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Mayor Battle Delivers State of the City
The jobs Huntsville will gain from BRAC 2005 will lift the city out of the nationwide recession before the rest of the country, according to Huntsville Mayor Tommy. Battle recently gave his first State of the City address hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and presented by Northrop Grumman to more than 1,200 people in the Von Braun Center North Hall.
Battle discussed some of the challenges and opportunities he sees coming in the near future. Battle’s speech focused on the need for cooperation among Huntsville, Madison and Madison County government, especially for road projects. Battle mentioned that three road projects that need to be completed are shared by all of Madison County.
“I recently spoke with Gov. Bob Riley down in Montgomery about Huntsville’s roads. After I had spoken with him, [Madison Mayor] Paul Finley spoke with transportation administrators. We are presenting the same message to Montgomery,” Battle said. “We [Huntsville and Madison] have got to ask for more help from our governor and our legislators.”
Battle also spoke about workforce challenges. He said that workforce is one of the most important issues facing the community.
“How workforce development works is by selling your community, but not just Huntsville, but also Athens and Madison. People will come here for jobs, but we want them to stay,” Battle said.
Battle said he believes the jobs Huntsville will gain from BRAC 2005 will “get us [Huntsville] out of the recession a year ahead of the rest of the county.”
At the time of his speech, Battle had been in office for a little more than 40 days, but he told the audience he has learned many lessons on the job.
“As mayor, you have to make decisions based on what is going to give you the best bang for your buck so that the community can go forward and be successful,”
He also issued a task to the audience. “Every one of us needs to ask how we can make our community better. We have a job to do and that is to do better.”
Battle answered questions from the audience at the end of his speech. In addition to Huntsville and Madison getting new mayors, the fifth congressional district elected a new congressional representative, Parker Griffith. When asked about working with a new congressman, Battle said that he plans to continue to work with Congressman-elect Griffith as he has in the past while they served on numerous boards together.
“I will work with him to bring back to Huntsville what we deserve,” he said.
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Outstanding Chamber Volunteers Honored
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Emissary of the Year Lisa Lane
of Savvy Gifts, Inc.
More photos »
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The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County recently held its annual Holiday Appreciation Luncheon for its volunteers the Ambassadors and Emissaries and awarded its star performers. Ambassadors and Emissaries represent the Chamber at all events such as ribbon cuttings and act as a welcoming committee for those new to the business community.
This year's “Emissary of the Year” was Lisa Lane, Savvy Gifts. Honorable Mentions were Terry Dumer, Woodall and Hoggle Insurance, and Jeff Olson, Computer Troubleshooters.
“Ambassador of the Year” was Nansi Clark, Holiday Inn Downtown. Honorable Mentions were Tom Ray, Look Outdoor Advertising, Jackie Robbins, Business Interiors, and Rebecca Billings, NETWORx.
“Team of the Year” was Sandy Bottoms
Phil Riddick, Bill Poole Realty — team leader. Team members included Paul Reutter, Vulcan Heating & Air Conditioning Services; Philip Bifulco, Information Understructures, Inc.; Phil Thames, Intermission Massage and Neuromuscular Therapy; Brad Cardwell, Merrill Lynch; Tom Ray, Look Outdoor Advertising; Laura Voorhies, Digium, Inc.; Rebecca Billings, NETWORx (T&W Operations, LLC); John Morgan, Mac Resource
2008 was a busy year for the Chamber’s volunteers. There were 547 volunteers who helped cut the ribbon on 111 businesses, helped raise more than $1.4 million during the Total Resource Campaign, helped with 40 Chamber events and reached out to nearly half of the Chamber’s membership.
“The Chamber has accomplished a lot this year and we could not have done it without all of you,” Loren Traylor, vice president for investor relations for the Chamber, said.
To become involved in these programs, contact Donna McCrary at 535-2027 or dmccrary@hsvchamber.org
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73rd Annual Membership Meeting — Less than 100 Seats Still Available
 The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County will hold its 73rd Annual Membership Meeting Jan. 22, 2009 at the Von Braun Center North Hall beginning at 11:30 a.m. This year’s keynote speaker will be Forbes Magazine CEO and Editor-in-chief Steve Forbes.
The Annual Membership Meeting is one of the Chamber’s premiere events throughout the year. In addition to the speech by Forbes, Irma Tuder will be given the gavel as new Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Space is limited and tickets are quickly selling. Members are advised to purchase their tickets online as soon as possible. Questions about the event should be directed to Brittany Taylor, events coordinator. Contact Brittany at btaylor@hsvchamber.org or by phone at 256.535.2027.
