Feature: Building Huntsville

With more than 100 people moving to the Huntsville area each week, it’s no surprise the Rocket City is now the second-largest municipality in Alabama. If current trajectories hold true, it could be the most populous city in the state in three years or less.

Huntsville is ready for this growth. In fact, we planned for it. Our strategy included heavy investment in major roads, sewer systems, new schools and industrial parks. We reinvested in urban commercial corridors in every sector of the city to include mixed-use redevelopment projects such as the Johnson Legacy Center, Campus No. 805, Stovehouse, Sandra Moon Complex, Twickenham Square, City Centre and MidCity.

Our community has been heavily involved in this planning. Through the BIG Picture comprehensive master plan, residents helped envision how, where and what growth would look like. The BIG Picture is our guiding compass and has led to more public-private partnerships and new investment in parks, bike lanes, greenways and cultural assets.

Aggressive economic development strategies created tens of thousands of new jobs and billions in capital investment. Facebook, Blue Origin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Polaris, GE Aviation and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing diversified our economic portfolio while Redstone Arsenal transitioned to a federal campus with more than 80 tenants in aerospace and defense. Thousands more FBI personnel and their families are coming here because of the new FBI facility at Redstone. Huntsville’s selection as the permanent home of U.S. Space Command will bring thousands more high-paying jobs.

Huntsville is enjoying an unprecedented level of prosperity. We are finally growing into the city we’ve always dreamed of becoming – the Star of Alabama.

—Tommy Battle

—Tommy Battle —Tommy Battle

Mayor of Huntsville

Building Huntsville

Huntsville’s Regional Smart Growth Strategy Transcends the Pandemic

Introduction written by Mayor Tommy Battle | Editorial Foreword written by Kimberly Ballard Makeup & Hair by April Mitchell, Terramé; Laura Werth, Skin Care by Laura; Carolyn Stephenson | Location - Stovehouse Mayor Battle Photos - Courtesy of City of Huntsville | Photos by Steve Babin; Neville Simpson: Dennis Keim

To put Huntsville’s growth into proper perspective, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle shared these facts last October at his 2020 State of the City Address.

Huntsville entered 2020 with promise after ‘crushing it’ in 2019 with 3,025 new jobs and $1.8 billion dollars in economic development and capital expenditures circulating throughout the regional economy.

In 2020, Huntsville was looking at $1.9 billion dollars in industrial capital expenditures and $1 billion dollars in commercial, residential, and multifamily development, not including expenditures in renovations and rehabilitation projects.

And yet despite the COVID-19 hit, which was still raging at the time of Mayor Battle’s speech, Huntsville created 960 new jobs and put $2.1 billion dollars of new product on the ground in 2020. historic record month for the city of Huntsville in capital investment. And Shane Davis, director of Urban and Economic Development for the City pointed at 67 non-industrial projects that remained active throughout the pandemic.

Underlying that vigorous activity and relentless growth, which continues its momentum through 2021, is what city leaders call Huntsville’s Smart Growth Strategy to positive regional economic growth.

That Smart Growth Strategy involves cross jurisdictional teamwork and collaboration with Morgan, Limestone, Marshall, and Jackson counties; and it demands the building of supportive infrastructure; providing a high quality of life; creating plenty of quality jobs for the citizenry; and the strategic placement of all the above, at all points of Huntsville.

With infrastructure an important component of the city’s smart growth strategy, Huntsville City Engineer, Kathy Martin saw the growth coming as far back as 2014 and she acted, restoring existing roads like Zierdt, Cecil Ashburn, and Research Park Boulevard, while also tackling new expansions like Greenbriar Parkway and the reconstruction of old Highway 20, important to opening access to and from the Mazda Toyota corridor.

Quality of life is another tenet of Mayor Battle and his administration’s smart growth strategy.

Sidewalks, utility expansion, and public parks and infrastructure are all important to workforce development, but it also included upgrading city and neighborhood parks, recreational, and athletic facilities like the $11 million Benton H. Wilcoxon Municipal Ice Complex renovation; John Hunt Park; Brahan Springs Park; the redesign of Joe Davis Stadium into a high school sports arena; and the Johnson Legacy Center project.

Huntsville’s Committee of 100’s unprecedented legacy project, the Singing River Trail has exploded since it launched last fall. Originally planned as a 70-mile, threecounty project, it has grown into a 150-mile, eight-county project connecting North Alabama from Bridgeport/Scottsboro to Sheffield, bringing it within 16 miles of the Natchez Trace.

The placement of jobs and major investments in areas where neighborhoods can come back and revitalize are expected to usher in new neighborhoods, creating a new commercial lane that is not in any one part or section of the community, but abroad with no part of the city left out.

Once a blighted retail section with boarded-up stores and businesses, the well-worn North Memorial Parkway corridor has been widened into a viable Parkway traffic corridor with a park, greenways and walking trails, with a newly established North Huntsville Business Association.

Throughout Huntsville, multi-use commercial and residential developments are changing the face of the city. Just this month, the Huntsville City Council approved plans for the development of a $325 million mixed-use center on the 13-acre property across from the Von Braun Center on Clinton Avenue. This empty hole amid so much expansion downtown includes 26,000 square feet of retail space, 40,000 square feet of office space, a 100-room hotel and multifamily housing with an 800-space, multilevel parking garage and surface parking lot.

A new multiuse commercial and residential development along Huntsville’s western gateway at Governor’s Drive and 14th Street will connect the newly renovated Stovehouse and Campus 805 properties with a three-story, 49,000 square foot commercial office and studio space called The Range. Next to it, The Foundry, a multiuse residential building consisting of residential flats and townhomes and 5,500 square feet of retail space will forever alter the Governor’s Drive exit off I-565.

An $18 million luxury Metronome at MidCity is under construction in the heart of the 140-acre MidCity’s district just blocks from the 8,000-seat Huntsville Amphitheater and its adjoining new West Huntsville Park. The amphitheater is spurred on by the creation of the Huntsville Music Initiative, aimed at building a music and culturalbased economy throughout the region.

South Memorial Parkway has been awakened with the modernization of Ditto Landing and the Hays Farm multi-use development that is replacing the old Haysland Square. It now has a supporting South Huntsville Business Association as well.

On the western front, Town Madison at Zierdt Road and Madison Boulevard opens a gateway to Huntsville’s city center from the west. Toyota Field located there has brought minor league baseball back to North Alabama.

Add to that the annexation of a small portion of Morgan County to the southwest, and a huge chunk of Limestone County due west of city center is needed for the economic development of the Toyota-Mazda plant and other larger manufacturers in that area. It also opened opportunities to get infrastructure to those areas which created major employment opportunities and is attracting investment into commercial real estate projects.

With more than 25,000 jobs expected to arrive here by the end of 2022, there is no point north, south, east, or west left out of the Mayor Battle’s Smart Growth Strategy for a burgeoning regional economy and like his vision for the city, there is only corridors of growth opportunities with no boundaries. n

Richard Van Valkenburgh

Photo by Steve Babin

204 Gates Ave SE Huntsville 35801 256.539.0505 vvwrealtor.com Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties, Inc, is a locally owned and operated real estate firm established in October of 1985 to serve the needs of Huntsville/ Madison County’s unique historic, yet space-aged, community.

The two principals of the firm have more than 60 years of real estate experience between them, and now offer their professional service with a team of 15 that includes their three daughters. They have ties to the community’s earliest businesses dating all the way back to the 1810’s and are committed to leading VV&W into continued service to the community in the 21st century.

VV&W’s well-trained staff of full-time licensed REALTORS® are experts at matching the individual real estate requirements of buyers and sellers and are dedicated to giving the highest quality of personalized service. Known for their confidentiality, integrity, and performance, VV&W’s REALTORS® are active as volunteers and professionals in building a better community for the people of the Tennessee Valley.

What inspired you to open this company? Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson was a dream my wife and I had for years while she worked for another real estate broker, and I transitioned from building materials/ concrete to insurance sales. With our skills and experience in construction, sales and financial planning, preservation, and extensive knowledge of North Alabama, we felt that we could create a company of professionals who would make a difference in the real estate community here.

As a 6th generation native Huntsvillian who grew up in the building materials business with my family’s company(Van Valkenburgh Brothers – Huntsville Building Materials), I had a front row seat to Huntsville’s population boom in the 1950’s and 60’s. It was also in the 1960’s when I married my bride, Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh, who moved to Huntsville from Georgia, bringing with her a love of architecture and historic preservation. She became a leader the creation of such groups as the likes of Historic Huntsville Foundation that created historic protections around much of the area’s architecture. Our unique passions and expertise made the idea of a real estate company something we knew would not only support our growing family, but also serve the people and industries in our community.

How long has your company been in business? VV&W was founded in October 1985 and celebrates 36 years in 2021. Our love of unique historic and fine homes allows us to more easily represent homes in the area that some may consider “square pegs in round holes.” These properties often do not fit the stereotypical home characteristics and can provide challenges for marketing, inspections, appraisals or financing. Our team at VV&W enjoys over 35 years of serving clients in all areas by focusing on those individuals searching for their “first home to their finest estate,” rather than a home of a certain location, size or price range.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? Since VV&W has been in business, the extensive roadways that have been created here have played a huge part in the area’s growth and access to other areas. I-565, Research Park Boulevard up to North Parkway, Memorial Parkway overpasses and more have allowed growth in areas that once were considered somewhat remote or difficult to travel.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? We love the blend of old and new that Huntsville does so well. We love the green spaces and beautification. We love the incredible civic support of our area’s businesses and corporations that work with our city and nonprofits. All of these traits have allowed us to compete with cities all over the country in all areas of work and play. The populations created with jobs brought in from other areas have allowed North Alabama to discover a level of sophistication and taste, expectations of greater opportunities found in cities double our size, while still maintaining a “small town” feel.

Would you like to share your company’s mission statement? Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson’s goals from its inception have been a commitment to placing the client first, conducting business with integrity, treating team members with dignity, and to respecting the individual. We aim to serve our clients before, during, and after the sale. n

The Fleming family has been working in Huntsville since the city’s growth in the 1960s. Now, Huntsville is growing again, and Sam Fleming has started Fleming Roofing & Restoration to continue serving the city with quality roofing and construction. Today, they take pride in providing their customers with the very best quality residential and commercial roofing services, offering professional roof inspections, roof repair, roof replacement, and insurance claim help in the Tennessee valley.

In addition to working construction, Sam has 12 years’ experience as an insurance adjuster. Co-owner Brian Trefry has been a commercial property insurance producer for seven years. Together they bring reliable experience and quality craftsmanship for all your roofing needs.

How long have you been in this business? My roofing career started in 2006 after a large hailstorm hit South Huntsville. My dad needed someone to measure and estimate roofs and I fell in love with it. I’ve been involved in roofing one way or another ever since then, whether it was insurance claims or construction. My dad started J.A. Fleming Construction in 1965 and towards the end of his battle with cancer I asked my good friend Brian Trefry if he was interested in taking over my dad’s business and focusing on roofing. We ended up splitting the company into Fleming Roofing and Restoration and J.A. Fleming Construction and Electric that is now run by my friend, Jason Heath.

What is your business philosophy? We started with the idea that we could raise the bar as far as customer service in the construction industry. Our motto is “We show up.” It’s simple, but it goes to the core idea of being responsible to our commitments to the customer. Our other main philosophy is that we really want to create an identity as “the honest guy.” A lot of roofing sales now are commission-only guys that know they will only get paid if they can convince the customer that they have to have a new roof. We pay all of our salesman a salary and train them to be honest with our customers. We don’t want them showing up with an agenda before they even look at the roof or talk with the customer about what they really need. Our goal is to offer the solution that addresses the customer’s needs and not to sell them something they don’t need.

We offer a diverse range of solutions as well. We aren’t pigeonholed into the residential roofing replacement market. We have a dedicated repair division of the company that handles nothing but commercial and residential repairs day in and day out. I think as we have grown as a company, we’ve really adapted well to our customer’s needs with the intention of being the very best in the business in everything that we do.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? It’s really crazy when you think about the history of our town and how we played a huge part in putting a man on the moon, and now we are playing a huge part in the new era of the space race. Most people think of Alabama as an agrarian state, and I believe Huntsville has one of the highest concentrations of Ph.D.s in the country.

I think the biggest changes I’ve seen have been the expansion of Research Park, the brewery movement, the re-development of downtown, and places like Lowe Mill and Stovehouse which have brought a lot of entertainment to the area. I’ve always been extremely proud to be from Huntsville and I’m really excited to see what the next 5-10 years has coming.

What’s the most important piece of business advice you’ve received? My dad was really the only mentor I had in the construction business. He had a very simple philosophy of doing things the right way and doing right by your customers. Since he was a general contractor, I was exposed to a lot of experience in residential and commercial construction that gave me a very broad range of knowledge that has helped me tremendously in my career.

How has technology changed how building/growth works? The two biggest changes I have seen in our industry are the use of drones in roofing inspections and the use of aerial measurements. The use of drones has made inspecting large steep roofs safer and quicker. Instead of having to carry 40' ladders and use ropes and harnesses we are able to deploy a drone and access every inch of a difficult roof without ever getting on a ladder. With the aerial imagery we can have measurements at our disposal for these large roofs in our hands before we ever set foot on the property. We also have software that is able to run calculations based on the parameters of the roof and give us an accurate waste factor that makes our calculations more accurate. n

Sam Fleming

Photo by Steve Babin

213 Oakwood Ave NW Huntsville 35811 256.651.9440 fleminghsv.com

Gripp Luther

Photo by Steve Babin

525 Madison St SE Ste 205 Huntsville 35801 256.533.0003 Samplesproperties.com Gripp Luther is a Huntsville native and a Principal at Samples Properties where he has been employed for over 25 years. He handles development, property management, and a variety of brokerage services that include acquisitions, sales, and leasing.

Gripp represents a wide range of individuals and corporations on both a local and national level. A few of these companies include: The State of Alabama, GSA, Avnet, L 3 Com, Radiance Technologies, Keystone Foods, and SAIC. His development coordination efforts include a public/private partnership with the City of Huntsville and various defense contract organizations.

Receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama, Gripp studied advertising, marketing, and real estate. He currently holds positions on the Cummings Research Park Board and the Huntsville Utilities Gas & Water Board.

Gripp and his wife Leigh Ann will soon celebrate 28 years of marriage, and together they have two sons, Neill and Leighton.

What inspired you to choose this career? Ty Samples, founder of Samples Properties, inspired me to get into real estate. His encouragement was instrumental in building my confidence as a young business professional. He introduced me to a lot of knowledgeable and influential people in the Huntsville area. People really liked doing business with Ty. I have tried hard to follow his lead. Since Ty’s retirement, we continue to have a good relationship and keep in touch, Ty still enjoys hearing about deals.

How long has your company been in business? Samples Properties has been invested in the commercial real estate market of Huntsville/Madison County with roots dating to the inception of Cummings Research Park in the late 1960s. I have been with the company since 1992.

What is the company’s business philosophy? My business partner, Michael Samples and I view Samples Properties as a relationship business. We pride ourselves on our long-standing relationships with our partners and clients. We strive to provide professional and quality services with a quick response to customer needs. We know Huntsville and work hard to identify our clients’ needs. Their best interests are at the heart of everything we do.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? I have lived in Huntsville all of my life. It is home and has been a great place to work and raise a family. Huntsville has a unique small-town feel from a people’s perspective. From a career or business perspective, it is quite diverse. Huntsville is a melting pot full of people from all different walks of life. It is a great place for both small and large businesses to succeed.

When I have people from out of town come to visit, I always like to hear what they think about Huntsville. The most common response is how clean and well kept our city is. The city and Mayor Tommy Battle do a great job with this.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? It’s changed the way buyers and tenants explore the commercial real estate market. We have transitioned from direct marketing to online marketing through multiple online real estate platforms. These online platforms showcase our available properties, providing easily accessible and up-to-date information for prospects.

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? Honesty, professionalism, and hustle are words and actions that are so important to me. You can’t expect to build trust within your clients if honesty and integrity aren’t the benchmark in how you handle every aspect of a business. It is important to treat your clients and customers as you would like to be treated, it’s really that simple. Then you’ve got to work hard and always hustle! n

Tim Singleton is the area president for Madison County and the senior commercial lender for Bank Independent. He brings over 40 years of banking experience to bear on all banking operations in his market while leading a team of local sales officers and managers dedicated to building strong client relationships. Tim specializes in commercial lines of credit, development and construction, defense and government, and commercial real estate, all vital to the unprecedented and demanding growth in Huntsville and Madison County.

Bank Independent is a closely held community bank headquartered locally in North Alabama managing over $2 billion in assets. They have built a network of 28 traditional bank locations, a digital branch, two operations centers, as well as, Interstate Billing Service, a national leader in business solutions and cash flow management across multiple industries.

How long has your company been in business? Bank Independent has been serving the communities of North Alabama since 1947. We have thrived because of our solid reputation for providing both high-tech and high-touch service. We are committed to staying on the leading edge of finance technology while also providing our unique brand of personal customer service.

Would you like to share your company’s mission statement? Bank Independent exists to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Every decision we make, every time we expand and grow, it is with our mission in mind. For close to 75 years, Bank Independent has remained a community bank, focused on the needs of our neighbors.

What do you like best about your job? As a banker, I enjoy being able to use my knowledge, years of experience, creative thinking powered by the strength and stability of Bank Independent to make amazing things happen for clients in a way that exceeds their expectations.

As a Commercial Lender, what is the best advice you could give to a customer coming in for a loan? Go into your loan request with a plan and make the application a process. Be sure to involve your banker, accountant, lawyer and insurance agent early in the process. Ask questions early on and take special note of their advice as you formulate your plan. You’ll appreciate the extra insight.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? Technology in financial services is constantly changing and improving driven by client needs and expectations. Bank Independent invests heavily to ensure we stay on the leading edge of technology and stay competitive with the large banks. Everybody wants the convenience technology offers until the moment that it is not working the way they expected. It’s at that moment when they need a real live human to help them navigate and get full function restored. Bank Independent does that better than anyone right now. We love meeting our customers’ expectations for both high-tech products with personal touch service.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? I have been here since 1996 and have been fortunate to see amazing changes in our community. We have had leaders in our community that saw Huntsville’s competition as places like Austin and San Francisco, not Birmingham and Montgomery. These leaders helped us get the quality of life moving in the right direction. Downtown now has places to live, local food and entertainment options. Adaptive reuse projects like Campus 805, Mid Cities and Stovehouse are creating a positive vibe that augments the really amazing technology and creative brain power that already existed today.

What changes does your company hope to see or hope to affect? Bank Independent is invested in the future of Downtown Huntsville and Madison County. We are excited to demonstrate our commitment to this market with the development of a new property located at 225 Holmes Avenue. Bank Independent recently broke ground on a new, five-story office building in the heart of Downtown Huntsville. The new facility will be the future home to a branch and commercial lending office and provide much needed Class-A office leasing opportunities in the Downtown area.

What is the company’s business philosophy? We understand that our collective successes are the direct result of almost 75 years serving the needs of the community under the direction of collaborative leadership. Our success leads towards a brighter future fulfilling the Bank’s mission to make a positive difference in people’s lives. That’s a pretty exciting goal to help achieve. n

Tim Singleton

Photo by Steve Babin

132 Holmes Ave NW Huntsville 35801 256.386.5000 bibank.com

ServisFirst Bank is a full-service commercial bank focused on commercial banking, correspondent banking, cash management, private banking and the professional consumer market, emphasizing competitive products, state of the art technology and a focus on quality service. The Bank offers sophisticated cash management products, Internet banking, home mortgage lending, remote deposit express banking, and highly competitive rates. ServisFirst Bank was formed in May 2005, and has offices in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charleston, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Nashville, Northwest Florida, and West Central Florida. For more information, www.servisfirstbancshares.com.

Andy Kattos has served as ServisFirst Bank Huntsville’s president and chief executive officer since April 2006 where he formed a team to raise capital to open ServisFirst Bank in Huntsville. He has since led the ServisFirst Bank Huntsville market, growing it to third in market share in the Huntsville region. Kattos earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in finance from The University of Alabama in Huntsville and his post-graduate degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

What inspired you to work for this company? At 37 years old, I was working in a senior banking role at First Commercial Bank (now Synovus). I was approached by Tom Broughton, President, CEO, and Chairman of ServisFirst Bancshares, as he had just started ServisFirst Bank in Birmingham a few months before. Although I was comfortable with my role and future with First Commercial Bank, the allure of being involved and engaged in the early start-up of a bank was too great to pass up. The opportunity to form a team, raise capital, and start ServisFirst from the ground up in North Alabama was by far the most thrilling (and tiring) time in my career, and I’ve never regretted that decision.

What is the company’s business philosophy? ServisFirst Bank’s philosophy has always been to put the decision-making in the hands of the local market teams, allowing for quick and tailored decisions to meet the unique needs of each one of our clients. Additionally, we prioritize utilizing technology for ease and convenience. ServisFirst Bank operates under a low-overhead model that allows us to pass along these costs savings to our clients in the form of competitive terms and, ultimately, to our shareholders who put their trust in us since the beginning.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? During my career in Huntsville, I’ve seen years of strong economic growth fueled by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and the diversification of our economy. Beyond defense, space and agriculture, North Alabama is excelling in manufacturing, biotechnology and innovation in the presence of some major online companies such as Facebook, Google and, most recently, with the Amazon announcement. The Huntsville area is changing and growing, raising the bar for economic development across the state of Alabama.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? The Madison County area is full of entrepreneurs and forward thinkers. Our business owners and leaders consistently strive for excellence and want our community to continue to move forward. The energy and determination are widespread, and we all feed off of one another. I believe this is now part of our community culture and DNA.

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? With the current economic expansion, we want businesses, developers, builders and individuals to know they can come to ServisFirst Bank for quick, creative decisions to help them achieve their goals. Our goal is to help our clients and our community succeed.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? ServisFirst Bank has utilized innovative technology to deliver our services since the beginning. The shutdown this past year only increased the use of technology in our business by allowing our clients to sign loan documents and set up new accounts electronically. The ability for our team members to work virtually when needed was critical during a time of uncertainty for all businesses.

What business advice would you give? My advice to my clients is to retain a good bit of your earnings and conserve cash or other liquid assets for a rainy day. I’ve seen enough ups and downs in our economy to know that good times do not last forever. I know there is an urge to take excess cash out of your company during strong economic times but be conservative about it because the companies and individuals who have cash reserves will weather the storm. n

Andy Kattos

Photo by Steve Babin

401 Meridian St N, Suite 100 Huntsville 35801

1267 Enterprise Way, Suite A Huntsville 35806

256.722.7800 servisfirst.com

Kim Ward, Tonya Ramos, Julie Roberts, Suzy Rowell, Kristen Oldfield, Crystal Jennings Photo by Steve Babin

Market Group Real Estate brings a wealth of knowledge on local communities, current market conditions, and the home buying and selling process. We strive to provide exceptional service every step of the way, so we can provide you with a real estate experience that exceeds your expectations. You need someone who knows this area inside and out! We can work with you to find the right home at the right price for you, including all the neighborhood amenities that matter. When it’s time to move, you need someone who markets your home, knows how to find the right buyer, negotiates on your behalf, oversees the inspections, handles all necessary paperwork, and supervises the closing. We take care of everything you need, from start to close. Whether you are looking for a new home or thinking about selling your current home, call us today. We will put our expertise to work to provide you guidance and advice on what you need to know to make the best possible decision for your real estate needs.

Contributed by Julie Roberts, Owner, and Kim Ward, Broker

What inspired you to open this company? After working together for several years, we realized we enjoyed working as a team and that our combined skills and past business experience made for an outstanding new business venture. We wanted a professional, modern, and efficient real estate company with a top-notch culture of like-minded, experienced agents. We wanted a company that supported a healthy work-life balance for the agents. Most of all, we wanted a company that provided the absolute highest quality of service to our clients. What is the company’s business philosophy? All of our business is referral based. We work solely on relationships and referrals. We don’t do any cold calling, purchasing leads, etc. We base our business on making sure our clients are so satisfied that they refer more business to us. We all built our individual businesses at a slower but steadier pace, which we believe is more sustainable in the long run! Building long lasting relationships with our clients is key to our success and their happiness.

