HBJ Feb 22 issue

Keeping you informed and inspired.

February 2022

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 2

ENTERTAINMENT

NALZS Update: It Takes a Community to Build a Zoo

COVER STORY

Bringing a world-class zoo and aquarium to north Alabama is no easy feat. Despite the excitement and enthusiasm that’s been generated, coupled with the many endorsements received from government leaders in North Alabama, generating the financial wherewithal continues to be the biggest hurdle that the North Alabama Zoo Society (NALZS) faces.

By Lori J. Connors - Page 9

HOUSING

West DEVELOPMENT Huntsville Rental Property Nearing Completion

Back in October 2020, JFC Living announced the development of various updates to Virtuoso living, a unique rental community that opts for “housements” over the traditional, and often crowded, apartment style units.

By Gus Wintzell - Page 20

ADDITIONAL STORIES • Let’s Play: Main Event Makes Its Way to the Rocket City

By Lori J. Connors • Page 8

• Newby Industrial Park Shares in the Development of the Huntsville’s Business

By Noah Logan • Page 14

See story on page 12

• Huntsville Education and Community Leader Appointed to APC Board of Directors

By Gus Wintzell • Page 22

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HUNTSVILLE

BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 5, Issue 2 February 2022 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

ECONOMY

More Bang for Your Investment Bucks: Madison County Ranks #2 in Returns If there’s some extra money kicking around, it’s a good idea to put it into a solid investment. Whether it be rental property, CDs, bonds, or even cryptocurrencies, investing can provide an additional revenue stream, apart from a regular paycheck. In this case, the money is doing all the “work.”

Strategic investing can build wealth, the kind of wealth that can assist in meeting financial goals and increase one’s purchasing power. Income from investments can be used to fund a retirement, or even help weather a financial setback.

Once the decision to invest is made, it’s important to know how and where you can earn the most investment income. In other words, where you can get more bang for your investment bucks.

Wondering if you’re earning the most from your investments? Smart-

Asset recently released a new study on the places in Alabama where residents earn the most from their investments. To identify the places where residents earn the most investment income, SmartAsset compared all U.S. counties across three metrics: Ordinary Dividends, Qualified Dividends, and Net Capital Gains.

According to the study, Madison County ranked second in Alabama where residents earn the most investment income. The accompanying

table lists the top 10 counties in Alabama where investors enjoy the biggest return on their investment dollars.

Of course, there are several factors that need to be considered before jumping in with both feet into the investment pool. Risk tolerance, time horizon, investment knowledge, financial situation, and how much can one reasonably invest are all things that need to be carefully evaluated.

By Lori J. Connors

There’s often a trade-off in between risk and return to consider. For those looking to grow wealth, there are two options: lowerrisk investments that pay a modest return, or higher risk, higher return.

An ideal approach would be to have minimal risk money investments with the opportunity for long-term growth.

Although investing is a good way to build wealth, one must balance the potential gains with the possible consequences. It also goes without saying that to invest, it’s wise to make sure to be in a solid financial position before embarking on the investment adventure. Financial stability translates into manageable debt levels, having an adequate emergency fund, and the ability to ride out the fluctuations of the market without dipping into one’s savings. w

February 2022

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SIT DOWN WITH SUCCESS

Mark Spencer of Avilution “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.

Huntsville has long been a key player in the development of the aerospace industry with a strong focus on innovation and cutting-edge technologies. At one time known as the “Watercress Capital of the World,” Huntsville and Madison County have evolved into a vibrant tech hub fondly known as the Rocket City, thanks in large part to the impact of Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM).

Numerous aerospace and aerospace-related companies have grown from infancy in Madison County since the 1950s. The continuing evolution of the city’s aerospace sector is reflected in the name of one of these companies, Avilution, founded by Mark Spencer in 2010.

Avilution began in a corporate hangar in Jetplex Industrial Park, recently moving into a spacious new standalone facility at 115 Houston Goodson Way SW with a 6,000 square foot office and an attached 7,000 square foot hangar in October 2021.

The cutting-edge Avilution facility presents itself as Spencer’s love letter to aviation, featuring details such as a restored KR-2 aircraft hanging from the ceiling and repurposed airplane components converted into furniture, including a conference table made from a glass-topped DC-9 engine cowling with moving fan blades and a table in the crew lounge made from engine cylinders.

Spencer’s interest in aviation began at a young age. “Even as a kid,” he said, “I always enjoyed airplanes but thought it was something that wouldn’t ever be in my reach. Fortunately our CEO and VP of Sales at Digium helped give me perspective that flying a plane was something I could do.”

Spencer went on to earn a pilot’s license, and when he learned to

fly he observed striking similarities between the avionics and telecom industries, “so it seemed like a natural and fun field to go into.”

In 2010, Spencer launched Avilution, LLC to create a number of Android apps for pilots, including QuickWeather and AviationMaps.

Using a similar strategy as he did with Asterisk, Spencer then developed the eXtensible Flight System (XFS), a cross-platform avionics architecture.

For now, Avilution currently focuses on smaller scale experimental market aerospace manufacturers and integrators.

When asked whether he sees any prospects with regard to working with larger commercial aerospace companies, Spencer responded “One important element of our philosophy has been a “crawl, walk, run” approach to how we get our technology into the market. Avia-

tion is, rightfully, very conservative about making changes that could impact safety.”

“As such,” he continued, “it’s important that we prove out not just the technology itself, but how we demonstrate the safety of the technology in small ways before we move on to bigger applications.”

Spencer admitted that his desire to shake up the avionics industry has not been without challenges, noting that the avionics industry has “a lot of inertia that generally makes it difficult to do things that are really innovative.” While innovation is seen as a “good thing,” he explained, innovation has to be carefully managed in aviation because anything novel will go through a higher level of scrutiny than the traditional way of doing things.

“As a result,” he said, “we have to be careful about which battles are worth fighting today,” focusing on which battles will allow them to achieve their most important goals before moving on to the next thing.

His passion for flying, above all, is Spencer’s favorite thing about running Avilution. “I want to share that passion with others and make flying much more accessible to everyone, both from a complexity and safety perspective as well as from an economic perspective.”

