Spotlight on Industry | The Trussville Tribune | April 2025 by Mike Kurov

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT ON

P R E S E N T E D B Y

Blalock Building Company standing strong after almost two decades in construction

By Nathan Prewett

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –

Based in Trussville, Blalock Building Company, or BBC, has been around for nearly 20 years with the motto: “Skill, Honesty, Integrity.”

The company’s namesake, Steven Blalock, was inspired by his father, who was in the construction business himself. Blalock started small and gained experience in the field, eventually founding his company on Aug. 23, 2006.

Though BBC does not construct residential buildings, it does specialize in movie theaters, schools, churches, retail buildings, and office or commercial buildings.

In addition to construction, BBC also provides services in pre-construction with design-build, scheduling, and estimating and budgeting, as well as

post-construction services that include certificate of occupancy, as-built documentation, and warranties.

Brett Biel serves as vice president. The project manager team consists of Chris Rutherford, Pam Garner, and Jeff Berry.

Alabama is not solely the customer base for BBC. Elsewhere the company has overseen projects in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, Kansas, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Past projects include the Trussville Board of Education building, the Alabaster Administration building, Oak Mountain High School of Fine Arts, the Oxford High School Athletic Facility, the Hewitt-Trussville High School Stadium, Faith Community Church, Holy Infant of Prague, Regal Hamilton Place Theater, Regal Theater, Trussville

Public Library, and the Montevallo University Arts building among many others.

BBC is currently working on the Alabama Emergency Management Agency building, CrossFit Training facility in Trussville, the Regal Cinemas Virginia Gateway in Virginia, Calvary Baptist Church, Gateway Family Church, Trussville Softball Complex, the Homer Smiles Stadium in Leeds, and the Alabaster Board of Education building along with other projects. An upcoming project is the Hewitt-Trussville High School C-Wing addition, and 2023 Birmingham’s Largest Privately Held Companies by Birmingham Business, the Associated Builders & Contractors Excellence in Construction ABC Merit Awards, ABC Excellence in Construction Award, Associated General Contractors 2014 BuildSouth Construction, and awards from the American Subcontractors Association of Alabama.

“By hiring skilled, loyal employees, BBC has built a team of passionate individuals that are ready to bring your projects to reality,” said a description on the company’s website For more information about Blalock Building Company visit www. blalockbc.com, call 205661-3040, or email kbates@ blalockbc.com.

Trussville City Schools celebrates the opening of its new central office in 2022. (Photo by Hannah Curran)

SPOC Automation: Powering the future from right here in Trussville

By Blair Moore

What started 20 years ago in the Tuscaloosa gas fields has grown into one of Trussville’s most quietly powerful success stories.

SPOC Automation is a local company with a global reach, one that’s reshaping the way industries think about energy.

“We still control oil and gas wells around the world,” said Ted Wilke, president of SPOC Automation. “In 2020, we saw how unpredictable the oil and gas industry could be. We knew we needed to find a more stable path forward.”

That moment pushed the company to diversify, eventually leading SPOC into the fast-growing world of hybrid power systems: battery-enhanced power solutions designed to make energy use dramatically more efficient.

“If you understand what a Toyota Prius does, you understand the concept,” said Wilke. “It’s about capturing energy when it’s cheap or readily available and using it more wisely.”

SPOC’s systems are now powering marine vessels, data centers, massive construction sites—even an LNG export terminal on a remote Louisiana island with no access to the power grid. And all of that is happening from Trussville.

Wilke said he joined SPOC 15 years ago when the company had 38 employees. Today, they’re at 180 and still growing. “In 10 years, we expect to be well over 300,” he said. “That’s a big footprint, not just in terms of operations, but in terms of how many Trussville families we touch.”

Kimberly Farr, Director

Trussville resident, said that at SPOC, the hiring process is about more than just filling roles.

“We’re truly excited about the growth we’re experiencing at SPOC, but even more so about the amazing people we’re bringing on board,” said Farr. “Every person we hire plays a role in shaping who we are and where we’re going. We couldn’t be more grateful to have them joining our family right here in Trussville.”

Hiring is only part of the equation. SPOC is also investing heavily in the future of American manufacturing. Innovation and efficiency are key.

