October 2019

Keeping you informed and inspired.

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10

October 2019

MISSILE DEFENSE

COVER STORY

Leidos Consolidates MDA Support in Cummings Research Park

After supporting the Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville for more than 15 years, Leidos spent $3 million to retrofit its first physical systems and support center in Huntsville.

By Kimberly Ballard - Page 5

Page 12

SMALL BUSINESS

Janice Migliore: Award-Winning Women-Owned Small Business and Women’s Business Enterprise Council South Ambassador

PALCO Telecommunications, housed in a former Intergraph building, lacks pretention.

By Lori J. Connors - Page 15

ADDITIONAL STORIES • Valley Businesses Rejoice at the Prospect of Cecil Ashburn Progress

By Sara Covington • Page 3

• For Founder Larry Lowe, Fractal Brewing Blends the Old and the New

By Mike Easterling • Page 6

• OSCO-Verta-DPSI Taking Office Design to the Next Level

By Lori J. Connors • Page 16

• New System Allows Firefighters Access to Businesses After Hours Photo by Justina Simon

By Jonathan Stinson • Page 19

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HUNTSVILLE

BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 2, Issue 10 October 2019 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802

2

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Reflect on the Past and Look Forward to the Future “We’re going back! To the future” Those words immortalized by Doc Brown in the movie “Back to the Future” can convey what is going on in the Huntsville area.

Things have changed dynamically over the past couple of decades in just about every aspect of life around here.

Some of us remember when the Alabama Space & Rocket Center was at the intersection of Bob Wallace Avenue and Governors Drive/Alabama 20.

Or when TGI Friday’s was in the middle of nowhere “out” on U.S. 72/University Drive.

We remember when there was an airport on Airport Road.

If Rip Van Winkle fell asleep on Monte Sano 40 years ago, and woke up today, he wouldn’t recognize the place.

Heck, if he took a nap when the clock struck midnight at the turn of the century and woke up today, there would be so much change, he’d probably want to go back to sleep.

And that would be a shame if he did because, boy, he would be missing a whole lot of excitement.

This month’s Huntsville Business Journal touches on some of those changes that are coming.

Town Madison is set to become a prime destination for living, eating, shopping and catching a little baseball.

What was once a wide swath of land between Wall-Triana Highway and Zierdt Road that had contained Intergraph campus and the Madison driving range, will soon be populated with hotels – including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville hotel – and restaurants and single-family houses and townhouses and apartments and, oh yeah, a multi-use baseball stadium.

On University Drive, the once-glorious Madison Square Mall has been razed and the Mid-City District is rising from the red clay. This development will include stores, restaurants and recreational facilities – something for just about any taste.

And then there’s the renaissance of Haysland Square which will become the Hays Farm development on South Memorial Parkway and the birth of Clift Farm on U.S. 72 in Madison.

Downtown Huntsville has been redesigned with loft apartments and hotels and restaurants springing up on every other block.

The Von Braun Center (known as the VBCC when Mr. Van Winkle went to sleep) is getting a muchneeded facelift to help crown the Rocket City as the next Rock (‘n’ Roll) City.

From the old Martin Stove Factory to the new Stovehouse on Governors Drive, we also have Campus 805, formerly known as Stone Middle School.

Redstone Arsenal, which at one time had actual soldiers, now is home to thousands of federal workers and contractors who will be joined by some 4,000 FBI agents.

We’re also seeing the landscape blend high tech – Boeing, Raytheon, Dynetics, Adtran, Facebook, and the like – with

Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing Publisher/President .... Todd Stephenson Editor .............................. Bud McLaughlin Writers.............................Kimberly Ballard

Lori J. Connors

Sara Covington

Mike Easterling

Jonathan Stinson Contributing Writers......... Zack Childress

Jim Owens

Brent Saba Graphic Design ................. Justina Simon Website.................................... Jim Gharib Photographers.......................Steve Babin

Kimberly Ballard

Eric Schultz

Justina Simon Director of Sales ..... Carolyn Stephenson Account Executives...................Lee Nast

Amanda Peach Distribution..........................Glenda Mace

Huntsville Business Journal is published monthly by EVENT Publishing, PO Box 14219, Huntsville, AL 35815.

For advertising information call 256.533.8078, e-mail todd@eventhuntsville.com, or visit us on the web at www. huntsvillebusinessjournal. com.

For editorial information contact editor@huntsvillebusinessjournal.com ALL CONTENTS ©2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION OR USE IN WHOLE OR IN PART OF THE CONTENTS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. HUNTSVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF EVENT PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. UNSOLICITED PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTICLES ARE SUBMITTED AT THE RISK OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER OR AUTHOR. EVENT PUBLISHING ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR THE RETURN OF ANY UNSOLICITED MATERIALS AND MAY USE THEM AT ITS DISCRETION.

manufacturing – Toyota, Mazda Toyota, Remington, Polaris which will help the area continue to grow and eventually Huntsville will be the largest city in the state.

So, yes, there are exciting times ahead and you won’t want to miss out or, as the kids would say, “You snooze, you lose.” u (Bud McLaughlin is editor of the Huntsville Business Journal. He joins Fred Holland every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. on WTKI FM 105.3fm 1450am.)

October 2019

3

DEVELOPMENT

Valley Businesses Rejoice at the Prospect of Cecil Ashburn Progress The upcoming reopening of Cecil Ashburn has commuters rejoicing as they look forward to cutting their driving time down considerably.

Business owners are also rejoicing, as they anticipate a return to normalcy and faster commutes for themselves and their clientele.

Ben Patterson, general manager of Mellow Mushroom in Jones Valley, admitted that the restaurant has taken a hit, as diners have chosen to go elsewhere for pizza rather than brave the traffic from the other side of the mountain.

“It has definitely hurt business,” he said. “We have been down quite a bit since January.”

Widely known for its eclectic, funky atmosphere, Mellow Mushroom does have some pretty loyal clientele and Patterson added that although they did continue to see many of their regular diners at din-

ner and lunch, the overall numbers were down through the winter.

“We did have an ok summer,” Patterson said. “Our projections were a little off and we did a little better than we thought we would.”

As for their neighbors across the street at Terrame Day Spa, business has remained steady. Owner Charles Johnson said his business has fared well throughout the shutdown.

“We have been very fortunate because people make appointments with us and they are able to plan it out a little bit,” he said.

Since the closing of Cecil Ashburn in January, an average 10-minute commute can take as much as 25 minutes, and Johnson

By Sara Covington

Photo courtesy of City of Huntsvile

believes the inconvenience of the extra drive time weighs heavily on the consumer’s decision on where to eat and shop.

He said Terrame has fared well during the shutdown due to it being a largely appointment-based establishment with a very loyal customer base.

“Business has remained steady,” Johnson said. “But I know, with restaurants and other businesses,

the plans are often made at the last minute.”

Two lanes of Cecil Ashburn are expected to open in late October, just in time for residents to get back to their regular routines enjoying their favorite spots for the holidays.

“We are excited about the road opening up and we know our clients are too. And we really appreciate them coming in. It will be nice when it gets open.” u

4

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

CONSTRUCTION

Business Boom Calls for an Increase in Trade Skills It’s no secret that business is booming in Huntsville.

Construction zones and caution tape continue to speckle the city, as developers race to keep up with the demands required to complete projects.

Developments designed to enhance the growing infrastructure of Madison County seem to be popping up everywhere, and with no signs of a slow-down, the need for skilled workers and tradesmen is greater than ever.

Turner Construction’s Director of Business Development Tyce Hudson said his company is working closely with area schools to ensure that upcoming graduates are aware of their options, whether they choose to pursue a four-year degree or opt for going directly into the workforce from high school.

“We are trying to get the message

out that there are very bright careers in the trade industry right now,” he said. “We see shortages in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing so the demand for those is probably the highest.”

Because of companies such as Turner Construction, Huntsville City Schools students enrolled in the Career Tech Education Department are able to get practical work experience outside of the classroom by working

on actual workplace projects.

“We are partnering with people to create more opportunity for internships and practical experience,” said Todd Watkins, director of Career Tech Education for Huntsville City Schools.

This year will be the second time for the district to host what Watkins calls a “Career Signing Day,” which is similar to a scholarship signing day, when students are recognized for continuing their career paths within the fields of building science.

“We are going to have interviews prior to the event,” said Watkins. “We are really excited because it gives our students a chance to do interview sessions.

“Then they can actually graduate

By Sara Covington

high school and go straight to work.”

Watkins also lauds the district’s newest career tech center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

The initial program will allow students to work in the hospitality and culinary industries shadowing staff, giving them the opportunity to leave the school campus and report directly to Space & Rocket Center CEO Dr. Deborah Barnhart.

Watkins said the increased employment opportunities coupled with the area’s demand for progress equals many more options in the building science arena, whether individuals choose to seek a 4 year degree or not.

“What kids are seeing,” he said, “is that they can be employable right out of school or they can also go to (a four-year college) or a junior college.

“Kids are starting to realize that career tech is not a one-way path.” u

October 2019

5

MISSILE DEFENSE

Leidos Consolidates MDA Support in Cummings Research Park After supporting the Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville for more than 15 years, Leidos spent $3 million to retrofit its first physical systems and support center in Huntsville.

The 63,000-square-foot building at 915 Explorer Boulevard in Cummings Research Park consolidates the defense division of the company into one Huntsville location. Defense

Gerry Fasano, Leidos Defense Group President

ville.

The Leidos team has been part of the Patriot and THAAD missile programs and supports MDA requirements and critical services to the warfighter. The new location features automated test equipment that helps provide those systems to Leidos customers at home and abroad.

“Leidos’ civil division has been contracted to NASA here in Huntsville for several years, providing logistics for all the different materials made for the International Space Station,” said Barry McDaniel, vice president of Maritime for Leidos, overseeing support for all branches of the military including the Army.

“Intelligence is also coming to Huntsville soon because the FBI is here; but our missile defense teams have been scattered. This building is an opportunity to consolidate everything related to the Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency counter unmanned air systems. That includes supporting customers all over the world including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and all of Europe.”

Military delegations from Germany and the Netherlands were in attendance.

“It’s not just about what is happening in this building, but we have five other locations and we are about to put more customers in Huntsville,” said Fasano. “That includes technical

Group President Gerry Fasano headlined the ribbon-cutting ceremony along with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and foreign military delegations.

“This new facility signifies our continued growth in Huntsville, but it also supports our customers in helping them solve problems from a city and a region known for its innovation,” said Fasano. “We help our customers in the defense industry achieve effective, sustained military advantage … from support for C4 (command, control, communications, and computers/cyber) to cyberspace.

“We are doing that from right here in Huntsville. Let’s Pictured L to R: Angela Pounders - Leidos Huntsville Field Ofkeep it local.”

Manager, Tommy Battle - Huntsville Mayor, Gerry Fasano In 2016, Lockheed Ser- fice - Leidos Defense Group President, Kim Caudle Lewis - Huntsville vices Group took $5 billion Chamber of Commerce, Tom Dove - Leidos Logistics and Operations Support Senior Vice President and merged it with another $5 billion from Leidos to create a $10 billion organization carrying the Leidos name. The move gave Leidos a much bigger footprint in each of the company’s four major areas of expertise: defense, civil, health and intelligence.

Three of those four groups have roots in Hunts-

field support for U.S. Army RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aircraft systems right here at Redstone Arsenal; end-user IT services for ten NASA centers; and end-user IT services for 37,000 Army Corps of Engineers from our corridors right here in Huntsville.”

The RQ-7 Shadow is the Army’s unmanned aerial vehicle, also used by the Australian and Swedish armies for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and battle damage assessment.

Fasano also announced the arrival of Leidos Live – the company’s Innovation Virtual Experience coming to Huntsville in November. Leidos Live is an immersive technology lab and showcase on wheels where visitors will find some of Leidos’ top innovations brought to life. Fasano said it is a must-see.

Leidos, the name comes from the word kaleidoscope – the centerpiece of the instrument from which complex problems are seen from every different angle, is an IT and engineering services company. Leidos employs 235 people in Huntsville out of 34,000 in every state and more than 30 countries.

“To the Leidos team, we are so delighted to see the growth and the expansion and all the things that have happened here that make our economy move forward,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “Five years ago, we started with a very small Leidos

By Kimberly Ballard / Photos by Shileshia Milligan

group. Today you are threefold, and it’s a story told about Huntsville time and time again – companies throughout Research Park and throughout this city who are growing organically, growing where they are, getting bigger and bigger. Leidos has grown so much they needed a new building.

“We are so glad to be able to help them build it.” u

6

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

SMALL BUSINESS

For Founder Larry Lowe, Fractal Brewing Blends the Old and the New Leave it to an electrical engineer to select a math term to name his new business.

Larry Lowe, Fractal Brewing founder

That’s what Larry Lowe did in branding the Fractal Brewing Project, which opened Sept. 18, in the building that once housed local craft micro-breweries Olde Towne and Straight to Ale but has been empty

for the past two years.

Fractal, as defined by Random Word, is “a never-ending pattern in mathematics built from repeated shapes that are reduced each time they repeat.”

Sounds cool, even for those of us who have no idea what it means.

Cool also defines the renovated tavern at 3200 Leeman Ferry Road. The look of the place will be somewhat new to former patrons of the site under its old banners -- the tap room has been relocated, Lowe brought in wood for tables and tabletops that was locally sourced, two large barn doors separate the tap room from the event

area, for instance.

But, Lowe added, while he expects customers to make new memories, he also hopes the vibe the former tenants provided is the same. Olde Towne in the early 2000s and Straight to Ale some five years later were the first breweries in the city since prohibition ended.

“If there was ever a historic marker for craft beer in Huntsville, Alabama, it should be this building,” Lowe said as workers prepared to place signs on the building the day before the doors opened for business.

“I wanted to try to preserve the building, try to preserve the old character of the trail blazers that came before.

“When I was going through the process and told people what I was doing, their eyes would sparkle and they’d say,’ You know, I met my husband there,’ or, ‘I had my baby shower there,’ or ‘I had my brother’s funeral (wake) there.’ There were so many good memories in this building and it was such a community place. That’s what I wanted to do.

Give everybody a new experience but preserve the character of the old place.”

Lowe spent 22 years in the defense industry after graduating Grissom (Class of ‘93) and then Auburn (MS in ‘99, Ph..D ‘01). He served as vice president at Huntsville’s GATR Technologies and was part of the executive team that put inflatable SATCOM antennas on the market.

Cubic Corporation bought GATR in 2016.

Lowe said he “hung around for three years during the transition” but wanted to move on to something different. He had served as VP at

By Mike Easterling / Photos by Eric Schultz

GATR under Paul Gierow, the president, and wanted to be in charge of his own business.

“I was itching to try to do something else,” he said. “Watching Paul run the company, I was just kind of riding shotgun watching Paul make all the decisions. I had the itch to see if I could run my own business and being the one to call all of the shots.”

Professional brewer and retired Marine Brad “Robo’’ Robinson is on board after stints as brewmaster at four sites, including two in town.

Tap room manager is veteran Justin Wenz. Fractal has event space, a catering staging area and is wired for conferences and live music.

Lowe said his staff is capable, allowing him to spend some time with wife Amanda and their three children. That doesn’t mean he won’t been seen at his new “Project.”

“I never found that you could be creative in your cubicle or the board room,” Lowe said. “Those aren’t creating meetings. I found the most creating environments were places like breweries where people gather and dig into the next problems and minds get creative.” u

October 2019

7

MANUFACTURING

Not Just for Recreation: Polaris Upfitting Vehicles in Huntsville for Military, Public Safety Uses Polaris just made a big statement about its intent to expand its commercial, industrial and government customer-base from Huntsville.

It comes in the form of a new 275,000 square-foot Polaris Commercial and Government Up-fit Center and storage facility in the Jetplex Industrial Park at Huntsville International Airport.

“The Polaris Huntsville Upfit Center provides the capacity, quality controls and lean manufacturing process flow to meet increasing sales demand for our commercial and

government customers for many years to come,” said Aaron Luoma, director of operations for Polaris in Huntsville. “Safety is the key priority at the upfit center as we strive to make Polaris a ‘best place to work’ and live up to an unwavering commitment to our employees.”

Upfitting consists of modifying vehicles from their standard retail packages at the plant, to “fit” the specifications of their customers, such as military, public safety and commercial.

The new state-of-the-art facility is equipped with two up-fit lines

for the installation and customization of more than 10,000 possible accessories, including cabs, vehicle protection, safety components, and storage accessory vehicles for the Polaris Ranger, Pro XD and RZR commercial vehicles.

The new Polaris Upfit Center has six dedicated work bays, a multistation uplift line, staging, an enhanced post-production quality process, and warehouse space.

Located less than five miles from the

By Kimberly Ballard / Photo provided by Polaris

600,000 square-foot Polaris Huntsville manufacturing facility that opened in 2016, Jetplex site helps facilitate easier shipping across the United States.

There are 28 technicians at the plant who began upfitting vehicles in May. u

8

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

MANUFACTURING

Ivanka Trump Joins Announcement of Toyota-Manufacturing Institute Program DECATUR — A highly successful apprenticeship program here earned a visit from Advisor to the President of the United States, Ivanka Trump.

The First Daughter was onhand at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park to celebrate a new partnership between the Manufacturing Institute and Toyota Motor North America.

The union will facilitate the transfer of operations and leadership of Toyota’s FAME (Federation

the country.

“But it developed a life of its own. Today is about celebrating manufacturing coming in, taking best class practices from the private sector and scaling that opportunity so that many, many, more Americans can experience this pathway of acquired skills through this great program.

“We’re seeing inclusive growth, we’re seeing people who have previously been on the sidelines of our economy are now entering the

FAME student Paul Logston and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump.

of Advanced Manufacturing Education) apprenticeship program to the Manufacturing Institute.

Trump toured several workstations talking to students who have succeeded in the program before taking the stage in a panel discussion about the future of manufacturing and the impact successful workforce initiatives such as FAME have on the manufacturing industry nationwide.

“Congratulations to all the students who found this pathway, this exceptional program … and for this announcement today,” Trump said. “Toyota did something exceptional in creating a pilot that was excellent, to train that next generation of high-tech manufacturers, and then we start to scale it across

workforce and securing the skills that they need to not just get a job, but to secure a career. And we’re seeing this everywhere we go.”

Carolyn Lee, executive director of the Manufacturing Institute, said at the center of it all is the students who will be the future of the manufacturing skilled workforce.

“As a member of the National Association of Manufacturers, it is our job to educate and empower the next generation of manufacturing workers,” she said.

FAME was created as a pilot a decade ago by Toyota to train the next generation of skilled, high tech manufacturing workers. The training model has gained traction nationwide.

“We believe when good ideas

By Kimberly Ballard / Photos by Steve Babin

On stage for a panel discussion are Jay Timmons of the National Association of Manufacturers; Luke Phillips of FAME USA; Carolyn Lee of the Manufacturing Institute; Chris Nielsen of Toyota Motor North America; Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President; Lexandra Lutz of FAME USA; and Michael Lamach of Ingersoll Rand.

are shared, great things can happen,” said Chris Nielsen, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America. “The Manufacturing Institute is a trusted partner ideally equipped to build a program and take it to the next level. There is no better organization to lead FAME into the future and realize its full potential.

“These are well-paying jobs that lead to rewarding careers. We believe this will have a profound impact on many, many, industries and our country as a whole.”

FAME students receive the typical qualifications required for a job in advanced manufacturing.

The program is designed to train students of all ages in the skills required to get a manufacturing job; to provide them with a deeper understanding of the manufacturing industry; and to prepare them, as graduates, to fill in-demand manufacturing jobs.

“Today is not just an announcement but a celebration of what can be built with leadership and with the commitment of an industry,” said Lee. “This is about coming together to build something that is truly outstanding, that has proven results, and is changing lives each and every day across the country.” u

Chris Nielsen, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America, guides Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump on a tour of the facility.

October 2019

9

MANUFACTURING

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Signs Presidential Pledge to America’s Workers Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A recently signed the “Pledge to America’s Workers” affirming its commitment to creating workforce opportunities to American students and workers.

The pledge-signing ceremony included 14 Alabama F.A.M.E. (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing) students who will work in the plant and White House Advisor Ivanka Trump.

“Signing the ‘Pledge to America’s Workers’ demonstrates our dedication to the community. We aim to hire locally whenever possible,” said MTMUS Vice President Janette Hostettler. “At full production, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing will employ up to 4,000 individuals.

“That is 4,000 training and ca-

reer opportunities and 4,000 reasons we are proud to call North Alabama home.”

The pledge was created by the National Council for the American Worker, a group established by an Executive Order signed by President Trump in July 2018. By signing, companies and trade groups commit to creating opportunities over the next five years for American students and workers, whether through apprenticeships and work-based learning, continuing education, on-the-job training, and re-skilling.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs and is hiring staff and skilled maintenance positions. For information, visit www.mazdatoyota.com.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing,

U.S.A. is a jointly owned-and-operated automotive production plant. The $1.6 billion facility is expected to cre-

ate up to 4,000 jobs and will have the capacity to assemble up to 300,000 vehicles a year, beginning in 2021. u

10

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

DINING / ENTERTAINMENT / RETAIL

As Stovehouse’s ‘Retailtainment’ Concept Gains Traction, Phase II Brings Gaslight Alley Retail District There is nothing new about restaurants and retailers using a little pizzazz to entice customers to buy or experience their products and services.

Mexican restaurants have Mariachi bands; traditional pizza parlors entertain customers twirling pizza crusts; New Orleans chefs shuck oysters and suck crawfish heads for their customers; and retailers have BOGOs and Midnight Madness sales.

But, according to Haley Clemons, marketing coordinator for Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate Group, retailers notice contemporary shoppers and diners are putting more importance on the experience of eating and shopping than they have in the past.

“Businesses in the retail industry are adopting out-of-the-box strategies to attract new audiences that value

entertainment and interacting with brands in creative ways,” Clemons said.

“Known as ‘retailtainment’ … many concepts are drawing in traffic by going above and beyond the basic shopping trip.”

Yoga-wear stores hosting in-shop fitness classes, or beauty brands en-

couraging their clientele to participate in the creation of their own purchases, are examples of this.

The Stovehouse Food & Leisure Garden, which is at the heart of the old stove factory property, is the perfect example of a venue conceived on the idea of retailtainment.

They have taken compatible concepts such as casual dining, live music, outdoor games, and special events and brought them together to collaborate. This creates a casual, inclusive atmosphere at the Stovehouse that is extremely popular with millennials.

Stovehouse Phase II: Gaslight Alley With the success of the Stovehouse Food & Leisure Garden, developers are beginning Phase II where they will essentially repurpose an entirely separate section of the expansive old factory for retail, taking care to maintain the property’s old-world architecture and atmosphere. The “old-world shopping district” is called Gaslight Alley.

“Encompassing several retail spaces along a beautiful cobblestone walkway, Gaslight Alley will be home to all kinds of concepts with the hopes of attracting boutiques, soft goods, home décor, hair salons, and more,” said Clemons. “The possibilities are endless, and the district has already captured businesses — some that are scheduled to make their debut later this year.”

When finished, Gaslight Alley, whose design is inspired by decorated alleys and shops in St. Augustine, Fla., and Lo-

by Kimberly Ballard / Renderings courtesy of Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate

vat Lane in London, will be an eclectic shopping experience and a hotspot for one-stop destination shopping and retailtainment.

Currently, several businesses have set up office space at Stovehouse. Spur, Onyx Aerospace, Star Lab, Liberty Learning, and the Stovehouse Properties team are all housed there.

“Gaslight Alley businesses will also be part of the growing West Huntsville entertainment district that connects to nearby Campus 805,” said Clemons.

Among the committed tenants so far are Charlie Foster’s Coffee, F24 Training and the Burn Collective Fit Studio.

Charlie Foster’s is a locally owned, multi-roaster coffee shop at the entrance to Gaslight Alley. There is the 1,850-square-foot shop with a 500-square-foot outdoor patio. They will sell coffee beans from around the U.S., but the most unique thing about Charlie Foster’s is their plan to offer jobs to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

F45 Training, across from Charlie Foster’s, is a 2,835-square-foot functional training center offering high-intensity group circuit training classes. They will provide themed workouts and bring in a live DJ to get people motivated. They will be opening before the end of the year.

On a more mainstream level, the Burn Collective Fit studio is in the breezeway connecting to Gaslight Alley. They offer individual and group training in cardio, sculpting, and yoga barre classes, as well as athleisure apparel, candles, and jewelry. They are relocating from Franklin Street downtown. u

October 2019

11

STRONG COFFEE STRONG WOMEN

Amanda Howard: Facing Challenges with Determination Although it may look great on paper, it’s not easy turning an idea into a successful business venture, especially starting from scratch.

Entering as a newcomer to the North Alabama real estate market in 2004, Amanda Howard has gone from being part of a real estate team to becoming the owner of Amanda Howard/Sotheby’s International.

At September’s “Strong Coffee, Strong Women,” Howard shared her challenges and successes - personal and professional.

Howard said she faced down major marriage, fertility, and postpartum depression challenges.

Her philosophy: “Don’t give up.

Do not give up on each other at the same time.”

Howard grew up in Jupiter, Fla., and her parents worked for Publix.

When Publix expanded into North Alabama, her parents followed, settling in Owens Cross Roads.

Howard and her small family decided to visit her parents for the 2003 Christmas holidays. The couple liked the area so much, they decided to stay.

It soon became evident that her parents’ house was a tight fit for four adults and two kids. To make matters

worse, her husband was having trouble finding work.

Howard was eager to move into a place of their own but needed to get a revenue stream flowing. This is where tenacity and determination come into play, she said.

On Jan. 4, 2004, Howard got her real estate license and she began combing the neighborhoods for “For Sale by Owner” signs and expired LMS listings.

“By April, we were able to move into our own house,” said Howard.

“You have to have strong goals that are bigger than you, bigger than your finances.”

Howard said, like so many others, she learned from her failures.

“My lessons were from a lot of failure,” said Howard. “The first year after I went on my own, I didn’t make

By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin

any money. I was heavily invested, there were so many expenses in the first couple of years. But there was growth.

“By the second year, we were operating free and clear.”

Last year, Sotheby’s, a 200-yearold company and one of the largest luxury real estate agencies in the world, approached Howard to partner with them.

“It’s been a really exciting first year with Sotheby’s,” said Howard.

“It’s been a really good partnership.”

The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship hosts the popular series, “Strong Coffee, Strong Women.” It was developed with the modern-day female entrepreneur/ small business owner in mind. For more information about the Catalyst: http://catalystcenter.org/ u

12

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

COVER

As Baseball Mania Reaches a F Scoring Hits with Resident

By Kimberly Ballard / Renderings

MADISON — Soon…very soon, Town Madison will be a lighted beacon along I-565, a welcoming 530-acre gateway into the Rocket City for visitors from the east and west.

The shear enormity of the sprawling mixeduse development is on full display amidst the “preponderance of red soil” that gave Redstone Arsenal its name.

Town Madison has already inspired a boom of construction and activity in downtown Madison. It is changing forever the skyline along I-565 between Wall Triana Highway and the corner of Madison Boulevard at Zierdt Road.

The new stadium with its red roof is now clearly visible amidst the towering LED stadium floodlights and churned red dirt and rocks. The Mobile BayBears played their final game on Sept.

2 before leaving Mobile to become the Rocket City Trash Pandas, and fans are already decked out and geared up for the team’s first pitch at their new home stadium on April 15, 2020.

But while the energy is moving toward a spring 2020 opening, there is a lot more going on at Town Madison than just baseball!

Phase I Residential Described as having a “Village of Providence feel”, the first phase of Town Madison’s residential community consists of 216 single-family homes and townhouses, currently under construction.

The Village of Providence was one of Huntsville’s first mixed-use communities built off U.S.

72 in 2003. It has been a shining example of how popular pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and the amenity-filled lifestyle have become.

Single-family home lots are already selling out while a sales model of the townhouses grac-

es the main drag a block from the stadium itself.

Soon, potential buyers will be able to tour the layout and make preconstruction customizations to fit their lifestyle.

Currently the most visible residential component to rise from the red clay is The Station at Town Madison, a four-story, 274-unit luxury apartment complex, also within walking distance of restaurants, retail stores, the sports complex, and a slew of boutique hotels and destination resort hotels like Margaritaville that will be opening there.

“The Station is opening a leasing office within the next 45 days and will be moving new tenants in by the end of the year,” said Joey Ceci, president of the Breland Companies, which is developing the project. “I believe they already have plenty of interest and even some commitments from potential tenants who are interested in moving into such an exciting environment.”

500 Hotel Rooms Ceci said hotels have always been an important component of Town Madison and progress on that front has been explosive. Convenient to Huntsville International Airport and I-565 and I-65, the new 97-room Home2Suites is open at 135 Graphics Drive, a block off Wall Triana at the westernmost edge of the development.

On the corner, a new Twice Daily convenience store and White Bison Coffee have also opened. Next to it, the 87-room avid Hotel is 50 percent complete, while a Hilton Garden Inn has broken ground a block up the street.

“The Town Madison target is 500 rooms,” said Ceci. “We will hit that number when the 170-room Margaritaville resort hotel breaks ground by the end of the year or very early next year.”

October 2019

13

STORY

Fever Pitch, Town Madison is tial and Hotel Construction

s provided by Breland Companies

Announced back in 2018, the groundbreaking for Margaritaville has been delayed, putting into question whether Margaritaville with its tropical beach atmosphere, attached restaurant and lazy, winding river said to flow along the backside of the Trash Pandas centerfield wall, is still a go.

Ceci however is reassuring that Margaritaville will be in full swing by the Trash Panda’s second season.

Pro Player Park Other exciting venues such as Pro Players Park are committed to Town Madison, although construction has not yet begun.

The $12 million venue for travel softball and baseball will consist of 12 synthetic baseball/softball fields; a 65,000 square-foot sports facility with batting cages; a pro shop; a small café and vending area; and an indoor soccer field.

Pro Player Park will be situated west of the Trash Panda’s stadium in what is known as the old Intergraph campus. No dates have been set for that groundbreaking, but it is expected to generate 300,000 visitors a year and, according to Madison Mayor Paul Finley, will yield about 40,000 room nights per year.

Restaurants and Retail Finally, Ceci believes several restaurant con-

cepts will be making announcements soon about their plans to open at Town Madison on the Zierdt Road, side.

“Negotiations and discussions are happening every day with several restaurant and retail vendors and I believe we are very close to some solid commitments, but nothing I can announce today,” said Ceci.

Along with several national commercial tenants who are currently doing their due diligence, several announcements are expected in the coming weeks. u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

October 2019

15

ENTREPRENEUR

Janice Migliore: Award-Winning Women-Owned Small Business and Women’s Business Enterprise Council South Ambassador MADISON — PALCO Telecommunications, housed in a former Intergraph building, lacks pretention.

After two years of being at its new location, just as much time has been spent renovating the HVAC system, repainting the walls, revamping the floors, and reconfiguring workspace to meet the needs of the company and its clients. After all, PALCO is all about “RE,” both as a business entity and as an internal work culture.

The brightly lit assembly and warehouse areas are well-organized and neat as a pin. Bins are labeled with bar codes for effective inventory tracking. This kind of careful orchestration doesn’t just happen.

Neither does PALCO’s continued success as a Women-Owned Small Business in Huntsville-Madison County.

PALCO, a global corporation, specializes in reverse logistics and has offices in Huntsville, El Paso, The Netherlands, Asia Pacific, and Mexico. Led by Janice Migliore, CEO and chair, PALCO was recently bestowed the 2019 Professional Service Business of the Year

Janice Migliore, CEO & Chair, PALCO

Award by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

Aside from the spectacular 2019 “Fire and Ice” award, there’s much more to it than professional recognition.

Migliore is a one-woman powerhouse and is also the local ambassador to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and champion of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council South.

WBEC South is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

Not everyone is familiar with WBEC. “I try to mention it every time I’m speaking,” Migliore said.

“WBEC only certifies real women-owned businesses. WBEs are already vetted; you can’t participate in the business end if you’re not.”

WBEC South represents business entities in Alabama, Loui-

By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Justina Simon

siana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida panhandle. Its mission is to advance and enhance business opportunities between corporations and women-owned businesses through a reputable certification program, education and professional growth opportunities.

“I’m one of the more seasoned women-owned businesses,” said Migliore. “I’ve been with the New Orleans chapter since 2003. I’ve got two kids who graduated from Tulane. I’m very involved with the national WBENC and a lot of what we capture from conferences is continuing education, which is fabulous.

“Business is about relationships.

They have to like you before they want to do business with you.”

Migliore offers a few suggestions for women-owned business ventures just starting out.

“First and foremost, go get business cards,” said Migliore. “You don’t need the overhead; you can work out of your home. Continuously work hard. It looks wonderful from the outside, but this is a 24/7 job even if you’re not at the office.

“The opportunities are endless if you want to partake. u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

ENTREPRENEUR

OSCO-Verta-DPSI Taking Office Design to the Next Level After graduation, college roommates Trey Clark and Eric Grisham knew they wanted to start their own business. On the cusp of the Great Recession, they started DPSI, a company that provides document management and software solutions.

“2008 was the worst time to start a business,” said Clark. “We always thought it was supposed to be this hard.”

After several years of working in the copy and managed print business, Clark and Grisham felt the need to diversify.

Verta was formed in 2017 and one of the first major projects was to secure a massive AV project for a local church.

Enter Christian Tuttle. With a background in construction, AV integration and event experience gained from his years at WorkPlay in Birmingham, Tuttle had expertise in setting up large concerts and events.

“He was the perfect fit and the market was right,” said Clark.

“Christian brings the expertise that takes us to the next level.”

Clark, Grisham and Tuttle then brought in IT specialist Chris Eng to tie it all together.

In 2017, OSCO was acquired.

“OSCO provided a wonderful, synergistic partner,” said Clark.

Pictured L to R: Chris Eng, Trey Clark, Chris Tuttle, Eric Grisham

“And it’s all about operational synergies and providing good value solutions to the customer,” said Grisham.

OSCO, Verta, and DPSI have separate designers, installers, and technicians. Each company

runs independently yet offers something that already coexists in office environments.

“We are just very careful with the design phase to incapsulate all these needs,” said Tuttle.

In today’s high-tech office environment, desks and office chairs

By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Steve Babin

often require display and audio as well as having a power port and Bluetooth capabilities.

“Not every client needs or exercises all three services, but it’s offered,” said Tuttle. “It is the most beneficial for new construction.”

With new construction and businesses popping up throughout the Tennessee Valley, there’s a demand for state-of-the-art furniture, acoustics, high-tech, and audio-visual solutions.

“We are offering sales, design, and project management with the bigger picture in mind,” said Tuttle.

This customer-value added service allows the customer to work with a group that handles the communication and coordination on the back end, thus eliminating the problems that come with having multiple points of contact.

Clients include Redstone Federal Credit Union, the Von Braun Center, the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Fractal Brewing, and Stovehouse.

“The Stovehouse is a great, ongoing client,” said Tuttle. “There’s a lot of growth in West Huntsville that’s bringing that whole area back to life. I’m happy to be a part of that.” u

October 2019

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ENTREPRENEUR

Women’s Business Enterprise Council South – 25 Years of Support As the Women’s Business Enterprise Council South commemorates a quarter-century of collective impact, the spotlight is trained on the partnerships forged between Women Business Enterprises and corporations. These partnerships serve to expand business opportunities for women-owned companies in the Southeast.

“WBEC South has experienced unprecedented growth the past 25 years, connecting WBEs and corporate partners to expand business opportunities and create meaningful collaborations,” says Phala Mire, CEO of WBEC South. “It’s an incredible time to be a woman business owner and it’s our goal to facilitate this growth in the region with innovative resources such as our Women’s Business Collective and Women’s Business Marketplace.”

WBEC South is a regional partner

of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

WBEC South represents Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle. With more than 900 certified regional WBEs, and 15,000 nationally, this translates into significant economic impact generated by women-owned businesses throughout the United States.

According to statements, womenowned businesses add value to the community - four out of 10 businesses

are owned by women.

Since 2007, Women Business Enterprises increased by 58 percent.

Women minority-owned businesses represent the fastest growing entrepreneurial segment with 64 percent of new businesses. Also, women-owned businesses employ roughly 9.2 million people.

To recognize 25 years of contribution and collaboration, a variety of special events are taking place to honor Women Business Enterprises and the 300 national corporate partners who support WBEC South’s mission.

Along with these events, the launch of the Women’s Business Collective co-working and collaborative spaces opening in New Orleans and Nashville and the unveiling of the

By Lori J. Connors

Women’s Business Marketplace, an online searchable platform, the new business development tool are the newest additions to WBEC cache of women-owned business support.

This past summer, WE South magazine showcased regional Women Business Enterprises and their corporate partners. The “Women of Color C-Suite Affaire” was presented at the Essence Festival in New Orleans and “Power Luncheon Alabama,” was hosted in Birmingham. The “Power Luncheon” brought Women Business Enterprises and corporate partners together for networking and a “Women Owned Wonderland Marketplace.”

The grand finale to the 25th Anniversary Festivities was the WBEC Summit & Awards Gala in New Orleans in late September.

For more information, visit https:// wbecsouth.org/. u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

ENTREPRENEUR

Gold Sprint: A Tale of Bikes and Beans Differentiation is in the details.

With so many new tantalizing third-wave coffee hangs popping up in Huntsville, there’s only one that features a trike-riding stuffed raccoon that’s toting a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

Add to that are felt pennants, elaborately designed skateboards, and a multitude of karate trophies.

Gold Sprint Coffee + Bikes is destined to be eclectic, funky, yet still serve you up a memorable cup o’ Joe. Gold Sprint and its quirky décor promise to be quite the unique place to hang out or telework.

Within easy walking distance of the Huntsville Parks and Recreation office, Trail-

head and Lowe Mill, Gold Sprint sits at the corner of 1st Street and 9th Avenue with Huntsville West and Urban Engine a good solid walk or bike ride away.

Everything about Gold Sprint has been wellthought out and carefully executed.

From the bar design, to the kitchen and the main area tables and seating, there are no accidents.

Although the vibe is geared toward avid and recreational cyclists, the space promises to have guaranteed appeal teleworkers, soccer moms, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

“We want to be a destination location,” said owner Victor Burlingame.

Burlingame’s years of experience in the cycle shop world have prepared him for this moment.

“The bike shop influences how we work here,” he said.

“We are the ‘fixed

By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Steve Babin

gears’ of coffee shops. Fixed gears appeal to different people. If fixed gears are what gets people into bikes, the same analogy can apply to coffee.

“There is no ‘wrong’ drink.”

Then, there’s the coffee.

“For our roasts, we are working with Domestique, a socially responsible coffee importer and roaster and also the best coffee in Birmingham,” said Burlingame.

The newly minted staff of established baristas is committed to providing a quality product and top-notch customer service.

“Personality is as important as coffee and we want to give customers the best product for their dollar,” said Burlingame. “We want to be that third space between work and home.”

Inspired by the iconic Bottletree café in Birmingham, Gold Sprint has plans to book live music.

“There’s a lot of homogenization of the world because of Pinterest and Instagram,” said Burlingame. “If we build something, they (our competitors) will have to copy us.” u

October 2019

19

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK / OCTOBER 6-12

New System Allows Firefighters Access to Businesses After Hours A locked door is intended to keep people out, but when a building is on fire, that creates a problem.

Now, business owners in Huntsville have a solution.

The City of Huntsville has partnered with the Knox Company to implement an electric rapid access system, which is designed to give firefighters access to various businesses should the establishment be closed or the doors locked when they need to gain access to fight a fire.

“What we’re actually doing is we’re making it a better system of firefighting for our firefighters by using technology to save buildings, to save dollars, to make sure we can make our community as safe as possible,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “We looked at this for two, three years. We ran some pilots on it and after we got finished with the pilots, we thought it was a great system.”

In 2018, Huntsville Fire & Rescue responded to 9,800 calls to during the evening or weekends when most businesses were closed.

According to the department, when firefighters need to gain access to these locked businesses it can increase the overall response time, pose additional safety risks to the firefighters and end up costing the business owner more because they have to break through a door or nearby window to gain access to the building and extinguish a fire.

“You know the big fires we go to, when they’re big and we get there, we know what we have to do, Huntsville Fire Chief Howard McFarlen said. “A lot of the times we just do a forceful entry and we take care of the problem. The ones we worry about are the ones where you pull up and there may be a small incipient fire somewhere in a business that we can’t see from the outside. “… We don’t see any signs from the outside that warrants us to break down doors, so we’re kind of in a ‘Catch-22,’ but we can solve that now.”

The electric rapid access sys-

tem is simple. A business owner purchases a lockbox from the Knox Company and stores any keys emergency personnel would need to access the business in it. The boxes start around $550 and increase depending on size and the exact configuration. Exact pricing and specifications can be found at knoxbox.com/huntsville-al.

Then, once the box is installed, local firefighters would have access via an electronic key.

The key is charged and programmed via a base unit and, according to McFarlen, if the key isn’t returned to the base unit within

By Jonathan Stinson / Photos by Jonathan Stinson

about 30 minutes, then it becomes a paperweight.

So, if the e-key gets left behind after a fire, someone walking along would not be able to access other key boxes with it.

There is also a record kept in the cloud any time an e-key is accessed.

In addition to the electric rapid access system, Huntsville Fire & Rescue is also encouraging local businesses to add a special fire department locking cap to their fire department connection systems.

These caps are designed to protect the integrity of a building’s sprinkler system and ensure firefighters can get supplemental water when they need it.

It also eliminates opportunities for vandalism and damage to the sprinkler when a connection is uncapped and ensuring the sprinkler system is operable when they’re needed can reduce the overall longterm disruption to an affected business, according to Knox.

Information about the Fire Department Connection caps can be found at knoxbox.com/huntsvilleal-fdc.

“Addressing fire and life safety issues is a priority for us,” Battle said.

“I am proud that Huntsville is the first city in the nation to implement both of these programs, reinforcing our commitment to be a leader in public safety.” u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

HEALTHCARE

Direct Primary Care: Health Care’s Best Kept Secret?

If you don’t have health insurance, there is an affordable way to ensure that your basic health care needs are met so that if you get sick, you have a primary care physician.

If you have health insurance, there is a way to increase medical access and personalized medical care without having to meet high deductibles.

It is called Direct Primary Care and, according to DPC Frontier Mapper that tracks DPC openings across the U.S., there are 1,117 direct primary care providers in the country and more than 250,000 Americans have benefited.

The direct primary care model has been around for 10 years and is endorsed by the American Association of Family Practitioners. A DPC clinic can treat 80 to 90 percent of the ailments and injuries a regular

family practice or urgent care clinic deals with including colds, flu, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, allergy attacks, migraines, cuts, lacerations, sprains and sports and work-related injuries.

However, instead of billing insurance, DPCs charge a monthly membership fee.

Currently, Huntsville has two DPC providers - Dove Family Health and Advanced Life Care.

According to Chris Hutton, chief financial officer with Advanced Life Care and Advanced Life Clinic in Huntsville, there are four kinds of medical clinics: Primary care, concierge/VIP care, direct primary care and urgent care.

“You have your typical primary care doctor who bills insurance and you pay a co-pay, but you still have to meet your deductible,” Hutton

By Kimberly Ballard

said. “The direct primary care concept came about as an alternative to the insurance model with its ever-increasing deductibles. You can’t really take advantage of your health insurance until you meet your deductible, and the average deductible in the U.S. right now for a single person is $4,300.

“It’s going to take a while for you to satisfy that before your insur- Kari DeGrandpre, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner ance kicks in to pay everything.”

According to DeGraaff, the On concierge care, Hutton said traditional insurance-based family it is important not to confuse the di- practice will have 3,000 patients, rect primary care model with it. which equates to 40 to 50 patients “Concierge care was one of the a day, scheduled in 15-minutes infirst incarnations of direct primary tervals. If the doctor takes an extra care 10 years ago,” he said. “Patients 15-20 minutes with a patient to maintain private insurance, but the discuss a diagnosis, the doctor is patient pays to get on a VIP list running behind. which gives you same-day appoint“You can’t have that volume and ments and elevation to the top of the still offer access and great service,” appointment list; and access to the said DeGraaff. “Direct primary care doctor’s email address so you can clinics are capped at whatever the consult directly with the doctor.” doctor, in this case me, is comfortMonthly membership fees able handling.”

Direct primary care offers those Advanced Life Care offers womsame privileges for individuals and en’s and children’s health services families through monthly member- but doesn’t do vaccinations. And ship fees.

DeGraaff said Medicare patients “Your membership works like a can join a DPC. gym membership,” said Dr. Hayley Another major benefit of the DeGraaff, owner and medical di- direct primary care model, Hutton rector for Advanced Life Care and said, is the lower cost of labs and Advanced Life Clinic. “You don’t medications. pay extra to use the sauna or take “We can do this because there aerobics classes or drink from the is no operational cost on our side juice bar. Your Advanced Life Care except for the time it takes to draw membership lets you utilize every- blood or write the prescription,” said thing our doctor’s office offers. Here, Hutton. “Those labs give us cash everybody pays the same and gets prices because we send all of our the same advantages of membership. bloodwork to them for both clinics.”

“We want to give good service For information, visit adand good medical care and provide vancedlifecarehsv.com. u a value.”

October 2019

21

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

Sonia Robinson will bring the leadership and strategic thinking to this effort.” u

Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C., Announces Employee Promotions

Sonia Robinson to Lead BIO Alabama BIO Alabama, the statewide bioscience association has announced its first full-time executive director, Sonia Robinson.

Robinson will lead the organization to assist its members and the state in growing jobs, increasing research investment, and expanding international trade.

Robinson has held positions in marketing, business development, customer service, human resources, and back-office operations.

In 2017, Robinson was diagnosed with breast cancer. She said her personal investigation into treatment options gave her deep respect for the efforts of researchers and especially the role of personalized medicine. Robinson is now active as a survivor and advocate.

“As an Alabama native, I am so proud of our rich history in agriculture, automobiles, tech, rockets, and aviation. Bioscience joined the state narrative years ago, but it is time to share that news of those successes and impact more broadly,” Robinson said. “Communities and companies in Alabama are already experiencing how bioscience is an economic force for our future.”

The biosciences industry in Alabama contributes $7.3 billion in economic impact.

“Alabama is home to cutting edge research and innovation; we want to be recognized as such and to help our bioscience industry grow,” said Board Chair Peggy Sammon. “It’s time to devote full time resources to this goal and we’re confident that

Sue Wagner Named CEO at Huntsville Botanical Garden The board of directors of Huntsville Botanical Garden has named Sue Wagner its Chief Executive Officer.

Wagner succeeds Paula Steigerwald, who served as president and CEO for the past 17 years and announced her retirement in February. Wagner will start October 1.

“I am excited to join the team at the Huntsville Botanical Garden,” said Wagner. “I am honored to steward this magnificent garden along with the community of supporters to build upon a firm foundation for future success. I look forward to working with the staff, board and volunteers to achieve great things moving forward.”

Wagner comes to the garden from The Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre botanical garden 25 miles west of Chicago in Lisle, Ill., where she served as vice president for education and information for the past decade. She brings extensive experience in leading public engagement initiatives that inspired people to connect with trees and nature, and supported organizational growth and sustainability. u

Anglin Reichmann Armstrong has announced promotions for five employees.

Christopher Cook has been promoted to manager, Tax Advisory Services; Rebecca Givens became supervisor, Tax Advisory Services; Blanton Calvert is a senior accountant, Tax Advisory Services; Rachel Bray has been named supervisor, Audit & Assurance; and Kayla Burgess has been promoted to senior accountant, Solutions Services.

“These individuals have displayed a commitment to our firm’s promise to our clients,” said Managing Partner Gary Anglin.

“It’s gratifying to recognize the contribution these professionals have made toward the successes of our clients and our firm. These promotions are a well-deserved testament of their hard work and dedication.”

Formed in 1990, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong is the largest, locally owned public accounting and business advisory firm in Huntsville. u

MartinFederal Joins IWRP Consortium MartinFederal Consulting has joined the Information Warfare Research Project Consortium.

“MartinFederal is focused on delivering solutions to complex

problems,” said company President/CEO Corey Martin. “I’m excited about our membership in the IWRP Consortium as this is yet another avenue our customers can gain access to our team.”

IWRP advances Navy and Marine Corps information warfare capabilities through a consortium that supports research, development and prototyping. IWRP also enables rapid research, access to innovative commercial solutions for defense requirements, and innovations from industry, academia and non-traditional sources. u

Henken Named Vice President, Relationship Manager SmartBank recently announced the hiring of Thomas Henken as vice president and relationship manager in the Huntsville market.

“With decades of banking experience, Thomas is a seasoned professional who brings a unique perspective to our Huntsville location,” said John McMullan, senior vice president, Madison County market executive. “His passion for the field and comprehensive knowledge of the Huntsville market will be a wonderful asset to the team and we are delighted to have him join us.”

Henken has more than 30 years of banking and managerial experience. Most recently, he was revolving loan fund coordinator for the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments.

A graduate of the University of South Alabama with a bachelor’s in business administration, Henken is Navy veteran. u

October 2019

23

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

WOW!, Trash Pandas Announce Sponsorship Agreement MADISON -- The Rocket City Trash Pandas and WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone have announced a long-term services and marketing partnership providing the baseball team’s stadium with WOW!’s high-speed voice, data and Internet services and supporting the Trash Pandas as a corporate sponsor.

With the agreement, WOW! will be the exclusive provider of voice, data, and Internet services in the Trash Pandas’ ballpark, which opens next year. Among the services, WOW! will provide 5-gigabit Internet speeds to support stadiumwide Wi-Fi, voice services to the administrative offices and dedicated Internet for internal use.

“We are excited to be partnering with WOW! and to add this high-speed Internet experience for our fans,” said Trash Pandas President and CEO Ralph Nelson. “This will make our fans’ in-game online experience second to none in Minor League Baseball.

“The technology provided by WOW! will also help the Trash Pandas provide an unprecedented customer experience through food and beverage ordering, retail and ticketing support.”

WOW! and the Trash Pandas have also entered a long-term sponsorship deal in which WOW!

will serve as the team’s exclusive telecommunications marketing partner. In this sponsorship, the Trash Pandas and WOW! will work together to support and sponsor educational and military programs offered by the Trash Pandas.

“North Alabama residents will soon be introduced to a new, state-of-the-art stadium equipped with WOW!’s fastest Internet speeds,” said Lana Frank, vice president, marketing at WOW!.

“WOW! is proud to be an inaugural sponsor of the newest MiLB franchise, the Rocket City Trash Pandas.”

WOW! is also the exclusive Internet, cable and phone provider for Town Madison. u

said Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent. “We strive to create a culture where it’s fun to come to work, where our team members can live our mission to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We do our best to provide benefits that are second to none because we believe that by taking care of our team members, they will create an exceptional experience for our customers.” u

Apartments.com Ranks Huntsville No. 5 Among Affordable College Towns

TVA Offering STEM Grants for K-12 Educators Bank Independent Named One of the Best Banks to Work for in 2019 Bank Independent has been named one of the “Best Banks to Work For in 2019.”

The Best Banks to Work For program, which was initiated in 2013 by American Banker and Best Companies Group, identifies, recognizes and honors U.S. banks for outstanding employee satisfaction. Full results of this year’s program are available at American Banker and in the September issue of American Banker magazine. Bank Independent was ranked number 36 out of 85 banks in the country that made the list. They were one of only two banks in the state of Alabama selected and the only North Alabama bank.

“We are honored to be on this list because the opinions of our team members put us there, not just what we claim as a company,”

that explore TVA’s primary area of focus: environment, energy, economic and career development and community problem solving.

Visit the tsin.org to learn more about grant requirements, see examples of previously funded projects, and apply for funding. u

The TVA STEM Classroom Grant Program sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., a TVA retiree organization, is now open for applications. The program funds Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics learning projects in classrooms and schools in the TVA service areas throughout the Tennessee Valley.

The 2019-2020 application closes Oct. 20. Grants may be requested in amounts up to $5,000.

Eligible applicants are teachers or school administrators in public schools, grades K-12. Schools must be in the TVA service area and receive power from a TVA distributor.

Last year’s program awarded $580,000 in grants to schools across the Tennessee Valley. The competitive grant program provides teachers the opportunity to apply for funding up to $5,000 on STEM projects with preference given to grant applications

The Rocket City found itself near the top of another list and this one concerns the area’s future workforce.

According to Apartments. com, the nation’s most visited apartment site, Huntsville is ranked No. 5 among the nation’s top affordable college towns.

A city with no shortage of southern charm and intellectual values, Huntsville’s local schools are among the best in the state.

Students interested in attending the historic Alabama A&M University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville or Oakwood University are able to choose from more than 2,000 apartments at an average unit price of $826.

The top four are Wichita, Kan.; Tulsa, Okla.; Oklahoma City; and Fargo, N.D. The top budget-friendly college cities are ranked by average rent per unit and the amount of affordable housing options available based on a recent analysis from Apartments.com and parent company, CoStar Group. u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL