Rising Tide - Winter 2018

WINTER

2018 - 1 9

Published in partnership with

The Tuscaloosa News

THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF WEST ALABAMA

Focus on the Future

Northport’s Citizen of the Year Named Members Named Retailer of the Year Public Art Unveiled in Downtown Tuscaloosa

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CONTENTS 4

A Word from Our Leadership

COVER STORY

Focus on the Future

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CHAMBER@Work 16

Here We Grow Again

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Next Level Investors/ Comparative Economic Indicators

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New Members

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PUBLISHED BY

A Word from Our Leadership

2201 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 758-7588 www.tuscaloosachamber.com

EDITOR

Amy Materson

DESIGN

Kelli Dailey

PREPRESS COORDINATOR Chuck Jones

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Bobby Rice (205) 722-0148

Hardy McCollum and Jo Bonner listen as Page speaks at an event.

Cover photo: Tuscaloosa News On our cover - Dr. Gary Butler of Camgian Microsystems speaks to members at Chamber in Session: State of the Community.

Connect with the Chamber Join us on Facebook Facebook/chambertusc Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/chambertusc

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THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS When you think of a Chamber, many words come to mind. Most of them are associated with improving and advancing business – words such as networking, advocacy, professional development – all the benefits you expect a top-notch Chamber to provide.

When you think of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, broader goals come to mind. In recent years our Chamber has stepped up to the forefront of workforce development and now leads the state in initiatives that will prepare our communities for a strong, prepared, skilled workforce of the future.

Now, we’re taking the next steps. With a successful, proven plan in place to address our skilled worker shortage, we’re partnering with leaders in business and education to ensure West Alabama will be home to an entrepreneurial-driven, knowledgebased economy. Attracting innovative companies and encouraging entrepreneurial start-ups to our community will deliver positive transformative change.

As we merge our proven strengths in producing and maintaining a skilled workforce with a dedicated focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and a knowledge-based economy, we’ll find we’re creating a future with the best of both worlds.

Jim Page, CCE President & CEO The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

CHAMBER@Work

Contact Us JIM PAGE, CCE President & CEO (205) 391-0562 jim@tuscaloosachamber.com

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State of the Community Welcomes Technology Leader

DONNY JONES, IOM Chief Operating Officer (205) 391-0552 donny@tuscaloosachamber.com AL SPENCER Vice President, Economic Development and Public Policy (205) 391-0329 al@tuscaloosachamber.com KIMBERLY ADAMS Director of Membership and Investor Relations (205) 391-0327 kimberly@tuscaloosachamber.com TARA BULLOCK Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Workforce Development (205) 391-0559 tara@tuscaloosachamber.com BRITTANI COLBURN Project Manager, Workforce Development (205) 391-0334 brittani@tuscaloosachamber.com TRACY CRUMPTON Director of Finance and Operations (205) 391-0554 tracy@tuscaloosachamber.com ALICIA GREGORY Executive Assistant (205) 391-0561 alicia@tuscaloosachamber.com LOWANDA JAMES Director of Information Services (205) 758-7588 lowanda@tuscaloosachamber.com AMY MATERSON Director of Communications and Marketing (205) 391-0563 amy@tuscaloosachamber.com JILL MCDONALD Program Manager, Leadership and Community Engagement (205) 391-0555 jill@tuscaloosachamber.com

A sold-out crowd attended this year’s Chamber in Session: State of the Community.

The 2018 Chamber in Session: State of the Community, held at the Tuscaloosa River Market August 30, welcomed Northport Mayor Donna Aaron, Tuscaloosa Mayor and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox, and Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge. The event also welcomed Camgian Microsystems, a technology leader that will open a new machine learning and AI facility at The Edge.

Chamber in Session: State of the Community was presented by TTL, Inc/ Walker Associates. Gold Sponsors were the City of Northport, Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ, TekLinks, and Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports. Silver Sponsors were Chick-fil-A Northport, and Ward Scott Architecture, Inc. Bronze Sponsors were FASTSIGNS of Tuscaloosa, Perfect Shine, Inc., and the Radiology Clinic.

Table Sponsors were Alabama One Credit Union, Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Express Employment Professionals, FNB of Central Alabama, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC, Neel-Schaffer, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Robertson Banking, Synovus Bank, Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, and Way, Ray, Shelton & Co., PC.

CAROLYN TUBBS Director of Education Programs (205) 391-0561 robin@tuscaloosachamber.com KATHERINE WALDON Project Manager, Workforce Development (205) 391-0331 katherine@tuscaloosachamber.com

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SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

Worlds of Work Sparks Career Interest in Thousands of Students West Alabama Works hosted the fourth-annual Worlds of Work Career Expo at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa October 1112, exposing 5,200 students to high-paying, competitive jobs in West Alabama. 8th grade students in West Alabama Works’ nine county region experience WOW as a field trip, sparking their interest in various careers before their career preparation class in 9th grade. High school students are invited to return to WOW with their parent/guardian at WOW Varsity, an evening event that allows students to engage with employers.

“This is more than just brochures. Students can actually practice electric wiring, delivering a baby or using construction equipment, all with industry professionals. These industry professionals want to make relationships with our students and parents to help build their future workforce,” Chamber Chief Operating Officer and West Alabama Works Executive Director Donny Jones said.

The Construction World won Best World at WOW. Industries are grouped by world, including healthcare, education, agriculture, public safety, hospitality, energy/utilities, transportation, manufacturing and construction. Worlds are judged for activities, student engagement and creativity. This is the second time for the Construction World to take home the top prize; they also won in 2016.

Construction World Leaders are Gary Nichols, President/COO of McAbee Construction, and Tim Harrison, Owner/President of Harrison Construction. Construction activities allowed students to hammer, learn about plumping, see the building process, direct a crane and even weld. Past world winners other than construction include healthcare in 2017 and energy/utilities in 2015.

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INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACADEMY KICKS OFF AT WOW Over 70 superintendents and educators graduated from West AlabamaWorks’ Educator Workforce Academy Friday, Oct. 12 during the Worlds of Work Career Expo at Shelton State Community College.

The Educator Workforce Academy is a state-recognized initiative created in West Alabama, and this class is the first cohort.

Educator Workforce Academy fellows spent a year meeting with leaders in industry and workforce development throughout the region.

Their key takeaways included enforcing workforce skills such as soft skills, teamwork and attention to detail in coursework. They used these takeaways and more to review curriculum, such as including skills like reading for information and applied mathematics.

“The Academy allows us to get experience in business and industry so we’re more in-tune with what our students need when they graduate,” said Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria.

The 2018-2019 class of 101 leaders in education began their Educator Workforce Academy training at WOW.

Cover Story

Focus on the Future PARTNERSHIPS WORK TO CREATE A KNOWLEDGEBASED ECONOMY WHILE MAINTAINING SUCCESSFUL SKILLED WORKFORCE

For two decades, West Alabama’s economy has ramped up to include a heavy focus on recruiting, developing, training, and maintaining a skilled workforce. The allure of exciting, high-paying jobs in the automotive sector has led

to sustained economic growth and low employment, and now features a workforce development model that leads our state.

Of course, in a region that serves as home to several institutions of higher learning, the possibilities seem endless for entrepreneurs, innovative startups, and technology that would contribute to a knowledge-based economy.

As a result, even as they hone the workforce model, business, education and community leaders are stepping up white collar recruitment efforts. The task now is to successfully merge the two components to shape the economy of the future.

Dr. Stuart Bell of The University of Alabama congratulates Dr. Gary Butler of Camgian Microsystems on his company’s AI and machine learning facility, which will be an anchor tenant in The Edge – Incubator and Accelerator.

“We’re living in a rapidly changing time and those changes are going to require new innovation and new technologies and new ideas,”

According to Jo Bonner, who served as Interim Director for the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority before being selected by Governor Kay Ivey in November as a senior adviser in her administration, West Alabama is more than prepared to handle the challenges of merging an effective workforce development focus with a knowledge-based economy initiative. Bonner mentions progress in the very industry that kicked off the emphasis on workforce development – automotive – is a key reason to pivot.

“The automotive industry has been a part of our community for 25 years, and all signs point to even more investment in this industry that is such an important part of our community today,” Bonner says. “For example, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International announced last September that they will be investing another billion dollars in their Alabama operations in Vance by bringing electric vehicle production to the United States, and locating the battery plant in neighboring Bibb County. That’s exciting.”

Bonner notes the connection between the manufacturing background and the innovation in technology our area is seeing, and will continue to see, explaining that the types of products we build today will enable us to make a natural pivot to the hightech innovation we will need in the future.

Dr. Gary Butler was looking to expand the footprint of his company, Camgian Microsystems. Founded in Starkville, Mississippi, in 2006, the company, a globallyrecognized leader in developing integrated sensing platforms that provide real-time situational awareness, already had a location in Jackson. The company needed a location that could provide the talent he needed.

“We wanted to recreate what we’ve created in Starkville,” Butler says. “We have a continuing need for engineers, software developers, and data scientists.”

Butler knew a college town could deliver the engineers he needed. He explored Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Washington, DC, and still couldn’t find the perfect fit until a business colleague suggested he take a look at Tuscaloosa.

Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority, and The University of Alabama met with Butler, and he knew he’d found Camgian’s next home.

“I loved the community,” he said. “I met the people at the University and the engineering school, and saw the tremendous growth and promise that is present there. I felt it would be a great asset from which for us to recruit the kind of talent we need for our company.”

In the outset, as Camgian builds its Tuscaloosa operations, it will become the first anchor tenant of the newlyconstructed business incubator and accelerator, known as The Edge, where it will house its new Center for AI and Machine Learning. Originally created in 2012 as a collaborative project between The University of Alabama, the Chamber, and the City of Tuscaloosa, The Edge broke ground in 2017 on a new 26,300-square-foot

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facility that will be managed

by The University of Alabama’s Cu lverhou se C ol lege of Business.

“I can’t describe to you the effectiveness of the economic development team; the response, support and assistance in planning our strategy,” Butler said. “We’re putting together a partnership with the College of Engineering. This is going to be an opportunity for us to grow together, and this is going to be extremely important work. I couldn’t be more pleased with how things have played out there, and I believe you’ll see companies similar to Camgian come into the area.”

Camgian has been recognized as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America by Entrepreneur Magazine, one of the World’s Top Start-Up Companies

by A BI Re se a rch, a nd the Compass Intelligence Industrial Internet of Things Company of the Year for 2018.

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“We’re living in a rapidly changing time and those changes are going to require new innovation and new technologies and new ideas,” Bonner says. “So, factor in these companies who have come to Alabama and have invested hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars. Expand outward to include the immense talent we have at our research universities like the University of Alabama, our liberal arts colleges like Stillman College, and our technical schools like what Shelton State is doing in workforce development, and there’s every reason to be really optimistic about the foreseeable future for years to come.”

A JIGSAW PUZZLE The first piece of West Alabama’s knowledge-based economy has already fallen into place, as Camgian Microsystems announced their expansion into Tuscaloosa in August.

A pioneer in sensing and information processing technologies and provider of advanced electronic systems based in Starkville, Mississippi, Camgian Microsystems announced they would open a new AI and machine learning facility as the anchor tenant of The Edge – Incubator and Accelerator.

With Camgian’s selection of Tuscaloosa, the goal of advancing a knowledge-based economy is one step closer to reality, says Jim Page, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. “The local public and private sectors have started working hand in hand to foster an environment of entrepreneurship and innovation,” he says. “Attracting a cutting edge technology company like Camgian shows that the work of our alliance is already paying off and it checks all of the boxes of our new economic development strategy. This project helps to diversify our economic base while creating world-class

career opportunities that will keep more educated talent in this community. ” According to Bonner, Camgian is one of the reasons West Alabama can be confident when recruiting other companies; however, there are steps we as a community need to take. “The University of Alabama is the fastest growing flagship university over the last decade,” he says. “The expertise we’ve got with our faculty, coupled with impressive numbers of students we’ve got coming in from all over the world – we’ve got a talent factory here. We need to do a better job of taking inventory of what we’ve got.”

Bonner also says we should look at our amenities, including quality of life, good schools, health care, and access to transportation, among others. “We’ve got all the ingredients – we just need to be confident when telling our story.”

Mayor Walt Maddox talks with Dr. Gary Butler.

k r o W @ R E B M A H C

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Krebs Named Northport Citizen of the Year at Annual Event COACH PATRICK MURPHY SPEAKS ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP Phylecia Hickman Krebs was named the 2018 Northport Citizen of the Year in an event held Thursday, October 4 at Five Points Baptist Church. Presented by Tuscaloosa Hyundai Genesis, the event honors individuals who have contributed to the betterment of Northport.

Krebs was honored for her selfless commitment to charitable organizations, volunteer hours, and her work with her family’s John Herman Hickman Foundation. The award was presented by Judy Pearson Holland, the 2017 Citizen of the Year.

The luncheon featured guest speaker Crimson Tide softball Coach Patrick Murphy, who spoke on servant leadership.

The event also honored the following community leaders: Jheovanny Gomez of Jalapeno’s Mexican Grille was named the 2018 Business Leader of the Year. His commitment to the community extends to serving on civic boards and having a reputation for being available for those who need him. A true example of the American Dream, he is always willing to assist others, and to extend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor.

Kelley Strickland of Huntington Place Elementary School was named the Educator of the Year. A third grade teacher, Strickland has always been willing to go the extra mile to challenge students and help to make her school the best it can be. She is not only an advocate for struggling students, she has a gift for working with students who other teachers find challenging. Kelley has been on the Problem Solving Team for 6 years and also serves as the school’s SAC representative. She has painted murals around Huntington Place, and used her green thumb to improve the school’s curb appeal, in order to create a more welcoming environment. She is a treasure for the school and for the community.

Assistant Chief of Police Keith Carpenter was named the Public Safety Leader of the Year.

He has worked for the Police Department for 21 years. A skilled professional who has been named Officer of the Year and Sharp Shooter of the Year, Carpenter has attended the National FBI Academy and was a firearms instructor and teacher at the police academy. He is civic minded and supports the community in a number of ways, including a wide range of non-profit organizations.

Rob Livingston of Chapel Hill Baptist Church was named the Religious Leader of the Year.

The Children and Recreation Minister for Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Rob Livingston, personifies the definition of servanthood. He steps up wherever and whenever there is a

From left, Jheovanny Gomez, Keith Carpenter, Phylecia Hickman Krebs, Kelley Strickland, Rob Livingston and Cathy Anderson. need. Whether it is supply drives for disasters or supporting people after a tragedy, he opens his doors to anyone who needs him. He brings the word of God to the youngest citizens of Northport, and does so with warmth and humor.

Cathy Anderson was named the 2018 Heritage Pioneer. A sixth grade teacher at Collins-Riverside Middle School, Cathy Anderson has brought history to life for students in her classroom. Through her creation of the history project “Walk the Walk – Inspiration for Change” and her unit on World War I history, her students have a better understanding of not only the history of our country and our community, but personal stories of individuals. Cathy participated in the Smithsonian Exhibit “The Way We Worked” in 2014, and her class participates in yearly POWMIA ceremonies.

Tammy Donaldson Named Ambassador of the Quarter Congratulations to Tammy Donaldson, the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Quarter!

Tammy is employed by Belflex Staffing.

Tammy Donaldson, left, is honored as Ambassador of the Quarter by Ambassador Chair Jasmine Rainey.

Ambassadors are volunteers from members businesses who perform a range of activities within the Chamber, including welcoming new members to the organization and sharing with them ways to get the most out of their membership through an informal mentor relationship.

Ambassadors serve as greeters at most Chamber events and assist Chamber staff with groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings.

The Ambassador experience aids in the development of future Chamber leaders and is an excellent networking experience for participants.

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EXPOSE 2 INSPIRE EVENT PROVIDES STUDENTS STEM EXPERIENCE Students from Greensboro High School gained hands-on S.T.E.M. experience September 26, at the first annual Expose 2 Inspire event.

Sponsored by ARD Logistics, the event gave students the opportunity to tour the facility and experience workstations related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (S.T.E.M.). Each student had the opportunity to explore workstations that involved the programming and creation of a 3-D model phone case, creation of a catapult without instructions, utilization of a catapult to analyze the relationship between force and distance, and the capture of data to process and generate spreadsheets and graphs. In addition, students were able to learn the Seven Wastes of Manufacturing using the acronym TIM WOOD. This acronym stands for Transportation, Inventory, Movement, Waiting, Over-Producing, Over-Processing, and Defects.

Greensboro High School students received hands-on STEM experience at the ARD Logistics’ Expose 2 Inspire event.

Hester, CEO of Global Automotive Alliance and ARD Logistics, and coordinated by Jennifer Taylor with the City of Tuscaloosa in partnership with Michael Ryans, Superintendent of the Hale County School System.

Tasha Washington, Advisor, Stillman College; Dr. Charles Nash, Senior Vice Chancellor, UA System Academic and Student Affairs; and Ralph Howard, Alabama House of Representatives were in attendance. They provided valuable information and feedback to the students throughout the event and served as ambassadors.

The students had the opportunity to meet with other professionals and a local politician during this event, which was hosted by Sylvester

Seven Inducted into Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame On September 20, seven citizens were inducted into the 2018 Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame. Each year, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama honors “civic giants” that have made an impact on the quality, livability and economic progress of our community.

The 2018 inductees are:

The Civic Hall of Fame was born during The Chamber’s 100th anniversary year in 2000 and is designed to honor exceptional citizens who have made significant, long-term contributions to the overall development of Tuscaloosa County. With this class, 116 citizens will have been inducted as members of the Hall of Fame.

• Ken Swindle

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• Bert Bank • Jordan Plaster, Jr. • Gene “Poodgie” Poole • Dr. Malcolm Portera

• Harrison “Mailman” Taylor • Yvonne Wells The induction was held during a ceremony and reception at the Tuscaloosa River Market. Gold Sponsors for the event were the Award Company of America, McAbee Construction and The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences. Silver Sponsor was Hudson Poole Fine Jewelers.

From left, Jimmy Bank, Harrison Taylor, Jordan Plaster, Yvonne Wells, Gene “Poodgie” Poole, Ken Swindle, Dr. Malcolm Portera.

CHAMBER@Work

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MEMBERS TAKE HOME GOLD, SILVER AT RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Chick-fil-A Northport Awarded Gold by Alabama Retail Association Chick-fil-A Northport owner and operator Ashley Gill has been named the 2018 Gold Retailer of the Year in the $5 Million to $20 Million Annual Sales category, and was honored at a ceremony by the Alabama Retail Association at a luncheon October 16.

Once one of the youngest operators in the entire company, Gill is also a two-time winner of the Symbol of Success award, the top honor in the Chick-fil-A chain, which recognizes restaurants that have recorded remarkable sales increases. “To get to where I am today took a lot of humility, a lot of perseverance and a lot of grit. It’s an honor to see that work recognized,” Gill said as she accepted her award.

Ashley Gill of Chick-fil-A Northport accepts the Gold Award at Retail Day. Jim Page, president and chief executive officer of The Chamber of West Alabama, who nominated her for the award, echoed the Retailer of the Year judges’ decision to award Gill the top honor in her sales volume category. “Ashley sets the gold standard in terms of keeping a focus on customer service and the customer experience. Her energy is contagious, and she has made a name for herself as a leader in this community,” said Page.

Piggly Wiggly Honored with Silver at Awards Ceremony Jay Welborn of B&W Foods, Inc., which operates four Piggly Wiggly grocery stores in Tuscaloosa and Northport, has been named the Silver Retailer of the Year in the $20-Million-Plus Annual Sales category, and was honored at a ceremony by the Alabama Retail Association October 16.

to give back to an organization and a cause we are all affected by in some capacity,” said the second-generation operator of B&W Foods.

“The great thing about Piggly Wiggly is that they have chosen to operate in some of the most underserved areas of our community,” said Jim Page, president and chief executive officer of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, who nominated Welborn as a Retailer of the Year. “They really are part of the fabric, part of the heartbeat of the communities in which they locate.”

Founded by Jay’s father Jimmy Welborn in partnership with Pell City Supermarket operator Ronnie Baker, almost a third of B&W’s sales comes from their in-house cut and packaged meat. When Jimmy Welborn founded the business, he had cancer. He lost his 31-year battle with the disease in 2010, nine months after opening the fourth store.

Besides the stores, Jimmy Welborn’s legacy lives on with the Mr. Pig Goes to the Market fundraiser, which has raised more than $200,000 for the American Cancer Society and the DCH Foundation’s Help and Hope Fund, a food voucher program for cancer patients. It is “our opportunity

Jay Welborn of B&W Foods in his Alberta Piggly Wiggly store.

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Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament Supports Local Schools Chamber members enjoyed a day of golf Thursday, September 6 at the Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School golf tournament, which supported Tuscaloosa City and County Schools.

The Capstone Freight, LLC team was the overall tourney winner at the 28th Annual Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Adopt-A-School Golf Tournament. The team won $500 for their adopted school, Hillcrest High.

Northport Elementary received $500 for having the most golfers (elementary), and Holt High will receive $500 for having the most golfers (secondary). A random drawing was also held including all schools represented and Northridge Middle was selected to receive $500.

Additional winning teams / players were: 1st Place Gross Winners – Rumsey Environmental Team 2nd Place Net Winners – Capstone Freight Team 2nd Place Gross Winners – Brookwood Oil Field Team 3rd Place Net Winners – WJRD/Tuscaloosa Radio Team 3rd Place Gross Winners – Hall-Taylor Construction Team The Putting Contest winner won $500 sponsored by Townsend Honda.

The Longest Drive winner won a Dell laptop from Spiller Furniture and Mattress.

The following businesses and organizations provided support for the tournament, without which the event would not be possible.

Title Sponsor: Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Eagle Sponsors: Alabama Credit Union, Alabama One Credit Union, Andrew Kniphfer Allstate Insurance Agency, Bama Concrete, BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing, Bryant Bank, Burnum-Hahn Exterminators, Inc., Complete Pipeline Services & Supply,

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McAbee Construction, Inc., McGiffert and Associates, LLC, Perfect Shine, Inc., Rumsey Environmental.

Luncheon Sponsor: Core Focus Personnel, LLC Favor Sponsor: Rumsey Environmental Putting Contest Sponsor: Townsend Honda Scorecard Sponsors: Rumsey Environmental and Tuscaloosa Radio Golf Cart Sponsors: Cintas, and Joshua J. Swords Attorney at Law Beverage Cart Sponsor: Cowin Equipment Company Closest to Pin Sponsors: Adams Heating & Cooling and Walmart #0715, Skyland Donors: Adams Beverages, Buffalo Rock Company / Pepsi-Cola, and Krispy Kreme Hole Sponsors: Alabama Credit Union; Alabama One Credit Union; Allstate Coley Agency; Amason & Associates, Inc.; Andrew Kniphfer Allstate Insurance Agency; Bama Concrete; BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing; Bryant Bank; Burnum-Hahn Exterminators, Inc.; Complete Pipeline Services & Supply; The Coppertop; Crimson 2 Go; Ellis Architects, Inc.; FASTSIGNS of Tuscaloosa; FNB of Central Alabama; Harrison Construction Company, Inc.; Hunt Refining Company; Innisfree Irish Pub; McAbee Construction, Inc.; McGiffert and Associates, LLC; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.; Neel-Schaffer, Inc.; Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc.; Perfect Shine, Inc.; Phifer, Inc.; Reese Phifer, Jr. Memorial Foundation; Robertson Banking Company; Rumsey Environmental; Shelton State Community College; Synovus; Synovus Mortgage Tuscaloosa; TekLinks; Tiger-Rock Martial Arts, Northport; TTL, Inc.; Tuscaloosa Coca-Cola Bottling Company; The University of Alabama College of Education; Vero

The Capstone Freight, LLC team won $500 for their adopted school, Hillcrest High.

Software, Inc.; Walker Associates, Inc. / TTL, Inc.; Walmart #0715, Skyland; Warrior Roofing Manufacturing. Inc.; The Westervelt Company; William Blakeney Building Company, Inc..

Attendees also won some fantastic raffle prizes at the event donated by Bama Bed & Breakfast, BFGoodrich Tires, Black Warrior Brewing Company, Buffalo Rock/Pepsi, Captain D’s, Charming Kreations Salon, Chickfil-A Northport, Chick-fil-A Tuscaloosa South, Chuck’s Fish, Dreamland BBQ Northport, Ernest & Hadley Booksellers, FIVE Bar, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers Tuscaloosa, Gigi’s Cupcakes, Hampton Inns Tuscaloosa, Jalapeño’s Mexican Grill, Krispy Kreme, Milo’s Hamburgers, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Pat’s Florist and Gourmet Baskets, The Pants Store, Supercuts, Taco Casa, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, Thrifty Charm Boutique, and Wing Zone.

CHAMBER@Work

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CHAMBER IN SESSION: State of the Community Welcomes Community Leaders Members of Young Tuscaloosa enjoyed a spooky Halloween-themed social at the Historic Drish House October 17.

The evening included heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, haunted tours by local paranormal expert Laura Lineberry of Haunted Tuscaloosa Tours, and a special fire performance.

Young Tuscaloosa is a professional group for individuals between the ages of 21 and 40. The group’s mission is to connect and network with other young professionals, engage and serve the community, and develop leadership and professional skills. For more information on YT or to learn how to join the group, visit youngtuscaloosa.com.

Sponsors for the evening were Ring Light Photos and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

Young Tuscaloosa members gather outside the Historic Drish House for a special fire performance during their October Social.

Public Art Installation Unveiled in Downtown Tuscaloosa RESULT OF COLLABORATION OF BUSINESS AND ARTS COMMUNITIES The vision of creating public art installations in West Alabama became a reality as the first piece was unveiled at a ceremony at Royal Fine Cleaners in downtown Tuscaloosa on Thursday, September 6.

The idea of introducing public art in the community was formed following Benchmarking Trips to Greenville, South Carolina, and Lexington, Kentucky.

Directors, felt that committing to the installation of a piece of public art was something he could accomplish in the short term. “I knew that going to Greenville would open my eyes and give me a brand new perspective,” Wright says. “I’m not an ‘artsy’ person, but I saw the value of public art.”

Others in the arts community hope Wright’s initiative will serve as an example for others who would like to get involved. “I appreciate Bill’s leadership on this inaugural piece,” says Jim Harrison III, owner of Harrison Galleries, who also attended the benchmarking trips.

“This is a great first ‘out-of-the-gate’ venture.”

“We’re thrilled these benchmarking trips have had such a profound impact on the attendees,” says Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama President and CEO Jim Page. “Having private business leaders take the initiative to create positive change in the community is a direct result of them being inspired by what they saw in other places. It’s exciting to see an idea become reality in such a short period of time.”

Craig R. Wedderspoon, Associate Professor of Sculpture at the University of Alabama, says the piece is an excellent choice. “We are extremely excited to have such a high quality sculpture by acclaimed artist Ted Metz here in downtown Tuscaloosa,” he says. “This sculpture, along with Steve Davis’ piece on the Black Warrior River, are two excellent examples of the kind of public arts programming we are working to see more of all around the city and county in the future.”

Bill Wright, the owner of Royal Fine Cleaners and member of the Chamber’s Board of

Metz’s sculpture, STRUCTURAL MECHANICS, was selected by a committee representing

Royal Fine Cleaners, The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, the City of Tuscaloosa, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, and the local community.

“The introduction of public art to the citizens of Tuscaloosa plays a major role in the expression of the community’s commitment to the arts and also to creativity as an economic force,” says Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director, The Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa. “This project represents a true collaboration between the business and arts communities. I couldn’t be happier with the end result!”

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CHAMBER@Work

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Leadership Tuscaloosa Class of 2018-19 Selected Forty-two people have been selected for the 2018-19 class of Leadership Tuscaloosa, a ninemonth leadership development program.

Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the University of Alabama System, the program is designed to make each selected participant more aware of and sensitive to the wide range of needs and opportunities in the community through shared experiences with a cross section of highly capable fellow citizens.

Class members are selected through a rigorous application process and are interviewed by active members of the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association.

Class members for 2018-19 are: Bibby Bailey, American Red Cross; Shannon Biddlecome, Broadway Pizza; Jewitt Bradley, Community Service Programs of West Alabama; Daniel Bradshaw, Tuscaloosa Association of Realtors; James Carpenter, City of Northport; Mac Chambers, Frontier Enterprises; Vikki Chavis, The University of Alabama; Laura Chism, Dorroh & Mills, P.C.; Erica Cochran, Hospice of West Alabama; Jesse Crane, First Federal Bank; Wade Dailey, Wells Fargo Bank; Stacey DeLoach, Ward Scott Architecture; Lourn Evans, Michelin BF Goodrich; Tanner Funk, Alabama One Credit Union; Erica Grant, The Charm District/Tuscaloosa City School Board of Education; Nicole Hampton, Rosen Harwood, P.A.; Amy Henderson, Shelton State Community College; Savannah Howell, City of Tuscaloosa; Dan Johnson, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC; Elliott Jones,

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The Leadership Tuscaloosa class of 2018-19.

Raymond James & Associates; Quin Kelly, Jr., Stillman College; James Lake, Insuresoft, Inc.; Javelin Lewis, Community Service Programs of West Alabama; Hannah McPhillips, The DCH Foundation; Pamela Mixon, The University of Alabama; Holly Morgan, The University of Alabama; Adrian Newson, DCH Health System; Kelly Norstrom, Tuscaloosa City School System; Danny Owen, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports; Alison Phillips, Parker Towing; Kyle Phillips, Bryant Bank; Quinton Poole, United Way of West Alabama; Mason Primm, StressCrete, Inc.; Lillian Roberts, Shelton State Community College; Anna Kay Springer, Hamner Real Estate; Charlie Taylor, The University of

Alabama System; Delshonda Thomas, The Arc of Tuscaloosa County; Caitlin Tubbs, Hamner Real Estate; Cade Warner, The Westervelt Company; LaTonya Washington, Alabama Community Care; Vadonna Williams, Tuscaloosa’s One Place; Cyndee Worrall, Echols, Taylor & Associates, PC. Presented by:

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IN A G A W O R G E W E R HE August 27-November 1

RIBBON CUTTINGS & GROUNDBREAKINGS

ERNEST & HADLEY BOOKSELLERS

1928 7th St. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205)632-5331 | Easty Lambert-Brown

KRYSTAL

3710 McFarland Blvd. E. Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 (205)556-4733

SPRINT BY ABSOLUTE WIRELESS

3615 McFarland Blvd. E. #104 Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 Carissa Jason Hollingsworth

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UA LAKESIDE DINING HALL

160 McCorvey Dr. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205)348-1008 | Amanda Hare

ALLSTATE COLEY AGENCY

408-B Hargrove Rd. E. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 562-1973 | Michelle Coley

HEALTHY 4 LIFE MASSAGE

1650 Jack Warner Pkwy. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205)535-9240 | Kevin Yessick

SOUTHEAST MORTGAGE

1635 McFarland Blvd N #503 Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 Lindsey.mitchell@southeastmortgage.com | Lindsey Mitchell

THERAPYSOUTH

542 15th St. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205)462-7520 | David Cameron

GREYHOUND BUS LINE, INC.

3301 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (615)504-6275 | Mark Scarpenski

BLAZE PIZZA

1800 McFarland Blvd. E. Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 (205)764-5898 | 1284tuscaloosa@blazepizza.com

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Comparative

ECONOMIC INDICATORS OCTOBER 2017 VS OCTOBER 2018

GAMECHANGERS - $25,000+ ANNUALLY

VALUE OF BUILDING PERMITS

City of Tuscaloosa 2017 $24,633,184 2018 $19,184,469

HOMES SOLD Tuscaloosa County 2017 2018

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE - $15,000+ ANNUALLY

CEO COUNCIL – $10,000

Belflex Staffing Network | BFGoodrich Manufacturing/Michelin The 2018 Graduates of the ForerunnersTire program. | Cardiology Consultants | Harrison Construction, Inc. | Hunt Refining | JamisonMoneyFarmer PC | Knight Sign Industries, Inc. | Miers Pass Philanthropy | Shelton State Community College | Synovus | The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences

195 202

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES Tuscaloosa County 2017 3.1% 2018 3.5%

INVESTOR LEADERS – $5,000

Adams Beverages | Alabama Credit Union | AT&T | Cintas | Coca-Cola Bottling Company | Coral Industries | Industrial Warehouse Services | John Plott Co., Inc. | McGiffert & Associates | Parker Towing | PritchettMoore, Inc. | Spire Energy | Thompson Tractor | TTL, Inc. | The Westervelt Company | The WHMZ Group at Morgan Stanley | ZF Chassis Systems

EMPLOYED Tuscaloosa County 2017 94,053 2018 94,532

GROWTH PARTNERS – $2,500

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama | Boone Newspapers | Buffalo Rock/ Pepsi-Cola | The Builders Group of West Alabama | Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc. | Community Service Programs of West Alabama | DT Freight Co., Inc. | Ellis Architects, Inc. | Fitts Agency | Harrison Galleries | Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill | Lance Hocutt Financial Group | Lear | The Legacy Connection | Mercedes of Tuscaloosa | Neel-Schaffer, Inc. | Northport Auto Supply | The Radiology Clinic | Robertson Banking Company | Ward Scott Architecture | Way, Ray, Shelton & Co., PC

COMMUNITY COLLEAGUES – $1,500

ARD Logistics | Bama Concrete | BBVA Compass | Cadence Bank | Chick-fil-A Northport | Echols, Tayor & Associates | FNB of Central Alabama | Hampton Inn | Kyle Office Solutions | The Locker Room | Metalsa | Raymond James & Associates | Remmert & Co. | Renasant Bank | SmartBank | Spiller Furniture & Mattress | TotalCom, Inc. | Winter McFarland, LLC

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BUSINESS LICENSES City of Tuscaloosa 2017 168 2018 163 City of Northport 2017 28 2018 42

AVERAGE SELLING PRICE Tuscaloosa County 2017 2018

$198,812 $223,545

NEW Members

September 1-November 9

NORTHPORT EVENT PURIFY U 500 Towncenter, AND AESTHETIC Suite B SERVICES, LLC Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 (205) 799-6218 (205) 336-1110 Bill Branch John Staley

