Click to enlarge.

The new $71 million 60-bed hospital is being built to expand to approximately 200 beds as the area continues to grow. Madison Hospital will employ 500 and serve the residents of the City of Madison and communities in western Madison County and surrounding areas.

Medical services to be provided by Madison Hospital include obstetrics, medical, special procedures, imaging, sleep disorders, surgery, emergency/urgent care, non-invasive cardiology and physical therapy.

Under the task order, SAIC will lead a team of 238 subcontractors and provide life cycle systems and software engineering support as required to help the Army integrate technology and equipment needed for continued mission success. According to company officials, SAIC will add 30 new jobs to complete the work.

"We look forward to continuing our support for this important customer as they provide mission critical systems and software engineering expertise to support weapon systems over their life cycle," said John Gully, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager.

The AMRDEC SED supports the acquisition, research, development and sustainment of some of the Army’s most sophisticated weapon systems. It maintains expertise in the Army's prevailing policies and practices on software reuse, metrics, post deployment support, process improvement, computer resource margins analysis and risk management.

Brad Bohan, DMD Vice President of Corporate Development; Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle; Irma Tuder, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors; Bob Cashion, DMD chief engineer; Bill Best, DMD president; Greg Stolt, DMD executive vice president; and Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie.

DMD has supported the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command since 2002. The company specializes in radar and missile engineering services, technology evaluation, deployment planning, software development and quality assurance.

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board Chair Irma Tuder praised the company for its leadership, competence and commitment.

“DMD is supporting the agencies and the areas that are helping grow our local economy. By providing these services with distinction, the company is likewise growing with our community – which is one of the reasons we are here today,” Tuder said.

DMD President Bill Best thanked the employees for their dedication and hard work.

“While this is a ribbon cutting for our new building, it is really an event about our people. It is about the efforts of a lot of people who take pride in giving our soldiers the technical advantage,” he said. “And we are very proud to be right here in Huntsville.”

Huntsville Mayor Battle echoed the sentiment and said he expected DMD would continue to grow thanks to the company’s highly skilled workforce.

“We are excited about your company. DMD will be a big part of Huntsville’s growth. You are a quality company that represents the quality of Huntsville,” Battle said.

Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie congratulated the company, its employees and thanked them for their support of the nation’s soldiers.

“This is such a meaningful day in our community,” Gillespie said. “And I urge you to continue providing the excellent support that you do and I can promise you we will continue to support you. This building houses the people who support our nation’s soldiers, and we are proud of them and we are proud of you.”

(L to R) Whitney Heaps, Congressman Parker Griffith's office; Daniel Tidwell, Congressman Robert Aderholt's office; John Williams, operations manager of MEI-Huntsville; Vic Walczak, MEI general manager for military programs; Irma Tuder, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Chamber or Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County; Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle; LaFreeda Jordan, Sen. Richard Shelby's office; Lisa Washington, Sen. Jeff Sessions's office.

The move to the new office comes on the heels of MEI Technologies-Huntsville adding more personnel upon winning the Test and Evaluation Contract with the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) in September 2008.

“This AMRDEC T&E effort is a five-year, $158-million contract, and required us to hire 14 new employees in the Huntsville office – a more than 300 percent increase in the past two years, and will continue to ramp up in the coming months.” said John Williams, operations manager for MEI Technologies-Huntsville. “So naturally, additional offices and laboratories were a necessity.”

MEI Technologies anticipates further growth for the Huntsville office based on the steady flow of contract work with entities such as the NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center, Department of Homeland Security and various Department of Defense agencies. This will result in even more employee growth over the next four to five years. There is an additional 4,000 square feet of office space at the Huntsville facility to accommodate such expansion.

“The city of Huntsville has been a tremendous support to us in the three years since we opened our office,” Williams said. “Our job growth not only allows us to service our clients, but also helps boost the economic vitality of our community – we’re creating real jobs. Plus, more employees allow us to become even more active in our community, supporting and sponsoring local charities and other organizations that strive to make Huntsville a great place to live and work.”

Irma Tuder, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that companies such as MEI contribute to the Huntsville/Madison County’s reputation.

“There is a reason why the Huntsville/Madison County community was selected as the best performing city, the second best city in the nation to raise a family, and the number one community to launch a business – proving that this is a smart place to live, work and play, and it is because of the investment into this community by companies such as MEI,” Tuder said.

