April 2019

Keeping you informed and inspired. VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 4

April 2019

ENTREPRENEUR

COVER STORY

Entrepreneur Awards Cap Innovative Huntsville Week

Page 12

Innovate Huntsville connects entrepreneurs and innovators with local resources to build solid networks and opportunities around Huntsville’s small business economy. By Lori J. Connors - Page 8

CONSTRUCTION

Neither Rain, Nor More Rain, Nor Even More Rain Can Slow the Progress at MidCity Huntsville

While constant rain, some heavy enough to cause flooding, has been a seemingly daily companion to the Tennessee Valley community, the wet conditions haven’t slowed progress at MidCity Huntsville. By Mike Easterling - Page 18

ADDITIONAL STORIES • How to Claim the R&D Tax Credit

By Floyd Holliman • Page 4

• Is Now a Good Time to Still

Be in Real Estate

By Zack Childress • Page 7

• Huntsville Among Best

Cities to Start a Restaurant

By Bud McLaughlin • Page 10

• Safety is Paramount as Construction

on Trash Pandas ‘Home’ Progresses

By Kimberly Ballard • Page 16

• Toyota Enlarging Its Footprint

with Jobs, Prudction Increase

By Bud McLaughlin • Page 20

Photo by Steve Babin

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HUNTSVILLE

BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 2, Issue 4 April 2019 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

No Time for April Foolin’, the Taxman Cometh “… in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin penned that statement in a letter to a French scientist some 430 years ago. And, it has withstood the test of time – especially this month as the April 15 deadline for filing income tax is marked. Taxes are a necessary evil, as we all know. They fund our government at all levels – from road construction to education to defense, and a host of other programs in between. Last month, the Alabama Legislature passed and Gov. Kay Ivey signed an increase in the state gasoline tax. It is the first gas tax hike in nearly 30 years – and was long overdue. It seems that every day we try to avoid potholes on the roads and travel

over bridges that are in need of repair. The gasoline tax increase – 10 cents per gallon over the next three years – is earmarked toward rebuilding and repairing our infrastructure. It will increase from 18 cents a gallon to 24 cents a gallon in September and then two cents per gallon next year and two cents in 2021. The state’s “Big 5 Chambers (Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham Business Alliance, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama),” the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama came out in support of the Rebuild Alabama bill.

In a joint statement, they said, “Increasing Alabama’s public investment in infrastructure is a top priority critical to the economic development community.” Chip Cherry, president/CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance of the increase: “Transportation infrastructure is vital to the economic vitality of our region and the state. … The increase in funding for transportation infrastructure projects will make the roads safer for our citizens, support economic development, and provide one of the key foundational elements needed for future growth and development.” And that’s what is most important – economic growth and development. (Bud McLaughlin is editor of the Huntsville Business Journal. He can be heard Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. with Fred Holland on WTKI-FM 105.3 and 1450 AM)

Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing

Publisher/President ……… Todd Stephenson Editor ………………………… Bud McLaughlin Writers………………………… Kimberly Ballard Lori J. Connors Mike Easterling Wendy Reeves Contributing Writers…………… Zack Childress Floyd Holliman Bill Hunter Graphic Design ………………… Justina Simon Website……………………………… Jim Gharib Photographers…………………… Steve Babin Kimberly Ballard Marianne Higgins Jeff White Director of Sales ……… Carolyn Stephenson Distribution……………………… Glenda Mace Huntsville Business Journal is published monthly by EVENT Publishing, PO Box 14219, Huntsville, AL 35815. For advertising information call 256.533.8078, e-mail todd@eventhuntsville.com, or visit us on the web at www.huntsvillebusinessjournal.com. For editorial information contact editor@huntsvillebusinessjournal.com ALL CONTENTS ©2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION OR USE IN WHOLE OR IN PART OF THE CONTENTS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. HUNTSVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF EVENT PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. UNSOLICITED PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTICLES ARE SUBMITTED AT THE RISK OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER OR AUTHOR. EVENT PUBLISHING ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR THE RETURN OF ANY UNSOLICITED MATERIALS AND MAY USE THEM AT ITS DISCRETION.

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April 2019

3

DEFENSE CONTRACTING

Iron Mountain Finds a Solution to Its Growth - Location, Location, Location In its new location on Voyager Way in Cummings Research Park, Iron Mountain Solutions (IMS) has a lot to celebrate. And the cause for celebration will continue well beyond its official April 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony. For the fourth consecutive year, IMS has been named as a contender for the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber’s Best Places to Work award. Businesses that create an excellent workplace culture through employee engagement, strong leadership, and excellent communication are not only measured through anonymous

By Lori J. Connors Photography by Anita Scott & Kelsey Weathers

employee surveys, but also publicly recognized by the Chamber. It’s no secret that IMS is a great place to work. As a rapidly growing enterprise that specializes in an impressive array of defense industry-based systems, security, solutions, and support, IMS fosters a dynamic, collaborative work culture with a highly focused vision of continuous growth. Because of this, IMS was literally busting at the seams. IMS has full ownership of its new facility, at the northeast corner of Old Madison Pike and Voyager Drive. u

Advertorial

4

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

TAXES

How to Claim the R&D Tax Credit The research and development tax credit isn’t just for large companies with R&D departments. Small and medium-sized companies are also eligible for significant savings through the R&D tax credit. If your company has made improvements to products, processes or software, or if you’ve tried to make improvements and have been unsuccessful, you could be eligible for tax benefits. Through the research and development tax credit, qualified companies can gain immediate cash benefits that can be used to offset both income taxes as well as payroll taxes in certain instances. This credit can reduce your tax liability dollar-for-dollar and is now 21% more valuable under Tax Reform. Small businesses can qualify for a payroll tax offset if they have gross receipts for five years or less and the average gross receipt is no more than $5

million within the last five years. This payroll benefit can be up to $250,000 which is significant for smaller companies. So, how do you claim the R&D tax credit? DOCUMENTATION Documentation is the most important step for claiming the R&D tax credit and should begin as soon as possible. It’s important to evaluate your company for any potential activities your business is currently performing or planning to perform that might be eligible for the R&D credit. Once you have identified the potentially eligible activities, begin recording qualifying expenses and start documenting the necessary information. By documenting early on, you can eliminate the need to go back and find the necessary information and ensure that you will be able to take full advantage of the credit. Examples of documents include:

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• Financial information such as tax and payroll records • Testing documentation including project records, lab notes, design drawings, prototypes, patent applications • Time tracking reports, expense reports and other project accounting information • Companies can claim three types of expenses: salaries, supplies and contracted research. Because each developmental project and company is unique, each opportunity to receive the research tax credit will be unique. To date, the IRS has not established a clear definition of what documentation is required. However, the main goal with documentation is to prove that your company’s activities qualify for the credit. Any supporting documentation will be helpful in stating a claim for the credit. Establishing your company’s documentation process before you begin and avoiding the common documentation errors can be helpful when claiming the R&D tax credit. HOW TO APPLY, DEADLINES TO MEET AND WHAT TO EXPECT Once a documentation process has been established, companies can begin to work with their tax advisors to complete the IRS Form 6765, Credit for Increasing Research Activities, and ensure that your company is adhering to the specific instructions for Form 6765. Your CPA will submit this form with your business’s annual

By Floyd Holliman

Income Tax Return. If you have unused credits, the IRS allows you to carry those forward for up to 20 years. Companies can also take advantage of refunds for the past three years by filing an amended return. However, documenting the necessary information is critical to receiving the highest benefit early on in the project planning stages. RISK INVOLVED IRS examinations are always a possibility for tax positions, and the R&D credit position is no exception. If the IRS examines an open position and finds that the credit has not met the requirements, the credit will be disallowed either partially or completely. If the IRS finds that the credit was either claimed through negligence or did not meet the rule or requirements, there may be penalties involved. Additionally, taxes in the year that a credit was claimed as well as additional tax years can be impacted if the IRS disallows the claimed credit. The risks associated with the R&D tax credit should not discourage you from exploring your eligibility. If you have the right tax advisors, they will ensure that you are taking the proper steps and documenting information that will help your company state its claim. Your tax advisor should also stay committed throughout the entire process and in the event of an IRS examination or subsequent appeals. u

April 2019

5

TAXES

Five Facts About the New Form 1040 From Internal Revenue Service

There are several changes to the 2018 Form 1040. However, taxpayers who file electronically may not notice the changes as the tax return preparation software guides people through the filing process. The IRS worked closely with its partners in the tax return preparation and tax software industries to prepare for tax reform and tax form changes affecting tax year 2018, including Form 1040. This ongoing collaboration ensures that taxpayers can continue to rely on the IRS,

tax professionals and tax software programs when it’s time to file their tax returns. Here are five things taxpayers need to know about the 2018 Form 1040. • The 2018 Form 1040 replaces Forms 1040,1040A and 1040EZ with one 2018 Form 1040 that all taxpayers will file. • Forms 1040A and 1040EZ are no longer available. Taxpayers who used one of these forms in the past will now file Form 1040. • The 2018 Form 1040 uses a “building block” approach and allows taxpayers to add only the schedules they need to their 2018 tax return. • The most commonly used lines on the prior year form are still on the form. Other lines are moved to new schedules and are organized by category. These categories include income, adjustments to income, nonrefundable credits,

taxes, payments, and refundable credits. • Many taxpayers will only need to file Form 1040 and no schedules. Those with more complicated tax returns will need to complete one or more of the 2018 Form 1040 Schedules along with their Form 1040. These taxpayers include people claiming certain deductions or credits or owing additional taxes. Electronic filers may not notice any changes because the tax return preparation software will automatically use their answers to the tax questions to complete the Form 1040 and any needed schedules. For taxpayers who filed paper returns in the past and are concerned about these changes, this may be the year to consider the benefits of filing electronically. Using tax software is convenient, safe and a secure way to prepare and e-file an accurate tax return. u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

TAXES

IRS Provides Payment Options for Taxpayers Who Owe But Can’t Pay in Full

WASHINGTON - With the 2019 tax filing season winding down, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who owe of the many easy payment options. The IRS anticipates that most taxpayers will be affected by major tax law changes. While most will get a tax refund, others may find that they owe taxes, many of whom may qualify for a waiver of the estimated tax penalty that normally applies. See Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates and Trusts, and its instructions for details. “The IRS understands there were many changes that affected people last year, and the new penalty waiver will help taxpayers who inadvertently had too little tax withheld,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We encourage people to check their withholding again this year to make sure they have the right amount of tax withheld for 2019.” The IRS urges people with a filing requirement and a balance due to file by the April 15 deadline even if they cannot pay in full. Taxpayers in this situation should pay what they can and consider a payment plan for the remaining balance. Taxpayers who owe taxes can choose among the following payment options: • IRS Direct Pay allows payment directly from a checking or savings account. This service is free. • Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or EFTPS. Pay by phone or online. This service is free.

• Debit or credit card payment. This service is free, but the processing company may charge a fee. Fees vary by company. • Check or money order made payable to the United States Treasury (or U.S. Treasury) either in person or through the mail. • Cash payments at some IRS offices or at a participating PayNearMe location. Some restrictions apply. Taxpayers should not send cash through the mail. Taxpayers who are unable to pay their taxes in full should act quickly. Several payment options are available including: • Online Payment Agreement — Individuals who owe $50,000 or less in combined income tax, penalties and interest and businesses that owe $25,000 or less in payroll tax and have filed all tax returns may qualify for an Online Payment Agreement. Most taxpayers qualify for this option, and an agreement can usually be set up in a matter of minutes. Online applications to establish tax payment plans, like online payment agreements and installment agreements, are available Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m. to midnight. All times are Eastern time. • Installment Agreement — Installment agreements paid by direct deposit from a bank account or a payroll deduction will help taxpayers avoid default on their agreements. It

From Internal Revenue Service

also reduces the burden of mailing payments and saves postage costs. Even taxpayers who don’t qualify for a payment agreement may still pay by installment. Certain fees apply. • Delaying Collection — If the IRS determines a taxpayer is unable to pay, it may delay collection until the taxpayer’s financial condition improves. • Offer in Compromise — Certain taxpayers qualify to settle their tax bill for less than the amount they owe by submitting an offer in compromise. To help determine eligibility, use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool. In addition, taxpayers can consider other options for payment, including getting a loan to pay the amount due. In many cases, loan costs may be lower than the combination of interest and penalties the IRS must charge under federal law. Check tax withholding The IRS urges all taxpayers to check their withholding for 2019, especially those who made withholding adjustments in 2018 or had a major life change. Those most at risk of having too little tax withheld from their pay include taxpayers who itemized in the past but now take the increased standard deduction as well as two-wage-earner households, employees with non-wage sources of income, and those with complex tax situations. To help taxpayers allocate the appropriate withholding to their paychecks throughout the year in 2019, an updated version of the agency’s online Withholding Calculator is now available on IRS. gov. It’s never too early to check your withholding. While it’s a good idea any year, starting early in 2019 is particularly important as most tax filers adjust to the revised tax rates, deductions and credits. Online tools The IRS urges taxpayers to take advantage of the many tools and other resources available on IRS.gov. Taxpayers have a variety of options to get help filing and preparing their tax returns on IRS. gov, the official IRS website. Taxpayers can also find answers to their tax questions and resolve tax issues online. The Let Us Help You page answers most tax questions, and Publication 5136, IRS Services Guide, links to these and other IRS services. Taxpayers can go to IRS.gov/account to securely access information about their federal tax account. They can view the amount they owe, pay online or set up an online payment agreement; access their tax records online; review the past 18 months of payment history; and view key tax return information for the current year as filed. Visit IRS.gov/secureaccess to review the required identity authentication process. u

April 2019

7

REAL ESTATE

Is Now a Good Time to Still Be in Real Estate?

By Zack Childress

Special thanks to Keegan’s Irish Pub for allowing photography of delicious drinks

So, the big question is, is now a good time to still be in real estate? As president of the Madison County Real Estate Investors Association, I get this question all the time. And it is a very vital question: Is the market going to stay strong or is it cooling off? If we had a crystal ball, we would all be in a better place; but we don’t have that crystal ball. There are things that we have to look for but, I will say this, we are in a great real estate market. This market is producing massive amounts of success for new and seasoned real estate investors. However, I will say it will not stay here. But, that does not mean that you shouldn’t be in real estate right now, whether you’re fixing and flipping properties or you’re buying and holding as long as you’re buying them at the right price. After 16 years of being an active full-time real estate investor, I can tell you that the market will turn. It’s just when, but real estate will always be a good investment. You just have to know which strategies to use during which market cycle. What do I mean by this? Which strategy to use during which market cycle is based on the market cycle at that time. For example, right now we’re in an extremely hot market, meaning buyers are buying and are paying retail; some are even paying more than listed price in some areas. So, during a hot cycle, when properties are being sold quickly and for more than they list for, the best strategy to deploy is a fix and flip. Therefore, you’re doing what’s called a cash grab during the hot cycle. Whether that’s a $10,000 spread or a $50,000 spread on what we we’re able to sell it for. We are in a perfect market for this right now. But when markets do turn, and prices do come down, it doesn’t mean you should stop investing. It just means that you should change your strategy. You should move more into long-term buy and holds because the prices are cheaper.

And, in most cases, the rents go up because when a market shifts, it’s usually because of some economic indicators and one of those indicators is foreclosures. When foreclosures happen, you have displaced homeowners, who then need to rent instead of own, which makes a higher demand for a rental property. So, to the big question: Is now a good time to be in real estate? Yes. Now is a perfect time to be in real estate. And even if the market turns, it’s still a perfect time to be in real estate. You just have to understand how to change your strategy or get the

There are things that we have to look for but, I will say this, we are in a great real estate market. information or the specialized knowledge to be able to change those strategies. But let’s talk for a minute on what to look out for. What should we be looking for if the market has gone a term? Well, one of the things that we want to look at is available inventory on the market. Is the inventory still limited? Is it short? Or is there an abundance of inventory? The national average has always been con-

sistent around four months of inventory. Right now, in our area there is around 1 1/2 to 2 months of inventory. So, we have a shortage of inventory and we have more buyers than there is inventory available which creates the hot market. The other thing that you want to keep your eyes out on is the listed price that properties are going on the market for versus what they sell for. When you see a downturn, in that where a property is listing for $100 a square foot but it’s selling for $95 a square foot, then that means it is no longer a seller’s market. In most cases, it is becoming more of a buyer’s market, which means there’s going to be a shift in the market cycle. A third one that you should keep your eye on is “days on market”. When DOM is consistently at 30 days the market and, all of a sudden you’re seeing 60 and 90 days on market, that is another sign of a shift that is happening. So, those are a few things that you can keep your eyes on to protect yourself as you become active in the real estate market. But I want to leave you with this: Don’t be scared if the market turns; just be prepared if the market turns, then move into cashflow, move into buying rental units, income-producing properties. At a cheaper price, you could buy now for the long-term hold. You will get a better cash on cash return on those deals. But it is always my outlook that you should learn how to do all of this, whether it’s fixing and flipping or buy and holds. We provide a lot of great information at the Madison County REIA, and you can always go to our website and learn more about market conditions. We have a real estate talk show that is recorded for the website. We also have monthly meetings that you can come out to and be part of. And so I encourage you, check out www. MadisonCountyREIA.com. u (Zack Childress has been a real estate investor for more than 15 years and is president of the Madison County Real Estate Investors Association)

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

ENTREPRENEUR

Entrepreneur Awards Cap Innovate Huntsville Week honorees; so often we get overlooked in favor of tech entrepreneurism, but I think it’s important to recognize that creatives are the ones on the ground, so to speak, engaging and changing the culture of our community.”

Every March, Innovate Huntsville Week is a weeklong, jam-packed event filled with networking, support, collaboration, and the celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that’s alive and well in the area. Innovate Huntsville connects entrepreneurs and innovators with local resources to build solid networks and opportunities around Huntsville’s small business economy. Innovate Huntsville 2019 kicked off with Ignite, the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber-sponsored mixer, providing an opportunity for participants to get acquainted. The week continued with the HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge, Engineer-to-Entrepreneur Tech Roadshow, Small Business Microloan Clinic, Entrepreneur’s Roundtable, the Angels of North Alabama Investment Forum, Urban Engine’s Co-Working Night, a Boost Pitch Competition and R.I.S.E. networking. Capping off the celebration was the fourth annual Entrepreneur Awards luncheon, presented by the Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship, at the Campus 805 Stone Event Center.

This year’s winners are: ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Lee Marshall, founder/CEO of Kids to Love. Awarded to the entrepreneur who has been in business for more than three years and has a proven track record for sustainability, strategic direction, future growth and community involvement. “There’s an incredible pool of talent in Huntsville,” she said. “And I’m honored to be selected among so many great people doing amazing things in our city!” CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Rachel Lackey, owner and founder of Green Pea Press. Awarded to a non-technical entrepreneur whose focus is in the retail, arts, entertainment, or culinary industry and has a proven track record for sustainability. “I am excited and honored,” Lackey said. “Winning this award feels like a validation of all the hard work that I’ve put in and all the challenges I’ve faced up to this point. “I appreciate the Catalyst including the creative sector among their

VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LaBerrick Williams, owner of Jell’s 4 Ever BBQ. Awarded to an outstanding militaryveteran entrepreneur in the North Alabama region. “My ‘why’ stems from my late grandparents, Jell and Ever Scruggs, hence, my restaurant’s name – Jell’s 4 Ever BBQ – to carry on their legacy,” Williams said. “Their selfless service and delicious food brought the community together for years. Our intertwined logo J4E is a symbol of their union of 75 years and stands for family, love, togetherness and happiness. This is our ideology for the world.” EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Dr. Morgan L. Goss, Dove Family Health. Awarded to the entrepreneur who has been in business for one to three years and has a proven track record for sustainability with room for growth. “I do what I do because there is an insatiable desire to see my own people thrive in health,” Goss said. “I desire for my own people to have access to affordable, accessible and compassionate health care experiences.” FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Edwina Musante, founder/ CEO/president, Cortina Solutions. Awarded to an outstanding female

By Lori J. Connors Photography by The Catalyst

entrepreneur in the North Alabama Region. The winner of this award will be submitted to the Small Business Administration’s Small Business of the Year Award National Award by the Women’s Business Center. Their mission is to serve God by serving the country, customers, coworkers, and community with excellence and integrity. YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Joshua Wortham, general manager of Peaceful Pastries & Sweets. Awarded to a school-age entrepreneur, in K-12, who has started their entrepreneurial journey and business at a young age and is working toward their dream. “I am a 14-year-old chef who enjoys baking people happy,” Wortham said. “As my bakery continues to grow, I’m even more convinced that entrepreneurs should continue to learn new skills, but also stretch their minds and hearts through collaboration and immersion in the community.” ENTREPRENEUR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR Joe Newberry, president/CEO of Redstone Federal Credit Union. Awarded to an individual who has a proven track record of championing for the entrepreneurial journey. This can be through volunteering, mentoring, investing, or collaborating. PEOPLE’S CHOICE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Mel Bowers, Mel B Enterprises. This award was determined by social media and overall community popularity. “Being an entrepreneur has been a great adventure for me,” Bowers said. “Knowing that I set my own pace, create my own path, and that my future is extraordinary. I won’t make excuses, and never will I shun my hard days, they are what made me who I am. There are no limits to what I can achieve.” u

April 2019

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

South Huntsville Library: The Future of Libraries at the Sandra Moon Campus By Lori J. Connors

With more than 20 years of continuous growth and service to South Huntsville, Bailey Cove Library is bursting at the seams. Research has shown that over the past year, more than 2,000 library cards were issued; more than 10,000 programs attended; and nearly 7,000 people used the public computers - JUST at Bailey Cove branch alone. Housed in the converted space of an old hardware store, the library opened its doors in 1997. At a mere 10,000 square feet, the library has long since outgrown its space. The issue of space resulted in plans being drafted for a 40,000 square-foot, high-tech community library and event space. The new library will be at Huntsville’s new Sandra Moon Community Complex on the old Grissom High School campus. When finished, it will be four times larger than the Bailey Cove Branch Library. At the monthly recent South Huntsville Business Association meeting, Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Capital Campaign Director Caroline Kennedy presented plans for the new library, unveiling the Fuqua and Partners masterful conceptualization. “It will be a gigantic, state-ofthe-art library, with lots of light and glass,” Kennedy said. “This is the future of libraries, what new libraries

are going to be. It will be Class-A facility; there will be after hours special events with separate access, event rental space, areas for classes, private study rooms, and meeting space. “The library will continue to offer free meeting space for nonprofit groups. There will be a full-service catering kitchen, areas for food trucks, and outdoor events. It will be a real boost for the redevelopment of South Huntsville.” As part of the state-of-the-art technology, there will be a dedicated “Maker’s Space” which will have a 3D printer, large format printer for sign and banner making, and sewing machines. Planned design features include plenty of natural light, an open/bookstore-style floor plan, art gallery, Friends of Library bookstore, a coffee shop with inside entry and an outside walk-up and outdoor, patio seating, indoor fireplace, and a children’s garden. “The new library will be more user friendly and accessible to patrons,” said Kennedy. “Books will still be organized by Dewey system, but also by ‘neighborhood,’ sort of like what you would find at (bookstores).” Construction is scheduled to take about 18 to 24 months with an opening date in early 2021. For more information, visit huntsvillelibraryfoundation.org/south. u

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10

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

DINING

Huntsville Among Best Cities to Start a Restaurant By Bud McLaughlin Opening a restaurant is a risky endeavor that includes many factors that play into the success of a restaurant – none more important than location. The Washington, D.C., area dominates the top of the list with both D.C. and Arlington ranking No. 3 and No. 1, respectively. San Francisco, which is home to the most restaurants We all know that restaurant openings have per capita, also falls within the top 5. Elsewhere, become almost a monthly occurrence here in the cities with growing restaurant scenes like Austin, Rocket City. Nashville, and Denver show why aspiring restauWell, now we know why. According to bidonequipment.com, a restau- rant owners might not want to rule out second- and third-tier cities. rant equipment supply business, Huntsville was While there are many cities known for their cuiranked 23rd among the 150 most populous U. S. cities, just behind New Orleans (22nd) and ahead sine that made are list, such as San Francisco, Miami, Charleston, and New Orleans, it’s interesting to see of such “food cities” as Memphis and Nashville. Its Special thanks to SiP forin allowing photography of delicious drinks smaller cities such as Huntsville, Chattanooga, Fort ranking is the highest the state.

Collins and Raleigh make the cut as well. Overall, when it comes to finding an ideal location to start a restaurant, it’s not all about sales. Factors like over-saturation, competition and disposable income are all metrics to keep in mind when researching a market. To determine the best cities to open a restaurant, bidonequipment.com compared 236 cities. From there, they considered annual restaurant sales per capita, competition and market saturation (restaurants per capita), workforce (the number of restaurant industry workers per capita) as well as median income in each city. An overall weighted average was based on the following – sales: 50 points (annual restaurant sales per capita); competition: 25 points (number of restaurants per capita); workforce: 10 points (number of restaurant industry workers per capita); and income: 15 points (median income). For the complete list, visit https://www. bid-on-equipment.com/blog/post/best-cities-tostart-a-restaurant. u

YOUR GOALS ARE OUR GOALS Intense client focus is at the center of everything we do. Through forwardthinking advice and sound financial guidance, our dedicated team of advisors delivers customized services for both your personal and corporate needs to help you achieve what is important to you: • Comprehensive investment and risk management • Retirement, education, estate and tax planning to protect your personal wealth • Investment planning and administrative support for academic institutions, community organizations and religious foundations • Consulting, plan design and fiduciary services for corporate retirement plans ranging from dozens to thousands of employees

To learn more, call Kelly Clary at 256.713.2669.

Alabama | Florida

Pictured from left to right: Billy Kauffman, Marydae Sneed (Organizer of the Mardi Gras Parade), Anya Douglas | Georgia | www.WAasset.com (Organizer of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade), Christen Dickey

April 2019

11

ENTERTAINMENT

The Poppy and The Mercantile: Pub, Music Venue Add to Downtown

Imagine if one could travel back in time to post-World War I Great Britain. What would it be like to sit at the bar in one of those cozy neighborhood pubs? PBD Holdings principals, Paul Daigle, Brian Peoples, and David Clarke think it would be something like their newest venture, The Poppy, which is slated for opening this month. When it came to project support, “Things literally fell into place,” said Clarke. With a few introductions made on PBD’s behalf, it didn’t take long before community influencers such as Chris Russell at Cadence Bank, Chad Emerson at Downtown Huntsville, Margaret Anne Goldsmith, and several others came on board. “It was very well-received,” said Clarke. “Huntsville is very business friendly. We were the first to admit that we needed to build a team, one with good business acumen. “People we could trust, and we listened. So many people have helped get to this venture going, they’ve been incredible.” The pub’s name was inspired by the John McCrae’s 1915 poem, “In Flanders Fields.” “We didn’t want it to be cliché or cheesy to the point that it would alienate non-veterans, but we wanted to honor the ‘Great War’ – World War I,” Clarke said. When it came to develop the pub theme, Shane Brown, PBD program manager, stepped in to help. He was so impressed with the venture, he

invested as a minority owner. A native of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, Shane is a true subject matter expert on pub authenticity. Inspired by Old No. 7, Brown’s hometown pub in Barnsley, the interior is 1,400 square feet of history recreated. “We wanted to maintain a conversational atmosphere with a laid back, neighborhood pub vibe,” Clarke said. “A place where folks can indulge in really good beers, English beers, cask beers, a niche that’s been overlooked.” In addition to English beers, there will also be English ciders. With a 40-foot bar, said Clarke, “We’re really excited about the bar layout, taps on either end, beer engines in the center, it’s a very traditional set-up.” For those unfamiliar with beer engines, Clarke said, “There’s a different texture of beer with a beer engine, flavor profiles are easier to discern, smoother.” The décor will be red oak, stained black, dark red leather, cast brass footrails, and stamped tin ceilings. Pieces from artist Jacqueline Hurley’s, “War Poppy” collection will also adorn the walls. By the time The Poppy is up and running, The Mercantile will follow suit in late June. Destined to be a space conducive to larger music acts, and hosting special events, such as wedding receptions, The Mercantile promises to be that stop along the way between Birmingham and Nashville, where a

By Lori J. Connors Photography by Shane Brown

national touring act can stop for the night; play gig, grab a meal, do some laundry, and get a decent night’s rest. The designated music “consigliere,” Jake Peters, Quantaphonics guitarist, said, “Huntsville doesn’t have a venue quite like this. The Mercantile is the perfect space to comfortably accommodate 700-750 people.” Like spokes on a wheel, Huntsville is geographically central to Nashville, Atlanta, and Birmingham, those bigger cities that are usually on a band’s touring itinerary. The plan isn’t to reinvent Crossroads, that’s not the objective. “The idea is to create a space that puts Huntsville on the map for major events,” said Clarke.

“The idea is to create a space that puts Huntsville on the map for major events” As a venue “Built by Musicians for Musicians,” there will be significant investment in state-of-theart sound, light, and stage, to encourage national acts into making a stop in Huntsville, on their way to their next big gig. For special events, there will be a catering kitchen with lots of electrical capacity. When securing a venue for the October fundraiser, “Chili for Charity,” event co-chair Pam Bouska said, “The Mercantile is the one event space in town that can safely accommodate 35 crockpots of chili without blowing fuses.” “We are giving back, working with local community foundations, and providing space to nonprofits for special events,” said Clarke. “We are building good long-term relationships and providing something that the community can have as their own.” u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

COVER

2019 Chair of the Huntsville-Madison Co

By Lori J. Connors / Pho

One of the Huntsville-Madison County’s key business influencers has been recently named as the 2019 Board Chair of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Kim Caudle Lewis, the first African-American woman to hold the board position said her top goal for the year-long volunteer job is helping workers gain the skills they need to match the many jobs available locally. “I’m pretty excited!” said Lewis. “We’ve done a great job as far as economic development goes, but we’ve got to work on our workforce,” she said, adding that the unemployed, the under-employed, and those looking for new careers are the chamber’s focus. With an upbeat, can-do work ethic, Lewis epitomizes hard work, soft-skills, and solid business savvy, an ideal combination for a board chair. Lewis has keen insight of the big picture, as well as understanding the future industry needs of North Alabama. Lewis’ primary focus is job skills and workforce development, and the need to create a trained, work-ready job force in anticipation of the exciting new industry coming to Northeast Alabama. “We need to create a trained workforce to meet the needs of the new industries and jobs that are coming to Huntsville, Madison, and North Alabama,” said Lewis. “The training required is not currently available in the two- and four-year systems, not even in the high schools. We also need to provide education that’s affordable and accessible.” Even though Huntsville is a high-tech driven city, Lewis said there is a renewed demand for the skilled labor, blue-collar types of jobs. “With economic growth comes demand,” she said. “Not all jobs are high-tech, there’s a lot of skilled labor jobs. There are jobs in every industry. A lot of them are new industries for this area. “The Chamber has done a really good job of bringing new industry to Huntsville-North Alabama. There’s more concentration on the workforce now. We’ve promised the companies the workforce. Now, we need to make sure to educate workers to fill those jobs.” “With the coming of the Toyota plant,” says Lewis, “we’ve never had a full production plant here. This makes it more exciting. You can come to Huntsville and be a part of something that’s done – all in one location.” And there’s the advancements in aerospace. “We’ve always had NASA here, but with the

April 2019

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STORY

ounty Chamber Board: Kim Caudle Lewis

otography by Steve Babin

arrival of Blue Origin, we will be taking space to a whole new level,” she said. “Many simply don’t know what skills are required to fill local open jobs,” said Lewis. “We want to show people the path to get there. “The biggest mistake is that people generalize a lot of jobs, such as engineering. There are so many types of engineers, in various industries. We need to do a better job of explaining. Asmartplace.com is a site linked to the Chamber’s website which shows a “Day in the Life” of a variety of industry jobs. It’s a sample. A good, brief overview of what they can anticipate in that job.” Recently, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber hosted the Second Chance Job Fair in collaboration with the Alabama Career Center, the Alabama Community College System, and several local nonprofits, and community agencies. The event was developed to help bridge the gap between under-resourced job seekers and employers. “Workforce development is just a small part of what the Chamber does,” said Lewis “There are a lot of activities going on. We help support businesses already here. We provide

Photos: Bottom Left (L-R): Paula Steigerwals & Kim Lewis Middle (L-R): Kim Lewis & Vincent Boles Top right (L-R): Herb & Terry Loewis, Kim Lewis

the resources to help them grow and continue to grow.” Lewis is no stranger to service work. Growing up in Triana the youngest of 10 children, her parents Charley D. Caudle of Triana and the late Lela Mae Caudle, always instilled the virtues of civic duty and community participation. Her father set a good example for his children. First serving in the military, he then worked for Tennessee Valley Authority, and was also a volunteer fireman. In retirement, he worked for the town of Triana. One of

her sisters, Mary Caudle, is the mayor of Triana. Lewis has also held several volunteer board leadership roles, including the Chamber Foundation, Public Affairs Research Council of North Alabama, Huntsville Botanical Garden, the National Children’s Advocacy Center, HEALS (Health Establishments at Local Schools), the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Huntsville Committee of 100, and her alma mater, Calhoun Community College. As the owner and president of Project XYZ, an award-winning Huntsville company, Kim and her husband Larry provide engineering, logistics, information technology, and alternative energy services, in addition to healthcare IT. Comprised of 100 employees, Project XYZ has been honored as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Woman-Owned Business of the year and won the 2016 “Blue Ribbon Award,” and the 2015 Business of the Year by the local chamber. Project XYZ was also on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s top entrepreneurs in 2014-17. u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

CONSTRUCTION

Women in Hardhats Are a Growing Trend in the Construction Industry

By Kimberly Ballard Photography by Hoar Construction

Nationally, women make up less than 10 percent of the construction industry – 9.1 percent according to the National Association of Women in Construction. That number has been steadily increasing over the past decade, so much that the NAWIC started a Women in Construction Week, held annually in March. It highlights women as viable components of the construction industry and raises awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry. Hoar Construction, headquartered in Birmingham and contracted to build the new Rocket City Trash Pandas’ baseball stadium in Madison, has long since broken through. When it comes to women wearing hardhats on a construction site, Hoar Construction says women are beginning to dominate in engineering and project management positions within their company. Hoar’s female workforce is up to 20 percent, but what kind of challenges do women face on a construction site and how do so many find their way into the business? Meet Amanda Black, Safety Manager Amanda Black is a safety manager for Hoar Construction and is with the crew at the baseball stadium. Amanda is 29 years old and her parents have worked for Hoar for over 32 years. “I grew up on a construction site,” said Black. “As a child, I picked things apart to see how they were built. Even with toys, I wasn’t interested in the thing itself. “I was more interested in how it was put together and what was inside that made it work.” Black went to college on a scholarship, but the school didn’t offer academics in engineering or construction. She came back to what she knew. Eleven years later, she is working for Hoar and is back in school for construction management. “No one should be limited in what they want to be, if they have the

heart for it,” Black said. “You have to have a thick skin to be a woman among so many men, but you need a thick skin in life anyway, right?” As a safety manager, Amanda notes that everyone on a construction site has a very important job and the more skills sets you have, the more it benefits you. “I started out as a laborer trying my hands at carpentry work, concrete, and I know how to operate some of the equipment,” she said. “I also help with the shell work on empty buildings and cross over to quality control when they need help. “It’s what you do – you work your way up.” Meet Jessica Yarbrough, Assistant Superintendent Jessica Yarbrough grew up learning the cabinetry trade from her father who worked as a boat captain three days on and three days off. Cabinetry was a hobby he excelled in and still does. Jessica can build cabinets, but she chose not to pursue the craftsmanship side of construction. Instead, she has spent the past 7½ years traveling from project to project with her husband who is a superintendent for Hoar Construction. Yarbrough has worked on a Disney World project in Orlando; built a physical fitness facility for the Army in Clarksville, Tenn.; built an outdoor Amanda Black, Safety Manager on Trash Panda’s new stadium in Madison

shopping center in Baton Rouge, La.; and a commissary at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (Fla.) Now she is in Arlington, Va., working for the first time without her husband on a 12-story midrise apartment building. “I am an exterior scan su- Jessica Yarbrough talks to fellow construction worker perintendent,” Since then, there have been only a said Yarbrough. “I am responsible for the brick, metal panel, glass store- handful of times when she felt being a woman negatively impacted what she front, and glass curtain wall that makes up the exterior on this project. was trying to do. “I find the day-to-day challenges Every day, I oversee the work of our trade partners, including brick ma- getting the job done on time and on sons, a metal panel guy, our window budget - is harder than any challenges I face as a woman in a male-dominatinstaller, and ironworkers. “I work a little bit with the exte- ed field.” Meet Donna Strange, rior framers and with our air barrier Assistant Superintendent system, and I handle all the schedDonna Strange, like Jessica Yaruling, coordination, and I manage brough, is an assistant superintendent workflow to ensure the project gets for Hoar Construction and she cobuilt on time.” Yarbrough started college in ordinates among multiple trade partners, documenting and making premed but, while in the process notification of field changes in real of switching to nursing, an advisor time on any project. noticed she was taking extra math “I am the boots in the field,” she classes. She asked Jessica if she was said. “I communicate with the projgood at math and when she answered “Yes,” they encouraged her to pursue ect superintendent the challenges engineering rather than the medical and opportunities that need to be addressed with schedule and cost imfield. “I feel I have grown into the pacts. I listen to the concerns of our job,” she said. trade partners, always keeping one “There were eye open for safety; and I have to opportunities make on-the-spot executive decisions for workers to to keep the project moving - not just pull a fast one the daily progress - but I have to be on me or to get prepared to make the calls needed to by with stuff keep the wheels on the bus during the but, instead, challenging days ahead.” we worked Donna said she bounced around a through some few different professions, all of which teachable moleft her feeling stuck, without a chance ments that to get out and learn and explore. made us all “I found myself on a construcbetter at our tion project as it was nearing the final jobs.”

April 2019

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CONSTRUCTION

stages and I fell head over heels in love with all aspects of the experience,” she said. “I found a profession where everyday there was potential for learning something new.” She said her biggest challenge at being a woman in a predominantly male industry is her 5-foot-2, 110-pound stature. It can be hard to show authority when you are petite, but she gets around it by being knowledgeable. “I keep my eye on the big picture – giving our client a facility that meets expectations and I don’t let my size hinder my authority and responsibilities,” she said. “I focus on always staying calm, listening, and sharing my experience in a situation, before making decisions that affect others.” Meet Sarah Horton, Project Engineer Sarah Horton joined Hoar Construction officially this past year as a project engineer, but she worked for Hoar throughout college and was a coop student with them in 2014. Sarah has a degree in architectural engineering from the University of Alabama but, from a general contractor’s perspective, she is at the management level of the job cost perspective. Most of the work Sarah is involved with is renovated buildings rather than new construction, and she has been assigned to the Samford University campus in Birmingham. Her most current project is the University Center. “We went in and took everything out including the slabs used to create two floors,” said Horton. “Now we have a shell of a building all on one floor, so we can start over.” Structural and procedural changes are commonplace in renovations

and Sarah’s architectural engineering background allows her to run software programs that a typical project manager ordinarily wouldn’t, such as the popular Building Information Modeling software. “Typically, when we get a set of documents, they are printed on paper, but obviously building construction is seen much better in 3-dimension,” Horton said. “I use BIM and my architectural engineering background in HVAC design, power distribution and design, and structural concepts of building to get that into a 3-D space and coordinate changes from a general contractor’s perspective. “Being able to run BIM gives us some control over the original designs using Virtual Design & Construction (VDC), so we can say, ‘You designed this, but we have a sprinkler system that must fit in this space too and it has certain code requirements. Let’s work together to make it all fit in this space with 25-foot high ceilings.’ ” Sarah was exploring scholarship options while enrolled at the University of Alabama studying dentistry when she was approached by the engineering department, who had her test scores in math and science. “Because I was a female, I was going to receive a nice engineering scholarship to declare general engineering as my major,” she said. “After one engineering foundations class, I was hooked! “I agree with Amanda that you have to have thick skin, know who you are, and from a professional standpoint, be confident and understand the depth of your experience,” she said. “Now when I sit down at the table, I may be the only woman at that table, but I feel confident enough

Donna Strange is the “boots in the field” for a number of projects around Alabama.

Sarah Horton, Project Engineer

to give my opinion. The Male Perspective Horton said a lot of older men in the construction industry are against having women on the construction site because they believe it to be too dangerous from a safety standpoint. Unanimously, all four Hoar Women

in Hardhats say, “No! We belong here just as much as you do!” “It puts more pressure on me to make sure I know what I’m talking about,” said Horton. “I don’t get a free pass because I’m a girl. I have to know my stuff and back up what I say because they will go toe-to-toe with me on some things.” “Construction is an amazing business to be in,” said Black. “For me, construction isn’t just a job. It’s a lifestyle. Construction provided for me when I was growing up, and now it provides for me as a mother.” Although she did not pursue the craftsmanship side of construction, Yarbrough admits building cabinets is still in her cards. “My dad still has a shop and all the tools and equipment, so it’s always been sort of like … if all else fails … I can always build cabinets!” If she does, she will be an even rarer phenomenon since women make up less than 2 percent of carpenters nationwide! u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

CONSTRUCTION

Safety is Paramount as Construction on Trash Pandas ‘Home’ Progresses The home for the Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball team is about one-quarter complete. Concrete and steel have gone up and the underground plumbing and electricity is being laid. Mud is moving, tractors are pulling, trucks are dumping, and walls are being erected. The entire Town Madison development may have gotten off to a slow start, but word on the baseball stadium job site is that there will be significant progress this spring, in anticipation of the December completion date. In fact, the development will reach a point in which it will suddenly seem to go up all at once. Hoar Construction, general contractor for the stadium, has 80 to 90 workers at the site on any given day. It is just one of many construction sites in full-build mode at Town Madison. So, what is it like out there on a day-to-day basis? Is everybody staying safe? “Some days there is a beehive of activity and it can get confusing with all the other construction going on around us,” said Bart Wilder, vice president of safety for Hoar Construction, “From a site perspective, it is nonstop all day. Building for us is not just about building on time, under budget, and to a high level of quality. It is about doing all of those things safely and seamlessly.” Every trade has its own inherent risks associated with their type of work and for that reason, Wilder said they work diligently to get the right trade partners (sub-contractors) on every project. “We choose partners who understand that safety comes down to understanding what our risks are and having the processes in place to identify and mitigate them,” he said. “Hoar sets the culture and expectations for the project, but our partners represent various scopes of work like concrete and steel, utilities, plumb-

ing, electrical. It takes all these trades to put together a project like the new stadium and most of the safety plan begins in preplanning when our safety representatives sit down with partner safety representatives to discuss what they see as hazards on the upcoming job.” While the construction industry operates under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Primary Standards for Safety, there are other regulatory industries OSHA incorporates into its standards by reference. In fact, OSHA leans heavily on other building trades such as the National Fire Protection Association to write their own codes for fire extinguishers, fire suppression, or chemical exposure. The National Electrical Code also has its own safety protocol, incorporated into OSHA’s standards. “Safety is not a burden because our partners share the safety responsibilities with us,” said Wilder. “Also, our obligations are not predicated on the minimum of OSHA standards. Our obligations are more along the lines of industry best practices, designed to be above and beyond OSHA.” Hoar recommends every team start every shift by looking at specific tasks and asking each other - “Do we have the tools, equipment, manpower, and materials to do today’s tasks? Even more importantly - what are the hazards surrounding that task?” “Are there things that can hurt you in the process?” Amanda Black, Hoar Construction’s safety manager at Town Madison, begins every morning with a field walk through the jobsite. She checks to see what the last shift left for the next day, and to assess whether site conditions require a superintendent or a team to clean it up. She also makes sure there is room to walk around and maneuver safely and room to operate their equipment. “We preach two things all the

time to the workforce,” said Black “‘Safety is everybody’s job’, and ‘If you see something, say something.’ “I’m out on the site most of the time making sure everyone is doing their job safely. We have safety meetings out here every Tuesday and free time safety analyses every day to keep the workers thinking about job safety and thinking about ways to prevent hazards from happening.” She said as the general contractor, Hoar requires every team have safety meetings among their group, and Black confirms those meetings daily and any issues that arose from them, checking notes among supervisors to see if anyone spotted any safety hazards that need to be discussed. “Amanda is in the field, boots on the ground, all day long,” said Wilder. “She is constantly observing not only potential unsafe conditions that can arise, but she knows how to approach an unsafe situation and talk about a way to fix it in a respectful, professional, and educated manner,” said Wilder. “Amanda is trained in safety rules and regulations, so she speaks with authority and people onAmanda Black checks off a list of potential hazards as part of her daily routine on the Trash Panda’s new stadium at Town Madison

By Kimberly Ballard Photography by Hoar Construction

site respond to that.” Construction safety also requires a great deal of foresight. Amanda spends a lot of time at the drawing table trying to safely predict any kind of hazard before it presents itself. “We have all these great rules and regulations in our industry, but it is not about the regs with Hoar,” said Wilder. “We want you to go home safely. Whoever is waiting for you at home is more important than anyone at work.” There is an economic message in that strategy as well. “Part of our success is being able to create all these great construction jobs – jobs that in the process, send you home every day no worse for wear than however you were when you showed up.” The number one injury on any construction jobsite is trips and falls. “It seems that areas designated for storage tend to be where a plurality of these trip-and-fall injuries take place,” said Black. “We run to the problem, not away from it. We go back over the environment where they fell to see what caused it, and we check tools and equipment to make sure they were working properly. “We call in our superintendents to engage quickly and work the problem until it gets resolved.” “I believe the construction industry has gotten safer in relation to previous generations,” said Wilder. “OSHA always looks at incident rate as the total number of recordable injuries that occur in year, and the total number of incidents that result in someone getting hurt or put on restricted duty due to the severity of an incident. “Those numbers are tabulated against the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the national industry averages. Hoar Construction has consistently ranked well below the industry average in jobsite injuries for more 10 years. We are very proud of that.” u

April 2019

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CONSTRUCTION

Byrom Hopes Builders Will Dig this New App By Mike Easterling

The construction business is practically in Colt Byrom’s DNA. His father, Marty, built in Birmingham for nearly 50 years. Colt’s grandfather and great grandfather were also in the construction game. So it came as no surprise when Byrom followed and became a builder as well in Birmingham following his graduation from the University of Alabama. “I guess I didn’t have a choice,’’ he said. “It’s in my blood to be a builder.’’ Byrom has branched out and has moved from simply building, which he’s done full-time for the past 15 years in the Birmingham,area, into a technology driven venture called Terane. The company, which previously was called Dirtbook, launched Terane Mobile App in the Magic City and Huntsville earlier this year. Terane moves dirt, not just on a construction site but from builder to builder. Byrom, the company’s

Colt Byrom

founder and CEO, said the app attempts to “centralize the construction supply chain’’ and Terane is simply offering a needed service. “When I needed dirt I needed to know where to find it,’’ he said. “When I had extra dirt, I needed to know who wanted it. That’s kind of how Terane was formed – to make that process smoother. That’s the origin of it. We have plans to be an all-round home building service.’’ Byrom said his company chose Huntsville as its second launch site because of the city’s continuing growth, and its hills and mountains are similar to Birmingham’s neighborhoods. “I’ve heard what a great market it is, how much construction there is and how the economy is growing,” Byrom said. “And the topography is similar to Birmingham. In that kind of topography you’re going to move a lot of dirt. The Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association is second largest to Birmingham’s in the state and ninth nationally,’’ Byrom gave a recent example of how Terane can benefit builders. Before the app was launched, another local builder needed to get rid of extra dirt after some pool excavations. “To move it to a local landfill was going to cost him $15,000,’’ he said. “We found a builder nearby, then made it a connection and it cost the excavator $5,000. So, in this instance, it saved him $10,000.’’ Byrom graduated from Homewood High School in 2001 and in 2005 graduated from Alabama, where he met his wife Ashley. They have three children -- Parker (9 years old), Beckett (7) and Ashley (6). For more information or to download the app visit www.teraneapp.com. Information director Sean McCroskey can be reached at sean@ teraneapp.com. “We’ve been trying to get the word out,’’ Byrom said. “There’s some excitement about it, and people are eager to use it.” u

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18

Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

CONSTRUCTION

Neither Rain, Nor More Rain, Nor Even More Rain Can Slow the Progress at MidCity Huntsville By Mike Easterling / Photography by RCP Companies While constant rain, some heavy enough to cause flooding, has been a seemingly daily companion to the Tennessee Valley community, the wet conditions haven’t slowed progress at MidCity Huntsville. “We only had three good days in December,’’ said Nadia Niakossary, project coordinator for developer RCP Companies. “But we figured that into the time frame. We’re still on schedule.’’ The multi-use MidCity campus occupies the former Madison Square Mall property and surrounding area. Ground was broken in 2017, the first business on site opened in August and completion date is 2022.

MidCity Huntsville: REI

Niakossary said work was proceeding on current projects despite weather delays. “We are diligently working on the construction of the University Drivefacing retail blocks,’’ she said. “When visiting MidCity today, you’ll see five

vertical buildings. Top Golf and The Camp with Alchemy Coffee are open for business. “The Camp just reopened (in March) for springtime, with the food trucks and bar open Thursday through Sunday and the coffee shop open seven days a week. We have a diverse lineup of live music and unique events happening there every weekend.’’

MidCity Huntsville: Dave & Busters

High Point Climbing and Fitness is nearing completion in the center of the frontage and anticipates an opening this spring, Niakossary said. In front of High Point, REI Co-op’s foundation has been set and steel frames are going up.

The opening for REI Co-op, an outdoors store, will be the first for the company in Alabama. Also, the Dave & Buster’s building is also nearing completion on the west side of MidCity, near Old Monrovia Road. Dave & Buster’s is on schedule to open this Summer. Meanwhile, Niakossary said Pies & Pints is under construction and the building that houses Wahlburgers and other commercial uses has site work complete in preparation for the foundation. “We are in the design process for the $30 million Aloft Hotel, The Point and Jake’s Mews,’’ she said. “We are also in preliminary stages of the $75 million, 300-unit multifamily residential (complex) over the retail block in the center of the project. We’re also working on a $20 million mixed-use, office-over-retail building.’’ According to the MidCity website, when completed, the campus will include a total of 350,000 square feet of specialty retail, 150,000 of hightech office space, a wide range of dining options, the 100-plis room hotel, and 560 amenity-rich residential units. u

MidCity Huntsville: High Point Climbing and Fitness

April 2019

19

FINANCE

BitBros Helping New Volunteer Vacations: Digital Currency Giving Back While to Grow Here Getting Away Bitcoin by Bitcoin By Bill Hunter

By Mike Easterling / Photography by BitBros It’s a sound bet that not many, if any, Huntsvillians or passersby know that there’s a horde of miners gathered in the industrial park off Jordan Lane. No one could blame them. These aren’t the lighton-the-helmet, overall-wearing type from most imaginations. These are the

new age variety. They’re not even human. Miners are an integral part of the decade-old bitcoin industry, and a new Huntsville company has powered up many miners (OK, computers) in town. The company, BitBros LLC., has been up and running since last year but held its grand opening in January following a power upgrade that brought 2.5 megawatts of power to the Blockchain and Crypto Mining Association outfit. “Each of those miners is crunching algorithms all day,” said Matthew Rizzio, a Hazel Geen and UAH graduate who is also CEO and one of three founders of BitBros. “When it solves an algorithm is when you get paid, by bit.” Confused? Here is how bitcoin is defined: a digital currency in which a record of transactions is maintained and new units of currency generated by the computational solution of mathematical problems, and which operates independently of a central bank. There it is, right? “It took me a year to understand it,” said Rizzio, who graduated with degrees in marketing and supply chain management from UAH in 2014. Rizzio is one of three founders of BitBros. There’s also his brother and COO Christopher Borgosz, who grew up in Birmingham, attended John Carroll Catholic High School and the University of Alabama and still lives in the Magic City. And there’s the CTO, Josh. He goes by the moniker Jmo, and hails from Illinois and met Rizzio at UAH. In the bitcoin business there are: Blockchains (a ledger of records stored on an encrypted network of computers); cryptocurrency (digital currency used to pay for using the blocking or for exchanging currency; ASICs (chips than handle a specific, single encrypted algorithm); and the aforementioned miners. Rizzio said the most difficult part of launching BitBros is waiting for people to get over the learning curve of what bitcoin is about. “Historically, it takes about 20 years for new technology to catch on,” he said. “Like the Internet.” But, he added, the company has heard good feedback since its January launch. “We expect Huntsville to be a great location,” he said. “With so many engineers and people working in technology, there’s a large underground regarding the industry.” u

As the end of work draws near and the next chapter of life quickly approaches, many retirees are left wondering what they will do with their time. Some prefer to live a life of leisure, others take on new hobbies and then there are those who enjoy “voluntourism” - a form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity. Voluntourism, otherwise known as volunteer vacations, provides the perfect opportunity for retirees to travel, all while donating their time and skills to a worthy cause. But how do you get involved and determine if volunteer vacations are right for you? What do you want to get out of your experience? Start by deciding what you want to get out of your experience. There are many types of volunteer vacations, including working in medicine, education or with animals. As you research these types of opportunities, consider factors such as how many hours a day you want to work and the length of time you want to volunteer. After you decide which volunteer vacation is right for you plan out your expenses for the trip. How will you manage expenses? The cost of a volunteer vacation could be hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on the location, itinerary and how long you will be staying. On most volunteer vacations, you pay for your own travel and living expenses. If you plan on staying in one place for several weeks, you may want to set up a local bank account. This gives you close access to the funds you’ll need to cover any expenses. If you’re going to be away for a month or more, financial arrangements will need to be made to cover expenses at home. Renting out your home is always a good option, because, though you’re gone, you will still have to continue to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance and utility bills. Another possible way to defray costs is by consulting with your tax advisor to determine if all or some of your volunteer vacation costs could be tax deductible. The last step on the volunteer vacations checklist is to set aside extra money to cover emergency medical evacuation insurance. With this coverage, a medical dilemma does not have to turn into a financial one as well. For retirees looking to embark on a volunteer vacation, consider consulting your Financial Advisor to help you create a thoughtful strategy for managing your income needs without jeopardizing your future. u (By Bill Hunter, Director, Retirement Client Experience, Strategies and Solutions for Bank of America Merrill Lynch)

For more information, contact Merrill Lynch Senior Financial Advisor, Brad Cardwell in the Huntsville, AL office at 256-650-2432 or Brad_cardwell@ml.com.

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

AUTOMOTIVE

Toyota Enlarging Its Footprint with Jobs, Production Increases

With an investment of more than a quarter-billion dollars, Toyota is increasing its production and workforce at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Huntsville. The automaker said the $288 million investment will increase the engine production capacity from

some 670,000 per year to 900,000 by the end of 2021. New production lines for Toyota’s four-cylinder and V6 engines will add 450 jobs to the Huntsville plant. The investment also includes a building expansion. Overall, the plant represents an investment of $1.2 billion. The 450 new jobs is the largest hiring increase at the facility and will increase the number of employees to about 1,800. “I’m so proud of our team members and their commitment to building world-class engines,” said Toyota Alabama President David Fernandes. “It is because of our workforce and statewide partnerships that Toyota has continued to grow and prosper in Alabama.

“The new engine lines will allow us to respond quicker to customer needs and strengthen our competitive edge in the industry.” The engine plant, in the North Huntsville Industrial Park just off Pulaski Pike, is the cornerstone of the city’s diversified business base as it moves from being primarily dependent on federal dollars to commercial industry. “Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama has been the backbone of Huntsville’s advanced manufacturing economy for 18 years,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “This latest investment, the company’s seventh in Huntsville, signals Toyota’s confidence in our workforce and its commitment to continued investment in this facility – more than $1.2 billion to date.” High points • Seven major investments (5 building expansions) since groundbreaking in 2001. • The new $288 million investment will provide 4-cylinder and V6 engine lines to expand production capacity by about 35 percent, increase product flexibility and help better meet demand. This brings the total plant investment to $1.2 billion.

By Bud McLaughlin

• The two new production lines will create 450 jobs, increasing total employment to about 1,800. • The plant produces one-third of all engines built in the U.S and five times as many since stating production. • The 6 millionth engine was built in August 2018. • The only Toyota plant globally to build 4-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines under one roof. The news builds upon Toyota’s expansive presence in the Huntsville area. Last year, Mazda and Toyota unveiled their plans for a joint vehicle manufacturing plant in Limestone County. The $1.6 billion joint investment will create up to 4,000 jobs with production slated for 2021. “We are thrilled to celebrate with Toyota, an incredible partner,” said Chip Cherry, president/CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. “Not only do they bring good paying jobs, their company and employees also give back to our schools and community. “We appreciate all they have done during their two decades here and we look forward to a bright future with more success.” u

April 2019

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SOCIAL MEDIA

What’s Hot in Huntsville? #LinkedInLocalHSV, That’s What!

Group shot of LinkedInLiveHSV

For those of us using LinkedIn, how many actually meet contacts face-to-face and have a discussion over coffee? In most cases, only a handful, and it’s likely that those are people we already know. What if we could meet up with those local contacts that we only know at the virtual level? A group of local businesspeople hope to make those in-person connections a reality: Enter LinkedIn Local. Getting its start in Australia, LinkedIn Local has quickly grown into a global movement. LinkedIn Local wants to put the “social” back into social media by hosting events where people could meet their online connections offline. What began as a hashtag movement in 2017, LinkedIn Local has grown exponentially and is currently hosted in more than 300 cities worldwide. Last fall, Huntsville joined the global community of LinkedIn users taking online relationships offline. #LinkedInLocalHSV came about after a Friday morning networking event. A handful of local influencers met to brainstorm and came up with a way to make #LinkedInLocalHSV a reality, right here in the Rocket City. After the initial brainstorming session, Mike

Bean, Gary Choukse, Jared Wasdin, Angela Graham, Brad Wallace, Pam Marmon, and Carla Stiles soon formed a board and quickly got to work in developing #LinkedinLocalHSV. Built on the concept of authenticity, respect, and collaboration, #LinkedInLocalHSV is a great opportunity to connect in an informal business context, to build strong, longlasting relationships, all in your

By Lori J. Connors Photography by Luis Santos

local community. Presented quarterly, the second LinkedInLocalHSV event was recently held in the UAH Student Services Building. “Thus far, we have sold out both events and we are in the planning stages of our next event,” said board member Carla Stiles. “It’s a great event for our growing community to get people to meet. We have over 100 people attend the events. This is great way for those that are new in the community to come and meet other businesses in the area.” The next LinkedinLocalHSV event will be Thursday, April 4 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Alabama A&M University’s School of Business, LINQ, Room 209. As part of the AAMU MBA Association’s Networking Night, the subjects of discussion will be “What Employers Are Looking for in Young Professionals” and “How to Network Effectively.” Featured panelists are Vicki Morris, president of FaceToFace Marketing, LLC; and Mike Bean, president and owner of PassionHR. After the panel discussion, there will be a breakout session for networking. u

Pictured above (L to R): Vicki Morris, Karol Waddell, Carla Stiles, Brody Wallace Pictured left (L to R): Chris Grounds, Patrice Bivins Photography by Luis Santos

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

Business Briefcase

CFD Research Awarded $24M NASA Contract CFD Research has been awarded a small business prime contract for the Vertical Lift Technology Development program at NASA Ames Research Center. It is the company’s first major service prime NASA contract. The five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract has a ceiling value of $24 million. CFD Research and its team of subcontractors will provide aeronautical engineering, research, and development for vertical lift technology development. Air traffic management development is also included to assess and integrate new operating procedures for efficiency and safety. “The VLTD award marks a major milestone for CFD Research on two key fronts: it is our first major service prime contract for NASA and our first major service prime contract outside of Huntsville,” said COO/Vice President Steve Cayson. “It emphasizes our strategic goal to leverage our core research and development capabilities into on-site support for government customers.” Huntsville-based CFD Research was founded in 1987 and provides work for government and commercial customers. “CFD Research is honored to be selected for this highly competitive award and looks forward to continuing and growing our long and successful partnership with NASA’s prestigious Ames Research Center,” said President/CEO Sameer Singhal. “The award builds on CFD Research’s services growth of the last few years and provides opportunities to increase that growth significantly.” u

Intuitive Co-Founder Honored as Top Innovator Hal Brewer, co-founder and chairman of the board of Intuitive Research and Technology, was

honored as a top innovator on Fortune magazine’s annual list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, 100 Best Workplaces for Women, 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity, and 150 Best Small and Medium Companies to Work For. The announcement was made at the annual Great Place to Work Awards Conference. “I am incredibly honored to be recognized as a leader in innovation,” Brewer said. “I believe that innovation is the process of creating something that makes life better, and that innovation is impossible without passion. Everyone recognized by Great Place to Work has something in common - we all see the world a little differently. “Regardless of the sectors we work in, we are all focused on solving hard problems and creating a better world than the one that exists today.” Brewer was nominated by Intuitive President Vergenia Shelton: “Brewer has consistently played a critical role in helping Intuitive drive innovation by inspiring ‘Innovation by All’ – where every employee feels inspired to take part in the innovation process.” “Innovation by All” is defined by Great Place to Work as the way organizations must approach invention and agility. Put simply, it means everybody creates, is connected, and contributes. u

are critical to the success of this highly-anticipated hotel.” Shoe has been general manager of the SpringHill Suites Marriott Huntsville Downtown for six years. His experience working with Marriott Hotels spans more than a decade. Day most recently served as assistant general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott in Fort Myers, Fla. Owenby has more than 12 years of hotel sales experience, including Residence Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott. As beverage and food manager, Marshall’s responsibilities will include the AC Kitchen, the AC Lounge and events in The Gallery at Big Spring Park. His most recent background has included restaurant and banquet service in Huntsville and Salt Lake City, Utah. u

Mazda Names Otsuka to Head Huntsville Operations

AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown Announces Leadership Team Yedla Management Co. announced four key leadership hires for its AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown. The 120-room property is the first AC Hotels by Marriott in Alabama. Randy Shoe joins as general manager; Benjamin Day will serve as assistant general manager; Michael Owenby is the director of sales; and Bryce Marshall joins as the beverage and food manager. “We are excited to have this dynamic team lead the new AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown,” said Srinath Yedla, CEO of Yedla Management. “Their collective knowledge and industry experience

Mazda has named Masashi Otsuka as senior vice president of the Alabama business unit, reporting to Jeff Guyton, newly named president of Mazda North American Operations. Otsuka will lead the new operations in Huntsville where Mazda will manufacture its brand-new crossover SUV exclusive to the North American market by working with suppliers, handling logistics for the plant and managing quality assurance. “The Alabama business unit is crucial for MNAO’s success,” said Masahiro Moro, newly named MNAO chairman and CEO. “I believe Masashi Otsuka’s outstanding business acumen will lead us to a successful launch of the plant and the all-new crossover SUV.” The Mazda Toyota Manufacturing factory, a jointly owned-and-operated automotive production plant, will have the capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year, beginning in 2021. The plant is expected to create 4,000 jobs, with a $1.6 billion investment split by the two companies.

April 2019

23

Business Briefcase The plant will build Toyota’s Corolla and Mazda’s yet-to-be revealed crossover model. u

BC/BS Recognizes Innova Primary Care, Premier Internal Medicine A pair of primary care practices in Huntsville have been recognized through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Circle of Care Innovation Award Program. Innova Primary Care (Innova) was awarded first place for improving the quality of patient care and satisfaction and Premier Internal Medicine Associates was awarded third place by improving patient

population management. The Innovation Award Program inspires and rewards pioneering primary care practices that positively impact the health of Alabamians and our members. Entries are judged based on cost savings, improved member health and efficient/effective care. u

HudsonAlpha’s Worthey Accepts Michigan State Post Dr. Liz Worthey, a faculty investigator at HudsonAlpha, has accepted a position at Michigan State University as associate professor and director of rare disease and population genomics. Worthey joined HudsonAlpha in 2015 and has played a key role in educating the Huntsville community about the power of genomics and genetics,

both as an enthusiastic supporter of STEM outreach programs inspiring young women to pursue careers in science and as faculty lead for the Information is Power cancer risk-testing program. Also, Worthey and her lab have worked to identify the genetic underpinnings of disease and have developed software to support analysis and interpretation of patient’s genomes. By improving the tools that analysts have at their disposal, Worthey and her lab have dramatically improved the process of rare disease diagnosis. “Dr. Worthey has made such an impact at HudsonAlpha and in North Alabama,” said Dr. Rick Myers, HudsonAlpha president and science director. “Her genetics and software development and informatics expertise, along with her passion for solving the toughest undiagnosed disease cases has contributed greatly to the genomic medicine mission at HudsonAlpha. “We congratulate her on this significant career step, wish her all the best and look forward to new collaborative opportunities in the future.” u

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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL

Peace

Peace of mind

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