He sees aviation technology as being at “an inflection point where electric aircraft, vertical takeoff aircraft, roadable aircraft (flying

By Dawn Suiter / Photos by Steve Babin

cars), and other really interesting variations may now be enabled by advances in sensor fusion, battery, and computing technology.” Spencer added that he hopes to facilitate their integration in a way that makes them suitable for the unique requirements of aviation.

Spencer began Avilution with just one employee, Andrew Boos.

Boos still works there as Director of Engineering and Operations and the business has grown to eight full time employees and two part time employees.

Maintaining a healthy work environment is a high priority for Spencer: “I think the most important thing is to provide an environment that gets people in the right frame of mind to accomplish what needs to be done,” he said.

“It’s important to remember that if someone is going to be focused on their work, then the rest of their life balance also needs to be in good order,” Spencer continued, adding that they provide five weeks of annual paid time off and other good benefits in order to encourage a healthy balance of work and time off so people come to work enthusiastic about the work they’re doing.

Spencer’s advice for other future entrepreneurs in the tech industry is that it should relate to something they’re passionate about, “and do it to make the world better for your customers. The rest will come in time!” w

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing

President /Publisher................................................................ Todd Stephenson Editor ................................................................................................Gus Wintzell Writers............................................................................................ Alan Clemons Lori J. Connors Mike Easterling Noah Logan Dawn Suiter Graphic Design ............................................................................. Justina Simon Website................................................................................................ Jim Gharib Photographers...................................................................................Steve Babin Justina Simon Director of Sales ................................................................. Carolyn Stephenson Account Executives......................................................................... Noah Logan 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 ©2021. 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 2022

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FOOD / DINING

Slim Chickens Opens Newest Location at Town Madison Slimthusiasts Unite! For those of you who are already familiar with Slim Chickens at Clift Farms, a second location has opened at Town Madison at 130 Outfield Drive.

For the uninitiated, gear your tastebuds up for a delicious meal made with all-natural chicken and the freshest ingredients available. Owners Alan Renfroe and Dana Price are excited to be bringing Slim’s to the Zierdt Road/Toyota Stadium corridor.

The story of Slim’s in North Alabama began when Renfroe and Price were looking for a “better chicken” concept. Renfroe and Price are the co-founders of Legends Development, LLC, a Guntersville-based restaurant development company.

“We are multi-concept operators,” said Renfroe. “We were looking for a great ‘hot’ chicken concept for our portfolio.”

With a tasty and diversified portfolio, the pair sought after a fantastic chicken-based idea to add to their existing lineup of restaurants. They wanted to bring to North Alabama a chicken dining option that was fresh, new, and different.

By coincidence, one of Price’s friends happens to have a daughter that lives in Arkansas. “My friend’s daughter took a job after college in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where Slim’s is based,” said Price. “I was telling him that we were looking for a chicken concept. He said, ‘When we visit Amber out in Arkansas, there’s this restaurant

out there called Slim Chickens, and you really ought to take a look at that.

It’s the craziest thing, every day when they open, they have people lined up at the door.”

Renfroe and Price had already been looking at another chicken concept, but when Covid hit, they realized that they wanted to get into the drive through restaurant business.

“The other concept didn’t have a drive through, it was in a strip mall,” said Renfroe. “60% of your revenue comes from the drive through. Without that, you’re obviously not hitting your potential.

They met with Slim’s leadership, as well as spending a few days in Arkansas, visiting some of store locations in Fayetteville. What impressed the pair was that not only are Slim’s ownership franchisors, but they also operate the restaurants. “That was important to us because they understand the challenges that a franchisee could

go up against,” said Renfroe. “It was remarkable that leadership managed several stores as well; they were franchise owners that also understood the challenges of being a franchisee.”

Slim Chickens’ “better chicken” concept got its start in 2003. It all began with a focus on fresh chicken tenders and wings cooked to order, served with 17 dipping sauces, most are made in-house. Almost 20 years later, guests are still enjoying the fresh, southern-inspired menu items served in a crisp, clean fast-casual setting.

With 120 restaurants, Slim Chickens has a slimthusiastic following in 23 states, as well as international locations in Kuwait and London.

Slim’s menu begins with chicken, such as the tenders, wings, and sandwiches. There’s even a monster-sized chicken and waffles entree, that features a big fluffy Belgium waffle, topped with butter, syrup, and chicken tenders. But it doesn’t end there.

By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Gus Wintzell Along with a wide variety of side items, there’s the decadent jar desserts that are served up in a Slim Chickens signature mason jar.

Renfroe and Price knew they were already in love with the food, becoming slimthusiasts with their first very first bite. “We knew we wanted to be part of the brand,” said Renfroe. “We really looked at their marketing initiatives and their technology pieces.

They were doing some things similar to brands that have been around decades. Slim’s technology piece was far advanced to some of those.”

“We signed a 9-store deal with them, with enough territory to do two and a half times that many, if we want to,” said Renfroe. “Our territory is multiple counties, including Madison and Marshall, all the way down to Mobile County. We knew we wanted to be in Clift Farm and Town Madison, initially, because of the massive amount of development that the Breland companies were bringing to the table. We knew right out of the gate those were the two places where we wanted to launch.”

Plans are in the works for a third Slim Chickens, the newest store will be in South Huntsville. Located on the old Ruby Tuesday property on South Parkway, construction for location number 3 will begin in early March. It will be conveniently located near Redstone Arsenal Gate 3, and directly across from the new Starbucks and Whataburger. w

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

DEVELOPMENT

Historic Country Club Apartments Sold to Houston-Based Truepoint Capital For many in Southeast Huntsville, Country Club Apartments has been home or home to someone we know. Whether it be renting an apartment while a house is being built or restarting one’s life post-divorce, Country Club has provided a country retreat atmosphere for many.

After being in the Averbuch family for over 60 years, the 200-units that sit upon nearly 22 acres of prime real estate was recently sold to Houston-based Truepoint Capital.

SVN AVAT Multifamily LLC., a national leader in commercial real estate, specializing in multifamily properties, brokered the sale for a cool $25.25 million.

Nestled on a property surrounded by lush foliage, Country Club is situated near the hustle and bustle of Airport Road commerce. The central location is ideal, it’s close to the Arsenal, and downtown is just minutes away.

The property has enjoyed a long and prosperous history. Developed

by Jerome Averbuch in the 1960s, Country Club has been owned and managed by the Averbuch family throughout its entire history.

Averbuch was influential in helping to create Southside. He was passionate about establishing a sense of community in Huntsville. In addition to Country Club, Averbuch developed Malibu Apartments and Plantation South, one of Huntsville’s first residential condominiums.

Averbuch also built hundreds of homes in the city, as well developing several commercial buildings, offices, condominiums, and hotels throughout the southeastern United States.

After Jerome passed away in 2019, his son Scott took over Country Club and managing the

Photo by Dawn Suiter

years the property has been eyed by an assortment of prospective buyers.

“I think a lot of people have approached Scott over the years,” said Agee. “I think it was under contract at one point a few years back and they were going to build a senior Averbuch Family Enterprises. The younger Averbuch worked with Agee and SVN in negotiating the property sale.

“We sold it to another client of mine from Houston, Truepoint Capital, who also owns other properties in Huntsville, as well,” said Andrew Agee, managing director for SVN. “We closed sometime in mid-December.”

The buyer, Truepoint Capital, plans to build off what the Averbuch family has accomplished. From start to finish, it’s estimated that the upgrades will take a couple of years to complete.

“They’re going to invest around $2 mil into the property, paint exteriors, improve the parking lot and curbs, probably enhance the amenity package a little bit, and then further Scott’s renovations that he had started on the interiors of the units,” said Agee. “Scott’s updated it some, but I think Kyle at Truepoint is going to push it up a little more.”

Over the

By Lori J. Connors / Photos courtesy of Flourish Consulting

living facility, an office building, different things, and that fell through.

Of course, Walmart wanted to buy it at one point, too, but the city shot that down.”

Country Club will continue as a multifamily rental property. However, there are no plans in the works to build additional units.” “You never know long term, but right now that would not be cost effective, and there’d be a lot of hurdles to get through before that would happen,” said Agee. “So that’s not in the plans immediately.”

“It was obviously a great deal to work on that I enjoyed,” said Agee.

“It was in the family for so long. But to be able to work with this family and sell this landmark property with such a rich history is a great honor that I will always cherish. I’m thrilled to see what’s in store for Country Club Apartments.” w

February 2022

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DEVELOPMENT

New Mixed-Use Development Coming Soon to Cummings Research Park Bobo Development Group and Retail Specialists have announced that Arcadia, the first mixed-use development in Cummings Research Park, will break ground in the Spring. Demolition on the property began in early January.

“With the current and projected growth in the Huntsville market, the timing is perfect to introduce the newest project in the community” Located at 4810 Bradford Dr. at the corner of Wynn Drive and Bradford Drive, Arcadia will be positioned on one of the busiest

corners in Research Park, sitting directly across the street from the new Alabama School of Cyber Technology.

Upon completion of the project the development will total over 19,000 square feet, including 12,000 square feet of office space, 7,000 feet of retail and restaurant space, and 251 residential units.

“With the current and projected growth in the Huntsville market, the timing is perfect to introduce the newest project in the community,” stated James Bobo, chief executive officer of Bobo Development Group.

The groundbreaking is planned for either March or April. “We are excited to begin work on such a significant development in Hunts-

By Dawn Suiter / Photo courtesy of Huntsville / Madison County Chamber of Commerce

ville,” said Robert Jolly, chief executive officer of Retail Specialists. “Our team looks forward to bringing new restaurant and retail options for the growing area.” w

For more information on Arcadia visit https://properties.retailspecialists. com/?propertyId=974050-lease.

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

ENTERTAINMENT

Let’s Play: Main Event Makes Its Way to the Rocket City Main Event, the Texas-based family-friendly entertainment center is making its way to Bridge Street Town Centre in late February.

Taking over what was once Toys R Us, the Main Event entertainment space is a sizable 49,330 square feet. There’s plenty of room for hosting events of all sizes, from groups of 10 up to 1,000.

From baby’s first birthday party to the annual corporate Christmas party, Main Event encourages fun play over competition, social over solo, and accessible to everyone.

They endeavor to stir children’s imaginations and inspire adults to play like kids again.

Twenty-four years ago, the Main Event concept was unique and the first of its kind. Back in 1998, the founders thought that the league-driven, dusty bowling centers of the time were limited in providing a full-range of familyoriented entertainment and activity space.

They wanted to go beyond bowling and thus created a haven for families to share in a variety of

activities all under one roof.

Main Event Huntsville will feature a broad assortment of enticing entertainment options, such as 22 lanes of state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, gravity ropes, a zipline, virtual reality, billiards, and over 120 arcade games.

Main Event will also serve as an ideal venue for special events, such as birthday parties, holiday festivities, and team building activities.

It will feature full-service catering with private party rooms, free WiFi, big screen TVs, and the latest in audiovisual technology. Main Event also can help with event details, send out the invites, and tackle the clean-up afterwards.

“We couldn’t be more excited about becoming part of the Huntsville community and bringing our unique family entertainment experience to the area” There’s also dedicated meeting room space, perfect for workshops, mini retreats, and training sessions.

This will be Main Event’s very first location in Alabama, and it will feature a full-service dining menu and a bar well-stocked with craft beers and cocktails.

“We couldn’t be more excited about becoming part of

By Lori J. Connors / Photos courtesy of Main Event

the Huntsville community and bringing our unique family entertainment experience to the area,” said Chris Morris, Main Event’s CEO. “Our brand promise is to provide guests an opportunity to make memories together while enjoying the best activities and games imaginable all in the comforts of one fun-filled location. We are committed to doing that every single day.

The team at Bayer Properties was instrumental in making this a reality and we are thankful to be working with a top-notch group on our first-ever location in Alabama.”

For one-of-a-kind experiences and real fun, the party is always on at Main Event. For career opportunities, go to: https://careers. mainevent.com/. w

February 2022

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ENTERTAINMENT

NALZS Update: It Takes a Community to Build a Zoo Build it and they will come.

But first, funds need to be raised to buy the land to build it on.

Bringing a world-class zoo and aquarium to north Alabama is no easy feat. Despite the excitement and enthusiasm that’s been generated, coupled with the many endorsements received from government leaders in North Alabama, generating the financial wherewithal continues to be the biggest hurdle that the North Alabama Zoo Society (NALZS) faces.

“It’s not uncommon for municipalities, counties, and states to provide some support to zoological facilities” The most immediate need are funds for purchasing the land itself.

Last years’ announcement of NALZS’s intent to acquire two properties in Limestone County put the project on the radar of developers, eager to transform the area into the latest and greatest subdivision.

“It’s not uncommon for municipalities, counties, and states to provide some support to zoological facilities,” said Ethan Woodruff, NALZS Executive Director. “For planning purposes, NALZS has facilitated these conversations. More importantly, we need to secure land funding first. We don’t expect county or municipal funding for the purchase of land.”

The properties are situated along Limestone Creek and are filled old growth trees, natural springs, and nature trails, ideal for a zoo and an aquarium. They are also near Madison, and all the new industry that is popping up along the I-65 corridor.

It’s also an area that would be ideal for a residential community, to serve the needs of the area’s workforce.

As pressure mounts for the owner to sell the property to developers,

By Lori J. Connors / Photo courtesy of NALZS

“We are extremely pleased that leaders of our communities see and are endorsing the value of bringing a world-class zoo and aquarium to North Alabama”

NALZS is faced with a sense of urgency to purchase the land. To that end, NALZS rolled out its “Claim Your Spot” fundraising campaign to kick off the new year. To date, there has been a modest, yet generous outpouring of contributions by members of the community.

Once the land is purchased, Woodruff believes that more funding channels will open. However, the entire process is and will continue to be a lengthy endeavor.

“As far as the project goes, I can say on behalf of NALZS, we have made it clear this project is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Ethan Fitzgerald, NALZS Public Relations Coordinator. “We have been putting in the work in anticipation of when it becomes a sprint.”

“As far as the project goes, I can say on behalf of NALZS, we have made it clear this project is a marathon, not a sprint” Zoos and aquariums have been shown to provide mental and emotional benefits, as well as serve as an economic and tourism generator.

Not only will the presence of a zoo serve the community in the form of revenue generation for the region, but it will also provide job opportunities.

“This project will bring a new quality of life component to our county and all of our visitors,” said

Colin Daly, Chairman, Limestone County Commission. “The County Commission looks forward to welcoming this unique project to our county and looks forward to being part of its future success.”

Since the big announcement last August, Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks has received numerous positive comments about the project.

“The community feels that this is something to “roar” about for our area,” said Marks. “Thank you for investing in our community and working to add another qualityof-life experience in Limestone County.”

“We are extremely pleased that leaders of our communities see and are endorsing the value of bringing a world-class zoo and aquarium to North Alabama,” said Woodruff. “This project provides so many great benefits: STEM biological sciences education, improved emotional and mental quality of life for our communities, recreation, added tourism, and being part of world-wide conservation efforts. Everyone we talk to says they can’t wait, and this is what our community needs.”

“The community has made it very clear that they want a zoo in North Alabama,” said Fitzgerald. “We won’t give up our efforts to make it happen.” w

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Great Resignation’s Impact on Huntsville’s Workforce While economists have called the recent trend of employees leaving their jobs “The Great Resignation,” questions have come into play about renaming the movement a migration.

While there is little question job openings, which have reached record levels, are unfilled there is evidence it’s because workers are leaving former positions for more lucrative ones.

This can also be evidenced behind the number of unemployment claims being at the lowest point since 1969.

“This Great Resignation story is really more about lower-wage workers finding new opportunities in a reopening labor market and seizing them,…”

“This Great Resignation story is really more about lower-wage workers finding new opportunities in a reopening labor market and seizing them,” Nick Bunker, director of economic research at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told the New York Times.

“Much of the discussion about the increase in quitting has focused on white-collar workers re-evaluating their priorities in the pandemic,’’ reported The Times. “But job turnover has been concentrated in hospitality and other low-wage sectors, where intense competition for employees has given workers the leverage to seek better pay.’’

By Mike Easterling

“A lot of the jobs that are having trouble finding people are struggling because either people don’t feel comfortable going back to work yet, or it’s that companies are not paying competitive wages,…”

There is no doubt a hole in the lower-wage workforce. “Workers Wanted” signs dot landscapes, including the Tennessee Valley.

she said.

This is the atmosphere as some 40 new restaurants have either recently opened or are preparing to in the city.

“I think we’re still in a lot of limbo with people feeling comfortable in some service jobs,…”

Lucia Cape, senior vice president of economic development and workforce at the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, said trepidation surrounding the coronavirus COVID-19 and its variants is as much problematic in finding employees, along with the search for better opportunities.

“I think we’re still in a lot of limbo with people feeling comfortable in some service jobs, feeling like environments are safe with the Delta variant and now the Omicron surge,’’

“A lot of the jobs that are having trouble finding people are struggling because either people don’t feel comfortable going back to work yet, or it’s that companies are not pay-

ing competitive wages,’’ Cape said.

“They’re having difficulty because of the number of people that are or are not available because of concerns about safety. Those factors are all working together to create a lot of uncertainty.’’

While food service jobs are plentiful, Cape said there are other options.

“We do see people looking for work,’’ she said. “It may not be the same work they did two years ago. So we’re working to make sure that the awareness of opportunities is out there and that people understand what training is available to them if they do want to change what they’re doing. They want to move from one type of job to another either because of their safety concerns, or because of wage issues.’’

The Chamber of Commerce offers job search tools on its website www.hsvchamber.org. On the site, click the link “jobs’’ to access the workforce aimed “asmartplace.” w

February 2022

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

COVER COVER S

Turner Constructio Contract to Build New

By Dawn Suiter / Photos courte Huntsville’s new City Hall is now a step closer with the signing of a contract between Turner Construction Company and the City of Huntsville to build both the new City Hall building and the adjoining parking garage.

Construction will take place at the location of the current parking garage on Fountain Circle, directly across the street from the current Municipal Complex, which opened at 308 Fountain Circle over 50 years ago.

Designed by architectural firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood, the new City Hall will have a ground-floor entrance off of Fountain Circle and a second-floor entrance at the intersection of Fountain Circle and Madison Street.

Goodwyn Mills Cawood project architect Mark Coyle said the exterior of the new City Hall will consist of a precast veneer engineered to resemble limestone but be less expensive and more durable over time.

“There will be a lot of modern technology that will make it far more efficient for [employees] to perform their duties” Coyle explained that the overall exterior look of the building draws a lot of aesthetic from the historic First National Bank building across the street from the existing City Hall.

As for the interior, Coyle explained that the new City Hall won’t be a “gold-plated building,” but will rather contain a “fairly efficient finishes package.” Public spaces like a common area on the second floor and the meeting chambers and public meeting rooms on the sixth floor will feature ornate touches.

“In those areas, we’ll be bringing in some of the exterior finishes,” Coyle explained. “As you move up

the rest of the building, the finishes package is much more utilitarian and easier to maintain.”

Unlike traditional office buildings with separate offices, the new City Hall has a more open concept floor plan in order to promote efficiency and collaboration. “There will be a lot of modern technology that will make it far more efficient for [employees] to perform their duties,” Hamilton said.

Nearly every aspect of the future City Hall was planned with the needs of the public in mind, from convenient entrances to groupings of

similar departments.

In order to create this accessible design, City leaders sought feedback from the community, holding three public input sessions in early March 2020. In addition, the project has been discussed at numerous City Council and Planning Commission meetings, allowing the public opportunities to weigh in on the subject.

“Of all the things the City has built over the last few years, this has been presented and discussed more than any other,” said City Administrator John Hamilton. “It’s important

the public has input into their City Hall.”

The grouping of similar departments will make it easier for residents and business owners to renew licenses, get building permits, pay taxes, and conduct City-related business.

Frequented by builders and contractors,the Fire Marshal and Inspection departments will be located on the ground floor. Engineering and Planning will share a floor, as well as the Clerk Treasurer and Finance departments. The sixth floor will hold the City Council offices along with

February 2022

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STORY STORY

on Company Wins w Huntsville City Hall

esy of Goodwyn Mills Cawood

“It’s important the public has input into their City Hall.” public meeting space. The Office of the Mayor, along with Communications and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, will be on the seventh floor.

The primary public entrance to the new City Hall will emerge on the second floor, which will house the Human Resources Department and City Council chambers, where most public meetings take place.

The facility will provide 175,000 square feet of administrative space and will be occupied by approximately 370 employees. Its design will allow for future growth: “It will be City Hall for 75 years or more,” stated Hamilton.

The adjacent seven-floor parking deck will measure 195,000 square feet and will have 568 spaces in the attached garage with some spaces designated for public use.

Construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete, with an anticipated total budget of $85 million. When construction begins, Fountain Circle will close to accommodate workers and construction materials.

Hamilton explained that while there are many reasons for replacing

the old, outdated City Hall, the primary motivation is a better and more efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Due to limited space, for instance, some departments currently operate out of leased buildings elsewhere.

The current building also has maintenance issues, which grow more costly as the building ages. Hamilton jokingly praised the City’s maintenance crews for keeping it functional with “bubble gum and baling wire.”

The building and garage will fill the entire block, but will include ample sidewalks and landscaping following the streetscape design standards used throughout Downtown Huntsville.

The new location is a perfect fit for the City of Huntsville, according to Hamilton. “It keeps our City Hall at the heart of our City, on the central square and in proximity to other public and private institutions with whom we closely partner.”

“City Hall is meant to be a symbol of our community and plays a role in civic pride,” Hamilton continued.

“It’s going to be functional, maintainable, and efficient, but it’s also going to be a building our community can be proud of.”

“This building will have a huge impact on our city and we’re so proud to be part of it,” Turner Construction Company business leader Brendan McCormick said.

Turner Construction has also completed a number of other prominent projects in Huntsville, including Phase IV of the Von Braun Complex on Redstone Arsenal; renovation and expansion of the Torch Technologies 40,000 square foot headquarters, including an adjacent 10,000 square foot conference center known as the Freedom Center; and the new Huntsville Botanical Garden Guest Welcome Center. w

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Newby Industrial Park Shares in the Development of South Huntsville’s Business South Huntsville’s Newby Industrial Park is growing faster than expected due to market demand.

Developers John Blue Realty has ramped up the completion date to the first quarter of 2022 in order to service more tenants in the one hundred thousand square foot development.

John Blue Realty acquired the property at the intersection of Newby Road and Bob Wallace in 2018 when it was still an abandoned trailer park. The purpose of the development was to turn the abandoned trailer park into an upscale industrial park built primarily of masonry.

The primary focus for the park has been on small trades and industries needing a small office footprint and storage ranging up to 2,500 feet or larger. When construction started in 2019, the plan was to build the park out in small segments over time as the market dictated. Due to increased demand, the construction of additional buildings is being moved up to early 2022.

Tenants can acquire space at Newby Park ranging from 2,500 square feet up to 40,000 square

feet at the price of $9.50 per SF. The space can be custom built to fit the needs of each tenant and include features that are ideal for small manufacturing, workshops, distribution, breweries and other creative spaces. New tenants will be joining companies who already reside in the park such as Clear Defense Pest Control, Rocket City Deli Provisions and IERUS Technologies among others.

Three buildings have been completed with a total of 35,000 square feet fully occupied. The fourth

building of 12,500 square feet has been fully leased, and a fifth building of 45,000 feet is under design

By Noah Logan / Photos courtesy of John Blue Reality, LLC

with strong interest in most all this building.

Two additional buildings will also be added to the park.

When asked about the property, John Blue Realty expressed their interest in maintaining the site as a positive addition to south Huntsville. “It is our intent to hold the property, as we do most all our development, for an extended period of time and build on our reputation to be a positive contributor to both the beauty of Huntsville, as well as its vitality.” w

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Blue Summit Supplies Bringing a Personal Touch to Local Businesses Who Need Office Supplies Huntsville officially became Alabama’s most populous city in 2021.

In order to accommodate this rapid growth over the last few years, countless companies have started, expanded or relocated within the city. And in order for them to accommodate Huntsville’s ever growing population, someone has to accommodate the needs of these newfound business entities. That’s where Blue Summit Supplies comes in.

Starting in 2016 with just 500 boxes of envelopes to be sold on Amazon, Blue Summit Supplies quickly grew into a leader in office supplies online. Huntsville resident and former Lockheed Martin engineer Owen Franklin grew the company from $60,000 in sales in its first year of operation to over $3.3 million in 2017. Blue Summit never stopped growing and the company achieved a rank of 654 on the Inc. 5000 in 2021.

The next step for Blue Summit Supplies is to use their online success to help local businesses in the city in a more direct and personal way. Director of Marketing for Blue Summit Supplies Shannon Miller sat down with HBJ and elaborated on this next phase for the company and their future goals.

“We’ve never wanted to think small so we’re always looking ahead for ways to innovate and continue to grow,” Miller said. “We realized that we can’t work on Amazon forever. So in order to create a longer lasting business model, we’re using the profits from Amazon sales and branching out into local business to business distribution as well. We’ll start in Huntsville and then expand into other cities from there.”

Blue Summit Supplies aims to use the scale and resources they have acquired from their large online operation and combine it with a “mom and pop” touch to help businesses in the Huntsville community that can be underserved in the office supply industry according to Miller.

Owen Franklin, Blue Summit Supplies owner

“Eventually, once we have grown, we want to be a part of the conversation that is moving and growing the City of Huntsville.”

“There’s a lot of places to buy office supplies. One thing we found that some small to medium sized companies don’t have when buying is that one on one touch because people aren’t taking the time to go out and talk to them,” explained Miller.

“A lot of people we talked to will buy a few things from Staples, a few things from Amazon and a few things from other various places. What they are missing, that we will provide, is a one stop shop where someone will come to them with all the product knowledge, do all the pricing, do all the shopping and even test out products for them.”

By focusing heavily on personal and professional development and building an engaged culture, it is Owen Franklin’s vision to establish Blue Summit Supplies as a long-lasting company that will be able to give back to the city in both service and profits.

“Our goal is to focus on com-

munication,” said Blue Summit Supplies owner Owen Franklin. “We don’t just want to go to our clients

By Noah Logan / Photos by Steve Babin

and tell them that their goals matter.

We want them to already expect that from us by how we interact with clients during every step of the process.”

When asked about the major goal of the company, Owen responded that he wanted to impact the Huntsville community in a way that reflects the core values that Blue Summit Supplies practices everyday.

“Eventually, once we have grown, we want to be a part of the conversation that is moving and growing the City of Huntsville.”

In order to do so, we shape our office space around this mentality, make hires from people that actually care about investing in Madison county, and create an office culture that is both personal and professional.” w

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TRAVEL / LEISURE

Breeze Airways Debuts Airbus A220 Aircraft in Huntsville Huntsville travelers will soon be able to fly on new Airbus aircraft to Tampa, FL and Charleston, SC. Beginning May 6th, Breeze Airways will be premiering its new ‘Nicest’ fare with first-class seating and an introductory fare of just $99.

Huntsville International Airport (HSV) will be one of the first in the nation to be served by the fleet of new, Mobile-built planes. As the largest commercial airport in North Alabama, HSV serves over 1 million passengers annually. Additionally, HSV offers nonstop service to ten destinations that are served by American, Delta, and United Airlines, along with ultra-low-cost carriers, such as Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Silver Airways.

Breeze will have 15 Mobile-built A220-300s in service by the end of 2022, which will be used primarily for longer-haul flights, including

transcontinental service. The carrier, which began service in May 2021 with an all-Embraer fleet, has agreed to purchase eighty A220-300s, with one aircraft scheduled to be delivered each month for the next six and a half years.

The A220-300 aircraft will feature a dynamic seating plan which can be customized for seasonality or by route. The A220s offers a range between 10 and 45 extra legroom seats and 80 standard legroom seats,

all in a two-by-three configuration.

The aircraft also will be outfitted with between 12 and 36 first class seats in a twoby-two configuration, featuring 39-inches of seat pitch, 20.5-inches of seat width, and special features such as a footrest for added comfort. All seats will be fitted with in-seat power and USB ports.

Until now, Breeze guests have been able to select from either the ‘Nice’ or ‘Nicer’ fare when booking on the Breeze website or app.

Travelers will have an enticing third fare option. When booking a flight on the A220-300, guests can choose the ‘Nicest’ fare, which will include a range of bundled amenities, along with first-class seating.

By Lori J. Connors / Photo courtesy of Breeze Airways The ‘Nicest’ fare will include two checked bags, a carry-on bag, and a personal item. Travelers will also receive 6% BreezePoints earned. On the longer routes, fresh food items will be introduced sometime in the future.

Later this year, all A220-300 aircraft will be outfitted with technology that will allow guests to seamlessly stream TV or movies, check email, browse the internet, and stay connected via social media or messaging apps while inflight.

Breeze has extended its travel booking window through September 6, 2022, revealing which routes the A220 will operate. To determine which flights are operated by the A220, travelers should check to see if there is a “Nicest” fare option, only available on the Airbus jet.

For more information, visit https://www.flybreeze.com/home

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

HEALTH / WELLNESS

The Covery: A New Concept in Restoration and Wellness

By Lori J. Connors / Photos courtesy of Crunkleton

In a high-paced world fraught with seemingly endless to-do lists, assorted personal challenges, and topped off a global pandemic, attaining inner peace and serenity might seem far out of reach for many.

If one thing is certain, COVID-19 has made many people better attuned to their health. The last two years have strongly emphasized the importance of boosting one’s immunity, not only our own individual well-being but for the health of those around us.

To help those on the path of health and wellness is The Covery, a new concept focused on total wellbeing that is coming to the Times Plaza.

After the established success of Regymen Fitness, Jason and Anu Haynes have expanded on their business model with the spring rollout of The Covery Huntsville.

“Huntsville is a highachieving, fast-growing, and high-tech city, which makes it the ideal location for a wellness facility” The concept behind The Covery is to bring overall wellness, athletic recovery and injury prevention, and aesthetic services together, all under one roof. In this way, guests can focus on their individual needs, using a holistic approach.

“You only have one life and one body,” said Anu Haynes, co-owner of The Covery. “There’s nothing more important than taking care of it.”

The Covery offers personal restorative therapies within an environment where guests can recharge their body and mind. Guests will leave feeling and looking better, thanks to proven therapeutics that address various aspects of wellness.

Featuring a wide assortment of popular cutting-edge therapies,

The Covery features Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, NormaTec Compression, IV Infusions, Whole Body Cryotherapy, Ballancer Pro Lymphatic Drainage, Hydrafacials, medical-grade skincare products, and much more. What’s more, all services are medically supervised by licensed professionals.

“The Covery is something we have been working on in the background for the past few years,” “Huntsville is a high-achieving, fast-growing, and high-tech city, which makes it the ideal location for a wellness facility,” said Haynes.

“We’re making many forms of therapeutic treatments more accessible and affordable to those who need it. There are therapies that combat vitamin deficiencies, aid in muscle recovery, target cellulite, improve mental clarity, and enhance the skin’s overall health and glow.”

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The Covery opened its first location in Baton Rouge this past March; the concept came into fruition at an ideal time.

“People can take better charge of their health, and The Covery is here to make it easier and more effective” “The Covery is something we have been working on in the background for the past few years,” said EK Navan, co-founder of The Covery and Regymen Fitness. “When the pandemic hit, I had the opportunity to research the science behind the services we offer and the amazing benefits that these treatments contribute to increasing an individual’s overall well-being. Self-care isn’t selfish; rather, it is essential to get the maximum benefit out of the life you

live and lift the others up around you. To accomplish this, we all need to unplug to recharge; to take a little time for yourself.”

“People can take better charge

of their health, and The Covery is here to make it easier and more effective,” added Jason Haynes, co-owner.

“After you put in the sweat equity of a workout, it’s time for recovery.

The body is a complex mechanism.

Physical and mental health are closely connected. We hope to make the journey toward better health a little easier and more enjoyable.” w

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HOUSING

West Huntsville Rental Property Nearing Completion

By Gus Wintzell / Photos by Gus Wintzell

Back in October 2020, JFC Living announced the development of various updates to Virtuoso Living, a unique rental community that opts for “housements” over the traditional, and often crowded, apartment style units.

Fast forward to 2022. JFC Living is nearing the completion of Virtuoso Living, which totes some extremely welcoming, and unique, amenities available for renters in Huntsville.

“It affords the residents a higher quality of living with all the bells and whistles.”

The major concept that John Fitzmaurice, CEO of JCF Living, wanted to bring to Virtuoso Living was a singular, new concept to rental properties known as “housements’’. This new living style offers rental properties with increased amounts of individual space and flair. And, for John, will hopefully set a precedent for luxury rental living.

Each unit comes with individual driveways, personal front and back patios, independent access, and minimal to no common areas, apart from those found at the clubhouse.

“What this does for tenants is set a future standard for luxury living. It affords the residents a higher quality of living with all the bells and whistles,” said Fitzmaurice.

The entire complex will have sidewalks throughout the property, connecting the community to offer a neighborhood feel. Other amenities include 24 hour on-site maintenance, private storage units, a pet friendly atmosphere, and a resort-style pool.

Fitzmaurice also stressed the importance of individual space.

No resident at Virtuoso Living will

“What this does for tenants is set a future standard for luxury living at an affordable price” have to climb flights of stairs to get to their living space or deal with noisy neighbors above or below.

“Residents will be able to live in their own space, with an excess of at least 20 feet of green between their unit and the next.”

“No more living in mouse traps.”

Apart from the individual units,

one of the most singular features of Virtuoso Living is a relatively new concept to rental property complexes: a first of its kind three-story clubhouse. The newest addition to Virtuoso Living will be completed soon, and will include three floors of social areas, a luxurious fitness center, a resort-style pool, coffee bar, Wi-Fi Lounge for study and work space, and an assortment of high-end finishes.

Assistant Manager, Effie Woodruff, stated in a recent interview that this three-story clubhouse will not only serve as a major hangout spot for current residents, but also offer an attractive view for new resi-

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HOUSING

“Residents will be able to live in their own space, with an excess of 20 feet of green between their unit and the next as the bare minimum.” dents looking to move to the area.

The clubhouse will also have two balconies, which will help resi-

dents catch a view of the Space and Rocket Center, as well as show off the green space for interested tenants.

“It’s all about the green space at Virtuoso Living,” said Laura Sellers, Manager at Huntsville’s Virtuoso Living. “This concept will change how apartments and rental spaces are built.”

Residents will have 20-25 feet of green space between other units, which also means that Virtuoso living will offer low density living spaces.

For John, the green space is what helps define the privacy and individual flair of Virtuoso Living.

“Would you rather live in a small apartment, with three flights of stairs between your front door and a shared parking space, or would you rather enjoy a private

“It’s all about the green space at Virtuoso Living” driveway within feet of your front door, surrounded by your own yard?”

“It’s all about the green, green, green.” w

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

EDUCATION

Huntsville Educational and Community Leader Appointed to APC Board of Directors Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims was appointed by the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, Mac McCutcheon, to the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) Board of Directors.

Dr. Sims’ career in education paints an image that perfectly qualifies her for the newest post.

Since 2018, Dr. Sims served as the fourth President of Huntsville’s Drake State Community and Technical College. At this position, she focused on serving and enhancing the lives of her students, including extensive curriculum development and expanding the College’s resources.

Because of her leadership and goals that catered toward the education and the advancement of opportunities for students on all levels of their educational pathways, Dr. Sims was awarded the first Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) ever granted to a historically black community college by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

“She is recognized as a community leader, exemplary administrative head, and someone who promotes building the workforce so that families can thrive.”

Prior to serving as the President of Drake State, Dr. Sims served as the Dean for the College of Education at Athens State University, where she oversaw significant technology enhancements, the creation of local innovative partnerships, and an expansion of the College’s curriculum by developing and launching the College’s first graduate program.

“Dr. Sims has such a broad and deep career in education,” said APC Executive Director Gail Piggott. “She is recognized as a community leader, exemplary administrative head, and someone who promotes building the

By Gus Wintzell / Photo courtesy of Drake State Community & Technical College

“Education is my life’s work and I am honored to serve an organization that is committed to serving Alabama’s families”

workforce so that families can thrive.”

Besides her career in education, Dr. Sims is also involved in a variety of local and state organizations, including a board position for the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust and the first African American woman to serve on the Board of Directors for the Alabama State Port Authority.

Dr. Sims is also involved directly in the Huntsville community as a member of the Burritt Memorial Committee, the WEDC Foundation,

“We welcome Dr. Sims as a new member of our board and look forward to her lending her expertise and enthusiasm to our organization.”

the AUM Foundation and is a member of the board for Downtown Huntsville Inc. APC Board Chairperson Trippy McGuire stated that the combination of her educational career and community service makes her perfect for the new appointment.

“Dr. Sims’ involvement with young people and her interest in their success dovetails perfectly with the vision statement of the Alabama Partnership for Children that ‘every Alabama child will have the opportunity to succeed in life’,” said APC Board Chairperson Trippy McGuire.

“We welcome Dr. Sims as a new member of our board and look forward to her lending her expertise and enthusiasm to our organization.”

When asked about her educational career, Dr. Sims summarized why the appointment to the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) Board of Directors fits well with her personal goals.

“Education is my life’s work and I am honored to serve an organization that is committed to serving Alabama’s families,” said Sims. “The Alabama Community College System provides a unified system of institutions dedicated to delivering academic education, adult education, and workforce development. By providing an impact at an earlier stage, students in pre-kindergarten to high school will be able to gain the support and training needed to enter the workforce.”

Among Dr. Sims’ responsibilities with her newest appointment, she will represent all 24 schools within the Alabama Community College System. w

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BRIEFCASE

RECOGNITION Beth Staula Elected to the ARA’s Board of Directors

RECOGNITION Huntsville’s Merit Bank Announces New President and Chief Executive

The Alabama Retail Association (ARA) announced the election of Beth Staula to the organization’s board of directors.

Beth started her journey after receiving a degree in fitness management from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Northern Colorado.

An active member in Alabama’s retail and e-commerce scene for decades, Staula co-founded Alabama Goods with Sherry Hartley in 2007. The focus of Alabama Good’s has always been about advertising and promoting the local and regional products Alabama has to offer. Since 2007, Alabama Goods has focused on online sales of ALabama-crafted goods and items as corporate gifts.

Success led the partners to add two brick-and-mortar locations in Alabama: first in Homewood and the second in Huntsville. The certified women-owned business now employs 32, and hopes to open a third store this upcoming Summer in Hoover.

Staula and Hartly also received Alabama’s 2021 Gold Retailers of the Year awards in the Annual Sales $1 Million to $5 Million category.

When asked about the importance of the ARA for the state of Alabama, Beth responded that the “Alabama Retail Association is the only organization that advocates on our behalf to improve the political climate for Alabama businesses.”

Beth’s two-year term began January 1, 2022.

Along with much of the recent success within the Huntsville-Madison County community, Huntsville-Based Merit Bank announced Charles W. Heaps as the company’s new President and Chief Executive. Heaps brings more than 20 years of banking experience to the new position, with an extensive record in commercial and agricultural lending success.

Heaps was one of the founding members of the group that successfully launched Merit Bank in 2019, helping raise $25 million from local investors in just two months. And, in the two years under his leadership, the bank surpassed $200 million in assets.

“I am excited and proud to serve as CEO of Merit Bank. It is an honor to lead an amazing team of professionals who are supporting local business owners and building our community during this period of rapid economic growth,” says Heaps. “I’m looking forward to the opportunities and success that lies ahead for our team and our customers.”

Heap’s 20 years of experience also includes Senior Vice President of ServisFirst Bank, as well as service in the greater Huntsville-Madison County community with the Council of Finance and Administration for the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Merit Bank is a Huntsville-based company that specializes in commercial lending and private executive banking, expansions, capital improvement, and many other areas.

Frank Aldag will continue to serve Merit Bank and its community as Chief Operating Officer. Mark Mcintyre will continue to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief of Baking Sales Officer.

RECOGNITION

RECOGNITION

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Board Reappoints Huntsville’s David Nast The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta announced the reappointment of David Nast to a three-year term on the Board, which will be Nast’s second consecutive appointment to the board.

As a founding member of Huntsville-based Progress Bank, David Nast has served as President and CEO of the bank since 2008.

Besides banking and finance, David Nast has been involved in the Huntsville community in a variety of capacities. Nast has served various community and state organizations over the past few years, such as serving as the Chair of the Alabama Bankers Association Board and the Chair of the Huntsville Sports Commission. Currently, he serves as a board member of Leadership Alabama and served as a past CHairman for the Huntsville Museum of Art. During his second term on the Federal Reserve Bank of Atalanta Board, Nast will continue to provide economic information from their industries and the branch territory to the district Bank’s president and head office directors, who use the information in discussing monetary policy options and making discount rate recommendations.

“David is a talented and intentional banker who is interested in strengthening our collective efforts to continually better our industry,” said ABA President and CEO Scott Latham in a statement. “A banker with broad experience and a strong work ethic, David is well-prepared to serve as ABA’s chairman.”

Freedom Real Estate Announced the Promotion of Two New Vice Presidents Effective January 01, Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC. (Freedom) announced the promotion of Brenda Conville and Lee Holland to two separate Vice President positions.

CEO Bill Roark said that the recent promotions represent major growth for Freedom.

“Freedom Real Estate and Capital has been consistently expanding since its founding. As a result of this growth, we have selected two exceptional internal leaders for promotion to Vice President.”

Brenda Conville will serve as Vice President of Real Estate with this promotion. Since 2017, Conville served as Freedom’s Director of Real Estate, leading the team in daily operations of the company, such as business planning, brokerage activities, property management, financial operations, and tenant relations.

Lee Holland will serve as the Vice President of Development and Construction. Since 2019, Holland has served as the Director of Capital Projects, providing oversight and leadership on all aspects of capital building programs and owner consulting projects. He has also assisted CEO Bill Roark on a variety of projects, including the development and implementation of strategic business and operational programs.

Holland commented on his excitement regarding the new position.

“I am honored that Bill Roark and the Freedom Board of Directors have entrusted me to continue to lead Freedom’s development and owner consulting services growth.”

Conville agreed.

“Today it is even more clear to me that Freedom is that company. I am honored that Bill and the Freedom Board of Directors have placed their faith in me to continue to lead Freedom’s real estate operations in this capacity.”

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