Initiatives - February 2018

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welcome new chamber members Joined in November 2017

Joined in December 2017

Alabama Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics A-Plus Security Services 9Round Bailey Harris Construction Astro Property Management, LLC Bishop 30 Solutions Bailey Consulting Services Brand PDQ Bobcat of Huntsville, LLC Brookshire Healthcare Building and Earth Sciences, Inc. ComplySafe IT Services, LLC Chuckwagon BBQ Dodge’s Chicken Clear Channel Airport Advertising Drury Hotel Count It Joy Photography Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Covenant Classical School & Daycare - Jones Valley H & M Mechanical Enterprise Legal Solutions, LLC The Harris Firm Fire Pro, LLC The Haskell Company Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC Headshot HSV Huntsville Recovery Hubbard & Drake LeeHouse Homebuilding, LLC JBS Solutions, Inc. Little Orange Fish Corporation Keller Williams - Brooke Brunsvold Massey Technologies, LLC Keller Williams - Deborah Selby Mentor, a Siemens Business Liberty Mutual Insurance Nexinite Lyft, Inc. Noble Chefs Mango’s Caribbean Restaurant Preservation Co., LLC The Moderne at Providence RE/MAX Unlimited Mr. Rooter Rocket City Logistics Old Town Stock House Russ Russell Commercial Real Estate Patriot Services Group Security Defense Solutions and Associates LLC Refuge Church The Select Group Remington Outdoor Company Silver Linings Neurodevelopment Salt on the Rocks Sperry Commercial Global Affiliates/The Andrews Group Scholt Industries, Inc. Stovall Marks Insurance State Farm Insurance - Morgan Breakfield Talecris Plasma Resources Waitr, Inc. Topgolf Huntsville Trinity Performance Solutions Tuff Shed Urgent Team Vision Technology, Inc. (VTI)

If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and the community, the Chamber is the place to start. Contact Donna McCrary, Membership Retention Manager: 256-535-2027 or dmccrary@hsvchamber.org.

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initiatives feb 2018

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

HU N TS VI LLE / M A DI S ON

C OU N T Y

C H A M BE R

DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

REGIONAL PARTNERS

LEADERSHIP FORUM

Huntsville Hospital Madison County Commission Regions Bank

Port of Huntsville Tennessee Valley Authority

ADTRAN, Inc. The Boeing Company City of Madison Landers McLarty Corporation Redstone Federal Credit Union Vertiv

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BBVA Compass • Crestwood Medical Center • Dynetics, Inc. • General Atomics • Lockheed Martin Corporation PNC Bank • SAIC • SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC • Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. • Yulista

CHAMBER TRUSTEES AEgis Technologies Group • Aerojet Rocketdyne • Akima, LLC • All Points Logistics, LLC • Bailey Harris Construction Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama • Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. • First Commercial Bank • Five Stones Research Corporation Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation • Jerry Damson, Inc. • KBRwyle • Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. Northrop Grumman Corporation • PARSONS • Raytheon Company • S3 • Sealy Management Company, Inc. SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center • Torch Technologies

PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus • ASRC Federal Analytical Services • Baron Services, Inc. • BASF Corporation • BB&T • Bill Penney Toyota, Scion & Mitsubishi Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP • Brown Precision, Inc. • Coates Transportation Group • Colliers International • Connected Logistics Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) • Davidson Technologies, Inc. • Google • Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association • IBERIABANK Hexagon US Federal • J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company • Keel Point, LLC • L3 Technologies • LMI • LogiCore The Orthopaedic Center • Progress Bank • Radiance Technologies • Re/Max Alliance • Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc. (DBA Steak Out) SCI Technology, Inc. • SELEX Galileo Inc. • ServisFirst Bank • Turner Construction Company • Wells Fargo Bank • Woody Anderson Ford

PROGRESS INVESTORS 4SITE, Inc. • AECOM • Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. • Amanda Howard Real Estate • Anglin Reichmann Snellgrove & Armstrong, PC • Averbuch Realty Co., Inc. – Scott Averbuch BancorpSouth • Bryant Bank • CB&S Bank • Century Automotive • CFD Research Corp. • CGI Federal • Coast Personnel Services • deciBel Research • Decisive Analytics Corp.

Deloitte LLP • DESE Research, Inc. • Digium, Inc. • Fite Building Co., Inc. • FLS Translation & Interpreting • Fountain, Parker, Harbarger • Garver • HEMSI • Hiley Cars Huntsville Huntsville Botanical Garden • Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau • Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. • INTERFUZE Corp. • Investor’s Resource/Raymond James IronMountain Solutions • Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider • LINE-X, LLC • The Lioce Group, Inc. • LSINC Corp. • MSB Analytics, Inc. • National Bank of Commerce nLogic, LLC • North Alabama Multiple Listing Service • PALCO • PFM Financial Advisors LLC • PHOENIX • PROJECTXYZ, Inc. • QTEC RE/MAX Distinctive – Sandra Lowrey • Renasant Bank • RJ Young Company • S&ME, Inc. • Sierra Lobo, Inc. • Sigmatech, Inc. • Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. Technicolor • Troy 7, Inc. • U.S. Space & Rocket Center • Venturi, Inc. • West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. • Wilmer & Lee, P.A. • Worxtime, LLC A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

feb 2018 initiatives

5

Build.

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Member FDIC

feb 2018

20

coverstory

Local Produce: Big Business Homegrown companies helped to shape Huntsville

25 26 12 13 15 18 32 33 37

Local Produce: Small Business SEA Wire and Cable Inc.; National Scale Technology

and Measurement Specialists, Inc.

e.d.highlights educationnews smallbusiness spacenews workingtogether biosciencebriefs businessspotlight

editorial staff publisher Chip Cherry, CCE editor

4 5 8 10 16 34 38 39

Welcome New Chamber Members HREGI Investors Message from the President | Board Listing Community Profile Best Places to WorkÂŽ Update 2018 Executive Committee & Board of Directors Chamber Staff | Associated Organizations State of the County Address

Claire Aiello editorial designer

Kristi Sherrard contributing writers

Lucy Berry DeButy Devon Elston Lydia Pennington Jennifer Statham Mike Ward ad sales Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org

Tina Blankenship The mission of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth.

HSVchamber.org

tblankenship@hsvchamber.org

Tiffany Miller tmiller@hsvchamber.org

(additional contact information on page 38)

Chamber members: You are encouraged to contribute ideas for our publications, including Initiatives magazine. Please send items to comms@hsvchamber.org.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber maintains editorial control. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Eloise Stanley estanley@hsvchamber.org

feb 2018 initiatives

7

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2018 Executive Committee Gary Bolton, Chair, ADTRAN, Inc. Kim Lewis, Chair-Elect, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Joe Newberry, Immediate Past Chair, Redstone Federal Credit Union

Ron Poteat, Chamber Foundation Chair, Regions Bank Greg Brown, Secretary/Treasurer, Brown Precision, Inc. Kevin Byrnes, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry Relations, Raytheon Company

Alicia Ryan, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs,

A Message from

Chip Cherry

Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders and Friends: We are blessed to live in a dynamic and vibrant community. This issue of Initiatives celebrates one of the keys to our success – locally grown companies. The companies profiled are just a sampling of those that have grown up here and call the Tennessee Valley home. I welcome your suggestions of additional companies to profile in Initiatives. You can either email me, ccherry@hsvchamber.org or Claire Aiello, caiello@hsvchamber.org with your recommendations.

In March, we will publish a special edition magazine, Momentum, focusing on a few game-changing announcements that have taken place recently. The new Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering, announced in the Governor’s State of the State Address on January 9, is one of the topics we will explore at length. The article on page 13 provides a preview of the State’s third Magnet School. Another of the game changers is the ToyotaMazda Vehicle Manufacturing Facility. This is an amazing win for our community, region, and State. We look forward to sharing more details about the teamwork that made these possible and the impact they will have on the region.

Leadership and vision are the keys to success. You see that when reading the stories about our homegrown companies. The same is true of the Chamber. We are successful due to the direction, passion, vision, and engagement of our leadership. They are shown on pages 34 and 35 – we thank them all for making what we do possible.

I have worked in a number of communities during my Chamber career. This community and region are truly special in the way we work together to tackle challenges and seize upon opportunities. When we support the growth of local companies, we all win. When the Arsenal grows, we all win. And when we welcome a new company to the region, we all win. A culture of win-win has been created here as a result of the great work of those who have come before us and those who serve in leadership roles today. In my opinion, the success we are currently enjoying is a direct result of the way our community/region works together and addresses challenges and issues. We should celebrate this unique aspect of our character.

I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon!

Chip Cherry, CCE President & CEO Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

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initiatives feb 2018

LSINC Corporation

Rose Allen, Vice Chair, HREGI, INTERFUZE Corporation Jeff Gronberg, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications, deciBel Research, Inc.

Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Membership, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep

Hank Isenberg, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, IronMountain Solutions

Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, Tennessee Valley BRAC, Sirote & Permut, PC

Penny Billings, Chair-Appointed, BancorpSouth - Huntsville Mark Curran, Chair-Appointed, L3 Technologies, Inc. David Fernandes, Chair-Appointed, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.

Mayor Tommy Battle, Ex-Officio Member, City of Huntsville Mayor Paul Finley, Ex-Officio Member, City of Madison Chairman Dale Strong, Ex-Officio Member, Madison County Commission

Tracy Marion, General Counsel, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison Co. Chamber

Elected Board Mike Alvarez, Venturi, Inc. Bill Bailey, Radiance Technologies, Inc. James Barclay, S3, Inc. Mark Becnel, RadioBro Corporation Blake Bentley, SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center Eric Blackwell, Polaris Industries, Inc. Lynn Collyar, Deloitte LLP Deke Damson, Jerry Damson Honda Acura Dr. Dorothy Davidson, Davidson Technologies, Inc. John Eagan, BB&T Joe Fehrenbach, Mynaric USA Trip Ferguson, U.S. Space & Rocket Center Gene Goldman, BWX Technologies, Inc. Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation Mike Gullion, SCI Technology – a Sanmina company John Hall, All Points Logistics, LLC Steve Hill, AEgis Technologies Group Lee Holland, Turner Construction Company Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. John Jordan, KBRwyle Sean Kelly, Regions Bank David King, Dynetics, Inc. Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Janice Migliore, PALCO Craig Naudain, SAIC Chris Pape, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C. Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Leigh Pegues, PNC Bank Jim Rogers, Lockheed Martin Corporation Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Dr. Gurmej Sandhu, Sigmatech, Inc. Sameer Singhal, CFD Research Corporation Beth Sippel, First Commercial Bank Robert “Bob” Smith, Booz Allen Hamilton Cynthia Streams, Domino’s (Valley Pizza, Inc.) Tim Thornton, nLogic, Inc. Lynn Troy, Troy 7, Inc. Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company Dr. Karockas Watkins, Ability Plus, Inc. Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Dennis Weese, Line-X LLC Danny Windham, Digium, Inc. A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Only hospital in North Alabama* to achieve Healthgrades® America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery™ for 2 years in a row (2017-2018)

*”Region” includes Colbert, Cullman, Dekalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston counties

communityprofile Madison City of County Huntsville

Population

City of Huntsville Madison Metro Area

Top Ten Employers Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,866* Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,129

2010 Census

334,811

180,105

42,938

417,593

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000

2016 Census est.

356,967

193,079

47,959

449,720

Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,079

6.6%

7.2%

11.7%

7.7%

The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,600

% Growth

Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389

Households & Income # of Households

139,949

17,305

172,022

Avg. Household Income $81,399

$74,749 $111,800

$79,060

Per Capita Income

$32,374

$31,793

$33,264

80,000

$46,396

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,229 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 The University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,675 ADTRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,549 Source: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber *includes on-site contractors

Aerospace & Defense Huntsville/Madison County is home to the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center which combine to drive a thriving aerospace and defense technology industry. More than 41,000 people work at Redstone Arsenal and NASA, managing some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs including missiles, aviation, and space exploration.

Research & Technology Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and

For more information, visit:

technology research park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home

hsvchamber.org

and development.

to nearly 300 companies and 26,500 people involved in technology research

BancorpSouth offers a full range of traditional business banking services along with other specialized services to address your financial needs. If you’re looking for one or more specialized services, visit a local BancorpSouth banker today, and let’s grow a relationship together.

For a BancorpSouth location near you, call us at: 1-888-797-7711, or visit our Branch Locator at: BancorpSouth.com/find-a-location

BancorpSouth.com/Business Insurance and Investment products are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not insured by any Federal Agency, not guaranteed by the bank and may go down in value.

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initiatives feb 2018

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

e.d.highlights snap: Red Sage Communications, Inc. took home a major award to close out 2017. The full-service marketing company was honored with an “Alabama Small Business of the Year” award from the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama.

The competition was tough, and the staff at Red Sage said they were honored just to be nominated. The company was selected as the winner of the 1-10 employee category, after out-of-state judges reviewed the company’s professional standards, service quality, and civic engagement. redsageonline.com

Ellen Didier, president of Red Sage Communications

Torch Technologies Named to 2017 Entrepreneur 360 List Torch Technologies was recently recognized as one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur magazine’s Entrepreneur360™ List, a premier study delivering the most comprehensive analysis of private companies in America. Based on this study forged by Entrepreneur, Torch is recognized as a well-rounded company that has mastered a balance of impact, innovation, growth and leadership. Torch ranked #16 out of 360 organizations.

“We are proud to have been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine for our unique approach to innovation, growth, leadership and impact,” says Torch President John Watson. “Our continued success as a 100% employee-owned company can be credited entirely to our invaluable employee-owners. We are fortunate to be a part of a growing group of exceptional people who are loyal, innovative, and kind – they make Torch a wonderful place to work.”

“Our annual evaluation is a 360-degree analysis of top privately-held companies representing and serving a variety of industries,” explains Lisa Murray, Chief Insights Officer of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. “These businesses are real-world case studies for any entrepreneur who seeks to master the four pillars that can greatly impact the longevity and growth of their businesses. With the Entrepreneur 360, success is measured by achieving balance throughout the entire organization, predicated by revenue.”

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initiatives feb 2018

compiled by Claire Aiello

Honorees were identified based on the results from a comprehensive study of independently owned companies, using a proprietary algorithm and other advanced analytics. The algorithm was built on a balanced scorecard designed to measure four metrics reflecting major pillars of entrepreneurship – innovation, growth, leadership, and impact.

For additional details on the E360 List and the companies recognized, visit: entrepreneur.com/360 ∏

Innova Primary Care recognized in Blue Cross Blue Shield Innovation Award Program Innova Primary Care of Huntsville recently won second place in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama’s Circle of Care Innovation Award Program.

The Innovation Award Program recognizes Alabama primary care practices that are taking steps to improve and positively impact the healthcare communities in their region. Participants were judged on cost savings, improved member health, and efficient/effective care.

Innova Primary Care entered practice innovations in several categories: Building Design to Support TeamBased Primary Care, Improving Care through Strategic Partnerships, Developing the Team, and Tracking Technology for Better Patient Care.

“These initiatives aim to improve patient experiences and care through better building design, enhanced team-based care, strategic partnerships, and the implementation of innovative technology,” said a spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

“Our team at Innova appreciates Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama recognizing the work we are doing to improve our guests’ health and disrupt the status quo for Primary Care in our region. There is tremendous opportunity for improvement in our healthcare system, and we are excited about continuing to innovate in 2018,” said Innova Primary Care’s Strategy Director, David Uptagrafft. ∏

Chris Crumbly named VCSI’s new Executive Director The Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation (VCSI) has appointed a new director to revitalize its mission in the new year. In January, the VCSI Board of Directors announced the appointment of Chris M. Crumbly as Executive Director of VCSI. “Chris brings a balanced perspective of industry, academia, and government critical to the collaborative mission of the center and our partners,” said Dave King, VCSI Chairman. “His experience and energy will be a catalyst of change for the organization.”

Crumbly most recently served as Vice President for Business Development, Civil and Commercial Space at Teledyne Brown Engineering. After a 25-year career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), he retired from the Senior Executive Service in 2016 and joined the business community.

While at NASA, Crumbly managed the Space Launch System (SLS) Program’s Spacecraft/Payload Integration and Evolution Office, located at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). In addition to serving in management positions at MSFC, he also served as Special Assistant to NASA’s Deputy Administrator and Senior Space Policy Analyst at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

A native of Rome, Georgia, Crumbly holds both a bach- Crumbly elor’s and master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School. Inducted as an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2016, he speaks on the importance of the space program with audiences ranging from TEDx to school groups and professional societies. ∏ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

educationnews

Third Magnet Gov. Ivey announces new state School of Cyber and Engineering

I

n her 2018 State of the State Address, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced a new state magnet school will be established in Huntsville.

The Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering (ASCE) will provide academically motivated and gifted Alabama students with educational opportunities and experiences in the rapidly growing fields of cyber and engineering.

Governor Ivey will request the legislature appropriate supplemental funding during this fiscal year to begin immediate planning and development for research, strategic planning, and staffing. Additional funding is requested in the 2019 budget for facilities, equipment, and operations with the goal to begin classes with an initial group of students in August 2020. Long term, the school will grow to serve more than 300 students from across Alabama in grades 7-12. Planners are still scouting potential locations for ASCE. “We applaud Governor Ivey’s leadership to create the Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering. Governor Ivey knows first-hand

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

how important education is in shaping young people’s lives and helping them to pursue careers that are rewarding,” said Mike Ward, Senior Vice President of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

Alabama currently has two State magnet schools – the School of Fine Arts in Birmingham and the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile. The Alabama School of Cyber and Engineering will compliment those schools by providing a focused curriculum to help meet the industry and government demand for highly skilled workers in the field of cyber and engineering.

“The community has worked closely with Senator Arthur Orr, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, and Huntsville City leaders to develop and advance this idea,” said Pat Sullivan, Vice President, Cyber Huntsville. “We look forward to the establishment of the ASCE and have great confidence it will serve the State of Alabama in the advancement of educational opportunities and economic growth.”

Claire Aiello

feb 2018 initiatives

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Bridging the world’s post-sales supply chain

WHAT WE DO

THE SOLOMON2 ADVANTAGE POST SALES SUPPORT & REVERSE LOGISTICS PALCO specializes in post-sales managed services (RMA, Life-Cycle Management, and Sustainability) that enable our clients to optimize efficiencies, improve profitability, and deliver exceptional customer experience. PALCO services enable our clients to optimize their businesses by aligning Post-Sales Support models to realize their operational objectives, achieve long-term business goals while reducing risks and lowering total overall costs, and utilize global service deployment strategy maps and optimized methodologies.

PALCO’s approach provides consistent global processes and assures post-sales supply chain predictability.

PALCO

Solomon2 SOLOMON2 is PALCO’s proprietary data acquisition and management software.

This superior technology is designed

INTEGRATION SERVICES

specifically to support and improve post-sales

PALCO offers customers a total solution to their system integration requirements. Products are delivered to you or your customer fully integrated, racked, stacked, cabled, labeled, with OS and custom imaging installed, end-to-end test validation, and extended burn-in.

PALCO also offers white-glove services.

operations. Through SOLOMON2 clients receive actionable, real-time global information.

They also get business intelligence specific

to post-sales supply chain services

MANUFACTURING SUPPORT SERVICES

(RMA, Product Life-Cycle, and Sustainability)

PALCO leverages over 30 years of servicing leading-edge technology. We offer some of the most technically advanced circuit board rework, repair, and ECO implementation in the industry, as well as testing, troubleshooting and repair services that meet precise OEM specifications. Additionally, PALCO performs 3rd party inspection services.

helping them better support the most demanding mission critical service agreements.

www.gotopalco.com | Contact Us: 256-883-6231 or 256-883-3408 | Email: info@palcotelecom.com

smallbusiness

SBDC & PTAC Important resources you need for your Small Business

T

he University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Small Business and Development Center (SBDC) and Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) are two of Huntsville’s best kept secrets that everyone needs to know. Both SBDC and PTAC are part of a national network comprised of thousands of centers. While SBDC focuses on commercial businesses, PTAC focuses primarily on government contracting. The team is highly knowledgeable and skilled, and they’re nestled on the third floor of the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber building waiting to help you start and grow a small business.

Here’s the kicker: it’s free! An extremely valuable service dedicated to helping you establish your own small business is completely at your disposal. I know you’re intrigued!

Foster Perry, right, at one of the recent Professional Development Series events at the Chamber.

Foster Perry leads this amazing group of people as director and senior consultant of both entities. Born in New Jersey, Perry moved around a great deal growing up. He eventually completed his undergraduate studies in California, even spending some time studying abroad in Bangalore, India. Perry obtained his Master’s degree from the Tufts University – Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy in Boston and went on to start his career. After traveling and working all over the world, he decided it was time to settle down. Huntsville was on his short list for good reason. “Huntsville was a very progressive, intelligent city that valued education, and a very wonderful place to raise children,” Perry said.

Aside from his work with SBDC and PTAC, he also teaches International Business at UAH. His vast professional experience and A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

excellent leadership has made both centers the successes they are today.

According to Perry, SBDC’s goal is to support positive economic development in our local area. “Our mission is outreach to the seven counties as best we can to provide free business consulting in areas such as writing a business plan, developing a marketing strategy, or helping people access capital. We also offer training,” he said. From learning how to become a registered government contractor to starting a business in Alabama from the ground up, SBDC specializes in providing the tools you need to be successful.

The SBDC/PTAC team is truly one of a kind. The gatekeeper and primary person of contact is Magdaline Braxton, staff assistant and training coordinator for both centers. Mary Jane Fleming serves as the senior procurement counselor for PTAC. According to Perry, Fleming has a wealth of knowledge and experience with one of the highest success rates of any PTAC in the state of Alabama.

Heather Wright is one of SBDC’s small business counselors. With a strong background in banking, she is very successful in helping clients acquire loans.

With her help, SBDC is on track to have provided around $20 million in capital access assistance for clients by the end of the fiscal year.

What a lot of people may not realize is what SBDC and PTAC do for the community works in conjunction with the Chamber’s mission.

“We are fortunate, because we are located here at the Chamber, that we have developed a really great relationship with the Small Business office. We work hand-in-glove on some training things and are grateful for referrals that we get from the Chamber. We make a point of referring clients of ours to the Chamber for membership or eventual membership when they can afford it,” said Perry.

With the enormous strides the Huntsville area is making in terms of overall growth, SBDC and PTAC are certainly feeling the economic shift. “Our activity level has just grown enormously in the last few years, and that’s reflected in the numbers that we are achieving. Clients are better prepared to either be in business, to know something about government contracting, or to be bankable,” said Perry. “We are now in a situation where we are so busy we’re basically taking appointments with clients anywhere from three to four weeks in advance – there’s a lot of entrepreneurial activity going on in the city now, a lot of startups, and it’s really quite exciting. It’s attracting young people that may have grown up here, left, and have come back.” continued on page 16 feb 2018 initiatives

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initiatives feb 2018

SBDC & PTAC, from page 15 While SBDC and PTAC are here to help with any small business needs that may arise, Perry has some personal words of wisdom for those looking to get started. “My advice would be to really do some very thorough planning and self-analysis so that you are actually ready to start a business. Write down exactly what you are trying to achieve and what it’s going to cost to operate – just some very pragmatic planning. Do a little risk analysis, too. What can go wrong? How much risk is a given person willing to take on?

What’s the best case analysis and worst case analysis?” Perry also advises those interested in starting a small business to work within reasonable means. “Start any business in a lean mode, don’t overdo it in terms of expenses and try to start off as modestly and lean as you can. You really want to find out if the market is going to respond to your product or service. We can help with market analysis and competitor analysis.”

So, if you’re looking to start your own small business, do your research. Organizations like SBDC and PTAC are there to help and answer any questions you may have. “It’s a no-cost resource that exists throughout the United States, and it is a model that has been very successful to the point that other countries around the world are adopting that model. Other than your time, it is a resource that one would be advised to at least sit down and have a chat with us,” said Perry.

You can reach the SBDC by sending an email to sbdc@uah.edu or by calling 256-824-6422. The phone number to PTAC is 256824-6936.

Devon Elston

The Contenders for the 2018 Best Places to Work® Awards will be announced soon.

Keep an eye out for March IO to see if you’re one of them!

Awards Luncheon: Tuesday, April 10 • 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Von Braun Center North Hall Reserve your table today!

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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spacenews

SustainSpace Visiting Huntsville soon as part of Space Exploration Masters prize

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pace is a global industry worth more than $300 billion dollars, and 75 percent of that is commercial. The Rocket City has played a leading role in NASA’s space program since its inception, and many of our assets and resources could be applied to the commercial space sector. To identify the best markets for Huntsville/Madison County, the Chamber commissioned a strategic plan based on our workforce, facilities, and business ecosystem. Three targets were identified: becoming a landing site for Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser space vehicle, leveraging our geospatial expertise, and raising our global profile to encourage recruitment of international aerospace companies.

Initiatives in these target areas are already underway.

Huntsville International Airport is currently applying for landing permits for Dream Chaser, and the Chamber is working with The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Teledyne Brown and the Airport to identify customers for local landings. The geospatial community is being engaged through GEO Huntsville. And the Chamber is sponsoring a competition with the European Space Agency (ESA) to promote The Rocket City within the international space community.

The first of the three-year Space Exploration Masters competition cycle concluded in November. The Chamber and its co-sponsor, Stevenson Astrosat, a Scottish space services company, solicited business ideas that would use the Dream Chaser for purposes beyond cargo transportation. The winner was SustainSpace with its proposal to test the adaptability of plant germination of crops in long-term space missions. The prize package includes a trip to Huntsville sponsored by the Chamber, Huntsville International Airport, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and BizTech. BizTech is also providing business incubation support. This trip is being planned for March.

The Space Exploration Masters competition is the latest ESA program designed to generate business applications for the space

industry. Other competitions are the Copernicus Masters for utilization of earth-observation data and the European Satellite Navigation Competition (formerly the Galileo Masters) for utilization of satellite navigation. Other prizes in the Space Exploration Masters were sponsored by ESA, Airbus, Merck, and Luxembourg. The winners of each prize were finalists for the ESA overall prize, and SustainSpace won! The awards were presented at the NewSpace Europe conference November 16-17, 2017.

“This competition has been a great opportunity for us to promote Huntsville to the global aerospace community in a new way,” said Lucia Cape, the Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development. “We were the first U.S. prize sponsor for an ESA competition, and ESA is now encouraging future prizes to include more U.S. partners.”

For more information on the competition, visit space-exploration-masters.com. To learn more about the Chamber’s winner, visit sustainspace.com.

Stevenson Astrosat is a highly innovative space solutions services company based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Astrosat’s core belief is that any societal, business, or engineering challenge can be solved or supported by space technologies – innovation, cooperation, and technology transfer are the key. A 5-time winner of the Copernicus Masters and European Satellite Navigation Competition and prime contractor on multiple larger ESA, European Commission, and UK Space Agency contracts, Astrosat is now working with Sierra Nevada Corporation and the International Space Station to complement its global customer base. continued on page 28 18

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LO N G

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PA RT

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A M E R I C A’ S C U LT U R A L FA B R I C

470,100

U. S. JOBS

$23 billion

U. S. INVESTMENT

$700 million

CHARITABLE GIVING

For 60 years, our team members have proudly built cars and trucks all across this great country. We are also driven by a commitment to the communities we call home.

Toyota proudly operates 10 U.S. manufacturing facilities in nine states.

Alabama California Indiana Kentucky Mississippi Missouri Tennessee Texas West Virginia

ADTRAN ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering ■ Dynetics

Local Produce

LOCAL PRODUCE ––––– BIG BUSINESS

Homegrown companies helped to shape Huntsville

by Lucy Berry DeButy

It’s no surprise Huntsville/Madison County is one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing communities.

As residents and businesses from across the world flock here, the area is beating out stiff competition for major operations like Toyota-Mazda, Polaris, GE Aviation, and Remington Outdoor.

But what about the companies that were founded here? They were created, they thrived, and they helped shape Huntsville through world-class innovation and by investing in the community and providing jobs to thousands of area workers.

While state and local leaders court new industry, these businesses have sustained nearby towns and linked individuals from all walks of life in business and cultural relationships. They’ve sparked innovation and new growth, building a powerhouse of talent one brick at a time.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is celebrating homegrown companies, the ones that have faced adversity only to enjoy success on the other side. They are the backbone of the community, offering stability in a quickly evolving and uncertain world.

This month, we will feature three of those companies: ADTRAN, Teledyne Brown Engineering, and Dynetics. Each has a unique background that has helped weave the fabric of the community and make Huntsville/Madison County what it is today.

Here are their stories...

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Local Produce, from page 21

ADTRAN’S DNA TIED TO HUNTSVILLE Surviving the ups and downs of the tech industry hasn’t always been easy, but ADTRAN’s mission to make communications faster, simpler and more available has never faltered.

Founded more than 30 years ago by Mark C. Smith and Lonnie McMillian, ADTRAN has led several major technology market pivots in the effort to successfully grow communications globally. As technology moves toward the cloud and virtualized services, Vice President of Global Marketing Gary Bolton said ADTRAN’s desire to bring broadband to all communities is more relevant than ever.

“We want to make sure every community has access to broadband infrastructure because we believe that it is critical to every community’s future,” he said.

Competing against major corporations like Nokia means ADTRAN must continually evolve in the race for new business.

Bolton said Huntsville/Madison County provides the stability ADTRAN’s more than 2,000 employees need to focus on being competitive globally.

The area’s high quality of life, family-oriented environment, and strong STEM base make finding, developing, and retaining top talent much easier than in other high-tech regions, he added.

“We love bringing our customers and key prospects to Huntsville because when people come to Huntsville, they’re fans of our company for life,” Bolton said. “Our DNA is directly tied to the DNA of our community.”

Incorporated in 1985, ADTRAN began operations in 1986 following the divestiture of the Bell System. Mark Smith and his colleagues seized this opportunity to develop innovative and compelling communications solutions for the newly formed Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) and more than 1,300 independent telephone companies in the United States.

The company started with only seven employees, but has grown to be a top-three global provider of broadband access infrastructure with a customer base spanning 68 countries. In addition to Huntsville, ADTRAN also has research and development centers

in India and Germany, and sales and support offices around the world.

This leading global provider of networking and communications equipment keeps its workforce fresh by operating a robust university co-op program, which allows ADTRAN to recruit the top engineering and computer science students to work on exciting projects every other semester as they finish college. The best and brightest of those students often go on to be long-term ADTRAN employees.

“One of the things that’s kept the company successful over the last 30+ years is the versatility and adaptability of our workforce,” Bolton said.

ADTRAN, which operates an 83-acre campus in Cummings Research Park (CRP), applauds the Chamber and City of Huntsville’s efforts to renew the vision of our research park. The new master plan – the first for CRP in four decades – seeks to make the park a vibrant urban center of gravity for high-tech research and development.

Bolton is confident the renewed CRP vision will help recruit new world-class tenants and inspire existing ones to invest longterm in the park.

“The new plan and renovations are very forward-looking in keeping Cummings Research Park one of the top research parks in the nation, so we’re very excited about that,” he said.

TELEDYNE’S LONGSTANDING LEGACY Dr. Wernher von Braun was a champion of space exploration in the 20th century, shaping Huntsville into the sprawling metropolis it is today.

The German aerospace engineer also helped shape one of Huntsville’s most well-known companies: Teledyne Brown Engineering. Conceived to support Von Braun’s surface-to-surface missile for the U.S. Army, Teledyne has assisted virtually every major U.S. space initiative since that time, from Jupiter and the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station, Constellation, and SLS programs.

Teledyne has continued to support NASA, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and the Missile Defense Agency from Huntsville since 1953. Jessica Sanders, director of marketing, communications, and strategic integration, said the company has built upon its experience designing and delivering complex 22

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hardware and systems, while expanding into new sectors such as maritime, geospatial, and energy.

“Many of the systems we provide support NASA and the United States military, and we are honored to be providing solutions that are a part of our nation’s defense and technology advancement,” she said.

With approximately 1,000 employees, Teledyne is building a new manufacturing facility at its Cummings Research Park (CRP) campus to address growing program demands and increase its workforce. Sanders said the company has been in Research Park since its inception because of the ingenuity of two of its early executives, Milton Cummings and Joe Moquin.

As the park is revitalized, Sanders said Teledyne is excited to be part of CRP’s growth. continued on page 24 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Local Produce, from page 22 “We were the first tenant of the Park and are thrilled to see the growth that has occurred not only for the park but its surrounding areas,” she said. “CRP has been a draw for new business and industry for decades, transforming the Huntsville area into a hub for technology and innovation.”

Teledyne’s rich history with space programs has allowed the company to expand into commercial space, beginning with its innovative Multi User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES) platform.

MUSES is the first earth observation platform of its kind to commercialize the International Space Station, Sanders said.

Since launching in June 2017, MUSES has achieved full operating capacity and will host its first payload in the first half of 2018.

Teledyne’s Shallow Water Combat Submersible, the most recent and innovative Navy SEAL delivery vehicle, is now also in the production phase.

“We will be delivering several of these to the government over the next few years,” Sanders said. “We continue to support NASA’s efforts to commercialize the ISS on multiple projects, and we have multiple payloads in orbit.”

In the late 1950s, Teledyne Brown Engineering was located in the Huntsville Industrial Center (HIC building) which was near Dallas Mill. Employees used the larger facilities to continue supporting growing needs of Army and space programs. The company later moved to Sparkman Drive, becoming the first to locate in Cummings Research Park.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AT DYNETICS Dynetics was born into humble beginnings as leaders projected the company’s first business presentation onto a bedsheet in an old chiropractic office in the ’70s.

While many companies would stop there, Dynetics kept going.

The business, founded as a ballistic missile defense and radar systems engineering company, later expanded its skillset to include an array of services for the defense industry.

By 1977, Dynetics had many impressive accolades – a solesource contract with the Missile and Space Intelligence Center and a spot on the cover of Aviation Week, a publication considered the “bible” of avionic solutions.

As Dynetics gained clout in the defense world and began growing its employee base, Manager of Corporate Communications Kristina

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Hendrix said the founders’ love for the Huntsville area remained.

“When we started in 1974, we wanted to support Huntsville/ Madison County and Redstone Arsenal,” she said. “Our people love this area and all it has to offer.”

Dynetics now employs more than 1,500 people in Alabama and eight other states. Headquartered in Cummings Research Park, the company offers highly specialized technical services and a range of software and hardware products in several strategic business areas.

Hendrix said each division and regional office is prospering and seeking new opportunities for existing and potential customers.

Dynetics is currently expanding its Huntsville campus and building a $21 million Aerospace Structures Complex, where they will develop and test large space structures in Decatur.

Building on the success of former Dynetics CEO Marc Bendickson, leader Dave King is working with the company’s employee owners to continually solve complex problems.

“They are now developing hardware for customers across the government,” Hendrix said. “We have won new contracts from DARPA, NASA, and other government agencies.”

Dynetics also recently launched Observation Without Limits, a critical infrastructure company that sells GroundAware, a commercially-available surveillance sensor system. The company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are also experiencing growth.

Hendrix said efforts to improve CRP will carry companies like Dynetics further into the 21st century.

“Dynetics was the first company to open in the west side of the park in the 1980s,” she said. “We are extremely pleased to have a campus within the park for our employee owners to take a product from a concept and design to an operational status.”

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smallbusiness

Niche Market CEO reflects on SEA’s longevity in Madison County

LOCAL PRODUCE ––––– SMALL BUSINESS

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hen President and CEO Marty Clark was hired in 1988 at SEA Wire and Cable Inc., he started out entry level, working in the warehouse while earning his Accounting degree at night. In the early 1980s, the company had expanded from a manufacturer’s representative into a stock and distribution facility for military aerospace wire and cable. Clark stayed with the company and worked his way up through various roles in sales and operations. Now, 30 years later, as Clark begins the new year in the position of CEO, he says he is proud to help run a company which truly invests in its employees and allows for opportunities to develop professionally.

“I think there’s no better way to run a business because there’s nothing here I haven’t done,” said Clark. “I know what it takes to get it done. I view part of my job now as removing obstacles so [employees] can get their job done.”

SEA Wire and Cable, a AS9100 certified company, carries a full stock of mil-spec wire, cable, and related wire harness accessories for aerospace military applications. SEA also offers inventory management, material flow strategies, and custom processing solutions.

SEA was founded in 1970 by Gary Griffin, and he was a manu-

facturer’s representative. In the 1980s, Griffin expanded the company to stock and distribute military aerospace wire and cable.

Now, it has evolved into a logistics and supply-chain management company in the niche market of wire or harness offerings for military and commercial aerospace applications.

SEA Owner Dana Griffin Town joined the SEA team in 1998 as sales support. Town moved into sales, marketing and directing special events, and then eventually inherited the company when her father retired. continued on page 28

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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smallbusiness

Family Business Huntsville sisters run load cell manufacturing company

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isters Lauriellen Stephens and Bethany Ashmore grew up invested in the family business - literally. In their early teens, Lauriellen and Bethany worked together at Dunkin Donuts and saved as much as they could. Their father, Jon Stimpson, borrowed the few thousand dollars the girls saved to start his business, the resale distributor business Measurement Specialist. He specialized in load cells, and it became a family business from the start.

“We were the only kids who knew what a load cell was. It was interesting, and it was fun. Looking back, the stuff that my dad sacrificed and did in order to become a businessman is incredible,” Ashmore said.

The sisters are now co-owners of the Huntsville-based National Scale Technology and Measurement Specialists, Inc. (MSNST) which designs and manufactures standard and custom load cells with additional options and services such as high temperature load cells, specialized calibrations, custom electronics, and PC programming, and systems integration.

As children, the sisters worked as the “shipping department” in the basement of their Connecticut home. During their college

years, they would work summers for the family business doing sales, shipping, and taking orders. Stimpson decided the company would need to expand into manufacturing and bought National Scale Technology located in Huntsville, Alabama.

“My dad started to see that with the internet and the way things were going in the industry that just being a distributor was not going to be enough, that he was going to need to also have the ability to manufacture the product,” Stephens said.

Stimpson moved to Huntsville in 1994. Stephens and Ashmore both moved to Huntsville in 1999 to join the company. Ashmore joined as a Production Manager, and Stephens joined the sales team. The sisters moved up in the company after their father’s retirement, becoming co-owners – with Ashmore serving as Vice President of Manufacturing and Stephens as Vice President of Sales. Their younger brother, John Stimpson, recently joined the company as head engineer.

MSNST has engineers and scale technicians on site, a full machine shop, production line, and a NIST-accredited calibration lab.

The company has capabilities to calibrate in tension up to 450,000

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

LOCAL PRODUCE ––––– SMALL BUSINESS

pounds, and in compression up to 1,600,000 pounds, with temperature ranges available up to 500° F. The company that began in Stimpson’s basement so many years ago now has 35 employees with a revenue between $3 million and $4 million, and with 21 percent growth rate.

“If it’s made, it’s weighed,” Stephens said.

National Scale Technology has worked with aerospace and defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, steel companies such as Nucor, and numerous other industries.

“We are in a community that knows what load cells are. We are in a community that networking is important for us,” Stephens said. “We have a lot of local customers, and it’s great for them.

They can come here, see what we do, and see what our capabilities are, first hand.”

By the way, if you’re wondering what a load cell is, it’s a force transducer which converts a mechanical force into an electrical signal. The change in resistance is measured, and it is directly proportional to the force applied.

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION BW_Initiatives_1/2 Horizontal_Executives_1.12.2018.indd 2

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SustainSpace, from page 18

Plant Germination During Spaceflight to Test for the Adaptability of Crops in Long-term Space Missions Current mission windows, frequencies, and configurations limit the ability to grow and evaluate multiple generations of plants in space. SustainSpace uses the relatively frequent flights of the SNC Dream Chaser and its controlled landing to grow several successive generations of plants in a space environment and produce a rapid evolutionary and selection process. This is an iterative process for rapidly evolving and improving populations of plants in the space environment.

The primary targets are users of life support systems in space but also research institutions, the agriculture industry, and STEM education. SustainSpace uses flight-rated, automated plant growth chambers, such as those already developed for NASA. Benefits: • Crops better suited to space life support; faster growing, improved microgravity adaptation, better CO2 and waste usage • Improved characteristics for future plants grown on Earth in extreme or special conditions • Higher CO2-absorbing plants to reduce climate change

Niche Market, from page 25 Clark says SEA’s longevity in the niche market of mil-spec wire and cable stems from the people from Madison County, like Griffin and Town, who are compelled to invest in their workplace and community long-term to create a “high performance family environment.”

“Our key has been hiring or recruiting the absolute best people we can find. Managing them and making it our goal in life to make them the best that they can be through training and experience and really taking care of our people,” Clark said. “As much as we’ve grown, to a little over 100 people, we still try to maintain a family atmosphere. So you find that while I’ve been here over 30 years, there’s still a handful of people who have been here longer than me, and, our average employee has been here for nine and a half years.”

SEA has grown 47 percent in the last five years, with a steady growth pattern of about 11 percent each year. The company has sales operations in Utah, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, and is headquartered at the more than 80,000-square-foot facility in Madison, Alabama. Most major military defense contractors or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have a presence in Madison County, Clark said.

