“This adds a new capability that our members have been asking for,” said Loren Traylor, vice president of investor relations for the Chamber. “Members will be able to immediately submit member-to-member discounts and have the ability to update their company information in real-time. In addition, they will be able to track their invoices and their payments online,” she added.

The Chamber will be sending out username and passwords to all members over the next week. The username will grant members access to the “Members Only” section where company information can be updated, invoices paid, and referral reports viewed, among many other functions. For more information, contact Donna McCrary at dmccrary@hsvchamber.org.

On June 1, acting NASA Administrator Chris Scolese signed an administrative order creating a committee to review NASA’s human space exploration plans and the rocket architecture supporting those plans. Former Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine was named chairman of this committee, which has subsequently become known as the Augustine Commission.

The Augustine Commission is planning to meet in Huntsville on July 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the U.S Space & Rocket Center’s Davidson Saturn V facility. The program will include an opportunity for public comment from that morning beginning at 10:30.

The Committee is chartered to conduct an independent review of ongoing U.S. human space flight plans and programs, as well as alternatives and to ensure the nation is pursuing the best approach for the future of human space flight – one that is safe, innovative, affordable and sustainable.
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Founded in 1995, Aerodyne has 75 employees and supports numerous Army customers at Redstone Arsenal. Aerodyne specializes in aeronautical systems and provides full spectrum technical solutions, including program management, aviation integration, testing and certification, training and requirements development, and system lifecycle management for manned and unmanned systems.

Aerodyne President Peter Blocker will continue to manage the organization under its new name, MCR Aerodyne, a wholly owned subsidiary of MCR. "We are very excited about Aerodyne’s future with MCR and the resources they can bring for future growth opportunities," Blocker said. "MCR is a recognized leader in our market, has significant experience working in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems community and will provide us great opportunities across the Department of Defense and other federal agencies."

Neil F. Albert, MCR Chief Executive Officer and president, said the purchase of Aerodyne will greatly expand the company’s customer base.

"The acquisition of Aerodyne will enable us to expand the breadth of our systems engineering and other program management services, and provides new opportunities to serve both civilian and defense clients," said Albert. "Huntsville is a growing market in the defense and space business. In one location, we are touching nearly all of our major customer bases, which include aviation and space support for the Air Force, Navy, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, missile defense, intelligence agencies and now the Army."

Joseph Southers, vice president for commercial lending at Renasant Bank receives recognition from Loren Traylor, vice president of investor relations for the Chamber.

With more than 2,300 members and only 28 staff, using community volunteers is essential in order to reach and communicate to the members. The Ambassador and Emissary Councils were introduced in 2002 with a goal of developing another tool to give members the knowledge they need to be able to understand and use the resources the Chamber has available. The elite ambassador and emissary councils are comprised of a group of specially selected and trained individuals from Chamber member businesses. Their mission is to act as a liaison for the Chamber, while exposing their businesses to a larger audience by creating a relationship with other Chamber businesses, Chamber staff, dignitaries and board members. For more information on these great programs or on how to get involved, click here »

“Not only will this installation demonstrate successful proof of design, but also, it is a prime example of the strategic partnerships Baron Services has created with the National Weather Service and our teammate L-3 Enterprise IT Solutions,” said Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services. “Though the installation is a huge accomplishment, we understand the greater magnitude of this project, and the team is focused on meeting our customer’s requirements.” Continue »

This event is to help match local organizations and businesses seeking products and services with those that provide those products and services in a variety of areas. Participants will be divided into “Buyers”, those interested in acquiring services, and “Sellers”, those who provide services. Appointments will be scheduled in 15-minute increments. Buyers can have as many as 15 meetings and will have the chance to pick and choose the categories they are interested in purchasing products and services. Continue »

The Small Business Awards Celebration is one of the Chamber’s premier events of the year. Tickets are $60 individually or $675 for a reserved table. For additional information on this event, contact Brittany Taylor at btyalor@hsvchamber.org or 535.2051. To register for this event, visit www.huntsvillealabamausa.com.

The first briefing, on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Tennessee Valley Enterprise, will be held Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m. at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s (UAHuntsville) Shelby Center for Science and Technology, Room 150. Continue »