Initiatives - February 2022

FEB 2022

Sponsored by

COVER STORY: FRESH

REBOOT, page 20

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS, page 10 URBAN RENEWAL IN CRP EAST, page 29

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new chamber members HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Become a Chamber Member In addition to investing in the economic growth of the entire region, as a Chamber member, you receive a variety of important benefits: ■ Build business relationships, create partnerships, and grow your business ■ Listing in the online Membership Directory ■ Specially designed professional development programs to grow your talent and strengthen your business ■ Brand exposure through the Chamber’s multimedia platforms to fellow member companies and the region’s business community ■ Priority communications to keep you updated on the latest business news and information impacting your business

Joined in November 2021 Advanced Behavioral Health Alabama Credit Union (Madison Branch) Bailor Group LLC Bomasada Group, Inc. Cinteot, Inc. Colonial Life - Southern States Design Realty Solutions DSLD Mortgage LLC Goodman Decorating Co., Inc. Huntsville Brewers Cooperative Kelly Services Lewis and Son Roofing and Construction, Inc. Main Event Entertainment, Inc Momentum Alumnae Program Inc Nothing Bundt Cakes Peachtree Interior Design Redleaf, Inc. Securitas Security Services USA Sigh Photo Booth Stonehaven Technologies, Inc. Stratton, The Jewelry Company TekFive, Inc. The Covery Tonya Jones SalonSpa TRAX International Corporation Twice Daily / White Bison Coffee WS Mechanical, Inc.

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initiatives FEB 2022

If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and the community, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is the place to start. Contact Crystal Baker, Membership Retention Specialist: 256-535-2039 or cbaker@hsvchamber.org.

Joined in December 2021 1-800-Plumber +Air Huntsville Alabama Closing and Title American Electronic Warfare Associates, Inc. (AMEWAS) BIT Solutions LLC Buffalo Wild Wings Career Center - Mississippi State University Gaylor Electric Huntsville Chem-Dry Jones Carpet Care, LLC Krab Kingz Huntsville Mega Nutrition MH Hospitality Molly Maid of Huntsville, Athens, Decatur AL Monrovia Volunteer Fire Department Office Resources, Inc. Oil Equipment Company, Inc. Orange Beard Films Patricia Haley Charity Penske Truck Leasing Pepper, Johnstone & Co., Inc. Presidential Concrete LLC Schooley Mitchell STOPSO The Brand ArchiTechs The Foundation Coffee House The Naudain Group, LLC The Standard Social Market The Wallace Apartment Homes Trailhead Media, LLC Triangle Capital Group LLC

MEMBERS: Please check out getyourgifton.org to support gift card purchases through our local restaurants and retail stores. It is FREE to list your business there.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

hregi investors HUNTSVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH INITIATIVE

DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

AS OF JANUARY 31, 2022

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) ■ Crestwood Medical Center Dynetics, Inc. ■ General Atomics Electromagnetics Lockheed Martin Corporation ■ Meta ■ Raytheon Technologies SAIC ■ SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Torch Technologies ■ Yulista

CHAMBER TRUSTEES Akima, LLC ■ Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi ■ Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. Five Stones Research Corporation ■ Intrepid ■ Jerry Damson Honda Acura KBR ■ Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram ■ Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. Parsons ■ S3, Inc. ■ Sealy Management Company, Inc. SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center ■ Synovus Turner Construction Company

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus, Inc. ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ Amazon ■ Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. ■ ASRC Federal ■ B.L. Harbert International, LLC ■ Baron Weather, Inc. ■ BASF Corporation ■ BB&T, now Truist ■ Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP ■ Brown Precision, Inc. ■ CFD Research Corporation ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Corporate Tax Advisors Inc. ■ Davidson ■ First Horizon ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. ■ Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) ■ Keel Point,

REGIONAL PARTNERS

LLC ■ Leonardo Electronics US Inc. ■ LSINC Corporation ■ Marsh & McLennan Agency, locally known as J. Smith Lanier & Co. ■ The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ PNC Bank ■ Progress Bank ■ Radiance Technologies, Inc. ■ RE/MAX Alliance ■ Robins & Morton ■ RUAG Space USA Inc. ■ ServisFirst Bank ■ SouthState Bank ■ Steak-Out (Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc.) ■ Venturi, LLC ■ Woody Anderson Ford

PROGRESS INVESTORS Accenture Federal Services ■ Air Essentials, Inc. ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s

LEADERSHIP FORUM

International Realty ■ Avion Solutions ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ Bailey-Harris Construction ■ Bell Textron Inc. ■ BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc. ■ Bryant Bank ■ Cadence Bank ■ Canvas, Inc. ■ CB&S Bank ■ Century Automotive ■ CGI Federal ■ Coast Personnel Services ■ Corvid Technologies LLC ■ deciBel Research ■ Deloitte ■ DESE Research, Inc. ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ FITE Building Company ■ FLS Translation & Interpreting ■ Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC ■ Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC ■ Garver, LLC ■ Hexagon US Federal ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Automotive Group ■ Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau ■ INTERFUZE Corporation ■ Investor’s Resource ■ IronMountain Solutions ■ KODA Technologies Inc. ■ L3Harris ■ The Lioce Group, Inc. ■ MSB Analytics, Inc. ■ nLogic, LLC ■ PALCO ■ PHOENIX ■ Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. ■ PROJECTXYZ, Inc. ■ QTEC Aerospace ■ Quadrus Corporation ■ Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Company ■ Rosenblum Realty, Inc. ■ Schoel Engineering Company, Inc. ■ Sigmatech, Inc. ■ Signalink, Inc. ■ Snelling ■ Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. ■ TriVector Services, Inc. ■ Troy 7, Inc. ■ TTL, Inc. ■ ValleyMLS.com ■ Valor Communities ■ Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties, Inc. ■ Volkert, Inc. ■ Warren Averett, LLC ■ Wilmer & Lee, P.A.

For more information, contact Kristy Drake, Vice President, Investor Relations: 256-535-2036 or kdrake@hsvchamber.org.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

FEB 2022 initiatives

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table of contents INITIATIVES MAGAZINE – FEB 2022

Mission: To prepare, develop, and promote our community for economic growth.

HSVchamber.org

COVER STORY:

FRESH REBOOT

(see staff listing on page 38) Chamber members: You are encouraged to contribute ideas for our publications. Please send items to comms@hsvchamber.org.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber maintains editorial control.

editorial staff publisher Chip Cherry, CCE

pages 20-25 Rejuvenated ASmartPlace ready for new beginnings

feature stories

editor Claire Aiello

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HERE’S TO THE WINNERS |

editorial designer Kristi Sherrard

14

WELCOME ABOARD |

contributing writers

15

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

17

HIGHER LEARNING |

27

CUMMINGS RESEARCH PARK |

29

URBAN RENEWAL |

32

SBA WINNER SPOTLIGHTS |

34

CLOSER TO LAUNCH |

36

INTRODUCTIONS |

Kayla Brown Lucia Cape Lyndsay Ferguson Erin Koshut Deborah Storey Mike Ward

advertising Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org

36th Annual Small Business Awards

Meet our new Small Business VP – Ashley Engles-Ross

Local colleges setting sights on growth for area economy Positive momentum and growth continues 60 years later

New mixed-use development, Arcadia, coming soon to CRP East Kids to Love, Quinton Young, and Redstone Title Services

Space Launch System – Artemis I Update

2022 Chamber Executive Committee & Board of Directors

Jamie Russell jrussell@hsvchamber.org

more for you HUNTSVILLE MADISON COUNTY ALABAMA Military, space, telecommunications, biotechnology, diversified manufacturing, and a variety of emerging specialties provide challenging work in delightful surroundings. The area enjoys a favorable cost of living and quality of life. Mountains, lakes, woodlands, and the Tennessee River accommodate numerous recreational activities.

A temperate climate enhances the season for outdoor sports, including world-class golf, hiking, biking, and fishing. Major concerts, Broadway and symphony performances, extensive permanent collections, and traveling exhibitions contribute to a wonderful way of life.

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NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS | BECOMING A MEMBER | GET YOUR GIFT ON

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HREGI INVESTORS

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT | BOARD LISTING

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ChamberON: A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

19

COMMUNITY PROFILE

26

HREGI PROFILE: CFD Research Corporation with Sameer Singhal

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IT’S AN ELECTION YEAR: Mark these dates on your calendar to vote in 2022

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CAPITAL COMMUNICATIONS: State Agenda & upcoming Montgomery Trip

38

CHAMBER STAFF | ASSOCIATED ORGS

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Inc. 225 Church St NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 • 256-535-2000

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

FEB 2022 initiatives

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a message from chip cherry

Executive Committee & Board of Directors 2022

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Executive Committee

Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders, and Friends: Volunteer leadership is an integral part of the success of our Chamber.

The lead volunteer for 2021 was Jeff Gronberg with deciBel Research, who did an amazing job as Chair during a year where one of the only constants was that the Pandemic kept throwing us curve balls. We are a better organization because of Jeff’s guidance and insights. Thank you, Jeff, for your service, and we look forward to celebrating with you during the Annual Membership Meeting in March!

Our 2022 Board and Executive Committee is comprised of a strong group of women and men who are committed to advancing the work of the organization and building a stronger economy and community on the foundations laid by their predecessors. We show them on pages 36-37, and your Chamber will benefit greatly from their passion, insights and commitment as we engage with our public and private sector partners to serve our members and move our community forward.

Our two- and four-year institutions of higher learning support our region’s foundation to strengthen the local economy. Given the important role these organizations play, we wanted to share some insights into the people who are leading Drake State, Calhoun, UAH, Alabama A&M, and Oakwood.

After reading the article on pages 17-18, I encourage you to engage with one or more of these institutions. They are looking for partners and opportunities for their students to engage through internships.

We are excited to bring back the Montgomery and Washington DC trips!

The Pandemic caused us to miss the Montgomery Trip last year, and the DC Trip the last two years. These are wonderful opportunities to enhance your understanding of legislative and policy issues at the state and federal levels, with a bonus of building your network of connections within Huntsville/ Madison County and the Tennessee Valley. The Montgomery Trip will take place March 8-9, and the DC Trip in early May. Registration for the Montgomery Trip is now open on hsvchamber.org – but this will fill up, so act today.

Great news – our Team is growing! We are excited to welcome Ashley Engles-Ross as our new vice president of Small Business. You can read more about her on page 14. Also, Connor Bradford has joined our Economic Development team as our new project manager, and you can learn more about him in the March edition of Movers & Shakers on our website.

Huntsville Utilities is helping take our veteran recruitment efforts to the next level by providing John Olshefski as a loaned executive. John served as Garrison Commander at Redstone Arsenal from June 2005 to July 2008, and later served on the Huntsville City Council representing District 3. He will work with the Hiring Our Heroes program and with our Workforce team to stand up a program to recruit enlisted women and men to our region as they matriculate into civilian life after active duty. Thank you to Huntsville Utilities for supporting our workforce development efforts.

Thank you for making what we do possible! I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event soon.

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

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HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

initiatives FEB 2022

Greg Brown, Board Chair – Brown Precision, Inc. Lynn Troy, Chair-elect – Troy 7, Inc. Jeff Gronberg, Immediate Past Chair – deciBel Research, Inc. Ron Poteat, President, Chamber Foundation – Regions Bank Jeff Samz, Secretary/Treasurer – Huntsville Hospital Health System Michelle Jordan, Vice Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – TARCOG Sameer Singhal, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Workforce – CFD Research Corporation

Ronnie Chronister, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs – Dynetics, Inc.

Dr. Karockas Watkins, Vice Chair, HREGI – Ability Plus, Inc. Blake Bentley, Vice Chair, Investor Relations – SportsMED Jim Rogers, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications – Lockheed Martin Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, Redstone Regional Alliance – Dentons Sirote PC Jami Peyton, Vice Chair, Small Business – Canvas, Inc. Sean Kelly, Chair-Appointed – Regions Bank Jason Puckett, Chair-Appointed – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Frank Williams, Chair-Appointed – Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram

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

Elected board Ted Baudendistel, INTERFUZE Corporation David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. Penny Billings, BancorpSouth - Huntsville Thomas Busby, SouthState Bank Katie Comer, Meta Tom Conard, The Boeing Company Brett Crain, Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Dr. Patti Dare, Raytheon Technologies Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc. Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group, LLC Owen Franklin, Blue Summit Supplies Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation Ginger Harper, First Horizon Josh Herren, Yulista Jan Hess, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Lee Holland, Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Transcend, The Fearless Co. Lincoln Hudson, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. Tyce Hudson, Turner Construction Company Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions Clint Kirkland, Progress Bank Rich Kretzschmar, Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3) Todd May, KBR Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Craig Naudain, The Naudain Group, LLC Nadia Niakossary, RCP Companies Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Meredith Payne, Davidson Zack Penney, Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi Chris Russell, Cadence Bank Alicia Ryan, LSINC Corporation Beth Sippel, Synovus Wayne Sisco, Redstone Federal Credit Union Tom Stanton, ADTRAN, Inc. Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC Mitch Stevison, Mercury Systems, Inc. Nilmini Thompson, Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. Mark Vaporis, Intrepid Mike Watkins, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama John Watson, Torch Technologies A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Here’s to the 2021 SBA Winners W

e are excited to share photos of winners from the 36th annual Small Business Awards, held on December 1, 2021. Look for profiles on each winner in upcoming issues of Initiatives – beginning in this issue on pages 32-33.

Nonprofit of the Year & Woman-Owned Business of the Year:

Emerging Business of the Year:

Government Contracting – Professional Services Business of the Year:

Professional Services Business of the Year:

Technology Business of the Year:

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award:

Jamie Miller, Mission Multiplier Pictured L-R: Dr. Teresa Orok, executive director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Development, Alabama A&M University; Jami Peyton, Chamber vice chair for Small Business & president of Canvas, Inc.; Jamie Miller; and Dr. Jason Greene, Dean of the UAH College of Business

Young Professional of the Year:

Quinton Young, Huntsville Housing Authority

Service Business of the Year: continued on page 12 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

FEB 2022 initiatives

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Culinary Business of the Year:

Local “Creative” of the Year:

Retailer of the Year:

Government Contracting – Technology Business of the Year:

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initiatives FEB 2022

Medical Practice of the Year:

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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Welcome Aboard Meet our new Small Business VP

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We believe small businesses deserve big benefits.

