Bright Lights By the Numbers The Classroom Digital Trends Extra! Extra! Movers & Shakers Recent Events Small Biz Synapse
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mar 2020
Bright Lights
By the Numbers
The Classroom
Digital Trends
Extra! Extra!
Movers & Shakers
Recent Events
Small Biz Synapse
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Improving lives across the Tennessee Valley We are the Huntsville Hospital Health System, a team committed to bringing better health care to you and your family. We’re all across the Tennessee Valley with more resources, more services and more locations — we’re improving lives, together. Huntsville Hospital Health System includes Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Madison Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospitals, Helen Keller & Red Bay Hospitals, Marshall Medical Centers, Lawrence Medical Center, Russellville Hospital and Lincoln Health System in Tennessee.
welcome
new chamber members
Joined in December 2019
1st Franklin Financial Corporation - Mastin Lake
1st Franklin Financial Corporation - S Parkway
Joined in January 2020
Aevum, Inc.
Allstate - Bo Cochran Agency ACES Science Labs, llc
American Esoteric Laboratories Agency54
AR Services Limited Aviles Brothers Landscaping, LLC
Bell Media BlueCats US, LLC
BrightStar Care of Huntsville Candy Cane Coated Candles
Continental Consulting Group Corporation (CCGC) Challenger Defense Solutions
Columbia College Dental Care of Huntsville
Crean & Associates, Inc. Dentistry Downtown with Dr. Rebecca Howell
CyberReach Diana Lockmiller - State Farm
Engel & Völkers Huntsville Direct Auto & Life Insurance - WalMart
EQC Southeast USA Huntsville Location
The Exercise Coach Madison Envistacom
Fabricated Technologies, Inc. Expo Displays - Method One
Ms. Robin Goldsmith FiberRise Communications, LLC
HAPPI Health G3-Greater Guidance Group
Hops N Guac Innovate Huntsville Center
Jeff White Photography IZsam
Joy Bender - Legend Realty K&K Technical Group
LinQuest Corporation Le Macaron French Pastries - PASMI INC
Liquid Measurement Systems Lean Kitchen Company
MACH-20, LLC McCorqoudale Transfer Huntsville
MaDonni Group, LLC McWilliams Marketing
Mango’s Caribbean Cook House, LLC Paradise Cleaning Service
Mason & Hanger Partnership for a Drug-Free Community, Inc.
Rent Sons Pottery Barn
Rucker Management Consultants, LLC Premier Urgent Care Inc.
SAFY of Alabama Proto Machine Works
Tech Innovation Global Inc Publix - The Pinnacle at Providence Store
Travel Tech On-Site Computer Service #1612 -Monrovia
The UPS Store Publix Supermarket #574 - Whitesburg Drive
Vision Technology, Inc. (VTI) StoneCreek Dental Care
Woodall and Hoggle Insurance Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA)
Taziki’s Mediterranean Café - Huntsville
Tcherneshoff Consulting, Inc.
TeamingPro
If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and the community, the Chamber is the place to start.
Contact Donna McCrary, Membership Retention Manager: 256-535-2027 or dmccrary@hsvchamber.org.
4 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2020
INVESTORS
HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN’S
COUNCIL
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE REGIONAL PARTNERS
LEADERSHIP FORUM
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
BBVA Compass ■ Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) ■ Crestwood Medical Center ■ Dynetics, Inc.
General Atomics Electromagnetics ■ Lockheed Martin Corporation ■ Northrop Grumman Corporation ■ PNC Bank
Raytheon Company ■ SAIC ■ SES - Science and Engineering Services, LLC ■ Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. ■ Yulista
CHAMBER TRUSTEES
AEgis Technologies Group ■ Akima, LLC ■ Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi ■ Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. ■ Facebook Data Center
Five Stones Research Corporation ■ Intrepid ■ Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation ■ Jerry Damson Honda Acura ■ KBR
Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep ■ Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. ■ PARSONS ■ S3, Inc. ■ Sealy Management Company, Inc.
SportsMED Orthopaedic Surgery & Spine Center ■ Synovus ■ Torch Technologies ■ Turner Construction Company
PROGRESS PARTNERS
Ability Plus ■ Aerojet Rocketdyne ■ Anglin Reichmann Armstrong ■ ASRC Federal ■ B. L. Harbert International, LLC ■ Baron Services, Inc. ■ BASF Corporation ■ BB&T
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP ■ Brown Precision, Inc. ■ CenterState Bank ■ Colliers International ■ Connected Logistics (LogC2) ■ Davidson Technologies, Inc.
Huntsville Tractor & Equipment, Inc. ■ Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association ■ IBERIABANK ■ J Smith Lanier & Co., a Marsh McLennan Agency LLC company ■ Keel Point, LLC ■ L3Harris
LMI ■ LogiCore ■ LSINC Corporation ■ The Orthopaedic Center (TOC) ■ Progress Bank ■ Radiance Technologies ■ RE/MAX Alliance ■ RUAG Space USA ■ Selex Galileo Inc.
Spirit Coach, LLC ■ Steak-Out (Rosie’s Restaurants, Inc., & Right Way Restaurants, Inc.) ■ Verizon ■ Wells Fargo Bank ■ Woody Anderson Ford
PROGRESS INVESTORS
Air Essentials, Inc. ■ Alpha Beta Technologies, Inc. ■ Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty ■ Armstrong Relocation Company Huntsville LLC ■ Averbuch Realty / Enterprises ■ Bailey-Harris Construction ■ BancorpSouth
BID DESIGNS, LLC ■ BRPH Architects-Engineers, Inc. ■ Bryant Bank ■ Canvas, Inc. ■ CB&S Bank ■ Century Automotive ■ CFD Research Corporation ■ CGI Federal ■ Coast Personnel Services ■ Continental Consulting Group Corporation (CCGC)
Croy Engineering, LLC ■ DC Blox, Inc. ■ deciBel Research ■ Deloitte LLP ■ DESE Research, Inc. ■ Express Employment Professionals ■ Fernandez Financial Group ■ FITE Building Company ■ FLS Translation & Interpreting
Fountain, Parker, Harbarger & Associates, LLC ■ Freedom Real Estate & Capital, LLC ■ Garver ■ Hexagon US Federal ■ HEMSI ■ Hiley Automotive Group ■ Huntsville Botanical Garden ■ Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
INTERFUZE Corporation ■ Investor’s Resource ■ IronMountain Solutions ■ The Karen Morris Team at Keller Williams Realty ■ Legend Realty – Jim Hoekenschneider ■ LINE-X, LLC ■ The Lioce Group, Inc. ■ MAG Aerospace ■ MSB Analytics, Inc.
nLogic, LLC ■ PALCO ■ PFM Financial Advisors LLC ■ PHOENIX ■ Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. ■ PROJECTXYZ, Inc. ■ QTEC Aerospace ■ Quadrus Corporation ■ Ready Mix USA ■ Renasant Bank ■ RJ Young Company ■ Rosenblum Realty
S&ME, Inc. ■ Schoel Engineering Company, Inc. ■ ServisFirst Bank ■ Sigmatech, Inc. ■ Signalink ■ Snelling ■ Systems Products and Solutions, Inc. ■ TriVector Services, Inc. ■ Troy 7, Inc. ■ U.S. Space & Rocket Center
ValleyMLS.com ■ Valor Communities ■ Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties Inc. ■ Venturi, Inc. ■ Volkert, Inc. ■ Warren Averett, LLC ■ West Huntsville Land Co., Inc. ■ Wilmer & Lee, P.A.
voted one of the 2019 Best Banks to Work For
“We strive to create a culture where it’s fun to come to work, where
our team members can live our mission to make a positive difference in
people’s lives.”
- Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent
“Our team members are committed to investing their time and talents
back into the communities we serve. Thank you for acknowledging our
commitment to business excellence.”
- Macke Mauldin, President of Bank Independent
and CEO of Bancindependent, Inc.
BIBANK.COM | MEMBER FDIC | 877.865.5050
Chamber Members: Send your company news to comms@hsvchamber.org mar 2020
ON THE COVER:
Huntsville Mayor Battle
explaining the importance of
the upcoming Census
page 24
Getting ready for April’s
Rocket City Regional FIRST®
Robotics Competition
page 16
By the Numbers 10
Bright Lights 14
Extra! Extra! 16
Digital Trends 19
Movers & Shakers 20
Save the Dates 23 More
Hwy. 231 Closure: 12
The Classroom 25 Census 2020: 24
Et cetera
Recent Events 29 New Members: 4
HREGI Investors: 5
Small Biz Events 31 About IO & Board Listing: 8
Staff Listing: 34
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION mar 2020 initiatives online 7
About IO
HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER
Executive Committee and
Board of Directors 2020
Executive Committee
Kevin Byrnes, Chair, Navigator International, LLC
Jeff Gronberg, Chair-Elect, deciBel Research, Inc.
Kim Lewis, Immediate Past Chair, PROJECTXYZ, Inc.
Hello! Ron Poteat, Chamber Foundation Chair, Regions Bank
Laura Huckabee-Jennings, Secretary/Treasurer, Transcend LLC
We have an important article in this issue about the 2020 Census. You’ll receive an invitation Greg Brown, Vice Chair, Economic Development & Industry
Relations, Brown Precision, Inc.
in the mail later this month to participate, and this is very important. Companies, we need your Craig Naudain, Vice Chair, Government & Public Affairs, SAIC
help to communicate this to your employees. The information on p. 24 details the timeline, and Jim Rogers, Vice Chair, HREGI, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Frank Williams, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications,
the importance of making sure everyone is counted. Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Lynn Troy, Vice Chair, Membership, Troy 7, Inc.
What is your favorite type of Girl Scout cookie? Personally, I love the lemon ones. We all enjoy Sameer Singhal, Vice Chair, Small Business & Events,
these sweet treats, but they help local girls learn important lessons about entrepreneurship CFD Research Corporation
Joe Ritch, Vice Chair, TV-BRAC, Sirote & Permutt, PC
and money management, as you will read about on p. 25. Please remember this next time a Dr. Karockas Watkins, Chair-Appointed, Ability Plus, Inc.
neighbor asks you to buy cookies, or when you pass a cookie stand on your grocery store trip. Dr. Joe Green, Chair-Appointed, Whitespace Innovations, Inc.
Alicia Ryan, Chair-Appointed, LSINC Corporation
These girls are learning good, foundational skills to use in business one day! Mike Watkins, Chair-Appointed,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
SIEMENS is one company supporting our future STEM workforce. They are very active in Mayor Tommy Battle, Ex-Officio Member, City of Huntsville
the Rocket City Regional FIRST® Robotics Competition, which will be held April 1-4 at the Mayor Paul Finley, Ex-Officio Member, City of Madison
Chairman Dale Strong, Ex-Officio Member,
Von Braun Center. Several other companies support this event, including Jacobs, The Boeing Madison County Commission
Company, and Booz Allen Hamilton. These companies know the students involved in this work Chip Cherry, President & CEO, Chamber
are excellent candidates to join their teams one day. If you have a child who is interested in Elected Board
robotics, take them to see these teams in action. The public is welcome to attend. Blake Bentley, SportsMED
David Bier, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong, P.C.
The next issue will be in May, and you can send information and high-resolution photos to Penny Billings, BancorpSouth- Huntsville
comms@hsvchamber.org. Mike Dewitz, PARSONS
Melissa Davis, MTA, Inc.
I hope to see you at a Chamber event soon! John Eagan, BB&T
Kevin Fernandez, Fernandez Financial Group, LLC
Sincerely, Owen Franklin, Blue Summit Supplies
Joni Green, Five Stones Research Corporation
Mike Gullion, Spur
John Hall, All Points Logistics, LLC
Ginger Harper, IBERIABANK
Josh Herren, Yulista
Lee Holland, Freedom Real Estate and Capital, LLC
Tharon Honeycutt, MSB Analytics, Inc.
Frank Williams Amanda Howard, Amanda Howard | Sotheby’s International Realty
2020 Vice Chair for Marketing & Communications Lincoln Hudson, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.
Chamber Executive Board Hank Isenberg, IronMountain Solutions
McKinley James, Polaris Industries, Inc.
Lauren Johannesmeyer, Google Fiber, Huntsville
Sean Kelly, Regions Bank
April Mason, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
Todd May, KBR
Bob McCaleb, Northrop Grumman Corporation
IO Staff Kevin McCombs, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.
Alana Parker, Rocket City Drywall & Supply, Inc.
Zack Penney, Bill Penney Toyota/Mitsubishi
Chip Cherry, CCE publisher Jami Peyton, Canvas, Inc.
Chris Russell, Cadence Bank
Frank Williams 2020 vice chair, marketing & communications Jeff Samz, Huntsville Hospital
Claire Aiello editor Beth Sippel, Synovus
Wayne Sisco, Redstone Federal Credit Union
Kristi Sherrard editorial designer Tom Stanton, ADTRAN, Inc.
Hiroko Sedensky web designer Sandra Stephens, Keel Point, LLC
Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Company
Cynthia Streams, Domino’s (Valley Pizza, Inc.)
Margetta Thomas, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
The mission of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is to Ken Tucker, The Boeing Company
prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth. John Watson, Torch Technologies
Dennis Weese, Line-X, LLC
Submissions for editorial content are accepted; however, placement is not guaranteed. Information in this and
Danny Windham, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
other Chamber publications is at the discretion of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.
8 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION
Colorectal Cancer is...
PREVENTable.
TREATable.
BEATable.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of
cancer deaths in men and women in the United States.* Colorectal cancer screening saves
lives. If everyone who is 45 years of age and up were screened regularly, as many as 60% of
deaths from this cancer could be avoided.
Schedule your screening today! It could save your life. To schedule a screening at Crestwood,
North Alabama’s only ASGE certified Endoscopy Center, call 256-429-4986.
*American Cancer Society CrestwoodMedCenter.com
By the Numbers
FEDERAL, STATE, OR MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS ACQUIRED BY CHAMBER MEMBERS
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Northrop Grumman the amount of $2,500,000 are being obligated at the time of award via incremental
funding. The Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity
awarded contracts for Glide Breaker work (FA2487-20-D-0071; first delivery order FA2487-20-F-0072). ■
Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $12,131,241 cost-plus-
fixed-fee contract for the base period of the Glide Breaker program. Work will be Leidos named in two General Electronic
performed in Huntsville (46%); Sacramento, Calif. (29%); Orange, Va. (14%);
Healdsburg, Calif. (8%); and Sunnyvale, Calif. (3%), with an expected completion Test Station contracts
date of February 2021. Fiscal 2019 re- Leidos Inc., Reston, Va., was awarded a $7,741,646 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-
search, development, test and evaluation incentive-fee, and firm-fixed-price) contract for General Electronic Test Station test
funding in the amount of $12,131,241 equipment, installation, test program set, hardware, software, upgrades, training,
is being obligated at the time of award. This contract is a competitive acquisition in engineering services and repair parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one
accordance with the original broad agency announcement, HR001119S0008. The received. Work will be performed in Huntsville,
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity Ala., with an estimated completion date of Jan.
(HR001120C0030). 8, 2024. Fiscal 2020 operations and mainte-
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, Calif., has been awarded a nance, Army funds in the amount of $880,405 were obligated at the time of the
$13,006,683 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the base period of the Glide Breaker award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting
program. This contract provides for the research, development and demonstration of activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0016).
a technology that is critical for enabling an Leidos was also awarded a $23,034,241 cost no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed
advanced interceptor capable of engaging price Foreign Military Sales (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) contract for
maneuvering hypersonic threats in the upper General Electronic Test Station (GETS-1000) test equipment and test program set hard-
atmosphere. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, Calif. (73%); Mesa, Arizona ware and software, test equipment upgrades and repair parts; and services including
(21%); Sacramento, Calif. (4%); and Huntsville, Ala. (2%), with an estimated com- test equipment installation, training, in-country technical assistance, and engineering
pletion date of January 2021. Fiscal 2019 research and development funds in the services support. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed
amount of $13,006,683 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract is a in Huntsville with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2024. Fiscal 2020 missile
competitive acquisition in accordance with the original broad agency announcement, procurement, Army and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $23,034,241
HR0011-19-S-0008. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone
is the contracting activity (HR001120C0025). ■ Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-20-C-0015). ■
Dynetics awarded contracts for TSEC, Ternion Corp. awarded $13.3M contract
GWEF support Ternion Corp., Huntsville, Ala., is awarded a $13,300,000 firm-fixed-price, indefi-
Dynetics, Huntsville, Ala., has been awarded a $92,999,625 basic, indefinite-deliv- nite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the sustainment and upgrade of the Flexi-
ery/indefinite-quantity contract for Test Systems and Equipment Capabilities (TSEC) ble, Analysis, Modeling, and Exercise System Automated System Trainer software appli-
support and $30,934,550 delivery order for the Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility cations, software maintenance, and upgrade and modification services in support of the
(GWEF) Radio Frequency (RF) Modernization Design. The contract provides for the Common Aviation Command and Control Increment I system. The program is managed
specific needs to include: Hardware-in- within the portfolio of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Va.. Work
the-loop simulators for the GWEF RF will be performed in Huntsville and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2025.
Modernization and AFRL Kinetic Kill Ve- The ordering period of the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract will be for five
hicle Hardware in the Loop Simulator system upgrades; joint multi-platform advanced years and will begin on Feb. 1, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Ma-
combat identification development; calibration sets integration, and software updates; rine Corps) funds in the amount of $670,480; fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy
Air Defense Artillery Phased Technology Digital Command Link, and immediate need and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of
technologies to support Department of Defense (DoD) ranges. Work will be performed $742,542; and fiscal 2020 research, devel-
in Huntsville, Ala. and other DoD locations. The contract has a five year ordering period opment, test and evaluation (Marine Corps)
with work expected to be completed by Jan. 2025. This award is the result of a sole- funds in the amount of $160,900 for a total amount of $1,593,092 will be obligated
source acquisition. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in on the first delivery order at time of award. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance
10 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONCOMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO
(Marine Corps) funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was The Boeing Company awarded
not competitively procured, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1
and 10 U.S. Code § 2304(c)(1). The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico,
$265,235,164 GMD contract
Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-20-D-0013). ■ The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $265,235,164 contract modi-
fication (P00033) to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) development and
sustainment contract (HQ0147-12-C-0004/19-C-0004). The total value of the con-
Intrepid awarded contract with tract, including options, is increased from
Missile Defense Agency $10,944,499,963 to $11,209,735,127.
Intrepid LLC,* Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $33,080,789 competitive commer- Under this modification, the contractor will
support the GMD Communications Network Modernization, the in-flight interceptor
cial firm-fixed-price contract with a three-year base value of $16,338,912 for visual
communications system data terminals technology upgrade, and complete the GMD
information and production center support. This
fire control communication ground systems software build 8 early integration. This
contract will provide high quality, regionally-ex-
work will be performed by an industry team consisting of The Boeing Co., Huntsville,
ecuted graphic design, photography, videogra-
Ala.; Northrop Grumman Corp., Huntsville, Ala.; and L3Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla..
phy, documentary (non-analytical) flight test
The period of performance is from Dec. 27, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2022. This acquisition
support and printing and production services was executed on a sole-source basis under the statutory authority of 10 U.S. Code
for the Missile Defense Agency. The work will be performed in the National Capital 2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, only one
Region; Dahlgren, Va.; Huntsville, Ala.; Colorado Springs, Colo., and other locations responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
as directed, with an estimated completion date of January 2025. This contract was Justification and approval #16-0052 was posted to Fed BizOpps on Sept. 13, 2017.
competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount
with three proposals received. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation of $19,401,000 were obligated at the time of award. The Missile Defense Agency,
funds in the amount of $553,284 are being obligated at time of award. The Missile Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity. ■
Defense Agency, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (HQ0858-20-C-0004). ■ CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
NOW LOCATED at Highway 72/Providence. DAMSON.COM
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION mar 2020 initiatives online 11CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
Hwy. 231 remains closed in Morgan County
Abaco Systems awarded $24M for work due to significant road cracking
with MFTBOX computing systems Drivers who use U.S. 231 to
head to and from Morgan Coun-
Abaco Systems Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is awarded a $24,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indef-
ty continue to experience sig-
inite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for specially developed embedded computing
nificant delays. This will be the
systems known as Multiple False Targets Box Phase two (MFTBOX2) flight units, MFT-
case for the foreseeable future,
BOX Phase three (MFTBOX3) flight units, and their associated spare components,
as the Alabama Department of
to support fleet readiness training exercises in electronic warfare jamming. The flight
Transportation has closed the
units are partially integrated, high performance
road indefinitely.
embedded computing systems, and when the
Both the north and south-
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) completes final
bound sides developed cracks from the wet weather and were closed February 13.
system integration with its NRL-owned software,
Employers, please be aware this will continue to impact your team mem-
they are used as electronic warfare jamming systems capable of generating advanced
bers who drive in from this way. The following detours remain in place:
jamming techniques. The flight units will be used in fleet training exercises to train
Navy radar operators in modern jamming techniques during their pre-deployment qual- Northbound Traffic: The official detour is AL 69 southbound to AL 67
ification trials in both air-to-air and air-to-surface scenarios. Work will be performed in northbound to AL 36 eastbound to U.S. 231. Commercial trucks will detour to
Huntsville, and the ordering period is expected to be completed by March 2020. No AL 69 southbound, to AL 67 northbound, to I-65 in Priceville.
funds are obligated with the base contract. Funding will be obligated for each issued
task order. This contract was a sole-source acquisition under the authority of Title 10 Southbound Traffic: The official detour is AL 36 westbound to AL 67
southbound to AL 69 northbound to U.S. 231. Commercial trucks will detour
U.S. Code 2304(c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The U.S.
to AL 36 westbound, to AL 67 southbound, to AL 69 northbound, back to U.S.
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. ■
231. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and expect delays due to traffic
Has your organization recently won a contract? Send us the details of your being reduced to a single lane in each direction.
federal, state or municipal contract to: comms@hsvchamber.org
Companies: Join us for our recruitment event at The University of Alabama. ASmartPlace, along with local companies, will head down for the
day to talk with UA students in the College of Engineering and the College of Business about career opportunities here in the Rocket City.
12 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONBright Lights
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HUNTSVILLE METRO
T-H Marine acquires First Source for many years along with many other manufacturers, distributors and major retailers.
“This is our first acquisition this year, but it is our eighth acquisition in the past
T-H Marine Supplies, LLC of Huntsville, Ala., announces that it has acquired First Source. decade,” Huntley added. “We will continue working on more acquisitions and more
First Source was the marine accessory division of Maurice Sporting Goods, one of the organic product development to continue growing our stable of brands and our breadth
largest sporting goods distributors in the United States. First Source will operate as a of awesome products. We have such great customers who continue to buy and believe
standalone division of T-H Marine in Fort Myers, Fla. in us and our brands and that has allowed us to achieve a compound annual growth of
“We’re thrilled to complete our largest revenue acquisition to date,” said T-H Marine more than 20 percent over the last decade. We hope we can keep this up and continue
CEO Jeff Huntley. “Our new First Source division will to find great products and brands that are ready to be launched or taken to the next
allow T-H Marine to expand into new product categories level.” ■
and continue to grow our product portfolio that we offer
to both our OEM and Aftermarket customer bases.
The First Source expertise also greatly strengthens
our capabilities in aftermarket retail and e-commerce
channels for our customers. We have built a strong
platform for the past 45 years that is rooted in deep relationships with our customers,
who depend on us for quality boating and fishing accessories. We look for great
acquisitions like First Source that can really help us bring more value to our customers
and continue to provide more awesome products for the boating and fishing enthusiasts
that love our brands.”
First Source was founded in 2004 as a turn-key direct import source, with deep
overseas relationships, that helps to design, manufacture, package, test, and supply
companies with marine and paddle sports products. Their expertise is highly valued by
their customers, particularly with co-founder Read Samples leading and utilizing his
more than 30 years in the marine industry.
Mason & Hanger expands U.S. locations to
open Huntsville office
Mason & Hanger celebrated the expansion of their southeast operations with a ribbon
cutting celebration January 22 to officially open their new office in Huntsville. Mayor
Tommy Battle attended the ribbon cutting reception and provided a warm welcome.
“Our friends at Mason & Hanger are not new friends. We have known the Mason
& Hanger name for a long time and we have worked together in this community
for a long time,” Mayor Battle said. He provided additional words of support, “Our
philosophy in this community is ‘if you are a success, we are a success.’ We look
forward to seeing great things out of Mason & Hanger.”
Mason & Hanger President Ben Lilly opened the event by stating “Much like Hunts-
ville, recently celebrating a monumental bicentennial anniversary, we are excited to
“We are blessed to be joining longtime customer T-H Marine, a solid and rapidly have our nearly 200-year history as the longest operating Architecture and Engineering
growing company that truly knows the marine and fishing accessory markets,” (A/E) firm in the U.S., continue in the community of Huntsville.”
Samples, general manager of First Source stated. “T-H will allow our team to expand Lilly, along with the firm’s four federal market directors, will lead the Huntsville
into more product categories becoming more meaningful to our customers, including office investment. It will be supported by four locations in Virginia and Kentucky. “At
more OEM product opportunities. The T-H Marine team shares our passion for bringing Mason & Hanger, we help to Build a More Secure World. In this important mission, our
awesome, innovative products to market and for really taking care of our customers.” customers rely on us to stay ahead of global threats and the day-to-day challenges we
First Source provides customers access to a broad range of design capabilities, face together,” he said. “Our new Huntsville office is part of that continued focus to
procurement resources, products, packaging vendors, and logistics management remain agile and responsive against the threats facing our National Security Mission,
services in a single source provider. T-H Marine has been a customer of First Source here in the U.S. and abroad.”
14 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONCOMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO
Located just outside the Redstone Arsenal gate, the office address is 600 Boulevard an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal
South SW, Suite 104. The firm’s current local clients include U.S. Army & Support missions. Together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Noblis ESI, the company works with
Center, the FBI, and the U.S. Space & Missile Defense Command, among other a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors.
agencies, as well as engineering and construction partners in the area. Noblis’ work in civil government has contributed to transportation systems
running smoothly, government
■ Contributed by Holly Holt, Mason & Hanger
agencies managing costs effectively
and efficiently, and citizens receiving
Noblis puts new footprint on Huntsville market high-quality, engaging services.
Noblis, a new member of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, has secured office Working with the Federal Aviation
space in Huntsville to work with customers in this market. Administration, the company helped
The company, based in Reston, Virginia, has secured office space on Market Street ensure the reliable delivery of
in Huntsville close to Redstone Arsenal, and as work and staff expand, the company communications infrastructure and
anticipates moving into a larger space. services for air traffic control in the
“The Huntsville business community is emergent and vibrant. Many of our customers National Airspace System.
such as the FBI, NASA and the Army have growing operations in Huntsville and we Noblis also supports the intelligence community, applying experience with
look forward to expanding our work with them in Huntsville,” said Patience Samson, enterprise-wide program management, data science, advanced analytics and
Director of Corporate Business Development, Marketing and Communications for intelligence operations.
Noblis. “Additionally, we have unique expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, Noblis has been recognized many times as one of the World’s Most Ethical
data analytics, modeling and simulation, robotic process automation and other areas Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, as one of the Best Small and Medium
that would be of value to many government activities based in Huntsville.” Workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute, and recognized year after year as a
Noblis is a dynamic science, technology, and strategy organization dedicated to “Top Work Place” by The Washington Post, a ranking based on employee reviews. For
creating forward-thinking technical and advisory solutions in the public interest. Its more, visit noblis.org.
team brings scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in ■ Contributed by Patience Samson, Noblis
Stay Connected with the Chamber
MAKE SURE YOU’RE FOLLOWING THE CHAMBER ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
@HuntsvilleAlabama Huntsville/ @huntsvillealcoc
@CRPHuntsville Madison County @CRPHSV
@ASmartPlace Chamber @asmartplace
Huntsville/Madison
Huntsville AL Chamber @hsvchamber
County Chamber
Encourage your coworkers to sign up for our e-news HERE.
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION mar 2020 initiatives online 15Extra! Extra!
FOR YOUR INFORMATION & CONSIDERATION
Teams to compete in
Rocket City Regional
FIRST® Robotics
Competition
Photo from 2019 Rocket City Regional Day 2, courtesy of FIRST® in Alabama.
FIRST® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization devoted to helping young people participate. There’s not anything that restricts you. We want to encourage kids who
discover and develop a passion for science, engineering, technology, and math. FIRST® want to use their heads, and apply those skills, and that’s what they do here, as well
means ‘For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.’ as get their hands dirty on building something that moves and works, which gives
The mission of FIRST® in Alabama is to increase access to these programs so every you some skills you won’t necessarily get in the classroom. Project-based academic
student in our state has the opportunity to participate in these competitions. There are programs like this are very valuable, and it’s an investment in the future. These are the
different programs for different ages: kids you’re probably going to be hiring some day.”
■ FIRST® LEGO® League Discovery – Pre-K through 1st grade Dana Hobbs is the FIRST® Regional Director and echoed this, saying the companies
■ FIRST® LEGO® League Junior – 2nd and 3rd grades know it’s important to get in front of these students.
■ FIRST® LEGO® League – 4th-8th grades “We have great involvement from Booz Allen Hamilton, Dynetics, Marshall Space
■ FIRST® TECH Challenge – 7-12th grades Flight Center, Boeing, Jacobs, all of them, because they know these are the kids they
■ FIRST® ROBOTICS Competition – grades 9-12 want to hire one day,” said Hobbs.
The Rocket City Regional FIRST® event, scheduled for April 1-4, 2020 at the Von ■ Claire Aiello, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Braun Center, will bring in 40 to 50 teams from all over the world.
“It’s a family event, and it’s open to the public,” said Peter Llewellyn, Business
Development Manager for SIEMENS. “If you have a student or a child who’s expressed
interest, or you might want to motivate in a STEM activity or project-based learning, it’s
really an event you want to go to. It’s a lot like a rock concert – there’s a lot of energy,
there’s a lot of motivated kids.”
SIEMENS is one of several companies that supports the Rocket City Regional as
a sponsor, and also hosts workshops on SolidEdge, one of its products used in the
competition. Llewellyn says this involvement connects them with young people who
are eager to learn.
“We have to invest in young people so they are motivated to go into the engineering
field,” explained Llewellyn. “The great thing about programs like FIRST® is anyone can Courtesy: SIEMENS
16 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONEXTRA! EXTRA!, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
Girls Inc. to host ‘Power of the Purse’
on March 19
Pammie Jimmar of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is one of six local leaders
who will bring their unique sense of style and fashion to the Power of the Purse
fundraising event set for March 19, 2020 at the Westin Hotel.
Power of the Purse is presented by Girls Inc. of Huntsville as a girls’ night out that
features a live auction, fashion show and one-of-a-kind handbags. Guests will view and
bid on custom designs inspired by Huntsville’s most notable leaders, entrepreneurs, and
philanthropists, created in collaboration with local designers and Girls Inc. girls.
Pammie is paired with international couture designer Willette Battle of Fit2BTied
Couture, located in Willette’s Prism studio at Lowe Mill in Huntsville. Together they are
creating a handbag titled “Sensational”.
When asked about her design, designer Willette shared that this design “epitomizes
the life and person of Pammie” with practical elements (six pockets!) so that business
can get done and bling for that
extra sparkle.
Elise Walker, a 10th grader
at Mae Jemison High School
and a Girls Inc. alumna, will
2020 model the design at the
Power of the Purse event.
Campaign Elise, a young entrepreneur
Dates: with her own fashion line, A
Few Ideas Fashions, also leads
March 20–June 30 the Fashion Club for Girls Inc.
“Money raised during this
event will support our STEM
programs and provide scholarships for girls to attend our summer camp, as well as
provide resources for us to add partner schools reaching girls who need our services the
most,’’ said Stephanie Malone, Girls Inc. executive director. “It promises to be a fun
evening offering something for everyone.’’
The list of Celebrity Purse-O-Nalities’ are:
■ Dr. Hayley DeGraaff, Advanced Life Clinic
■ Abbiegail Hugine, Alabama A&M University
■ Pammie Jimmar, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
■ Julie Lockwood, Van Valkenburgh and Wilkinson Properties
■ Randy Roper, Randy Roper Interiors
■ Dr. Pat Sims, Drake State Community and Technical College
Local Designers are:
■ Willette Battle, Fit2BTied Couture
■ Jessica Burger, Silver Screen Couture
■ Holli Kai, Kai’s Closet
Contact: ■ Denise Onwere, Denise Onwere Gallery
Kristy Drake ■ Ellena Smith, Alabama Fashion Alliance
256-535-2036 ■ Jeannie Vereen, Mill Village Wool
kdrake@hsvchamber.org
■ Contributed by Kiliaen Anderson, Girls Inc.
18 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONDigital Trends
INFORMATION SHARED IN VIDEO FORM
New Video: Huntsville’s “It” Factor
What is the special “it” factor about the Rocket City? We look at this topic in a new video.
We make these videos to help you, our members, in your recruiting efforts. We encourage you to share
these as you market Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley. Check out all of our recent videos HERE or on
our social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo and LinkedIn. ■
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION mar 2020 initiatives online 19Movers & Shakers
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND RECOGNITION OF TALENT
Robert Dowling has joined the Auburn University Hunts- Governor in driving workforce development for the Aerospace industry.
ville Research Center (AUHRC) as director of research development. Merenda serves as board chair of the National Space Club–Huntsville; is the vice
In this role, he is responsible for identifying opportunities to apply chair of the Alabama Chapter of the Aerospace States Association; and leads several
Auburn’s research capabilities to solve challenging problems for outreach activities in the community. He holds an Executive MBA from the University of
government customers and industry partners in and beyond the Utah, and a BSE in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. ■
Huntsville market.
Dowling earned his degree in computer engineering from Auburn in 1986 then Chrystal Morgan is the director of State & Local Affairs
joined the Huntsville workforce to provide software and systems engineering support for United Launch Alliance (ULA). In this role, she briefs key stake-
to Department of Defense and NASA programs. After 12 years in technical roles, he holders on ULA’s current projects, future programs and strategic
transitioned into business development for Northrop Grumman, SAIC and Dynetics. direction. She was recently named the vice chair of the Alabama
While at Dynetics, Dowling also managed the development, marketing and sales chapter of the Aerospace States Association. Prior to joining ULA,
of commercial cyber risk management services for small to mid-size enterprises, devel- Morgan served in management positions at a number of aerospace organizations
oped partnerships with cyber insurance companies, created a channel sales program including RUAG Space USA, MartinFederal, NASA, and Teledyne Brown Engineering.
and became a frequent, nationwide speaker on the topic of Effective Cyber Risk Man- She also served as director of Research Communications at the University of Alabama
agement. Huntsville where she received several awards for her writing and marketing projects.
“Robert has a demonstrated background and skillset in business development for Morgan is currently on the Board of Directors for the National Space Club Huntsville
the defense, aerospace and commercial cyber sectors. He also has a deep connection chapter, the FIRST Regional Robotics Competition and the Colorado Space and Business
to the Huntsville region and community,” said Rodney Robertson, executive director of Roundtable. ■
the AUHRC. “I look forward to having Robert join us in telling the Auburn story in Hunts-
ville, and sharing the university’s extensive research capacities to form partnerships and Jon Levin has rejoined the Huntsville office of Maynard Cooper
impact economic development in the region, state and beyond.” & Gale as a shareholder in its Government Contracts & Bid Protests,
In addition to earning his degree at Auburn, Dowling was a member of Auburn’s and Cybersecurity practices.
1983 SEC Championship football team. He and his wife, Lynn (AU ’86), live in Hunts- “We are very pleased that Jon has decided to return to Maynard
ville where they raised two more Auburn alumni, Diana (AU ’11) and Jared (AU ’15). ■ Cooper. We know his niche skillset will be missed at Aerojet Rock-
etdyne, but his knowledge and capabilities are a valuable asset to our Government
Dan Merenda has taken the helm as country manager for Solutions practice,” said Andy Watson, Shareholder and Practice Group Leader of May-
RUAG Space USA. In this role, Merenda has overall responsibility for nard Cooper’s Government Solutions Group. “He is a talented lawyer and we are glad
deploying the operations strategy and performance of RUAG Space to have him back.”
USA. In addition, he is responsible for the operational implementa- Levin has two decades of experience in government contracts law in private prac-
tion of the division strategies on country level, including establishing tice, the intelligence community, and in-house. Using his multifaceted experience, he
and directing country operations functions and coordinating country organization to- helps clients achieve their business goals. Jon has extensive experience successfully
wards contract execution. representing clients at the GAO, Small Business Administration’s Office of Hearing and
“I’m thrilled to be joining RUAG Space. We have an outstanding team to drive op- Appeals, Court of Federal Claims, Armed Services and Civilian Boards of Contract Ap-
erational execution and exceptional customer satisfaction,” said Merenda. “We want peals, and the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals.
to establish new relationships as we grow in the U.S. market, and I look forward to In his cybersecurity practice, Levin works closely with companies on regulations and
maintaining our strong heritage of quality customer partnerships. We have a lot of work policy. He monitors the constantly changing security landscape and advises clients on
to do and I am excited to be part of this incredible team!” the latest cybersecurity threats and issues.
Merenda joins RUAG Space USA from Northrop Grumman where he most recently Levin has also developed an expertise in international trade law and helps clients
served as the senior program manager for Space Launch System (SLS) Operations navigate the byzantine world of exports and imports. He routinely assists clients in
in Huntsville. In this role, he was the senior leader for the company onsite at NASA’s export and import compliance and in classifying the goods and services they purchase
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and led a cross functional team in support of and sell overseas.
company activities at MSFC. In addition, he was the site lead for yearly AS9100 Levin received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and holds a B.A.
audits – achieving zero findings in three years, and worked with Alabama’s Lieutenant from Vanderbilt University. ■
20 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONCOMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO
Sean Kelly, Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking
for Regions Bank, has been appointed to serve as market executive
for the bank in Huntsville and surrounding communities. Regions
made the announcement on February 10.
Kelly is part of a team of Regions leaders who will leverage
their local experience and market insights to expand Regions’ client base while also
taking a strategic, proactive role in addressing needs affecting the broader area. Kelly
will work with colleagues and community members in support of Regions’ community
engagement initiatives, including volunteer service, nonprofit assistance, delivering fi-
nancial education and more. Kelly will also continue serving in his Commercial Banking
leadership role, guiding teams that deliver financial solutions for local businesses and
major employers in North Alabama.
“Regions Bank has a strong legacy of service in Huntsville, and our teams across
North Alabama are committed to working with clients and helping them reach their
financial goals while also taking a leadership role in community engagement and sup-
port,” said John Turner, Regions President and CEO. “Sean’s expertise, combined with
the experience of our entire North Alabama leadership team, will help Regions further
strengthen its focus on this thriving area. We are committed to the success of Huntsville
and to consistently developing new ways to serve the Tennessee Valley.”
Kelly succeeds Ron Poteat, a 36-year veteran of Regions, who
has been elevated to serve as head of customer experience for the
bank.
“Our company’s presence in north Alabama dates back to 1835,
when the First National Bank of Huntsville started as a local branch
of the State Bank of Alabama. Today, we’re known as Regions, but our commitment
to the Tennessee Valley remains strong,” Kelly said. “I am honored to lead the collab-
oration of our local teams as we help people and businesses succeed financially, while
also serving as a valuable community partner.”
Poteat’s Customer Experience leadership role will influence the quality of services
customers receive not only in Huntsville, but also at Regions locations across the South-
east, Midwest and Texas.
“It has been rewarding to lead our teams in north Alabama for the last 13 years,”
Poteat said. “I’m proud of our growth in reaching more clients in this area while
fulfilling our mission to make life better in the communities we serve. As Huntsville’s
economy continues to thrive, Sean Kelly’s leadership and experience will ensure our
bankers stay focused on meeting the needs of our customers and communities with
excellence.”
In addition to Kelly, Regions’ North Alabama
leadership team includes Brandon Greve, Con-
sumer Banking Executive responsible for Regions’
branch-banking operations across North Alabama, and
Ken Griffin of Regions Private Wealth Management, who leads a team of invest-
ment professionals who deliver customized financial-management solutions for people
throughout the Tennessee Valley. ■
continued on page 22
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION mar 2020 initiatives online 21MOVERS & SHAKERS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
Paul Bizier (PE, D.WRE, F.EWRI, F.ASCE) was recently an- Ignite has announced two promotions:
nounced as the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI)
Lifetime Achievement award winner. This award will be presented Chenoa Clark has been promoted to senior human resources
at the World Environmental & Water Resources Congress in May (HR) generalist and takes on more responsibility and management
2020. Bizier is currently a senior engineering manager at Barge within the Ignite HR department. She has been with Ignite since
Design Solutions, Inc. (Barge), which has 15 offices including one Huntsville location. August 2019. Clark is currently completing her Master’s degree in
Bizier is an EWRI founding member and current chair of their Congress Steering Human Resources Management and is a member of the local and
Committee. Founded in 1999, EWRI is an institute within the American Society of national chapters of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
Civil Engineers (ASCE). Their mission is to “provide for the technical, educational, and Carol Coffey has been promoted to vice president of proposals
professional needs of its members; promote the sustainable use, conversation, and and marketing and is also taking on the duties of quality officer
protection of natural resources; and promote human well-being.” Bizier’s leadership for Ignite. Coffey received CMMI Development and Services training
experience extends beyond EWRI, with significant involvement in other professional from CSSA earlier this year. She has more than 30 years of expe-
organizations including ASCE and the Water Environment Federation. rience in planning, developing and managing all areas of company
Bizier is a professional engineer with 33 years of experience. His career has focused proposal and marketing activities and has been a part of the Ignite team since August
on designing innovative water and wastewater systems. He received a Bachelor of Sci- 2018. ■
ence in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science
in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Sarah Blackmon has joined the Huntsville/Madison
“We are fortunate to have Paul working for Barge as he is committed to serving County Chamber as the administrative coordinator. A native Texan
others: clients, coworkers, and colleagues alike,” said Barge’s Director of Water and and Horned Frog, she is excited to now call north Alabama her
a Senior Vice President Jonathan Childs. “Paul’s passion for helping the environment home. With her passion for community service and engagement,
and giving back to the industry through the important work of EWRI makes him a most and experience as a paralegal, she looks forward to providing
deserving recipient of this award.” ■ support to the Chamber and its members here in Huntsville. ■
22 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONCOMPILED BY CLAIRE AIELLO
Save the Dates*
Frank M. Caprio, managing partner of Bradley Arant Boult
Cummings’ Huntsville office, has been nominated to serve on the NE
Alabama/Huntsville Regional Council of Leadership Alabama.
for these 2020 events
“We congratulate Frank on his new regional council role with
Leadership Alabama in recognition of his many years of service to MARCH 10-11
the state and local Huntsville community,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and
Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters.
Leadership Alabama is a network of established leaders across Alabama that also
Montgomery Trip
provides a structure for this network to seek mutual understanding of problems and
priorities for Alabama’s future. Leadership Alabama encourages its members to act,
MARCH 30
individually and in concert, to move Alabama forward to help the state reach its full
potential. Since its founding in 1990, more than 1,500 citizen leaders in Alabama
have participated in the Leadership Alabama program. Women-Owned Business Celebration
Caprio is a 2004 graduate of the Leadership Alabama Class XIV. Members are se-
lected based on their leadership abilities, career accomplishments, volunteer activities,
contributions to their communities, and commitment to help shape a better Alabama. APRIL 8
Chair of Bradley’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, Caprio focuses his practice
on intellectual property (IP) law and assists clients in the protection and use of their ASmartPlace on the Road – UA
IP rights, and in the litigation of various technology-related disputes involving patent,
trademark, copyright, trade secret and computer issues. He also regularly speaks about
IP issues to business owners and lawyer associations. Caprio has held leadership posi- APRIL 15
tions in local and state bar associations and has served as a board member for Hunts-
ville Hospital, local YMCA, Biztec (business incubator), the Huntsville/Madison County Best Places to Work® Awards
Chamber, Emergency Management Agency, and the Vanderbilt NROTC Advisory Board.
Kevin Fernandez, an agent for New York Life in Hunts- APRIL 26-28
ville, has earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table
(MDRT) for 2020. Achieving membership in MDRT is a distinguishing Washington DC Trip
life insurance career milestone, attained only by those who have
demonstrated superior professional knowledge, experience, sales
excellence and client service. MDRT membership represents the top life insurance and AUGUST 11
financial service professionals worldwide. MDRT is an international, independent associ-
ation of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals. In addition, Small Business Awards Gala
this is the 64th consecutive year that New York Life has dominated the MDRT in the U.S.
Fernandez has been a New York Life agent since 2011, and is associated with New
York Life’s Huntsville General Office in Huntsville. He is the founder/CEO of Fernandez
DECEMBER 10
Financial Group LLC and current board member with the Huntsville/Madison County
Chamber. He has been involved as a volunteer with several local nonprofit organiza-
tions for many years like Kids To Love and HEALS. Fernandez is happily married to his
Holiday Open House
wife, Julie Yeager, a Huntsville native.
Founded in 1927, Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of
Financial Professionals®, is a global, independent association of more than 66,000 of Register for our upcoming events and see all of our
the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than educational classes listed here:
500 companies in 72 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional cm.hsvchamber.org/events
professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT
membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insur-
*dates subject to change
ance and financial services business. For more info, visit www.mdrt.org. ■
A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATION mar 2020 initiatives online 23Employers, Take Note:
2020 Census Coming Soon
T en minutes of your time could have a 10-year impact on the
future of your quality of life. We’re talking about Census
participation, and we urge you to be counted when you receive
TIMELINE:
March 12-20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed
information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
your Census form in the coming weeks.
April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation
The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the
to participate in the 2020 Census. When you respond to the census, you’ll tell the Census
District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Each home will re-
Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.
ceive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire – online,
by phone, or by mail. April: Census takers will begin visiting college students who live on campus, people living in
Over the next decade, the data collected will be used to senior centers, and others who live among large groups of people. Census takers also begin
make critical decisions about federal funding -- including money conducting quality check interviews to help ensure an accurate count.
for roads, schools, and community services. The 2020 count May – July: Census takers will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census
also impacts local redistricting for City Council and School to help make sure everyone is counted.
Board elected offices, in addition to Alabama’s number of seats December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress
in the U.S. Congress. as required by law.
Many groups are helping with Huntsville’s “Complete Count,”
including representatives from government, nonprofits, and pri-
vate industry. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is also
supporting the effort through communications with employers.
That’s where you come in. We ask you to share information
about the Census with your employees. Some may not have par-
ticipated in the Census 10 years ago, but it is crucial that every-
one is counted this time. Please encourage your team members
to look for their Census form in the mail and respond.
■ Claire Aiello
24 initiatives online mar 2020 A HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER PUBLICATIONYou can also read
