UAH College of Business Receives $100K Gift from Bryant Bank

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, announced that Bryant Bank has made a $100K gift to the UAH College of Business (COB). This gift marks the second installment of a $1.5 million commitment to the College, one of the largest gifts ever made to the COB. This disbursement will be followed by an additional 13 annual payments in the same amount through 2035.

“We are incredibly grateful to Ken Watson and the Bryant Bank team for their leadership in building a bright future for our community and their continued commitment to helping UAH students thrive,” says Dr. Jason Greene, Dean of the UAH COB. “They are an outstanding partner with us in our mission to launch the careers of our students.”

This continuing pledge will go to support the Bryant Bank UAH Business Scholarships, a non-endowed fund designed to benefit College of Business students. Annual distributions from the fund shall be used for one or more scholarships awarded to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the College of Business. Entering freshman students must have a minimum high school cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.

Existing or transfer students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for college-level coursework. Preference shall be given to students based on each of the following: students with unmet financial need; students who are from Alabama communities served by Bryant Bank; and students who are graduates of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to support UAH and its College of Business,” says Bryant Bank President, Ken Watson. “As economic development continues to fuel the growth in our community, the need for a well-educated and qualified workforce will remain a major focus. UAH’s College of Business will provide clear pathways for not only academic accomplishment, but also occupational fulfillment. Bryant Bank is a community-focused business, and we believe this monetary support will provide necessary resources to pro- mote the development of our future workforce.”

Qualifying students receive awards of $2,500, $5,000 or $7,500, and the larger of these awards are given to students with a demonstrated greater need and who are also receiving less financial support from other UAH scholarships or grants. Scholarship award recipients are selected by the University's Financial Aid Committee.

“Bryant Bank's ongoing support of UAH business students has a tremendous impact on the students, their families, and our community,”

By Russell Nelson / Photos courtesy of Michael Mercier of UAH

Dr. Greene says. “Their gift supports scholarships that help students access an outstanding business education in areas such as accounting, finance, marketing and cybersecurity.”

Each scholarship will be in force for one year. Recipients may be eligible for an additional year up to a maximum of four years, or until degree requirements have been met, whichever is shorter, as long as the recipient maintains full-time enrollment and continues to make satisfactory progress toward a degree with a minimum GPA of at least a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. A scholarship award may, in addition to paying the cost of the recipient's tuition, fees and books, also pay other academicrelated expenses. Each scholarship recipient is known as a “Bryant Bank UAH Business Scholar.”

This year’s scholarship recipients include: (Information Systems) Savannah Booker, Jessica Dupin, Malik Jefferson, Daniel Kelly, Sedric Langford, William Mote, Christina Straw and Zachary Swann; (Marketing) Melissa Brown, Daisy Hernandez, Minh Ly and Elise Walker; Shaqiang, Kit Lang and Isaac Priego, Finance; (Accounting) Greta Downing and Ryleigh Murphy, Management; and Kayla Keller, Anna Lam and Samantha Laynard.

Bryant Bank’s contributions to UAH are supporting numerous additional University programs and organizations.

“Bryant Bank’s contributions to the University include the establishment of the Bryant Bank UAH Excellence in Nursing Scholarship,” says Mallie Hale, UAH Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of UAH Foundation. “This scholarship provides support to students in the Early Promotion into UAH Nursing Program (EPNP). Such a scholarship attracts skilled nurses to Huntsville, the state of Alabama and beyond.”

Bryant Bank has made a continuing gift of $25,000 to UAH Charger Athletics as well, a commitment that supports 14 Men's and Women's athletics programs. w

Boeing Opens New Huntsville Electronic Center of Excellence

On Monday, January 23, Boeing hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the 9,000 sq. ft. expansion of the Huntsville Electronics Center of Excellence.

The center produces essential hardware that connects the smallest components in some of the largest Boeing Defense, Space & Security systems with the highest standards of quality and reliability.

