Keeping you informed and inspired. March 2022
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3
AEROSPACE
COVER STORY
Boeing’s New Composite Fuel Tank Aims to Significantly Decrease Future Payloads
Boeing has recently conducted several tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville to demonstrate the readiness of the new fully composite cryogenic fuel tank for use on aerospace vehicles. By Noah Logan - Page 5
FOOD / DINING
See story on page 12
New Premier Collaboration DEVELOPMENT Debuting at Bridge Street Town Centre
PBR Cowboy Bar and Lockhart Smokehouse has announced the selection of Bayer Properties’ Bridge Street Town Centre as its debut location of PBR x Lockhart Smokehouse. By Dawn Suiter - Page 20
ADDITIONAL STORIES • Topping Out Celebrated at Downtown Huntsville Project By Mike Easterling • Page 2
• AMIIC Celebrates with a Ribbon Cutting for Its Workforce Development Hub By Lori J. Connors • Page 6
• UNA Receives First Ever Endowment Fund from Huntsville’s Bank Independent By Gus Wintzell • Page 16
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HUNTSVILLE
BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 5, Issue 3 March 2022 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE
Topping Out Celebrated at Downtown Huntsville Project Robins & Morton held a “topping out” celebration at 225 Holmes Avenue, a new fie-story building that will be the future home to Bank Independent, Prince Holdings, and other to-be-named tenants. The topping out signifies the placement of the final beam and represents the structural completion and mid-point stage of the project. Once complete, the 77,000-square-foot office building will provide Class A office space and ground floor retail. Bank Independent’s Madison County headquarters will serve as anchor on the ground floor and will occupy offices on the second and fifth floors.
“Bank Independent is invested in the future of Downtown Huntsville, and we look forward to watching the continued growth around 225 Holmes Avenue.’’ Other tenants are being sought. “The rest of the leases can be customized once the rest of the tenants are identified,’’ said Lillian Brand of Birmingham’s KC Projects Public Relations. Both Bank Independent and Prince Holdings currently have
the corner of Greene Street and Holmes Avenue across from the new city parking deck. Nola I VanPeursem Architects is serving as the architectural firm for the site. Colliers International | Alabama is the leasing agent. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work of the craft professionals on this project,” Division Manager Mitch Coley said. “We’re appreciative of the trust placed in us by Prince Holdings and Bank Independent to construct their new building, and of Nola VanPeursem Architects for their confidence in bringing their design to life. We can’t wait to see this building open and housing more businesses in Down-
office locations on Holmes Avenue. “We are excited to be one step closer to our new downtown office,” Macke Mauldin, President and CEO of Bank Independent, Inc., said in a press release. “Bank Independent is invested in the future of Downtown Huntsville, and we look forward to watching the continued growth around 225 Holmes Avenue.’’ The new building is located on
By Mike Easterling / Photos courtesy of Robins & Morton town Proper.” Bank Independent is rooted in the Northwest Alabama area. Founded in the Colbert County town of Leighton in 1947, the bank now serves 18 communities. Its name evolved from The Bank of Leighton to First Colbert Bank and First Colbert National Bank after moving headquarters from Leighton to Sheffield. The bank merged with the Bank of Florence and became Bank Independent in 1982, and moved into Huntsville in 2014. Prince Holdings is a local, family owned and operated asset management firm with a strong emphasis on community reinvestment projects since 2016. w
March 2022
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SIT DOWN WITH SUCCESS
Meet Kimberly Walker of Walker’s Market: A Leap of Faith Pays Off “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 foodies are well aware of the city’s many hidden culinary gems, one of which is Walker’s Market, tucked into a storefront in the Five Points area of the Old Towne District at 813 Wellman Ave. Owned by Huntsville native Kimberly Walker, Walker’s Market is truly a one-of-a-kind establishment offering a wide assortment of hand-selected kitchen items, unique small-batch, locally-sourced gourmet foods and wines, and a seasonal selection of fresh, precooked to-go meals and desserts prepared by local caterers and stored in the Market’s coolers. As Kimberly’s daughter-in-law Chelsea Walker looked after custom-
ers, Kimberly paused to discuss her business. What inspired you to start your own business? My daughter went to college in Atlanta so in 2013 and 2014 we went over there to see her…there were a couple of stores that were gourmet specialty food stores and they offered dinners and foods to go and some other things, and I was just like ‘this food is so good and I love the labeling and packaging.’ It’s all from small batch vendors, not stuff you’d find in the grocery store. Basically, for the next two years I hemmed and hawed and the kids were like ‘you should just do it!’ What challenges did you face as a fledgling business owner? It was a very, very new concept. Winning over people at first…people weren’t sure about buying something that was fully cooked, whether they would enjoy it, where it was made, that
kind of thing. When I first started [the Health Department] told me ‘you can’t do this, this isn’t right, this doesn’t exist…’ it took me a while to get them to read their manual and realize that people around the state of Alabama have done this. The biggest thing…was that I didn’t get my food permit until the day before I opened the store. That was very stressful. What are the keys to your success? Hard work, customer service, long hours…you’ve gotta be willing to throw yourself into your business 100% and it’s going to have to be your
By Dawn Suiter / Photo by Lori J. Connors
child. And just like a child, it has to grow. And as it grows, you get to relax a little but you don’t ever want to not be involved in every step of the way… it’s all about your customers and word of mouth. What’s your favorite part of owning Walker’s Market? The people. I love the people. w
ADVERTORIAL
10 Questions To Ask Your Future Financial Advisors Most of us have been on the receiving end of interview questions, but it’s time to flip the script when selecting a financial advisor. The relationship between advisor and client is highly personal and, hopefully, one that lasts a lifetime, so you must choose an advisor that fits your personality and offers the services you’ll need as your life and financial situation evolve. When you interview prospective advisors, it can be challenging to know what to ask. Here are ten questions to help you pick the right advisor for you. 1. How are you compensated? • Fee-Only: Charges fee for planning and asset management - could be hourly or retainer. • Fee-Based: Charges fees for assets management and is eligible to receive a commission for the sale of products. • Commissions: Receives compensation in the form of a commission for selling products or placing trades. 2. Do you operate as a Fiduciary? • A fiduciary is legally bound to always act in your best interest. Operating under the suitability standard means an advisor can place you in an investment that may suit
your desired objective but not be the best thing for you. Said another way, a non-fiduciary is selling a sweater that fits you while a fiduciary is required to make sure the sweater looks good on you. 3. What certifications and education do you have? • CFP®, Certified Financial Planner: broad-based financial knowledge certification. Acquiring and maintaining the designation is based on the Four E’s (education, examination, experience, and ethical requirements). Individuals with this designation are required to act as fiduciaries to clients. • ChFC®, Chartered Financial Consultant: broad-based financial knowledge certification. Can be held by fiduciary and non-fiduciary advisors. • CLU®, Chartered Life Underwriter: narrow-focused designation requiring extensive knowledge of the life insurance industry. • CFA, Chartered Financial Analyst: investment-centered designation requiring passage of a three-part exam that tests the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management, and wealth planning. 4. What is your specialty and
typical client size? • Some advisors are generalists. Others have focused their practices on various niches such as specific occupations (physicians, executives, lawyers, engineers, etc.) or the net worth of clientele. 5. What is your firm’s investment philosophy? 6. How will my investments be chosen? 7. What is my total “all-in” cost? • Understanding the entire relationship cost is imperative. This “all-in” cost should include the compensation the advisor with whom you are working receives, the underlying investment
fees for a mutual fund or Exchange Traded Fund, and the cost to place trades (e.g., buys and sales within your investment account). 8. Do you have any disciplinary actions? https://brokercheck.finra.org/ https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/ 9. How often do you review my portfolio and meet with me to discuss it? What other financial topics, if any, will be part of these reviews? 10. What is your succession plan? Bridgeworth Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser.
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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 Alyssa Mitchell Dawn Suiter Contributing Writer…………………………………………………… John Kvach Graphic Design ……………………………………………………… Justina Simon Website……………………………………………………………………… Jim Gharib Photographers………………………………………………………… Steve Babin Justina Simon Director of Sales ……………………………………………… Carolyn Stephenson Account Executives…………………………………………………… Noah Logan Marilyn Pinchock 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.
March 2022
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AEROSPACE
Boeing’s New Composite Fuel Tank Aims to Significantly Decrease Future Payloads Boeing has recently conducted several tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville to demonstrate the readiness of the new fully composite cryogenic fuel tank for use on aerospace vehicles. This new technology has the potential to add more efficiency to future missions by significantly increasing the payload of those missions. These tests feature a fully-composite, linerless cryogenic fuel tank, designed and manufactured by Boeing. The 14 foot wide cryogenic composite tank is almost the same in size to the fuel tanks intended for the upper stage of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, which will be used to send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon for the Artemis program. The company said its engineers and their NASA counterparts put the cryogenic liquid-filled composite tank to a stress test, and the storage survived with pressure levels 3.75 times higher than design requirements. If the new composite technology were implemented in evolved versions of the SLS’s Exploration Upper Stage, the weight savings technology could increase payload masses by up to 30 percent. “Composites are the next major technological advancement for
large aerospace cryogenic storage structures,” said Boeing Composite Cryotank Manufacturing Lead Carlos Guzman. “And while they can be challenging to work with, they offer significant advantages over traditional metallic structures. Boeing has the right mix of experience, expertise and resources to continue to advance this technology and bring it to market in a variety of applications across aerospace and aeronautics.” The cryogenic tank is lighter due to it not having a metal liner to reinforce it. However, it was still able to withstand 375 percent more than the
intended operational pressures without a major structural failure. Boeing’s Test Program Manager,
By Noah Logan / Photos courtesy of Boeing
Steve Wanthal, said the partnership between Boeing and NASA has been instrumental in the development process. “NASA’s support through this testing has been invaluable,” said Wanthal. “We were able to use their technical expertise and investments made in the testing infrastructure at the Marshall Space Flight Center to continue to advance this technology, which will ultimately benefit the entire industry.” As well as demonstrating the strength and capabilities of the new tank, the test also provided data that would support the company’s ongoing research on hydrogen as energy for commercial aviation applications. The recent project was sponsored by Boeing and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA.) w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
MANUFACTURING
AMIIC Celebrates with a Ribbon Cutting for Its Workforce Development Hub Many area luminaries and civic leaders, along with those from the neighboring Huntsville and Madison communities, were on hand to celebrate the official opening and ribbon cutting for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center’s (AMIIC) new facility and lab. Greg Brown, Chairman Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Chairman and Co-CEO & CFO of Brown Precision, Inc. led the event by praising AMIIC and the technologies that they will be providing to help develop a mission-ready, modernized workforce for Huntsville, Madison, and the entire North Alabama region. “AMIIC was established to accelerate the adoption of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and support building the North Alabama workforce of tomorrow,” said Brown. “AMIIC will work to stimulate Alabama’s economy, workforce, and advanced manufacturing sector through its state-of-the-art demonstration facility, where we’re at today.” Among those in attendance were Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, and Madison County Commissioner Chairman Dale Strong; Huntsville City Council members Jenny Robinson and Frances Akridge; County Commissioners representing Madi-
Pictured from L to R: UAH Interim President Dr. Chuck Karr, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, AMIIC Executive Director John Schmitt, Drake State President Dr. Pat Simms, Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong, HSV/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Greg Brown
son and Limestone Counties; Alabama State Senator Sam Givhan; representatives for Congressman Robert Aderholt, US Senator Tommy Tuberville, and US Congressman Mo Brooks. From the academia sector were Dr. Chuck Karr, interim President for The University of Alabama in Huntsville; Matt Massey, representing Alabama School of Cybertechnology and Engineering; Dr. Jimmy Hodges, interim President at Calhoun Community College; Dr. Pat Simms, President of Drake State, and Dr. Ahsan Choudhuri, Associate Vice President for the Aerospace Center at The University of Texas, El Paso. Members from the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) Executive Leadership team were also on hand to celebrate the historical event. “Thank you all for being here. I’ll be honest, I’m blown away, we are absolutely humbled by your presence and your support,” said John Schmitt, AMIIC’s Executive Director. “What a testament to how this community shows up for each other, it’s truly astounding.” Schmitt, having served in his role since last April, is charged with overseeing the strategic planning and operations, providing leadership and direction to the advisory board and board of directors, as well as working to establish AMIIC as a Regional recognized Advanced Manufacturing
center of excellence in North Alabama. “As we’ve had this opportunity and the privilege to work on AMIIC as a project for our community, we re-
By Lori J. Connors Photos by Lori J. Connors
ally got a chance to see how special North Alabama and Huntsville really are,” said Schmitt. “But we wouldn’t doing our job and setting out what we’re doing if we didn’t do it within context. And that’s the context of our personal and professional lives, the shifting demographics of our workforce, and the incredible growth of our region. “There are often conversations across our community about the power that can be harnessed when government, business, community, industry, and education all collaborate,” said Dr. Pat Simms, President of Drake State. “This facility is a shining example of what that looks like. This is how we meet our statewide goals of putting 500,000 skilled, reliable workers into Alabama’s workforce by 2025.” w
March 2022
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Constellation, Huntsville’s ‘Front Door’, Now Well Underway The Constellation Huntsville development, a project 22 years in the making, is coming closer to completion. Located on approximately 11 acres at the former site of the old Heart of Huntsville Mall between Memorial Parkway, Clinton Avenue, and the Von Braun Center, Constellation Huntsville’s prominent location has earned it the nickname of ‘Huntsville’s Front Door,’ greeting visitors as they enter the downtown Huntsville area. According to Constellation developer D. Scott McLain, CCIM, CRE of Coldwell Banker Commercial McLain Real Estate, the project is “proceeding very vigorously now. We’re currently building 219 apartments. They’ll be the nicest in town until someone builds something nicer.”
“Our goal with this office would be to build the tallest office building in town, which is not a particularly heavy lift since the tallest building in downtown Huntsville now is 12 stories” McLain stated that the apartment community will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with “very fine decor and the amenities that you would expect in a first class apartment project.” The apartments are currently being pre-leased and are projected to be occupied as early as May 2022. Among the many features of the Constellation apartment complex, McLain said, will be two interior courtyards, including an active space with a swimming pool and associated functions and a ‘passive courtyard’ with seating areas and grills. The two courtyards will be separated by a building lower than the surrounding apartments with a rooftop recreation space. McLain added that they are also
in the process of leasing the retail component of the Constellation project, which will be located at the corner of Heart of Huntsville and Clinton Avenue with the Memorial Parkway ramp situated at the north end of the property. “It’s currently staged with construction materials,” he said. According to McLain, Huntsville conducted a study in 2017 that showed a demand for 211,000 square feet of restaurants downtown. “There’s $95 million worth of untapped annual revenue that’s not being spent,” he said. He expects to add several restaurants to the development by fall 2023. In addition to restaurants and retailers, Constellation Huntsville will feature an office tower. Although Downtown Huntsville currently has a height limitation ordinance for office buildings, “it does not apply to Constellation,” McLain said. The
“We are not yet flocking back to offices. That’s a whole ‘nother article. But I think that we will go back to offices.” Constellation office tower’s height limit, rather, “is imposed by physics and economics, both of which are very strong forces.” “Our goal with this office would be to build the tallest office building in town, which is not a particularly heavy lift since the tallest building in downtown Huntsville now is 12 stories,” McLain added. McLain acknowledged that Covid has rearranged society’s view of offices. “We are not yet flocking back to offices. That’s a whole ‘nother article. But I think that we will go back to offices.” He predicts that it’ll take a year and a half to determine whether on-site offices will be back for good. “If we do go to the office and someone wants a Class-A office location in Downtown Huntsville,” he said, “there are
By Dawn Suiter / Photos courtesy of Scott McLain
very few options,” adding that the vacancy rate for Class A has been as low as 1%. “And it is certainly less than 5%, meaning that there’s simply not much Class A office [space] downtown. Huntsville has been a Research Park-oriented office market, but that’s changing slowly.” Another factor at work, according to McLain, is that employers are beginning to realize that their employees want an office environment that is “more fun than a traditional office park,” including amenities such as adjacent coffee shops, beer breweries, boutiques and living spaces. “As that demand increases,” he said, “I believe that office buildings and mixed use developments will be considered employee magnets. And as such, there will be some companies that say ‘it is in our interest to locate in an environment like that because it will help us attract employees.’” In order to justify starting construction of a large office tower, however, McLain stated that he needs big investors, or ‘whales,’ adding “all whales that are out there, I cordially invite you to consider an office site at Constellation if you want to be downtown with marvelous visibility.” A final part of the Constella-
March 2022
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
tion project involves elements sold to third parties, including a national hotel development and management company which has already opened a SpringHill Suites by Marriott at the site. The second site, located adjacent to the SpringHill hotel, will house a second hotel in the future. Further contributing to the attractiveness of the Constellation development is the planned pedestrian ‘skybridge’ over Memorial Parkway, an S-shaped design of about 6,000 linear feet with bow-
“We happen to be the possessors of a really good piece of property in Huntsville. And with it comes the responsibility to do it right.” string trusses that would cross the Parkway from the Constellation development at Clinton, continuing across Governors Drive to the Lowe
Mill area. In addition, improvements to Pinhook Creek and the creation of a downtown ‘riverwalk’ are on the slate in the near future. McClain explained that a project like this typically takes 10 years. He began planning the development with his father and an additional partner, later taking on two additional partners following the deaths of his father and their original partner. During the recession of the 1990s, he said, his partners told him “this is a great project, and we love Huntsville, but this is hard–you’re on your own.” McLain then took on a new partner. “So I’ve had five partners, two of whom died, two of whom bailed, and one who’s still with me,” he said. “For reality purposes [there was]
a six year recession. Plus, we had a four-year discussion with the city. If you take all that out, I’m right on time.” “We happen to be the possessors of a really good piece of property in Huntsville. And with it comes the responsibility to do it right. And so we have been striving for a long time to execute this properly. We will continue with that effort until we finish, and I never give up.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
TECHNOLOGY
Aerobotix Contributes to Award Winning Mobile Robot Huntsville based company Aerobotix was recently recognized for their part in an award winning collaboration with their Atlanta based partner, Compass Technology Group (CTG). Together, CTG and Aerobotix, an innovative leader in advanced metrology and robotic solutions, developed an adaptive radome diagnostic system which won the top Defense Manufacturing Technology Achieve (DMTA) Award at this year’s Defense Manufacturing Conference. “Aerobotix is extremely proud and honored to have assisted Compass Technology Group in this endeavor,” said Josh Tuttle, Business Development Manager at Aerobotix. “This truly is an example of Industry 4.0, as these self-navigating robots can be rapidly repurposed to serve multiple objectives, and in multiple locations. From a quality control standpoint, this technology could be used to save
substantial amounts of money for organizations and further increase means of production and manufacturing.” The project also marks the first ever use of a collaborative mobile robot in Air Force maintenance depots. The mobile robot manipulates an Advanced Microwave Mapping Probe (AMMP) and the system uses microwave signals to non-destructively evaluate aircraft radomes and the identify defects in the aircraft. Aerobotix designed and built the system using a FANUC CRX – 10iA robot. This robot rides on a separate Automated Guided Vehicle and, using LiDAR to scan the work zone for safe navigation, adjusts scanning paths and executes detailed part analysis.
Representatives from CTG say the technological achievement is a huge step forward in their respective fields. “This dramatic technology leap has enabled us to deploy laboratory precision in an Air Force manufacturing environment,” said Dr. John Schultz, Chief Scientist at CTG. “Combining our sensors and algorithms with Aerobotix’s automation system has moved us from literally tapping a penny while
By Noah Logan Photos courtesy of Aerobotix listening for substrate damage, to instead quantifying microwave performance with self-navigating LiDAR on a mobile base with a FANUC collaborative robot. Our robotic microwave NDE system will put better parts back in the air, quicker and at less cost.” The DMTA awards are given to teams of government, industry and academia employees who are responsible for outstanding projects in manufacturing technology. Aerobotix specializes in the creation of cuttingedge automated robotic solutions for high-value aircraft and vehicles. “Aerobotix is perhaps best known for robotic painting, but this award for our work with CTG highlights our expertise in metrology and navigation systems,” added Tuttle. “We are a reliable automation integrator for the aerospace industry and excited to partner with other companies on future projects.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COVER COVER S
Huntsville Aerospace Com Artemis Prog
By Daw The roars of artillery fire and rocket engines are commonplace to Huntsvillearea residents, but even the most seasoned Huntsvillians may have been surprised by the particularly loud, extended burn heard across the Tennessee Valley on February 2. This burn was the sound of success, marking an additional milestone in the Artemis mission’s pathway to space as Boeing’s new fully-composite, linerless cryogenic fuel tank passed a critical series of tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Although Boeing is at the moment the most visible, or rather audible, company involved with the Artemis program, it is truly a joint effort involving collaboration between multiple Huntsville aerospace companies working in conjunction with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center as they tackle the goal of returning humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972. The Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft have deep roots in Huntsville and the surrounding area thanks to the combined efforts of Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Aerojet Rocketdyne, United Launch Alliance (ULA), Teledyne Brown Engineering, and Dynetics. With the support of the City of Huntsville, Marshall Space Flight Center, and other local partners, these companies are launching the Rocket City’s reputation to new heights as a leader in aerospace technology. Boeing representative Josh Barrett stated that his company designs, develops, and tests the SLS core stage, upper stage, and avionics in Huntsville, while the hardware is built at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. “Currently, we’re focused on finishing development on the Exploration Upper Stage, which is a more powerful version of the SLS’s upper stage,” he said. “That, too, will be tested in Huntsville.” ULA is also hard at work on the Artemis project. Representative Julie Arnold stated that ULA is developing the hardware for Artemis III in conjunction with Boeing at their factory in Decatur.
A BOLE solid rocket booster undergoing testing at Marshall Space Flight Center Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman
The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), or the second stage of the SLS, is already stacked in the Artemis I rocket and is being prepared at the Kennedy Space Center. In addition, she reported that the Artemis II ICPS has been delivered to its facilities in Florida, where it is being held for further processing. According to Kendra Kastelan of Northrop Grumman, the Artemis I solid
rocket boosters are stacked and ready for the first flight of the SLS and the Artemis II booster segments are complete and awaiting shipment to Kennedy Space Center upon NASA’s request. The Artemis III loaded segment finalization is projected for March, and the Artemis IV boosters are currently being cast propellant at the Northrop Grumman facility in Promontory, Utah. The company was
Rendering of Dynetics Human Landing System. Courtesy of Dynetics.
recently awarded a contract to support booster production through Artemis VIII and develop the next-generation boosters to support the mission through 2031. “Northrop Grumman is supporting missions beyond Artemis I with completed and in-production hardware as well as the development of the next-generation solid rocket boosters for SLS,” said Mark Tobias, SLS Deputy and BOLE (Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension) Chief Engineer, Northrop Grumman Fellow. “Continuing our longstanding partnership with Marshall Space Flight Center,” he stated, “we have begun subscale testing and full scale process development of the [next generation] Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension boosters that will help SLS and Artemis IX deliver more single launch payload capability to the Moon than any commercial vehicle.” Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Huntsville team continues to provide the critical engineering support and software for the controllers that function as the “brains” of the massive RS-25 engines that will lift the SLS into space for its inaugu-
March 2022
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STORY STORY
mpanies’ Next Moon Shot: gram Update
wn Suiter ral mission to the Moon. The team of approximately 25 includes hardware engineers, software engineers, quality engineers, laboratory technicians and configuration management staff from the Aerojet Rocketdyne Huntsville facility and MSFC’s nearby Hardware in the Loop Laboratory. “We have such a sense of pride knowing that our team has played a role in the mission coming together,” said Kevin Yarbrough, manager of General Engineering for Aerojet Rocketdyne. “One of the most powerful things you can see is those engines roaring to life and knowing our team had a role in that.” Aerojet Rocketdyne Software Engineering manager Brandon Felts works alongside Yarbrough on the RS-25 program. An Arkansas native, he has been with the company for over 13 years, and the job supporting the RS-25 engines is what brought him to Alabama. “I heard about Marshall Space Flight Center and how Huntsville has historically played a big part in the space program,” Felts said. “I knew it was a great place for smart minds, and it was a place I wanted to be.” Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Huntsville location is also responsible for the Launch Abort System (LAS) Jettison motor and the single RL10 engine on the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, which will perform two burns as it boosts Orion for 7,700 miles before separating from the spacecraft. Future configurations of SLS will use a total of four RL10 engines for the powerful exploration upper stage that will enable NASA to send Orion into space with hardware, supplies, or other large cargo. Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville is the prime contractor for the Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter (LVSA), whose cone shape partially covers the ICPS to protect its RL10 rocket engine. In addition to providing structural support for launch and the separation system, the LVSA protects avionics and electrical devices in the ICPS from extreme vibration and acoustic conditions during launch and ascent. Teledyne Brown Vice President of
Space Systems Reggie Spivey stated that the Thermal Protection System (TPS) application on the Artemis-II LVSA has been completed and has been transferred to MSFC Building 4649, where integration of the internal elements is projected to be completed in November of 2022. “At the same time,” he said, “we have delivered all the material components Artemis II-LVSA being transported to Marshall Space Flight Center Building 4649 in December 2021 for the Artemis-III Photo courtesy of Teledyne Brown Engineering LVSA primary strucapproach to collaborating and tailoring team will run a full countdown until Tture weldment to NASA’s Advanced NASA’s lander design is critical to the minus 10 seconds before ignition of the Weld Facility at MSFC Building 4755. long-term success of America’s journey to SLS’ four RS-25 main engines. This is the The forward cone/ring weld has been the Moon and we are honored to be part final test prior to the official launch. completed and awaits the completion of of this mission.” Although NASA’s first manned Moon the aft cone and ring, which are still being NASA announced on February 2 mission since Apollo has been slightly defabricated at NASA MSFC. When the aft that the Artemis 1 mission, which was layed, the agency now has a target date cone and ring are complete, they will be initially scheduled for March 2022, has to launch its Space Launch System (SLS) welded together and then welded to the been pushed back due to extra preparaand Orion spacecraft this forward cone, to complete the primary tion work needed on the SLS rocket, spring. It’s targeting mid-April to structure weldment for the Artemis-III which has been fully stacked with the launch Artemis I from the historic Launch LVSA.” Orion