Huntsville Business Journal May 2023 Issue

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.

By Gus Wintzell - Page 8

GOVERNMENT EDUCATION

UAH Breaks Ground on New 80,000-Square-Foot Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building

The facility, which received initial approval by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees in April 2022, will provide cutting-edge resources to support the largest college at UAH, comprising more than 2,850 students, as well as 90 faculty and staff.

By Russell Nelson - Page 16

ADDITIONAL STORIES

• Collaborative Workspaces: Rethinking Competition at Work

By Alexander Duck, II • Page 2

• Northrop Grumman

Opens New Campus

By Noah Logan • Page 10

• Huntsville's ASCTE and NASA Join in Educational Collaboratioin

By Ashlyn Grey • Page 14

COVER STORY NASA Names Astronauts to Next Moon Missioin, Includes Space Camp Graduate

Collaborative Workspaces: Rethinking Competition at Work

Competition in the workplace is nothing new: several employees may be applying for the same promotion, sales staff might compete to secure clients, and different departments may debate over the allocation of limited resources.

However, in recent decades, some companies and organizations have made intentional efforts to shift from a competitive culture to a more collaborative approach to work. An increasing number of businesses are beginning to see development of a collaborative work environment as a long-term investment and the research certainly seems to support this conclusion.

Benefits of Collaboration

As the old saying goes, a high functioning team is “greater than the sum of its parts.”

This is because good collaboration allows a team to play to each member’s strengths and talents while also covering for any potential deficits. The benefits of collaborative teamwork are numerous and include increased productivity, greater innovation, enhanced problem-solving, and stronger social bonds.

This can also improve employee retention as staff who feel supported by their teammates report being happier at work and are less likely to leave their position.

In addition to improving employee connections and developing workplace culture, having a greater diversity of perspectives, knowledge, and experience when tackling complex problems encourages more efficient and creative solutions. Innovative solutions, new ideas, and constructive feedback are more freely generated when team members trust one another, feel their voice is being heard, and feel their contributions are appreciated.

More than Round Tables

When leadership discusses collaborative classrooms and work-

spaces they often end up focusing on physical aspects: round tables, modular furniture, shared office space, and glass walls. While these physical amenities are meant to encourage interaction and openness between staff, they can also remove privacy and do not actually create a collaborative culture by themselves.

Collaboration must also include the sharing of information and responsibility. This can be accomplished through services like SharePoint, Google Drive, or MS Teams. Task management software, such as Asana or Trello, may also be useful. Morning huddles, if used properly, also increase cohesion and can keep staff well-informed of recent changes.

According to Andrew Jennings, CCO for Transcend, a local Huntsville company that specializes in cultural transformation and leadership development: it is vital to center teams around a common purpose so that individual metrics become less important than achieving organizational success.

One strategy for this includes reading the company mission statement and values at the start of important meetings to reaf-

firm those common goals. This allows staff to focus on the noble purpose of the organization, which places emphasis on best serving their customers or communities instead of their own personal success or failure.

Competition is Complex

Competition among employees has been shown to elevate motivation, resulting in greater creativity in problem-solving, higher productivity, and increased sales.

However, a highly competitive office culture can easily become a toxic work environment and even lead to unethical behavior. Staff might, for instance, create fake bank and credit card accounts to artificially boost their sales figures. This is because while competition can generate excitement and motivation, it often creates an equal amount of fear and anxiety.

It makes a difference whether the benefits or consequences are being highlighted when a competitive approach is being used. For instance, it is more motivating to say, “if we meet our monthly goals, we will get to keep our sales bonus,” while it is more threatening to state, “if we don’t meet our

By: Alexander Duck II

goals this month, we will lose our sales bonus.”

Research has shown that employees feel more positively about the former statement and more anxious about the latter. Staff who are burdened with such pressure may start to feel desperate and resort to unsafe or unethical practices in order to meet expectations or outperform their colleagues.

Conclusion

From the animal kingdom to human society, both competition and collaboration are natural parts of life. Understanding how these two aspects affect staff is important in building a successful and healthy workplace culture as either can enhance or hinder success.

If developed correctly, a collaborative team environment has many benefits for both the organization and its employees, but efforts must go beyond buying a ping-pong table for the breakroom. Real collaboration is an endeavor that requires time, energy, and a serious commitment to developing a culture that supports it, but companies that have done so have found that investment to be well worth it. w

First Metro Bank Opens Eleventh Branch

First Metro Bank, along with its Board of Directors, is pleased to announce the opening of its 11th branch. Located off Highway 72 and Lindsay Lane in Athens, this new location provides a modern look and feel in a conveniently situated area.

The Muscle Shoals-based community bank first extended its financial footprint into Limestone County in 2017 with its branch in Downtown Athens. Since then, First Metro Bank has been an active member of the Athens community.

“After seeing the success when we opened our downtown location a few years ago, we quickly realized that we wanted to expand and open a branch in East Athens,” says Joseph Southers, Limestone County President and Senior Vice President at First Metro Bank.

Leading the new branch is Reed Reynolds, an Athens native with

nearly ten years of banking experience.

“I’m excited to serve even more of neighbors in our new state-ofthe-art facility,” says Reynolds. “We have a great staff that is eager to assist our customers with all of their financial needs.”

Like all First Metro Bank locations, this branch offers a unique banking experience at its ATM, known as First Metro Live, where customers touch the ATM screen to speak with a First Metro Bank teller. The live tellers are First Metro Bank employees housed in the First Metro

Live Department at the bank’s main office in Muscle Shoals.

With this service, customers can cash checks, make deposits and withdrawals, make loan/credit card payments, or ask questions regarding their accounts. This service is available from 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The new location, located at 22026 Gateway Drive, not only features a new branch for First Metro Bank but is a shared space with Singing River Dentistry, which is its first dental office in Athens. Both businesses celebrated their Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on April 5th.

The bank’s team would like to invite the community to visit the new location and unmatched banking experience that First Metro Bank provides. w

Photo courtesy of First Metro Bank

President /Publisher

Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing

Todd Stephenson

Editor Gus Wintzell

Writers

Contributing Writers

Alan Clemons

Ashlyn Grey

Marie Johnson

Noah Logan

Jenn Memolo

Alexander Duck

Jim Steele

Dawn Suiter

David Wilson

Graphic Design

Website

Justina Simon

Photographers …………………………………………………

Director of Sales

Distribution

Jim Gharib

Steve Babin

Justina Simon

Carolyn Stephenson

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 ©2023. 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.

Multifamily BoomtownHuntsville, Alabama

The Rocket City is experiencing a multifamily boom more explosive than has ever been experienced. As of December 31, 2022, independent research at Berkadia Real Estate Advisors indicates a total of 62 apartment communities comprising 14,685 units were actively under construction, while more than 30 other properties comprising 9,479 units were in planning. For an area with a total apartment supply of approximately 33,000 units, the apartment market is on track to increase approximately 45% within the next two years.

These properties are spread across Madison County and portions of East Limestone County, excluding the City of Athens, and the majority are located in the City of Huntsville. A surge of just over 7,300 of units broke ground within the past 4-5 months.

Based on those 62 properties underway, we believe approximately 6,000 units will be delivered for occupancy in 2023 with between 8,000 and 9,000 units delivered in 2024. For context, Berkadia's data indicates 2,241 units in 21 properties were delivered for occupancy in the market in 2022 with 2,016 units in 11 properties delivered in 2021.

The last two years reflected dramatically higher unit deliveries than any year on record. The preceding three “lean years” with 627 units delivered in 2020, 797 units in 2019 and 142 units in 2018 allowed the local apartment market to strengthen dramatically, leading to record high rent growth and occupancy.

What’s triggering this explosion in apartment development activity? While the answer includes a myriad of factors, the answer primarily comes down to:

• Jobs, jobs, jobs – coupled with

a surge in population to fill open positions

• A severe housing shortage existed in 2020 and 2021

• Strong apartment market fundamentals (i.e., high rent growth and high occupancy rates)

• Low barriers to entry and easy/ cheap money

Huntsville’s status as one of the nation’s most well-educated STEM cities has been a prime attractor of major employers and their staffing needs, resulting in a doubling of the Huntsville Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) annual population growth rate over the past five years. The pandemic triggered a population migration across the country, helping to fuel Huntsville’s growth as it offers a great quality of life, high-paying jobs and easy access to abundant outdoor and cultural activities.

These attributes helped secure Huntsville’s rating as the No.

1 “Place to Live in the Country” by U.S. News and World Report in mid-2022, adding more fuel to the explosive growth and providing confidence for future growth. Plentiful, easy-to-develop land and

historically low interest rates are also strong attractors to developers seeking to supply the healthy demand being generated by the economic growth.

A 2019 study by Deloitte forecasted a need for 35,000 additional jobs over the following three to four years. The major economic accelerators include advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, biotech and virtually any technology-related job.

As of year-end 2022, major job recruiting websites reported there were up to 18,000 unfilled jobs in the Huntsville area. This, coupled with record-low unemployment near 2 percent, highlights the huge need for additional in-migration to fill the jobs.

These moves will also be needed to fill apartments, as industry source RealPage reported Huntsville’s demand for apartments totaled approximately 2,100 units in both 2022 and 2021 (which were record years for apartment absorption).

Given the sheer magnitude of the apartment pipeline underway, contrasted with the historical demand which falls significantly short of the supply being added, there is

By: David Wilson, MAI / Graphic courtesy of Berkadia Real Estate Advisors

cause for concern for apartment owners and developers. Huntsville’s population and household growth will need to continue to accelerate in the next two years to absorb all of the new units.

Luckily, many of the largest employment drivers are already under construction or recently completed with considerable new staffing needed. Anticipation is high for additional large-scale employment announcements, including the likely move of the U.S. Space Command.

However, any major slowdown in employment gains could be problematic for the apartment sector which is already beginning to feel the impact of the new supply with 18 properties in lease-up.

While Huntsville’s apartment market has entered uncharted waters, the area’s economic growth is exciting and robust, with new construction of retail, restaurants, nightlife, music venues and mixed-use developments almost everywhere you drive. It is an exciting time for Huntsville’s residents, developers and investors alike and the employment outlook and potential for growth is unprecedented. Optimism abounds in Rocket City. w

Huntsville’s Spring Home Buying Guide

It’s May, and spring is in full swing, with its warm weather and enough pollen in the air to choke a yak. For those in the business of real estate, spring also represents the revitalization of the market, as both buyers and sellers shake off winter seasonal malaise and get back down to business.

This April was National Fair Housing Month, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) carries out various events to gauge the housing needs of the public, and what measures need to be taken to ensure that the Fair Housing Act - which was enacted fifty-five years ago this year - is carried out throughout the nation.

“This April, we commemorate the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law that guarantees the right to housing of your choice, free from discrimination,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Though it has been 55 years since the Fair Housing Act was passed, we are still working tirelessly to fight housing discrimination. Today, we recommit to our mission to provide equality and opportunity to every person who calls America home, regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, or familial status.”

We reached out to the President of the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), Chris Hulser, to discuss how those looking to buy or sell can do to thrive during this spring season, and how to learn about Fair Housing rules.

HBJ: What are the factors that buyers and sellers each need to take into consideration, and how are they changing this spring?

Our area has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. One of the major factors that has affected buyers and sellers has been the low inventory which is starting

to improve but we still do not have enough homes for those individuals who are moving here in the coming months. Housing price increases have leveled off but continue to rise with inflation. In January of 2022, the average home price in Huntsville/Madison County was $334,000 compared to $346,000 as of January 2023. Springtime typically sparks an upswing in the real estate market in our area. The weather is starting to warm up and sellers will be getting their homes ready for the market; while buyers are ready to get back in the market to purchase. Mortgage rates rose in 2022 before starting to fall in midNovember through December. We have seen interest rates fluctuate the first part of 2023 but seem to be settling out in the 4-6% range for a 30-year loan.

Experts in the local lending industry feel that continued high inflation will keep mortgage rates

around current levels but the hope is to see them come down some more. Buyers should not wait for rates to come down because they most likely will stay where they are for a little while longer. Home prices will continue to rise due to demand in our area and sellers shouldn’t wait to list their homes because buyers are still coming to our area and need a place to live.

HBJ: What strategies can buyers and sellers employ to make the best possible deals during this time?

The first thing buyers and sellers should do is find a Realtor. All Realtor have committed to a strict code of ethics and have gone through orientation at the Huntsville Area Association of Realtor. They are educated and ready to negotiate the best deal for you. Sellers should be aware that they have more choices than they did last year, even with buyers populating the market.

Sellers need to make sure that

By: Marie Johnson

their home is presented in its best form. Finish those last-minute projects, repaint rooms that look tired and worn. Most especially - curb appeal! When a buyer is standing at the door waiting on their Realtor to open the door they look around and they don’t want to see deferred maintenance, dirty light fixtures, or weeds in the flower beds. When you hire a Realtor, these are all things they should discuss with you as well as pricing your home correctly. Even the prettiest home won’t sell if it is not priced right.

The buyers’ first step is finding the Realtor they want to work with and finding a mortgage lender that fits their needs. Getting loan pre-approval is key before even starting to look for a home. Despite the inventory level rising, there is still some competition in our area when looking at homes. Buyers who make offers without approval letters might not get the same con-

sideration as those that do.

Don’t let the fact that interest rates are higher now than they were back in 2021 and early 2022 deter you from purchasing a home. When you compare the rising rental cost vs. owning a home, you will find that typically you can buy a home that is larger than an apartment and your monthly mortgage payment is less than rent...and you own it!

Buyers keep your offers clean and simple; sellers don’t want complicated provisions in a contract they might not fully understand. Avoid asking for personal items in a contract. If you like something in a home, ask about it outside of the contract, don’t make it a consideration of the contract.

The spring market is heating up, more homes are coming on the market, and buyers are still coming in, so prep your home if you are selling! If you are buying get your loan approval taken care of and always hire a Realtor!

April is Fair Housing Month, so what are some of the most critical rules and regulations for people to know, and where can they find a more comprehensive list of such rules?

Realtors and consumers rely on strong fair housing laws and best practices for our communities and economy to continue to grow. Discrimination can distort the housing market and cause some to not achieve the American dream of home ownership that are qualified buyers. Our local Realtors along with the National Association of Realtors advance this commitment to Fair Housing through policy advocacy, innovative programming, and legal guidance.

One of NAR’s goals is the continued promotion of public policy to advance broader homeownership availability, accessibility, and affordability. NAR’s Fair Housing Plan emphasizes Accountability, Culture Change and Training, to advance fair housing in the industry. NAR

continues to raise awareness, deepen understanding, and hold us accountable. NAR provides guidance and support to all members to ensure that Realtors are complying with fair housing laws and the Realtor Code of Ethics. NAR works closely with state and local associations to establish best practices on evolving legal issues in real estate.

Locally, the Huntsville Association of Realtors offers continuing education year-round on Fair Housing to its members. (One such educational event occurring this month is a lecture for Realtors at HAAR, “Delivering the Promise of Fair Housing,” which teaches Realtors to integrate the Fair Housing Law into their everyday real estate practice. Those interested can register at https://haar.realtor/howtoregister).

HAAR also partners with the City of Huntsville each April to sign a Fair Housing proclamation. Consumers can also visit NAR. realtor/fair-housing for additional information on fair housing.

As community leaders, real estate professionals have an opportunity to be a part of equitable and inclusive change. Fair Housing Month signifies recommitment to advancing equitable opportunities and expanding home ownership. As A Realtor, I follow this simple rule...if a buyer or seller wants to buy or sell and they have that ability, then I will work with them. No one should ever feel like they would be discriminated against because of their skin color, nationality, sexual orientation, or any other reason. Homeownership is for everyone. I have worked with a very diverse pool of clients, and they all had one thing in common...they wanted to own a home and it was my job to find them the perfect home.

The Huntsville Business Journal will continue to keep its readers apprised of market trends and developments as they occur. Let this spring season be a prosperous one, for everyone! w

NASA Names Astronauts to Next Moon Mission, Includes Space Camp Graduate

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.

The agencies revealed the crew members Monday during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity’s crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, each has their own story, but, together, they represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation.”

The crew assignments are as follows: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. They will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations during the flight test.

The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.

“We are going back to the Moon and Canada is at the center of this exciting journey,” said the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, the

minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency. “Thanks to our longstanding collaboration with NASA, a Canadian astronaut will fly on this historic mission. On behalf of all Canadians, I want to congratulate Jeremy for being at the forefront of one of the most ambitious human endeavors ever undertaken. Canada’s participation in the Artemis program is not only a defining chapter of our history in space, but also a testament to the friendship and close partnership between our two nations.”

The flight, set to build upon the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission completed in December, will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program, paving the way

for future for long-term human exploration missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars. This is the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all,” said Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson. “This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industry and academic partnerships and the Artemis Generation.”

By: Gus Wintzell

This will be Wiseman’s second trip into space, serving previously as a flight engineer aboard the International Station for Expedition 41 from May through November 2014. Wiseman has logged more than 165 days in space, including almost 13 hours as lead spacewalker during two trips outside the orbital complex. Prior to his assignment, Wiseman served as chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 until November 2022.

The mission will be Glover’s second spaceflight, serving previously as pilot on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1, which landed May 2, 2021, after 168 days in space. As a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 64, he contributed to scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and participated in four spacewalks.

Koch also will be making her second flight into space on the Artemis II mission. She served as flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 59, 60, and 61. Koch set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with a total of 328 days in space and participated in the first allfemale spacewalks.

Koch is also a five-time Space Camp alumna, attending every summer from 1992 to 1996

Representing Canada, Hansen is making his first flight to space. A colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and former fighter pilot, Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science in space science from Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and a Master of Science in physics from the same institution in 2000, with a research focus on Wide Field of View Satellite Tracking.

He was one of two recruits select-

/ Photos courtesy of NASA

The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission (left to right): NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

GOVERNMENT

ed by CSA in May 2009 through the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign and has served as Capcom in NASA’s Mission Control Center at Johnson and, in 2017, became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class, leading the training of astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.

“I could not be prouder that these brave four will kickstart our journeys to the Moon and beyond,” said Director of Flight Operations Norm Knight,

NASA Johnson. “They represent exactly what an astronaut corps should be: a mix of highly capable and accomplished individuals with the skills and determination to take on any trial as a team. The Artemis II mission will be challenging, and we’ll test our limits as we prepare to put future astronauts on the Moon. With Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy at the controls, I have no doubt we’re ready to face every challenge that comes our way.”

Through Artemis missions, NASA will use innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars. w

Northrop Grumman Opens New Campus

Northrop Grumman opened a new two-building campus outside of the Redstone Arsenal on Thursday, April 06. This campus has a total footprint of 260,000-squarefeet of office space and will be home to over 1,000 Northrop Grumman employees in the Huntsville area.

“Our new lab enables us to deliver innovative solutions to our customers on rapid timelines, helping to protect and defend our nation and its allies against evolving threats,” said Scott Lehr, vice president and general manager, launch and missile defense systems for Northrop Grumman. “The enhancements to the facility will also optimize operating efficiencies and provide our team with a dynamic research and develop-

ment work environment.”

Tom Wilson, Northrop Grumman Space Sector President, gave opening remarks that touched on the company’s history in North Alabama and how the new facility will be used by its

1,000 employees.

“I talked about our relationship with Marshall Space Flight Center on the Artemis program. Most notably, we're working with them on the solid Rocket Motor Booster for the SLS program. But most of our employees here are working on programs that are critical to national security. Northrop Grumman, our legacy companies have decades of experience here. We've been here since the 1950s, so we have a long heritage here and we're really proud to be expanding our footprint in the aerospace and defense hub of the South. We are surrounded here by industry partners who are dedicated to the same missions, and we're here working alongside of our customers who are committed to keep our nation safe and secure,” said Wilson.

Company officials were joined by guest speakers U.S. Congressman Dale Strong, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison

County Chairman Mac McCutcheon and Huntsville City Council President John Meredith. Also in attendance were senior military partners as well as education, civic and community organizations.

Huntsville’s newest congressman, Dale Strong, remarked about how the facility shows North Alabama and Northrop Grumman’s commitment.

“This facility highlights North Alabama's continued commitment to ensuring the safety of America. It also shows North Grumman's commitment to investing in this community. This day is not only significant to the city of Huntsville, but for the great state of Alabama as it continues to solidify what we all know.

“Alabama's the best place in the nation to do business for aerospace, aviation and defense industries,” Strong continued. “Alabama's fifth Congressional District is perfectly positioned to

By: Noah Logan / Photos courtesy of Mark Johnson Photography and Powers Brown Architecture

“Our new lab enables us to deliver innovative solutions to our customers on rapid timelines, helping to protect and defend our nation and its allies against evolving threats,”

leverage our assets, an ideal location, a workforce that's second to none and an outstanding quality of life. I commend Mayor Battle and everyone else here today.”

The Northrop Grumman Redstone Gateway campus will include a hardware-in-the-loop integration lab that provides a robust

and resilient cutting-edge capability to Northrop Grumman and its customers. This lab creates an endto-end environment for engineers to best utilize the DevSecOps methodologies to develop, test, mirror and qualify integrated systems across the Missile Defense engagement chain. w

In a bid to support local, sustainable energy, Huntsville Utilities will be acquire power from someone besides TVA for the first time ever.

On the morning of Wednesday, April 05, Huntsville Utilities, Toyota Alabama and Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI) announced a new project that will harness solar energy to power 70% of Huntsville’s Toyota manufacturing plant. The three entities have entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) which will be used to build and support the 168-acre, $49 million solar project.

Located in the North Huntsville Industrial park, the 30-megawatt solar-generated plant will generate 62,000 megawatt hours annually

Huntsville Toyota and Go Green in $49 Million

By: Noah Logan / Photos

and reduce approximately 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. This is enough solar energy to power over 5,000 homes in the US.

The city of Huntsville is leasing

30 acres to Toyota Motor Manufacturing for use in the solar project, Mayor Tommy Battle said.

According to Mayor Battle, it’s a development that has been in the works for almost three years.

“We’re leasing the land because it does an environmental good for the community,” Battle said. “And it makes this community a stronger community.”

This project is one of several that will help the automaker achieve its goal of maintaining complete carbon neutrality in its operations by 2035.

“Toyota is taking a transparent, science-based approach to address climate change,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Alabama. “By

relying on the sun to power our operations, we will reduce our carbon footprint and create a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama. We want to create a model of environmental stewardship and manufacturing can positively impact the world around us,” Puckett said.

The solar facility will begin generating energy by summer of 2024 while the project’s development is handled by Toyota Tsusho’s Energy Infrastructure Solutions team, who will be the owners of the facility.

“Finding smart, creative solutions to climate change is an urgent and global focus for our company,” said Toyota Tsusho president and CEO, Naoyuki Hata. “Using our know-how to bring projects like

courtesy of

“By relying on the sun to power our operations, we will reduce our carbon footprint and create a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama. We want to create a model of environmental stewardship and manufacturing can positively impact the world around us,”

and Huntsville Utilities Million Solar Project

of City of Huntsville and Noah Logan

this to life aligns with our goal of creating positive impacts in local communities, while also helping create pathways to a sustainable future globally.”

The PPA with Huntsville Utilities and Toyota marks a new era of clean energy production for the municipal utility company. Through its long-term agreement with TVA, this facility will be the largest flexibility project in the region, representing a new kind of relationship between TVA and local power companies across the Tennessee River Valley.

One thing that makes the project unique is that Huntsville Utilities

will be purchasing power from anyone other than TVA for the very first time according to Huntsville Utilities CEO Wes Kelley.

In an interview with HBJ, Kelley elaborated that the agreement is only possible because of a new deal that Huntsville Utilities entered into with TVA a few years ago. According to Kelley, the deal allows Huntsville Utilities to acquire 5% of their energy needs locally to support environmentally sustainable projects.

This deal will allocate about

40% of the 5% allowed, around 2.0% -2.5% of their total energy needs. Huntsville Utilities will be purchasing this power at a rate less than the current rate paid to TVA.

“TVA’s willingness to get more creative and get more flexible has allowed this to happen so that we can partner with our key industry to make this a success,” Kelley said.

“In the past, every electron that flowed onto the Huntsville system came from TVA, but they recognized that there's local needs and local opportunities so they wanted to give us the flexibility to harness those opportunities.”

Huntsville Utilities will be building a new $2.6 million electric substation to receive this power along with a 46,000 volt transmission line that will be brought into the distribution system.

“Due to our collaboration with Toyota, TAI and TVA, we are helping shape the future for communities and companies in the region and beyond,” Kelley added. “We are both proud and thankful to be a part of this project with Toyota.”

TVA was also represented by their Southeast regional vice president, Jared Mitchum.

“After 90 years of generating clean power for the Valley, over the last 20 years, we have started bringing solar in a pretty big way with over 4,000 mostly small installations to the tune of couple billion dollars worth of investment,” said Mitchum in his remarks.

“Partners like this one with Huntsville Utilities is flexible and allows them to meet local needs and local power generation in an infrastructure that’s good for business at the local level.”

HBJ was also able to interview Mitchum about the partnership where he explained that this is the largest “possibility project” to date, which refers to the specific projects allowing TVA customers to partner with local energy sources and the first such project in their south region.

Since Toyota Alabama started production in 2003, the plant has expanded six times and represents a $1.5 billion investment. In 2022, Toyota Alabama’s 1,900 employees assembled more than 665,000 engines and hybrid engines. The plant supplies engines for popular Toyota vehicles such as the Tundra, Corolla Cross and Sienna. w

Huntsville’s ASCTE and NASA Join in Educational Collaboration

On Tuesday, April 4th, the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering (ASCTE) announced an official partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

As ASCTE's newest Partner in Education, this partnership will create and advance opportunities for ASCTE students to gain knowledge and experiences that drive innovation in the cyber and aerospace industries.

At 9:00 a.m., both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for cooperation between NASA and ASCTE.

This partnership reflects ASCTE's commitment to providing students with a comprehensive education that transcends the class-

room and aligns some of Alabama's most promising students with the resources, experience, and mentorship needed to secure tomorrow's prosperity.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with NASA," said Matt Massey, President of ASCTE. "This partnership is a result of several years of conversation reinforcing our commitment to ensuring high levels of relevant and practical learning for ASCTE students. We are confident that our students will benefit immensely from this program, and we are ex-

By: Ashlyn Grey / Photos courtesy of ASCTE

As ASCTE continues to solidify its place as a national leader in secondary cyber and engineer-

cited to see how this partnership will shape the future of cyber in aerospace engineering."

EDUCATION

newest Partner in Education, this partnership will create and advance opportunities for ASCTE students to gain knowledge and experiences that drive innovation in the cyber and aerospace industries,” shared ASCTE online as it announced the collaboration.

ing education, its partnership with NASA reinforces both institutions' commitment to aligning talent with opportunity and forging a path forward that directly addresses national security and workforce challenges.

“ASCTE is excited to announce an official partnership with NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration. As ASCTE's

“Today both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for cooperation between NASA and ASCTE. As outlined in the MOU, ASCTE students will have the opportunity to collaborate with NASA– giving them access to NASA's state-ofthe-art facilities, research programs, and pathways into established internship programs.” w

UAH Breaks Ground on New 80,000-Square-Foot Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 14 for a new 80,000-square-foot engineering facility that will be named in memory of Raymond B. Jones, long-time business and community leader and past chairman of the UAH Foundation. The facility, which received initial approval by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees in April 2022, will provide cutting-edge resources to support the largest college at UAH, comprising more than 2,850 students, as well as 90 faculty and staff.

Huntsville and North Alabama comprise both the fastest-growing region of the state and a hightech hub with a continual need for a highly educated STEM labor force. The new Jones Engineering Building will feature modernized, world-class research and collaborative teaching facilities that will ensure UAH continues to meet the state’s workforce needs.

“The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, Chancellor St. John and the UA System leadership understand the significance of a modern facility and what this means to UAH’s future growth, and I want to thank them for their leadership and guidance,” said UAH President Dr. Charles L. Karr. “In an effort championed by Senator Tom Butler, Governor Ivey and the Alabama State Legislature appropriated funds to make this needed building a reality, and we will forever be indebted for their commitment to higher education here in Huntsville, especially in the fields of engineering and science. I also want to thank the UAH Foundation, chaired by Dag Rowe, for its significant support. Mr. Jones was a past chairman of this philanthropic body, and because of his leadership, this university was set

on a path for exponential growth.”

Raymond B. Jones, Sr., was born in Knoxville, TN, in 1935, to engineer Carl T. Jones and his wife Betty. In 1939, his family bought a farm in Jones Valley in Madison County where G. W. Jones & Sons Consulting Engineers had been founded by his grandfather. Raymond Jones became president of G.W. Jones upon the death of his father in 1967, and as CEO oversaw numerous engineering design and municipal projects before his passing in July 2022. For his business and civic leadership, Jones was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce. He received an honorary doctorate from UAH in recognition of his tireless support of the university.

“Ensuring the growth and success of UAH is one of our top priorities, and the groundbreaking of this transformative building is a testament to that commitment,” said UA System Board of Trustees President Pro Tempore W. Stancil Starnes. “The Jones Engineering Building will be integral to UAH’s role in supporting the region’s workforce, research and educational needs, and we are confident it will favorably impact this community for generations to come. The

future is bright for UAH.”

UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, is classified as R1 – “Very high research activity” status – among doctoral-granting

By: Russell Nelson

universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education. Five of UAH’s research programs currently rank among the top 20 federally funded programs

University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, UAH Foundation, Representatives of local and state governments, members of the military, members of the family of Raymond B. Jones, community leaders and UAH faculty, staff and students were on The University of Alabama Huntsville campus April 14, 2023, to break ground for the new Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building.

Credit: Michael Mercier | UAH

in the U.S. Fiscal year 2021 marks the tenth year in a row UAH has had five or more research programs ranked in the top 25 nationally for federal research funding.

“UAH is known for our talented faculty and students who go on to be some of the brightest leaders in the national security, space exploration, healthcare, arts and business sectors,” said President Karr. “The Huntsville community is known for our remarkable STEM labor force, and the Jones Engineering Building will enhance our students’ experience.”

Phase I of the project received Stage II approval from The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees at its April 2023 meeting. Phase I is estimated to cost $62.38M and includes plans for new construction that will replace the Wernher von Braun

Research Hall, a building constructed in 1964. The new facility will be located west of the existing Engineering Building, adjacent to the campus lake along John Wright Drive.

“This new building will serve as a centerpiece for UAH, enabling us to recruit the very best and brightest students from all 67 counties in our state, from states across the nation and beyond,” said Dean Mahalingam. “It will enable us to graduate engineers with B.S., M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees who will contribute to filling the rapidly growing workforce needs of our region and our state. Today is indeed a historic day for the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.”

All stages of this multi-phased project are subject to approval by the UA System Board of Trustees. w

Raymond B. Jones, civic leader and past chairman of the UAH Foundation.

Credit: Courtesy Raymond B. Jones family

Conceptual view of the UAH College of Engineering Building. Renderings are conceptual and subject to change. All projects are subject to the approval of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.

Making Huntsville and Alabama into a Southeastern Plasma Powerhouse

The business community can help propel to fruition a statewide endeavor backed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to make Huntsville the hub of an Alabama plasma physics technology powerhouse that spans the Southeast.

The effort is a springboard to propel cutting-edge university plasma physics research and technologies into practical business applications in agriculture, manufacturing, propulsion, space science, space weather prediction and more. It nurtures and educates the required high-technology workforce to stimulate thousands of high-paying jobs.

Called Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) and led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the enterprise is fueled by a five-year $20 million grant from the NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The current grant

consecutively follows a previous $20 million NSF award.

“The critical next step, and one where we are looking to Huntsville and Alabama entrepreneurs and business leaders for help and engagement, is taking plasma technology into the industrial and commercial environment,” says Dr. Gary Zank, the principal investigator for the FTPP grant.

The FTPP consortium consists of UAH, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University, Tuskegee University, the University of South Alabama, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Oakwood University and CFD Research Corp.

If FTPP succeeds over the coming five years, the NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program is gearing up to vault Huntsville and Alabama

into place as the Southeastern hub for cutting-edge plasma technology, backed by a Type 2 grant of $160 million.

Reliant on plasma

“Modern society relies on plasmabased technologies such as efficient lighting, new materials, welding, internal combustion and jet engines, medical implants and water purification,” says Dr. Zank, who is the Aerojet Rocketdyne chair of the Department of Space Science at UAH and also the director of the university’s Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR).

“Plasmas enable microelectronics fabrication through the etching and deposition of materials; compact particle accelerators for science, medicine and industry; forecasting of extreme space weather events; and agricultural and medical advances,” says Dr. Zank, a world-renowned astrophysicist and a full member of the National Academy of Sciences.

“All of these industries and more become accessible to Huntsville and Alabama, provided that a new class of business people and entrepreneurs is created with the vision to translate plasma science and engineering (PSE) research into new and innovative technologies, and that they join together with a workforce educated in basic PSE,” says Dr. Zank.

Get involved now

Companies can get directly

By: Jim Steele

involved in ground-floor plasma technology opportunities by reaching out to Dr. Zank and FTPP through the website and by participating in the FTPP student internship program.

“They can learn what potential technologies enabled by PSE might be useful to them, and how,” Dr. Zank says.

Right now, businesses can help develop the plasma workforce of the future in Alabama by participating in FTPP’s student intern program, in which FTPP pays the students to work in companies that are or might become engaged in PSE processes.

“One of our most important efforts is to build a broad group of graduate students working in the various areas of PSE, and we always have a ready supply of eager young minds for these internships,” Dr. Zank says. “It’s a resource that business people need to know about and utilize.”

To educate a future workforce, FTPP conducts kindergarten through 12th grade outreach programs and has multiple summer programs that reach out to STEM undergraduate students across the Southeast. It is developing an Alabama and Southeastern plasma certification program that will introduce interested college undergraduates to graduate-level PSE.

What is plasma?

Plasma is a state of matter comprising a mixture of charged particles and sometimes chemically active species.

“Imagine that there is a kind of gas that helps you grow large gemquality diamonds, allows etching a single atomic layer on a computer chip to enable ever-smaller and more capable devices, sterilizes eggs and seeds without harm to either consumers or the environment, or helps create useful new materials from unused chicken products such as feathers and egg shells,” says Dr. Zank. “Plasma can do all these things and many more, limited only by imagination.”

FTPP has identified several possibilities that have the potential for economic impact:

• Plasma-aided synthesis of novel materials including interfacial engineering in quantum materials;

Commercial and business partners are an essential element of FTPP’s success, says Dr. Gary Zank, its principal investigator. - Michael Mercier / UAH

Alabama A&M University graduate student Sophia Madison works with a low temperature plasma system to conduct plant and food research. She is advised by Dr. Rao Mentreddy, professor of biological and environmental sciences and the principal investigator for the plasma research.

Jerome Saintjones / AAMU

• Plasma reprocessing of waste materials to produce polymer composites for various applications;

• Plasma treatment of soft and biomatter, with one focus being medical materials used in catheters, implants and grafts, and in developing new methods of decontamination and sterilization that ensure complete removal of bacteria, pyrogens and attached proteins without drug-resistance issues;

• Food safety and sterilization to increase quality and shelf-life of food using low temperature plasma;

• Space weather forecasting and nowcasting to prevent damage to critical infrastructure in space and on Earth.

“Each of these has significant potential economic impact,” says Dr. Zank. “But more importantly, they illustrate how using FTPP to grow Huntsville and Alabama as a Southeastern hub of PSE opens up an entirely new high-tech field in a range of emergent technologies.”

Right now, FTPP has numerous projects in the five fields identified that “have technologies that show consid-

erable promise for commercialization, and we would love to talk to business people about them,” Dr. Zank says.

“At this point, it’s not necessarily about investment so much as anticipating the promise of what could be done and finding out from the business community the directions that they might like us to explore,” he says.

“We would like to open a two-way educational dialogue with business leaders about opportunities and the future, since commercial and business partners are an essential element of our success.”

The dialog is essential so that researchers can interface with business, entrepreneurs and investors to exploit the possibilities inherent in plasma processes. Business leaders can also elect to serve on an FTPP advisory board.

Currently, FTPP’s Industry Liaison Board is seeking members.

“It’s vital that we have the guidance of experienced entrepreneurs in identifying the commercial potential for technologies and products, guidance in acquiring development funding, and then of course guidance on business partnerships and venture capital,” Dr. Zank says.

“So far, we have been successful in marrying scientific research and technology development, but taking it to the commercial step is still in its infancy,” he says. “We would love to identify some interesting Huntsville and Alabama business people with a strong entrepreneurial streak and an interest in serving on the Industry Liaison Board.”

In the pipeline now

Two leading plasma technologies now in the commercialization pipeline are a small-diameter artificial vascular graft for dialysis access and an accurate space weather forecasting system.

The artificial vascular graft is being developed in partnership with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

“We anticipate that a medical device manufacturer will license the rights to the device from The University of Alabama at Birmingham and manufacture and sell it in Alabama and nationwide,” says Dr. Zank. “The graft is likely to help COVID-19 patients who are reporting kidney infections and cases of blood clots, and may result in sales of $50 million a year.”

Based at CSPAR at UAH, the space weather forecasting effort already has received NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) supporting grants.

“We are at point where we think a beta system can reasonably be con-

structed,” Dr. Zank says. “These two examples give a sense of the diverse applications that plasma enables.”

What success looks like Dr. Zank says FTPP will be successful if it:

• Establishes Alabama as a national and international hub for plasma science and engineering and for recognition as a leader in the field of PSE;

• Builds a durable PSE infrastructure and statewide consortium across the Alabama research universities, including hiring new faculty and development of graduate programs, along with the necessary infrastructure;

• Builds a diverse Science, Technology, Engineering and Math pipeline into PSE through the Alabama institutions, summer programs, outreach and certification programs;

• Establishes a PSE partnership between academics, the commercial sector and the state that is coordinated by the FTPP Industry Liaison Board.

“This will lay the groundwork for sustainability of the program in Alabama and across the Southeast, and thereby position us to capture the NSF Regional Innovation Engines grant for $160 million,” he says. “Engagement by the business and industrial community will be critical to achieving this vision.” w

Zachary White, a UAH graduate student, works with a plasma and electric engine experiment at UAH’s Johnson Research Center. - Michael Mercier / UAH

UAH graduate student Nageshway Nagarajan conducts plasma research in the Plasma and Electrodynamics Research Lab directed by Dr. Gabe Xu in Johnson Research Center. - Michael Mercier / UAH

Akima to Acquire Huntsville’s Pinnacle Solutions

On April 10, Herndon, VAbased Akima, LLC, a premier provider of products and services to federal agencies, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pinnacle Solutions, Inc., a provider of innovative training and sustainment products and services to defense customers around the globe.

Leveraging a highly skilled workforce, Pinnacle provides aviation operations and maintenance services; flight operations and training services; and develops state-of-the-art training products and services for air, ground, unmanned, and maritime platforms. The specialized capabilities of-

fered by Pinnacle will complement Akima’s portfolio and drive significant value for customers through broader delivery of operations and training capabilities.

“Akima and Pinnacle share a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations and delivering exceptional value to our customers, employees, and shareholders,” said Bill Monet, president and CEO of Akima. “Combining Akima’s experience and technical expertise with Pinnacle’s differentiated mission readiness capabilities will enable us to solve our customers’ toughest challenges through innovative technology solutions.”

Headquartered in Huntsville, AL, Pinnacle was founded in 2008 by Mike Durant, a retired Army aviator who was shot down while piloting an MH-60 Black Hawk during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. Mr. Durant serves as chairman on the company’s board of directors.

“I founded Pinnacle with a vision for a company where mission-driven employees could bring their innovation, responsiveness, and flexibility to bear on our customers’ most critical aerospace challenges,” said Durant. “Joining Akima, which has a portfolio of complementary businesses and a similar culture, allows that vision to continue and serves the best interests of our employees and customers.”

“This announcement represents an important milestone for Pinnacle and is a testament to our tremendous success and strong market position,” said Tina Tucker, president and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions. “We look forward to leveraging Akima’s expertise supporting critical missions across the federal government, enabling us to deliver stronger outcomes for our customers and increased opportunities for our employees.”

Following the closing of the

transaction, Pinnacle will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory requirements. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. w

Nation’s First Autonomous Ground Robot Production Facility for Military and Police Training Opens

Marathon Robotics inaugurated the nation’s first autonomous ground robot production facility

for military and police training in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park.

A ribbon cutting for the new North American Headquarters and production space took place on Monday, April 10, 2023, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The facility is located at 4950 Gilmer Drive, NW, Suite B, Huntsville, AL 35805.

Company President Ralph Petroff noted, “These robots solve a fundamental problem for militaries and law enforcement – – the ONLY time they practice shooting bullets at realistic moving targets is in a real firefight.”

Congressman Dale Strong (AL-05), Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Lynn Troy, Board Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, attended and made remarks, followed by a facility tour and live-fire simulation.

Congressman Strong remarked, “Alabama is the best place in the nation for businesses supporting America’s aerospace, aviation and defense communities. I’ve had the opportunity to practice shooting these robots. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), it’s my honor to play a role in ensuring our Warfighters have what they need to be successful.”