What changes have you seen during your/your company’s tenure in Huntsville? It’s no secret that, recently, inventory has plummeted, while demand for housing as well as the number of licensed Realtors has skyrocketed. Unprecedented changes in the last year have required us to use creative strategies to find solutions for our clients, equipping us with a new set of skills. We’ve seen iconic buildings get demolished/repurposed, roads rebuilt, and many large businesses and industries choose the Huntsville Area as their new home. We’ve seen the homebuilding industry thrive as well as suffer. We know these changes are inevitable growing pains and look forward to helping our city shine in the near future.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? We love seeing the amazing growth that has occurred over the last decade in the Huntsville area. Huntsville truly is a melting pot of fantastic people. We love that each of our service areas (Huntsville, Athens, Decatur, and surrounding areas) have distinct communities with a wide range of personalities, interests, hobbies, skills, etc. We are truly lucky to live in one of the best places in America! What changes does your company hope to see or hope to affect? We truly hope to improve consumers’ perception of Realtors and the real estate business in general. We want anyone that interacts with us to see a higher level of professionalism, skill, and value. Our commitment to the Realtor Code of Ethics is foremost in our minds when dealing with the public.

What’s the most important piece of business advice you’ve received? “Build a team so strong, no one can point out the leader.” n

Haley’s Flooring & Interiors, Inc. formerly Carpet Systems of Huntsville was founded by Carter and Nancy Haley in 1988, along with their oldest son Chris. From a small office space off Drake Avenue doing commercial flooring for local businesses, the company grew, and youngest son Michael came on board. The business transitioned to a retail location, then ultimately to their current location on Bob Wallace Avenue. In 2010, Chris’s wife Kristi joined the team to help develop marketing plans to reach consumers in new and innovative ways. Along with the addition of new warehouses, employees, and divisions, a third generation Haley, Abby, graduated from the University of Alabama and came home to work for the family business. Today, Haley’s commercial division continues to service many of the builders, businesses and industries in the area with a dedicated administrative, sales and warehouse team; while the retail division services the North Alabama area offering in-home design services, flooring, cabinets, granite/ quartz countertops, installation, furniture, home decor and accessories, window coverings, area rugs, textiles and Liberty safes. Carter and Nancy retired in January 2020 and passed the torch to sons Chris, now serving as President and CEO; Michael, Vice President and CFO; and longtime employee Adam Rogers, Vice President. Through the challenges that came with 2020, these three worked hard at continuing the legacy set forth by Carter and Nancy – a legacy that continued when granddaughter Abby took over as Haley’s Interiors Showroom Manager. What began in that small office with 3-4 employees has expanded and grown into an 80 + employee business continuing to strive for excellence.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? The strong sense of community and diversity of people in our area. Many of the people here are not originally from the Huntsville/Madison County area, yet this community pulls together during times of crisis and times of loss reaching out to help each other as if they’d lived here all their lives.

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? We hope to affect this community in every possible positive way by not just being a “business”, but a community partner that enriches and touches lives here in the Tennessee Valley. God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and we believe that’s how, as a business, we are called to do business in this community. We will never be perfect, we do make mistakes, but in every way possible... we will strive to be excellent.

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? Get to know this community, get to know the people in this community. Get involved in local organizations that give back to this community. Treat people the way that you want to be treated recognizing that you will make mistakes, but that it’s sometimes in the mistakes that we learn and grow the most. Be humble when you are wrong, be respectful and courteous when you are right. Be willing to change and grow in ways that you might not have expected. Be thankful for each day you get to be in business and be thankful for your employees and every customer that comes through your doors.

What is your business philosophy? From the earliest conception of Haley’s Flooring & Interiors, a foundation was laid by our founders, Carter and Nancy Haley. The single most important aspect of our business and a reflection of what we stand for today is “A Foundation of Excellence.” Our mission is to provide our customers, employees and community a level of excellence that goes beyond the world’s standards, and be a company that not only sells product, but also enriches and touches the life of every person placed in our path. Seven pillars make up our structural support for excellence: Integrity, Faithfulness, Dependability, Quality Workmanship, Positive Attitude, Honesty and Loyalty. These traits personify what we strive to be both individually and corporately. Our goal is to provide quality products at the best price, upholding a level of excellence to every person that we come in contact with.

How has your company contributed to the greater good of the area? 2020 was a year like no other. Our employees and community came together through partnerships with other businesses and churches to pull off nothing short of a miracle. One miracle was the renovation of Merea House – a home for women in crisis and in need of a bridge to wholeness. Partnering with Recentered Ministries and the Huntsville Dream Center, we were able to turn this house into a beautiful home where women’s lives will be restored. Another miracle was the unexpected opportunity to help Kids to Love and The Rock Family Worship Center meet the needs of almost 400 foster children! We couldn’t have done it without the endless dedication of our third generation, Abby Haley and team member Katie Felix, along with our founders Carter and Nancy. We believe in giving back as much as we believe in serving our customers! n

Chris Haley Adam Rogers Michael haley

Photo by Steve Babin

2806 Bob Wallace Ave SW Huntsville 35805 256.536.8086 haleysforyourhome.com

With a heart for helping, Leah Miller took the real estate scene by storm almost six years ago. And, after 20 years of serving the community through the local church, her husband, Darin, joined her in the business. Together, with a deep sense of passion for helping the community, they formed The Miller Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Huntsville. They list and sell homes throughout Huntsville and Madison. Their 2020 sales totaled more than $20 million. They are so thankful for the Keller Williams Huntsville community and for every person who trusts them with selling and buying homes.

What inspired you to choose this career? The two biggest inspirations for embarking on a career in real estate were our love for the city and people of Huntsville, and our love for helping others. I lead the Newcomers Group at our local church, and I am passionate about helping people find a true home and community in Huntsville. With a degree in Aerospace Engineering and his pastoral experience, Darin is uniquely qualified to connect with our clients in this “tech town.” Thanks to those experiences, Darin and I both truly enjoy helping support people through life transitions. For most people, home-buying and home-selling are major transitions, which require making major decisions. We want nothing more than to help people feel fully supported through a process that can be incredibly challenging and difficult to navigate yet so rewarding.

What is your business philosophy? Our business philosophy is to view everyone involved in a transaction as a person first. It would be so easy to treat each transaction as a bundle of numbers and legalese that we pass around to sellers, buyers, agents, and assisting companies. But that would be ignoring the highly emotional component that is ingrained into home-buying and home-selling. We make it a priority to check in on our clients wellbeing, and their understanding of processes, along every step of the way. They deserve utmost diligence and respect.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? We love that the Huntsville area has so much to offer for any and every person in any and every walk of life. Do you like sports? Attend a Trash Pandas game in their new stadium. Do you love art? Visit Lowe Mill and check out the amazing talent there. Are you a music buff? You might find an act at the Von Braun Center Arena (and soon the amphitheater at MidCity District.) Are you a foodie? Check out the awesome selection of local eateries. Love the outdoors? Hike Monte Sano or kayak along the Flint River. Truly, the local business scene is unlike any other we’ve ever seen.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? The mass influx of businesses and people in the Huntsville area means that this community will continue to thrive and reach new heights. All kinds of jobs, restaurants, businesses and venues are popping up around town and becoming new “favorite places” for the ever-growing population. Sometimes people are looking for very specific societal niches where they feel understood and supported. Population growth absolutely facilitates the creation of niche communities. Also, the growth of this area will inevitably lead people into opportunities they never knew were possible, which is a fantastic thought.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? We would definitely not be able to do all that we do without the assistance of technology, especially over the last 18 months. Initial client consultations over video chat and virtual home tours have become a staple in our industry. The travel restrictions of 2020 forced many home buyers to rely on technology and the expertise of their Realtor to make a decision on the purchase of their next home. In this fast-moving market, video technology has proven to be an essential tool for our business. n

Leah & Darin Miller

Photo by Steve Babin

809 Shoney Dr SW Huntsville 35801 256.479.8410 themillerteamhsv.kw.com

Emily Rogers

Photo by Steve Babin

245 Finney Drive SW Huntsville 35824 256.461.6700 turnerconstruction.com

Emily Rogers Business Development 256.200.1245 erogers@tcco.com Turner Construction Company (Turner) is committed to deeply engrained and meaningful community partnerships. They recognize that in order to fulfill their mission, “Make a Difference in the Lives of Our People, Customers and Community,” they have to extend themselves beyond construction into the conversations shaping the built environment. That means cultivating relationships across markets and industry.

Enter Emily Rogers, a dynamic business development professional with communications, marketing, and community engagement experience who recently joined Turner with a single objective. To build relationships and provide a natural tether to the people and purpose of the Huntsville/Madison County region. Originally from Atlanta, Emily attended high school in Madison and finished college at the University of Alabama Huntsville. Emily and her husband currently live in the downtown Huntsville area with two dogs in a 1970s fixer upper.

What inspired you to choose this career? What inspired you to work for this company? Huntsville is changing and there is no better time to be in construction. As we continue to see treasured areas of our city revitalized and cared for, I wanted to be on the forefront of that type of change. Fostering genuine relationships for the betterment of the city, working together to identify how Turner can best support businesses as they continue to earn success, and fully understanding what our region requires for continued sustainable growth is a key part of this work.

How long has your company been in business? Turner has been building in the area and throughout Alabama for 66 years. With a lengthy history and robust experience working in Cummings Research Park, on Redstone Arsenal, and at Marshall Space Flight Center, Turner continues to expand our footprint throughout North Alabama. Most notably, the industrial and manufacturing corridor along the Tennessee Valley river along Decatur’s waterfront is home to many Turner projects of past, present, and future.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? Huntsville/Madison County and the surrounding communities are incredible places to live. I love Huntsville because it is completely unbothered with the ego of other cities on the rise. Huntsville is within reach. It is not telling you who it is, but rather inviting you to find out. Individuals and families alike can move to the area and feel grounded quickly without getting swept up in the identity of a city that may feel inconsistent to who they themselves are as people. With a smart culture, easy access to elected officials and local leadership, and a wide variety of industries and innovation represented, Huntsville is a clever city designed for people from all backgrounds. Our once pigeon-holed “Rocket City” is taking shape not only as a great place to launch, but a warm and welcoming spot to land.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? The new growth brings plenty of good – more people, brilliant minds, jobs filled, a booming housing market, and many vibrant restaurants, storefronts, and businesses to add to the quality of life for our citizens. However, we can’t forget about the difficult components of this influx. We must appreciate and care for all aspects of our community as we venture into this new chapter.

At Turner, we believe thoughtful forecasting and detailed preparation for what’s to come is a key component to success in the future. Collaboration and information sharing paired with intentional conversations will support our community as we continue to stretch. We are committed to that type of collaboration.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? You simply can’t talk about construction without talking technology. As a company rooted in Lean methodology—that is, optimizing people, resources, and energy, to create the highest-possible value with the least-possible waste—we embrace innovation and emerging and disruptive technologies of all kinds.

This year, Turner hosted its sixth Innovation Summit (virtually, of course), bringing 1500+ Turner employees together to learn and collaborate around the theme of 5 in 5: Five Innovative Trends that will Transform the Way We Live Work and Learn Within Five Years. Spanning two-days, the Summit included 35 speakers across 22 interactive sessions devoted to the topics of virtualization, connectivity, big data, robotics/automation, and artificial intelligence. This type of thought leadership is driving how we operate. n

Turner Construction Company (Turner) and Alabama A&M University have been working together for seven years on a variety of campus projects, expanding and growing the A&M footprint to accommodate increasingly popular programming. Interestingly though, the missions of the organizations, which firmly root them both in the pursuit of excellence, continuous learning, and community service, bring them together for a different reason—the professional growth and development of budding engineering and construction students.

Turner’s internship program spans 12-to-16-weeks and provides students pursuing a degree in a construction-related field hands-on experience. The positions are paid and offer the students an introduction to the construction industry performing real work; utilizing time management, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; learning the dynamics of working on a team; and first-hand knowledge on the roles and responsibilities of being an Engineer at Turner. Since 2015 Turner has hired 19 Alabama A&M University students for internships or full-time positions. Turner is currently working on their fourth project for Alabama A&M and employs six full-time Alabama A&M alumnus.

Contributed by: Matthew Terry, Superintendent; Agnes Pope, Engineer; Joshua Thomas, SPO Concrete-Assistant Engineer; Esteban Guadarrama, Intern; Jordan Payne, Assistant Engineer. Each is denoted below by their initials.

What made you want to work for Turner? JT: I was exposed to Turner three years ago on a project site visit on Alabama A&M’s campus. After hearing the tour guide talk about his experience I grew intimidated. It means the world now to be working for Turner. Since working two internships and becoming full-time, I can say Turner is arguably one of the best companies. It feels so warming to work in a friendly, welcoming, and judgement-free environment that is all about getting the job done, but also knows how to have fun! EG: Turner gave me the opportunity to work for them the summer after graduating high school, before I started college. I worked out in the field, learning about the trades, and getting construction experience under my belt. That experience made me realize I really like construction and it’s a career path I would never get tired of. It also made me realize Turner is a wonderful company to work for.

How did Alabama A&M prepare you for a career in construction? MT: Alabama A&M provided classes that taught me not only the textbook basics of construction management but also gave students a chance to do hands-on work in the field. We mixed concrete, did surveying, all the way to learning about HVAC systems. The classes were thorough, and the professors did a great job making sure students understood the material. The faculty made sure construction management students not only succeeded in the construction industry, but also prepared students to be successful at life.

What does it mean to you to be Alabama A&M alumna? AG: Being an Alabama A&M alumna can be challenging. A lot of companies are unaware of all the programs A&M offers. As alumnae, our job is to shine a light on the diversity of majors offered and help attract more opportunities for students. As a member of the Turner recruiting team at Alabama A&M I continuously engage with students and faculty members. I also serve as the liaison to A&M for the Society of American Military Engineers’ Huntsville Post on campus. Part of my role is to close the gap between students and professionals and bring more employment and internship opportunities to my beloved university.

What inspired you to choose this career? EG: I decided I wanted to do construction my junior year of high school when I took a civil engineering/architecture class. I enjoyed that class and got into creating CAD (computer-aided drafting) houses. During that time we took several trips to different plants and I got into how buildings are built. Huntsville is growing rapidly, and being born and raised here, I wanted to be part of that growth.

Alabama A&M School of

Construction Management

Pictured L to R: Matthew Terry, Jordan Payne, Agnes Pope, Josh Thomas, Lloyd Chilufya & Esteban Guadarrama

What do you love about Alabama A&M? JP: The family environment, the genuine attention I received, and the opportunities they gifted me.

What does it mean to you to be Alabama A&M Alumni? JT: To me becoming an Alabama A&M Alumni means I have finally done it! It means I had the drive to complete college, thanks to my parents who believed in me; I’m paving a road for my younger brothers and showing them they can do anything with the spirit of God and dedication; and that all of the worrying, praying, stressing, and hard nights finally paid off. I can say, “I did that! I graduated college, and I am officially an alumnus of The Hill! n HUNTSVILLE EVENT MAGAZINE | Building Huntsville | July/August 2021

Photo by Steve Babin

245 Finney Drive SW Huntsville 35824 256.461.6700 turnerconstruction.com

Will Heaps Mark McIntyre Frank Aldag

NMLS: 786089

Photo by Steve Babin

659 Gallatin St, SW Huntsville 35801 256.692.8700 meritbank.com Merit Bank is headquartered in Huntsville and serves a customer base throughout North Alabama. The bank was founded and is led by an executive team with over seven decades of combined experience and a board of directors with proven success in government contracting, multi-national companies, and building businesses as entrepreneurs. The founders of the bank realized in 2018 that there were tremendous growth and business opportunities in the North Alabama market, as well as countless accolades on national “best places to live and work” lists; however, there was only one bank headquartered Huntsville at the time. When compared to much smaller markets that have multiple local banks, the company’s team felt like there was room for another bank to be headquartered in Huntsville.

The team began organizing in September of 2018 and obtained approval from the Alabama State Banking Department, FDIC, and Federal Reserve in March of 2019. During this time, they held a successful capital raise, and in less than 60 days raised $24.7 million from local investors. Merit Bank opened its doors in Huntsville on July 29, 2019 with a commitment to commercial banking that combines technology with local, personal service. Merit is a full-service commercial bank catering to local business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as agriculture and industry professionals. In less than two years, Merit Bank has grown to just under $180 million in total assets.

Contributed by Will Heaps, Interim President/CEO

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? We love doing business in Huntsville! Huntsville is the smallest big town in the state, perhaps the Southeast, and we see that hold true every day. The business community has a great appreciation for technology, but also desires the benefits that come from a relationship with a banker that feels more like a family member than a business associate. We have customers who utilize technology and never come into the bank for deposits; however, when it is time to borrow money, they want to meet with you face to face. Huntsville is special and unique!

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? Having endured the start-up process ourselves, we think we have a better understanding and appreciation for the entrepreneurial spirit of our customers and the challenges they face in starting and growing their businesses. Some of the most important advice we share with our customers is: Remain steadfast and always believe in yourself; accept advice and always learn, but don’t let anyone veer you off course of your core beliefs; expect the unexpected and learn to block out all distractions, especially from competitors.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? Technology has a HUGE impact on how we operate. Merit Bank has grown to our current size in the market with only one office located in Huntsville. Our advanced technology banking platform puts the power of both business and personal banking solutions right at your fingertips. We invested heavily in technology and with our vertically integrated banking platform our customers are able to enjoy a more convenient, efficient, and secure way of banking. In fact, many of our customers have never stepped foot in the branch. This proved to be especially vital during the pandemic and widespread shutdown. Our operations continued as usual and customers were able to safely handle all of their banking remotely.

What changes does your company hope to see or hope to affect? We know that the only constant is change. The business world is constantly evolving and we intend to continue to provide the business owners of North Alabama with the perfect combination of cutting-edge technology and local, personal service. Merit Bank is vested in this community and is dedicated to further enabling the growth of small businesses. We value each and every customer relationship and continue to control all decision-making right here at our headquarters. By doing so, we are able to better understand, better advise, and better help our customers meet their financial goals and grow their companies.

Share your company’s Mission Statement: At Merit Bank, our mission is to empower employees to think and serve our customers with an ownership mentality so that we may always stay true to our name.

We wholeheartedly believe in our mission. Our team members are by far our greatest asset and by providing them with the skills and resources they need, along with a positive culture and teamwork mentality, we empower them to make decisions and work together for the common goal of serving our community, growing the bank, and providing a solid return for our shareholders. n

Blue Falls is a family owned and operated custom home builder and remodeler. As a full-service general contracting company, they specialize in new additions, whole house remodels, custom kitchens and new construction. Owners Brandon and Shelly Catron are dedicated to building top quality, beautiful and functional homes for their community. Their in-house cabinet shop, specialized design team and up to date construction software helps to provide a seamless construction process to their clients and homeowners.

How long has your company been in business? I started my construction career in 2001, obtaining my Alabama residential homebuilders license in 2003. I was able to be hands on and have worked extensively with subcontractors in many various trades in my younger years.

Every single one of our projects is one-of-a-kind, so my experience in the field along with a great team of people help us to navigate the tricky situations that can come with any construction project.

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? Huntsville is my hometown and I love being able to be a part of its continuous growth. We look forward to and anticipate many more years of building in Huntsville.

How has technology changed how building/growth works? We are able to utilize construction software to estimate, schedule and communicate. There are so many details that could easily fall through the cracks in this industry and this technology makes the process much more organized and efficient for everybody involved.

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? Work hard and treat people with respect always.

What is your process for a project? Consultation: For the initial consultation, a Blue Falls Team member meets homeowners on site, asks for general information about the goals of the project, takes measurements, and summarizes the steps required to complete the specific project. Design: After consultation, we start working on an estimate for the project. In most cases the design work will be sent to the homeowner and agreed upon prior to submitting the estimate. Build: Once we have submitted and received approval on designs and estimates needed, we proceed to the pre-construction meeting. This is usually held in our office with the project manager and anyone else who will be working closely to reach project goals. This meeting ensures that everyone involved is completely informed about the entire scope of work.

What is your business philosophy? At Blue Falls we understand how important it is to find the right contractor for your specific project. No two jobs are alike. Each require time, experience, communication, and attention to detail.

We are dedicated to building and improving residential structures according to client needs and desires. Making dreams become reality since 2003, our team is ready to give your space whatever updates you want. We recently received a letter from a happy customer that we’d like to share:

“To the entire Blue Falls group, We just want to thank you for our wonderful kitchen remodel. We are so very happy with our new kitchen! From the first day Brandon came out to discuss our plans, we have been impressed with the attention to timeliness and excellent service. That was one of the major factors in choosing Blue Falls for our remodel. We were so pleased to see that held true for the entire remodel process...”

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? I was born in Huntsville and have lived here my entire life. We love the friendly, small town vibes of the area, but the convenience of the city. We have a personal stake in seeing Huntsville succeed and love raising our family here. n

Brandon & Shelly Catron

Photo by Steve Babin

3311 7th Ave SW Huntsville 35805 256.990.7654 bluefalls.com

Luis Mendoza

Photo by Steve Babin

4100 Market Street Ste 100 Huntsville 35808 256.763.0878 mendozarealtygroup.com Luis Mendoza is an established Real Estate professional with an in-depth knowledge of International Real Estate in the U.S. and Mexico. Real Estate transactions include commercial, residential, industrial and investment opportunities serving Alabama, California, Mexico and consulting in Las Vegas.

Luis has focused on building a binational business, consulting and working with diverse and multicultural clientele. Current and past clientele include professional athletes, leaders in the music industry, high level executives, international developers and international banks. Luis has a vast understanding of the Hispanic market within both the U.S. and the American market in Mexico.

He has successfully built a team of multicultural REALTORS® in Luis Mendoza and Associates in the United States and Mendoza International Group in Mexico. The primary focus is to achieve positive results in every transaction when buying and selling real estate. Consistently ranked #1 in the world within the Century 21 system affiliated with Century 21 Award in San Diego, his team is ranked in the top 1% in sales within the industry.

What inspired you to open this company? I was inspired to open Luis Mendoza and Associates so that clients can expect great customer service from our agents but, more importantly, to be a solutionsoriented company. We do help clients buy or sell real estate but, we don’t stop at one transaction. We help clients diversify and grow their assets through different real estate investments. To do this, we constantly educate ourselves about the local, national and international real estate market. Our constant relationship building keeps us informed about industry leaders, investment firms, and economists – and we strive to be ahead of the market. Our bicultural niche market puts us ahead of other companies since we can understand local, national and global economic and real estate trends.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? Our family loves the area because of the great schools, the values and the southern hospitality. This city offers diversity, restaurants, natural habitat, and getting to experience the four seasons. I love the opportunity that this growth has to offer and I’m excited to be a part of it.

What changes does your company hope to see or hope to affect? Our company is looking forward to bringing a positive effect to the region through our past experiences in the national and international real estate market. We are a residential and commercial company that has been involved in the growth of cities in both the United States and Mexico – assisting with small, medium or large projects.

We have also helped our client Banco Santander, the third largest bank in the world, to strategize their long-term leases for their private offices in San Diego. These are some examples of the experience I bring to the region that will help during this time of growth.

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? I tell my agents the following when I hire them: There is only one person that can fire you in this business. That is the person in the mirror.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? I believe that the growth in the area will bring even a more diverse community. I see a growth in the area that reminds me of Southern California, like Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. You are already seeing the migration from companies and people moving here from Nashville, Birmingham and even companies from out of state such as Amazon, Toyota, Facebook and NASA. The growth is here to stay but, once the citizens see the opportunity it will bring to the region, they will love it.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? Our company has always been searching and implementing the latest technology to assist our clients and make sure we are leaders in the industry. We are very involved in the social media platforms that will give us a leading edge in every market we service. We are always trying to be in front of every demographic possible to better service our communities. n

Laurel Bailey is an experienced commercial real estate professional who specializes in industrial and office buildings in the North Alabama area. She is the COO of Industrial Properties of the South, a local real estate company that has been developing and leasing commercial space for over forty years. As COO, Laurel oversees the leasing and property management for 1.4 million square feet of space, which accommodates more than forty tenants. Laurel is very involved with the local real estate community and volunteers on several different boards which support and educate local commercial real estate professionals. She is proud to be one of a growing number of women working in an industry that is often dominated by men. She has overseen the construction of over 130,000 square feet of new space, plus numerous redevelopment projects in Huntsville and Madison over her 17 years in real estate. Laurel is wife to John and mom to Olivia, 15 and Graham, 12. For fun, she loves to travel and has Italy and France on her bucket list.

What inspired you to choose this career? I worked in public accounting in Birmingham for three years before my parents reached out to see if I would be interested in moving home and working in the family business. What started out as a one-year trial-run working with my parents has turned into a 17-year career in commercial real estate! I use my accounting knowledge every day, however, and I am glad I took that path prior to starting work in real estate. I also enjoy working through the challenges that commercial real estate presents, especially during 2020. Issues that had not come up before were talked about with my staff, and decisions were made to protect our tenants and ourselves in the best way we could.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? I grew up in Huntsville, and my dad’s medical office was in Madison, off Old Madison Pike. I remember seeing lots of farmland on the drive to my dad’s office, which felt like a long road trip! Now, Madison has grown exponentially, and Old Madison Pike is almost the center of Huntsville/Madison Metro. Huntsville has definitely become more metropolitan and has a lot more to offer young people. I think it’s very exciting that my kids will soon have an amazing amphitheater and other great attractions, right here, close to home.

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? Commercial Real Estate has typically been a male-dominated field. Fortunately, I have a great support system of women in my life to lift me up and encourage me when I feel like the odd woman out. I want to continue to encourage other women to give commercial real estate a try as a career. Although there are many challenges in this particular field of work, having a great office staff and maintenance crew make all the difference.

What’s the most important piece of business advice you’ve received? A good piece of advice I learned the hard way is to know your target market. My first few years in the industry, I tried cutting my prices to fit a potential tenant’s budget. Those tenants never ended up being good tenants because they ultimately could not afford the space. Now, I usually start a conversation with a prospective tenant by asking them what budget limits they are working with. If they are not in my target market, I happily refer them out to another real estate broker.

How has technology changed how building/growth works? The way I market my buildings has changed dramatically in the 17 years I have been working in commercial real estate. In the early days, I relied on signs, banners and local advertising to attract potential customers. Now, the majority of my marketing is done online. Search engines and my company’s website are the primary ways I reach my customers. These tools have been particularly helpful, since new companies in other states haven’t been able to visit due to Covid-19. We can discuss the properties on the phone and they can see photos online, which helps them in their decision-making. They can then decide if a site visit will be worth their time. n

Laurel Bailey

Photo by Steve Babin

9668 Madison Blvd Ste 100 Madison 35758 256.461.7482 Industrialpropertiesofthesouth.com

Clint Kirkland Scott Seeley

Photo by Steve Babin

201 Williams Ave SW Huntsville 35801 256.319.3600 myprogressbank.com Progress Bank was formed in 2007 as the only state-chartered, locally-headquartered and managed bank in Huntsville and Decatur, Al. The initial leadership team, which has over 120 years of combined banking experience, includes four executives who are still with Progress today.

The strength derived from the local network and connections allowed them to merge with First Partners Bank in 2017. With the merger, the company established offices in Birmingham, Vestavia and Destin. After gaining experience in the Destin market, Progress added an additional Florida office in Inlet Beach in 2018.

Due to the continued success of the Florida markets, the Mortgage division expanded to Northwest Florida in 2019 and built a new, full-service office in Inlet Beach and Santa Rosa Beach in 2020. To aid in the growth of their loan portfolio and bridge the gap between Birmingham and Florida, a Deposit and Loan Production Office was opened in Daphne, Al., in 2020, later becoming a full-service branch in May 2021.

The eleven locations and more than 230 employees have helped Progress Bank grow to be one of the strongest in the nation, receiving a 5-star rating from Bauer Financial for consecutive quarters since 2012.

Clint Kirkland is Senior Vice President of Professional and Healthcare Banking. Scott Seeley is Senior Vice President of Business Banking.

What inspired you to work for this company? CK: The people who started Progress Bank inspired me to work here. Several of us had worked together in the past, and I knew it would be something special. It was an easy decision to come on board from day one. Ever since I left a community bank I worked for right out of high school, I had been looking and hoping to find a community bank again. Progress is that perfect fit for me and has been for almost 14 years.

What inspired you to choose this career? SS: When I graduated from college many years ago (1985,) I thought I wanted to work in the investment field or in corporate finance. There weren’t that many jobs in the corporate finance field at that time in Huntsville, as it was much smaller than it is today. So, I spoke with a couple of investment firms, and they told me to go work at a bank and learn who the “money” people were in town. I took that advice but never looked back when I realized banking was a better fit for me. Banking involves learning about a lot of different businesses, getting to know the business owners, and earning their trust. Eventually you gain confidence in the owners’ abilities, and, of course, the financial analysis piece. And while banking definitely has sales elements to it, it is not a fully commission-based industry.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? CK: When my wife, Francy, and I moved to Huntsville in 2000 you could see tumbleweeds rolling downtown from 5 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Monday! The changes not only in the downtown area, but all over Huntsville/Madison County have been numerous--especially in the past five years or so.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? CK: I have always said that Huntsville is just a “big, small town.” Being from a small town, I still need that, but having the convenience and amenities that Huntsville/Madison County has–and continues to add–it’s hard not to love. I am thrilled that our two boys love it here as well. SS: What I tell people about Huntsville is that it has a lot of the advantages of a big city without a lot of the problems of the big cities. Huntsville/Madison County is a great area, and, in my business, I am lucky to be in a market that has done so well. All of us in banking owe the leaders and entrepreneurs of this area a big thank you for helping make our businesses successful.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? SS: There has been a lot of technology that has impacted the banking industry. Much of it is behind the scenes, but customers have benefited from online and mobile banking options, and, because of that, branches aren’t as important to banks as they were back in the day. While you still need branch banking, you certainly don’t need as many of them as you once did. In Lending, we have some technology that has improved our processes, but it is still a relationship business. The basics of banking remain the same–you must establish trust with your customers and be responsive to their needs. n

JPAR Rocket City is a new kind of real estate brokerage in Huntsville - a disruptor, if you will. Using a bold, agent-centric business model we focus on CEO minded agents by providing industry-leading technology, tools, & training - all while maintaining a low flat-fee structure for our agents. The JPAR Rocket City commission structure allows agents to keep their commission, while paying low, flat fees (instead of splits) and still receive a top-notch tech stack with appropriate levels of broker support and marketing.

Ultimately, JPAR Rocket City is here to equip and inspire real estate agents to level-up their business, be relevant and productive in the industry, exceed client expectations, and realize their full selling potential while disrupting the traditional brokerage model.

Our Brand Pillars: Help Agents Level-up their Business; Grow Agent Confidence; Increase Sales and Income; Motivate and Inspire Agents; Build Community with Pizzazz.

What inspired you to choose this career and to start your company? I moved a lot during my eight years of active duty, subsequent DoD Consulting, and civil service career. I bought property in every state I lived. Eventually, I started flipping, became a landlord, opened CILLC Property Management, then forayed into the short-term rental arena. I got my real estate license in 2013. The more experience I gained as an agent; the more I could see the need for a different model of real estate brokerage here. I left my government civil service position back in January 2020, then COVID hit. I took that time to figure out what I wanted to bring to my community, what I wanted for myself, my family. I’ve always been a single mom, worked more than one job at a time, while I put myself through undergrad and grad school. Today, I own three businesses, three houses, have an elementary-aged son, two grown sons, am a Director for Rose’ Society, and a Justice Ambassador for Prison Fellowship Ministries. I got here through sheer grit, perseverance, and a helping hand from a few who believed in paying it forward. My mission is to pay it forward! The industry is changing and with that I wanted to re-envision a business model that makes sense for the agents out here working hard for their clients and understand that they are their business! I’d heard about the JPAR model being wildly successful throughout Texas and several other states. Their commitment to full-service brokerage with 100% commission, low fees, and excellent training and mentorship programs answered my concerns for the changing industry, so I stood up a JPAR franchise in July 2020!

What is the company’s business philosophy? JPAR Rocket City is committed to Service, Productivity and Exceeding Expectations. We embrace our company’s values and encourage an environment of Abundance, Collaboration, Community, Diversity and Fun – all with Pizzazz! We work hard to serve our community – as agents and volunteers – and we have fun doing it together! To us, abundance means success is for everyone, which allows us to collaborate with other companies and industries to drive more awareness of all of our brands and what small businesses bring to the Huntsville area.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? Huntsville was still the US’s best kept secret when I first moved here from the DC Metro area back in 2007. The housing bubble didn’t have the same level of negative impact on our area that we saw happening in most of the nation. It actually stabilized our market in preparation for the growth we are seeing now. Our area continues to grow at an astounding pace. We’re already seeing an increase in the types of job opportunities available, and with that comes the opportunity for new support services – food, entertainment, business ventures, the possibilities are endless and only hampered by our ability to think BIG and creatively!

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? I’ve had some of the best and worst managers in the military, civil service sector, and even with real estate brokers. I’ve learned from all of them! My 30+ years of professional experience and success come from just five precepts: • Mindset makes the Millionaire. • Your Network is your Net Worth. • The best-known beats the best every time. • Your vibe attracts your tribe. • 10X all thinking and actions. Attitude is everything. Focus your physical, financial, mental and spiritual energy on abundance and your relationships. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and put yourself out there – talk with everyone you come in to contact with, bring joy with your smile and demeanor. Plan and take bold decisive actions 10 times bigger than you think is necessary or that you can achieve. n

Valerie L. Cortez

Photo by Steve Babin

3001 9th Ave SW Huntsville 35805 256.692.9795 jparrocketcity.com

Renasant is a 117-year-old bank with humble beginnings in Tupelo, Miss. Headquartered in Tupelo, and one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, the company has grown to more than $15.6 billion in total assets with over 200 offices across seven states. Renasant has had a presence in Huntsville since 2006.

James W. Smith has been at Renasant for more than 10 years and is a Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager in Huntsville. A lifelong native of Huntsville with roots dating back generations, James and his wife, Brandy, have five kids: Ashlyn, Emma Cate, Wyatt, Harrison and Hudson. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and has been in the finance industry for more than 20 years. James was recently involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of North Alabama and is currently involved with the Huntsville Rotary Strive Mentor Program. His hobbies include golf, fishing, hunting, and weekend baseball.

Paul Robinson has been with Renasant for more than 11 years and is a Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager in Huntsville. A native of Huntsville, Paul and his wife, Vanessa, have been married for 27 years and have three kids: Wyatt, Jackson and Lily. He graduated from the University of Alabama and has been in the finance industry for more than 23 years. Paul is involved with various organizations in Madison County, and his hobbies include mountain biking weekly.

What is the company’s business philosophy? Renasant strives to provide quality financial services and advice by first understanding, then meeting the needs of our customers, as well as being good citizens in the communities we serve.

How long have you been in this business? JS: I started my career in banking more than 20 years ago and have been with Renasant since 2010. PR: I have worked in finance/banking for more than 23 years and have been with Renasant since 2009.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? PR: I am a native of Huntsville, along with my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents before me, so I have seen a great deal of positive change and growth over the years. Outside of the infrastructure growth, the change that comes to mind for me is the growth and diversification of businesses and industry sectors. Huntsville has been and is centered around Redstone Arsenal. Along with the diverse government contract companies related to defense and aerospace, the city has expanded its industry sectors into automotive manufacturing, bioscience, medical/health care, and even the entertainment industry. This growth has been exciting to watch and participate in.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? JS: There are so many things to love about Huntsville, which is why it’s consistently ranked as one of the top places to live and retire nationally. With Redstone Arsenal, Research Park, and Toyota to name a few, Huntsville is one of the nation’s leaders in military technology, aerospace, and manufacturing. However, my favorite thing about Huntsville is that it’s known as the “Rocket City” and the famous rocket at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center which you see driving into Huntsville.

James Smith & Paul Robinson

Photo by Steve Babin

200 Westside Square Ste.101 Huntsville 35801 renasantbank.com

James Smith NMLS# 507958 256.382.2841 What business advice would you give to someone starting out? JS: Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek out experienced professionals to help you along the way. CPAs, attorneys, bankers, and other business owners can all provide invaluable advice especially for companies just starting out or going through tough times.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? PR: The growth is providing more opportunities for the citizens of Huntsville, especially in the medical and health care field. Our medical community is much larger than it was when I was a kid. We have doctors and medical professionals from all over the United States and the world who moved here to continue the expansion of our already incredible health care system. I am also excited as the entertainment and recreation opportunities continue to expand. Weekends certainly feel shorter with the new abundance of entertainment options competing for recreation and relaxation time. n

When you take the most seasoned and best-known residential developer in Huntsville and Madison County and partner him with one of the most seasoned 20-plus-year builders in the area, 35 years total, you get a dynamic homebuilding team known as WrEn - Wr - for Jim Wright and En - for Jeff Enfinger. No, it is not about a bird, although they love using the bird and the nest - as everyone needs a “nest” to call home.

Jeff Enfinger, a Huntsville native and the company’s founder, has more than forty years’ experience in residential development as the company’s visionary. Enfinger Development, Inc. is Huntsville’s most prominent developer of award-winning communities. Jeff has a talent for visualizing a community on a tract of land, with such successful communities as Hampton Cove, Clifts Cove, Heritage Plantation, Midtowne on the Park, Mt. Carmel by the River, The Reserve, most recently McMullen Cove and now The Lakes of The Meadows.

Jim Wright, was an officer in the Air Force, a Vietnam veteran and a military father of two boys. He began his home building career while he was stationed at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb. Wright then worked for a top 25 national builder in Houston, Texas, which led to a market leader position in Huntsville, which in turn led to creation of his first successful home building company, Alabama Heritage Homes with partner Collins Pearson. In 2007 he formed Wright Homes and Stoneridge Homes. As the sole owner of both, he quickly became the top local homebuilder in the area, known for his quality, attention to detail and his genuine concern for his clients’ needs. He sold SRH in 2017. However, he could not keep away from his love for homebuilding and serving the area’s homebuyer’s needs, therefore leading to formation of his latest venture with partner, Jeff Enfinger –WrEn.

What is your business philosophy? My homebuilding philosophy has been from the beginning - to provide the customer with the best home possible at the best price possible. I do not believe in “nickel and diming” my clients. That is what is most frustrating currently - our prices continue to increase rapidly, sometimes twice in a day, and we have zero control over them. Our subcontractors are spread so thin and the workforce is so limited, homebuilding has become a very stressful place to be, but I love it. My love for homebuilding is why I was only retired for a year and then came back to form WrEn. I also build under my flagship Wright Homes.

What inspired you to open this business? The reason we opened WrEn - is because we both love what we do - and retirement is just not in our DNA. Jeff loves watching a piece of land take shape into a wonderful community, and I love bringing quality homes to homeowners. A perfect combination.

How long has your company been in business? The company has just had its first full year of operation and has exceeded all of our expectations in regard to sales. We are blessed with a great product to sell, with great land position, a great office staff, great construction staff, great sales staff and great subcontractors. We are both dedicated to “doing the right thing,” and this has built a very loyal following over the years.

You can’t build homes, without great people behind you, in front of you and in the middle of it all.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? We have both seen Huntsville explode, as Jeff has been developing here for 40 plus years, and I have been building here for 22 years. We have both weathered the good times as well as the bad times. Making it through the recession of the 2007-2011 time frame, as a homebuilder and a developer, makes one stronger. You appreciate the good times and know not to take anything for granted. You also know that timing, planning, and controls are the key to staying around through all times.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? Huntsville/Madison County is a wonderful place to call home, to own a business, to raise a family and to just enjoy. It is the best of everything, close to the larger cities of Nashville, Atlanta and Birmingham, close to lake life, hours away from the mountains and the beaches and the quality and cost of living are so desirable compared to other larger metro areas in the South.

Would you like to share your mission statement? WrEn was formed to take best of both worlds and combine forces to provide the homebuyer with the best location, best home, best price possible. We love what we do, and we hope it shows through “how we do it.” n

Jim Wright & Jeff Enfinger

Photo by Steve Babin

8624 Memorial Pkwy SW Huntsville 35802 256.520.2039 wrenhomes.net

Trey Clark, Chris Eng, Christian Tuttle & Eric Grisham

Photo by Steve Babin

1300 Meridian St. #203 Huntsville 35801 888.241.5499 http://verta.tech Verta Technologies is a solutions provider for Audio Visual (AV) and IT hardware/ software products and services. The Verta team designs and integrates custom AVL (Audio, Video, and Lighting) systems for corporate, government, entertainment, and house of worship clients. Verta’s team is made up of a diverse set of talent and backgrounds. When we approach a project, we consider all aspects of the project; everything from the architectural elements, lighting, interior design, workflow, and more to create an enjoyable user experience. Whether it is developing systems for video conferencing or entertaining an audience, we work diligently to create memorable environments that both function and inspire. One way we do this is through partnering with our sister company, OSCO Interiors. OSCO is a commercial furniture dealer and the Steelcase dealer for North Alabama. Verta’s team of AV programmers and AVL experts collaborate with OSCO’s team of interior designers to create truly extraordinary spaces that clients love. Verta’s team gets involved early in projects and partners with the A&D firms to avoid costly mistakes later in a project cycle. Verta’s designers and project managers provide tremendous value to customers this way and take a lot of the stress off the client in the process. Verta aims to create lasting relationships and to be a constant resource for our clients.

Contributed by Christian Tuttle, CTS, Principal CEO:

What inspired you to choose this career? I have always had a passion for audio-video, and I also really enjoy learning about new technology. I like pushing the boundaries of what is possible with technology and creating new ways to use technology. This industry has a wow factor to it that a lot of other industries just lack. Much of what we do is designed to run behind the scenes, but some parts are designed to be awe-inspiring and make connections with people in memorable ways. It’s especially rewarding when we see the confidence in our customers grow when using new technology.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? Huntsville / Madison County is the best place to live and work. It has everything I could ask for in terms of raising a family and growing a business. I am happy with the local leadership and the abundance of talent.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? The future is very bright for the city of Huntsville. I believe it to be a model city that other towns will someday use as a blueprint for their own growth and development. Huntsville has outstanding leadership and is investing in all the right areas; Huntsville is heavily invested in technology and engineering as well as the arts. This is a winning and life-enriching combination that will benefit the citizens of Huntsville for many years to come.

How has technology changed how building/growth works? This is a great question! Technology has changed how we live, work, and communicate and the way markets operate. Typically, companies that invest in technology outperform companies that do not. When companies invest in the right technology, their processes become more streamlined; they are able to increase efficiencies to reduce cost and compete at higher levels. Companies that are open to incorporating technology into their workflow can often absorb market volatilities better than companies that do not have high-tech systems in place. Companies with strong proficiencies in technical systems can adapt to these changes, and their growth is inevitable.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? Verta is constantly testing new technologies as they are released to stay up-to-date on the most innovative solutions available. We are doing a lot of the vetting to find which systems and technology work, so our customers don’t have to. For instance, Verta has shifted to being a completely cloud-managed company. All of our systems that manage our proposal creation, CRM, design platform, project management, and inventory management are cloud-based platforms. Last year, Verta also tackled the challenges of remote working by becoming a certified Zoom Room Integrator. We learned the best ways to deploy video conferencing solutions for enterpriselevel clients.

Would you like to share your company’s mission statement? Verta aims to innovate the way you work through technology and create spaces that inspire and enhance the user experience. n

OSCO Interiors has been helping companies and organizations work smarter by designing offices that inspire since 1967. At OSCO, it is not only about providing a chair or desk, it is about partnering with your company to learn about how you work best. Through their proven process, OSCO experts provide comprehensive solutions for your company – making them far more than just an office furniture supplier. Their extensive selection of office furniture, storage, seating, architecture, technology, and lighting will transform your space from ordinary – to extraordinary. Whether you are a corporate company, a healthcare provider, or even an educational institution, they customize solutions to fit your specific needs. Their experience in workplace design and human ergonomics is invaluable in helping you increase efficiency and productivity with a smarter, more effective office environment.

Andrea Simpson is a licensed architect in Huntsville who transitioned into the furniture industry in 2015. You can now find her at OSCO interiors consulting with architects and owners across North Alabama providing solutions to the many challenges of office interiors and furniture.

In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her family and loving husband, Neville Simpson. Together they enjoy traveling the globe, exploring new cuisines, and Auburn football. They are continued philanthropists of The Boys & Girls Club and Tuskegee University, and believe in supporting the youth of our future.

What inspired you to work for this company? I can’t talk about working for OSCO without mentioning a little bit about the path that got me here. Upon receiving my Bachelor of Architecture degree from Auburn University, I practiced architecture in a traditional setting for 10 years. I was blessed to work for reputable firms such as Gensler and HEERY International in Atlanta, Ga. and GA Studio in Birmingham Al. However, in 2015 while living in Atlanta, I decided I wanted to do something different. The only issue was, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. Architecture, design and construction is all I knew! When presented with the opportunity to be a project manager for a furniture dealership I figured let’s give it a try. That was the start of my furniture career. I moved back to Huntsville in 2017 and immediately knew after meeting the team at OSCO this was the place I wanted to be. The culture and family atmosphere makes coming to work fun and enjoyable every day. As we always say, it’s never a dull day at OSCO.

What is your business philosophy? I understand there are many factors to consider beyond furniture when an organization is thinking about moving or updating an existing space. I specialize in developing case studies, space planning, and workplace solutions that fit the function of each individual client. I strive to educate clients on how a great work environment can promote productivity, wellness and employee retention. We can help any business. I’ve had clients before that will start off by apologizing that they only need two desks and a chair, and their budget is only “X.” That’s okay! You will still get the same service and attention to detail as our major clients. I tell people all the time that no project is too small for us to help you.

How has OSCO incorporated research from its brand partners to assist office clients with better solutions in the post-COVID climate? Many of our office clients are focusing on restructuring their workspaces to accommodate workers returning post-COVID. It is a delicate situation and we have been sharing our research to clients about ways spaces can adapt to increase safety, comfort, and productivity. Business leaders know that the overall office experience and employee contentment tie directly back to the environment. OSCO was curious how environmental needs have changed since the pandemic and how office users can feel more comfortable when returning. We reviewed survey data that was compiled from 32,000 surveys, 8,000 floor plans, and opinions from office users throughout ten countries. We now have a better understanding of not only how to consult our clients on furniture solutions that will allow for their employees to toggle back and forth, but to help in providing options with acoustic and visual privacy.

What is your company’s mission? Everything starts with integrity and hard work which sounds very cliche but it’s our foundation at OSCO. Our leaders have created a culture where everyone is valued and no idea is off the table, no matter who it comes from. We constantly support and encourage each other daily. Additionally, our clients are personal to us. With so many moving parts, planning an office space can be overwhelming and we want to take that off their plate so they can continue to do what they do well, and we can do what we do well. n

Andrea Simpson

Photo by Neville Simpson

OSCO Interiors 1300 Meridian St. #203 Huntsville 35801 Direct: 678.907.6496 oscointeriors.com

Robert Mercer

Photo by Steve Babin

305 Church Street, Suite 805 Huntsville 35801 256.533.1861 chapmansisson.com After receiving his architecture degree over 30 years ago from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Robert visited Huntsville and it was immediately obvious to him how much potential the city offered, and how welcoming its residents were. He confidently decided to make the move across the country and has never looked back. Now as one of the Owners of Chapman Sisson Architects, Robert has built a bond with North Alabama and is grateful for everything this area provides for business and personal success. Robert and his wife Jeanne share a son and a daughter, and two young grandsons who keep them busy in their spare time.

What inspired you to work for this company? The team at Chapman Sisson have always been a family to me. I work in an environment where we all share the same values and goals, and I always feel like coming to work every day. Not only do we care about the success of the company, but we also care about the success of our employees, giving everyone the opportunity to grow professionally at the rate they want.

What do you like best about your job? If you had asked me when I was just starting out, where I would hope to be at this point in my career, I would have said exactly where I am right now. I get an immense amount of satisfaction being able to give back to my community in a way few people do. As an example, I am currently working on the renovation to Joe Davis Stadium, a venue that many in this community grew up with. To be able to take what is now a derelict structure and transform it into something that can again be an iconic venue to another generation of residents is really something special. I have certainly been blessed with the gift of creativity, and I am fortunate to be able to use that gift to affect others in a positive way and make a good living at the same time.

I also work with an amazing group of people who share the same values and interests. From the beginning of the practice, our corporate culture has been based firmly on putting God and people first and being good stewards of everything that we are entrusted with. This has served our company well from its beginning and has formed the backbone of who the company will be moving forward in the future. We have many younger professionals at Chapman Sisson who truly care about their work and their community. They teach me how to look at the business differently, while sharing the same desire to produce a quality product and develop new ways to provide great service to our clients.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? As mentioned earlier, I have had the pleasure of living in Huntsville for the past three decades. The changes that I have seen in the last five years have been substantial and have had such a great impact on the built environment and the way we have positioned ourselves as architects. Our residents are demanding a more sophisticated level of infrastructure and services, which also makes the area attractive to new business. Thanks to great leadership in all aspects of city government along with the formation of groups such as Downtown Huntsville Inc., the city has been able to transform itself to meet the demands surging population, especially young professionals. There have been many successful efforts, especially in our planning and zoning departments to shape growth in an intelligent way that not only allows for smart growth but allows another level of creativity when designing livable communities and spaces.

As the rest of the nation continues to discover what a true gem Huntsville is, its incredible growth comes with a great responsibility and challenges. As we move forward in this busy time, we as architects must never get complacent in our work and always strive to create purposeful and interesting buildings and spaces. We must leave a legacy of innovative design that others will find delightful long after we are gone. There is more talent here in Huntsville, both in the design and development community than there ever has been. It is an exciting time to be an architect in North Alabama.

What is a good piece of business advice would you give to someone starting out? Three important things: 1.) Be humble in all that you do. Success is built with the help from others, not yourself. 2.) Surround yourself with people of integrity. It will benefit you well throughout your career and keep you accountable in challenging times. 3.) Always have respect for the skills and talents of the men and women who build your projects and give them credit when credit is due. You cannot be successful without them. n

Laura Sanderson’s passion for real estate began at the age of 19 when she purchased her first new construction home. At 23, she earned her real estate license and began “flipping” properties with great results. After much prayer and consideration, she and her husband Lynn both decided to leave their corporate jobs, join forces, and pursue their passions together. After 15 years of working part-time alongside many amazing mentors in the field, Laura decided to open her own residential brokerage firm Laura Sanderson Realty, then the Sanderson group – a remodeling and flipping company, and most recently, she was named Associate Broker with Chapman Commercial Realty.

Whether it be buying or selling, Laura will work both sides of the transaction. Because she recently teamed up with Chapman, she can help her clients who own or want to own businesses or big investment properties to do that. She is truly a one stop shop.

What is your business philosophy? My business philosophy is simple. Treat others the way you want to be treated The Golden Rule. If you do this day in and day out your clients and customers will see that and, in my experience, be attracted or drawn to that. All my businesses are referral based. I want to build long term relationships with my clients, and I want to be someone they can trust for information – to feel as if I am as invested in them as they are in the product I am brokering.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? I was born and raised in North Alabama, and I have traveled all over this country. There is no place I would rather be. It is such a beautiful place to live, work, and raise a family. We have something for everyone. Museums, sports facilities, parks, restaurants, concert venues, etc., and there is so much more coming! The traffic here is still amazing compared to other parts of the country and cost of living is still very affordable. We have all the luxuries of a big city, but we are still sprinkled with that Southern charm that is so desirable.

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? I hope to be a part of our growth. I want to help families find the home of their dreams. I want to help turn around old neighborhoods that need a little TLC and make them into beautiful places to live. I want to work with investors and companies that see the potential in our little slice of the South! I want us to become a destination for travel, not just a quick pass-through spot. I was in a meeting recently and saw several slides of the plans for new restaurants, music venues, and even a zoo! That gets me so very excited! Can you imagine? Rockets, Trash Pandas, and maybe even real pandas?

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? Growth is great for our economy. I am of the mindset good people attract good people. If we continue to attract companies that have a great reputation for being good corporate citizens and they invest back into the communities it is a win/win! n

BROKER/Owner Laura Sanderson Realty CO-OWNER-The Sanderson Group ASSOCIATE BROKER – Chapman Commercial Realty

Laura Sanderson

Photo by Steve Babin

2310 Whitesburg Drive Ste 6 Huntsville 35801 256.683.8986 www.laurasandersonrealty.com

Jeanne Allen

Photo by Steve Babin

Legend Realty 3508 Memorial Pkwy Huntsville 35801 Cell 256.337.7615 Office 256.428.3780 jeanne@jeanneallen.com www.findinghuntsvillehomes.com Jeanne Allen is an owner and Broker Associate with Legend Realty. Jeanne has helped her clients navigate the real estate market in Huntsville and Madison County for over 20 years. She is known as “ Your Realtor for Life,” and anyone who has ever worked with her knows she has a genuine love of people and is passionate about getting to know and keeping in touch with the families she serves.

Born and raised in Huntsville, Jeanne taught 1st and 2nd grades for 25 years. She is now having fun selling and listing homes of students and parents of children she taught at Chapman and Monte Sano Elementary. Real estate has combined her passion for helping people with her love of community. The union has proved to be rewarding, both personally and professionally. She and her business partners, Dena and Jim Hoekenschnieder, envisioned opening a small boutique real estate company. They have worked hard to cultivate a familial environment and that camaraderie has helped Legend grow to over 200 agents in less than nine years.

Jeanne is married to Bobby Allen and they have five children, including a wonderful daughter-in-law and son-in-law and three precious grandchildren. She loves her role as “Gigi” and spending time with her family and her pets. Jeanne loves all animals; riding horses, hiking, snow skiing, working in her flower garden and doing anything outdoors. She supports many charities and those supporting animals are especially close to her heart.

What inspired you to get in this business? After I retired from teaching, I still wanted a career where I was helping families and meeting people from all over the United States. Real estate seemed like an industry that fit what I wanted to do in a second career.

I love watching the excitement and happiness on my client’s faces when they move into their new home. I love helping people work through challenges to reach a goal that they have set for themselves. I am always learning, and I do my best to give my clients the highest level of service. We have so many referrals from past clients and that is the BEST compliment we can get from someone.

How has technology changed how your specific company works? Buyers are now much more knowledgeable about the real estate market and the new trends in what is popular and what amenities bring the highest price. Some of my clients will look online and send me the homes they want to view instead of me searching and sending them homes to see. I also think HGTV has had an influence on buyers and sellers.

What impact do you feel real estate professionals have on the growth of this area? I don’t think everyone realizes the research, marketing, negotiating and knowledge that goes into selling or buying a home. As a real estate professional, I guide you through the entire home search or selling process. We market your home, evaluate and negotiate offers, work through inspections, set up closings, as well as making sure purchasers are qualified with a local mortgage lender. We help you through the entire transaction to ensure a successful closing.

What business advice would you give someone starting out? Treat all your clients like family. Remember, the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

What is your business philosophy? I try to exceed my clients’ expectations and go the extra mile for them. We think personal touch and communication are very important, whether you are working with buyers or sellers. My assistant, Paula Wilbourn, is also a licensed REALTOR®, and she is the BEST! We have been friends for over 40 years, and she has worked for me for 10 years. We were both born and raised in Huntsville, so we definitely know the area. But when you love your job and the people you work with, it no longer seems like “work.”

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? I love the people! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming to new families moving into the area. There are plenty of outdoor activities throughout the year and things for kids and young professionals to do. The downtown area has also become more revitalized. n

Senior Preconstruction Estimator Brad Parker was born in Northwest Florida but grew up in a small town near Johnson City, Tenn. He earned a degree in construction science from East Tennessee State University and began work with Robins & Morton in 2008.

Of the many rewarding aspects of his job, Brad specifically enjoys the conceptual aspects of being a Preconstruction Estimator. He is energized by the challenges of taking a conceptual budget and determining how best to allocate those dollars in a way that honors the client’s requirements for functionality, aesthetics, and quality. He also enjoys the variety of projects he works on and is motivated by their importance to the community he loves. Brad and his wife, Jackie, married in 2012 and have lived in Huntsville since 2017. In their time away from work, they enjoy boating, jet skiing, and spending time with the third member of their family, their Australian Shepherd named Cooper.

What inspired you to choose this career? My father was a project manager before moving into education as a professor in the Construction Science program at East Tennessee State University. I grew up familiar with the industry, but my interest in construction actually took root when I was 10, when my father enlisted my help in building our new house. Although my duties were basic, such as sweeping floors and carrying tools, I was fascinated with the process and wanted to learn more. After high school, I worked with Robins & Morton as a laborer before entering college to pursue my degree.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? In my time here, I’ve seen tremendous growth in the region’s population and industry, and I think it’s a trend that’s just beginning. So far, I’ve been happy to see that Huntsville has maintained its small-town culture, and I think that culture will continue to encourage others to make Huntsville their home.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? I love the natural beauty of the land in Huntsville and Madison County. The rolling foothills and numerous lakes remind me of growing up in East Tennessee. What stands out to me more, however, is the hospitality of the area’s residents. As soon as my wife and I moved to Huntsville, people accepted us, invited us into their lives, and made us feel at home.

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? I’m excited about the changes ahead for the region and about Robins & Morton’s role in helping the area grow. Many of my teammates and I live in Huntsville, so we are part of the community and care about our impact and the region’s success. My friends and neighbors ask me about our projects, and I hope our contributions continue to bring excitement as the community grows. I think Robins & Morton’s impact can’t help but be positive because our company values are based on delivering exceptional results on every project and making a lasting, positive impact on clients and communities.

How do you think the enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? There are great economic and social benefits to Huntsville’s continued growth. The city is benefiting from impressive new shopping and entertainment venues, including two of my projects: the recently completed Community Foundation Park and the in-progress Mid-City Amphitheater. As long as the infrastructure can keep pace with the booming growth, I expect Huntsville to find a new identity with a big city draw on par with Nashville and Birmingham. With increasing economic opportunities and social options, Huntsville residents are more likely to stay close and spend their dollars at home, and residents of other areas are more likely to visit Huntsville to check out everything the city has to offer.

How has technology changed how building/growth works? Technological changes in the construction industry have made it easier for builders to keep pace with opportunities in rapidly growing communities such as Huntsville. When I started my career in the industry 13 years ago, builders depended on large sets of paper building plans that were painstakingly assembled and mailed to the many vendors and trade contractors involved in a project. Any changes required new sets to be assembled and distributed. The process was as time-consuming as it was critical to a project’s success. Today, project plans are developed and maintained electronically, with team members accessing them online. Changes are made and distributed rapidly, and questions are asked and answered in a fraction of the time. This new technology saves valuable time and resources while also increasing accuracy and communication so more projects can be accomplished in a shorter time. n

Brad Parker

Photo by Steve Babin

4900 University Square Ste 2 Huntsville 35816 256.428.0200 huntsvillebuilders@robinsmorton.com

At Rachel Brown Homes, a premier custom home builder in Huntsville, their roots are in home building. The Brown family has been in the home building business for more than 30 years. Now led by Rachel Brown, when you build a custom home with them, you receive world-class attention and service that caters to your vision of the perfect home.

As a seven-year-old girl, Rachel Brown started working daily alongside her father, Richard Brown whose highly successful and well-respected company developed new communities and built hundreds of homes for growing families in Northern Alabama. After being exposed to the building trade all her formative years, Rachel attended Auburn University, and after graduation, took on leadership of the business to continue the family tradition of building homes with a purpose: Inspiration.

Rachel Brown Homes embody ease and simplicity in both design and construction. As a working mother, Rachel has a keen eye for detail and an instinct for knowing what families need and want in a home. “You shouldn’t waste time you could enjoy with your family on headaches and inconveniences from a home that doesn’t fit you. Our homes complement both the daily activities and the special occasions in a family’s life.”

What inspired you to choose this career? My father, Richard Brown, was a land developer and home builder. I grew up watching him and my mother own and operate their own business in Huntsville/Madison County. I worked in their business as well. I have always found it fascinating to procure land, improve it, and sell it.

How long has your company been in business? I have been in business for 18 years. Nate, part owner, who joined the Rachel Brown Homes team in April 2021, has also been in this business for 18 years.

What is the company’s business philosophy? We build awesome. We eat, drink and sleep building awesome, all to provide our clientele homes to make memories in. We sign an awesome addendum at contract. We promise high fives and hugs, to listen and to be creative and open-minded, as well as milk and cookies. Not a bad deal for construction.

What changes have you seen during your tenure in Huntsville? We have some amazing community leaders who have worked long hours to grow Huntsville/Madison County beyond “The Rocket City” of the 1950s. We are “The Rocket City on Steroids.” Dale Strong (currently running for United States Congress) is one of these leaders. The last decade in this place I was born and raised in, knocks my socks off. And we are only getting started in growing our communities, culture, food, arts, sports, music and diversity.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? I truly adore the “brilliant minds” that live and work here. So many people from so many backgrounds. It sounds like the beginning of a funny joke- “What do you get when a NASA engineer, an FBI agent and an Army colonel walk into a bar...” But it’s not a joke. It’s Huntsville!!

What changes do you hope to see or hope to affect? Our son, Hudson, is 10 years old. He’s our toughest critic. In a nutshell- if we can continue to impress him with what we can create as a company team (developing, designing, building, construction coaching, rental properties, etc.) stay honest, create the most “awesome-est Roblox-like homes,” and “help pets and people be happier,” I suspect we will leave a legacy for his generation that’s better than when it was passed to us in this blessed community.Rachel Brown Matthews & Nate Matthews

Photo by Steve Babin

2317 Starmount Cir SW Huntsville 35801 256.513.7475 rachelbrownhomes.com What business advice would you give to someone starting out? “Work Hard. Play Hard. Mind Your Teachers” – Richard Brown. Which translates literally to me as: work your tail off, play your tail off and never forget you ALWAYS have more to learn.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? One of my most cherished Marcus Aurelius quotes sums this up best, “Understand that your time has a limit set to it. Use it, then to advance your enlightenment; or it will be gone, and never in your power again.” In other words- the enormous growth in Huntsville/Madison County advances diversity and enlightenment for all, at warp speed. n

Louis Breland is a serial entrepreneur. Since 1975, he has successfully developed or built over 30,000 single family lots and homes. His long career has also included the development and ownership of retail centers, office complexes and self-storage facilities throughout Alabama and the Southeast. Breland Homes, the company that started it all, currently has 15 new residential communities across Madison, Limestone and Cullman counties as well as the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast. Breland’s latest development projects include two master planned mixed-use communities, Clift Farms and Town Madison. Clift Farms is located on Highway 72 across from Madison Hospital and Town Madison is on I-565 in Madison, which features Toyota Field – home of the new Trash Pandas minor league baseball team.

How long have you been in this business? I began my career right out of high school at the age of 17. My brother Buddy and I began building homes and selling lots near our hometown of Pascagoula, MS. We made some mistakes, learned a lot, and met some great people who helped us along the way. Two years later, I moved to Mobile and started Breland Homes.

In 1983, a friend invited me to visit at Huntsville. There was a lot of activity happening here. President Reagan was breathing life back into the military. Money was pouring into Redstone Arsenal and NASA. Needless to say, I was impressed with the area. I saw tremendous opportunity and little competition. It was obvious to me that Huntsville and Madison County were not prepared to support the growth that was headed their way.

Within a week of my initial visit, I decided to move to Huntsville and expand Breland Homes.

How have you stayed active in North Alabama real estate all these years? In any business, but especially the Building and Development business, you get what you put into it…much like life. If you put in greed, you will get out greed. While profit is part of business, I have never been about making a quick buck or cutting corners. All of my projects start with a business plan, but those plans are considered and designed with the community in mind. I must work closely with local government officials and talk with the people to ensure my plans are in the best interest of the community. Sometimes new developments scare people living in adjoining communities – so it is important to listen to and consider their concerns.

Town Madison is a great example of how a new development can truly add value to a community. It not only creates an amazing place to live and work, but also family friendly places to eat and socialize. The Trash Pandas Ball field fulfilled a need for year-round space where the community can meet for a variety of events.

I have always worked hard to consider our regional needs. For instance, there is a real need for new housing in the entire Madison County area. The housing supply has not kept up with the population growth. When designing Town Madison, we included not only apartments but also condos, townhomes and single-family homes. Most mixeduse developments incorporate apartments, but many do not offer people the ability to own. We wanted to address that need.

What changes have you helped to affect? I think some people may think Madison County is just a place where I build and do business, but that could not be more wrong. This is home for me. I have raised my family here, and now, I get to help raise another grandson. I care a great deal about this community and over the years.I have worked to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed.

In 2011 when tornadoes tore through our area, we didn’t just donate money. We delivered food and supplies, helped clear debris and rebuild homes and businesses that were damaged or destroyed. Last year, when the pandemic pushed our hospitals to the limit, we donated over 40,000 meals to our nurses, police and firefighters. We bought all those meals from locally owned restaurants who were struggling to survive due to the lockdowns and restrictions.

Kids to Love, an amazing non-profit that assists foster children, has a special place in mine and Patti’s hearts. As they grew, so did their needs. Over the years, we have donated everything from school supplies to Christmas gifts. In 2015, we were able to donate a facility to them to meet their needs and give them space to grow.

I have been successful because of this community. I want to do everything I can to give back to the region that has allowed me to achieve. n

Louis Breland

Photo by Dennis Keim

2101 Clinton Ave W Ste 201 Huntsville 35805 256.713.3636 brelandhomes.com

John W. Blue & John D. Blue

Photo by Steve Babin

218 Randolph Ave SE Ste B Huntsville 35801 256.705.5475 johnbluerealty.com John Blue Realty is a full service commercial real estate company headquartered in Huntsville, Al., that offers a complete approach to commercial real estate. Since 2000, the company has evolved into a respected leader in leasing; real estate development and construction; property management and asset management. John Blue Realty serves Huntsville and the entire North Alabama region. John Blue Realty’s ongoing commitment to top quality and service affirms the organization’s national reputation for excellence. We are proud that for over three generations our family has been actively involved in the growth and development of Huntsville and Madison County.

Our company’s experience in commercial real estate investment, development, brokerage, and management spans over 75 years of combined real estate experience. In the last four years alone, John Blue Realty has handled over four hundred thousand square feet of office, retail, and industrial inventory, with the acquisition of over three hundred thousand square feet of office buildings and one hundred thousand square feet of retail. Our consulting services combine accurate analysis and sound strategic plans; asset, property management and investment program services are designed to efficiently implement those plans. We offer development services for acquisitions, development, and re-development of investment properties.

What inspired you to open John Blue Realty? JDB: The freedom to own my own organization with no partners to answer to, whereby creating a solid family legacy that can be passed down, contributing to the growth of the city and the surrounding area. JWB: Commercial Real Estate and development has been in our family for several generations. We wanted to continue the legacy.

How long has John Blue Realty been in business? JDB: 21 years

What is the business philosophy of JBR? JDB: Enjoy what you do, think outside the box, and create lasting friendships

What changes have you seen during JBR’s tenure in Huntsville? JDB: Changes – there have been many over the years, and many have contributed to the changes. One dynamic that has brought about change to the city is the word OPPORTUNITIES. From the start with the Big Spring that attracted John Hunt to settle here, to the founding of Redstone Arsenal to the space program and now the opportunities that exist in building a more abundant lifestyle for Huntsville and North Alabama in every sector of our increasing population. JWB: Huntsville has always been a growing city but in the past four years it has absolutely exploded with growth and development. All over buildings are going up, companies are moving to town, government entities are headquartering here, run down areas are being revitalized. It is a great time to be in commercial real estate.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? JDB: In what direction do you wish me to point? Conveniences, the abundance of open spaces, the abundance of water sports, the abundance of the arts, the abundance of friendly neighborhoods, all this and more are convenient to everyone to enjoy. JWB: The people. It is a great city to be a part of. People are friendly and it is an extremely safe place to live. Big things are going on in a smaller city feel.

How do you think the area’s enormous growth will affect its citizens for the better? JDB: It creates more opportunities for every sector, thus stimulating ideas that create more opportunities.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? JDB: I am still a paper man and will continue to be. But the future is going electronic and as we all know this has opened every household and business to every other business and household. This can be very rewarding for the real estate community in so many ways.

What is your company’s mission statement? JDB: Our mission is to continue to learn and build on our past successes, to deliver measurable and reportable progress towards our vision through established and accomplished goal planning and performance. n

Originally from North Alabama, Brad Lowery, Owner/General Manager of SERVPRO of Madison County, attended Hartselle High School where he participated in athletics and led the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes assembly. His passion for serving others guided him towards an appointment at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned his degree in Systems Engineering. After graduation, Brad was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery officer and spent eight wonderful years serving his country in areas of peace and conflict.

Married to his high school sweetheart, Brad and Summer have three beautiful children attending school in Madison County and are very involved with athletics and community activities. Summer also enjoys supporting their local church and community. Currently, she serves the citizens of Madison County as a nurse anesthetist in the Huntsville Hospital Health System.

What inspired you to open/work for this company? The inspiration to own a local SERVPRO is derived from the core values I learned as a young child and the sense of selfless service I learned from the military. A value system of honesty, integrity, duty to country and community, and the joy of helping others in a time of need. SERVPRO’s mission is to embody these principles while being the premier restoration company in North Alabama.

What business advice would you give to someone starting out? In today’s fast-paced world, we are all looking for great customer service, speed of execution, and quality. Service companies that can master these three elements will stand out from their competition. We have completely retooled our process around these three pillars of focus. The customer experience, from the beginning of a project to the final reconstruction walkthrough, is a company-wide focus at every position on our team. We’ve invested in technology that increases efficiencies and reduces the number of days required for restoration as well as improved our training program to ensure our technicians are providing quality work in your home or business. When SERVPRO leaves your home or business after a restoration project, we want you to feel like we eliminated the stress and confusion that often accompanies a tragic event at your property.

How has technology changed how your specific company runs? We have invested in technology that transmits project information to insurance adjusters more quickly and accurately. We now are utilizing 3D software to digitally document large water and fire losses allowing an insurance adjuster to virtually walk through the property and see exactly the extent of the damages. This is important because it allows quick analysis by the adjuster from which we can agree to a scope of work without them ever setting foot in the property. This technology also allows for more accuracy in documentation, inventory of damaged contents and helps the adjuster approve our reconstruction proposal that much faster.

What do you love about Huntsville/Madison County? Huntsville/Madison County is such an incredible place to live, work, and play. The thriving economy, school system, career opportunities and low cost of living are all reasons that companies and individuals continue to flock to the Rocket City! We love the culinary options entering our market and hope more local restaurants continue to invest here in Huntsville. A small-town feel with big-city amenities, Huntsville is an incredible place to make memories and raise a family.

Where do you see SERVPRO focusing in the future? We will remain focused on growing and providing more services for the community. Our reconstruction division is growing with ambitions to expand to commercial customers in the near future. In addition to emergency services, we are looking to grow our contract-based services with apartments, hotels, and commercial customers for routine janitorial work and preventative cleanings.

We are so proud to be helping young men and women better themselves with a career at SERVPRO of Madison County. Our team has the opportunity to serve this wonderful community and its citizens when great customer service, speed of execution, and quality work can help make it “Like it never even happened!” n

Brad Lowery

Photo by Steve Babin

3101 Fresh Way SW Huntsville 35805 256.533.5335 servpromadisoncountyal.com