“We believe in American manufacturing,” said Wilke. “That means we have to be smarter. We’re investing in

facturing techniques, engineering talent, and most of all—quality.”

SPOC supports continuing education through programs like FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education), partners with local colleges, and leans into engineering fields like manufacturing and industrial engineering.

“The world can’t afford poor quality,” said Wilke. “So we’re committed to delivering the best.”

Of course, growing quickly comes with its own set of challenges. Right now, SPOC operates out of six separate buildings in Trussville.

demanding more and more power as AI and cloud computing expand.

“We think what we’re building in Trussville could reshape the way data centers are powered in the U.S.,” said Wilke.

And while all of this might sound like high-tech wizardry, Wilke brings it back to what matters most.

“People ask, ‘Is this about being green?’ Sure,” he said.

“The founders and owners all live here,” he said.

“You’ve got great schools, access to Birmingham, and that small-town sense of community. We can recruit talent here, and people love living here.”

“We’re a little disjointed,” said Wilke. “Our next big focus is finding the space to bring more of our operations under fewer buildings instead of six.” Wilke said Trussville is the perfect place to grow.

SPOC is keeping its eye on the horizon and on the grid.

One of their biggest current projects is powering the construction of that aforementioned LNG terminal, which Wilke called “the single largest installation of our hybrid systems to date.”

They're also looking to-

“But it’s also about saving money. And when you use fewer resources and save money—that’s just smart business. That’s good for the environment, and good for the customer.”

It’s also good for Trussville. From cutting-edge innovation to community impact, SPOC Automation is showing what happens when local roots and big

products and value-added services to customers in the automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial business sectors. Let us partner with you for all your lubricant needs!

Fuel & DEF

McPherson is your experienced and trusted provider of all fuel products. We know that safe and on-time delivery of fuel is critical to our customers. Let us partner with you for all your fuel needs!

Petroleum Equipment

We provide our customers with creative solutions for equipment needs. We offer new equipment, used equipment and maintenance programs. Let us provide the equipement solutions that will

Fuelz Fleet Card

McPherson’s Fuelz Fleet Card will provide savings to your company. Our FUELZ card provides security, accountability and control of your company’s fuel expenses. Let us help you manage

Renew ReNew, a division of McPherson Oil, offers the following services in complete compliance with the ever-changing State and Federal Environmental Regulations:

•Professional, non-hazardous collection of hydraulic oils, gear oils, turbine oils and paper machine oils.

•Comprehensive liability and pollution insurance

McPherson also offers these services:

•Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)- allow us to manage yourinventory with our tank monitoring system

• inspections, maintenance and analysis

Trinity Contractors at top of the game after 44 years in business

By Nathan Prewett

44 years after its founding in 1981, Trinity Contractors continues to be a staple in the business community within Trussville.

“Gene Jones was the original president here,” said David Pentecost, Trinity’s president. “And he started this group in Trussville as a satellite of the Trinity in Texas. And I think they had a job in the area and opened the Trussville office in conjunction with that. It just grew from there.”

It can be said that Trinity Contractors has had its fingers in different pies since its start. Their specialties include cooling, heating, electrical, plumbing, electrical construction, and mechanical construction. Trinity currently employs 117 people and maintains more than 30 service trucks.

Aside from Trussville, Trinity’s customer service area covers Irondale, Vestavia, Argo, Odenville, Moody, Leeds, Pinson, Clay, Over the Mountain, Hoover, Helena, Alabaster, Riverchase, Indian Springs, and Inverness. But their services are not strictly limited to those areas.

“We do cover the majority of the state,” said Aimee Jones, Administration and Contracts Manager. “What we like to tell our customers is as far as Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden–that’s the area we focus on because we’re not cost effective outside of those areas with the travel involved, but in the greater Birmingham area and north, south, east, and west, about a hundred miles in each direction we are.”

Any resident of Alabama intimately knows how blisteringly hot it gets here during the summer season,

so you obviously don’t want to be without a good cooling system. In addition to providing air conditioning systems Trinity also provides repair and maintenance.

And though our winters are not as cold as elsewhere, you’ll still need to have that heating up to snuff. Just like with cooling, Trinity offers services in repair and maintenance and installation by highly trained technicians who can perform diagnostics to ensure that it’s working to its full capacity.

Additionally, Trinity provides services for gas pumps, heat pump systems, boilers, electric air handlers, heat strips, and pilot lights.

The company maintains a high standard for their technicians as they undergo extensive training and are certified and bonded. Finding the manpower for a business of Trinity’s kind can be challenging, Jones said, but the company is willing to spare expenses in providing education opportunities where employees can be sent for additional schooling or training, which is something that pays off for everyone in the long run.

“Probably the most rewarding for me is dealing with all the different customers,” she said. “Our

technicians have a good rapport with a lot of different people–our commercial and residential clients, all the different people we get to meet and work with.”

In general construction, Trinity has its fingers in even more pies, working with residential and commercial buildings, namely healthcare and retirement facilities.

“We really lean pretty heavy towards the hospital end of things,” Pentecost

said. Service to the community is another staple for the company, sponsoring different events in Trussville over the years, especially City Fest and the annual Christmas parade, along with others.

“We sponsor a lot of things,” said Jones. “We’re currently sponsoring two golf tournaments. We do a lot with the schools, field sponsorships, event sponsorships. We do so with the

[Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce] as well.”

Jones pointed out that having a presence in the community is something near and dear to the heart of Trinity and that schools are particularly special to it.

“It’s important to us to be in front of the community so that they recognize the support we provide,” Jones continued. “Just as the schools are important to us, the kids having a good time while learning is important.

Pentecost said that he and his colleagues have been at Trinity for a long time, making it a point of pride for him.

“As president I’m just honored to work around the group that we have here,” Pentecost said and pointed out that he has been with Trinity Contractors since 1992, while Jones and David Mickle, Vice President of Service, have been there for more than 20 years.

“We’ve got a good group of people that work here,” Pentecost continued. “Very knowledgeable. I guess that’s my number one thing, it’s just that I’m very proud of who we are.”

Mickle concurred with Pentecost.

“It’s just part of the business when you’re able to reach out and help somebody with something,” Mickle said. “It makes the world not such a bad place.” At the end of the day Jones credited their workers for being the backbone of Trinity, acknowledging their skill due to the support that they are given.

“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if we didn’t have them to do it,” Jones said. “So we’re very fortunate in that regard and I do believe that sets us apart from the competition because it’s not just somebody working out of the truck in their backyard. We put the education behind our employees. They have our reputation and our warranty behind them as well.”

For more information visit the website at trin.com, email servicecalltrin@trin. com or call 205-655-5099. Trinity offers 24/7 emergency service to all of its customers.

Trinity Contractors can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.

BUILDING THE FUTURE

How Irondale’s Municipal Projects Are Sparking Economic Growth and Community Renewal

The City of Irondale is charting a bold new course one paved by visionary leadership, strategic investment, and a deep commitment to community. Through a series of transformative municipal projects, Irondale is not only enhancing the quality of life for its residents but also laying the foundation for significant economic development and private-sector growth

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS: THE IRONDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Irondale’s new 16,000-square-foot library is poised to become a vibrant hub of learning, culture, and connection. Twice the size of its current facility built in 1973 the new library will offer something for everyone. With modern furnishings, vibrant areas for children and teens, community meeting rooms, and inviting outdoor patios, it will be a place to gather, explore, and grow

As construction approaches 90% completion, the City anticipates receiving the keys in late June 2025 Stewart Perry Construction, an Irondale-based company, is leading the build, with architectural design by Charles Williams & Associates, and project oversight from Kemp Management Solutions. A grand opening is projected for early fall.

SAFET Y AND SERVICE: FIRE STATION #3

Irondale’s commitment to public safety is also advancing with the development of Fire Station #3 With an $8 million investment from the City and Argo Building Company at the helm, the project is now in its pre-construction phase. Once completed, it will strengthen emergency response capabilities and support the city ’s growing population and economy.

PARKS AND PLAY: BUILDING COMMUNIT Y

Irondale's momentum extends beyond civic buildings into spaces designed for recreation, wellness, and community activities In October 2024, the city celebrated the grand opening of Tails by the Rails at Ellard Park a contemporary new dog park offering residents and their furry companions a safe and scenic place to gather and play.

Just months later, on March 1, 2025, the city unveiled the Ruffner Park Sports Complex, a top-tier ball park featuring three tur f fields, two playgrounds, a walking track, and family-friendly amenities Over 100 young athletes and 11 teams now call the park home, and the complex has already proven to be a catalyst for economic growth with Foxhound Bee Company breaking ground on a beautiful new adjacent facility and travel ball tournaments packing the park each weekend These investments not only enhance quality of life but also reinforce Irondale’s identity as a city that prioritizes livability and smart growth.

Mayor James D Stewart, Jr

AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL: THE IRONDALE CIVIC CENTER

Next on the horizon is the Irondale Civic Center a reimagination of the former Zamora Temple into a dynamic, multi-purpose venue that brings the community together With construction set to begin in July 2025, this $18 million project will include a large events space capable of hosting up to 1,500 people, plus multiple meeting rooms, a fitness center, and, pending the availability of grants and funding, additional features like a splash pad, accessible playground, and pickleball courts. This project represents more than a renovation it symbolizes Irondale’s commitment to creating spaces that draw in visitors and boost tourism

THE HEART OF GOVERNANCE: IRONDALE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

At the center of Irondale’s municipal transformation is the new Municipal Complex a stateof-the-art facility that will bring essential city functions including Administration, Police, Emergency Dispatch, Courts, Water, and Building Inspections, together under one roof

Designed by Irondale resident Chip Gardner of Gardner Architects LLC, and budgeted at $18 million, the project will streamline the City ’s operations hub and elevate the city ’s capacity for governance and public service Construction is expected to begin in late 2025

“The new Irondale Municipal Complex will truly change the face of Crestwood Boulevard with its modern, sophisticated design, and it is our hope that the City's investment will continue to attract other new development to the Hw y. 78 corridor,” stated Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr.

REIMAGINING DOWNTOWN: THE GATHERING SPOT

With civic functions moving to modern facilities, Irondale’s downtown core centered around the railroad tracks is primed for a renaissance. Mayor Stewart has proposed a plan to create “The Gathering Spot,” a mixeduse entertainment district with restaurants, retail, and residential opportunities. This redevelopment vision aims to breathe new life into the area, turning it into an attractive destination for residents and visitors alike

A CIT Y THAT’S JUST BUILT DIFFERENT

Through these ambitious municipal projects led by Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr., Irondale is doing more than building buildings it’s building momentum Each project brings new jobs, new opportunities, and a renewed sense of purpose

Whether it’s fostering education, strengthening safety, enhancing civic life, or inspiring private investment, Irondale is setting a strong example of how thoughtful, community-driven development can lead the way for economic growth. In Irondale, the future isn’ t coming it’s already underway.

Meet the Owner/Operations Manager of Corsa Crew: Joseph Thomas of Trussville Alabama.

Hi, I am Joseph Thomas and I spend each day at work helping people unleash their smiles per gallon! I grew up around racecars and have enjoyed building them and being involved in Motorspor ts my entire life. Wether consulting a full on racecar build from the ground up, or helping someone decide on what brake pad to run for their first Track Day at Barber Motorspor ts Park, I take the time to make sure ever yone ' s needs are met. That they can get an amazing experience from our ser vices or par ts.

Experience prior to star ting Corsa Crew in 2015: 15 years professional race team experience

Team Rule One Crew Chief for World Racing League Pit crew suppor t for Team HM A at Pirelli World Challenge series Driver for 2 One Lap of America events (1st and 2nd place in-class finishes)

Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University

Racing Tire Design and Development Engineer

At CorsaCrew, our mission is simple: Smiles Per Gallon!

We offer gold standard motorspor t ser vices, general maintenance, and per formance optimization for all car makes and models.

-High end luxur y and exotic car per formance, maintenance, and par ts (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati, Alfa, BMW, Cor vette, and more!

-Classic Car Mechanical Restoration

-Drag and Road racing vehicle preparation, maintenance, par ts sales, and per formance consultation

-Arrive and Drive ser vice with your own car or rent one of our race prepared cars for any track day event.

From our all inclusive Arrive & Drive Track Car Rentals, Climate

Controlled Vehicle Storage, Per formance Par ts & Maintenance Shop, and Racing Simulator Rental, we’ve got you covered! We even have our own blend of Coffee, Corsa Brew High Octane 120 Blend! Ser ved in the coffee bar at our shop here in Birmingham. Sold in whole bean bags and k-cups.

Corsa Crew attends all Barber Motorspor ts Park track day events and we also suppor t all of the local car shows in the Birmingham area.

Check us out at co

The City of Center Point: Looking ahead towards city revitalization

By Sherry J. Parker

Mayor Bobby Scott and The City of Center Pont have been diligently working towards bringing shopping and dining back home. Their goals are simple: to create jobs, encourage equitable business growth, and support small businesses. With their Economic Development Mission they have been doing just that.

One such example is Zatie’s Southern Cuisine.

The family-owned namesake restaurant of the Center Point native, and grandmother, Zatie Harris opened in May of 2018. For almost seven years their goal has been to provide meals to their customers just like they remember being served at their Grandmother Zatie’s house, along with the same welcoming atmosphere. They take pride in their motto, “Zatie’s is where you feel at home.” Located at 1805 Center Point Parkway you can visit them to experience their well-loved recipes Tuesday- Friday 11:00am- 6:00pm, and Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm.

Moses Whitaker, owner of Rochelle’s Coffee along with his wife, Edkendia, has seen himself in a service capacity through a God-given dream since the age of 14. In October of 2021, while out on a date night, the couple noticed a lack of coffee, breakfast, café style establishments along Center Point Parkway. After many discussions on what the community needed most the idea of a coffee shop was brought up by Enkendia, and Rochelle’s Coffee was born. Officially opening their doors at 1461 Center Point Parkway on April 18th 2022, Rochelle’s immediately began immersing themselves in the local com-

munity. They worked with the city to bring back ‘Movie Night in the Park.’ They frequently host ‘Pop Up’ events for new businesses in order to help introduce them into the community and regularly host ‘Men’s Coffee Talks.’ In addition, they have held events to promote Mental Health Awareness and Voter Education. Aside from coffee, Rochelle’s offers a variety of fares including their Southern Grit Bowls, pastries, and Boba tea.

2024 saw the addition of two more dining establishments. After seven years of serving the area through Simone’s Kitchen ATL food truck, local Chef Whitney Simone expanded her journey to her new brick and mortar location: Simone’s Kitchen & Cocktails. In May of 2024 Chef Simone began serving customers at her fine dining establishment located at 2321 Center Point Parkway Suite 106. Simone’s Kitchen & Cocktails accepts table reservations, offers an event room for special occasions, and catering for all your events 6 days a weel: Tuesday-Sunday. Chef Simone has been voted Young

Entrepioneers Top Female Chef three times and was voted the 2021 Young Entrepioneer of the year. Simone’s menu varies from Cajun cuisine, brunch, hearty soul food, and other American classics. Kaitlynn’s Café opened its doors in September 2024, located at 2209 Center Point Parkway. They are open weekly on Tuesday-Friday from 1:00pm-6:00pm, and Sunday from 12:00-4:00pm. Their daily specials sell out quickly. Kaitlynn’s boasts a Facebook recommendation

rating of 94% with 3.6k followers.

Reaching beyond the food hospitality industry, 2024 also brought 25 more full-time jobs by way of Mi Tierra Linda. Meaning My Beautiful Land in English, the supermarket considers themselves more than just a grocery store. They strive to reach out to and serve not only the Mexican, Mexican-American, Central American and South American cultures, but to span cultures providing a fun, unique, and affordable

experience for all. They are dedicated to making everyone feel at home. Mi Tierra Linda strives for excellence in every aspect. Their goal is to not only be known as a niche grocery store, but a market that brings opportunity for cultural experiences to everyone. They provide affordable and fresh products to not only celebrate their roots, but to share with all customers from any culture in an inviting and friendly atmosphere. In addition to multi-cultural grocery and merchandise products, they provide freshly made to order food from their Juice and Snack Bar, a fresh Meat Market, a Tortillaría, and a top notch produce section. In the coming weeks, they will be adding a Panadería, or bakery, to provide fresh baked breads, desserts, and pastries. Since their Grand Opening, they have hosted events open to all members of the surrounding communities, including most recently an Easter Egg hunt. They are open every day from 7:00am- 9:00pm at 2375 First St NE, Center Point.