Keeping you informed and inspired. VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4
April 2020
AEROSPACE
COVER STORY
Blue Origin Reaches Into Huntsville’s Past to Aim for the Nation’s Future
Huntsville residents will hear a familiar sound when Blue Origin, a rocket engine company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, begins testing its rocket engines at Marshall Space Flight Center. Mike Easterling - Page 6
SAFETY
Human Trafficking Incident Halted at Huntsville International
Page 12
It began with a lost car in the parking garage at Huntsville International Airport and ended with three airport employees and a Delta Airlines manager halting what the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration confirmed as an attempted human trafficking incident – the first known incident of its kind at HSV. By Kimberly Ballard - Page 16
ADDITIONAL STORIES • Ralph Nelson and Trash Pandas: Minor League Team, Major League Attitude By Mike Easterling • Page 9
• Berryhill: COVID-19 Not ‘Doomsday Virus’ but Poses Risk and Consequences By Kimberly Ballard • Page 11 • ‘To Go’ is the Way to Go for Dining During COVID-19 Emergency By Kimberly Ballard • Page 14 • Innovate HSV: Five Exciting Years of Entrepreneurial Excellence By Lori J. Connors • Page 20
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HUNTSVILLE
BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 3, Issue 4 April 2020 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
April 2020
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SITDOWN WITH SUCCESS - ELLEN DIDIER
Sit Down with Success: Ellen Didier Love, Love, Love What You Do This month’s installment of the Huntsville Business Journal’s series “Sitdown with Success” features Ellen Didier of Red Sage Communications. “Sitdown with Success” spotlights local entrepreneurs who describe their successes and failures, with tips for upcoming business owners. For the full-length interview, visit huntsvillebusinessjournal.com. What about your company, Red Sage Communications, are you most proud? I think our ability to survive in the midst of such disruptive change in the advertising and marketing industry since I started Red Sage in 2006 is what makes me most proud. Just look at how much marketing has changed, and it is a huge change. In that conversation you have social media and online rankings and customer reviews. People are able to post
and say things about your brand. That means marketing is no longer a push, but a two-way conversation. Why did you start an ad agency? I love, love, love marketing! The challenge of understanding who you are and establishing your brand; exhibiting how you’re different from the competition; telling your story so it aligns with your business needs I like everything I do, but there are some parts of business that will do a lot better if I focus on the parts that are easier to sell or that generate the most revenue. You have to have a love for marketing and the whole idea of branding to convey different messages and to align those different messages to different audiences. You have to understand the business and set goals and objectives, and then integrate your overall marketing strategy to reach those goals and objectives.
What are your biggest challenges overall? Our biggest challenge is the pace of change always, and like everyone else, growth and workforce. What do you think is the answer to that? Short term, we’re looking at how we can extend our team with contractors, and how we can build and grow our team in very specific places. My current employees have been with me a while and they are very good. If I can take some of the work off them that can be outsourced, they can manage a contractor to do that part of the job. What would you tell somebody
By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin
who wants to start an ad agency today? It will be the most challenging and the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done. What’s amazing about the advertising and marketing agency business is you can be working with a company that retrofits Blackhawk helicopters with Garmin electronics one day and figure out how to sell eye care products and services the next. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
GUEST EDITORIAL: BRAD WALLACE
It’s Not Easy, But Look Past the Market Selloff These are challenging times. Like everyone, you are concerned about keeping your family safe and healthy, and you’re doing your part to help protect your community from the effects of the coronavirus. And if you’re an investor, you must also address your financial situation. How should you respond to the current market volatility and recent declines in investment prices? For one thing, try to avoid what many others seem to be doing: panicking. The market selloff may feel unsettling, but it appears to be driven as much, or more, by fear and panic than by economic or financial reality. Uncertainty is high, but there are reasons – solid, objective reasons – that provide more confidence in the longer-term outlook, suggesting that conditions still warrant an eventual rebound. U.S. unemployment entered this situation near a 50-year low, with solid wage growth. We will see a temporary disruption to the labor market, of course, along with a decline in economic activity, but households entered this period in generally good shape. Furthermore, housing market indicators were moving upward and the decline in mortgage rates could add more strength. Also, the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts, taking short-term rates back near 0 percent, will support the economic rebound as the impact of the virus containment efforts eventually fade. In addition, while further volatility and the potential for further weakness will likely continue, the steep drops we’ve already seen indicate that the financial markets have “priced in” the likelihood of a shortterm recession, which may mean that the worst of the stock market pain has already been endured, though, of course, there are no guarantees. First, though, it seems likely that the investment world will finally calm down only when the health situation shows signs of containment – and this will inevitably happen, despite
the grim reports we are seeing these days. As a country, we have the motivation, the will, the solidarity and the resources to defeat the coronavirus and its effects, despite the pain and trauma it is now undoubtedly causing. So, back to our original question: What should you do? Here are a few suggestions: • Remember why you’re investing. Given the market decline, you may be tempted to change your investment strategy. But keep in mind that your financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement, are longer-term than the shelf life of the coronavirus. These goals, not today’s headlines, should guide your decisions. • Re-evaluate your risk tolerance. The recent volatility provides a good test of your ability to weather short-term swings in your portfolio. If you’re having a hard time coping with these losses, your portfolio may be positioned too aggressively for your risk tolerance. If so, you might want to adjust your portfolio mix to include more fixed-income securities, which can help provide more “downside” protection. However, this would also affect your long-term growth potential. • Look for buying opportunities. Stocks are now at their most compelling values in more than a decade – in other words, there are plenty of compelling investments out there. You can find many highquality investments at very good prices, so you may want to consider taking advantage of the opportunity. These are trying times for all of us. But as an investor, you’ll help yourself greatly if you keep the situation in perspective, take a long-term view, evaluate your own risk tolerance and be receptive to new possibilities. w Provided by Brad Wallace, Financial Advisor - Edward Jones Investments
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Publisher/President ................................................................ Todd Stephenson Editor .......................................................................................... Bud McLaughlin Writers.........................................................................................Kimberly Ballard Lori J. Connors Mike Easterling Graphic Design ............................................................................. Justina Simon Website................................................................................................ Jim Gharib Photographers...................................................................................Steve Babin Kimberly Ballard Eric Schultz Justina Simon Director of Sales ................................................................. Carolyn Stephenson Account Executives...............................................................................Lee Nast Amanda Peach Michelle Epling 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 ©2020. 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.
April 2020
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AEROSPACE
Avilution Breaks Ground on Avionics Facility
By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin
Avilution roundbreaking ceremony
Avilution recently broke ground at Huntsville International Airport for its facility to produce groundbreaking avionics software. “We are really excited to be here, celebrating Avilution – and the groundbreaking technology that will transform the aviation industry,” said Rick Tucker, CEO of the Port of Huntsville. “Huntsville International Airport is proud to be home to Avilution,” said Tucker. “Being that we are an airport and the software being developed by Avilution is avionics framework, we couldn’t think of a better location for the facility. We are excited to see world-class
software that is shaping our industry being developed right here in Huntsville.” Founded by Mark Spencer, Avilution got its start in 2010 and has been focused on the avionics industry since 2015. Spencer said Avilution approaches avionics as a software problem rather than as a hardware problem, which gives them a lot of flexibility and allows them to bring products to market more quickly than a more traditional approach. “Our customers are innovative pioneers who are building the next generation of general aviation aircraft,” said Spencer.” “We are
working to provide customized solutions that fit the aircraft’s mission and unique requirements.” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong were also on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking. Battle spoke of the importance of having entrepreneurs - serial entrepreneurs, in particular, “that drive the local economy by starting business after business. Spencer is that kind of entrepreneur,” said Battle. “Mark not only has a bright mind, but makes an effort to help people,” said Strong.
The avionics framework developed by Avilution is called eXtensible Flight System (XFS). This framework allows for the rapid development of robust and future-proof avionics that free the consumer from vendor lock-in and obsolescence. Avilution’s first packaged commercial offering, the Unpanel, is an avionics package tailor-made for VFR pilots. The new facility will house up to 24 employees and the facility is slated to be completed in late October. “Mark is going to change the industry by transforming the world of avionics,” said Tucker. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
AEROSPACE
Blue Origin Reaches Into Huntsville’s Past to Aim for the Nation’s Future Huntsville residents will hear a familiar sound when Blue Origin, a rocket engine company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, begins testing its rocket engines at Marshall Space Flight Center. As part of its arrival as one of the city’s newcomers in the rocket industry, the company invested $50 million to renovate Marshall’s test stand 4670, which was used in the 1960s to test the Saturn rocket that took Americans to the moon. The test stand, dormant since 1998, will be used by Blue Origin. Bezo’s company, headquartered in Kent, Wash., will build the main engines that will power rockets built in Decatur by United Launch Alliance. Blue Origin and its partners hope to land the contract to produce the lunar lander for the United States’ planned trip back to the moon and then on to Mars.
“It’ll be a great day to hear those engines roar once more,’’ Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said. Blue Origin went from groundbreaking to ribbon-cutting in a year to open the company’s facility in Cummings Research Park in February. That ceremony was attended by Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt and Mo Brooks, and U.S. Senator Doug Jones. “We’re growing very fast,’’ Smith said. Bezos did not attend the event at the $200 million, 350,000 square-foot plant where the company’s reusable BE-4 and BE-3U engines that will aid space travel from human exploration to national security will be made. Smith said Huntsville’s history in space travel and the “spirit’’ of the space community here contributed to
Blue Origin decided to land here. “At the core of every successful launch vehicle program are the engines that power those vehicles to space,’’ Smith said. “Early on in Blue Origin’s history, we made a crucial decision to invest in developing the next generation of reusable rocket engines. “And now, it’s an exciting time for Blue, our partners, and this country – we are on the path to deliver on our promise to end the reliance on Russian made engines – and it’s all happening right here, right now, in the great state
By Mike Easterling / Photo courtesy of Blue Origin
of Alabama. We couldn’t be prouder to call this our home for engine production.” Blue Origin, which Bezos founded in 2000, says it will add more than 300-400 jobs to the local economy. w
April 2020
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TECHNOLOGY
Cybersecurity Certification and Intellectual Property: ‘Only Information is Misinformation, Right Now’ Intellectual Property is a company’s most valued asset. Unfortunately, it is also what cybercriminals are hoping to catch on their next phishing trip in Hacker’s Pond. It’s a business’s biggest nightmare at worst; a major inconvenience at best. When dealing with government agencies, the risk is even greater. To that end, the Department of Defense rolled out its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification which surpasses compliance initiatives currently in place. Once implemented, CMMC will be a mandatory certification for all contractors and subcontractors doing business with the government. To clarify misconceptions and answer questions regarding CMMC, Simple Helix and H2L Solutions teamed up to present, “CMMC: Where Assessment Meets Implementation.” “We appreciate you meeting with us today,” said Tracy Collins, CEO of Simple Helix. “We’re really excited to discuss a topic that’s top of mind for many of us. “The only information is misinformation right now.” Collins empathized that each business has its own needs and budget; he recommended that companies do their research, keeping those factors in mind. “Base your decisions on your business. You have choices, despite what you’re told by others, said Collins. “Consultants, suppliers, they all have great opinions, but do your homework.” “The government will never tell you one way or another,” said Stan Lozovsky, vice president/chief operations officer of H2L Solutions. “They provide the requirement and it’s up to the company to meet those requirements.” As CMMC is implemented,
By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin
companies may not be able to do business with the government without the proper security procedures in place. “CMMC is not here to hinder your business,” said Lozovsky. “It is here to protect your business and to force businesses to take a posture to protect information, your intellectual property, and how you do business.” Once implemented, CMMC will be a mandatory certification for doing business with the government The government is taking a staggered approach to implementation, he said. “The government has a 5-year plan for roll-out,” said Lozovsky. “Whenever there’s a mod (modification), there’s a cost to the government, as well. There’s also a learning curve. “You can’t really just flip a switch and expect everyone to just start doing everything, right off the bat.” Self-certification will also be a thing of the past - third-party auditors must verify the certification criteria. And history has demonstrated that self-certification isn’t always effective. “It will force people into taking an active role in cybersecurity,” said Lozovsky. “The CMMC implementation doesn’t have to be expensive,” said Scott McDaniel, vice president of Technology for Simple Helix. “Do your homework; you have choices with the vendors, tools, and the solutions that you choose to implement.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
TECHNOLOGY
HATCH 2020: Hackathon Challenge Brings Results Let’s hack science and win prizes! What an exciting way to find solutions for challenges in genomics, genetics, and biotechnology. The third annual HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge (HATCH) promised a weekend of science, solutions and collaborations. Sponsored by Hudson Alpha, Acclinate Genetics and Urban Engine, the event was in the Propst Center on the HudsonAlpha campus. Alex Cate, Business Retention/Expansion specialist for HudsonAlpha, spoke on the organization’s mission. “Genetic research is the backbone of what we do,” said Cate. “We have 13 publishing labs at HudsonAlpha, very much similar to any academic institution. We have some of the world’s most renowned faculty members in Genomics.” HATCH was a team-based event. Those who didn’t have a team were matched up with others. There were
12 teams divided into two categories: High school students and college students/professionals. Teams spent the weekend developing their projects. Code had to be developed during a 24-hour period to qualify. There were some technical challenges for some, such as learning new programming systems in a short time. “This is all about collaboration, all about sharing,” Dr. Adam Hott, Digital Applications Lead and Expanding Solutions Expert, said to the participants. “I know where you started and where you’ll need to end up. I don’t know about getting there. “Imagine having a puzzle in front of you; where you don’t have a picture of what that puzzle is supposed to be and the pieces are all green.” Scenarios were given to provide a starting point for each of the challenges. The three challenges were: develop-
By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin
Thirs annual HATCH was a resounding success
ing genomic research in an easy-to-use search platform, genomic sequencing, and a physical therapy challenge that involved developing user-friendly software to motivate people into doing their post-injury exercises.
“One of the challenges was centered around genomic health,” said Cate “And that’s a real challenge that Dr. Hott put together. He’s working on the technology and he’s curious to see what’s developed.” w
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SPORTS
Ralph Nelson and Trash Pandas: Minor League Team, Major League Attitude MADISON — On a wet but rainfree day six weeks removed from what was then the expected home opener for the first-year Rocket City Trash Pandas, everything seemed normal for a franchise preparing to move into a sparkling new stadium. Muddy open fields caused by the constant rain in the area still didn’t have asphalt on top for parking. Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffett-themed hotel and entertainment complex next to Toyota Field, was still just an architect’s rendering. But Ralph Nelson, the team president and CEO who orchestrated the Trash Pandas’ purchase and relocation from Mobile, was unfazed. “It’s not 100 percent, but it’s in the high-90s,’’ he said inside his stadium office as one of his five dogs, 15-yearold golden retriever Julie, moved around cubicles that will house 36 employees. Despite more rain that followed the pressure on all involved, a delay to be ready for the scheduled April 15 opener was granted.
But baseball will be back, and whenever that happens Nelson and his group of 50 investors have committed to bringing top-shelf entertainment to the Tennessee Valley. “Our business philosophy from Day One was to do things really, really first-class,’’ Nelson said in early March. The story has been told. Nelson, who has Major League Baseball front office experience with San Francisco and Arizona, scratched out some ideas at his kitchen table in
Ralph Nelson , Trash Pandas team president and CEO
However, it was not welcome. The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing suspension of Major League and Minor League Baseball activities will delay the start of seasons. As of this writing, neither MLB nor MiLB had issued statements regarding when their leagues will resume activities.
Vermont. He searched for a minor league team for sale, which had an apathetic management and fan base. He checked on the Montgomery Biscuits, moved on and found the Mobile BayBears. He then sought a site for relocation in states surrounding Alabama and settled on the Huntsville-Madison
area after getting a commitment from Madison Mayor Paul Findley. Nelson, meanwhile, was putting together an investment group that brought more than $20 million into the project. While looking for a minor league team, Nelson “researched and realized the business had changed’’ and knew he’d need partners. “We paid $15 million for this team,’’ Nelson said. “In 1976, when I started in San Francisco, the Giants had just sold for $8 million. We had 20-22 people on staff at the time and that included the clubhouse guy and the night watchman. “We’ve got (36) working in this office now for a Double-A team fulltime.’’ Nelson contacted Dallas investment fund manager Mark Holland, who proceed to bring in partners from cities such as Chicago and Washington, D.C. A group from the nation’s capital added $4.5 million to the pot. “They wanted to bring in more but we didn’t have more (for investment),’’ Nelson said. “It was a word of mouth thing.’’ Mark McCarter, a longtime sportswriter who covered the Southern League for years, has seen the minor league landscape change drastically and understands why Nelson had to put together an investment group. “It’s almost a disservice to the Trash Pandas to compare them to the Huntsville Stars era,’’ he said. “It’s a brand new world in Minor League Baseball from even six years ago, much less to the early days of the Stars. The Rocket City team has a large, talented staff and it has ownership that has been fully involved since Day One. “Going to games will be much more about the fan experience and entertainment, but still offering a wellplayed game by guys we’ll soon be able to watch in the Major Leagues,” said McCarter, who has authored a book, “Pandamonium,” which tells the story of the Trash Pandas’ arrival and the arc of professional baseball in North Alabama. McCarter is also Convention Sales Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
By Mike Easterling / Photos by Steve Babin
As for the Trash Pandas impact on the local economy, studies suggest there is a measurable economic impact from having a minor league team, through tax revenue, benefits to restaurants and hotels. Visiting teams, umpires, scouts and other officials alone should provide more than a $1.7 million annual economic impact. That doesn’t include spending by the Trash Pandas themselves or their families. Minor League Baseball’s benefits are often more intangible, according to studies.
It adds to a community’s quality of life, exposure and can spur new business development. As companies look to relocate or expand, they look at communities with amenities that will attract new employees or make relocation more enticing for current employees, whether it’s a minor league team or a symphony or greenspace. Nelson said attending a Trash Pandas game, whenever they officially begin, will become must-see entertainment. Among the amenities offered by Rocket City is a full-time chef with catering services. “We have one employee whose only job is about the fan experience,’’ Nelson said. “From the time you pull into that parking lot until the time you leave that parking lot, you’re in our hands.’’ w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COVID-19
Restaurants, Sports Bars Tackling Coronavirus Outbreak It was supposed to be a day to crown college basketball men’s conference champions, then the field for the NCAA Tournament would be announced around supper time. These annual events, and the ensuing tournament in all of its bracketed splendor, draws hordes to bars with their banks of televisions. But this was no ordinary Sunday, not with the coronavirus COVID-19 spreading fear around the globe. There were no conference finals, no selection show, and sports seasons from high schools to the professional leagues have either been canceled or suspended. Businesses are feeling the effects. “It’s been slow,’’ said Maquita, one of two bartenders at a bar where only four patrons sat at Baumhower’s Victory Grille. “There’s no March Madness. People want to watch basketball. This is not a normal crowd.’’
Baumhower’s on Memorial Parkway is usually a hub of activity during any big sports event. However, all was not lost as the crowds in the dining area remained solid. At least on this third Sunday of the month and the following two days. “It’s been down a little bit, but nothing crazy,’’ said Jason, a manager at Baumhower’s. “We have a loyal following.’’ By choice, the restaurant chain decided to cut capacity 50 percent and was seating customers in every other booth. On Tuesday, when the first NCAA games were scheduled to be played, two people sat the bar at Chili’s on Carl T. Jones and watched replays of old games and shows on ESPN like NFL Countdown to Free Agency. “There are no sports right now,’’ said Brandon, a bartender who also works at Diamond’s Sports Bar and
Grill and at the Botanical Garden, where he said one planned wedding was held the week before but another canceled. He said business at Diamond’s had been “about the same.’’ Some local restaurants are providing drive-thru or curbside service
By Mike Easterling
and have curtailed hours, but no government authorities have mandated closures. “In Birmingham, they’re closing bars and restaurants,’’ Brandon said. “In Florida they’re closing nightclubs and bars but no restaurants, yet.’’ w
April 2020
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COVID-19
Berryhill: COVID-19 not ‘Doomsday Virus’ but Poses Risk and Consequences MADISON — Madison County Coroner Dr. Tyler Berryhill kicked things off with an important medical assessment. “The biggest thing I want people to know is yes, this virus does pose risks and consequences, absolutely…everyone is pulling together to fight the spread, but this is not the doomsday virus,” Berryhill said. “Everything is going to be OK.” Speaking to the Tennessee Valley Republican Club at its March meeting, Berryhill said the mortality rate is probably going to be between one and two percent, but not likely to be above two. “A lot of people are going to have symptoms no more serious than a cough or a cold, and a couple of days later, they’ll fine,” he said. “There are some people that will never have the symptoms at all.
“But if we stay between one and two percent, out of 100 people, that’s one or two people - that’s still people’s lives…so the most important thing people need to know is yes, it’s something that needs to be dealt with. If the coronavirus has the same exposure that influenza does, which it doesn’t right now, it does have a higher mortality rate.” He went on to say that in the past 60 to 90 days, he has had six people die of influenza here in Madison County. However, the great measures being taken across the country to reduce the transmission means that in the end, it is nowhere near as lethal as the initial SARS in 2003 or even the MERS virus of 2015. Berryhill says there are repercussions to shutting down schools. “It’s not so much that children have been getting the virus because
they haven’t, but children will shed the virus, causing a lot of hardship for working people and the healthcare community,” he said. “I’ve seen some reports where 30 to 40 percent of the nurses in this country have children, and all of a sudden, they have to come home, which creates a window of sick leave in which there are going to be shortages.” He said parents should also be careful about sending their kids to stay with grandparents, especially those who are older and who have
By Kimberly Ballard
underlying health conditions, because they are the most vulnerable. “The biggest piece to remember is that everything is going to be OK,” he concluded. “Some people have implied that had Ebola spread like this… COVID-19 is nothing like that, but it is something of concern.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COVER
COVID-19 Takes Toll on
By Bud McLaughlin
Melanie worked two part-time jobs in the local retail industry. She was doing fine. In fact, she was doing so well at Company A, she was able to quit Company B. She didn’t enjoy the work environment there as she was under the thumb of micromanagers, critics
and egotistic supervisors. But, less than a week after quitting Company B, Melanie was let go from Company A with about a dozen other co-workers. Company A was closing temporarily because of a lack of business due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
She was told it was going to be “a couple of weeks” before Company A would reopen its doors. But she didn’t have a couple of weeks; Melanie had rent and utility bills due. And it isn’t easy finding a job with businesses shutting down in-
definitely because of COVID-19. And now it’s April. And April can’t come too soon. But, will it be May or June before we return to “normalcy”? Bekah Schmidt, executive director of South Huntsville Main Business Association, offered five ways to help local small businesses during this crisis. “It has never been more important to support our local small business community,” Schmidt said. “The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting brick and mortars all over the nation, and no business is immune to this national emergency.” Here are five ways you can support small businesses in Huntsville, from your couch or car. 1. Order takeout or delivery from your favorite independent restaurants
Your favorite restaurant may have shut its doors, but you can still order online through apps such as Grub Hub, Grub South, Door Dash and more. Independent restaurant owners are transitioning their servers to deliverers. Call the store first and ask what the best delivery method is for the restaurant. Most restaurants are offering curbside service too, which allows for touchless delivery to your vehicle. If you do use an online delivery app, Grub Hub is waving fees for independent restaurant owners, so more of your money will end up in the restaurant owner’s pocket.
April 2020
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STORY
n People and Business
n & Bekah Schmidt
2. Look for take and bake options or ready-made meals
Several businesses are offering meals to go for the whole family versus individual meals. This is more cost effective for the business owner and consumer and requires less touch points in handling of the food. Good Company Café is offering a “take and bake” menu, and Kathleen’s Catering is offering dinner for 6 for $35.99! Ordering dinner from a local restaurant, versus going to the grocery store reduces the amount of touch points and exposure you have to the general public. (A small restaurant might have a staff of 5 or less – going to the grocery store you are exposed to hundreds of people!) One last tip, you can also freeze the meals for later! 3. Shop your favorite local retailers online
Retail stores are moving their business online and to their social media accounts – which is where customers are too! You can still pick up a birthday gift for a friend or find the perfect home décor for spring from your couch. Businesses are posting their products online and invoicing customers. Other retailers are offering curbside pickup or delivery. Ruth’s Nutrition, a vitamin store in South Huntsville, is taking orders and payments over the phone, and bringing your order to your car, so you don’t have to leave your vehicle. 4. Purchase a Gift Card
Purchasing a gift card to a local business is a GREAT way to support the local economy right now. The business gets the cash they need now – and you get to treat
yourself later! Most businesses offer gift cards online. If you don’t see a gift card online option, call the store. Business owners are mailing out gift certificates to customers or offering curbside gift card delivery. Even if it is only $20, it makes a huge difference for our local businesses! 5. Write a positive review The Coronavirus outbreak has caught everyone off guard and our small business owners are all feeling
the pressure of the unknown. As a customer you can like, comment, share and review our businesses and inspire others to do the same. It takes less than a minute to leave a positive review. When you review a business, you build consumer confidence and encourage others to shop local. As many businesses transition to doing most of their business online, business owners will rely on your feedback to improve their processes. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
DINING
‘To Go’ is the Way to Go for Dining During COVID-19 Emergency By Kimberly Ballard With health agencies recommending against public gatherings, local businesses and restaurants have come up with new strategies and practices to stay in business. “There are a lot of unknowns but I think people are doing a really good job trying to discern best practices that will keep the customers safe while also providing them with things they need like food,” said Downtown Huntsville Inc. President/ CEO Chad Emerson. “I’ve been very pleased with seeing how everyone is willing to consider new approaches especially in the immediate term.” Emerson spoke to the Huntsville Business Journal about what his organization is doing to keep the food and beverage industry apprised of current events surrounding the virus. “We’re continuing to gather as much useful information as possible and to share it as efficiently as possible,” Emerson said. “We’re looking at what other cities that are further along in the process because they were exposed to the situation earlier than we were, are using that can help us develop some best practices. “We have a lot of really smart people here in Huntsville that are resilient, and they are committed to trying new ways to serve the public.” Visit https://www.downtownhuntsville.org/blog to find Best Practices information. It is updated regularly. “Every Monday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. we’re having general updates and information via conference call,” Emerson said. “This is information we are gleaning both locally as well as from other downtowns. “It is really an opportunity to try to give everyone a chance to be heard and to ask questions. We have designed it for downtown operators, mostly for food and beverage operators, but any of those establishments
around Huntsville and Madison are welcome to call in. It is a team effort citywide.” Emerson also wanted to stress that currently, all downtown restaurants are open for business. Many are increasing To-Go options to the point in which they will bring food out to your car; some are expanding their delivery options; and almost all are
modifying their in-restaurant dining experience to increase the distance between guests. “Even if the in-restaurant dining experience is limited or closed in the days ahead, most of the restaurants we are dealing with are continuing to operate,” he said. “So, if you have a favorite restaurant where you usually go out to dine, check their social media or call them and ask them what their options are including delivery and ToGo.” Downtown Huntsville does not have any food truck events scheduled, but social media is the best place to find out whether some of them will be set up somewhere remotely. Emerson said no one has called a halt to food trucks right now but the Food Truck Corral at NASA has been postponed. In terms of retail, Emerson said, “We’re finding that people have more time, and they may not be gathering as often at large public events but people are still interested in getting out of the house and keeping life going as normally as possible, and that includes buying new goods they need.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SAFETY
Human Trafficking Incident Halted at Huntsville International It began with a lost car in the parking garage at Huntsville International Airport and ended with three airport employees and a Delta Airlines manager halting what the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration confirmed as an attempted human trafficking incident – the first known incident of its kind at HSV. Airport Public Relations and Customer Service Manager Jana Kuner; Airport Chief of Public Safety Chris Scott; Airport Public Safety Lt. Heath Murphy; and Delta Station Manager Randy Tiemann implemented DHS’s “If you see something, say something” Blue Campaign protocol when the circumstances surrounding a young female passenger and her mother triggered their attention. Kuner encountered a woman in the airport parking garage, distressed because she could not find her car. In helping her locate it, Kuner and the woman struck up a conversation in which the woman shared how excited she was for her daughter who had answered an ad for a modeling job. The “modeling agents” had bought her an airline ticket, and her mother had just dropped her off at the terminal to go meet them. Kuner has been trained to recognize that human traffickers often use manipulation or false promises of fame and fortune, well-paying acting and modeling jobs, or romantic relationships to lure vulnerable victims into trafficking situations. Knowing the daughter would be waiting alone at the gate, Kuner walked down to the terminal to see if she needed anything and immediately recognized her based on her mother’s description. She was immediately suspicious because modeling candidates tend to be tall and this young woman was petite. Kuner sat down and struck
up a conversation with her and introduced her to a public safety officer at the airport. The officer talked about how human trafficking works and to get reassurances from her that the people on the other end were legitimate. The officer then offered to have a public safety escort meet the young woman at her destination, to assist her in finding her party. The young woman, 21, was capable of making her own decisions, and Kuner was unable to convince her there might be a problem. All the time they were chatting, however, the woman was getting a barrage of texts asking her questions like, “Where are you now?”, “Who is with you?”, “Have you boarded yet?” Kuner spoke with a woman on the other end of the line who sounded convincing, although Kuner was still suspicious as the passenger boarded the plane. Kuner returned to her office to call airport security for a public safety escort to meet the passenger at the other end of the flight. Less than 10 minutes later, Kuner got a call from airport security that the passenger had gotten off the plane and asked to speak to Kuner. As it turned out, while the young woman was on the plane waiting to take off, her contact texted her they had cancelled her flight and told her to get off the airplane. Authorities are now certain she was walking into a human trafficking trap and believe she had
already been sold before boarding the plane. “That was all I could hope to accomplish, to stop her from taking that flight because the circumstances didn’t make sense,” Kuner said. “The customer later called us to tell us how thankful she was for our actions.” The Department of Homeland Security said millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide every year and if it can happen here in Huntsville, it can happen in any community to anyone. “On Jan. 14, 2020, three Huntsville International Airport employees and one Delta Airlines employee became aware of and took action that prevented a young woman traveling out of the Huntsville International Airport from becoming a victim of human trafficking,” said Gail Linkins, TSA Federal Security Director for Alabama. Rick Tucker, CEO of Huntsville International Airport, credits the airport’s customer service train-
By Kimberly Ballard
ing for the stop. “The Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force stated that human trafficking is now the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and notes that this is not just a global epidemic, but a local one as well,” said Tucker. “We teach our employees and all of our partner organization’s employees at HSV to always be alert to customer needs.” He said this awareness includes everything from requests for simple conveniences, all the way up to security measures utilizing the DHS’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign. “In this instance, we had several employees that took that training to heart, noticed some irregularities and ultimately saved the life of a passenger that was confirmed to have been targeted for human trafficking,” Tucker said. “We will continue this training with our employees because our passengers are our priority at Huntsville International Airport.” w
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HEALTHCARE
HAPPI Health Becomes a Federally Qualified Nonprofit Over the past decade, HAPPI Health has continuously expanded its services, along with its office space. HAPPI now occupies two buildings on Franklin Street, along with locations on Sparkman Drive and Pansy Street. From its humble beginnings, HAPPI has been providing primary medical care from newborns to seniors. The name HAPPI stands for Healthy Adult and Pediatric Provider Involvement. “We started out 10 years ago as HAPPI, Inc.,” said Dr. Angelique Andrews, CMO. “(We were) just a little private practice and a pediatric clinic that took everybody’s insurance, including self-pay. And we grew into an urgent care, and then into family practice and behavioral health, and we decided to become nonprofit. “So, this is the culmination of all of that growth, becoming nonprofit and seeing how we can best serve our community, and that was by getting
the Federally Qualified Health Center designation. The ribbon-cutting was to celebrate the fact that we now have that designation.” The event brought in plenty of well-wishers, filling the office lobby to capacity. “It’s amazing, the relationships we have here today,” said Tina Blankenship with the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce. “I was blown away by how many people came out for it,” said Andrews. “I do love our community, because they have been so receptive from day one. From the time I went around giving my business cards to local obstetricians and other local community places to start the practice, to being a new pediatrician and the whole transition to becoming a nonprofit.” Arriving in Huntsville in 2007 via Los Angeles County pediatric ER, Andrews started out in the Pediatric ER at Huntsville Hospital.
By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin
Pictured L to R - Back Row: Nick DeMarte, Oscar Conulada, T handi Gooden, Harrison Diamond, Shawn Mitchell, Stephen Shaw Front Row: Ann Kepner, Sandy Hedden, Mr. Raymond Andrews, Dr. Angelique Andrews
By then, as a mother of two very active boys, Andrews came to realize that the fast pace and erratic hours of her job interfered with attaining a work-life balance that she could live with. That’s what prompted her to open her own practice. HAPPI started small and grew big to meet the needs of the community. “We started out in Suite B and that housed our entire practice,” said An-
drews. “We gradually overtook the entire building and then moved into the building next door to house our urgent care.” The newest “mini-satellite” location on Sparkman Drive handles primary care and walk-ins. “The Sparkman office saw 3,000 patients last year, so they’re coming up on our heels pretty fast,” said Andrews. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SMALL BUSINESS
Local Small Businesses Take COVID-19 Hit, Vow Flexibility MADISON — Some small businesses aren’t going to make it, but those who do are vowing to hunker down and do what it takes to survive. That was the overall sentiment coming from small business owners, state and local government officials, and members of the Tennessee Valley Republican Club as they gathered for the March meeting at Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza in Madison. Sharing coffee, donuts, music and fist bumps instead of handshakes, the meeting was a mixture of rallying cry behind small business, common reassurances, the medical perspective, politics, a sharing of best practices, and a call to find flexible alternatives and solutions that will get each other through the days ahead in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. There was one common theme however - COVID-19 may stymie growth and delay the opening of new stores
and restaurants, but local businesses are used to delays…the weather and labor shortages have held up roadwork, traffic and construction all over the county for the past 10 years.
And if fits and starts and problems and delays – as frustrating as they may be – dispirited the Rocket City, then Watercress Capital of the World would still be Huntsville’s claim to fame! Stan Stinson of Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza in Huntsville and Madison; and Dan Perry of Straight to Ale are experiencing new meanings to the idea that entrepreneurs are willing to take risks – even those that are unforeseeable.
And Perry is no stranger to hard fights. The engineer started his Straight to Ale Brewery in 2009 after the “Free the Hops” grassroots non-profit organization succeeded in increasing the alcohol by volume (ABV) limit in beer from 6 percent to 13.9 percent. That, in itself, took an “act of Congress”, but the disruption caused by COVID-19 offers new challenges to his expanded 55,000 square-foot facility at Campus 805. Stinson said there will be some businesses that do not survive it, but he does not intend to be one of them. That doesn’t mean however, he won’t take a hit. He rushed to get his new Self Serve Drinkery open in time for the annual
By Kimberly Ballard
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Huntsville. However, the annual celebration was, itself, a casualty of COVID-19. “I estimate I lost $7,000 in business at the downtown location of Earth and Stone Saturday when the parade shut down,” he said. “And probably at least $2,000 at the Self Serve Drinkery. But who really knows, it being our first day open. “To give you some perspective, Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza opens on parade day at 8 a.m. because people begin celebrating that early, and we are usually packed. At noon this Saturday, we had our first two customers.” Stinson was also looking to open two additional restaurants this month: the Bark & Barrel BBQ on County Line Road in Madison and a new eatery at the Stovehouse. “We will be meeting this week to discuss the way forward,” he said. w
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SMALL BUSINESS
Catalyst Center Features HUBZone Accelerator and Socio-Economic Showcase Here in Huntsville-Madison County, landing a government contract is a big deal. What many people may not know is that the federal government provides “set-aside” programs for qualifying small businesses, based on gender, socioeconomic, geographic or veteran-status criteria. For business designations, such as Women Owned Small Businesses, 8-a Small Business Development Programs, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), the government is required to allocate a percentage of small business “set-asides” to help “level the playing field” when it comes to government-awarded contracts. The term HUBZone has come to the forefront in recent years. This designation is made by the Small Business Administration with the goal of developing a robust business community in low-income areas. The strategy is two-fold: improving the area’s economy while providing jobs for its residents. To qualify as a HUBZone, a business must be in an identified, underserved area and employ at least 35 percent of its workers from that community. To help establish and support HUBZone business ventures, The Catalyst teamed up with local HUBZone business owners to form the HUBZone Accelerator in 2018. The Accelerator provides much-needed business coaching, mentoring, training and networking opportunities to HUBZone designated businesses. On a quarterly basis, the HUBZone Accelerator convenes to address relevant business topics, such as government contracting, legislative updates, policy changes and workforce development. The most recent HUBZone Accelerator quarterly met at the Huntsville Botanical Garden; lunch
was catered by Urban Kitchen. The Presenting Sponsor, Booz Allen Hamilton discussed small businesses and partnership potential, based on their areas of expertise. Several HUBZone companies were also on hand to share their success stories - new contracts, increased staffing, teaming agreements, as well as certifications and awards. A few months ago, Drake State and The Catalyst Center partnered to provide free business training and an Entrepreneurship Certificate program for small, disadvantaged businesses. Dr. Deloris Smothers, Division Chair, Business and Information Technologies at Drake State, discussed the Entrepreneurship Certificate and how The Catalyst can provide scholarships to area HUBZone businesses through its 7j Management & Technical Assistance grant. Following the quarterly HUBZone Accelerator meeting, The Catalyst presented its SocioEconomic Showcase. As a business-style “meet and greet,” the showcase gave small businesses the opportunity to connect with prime contractors and government agencies. There were over 150 participants connecting with the 40 local businesses that set up information tables and answered questions. “We are so happy that The Catalyst was able to provide a forum for these small disadvantaged businesses and to come together and connect to each other, large businesses and to government representatives,” said Leigh Christian, TechRich project manager. “This is key for them to obtain an opportunity to get contracts. The saying that I have heard David Brock, small business advocate at the Marshall Space Flight Center, say is ‘contacts lead to contracts’.” w
By Lori J. Connors / Photo by Steve Babin
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
ENTREPRENEUR
Innovate HSV: Five Exciting Years of Entrepreneurial Excellence The five-day “Entrepreneur Fest” officially known as Innovate HSV continues to grow with each passing year. This year’s fifth annual was no exception. It was the biggest one yet – jam-packed with 21 events over the course of five days. And what a week it was! The area’s largest small business incubators and advocates: Angel Investors of North Alabama , Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, HudsonAlpha, NAITA, R.I.S.E., The Catalyst, Urban Engine, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M College of Business & Public Affairs and Oakwood University all presented business-focused events. There were some 800 single-event registrations for the weeklong extravaganza.
“This new space promises to be the next small business incubator.” The events were hosted at various locations throughout the city: The Jackson Center, the Westin, Huntsville Chamber, The Catalyst, BizTech, I2C and Urban Engine. Event topics included, “Small Business Innovation and Research, Small Business Technology Transfer,” where subject matter experts discussed best practices and lessons learned; “Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification” covered regulations and compliance; “Data Analytics for BusiPicture below Mayor Tommy Battle and Larry Lewis, ProjectXYZ CEO
By Lori J. Connors / Photos by Steve Babin
ness” demonstrated the importance of data analytics when analyzing consumer trends; “Business Assistance Microloan Clinic,” showed participants how to apply for a BAM. The “Engineer-to-Entrepreneur Technology Roadshow demonstrated cutting-edge Mayor Tommy Battle joins Larry Lewis, CEO of ProjectXYZ in a ribbon cutting for Innovate HSV’s new working space technologies;” The “Boost Idea Pitch Competition” together to promote one another and Featuring a week filled with challenged participants to develop a networking, support and collabosolution or harness an opportunity. most importantly, collectively serve the thriving entrepreneurial spirit ration, Innovate HSV connects Cash prizes were awarded to the two here in North Alabama.” entrepreneurs and innovators with winning pitches. Since its inception in 2015, local resources to build solid netTwo evening networking events, Co-Working Night at Urban En- Innovate HSV has served to works and to uncover opportunities celebrate entrepreneurs and small within Huntsville’s growing business gine and “Business and Brews” gave community. w participants an opportunity to con- business startups. nect with local entrepreneurs and a chance to become better acquainted in a casual setting. The official “Kick-Off” began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Innovate HSV’s new coworking space, located downtown in the basement of the old Times Building. “This center belongs to all of us,” said Larry Lewis, CEO of Project XYZ. “This new space promises to be the next small business incubator.” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, “This is the next startup place. This is where the next Fortune 500 companies start.” The 5th Annual Entrepreneur Awards luncheon, presented by the Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship, capped off the week. This celebration of local small business owners featured nine categories, all demonstrating entrepreneurial excellence. “The event (Innovate HSV) was a beautiful show of collaboration and community,” said Vicki Morris, Communications Coordinator for Innovate HSV. “Several independent organizations, all with a mission to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in one specific way or another came
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GOVERNMENT
Renovations Continue, Redstone Gateway Expands, FBI Plants Roots on Redstone Arsenal Thousands of people daily skirt around the edges of or drive into that “city” called Redstone Arsenal. The area’s own little diamond in the rough, it has its own infrastructure including readily accessible utilities, trash pick-up, and strong roadway arteries. Most residents know that if they could jump on Martin Road off South Memorial Parkway and drive it straight across Redstone Arsenal, they could be at the Huntsville International Airport in less than five minutes. But no one cares that it takes 18 minutes to go around. According to procurement data and employment counts provided by Redstone Arsenal and the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce (2012), Redstone delivers more than 100,000 jobs from 10 surrounding counties with a total annual economic impact of nearly $12 billion. Eight years later, that little diamond is shining up nicely as several building projects are in full construction mode. Among them are the new FBI campus and Redstone Gateway. Straddling Gate 9 off Interstate 565, Redstone Gateway has 800,000 square feet of space in some stage of design or construction. It includes permanent office space and swing space for anyone who needs a short-term lease. There is a Townplace Suites by Marriott and another hotel property will be coming soon. According to Joe Davis, director of Public Works for the garrison, the arsenal supports 77 government agencies and they are competitive on all their leases; however, many of those agencies and private companies enjoy having facilities outside the gate where there is easy access to hotels, shopping and restaurants. “A lot of them lease space in the local economy and Redstone Gateway is another place they can do that,” said Davis. “Redstone Gateway has master planned about 4.3 million square feet of class A office space and about six percent of it will be retail-oriented in support of the office space with restaurants, a childcare center, something
akin to a Kinkos, and a small drug store.” Offbeat Coffee will operate a drivethru and walk-up coffee store, Offbeat To Go, which is being created from a cargo shipping container and expected to open by May.
Offbeat Coffee owner, Kyle Husband, stated, “We had been looking to expand operations, and could not have found a better opportunity than Redstone Gateway. COPT and JWA are creating a place where people want to work, and we want to serve those people. We’re excited to get our coffee in the hands of people working at the Arsenal, Redstone Gateway, and the surrounding areas with speedy drivethru and walk-up service.” COPT Huntsville’s Director of Asset Management, James Lomax said, “COPT is thrilled to partner with a local provider with such an excellent
product. ‘Offbeat To Go’ adds a new amenity that serve current and future tenants at Redstone Gateway. We believe this homegrown company is just another testament to the economic impact of Redstone Arsenal.” Some government agencies are taking advantage of Redstone Gateway swing space on the secure side of Gate 9, sometimes temporarily. One of the biggest builders on Redstone Arsenal right now is the FBI, with buildings in various stages of design and construction. Their aggressive construction schedule will house current and incoming employees. In terms of renovations, Redstone Arsenal continues to see a lot of it. NASA has been working steadily for several years on its construction replacement plan, updating aging facilities with new ones. “In a nutshell, we have about 14.5 million square feet of space on the Army side, and 4.5 million square feet on the NASA side, so about 19 million square feet of space out here on the arsenal,” said Davis. That space consists of office space, laboratories, and test areas, and a military housing contingent of 354, which is small compared to most troop-oriented military posts. “Here at the Public Works Department, we are doing an average of $100 million a year in renovation work to facilities,” said Davis. “There was a
by Kimberly Ballard / Photo courtesy of COPT
glut of construction in the early 1960s and it stagnated through the 1970s. Then, in the mid-1980s, we started up again and it’s been constant ever since, replacing infrastructure to keep up with the current demands. “Sometimes it is add-ons, sometimes it is in the process of modernization, and sometimes it involves getting an upgrade to bring them up to current building codes.” Team Redstone has an aggressive, shovel-ready Master Plan according to Garrison public affairs officer Julie Frederick. “Redstone Arsenal has 38,000 total acres of land and a vast amount of it is undeveloped and waiting for the right project,” she said. “Right now, we have about 14,000 acres of developable acreage on the arsenal. In doing our master planning, we have almost 3,000 acres of what we consider readily available space, prime land that based on the requirements, is ready for a big construction project.” For instance, Redstone hasn’t seen a big military construction project in the last few years, but the Master Plan ensures they are always prepared for one if it comes their way. “Because we have so much undeveloped land and plenty of room to grow, our Master Plan is focused on planning for growth in a way that is congruent with what we already have, and in areas where we are not building, we’re trying to make what we have a little bit more efficient, doing growth the right way and keeping organizations that have like functions, somewhat together in one area,” Frederick said. Whether it is along the outer edges or smack dab in the middle, growth and economic development is turning Huntsville’s rough-cut diamond into a faceted gem! w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS BRIEFCASE
Gradl Named Kent’s First Female Vice President Huntsvillian Leah Gradl has been named the first female vice president in the history of Kent Companies. Gradl was recently promoted to vice president of Support Operations. She will oversee the Marketing, Safety, Human Resources, Training/Education and IT divisions nationwide. “Leah has a long track record of collaborating with cross functional teams across all Kent Companies offices,” said Kent CEO Jeff VanderLaan. “With her leadership, we’re driving for alignment and efficiency across our support divisions, ensuring we provide the greatest impact to our team members, our operating divisions and ultimately to our customers.” Gradl joined Kent in 2011 in a consulting role. As corporate marketing
manager, she oversaw the organization’s national rebranding 2013. Gradl champions new technology platforms, employee engagement initiatives, business development resources and community stewardship. “Kent Companies is doing all the right things to position our people, our customers and our community for success,” Gradl said. “Our support teams are fully committed to equipping our front lines with the resources they need to build safely, efficiently and with purpose.” Gradl holds an MBA from the University of Alabama-Huntsville and a bachelor’s in management from Wittenberg University. w
NAR Survey: Home Buyer Interest Has Decreased Due to the COVID-19 Nearly half of Realtors – 48 percent – said home buyer interest has decreased due to the coronavirus outbreak, accord-
ing to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors. That percentage tripled from a week ago when it stood at 16 percent. Almost seven in 10 Realtors – 69 percent – said there’s no change in the number of homes on the market due to the coronavirus outbreak, down from 87 percent a week ago. “The decline in confidence related to the direction of the economy coupled with the unprecedented measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, including major social distancing efforts nationwide, are naturally bringing an abundance of caution among buyers and sellers,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “With fewer listings in what’s already a housing shortage environment, home prices are likely to hold steady. The temporary softening of the real estate market will likely be followed by a strong rebound once the economic ‘quarantine’ is lifted, and it’s critical that supply is sufficient to meet pent-up demand.” NAR’s latest Economic Pulse Flash Survey – conducted March 16-17 – asked members questions about how
the coronavirus outbreak, including the significant declines in stock market values and mortgage interest rates, has impacted home buyer and seller interest and behavior as well as new commercial clients who want to lease and purchase property. With respect to the coronavirus, several highlights of the member survey include: • 45 percent of members said the stock market correction and lower mortgage rates roughly balanced out, noting no significant change in buyer behavior. • The majority of members, 61 percent, reported no change in sellers removing homes from the market, down from 81 percent. • Four in 10 members said home sellers have not changed how their home is viewed while it remains on the market. One week ago, nearly eight in 10 members – 77 percent – said the same. • More than half of commercial members, 54%, have seen a decline in leasing clients, up from 18 percent of commercial members. • Eighty-three percent of commercial buildings have changed practices, with the most common being offering more
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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE
hand sanitizer, more frequent building cleanings, and increasing numbers of tenants working remotely. w
ASME Names Torch Outstanding Engineering Organization of the Year Huntsville-based Torch Technologies has been chosen by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, North Alabama Section, as the Outstanding Engineering Organization for 2020. In selecting the engineering organization of the year, the NAS considers engineering accomplishment, contributions to the community, milestones, research, and contracts that impact the Huntsville/Tennessee Valley area. Torch President and CEO John Watson said, “We are honored to receive this recognition during Engineers Week, and we have our employee-owners to thank
for our continued success. Our engineers continue to strive to deliver outstanding solutions and technologies to our customer, and we take great pride in the work that we do supporting the Warfighter.” w
Huntsville-Based Merit Bank Hits $100M Milestone Merit Bank has reached $100 million in assets. In July, Merit Bank announced it had raised nearly $25 million through a private stock offering.. President and CEO of Merit Bank, Hill Womble, attributed the success to Merit Bank’s team, its technology, and local focus meeting market demand. “The past six months have been a whirlwind of activity and excitement,” said Womble. “I am thankful for the support of the community in helping Merit Bank reach $100 million in as-
sets. Achieving a benchmark of this magnitude so timely excites me about the future of the bank. “It also reinforces our position that small business owners and entrepreneurs like doing business with a Huntsville-headquartered bank.” w
CommentSold, Lightspeed Join to Offer Selling Channel CommentSold, a social commerce platform, and Lightspeed, a cloudbased point-of-sale system, announced a strategic partnership to fuel boutique retailers’ growth. This partnership involves integration between the two platforms that provides brick and mortar retailers the opportunity to add social media as a selling channel. Lightspeed users can take advantage of CommentSold’s integrations with Facebook and Instagram, tapping into a huge market. “This is powerful because Com-
mentSold and Lightspeed are advocates for the same goal of enabling owners to grow their businesses,” said Andy Smith, COO of CommentSold. “CommentSold provides a frictionless social shopping experience that allows stores to sell right on Facebook, Instagram, and personalized mobile apps. Paired with Lightspeed’s scalable point-of-sale systems, these stores can now seamlessly sell everywhere, giving them a chance at competing in an ever-changing marketplace.” Users of Lightspeed and CommentSold will auto-sync inventory from Lightspeed to CommentSold. CommentSold then automates retail operations like invoicing and streamlines shipping and fulfillment for inventory sold on social. “This integration is a response to a need we’ve heard from our retail users,” said Peter Dougherty, Lightspeed’s Senior Director of Partnerships. “We are excited to offer our customers easy access to sell on social because it makes something that might have felt intimidating suddenly become attainable.” w
LEGAL NOTICE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY Pursuant to state statute, the following former tenants at Karen Mobile Home Park (Landlord), 504 Johns Road, Huntsville, AL are hereby tendered written notice that the landlord deems the leased premises to be “abandoned.” Thereafter, if you do not provide the landlord with written notification of your intent to reclaim your property and remit payment of the past due rents, moving, cleaning and storage costs and reclaim your personal property, the personal property and mobile home will be claimed by the landlord. Unless you contact the landlord, the landlord shall enter and retake possession of the leased premises thirty days after this notice has been made public. Lot 48. Owner Unknown Lot 10. Linda Hill Lot 16. Jamal Cummins Lot 31. Jessica Polks
You may contact the Landlord: Karen Mobile Home Park, 4410-A Evangel Circle, Huntsville, AL 35816 (256) 837-6850
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