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• Growing and preserving the Huntsville region’s existing economic base, business climate and business culture
• Recruiting targeted businesses
• Growing our defense and space industries and their assets
• Supporting efforts to ensure there is adequate quality and quantity of workforce to meet employer needs
• Enhancing our community’s image
• Developing our community’s capacity for new and sustained economic growth
• Being accountable to our investors

“This campaign allows our Chamber, which is the lead economic development organization in Huntsville/Madison County, to spend more money on helping grow the economy through targeted industry and workforce recruitment,” said Ron Poteat, Chamber vice chair for investor relations.

“And this investment also allows organizations the opportunity to more effectively and strategically market their products and services and create more visibility for their organizations, which creates opportunities for more growth. And these volunteers are incredible. What they do on behalf of their Chamber is phenomenal. They make this possible – and because of their excitement and enthusiasm, we are seeing records every year.”

At the Victory Lap held at the Monaco Theater, Joe Green, SAIC, was named the Top Producer of the campaign for raising $100,396. Top Team recognition was given to the Repeat-O-Fenders, led by Green and Regina Underwood, A Realty Group. The 10 members of this team raised $343,353. Top Rookie honors went to Natalie Steelman, Bama Jammer, and the Volunteer Choice Award was given to Patti Homes, CaptialSouth Bank, for her outstanding efforts to promote a positive spirit among the volunteers and for her mentoring of rookie volunteers.

This year’s campaign was marked by high energy, outstanding teamwork and the camaraderie exhibited by those who chose to actively participate. The interaction across team lines was noted by business leaders across the community and it was clear to see that volunteers understand that this campaign offers a win-win-win opportunity for our community, our Chamber and their companies. This year, more than 500 companies participated in this eight-week campaign.

At the time of this photo, the Chamber’s TRC Volunteers had raised more than $1.5 million in this year’s campaign. Contracts are still being processed and the total is now well beyond $1.6 million. This year’s sum is the highest in the campaign’s history. (Click photo to enlarge.)

To determine the 10 cities poised for recovery, Forbes used data on gross domestic product from Moody's Economy.com, unemployment and employment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home prices and affordability from the National Association of Homebuilders and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data are for Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Continue »

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U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions

Sessions said although there are proposed cuts in missile defense, he vowed to continue working with the delegation to restore funding, especially given the threat currently being posed by North Korea

“I am reminded of what Gen. James Cartwright [Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] said about our missile defense system. If North Korea launched a missile at America, he said that he was more than 90 percent sure we could knock it out of the air.”

He reminded the audience that on the Fourth of July in 2006, North Korea tested a long-range missile and said that he would not be surprised if they did it again this year.

Sessions said that support for a national missile defense has been expressed by members of both parties. The senator went into some of the ways he discusses the importance of missile defense. Continue »

Ron Poteat, vice chair for investor relations for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, presents Applied Data Trends CEO Derrick Copeland a plaque commemorating the company’s 15 years in business.

“This is not only a great day for the founders and employees of ADT, but also for the community as we celebrate the success and growth of a company that in so many ways is symbolic of a community that is truly identified as a smart place to live, work and play,” Poteat said. “I am proud to say that over the past 15 years ADT has certainly enhanced our community’s image as a leading technology area – where innovation, entrepreneurship and technology have met and continue to forge our future.” Continue »

The following are contenders for awards for Small Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Young Professional of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year.

Garry Safady, managing partner at O&S Holdings, discusses new expansion at Bridge Street Town Centre.

Construction on a new six-story, 130,000 square-foot building is expected to begin early next year. The new office building will mirror the current building that was recently completely rented out by CSC. When CSC completes its consolidations, all of its 400 employees will work at Bridge Street. The new tower represents an investment of some $35 million.

Garry Safady, managing partner of O&S Holdings, said the announcement is great news in light of the current national downturn in the market.

“In today’s market, it is a wonderful experience to be able to announce something so great for this community,” he said. Safady added that he is already taking pre-leasing offers.

In addition to the new tower, plans are under way to create six professional-level tennis courts and an executive putting green for the Westin’s guests as well as those who pay to use the facilities.

Safady also announced that a major department store is being contacted about possibly becoming a tenant. While Safady would not go into details because of confidentiality agreements, he did say it would require 100,000 to 200,000 square feet. Company officials say that a department store at Bridge Street has been one of the most frequently requested type of stores.

MEI Technologies was recently awarded the the U.S. Army Department of Defense (DoD) Human Exploration Payload (DHEP) contract, a subcontract to the NASA Johnson Space Center contract for Center Institutional Safety Services (CISS), Capability Maturity Model Integration® (CMMI) Level 3 certification and three Stellar Awards from the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA).

“While we received these contract wins, certification and awards in a short period of time, they represent the hard work and successes of our employees over the life of the company,” said Ed Muñiz, chief executive officer of MEI Technologies. “This foreshadows what the future holds for our company. We are enhancing our capabilities, providing high-value products and services and all-the-while, remaining flexible and responsive to customers’ needs.”

The Huntsville company was selected out of more than 3,000 companies nationally for prestigious honor. MBA students at George Washington University’s School of Business helped select the winner. Appleton, a tutoring and test prep provider, was selected as a National Finalist based on its innovative custom software system. As founder Glenn Clayton puts it, “It is very unusual for a local tutoring company of our size to have invested in the creation of a completely new type of software. Our system allows us to manage hundreds of tutoring sessions efficiently and with a better customer experience than otherwise would be possible.”