Keeping you informed and inspired. VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 2
February 2020
TRAVEL / LEISURE
Huntsville International and Carnegie VAC Bring Local Artists to Airport Terminal
COVER STORY
Thanks to a partnership between the airport and Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, travelers will be greeted by artistic expressions of Alabama’s rich southern culture and often breathtaking landscapes as created by both professional and budding artists from across the Tennessee Valley region. By Kimberly Ballard - Page 3
SPORTS / RECREATION
Trash Pandas Manager Brings BigGame, Championship Experience
Now comes his newest challenge: leading the Rocket City Trash Pandas into their first season as a member of the Los Angeles Angels’ Double-A affiliate in the Southern League. By Mike Easterling - Page 18
ADDITIONAL STORIES • Leidos Buys Huntsville’s Home-Grown Dynetics for $1.65 Billion By Staff Reports • Page 7 • It’s All About Compliance: NAITA to Host International Regulations Seminar By Lori J. Connors • Page 10 • From Used Cars to New Art, Take a Ride to Creative Lane By Lori J. Connors • Page 14 • Louis Breland Old-School Developer New-School Developments By Kimberly Ballard • Page 16
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HUNTSVILLE
BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 3, Issue 2 February 2020 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
February 2020
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TRAVEL / LEISURE
Huntsville International and Carnegie VAC Bring Local Artists to Airport Terminal Huntsville’s expertise in aerospace and missile defense has always been on full exhibit for visitors to Huntsville International Airport. Now, thanks to a partnership between the airport and Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, travelers will be greeted by artistic expressions of Alabama’s rich southern culture and often breathtaking landscapes as created by both professional and budding artists from across the Tennessee Valley region. Alabama Senator Arthur Orr joined Huntsville International Airport CEO Rick Tucker and executive director of Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Kim Mitchell for the unveiling of two inspirational new art galleries on permanent display at the airport. The Airport Artway is located on the second floor of the airport terminal, directly above the airline ticket counters and baggage claim. It opened the first quarter with a series entitled, “Friends and Family of the Carnegie Visual Arts Center”. The gallery consists of work from fifteen local artists in a variety of mediums from traditional paintings and sculpture, to mixed media. The art gallery can be viewed anytime free of charge and will welcome a new art series every quarter. “Huntsville International Airport is pleased to partner with Carnegie Visual Arts Center on our brand-new
Airport Artway and Community Art Wall,” said the airport’s Rick Tucker. “We are excited to utilize our facility to continue to allow people from all over the world to experience a part of our community while visiting HSV. “We are hopeful that this will encourage them to stay a little longer, come back and visit again, or take a piece of North Alabama home when they go.” The airport also unveiled the new Community Art Wall located in the breezeway connecting the airport to the parking garage on the second level. This quarter the Community Art Wall is featuring a series entitled “Therapy Through Art.” It features art created through the Carnegie Visual Arts Center’s outreach pro-
gram with their partner, the Mental Health Center of North Alabama. The artists in this series were students of the late Jason “JBird” Sharp,
By Kimberly Ballard / Photos by Steve Babin
a well-respected Decatur artist. “The Carnegie Visual Arts Center is excited to partner with the Huntsville International Airport to showcase local artists and community outreach programs like the Mental Health Association art therapy program,” said Carnegie’s Mitchell. “This is a great opportunity to share with everyone the growing art community in our region.” After the morning ribbon-cutting, the airport hosted an Artist Reception from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. to give the public an opportunity to mix and mingle with the artists who have work on display. The airport will host artist receptions each quarter when a new art series is unveiled. n
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
GUEST EDITORIAL
Five Things That Will Make You an Employer of Choice
With the influx of new businesses in Huntsville and Madison County, and the unemployment rate at a historic low, attracting, optimizing, and retaining top talent can be a challenge. Creating a great employer brand is vital in order to achieve this objective. Leadership is the foundation for creating an employer brand that attracts and retains the kind of employees needed for a business to compete and grow. So often leaders, while leading the charge to meet customer demands, look back to find employees not focused on the same objectives or missing in action. Companies do not have unlimited funds to buy employees and their focus, and if they did, this strategy is not a long-term fix. Creating an environment where employees can be secure, belong, and grow is. People don’t come with instructions or an operating manual but here are five key things that will create the environment for employee success and make your company one employees choose. 1. A supportive physical environment. This one seems to be so obvious it may be overlooked. Do employees have adequate heating and cooling, meal periods, breaks, and clean lavatories? 2. A safe environment. Is the workplace safe from physical and people hazards? Is the workplace free from sexual harassment and bullying? Does management take harassment concerns seriously when reported? Is the workplace free of safety hazards? Are safety hazards immediately addressed and fixed. 3. A supportive environment. Employees should feel a sense of
belonging and trust. Does the company have new hire orientations and mentoring to set up a positive work environment for new employees? Are employee meetings held sharing company information? Does management show concern for employee wellbeing? Are negative employees counseled? 4. Success defined. Do employees know what it means to be successful? Do employees get constructive non-threatening feedback? Is success recognized? 5. Self-actualization. Does the company provide opportunities for employee development: training, challenging assignments, education, and professional development? Growth does not always mean developing the next leader, but it does mean helping the employee be all they can be. Sometimes it means helping their personal development outside of work. Where is money (compensation) among the five things? Compensation, pay, bonuses and benefits (insurance, vacation, holidays, retirement, etc.) do differentiate employers, but do not create the environment that in the long run making an employer one of choice when the above five things are substantially missing. n
(Lynda Vance is a human resources professional. She can be reached at lyndavance@gmail.com)
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Publisher/President ................................................................ Todd Stephenson Editor .......................................................................................... Bud McLaughlin Writers.........................................................................................Kimberly Ballard Lori J. Connors Sara Covington Mike Easterling 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.
February 2020
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TECHNOLOGY
The Rise of Machine Learning: ‘Using the Past to Predict the Future’ In a recent discussion befitting science fiction meets science fact, participants learned how to revolutionize and streamline their businesses, using artificial intelligence/machine learning technology. The event was one of The Catalyst’s final presentations for 2019, “Introducing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning” and it was filled to capacity with engaged participants. “Artificial Intelligence technology allows computers to perform tasks that ordinarily require human intelligence,” said Dr. Eric Loeb. “Machine Learning is using the past to predict the future.” Loeb, the director, public sector, Data Scientists at DataRobot, discussed the applications and benefits of AI/ML. Presented by TechRich and hosted at I²C - Invention to Innovation Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the presentation was geared toward how AI/ML can benefit local businesses. However, more specifically, it showed how AI/ML applies to the government sector. To share the benefits of applying these technologies in real-world applications, presentations were given by representatives for DataRobot,
Pictured above: Dr. Eric Loeb, director, public sector, Data Scientists at DataRobot
Picture right: Paul McGoldrick of Tripoint Solutions
Tripoint Solutions and Rotunda Solutions. AI/ML assists companies in building intelligent platforms by learning patterns in historical datasets. By being able to make better predictions, companies can make more accurate business decisions. Although technology is in its initial phase, companies are investing more resources in machine learning. “Early adopters accrue the benefits,” said Loeb. “The benefits accelerate when adopting quickly.” AI refers to the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making and translation between languages. Technological advancements have made AI an almost everyday occurrence; for example, many of us are familiar with or active users of Siri or Alexa. Automated machine learning is used to automate many of the tasks needed to develop AI and ML applications. ML can identify key points where executive oversight really matters. It can learn effective methods to help deliver better predictive models, which allows businesses to quickly identify business challenges. ML can also deliver predictive analytics that companies can use to improve operations. AI-driven companies use automated machine learning in
their efforts to solve the most emergent business problems. AI is used in industries such as banking, healthcare and manufacturing. The manufacturing industry is particularly well-versed, having used automation for many years for consistent productivity and efficiency.
By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Lori J. Connors
However, as with anything the changes the status quo, Loeb said there are challenges. “93 percent of executives identify people and processes as key obstacles to implementation,” he said. “You’re changing your organization when you change to AI.” n
Attendees at The Catalyst presentation listening to speakers
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
TECHNOLOGY
2020 HATCH: HudsonAlpha Hackathon Helps Solve Real-World Issues Three times is a charm for HudsonAlpha. This year, HudsonAlpha is teaming up with Acclinate Genetics and Urban Engine to present the third annual HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge, also known as 2020 HATCH. HATCH is a life-sciences based hackathon where participants compete to solve real-world issues faced by researchers in the areas of genomics, genetics, and biotechnology. HATCH will take place the weekend of March 6-8 at the HudsonAlpha campus in Huntsville. Last year’s HATCH brought in 70 participants and 20 teams; made up of high school students, college students, and professionals, including Huntsville engineer Victor Vega. For Vega, it was something very close to his heart. In 2015, the research team at HudsonAlpha diagnosed
Vega’s daughter, Tiana, with Rett syndrome, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. HATCH combines Vega’s love of problem solving with his newfound passion for genetics research. “When I saw a genetics-themed hackathon, I knew I had to sign up,” said Vega. “I enjoy solving new and difficult problems. “As a father of a daughter with a genetic disorder, I had been looking for a way to use those skills to find answers.” Hackathons also translate into workforce development initiatives. Workforce development is the big buzzword across northern Alabama
these days – and with good reason. In 2014, Huntsville city announced the Launch 2035 initiative, which included Limestone, Madison, and Morgan counties and outlined a 20-year vision for North Alabama. This past November, Launch 2035 released findings of a national labor study along with future growth forecasts. Investment in local hackathons to increase interest in related technology careers was among recommendations listed in the study. HATCH showcases career opportunities at HudsonAlpha and with resident associate companies such as Acclinate Genetics, collaborator and this years’ event sponsor. HudsonAl-
By Lori J. Connors
pha is also teaming up with Urban Engine, a Huntsville-based nonprofit specializing in innovation programs, including hackathons and business accelerators. HATCH participants must be 16 years of age or older. Registrants do not have to be part of a team to sign up. HudsonAlpha, Acclinate, and Urban Engine will assist in the creation of teams, based on fit, interest and skills at the kickoff event on March 6. It is recommended that participants either have studied advanced biology, genetics, or biotech-related courses or have had professional experience in these areas. Tickets are $10. Challenges, judging criteria, rules, and FAQs, along with ticket purchase information can be found at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/2020-hatch-hudsonalpha-techchallenge-tickets-84916091315. n
February 2020
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TECHNOLOGY
Leidos Buys Huntsville’s Home-grown Dynetics for $1.65 Billion A long-time symbol of Huntsville’s high-tech expertise has been acquired in a $1.65 billion purchase. Leidos, a Fortune 500 science and technology company, has agreed to acquire privately-owned Dynetics, an industry-leading applied research and national security solutions company, through a combination of cash on hand and incremental debt. The boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved the transaction. Dynetics is a leading provider of high-technology, mission-critical services and solutions to the U.S. government, with a proven history addressing the nation’s most challenging and technologically advanced missions. The addition of Dynetics will enhance Leidos’ leadership position across its Defense, Intelligence, and Civil Groups. The transaction will also accelerate opportunities within the Leidos Innovations Center, the company’s innovation engine that researches and develops technologies and solutions to address the most challenging customer requirements. Once the transaction is completed, Dynetics will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Leidos. Dynetics’ Chief Executive Officer will lead the subsidiary and report directly to Leidos’ Chief Executive Officer. “Dynetics is an innovative company with a talented team that will deepen our identity as a national security systems provider and enhance our platform to deliver sustainable, profitable growth,” said Leidos Chairman and CEO Roger Krone. “The addition of Dynetics will significantly increase our capabilities for rapid prototyping and agile system integration and production, enhancing our overall offerings and services to customers. “With Dynetics, we will build on our existing relationships with key U.S. government customers, particularly in strategically important Huntsville. Dynetics has a powerful suite of services and solu-
tions and an outstanding team of employees driving its success. Together, we will advance our strategy of solving the toughest scientific and engineering problems by leveraging our collective strengths, driven by a shared commitment to innovation. We look forward to welcoming the Dynetics team to Leidos and working together to continue our united mission of excellence, ethics, integrity, and service to customers.” Dynetics CEO David King said joining Leidos will help them increase their role of serving the government. “Dynetics is an innovator and an industry leader,” King said. “This transaction will enhance and accelerate our ability to serve customers and ensure their future success. As we have continuously stated, Dynetics is more than just a company, we are a true partner, and today’s announcement will allow us to play an even bigger role serving and meeting the evolving needs of important U.S. Government customers.
“We are excited to be a part of the Leidos team.” The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year. Compelling Strategic and Operational Benefits: • Adds Innovative Capabilities in High Growth Areas: The addition of Dynetics represents an opportunity to grow in new, attractive segments, including hypersonics, space, and weapons solutions. In particular, Dynetics brings top programs in small glide munitions, hypersonics, and directed energy, which will be a complementary fit and growth driver within the Leidos Defense portfolio. The enhanced diversification of products and services will enable Leidos to capitalize on new opportunities for growth. • Expands Rapid Prototyping and Secure Agile Manufacturing & Systems Integration Capabilities: Dynetics’ rapid prototyping and secure agile manufacturing and systems integration capabilities
From Staff Reports
will complement Leidos’ current ability within the LInC to further enhance innovation and help customers achieve their goals. Specifically, Dynetics’ prototyping expertise spans radars, air vehicles, weapons, c-UAS systems, space, and avionics. Through the transaction, Leidos will gain more than 350,000 square feet of production space, which will support full-cycle product development capabilities from concept through assembly, test and production. • Bolsters Footprint in Strategic Huntsville Location: Dynetics’ location in Huntsville builds on Leidos’ current presence in this strategically important city. Dynetics’ Huntsville headquarters provides close proximity to key customers and a strong campus environment with co-located engineering, manufacturing and test capabilities. The talented team at Dynetics also brings deep and well-established customer and community connections. • Expands Relationships with Existing Customers: Dynetics brings strong customer relationships that will build on Leidos’ existing relationships, including with the U.S. Army, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and United States Special Operations Command. This will provide an opportunity for Leidos to grow its opportunity space with current customers, particularly in Huntsville. • Enhances Talent to Provide Value for Customers: With the addition of Dynetics’ more than 1,000 engineers and 1,000 technical specialists, Leidos will have greater technical expertise and talent that will benefit its collective customers. The transaction will unite two highly skilled workforces with a strong commitment to serving customers and communities and solving problems. n
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
TECHNOLOGY
Brain Powered and Tech-Laden: The Second Annual WeRockIT Conference Mark your calendars! The WeRockIT Conference is back with promises to be even more exciting than last year.
With two full days of workshops March 26-27, WeRockIt will showcase all disciplines of technology and demonstrate how they interconnect. Hosted at ADTRAN in its second year, WeRockIt will include a wide assortment of lively panel discussions, thought-providing keynotes, engaging speakers and exciting hands-on workshops. One of this year’s keynote speakers will be Dr. Chris S. Crawford, director of the Human-Technology Interaction Lab at the University of Alabama. After speaking at last year’s WeRockIT inau-
gural event, Dr. Crawford returns to host a live demonstration of his braindriven drones using Brain-Computer Interface technology. WeRockIT keynote speaker: Dr. Chris S. Crawford, director of the HumanTechnology Interaction Lab at the University of Alabama
BCI is currently the focus of medical studies and has shown promise as a tool for controlling objects - just by using one’s brain. The application possibilities are endless. Through the power of the brain, BCI has demonstrated significant potential for those paralyzed by injury or illness to be able to move their limbs once again. BCI works by placing electrodes on the surface of the brain so that neural
signals communicate with an object, allowing it to move. In Dr. Crawford’s presentation, the participants at WeRockIT 2020 will have the opportunity to pilot drones using BCI technology. “WeRockIT Conference continues to be a showcase for the diverse technical talent of the Southeast, and we’re proud to bring Chris Crawford’s pioneering research to the Huntsville community,” said Board Chair Lacey Reinoehl. Other keynote speakers are Camille Eddy and Toni Eberhart. Eddy, a robotics engineer will discuss diverse representation in data science and how it affects Artificial WeRockIT keynote speaker: Toni Eberhart, board member of Urban Engine, Startuo Champions Network
By Lori J. Connors
Intelligence. Using her international speaking platform, Eddy teaches engineers, testers and non-technical founders the use cases of de-biasing algorithms released today. Eberhart, a board member of Urban Engine, Startup Champions Network, is a strategic and social communications specialist at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. Eberhart’s keynote presentation will cover “Ecosystem Building: Creating an Inclusive Community Starts with You!” WeRockIt connects people from across the country for a series of keynotes, workshops, talks, and meetups. Organized by developers who are dedicated to enriching the North Alabama technology community, WeRockIt was created to build a community focused on inclusion and excellence in technology. For ticket information, visit https:// allevents.in/huntsville/werockit2020-conference/200018751642348. n
February 2020
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RETAIL
MidCity District on Schedule; Hotel Indigo to Join Lineup The MidCity District in west Huntsville continues to expand with plans going forward on schedule. In addition to adding retail, office and residential space this year developer RCP Companies announced plans for a second hotel to be constructed on the former site of Madison Square Mall at the corner of University Drive and Research Park Boulevard. “We’ve added another hotel from the original plans,’’ said Nadia Niakossary, project coordinator for RCP Companies. “We’re just kind of waiting on the construction.’’ The latest addition is Hotel Indigo by Intercontinental Hotel Groups. Hotel Indigo, a boutique-style hotel designed by Chattanooga-based ViaNova Development, will be the brand’s third property in Alabama along with Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. The hotel will be across from the recently opened REI Co-op, which is an outfitter selling sporting goods, camping gear, travel equipment, and clothing. It also offers services such as
outdoor-oriented vacations and courses. Already open for business are Dave and Buster’s, Topgolf, High Point Climbing and Fitness, The Camp and Alchemy Coffee. Located along Nunnuhsae Park Drive, the 120-room, five-story Hotel Indigo will provide guests with expansive views of the 40-acre public park and will be adjacent to Topgolf and the 8,500-capacity amphitheater. In a statement, RCP said that none of the 100 Hotel Indigos in 19 countries has the same design. According to the release, each hotel draws inspiration from the local neighborhood, culture and popular trends in food, drink and design to create a warm and vibrant atmosphere.
The release goes on to say that every Indigo Hotel is uniquely designed to capture the essence of the neighborhood with curated artwork and seasonal menus reflecting the local character and culture. The hotel is designed to make guests feel refreshed - the unexpected is delivered through vibrant, engaging, and intriguing sensory cues. Guestrooms feature plush quality bedding, hard-surface flooring, signature murals capturing local imagery, and spa-inspired showers. “ViaNova Development is extremely pleased about the opportunity to become one of the cornerstones of such an exiting and dynamic development,” said Vyomesh Desai, managing partner. “The growth in Huntsville has been amazing and we are proud to join the community ... “We are looking forward to bringing a truly boutique experience that embodies the cultural assets of the ‘Rocket City’ to the MidCity development.” Ground is expected to be broken in
By Mike Easterling / Photos provided by RCP Companies
the spring with an opening set for mid2021. MidCity’s other hotel—Aloft by Marriott—is also set to open in 2021.
According to Niakossary, a fivestore retail building at the front of MidCity will be the focus of construction in the near future. Wahlburgers will be located there along with yet-tobe-named retailers. Niakossary did say possible tenants include a pet store, grocery store and a fitness-slanted business. Construction will continue toward MidCity’s goal of 350,000-square feet of retail space, 400,000 in office space, 1,400 residential units and 650 hospitality units. “There are a lot of projects this year breaking ground,’’ she said. n
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
GOVERNMENT
It’s All About Compliance: NAITA to Host International Regulations Seminar While Export Control Reform changes have relaxed the controls on defense-related items and technology, it has made understanding and complying with the regulations even more complicated. Compliance is everything and it’s important for businesses to learn how to avoid potential pitfalls. On Feb. 17-20, the North Alabama International Trade Association will host the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations, and Office of Foreign Assets Controls & Embargoes event at the Westin Hotel at Bridge Street. This in-depth, comprehensive seminar will be presented by the Export Compliance Training Institute. The first two days will be devoted to ITAR; days 3 and 4 will be focused on topics related to EAR/ OFAC. The shift of many military and space items from the ITAR to the EAR obliges exporters to learn the challenging ins and outs of maintaining compliance. Recent ECR changes, as well as the potential of coming changes from a new administration can have a significant impact on compliance programs. This event will provide novice and experienced export compliance professionals with a comprehensive education on complying with United States export regulations. Featured presenters are Marc Binder, Maarten Sengers and Jonathan Young.
Binder, a licensed Customs broker with ITC Strategies, is certified in the field of HAZMAT transportation. Sengers is a principal with BSG Consulting, an export compliance consultant group based in Washington and has more than 20 years of advisory experience on all aspects of EAR, ITAR and U.S. sanctions compliance. Young has served as a military intelligence analyst before his export compliance career. With a corporate background in managing AES filings, export classification and due diligence screening, Young provides Industry perspective for the Air Force and Nissan North America. ECTI trains companies on compliance with regards to export, import, transaction and activity regulations administered by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State and Treasury. Each year, ECTI presents seminars throughout the world and offers customized training programs designed to help businesses stay compliant with U.S. trade controls. “NAITA has partnered with ECTI for a number of years in bringing this valuable training to Huntsville, and we highly recom-
Featured NAITA presenters pictured below from L to R: Jonathan Young, Maarten Sengers, and Marc Binder
mend their hands-on practical approach to our business community,” said Amanda Berkey, Senior International Trade Specialist, Madison County Commission/NAITA. “Export control and compliance training is critical for North Alabama’s aerospace, defense, and high-tech companies, and ECTI even finds a way to make this dry regulatory subject entertaining.”
