Dr. Jonn Kim, President & CEO, GaN Corporation, enthusiastically accepts his award as finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year category at the 24th Annual Small Business Awards.

Lori King-Taylor and her “Hero” Richard King, are all smiles after winning Small Business of the Year in the Personal Services category.

According to Beth Martin, the Chamber’s vice chair for small business, the success of small business in Huntsville/Madison County is the backbone of the local economy.

“This event is truly an inspirational showcase of the talent and contributions our small businesses, entrepreneurs and young professionals make in our community,” she said.

Irma Tuder, chair of the Chamber’s board of directors, praised all of the winners and nominees for the impact they had on the Huntsville/Madison County community and economy.

“Often a community’s economic well-being is measured by how many large companies are located there and how well they are doing. And that is certainly a very critical element to any economy. But it is the small businesses and the heroes who founded them, operate them and grow them that comprise the real economic foundation for a community,” Tuder said. Continue »

The near 800,000 square-foot Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama facility is the only Toyota facility to produce the V-8, V-6 and V-4 engines.

The plant currently builds both V8 and V6 engines. The expansion will bring its annual engine capacity to 577,000. At least 240 new employees will be hired, raising total employment at TMMAL to more than 1,000. New investment will be $147 million, bringing the total to $637 million. Huntsville competed against such foreign countries as Australia, China and Japan for the project. Continue »

The report cites numerous outdoor activities that are available in Madison as well as its proximity to Huntsville and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp. The report also says that residents of Madison “tend to be well-paid and highly educated.”

“Honors like this continue to validate what a wonderful community we live in,” Madison Mayor Paul Finley said. “The scoring criteria of low crime, strong schools, green space and fun activities describe Madison to a tee. U.S. News & World Report is a highly respected publication. We are honored to be included in their national list of best places to grow up. A happy childhood stems from parental involvement. Our community focuses on our children and the activities that enhance their lives.”

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board Chair Irma Tuder said the benefits of the recognition would help the community in its recruitment efforts.

Morayma McKinney was recognized by Tom Todt, district director of the SBA as the Minority Business Person of the Year for the State of Alabama.

Total Solutions is a Madison-based government services contractor specializing in program management, professional services, training, and technical and administrative services for clients such as the Army Corps of Engineers, Centers for Disease Control, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the Redstone Arsenal Garrison.

The honor coincided with Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week. MED Week commemorates the contribution of the nation’s minority entrepreneurs and firms. Continue »

SES, Inc., specializing in rotary wing aircraft modification for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense in Huntsville, recently increased its commitment to the community’s economic growth. Dr. Hyo Sang Lee, president and CEO of SES, Inc., presents a check to Board Chair Irma Tuder at a recent Board meeting as 2008 Board Chair Evans Quinlivan looks on.

SES, Inc. specializes in rotary wing aircraft modification at the company’s two facilities in Huntsville. The company recently purchased most of the available space in the former Dunlop Building in Lowe Industrial Park and is now the site of SES Aviation Hangar Operations where skilled machinists work on Blackhawk and various other helicopters for the Department of Defense.

The seven strategies uander HREGI work to establish Huntsville/Madison County as a stronger and more visible community in the nationwide competition for economic growth opportunities. Investors and participants in the Chamber’s plan measure the community’s economic performance against industry-accepted economic development criteria to achieve a relevant return on investment. The initiative positions the Huntsville area as one of the leading economic growth centers in the Southeast.

In response to the in-sourcing initiative, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County has held meetings with affected members, Redstone Arsenal leaders and Congressional delegation staff. A letter was sent to Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn outlining concerns about the timing of in-sourcing relative to BRAC and the impact on small businesses. In the letter, it was asked that in-sourcing be delayed at organizations on Redstone Arsenal until 2014, the end of the implementation period specified in Dep. Sec. Lynn’s guidance. This would give area companies the opportunity to synchronize in-sourcing losses with BRAC gains. Copies of the letter with personalized cover letters were sent to the North Alabama delegation and the heads of the major DOD organizations on Redstone Arsenal.

For a copy of the letter, click here. »

Jerry McAbee and Jon Prusmack of DHS Systems accept a commemorative plaque from Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle on behalf of the City of Huntsville and the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.

DHS Systems opened its Huntsville manufacturing facility in January 2008 to meet the increased manufacturing requirements of TMSSs under the Army’s Standardized Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) contract awarded to Northrop Grumman’s Mission Systems and DHS Systems in June 2008. Under the firm, fixed-price contract, which is valued at $240 million and will run through January 2013, DHS Systems is teamed with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems to produce, integrate and deliver two TMSS variants -- TMSS-Medium and TMSS-Large.

Each TMSS consists of a trailer and shelter and provides climate control and power for lighting, computers, and large screen displays. Frequently used as mobile command posts for the Army’s combat brigades, 945 SICPS TMSS Systems have been fielded by the U.S. Army since September 2008.

According to the Huntsville facility’s general manager, Brigadier General Jerry McAbee, USMC (Ret.), the first TMMS unit the company delivered was to Fort Hood in Texas in March of 2006. Since then, TMMS units have been deployed to soldiers across the world.

Brigadier General Terry “Max” Haston, Assistant Adjutant General of the Army Tennessee National Guard, praised the company’s technology from the perspective of the soldier.

“This system truly makes a difference. It gives us more planning time to devote to operations. Having more time to devote to operations saves lives,” Haston said.

The transaction of Torch Systems to nLogic was facilitated through a management/employee-led buyout. Historically, Torch Technologies has provided services directly to government customers while Torch Systems, LLC was primarily focused on providing services to prime contractors.

Tim Thornton, who was previously the president of Torch Systems before the buyout, now leads nLogic. Thornton said that the company will maintain the same employee-owned atmosphere that Torch Systems had but with a different focus.

“We will focus on product development as opposed to consulting,” he said.

Thornton praised Torch Technologies for its high ethical standards and Torch CEO Bill Roark.

“Torch’s ethics are impeccable. The number of awards Torch has won over the past years is representative of the leadership of Bill Rourke,” he said.

Torch Systems spins off nLogic through an employee buy-out adding to the growing list of small, successful business in the Huntsville/Madison County community.

Chamber Chair Irma Tuder, left, presents a plaque to Jackson Conference Center owners Cindy and Richard Jackson at the recent grand opening.

“This is exactly what the visionary behind this center, behind the HudsonAlpha Institute, and behind the concept of a biotechnology campus, had in mind. And that visionary is Jim Hudson,” said Irma Tuder, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. “The opening of this conference facility is the next phase in this biotechnology corridor that will become a foundation of Cummings Research Park.”

Cindy Jackson, daughter of Jim Hudson, has played a significant role in the design of the facility.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the CRP Biotech campus and to be a part of CRP,” Jackson said. “We want this to be a facility for learning. Across the street you have collaboration happening at the institute and I hope that there will also be collaboration happening here.”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Allison Dillon-Jauken

TAC President Jodi Weiner highlighted her many accomplishments and indicated, “We are thrilled to engage such a talented, experienced Executive Director for our community. She has already ‘hit the ground running,’ working with community leadership on Quality of Life issues as soon as she arrived.”