Strong continued, “Marathon is helping our men and women in uniform to be more effective and prepared. Before Marathon, we asked the men and women of our armed forces to go to foreign lands and fight after having only shot at a piece of paper or simple pop-up targets. Our government needs to take advantage of cutting edge technology like Marathon’s autonomous robots to protect our nation. This new facility highlights Marathon’s commitment to ensuring the safety of America and to investing in our community.”

Mayor Battle said, “I want to thank Marathon for their investment in our city. This technology was a perfect candidate for the Alabama Robotic Technology Park, and

now we’re proud they’ve chosen to expand in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park. Marathon is a great example of how industry supports Redstone Arsenal, our economy and our armed forces.”

The new facility will support manufacturing of the company’s Autonomous Robotic Training Systems, which consist of realistic mannequins mounted on armored, intelligent robots capable of safely operating on unimproved ranges in support of military and law enforcement.

The robots move independently, flinching or lying down when shot, and can scream as they run for cover or charge toward the firing line. The result is greatly increased readiness for armed forces and law enforcement, reducing combat stress, improved accuracy and better outcomes in shoot/no-shoot decisions.

The systems are already widely used by the US Marine Corps and by select Army, Navy, SOCOM and federal law enforcement customers as well as partner nations on 4 continents. w

The property also includes multiple springs, sinks and other geologic features, as well as habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. This natural landscape is a great conservation addition in an area of the city experiencing rapid growth.

Access to the land is currently limited, so it will not be open for public recreation. However, the Land Trust plans to pursue future expansion of preserved land in the area.

You can support ongoing conservation of land and natural resources in North Alabama by becoming a Land Trust member. w

thankful to have had a strong year and are honored to be recognized amongst other top banks across the United States.”

S&P Global Market Intelligence launched the rankings in 2011 to assess the performance of community banks and credit unions. The division ranks institutions based on returns, growth and efficiency but places a premium on the strength and risk profile of balance sheets. w

Land Trust Acquires Drake Mountain Property

Land Trust of North Alabama recently acquired a 44-acre property on Drake Mountain in East Huntsville.

Lying on the western side of the mountain and being highly visible from both Dug Hill Road and Highway 431, the forested mountainside is a key acquisition to protect the viewshed within the area.

ServisFirst Bancshares

Global Market Intelligence’s 2022 Top 50 Public Banks

Ranks 21st on S&P

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., bank holding company of ServisFirst Bank, announces that it has been ranked 21st on S&P Global Market Intelligence’s 2022 Top 50 Public Banks.

S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks US public banks by financial performance and are limited to banks with greater than $10 billion in total assets.

Rankings were based on three major categories, using calendaryear data as well as GAAP data unless otherwise noted: growth, weighted at 35%; profitability, weighted at 35%; and safety and soundness, weighted at 30%.

“ServisFirst is proud to be ranked on S&P Global Market Intelligence’s esteemed 2022 Top 50 Public Banks list,” states Tom Broughton, ServisFirst Bank Chairman, President and CEO. “We are

Saban Center Announces Strategic Partnership With Alabama Power Foundation, Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, Parker Towing and the University of Alabama

Saban Center, a first-of-its-kind STEM hub and children’s performing arts center being built in the heart of Tuscaloosa, has announced five major partnerships with Alabama Power Foundation, CocaCola Bottling Company UNITED, Mercedes-Benz, Parker Towing and the University of Alabama.

These partnerships will help fulfill Saban Center’s promise of building an innovative campus for education training, arts participation and academic support for residents across the Southeast.

“Saban Center’s mission of revolutionizing STEM and performing arts programs for children across the state would not be possible without the terrific partners we have added today,” said Terry Saban. “Thanks to their generosity, we are another massive step forward toward realizing our goal.”

“We’re honored to have these terrific partners join us in mak-

ing our dream a reality,” said Nick Saban. “Their commitment to the families and residents of Alabama and beyond speaks volumes for the potential Saban Center has moving forward, and we cannot thank them enough.”

This exciting announcement comes on the heels of a partnership announcement with the Alabama State Department of Education to create a STEM hub that will not only deliver immersive STEM education to children, but also provide workforce development opportunities to educators. State support, along with these new partnerships, will help local and regional school districts educate and inspire children to enter STEM-related fields and will be an integral part of the overall strategy to improve STEM education in Alabama.

“Success is never an accident, and it rarely happens in isolation,” Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said. “This transformational project for the future of our state would not be possible without the commitment of a hardworking team and a community of very supportive partners.”

“Coca-Cola is excited to be a part of Saban Center, which will undoubtedly continue to transform Tuscaloosa for generations to come,” said Mike Suco, president and CEO of Coca-Cola UNITED, the Alabama-based bottling company that includes Tuscaloosa Coca-Cola. “We are honored to join with the University of Alabama, other leading businesses, the city and state, and of course the Saban family, in investing in this innovative educational initiative.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Saban Center as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community," stated Alison Phillips, spokesperson for Parker Towing Company. “We believe Saban Center will be the leading institute for STEM education and performing arts for the state of Alabama. This collaboration will enable us to work together to build a brighter, more prosperous future for our commu-

nity.”

“The University of Alabama is proud to collaborate with Saban Center and the City of Tuscaloosa,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “The initiative will extend UA’s outreach to K–12 students as part of the Capstone’s teaching, research and service mission, and the Center will enhance STEM education in our state for children who will one day be professionals in our communities.”

Saban Center looks to revolutionize arts participation and academic support for teachers and families alike. From child-led theater productions to robotics sports labs, Saban Center will be Alabama’s hub for education, discovery and innovation. w

and fans while enjoying all Huntsville has to offer.”

The 2024 C-USA Basketball Championships are scheduled for Tuesday, March 12 through Saturday, March 16, at Propst Arena. The conference champions receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

“We are proud to welcome the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball championships to Huntsville and our renovated Propst Arena,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “March Madness will be starting in the Rocket City next year and we can’t wait to showcase our great city to all the student-athletes, coaches, fans, and alumni attending the event.”

effort from all of our partners and we appreciate the confidence the Conference USA leadership has in our vision to provide a championship experience at Propst Arena.”

C-USA Basketball Championships moving to Huntsville, Von Braun Center

Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod announced yeserday that the 2024 and 2025 Conference USA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships will be hosted at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama, in partnership with the Huntsville/Madison County CVB, the Huntsville Sports Commission and Knight Eady.

The multi-year agreement is for two seasons with an opportunity to extend.

“We are very excited to have our men’s and women’s basketball teams compete for a conference championship and berth in the NCAA tournament at Propst Arena in Huntsville,” MacLeod said. “We can’t wait to get started partnering with the team from the City, Sports Commission, CVB and Knight Eady to put on a first-class event for our student-athletes, universities

Huntsville will be the ninth location to host the C-USA Men’s Basketball Championship and the 14th host city for the C-USA Women’s Basketball Championship. Both championships have been held in Alabama previously, from 2015-17, in Birmingham at Legacy Arena (men’s and women’s) and Bartow Arena for the women’s championship in 1996.

“Providing an exciting and enjoyable championship atmosphere for the student-athletes is our top priority, and I believe all of the teams traveling to the rocket city will love their experience here,” said Mark Russell, Executive Director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “Huntsville is a great destination – not just to visit, but for sports– and I’m thrilled Conference USA is entrusting our team to host a high-caliber event like the C-USA Basketball Championships here. We can’t wait!”

“Bringing a piece of March Madness to Huntsville has been a goal for our community and this is a great opportunity to have the road to the Final Four start here,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Conference USA has a national brand that will provide a larger platform for Huntsville to shine. This has been a tremendous team

“Knight Eady is proud to support the Huntsville Sports Commission and the Huntsville/ Madison County CVB in hosting elite basketball in the City of Huntsville,” said Cline Thompson, VP of Business Development at Knight Eady. “We believe sport has the power to change lives and impact communities in valuable ways. Our goal is to create an experience for the student-athletes, Conference USA and the fans that matches the premium standard of Huntsville. There’s a reason it is recognized as the top-ranked city in the country.”

Ticket information will be announced this fall and more information will be available at www. ConferenceUSA.com. w

Madison County Water Department Launches Inhouse Billing, Meter Reading and Customer Service

Madison County Water Department (MCWD) officially launched its in-house billing, meter reading and customer service transitioning from Huntsville Utilities’ original services.

MCWD will now read meters, prepare and mail billing statements, and perform all aspects of customer service with in-house systems and personnel. This transition

will ensure more timely problem resolutions and more efficient customer service, as the customers will now be communicating directly with MCWD.

“This day has been a long time coming; I appreciate the employees who have worked so hard to get us to this point,” said County Engineer, Chuck Faulkner. “We are excited to get to work more directly with our water customers.”

Huntsville Utilities has historically provided these services for Madison County under contract, and this change establishes water service and billing through one entity instead of two.

Customers included in this map will receive their first bill from MCWD beginning in early April depending on the customers’ billing cycle.

Customers’ bills may be slightly lower or slightly higher on the first

BREIFCASE

monthly bill, depending on how many days are in the billing cycle. This change will not cause an increase in current rates.

MCWD will be offering electronic billing and will accept various forms of payment such as debit or credit card, automatic bank draft, online bill pay, and payment by phone.

Impacted Madison County households were mailed notices about the change last Fall. MCWD will continue to provide updates via email, County website and social media pages.

For additional information about the Madison County Water Department’s transition to in-house billing, please visit www. madisoncountywater.org.

For additional updates, follow the Madison County Water Department page on Facebook, or visit www.facebook.com/35811water. w

RECOGNITION

Clarke Todd Accepts Position as Sales and Leasing Specialist with NAI Chase Commercial

NAI Chase Commercial, a member of the world’s premier managed network of commercial real estate firms, NAI Global, announced today that Mr. Clarke Todd has accepted a position as Sales & Leasing Specialist in the Huntsville office. In this role he will be responsible for lease/sale transactions of office, retail, land and industrial properties in Huntsville and surrounding markets.

Douglas A McCullough, Executive Vice President, CCIM of NAI Chase Commercial said, “Clarke has over seven years of experience and is licensed in Alabama, Idaho, and Wyoming. He has a broad range of experience in various types of real estate transactions, including singlefamily rentals, multi-tenant office buildings, industrial warehouse and distribution, ground-up development, and multi-family development. The announcement expresses confidence in Clarke's abilities, he will be a valuable asset to the company and its clients.”

"After relocating from Wyoming, NAI Chase Commercial has made the process of transferring the needs of my clients to North Alabama as well as the ease of transfer for my own personal needs. I look forward to working with everyone within the NAI network. As one of the only fully integrated Real Estate companies in Huntsville and North Alabama, they have provided me with the tools to launch a successful career here,” said Clarke Todd.

RECOGNITION RECOGNITION

Poarch Creek Indians Federal Services (PCIFS) Welcomes Joseph Harrison as New President

Poarch Creek Indians Federal Services (PCIFS), a Tribal Government Services provider to U.S. Federal Agencies and the Department of Defense (DoD), announced that Joseph Harrison has been named as President of PCIFS.

Harrison will be responsible for the management of twelve active LLCs and associated Joint Ventures (JVs) under the PCIFS family of businesses. He will report directly to PCIFS Corporate Officers.

Harrison has more than 15 years of senior and executive management experience, including senior management positions at a Fortune 500 company and Tribal GOVCON Enterprises. He is also an active Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Harrison will lead the Enterprise Strategic Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Development and P&L Centers across PCIFS as well as be responsible for major milestone attainment and transformation initiatives. His recent experience includes the direct over-site of a multi-faceted Tribal Enterprise subsidiary where he oversaw Presidents, General Managers, Directors, Program Managers, and 1,500+ contract and back-office support employees.

“Joe is the right leader for PCIFS,” said Cody Williamson, PCIFS Chief Executive Officer. “Joe’s extensive GOVCON operational management background and business development skills will enable PCIFS to expand Federal Agency and DoD customer sets, strengthen partnerships, further diversify our Key Business Areas (KBAs), develop strategic alliances and expand our U.S. and overseas support services presence.”

Harrison received a BS Degree in Psychology from San Diego Christian College, a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from the University of Missouri, a Master of Business Administration/Telecommunications Management from the University of Alaska Pacific, a Graduate Certification in Executive Management and Leadership from Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Negotiations from Harvard University School of Law.

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. and ServisFirst Bank Elect New Board Member

ServisFirst Bank, a subsidiary of ServisFirst Bancshares (NYSE:SFBS), is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Betsy Bugg Holloway to the ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. and ServisFirst Bank Board of Directors.

“ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. is proud to announce and welcome Dr. Betsy Bugg Holloway as a new Board Member,” states Tom Broughton, ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. Chairman, President and CEO. “Her outstanding leadership skills and impressive academic and global business experience make her an extremely valuable asset to ServisFirst Bancshares’ shareholders and customers.”

Dr. Holloway currently serves as Vice President for Advancement and Marketing for Samford University, where she leads all marketing, branding, and philanthropic initiatives for the university.

Before joining the university’s administration, Dr. Holloway served as Professor of Marketing, Dwight Moody Beeson Chair of Business, and Hackney Family Research Fellow in Samford’s Brock School of Business. Additionally, Dr. Holloway was previously a Visiting Professor at Kiev Business School, the University of Jordan, and the Beijing Institute of Technology.

Dr. Holloway is also active in her community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of the executive committee and chair of the nominating committee for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama and is a member of the Board of Advisors for Founders Advisors. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society, and the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA).

She was also a founding board member and former chair of Scholarships for Kids and a trustee for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Endowment, the IPC Foundation, and the Charles and Estelle Campbell Foundation. Dr. Holloway is a graduate of both Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Alabama and was the 2011 Aspen Institute Ideas Festival Scholar, among other numerous awards and recognitions she has received over the years.

Dr. Holloway earned her B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University, an M.B.A. degree from Samford University, and her Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Alabama.