of the Trump Administration’s tariffs.
BASEBALL LEGENDS
The city of Mobile cut the ribbon on its Hall of Fame Walk in late June, honoring the city’s legacy of producing baseball Hall of Famers — more per capita than any other city.
LAYOFF WOES
AT&T has announced via the Department of Commerce’s WARN list that it plans to lay off 73 employees in Huntsville. The company plans to begin the layoffs Sept. 20.
Butting displayed renderings of its new stainless plant at its announcement ceremony in July.
Aircraft services firm coming to Pryor Field
ALEUT REAL ESTATE LLC has broken ground on a $32.7 million hangar facility at Pryor Field Regional Airport in Limestone County. It is the first development in Alabama by ARE, a subsidiary of Alaska-based The Aleut Corp.
The hanger will be jointly developed with ARE and Strata-G Solutions, an Aleut-owned, Huntsville-based defense engineering and manufacturing firm.
“This groundbreaking reflects Aleut’s focus on intentional growth built on strong partnerships,” said Skoey Vergen, president and CEO of Aleut. “As demand for aviation and defense infrastructure grows across Alabama, Aleut Real Estate and Strata-G Solutions are delivering capabilities that support regional economic progress and national defense readiness. This project is made possible through close collaboration with Limestone
BUSINESS BRIEFS
TRANSPORT TIMETABLES
Amtrak plans to start service from Mobile to New Orleans on August 18. Meanwhile, the transition of commercial air traffic from the old Mobile Regional Airport to the new Mobile International Airport has been delayed until fall 2026, a move made to help contain costs for the project.
UNION FIGHT
The United Auto Workers has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board as it tries to organize workers at International Motors in Huntsville. The company responded that it will fight union plans.
MORE HUNTSVILLE
The Huntsville city limits, which already extend from Madison into Limestone County, now stretch into Morgan and Marshall counties, after the city council voted to annex more than 1,000 acres.
STEAM PLANT RE-ENVISIONED
KultureCity, the national nonprofit based in Birmingham, has purchased the Powell Avenue Steam Plant in Birmingham for $11 million. KultureCity, which provides services for people with sensory processing disorders, plans to transform the property — Birmingham’s first electrical power plant — into a “space for the city of Birmingham.”
A $32.7 million Aleut and Strata-G Solutions hangar will offer maintenance, repair and overhaul services for North Alabama.
County and the state of Alabama.”
Tax incentives were approved by Limestone County, with more than $1 million in abatements to assist with startup costs over the next 10 years. The project is expected to contribute slightly more than that to local schools during the same period.
The project will accommodate maintenance, repair and overhaul operations for commercial and military aircraft. Aircraft painting capabilities to support aircraft as large as a Lockheed C-130 also will be available. The facility will have approximately 346,000 square feet of exterior aircraft parking and tie-down space.
“This project highlights exactly the kind of forward-looking, high-impact development we work to attract to Alabama,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
The facility is expected to create 50 aviation-related positions within three years. Sitework is beginning immediately. Fite Building Co. will lead the development through the construction phase, with Design Innovation Architects serving as architect. Once operational, the hangar will include specialized infrastructure capable of supporting aircraft with wingspans exceeding 130 feet, enhancing logistical support for clients like Boeing and military branches.
It is expected to be completed in early 2027.
NEW AT THE TOP
Peter Mohler has been named president of the University of Alabama. Mohler, the university’s 30th president, comes from Ohio State University, where he has been executive vice president and acting president, among other roles. Terry Roberson, former provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Montevallo, has been named interim president following the departure of John W. Stewart III. Roberson, who retired in 2013, has served as interim president once before. Alan Smith, interim president of Gadsden State Community College since June 1, has been named president. Smith
has been at the college since 2017. Jason Windham has been named president of Bank Independent with CJ Ryan succeeding him as president of the bank’s subsidiary Interstate Billing Service. Macke Mauldin, who has been president and CEO, will continue as CEO.
SARALAND OFFICES OPEN
The city of Saraland, in Mobile County, opened its new civic office complex in mid-June, an investment of about $6 million.
BANKS MERGE
Nashville-based FirstBank and Anniston-based Southern States Bank have merged.
Birdon kicks off massive Coast Guard contract
Shipbuilder BIRDON has begun work in its Bayou La Batre shipyard on the first of a series of Waterways Commerce Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard.
To prepare for the project, Birdon has invested more than $27 million, allowing it to work on six vessels at a time.
In 2022, Birdon was awarded a $1.187 billion contract to build 27 new WCC vessels for the Coast Guard — 16 buoy tenders and 11 inland construction tenders. The investment is intended to help the Coast Guard revitalize its inland waterways fleet.
on this critical program.”
The U.S. has 12,000 miles of inland waterways, carrying $5.4 trillion in economic activity annually and creating some 30 million jobs, Birdon notes.
“Our entire team is thrilled to be entering this next phase of the WCC program with start of construction,” said Birdon President Tony Ardito. “We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and look forward to continuing to deliver
BUSINESS BRIEFS
MORE FOR PRATTVILLE
Prattville has broken ground on Riverfell, a $500 million development along the Alabama River. The development, one of the largest ever in Elmore County, will include homes, shopping, hotel, medical towers and more.
EXPANDING
Birmingham-based Motion Industries has opened a new sales branch in Quebec, Canada. Motion distributes maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts. Mobile-based Thompson Engineering has opened an office in Dallas. It’s the second office for Thompson in Texas. The company’s Houston office opened in 2022.
PLAY MORE BALL
The city of Spanish Fort is planning to build 10 artificialturf baseball fields near the Eastern Shore Center. The $17-$20 million project, which includes other improvements, will be funded by license fees through the center, the city’s mayor says.
BREW RENEW
Birmingham’s Good People Brewing has purchased the former Ghost Train Brewing site for $5.2 million, according to the Birmingham Business Journal. Good People was founded in 2007 and bought Avondale Brewing in 2017.
UA DONORS SHINE
The University of Alabama
The firm is partnering with local high schools and community colleges to build its workforce and offering on-the-job training in several shipbuilding skills.
In addition, the firm has promised to work with local small business to fulfill elements of the contract.
Like Mobile shipbuilder Austal, Birdon is an Australian firm. Its U.S. headquarters is in Denver.
has exceeded its $1.8 billion fundraising goal more than a year before the end of the campaign. The university will continue to raise funds until the scheduled close of the campaign.
MORE PICKLEBALL
The city of Dothan has broken ground on a covered pickleball facility near Rip Hewes Stadium. The complex will include 25 courts, one court designed for championship play, food truck hookups and more.
SPORT SUPPORT
The Lakeshore Foundation, in Birmingham, is one of 10 organizations to receive a $10,000 grant from ESPN’s new Take Back Sports youth sports
initiative. The grant will be used for Lakeshore’s Super Sports Saturday pilot program, which will bring inclusive, Paralympicstyle sports to young athletes.
LANDMARK IN LIGHTS
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is putting a new lighted sign atop Birmingham’s Daniel Building, which the university purchased in 2023. The new logo on the 20-story building will be illuminated at night.
FUN SPOT IN ROBERTSDALE
The city of Robertsdale has announced plans for a multimillion-dollar amphitheater to be built at Honey Bee Park. The estimated cost of the facility is $3.4 million.
Work begins on Birdon’s first waterways commerce cutter at the Bayou La Batre shipyard.
ULA launches Amazon Kuiper satellites
UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE launched an Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 2 mission for Amazon in mid-June — the second of six planned launches as Amazon builds a 3,200-satellite constellation to provide internet service to customers around the world.
“We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Amazon and empower their mission to bridge the digital divide through reliable satellite technology,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of government and commercial programs.
ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites. At the time of its announcement, the partnership between ULA and Amazon was the largest commercial launch agreement in the industry.
United Launch Alliance, located in Decatur, is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It produces the Vulcan Centaur and Atlas V rockets.
Alabama’s economic bellwether cities
DECATUR, ENTERPRISE and JASPER are “signal cities” that act as early warning systems on the region’s economy, according to financial media company MarketBeat. Cities were picked by asking business leaders where change happens first.
“As we move through an unpredictable economic landscape, these signal cities offer something rare: real-time glimpses into how economic shifts take root and ripple,” said Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
PRATTVILLE
AMPHITHEATER IN WORKS
Construction is underway on a $3.7 million amphitheater on Main Street in Prattville. The facility, set to host live music and family events, is expected to open this year.
NEIGHBORLY
The Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Tennessee, has given $145,000 to the College of Nursing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The gift names the Maury Lab, a 16-bed mock hospital that provides clinical experience for student nurses.
PARK PLACE
Construction has begun on a $1.4 million park between
Mobile Government Plaza and the County Government Annex. The project includes a circular fountain, benches, pavers and security cameras.
TRACK TRAIL
A new 4.5-mile trail will connect west Birmingham residents to Red Mountain Park, the High Ore Line Greenway and Birmingham CrossPlex, following the path of an inactive rail line. The project was announced by the Freshwater Land Trust, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County Commission and CSX Transportation.
STELLAR STEWART
Birmingham’s Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart is among 11
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carries Amazon’s Kuiper 2 mission satellites to space.
Decatur, with its economy heavily dependent on aerospace, chemicals and river-based freight, is an indicator of economic shocks to the manufacturing supply chain. When manufacturing slows and Tennessee River traffic dips, Decatur tends to feel it first.
Military influence from nearby Fort Novosel impacts Enterprise’s economy, which sees a dip in discretionary spending that local businesses notice when defense budgets tighten. This city also draws heavily from rural communities around it, giving it a read on fuel prices, home construction and employment shifts, according to MarketBeat.
Jasper is a key shopping and service center destination, so when consumer confidence starts to slip, retailers notice. Jasper also has a heavy presence in health care, logistics and coal, which can act as signalers for the economies of central and north Alabama.
MarketBeat asked its respondents what triggers alarm bells. Nearly half said the clearest red flag is when a major employer starts laying off workers.
Most respondents indicate that they pay attention to the local economic mood, instead of watching policymakers.
new inductees into the Radio Hall of Fame. Other inductees include singer Alice Cooper, MTV VJ Martha Quinn and National Public Radio’s Scott Simon. Stewart was named a lifetime achievement recipient at the inaugural Business Alabama Awards in 2023.
CONSTRUCTION KUDOS
Birmingham-based Brasfield & Gorrie tops the list in Modern Healthcare’s ranking of health care construction firms. Brasfield & Gorrie, with $2.7 billion in projects in 2024, also topped the list two years ago.
HIBBETT KIDS
Birmingham-based Hibbett has launched an e-commerce site and app specifically for
children’s products. Hibbett Kids offers footwear and more for children ages 13 and under, including Nike, Adidas and other brands.
LAKES & MOUNTAINS, TOO
Hoover-based Lake Homes Realty, which markets lake and beach properties around the country, is adding mountain homes to its offerings. Mountain Homes Realty features properties across 21 states.
WATERBORNE
Austal USA launched the first ship from its steel panel production line, the T-ATS destined to be the USN Billy Frank Jr.
Steel ownership changes crisscross Alabama
Steel interests in central and south Alabama changed hands in June.
Japanese steel maker
NIPPON STEEL acquired U.S. STEEL in a $14.9 billion deal. When Nippon first sought to purchase the iconic American company, President Joe Biden blocked the sale on national security grounds. Then President Donald Trump worked to make it happen with national security details built into the contract.
“The acquisition will involve $11 billion in investment in U.S. Steel through 2028, including $1 billion for a new U.S. mill that will increase by $3 billion in later years,” according to Reuters.
“It will also allow Nippon Steel, the world’s fourth-largest steel company, to capitalize on a host of American infrastructure projects while its foreign competitors face steel tariffs of 50%.”
The United Steel Workers fought to prevent the change of ownership.
Nippon Steel has been a partner in the AM/NS CALVERT mill in northern Mobile County since 2014, when it was purchased from ThyssenKrupp for $1.55 billion just four years after the mill opened in 2010.
As part of the U.S. Steel deal, ARCELORMITTAL bought out Nippon’s share in the mill, which is now ARCELORMITTAL CALVERT.
The Calvert mill is considered to be among the most advanced steel finishing plants in North America with a capability of 5.3 million metric tons of flat rolled steel annually.
The firms have invested $2 billion in the plant since they acquired it, and in February, ArcelorMittal announced another $1.2 billion investment to produce non-grain-oriented electrical steel.
CAR DEAL
The company behind Edwards Chevrolet in Birmingham has acquired Ensley’s Carlock Honda That dealership is now Edwards Honda. Edwards is a nearly 110-year-old dealership.
ZERO JETZERO IN AL
California-based JetZero has picked Greensboro, North Carolina, as the site for its $4.7 billion aircraft assembly plant. Huntsville was reportedly one of the finalists for the project. The project is expected to create more than 14,500 jobs by 2063.
OIL & GAS INVESTMENT
Birmingham-based Diversified Energy has partnered with investment firm Carlyle to invest up to $2 billion in existing oil and natural gas wells.