This state-of-the-art electronics fabrication capability comprises a team of electrical engineers and technicians who manufacture, maintain and modify circuit boards for various Boeing programs, including the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) seeker, International Space Station (ISS), Space Launch System (SLS), F-15 fighter and P-8A Poseidon.

At the event, Boeing awarded a $150,000 grant to the AUM Charitable Foundation’s Pathway 2 Success program, which works to empower low-income, female high school students with the workforce development skills and resources that will set them up for success.

Each student in the program has the opportunity to receive a $2000 scholarship. They are given a new laptop, a personal mentor, individualized ACT tutoring, job shadowing experiences, and 11 life skill classes that address gaps in skill sets that are not covered in the traditional classroom. w determination it takes for entrepreneurs to create a business out of an idea.

The Awards have celebrated the hard work and inspiring stories of many outstanding North Alabama entrepreneurs doing great things in our community. Remarkable entrepreneurs are equally driven by their “why” as they are by their motivation to succeed.

Since 2016, The Entrepreneur Awards has celebrated the compelling stories of these individuals and their successes.

The award presentation is returning in-person this year at the Stovehouse on Friday, February 24th. For more information, please visit catalystcenter.org. w

The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship to Host 8th Annual Entrepreneur Awards

The 8th Annual Entrepreneur Awards honor the skill, courage, and

Innovate Alabama Opens Second Round of Grant Funding to Benefit Local Entrepreneurs

Innovate Alabama opened applications for the second round of the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Alabamabased recipients of Phase I and Phase II Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants are eligible to apply for up to $250,000 in supplemental funding.

The program supports Alabama entrepreneurs and innovators, particularly underrepresented groups, such as women, minority and rural founders. In addition, the disbursement of funding will advance Alabama’s economy by driving research and commercialization, developing exportable products and services and spurring high-wage job opportunities.

In July 2022, Innovate Alabama launched the inaugural Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, awarding over $4.5 million in supplemental funding to 30 grant recipients in six Alabama cities to support the growth of their small businesses. After a successful first round of funding, the organization looks forward to helping more innovators grow roots in Alabama in 2023 and beyond.

“Thanks to the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant, our team has had the opportunity to invest in resources that help grow our business and the state’s collaborative and expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Dr. Karim Budhwani, CerFlux CEO and co-founder, and first round grant recipient.

Eligible applicants must have had an active Phase I or Phase II SBIR or STTR grant on July 1, 2021, or later. Phase I recipients are eligible to apply for 50% of their award up to $100,000, and Phase II recipients are eligible to apply for 50% of their award up to $250,000. Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program awards are non-dilutive, meaning businesses receive the money without giving up shares of their company.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 17, 2023. Award notifications for the second round of funding begin in March.

Later this year, Innovate Alabama plans to open applications for the third round of grant funding.

To learn more and apply, visit innovatealabama.org/programs. w

“The new Event Center at Alabama A&M is a tremendous asset for their university and our community,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

“We look forward to this being the first of many events in the venue that will make an economic impact throughout our community and our partners at A&M as they continue to build championship athletic programs.”

The championships are set for March 7-10, starting with four men’s quarterfinals on Tuesday, with four women’s quarterfinals on Wednesday. The semifinals for both men and women are set for Thursday, with the championship games on Friday evening.

“Thanks to the efforts of everyone in Huntsville, we are excited to bring our men’s and women’s basketball championships to the Alabama A&M Event Center,” said Dean Myrick, Commissioner of the ACCC. “This is a great opportunity for our studentathletes to play in a top-notch venue that will elevate our championship experience to new heights.” of a Research & Development Facility at Redstone Arsenal leased to a global defense contractor in Huntsville, Alabama.

For Alabama A&M, the championships are an opportunity to introduce the University and basketball programs to the top junior college prospects in the state of Alabama.

JLL represented the seller, AGC Equity Partners, in the sale to FD Stonewater STAR Fund.

