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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
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August 5, 2008
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| Announcements |
Huntsville ranked 5th Best Mid-Sized City in the Country to Do Business
 Inc.com recently ranked Huntsville as the fifth best mid-sized city in the country to do business. The 2008 report sees Huntsville increasing its position 16 spots from last year’s ranking of 21.
While many of last year’s top ranking cities have been struggling with the housing market and economy, Huntsville has shown growth in business. The new ranking is a testament to the resiliency of the Huntsville/Madison County market.
One reason is the continued growth and success of small businesses in the community, according to Elizabeth Morard, president/CEO of Qualis Corporation and vice chair of small business for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Alabama.
“An entrepreneur seeking to start a business in the Huntsville area is certainly at an advantage when it comes to locating in an environment which nurtures small business success,” Morard said. “The strong local economy provides a population demographic which is attractive to the business owner who is hiring talented employees or seeking consumers. Additionally, the significant presence of defense and civilian government agencies and industry offers a wide array of opportunities for small businesses. Entrepreneurs have available to them assistance such as training and education programs, mentoring and networking opportunities and the Chamber’s small business office that facilitates access to these resources and is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed.”
Huntsville also saw a higher ranking than last year as an overall top location to do business. This year Huntsville jumped 47 spots to number 32. Other communities of interest included Atlanta (85), Nashville (97), Birmingham (206) and Chattanooga (209).
Inc.com compiled the list by analyzing job growth and momentum shifts. The authors of the report indicated that the locations selected may be the best places for entrepreneurs to relocate or expand to increase business.
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Fort Bragg Delegation Visits Huntsville to Learn About BRAC Regionalism
A delegation from North Carolina recently visited Huntsville to understand how the Base Realignment and Closure Act affects a community and how to best adapt to the changes that BRAC brings regarding jobs, workforce opportunities and economic impact. An overarching theme of the meeting ultimately concerned regionalism and cooperation.
Joe Ritch, who chairs the Tennessee Valley BRAC Commission, said the visit provided an excellent opportunity to compare notes on how each community is working the BRAC process.
“It is a compliment to our area that the people from North Carolina and Ft. Bragg recognize the success we've had in BRAC and in particular our efforts in regionalization. It is important that BRAC-gaining communities meet and exchange ideas as we aggressively attempt to successfully implement this BRAC as well as prepare for future BRACs,” Ritch said. “While the missions of Ft. Bragg and Redstone are very different, the exchange of ideas is important in our efforts to assist the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense in this very complex process.” Continue »
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| The delegation participated in panel discussions about BRAC and its impact on Huntsville. Presentations also discussed the importance of regionalism and coordination. |
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Chamber Receives National Award for Communications Excellence
 The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recently won a national award for communications excellence based on its 2007 Total Resource Campaign (ChamberOpoly) and an honorable mention for its 2007 Asmartplace.com campaign.The awards, presented by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), marks the 24th year the organization has presented its annual award for communications excellence. Entries receiving an Award for Excellence surpass the fundamental standards and criteria for communications excellence.
“It was a great honor to be recognized as having one of the best TRC campaigns in the country,” said Loren Traylor, vice president of investor relations for the Chamber. “It truly is a team effort – from our volunteers to the staff who make it happen this award signifies that attention to the details is what separates good from great.” Continue »
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AUSA Unprecedented Record:
Best Overall Chapter 5 Years in a row
For an unprecedented fifth year, the Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the United States Army was chosen as the international Best Overall Chapter.
“This great accomplishment would not be possible without the hard work and contributions of our Board and membership,” said Mike Howell, President of the AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter. Continue »
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Jeff Benton Homes Ranks Among the
Nation’s Top 200 Home Builders
 Jeff Benton Homes, Incorporated, has achieved a top-200 ranking on Builder Magazine’s annual list of the nation’s largest homebuilders for 2007.
Builder Magazine tracks trends in the housing and construction industry and bases its annual rankings on both the total number of closings and total revenue homebuilders reported in the previous year. Jeff Benton Homes made the list for the first time this year debuting at position 199. JBH now ranks as one of the largest homebuilders in the country. Continue »
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“A Smart Place” Business Expo Nears Sell Out
 Members of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County are invited to purchase a booth at the 2008 Business Expo, to be held at the Von Braun Center South Hall. The Expo is the Chamber’s showcase of area businesses for the local community. This event is open and free to the public.
The goal is to provide better awareness of the vast array of products and services offered by member companies.
The Business Expo promotes economic and community development and involvement. Presented by Verizon Wireless, the expo will be held Thursday Oct. 23, 2008 from 1-6 p.m. With close to 150 booths sold, this event is well on the way to selling out. Please contact Terrie Ledbetter by e-mail at tledbetter@hsvchamber.org to reserve a booth. Registration deadline is Thursday, October 16.
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Small Business Awards Celebration:
Bigger and Better Than Ever Before
 A primary objective of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is to promote its assets and celebrate the achievements of those who make this community a great place to live, work and play. To that end, on Thursday, Aug. 21, more than 1,000 community business leaders will be on hand to recognize the efforts of the community’s outstanding small businesses and the young professionals who are the future leaders of this area at the 2008 Small Business Awards Celebration: The Entrepreneur Strikes Back.
“This night allows the community to take time to honor local small businesses and the hard work and dedication that they put forward to make their businesses a success and the contributions they make to our vibrant economic development activities,” said Jenni Jeffers, the Chamber’s small business director. “Our recent ranking as the fifth best mid-sized city to do business by Inc.com is just one of the results of their efforts,” she said.
The event has gotten progressively bigger over the years – a trend that continues in 2008. With an “empire” of more than 300 nominations – a 50 percent increase from 2007, this year’s celebration is certain to be one of the best on record. While only a few will be awarded top honors during this special night, every business and non-profit nominated deserves accolades.
Time is running out to be a part of this year’s event. Go online http://www.memberservicecenter.org/irmweb/wc.dll/
alhuncoc?id=alhuncoc&doc=events/event&kn=475 to reserve your seat today.
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Auburn Career Fairs Give Business Community Chance to Recruit Talented Workforce
 Auburn Career Services will host a non-technical career fair on Monday, Sept. 29 and a technical career fair Tuesday, Oct. 1. Interview days will follow each fair. The career fairs are great ways to recruit potential hires as well as the opportunity to brand your company to upcoming graduates.
Registration is currently open and participants are advised to register as soon as possible because of limited spots remaining. The remaining 116 spots must be registered through Auburn’s Career Services separately.
If participating companies wish to be included in the Huntsville section, they should contact Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Workforce Coordinator Mitzi Floyd at mfloyd@hsvchamber.org. Participating companies should notify her so that she can assign a booth in the Huntsville section.
Companies planning to attend both days must take down their displays on Monday, Sept. 29 and set them up again Tuesday Oct. 1. Storage is available at the Dixon Hotel. For more information and to register for the fairs, visit Auburn Career Services at http://www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/undergrad_studies/career/.
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Studio 100 Fine Art Gallery Opens with Ribbon Cutting as NewSouth Architects Celebrates 20 Years
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| Mayor Spencer (right) was a special guest at the ribbon cutting of Studio 100 Fine Art Gallery. The gallery features the art of Ann Caudle (pictured left) and consists of pastels and oils. Studio 100 Fine Art Gallery is located in the offices of NewSouth Architects. NewSouth Architects owner James Caudle (pictured center), recently celebrated 20 years in the Huntsville Market. |
A bowl of glass candy, jars of mustard and ketchup and a road worker may appear to be just everyday things, but to one Huntsville artist they represent something more – art.
Studio 100 Fine Art Gallery recently opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Studio 100 features the art of Ann Caudle, a former engineer and Huntsville City schoolteacher turned artist. Caudle has been painting for 10 years using pastels and most recently oils.
“My art is inspired by things that are colorful, emotional and things that I have an immediate connection with,” Caudle said of her art. Continue »
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New Spirit Coach Promotes Area Attractions
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| Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau President/CEO Judy Ryals and Spirit Coach Managing Partner Clip Coates hold the ribbon for Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer at the debut and ribbon cutting of The Spirit of Huntsville. The motorcoach is covered with images of Huntsville attractions and will travel across the state and country. |
If you are driving outside of Alabama, do not be surprised to see some familiar sites pass you by on the interstate. The Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Spirit Coach revealed a motorcoach that will promote Huntsville’s attractions throughout the state and country.“We’re always excited to spread the word on the diversity of attractions and activities in our area,” according to Judy Ryals, President/CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In essence, this motor coach will be a travelling billboard which will be seen by thousands of people around the southeast and country.” Continue »
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Crestwood Ranked Number Two in State for Infection Prevention
 Crestwood Medical Center was recently ranked second in the state and ninth nationally for infection prevention performance based on Cardinal Health’s new benchmarking tool from MedMined services. Cardinal Health is a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care. This new benchmarking tool allows hospitals to compare risk-adjusted infection rates in each unit of a hospital to peer units in similar hospitals to help identify best practices and areas needing improvement.
Barbara Bush, R.N., C.I.C., Crestwood Infection Control Coordinator, said the new benchmarking tool helps manage and prevent infections from occurring within the hospital. Continue »
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Industrial Designer at Inergi Will Have Product Featured in Willams-Sonoma
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Patricia Forrest
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An Inergi Design Services industrial designer and recent Auburn University graduate can now shop at Williams-Sonoma for the product she designed as part of a student industrial design project.
Patricia Forrest of Madison will have a product featured in Williams-Sonoma, a consumer retail company that sells kitchenware, furniture, linens, home furnishings and a variety of specialty foods and gift items.
“This has been such a wonderful experience. I was really blessed to participate in Auburn's truly spectacular Industrial Design program and to have access to such a great opportunity at such a young age,” she said. Continue »
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Diamond Joins Chamber Team
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Harrison Diamond
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The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recently welcomed its newest team member – Harrison Diamond. The recent University of Alabama graduate is the Chamber’s new economic development coordinator and will support the Chamber’s economic development and communications efforts.
In his new position, Diamond will be working closely with the Cummings Research Park director, the vice president of economic development and the communications director to ensure that the various goals and objectives in each area are met.
Already Diamond has made a great impact, according to Chamber Economic Development Vice President Ethan Hadley.
“In the short period he has been here, Harrison has already proven to be a team player and possesses a great mix of skill and attitude,” Hadley said.
Diamond, a Huntsville native, said he has been pleasantly surprised at all the growth Huntsville is experiencing.
“I’ve really enjoyed working at the Chamber,” he said. “I’ve been amazed at all the growth and have enjoyed learning more about Cummings Research Park and the industries in Huntsville.”
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Gold Medalist Speaks at Chamber Board of Directors Meeting
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| Olympic Gold Medalist Jennifer Chandler spoke about the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame's Outreach Program and Annual "World's Largest Shotgun Start Golf Tournament" at The Chamber's Board of Directors Meeting in July. |
The most recent Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting featured a special guest – Olympic diving gold medalist and Alabama native Jennifer Chandler, who was in town to promote the second annual “World’s Largest Shotgun Start Golf Tournament.”Chandler, who won a gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the three-meter springboard dive, spoke to the Chamber about the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and its second annual Nationwide Insurance ASHOF Championship-Qualifying Golf Tournament to be held Monday, Oct. 6. The “World’s Largest Shotgun Start Golf Tournament” will be played on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses from Muscle Shoals to Mobile and begins at 1 p.m. Continue »
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Huntsville Museum of Art Hosts “Pilates in the Galleries”
The popular program, “Pilates in the Galleries,” will return this fall beginning Oct. 16 at 5:15 p.m. in the Museum and every Thursday following with the last class being held Nov. 13. Alison Trefry will return as class instructor. This is her second year teaching the class.
According to Trefry, the class will focus mainly on mat exercises designed to work on overall toning, flexibility, elongating and balance.
"Pilates is a workout that helps transform the way your body looks, feels and performs. Pilates teaches body awareness as it elongates and strengthens. I focus on teaching proper breathing techniques, spinal alignment and core control – all of which help you to become aware of how your body feels and how to better control your movements. Pilates is safe for all ages and levels," Trefry explained.
The class costs $50 and participants must furnish their own mat. There is a limit of 20 people per class. Those interested are encouraged to register as soon as possible. For more information about this program, contact Alison Trefry by phone at 535.4350 ext. 228 or by e-mail at atrefry@hsvmuseum.org.
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FastFrame to host art exhibit for Junior Achievement of North Alabama
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McKenzie
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FastFrame will host an art exhibit of award-winning artist McKenzie on Saturday, Aug. 9 from noon until 7 p.m. in their office located at 1420 B Paramount Drive. McKenzie has dedicated her career to raising funds for charitable organizations and important causes. The event is being held in support of Junior Achievement of North Alabama. Junior Achievement’s purpose is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, understand business and economics, and to be workforce ready. Wine and cheese will be served.
For more information about FastFrame, visit www.huntsvillefastframe.com and for more information about Junior Achievement of North Alabama, visit www.janaonline.org.
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