• Online Registration »
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2008 Edition of Annual Guide
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Chamber’s Annual Guide
Your Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is pleased to be working with The Huntsville Times to create and publish a commemorative magazine and membership directory that will appeal to prospective residents, newcomers and to those of us that have long called Huntsville/Madison County home.
The 2009 publication, Huntsville/Madison County: A Smart Place to Live, Work, and Play will provide information about all of the dynamic features that make Huntsville/Madison County a great location.
This publication will be included in all marketing efforts as the Chamber continues to attend and exhibit at workforce recruitment functions and meetings in 2009 geared toward attracting thousands of potential BRAC transferees. Similarly, the Chamber will be reaching out across the country to thousands of potential employees related to other new and expanding businesses in Huntsville/Madison County..
As always, the guide will also be available to visitors and members at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County building.
Chamber members wishing to advertise should call Chamber Guide Advertising at 532-4250.
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Judy Ryals Elected to Board of Southeastern Tourism Society
Judy Ryals, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been elected to a two-year term on the Board of the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). Ryals will serve through 2010.STS, which is headquartered in Atlanta, promotes travel and tourism throughout a 12-state region. Tourism ranks as the first, second or third industry in every state in the Southeast.
Member states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Its nearly 900 members represent state tourism departments, convention and visitor bureaus, attractions, accommodations, media and other companies and organizations in the tourism industry.
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Boeing Grant to UAHuntsville Will Expand Modeling & Simulation Education, Workforce
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Boeing executives Dan Olberding, left, and Bill Tucker, right, provide a check to UAHuntsville scientist Mikel Petty and UAHuntsville President Dave Williams to help develop advanced academic programs in modeling and simulation.
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The Boeing Company recently provided a $100,000 grant to support education and workforce development activities at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Boeing Advanced Systems’ Analysis, Modeling, Simulation and Experimentation (AMSE) organization is sponsoring the grant effort.
Boeing executives furnished the education grant to the Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (CMSA) to develop advanced degree programs as well as enhance the university’s participation in a professional certification program. The company is also supporting the programs by providing financial reimbursement to company employees who choose to enhance their M&S skills through the programs.
The grant will be used to support two activities, according to CSMA Director Dr. Mikel Petty. One is curriculum design and course content development for planned M&S graduate degree programs. Those degree programs, if approved at the state level, will offer M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in M&S and will be the first such program in Alabama. According to Petty, the second activity is participation in the on-going process of updating and enhancing the Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional program, which is an examination-based professional certification process that is gaining wide acceptance in the M&S community. Continue »
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Calhoun Ranks as one of the Nation’s Fastest Growing Community Colleges
In the recent issue of Community College Week, Calhoun Community College was the only Alabama community college with enrollment of 5,000 –9,999 included in the list of the nation’s “Fastest Growing” community colleges. The analysis was based on data provided by the U.S. Department of Education.According to the December report, the listings were based on changes in enrollment from fall 2006 to fall 2007 and only considered students who were enrolled in courses that can accrue toward an associate’s degree, certificate or other formal award. For the national survey, the enrollment trends at 1,129 of the nation’s two-year institutions were examined. While the overall growth among the colleges surveyed was 1.6 percent, Calhoun’s enrollment growth from Fall 2006 to Fall 2007 was 6.8 percent. According to the report, during this same period, private for-profit and non-profit institutions saw an overall enrollment decline of 2.1 percent.
“We are pleased to be included among the list of America’s fastest-growing community colleges,” commented Calhoun President Marilyn Beck. “Our continued enrollment growth is clear evidence of the hard work of our faculty and staff and of our efforts to successfully meet the educational and training needs of the communities we serve.”
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Are You Ready for TV’s Switch to Digital?
By law, all television networks will broadcast exclusively using digital cable beginning Feb. 17.
For viewers who have one or more televisions that receive free over-the-air programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), they will loose the signal. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow viewers to continue to watch free over-the-air programming after the switch to digital. However, if viewers have an analog television, they will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue watching broadcast television on those types of sets. This converter box will also enable viewers to see any additional multicast programming that their local stations are offering.
Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the Feb. 17, 2009, cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting, but should contact their provider to find out anything is needed to be prepared for the February deadline.
To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. Those affected by the switch have been able to purchase coupons since January of 2008. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. (Please note that these coupons will expire 90 days after mailing). Manufacturers estimate that digital-to-analog converter boxes will sell from $40 to $70 each. This is a one-time cost. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit the NTIA’s Web site at www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
Visit www.dtv.gov for more information on TV’s switch to digital.
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