Montgomery Business Journal – February 2016 by Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

TECHNOLOGY IMPACT PAGE 8

THE RETURN OF AN OLD FRIEND PAGE 14

MAKING A DIFFERENCE PAGE 40

RAISING THE BAR SETTING GOALS FOR RECORD GROWTH

PAGE 32

Depth.

We’ve added more

MONTGOMERY P R AT T V I L L E

WETUMPKA

ALEXANDER CIT Y

and now in AUBURN

OPELIKA

GADSDEN

RIVER BANKAND T R U ST . C O M

We’ve merged with Keystone Bank and their offices in Auburn, Opelika and Gadsden are now River Bank & Trust locations. Our shared passion for personal service, long-term relationships and local decision-making is what brought us together to create one of the premier community banking franchises in Alabama. Which means an expanded network of locations and a broad array of products and services for you.

S E R V I C E

U N S

D E E P

Member FDIC | NMLS 405629 | Equal Housing Lender

CONTENTS

Bigger 28 and Better

FEBRUARY 2016

Q&A with Cheryl Payson

A Sixth Term?

32 40

MEMBER NEWS 26 Member Profile: Valbridge Property Advisors

CHAMBER NEWS 06 Calendar 44 Reporter’s Notebook 52 Business Buzz 56 Members on the Move 58 Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings 59 New Members 60 Economic Intel

FEATURES 8

‘CHIP’-ING AWAY AT IDENTITY THEFT Q&A with Cheryl Payson

13 SENIOR STATESMAN Sen. Richard Shelby seeks a sixth term 14 READY TO ROLL OUT MORE Santa Fe production returns to the Hyundai plant in Montgomery 20 FINDING FACTS City Investigations office probes complaints

32 RAISING THE BAR Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood sets $80 million revenue goal 40 RECOGNITION UPS Stores and Certified Technical Experts win Point of Light Awards 48 PUTTING MORE INTO INFRASTRUCTURE BCA seeks fair, equitable, and broad-based solutions

28 BIGGER AND BETTER Raycom Media Camellia Bowl builds on success

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

THE NUMBER ONE BUSINESS SOURCE FOR MONTGOMERY AND THE RIVER REGION PUBLISHER

Randall L. George EDITORIAL

Tina McManama David Zaslawsky Lashanda Gaines Melissa Bowman DESIGN

Copperwing Design PHOTOGRAPHER

Robert Fouts ON THE COVER

David Reed (left) is chairman of the Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood board of directors and executive vice president and Bill Wallace is the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CEO. ADVERTISING

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Trenholm State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 300334097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Trenholm State Community College.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

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 8, Issue 2. 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.

CADENCE BANK

Member Spotlight

Tom Broughton is Market Executive for Cadence Bank in Central Alabama HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS: Founded on 129 years of

WHAT SETS YOU APART: Our people. We position ourselves as advisors

financial expertise, Cadence Bank began operating in Montgomery in 2004. With $8.3 billion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2015, Cadence ranks as the third largest bank in Alabama based on assets, according to SNL Financial. Cadence operates 66 branches across five states: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

and treat our clients’ money and businesses as if they were our own. Our relationship managers are well-positioned to assist the long-standing companies of Montgomery. Every client works with one banker who handles their personal and business financial needs, and receives their banker’s personal cell phone number for 24/7 access.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES: Locally, eight employees comprise three

WHAT ABOUT YOUR COMPANY WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE? WH

groups: retail banking, full-service mortgage and commercial lending. Across the bank, Cadence employs more than 1,200 associates.

DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY: Cadence Bank, a full-service regional bank,

Cadence is the fastest growing bank in Montgomery County based on year-over-year deposit growth, according to the FDIC’s Deposit Market Share Report as of June 30, 2015.

oﬀers the perfect combination of size and service for businesses and consumers. We are big enough to oﬀer the capabilities of larger banks, while small enough to appreciate and respond proactively to customers’ unique financial needs, and to know them by name.

WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL: We truly care about our clients and the community, and strive to build lasting relationships. By focusing on our clients’ needs and best interests, we earn their trust, and this enables us to grow together.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE: Commercial and small business WH

WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD: Become the

banking, consumer banking, treasury management, international banking and foreign exchange, specialized lending, wealth management, investment and trust services, financial planning, retirement plan management, business and personal insurance, consumer loans, mortgages, home equity lines and loans, and credit cards.

WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIALTIES? We’ve helped countless River Region WH businesses enhance eﬀiciencies and fraud protection with our treasury management solutions. A few examples of the value our treasury management specialists bring to a relationship are: integration of bank data, automated accounts receivables and accounts payables functions, and guarding against fraud. Within Commercial Banking, we focus on businesses with less than $50 million in revenues, and support their executives and employees. For larger financing, we consult our team of in-house industry lending experts.

bank-of-choice for Montgomery businesses and residents, while continuing to grow across our five-state footprint.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD: We’ve created a family AN culture at Cadence Bank. Our service-oriented philosophy rests on four core values: Do Right, Own It, Embrace We and Fresh Thinking. These are the basis of all we do for our clients, our communities and each other. We know every customer by name and consider them part of our extended family.

6836 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery AL 36117 334-277-8478, www.cadencebank.com

MARCH

BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR

Sponsored by BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door

6 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery Registration required: montgomerychamber.com/EU

The Montgomery Chamber Event Calendar is at montgomerychamber.com/events

FEBRUARY

10 CHAMBER NEWS

EVENTS

60 MINUTE COFFEE

Sponsored by Capitol Hyundai 8 AM @ Capitol Hyundai 2820 Eastern Bypass, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

STATE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY

Sponsored by Baptist Health 7:30 AM @ RSA Activity Center 201 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery Registration required: montgomerychamber.com/state

15 BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR Sponsored by BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door

THE ROAD 18 PAVING TO SUCCESS 11:30 AM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center Free event, registration required montgomerychamber.com/ roadtosuccess

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH DATA 12 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center Free event

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Sponsored by Montgomery Airport Authority 5 PM @ Montgomery Regional Airport 4445 Selma Highway, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members 6

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITY

60 MINUTE COFFEE

Sponsored by MACOA (Montgomery Area Council on Aging) 8 AM @ Montgomery Area Council on Aging 115 E. Jefferson Street, Montgomery Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

21 BUSINESS PLANNING SEMINAR Sponsored by BWS Technologies 4 PM @ Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center 600 South Court Street, Montgomery $10 at the door

31 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Sponsored by Alabama Wildlife Federation and PowerSouth Energy 5 PM @ Lanark Nature Plex 3050 Lanark Road, Millbrook Free event, exclusively for Chamber Members

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Cheryl Payson is the chief support officer for MAX Credit Union. She was recently interviewed by the Montgomery Business Journal’s David Zaslawsky.

Q&A 8

‘CHIP’-ING AWAY AT IDENTITY THEFT

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

What is your responsibility as chief support officer? n I manage five different areas of the credit union, but the one that we’re talking about today would be card services.

What are the other areas you oversee? n All of our facilities; our loss prevention; records; electronic funds; purchasing; and card services. We service and support the credit card and ATM functions here.

Let’s talk about the new credit card chip. It’s officially called EMV for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, which created it. What is it? n It’s an enhanced security feature on credit and debit cards. It allows a higher level of security. It’s not going to eliminate fraud, but it’s going to close the loop for the opportunity for fraud to happen. It’s dynamic instead of static. The current cards are static.

Would you please explain dynamic vs. static? If you swipe your card now you have a little mag strip on the back – that data is constant and static. It doesn’t change so it’s susceptible to be captured and counterfeited and copied, but with that chip it’s dynamic. So every time that card is used it creates a transaction authorization. It varies every time you use your card. n

The card with the strip never varied? n The information that’s on the back is constant. When the (chip) is inserted into the machine that chip generates unique codes for that transaction. It’s only valid for that transaction.

Are there common misconceptions about the credit card chip? n From our customer member bases, we don’t really hear that. It’s positive: “We’re glad to see it. We’re anxious to get this enhanced security on our cards, too. Glad you’re doing it.”

What are some of the basic things that a business needs to know about the new credit card chip? It’s more secure. If they have card readers that accept those cards it’s going to protect them more. Financially, major stores already know this, but smaller stores may not know this – if they don’t upgrade their readers to accept the chip they’re exposing themselves to greater liability. n

We’ll get back to that because it’s one of the most significant changes. I thought the deadline was Oct. 1 for issuers to send out the new cards with the chip. n Most of the major financial institutions have rolled it out. There are some that are probably in the midst of doing it (late December). I think it’s more on the merchants’ side where rollout is going to be slower than card issuers based on what I’ve seen and based on what I’ve read.

Is it an expense issue? n

Yes.

I read that it could cost more than $1,000 to update a register. n Of course, it depends on how large a merchant you are and how many readers you have. But if you look at this way – if you don’t do it, then you’re exposing yourself to losses unnecessarily to these transactions that are not authorized. You have the card and you have the reader and whoever has the least amount of security is going to end up bearing the financial cost of that. If I have a chip card and I go to a merchant that can’t read that chip and that’s a fraudulent transaction that merchant now bears the cost of that transaction and not the card issuer.

That is a huge, huge change in liability. n

Correct.

Continued on page 10

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

“It’s not going to eliminate fraud, but it’s going to close the loop for the opportunity for fraud to happen.” – Cheryl Payson, chief support officer for MAX Credit Union

Continued from page 9

I’m not sure that all merchants are aware of that because it was the card issuers who were responsible for fraudulent transactions. Did that actually change Oct. 1 or is it being phased in? The requirement was Oct. 1, 2015. The exception is gas pumps – gas pumps are not subject to (the deadline). n

But the convenience store would be liable. n

Yes.

Are there other exceptions to the Oct. 1 deadline? n ATMs are not subject to the liability shift until 2016. It is being phased in.

What is the potential burden for merchants who are not used to having the liability from fraudulent use of credit cards? Are they liable for each fraudulent transaction? n

Yes, in theory.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Was it costly for MAX to issue new credit cards with the chip? In general, it costs us twice as much to issue a chip card as it does a mag strike card. When you aggregate how many cards we issue, it’s pretty expensive, but then again if we don’t ... No. 1, our biggest concern is giving our customers the greatest amount of protection that we have. The cardholder is never going to be subject to any financial loss, but who wants to be bothered by that and who wants to have that sense of “my stuff has been stolen.” First and foremost, we want assurance on our customers’ part that we’re doing all that we can. Secondly, if we don’t, we’re still going to be liable for the losses anyway. n

The new transactions take longer, and can that impact a company’s revenue if you are a high-volume merchant with a lot of registers and locations? n It could depending on the size and their volume. Two things about that: One, the technology that is being used in the United States is in (its) infancy. If you go to Europe, you’re going to see the tap and go – the NFC (near field communication), which is faster. This is the beginning (stage).

