Chamber honors Applied Data CEO

Copeland named Entrepreneur of Year at banquet

Friday, August 25, 2006

By GINA HANNAH

Times Business Writer ginah@htimes.com

For Derrick Copeland, Thursday night's Small Business Awards celebration was an encore performance of sorts.

Copeland, CEO of Applied Data Trends Inc., was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce's 21st annual Small Business Awards dinner at the Von Braun Center. Last year, Applied Data Trends, which specializes in tactical information, integrated mission planning and systems technology, won a small-business award in the technology category.

Thursday night's award was as unexpected for Copeland as was last year's. He credited his staff, his friends and his family for supporting him over the years. In particular, he noted the values his father taught him.

"I thank him for instilling a work ethic and commitment," Copeland said.

The aim of Thursday's event was to give local entrepreneurs a magical evening. But building a successful business is anything but magic.

"The magic is really the sweat, determination and hard work these small businesses expend to make it all look easy to the rest of us," said Dave Hargrove, chamber chairman. He said Thursday's winners "add to our growing list of outstanding business leaders and continue to encourage entrepreneurs to take risks and provide the foundation for prosperity in our community."

The Entrepreneur of the Year award, formerly known as Executive of the Year, got a name change to reflect an emphasis on what Huntsville knows best, said John Hamilton, chief operating officer of Madison-based Taos Industries. Hamilton was named Executive of the Year in 2005.

"The small-business Entrepreneur of the Year we recognize here tonight is not just one who stands above others here in Huntsville, but who excels in a community where excellence in entrepreneurship is a way of life," Hamilton said. He noted that out of the entrepreneurs honored in the Southeast by global accounting firm Ernst & Young during the past couple of years, about half were from Huntsville.

Tracey Pattenaude of Adtran Inc. won in a new category: Young Professional of the Year. Pattenaude, finance manager of supply chain operations for Adtran, was recognized for her potential as an up-and-coming professional and active community member. In addition to her work and pursuit of an MBA, Pattenaude has become active in efforts to recruit and retain young professionals to the area.

Pattenaude said Thursday that her Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Connect class for young professionals has helped her develop leadership skills.

"They're such a tremendous group of talented young professionals," she said.

The young professional award is designed to "honor our up-and-coming stars," said Dorothy Huston, the chamber's small-business chair.

Each year, the chamber recognizes small businesses and their leaders based on employment trends, sales growth, financial strength, goals, challenges, philosophy and community involvement.

Winning awards in their business categories were: Southern Construction & Design Inc., construction and manufacturing; Media Fusion Inc., business services; Service First Pharmacies, Inc. dba Madison Drugs, personal services/wholesale/retail; Radiance Technologies Inc., technology; Habitat for Humanity of Madison County, nonprofit.

Other 2006 Small Business Award finalists were:

Entrepreneur of the Year - Kerry M. Erwin, Elcom Inc.; Ron W. Gray, Gray Research

Construction & Manufacturing - Woodland Homes of Huntsville Inc.; Green Mountain Soap Co. Inc.

Business Services - Foreign Language Services Inc.; Advanced Federal Services Corp.

Personal Services/Wholesale/Retail - A Realty Group of North Alabama Inc.; Cyn Shea's Complete Catering Inc.

Technology - System, Studies, and Simulation (S3) Inc.; Premier Professional Systems Inc.

Young Professional of the Year - Georgina Chapman, Huntsville Museum of Art; Alissa Murnane, Average to Art Inc.

Nonprofit of the Year - Junior Achievement of North Alabama Inc.; Heart of the Valley YMCA



Chamber honors Applied Data CEO Copeland named Entrepreneur of Year at banquet Friday, August 25, 2006 By GINA HANNAH Times Business Writer ginah@htimes.com For Derrick Copeland, Thursday night's Small Business Awards celebration was an encore performance of sorts. Copeland, CEO of Applied Data Trends Inc., was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce's 21st annual Small Business Awards dinner at the Von Braun Center. Last year, Applied Data Trends, which specializes in tactical information, integrated mission planning and systems technology, won a small-business award in the technology category. Thursday night's award was as unexpected for Copeland as was last year's. He credited his staff, his friends and his family for supporting him over the years. In particular, he noted the values his father taught him. "I thank him for instilling a work ethic and commitment," Copeland said. The aim of Thursday's event was to give local entrepreneurs a magical evening. But building a successful business is anything but magic. "The magic is really the sweat, determination and hard work these small businesses expend to make it all look easy to the rest of us," said Dave Hargrove, chamber chairman. He said Thursday's winners "add to our growing list of outstanding business leaders and continue to encourage entrepreneurs to take risks and provide the foundation for prosperity in our community." The Entrepreneur of the Year award, formerly known as Executive of the Year, got a name change to reflect an emphasis on what Huntsville knows best, said John Hamilton, chief operating officer of Madison-based Taos Industries. Hamilton was named Executive of the Year in 2005. "The small-business Entrepreneur of the Year we recognize here tonight is not just one who stands above others here in Huntsville, but who excels in a community where excellence in entrepreneurship is a way of life," Hamilton said. He noted that out of the entrepreneurs honored in the Southeast by global accounting firm Ernst & Young during the past couple of years, about half were from Huntsville. Tracey Pattenaude of Adtran Inc. won in a new category: Young Professional of the Year. Pattenaude, finance manager of supply chain operations for Adtran, was recognized for her potential as an up-and-coming professional and active community member. In addition to her work and pursuit of an MBA, Pattenaude has become active in efforts to recruit and retain young professionals to the area. Pattenaude said Thursday that her Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Connect class for young professionals has helped her develop leadership skills. "They're such a tremendous group of talented young professionals," she said. The young professional award is designed to "honor our up-and-coming stars," said Dorothy Huston, the chamber's small-business chair. Each year, the chamber recognizes small businesses and their leaders based on employment trends, sales growth, financial strength, goals, challenges, philosophy and community involvement. Winning awards in their business categories were: Southern Construction & Design Inc., construction and manufacturing; Media Fusion Inc., business services; Service First Pharmacies, Inc. dba Madison Drugs, personal services/wholesale/retail; Radiance Technologies Inc., technology; Habitat for Humanity of Madison County, nonprofit. Other 2006 Small Business Award finalists were: Entrepreneur of the Year - Kerry M. Erwin, Elcom Inc.; Ron W. Gray, Gray Research Construction & Manufacturing - Woodland Homes of Huntsville Inc.; Green Mountain Soap Co. Inc. Business Services - Foreign Language Services Inc.; Advanced Federal Services Corp. Personal Services/Wholesale/Retail - A Realty Group of North Alabama Inc.; Cyn Shea's Complete Catering Inc. Technology - System, Studies, and Simulation (S3) Inc.; Premier Professional Systems Inc. Young Professional of the Year - Georgina Chapman, Huntsville Museum of Art; Alissa Murnane, Average to Art Inc. Nonprofit of the Year - Junior Achievement of North Alabama Inc.; Heart of the Valley YMCA © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.