SHOPPING OPTIONS
Sand Mountain
Marketplace, a 250,000-square-foot retail center under construction in Albertville, has signed leases with Target, HomeGoods, Academy Sports + Outdoors and more, said management company JLL. It will be the first Target opening in Alabama in almost 20 years, the company says.
WATER BY ANY OTHER NAME…
Central Alabama Water is the new moniker for the state’s largest water utility. The board of Birmingham Water Works approved the name change in late June.
CORRECTION
In our June issue, we inadvertently printed some outdated information on USA Health. For updated information, visit businessalabama.com for the Spotlight on Mobile County: Health Care story.
Rolls of steel at ArcelorMittal in Calvert, Mobile County.
North Alabama’s rails-to-trails communities are leveraging outdoor assets for business growth
By HANLON WALSH
by CARY NORTON & HANLON WALSH
t’s a crisp spring morning as I pedal along the Chief Ladiga Trail on a group ride with the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Alabama’s first rail-trail corridor, this paved pathway begins at the Georgia state line and stretches nearly 40 miles through Piedmont, Jacksonville, Weaver and Anniston, tracing a former CSX rail line.
Having just crossed the state line, I already feel accomplished only 10 miles into our journey, which began on Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail in neighboring Cedartown. After a celebratory photo and water break, our lunch stop awaits further down the trail at Piedmont’s new Pinhoti Pizza Company.
For the next 15 miles, the promise of a warm slice of pizza stays on my mind as we cycle through Talladega
Photos
Along the Aldridge Creek Greenway in Huntsville.
National Forest, with expansive views of rolling farmland, meandering Terrapin Creek, and the outline of Dugger Mountain painting the Northeast Alabama skyline.
When I last rode the Chief Ladiga Trail a few years ago, there were no local restaurant options to enjoy after a long day’s ride. Instead, I settled for fast food on my drive back to Birmingham. That all changed last November when Piedmont natives Kevin and Maggie Cunningham launched Pinhoti Pizza, becoming the first business owners to open shop directly on the trail.
For the husband-wife duo, opening a homegrown business catering to outdoor enthusiasts felt like a full-circle moment. As a teenager, Maggie worked in her family’s hardware store, located on the very property where Pinhoti Pizza now stands. Kevin, meanwhile, owned a rock climbing and kayaking business in Huntsville for more than a decade, always dreaming of channeling his passion for the outdoors into a business that supported his hometown.
Conveniently situated parallel to Piedmont’s Main Street and facing the Chief Ladiga, the restaurant has become a gathering
place for locals and trail users alike, serving up sizzling pies alongside a variety of salads, sandwiches and desserts. Kevin’s outdoor influence is reflected in the restaurant’s rustic interior, with trail maps and outdoor gear adorning the walls.
While the restaurant overlooks the Chief Ladiga Trail, it’s named after another major trail in Piedmont’s backyard — the Pinhoti Trail, a long-distance backpacking route stretching 335 miles from Alabama to Georgia that connects hikers directly to the Appalachian Trail.
Together, these two trail systems — along with nearby Terrapin Creek, a scenic waterway offering Class I–II rapids and drawing around 130,000 users each season — position Piedmont as an emerging outdoor recreation destination for both adventurers and entrepreneurs.
“Anything you want to do outside, you can do it right here in Piedmont,” says Maggie Cunningham. “We offer what I like to call the outdoor trifecta — you can hike the Pinhoti Trail, bike the Chief Ladiga Trail, and paddle or float down Terrapin Creek.”
ABOVE: Kevin and Maggie Cunningham at their Pinhoti Pizza that caters to trail users in Piedmont. TOP RIGHT: Pie for hikers, bikers and locals. BOTTOM RIGHT: Trail maps adorn the walls at this trailside spot.
The Cunninghams’ local business influence extends beyond Pinhoti Pizza. The couple also operates Main Street South, a vendor mall featuring men’s and women’s fashion, antiques, outdoor gear, baby gifts and accessories located in an adjacent building on the same property.
To further activate their two-and-a-half-acre trail-side footprint, they’ve hosted several large-scale events, including the Piedmont Strawberry Festival. With four years under its belt, the event has drawn as many as 4,000 attendees, nearly rivaling the city’s population of 4,400.
Attracting more outdoor users to Piedmont will require a continued investment in infrastructure, a concept that Kevin believes is starting to catch fire. New establishments include a steady influx of Airbnb options and the opening of Elevated Grounds coffee shop, coupled with a mix of long-standing Terrapin Creek outfitters who have served the waterway for decades.
“If we can get visitors to stop in Piedmont after enjoying one of our trails, they might also shop, eat, and stay overnight — if there are enough places to accommodate them,” adds Kevin. “People are starting to see bikes parked outside of our restaurant and connect the dots about what Piedmont can become. It’s a beautiful place and we want to grow it the right way while respecting our natural resources.”
ELKMONT’S RAIL-TRAIL MOMENTUM
On day two of our ride, we traveled two hours northwest to Elkmont, a small Limestone County town just south of the Tennessee border. Like Piedmont, Elkmont sits at the heart of a rail-trail corridor, the 10.7-mile Richard Martin Trail.
Named after local trail advocate Richard Martin, who lives directly off the trail, it follows what was initially the Tennessee & Alabama Central Railroad and connects the towns of Athens, Elkmont and Veto. Along the way, trail users pass wildflower meadows, wetlands, covered bridges, Civil War sites and historic homes. Elkmont is conveniently located at the trail’s midpoint, where a refurbished red caboose and historic train depot pay homage to Elkmont’s history and a crop of local businesses line the street just steps away from the trail.
Before Elkmont native Jada Miller opened her boutique, Bliss & Birch, last October, she didn’t fully appreciate the trail’s impact until she experienced it firsthand as a business owner.
“It’s easy to overlook what’s right in front of you when you’re growing up,” Miller says. “But after opening my shop, I saw
how many people were using the trail — on bikes, horses, even walking — and stopping in. They probably wouldn’t have found me otherwise.”
Bliss & Birch offers women’s casual and formal wear and features a mix of local vendors who sell handcrafted gifts and home goods, along with an upstairs photography studio. Miller is even exploring opportunities to expand her product line to include activewear tailored to trail users.
“I’ll try anything once,” she says. “That’s what I’m here for — to serve my community.”
After trail users work up an appetite, they often head to Warehouse Pizza or Gin House Barbeque, two popular local restaurants owned by Anna Boger. Whether it’s a wood-fired pie or pulled pork sandwich, these eateries have become reliable pit stops for hungry trail enthusiasts.
Like Piedmont, Elkmont’s abundant natural resources are ripe for outdoor infrastructure and economic growth. The Richard Martin Trail is one segment of the Singing River Trail, a planned 200-plus-mile greenway system across North Alabama. Nearby, paddlers can explore the Elk River along the 22-mile Limestone County Canoe and Kayak Trail, while road cyclists can tackle the 89-mile Noah Bike Trail through North Alabama’s scenic highways.
“I want all trail users — hikers, bikers, paddlers, horseback riders — to know that we’re a family-friendly town and you’re always welcome here in Elkmont,” Miller adds.
Hanlon Walsh and Cary Norton are freelance contributors to Business Alabama. Both are based in Birmingham.
Riders pause at the rock formation along the Chief Ladiga Trail near Piedmont.
h, Birmingham. A mid-sized city with an industrial, steel-making past that is in the midst of a 21st-century revival focused on food and entertainment. A city that loves sports, especially football. A city that served as the primary location for the television series “Peaky Blinders.”
Wait, “Peaky Blinders?” The show about a gritty 1920s British crime gang? That was set in Birmingham?
Yes, it was. Birmingham, England, that is. And the success of that show along with the popularity of the Birmingham City Football Club (aka soccer to most Americans) has helped increase interest in the city of Birmingham, England in recent years.
Considering the shared name and the similarities between the two Birminghams, the Greater Birmingham (Alabama) Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) saw value in teaming up with its sister city from across the pond. So, this past February, the GBCVB entered into a two-year financial partnership with the Birmingham City Football Club (BCFC) that will enable our Birmingham to promote itself internationally.
“This really came about organically,” says David Galbaugh, GBCVB vice president of sports sales & marketing. “We just started talking with the people with the Blues (the BCFC’s nickname) and realized we have a lot of commonality and bonds
outside of our names. There was no talk initially about forming a partnership. It was just neat that you have two Birminghams with sort of parallel legacies and communities that are a lot alike.
“But we kept having these calls about once a month, and that eventually led us to start talking about how we could work together. From there it took a little while before we formulated an actual partnership.”
Under the agreement, the GBCVB logo is featured on the back of the Blues game jerseys, and advertising signage about Birmingham, Alabama, has been placed on the grounds of the team’s stadium. The partnership was signed near the end of the most recent season, so Galbaugh says additional promotional possibilities will be created over the next two seasons.
“We’re going to have opportunities to take clients over there for games,” Galbaugh says. “They have some big sponsors like Delta, Pepsi and Nike, and we love being aligned with those large corporations. It gives us access.
“But it’s really about global awareness of our destination. We see this as a real way to reach out to the U.K. market and even the international market. The Blues have huge fan support across the globe. We’d love to see those fans get a taste of what Birmingham, Alabama, is as a destination and what we have to offer and
have them come visit our community.”
GBCVB President and CEO John Oros agrees. In a release announcing the establishment of the partnership, Oros said, “This collaboration is an incredible opportunity to showcase Birmingham, Alabama, to an international audience. … Sports has a unique way of bringing people together, and through this partnership we look forward to welcoming new visitors, fostering new relationships and positioning our city as a premier destination for global travelers.”
Galbaugh would not disclose what the GBCVB’s financial obligation is with the BCFC, other than to say, “They don’t just give that (sponsorship) away.” But Blues CEO Jeremy Dale says the reasons for this partnership go beyond just typical revenue generation.
“Our owners (which include former NFL quarterback Tom Brady) are American, and we just signed a partnership deal with (Atlanta-based) Delta Air Lines,” Dale says. “So, we felt like we needed to make more of an inroad into America and build our fan base there.
“As soon as we started speaking with the people at Greater Birmingham, we were all aligned in our vision. It was clear early on that we clicked. So, it was very easy to agree to this partnership. Since then, we’ve been working on a number of initiatives to help promote Birmingham, Alabama. We’re trying to showcase not only the common name, but also that the two cities are very much aligned.”
One of the promotions that took place during the offseason was a YouTube video in which BCFC players had to guess the meaning of certain Southern slang words and phrases. These included “Bless Your Heart,” “Yonder,” “Fixin’ To,” “Grits,” and, of course, “Y’all.”
“Our players didn’t have much of a clue. It was very amusing,” Dale says. “So, we created visibility about the type of city Birmingham, Alabama is, and we’re going to keep developing that further. We created 5.3 million social media impressions with them (through the first four months of the agreement).
“In today’s world, it’s all about the content. The content on the pitch (playing field) is important, but we’re also finding ways to talk about our team and our partners. So, we’re showcasing who Birmingham, Alabama is, promoting the ties between them and us, and encouraging our fans to experience the hospitality of Alabama.”
That exposure, according
to Galbaugh, is the true value of this partnership. The primary objective of the GBCVB is to attract tourism, and Galbaugh says simply getting out the Birmingham, Alabama, name beyond not only the borders of the state but of the country is an important step toward that goal.
“We want to create awareness and drive economic impact, and this is an opportunity to drive more tourism to Birmingham,” Galbaugh says. “We haven’t ever really had a partnership like this on a global stage. You have a huge global audience that is interested in anybody that is involved with their club. I think this can be pretty special, and I can’t wait to see what happens over the next two years.”
One thing both Galbaugh and Dale hope will happen is an eventual exhibition game between the BCFC Blues and the local Birmingham Legion Football Club. Discussions already are underway about having the Blues make a stop in Birmingham during an East Coast tour of the United States next year.
“We look forward to coming over and having our players do a tour of the city and film that, so we can showcase it to all our fans back here,” Dale says. “We want our fans to know that if they’d like to experience Birmingham, England, abroad, then Birmingham, Alabama, is a great place to go, because we share that same heritage of an industrial backbone. So, hopefully next year we can come over and meet our brothers with a different accent.”
Cary Estes is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
“Sports has a unique way of bringing people together, and through this partnership we look forward to welcoming new visitors, fostering new
relationships and positioning our city as a premier destination for global travelers.”
— John Oros, Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau
PROASSURANCE TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE DOCTORS COMPANY
Companies share similar history, philosophies and missions
By KATHLEEN FARRELL
On March 19, The Doctors Company, the largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer in the U.S., announced it will acquire ProAssurance Corp., a specialty medical liability insurer and one of the few public companies headquartered in Alabama.
“
Birmingham-based ProAssurance began as Mutual Assurance, formed in 1976 by Alabama physicians to fill the liability insurance void left when the state’s medical associationendorsed carrier abandoned the market.
Combining the strengths of the two organizations will create the premier medical malpractice company that will be the preferred choice of our distribution partners and health care clients.”
In 1991, Mutual Assurance became the first physician-founded company to demutualize and convert to a publicly traded stock company. Led by its mission to protect others, ProAssurance provides health care liability coverage, workers’ compensation insurance and other insurance options to its customers. The ProAssurance Group includes five
— Ned Rand, Proassurance
“
We are excited to further our mission to advance, protect and reward the practice of good medicine to an even greater number of health care providers across the nation.”
—Richard E. Anderson, The Doctors Company
lines of business: ProAssurance MPL, Medmarc, Eastern Alliance, PICA Group, and ProAssurance Corporate.
Headquartered in California, The Doctors Company also was founded by physicians during the liability crisis of the 1970s, a time when malpractice lawsuits and jury awards sharply increased causing commercial insurance companies to raise
rates significantly or leave the market.
The Doctors Company believes that its member-owned structure allows it to be uniquely aligned with physicians’ interests and in an ideal position to represent and advocate for physicians in political and legal settings. Both The Doctors Company and ProAssurance have grown through acquisition of other physician-specialist insurers.
“We are excited about this transaction and what it means for our stockholders, our policyholders, our employees and our distribution partners,” ProAssurance President and CEO Ned Rand says. Rand has been with the company since 2004, previously serving as COO, CFO, executive vice president and senior vice president of finance.
“An important consideration in deciding to enter into the agreement was the
shared history of the two companies, as that shared history means ProAssurance and The Doctors Company have similar operating philosophies and missions,” says Rand.
Over the past five decades, each company has expanded within health care to provide coverage for hospitals, facilities, life sciences companies and other providers by offering a range of product options to meet the industry’s needs.
“Combining the strengths of the two organizations will create the premier medical malpractice company that will be the preferred choice of our distribution partners and health care clients,” says Rand. “We will have the depth of products, defense expertise, risk management and service to compete effectively across the country.”
The combined company will be the largest physician-owned medical professional liability carrier with pro forma medical professional liability net written premiums of approximately $2 billion.
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, ProAssurance stockholders will receive $25.00 in cash per share, an approximately 60% premium to the closing price per share of ProAssurance common stock on March 18, the last trading day prior to the announcement.
“The transaction will deliver significant value to ProAssurance’s stockholders,” says Rand. “The Doctors Company recognized that adding ProAssurance to their organization would significantly enhance its ability to serve health care professionals now and well into the future.”
The transaction value will be approximately $1.3 billion, and the combined companies will have assets of approxi-
mately $12 billion.
“By actively listening to our teams and acting on their feedback, we continue to strengthen the employee experience and invest in the success of our people.”
“We are excited to further our mission to advance, protect and reward the practice of good medicine to an even greater number of health care providers across the nation,” said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company, at the time of acquisition announcement. “Health care is a team sport, and the teams are getting larger. Providing the best imaginable service requires a mission-based company with nationwide scale, resources, and dedication to all medical professions and health care providers.”
The board of directors of ProAssurance unanimously approved the transaction and recommended that its shareholders approve the agreement. On June 24, the company’s stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed acquisition by The Doctors Company. More than 99% of shares voted, including abstentions, were in favor of the proposal to approve the agreement.
On July 2, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission terminated the waiting period for the pending acquisition, bringing it one step closer to finalization. The transaction remains subject to required regulatory approvals and approvals by the insurance regulators in the domicile states of ProAssurance insurance subsidiaries. It
“We remain deeply committed to supporting health care professionals across the entire country. Our mission guides our work in every community we serve, including Alabama.”
— Robert E. White Jr., The Doctors Company
—Rachel Nelson, The Doctors Company
is not subject to a financing condition.
Once the transaction is complete, ProAssurance’s common stock will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and ProAssurance will become a wholly owned subsidiary of The Doctors Company. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
While plans for how the completed acquisition will impact ProAssurance’s employees and the Birmingham business have not been released, The Doctors Company notes that it has been honored for a third time as a Great Place to Work, scoring higher than the average company on employee surveys by the Great Place to Work organization.
“We are proud to support a workplace where employees feel heard, valued and empowered to grow,” said Rachel Nelson, senior vice president of human resources, The Doctors Company, at the time of the award announcement. “By actively listening to our teams and acting on their feedback, we continue to strengthen the employee experience and invest in the success of our people.”
The Doctors Company is part of TDC Group, the nation’s largest physician-owned provider of insurance and risk management solutions. TDC Group serves more than 110,000 health care professionals and organizations nationwide, seeking to build the preeminent organization for service to health care. “We remain deeply committed to supporting health care professionals across the entire country,” says Robert E. White Jr., president of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. “Our mission guides our work in every community we serve, including Alabama.”
Kathleen Farrell is a Mobile-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Public Company Performances
(1) Figures for assets, net income and shareholder equity are in millions of dollars. Figures for assets and shareholder equity represent period-end balances for the given fiscal year.
(2) Per share data based on basic earnings per common share unless otherwise noted.
(3) Represents closing price on last day of company’s fiscal year 2024.
(4) Represents closing price on last day of company’s fiscal year 2023.
(5) Diversified Energy is registered in England and Wales and data is from the company’s Form 20F.
5
1
Warrior Met has invested more than $154 million to upgrade its ability to load coal for rail or barge shipment to Mobile, where it heads to overseas markets.
WARRIOR MET COAL ADDS JOBS, INFRASTRUCTURE
The company’s Blue Creek mine is expected to increase capacity and have a 40-year lifespan
By NANCY MANN JACKSON
As global interest in renewable energy sources has grown, coal production has declined. Although coal has been a traditional producer of electricity and continues to produce about 20% of the world’s electricity, that’s not its only use. Brookwood-based Warrior Met Coal Inc. (NYSE: HCC) produces metallurgical coal used for steelmaking. The coal mined by Warrior Met is used as a critical component of steel production by metal manufacturers in Europe, South America and Asia.
Warrior Met recently has opened a third mine, Blue Creek, in Fayette County, and is also investing millions to facilitate the option of railcar transportation between its Blue Creek Coal reserves and its longwall mines in northern Tuscaloosa County.
“The Blue Creek project is the future for Warrior Met Coal,” says D’Andre Wright, vice president, external affairs and communications. “The project has a 40-year mine life, allowing the company to continue employing coal miners in West Alabama for the next four decades.”
EXPANDING OPERATIONS
Since 2016, Warrior Met has been mining in two active mines that have the capacity to produce 8 million short tons of metallurgical coal per year, Wright explains. With the Blue Creek project, the company will add a third mine. Blue Creek is one of the last remaining, untapped premium HVA reserves in the United States with an approximate 40-year mine life and a high-volume,
New conveyor systems simplify loading to barges and trains. It takes about five hours to load a 105-car train, and seven to 12 trains to fill an ocean-going ship. The first train was loaded in April.
low-cost, longwall mining operation that is expected to drive adjusted earnings before expenses of more than 50% across the cycle.
The Blue Creek project produces coal with low sulfur and strong coking properties, which makes it ideal for steel production. The Blue Creek operation began producing continuous miner coal during the third quarter of 2024, Wright says. The longwall, which will mine the majority of the coal, will be operational no later than the second quarter of 2026.
When fully operational, Warrior will employ more than 300 workers at the Blue Creek mine. That will be in addition to the
Blue Creek coal serves steel makers around the world, particularly in Asia.
In addition to the train loading facilities, Warrior Met is building a barge loading dock for river transport.
company’s current employment of more than 1,300 workers.
“Blue Creek is a transformational project for Warrior, the state of Alabama and the metallurgical coal industry,” Wright says. “The project will increase Warrior’s nameplate capacity by 75% from 8 million short tons to 14 million short tons, which will be shipped primarily through the Port of Mobile.”
Over time, the Blue Creek mine is expected to generate approximately $1.3 billion of incremental revenues, $735 million of incremental adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization), and $637 million of incremental free cash flows annually, according to the company.
ADDING INFRASTRUCTURE
A key component of completing the Blue Creek mine project is the transportation infrastructure to get coal between the new mine and the company’s existing mines in northern Tuscaloosa County, as well as south to Mobile for shipping to global customers. Over the past few years, Warrior Met has invested $154 million to build a rail loadout and overland belt to facilitate that transportation.
“The rail loadout is completed and has begun shipping coal to McDuffie Coal Terminal at the Port of Mobile as of April 2025,” Wright says. “The overland conveyor belt is scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2025.”
ROBUST EARNINGS
For the first quarter of 2025, Warrior Met reported a 10% increase in total production volumes, primarily as a result of the Blue Creek growth project, along with a 2% increase in sales volumes. Despite weak economic conditions and low market pricing, the company leveraged a variable cost model to tightly manage costs in the current pricing environment, with cash cost of sales per short ton decreasing to $112.35 from $133.48 during
the first quarter of 2024.
The company produced 251,000 short tons from continuous miner development on the first longwall panel at the Blue Creek project during the first quarter of 2025. It also continued to make significant progress on the development of Blue Creek, with the longwall startup expected by the second quarter of 2026.
Finally, Warrior Met reported a record $10.9 million in cash from operating activities during the first quarter, despite an index price that decreased 9% from the fourth quarter of 2024 and 40% from the first quarter 2025.
Despite a difficult market in the early part of the year, the coal industry has been resilient. For example, in 2023, coal stocks collectively gained about 40%, “thanks to a renewed focus on metallurgical coal, which experts agree will continue to experience robust demand going forward, driven by an increase in the demand for steel,” according to The Capital Gains Report.
As Warrior Met expands its capacity, the company is playing an important role in building Alabama infrastructure, employing Alabama workers and boosting the state’s export business.
“Our decision to begin this transformational investment in Blue Creek will transform Warrior and allow us to continue our proven track record of creating value for stockholders,” Walt Scheller, CEO of Warrior, said in a statement to investors.
“This project represents a transformative opportunity for Warrior through the significant addition of nameplate capacity to address the market dynamics we believe will continue to play out over the near and medium-term. By furthering Warrior’s legacy of high-quality, low-cost assets, we believe that Blue Creek will have a positive impact on Warrior for decades to come and will benefit a wide range of stakeholders. I want to thank our employees and the rest of the project team for their dedication to this project and for ensuring the project is completed safely, on time and on budget.”
Nancy Mann Jackson is a Madison-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
CEO Paychecks
compiled by MEGAN BOYLE
What the CEOs of Alabama’s public companies get paid, and how it compares to company performance. Ranked by total compensation. Figures reported here are from each public company’s proxy statement for fiscal 2024.
Directory of Alabama Public Companies
For Fiscal Year 2024
Diversified
Lakeland Industries (1)
Medical Properties Trust MPW/NYSE
ProAssurance Corp. (2)
lakeland.com
Urban Center Dr., Ste. 501 Birmingham, AL 35242
Brookwood Place Birmingham, AL 35209
Regions Financial Corp. RF/NYSE 1900 Fifth Ave. N. Birmingham, AL 35203
205-877-4400 proassurance.com
regions.com
ServisFirst Bancshares SFBS/NYSE 2500 Woodcrest Place Birmingham, AL 35209 205-949-0302 servisfirstbank.com
Southern States Bancshares (3)
SSBK/NASDAQ 615 Quintard Ave. Anniston, AL 36201
TruBridge Inc.
256-241-1092 southernstatesbank.net
TBRG/NASDAQ 54 St. Emanuel St. Mobile, AL 36602 251-639-8100 trubridge.com
Vulcan Materials
VMC/NYSE 1200 Urban Center Dr Birmingham, AL 35242
Warrior Met Coal HCC/NYSE 16243 Hwy. 216 Brookwood, AL 35444
205-298-3000 vulcanmaterials.com
205-554-6150 warriormetcoal.com
(1) James Jenkins was appointed president and CEO of Lakeland Industries effective 6/1/2024.
Edward Rand Jr.
Through its subsidiaries, provides professional liability insurance primarily to physicians, dentists, other health care providers and health care facilities in U.S.
Thomas Broughton III Bank holding company for ServisFirst Bank.
Mark Chambers Bank holding company for Southern States Bank.
Christopher Fowler Provides health care information technology solutions and services in the United States and St. Maarten.
J. Thomas Hill
Produces and supplies construction materials primarily in the United States.
Walter Scheller III Produces and exports metallurgical coal for the steel industry.
(2) ProAssurance is being acquired by The Doctors Co. The deal was announced in March 2025 and is expected to close in 2026.
(3) Southern States Bancshares announced a merger with FB Financial Corp. on 3/31/2025. The transaction is expected to be complete in Q3 or Q4 of 2025.
LAW LAW BEYOND OUR BORDERS
SThese Alabama attorneys practice law around the world
By GAIL ALLYN SHORT
by ART MERIPOL
ome of Alabama’s largest law firms provide legal counsel to companies doing business around the world on land and on the seas, from Chile and the United Kingdom to Turkey and Singapore.
One of those law firms is Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, a national firm based in Birmingham with more than 700 attorneys in 13 offices in Alabama and across the Southeast, Texas and the District of Columbia. Bradley serves clients in several industries, including banking, construction, energy, health care, manufacturing and technology.
“We have clients all over the country that are increasingly getting involved in overseas projects, international projects or projects that end up in disputes with multinational counterparties
or adversaries. So, the international aspect is growing, and I think that’s a trend that’s here to stay,” says Carly Miller, a partner at Bradley.