Will the tap-and-go technology be here within five years? n

Probably.

Isn’t the potential liability fairly great for businesses that do not upgrade for the new chip credit cards? If I was a business owner I would certainly be considering things like, “How often do I experience a fraudulent transaction to begin with?” A small, single owner, self-proprietor – a small gift shop or something of that nature – I would ask myself, “How many times am I experiencing fraud?” If I’m experiencing it very often then I have to go, “OK, I am going to start being liable for that stuff and maybe it would be in my best interest to go ahead and buy that card reader.” On the other hand, you’re going to have some businesses to go, “I don’t ever experience fraud. I’m not going to make that investment right now.” They are kind of selfinsuring, saying, “I’ll take care of that because the cost of what I would pay in fraud losses is less than buying new card readers.” n

In addition to the fraud, can there be identity theft issues? n Potentially, the business owner could be exposing themselves to other lawsuits. Let’s look at it from the Target perspective. Target had that great big loss. They had more to be concerned about than just those card losses to their customers. Sales. Trust, definitely, although people are still flocking to Target. My thought would be as a business owner – if I had enough angry people that were subject to losses as a result of my not upgrading, then they could say, “Look, Mr. shop owner, you had at your fingertips the ability to buy the device that would reduce this risk. I’m going to sue you because you’ve caused me pain and suffering from identity theft.”

Continued on page 12

POWER TO

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February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Continued from page 11

I’ve read that some have criticized the new technology because it does not go far enough. With EMV, there is card and there is card and signature, and what’s rolling out in general in the United States is card and signature. What that means, as you have probably experienced yourself – you put the card in the machine and then you’re signing for the transaction. There is also a card and pin, which is a higher degree of security. n

The card and signature is not the endall–be-all because it doesn’t have the pin. Some have said that’s a huge missing link. That is correct. I could have the card stolen out of my wallet and somebody could still go and use it because there is not a pin required. A lot of comment from people in the United States that just have a card and signature (is), if they go to Europe or just international travel – sometimes they have difficulty because in Europe and internationally, they are using the pin and chip more than the chip and signature. n

These are different times when the U.S. is so far behind in technology. n Europay, MasterCard and Visa have to force this issue. Merchants and issuers weren’t excited about the increased expense to do this. This past Oct. 1 deadline wasn’t mandated by government. It was mandated by Europay, MasterCard and Visa.

Did MAX meet the Oct. 1 deadline? We got our credit cards out. We started rolling them out in August. We, along with others, did not mass-reissue. We are issuing our cards as they naturally renew. We are in the midst of (rolling out) our debit cards. n

How long does it take to replace the old credit cards and debit cards? Is it twoor three-month process? n It’s closer to six months. If there is no chip reader at the merchant, then the mag stripe still works.

I have to use it at some places, but you do feel better when you use the chip because it is safer. n

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Absolutely. Well, I’m glad to have it. n

Shelby: ‘I’m running again, too’ This being an election year, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who is seeking a sixth term, said the Republican presidential race is “going to be interesting.” He did not make any predictions, but said that Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz are leading in the polls. Alabama will play a more pivotal role in this year’s primaries with a March 1 ballot as part of what’s being billed as the Southeastern Conference primary because five of the states have universities that compete in the SEC. Other states with a March 1 primary are Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Shelby expects a lot of GOP presidential candidates to visit Alabama and a number already have. “I think it’s good for Alabama not to be in a primary in June when it’s all over,” he said at a Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues at the RSA Activity Center. “I hope we will continue to control the U.S. Senate and I remind all of you I’m running again, too,” said Shelby, who is the chairman of the Senate banking committee and serves on the appropriations committee. Shelby, R-Ala., who was first elected to the Senate in 1986, said that the 2016 elections “are very, very important. They will be pivotal to America. Do we want eight more years of what we have now? I hope not. America will tilt to the left. The land of opportunity will be ebbing and not growing. That’s why presidential elections are so, so important.” Alabama’s senior senator criticized President Obama for issuing executive actions for gun control. “I would tell the president that the Second Amendment is not a suggestion – it’s the Constitution. I’ve never seen a

president in my lifetime issue more and more executive orders. And he is doing this although he is not king; he’s not czar; he’s not a dictator. He is the president of the United States and we’ve got a Constitution.” He said that he hopes that Americans vote “for a change in the government” in the November general election.

“Do we want eight more years of what we have now? I hope not.” – U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby

Shelby accused Obama of saying that the terrorist attacks last year in Paris were caused by global warming. “My gosh, he’s over at another planet.” Shelby worries about bringing Syrian refugees to the U.S., saying “some of them will be terrorists. Our immigration policy is broken.” He said that the U.S. has lost respect in the world as well as fear and “you’ve got to have both. Do you believe Vladimir Putin fears President Obama? No.” Before being elected to the Senate, Shelby served four terms in the U.S. House and eight years in the Alabama Legislature. n

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

READY ROLL O MORE 14

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Y TO OUT

Santa Fe production returns to Hyundai plant by David Zaslawsky photos courtesy of Hyundai Motor America

A record number of vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year and leading the surge were trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossover utility vehicles. This past December, the mid-sized and compact sedan segments, combined, accounted for an estimated 20 percent of all vehicle sales while small SUVs and crossovers combined to account for nearly 40 percent of sales, according to Kelley Blue Book. The estimated December sales for mid-sized SUVs and crossovers was 16 percent and the truck segment accounted for 14 percent. Of course, with gas prices less than $2 a gallon, buyers flock to SUVs, crossovers and trucks and now Hyundai, which has focused on the sedan segment, will increase its production of the Santa Fe Sport. Continued on page 16

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Continued from page 15

The Korean automaker will continue to produce the five-passenger Santa Fe Sport at its Kia plant in West Point, Georgia, according to a spokeswoman for the manufacturing facility. She said the plant does not disclose individual vehicle production numbers, but the plant has a capacity of 360,000 units and produces three vehicles: Santa Fe, Kia Optima and Kia Sorento.

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said in a statement: “Over the past decade, Hyundai’s Alabama assembly plant has proven itself as one of the industry’s most innovative and productive manufacturing centers. Hyundai’s decision to add the Santa Fe Sport SUV to the production lineup in Montgomery shows the confidence that the automaker has in its Alabama facility and the workforce there.”

To increase Santa Fe Sport production, Hyundai Motor Co. announced that the vehicle will also be produced at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant in Montgomery starting in the summer. Hyundai is investing $52 million on retooling, robot programming and other logistical projects to prepare the plant for the return of Santa Fe production. The vehicle was last manufactured at the Montgomery site in 2010. The Hyundai plant, which produced 400,000-plus Santa Fe models before moving all production to the Kia plant, was designed to build five different vehicles.

Hyundai Motor America will later announce the production target for Santa Fe production, along with numbers for the Sonata and Elantra that are currently manufactured in Montgomery. The HMMA plant has a capacity of 400,000 units and produced nearly 385,000 units last year after successive years of 399,000 and 398,000 units.

“This new production will help us meet the growing demand for one of our most popular products,” Hyundai Motor America President and CEO Dave Zuchowski said in a statement. “We’re very happy Hyundai has been able to make this change, which will result in more great Santa Fe crossovers available to our dealers and customers.”

HMMA Vice President of Production Chris Susock told WSFA 12 News that SUV demand “has really spiked, so for Hyundai to be successful in the market, it’s important that we’re able to supplement that demand. It’s important for us as a plant that we utilize the capacity at 100 percent or better out of our facility …”

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

“The volume of production is based on a combination of plant capacity and market demand,” said Robert Burns, senior manager of public relations and team relations for HMMA.

The Santa Fe has annually been Hyundai’s No. 3 bestseller in the U.S. behind Elantra and Sonata. Santa Fe sales were 118,134 units last year and 107,906 in 2014. Sales surged from 71,016 units in 2012 to 88,844 units in 2013.

HMMA ANNUAL VEHICLE PRODUCTION

“We’re thrilled to bring back another pillar of the Hyundai lineup to our production mix here at HMMA,” Susock said in a statement. “We’ve been extremely proud to build both the Sonata and Elantra on our assembly line for Hyundai in the U.S. and we will continue our tradition of quality and productivity with the addition of the Santa Fe Sport in 2016.”

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said in a statement: “Automotive manufacturing is an important industry in Alabama, and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing is one of our most successful automotive manufacturers. Today’s news is good economic news for the River Region and the entire state of Alabama. By 2016, the Hyundai Santa Fe will be proudly ‘Made in Alabama’ and sold around the world.” n

75,000

300,500

384,519

398,851

361,348

195,561

150,000

237,042

236,773

225,000

250,519

300,000

91,218

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange told WSFA 12 News, “It gives (Hyundai) an opportunity to continue have their vehicles moving up the food chain as far as a percentage of the market and growth and things like that – so this is really good news for Hyundai and this is really good news for Montgomery.”

338,127

375,000

399,495

450,000

0 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 Source: Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

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February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

HYUNDAI ANNUAL SALES

2005

455,012 2006

455,520 2007

467,009 2008

401,742 READY TO ROLL OUT MORE

RECORD-SETTING YEAR If Hyundai can match the five percent sales increase this year that it had in 2014, then the automaker will reach a new milestone – 800,000 units in the U.S. With a redesigned Elantra rolling off the assembly line at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Montgomery, the 800,000 figure is definitely within reach. The Elantra was the company’s top-selling vehicle in the U.S. for the third straight year, with 241,706 units – about 6,200 units from its all-time record of 247,912 Elantras sold in 2013. Elantra had the best month ever for a Hyundai model with almost 29,000 vehicles sold last March. The Sonata, which is also manufactured in Montgomery, was the No. 2 seller for the third consecutive year with 213,303 units. It marked the fifth straight year of 200,000-plus units sold, topping Elantra’s streak of four straight years with 200,000-plus units. The Montgomery plant manufactured 384,519 vehicles in 2015, a decline of about 15,000 units from 2014. It was the third-highest production total since the plant began operations in 2005.