The property was completed in 2020 as a build-to-suit for one of the world’s largest defense contractors. The building contains office, laboratory, research & development and manufacturing space.

Among the building’s many features includes accredited secure labs and information processing space. In addition, the property has an expansion capacity of more than 50,000 square feet.

The facility is situated within Cummings Research Park, which hosts the world’s fourth largest concentration of aerospace, technology and research and development users, and thrives due to its relationship with the U.S. Army and Department of Defense.

Additionally, the property is located at the gate of Redstone Arsenal, the largest concentration of military leadership outside of Washington, D.C., serving as a DoD and Federal “Center of Excellence” for integration, research, development, testing and evaluation of major programs and systems.

$153.9M Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services (RS3) Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Program Management Office Engineering Services Task Order. PM FLRAA is a Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program and the Army's #3 modernization priority.

The Torch team will provide expertise to provide Systems Engineering, Air Vehicle and Integration, Test and Evaluation, Mission Systems, Production and Quality Engineering, and Sustaining Engineering.

The work to be completed by the Torch team has a 5-year period of performance and will be completed at Redstone Arsenal, AL; "We are excited to have been awarded the RS3 Task Order, cementing our commitment as a Prime contractor to PM FLRAA, the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aviation, and the entire Army Aviation enterprise," Torch President John Watson said. "We look forward to providing exceptional technical expertise with proven Aviation development experience in support of the FLRAA development program." w

Huntsville Set to Host ACCC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships at AAMU Event Center

Build it and they will come.

The freshly finished Alabama A&M University Event Center has been selected to host the 2023 Alabama Community College Conference men’s and women’s basketball championships – bringing the top eight teams in the state to battle for a spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association championships.

Thanks to a partnership with A&M, Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Huntsville Sports Commission, and the City of Huntsville, the ACCC will hold its annual championship in a neutral site for the first time.

“We are proud to be a partner in hosting the ACCC championships at the Event Center,” said Dr. Paul Bryant, AAMU Director of Athletics. “This new facility continues to open doors for our institution and builds on our programs’ momentum as we welcome the student-athletes from across the state to compete for the championship.”

Visit the ACCC website to purchase tickets and get more information about the championships at acccathletics.com. w

The region boasts the second highest concentration of engineers nationally and is among the fastest growing STEM employment centers.

“Investors are taking greater notice of the Huntsville market which has been the net beneficiary of tremendous growth in recent years. This growth has largely been spurred by the missioncritical government installations and activities that take place here that has translated into exceptional demand for the expansion of facilities and services,” said JLL Managing Director Jason DeWitt in a recent statement. w

United Community Banks Completes Merger with Huntsville’s Progress Financial

In May 2022, United Community Bank, Inc. (United) announced the acquisition of Progress Financial Corporation (Progress) in an all-stock transaction with an aggregate value of approximately $271.5 million.

As of last week, United announced that the merger was completed.

In this transaction, Progress’s bank subsidiary, Progress Bank and Trust, was merged into United’s bank subsidiary, United Community Bank. Progress will now operate under the United brand.

JLL Capital Markets Closes Sale on Redstone Research and Development Facility

Torch Wins $153.9M FLRAA Engineering Services Task Order

Torch Technologies announced that the company was awarded the

Lynn Harton, Chairman and CEO of United, expressed his excitement over the completed merger in a recent press statement.

“We are very pleased and grateful to be able to welcome this group of talented bankers to the United team. Progress has a culture much like ours with a commitment to community engagement, customer service, and the employee experience.”

David Nast, Founding Director, CEO, and President of Progress, echoed these sentiments.

“We are excited to be joining United, where we can continue with our founding principles and dedication to community service and relationship banking. We have growth opportunities, including many from new offices and markets added over the past two years, that we know will accelerate with United.

“Our partnership provides us the immediate benefit of being able to better serve our customers with a larger balance sheet and expanded products and services. I am proud to be a part of the United team and look forward to leading the Alabama and Florida Panhandle markets,” Nast concluded.