The challenges of managing a small business today are anything but small. That’s why at Synovus we offer a complete range of products and services specifically designed to address your unique needs. Unlike some banks, small is large in our book.

Find out how we can help you.

e are pleased to announce Ashley Engles-Ross has joined the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber as our new vice president of Small Business. She started in early January and has hit the ground running.

Engles-Ross moved to the Huntsville area in 2013 with her husband, James, and their three children. She served in the Army as a psychiatric technician and met her husband (a retired Army Veteran who served 30 years on active duty) when the two were stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. They moved around, as military families do, to include Fort Hood (Killeen, Texas) and Peterson Air Force Base (Colorado Springs, Colorado).

After moving here, Engles-Ross spent time in defense contracting, and most recently with the Huntsville Botanical Garden, where she worked as director of Institutional Giving. “I was wanting to get more involved in the community, and I loved working there,” she said.

In her new role, she says she is excited to partner with The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Small Business Development Center, which is based at the Chamber. “I’m eager to learn from our members and potential members about what they look to the Chamber for, and see if we can find ways that our current programs can better serve them, or implement new ideas too,” said Engles-Ross.

We asked what attracted her to this role.

“The people are incredible. The Chamber has always been something I’ve been drawn to, in every community – from El Paso to Colorado Springs,” Engles-Ross said. “The Chamber is really invested in the community and helps in a number of ways. I am a social worker by education, but I’ve always leaned toward community organizing and believe the best way to affect change and help individuals is to build up the community. I believe the Chamber is the best way to do it.”

– Claire Aiello

1-888-SYNOVUS | synovus.com

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.

L-R: The Ross family: Jack, James, Amelia, Ashley, and Lillian

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT highlights COMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO

VBC completes $4 million expansion to Propst Arena backstage

The players who coordinate responders to the scene of emergencies are all located in one large operations room, only a few feet from each other, sharing the best technology available. Additional space is available for more public safety agencies from the local universities, Redstone Arsenal, and the HMC Airport Authority.

The Center has spacious indoor and outdoor break facilities, an exercise room, bunk rooms for extended stays due to inclement weather, and a lighted, secure walking track among other amenities. There’s even a quiet room calltakers and dispatchers can use to recover from stressful calls.

There are also technology upgrades throughout the center to ensure HMC 9-1-1 stays on track with how people communicate. For example, 85 percent of calls to the Center come from cell phones.

The Center has implemented Text-to-9-1-1, along with several new caller location platforms. Rapid SOS technology is also in place, which narrows down a caller’s position to a ten-foot square area.

Cyber school construction progressing along The Von Braun Center recently completed a year-long, approximately $4 million expansion to the backstage area in Propst Arena. This marks the first major renovation to the area since it was originally built in 1975.

The original space included one locker room that was often subdivided into two spaces, plus multiple small dressing rooms. Now, the backstage area features six dressing rooms, two private star lounges, four locker rooms, a catering and media room, office space, commercial-grade laundry room, and more. There is a past performer wall with pictures of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Elton John, and others from performances in the VBC, and murals welcoming visiting artists and athletes to Huntsville.

Matheny Goldmon Architects + Interiors and The Highland Group General Contractors led the project, and in the planning phase, spoke with sports teams and live event promoters on what wish list items should be included.

“The intent of the project was to not only bring our backstage spaces up to current sports and entertainment standards, but to surpass the expectations that touring teams and stars come to expect,” remarked VBC Executive Director Steve Maples. “We wanted to give them a ‘Wow’ moment when they enter our facility, give them a reason to not stay on their bus, and ultimately leave a lasting impression that they’ll share with industry peers.”

The Von Braun Center has brought thousands of events to Huntsville through the arena, including top-tier artists like those named above, plus Dolly Parton, the Jackson Five, Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffet, The Eagles, Charlie Pride, Van Halen, Alabama, and Reba, to name a few. It also hosts soldout sporting events, including the SEC Gymnastics Championships, and the annual SEC collegiate basketball game showcasing the University of Alabama’s men’s basketball team during the Rocket City Classic. And let’s not forget hockey -- the VBC Propst Arena is also home to our Southern Professional Hockey League team, the Huntsville Havoc.

9-1-1 Call Center showcase event The Huntsville-Madison County 9-1-1 System hosted a ribbon cutting and open house on January 10 to share a look at its recent state-of-the-art renovations and its new center. The Center houses a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional concept, with seven additional Public Safety Agencies sharing space alongside the 9-1-1 calltakers.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Construction of Huntsville’s new state magnet school is progressing by the day at the corner of Bradford and Wynn drives in CRP. This will be the permanent home of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), and it will be finished by this fall to house students. It is a residential school, with some local commuter students from the Huntsville area, but many from across the state who live on campus during the school year. Students have been temporarily housed at Oakwood University for the past two years while this permanent campus is being built.

Photo courtesy of ASCTE

Huntsville included in panel at SXSW Thank you to everyone who voted for our microgravity panel to be included at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2022! We’re going to Austin on March 13 to make the commercial case for incorporating microgravity into research and development. This is tied to our work to build market demand for landing the Sierra Space Dream Chaser® at Huntsville International Airport, and our session is part of a “space rush” component of the tech industry track. This panel is in partnership with Sierra Space, Rhodium Scientific, and Sustain Space.

Manufacture Alabama recognizes Sec. Canfield Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield recently received the Friend of the Industry award from Manufacture Alabama, and is the first person to receive this honor from the group.

The award was presented on January 11 in Montgomery. The Friend of the Industry award recognizes public officials, community leaders, and industry representatives for their outstanding work that benefits all aspects of the needs of manufacturers. Recipients are those who have made recent significant contributions to the advancement of the manufacturing industry in Alabama.

“Secretary Canfield’s commitment to the manufacturing industry in Alabama and his leadership which results in quality, good-paying jobs embodies what this award is all about,” said George Clark, president of Manufacture Alabama.

Since Canfield’s appointment as the Secretary of Commerce in July 2011, Alabama has attracted economic development projects totaling over $50 billion in new private sector capital investment and 160,000-plus jobs. A significant percentage of those projects were specifically in the manufacturing industry. He has worked closely with multiple companies to establish new operations or expand their presence within the state, spurring growth in the aerospace, automotive, chemical, iron and steel, advance materials and pulp and paper sectors.

FEB 2022 initiatives

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ChamberON

A great way to support your community

M

aking sure that our Chamber members have access to outstanding development and professional programs, business services and events is our top priority. We continue to offer these resources through membership dues and through ChamberON, our annual sponsorship campaign.

By supporting the Chamber through ChamberON sponsorships, your company has a direct impact on the success of our entire community.

Our mission is to prepare, develop, and promote our community for economic growth.

Why participate in ChamberON? The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber has been working for this community since 1894, and a glance through history books will show you how we’ve helped turn a great community into a thriving, progressive, and modern metro. Much of that is because of your support!

ChamberON has value for every type of business and organization – from investing in annual events to

high-impact marketing assets and supporting professional development classes. There are wonderful sponsorship opportunities at every level for companies to receive value from a ChamberON investment. Let us help you grow and promote your business!

This year’s campaign is from March 25– June 30, 2022. We have a highly energized group of ChamberON volunteers who give a tremendous amount of their time to connect with Chamber members who are looking to be more actively engaged in the Chamber’s mission through sponsorship opportunities. For more information, visit hsvchamber.org/ chamberon to connect with these volunteers, or contact Kristy Drake, vice president of Investor Relations with the Chamber, at 256-535-2036.

– Claire Aiello

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Higher Learning

Local colleges setting sights on growth for area economy

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ocal institutions of higher learning that offer training in everything from aerospace to welding are key partners in the Huntsville area’s dynamic economy. Leaders of five local colleges discuss their immediate goals and speculate on what their campuses will be like by 2030.

UAH The University of Alabama in Huntsville hopes to build on an excellent foundation “to provide the necessary workforce and cutting-edge research essential to Huntsville and the surrounding area,” said Interim President Dr. Charles L. Karr.

Specifics include growing the faculty and staff to keep pace with the region’s expansion, increasing enrollment, and providing the types of facilities that are necessary to recruit great people.

“The workforce demands in this community are almost overwhelming,” he said. “We must expand our capacity to help meet these crucial labor needs and requirements.”

To do so, Karr said “we will focus our efforts not only within the university, but also on working collaboratively with government and industry in a variety of areas to ensure Huntsville continues to drive the success of this region and beyond.”

As for 2030, “it is mind-boggling to think about what this region will look like in a decade given the phenomenal and well-planned growth that it has seen in the prior decade,” Karr said. UAH will work with fellow educators for an “ecosystem necessary to support our flourishing community and its citizens.

“At UAH we must continue to produce great graduates and conduct leading research in the areas of engineering and science,” Karr said. “We also need to offer high-quality academic programs across the board in other vital areas as well, including business, nursing, education and the humanities and arts.”

AAMU Dr. Daniel K. Wims, 12th president of Alabama A&M University, said the university will continue to fulfill goals addressed in a 10-year plan set to conclude in 2025. Those include upgrading infrastructure and facilities, securing the financial future, and enhancing the university’s image, recognition, distinctiveness and competitiveness. Others are

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

improving university engagement through expanded outreach and supporting “organizational excellence and stewardship,” Wims said.

New this year, you’ll see a 6,000-seat event center and William Hooper Councill High Memorial Park. A welcome center will offer one-stop access to student-oriented services. Residential and instructional facilities will see upgrades over the next five years.

Academically, AAMU will introduce a range of master’s and doctoral programs, Wims said. Undergraduate and graduate growth areas include psychology/social work and mental health, criminal and social justice, African-American studies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, international agriculture and education.

“Long-term plans include securing Research Level II status, building additional residential living and learning facilities and surpassing the 7,000-student enrollment threshold,” he added.

By 2030, “AAMU will be a leading land-grant, academic and STEM research institution,” Wims predicted.

Oakwood University Oakwood University’s administrative and academic leadership addressed strategic planning at off-site retreats in 2020 and 2021. One of the five goals identified for the next five years, President Dr. Leslie N. Pollard said, is to fully develop the school of graduate studies – particularly its online programs. Doing so “will allow us to serve a greater number of learners locally, regionally, nationally and internationally,” said Pollard.

Oakwood also will complete a new 650-unit housing and mixeduse development on 75 acres, he said, “thus providing affordable homes to many families who now lack the foundational cornerstone of generational wealth for the middle class, providing ownership of their own home.”

continued on page 18 FEB 2022 initiatives

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Using a $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation, the college will expand its ministerial training program to develop clergy leaders competent in community-based diversity and inclusion, community health and social justice.

Long-term goals include a new Health and Wellness Center, expansion of the music building, and “world-class auditorium space for the school’s world-class choir, the Oakwood University Aeolians,” he added.

By 2030, “the Oakwood campus will look like a beehive of faithled academic and technological activity,” said Pollard. “We envision international student cohorts beyond the current 50 countries represented on our campus.”

Calhoun Community College Over the next five years, Calhoun Community College will be working to enhance programs in welding, machine tool technology and aerospace technology, said Interim President Dr. Jimmy Hodges. New studies on the short-term horizon are tool and die injection molding, non-destructive testing, systems engineering and health science expansion.

Plans are underway for a $25 million expansion to house expanded programs, Hodges said. Renovations of the Sparkman building in Cummings Research Park will be complete early this year. Meanwhile, a new dorm in downtown Decatur will “allow students to enjoy the full college experience,” he said.

To meet workforce needs, Calhoun will be working with the Alabama Community College system’s Innovation Center in Decatur to expand rapid training for entry-level positions.

Hodges expects student enrollment to surge as Calhoun begins men’s and women’s basketball programs and women’s volleyball this fall. Athletic events in the renovated Kelley Gymnasium should renew the energy on campus, he said, and expanded theater and music events will enhance downtown Decatur.

“My vision for Calhoun Community College is that we will continue to remain the largest community college in the state and we will continue to grow our career technical and health programs,” Hodges said. “By 2030, our short-term training offerings will be comparable to our AAS degree programs as we continue to develop and train the much-needed workforce for North Alabama.”

College president Dr. Patricia Sims said student outreach and retention efforts include the Caring Campus initiative to provide meaningful connections with students, designing virtual outreach activities to meet challenges presented by COVID-19, and supporting student mental health.

“Drake State is working on developing the one-stop student services model,” said Sims, to enhance the student experience and save on costs. Other priorities are more distance education options, dual enrollment, and added program accreditations.

Drake State’s advanced manufacturing programs have shown to be a major success with high enrollment and demand. Sims hopes to engage DoD and aerospace contractors to use those capabilities and facilities. Plans include a new Advanced Manufacturing and Cyber Security Solutions Center with labs, classrooms, meeting spaces and office spaces, with programs in welding, machine tool technology, engineering design and electrical technology.

By 2030, Sims said Drake State could have labs for veterinary studies, childcare development, nursing and medical assistant skills, and added space for student services and community groups.

– Deborah Storey

Drake State J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College has four priorities for the next several years: serve more students, promote student success, strengthen the curriculum and expand resources and infrastructure.

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

POPULATION

Madison County

City of Huntsville

City of Madison

Huntsville Metro Area

community profile

2010 Census

334,811

180,105

42,938

417,593

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

2020 Census

388,153

215,006

56,933

491,723

15.9%

19.4%

32.6%

17.8%

% Growth

Aerospace & Defense

# of Households

148,189

85,020

18,825

180,332

Avg. Household Income

$88,291

$80,877

$119,683

$86,328

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. Currently, 44,000 people work at Redstone Arsenal and NASA, managing some of the country’s most important and sophisticated technology programs.

Per Capita Income

$36,620

$35,634

$46,151

$34,918

Research & Technology

HOUSEHOLDS & INCOME

As of January 2022

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

Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park (CRP) has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology research park in the U.S., CRP is home to 320 companies and 26,500 people involved in technology research and development.

Top 15 Employers: Huntsville & Madison County U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,000 * Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,352 NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000 The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,048 Hexagon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 Dynetics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,946 SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,746 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,023 University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,979 Northrop Grumman Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,970 Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,800 Polaris Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,500 Source: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

For more information, visit:

hsvchamber.org

*includes on-site contractors

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Rejuvenated ASmartPlace ready for new beginnings

By Lucia Cape, cce

“Further inland, Huntsville, Ala., has long had a ‘smart’ core to its economy – a legacy of its critical role in the NASA ballistic missile program. Today the area’s traditional emphasis on aerospace has been joined by bold moves into such fields as biotechnology.”

F

ifteen years ago, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber launched the first version of asmartplace.com, our workforce recruitment website. Using a slogan developed to support the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, “A Smart Place” captures the essence of the Huntsville metro, then and now, from being named one of the world’s smartest cities by Forbes in 2009 to retaining our ranking of highest concentration of engineers year after year.

And like 15 years ago, Huntsville is booming today, with low unemployment, strong job creation and capital investment, and population growth making us the biggest city in Alabama, years ahead of projections. To help keep this growth going, the Chamber has redesigned its economic development and recruitment websites. These are now on a single site, as we announce the relaunch of asmartplace. com. With this, we will also debut our freshened-up logo, color palettes, and branding.

The new site launched in January after months of working with consultants. The goal was to tell the story of Huntsville to businesses and individuals considering expansion or a move to the region. With two primary tracks – one for site selectors and one for job seekers – the information is organized into four sections: Locate & Expand Here, Economic Overview, Career Opportunities, and Call Huntsville Home.

One reason for updating the site is to support the workforce marketing campaign the Chamber is starting in 2022. Funded by the City of Huntsville, the campaign will drive traffic to the updated website and engage visitors for ongoing communication. It will have two audiences, defined by the 2019 Deloitte Labor Market Analysis for North Alabama. The first audience is talent across the United States that meets the needs of our existing and future employers. The second audience is students across the region and their parents to share

continued on page 23 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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the high-demand careers available to them. Both campaigns will use social media and digital marketing.

The Chamber has been running trial campaigns to test messaging and geofencing parameters during local and national events, like the Space and Missile Defense Conference and the National Space Symposium. Digital and social media ads have featured national rankings, workforce statistics and career opportunities.

The analytics from these campaigns have provided valuable feedback about what generates traffic to asmartplace.com.

The new website will have a Featured Employer section where Chamber members can increase their exposure to job seekers. This sponsorship opportunity will take the place of page sponsors and will allow more companies to promote their open positions.

Talent is one of the top reasons companies locate and expand in the Huntsville metro, and our growth has created even more demand for educated, skilled workers. The Chamber is committed to supporting new and existing companies by attracting more talent into the community and increasing “smart career” awareness among students to ensure we remain ASmartPlace well into the future.

– Lucia Cape, cce

Recruiting Efforts

By Lyndsay Ferguson We have a number of recruiting efforts in the works, and want to update you on several of them:

ASmartPlace for Veterans The Rocket City has always been ASmartPlace for veterans, and we want to ensure they know about it! Connecting transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with the job opportunities in our region is a critical priority for the Chamber and our member companies. Last year the Chamber partnered with Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, to launch the Corporate Fellowship Program in our community and begin to strategically grow our focus on veteran recruitment. This year, we are pleased to welcome John Olshefski as a loaned executive from Huntsville Utilities, who will be supporting our workforce initiatives. John will enhance our veteran recruitment efforts as we establish relationships with transition offices and military installations to share information about the opportunities in our region. Since retiring from active duty service in the U.S. Army as Garrison Commander of Redstone Arsenal, John served on the Huntsville City Council before joining Huntsville Utilities as vice president for Customer Care. We look forward to the expertise and background that John brings, and the impact he will make on this critical effort.

You can contact John at jolshefski@hsvchamber.org.

continued on page 24 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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ASmartPlace on the Road On December 14, ASmartPlace on the Road took a slight detour from its typical format and hosted local students from The University of Alabama for a recruitment event here in the Rocket City. In partnership with the Madison County Chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni Association and 25 local employers, this event welcomed more than 75 current Bama juniors and seniors from Madison, Limestone, Morgan, and Jackson counties to learn about career opportunities in our region.

The event opened with remarks from Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, sharing with students about the opportunities to live, work, and play in the Huntsville region following graduation. Attendees also heard from recent Alabama graduates to learn about what post-graduation life looks like in Huntsville, both in and out of the workplace. “I’m used to seeing the ASmartPlace events being on the road at the chosen school, but this idea of trying to retain north Alabama students locally was a good idea,” commented Brian Wysock, Regional Manager for TTL, Inc. According to the National Association of College & Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2022 report, employers plan to hire 26.6 percent more new graduates from the Class of 2022 than they did from the Class of 2021. Given the competitive labor market, we were excited to showcase why a job in the Rocket City after graduation is ASmartPlace to be.

ASmartPlace for Talent

By Lyndsay Ferguson The Chamber’s Workforce efforts are focused on recruiting and retaining talent in our community.

Looking for a way to engage in these efforts? We have several sponsorship opportunities available:

Featured Employer Our workforce and recruiting website asmartplace.com is THE smart place to build your brand and recruit talent to your company! This website serves as the hub for the Chamber’s Economic Development and Talent Recruitment activities. For job seekers and newcomers to our region, it shows what it is like to live, work, play, and learn in the Huntsville region. Your logo and company will be featured on the Careers page as a Featured Employer, linked to the corporate page of your choice.

Link Up! Link Up! is ASmartPlace newcomer event for those who have recently moved to the Rocket City. The goal of this event is to showcase a variety of organizations to those who are new to our community and looking for ways to plug in – from social events to community services and volunteerism. Link Up! is a great way to explore The Rocket City’s charm and help our newest talent in the region put down roots to proudly call north Alabama home!

Intern Cookout The ASmartPlace Intern Cookout is focused on retaining our summer interns and co-op students. The primary goal of this summertime event is to allow college talent to connect with other early talent while learning about our region and the career opportunities available.

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Huntsville #3 for life quality, #4 for tech job density

Huntsville ranks #5 on Top 10 Places for Career Opportunities in the U.S.

Huntsville leads U.S. in 2021 economic recovery

GO Rocket City!

GO Rocket City! helps those who are new to our community or considering relocation to learn more about the Huntsville region. This video series highlights favorite local spots, events, and activities, the variety of cultures, diversity, and so much more.

The goal of this initiative is to help connect people to our community in an effort to recruit and retain them. Sponsorships are available for the following topics: Tech is our Thing, Music Scene, Sports, Great Outdoors, and Legacy in Space.

ReLaunch Job Fair

Huntsville Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022

Huntsville on 2021 list of Best Places to Live

In collaboration with community partners, this event aims to help bridge the gap between under resourced job seekers and employers. The ReLaunch Job Fair will provide opportunities for individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, are not achieving their full potential, are in need of a second career chance, or are looking to make a career change. The mission of this initiative is to assist local companies in finding capable workers and to empower members of our community by improving their quality of life and financial stability.

Interested in these sponsorship opportunities? Contact Lyndsay Ferguson at lferguson@hsvchamber.org or Kristy Drake at kdrake@hsvchamber.org.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Huntsville is among the Top 20 Best Cities to Start a Career

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INVESTOR PROFILE

Sameer Singhal, President & CEO CFD Research Corporation

Tell us about your company...

CFD Research, an employee-owned company, was founded in my parents’ basement in Huntsville in 1987. Our first major project was the Space Shuttle Challenger Solid Rocket Booster redesign.

It was through this effort, helping NASA return to space, that we began transforming the future through innovative technology solutions. Since our humble beginnings, we have always sought to work on and solve the nation’s toughest problems and make an impact on society. This is reflected in our Vision: Transforming the Future through Innovative Technology Solutions.

What would you like the community to know about your team?

CFD Research is an employee-owned company of 163 highly qualified and technically diverse staff. More than 30 percent of our staff have PhDs, and over 70 percent have an Advanced Degree. Additionally, we have over 25 different technical degrees represented within our staff. Some of the broad areas we serve are: Aerospace, Biomedical, Cyber, Energy, Materials, and Propulsion. Customers include the DoD, NASA, National Institutes of Health, and others.

CFD Research has made a firm commitment to the north Alabama area in the last few years with the purchase of our 45,000-squarefoot headquarters in CRP in 2018, construction of a test facility in Hollywood, Ala., in 2021, and we are currently building a 15,000-square-foot laboratory addition in the back of our CRP building.

What challenges have you conquered during the pandemic?

The pandemic was and still is an ongoing challenge. To say we weren’t prepared for having to transition to 100 percent remote environment would be an understatement. That said, I can’t say enough about our employees’ resilience and perseverance which has allowed our company to continue to execute and grow and thrive despite the disruptions to normal work conditions. Putting a positive spin on this question, the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic has provided an opportunity to demonstrate our core values in action.

Why should companies consider investing in HREGI? Through HREGI, the Chamber is able to step in and fund various studies and projects that are critical in recruiting the large companies to Huntsville and growing our community. This growth leads to more local customers and business opportunities for companies like CFD Research, and it also leads to growth in restaurants, hotels, and events. At the end of the day, all of the growth and positive publicity have made recruiting and hiring that much easier – I never get asked the question, “Why Huntsville?” anymore!

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Cummings Research Park

Positive momentum and growth continues 60 years later

A

ABOVE: Radiance Technologies and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology BELOW: Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. (photo credit: Business Alabama)

s we step boldly into 2022, it’s time to truly begin to celebrate all that has occurred and continues to make Cummings Research Park incredible 60 years later and going strong.

More than 60 years ago today, Huntsville visionaries crafted a concept to create a place where high-tech companies would be located around each other and near a research institute, to generate more cutting-edge solutions to critical missions by co-locating and collaborating with each other that would lead to even greater contributions to our local community. This special place would be known as Huntsville Research Park, and eventually Cummings Research Park.

Companies that we know today as Teledyne Brown, Lockheed Martin, Northrop, and others located in this special place. Those companies grew as the Park grew. Other entities like ADTRAN, Dynetics, and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology established their first presence in the Research Park, and look at how much success they have seen!

Concepts, ideas, and solutions continue to create new companies in the Park at places like BizTech, the I2C at UAH, HudsonAlpha, and Gener8tor at the MidCity District.

Today, amenities abound inside the Park from shops, restaurants, hotels, luxury living, walking trails, and now a world-class amphitheater. And there are even more amenities to come for those who work, live, and learn inside the Park.

Here we sit today, 60 years later, with more than 300 companies, 26,000+ employees, 13,000+ students, more than 200 stores, three hotels, two luxury apartment complexes, and one amphitheater. And we’re not done yet.

Many of the companies who chose to locate in the Park have seen great success – partly because they chose to locate in a place where: research and engineering was at the forefront with UAH; where other companies in similar or like industries had located with success; where companies collaborated and partnered; and where the advancement of a highly-educated workforce from 9th grade through Ph.D. could be cultivated for a company’s success. Companies found Cummings Research Park.

Companies will continue to locate in CRP and be successful in CRP because of our Park’s (any research park’s) recipe for success: a tier-1 Research University, exemplary educational institutions, highgrowth business incubators, and the many high-tech companies all in one place – all in Huntsville, Ala. The only place where all of these conditions exist within one ecosystem: Cummings Research Park.

– Erin Koshut

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

FEB 2022 initiatives

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Urban Renewal

New mixed-use development, Arcadia, coming soon to CRP East

ARTIST RENDERING COURTESY BOBO DEVELOPMENT GROUP & WILLIAMS BLACKSTOCK ARCHITECTS

planning initiative to ensure Huntsville’s CRP is able to meet the evolving needs and demands of the business and research market,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “We look forward to welcoming Arcadia to CRP.” A development like this has been in the plans for some time for the eastern side of CRP, and both were identified in the 2016 CRP Master Plan as a future mixed-use node, as well as in the City’s 2016 Urban Renewal Plan.

“Arcadia has been conceived by developers with purposeful intent,” said Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park.

Koshut added, “CRP East needed to become a more viable and healthy part of the market, as we’ve already seen in developments in the western portion of CRP. Looking at occupancy rates from last year, CRP East was just over 88 percent occupied, whereas CRP West was nearly 98 percent occupied.”

There’s been great focus to revitalize CRP East in recent years through efforts by the City of Huntsville, the CRP Board and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, and the Arcadia announcement is the most recent investment. Others in CRP East announced in the last two years include Orion Amphitheater and Encore in the MidCity district, Northrop Grumman’s investment into 110 Wynn Drive, and the Alabama School for Cyber Technology and Engineering, which will be just across the street from Arcadia. There’s also the Drury Inn on Wynn Drive, and UAH’s purchase of Executive Plaza Office Park on Sparkman Drive, which the university plans to redevelop as a new social heart for campus.

“With the current and projected growth in the Huntsville market, the timing is perfect to introduce the newest project in the community,” stated James Bobo, chief executive officer of Bobo Development Group.

Retail Specialists is developing and recruiting the retail component of Arcadia. “We are excited to begin work on such a significant development in Huntsville,” said Robert Jolly, chief executive officer of Retail Specialists. “Our team looks forward to bringing new restaurant and retail options for the growing area.”

Cummings Research Park is the second largest research park in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world. With more than 300 companies across its 3,843 acres, CRP is well-positioned to connect research and development at every stage in Huntsville.

– Staff Reports

A

new and exciting mixed-use development is coming to 4810 Bradford Drive in Cummings Research Park (CRP) East, and it’s the first of its kind in this section of the park.

It’s called Arcadia, and it is being developed by Bobo Development Group and Retail Specialists at the corner of Bradford Drive and Wynn Drive. You’ll see construction crews officially break ground this spring. In fact, there’s been plenty of activity on site already, as crews just demolished the previous building last week that once housed Catholic High School (shown below).

The mixed-use development will house 12,000 square feet of office space, 7,000 square feet of retail space, and 251 apartment units.

“This development is the result of a comprehensive, strategic

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

FEB 2022 initiatives

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It’s an Election Year!

Mark these dates on your calendar to vote in 2022

T

he political advertisements started long before 2021 had wrapped up, so you probably know some big races are on the ballot this year.

These include several federal, state, and county races.

We encourage you to vote! We’ve shared dates below, so please go ahead and put these on your calendar, and share them with your employees to encourage civic engagement.