In May, Bradley launched an International Arbitration team that would represent clients globally in international commercial arbitrations and investment treaty arbitrations.
Investment treaty arbitrations involve legal disputes between foreign investors and host states.
The new team consists of more than 20 attorneys in the firm who are experts in the complexities of crossborder investments and international arbitration law.
Miller, one of Bradley’s arbitration team co-leaders, says the firm created the team so lawyers in the firm with subject-matter expertise in construction, energy, government contracts, banking and financial services could team up with attorneys who have experience in international arbitration.
Miller says she recently took part in a two-week arbitration hearing in Chile involving a client in the renewable energy sector that managed a hydroelectric power project there. The company fell into a dispute with a tunneling contractor consisting of two construction companies, one in Italy and the other based in Germany.
She says the ability to speak a foreign language is helpful in such cases.
“I speak Spanish. Jennifer Ersin, who is another co-leader of the team, is fluent in Turkish. We certainly have many members working who speak another language, but it’s not a requirement,” she says.
“A lot of these international disputes are conducted in the English language and/or take place in English. That’s because it’s common practice in international arbitration to do that,” says Miller. “That was a case in Chile. It was governed by New York law and conducted in the English language.”
Photo
Carly Miller, coleader of Bradley’s international arbitration team.
Miller says that since launching the international arbitration practice, the firm has attracted new clients seeking counsel on global legal matters.
“I hope this makes us more of a household name nationally and internationally for handling international disputes and arbitrations.”
Meanwhile, down in Mobile, attorney Jaime Betbeze is practicing law in several areas, including admiralty and maritime law at Maynard Nexsen, a firm headquartered in Birmingham with offices across Alabama and the United States.
You’ve got to have a certain level of revenue and certain levels of opportunities before it’s economically justified to make that jump into an international market.” “
— David Lucas, Womble Bond Dickinson
Admiralty and maritime involves legal matters on the sea such as shipping, navigation, collisions, cargo disputes and personal injuries to crewmen, to name a few.
“We represent ship owners primarily through P&I clubs. Those are protection and indemnity clubs, associations that are large mutual insurance companies that insure oceangoing vessels,” Betbeze says.
Thirteen P&I clubs exist worldwide, and Maynard Nexsen is a local correspondent for six of them, says Betbeze, and his office is called upon to represent ship owner members whenever an issue comes up at the Port of Mobile, such as personal injuries involving crewmen onboard a vessel or longshoremen.
Most of the P&I clubs are based in London, though some exist in Hong Kong, Greece and other locales with large ship holding interests, Betbeze says.
“We get involved in cargo disputes, particularly if there is damage to cargo either during transit or during loading or unloading operations. We would be called upon to investigate and defend those claims,” Betbeze says.
“We also deal with contractual issues that arise out of the construction or repair of vessels,” he says.
Betbeze says his career in maritime law has taken him to farflung countries around the globe such as Singapore to conduct depositions for corporate clients.
But he says a growing number of cases are settled through arbitration instead of going to trial. “That’s really been the case for a while now that a lot of the bills of lading or the charter parties will specify that disputes that arise will be handled either in London arbitration or some in New York arbitration,” he says.
He says cargo claims also may have an arbitration provision for London or New York, and he is often called upon in Mobile to conduct the onsite investigation and documentation of the claim.
“The interconnectivity that we have globally and the decisions that are made impact people’s lives on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s the food that’s on their table or the fuel that fuels their vehicles. We do have significant dependence, and it’s an intercon-
nected dependence that we all have on each other, and the law is significant in protecting individual rights and contractual rights,” Betbeze says.
Fellow attorney David Lucas is a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, a transatlantic firm that got its start in 2017 through a merger between Bond Dickinson LLP in the United Kingdom and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP in the United States.
Today, the firm maintains close to 40 offices worldwide, including 29 in the United States. Lucas works out of the firm’s Huntsville office.
Over the years, Lucas has litigated intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom and Europe as well as in the United States and advised companies on strategic plans for intellectual property.
But he also advises clients, from startups looking to jump into international markets, to large aerospace, space and defense contractors seeking to sell their technologies, he says.
“Because of our experience, we can tell them what to expect and when that might be the best economic decision,” he says.
“You’ve got to have a certain level of revenue and certain levels of opportunities before it’s economically justified to make that jump into an international market. So, we can help them before they make that jump, spend a lot of money and maybe lose money because they were premature getting there,” Lucas says.
For example, Lucas says he regularly advises clients on whether they need a license to sell a product overseas.
“If it’s a commodity or if it’s a general widget, there aren’t restrictions on that. But if it’s a piece of critical technology or a defense system or aerospace component, then it may require a license by the U.S. government to sell overseas,” he says.
“If you’re exporting, you might get penalized or even a criminal offense if it’s the wrong technology sold in the wrong country, or you might think you’re going to make a 20% profit, only find out that with a 40% tariff, there’s not going to be any profit,” he says.
“Can you sell a product direct from the United States into a country, or do you have to have some presence there? And that could be in the form of a branch or an actual local company, a corporation or a partnership or a limited company,” he says.
“We try to help people on the front end, plan for it, budget for it, and then advise them as they go along and will be there to help them should something go wrong.”
Gail
Allyn Short and Art Meripol are Birmingham-based freelance contributors to Business Alabama.
Admiralty And Maritime Law
Jaime W. Betbeze
Maynard Nexsen PC Mobile maynardnexsen.com
Allen Teeto Graham Phelps Dunbar LLP Mobile phelps.com
E. Barrett Hails
Phelps Dunbar LLP Mobile phelps.com
Francisco A. Pecci
McDowell Knight Roedder & Sledge LLC Mobile mcdowellknight.com
Adoption Law
Alexis Killough Cove Family Law Huntsville covefamilylaw.com
Denise J. Pomeroy Dominick Feld Hyde PC Birmingham dfhlaw.com
Olivia Johnson Perdue Berryhill & Mitchell PC Birmingham law-bam.com
Thomas S. Thornton III Carr Allison Birmingham carrallison.com
Alabama’s Largest Law Firms
1 Maynard Nexsen
2 Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Jonathan M. Skeeters, Richard H. Monk III, Benjamin W. Hutton, Davis H. Smith
3
4
5
6
8
Limestone & Morgan Counties
by KATHERINE MacGILVRAY
Located just south of Limestone and Madison Counties, Morgan County enjoys all the advantages of being part of the state’s fastest-growing region. Its diverse industrial base, which consists of aerospace, metals, chemicals and food processing and includes Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies, is supported by a variety of factors, among them, the strength of its logistics infrastructure. Morgan County is home to one of the largest barge terminals along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and Decatur, the county seat, is a railroad hub served by Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation. Last year, the Alabama Port Authority and CSX announced that Decatur will be the site for a new intermodal transfer facility that will enhance rail connectivity from the Port of Mobile through central and northern Alabama.
Access to an extensive waterway, rail and highway network is a major draw for the county’s thriving aerospace industry. United Launch Alliance operates a 1.6 million-square-foot plant in Decatur where it manufactures heavy-lift rockets. Recently, ULA’s Atlas V rocket has begun delivering the first grouping of operational broadband satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper as part of the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.
In 2023, five companies in Morgan County, including Nucor Towers & Structures, Bunge North America and Polyplex USA, announced new or expanded projects, representing a total investment of $199.2 million and creating 209 jobs. And in Hartselle, Cerrowire became the first tenant in the Morgan County Business Park when it opened a new 270,000-square-foot
metal clad cable plant.
Last year, GreenPoint Ag announced a $6.25 million plant expansion and plans to relocate its headquarters to Decatur, a $17 million investment project. In Priceville, IMS announced plans to begin a $2.68 million expansion of its facility.
Alongside industry expansion, communities in Morgan County are also growing, offering more residential and recreational options for residents.
In Decatur, several housing development projects that cater both to families and to young professionals are taking shape. They include Bank Street Station, a mixed-use development with roughly 200 apartments and retail space in downtown Decatur; Kenzie Meadows, which plans to include 60 three-bedroom townhomes and 200 single-family homes; and River Loft Apartments, a mixed-use complex with 100 apartment units.
A new recreation center is being built at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur. The $52.5 million project will include a 103,000-square-foot enclosed facility and an overhaul of the surrounding outdoor space.
And a new $7 million event center in the eastern part of the county is scheduled to open this fall. The facility features a double gym and walking track; basketball, pickleball and volleyball courts; and a multipurpose room for events.
LIMESTONE COUNTY
In 2024, Limestone County remained the fastest-growing county in Alabama for the fourth year in a row, indicating that its location squarely in the center of the state’s fastest-growing region and within the Huntsville metropolitan statistical area, its economic opportunities and its high rankings for quality of life continue to make it an attractive location for industrial and residential growth.
Limestone County has established itself as a hub for automotive and advanced manufacturing. The county’s top industrial employer, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, supports a network of automotive suppliers, including several on-site partners, that have generated thousands of jobs and helped bolster the region’s automotive industry.
The county continues to grow in other key industries as well. Its proximity to Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Cummings Research Park in Huntsville make Limestone County a draw for aerospace and biotechnology-related companies. It is also home to distribution centers for Target and Amazon, both top employers in the county.
These industries are fueled by extensive workforce development resources, including initiatives and programs spearheaded by area institutions including Athens State University, Calhoun Community College and Robotics Technology Park.
Pryor Field Regional Airport, a public-use airport centrally located between Athens, Decatur and Huntsville, is at the center
MORGAN COUNTY
United Launch Alliance, in Decatur, manufactures heavy-lift rockets.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Limestone County: $83,534
Madison County: $83,528
Baldwin County: $75,019
Morgan County: $64,858
Jefferson County: $64,589
Marshall County: $60,946
Cullman County: $60,916
Lawrence County: $60,040
Lauderdale County: $59,082
Montgomery County: $58,153
Mobile County: $58,119
Jackson County: $49,454
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
of a $32.7 million aviation infrastructure investment. Aleut Real Estate LLC (ARE), a subsidiary of Alaska-based The Aleut Corp., broke ground in June on a hangar that will serve as a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for commercial and military aircraft. Strata-G Solutions, an Aleut-owned, defense engineering and manufacturing firm based in Huntsville, will work alongside ARE on project development.
Athens, the county seat, was the second-fastest growing city in the state in 2024. Thousands of housing unit projects recently
POPULATION Total Alabama Population: 5,157,699
Jefferson County: 664,744
Madison County: 423,355
Mobile County: 412,339
Baldwin County: 261,608
Montgomery County: 225,894
Morgan County: 126,084
Limestone County: 118,942
Marshall County: 102,156
Lauderdale County: 97,502
Cullman County: 92,604
Jackson County: 53,780
Lawrence County: 33,567
have been approved to accommodate new residents, and several new business developments are in the works as well, including a new Publix, a new Food City and several new dining options. Even with all of its growth, Athens, with its picturesque downtown square and small-town charm, also is undergoing revitalization efforts.
Katherine MacGilvray is a Huntsville-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
Economic Engines
Nucor Corp.’s Towers & Structures unit is constructing production facilities in Decatur that will make steel poles and structures for the utility industry.
LIMESTONE COUNTY
AUTOMOTIVE
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) has more than 4,000 employees, a hiring goal it achieved in 2023, thanks in part to the addition of a second shift on its Discovery assembly line that produces the Mazda CX-50. MTM’s Limestone County facility, a joint undertaking between Mazda Motor Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., also produces the Toyota Corolla Cross and is the only manufacturer in North America that produces both vehicles. The plant, which has the capacity to assemble 300,000 vehicles annually, has also launched hybrid electric vehicle versions of both models.
MTM’s 3.7 million-square-foot facility
MAY 2025: OCI Alabama, a manufacturer of sodium percarbonate, announces a $19.15 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in Decatur’s Mallard-Fox Creek Industrial Park. Plans include a 50,000-square-foot warehouse, silos, expanded railyard and buildings and installation of unloading equipment and a packaging system.
MAY 2025: xPL Offsite, a steel fabrication facility and machinery manufacturer launched by Turner
and its nearby campus also are home to on-site partners, including DNUS, YKTA and Toyota Boshoku AKI USA (TBAKI).
Polaris is the second largest industrial employer in Limestone County, after MTM. Its Alabama facility is one of the company’s largest manufacturing plants and produces the industry’s top auto-cycle, the Polaris Slingshot, along with its top off-road utility vehicle, the Ranger.
EFI Automotive established its North American headquarters in Elkmont in 2004. The facility specializes in designing and manufacturing sensors, activators and actuators for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
Bocar US is a leading automotive supplier of aluminum high pressure die cast parts.
Tris USA Inc., in Athens, is an automo-
Construction, announces it will move its operations from Huntsville to Decatur with plans to hire 120 workers over the next three years. Construction is expected to be complete in May 2026.
APRIL 2025: United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket delivers the first grouping of operational broadband satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and ULA is set to deliver the majority of Amazon’s advanced satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of the world’s largest launch agreement.
APRIL 2025: Karman Space & Defense opens a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Decatur that will support advanced defense and space systems, including design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing.
MARCH 2025: Hoar Construction breaks ground on a 20-acre community recreation center in Decatur. The complex will feature a 103,000-square-foot enclosed recreational building with basketball and volleyball
courts, a natatorium with a 10lane competition swimming pool, a mezzanine running track, office space, conference rooms and a concession stand with a kitchen. Outdoor space includes event areas and walking trails.
MARCH 2025: Wolverine Industries announces it will add fabrication equipment, anodizing capabilities and a new extrusion press to its integrated aluminum manufacturing facility in Decatur. The $20.4 million investment is expected to create 26 jobs.
tive component company that specializes in carbon brushes.
AEROSPACE
Limestone County’s proximity to Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park has made it an attractive location for the aviation and aerospace industry.
GE Aerospace recently announced plans to invest $22 million in its Limestone County facility for additional machines to produce ceramic matrix composite engine parts that are used in narrow-body and wide-body aircraft engines, as well as military fighter jet and helicopter engines.
Carpenter Technology’s Limestone County facility manufactures ultra-premium alloy products for the aerospace and energy industries.
DISTRIBUTION
Amazon and Target operate distribution centers in Limestone County and rank among the county’s top five employers.
MANUFACTURING
Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase is a top employer in Limestone County, along with InTech Athens, which manufactures orthopedic devices, and HDT Global, which produces shelter systems, environmental control and power solutions, robotics and unmanned systems, missile transport and industrial thermal management solutions for military, government and commercial customers.
MORGAN COUNTY
AEROSPACE
Morgan County is home to a thriving aerospace industry that continues to grow.
United Launch Alliance, one of the top five largest industrial employers in the county, manufactures heavy-lift rockets at its massive 1.6 million-square-foot plant in Decatur. In recent years, ULA has invested roughly $500 million into automating many of its manufacturing processes as it ramps up production of its next-generation Vulcan rocket and transitions away from the Delta and Atlas rocket lines.
In March, the U.S. Space Force certified ULA’s Vulcan launch system for National Security Space Launch missions and awarded the company a contract to launch 40% of the country’s critical satellite missions.
In April, ULA’s Atlas V rocket delivered the first grouping of operational broadband satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, marking the beginning of fullscale deployment of the Kuiper constellation. ULA is set to deliver the majority of Amazon’s advanced satellites into lowEarth orbit as part of the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.
One of ULA’s closest partners, Zurich-based Beyond Gravity, has its U.S. headquarters in Decatur, along with a production facility that manufactures payload fairings and interstage adapters for launch vehicles.
In April, Karman Space & Defense,
which specializes in designing, developing and producing critical next-generation system solutions for the defense and space sectors, announced the opening of a 30,000-square-foot facility in Decatur with plans to fill 30 positions by the end of 2025.
METALS
Decatur is home to GE Appliances’ top-freezer refrigeration manufacturing operation. With 1,400 employees, GEA is Morgan County’s top industrial employer.
Charlotte-based Nucor Corp. operates Nucor Steel Decatur, a sheet steel mill, and is nearing completion on a new facility, Nucor Towers & Structures, at Mallard-Fox Creek Industrial Park. The $125 million steel transmission poles production facility will employ around 200 individuals.
In March, Wolverine Industries announced it will add fabrication equipment, anodizing capabilities and a new extrusion press to its integrated aluminum manufacturing facility in Decatur. The $20.4 million investment is expected to create 26 new jobs.
Neo Industries, which provides premier chrome plating, grinding and EDT texturing services for the steel and aluminum industries, is expanding with a $3.75 million project that includes improvements to an existing building, installing a new work roll grinder, overhead crane and other equipment to increase its production.
In May, xPL Offsite, a steel fabrica-
APRIL 2025: Pryor Field Regional Airport in Tanner will soon have a $32.7 million aircraft maintenance hangar. Alaska-based Aleut Real Estate has finalized a ground lease to construct the hangar along with Huntsville-based Strata-G Solutions. The project is expected to create 50 aviationrelated jobs in three years.
MARCH 2025: U.S. Space Force certifies United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan launch system for National Security Space Launch missions and awards the company a contract to launch
40% of the country’s critical satellite missions.
MARCH 2025: Neo Industries in Decatur announces a $3.75 million expansion project, including improvements to an existing building, installing a new work roll grinder, overhead crane and other related equipment to increase its steel and aluminum production.
MARCH 2025: The Huntsville Planning Commission approves construction of more than 1,100 homes in the Greenbrier
Preserve development in Limestone County, just down the road from Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, Polaris and the Amazon Fulfillment Center.
JANUARY 2025: A freestanding emergency room opens in Hartselle. The facility is operated by Cullman Regional Medical Center and is equipped with 10 treatment rooms, a trauma room, ambulance bay, helipad and lab and imaging services that can help diagnose heart attacks and strokes.
SEPTEMBER 2024: Officials break ground on a $15 million, 14,000-square-foot Academy for Music and Movement facility at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur.
SEPTEMBER 2024: The Athens City Council approves economic development projects for several restaurants: Texas Roadhouse and 7 Brew DriveThru Coffee; Five Guys and Nothing Bundt Cakes; Athens Alehouse and Cellar; and Ro’s Grille.
Source: Economic developers
Largest Industrial Employers
MORGAN COUNTY
GE APPLIANCES, A HAIER COMPANY
1,400 employees
Refrigerator manufacturing
WAYNE-SANDERSON FARMS
PREPARED FOODS
820 employees • Poultry further processing
3M COMPANY
788 employees
Plastic sheets/industrial chemicals
NUCOR STEEL DECATUR LLC
767 employees • Steel mini mill
UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE
763 employees • Rocket boosters
WAYNE-SANDERSON
FARMS FRESH FACILITY
684 employees • Poultry processing
GEMSTONE FOODS LLC
520 employees • Poultry further processing
DAIKIN AMERICA
417 employees • Fluoropolymers
INDORAMA VENTURES
XYLENES & PTA LLC
415 employees • Terephthalic acid (PTA)
ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
333 employees
Nylon intermediate chemicals
SONOCO PRODUCTSWOOD REELS
329 employees • Wood cable reels
CERROWIRE
305 employees • Copper wire supplier
tion facility and machinery manufacturer launched by Turner Construction, announced it will move its operations from Huntsville to Decatur with plans to hire 120 workers over the next three years. Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed in May 2026.
In Hartselle, Cerrowire manufactures copper wire for commercial, industrial and residential use.
LIMESTONE COUNTY
MAZDA TOYOTA MANUFACTURING
4,100 employees • Automotive
POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
2,600 employees • Off-road vehicles
TARGET DISTRIBUTION
1,443 employees • Distribution
AMAZON
1,100 employees • Distribution
STEELCASE
800 employees • Office furniture
VUTEQ
800 employees • Automotive
YKTA
664 employees • Automotive
FEDERAL MOGUL - TENNECO
546 employees Automotive gaskets and seals
BOCAR
450 employees • Automotive
TBAKI
360 employees • Automotive - seats
HDT GLOBAL
323 employees • Military shelters
DNUS
293 employees • Automotive
AVIAGEN - NORTH AMERICA
254 employees • Poultry breeders
INTECH MEDICAL
240 employees • Medical implants
Sources: Local economic development officials
CHEMICALS
Morgan County is home to roughly 20 chemical companies; many of them are top employers in the county and have been in operation for several decades.
3M launched its operations in Decatur in 1961 and today runs a materials plant and a film plant that support 788 employees at its 2.5 million-square-foot site.
Ascend Performance Materials has operated in Decatur for more than 60
years, making adiponitrile (ADN), a critical building block for nylon 6,6, a high-performance plastic used in a variety of everyday products. It is one of only a few plants globally that produces ADN on a large scale.
Indorama Ventures Xylenes & PTA manufactures purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and its raw material, paraxylene (PX). The Decatur facility also is the world’s only commercial manufacturer of naphthalene dicarboxylate.
Daikin America develops and manufactures fluorochemical products.
Polyplex USA’s Decatur facility produces biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film used in packaging, electrical and other industrial applications.
OCI Alabama, a manufacturer of sodium percarbonate, recently announced a $19.15 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in Decatur’s Mallard-Fox Creek Industrial Park. Plans include a new 50,000-square-foot warehouse, silos, expanded railyard and buildings and installation of unloading equipment and a packaging system.
FOOD & AGRICULTURE
Food production is another major component of Morgan County’s economy and accounts for more than 2,000 jobs.
Wayne Sanderson Farms LLC, the nation’s third-largest poultry producer, has operated a prepared foods plant in Decatur since 2008. Gemstone Foods produces fresh poultry products at its Decatur facility.
OTHER INDUSTRIES
Toray Composite Materials America Inc. established its Decatur plant in 1997 where it operates production lines from precursor to carbon fiber for the aerospace, defense, industrial and automotive industries.
Packaging manufacturer Sonoco operates a steel reels plant and a nailed wood and plywood reel production plant in Hartselle.
Turner Industries’ multi-service facility in Decatur offers construction and maintenance as well as pipe, vessel, steel and modular fabrication services for clients across the Southeast.
Health Care
Athens-Limestone Hospital recently received approval to add 30 beds to its current 71-bed facility.
DECATUR MORGAN HOSPITAL
Decatur Morgan Hospital, part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System, is a full-service community hospital with six campuses and 22 outpatient clinics that serve Decatur, Hartselle, Priceville and their surrounding communities. The Decatur campus received “A” grades from the Lown Institute Hospital Index for Social Responsibility (2025-2026) for patient safety, inclusivity and pay equity and ranked in the top five in Alabama for patient safety and inclusivity. Decatur Morgan Hospital is the largest employer in Morgan County and supports a staff of more than 450 medical providers and 1,900 employees.
Decatur Morgan Hospital is licensed for 479 beds, including a 64-bed psychiatric hospital, and offers a range of specialties from critical care and cardiology to orthopedics, vascular surgery, obstetrics and urogynecology. Two emergency departments provide immediate and critical care with board-certified emergency physicians and skilled nursing teams.
Last summer, the hospital completed an expansion of its Cardiac Cath Clinic, including the addition of a $4.5 million vascular surgery operating room.
In March, the hospital expanded its use of surgical robotics with the purchase of the Velys Robotic-Assisted Solution, a robotic system designed specifically for orthopedic procedures such as knee and hip replacements.
Also in March, the hospital installed a Safe Haven Baby Box, making it the second medical center in the state to provide a secure and anonymous option for parents who are unable to care for their newborns.
Decatur Morgan Hospital supports workforce development initiatives through partnerships with local schools, a nurse apprenticeship program with Calhoun Community College that started in 2022 and, most recently, a Nurse Camp that launched this year for high-school students.
Athens-Limestone Hospital provides labor and delivery services at The Baby Place.
ATHENS-LIMESTONE HOSPITAL
Athens-Limestone Hospital (ALH) also is an affiliate of the Huntsville Hospital Health System and is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Tier 1 hospital. ALH operates across three campuses and manages 21 physician clinics that serve the residents of Limestone County, east Lauderdale County and south-central Tennessee. After receiving Certificate of Need approval, the 71-bed facility has plans to add 30 additional beds,
and renovations to accommodate the expansion are set to begin soon.
With more than 1,000 employees, ALH is among the largest employers in Limestone County and has significantly expanded its clinical team by adding specialists in pulmonology, gastroenterology, nephrology, mental health and women’s health. In May, the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce named ALH one of the best places to work in Limestone County, based on employee satisfaction surveys.
ALH performs the second-highest volume of surgical cases in the Huntsville Hospital Health Systems and maintains one of the lowest infection rates in the state. Key services include advanced imaging and diagnostics, progressive inpatient and surgical care, outpatient surgical services, labor and delivery at The Baby Place, a sleep clinic, a pain center, inpatient community pharmacies, wellness and wound care centers and multi-specialty clinics.
In 2023, ALH began offering Velys Robotic-Assisted Solution technology for knee replacement surgeries, and in October 2024, installed a Safe Haven Baby Box, making it the seventh facility in Alabama to offer this resource.
ALH has recently launched several community programs and initiatives. In June, the hospital announced Health Conversations, a video podcast and talk show that provides health care education, promotes hospital services and connects the community with health care professionals. In 2024, ALH’s Foundation started a Patient Assistance Fund to help underinsured or uninsured patients access necessities such as medication, clothing and transportation upon discharge.
The hospital also kicked off the BEE (Building Excellent Executives) Leadership Program in 2024 to develop hospital leaders through service and professional development. In May, the BEE Leadership team hosted a health fair for the Haitian community in Athens that provided free health screenings and education. An Ambassadors Program that offers high school juniors and seniors exposure to health care careers and volunteer experiences started in 2023.
Movers & Shapers
MORGAN COUNTY
JANELLE BROWN is a licensed real estate agent and associate broker in Alabama; and the owner of Brown Books & More in Decatur. A native of The Shoals, Brown graduated from the University of North Alabama. She is on the boards of the Decatur-Morgan Chamber of Commerce and the Huntsville Metro Black Chamber. Brown was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by the Biden-Harris Administration. She is a bookkeeper for the Decatur City Schools.