By Lori J. Connors / Photos courtesy of NAITA
NAITA is a business-driven organization committed to increasing knowledge, interest, and activity in international trade in North Alabama. NAITA’s mission is to provide international trade advocacy, training, and networking to promote economic growth in North Alabama. As a nonprofit membership organization, NAITA provides an international networking forum, education relating to trade issues, and prepares businesses for global success. NAITA is managed by the Madison County Commission International Trade Development Center and strives to be the regional resource for international trade development. To register, visit http:// n ow.ly/40CI50xLV8y.
February 2020
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DINING
‘Cheers!’ Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint Coming to 125 North Side Square Sweet-chili bacon jam, Guinnessfried onions, and house-made mac n’ cheese are all toppings that you will find on a Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint Wagyu-beef burger. And this sizzling hot and fresh grub will soon be available at the redeveloped 125 North Side Square in downtown Huntsville, according to a news release from Crunkleton Marketing. In a 1,750-square-foot space on the first floor of the “Corner Office” building, Jack Brown’s is scheduled to open this summer; its hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. “We’re a craft beer bar that serves a great burger,” said Jason Owenby, Jack Brown’s Director of Operations in Huntsville. “Our Wagyu beef is top-ofthe-line and all ingredients are made in house ... “Think of us as a ‘Cheers’ type of bar where everyone will know your name and favorite draft.” The unique menu includes the BBQ potato chip and mac n’ cheesetopped “Greg Brady” and the elaborate “Elvis” burger slathered with peanut butter, mayo, applewood bacon, and cheddar cheese.
There are also more mainstream selections such as the “Cowboy” topped with bacon and BBQ sauce and the “Dr. Gonzo” covered with sautéed mushrooms, Guinness-fried onions, bacon, and Swiss cheese. “There are a couple of different reasons why we chose downtown Huntsville as our next location,” Owenby said. “We have several other sites in nearby cities that do really well
and Huntsville fits right into our demographic. “Plus, Huntsville is one of the best places to be for craft beer in the state.” In addition to the Rocket City’s focus on craft beer, Owenby recognized the proximity to business professionals, an expanding population, busy lunch traffic, and the residential growth of the neighborhood. “Jack Brown’s is a perfect spot to meet friends after work for happy hour and we found it works best for us when we are part of an established entertainment district,” he said. “We wanted to be surrounded by other places that stay open late so there are folks out and about looking for a good meal or local beer. We are also close enough to the hospital that workers can come eat with us late into the night. It’s a good fit.” Jack Brown’s was started in Virginia about 10 years ago with a concept of “plain” hamburgers and cheeseburgers. “Everyone has had a burger, but there’s something different about Wagyu,” Owenby said. “You can tell from the first bite that it’s on a different level. Our toppings are to complement the beef, not cover it up. “My favorite item on the menu is the plain cheeseburger.” Jack Brown’s Huntsville location will have seven rotating drafts and a “Match Club.” “You will receive a card when you visit with 100 blanks on it and every beer that you drink will be tracked and rated,” Owenby said. “Everyone will be able to work on their card, share selection suggestions with others, and keep track of all the beers they have sampled. “It’s a very fun place for beer connoisseurs to experience new and exciting options.” Along with the rotating drafts— changed weekly—there will be 80-100 different bottles and cans to try; 60 will be mainstays that change twice each year. The other 20-40 will be seasonal
or experimental. Jason was instantly attracted to Jack Brown’s because of its family-oriented culture and focus on community. “The atmosphere is laid back but always has good energy,” shared Jason. “We make each visit memorable and after three visits we should know you
From Staff Reports / Photos courtesy of Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint
by name. As far as the look goes, there’s a lot of roughcut wood and it’s rustic—all kinds of things are on the walls. It’s sort of like your grandparents’ basement full of knick-knacks and offbeat art. “Yes, there are Jack Brown’s in other cities, but we work to ensure that each one feels and operates like a local establishment. Every time you enter, you will be greeted by friendly faces, servers, and bartenders who…will work hard to make your visit exceptional. I think that’s what sets us apart.” n
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COVER
From Government Contracting to Broadcast TV: P
By Kimber
Pictured below Larry Lewis and Kim Caudle-Lewis (photo by Steve Babin)
It was just sitting there. Huntsville businessman Larry Lewis created a business entity called ProjectXYZ, but he had a job that kept him busy and he was CEO of Biztech, Huntsville’s first and most successful technology business incubator. So, ProjectXYZ just kept sitting there on the sidelines waiting for someone to define it. In 2002, Lewis was dating a home-school mom named Kim Caudle. Looking for a way to get back into the workforce to make additional money, Caudle was working nights and weekends trying to get her consulting work for the healthcare IT industry going.
“ProjectXYZ gave me the company cover I needed for the first five years” She was struggling because despite her background in the business, large health-care companies preferred to do business with another business, over an individual. “ProjectXYZ gave me the company cover I needed for the first five years,” said Kim Caudle Lewis, CEO of ProjectXYZ. She and Larry have since married and, in 2006 when the company Larry worked for was sold, he came over to work with her as president of the company. In 2007, he and Kim merged her IT skills on the health care side with Larry’s 30 years in the government contracting business, to expand their government IT work. “Larry said, ‘We can go out and knock on a hundred hospital doors and get small contracts,’ ” Kim recalled. “’Or, we can concentrate on the government side and get larger contracts.’
“So that’s what we did. We expanded the government contracting side of the business.” In 2008, ProjectXYZ won its first big government contract - providing IT services to the Army’s Network Enterprise Center at Fort Gordon, Ga. “I was very excited,” said Kim. “We were chosen as the prime on that contract and not a sub, so that built up our prime contracting capabilities. It also allowed us to build out our infrastructure, which further proved to the government we can do big government contracts. “Plus, all the healthcare work we had done was outside Huntsville so that contract kept us focused here in Huntsville.” For most government contractors, such success would be the end of the story, but for ProjectXYZ it’s just the beginning. The Lewis’ have a partnership with Darnell “SuperChef” Ferguson and his Super Chef restaurant in Tuscumbia. Ferguson is known for his cooking style known as Urban Eclectic and has won competitions on the Food Network, while appearing on many popular TV shows including “The Today Show,” “Rachael Ray” and a variety of shows on the Cooking Channel, the Travel Channel and HLN. ProjectXYZ is in the planning stages for bringing Ferguson’s restaurant concept to Huntsville this year. They are also looking to venture into a retail business this year and Larry is launching an investment company. But the biggest acquisition ProjectXYZ is working on is local TV station WTZT in Athens. Early last year, Larry became intrigued by the fact there were few minority-owned television stations in the country. He started doing research about what it would take to buy one. “We were actually looking to buy a larger station,” said Larry. “It was going to be a considerable purchase for us, but as it turned out, we were simply not able to stay in the game.”
February 2020
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STORY
Project XYZ Has Always Been About Diversifying
rly Ballard
Four months later, the Lewis’ received a phone call from Jamie Cooper, North Alabama’s longtime morning anchor and owner of WTZT-TV, a low-power Class A station licensed to Athens known as ZTV11. “Jamie wanted to talk to us about something and we suspected it was not about buying advertising,” said Larry. “Jamie had affiliated the station with COZI TV and negotiated with the cable companies to get on most (but not all) of the major cable carriers in North Alabama. That added a lot of value to the station.”
“Jamie wanted to talk to us about something and we suspected it was not about buying advertising” Not only that, but WTZT is only using one of four channels available to them, so there is plenty of room for growth if they expand those other four channels, Larry said. They will have the option of affiliating one or more of the channels with a syndicated network like COZI, or they can keep them for customized programming. “We are currently awaiting FCC approval and they said it would take 45 to 90 days to approve the transfer so we can take ownership,” Larry said. “We are hoping in terms of time, to have that approval by the end of March and begin rolling out new programming by summer.” He said they will continue to work to get the channel on all major cable carriers in the area, and Cooper will continue his live TV show and provide new material to keep his
“Country Rover” show on the air, a show he has been doing for 30 years. “COZI provides 32 hours a week
of programming and that leaves the rest to us,” said Larry. “I do a lot of stock trading and investments and people ask me about it all the time, so I would like to have some local financial programming; a sports show; community shows that focus on economic development and entrepreneurship; as well as information about nonprofit organizations and what they are doing throughout the area.” He said once they take ownership of the station, they will also be
open to outside ideas. “We want people to know it is the only locally-owned TV station in North Alabama and the only minority-owned station in North Alabama,” Kim said. “We will cover happenings all over North Alabama, not just Athens or Huntsville or Decatur.” The Lewis’ have been prominent businessowners and advocates for small business since 2012. Larry’s involvement as CEO of Biztech and his decades of experience in government contracting work has kept him prominent in the Huntsville business community. Also in 2012, Kim was selected the Young Professional member of the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. Shortly thereafter she was added to the executive committee and is now immediate past chair of the board, having served in that post all of 2019. “ProjectXYZ was always about our intent to get involved in a vari-
“We want people to know it is the only locally-owned TV station in North Alabama and the only minorityowned station in North Alabama” ety of businesses and to diversify,” said Kim. “The company has morphed over the years and it’s true we have a big investment in the defense industry, but we are continuing to venture out into all sorts of projects, in several industries, with different verticals.” n
Pictured below from L to R: Larry Lewis, Gloria Cooper, Kim Caudle-Lewis, and Jamie Cooper
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT
From Used Cars to New Art, Take a Ride to Creative Lane Looking for unique, handcrafted items created by local artisans? Drive out to Creative Lane by Lexus of Huntsville to enjoy some art and atmosphere that is guaranteed to brighten your world.
“We wanted a good variety of items that you can’t find anywhere else” Creative Lane features an enticing assortment of one-of-a-kind affordable art - art for your walls, art for your tables, as well as wearable art, such as jewelry and clothing. Located in a charming standalone building at the Lexus dealership, Creative Lane provides an atmosphere designed for relax-
ists on display.” Artists’ works are on consignment-based and managed through a computer inventory system. Thus, eliminating any inventory holding risks. As the creative brainchild of dealership owner Ellenae Fairhurst, Creative Lane was a unique way to make use of an empty building, which once served as the used car office. “We’ve been in business a little ing, browsing, and shopping for lifestyle objet d’art. Creative Lane also serves as a gathering place for classes and workshops led by local artists. “We wanted a good variety of items that you can’t find anywhere else,” said manager Charlotte Keel. “There are lots and lots of talented people in North Alabama. We have the work of between 35 and 45 art-
Charlotte Keel, Manager of Creative Lane
By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Steve Babin
over a year,” said Keel. “It’s been a very successful first year.” When Keel became restless post-retirement, she initially returned to gardening, taking care of the planters surrounding the building. Fairhurst saw Keel working, had a brainstorm, then asked Keel to manage the new business venture. Keel took on managerial duties on a part-time basis, working Tuesdays and Thursdays. To fill the gap, additional staffers were added. Eva Richter works Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; Christina Covan is the only full-time employee. “Eva does all the flower arrangements,” said Keel. “Christina does all the computer-related work and signs. It’s all in-house.” As Creative Lane continues to grow, there will be more opportunities for receptions and other special events in the near future. For Keel, it’s a labor of love. “I’ve never been in retail, I’ve always been in the office,” said Keel, who handled service warranty claims for Lexus until she retired a couple of years ago. “The people are kind and the artists are super nice.” n
February 2020
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SITDOWN WITH SUCCESS - LOUIS BRELAND
Louis Breland: Old-School Developer, New-School Developments This month’s installment of the Huntsville Business Journal’s series “Sitdown with Success” features developer Louis Breland. “Sitdown with Success” spotlights local entrepreneurs who describe their successes and failures, with tips for upcoming business owners. For the full-length interview, visit huntsvillebusinessjournal.com. Autumn Ridge was your first Huntsville development. You came to Huntsville from Mobile? I started a homebuilding company in Mobile in 1976 and we were building throughout Mobile, Gulf Shores and Baldwin County on the eastern shore. A friend invited me to come to Huntsville around 1982 or 1983, to see all the activity. President Reagan had poured money into the Huntsville and Madison County market to support the military buildup for Star Wars. The market was just exploding! The market is really good now. It was better then. There was very limited competition
Louis Breland, owner of Breland Properties
and there was room to put in subdivisions and build houses. And buyers were lined up. To get started in the development and home building business, do you just start buying land? Correct. Within just a few months, we bought a 400-acre tract of land on South Parkway (Autumn Ridge) and a big tract of land at Zierdt Road where the Edgewater community is now. What has it been like being in the homebuilding and commercial develop-
ment business with all the volatility over the years? You have to remember, back then interest rates and energy were not predictable. Oil goes from $50 a barrel to $150 a barrel; inflation starts in, the Fed raises interest rates and you go from 8 percent to 10 percent to 12 percent, 14 percent and then back to 10 percent. There’s nothing in the real estate business – nothing – predictable. It was just crazy what fluctuations in energy and interest rates would do. It was always a roller coaster. But despite this, we thrived here in the Huntsville market. We probably had 30 to 35 percent of the homebuilding market here – 30 to 35 percent of all homes sold were Breland Homes. We were by far the largest builder here. How did you survive the 2006-08 collapse? I’m old school. That housing boom was not real world. In the world I grew up in, you had
