Adtran received the Alabama Manufacturer of the Year Award in the large category recently. Gov. Bob Riley (center) and Bill Canary (far left), President of the Business Council of Alabama, presented the award to the company. (Click photo to enlarge.)

“It is an honor to be the Large Manufacturer of the Year for the state of Alabama. This award based on, among other things, customer focus, employee commitment and operational excellence, is a testament to our employees. We are thankful that the Huntsville area is comprised of highly motivated, highly skilled individuals which allow us to effectively compete with some of the best companies in the world. Our employees and our community are the foundation of our company and allow Adtran to continue to stand apart from the competition,” said Adtran Chairman and CEO Tom Stanton.

Madison County companies who were finalists included Northrop Grumman and STI Electronics.

The Business Council of Alabama and Alabama Technology Network, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the National Association of Manufacturers, presented the prestigious Alabama Manufacturer of the Year Awards to three Alabama manufacturing companies.

(Left to Right) Jeremiah Knight, vice chair of workforce for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County; Dennis Smith, vice president of integrated systems; U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith; Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong; Joe Valley, economic development director for the city of Huntsville. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Millennium is a small, employee-owned business specializing in space systems, weapon systems and advanced technologies. The company provides engineering services and unique hardware/software products to many Department of Defense and civilian agencies such as the Army, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), NASA, Navy, Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Dennis Smith, vice president of the integrated systems sector, said that the goal of Millennium in Huntsville is to develop and research high-tech products.

“I came here because Millennium said they wanted to do in Huntsville what they are doing in northern Virginia. We provide the products that break through challenges. We could not have done this without the support of our community, state and country,” Smith said.

One of the products the company has developed is a camera capable of detecting explosives through clothing.

The company has grown from three employees to 100 during the past three years, a growth pattern that Smith says he hopes to maintain.

“We will continue to grow here and hope to have another one of these ceremonies with a new building,” Smith said.

Jeremiah Knight, vice chair for workforce for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Board of Directors, said that the company plays a major role in enhancing a high-tech image of Huntsville.

"There is no doubt that Millennium is enhancing our community’s image as a leading technology area – where innovation, entrepreneurship and technology have met and continue to forge our future. Millennium is a perfect example of the success stories that drive the Huntsville/Madison County economy,” Knight said.

Volunteers, such as Felicia Beaulieu, go through extensive training before talking with companies about the opportunities available to them through Chamber sponsorships.

TRC volunteers offer Chamber sponsorship opportunities and memberships to a wide range of small and large companies and plan to “virtually” travel around the world learning about the international flavor of the community while helping businesses reach their marketing goals. The TRC is designed to allow companies to better align their marketing plans with Chamber’s sponsorship opportunities for the entire year and to maximize their return on investment.

This year’s campaign is marked by high energy, outstanding teamwork and the camaraderie exhibited by those who choose to actively participate. The interaction across team lines is noted by business leaders across the community and it is clear to see that volunteers understand that this campaign offers a win-win-win opportunity for our community, our Chamber and each other. This year, more than 2,300 companies have the chance to participate in this 84 day campaign.

The popularity of the TRC continues with unprecedented interest. Last year, volunteers were given a goal of $1,400,000 – they met that and increased it by another 15 percent to $1,611,000. Many sponsorships sold out before the campaign ended and as a result, seats were hard to come by at many events. This year, those veterans and a cadre of new volunteers will try to achieve a goal of $1.4 million by June 24. Funds raised through the campaign support further economic development for our community.

Training for new volunteers is set for April 6 - 7 at the Chamber. Contact Loren Traylor at 535.2028 for more information about volunteering or sponsorship information.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle discusses the importance of Redstone Gateway, a 468-acre office and retail development located at Gate 9 of Redstone Arsenal. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Redstone Gateway is a 468-acre land parcel adjacent to Redstone Arsenal. The land is owned by the U.S. Government and is under a long-term master lease to the developers through the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program. Through this master lease, the joint venture will work closely with Redstone Arsenal to create a business park that will total approximately 4.6 million square feet of office and retail space when completed. In addition, the business park will include hotel amenities. Approximately 4.4 million square feet of Class A office space will be built in three phases, with three to six story buildings containing 80,000 to 165,000 square feet, of which 1.2 million square feet will be secured office space.

"Our expansion to the city of Huntsville fits within our Super Core strategy of locating adjacent to government demand drivers," stated Randall M. Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer of COPT. "Our site is located at the entrance to Redstone Arsenal, one of the largest army bases in the U.S. with significant expansion requirements as a result of BRAC. We plan to build a Class A office park that will capture this demand as well as support the needs of existing COPT tenants located at the base," he added.

Garrison Commander Col. Robert Pastorelli said that the EUL project has been in the works for many years, and he says that the development is essential as Redstone Arsenal continues to grow.

“The EUL has been a dream of mine and several of my predecessors. We all noticed that we had a shortage in R&D space on the arsenal. This will help us fill a void that we have [a 1 million square foot shortage],” he said.

Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon

McKeon, who represents the 25th Congressional District of California, is the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees national security policy, military resources and military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year the Armed Services Committee manages the National Defense Authorization Act, a $550 billion dollar authorization bill to fund the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. The committee plays an important role to Huntsville and the entire Tennessee Valley.

“This trip has allowed me to see Redstone Arsenal and its impact on the country. This district visit is very important and has allowed me see a little of what goes on here. I need to come back and see some more,” he said.
In addition to his visit to Redstone Arsenal, McKeon also visited with business and community leaders at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and toured facilities of Boeing and CSC.

Navistar employees cut wood at a site for Habitat for Humanity. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Navistar Diesel is running a pilot program devised by Chuck Sibley, the plant manger of Navistar Diesel of Alabama. The company's Employee to Volunteer plan has kept about 50 plant employees on the payroll -- people who would have otherwise been sent to the unemployment line -- by assigning them to volunteer work.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama implemented a similar program in 2008. The plant put its employees to work for the community during its nonproduction days. Members of Toyota worked with several nonprofit groups to put their skills to use in the community. In addition to its work in the community, Toyota took time to train its employees in new manufacturing efficiencies. Toyota plans to send its employees into the community again next week.

Local employees have been refurbishing homes with Habitat for Humanity, creating wheelchair ramps with CASA (Care Assurance Systems for the Aging and Homebound), and sorting inventory with the Salvation Army.

The Employee to Volunteer program is already garnering rave reviews from management, employees, volunteer groups and aid recipients as well as being recognized by such publications as People magazine.

Visit the Chamber’s calendar for more information. »