“What I see in general through all of this is the involvement that people have in this area have in the community – whether it be sports, theatre, or through school involvement – it’s just really the type of people you want to be around because they’re interested in making the community a better place,” said Clark. “That transcends right into the workforce here, where they want this to be the best place possible. You know they’re taking care of their families, they’re involved in their communities. Those are the types of people that you want to be around. The overall mood of people in the Madison County area is positive and above average.”

Jennifer R. Statham 28

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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Dan Halcomb President/CEO Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association

Myra Sanderson Executive Director Habitat for Humanity

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Christopher Madkour Executive Director Huntsville Museum of Art

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workingtogether

International Training Physical therapists work with Chinese Olympic athletes in Beijing

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xcitement is building for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which begin February 9 in South Korea. Three local women will be watching with high interest because of a recent trip that connected them with elite athletes and trainers on the other side of the world.

Sisters Janine Nesin and Michelle Nesin, along with Gwen Murphy of Nesin Therapy Services, P.C. traveled to Beijing, China last August to work with the Chinese Olympic Committee. The trip came after they met an advisor while teaching a class in California, who asked if they were interested in bringing their skills to work with China’s athletes and trainers.

“We never expected to hear anything further about it, but we got the call a few months later to do it,” said Janine Nesin.

The three traveled to Beijing and spent three weeks working with approximately 100 people, including Chinese athletes, trainers, coaches, physicians, and physical therapists. In all, 44 different Olympic training centers from around China sent their medical staff to attend the course.

“It was a wonderful experience to be able to work hands-on with the staff who are treating the athletes, and the athletes themselves,” said Michelle Nesin.

The athletes and trainers were from a variety of sports, including figure skating, skiing, track and field, swimming, golf, badminton, and table tennis.

“It was a lot of fun as a therapist to work with that many different sports – the coaches, the medical staff. You have to make it relevant to the sport they are working in. It was a challenge, but a lot of fun,” said Janine Nesin.

“In the 30 years I’ve been working as a therapist, this is the most fun I’ve ever had,” Michelle added. “It was a huge confidence booster. To go and use our skills at that level was unbelievable.”

Beijing is the world’s second most populous city in the world, and both Janine and Michelle noticed things that stood out.

“It is busy, but overall, the welcome ... they do [hospitality] unlike any other place we’ve ever been,” said Janine. “They talked about how much our visit meant to them, how it improves their

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

flips, the guy next to him is doing pull-ups. They were dancing, singing in the park ... it’s amazing how much their population works on staying active. They use exercise as a social time. Until you’ve seen someone in his 70s doing push ups with a bar – it was unbelievable!”

“Their sense of community, their sense of responsibility to each other, and their sense of health,” Michelle noted, “That was a definite difference for us, to see that sense of community – I would love to see it replicated in the U.S. They have that right.”

Nesin Therapy Services, P.C. has three locations in Huntsville, Madison, and Cummings Research Park. The Madison site will soon move to a new location on County Line Road. For more information, visit nesintherapy.com.

Claire Aiello medical knowledge, how it improves both of our impressions of each other’s country. They pride themselves on hospitality, and they should be proud.”

Michelle noted she wanted to ride bikes, but Janine was hesitant. “They make five lanes of traffic out of a two-lane road when it’s rush hour!” Janine said.

“We felt very safe. There was no place we ever felt unsafe, any time of day,” Michelle added. She noted how the population puts a focus on fitness.

“When we went to the parks, it’s incredible how active people are especially as they get older,” said Michelle. “All of the parks were jam-packed. A guy who’s probably in his 70s or 80s doing

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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VALUE

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Elder Fraud

Caregiving

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biosciencebriefs compiled by Claire Aiello

UAH Hires New Eminent Scholar in Biotechnology Dr. Jerome Baudry has joined The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) as the Pei-Ling Chan Eminent Scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences.

“My goal,” he says, “is to bring the power of computational biology to molecular discovery.” He plans to apply this concept to the discovery of new drugs and the formulation of natural products, and to establish a firm fundamental biophysical description of protein:protein and protein:ligand interactions.

Baudry will conduct research in the field of genomics, proteomics, and pharmacology, and his focus will be on developing and applying methods and protocols for computational drug discovery, both on small molecules and biologicals, through academic, national laboratories, and industrial collaborations.

“Personalized approaches that are tailored for an individual genome/proteome are of particular interest for the future of translational and personalized medicine and pharmacy, and are actively developed in my research,” he says.

“We are excited that Baudry has accepted the position of Pei-Ling Chan Eminent Scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences,” says Dr. Sundar Christopher, dean of UAH’s College of Science. “He brings a wealth of experience in both research and teaching, which will be invaluable to UAH and help diversify and enhance our initiatives in the Department of Biological Sciences.”

Baudry will be involved in the Biological Science Department’s undergraduate and graduate programs, including Baudry its Biotechnology Science and Engineering doctoral program. He will also work closely with the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, whose 150-acre campus is home to genomics technology and genomic investigators with experience in large-scale projects such as the Human Genome Project and the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements Project (ENCODE). ∏

HudsonAlpha’s Annual Double Helix Dash 5K and 1-mile fun run scheduled for April 3 Registration is open for HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology’s annual Double Helix Dash 5K and one-mile fun run. The event, now in its seventh year, winds through the double helix pathway at McMillian Park on the HudsonAlpha campus and raises funds/awareness for HudsonAlpha’s childhood genetic disorders research.

HudsonAlpha scientists will discuss the latest advances in childhood genetic disorders research, including the Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research, or CSER, project. CSER provides the means for DNA sequencing to identify the genetic causes of undiagnosed conditions for children like Jessi Watts of Decatur, Ala. Watts is this year’s Double Helix Dash childhood champion, and was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder that is almost exclusively seen in girls and affects about 1 in 10,000 worldwide.

“Through CSER, we have identified several patients afWatts fected with Rett syndrome,” said Greg Cooper, PhD, HudsonAlpha faculty investigator. “In this population, a molecular diagnosis can lead to more effective clinical management and prognostic accuracy.”

Watts spent 10 years taking seizure drugs that she did not need until HudsonAlpha provided a more precise, clinical diagnosis of Rett syndrome in 2014.

“Because of the diagnosis, we are no longer throwing punches in the dark and fighting this creature that was slowly stealing our daughter,” said Dana Watts, Jessi’s mother. “Jessi totally understands that her life is better thanks to HudsonAlpha, and we are so thankful for the CSER project.”

The Double Helix Dash is presented by HudsonAlpha and the Huntsville Track Club, and Demetria McClenton from WAAY-TV will be the emcee. To learn more and register, visit doublehelixdash.com. ∏ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

2018 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Gary Bolton

vice president, global marketing, ADTRAN, Inc.

Kim Lewis

Joe Newberry

Ron Poteat

Greg Brown

Chair-Elect

Immediate Past Chair

Chamber Foundation Chair

Secretary/Treasurer

Alicia Ryan

Rose Allen

Jeff Gronberg

Frank Williams

Vice Chair – Government & Public Affairs

Vice Chair – HREGI

Vice Chair – Marketing & Communications

Vice Chair – Membership

Mark Curran

David Fernandes

ceo, PROJECTXYZ, Inc.

president/ceo, Redstone Federal Credit Union

Board Chair

Kevin Byrnes

vice president & center executive, Raytheon Company Vice Chair – Economic Development & Industry Relations

president, INTERFUZE Corporation

president, deciBel Research, Inc.

cfo/co-ceo, Brown Precision, Inc.

general manager, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep

Hank Isenberg

Joe Ritch

Penny Billings

Vice Chair – Small Business & Events

Vice Chair – Tennessee Valley BRAC

Chair-Appointed

vice president, army programs/HSV operations, L3 Technologies, Inc. Chair-Appointed

Chair-Appointed

Tommy Battle

Paul Finley

Dale Strong

Tracy Marion

Chip Cherry, CCE

Ex-Officio Member

Ex-Officio Member

Ex-Officio Member

General Counsel

president, IronMountain Solutions

mayor, City of Huntsville

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ceo, LSINC Corporation

north alabama area executive, Regions Bank

initiatives feb 2018

attorney, Sirote & Permutt, PC

mayor, City of Madison

division president, BancorpSouth - Huntsville

chairman, Madison County Commission

attorney, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C.

president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.

president & ceo, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike Alvarez Venturi, Inc.

Bill Bailey

Radiance Technologies, Inc.

Five Stones Research Corporation

RadioBro Corporation

Blake Bentley SportsMED

Eric Blackwell

Lynn Collyar

Polaris Industries, Inc.

Deloitte LLP

John Eagan

Joe Fehrenbach

Trip Ferguson

Gene Goldman

Mike Gullion

John Hall

Steve Hill

Lee Holland

Tharon Honeycutt

John Jordan

SCI Technology, Inc.

Davidson Technologies, Inc.

All Points Logistics, LLC

Bob McCaleb

Dynetics, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Mark Becnel

Dr. Dorothy Davidson

David King

Jim Rogers

S3, Inc.

Deke Damson Jerry Damson Honda Acura

Joni Green

James Barclay

Northrop Grumman Corporation

BB&T

AEgis Technologies Group

Janice Migliore PALCO

Mynaric USA

Turner Construction Company

Craig Naudain SAIC

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

MSB Analytics, Inc.

Chris Pape

Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C.

BWX Technologies, Inc.

KBRwyle

Alana Parker

Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc.

PNC Bank

Dr. Gurmej Sandhu

Sameer Singhal

Beth Sippel

Robert Smith

Cynthia Streams

Lynn Troy

Ken Tucker

Dr. Karockas Watkins

Mike Watkins

Dennis Weese

Danny Windham

Troy 7, Inc.

Sigmatech, Inc.

The Boeing Company

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

CFD Research Corporation

Ability Plus, Inc.

First Commercial Bank

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Line-X, LLC

Regions Bank

Leigh Pegues

Jeff Samz

Huntsville Hospital

Sean Kelly

Domino’s (Valley Pizza, Inc.)

Tim Thornton nLogic, Inc.

Digium, Inc.

feb 2018 initiatives

35

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businessspotlight

Gaining Ground PALCO’s footprint grows on local and global scale

H

eadquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, PALCO continues to experience domestic and international growth. In Q4 2017, PALCO announced the purchase of a 200,000-square-foot Intergraph building, bringing the company’s total footprint to more than 300,000 square feet in Huntsville alone. PALCO also has operations in Penang, Malaysia, Venlo, The Netherlands, and Juarez, Mexico. Currently, the company is finalizing 2018 expansion plans for its Asia-Pacific operation.

Founded in 1986, PALCO bridges post-sales supply chain services for a Fortune 500 global customer base. As an industry-leading post-sales supply chain management company, PALCO focuses on RMA and Life-Cycle Management, Integration, and Manufacturing Support Services for companies and government agencies requiring mission critical support. PALCO, a TL 9000 R6 and ISO 9001:2015 certified company, leverages data analytics, in combination with best-in-class technical capabilities, expertise and techniques, to improve efficiency and process velocity.

“For more than 30 years, PALCO has been committed to Hunts-

ville’s expanding economic and community footprints, ensuring job growth and increased technological knowledge and expertise, while touting the accolades of Huntsville, Madison County, and Alabama,” CEO Janice Migliore said. “Our expansion and increased best-in-class services further exhibit our dedication to the economic growth and workforce development of Huntsville and Alabama. We are here to stay!”

Under Migliore’s direction, PALCO has experienced continued global growth. In December, she was honored as “Top WBE CEOs of 2017” by Women’s Enterprise USA, a leading publication in the arena of women’s business and entrepreneurship. Migliore is among a select group of “visionary women business leaders” chosen for demonstrating “the best and brightest of women-owned business enterprises.”

For more information about PALCO, visit gotopalco.com

Building in the Community for over 60 years

Turner offers clients the accessibility and support of a local firm with the stability and resources of a multi-national organization. We provide: Construction Management

Owner’s Agent

General Contracting

Preconstruction

Design-Build Services

Self-Perform Operations

Turner Construction Company | 336 James Record Road | Huntsville, AL | 256.461.6700

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

HREGI Investor feb 2018 initiatives

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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

STA FF Executive Staff

Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Amy Locke, executive assistant Annette Atchley, resource desk coordinator Gina Gonzalez, resource desk assistant

Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Jill Bruton, workforce development director Erin Koshut, Cummings Research Park director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director Ken Smith, research & information services director Will West, project manager

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Austin Bullock, program manager

Marketing & Communications Claire Aiello, director Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer

Membership Robert Recker, senior vice president, investor relations Donna McCrary, retention manager Kristy Drake, ChamberON & investor relations manager Tina Blankenship, account executive Tiffany Miller, account executive Eloise Stanley, account executive

Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, IOM, vice president Devon Elston, coordinator

Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Kim Savage, accounting specialist – receivables Lori Warner, accounting specialist – payables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber 225 Church Street NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 phone 256-535-2000 | fax 256-535-2015

HSVchamber.org

Associated Organizations

communityfoundationhsv.org

uah.edu/sbdc theschoolsfoundation.org

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initiatives feb 2018

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

2018 State of the County Address at the VBC Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong has good reason to be optimistic about Madison County’s future, and he gave many examples at his State of the County Address on January 11. Chairman Strong updated the Chamber member audience on the status of more than $250 million in road projects currently under construction.

He also handed out wrestling belt awards to Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Chamber President Chip Cherry for their role landing the Toyota-Mazda production plant that will bring 4,000 jobs to the region.

Mike Ward

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

feb 2018 initiatives

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MONEY Magazine’s ®

Best Bank in Alabama (is actually a credit union) MONEY Magazine has named Redstone Federal Credit Union the best bank in the state. As a member-owned financial cooperative, we are much more than a bank. We have a deep commitment to serving our communities and the common good. ®

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800-234-1234 | redfcu.org Must be eligible for RFCU membership and open a share savings account in order to obtain any product or service. A $5 minimum balance required to open a share savings account and must be maintained in share savings account at all times. Fees and other restrictions may apply. ®

This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.