Keeping you informed and inspired. VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 11
November 2019
DEVELOPMENT
COVER STORY
Turner Provides Students Up-Close Look at Work on Toyota Field
To discover local construction career opportunities, students from James Clemons and Bob Jones high schools took a walking tour of the new Rocket City Trash Pandas stadium.
Page 12
By Kimberly Ballard - Page 3
SPORTS / RECREATION
Regyman Fitness: Feel the Burn… and Afterburn
Ready to Burn, Box, and Build? Then, let’s get HIIT with High Level Intensity Training at Regymen Fitness. Located in Times Plaza on the Parkway, Regymen is opening soon in Huntsville. By Lori J Connors - Page 21
ADDITIONAL STORIES • ChallengeHER Comes to Huntsville for National Veterans Small Business Week By Lori J. Connors • Page 8
• Hobbs Island Pit Stop Not Your Average Convience Store By Mike Easterling • Page 9
• Hexagon Celebrates 50 Years of Innovative Software, Mapping & Computer Graphics By Kimberly Ballard • Page 15
• VSI Unlimited Emphasizes More Than Athletic Performance By Mike Easterling • Page 18
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HUNTSVILLE
BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 2, Issue 11 November 2019 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Celebrate Shop Small Business Saturday This Month This month, families and friends will gather to give thanks. And, this month, we should all give thanks to the backbone of our economy – the small business. To that end, the cover story of the November issue of Huntsville Business Journal spotlights local small businesses. We also have other stories this month on small businesses and what they’ve accomplished and what they offer. This year is the 10th annual Small Business Saturday. In 2010, as the U.S. was going through the “Great Recession,” American Express launched Small Business Saturday. It was an effort to support local shops and was held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to
encourage people to “shop small” and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. This year it’s Nov. 30 Here, according to nationaltoday.com, are some activities for Shop Small Business Saturday: • Go On A Local Shopping Spree: Many shoppers opt for big box stores on Black Friday, knowing that there’ll be sales on common holiday gifts. Small businesses sometimes offer many similar discounts, but without the marketing dollars to display the price cuts, they’re often left out in the cold. If you were planning on purchasing a TV this holiday season, try calling your local electronics store to see if
they’re offering any discounts before pulling the plug on any other deals. • Talk About It: Social media is a wonderful way to share our daily lives with friends, but sometimes, letting them know about a good deal from an ecommerce giant or a big box store can feel like advertising. With small businesses, it’s different: instead of contributing to some corporation’s bottom-line, you can rest easy knowing that you’re helping a neighbor succeed. • Make It A Habit: Small Business Saturday only lasts for one day, but you’re now acquainted with your local shops. Don’t let another year pass before your next visit! For small businesses to succeed, they need our support through the year. Once you’ve gone to a local small business, chances are you’ll go back again and again and again. And that’s what it takes. It becomes a social event as you chat with your new storekeeper friend and you may find out you have something in common – maybe a friend, classmate or even hometown. It’s what brings us together as a community and celebrates the ties that bind us. So, hit your favorite food truck or framing shop or knick-knack store. Strike up a conversation and then let your friends and family know. Celebrate. (Bud McLaughlin is editor of the Huntsville Business Journal. He joins Fred Holland every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. on WTKI-FM 105.3 and 1450 AM for “Boots in the Dirt,” a look at local business.)
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Publisher/President .... Todd Stephenson Editor ..............................Bud McLaughlin Writers............................ Kimberly Ballard Lori J. Connors Sara Covington Mike Easterling Jonathan Stinson Contributing Writers................ Ed Castile 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 Michelle Epling 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.
November 2019
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DEVELOPMENT
Turner Provides Students an Up-close Look at Work on Toyota Field MADISON — To discover local construction career opportunities, students from James Clemons and Bob Jones high schools took a walking tour of the new Rocket City Trash Pandas stadium. The tour was part of a workforce development effort by Turner Construction Co., which is building the multi-use venue. Students dressed in full site safety gear including bright yellow vests, hardhats and goggles got an up-close look at the entire construction site followed by lunch and a 15-minute presentation about career opportunities in the construction industry and its many related skills-based trades. Students in their schools’ Construction Academy are taking classes in planning, design and construction. They were selected for the trip by their building sciences instructors for showing the most interest in, or curiosity about a career in building engineering and the many skills-based careers related to the construction industry. These can be carpentry, welding, electrical, heating and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, cabinetry, and the like. “We are recognizing industrywide that the construction industry can’t build at the pace of growth due to a shortage in skilled labor,” said Dani Latham, human resources generalist for Turner Construction. “This skills gap means we are not replacing the
aging workforce with young workers, a problem that seems to stem from the old stigma attached to the business as being dangerous and abrasive. “That is no longer so today where safety is a top priority. Workers themselves are skilled craftsmen making very good money, and we are seeing more women in the business, often in supervisory positions that has helped to change the culture.” Latham is implementing a workforce development strategy for Turner Construction designed to bring together educators and partners such as North Alabama Works!, Associated Builders & Contractors, and the North Alabama Craft Training Foundation. The goal is to help kids develop the skills needed for a career in construction while introducing them to the many advantages of the construction industry. “We find that many high school
juniors and seniors are just not college-ready,” said Latham. “They aren’t yet sure what they want to do, some have no interest in going to college, while others can’t afford it, but that shouldn’t take them out of the workforce or leave them without opportunities. “Our goal is to get them careerready, rather than college-ready by introducing them to a skills-based trade where they can learn a skill that will stay with them forever, even if they pursue other professions.” She said a job in construction doesn’t have to lead to a career in construction, but it can provide a living wage while they are going to school or deciding what they want to do. Latham said some people find their calling, while others branch off into other areas like carpentry or welding. “The great thing about it is that many of them can make a good living
By Kimberly Ballard / Photos by Steve Babin
working construction while pursuing something else altogether; and it can help pay for a higher education like law school or medical school,” she said. Similar to the FAME program for manufacturing, Madison Construction Academy offers a four-year apprenticeship program where students go to school a couple of nights a week, but work full or part-time in the same field they are studying. This allows them to apply what they learn at night in a real-world setting. This connection between a classroom curriculum and tangible careers in the workforce exposes students to a variety of career opportunities that will ultimately meet the future needs of business and industry. “In many ways, the construction industry is behind manufacturing in implementing a recruitment strategy for skills-based training,” Latham said. “We found that the old model of holding career fairs with a lot of written literature and an industry recruiter behind a table no longer works. “There is very little engagement from young people in that process, so we are getting more targeted by going into classrooms and getting in front of students who are taking construction and building trades classes. We make sure they understand their options and, by bringing them out to the stadium site, they can experience it firsthand.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
DEVELOPMENT
Launch 2035 Initiates 3-County Regional Workforce and Labor Market Assessment Study Launch 2035 and city leaders from Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties blasted off their first major initiative this week - a collaborative assessment study of the area’s regional workforce and labor market. The announcement comes less than 90 days after six mayors from across Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties, formally signed an historic three-county regional agreement of collaboration and cooperation to work together for the future good of the regional economy. From the high-tech boardroom round table at the Huntsville International Airport, Launch 2035 chair Col. (Ret) Bill Marks said Launch 2035 was formed in 2014 to encourage and facilitate a collective 20-year vision of Limestone, Madison, and
Morgan counties that would ensure the North Alabama region continues to prosper. “Launch 2035 has found opportunities whereby coming together, all of our communities throughout the region can work together in a way that has never been done before,” said Marks. “It is a signal to all our communities, our state, and future businesses that we are committed to ensuring our region functions at the highest levels of collaboration for years to come.” Launch 2035 has three areas of focus: workforce, entrepreneurship, and land use planning. “That’s where this privately funded assessment looks at our labor talent, presents leading practices in workforce development, and provides
By Kimberly Ballard
Retired Army Col. Bill Marks, Launch 2035 chair
a deeper understanding of the opportunities we have in our workforce within our region,” Marks said. “It is a proactive effort to understand the current labor market and our ability to continue to grow for current and future employer needs in the region.” Among the speakers at the announcement was Harry Schmidt, economic development consultant for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Alabama Region. “We are glad to be teaming up with regional partners, including local power companies and others, to continue to promote business success in the region,” Schmidt said. “We are pleased to support this workforce and labor study because one of TVA’s core principles is to work to improve the quality of life for people in the valley. One of the primary ways we do that is by job growth and identifying quality job opportunities for people.” John Seymour, president and CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County
Chamber of Commerce said changes in lifestyle means city leaders can no longer think just about their own communities but must start thinking about the whole region. “Jobs in Madison County are different sometimes than the jobs
in Limestone and Morgan County,” Seymour said. “We have to think about recruiting folks from across those lines to fill the positions that are available in our various communities. As a community and as a region, we have to think regional to be successful. I see this as an opportunity to
November 2019
DEVELOPMENT
look forward.” “This study will help us grow our workforce in our communities and provide us with a great tool as we continue to work together as a region to bring more industry and business to the area,” said Jennifer Williamson, president of the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce. “It is also a great tool for us to use to support our existing businesses and industry.” Other leaders at the announcement included Bethany Shockney, president of Limestone County Economic Development Association; Rick Tucker, executive director of the Huntsville Port Authority; and Lucia Cape, Sr. vice-president of economic development at the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. “Launch 2035 contracted with Deloitte to do this labor analysis,” said Cape. “This study is looking forward because through the use of confidential interviews with companies, and discussing real time activities with employers, we can gear our workforce development and activities to meet a needed we know is coming. We look forward to getting these results, and we will work with our partners to make sure we have a workforce of the future.” Rick Tucker has been part of Launch 2035 from its inception. “Seeing us working closer and
closer together as a region has been inspiring,” he said. “It is just another step in the region’s working together in a collaborative way to address the opportunities and issues facing our region. That is what we do here at the Port of Huntsville - serve this region; and we are glad to be a participant in this study, trying to address this important topic of the labor force in our marketplace. We look forward to continuing this collaboration throughout the region.” Wes Kelley, president and CEO of Huntsville Utilities was unable to attend but is also a partner in the initiative. Penny Townson, vice president of the Morgan County Economic Development Association stood in for president and CEO Jeremy Nails who could not attend. Among Launch 2035’s other initiatives are the team’s continuing work on the Singing River Trail. The 70 miles of Native American bike, hike, and walking trails connects the region together. “The Singing River Trail is an example of the continued growth and economic development we see in our region. That’s what businesses and community leaders from across the region want to see – a long-term impact of our investments and hard work,” said Tucker. u
Rick Tucker, Executive Director of the Huntsville Port Authority
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
DEVELOPMENT
Huntsville is Building and People are Coming Anyone who grew up in Huntsville but lived elsewhere for a while likely wouldn’t recognize the city today. New buildings, others under construction and repurposed venues are the norm. Cranes and road cones have become a common sight downtown, citywide and into Madison, where the new Toyota Field will house the Double-A Southern League Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2020. The New York Times reviewed Huntsville and found 52 places to go in 2019. More are on the way as the city’s population continues to soar. Trends and projections have Huntsville becoming the state’s mostpopulated city in six years. Huntsville is currently third, while Madison is 10th.
“We’re all trying to keep up because it’s been a fantastic year of announcements and some updates,” said Judy Ryals, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Visitors and Convention Bureau. “Our lodging tax has increased tremendously.
We’re pleased that the average daily rates are going up and also the occupancy.” Adding hotel rooms has been a focus for both Huntsville and Madison. In downtown alone, the target is 1,000 rooms or more. “We’ve said we need to hit the 1,000-room mark,” Ryals said, “but it needs to be 1,000 committable rooms.” Most hotels book only a percentage of their rooms for one group. There are currently 665 total rooms downtown with approximately 410 committable with Embassy Suites, Springhill Suites, Homewood Suites and AC Hotel. Announced hotels that will open in 2020 or later -- Hampton Inn and Suites, Curio by Hilton, Autograph Hotel and Hyatt House — will bring those totals to 1,264 and 625-675. “We’re particularly pleased that our clients can make choices of what type of hotel they want to stay in,” Ryals said. “That’s really an important aspect of all these different hotels.” Other hotels planned for Huntsville are A Loft at MidCity, Hyatt Place at Bridge Street Town Center and Tru by Hilton at Village of Providence. Madison is adding Home2 Suites, Avid, Margaritaville, Fairfield Inn and Hilton Garden Inn at Town Madison. The completed and announced additions will bring Huntsville’s and Madison’s total to 8,289 rooms.
By Mike Easterling / Photos by Steve Babin
“Groups don’t want to have to sign a contract with 10 or 12 or 15 different hotels, and that’s been the case,” said Charles Winters, executive vice president of the convention bureau. “Larger room blocks are much more convenient for them.” The Von Braun Center is expanding and will add food options, a corridor directly from the North Hall to the South Hall and more meeting space. MidCity, Stovehouse and Times Plaza are just three of the new additions to the city’s activity and food scene. Venues such as Burritt On the Mountain museum are adding meeting space. Big Spring International Park and Clinton Avenue have been upgraded with more lighting. Signage around town has been added with more to come, particular directional or “blade” signs. A variety of hotels, restaurants, attractions and event sites combine to make Ryals and her staff’s job a little easier.
“Everything that’s happening is sort of snowballing in the right direction,” she said. “It has been really beneficial for us to be out telling the story of why you want to bring your conference, meeting or trade show to the community.” u
November 2019
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DEVELOPMENT
‘Corner Office’ Coming to 125 North Side Square On the corner of the historic downtown Huntsville square, a new face for an old building is underway. To be known as the “Corner Office”, the new Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate project at 125 North Side Square will give a muchneeded facelift to a property that has seen many lives and uses over the course of its existence. The development will feature retail and modern offices. A new attractive lobby will be added on the ground floor where offices can receive visitors. There will also be balconies added to the front of the building so, during a busy workday, tenants can step outside and enjoy a breath of fresh air while surveying the busy downtown street below. Inside, the spaces will be updated
and improved while still maintaining the building’s original charm, such as exposed brick accents. Contemporary office space will soon occupy the interior of the building. The first floor will encompass 1,750 square feet of retail/restaurant/entertainment space. The second and third floors have a combined 7,000 square feet of office space divided into four 1,750-square-foot suites — two on the second floor and two on the third floor. These suites can also be combined if needed. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Visit crunkletonassociates.com. u
From Staff Reports
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SMALL BUSINESS
ChallengeHER Comes to Huntsville for National Veterans Small Business Week Veterans. Women. Small Businesses. All good things to celebrate and support. Join the U.S. Small Business Administration to honor the nation’s veteran-owned businesses during the sixth annual National Veterans Small Business Week Nov. 4-8. This year’s theme is “Mission #VetBiz Success” and the focus will be on the tools and resources to help veterans on their journey to small business success. On Nov. 7, ChallengeHER will present opportunities and provide information on government contracting for Women-Owned Small Businesses. The free event will be at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel. To register, visit https://challengeher.us/ huntsville-al-11-7-2019/ ChallengeHER is part of a na-
tional initiative designed to promote the WOSB Federal Contract Program, with the mission of bringing more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain and to provide an avenue for government agencies to meet qualified womenowned small business contractors. ChallengeHER participants will gain a better understanding of the federal contracting process, learn from successful WOSBs and develop skills on teaming up on contracts. A panel of experts will also be on hand to discuss upcoming changes
and opportunities in the WOSB program. “Real Talk with Agency Leaders & Women Resources” will feature Candace Waterman – President & CEO, Women Impacting Public Policy as the Moderator. Panelists include: Donna Ragucci – Director, Department of Treasury OSDBU; Joanne Randolph – President & CEO, the Catalyst Center; Phala Mire – President & CEO, Women’s Business Enterprise Council South. Along with matchmaking and networking opportunities, Challenge-
By Lori J. Connors
HER will also present workshops and panel sessions on how to successfully navigate federal contract process, develop solid marketing plans, effectively fund contracts, subcontracting to prime vendors, writing winning proposals that rock, and much more! ChallengeHer will feature remarks from Air Force Reserve Col. Barbara Carson, Deputy Associate Administrator of the SBA. Launched in spring 2013, ChallengeHER is a joint initiative of Women Impacting Public Policy, American Express, and the SBA. To assist WOSBs abilities to meet these opportunities, ChallengeHER offers free workshops, networking, mentoring opportunities, and direct access to government buyers. u
November 2019
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SMALL BUSINESS
Hobbs Island Pit Stop Not Your Average Convenience Store Musician, sociologist, artist, engineer, cook, inventor, entrepreneur, television contestant, soldier, officer, philanthropist. All of those words define Pat Nickle, a Renaissance man if there ever was one. And one of his businesses -Hobbs Island Pit Stop -- appears to be nothing more than a convenience store from the road but is much more than the eye can see. It’s also very much a reflection of the proprietor. “We refer to it as a campus,” Nickle said. Nickle retired from his engineering job last year but stays in motion as he has since graduating from high school in 1974 as an army brat in Germany. “I hitchhiked to Paris and was a street musician and I made a bunch of money,” said Nickle, who also owns the Cigar Box Guitar Store at Lowe
Mill. “It kept me traveling anywhere from the Arctic Circle to Africa. Then I came back to the States to go to college.” The future engineer attended UNA and earned degrees in sociology, music and military science before taking a commission in the army as a second lieutenant. No engineering degree or background? “I snuck into engineering through the back door because I could draw,” he said. “Once I learned to draw on a computer it put me into the engineering world and I was really aggressive. I keep a journal and everything that comes across my radar screen goes into the journal -- business cards,
sticky notes. It didn’t take long for people to begin to depend on me.”’ Nickle worked for Strategy Solutions and did design work for PIF (Prototype Integration Facility) and Skunk Works before retiring as an engineering manager, working on everything from rocket launchers to robots to flight hardware. “Monster Garage-type stuff for the military,” Nickle said. One of his inventions sits in front of the Pit Stop. It’s a machine designed to intake water and spit it back toward the nearby Tennessee River if it overflows. The Pit Stop is unique. There is the usual convenience store fare with nearby fishing. Gas pumps front the store, which carries soft drinks and snacks, a beer cave, live bait and other sundries. But, there’s also an art center beside the bait shop where pictures by photographer Jim Sponoza, caricaturist Don Howard (the former Disney artist who owns a local studio) and cigar box guitars are sold. There’s also beer on tap that can be bought in
plastic cartons and barbecue smoked by Nickle is sold by the plate and for catering. Step through a door and there are three pool tables, an indoor stage for live music and games such as pinball and Golden Tee. Keep walking and through another door is Nickle’s office. Here, Miles Albright conducts a bible study on Monday nights and Nickle gives guitar lessons. On one table is a weird-looking metal sculpture Nickle collected in California while competing with his “Alabama Slammer” on the Comedy Central show BattleBots. In back there’s a covered patio with two dart boards. There’s also a bar for when the weather is nice and a beer cart is rolled out, and a TV for game watching. “If they ask for it,”’ says assistant store manager Summer Mullins, “we’ll put it on.”
By Mike Easterling / Photos by Eric Schultz
The back of the “campus,’’ where a sculpted sentry with a mustache and Viking helmet greets those entering, features a covered soundstage with hammocks, a horseshoe pit and a bonfire pit that is surrounded by a rock snake mosaic outlining the setting. Completing the scene is a workshop where a bulldozer Nickle owns sits outside and a mobile unit that houses food the Pit Stop donates to the needy two Saturday mornings every month in conjunction with Manna House. The Pit Stop also partners with the Angel Squad, which Mullins said offers spiritual and other support to those who ask. “We tithe 10 percent of what we get to churches and other organizations,”’Nickle said. The original building opened in 1948 and has evolved with most of the changes done since Nickle bought the property in 2006. He used to lease the property but he and his wife since 2012, co-owner Vicky, took over three years ago. They live across the street. Nickle obviously stays busy, including offering free guitar lessons at his Lowe Mill store on most Saturdays from noon until 2 p.m. He said it’s a popular feature, especially when he teaches a novice on the simplistic three-chord cigar box guitar. “I tell them, ‘If you can count to four, you’ve got a shot,’” Nickle said. “I usually get people started, and then I see a smile spread on their faces. That’s why I do it.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COMMENTARY
State’s Workforce Development is Like a Super Highway for Employment Alabama’s workforce programs have undergone several changes in the past couple years and to say that this has caused some confusion would be a huge understatement! I liken it to the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act which created the beginnings of the Interstate system that focused on building a system of connected roads that would funnel traffic from smaller roads into safer, more efficient “Super Highways.” When we look at workforce development in Alabama over the last 50 years, we’ve been a mishmash of programs or smaller roads all leading to the same goal but having to travel those roads on a wildly divergent path. In a few words, I’d like to clear up the confusion and untie the knot re-
lated to the programs housed within the Alabama Department of Commerce. Commerce has two divisions: Business Development and Workforce Development. In the workforce division there are five areas of responsibility: AIDT, WIOA, AWC, RWCs and AOA. AIDT, not to be confused with the Alabama Technology Network
or other programs within the Alabama Community College System, is Alabama’s premier workforce training incentive. We offer job-specific training to new and expanding industries in Alabama and expand job opportunities of its citizens. AIDT does this at nocost to the company or the citizen. In addition, through the use of our Centers of Excellence, AIDT provides “upskilling” for existing companies in Alabama through in-depth training in robotics and automation at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, Maritime and shipbuilding training at the Maritime Training Center. The WIOA or Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act is a federal program used to help socially and economically disadvantaged populations and dislocated workers. WIOA funds the One-Stop Career Centers (managed by DOL) and also provides Rapid Response teams to affected plants that are closing. Their goal is to keep as many workers working and retrain, through financial assistance and scholarships, those workers that need new skills to remain viable employees. The AWC or Alabama Workforce Council is an advisory council whose main mission is to facilitate the strategic workforce agenda across Alabama to ensure that the goals are achieved. The AWC, made up of business and industry leaders, routinely advise and promote legislative matters to continually improve the workforce system in Alabama. AlabamaWorks is the overarching brand that was a product of the
By Ed Castile
AWC and serves as a network of interconnected providers of workforce services, including the governmental, educational, and private sector components that train, prepare, and match job seekers with employers. The Regional Workforce Councils focus their attention on a more local level. Each council is made up of business and local leaders from their respective counties and are directed to help identify issues in the workforce and plan strategically for how to overcome any obstacles. Then there is the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship or AOA, originally created by legislation in 2016 as Apprenticeship Alabama. New legislation in 2019 created a state apprenticeship agency that will now serve as the central hub for certifying and managing apprenticeships here in Alabama. AOA will now be able to certify not only Registered Apprenticeship Programs, but the new Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPS). The new IRAPs are for apprenticeships in more non-traditional business sectors such as tech companies or healthcare. We have taken these five feeder roads and merged them into our “Workforce Superhighway” that ultimately leads the state to the goal of Success Plus, Gov. Kay Ivey’s plan to have more than 500,000 credentialed workers in Alabama by 2025. This new crop of workers and those who are looking for a new direction should be able to effortlessly travel the new “Workforce Super Highway” with easy access and exits. u (Ed Castile is the Alabama Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Workforce Development Division, Director of AIDT)
November 2019
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REAL ESTATE
Capstone Completes Phase 1 of Stoneridge Villas Finding an affordable, safe, and convenient place to live can be a challenge. And, often in this area, the good places are snatched up quickly. Stoneridge Villas is a prime example. Before its grand opening in July, the community boasted 100 percent occupancy. Stoneridge Villas is a senior living community for folks 55 and over. Single story units are 1,215 square feet of living space with one- and two-bedroom floorplans. There are 16 buildings and 80 units. Half of the units are income-based and the other half are income-restricted. A collaboration of Birminghambased Capstone Building Corp., EDT-THA Architecture and Pennrose-BLOC, the $14.5 million
development covers 107,000 square feet of residential space. Amenities include a clubhouse with a state-of-the-art fitness center and computer lab. There are also a large pavilion for gatherings and a walking trail. Because of the demand, the company is planning a second phase within the next two to three years. “Stoneridge was very well-received, and it addressed a need,” said Brandon Loyd, Capstone Senior Project manager. “The residents were thrilled. Everyone seems tickled by it.” The Stoneridge project began in March 2018 and was completed this past June. “We were scheduled 12 months, it ended up taking 18 months due to the heavy rains,” said Loyd. “We
struggled through the mud through all of that. Taken on account of the weather, we completed the work in 12 months, as scheduled. “My guys did an outstanding job. The owner was very complimentary
By Lori J. Connors
and was thrilled with the final product. Overcoming obstacles, it took a lot of coordination on the front end. I couldn’t be more proud of the job that my guys did.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COVER
‘Tis the Season to S
By Sara C
Crisp air and the crunch of leaves underfoot seem to suggest that fall has finally arrived in Huntsville, and along with that seasonal shift arrives the promise of the holidays just around the corner. For many Huntsvillians, the harried pace of the holidays translates to long lists and the merriment of multi-tasking. Family, full-time jobs, travel commitments, and social engagements crowd the calendar, and modern day “smart shopping” can typically translate to online shopping carts and expedited shipping. Although big-box retailers such as Amazon and Target can offer a fast fix in the holiday crunch, community leaders advocate that in the long run supporting small business is synonymous with smart shopping. “As a consumer, you have purchasing power,” said Bekah Schmidt, Executive Director of South Huntsville Business Association. “If you
chose to purchase a product for cheaper at a big box retailer instead of shopping local, you send that purchasing power to support a different economy. “And, while you may see a return in the short run, when you have a strong local economy, you have a strong quality of life.” Small Business Saturday is Nov. 30 nationwide and, as the date approaches, Huntsville small business owners strive to remind locals that not only do small businesses offer unique finds, they also offer an experience that can’t be found from filling an online shopping cart. Whether it’s for corporate clients, holiday host/hostesses, teachers, or just friends and family, gift giving can be tricky, and small stores can offer insight, ideas, and inspiration that is harder to come by at big box chains. This vision of a more personalized purchasing experience was part of the inspiration when Stephanie Lowe and Emily Rogers, co-owners
Pictured left photo: Stephanie Lowe and Emily Rogers, co-owners of Cured and Company Photos by Olivia Reed Photography
of Cured and Company, created their custom charcuterie board business. “We know the holidays are a time for gift giving and many people like to gift food for corporate clients,” said Lowe. “We created this business around the idea that food brings people together, and when you are going to someone’s house to a party, instead of bringing wine or liquor, a box of charcuterie is a fabulous gift. “It’s something special and unique and pretty. And it’s also delicious.” Like many other small business owners, Lowe says they are creating special items just for the holidays, including wrapped gift boxes of artfully arranged meat and cheese that can serve up to six. Stylish presentation is another reason shopping small makes for a more unique gift. Gina Garrett, owner of South Huntsville gift shop Sweet Pineapple, said although they offer complimentary gift wrapping year-round, their holiday packaging is especially beautiful. “It’s hard to order something online and it arrive beautifully wrapped,” she said. “And on-
November 2019
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STORY
Shop Small Business
Covington
whimsical gifts like gourmet cookware, books, art, fine crafts, and children toys. And much of Harrison Brother’s merchandise is by local artisans and authors. Just blocks away from the square, OTBX (Olde Towne Beer Exchange) will offer crate gift bundles with craft beer selections, fun novelty t-shirts, Timbrook toys, and even custom leather goods by local artisan Thad Hooper. With endless options for unique gifts, exceptional customer care, and the
Photos provided by Sweet Pineapple
line shopping can be really overwhelming. Once you start scrolling online, you feel like you need to scroll thorough every single thing to see all of your options. “It’s nice to be able to just walk into a shop where a lovely display has been curated for you.” Sweet Pineapple offers cozy sweaters by Barefoot Dreams, Ronaldo Jewelry, and a huge selection of candles and other home goods at price points that Garrett says will fit any budget. For little ones, The Toy Place in Five Points is another spot where in-store service is a key part of the shopping experience. “There is no algorithm for the investment that a small business makes in its customers,” said owner Susan Blevins. “I take pride in being able to offer guidance to anyone who walks through my door, especially someone who is buying a gift for a child and needs help finding the right item.” For art enthusiasts and foodies, Harrison Brothers Hardware on the downtown square has become a staple for seeking special and
Photos provided by TKH Leathershop
added bonus of supporting a strong local economy, shop owners insist that shopping small isn’t only smart, it’s also a chance to slow down and actually enjoy the season. “People want an authentic experience,” said Schmidt. “They want to go to Clinton Row and get a cup of coffee at Honest Coffee and then browse the stores like Roosevelt & Co. and In Bloom and Elitaire. This isn’t a new phenomenon, but as a society we are going back to it. “People crave that authentic find, and that’s exactly what you get when you shop local.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
November 2019
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TECHNOLOGY
Hexagon Celebrates 50 Years of Innovative Software, Mapping & Computer Graphics There were a lot of headlines in 1969. The Beatles played their last public concert on the roof of Apple Records and 350,000 young people gathered at Woodstock to protest the Vietnam War. But while Boeing was debuting its 747 “Jumbo Jet” to the American public, NASA engineers had successfully landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the Moon using the Apollo Guidance Computer. It’s laboriously handmade, read-only rope memory was equivalent to 72 KB of storage today. Also in 1969, while millions of children watched the utopian lifestyle of a space age cartoon called The Jetsons with its clunky robots and home automated conveyor belt, engineers were making it a reality, linking together for the first time, several large-scale, general purpose computers into a network known as the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). It was against this backdrop that IBM engineer James Meadlock, his wife Nancy, and three young engineers named Robert Thurber, Terry Schansman and Keith Schonrock left their jobs at IBM on February 10, Bob Thurber
1969 to start M&S Computing on South Memorial Parkway in Huntsville. Best known as the Intergraph Corporation and now known as Hexagon, the now retired Meadlock and his remaining team returned to their sprawling campus and world headquarters in what is now the new Town Madison, for their 50th anni-
versary celebration. Hundreds of current and former employees and their families filled the three-level hexagon-shaped building with its towering glass windows and tiered mezzanine overlooking a pri-
vate lake to hear Meadlock speak. According to Bob Thurber, cofounder and the original executive vice president of the company, IBM got the contract for the instrument unit on the Saturn launch vehicle because they had built the first digital computer on a missile. “I came out of college with IBM in Huntsville, so when we finished with the Saturn program, we were the renowned experts on putting digital computers onboard missiles,” said Thurber. “We were able to leave IBM with our heads held high.” Initially, Thurber said all the Army’s weapons systems needed computers on them, so M&S Computing became a consultant for them. “One of the things we did in the IBM days was build an interactive graphics interface for the simulation of the Saturn launch vehicle. You had to run simulations over and over and over again, but if something went wrong within the first 30 seconds of launch, you didn’t know it until you came in the next day. They needed a quicker interactive system to do it. “That’s how we got started. By running simulations interactively,
you could watch the trajectory on the screen and if it blew up or went offcourse, you could just stop it, key in some different parameters, and run it again. You could do in a day what had been taking a month.” That ability to visualize data led to their graphics mapping capabilities, and M&S Computing was the first company to do that as well. “Our work in hardware and software wasn’t an industry then - it was just the beginning of stuff,” he said. “There were only four companies in the business when we got into it, but we essentially created the core graphics for AutoCAD.” Thurber said they sold their first three systems around Christmas 1973: an engineering drafting system for 2D drafting to a company in Houston; a system for municipal mapping to the city of Nashville; and a system to the Army Missile Command (AMC). All three were totally separate industries, but they all needed the same basic graphic capabilities. “We lost a lot of money when we sold Nashville the mapping system,” Thurber said. “The city said to us, ‘Look, we would love to use this stuff, but we don’t want to build all these maps!’ “We said, ‘Okay. We’ll do it for you’. “We charged them $80 per map. The cost was $500 per map, but it really it forced us to make it a good mapping system and it gave us the experience we wouldn’t have gotten had we held their hand while they did it.” In the end, Nashville was the first city to map their roadways so they could understand traffic flow, congestion points, etc. all thanks to M&S Computing’s mapping capabilities. The company then known as M&S Computing rented office space
By Kimberly Ballard / Photos by Steve Babin
in Huntsville until the 1974 tornado destroyed the Bendix Building on Highway 20 in Madison. Using insurance money, they were able to reconfigure it to M&S Computing’s requirements. “The only eating place near our office back then was a Waffle House,” Thurber laughs. That would be the first of a sprawling campus with more than 4,000 employees, that is today located amidst the bustling new Town Madison development. In 1981, M&S Computing went public and changed their name to Intergraph. In October 2015, with Meadlock and Thurber retired from the company, Intergraph was rebranded as Hexagon. Meadlock, who lost his beloved wife and business partner Nancy, is quietly retired. Jim Meadlock
Thurber is currently active with Huntsville’s tech incubator BizTech, but he says for a company that was the first to develop intelligent applications on top of graphics, the software and computing industry has now moved way past him. “I still come over and visit and when I see the demos of the work Hexagon is doing now, fifty years later, the capabilities are so much more than graphics,” he said. “But they tell me that our software, M&S Computing’s software, is so integrated into their design and construction process, it cannot be unseated.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
AEROSPACE
Boeing to Build More Rocket Stages for Moon Missions NASA and Boeing have initiated a contract for the production of 10 Space Launch System core stages and up to eight Exploration Upper Stages to support the third through 12th Artemis missions. Up to 10 additional core stages may be ordered under the contract, leveraging active labor, materials, and facility resources and supply chain efficiencies for production savings. SLS is NASA’s deep space exploration rocket that will launch astronauts in the 27-metric ton Orion crew vehicle, plus cargo, from Earth to the moon and eventually to Mars. Boeing is the prime contractor for the rocket’s core stage, avionics, and variations of the upper stage. The rocket is designed to be evolv-
able for missions beyond the moon. The SLS is managed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, manufactured at the Michoud Assembly Facility outside of New Orleans and will launch from Cape Canaveral. “We greatly appreciate the confidence NASA has placed in Boeing to deliver this deep space rocket and their endorsement of our team’s approach to meeting this unprecedented technological and manufacturing challenge in support of NASA’s Artemis program,” said
From Staff Reports
tronauts and supplies to the Moon on a single mission, and no other rocket in production today can send as much cargo to deep space as the Space Launch System rocket.” Boeing last year delivered the first upper stage, the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion System, built by United Launch Alliance in Decatur for the Block 1 version of the evolvable vehicle. The more powerful Exploration Upper Stage design for the Block 1B version is in development, while the MAF facility is being prepared for that build.
Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing’s Space and Launch division. “Together with a nationwide network of engaged and innovative suppliers we will deliver the first core stage to NASA this year for Artemis I. “This team is already implementing lessons learned and innovative practices from the first build to produce a second core stage more efficiently than the first. We are committed to continuous improvement as they execute on this new contract.” Boeing designed, developed, tested and built the first SLS core stage under the original NASA Stages contract, including refurbishing the company’s manufacturing area at Michoud, building test versions of the SLS structures, and designing more efficient, modern tooling, all while abiding by stringent safety and quality Photo credit: NASA / Jude Guidry standards for human “Boeing has implemented adspaceflight. The second core stage vanced manufacturing technologies is simultaneously in production at for design, test, and production of Michoud. the core stages, which will make “NASA is committed to estabboth core stage production and uplishing a sustainable presence at the per stage development faster, more Moon, and this action enables NASA efficient, and safer,” said John Shanto continue Space Launch System non, Boeing vice president and Space core stage production in support of Launch System program manager. that effort to help bring back new “The evolvable nature of the rocket knowledge and prepare for sendwill allow us to onboard new ading astronauts to Mars,” said John vances in materials and production Honeycutt, SLS Program Manager technologies as we move forward to at Marshall. “SLS is the only rocket powerful enough to send Orion, asthe moon and on to Mars.” u
November 2019
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EDUCATION
Tying Education to Business, Huntsville Committee of 100 Funds National Board-Certified Teachers The Huntsville Committee of 100, a business advocacy organization founded in 1995 by eight Huntsville business leaders, launched an exclusive initiative in May to fund 100 nationally boardcertified teachers throughout the Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools and Madison County School systems. It is the first time an Alabama business community has made an impactful investment in education in order to make Madison County more attractive to employees and employers. According to John Allen, CEO of the Huntsville Committee of 100, there are three tenets to their mission including promoting cooperative local government to ensure local business leaders are elected to positions that help make the community better; to advocate for long-term economic development; and to push for higher quality public education. “We have 55,000 students in our schools every day and about 90 percent of them are in public education, so we know the value of a public education,” said Allen. “We were looking for a way to impact, support and encourage high quality public education. “I asked former superintendent of Huntsville City Schools Matt Akin what a business organization like ours could do to change the conversation around achievement in our schools. His response was to nationally board certify 100 teachers.” In 2014, the Committee of 100 established a fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville called the Creative Cities Fund, focused on conversations around creating high achievement in the local school system and setting a culture of high expectations. It was intended to drive innovation, education and economic development by raising funds year after year for that purpose and putting those funds back into com-
munity ideas quickly. “We reached out to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and learned the national board certification process was a very vigorous, performance-based, peer-reviewed and critiqued, one to three year process a teacher has to go through,” said Allen. “One teacher compared it to writing a master’s thesis for each of the four modules of the process.” “The certification process costs $475 per component with a registration fee, so teachers are looking at $2,000 per teacher to go through the process, money many teachers do not have,” said Michelle Accardi, director of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. “Board certification is one of the levers we use to elevate student outcomes and research shows that all other factors being equal, a kindergarten student with a boardcertified teacher is 31 percent more likely to be on grade level at the end of the year. Those are spectacular outcomes.” At the conclusion of their certification, the teacher gets a $5,000 stipend from the state, and in some schools, they get an additional $5,000. “Students learn more from board certified teachers,” said Accardi. “Early childhood literacy has
ties to efforts and outcomes at high school graduation and beyond.” The Huntsville Committee of 100 began collaborating heavily with the schools foundation, a convenient partner because they work with all three school systems and are engaged in the national board certification process. Allen said on average, there is a one to two-month achievement gain in board certified classroom students and classrooms of boardcertified teachers. Furthermore, a recent study shows that for every $1 invested in national board certified teachers, there is a $31 return on investment. When the Huntsville Committee of 100 started of the program in May, Alabama has 2,700 board certified teachers, which is about 6.3 percent of all teachers in Alabama. To put it into perspective, about 90 percent of physicians are boardcertified but only about 3 percent nationwide, teachers are board certified in America. “Our organization, community business leaders, and elected leaders have bought into this process and all the dollars go straight to funding a teacher,” said Allen. “Prior to May, Madison has 58 teachers who are board certified; Huntsville City had about 30; and the county had about 35. In Huntsville, there are
By Kimberly Ballard
currently 70 additional teachers going through process, and in Madison there is another 35 with 25 now participating from Madison County Schools. “We are now working on conversations surrounding how do we grow the conversation to a statewide level and how do we make it sustainable,” said Allen. “We found that having a board-certified teacher in the school, they become a magnet, a mentor and a leader in the school.” “We currently have 25 different certificates a teacher can elect to certify in,” said Accardi. “Across all the certificate areas, every time someone does research on it, you see an increase in student outcomes.” She also adds that the Huntsville Committee of 100 initiative is unique because as a business community, they understand not just the increase in outcomes, but they see a significant return on investment on board certification when talking purely dollars and cents. “You see huge savings in teacher retention with a national board-certified teacher almost four times as likely to stay in a school setting than those teachers who are not certified,” said Accardi. “It helps elevate your game as a teacher, and if you have a group of NBCTs working together in a school, it gives you someone to consult with on issues. “The National Board Certification process has improved my teaching practice by helping to change the way I interpret and use student data,” said Aimee Thomas Scrivner, M.Ed., NBCT and 2nd grade teacher at Huntsville’s Academy for Academics and Arts. “It has not only helped me gauge (and thus improve) my effectiveness as a teacher through measuring student impact of specific lessons and strategies, but helped me to develop meaningful relationships with students, parents, and colleagues that ultimately benefit student development and learning.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SPORTS / RECREATION
VSI Unlimited Emphasizes More Than Athletic Performance Kerry and Natalie Johnson hadn’t planned on hanging game jerseys and other relics from their children’s athletic careers inside the buildings of the family business until the house ran out of space. “There was just so much stuff,” said Kerry, owner of VSI Unlimited and father of a family that includes two professional athletes, a college coach and a bio-medical engineer. So, the walls of the gymnasium and adjacent administration building at Vigilant Sports Initiative Unlimited -- hidden in plain sight on Buford Street between Oakwood and Pratt avenues— are lined with keepsakes. The office building has one wall dedi-
Kerry and Natalie Johnson, Owners of VSI Unlimited
cated to plaques. The hallways are lined with framed jerseys tracking the paths of the Johnsons’
athletic playing children: • Kerron—Alabama’s Mr. Basketball, collegiate player
By Mike Easterling / Photos by Eric Schultz
at Belmont and professional player in Europe. • Nyla -- Alabama All-State in basketball, collegiate player at Faulkner University and current Alabama A&M assistant women’s basketball coach. • Kerryon -- Alabama’s Mr. Football, SEC Player of the Year at Auburn and Detroit Lions running back. There are also jerseys from VSI friends Sierra Jones, a former basketball teammate of Nyla’s at Madison Academy; and Brandon Roberts, the former West Morgan and UAH standout, and others who have played locally and professionally overseas. Pros drop in now and then -- show up and you
November 2019
SPORTS / RECREATION
might catch NFL defensive back and Lee alum Darian Stewart— working out. But the physical aspect is only part of the dual program. VSI, originally named VSI Training when it was on Putnam Drive before Johnson renamed it VSI Unlimited, deals in more than muscles.
Kerry, who oversees Kasic LLC that coordinates Kerron and Kerryon’s licensing businesses, founded VSI along with Natalie. She is in charge of the Kerryon Johnson Impact Foundation, which states a goal to be a “catalyst and resource for sustainable community growth and maximum positive impact.”
“Over there is the training, it’s about skill development,” said Kerry, pointing from his office to the gym. “In here is the human aspect. What we like to tell people, and one reason we changed the name, is we do so much more than (skill development). “‘Unlimited’ highlights what we like to call human performance, not just athletic performance. It’s about all the things that happen on or off the court or field and in life. Skill and develop is still our core group, you’re going to have to have speed and agility, you’re going to have to have nutrition, but you have to have academic mentoring and other aspects.” VSI is a family business in every sense. There’s even a playroom for the grandkids.
Kalondra, the Johnsons’ oldest of four children and the aforementioned engineer, and her husband, Marcus Coleman, run the day-to-day operations at VSI. Kerry Johnson said he hopes VSI can benefit families with athletes who want to find the spiritual, social, community and competitive values he said his kids found at the schools they attended on their way to success. “We’ve been blessed and fortunate, that’s for sure,” he said. “The thing about us -- there’s a competitive tone of our family and the kids all feed off each other. “We believe in competition, we believe in giving everything so I think that’s had a lot to do with it.” u
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SPORTS / RECREATION
Naming of Toyota Field was a Two-Year Drive in the Making MADISON — On a sunny, let’s-play-three day that begged for baseball, even though the calendar had turned mostly toward football and beyond, the Rocket City Trash Pandas got a name for their new home yard hard on the HuntsvilleMadison city limit lines. Toyota Field will usher in the inaugural season of the DoubleA Southern League team in April 2020. Toyota Field is a name for that’s been in the works basically as long as the team, and stadium, have been an idea. Team CEO Ralph Nelson, along with local dignitaries, announced the name on Columbus Day at the stadium that is still under construction. But the ship of what the stadium would be named, however, set
sail about two years ago. “The day after Thanksgiving in 2017 my wife, Lisa, and I were driving in the hills of Vermont to cut down a Christmas tree,” Nelson said. The phone rang and it was David Fernandez, then the president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Alabama. “In the first minute, he said, ‘Let’s figure out a way to put Toyota’s name on your ballpark.’” They did, and, after two years of crossing t’s and dotting i’s and other legal discussions, Toyota Field was born and became official with the announcement.
By Mike Easterling / Photos by Steve Babin
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama employs 1,400 workers in Huntsville and is expected to add 400 more in the near future. Among those speaking at the naming ceremony were Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong and David Finch, current president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama. “Toyota Field is the new centerpiece of the region that showcases economic development, job growth and quality of life,’’ Finch said. The field’s entrance on the first base side will feature an area overlooking the park and will be called Bill Penney Toyota Plaza. Below is a grassy berm where fans can sit and watch the game. The stadium is ringed with roughly 5,000 seats with a capacity of 7,500. There’s a picnic
Picured from L to R: Madison County Commission Chair, Dale Strong; Madison Mayor, Paul Finley; President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, David Finch; Trash Pandas President and CEO, Ralph Nelson
“It’s incredibly rare for a global corporation to acquire the rights to a minor league stadium,” Nelson said. “But as I’ve said so many times, this is not the minors. This community expects and deserves a major league operation. Toyota Field is very major league. “In that first call, David told me he wanted Toyota team members to look with pride at their company name on a prominent community landmark. I told him unless he can buy the rights to that rocket ship (at the Space and Rocket Center), he’s come to the right place.’’
area down the left-field line and VIP suites above the general seating. Toyota is planning a showcase of its local products in center field. “To see the project come to life has been amazing and the energy from the community is contagious,” Finch said. u
November 2019
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SPORTS / RECREATION
Regymen Fitness: Feel the Burn… and Afterburn Ready to Burn, Box, and Build? Then, let’s get HIIT with High Level Intensity Training at Regymen Fitness. Located in Times Plaza on the Parkway, Regymen is opening soon in Huntsville. Featuring a trailblazing method that’s guaranteed to disrupt any hohum workout routine, Regymen’s Burn-Box-Build consists of three programs in 90-minute intervals. Designed to challenge your body for muscle gain, calorie burn, flexibility, and agility, the workouts have been developed with variety and excitement in mind, to prevent muscle complacency and boredom. “In the world of boutique fitness, most are concentrated on one form,” said Jason Haynes, owner of the Huntsville location. “We offer a lot more variety for our customers; not just for individuals, but for families, too.” The Regymen program maximizes the potential of afterburn, Haynes said. Scientifically known as Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen
Jason Haynes, Owner Regyman Fitness
Consumption (EPOC), afterburn is caused by the body’s need for oxygen after cardio and resistance training. It must replenish its energy sources to return to its normal state. The body needs to consume energy, and that energy comes directly from the body. This is how calories really burn. After a long career in federal government, Haynes always had a long-term vision of owning his own business. Jason, his wife Anu, and their two sons enjoy an active lifestyle based on health and fitness. After their oldest son, Steven, graduated with a degree in exercise science, he got a job with the Regymen studio in Niceville, Fla. Steven liked the premise and the corporate culture, encouraging his dad to check it out. Soon after, Jason met with the corporate team, “It seemed like a perfect fit,” he said. Regymen’s corporate headquarters are in Baton Rouge and the company strongly emphasizes pre-testing at its four locations. “They’re visionaries, continuously evolving their product in front of industry leaders,” said Haynes. “A lot of forward-thinking staff with a great understanding of fitness.
It’s not a closed system; there’s a continuous feedback loop. All the coaches from the studios dial in weekly for ‘boots on the ground;’ not just the fitness side, but the corporate side, too.” Haynes plans give the studio a local-feel, unique to the Huntsville-Madison County community. “Regymen’s corporate culture is for us to be involved with the community, getting out into the community, having social events and hosting monthly events to build relationships that go beyond a work-
By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Steve Babin
out,” said Haynes. Opening day will be right on time, Haynes said, crediting Stanley Graham at Graham Construction. “We’re doing well with pre-sale and our target is for late fall to open our doors,” said Haynes. “We are on schedule, thanks to Graham.” u
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS BRIEFCASE
Longtime Huntsville Small Business Unveils New Look Johnson & Associates, a Huntsvillebased professional services firm, has launched its redesigned website - http:// jaengineering.com/. This new site will feature updated information regarding the variety of professional engineering services Johnson & Associates offers, as well as a sleeker look, and improved functionality. “We are very excited for the community to see our new site,” said Johnson & Associates President Nathan Johnson. “We think this new website truly helps us put our best face forward and makes it easier for our clients to find information about the services we offer.” The engineering firm delivers civil engineering and land surveying solutions. u
The Catalyst Appoints New Board Members Lauren Smith, Shareholder and President of Lanier Ford Law Firm;
Melanie Newton, Capture/Proposal Manager at Tripoint Solutions; and Jeff Showalter, Chief Development Officer and General Counsel with JHNA, were recently appointed to The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship Board of Directors. “I’m so excited to serve with Lauren, Jeff and Melanie and am excited to see their impact to our organization this year,” said Board Vice Chair Leigh Arnold Christian.“I love that The Catalyst is able to have such strong connected board members who are donating so much of their time to make a real impact on the North Alabama community.” u
The Records Management and Declassification Agency is responsible for the entire spectrum of the Army’s interrelated records management programs including Army Records Management, Army Freedom of Information, Army Privacy, Civil Liberties, Joint Services Records Research, and Declassification of Army Records. Visit www.martinfed.com. u
Watts is a seasoned senior living sales and marketing professional with experience in the Huntsville and Madison markets. She has more than a decade of healthcare experience. Visit flemingfarms.com. u
Urgent Care for Children Opens Madison Clinic Fleming Farms Hires Executive Director, Sales Director MartinFederal Awarded $3.5 Million RMDA Contract Huntsville-based MartinFederal Consulting has been awarded a two-year, $3.5 million contract by the Army Records Management and Declassification Agency. “We are excited about the opportunity to work with the Records Management and Declassification Agency to provide the highest level of service possible,” said Corey Martin, company president and CEO. “We have a tremendous team with vast experience in records management and are thrilled about this opportunity. “
Fleming Farms, a new senior living development scheduled to open in 2020, announced the hiring of two key leaders for its community. Mandy Hamilton was named Executive Director and Melissa Watts was hired as Director of Sales and Marketing. Hamilton is an experienced senior living executive director and licensed Alabama Assisted Living Administrator with a background in senior living, healthcare, sales and marketing. A resident of Huntsville for 25 years, she is a graduate of the University of North Alabama.
MADISON — Urgent Care for Children, a physician-owned pediatric urgent care provider, has opened an after-hours clinic in Madison. Urgent Care for Children’s pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners offer acute diagnostic and treatment for non-life-threatening medical needs afterhours and on weekends. The clinic treats patients ages newborn to 21 experiencing non-lifethreatening illnesses and injuries ranging from fever and flu to allergies and acute asthma. There is an on-site laboratory, x-ray service and in-house pharmacy. Walk-ins are welcome or patients can Save Your Spot online – https://childrensurgent. com/save-your-spot-online/. u
CLASSIFIEDS / MARKETPLACE SOFTWARE ENGINEER ADVANCED
Siemens PLM Software Inc. has an opening in Huntsville, AL for Software Engineer Advanced to design, implement, & communicate scalable DevOps practices for cloud-hosted apps in AWS cloud environment. Mail resumes to Attn: Tiara Robinson/Req#181931, Siemens PLM, 2000 Eastman Drive, Milford, OH, 45150. EOE
ACQUISITIONS SPECIALIST
GENETIC COUNSELOR
VICE PRESIDENT OF PERFORMANCE & STRATEGY
The Acquisitions Specialist is chiefly responsible for buying wholesale properties for investment and revenue generation. The Acquisitions Specialist is additionally responsible for making sound purchase decisions, representing the company well at all times, and providing an excellent customer experience.
Clearview Cancer Institute is currently seeking a full-time Genetic Counselor at a very busy and growing private practice oncology clinic. The primary purpose of the Oncology Genetic Counselor is to provide genetic counseling for individuals and family members suspected to have an inherited predisposition to cancer.
The Vice President Business Strategy and Performance role is designed to function as a strategist, consultant analyst and implementer of the company’s business and functional strategy and long-range plans. This role will serve as the organizational expert in Aviagen’s business analytics and performance intelligence.
Apply by visiting PassionHR https://passionhr.applicantpro. com/jobs/1209363.html
Apply by visiting PassionHR https://passionhr.applicantpro.com/jobs/1214529.html
Apply by visiting PassionHR https://passionhr.applicantpro. com/jobs/1221148.html
November 2019
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL