Montgomery Business Journal – October 2015 by Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

THE HYUNDAI EFFECT PAGE 8

LANDING CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS PAGE 16

FROM BOARDROOMS TO CLASSROOMS PAGE 32

DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS LT. GEN. STEVEN KWAST HELPS THE AIR FORCE TRANSFORM ITSELF INTO THE INFORMATION AGE PAGE 40

CONTENTS 30

OCTOBER 2015

Member Profile: Tasha M. Scott

22 Military Advocate

8 The Hyundai Effect 40

MEMBER NEWS 22 Member Profile: Sterling Bank 30 Member Profile: Tasha M. Scott 49 Chamber Notebook 50 Member Profile: Palomar Insurance

CHAMBER NEWS 06 Calendar 52 Reporterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notebook 61 Business Buzz 66 Members on the Move 72 Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings 73

New Members

Economic Intel

FEATURES 8

THE HYUNDAI EFFECT Automaker and suppliers have a $4.8 billion annual impact on Alabama

32 FROM BOARDROOMS TO CLASSROOMS Program pairs principals with business leaders

14 40-YEAR CAREER AUM Chancellor John G. Veres announces his retirement

36 BUILDING ON COMMUNITY River Bank & Trust keeps growing

16 LANDING CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Air Service plays a vital role in economic development

40 DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast helps reinvent the Air Force

24 PROFITS SQUEEZED Commodity prices and a strong dollar impact Infinitus Renewable Energy Park sales

58 DREAM BUILT ON LEARNED BUSINESS SKILLS Entrepreneurial University played a vital role for Dreamland managing partner

29 MILITARY ADVOCATE U.S. Rep. Martha Roby vigorously supports the Armed Forces

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Montgomery Business Journal c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Post Office Box 79 41 Commerce Street Montgomery, Alabama 36101 Telephone: 334-834-5200 Fax: 334-265-4745 Email: mbj@montgomerychamber.com www.montgomerychamber.com/mbj The Montgomery Business Journal (USPS NO. 025553) is published monthly except for the combined issues of June/July/August and November/December, by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, 41 Commerce Street, Montgomery AL 36104, (334) 834-5200, www.montgomerychamber.com. Subscription rate is $30 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Montgomery Alabama, 36119+9998, USPS NO. 025553. Volume 7, Issue 8. POSTMASTER send address changes to Montgomery Business Journal, c/o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 79, 41 Commerce Street, Montgomery AL 36101, or email mbj@montgomerychamber.com. The Montgomery Business Journal welcomes story ideas from its readers. Email to: editor@montgomerychamber.com. Subscriptions are a part of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce dues structure. Subscriptions can also be purchased for $30 per year at www.montgomerychamber.com/mbjsub.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

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Automaker, suppliers have

$4.8 billion annual economic impact on state by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

THE HYUNDAI EFFECT

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange can now laugh about a grueling 12-hour marathon negotiating session with Hyundai Motor Co. officials over the automaker’s annual payroll for a manufacturing facility in Montgomery. The impasse was finally broken when a Hyundai official wrote: $59,999,999 on a chalkboard. Now, after 10 years of production, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama’s annual payroll for the Montgomery plant is $216 million and swells to $260 million when including $44 million worth of benefits. Hyundai’s economic impact continues to swell even after a report was released just five years ago by Keivan Deravi, an economics professor at Auburn University at Montgomery. He is dean of the College of Public Policy and Justice as well as a leading expert in economic impact modeling. Keivan Deravi is an economics professor at Auburn University at Montgomery and dean of the College of Public Policy and Justice.

“There is no doubt in my mind that HMMA has dramatically changed the manufacturing landscape of the Central Alabama economy and not just here,” Deravi said. “Their impact is far-reaching and extremely impressive.”

Back in 2011, Deravi determined Hyundai’s annual economic impact, including its suppliers, was $3.8 billion on the State of Alabama in 2010. The Korean automaker and its suppliers had a combined annual economic impact of $1.7 billion on Montgomery County. That was so very long ago when you consider that Hyundai added a third shift, hiring nearly 900 employees, and many suppliers also added employees to keep up and some new suppliers came to the area. That brings us to Deravi’s new numbers for 2014 and those numbers “are so significant and so impactful,” he said during a news conference at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. He could have said staggering and astonishing. Hyundai’s total sales in Alabama were $7 billion in 2014 and the gross domestic product of the Montgomery Metro Statistical Area (that includes Elmore, Autauga and Lowndes counties) was $12 billion. More directly, Hyundai accounts for 20 percent, or $2.4 billion, of Montgomery County’s entire economy. “Hyundai has been a game-changer for this community,” said Elton N. Dean Sr., chairman of the Montgomery County Commission. “People need to know the impact that Hyundai has had on this community.” Now consider the cost associated with recruiting Hyundai, which was responsible for $81 million in taxes last year. “You don’t need to be a Ph.D. in economics to figure out if the investment in Hyundai was worth it,” Deravi said. “If you invest about $260 million and you’re getting $80 million back (a year) – that’s a pretty darn good investment.” Continued on page 12

“There is no doubt in my mind that HMMA has dramatically changed the manufacturing landscape of the Central Alabama economy and not just here. Their impact is far-reaching and extremely impressive.”

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

Bridging the Skills Gap Investment capital was not the only asset devastated by the recent “Great Recession.” Intellectual capital took a hit as well when austerity measures called a halt to many of the training and development initiatives businesses have long relied on to ensure a skilled workforce. The result? Today, workers find themselves with skills that have grown rusty at a time when the pursuit of growth opportunities demands sharper skills and higher performance. What skills are needed most and how can employers ensure the workforce is up to speed?

Both Employees and Employers Feel the Pain For nearly 20 years, the Emerging Workforce® Study, sponsored by Spherion®, has been exploring shifting trends and changing attitudes in the American workforce. According to Angela Swarts, owner of Spherion in Montgomery, “Employers are all too familiar with the ongoing struggle to find qualified workers. What we found most disconcerting in our latest research is the high level of concern that workers themselves expressed with regard to their skills.” s s s s s s

Nearly one-third (29 percent) of workers feel their current skills are outdated. More than one-third (35 percent) say it is hard to find the time to keep their skills up to date. 33 percent believe their current job skills fall short of what will be required for future positions. 36 percent don’t feel their current job skills will help them attain a promotion today. 76 percent believe an employer should provide a clear career development path for employees. 31 percent don’t feel they have been trained adequately enough by their employer.

Employers feel differently. Most are taking steps to ensure workers are well-equipped to do their jobs. In fact, 77 percent have put more training and development programs in place to increase retention.

The Nature of the Skills Gap While there is no shortage of evidence that demand is high for technical skills (especially in the STEM arena—science, technology, engineering and math), the lack of soft skills is a growing concern for both the employees and employers responding to the Emerging Workforce Study. Workers and employers largely agree on the top skills needed in the next five years: EMPLOYEE RANKING

EMPLOYER RANKING

1. Problem-solving

2. Strategic thinking

3. Evolving technology expertise (e.g., mobile applications, cloud computing, security)

3. Team-building; Understanding and interpreting data; Evolving technology expertise (all three ranked of equal importance)

The Nature of the Skills Gap When employees are frustrated by career stagnation due to lagging skills, they are more vulnerable to the recruiting efforts of other employers. Angela Swarts advises: “If employees feel their employers have neglected their career aspirations, they will be quick to look elsewhere for fulfillment. Help employees build their skills and create opportunities for them to apply those skills to new challenges within your organization, not someone else’s.”

Founded in 1946, Spherion is a staffing leader with 175 offices nationwide. Spherion offers clients the personalized service of a local business combined with the resources and expertise of a $2 billion workforce leader. Local owner Angela Swarts and her staffing team have been serving the recruiting and staffing needs of Montgomery and the River Region for more than a decade. From flexible to direct hire, they specialize in administrative, light industrial, customer service, non-clinical healthcare and professional placements. Find out how Spherion can help you build a high-performance workforce to propel growth.

Continued from page 10

Hyundai and its suppliers now have an annual economic impact of about $4.8 billion on the state. That’s because when Hyundai came to Montgomery “we just did not get an operation,” Deravi said. “We just did not get a plant. We got an industry in its entirety. By bringing Hyundai here, we just brought an automobile sector from A to Z, and that’s why the impact is so large, because is it a complete operation.” Deravi said that Hyundai and its suppliers have a 38,000 impact on employment and that figure might be the largest impact he has seen from one entity in his career. All the numbers associated with

Hyundai and its suppliers – around 40 tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers – are enormous. The overall expenditures, not including interest and depreciation, totaled $6.3 billion in 2014, and $3.1 billion of that was on Alabama-based businesses. It was Deravi who conducted the initial annual economic impact in early 2000 when Hyundai was being courted. “We underestimated all the numbers,” he said. One of those numbers was Hyundai’s investment, which has grown 80 percent from the original $1 billion to the now $1.8 billion. The plant has about 3,700 employees, including temporary workers, while the initial economic impact was based on 2,000 employees. “Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama could not be more pleased with our contribution to Alabama’s economy and employment,” HMMA President and CEO J.H. Kim said in a statement. “We are proud of our track record as an important and rapidly growing Alabama employer and as a manufacturer of highvalue, high-quality and high-efficiency vehicles for American consumers.” n

“Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama could not be more pleased with our contribution to Alabama’s economy and employment.” HMMA President and CEO J.H. Kim

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Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

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College of Public Policy and Justice and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The university also realigned two schools to form the College of Arts and Sciences.

40-YEAR CAREER AUM Chancellor John G. Veres announces retirement

MONTGOMERY – At the annual faculty and staff convocation, Auburn University at Montgomery Chancellor John G. Veres III announced his plans to retire near the end of the current academic year. “John has been a dedicated leader at Auburn Montgomery and a valued member of the greater Auburn family,” Auburn University President Jay Gogue said in a statement. “He has helped AUM grow as a collaborator and resource in Montgomery, the River Region, and the state. We are appreciative of his service and wish him the best.” Under Veres’ leadership, the university has implemented several major strategic initiatives to grow AUM and its recognition as a provider of quality higher education and continuing education as well as services for local and state businesses and government. “I am proud to be the first alumnus of Auburn Montgomery to lead our university,” Veres said in a statement. “It has been an honor to serve as chancellor and a great privilege to work with the excellent faculty and staff members at AUM. I shall miss the daily interaction with students, faculty and staff, but I am looking forward to watching AUM continue to grow and serve the citizens of Alabama and beyond.” Among the university’s successes under Veres’ leadership is its recent academic transformation and expansion. The university underwent a major academic reorganization in 2015, creating two new colleges: the

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

Another initiative under Veres’ leadership has been attracting foreign students to the campus. Auburn Montgomery enrolled 229 international students from 37 countries last fall. Ongoing programs with universities in Wuhan and Changsha, China, are scheduled to bring approximately 100 students to Montgomery in fall 2016, allowing them to complete their senior years and degrees on the AUM campus. These programs not only enhance opportunities for international students, but foster new cultural experiences and benefit all students, who interact in a more diverse environment. Veres’ time at AUM has been marked by the strong connection he forged between the university and the community. Long before becoming chancellor, as the developer of University Outreach’s consulting and applied research unit, Veres became an active member of economic development initiatives, partnerships and advisory groups among businesses and government in the state, particularly in the River Region. As chancellor, he brought that same collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit and keen appreciation of the place Auburn Montgomery holds in the community to find new ways to deepen that relationship and to increase the university’s contributions as a resource and partner. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to connecting with students and improving their experience. This has led to many changes to the campus’s physical profile, including the additions of the AUM Wellness Center, Warhawk Hall (a student residence), a new softball complex, the Grove (an outdoor gathering area), the Confucius Garden, fitness trails and a new residence hall now under construction. Prior to his selection as chancellor, Veres had multiple roles as a faculty member and leader of AUM applied research programs, going on to be named executive director of University Outreach in 2000 and chancellor in 2006. n

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Air service plays vital role in economic development by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

LANDING CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS The number of passengers at Montgomery Regional Airport has been surging the past 12 months and surging is no exaggeration.

The Montgomery Regional Airport has seen a dramatic increase in the number of passengers.

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

From July 2014 through June 2015, enplanements were up 14 percent over the same period a year earlier and that 14 percent increase is a difference of about 22,000 passengers. The overall total passenger difference – enplanements and deplanements – showed a 12 percent increase and a difference of nearly 38,000 more passengers.

MGM TOP 25 DESTINATIONS 1

Washington

New York

Philadelphia

Chicago

Houston

Los Angeles Basin

Dallas

Seoul

Denver

Las Vegas

South Florida

San Francisco

Orlando

San Antonio

As president and CEO of Baptist Health, Tyner understands the critical role the airport plays in economic development. He oversees the largest private company in the region with 4,550 employees, including contracted services.

Boston

Phoenix

Detroit

“When we recruit physicians or we recruit any other professionals, it’s (the airport) their first and last impression that they get of our community. It’s incredibly important when you step off a plane and when you walk out the front door of the airport – whatever your transportation is – that’s your first impression of a community.”

Norfolk

Seattle

Louisville

Tampa

Charlotte

St. Louis

Raleigh/Durham

Kansas City

Three of those months saw increases topping 20 percent while another month had a 19 percent increase and two other months rose about 14 percent. Only four of the 12 months had increases of less than 10 percent. Those differences are significant. What this positive trend means and after 12 consecutive months it is a well-established trend – airline service could be on the verge of moving to a higher level. A level that might help recruit new companies to Montgomery and retain those all-important existing industries and businesses. “For air service, some of the trends we’re seeing are very positive and may give us the opportunity to parlay that to much more efficient transportation in and out of Montgomery,” said W. Russell Tyner, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “That’s incredibly, incredibly important.” The upward trend could result in additional direct flights, larger planes and more desirable flight times to and from Montgomery. “From an economic development perspective, in this day and age business is global,” Tyner said. “You have to have the capacity to be exceptionally mobile to find a community to be satisfactory for new and expanding business. “We don’t have publically traded (corporate) headquarters here. I’m not saying that that has anything to do with air service, but if you intend to play on that level you have to have air service that is commensurate with what you can find in other similarly situated cities and regions – otherwise you’re a non-player. That’s how important it is.

W. Russell Tyner is chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

You don’t even get to the table if I can’t move my employees in and out efficiently, effectively and costeffectively. Time and distance is money. These are times when travel needs to be easy and rapid so that you can get to Montgomery to conduct business and you get back home.” Having corporate or even regional headquarters here translates into philanthropic dollars coming and staying in the community. Tyner said that the impact on a community is “tangible; palpable.”

Tyner said that more direct flights “will make a huge difference.” For Montgomery to be a player for corporate headquarters, “you have to have the ability to go to San Francisco and be back tomorrow …” Tyner said. It does take much more than air service to recruit corporate headquarters. “If you just have really good air service and not much else – you’re not a real player,” Tyner said. “If you have everything else you need, but don’t have the capacity for efficient or effective air travel – you’re not going to get to the table.” n

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

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ENPLANEMENTS

DEPLANEMENTS

TOTAL PASSENGERS

January

12,987

13,447

26,434

February

12,513

11,045

23,558

March

14,795

14,830

29,625

April

14,979

14,707

29,686

May

16,254

15,353

31,607

June

14,741

14,394

29,135

January

10,428

11,415

21,843

February

11,270

11,096

22,366

March

13,447

13,646

27,093

April

13,145

13,275

26,420

May

15,050

13,662

28,712

June

13,778

13,927

27,705

July

15,683

15,792

31,475

August

14,900

16,032

26,634

September

15,395

15,470

30,865

October

16,656

16,563

33,219

November

14,389

14,684

29,073

December

14,554

13,722

28,278

January

12,668

13,418

26,086

February

12,211

12,223

24,434

March

14,194

13,896

28,090

April

13,874

13,788

27,662

May

15,859

15,023

30,882

June

14,183

13,863

28,046

July

13,176

13,545

26,721

August

13,090

13,544

26,634

September

12,477

11,997

24,474

October

13,280

13,617

26,897

November

13,212

13,014

26,226

December

13,442

13,178

26,620

2015

“Some of the trends we’re seeing are very positive and may give us the opportunity to parlay that to much more efficient transportation in and out of Montgomery. That’s incredibly, incredibly important.” W. Russell Tyner, chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

2014

2013

L A N DIN G C O R P O R AT E H E A D Q U A R T ER S

AIRPORT PASSENGER TOTALS RISE FOR 13 STRAIGHT MONTHS by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

It was a slight increase – about 1.5 percent – yet it was a significant milestone when passenger totals at Montgomery Regional Airport rose for 13 straight months. That was the first time since February 2004 that the airport had 13 consecutive months of passenger growth. “We offer a great product with an ever-improving airport experience,” Montgomery Airport Authority Executive Director Phil Perry said in a statement. “Our staff is excited with our growth while enjoying the interacting with passengers.”

“Our load factors are so high it backs up our business case for the need for another airline and we hope one of the airlines will recognize the trending growth and launch service,” Gentry said. “These are exciting times for MGM and the River Region.”

From June 2014 through June 2015, enplanements were up 14 percent (about 22,000 more passengers) versus the same period a year earlier. Deplanements jumped 13 percent (about 20,000 passengers) during the June 2014-June 2015 period and overall passenger totals have surged 12 percent (nearly 38,000 more passengers).

Delta was operating on a 95 percent load factor while American Airlines/US Airways flights to Charlotte were at 88 percent and American flights to Dallas were 81 percent. A third daily flight to Charlotte was scheduled to start in early September.

“We’re hopeful that our growth will continue,” said Chip Gentry, vice president, air service development for Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery Airport Authority. “We think that the four larger flights a day starting the last third of (August) will push us forward.” Delta is again flying dual cabins on four of its seven daily flights to Atlanta. Three of those planes hold 65 passengers and one holds 76. The smaller planes have a capacity of 50 passengers. It is the equivalent of adding 1.5 flights per day, according to Gentry.

Gentry said that the goal is a 5 percent increase the rest of the year, which is dependent on American continuing its aggressive airfares and on a stable economy. He noted that the airport has passengers driving from Birmingham to fares that cost less. The majority of the passengers live in Lee County, but fly out of Montgomery instead of driving a shorter distance to Atlanta, Gentry said. n Chip Gentry is vice president, air service development for Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery Airport Authority.

He credits the rise in passengers to an airport awareness campaign and a cost calculator on the airport’s new website: flymgm.com. “We’re advertising not only locally, but we advertise digitally in the top cities that come here on travel.” The “Change Is In the Air” awareness campaign was launched last year and this year the baggage area was revamped. The cost calculator gives passengers a true cost of flying, including parking fees and driving time.

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Member Profile

STERLING BANK

Bank takes customer service to a higher level by Melissa George Bowman

photography by Robert Fouts

In the lobby of Sterling Bank a large frame displaying a customer covenant greets customers. It reminds them bank employees “take 100 percent responsibility for meeting the needs of each customer” – a promise Sterling Bank President and CEO W. Alan Worrell and his team do not take lightly. “We’re more service-oriented than what you would typically see in a bank,” Worrell said. “All banks talk about being relationship-oriented, but we truly live that every day. We are truly relationship-oriented and have been from the very beginning.” Sterling Bank has been in business 26 years and from the start was designed to offer a higher level of service. Worrell has been with the organization since day one. He previously worked for Jim Wilson & Associates and was encouraged by the late Jim Wilson Jr. to start the new company. At the time, Wilson served on the board of a Birmingham-based bank holding company and was impressed with its commitment to exceptional customer service. He felt a similarly run bank would do well in Montgomery. Wilson and Worrell worked together to form Sterling Bank and by March of 1989 its doors were open.

Alan Worrell is president and CEO of Sterling Bank.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

In 1992, Sterling Bank and its holding company, First Commercial Bank Shares, merged into Synovus Bank, a company dating back to 1888. Today Synovus operates banks in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. While each community bank has a different name, all are part of the Synovus family. Locally, Sterling Bank has three Montgomery locations and one in Prattville. Not only does Sterling Bank provide traditional banking services for individuals and businesses big and small, it also offers a wide variety of investment, insurance and residential mortgage financing services. Whatever service a customer needs, Worrell says the bank takes time to know each person by name. Sterling Bank has unique ways to accomplish this, including its office design. You will not see typical teller windows found in most bank lobbies at Sterling Bank. Instead, bankers seated at desks welcome customers. Referred to as personal bankers, Worrell says they can assist a wide variety of customer needs.

Just as Sterling Bank was innovative then, it has also adapted to modern technology. Today many customers want immediate access. Sterling Bank accommodates those needs through online and mobile banking options, drive-thru services and expanded call center hours. However, Worrell is quick to point out Sterling Bank will always offer a personal connection to those who want it.

“Every customer gets a relationship manager assigned to them so they know who their banker is, and we make sure we build on that relationship,” Worrell said. “We also make it a point to make sure they know more than just that person. We want them to know our whole banking team, and we use a team approach as much as we can.”

“There are still plenty of people who want to know who their banker is and who want to be able to pick up the phone and call their banker and have a higher level of service than you’re going to be able to get just using technology channels,” he said. “You’ve got to serve both.”

As an example, Worrell said that a mortgage representative would assist a customer looking to buy a home. Similarly, a financial consultant would be referred to someone wanting to open a retirement account or a trust officer would be assigned to someone interested in will or estate planning. Whatever the need may be, Worrell said response time is key. “We want to be responsive. We don’t want to make customers wait,” he said. “For example, if we get an RFP (request for proposal) and they’re submitting it to multiple banks, we’re told so often that we’re the first one to respond.” That kind of attention to customer needs has always been part of the Sterling Bank philosophy. When the bank opened in 1989, Worrell says they were the first in Montgomery to stay open through lunch and until 5 p.m. At that time most banks closed during lunch and at 4 p.m.

In the same way that accommodating customers is a priority for Sterling Bank, taking care of employees is important, too. “We’re very pro-family in our business activities. We encourage people to go to their children’s school activities – don’t miss plays; don’t miss sporting events,” he said. “We try to promote camaraderie – that teamwork and that family environment within our bank so that people like coming to work.”

FOUNDED

1989 EMPLOYEES

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STERLINGMONTGOMERY. SYNOVUS.COM

Part of that teamwork includes giving back to the community. Sterling Bank and its employees invest time and resources in community activities and service projects. According to Worrell, a recipient of Synovus’ William B. Turner Humanitarian Award for community service, the bank tries to be “involved in every good thing that’s going on.” For 26 years Sterling Bank has worked to provide the best service possible to its customers, its employees and the community, and according to Worrell, the bank intends to keep doing so for many more years to come. “We’re running our company for the long term. We’re not in this to be bought out or to merge in with a bigger organization,” he said. “We’re in it and the decisions we make and the way in which we run our bank and our company is for the long term.” n

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Commodity prices and a strong dollar impact Infinitus Renewable Energy Park sales

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

These are trying times for recyclers and although the trash is piling up at Infinitus Renewable Energy Park in Montgomery, the recycled products have fallen on rough times.

fees, which is the cost that companies, municipalities and organizations pay to deliver their waste to IREP. “We are heavily dependent on the commodity market,” Mowitz said.

The plunging price of crude oil, which fell from about $100 a barrel to $40 at one point, impacts the plastic recycled product that IREP sells. The company’s price has also dropped about 50 percent per ton as the price “is directly correlated with oil,” said Kyle Mowitz, CEO and co-founder of Infinitus Energy, which initially invested about $35 million into the 82,000-square-foot recycling center. The company has 105 employees.

The facility has been operating for more than a year and Mowitz is pleased, although higher commodity prices would bring a smile to his face. “We’re very comfortable,” he said. “You would love to be wildly profitable of course, but that wasn’t our expectation.”

The recycled paper is sent to China, which saw its once surging economy slow and that meant about a 25 percent cut in revenue. “Right now, we are in a very low commodity market,” Mowitz said. The strong dollar has worked against Infinitus Energy and all other companies that export products, which are now more expensive overseas. On top of all that, the company’s top two recycled products are plastics and paper, which combined account for 65 percent to 70 percent of all recycled products. Now consider that about 70 percent of the firm’s revenue comes from selling recycled products such as paper, plastics, cardboard, metals and aluminum. That leaves about 30 percent from tipping

There are two projects that will inject more revenue into the facility. The firm, which is based in Plantation, Fla., invested an additional $5 million for composting equipment to convert organic waste – food waste and yard waste – into compressed natural gas (CNG). IREP is negotiating with some local companies to convert their truck fleets to CNG, which is much cheaper than diesel at $2 a gallon. Mowitz said that the City of Montgomery may eventually use CNG for its sanitation trucks and may decide to use CNG in buses as well. The goal is “putting fuel into trucks within a year,” Mowitz said. Continued on page 26

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October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

The Infinitus Renewable Energy Park has invested $5 million for composting equipment.

Continued from page 25

Before the conversion to CNG, the facility is currently composting the organic waste and working with a bagging company to see if the recycled product will work in that operation. Infinitus Energy is also looking at investing another $5.5 million in new equipment and technology to recycle a higher percentage of the waste stream. One of the technologies being considered takes paper and plastics “that we can’t recycle and turns that into a pulverized coal substitute that’s been approved by the FDA to go directly to a coal-fired plant,” he said. That’s right – creating coal here, but the technology and equipment have to get to a commercial scale, Mowitz said.

You price

promise

“We’re getting more tons per hour through the system, so we’re getting more efficient in that standpoint, and we’re doing a better quality product out the back end while we’re doing it faster.” Kyle Mowitz, CEO and founder of Infinitus Energy

The plant is handling 135,000 tons of waste on an annualized basis, according to Mowitz. The break-even point is about 100,000 tons “in an average commodity market,” he said, but with that market reeling, the new break-even point is closer to 125,000 tons. “Our sweet spot is (150,000),” Mowitz said, adding that he expects the facility to reach that number in the company’s 2015-2016 fiscal year.

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Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

Jimmie Weatherford (left), is general manager and Kyle Mowitz is CEO and founder of Infinitus Energy.

The key clients bringing waste to IREP are the City of Montgomery, Maxwell Air Force Base, Waste Management, Advanced Disposal and Emerald Cost Utility Authority in the Florida Panhandle. There are other small haulers and municipalities, but IREP officials are talking to local communities.

Even with the huge numbers, quantity is not key – it’s the quality of the recycled products that keeps their customers satisfied. “We’re getting more tons per hour through the system, so we’re getting more efficient in that standpoint, and we’re doing a better quality product out the back end while we’re doing it faster,” Mowitz said. The plant, which is co-operated by San Jose-based Zero Waste Energy, recycles about 60 percent of the waste stream, but that figure fluctuates depending on what is brought to IREP. The range can be from 50-plus percent to 70-plus percent, according to Mowitz. n

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

PR O FIT S S Q U EE ZE D

CITY AND RECYCLING CENTER SHARE INNOVATION AWARD The City of Montgomery and the Infinitus Renewable Energy Park in Montgomery partnered to recycle trash. Now that relationship has resulted in the two winning the 2015 Alabama Innovation Award for Outstanding Public-Private Partnership. The award was from Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. The award recognizes job creation and technology that solve local issues or global ones. The Infinitus Renewable Energy Park (IREP) opened last April, creating 105 jobs and greatly reducing the amount of trash that goes to the landfill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our mission is to deliver an integrated waste model that benefits the residents of a community in two very important ways,â&#x20AC;? Infinitus Energy CEO Kyle Mowitz said in a statement.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;First, we bring overall waste programming costs down with no capital investment required from the community. Secondly, we increase overall recovery rates, which in turn dramatically boosts landfill diversion rates.â&#x20AC;? Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said that the partnership with IREP â&#x20AC;&#x153;began out of necessityâ&#x20AC;? because the landfill was littered with green recycling bags. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks to our partnership with Infinitus Energy, Montgomery is now on the cutting edge of green technology, which has allowed us to come close to achieving recycling rates that will be amongst the highest in the nation,â&#x20AC;? Strange said in a statement. EPDA Vice President Angela Wier said that the organization was impressed by all the nominations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The awards are not just a celebration for accomplishment, but they also help EDPA discover companies that contribute to the diversification of the economy and the creation of high-wage careers for Alabama,â&#x20AC;? she said in a statement. - David Zaslawsky

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Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

She said she is “tired of asking” for a permanent director for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “We need leadership at the VA so we can start implementing the changes that are needed to ensure that our veterans get the best health care that we can give them in a timely fashion,” Roby said. The former Montgomery City Councilwoman has proposed a bill that would enable the Veterans Department to take over the worst veteran health care facilities in the country – those that fall at the bottom 3 percent.

Roby Vigorously Supports Armed Forces by David Zaslawsky

After being introduced as “a fierce advocate for the military,” U.S. Rep. Martha Roby showed why she deserved that moniker during her speech at a Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce event. Roby, R-Montgomery, made an impassioned plea to adequately fund the military and provide timely health care for veterans. Speaking at an Eggs & Issues event at the RSA Activity Center, the third-term representative said that the country cannot wait for a new administration “to do what we have to do to ensure that our men and women that wear the uniform … are the best trained; that they have everything they need when we send them into harm’s way. “Our enemies are watching; they are watching what Congress is going to do right here in the next several months as we look toward full implementation of the sequester at the first of the year.” She reminded the attendees that she voted against the Budget Control Act of 2011, which established automatic cuts to defense and domestic programs. Roby called it “shameful” to put a budget “on the backs of our military. We’ve got to come up with a better way instead of 50 percent mandatory cuts that we’re looking at. Quite frankly, I’m disappointed in our leaders, that they’ve waited … until this 11th hour to take this issue on. We have to come up with a way to ensure that our military families know that we’ve got their backs.”

She also asked members of the audience to help “develop a greater partnership to bridge the gap and build trust between outside providers and the VA.” One of the issues affecting such a partnership is the VA not paying outside providers on a timely basis, Roby said. “There is a lot of work to do,” Roby said about the health care treatment of veterans. On other issues, Roby: > Blasted the Iran nuclear deal saying, “No deal is better than a very, very bad deal and this is a very bad deal.” She said that inspections on Iran’s nuclear program are not immediate and fears that lifting economic sanctions and permitting the Iranians to sell oil “puts cash into the hands” of a country that sponsors terrorism. > Criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the email controversy and that the House Select Committee on Benghazi has been thwarted from doing its job because it lacks access to materials. Roby insisted that the committee’s mission was fact finding and was not politically motivated although Clinton is running for president. The committee’s charge “is to find out the truth on behalf of four Americans who unnecessarily lost their lives. Americans deserve to know the truth about what happened before, during and after the attack.” > Opposes any federal funds for Planned Parenthood after controversial videos were widely aired. n

Roby saved her harshest comments for the continued mishandling of health care for veterans, who are still waiting more than 90 days to see a physician. “It’s disheartening to me what we have done and how we have treated our veterans. We have made promises that we must keep and if we can’t get it right by our veterans – we might as well hang it up.”

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Member Profile

TASHA M. SCOTT

Author, coach, mentor helps women be successful by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

The chapters are titled “Hopeful,” “Confident,” “Courageous,” “Grateful,” “Fearless,” “Inspired” and “Free.” The author – Tasha M. Scott – wrote Don’t Limit Me: Giving Yourself Permission to Live the Life You’ve Always Dreamed. There is a second part to that. “If you’re waiting on somebody else to give it to you, it might not happen.” It’s a favorite saying of Scott, who details her journey of understanding in the book. As a speaker, author and personal development/ business growth coach – Scott now helps other women improve both their personal lives and professional lives. She does that through coaching programs, workshops and webinars. Scott, who started the business in January 2014, received help from coaches and mentors as an entrepreneur/owner of Scott Realtime Reporting, which provides captioning services for people who are hard of hearing or deaf. For Scott, it’s a matter of “paying it forward,” which is helping others as a coach. “It’s almost like passing the baton,” she said. What she has found is that many of her clients lack confidence. “Confidence is the core of everything because if you don’t have the confidence to believe that you can succeed – you won’t.” Another prevalent issue is fear of success. “A lot of the women that I work with have dreams; they have a vision, but they are afraid of can I handle this,” Scott said. “The fear of being able to handle it all – being a woman; being a wife; being a mother – feeling like you’re losing control.” A successful female business owner may question that she is not being a good wife or mother, Scott said. “It all goes back to confidence and having the confidence to believe your dream that I can be the owner of the company. I can be the one in charge and that I can make the decisions and not feel like, ‘Oh my God, what if I mess this up?’ ” When asked if women fear success because confident women may be perceived as conceited, arrogant and egotistical in today’s society, Scott said, “Yes, if we stand out, we’ll be talked about. Society has a way of making us think inside a box. Well,

maybe we weren’t made to think inside a box. Maybe we were made to stand out and think outside the box and being able to own that.” In her book, Don’t Limit Me, Scott tells the story that she had to look at herself in the mirror and say, “Don’t limit me because I was the only one in my own way.” She said her personal problems “clouded my vision and clouded my views so I felt like I was just existing, but I wasn’t thriving in life.”

PHONE

One of her coaching programs is four, one-hour sessions with homework and materials. She calls the first program “Get Unstuck” because clients would ask her if she could get them unstuck. She helps clients identify their strengths. “It’s almost like I’m helping you go dig for treasure on the inside of you.” Scott said she helps clients reconnect with their purpose. She also helps clients to maximize their strengths as well as realistic goal setting and time management.

(334) 603-2046

The personal development is the first track, and business growth follows with the “master minds” groups. She is participating in a program called “Book Yourself Solid” with New York Times bestselling author Michael Port. The program focuses on making or remaking a foundation for your business “so that you can grow and become book solid,” Scott said.

FACEBOOK/TWITTER

TASHA@TASHAMSCOTT.COM WEBSITE

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Other key aspects are learning your target audience and learning how to talk about what you do. That is a six-month program. She does daily video blogs on Periscope, where Scott shares personal development and business growth strategies to help women in business. Scott started a women’s networking group called Women Connect Alabama, which is on Facebook. She has another group called Women Connect Worldwide. “I’m striving to build a community of support and accountability with women in business whether they go through my coaching programs or whether they get support and accountability from just interacting with each other through Facebook,” Scott said. n

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

FROM BOARDROOMS TO CLASSROOMS PROGRAM PAIRS PRINCIPALS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

Martin Luther King Elementary School Principal Booker McMillian was having trouble keeping up-to-date information on the students and their parents. The Montgomery Public Schools principal said it critical to have accurate phone numbers in case of an emergency. “It’s a big problem for us having immediate access to our parents.” McMillian turned to his business partner – Steve Goldsby, president and CEO of Integrated Computer Solutions (ICS). Goldsby contacted schools officials in Maryland and Washington D.C.

The two, who first met in February, are participants in the Auburn University at Montgomery Outreach program Boardrooms to Classrooms. They talked about different incentives, and for the fall semester, will give away some iPads to some parents for keeping accurate and up to date information. Integrated Computer Solutions will provide some iPads and Goldsby will contact other businesses to supply additional iPads. The iPads will be used as door prizes – incentives for both parental involvement and student behavior.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

His focus is on parental involvement, McMillian said about the 470-student school, which ranges from pre-K to fifth grade. If the parents become more involved and engaged, he said that will have a positive impact on his students, who will also become more engaged and involved. “We just need that parental piece,” McMillian said, and he will be working with Goldsby to achieve results. Each grading period the school will send home a new registration form. “It sounds simple, but it was something that I had not thought of,” McMillian said. That’s the beauty of the Boardrooms to Classrooms program – paring a businessperson with an educator and bringing together different perspectives. Goldsby’s role “is more like a liaison to me in that he is able to go out and have conversations on my behalf, whereas I can’t actively get away from school as much as I would like to,” McMillian said. “He (Goldsby) is able to be that voice for us and face for us as well.” School officials were planning a back-to-school bash the first two weeks of the fall semester instead of having

an event at the end of the school year. A student night/ carnival/festival “tends to draw our parents when we have those kinds of things,” McMillian said. It’s all about increasing parental involvement. Although McMillian did acknowledge a need for funding, he said he is not trying to burden ICS with financial requests. Goldsby is working with the school’s technology coordinator.

Left: Booker McMillian is principal of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. Center: Natasha Starr is principal of Brewbaker Intermediate School. Right: Steve Goldsby, president and CEO of Integrated Computer Solutions.

Brewbaker Intermediate Principal Natasha Starr, another participant in the Boardrooms to Classrooms program, said her focus is exposing her students to careers at a very young age – third-graders to fifthgraders. Her business partner is Baptist Health Chief Financial Officer Melissa Johnson. Continued on page 34

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October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Continued from page 33

“We want (parents) to understand they’re an integral part of what we do every day and we won’t be successful as we could be.” Booker McMillian

“I want our kids at an early age to develop aspirations for what they can become in life,” Starr said. “I think working with Ms. Johnson can help us do that because there are so many components to what happens in the hospital. All the different aspects that can (be brought) in would be something that my children have never been exposed to.” The school held a college and career day this past spring, but there was no one from the health care field. “I have kids who do aspire to be doctors and nurses, but they only see them when they go to visit (the doctor’s office), Starr said. “They have never had conversations with them about things like what does it take to be one (doctor or nurse). Just getting them the exposure and being able to see what the possibilities are for them is a great thing.” Starr is hopeful that Baptist Health or a company that Johnson contacts could help replace old carpets, which are a health risk with dust and allergies. More than one-third of Starr’s students are Hispanic and she said that many don’t have access to quality health care or have had any type of health care. She likes the idea of having someone such as Johnson or someone else from Baptist Health who could talk to

the students about health care. It’s “exciting” to have someone who can talk to the students and their parents and “explain some of the things they can do differently in their day-to-day life,” Starr said. Although Starr does have a business background working with a student loan program, she appreciates being able to “bounce ideas around and have them look at things from a different perspective and make suggestions of how we can accomplish (things), especially when we’re trying to accomplish more with less. I think it will allow us to build more capacity in our building to do things for children.” McMillian and Goldsby have discussed mentoring and partnering with other businesses to allow their employees a two-hour lunch break to visit the school and tutor/mentor students. The goal is having some ICS employees mentor, but turning to businesses along Highway 80 to get involved. The partnership with ICS is changing the culture at Martin Luther King Elementary School, according to McMillian. The ultimate goal is changing “that mindset that our parents have. We want (parents) to understand they’re an integral part of what we do every day and we won’t be successful as we could be.” n

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Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

F R O M B O A R D R O O M S T O CL A S SR O O M S:

BUSINESSES HELP EXPAND RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

It was a learning experience during a series of luncheons with Montgomery Public Schools principals. Auburn University at Montgomery Outreach officials heard from principals that “we need such-and-such or we need to know about such-and-such and we don’t know who to call,” recalled Katherine Jackson, vice chancellor for AUM Outreach and strategic initiatives. Leslie Sanders

“Principals were saying, ‘We don’t know how to do that. We don’t have that relationship and I don’t feel right calling people.’ ” That’s how the Boardrooms to Classrooms initiative was born. Now those same principals have a business partner they can turn to. Those partnerships were carefully selected by AUM Outreach and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Margaret Allen

Rebecca Bloodworth

“We need to marry business with principals and their specific needs – for them personally and for the schools,” said Leslie L. Sanders, vice president of Alabama Power Co.’s Southern Division, who is paired with Robert E. Lee High School. “We wanted to make sure it just wasn’t an old adopt-a-school where people give financially.” This initiative is much different than that, although financial could be a part of it. Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling Co. UNITED, which is matched with a school, will provide employees to man stations for a field day and will provide drinks. The assistance from business to school is “everything from A to Z,” said Rebecca Bloodworth, program manager, community engagement for AUM Outreach.

One thing that is universal is that the principal – by the nature of the job – is hard-pressed to leave the campus. There is almost a physical bubble that principals deal with as well as the educational bubble. By partnering with a business leader, principals greatly increase their resources. The business leaders know people, Jackson said. “They can pick up the phone while the principal couldn’t do it or feels awkward about it because that’s not the world they grew up in.” Business executives have a lot of connections, Allen said, and principals need lots of connections “because they are trying to do so many different things in that school building that are not academic.” Mike Jordan, area manager for Alabama Power Co.’s Southern Division, said, “This is a true partnership in terms of understanding what the needs are and meeting whatever those needs are – being a sounding board for ideas.” He said the program is not about telling principals what to do, but rather “enabling them to have the resources to be successful with whatever they need.” For Sanders, the partnerships between principals and business leaders will have a dramatic impact. “If you marry those together – you’ve got a different school system.” “Any research that you get is going to show that if you have a strong principal in a school, those students are going to excel,” Bloodworth said. “This just provides them (principals) with support that they don’t necessarily have currently.” n

The goal of the program, which was launched in January, is creating relationships between principals and their business partner. It is not a one-year project, Bloodworth said. “The program is not a one-size-fits-all cookie cutter. We’re allowing the business leader and the principal to determine how often they meet; how they will communicate; and what they will work on.” Montgomery Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Allen said that the partnerships between the principals and businessperson “will look different from schoolto-school because of the different needs; the different layouts; the different personalities of the principal and business leader.”

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Building on Community River Bank & Trust keeps growing By David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Jimmy Stubbs is president and CEO of River Bank & Trust

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

PRATTVILLE – Throughout a 20-minute interview, River Bank & Trust President and CEO Jimmy Stubbs repeatedly talked about the community bank culture. Although much of the interview was about River Bank & Trust’s parent company acquiring the parent company of Keystone Bank, which has branches in Auburn, Opelika and Gadsden, Stubbs said that both banks “have a deep commitment to providing a community bank culture, where customers do enjoy a personal and very close relationship with their bankers.” With combined assets of $700 million after the nearly $37 million merger is completed late this year, River Bank & Trust will become one of the state’s Top 10 largest community banks. There is no goal to be in the Top 5 or be No. 1. The goal, according to Stubbs, is to “continue to provide that River Bank & Trust culture of service and giving the little things that are important to people: no voice mail, windshield washing on Fridays at the drive-thru – to important items like being able to actually handle the banking request whatever the deposit need might be; whatever the loan need might be.”

He said he found it “interesting” that River Bank & Trust shareholders, who live in the communities where the bank operates, “want us to protect the community bank culture we created. They like that personal touch they get.” Now, those shareholders have other priorities and expectations. They want to see a return on their investment; the share value to grow; and those dividends to keep coming, but that community bank culture is an important expectation. The merger was a good opportunity for River Bank & Trust shareholders “because with size, you do create efficiencies,” Stubbs said. “With those efficiencies, you’re going to create a little bit more to the bottom line. From a shareholder’s perspective, that’s a first priority.” The Keystone shareholders will receive one share of River Financial Corp. (parent company of River Bank & Trust) and will also receive $4 cash for each share. The combined bank will have $600 million in deposits and $450 million in loans. Continued on page 39

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

COMMUNITY BANK RANKINGS BY ASSETS THROUGH 2014 1 > National Bank of Commerce (Birmingham) $908 million 2 > AloStar Bank of Commerce (Birmingham) $903 million 3 > Troy Bank & Trust (Troy) $837 million 4 > AuburnBank (Auburn) $790 million

“We want to make sure there is very little interruption that our customers will see and that our employees will see. When you’re undertaking a merger no matter what size it is – take your time and get it done right.” - Jimmy Stubbs, president and CEO of River Bank & Trust

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5 > Metro Bank (Pell City) $661 million 6 > People’s Bank of Alabama (Cullman) $614 million 7 > Progress Bank & Trust (Huntsville) $580 million 8 > First US Bank (Thomasville) $573 million 9 > West Alabama Bank & Trust (Reform) $564 million 10 > First Metro Bank (Muscle Shoals) $525 million 11 > United Bank (Atmore) $489 million 12 > River Bank & Trust (Prattville) $447 million Source: Banks Street Partners

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The merger will actually take 12 to 24 months. Stubbs said that the last thing that will change is the name on the Keystone Bank branches to River Bank & Trust. The current focus for River Bank & Trust “is getting this merger right,” Stubbs said. “We want to make sure there is very little interruption that our customers will see and that our employees will see. When you’re undertaking a merger no matter what size it is – take your time and get it done right.” There will be no layoffs, said Stubbs, who will be the CEO of the merged company, and Ray Smith, who was CEO of Keystone Bank, will serve as president. The combined company will have 130 employees, including River Bank & Trust’s current staff of 85. With the merger, River Bank & Trust won’t need to hire additional staff to handle the regulatory requirements, which continue to increase, according to Stubbs. In addition to the acquisition, River Bank & Trust will open a full-service branch in Alexander City, where it now has a loan production office. Stubbs said that there will be future branches in Millbrook and Pike Road. The bank currently has two branches in Montgomery; two in Prattville, including the corporate headquarters; and one in Wetumpka.

Keystone Bank is not likely to be the last acquisition for River Bank & Trust, but the company is just considering Alabama. Other community banks may want to “join into a good management team; a good board team – so that they can continue to provide that community bank culture in their community with a culture that we think is a definitely (different) choice than a major holding bank culture,” Stubbs said. “We believe we can provide an alternative going forward, (rather) than the selling out to a multi-billion dollar company.” Keystone Bank was an attractive target because it’s in a university town (Auburn University) and “most economists would agree that university towns are good towns to do business in and I don’t disagree with that,” Stubbs said. The proximity to River Bank & Trust also “makes for a good marriage,” he said. Larry Puckett, president/owner of Larry Puckett Chevrolet in Prattville, will be the chairman of the combined bank. He is currently chairman of River Financial Corp. Murray Neighbors, who is current chairman of Keystone Bancshares, the parent company of Keystone Bank, will be the vice chairman of the combined bank. n

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DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS KWAST HELPS REINVENT THE AIR FORCE

by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast is the president and commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force BaseGunter Annex. He was recently interviewed by the Montgomery Business Journalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s David Zaslawsky.

What does tomorrow’s Air Force look like that you’re helping to reinvent?

Montgomery Business Journal: I’ve read in interviews where you’ve talked about Air University helping to reinvent the Air Force. How does Air University accomplish that? N Air University is the place where people come to think critically; to innovate rapidly; to think strategically. When you think critically and think strategically about the problems of our world, you start the process of bringing solutions to bear. Our world has changed foundationally since the Industrial Age and the need for adaptive thinking and creative thinking and critical thinking is the first step to bringing new solutions to a world that is different. That is at the core of reinventing the Air Force – thinking about the nature of the problems and thinking about solutions for those changes.

“This place has always been a think tank for our nation.” - Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, president and commander of Air University

How do you accomplish that with the students who come to Air University and maybe don’t think in those terms? N I would reject that. I would say that most people who are good thinkers think this way. The Air Force has great thinkers. When you see the Air Force out there and you travel around, you find that people are innovating at the tactical level. They’re innovating at the operational level. People know how to think critically. What we’re trying to do is develop a workforce that can think critically and strategically at a pace that keeps us ahead of the competition. It’s really taking it and injecting it with some energy and some adrenaline. It’s not that people are thinking poorly – it’s that we want to take them to the next level. Like a business, a business stays alive by being adaptive and relevant to the customer. Our job is to be adaptive and relevant to the president of the United States and the nation by providing air power solutions to the biggest problems of our day.

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N Tomorrow’s Air Force will look like an organization that provides options for our president and that those options are adaptive, where they can change depending on the geopolitical problem the president is trying to solve. It is flexible, where it can move from one objective to another objective quickly and affordably. That it is persistent, where it can endure for as long as the nation needs to project power in order to do whatever it is doing. And that it has the range and the speed to do it in the time that it needs to be done for a world that is accelerating in the need for speed. You’ve said that the country’s rivals are quick to adapt so that the military must be able to rapidly innovate or those rivals will be a step ahead of the U.S. N That’s right. It’s like any living thing – if you do not adapt more rapidly than your competition – your competition will eat you for lunch. The same is true in combat … that team that can adapt and stay relevant more rapidly than their competition – that’s a tough thing. The consequences are so much more critical when you’re talking about national security versus a company that fails to adapt and goes out of business. N A company can go out of business and nobody dies. If we do not stay adaptive and relevant for the nation the national security of America is at risk. The treasure and the blood is at risk – it’s something that is very sobering and why this is deadly serious business. You’ve talked about Air University becoming a think tank. What are the implications of that? N Air University has always been a think tank. It is to remind us of that essential purpose of this place. For example, in the ’30s a group of airmen right here at Maxwell Air Force Base figured out how this new thing called the airplane could change the face of warfare. In the 1950s, you had a group of airmen right here at Maxwell Air Force Base that took this new thing called a nuclear weapon and figured out how that could be a force for peace and nuclear deterrents doctrine was born right here. In the 1970s, a group of airmen right

here at Maxwell Air Force Base took this new thing called GPS and stealth and precision and they invented what we have today that has served America for 40 years – the ability to precisely track, target and hold at risk anything on the globe for our nation. This place has always been a think tank for our nation. I’m not sure if people perceive Air University as a think tank compared to think tanks for political parties to solve issues. N The purpose of Air University is to make sure that airmen help our nation win its wars. When I say think tank, it is a place where people think about the nature of the problem and they provide options for strategic approaches that allow us to affordably defend this nation. That is the highest accolade you could have as a think tank – that you provide strategic thinking that provides options for our president.

“If we do not stay adaptive and relevant for the nation the national security of America is at risk.” - Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, president and commander of Air University

Problem solving. N That’s right. Maybe problem solving to a higher level than what people are accustomed. That’s what you’re talking about – here’s a problem and how do we solve it. N That’s right. You’ve said that you want “outside-of-thebox” ideas from students at Air University and what will you do with those ideas? N I’ll use cyber as an example to answer this question. Anytime there is something new to humanity it takes human beings time to figure out what is going on. Often times, people are slow to adapt because they are stuck in intellectual ruts in the past – meaning that because I have hammered this nail with this hammer this way in the past it is going to work in the future and people get trapped. When I’m saying think outside-the-box I’m asking people to more rapidly innovate by letting go of the paradigms of the past and explore new ways of doing things and cyber is a perfect example. We haven’t even fully recognized how this information age world impacted us and we’ve become so dependent on cyber for our banking systems, financial systems, our power systems, our transportation systems, our information systems, so it affects our economy; it affects our

government; it affects our national security. What we have to be good at is thinking outside-the-box and saying, ‘How do we solve this problem?’ Not necessarily with ships, tanks and planes as is the model of the Industrial Age, but maybe in new and creative ways that are not anchored by the paradigms of the past. In an interview with Defense News, you said that you are being tasked by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Walsh to have projects every year that are connected to the most urgent strategic problems. That sounds different from the past. N It’s more of a reminder of our roots. This has always been the intent and purpose of Air University and Air University has always done this to some degree. This is about aligning that effort. That quote is about the fact that the world is coming apart around us. There are some really big problems happening – Putin misbehaving in Europe. ISIS creating chaos in the Middle East. China becoming aggressive in the South China Sea. These dilemmas that the world is experiencing are requiring us to harmonize our thinking so that we are really giving our leaders good, critical options for how we proceed. As our military is contributing to our president and Congress with tools of national power that extend policy and politics – those tools are truly solving the problems our president has. That’s really our job. Our job is to provide America (tools) as Congress and the president and our balance of power take a look at the world around us and the geopolitical environment – they want tools from the Department of Defense that are relevant for the world Continued on page 44

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I’ve heard that you want to make Air University more accessible to the public. What does that look like? N The community really owns the Air Force because it’s taxpayers’ money that pays for the Air Force. There are trusted partners in this community from university presidents and the different institutions of higher learning to the Chamber of Commerce to different leaders in the community. They are part of the fabric of this city and River Region. There is no reason why those trusted partners like the mayor can’t have a pass to be able to get on base and benefit from this place. There are lecture series that happen here, where we have an auditorium that has some extra capacity. Why not invite professors from the universities that are around this River Region to join us and benefit from the blessing of that conversation?

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we’re in. This statement is nothing more than (saying), ‘OK, all the researchers and thinkers at Air University, we want your thinking to be harmonized towards these problems.’ Are you saying more targeted than in the past? N That’s right. Focusing them a little bit because it’s really fun to go solve this problem on how the saddle falls off the horse, and that’s a problem and there might be clever ways of solving that. You don’t want to be solving that problem when you have a problem that might be an existential threat to the national security of America. This is just focusing our efforts on the problems that are causing us the most risk as an American dream. You’ve talked about the importance of Air University ties with industry, academia, research centers as well as Army and Navy think tanks. What is the end product? N The end product is an idea that has the blessing of diversity with regard to its design. This is about avoiding blind spots. This is about avoiding the group think that happens when you are only talking to yourself. Any advice we are giving, any option we are giving to the leadership of the Air Force, must be informed by the diversity of thought that truly makes us relevant. Diversity is a powerful game-changer with regard to innovation. If you don’t have it, you are giving solutions that sub-optimize its full potential.

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This is the core of what I am talking about – that we more fully collaborate with civil society in this relationship, because the more America knows about its military, the more powerful America is in dealing with problems when the military has to act. We saw this fail in Vietnam because America was disconnected from the need for national defense and the sacrifice of those that serve. We had a whole generation of those that served America that came home and that were not embraced with the reality of what they did for the country. That can happen again if we don’t invest in this relationship, where people in the community are able to be a part of the (Air) University more fully. Another way we will do this is with our volunteer program. We have a Web page and when you go to Maxwell Air Force Base you’ll see the Web page for Air University. In the upper left-hand corner is: ‘I want to volunteer or I need a volunteer.’ People can go there and say, ‘I have a project for my church this Saturday and I need 10 people with shovels and a willingness to work.’ You’ll find 10 airmen showing up with shovels. The camaraderie; the communication; the conversations that take place … That really humanizes the airmen and Maxwell. N That’s right, and bring people on base, where they said, ‘We need volunteers on base to do this project with our kids or our school on base is having this open house and we would like firefighters and police officers and educators to come on base and visit with our kids.’ That it’s easy for them to come on base and be a part of that because they’re trusted parts of our society. The only people we’re trying to keep out with those gates is when 9/11 hit. There can be a common-sense approach where the people of the River Region feel welcomed to the base and they are invited onto the base in a way that’s responsible and reasonable and there’s not this sensation that the wall separates us. We are one and we need to act that way. N

D E A D LY SER IO U S B U SIN E S S

NEW SCHOOL FOR THE INFORMATION AGE Montgomery Business Journal: What will the cyber college look like in its inaugural year, which started in late summer? N Kwast: It’s already beginning. Students are showing up (mid-July). The cyber college is as different from a brick-and-mortar school as cyber is from a horse on the battlefield. Cyber college is not a brick-and-mortar. It is not a curriculum and a set of textbooks and a professor with a group of students sitting in a room learning a certain syllabus and taking a test. The cyber college is taking all of the educational brilliance that is out there whether it’s the courses up at Air Force Institute of Technology at Dayton, Ohio, that is part of Air University already teaching cyber; whether it’s the enlisted troops down in Keesler Air Force Base that are learning cyber. It is taking all that content and it is knitting it together in a way where cyber education can come to every airmen at the right time in their career with the right content

for that individual person. (It’s) letting go of the days of one-size-fits-all in education and moving to an arena where cyber college can knit together the educational requirements that you need as an individual person for the role you play as an airman. That (combination of requirements) contributes to the joint force and the inter-agency force and supports Space Command and 24th Air Force and Cyber Command with airmen that really have the knowledge that they need to be excellent in doing their job. That is the concept of the cyber college. It takes all of this content in the initial stages here and it knits it together and makes it appropriate for the individual. Do you have an example? N The airmen that are coming here for Squadron Officer School. The captains will be partaking of this cyber college in doses and in content that is appropriate for a captain. The majors that are coming here for Air Command and Staff College will be part of the cyber college, giving them the content and the breadth and the depth of cyber they need. There will be people that are the Ph.D.s in cyber – the ones that are going to be our frontline warriors in cyber. They may get a Ph.D. Continued on page 46

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Continued from page 45

from this cyber college or a master’s degree as they do research to contribute to the leading edge thinking and innovation of what we should do with regard to cyber. Air power and the five core missions of the Air Force must all be done in, through and with cyber just like they’re done in, through and with air and in, through and with base. That’s why this cyber college is different and doesn’t fit the model of a traditional college.

N They are part of that civil society. Let’s say for example … the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama put together a two-day cyber conversation about how we communicate with one another and how we think about some of our dependencies on cyber in the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama. That event had the universities and their big thinkers in the room; it had law enforcement; it had the civil servants that are providing water and sewer and first responders. It had all the fabric of society in the room.

“We are unleashing the brilliance of these minds that are right here in Alabama to solve these problems.” - Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, president and commander of Air University

What is the private sector’s role in the cyber college? N Cyber is unusual in another way and that is, civil society will more than likely innovate more rapidly than anybody else with regard to cyber because our entire population on planet Earth has become dependent on cyber in very powerful ways: economically, politically and socially. The fact that civil society will innovate more rapidly means that we need to have a relationship in the military with civil society to explore the nature of the problem with cyber so that we understand it and that we can be aware of the innovations that are taking place. This way, the military can stay on the leading edge of innovation as we bring cyber tools and techniques and strategies to bear for national security. You can apply the innovation from the civil society to the military. N That’s right, but it’s not just the military benefitting from this relationship – it’s also civil society. Civil society gets to see the problem set that we’re facing. They get to understand the dilemma that we’re in in the military. This helps them go forward and innovate in ways that help us because this is really an American conversation and not just an air power conversation. This is an American conversation about how do Americans live in an information-age world such that we have security and safety to pursue happiness as our Constitution allows. The only way we’re going to do that as an American society is if we collaborate a little bit more fully with regard to cyber innovation so that the left hand is helping the right hand, and as Americans, we are moving forward and staying ahead of any potential people out there that would use cyber as a weapon against our freedom. What role will local universities such as Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama State University and Troy University play in the new cyber college?

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

What happens there is, as the academics from the higher-learning institutions in Alabama got to listen to this conversation, they take back to their researchers and their Ph.D.s – these are the people that really have these brilliant gifts of brains and thinking – that is a blessing to America. They take back this problem set they hear with regards to cyber and they start researching solutions and they start bringing solutions to civil society. When you take a look at the American journey of innovation you find that many of the innovations that bless us Americans right now come from professors at universities that are doing research to try to solve problems. The same is happening here and we are unleashing the brilliance of these minds that are right here in Alabama to solve these problems because they get to see the nature of the problem that is manifesting in the geopolitical environment and in the economy and in the society and the social fabric of America. That’s why they are so valuable and that’s the role they play. They are the lead thinkers. I know that cyber college is in its infancy stage, but what does success look like or what does the cyber college look like in five years? N That is a very easy question to answer. I am going to measure how well the Air Force provides innovative solutions to the nation’s cyber problems such that we never get into a situation where we cannot protect our national security in the cyber domain. That air power can always act in, through and with cyber. If we achieve that – then we have done the proper thinking upfront. When you take a look at the entire spectrum of cyber education in the world right now, there is a gap; a piece that is not fully occupied right now, and that gap is at the strategic level in the operational design. Would you please elaborate? N Most people, when there is a problem, they will rush tools and ideas to the solution. It’s a concept that is

part of humanity that Einstein captured in his famous quote where he said: ‘If I had an hour to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes thinking about the nature of the problem and five minutes acting.’ Most people – it’s human nature – will immediately scramble to try to throw this tool or that tool or that solution and after 55 minutes they realize none of their approaches worked because they haven’t really understood the nature of what was going on. If they had only spent the time thinking upfront, they could have acted with great efficiency and precision and a cause-and-effect would be immediate. This is what we’re doing in cyber and this is the gap, and this is really a core of the cyber college. We are going to get into the business here of not just thinking about tools because right now when somebody has a cyber event … you see these manifestations of this dependency on cyber that are concerning for America. What we find is people will (say), ‘Let’s try this app or let’s try to secure this network.’ Those activities are throwing solutions at a problem that we don’t even necessarily understand. People are good about thinking about the tools. People are good about even thinking about the missions. What people are sometimes poor at is thinking about the ideas. What is the nature of the problem and do you really have to solve it with this cyber tool? Maybe there’s another way. The cyber college will actually operate in the plane that is above technology so that we’re using ideas to think about how we’re going to approach this because the solution to

cyber may not be a cyber solution. It may be a solution that prevents the adversary from using cyber as a weapon against us. You’re saying instead of a knee-jerk reaction to a problem, think about what the problem is. You’re stressing thinking throughout the interview – thinking critically and strategically. N Exactly, because the purpose of this place is that every student that comes out of Air University is a person that goes back into the world; whether they’re going back into the world in Washington, D.C. or out on the frontline of the fight – that they are a critical thinker that knows how to ask the right questions and think about the dilemmas we have today. And is good at thinking at the idea level, so that their solutions are quicker in hindsight; they are more effective; and more efficient because we just don’t have the money to solve problems by just throwing money at them. Sequestration and the nature of our economies in the world being interdependent now – the days of America being so unilaterally dominant economically that we could solve problems just by out-producing and outspending any potential adversary, is an anomaly of history. We better start thinking like immigrants again, where we’re hungry for every meal with regard to our solutions that need to be efficient and effective. This means getting back into the business of thinking about operational design first. N

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Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, who also attended the briefing, said that Montgomery was “not too far away from” connecting Maxwell, Gunter Annex, colleges and universities and the RSA Datacenter at the RSA Dexter Avenue Building.

Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast (from left), president and commander of Air University; Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, Rep. Mike Rogers and Rep Martha Roby meet the media after a briefing about cyber at Maxwell Air Force Base.

D E A D LY SER IO U S B U SIN E S S

ROBY PRAISES CYBER SECURITY PROGRESS by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Montgomery is making tremendous progress in cyber security and U.S. Rep. Martha Roby said how impressed she was after a briefing at Maxwell Air Force Base. Roby, R-Montgomery, and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, learned about the College of Cyber Air Power, which is being launched this fall at Maxwell, as well as other areas of cyber security. Roby praised the “brilliant and talented individuals” in Montgomery and how they foster innovation. “I’m just blown away by the major steps and strides that are being taken by the brain trust that is right here,” Roby said about Maxwell and Gunter Annex. “I’m going to admit to you there are a lot of (things) that are over my head, but I am glad that somebody knows what they’re doing and to see these unbelievably intelligent folks that are pouring themselves into solving the problems that our military face on behalf on our nation. “This is so important and we are just on the cutting edge right here. It is really, really awesome to be a part of this. This is the future and I think most of you know that.”

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

“When we make that plug connect, we can shout from the highest rooftops that not only were we first in civil rights; not only were we first in civil aviation; but we’re also first in cyber and nobody can touch us. And just think what that does to the paradigm of this River Region. We’ve got tons of opportunity for cyber as well as all the other high-tech companies that get started right out of Gunter.” Roby told Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, president and commander of Air University at Maxwell, that “we’re here to have your back – to ensure that our men and women have everything that they need when we send them into harm’s way, but harm’s way is now in a different realm with cyber activity. We recognize that we’re going to have to think outside the box on your behalf of how to ensure that we’re giving the military the tools that they need to achieve such greatness. “We want to ensure that the dollars are there; that the dollars continue to be there to ensure that Air University can continue to grow, and you see how exciting these new ideas are. I’m looking forward to seeing all the positive outcomes …” Kwast said the cyber college is not a traditional brick and mortar college. “This cyber college connects people together and beneficiaries will have access to education for the cyber workforce – on command; on demand; 24/7 anywhere in the world.” Strange said he expects to see additional hiring. He said the impact of offering the cyber curriculum means that high school students will become involved with cyber. “To the millennials and the younger generation to be able to be involved in this mysterious cyber situation, I think it’s going to change the paradigm of education in Montgomery,” he said. N

CHAMBER NOTES Diversity Summit The Chamber’s eighth annual Diversity Summit was

PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE The Chamber and Alabama State University have partnered with the Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Center to offer counseling to Chamber members wanting to conduct business with the government. To schedule a counseling session, contact Dava Hornbeak at (334) 832-4790 or dhornbeak@ montgomerychamber.com.

held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center and the theme was “Moving from Good Intentions to Workable Applications.” The featured speakers were author Joe Gerstandt and Hamlin Grange, president and co-founder of DiversiPro Inc. There were breakout sessions about inclusion matters; developing a diverse talent pipeline; diversity training; differences are strengths; subtle discrimination and crucial leadership skills.

CHAMBER HOLDS IT FORUM

FOCUS ON LOCAL RESTAURANTS

The Chamber held an information technology forum on the topic of “Using Big Data to Grow Profits.”

The Montgomery Chamber Convention & Visitor Bureau created a Montgomery Restaurant Week in connection with Alabama Restaurant Week.

CTS Vice President of Technology Innovation Matt Jones discussed how big data technology is changing the business world and how it can be used to increase profits. Jones presented an overview of how to obtain special data about actual and potential customers using tailored processing of large data sets across groups of commodity servers. The Chamber’s IT forums are held quarterly, featuring speakers and presentations for information technology users, professionals and anyone whose business requires knowledge of current technology.

Using the hashtag #EatMGM, the Chamber promoted the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The participating restaurants offered $5, $10 and $15 lunch specials and $10, $20 and $30 dinner specials. The promotion included a food truck pop-up lunch at the corner of Tallapoosa and Commerce streets. Some of the restaurants participating were Central, That’s My Dog, Kudzu Noodle Bar, India Palace, Chris’ Famous Hotdogs, Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Café M, Railyard Brewing Co. and Scott Street Deli.

The cost is $10 for Chamber members; $15 for nonmembers; and includes a light breakfast.

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Member Profile

PALOMAR INSURANCE

Tony Craft is president and CEO of Palomar Insurance.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

Fighting back against hacks by offering cyber liablility. by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

With the headlines swirling around companies and organizations being hacked and the millions of people impacted, Palomar Insurance has been partnering with a London-based company to offer insurance against such cyber attacks. Palomar Insurance President and CEO Tony Craft said that his firm was the first in the area to offer cyber liability. “Cyber is the biggest thing in the insurance industry today,” Craft said. “It’s an issue and people are not prepared for it. The big thing is that you don’t know what to do when you get hacked.” It’s unlikely that a firm’s certified public accountant or attorney or even an information technology employee knows what to do after their company has been hacked, Craft said. “We have a product that we sell that does all that.” Palomar offers a cyber insurance policy that enables a company to pick up the phone and call an 800 number when they think their firm has been hacked. “They come in and take care of the whole thing,” Craft said. There is also a coverage that provides liability for hacking. Costs related to hacking can be colossal considering that some states fine a firm $100 per person whose financial information was hacked, coupled with the company providing two years of free credit reviews for each of the hacked accounts. Those two types of cyber insurance are a “big growth area” for Palomar, according to Craft. This is such a key area that Palomar conducts seminars with experts in the field to inform potential clients Another key growth area is the rebranded Aesthetisure program for surgeons who perform cosmetic surgery. The insurance covers the surgeon’s patients for complications because those are not typically covered by the patient’s health insurer. The firm heavily promotes the program at cosmetic surgery shows and exhibitions. What Craft is banking on to boost growth is adding what he calls producers, who are salespeople. When asked to describe the firm, Craft said, “We consider ourselves a sales operation that provides professional, quality service.” That’s how important the current 22 to 23 salespeople are.

so producers over the next five years to drive revenue growth by 60 percent to $20 million a year. Actually, that’s the minimum goal, Craft said. There is no interest in acquiring another insurer or agency, Craft said. Palomar Insurance, an insurance brokerage owned by a South Alabama family, will likely add some locations in Georgia and probably Mobile. The firm has two Montgomery locations, including the corporate headquarters at Executive Park and a Palomar Plus office on Vaughn Road in the Peppertree Shopping Center. “It’s a convenience for clients,” Craft said. The site handles personal lines of insurance – homeowners and automobile as well as some commercial accounts. The firm’s most successful insurance program has been with the United Egg Producers. About 75 percent of the organization’s members are insured by Palomar. The program generates about 15 percent of the firm’s $12.5 million annual revenue. It is a “very profitable” segment, Craft said.

EMPLOYEES

90 HEADQUARTERS

MONTGOMERY, AL LOCATIONS

MONTGOMERY (2) TROY BIRMINGHAM ATLANTA

It was the egg program along with the plastic surgeons’ program and a large property account that not only kept Palomar alive during the Great Recession, but enabled the firm to actually grow. He said the firm was not dependent on just one area of coverage. “Our forte would be (that) we write a lot of large property accounts,” Craft said. “We write a lot of construction accounts and we insure a lot of transportation (companies). Basically, a little bit of everything. We have accounts all over the country. We handle almost any kind of insurance product.” What sets Palomar Insurance apart from other independent insurance firms is the employees, according to Craft. “Our biggest asset is our people. I can’t emphasize enough how professional our support people are. They are so capable, it’s scary. “We have a great management staff and we have some of the best producers around. We have a good mindset – attitudes are good here. We operate as one big family.” n

Because of recent mergers and acquisitions there will be scores of highly talented salespeople in two years looking for new jobs. Craft hopes to add a dozen or

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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

MONTGOMERY COUNTY RANKED With a 1.2 percent increase in manufacturing jobs from 2013 to 2014, Montgomery County was ranked 442 out of 2,746 counties. The rankings were announced by Headlight Data.

CADDELL AWARDED $40.9 MILLION PROJECT Caddell Construction Co. has been awarded a $40.9 million contract to build an aerial gunnery range at Fort Bragg, N.C. The project, which is expected to be completed by January 2018, includes a 500-foot bridge.

NEW CAFÉ FOR BARNES & NOBLE

by David Zaslawsky

HMMA PRODUCTION RECORD The Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant hit an all-time monthly production record of 37,989 units in July. The automaker had a monthly high of 35,743 units in 2014 and three times topped 37,000 monthly units in 2013 with a high of 37,593 vehicles in October.

There will be a new site for Starbucks

The students helped build a Habit for Humanity home after orientation.

March. Barnes & Noble is doubling the size of its location at Troy to 6,000 square feet to include a café. The café, which will have outdoor seating in front of Troy’s Whitley Hall on Montgomery Street, will serve Starbucks coffee, beverages, soups, salads and sandwiches.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

The newest members of the UAB School of Medicine class spent a day split between orientation and community service. The Class of 2019 is the fourth group of third- and fourthyear medical students receiving their clinical training in Montgomery.

lovers in downtown Montgomery in

University’s Montgomery campus

CLASS OF 2019

LAMP RANKED NO. 59 Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School in Montgomery was ranked the 59th best high school in the country by Newsweek magazine. The only other Alabama high school on the top 500 list was Virgil Grissom High School in Huntsville at No. 390.

Montgomery, AL | November 3 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

Outback Debuts New Look

The Outback Steakhouse that opened at Chase Corner across from EastChase was the first in the area to feature the company’s new “Modern Australia” look inside and outside the building. The new décor mirrors today’s Australia and features a community table in the bar area that has customized seating,

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

furnishings and is connected to the outdoor dining patio. The restaurant, which replaced the one on East Boulevard, is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. MondayThursday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. “We love being a part of the Montgomery community and are excited to open a new restaurant with a totally new design for our guests to enjoy and to expand our family to include nearly 60 new local residents,” owner Ron Woodis said in a statement.

AMERICAN FAMILY CARE KEEPS GROWING

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT GROWS

Birmingham-based American Family Care (AFC) is again on the Inc. 5000 list of the country’s fastest-growing companies. The firm, which partnered with Baptist Health to operate eight clinics in the River Region as AFC PriMed, is ranked No. 1,298 this year. AFC was ranked No. 4,635 in 2013.

The Alabama Commerce Department is adding a workforce division that will be led by Ed Castille, who is the director of Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT). Castille will still be in charge of AIDT but he will be the new deputy secretary of commerce.

AFC had revenue of nearly $300 million and 1,200-plus employees. The company has grown revenue 320 percent since 2011 while increasing its workforce by 570-plus employees.

The state’s 10 workforce development councils will be realigned with the new workforce division instead of the Alabama Community College System.

REPORTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTEBOOK

New Justice Center

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK UPDATE

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been talked about for four or five years, but after a groundbreaking in early August, the new Montgomery Justice Center is becoming a reality. The $5 million project will replace the current Municipal Court building inside the Montgomery Police Department. That building on North Ripley Avenue was built in the late 1950s; has one courtroom and 7,000 to 8,000 square feet of space.

The Alabama economy is forecast to grow 2.2 percent this year and employment is expected to rise 1.3 percent.

The new Justice Center, which was designed by Payne Lee & Associates and features an art deco style, will have two courtrooms and room for a third in 12,000 to 13,000 square feet of space. It is located across from Cramton Bowl and Montgomery Curb Market and adjacent to a vacant building, which is being gutted and renovated. The existing building will have about 13,000 square feet for court administrative staff, said David Payne, president of Payne Lee & Associates. There will be parking spaces behind the building for 65 to 70 vehicles. The city bought the Justice Center property for $1 from the Alabama Department of Revenue.

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October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

INNOVATION TEAM Alabama Power announced the creation of an innovation team that will have employees from marketing, finance, information technology, regulatory and communications.

ALABAMA IS NO. 2 Alabama was No. 2 both in auto manufacturing strength and in workforce training leaders according to Business Facilities. The state’s three auto manufacturers – Hyundai, Honda and Mercedes-Benz – combined to produce nearly 1 million vehicles last year, including the 398,851 vehicles built at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery. The Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) organization, was called “worldclass on-site training for advanced manufacturing” by the magazine. AIDT has trained 600,000 people since its inception in 1971.

The group will look for new ways to serve customers and the state and will seek input from customers on new products and services they would like the company to consider. “Our state, our industry and our world are changing dramatically,” Mark Crosswhite, chairman, president and CEO of Alabama Power, said in a statement. “It is both a challenge and an opportunity for us.”

City and Troy University Join Forces The City of Montgomery and Troy University expanded their partnership, and Department of Public Safety employees will benefit. The university is offering courses, both at the university and online, to all four agencies in the Department of Public Safety: police, fire, communications and emergency management. There will be courses in fire science, fire leadership and emergency communications. Troy University Vice Chancellor Lance Tatum said that courses will enable the students to receive associate, bachelor or master degrees with a 10 percent discounted tuition. The city will also help pay for the courses.

“If we team together... we can do great things.”

Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. said, “We couldn’t have a better partner than Mayor (Todd) Strange, the City of Montgomery … I think as we continue to work together – recognizing it’s in the spirit

of progress – we will see great things accomplished in downtown Montgomery.” Strange said, “If we team together, whether it be with MIA (Montgomery Improvement Association); whether it be with Troy or whether it be with the county; the state or many organizations – we can do great things.”

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

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DOWNTOWN HOTEL SOLD The Jefferson Davis Hotel at the corner of Catoma and Montgomery streets has been sold and the 1927 building will be renovated. SOUTHERN CO. BUYS AGL RESOURCES Southern Co., the parent company of Alabama Power, is buying AGL Resources in an $8 billion transaction. After the merger is completed, Southern Co. will emerge as the secondlargest utility company in the U.S. by customer base. The combined company will have 9 million customers with a projected rate base of $50 billion.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader in developing the full portfolio of energy resources, we believe the addition of AGL Resources to our business will better position Southern Co. to play offense in supporting Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future energy through additional natural gas infrastructure,â&#x20AC;? Southern Co. Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning said in a statement.

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October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Dream Built on Learned Business Skills

Entrepreneurial University played a vital role for Dreamland managing partner

by David Zaslawsky

Bob Parker is managing partner of Dreamland Bar-B-Que and Railyard Brewing Co.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

photography by Robert Fouts

When Bob Parker attended the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial University, he had been a general manager at Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Birmingham and was one of three business owners of Betsy’s Cheese Straws in Millbrook. Parker had no formal business training. He was a history major, so he decided he needed to learn about being a business owner. “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful running a business,” Parker said. “A business that doesn’t make money is a hobby, and there’s nothing worse than a very expensive hobby unless you’re rich.” The 13-week course costs $200, including books and materials. The next Entrepreneurial University will be in 2016 at the Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center at 600 S. Court St. He doesn’t remember all the details about attending Entrepreneurial University back in 2000 or 2001, but he did recall some important aspects, including “being around like-minded people. You don’t need to be around people that are either telling you how great

Being around folks that are struggling with the same things you are is good – it’s encouraging.” Bob Parker, managing partner of Dreamland Bar-B-Que and Railyard Brewing Co.

you are all the time or people that tell you that you’re an idiot. Being around folks that are struggling with the same things you are is good – it’s encouraging.” Parker said that he received a lot of good advice on not just how to do something, but why. “I wanted to learn more about opening a business; owning a business; growing a business; all the pitfalls,” he said. Continued on page 60

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Continued from page 59

Parker said it was important to hear real-life examples of businesspeople and advice from speakers. He said that at Dreamland he was an employee and that Betsy’s Cheese Straws began as a home-based business. “It wasn’t doing much in sales and wasn’t something that was going to teach me big stuff.” That company, which he owned with his wife and mother, did grow and was sold in 2009 to Chattanooga Bakery Co., which has the MoonPie brand.

MEN’S CLUB PLANNED FOR RAILYARD BREWING CO. BASEMENT After a successful launch of the Railyard Tavern in the basement of Railyard Brewing Co., managing partner Bob Parker is planning to open a sophisticated men’s club also in the basement. Parker, who hoped the space would be completed later this year, said there will be a 1940s era pool table, six dart boards and a Bocce Ball court along with chairs and couches. “It’s going to be like a cigar bar with absolutely no smoking,” Parker said. “There is nothing like it here.” He said that the tavern, which has a bar, tables and chairs, can seat 65 for meetings, private parties and special events and 85 to 100 for cocktails. He added the décor and lighting to that area. – David Zaslawsky

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

In 2009, Parker opened Dreamland, which was the first business at The Alley. He opened on the Montgomery Biscuits’ home opener so that 7,000 or so people would walk by Dreamland on their way to Riverwalk Stadium to see a Double-A baseball game. “We can’t have people walk by and not get in,” Parker said. He called that the best free advertising. Parker, who also built houses and bought rental property after leaving Dreamland in Birmingham and returning to Montgomery, said he developed important relationships at Entrepreneurial University. He said that he enjoyed being around people “doing what they love to do.” He also remembered people helping him answer questions. “I think early on it helped with my entrepreneurial career.” That entrepreneurial career also includes opening Railyard Brewing Co. and he is not done yet. Now as managing partner for Dreamland and Railyard, Parker has 85 employees. He not only graduated from Entrepreneurial University, but for five-plus years he kept his business office at the Chamber’s incubation program at the Business Resource Center. “That’s a great facility,” Parker said. “You can have an office there and have a receptionist.” And it’s offered at a below-market rate. n

BUSINESS BUZZ Admission to the expo was a can of food or a $1 donation, benefiting The Salvation Army and Friendship Mission. This year’s donations are expected to provide meals for 50,000-plus people.

BUCKMASTERS EXPO ATTRACTS 25,000 MONTGOMERY – About 25,000 deer hunters from across Alabama and many other states attended the three-day 22nd annual Buckmasters Expo.

Jackie Bushman

One of the expo highlights was the Buckmasters Top Bow Indoor World Championship, which was won by Randy Hendrix of North Carolina. “The top bow competition is one of the toughest, most fun and highestpaying archery tournaments in the country,” Buckmasters founder Jackie Bushman said in a statement. “It’s a real treat to get to see these world-class shooters compete against each other and the tough course we throw at them.” The top bow finals were filmed and will be aired on Outdoor Channel as part of this season’s “Buckmasters” TV show. Another highlight was the 4-H Buckmasters Invitational Archery Tournament and a one-day 4-H Buckmasters Open Fun Shoot at The Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. There were about 120 competitors in both matches. Families also enjoyed the Harriott II Riverboat, which gave free 45-minute riverboat cruises to more than 1,000 expo attendees. “Our 22nd expo was rockin’ again this year,” Bushman said. “Sportsmen and their families really make it special. “It’s a family event. We not only want dads and moms to come, but also their children.”

Next year’s expo will be Aug. 19-21 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Exhibitors interested in participating should can contact Donna Gross at (334) 387-2619 or dgross@buckmasters.com.

TROY UNIVERSITY NAMED BEST IN THE SOUTHEAST TROY – Troy University has been named among the best colleges and universities in the Southeast by The Princeton Review.

MEMBER NEWS

every year for more than a decade is a reflection of this commitment to students.” The inclusion is the result of a survey that asks students to rate their schools on several topics and report on their experiences. Topics include: academics/administration, life at the school, their fellow students, and themselves. Surveys are conducted on campuses and via the Princeton Review website.

Troy University was chosen as a “regional best” college due to excellence in academic programs, institutional data collected from Troy, school visits by Princeton Review staff, their opinions and the invited opinions of college counselors and advisers, according to Princeton Review. Jack Hawkins Jr.

STARKE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The designation marks the 11th year in a row Troy has been named to PRATTVILLE – Bolling P. the list that includes Starke was awarded the Bo Starke only 648 colleges and Walter L. Mims-Bill Ireland Sr. universities nationwide Lifetime Achievement Award at and 139 colleges and universities the 2015 Governor’s Conservation in the 12-state Southeast region. Achievement Awards. Starke These institutions represent about 25 was recognized for outstanding percent of the nation’s 2,500 fourconservation efforts and a lifetime year colleges. of service to the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF). “The most important thing we do at Troy University is serve students,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 62 Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. said in a statement. “The fact that we have been recognized

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

BUSINESS BUZZ FROM PAGE

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards are presented to individuals and organizations that make key contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources. The Walter L. Mims-Bill Ireland, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award is a special award presented only rarely to individuals who have spent their lifetime making a significant contribution to AWF and their success in wildlife conservation, hunting and angling heritage, and connecting people to the outdoors. The Alabama Wildlife Federation, established by sportsmen in 1935, is the state’s oldest and largest citizens’ conservation organization.

WILLIAMS COMMUNICATIONS CEO SPEAKS AT ASU EVENT MONTGOMERY – Williams Communications Marc Williams CEO Marc Williams was one of two speakers who kicked off the second annual Alabama State University speaker series titled “Advice from the Pros.” The event was part of the “Striving for Excellence Leadership Academy” for ASU student-athletes. Williams and ESPN anchor Jay Harris are co-creators of the “Advice from the Pros” series that began in 2009 at Indiana University.

Williams is a sports marketing pioneer and helps prepare athletes for life after sports. His company is a brand management consulting firm. He was joined at the ASU event by Ted Dalton, senior vice president of corporate partnerships and business development for the Boston Celtics.

BEASLEY ALLEN ATTORNEYS NAMED TO 2016 EDITION OF BEST LAWYERS MONTGOMERY – Nineteen Beasley Allen attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2016 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Included on the list are the firm’s founding shareholder, Jere L. Beasley as well as shareholders J. Greg Allen, Michael J. Crow, Thomas J. Methvin, J. Cole Portis, W. Daniel “Dee” Miles III, Andy D. Birchfield Jr., Rhon E. Jones, Benjamin E. Baker Jr., Julia Anne Beasley, LaBarron N. Boone, David B. Byrne III, Kendall C. Dunson, R. Graham Esdale, Jr., P. Leigh O’Dell, Roman A. Shaul, W. Roger Smith III, C. Gibson Vance and E. Frank Woodson. The Beasley Allen law firm received a Tier 1 ranking in the 2016 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

BUTLER SNOW MONTGOMERY ATTORNEY ON BEST LAWYERS LIST RIDGELAND, Miss. – Butler Snow announced that 129 of the firm’s attorneys have been included in Best Lawyers for 2016, and 16 have been named Best Lawyers 2016 “Lawyer of the Year.”

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

“We are very proud of our attorneys’ recognition by their peers in this respected survey,” Butler Snow Chairman Donald Clark Jr. said in a statement. “We consider this recognition a tremendous accomplishment, and congratulate all of our honorees. This is a testament to their commitment to serving our clients.” Best Lawyers recognizes a single lawyer in each community in each practice area as “Lawyer of the Year.” One of the firm’s attorneys named to the list was Michael B. Beers, who practices insurance law in Montgomery.

CAPELL AND HOWARD ATTORNEY NAMED TO PRESTIGIOUS LIST MONTGOMERY – Capell and Howard P.C. attorney Clint A. Richardson was named to The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers list. The list was limited to the top 40 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have achieved outstanding results in their careers. The selection process for this honor is based on a multiphase process, which includes peer nominations combined with thirdparty research.

Chicago-based Ameex is a technology firm that was founded in 2007.

ALABAMA WORLD TRAVEL EMPLOYEE RECEIVES CERTIFICATE MONTGOMERY – Alabama World Travel employee Julie Smothers recently received the Julie Smothers certified travel associate (CTA) designation from The Travel Institute. The certified travel associate designation is presented to travel professionals who complete a rigorous certification program;

TULSA, Okla. – MECO Inc. Chairman and CEO Sara Hitchcock Beck has been elected to the board of directors of the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Beck has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University. Beck has worked for MECO since 2000. The firm, which was founded in 1979, specializes in the sales, service and installation of petroleum equipment. CONTINUED ON PAGE

Photo Credit: Jon Cook Photography

PERFECT SPACE PERFECT PLACE

Photo Credit: CP Mac Photography

The CTA curriculum covers Andy Martin four key skill areas MONTGOMERY – Ameex for the working travel Technologies Corp. has professional: communication completed the purchase of and technology; geography a majority interest in Square knowledge; sales and service; Root Interactive. and travel industry trends. The Square Root Interactive coprogram is also designed to founders Andy Martin, president; allow each candidate to tailor and Mark Cline, vice president; the program to meet his or will continue to run the 16-yearher specific needs or career old agency as a creative and aspirations and specializations. interactive marketing division Smothers has been at Alabama of Ameex. World Travel since 2011. Her “Not only will this agreement add next trip will be escorting a small to Square Root’s own service group in November aboard offerings, but Ameex will also a Windstar yacht, sailing an bring several new Web content itinerary called “Glitter & Glam of management technologies the Rivieras.” to the table,” Martin said in a statement. “We think our clients will be pleased with the wider range of solutions, MECO CEO ELECTED speedier turnarounds and more TO PEI BOARD OF competitive pricing. DIRECTORS

Photo Credit: Kim Box Photography

AMEEX TECHNOLOGIES CORP. BUYS MAJORITY INTEREST IN SQUARE ROOT INTERACTIVE

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October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

BUSINESS BUZZ FROM PAGE

GALASSINI AND ASSOCIATES CELEBRATES 40 YEARS MONTGOMERY – Galassini and Associates Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations is celebrating its 40th anniversary and its 40th year as an agency of record for McDonald’s. Jack Galassini, who founded the agency in 1975, began his advertising career with Sears as a layout artist who created newspaper ads for the retailer. In the late 1960s, he made the move to television with the local ABC affiliate in Montgomery. In 1970 he moved to WSFATV, where he served as national sales manager for the NBC affiliate until he left in 1975 to start his agency. Jack Galassini

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

He started his firm with business from McDonald’s in the Montgomery and Dothan markets as well as the Little Rock and Fort Smith markets in Arkansas. The agency still maintains the business for the Montgomery, Dothan and Fort Smith markets. The agency has also handled a variety of other accounts including the State of Alabama tourism account along with automobile dealerships, furniture companies, law firms and cable television providers. The firm has won national awards from McDonald’s for its work with the Ronald McDonald program. Galassini played the character Ronald McDonald from 1968 until 2008. In 1995 Galassini created, produced and hosted the television show, “The Time of Your Life,” which targets viewers 50 and older and has been on the air ever since on WSFA-TV.

LOCAL NEW YORK LIFE OFFICE HOPES TO HIRE FIVE AGENTS MONTGOMERY– New York Life’s Montgomery general office is seeking to increase its field force by adding five agents. “There’s never been a better time to become a New York Life agent,” Michael Hardin, managing partner of the Montgomery general office, said in a statement. “With sales at a record high last year, you have the opportunity for significant income potential while creating your own work schedule. Our agents also benefit from the extensive training and support New York Life offers to new and experienced agents.” New York Life celebrated its 170th anniversary this year and has been doing business in Alabama since 1902.

Those interested in becoming an agent should visit New York Life’s recruiting website at newyorklife.com/careers/ sales-careers.

AUM PROFESSOR APPOINTED TO BOARD MONTGOMERY – An Auburn University at Montgomery professor was recently appointed Teresa Lang to the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) Subcommittee of the Examinations Group of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Teresa Lang, an associate professor of accounting in the university’s College of Business, is one of 12 committee members, and is the only education industry representative on the subcommittee.