spacecraft on top inside High Bay Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space The Huntsville-based Dynetics was 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building since Center in Florida. The first launch winselected by NASA in 2017 to produce October 2021. dow will open from April 8 to April 23, the Universal Stage Adapter (USA), While the teams are not working on with two backup windows from May 7 to which will connect the Orion spacecraft any major issues, engineers are continuMay 21 and June 6 to June 16. to the exploration upper stage (EUS) for ing work associated with final closeout NASA’s return to the Moon will conthe Block 1B crew configuration of Artasks and flight termination system testtinue contributing to Huntsville’s soaring temis and will house and protect large ing ahead of the wet dress rehearsal. economy, propelling the Rocket City to payloads. “Ultimately, we’re going to launch this new heights as the program draws closer Engineers at RUAG Space USA in flight hardware when the flight hardware to its mission of safely delivering astroTrinity, AL recently completed producis ready and when the team’s ready,” said nauts to the lunar south pole by 2025, tion of large composite panels for the Mike Bolger, the program manager of where they will spend a week before reDemonstrator Test Article of the Dynetexploration ground systems at NASA’s turning to Earth. The ultimate goal for ics Universal Stage Adapter. Dynetics Kennedy Space Center. NASA is to create a lunar habitat there is integrating and assembling the comNASA will be moving the combined known as Artemis Base Camp, where asponents in preparation for testing at SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft out of tronauts will live for at least a month at Marshall Space Flight Center. the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch a time. Dynetics was also chosen in late Pad 39B for testing in March. The Apollo program spurred 2021 to work with NASA on the creation For wet dress rehearsal, engineers will Huntsville’s first massive growth of a human landing system. “Dynetics is fully load the SLS with propellant and the boom, and there’s no telling to which ready to continue working closely with team on the ground will run through all heights the significantly more ambitious NASA on a sustainable lander solution,” the pre-launch operations to prepare for Artemis program will take us. The sky’s said Robert Wright, Dynetics Space Systhe Artemis I launch. During this test, the the limit. w tems Division Manager. “We believe our
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
ECONOMY
Local Card Collectable Industry Booms Amid Pandemic Blues The pandemic didn’t slow down one sector of business, locally or nationally. The sports trading card industry, which shook a 2000s slump to experience a boom in the mid2010s, kept its momentum even when the coronavirus Covid-19 hit with a vengeance in 2020. “When Covid hit there was a huge boom and a lot of big investors got into the hobby of collecting,’’ said Brooks Bryant, a former Grissom High School and college basketball player who opened Champs Sports Cards on Regal Drive 20 years ago. “Guys didn’t have sports to gamble on or to watch, so this was a way they got their sports fix.’’ When sports cards experienced an initial explosion of sorts in the mid-1980s through the 1990s, hobbyists purchased a box at a local memorable store and hoped to find a gem. The Internet has somewhat altered the experience. “There’s a big online presence with cards,’’ Bryant said. “Now, a big thing to do nowadays is opening a box of cards for people on the Internet so people can see what’s in your box. People will split up a box. That’s a big deal in the hobby.’’ For instance, people might split a box to fill a series for a certain team or to complete a division they’re looking to complete such as Major League Baseball’s East Division. However, not all boxes are opened on the Internet and bidders can still overpay for a set before it’s ever opened in hopes of claiming a rare, expensive card. Everyone who collects knows Baseball Hall of Famer Honus Wagner has long been the Holy Grail of baseball cards. One of 60 Wagner cards in a particular release recently sold for a record $6.6 million. But there’s more money to be mined from card collecting other than falling into a Mona Lisa. In the 80s and 90s, Bryant said,
“When Covid hit there was a huge boom and a lot of big investors got into the hobby of collecting’’ collectors were hoping to land one or two cards in a set that were worth $20, $50 or $100 max. “Now,’’ he said,’’ you’re looking for a card that’s a thousand, five
thousand, 10 thousand and way up. There are some (Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes cards worth a million, some (for New England Patriots, Tampa Bay quarterback Tom) Brady cards that are three, four, five million. “Those are usually very rare rookie cards, but there’s so much variety today. There is low-end and high-end.’’ Cards today aren’t the garden variety type from years past. The
By Mike Easterling / Photos by Steve Babin ones fetching the most money are autographed or even have game worn jersey patches including those from all the teams said player was employed. Currently, a LeBron James triple-patch card (Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles) can summon up to $500,000. If a card is out there but not yet in possession, a collector can place a “bounty’’ on the card and the bidder can claim it when the card is on the market. It can be a risk because some cards won’t eventually bring an equal value to the bounty. “It could be a dog,’’ Bryant said. “You’ll probably get half your money back, but you never know what you’re going to get.’’ Meanwhile, local game card and comics outlet The Deep reports things haven’t been so rosey while COVID-19 has interrupted the economy. The long-time business, originally located near Hollywood 18 off Memorial Parkway and now housed farther south off the Parkway, is still trying to reach prepandemic business levels. “Before it was big,’’ said Chris, an employee at the store. “It’s now iffy. We still sell a lot, but it’s hard to get product with the shipping problems.’’ Things haven’t slowed down in the sports card industry with the recent boom that has offset a slowdown earlier in the decade. “My sense is absolutely there was a major lull in the early 2000s,’’ said Owen Poindexter, lead business writer for Front Office Sports. “The 90s boom could lean on some perceived utility of cards as sources of stats information -- there wasn’t any easy internet source for that. Cards had to be reinvented around glamor and artificial scarcity for the next boom. “Incidentally, I have many boxes of 90s cards and the card stores in my area are completely uninterested in them. So many cards were printed in that era, and unless you
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ECONOMY
have a mint condition card with a lot of cache, they don’t care.’’ Poindexter penned a story regarding the trading card boom citing collectibles insider Ken Goldin, who last year sold his business to a group that included New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. Last summer, Poindexter wrote, Goldin shared the industry consensus that the collectibles boom was
going to settle down from the feverish pace it had built up during the pandemic. “I, like everybody else with a lot of experience in the industry, thought mistakenly that as the lockdowns would be lifted, and there were treatments and vaccines, that some of the interest would wane,” Goldin said. “And to my surprise and delight, nothing has been fur-
ther from the truth.” Ironically, Bryant has taken his shop through the pandemic successfully without relying on the Internet. Doing business “old school,’’ he said, he leaves online business to others. “All of my business is in the store,’’ he said, adding that the boxes he sells undercut online prices. “My boxes are for local guys. I don’t
ship anywhere. Some of these guys (selling) do it all night long. They’re charging a lot more than I charge. “I never closed (during the pandemic), but there was a time I was doing pickup only. Like take out, it was call and come pick it up. My lights were off, my sign was off, but guys that knew me from facebook knew I was open to deliver curbside.’’ w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
EDUCATION
UNA Receives First Ever Endowment Fund from Huntsville’s Bank Independent Historically, public universities in Alabama are often the backbone of community development. Whether in Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, or Mobile, public universities in Alabama have always had a central role in the growth of their surrounding communities, as well as the state as a whole. Florence and the Shoals area are no exception to this historical precedent. Huntsville’s Bank Independent recently announced that the company established an endowment fund at The University of North Alabama (UNA). The fund will provide a continued source of revenue for UNA that will focus on furthering the University’s goals for advocacy and community outreach
By Gus Wintzell
We believe this endowment can change not only individual lives through the power of education but change the future of our community by amplifying the continued success of the University.”
to better serve the Shoals and North Alabama community. “Economic development and community engagement are a key
part of Bank Independent’s mission to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and a thriving university is necessary to support a vibrant,
healthy, and growing community like the Shoals,” said Macke Mauldin, Bank Independent President. “My father, Edward Mauldin, was a firm believer in the power of education to change a person’s life. He was also fond of the quote, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’ We believe this
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EDUCATION
endowment can change not only individual lives through the power of education but change the future of our community by amplifying the continued success of the University.” The Bank Independent Leadership Fund will be the first endowment ever established at UNA. In a recent interview with UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts, he stated that UNA’s goal for the fund will be to specifically address his key initiative, Project 208.
“Historically, UNA has received far less in state funding on a per student basis than other universities in Alabama” Project 208 is a strategic initiative that focuses on allocating funds to meet budget shortfalls, provide for student scholarship needs, aid in tech and general upgrades to the campus, and further connect UNA to North Alabama’s community. For Dr. Kitts, Project 208 has a very historical connection to UNA’s community outreach and funding. “Historically, UNA has received far less in state funding on a per student basis than other universities in Alabama,” said Dr. Kitts. In fact, Dr. Kitts noted that UNA is located farther from the seat of power in Alabama than any other public university, sitting approximately 208 miles away from the State House, where Project 208 derives its name. “‘Out of sight, out of mind’ has become an unfortunate political reality for UNA in annual budgetary decisions. Currently, the University receives between $7 million and $12 million less per year than peer schools of comparable or smaller size. This overview helps contextualize the importance of the Bank Independent Leadership Endowment,” said Dr. Kitts. In the past, UNA has been dubbed “Alabama’s Workforce Development University,” and for Dr. Kitts, the endowment helps UNA
to continue to provide consistent education, advocacy, and outreach that furthers “our commitment to assist industry and prepare students to meet the needs of the new economy in Alabama.” Besides decreasing the funding equity gap, UNA’s partnership with Bank Independent also represents a major opportunity for community development in North Alabama. “Although founded in the Shoals, UNA has expanded its scope to provide services to communities and businesses across the northern tier of the state,” said Dr. Kitts. “Significantly, Madison is now our second largest feeder county for students, and Morgan, Limestone, and Jefferson are also in our top six counties for enrollment. We are aggressive in our educational outreach and have signed learning agreements with major employers in the Huntsville area as well as with the State of Alabama itself.” In this way, Bank Independent’s endowment will help empower UNA to continue to expand outside of the Shoals area, connecting with interested students from the great Huntsville-Madison County area either remotely or in person. When asked about the most important outcome of this partnership, Dr. Kitts replied that Bank Independent’s Endowment will help the university better serve the people of North Alabama. “For this past fall semester, 85 percent of our freshmen came from Alabama, and 75 percent of our graduates decided to stay in state for their careers. Those are impressive numbers, and they speak to the focus and priorities of the University of North Alabama. “Our partnerships with communities, businesses, and nonprofits underscore our mission of service as well as our determination to enhance the quality of life for Alabama’s citizens. Bank Independent knows we will be good stewards of this endowment, and we want other community leaders and organizations to follow their example in working with us to support students and communities across northern Alabama.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
HEALTH / WELLNESS
A Work in Progress: WellStone’s New Crisis Diversion Center Statistics have shown that one in five Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental illness. This translates into 20 people out of 100, 200 people out of a thousand. Chances are with these kinds of numbers, there’s someone you know that’s desperately struggling with mental health issues. It has been speculated that since the pandemic, those figures have only increased. Since March 2020, reports of mental illness, drug overdoses, and suicides have skyrocketed. It’s only logical that WellStone, a 501(C)3 nonprofit, one of Madison county’s leaders in mental health care delivery, is building the area’s first crisis diversion center. Construction has been well underway with June 2022 as the targeted completion date. Once completed, the new facility will be home to WellStone Emergency Services (WES). WellStone has been running its temporary crisis diversion center in a building on Triana Blvd since May 2021. When the new facility opens, it will be a 25,000 square foot space where people can get the help they need. In fact, the new location will have double the capacity of the temporary center. “The temporary building only has ten beds on the inpatient side, ten beds on the temporary observation side, twenty beds total,” said Jeremy Blair, Wellstone’s CEO. “The new building will have up to the capacity of 24 on the inpatient side and 15 on the temporary observation side.” Another thing about the new building is that it’s being built specifically for this purpose, as opposed to the current retrofitted accommodations. The development of a crisis diversion center has been in the works for quite some time. After the Alabama Department of Mental Health determined a substantial gap in the state’s crisis care, Governor Ivey dedicated a considerable amount of funding to mental health providers in Huntsville, Montgomery, and
Mobile specifically for crisis diversion centers. The entire project is estimated to cost roughly $10 million, with $1 million of coming from American Rescue Plan dollars provided by Madison County. The state, along with local municipalities, have also committed to $5 million. This leaves a $5 million shortfall. To help meet the deficit, WellStone is currently in the process of launching its “Be the Rock” capital campaign. However, despite the benefits of treatment, the stigma about mental illness and addiction often deters people from seeking help the help they need. “The pandemic did a lot in making progress in reducing the stigma in that area,” said Blair. “I think we all realized all of us experienced some kind of mental health challenges. I think we all had some feelings of anxiety and maybe even loneliness. As a society, we are used to being in control of things and there was absolutely no control over the pandemic.” Having access to a new crisis diversion center, along with adequate mental health services is essential to a community’s overall wellbeing. As a society that has been emotionally decimated by the uncertainties of a global pandemic, mental health care is no longer a luxury item or something to be ashamed of. In fact, people baring their souls on social media has also has positively con-
tributed to destigmatizing mental illness. “That’s the reality of it, when you get to talking to people and they really open up, you find that more people than not either know somebody or have gone through it personally themselves,”
By Lori J. Connors / Photo courtesy of Chapman Sission Architects
said Blair. “We’re talking about 1 in 5 people have a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lifetime. That’s a high percentage of the population. It’s important for us to understand that everybody may have some of this at some point.”w
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19
OPINION
“So What?”: The Singing River Trail’s Impact on North Alabama “What is the Singing River Trail?” “Why would anyone hire a historian to build a 200+ mile greenway system?” “What do you know about North Alabama . . . you’re not even from here?” “Why is the Huntsville Business Journal covering North Alabama?” These are all valid questions and ones that I’ve had to answer many times, but ones that also hint at why the Huntsville Business Journal asked me to write a regular column about our region. Twice a month we’ll bring you a column that will be part dispatches from the Singing River Trail and part insight that comes from crisscrossing North Alabama as the Executive Director of a project that binds together eight counties, twenty-six towns and cities, and a quarter of Alabama’s population. The Trail will be an economic development tool, a magnet for job and opportunity creation, a place that binds rural and urban initiatives, and something that will create civic pride. This column will reflect those points.