BLAZE PIZZA 1800 McFarland Blvd E, Suite 600 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (504) 722-2230 Sable LeFrere

INC. 300 Water Street Montgomery, AL 36104 (205) 792-1794 Lee Garrison

R.L. DELIVERY ORANGETHEORY SOLUTIONS FITNESS Corporation TUSCALOOSA 6124 Owen Street 1451 Dr. Edward FARM BOWL & Hillard Drive Suite 170 Birmingham, AL JUICE CO. Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35228 1470 Northbank (205) 200-8163 LAKELAND CITGO 35404 Parkway, Suite 170 CAMGIAN Rickey Levins 12389 Lary Lake Road (205) 464-9637 Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 HARRY’S BAR MICROSYSTEMS Northport, AL 35475 Marisha Smith 1330 Hargrove Rd. (205) 344-1938 CORPORATION RESTORATION 1 OF Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 339-0219 Vince Hunter THE EDGE TUSCALOOSA PAUL STILL Riaz Kassim (205) 792-2741 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 705 27th Avenue, Jake French FRESH COAT (662) 320-1028 Suite C (205) 657-6439 MARKS MART PAINTERS OF Michelle Parisi Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 TUSCALOOSA, LLC Paul Still HEALTHY 4 LIFE TUSCALOOSA 205-632-7900 2300 5th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 MASSAGE CAROLINA Keith Hyche Northport, AL 35476 PREFERRED 526 14th Street (205) 413-8166 HANDLING PRECISION GROUP Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Jacob King Jim Rainey 33 Barber Ct RIVER OAKS LLC (205) 345-4441 Birmingham, Alabama 10269 Covered Bridge HEALTH, LLC MCDILL Kevin Yessick FUN FACTORY 35209 201 Towncenter Blvd.

Road PHOTOGRAPHY BOUNCING PARTIES 205-402-0640 Cottondale, AL 35453 Tuscaloosa, Al 35406 (205) 399-2995 IVY HOUSE 2741 Southside Brady Brown (205) 650-0576 (205) 338-4148 William McDill BOUTIQUE Drive #1 Cindy Bohon Alicia Harris Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 4851 Rice Mine Rd., CHECKER’S NORTHCREEK Ste. 550 (205) 345-5454 NORTHPORT Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 VETERINARY CLINIC 5620 McFarland Blvd. Xiomy Bracken 12420 Wildcat Drive (205) 243-8793 Northport, AL 35476 Northport, AL 35475 Morgan Lancaster (205) 654-5050 (205) 861-0738 Larry Rockwell Amanda Story

SHIPMENT SPECIALIST, LLC 11050 Big Hurricane Road Brookwood, AL 35444 (205) 650-2056 Walter Dean

THERAPYSOUTH 542 15th Street East Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 462-7520 David Cameron

BEVILL STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1411 Indiana Avenue Jasper, AL 35501 (800) 648-3271 Kim Ennis BLOOM FLOWER TRUCK (205) 454-8595 Kristin Logan

CONSTANGY, BROOKS, SMITH & PROPHETE, LLP Two Chase Corporate Drive, Suite 120 Birmingham, AL 35244 (205) 252-321 Thomas Scroggins

GRIFOLS PLASMA 3201 10th Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 752-1547 Scott Lowry

JULIO JONES KIA 4301 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 (205) 345-8040 Chris Hall

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE 2325 University Blvd Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 1 (205) 860-7001 Will Turner

KELLY WILKIN FLORAL CREATIVE 1441 Greymont Lane Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 (205) 764-2292 Kelly Wilkin

Winter JANUARY 15

TUSCALOOSA SAFE CENTER, INC. SMITH PAYNE INC. 1601 University 6130 Old Greensboro Boulevard East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 Rd. Tuacaloosa, AL 35405 (205) 860-7233 Pam Jones (205) 345-7216 Jeff Smith WORLDWIDE STEPH THE TRAVEL TRAVEL AND TOURS 1320 Lurleen Wallace PLANNER Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Blvd.

Northport, AL 35476 (205) 393-1236 Stephanie Charboneau (205) 752-3272 Ryan Prather STEPHANIE’S FLOWERS 117 15th Street Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 345-3074 Mike Lovejoy THE FRAZER LANIER COMPANY,

2018-19 Calendar of Events Presented by

FEBRUARY 13

PROBLEM SOLVING & PEOPLE SOLVING: LEARNING TO LEAD The Chamber | 8:30 a.m.

PLAN YOUR FUTURE: DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN The Chamber | 8:30 a.m.

JANUARY 29

FEBRUARY 28

BREAKFAST & BIZ WorkSouth | 7 a.m.

ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS CELEBRATION The Bryant Conference Center | 5 p.m.

FEBRUARY 12

MARCH 5

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Cypress Inn | 5 p.m.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION: ACCOMPLISH YOUR BUSINESS GOALS The Chamber | 8:30 a.m.

Presented by

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