“I am very pleased to accept this appointment,” Lang said in a statement. “I have been a CPA for over 20 years and, of course, a member of the national organization. I am proud to serve the CPA profession in this capacity, and am excited at the prospect of working with the CPA Examination Group. This fulfills my long-term goal to serve at the national level.” Lang will travel to New York City four times during her appointment to attend committee meetings. The Board of Examiners Content Committee has four subcommittees, one for each of the four CPA Examination sections. One of Lang’s responsibilities while serving on the BEC subcommittee will include acquisition and review of test questions; review of test pools to support the examinations; and review of questionable items.

of the College of Business, said in a statement. “She has earned multiple teaching recognitions/honors from the students in addition to being a productive scholar researching on various accounting topics.”

INDRASOFT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE RESTON, Va. – IndraSoft has launched a redesigned website that includes social media channels and can be accessed from smart phones, tablets and desktops. The new website – IndraSoft.com – features career opportunities and information about the company’s culture and values. The firm provides federal clients with a range of information technology solutions. n

“Teresa has been training future accounting professionals over the past decade,” Rhea Ingram, dean

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'ƌĂƉŚŝĐƐ Θ DĂŝůŝŶŐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ /ŶĐ͘ ;'D^͕ /ŶĐ͘Ϳ ŽĨĨĞƌƐ ƐŽƵŶĚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ Θ ƐŽůƵƚŝŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ǇŽƵƌ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͘ tĞ ĐĂŶ ŚĞůƉ ǇŽƵ ĨŝŶĚ ŶĞǁ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͕ ǁŝŶ ŵŽƌĞ ƐĂůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƚŝǀĂƚĞ ƌĞƉĞĂƚ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĨĞƌƌĂůƐ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŝƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƚŝŽŶĂů ǀĂůƵĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐŚŝƉ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ͘ 'D^͕ /ŶĐ͘ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ƚƌĂĚŝƚŝŽŶĂů ƉƌŝŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƌĞĐƚ ŵĂŝů ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ĂůŽŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĞǆĐŝƚŝŶŐ ĚŝŐŝƚĂů ƐŽůƵƚŝŽŶƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂůŝǌĞĚ ƉƌŝŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĞŵĂŝů ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶƐ͘

dĞůů ƵƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ǇŽƵƌ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ƚŽĚĂǇ͊

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ŝƌĞĐƚ DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ Θ ^ŽůƵƚŝŽŶƐ ϭ͘ϴϬϬ͘ϴϬϭ͘ϯϮϰϳ ǁǁǁ͘ŐƌĂƉŚŝĐƐĂŶĚŵĂŝůŝŶŐ͘ĐŽŵ

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

MEMBER NEWS

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE MONTGOMERY EYE PHYSICIANS ANNOUNCES HIRES MONTGOMERY – Dr. Katherine J. Donnithorne has joined Montgomery Eye Physicians. The firm also hired Phillip Douglas as practice administrator. Donnithorne, who trained in comprehensive ophthalmology including cataract and glaucoma surgery, will see patients in the Zelda Road and Prattville offices. She has a concentrated interest in medical retinal disease.

Katherine Donnithorne

“I feel so grateful for the opportunity to join the Montgomery Eye Physicians team,” Donnithorne said in a statement. “The physicians and staff are superb and it is a privilege for me to be a part of such an outstanding group.”

She graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor’s degree in Phillip Douglas elementary education and a minor in Spanish. She then served for two years in Mexico and Bolivia as a medical mission translator

as well as teaching English as a second language. She received her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Donnithorne had an internship in internal medicine at Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore; and completed ophthalmology residency at UAB.

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

MONTGOMERY – Melissa Johnson Warnke joined the Alabama Retail Association as manager of communications and engagement. In another development, Macey McLain has joined Alabama Retail Comp, a workers’ compensation fund for retailers and other small businesses, as a claims support representative.

Douglas has more than 20 years of experience shaping successful health care organizations. His strengths include operations, budgeting, strategic planning and expense management. A graduate of William Carey College, Douglas received a master’s degree in business administration with a special concentration on health care management.

In her new position, Warnke will be an integral part of the Alabama Retail Association’s communication team, engaging members, the media and the public on retail matters as well as educating them about the programs and services offered by the association.

Melissa Warnke

“We are very excited to have Mr. Douglas join our team,” Montgomery Eye Physicians President Dr. Tom Mitchell said in a statement. “Someone with his competence, knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset as we move forward in the ever-changing health care climate.” Most recently, Douglas served as an officer in the United States Air Force assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base. He was responsible for managing one of the Air Force Medical Service’s largest freestanding outpatient and ancillary care facilities. There were five primary and six specialty care clinics under his oversight. Montgomery Eye Physicians has three locations: Zelda Road, Sturbridge and Prattville. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

ALABAMA RETAIL GROUP ADDS COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

She comes to the association after almost eight years in various positions at WSFA 12 News in Montgomery, including noon anchor and “Today in Alabama” reporter. Warnke has a mass communications degree from Auburn University. “We are thrilled to have Melissa on board to help tell the retail story in our state,” Alabama Retail

Association President Rick Brown said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her video and communications skills will add value for our current members and prove invaluable to attracting new member businesses to the association.â&#x20AC;? McLain will provide support for ARC claims analysts. Earlier this year, she completed an audit internship with Alabama Retail Comp. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are thrilled Macey could join us in a full-time capacity,â&#x20AC;? Pam Baxter, director of claims for Alabama Retail Comp, said in a statement. Prior to beginning her career with ARC, McLain worked as an area sales manager for Verizon Wireless and a catering manager for Jim Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nicks BBQ.

MAX CREDIT UNION NAMES WEALTH MANAGER MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MAX Credit Union has named Matt Cowell as a wealth manager with investMAX in the Lee County market.

Matt Cowell

He is based out of MAXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown Auburn Branch. Cowell will work with local businesses and clients in areas such as estate planning, fixed income investing, portfolio management and employee retirement planning. Cowell began his career at MAX as a customer service representative. After receiving a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in finance and accounting, Cowell gained additional industry experience as a financial adviser at other financial institutions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am excited to join the team at MAX,â&#x20AC;? Cowell said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can truly say the culture at MAX was

the biggest reason I wanted to come back. MAX has created a culture that is centered on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;people helping people.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Â From the way it treats its employees to the way it serves its customers, MAX is a company that practices what it preaches.â&#x20AC;?

EXIT REALTY ANNOUNCES HIRE MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EXIT Hodges Real Estate in Montgomery announced the addition of Crystal Daw. Crystal Daw

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited to welcome Crystal to EXIT Realty,â&#x20AC;? Paul Hodges, broker of EXIT Hodges Real CONTINUED ON PAGE

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October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE FROM PAGE

Estate, said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;EXIT is growing and attracting quality business people like Crystal each and every day.â&#x20AC;? She is also a licensed residential appraiser with eight-plus years of experience.

COLONIAL INSURANCE HIRES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Laura Hornbrook

LOUISVILLE, Ky. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Colonial Insurance recently hired Laura Hornbrook as a commercial lines account executive.

In her new role, Hornbrook will work with Colonial Insuranceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial property and casualty clients in Alabama to identify key business exposures and develop risk management insurance solutions. Hornbrook brings more than 12 years of experience to Colonial Insurance, specializing in commercial package coverage, workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; compensation, professional liability, personal lines and not-for-profit coverage.Â Previously, she was employed with Foremost Insurance Co., State Farm Insurance and The Cone Insurance Co. as John Green an insurance agent in Michigan and Alabama.Â She is a graduate of Cornerstone University, where she received a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in business management.Â She holds a property and casualty license.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited to have Laura on our property and casualty team,â&#x20AC;? Colonial Insurance President Mark Pierce said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Her experience and deep knowledge of the insurance industry will benefit our commercial clients looking to protect their assets and manage their risk.â&#x20AC;?

MONTGOMERY ZOO HIRES MARKETING MANAGER MONTGOMERY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Montgomery Zoo has hired John Greene as marketing and public relations manager. He replaces Sarah McKemey, who retired after working 19 years at the zoo. He has a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree from Auburn University and has seven-plus years of public

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Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

relations and marketing experience in state government, higher education and nonprofits. Greene is originally from Birmingham, but has lived in Montgomery for six years. Greene, who is currently the volunteer coordinator, also helps with the production of Jungle Drums membership magazine, writing press releases, media relations and customer service. “I’m having fun learning more about the zoo’s animals and exhibits, and I try to learn something new each day,” Greene said in a statement. “The Montgomery area is fortunate to have a zoo like this and the zoo adds to the overall quality of life for its residents.”

COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNER JOINS GOODWYN, MILLS AND CAWOOD

expanding its planning services throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties and throughout the Gulf Coast region. He worked previously as a community planner in GMC’s Birmingham office for six years before departing to work for the City of Birmingham. Bias will join GMC community planners Larry Watts and Stacey Browning in leading Map for Mobile, the city’s first comprehensive planning process to be conducted in more than 20 years, and in developing the Coastal Alabama Partnership Regional Strategic Plan that will guide decision-making in the Coastal Alabama region for the next two decades. He graduated from Auburn University with master’s degrees in community planning and landscape architecture and a bachelor’s degree in environmental design. Bias is a certified planner.

MOBILE – Goodwyn, Mills Brandon Bias and Cawood Inc. (GMC) announced community and regional planner Brandon Bias has joined the AUM ANNOUNCES DEAN firm’s Mobile office. COLLEGE OF NURSING Bias will be based primarily out of Mobile, but will also spend time in the firm’s Baldwin County office. The addition of a planner in the Mobile area enables the firm to continue

HEALTH SCIENCES

at UCF; two new master’s tracks; an innovative associate’s degree in nursing to a bachelor’s degree in nursing program with three schools; and quadrupled enrollment in the registered nurse to bachelor’s degree in nursing program. “It is an honor and privilege to provide leadership for the newly established College of Nursing and Jean D’Meza Leuner Health Sciences at AUM,” Leuner said in a statement. “The health care needs of today’s patients require health professionals from different disciplines to collaborate toward the shared goal of improved health outcomes.” She holds a doctor’s and a master’s degree from Boston College. CONTINUED ON PAGE

FOR AND

MONTGOMERY – Auburn University at Montgomery’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences has a new dean in Jean D’Meza Leuner. Having taught students at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels and holding administrative positions in nursing education for more than 20 years, Leuner comes to AUM from the University of Central Florida, where she founded the university’s College of Nursing. While at UCF she raised more than $6 million to support faculty, students and the college, including two endowed chairs and three endowed professorships. She also started four academic programs

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE FROM PAGE

USAMERIBANK NAMES MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR MONTGOMERY – Ginger Willcoxon has joined USAmeriBank as a mortgage loan originator. She has more than 25 years of combined experience in banking, accounting and real estate. As a real estate investor who has managed commercial and residential properties, Willcoxon brings a unique perspective to this new role. She also has a background in retail banking as a former assistant branch manager and loan officer with AmSouth Bank. Ginger Wilcoxson Willcoxon will be based out of the Festival Plaza branch and will cover Montgomery, Millbrook and Alexander City. She can meet with

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

clients at any of the USAmeriBank branches in the Central Alabama area and can make residential mortgage loans throughout Alabama and Florida.

AUM HIRES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MONTGOMERY – Jim Herlihy has been named the director of athletics at Auburn University at Montgomery.

“We are very excited to have Ginger join our growing mortgage lending department,” Herlihy, who has Scott Gibertini, more than 25 years residential mortgage of experience in production manager with athletic administration, USAmeriBank, said in a Jim Herihly including nearly 12 years statement. “Her extensive working at the NCAA Division II financial experience coupled with her level, spent the past 16 months knowledge of the real estate industry as the director of athletics at Saint is a great asset to the team and Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. our customers.” Saint Anselm College is a NCAA Willcoxon is a certified public Division II member. accountant with the State of Alabama “We look forward to having Jim as and also has a real estate license. a member of the Warhawk family,” She received a bachelor’s degree and AUM Chancellor John G. Veres III a master’s degree from the University said in a statement. “We value his of Alabama. experience and his dedication to student-athletes and excellence in athletic programs throughout his

career, especially as we enter this crucial period of entering the NCAA Division II membership process.” During his tenure with the Hawks, Herlihy oversaw 20 sports, nine facilities, 68 employees and more than 450 student-athletes. He managed a $7 million operating budget and annual fund, while cultivating gifts in athletic initiatives during the leadership phase of the first-ever capital campaign conducted in the 125-year history of Saint Anselm. Under his leadership, five teams qualified for national tournaments and more than 55 percent of studentathletes were named to the dean’s list. Additionally, the department of athletics boasted a 92 percent graduation rate and student-athletes participated in more than 4,000 hours of community service.

“I am honored and humbled to join the AUM community,” Herlihy said in a statement. “I have great admiration for the tradition and spirit of AUM athletics and the success of the department. I am excited to join the team and continue the work begun on the NCAA membership transition and to build on the foundation of student success here.” Prior to time at Saint Anselm College, Herlihy served as the director of athletics at the University of Montevallo for seven years. While at Montevallo, Herlihy guided the Falcons through a transition from the Gulf South Conference to their current home, the Peach Belt Conference, while also overseeing the 15 athletic programs, 42 employees, more than 300 student-athletes and seven facilities. The Falcons increased their student-athlete population by more than 100 percent during Herlihy’s tenure.

Before leading the staff at Montevallo, Herlihy served as an assistant athletic director at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla. There, he oversaw all aspects of the financial operations and external relations while supervising five teams. He has worked in revenuegenerating positions in the Major League Baseball front offices for both the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers, where he served as the general manager of the Clearwater Phillies and the Charlotte Rangers, respectively. He also spent time as the assistant general manager of the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team. Herlihy received a bachelor’s degree from Plymouth State University, before completing his master’s degree in sports management at the University of Alabama. n

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

CHAMBER NEWS

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GROUND BREAKINGS

MONTGOMERY MOTOR SPEEDWAY 480 Booth Road • Montgomery, AL 36108 334-262-6101 • www.montgomerymotorspeedway.org Stan Norrison-Track Promoter & General Manager • Racetracks

WILSHIRE BANK 1605 Eastern Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-277-4118 • www.wilshirebank.com Kay Taylor-Branch Manager Dan Koh-Regional Manager J.W. Yoo-President/CEO • Banks

WILLCOXON PROPERTIES P.O. Box 241623 • Montgomery, AL 36124 334-318-0789 • Lee Wilcoxon-Owner Real Estate-Commercial/Investments

MONTGOMERY AREA PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, LLC 2430 Fairlane Drive, Suite C-7 • Montgomery, AL 36116 334-551-0735 • www.mapsych.net Dr. Babatunde Abolade-Psychiatrist • Psychiatrists

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 1430 Taylor Road • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-270-9495 • www.outbacksteakhouse.com Ron Woodis-Managing Partner • Restaurants-Steakhouse

SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE 6262 Atlanta Highway • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-322-0683 • www.salvationarmy.org Major Walter Strong-Corps Officer • Associations/Non-Profit

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

CHAMBER NEWS APARTMENTS

STURBRIDGE COMMONS APARTMENT HOMES Lesley Traver 8700 Seaton Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116-6694 334-270-0111 THE HEIGHTS-MONTGOMERY Samantha Watson 605 Maxwell Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36104 334-261-6333 ASSOCIATIONS/NON-PROFIT

ALABAMA APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW & JUSTICE, INC. John Pickens P.O. Box 4864 Montgomery, AL 36103 334-263-0086 ALABAMA KIDNEY FOUNDATION, MONTGOMERY CHAPTER Renae Thompson P. O. Box 240294 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-241-0003 ALABAMA RETAIL ASSOCIATION Richard E. Brown P. O. Box 240549 Montgomery, AL 36124-0549 334-263-5757 ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION Lendria Glass P.O. Box 242414 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-557-1577 BOYS AND GIRLS RANCHES OF ALABAMA Nick Rauccio 2680 Bell Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-213-2071

NEW MEMBERS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS ALABAMA CHAPTER Dawn Ellis-Murray P.O. Box 231366 Montgomery, AL 36123 334-260-4018 TRENHOLM TECH FOUNDATION Mimi Johnson P.O. Box 9884 Montgomery, AL 36108 334-420-4243 AUTOMOBILE DEALERS-USED

HOLMES MOTORS, INC. Jason B. Johnson 405 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-424-1552 BANKS

HANCOCK BANK Vicki Osterman 124 West Main Street Prattville, AL 36067-3034 334-270-3550 HANCOCK BANK Vicki Osterman P.O. Box 681400 Prattville, AL 36068-1400 334-260-4010 BLINDS - RETAIL & CLEANING

SOUTHERN SHUTTER COMPANY, INC. J.J. Whitaker P.O. Box 972 Montgomery, AL 36102 334-264-6158 CALL CENTER

EXPERT GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. Patrick DeProspo 4520 Executive Park Drive, Suite 200 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-279-2300 HANCOCK BANK OPERATIONS CENTER Charles Johnson Capitol Commerce Center 100 Capitol Commerce Parkway, Suite 450 Montgomery, AL 36117 334-358-2965

SYKES ENTERPRISES Jae Scott 201 Technacenter Drive Montgomery, AL 36117 678-953-0004 CELLULAR/WIRELESS PHONE SERVICES

TOTAL CELL PHONE REPAIR, LLC Keaton Hull 2915 Chestnut Street Montgomery, AL 36107 334-593-6644 WIRELESS TIME ALABAMA, LLC Brad Bowen 3454 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-221-0240 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Jim Forsythe P.O. Box 3110 Orange Beach, AL 36561 800-977-8449 COMMUNITY SERVICES/AGENCIES

MONTGOMERY AIDS OUTREACH, INC. Michael Murphree 2900 McGehee Road Montgomery, AL 36111 334-280-3349 COMPUTERS-SOFTWARE/ HARDWARE/CONSULTING

KARIS INNOVATION, LLC Patricia Rodriguez 600 South Court Street, Suite 318 Montgomery, AL 36104 331-203-8796 PINNACLE NETWORX, LLC Keith Carter 74689 Tallassee Highway Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-472-2007

CONSULTING SERVICES

A PLUS CONSULTANTS LLC Audrey White 520 Melanie Drive Montgomery, AL 36109 334-546-6726 INTELLIGENCE DESIGNS, LLC Larry Arrington 90 Fallon Court Deatsville, AL 36022 334-233-0561 WILLIAMS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Marc Williams 9154 East Chase Parkway, Suite 146 Montgomery, AL 36117 304-429-9342 CONTRACTORS

R & R RENOVATIONS, LLC Roderick L. Thornton 2541 Lark Drive Montgomery, AL 36108-4420 334-300-7111 DRY CLEANERS/LAUNDRIES

SAVE-A-TRIPP DRY CLEANING Tripp Clements 4241 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36106 334-215-8747 FIRE PROTECTION

FAMCO, LLC Johnny Thompson 1525 West Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-277-0300 FIRST AID SUPPLIES & SERVICE

ADVANTAGE FIRST AID & SAFETY Sharon Nations 7956 Vaughn Road, #127 Montgomery, AL 36116 334-271-5770

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

CHAMBER NEWS

NEW MEMBERS (continued)

HOTELS/MOTELSEXTENDED STAY

VALUE PLACE Julie Jackson 5031 Woods Crossing Drive Montgomery, AL 36106 334-396-3505

LEGAL SERVICES - ATTORNEYS

PSYCHIATRISTS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

J. WELLS ROBINSON, P.C. James W. Robinson 2740 Zelda Rd., 4th Floor Montgomery, AL 36106 334-273-0145

GRACE POINT BEHAVIORAL, LLC Caroline Abolade 8439 Crossland Loop Montgomery, AL 36117 334-409-9242

CENTURYLINK BUSINESS Katie M. Birdwell 5461 Magnolia Trail Trussville, AL 35173 334-420-3111

LEGAL SERVICES -

RAILWAYS

LYONS HR Dianne Lee 445 Dexter Avenue, Suite 4050 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-557-9035

BAIN & ASSOCIATES COURT REPORTING SERVICES, INC. Sandra Bain 505 North 20th Street, Suite 1250 Birmingham, AL 35203 888-326-0594

MERIDIAN & BIGBEE RAILROAD R. Blake Loper P.O. Box 551 Meridian, MS 39302 601-693-4351

PRO STONE KITCHEN AND BATH, LLC Megan Millican 584 Oliver Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-281-0048

REAL ESTATE-APPRAISERS

TIRE DEALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

INDIVIDUALS

LIGHTING-RETAIL

GORDON G. MARTIN 205-257-0522

LED SOLUTION McKenzie A. Jones 3250 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-799-6908

VALBRIDGE PROPERTY ADVISORS John E. Hall 4732 Woodmere Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36106 334-277-5077

BEST BUY AUTOMOTIVE & TIRES Bobby Jones 3835 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-244-8083

RESTAURANTS

REPAIR

A&P SOCIAL Miguel Figueroa 503 Cloverdale Road Unit 101 Montgomery, AL 36106 334-356-3814

STONE EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. Andy Huggins P.O. Box 241585 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-430-8431

SUNDOWN EAST Angi Brown 3416 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36109 334-271-0501

WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS

MANAGEMENT CONSULTING

LARRY A. GROCE 334-270-2600 OLAN WALDROP Olan G. Waldrop P.O. Box 241394 Montgomery, AL 36124 334-538-3264 INSURANCE COMPANIES/SERVICES

COUNTRY FINANCIAL Kevin Sherwood 11123 Chantilly Parkway Court, Unit C Pike Road, AL 36064 334-272-2378 INVESTMENT ADVISORS/ BROKERS

AIM GROUP MONTGOMERY CHAPTER Clay McInnis 260 Commerce Street, Suite 300 Montgomery, AL 36104 334-850-1101

PAINT & PAINTING SUPPLIES

PRO COLOR PAINT SUPPLY, INC. John Urquhart 1267 Newell Parkway Montgomery, AL 36110 334-270-9040 PAYROLL PREPARATION SERVICE

SIMPLIFIED MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS, INC. Trevor Small 4268 Lomac Street Montgomery, AL 36106 334-356-3480 PRINTERS/COPY CENTERS

WELLS PRINTING COMPANY Irvin Wells 6030 Perimeter Parkway Montgomery, AL 36116-5123 334-281-3449 PRINTING SERVICES/ GRAPHIC DESIGN

CCM GRAPHICS AND DESIGNS Christina Mims 600 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-612-7922 74

TILE, CERAMIC & STONE

COURT REPORTING

HUMAN RESOURCE

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

SECURITY SERVICES

ADS SECURITY Stephen W. Hicks 1619 A Thomason Drive Opelika, AL 36801 800-799-3699 NORSHIELD SECURITY PRODUCTS, LLC Barry L. White 3224 Mobile Highway Montgomery, AL 36108 334-551-0650

TRACTOR/TRAILER SALES &

FOREVERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEGINNING WEDDINGS & PROPOSALS CORP Shannon Bly 1231 Perry Hill Road, Suite A-2 Montgomery, AL 36109 334-819-6122

ECONOMIC INTEL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES

Civilian Labor Force

Unemployment Rate

AUG p 2015

JULY r 2015

AUG r 2014

AUG p 2015

JULY r 2015

AUG r 2014

Montgomery MA

171,138

172,676

169,709

6.40%

6.50%

7.10%

Autauga County

25,595

25,852

25,335

5.70%

5.90%

6.30%

Prattville City

16,706

16,881

16,475

5.40%

5.60%

Elmore County

36,504

36,790

36,205

5.50%

6.20%

3,948

4,027

3,898

12.50%

13.20%

13.30%

105,091

106,007

104,271

6.70%

6.80%

7.50%

92,629

93,456

91,807

6.80%

7.00%

7.50%

538,684

541,785

533,015

5.90%

6.00%

6.40%

93,557

94,271

92,713

7.60%

8.00%

8.30%

Huntsville MA

207,872

210,728

208,241

5.90%

6.10%

6.50%

Huntsville City

90,332

91,776

90,031

6.30%

6.70%

6.40%

Mobile MA

181,861

184,060

183,610

7.60%

7.90%

8.10%

Mobile City

85,209

86,223

86,086

7.90%

8.10%

8.40%

2,159,442

2,179,627

2,149,219

6.50%

6.70%

7.20%

157,390,000

158,527,000

156,434,000

5.20%

5.60%

6.30%

Area

Lowndes County Montgomery County Montgomery City Birmingham-Hoover MA Birmingham City

Alabama United States

CHAMBER NEWS

SALES TAX

MA=Metropolitan Area. pPreliminary rRevised Estimates prepared by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations in Cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, based on 2014 benchmark.

AUGUST 2015

AUGUST 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

Montgomery County

$3,467,854

$3,317,444

4.53%

$28,529,796

$27,279,886

4.58%

City of Montgomery

$8,107,221

$7,636,012

6.17%

$68,157,116

$64,765,416

5.24%

$195,263

$280,927

-30.49%

$1,465,664

$1,264,135

15.94%

$1,721,138

$1,633,762

5.35%

$14,549,984

$13,606,470

6.93%

Autauga County

$66,577

$622,304

-89.30%

$5,449,859

$5,215,088

4.50%

Elmore County

$212,213

$200,895

5.63%

$1,857,107

$1,709,205

8.65%

Wetumpka

$484,427

$472,555

2.51%

$3,267,618

$3,792,213

-13.83%

Pike Road Prattville

Sources: Montgomery County Commission, City of Montgomery, City of Pike Road, Autauga County Commission, City of Prattville, Elmore County Commission, City of Wetumpka, City of Millbrook. Note: YTD numbers are January 2015 thru current month.

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

BUILDING STARTS

Building Permits

Building Valuations

AUG 2015

JULY 2015

AUG 2014

AUG 2015

JULY 2015

AUG 2014

New Construction

$12,923,820

$17,906,600

$3,917,797

Additions and AlterationsÂ

$8,410,430

$11,057,643

$4,471,589

Others

$79,300

$137,240

$236,565

Total

196

157

150

$21,413,550

$29,101,483

$8,625,951

Source: City of Montgomery Building Department

MONTGOMERY METRO MARKET HOME SALES AUGUST 2015

JULY 2015

MONTH/MONTH % CHANGE

AUGUST 2014

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

STATEWIDE AUGUST 2015

Median Price

$140,000

$146,500

-4.44%

$137,000

2.19%

$142,691

Average Price

$155,773

$162,658

-4.23%

$159,254

-2.19%

$167,065

2,956

3,021

-2.15%

2,882

2.57%

33,230

Months of Supply

7.1

6.3

12.70%

7.8

-8.97%

7.2

Total # Sales

415

482

-13.90%

368

12.77%

4,594

Days on Market

115

127

-9.45%

131

-12.21%

149

Units Listed

Source: Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), The University of Alabamas

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

AIR FARES Roundtrip airfare comparisons from Montgomery, Birmingham and Atlanta airports to key destinations. DESTINATION

MGM

BHM

ATL

Baltimore (BWI)

$297

$283

$146

Boston (BOS)

$306

$318

$210

Charlotte, NC (CLT)

$202

$152

$321

Chicago (ORD)

$253

$235

$80

Cincinnati (CVG)

$294

$349

$134

Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)

$223

$225

$116

Denver (DEN)

$313

$308

$198

Detroit (DTW)

$295

$306

$166

Houston (HOU)

$273

$175

$126

Indianapolis (IND)

$274

$277

$144

Las Vegas (LAS)

$487

$462

$202

Los Angeles (LAX)

$347

$355

$148

Memphis (MEM)

$388

$317

$302

Miami (MIA)

$323

$207

$154

Nashville (BNA)

$432

$399

$369

HYUNDAI SALES VEHICLE

New Orleans (MSY)

$458

$387

$143

New York (JFK)

$312

$306

$225

Orlando (MCO)

$433

$335

$72

Philadelphia (PHL)

$284

$238

$98

Pittsburgh (PIT)

$281

$296

$232

St Louis (STL)

$261

$282

$213

Seattle (SEA)

$417

$364

$217

$1,066

$1,008

$1,343

Tampa (TPA)

$314

$241

$80

Washington DC (DCA)

$274

$178

$186

Seoul (SEL)

AUG 2015

AUG 2014

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

Accent

4,733

4,724

44,985

42,743

Sonata

21,818

21,092

141,556

150,016

Elantra

22,405

22,845

173,238

157,555

Santa Fe

11,255

9,302

77,648

291

511

4,358

5,214

Tucson

6,609

5,266

33,151

33,369

Veloster

2,276

2,981

15,537

20,188

2,440

3,029

22,184

20,065

185

253

1,518

2,335

72,012

70,003

514,175

501,448

Azera

Veracruz Genesis Equus Total

Source: Hyundai Motor America

Date of travel: Oct. 20-25, 2015. Date of pricing: Sept. 13, 2015. Source: travelocity.com

MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT STATS AUGUST 2015 Air Carrier Operations

AUGUST 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

791

910

-13.1%

6,215

6,941

-10.4%

5,299

5,609

-5.5%

39,149

39,539

-1.0%

Enplanements

14,727

14,900

-1.2%

116,893

107,701

8.5%

Deplanements

15,066

16,032

-6.0%

114,399

108,845

5.1%

Total Passengers

29,793

30,932

-3.7%

231,292

216,546

6.8%

Total Operations

Source: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) Dannelly Field

October 2015 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Montgomery Business Journal October 2015

1_16057

7.625x10 4c

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