Progress is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama and operates a 14-branch network in Alabama markets including Birmingham, Daphne, Decatur, Florence and Tuscaloosa; and on the Florida Panhandle from Destin to Panama City.

Progress has organically built a valuable franchise with a focus on providing excellent service and growing deep customer relationships in its fastgrowing southeastern markets.

As of September 30, 2022, Progress reported total assets of $1.7 billion, total loans of $1.4 billion, and total deposits of $1.5 billion.

Piper Sandler & Co. acted as financial advisor to United, and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP served as United’s legal advisor. Stephens Inc. served as financial advisor to Progress, and Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC served as Progress’ legal advisor. w called ZMYM3 with neurodevelopmental disorders, thanks to genetic matchmaking service.

Dr. Greg Cooper and his lab members identified a genetic variant in a patient from Alabama with neurodevelopmental symptoms in 2018. His team then identified a variant in the gene ZMYM3. After submitting that information to the genetic matchmaking service, GeneMatcher, Susan Hiatt, PhD, a senior scientist in the Cooper lab received email correspondence from at least 30 different international researchers over the next four years. The researchers found variants in the same gene in patients with similar clinical characteristics.

“What began as one patient from Alabama slowly grew into a cohort of several dozen patients from across the globe,” Hiatt said. “It was not always a linear increase, though. The cohort went through many periods of growth and waning as we received a few cases through GeneMatcher that seemed like they fit our story, only to learn later that they were likely benign variants.”

The international collaboration returned home to HudsonAlpha, as members of Dr. Rick Myers’ lab performed experiments to see how the variants affected ZMYM3’s ability to bind DNA. These experiments provided the framework for testing mutations through future studies.

“We believe our study moves the field of diagnostic genomics forward by presenting several case studies that might help geneticists diagnose more of their patients who are waiting for an answer,” Hiatt said. w

Project with the goal of developing and testing a completely passive (no dials, switches, or moving parts) hearing protector with non-linear attenuation for military and other markets. This “nonlinear” hearing protector provides near zero attenuation for low-level sounds such as conversations and overwhelming attenuation of high-level noise such as guns, blast explosives, or even loud concerts. This is in contrast to most traditional hearing protection products with one level of sound attenuation.

Such hearing protection is optimal for the warfighter, providing increased safety due to full situational awareness in low-sound situations (somebody approaching, the cocking of a gun, verbal commands/warnings, whispering, etc.) while providing high noise protection when needed during gun, artillery, or blast events. Licensing the technology to Altus Brands will accelerate the launch of the technology to non-military markets which can similarly benefit such as law enforcement officers, hunters, concertgoers, factory or building site workers, etc.

“This product was tested at US

Army and USAF facilities with very good results. It provided industry-best protection for loud impulse noises while providing near-zero attenuation for regular low-sound operations. This is truly a product that can be used in any environment where high noise protection is necessary but the ability to hear clear low-level sounds is desired; all in a completely passive design.”, said Keith Sedberry, Director at CFD Research.

“We are excited to start our partnership with Altus Brands, a specialized provider of hearing protection and hunting products. After several years of R&D it is rewarding to see our innovations reach the market and make a difference in the lives of our soldiers and other end users,” said Sameer Singhal, CFD Research’s President & CEO.

“We are looking forward to integrating CFD Research’s hearing protection technology into our product line”, said Gary Lemanski, CEO of Altus Brands. “The significant performance advantages offered by this product open up new applications and markets for us.” w

HudsonAlpha Researchers Detect New Gene Variation Thanks to a Matchmaking Service

Researchers at HudsonAlpha linked a genetic variation in a gene

CFD Research Licenses Advanced Hearing Protector Technology to Altus Brands

The CFD Research Corporation has signed an exclusive licensing agreement for its advanced hearing protector technology with Altus Brands.