Important Dates: Election

Date

Voter Registration Deadline

Alabama Primary

May 24

May 9

Primary Runoff (if necessary)

June 21

June 6

November 8

October 24

General Election

Offices on the Ballot FEDERAL

• U.S. Senate (1 seat) • U.S. House of Representatives (7 seats) STATE

• Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Attorney General • Auditor • Secretary of State • Treasurer • Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries • Alabama State Senate • Alabama State House • Alabama Supreme Court (Places 5 and 6) • Public Service Commission (Places 1 and 2) • State Board of Education (Districts 2, 4, 6, and 8) • Circuit Court Judges (various seats) • District Court Judges (various seats) COUNTY

• Various County Offices Visit madisoncountyvotes.com for more detailed information, including how to register to vote.

Municipal Elections Municipal elections are also scheduled this year. In Huntsville, Districts 2, 3, and 4 will be on the ballot, including City Council and School Board seats for these districts. The municipal election date is August 23.

– Claire Aiello

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Capital Communications

State Agenda & upcoming Montgomery Trip

S

tate government plays a powerful role, though often underappreciated, shaping the conditions that profoundly impact our business and personal lives. The Huntsville metro area’s explosive growth creates a myriad of opportunities and challenges that require engagement and support from the State.

The Chamber produces an annual State Agenda to identify the most pressing issues impacting the continued growth of north Alabama and the Tennessee Valley region. The Chamber Board of Directors approved the Chamber’s 2022 State Agenda at their December monthly Board meeting, prior to the kick-off of the Legislature’s 2022 regular session in January.

Education at all levels continues to be a top priority for the Chamber. While the pandemic has inflicted tremendous hardships on our education systems, students and teachers, it’s imperative that our schools and teachers have the tools and resources necessary to address the challenges that COVID is creating. Many other additional education initiatives will be required to prepare our students to take the jobs of tomorrow.

Workforce development and recruitment is, likewise, a critical focal point for the community’s success. Additional state resources will be requested to bolster these initiatives, as will support for our regional community colleges and universities. Over 70 percent of the graduates of our local universities work in in this region following graduation.

As this region grows, increasing the capacity of this pipeline to meet the needs of local employers will be essential.

COVID has dramatically increased the importance of access to robust broadband internet for business and education purposes and state programs to extend high speed access is imperative.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Access to childcare has been significantly diminished as a result of COVID. State tax credits, accreditation and subsidies will be necessary to give working families the services they require to continue to be part of the labor force.

Expansion of this region’s road infrastructure will be important as we work to maintain our high quality of life, including our relatively short commute times.

Additional areas covered in the Agenda include: Support for Biosciences; Medicaid Expansion; Support for Local Distillers, Brewers and Wineries; Stopping Predatory Lending; providing COVID relief for impacted sectors of the economy; implementing Social and Civil Justice reforms; Support for Huntsville International Airport, and development of the Redstone Exploration Park. Visit hsvchamber.org/state-agenda to read more details.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is grateful to the members of the Madison County Legislative Delegation, Governor Kay Ivey, and the other leaders in state government for their continued support of this region. This healthy partnership with the state will continue to be critical to our region’s success.

The Chamber is planning our annual trip to the State Capital on March 8-9.

Please visit our website to learn more about the trip and to register to join us.

– Mike Ward, cce

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Shining the Light

Kids to Love: Nonprofit, Woman-Owned Business of the Year

O

ne contender at the 36th Annual Small Business Awards, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber on December 1, had double the fun, as Kids to Love took home awards in two different categories: Nonprofit of the Year and Woman-Owned Business of the Year. The team had a big cheering section, and they were ecstatic to hear their hard work had paid off! Kids to Love Foundation has been able to reach over 275,000 foster children. The foundation focuses on rescuing foster children and meeting their needs.

“Our team works really hard to serve children in foster care well, and we were excited for an opportunity to shine a light on our mission and purpose. There are a lot of organizations in Huntsville and Madison County doing great work in our community, so it was an honor to be named a contender among them,” said Founder/ CEO Lee Marshall.

Marshall is a former Emmy-winning television journalist, and founded Kids to Love in March of 2015.

Now heading into year seven, Mar-

shall continues to strive for more in the community of foster care and beyond. Her center is also home to KTECH, a workforce training site for young adults needing a skill set to reenter the workforce, and others who are underserved through traditional constraints of education. KTECH was founded in 2016.

Her foundation also includes Davidson Farms, a 10,000-square-foot facility on more than 25 acres for girls seeking healing from foster care. The program provides a safe, caring home for girls between the ages of 10 and 19 and gives guidance and stability for young girls looking for hope.

“Our work takes us into the trenches and there are a lot of hard days,” Marshall said. “The highs, such as winning awards, are always an encouragement to keep pushing through the lows. I hope that when people see Kids to Love’s name in headlines about awards it makes them curious about the work we are doing so we can invite them along on the journey!”

– Kayla Brown

Doing the Right Thing

HHA’s Quinton Young named 2021 Young Professional of the Year

O

ne category in the Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards that typically turns heads is the Young Professional of the Year award, and in 2021, the honor went to Quinton Young of the Huntsville Housing Authority. The Huntsville Housing Authority administers federal subsidies that support almost 3,000 units of public and other assisted housing. They also work with builders, developers, lenders, and private housing providers to expand affordable housing opportunities in Madison County.

Young said, “For me, this award truly establishes that my hard work and sleepless nights are worth it. I’m constantly told that I am always working and that I need to calm down. This tells me that I should continue trusting myself.”

Young said he plans to obtain more skills and certifications in 2022.

He said winning an award like this will keep him from being complacent in his career goals.

“I want to obtain a certification in nonprofit management, housing counseling, and affordable housing development to expand my knowledge and growth,” he said.

– Kayla Brown

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Team Celebration

Redstone Title Services: Professional Services Business of the Year

W

inning Professional Services Business of the Year at the Chamber’s 36th Annual Small Business Awards was Redstone Title Services, a full-service title insurance agency providing real estate settlement services, title insurance, and title searches across both Alabama and Tennessee. They offer services from pre-closing to closing, and also offer resources to assist clients who have been victimized by fraud or scams, as well as offer up resources for financial assistance.

“It was an honor to even be listed among the other incredible small businesses in the Professional Services category,” said Julia Malueg, operations manager & counsel, of the team learning about the nomination.

Boasting an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, this small business award winner has a lot to celebrate.

After clinching the award on December 1, RedMalueg stone Title Services celebrated by recognizing their people. Winning the award provided an opportunity to recognize the individual contributions their coworkers make every day, which has led them to success.

“It was extremely meaningful to our team to be recognized for

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

their hard work, and the award, which sits in our lobby, has become a source of pride,” said Malueg. “It has also meant increased visibility within our community, reinforcing our organizational belief that it is the employee that makes the difference; not the company.”

– Kayla Brown

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Closer to Launch

Space Launch System – Artemis I Update

L

ater this year, NASA will launch its Space Launch System (SLS) on the inaugural mission of the Artemis program’s journey to the Moon. But before Artemis I takes flight, NASA must take a couple of critical steps to ensure the rocket will be ready to make the journey.

After stacking the Orion atop the SLS rocket, engineers completed several tests to ensure the rocket and spacecraft are ready to roll to the launch pad. These tests included ensuring Orion, the core stage, and boosters can communicate with the ground systems and verification testing to make sure all the pieces of the rocket and spacecraft can power up and connect to the consoles in the Launch Control Center.

During a December core stage power test, engineers identified an

issue with one of the RS-25 engine flight controllers. The flight controller provides precision control of the engine as well as monitoring engine internal health diagnostics. Each engine has a controller and each controller is equipped with two channels so that there is a backup, should an issue arise with one of the channels during launch.

During December testing, channel B of the controller on engine four failed to power up consistently.

After performing a series of inspections and troubleshooting, engineers determined the best course of action was to replace the engine controller, returning the rocket to full functionality and redundancy while continuing to investigate and identify a root cause. NASA is developing a plan and updated schedule to replace the engine controller while continuing integrated testing and reviewing launch opportunities in March and April.

Verification testing of the Interim Cryogenic Propulsions Stage is ongoing along with closeouts of the boosters, and parallel work continues with core stage engineering testing. End-to-end communication testing is underway, and countdown sequence testing will demonstrate all SLS and Orion communication systems with the ground infrastructure and launch control center.

The fully stacked Artemis I rocket will make its public “debut” when NASA rolls the Artemis rocket out of the Vertical Assembly Building (VAB) to launch pad 39B atop the crawler transporter-2 for the “wet dress rehearsal.” This will mark the first time this massive, 322-foot-tall space vehicle, will be shown in all its glory, and it’s expected to happen in mid-February.

During the “wet dress” test, planned approximately a week after arriving at the pad, teams from Kennedy’s Exploration Ground Systems, and contractor Jacobs, will load the rocket with more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants. Then the team will run through the launch countdown sequence, ending prior to engine ignition, testing every aspect of the mission just shy of actually blasting off. Engineers also will demonstrate procedures to drain the propellants from the rocket.

After the test, the rocket and spacecraft will return to the VAB for final checkouts before launch. The current launch estimate, if all goes well during the wet dress test, would be to launch the Artemis I mission roughly a month after the test, possibly March or April.

Artemis I will be a 26-41 day uncrewed mission to the Moon and back.

Check blogs.nasa.gov/artemis for frequent updates.

– Mike Ward, cce LEFT: In this view from high above, the Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis I mission, fully assembled with its launch abort system, is lowered on top of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. (photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux)

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initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

2022 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

36

Greg Brown

Lynn Troy

Jeff Gronberg

Ron Poteat

Jeff Samz

CFO/Co-CEO, Brown Precision, Inc.

CEO, Troy 7, Inc.

President / CEO, deciBel Research, Inc.

Head of Customer Exp., Regions Bank

BOARD CHAIR

CHAIR-ELECT

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

CHAMBER FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

CEO, Huntsville Hospital Health System

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Michelle Jordan

Sameer Singhal

Ronnie Chronister

Dr. Karockas Watkins

Blake Bentley

Executive Director, TARCOG

President & CEO, CFD Research Corporation

Sr. VP - Weapons Technology & Manufacturing, Dynetics, Inc.

CEO/President/Executive Director, Ability Plus, Inc.

CEO, SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center

VICE CHAIR Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

VICE CHAIR, Economic Development & Workforce

VICE CHAIR Government & Public Affairs

VICE CHAIR HREGI

VICE CHAIR Investor Relations

Jim Rogers

Joe Ritch

Jami Peyton

Sean Kelly

Jason Puckett

VP, Army Programs Integration, Lockheed Martin Corporation

Shareholder, Dentons Sirote PC

CEO, Canvas, Inc.

Huntsville Market Executive, Regions Bank

President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama

VICE CHAIR Marketing & Communications

VICE CHAIR Redstone Regional Alliance

VICE CHAIR Small Business

CHAIR-APPOINTED

CHAIR-APPOINTED

Frank Williams

Tommy Battle

Paul Finley

Dale Strong

Chip Cherry, CCE

Owner-Operator, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram

Mayor, City of Huntsville

Mayor, City of Madison

Chairman, Madison County Commission

CHAIR-APPOINTED

EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

initiatives FEB 2022

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ted Baudendistel

David Bier

Penny Billings

Thomas Busby

Katie Comer

Tom Conard

Brett Crain

INTERFUZE Corporation

Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C.

BancorpSouth - Huntsville

SouthState Bank

Meta

The Boeing Company

Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc.

Dr. Patti Dare

Melissa Davis

Kevin Fernandez

Owen Franklin

Joni Green

Raytheon Technologies

Ginger Harper

Josh Herren

MTA, Inc.

Fernandez Financial Group, LLC

Blue Summit Supplies

Five Stones Research Corporation

First Horizon

Yulista

Laura HuckabeeJennings

Lincoln Hudson

Tyce Hudson

Hank Isenberg

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Turner Construction Company

IronMountain Solutions

Bob McCaleb

Craig Naudain

Nadia Niakossary

Alana Parker

Northrop Grumman Corporation

The Naudain Group, LLC

RCP Companies

Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc.

Beth Sippel

Wayne Sisco

Tom Stanton

Synovus

Redstone Federal Credit Union

ADTRAN, Inc.

Jan Hess

Lee Holland

Tharon Honeycutt

Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.

Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC

MSB Analytics, Inc.

Clint Kirkland

Rich Kretzschmar

Todd May

Progress Bank

Integration Innovation, Inc. (i3)

KBR

Meredith Payne

Zack Penney

Chris Russell

Alicia Ryan

Davidson

Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi

Cadence Bank

LSINC Corporation

Transcend, The Fearless Co.

Sandra Stephens

Dr. Mitch Stevison

Nilmini Thompson

Mark Vaporis

Mike Watkins

John Watson

Keel Point, LLC

Mercury Systems, Inc.

Systems Products and Solutions, Inc.

Intrepid

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

Torch Technologies

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

FEB 2022 initiatives

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chamber staff HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

Executive Staff | also Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Nazario, business administration specialist

Economic Development & Workforce Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Lyndsay Ferguson, vice president, workforce Ken Smith, senior director, research & information services Connor Bradford, project manager

Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Joe Watson, facilities supervisor Kim Weeks, accounting specialist – receivables Jennifer Prewitt, event coordinator Stefanie Davis, resource desk coordinator

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Amberly Kimbrough, event specialist

Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI) Kristy Drake, vice president, investor relations

Investor Relations Kristy Drake, vice president, investor relations Tina Blankenship, account executive Richard Bigoney, account executive Jamie Russell, investor relations support & program specialist Crystal Baker, retention specialist

Marketing & Communications Claire Aiello, vice president Hiroko Sedensky, web designer Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Kayla Brown, communications & social media specialist

Small Business Ashley Engles-Ross, vice president

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS

theschoolsfoundation.org

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initiatives FEB 2022

uah.edu/sbdc

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

TRANSFORM YOUR CAREER WITH AN

EXECUTIVE MBA Huntsville EMBA Application Deadline JULY 18, 2022

Tuscaloosa EMBA Application Deadline OCTOBER 21, 2022 emba.ua.edu | 205.348.4501 Dejarvas Kelly, EMBA 2018 Human Resources Manager Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC