NASA Astronauts Visit Huntsville: Crew Shares Details of 2024 Mission to Space, Experiments in Orbit
During their time at the center, the crew shared compelling insights into their 2024 missions to the International Space Station. By Katie Holt - Page 9
GOVERNMENT
State Legislators Highlight Workforce Development, Infrustructure, Education Investiments at Chamber's Annual Legislartive Update
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual legislative update luncheon at the Jackson Center. The event location was packed with chamber members and local businesses eager to hear potential legislative plans from elected officials representing North Alabama. By Katie Holt - Page 14
ADDITIONAL STORIES
• Real Estate Update: Date Shows Uptick at End of Sluggish Year By Marie Johnson • Page 2
• TVA Partners with ASCTE on Cyber Security Innovation By Mike Easterling • Page 5
• If DeepSeek is the Sputnik Moment in AI, Hutnsville Should Get Ready for Launch! By Carl Holden • Page 17
Real Estate Update: Data Shows Uptick at End of Sluggish Year
Reports from the month of December have shown that the residential real estate market has been stronger than most winter seasons, with the local market here in Huntsville/Madison County a bit more brisk than the national norm.
According to reports from the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), there were 622 homes sold in December 2024, up from 524 the previous year. There were 2,347 houses on the market, compared to 1,811 in December 2023.
The average days on market increased to 59 days, up from 39 the previous year.
The average sales price of a home in Madison County was $378K, a minor decrease from December the previous year, when the average price was $382K.
The months’ supply of single-family homes in Madison County reached 3.6, a 12.5% increase from the previous year.
The housing affordability index for single-family units reached 95 in December — which is to say that the median household income was only 95% of what is necessary to qualify for the medianpriced home under current interest rates.
Townhouse/condo units were more affordable, with the housing affordability index for those units reaching 115 — in other words, the median income is 115% of what is needed to qualify for the median-priced home.
The percentage of list price received remained stable in the month of December, with single-family units listed receiving 97.6% of the list price, and townhouse units receiving 97.7%, both figures remaining nearly flat year-over-year.
On the national scale, the December monthly report from the National Asso-
ciation of Realtors (NAR) shows that winter sales have been picking up, despite the generally slow annual statistics for 2024 as a whole.
Existing-home sales — the consolidated figure for single-family units, townhouses, condos, and co-op units — increased by 2.2% over the month of December, reflecting a 9.3% year-over-year increase. However, even with this uptick in the last month of 2024, the year as a whole still showed the lowest national existing-home sales figures since 1995.
At the same time, the NAR reports that the median price of existing-home sales reached $407,500, a record high.
"Home sales in the final months of the year showed solid recovery despite elevated mortgage rates," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Home sales during the winter are typicallysofter than the spring and summer, but momentum is rising with sales climbing year-over-year
By: Marie Johnson
for three straight months.”
Yun went on to attribute growing consumer confidence to rising wages and increased inventory.
In a statement to Realtor.com, Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale stated that “The strength of the December uptick will be tested in the months ahead, but does open the possibility that the bottom in existing-home sales is truly in the rearview mirror.”
The NAR also reports strong sales in the South, citing a monthly 3.2% increase in existing-home sales in December, which is a 9.0% year-over-year increase compared to December of the prior year.
The Spring 2025 season is shaping up to be interesting, as we see how this uptick might carry into the more traditionally-active months, and what effects Trump administration policies like tariffs, tax cuts, or deportations may have on the market.
The Huntsville Business Journal will continue to monitor developments in the real estate market, both here and on the national scale. w
SIT DOWN WITH SUCCESS
A Conversation with Architect Jim Norton
Sit Down With Success is a feature of the Huntsville Business Journal on entrepreneurs and their keys to success. To read the full story, please visit the Huntsville Business Journal website.
With a career spanning over 30 years and nearly 1,000 projects to his name, Huntsville architect Jim Norton has built a reputation for thoughtful, high-quality design.
Originally from Cookeville, Tenn., Norton specializes in both residential and commercial architecture, with a portfolio that includes everything from playhouses and office buildings to churches and custom homes. He finds residential projects the most rewarding, as they allow for greater creativity in design.
Norton recently sat down with the Huntsville Business Journal to talk about his career as an architect and how Huntsville’s growth helped him build a thriving career doing
what he loves.
How did you make the decision to start your own business?
Jim Norton Architect started in 1994. I came here in ‘86, and I worked for some of the larger firms downtown, and enjoyed that. And then, in about the late fall of ‘93, I was laid off.
Thank the Lord, I had enough moonlighting business on the side to make the transition from working for somebody to working for myself. This was in 1994, and at that point, I said, I am never going to work for anybody again. That was over 30 years ago, and here I am still doing it.
What do you enjoy most about owning your own firm?
Working for yourself is the best kept secret there is. When I worked (for someone else) I could only have lunch 12 to one, had to be there at eight in the morning, and couldn't leave til five. The newfound freedom,
the ability to come and go as you please, and to make the decisions. You're paying your dues. You're not helping somebody else pay their dues.
Did you encounter any significant obstacles when you started, and how did you overcome those?
When I first started, I wrote and sent out a hundred letters telling everybody from builders to cabinet makers and got zero response back. If I'd gone by that and quit, I would have not gotten anywhere.
So then, what did you do?
I just kept doing what I was doing. Back then, I used to run ads in newspapers and then word of mouth. I worked out of my house and slowly worked my way up to this office.
Why has Huntsville been a good place for your career?
Huntsville is a great place. I love Huntsville, and it always has a good, strong economy. The people are good and it's a city that's growing.
By: Heather Price /
What is the secret to your success?
I've always put my faith in the Lord to take care of me and he has very well. I think the beauty of capitalism is if you keep the car between the curves, it drives itself. If you don't do anything stupid, if you manage things well, you'll succeed. And I think that really is the secret to it. Don't do stupid stuff and typically, capitalism will take you to the level of success. w
Photo courtesy of Jim Norton
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TVA Partners with ASCTE on Cyber Security Innovation
The cutting-edge Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) is growing its campus. The soccer field next door to the new tennis courts lacks only a gravel path to be ready for the start of preseason practice. The Sentinel Center, which will house a gym and serve as home to many of the school’s extra-curricular activities, is moving along.
In the meantime, ASCTE and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) gathered at the school’s Monday Morning Meeting in the auditorium to present a partnership that will give students another exciting option — a cyber range.
The range will be part of the coop, which is designed to advance cybersecurity education and workforce development across Alabama. Representatives from both the school and TVA joined students in celebrating the enterprise.
“What they’re doing here at the school we think is just amazing,’’ Jared Mitchem, TVA regional vice president, told the Huntsville Business Journal prior to the presentation. “It aligns really well with things that are important to TVA. So TVA, of course, delivers electricity that’s reliable, affordable, and resilient. We do that as part of improving the quality of life for people in this part of the country.”
“The skills these students learn here are – they might come to work for TVA someday,” Mitchem continued. “They might be our next cybersecurity professional or engineer and help us keep the
grid safe and secure. But whether they do that or not, what they achieve and attain here is gonna help them enrich the communities where they live.’’
The partnership allows cybersecurity professionals at TVA to join with the ASCTE staff to develop a cybersecurity curriculum.
“It's about grid security,’’ Mitchem added. “(The cyber range presents) scenarios, real world scenarios that these students can practice on and learn how important and critical it is to protect infrastructure like the grid — or water systems or other infrastructure. So hopefully they become interested in that kind of work. Again, they’re the cybersecurity professionals of the future that are protecting and managing these resources for us.’’
Currently, ASCTE has students serving as interns with TVA, even spending one day a week in Chattanooga at the cyber center. The new partnership builds on that existing relationship with TVA, a utility company that has taken a proactive approach to enhancing cybersecurity across its facilities while supporting educational initiatives in the region.
“They’re sponsoring our cyber range, which is basically a lab that our students use,’’ ASCTE President Matt Massey said. “Cyber range is kind of like a firing range, as if you’re honing in your weapon on a target and you can practice in a safe environment. So basically what a cyber range can do is house
a kind of separate environment that's not on the network of the school. They take a separate operating system and students can try to hack into it, or they
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can defend it. That's why it's a great fit to have TVA as a partner.’’
Senior Justin Wright is in his third year at ASCTE after his family moved from Washington, D.C., to Montgomery so he would be eligible to attend the school. He has experience with the cyber range.
“It’s great,’’ Wright said. “I had a really unique opportunity last summer to actually be an intern helping develop prototypes for it. It’s super exciting. Especially in this mission, being able to bring cyber to students across Alabama, I just love that.’’ w
Mike Easterling /
Photos by Mike Easterling
Justin Wright
FICO Targets Drake State, Other HBCUs for Analytics Challenge
Drake State Community and Technical College is off to a fast start in 2025, claiming two firsts in its field during the month of January.
Drake State received over $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor as part of its latest round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants, becoming the first institution in the state to receive the award.
On the heels of that announcement, Drake State revealed it had been added to Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO)’s Analytics Challenge Program, becoming the first community college to participate. Drake State joins three other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), bringing the total number of participating schools in the 2024-2025 initiative to seven. This program is designed to educate aspiring data scientists.
The other newcomers recently named to the challenge are North Carolina Central University, Fayetteville State University, and Alabama A&M University. However, Alabama A&M is returning for its second consecutive school year.
The FICO program is targeting HBCUs to curtail bias in the data science and AI fields.
“We have 16 students that are participating in the FICO data analytics challenge where they are building a model that will detect fraud in credit card transactions,’’ Lydia Owens, Drake State’s Division Chair for Computer Information Systems (CIS), Business, and Accounting said during a media conference at the school.
Dr. Scott Zoldi, FICO’s Chief Analytics Officer, represented the company.
“He’s here to give a little more context about (the challenge) to the students, meet with the students, have them talk about, or he's gonna talk about, the positions, jobs, and salaries that are available in data analytics and AI,” said Owens.
“We’re excited. Drake State is the first community college to be in the challenge,” continued Owens. “Most of the other colleges are four-year institutions. So we’re excited because we’re the first among community colleges to join the challenge.’’
Zoldi, based in San Diego, and his team of world-class data scientists will provide weekly lectures and mentor students. Zoldi will also give in-person lectures at the schools to further support the program.
“This is a challenge that we’re doing
with HBCUs, which focuses on empowering students from these universities and colleges to have real life experience working on AI and data science problems that we solve within industry,’’ Zoldi said.
Zoldi said the program focused on HBCUs because, “there is the fact that African American and Black percentages in data science as a representation is probably three times lower than it needs to be. So our first focus is on increasing diversity. Why that's important to us is that these AI models can have a huge amount of bias in them in terms of how they’re constructed, with the data you use to construct these models.”
“We need as many voices and many perspectives in the development of these AI solutions,” he continued. “That's one of the reasons why I want to make sure that we can kind of improve those statistics around representation from African, African American, Black data sciences within the industry.’’
Currently in its second year, the semester-long FICO program is designed to give students real world problems to solve using data and AI, and to inspire the next generation of data scientists.
“We saw that many of the HBCUs are still developing data science programs,’’ Zoldi said. “They tend to be underfunded compared to (other) universities. And so we felt that this was an opportunity to provide a helping hand in terms of having an ability to partner with them to ensure that those students at these universities that want to aspire to be in data science or work in AI and are interested in these areas have that opportunity.’’
Zoldi added that the program could also benefit FICO.
“We want them to be part of our team eventually so as we invest in
them, right, and we introduce them to what those jobs look like,’’ he said. “If they continue to be interested in that, they can join our team or other teams.’’
FICO, short for the Fair Isaac Corporation, was founded in 1956. The company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve
operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 U.S.and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries.
“We’ll still maintain our core programming languages, theory classes, but we do need to delve as the Alabama Community College system starts to delve into AI,’’ said Owens, who is also a CIS instructor. “We’ll start to delve into it as well. We now just incorporate it into a couple of our classes so that the students can get a taste of it.’’
For more information, visit https:// www.fico.com/en. w
By: Mike Easterling /
Photo courtesy of Drake State
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Hosts Partnerships Forum: Invites
Local
Businesses and Organizations to Collaborate
On Monday, January 27, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) held their largest-ever partnerships forum at the Space Camp Operations Building in Huntsville. More than 200 people attended in person, while an equal number participated virtually.
According to MSFC event organizers, the goal of this forum was to “…bring together industry, academia, government agencies, and NASA experts to explore collaboration opportunities, share ideas, and discuss the future of space exploration and technology.”
The live forum included time for MSFC staff and attendees to network and share potential ways to work together.
Nick Case, NASA MSFC Manager of the Partnerships & Opportunity Development Office (POD) opened the presentation portion of the event. He shared an overview of the purpose of his organization.
“Our office exists to inspire and empower partnerships that unlock the full potential of the Marshall Space Flight Center. Our mission is to advance NASA's goals, shape the future of space exploration, and ensure the success of our strategic partners,” said Case.
Case continued, “We focus on building strategic collaborations, aligning opportunities with our capabilities, and fostering innovation to drive meaningful impact for the country and for the world.”
Case and other presenters shared current and future opportunities for local organizations to collaborate with NASA on MSFC’s 2025 goals.
Some of the center’s goals for this year include expanding strategic partnerships, developing new collaborations with partners, and reducing approval times for faster partner engagement.
Case also encouraged event at-
tendees to come to the upcoming 39th Marshall Small Business Alliance on March 20 at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The free event will give attendees the chance to network and receive information on opportunities within the NASA/MSFC group.
Michael Smith, NASA MSFC Opportunity Manager, shared several specific ways businesses and other organizations can partner with the space agency.
These include:
• Announcement of Collaborative Opportunities (ACO)
• Dual-use Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN)
• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
• Real Estate/Enhanced Use Lease
The ACO is a formal solicitation that invites industry, academia, and other organizations to collaborate with NASA on technology development and research projects. These opportunities are designed to leverage external expertise, resources, and innovative ideas while aligning with NASA’s strategic goals.
Smith said February 18, 2025
is the expected release date for this year’s ACO.
According to Smith’s presentation on the lease opportunity, “NASA is seeking tenants interested in entering into an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) with NASA to develop some or all of specific NASA real property assets (five acres on Redstone Arsenal) in a manner that optimizes and reinforces commercial aerospace capabilities at MSFC.”
Anyone with questions about this opportunity should email Cari Smith at hq-realestate@mail.nasa.gov. The deadline to submit a formal response is February 21, 2025.
Travis Davis, Senior Manager at Blue Origin Engine Test & Operations, shared his company’s successes in partnering with MSFC. Some recent highlights of Blue Origin's collaboration include successful hotfire tests of BE-3U and BE-4 engines in 2023-2024.
The company first launched their engine building plant in Huntsville in February 2020.
“We had a great partnership success story today from Blue Origin. That's a great model that we like to use and we want to continue to
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talk with all the companies, everybody that's interested in working in the Marshall Space Flight Center,” Case said.
Jeramie Broadway, MSFC Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Analysis & Communications, shared the organization’s plans to celebrate their 65th Anniversary.
The MSFC will celebrate the milestone all year long with monthly themes and will host a birthday bash on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the Orion Ampitheater. Local businesses that are interested in partnering with the MSFC for this celebration are encouraged to reach out to Broadway via email at jeramie.w.broadway@ nasa.gov.
Other presentations at the forum included:
• MSFC's Journey in Digital Transformation & AI: MSFC Digital Transformation Program Manager, Justin Pociask and MSFC AI SMEs: Scott Tashakkor and Dr. Manil Maskey
• MSFC Capability: Michael Fraizer, Deputy Manager (Acting), NASA MSFC Human Exploration Development & Operations Office ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System)
Case ended the presentation portion of the event by thanking everyone for attending and sharing where MSFC is headed in the next year.
He emphasized that 2025 will be a big year for MSFC, which will include many changes.
“We don't know what that's going to be, but I'm really excited about how the center's positioning themselves and ourselves and our team to handle that change,” Case said.
He continued, “We're ready to evolve, we're ready to partner, and we really want to be here to respond to your needs.” w
Katie Holt /
Photo by Katie Holt
Nick Case, Manager of NASA MSFC’s Partnerships & Opportunity Development Office
NASA Astronauts Visit Huntsville: Crew Shares Details of 2024 Mission to Space, Experiments in Orbit
On Wednesday, January 29, four NASA astronauts from Expedition 71 — Matt Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Tracy C. Dyson — visited the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
During their time at the center, the crew shared compelling insights into their 2024 missions to the International Space Station.
Dominick served as commander, Barratt as pilot, and Epps as a mission specialist on their launch aboard NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission in March 2024. After almost eight months in orbit, the three astronauts returned to Earth in October 2024.
Dyson launched separately as a flight engineer on a Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft in March 2024 as part of an international crew. Dyson returned in September 2024 after finishing a six-month research mission while on the ISS.
Expedition 71 was Epps’ and Dominick’s first spaceflight. It was Barratt’s and Dyson’s third trip to space
Barratt expressed appreciation for the crew's strong relationship with MSFC and their positive impact on the mission.
“The relationship we had with Huntsville, especially with the POIC (Payload Operations Integration Center), was really key. It was crucial, and it wasn't just space to ground communication; it was a dialogue,” Barratt said.
The crew gave insight into the hundreds of technology demonstrations and science experiments they conducted onboard the ISS.
Human research was a significant part of Expedition 71, focusing on understanding the mechanisms of changes in the human body in space, which is essential for future long-duration missions. Barratt, a physician, has a special passion for researching and conducting experiments on the impact of spaceflight on humans.
“Every system in the body changes when you put it into this
novel environment called zero gravity weightlessness. You have to pay some penalties for flying in space. But the fact that we can adapt the way we do, become three dimensional creatures and function so well, is just an astounding thing,” Barratt said.
One significant experiment onboard the ISS included the bioprinting of human tissues.
According to NASA, “These higher-quality tissues printed in microgravity could help advance the production of organs and tissues for transplant and improve 3D printing of foods and medicines on future long-duration space missions.”
While in orbit, the crew also studied neuroinflammation, which is common in those with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease. To do this, they looked at neurological organoids created with stem cells from patients.
For Dominik, in addition to the experiments and
technological objectives, photographing the mission was a significant way to share the incredible journey with the people on Earth.
“I felt an immense obligation to take a lot of pictures but then to share it. And then also we were incredibly lucky to be up there during an insane Aurora, a comet, a solar eclipse… “ Dominik expressed.
Dominik also emphasized the strong international collaboration on the ISS, particularly highlighting the relationship with Russian cosmo-
nauts despite political tensions on land below.
“It's an incredible relationship we have. In the last two and a half decades and the fact that despite everything that's happened between the countries politically on Earth, we've come together and worked together as one team and keep pushing the community forward,” Dominik said.
In addition to sharing exciting moments from the recent Expedition 71, Dyson recalled her first spaceflight in 2007, describing an awe-inspiring moment when she saw stars while in orbit for the very first time.
“It was amazing to be above the atmosphere where things aren't twinkling but just solid lights. And you could tell sometimes that a star was bigger than another, but you could also sense that a star was perhaps closer than another,” Dyson said.
Dyson continued, “… knowing that there's light years difference between their positions in the universe was just mind-boggling to me.”
The Expedition 71 crew gave inspiring advice to anyone interested in becoming an astronaut or working to advance space exploration.
Epps shared the importance of persevering through tough times to reach your goals.
“There's going to be times and days where, if you're getting a Master's or a Ph.D., there's going to be times when you're like, okay, I've had it. But if you have that passion that Matt and I talked about, you'll go through it, and you'll get through it, and you'll come out on the other side,” Epps said.
Barratt encouraged individuals wondering if they are too advanced in age to pivot in their career or, in his case, travel to the cosmos. Barratt said he was chosen to be an astronaut at 40.
“It's almost never too late to make a career change. I turned 50 during my first flight. I turned 65 during this recent one,” Barratt said. w
By: Katie Holt / Photos by Katie Holt
“The Crew of Expedition 71: Tracy C. Dyson, Matt Dominick, Mike Barratt and Jeanette Epps”
Techs and the City: Unveiling a Vision for the Next Decade in Huntsville
Old and young techies alike gathered on a cold Tuesday night at The Camp in MidCity to socialize during happy hour before a panel of local business heavyweights talked shop.
The occasion was the inaugural “Techs and the City’’ — a play on the title of a popular cable television series — and was subtitled "Huntsville and the Future – Year 2035.’’ Techies networked with local industry leaders, government innovators and entrepreneurs, and learned from the top-notch panelists.
The low temperatures didn’t dampen spirits at the conversation-driven event, helped no doubt by numerous flaming heaters along with complimentary food, beer and wine.
“This is a tremendously awesome turnout considering how cold it is,’’ said Matt McKenzie of Alloy Digital, one of the sponsors along with First Horizon Bank, The Camp, Deploy, Apollo Foundation, Innovate Alabama and gener8tor.
“Techs and the City” was created by local entrepreneurs in Birmingham and Huntsville to foster connection and inspire innovation.
Chase Morrow, a Huntsville native and co-founder of Deploy Alloy, played a large role in bringing the event to the Rocket City. The group previously hosted six of these social affairs in Birmingham.
“I love the hell out of this town,’’ said the colorful Morrow, a Grissom graduate and current Birmingham resident who emceed the event. “Thank y’all for showing up.’’
He added that his hometown is a “fantastic tech capital and a great place to live and I'm thankful that we get to have this and really celebrate not only how far we've come as a tech city, but where we'll go.’’
Matt McKenzie, one of the “Techs and the City’’ founders and Morrow’s business partner, recalled that during his first IT job in Tuscaloosa “they literally put the IT people in the basement. And that's kind of how we were treated. We were treated that way for a long time.”
“Since that point, we’ve now got a name for ourselves and that's because
everybody realizes technology is the future. But, technology is not what drives the future. What drives the future is people and people are nothing without community,” said McKenzie.
Among others addressing the crowd prior to the panel discussion were Sierra Pena and Rochelle Silveira of gener8tor, Joanna White of the non-profit Apollo Foundation and Will Harbison of COIN Coworking.
The panel included: John Schmitt, iXpressGenes co-founder and CEO; Angie Sandritter, Rippleworx founder and CEO; Madison native Peyton McNully, a technology entrepreneur and cloud tech leader; and Steve Odom, managing director at Defense Tech Accelerator.
The panel was moderated by Valentina Iscaro. She has many duties at Alabama A&M University including Assistant Professor and Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator.
Highlights from the panel included the following statements from panelists: Future of Tech:
“This year kicks off Generation Beta,’’ Sandritter said. “This next generation is gonna always be connected and AI as we know it today is gonna be a rudimentary type of technology to them. Does anybody know what a flip phone is? Like, that was cool right? When we had that technology we thought it was amazing. Well, AI is not even going to be a flip phone to this new generation.’’
Power Play:
“We’ll use a hell of a lot more electricity by 2035,’’ said McNully, later adding, “I wholeheartedly implore all of you to be more aware that everything
you do in tech involves electricity and it doesn't just magically arrive when you want to use it. And this is not ‘turn your lights off when you leave a room.’ If we're going to be a tech center and centers of data and they use a lot of electricity, I can assure you we’ll need a hell of a lot of power.’’ He added, “Right now I don't think we have a mechanism (to support the future demand).’’
Small Business:
“I see so many faces of folks that have been on my journey from seeing the city kind of come up in the last decade—from music to tech to digital engineering to advanced manufacturing and biotech. It’s great to have this community together and have this conversation,’’ Schmitt said, adding that he didn’t think the big tech firms that handle large defense contracts will be key to future needs. “I think this is where only small businesses (with unique hardware) is gonna fill that.’’
Continued Growth:
“I just see the community continue to evolve,’’ said Odom, an 18-year Huntsville transplant. “Since I’ve been here it's been amazing. Can we always do better? Absolutely. But it’s been amazing how this city has evolved to and been given the opportunities to the companies here and we need it. It’s fostering the right thing.’’ w
By: Mike Easterling /
Photo courtesy of gener8tor
As Huntsville braces for sweeping federal workforce cuts under a new executive order from President Trump, another development is raising alarms across the city’s aerospace sector. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an oversight agency led by Elon Musk, is set to audit NASA’s financials and contractor payments, sparking concerns over a glaring conflict of interest. With thousands of NASA and defense-related employees in Huntsville at risk, the move could significantly alter the city’s economic landscape.
Huntsville is home to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) which is currently leading the development of the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s next-generation rocket designed to take astronauts back to the moon. However, new federal workforce reductions threaten to destabilize the local economy, with an estimated 21,000 federal employees in the city facing an uncertain future.
“At this time, Marshall is only processing employees who accepted OPM’s Deferred Resignation Program, and it is premature to discuss any potential impacts to our workforce.”
Many workers have already received the “Fork in the Road” resignation emails, offering buyouts if they voluntarily leave by September 30. Others have been forced to return to offices as Trump rolls back remote work policies. Adding to the turbulence, on February 13, thousands of probationary federal workers nationwide were laid off. Now, Trump’s latest executive order mandates large-scale reductions in force, with agencies required to cut non-essential roles and restrict new hires.
Joseph Pelfrey, Director of NASA’s
Elon Musk’s DOGE A Conflict of Interest with Big
By: Noah Logan / Photos
Marshall Space Flight Center spoke with the Huntsville Business Journal about the potential for DOGE cuts.
“NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is complying with guidance and direction provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management,” stated Pelfrey. “At this time, Marshall is only processing employees who accepted OPM’s Deferred Resignation Program, and it is premature to discuss any potential impacts to our workforce.”
When asked if there is a conflict of interest since the director of
“We defer to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for this question.”
A current NASA employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, discussed their situation with HBJ as of press time.
“We’re just watching the news, we don’t really know what to expect,” the employee stated. “Marshall leadership and the supervisors have done a good job being available for questions. But they don’t seem to know much more than the rest of the workforce. We received the same emails from OPM that everyone has been hearing about. Some mention possible reductions in force, but there aren’t any specifics.”
As if the uncertainty surrounding workforce reductions wasn’t enough, NASA is now in the crosshairs of DOGE, the Musk-led agency tasked with auditing government spending. While oversight of federal agencies is not
unusual, the fact that Musk is both the head of DOGE and the CEO of SpaceX, a company with $15 billion in NASA contracts, has drawn significant scrutiny.
NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro confirmed that DOGE will review NASA’s financial transactions, though specifics on what they will examine remain unclear. “We are going to have DOGE come. They’re going to look, similarly to what they’ve done at other agencies, at our payments and what money has gone out,” Petro said.
Before the week started, a variety of new DOGE-affiliated X accounts went online including one with user handle @DOGE_NASA. Shortly after the account was created, it sent out its only tweet (at the time of writing): “DOGE is seeking help from the public! Please DM this account with insights on finding and fixing waste, fraud, and abuse at NASA.”
Many quickly point out the apparent conflict of interest in Musk using his privately-owned social media company to gather evidence justifying budget cuts that would
DOGE is the CEO of NASA’s direct competitor, Pelfrey said,
Auditing NASA:
Consequences for Huntsville
“NASA possesses highly sensitive proprietary data related to the capabilities and contractual obligations of its contractors — some of whom are or could become direct competitors to SpaceX and may compete with SpaceX for forthcoming agency contracts”
ultimately benefit another of his private enterprises.
Musk and his company SpaceX have received more than $14.5 billion in funding from NASA contracts, including $13 billion in the past decade, per federal spending data. In fact, the only private contractor to receive more than Space X for the 2024 fiscal year was The California Institute of Technology.
SpaceX’s largest obligations are a $2.89 billion contract to build the human landing system (HLS) for NASA’s Artemis III lunar landing and some $4.93 billion for International Space Station (ISS) astronaut rotation services.
Elected officials from multiple states warn that giving Musk unchecked access to NASA’s contracts could jeopardize other contractors and their proprietary data.
“NASA possesses highly sensitive proprietary data related to the capabilities and contractual obligations of its contractors — some of whom are or could become direct competitors to SpaceX and may compete with SpaceX for forthcoming agency contracts,” wrote Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) in a letter to Petro dated February 6.
This situation has raised red flags among lawmakers and legal experts, who worry that SpaceX's access to
NASA could lead to conflicts of interest. Among them is Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), a key figure overseeing NASA’s budget, who has called for Musk and DOGE to be kept away from the agency due to these concerns. “I strongly urge you to revoke any access to NASA headquarters for Mr. Musk and his staff,” Meng wrote to Petro, emphasizing the risk of exposing internal deliberations or proprietary information.
Despite these concerns, Petro maintains that NASA has strict conflict-of-interest policies in place.
“Any person who is coming in, we will check out their conflicts of interest and make sure they don’t have any conflicts of interest with any of the companies that we work with,” she said.
If DOGE’s audit leads to a shift in NASA’s contracting priorities, it could have severe consequences for Huntsville. The Marshall Space Flight Center is a cornerstone of the city’s economy, employing roughly 7,000 people directly and supporting thousands more through local aerospace firms and suppliers. A reallocation of
NASA contracts could divert funding away from MSFC projects, potentially benefiting Musk’s SpaceX at the expense of Huntsville’s workforce.
Dr. Andrew (Andy) Dunar, a historian and co-author of Power to Explore: A History of Marshall Space Flight Center, notes that while MSFC has faced personnel reductions in the past, the current situation is dif-
ferent. “MSFC has undergone personnel reductions before, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. While they were painful, those cuts were rational and planned,” Dunar explained. “Likely cuts now appear irrational and random, and reductions that weaken NASA could benefit SpaceX with ever larger federal contracts.”
With NASA already struggling to manage mass resignations due to the ”Fork in the Road” buyouts, a politically charged audit could further destabilize the agency’s ability to function. As Huntsville watches closely, residents and officials alike are left wondering what the future holds for the Rocket City.
One thing is clear: as DOGE tightens its grip on federal spending, Huntsville’s space industry may be entering one of its most uncertain chapters yet. w
Photos courtesy of NASA
State Legislators Highlight Workforce Development, Infrastructure, Education Investments at Chamber’s Annual Legislative Update
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual legislative update luncheon at the Jackson Center. The event location was packed with chamber members and local businesses eager to hear potential legislative plans from elected officials representing North Alabama.
The Alabama State Legislature is set to convene on February 4th.
The following state legislators spoke at the event:
• Alabama State Representative Philip Rigsby
• Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter
• Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels
• Alabama State Senator Arthur Orr, Senate Finance & Taxation Education Committee Chair
• Alabama Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston
• Alabama State Representative Rex Reynolds, Ways and Means Committee Chair Jeff Samz, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s 2025 Board Chair opened the event and recognized the state legislators in attendance along with other notable attendees.
State Representative Phillip Rigsby gave the invocation.
Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter was the first of the legislators to speak and mentioned Huntsville’s strong growth, noting that Alabama is the sixth fastest-growing state in the country.
Ledbetter emphasized the importance of supporting Madison
By: Katie Holt / Photo by Katie Holt
County's expansion through infrastructure improvements to accommodate the increasing population and job opportunities.
“We have got to continue to rec-
ognize that growth and put the money where it needs to be for growth for roads and bridges,” Ledbetter said.
Ledbetter mentioned the strong, positive impact he feels Redstone Ar-
GOVERNMENT
“Personally, I'm confident that our best days lay ahead of us in Alabama”
senal and the FBI’s new Huntsville Campus will continue to have on the state.
He also shared he felt Huntsville has a “good chance” of Space Command moving to the area.
Ledbetter added that state elected officials are expected to introduce a package of seven to eight bills supporting Alabama law enforcement.
“From our standpoint, from leadership in the state and in the county, in the city, we need to let them know that they matter,” Ledbetter said.
State Senator Arthur Orr followed Speaker Ledbetter’s infrastructure comments with an update on the expansion of 565 into six lanes.
“Summer of ‘26 is when we'll see this current project finished. We hope it’ll be before spring, but of course, there’ll be some fudge time in there," Orr said.
Orr also mentioned immigration, tort reform, healthcare insurance, student-based funding, and potential tax cuts as key issues the Alabama legislature is considering addressing in their upcoming session in Montgomery.
In regards to K-12 funding, Orr said, “our education budgets have not kept up with inflation as far as what we're spending on the students in education year after year after year, and that's something we've got to keep in mind.”
State Senator Steve Livingston spoke after Orr and highlighted upcoming legislative priorities such as school cell phone safety for students, mental health support, and healthcare access.
Livingston was optimistic about the state’s future.
“Personally, I'm confident that our best days lay ahead of us in Alabama,” Livingston said.
State House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels covered several topics including higher education investments, workforce development, childcare tax credits, and the impact of the overtime bill.
Speaking about higher education, Daniels said, “Our higher education institutions are growing by leaps
and bounds, and so that's why we have to do more, putting more dollars into those institutions of higher education that are producing the workforce for our region, for our state, and for our country.”
Daniels also said that while Alabama has done well to invest in startup companies and attract entrepreneurs, it’s important for the state to diversify research and development efforts beyond technology into other industries.
State Representative Rex Reynolds was the last to speak at the event and underscored the legislature’s efforts to address crime in Alabama by involving law enforcement leaders and mayors in finding solutions.
"We're not going to come and legislate a fix for crime in Alabama. We're going to bring the CEOs of these organizations together," Reynolds said.
Reynolds also provided an overview of the state’s general fund, noting strong growth and significant supplemental appropriations.
“The State General Fund is strong. It came out of the 24 General Fund, [with something] like 7% growth. Remember, that’s 7% of the largest general fund the state of Alabama's ever seen,” Reynolds said.
While overall positive about Alabama’s financial status, Reynolds did express concerns about reliance on interest from state accounts.
“The problem is on that 7% growth, $152 million of that came from interest on state accounts. We have spent some of that money in those accounts. So the accounts are less now and then, as you know, the interest rates are trending down. They are not moving at the rate that it was rejected. We thought they might drop faster.”
Reynolds closed the event by detailing the work of the Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds, including the distribution of settlement funds for prevention, treatment, and recovery. He also discussed plans for future funding and initiatives.
Out of this, Reynolds said a new statewide marketing campaign directed at educating a younger audience on the dangers of opioids will soon hit Alabama airwaves via radio, television and social media.
“We've got to reach our youth. That's where we've got to truly make a difference,” Reynolds said. w
TARCOG Breaks Ground on New $8 Million Headquarters in MidCity
TARCOG, the five-county government agency that serves 48 municipalities in North Alabama, will again have a permanent home.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon and Alabama House member Laura Hall joined TARCOG workers, administrators, board members and others on a gray Friday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony on an $8 million building that will rise in the next year on Corporate Drive in the MidCity District.
TARCOG, an acronym for Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments, has been housed temporarily on Old Madison Pike since its former home was sold for use at MidCity.
“Cloudy skies can’t dampen our spirits because it’s a very special day for our organization and we appreciate each of you for being here to celebrate with us,’’ said Connie Spears, TARCOG’s board president.
The building has been in the works since its former location was sold.
“We are very excited to have reached this point,” said Michelle Gilliam Jordan, TARCOG’s executive director. “It’s taken nearly two years of thoughtful planning, but we believe the building plan is perfect for our needs now and into the future.”
Plans for the structure were developed by Les Tillery and a team from Fuqua and Partners Architects. Doster Construction is the contractor.
“Much remains to be done as we continue to improve the quality of life within our area,’’ Spears said. “We look forward to meeting these challenges head on with continued teamwork as we create the new space for our robust
and resilient staff.’’
Representative Hall was the guest speaker for the occasion.
“Today is about celebrating the start of construction on this new building that you’ve heard about, but it’s also about honoring the history and the people who have previously worked and who continue to take TARCOG into the future,’’ Hall said.
“I’m seeing the name more often these days, but I still feel like TARCOG is one of our hidden gems in North Alabama,” Hall continued. “This is an agency which does important work and for anyone who doesn’t know about it, they should take some time to learn about TARCOG because, chances are, they may be able to help you at some point in your life.’’
TARCOG facts:
• Serving North Alabama since
1968, TARCOG supports DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties.
• Handles 4,000 calls annually, assisting residents with various needs.
• Provides essential support such as food, medical supplies, prescription medications and caregiver assistance across its five-county region.
• Keeps seniors in their homes—900 TARCOG clients eligible for nursing homes receive care at home through the Medicaid Waiver program, saving Alabama Medicaid nearly $82 million.
• Secured $11.3 million in grants for projects including parks, sewer system upgrades, land use planning and police equipment.
• Delivers 637,000+ hot meals annually to more than 5,000 seniors, saving them over $3 million.
• Saves 3,237 people over $3.4 million on Medicare premiums through Alabama’s SHIP program.
• Provides free legal aid to 850+ clients, saving them nearly
By: Mike Easterling / Photos by Mike Easterling and TARCOG
$1 million each year.
• Helps 2,000+ seniors save $7 million annually through the SenioRx prescription assistance program.
• Supports nearly 200 caregivers with over 41,000 respite hours, valued at more than $900,000.
“So a big thank you to TARCOG, the staff and to all of you that have been a part of this organization to make it the organization that it is,’’ Hall said. “And you make it that way because of the service that we provide, that you provide.’’
Among those in attendance were Michelle Gilliam Jordan, TARCOG’s executive director, and two previous executive directors: Bob Culver and Nancy Robertson.
“We have so much to be thankful for at TARCOG,’’ Spears said. “We have incredible people taking care of our most vulnerable population as well as making sure we have good and safe infrastructure, economic development and strong growth plans for our future.”
“TARCOG does so much for so many and that’s why when it came time for the board to decide on how to proceed with this new building, it was easy for us,” Spears continued. “We knew we wanted to give our staff a good space to do their work with room for expansion.’’ w
Guest speaker State Rep. Laura Hall
TARCOG board and area officials turning dirt at groundbreaking
TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan
If DeepSeek is the Sputnik Moment in AI, Huntsville Should Get Ready for Launch!
As a native, it’s always fun to brag to people that the relatively unsung hero city of the space program was Huntsville. Yes, the rockets that brought man to the moon launched in Florida, but a lot of the science, math, technology, and stolen Nazi scientists were from right here in Alabama! NASA has had a strong presence ever since, and we have grown into one of the largest centers of government contracting in the United States. It’s very exciting that we’ll finally be going back to the moon in the near future.
However, the advent of AI has shifted not just our ability to send emails and write school papers. It’s quickly changing the entire work landscape. Only a little more than a year ago, an AI executive order by President Biden laid out a framework for the government to begin some AI implementations. Now, with that revoked by President Trump, it’s likely that a much more aggressive plan for AI will be implemented, focusing on efficiency and workforce readjustment. Huntsville now has to keep in mind that the millions of dollars we are paid to write contracts, fill out spreadsheets, and troubleshoot code will not be the billable hours of a near future. Are we ready to see a shift like this?
That might have been enough to worry about. But imagine that NASA was preparing to get to the moon in the next few years. Suddenly, tomorrow you see China broadcasting that they got to the moon with less fuel and cost then anyone had projected, with technology that might be scrappy yet a fraction of the cost that NASA was projecting. That is the equivalent of what happened with DeepSeek.
Now, if you’ve been under a rock, DeepSeek is a Chinese-funded
AI research lab that has performed incredible benchmarks with its R1 model and rocketed to the top of the Apple App Store. Their claim of incredibly low cost has yet to be proven. However, China pulled a “Sputnik” on us. They created AI tech in a completely different way, and it works!
The news wrecked our stock market for a few days. It has shaken up the model that 'more compute' means better AI. Highly valued companies like OpenAI were scrambling to release features to offset the news. Nvidia was frantically trying to explain the value of its chips. That’s at least what it all felt like for about a week, and by the time you read this in print, maybe it’s calm or maybe it’s not. That’s not the point I hope to drive home.
What’s Huntsville going to do about all of this? What are you going to do about it? While it’s easy to keep saying, “It will eventually calm down after a while,” that seems to become a moot point after saying it over and over for the last two years. Natural disaster and elections and entertainment drama aside, the news is constantly buzzing with
something new in AI.
As Huntsville citizens, we know the potential of our city and people. We have one of the highest Ph.D.s per capita in the nation and the second largest research park (the other thing we like to throw in). We’ve even won Best Place to Live!
However, I frequently run into people who call it ChatGTP. If you see nothing wrong with that, you are who I’m talking about. The advent of AI is NOT “like the internet.” AI has improved as if we went from no internet to high speed in just five years. Also, stop referring to the internet as something “relatively” new. It turned 40 years old in 2023!
As the Chinese Sputnik shoots over our heads here in Huntsville, what will we do about it? What can or should we do? I’ve spent a lot of time with the Mayor’s AI Task Force, which will soon be releasing more details about its work, name, and functions. We’ve learned that many organizations are experimenting with AI both in and out of the government. Yet, the vast majority of companies in Huntsville, and likely many other communities, are greatly lacking in 3 major areas:
By: Carl Holden
• The Education System: Schools and Universities
• Workforce Education: Employee Training
• Commercial Integrations: Product and Service Development
Which of those are you involved with in your day to day work? Where do you think you could be a catalyst for change? Of course, it starts with your own training and practice, but it takes others pointing to the stars and saying, “We might not be flying yet, but we’ll fly farther.” The can-do attitude of catching up and innovation is what excites me about the United States and the city of Huntsville.
Though Benz may have driven first, Ford is the one who truly replaced the horse.
Though the first bulbs glowed in England, Edison is the one who lit up the world.
Though Sputnik reached space first, Apollo is what carried humanity to the moon.
Though DeepSeek may have changed the AI concept… the next is up to all of us.
I believe in us. I believe in you, fellow Huntsville citizens. Do great things! w
“AI Talks” is a series from the Huntsville Business Journal on Artificial Intelligence and its applicability to the world of business. Each month, HBJ plans on bringing you interesting topics led by our contributing expert writer, Carl Holden. This series also introduced another new “writer” to our journal: Artificial Intelligence itself. Using Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT), we plan on bringing our readers an “article” written directly by AI. While AI cannot currently write a news article with fully original sources, this series hopefully will introduce our readers to the nuances of Artificial Intelligence in the modern age of business.
Carl Holden, Creative Director of Zellus Marketing
UAH Economics Professor Outlines
Tariffs and Global Trade
Dr. Wafa Hakim Orman is the associate dean of UAH's College of Business, as well as an associate professor of Economics. Dr. Orman earned her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Arizona.
Tariffs have dominated recent headlines, promoted as a tool to protect American jobs, to revitalize our industrial base, or to gain leverage in international negotiations. International trade, tariffs, and their short and long term consequences are a fairly nuanced and complex issue, but too often the nuance is lost amidst the politics on both sides. As an economist, my goal is to look past the rhetoric and shed some light on how tariffs actually impact our businesses and industries.
What is a tariff? A tax on imports. Tariffs are different from other taxes in that they don’t apply to goods produced within our borders.
Who pays a tariff? In the United States, Customs and Border Protection agents collect tariffs at the port of entry into the country from importers. But the real question of who pays is much more nuanced.
When we have any kind of excise or sales tax on a product, the seller has a choice: pass along the entire tax to the buyer, absorb it themselves, or adjust the price of the product so that the burden of the tax is shared between the buyer and the seller.
Consider a gold necklace imported from India, valued at $200 with a 5% tariff. At a normal 30% markup, the retail price would be $260 without a tariff. With a tariff, the importer’s cost is now $210, so with a 30% markup, the retail price of the necklace is $273 with the full tariff passed on. However, the importer might also price the necklace between $260 and $273, reducing their profit margin so as to share the burden of the tax between them and the customer. Or they might negotiate a lower price of $190.48 with
their supplier in India, so that they still pay $200 after a 5% tariff. In this instance, the burden of the tax is borne by the supplier in India.
Which of these options the importer chooses depends on market conditions, customer price sensitivity, and supplier relationships.
Second order effects: Past the immediate effect on prices, there are more far-reaching consequences of tariffs. First is the effect on the value of the dollar itself. Even if we pay foreign suppliers in US dollars, they need to convert those dollars to their local currency. Since $1 = about 87 Indian rupees (as of February 12, 2025), the supplier in India receives 17,398 rupees for the necklace. If tariffs are widespread, then as imports become more expensive for Americans, the US dollar is likely to rise in value relative to other currencies. If the dollar appreciates by 5%, so that $1 = 91.35 Indian rupees, then even if the importer negotiates a price of $190.48 with the supplier, the supplier still receives 17,398 rupees. The effect of the tariff is canceled out by the rise in the value of the dollar.
Reality is a bit more complicated: researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimated that increased tariffs on imports from China in 2018-19 explained about 20% of the dollar appreciation but
around two thirds of the renminbi depreciation observed during that time period.
There is one more very important second order effect: no one imposes tariffs in a vacuum. Other countries can, and typically do, retaliate. And when they do, the tariffs that they impose on our exports mean that we export less, and we lose jobs in our exporting industries.
In 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Act raised average tariffs from 40.1% to 59.1%. Most of our largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and France, among many others, retaliated by increasing tariffs on their imports from the US. While imports fell by over 60%, our exports to these countries also fell by around 2832%. Unemployment rates in the US did not decline at all — on the contrary, they rose from just over 3% in 1930 to a peak of 25% in 1933. The tariffs sparked multiple trade wars, led to a 65% decrease in global trade, and worsened the Great Depression. This historical lesson led to the creation of the World Trade Organization (formerly GATT), in order to prevent destructive trade wars and promote stable international commerce.
Global supply chains: Global supply chains are now highly interconnected. Consider automotive
By: Dr. Wafa Hakim Orman
manufacturing, where components can cross borders between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada up to seven times before final assembly, with potential tariffs at each crossing. Even the Mazda CX-50, built here in North Alabama, sources about 25% of its components from Mexico. Tariffs have a large impact on our domestic manufacturing base, as many American-made products rely heavily on imported components. Steel and aluminum tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico alone have cost US light vehicle manufacturers almost $500 million per year. In a globally interconnected economy, tariffs can significantly impact our ability to export competitively.
Further, tariffs targeting specific countries may lead to shifts in global supply chains rather than bringing jobs home. When the U.S. increased tariffs on Chinese goods in 201819, many manufacturers simply moved their operations to Vietnam instead of relocating to American soil. Companies often find it more cost-effective to shift production to other low-cost countries rather than return manufacturing to the U.S. The reality is that tariffs are a blunt instrument that risk doing more harm than good. Building a strong, competitive industrial base demands strategic investments in workforce development and infrastructure, and streamlined regulations. It requires nurturing entire manufacturing ecosystems, from suppliers and skilled workers to research facilities and transportation networks. As our region continues to attract new industry and expand existing operations, these fundamentals are the key to sustainable growth and economic resilience. Understanding trade policy remains crucial for local businesses, but our future success will depend more on our ability to build, train, and innovate than on any tax at the border. w
How Tariffs Can Rebuild American Manufacturing, Create Jobs, and Strengthen the Economy
By: Matt Curtis
Albert Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. For decades, the U.S. has engaged in free trade policies that have led to the erosion of its manufacturing base, an increasing wealth gap, and growing dependence on foreign nations forcritical goods. Our national debt continues to rise at an unsustainable rate. It is time to reevaluate our approach and consider tariffs as a tool for economic revival.
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to "lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States." One of the first acts signed by George Washington was a tariff designed to protect American manufacturers. Historically, tariffs were the primary source of government revenue until the federal income tax was introduced in 1913. Leaders like Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt championed protective tariffs, understanding their role in national prosperity.
Benefits of Tariffs
• Protect Domestic Industries: Foreign governments subsidize their industries, allowing them to flood the market with cheap goods, undermining fair competition.
• Job Creation: Manufacturing jobs provide stable employment, addressing a labor participation rate that has dropped to 62.5%.
• Wealth Building: The decline of manufacturing has widened the wealth gap. Restoring this sector can rebuild the middle class.
• National Security & Supply Chain Resilience: Dependence on foreign nations, especially China, for critical products— such as automobiles, medicine, and technology—poses a risk to national security.
• Economic Growth: Increased domestic manufacturing leads to higher homeownership, better wages, and growth in supporting industries like restaurants, suppliers, and schools.
Addressing Concerns
Critics argue that tariffs increase consumer costs, yet only approximately 15% of goods purchased in the U.S. are imported, meaning many Americans can avoid some higher costs. Short-term effects may include GDP contraction (up to 0.64%) and inflationary pressures. However, increased domestic investment, higher wages, and job growth should stimulate long-term growth in the economy.
A Path Forward
By embracing tariffs, America could see new manufacturing boomtowns in states like Alabama, Tennessee, and across the Midwest. Increased economic activity and reduced government spending could even make eliminating the federal income tax within a decade possible. Federal income tax cuts alone would directly boost economic growth and make our citizens wealthier. Investing in domestic production is a long-term solution that transcends political divides, fostering national pride, economic resilience, and renewed optimism.
America was once the greatest manufacturing powerhouse. With strategic use of tariffs, it can be once again. w
Matt Curtis of Matt Curtis Real Estate
Connecting in the Rocket City: 10 Huntsville Professional Networking Groups to Check Out
Huntsville's thriving business community makes it an excellent place for anyone looking to expand their network. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate leader, working parent, or a newcomer to the area, connecting with the right people can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and growth.
Fortunately, the Rocket City is home to various networking groups tailored to different industries and interests. From business breakfasts to happy hours and industry-specific meetups, these groups provide valuable resources and connections to help you succeed professionally.
In this article, we'll highlight 10 networking groups in Huntsville that can help you build relationships, share knowledge, and grow your career.
• Women Connect: Greater Huntsville Area
Women Connect is a community of professional women from all ages, industries, and businesses.
The organization's Greater Huntsville Chapter hosts two monthly events, allowing attendees to form close business relationships, learn from each other, and share business referrals. Examples of past events include coffee meetups, networking lunches, and more! Website: https://wearewomenconnect.com/ greater-huntsville-area-chapter
• Business Network International (BNI)
According to BNI's website, the organization's mission is to "Help members increase their business through a structured, positive and professional referral marketing program which provides them the opportunity to develop longterm, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals." The networking group has nine chapters in Madison County, and each chapter meets weekly. Find a local chapter: https://northern.bnialabama.com/ en-US/findachapter
• Huntsville Young Professionals (HYP)
Huntsville Young Professionals is a free group that connects a wide
range of individuals in their 20s through 40s in various industries throughout the Madison County area. The group participates in and hosts professional development, networking, and charity events. Past events have included local sports games, volunteering, happy hours, coffee conversations, and more.
In addition to providing resources for residents, visitors, and business professionals, the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber of Commerce hosts many networking events throughout the year for members and non-members. Events include networking sports nights, luncheons, ribbon cuttings, and others! A business directory is also available for members to list their company information on the chamber's website. Event information: https://cm.hsvchamber.org/events/
• Valley Business Network
The (Tennessee) Valley Business Network (VBN) is a networking group that hosts a variety of lowcost/high-value events for business professionals in North Alabama.
The organization was founded by small business owners and hosts everything from marketing workshops to luncheons and training events. To make sure connections at the events are productive, VBN breaks many of these events down into specific groups: women, B2B, anyone going through a life change, and more. Website: https://thevalleybusinessnetwork. com/
• South Huntsville Business Association
According to the South Huntsville Business Association's (SHBA) website, the organization "supports, promotes, and advocates for businesses in South Huntsville." Anyone looking to join or visit the SHBA's events will be pleased to find a wide range of experiences including town halls with local leaders, lunch and learns, community updates, group bike rides and others!
Learn more:
https://southhuntsvillemain.org
• North Alabama Chapter of the Information System Security Association NAC-ISSA
The NAC-ISSA is a specialized group for cybersecurity professionals. The association offers networking opportunities,
By: Katie Holt
educational resources, career development initiatives, and industry insight newsletters. Local events include monthly chapter lunches and its signature after-work "Beers for Engineers" event.
Event info:
https://nac-issa.org/events/
• Madison Momprenuer
Madison Mompreneurs is a free coworking group for moms who own businesses in North Alabama. During the school year, the group meets every Tuesday at the Madison Public Library from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and in the summer (June/July), it meets online. During meetings, attendees are free to work on their businesses and connect with other moms.
Learn more:
https://madisonmompreneur.com
• Leadership Greater Huntsville Leadership Greater Huntsville (LGH) is a unique non-profit that serves anyone from senior executives to high school and college students. LGH offers a wide range of programs that include leadership training, professional development, volunteering, a management academy, community conversations, socials, topical learning sessions, and more! While many of the organization's events are for program alumni, LGH also offers many events that are open to the wider community.
Website:
https://www.leadershiphsv.org/
• Madison Chamber of Commerce
The Madison Chamber of Commerce offers many opportunities throughout the year for business professionals to network and share about their company and professional goals. The organization also partners with the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce for special events and trips. Examples of events hosted by the Madison Chamber of Commerce are a coffee networking series, a quarterly business breakfast, and an ambassador program.
Networking opportunities:
https://www.madisonalchamber. com/networking-opportunities/. w
/ Photos courtesy of AL Women Connect
Women from Alabama Connect gather to network over lunch.
Matt Curtis Real Estate celebrates
$2 Billion in total closings
Matt Curtis Real Estate has surpassed $2 billion in total closings.
Reaching this milestone situates the team among the nation’s top real estate companies and further solidifies its leadership in the Huntsville market.
“We are incredibly proud to reach $2 billion in closings—a testament to the trust and confidence our clients place in us every day,” said Matt Curtis, Founder and President of Matt Curtis Real Estate.
“This success reflects the dedication of our exceptional agents, admin team, and the strong relationships we’ve built within our community,” continued Curtis. “Our passion for helping clients achieve their real estate goals drives everything we do, and this milestone is just the beginning. We’re excited for what the future holds as we continue to grow and deliver 5-Star Service to our clients.”
In addition to surpassing $2 billion in closings, Matt Curtis Real Estate has earned a series of high honors.
The company has been honored as Alabama’s #1 Real Estate Team and featured on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Companies.
These accomplishments speak to the team’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
“Our team’s success is built on the dedication of our agents, our collaborative culture, and our innovative approach to real estate marketing and technology,” said Curtis. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on providing 5 Star service to our clients, growing our presence in the community, and giving back. Our partnerships with local organizations, like Kids to Love’s Curtis Cares Center, and our ongoing mission to build 1,000 homes for deserving families in Central America are central to our vision of making a positive impact both locally and globally.”
Looking ahead, the company aspires to maintain its position as a leader in the real estate industry, foster strong community relationships, and continuously grow its reach.
Drake State lands large grant aimed at building workforce infrastructure
Drake State Community and Technical College’s reputation as a leader in workforce development and innovation helped it land a grant worth $1,514,520.
The award is part of the U.S. Department of Labor's latest round of
BRIEFCASE
Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants. Drake State is the first institution in Alabama to receive the grant.
This funding is part of a $65 million investment to 18 colleges across 14 states, aimed at expanding affordable, high-quality workforce training in critical industry sectors such as advanced manufacturing.
Drake State plans to use the windfall to support its new Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) program. According to the school, the Huntsville Tech FAME chapter is designed to create a pipeline of global-best, multiskilled maintenance technicians to support manufacturers in and near Huntsville.
The program empowers students with the skills needed to thrive in high-demand industries while meeting workforce needs in the region.
"This grant underscores Drake State's leadership in delivering cutting-edge training programs that transform lives and strengthen the North Alabama region," said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State. "With this funding, we will expand our impact, preparing more students for rewarding careers while supporting the workforce demands of our industry partners."
The Strengthening Community Colleges initiative focuses on equipping institutions like Drake State to enhance career pathway programs and ensure equitable outcomes for underrepresented populations.
Administered by the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the grant highlights the unique role of community colleges in fostering partnerships that create sustainable improvements in workforce development w
Do you have a big idea that you would love to bring to life?
Launch and Singing River Trail have announced that applications for the fourth annual Singing River Trail Launch Tank competition are now open.
The competition, modeled after the hit television series “Shark Tank,” allows local entrepreneurs the chance to turn their unique ideas into thriving businesses.
Entrepreneurs who are chosen to compete will pitch their business ideas to a live audience at the Scottsboro Civic Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, on April 23, 2025.
Participants will compete for up to $25,000 in cash and prizes.
“Each year, Launch Tank brings something truly special to the table,” said Lydia Pennington, SRT Launch Tank Co-Chair and Executive Director of Tourism for the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce in Jackson County. “I’m always amazed by the creativity and drive of our participants. We’re excited to provide more entrepreneurs with the resources, connections, and funding they need to thrive.”
Applications are open to residents or people who work in Colbert, DeKalb, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, or Morgan counties.
Finalists will gain personalized access to programs and resources tailored to their specific business needs, along with the opportunity to secure non-dilutive funding.
“Launch Tank is a powerful reminder of how regionalism can bring communities together to achieve something greater,” said Misti Potter, Executive Director of Singing River Trail. “This competition showcases the strength of collaboration and highlights how working as one region can make a difference for all of North Alabama.”
Important Dates for Launch Tank 2025:
January 15: Applications Open
March 23: Applications Close
April 2: Finalists Announced
April 23: Live Pitch Event at Scottsboro Civic Center, Scottsboro, AL
Winners will be announced at the event on April 23, 2025.
To submit your application, please visit https://launchtnvalley.org/. w
Sports tourism in Huntsville in 2024: The record-setting numbers are now in
The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has released the figures for sports tourism in Huntsville in 2024.
The CVB reports that 68 sporting events held in Huntsville over the past year resulted in a record-breaking $50 million in economic impact.
“We have come a long way over the last few years, and 2024 showed what sports can do in Huntsville,” said Joel Lamp, sports development manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Of the events held, 21 sporting events produced at least $1 million in economic impact each. Those events, alongside over 40 additional sporting events, resulted in an impressive $51,303,193 in economic impact for the city of Huntsville.
The highest producing events were
the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball championships, hosted in Huntsville for the first time, which brought in $3.2 million.
Mark Russell, executive director of the Huntsville Sports Commission, weighed in on the final figures.
“This was an exciting year for sports in Huntsville and the impact it had on the community,” said Russell. “We were fortunate to host a number of memorable events that elevated Huntsville’s profile, while bringing in significant dollars to our hospitality community and [we] look forward to more growth in the coming year.”
Throughout 2024, sports tourism contributed over 76,000 hotel room nights and brought in more than $3.8 million in taxes.
Highlights of Huntsville’s big year for sports tourism include:
• Hosting the USA Table Tennis National Championships – the first time a national governing body hosted its national championship in Huntsville. For their efforts in making this event a success, HSC and the CVB were each recognized as Champions of Economic Impact by Sports Destination Management magazine.
• Hosting the Conference USA men’s & women’s basketball championships, as well as welcoming Alabama back for the Rocket City Classic with four games televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
• Bringing the NJCAA Division II men’s & women’s soccer championships to the Spencer Sports Complex and Joe Davis Stadium, generating more than 2,000 room nights over the course of the week.
• Highlighting the continued growth at Ditto Landing with the Major League Fishing Toyota Series Championship.
• Running the NCAA Division II Cross Country South Regional for the first time – continuing Huntsville’s streak to four straight years with an NCAA postseason cross country race. A streak that will continue at a minimum through 2027 as Huntsville was selected to host the NCAA Division II regionals in 2026, Division I regionals in 2027, and Division II national championship in 2027.
• A record-setting Rocket City Marathon that sold out with 4,000 participants.
• Creating the Rocket City Spring Shootout that brought Alabama and Tennessee women’s soccer to the Rocket City for a spring game.
• Hosting the annual meeting of the Association of Chief Executives for Sport, bringing numerous C-suite leaders from across the sports industry to the city. w
North Alabama’s “Shark Tank” competition is back
Misti Potter named Executive Director of Singing River Trail
The Singing River Trail (SRT) Board of Directors has announced that Misti Potter will serve as the new Executive Director of the Singing River Trail.
“We are thrilled to welcome Misti to the Singing River Trail team,” said Jared Mitchem, SRT Board Chair. “Her expertise in nonprofit leadership, combined with her proven ability to deliver impactful results, positions her as the ideal choice to lead our organization. The board has full confidence in Misti’s vision and dedication to furthering the mission of SRT and creating a lasting legacy for North Alabama.”
Potter brings over 27 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her new role. Her career demonstrates her dedication to organizational growth, resource development, and community impact.
“We are excited to have Misti join us
in our mission to bring more opportunities to North Alabama,” said Anna Clem, Interim Executive Director. “Misti’s passion for community-building will be instrumental in driving the vision of SRT. I am confident Misti’s ideas and expertise will take Singing River Trail to new heights.”
As an experienced leader, Potter has driven multimillion-dollar campaigns, created award-winning programs, and built community partnerships that strengthened organizational impact across the country, with her primary focus being in Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas.
Potter’s awards include being named Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Regional and National Professional of the Year. She also holds an Ethics in Business Individual Award and Vistage Executive Leadership Award.
As Executive Director of the Singing River Trail, Potter will lead and oversee the organization's efforts to develop and expand the 200+ mile greenway system across North Alabama.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the SRT team during this incredibly exciting time of growth and visionary expansion,” Potter said. “The Singing River Trail provides more than hiking, biking,
and walking trails. We will continue to provide pathways to healthier lifestyles, alternative transportation options, and gateways to business development and entrepreneurial possibilities.”
The SRT Board of Directors anticipates that Potter’s deep experience in resource development, team-building, and strategic operations will be crucial in fostering community connections and creating opportunities for health, wellness, education, and tourism throughout the region.
Potter is a graduate of Athens State University. She and her husband have been married for 29 years and live in Limestone County. w
Innovate Alabama opens fifth round of supplemental grant applications
Innovate Alabama has announced
the opening of the fifth round of applications for their Supplemental Grant Program.
Innovate Alabama is the state’s first private-public partnership focused on modernizing the state’s economy through innovation and entrepreneurship. The organization provides funds to small businesses with the aim of positioning the state as a key player in generating technologies that will shape the world.
Launched in 2022, Innovate Alabama’s Supplemental Grant Program has provided over $14 million in supplemental funding to Phase I and II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant recipients across 68 small businesses in nine Alabama cities.
In addition to providing funding for Alabama-based entrepreneurs, these grants help to recruit top talent to the state.
The application for the Supplemental Grant Program can be found at https:// www.tfaforms.com/5066957. w
BRIEFCASE
Fantasy Playhouse expands with Historic Merrimack Hall acquisition
Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy (FPCTA) has announced that a significant milestone in its Capital Expansion Campaign, Spotlight on the Future, has been reached as First Horizon Bank has been chosen as the official naming sponsor of the Access and Community Engagement Office.
Karen Mockensturm, chief executive officer of FPCTA, shared her thoughts on the announcement.
“Ginger Harper, Eric Sanders, and the entire First Horizon Bank team have demonstrated long standing support of FPCTA and our capital expansion project since we first announced our plans in 2019,” said Mockensturm. “We, at FPCTA, felt that it was only fitting that we honor First Horizon Bank’s financial commitment to this project by aligning their naming
sponsorship in the new building to our organizations’ shared goals of community development through educational empowerment and quality of life.”
In 2024, FPCTA purchased the historical Merrimack Hall as part of their capital campaign. Merrimack Hall is over 24,000 square feet and its theatre seats 300. The building will be renovated to add classrooms, a catering kitchen, ADA-compliant bathrooms, a public lobby, and a wing for offices.
The relocation to Merrimack will enable FPCTA to enhance its live theatrical productions, offer free and accessible parking for patrons of all ages, and expand its performing arts training and STE(A) M-based technical theatre curriculum. Expanded family-focused event programming and increased rental income opportunities will support FPCTA’s long-term sustainability while also promoting economic development in the Merrimack Mill Village Historic District.
Renovations are on schedule to be completed by May 2025 so that summer camps can be held in the new facility. The project is led by Principal Architect Greg Kamback of ArcSpace Studio and Brent Snyder, President of JS Building Company. Financing is provided by SmartBank. w
Ambrosia Patterson named Huntsville Practice and Strategy Lead for Accenture Federal Services
Ambrosia Patterson joins Accenture Federal Services as the Huntsville Practice and Strategy Lead, part of the company’s Justice & Security Sector. Previously, Patterson served as the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Huntsville Change and Transition Program Manager, helping to relocate critical functions out of the National Capital Region and reconstitute them at Redstone Arsenal.
Patterson worked for more than 20 years with the FBI. She played a critical role in the FBI by forming partnerships and establishing the agency’s second-largest headquarters in Huntsville. She also served as a budget professional and, most recently, as a leadership coach with the FBI.
In early 2022, Ambrosia pivoted from serving as the executive in charge of budgeting for and reporting on the FBI’s over $10 billion resource footprint to leading the FBI's change and transition journey at Redstone Arsenal.
Patterson enjoys coaching individuals through difficult circumstances and building well-functioning organizations. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Justin (also an FBI employee), son Pax, 10, and daughter Esthero, 6.
Patterson holds a Master of Accountancy degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in business management, concentration in labor relations and human resources, with a special focus on organizational behavior, from Case Western Reserve University.
She recently earned her Leadership Coaching Certification through the Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership.
Accenture Federal Services has an innovation space at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Invention to Innovation Center (I2C). With a dedicated footprint at I2C, the company brings together the brightest minds and leading industry experts to collaborate with government customers in the region.
Vision Wheel, Inc., a leader in the aftermarket wheel industry with nearly 50 years of success, has announced significant leadership changes as part of its ongoing growth strategy. The company has appointed Roger Minor as the new Chairman, while John Mathew, previously the Chief Operating Officer (COO), has moved into the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The transition marks an exciting new chapter for Vision Wheel, a company known for its cutting-edge designs and quality products. Roger Minor’s appointment to Chairman comes after his years of invaluable leadership and strategic input in the company. As Chairman, Roger will continue to guide the company in shaping the future of Vision Wheel.
John Mathew, who has been with Vision Wheel since 2016 as COO, has now ascended to the role of CEO. With over 30 years of professional experience, Mathew is no stranger to leading high-performance teams and navigating the complexities of the automotive and manufacturing sectors. Before his promotion to CEO, he played a pivotal role in overseeing daily operations at Vision Wheel.
Mathew’s leadership extends beyond Vision Wheel. He also serves as the COO of Vision Composite Products, LLC, a start-up company focused on research and development of cutting-edge technology, and Vision Global Technologies, which specializes in thermal management solutions for the powersports market. His experience across multiple high-tech industries has equipped him with diverse skills in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and product development.
A graduate of The University of Iowa, Mathew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and has been recognized for his contributions to innovation with multiple United States utility patents. He has held leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies, including Honeywell Aerospace and Motorola, where he gained extensive experience in engineering, marketing, and new product development.
These leadership changes come at a pivotal time for Vision Wheel, which continues to evolve and strengthen its position in the competitive aftermarket wheel market. With Minor leading the board and Mathew at the helm as CEO, Vision Wheel is poised for continued success as it moves into its 50th year of business.
ServisFirst Bank has announced the addition of Linda Presley as Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager for ServisFirst Bank Huntsville
“We are excited to welcome Linda Presley to the ServisFirst Bank Huntsville team,” said Andy Kattos, Regional CEO of ServisFirst Bank Huntsville. “As someone with deep roots in Huntsville, Linda brings not only her expertise in banking but also a strong connection to our community. Her outstanding customer service and leadership will be a tremendous asset to our Huntsville office and the clients we serve.”
Presley brings over three decades of banking experience to her new role, where she will manage daily operations, guide her team toward performance goals, and ensure exceptional personalized service.
Throughout her career, Presley has excelled in leadership, sales, and customer service, with a strong focus on client relationships and team development. Her expertise includes branch management, sales coaching, operational efficiency, and loan services. Known for her collaborative approach and commitment to the success of her team, Presley is passionate about driving results while keeping the client experience as her top priority.
An active member of the community, Presley spent nine years with the Cove Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI). She has also taken on leadership roles, serving as a long-time board member and past chair and treasurer of Family Services Center, Inc., showcasing her dedication to both her profession and to the Huntsville community.