By Kimberly Ballard / Photo by Steve Babin
to have real credibility. You had to have real equity and real money which meant you had to put 30 sometimes as much as 50 percent in cash down to get a deal to make a development happen. I did not participate in that because I could never understand how somebody who couldn’t qualify to borrow $100,000 could borrow $100 million. We saw some of it coming. We owned one of the largest privately held self-storage companies in Alabama, Mississippi and South Florida. In 2006, we sold it for almost $100 million, so we were very liquid. When it collapsed, we had a lot of inventory, but we were liquid, so we bought over 100 communities in great land locations out of bankruptcy at giveaway prices. And we did not go back into the market. I told everybody here, ‘This is either the most incredible buying opportunity in real estate, or the largest sucker hole we’ll ever go through - but we’re going to go for it!” n
SPORTS / RECREATION
Madison’s Pro Player Park Expected to Create Athletic and Economic Impact MADISON — Last year, Madison Mayor Paul Finley set ears tingling when toward the end of his annual State of the City Address, he made a single reference to “Pro Player Park” coming to Town Madison. The project has been “inside baseball” until now. Just days from his 2020 State of the City Address, Finley confirmed Pro Player Park will break ground in the first quarter of the year on the old Intergraph campus at Town Madison! “It will take ten months to build,” said Finley. “The goal is to have it open for the spring of 2021.” The $12 million private investment project consists of 12 synthetic baseball fields - six championship size. The remaining six are configured so the fences can be pulled in to accommodate softball. It also has a 65,000 square-foot indoor sports facility with batting cages, pitching tunnels; a pro shop; a café and vending area; and an indoor soccer and lacrosse field. According to Finley, 60 percent of Pro Player Park’s purpose is to accommo-
date travel ball tournaments, which can include local teams. The remaining 40 percent will be for local use such as softball leagues and Huntsville and Madison Little League teams. Tom White, marketing director for Huntsville Lacrosse, and Derek Crawford of Wanna Play? Sportsplex, are excited about what Pro Player Park has to offer local sports. White has a lacrosse league and Crawford has an indoor soccer league in Huntsville. “I believe a park like that will benefit the whole community, but I also think it’s a chance for people who have never watched lacrosse or played it, to experience it,” said White. “Lacrosse is the
fastest growing sport right now, especially in the South. In the schools, we see students signing up 3 to 1 times faster for lacrosse over other sports except soccer, which is also growing quickly.” On the travel sports side, John Smith, Realtor with Keller Williams Elite Investment Group, started the Green Flash travel softball team 10 years ago when his daughter Hannah began playing softball at Mayfair Park in Huntsville. “Travel softball is huge, huge, huge,” said Smith. “Not having the facilities here in Huntsville to accommodate travel sports has been an issue so I know this will have a huge economic impact. “We travel all over the country to really big competitions, and people come from long distances to follow their kids and their teams.” Then there are the recruiters. “I think Pro Player Park will be attractive for recruiters because they usually have to bounce around multiple facilities to see all their prospects,” said Smith. “Some of these tournaments get so big
By Kimberly Ballard
they could have 50, 100, 200 teams involved. Having a facility with 12 fields is awesome for the teams, the fans and the recruiters.” Recruiters will be seated on the roofs of buildings surrounding the fields so they can watch and assess talent from up to four games at once. “If Pro Player Park works in conjunction with the new and expanded parks we have in Huntsville, the whole area could attract some really big tournaments, generating revenue as people come from all over and bring their families,” said Smith. “They stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants, making a full weekend of it.” Mayor’s office statistics show Pro Player Park should generate about 300,000 visitors a year, which translates into about 40,000 room nights per year. “Pro Player Park is a huge piece of our Town Madison puzzle,” said Finley. “Week after week, those fields will be full, bringing folks from all over the Southeast to Madison. “I’m excited about the synergy it will have with Toyota Field and our Trash Pandas.” n
February 2020
SPORTS / RECREATION
Godspeed Elite Training Moves into Former D1 Facility By Mike Easterling
The building that has been home to D1 Training and Therapy is getting a new tenant. Godspeed Elite Training Facility is preparing to move into the facility off Bailey Cove Road near the intersection with Four Mile Post. Godspeed, which has scheduled Feb. 21 for a grand opening, will share the building with Merino Trampoline Gymnastics Academy. Huntsville Hospital, which was partnered with D1, will continue to operate at the site in conjunction with Godspeed. Witney Cunningham of Godspeed said new turf and weight equipment has already been brought into the facility and a new floor is in the works. She also said 13 televisions and a sound system will be part of the new look for Godspeed. “Adult fitness will be our main population,’’ Cunningham said. “But, we’ll have athletes starting at the age of 8.’’ This will be Godspeed’s second location; the original is in Hoover. “This will be a second Godspeed,’’ Cunningham said. “It’s not a franchise.’’ Cunningham said on-site and offsite programs will be offered for high school and club teams. According to Godspeed’s website, the program’s “Core’’ states: “When an individual fully invests their Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength, Godspeed
Elite Sports Academy believes they can transform their physical, mental, and spiritual state to achieve their greatest fitness and performance potential. By focusing on commitment and consistency, we’ve proactively created a family of athletes who trust and believe in our training process. We progress each of our members with a proprietary individualized approach while holding our members accountable with genuine feedback and loyalty. “Regardless of age, athletic background, or fitness level, your goals become our mission.” The website is sprinkled with bible verses such as I Timothy 4:8, I Corinthians 9:24-25, Proverbs 15-14, Romans 5:3-5, and Hebrews 12:11. “We’ve got an event Feb. 1 that’s like a preview event in front of Lululemon at Merchants Walk,’’ Cunningham said. Preview training sessions are planned for Willowbrook, Whitesburg and Mayfair churches with dates and times to be named. Godspeed is offering a 20 percent discount for its first 200 memberships off the regular monthly price. Other gifts will also be given to those first 200 members from the first 1 to 50 to 151 to 200. For more information, visit www. godspeedjonesvalley.org or email jonesvalley@godspeed.org. n
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SPORTS / RECREATION
Trash Pandas Manager Brings Big-Game, Championship Experience MADISON — Jay Bell knows something about big moments in a baseball playing and coaching career spanning more than two decades, none more so than when he scored the winning run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series as the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to defeat the New York Yankees.
Rocket City Trash Pandas manager, Jay Bell
Over an 18-season Major League career, he won a gold glove and was twice an All-Star. In three seasons as a manager in the Yankees minor league system, his teams made the playoffs each season including in 2019 when the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre Railriders won the International League Northern Division. He’s seen the other side of the sport as well. He was at shortstop for Pittsburgh when Francisco Cabrera rolled a grounder just past a diving Bell to score Sid Bream from second base to lift Atlanta past the Pirates in a Game 7 win that clinched the National League pennant in a moment that lives in Braves’ lore. Now comes his newest challenge: leading the Rocket City Trash Pandas into their first season as a member of the Los Angeles Angels’
Double-A affiliate in the Southern League. “It is a thrill to be part of this inaugural season,’’ Bell said during an introductory press conference at Toyota Field, which is expected to open for the team’s first homestand beginning April 15 against the Mississipi Braves. “To grow up in Pensacola, to have the opportunity to come to the Southern League and be a part of a brand new franchise, a state-ofthe-art field, to be associated with Rocket City—Madison and the Greater Huntsville area—is tremendous.’’ Though he grew up in northern Florida, Bell said being back in the South and Alabama “feels like home.’’ He drove around the area in a rental car prior to the press conference and came away “really impressed with what is going on in this city. To be part of baseball coming back to this area is something special.’’ Bell is reuniting with Trash Pandas President and CEO Ralph Nelson. Nelson was working in the front office of the Arizona Diamondbacks when the club launched in 1998. Bell was a member of the team’s original roster. “When I was a young baseball executive I worked for a guy named Al Rosen,’’ Nelson said. “He told me a little trick, which was to go down to the clubhouse and see who were the first players that showed up. He said ‘Ralph, those will be your managers.’ “In San Francisco, those guys were Dusty Baker, Doug Melvyn and Matt Williams. I went to Arizona and the first guys in every night were Craig Counsell, Matt Williams and Jay Bell. I knew Jay Bell would be a manager. I just didn’t know how fortunate we’d be to have him as ours.’’ Josh Caray, the Trash Pandas ra-
By Mike Easterling / Photos Courtesy Rocket City Trash Pandas
dio voice, echoed a theme the club has repeated since arriving. “We are Double-A in name but a major league operation,’’ he said. “One of the things the Los Angeles Angels have done for us is they
fense), Matt Morrell (trainer), and John Hill (strength and conditioning). Bell and wife Laura have a daughter, two sons and two grandchildren. Sons Brantley and Brock
Pictured L to R: Trash Pandas Manager Jay Bell, Sprocket, and team President and CEO Ralph Nelson
have provided us with a big-league manager.’’ Bell’s coaching staff will include Tim Norton (pitching), Matt Spring (hitting), Derek Florko (de-
play professionally for the Reds and Red Sox, respectively. The Trash Pandas open the season April 9 with a five-game series at the Birmingham Barons. n
Jay Bell, as a player with the Diamondbacks, crashes into Mets’ catcher Mike Piazza.
February 2020
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ENTREPRENEURS
Innovate Huntsville: The Roadmap to Entrepreneurial Treasure Innovate Huntsville continues to grow as an exciting conglomerate of organizations who support Huntsville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a business incubator, Innovate Huntsville has brought entrepreneurs and innovators together, synching them up with local resources to build momentum and opportunity around North Alabama’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since its inception in 2016, Innovate Huntsville Week has spotlighted available resources and has served to inspire future entrepreneurs to establish their businesses in Huntsville. This year’s event will be Feb. 24-29. Now in its fifth year, this year’s weeklong event will be no exception. Innovate Huntsville week promises to be filled with collaboration and celebration of North Alabama’s vi-
brant entrepreneurial ecosystem, while honoring the skill, courage and sheer determination it takes for entrepreneurs to develop a sustainable business from an idea. Innovate Huntsville will feature a host of events, thought-provoking panel discussions and engaging social activities, which will serve to bring together the region’s brightest entrepreneurs, investors, strategic advisors, and community supporters; the “Secret Sauce” for Huntsville’s continuously growing startup ecosystem. The recipe is simple.
First, start with a unique mix of educational, governmental, and other viable business entities; combine it with a highly skilled and innovative workforce; add the availability of coworking spaces and business incubators, coupled with a healthy economic base, then top that off with the perfect mix of funding and philanthropy. Those key ingredients easily explain why Huntsville has one of the most productive business ecosystems in the region. Event highlights will also include a Tech Roadshow, an Angels of North Alabama Investment
By Lori J. Connors
Forum, Urban Engine’s Co-Working Night, an I2C Pitch Competition and a RISE-sponsored event. Innovate Huntsville Week will conclude with the prestigious Entrepreneur Awards, presented by The Catalyst. This event will showcase and celebrate the creativity, hard work and true determination of North Alabama entrepreneurs. Remarkable entrepreneurs are equally driven by their “why” as they are by their motivation to succeed. The Entrepreneur Awards will celebrate the amazing stories of these individuals and their roadmap to successful business endeavors. For event information, visit https://www.facebook.com/InnovateHSV. n
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
REAL ESTATE
Redstone Gateway Continues Building as Government Contractors Seek Prime Office Space Two more office buildings are on the rise at Redstone Gateway as government contractors warm to the office park’s amenity-rich environment and proximity to both Redstone Arsenal and Cumming Research Park. Corporate Office Properties Trust, in partnership with Jim Wilson & Associates (JWA) developed the 4.6 million square-foot mixed-use development as a class-A office park located yards from Gate 9 at I-565 and Rideout Road. Redstone Gateway currently consists of seven office buildings totaling 569,000 square feet; two full-service hotels including a 120-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott; and The Shops at Redstone Gateway consisting of over 19,000 square feet of retail space, three restaurants and a conference center. The existing office buildings are 100 percent occupied. Currently there are seven buildings under construction at Redstone Gateway, expected to add another 662,000 square feet to the development. One of those buildings is a 100,000 square foot, four-story office building along Rideout Road. It should be completed by the end of the year. The other is a soon-to-be 42,000 square-foot single-story office building located at 6000 Redstone Gateway at the corner of Redstone Gateway and Market Street, within the Red-
stone Gateway development. It, too, should be complete by the end of 2020 but will just keep pace with the demand as it is already 75 percent pre-leased to a government contractor. Approximately 13,000 square feet will be available for lease upon completion. “The growth of availability at Redstone Gateway continues to be an asset to government contractors locating close to their customer base on Redstone Arsenal,” said COPT’s chief operating officer, Paul Adkins. “This pre-lease, along with other recent leases, highlights the value proposition of Redstone Gateway.” James Lomax, director of Asset Management for COPT Huntsville said the buildings support Redstone Arsenal, clearly an economic engine for North Alabama. “We’re excited about the rapid development at Redstone Gateway as Huntsville’s modern office park,” said Lomax. “Redstone Gateway is the most forward-thinking office development in North Alabama, creating an amenity-rich environment and walkable environment focused on employee satisfaction and efficiency, “We’re excited to continue this phase of development and are thankful for the support from the whole community in North Alabama.” COPT, whose Huntsville office is located at Bridge Street Town Centre, specializes in developing and operating office buildings in locations that support the U.S. government and its
defense contractors. They have a track record of designing, constructing and operating specialized office and data center facilities that provide technically sophisticated, mission critical
By Kimberly Ballard / Renderings provided by COPT
environments; and they often choose strategic locations adjacent to government agencies and prime contractors for these developments. n
February 2020
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SMALL BUSINESS
MAP Workshop Series Turns Sore Spots into Sweet Spots MADISON — The coworking community at the Offices at Spenryn in Madison have kicked off a series of monthly marketing workshops with small business coach, Melody Tholstrup, owner of My Size Marketing. The MAP (Marketing Accountability Partners) workshops are based on a program and business group Tholstrup created to help small businesses with marketing. “MAP is a program I created for the consulting side of My Size Marketing for people who can’t afford an ad agency or can’t afford to hire a marketing person and they are thrown into doing it themselves,” said Tholstrup. “I still have that mindset and the MAP program and coaching I do for both groups and individual coaching is sort of leading the way for me in 2020. That’s where I can benefit the most people and help them the most. “Teaching them, coaching them, and doing the workshops … that’s my sweet spot.” Tholstrup has conducted workshops for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and numerous other organizations and businesses, but she tested the waters last year with a few scattered workshops at Spenryn to help her choose topics people might be most interested in. “The goal is to offer one marketing related workshop a month
throughout the entire year in 2020,” said Tholstrup. “Lisa and I came up with what we think is the best fit for the first quarter of the year, and we already have topics for the second quarter. From there, we will decide whether we need to do something new or take what we have to the next level.” They are hoping to average 20 to 30 people per workshop, but they won’t turn anyone away. Tholstrup said some of the tools they are offering like how to build your brand and how to have an elevator pitch ready for any occasion,
By Kimberly Ballard / Photos by Steve Babin
are tools anybody in the business tor for The Catalyst Center for world needs to know. Business & Entrepreneurship and “MailChimp and Canva are serves on the board of the Distinskills that whether you own your guished Young Woman of Madison own business, or you are doing marCounty scholarship program. keting for someone elses business, The next workshops are Feb. 20 they’re just good tools to have.” from 10 a.m. – Noon at the Offices The Madison and Huntsville at Spenryn: “YOU Are the Brand: MAPs started last month with the How to Market Yourself in Any SitHuntsville MAP meeting at the uation”; and March 19 from 11 a.m. Huntsville Hub. – 1 p.m. at the Offices at Spenryn: “The Hub is also a coworking “Mailchimp For Marketing.” community … Many of my MAP To register for a workshop, visit members are also part of the Hub https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mycoworking community,” said Tholsize-marketing-19775794282. n strup. Tholstrup has been a member of the Pictured below from L to R: Melody Tholstrup and Lisa Smith Women’s Economic Development Council for the past 12 years, where she has served as committee chair for the Leadership Training, Outreach and Communications committees. She is a member of the Public Relations Council of North Alabama, the Madison Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and the South Huntsville Main Business Association. She is also a volunteer marketing coach and workshop instruc-
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS BRIEFCASE
Birmingham-based Keysy Opens Office at HudsonAlpha Keysys, a Birmingham-based custom software development company, announced today its expansion into the Huntsville market. The company will open an office at the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Cummings Research Park. Greg Engle, former CEO of API Digital, will be the general manager of the Huntsville office. Founded in 2007, Keysys has seen steady growth in the Birmingham area through its focus on helping business leaders “get the important stuff done.” “At Keysys, we’re all excited to be an active participant in Huntsville’s community and hire talent in the area,” said CEO Jim Bob McAllister. “We plan to take our proven model of building software collaboratively under one roof and replicate that in Huntsville, partnering with area businesses to keep revenue and talent in Huntsville.” n
Study: Local Housing Market Strong But Low Inventory a Concern While Madison County continues to outpace the national residential real estate market, the inventory of available houses remains a concern, according to a recently released study. The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors, in partnership with the University of Alabama-Huntsville College of Business, released its real estate economics report, which compares the local housing market in Madison County to its national counterpart. “Huntsville and Madison County appear on so many Top 10 lists for several good reasons: great job opportunities, low cost of living, a diverse economy and entertainment culture, and responsible management by our elected officials,” said HAAR President Cindi Peters-Tanner. “As a result, our real estate market has out-performed national trends and it continues to be the best place in the nation to buy or sell a home.” According to the report, Madison
County held 6.4 months of housing supply at the end of 2015. Since then, that number has dropped to 1.8 months while, nationally, inventory has risen from 5.1 months to 5.9 months. The report said local new construction will need to grow considerably to meet future demand. Additional findings of the HAAR / UAH report include: • Home prices are rising locally and nationally at the same rate of 4.5 percent. • Heightened labor force participation and median household income have increased the number of local residents with the ability to afford a house. • Local population growth continues to outpace national growth. • New construction accounts for roughly one-quarter (26 percent) of all home sales, beating the national average of 21 percent. • Since 2015, the Madison County residential real estate market has led the national average in new home sales percentage and population growth rate. n
support that is simply unprecedented in Minor League Baseball. As I’ve said repeatedly, I do not believe any fan base has ever embraced a new team like ours has. “We are truly humbled by this … and it is only the beginning.” The Emporium at Bridge Street is the only location in North Alabama to purchase official Trash Pandas merchandise. Team merchandise is also available online: https://trashpandas.milbstore. com/. The Trash Pandas make their Toyota Field debut April 15, 2020 against the Mississippi Braves. n
Frontier Airlines Adds Orlando Service; Restores Denver Flight
Qualis Acquires Bonham Technologies
Rocket City Trash Pandas Pass $2M Mark in Merchandise Sales MADISON — The Rocket City Trash Pandas has surpassed the $2 million mark in merchandise sales – in a little more than a year of operating. The team began selling official licensed merchandise in October 2018 following their logo reveal event at Dublin Park in Madison. Since then, the Trash Pandas have sold merchandise in the Trash Pandas Emporium at Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville. The team’s original store proved too small to handle the crowds, so the Trash Pandas moved into double the space in their current location, at the foot of the bridge June 29. “This surpasses even our wildest expectations,” said Trash Pandas President and CEO Ralph Nelson. “We are grateful to our fans throughout North Alabama and the entire Tennessee Valley, as well as those around the world, for
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center, formerly known as the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal. Over the past decade, BTI has provided solutions to the rotary wing industry. n
Qualis, an integrator of technical and engineering services to the Department of Defense and NASA, has acquired Bonham Technologies, a diversified Service Disabled, Veteran-Owned, Small Business. Bonham, which like Qualis is Huntsville-based, provides technical, programmatic and logistical support services for combat weapon systems and associated support equipment. Founded in 2004 by retired Army Col. Louis Bonham, BTI has provided a wide-array of UH-60 fleet support and systems integration, test and evaluation, and training support for ground vehicles. “The acquisition of such a reputable company as BTI will significantly enhance Qualis’ unmanned and rotary wing aviation capabilities in the competitive Huntsville market,” said Qualis President Roderick Duke. “We wholeheartedly welcome Lou and team,” said Qualis Founder and CEO Elizabeth Morard. The acquisition “marks a meaningful growth milestone in Qualis’ history to add this capable group of people to the Qualis family. “I appreciate the initiative and dedication of Rod and team to make this happen.” BTI has become a proven aviation contractor throughout its history providing aviation and missile weapons systems support to organizations such as the U.S.
Frontier Airlines will be adding a weekly flight to Orlando just in time for summer vacations. The low-cost carrier also said it will restart nonstop seasonal service to Denver from Huntsville on May 1. The flights to Orlando International Airport will begin June 1. “We’re excited to continue our success in Huntsville by offering an additional weekly flight to Orlando and restarting service to Denver in June,” said Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operational design for Frontier Airlines. “We appreciate the outstanding partnership we have with the airport and community and look forward to welcoming area residents aboard our affordable, nonstop flights to these exciting destinations.” Huntsville International Airport Executive Director Rick Tucker said the travelers helped prompt the expansion. “Our community has been very supportive of Frontier Airlines since their entry into the market, as indicated by the 22 consecutive months of increased passenger traffic that the airport has experienced” said Rick Tucker, Executive Director for Huntsville International Airport. “Given that 19 of those months have reflected double digit increases we certainly consider the partnership to be a great success. Frontier Airlines has filled a void in our market and provides our leisure and business travelers with more options for a lower price. “Our MyHSV program that provides a free travel agent to passengers has received an increased number of calls from passengers who want to fly from their local airport and are pricing HSV first.” n
February 2020
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL