September 2019

Keeping you informed and inspired.

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 9

September 2019

SPACE COVER STORY

Marshall to Lead Lunar Lander Program with Huntsvillian in Charge

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine delivered some welcome news last month to the Marshall Space Flight Center.

By Bud McLaughlin - Page 6

SMALL BUSINESS

26 Local Businesses Make Prestigious Inc. 5000 Page 12

More than two dozen local companies have landed on this year’s version of the Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

By Bud McLaughlin - Page 15

ADDITIONAL STORIES • Acclinate Seeks to Educate Minorities on Importance of Clinical Trials

By Jonathan Stinson • Page 3

• Dave & Buster’s: Not Just a Restaurant or Game Room — It’s ‘A Full Experience’

By Mike Easterling • Page 8

• When Rubber Chickens Fly, You Know the Madison Business Expo & Kids Day Was a Success

By Kimberly Ballard • Page 16

• Progress Is Turning Rocket City Into Crane City

By Mike Easterling • Page 18

Online

Huntsvillebusinessjournal.com

Twitter

@HsvBizJournal

LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com/company/huntsville-business-journal/

Facebook

www.facebook.com/huntsvillebusinessjournal

HUNTSVILLE

BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 2, Issue 9 September 2019 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802

2

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Business News at Your Fingertips, for Just Pennies a Day $4.95.

What can $4.95 buy today?

You can get a fine fragrance mist at a national domestic merchandise chain.

There’s a lunch box meal from a certain colonel.

And, we all know about those special morning beverages served up by our favorite baristas.

But that’s basically $4.95 for one drink or one lunch or a few spritzes.

Now, what can you get for $4.95 a month?

Well, how about a subscription to the Huntsville Business Journal?

That’s right. For just $4.95 a month you can get email updates of local, state and national business news.

You get unlimited access to our

website - huntsvillebusinessjournal. com.

And … you will get printed issues of the Huntsville Business Journal delivered to your mailbox monthly – not thrown into your yard.

All for just $4.95 per month.

That figures out to 16 cents a day (16½ cents in September, April, June and November; and 17.7 cents in February – except 17 cents in leap years).

Our business news is second to none and our staff includes awardwinning writers and photographers.

The quality of writing and photography is among the best you can find in this area – bar none!

We bring you breaking business news via Twitter (@hsvbizjournal) and Facebook (facebook.com/huntsvillebusinessjournal).

We provide business stories of importance to you. Business news that informs. Business news that educates.

Business news that makes a difference.

With our in-depth feature stories and photos, you learn of the struggles and successes that helped our business people and business community grow.

And all of this for just $4.95 per month.

We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity.

Thank you for reading.

Yours, Bud McLaughlin (Bud McLaughlin is editor of the Huntsville Business Journal. He joins Fred Holland every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. on WTKI FM 103.9/AM 1450.)

Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing

Publisher/President ……… Todd Stephenson Editor ………………………… Bud McLaughlin Writers………………………… Kimberly Ballard

Lori J. Connors

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

EQB VIew Director of Sales ……… Carolyn Stephenson 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.

September 2019

3

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Acclinate Seeks to Educate Minorities on Importance of Clinical Trials

Imagine, two people are walking down the street towards each other.

They both suffer from asthma and their doctors have just prescribed them a new inhaler that’s just hit the market.

As fate would have it, as they approach one another, they both are hit with a sudden asthma attack. Both patients use their inhalers. One person gets immediate relief, the other one doesn’t and dies before the ambulance can get there.

How could something like this happen? More easily than many people realize.

“Sometimes it’s about did this medicine work as good as it should and sometimes it’s a matter of life and death,” Delmonize “Del” Smith, PhD, founder and president of Acclinate, said.

As modern medicine advances, it’s become clear that people’s genetic makeup play a bigger role in the efficacy the drugs they are prescribed than originally thought, according to Smith.

“Before we knew what we know about genomics, an aspirin was an aspirin, was an aspirin, for everyone. But, then we would scratch our heads and say ‘why was this particular drug not having an impact on certain groups and certain populations?’

“We just didn’t have enough data and knowledge to understand why.”

Fortunately, this scenario hasn’t happened, at least not exactly like what’s presented above, and Smith and his colleagues at Acclinate are working to make sure it never happens.

According to Acclinate it’s estimated that by 2060, non-Caucasians in America will outnumber Caucasians and right now, ethnic minorities make up about 40 percent of the U.S. population, but only 2-16 percent of them participants in clinical studies.

“As our country becomes more diverse, the time is now to address the underrepresentation of minorities and people of color in genomic research and clinical trials,” Smith said.

The FDA is taking notice of the disparity, too. Smith said they’ve recently said that if a drug company is going to bring a new drug to the market, then that drug had to be adequality tested on the various makeup of the target market. Specifically, if a drug is made to target an illness that’s more prevalent in African Americans, then it needs to be tested using more African American subjects than ones from other groups, which doesn’t always happen.

Finding enough people to participate in those studies is where Acclinate comes in.

Acclinate, located on the campus HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, was founded with the goal of assisting other clinical research organizations with the diversification of their research samples by expanding their genomic research and clinical trials to include diverse ethnic groups.

“This is something that most people don’t think about when they think about health disparity and health inequality,” Smith said. “Mostly they think about access to health care and doctors, but we believe that this is a

significant part of that equation, and this is the part that we want to try to address.”

Basically, Acclinate focuses on building databases of willing participants focusing on minority subjects that they can provide to various companies when they are putting together various drug trials.

The biggest challenge in finding participants is overcoming the misconceptions and lack of knowledge on the subject and finding the right subjects.

For example, right now, Acclinate is looking for a number of AfricanAmerican men who are HIV positive to take part in a trial for drug aimed at treating the disease. That’s a highly specific group of people.

“How do we do what we do? Part of it is educational awareness, because there is a significant barrier when it

By Jonathan Stinson

comes to people’s willingness to participate in clinical trials, particularly if these individuals are minorities,” Smith said. “Unless these individuals are going through an illness, for example, a late stage of cancer where they are not having any success with their current treatment. What we find is they are much more willing to take part in these clinical trials.

“But, if you go to an individual who is fairly healthy, who hasn’t really thought about this, and you start talking to him about clinical trials, particularly within certain groups, and in their mind they are thinking I don’t want to be a science experiment. I don’t want the government injecting me with things.

“So, we have to spend a tremendous amount of time educating people on why it’s important.” w

4

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPACE & MISSILE DEFENSE SYMPOSIUM

The ‘Final Frontier’ Is a ‘Warfighting Domain’

Science fiction met science reality recently in the Rocket City.

And no punches were pulled when it came to discussing national defense at the 22nd Space & Missile Defense Symposium.

“It’s a very crowded environment,” said Army Lt. Gen. Jim Dickinson, commanding general of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command. It is the mission of the SMDC to “defeat, penetrate and disintegrate” our adversaries’ levels of defense and “operate and dominate a combative” space environment.

Dickinson said the Army is the largest user of space of the military branches and has some 3,000 soldiers trained. The Army’s involvement dates to the 1950s with the Redstone rocket and the launch of the Explorer I satellite in 1958 began its space involvement.

And, as we know, technology has traveled at warp speed over the last 60 years.

“We have become increasingly reliable on space and cyber,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Rick Evans, assistant to the commander, U.S.

Strategic Command. “Space and cyber are vital to our defense.

“We must adapt to new threats and stay ahead of our adversaries.”

To counter those threats, President Trump directed the U.S. Space Command be re-established as a full military branch. But, Evans said, that doesn’t mean “SAC will be out of the space business.”

And, the Army and Air Force still have their own space com-

By Bud McLauglin / Photography by Steve Babin

mands.

The Army’s 1st Space Brigade with headquarters in Colorado Springs supports joint forces and their critical dependence on space capabilities. The Air Force Space Command is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

“Space is a warfighting domain,” he said. “We need those commands.

Almost everything we do is tied to space in some way.”

The “crowded environment” in space includes threats from Russia and China, as well as “new threats” from the likes of North Korea and Iran through missiles, satellites and directed-energy (laser) weapons.

Evans said the U.S. must be prepared to answer the challenge by focusing on agility and speed.

“We need resilient, redundant capability,” he said.

“We need a rapid, reconstituting capability.

“We can’t wait five years to replace a satellite.” w

September 2019

5

SPACE & MISSILE DEFENSE SYMPOSIUM

MDA Director: We Can Sleep Knowing We Are Protected Hill spoke before a packed and attentive Von Braun Center ballroom audience on the final day of the annual event. It was a recordsetting event with more than 3,500 people attending the three-day symposium which had nearly 200 exhibits and some 1,400 private exhibitors and 605 government exhibitors.

The director said the modern-day threats are much more complex than in the past and the United States must be ready for the ever-changing, constant challenges.

“For me, it always starts with the threat,” Hill said.

“What’s really changed has been the advancement of the MDA Director, Vice Admiral Jon Hill (Photo - Eric Schultz) threats.

It was a simple question from a “Our adversaries are figuring out Nevada congressman to the director ways to stress our systems and we’re of the Missile Defense Agency: figuring out ways to stress theirs.

“Am I protected?”

We’re going to continue to make “Yes.” things hard for our adversaries.”

“I gave that answer because I While the threats are conhave the utmost confidence in those stant and complex, Hill said he has soldiers sitting at the console,” MDA spoken with Army Lt. Gen. Jim Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill said at Dickinson, commandthe 22nd Space & Missile Defense ing general of the Army Symposium.

Space and Missile Defense

Command; and Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), about developing means to overcome the threats without overburdening the personnel.

“The more complex things become, that you put before the eyes of the soldiers and sailors, it’s harder for them to execute,” he said.

In effect, keeping things simple instead of causing the personnel to spend time learning and relearning, forcing them to divert their attention from the mission.

Hill also touched on our international relationships as key to our security.

With NATO and the U.S. having installations around the world, it provides the United States with something Russia, China, Iran and North Korea don’t have – “partner-

By Bud McLauglin / Photography by Steve Babin

ships,” he said.

“It’s what our adversaries do not have; they don’t have partnerships.

That gives us an advantage.”

Overall, Hill said, the mission of the Missile Defense Agency is “a great mission.”

“I call it a noble mission,” he said. “It’s very motivating to defend our troops, our allies and friends.

“I feel great about where we are today.” w Lt. General Jim Dickinson, Commanding General of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command

6

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPACE

Marshall to Lead Lunar Lander Program with Huntsvillian in Charge NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine delivered some welcome news last month to the Marshall Space Flight Center.

In fact, there were two announcements: He said, one, the Marshall Center, which is in charge of developing the rocket program, will also manage the lunar lander program.

And, two, a Huntsvillian will lead that program.

“We greatly appreciate the support shown here today … for NASA’s Artemis program and America’s return to the moon, where we will prepare for our greatest feat for humankind – putting astronauts on Mars,” Bridenstine said. “We focus on a ‘One NASA’ integrated approach that uses the technical capabilities of many centers. Marshall

has the right combination of expertise and experience to accomplish this critical piece of the mission.”

The program will be managed

by Huntsville native Dr. Lisa Watson-Morgan.

“Imagine this: We are landing the next man and the first woman,” Bridenstine said. “The program that will be managed here … that landing system is being managed … by one of NASA’s best engineers, right here, and she just so happens to be a woman.”

Watson-Morgan, a 30-year NASA veteran engineer and manager, previously served as deputy director of the Engineering Directorate at Marshall.

“Lisa’s appointment to this key role not only reflects NASA’s confidence in her visionary leadership, but confidence in the proven expertise and world-class capability that define Marshall’s contributions to safely landing humans on the Moon and launching complex spacecraft to the Moon and Mars,” said Marshall Director Jody Singer.

Bridenstine also noted that some members of Texas’ congressional delegation were upset that work was being split between Marshall and the Johnson Space Center in Houston, after lobbying the space agency to get the lander program.

“I understand some of their concerns,” Bridenstine said. “I will say that this is not a decision that was made lightly. A lot of hard work has been done here in Huntsville over,

By Bud McLaughlin / Photo from NASA

really, well over 10 years now regarding landing systems.”

Bridenstine was joined by U.S. Reps. Mo Brooks and Robert Aderholt of Alabama and Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee in the announcement.

“Marshall Space Flight Center is the birthplace of America’s space program.

It was Marshall scientists and engineers who designed, built, tested, and helped launch the giant Saturn V rocket that carried astronauts on the Apollo missions to the Moon,” Brooks said. “Marshall has unique capabilities and expertise not found at other NASA centers.

“I’m pleased NASA has chosen Marshall to spearhead a key component of America’s return to the moon and usher in the Artemis era.

Thanks to Administrator Bridenstine for travelling here to share the great news in person.”

With years of expertise in propulsion systems integration and technology development, engineers at Marshall will work with American companies to rapidly develop, integrate, and demonstrate a human lunar landing system that can launch to the Gateway, pick up astronauts and ferry them between the Gateway and the surface of the Moon.

The Johnson Space Center in Houston, which manages major NASA human spaceflight programs including the Gateway, Orion, Commercial Crew and International Space Station, will oversee all aspects related to preparing the landers and astronauts to work together. Johnson also will manage all Artemis missions, beginning with Artemis 1, the first integrated test of NASA’s deep space exploration systems. w

September 2019

7

OPINION

Huntsville’s Economic Future is Tied to Airport’s Success Huntsville is one of the fastest growing local economies in our nation. Boosted by federal and private sector investments, our region is on a strong economic trajectory. In fact, a recent population boom has put the Rocket City on track to potentially be the largest city in Alabama in the next six years. Our airport represents a key component to continuing this Rick Tucker trend because current and new industry considering locating to our region depend on passenger and air cargo operations that support their own operating needs. The local economy depends on our ability to connect with other communities across the globe, so Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is vital to maintain those bonds as the region’s gateway to the world.

But similar to other airports around the country, HSV needs infrastructure investments in order to continue to be able to meet the expected flow of passengers and goods in the future. Projected growth in the area and HSV’s desire to continue to propel this region forward is why in 2012 the airport completed a major $92 million terminal and landside project that included creation of a public waiting area, a security screening checkpoint, a baggage claim and a second parking deck.

Those necessary upgrades that were a part of the 2002 Master Plan update have improved the passenger experience and the efficiency of the airport.

Although HSV has seen many improvements and aesthetically offers visitors a very warm welcome to our community, other portions of our terminal are between 30 and 50 years old and in immediate need of improvement. As determined

by HSV’s current Master Plan update, the parts of the airport’s facility that passengers use every day, such as elevators, escalators, restrooms and concessions, need redevelopment and expansion to keep up with demand. In addition, these anticipated terminal improvement projects are imperative to adhere to new federal standards and provide our passengers with facilities that meet their expectations like nursing rooms and pet relief areas. The terminal improvement projects would reinvigorate HSV and set the stage for continued growth for our region for years to come.

We are grateful to Senator Shelby and our Alabama congressional delegation for recently securing significant FAA discretionary grants, however these funds are designated for specific federal government high priority airfield projects.

The previously mentioned terminal improvement projects are considered a lower priority for federal

discretionary grants. Therefore, our challenge is to find funding for these necessary terminal improvement projects that are currently on hold.

The good news is that there’s a solution that doesn’t require taxpayers to foot the bill.

If Congress would lift the cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) — a small user fee paid only by air travelers on which airports depend to fund their infrastructure – HSV could begin this project immediately. The PFC is federally capped at a maximum of $4.50 and hasn’t been updated in nearly 20 years, making it ineffective and inadequate to serve 21st century airports that have experienced inflation just like everyone else. For example, HSV’s current PFC dollars are already committed through 2030. By modernizing the PFC for the first time since 2001, Congress would allow our airport to generate funding from only the people using the airport, for the project referenced above – all without a dime of taxpayer dollars.

Starting these terminal improvement projects would have a major impact on our region’s economy. On top of the tens of thousands of jobs that Alabama’s airports already support, it’s estimated that these projects would create 608 construction jobs and inject $19.1 million into the Huntsville economy via construction labor wages alone.

Some will say that we should leave the PFC alone. However, those voices fail to acknowledge that maintaining the current PFC could result in stalled growth in Huntsville.

The airport has a major footprint on the local economy, with a total regional economic direct impact of 7,692 jobs equating to a payroll of $474,327,000 and a total multiplied impact of 24,293 jobs equating to a payroll of $942,828,000.

Failing to upgrade our airport infrastructure could

By Rick Tucker

harm our economy and job growth.

We have recently experienced lower fares at HSV due to the addition of two new carriers and the competition that those carriers created in the market. The improved and expanded infrastructure projects will further encourage the airlines to grow and expand, therefore modernizing the PFC can have a positive and direct impact on passenger fares.

HSV is not alone, America’s airports need nearly $130 billion in infrastructure over the next five years in order to match the demand. It sounds like a staggering number, but the number of passengers traveling through U.S. airports has doubled since 2000 to approximately one billion annually. Conversely, the PFC that pays for critical infrastructure of those airports has not increased in nearly two decades. These airports in their current state were designed for half of that traffic so it is clear that something must be done to modernize airports.

Airports across the country and organizations such as Airports Council International-North America and the American Association of Airport Executives stand alongside numerous conservative organizations asking Congress to consider eliminating the PFC cap entirely or, raising the cap and adjusting it periodically for construction cost inflation.

There’s no doubt that Huntsville is a city on the rise. With a strong economy and a growing population, we are poised to continue to enjoy this success.

HSV has always worked to provide the community with an airport that acts as an economic engine by taking proactive measures that allow for immediate and long-term growth. However, to stay on this path we must ensure that our airport is able to meet the vital needs of the growing population and business community.

Modernizing the PFC isn’t just important for HSV – it’s critical for the future of our region. w Rick Tucker is the CEO of Huntsville International Airport

8

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

ENTERTAINMENT

By Mike Easterling / Dave & Buster’s: Not Just a Restaurant or Photography

by Eric Schultz Game Room — It’s ‘A Full Experience’

Even the old school games have new age twists.

Starting Aug. 19, the grand opening of Huntsville’s Dave & Buster’s Sports Bar — or restaurant and adult/family entertainment venue -- patrons could play the iconic 1980s video game “Pac-Man” in the “Million Dollar Midway’’ at the newest business to open at Huntsville’s MidCity District.

But this is not your father’s version of the classic arcade staple.

This century’s “Pac-Man” features a four-person Battle Royale where contestants eliminate others by eating them on a state-of-theart big screen.

“Pac-Man” is one of 125 games in D&B’s entertainment section.

“The technology involved really is the latest and greatest in terms of modernization,’’ said Eric Drescher, the store’s general manager and a 20-year veteran of the restaurant scene in the region.

The high-tech stuff contines throughout the Midway. There are the classic standards such “PacMan”, Pop-A-Shot and Skee-Ball.

Some games have virtual reality and others are based on themes surrounding “Jurassic Park,” “Star Wars” and “Men In Black.”

As some 200-plus new hires went through training days before the grand opening, a walk through the Midway had a feeling of the last quarter of the 20th century

doors that close off a meeting room for around 50 people.

Drescher said the setting is perfect for any type of private function, even midday.

“At lunch, we can get them in and get them out,’’ he said. “They have a great lunch experience and come back at night with their family and have a great game experience.”

Among the televisions that can be seen from every angle around the restaurant and bar are four that measure at 169 inches. The decorative walls reflect a state and regional flavor when it comes to sports teams.

“We have the best sports viewing in town,” Drescher said. “If there’s a game, on the chances are we have it and, if we don’t, we can get it.”

Drescher said if certain games -- Alabama and Auburn football, for example -- are being televised, the sound will also be turned up.

After all, he said, his restaurant is seeking to provide ultimate entertainment.

“Dave and Buster’s is such a different entity because of the games and high-quality food and amazing drinks.” he said. “It’s not just a restaurant. It’s not a game room. It’s a full experience ...”

For more information, visit daveandbusters.com. w

Eric Drescher, Dave & Buster’s General Manager

blending into the new millennium.

At the back of the Midway, ticket winners can shop for prizes ranging from candy to PlayStations in the Winner’s Circle.

D&B’s next calling card is the restaurant/sports bar area. A full bar divides one eating section from a full dining room and dissects a room that features garage-style

September 2019

AUTOMOTIVE

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Sets Diversity Spending Target for Construction

By Jonathon Stinson / Photography by Eric Schultz

As construction progresses on the Mazda Toyota vehicle assembly plant in Limestone County, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is poised to make a large investment in minority and women-owned business enterprises.

The company said it plans to spend at least 20 percent of the overall cost of construction with those entities.

“Every aspect of MTMUS’s business must closely reflect our customers’ diverse backgrounds and experiences, including our team members, suppliers and business partners,” Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration of MTMUS, said in a press release. “Together with our general contractors and structural steel supplier, we have set an ambitious target that will set the foundation for MTMUS’s future to compete as a world-class manufacturer of vehicles.”

It’s difficult to put an exact figure on how much Mazda Toyota Manufacturing will spend. The total investment in the project is around $1.6 billion, but that in-

cludes non-construction costs like equipment and tooling.

Last year, Toyota alone had about a $3 billion diversity spend across the board, according to Victor Vanov, a spokesman for Toyota.

“That includes direct and indirect suppliers,” Vanov said. “What we mean by that is direct is like the specific car parts or components that go into our vehicles; on the indirect side, it might be things like janitorial services, printing, office supplies or maybe hiring a communications firm or consultant group.”

Officials say construction of the plant is on schedule and they expect production to begin in 2021.

The project is expected to bring around 4,000 new jobs to the area and the hiring process for some of those is already underway. Those interested can apply for jobs at MazdaToyota.com.

As far as construction is concerned, the company said there are about 2,500 workers on site building the facility with about 70 percent from Alabama. w

9

10

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

SPORTS

Aquatics Center a Splash with Visitors and City Coffers

As the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing the week and weekend of July 20, the state-of-the-art Huntsville Aquatics Center continued to help pump money into civic coffers and earn its high price tag.

The center, which re-opened in 2017 after a $22 million facelift of what was formerly called the Natatorium, hosted the Southeastern Long Course Swimming Championships.

There were many ribbon winners among the 1,180 contestants, and city vendors also picked up some gold.

According to Huntsville Swim Association coach Matt Webber, the meet was worth an estimated $1.8 million to the community in money spent at hotels, restaurants and other daily expenses during the event.

“From the time this facility was built, the figures since 2017 are $8.4 million in revenue,” he said. “As far as sports go (in revenue for the city), it’s up there. It’s easy to get into the city, it’s a big venue. It’s among the best in the country.”

While the HAC is a drawing card, the city itself offers visitors to the various meets held there plenty of entertainment.

Mike Herndon of Mobile, who has travelled with his family to Huntsville meets for several years, said the Space & Rocket Center alone is worth the ride from the coast.

“While my younger daughter competed in the meet, my older daughter was interested in the Apollo 11 festivities during the weekend,” Herndon said. “She has an interest in rocketry and plans to study engineering in college. UAH is among the schools she is considering.

“We went to the block party downtown Friday night and then to the Space and Rocket Center on Saturday. We’d just been to the Space & Rocket Center the year before, but she still enjoyed her time there and we saw another swim family there as well.”

Herndon said the family has visited venues such as TopGolf previously, hits familiar restaurants each trip and this year went to Pints and Pixels to let the kids “play pinball and video games” while also eating.

Meanwhile, Webber said families who come for meets at HAC are “amazed” with not only the facility but the city.

“They’re amazed at how friendly the town is and how the city sup-

ports swimming,” said Webber, a Chattanooga native who has been at the helm of HSA for 10 years with previous stints as head coach in his hometown and Birmingham. “The center is unmatched, really, and this is from someone who goes to a lot of meets.”

Herndon, who also attends a lot of meets, said Huntsville has something to envy.

“It’s definitely one of the best places we go for meets,” he said. “The

By Mike Easterling / Photography by Eric Schultz

Aquatics Center is wonderful. While there isn’t enough parking, the shuttle service from Milton Frank Stadium is quick and well-run -they use enough buses to keep people from having to wait long, if at all. It’s pretty easy to get around (the city) and there’s plenty to do in your down time.

“Swim parents from Mobile dream of seeing something like that built in our town one day.” w

September 2019

11

SPORTS

War Dawgs Offer Basketball Players a Chance for a Career When last seen around these parts, Jeffery Moss was supplying Bob Jones High School with his various talents on the basketball court and football field.

He was really just moonlighting doing the latter, though he was good enough at quarterback to lead the Patriots into the Top 10 rankings when they played at the state’s thenhighest classification of 6A. His real job was starring in the former sport, helping build the Patriots into one of 6A’s top programs during his tenure. Bob Jones won the 6A championship in 2010 when Moss was a sophomore and contended for the title the next two.

This fall, after a solid four-year collegiate career at Murray State followed by time playing international basketball, the self-styled Moss Da Boss will be a marquee player for a local squad.

Moss is one of the biggest names to headline the still-developing roster for the North Alabama War Dawgs, a semi-professional team that is preparing for its inaugural season in the American Basketball Association.

The War Dawgs will play home Dale Boyd, War Dawgs coach

games at Mae Jemison High School.

“We’re in the process of setting up training camp now,’’ said co-owner/player Chris Burge, a Philadelphia native who played collegiately at Northwest Shoals Community College and Chipola in Florida.

Moss will be joined by another local high school and college player Dallas Jones of Buckhorn High and South Alabama and Texas Wesleyan.

He’s also logged playing time overseas.

Another player expected to be on the roster when the War Dawgs open play Nov. 2 is West Morgan product Brandon Roberts, who played at Samford and then UAH. The War Dawgs plan to open camp with 25 names and plan to whittle that number to 15. The club is still interviewing potential head coaches and will hold training camp under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Dale Boyd.

Boyd is set to interview for a post

with the Atlanta Hawks next month.

Meanwhile, the War Dawgs are working toward their first season in the Rocket City with Burge and

By Mike Easterling / Photography by Eric Schultz

Timothy Jones in ownership roles.

Jones, a retired Navy veteran from Gadsden, moved to Huntsville last year and said he loved the city and loved “the vibe.” He also saw a need for professional basketball in a community with a thriving economy.

“I thought it would be a wonderful place to have a basketball team,” he said.

Burge said the goals for the players and the organization are twofold. He said players hope to gain exposure, and perhaps a contract, to return to overseas leagues or make one for the first time.

“Number two,’’ he said, “is to grow the brand so we can eventually offer some of these guys the same paycheck they can get overseas.

They’d much rather stay at home.’’ w

12

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

COVER

Huntsville’s Burgeoning Regional Economy Pa

By Kimberly

Recently, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle shared his vision for Huntsville in terms of an average sized pie. He, along with business owners and civic officials, stood at city center – what Battle calls Huntsville’s “living room” - and looked out in every direction to the edges of the pie’s crust.

What they see are active growth corridors ushering in a significant expansion of the original Huntsville pie, which is accelerating economic growth throughout the North Alabama region.

“Instead of dividing the pie into fifteen different pieces that get smaller the more users you add, we made the whole pie bigger so we could divide it up differently with more restaurants, entertainment and activity venues, more places to spend retail dollars,” he said. “With a bigger pie, each slice is more valuable.”

The success of Twickenham Square, a multi-use development built right in the heart of downtown Huntsville’s medical district and anchored by The Artisan luxury apartments and a Publix, has spurred the development of four more multi-use (multi-purpose or mixed-use) sites in the downtown area.

These developments require the right balance of residential, retail, and commercial space, usually surrounded by a pedestrian-friendly traffic pattern, walking trails and/or parks, and plenty of amenities and activities.

Sealy Realty’s Avenue Huntsville (and the new Avenue Madison); CityCentre at Big Spring with the new AC Hotel by Marriott; the long-awaited Constellation, breaking ground this fall on the old Heart of Huntsville site at Clinton Avenue; and a new development by Rocket Development Partners on the former site of the Coca-Cola plant on Clinton Avenue across from the VBC are either already established or coming soon to downtown Huntsville.

“People ask whether mixed-use/multi-use developments are replacing traditional malls and shopping centers,” said Battle. “But I think you have to look at each one individually. People are looking for more live, work, play types of environments,

but I think what we are seeing today is a shift.

Is it permanent? Probably some of it is, but I won’t be surprised to see it shift back.”

Max Grelier, co-founder of RCP Companies who developed the AC Hotel as part of CityCentre, as well as MidCity on the old Madison Square Mall property, agrees.

“Retail centers are not dead. They’re just changing based on consumer behavior,” he said. “Old-style retail centers still play a role in our communities. A good ‘convenience’ style retail center is needed to support suburban neighborhoods.

“However, retailers across most retail center formats are shrinking their footprints and using technology and distribution to keep up with the trends and competition.”

But Battle points out that many online retailers, such as Duluth Trading Company who have been online-only retailers, are building mortar-and-brick stores like the one they opened at Town Madison in June.

And even online behemoth Amazon is now putting stores throughout the U.S. “I just got back from Nagoya, Japan where they still have huge department stores that are very active because people want to look at what they’re going to buy, touch it, experience the kind of cloth it’s made of and see how it fits,” Battle said.

“When you look at Parkway Place, they are doing very well, and we recently added an apartment component to Bridge Street Town Centre to add a ‘live’ component to it and Research Park’s work and play.

“But when you look at the old Madison Square Mall, it could be found on a site called DeadMalls.com,” Battle said. “We built a lot of malls back in the 1960s and 1970s - probably too many. I think we are now right-sizing back to what we need.

There’s still a place for pure shopping like Parkway Place, but I say you need both to succeed.”

Charlie Sealy of Sealy Realty has developed several residential properties including The Belk Hudson Lofts and The Avenue Huntsville, which also has a retail component in downtown

Huntsville.

Sealy is also building Avenue Madison that will have a retail and parking component in downtown Madison. He said the trend for new developments will be weighted more toward multi-use developments in the future.

“However, the older style shopping centers and malls won’t be replaced anytime soon unless they are old, obsolete, and really in need of replacement anyway,” said Sealy. “These [mixed-use] developments are definitely what residents and consumers prefer now because of the experience they produce.”

Grelier said the mixed-use developments come in a variety of styles.

“These developments are a type of urban development strategy that blends residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, and/or entertainment uses to initiate more consumer interactions by creating walkable, livable, and experiential communities,” said Grelier. “Mixed-use developments can take the form of a single building, a city block, or entire districts.

“Traditionally, human settlements have developed in mixed-use patterns; however, with industrialization of the U.S., as well as the invention of the skyscraper, governmental zoning regulations were introduced to separate different functions, such as manufacturing, from residential areas.”

Joey Ceci, president of The Breland Companies, which is developing Town Madison and the new Clift Farm project on U.S. 72 in Madison, sees it differently.

“I think we are seeing the death of the supercenter more than malls,” said Ceci. “Those centers with huge parking lots and a row of big box stores lined up next to each other – for one thing people just don’t like that huge parking field and, two, from a developer’s standpoint, if something happens and a business closes or moves out, it is very difficult to repurpose that huge space left behind by a store the size of Target or TJ Maxx. You can use a big box space for a trampoline center or an entertainment MidCity aerial photo by David Cooper, EQB View

September 2019

13

STORY

art 2: Right-Sizing Lifestyle with Quality of Life

y Ballard center, but you can’t put a restaurant in there.

“Multi-purpose developments are making that space work better by integrating residential into it via restaurants and everyday neighborhood retail like a dry cleaner or hair salon. The idea is to take the new urbanist movement that everyone is following and make smaller blocks of space so that if, in 20

years, that block is no longer viable, knock it down and put something else there. It’s a matter of making it more sustainable over time.”

Sustainability is the focus at Town Madison where Madison Mayor Paul Finley is looking to more than the casual Rocket City Trash Pandas fan to help build out that development.

He’s getting some help from travel sports and softball/baseball recruiters and scouts who will enjoy the regional draw of the new Pro Player Park, just off Wall-Triana Highway.

“The new Pro Player Park and everything Town Madison offers will definitely get foot traffic to our hotels; however, workforce development secures regional success which will also help us locally in aspects of infrastructure and schools,” said Finley.

Finley also points to the success of the Village at Providence, one of the area’s very first mixed-use developments built in 2003, as an example of how popular pedestrian-friendly mixed-use communities have become.

“A mixed-use development offers a live-workplay experience right outside of your front door,” said Finley. “This is appealing to young professionals, established mid-lifers, and retirees alike. These developments are multigenerational that attract businesses to the area.”

“Mixed-use developments are replacing declining malls because they are often well-located within a region that affords them premium access and site metrics,” said RCP’s Grelier who is striving to make the old mall property economically viable again.

“When this is the case, there is typically strong demand for several multiple property types such as hospitality, residential, office, restaurants, and retail.

“Single-use commercial centers are becoming more difficult to sustain given changing consumer behavior related to online shopping, and demographic trends focusing on experiences rather than traditional brick-and-mortar shopping.”

However, Grelier said when they purchased the old mall property in 2015, they had a strategy ready for MidCity.

“We began working with the city and Urban Design Associates (UDA) to create a mixed-use project that would meet market demand and help reverse the decline of the West Huntsville commercial corridor,” he said. “We also had a broader, more aspirational strategy in collaboration with the city to use the MidCity District as regional economic growth tool by addressing the ‘next-generation’ workforce demand in Cummings Research Park.”

Grelier said they engaged nationally known market research consultants to perform third-party market studies to guide them in developing programming for a proper balance of uses.

“We used the information from the studies to collaborate with the City and UDA to produce a complete district business plan that would maximize regional draw by creating diverse layers of use and programming at the property,” Grelier said.

“Much of the emphasis is on highlighting our local cultural assets and identifying destination venues like TopGolf, public parks, and an amphitheater to establish a foundation around art and culture.”

He said this is now happening through connections with Huntsville’s and Muscle Shoals’ regional music legacy to bring a worldclass 8,500-capacity amphitheater to the development.

“We believe the amphitheatre will be very successful and play a vital role in the elevation of the region as a place you want to live,” Grelier said.

“There’s a strong demand for weekend entertainment so the music initiative happening in North Alabama will not only keep locals from traveling to spend in nearby markets, it will attract more weekend tourism to our region.”

Sealy said there is a strategy involved in where they build these mixed-use developments as well.

“These developments are really a

long-term strategy in the sense that consumer preferences are shifting this way, so we are building for what is more popular now and appears will be more popular in the future,” he said. “… We are trying to draw certain people and jobs from other cities.

These developments are a recruiting tool and regional draw when we are competing against bigger cities for the same talent.

“Some people, particularly millennials, desire this type of environment for living or work, so we need them to attract that population …. They will spread through the regional area, but they need a certain density of people to work, so they will be concentrated in the growth corridors where the population and jobs are the largest.”

And, now, there is something for just about everyone.

“You hear people say, ‘Huntsville has some pretty cool breweries downtown, I can have some fun on Friday night, go see a baseball game, spend the night, go shop at Bridge Street, play some TopGolf, and get brunch at Stovehouse on Sunday’,” said Ceci. “It makes us a lot like Chattanooga – a kind of weekend destination where people say, ‘Wow! Huntsville is a great place to go for the weekend.

There is always something to do.’”

Sealy said the mixed-use strategy is rewarding.

“I enjoy working on mixed-use projects because there is a huge emphasis on architecture, walk-ability, streetscape,” said Sealy. “The multi-use developments are a bigger challenge, but it is a rewarding creative process.”

Battle said the revitalization of one area pays benefits to the entire city.

“The Live, Work, Play strategy has always been our city plan,” said Battle. “Revitalize one area using the profits of another area we have revitalized and watch the spread of that revitalization until eventually the whole city is revitalized from one end to the other in every direction.” w Town Madison aerial photo by David Cooper, EQB View

14

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

September 2019

15

SMALL BUSINESS

26 Local Businesses Make Prestigious Inc. 5000

More than two dozen local companies have landed on this year’s version of the Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastestgrowing private companies.

The list represents the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent small businesses.

There are 26 businesses from Huntsville and Madison with 17 performing government services. Also included are three engineering firms, two real estate companies, one IT and one human resources business.

The 2019 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2015 to 2018. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2015.

They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies— as of December 31, 2018. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or

been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2015 is $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $2 million.

Here are this year’s Huntsville-Madison companies listed by ranking: 617 – Cintel, 711 percent, $2.9 million, government services; 727 – Crossflow Technologies, 603 percent, $2.9 million, engineering; 927 – Kord Technologies, 458 percent, $70.1 million, government services; 942 – Freedom Real Estate, 451 percent, $3.7 million, real estate; 1,179 – Shearer, 352 percent, $6.4 million, engineering; 1,408 – Matt Curtis Real Estate (Madison), 293 percent, $5.2 million, real estate; 1,553 – Cortina Solutions, 267 percent, $2.7 million, government services; 1,591 – Martin Federal, 258 percent, $16.9 million, government services; 1,651 – R2C, 249 percent, $5 million, government services; 1,655 – Corporate Tax Advisors, 248 percent, $3.2 million, financial services; 2,083 – Nou Systems, 194

percent, $23.2 million, government services; 2,106 – Noetic Strategies, 191 percent, $4.6 million, IT management; 2,170 – Hill Technical Solutions, 186 percent, $9.9 million, government services; 2,223 – Pinnacle Solutions, 181 percent, $61.9 million, government services; 2,297 – LSINC, 175 percent, $12.7 million, government services; 2,452 – IronMountain Solutions, 162 percent, $42.1 million, government services; 2,818 – i3, 134 percent, $69.8 million, government services; 2,872 – Mission Driven Research, 130 percent, $3.4, million, government services; 2,927 – nLogic, 128 percent,

By Bud McLaughlin

$48.5 million, government services; 2,961 – Engenius Micro, 126 percent, $2.9 million, government services; 3,242 – Simulation Technologies, 112 percent, $31.6 million, engineering; 4,046 – Bevilacqua Research, 80 percent, $52.6 million, government services; 4,200 – Torch Technologies, 74 percent, $405.4 million, government services; 4,316 – Crabtree, Rowe & Berger, P.C., 71 percent, $4.6 million, financial services; 4,404 – Trideum Corp., 68 percent, $27.7 million, government services; 4,976 – Spur, 53 percent, $34.9 million, human resources. w

16

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

SMALL BUSINESS

When Rubber Chickens Fly, You Know the Madison Business Expo & Kids Day Was a Success Madison celebrated its 150th Anniversary mixing business with food, history, kids and fun at the Madison Business Expo & Kids Day and guess what happened? The sky rained rubber chickens!

All day long it was Madison Depot 1869 at the Hogan YMCA. Sponsored by Jerry Damson Honda and hosted by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, 65 Madison businesses were on hand at the Expo giving out free information, demonstrating new products, and giving away treats to the kids.

Outside, food trucks served up anything from barbecue to ice cream, coffee and pizza. A moving garden train choo-chooed its way along the tracks … all in preparation for the great Chicken Caper.

According to the Chamber’s ver-

sion of the legend, business could get slow for shopkeepers in Madison Station (1869) during the Dog Days of Summer. To stimulate business, shopkeepers would tie coupons around the feet of several dozen chickens, then throw the live chickens off the roof to the shoppers below. Those who caught the chickens to retrieve the

coupon, got to keep the chicken too … sort of a free chicken dinner!

“Chickens are birds and can fly a little, so no chickens were hurt while throwing them off the roof in 1869,” said Pam Honeycutt, executive director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce.

“It was a very innovative and effective advertising tactic back then, but probably not a good idea today.”

After putting their collective heads together, they decided a more contemporary re-enactment was needed.

With cooperation from the

By Kimberly Ballard / Photography by Kimberly Ballard

Madison Fire Department, Madison County retailers tied thousands of dollars in savings and giveaway coupons to the spindly legs of five dozen rubber chickens, and the Fire Department dropped them from their aerial fire tower to the people below!

“We still managed to have fun, give away thousands of dollars in products and services, while creating a contemporary Chicken Caper of our own,” said Honeycutt. “All the feedback so far has been very positive and the participation and support from our Chamber members is outstanding. That is what makes the Madison Business Expo & Kids Day so popular every year - we have a growing and thriving business community in Madison and we are here to celebrate it!” w

September 2019

17

SMALL BUSINESS

Riley Received Russell G. Brown Leadership Award

Randy Riley won the prestigious Russell G. Brown Leadership Award at the 34th annual Small Business Awards Celebration presented by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

Amid the theme “Fire and Ice” and Von Braun Center North Hall decorations, more than 1,000 people attended to recognize the outstanding work businesses and individuals are doing in the community.

Riley is the CEO of Ar-

charithms, a small, high-tech HUBZone company providing innovative products, solutions and services to the government and commercial customers.

“We are so proud of our contenders and winners, and we are thrilled to celebrate with each of them,” said Pammie Jimmar, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s vice president of Small Business & Events. “It is no easy task to start and grow a small business, but our community is blessed with individ-

uals who aren’t afraid to tackle tough challenges, and Huntsville continues to grow because of their dedication.”

This year’s judging was completed by the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. The winners are: • Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award: Randy Riley, Archarithms, Inc. • Young Professional of the Year: Lauren Johannesmeyer, Google Fiber • Nonprofit of the Year – (tie): Greater Huntsville Humane Society, Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG) • Professional Services Business of the Year: Palco • Culinary Business of the Year: Cyn Shea’s Café & Catering • Emerging Business of the Year: Outpost Technologies, Inc. • Government Contracting – Professional Services Business of the Year: HigherEchelon, Inc.

By Bud McLaughlin / Photography by Steve Babin

• Government Contracting – Technology Business of the Year: Mission Multiplier • Service Business of the Year: Armstrong Relocation Company, Huntsville, LLC • Retailer of the Year: Haley’s Flooring & Interiors • Local “Creative” of the Year: Church Street Wine Shoppe • Medical Practice of the Year: Dunagan Yates & Alison Plastic Surgery Center • Woman-Owned Business of the Year: Nesin Therapy Services, PC w

18

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

DEVELOPMENT

Progress Is Turning Rocket City Into Crane City Downtown Huntsville has a different look as the area evolves on a daily basis.

New store fronts are joined by new hotels and new restaurants as the city continues to build as the population grows. Nothing seems constant in the Rocket City lately except for one thing -- cranes filling the skyline.

“It’s the new city bird,” cracked Harrison Diamond, the city’s business relations officer.

As one crane comes down others go up in the downtown area alone.

This summer up to nine cranes were spotted on the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA campus as the car maker expands in the western part of the city.

Cranes recently went up where Huntsville Hospital is building its

Orthopedic and Spine Tower and Shane Davis, the city’s director for urban and economic development,

saidmore are literally on the horizon.

“There will be more in the next few weeks,” he said.

Two new parking decks. Three new apartment complexes. Four new hotels. New retail space totaling 50,000 feet. The city is getting a facelift, and construction cranes are now and will in the immediate future be familiar to Huntsvillians.

Constellation, a $180 million project that will have 1.5 million feet of mixed-use space for apartments ,hotels, retailers, offices and parking decks, is about to become reality.

“Constellation is breaking ground in October,” Davis said. “It’s been talked about for years and it’s been approved.”

Huntsville developer Scott McLain has partnered with Equibase Capital Group LLC of Chicago to build Constellation at Memorial Parkway and Clinton Avenue. The old Heart of Huntsville Mall was once located at the site.

Davis said any fears of an economic downturn nationally hasn’t slowed down city planners’ ambitions to continue to build and recruit. He said he’s convinced Huntsville has

By Mike Easterling / Photography by Eric Schultz

“insulated” itself from talk of a coming recession.

“That’s why we’ve had the FBI, Sanmina, Blue Origin, Mazda Toyota and others come here,” he said.

“We’ve put in place an economy that to get to its full strength is half a decade away.”

The economy is one draw for Huntsville. So is what Davis called “quality of life stuff” such as the VBC, Botanical Garden, the Space and Rocket Center and John Hunt Park.

And the ongoing building is part of a plan that began taking shape over a decade ago.

“Whole Foods,” Davis said. “I told the city council that (retail center) could be a catalyst to clean up the Parkway. If you think back to 2008 when Tommy Battle came into the mayor’s office, we began concentrating on the square.

“It’s been a process.”

Davis said residents will continue to see changes from downtown to Mastin Lake in northwest Huntsville.

They’ll also see cranes. w

September 2019

19

DEVELOPMENT

Going Up! Huntsville Raising the Roof with Hotel Construction

Another hotel is ready to rise in downtown Huntsville.

The city council recently approved by a 5-0 vote a project to build a Hyatt House on an empty lot across the street from the Von Braun Center.

The city has designs on having

more than 1,000 hotel rooms available downtown for conventions and other large events within walking distance of the VBC. “We’re getting there,’’ said Shane Davis, city director for urban and economic development. “We need to get to about 1,500 rooms.

Conferences need available rooms.

The Monday through Friday traffic is already reserving existing rooms.’’

Southaven Associates LLC of Birmingham will build the Hyatt, which will add 145 rooms to the city’ goal. The hotel will be at the corner of Jefferson Street and Holmes Avenue and will include a full-service restaurant, meeting areas and a rooftop bar.

Construction is set to begin Jan. 1 with completion date set for Dec. 31, 2021. Davis said construction could be shortened by five months if

the weather cooperates.

The city continues to add to not only it’s hotel portfolio downtown but various other businesses such as restaurants. The square hardly resembles what it looked like just a few years ago, and building in the area continues.

The Hyatt will join other new hotels in downtown such as the AC Hotel that opened this year at the site that once housed the Huntsville Hilton.

Davis said city administrators aren’t fazed by talk from national economist warning that a recession might be looming.

“On a national scale there is talk of a small recession,’’ he said “(Mayor Tommy Battle) said it best when we recently went for a bond rating.

The Mayor said there might be a small recession, but we’re not going

By Mike Easterling

to participate.

The city council approved the Hyatt project by a 5-0 vote. A private investment yield of about $38 million is expected.

The hotel will be nine floors, further stretching and crowding the city’s downtown skyline.

The city will also purchase land at the hotel site for some $600,000. It will be used to expand the Washington Park area and give Huntsvillians what Davis called a “gathering spot.’’

The city will also pay for infrastructure and street improvements at the site that Davis said were budgeted prior to the introduction of the hotel project at an estimated cost of $750,000 to $1 million.

The city will also lease the Hyatt up to 205 parking spaces at the Clinton Avenue garage and a planned garage on Greene Street. w

20

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

September 2019

21

HEALTH CARE

New Orthopedic and Spine Tower an Answer to Future Needs The census numbers and future population estimates practically screamed expansion.

With the number of people moving into Huntsville and the metro area soaring, the need to provide for health care also grew.

With an eye on the future, Huntsville Hospital administrators last year introduced plans to erect a new Orthopedic and Spine Tower.

Ground was broken this year and the project is moving forward to its planned opening in 2021.

“It’s in response to many factors,” said Burr Ingram, vice president of communications and marketing for Huntsville Hospital. “There’s current growth and what has been projected.

You grow as the population grows, and the population ages.

“We needed the additional bed space and we’ll remove most of the semi-private rooms.”

The hospital released figures stating thousands of square feet will become open in the main building for current services and expansion of other medical programs.

U.S. Census showed Huntsville growing at a plus8 percent rate from the 2010 Census to 2017 estimates. If that rate continues, Huntsville will move past Birmingham as the state’s largest city in as little as five years.

Those numbers led Huntsville Hospital to build the tower, which is under construction on Gallatin Street directly across from the main hospital entrance. The two buildings will be connected by a walking bridge.

The tower will cover an entire block between Gallatin and St. Clair Avenue.

According to the hospital, the tower will feature 72 private patient rooms and 24 operating rooms dedicated to inpatient and outpatient procedures including: spine surgery, knee and hip replacement, tendon and ligament repair, sports medicine, arthroscopy, repair of open and closed fractures and surgery involving hands or feet.

By Mike Easterling / Photography by Eric Schultz

There will be pre- and post-surgical areas and the hospital’s Joint Camp will move into the tower.

There will be a restaurant and other retail space on the ground floor of the seven-floor building.

In 2019, the hospital is ranked among America’s 100 Best for Spine Surgery and received a Five Star rating for Total Knee Replacement by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about hospitals and physicians.

“U.S. News and World Report ranked Huntsville Hospital No. 2 in the state (overall),” Ingram said.

Now comes the tower.

“It will provide us with a state-ofthe-art facility and care in spine and orthopedic surgery,” Ingram said.

The project is the largest Huntsville Hospital has undertaken since adding its north patient tower in 1980. w

22

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

iCubate Test Earns FDA Clearance to Help Fight Sepsis A breakthrough test to help fight sepsis has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

And iCubate, with its headquarters in the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, is leading the way.

The FDA has cleared the company’s iC-GN Assay, an in vitro test to identify bacteria associated with bloodstream infection and subsequent sepsis. Additionally, the iC-GN Assay detects important gene markers, specific to emerging antibiotic resistance.

Bloodstream infections and subsequent sepsis are associated with high mortality rates that occur frequently in critically-ill, hospitalized patients.

Sepsis is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and is responsible for more than $16 billion in direct healthcare costs annually.

“iCubate is proud to join the fight against this unpredictable and deadly condition,” said Carter Wells, CEO of iCubate. “With the ability to provide reliable and cost-effective assays for detecting BSI to laboratories of any size, we are confident that iCubate will add value for health care providers to improve patient outcomes.” w

MSFC Director Jody Singer Named Humanities Fellow Alabama Humanities Foundation will honor Jody Singer, director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, as one of four fellows inducted into its 2019 class at The Colloquium. The

event is Oct. 7 at Birmingham’s The Club.

Singer will be honored with three other people with Alabama ties who have made significant contributions in the humanities in their lives and careers: Dr. Marquita Davis, deputy director, Early Learning, Pacific Northwest for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Fred Gray, attorney and civil rights activist; Howell Raines, retired executive editor of The New York Times.

All four fellows will be featured in a live conversation moderated by National Public Radio’s Michel Martin, host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Singer is the first female director of the Marshall Space Flight Center and is a former deputy director of MSFC. The center has nearly 6,000 on- and near-site civil service and contractor employees and an annual budget of approximately $2.8 billion. w

Red Sage Communications Wins Regional Economic Development Communication Awards DECATUR – Decatur-based Red Sage Communications, a full-service marketing agency, took home two regional economic development communication awards at the Southern Economic Development Council’s annual conference in New Orleans.

The awards recognize excellence in messaging, marketing and outreach for economic development clients in the southeast. The two winning entries include a microsite developed for the ongoing statewide “My Lake Guntersville” public awareness, education and conservation campaign, which was recognized as “Excellent.” The Chambers County Development Authority’s 2018 annual report received an award

September 2019

23

BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

of “Merit.”

“As a long-time specialist in economic development and community marketing, we are always excited to receive honors like these,” said Ellen Didier, Red Sage’s president and founder. “They reflect the hard work and dedication of our staff, and our commitment to excellence for every project.” w

Still Serving Veterans Announces New Board Members The Still Serving Veterans board of directors has announced for new members to serve 2019-2020.

The new board members are Joni Green, Trip Ferguson, Dan Godwin and Barbara Norris.

“Each new board member is bringing knowledge of the Huntsville community, professional experience and enthusiasm for helping Veterans to the board. We are thrilled to have them and excited about the future of Still Serving Veterans,” said Still Serving Veterans CEO Paulette Risher.

The new board members collectively bring knowledge and experience in a variety of areas including: executive leadership, engineering, logistics, project management, commercial sales, information technology and management. w

nounced.

The Trash Pandas, which begin Southern League play in April 2020, announced several other key front office appointments, including Chuck Domino as Special Advisor to the CEO, and Elaine Ballew as Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer.

Fahrmann, who joined the Trash Pandas in June as Vice President of Ballpark and Baseball Operations, assumes the GM title immediately and reports directly to Nelson. His baseball career includes Director of Operations for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Senior Vice President of Operations for the Fresno Grizzlies. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Grizzlies were the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants when Garrett was there.

“Garrett comes to North Alabama with a solid baseball management background from two of the marquee Triple-A organizations in our industry,” Nelson said. “He adds strength to our executive team as we continue to assemble an extraordinary front office. With Garrett, Elaine, Chuck and David Bier, our staff will have unparalleled leadership that will deliver North Alabama an unparalleled baseball experience.”

Domino, Chief Executive of the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, is a 37-year veteran of the baseball business. President of Domino Management and Consulting, Domino is a consultant for eight Minor League Baseball teams and has worked with the Trash Pandas since their inception.

Nelson also announced Ballew has been named the club’s Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer and Bier has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. w

Trash Pandas Name Fahrmann VP/GM

Merit Bank Announces CEO, Executive Team

MADISON ­ — Veteran baseball executive Garrett Fahrmann has been named Vice President and General Manager of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, CEO Ralph Nelson an-

Hill Womble has been named president and CEO of Merit Bank, which recently opened its doors in downtown Huntsville.

Womble has more than 27 years

of commercial banking experience, including Madison City president of First Commercial Bank and senior vice president at ServisFirst Bank.

“It is a privilege to be a part of such a dedicated team of banking professionals with a proven track record,” said Womble. “I could not be prouder of the work we are doing in positioning Merit Bank to serve our community. We hope to complement the growth and success of North Alabama’s already thriving economy by filling the void of Huntsville-based banks. Merit Bank gives local business owners direct access to the banking process, while providing clients the highest level of personal service. It’s exciting to see the benefits - not only for us and our clients but our community as well.”

In addition to Womble, Merit Bank has chosen an experienced team of commercial banking experts to lead the organization.

Frank Aldag is chief operating officer; Jeffrey Brown is chief financial officer; Mark McIntyre is executive vice president over the mortgage department and Will Heaps is executive vice president of commercial banking and business development. w

Stencil Joins Maynard Cooper Government Solutions Group Haley Stencil has joined Maynard Cooper & Gale as a member of the firm’s Huntsville office.

As a member of the Government Solutions Group, Stencel represents government contractors with transactional, regulatory and procurement matters. Specifically, her practice includes preparing and negotiating subcontract agreements, teaming agreements, and joint venture arrangements as well as entity formation, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Stencel’s regulatory practice includes advising companies on compliance issues under the FAR and the SBA’s regulations.

Additionally, she represents gov-

ernment contractors in bid protest and claim actions against government agencies related to procurement activities. w

HEMSI’s Ceci Receives NASA Silver Snoopy Award Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, Inc. paramedic Tony Ceci recently received NASA’s prestigious Silver Snoopy award. Ceci supports the HEMSI unit serving Redstone Arsenal and the Marshall Space Flight Center and is the first HEMSI paramedic to receive the prestigious award.

The presentation came at a Marshall Space Flight Center event commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11. Fewer than 1 percent of the aerospace program workforce receive the award annually.

HEMSI CEO Jon Howell assisted in the ceremony recognizing Ceci for his significant contributions in the field of paramedicine leading to operational efficiency increases in performance for the International Space Station Program and the Agency Mission Operations Capability Leadership team.

“HEMSI is extremely proud of Tony for having earned this incredible recognition from NASA,” Howell said. “It’s an honor for us to serve the emergency medical needs of Marshall Space Flight Center and all of Redstone Arsenal, and we could not be more pleased to recognize Tony for his outstanding accomplishments.” w

24

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL