Local officials have been preparing for Space Command’s move to Huntsville since 2021. They expect 1,400 of the command’s personnel will make the move to Alabama.
22: The Hoover Met has helped transform the city into a key sports tourism destination. 12: International firms, like ArcelorMittal in Calvert, have brought billions in investments to Alabama during 2025.
39: Russell Construction is one of the firms honored in this year’s Best Companies to Work For in Alabama.
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Benchmarks
Alabama launches Department of Workforce
Gov. Kay Ivey launched the ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE in mid-October. The department, led by Greg Reed, is to consolidate fragmented workforce programs under unified leadership.
“Alabama’s workforce is our greatest competitive advantage,” said Ivey. “This unified approach connects individual career advancement to statewide prosperity, ensuring that our human
BUSINESS BRIEFS
OPEN FOR TRADE
Alabama has opened international trade offices in Japan and South Korea, hoping to boost trade with those countries. Since 1999, companies from Japan have invested $10.1 billion in Alabama, while South Korean firms have invested $9.6 billion. Alabama also has a trade office in Germany, the state’s top international trade partner.
BIG INCENTIVES
Alabama has provided $466 million in incentives for about 40 companies since mid-2023. That’s when the state started publicly reporting incentive agreements.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS …IN OXFORD
Wellborn Cabinet has opened its First Haven Cabinetry facility in Calhoun County. The $28 million facility in Oxford West Industrial Park will make as many as 2,000 cabinets a day and employ more than 400 people.
…IN MOBILE
Airbus USA inaugurated a new A320 final assembly line at its plant in Mobile in October. The third assembly line makes Mobile fourth in the world among cities that make airplanes, after Seattle, Toulouse and Hamburg.
capital drives continued economic growth across all communities.”
The department will focus on addressing the state’s workforce participation paradox — low unemployment at 2.9% paired with one of the nation’s lowest workforce participation rates at 57.8.
“Alabama’s greatest resource is its people, and when they thrive, we all rise. This department represents our commitment to meeting every Alabamian where they are and guiding them to where they want to be,” said Reed. He added that the department will leverage its career centers, community-based outreach hubs and digital workforce matching systems to serve all counties.
The department will provide workforce data and regulatory oversight with a 90% focus on workforce services and comprehensive safety standards.
To this end, the department will implement real-time labor market analytics, virtual training platforms and workforce matching systems while prioritizing personal relationships through community partnerships and trusted local voices.
“This represents the most ambitious workforce development initiative Alabama has undertaken,” said Reed. “We’re creating a foundation for lasting growth that benefits every community and ensures no Alabamian navigates their career journey alone.”
TOYOTA GROWS
Toyota Alabama will create new production lines for differentials — mechanical components on the axles — for the company’s trucks, including the Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia. Toyota says the new production lines would create about 350 jobs in the Huntsville area.
HUNTSVILLE HIGHLIGHTED
Huntsville is one of the cities on Colliers International’s 10 Emerging Industrial Markets to Watch list. Colliers noted that Huntsville’s industrial market has grown by 26% over the past five years.
CONTRACTS
Boeing has been awarded a $2.7 billion contract to produce more of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seeker missiles used by the U.S. and many of its allies for defense against hostile aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles. Boeing does much of the work in its Huntsville facilities.
BETTER CONNECTIONS
The Tombigbee Electric Cooperative has completed its eight-year project to install 4,300 miles of fiber-to-home internet across eight counties in Northwest Alabama. The project will bring high-speed internet access to more than 100,000 rural residents.
Greg Reed, who will lead the new department, joins Gov. Kay Ivey for the announcement in October.
Fratco breaks ground for pipe plant in Fort Payne
City, county and state officials celebrate the groundbreaking for Fratco’s corrugated pipe plant in Fort Payne.
Corrugated plastic pipe maker FRATCO has broken ground for a plant in Fort Payne, the company’s first ground-up plant in the Southeast.
The century-old pipe maker expects to create 50 to 60 manufacturing, logistics and administrative jobs. Workers in the 42,000-square-foot plant will manufacture single- and doublewall pipe from 3 to 18 inches in diameter, with plans for larger sizes in the future.
Fratco, based in Indiana, chose Fort Payne after a multi-state search for the right site — working with the city, the DeKalb
BUSINESS BRIEFS
NAME GAME
The college of engineering at the University of Alabama has been named the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering, recognizing a $25 million gift from the family in honor of the Birmingham industrialist. At the University of North Alabama, the Department of Entertainment Industry has been renamed for David and John Briggs, after a gift from David’s sons, Darren and Gabriel. David Briggs played at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals for decades, and John worked for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
MANUFACTURING KUDOS
Four firms have been honored as manufacturers of the year by the Business Council of Alabama, Alabama Technology Network and Manufacture Alabama. Honorees are MRaine Industries in Autaugaville in the small category, EFI Automotive in Elkmont in the medium category, ArcelorMittal in Calvert in the large category and Peak Renewables in Dothan in the emerging category.
NEW AT THE TOP
Ronnie Pruitt has been named CEO of Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Tom Hill, who will become executive chair of the board. Travis Pritchett, currently president
County Economic Development Authority, the state and AIDT.
“The South isn’t just growing — it’s evolving,” said Bill Champion, Fratco’s chief operating officer. “We are thrilled to become part of that transformation.
“DeKalb County rolled out the red carpet,” Champion added. “From local officials to community leaders, everyone worked tirelessly to make this happen. It’s a perfect example of local collaboration driving regional success.”
Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said, “Fratco’s decision to put down roots in Fort Payne is another strong endorsement of Alabama’s ability to support world-class manufacturers. This project highlights the teamwork that makes our state stand out — from local leaders in DeKalb County to our workforce partners at AIDT.”
Brett Johnson, executive director of the DeKalb County EDA, added, “Fratco choosing to locate their Southeastern manufacturing hub here reminds the world that DeKalb County is the proven place for business. Their work will directly change the lives of many families in our region, and the ripple effect on our economy will last for generations.”
And Fort Payne Mayor Brian Baine added, “The city of Fort Payne is proud to see this project come out of the ground as we continue to diversify Fort Payne’s industrial base. Fratco’s location here continues our steady pace of growth of local employment opportunities.”
and COO of Birminghambased asset management firm Harbert Management Corp., will become CEO of the firm on Jan. 1, when founder Raymond J. Harbert moves to the executive chairman role. Natalie Fox has been named CEO of USA Health in Mobile. Allan Dedman has been named president and COO of Doster Construction Co. Dedman has been with the Birmingham company since 2015.
PORT MILESTONE
A ribbon-cutting ceremony in October marked the official completion of the Mobile Harbor Modernization Project. The project deepened the port’s channel to 50 feet and made it wider. The Alabama
Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered for the $366 million project.
CLINIC SPACE
Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center is moving into the former Belk department store at Brookwood Village in the Birmingham area.
MONTGOMERY HOTEL
The Equal Justice Initiative has opened the Elevation Convening Center and Hotel in Montgomery. Phase I of the project includes two restaurants, hotel rooms and a fitness center. Eventually, the complex will include an art gallery, theater and more.
Mobile Port, APM Terminals launch $131M expansion
THE ALABAMA PORT AUTHORITY and APM TERMINALS, which operates the port’s massive container facility, have launched a $131 million project to add a third berth.
The 1,300-foot berth will allow for handling three ultra-large container vessels at the same time — increasing capacity by 50%. The container facilities will include seven ship-toshore gantry cranes.
The project is funded by a combination of federal funding and private investment and should be complete in 2026. In launching the project, the port also extended its contract with APM Terminals — a division of A.P. Moller-Maersk — for 20 years, through 2058.
This project follows on the heels of a multi-year, $366 million deepening and widening project that made the port in Mobile the deepest container port on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Once the new dock is complete, the port will have the capacity to handle 1.4 million TEUs — twenty-foot equivalent units — annually.
“This expansion is about more than infrastructure — it’s about cementing Mobile’s position as the Gulf’s premier container gateway,” said Doug Otto, interim CEO and director of the
BUSINESS BRIEFS
MUSEUM MOVE
The city of Huntsville broke ground in November on a $9.8 million expansion of the U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum in John Hunt Park.
UAH FAREWELL
Charles Karr has announced plans to step down from the presidency of the University of Alabama in Huntsville in June 2026.
GROUNDBREAKING
Construction has begun on the new Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, the fourth free residential high school for Alabama students. Classes are to begin in 2026 on the University of West Alabama
campus, before moving to the new Demopolis facilities the following year.
COLLEGE AID
A $1.2 million scholarship fund has been established at the University of Mississippi in honor of long-time Alabama journalist and Business Alabama columnist Bessie Ford and funded by her estate.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Birmingham-based Protective Life has acquired Portfolio Holding, owned by Abry Partners — a California-based firm that provides reinsurance management services and finance and insurance products for dealers around the country. Birmingham-based
Alabama Port Authority. “With the channel deepening complete, a new berth underway, the Phase IV expansion in progress and APM Terminals’ continued partnership, we’re connecting businesses across Alabama — and across the nation — to global markets faster and more efficiently than ever before.”
Brian Harold, managing director of APM Terminals Mobile, added, “This new berth is a strategic next step in making sure Mobile stays ahead of the growth curve. As cargo volumes grow, we’re committed to scaling further in full partnership with the Port Authority and our customers.”
wealth advisory firm Waverly Advisors announced two acquisitions in November. The firm has acquired Seattle-based Pacific Portfolio Consulting and Bridge Creek Capital Management, based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Daphnebased Vexxil Energy has acquired Direct Fuel Transport and McGuire Oil Co., both based in Mobile. Dothan-based Construction Partners has acquired P&S Paving, based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The acquisition includes P&S’ two hot-mix asphalt plants.
HOSPITAL UPGRADE
The dedication of the Wayne T. Smith Atrium marked the official completion of a $200 million expansion of Baldwin Health
hospital in Foley. The expansion also includes a five-story patient tower, a women and children unit, and additional inpatient beds.
HONORS
Civil rights activist Bernard LaFayette Jr., former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and UAB President Ray Watts have been inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor. The recognition is for Alabamians for accomplishments and service benefiting or reflecting great credit on the state.
PARK & FLY EASIER
Huntsville International Airport has kicked off a $57 million project to expand its parking deck to accommodate
The port’s Doug Otto and APM’s Brian Harold survey container facilities from atop one of the port’s massive gantry cranes.
U.S. Steel investing
$75 million in Fairfield
Pittsburgh-based U.S. STEEL is investing $75 million into its Fairfield plant to install a new premium thread line at its Fairfield Tubular Operations.
“U.S. Steel’s investment in the Fairfield Premium Thread Line is a bold step forward for American manufacturing, our workforce and our communities,” said David B. Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel. “This project exemplifies our commitment to growth, innovation and delivering high-quality products made in the USA. At U.S. Steel, we are well on our way to being better and bigger ... forged in America and built to be the best.”
U.S. Steel is installing a new premium thread line.
Fairfield Tubular Operations specializes in producing steel pipe and tube products, primarily serving oil, gas and other energy customers. The complex includes an advanced electric arc furnace.
“The Fairfield Premium Thread Line marks a pivotal advance-
BUSINESS BRIEFS
1,400 more cars, for a total capacity of nearly 3,800 cars. The airport also completed a $14 million renovation of the airport’s main concourse.
AIR PARTNERS
Airbus in North America has partnered with the University of South Alabama with plans to move its engineering center from the Aeroplex at Brookley, where the company builds planes, to the USA Research and Technology Park — making it easier to collaborate on research and provide internship opportunities.
FOR TIRED TIRES
Pennsylvania-based Liberty Tire Recycling is opening two facilities in Alabama. A location
will open in Mobile in early 2026. A second location in north Alabama will be announced later.
HOMES FOR DECATUR
The Decatur City Council has approved the $400 million South Brook neighborhood, to be built on the former site of the Decatur Country Club. The 80-acre development will include homes, green spaces, restaurants and more.
ON CAMPUS
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has opened its new Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building, a 175,000-square-foot structure to house researchers from several of its medical science programs. Calhoun
ment for U.S. Steel Tubular Solutions and our customers,” said Scott Dorn, senior vice president, Tubular Solutions. “We’re strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality, American-made tubular products with greater efficiency and reliability. This investment not only supports the energy sector’s evolving needs but also creates new jobs and reinforces our commitment to innovation and operational excellence in Alabama and beyond.
Community College has broken ground on a $17 million student union building on its Decatur campus. Miles College will collaborate with Nvidia to integrate AI across its programs on its Fairfield campus. Nvidia will provide access to resources to expand Miles’ AI curriculum as part of the partnership.
NEW DIGS
Gulf Distributing has moved into the former Press-Register Building in downtown Mobile after a $60 million renovation.
ASU GIFT
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has presented a $38 million gift to Alabama State University, the largest donation in the history of the Montgomery
LAUNCHING
Homepoint, a Birminghambased real estate brokerage platform, has won $75,000 from Alabama Launchpad, the top prize in its technology track. Vrobotics, a Birmingham-based company, has won $50,000 in Alabama Launchpad’s Consumer Goods Track.
LEGION REDO
Legion Field in Birmingham will undergo $1 million in renovations in the coming year. Work on the historic stadium will include restroom expansion, stadium wall repairs and the reroofing of a maintenance shop.
school. Scott is the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Boyd Group Services purchased TSG Consumer’s stake in Joe Hudson’s Collision Center.
Majority stake of Montgomerybased Joe Hudson’s Collision sold for $1.3 billion
A private equity firm is selling its majority stake in Montgomery-based JOE HUDSON’S COLLISION CENTER for $1.3 billion.
The buyer is Boyd Group Services, one of the largest operators of collision repair centers in North Alabama. Boyd is buying TSG Consumer’s stake.
TSG’s investment in JHCC came in 2019, and since then the company has more than doubled its footprint to 258 locations across 18 states.
“From the outset, we recognized JHCC as an exceptional platform for disciplined and strategic growth,” said Pierre LeComte, managing director at TSG Consumer. “Together with the management team, we successfully navigated unprecedented market conditions (including the COVID-19 pandemic), supported them through succession planning as a founder-led business, and enhanced the company’s operational foundation.”
Joe Hudson Collision Center was founded in 1989 in Montgomery.
“Our co-founders, Traweek Dickson and Joe Hudson, built a legacy of high-quality repairs, amazing associate engagement and best-in-class customer service through three decades of leadership that continues to define JHCC,” said Brant Wilson, CEO at JHCC. “We were proud to build on that foundation with TSG’s support and look forward to our next chapter with Boyd. We are excited by the opportunity to deliver even greater value to our customers and communities within this competitive industry.”
LAYOFF WOES
NASA has cut dozens of International Space Station jobs at Marshall Space Flight Center on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Birminghambased Montgomery Transport LLC has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations. The closure affects about 1,000 employees. A.I. Solutions Inc., in Huntsville, is laying off 86 employees in December, according to a notice filed with the state. The company provides engineering services and products for space missions. Renfro Brands will close its facility in Fort Payne at the
end of the year, resulting in the loss of 455 jobs.
Renfro Brands produces socks, legwear and apparel around the world.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Birmingham-based Capstone Building Corp. has begun construction on a luxury senior living community in Mountain Brook, including apartments, assisted living and memory care. Ground was broken in November for the Loxley Logistics Center Crown West Realty is the company behind the new center.
NEW TO THE BRAND
Midwest Motor Express and DHE Transportation have now been fully integrated into the AAA Cooper Transportation brand, based in Dothan. Incorporating the two firms expands AAA Cooper’s reach into 50 new markets.
COOL CAMPING
A $24 million Executive Campground will cover about 200 acres at Gulf State Park. The new campground, slated to open in 2026, will have extra space and privacy compared to the campground on the south side of the park.
That was the year that was
Remembering 2025
By ALEC HARVEY
If 2025 proved anything about Alabama’s business climate, it’s that momentum has a firm grip on the state in many ways. From record-breaking industrial expansions to high-stakes leadership changes, the past year has been one of investment, innovation and resilience.
The headline news came from Huntsville, where years of political wrangling ended with confirmation that U.S. Space Command will call Redstone Arsenal home — a victory that cements North Alabama’s role in national defense and brings 1,400 high-paying jobs with it. But that was only one of many developments that reshaped the state’s economic landscape.
Across Alabama, cranes dotted skylines and groundbreakings became routine. Hyundai, ArcelorMittal, Georgia-Pacific and GE Appliances announced billions in combined U.S. investments — each with Alabama firmly in the mix. From new data centers in Montgomery and Huntsville to multimillion-dollar health care facilities in Birmingham and massive port improvements in Mobile, capital poured into nearly every sector. Ports were deepened, campuses expanded and small towns welcomed global manufacturers setting up shop for the first time.
Not every headline was celebratory. Montgomery’s Jackson Hospital filed for bankruptcy protection, a reminder of the headwinds still facing parts of the health care sector. And a highly anticipated nuclear project in Gadsden stalled when its parent company declared bankruptcy. Yet the year’s overall picture remained one of strength: record exports, surging capital investment and a steady stream of corporate appointments that promise new leadership for the future.
U.S. Space Command protects U.S. and allied interests in space.
SPACE COMMAND
• After a back and forth that spanned years and presidential administrations, President Donald Trump announced in September that U.S. Space Command will relocate from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal. The command, among other things, will play a key role in creating Trump’s “Golden Dome,” a missile defense shield for the U.S. The move means the relocation of about 1,400 jobs over the next five years.
BUILDING, BUYING AND EXPANDING
• In March, Hyundai Motor Corp. announced plans for a $21 billion investment in its U.S. operations. That includes upgrades and expansion at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery.
• In October, a majority stake in Montgomery-based Joe Hudson’s Collision Center sold for $1.3 billion.
• Birmingham-based Diversified Energy acquired Texas’ Maverick Natural Resources for $1.27 billion in March.
• ArcelorMittal in February announced plans for a $1.2 billion expansion at its Calvert plant in Mobile County.
• Georgia-Pacific announced in September it would invest $800 million to expand its Alabama River Cellulose mill. The mill is in Perdue Hill in Monroe County.
• Owens Corning announced in September it would build a 250,000-square-foot shingle manufacturing plant in Prattville.
• GE Appliances in August announced a $3 billion investment in its U.S. facilities, including its plant in
Decatur. The facility increased production as a result of the investment.
• Meta announced in September an additional $700 million investment in its Montgomery Data Center. That means the company has invested $1.5 billion in the facility.
• Prattville in July broke ground on the $500 million Riverfell. The mixed-use development is along the Alabama River.
• Diageo, a London-based beverage company, in January announced plans for a $412 million distribution plant in Montgomery.
• A $366 million, multi-year project
to deepen and widen the Port of Mobile was completed in October. A $131 million expansion of the port’s container facility was launched in October.
• International Paper said in August it would invest $250 million in expanding its Riverdale mill in Selma.
• A $156 million UAB Rehab Facility opened in downtown Birmingham in August.
• Birmingham-based Robins & Morton broke ground in March on a $150 million tower expansion at Huntsville Hospital.
• Alabama A&M University announced in January that it was building a new
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama will benefit from a huge U.S. investment by Hyundai Motor Corp.
ArcelorMittal is growing in Mobile County.
science building and student activities center, a combined $140 million project.
• Core Scientific announced in February it would build a $135 million data center in the AUBix facility in Auburn.
• Jasper Lumber Co. expected to complete a $135 million upgrade of its sawmill facility by the end of 2026.
• Construction began in June on the Mobile Arena, on the site of the former Mobile Civic Center. It’s part of a $300 million development project in downtown Mobile.
• In June, Kimberly-Clark announced a $130 million expansion of its Mobile facility. The project will add a new production line for hygiene products.
• Southern Research opened a new, $98 million facility in downtown Birmingham in August.
• Construction began in February on the $94 million Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility. The rail facility will expand the Port of Mobile to Montgomery.
• Glaukos Corp., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company, announced in September an $80 million research and manufacturing campus in Huntsville.
• Ground was broken in May on the $80 million Heman Drummond
Center for Innovation in Jasper.
• In November, U.S. Steel announced a $75 million investment in its Fairfield plant in Alabama.
• Stainless pipe manufacturer Butting USA announced plans in July to build a $61 million plant in Loxley in Baldwin County. The facility will be the German company’s North American headquarters and its first facility in the U.S.
• After a $60 million renovation, Mobile’s Gulf Distributing opened its new headquarters in the old PressRegister building in October.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham opened the Altec/ Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building in downtown Birmingham in October. Funding included $50 million from the state of Alabama.
• The Decatur City Council in September approved a $43 million expansion of the Cook Museum of Natural Science. The museum will double in size.
• In August, Mobile’s Spring Hill College broke ground on the $35 million Annette N. Shelby Health and Science Innovation Center.
• Southern Ionics in September announced a $34 million expansion of
its plant in Tuscaloosa. The company makes specialty chemicals for water treatment.
• Shipbuilder Birdon invested more than $27 million to prepare for a nearly $1.2 billion contract for U.S. Coast Guard cutters. The company began construction on the first one in July.
• Calhoun Community College broke ground in October on a $17 million student union building in Decatur.
• South Korean auto supplier Samkwang in March announced plans for a manufacturing plant in Macon County.
• Titomic, a company based in Australia, opened a facility in Huntsville in June.
• Digital infrastructure provider DC Blox announced two more data centers in Alabama in December 2024, one in Huntsville and the other in Montgomery.
• Japanese electronics firm JST announced plans in December 2024 to build a facility in Guntersville.
• In March, plastic extrusion specialist Primo A/S, based in Denmark, announced plans to open its first U.S. facility in Mobile.
• In April, Austal USA christened the USNS Billy Frank Jr., the first ship completed on its 3-year-old steel production line.
Birdon is now building Coast Guard cutters.
CHANGES AT THE TOP
• Jodi Parnell was named president and CEO of O’Neal Steel at the end of 2024.
• Rick Metzger, already the interim, was named CEO of USA Health Providence Hospital in December 2024.
• Sid Trant, who had been serving as interim, was named chancellor of the University of Alabama System in February.
May.
• Jared Briskin was named CEO of Birmingham-based Hibbett in February.
• Mark Rader was named president and CEO of Montgomery’s Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in
• Peter Mohler became president of the University of Alabama in July following Stuart Bell’s resignation.
• After serving as interim, Natalie Fox was named CEO of USA Health in October.
• Raymond J. Harbert announced he
was stepping down as CEO of Harbert Management Corp. on Jan. 1, 2026, handing the reins to Travis Pritchett.
CONTRACTS
• Northrop Grumman was awarded a $481 million contract in January to update and improve the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System’s software, with a major portion of the work being performed in Huntsville.
• FabArc Steel Supply, in Oxford, was awarded a $100.7 million contract in March for an automotive project in New Carlisle, Indiana.
• Huntsville-based Collins Aerospace, in March, received an $80 million U.S. Army contract to upgrade the avionics system of Black Hawk helicopters.
Travis Pritchett, left, will replace Raymond Harbert as CEO of Harbert Management Corp.
A FEW MORE NOTES
• Alabama’s Department of Commerce announced in March exports of more than $26.8 billion in 2024. It was the second-highest tally ever for Alabama exports. Commerce also noted $7 billion in capital investment across 224 projects in 2024.
• A planned $232 million nuclear reactor project in Gadsden was put on hold in December 2024 after Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
• Wind Creek Hospitality, based in Atmore, acquired the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino, long owned by the McGregor family, in April.
• Montgomery’s Jackson Hospital and Clinic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February after defaulting on $60 million in debt. City and county
officials have been working on a plan to save the hospital.
• After being rebuffed by the Biden administration, Japan’s Nippon Steel completed a $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, with a major facility in Fairfield near Birmingham, in June.
• Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in October announced a $38 million gift to Alabama State University.
• In July, five years after the sinking of the floating wall in the main lock of Wilson Dam, the Tennessee Valley Authority began using a temporary fix to allow full traffic through the dam. The 10-year fix will be replaced by a permanent solution.
• The move of iconic Alabama brand Conecuh Sausage from Evergreen to Andalusia included a $400,000 grant from the state of Alabama to Andalusia in January.
• Amtrak in August launched the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, connecting Mobile and New Orleans by rail for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit the coast.
• The University of Alabama in October named its College of Engineering in honor of Lee J. Styslinger Jr., following a $25 million gift commitment from his wife, Catherine Styslinger.
Alec Harvey is executive editor of Business Alabama, based in the Birmingham office.
The UAB Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences building.
ROCKET CITY RISING
Huntsville’s space legacy enters a new era
By KATHERINE MacGILVRAY
In September, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Space Command permanent headquarters will relocate from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
Since 2019, Redstone had been among six sites under consideration for Space Command headquarters, and in 2021 then-Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett stated that Redstone was the preferred site based on five factors: mission, infrastructure capac ity, community support, costs to the Department of War and mission impacts to full operational capacity.
A timeline to relocate was set at six years, and despite some back-and-forth in recent years — in 2023, President Joe Biden announced headquarters would remain in Colorado — Space Command will join NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the Missile Defense Agency in calling Redstone Arsenal, and Huntsville, “home.”
ploys joint forces from the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force and is responsible for delivering space capabilities to joint and combined forces, as well as defending the space domain. In addition to military members, Space Command consists of civilian employees and contractor personnel.
Space Command — not to be confused with Space Force, a military service branch — was officially established as the 11th combatant command on Aug. 29, 2019, by Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper at the direction of President Trump. It actively em-
For Chip Cherry, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, landing Space Command is a testament to Huntsville’s history of adaptability.
“If you think back to where we were prior to the Space Race, we were the watercress capital of the world and home to a champion milk cow,” he says, referring to Lily Flagg, a Jersey cow renowned for being the top butter producer in the world in 1892 and appearing at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.
“So, we go from that agrarian-based economy to the tip of the spear as we respond to Russia’s launch of the first satellite, and then the national effort to take man to the moon and soon, hopefully, the first woman and person of color. The community has been very resilient and willing to engage in new opportunities.”
He adds, “I would do a significant tip of the hat to our federal
legislative delegation, coupled with local and state folks, for not letting the political process override an objective review. We were selected as a preferred site in the first round, and a lot of that had to do with some unique attributes of Redstone. It’s a very large installation and has a lot of developable land.”
Redstone Arsenal is a Federal Center of Excellence and one of the country’s most significant defense campuses. Originally established as a U.S. Army installation in 1941, Redstone became a hub for the Army’s rocket and missile programs after World War II and has since grown to support more than 75 tenant organizations.
Approximately 1,700 personnel are directly assigned to the Space Command headquarters in Colorado. Huntsville city officials say they are expecting roughly 1,400 employees to transition to the new headquarters over the next five years, a manageable number and timeline, especially considering the Arsenal already supports a daily workforce of roughly 45,000 people.
Additionally, the Huntsville metropolitan area has a proven track record for recruiting and landing major employers, such as the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant that started production in 2021 and supports 4,000 employees, or, more comparably, the FBI expanding its presence on the Arsenal.
“This isn’t our first rodeo,” says Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “When the Army Materiel Command, Army Aviation Command and the FBI expanded here, we worked closely with our partners to ensure employees and their families felt welcomed and supported.”
“We were selected as a preferred site in the first round, and a lot of that had to do with some unique attributes of Redstone. It’s a very large installation and has a lot of developable land.”
— Chip Cherry, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
That includes offering a variety of housing options, Battle adds, and the city is working with Redstone to establish additional on-post military housing as well as working alongside business and community partners to help families get settled.
“From relocation support and school information to housing and local tours, we want new families to see why Huntsville is such an easy place to call home.”
Redstone Arsenal already has set aside office space for an advance team, and plans are underway to build a temporary operations facility consisting of a 450,000-square-foot campus with three 150,000-square-foot buildings. A roughly 60-acre site near the center of the Arsenal also has been identified for a
Dowtown Huntsville.
“Each job connected to Space Command is a job multiplier, which makes this an exciting moment for the city of Huntsville.”
— Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle
427,000-square-foot permanent facility that will eventually house all Space Command personnel.
“We’ve been preparing for this moment for years,” says Battle. “When we first competed for Space Command, we began planning for what its relocation
would mean for our workforce, infrastructure and community resources. That work never stopped.”
In addition, Battle says the city is working with the state on long-term plans for
upgrades to key corridors, including the Memorial Parkway overpass at I-565, completing the Northern Bypass and improvements to Highway 72. Other investments include Resolute Way, which will connect I-565 to Gate 9 at the Arsenal, and the East Arsenal access road,
which will connect I-565 to a proposed Redstone gate near Triana Boulevard.
“These are all in our transportation pipeline to support the region’s next decade of growth,” Battle says.
With the groundwork laid for a smooth transition, it’s now just a matter of looking forward.
“We’re excited and honored to be in this space, to be part of the national infrastructure, to be able to defend the nation,” says Cherry.
“It brings high-level expertise, creates new opportunities for our workforce, and serves as a center of excellence that attracts even more talent and innovation,” says Battle.
“Each job connected to Space Command is a job multiplier, which makes this an exciting moment for the city of Huntsville.”
Katherine MacGilvray is a Huntsville-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
Alabama’s Largest Industrial Sites
Ranked
compiled by ERICA JOINER WEST
HOOVER HOORAH
Versatile sports complex draws crowds and kudos to suburban site
By KATHY HAGOOD
The Hoover Metropolitan Complex, a classic case of “if you build it, they will come,” has moved toward ever-greater success and versatility since getting its start with a $14.5 million stadium opened in 1988. The stadium was built by the city of Hoover to host the Birmingham Barons professional baseball team and then in 1998 became home to the SEC Baseball Tournament, which it still hosts.
The Barons moved on, leaving the stadium without one of its biggest draws, but now the site draws more sports activity than even the proudest proponents ever envisioned.
The Hoover Met’s most recent victories, of which there are many, are in no small part due to $105 million in additional investments by the city over the past decade to create an innovative 150-acre complex of modern, multipurpose facilities. The thriving
sports, entertainment and meeting destination now draws more than 770,000 visitors each year, providing a $91.3 million annual economic impact.
Since 2022, the complex has generated more than $1 million each year in operating profit, including $1.3 million for fiscal 2025, says General Manager Shannon Ealy of Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the company that manages the Met. “That’s unusual because typically city-funded sports venues operate at a loss. The Met is considered a model development.”
The city hired SFC, which now manages 90 facilities across the country, in July of 2016 to oversee development, marketing and management of the Met’s $80 million expansion as part of the city’s efforts to keep the SEC Baseball Tournament following the Barons return to Birmingham in 2012.
“The investment was controversial at the time but clearly has
The SEC Baseball Tournament is a headline event for Hoover’s Metropolitan Complex.
paid off in so many ways for the community,” Ealy says. “This has been our best year ever in terms of attendance and revenues.”
The Met routinely features a wide variety of both adult and youth athletic tournaments and games as well as offering fitness, recreation, conference and event options. Nestled in a tree-lined commercial, residential and multiuse section of Hoover easily accessed off Highway 459, the Hoover Met area boasts a plethora of restaurants, entertainment and shopping, much within walking distance of the complex.
Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis, who took office in November and served as chief of police for the 20 years prior, says the complex serves multiple roles for the city: premier amenity for residents, one of the largest sports complexes in the state, and a national and regional sports destination.
“The Met provides world-class facilities to host a variety of events, and is where our children can play, compete and develop both athletically and personally,” he says. “Perhaps most importantly, the Met serves as a catalyst for growth and development in that corridor of our city. The complex has driven commercial investment, enhanced property values and positioned Hoover as a premier location for families and businesses alike.”
The Met’s success as an economic engine was profiled last July as the cover story for Community Playmaker, a media platform designed to bring attention to successful American communities and civic leaders.
The article highlighted the story of how after the Barons left
the Met stadium in 2012, the city approved an $80,000 investment to create a 150-acre complex in order to fuel the destination’s reinvention. An additional $25 million in investments approved by the council in recent years to upgrade the stadium helped convince the SEC to extend its contract to at least 2028 with the option for an additional one or two years.
The Met’s success was shepherded from 2016 to October of this year by former Mayor Frank Brocato. “The Barons leaving in 2012 was the best thing that could have happened for revitalizing both Hoover and the Southside of Birmingham,” he says. “Both areas have benefitted greatly.”
He points to a reinvigorated UAB and Southside of Birmingham and the rapid growth of the area around the Met Complex. “It was a win-win,” he says. “The Met area has become a lifestyle magnet where people can work, live and play. And it’s even drawn more out-of-town visitors to shop at the Riverchase Galleria.”
The Hoover Met area has drawn multiple housing developments, 300 apartment units, the Village Green multi-use arts and entertainment district and the Stadium Trace Village shopping and dining district. Brock’s Gap Brewing Co., which hosts events and provides both indoor and outdoor seating, is located across the street from the Met.
Numerous hotels are located nearby, and more are being built. “I’m thrilled to have been a part of the Met’s success and to have served Hoover,” says Brocato, who spent 24 years as the head of emergency medical services and retired as fire marshal and chief of operations for the Hoover Fire Department prior to becoming mayor.
Met venues include the recently refurbished and upgraded 10,800-seat stadium that can accommodate 16,000, the 155,000-square-foot multi-purpose Finley Center, five baseball fields, eight softball fields, five multi-purpose fields (lacrosse,
Celebrating the SEC teams at the annual baseball tournament.
— Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis “
It’s a facility that announces to the world that Hoover is a city that invests in quality of life and economic opportunity.”
soccer, football), 16 tennis courts, a playground and splash pad, a 170-space RV park, and numerous parking lots to support all the facilities. “We have a wide variety of facilities and parking for up to 4,500 vehicles, a real draw for event organizers,” Ealy says.
The stadium not only hosts the famed SEC Baseball Tournament but also is
modified from August through November to host Hoover High School football games. The Met’s standout facilities helped draw ongoing use by the Perfect Game, one of the youth sports industry’s top organizers of baseball and softball tournaments, better known as travel ball. “We have about a 90% repeat rate on our various scheduled events,” Ealy says.
“Events such as the World Games 2022 and World Police and Fire Games 2025 are inherently one-off situations.”
The Finley Center is designed to be able to be configured for various indoor sports, including basketball, volleyball and pickleball, as well as trade shows, conferences, meetings and other events. It features a food court and industrial
kitchen.
“We’ve even talked about doing weddings,” Ealy says.
Pickleball courts and a 0.2-mile elevated track at the Finley Center are available for use by Hoover residents when there aren’t conflicting events. In addition, the Finley is home to the Hoover Heights Climbing Center, which is open to the public and can be rented for birthday parties. The public also is able to access the Met’s tennis courts for a fee.
Additional events such as concerts, festivals, community gatherings and additional sports events likely will be added to the Hoover Met’s mix, Derzis says, and SFC is scouting for them.
“City officials have always wanted to get the most impact for all the taxpayer dollars invested in the Hoover Met, not just as a sports destination but as a community resource,” Ealy says. “We keep trying to think of new things that will fit in with our schedule.”
A “Bulls in the Ballpark” professional bull-riding event, for example, was added to the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium during August 2024 and is set to return in 2026, Ealy says.
Family-friendly events such as Fourth of July fireworks celebration and Spookfest safe trick-or-treating and fall festival are held seasonally.
Mayor Derzis envisions the Met of the future will have an even greater economic development and lifestyle impact than it does now. “I want families in our region to think of the Hoover Met Complex not just as a place where tournaments happen, but as a year-round destination for entertainment and community engagement,” he says. “This means being creative and proactive about booking events, partnering with promoters and organizations, and ensuring we’re leveraging every aspect of this incredible facility. It’s a facility that announces to the world that Hoover is a city that invests in quality of life and economic opportunity.”
“Stay tuned,” Derzis says. “I’m excited about the possibilities.”
Kathy Hagood is a Hoover-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
Economic Development Agencies in Alabama
An alphabetical listing of the economic development entities in Alabama compiled by ERICA
58 Inc. | Shelby County Economic Development Corp.
Alabama Department of Commerce
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
Amy Sturdivant 1126 County Services Dr. Pelham, AL 35124
Ellen McNair 401 Adams Ave. Montgomery, AL 36130
Kenneth Boswell 401 Adams Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104
Auburn Economic Development, City of Phillip Dunlap 144 Tichenor Ave., Ste. 2 Auburn, AL 36830
Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance Lee Lawson 1100 Fairhope Ave. Fairhope, AL 36532
Bibb County E&IDA Brian Davis 835 Walnut St. Centreville, AL 35042
Birmingham Business Alliance Steve Ammons 505 20th St. N., Ste. 200 Birmingham, AL 35203
Blount County Economic Development Council
Bullock County Development Authority
Business Council of Alabama
Don R. Mitchell 6700 County Rd. 1 Cleveland, AL 35049
David Padgett 106 Conecuh Ave. Union Springs, AL 36089
Helena Duncan 2 N. Jackson St., Ste. 501 Montgomery, AL 36104
Butler County Commission for Economic Development David Hutchison P.O. Box 758 Greenville, AL 36037
Calhoun County Economic Development Council Don Hopper 1330 Quintard Ave. Anniston, AL 36202
Chambers County Development Authority
Cherokee County Industrial Development Authority
Chilton County Industrial Development Authority
Choctaw County Probate Judge
Clay County Economic Development Council
Conecuh County Economic Development
Covington County Economic Development Commission
Crenshaw County Economic & Industrial Development Authority
Cullman Economic Development Agency
DeKalb County Economic Development Authority
Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce
Chris Busby 4445 51st Ave. SW Lanett, AL 36863
Daniel Steele 260 Cedar Bluff Rd., Ste. 103 Centre, AL 35960
Christine Brown 620 Second Ave. N. Clanton, AL 35045
Jason Sturdivant 117 S. Mulberry Ave., Ste. 9 Butler, AL 36904
Chance Jones P.O. Box 1237 Ashland, AL 36251
Jessica Dent 111 Court St. Evergreen, AL 36401
Rick Clifton 21754 Bill Benton Ln. Andalusia, AL 36421
Tonya Free 3 S. Forest Ave. Luverne, AL 36049
Dale Greer, Jamie Troutman 200 1st Ave. NE Cullman, AL 35055
Brett Johnson 2414 Airport Rd. W. Fort Payne, AL 35968
Colton Cureton 102 Jamestown Blvd. Dothan, AL 36302
Alabama economic developers reflect on getting the job done
By PAUL SOUTH
When it comes to economic development, most Alabamians see the flash — the politicians’ flip of the first spade of groundbreaking dirt for new construction, the ribbon cutting or the news accounts of dollars invested and jobs created.
They don’t see the grunt work of economic development, the hours, days and even years of work that, if everything falls right, results in those groundbreaking, ribbon-cutting moments.
Griffin Lassiter in Birmingham; David Hooks in Etowah County, who formerly served as director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) under Gov. Jim Folsom Jr.; and David Knight in Walker County — three of the state’s most respected economic development professionals — have done the heavy lifting.
Lassiter retired this past summer after serving the city of Birmingham for a quarter century. Hooks serves as executive
director of the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority. And Knight, who has worked in economic development for three decades, now serves as executive director of the Walker County Industrial Development Board.
All three have been part of a transformation in their respective communities.
TRANSFORMATION IN WALKER COUNTY
For generations, coal fueled the Walker County economy. But as mines played out and environmental and political pressures increased, a change had to be made.
“It became clear that Walker County would need a plan to diversify its industrial base and create new jobs to backfill those that were being lost,” Knight says.
Enter Mercedes-Benz. Its arrival in Vance may be the most transformative moment in the economic history of the state. Hyundai, Honda, Mazda and Toyota also now have homes in Alabama.
“The announcement by Mercedes-Benz
in 1993 that it would locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Alabama and the subsequent growth of the automotive sector in the South was transformative for economic development in our region,” Knight says.
That growth, spurred by the auto industry, sparked a drive in Walker County to develop industrial sites and speculative
The Heman Drummond Center under construction in Jasper.
David Knight.
buildings to attract investment from automotive suppliers.
It worked.
International firms like Yorozu Automotive Alabama, Heiche and HTNA now call Walker County home.
Another boost for the county was the creation of the Heman Drummond Innovation Center in Jasper’s Tom Bevill Industrial Park. The center is named for the founder of Drummond Coal and funded by philanthropic donations from the Drummond family and helps boost workforce readiness.
The county also is home to the new Heritage Industrial Park, built using $4.7 million in tax credits through the Growing Alabama program.
“As we plan and move forward, it’s critical to remember the importance of a diverse economy,” Knight says. “Continued recruitment and growth from the automotive sector is just one facet of our growth strategy.”
Currently, the Walker County Economic Development Authority is working with a variety of industries, including wood products, metal fabrication, defense, technology and transportation.
BRINGING INDUSTRY TO ETOWAH COUNTY
David Hooks was at the helm of ADECA in 1993 when Mercedes announced it was bringing a major assembly plant to Vance. Now, he serves as executive director of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, a post he’s held for seven years. At 21, he was elected to the city council in his hometown of Attalla, making him the youngest city councilman in America.
“It was obvious to me that economic development was the lifeblood of the community,” Hooks says. “You had to keep going consistently and you always have to keep recruiting because inevitably, you’re going to lose old businesses because they phase out and economies change.”
During Hooks’ tenure in Attalla, the city built its first industrial park that UPS still calls home. In his current role, Hooks is now collaborating with the city on phase two of that industrial park.
Regarding his philosophy of economic development, Hooks draws from his vast
which produces refracting materials for
experience in real estate, banking, politics and elective and appointed office.
“I look at it in a different light than most people do,” he says. “I think my philosophy of economic development is that invariably you’re going to lose business over time. It’s the nature of economics. It’s a continuous process.”
Persistence pays.
“In most of the big deals I worked on the industrial side [over the past 40 years], some of them take five years to do,” Hooks says. “But I also believe it’s not a one-trick pony. You don’t just do industrial development. You don’t just do economic development. You don’t just do commercial development or tourism. It’s a combination of all those things.”
Just as there has been a resurgence in Gadsden, Hooks has been part of a resurgence in other Etowah communities — Southside, Hokes Bluff, Attalla, Glencoe and others.
“I think the difference is, downtown Gadsden is more visible. Gadsden has always been the hub in that area of the state. And you’ve had Downtown Gadsden Inc. They’re engaged in the process, bringing downtown Gadsden back.”
He adds, “It’s an all-inclusive package you have to put together. My role is more the industrial side, but I work very diligently to coordinate and facilitate everyone in Etowah County.”
25 YEARS HELPING TO BUILD BIRMINGHAM
Griffin Lassiter retired this past summer
as senior project manager for Birmingham. In 2000, while working for Alabama Power, Lassiter was asked by the utility’s then-CEO Elmer Harris to help then-Mayor Bernard Kincaid establish an economic development department.
“I wound up staying there and became a full-time city employee in 2009. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a lot of success,” Lassiter says.
A big part of that has been growth in the retail sector, he says. Sales tax revenue paves streets, supports schools and funds infrastructure repairs.
“We’ve had a whole lot of success with retail over the years,” Lassiter says. “The challenge that Birmingham faces as opposed to an Auburn or Mobile, I wish we could have a great big, nice industrial park like Auburn does or Brookley Field complex that we could attract aviation
Magneco/Metrel,
heavy industry, is repurposing a former steel plant in the Gadsden Industrial Park.
David Hooks.
suppliers like they do in Mobile. Birmingham’s problem is that we’ve used up almost all of our usable land. Our industrial parks are full.”
Much of the open land in Birmingham is above old underground coal mines. That means expensive site preparation.
Lassiter was drawn to economic development for a simple reason: “Helping people get jobs,” he says.
“I’ve told people a lot of times — and this may seem silly — but one way you can measure the success of economic development is the number of bicycles and dolls under Christmas trees. That means folks have jobs and they’re able to provide for their children and their families.”
For Lassiter, whose father owned a Montgomery hardware store and whose mother sold real estate, economic development is personal.
“I want people to have a wonderful life,” he says. “Having a good job is the key to having a good life and providing for your family.”
On his last day of work for the Magic City, Lassiter laid out his philosophy of economic development to the city council. Echoing Hooks and Knight, Lassiter believes economic development is a team effort.
“It truly takes a village. You can’t do it by yourself. I never worked a project that I didn’t have help from the Finance Department when I was trying to negotiate incentives, or the Legal Department when we were negotiating contracts, or the engineering folks that helped us with sites. There were just tons of people involved.”
He adds, “If you try to do economic development as a lone wolf or by yourself, you’re going to fail.”
Paul South is an Auburn-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
Griffin Lassiter.
Montgomery-based Knox Kershaw builds and exports railroad maintenance equipment.
MADE IN ALABAMA, SOLD WORLDWIDE
Alabama companies find global footing
By NANCY R. RANDALL
In 2024, Alabama companies exported $26.8 billion in goods and services — the second highest total on record, according to Christina Stimpson, global business officer at the Alabama Department of Commerce. This represents a nearly 30% increase over 2019.
These exports went to 194 countries in 2024, reflecting the diversity of Alabama’s trading relationships, Stimpson says.
It’s not just large companies that are involved in the state’s international trade. An estimated 4,000 companies are exporting in Alabama, with 80% represented by small- and medium-size businesses, Stimpson explains. These firms generated more than 16% of total exports, a sign that international markets are also accessible to smaller businesses, she notes.
Two Alabama companies — one making medical devices and one building large machines for railroad maintenance — are capitalizing on these open doors.
ICONN ORTHOPEDICS
ICONN, a medical device manufacturer based in Birmingham, began exporting its products in 2019, says co-founder Whitt Israel. Ironically, the first international customer was in Israel. A sale in Colombia came soon after, and that country is the company’s “most consistent market,” he notes.
Today, ICONN’s international business makes up 40% of its sales, with 60% generated domestically, Israel explains. In addition to Israel and Colombia, the company has exported its products to Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Iraq, South Africa, Pakistan, Kuwait and Malaysia.
ICONN’s birth, Israel says, was centered on providing good quality orthopedic implants at a lower cost. “My co-founder was a surgeon in Birmingham [the late Dr. Geoffrey Connor] and was frustrated with implant costs and his rotator cuff repair procedures, which led us to start a company to help alleviate those issues,” Israel explains.
The company’s four primary products are suture anchors — screws or nails made of a plastic material called PEEK — for sports medicine procedures, he says. These are used for rotator cuff and labral repairs in shoulder and hip procedures, with 80% going to shoulder repairs. The company also makes anchors for foot and ankle operations, Israel notes.
One of the biggest challenges to exporting its products, Israel explains, is finding good distributors. ICONN’s best distributors contacted the manufacturer after finding its website or hearing about it from others, he says.
“The offensive mode has not been very fruitful as far as trying to proactively find those distributors [on our own].”
These companies run point on getting the devices registered in the respective country, similar to procuring Food and Drug Administration approval in the United States. Their expertise is valuable in knowing the best way to present the documentation to the country’s ministry of health, Israel explains.
The registration and approval process usually runs at a snail’s pace. It took ICONN almost two years to accomplish the registration process in Mexico, Israel says.
Some global regions are just too costly to break into, impacting the markets where ICONN ultimately operates, Israel explains. His company does not have a CE mark on its products, he notes. “[This] eliminates all the European countries, just because it’s so cost prohibitive to get a CE mark,” he says.
“CE marking indicates that a product has been assessed by the manufacturer and deemed to meet EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements. It is required for products manufactured anywhere in the world that are then marketed in the EU,” according to an official website of the European Union.
the
“markets [where] we do well are ones that need good quality products. All of our products are made in America with the latest designs, but [these countries] can’t afford the prices that our competitors charge.”
In addition to global regulatory frameworks and distributors, ICONN’s international success is highly dependent on a country’s development position. “[Countries] need to be developed enough to be doing these [medical] procedures, but they also need to be not so developed and wealthy that they’re not concerned about cost reduction,” Israel explains.
“So, the markets [where] we do well are ones that need good quality products. All of our products are made in America with the latest designs, but [these countries] can’t afford the prices that our competitors charge.”
In the international markets where ICONN operates, customers have to seriously consider costs because they aren’t flush with cash like some U.S. health care entities, Israel explains. “If they can get equivalent quality for a fraction of the price, then they’re going to do that every time.”
As for new markets, ICONN is eyeing Egypt, with registration expected later this year, Israel says. The company also is working on registration in Vietnam, which “is driven by China,” he notes. The ever-evolving tariff situation between China and the United States could “negatively impact” ICONN’s sales prices in Vietnam, he adds, if the registration is a success.
KNOX KERSHAW INC.
Montgomery-based Knox Kershaw’s products support the railroads, what Jaky Felix calls the “silent industry that runs behind everything else.” The tracks crisscross our communities, but many don’t realize the vastness of this global industry, notes Felix, the company’s vice president of sales.
The company makes railroad maintenance-of-way equipment. Ballast regulators are Knox Kershaw’s largest product line and make up most of its exports, although it does export other products, she says.
Ballast regulators profile the rock in a railroad track bed, says Felix. The machines pull the rock up and smooth it out so that the tracks are level. A front plow on the machine pushes the rock, and a broom at the rear sweeps the track clear of any excess rock, she explains.
Knox Kershaw does a lot of custom work internationally, Felix says, as tracks outside the United States can be different gauges, meaning various widths between the two rails. The international railways can have a wide gauge or several different versions of narrow gauge.
“We customize machines that will work on those tracks,” she says. For example, the company has built machines for use in Australia and other places that are convertible. “So, they [customers] can convert them from a wide gauge to a narrow gauge or a standard gauge,” making the machines more versatile, Felix explains.
— Whitt Israel, ICONN
Knox Kershaw’s machines are sometimes used in mining operations to transport coal or other materials from the mine by rail. It recently shipped a custom machine for an Indonesian customer. “We had to design it so that it could be lowered down through a mine shaft and put on the track underneath the ground, and that machine will never come back to the surface again. It will just stay down there and work,” Felix says.
In addition to Australia and Indonesia, Knox Kershaw has exported its products to Canada, Mexico, India, Algeria, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Panama, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand, according to Felix.
The company started exporting around 2002, with exports accounting for about 30% of its sales last year, with the same percentage expected for 2025, she adds.
Where does Knox Kershaw want to go next with its exports? Sights are set on South Africa, Felix says.
The company has participated and benefited from a number of global trade missions organized by the state of Alabama, she says. Often with the help of the U.S. Embassy in a given country, targeted meetings are arranged between Alabama companies and identified contacts, from government representatives to potential end users, Felix explains.
“Sometimes it’s not easy to make contacts with people internationally. They don’t take you seriously. To have the embassy standing behind you saying, ‘this person is interested in international trade with you,’ it really opens a lot of doors,” she concludes.
Nancy Randall is a Tuscaloosa-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
A MILLION-DOLLAR PROMISE
Samantha Williams’ mission to transform Birmingham’s future
By GAIL ALLYN SHORT
The week Samantha Williams learned the nonprofit she directs, Birmingham Promise, won $1 million in funding from a national philanthropic organization, she had just returned from a trip to France where her fiancé proposed.
“It was incredible when they called to give me the news. I screamed and cried. I mean, it was, it was a lot. I told them on the phone, and I meant it, that this was one of the best weeks of my life. They had no idea,” Williams says.
In the city of Birmingham, where the median household income is $44,951 and the poverty rate stands at 23.5%, college is unaffordable for many students.
But Birmingham Promise is giving more students in the Birmingham City Schools system access to higher education and, in turn, helping to reshape the city’s talent pipeline through strategic leadership and a deep belief in the power of education.
Williams grew up in Daphne and says that in her family, she was the first of her generation to go to college.
While at Georgetown University, Williams took a work study job as a tutor in the Washington D.C., public school system.
“I would meet kids and see the schools, and it just felt criminal seeing where some of the students were in their learning and where they weren’t in their learning,” Williams says.
“I started to realize that education is the key. I was going to Georgetown, and I was from a family that was just as poor as many of the kids I was serving.”
The difference between herself and the students was that the education she received helped prepare her for college.
From her experience tutoring, Williams says she decided on a career in education.
After graduating from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in history, she took a job as a graduation coach program specialist in Atlanta for Communities in Schools, which aimed to
But a study abroad trip to Senegal while in college had sparked her interest in Africa, so she eventually moved to South Africa to work as a residence director at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Johannesburg.
She later took a job with Teach for All as head of the Africa region before moving back to the states, to New York City, to become global director for girls’ education and chief of staff to the
reduce school absenteeism.
Samantha Williams.
CEO of Teach for All Wendy Kopp.
After having worked in Africa and around the country, Williams says she eventually decided to return to Alabama.
“I was living in New Orleans and wanted to move back to Alabama and make a difference in my home state. I wanted to work on something that would be transformational. I saw this role as fundamentally reshaping Birmingham by putting every single graduate on a path toward mobility and toward their dreams,” Williams says.
“I knew it was the opportunity I’d been looking for,” she says.
So, in 2022, she joined Birmingham Promise, a program that was a city initiative under Mayor Randall Woodfin.
Birmingham Promise provides tuition assistance for Birmingham City Schools graduates as long as they attend a public two- or four-year college or university in Alabama.
“
Our vision is to eventually serve every single student who graduates from Birmingham City Schools. And I just don’t think anyone has imagined or really thought through the implications of what it will look like when every student who graduates from the city school district is stepping into their potential.”
— Samantha Williams, Birmingham Promise
Birmingham Promise is a last-dollar scholarship program, meaning that it pays for the tuition and mandatory fees left after a student’s federal financial aid and other scholarships are applied. Fees such as housing, meal plans, parking, textbooks, laptop computers and non-credit courses, however, are not covered by the Birmingham Promise scholarship.
One of the goals of the program is to help college students graduate with less debt and prevent finances from factoring into their decision to pursue higher education or a trade.
“Our real mission is around economic mobility,” Williams says.
But besides financial assistance, the program also helps Birmingham City students overcome social and academic barriers to college.
“We have college success coaches, and their job is to help students navigate what it takes to be successful in college,” says Williams. “A lot of our students are first generation. I was first generation. Many of my staff members are first generation. We know that there are a lot of things that come up when no one has gone through those things before you, and so those coaches are also helping them understand the unspoken ways you need to move in college to be successful.”
When students are ready for the job market, Birmingham Promise coaches work with students on resumes and networking and use the program’s platform to help find employers willing to hire graduates.
“And then we also have a high-school program focused on meeting kids while they’re in high school, understanding their goals and dreams for themselves and getting them to explore what’s out there through a paid internship that is available to students to apply for in their junior year and then do the internship in their senior year, and that’s paid at $15 an hour,” she says.
While the high-school students gain work experience during
the internships, they also gain social capital through the people they meet on the job, Williams says.
She says some Birmingham students conclude that the trades rather than college are a better fit for them.
“But they still need support around finding a job, and so they can do that through the internship program as well,” Williams says.
So far, Birmingham Promise has issued more than $15 million in tuition assistance to more than 1,600 Birmingham City Schools graduates. In addition, more than 350 high-school students have completed internships, according to the organization.
“We would not exist without partnerships,” says Williams. “We have a good and growing base of corporate and government organizations that support us financially, and they enable us to fund the scholarships, the internship program, and to provide transportation for the internship program, to make sure students who lack transportation aren’t kept from this opportunity.”
For helping reduce the cost of college for Birmingham students and providing quality internships and apprenticeships, the CAFE Group awarded Birmingham Promise with $1 million in funding.
The CAFE Group is a philanthropic organization that awards funding to leaders and organizations that are bringing transformational change to education and philanthropy. Its 1954 Project, inspired by the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, awards $1 million unrestricted funding to education initiatives seeking to improve learning in Black communities.
Birmingham Promise was one of five 1954 Project “Luminaries” awarded this year.
Williams says she plans to use the monies to fulfill major priorities of the organization’s five-year strategic plan.
“One, how do we get more of our students to finish college with a credential, whether it’s a two-year, four-year degree or certificate? How do we get more of them across the finish line?” she says.
Another priority is making sure the organization maintains a strong financial foundation for Birmingham Promise, Williams says.
“So that’s both diversifying our funding and trying to ensure that our scholarship program exists for generations,” she says.
“Our vision is to eventually serve every single student who graduates from Birmingham City Schools. And I just don’t think anyone has imagined or really thought through the implications of what it will look like when every student who graduates from the city school district is stepping into their potential.”
Gail Allyn Short is a Birmingham-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
2025 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN ALABAMA
What makes a great place to work? More than a job, it’s a combination of benefits, the camaraderie and the appreciation for a job well done that makes employees happy to come to work.
Each year, companies around the state compete to prove that their company offers the best combination of those qualities. They provide a glimpse into the culture of their workplace, in
hopes they’ll be named the best among the best companies to work for in Alabama.
Companies submit their information to The Best Companies Group, which evaluates the responses and interviews employees before picking the best of the best.
Business Alabama salutes the 2025 winners.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Companies
2025 to Work For in
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68 VENTURES TAKES TOP SPOT IN THE SMALL/MEDIUM COMPANY CATEGORY
Real estate development company 68 VENTURES took top honors in the smallmedium employer category as No. 1 among the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama in 2025. Since 2016, the Daphne-based firm has been developing real estate projects across Baldwin County and the Gulf Coast, determined to make the Alabama Gulf Coast a place that more people will want to call home.
After completing more than 150 real estate development projects and building more than 3,600 homes, 68 Ventures is meeting its goals. And not only is the firm building a stronger, more attractive region, but it’s also building a business that people enjoy working for, according to employee responses to the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama survey.
Employees of 68 Ventures largely appreciate the opportunity to play a role in building a brighter future for the Gulf Coast region. Through land development, construction and related activities of 68 Ventures’ portfolio companies, every employee at the company works to contribute to the firm’s overall goal of creating a region to which
their children will want to come back and raise their own families.
In addition to helping move the Gulf Coast forward, 68 Ventures employees also enjoy the company’s deep commitment to philanthropy. For example, the company has made $40 million in land donations to schools and municipalities in the region, created a Fallen Heroes Memorial at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park and given millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to various local charities. The company also hosts the annual Ballin’ on Belrose run-walk event for charity.
Working at 68 Ventures is, for many employees, more than just a job — it’s an opportunity to become their best selves and to give back to the world around them. Company leaders strive to create a culture that rewards trying new things, pushing limits and learning from mistakes. Chairman and founder Nathan Cox shares regular emails focused on personal development, leadership and faith, aimed at providing encouragement and boosting growth.
Cox and company leaders understand that to successfully and consistently perform
against big goals and initiatives, they need a talented, dedicated team that is continually learning, growing and pushing limits. To do that, they have focused on building a company that will attract and retain workers who are committed to those big goals and providing the environment and the rewards they want.
For employees of 68 Ventures, the company offers more than just a competitive compensation and benefits package. It also provides an opportunity to do meaningful work that makes a difference in their community and gives back to the region where they live. Responding to the Best Companies survey, 68 Ventures employees rated their employee positively in a wide range of areas including leadership, communications, corporate culture, training and development opportunities, compensation and personal relationships with supervisors and teams.
Top Alabama Executive:
Nathan Cox, Owner/Chairman
Address: 707 Belrose Avenue, Daphne, AL 36526
Phone: (251) 625-1198
Website: www.68ventures.com
68 Ventures has been a supporter of the Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre for several years.
BMSS FAMILY OF COMPANIES TAKES TOP HONORS IN THE LARGE CATEGORY
Employee favorite BMSS, a business advisory and accounting firm, was established in Birmingham in 1991 by Keith Barfield, Don Murphy and John Shank. Their goal was to create a CPA firm that would provide peace of mind for clients while sustaining a healthy, happy culture for employees. The BMSS Family of Companies seems to have accomplished the goals of its founders, as the firm moved up to No. 1 from the No. 2 spot last year, taking top honors among large employers for the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama in 2025.
Today, with seven offices in four cities throughout Alabama and one in Mississippi, the BMSS Family of Companies has 37 partners and more than 350 employees. The firm has grown beyond its original foundation as a CPA firm and now includes a family of firms focused on IT consulting, payroll and benefits management, and wealth solutions. In the Best Companies survey,
those employees widely rated their employer positively in areas ranging from leadership and communications to corporate culture, training and development, compensation and their relationships with their supervisors and teams.
“At the BMSS Family of Companies, our employees truly enjoy being part of a culture that values the whole person, not just their professional contributions,” says Bethany Allen, HR team administrator. “We place a strong emphasis on life/work balance, intentionally putting family first and giving our people the flexibility to manage their schedules in a way that allows them to be present for what matters most.”
The BMSS leadership team has worked to create an environment that promotes both personal enrichment and professional development in an effort to ensure that every employee feels supported throughout each season of life. Also, the team is committed to
innovation and is leveraging AI, data analytics and automation to remove repetitive tasks and increase engagement and productivity.
“This balance of trust, flexibility and forward-thinking technology allows our employees to do meaningful work while maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life outside the office,” Allen says.
In addition to offering the standard package of interesting work, competitive salaries and robust benefits, BMSS is committed to developing people personally, professionally and as future leaders. Each division of the company has a clearly defined training and development path, and the company offers mentorship programs to ensure that each employee has the guidance they need to grow and succeed. The firm’s signature BMSS NextGen Program offers a four-year leadership development experience that equips emerging professionals with the skills and confidence to become well-rounded leaders.
Accounting professionals who are pursuing their CPA certification get extra support through the BMSS 150 Program, which provides financial assistance and encouragement. Beyond professional growth, the firm offers a connected, caring culture, highlighted by perks like company-paid mental health benefits for employees and their families and small traditions that make work enjoyable, like “Ice Cream Madness” month and more than 500 company-provided meals each year.
“At BMSS, we’ve created a workplace where people feel valued, supported and inspired to bring their best selves to work every day,” Allen says.
Top Alabama Executive: Don Murphy, CEO/Founding Member
Address: 1121 Riverchase Office Road, Birmingham, AL 35244
Phone: (205) 982-5500
Website: www.bmss.com
BMSS employees ready for the race.
RUNNERS-UP AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM COMPANIES
NO. 2: ROBERTS BROTHERS
For the second year in a row, Mobile real estate company ROBERTS BROTHERS INC. earned second place honors among small/medium employers competing for the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama. With 36 employees, Roberts Brothers has built a culture focused on making work both productive and enjoyable.
“Our team frequently participates in fun, engaging activities, and we stay ahead of the curve by continually embracing new real estate trends and technology, ensuring we remain leaders in the industry,” says Sara Roberts, director of marketing.
Roberts Brothers employees appreciate the company’s training and career development programs that equip them for success, as well as the focus on “supporting rather than competing,” Roberts says.
NO. 3: JBS SOLUTIONS
Under the leadership of CEO Sherrie Nash, JBS SOLUTIONS serves the defense and aerospace industries. With its foundation of “people first” servant-leadership, the company trumpets a corporate culture that puts people before profits. It challenges its 36 employees to grow personally and professionally, saying they are valued for who they are.
Nash became CEO in 2014, with a commitment to treat customers as they would expect to be treated.
JBS Solutions began with three employees. The expanding company’s coverage includes Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia and Colorado. The engineering firm is constantly seeking opportunities to grow. According to its website, JBS Solutions has its sights “on the ends of the earth.”
JBS Solutions employees gather for the Heart Walk.
Roberts Brothers employees enjoy a festive evening.
RUNNERS-UP AMONG LARGE COMPANIES
NO. 2: WARREN AVERETT
WARREN AVERETT, a Birmingham-based accounting and advisory firm, has built a reputation for being a caring, flexible and engaging workplace. After ranking in the top spot last year, Warren Averett took the No. 2 spot for Best Companies to Work for in Alabama in 2025.
“Warren Averett stands out for how intentionally we build flexibility, care and purpose into everyday work life,” says Trista Cooper, communications supervisor at Warren Averett.
For example, the Warren Averett Foundation, funded by both the firm and its team members, provides financial assistance to employees facing personal hardship. In the past year, 17 employees received support totaling more than $17,000.
Also, most employees can choose to work remotely, inoffice or in a hybrid setup, schedules are adaptable to support family needs and personal priorities. The firm’s employees appreciate the opportunity to do meaningful work while blending high performance with genuine care, Cooper says.
NO. 3: EDWARD JONES
EDWARD JONES launched his namesake company in Missouri in 1922, based on a philosophy of treating associates as partners and treating clients fairly, by offering appropriate, quality investments serving individuals that may often be overlooked by larger firms.
Today, Edward Jones in Alabama has become a favorite with a unique approach to its growth, opening branches in small and medium-sized cities. Including Alabama, the firm has more than 20,000 advisors nationwide. It is not a franchise; each branch is wholly owned by the company, and advisors operate independently while receiving support from the larger firm.
The firm primarily caters to individual investors and local business owners, focusing on middle- to upper-income earners or people with moderate-to-high net worths. Edward Jones offers three main service levels: Select Accounts, Guided Solutions and Advisory Solutions, with varying minimum investment requirements and levels of service.
Edward Jones’ advisors focus on the needs of local business owners.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Warren Averett.
NINETEEN ADDITIONAL COMPANIES NAMED WINNERS IN SMALL-MEDIUM CATEGORY
Here are the additional winners in alphabetical order:
ADAH INTERNATIONAL LLC
Adah International is an industrial contractor and consultant, serving international manufacturing, construction and logistics sectors with project management, training and engineering services.
According to Adah CEO Jens Reichmann, the company’s strength is its team.
THE AMERICAN EQUITY UNDERWRITERS INC.
Mobile-based The American Equity Underwriters are the largest providers of United States Longshore and Harbor Workers (USL&H) coverage. The company also provides Continental Shelf Lands Act and Defense Base Act coverage.
The company provides coverage for waterfront employers of all sizes, covering shipbuilders, ship repairers, marine terminal operators, stevedores, marine contractors and other waterfront employers.
The company is the number one provider of USL&H coverage by member count and has provided this coverage for nearly three decades.
According to its website, The American Equity Underwriters provides administrative services for the American Longshore Mutual Association (ALMA), including claims handling, loss control and underwriting. As ALMA grew, American Equity expanded its offerings to include longshore consulting and leadership training.
“They are the reason we started this company and remain the heart behind everything we do,” he said. “Our recent merger with pmX Group has only strengthened that foundation, bringing together shared values of teamwork, innovation and excellence.”
He added, “Together, we help organizations grow by connecting people, data and technology and we never forget that it all starts with our people.”
The American Equity Underwriters Team celebrates the holidays.
Adah’s Team Event Christmas.
BAILEY-HARRIS CONSTRUCTION
Founded in 1979 in Auburn, Bailey-Harris is committed to the values of Continuous Improvement, People First, Stewardship, Uncommon Excellence and Accountability — from the company’s first project with a $214,000 price tag to a $100 million project.
The company places an emphasis on sound business practices, innovative technology and creating a culture where employees are valued.
“The most important thing we build is our name in the community,” said Allen Harris, the company’s founder and CEO.
FINTEGRATE
Fintegrate is a leader in operations and process solutions for automating and simplifying collections, recoveries and transaction disputes for financial institutions.
Through proprietary software solutions, Fintegrate helps improve operational efficiency, reduces costs and mitigates risk.
The company’s collections and recovery solution, FusionCRS, manages more than $30 billion in delinquent loans daily.
FIRST METRO BANK
Founded in Muscle Shoals in 1988, First Metro has branches throughout northwest Alabama. The community financial institution “values innovative thinkers and doers who passionately work to do what’s best for our community and our neighbors.”
The bank has 146 employees and even operates student-led branches at some of the area’s high schools.
The bank offers a full array of personal and business banking solutions. First Metro was honored in 2023 as one of American Bankers Best Banks to Work For and by S&P Global as Best Performing Community Bank in North Alabama.
First Metro also has had an impact in its community outreach efforts. It was named a Community Corporate Champion by the Alabama Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for its fundraising efforts in the Steve Littrell Memorial Swingin’ for a Cure Golf Tournament.
Bailey-Harris Construction workers meet to go over the day’s itinerary.
First Metro employees attend a community event.
FITE BUILDING CO.
With 49 years of experience in construction, Fite Building Company notes $2.1 billion in completed projects. The full-service general contracting and construction firm serves customers in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
The company’s “Fite Plus One” initiative encourages employees to grow, succeed and live Fite’s purpose 1% better every day. The Fite Plus One Award is presented annually to employees best demonstrating company core values.
GUARDIAN CREDIT UNION
In 1958, Guardian Credit Union organized to serve Alabama National Guard members and their families’ financial needs. In 67 years, the company grew, expanded its membership base and became a full-service financial institution. Today, Guardian serves 16 Alabama counties.
Employees value Guardian’s benefit packages. In addition to paid vacation, sick time and volunteer time, Guardian offers tuition reimbursement, shadowing opportunities, career tracking and development, and more.
HERITAGE SOUTH CREDIT UNION
With roots dating back to 1937, Heritage South Credit Union has grown to more than $177 million in assets and more than 15,000 members. Employees are as loyal as its customers, credit union officials say.
“One of the biggest reasons our people stay here is our benefits,” says Marketing Director Kevin Whitman. “We still have a fully funded pension by the Credit Union, which is rare these days.”
Fite Building Co. employees grant a wish through Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Guardian Credit Union employees support a number of community sporting events.
At the Heritage South annual Car Sale event.
KASSOUF & CO. INC.
With its headquarters in Birmingham, Kassouf & Co. Inc. has been named one of Best Companies Group’s top companies to work for women in 2025. The firm provides accounting and financial services. It also has been selected as one of Public Accounting’s Top 300 firms for 2025.
Along with the Birmingham office, Kassouf has Alabama locations in Auburn, Huntsville and Orange Beach, and in Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge.
Grounded in the belief that “we succeed when our people succeed,” Kassouf was named an Inclusive Workplace by the Best Companies Group.
Kassouf also promotes community activity, with employees volunteering in organizations like the Community Foodbank of Central Alabama, Community Kitchens of Birmingham, United Ability (formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham) and United Way, among others.
Jonathan Kassouf is the company’s managing director.
M c SHANE CONSTRUCTION CO. LLC
McShane Construction’s mission is “to lead the construction industry through consistent and ethical practices that empower passionate employees to achieve excellence.”
With its Alabama office located in Auburn, the company’s culture is “defined by our people and they have fostered a collaborative environment that makes McShane a fun, supportive place to be,” according to its website.
The company’s core values are integrity, family, professionalism, listening, relationships, proactivity and empowerment. Molly McShane is the Illinois company’s CEO, with Dave Meadows as the Southeast Regional vice president and general manager in Auburn.
The company contributes to a number of nonprofits, including Toys for Tots and Concern Worldwide.
McShane team members in Auburn.
Kassouf employees join up for a community work day.
NEQUETTE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Birmingham-based Nequette creates and builds mixed-use town centers throughout the U.S.
The company’s strengths with employees include stable leadership. “Many of our principal architects have been here 15 to 20 years,” notes Jared Calhoun, principal architect.
Nequette has embraced a “shared fate” model of employee profit-sharing. All employees share the firm’s success. “It is just another way we invest in our people,” notes Calhoun.
PETRA RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Petra is a full-service risk management and insurance firm that is geared toward tailoring coverage to meet the client’s specific needs. The company offers comprehensive insurance solutions in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.
According to the company website, Petra is “an independent agency offering a comprehensive suite of risk management solutions to protect [clients] from the unexpected.”
The company also helps its clients craft an employee benefits program that makes sense for the company and its employees. These benefit options include group health insurance, group voluntary benefits, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, long-term care, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and HR services.
ROGERS & WILLARD INC.
Based in Mobile, with construction, management and consultation projects throughout the U.S., Rogers & Willard’s motto is “We Build.” The slogan applies to their services and employees.
“We want people that want more than a job,” notes Company President Michael C. Rogers. “We want those who want to be part of something bigger.”
Rogers adds, “Everyone in this company, no matter what their job position is, has a path for growth.”
Every employee is given a chance to lead in some function of the company. In addition, R&W benefit packages include a robust profit-sharing plan, 401K and company contributions to employee retirement plans.
The Nequette team in Birmingham.
RUSSELL CONSTRUCTION OF ALABAMA INC.
With locations in Montgomery and Auburn, Russell Construction began in 1983 with founder Steve Russell and a single truck, along with outstanding employees. What started with residential construction and remodeling grew to also include commercial and industrial building.
Russell has performed projects for a variety of concerns, including Auburn University, Faulkner University, WalMart and Community Health Services, as well as some 50 churches and hundreds of developers and project owners.
Josie Russell Young was named president of the company in 2022. Her community involvement includes Habitat for Humanity, River Region United Way and other organizations.
SPOC AUTOMATION
SPOC manufactures advanced power conversion systems. The company’s leadership stability is explained by the numbers. Of the seven leaders who joined CEO and founder Bobby Mason’s team 25 years ago, five are still here, one died and the other went into business for himself and is a SPOC customer.
SPOC offers generous benefit packages and more. The ‘more’ includes a unique company policy, “Lift Up.”
“‘Lift up’ is our culture,” says Mason. “If we help lift you through education and job opportunities, you can lift up others and the company. Our people are important or they would not be here. We lift them up.”
SS&L ARCHITECTS
This award-winning architecture firm has its headquarters in Montgomery, with other locations in Dothan, Auburn, Huntsville and Pensacola, Florida. The firm was founded by James Seay Sr. and Jimmy Seay Jr., who were later joined by Frank Litchfield III.
SS&L employs the largest number of registered architects under a single roof in central Alabama, according to the firm’s website. The company is committed to integrity, excellence and service, built on a foundation as old as the Scriptures: “Love God and love your fellow man.”
Among its many awards, SS&L was named one of the Best Places to Work in Architecture in the United States.
SPOC employees at the Lift Up Awards celebration.
The Russell Construction team.
STONERIVER CO.
StoneRiver Co. is an investment firm originally founded to acquire, develop and manage real estate in the Southeast. Those investments included a range of real property, including offices, retail, timber and multifamily residential.
However, the company’s focus is now on the multifamily residential market. Since its inception, the firm has acquired and developed $1 billion in multifamily residential holdings.
The company is committed to integrity and developing top-tier talent and on giving back to the community.
WHITESPUNNER CONSTRUCTION
Based in Mobile, with projects from the Deep South and beyond, WSC celebrates 44 years in the construction business. President and COO Jeff Carrico credits the company’s strict adherence to its mission statement, PLAN - People first, Lead with integrity, Action oriented and Never stop growing.
The company is transparent – literally. “My office walls are glass just like everybody else’s on this floor,” notes Carrico. “Employees should be able to see each other. Nobody should feel isolated.”
White-Spunner employees ready for the job.
StoneRiver’s team on the job as volunteers.
BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN ALABAMA
WILKINS MILLER
Wilkins Miller is an accounting firm with offices in Mobile and Fairhope. An 11-time honoree by Business Alabama as one of the state’s best places to work, Wilkins Miller has an expert staff of certified accountants, business analysts, consultants and advisers, who serve clients with a multi-disciplinary approach.
The firm also is committed to community involvement, including the Alabama School of Math and Science, the American Heart Association, Mobile Baykeeper, Little Sisters of the Poor, Junior Achievement and other churches, charities and service organizations.
Wilkins Miller employees find time to relax.
FIFTEEN ADDITIONAL COMPANIES NAMED WINNERS AMONG LARGE COMPANIES
Here are the additional winners in alphabetical order:
ALABAMA CREDIT UNION
Alabama Credit Union is more than just a financial institution; it’s a member-owned community rooted in rich historical values. Its central focus is empowering members, driving the company to positively impact the community through financial success.
Alabama Credit Union is committed to fostering growth and development for its employees. Personal and professional advancement is encouraged through a range of internal initiatives. Team members are offered the chance to make a meaningful impact in their communities by providing paid community involvement hours.
The “One Team” mentality ensures that every employee feels valued, supported and part of a caring environment, according to Sarah Kate Sheridan, HR coordinator.
AVADIAN CREDIT UNION
Avadian Credit Union began as Alabama Telco Credit Union in 1934, originally serving telephone company employees and their families. The name changed in 2015, and though this credit union has grown, its founding principles are the same as they were in 1934.
Avadian will always be member-owned and member-focused, officials say. Today, Avadian is one of the state’s largest credit unions, serving more than 85,000 members at branches throughout Alabama. Nationwide access is available through CO-OP branches and ATMs as well as online, mobile and telephone banking services.
Avadian employees work to help members meet their financial goals and needs, officials say, just as they have for the past nine decades.
BANK INDEPENDENT
This family-operated fourth generation bank has a long tenure for most employees, says Chris King, vice president and director of marketing, and the things that make it a best place to work are the things that keep employees here long term. It is the intention of the bank’s leaders, King says.
Whether it’s great benefits, learning opportunities or learning to grow, people tend to stay at this bank that is primarily in North Alabama, from the Shoals over to Huntsville and down to Hartselle.
The vision is to be the bank of choice in the communities it serves, King adds. “Our values reflect our commitment to build and preserve the solid reputation of Bank Independent.”
Employees prepare donations for Kids to Love.
Bank Independent employees at the campus topping out celebration.
GULF DISTRIBUTING
Gulf Distributing Co. is a beverage distributor in Alabama, covering Huntsville, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa metro areas along with 29 counties in the northern portion of Alabama. It also operates two new warehouses in McCalla and Tanner.
Among its employee accolades, Gulf Distributing is noted for career advancement opportunities and stable leadership. “We invest in professional growth through initiatives such as our Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), ongoing leadership training and a strong culture of internal promotion,” notes company Chairman and CEO Elliot Maisel. “Many of our leaders began their careers in entry-level roles.”
He adds, “Gulf’s foundation is built on consistency and long-term leadership. Our executive team has an average tenure of nearly 30 years, providing the stability and experience that drive our company forward.”
HARGROVE ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS
Hargrove Engineers & Constructors’ environmental, health and safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person that works there and every person touched by that work, company officials say. Team members work all parts of the country through Hargrove.
Teammates stay with Hargrove because the company invests in their success, officials say. Hargrove’s culture is one that supports individuals as they embark on and thrive in their careers while maintaining an ethical, sustainable workplace.
Hargrove engages in long-term service relationships with customers to gain insight into their capital improvement plans and to position personnel for a quicker, more client-focused response.
Hargrove’s “3 Years for 30 More Strategy” is designed to heighten its focus on a sustainable future in anticipation of the 30th year of operations and beyond.
HIGGINBOTHAM
Whether you’re searching for customized insurance, HR or financial solutions to protect your home, car, health, business or employees, Higginbotham insurance specialists are ready to serve.
For this full-service insurance company, Alabama leader Gabe Clement says being named a winner among Best Companies makes him incredibly proud, especially of the company’s people.
“What makes this a great place to work is our values-driven culture,” Clement says. “Our four core values — being family to employees, accountable to clients, teammates to carriers and generous to communities — guide every decision. We hire intentionally, applying what we call the ‘Thanksgiving test’ — would we want to share a Thanksgiving meal with this person? That’s how we’ve built not just a team, but a Higginbotham family,” Clement says.
Team members at a key trade event.
It’s Bring Your Kids to Work Day at Higginbotham.
MAULDIN & JENKINS
Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs & Advisors celebrates more than 100 years of providing assurance, tax and advisory services to its clients.
From humble beginnings in 1918 to the current firm of more than 500 professionals, 14 offices located in six states and more than 325,000 hours provided to clients throughout the country, Mauldin & Jenkins remains focused on the core values that got them there.
The company’s three key objectives of “Providing Quality Work to Our Clients,” “Building a Firm that will Stand the Test of Time” and “Providing Opportunities for Our People,” according to company officials, remain at the center of why they do what they do every day.
MAX CREDIT UNION
MAX Credit Union is a credit union serving central and east Alabama. It has clients covered for any financial need, officials say, from saving for a rainy day to borrowing for a new home and everything in between, with tools to make money management easy.
MAX is committed to making the communities it serves even better places to live, work and play, officials say, noting that the heart of MAX is community — that the people it serves are not just customers but also families, friends and neighbors.
Community investment comes in many shapes and sizes. From corporate donations to volunteer service, officials say, MAX seeks to make a lasting impact and support causes that matter.
PCH HOTELS AND RESORTS
Headquartered in Mobile, PCH manages a portfolio of hotels, resorts and other entertainment venues, including the Performing Arts Center in Montgomery and the Shops of Grand River in Leeds, Alabama.
The company has approximately 2,000 workers and stresses promotions from within. In 2025, 50% of PCH job openings were filled from its internal talent pool.
“We have people who have been here 20 years or more,” says Krista Reiss, vice president of human resources. “People find their way to PCH for whatever reason, and they stay.”
Time for costumes at MAX.
PCH Resorts takes home the awards.
Mauldin & Jenkins employees volunteer at the Food Bank.
PERSONS SERVICES CORP.
Started in 1978, Persons Services Corp. performs in four main groups: construction, infrastructure, industrial and disaster recovery. While continuing to serve Alabama’s Gulf Coast, it also has a presence across five states and internationally.
Persons Services Corp. emphasizes three core principles: safety, quality and performance.
TOP: Persons Services employees at the employee appreciation seafood broil.
BOTTOM: A Persons Services event to benefit Penelope House.
PHELPS DUNBAR
Phelps Dunbar is a full-service law firm serving clients throughout Alabama.
With a policy of putting its clients and its people first, officials say the firm’s success is due to the amazing people in its Birmingham and Mobile offices. “We offer competitive benefits, continuing education and events that promote a collaborative and fun working environment,” says Birmingham Managing Partner George Morris.
“Whether through office-wide recognitions or individual achievements, we celebrate our employees’ hard work to make the workweek enjoyable and provide high-quality service to clients. We support and encourage employees to give back, and we are deeply rooted in Alabama’s communities and committed to their development, and we’re honored to be considered a ‘best company to work for,’” says Mobile Managing Partner Brie Zarzour.
QUINCY COMPRESSOR LLC
With more than 100 years in operation, Quincy Compressor manufacturers industrial compressors for domestic and international customers.
Industries served include agriculture/farm, amusement parks, automotive, energy exploration, food and beverage, mining, natural gas, pharmaceutical, plastics, textiles, woodworking and more.
SENTAR
At Sentar, serving customers in the defense, intelligence and health care sectors across the country, the company combines its Alabama heritage with a national reach that allows for meaningful impact, wherever the mission leads, says Bridget McCaleb, catalyst/CEO for Sentar.
“I think what really makes us one of the ‘Best Companies to Work for in Alabama’ is how much the company, now employee-owned, truly values its people,” McCaleb adds. “We’ve built a culture around innovation, teamwork and where everyone’s ideas matter. One thing that’s especially exciting this year is that Sentar became an employee-owned company. This transition gives each of us a meaningful stake in the company’s success and deepens our sense of pride in the work we do every day.”
Quincy Compressor hosts several employee events.
The Sentar Anniversary Party in Huntsville.
Phelps Dunbar employees at the Tailgate Challenge.
THE ŌNIN GROUP
The Ōnin Group is an employee-owned workforce solutions company based in Birmingham. Through its staffing divisions — including Ōnin Staffing, Ōnin Technology, Ōnin Aerospace, Excelsior Staffing and A3 Solutions — the company provides staffing, recruiting and workforce management services across manufacturing, logistics and administrative environments.
Ōnin is built to support high-turnover, high-pressure operations with workforce strategies that prioritize stability, retention and operational alignment. As an employee-owned company, Ōnin emphasizes long-term partnership, local execution and real-time responsiveness.
“When a company is employee-owned, every outcome gets personal. This award reflects more than our culture,” says Rosalyn Dawson, vice president of people and culture. “It reflects the discipline of ownership. Our people don’t just do the work. They take pride in doing it right.”
UNITED BANK
Since United Bank started in 1904, it has worked to make communities better for everyone. Leadership has provided high-quality, affordable and convenient financial services backed by hometown service, while also supporting agriculture and small businesses.
United Bank strives to bring in investment and growth to the local economies, officials say, noting that United Bank is not just a bank but a community bank.
In the beginning there was one location in Atmore. After expanding the main office a few times and adding several branches, expansion led to today’s 19 locations from Foley and Frisco City in Alabama to several in Florida.
The Onin team.
Bay Minette wins United Bank’s Branch of the Year honors.
Lee, Macon and Russell counties, in Alabama’s east central area, are home to one of the state’s major universities, a host of high-tech businesses, a rich history and an economy sparking with new possibilities.
Since its founding in 1856 as the state’s original land-grant institution, Auburn University has served the state with expertise in agriculture and engineering, architecture and veterinary medicine and a wide range of other specialties.
Nearby, Tuskegee University has its own proud history — a Historically Black university founded in 1881, it traces its expertise in agriculture to the groundbreaking studies of George Washington Carver. It also is renowned for cancer research, veterinary medicine and a nationally known focus on bioethics in research.
The region also is home to a thriving automotive supplier industry. An array of international firms has sprung up to support the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery and its sister, Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia, just across the state line.
Those supplier firms continue to generate investment — more than $250 million in the last two years in Lee County. And in Macon County, South Korean supplier Samkwang announced plans to be the first tenant in the new Regional East Alabama Logistics Park.
“This new industrial access on Interstate 85 at Exit 42 is becoming one of East Central Alabama’s premier properties, with 700 acres and the potential to host 6 million square feet of new projects in the next five to seven years,” Joe Turnham, executive director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority, says.
The three counties also produce bottled water, nutritional sup-
Lee, Macon & Russell Counties
by GAIL ALLYN SHORT
plements, turf, lawn and garden equipment and — announced last year — chicken feet, which attracted a $2.8 million investment for AlaTrade Foods’ Phenix City facility.
Jordan-Hare Stadium at Auburn University.
Whitewater in Phenix City.
Whippoorwill Vineyards, an award-winning winery, is located in Notasulga.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Madison County: $86,192
Baldwin County: $72,915
Elmore County: $72,478
Jefferson County: $64,623
Montgomery County: $60,739
Lee County: $60,358
Tallapoosa County: $57,185
Mobile County: $55,352
Russell County: $50,046
Chambers County: $49,295
Macon County: $45,951
Barbour County: $44,290
Bullock County: $36,723
The three counties also have plenty of recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Of course, there are college sports. A fall Saturday with an Auburn home game can turn the town orange. But the Auburn-Opelika region hosted nearly 100 other sporting events in 2024, bringing in some $36 million to the regional economy.
There’s also golf — the Grand National in Opelika is part of the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail — and the East Alabama
POPULATION Total Alabama Population: 5,108,468
Jefferson County: 662,895
Madison County: 412,600
Mobile County: 411,640
Baldwin County: 253,507
Montgomery County: 224,980
Lee County: 183,215
Elmore County: 90,441
Russell County: 58,858
Tallapoosa County: 41,070
Chambers County: 34,450
Barbour County: 24,757
Macon County: 18,951
Bullock County: 10,157
Motor Speedway in Phenix City.
Phenix City is at work on the Lively Entertainment District — an array of restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife sites and other businesses clustered to encourage people to gather and enjoy life.
And if you just want to enjoy the scenery, there’s Chewacla State Park in Auburn, home to great fishing, lovely trails and even six original stone cottages built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
Source: Census Reporter/U.S. Census Bureau
Source: Census Reporter/U.S. Census Bureau
Economic Engines
AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIERS
In recent years, several automotive suppliers have invested, reinvested and expanded their operations and created more jobs in this region. They include Donghee America Inc., Seohan Auto/NTN Driveshaft USA Corp., SCA Inc., Shinhwa Auto USA Corp., Pyongsan America Inc., Daewon America Inc. and Arkal Automotive USA Inc.
This year, Daewon America Inc. announced it would invest $46.2 million in Opelika to expand its facility in the Northeast Industrial Park and add new manufacturing equipment. The move
is expected to be complete in 2027 and generate 100 new jobs.
Last year, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the South Korean company Shinhwa Auto USA Corp. would invest $114 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Auburn Technology Park West by constructing a new 170,000-square-foot production building and adding 50 new jobs.
That same year, Ivey announced that another automotive and industrial parts manufacturer, ILJIN, would spend nearly $100 million for a new facility in Auburn.
In Macon County, Samkwang, which
BUSINESS BRIEFS
AUGUST 2025: The Slim Chickens franchise holds a grand opening of its new store in Phenix City. The Slims Southern Boys, a familyowned group, holds the event.
JULY 2025: American Airlines and Southwest Airlines add nonstop flights from the BirminghamShuttlesworth International Airport for several Auburn University and University of Alabama away games.
JULY 2025: Korea Fuel Tech America announces plans to invest $4 million to expand its manufacturing plant at Auburn Technology Park South. The expansion will create 17 jobs.
JUNE 2025: Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc. holds a grand opening for its new $18 million, 24,000-square-foot Auburn Coca-Cola sales center and warehouse. The facility serves as a regional distribution hub.
supplies automotive companies Kia and Hyundai, recently revealed a plan to open a new 168,000-square-foot facility at the 700-acre Regional East Alabama Logistics (REAL) Park, located 10 miles from downtown Auburn, making it the park’s first tenant.
“This new industrial access on Interstate 85 at Exit 42 is becoming one of East Central Alabama’s premier properties with 700 acres and the potential to host 6 million square feet of new projects in the next five to seven years,” Joe Turnham, executive director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority, says.
And last year, Samkee Corp., opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Tuskegee Commerce Park, having invested $128 million.
AGRICULTURE/ MANUFACTURING/ FOOD/PHARMACEUTICALS
Besides automotive supplies, manufacturers in Lee, Macon and Russell counties are producing a range of goods such as lawn and agricultural products, paper and even bottled water.
Briggs & Stratton, in Auburn, makes and distributes lawn mower engines and lawn and garden turf care products, while Beck’s Turf Farms, in Macon and Lee counties, produces sod; and Golden State Foods operates a meat processing plant in Opelika.
APRIL 2025: South Korean manufacturer Samkwang announces plans for a new plant at the Regional East Alabama Logistics Park in Macon County. The company supplies Samsung, Kia and Hyundai.
MARCH 2025: Southern Living Magazine names the boutique hotel Graduate by Hilton, located near the Auburn University campus, as one of the 10 Best New Hotels of 2025.
FEBRUARY 2025: Core Scientific Inc. announces it will expand into Auburn with a new highperformance computing facility. The company is planning an initial investment of $135 million for the project.
JANUARY 2025: The Opelika Chamber of Commerce holds a grand opening for its new building at 200 S. 6th St., featuring a state-of-the-art training center and more.
More than 300 company, state and local officials gathered to open Alabama’s newest auto supplier, Samkee Corp., in Tuskegee in June 2024. Photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Commerce.
TAXES
PROPERTY TAX
NOT INCLUDING SCHOOLS OR MUNICIPALITIES
LEE COUNTY: 13.5 mills
RUSSELL COUNTY: 12.0 mills
MACON COUNTY: 12.5 mills
STATE OF ALABAMA: 6.5 mills
SALES TAX
LEE COUNTY: 4%
Cities within the county: AUBURN: 4%
LOACHAPOKA: 1.5%
NOTASULGA: 3%
OPELIKA: 4%
SMITHS STATION: 1%
WAVERLY: 2%
RUSSELL COUNTY: 4%
Cities within the county: PHENIX CITY: 4.75%
HURTSBORO: 4%
MACON COUNTY: 2.5%
Cities within the county: FRANKLIN: 3%
SHORTER: 5%
TUSKEGEE: 5%
STATE OF ALABAMA: 4%
Source: Alabama Department of Revenue
In Lee County, the California-based Niagara Bottling LLC is preparing to invest $35 million in its Opelika plant to boost its operation. The company says the investment will create 18 new jobs.
The city of Opelika recently announced that the nutrition and dietary supplement producer Pharmavite would invest more than $13 million to grow its current plant in the city.
Meanwhile, AlaTrade Foods, in Russell
JANUARY 2025: The German grocery retailer Aldi opens its new store in Auburn in the Tiger Crossing Shopping Center in the space once occupied by WinnDixie.
NOVEMBER 2024: Tennibot in Auburn debuts The Partner, advertised as the world’s first AI ball machine that gives players the experience of playing against a real human.
County, is planning to invest $2.8 million in its Phenix City facility to build the processes for entering the growing international market for chicken feet.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Lee, Macon and Russell counties are home to several institutes of higher learning that together are infusing billions of dollars into the local economy, creating new direct and indirect jobs and forging partnerships with industry.
The Auburn University system and the university’s alumni together contributed $6.34 billion to the state’s economy in
OCTOBER 2024: Lumber company Sierra-Pacific Industries opens a new manufacturing plant in Phenix City. The new facility is a $25 million investment and is expected to create more than 200 jobs.
OCTOBER 2024: Both Niagara Bottling and vitamin maker Pharmavite announce plans to expand their operations in Opelika. Niagara commits to
fiscal year 2022, according to a 2023 Auburn University economic impact report.
The same study found that Auburn created 30,296 jobs in addition to its own direct employment. Graduates who remained in the state had an estimated earning power of more than $3.81 billion.
“It’s no question that Auburn University is a strong driver of the economy here in East Alabama, with nationally ranked programs such as engineering and business,” says Cynthia Williford Bean, communications manager for the city of Auburn.
“For decades now, our economic development team has leveraged the university’s
invest $35 million and Pharmavite commits $12 million in Opelika.
SEPTEMBER 2024: Automotive and industrial bearings and chassis manufacturer ILJIN announces an investment of $100 million for a new plant in Auburn to enter the aluminum forging market.
JUNE 2024: Samkee Corp., based in South Korea, opens its first U.S.
auto parts production facility in the Tuskegee Commerce Park. The plant will employ more than 170.
JUNE 2024: Automotive supplier Daewon America Inc. announces a $46.2 million investment in Opelika for a building expansion and new equipment. The move will bring 100 new jobs.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United Inc. opened its Auburn sales center and warehouse in June 2025, an investment of approximately $18 million.
influence and the excellent quality of life people enjoy in Auburn to recruit smallto mid-sized, high-tech, value-added companies that make up a strong industrial base,” she says.
In Macon County, the HBCU Tuskegee University has an economic impact of $237.1 million and 2,064 jobs, according to a 2024 United Negro College Fund economic impact report. In addition, the report states that the total lifetime earnings of its 2021 graduates are estimated at $2 billion.
Now, for the first time in nearly 80 years, Tuskegee University is offering flight training at Moton Field, the place where Black pilots, the famous Tuskegee Airmen, trained during World War II.
To revive its flight training program, Tuskegee University teamed with Republic Airways’ Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy, and, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce, LIFT will create 35 high-paying, full-time jobs in Tuskegee over three years, with an average salary of almost $75,000.
At Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, meanwhile, an economic impact study reports that the college in fiscal year 2023-2024 contributed $89.7 million to the local economy and supported 1,309 jobs. The college’s alumni income was estimated at $69.4 million.
Southern Union State Community College’s economic impact study shows that in its service area that includes Lee and Macon counties, as well as Chambers, Clay, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties, the college brought $162.6 million in income to the overall service area’s economy and supported 2,819 jobs.
TOURISM/RESTAURANTS
Tourism is another economic engine in the region. In the Auburn-Opelika metro area alone, tourists spent more than $900 million in 2024, according to the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau.
And a robust tourism climate brings jobs. The 2024 Alabama Tourism Economic Report, published by the Alabama Tourism Department, states that the number of direct, travel-related jobs in Lee County in 2024 was 6,702, 165
Largest Industrial Employers
LEE COUNTY
Aptar CSP Technologies Inc. Pharma packaging • 580 employees
Briggs & Stratton LLC Lawn and garden • 465 employees
Donghee America Inc. Automotive • 430 employees
Seohan Auto/NTN Driveshaft USA Corp.
Automotive • 360 employees
GE Aerospace Aerospace • 265 employees
SCA Inc.
Automotive • 260 employees
Shinhwa Auto USA Corp. Automotive • 240 employees
Regal Rexnord Corp. Construction, Energy • 205 employees
Pyongsan America Inc. Automotive • 150 employees
Arkal Automotive USA Inc.
Automotive • 110 employees
MACON COUNTY
Hanon Systems
Tier One Automotive • 700 employees
in Macon County and 976 in Russell County.
The report also stated that the number of both direct and indirect travel-related jobs in Lee County in 2024 was 9,953, with 252 in Macon County and 1,450 in Russell County.
From college football, basketball and women’s gymnastics to men’s golf Division 1 regionals, sports tourism brings big dollars to the region. The 2024 Sports Alabama Annual Report states the Auburn-Opelika region alone held 91 sporting events that year, resulting in an economic impact of close to $36 million in the community.
While home games for Auburn football and basketball brings many visitors to the
Samkwang Automotive Manufacturing 200 employees
Samkee America
Tier One Automotive • 170 employees
Moore & Davis Nurseries Sod Farm, Kiwi Saplings • 50 employees
Beck’s Turf Farms Sod Production • 40 employees
TSA LLC Automotive Services • 30 employees
RUSSELL COUNTY
MeadWestvaco
Coated Paper Board • 827 employees
WestRock Linerboard • 700 employees
Daechang Seat Corp. Automotive • 225 employees
Vectorply Corp. Reinforcement Material • 174 employees
Johns Manville Insulation • 160 employees
Pitts Trailers Trailers • 150 employees
Sources: Economic development officials
metro area, other sports attractions in the region include the East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, and the Robert Trent Jones Trail – Grand National in Opelika.
Besides those attractions, the restaurant scene in the region continues to evolve as new eateries open for business.
In the Auburn-Opelika metro area, some of the newest bars and restaurants include the wine bar and Italian restaurant Piedmont on Piedmont, One Forty Grill and Café de Fleur.
In Russell County, La Loma Mexican Grill recently opened its doors in Fort Mitchell, and the drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros announced it would open its first Phenix City shop in early 2026.
Health Care
EAST ALABAMA MEDICAL CENTER OPELIKA
East Alabama Medical Center, in Opelika, is part of East Alabama Health, along with a second facility in Chambers County.
East Alabama Health maintains 417 licensed patient beds across the organization, with 314 beds at the East Alabama Medical Center.
Besides its hospitals, East Alabama Health also operates a cardiology practice, Pinnacle Cardiovascular Associates in Opelika. The practice provides patients with general cardiovascular and electrophysiology care. In addition to the cardiology practice, patients with urgent cardiovascular concerns can visit the practice’s walk-in clinic.
Another East Alabama Health facility is the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, where oncologists and other health care providers offer diagnostic services as well as chemotherapy, radiation, infusion, hematology and other treatments.
East Alabama Medical Center is undergoing a $40 million expansion of its critical care tower. The expansion will add 30 critical care beds to the facility and is scheduled to open in spring 2026.
East Alabama also is building a new center for mental health to be renamed East Alabama Medical Center North. The new, 54,000-square-foot facility in Opelika is projected to open in January 2026 and will include 40 private inpatient beds, including 10 adult male and 10 adult female beds, as well as 11 short-term and nine long-term adolescent beds. Medical Center North also will house the new psychiatry residency program and East Alabama Psychiatric Services.
East Alabama Health facilities include the Auburn Medical Pavilion in the Auburn University Research Park, which holds a freestanding emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, outpatient imaging and a Breast Health Center.
East Alabama Medical Center made Newsweek magazine’s 2025 list of America’s Best-In-State Hospitals. And, for a second year in a row, the hospital made the magazine’s America’s Best Maternity Hospitals list.
The hospital’s maternity services include a birth navigator service, childbirth classes and a breastfeeding support group.
This year, East Alabama Medical Center acquired the da Vinci 5 surgical system, a next-gen robotic technology for minimally invasive surgeries.
In addition, the Medical Center’s cardiac rehab program earned an American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation certification this year for its work enhancing patients’ quality of life by improving the standards of care.
Another focus of East Alabama Health is cancer research. This year, researchers from East Alabama Health and Tuskegee University’s Center for Biomedical Research are teaming up to study and treat a variety of cancers.
Oncologists, hematologists, pathologists and other physicians from the hospital will collaborate with researchers from Tuskegee University to study diagnostic methods for different types of cancer and possible new treatments.
Specifically, the group will investigate diagnostic methods for various forms of cancer such as liquid and tissue biopsies, as well as innovative treatment methods for cancers like breast cancer, gynecologic
cancer and prostate cancer.
Besides research, East Alabama Health runs the Opelika Neighborhood Mobile Wellness Clinic, a bus that brings basic health care to underserved communities.
The Mobile Wellness Clinic is made possible through a partnership among East Alabama Health, the city of Opelika and the Casey Family Foundation.
East Alabama Health made the 2025 Becker’s Hospital Review’s 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare list recently. The magazine cited the hospital system for its benefits package, on-site childcare, flexible work options, tuition reimbursement and development programs such as a nurse residency program and an apprenticeship pathway.
JACK HUGHSTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital, in Phenix City, is part of a network of Hughston Clinic health care facilities in Alabama and Georgia that lists a range of services such as general and advanced orthopedic care, sports medicine, joint replacement, rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging and workers’ compensation services.
The hospital also offers 24-hour emergency room care and surgery services and maintains 70 private patient beds.
Providers at the hospital treat a wide range of conditions such as sports and trauma-related injuries and ailments due to degenerative and congenital disease.
This year, Jack Hughston Memorial announced that it would begin offering surgeries using the Mako Robotic-Arm Surgery System.
Over the years, Jack Hughston Memorial has captured high rankings and awards for its medical services. In 2024,
East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika. Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital.
Rehabilitation Hospital of Phenix City.
the hospital won the Outstanding Patient Experience award from Healthgrades.
Moreover, Money.com ranked the hospital at No. 6 in the nation this year for orthopedic surgery care, and Healthgrades has selected Jack Hughston for America’s 100 Best Orthopedic Surgery and America’s 100 Best Joint Replacement lists every year since 2012. Healthgrades also has recognized the hospital for excellence in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement for 14 years straight.
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OF PHENIX CITY
The health providers at Rehabilitation Hospital of Phenix City treat patients recovering from conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, hip fractures, joint replacements, amputations and neurological conditions like traumatic brain injuries.
The 58-bed Rehabilitation Hospital is part of a national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals owned and operated by Encompass Health.
It is accredited by the Joint Commission and holds certifications from the commission for stroke, brain injury, amputee and hip fracture rehabilitation.
THE CENTRAL ALABAMA VA MEDICAL CENTER
Established in 1923, the original Tuskegee Veterans Administration Medical Center opened to provide care for African American veterans in the racially segregated South after WWI.
In 1997, the Tuskegee VA Medical Center merged with the Montgomery VA Medical Center to form the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System.
Today, the Central Alabama VA Medical Center–Tuskegee offers primary and specialty health services. These include mental health care, women’s health services, vision care, podiatry and orthopedics, and specialty areas such as cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, nephrology, surgery and urology.
Central Alabama VA Medical Center–Tuskegee holds accreditations from The Joint Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
Movers & Shapers
MARK BROWN is Tuskegee University’s 10th president and the first graduate selected to lead the 144-year-old institution.
Brown is a retired U.S. Air Force
major general who earned his bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee, a master’s from Troy University, two additional masters’ degrees from military programs and a doctorate from Baylor University.
BRENDA COLEY is superintendent of Russell County Schools. She holds a bachelor’s from Auburn, a master’s and specialist degree from Troy and a doctorate from Walden University. She was honored in 2024 for her work to improve athletic facilities. She is a member of the Alabama Education Association, council leader for Alabama Schools and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
JERE COLLEY is the newly elected probate judge of Lee County. He also is the current chairman of the County Commission.
Colley earned his bachelor’s degree from Samford University and his juris doctorate from the Thomas G. Jones School of Law. He has worked in family court and with juvenile, delinquency and child support cases in Lee County. He has served on the boards of Mercy Medical Ministry and Clinic and Central Alabama Mountain Peddlers and is president of the Alabama Cycling Association board.
TREVOR COOK is the city of Auburn’s workforce development director. An Auburn graduate, Cook joined the city as a project manager in 2024 before taking
on his current role in workforce development. He also partners with local schools and colleges to promote training in the manufacturing sector.
LAURA GRILL is president and CEO of East Alabama Health in Opelika. Last year, Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Grill to the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences board.
She recently completed a term as chair of the Alabama Hospital Association. In addition, Becker’s Hospital Review named Grill as one of the “Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know” for 2025. She earned a degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an MBS degree from the University of Alabama.
MELISSA GAUNTT is president and CEO of the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce in Phenix City. A lifelong resident of East Alabama, Gauntt earned a technical science degree at Columbus Technical Institute and studied computer science at Auburn University. She later worked in system development at Auburn University before moving on to work in the cable and internet industries. Afterward, she launched her own management consulting business before joining the Chamber in 2023. She is board chair of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley and on the board of United Way of Chattahoochee Valley.
RAVEN HARVIS is regional director for H&S Commercial Supplies and Services LLC, a family-owned business in Opelika. Active in the community, Harvis’ memberships include Opelika Chamber of Commerce board, Zoning Board of Adjustments, Kiwanis, the Greater Peace Community Development Corp. and The Curtis House. She is an Auburn graduate with a master’s from the University of Phoenix.
CRISTEN HERRING is the superintendent of Auburn City Schools. She holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Auburn and also completed coursework at the Alabama Superintendent’s Academy. Before becoming superintendent, she worked as a teacher, reading specialist, principal and elementary curriculum director. Herring is a member of the East Alabama Mental Health board.
EDDIE LOWE is the mayor of Phenix City. First elected in 2012, Lowe became the city’s first Black mayor that year. He recently was re-elected for a fourth term. Lowe holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, where he played football under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Later, Lowe played for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League. Today, Lowe is the chaplain and volunteer coach at his alma mater, Central High School. He is also active in the United Way and sits on numerous community boards. He also served 12 years on the Phenix City Board of Education.
ANDREA MITCHELL is the entrepreneurial and technology programs manager for the city of Auburn, matching local startups and entrepreneurs with the resources, training and mentorships needed to start and grow their businesses. An Auburn graduate, she holds a master’s from Auburn University in Montgomery and a second master’s from Troy, She is on the board of United Way of Lee County, and active with Central Alabama Works and Junior League of Lee County.
NATHAN MURPHY is group vice president at Golden State Foods in Opelika, overseeing operations for the company’s protein products. Murphy has served on the boards of Golden State Foods Foundation, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, the Food Bank of East
Alabama and the Twin Cedars Child Advocacy Center. Murphy earned his bachelor’s degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology and his MBA from Webster University.
KELSEY GALLAHAR SULLIVAN is executive director of Opelika Main Street. Under her leadership, Opelika Main Street has won awards for its marketing and for its work to attract more than $50 million in public and private investment downtown. She is an Auburn graduate with a master’s from Troy and a doctorate from Liberty University. Sullivan holds a
bachelor’s degree in public administration from Auburn University, a master’s degree and doctorate in public administration from Troy University and Liberty University respectively.
JOE TURNHAM is director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority. Under his leadership, the authority has added new industrial sites and secured a $2.77 million Alabama Department of Commerce grant to acquire a 360-acre industrial site with access to Interstate Highway 85 and Moton Field Airport. The authority also recently acquired The Tuskegee News, saving the 160-year-old newspaper from shutting down. Turnham is the former chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University.
Higher Education
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Established in 1856, Auburn University is a land-grant institution offering more than 150 majors, from engineering and business to veterinary medicine and agriculture science. It is home to 15 schools and colleges.
In addition, Auburn, in partnership with Alabama A&M University, manages the Alabama Cooperative Extension System — an outreach program dedicated to improving lives by providing practical, research-based instruction in areas such as agriculture, nutrition, food safety, quality of life, the environment and more.
This fall, Auburn’s student enrollment is 35,172, which includes an undergraduate class of 28,953, according to the university’s Office of Institutional Research.
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges edition for 2026 places Auburn University among the nation’s top 50 public institutions at No. 49 and No. 1 among universities in Alabama.
The university is No. 21 in undergraduate teaching programs and No. 25 in nursing, with a 100% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN for nursing school graduates.
Auburn also ranked high for first-year experiences and student support; for programs in supply chain management and accounting, and for its College of Engineering.
This summer, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering broke ground on what will become the Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station. Scientists will use the 21,000-squarefoot research station in Orange Beach to study conservation, protect water quality and quantity, and discover ways to boost sustainability in coastal communities.
The first group of students to complete Auburn University’s AUTeach program graduated this spring. AUTeach is a program for students in the College of Sciences and Mathematics who want to enter the teaching profession.
The first cohort of students to complete the new online Master of Social Work program graduated this year as well. The part-time program benefits working adults desiring to complete social work courses.
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY
Tuskegee University, founded in 1881, is a private institution and the only HBCU in the United States designated as a National Historic Site.
The university is renowned for its cancer and agricultural research, its veterinary medicine program, its engineering programs and its National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care.
According to its website, the center is “the nation’s first bioethics center devoted to engaging the sciences, humanities, law and religious faiths in the exploration of the core moral issues, which underlie research and medical treatment of African Americans and other underserved people.”
Tuskegee University offers more than 60 degree programs, and its total undergraduate enrollment reached 2,659 in fall 2024.
In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings for the Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tuskegee University ranks No. 4 in the nation behind Spelman College, Howard University and Morehouse College.
U.S. News & World Report also ranks Tuskegee No. 1 in social mobility among colleges in the South for enrolling and successfully graduating large numbers of disadvantaged students who go on to achieve economic mobility.
Tuskegee also is ranked No. 10 on U.S. News’ overall Best Regional Universities in the South list.
Tuskegee recently inaugurated its 10th president and CEO, Mark Brown, Ed.D. The former Air Force major general is the first alum to take the helm as president. His tenure began July1, 2024.
Tuskegee University’s College of Veterinary Medicine recently broke ground on a new 57,000-square-foot small animal teaching hospital. The $18 million facility will come with operating rooms, intensive care units and imaging suites.
Tuskegee also broke ground recently on a $14 million Genomics Research Center. Researchers at the center will work to bring greater representation in research studies and clinical trials.
Tuskegee also has been named a Fulbright Historically Black College and University Institutional Leader for 2025.
Fulbright issues this award annually to honor HBCUs credited with excellence in work with and support of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.
TROY UNIVERSITY
Troy University announced that its Phenix City campus would close on Dec. 31, 2025, after 50 years of service. The university attributed the decision to the increased demand for online instruction.
CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Located in Phenix City, the college was founded in 1973 as Chattahoochee Valley State Junior College. It is a public, twoyear institution with an enrollment of approximately 2,337.
Jacqueline Screws is the college’s president.
Chattahoochee Valley offers adult education, workforce development and online learning as well as a dual enrollment program for high school students.
In July, Chattahoochee Valley Community College held its first pinning cere-
Auburn University.
Tuskegee University.
mony for the graduates of its new nursing program, which the college developed in partnership with East Alabama Medical Center.
In late 2023, the college debuted a new Workforce Training Center.
SOUTHERN UNION
STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Established in 1993, Southern Union State Community College came into existence when the Alabama Community College System board of trustees approved the merger of Southern Union State Junior College and Opelika State Technical College.
Today, Southern Union State Community College serves more than 5,000 students at its campuses in Randolph and Chambers counties and its Opelika campus in Lee County.
In September, the Opelika City Council approved a $3 million gift to Southern Union State Community College for capital improvements that will include new classroom buildings, a residence hall and refurbished science and technology labs.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College.
Southern Union State Community College.
Community Development
LEE COUNTY
This summer, construction began on a new storm shelter in the town of Smith Station in Lee County. The shelter will stand behind City Hall and will have the capacity to hold 500 people and withstand strong winds up to an EF5 tornado. The town also will use the shelter for community meetings. The shelter is being paid for through a hazard mitigation grant.
The city of Auburn won a $2.85 million Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grant to expand the Auburn Technology Park West, an industrial park just off Interstate 85.
The city of Auburn is continuing to open and construct amenities at the Wilmore Park Recreation Center. The new park opened this spring at a cost of more than $26 million. The first set of pickleball courts opened in April. The city closed the park’s pool in October to begin construction of a pool enclosure.
The park improvement is part of the City Parks, Recreation and Cultural Master Plan that provides a 20-year plan to
improve the quality of Auburn’s parks, recreation, arts and cultural facilities and programming, the library, greenspace and greenways, trails, facilities, landscape and natural features. The Auburn City Council adopted the plan in May 2018.
Auburn University Regional Airport broke ground on a new 109-foot air traffic control tower. The project, which will include a 360-degree observation deck, will cost $7.2 million.
In January 2025, Auburn City Schools’ board of education approved the 2035 Fa-
Plot Studio and Orchestra Partners are working with Phenix City on the Lively Entertainment District, utilizing 12th Street and 5th Avenue as curbless festival streets and framing the edges with flexible lawn space. Rendering courtesy of Plot Studio and Orchestra Partners.
A rendering of the site plan at REAL Park, developed by Farpoint and leased by Jim Wilson & Associates LLC.
cilities Master Plan, a 10-year, $400 million initiative to construct a second high school and a new middle school, renovate Auburn Junior High School and demolish and rebuild Dean Road and Wrights Mill Road elementary schools.
In the city of Opelika, the nonprofit Opelika Main Street is funding upgrades to downtown buildings. Opelika Main Street’s aim is to revitalize and grow the city’s downtown through historic preservation of buildings and economic development through leadership, community engagement and public-private partnerships.
Executive Director Kelsey Gallahar Sullivan says this year alone, the organization has issued more than $62,000 in facade enhancement grants to downtown property owners and businesses.
In October 2024, the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park won a Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy grant of nearly $2.02 million from the state. The industrial park will use the funds to extend North Park Drive and construct a bridge over Halawakee Creek to create greater access to the park.
The Opelika Chamber opened its new 15,000-square-foot facility this year. The Chamber moved into the old Opelika
Public Library at 200 South 6th St. downtown. The building also will house part of Auburn-Opelika Tourism.
MACON COUNTY
The Macon County Economic Development Authority teamed up with ADECA, Point Broadband, Connect Humanity and Rural Local Initiatives Support Corp. to lay more than 63 miles of broadband in Macon County. The $3.1 million project was completed in 2023.
This year the BDO Zone Initiative awarded Macon County with an investment grade BDO Zone “A” Rating.
The announcement says, “Macon County’s ‘A’ rating indicates high prospective viability to support new biobased plant operations with low risk associated with Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure in the Zone.”
The rating is a creation of the BDO Zone Initiative that assesses the readiness of a region to attract new biomanufacturing plants based on factors such as supply-chain readiness and existing infrastructure.
MCEDA won a $2.77 million Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy grant this year to enable the
purchase and development of a 360-acre industrial site with close proximity to rail lines, Moton Field Municipal Airport and Interstate 85.
In addition, Macon County also has won a $1.3 million grant through the Alabama Industrial Access Road & Bridge Corp., for enhancement of local highways and a new industrial entryway for the Regional East Alabama Logistics Park, a 700-acre industrial development at Exit 42 on I-85.
RUSSELL COUNTY
In Phenix City, the city has continued to purchase properties to start the development process for what will become the Lively Entertainment District in the downtown area.
The Lively Entertainment District will become a public green space overlooking the Chattahoochee River and surrounded by commercial businesses that encourage people to gather, from restaurants, coffee shops and nightlife establishments. The Lively District will connect to the city’s Riverwalk.
In addition, Phenix City’s Department of Parks and Recreation is on the path to opening its first Miracle Park, an
The new Opelika Chamber of Commerce building sits at 200 S. 6th Street. It formerly served as the city’s library.
inclusive baseball field for children with physical and cognitive disabilities. Miracle League, a national organization, is helping communities like Phenix City to build Miracle Fields so children with disabilities will have the opportunity to play the game by outfitting the fields with features such as rubberized turf field that makes wheelchair use easier.
The city also is making improvements to Idle Hour Park and Moon Lake — beautifying, installing a retaining wall to prevent erosion, building a pavilion and adding fishing piers along the lake with easier access for individuals with disabilities. And four old tennis courts have been revamped into 12 pickleball courts.
Russell County Schools is building a new multiplex facility that will include a full-size basketball court, two volleyball courts and dedicated areas for cheerleading and wrestling practice. The facility also will house a weight room and a plunge pool. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2026.
To ensure that all perspectives are
represented, the school system established both a superintendent’s advisory council and a superintendent’s student advisory council.
Also, the Russell County Schools Ed-
ucation Foundation is gearing up for the second annual Hall of Fame on Feb. 21, 2026, to honor a former athlete, educator and alumnus who have made a lasting impact on the school community.
Angela Smith, of the Alabama Department of Commerce, right, helped Auburn officials celebrate receiving a $2.85 million SEEDS grant on March 27, 2025.
Culture & Recreation
LEE COUNTY
During football season, fans of the Auburn University Tigers – and visitors rooting for the other teams – crowd into Jordan-Hare Stadium to watch the games.
And, on home game days, fans converge for the traditional Tiger Walk that runs from the Athletics Complex to the stadium to cheer on the Auburn Tigers football team.
But during basketball season, crowds gather inside Neville Arena on campus to watch the Tigers play hoops.
Sports lovers in Auburn can stroll along the Tiger Trail in downtown Auburn. The trail features plaques honoring legendary Auburn student athletes, coaches and administrators embedded in the sidewalk.
With the Class of 2025, the number of inductees is 140.
Looking for entertainment that is a bit more … highbrow? The museums and cultural arts centers in the AuburnOpelika area may be more to your liking.
The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University bills itself as a “teaching museum” with an extensive art collection and a mission to promote historical research, innovation, art education and community outreach. Also check out the Opelika Art Haus that presents works from local and regional artists and hosts workshops and classes.
Another place to visit is the Museum of East Alabama. Located in Opelika’s historic district, the museum houses
Events and Festivals in Lee, Macon and Russell Counties
VICTORIAN FRONT PORCH
CHRISTMAS TOUR, Opelika, Dec. 10-14, 2025.
THE ANNUAL GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL, every spring, downtown Tuskegee.
THE IRON BOWL, game between Auburn University and the University of Alabama, usually in November.
LITTLE FEATHERS FALL FESTIVAL at the Fort, in October or November 2026, Fort Mitchell.
thousands of archeological and rural artifacts and antiques from businesses from the past in Lee, Macon and Russell counties.
In Auburn, the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center is a space that regularly hosts exhibitions and theatre performances as well as art education programs.
Lee County also is home to several performing arts centers where visitors can enjoy concerts, musicals, plays and dance performances. At Auburn University, visitors can see a show at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, the Telfair Peet Theatre and the Black Box Theatre. Another venue is the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. For more than 35 years, the facility has hosted orchestras from around the world, touring Broadway productions, dance performances and more.
But for those desiring outdoor recreation and adventures, the region offers visitors plenty of parks and preserves to explore.
Nearly 700 acres in size, Chewacla State Park in Auburn features a 26-acre lake as well as campgrounds, cabins, picnic areas and trails for hiking and biking.
Chewacla State Park is roughly 700 acres.
Just north of downtown Auburn is the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center — 120 acres of forest land where visitors can view native plants and wildlife and walk the trails. The center even offers a spring break camp where youngsters can spend three days learning from naturalists.
Billed as Auburn’s largest park, Kiesel Park offers amenities that include a pond, walking trail, garden, pavilion and a place where dogs can romp without a leash.
But if birding is your passion, grab your binoculars and head out to the Opelika Wood Duck Heritage Preserve and Siddique Nature Park. The park is home to more than 170 species of birds in habitats that include ponds, swamps and forests.
Bird lovers also can tour the Auburn University Raptor Center, a facility that rehabs and releases raptors back into the wild.
Another popular recreational spot in Opelika is Spring Villa Park. Set on 350 acres, Spring Villa is on the National Register of Historic Places and features 30 sites for campers and RVs, a lodge, an archery park and disc golf courses. It also is the site of the antebellum Penn Yonge House. The park’s new lodge is slated to open this fall.
One can visit restored, historic homes built at the turn-of-the 20th century at Opelika’s Northside Historic District
During the holidays, the district holds the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour featuring more than 60 homes, Christmas carolers and local residents dressed in Victorian-era costumes.
MACON COUNTY
Upon arriving in Macon County, visitors can stop by the city’s official visitor’s center and museum, the Tuskegee History Center, also known as the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center, to learn about the city’s past and the famous men and women who put Tuskegee on the map like the scientist George Washington Carver.
Macon County is the home of the tourist attraction Moton Field, the place where Black soldiers, known today as the Tuskegee Airmen, learned to fly through the U.S. Army Air Corps, and Tuskegee
Institute, which today is Tuskegee University. The Tuskegee Airmen completed more than 1,570 missions during World War II.
Visitors also can tour the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site that features museums highlighting the historic institute of higher learning.
Among the sites to see are the historic campus and the George Washington Carver Museum. The museum tells the story of the renowned botanist’s work on the many uses for peanuts and his role as Tuskegee Institute’s first agriculture department director.
The Historic Site also includes The
Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The P-51 Mustang is suspended from the ceiling at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.
Botanic LLC, in Opelika, allows people to shop, dine and visit.
Oaks, home of Tuskegee Institute’s founder, Booker T. Washington, and Washington’s grave on the Tuskegee University campus.
In nearby Notasulga, tourists can see the Shiloh Rosenwald School, one of the first Rosenwald schools built for Blacks between 1913 and 1932 during the Jim Crow era. The school, the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, established in 1870, and Shiloh Cemetery are all listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The church and cemetery are the sites of a tragic chapter in medical history known as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study when a group of Black men in Tuskegee, starting in 1932, were unwitting participants in a research study on syphilis where they received no treatment. The study ended in 1972.
RUSSELL COUNTY
The 1.2-mile Phenix City Riverwalk sits
along the Chattahoochee River, where visitors can stroll, run or bike to an openair, 3,000-seat amphitheater or observe local wildlife. The Riverwalk includes two pedestrian bridges that connect to the Columbus Riverwalk across the river in Georgia.
Russell County also is home to the Phenix City Art Center where visitors can enjoy exhibitions and take art classes.
History buffs have plenty to explore in Russell County, too. In the town of Fort Mitchell, they can check out the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center to learn about the history of the Creek Nation that once lived on the land and the period when the Creek Nation was forced from its homeland, a tragedy known as the Trail of Tears.
The Fort Mitchell Historic Site, located less than 10 miles south of Phenix City, features a fort built in 1813, a restored log cabin, old-time carriages, surreys and wagons and numerous artifacts, from arrowheads and guns to
pottery and other items.
In Seale, sightseers can tour the old Russell County Courthouse, view the 157-year-old courthouse’s architecture and view displays of Native American artifacts and paleontology exhibits. They also can tour the Museum of Wonder, a facility filled with folk art, antiques, artifacts and an assortment of oddities.
Want to spend a day at the races?
Check out the East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City and watch competitive car races and monster truck shows on a dirt track.
Youngsters and the young at heart can enjoy Idle Hour Park & Moon Lake in Phenix City. The park features a nature trail, picnic areas, a pavilion, Moon Lake and a splash pad.
But if a leisurely game of golf is more your speed, a trip to the 18-hole Lakewood Golf Course in Phenix City might be just the ticket. The course amenities include a clubhouse with a golf shop and a putting course.
Career Notes
ACCOUNTING
Wilkins Miller Partner Michael Kintz has been named to Forbes’ America’s Top 200 CPA list.
BANKING & FINANCE
Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. have named the following as regional presidents: Barbara Mulligan for Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Jasper; Mark Imig for expansion strategy; Jason Baldwin for North Alabama; Jennifer Pelham for South Alabama; Mark Snead for Montgomery, Dothan and Enterprise; and Beth Sippel for integration in North Alabama.
Truist Financial Corp. has named Kelly Peace as its new middle market banking leader for Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Peace will be based in Birmingham.
First Horizon Bank has formed the Huntsville Advisory Board and named Ginger Harper as board chair. Other board members are Bill Roark, Bruce Summerville, John Waples and Frank Williams. Serving as executive board member will be Huntsville Market President Eric Sanders.
Auburn National Bancorp. has elected Walt Conn to its board of directors for the company and AuburnBank.
CHAMBERS
Teresa Williamson, of Roberts Brothers Inc., and Tyrone Fenderson, of Synovus, have been elected to the board of the Mobile Chamber. Williams will serve as chair and Fenderson as chair elect.
by ERICA JOINER WEST
CONVENTION
Oak View Group has named Matthew Bryant general manager of the Mobile Convention Center.
DEFENSE
Torch Technologies has promoted Paul Pittman to vice president and lead of the System Analysis & Simulation Group. In addition, Bill Roark, founder of Starfish Holdings, has been inducted into the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership Servant-Leader Hall of Fame.
EDUCATION
Troy Stevens and Dhananjay T. Tambe, of the University of South Alabama’s Center for Lung Biology, have been awarded a four-year, $609,730 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study pulmonary hypertension.
Alana Hataway Barranco has been appointed to the University of Montevallo board of trustees. A UM alum, Barranco’s term runs through Jan. 19, 2032.
HEALTH CARE
UAB Health System has named Janet Hadar its chief operating officer, effective Jan. 12, 2026.
LEGAL
Dan Avery has joined Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers LLP as of counsel in the firm’s Birmingham office.
Joshua Alford has joined the Birmingham office of Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC as director of investigations.
Danner Kline, an associate with Bradley, has earned the Certified Information
Privacy Professional credential from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
MUNICIPALITIES
A native of Anniston, Kenneth Free has been appointed city manager for the city of Anniston.
NONPROFIT
Goodwill Gulf Coast has appointed Barry Reed its new president and CEO. He succeeds Frank Harris, who retired in October after 50 years of nonprofit leadership.
RAILROADS
Jacob Creech, a resident of Guntersville and a graduate of Troy University, has been named chief growth officer of A. Stucki Co., a leading rail supplier.
REAL ESTATE
Josh Gray and Shawna Wansten, of Cushman & Wakefield/EGS Commercial Real Estate, have each earned the Certified Property Manager designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management.
RETAIL
OWA Parks & Resort, in Foley, has named Ken Leone as its new property manager.
TOURISM
Jimmy Taylor has been named director of golf and co-owner at The Madison Golf Center
UTILITIES
Sean Strickler has been named chief operating officer of the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives.
TYRONE FENDERSON
JACOB CREECH
KELLY PEACE
BILL ROARK
BARRY REED
MICHAEL KINTZ
JOSHUA ALFORD
TERESA WILLIAMSON
FRANK HARRIS
JANET HADAR
SHAWNA WANSTEN SEAN STRICKLER
MATTHEW BRYANT PAUL PITTMAN
KEN LEONE
JOSH GRAY
INK AND INDEPENDENCE
Thomas Eastin and the early days of Alabama’s press
By SCOTTY E. KIRKLAND
rinter’s ink is the great apostle of progress,” newspaperman Horace Greeley once wrote. For several years in the early 19th century, Thomas Eastin and his small printing press chronicled the commercial and political progress in Alabama’s territorial capital.
Born in Kentucky around 1788, Eastin came to his profession as a newspaper publisher at a young age. In 1805, he established a small weekly paper called the Nashville Review. He continued to publish in the city until 1811.
Eastin first came to what would become Alabama around 1814, while serving as a quartermaster under the command of Gen. Andrew Jackson. Eastin fought in the famed Battle of New
Orleans and was later stationed in Mount Vernon in Mobile County. In 1815, Eastin married Lucinda Gayle in Baldwin County. They soon relocated to St. Stephens, a growing town along the Tombigbee River, where Lucinda’s brother John Gayle, later the seventh governor of Alabama, had a law practice.
Once settled in St. Stephens, Eastin resumed the life of a publisher. In 1815, Eastin launched The Halcyon and Tombeckbe Advertiser. Annual subscriptions to the weekly paper were $4. By 1818, the paper has subscription agents in several locales, a testament to the Halcyon’s influence. News of the world and reports on American political developments typically filled the paper’s four pages. Editorials by Eastin and bits of local flavor
filled the second page. Advertisements were inserted at a cost of one dollar for up to fourteen lines for the first instance, and 50 cents thereafter per issue.
The Halcyon’s office also served as an early bookstore for St. Stephens. Titles available for purchase included David Ramsay’s multivolume history of the United States, as well as books on law, science and medicine. For the literary minded, there were collections featuring works from Lord Byron, Walter Scott and the Bard.
Surviving copies of the Halcyon offer insight into daily life in St. Stephens and early Alabama — renovations to the local hotel; an accounting of goods from a new mercantile store listing seven different types of liquor, as well as chocolate, kitchenware, horse tack and linens; the public sale of a river barge named Perseverance to settle the debts of its previous owner; notices of elections for various municipal offices; a planter offering a $50 reward for information on Harry, an enslaved man; an entrepreneur selling three pianofortes direct from New York; a desperate mother’s search for information on her wayward son and her request to “make him acquainted with her anxiety and wishes for his speedy return to Demopolis.”
In 1817, Congress established the Alabama Territory and designated St. Stephens as its territorial capital. The act began a series of steps setting Alabama on a quick path to statehood. From his printing office in St. Stephens, Eastin played an important role. When the territorial legislature convened in January 1818, they designated him the “publisher of laws.” The contract allowed Eastin to publish in the Halcyon the official acts of the legislature and certain government messages. It also called for him to print and bind legislative journals once the session concluded.
In February 1818, Eastin wrote to William Wyatt Bibb, the territorial governor, asking for an extension of his printing contract. The slow pace of the 1817-1818 legislative session made completing the assignment difficult. Eastin employed three assistants who worked the press at a fast pace. But the deadline loomed. “Had I twenty hands it could not be completed … without having two presses,” Eastin wrote. He received his extension.
Had Bibb been less forgiving, he would have found few other options available to him. At the time of statehood in December 1819, there were only six newspapers in Alabama.
And so, Thomas Eastin dutifully reported on the earliest
movements of Alabama’s government. When the second session of the territorial legislature closed, the focus moved to Huntsville, site of the constitutional convention. He wrote forcefully about the character of the framers of that document, calling them “men of good sound sense and republican principles.”
Putting the laws of the land in the hands of his readers was, for Eastin, a kind of public trust. He devoted much of the Jan. 31, 1820, issue to a full printing of the newly written acts regulating judicial proceedings in the young state. “The importance of laying it entire before the public will, we think, compensate for the absence of other matters,” he wrote.
Although St. Stephens remained a vibrant town for many decades after it ceased to be the capital, it was, for Eastin, it seems, too far from the action. In 1823, he relocated his paper to Greensboro, where he continued for some time under the Halcyon name.
After nearly 15 years in Alabama, the itinerant newspaperman relocated. In 1828, his printing press in tow, Eastin moved to Pensacola, where he established the shortlived Florida Argus. He conceived it as an opposition paper to the powerful Pensacola Gazette. But the transplant publisher found little interest and the new paper folded within six months. Eastin pushed farther south to Key West, where he published the growing island community’s first newspaper from 1829 until 1832. It was the sixth original newspaper to appear under his name.
While in Key West, Eastin received a number of federal appointments, including marshal and customs inspector. A decade later, he returned to Pensacola for an altogether brief stint as a navy agent, a job for which he was apparently ill-suited. Once his replacement was named in 1840, Eastin returned to Alabama and eased into retirement.
An 1859 fire at his Mount Vernon home destroyed nearly all of Eastin’s collected papers, his books and all bound volumes of his newspapers. It was a mournful end to Eastin’s professional life. Only scattered issues of the papers published by his hand remain today, snapshots of life of frontier communities in three Southern states. Eastin died in 1865. He was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Newspaper Hall of Honor in 1974.
Historian Scotty E. Kirkland is a freelance contributor to Business Alabama. He lives in Wetumpka.
TOP: Thomas Eastin; BOTTOM: William Bibb. All photos courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
Index
68 Ventures .............................................. 39, 43 A. Stucki Co. ....................................................97
A.I. Solutions Inc. ............................................11
Greater Peace Community Development Corp. ..87 Greeley, Horace 98 Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership...........97 Grill, Laura 87 Guardian Credit Union ............................... 39, 53 Gulf Distributing
County Industrial Development Authority 28
Gauntt, Melissa 87 Gayle, John 98 Gayle, Lucinda 98 GE Appliances 12
Washington Carver Museum 94
University 37 Georgia-Pacific 12 Glaukos Corp. 12 Golden State Foods 80, 87 Goodwill Gulf Coast .........................................97 Graduate by Hilton ..........................................80
Knight, David 28
Knox Kershaw Inc. 31
Korea Fuel Tech America 80
Kreher Preserve and Nature Center 94
La Loma Mexican Grill 80
LaFayette, Bernard Jr. 9
Lakewood Golf Course, Phenix City ..................94
Lassiter, Griffin 28
LeComte, Pierre 11
Lee County ................................................ 77, 87
Legion Field ....................................................10
Leone, Ken 97
Liberty Tire Recycling 10
Liberty University 87
Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC 97
Litchfield, Frank III 39, 57
Little Sisters of the Poor 39, 59
Lively Entertainment District, Phenix City 77, 91
Lowe, Eddie 87
Loxley Logistics Center 11
Macon County 77
Macon County Economic Development Authority................................... 77, 80, 87, 91
Madison Golf Center, The .................................97
Maisel, Elliot 39, 65
Marshall Space Flight Center 11, 18
Mason, Bobby 39, 57
Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs & Advisors 39, 67
Maverick Natural Resources 12
MAX Credit Union 39, 67
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing 18, 28
McCaleb, Bridget 39, 69
McGuire Oil Co. 9
McNair, Ellen 8
McShane Construction Co. LLC 39, 55
McShane, Molly 39, 55
Meadows, Dave 39, 55
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International .....................28
Mercy Medical Ministry and Clinic ....................87
Meta Inc. .........................................................12
Metzger, Rick 12
Midwest Motor Express....................................11
Miles College ..................................................10
Miracle League, The 91
Missile Defense Agency 18
Missouri University of Science and Technology 87
Mitchell, Andrea 87
Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley 10
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 97
Mobile Arena ..................................................12
Mobile Baykeepers.................................... 39, 59
Mobile Civic Center .........................................12
Mobile Convention Center ...............................97
Mobile, Port of ................................................12
Reiss, Krista 39, 67 Renfro Brands 11 Republic Airways
Riverfell, Prattville 12
Roark, Bill 97
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail — Grand National 77,
Roberts Brothers
Roberts, Sara
Robins
Rogers & Willard Inc.
Rogers, Michael C.
Rural
Russell Construction of Alabama Inc.
Russell County
Taylor, Jimmy 97
Teach for All 37
Telfair Peet Theatre 94
Tennessee Valley Authority 12
Tennibot Inc. 80
Thomas G. Jones School of Law 87
Tiger Crossing Shopping Center 80 Tiger Trail, Auburn 94
Tiger Walk, Auburn 94
Titomic Limited 12
Tom Bevill Industrial Park 28
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative 7 Torch Technologies ..........................................97 Toyota Alabama .................................................7 Trant, Sid 12 Troy University .......................................... 87, 89 Truist Financial Corp. .......................................97 Trump, President Donald 12, 18 TSG Consumer .................................................11
JANUARY
Company Kudos
by ERICA JOINER WEST
FEBRUARY
The University of Montevallo was recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking at No. 6 in Best Value Schools Among Regional Universities in the South. This is the fifth consecutive year the university has earned a top 10 ranking in this category and is Alabama’s only institution to do so.
Bank Independent has been ranked No. 32 on the 2025 America’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces list featured in the Wall Street Journal.
Where
CB&S Bank, headquartered in Russellville, has been named the 2025 Bank of the Year and has received the LEAP Award for Financial Institutions from Strata-Axiom.
For the 16th consecutive year, Children’s of Alabama has been ranked in the top 50 of the nation’s best hospitals for children by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the hospital has been recognized by NRC Health as its 2025 Excellence in Patient Experience Award winner.
Daphne High School, in Baldwin County, has won a $1,000 grant from the National Garden Bureau for therapeutic gardens. The bureau, along with sponsors American Meadows, Ball Horticultural Co. and Sakata Seed America, recognized five gardens with grants.
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services is celebrating its 100th year.
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has been selected as a winner of the 2025 Amazon Web Services Imagine Grant: Children’s Health Innovation Award.
The Space Development Corp., a developer of space hardware and technology solutions, has achieved awardable status through DARPA Expedited Research Implementation Series Marketplace.
The University of North Alabama’s Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 20252028 program term.
The American Bankers Association Foundation has recognized United Community with a 2025 ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award for its Financial Literacy Month program, which was launched in 2022.
Historic Alabama
NITRATE PRODUCTION COMES TO THE SHOALS
As the U.S. entered World War I and nitrate was needed for weapons, President Woodrow Wilson approved building two nitrate plants and a dam (Wilson Dam) in what is now Muscle Shoals. The entire construction site included 1,700 temporary buildings and 236 permanent buildings, according to the city of Muscle Shoals. Pictured here is the U.S. Nitrate Plant 2 under construction on March 5, 1918. Photo from the University of North Alabama Collier Library Archives via the 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
December 2025:
Q: The Hoover Met Complex has achieved great success in drawing athletic competitions and other events. But the biggest success started after its original tenant moved out. What team was the original tenant?
A) Birmingham Barons
B) Hoover Hornets
C) Jefferson Jayhawks
D) UAB Blazers
November 2025 (one month ago):
Q: John Carter’s Noah product measures the arc of a ball to help players improve. What sport is it designed for?
A) Baseball
B) Basketball
C) Football
D) Soccer
Challenge yourself with these puzzlers from past issues of Business Alabama magazine. Beginning Dec. 22, work the quiz online and check your answers at businessalabama.com.
December 2024 (one year ago):
Q: Sierra Pacific opened its new $61 million plant in Phenix City, its only plant in the Southeast. What does Sierra Pacific make?
A) Automobile engines
B) Coal mining equipment
C) Weather radar
D) Windows
December 2020 (five years ago):
Q: Our December issue covered six major expansions at companies around the state — at Buffalo Rock in Birmingham, International Auto Components in Tuscaloosa County and Anniston, Kith Kitchens in Haleyville, Mercedes in Vance, Mobis US Alabama in McCalla and Polyplex in Decatur. The six expansions together totaled about $311 million. Which was the biggest, valued at $100 million?
A) Buffalo Rock
B) International Auto Components
C) Kith Kitchens
D) Polyplex
December 2015 (10 years ago):
Q: Our December issue reminisced about six splashy theme parks that never came to be, not long before one actually took shape and still attracts countless visitors today. Which of these actually came to reality?
A) Blue Collar Country in Foley
B) DreamVision Soundscape in Florence
C) Owa in Foley
D) Space City USA
December 2000 (25 years ago):
Q: In December 2000, we highlighted the state’s top high-tech firms, ranked by employment. Two topped the list at 4,000 each. Which two? Careful: all of these are in the top 10.
