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| Announcements |
Decatur-based Engineering Firm Expands into the Huntsville Market
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Evans Quinlivan, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors joins Hafeez Butt and members of Key Engineering in cutting the ribbon for the company's new office in Huntsville.
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Key Engineering, an engineering firm based in Decatur, recently held a ribbon cutting for the company’s new office in Huntsville.
“Despite an economic downturn that is negatively impacting communities across our nation right now, our community continues to enjoy tremendous economic growth from companies that are either expanding or relocating here or are just opening their doors for business,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Board of Director for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.
The company specializes in facility and process work to include mechanical, piping, machine design, electrical, automation, instrumentation process and IT network. Key is one of the few local consulting firms that offers in-house civil and structural engineering services.
Key Engineering president Hafeez Butt praised the Huntsville community and economy. Butt has more than 25 years experience in project management, interoffice and field coordination, structural analysis and design of steel and concrete structures for various chemical, cement and fossil power plants. He prides himself and his company having a consistent record of accomplishment for completing projects on schedule and under budget.
“We are really excited to be in Huntsville. I have been watching Huntsville grow for years now. I expect our company to continue to grow with it,” Butt said.
The company has already done work for the City of Huntsville and local developers.
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$37 Million Governors Medical Tower Opens with Ribbon Cutting for First Major Tenant
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Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle joins the staff of The Spine & Neuro Center, the first major tenant in the $37 million Governors Medical Tower, at its ribbon cutting.
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Governors Medical Tower, a 4-story medical facility, recently celebrated its opening with the ribbon cutting of the building’s first major tenant, The Spine & Neuro Center.
The 124,500-square-foot tower opened to patients in November with the relocation of The Spine & Neuro Center from Rand Avenue. The $37 million building’s most notable feature, its curving glass façade, features energy efficient windows to conserve power.
Patients and physicians have convenient access to Huntsville Hospital via a new pedestrian sky bridge located on the second floor. A five and a half story attached parking deck will provide convenient entry for patients with more than 460 parking spaces. Governors Medical Tower is expected to generate $225,000 in annual property taxes for the City of Huntsville.
Various physician groups as well as Inkana Development of Birmingham currently have ownership in Governors Medical Tower. The remaining tenants will move into the tower between now and February and include Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants, Huntsville Hospital Outpatient Surgery, Digestive Disease Center, Neurology Consultants of Huntsville and The Cancer Center of Huntsville.
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Calhoun Officially Breaks Ground on Robotics Technology Park
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A robot hands Gov. Bob Riley a shovel for the groundbreaking of the new Robotics Technology Park. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office)
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Ground was officially broken on the first stage of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park located across from the Decatur campus of Calhoun Community College. The Park will be a collaboration among the state of Alabama, the two-year college system, AIDT and robotics industry leaders.
Dr. Marilyn Beck, Calhoun Community College president, opened the event by explaining the importance of the new facility for the state. “Today is truly a historic day for this college, this community and the state of Alabama. This event shows Alabama as a leader in workforce development nationally and internationally,” she said.
Gov. Bob Riley was the featured speaker for the groundbreaking. Riley said the creation of the robotics park is vitally important to the state.
“I can’t think of another project in my administration that I am more excited about,” Riley said. “We are going through a tough economic time that most adults have never seen before. But if we are going to continue to have the same economic success we have had over the past years, we are going to have to stay on the cutting edge of technology.” Continue »
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Best Places to Work Nominations Due Jan. 30, 2009
Nominations are now being accepted for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s “Best Places to Work” presented by First Commercial Bank. Nominations are due Jan. 30, 2009. Winners will be announced at a special lunch reception to be held at the Westin April 16, 2009 at 11:30 a.m.
More than 100 companies were nominated for the 2007 awards. This year will include five finalists in categories for small (25-74 employees), medium (75-249 employees) and large (more than 250 employees) companies. Of the five finalists, one will be selected as the winner in each category. Winners are selected based solely on a survey completed by employees in the following areas:
- Team effectiveness
- Retention probability
- Alignment with goals
- Trust with co-workers
- Individual contribution
- Manager effectiveness
- Trust in senior leaders
- Feeling valued
- Work engagement
- People practices
Quantum Market Research, a research company specializing in workplace satisfaction among employees, will administer the survey and analyze the results.
Click here to download the nomination Form (PDF) »
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| Chamber’s Holiday Open House Kicks off the Holiday Season
More than 500 people attended the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Annual Holiday Open House presented by AT&T. The Huntsville Symphony and America’s Party Pros provided entertainment for the lively event that featured food from area restaurants and catering companies Catering by Kurt, Chocolate Crocodile, Grille 29, Honey Baked Ham, Jason’s Deli, Mr. Bar B Que, The Stem & Stein Wine Cellar & Bar, Tina’s Cantina, Tommy’s Pizza and Valley Pizza, Inc.
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Steve Forbes is the Keynote Speaker for the 2009 Annual Membership Meeting
Steve Forbes, the editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, will be the featured speaker for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Annual Membership Meeting held Jan. 22, 2009 at the VBC North Hall.
Since Forbes assumed his position in 1990, the company has launched a variety of new publications and businesses. They include Forbes FYI, the irreverent lifestyle supplement; Forbes Global, the magazine's international publication; and Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Brazilian, Russian, Arabic and Hebrew editions of the magazine. Forbes also publishes the Gilder Technology Report, as well as a number of investment newsletters.
The company's flagship publication, Forbes, is the nation's leading business magazine with a circulation of more than 900,000. Forbes and Forbes Global together reach a worldwide audience of nearly five million readers.
In 1997, Forbes entered the new media arena with the launch of Forbes.com. The site now attracts more than seven million unique visitors a month and has become a leading destination site for business decision-makers and investors.
Click here to register online »
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New Mountain Capital Acquires Camber
Camber Corporation recently announced that New Mountain Partners III, L.P., a private equity fund sponsored by New Mountain Capital, L.L.C., is making a majority investment in the Camber. The Camber senior management team will remain in place.
New Mountain identified Camber through its long-standing, proactive focus on the federal services sector. New Mountain is providing Camber with significant financial and strategic resources.
Walter Batson, Camber founder, president and CEO, said, “We are very enthusiastic to be entering into this partnership with New Mountain today. New Mountain’s previous success with federal service-related companies such as Apptis, Inc. and Deltek, Inc., and the firm’s proven skill as a business builder, will help our Company grow even faster and enhance our service offerings. New Mountain and management’s mutual goal is to add significant value to Camber while preserving the culture that underlies Camber’s success to date.” Continue »
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ASI Technical Fellows Program Recognizes Employee Contributions to Aerospace and Defense Community
Analytical Services, Inc. (ASI) announced the creation of the ASI Technical Fellows Program and introduced five employees as charter inductees. The program recognizes outstanding employees who demonstrate technical leadership and mentorship in their fields of expertise. Fellows serve a unique role within ASI and the aerospace and defense community.“ASI’s Technical Fellows Program recognizes outstanding technical and professional achievements of select employees. Their dedication to excellence in engineering, technology and science is highly commendable and brings innovative solutions to our customers,” ASI President Cynthia Achorn said. “It is an honor to recognize the technical and professional accomplishments of this select group.”
- Dr. William C. Stone
- Dr. Michael J. Guthrie
- Dr. Thomas C. Powell
- Retired Army Col. William Guinn
- Ramesh Ramasamy
While fellows programs are common in large companies, Achorn says it’s unique for a smaller company such as ASI to implement a fellows initiative. ASI fellows push innovative ideas, research and development that are aligned with the company’s business strategy and may assist with development of intellectual property that helps distinguish the company’s abilities. Employees must demonstrate an outstanding record of achievement and contribution in their respective disciplines to qualify as a fellow.
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Jeff Samz Named Huntsville Hospital Chief Operating Officer
Huntsville Hospital chief executive officer David Spillers recently announced that Jeff Samz will become Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Huntsville Hospital effective in early January. Samz comes to Huntsville from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he served as CEO of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute. Vanderbilt Heart is ranked 23rd on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 ranking of Heart and Heart Surgery programs. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked 15th on the 2008 Honor Roll of best hospitals.
Prior to his work at Vanderbilt, Samz worked with Duke University Medical Center with its heart services program. He also worked in a variety of administrative roles at Mission Hospitals and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. Samz earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and a master of business administration degree from Wake Forest University.
He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been active in community and professional organizations throughout his career. He and his wife, Jill, have two children.
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Freedom Information Services Announces New Chief Financial Officer
Freedom Information Systems announced recently that Larry T. Miles has joined the company as its new Chief Financial Officer. The woman-owned, small business announced the new position after experiencing significant growth this year, as indicated by its recent rankings in Inc 5000's "Fastest Growing Private Companies" and "Top 100 Government Services Contractors."
“Freedom is in a significant growth period and accordingly, their business operations are becoming more complex,” said Miles, “My goal is to help refine our business processes to help the company grow more seamlessly. I also hope to add management strength to the company as we continue to grow.”
Miles holds a bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has more than 25 years’ experience in the finance industry, both in corporate executive positions and as owner of a private CPA firm in Huntsville.
“Larry has the experience and corporate knowledge that complements the rest of Freedom’s management team,” said Freedom President Mark Ogles, “We’re very excited that he has accepted the position, and I’m confident he will foster unprecedented growth for Freedom.”
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