Sparta combines operations

Sunday, June 24, 2007

From staff reports

Huntsville Times

New Thornton Research Park facility set to open

Sparta Inc. is moving into a new facility as it anticipates growth related to BRAC.

Sparta officials will be joined Monday by U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt and Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer to celebrate the opening of a new facility in Thornton Research Park. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 9:30 a.m.

The 95,000-square-foot office will consolidate Sparta's Huntsville operations into one facility at 401 Diamond Drive, at the corner of Old Madison Pike. The property has room for an additional 35,000-square-feet of office space, according to Sparta officials.

Sparta Inc., an employee-owned engineering company that provides support to defense and intelligence organizations, broke ground last year on the new facility.

Pete Schofield, one of the local operations managers and vice president, said that the new facility and the room for future expansion are "a tangible expression of Sparta's confidence and optimism in the future of Huntsville, North Alabama and the entire Tennessee Valley.''

Sparta was formed in Huntsville in 1979 and has grown to 18 offices and approximately 1,400 employees nationwide. Sparta's headquarters is now in California, but it still has more than 300 employees in Huntsville.

Wayne Winton started the company in Huntsville, along with Bob Vickery in California.

Missile defense work represents about 45 percent of the work for Sparta (which stands for Systems Planning, Analysis, Research and Technology Association). The Missile Defense Agency is relocating to Huntsville as part of the 2005 BRAC decisions.

The company also does work in intelligence, technical services, tactical systems, space systems, hardware systems and homeland security.



Sparta combines operations Sunday, June 24, 2007 From staff reports Huntsville Times New Thornton Research Park facility set to open Sparta Inc. is moving into a new facility as it anticipates growth related to BRAC. Sparta officials will be joined Monday by U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt and Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer to celebrate the opening of a new facility in Thornton Research Park. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 9:30 a.m. The 95,000-square-foot office will consolidate Sparta's Huntsville operations into one facility at 401 Diamond Drive, at the corner of Old Madison Pike. The property has room for an additional 35,000-square-feet of office space, according to Sparta officials. Sparta Inc., an employee-owned engineering company that provides support to defense and intelligence organizations, broke ground last year on the new facility. Pete Schofield, one of the local operations managers and vice president, said that the new facility and the room for future expansion are "a tangible expression of Sparta's confidence and optimism in the future of Huntsville, North Alabama and the entire Tennessee Valley.'' Sparta was formed in Huntsville in 1979 and has grown to 18 offices and approximately 1,400 employees nationwide. Sparta's headquarters is now in California, but it still has more than 300 employees in Huntsville. Wayne Winton started the company in Huntsville, along with Bob Vickery in California. Missile defense work represents about 45 percent of the work for Sparta (which stands for Systems Planning, Analysis, Research and Technology Association). The Missile Defense Agency is relocating to Huntsville as part of the 2005 BRAC decisions. The company also does work in intelligence, technical services, tactical systems, space systems, hardware systems and homeland security. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.