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Ron Poteat, north Alabama area executive for Regions Bank, introduced Bob Allsbrook, chief economist and senior vice president for Regions Bank, to the crowd at a breakfast sponsored by Regions Bank on May 21. Allsbrook shared his predictions about the economy.

Allsbrook, known for his national economic projections, made his comments at a recent breakfast seminar in Huntsville and said he is constantly asked about the nation’s economy.

“Never in my career have I seen such concern,” he said.

Allsbrook is a member of the National Association for Business Economics and a member of the National Economic Policy Panel. He is also a past member of the American Bankers Association Economic Advisory Committee, which advises the Federal Reserve. He has made many national media appearances as well as spoken to national trade groups about the country’s current and projected economic vitality.

“We’re in a recession now, but that’s not my most important point,” said Allsbrook, adding that the nation is in the second most challenging time in its economic history. He projects the current recession to last between 12 and 18 months.

“This is definitely affecting consumers’ vacations this year. Consumers are staying home,” he said. “Sales, personal income, employment, and industrial production look exactly like they did in the first four months of the last recession in 2001.”

However, economic outlook in Huntsville is much more vibrant. “And you can quote me on that,” he said.

Don Nalley, director of Beason & Nalley and the vice chair of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, presents a commemorative plaque to Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services, during a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 22.

The company features a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week forecasting operation, which is responsible for data quality assurance.

“I am so proud of this new facility,” said Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services. “Our continued success has compelled us to double the size of our headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. We now have the space and technologies we need to support our customers for years to come.” Continue »

Ron Klein prepares to cut the ribbon with Ron Poteat, Mayor Loretta Spencer, and Sandy Klein at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Belzon, Inc. on May 22.

“I am so appreciative you’ve come to celebrate our progress. Ten years ago, we were a one-man company, and now we have 80 employees,” said Klein. The company has grown from $331,000 in revenue in 1998 to $11.6 million in 2008.

“We are pleased that Ron Klein recognized Huntsville as a smart place to start a business and that this company has continually expanded its presence in our community,” said Ron Poteat, vice chair of Research and Information Services for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Poteat served as master of ceremonies at the event.

“I want to thank you, Ron, for investing in Huntsville and participating in the community,” said Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer. “We’re looking forward to your continued success, and we thank you for what you do for our military.”

Klein recently learned that the National Small Business Association had named him one of five finalists for the 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Continue »

Huntsville was recently listed in the Relocate-America™ Top 10 Best Places to Live in 2008 list. The list is in its tenth year, and it ranks communities by giving consideration to statistics, as well as feedback from people who live, work and play there. Residents nominate and give testimonies about their communities, and research is done based on education, employment, economy, crime, parks, recreation and housing. To view this accolade or to see other communities that made the list, please visit http://top100.relocate-america.com

TRC Chair Scott Seeley, Bryant Bank market president, challenged local companies to support new and existing programs, projects and publications by participating in this year’s campaign and leading the community.

Last week’s Rookie of the Week was once again Joe Knoch with Air Essentials and to date the Top Hitter is Carrie McCrillis with Kelly Services, who has raised more than $113,000. The Rocket City All-Stars, led by Joe Green, SAIC, continues to be the top team with more than $250,000.

TRC Chair Scott Seeley, Bryant Bank market president, challenged local companies to support new and existing programs, projects and publications by participating in this year’s campaign and leading the community.

Volunteers and local businesses make it possible to raise the funds to sustain vital programs for economic development, workforce, small business support and member services. Supporting the 2008 Play Ball TRC has proven to be an excellent way to meet the region's top CEOs, business owners and key professionals while working directly with many of the region's best volunteers. For more information, contact Loren Traylor at 535-2028 or via email at TLeopold@hsvchamber.org.

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer

U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi More photos »

The first full day featured presentations from the administration, space policy experts, military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) planners, updates on the nation’s changing energy needs with the Department of Energy, national workforce strategists, and the acting administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Dr. Larry Sabato, the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, provided insightful predictions for the presidential and congressional elections at a luncheon on the first meeting day. Dr. Sabato is "probably the most quoted college professor in the land," according to the Wall Street Journal and Fox News Channel calls him “America's favorite political scientist.”

Members of the Alabama congressional delegation were honored at the Monday evening reception in the Russell Senate Office Building in the ornate Caucus Room. The reception featured a tribute to Congressman Bud Cramer by the other members of the delegation and Chamber representatives.

Tuesday morning began with a breakfast on “the Hill” with Alabama’s U.S. Senators and several of their colleagues. Senator Jeff Sessions addressed the gathering and introduced presentations from Senators Thad Cochran and Mitch McConnell followed by Sen. Richard Shelby who introduced Senators Barbara Mikulski, Ted Stevens and Daniele Inouye.

Tuesday afternoon sessions in the Rayburn House Office Building included remarks by Congressmen Cramer and Aderholt and presentations from Speaker Pelosi, and Congressmen John Murtha, C.W. Bill Young, and Silvestre Reyes. Additional speakers Monday morning included the Federal Highway Authority Chief Counsel Marcus J. Lemon and the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Dean G. Popps. Pelosi discussed the emerging trend of public-private partnerships as how the nation’s infrastructure needs will be met in the future, saying “it has been said that public-private partnerships offer the greatest economic development opportunity in the history of the country,” something of particular importance given the Huntsville/Madison County community’s emphasis on creating more road infrastructure.

Chamber members are encouraged to make plans to attend the 2009 Washington Update. Details regarding the trip will be available in the coming weeks.

Congressional Reception More photos »

Presenters include Maj. Gen. Chris T. Anzalone, deputy for test, integration and fielding, U.S. Missile Defense Agency; Dr. Mark L. Swinson, chief scientist, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command; Ron Lewis, deputy G-3/5 for enterprise integration, U.S. Army Materiel Command; and Maj. Gen. James R. Myles, commanding general, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command.

Under the leadership of the Corridor’s eight Congressmen and a Corridor-wide board of leading business, government, education and economic development leaders, regular Summits have become the region’s best vehicle to convene, inform and mobilize top leaders on issues of importance to advancing federal missions and to leveraging those federal missions and the Corridor’s research institutions for new regional job creation.

For more information, please visit www.tennvalleycorridor.org

The Chamber’s workforce division supports member and community efforts to ensure an adequate quality and quantity of workforce to meet employer needs. From recruiting to meet immediate requirements to building the workforce of tomorrow, there are opportunities at the Chamber for every member to participate in workforce development.

The study, conducted earlier this year, found that Boeing’s work on the GMD program contributed $198 million in Alabama household earnings and that in 2007 the average Boeing GMD worker earned nearly twice the average wage of Alabama workers in 2006.

Boeing is the prime contractor for GMD, the central element of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's overall layered ballistic missile defense architecture. Continue »

The article also credits Huntsville’s low unemployment, low mortgage rates, and high housing demand, and it takes into account job growth, population growth, and economic development. The four other communities featured were Beaumont-Port Arthur, Tex.; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Penn.-N.J.; Salt Lake City; and the New Orleans area.

To read the article, please click here. »

Grissom and Bob Jones were listed in the top five percent of all U.S. high schools that encourage students to take college preparation tests and courses. Grissom High was also listed as one of the top 1,000 schools in the country in Newsweek magazine.

U.S. News and World Report gave Bob Jones and Grissom High Schools Silver Medal rankings, and it gave New Century Technology Demo High School a bronze ranking in its list of best high schools in the country. It awarded 100 gold medals, 405 silver medals, and 1,086 bronze medals based on a combination of each school’s state test scores, success of disadvantaged students, and college preparation courses.