YOGI DOUGHER is a managing partner of Decatur Urban Ventures, a real estate development company. He serves on the boards of the DecaturMorgan County Chamber of Commerce and the Decatur Morgan County Tourism and is active with the Decatur Morgan County Hospitality Association and the Downtown Merchants Association. He is a two-time recipient of the Award of Excellence for Historic Rehabilitation for his preservation efforts in downtown Decatur.
RANDY GARRISON is the mayor of Hartselle. A graduate of Athens State University, Garrison is a member of the Alabama City/County Management Association and the Hartselle Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. He also serves on the boards of the Alabama League of Municipalities Executive Committee, the Hartselle Alumni
Association, the Decatur Morgan County Community Free Clinic, the Alabama Mutual Insurance Corp., the Hartselle Educator Hall of Fame and chairs boards of the Decatur Metropolitan Planning Organization and the North Alabama Regional Council of Governments.
JOHN HOLLEY is the dean for technologies at Calhoun Community College. He serves on the Morgan County school board, the Decatur-Morgan County Cham-
ber of Commerce, the Morgan County Economic Development Association, the Community Foundation of Greater Decatur and is an Association of Career and Technical Educators NextLevel Postsecondary Fellow. Holley is a graduate of Athens State University and Faulkner University.
LARRY LITTLE is CEO of Eagle Consulting LLC, where he leads the company’s two divisions, Eagle Center for Leadership and Eagle Counseling. He has served on the executive committee of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Hospice of the Valley board and the Enrichment Center board. He recently received the 2025 Raymon Baker – John Cook – Ralph Jones Small Business Person of the Year from the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber.
Enrichment Center and First American Bank in addition to chairing the finance committee at First Baptist Church of Decatur. He is a mentor for the Decatur Morgan CEO program.
KYLE DUKES PIKE is business development manager at Fite Building Co. He also serves on the Decatur City Council. A graduate of Calhoun Community College, Pike is a board member of the Decatur-Morgan Hospital Foundation and the Salvation Army and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Decatur. He is a recipient of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce’s Arthur Orr Young Professional of the Year Award.
KELLI POWERS is president of Decatur Morgan Hospital. A University of Alabama graduate, she holds a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She is board president of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the board of Bank47, chairman of the Healthcare Workers’ Compensation Fund board and on the executive committee of Partner’s Coop.
JEFF PARKER is the founder and CEO of Parker Real Estate in Decatur. Parker has served on the boards of Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, The
MARLEY SCHMID is project manager for the Morgan County Economic Development Association, where she provides business recruitment, existing industry support, workforce and project management activities to support commercial, office, industrial and port development in Morgan County. Schmid is a Decatur native and a graduate of Auburn University.
MAEGAN SCHWINDLING is the facilitator for Decatur Morgan CEO. She is also an author and an adoption and foster care advocate.
Schwindling is a member of Innovate Alabama’s Talent Retention board, is vice chair on the corporate board of directors for Bethany Christian Services and serves on the advisory board for the School of Fine Arts in Decatur. She is a University of Alabama graduate.
KELLY THOMAS is director of the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. The Decatur native is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University. She has served as president of the Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association, Decatur Jaycees and MOCO Meetup, and is now on boards of the Alabama Center for the Arts Foundation and the Delano Park Conservancy and is a member of Alabama Leadership Initiative.
HEATHER WILSON is southern states director for United Launch Alliance. She serves on the boards of the Business Council of Alabama, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber, Limestone County Economic Development Authority and Mental Health Association in Decatur. A Leadership Alabama member, she is active with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, Manufacture Alabama, the Alabama Aerospace Defense Council and the Kiwanis Club of Decatur. She holds a master’s from Auburn University.
PHILIP WRIGHT is associate broker and team lead at The Wright Bunch, Brokered by MeritHouse Realty, and is founder of P.A.S.S. Real Estate School-Decatur. Wright is president-elect of the Morgan County Association of Realtors, and active with the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Decatur. He has been honored with the Mickey Phillips Children’s Award for the state of Alabama and was named the Arthur Orr Young Professional of the Year by the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber. Wright is a graduate of the American School of Correspondence.
LIMESTONE COUNTY
TRACI COLLINS is president of Athens-Limestone Hospital. She is a Calhoun Community College graduate with a master’s from the University of Alabama. Collins is a member of the Alabama Hospital Association, the University of Alabama Alumni board of visitors, and nursing advisory boards at Calhoun Community College and the University of North Alabama. She also is a member of the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and Athens Rotary Club.
COLLIN DALY is chairman of the Limestone County Commission. He is on the boards of the Limestone County Chamber and Association of County Commissions of Alabama and is active in Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments, the
Library Foundation, Tennessee Valley Youth Services, NACO Agricultural Rural Affirmation, Association of Tennessee Valley Governments, Limestone County Economic Development Association and Elkmont FFA and chairs the Limestone County Solid Waste Authority.
YOLANDIA EUBANKS is the director of the Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce. A University of Alabama graduate, she is director of Neighborhood Bridges-Ardmore and serves on the boards of North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, the Ardmore Foundation, the Ardmore Public Library, the Limestone County Bama Club, the Leading Limestone Advisory Group and the Christians Helping Others Food Pantry, and is a member of Athens Rotary Club.
ADAM FOX is airport director for the Pryor Field Airport Authority. Fox is an aviation veteran of the Alabama Army National Guard and an Auburn University graduate. He serves on the board of the Limestone County Economic Development Association and the Athens/Limestone Chamber, is a member of the Rotary Club, Alabama Leadership Initiative and serves on the Alabama Community College System Workforce Leadership Council. He also is treasurer of the Aviation Council of Alabama.
JIMMY HODGES is president of Calhoun Community College and previously served as the regional workforce director for the Alabama Community College
System. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Athens State University and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Alabama. Hodges serves on the boards of the American Technical Education Association and the National Coalition of Certification Centers.
PAMMIE JIMMAR is president and CEO of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce. She serves on boards of several state and national Chamber groups and Alabama Small Business Development and on the board of visitors for the Athens State’s School of Business. She also is a board member for Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism, the Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation, and Limestone County Economic Development and is a member of the Women’s Economic Development Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executives Diversity Roundtable and Athens Rotary Club..
RONNIE MARKS has served as mayor of Athens since 2010. Marks is a University of North Alabama graduate, with a master’s from the University of Tennessee. He is active in the Athens Planning Commission, Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission, Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives board, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 511, Athens-Limestone Beautification board, Limestone County Foundation on Aging, Limestone County Economic Development Association board, Athens Rotary Club, Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp. board and the Alabama League of Municipalities.
MARC MASSEY is the county engineer for Limestone County. He serves on the Limestone County Economic Develop-
ment Association executive committee, the Association of County Engineers of Alabama board and the National Association of County Engineers’ legislative and safety committees. Massey graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a degree in civil engineering and is a licensed professional engineer.
BETH PATTON is superintendent of Athens City Schools. Patton earned a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University and a master’s from Alabama A&M University.
Patton is involved with the Athens Rotary Club, Education Solution’s Transformative Leadership Academy and serves on numerous boards, including the Athens City Schools Foundation and the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce (both in an ex officio capacity), Kids and Kin, Limestone County Economic Development, Mission Athens and United Way.
TERE RICHARDSON is executive director of Athens Main Street, a position she has held for the past seven years. She holds bachelor’s degrees from Athens State University and from Troy State University. Richardson serves on several boards, including the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and the Athens Rotary Club and on the community board for First National Bank of Pulaski.
BETHANY SHOCKNEY is president and CEO of the Limestone County Economic Development Association. She is
an architecture graduate of the University of Tennessee with a master’s from Alabama A&M University. She serves on the boards of Committee of 100, Limestone County United Way, Athens-Limestone Hospital, River Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce.
ERIN TIDWELL is city planner for the city of Athens. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s from Alabama A&M University.
Tidwell serves on the Limestone County Economic Development Association executive committee, is a mentor with the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission and is active with the City of Athens Relay for Life and Athens Young Professionals.
CATHERINE WEHLBURG is president of Athens State University. She serves ex officio on the Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce, the Limestone County Economic Development Association, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce and the Alabama Center for the Arts Foundation. Wehlburg is a member of the Alabama University Presidents’ Council; on the Council of Higher Education Accreditation board and serves as a reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Wehlburg also plays in the Athens State University Community Band.
Higher Education
ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY
Athens State University is one of the oldest universities in Alabama, and it exclusively serves junior-level, senior-level and graduate students. The university offers more than 50 majors and degree options and more than 40 minors through the colleges of arts and sciences, business and education. Its program offerings continue to grow.
In January, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) approved a Bachelor of Science in applied management program that will start this fall. The new major meets an education and workforce development need by bridging the gap between technical expertise and advanced managerial skills and provides a seamless pathway for those coming from technologies-based trade programs in community colleges.
Last fall, the university launched a BA in music industry studies that offers experiential training opportunities, including essential skills in music performance and production, recording and audio engineering and music business and management. Courses are offered at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur.
Athens State has welcomed some new additions to its campus in the past year as well.
Last fall, the university celebrated the opening of a new Crime Analyzation, Simulation, and Experimentation Laboratory (CASElab) that will provide training for students in the criminal justice, child advocacy studies training (CAST) and homeland and corporate security programs. The lab will offer opportunities to conduct crime scene reenactments, academic research and mock case simulations.
A new cybersecurity facility also opened last fall. The CyberLab will serve as a hub for research and collaboration among students, faculty and industry professionals and build on learning partnerships the university has established with cybersecurity companies like Torch Technologies and Colsa.
Athens State regularly collaborates with community colleges to create seamless transfer pathways for students. Recent developments include a partnership
with Calhoun Community College that assures graduates of Calhoun’s associate in science general studies with a concentration in child development program will be accepted into Athens State’s technical education, early instructor (non-certification) program and an arrangement with Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) to establish a fast-track BSN program allows students to simultaneously earn an associate degree in nursing from NACC and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Athens State.
In December, Athens State joined forces with Wallace State Community College to offer students in Wallace State’s
Powerful Partnerships program, an initiative that extends college resources and a tuition discount to employees of area businesses and their immediate families, access to Athens State’s Learning Partnership program when they transfer to the university. Benefits include a 10% tuition discount on all classes at Athens State, waived application fee and a complimentary evaluation of previous education and training for possible credit transfer.
“Athens Aspire,” a new program that offers education-to-career guidance, is under development thanks to a $300,000 Innovation in Career Service grant awarded by the Strada Education Foundation.
Dr. Catherine Wehlburg became Athens State University’s president in mid-2024.
The Alabama Center for the Arts’ first residence hall opened to students in August 2024.
Athens State was one of eight universities nationwide to receive the grant.
CALHOUN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Calhoun Community College is the largest two-year institution in the Alabama Community College System. The college serves approximately 10,000 students at its 110-acre Decatur campus, its Huntsville/Cummings Research Park location and the Alabama Center for the Arts (ACA), a collaboration between Calhoun and Athens State University. The school offers more than 100 associate degree options and career/certificate programs.
Calhoun celebrates the opening of its Advanced Technology Center expansion project this summer. The 57,200-squarefoot building will support training programs that will drive the growth of North Alabama’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. The expansion was identified as a critical need by the Alabama Community College System, which is funding the project as part of its
ASPIRE 2030 initiative.
In May, Calhoun opened the STEAM Imagination Center, an instructional site in downtown Decatur that is part of the Alabama Center for the Arts and will serve as a hub for creativity, digital innovation and cross discipline learning for students in the college’s fine arts, design drafting and computer information systems programs. The newly renovated two-story facility is a reimagined version of the former Eyster-Key building and includes classrooms, high tech labs, a new elevator, upgraded HVAC systems and energy efficient lighting and windows.
The college anticipates the new site will initially serve around 75 students annually and expects that number to grow as new degree and certificate programs are added, among them a planned video game development track.
Last August, Calhoun Community College and Athens State University celebrated the first official move-in day at
the ACA’s new residence hall in downtown Decatur. The 43,474-square-foot facility is for students pursuing art degrees at either of the two academic institutions and consists of 49 ADA-compliant apartments, 11 studios, 19 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom units that accommodate a total of 68 beds.
In September, leaders from Calhoun and Decatur City Schools joined local legislators to break ground on the ACA’s new Academy for Music and Movement, a $15 million, 14,000-square-foot facility that will provide expanded space for music and dance programs. The building will feature a mezzanine and an open area roof terrace for small gatherings; the first floor will include a large dance area with temporary seating for performances, a music chamber room, restrooms, changing rooms and a lobby; and the second floor will house music practice rooms, listening rooms, an additional large dance area and a multi-purpose room. The academy is expected to open in January 2026.
Community Development
LIMESTONE COUNTY
Limestone County was once again the fastest-growing county in Alabama in 2024. It grew by 3.6% from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, adding 4,139 residents, and took its place among the top 10 most populous counties in the state.
As the county continues to grow, a number of projects are keeping pace.
In March, the Commission unanimously approved an agreement with Morell Engineering Inc. and the Alabama Department of Transportation for roadway improvements on Airport Road and to construct a new access road at Pryor Field Regional Airport. Both projects will support the construction of a new hangar for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for commercial and military aircraft. Officials broke ground on the $32.7 million hangar project in June.
Also in March, Gov. Kay Ivey announced plans for a safety project at the heavily traveled intersection of State Route 53 and Pinedale Road in Limestone County. The $1.25 million project is funded through the Alabama
Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II), a program created in 2019 by the Rebuild Alabama Act. The project will add turn lanes and other improvements.
Last October, the Limestone County Animal Care and Control facility opened its doors to the public. The new county-run facility replaced the AthensLimestone County Animal Shelter, which closed after the County Commission decided not to renew its contract.
Limestone County Schools broke ground on an expansion of the Limestone County Career Technical Center in May.
The $12 million project will add 11 classrooms, additional restrooms, expand the auditorium/meeting room, create a new front entrance and add office space.
Athens, the county seat, was the second-fastest growing city in the state in 2024, and saw its population increase by 5.3%. To help accommodate the influx of new residents, more than 7,400 singleand multi-family housing units had been approved as of early 2025.
Plans are in place to bring a new Publix to the intersection of Highway 72 and
Mooresville Road, a project that includes improvements to nearby roadways, estimated to cost around $1.4 million. An economic development project that will bring a new Food City to the west side of town also is underway and includes street improvements to the area.
Last September, the Athens City Council approved economic development agreements for a Texas Roadhouse and 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee on Highway 72 and a Five Guys and Nothing Bundt Cakes on Kelli Drive. Athens Alehouse and Cellar and Ro’s Grille both received Athens Main Street grants to renovate and expand their downtown locations.
In March, the city of Athens broke ground for a park on the site of the former Pilgrim’s Pride chicken plant. Sunrise Park will feature an inclusive playground and splash pad, along with furnishings, civil and utilities work, general work, site electrical and landscaping, which is estimated to cost around $6.6 million. Plans for a future phase include adding a dog park, amphitheater, green space, food truck area and a Singing River Trailhead.
Pryor Field Regional Airport is undergoing roadway improvements and is building a new $32.7 million hangar.
In March 2024, Julian Newman Elementary School in Athens broke ground on the HEART Academy project. The $26 million, 85,000-square-foot facility is set to welcome students this fall.
MORGAN COUNTY
A new $7 million Morgan County Event Center is scheduled to open this fall in eastern Morgan County. The 34,627-square-foot facility will feature a double gym and walking track; basketball, pickleball and volleyball courts; and a 1,102-square-foot multipurpose room for events.
Behind the event center, the county’s first-ever agricultural center also is under construction. The facility, funded by a $4 million donation from the State Products Mart Authority, will provide a dedicated space for farm-related activities and host livestock shows and other events.
Morgan County Schools’ Rural Development Park will launch in August after a multi-million renovation of the former Sparkman Elementary School. The new trade school is a partnership with Calhoun Community College and gives juniors and seniors from all Morgan County high schools the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and a license or credentials to take directly into the workforce. Areas of study center on health care and manufacturing.
Communities in Morgan County are steadily growing, and Decatur, the county seat, is stepping up efforts to diversify its housing options to better accommodate newcomers.
Several residential development projects are underway, including Bank Street Station, a mixed-use development with roughly 200 apartments and retail space in downtown Decatur; Kenzie Meadows, which plans for 60 threebedroom townhomes and 200 singlefamily homes; and River Loft Apartments, a mixed-use complex with 100 apartment units.
And several more developments have recently become available, including Glenmont Acres, 350 lots for three- to four-bedroom homes; Princeton Place, 101 patio homes and 75 single-family homes; and River Road Estates, 151
residential lots and 39 townhomes with plans for a new phase of construction on the horizon.
For visitors, a new Fairfield Inn by Marriott opened in downtown Decatur in January 2024, and a new $10 million Decatur Municipal Parking Deck with 230 spaces opened next door a few months later. The four-story hotel features 80 rooms, an indoor pool, fitness center and meeting room.
A new 20-acre community recreation center in Decatur is expected to be completed by next summer. It will feature a 103,000-square-foot enclosed recreation building with basketball and volleyball courts, a natatorium, a mezzanine
“Hartselle is growing, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I was born and raised here, and it’s great to be able to serve the place that’s given me so much.”
— Hartselle mayor Randy Garrison
running deck, office space, conference rooms and a concession stand with kitchen. Outside, the updated park will feature walking trails overlooking Wilson Morgan Lake and new hardscapes to accommodate food trucks, outdoor events and seating.
The Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama broke ground on a 16-bed crisis residential unit in Decatur in December. The in-patient psychiatric facility will serve 18 counties and is expected to be completed by October.
Decatur City Schools serves more than 8,500 students in 18 schools, including 11 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Schools of Excellence and two National Blue Ribbon Schools. Last August, Career Academies of Decatur officially became the district’s third high school. It offers specialized training in skilled trade and
technical programs, including automotive technology, barbering, cosmetology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, health sciences and sports medicine.
About 10 miles south of Decatur, the town of Hartselle is moving forward with plans for a new fire station, library and event center.
Hartselle has two fire stations, both originally planned to house one person and currently struggling to accommodate four people per shift.
“We need more room,” says Hartselle Mayor Randy Garrison. “We’re also spreading [the stations] out a little further so that the coverage area will be better.”
The new Station 1 facility will have space for eight firefighters and the department’s new ladder truck. Upon its completion, the town plans to renovate one of the remaining facilities.
The William Bradford Huie Library, currently located downtown in a former bank building, will nearly double in size at its new location, growing from 4,000 square feet to 7,800 square feet. The expansion is designed to serve a new generation of library patrons, particularly with access to technology.
“It’s really more of a media center,” Garrison explains. “There will be computer access, there will be space for people to come in and have meetings or training and a lot of seating areas where people can just hang out and enjoy themselves.”
A new event center, the city’s first, also will be built next to the library. Both facilities will occupy the former site of the Hartselle Medical Center on Sparkman Street.
Renovations are in the works for Sparkman Park, including additional parking, improvements for accessibility and upgraded restroom facilities and lighting.
Hartselle City Schools celebrated the opening of Crestline Elementary School in fall 2024; it serves 1,100 students with room for future growth.
“Hartselle is growing, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” says Garrison. “I was born and raised here, and it’s great to be able to serve the place that’s given me so much.”
Community
Community
Culture & Recreation
ONE OF A KIND
The Town of Mooresville, in Limestone County, is older than the state of Alabama. Often referred to as “Alabama’s Williamsburg,” the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic sites include the Church of Christ, where President James Garfield once preached; the Brick Church; the Post Office; and the Stagecoach Inn and Tavern.
Mooresville also is home to 1818 Farms, which takes its name from the year the town was incorporated. The three-acre working farm is known for its handmade bath and beauty products and offers a variety of workshops, events and tours throughout the year.
The Cook Museum of Natural Science, in downtown Decatur, lets children explore, interact with and learn about nature through a variety of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. Highlights include a walk-in cave, a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, a 600-gallon freshwater aquarium, live animals and a hands-on Kinetic sand table.
HISTORY
The Old Decatur and Albany Historic districts include a house used by both Union and Confederate Civil War troops, the Carnegie Library and examples of Queen Anne, Victorian and Colonial Revival architectures. Walking and driving tours are available, and an annual Christmas tour showcases the interiors of select homes.
Limestone County’s historic districts include the Athens Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District, the Athens State College Historic District and the Limestone County Antebellum Trail. There’s also the carefully restored 1933 Prairie-style Newby Gulf Station, which was one of the first full-service stations in Alabama.
The Fort Henderson/Trinity School Historic Site, in Athens, tells the story of the Civil War fort built by runaway slaves who joined the Union Army. Later the site became a school to teach former slaves to read and write.
MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES
In Athens, the Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives displays artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the
present day and features guided tours by local veterans. Completed in 1851, the Donnell House is a living history museum and event space. The Houston Memorial Library and Museum, located in the restored residence of two-time Alabama Governor and U.S. Senator George S. Houston, serves as a public library and museum.
Established in 1980, the Limestone County Archives collection includes the county’s government records as well as historical and genealogical materials.
The Morgan County Archives houses a treasure trove of Alabama history, from original Civil War artifacts and photos to court records from the infamous 1933 Scottsboro Boys trial.
The Decatur Historic Union Railroad Depot was built in 1905 and operated as a passenger train station until 1979. Today, visitors can tour the depot, view railroad memorabilia and a model train display and wave from the viewing platform as live trains pass by.
While the interior of the Old State Bank in Decatur is currently closed for renovation, visitors can still admire the exterior of the oldest bank building in
Singers entertain patrons as they enjoy Merchants Alley in Athens.
Alabama and its blend of federal and Greek-Revival architecture.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
With its distinct art deco style, the Princess Theatre is one of Decatur’s most historic landmarks. The 650-seat performance venue has operated for more than 100 years and hosts a variety of events, including concerts, theater performances, movie screenings and community events.
The historic Carnegie Library in Decatur was transformed into The Carnegie Visual Arts Center in 2003 and since then has supported local and national touring exhibits and offered classes, workshops, lectures and camps for all ages to the community.
The Alabama Center for the Arts is a partnership between Calhoun Community College and Athens State University. The facility offers nearly 100,000 square feet of visual and performing arts spaces, a 250-seat recital hall, 300-seat studio theater and a gallery featuring student and local art. Located in the heart of Athens, Merchants Alley is a place for people to
gather, dine, enjoy art and listen to live music. Each spring, the Athens Main Street Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series offers patrons live music while they shop and dine.
PARKS & RECREATION
The 700-acre Point Mallard Park features an 18-hole golf course, a 25-acre wooded campground, a seasonal 35-acre water park, a three-mile recreational trail, multiple green spaces and pavilion areas and a driving range. It also hosts familyfriendly events and festivals throughout the year.
Also in Decatur, Delano Park’s 28 acres include a walking track, splash pad, accessible playground, tennis courts and a rose garden. Rhodes Ferry Park offers scenic views of the Tennessee River and has multiple pavilions. Founders Park, located in front of the Old State Bank, provides green space for the adjacent historic downtown and historic residential neighborhoods and is home to the Daikin Amphitheater.
Located along the Tennessee River in Limestone County, Cowford Campground offers swimming, fishing, boating and has 52 campsites.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Located on 35,000 acres along the Tennessee River, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is home to Alabama’s largest wintering duck and sandhill crane population as well as rare and endangered whooping cranes that also migrate to the area. A remodeled visitor center and observation building feature interactive displays and spotting scopes for birdwatching.
Ingalls Harbor Pavilion and Boat Launch, off Highway 20, offers easy access to the Tennessee River and has become a popular spot for fishing tournaments, including Bassmaster events. The pavilion is available for wedding receptions and community events.
HIT THE TRAILS
In Limestone County, the 10.2-mile Richard Martin Rails to Trails is a backto-nature greenway that supports a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding and bird watching. The 21.9-mile Canoe and Kayak Trail along the Elk River starts just north of Elkmont and offers five easy in and out sites. The Noah Bike Trail is an 89-mile circular loop suitable for the avid cyclist that winds through the Appalachian foothills. Shorter, more leisurely trails like the Marbut Bend Trail, the Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk and the Swan Creek Greenway Trail are all excellent options for enjoying nature.
In Morgan County, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is home to five established nature trails. Flint Creek Canoe Trail provides access to the interior of the refuge and is great for bird watching. The 14.7-mile Bill Sims Bike Trail winds through Decatur and includes scenic river views as well as some of the city’s top tourist attractions. Check off a list of the county’s must-see murals along the MoCo Mural Trail or locate all 10 of the bronze turtles in the Decatur Downtown Turtle Trail and learn about the places and events that have shaped the area along the way.
JUST FOR FUN
Located between Hartselle and Priceville, GoFAR USA Park is an outdoor adventure park featuring zip lines, obstacle courses, a climbing wall, paintball, a three-acre petting zoo and four miles of running and biking trails.
A pair of endangered whooping cranes are observed at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Career Notes
ACCOUNTING
Ashley S. Taylor, a principal at Jackson Thornton, has been elected chairperson of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts’ Litigation Forensics Board.
BANKING
Fred Elliott has been named CB&S Bank’s Birmingham regional president, executive vice president. He is based at the bank’s Mountain Brook branch.
David Payne has been promoted to head of originations for Regions Affordable Housing
ServisFirst has promoted Rachel Guthrie to vice president, credit officer; Elizabeth Feick to vice president, commercial banking officer; and Jonathan Ceci to assistant relationship manager and banking officer.
Lisa Killingsworth has been promoted to market executive in Synovus’ Jasper branch.
CREDIT UNION
Joe Newberry, president and CEO of Redstone Federal Credit Union, has received the Professional of the Year Award by The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates.
EDUCATION
Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed Ami Brooks as secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Jan Hume, who had served in the secretary capacity for two years, has been hired as professor
by ERICA JOINER WEST
of practice in public administration at Auburn University
Rosario Thomas, a veterans specialist with Southern Union State Community College, has been voted Military Friendly’s Alabama’s Veteran of the Year.