2009 by David Zaslawsky

Although Hyundai’s market share has been impacted by not offering a truck model and only two crossover/ sport utility vehicles in its lineup, it still was the sales of crossover and sport utility vehicles that sparked the nearly 36,000 more vehicles sold in 2015 than 2014. “Hyundai once again experienced a record year and the CUV segment proved to be the star,” Derrick Hatami, vice president of national sales for Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement. “Not only did Tucson end the year with sales up 34 percent, but for the month of December we experienced a 167 percent sales gain over last December. For the year, Santa Fe was up nine percent.” Tucson sales overall were up about 16,000 units over 2014 while Santa Fe had an 11,000-unit increase over 2014. Elantra actually topped all models with a nearly 19,000-unit increase over the previous year. It was the sixth straight year that Hyundai set a record for annual sales, with 761,710 units, an increase of about 35,000 vehicles from 2014 and a much more robust increase than 2013 (17,000 units) and 2014 (5,000 units). The year also had Hyundai establishing five of its all-time top monthly totals. That included three of its five monthly totals of 70,000-plus units. Back in 2010, Hyundai sold close to 540,000 vehicles in the U.S. Domestic auto sales set an all-time record in 2015 with 17.4 million-plus units sold and that does not include full-year results for Porsche. It is expected that final figures will be 17.5 million units – 1.1 million units more than 2014 and 100,000 units more than the previous record of 17.4 million vehicles sold in 2000. n

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

435,064 2010

538,228 2011

645,691 2012

703,007 2013

720,783 2014

725,718 2015

761,710 Source: Hyundai Motor America

SAGE LEGACY COUNSEL

Member Spotlight

Attorney Sayge Grubbs HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS: Since 2005 HOW MANY EMPLOYEES: Three DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY: We help families. Our firm provides families

quality estate planning resources so they become familiar with all options. We arm families with information to make informed decisions about their future.

A well-draaed estate plan will ensure your estate passes to whom you want, when you want and in the manner you’ve chosen. Your family won’t have to endure the public process and costly matter of probate. The government won’t take what you’ve spent a lifetime building. But you need to be aware of the many options that exist—and you must choose your attorney wisely. Sage Sa Legacy Counsel oﬀers a wealth of free information at sagelegacy.com and free educational seminars. We encourage families to read our estate planning articles and join us at an estate planning seminar.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR COMPANY WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE:

Absolutely nothing. We pride ourselves on being open and transparent so clients feel comfortable with our services. In fact, we utilize smartboard technology to illustrate available options so the client can have a visual of how their personal trust will work.

WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL: We enjoy our work because we enjoy helping people. Helping families secure a better future for their next generation is a reward that never grows old. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD: Our success WH rests on five core elements: passion for helping families plan; comprehensive knowledge of estate planning issues; experienced and dedicated support team; ongoing relationship with family and heirs; and free consultation before work begins. Your estate planning is not a transaction to us. It’s the beginning of a long-term relationship where we get the privilege of being a trusted advisor to your family.

WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIALTIES: Through living trusts, wills (simple & WH

complex), powers of attorney, living wills, irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, and charitable giiing strategies, we help families preserve wealth for future generations, minimize estate taxes, and avoid the expense of probate. In addition, we help plan for the special needs of loved ones by addressing long-term care issues to get them qualified for Medicaid.

WHAT SETS YOU APART: As a member of the American Academy of WH

Estate Planning Attorneys, our firm offers a variety of benefits. For example, we can provide access to a nationwide network of qualified attorneys to assist with out-of-state transfers of title, provide help should you move to another state, or simply offer a referral to an out-of-state friend or family member who needs estate planning help. We also offer clients numerous free services. Learn more at sagelegacy.com.

8416 Crossland Loop Montgomery AL 36117 334-649-4911, www.sagelegacy.com

City Investigations office probes complaints

Finding Facts

by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Mickey McInnish (left) is senior staff attorney for City Investigations office and Ron Sams is the director of the City Investigations office

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

“The bottom line is that Someone filed a claim against the City of Montgomery after walking across a field that had been mowed and said they got toenail fungus. That’s a true story and there are others – many others – of dubious claims against the city. Those dubious claims, which in the past would have been paid without questions, are now fiercely contested. There was $1.8 million in claims against the city in 2014 and the city paid out less than $40,000, said Ron Sams, director of the City Investigations office. There were 18 claims of $100,000 and the smallest claim was $219. The claims in 2015 totaled $125.4 million, including one for $120 million and another for $4.5 million as well as one for $124.88.

we’re saving the city money – a lot of money.” – Ron Sams, director of the City Investigations office

“A lot of these claims are absolutely outrageous,” said Sams, who retired from the Air Force after serving nearly 37 years. Someone will trip on the sidewalk and want $100,000 “because basically they skinned their knee or something,” Sams said. “I send my highly qualified police officers out to look at potholes and sidewalks and tennis courts or whatever people want to complain about,” Sams said. Continued on page 22

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Continued from page 21

He has four investigators on his staff – two are Montgomery police officers; one is a senior fire investigator; and the other is a former police officer with 17 years of experience. The investigators report only to Sams and the mayor. Sams also can bring in city personnel to help with investigations, including accountants or engineers. The department has senior staff attorney Mickey McInnish and an administrative assistant. The department collects facts and compiles a report. “We are not in the I-reject-your-claim business,” Sams said. “We are the independent fact finders and we write a report based on the facts that we find.” That report goes to the city’s legal department, which decides to pay a claim or deny it.

“The bottom line is that we’re saving the city money – a lot of money,” said Sams, a senior cabinet member who reports directly to the mayor. It may not seem cost effective to investigate a $219 claim or a $125 claim, but “the problem is you start paying those over and over and the money adds up very, very quickly,” Sams said. “We don’t do that.” The staff is salaried and does not incur additional costs for investigating a claim no matter how large or how small. It’s the same with the city’s legal department, which has five attorneys and some claims may take seconds to decide, McInnish said. He cited examples of the city being sued for claims against agencies that are not part of the city or damage from a tree falling that was not owned by the city. “We have gone down in the number of claims against the city and we are certainly down on paying,” McInnish said. “The approach is, if we owe you money, we are going to try to work something out. If we can’t work it out – that’s what courts are for.” The department’s efforts are having an impact. As there are fewer outlandish claims being investigated, Sams

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

“The approach is, if we owe you money, we are going to try to work something out. If we can’t work it out – that’s what courts are for.” – Mickey McInnish, senior staff attorney for the City Investigations office

said. “City employees are being more diligent, knowing that a claim is going to be investigated,” McInnish said. City Investigations also handles claims against city employees from the public or from other city employees or supervisors. “I don’t have the exact number, but there are a lot of people not working for the city anymore because of our reports,” Sams said. Removing those employees helps protect the city from potential lawsuits, he said. “The mayor looks to us as the keepers of integrity for the city.”

Sams and McInnish are working on a proposal to hire three or four tax revenue investigators for a pilot program. The proposal would split the city into sections or sectors and an investigator would be responsible for that region. They would develop expertise and know all the businesses in that sector. n

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February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

FINDING FACTS

CITY CRACKS DOWN ON BUSINESSES OWING MONEY by David Zaslawsky

One business that had been collecting its 10 percent sales taxes had not paid its share to the city, county and state. For years – a lot of years. The 3.5 percent of the sales tax that must be paid to the city reached $1.2 million when it was finally collected, according to City of Montgomery senior staff attorney Mickey McInnish. An audit discovered the missing money, he said. Several other businesses owed more than $75,000 to the city for unpaid sales taxes and some left town owing money. The City Investigations office and legal department go after businesses not paying their sales taxes. The business owner’s name goes on the City Council agenda and if that person does not show up the city closes the business. There are 15 to 25 business owners on the City Council agenda twice a month, McInnish said. Just seeing their name on the agenda is usually enough to get them to pay, he said. The business owner must sign a note for the money that is owed and personally guarantee it. Half of the amount is paid immediately and the balance must be paid in three months.

“Word has spread,” McInnish said. “Instead of having such a large number of businesses that owe a lot of money we have gotten it down to where we try to catch these within a certain amount of time so it doesn’t get to a (large amount) of money being owed,” McInnish said.

“If they

The city had collected $3.2 million in unpaid sales taxes and unpaid business licenses in a 3½ year period. It all began when somebody told McInnish that a business owner was not paying his sales taxes to the city. The county gets 2.5 percent of the 10 percent sales tax in Montgomery and the state receives 4 percent.

owner will be

After informing business owners, the city started bringing those not paying sales taxes to City Council meetings and started a process where “we would close your business down if you did not either pay the sales tax or if you did not make arrangements to pay the sales tax,” McInnish said.

will be

The city also closes a company for not having a business license. A company will receive a letter from the city stating that the business owner will be cited if they don’t get a business license by a specified date. “If they don’t pay, the business owner will be put on the City Council agenda and will be closed down,” McInnish said. Cracking down on delinquent business owners, the city two years ago began denying a business license to any company owing money to the city. “We collected a ton of money,” McInnish said. n

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

don’t pay, the business put on the City Council agenda and closed down.” – City of Montgomery senior staff attorney Mickey McInnish

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Dr. Bradley W. Willis, DMD (lee) and Dr. David Henderson, DMD (right) with Willis Dental Care HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS: 23 years HOW MANY EMPLOYEES: 14 DESCRIBE YOUR COMPANY: We are a locally-owned general dental practice serving Montgomery and the surrounding area.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE: We oﬀer a full range of dental WH services including hygiene and periodontal treatment, tooth whitening, veneers and crowns, as well as dental implants. WHAT SETS YOU APART: More than 20 years ago we began integrating WH technology into our dental practice. We utilize technology in almost every aspect of our practice from hygiene to implants to staying in touch with our patients. We have also adopted an attitude of total health and wellness for our patients’ care. As part of their health care team, we recognize the growing number of connections between oral health and systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Our skilled team wants to make sure our patients’ optimum oral health coincides with their overall health and well-being.

WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL: Our team is committed to building relationships with our patients. We believe it is our responsibility to educate our patients about their problems and concerns and provide them with options to help them achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they desire. WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD: Combining our WH

practice with Dr. Carlton King’s oﬀice this past year resulted in significant growth obviously. We also added Dr. David Henderson from Selma to our full-time team. So, we are excited to have the opportunity to serve these patients going forward into 2016 and hope they will be so pleased with our oﬀice they will feel confident referring their family and friends as well.

WHERE DO YOU SEE WILLIS DENTAL CARE IN FIVE YEARS: We will most likely add another dentist in the future and may consider bringing specialists under our roof as well. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT WILLIS DENTAL AN CARE: We have been blessed to serve the dental community of Montgomery and the surrounding area for many years. We are excited about the many advances available in dentistry today and look forward to sharing those with our valued patients.

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only do we utilize dental technology daily in our practice, we also help other dentists understand how to use it. As a certified trainer, Dr. Willis routinely travels to lecture and teach other dentists how to integrate technology into their practices.

8161 Seaton Place, Suite A, Montgomery AL 36116 334-260-2929, frontdesk@willisdentalcare.com, willisdentalcare.com

Member Profile

NATIONAL PLAYER

Valbridge Property Advisors competes against top commercial real estate firms by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

John E. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joshâ&#x20AC;? Hall is the senior managing director for Valbridge Property Advisors.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Just two years ago, there were three major national commercial property appraisal firms competing for those large retail accounts or industrial or governmental, where a single account could have multiple properties or even hundreds of properties. The new kid on the block – Valbridge Property Advisors, which has an office on Woodmere Boulevard in Montgomery – now competes with the likes of CB Richard Ellis, Cushman & Wakefield and Integra Realty Resources. That local office now has the resources of 66 other offices and 650-plus employees for the company that was formed in March 2013. Being a part of Valbridge and one of its founders, John E. “Josh” Hall III has resources that he lacked with his former firm. Hall, senior managing director for Valbridge, said that he now appraises some commercial properties such as sewer systems and parking decks that “I probably would not have taken on” before Valbridge was formed. The difference now is that he has access to data that was too expensive to buy for his former firm and access to experts in the Valbridge network. He can not only consult with an expert, but also bring the appraiser on board to help with a project. He has 11 appraisers on staff and three of them, including Hall, have the professional designation of MAI – and that’s a big deal in their circles. Each Valbridge office is headed by a shareholder who has the MAI designation. He said that only five percent of appraisers have the MAI designation. “I’m a shareholder, so obviously I want to maintain my quality, and there are certain standards you have to meet to be part of Valbridge,” said Hall, who along with his partner Harry Stakely, bought the 55-year-old appraisal firm from founder Kirby Smith.

Hall said that one of the key areas for Valbridge is litigation support – expert witnesses – because of the company’s national brand. The firm charges from $150 an hour to $300 hour if an appraiser with the MAI designation testifies. The types of cases are tax appeals; property assessment appeals; valuations for financial institutions; bankruptcies; partnership dissolution; and divorce. “We are a full-service evaluation and commercial appraisal firm,” Hall said, stressing that the firm offers independent advice. “People think of the typical appraisal as a 50-page, hard-bound report with just a value, but we’ll give, buy, sell or hold investment advice,” he said. “We’ll also take a look at a property and try to ascertain the demand – what is there demand for?” Not all companies offer that same type of advice, according to Hall. “We’re not influenced by the buyers or the sellers or the brokers, whereas some of the other companies have broker divisions.” Valbridge does not have a broker division. Valbridge was formed when firms without an affiliation with a national group met in Boston in early 2011. It took another two years, but 40-plus firms combined to create Valbridge. “We were told that there was definitely room” for a fourth national appraisal firm, Hall said. “We were also told by many banks that there is definitely a need in this country for one more national firm.”

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VALBRIDGE.COM

The company was awarded a U.S. Postal Service contract and has a national contract with AT&T as well as regional contracts, Hall said. Because of its nationwide reach, Valbridge competes for portfolio evaluations. Hall’s territory is Alabama and Northwest Florida. His goal is adding an office in Panama City, Florida, by either buying a firm or building a firm. First he has to find an appraiser with the MAI designation to run the office. He would like to eventually open an office in Huntsville. n

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl builds on success by David Zaslawsky photographs supplied by Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

The executive director of the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl said that he received a letter after last December’s game from what he called an avid college football fan in New Mexico. Johnny Williams said that the fan wrote that he “could tell by watching TV that your community is involved in the game.” He wrote that is not the case with a lot of other communities. Other college football bowl officials are “jealous because we have a unique event here in Montgomery, that everybody is on the same page,” Williams said. He hears from colleagues that not all counties and cities and chambers are on that same page working together to ensure that a bowl game is a success. “That’s what is so rewarding for me personally, is to have everybody buy in – not only the general fans, but the county, chamber, the city, the state,” Williams said. “We’re in it every year – teams will change, but this is our bowl.”

He even heard that from ESPN, which owns 13 bowl games, including the Camellia Bowl, which was held last December at Cramton Bowl. “I keep hearing back that they (ESPN bowl officials) are so happy to be in Montgomery … where everybody works on the same piece of paper,” Williams said. “They were tremendously pleased. They were very happy with the ratings.” Along with everything else, the television ratings jumped from the inaugural game in 2014 to the 2015 game. The increase was 73 percent and the game between Appalachian State and Ohio University attracted 1.9 million viewers. It was the most watched bowl game that day – the first day of bowl games, and there were six games that day. The Camellia Bowl was the sixthmost watched telecast that day. “Just because people tune in doesn’t mean they stay on and watch, but people stayed on and watched our game,” Williams said. “When you have a stadium that is packed it looks good on TV. There was a lot of excitement.” In addition to the jump in TV ratings: >>The attendance was up about 1,100 to 21,395 in the 25,000-seat capacity stadium. >>The number of corporate tailgate packages increased from about a dozen to 20-plus. >>The number of people at the ESPN Zone, which is located at The Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, rose from around 400 to 550.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers defeated the Ohio University Bobcats 31-29 in the second annual Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery.

The activities greatly increased at FanFest, which featured displays from sponsors; entertainers similar to Cirque du Soleil; and a 40-foot-by-60-foot TV screen. Paterson Field resembled a fair, Williams said. That’s where the corporate tailgate packages were located as well as alumni tents, a stage, music, food and pep rallies. “It was just a great tailgating experience,” Williams said. The FanFest started at noon and Williams said that there were a lot more families participating because

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

the December 2014 game started at 8:30 pm. The second annual game between the Sun Belt and Mid-American conferences had a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. “We are really looking forward to next year to building on (FanFest),” Williams said. “I think it adds a lot more to it being just a football game.” He said the number of people there doubled from the inaugural Camellia Bowl and he wants it “to become the place to be the day of the game.” For the first time, private suites were offered and four were sold to businesses. There is room for three to four more in 2016, according to Williams. He said that he was not surprised by the numbers from the second annual game. “There should be (increases),” Williams said. “The first year everybody got a feel for it and now they see it …” With the successes of the first two years of a six-year deal, Williams expects the Camellia Bowl to continue growing. He praised title sponsor Raycom Media for “investing so much into our game outside what’s on the contract. We are so thankful for Raycom’s commitment to this game.”

Almost forgot, Appalachian State, appearing in its firstever bowl game, capped a furious fourth-quarter rally to overcome a 24-7 deficit to beat Ohio University 31-29 on a field goal on the game’s final play.

Appalachian State, playing in its first-ever bowl game, edged Ohio University in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl.

“We had a lot of things go our way,” Williams said. “The weather was great – wonderful day. We had two great football teams. The game itself turned out to be tremendous – one of the top 10 games, people are saying.” n

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February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

RAISING THE BAR Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood sets $80 million goal by David Zaslawsky

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

photography by Robert Fouts

David Reed (left) is chairman of the Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood board of directors and executive vice president. Bill Wallace is CEO.

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

In the mid-1990s Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood executive David Reed wrote to the Engineering NewsRecord to be included in that publication’s top 500 list of fee revenue. The publication wrote back that GMC did not qualify. Now the Montgomery-based firm has been on the nationwide list of the top 500 engineering firms by fees that also include architectural fees. GMC has actually been on the list for the past 10 to 12 years – first being ranked in the 400s and now it’s No. 270. That’s a nationwide list. “Not a bad achievement for a few years,” said Reed, who is chairman of the firm’s board of directors and executive vice president. That 270th ranking could climb in the next three to five years as the company’s growth potential is nearly unlimited. “We have goals the next five years to get up to the $70 to $80 million range,” Reed said, referring to the company’s fees. With expected revenue last year to reach $53.6 million – the $80 million revenue goal is a 50 percent increase in the next five years. To reach that target, the firm would combine organic growth with acquisitions as well as growing disciplines and growing geographically. The opportunities are plentiful. The firm already has 10 offices in five states, including the hotspots of Nashville and Atlanta.

“If you catch it at the bottom end of a cycle and buy a firm that has an expertise in that, it potentially gives you both geographic reach and discipline reach.” – Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood CEO Bill Wallace talking about the oil and gas industry

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville, “is a huge growth area,” said Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood CEO Bill Wallace. “They are building almost one new high school a year and two grade schools every year. With that growth comes infrastructure improvements; geo technical engineering; civil engineering; transportation engineering; electrical engineering. You have architecture that goes into that. Architecture goes into interior design and construction administrations – just a ripple effect.” The Nashville population is projected to double in 20 to 25 years, according to GMC, which currently has 29 people in its Nashville office. The firm is “not any less enthusiastic about Atlanta or South Carolina,” Reed said. The firm acquired an architectural company in South Carolina and has what Reed called “a solid base of operations.” GMC has worked on university projects as well as water and sewer projects for municipalities. He hopes to add transportation projects as well as expand into the federal government market. GMC is working on a $52 million football operations facility for Clemson University. GMC is looking at acquiring a Georgia firm with three offices in the state. “Atlanta is starting some pretty rapid economic development,” Reed said. Expansion to Florida is likely in the future and GMC has considered opening offices in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, but would focus on integrating any new acquisitions first. “A lot of folks, including us, made mistakes back during the boom years of the last

decade where we reached out and grabbed too much too quickly,” Wallace said. “My philosophy is, and I think the board’s for the most part is, let’s get that (new Georgia offices) integrated first and let’s make sure that is a part of who we are and that the cultures are similar and the DNA is similar. Once we do that, then we move on to other opportunities, because you can bite off more than you can chew.” Wallace said that it was critical to have a leader within GMC to oversee a new acquisition and the company has not always done that. He acknowledged that some of the firm’s acquisitions “haven’t been integrated quite successfully.”

Another discipline with a huge upside is oil and gas. “If you catch it at the bottom end of a cycle and buy a firm that has an expertise in that, it potentially gives you both geographic reach and discipline reach,” Wallace said.

Goodwyn Mills and Cawood Board of Directors; Standing (L-R): Galen Thackston, Lee Walters, Cedric Campbell, Al Allenback, Steve Cawood; Seated (L-R): Jeffrey Brewer, David Reed

Adding an oil and gas discipline would complement a lot of other disciplines the firm has, including acquiring the right of way for pipelines and engineering, according to Reed. Continued on page 36

A Base Realignment and Closure of military facilities, which could happen in 2017 or 2018, “causes a lot of disruptions and whenever there is disruption, there is money spent to try to organize that disruption,” Wallace said. The firm does have “some volume” in federal government projects, but “would like to increase that activity as the market recovers.”

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

The new scoreboard at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium was designed by Infinity Architecture, which GMC acquired in August 2015. It is the largest college scoreboard in the country. Photo courtesy of GMC.

Continued from page 35

Wallace talked about the BP oil spill settlement and that GMC could potentially acquire a firm or add experts in coastal restoration that “fit to our existing environmental group” and add “gravitas.” Those experts or a firm would have “relationships with the players involved (in that area) to spend that money,” Wallace said. There is potential growth – a lot of potential growth – for electric transmission, Wallace said. The company currently does “a minor amount of transmission client work,” Reed said. GMC lacks a civil engineer for the national market, Wallace said, but “might acquire a small civil engineering firm.” Reed added, “Somebody that already has a client base and that’s their expertise.” A civil engineer is defined by the firm as working in private development such as subdivisions and apartments while municipal engineers work on projects for cities and towns. Continued on page 38

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

GMC designed the Coosa Valley Water Supply District water treatment plant, which serves municipalities in St. Clair County and is operated by the company’s subsidiary Clearwater Solutions. Photo courtesy of GMC.

GMC was responsible for the interiors of the Kimberly Hampton Primary School at Fort Bragg, N.C., which is the first 21st-century school for the Defense Department’s Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools office. Photo courtesy of GMC.

GMC’s Geotechnical Engineers provided testing services for a new 1.5-mile pier at Puerto Drummond, a deep-water ocean port on the Caribbean Sea near Santa Marta, Colombia. Photo courtesy of GMC.

GMC handled the architecture, civil engineering, interior design, landscape architecture and master planning for the new 215,000-squarefoot student residence hall at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The eight-tower facility with a fourstory wing provides housing for about 750 students. Photo courtesy of GMC.

“At the end of the day – a lot of this is business – but we have to still remember that we’re engineers and architects.” – David Reed, chairman of the Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood board of directors and executive vice president GMC provided architecture, civil engineering, environmental, interior design, landscape architecture and surveying for the Auburn University South Donahue Residence Hall, parking deck, wellness kitchen and Parkerson Mill Creek Stream restoration project. Photo courtesy of GMC.

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Continued from page 36

Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood is looking for increased revenue from two subsidiaries: Clearwater Solutions, which has 110 employees, and Headwater Solutions, which does not have employees. Clearwater Solutions, which started five to six years ago, does maintenance for city utility systems such as water and sewer that do not have their own departments. Many of the clients are smaller towns and communities, but GMC does handle water and sewer for Hoover. Meanwhile, Headwaters Solutions is an environmental company, which acts as a mitigation banker,” Reed said. A developer who wants to get a permit for a highway that goes through a wetland needs to buy wetlands credits from a bank. “We design and manage banks for different land owners,” Reed said. After all the talk about all the potential growth areas as well as competing for a design-bid on a GE plant; a $75 million sports complex being built; a $40 million project underway for an interchange; and connector road in Huntsville – is the goal of a 50 percent revenue increase over five years just a bit conservative?

GMC served as the project architect for Park Crossing High School in East Montgomery. The firm, which also provided civil engineering, interior design, landscape architecture and construction administration services, is currently working on the third phase of the project for Montgomery Public Schools. Photos courtesy of GMC.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

“You package your growth so it’s sustainable,” Wallace said. “As Emory Folmar (former Montgomery mayor) used to say: ‘Don’t outrun your headlights.’ You have to make sure that you’ve got an infrastructure built to support that kind of revenue.” The Montgomery-based firm has grown from 141 employees in 2003 to 431 today, including Clearwater Solutions. That growth includes eight acquisitions. There are 342 employees in the state. Of course, there are no goals achieved without the “professional and services side of it,” Reed said. “We’re trying to constantly upgrade engineering and architectural professionalism and the product that we produce. We don’t want to lose touch with that. “At the end of the day – a lot of this is business – but we have to still remember that we’re engineers and architects. Our licenses are based on us being individual engineers and architects and our responsibilities are based on that. Our professional reputation is based on that. We’ve got to keep that in mind – keep our quality up; keep our professionalism up. We have to do good work and keep our clients happy.” n

RAISING THE BAR

NEW CORPORATE STRUCTURE PAYS OFF by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

The new corporate structure at Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood is working very well and much better than the five equal executives that it replaced. In the past, the firm’s executive committee was its board and there were no other officers – just the five equals. “There (weren’t) any clear job descriptions for any of us, although we represented different disciplines,” said Bill Wallace, the firm’s first CEO. He praised the new structure of having a CEO and a seven-member board of directors. David Reed is the firm’s first chairman of the board. “There are clear lines of authority; clear lines of responsibility; more accountability, quite honestly,” Wallace said. “It was difficult for us to grow based on the other-type system we had in place.” In the previous structure, the five equal leaders had to build a consensus to get things approved – to get things done. “We handled everything independently that was under our sphere of influence,” Reed said. “We would get together and bang heads until we came out with a consensus.” Wallace now has operational control, eliminating the overlapping, inconsistencies and what he called “inefficiencies” from the old structure. “The decisionmaking process gives us the ability to be a little more nimble now,” Wallace said. “When you want to be quicker and more nimble, then you need to have clear lines of authority.”

The regional vice presidents and executive committee established a committee, which recommended the current corporate structure. The executive committee adopted the recommendation. “Having one person, the CEO, be responsible for performance, growth opportunities, etc. of all the offices and disciplines is giving us better direction and focus on the overall value to our shareholders,” GMC executives wrote.

Bill Wallace (left) became the first CEO for Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood while David Reed is the firm’s first chairman of the board of directors. He is also an executive vice president.

Cawood oversees business development in South Carolina and Georgia; Thackston oversees business development in South Alabama and Mississippi; and Brewer is in charge of business development for North Alabama and Tennessee. “Their primary responsibility is to maintain our profile in those areas and develop work,” Reed said. n

In addition to Reed, who is also an executive vice president, the board consists of Steve Cawood, president of the east region; Jeffrey Brewer, president of the north region; Galen Thackston, president of the south region; Al Allenback, vice president of airport engineering; Cedric Campbell, vice president of engineering; and Lee Walters, vice president of environmental.

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Recognition for Small and Minority-Owned Business UPS Stores, Certified Technical Experts Win Montgomery Chamber Point of Light Awards by David Zaslawsky

photography by Robert Fouts

The 2015 Point of Light Award winners were Clare Weil and Eugene Tinker.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

The nomination for the Montgomery Chamber Point of Light Award was a surprise and it was an even bigger surprise when Clare Weil, the owner of five UPS Stores, was named one of the three finalists.

Tinker’s 5-year-old firm services government facilities with software development and sustainment; and provides medical assistants with software sustainment and training on the software.

Weil, president of C. Weil Enterprises, said that her initial reaction to being a finalist was, “I’ll never win this because the other finalists are both wonderful businesses.” She was referring to Associated Business Services and LogoBranders Inc. “I don’t know why I would be singled out.”

There was not much time for Weil to celebrate because December is the busiest month of the year for The UPS Stores, according to Weil. December revenue, she said, is twice as much as a typical month. “It’s like having a 13th month,” she said. Actually, the holiday season for The UPS Store continued in January and extends all the way to April. Really.

What was her reaction to winning the award for companies that have been in business for 10 years or more? “I just sat there,” Weil said when her name was announced at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce 143rd Annual Meeting. “I was in shock. My husband and I looked at each other and it was like – ‘Did they really just call my name?’ I don’t know what made a committee think I was the one this year.” Certified Technical Experts Inc. was the Point of Light Award winner in the category of businesses that were less than 10 years old and CEO Eugene Tinker “knew” that one of the other nominees would win. The award is given for “outstanding business achievement and community contributions.”

Continued on page 43

I work every day. I don’t work for an award. I work for people. I work because I love doing what I do.” – Clare Weil, president of C. Weil Enterprises and owner of five UPS Stores

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February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

The Montgomery Chamber Point of Light is awarded to outstanding minorityor woman-owned small business for their achievements and contributions to the community. These are the 2015 nominees and finalists.

FINALISTS

NOMINEES

IN BUSINESS LESS THAN 10 YEARS

IN BUSINESS 10 OR MORE YEARS

Certified Technical Experts Inc.

CCM Graphics

Associated Business Services

Resolution Fitness

Certified Technical Experts Inc.

Up & Running Inc.

Concierge Services Inc.

Baker & Baker Reporting & Video Services Inc.

Essie MB Smith Foot Clinic

C. Weil Enterprises/ The UPS Store

ExploreMedia

Cedric Bradford – State Farm Insurance

IN BUSINESS 10 OR MORE YEARS

Associated Business Services C. Weil Enterprises/ The UPS Store LogoBranders Inc.

Grace Point Behavioral LLC House & Home Real Estate JoZettie’s Cupcakes

Howard’s Hair Stylists & Designer

Nicole Sloan Realty LLC

LogoBranders Inc.

Parker Leadership Consulting

Prestige Design and Build LLC

Pet Palace Hotels

Scott Realtime Reporting

Popcorn Pizzazz

Scott Street Deli

Resolution Fitness River Region Depot Strategic Resource Solutions LLC Supreme Cleaning Inc. Tandem Early Education Consulting LLC That’s My Dog Up & Running Inc. Veteran Cuts Barber Shop

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Copperwing Design LLC

Continued from page 41

“In my 18 Christmases, I’m always amazed that in April somebody is sending a Christmas present for the past Christmas,” Weil said. January is a busy month because some families, who were out-of-town, ship gifts back home because there is not enough room in suitcases. There are always a lot of returns as well. Weil, who has been operating UPS Stores since 2001 and worked in the industry since 1997, said receiving the Chamber Point of Light Award “is a real honor for me. I work every day. I don’t work for an award. I work for people. I work because I love doing what I do. It’s really nice to be recognized, but the day after the award you still get up and come back to work and try to help people and do all the things that you do to make a good business.” She plans to keep the award at one of her UPS stores or at her 12-foot by 18-foot office she opened about eight months ago at the Zelda Executive Suites – just down the street from her Zelda Road store. Weil uses the office for uninterrupted training and work on her financials.

“I guess it’s (the award) a validation of what you’re doing is meaningful and that you’re doing a pretty good job with it,” she said. One of her proudest accomplishments “is being able to hire 19 people fulltime,” which includes five store managers and a general manager. There are no parttime employees. Tinker, who has 51 employees, said the Point of Light Award “is not about me – it’s about the company and the people that work for the company to make the company grow.” He said winning the award “means a lot to me and it means that we’re on the right track.” Tinker said that the announcement of the award at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting was “very prestigious. It blew my mind.” n

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

by David Zaslawsky

The League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program listed Montgomery on the Fall 2015 Round Bicycle Friendly Community Awards and Honorable Mentions. The city developed nearly 160 miles of bicycling infrastructure and there are plans to add another 189 miles within the city limits. The

Bicycle Friendly

Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization has plans to add 420-plus miles for bicyclists in its regional area. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said in a statement that the honor “is also proof positive we’re peddling faster toward our goal of becoming the most bicycle friendly city in Alabama.”

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

LEASE ANNOUNCED Houston-based engineering and construction company KBR has signed a lease for 80,000 square feet of office space at the Galleria Tower in Birmingham. The company will occupy four floors of the 275,000-square-foot building at Riverchase Galleria, which is owned by Montgomery-based Jim Wilson & Associates. KBR is expected to bring 400-plus employees.

“With an outstanding effort by all parties working together, this new deal puts in place another exceptional company at the Galleria Tower,” Jim Wilson & Associates CEO Jim Wilson III said in a statement. Jim Wilson & Associates has invested millions of dollars the last three years to renovate Riverchase Galleria, which is the state’s largest mixed-use project with a shopping center, office building and hotel. It will celebrate its 30th birthday this year.

UBER COMES TO MONTGOMERY

CLASSIFICATION CHANGE

The Montgomery City Council approved an ordinance that permits ride-sharing companies such as Uber to operate here.

Alabama is now being classified as an inbound state by Atlas Van Lines for the first time in six years. Alabama is just one of 12 states where in-bound moves outnumber people leaving the state. More than 55 percent of the Atlas Van Lines moves in Alabama are for people coming to the state.

Strange told the Montgomery Advertiser that “it means we’re progressive, a city on the move. It’s going to attract more millennials, more businesses, because they have an alternative transportation.

IT’S A WASTE TO WASTE MONEY ON WASTE. No business can afford to waste money on waste. Sadly, many businesses don’t know what they’re actually paying, or who is even in charge of it. Someone signed a contract long ago, the bills keep coming and nobody worries about it. But most companies’ contracts have built in rate increases. So you may be paying a lot more than you should. At Alabama Dumpster Service, we have the dumpster or roll-off container that’s right for your business and your budget. Our customer service is unsurpassed and you can trust us for timely delivery and pick-up. So take a second look at your trash removal costs and call us. We’ll make sure you’re not wasting money on waste.

FRONT LOADS | ROLL-OFFS | COMPACTORS | PORTABLE RESTROOMS AlabamaDumpster.com | 334-288-1500 follow us on facebook

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Bank Merger Completed The merger of River Bank & Trust and Keystone Bank, which has branches in Gadsden, Auburn and Opelika, has been completed.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

The combined bank has about $700 million in assets and nine branches. The former Keystone Bank locations have become River Bank & Trust branches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now as part of River Bank & Trust, Keystone Bank clients will enjoy a banking home with the same people and commitment to service, with the addition of more locations; a broader set of products; and larger credit capacity,â&#x20AC;? Jimmy Stubbs, president and CEO of River Bank & Trust, said in a statement.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS The five-story, 123-room Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery has opened and features eight suites, a salon and an events center. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians invested $65 million in renovations to the property, which has 2,200-plus gaming machines on the casino floor; BB King’s Blues Club; a 195-seat Itta Bena Restaurant; and a fast-food outlet called Lucille’s. “I cannot adequately express how proud I feel today, when big plans and big dreams have finally come to fruition,” said Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair/CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The tribe also owns Wind Creek Wetumpka and Wind Creek Atmore.

“I cannot adequately express how proud I feel today, when big plans and big dreams have finally come to fruition.” - Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair/ CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Seated L to R: Pam Ware, manager, Governmental Affairs and Advocacy; Leah Garner, director, Governmental Affairs and Advocacy. Standing L to R: Drew Harrell, deputy chief of staff and director, Strategic Operations; Dana Beyerle, director, Communications; Mark Colson, chief of staff and senior vice president, Governmental Affairs; William J. Canary, president and CEO; Trevor Parrish, legislative policy coordinator; Nathan Lindsay, vice president, Public Affairs, Regional Operations and executive director of ProgressPAC.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

BCA seeks â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fair, equitable, broadbasedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; solutions by David Zaslawsky photography by Robert Fouts

Putting More into Infrastructure Although the state legislative session just began in February, Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J. Canary was asked what would a successful session look like for the organization that represents 750,000-plus people. Continued on page 50

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

Continued from page 49

The organization wants to be “supportive and helpful in adopting an agenda that truly, truly moves Alabama to the next level in terms of its ability to compete and be competitive,” Canary said. “That would include a number of areas and one of those would be infrastructure.” The BCA hopes to see legal reform as well as the Legislature supporting a constitutional amendment for the ballot about securing Alabama as a right-to-work state. He talked about education and funding the state’s highly successful and well respected pre-K program; supporting the Alabama Reading Initiative; and finding ways “to appropriately reward the importance of the teacher in the classroom.” Canary said that the lawmakers need greater flexibility in the budgeting for the General Fund and Education Fund, where about 90 percent of revenue is earmarked. He said the budgets were designed in an industrial age, while we now live in a digital age. Because of earmarking, lawmakers’ “hands are tied behind their backs and yet they are asked to use those hands to create something in terms of this earmarking dilemma,” Canary said.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

One message that lawmakers will hear from the BCA is improving the state’s infrastructure, which he said “is the holistic approach of how to ensure that you cannot just create a quality of life, but you can move goods and freight; that you can move people in a safe environment so that when you get on a road, that individual’s safety is the No. 1 concern,” Canary said. The state has funded roads and bridges through gasoline and diesel taxes, but with the cost of fuel at $2 a gallon or less and vehicles getting much improved gas mileage, the revenue source produces less and has not been increased since the 1990s. BCA recommends a “multi-faceted approach” that could include public-private partnerships; dedicated paid lanes for trucks and vehicles; and an increase in gasoline/diesel taxes. Whatever is decided – and Canary said there is widespread agreement that infrastructure improvements are needed – the solution “has to be equitable and fair … and broad-based.” He said any solution has to support both urban and rural areas and the funds need to be from dedicated sources. That insistence on fair, equitable and broad-based solutions is why the BCA opposed last year’s move by the Legislature to eliminate most of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s (ADEM) budget. The agency was forced to dramatically raise fees for businesses. Those increased fees were not broad-based, Canary said. “It was very much geared toward certain industries.” Yet for the BCA, that is not

Canary said it’s important for the public to know there is a plan in place. “We ask the question, what is the five-year plan for Alabama, and the answer is, I don’t know if anybody can give you a five-year plan,” he said. “I don’t know if anyone can give you a one-year plan. I don’t know if anyone can give you a six-month plan.”

the No. 1 reason for opposing the funding reduction. The BCA advocates fully funding ADEM because “it lessens the likelihood of the EPA to further intervene or interfere into our state beyond what they are already doing, which is creating tremendous hardship,” Canary said.

“Often times we’re going to take a position that we believe is right, and we’re not talking about political correctness. We’re talking about what is right for Alabama and what’s right for the business community.” – Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J. Canary The fear of a federal takeover of the state’s prison system last year was a key factor in BCA’s support of prison reform. The BCA supports an “Alabama-driven approach” to Medicaid expansion and Canary called it “an economic development issue that would help to both create jobs and sustain existing jobs. Our health care system is just as vital as the education system,” he said.

He credits the Legislature with “truly trying to move this state from an industrial thinking structure to the digital age, and it’s not going to be easy.” It’s easy for a lawmaker to say no, Canary said, because it’s safe. “‘Yes’ brings all types of opportunity and challenges; a little bit of risk, but you can’t move a generation; you can’t move a community; you can’t move anything unless you’re a ‘yes’ person. ‘Yes’ people move the world. We’re a ‘yes’ organization.” n

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February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

MEMBER NEWS

BUSINESS BUZZ FIVE POINTS OF LIFE SCHEDULES MARATHON MONTGOMERY – Participants in the sixth annual Five Points of Life Kids Marathon will celebrate their achievement Feb. 27 at the James W. Wilson Jr. YMCA at New Park. Kindergarten students through eighth grade will walk or run the full 26.2mile marathon a little bit at a time. The final ceremony is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and all participants will receive a T-shirt and medal for completing a marathon. Entry forms and running logs are available online at www. fivepointsoflife.org, or at LifeSouth’s Montgomery headquarters, just off Perry Hill Road at 4139 Carmichael Road. The event is conducted by LifeSouth and the YMCA GoodTimes programs. More than 500 youths signed up for last year’s event.

Five Points of Life is a foundation started by LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to raise awareness of the five ways to share life with others through the donation of blood, apheresis, marrow, cord blood and organ and tissue. For race information, call (334) 260-0803.

FOUR STAR FREIGHTLINER LOCATIONS RECEIVE ELITE CERTIFICATION MONTGOMERY Brad Prior – All six Four Star Freightliner locations are now elite support certified. The latest to receive the certification was the Albany, Georgia, location. There is a rigorous set of 123 criteria that must be met and maintained in order to receive the special designation. The Tallahassee, Florida, and Montgomery dealerships also recently received recertification. As a result, every Four Star Freightliner location is now a member of the elite support network. “There are very few Freightliner dealership groups that can say they are totally certified,” Brad Prior, Four

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Star Freightliner corporate continuous improvement coordinator said in a statement. “This is an outstanding accomplishment and I salute the six CICs (continuous improvement coordinators) who provided the leadership and guidance as well as every single employee who contributed to this success.” The network is a collaborative effort between Daimler Trucks North America and its truck dealers, focused on improving the customer experience at Freightliner and Western Star dealerships. Four Star Freightliner also has locations in Dothan, Tifton, Georgia, and Valdosta, Georgia

YMCA OF GREATER MONTGOMERY NAMES MAN OF THE YEAR MONTGOMERY – Longtime YMCA advocate, donor and volunteer Jim Inscoe was named the 64th annual Man of the Year by the YMCA of Greater Montgomery. Inscoe and his wife, Elmore, have not only provided much time and treasure to the YMCA, but also have reared their family of three children in the YMCA, two of whom are past YMCA youth governors.

appreciate the dedication and skill that each of these lawyers holds. The lawyers receiving the awards (for 2015) MONTGOMERY – were recognized for Beasley, Allen, Crow, exceptional performances Methvin, Portis & Miles, in their areas of expertise P.C., Principal Kendall C. Kendall C. Dunson and I know that they Dunson was selected as the recognize that none of the firm’s Litigator of the Year for 2015. successes would be possible without the work of their fellow lawyers The annual recognition is presented and support staff. I am proud and to the attorney(s) who demonstrates honored to be a part of the Beasley exceptional professional skill Allen team.” throughout the course of the year

BEASLEY ALLEN NAMES DUNSON ‘TOP ATTORNEY’

and best represents the firm’s ideal of “helping those who need it most.” Dunson practices in the firm’s personal injury section. The firm also announced the Lawyer of the Year in each section. Honorees for 2015 are Chris D. Glover, personal injury section Lawyer of the Year; Michael D. Andrews, products liability section Lawyer of the Year; Alison D. Hawthorne, fraud section Lawyer of the Year; W. Roger Smith, mass torts section Lawyer of the Year; and Christopher D. Boutwell, toxic torts Section Lawyer of the Year. “Each time we receive a jury verdict or favorable settlement, I am reminded of the talent among us here at Beasley Allen,” Principal & Founder Jere L. Beasley said in a statement. “I

PURE BARRE ADDS EAST MONTGOMERY LOCATION MONTGOMERY – Pure Barre Montgomery studio owners Katie Lowder and Tiffany Bell have opened a new site in East Montgomery at the Peppertree Shopping Center.

Pure Barre, which uses small isometric movements, is a 55-minute full-body workout that works each muscle group to fatigue and then stretches them back out. It is not a dance class and no dance experience is necessary. Katie Lowder “We truly believe in the Pure Barre brand and have witnessed the mental, emotional and physical results firsthand and through clients at Pure Barre Montgomery since opening in February 2013,” Lowder said in a Tiffany Bell statement. “Whether clients are looking to get in shape for the first time in years, build strength

and confidence, make friends or mentally escape, our studio provides a safe community space and positive environment for everyone that walks through our doors.” “We receive daily requests at our current Cloverdale studio for an East Montgomery location,” Bell said in a statement. “We wanted to make Pure Barre convenient and accessible to this rapidly growing East Montgomery and Pike Road market and offer Pure Barre to an even broader audience. We are excited for this opportunity to expand our Pure Barre community and family with our second location.” For information on Pure Barre East Montgomery, call (334) 356-5154 or email eastmontgomery@purebarre.com.

REALTORS GROUP INSTALLS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS MONTGOMERY – The Montgomery Area Association of Realtors (MAAR) installed its 2016 officers and directors. Leading the association and its multiple listing service (MLS) are Bill Ashley, MAAR president; Carol Andrews, MAAR president-elect/MLS president; Forrest Meadows, MAAR/ MLS treasurer; Kim McElroy, MAAR/ MLS secretary; and Cindy Cauthen, MAAR immediate past president. MAAR directors are Beth Baker, Bren Calhoon, Mark Davis, Kati Douglas, CONTINUED ON PAGE

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

BUSINESS BUZZ FROM PAGE

Jo Glenn, Hayden Hudson, Blake Markham, Harold Powell and Billy Young. MLS directors are Don Brewer, Nikki Burch, Tarence Davis, Edward Farrior, Danyalle Friday, Patrick Janson, Maurice Pene, Myra Pruit and Gary Sullivan.

RETAIL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES OFFICERS MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Retail Association has completed its slate of officers for 2016. Their terms began Jan. 1. Chairman: Frederick W. “Ricky” Bromberg, president of Bromberg & Co. Inc, Birmingham. Vice Chairman: Jacob Shevin, owner and president of Standard Furniture in Alabama and Tennessee. Treasurer: Bob Akers, vice president, Davis Direct, Montgomery. President: Richard E. “Rick” Brown Jr., Alabama Retail Association, Montgomery. Bromberg, Shevin, Akers and Brown serve as Alabama Retail’s executive committee along with Immediate Past Chairman George Wilder, president of The Locker Room, Montgomery and Auburn; and Executive Committee Designee: Todd Noden, chief financial officer for Birminghambased Books-A-Million. The board secretary is the Alabama Retail Association’s Jennifer Henderson.

HILL HILL CARTER OPENS KENTUCKY OFFICE MONTGOMERY – Hill Hill Carter has opened an office in Louisville and announced that Mark M. Sandmann and Robert L. Keisler Jr. have been hired and will work at the new location. The Louisville office will be part of the firm’s health care cost recovery section.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

“Bob and I have worked collaboratively for years with Pam Slate, Liz Carter, and their health care cost recovery group here at Hill Hill Carter, and are excited to be merging our practice with theirs officially now,” Sandmann said in a statement.

LOCAL ATTORNEY JOINS “Hill Hill Carter has long represented ESTATE PLANNING ACADEMY health benefit plans throughout the country, and opening an office MONTGOMERY – After 10 in a health care center like years, attorney Sayge Louisville made a lot of Grubbs decided to sense,” Hill Hill Carter focus his practice on Managing Shareholder estate planning and David Henderson joined the American said in a statement. Academy of Estate “Mark and Bob bring Planning Attorneys. years of experience to the Sayge Grubbs The organization supports HHC team, and Louisville attorneys across the country provides us with a pool of topby providing them with continuing notch staff well-versed in health legal education needed to counsel care issues.” their clients on estate planning Sandmann will be heading the needs. The academy’s exclusive Kentucky office, focusing in the membership is dedicated to helping areas of pharmaceutical fraud and clients effectively plan their estates antitrust. He will also represent while helping them retain control over the interests of local, regional and assets and their lives. national health insurers in mass tort Grubbs and his staff offer advice litigation throughout the country. on wills, trusts, health care power Sandmann received a bachelor’s of attorney, Medicaid and Medicare degree in political science and planning, and qualified retirement international relations from the plan distribution, limited power of University of Missouri and received attorney and federal, estate and gift his Juris Doctor from the Syracuse tax returns. University College of Law. Keisler will join Hill Hill Carter’s Kentucky office with an emphasis in subrogation and reimbursement, particularly in mass tort litigation. He has extensive experience dealing with all types of health care subrogation and recovery matters. Keisler received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville and

received his Juris Doctor from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University.

Grubbs founded Sage Legacy Counsel, which recently moved to 8416 Crossland Loop.

EASTER SEALS CENTRAL ALABAMA RECEIVES $11,700 DONATION MONTGOMERY – Easter Seals Central Alabama received an $11,700 donation from the Montgomery Capital Rotary Club that held a wine and dine fundraising event. “The money raised from this event will help Easter Seals construct an interactive sensory wall in our lobby,” Easter Seals Central Alabama Executive Director Debbie Lynn said in a statement. “We work with a great deal of children who have autism and sensory challenges. The wall will help provide them with an outlet for play while they wait, and will be used as a tool in therapy.”

JACKSON THORNTON EMPLOYEE EARNS HEALTH CARE DESIGNATION

guidelines for medical documentation, fraud, abuse and coding violations; quality assurance and coding risk analysis; and medical record auditing and coding concepts.

MONTGOMERY – Jackson Thornton Rebecca Hanif “It’s certainly a milestone in employee Rebecca Hanif her career, but more importantly, has earned the certified professional this expertise will enable her to even medical auditor designation. better assist our health care clients,” Hanif, who has worked in the Mark Baker, principal and leader of health care industry for seven Jackson Thornton Healthcare, said in years, assists multiple physician a statement. n practices with process improvement on the physician quality reporting system, meaningful use and coding compliance. She earned the designation by demonstrating expertise in the governmental

The organization is a collection of programs designed to help individuals with disabilities.

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

CHAMBER NEWS

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE VT MILTOPE NAMES CROWELL PRESIDENT/CEO MONTGOMERY – Edward F. Crowell has been named president and CEO of VT Miltope. He succeeds James Chambers.

Crowell, former chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is a 21-year veteran of VT Miltope. He was most recently the firm’s chief operating officer and was Edward F. Crowell in charge of manufacturing, program management, engineering, quality assurance and administration. “VT Miltope’s future is strong with great potential,” Crowell said in a statement. “It is the strength of our products and our people that are the foundation of what makes us who we are. We will continue to provide highquality products to our customers.” Crowell, who retired from the Air Force as a brigadier general, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Alabama State University. He has a master’s degree in business administration from Troy University.

VT Miltope designs, develops, manufactures and tests computers and computer-related equipment for military, industrial and commercial uses. The firm’s parent company is VT Systems.

HEALTH SERVICES ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE POSITIONS MONTGOMERY – Health Services Inc. has announced that Dr. George Thomas is the new chief medical officer and Mia Mothershed is the new marketing director.

Thomas has practiced as a staff physician in Hayneville community health centers for more than 24 years. He has also served as the Health Services associate director of rural centers, before his appointment as chief medical officer.

Mothershed, an experienced marketing and communications professional, will implement a comprehensive communications and marketing program. She will direct all operations for marketing, publications, news, public information and other-related functions. George Thomas She received a bachelor’s degree in communications and business from Alabama A&M.

Thomas is board certified in family Health Services has 12 practice with 29 facilities, including two years of experience wellness centers in six including clinical, counties. The company diagnostic and provides services in pediatric emergency care. In his Mia Mothershed and adult medicine, pediatric role as chief medical and adult dentistry, obstetrics/ officer, Thomas will guide all patient gynecology, and pediatric and adult care initiatives and lead teams in optometry. The corporate office at clinical solutions and outcomes. 1845 Cherry St. offers an on-site He is a graduate of Morehouse pharmacy as well as social and College and obtained his medical behavioral health services. degree from Howard University College of Medicine. He completed his family practice residency at the University of Alabama. ACCOUNTING FIRM

NAMES PRINCIPAL

MONTGOMERY – Scott Lee has been promoted to principal at the certified public accounting firm of Richard, Harris, Ingram and Bozeman, PC. Lee, who joined the firm in 2006, practices in the tax and audit sectors with emphasis in audits of local

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

city school boards, not-for-profit tax and audit, and tax services to small businesses and individuals. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Auburn University at Montgomery and is a certified public accountant. Richard, Harris, Ingram and Bozeman has provided tax, audit, accounting, consulting and financial planning services to individuals, small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and governments throughout Alabama for more than 65 years.

NEW OWNER TAKES OVER SPHERION STAFFING OFFICE MONTGOMERY – Patrick Hart is the new owner of the Spherion staffing office in Montgomery. Hart has been with the local Spherion office since 2012 and has experience in recruiting, business development, Patrick Hart sales and management. Prior to his new position, Hart was responsible for supporting and expanding the company’s full-time, direct-hire recruiting services. Revenues have grown year-overyear since 2012, totaling more than $400,000 in direct-hire business and $1.6 million in flexible/temporary staffing business. “I am thrilled to be the new owner of the Montgomery Spherion office,” Hart said in a statement. “I consider it a privilege to represent and lead one of the most distinguished staffing companies in the country and to work in an industry that allows me to give back to my home town and the great state of Alabama. But, the most rewarding aspect of this business is the ability to improve people’s lives personally, professionally and financially – one hire at a time.”

The following employees were promoted to vice president: Elton BEASLEY ALLEN Brooks (retail delivery); Jamie Brown NAMES PRINCIPAL (relationship development); Lynette MONTGOMERY – The law firm of Cupps (organizational development); Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Tara Langley (human resources); Miles, P.C., has named Alison “Ali” D. Daniel Souers (marketing); and Hawthorne a principal. Lisa Walker (corporate project management/eCommerce). Hawthorne, who works in the firm’s consumer fraud section, joined Beasley Allen in 2010.

The following were named assistant vice president: Kathy Cobb (technology); Sonia Devine (sales and service/central region); Her practice is Justin Evans (retail support); focused primarily on John Grimes (collections); complex litigation on Andy Hall (sales and service/ a national level and has Alison “Ali” east region); Marilyn Knapp D. Hawthorne been involved in class(sales and service/service action litigation involving consumer fraud within the health care center); Melissa Miller (accounting operations); Beverly Schuffert (sales and cosmetics industries. and service/system liaison); Lori “Ali is a talented attorney and Sellers (accounting controls); and has achieved great success in Kim Smitherman (sales and service/ her few years with the firm,” west region). Beasley Allen Principal and “MAX is proud to promote team Managing Attorney Tom members who work hard daily to Methvin said in a statement. grow the organization,” Stenger said in a statement. “We will continue to ensure our staffing allows MAX to grow and thrive.” n MAX CREDIT UNION

ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS

MONTGOMERY – MAX Credit Union recently announced 22 promotions, which included four chief positions. Wayne Blackwell was named chief retail officer; DG Markwell was promoted to chief marketing officer; Cheryl Payson was promoted to chief support officer; and Sandra Stenger was named chief talent officer. Wendy Anderson was named senior vice president for consumer underwriting; and Will Epperson was promoted to senior vice president for consumer experience.

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GROUND BREAKINGS

CHAMBER NEWS

NOW TOTAL FITNESS

AUTO PROFESSIONAL 3

STURBRIDGE COMMONS APARTMENT HOMES

209 Madison Avenue • Montgomery, AL 36104 334-652-9837 • www.nowbootcamp.com David Ford-Owner • Lee Grimes-Owner • Nate McMullin-Owner Fitness Center/Gym

2720 East South Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36116 334-356-3331 Natasha Barton-General Manager • Automobile Dealers-Used

8700 Seaton Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36116 334-270-0111 • www.sturbridgecommons.net Lesley Traver-Property Manager • Apartments

INFINITY AUTO SALES

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CAPITOL COMMERCE CENTER

645 Eastern Boulevard • Montgomery, AL 36117 334-593-9680 • www.infinityautosales.com Baha Hijaz-Owner • Automobile Dealers-Used

100 Capitol Commerce Center Boulevard • Suite 210, Bldg. B Montgomery, AL 36117 Governor Robert Bentley

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Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

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NEW MEMBERS ASSOCIATIONS/NON-PROFIT

SALVATION ARMY Walter Strong P.O. Box 4839 Montgomery, AL 36103 334-265-0281 ATTRACTIONS-SPORTS & RECREATION

ROCKIN’ JUMP Paul Register 5544 Atlanta Highway Montgomery, AL 36117 334-239-2587 AUTOMOBILE DEALERS-USED

AUTO PROFESSIONAL 3 Natasha Barton 2720 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 334-356-3331

INFINITY AUTO SALES Baha Hijaz 645 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36117 334-593-9680 BAKERY

JOZETTIE’S CUPCAKES TWO Ida McCrary 2229 East South Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 334-676-1598 CLOTHING & ACCESSORIESRETAIL

TOP FASHION Steve Bae 3741 Eastern Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36116 404-543-8651 CONSULTING SERVICES/ EDUCATION

SMARTERSERVICES Julie Owen 2005 Cobbs Ford Road, Suite 301 Prattville, AL 36066 334-491-0427 CREDIT & DEBT COUNSELING

PRECISION CREDIT RECOVERY, LLC Verneeda Smith 2421 Presidents Drive Montgomery, AL 36116 877-885-2650

CHAMBER NEWS

FITNESS CENTER/GYM

OFFICE EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES

NOW TOTAL FITNESS David Ford 209 Madison Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 334-652-9837

CANON Kent Dendy 380 Arba Street Montgomery, AL 36104 334-265-9578

PURE BARRE EAST MONTGOMERY Katie Lowder and Tiffany Bell 8103 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-356-5154

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

INSURANCE COMPANIES/

JOURNEY MONTGOMERY, LLC Abraxas Pickens P.O. Box 231503 Montgomery, AL 36213 334-431-3253 TRUCKING SERVICES

SERVICES

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE Michael Hardin 4121 Carmichael Road, Suite 501 Montgomery, AL 36106 334-244-1696

SUINUJ TRANSPORTATION, LLC Junius B. Clark 5901 Cheswick Court Montgomery, AL 36116-7107 334-523-1492

JANITORIAL SERVICE/ SUPPLIES

Q & C RESIDENTIAL & SMALL COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICE Quanishea Stephens 225 Garden Homes Circle Montgomery, AL 36116 334-235-1965 MEDIA COMPANY

FIXR DIGITAL David Mowery 260 Commerce Street, Floor 4 Montgomery, AL 36104 314-706-7072

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

ECONOMIC INTEL

CHAMBER NEWS

UNEMPLOYMENT

Civilian Labor Force DEC p 2015

Area

Unemployment Rate

NOV r 2015

DEC r 2014

DEC p 2015

NOV r 2015

DEC r 2014

Montgomery MA

169,085

169,329

168,916

5.60%

5.50%

5.40%

Autauga County

25,242

25,293

25,150

5.00%

4.90%

4.60%

Prattville City

16,508

16,548

16,374

4.90%

4.80%

4.00%

Elmore County

36,069

36,135

36,033

4.90%

4.80%

4.60%

3,844

3,848

3,822

10.70%

10.60%

10.50%

103,930

104,053

103,911

5.80%

5.70%

5.60%

91,597

91,673

91,466

5.90%

5.80%

5.60%

535,298

537,516

530,623

5.30%

5.20%

4.80%

92,630

93,071

92,118

6.70%

6.60%

6.50%

Huntsville MA

208,299

208,852

206,534

5.10%

5.00%

Huntsville City

90,350

90,668

89,429

5.30%

5.00%

Mobile MA

181,538

181,965

180,547

6.80%

6.60%

6.40%

Mobile City

85,045

85,367

84,562

7.00%

6.90%

6.60%

2,143,988

2,149,356

2,122,742

5.80%

5.60%

5.50%

157,245,000

157,340,000

155,521,000

4.80%

5.40%

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

Alabama United States

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.

SALES TAX

DECEMBER 2015 DECEMBER 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

Montgomery County

$3,390,391

$3,406,587

-0.48%

$42,249,868

$40,897,511

3.31%

City of Montgomery

$8,043,513

$7,944,287

1.25%

$100,439,907

$96,958,231

3.59%

$197,946

$150,936

31.15%

$2,135,955

$1,877,103

13.79%

$1,739,361

$1,799,984

-3.37%

$21,328,412

$20,221,215

5.48%

Autauga County

$704,472

$692,994

1.66%

$8,162,931

$7,830,457

4.25%

Elmore County

$100,313

$211,014

-52.46%

$2,347,236

$2,513,761

-6.62%

Wetumpka

$488,062

$466,617

4.60%

$5,067,943

$5,599,192

-9.49%

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 February 2015 thru current month.

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Building Permits

BUILDING STARTS

Building Valuations

DEC 2015

NOV 2015

DEC 2014

New Construction

Additions and AlterationsÂ

Others Total

DEC 2015

NOV 2015

DEC 2014

$5,057,600

$5,872,200

$13,993,600

108

$6,786,052

$13,170,460

$10,992,895

$92,300

$242,033

$192,800

132

173

162

$11,935,952

$19,284,693

$25,179,295

Source: City of Montgomery Building Department

MONTGOMERY METRO MARKET HOME SALES DECEMBER 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

MONTH/MONTH % CHANGE

DECEMBER 2014

YEAR/YEAR % CHANGE

STATEWIDE DECEMBER 2015*

Median Price

$140,000

$135,000

3.70%

$130,000

7.69%

$136,131

Average Price

$157,775

$163,187

-3.32%

$145,008

8.80%

$157,323

2,434

2,603

-6.49%

2,583

-5.77%

27,289

Months of Supply

7.1

9.1

-21.98%

8.7

-18.39%

7.4

Total # Sales

344

286

20.28%

296

16.22%

3,686

Days on Market

123

120

2.50%

132

-6.82%

131

Units Listed

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

February 2016 montgomerybusinessjournal.com

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

HYUNDAI SALES

DESTINATION

MGM

BHM

ATL

Baltimore (BWI)

$304

$222

$107

Boston (BOS)

$356

$158

$213

Charlotte, NC (CLT)

$239

$158

$319

Chicago (ORD)

$332

$256

$80

Cincinnati (CVG)

$338

$377

$217

Dallas/Ft Worth (DFW)

$316

$181

$80

Denver (DEN)

$349

$329

$167

Detroit (DTW)

$342

$195

$131

Houston (HOU)

$332

$287

$136

Indianapolis (IND)

$344

$337

$166

Las Vegas (LAS)

$412

$367

$164

Los Angeles (LAX)

$378

$371

$239

Memphis (MEM)

$397

$321

$322

VEHICLE

DEC 2015

DEC 2014

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

Accent

2,718

8,566

61,486

63,309

Miami (MIA)

$347

$317

$125

Sonata

22,820

17,924

213,303

216,936

Nashville (BNA)

$401

$369

$379

Elantra

14,242

18,860

241,706

222,023

New Orleans (MSY)

$349

$368

$219

9,518

10,395

118,134

107,906

New York (JFK)

$368

$259

$244

Orlando (MCO)

$313

$211

$108

Santa Fe Azera

358

697

5,539

7,232

Philadelphia (PHL)

$342

$247

$98

Tucson

8,311

3,114

63,591

47,306

Pittsburgh (PIT)

$327

$337

$176

Veloster

2,246

1,685

24,245

27,598

St Louis (STL)

$309

$245

$210

Veracruz Genesis Equus Total

Seattle (SEA) Seoul (SEL)

$398

$364

$306

$1,260

$1,206

$1,150

3,094

2,923

31,374

29,992

Tampa (TPA)

$309

$250

$88

201

343

2,332

3,415

Washington DC (DCA)

$348

$188

$136

63,508

64,507

761,710

725,718

Washington DC (DCA)

$319

$183

$136

Date of travel: Feb. 23-28, 2016. Date of pricing: Jan. 10, 2016. Source: travelocity.com

Source: Hyundai Motor America

MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIRPORT DECEMBER 2015 Air Carrier Operations

DECEMBER 2014

YTD 2015

YTD 2014

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

835

920

-9.2%

9,636

10,730

-10.2%

3,728

5,270

-29.3%

56,649

65,726

-13.8%

Enplanements

14,151

14,554

-2.8%

175,209

168,625

3.9%

Deplanements

13,828

13,722

0.8%

171,568

168,284

2.0%

Total Passengers

27,979

28,276

-1.1%

346,777

336,909

2.9%

Total Operations

Source: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) Dannelly Field

YEAR OVER YEAR % CHANGE

Montgomery Business Journal February 2016

Aronov

covers Montgomery dow n tow n

The Business Center of Alabama

The Bailey Building

midtown

One Commerce Street

Carmichael Center

e ast side

Executive Park

Aronov has the right address for you. From a one-room office to an entire building, we can meet the needs of any company, whatever the size. And, we’ll do it with superior service and market knowledge that only Aronov can offer. So when you’re in the market for office space, choose the company that knows Montgomery best –- Aronov.

Call Scott Harris or Dawn Casey at 334.277.1000

3500 Eastern Boulevard

Montgomery, Alabama 36116

www.aronovcommercial.com

Aronov Centre

Post Office Box 79 Montgomery, AL 36101

miles of smiles We're just doggone happy here. The town's natural beauty, laidback lifestyle and fresh ideas--like our plans for more than 30 miles of multi-use trails--are summoning smiles from all of our residents.