A robot hands Gov. Bob Riley a shovel for the groundbreaking of the new Robotics Technology Park. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office)

Dr. Marilyn Beck, Calhoun Community College president, opened the event by explaining the importance of the new facility for the state. “Today is truly a historic day for this college, this community and the state of Alabama. This event shows Alabama as a leader in workforce development nationally and internationally,” she said.

Gov. Bob Riley was the featured speaker for the groundbreaking. Riley said the creation of the robotics park is vitally important to the state.

“I can’t think of another project in my administration that I am more excited about,” Riley said. “We are going through a tough economic time that most adults have never seen before. But if we are going to continue to have the same economic success we have had over the past years, we are going to have to stay on the cutting edge of technology.” Continue »

Evans Quinlivan, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors joins Hafeez Butt and members of Key Engineering in cutting the ribbon for the company's new office in Huntsville.

“Despite an economic downturn that is negatively impacting communities across our nation right now, our community continues to enjoy tremendous economic growth from companies that are either expanding or relocating here or are just opening their doors for business,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Board of Director for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.

The company specializes in facility and process work to include mechanical, piping, machine design, electrical, automation, instrumentation process and IT network. Key is one of the few local consulting firms that offers in-house civil and structural engineering services.

Key Engineering president Hafeez Butt praised the Huntsville community and economy. Butt has more than 25 years experience in project management, interoffice and field coordination, structural analysis and design of steel and concrete structures for various chemical, cement and fossil power plants. He prides himself and his company having a consistent record of accomplishment for completing projects on schedule and under budget.

“We are really excited to be in Huntsville. I have been watching Huntsville grow for years now. I expect our company to continue to grow with it,” Butt said.

The company has already done work for the City of Huntsville and local developers.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle joins the staff of The Spine & Neuro Center, the first major tenant in the $37 million Governors Medical Tower, at its ribbon cutting.

The 124,500-square-foot tower opened to patients in November with the relocation of The Spine & Neuro Center from Rand Avenue. The $37 million building’s most notable feature, its curving glass façade, features energy efficient windows to conserve power.

Patients and physicians have convenient access to Huntsville Hospital via a new pedestrian sky bridge located on the second floor. A five and a half story attached parking deck will provide convenient entry for patients with more than 460 parking spaces. Governors Medical Tower is expected to generate $225,000 in annual property taxes for the City of Huntsville.

Various physician groups as well as Inkana Development of Birmingham currently have ownership in Governors Medical Tower. The remaining tenants will move into the tower between now and February and include Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants, Huntsville Hospital Outpatient Surgery, Digestive Disease Center, Neurology Consultants of Huntsville and The Cancer Center of Huntsville.

Don Nalley, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber Board of Directors joins Stanley Associates executives as they cut the ribbon on the company's new facility located in Cummings Research Park.

Stanley is a provider of information technology services and solutions to U.S. defense and federal civilian government agencies. Headquartered in Arlington Virginia, Stanley has more than 4,700 employees at more than 100 locations in the U.S. and worldwide.

“The Huntsville economy and the community at large remains a benchmark of success in this time of economic uncertainty and companies like Stanley remind us all that Huntsville really is a smart place to live, work and play,” said Don Nalley, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. “Not only is Stanley continuing to grow in Huntsville, they are also contributing to the overall growth of this community by investing in the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI). As Progress Partners, Stanley has made a great investment in the future of our region and we thank them for it,” Nalley added. Continue »

WestWind Technologies recently held a ground breaking for its new 64,000-square-foot facility in Jetplex Industrial Park.

WestWind was founded in 1999 and moved to Huntsville in 2000 as an aircraft parts manufacturer. The new facility will serve as an expansion of services for the company’s military and commercial aviation clients. The facility was specifically designed around every helicopter located in Redstone Arsenal. WestWind’s new facility was made possible by a completely privately funded venture.

“The new facility marks a new level of service for this region,” said Roger Messik, COO of WestWind Technologies. Continue »

District 5 City Council Member William Culver (second from left) joins executives from enGenius in cutting the ribbon on their new office in Cummings Research Park.

November 19, 2008 - enGenius, an Atlanta-based IT company recently held a ribbon cutting for its new office in Cummings Research Park.The company specializes in computer software engineering, systems engineering, IT infrastructure and project management for such clients as the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Geological Survey and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County praised the company's growth. “We are honored to be here today to celebrate the expansion of yet another company in Cummings Research Park. Companies like enGenius are perfect examples of why the second largest research park in the country continues to thrive,” Quinlivan said.

Huntsville's District 5 City Council Member Will Culver welcomed enGenius into its new building by speaking on behalf of Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “I want to welcome you and let you know that this is the hub of my district and I look forward to working with you to make the city of Huntsville a better place for all people,” Culver said. Continue »

Trident Technologies President/CEO Sue Arroyo discusses the reasons her company chose Huntsville to expand its operation.

Trident Technologies is an information technology professional services firm serving clients in both the federal and commercial sectors. Trident specializes in utilizing technology to help its clients succeed by offering software development, systems integration and data management solutions to clients, based on the company’s innovative “Guidance” frameworks.

Don Nalley, Chamber vice chair of economic development formally welcomed the company to Huntsville/Madison County. “Our community is currently a statistical anomaly in the United States. While many communities in our nation face economic uncertainty, we continue to enjoy tremendous economic growth from companies such as Trident Technologies that are looking to grow and expand,” Nalley said. Continue »

M.B. Kahn is one of the largest construction companies in the southeast. The South Carolina-based company specializes in commercial, industrial, healthcare and retail construction. The company will put emphasis on their capabilities in industrial, commercial office space and the healthcare industry construction in the Huntsville/North Alabama market.

Heard said he is confident in his company’s decision to move into Huntsville because of several factors, including a booming economy.

“We picked Huntsville because of the people,” Heard said. “When I came to Huntsville on my fourth visit I was blown away by the business and spirit of the community. We hope to have deep roots in Huntsville and we plan to be here for a long time,” Heard said.

	Jack Allen, President, Navistar Engine Group

Navistar Chairman, President and CEO Dan Ustian, and Engine Group President Jack Allen, spoke to an audience of global OEM customers and prospects, elected officials, Navistar employees and local and trade press, delivering a retrospective look at the company’s 75 years of diesel engine production and a look forward at where the diesel technology manufacturer is heading.

Navistar’s second building in Jetplex Industrial Park will produce the company’s newest diesel engine family, MaxxForce Big Bore.

Mayor Loretta Spencer and Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie joined Roy Cox, President of Trav-Ad, as they broke the ground on Trav-Ad’s 30,000-square-foot building in Chase Industrial Park

The new building allows Trav-Ad to increase its capabilities as the largest visual communications company in the area. Some of the company's most recent work locally has included signage at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology among many others.

“Our event today is very symbolic of the unprecedented economic development projects that are occurring not only across our community, but across our state,” said Evans Quinlivan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. “The company we honor today showcases our community’s talent and expertise to communities across the country. In fact, everywhere you go, you see, literally and figuratively, signs of what this great company produces as a national leader in visual communications,” Quinlivan added. Continue »

Kyle Collins, senior vice president, development, Colonial Properties Trust; Bruce Anderson, Alabama Development Office, north Alabama regional office; Mayor Loretta Spencer; Philip Teel, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's mission systems sector; country musician Lee Greenwood; Irma Tuder, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County board of directors; and Dan Montgomery, Northrop Grumman Corporate lead executive for Huntsville.

Lee Greenwood sings the National Anthem at the groundbreaking for Northrop Grumman’s second building of four in Cummings Research Park.

The new four-story,110,000-square-foot facility will be the second of four planned Northrop Grumman buildings in CRP. There will be 340 employees working in the new facility when completed — both spillover employees already in Huntsville and employees new to the area.

Dan Montgomery, corporate lead executive for Northrop Grumman in Huntsville, opened the event by welcoming everyone in attendance to the new site. The J.O. Johnson High School Color Guard presented the flags of Alabama and the United States as Greenwood sang a moving rendition of the National Anthem.

Montgomery said, “Northrop Grumman is doing real well in Huntsville. We currently have 1,200 employees in Huntsville and with the building of this new facility we hope to consolidate our operations into one campus.” Continue »

From Left to Right, Mayor Loretta Spencer; Jim Beveridge, QTEC Co-founder; Connie Beveridge, QTEC Co-founder and Kathy Broad, QTEC CEO cut the ribbon at QTEC.

“QTEC is a company that really is a fantastic representative of the business growth and economic foundation of the Huntsville/Madison County community,” said Evans Quinlivan, Board Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.

“Huntsville is a great place for entrepreneurs. We moved here in 1983 without thinking we would stay, but Huntsville really was a smart place for us,” said Connie Beveridge, Co-Cofounder of QTEC. Continue »

The award was presented by Dr. Bill Weems, Director, OSHA Safe State Program, University of Alabama in a ceremony at the company’s Huntsville plant. Continue »

Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; Robert Tomas, Project Manager of Integrated Air and Missile Defense; Brigadier General Genaro DellaRocco, Program Executive Officer, Missiles and Space; and Evans Quinlivan, Chairman of Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon at the new IAMD Project Office.

“The opening of this facility is just one of the many ways we are developing new capabilities for the Army,” said Brigadier General Genaro Dellarocco, Program Executive Officer Missiles and Space.

“When you look around this high technology community that is so laden with aerospace and defense capabilities, please understand that when we discuss Huntsville being one of the true epicenters of our national defense initiative, at this office people are making this happen every day,” said Evans Quinlivan, Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Continue »

Wayne Gardner, President of NetwoRx, cuts the ribbon at a ribbon cutting ceremony held at NetwoRx.

NetwoRx is one of the area’s few Microsoft Gold Partners, employing network engineers with more than 20 different certifications in networking, security and application development. NetwoRx offers “one-stop” solutions that are designed, implemented and managed by NetwoRx.
Continue »

Linda Moorehead, President/CEO of Blackhawk Management, cuts the ribbon at Blackhawk Management’s ribbon cutting and market expansion announcement.

Blackhawk Management is a company that specializes in providing the Department of Defense and other major prime government contractors with logistics, information technology, weapons system sustainment and engineering products and services.

“Today, we are enjoying tremendous economic growth from companies such as Blackhawk that are expanding or relocating to our community to those that are just opening their doors for business,” said Evans Quinlivan, Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
Continue »

Rockwell Collins recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of their expanded Huntsville location. Rockwell Collins hopes to add 100 high-skilled jobs to meet the demand of the expansion. Pictured from Left to Right are Mike Meyers, Rockwell Collins Vice President of Business Development; Kent Statler, Rockwell Collins Executive Vice President of Rockwell Collins Services; Evans Quinlivan, Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce; and Ken Schreder, Rockwell Collins Vice President and General Manager of Simulation and Training Solutions.

Rockwell Collins recently announced the grand opening of their state-of-the-art 30,000 square-foot operations center strategically located in Cummings Research Park. The new facility, which represents the combination of multiple divisions into one centralized location, further enhances Rockwell Collins’ accessibility and responsiveness to their many customers in the Huntsville region. Continue »

Aug. 12, 2008 - Visitors to Huntsville will have another place to rest their heads at night with the opening of Hilton’s new Hilton Garden Inn South Huntsville.

The 102-room hotel is conveniently located in south Huntsville in proximity to Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park. The hotel opened Aug. 8 and was sold out by Aug. 12.

“As we are all aware, the economy of our community continues to thrive with company expansion and record-setting job growth despite a downturn nationally. One such indicator of growth is through the success of our community’s hospitality industry and the fact that we can attract such an organization as well known and recognized as the Hilton Garden Inn,” said Ethan Hadley, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development. Continue »

Local officials recently welcomed Tool Ventures International to Huntsville at the company's recent ribbon cutting ceremony in Chase Industrial Park. Speakers, from left, included: TVI Vice President Bryan Bovia; Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie; TVI President Don Mekkes; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer and Chamber Chair Evans Quinlivan (speaking).

From left: TVI Vice President Bryan Bovia and TVI President Don Mekkes receive congratulations from Chamber Board Chair Evans Quinlivan on the opening of TVI's new facility in Chase Industrial Park.

TVI is a Michigan-based automotive supply and tool manufacturer that brings more than 30 years experience in building progressive dies, line dies and transfer dies for the automotive, appliance and furniture industries. The Chase Industrial Park location is TCI’s first facility outside of Michigan. The facility is 12,000 square-feet and is currently serving as a service center or “die hospital,” until the 36,000 square-foot building is complete. TVI will then move into the production of dies. TVI considered more than 100 locations before settling on Huntsville.

Evans Quinlivan, Chair of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, opened the ceremony by welcoming TVI to the Huntsville Community. “As we all see, large automotive manufacturers continue to migrate into Alabama and to neighboring states and TVI has selected Huntsville to be closer to its clients and closer to its potential clients,” Quinlivan said. Continue »

Front row, from left: Terry Hatfield, representing Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; FPMI President/CEO Joe Saparano and Chamber Chair Evans Quinlivan cut the ribbon on FPMI Solutions’ new contact center. Also participating in the ribbon cutting from FPMI were, back row, from left: Rodney Hyatt, Toi Garth, Leslie Yarbrough, Sandra Richardson, Barry Prokop and Cathy Christa.

“FPMI has enjoyed remarkable success and growth in all of its business lines, which include contact center services, human capital services and training services, and the company has provided excellent support of more than 30 other Federal agencies, including the U.S. Army and the Transportation Security Administration, as well as commercial clients,” said Chamber Board Chairman Evans Quinlivan, who served as master of ceremonies at the event. “With this new facility, FPMI will continue its unparalleled contact center support for the Department of Homeland Security.”

“I’m very proud to have this ribbon cutting ceremony today. We intend to continue to grow, and I’m looking forward to that growth,” said Joseph Saponaro, president & CEO of FPMI. “I do appreciate all the employees who work so hard.” Continue »

From Left to Right: Don Nalley, vice chair for economic development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County; Delaina Foust, owner of BFA Systems; Dr. Mike Foust, president of BFA Systems; Jeff Brown, executive vice president of BFA Systems; Lisa Brown, owner of BFA Systems; and Dan Bodeker, III, CEO of BFA Systems

Master of Ceremonies and the Vice Chair for Economic Development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Don Nalley, commended the company’s solid reputation and success in the community since their 2005 inception. “In a community with a lot of competition, BFA Systems is already making a name for itself thanks to a group of highly qualified professionals who are working diligently each day to meet and exceed the demands of their government customers,” he said.

“To say that we’re a family is an understatement. We have some great team members,” said Jeff Brown, executive vice president of BFA Systems, Inc. “I changed careers two years ago because I wanted a company that would make it easier for a young professional to grow in their field of expertise. Based on my research, BFA was the perfect fit for my goals.” Continue »

From Left to Right: Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; and Jenny Clark, CEO of Solvability

“We are excited to be in our new location at Research Park,” said Jenny Clark, CEO of Solvability. “Our new offices and training facility, along with our new remote support and training services, allows us to support our clients even more. Our goal is to have defense and aerospace leadership focus on their priorities: clients, contracts and workforce. With Solvability providing DCAA-compliant accounting systems that minimize the indirect labor for tracking costs and maintaining competitive rates, Government contractors can concentrate on growing their business.” Continue »

The Advanced Technology Robotics Research and Development Complex will consist of three separate facilities, each targeted to meet a specific industry need. Riley first proposed the robotics campus in 2006.

“This will make Alabama the nation’s leader in robotics research and development. It will make Alabama the national leader in robotics technology education. The benefits will be remarkable for our economy, for our workforce and for our future,” said Riley. In choosing Calhoun as the site for the robotics complex, he stressed that it met all the needed requirements, including proximity to Huntsville. Continue »

From left to right: Evans Quinlivan, John Blue, Robbie Farquhar, Steve Hill and Bill Waite.

“This is a proud day for all of us,” said AEgis President and co-founder Bill Waite. “At AEgis, our vision is to lead the world in modeling and simulation.”

“AEgis Technologies Group is an internationally recognized leader in providing advanced modeling and simulation capabilities in this community’s targeted industry recruitment areas of aerospace and defense, automotive, and biomedical, to name a few,” said Chamber Board Chairman Evans Quinlivan. “So this is a great occasion to celebrate a company that provides excellent services that support the areas of business that serve as this community’s economic foundation. Many of you may not know that Huntsville is becoming known as one of the premier centers for modeling and simulation technology – and that is in great part thanks to companies like AEgis and to the incredible talent of the people who work here,” said Quinlivan. Continue »

From Left to Right: Marty Runkle, vice president, aerospace for Teledyne Brown; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; Russ Starkey, vice president of American Centrifuge; Rex D. Geveden, president of Teledyne Brown; Victor Vann, vice president, sales, chemicals business line of Fluor Enterprises, Inc. and U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions.

To handle this order, Teledyne Brown opened a new 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Huntsville and expects to add nearly 200 new jobs. The new facility triples Teledyne Brown’s previous manufacturing capabilities.

“This contract results from Teledyne Brown’s capabilities and reputation as a supplier of nuclear quality hardware,” said Teledyne president Rex D. Geveden. “It is a key milestone in the company’s expansion of its share of the nuclear manufacturing market.” Continue »

Don Nalley, director of Beason & Nalley and the vice chair of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, presents a commemorative plaque to Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services, during a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 22.

The company features a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week forecasting operation, which is responsible for data quality assurance.

“I am so proud of this new facility,” said Bob Baron, president and CEO of Baron Services. “Our continued success has compelled us to double the size of our headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. We now have the space and technologies we need to support our customers for years to come.” Continue »

Ron Klein prepares to cut the ribbon with Ron Poteat, Mayor Loretta Spencer, and Sandy Klein at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Belzon, Inc. on May 22.

“I am so appreciative you’ve come to celebrate our progress. Ten years ago, we were a one-man company, and now we have 80 employees,” said Klein. The company has grown from $331,000 in revenue in 1998 to $11.6 million in 2008.

“We are pleased that Ron Klein recognized Huntsville as a smart place to start a business and that this company has continually expanded its presence in our community,” said Ron Poteat, vice chair of Research and Information Services for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. Poteat served as master of ceremonies at the event.

“I want to thank you, Ron, for investing in Huntsville and participating in the community,” said Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer. “We’re looking forward to your continued success, and we thank you for what you do for our military.”

Klein recently learned that the National Small Business Association had named him one of five finalists for the 2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Continue »

Ron Poteat, north Alabama area executive for Regions Bank, introduced Bob Allsbrook, chief economist and senior vice president for Regions Bank, to the crowd at a breakfast sponsored by Regions Bank on May 21. Allsbrook shared his predictions about the economy.

Allsbrook, known for his national economic projections, made his comments at a recent breakfast seminar in Huntsville and said he is constantly asked about the nation’s economy.

“Never in my career have I seen such concern,” he said.

Allsbrook is a member of the National Association for Business Economics and a member of the National Economic Policy Panel. He is also a past member of the American Bankers Association Economic Advisory Committee, which advises the Federal Reserve. He has made many national media appearances as well as spoken to national trade groups about the country’s current and projected economic vitality.

“We’re in a recession now, but that’s not my most important point,” said Allsbrook, adding that the nation is in the second most challenging time in its economic history. He projects the current recession to last between 12 and 18 months.

“This is definitely affecting consumers’ vacations this year. Consumers are staying home,” he said. “Sales, personal income, employment, and industrial production look exactly like they did in the first four months of the last recession in 2001.”

However, economic outlook in Huntsville is much more vibrant. “And you can quote me on that,” he said.

Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors presents a commemorative plaque to Janet Chihocky, founder and chief executive officer of JANSON; and Rose Allen, chief operating officer and principal of JANSON at the company’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 8.

Janet Chihocky, CEO of JANSON Communications, expressed her pleasure at being in the city and her gratitude to Rick Davis, director of Cummings Research Park, for treating her small company with the same respect given to much larger firms.

“Though we are starting small in Huntsville, we absolutely expect to grow as the Huntsville community continues to grow,” said Chihocky. “I want to thank Rick Davis from the Chamber. He has become a dear friend to us and really took us under his wing. Rick treated us like we were a 5,000-person company.” She also stated that she expected to use Huntsville as the catalyst for growth of her team; 11 of the company’s 14 team members are stationed in the city. Continue »

John Chehansky, vice president of business development of GS&T; Chieh-san Cheng, president of GS&T; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors; and Joni Green, consulting partner for GS&T, prepare to cut the ribbon at their ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 6.

“Investing in Huntsville is a key part of our strategic plan,” said Chieh-san Cheng, president of Global Science & Technology, Inc. “We are strongly committed to partnering with the Huntsville business and government community by applying our well-known technical services and capabilities.”

Chamber Board Chair Evans Quinlivan gave a glowing review of the company at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “GST prides itself on developing successful partnerships in all of its locations and has a proven track record in partnering for success, making the company a natural addition to a community that prides itself on business and community partnerships,” he said. Continue »

Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Henry Obering

The six story VB III building, called the “crowning jewel in the entire Von Braun Complex” by MDA’s Director, Lt Gen Henry Obering, will provide continuity of operations and mission as the Agency responds to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision. Continue »

A standing room crowd of elected officials, scientists, researchers, residents and community leaders heard from Riley, founder Jim Hudson, HudsonAlpha director Dr. Rick Myers, Dr. Neil Lamb and other elected officials and scientists about the importance this center has in the world in finding ways to treat or cure human diseases currently considered untreatable.

The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is housed in a state-of-the-art, 270,000 square-foot facility located in the Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research and technology park. HudsonAlpha has a three-fold mission of genomic research, economic development and educational outreach.

(L to R) Mayor Loretta Spencer; Sheila Brown, founder and CEO of QuantiTech, Inc.; Damian Bianca, president of QuantiTech, Inc.; and Don Nalley, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County prepare to cut the ribbon in front of onlookers during QuantiTech’s ribbon cutting ceremony on April 18.

QuantiTech, a minority woman-owned government services contractor, specializes in providing a variety of engineering solutions, services and tools for Department of Defense clients, including the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command; the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aviation and the Missile Defense Agency. The company was incorporated in 1991 with one employee, currently has 31 employees, and plans to expand to 50 employees by the end of the year. It expanded to larger office space in the Technology Pointe office complex at 7027 Old Madison Pike. Continue »

Chamber Board Chair Evans Quinlivan (right), presents a plaque commemorating the opening of eclipse Business Services to co-owners Lisa Wolfe and Greg Wilson.

“Our community is enjoying tremendous economic growth, from companies that are relocating to Huntsville to those that are starting up here to capitalize on the amount of economic development occurring in this community,” Quinlivan said. “And so we are celebrating the grand opening of eBS, a company that can meet every one of those needs for any of these companies.” Continue »

Carina Technology just completed its office move to Cummings Research Park. Carina employees in Huntsville develop software and hardware products for the U.S. utility industry in Huntsville, manufacture those products in Huntsville and deploy them across Alabama and the entire U.S. At left, Carina Technology President/CEO Jay Newkirk accepts a plaque commemorating the grand opening event from Chamber Board Chair Evans Quinlivan.

“Carina is a technology-based company in a technology-based community, so it is only natural that the company be located in one of the leading technology parks in the country,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors.

“We are excited about being in Research Park selling into the commercial market place,” said Jay Newkirk, president and CEO of Carina Technology, Inc. “Carina is quite a story and a humbling one. We develop our software and hardware products here, manufacture it here, and deploy it in Alabama and across the nation. Huntsville is uniquely capable of providing the resources we need including talented people and a supportive community. We are focused and anticipate significant growth over the next few years.”

Chamber Board Chair-Elect Irma Tuder congratulates Madison County CapitalSouth Bank President Richard Perdue on opening the bank’s new Madison facility.

Irma Tuder, chair-elect for the Chamber’s board of directors, said the bank’s growth is symbolic of the community’s economic growth and that she honored the bank that “has been responsible for a great deal of the economic development successes in the city of Huntsville, the city of Madison, and Madison County.”

February 29, 2008 - Premier Professional Systems recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony in recognition of its new facility in Cummings Research Park. Keynote speakers included Jannifer Henderson, founder, president and CEO of Premier Professional Systems and Riley Henderson III, co-founder and executive vice president of Premier Professional Systems, and special guest speaker Mayor Loretta Spencer. Premier Professional Systems currently has 130 employees worldwide.

“Premier Professional Systems continues to enhance its great reputation to Department of Defense clients in worldwide logistics support, field maintenance and software engineering services for the military,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors. “I know this is a proud day for the founders and for the great employees at Premier Professional Systems.”

From left, Jim McCamy, representing U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer; Premier Professional Systems co-founder and Executive Vice President Riley Henderson III; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; PPS founder and CEO Jannifer Henderson; and LaFreeda Jordan, representing U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, all celebrate the growth of Premier Professional Systems and its brand new facility in Cummings Research Park.

Dr. Wanda Austin thanks the Chamber and attendees at a special reception held the night before the organization's grand opening ceremony at its new office in Huntsville.

“The Aerospace Corporation is a very unique and dynamic organization whose history of excellence in this nation’s missile and space program is a match for our community, a community so steeped in this nation’s missile and space programs,” said Evans Quinlivan, chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors.

"We are excited about opening an office in Huntsville, which has such a rich history in space innovation and technology advances," said Dr. Wanda Austin, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation. "The Missile Defense Agency is one of The Aerospace Corporation's principal customers, and we look forward to helping them achieve their mission objectives and assisting other organizations and agencies in the areas that are involved in the national space program."

Huntsville led the state and was fourth overall, trailing only McAllen-Edinburg, Mission, Texas; Johnson City-Bristol-Kingsport, Tenn.; and Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, Miss. However, the article also stated that no mid-market made a bigger jump over the past five years than Huntsville.

The economic growth in the state was also noted in Montgomery, which finished ninth, and Mobile, which finished 10th, but, like Huntsville, has moved up the list over the past few years.

“In fact, other than Huntsville, Ala., Mobile may be the second-hottest mid market in the entire South over the past three years,” the article states.

Don Nalley (center), the Chamber’s vice chair for economic development, presents a plaque to Gleason Research and Associates CEO Dr. Robert Yates (left) and GRA President Chuck Vessels.

“GRA tripled in size the last two years and added many new customers requiring special security measures,” stated Dr. Bob Yates, CEO, “necessitating the new facility.” Continue »