ENGINEER
Brad Hughes, principal, has been named to SS&A Design Collective’s board of directors and has assumed the role of engineering managing principal.
FOOD
Bill and Beth Walton, founders of Oyster South, have been presented the 2025 Frank Stitt Award for Industry Excellence by the Southbound Food Festival.
HEALTH CARE
American Family Care has appointed Dan Olivier as chief financial officer.
Taylor Lewis, of Baldwin Bone & Joint, has become a certified hand therapist.
Jason Budde has joined Southeast Health Cardiovascular Institute as a cardiothoracic surgeon. In addition, Morgan Hull, a general surgeon, has joined Southeast Health Surgery Clinic
USA Health has hired Luanda Grazette as its new division chief of cardiology and has promoted Rachel Seaman to chief medical officer of University Hospital. Also, Owen Bailey, CEO and senior associate vice president for medical affairs at USA Health, has received the Gold Medal of Excellence from the Alabama Hospital Association.
LEGAL
The Alabama Defense Lawyers Association has elected Bains Fleming as its 202526 president. Other officers elected were Mark Debro, president elect; Melissa Hunter, secretary-treasurer; and Megan McCarthy, immediate past president.
Jonathan Hoffmann, partner in Balch’s Birmingham office, has been appointed as honorary consul of the Kingdom of Belgium for Alabama and Mississippi, fostering Belgian-American relations in the region.
Kaitlyn Mitchell has joined Montgomery-based Gilpin Givhan PC as an associate in the firm’s tax, corporate & securities and estate & business succession practice groups.
MUNICIPALITIES
The city of Tuscaloosa has promoted Sarah Bridger Gilmore to executive director of strategic communications.
The city of Montgomery has appointed Lucinda Babers its chief operating officer.
NATURAL GAS
Michael Garrett has been promoted to chief accounting officer at Birminghambased Diversified Energy Co.
ORGANIZATIONS
Christopher Spencer has been selected as CEO and president of the Black Belt Community Foundation in Selma. He begins this role on Sept. 30.
Wendy Mahoney has been named interim executive director of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Jackie Wuska Wear, president and CEO of United Way of West Alabama, has been elected board chair of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits
Reagan Huguley has joined the Business Council of Alabama as external affairs communications coordinator.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
JJPR has added Jorjalyn Weaver Lofton as public relations specialist, Ginny Duncan as operations manager and Anna Wallace DeRossette as public relations fellow.
ELIZABETH FEICK
JASON BUDDE
FRED ELLIOTT
ROSARIO THOMAS
SARAH BRIDGER GILMORE
DAVID PAYNE
OWEN BAILEY KAITLYN MITCHELL
AMI BROOKS
ASHLEY S. TAYLOR
RACHEL SEAMAN
RACHEL GUTHRIE
BRAD HUGHES
CHRISTOPHER SPENCER
TAYLOR LEWIS
JACKIE WUSKA WEAR
JONATHAN CECI
MORGAN HULL
LISA KILLINGSWORTH
JOE NEWBERRY
LUANDA GRAZETTE
Sweet Beginnings
The early years of ice cream in Sylacauga
By SCOTTY E. KIRKLAND
Aperson touring the Blue Bell facility in downtown Sylacauga could be forgiven for assuming the company had always been there. Yes, Blue Bell, with its diet-smashing samples parlor, has occupied the site for nearly 30 years.
But the history of ice cream manufacturing in Alabama’s Marble City actually dates back nearly a century. If an Old Testament scribe were to write down the story, it might look something like this: Frostkist begat Widemire’s; and Widemire’s begat Foremost; and Foremost begat Farmbest; and Farmbest begat Flav-O-Rich; and Flav-O-Rich begat Blue Bell.
In the beginning, on May 31, 1929, as Southern temperatures
soared, readers of the local paper learned of the organization of the Frostkist Ice Cream and Creamery Co. Founded by four local men with $100,000 in common stock, the new venture was initially housed in one portion of the Sylacauga Warehouse Co., on the corner of Industrial Avenue and Fourth Street.
Operations began just a few weeks later and proved a boon to area dairy farmers. The editor of the Sylacauga News called for residents of the Marble City to patronize stores that carried the sweet new treats. Asking for Frostkist brand ice cream “will have the same tingling delightfulness that the name implies,”
A building in downtown Sylacauga has been home to decades of ice-cream manufacturing, most recently as Blue Bell. Photos courtesy of Blue Bell.
he wrote. “In using Frostkist Ice Cream you are building Sylacauga. You are doing your bit to create a market for milk, which in turn adds to the local farmers’ income.”
Soon the first scoops of the new product were being sampled at local establishments. In addition to ice cream for soda fountains, the company produced a few sweet novelty items, including “a dainty cake and cream combination in a flat cone form, easy to eat and more convenient than the ordinary cone.”
By Independence Day, Frostkist’s territory had expanded to surrounding communities of Rockford and Weogufka. But the onset of the Great Depression later that year slowed the pace of growth and the company faced a rocky road to success. After 10 months in operation, the company reorganized as the Sylacauga Ice Cream and Creamery, though the product line continued to be marketed as Frostkist. The largest stockholder and proprietor of the retooled venture was Edwin Luther Widemire, a Pennsylvanian who in 1922 married into a Sylacauga family.
the nation’s largest dairy producers. The family relocated to Mobile in 1969. Sylacauga’s loss was the Port City’s gain. That same year, Widemire opened an ice cream parlor in an old Texaco station along Old Shell Road. Decorated to honor his Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, it remained in the family for more than a decade after he died in 1984. Still in operation today after more than 50 years — and now owned by Cammie Wayne — Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe has expanded to two additional locations.
Back in Sylacauga, the churns continued under the large umbrella of Foremost. The company’s estimated annual economic impact was $1.25 million and grew larger still with the construction of a new facility. A number of the brand’s most popular frozen treats were made there, including a characteristically odd 1950s culinary treat called the flaming ice cream snowball. These prepackaged dollops of vanilla ice cream were rolled in a crunchy coconut topping and covered with colorful cake icing. Crowned with a candle, it promised to be the “Happy Ending of a Perfect Party.”
Widemire knew the industry and he knew the town. Following his service in the signal corps during World War I, he went into the ice cream and milk distribution business, first in Birmingham and then in Oklahoma City.
The ambitious Widemire was determined to use as much raw milk as local dairy farmers could supply.
He expanded the enterprise into making butter, cheese and pasteurized milk. In an attempt to ensure the availability of “Grade A” milk from local dairy farmers, Widemire launched a series of education efforts through ads published in the local newspapers.
With profits for top-tier milk at nearly 50% higher, farmers who invested the additional effort could bring home $1,300 for every 12 cows. That is akin to more than $20,000 today. Widemire even offered to build sanitary barns for certain producers. “You don’t have to have any cash,” read one advertisement. “You can’t lose — we will take the chances.”
In 1941, the board voted to rename the company Widemire’s Inc. It was a fitting change, reflecting his work to expand a struggling creamery and establish branches in Alexander City, Montgomery and Florence, as well as the cachet his name carried in the industry. Widemire belonged to the 12-member steering committee of the International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers. The organization helped set industry policies and practices in the U.S. and Canada.
In 1953, Widemire sold his company to Foremost, one of
Foremost gave way to Farmbest in 1967. In time, Farmbest gave way to Flav-O-Rich. Though the company names and owners changed, the location, and many of the employees, remained the same, one of the pillars of the local economy. For the first time since the Depression, that industry was cast into uncertainty when, in 1995, Flav-O-Rich announced a restructuring that included shuttering the Sylacauga plant. The move endangered the jobs of nearly 150 employees. Plant manager Pete Moore sprang into action. He contacted executives of Blue Bell, a Texas-based company eager to expand into Southeastern territories. Moore touted all the benefits the Sylacauga facility had to offer them. (Locals will hasten to say that this was a “cold call.”)
Negotiations happened quickly and with the assistance of city leaders. Soon, those unmistakable Blue Bell containers were rolling out of Alabama’s Marble City. Since then, the company has undertaken several multi-million-dollar expansions and now employs almost 300 people.
In 1930, a Pennsylvania transplant saved Sylacauga’s ice cream industry from falling victim to the Great Depression. Two generations later, a manager’s gumption, with the support of the community, helped to ensure that one of their town’s sweetest business successes did not merely melt away into history.
Historian Scotty E. Kirkland is a freelance contributor to Business Alabama. He lives in Wetumpka.
Newspaper ads touted the freshness of Alabama-made Frost-Kist Ice Cream.
Bill Sims Bike Trail ...........................................71
Birdon Group 10
Birmingham Business Journal 10
Birmingham City Football Club ........................16
Birmingham CrossPlex 11 Birmingham Legion Football Club....................16 Birmingham Water Works 12 Birmingham, City of 11, 16 Birmingham, England, City of ..........................16
Sunrise Park, Athens 68 Swan Creek Greenway Trail ..............................71
Sylacauga Ice
SEPTEMBER
Company Kudos
Geographic
by ERICA JOINER WEST
Montgomery-based Chambless King Architects has been included in A South Forty, a listing compiled by The Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design at the University of Arkansas. Chambless King is the first Alabama architecture firm to be recognized on the list, which includes 40 practices. Those selected will have their work included in a curated exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Pictured is the 19,000-square-foot Wire Road Soccer Complex in Auburn, which the firm designed
Accounting Today has named its 2025 Wealth Magnets firms. Those with Alabama offices that appeared on the listing, in this order, were Jackson Thornton Wealth Management of Montgomery, BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions of Birmingham, Kassouf Wealth Advisors of Birmingham and Wilkins Miller Wealth Management of Mobile.
LunarLab Benefit LLC, a product strategy and UX design studio in Birmingham, has received certification as a Women-Owned Small Business from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has received an Award for Communications Excellence from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for its “Back to the Chamber” video.
The Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermens Market, in Foley, was the first runner-up for the 2025 Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Farmers Market. Fifteen markets were in the running for the awards.
Construction Executive Magazine has released its 2025 Top 50 Construction Law Firms list. Those with Alabama offices to make the list are: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC, Adams and Reese LLP, Phelps Dunbar LLP and Maynard Nexsen.
Central Alabama Pride is the inaugural recipient of The Advocate’s Communities of Pride Award, celebrating grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations nationally.
Hartselle Health Park ER, a freestanding ER of Cullman Regional, has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval.
Hendricks-Patton-Rancl Co. Inc., in Athens, is celebrating its 80th year in business. The locally owned retailer offers furniture, appliances, outdoor lawn equipment and more.
Regions Bank has received two innovation awards from Global Private Banker. Regions took home the Best Trust Services by a Private Bank award and Best Wealth Planning Execution award.
Reid State Technical College has earned full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Sentar Inc., a cybersecurity and intelligence solutions company in Huntsville, has received Forum’s Innovation Award. The company earned the honors for its Sentriq and Stronghold programs.
Wallace State Community College has been named a Rising Star by the Aspen Institute. The award, which recognizes improvements in student outcomes, comes with a $100,000 prize.
Historic Alabama
NIGHT MOVES
This image from the U.S. Library of Congress archives shows the night shift at work on the barges at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co. in Decatur in 1942. Ingalls built primarily barges in Decatur from 1930 to 1980, when it was sold to Trinity Industries and eventually closed. The former shipbuilding site is now called Ingalls Harbor. Photo courtesy the U.S. Library of Congress
Do you have a photo you’d like us to consider for Historic Alabama? Send it to Erica West at ewest@pmtpublishing.com.
Alabiz Quiz
August 2025:
Q: Alabama’s city of Birmingham has partnered with its English namesake in a deal that pairs tourism and sport. What sport?
A) Baseball
B) Golf
C) Tennis
D) Soccer
July 2025 (one month ago):
Q: We featured KW, a major recycling firm in Troy, one of the largest of its kind in the world. What does the firm recycle?
A) Aluminum cans
B) Automotive batteries
C) Computer chips
D) Plastics
Challenge yourself with these puzzlers from past issues of Business Alabama magazine. Beginning Aug. 20, work the quiz online and check your answers at businessalabama.com.
August 2024 (one year ago):
Q: UAB Health acquired a group of hospitals in the Birmingham region. Which hospitals?
A) Ascension St. Vincent’s
B) Hospital Group of Central Alabama
C) VA Health System
D) USA Health
August 2020 (five years ago):
Q: COVID-19 was the big newsmaker in 2020. One news item talked about the location of COVID-related deaths. Where were they highest?
A) College dormitories
B) Elementary schools
C) Military bases
D) Nursing homes and assisted living facilities
August 2015 (10 years ago):
Q: The city of Mobile parades an array of Mardi Gras floats for significant city events. What caused those floats to roll in early summer of 2015?
A) Arrival of first Airbus components
B) Navy base reopening at Brookley
C) Senior Bowl
D) Visit from President Obama
August 2000 (25 years ago):
Q: Our cover story featured Brad Martin, who moved from his success with McRae’s and Parisian to become CEO of one of New York’s most iconic stores. Which one?