We don’t need to take a HudsonAlpha DNA test to know that North Alabama is blessed to have good people, wonderful communities, and bountiful natural resources. The “who cares” is that there is a welder from California, an FBI agent in Virginia, and an engineer in Tennessee who is thinking about moving to North Alabama. When they search us, what do they find? They see TVA, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Google, and UG White. It all matters because it shows opportunity and
By contributing writer John Kvach / Photo courtesy of the Singing River Trail
a quality of life that is attractive. So what is the Singing River Trail? It is a 200+ mile greenway system that will cross North Alabama from Bridgeport to the Shoals. It will connect people together at a time when we seem to be pulling apart. It will bind our communities together; embracing what makes us unique and whole while confronting challenges that have held us back. It will be a place where you can find physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and wellness during trying days. It will be a reason to visit North Alabama and allow someone not from here to turn to their person and say “I could live here;” creating a new worker, a better quality of life, and new opportunities in Alabama. Lastly, it will create new jobs, businesses, and aspirations for ALL of our citizens regardless of where they live, how they live, or their circumstances. Now, I know what you are thinking. Why would anyone hire a historian to build a 200+ mile greenway system?
Because history majors have been taught and trained to do anything from public speaking, fast reading, effective writing, and to listen more and talk less (well, I try). The Singing River Trail will not be an engineering feat but an investment in the people and places of North Alabama. Why is the Huntsville Business Journal talking about North Alabama when it only has Huntsville in its name? Because it takes a region to support Huntsville and vice versa. This column will be about Sheffield, Courtland, Guntersville, and Scottsboro and spots you have never heard of and how they will work with Huntsville and show how our region is growing. This is a Huntsville publication. We get it. But a broader picture tells a more complete story. We will show you a region full of possibilities . . . from quantum computers to milkshakes. From the Singing River Trail to the next big project. Remember, I’m not trying to get to Mars. I am trying to get to you. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
FOOD / DINING
New Premier Collaboration Debuting at Bridge Street Town Centre
By Dawn Suiter Photos courtesy of Lockhart Smokehouse
PBR Cowboy Bar and Lockhart Smokehouse has announced the selection of Bayer Properties’ Bridge Street Town Centre as its debut location of PBR x Lockhart Smokehouse. This collaboration brings together PBR Cowboy Bar’s “country cool” country western experience with Lockhart Smokehouse’s iconic Texas barbecue, creating a one-ofa-kind dining and entertainment experience.
“We are thrilled to bring our Lockhart Smokehouse classics to Alabama for the first time in this exciting collaboration with PBR Cowboy Bar” The 8,121-square-foot eatery will feature great entertainment, including the best in country music, sports watching, and bull riding on the area’s only professionally endorsed mechanical bull. Guests can expect smoked meat classics including brisket, sausage, ribs, and other meats smoked low and slow over Texas post oak, with reimagined versions of classic Southern sides with a Lockhart Smokehouse twist rounding out the menu. “We are thrilled to bring our Lockhart Smokehouse classics to Alabama for the first time in this exciting collaboration with PBR Cowboy Bar,” said Jeff and Jill Bergus, founders and owners of Lockhart Smokehouse. “We can’t wait to debut this new concept in the Huntsville community.” Lockhart, Texas is recognized as the “barbecue capital of Texas” and is the home of Lockhart Smokehouse, which is nationally recognized for its traditional barbecue favorites. A family-run eatery born from the legendary Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas, Lockhart Smokehouse currently has three locations in Dallas, Plano, and Arlington, Texas. The Bridge Street Town Centre location will be its first debut outside of the state. “With Huntsville being the
fastest-growing city in Alabama, the desire for first-to-market concepts only continues to rise and we are excited for PBR x Lockhart Smokehouse to join our community as Bridge Street’s premier food destination,” said Nikki Columbo, senior vice president of national accounts at Bayer Properties. “We are excited to partner with Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Lockhart Smokehouse to launch the first location of PBR x Lockhart Smokehouse in Huntsville, Alabama,” said Judy Moore, SVP of Marketing of Live! Dining & Entertainment. “This new concept combines the best of traditional Texas barbecue with PBR’s modern cowboy cool to deliver an authentic country experience for guests. It’s the perfect addition to Bridge Street Town Centre’s growing ‘experiencedriven dining’ options and we can’t wait for the community to taste Lockhart Smokehouse’s iconic Texas barbecue.” PBR x Lockhart Smokehouse will feature a beautiful western chic environment inspired by PBR’s country western experience. Reclaimed wood paired with polished materials and elements of rustic charm, combined with authentic smokers and custom western chandeliers, will create a fun western chic vibe to enjoy barbecue
and beer. The main restaurant space will feature a grand signature bar
blending copper, textured wood, and illuminated ribbed glass. The restaurant flows out to a casual,
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FOOD / DINING
sophisticated outdoor patio with comfortable seating, fire pits, and string lights, welcoming guests who want to dine al fresco both day and night. “Our PBR Cowboy Bar concept continues to expand thanks to staying true to our brand and an extraordinary partnership with Live! Dining & Entertainment,”
said PBR CEO and Commissioner Sean Gleason. “PBR Cowboy Bars are now located in 10 cities around the country. To be able to continue our growth and partner with such an iconic, authentic Texas barbecue concept in Lockhart Smokehouse to create the first PBR x Lockhart Smokehouse restaurant is incredibly exciting for our brand
and for our fans.” This announcement comes on the heels of a strong year for Bayer Properties and Bridge Street Town Centre, which recently marked the opening of the city’s first location of The Cheesecake Factory and will soon celebrate the opening of Alabama’s first location of Main Event
in early 2022. The property is also home to over 207,000 square feet of fully occupied Class-A office space, as well as a 232-room Westin hotel, 150-room Element by Westin hotel, 244-unit Seleno luxury apartment complex, and a 131-room Hyatt Place Hotel. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
DEVELOPMENT