This new hearing protector was developed as part of a DARPA SBIR

Recognition Recognition

Women's Foundation of Alabama Names New Chief Operating Officer

Women’s Foundation of Alabama, the state’s only philanthropic organization focused on the economic advancement of women, announced the growth of its leadership by appointing LaShundra Pinkard as Chief Operating Officer.

A key member of the executive management team, Pinkard will partner with the CEO to lead forward-thinking operational strategy and optimize performance across the Foundation.

“Strong institutions win. But being a strong, adaptable organization extends beyond having a transformational mission. It’s about preparing for the future and reinforcing the Foundation’s infrastructure to ensure we can accelerate opportunities for women in perpetuity,” said Melanie R. Bridgeforth, President and CEO of Women’s Foundation of Alabama.

“Like any well-established corporation, non-profits are businesses – we’re just in the ‘work of good’. In appointing a COO of LaShundra’s caliber, Women’s Foundation of Alabama is fulfilling our promise to be impactful stewards of organizational resources, systems, and, most importantly, the public’s trust.”

As Chief Operating Officer, LaShundra Pinkard will work closely with Bridgeforth to manage organizational health, oversee execution of the strategic plan, and lead lean transformation as the Foundation embarks upon its second year of statewide growth. Fueled by decades of business strategy, finance, HR, facility management, and IT knowledge, Pinkard will also build new operating models that elevate processes, resources, and tools that set Women’s Foundation of Alabama on a trajectory for long-range success.

“Not only am I honored to join an organization that is shaping the lives and landscape for women across our state, I’m eager to nurture the next bold iteration of Women’s Foundation of Alabama – a chapter powered by smart growth and systems-level thinking,” said Pinkard.

Cheri Wilson Joins Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville as Development Officer

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville announced the addition of Cheri Wilson as Development Officer. Wilson’s appointment follows a banner year as the organization received over $14.7 million in charitable donations and granted over $11 million on behalf of their donors and programs.

“I am thrilled and deeply grateful for the opportunity to join the dedicated team and mission of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville. I look forward to working in collaboration with our generous Community Partners to further the work of empowering people and investing in our community’s needs,” Wilson shared.

Wilson will leverage her experience as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) to foster community engagement and collaborative partnerships to enhance investment in the Community Foundation’s key projects and programs and further their positive impact on quality of life across the region.

Most recently, Wilson served as Executive Director of Advancement for Oakwood University to identify, engage, and steward donors to develop and strengthen donor relationships and advance the University’s mission through philanthropy.

“Cheri Wilson brings a wealth of experience - cultivated over years of serving our community well - to her role as Development Officer. At the Community Foundation, we strive to be the trusted leader in strategic generosity, and Cheri will be an incredible resource to our corporate donors who want to do more good in this place we all call home,” said Melissa Thompson, CAP®, CEO/President of the Community Foundation

Retired Lieutenant General Thurgood to Join BlueHalo Board of Advisors

BlueHalo announced that retired United States Army Lieutenant General L. Neil Thurgood has joined the company’s Board of Advisors.

In this role, Thurgood will advise various strategic initiatives to advance BlueHalo’s position as the new alternative prime in the defense and national security market.

Throughout over 37 years of distinguished military service, Thurgood has strengthened industry partnerships and fostered collaboration and innovation, leading to the rapid development of strategic capabilities and advancing Army modernization priorities.

Most recently, Thurgood served as the Director for Hypersonics, Directed Energy, Space and Rapid Acquisition and the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. His efforts to rapidly develop, prototype, test, and field technologies have been integral to getting mission-critical capabilities into the hands of warfighters.

“Neil Thurgood has devoted his career to maintaining our Nation’s technological superiority through innovation and delivering soldier-centered solutions to our warfighters,” said BlueHalo Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Moneymaker.

In a recent public statement, Thurgood explained how his most recent appointment fits with his personal and professional goals.

“I have spent my career focused on providing soldiers the tools and resources they need to complete their mission successfully and return home safely. Serving in a new capacity, I still wake up every day with that same desire to support our soldiers,” said Thurgood.