Initiatives - August 2020

DEEP ROOTS. WIDE REACH.

BIG IMPACT.

Since first putting down roots in Alabama in 1870, Bradley has grown to serve our clients’ changing needs. With nearly 550 attorneys in 10 offices, Bradley is strategically located across the highest economic growth region of the country – providing timely and costeffective services when and where our clients need us.

Bradley is a national law firm with a global perspective. We represent clients in Huntsville, North Alabama, the U.S. and around the world with critical legal capabilities in a broad range of industries. Clients depend on us for innovative solutions, dependable responsiveness, and a deep commitment to success. Our Huntsville attorneys go above and beyond expectations to help our clients achieve their goals.

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Named U.S. “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law for 2018 & 2020 by U.S. News & World Report

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Represent six of the 10 largest banks and 16 of the 20 largest mortgage servicers in the U.S.

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Handled economic development projects that invested $25 billion and created 30,000+ jobs in 30+ states

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Ranked the 14th largest healthcare law firm in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare

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Attorneys from across all offices listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for 2020

bradley.com | BIRMINGHAM | CHARLOTTE | DALLAS | HOUSTON | HUNTSVILLE | JACKSON | MONTGOMERY | NASHVILLE | TAMPA | WASHINGTON, D.C. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Frank M. Caprio, Esq., 256.517.5142, fcaprio@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 200 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 900, Huntsville, AL 35801. ©2020

Improving lives across the Tennessee Valley

We are the Huntsville Hospital Health System, a team committed to bringing better health care to you and your family.

We’re all across the Tennessee Valley with more resources, more services and more locations — we’re improving lives, together.

Huntsville Hospital Health System includes Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Madison Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospitals, Helen Keller & Red Bay Hospitals, Marshall Medical Centers, Lawrence Medical Center, Russellville Hospital and Lincoln Health System in Tennessee.

welcome new chamber members

Joined in May 2020 Aldez Catholic Center of Concern - Huntsville Chaney Place Townhomes Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers The Hendley Group The High Tech Solution, Inc. HRC INCOSE Jay S Arnold Consulting Kelache Modeling & Talent Development Agency Terminix Three Star Government Solutions, LLC Tom Brown’s Restaurant Unity Psychiatric Care

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.

Joined in June 2020 All Clean Bank of Frankewing bioPure Service Cyburity, Inc.

Deborah Spear, Realtor - Keller Williams Realty - Madison Diversified Edmonds Engineering First Federal Mortgage GTEC, LLC Jetplex Investors a Tennessee Joint Venture Job Impulse, Inc Marblelife of Huntsville Oakwood Farms Market Roadside Plus, LLC We have launched getyourgifton.org – a website to support gift card purchases through our local restaurants and retail stores. Please visit the site and buy a gift card. Also, it is FREE to list your business there. The link to add is at the very top of the site, as well as a link to set up gift cards if you don’t currently offer these.

Rocket City Dance Company, LLC Rocket City Movers of Huntsville Schmitt Consulting Group, LLC South Huntsville Neighbors Trigon Cyber, Inc. Trojan Environmental Services Wildwood Electronics, Inc.

AS OF JULY 16, 2020

INVESTORS HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER

DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

REGIONAL PARTNERS

LEADERSHIP FORUM

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BBVA ■ Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) ■ Crestwood Medical Center ■ Dynetics, Inc. General Atomics Electromagnetics ■ Lockheed Martin Corporation ■ Northrop Grumman Corporation ■ PNC Bank Raytheon Technologies ■ SAIC ■ SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Yulista

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

PROGRESS PARTNERS Ability Plus ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ Anglin Reichmann Armstrong ■ ASRC Federal ■ B. L. Harbert International, LLC ■ Baron Services, Inc. ■ BASF Corporation Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP ■ Brown Precision, Inc. ■ CenterState Bank ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Davidson ■ Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. IBERIABANK ■ J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company ■ Keel Point, LLC ■ L3Harris ■ Leonardo Electronics US Inc. ■ LMI ■ LSINC Corporation The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ Progress Bank ■ Radiance Technologies ■ RE/MAX Alliance ■ Robins & Morton ■ RUAG Space USA ■ Spirit Coach, LLC Steak-Out (Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc.) ■ Truist Bank ■ Verizon ■ Wells Fargo Bank ■ Woody Anderson Ford PROGRESS INVESTORS Air Essentials, Inc. ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty ■ Armstrong Relocation Company Huntsville LLC ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ Bailey-Harris Construction ■ BancorpSouth BID DESIGNS, LLC ■ BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc. ■ Bryant Bank ■ Canvas, Inc. ■ CB&S Bank ■ Century Automotive ■ CFD Research Corporation ■ CGI Federal ■ Coast Personnel Services ■ Continental Consulting Group Corporation (CCGC) DC Blox, Inc. ■ deciBel Research ■ Deloitte LLP ■ DESE Research, Inc. ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ Fernandez Financial Group ■ FITE Building Company ■ FLS Translation & Interpreting ■ Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC ■ Garver ■ Hexagon US Federal ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Automotive Group ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau ■ INTERFUZE Corporation ■ Investor’s Resource IronMountain Solutions ■ Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider ■ The Lioce Group, Inc. ■ MAG Aerospace ■ MSB Analytics, Inc. ■ nLogic, LLC ■ PALCO ■ PHOENIX ■ Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. ■ PROJECTXYZ, Inc. ■ QTEC Aerospace Quadrus Corporation ■ Ready Mix USA ■ Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Company ■ Rosenblum Realty ■ S&ME, Inc. ■ Schoel Engineering Company, Inc. ■ ServisFirst Bank ■ Sigmatech, Inc. ■ Signalink ■ Snelling Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. ■ TriVector Services, Inc. ■ Troy 7, Inc. ■ U.S. Space & Rocket Center ■ ValleyMLS.com ■ Valor Communities ■ Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties Inc. ■ Venturi, Inc. ■ Volkert, Inc. Warren Averett, LLC ■ West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. ■ Wilmer & Lee, P.A.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

aug 2020 initiatives

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aug 2020

TAKE TIME TO LISTEN

COVID-19: STAY VIGILANT

ZOOM, ZOOM WORKFORCE

PAGE 19

PAGES 20-26

PAGES 32-33

Addressing diversity, equity & inclusion in the workplace

Local snapshot in time dealing with pandemic, plus schools’ plans

Recruiting still in full swing through virtual events, videos

COVER PHOTO: CHRIS POWELL / HUDSONALPHA

4 NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS / GET YOUR GIFT ON 5 HREGI INVESTORS 8 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT | BOARD LISTING 10 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS 12 MANAGING A REMOTE WORKFORCE 13 RECENT EVENTS: Virtual updates with Gov. Ivey, Sen. Jones 14 HUNTSVILLE: A CITY IN THE MAKING: Part 4 – with W.F. Sanders, Jr. 16 BEST PLACES TO WORK®: Winners in photos 28 SPONSOR THANKS: Government & Public Affairs events 29 HREGI PROFILE: Sandra Stephens with Keel Point, LLC 30 MILITARY RESOURCES: Heroes Welcome Initiative 31 WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES: Upwards Career & Training Fair 34 DOING YOUR PART: Upcoming Elections, 2020 Census 35 SPACE COMMAND: Headquarters selection update 36 SPACE UPDATE: NASA, others continue quest for flight 37 COMMUNITY PROFILE 38 SPONSOR THANKS: Small Business / WBC events 38 CHAMBER STAFF | ASSOCIATED ORGS 39 MASCOTS MASK-UP

editorial staff publisher Chip Cherry, CCE editor

Claire Aiello editorial designer

Kristi Sherrard contributing writers

Katelyn Sides Baker Sarah Blackmon Lorrie Coffey Amberly Kimbrough Lydia Pennington Wendy Reeves Sam Smythe Deborah Storey Mike Ward ad sales Kristy Drake kdrake@hsvchamber.org

Richard Bigoney rbigoney@hsvchamber.org

Tina Blankenship tblankenship@hsvchamber.org

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

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

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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

Executive Committee and Board of Directors 2020 Executive Committee

Kevin Byrnes, Chair, Navigator International, LLC Jeff Gronberg, Chair-elect, deciBel Research, Inc. Kim Lewis, Immediate Past Chair, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. Ron Poteat, President, Chamber Foundation, Regions Bank Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Secretary/Treasurer, Transcend LLC

Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry Relations, Brown Precision, Inc.

A Message from

Chip Cherry

Craig Naudain, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, SAIC Jim Rogers, Vice Chair, HREGI, Lockheed Martin Corporation Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep

Lynn Troy, Vice Chair, Investor Relations, Troy 7, Inc. Sameer Singhal, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events, CFD Research Corporation

Dear Chamber Investors, Community Leaders, and Friends:

Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, Tennessee Valley BRAC,

While the term “bellwether” is normally associated with someone or something, I would argue that it could be used to describe the period of time we are living through now. The way we deal with the challenges facing us will determine the kind of community, state, and nation we will be for decades to come. COVID-19 is a significant challenge, and when coupled with the opportunity to have meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion, we find ourselves at a significant inflection point.

Dr. Karockas Watkins, Vice Chair, Workforce, Ability Plus, Inc. Dr. Joe Green, Chair-Appointed, Whitespace Innovations, Inc. Alicia Ryan, Chair-Appointed, LSINC Corporation Mike Watkins, Chair-Appointed,

COVID-19 has provided us with an opportunity to take a hard look at who and what we value. We now see our healthcare workers, teachers, support workers, grocery clerks, and many others as “essential.” We struggle with face coverings in the summer heat – but wear them to protect those around us. The icing on the cake is how much we miss the simple things that only a few months ago we took for granted. The virus has cast a cloud over many aspects of our lives. What we learn from this experience as the clouds pass should make us stronger and more appreciative of the things we have taken for granted.

The Black Lives Matter events have brought the issues of diversity and inclusion into sharper focus. The Chamber’s Board of Directors is committed to engaging in meaningful dialogue. Our goal is the development of a community plan that seeks to address the underlying issues that need to be addressed if we are to make progress. Embracing diversity and engaging all segments of our community is the key to meaningful change.

We are committed to the journey and look forward to being part of the TEAM that addresses the root causes of racism.

Congratulations to the finalists and the winners of the 2020 Best Places to Work® Awards. I applaud all the companies that engaged their employees in this self-assessment exercise. Receiving honest and frank feedback is a valuable gift to those who want to build world class organizations. While the work is hard and the comments are often tough to digest – you can use the information to achieve amazing results within your company.

Well done to all the 2020 contenders and winners!!

Stay well and I look forward to seeing you when we can meet in person!

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

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initiatives aug 2020

Sirote & Permutt, PC

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

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

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

Elected Board Blake Bentley, SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine Center David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C. Penny Billings, BancorpSouth - Huntsville Thomas Busby, CenterState Bank Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc. Mike Dewitz, PARSONS John Eagan, BB&T Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group, LLC Owen Franklin, Blue Summit Supplies Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation John Hall, All Points Logistics, LLC Ginger Harper, IBERIABANK Josh Herren, Yulista Lee Holland, Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc. Amanda Howard, Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty

Lincoln Hudson, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions McKinley James, Polaris Industries, Inc. Lauren Johannesmeyer, Google Fiber, Huntsville Sean Kelly, Regions Bank April Mason, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Todd May, KBR Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation Kevin McCombs, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc. Zack Penney, Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi Jami Peyton, Canvas, Inc. Chris Russell, Cadence Bank Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital Beth Sippel, Synovus Wayne Sisco, Redstone Federal Credit Union Tom Stanton, ADTRAN, Inc. Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Technologies Cynthia Streams, Domino's (Valley Pizza, Inc.) Margetta Thomas, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company John Watson, Torch Technologies Danny Windham, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

A Different Kind of House Call

When you can’t see your doctor in person, a telehealth visit may be the solution.

Telehealth simply means a doctor visit on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can talk with your provider from any location just as you would in the doctor’s office.

Call 1-888-261-3422 or visit CrestwoodMedGroup.com to find out how to connect with a provider.

Many insurance plans cover telehealth.

Check your plan coverage or ask when you make an appointment.

MEDICAL GROUP

CrestwoodMedGroup.com

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Compiled by Sam Smythe & Claire Aiello

COURTESY: TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING ALABAMA

“These milestones represent significant achievements and further demonstrate Toyota’s long-term commitment to build where we sell,” said Dave Finch, Toyota Alabama president.

“By boosting production capacity and flexibility, our dedicated work force can better serve customers and position our operations for stability and future success.”

SNAP: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has worked to share factual information since the start of the pandemic. One way is through Beyond the Blog: Shareable Science with Dr. Neil Lamb. Lamb’s frequent videos include updates on many COVID-19 topics, from treatment and vaccine development, to antibodies, herd immunity, and the risk to children, as pictured above. As of mid-July, the videos had been played thousands of times. Please continue to share them – they are produced to help clear up misinformation as we all work to get through this together. Watch them at hudsonalpha.org/beyond-the-blog

Toyota Alabama supplies engines for one-third of all Toyota vehicles assembled in the U.S. The latest expansion is the plant’s fifth since it began engine production in 2003; annual engine capacity will increase 34 percent to 900,000 and total employment will top 1,800. ■

Teledyne Brown Engineering announces its third expansion in three years

COURTESY: TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING

Teledyne Brown Engineering has announced plans to once again expand its manufacturing and assembly facilities in Huntsville. The announcement came on July 8. This is the third expansion in three years and will provide additional capacity and capabilities to aid in future business growth.

The 55,000-square-foot development consists of a 15,000-square-foot expansion of an existing high bay building and a new standalone, 40,000-square-foot high bay facility.

Each addition will be fully equipped, including a multimillion-dollar large capacity gantry machine, which will greatly enhance the company’s advanced manufacturing and fabrication capabilities.

With this expansion, the company expects to create up to 100 new jobs in the next two years. “The investments we are making are a strong indicator of our consistent and continued growth,” said Jan Hess, President of Teledyne Brown Engineering. “We are fortunate that our large campus allows for expansion and are thrilled that these enhancements will enable us to deliver increased program capability and capacity to our customers.” ■

Toyota Alabama celebrates two milestones Toyota Alabama achieved two significant milestones in July as part of the $288 million expansion announced last year. Upon completion of this plant, it will add 450 jobs and represent a $1.2 billion investment that solidifies the Huntsville facility as the automaker’s largest engine producer in North America. Milestones include the start of production for the all-new, redesigned 4-cylinder engine, and the closing in of the plant’s new 150,000 square foot V6 engine assembly line.

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Mazda Toyota Manufacturing will resume its hiring process for team leaders this month, and will open hiring for team members in the near future. Apply on mazdatoyota.com.

As of late May, the company had hired 544 people, almost half of those professional staff. Most applicants have had backgrounds in manufacturing, but company leaders say they expect that to change with the next wave of applicants.

“I think this next group, when we open things back up, it’s still going to be some manufacturing but that’s when we’re going to get people from the restaurant industry and many, many other industries,” said Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration. “Once you’re hired, you will go through extensive training on the exact process you will operate on the production line.”

Construction continues on the $1.6 billion facility, which will provide nearly 4,000 jobs to the region. Completion of the plant has been delayed as overseas supply chains have stalled during the pandemic, but the company still expects the first vehicles to roll off production lines at some point next year. ■

Dynetics hosts U.S. Secretary of the Army On July 1, Dynetics hosted the United States Secretary of the Army, The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy. Secretary McCarthy came to visit where Dynetics will make the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) prototypes. The Secretary recognized the company for its resilience and dedication in light of COVID-19 challenges. The team worked tirelessly, while social distanced, to complete the C-HGB program deliverables. The glide body will be part of an integrated Army hypersonic weapon system prototype that will deliver residual combat capability to Soldiers by 2023. ■ A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

COURTESY: MTMUS

Mazda Toyota to resume hiring

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Managing a Remote Workforce The COVID-19 pandemic has required organizations to think outside the box and make quick decisions on how to keep their businesses going. For many organizations, this meant moving to a remote workforce. As of today, many companies have a good portion of their teams working from home.

Even with today’s technology, many people have a hard time wrapping their minds around the concept of a remote workforce.

A recent study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology showed that remote work contributes to increased productivity.

Another study cited that remote employees were sick less often, worked longer hours, and were happier with their jobs. This data has been confirmed with clients I’ve talked to in recent months, who say that their employees are happier and productivity has actually increased in their organizations since having to go remote.

Employing remote workers comes with some unique challenges when it comes to creating a sense of company culture. How do you get your employees around the water cooler when the water cooler doesn’t exist and even if it did, your employees aren’t there to congregate?

1 Keep your company’s mission and core values top of mind. Recognize employees when they exemplify your organization’s mission or core values.

2 Take opportunities to bring your team together virtually.

With in-person gatherings limited due to COVID, hold virtual meetings. Plan virtual social gatherings such as happy hour or start a virtual book club. Utilize a chat program where employees can connect on work related issues, but also just connect with each other.

NOW LOCATED at Highway 72/Providence.

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initiatives aug 2020

3 Recognize employees for a job well done. Remote employees still need feedback and recognition. Give them a call to congratulate them or thank them, send them a card in the mail, or even send out regular recognition emails to your staff.

4 Be there when they need you. Virtual employees can’t just come knocking on your office door when they need help, but you can ensure that you’re there when they need you. Be prompt in responding to their calls or emails. Take the initiative to check in with them regularly.

Don’t ever make them feel like you’re too busy to give them your time and attention.

5 Encourage them to lean on each other. Another way to help build teamwork is to encourage your team to support each other. If an employee comes to you with an issue and you know another member of your team has expertise in that area, connect the two and encourage them to work together to resolve the issue.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber hosts a variety of free and low-cost training on different topics. On August 18, join the Chamber and Horizon Point Consulting for “Engaging and Training a Remote Workforce” to learn about best practices and resources. This includes a review of successful case studies, group discussion on technology and resources, and tips on how to engage remote workers who have different work styles and personalities. Sign up today on cm.hsvchamber.org/events.

■ Lorrie Coffey Horizon Point Consulting

DAMSON.COM

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

RECENT EVENTS

Screen Time Virtual updates with Governor Kay Ivey & Senator Doug Jones

T

his summer, we have pivoted all of our Government Updates to a virtual format.

On June 25 we live-streamed the 2020 Alabama Update. Gov. Kay Ivey joined us via Zoom, where she thanked north Alabama for its continued growth and progress to bring the state forward. She said that she considered all businesses to be “essential” and apologized for the unfortunate “nonessential” designation used by the Health Department during the beginning of the pandemic.

On July 8, we live-streamed the 2020 Washington Update featuring Senator Doug Jones. We were honored to host Senator Jones at the Chamber, where he spoke on a wide variety of topics ranging from human spaceflight to the “crisis trifecta” affecting us now – healthcare, the economy, and racial inequality. He voiced some concerns but also applauded our city’s achievements, saying “It’s an exciting time to be back in Huntsville.”

Thanks to all our sponsors for making these online events happen, and thanks to our elected officials for participating! If you missed either of these events, you can watch them on hsvchamber.org or on our YouTube channel.

■ Amberly Kimbrough Events Coordinator, Government & Public Affairs

Through the Paycheck Protection Program, our team has collaborated with over 1,300 small businesses that has resulted in over $150 million reinvested back into Alabama communities. We care because Alabama is our home, too.

Downtown Huntsville: 256-535-1045 Southeast Huntsville: 256-217-5170 BryantBank.com

I can’t say enough about how good Bryant Bank has been to us over the last 11 years, but they have just gone above and beyond during this crisis to ensure that we can keep our doors open and our employees working!

Advanced Life Clinic, Dr. Hayley DeGraaff Huntsville, AL

Member FDIC A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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HUNTSVILLE: A CITY IN THE MAKING, PART 4 A year-long look at the unique history of Huntsville/Madison County and moving forward into 2020 and beyond.

Doing the Right Thing

W.F. Sanders, Jr.

Rocky moments in Rocket City’s growth – plus industrial leadership

WF

Sanders Jr. took his first breath in Huntsville in 1935.

Since childhood, he’s held a front-row seat to witness and participate in much of the city’s development into the thriving economic engine that it is today. He describes his experience as “a wonderful ride.”

He has vivid memories of Huntsville’s turning points in history that he shares as one of five diverse and influential leaders the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is featuring in a special series of stories throughout 2020 called “Huntsville: A City in the Making.” Others include Hundley Batts Jr., Julian Butler, Loretta Spencer, and Charles Younger.

Sanders remembers a lot of people who had an important bearing on Huntsville’s development from a sleepy cotton town to Rocket City, a research and development hotspot, and soon to be the largest city in the state.

“Some men from back in those days we never hear about any longer, but they are the ones who began the beginning of where we are today,” Sanders said, naming off (Robert Benjamin) “Speck” Searcy Jr., George Mahoney, and Oscar Mason. “They met every morning, had coffee and talked about what can we do to maintain the vibrant agricultural community, and it was a vibrant town even back then.”

One watershed moment for the city came in the early 1950s when a new Air Force wind tunnel went to Tullahoma, Tenn., instead of Huntsville. The federal project would have created thousands of jobs.

“I was about 12 or 13 years old and had a job delivering The Huntsville Times. I was riding my bicycle down and approached where The Huntsville Times building was, and I noticed everybody looked so drab and so down.

“I went into the newsroom, and I said to the guy counting the papers out, ‘What’s going on?’ and he said, ‘You haven’t heard?’ I said, ‘no.’ He said, ‘We lost.’ “‘You mean, we lost the wind tunnel?’ I said to him.

“And he said, ‘yes,’ and that was just kind of a downer. I remember I sat there on the sidewalk rolling my papers, and I guess I was crying because Daddy had told me this was going to be the biggest thing that will ever happen to Huntsville.”

Soon after, it was announced that Dr. Wernher von Braun and a German rocket team were headed to Redstone Arsenal.

People then wanted to put up a statue at the courthouse of the senator from Tennessee “who beat us out of the wind tunnel,” Sanders said. “What a change that was. That was big time.”

Also during the 1950s and 1960s, Sanders saw Huntsville stick to its history of “doing things right” during the Civil Rights Movement, managing to avoid national headlines. We did have our share of problems, though.

“When Gen. (John) Medaris arrived at Redstone in the 1950s 14

initiatives aug 2020

and early 1960s and discovered a highly segregated community, he called Will Halsey and Tom Thrasher (of the Huntsville Army Advisory Committee) and said “we’ve got to solve this problem,” Sanders said.

He said Halsey and Thrasher were leaders who understood how important it was to keep the Army and NASA in Huntsville, “and how the strings of Washington were being pulled to get our act cleaned up down here.”

While the community was segregated, Sanders said, the animosity between races seen in other parts of the state and across the South was not prevalent in Huntsville. The old Councill High School, which was for black students, produced many highly successful graduates, he added, and so has Alabama A&M University and Oakwood College (now University).

From Sanders’ perspective, race wasn’t an issue for him growing up. He and Batts have been friends since childhood. Sanders delivered their newspaper.

“I never heard anything out of my parents and grandparents, and I remember us having interactions with black families all my life,” he said.

However, when Medaris called, Halsey and Thrasher took action by going around to apartment complexes and night club owners of both races telling them that their businesses should be open to all races. If not, the Army and NASA would leave.

“The end result was that they did open up, and that was really the beginning of how Huntsville stayed out of the limelight over integration,” Sanders said.

At the turn of 1959 and 1960, more new leaders moved to Huntsville and came into play, like Younger, Tom Thrasher, Guy Nerren, and Louis Salmon.

“They came in and formed this group, it was probably a group of 30 to 35 people who formed the basis of industrial leadership for this community,” Sanders said. “Charlie formed the IDB, and at that time we also had an IndusGuy Nerren trial Development Association (IDA). In 1979, it became obvious to several of us, including Guy Nerren, who was a real foundation of the growth of where we’ve been in this last 25 years.”

Nerren was the first full-time executive director of the Huntsville Industrial Expansion Committee. He was hired in 1960 and ran the city’s economic development until the group merged with the Chamber. That happened because, while the city has been successful, it hasn’t always been an easy path, Sanders said. The late 1970s and early 1980s had the IDA and Chamber of Commerce A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

“at loggerheads with each other over raising money.”

“I shall never forget. I was president of the IDA, and Guy Nerren and I met with Martha and Leroy Simms where the old hotel was downtown. We decided those two organizations had to merge, so we then met with the Chamber hierarchy because we were fighting each other to raise money, so we brought about a merger. In 1980, that merger took place, and from there is when we began the great growth process that we have now. There are a lot of names that probably should be mentioned on this. It was an excellent move.”

He called Nerren a master of putting the right people together when negotiating a deal.

“He would access the deal we wanted to come to town, and put together the right people to meet with him. You might be invited on a deal sometimes, and you might not. But he is the one who really entrenched us in a growth period,” Sanders said.

In the Cummings Research Park era, Charles Shaver, Pat Richardson, and Alvin Blackwell’s names come up. The development of the park, now the second largest in the U.S., was also incredibly important to Huntsville’s growth.

“I know you’ve driven through there and seen all the names of major corporations from across America who are there and brought a lot of jobs to this community,” he said.

The city’s growth has continued, including the most recent major announcement of the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant. That development site took years to pull off.

“That our industrial board has worked so close with all orga-

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

nizations in this community has been a godsend for Huntsville to have this organization and the legislation we have behind it,” Sanders said. “We have never done anything outside the law around industrial development while we’ve seen other communities finance deals we would never look at. It’s part of the culture of this community to try to do things right, so I’m just delighted I’ve been a small part of it since I came back from (four years in) Birmingham – and that’s been a long time ago.”

There’s a lot of history that has built up to this moment, he said.

“The leadership of the Chamber has absolutely done a masterful job,” Sanders said. “Now I want to back up to all those years ago because one of the important things when this merger of the IDA and Chamber came about, it was made clear to the then-combined boards that we would not diminish the traditional Chamber of Commerce objectives. But the major objective of the new Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce was industrial development, and we’ve stuck by that all these years.”

Sanders also said concerns about leadership for the future don’t bother him as much these days.

“We have brought in some great leadership which has been a concern from a number of us who grew up in the old days. We’ve wondered whether we will have the leadership to carry this community forward. I can unequivocally say now that there is no question that we have that, and we’re seeing it every day in this town.”

■ Wendy Reeves Contributing Writer

aug 2020 initiatives

15

Congratulations to our recent winners for the Best Places To Work® Awards!

We announced the winners on June 17, and each company dropped by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber the following week to have their picture taken with Sameer Singhal, our 2020 Vice Chair for Small Business & Events.

Actually, it was “Flat Sameer” – we opted for this to promote social distancing.

Sameer, thank you for being a great sport, and congratulations to our winners!

PHOTOS BY JEFF WHITE

SILVER: Cortina Solutions, LLC

MICRO CATEGORY

(10-24 employees)

BRONZE: River Tree Insurance Services, Inc.

GOLD: Phased n Research, Inc.

SMALL CATEGORY

(25-50 employees)

BRONZE: Crossflow Technologies, Inc.

GOLD: KODA Technologies, Inc.

SILVER: Matt Curtis Real Estate, Inc.

MEDIUM CATEGORY

(51-100 employees) BRONZE: Brockwell Technologies, Inc. 16

initiatives aug 2020

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

SILVER: Hill Technical Solutions, Inc.

We can help you get there from here.

LARGE CATEGORY

(101-250 employees)

GOLD: Thompson Gray, Inc.

BRONZE: Simulation Technologies, Inc.

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GOLD: Avion Solutions

– continued on page 18

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC.

aug 2020 initiatives

17

Best Places to Work® Winners, continued from page 17 –

SILVER: IronMountain Solutions (large category)

XLARGE CATEGORY

(251+ employees)

BRONZE: PeopleTec, Inc.

GOLD: Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation

SILVER: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI)

WHERE THE FUTURE WORKS redstonegateway.com

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initiatives aug 2020

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

WORKPLACE TOPICS

Take Time to Listen Addressing diversity, equity & inclusion in the workplace

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he deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and other African Americans have prompted discussions and demonstrations in cities across the United States. Communities grapple with the challenges of racial inequity, and Huntsville is no different.

This is not something that will be solved overnight; meaningful change will take much thought and planning, and the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber is currently working with our Board of Directors to create a strategic plan. This includes establishing a Diversity & Inclusion program within the Chamber to ensure our programming is aligned and supportive of a community action plan that will be developed. We will also support efforts that promote equity and inclusion, and advocate for changes in policies and laws that will stop the perpetuation of racism. In short, we are committed to the work it will take to achieve this, in order to make our community better for all.

In the meantime, you may have questions that apply to your workplace. Some companies have well-developed programs that address diversity, equity, and inclusion, and others are just starting the conversation.

Kenny Anderson has served as Multicultural Affairs Officer for the City of Huntsville since 2013, and his office is charged with developing partnerships, programs, and services with local City agencies to create a vibrant and inclusive community. In his role, Anderson often speaks with civic groups and companies about ways to improve culture and inclusivity. These include recent conversations with the Rotary Club Anderson of Greater Huntsville on racial reconciliation, including a discussion about what’s happening nationally and how it applies here.

Additionally, ADTRAN contacted him recently for assistance.

The company already has a diversity and inclusion task force and wants to mobilize further. “What does that task force need to look like, what type of structure, as well as a mission statement and vision – we look at those sorts of things,” said Anderson. “It’s not A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

about checking the box. You want to do something that’s embedded in the culture of your organization,” he said of companies in general. “Your policies and practices, hiring and recruiting need to reflect this.”

In 2009, the City established the Huntsville-Area Inclusive Communities Initiative, by resolution of the Mayor and City Council.

Through this effort, the Office of Multicultural Affairs works with the City’s Human Relations Commission to provide structure and perspective to how people experience life in Huntsville. It relates to diversity but often includes other areas – “but we’re really going to hammer in on diversity, now that we have the opportunity to focus on this,” Anderson said.

“The initiative is designed to bring in more citizen participation related to government and how our city functions,” Anderson added. This includes academic, business, and nonprofit arenas, and building coalitions around the issues impacting our community, with the group presenting updates to the City Council once per year.

The group will also look at policing and make recommendations as appropriate. “We want to make sure that everyone’s voice is affirmed, and make sure people feel that they are being represented. We need to listen to people where they are, because perspective is important,” Anderson explained. “You could live in a community and see things a certain type of way, but then hear from someone who says they have a different experience, and thus, a different perspective. We don’t want to leave anyone out of the conversation. We want to address every good thing and every challenge that exists in Huntsville. We want to look for best practices and share those, but also look for things that need to be addressed so we can move the conversation forward in a positive and productive direction.”

You can contact the City’s Office of Multicultural Affairs at 256-883-3993 or kenny.anderson@huntsvilleal.gov. Anderson also shared a list of resources with us that may help aid conversations with your team. We have posted these on hsvchamber. org/socialjusticeresources.

■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications aug 2020 initiatives

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COVID-19:

Remain Vigilant

Local hospitals experience strain with patient load, testing

by Claire Aiello

T

he playbook for 2020 went out the window several months ago. We are in the midst of a pandemic that is affecting all areas of our lives. Many of us have dealt with illness, and some have lost loved ones to COVID-19. Others have lost income to support their families. Yet, we have seen many examples of helpers and leaders. How the Huntsville/Madison County community continues to respond is what will define us when we look back on this time in our lives.

We’ve written this piece as a snapshot in time.

When this issue of Initiatives went to print in mid-July, the Alabama Department of Public Health had Madison County as “very high risk,” and testing was also high. Huntsville Hospital and Thrive Alabama teamed up for drive-through testing at John Hunt Park (shown above), and testing also continued at the Huntsville Hospital Fever & Flu Clinic on Governors Drive.

During the second week of the month, 3,500 people showed up for testing, and the Huntsville Police Department supported the effort by managing traffic flow. Health leaders say the rate of people testing positive at those two locations had grown to more than 11 percent, pointing to 11 percent of the community having the virus but not getting tested. The hospitalization rate was 15.6 percent for the same time period.

Our hospitals were also becoming strained. Even though we avoided a spike months earlier, plans to care for a much larger load of patients had to be put into play. Many people bypassed

testing and went straight to the ER for treatment, according to Tracy Doughty, senior vice president of Operations for Huntsville Hospital. The hospital also added ICU units and converted four nursing floors in the Madison Street Tower to COVID rooms, all with air flow adjusted to negative pressure.

“That way, potentially contaminated air is appropriately filtered and does not get released into the hallway,” Doughty explained.

Staffing also became a serious concern, and there were two reasons for this. First, some employees caught the Doughty virus through community spread and needed to quarantine. “Additionally, the more COVID patients we have, it changes the amount of staff needed to take care of those patients. That creates an increased number of clinicians who we need,” said Doughty.

Outpatient surgeries continued, but anything requiring an overnight stay was delayed, so the hospital could re-route those team members to COVID care. Stress was definitely a factor, but the hospital had several support programs.

“We’ve got a good group of staff members, and have several things in place to help them, from prayers, ways to take care of themselves, a counseling hot line and support groups they can attend, if they want to talk with someone about what they are going through,” said Doughty.

Testing: “A Herculean Effort”

As the virus started to take hold in our community, health leaders pushed more strongly on the message they have shared since the beginning: the need for masking and social distancing. “If 80 percent of our community would mask, cover their faces, then we would reduce transmission by 90 percent,” Dr. Pam Hudson, CEO of Crestwood Medical Center, said at a community briefing.

“If we’re not performing at that level, we’re going to continue to see this.”

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber urged citizens and businesses to “Mask Up Huntsville” – releasing messaging on July 2.

You may have seen the image on billboards and storefronts, as well as social media – thank you for spreading the word! There were indications a mandate would soon follow, and the Madison County Board of Health indeed passed an ordinance that took effect July 7.

Wearing a mask isn’t fun, especially in the Alabama summer heat, but it’s what we as citizens can do to protect each other.

“I’d like to suggest we think about this masking and distancing as a temporary vaccination,” said Dr. Pam Hudson. “We are waiting for the scientists and the pharmaceutical companies to come up with a vaccine that works. It’s months away. Meanwhile, we have to save ourselves for the day that we will have access to the vaccine.”

Other health leaders echoed the need for citizens to embrace preventive steps to stop the virus from spreading further, including Dr. Aruna Arora, vice president of the Madison County Medical Society and president-elect of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.

“We continue to believe that we should take care of ourselves as a responsible community,” said Dr. Arora. “We want the economy open, we want the businesses open, and we want school open. We feel the best way forward to do this is to wash hands, socially distance, and wear a mask/ face covering over the mouth and nose to significantly lower the spread of droplets which contain the virus.”

PHOTO: CHRIS POWELL / HUDSONALPHA

Back to testing. Getting through it is one thing – the nasal swab can be quite painful – but you also need the results. That’s where companies like Diatherix come into play. Diatherix is located on the campus of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and is part of Eurofins, an international biological testing company. Dr. Jeff Wisotzkey is the chief science officer and laboratory director, and says he’s incredibly proud of his team.

“They are made of iron. They’re all incredible,” Wisotzkey said.

“They come in every day, they start early, they work long hours and come back the next day to handle the high test volume. It is a Herculean effort.”

How many tests in a day? A normal day used to involve 1,500 to 2,000 tests, Wisotzkey explained. The load is much higher now.

“Now, we’re having days where we’re processing over 10,000 tests a day. It really pushes our limit, and all labs are seeing that,” he said.

Diatherix has about 170 people working at the Huntsville facility (shown below). The team has grown recently, with more than 60 employees coming on in recent months. Several dozen process samples in the lab, and many others work in client services, communicating with doctors’ offices to take in tests and relay results.

“We’ve been hiring and training a lot lately,” Wisotzkey said.

“It takes six months to train a molecular technologist to do everything we do, but we can train someone on a few things so they can be useful right away, and that’s what we’ve been doing to keep up with demand.”

Mask Up Huntsville

Diatherix runs tests for people in the Huntsville area, but also tests for more than 30 other states. Even if our local situation improves, Wisotzkey admits the long days will likely continue for a while.

“Even our best-laid ramp up capacity planning is being outpaced by the demand in testing, much like other laboratories, and we really need the community to do their part to social distance, to wear their mask, to wash their hands, to really do their part to help quell this pandemic,” he said. “The lab can’t do it. The physicians can’t do it. It has to be a population/community-based effort.”

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Here for a while We’ll likely be wearing masks for a while. It could be months, but some speculate it could be much longer. Schools will require everyone to wear them as classes resume, as you’ll read on page 23.

Plan ahead now and stock up, so you have a good supply for your family. We’ve posted resources on hsvchamber.org on how to make masks, as well as information for local member companies that are selling these.

– continued on page 22 aug 2020 initiatives

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COVID-19, continued from page 21

Above and top right: Employees at Diatherix in Huntsville test possible COVID-19 samples shipped to their lab from more than 30 states.

As of mid-July they were running more than 10,000 tests per day.

Lower right: Medical workers suit up for drive-through testing at John Hunt Park. Huntsville Hospital and Thrive Alabama operated this clinic five days a week, and Huntsville Hospital also operated the Fever & Flu Clinic on Governors Drive. The locations were seeing more than 3,500 people per week.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HUDSONALPHA / DIATHERIX AND HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL SYSTEM

We Salute Our Healthcare Workers and are proud to be part of Huntsville and North Alabama since 1985.

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initiatives aug 2020

www.robinsmorton.com A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

COVID & SCHOOLS

As K-12 Schools announce plans:

stay flexible Monitoring communication essential during academic year

E

ducators, community, and business leaders presented a united front on July 22 about the return to school. At a news conference that morning, families learned that all three public school systems in Madison County will start the year with remote learning for the first nine weeks.

This will bring challenges for sure, but was decided due to a number of factors, including the high rate of COVID-19 cases in our local community and the ‘unknown’ of reintroducing a large number of students and staff back in school buildings.

“We are here today – three superintendents, but with one voice, one common goal, and that is to make sure that the best decision possible will be made for our students, our faculty, our staff, and our community,” said Superintendent Allen Perkins, Madison County Schools.

ent, but we will make it great.”

School systems will reassess the situation with the pandemic around Labor Day to see if conditions have improved for a possible change to in-person instruction after the first quarter.

Huntsville City Schools is offering families two routes: traditional learning, which would return students to on-campus learning if schools reopen, and Huntsville Virtual Academy, which is a semester commitment that allows students to access materials anywhere, at any time, on a personalized pace and schedule.

Madison City Schools’ learning plan also combines on-site and distance learning for the system’s 10,000+ students, if school buildings open mid-fall.

Madison County Schools offer a program called “Digital Backpack” that allows students to learn online, said spokesman Tim Hall.

“We worked to enhance student learning by providing digital education, but at the same time, we provided paper packets to any student or parent who felt that was best for their student,” Hall said.

Community Support Remote learning will not be easy for many families, including parents who work. During the announcement, an appeal was made for businesses to extend teleworking policies and flex time where possible. In fact, Business Insider recently reported that 44 percent of our workforce was able to telework in the early months of the pandemic.

In addition, childcare is a major concern for many working families. For one, it’s challenging to afford, and it’s even more tough to find a provider right now.

L-R: Elizabeth Fleming (The Schools Foundation), Christie Finley, Allen Perkins, and Dr. Ed Nichols speak at the press conference held at the Chamber.

“Before COVID, we had a childcare gap of more than 22,000 in our Congressional district. That many children were needing childcare but couldn’t access it,” said Lucia “It was not a decision that any of us took lightly,” said SuperCape, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s senior vice presintendent Christie Finley, Huntsville City Schools. “We reached ident of Economic Development, Industry Relations, and Workthis by assessing the current public health situation in north Alaforce. “Safety measures have forced some centers to close and bama and across the state, and weighing the impact a full school reduced the capacity of centers that have stayed open. Adding reopening would have on the health of our city.” school-age children who need supervision and support will have All stressed that we are in unprecedented times, and the situaan impact we haven’t even assessed yet.” tion remains fluid. Administrators acknowledged the school year The Chamber’s Childcare Taskforce is looking into these issues will require everyone to stay up to date on communications, and and working with community partners and the school districts to to be patient and flexible. “I can tell you this – we will make it a identify solutions. great year at all three school systems,” said Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols, Madison City Schools. “I can promise you it will be differ– section continued on page 24 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

aug 2020 initiatives

23

COVID & SCHOOLS, continued from page 23 Please check for updates on each school system on their websites, huntsvillecityschools.org, madisoncity.k12.al.us, and www.mcssk12.org.

Additional School Plans Roughly 350 students attend grades 9-12 at St. John Paul II Catholic High School, a private prep school in Huntsville. They, too, started remote learning in March.

“The greatest lesson we learned in the spring was that there’s no replacement for students being on campus,” said Headmaster Dr. Jeremiah Russell. “While we are planning for face-to-face instruction, we are also developing contingency plans, if health and safety guidelines change or if we need to close campus and go fully remote again.”

Depending on restrictions, students may be able to remove masks during classes because desks will be six feet apart. “Though we’ll be on campus, it will look quite different – temperature checks for those entering school, increased cleaning and sanitization, and students eating lunch in their classrooms,” he said.

Entries and exits will be clearly marked, and halls will have directional signs. Gatherings for athletics, Mass, retreats, and lunch will have to meet distancing guidelines. “If we aren’t able to run our normal schedule, then we are also working on hybrid alternatives that include both on-campus and remote learning,” Russell said.

Randolph School athletes returning to practice.

Randolph is also closely watching developments with COVID-19 as it prepares for students to return.

Head of School Adam Dubé said the private academy’s master contingency plan outlines four levels of operation ranging from open as normal to closing the campus. Face coverings will be required when distancing is not possible.

Following the remote learning joint announcement by City and County schools on July 22, Randolph School planned to open August 20 under its Level Three Learning plan. That is a hybrid model that blends on-campus and virtual teaching and learning with a reduced number of students on campus at a given time.

“We are considering the developmental needs and differences of students, and our policies will be created to account for these differences, using clear face shields in tutoring or other situations where non-verbal communication is critical,” said Dubé.

■ Claire Aiello, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber & Deborah Storey, Contributing Writer

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initiatives aug 2020

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

HIGHER EDUCATION MOVES FORWARD:

stay CONNECTED Local colleges, universities fine-tune plans for fall semester

C

olleges continue with their planning for students to return in the fall. They have been working for the past several months to address multiple aspects of classroom interactions and campus life. We checked with local 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities in mid-July, realizing things could change after our print deadline. For that reason, we urge you to check with your school for any new details that have emerged.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville UAH released a detailed document on uah.edu describing their plans to keep students and faculty safe this upcoming semester.

UAH will reopen, and planning incorporates leadership and representation from across the entire campus community. Re-opening will include federal, state, and local government guidance and will be guided by health and medical officials. UAH said it will focus on the health and well-being of everyone who steps foot on the campus. UAH will continue to provide updates across their various platforms including their website (uah.edu), campus messages, and social media.

“The entire UAH community has worked tirelessly to respond to the COVID pandemic and plan for the short and long-term impacts that will be left in its wake,” said UAH President Darren Dawson.

“We have developed a plan that outlines efforts by the university community to develop a flexible approach to re-open campus while considering adjustments to be made if conditions change. By committing to a caring culture that starts with our personal behavior and acceptance of responsibility, this plan prioritizes the health and well-being of all our students, faculty, staff, vendors, volunteers, and visitors and provides a roadmap for continuing to provide exceptional educational, research, and engagement programs.”

Alabama A&M University AAMU will also reopen the campus for students this fall and follow a hybrid instruction model that includes both in-class and online instruction. The first day of class is August 17. AAMU is asking students who live on campus to comply with their updated move-in schedule to ensure the safety of students and families. They will also implement temperature checks when entering high traffic facilities, social distancing, and face coverings for everyone when on campus in public spaces, sneeze guards in high traffic offices, increased sanitizing stations, and reduced capacity in the dining halls. Visit www.aamu.edu for more information.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Drake State Community & Technical College Students enrolled at Drake State this fall will also have the benefit of a hybrid learning environment. With strong technical and labbased programs, the college will utilize remote learning in combination with in-person instruction where safe and appropriate. It has implemented a safety plan which includes screening students, cleaning and sanitization according to federal and state recommendations, and making accommodations for proper social distancing.

Keeping students and employees informed of current best safety practices will remain a priority through the semester, which will begin August 17. All in-person instruction will end November 20. Remote learning will continue to the end of the semester on December 11. For updates, check drakestate.edu.

“It is challenging to find the right balance between the need for quality education and protecting the health of our students and employees,” said Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims. “Being flexible and innovative enables us to serve our students as safely as possible.”

Calhoun Community College At press time, Calhoun Community College was working with the Alabama Community College System to finalize its fall semester plans and planned to make an announcement soon. Please refer to calhoun.edu for updates.

Oakwood University Oakwood announced, in their reopening plan, three scenarios that will give them flexibility depending on the resurgence of COVID-19. These include on-campus operations (face-to-face learning with social distancing), hybrid learning (remote and face-to-face learning), and complete remote learning and operations. At this time, the primary plan is face-to-face learning and operations with plans to reopen the campus on August 1. Updates will be on their website: oakwood.edu.

■ Sam Smythe Intern, Marketing & Communications

– section continued on page 26 aug 2020 initiatives

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COVID & SCHOOLS, continued from page 25

ASCTE prepares for first Year:

Artist rendering of the ASCTE permanent building in Cummings Research Park

stay focusED AL School of Cyber Technology & Engineering ready to start

T

he Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering is scheduled to open August 17 at its temporary location at Oakwood University. This is the state’s only fully public, residential high school for students seeking advanced studies in engineering and cyber technology. It is the first year for the new state magnet school, which will serve approximately 75 students in the first year, with plans to increase enrollment to 300 in the coming years. Construction will soon begin on the school’s permanent campus, at the corner of Bradford and Wynn Drives in Cummings Research Park.

ASCTE leaders are taking the threat of COVID-19 very seriously and will open this fall under the CDC’s guidelines to ensure all faculty, staff, and students are able to learn in a safe and healthy environment. School President Matt Massey said every effort will be made to sanitize the campus dormitories, classrooms, and labs throughout the day. Temperature checks will be required of the faculty, staff, commuting students, and boarding students. Face coverings will also be required to ensure everyone’s safety. There will be a preventive approach to minimize the “level of spread” for the school. An FAQ will be available on ascte.org.

“We are excited to start the school year with such incredible students and elite faculty,” said Massey. “We have students from all across the state, and it’s awesome to see how the industry community supports these efforts.”

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initiatives aug 2020

Fundraising has been a major focus for the school’s Foundation.

This is a state magnet school, so there is no cost for students to attend, but there is a high cost associated with running a residential high school with students from across Alabama. The State provides operation funding for the school but not costs associated with the school’s construction, making the ASCTE Foundation’s role so crucial.

To date, donors have contributed $12 million to the Foundation. Many are Huntsville-area companies who have expressed the need for more workers trained in cyber technology.

“This is a dream come true for kids across the state of Alabama and our business partners who have invested in this school,” said Alicia Ryan, vice chair of the ASCTE Board and president of the ASCTE Foundation. “We look forward to these children joining the workforce with the critical skills we need today and into the future in cyber and engineering. I am personally looking forward to meeting children who will attend our school representing counties across the whole state of Alabama.”

If you would like to contribute, please reach out to ASCTE Foundation Director PeggyLee Wright: peggylee@ascte.org.

Wright hints there will be a surprise announcement on the first day of school!

■ Sarah Blackmon Administrative Coordinator, Finance & Administration A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS EVENT

SPONSORS Washington Update with Congressman Brooks VIRTUAL EVENT SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 6

Presenting Sponsor: KBR Platinum Sponsors: The Boeing Company; Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. Gold Sponsors: HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc.; Radiance Technologies, Inc.; SAIC Silver Sponsors: Aerojet Rocketdyne; ASRC Federal; Davidson; Dynetics, Inc.; enVention, LLC; General Atomics Electromagnetics; Hill Technical Solutions, Inc.; IronMountain Solutions; Lockheed Martin Corporation; PeopleTec, Inc.; Regions Bank; Torch Technologies; Willbrook Solutions, Inc. Bronze Sponsors: ADTRAN, Inc.; Avion Solutions; Cintel, Inc.; Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT); General Atomics Electromagnetics; Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII); Huntsville Hospital; Northrop Grumman Corporation; PARSONS; Perspecta; Redstone Federal Credit Union; University of Alabama in Huntsville; Von Braun Center

Annual Outing TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 22

Presenting Sponsor: KBR Gold Sponsors: SES - Science & Engineering Services, LLC; Yulista Silver Sponsors: Ignite, Inc.; Quadrus Corporation; Redstone Federal Credit Union; Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc.

State of the City Address TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 30

Presenting Sponsor: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Platinum Sponsors: The Boeing Company, COLSA Corporation, Facebook Data Center Gold Sponsors: Aerojet Rocketdyne; Akima, LLC; Croy Engineering; Dynetics, Inc.; PPG Aerospace; Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc. Silver Sponsors: Avion Solutions; Davidson; IronMountain Solutions; Lockheed Martin Corporation; NAI Chase Commercial Realty, Inc.; PFM Financial Advisors LLC; Port of Huntsville; SAIC; Torch Technologies; University of Alabama in Huntsville Bronze Sponsors: ADTRAN, Inc.; Bailey-Harris Construction; BBVA; Calhoun Community College; Huntsville Hospital System; KBR; PARSONS; Redstone Federal Credit Union; Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.; U.S. Space & Rocket Center; Von Braun Center

Washington DC Trip POSTPONED TILL 2021

Presenting Sponsor: The Boeing Company Gold Sponsors: INTERFUZE Corporation; IronMountain Solutions; KBR; LSINC Corporation; T & W Operations, Inc.; University of Alabama in Huntsville Silver Sponsors: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Calhoun Community College, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, SAIC, TechnoMile, Unanet

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initiatives aug 2020

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

SANDRA STEPHENS COO/CFO

KEEL POINT LLC Tell us about Keel Point:

PROFILE

Keel Point, LLC was formed in 2015 with a partnership between Keel Point Advisors (Washington, DC) and Blue Creek Investment Partners (Huntsville, AL). Since the merger, Keel Point’s service offerings have expanded to include financial planning, wealth management, estate planning, philanthropic and family office services, as well as corporate services which offers benefits and retirement packages for businesses. Keel Point ownership is a collaboration of families, who believe that wealth brings tremendous opportunities and responsibilities. Our financial advisors are experienced professionals committed to helping our clients manage their financial obligations and opportunities.

Q: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty in many areas of our lives, certainly in financial planning. What kinds of conversations are you having with your clients?

A: During this difficult time, we have taken the opportunity to meet with clients virtually and via teleconference.

These conversations included assurance from Keel Point that even though we were not physically in our offices, our advisors and staff were continuing to assist and care for our clients remotely. The firm’s Business Continuity Plan was already in place and enabled all staff to work from home with no disruption of services to clients. In addition, we hosted conference calls for our clients, where our CEO, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economic Advisor addressed current financial issues, followed by a Q&A session. This was beneficial to the clients, as they were able to address specific concerns directly with our Leadership Team.

Q: What type of benefits does Keel Point see from its investment in the Chamber, and the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI)?

A: We believe it is our responsibility to be proactively engaged with others to make Huntsville and North Alabama a great community for all. The Chamber successfully connects various groups to join forces to advance business and civic culture. We wish to be a part of the growth and development of our community both now and in the future.

additional sponsors for the 2020 small business awards as of july 16:

Gold Sponsor: Yulista Silver Sponsors: Redstone Federal Credit Union; Radiance Technologies, Inc.; Capstone Realty - Diane Hasley Bronze Sponsors: BBVA, Davidson, CFD Research Corporation A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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MILITARY RESOURCES

Open Arms, Open Doors Heroes Welcome Initiative makes moving here easy for military

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very day, military families relocate to Alabama to serve in various roles in military bases across our state. On July 6, the Alabama Military Stability Foundation launched the Heroes Welcome Initiative in an effort to make Alabama the most military family-friendly state in the country. This initiative works hand-in-hand with representatives in local communities across the state to help provide families with information to aid in their move to Alabama.

Alabama is home to several defense communities and more than 26,000 military members and their families. The website, heroeswelcome.alabama.gov, includes curated resources to help these families quickly find quality of life resources and information applicable to their specific defense community. Spouses can also walk through steps to apply for licensure or credentialing to aid in rapid pathways to enter the local workforce. The website also highlights attractions across the state for families to go and explore.

“We are thrilled to bring this asset to the thousands of military families who will experience a Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

to the State of Alabama,” said Robert La Branche, executive director of the Alabama Military Stability Foundation. “We built a centralized web application where military families can access a suite of resources and other tools that will ensure they are well informed, will feel welcomed, and will thrive in their new home state. Leaders across the state have invested a great deal of time and effort to ensure the Heroes Welcome Initiative will positively impact military families as they move into their communities.”

“This will be a one-stop-shop for all of our military families moving into the State of Alabama,” said Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, chair of the Alabama Military Stability Commission. “I want to thank everyone involved for making this effort a success, but most importantly, to all of our military and their families for their continued service.”

Please share this website with a new military family you’ve met!

■ Sam Smythe Intern, Marketing & Communications

100% online or evening in-person classes.

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9:39 AM A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER7/1/20 PUBLICATION

WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES

Reaching Upwards Regional job fair & training initiative expands job accessibility

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ot unlike everyone else, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber saw the rising unemployment numbers and heard the stories of those struggling with the loss of their job, and we wanted to do something to help. It didn’t take long before the idea was born to create a virtual career fair for the many dislocated workers in our community. But that idea grew.

Our neighboring communities currently have many of the same struggles, and the Upwards Career & Training Fair presented itself to be a tool we could share across all of north Alabama.

Through the partnership with North Alabama Works, all thirteen counties in Region 1 were excited to participate, including Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston counties. Even though we would all much rather be able to offer this in person, a virtual platform allowed us to incorporate an even larger region and therefore serve a greater number of people in need.

Unemployment figures for May 2020 show Region 1 in north Alabama to have 7.8 percent unemployment, equaling 42,146 people. With the additional $600 per week federal unemployment checks currently scheduled to end July 25, the Upwards Career & Training Fair was offered as a regional solution to help these workers.

It also grew beyond just a career fair, as we incorporated the A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

need to share the many trainings and certifications available within our community and region. Highlighting new opportunities and career pathways to those who do not foresee being able to return to their old job became critical. Across the state, a large percentage of dislocated workers were underemployed prior to COVID-19. The state continues to push forward with their initiative to have 500,000 credentialed workers by 2025. Federal funding was designated for training dislocated workers, so incorporating this into the Upwards event was important.

Thankfully, in our community we have a long list of employers that are still hiring, many of which offer on-the-job training and career progression. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber offered this event at no charge to our members as well as non-members in an attempt to support our entire community and region.

Our neighboring chambers and economic development agencies reached out to their employers and community and found considerable interest. Seventy-three employers and training partners, with representation from all 13 counties, participated in the Upwards Career & Training Fair (UpwardsAlabama.com). The event was held online July 14-16 reaching more than 500 people.

Job seekers outside of the state even joined in to meet with employers and learn more about the participating companies. This was the largest initiative of its kind in the state, and we trust it made a positive impact in all of our communities. Even though we were not able to hear first-hand stories from attendees and see them leave with smiles, we hope that they were encouraged. â– Lydia Pennington Industry Relations Director Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce aug 2020 initiatives

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WORKFORCE UPDATE

Zoom, Zoom Recruiting still in full swing through virtual events & videos

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irtual. It’s a word we have now heard a million times, and that word describes how the rest of 2020 is going to look, especially when it comes to recruiting. The Chamber will focus its recruiting efforts online for the rest of the year.

When COVID-19 first started to spread in our country and impact our national economy, we knew there would be many college graduates who would have a hard time finding jobs. We also knew with Huntsville’s strong economy, many of our local employers would still be hiring. We quickly adapted our ASmartPlace on the Road recruiting trips to a virtual platform.

So far this summer, we’ve hosted four virtual recruiting events.

We partnered with Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and Tennessee Tech University, and we also partnered with our regional colleges and universities for an event to help local students and graduates. This virtual event consisted of students

from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Calhoun Community College, Oakwood University, Drake State Community & Technical College, Athens State University, and Alabama A&M University. In total, we have reached more than 650 students this summer about job opportunities in our area.

We laid out these virtual meet-ups much like the in-person events students would attend. First, students get to learn about what it is like to live, work, and play in the Huntsville/Madison County area. As the workforce recruitment director, I share about our low cost of living, great quality of life, upcoming fun addi32

initiatives aug 2020

tions to our city, our strong economy, and much more. Then, we incorporate local employers who “pitch” their company to the students. Companies have talked about everything from open positions to company culture and benefits. To view previous virtual recruiting events, head over to ASmartPlace’s YouTube Channel, where we’ve posted all of our recordings. After the virtual event, we email students a sheet that contains information about each company that participated and their contact information.

Even though we are in a pandemic, there are many local employers still hiring, and we want to connect them with talented students and graduates. Looking ahead to this fall, we plan on having virtual recruiting events with Auburn University, Ohio State University, the University of Alabama, the University of Kentucky, and more.

The best way to stay in the know about our virtual ASmartPlace on the Road recruiting events is to sign up for the Monday Mash Up e-newsletters, follow ASmartPlace on social media (@asmartplace), and send me an email (kbaker@hsvchamber.org) that you are interested in participating.

Another way we are tackling virtual recruitment efforts is our new video series called Go Rocket City!

Sponsored by Lockheed Martin, these videos connect summer interns to Huntsville’s favorite spots, variety of cultures, diverse communities, and so much more.

The series consists of eight videos – watch as our ASmartPlace team explores our city and talks with locals. These are great to share with interns and employees who are new to our area. We launched this video series earlier this summer and wrapped it up at the end of July. We will have the series again next summer.

It’s more important than ever to showcase our city and retain and recruit talent. There are many workers who are still relocating to our area even during this pandemic – just check Reddit!

Before the pandemic, we were seeing around 55 people per day move to our area. We fully expect that number to continue or even increase after the pandemic.

This fall, in addition to our college and university recruiting trips, our team is also eyeing a virtual event to recruit veterans, A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

WE ARE YULISTA and another event for young professionals.

Stay tuned for details!

Earlier this summer we launched our new ASmartPlace.com website. The new, fresh look of the site is structured to inform the user about what it’s like to live, work, play, and learn in Huntsville/Madison County. Please check out the new site and share it with anyone looking to move to our area or anyone who is searching for a job.

We are not sure what the rest of this year holds, but we know that there will be multiple virtual recruiting opportunities for your business. Our community continues to experience growth this year, and our ASmartPlace team is here to help with your workforce and recruiting needs. â– Katelyn Sides Baker Workforce Recruitment Director Economic Development, Workforce & Education

Providing Aerospace and Defense Solutions to our Warfighters

ANY TIME...ANYWHERE Integrated Logistics & Product Support Engineering & Manufacturing Maintenance & Modifications Training Systems & Solutions Base & Range Operations

YULISTA.COM A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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DOING YOUR PART

Stay Engaged Participation needed in upcoming elections, 2020 Census There’s plenty to keep up with in the coming weeks and months in terms of civic engagement. Please keep your friends, neighbors, and co-workers updated on these dates and events!

General Municipal Election In Huntsville, the Mayor, District 1 & 5 Council Member and School Board Member seats are on the ballot.

■ Aug. 10 – last day to register to vote in the General Municipal Election ■ Aug. 20 – deadline to apply for regular absentee ballot (hand delivered or postmarked) ■ Aug. 24 – last day to return regular absentee ballots for General Municipal Election

General Election (State & U.S.) There are several races on the ballot. Federal races include President/Vice President, U.S. Senate (between Tommy Tuberville and Doug Jones) and U.S. House of Representatives. State races include seats on the Alabama Supreme Court, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Public Service Commission, State Board of Education, and various Circuit and District Court Judges. There are also various county offices.

■ Oct. 19 – Voter Registration deadline ■ Oct. 29 – Last day for voter to make application for an absentee ballot ■ Nov. 2 – Last day for voter to hand-deliver or postmark an absentee ballot ■ Nov. 3 – General Election – polls open: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

■ Aug. 25 – Election Day – polls open: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

2020 Census

■ Oct. 9 – Municipal Runoff, if needed

The Census is still underway, and starting this month, workers will begin to knock on doors of homes that haven’t responded.

This phase will continue through October 31. The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law, and that deadline has been pushed back to April 30, 2021.

As of mid-July, Alabama’s self-response rate was under 60 percent. Some counties in the state were higher, including Madison County, at 72 percent. Huntsville’s self-response rate was at 68 percent, with some pockets reporting below 50 percent and others approaching 90 percent participation. The City is working with partners in low-count areas and within the Hispanic-Latino community to distribute Census materials. “The messaging is now shifting from ‘how to respond online’ to ‘here’s what to expect’ when a Census worker comes to your door, and how to spot scammers,” said James Vandiver, who works in Huntsville’s Planning Department and is helping to oversee our city’s Complete Count effort.

Statewide, the Alabama Counts 2020 Census Committee and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) have been working with diverse groups to share the message. Please continue to urge your neighbors, coworkers and friends to respond. It’s important that we’re all counted this year – the Census determines critical federal funding for our state for the next 10 years, as well as our number of Congressional seats.

“We all benefit from good roads and good infrastructure, good health care, good education, and the Census plays a factor in all of that,” said Mike Presley of ADECA. You can respond online at 2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020.

■ Claire Aiello Vice President, Marketing & Communications

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A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

SPACE COMMAND

Stellar Strategy U.S. Space Command headquarters selection update

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he U.S. Space Command was established on August 29 of last year, as the 11th Unified Combatant Command. The Command’s temporary home was set at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. At that time, a decision on the Command’s permanent HQ location was still in the works.

The initial HQ site selection process narrowed the search down to six sites, including Redstone Arsenal. Unofficially, early evaluations put Redstone at the top of the list of sites under consideration.

Political pressure to re-open the site selection competition was building from other regions of the country (which also happen to be potential swing states in the Presidential election) and on March 2, Space Force Vice Commander, Lt. Gen. David Thompson, announced that “We’ve been directed to go back, open up the aperture and look at all of them,” referring to potential sites.

“That includes perhaps some non-traditional locations.”

On May 14 of this year, John Henderson, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations & Environment, sent a letter to all U.S. governors requesting self-nominations by June 30 from eligible communities. The letter also requested endorsements from the governors “to ensure the support of the state government.”

To self-nominate, communities had to meet three minimum screening criteria:

■ Community Support (15 points) – Support to military families as measured by the quality of schools, professional licensure portability, cost of living, housing affordability, and access to military/veteran support programs.

■ Costs to the Department of the Air Force (15 points) – One-time infrastructure and transportation costs, area construction cost factor, basic housing allowance rate, and area locality pay.

Top scoring candidates will get a site visit to obtain any additional information that may be required. Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal expect to be on the short list of top HQ site contenders.

■ Mike Ward, cce Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs

1) Be one of the top 150 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States; 2) Be located within 25 miles of a military base; and 3) Have a Livability Index score of 50 points out of 100 or higher as determined by the American Association of Retired Persons Public Policy Institute.

On June 11, Huntsville submitted its self-nomination with Governor Kay Ivey’s endorsement.

The Air Force will score communities based on these criteria: ■ Mission Related (40 points) – Assessment of the available qualified workforce, proximity to mutually supporting space entities, and ability of the eligible locations to provide emergency and incident response requirements, and enable mobility.

■ Infrastructure Capacity (30 points) – Infrastructure requirements to include facility and parking space, communications bandwidth and redundancy, special access communications, anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP) and security requirements, energy resilience, and the nearest active duty installation’s base operating support to service members to include medical care, childcare, military housing, and transportation.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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SPACE UPDATE

Moving Forward NASA, others continue quest for future flight

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main propulsion system components that connect to the engines. Command and control operations will be verified, and the core stage will be checked for leaks in fluid or gas.

n spite of challenges created by the COVID pandemic, NASA and local space companies continue to log some impressive accomplishments.

The Space Launch System core stage, the largest part of NASA’s heavy-lift launch vehicle, is currently in the test stand at the Stennis Space Center. There, it will be subjected to a series of initial “Green Run” tests, and functional checks designed to identify any operational issues. Those tests will culminate in a test fire replicating the stage’s first flight.

There are eight tests in the Green Run series, and the first two are completed:

TEST 5: Thrust Vector Controls – Engineers will ensure that

the thrust vector control system can move the four engines and check all the related hydraulic systems.

TEST 6: Countdown – This test simulates the launch count-

down, including step-by-step fueling procedures. Core stage avionics are powered on, and propellant loading and pressurization are simulated. The test team will exercise and validate the countdown timeline and sequence of events.

TEST 1: The Modal Test used shakers to impart dynamic forces

TEST 7: “Wet” Dress Rehearsal – Engineers will demonstrate

on the suspended stage to identify primary bending modes of the stage. Information from the modal test will help engineers verify vehicle models needed for the operation of the rocket’s guidance, navigation and control systems. [ completed]

loading, controlling and draining more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the two test stand run tanks and then returning the stage to a safe condition.

TEST 8: Hot Fire – The core stage’s four RS-25 engines will

operate for up to 8 minutes, generating 1.6 million pounds of thrust, the amount of thrust the engines produce at sea level on the launch pad at liftoff. The Hot Fire test is expected to take place this Fall. Following the final Hot Fire test, the Core Stage will be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center for an uncrewed launch to the Moon next year.

PHOTOS: NASA/SSC

Commercial Crew Developments

TEST 2: The Avionics Testing validates flight computers and

electronics that control the rocket but also those that collect flight data and monitor the overall health of the core stage. [ completed] TEST 3: Fail-Safes Test – Engineers will check out all the

safety systems that shut down operations during testing. To do this, they will simulate potential issues.

TEST 4: Propulsion – This will be the first test of each of the 36

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Meanwhile, work on Boeing’s Starliner Commercial Crew Vehicle continues, with a final test of the Capsule set for this Fall, prior to a crewed mission next year. The Boeing Capsule will be launched on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas rocket, manufactured at the ULA plant in Decatur, Ala. SpaceX conducted a successful crewed launch to the Space Station on May 30.

New Systems in Development Blue Origin is making progress on its BE-4 engine production facility in Cummings Research Park and on the test facility at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Blue delivered its first engine to ULA for their Vulcan rocket in early July, with a second engine expected soon thereafter.

ULA is well into the fabrication of its first Vulcan rocket and hopes to test the vehicle in 2021.

■ Mike Ward, cce Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Population

Madison City of City of Huntsville County Huntsville Madison Metro Area

2010 Census

334,811

180,105 42,938

417,593

2019 Census est.

372,909

200,574

51,593

471,824

11.4%

11.4%

20.2%

13.0%

% Growth

COMMUNITY PROFILE Top Ten Employers: Huntsville & Madison County Redstone Arsenal* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,000* Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,352

Households & Income

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

# of Households

152,723

Avg. Household Income Per Capita Income

17,530

185,056

Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000

$85,717

$79,715 $115,779

$84,048

The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,900

$35,822

$34,089 $43,917

$34,224

SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,746

As of July 2020

84,848

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov), 2018 American Community Survey Estimates

Dynetics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,551 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,389 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,206 ADTRAN, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,925 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 44,000 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 For more information, visit:

hsvchamber.org

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park has earned a reputation as a global leader in technology development. The second-largest science and technology research park in the U.S., Cummings Research Park is home to nearly 300 companies and 26,500 people involved in technology research and development.

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Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

STA FF Executive Staff

Chip Cherry, CCE, president & CEO Meghan Chambliss, executive assistant

Economic Development, Industry Relations & Workforce Lucia Cape, CCE, senior vice president Erin Koshut, executive director, Cummings Research Park Katelyn Sides Baker, workforce recruitment director Lydia Pennington, industry relations director John Roberts, economic development project director Ken Smith, research & information services director Julia Kaye, marketing & events coordinator

Government & Public Affairs Mike Ward, CCE, senior vice president Amberly Kimbrough, events coordinator

Marketing & Communications Claire Aiello, vice president Kristi Sherrard, graphic designer Hiroko Sedensky, web designer Silver Sponsors: Comcast Business; PALCO; Quadrus Corporation; Red Sage Communications, Inc.; Sady Zayas-Visser Agency - Farmers Insurance; Truist Bank

SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE 2020 SMALL BUSINESS & EVENT / WBC

SPONSORS Chamber Golf Classic TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 24

Presenting Sponsor: Yulista Silver Sponsors: Lockheed Martin Corporation; i3 - Integration Innovation, Inc.; PARSONS

Small Business & Events Pammie Jimmar, IOM, vice president

Finance & Administration Mary McNairy, vice president Kim Weeks, accounting specialist – receivables Joe Watson, facilities supervisor Sarah Blackmon, administrative coordinator Tiffany Boyd, resource desk coordinator

Investor Relations Amber Greenwood, vice president Kristy Drake, director, HREGI & ChamberON Donna McCrary, retention manager Richard Bigoney, account executive Tina Blankenship, account executive

Chamber Foundation Kent Ballard, Jr., workforce education specialist

Golfer Hospitality Tent Sponsor: Akima, LLC

Leadercast Women TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 15

Presenting Sponsor: Dynetics, Inc. Silver Sponsors: Bryant Bank, Torch Technologies

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

HSVchamber.org

Associated Organizations

WBC Series Presenting Sponsor: Baron Services, Inc. Gold Sponsors: BASF Corporation; Bryant Bank; Cornerstone Supply, Inc.; Southern States Bank; Synovus Silver Sponsors: Fernandez Financial Group - New York Life, Sady Zayas-Visser Agency - Farmers Insurance

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theschoolsfoundation.org uah.edu/sbdc A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

Thank you to some of our local mascots for masking up!

Counter-clockwise from top right: Chaos & Rukus from the Huntsville Havoc, Bruiser from Alabama A&M University, Rocket City Trash Pandas’ Sprocket, and UAH’s Charger Blue.

A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION

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