New Distribution Center from Buffalo Rock Set to Open by June 13 Buffalo Rock’s new $32 million Huntsville facility is currently slated to be operational by June 13, 2022. This comes less than a year after the provider of Pepsi soft drink beverages broke ground on the new development and less than two years after the initial agreement between Buffalo Rock and Huntsville was announced. The facility will replace the company’s current distribution center on Old Madison Pike Road while helping Buffalo Rock to continue their company goal of growing their portfolio and providing better service to their customers. “The purpose of the new Huntsville facility is to better serve our customers, employee partners and consumers in the North Alabama region while also supporting the strategic growth we have envisioned,” said Buffalo Rock Senior VP Wayne Wisdom in an interview with HBJ. “Our current operations will be moving to the new facility by midyear. Our customers will see real benefits from this expansion.” Huntsville was selected as the location over various other potential homes in Northern Alabama and Georgia. One reason the company chose to remain in Huntsville is the city’s commitment to roadway improvements in the area as outlined in the agreement between the two. This included a new twolane east – west access road on the project site as well as a new threelane road that will connect the site with Alabama Highway 20. The 204,000 square foot development is located north of I-565 in the same neighborhood as the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant. It will spread across 55 acres of land named “Spencer Tract” in the agreement between Buffalo Rock and the city. The design and construction of the facility was a joint effort between Buffalo Rock and Birmingham based Hoar Construction as well
By Noah Logan / Photo courtesy of Buffalo Rock, Hoar Construction
“The purpose of the new Huntsville facility is to better serve our customers, employee partners and consumers in the North Alabama region while also supporting the strategic growth we have envisioned”
“Buffalo Rock has entrusted HPM and Hoar Construction with the programming, design and construction of the new facility.” as Hoar’s subsidiary, Hoar Project Management. The two companies have history together as Hoar construction is also handling Buffalo Rock’s $75 million expansion of their Birmingham facility. “We place a great deal of value in our relationship with Buffalo Rock,” said Hoar Project Management official Jeremiah Owen. “Buffalo Rock has entrusted HPM and Hoar Construction with the programming, design and
construction of the new facility. We’re very grateful to work with Buffalo Rock on a facility that will have such a great impact on their overall vision for their customers, employees and community in the Huntsville market.” The distribution center will employ a minimum of 130 people by the end of 2022. The hourly wage of those employees will be at least $22.15. This economic impact was a large reason why the plan was strongly supported by Major Tommy Battle and was unanimously approved by the Huntsville City Council. The distribution center will add at least $5 million a year to the economy’s payroll. It will also absorb some of the operations currently held in the Tuscumbia’s distribution center that employs 87 people.
Mike Hamilton, Buffalo Rock’s Regional Vice President of North Alabama, said that while this will cause a decrease in that number, the company has created opportunities for those individuals to stay employed with the company at other locations. The expansion is just the latest chapter in Buffalo Rock’s history with Huntsville and North Alabama. The company purchased Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of the South back in 1983 which included both the Huntsville and Tuscumbia market territories. Last year Buffalo Rock celebrated 120 years of being in Business and 70 years since purchasing their first Pepsi distributorship. They are currently the largest single family owned Pepsi bottler in the United States. w
March 2022
23
BRIEFCASE
RECOGNITION
Huntsville’s Merit Bank Announces Newest Team Member Huntsville’s Merit Bank announced the addition of David Kimrey as the Executive Vice President for commercial and private banking. Kimrey brings more than 40 years of local banking experience to this new position. “We are proud to welcome David Kimrey to Merit Bank,” said Will Heaps, President and CEO of Merit Bank. “David has built a strong reputation for serving our community and promoting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. His vast knowledge and industry insight will be an asset for our customers and will help Merit Bank continue our rapid growth in the market.” Prior to this announcement, Kimrey worked for Synovus for more than 28 years, most recently as Executive Vice President and leader of the Commercial Banking and Private Wealth Management Group. The years of lending and investment experience is something that Kimrey hopes to bring to his new position at Merit Bank. Merit Bank is a Huntsville-based business that specializes in commercial lending and private executive banking, expansions, capital improvements, and agricultural lending, along with a myriad of other financial services.
RECOGNITION
First Community Mortgage Announces New Vice President and Mortgage Originator In a recent announcement, First Community Mortgage (FCM) named Tracy Flesch as the company’s newest Vice President and Mortgage Originator. Prior to working with FCM, Flesch graduated from Iowa State University and spent some time working as a sportscaster. Much of what he learned from these past experiences helped shape how he works with clients today. “I enjoy making the process as simple, quick and convenient as possible for clients,” Flesch says, “and the entire process can be completed on-line or in-person at my office in Huntsville, always striving to provide an experience that will exceed expectations.” Since moving into the mortgage industry, Flesh has closed over 1,800 loans and can originate mortgages in 32 states, including Tennessee and Alabama. Flesch’s appointment represents FCM’s interest and commitment in growing the communities they operate within, especially in Huntsville, where FCM will open an office in Spring 2022. “Tracy is a great fit for our team, having been a top producer throughout his mortgage career.” says Dan Smith, President of First Community Mortgage. “And he makes the mortgage process – which can be daunting to some – as fast, easy and painless as it can be.”
RECOGNITION
NAI Chase Commercial Executive Named Chair for 2022 Candidate Guidance Committee for Alabama CCIM Chapter NAI Chase Commercial recently announced that Douglas McCullough, Executive Vice President of Brokerage, has been named Alabama’s Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Chair for the 2022 Candidate Guidance Committee. Douglas attended the University of Alabama between 1969-1972, studying Business Management and Marketing. After graduating, he spent nearly 22 years working with property leasing, disposition, and management of commercial real estate before accepting a position at Chase Commercial Real Estate Services in 1999. Shortly thereafter, Douglas graduated from Athens State University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Management of Technology, and aided Chase Commercial in various projects dealing with tenant and landlord representation, office, industrial and retail leasing, brokerage and investment sales. “We are delighted to congratulate Douglas McCullough for this outstanding achievement,” said Charles Grelier, CEO of NAI Chase Commercial. “We’ve long known that Douglas McCullough has made an outstanding contribution to the Alabama CCIM Chapter and are extremely proud he has been named for the mentoring program”. The CCIM Alabama Chapter focuses on recognizing local and regional experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management, valuation, and investment analysis. To date, only around 6% of all real estate agents hold this designation.
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