Joseph M. Cosumano Jr., president and CEO of of Agility DGS, cuts the ribbon on the company's new corporate headquarters in Cummings Research Park.

Agility DGS owns Taos Industries, a logistics and military procurement company that was founded in Huntsville in 1991.

Joseph M. Cosumano Jr., president and CEO of Taos Industries, was named president of Agility DGS Inc. Cosumano, a retired Army lieutenant general, served as commander of the U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville from 2001 to 2003.

Agility’s decision to consolidate U.S. operations in Huntsville reflects the community’s emergence as a leading center for aviation, missile, space and procurement activity, Cosumano said.

“Huntsville has become a critical hub for the U.S. military and defense industries. It’s important for us to deepen our existing roots here so we can be close to our partners and to key customers such as the Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal and the Army Security Assistance Command,” he said.

“Huntsville and Madison County offer us an ideal combination of business opportunities and quality of life,” Cosumano said. “They’ve got critical mass in the defense industry, along with a highly educated labor pool. This is an attractive, affordable place to live. Our plan is to grow here and contribute to the economy and the community.”

Irma Tuder, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Board of Directors, said that Agility represents the diversity of Huntsville/Madison County’s economy.

“Today very much illustrates the economic growth and diversity of the Huntsville/Madison County community. To have a company with this type of global presence located here and expanding here is wonderful to see,” Tuder said.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Andrew York of CRS ,joined by Rep. Parker Griffith (far left), Ron Poteat (far right), Chamber vice chair for investor relations, and CRS staff, cut the ribbon on the company's new larger office in downtown Huntsville.

Ron Poteat, vice chair of investor relations for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, congratulated the company on its growth.

“We are thrilled to be here with CRS today. We don’t think there is a better business climate in the United States right now than what exists here so we are excited to see the company doing well,”

Andrew York, who leads the Huntsville office, said that the strong community is a reason for the company’s presence and growth.

“We are here because of the strong architecture and construction contractor community here,” York said.

Correlated Magnetics Research was formed in Huntsville based on a breakthrough discovery in magnets. The new technology could be applied to several industries. (Click photo to enlarge)

Coded magnetic structures (MagnitsTM) can be designed to deliver precise holding strength characteristics, customized release behavior, prescribed alignment tolerances, and even unique identities that can discriminate which devices will interact at all. Continue »

Freedom Information Systems recently moved into its new company headquarters in Madison. (Click photo to enlarge)

“We’re happy to be settled in our new office and we’re committed to the growth and support of our new community,” said Mark Ogles, president of Freedom. “This new facility is the core of our business.”

Don Nalley, Chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, said that Freedom’s emphasis on IT makes Freedom a good fit for Madison County. He also said that the company was named in the 2009 Inc. 500|5,000 list along with 20 other Madison County companies. According to Nalley, Madison County had more companies on the list than any other county in Alabama.

“Freedom is a great example of the kinds of companies that thrive in this community,” said Don Nalley, Chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors.

Madison Mayor Paul Finley, welcomed the company to Madison.

“We are so thankful to have you in our city and community. It is one thing to have the numbers and it is another to know what to do with them. The information you provide to NASA and the government keeps our nation moving forward,” Finley said.

Roger Messik, WestWind Chief Operating Officer (COO), said that the project is a unique public-private partnership.

“This unique public-private partnership is the first time the Port of Huntsville has partnered with a small business on a project like this. We are expecting that this project will bring numerous opportunities to this region,” he said. Continue »

Roger Messik, WestWind COO, receives a plaque from Irma Tuder, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. (Click photo to enlarge)

Janice Migliore, Palco CEO, cuts the ribbon for the company’s new 135,000 square-foot facility. Palco will add 30 to 50 new jobs as part of a consolidation. (Click photo to enlarge)

Palco, which has two facilities in Huntsville, as well as Kansas and Colorado., is consolidating most of its operations into Huntsville/Madison County as the company expands the breadth of its work.

Janice Migliore, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Palco, said that community support made the expansion possible.

“I want to thank Huntsville and Madison County for putting us on the map and giving us the platform from which to be successful,” Migliore said. Continue »

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.”

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.

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 »

(Left to Right) Joe Vallely, City of Huntsville; Steven Burkett, COO of SL1; Lori Burkett, principal owner of SL1; Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors; and Jim McCamy, Office of Rep. Parker Griffith.

“SL1 is a company that continues to enhance our image as a leading technology and engineering community,” said Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors. “In its support of the U.S. Army and DoD, this company is in many ways representative of the remarkable growth we have enjoyed in Huntsville/Madison County as the Army’s presence and programs here have continued to grow.”

Steven Burkett, SL1 COO, said that the company was formed after he and his wife were relocated by their previous employer to Huntsville. Shortly after arriving, Burkett decided to start his own company, which won its first defense contract just months after incorporating. The company began by offering software-blocking technology to the Army, but has since grown its services.

“We chose Huntsville because of the great support this community shows small businesses,” he said. Continue »

Kevin Kennoy, who heads the Huntsville office of MWH, cuts the ribbon at the company’s ribbon cutting ceremony and announcement of its entrance into the North Alabama market.

MWH Americas provides comprehensive consulting management, engineering and technical services and construction management services to North, Central and South America. The company provides wet infrastructure expertise for municipalities, governments and private-sector clients that span not only the company’s core business in water and wastewater treatment, but also the significant opportunities North and South America have in hydropower, water resources and services to the energy industry, including renewable and sustainable energy sources.

MWH is currently contracting with the City of Huntsville on a number of projects. The company currently employs five people, but officials with the company plan to grow its presence here. Continue »

John Horan, President of ASRC Aerospace; Cynthia Achorn, Chief Strategy Officer for ASRC Federal; Irma Tuder, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Chair and ASI Founder; Ken Barnett, President of ASI; Mayor Tommy Battle; and Greg Einfalt, President of ASRC Research & Technology turn over dirt at ASI's groundbreaking cermony for its second building in CRP.

“ASI in many ways represents what is so unique about this community, the belief that anyone can envision and create a sustainable business that attracts great people. And when you hire people who feel invested into the company, they extend and develop that vision and take the company to even higher levels. I can say with great certainty that is the case with ASI, as evidenced by what we are doing here today,” said Irma Tuder, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors and founder of ASI.

Tuder founded ASI 17 years ago as a federal contractor providing engineering and management support to the federal government. ASI was purchased by ASRC in 2007, making it part of nine subsidiaries.

Cynthia Achorn, former president of ASI and current Chief Strategy Officer for ASRC, spoke on behalf of ASRC.

“At ASI, I went from a PM to a director to a vice president to president and now I am a senior representative with ASRC. It just makes you imagine what all you can do with this company,” Achorn said. “We are committed to investing in Huntsville and committed to our employees.”

Ken Barnett, ASI president, said he was excited to begin construction on the new building and said he hopes to outgrow it just like the other building.

“I’m eager to start building,” Barnett said. “Thanks to the employees and the efforts you put forth. We wouldn’t be here without you. I ask that you continue to support our customers and our community.”

Mayor Tommy Battle congratulated the company on its growth.

“This really is an amazing day. You have done some great things over the years and are truly one of the companies that makes this community so great. In just 17 years you have built something that will go on for many more years,” Battle said.

Garry Safady, managing partner at O&S Holdings, discusses new expansion at Bridge Street Town Centre.

Construction on a new six-story, 130,000 square-foot building is expected to begin early next year. The new office building will mirror the current building that was recently completely rented out by CSC. When CSC completes its consolidations, all of its 400 employees will work at Bridge Street. The new tower represents an investment of some $35 million.

Garry Safady, managing partner of O&S Holdings, said the announcement is great news in light of the current national downturn in the market.

“In today’s market, it is a wonderful experience to be able to announce something so great for this community,” he said. Safady added that he is already taking pre-leasing offers.

In addition to the new tower, plans are under way to create six professional-level tennis courts and an executive putting green for the Westin’s guests as well as those who pay to use the facilities.

Safady also announced that a major department store is being contacted about possibly becoming a tenant. While Safady would not go into details because of confidentiality agreements, he did say it would require 100,000 to 200,000 square feet. Company officials say that a department store at Bridge Street has been one of the most frequently requested type of stores.

Daryl Sargent, vice president for programs at Draper Laboratory, and Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors.

Draper, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., has played an important role in every human spaceflight program since Apollo, including the Space Shuttle and Space Station, and today is working on the Ares-1 crew launch vehicle and other elements of Project Constellation.

Darryl Sargent, vice president for programs at Draper Laboratory, said opening operations in Huntsville was an important move for the lab because of the work at Redstone Arsenal.

“With the opportunity to work directly with Marshall on the Ares-1, the Laboratory made a strategic decision to open an office in Huntsville. It seems particularly appropriate that we are opening this office just as the nation prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing in July,” said Sargent. “We are proud to be part of the community of scientists and engineers that develop our nation’s space systems and provide the technology for our nation’s defense. We are looking forward to contributing our ideas and technologies to the needs of Marshall Space Flight Center, the Army, and MDA here in Huntsville.”

Don Nalley, Chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, welcomed the Draper to the community.

“I am proud to say that Draper Laboratory is enhancing our community’s image as a leading technology area – where innovation, entrepreneurship and technology have met and continue to forge our future. We are defined in many ways by the technology and the genius of those who helped put America into space and man on the moon,” Nalley said. We are so fortunate to have become a research and development hub for technology. And today we officially add to that legacy with the growth of Draper Laboratory.”

Mayor Tommy Battle said Huntsville is a great fit for the lab.

“We are very excited to have you here. This city is made for R&D and made for technology. This city is a great fit for Draper,” Battle said. “And we look forward to helping you grow and become an even bigger part of the community.”

Boeing’s office in Cummings Research Park

"Huntsville is a leader in the aerospace industry, and Boeing is proud of its 47-year partnership with this community, which now includes work on defense, space and commercial programs," said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager for Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Our customers have been locating more of their personnel and operations in this community, so now is the right time for us to center our missile defense business here as well. We want to remain close to our customers and the vital national-security programs Boeing employees support."

In addition, "Boeing already has 3,200 highly skilled employees and numerous program partners in Alabama," said Hyslop. "Bringing our missile defense headquarters to Boeing's Huntsville site demonstrates the importance of those operations to Boeing, both now and in the future."

Boeing is the largest aerospace company in Alabama and one of the state's largest employers. Current company operations in Huntsville include the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program and other missile defense work, such as the Arrow system and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seeker, as well as work associated with Ares I, the International Space Station, Future Combat Systems, Avenger, SBInet, and engineering for the 787 and the P-8A Poseidon.

Charlie Kettle, left, the Chamber’s vice chair for economic development, moderates a panel with Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

Attendees at the Chamber’s Annual Economic Development Summit were presented with the new Economic Growth Report.

Julius Weyman, regional executive for the Birmingham Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, was the featured speaker at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s 2009 Economic Development Summit, presented by Verizon Wireless. Weyman said that while most of Alabama had catching up with the rest of the country in terms of the recession, the Huntsville/Madison County area continued to be a leader.

“I talk to a lot of groups in a lot of places and I Google the cities before I arrive to get some background. Have you ever Googled Huntsville? It’s fun. I don’t get to see the kinds of positive news that you get here very often. It goes on and on. Huntsville continues to be a bright spot for the state.” He also thanked Bobby Bradley and Tom Stanton, the Huntsville representatives who serve on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank.

The Economic Development Summit is held for the Chamber’s HREGI Investors to announce the latest economic growth report. The 2009 Summit not only featured a keynote address from Julius Weyman of the Fed, but also included a first-ever for the event—a panel discussion with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and Madison County Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie.

The panel of civic leaders focused on the role teamwork and cooperation play in economic development as well as the explosion of growth attributed to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 recommendations set to be completed in the next three years. Continue »

Port of Huntsville The Port of Huntsville’s new 90,000 square-foot, $7 million air cargo facility.

Construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility began in May 2008 and totaled more than $7 million. The facility, which was constructed by Decatur-based Fite Building Company, Inc., features a 5,250-square-foot cold storage area and 20-foot by 70-foot double bay doors. The new development will almost double in size the current 100,000-square-foot Air Cargo South facility where global Swiss freight forwarder, Panalpina, has resided since 1990. Another 100,000-square-foot air cargo building houses several carriers and freight forwarders, including UPS Supply Chain Solutions, UPS, WestWind Inc. and Fed Ex.

According to Rick Tucker, executive director, Port of Huntsville, “Senator Shelby has been a tremendous advocate of the Port of Huntsville for many years and has worked tirelessly to help secure funding that has enabled our operations to continue to grow and work toward our mission of providing quality multi-modal transportation services to a diverse regional customer base and stimulating the economic growth and development of the Tennessee Valley region.” Continue »

The company is the creator and manufacturer of a large inflatable antenna that is easily deployable and far cheaper than conventional static antennas. The company’s product has been used by the military and disaster relief agencies in places such as the mountains of Afghanistan and in New Orleans in the immediate wake of Hurricane Katrina.

During the last five years, GATR has grown from a two-person research effort to a multi-million dollar company, employing some 20 full and part-time employees and bolstering many other local companies with material and technical subcontracts.
Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors said that the company is representative of the businesses in Huntsville/Madison County.

“In a time of national economic downturn, GATR truly represents the best of what our community has to offer – entrepreneurial spirit and the creation of technology that can be traced back to working in the nation’s space program,” said.

Brenda Martin, Director of Multicultural Affairs for the City of Huntsville, congratulated the company on its achievements on behalf of the City of Huntsville.

“GATR Technologies is an excellent example of the kind of company that thrives inNorth Alabama,” Martin, said. “Using an innovative approach to solve a common and persistent problem in military, humanitarian and industry communications, Paul Gierow leveraged a great idea, this community’s talented engineers and technicians, Redstone Arsenal’s contracting resources, local expertise and technical facilities and his own hard work and dedication.”

GATR founder and president Paul Gierow said that the company’s success allows for more humanitarian efforts such as bringing communications capabilities to rural areas. He also described the “secret sauce” of success in Huntsville.

“The secret sauce for being a successful business in Huntsville is not only having the technology, but it is our government customers. It takes the risk of government employees to use your product,” he said.

“Our technology is cool, but we have proven that our technology also works,” said Gierow.

Download the List of 2008 New and Expanding Industries (PDF) »

The Huntsville Metro, which includes Madison and Limestone Counties, saw the state’s greatest population increase in 2008. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the metro grew by 9,323 people or 2.4 percent. The metro area now has 395,645 residents, which makes this metro area the 27th fastest growing area in the nation.

Also, Madison County led the state in new and expanding jobs with 3,464 jobs announced, according to the Alabama Development Office, the State of Alabama’s economic development agency. The State does not include the areas of Huntsville that extend into Limestone County. The number of jobs for Madison County including those jobs is 3,811. The runners-up included Jefferson County and Mobile County with 2,088 and 1,677 new and expanding jobs, respectively.

Randy Morgan, President, Defense Sector, Cobham Analytic Solutions, displays his new Cobham name badge.

Cobham has revenues of $2.2 billion and employs more than 12,500 people worldwide on five continents, with customers in more than 100 countries. In the past, individually branded business units have provided products and services to primarily aerospace and defense customers, many of whom have been unaware of the breadth of capabilities available to them from across Cobham. The unification of all businesses under a single unified brand is designed to make it easier for customers to understand the group and highlight the career opportunities available to current and future employees.

“We are proud of our reputation for technical excellence and the contribution we make to our country’s defense and national security. We look forward to further growth in our customer-focused systems engineering and technical assistance as part of the larger Cobham family,” Tim Heely, president of Cobham Analytic Solutions, said.

Pictured, from left: Huntsville City Councilman Will Culver, Mayor Tommy Battle, Chamber Chair-elect Don Nalley, Garver president/CEO Brock Johnson, and Jerry McCarley, senior project manager/regional office administrator for the Huntsville office of Garver. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Garver offers a full range of engineering and related services such as transportation, general civil, mechanical engineering, surveying, and construction management and observation to its clients, including the City of Huntsville.

Don Nalley, chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors thanked the company for choosing to expand in Huntsville.

“We certainly appreciate that you have selected our community to expand your business and we are proud to have you here. Companies like you contribute to the reputation that this community, with the highest concentration of engineers per capita, really is a smart place to live, work and play,” Nalley said.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle congratulated the company on its expansion.

“This research park is exactly what our forefathers had in mind as a place where companies like you could grow. We are glad to have you in CRP,” Battle said. “Now, keep the contracts coming and keep those jobs coming.”

The company’s president/CEO Brock Johnson attended the opening and remarked about the importance of Huntsville to the company.

“We are grateful for the work that we do for Huntsville,” Johnson said. “You never see a television show dedicated to engineers, but I am proud of the work we do to maintain the infrastructure of this community. I issue a challenge to our staff here to achieve a new level of excellence.”

Pictured, from left: Chamber Chair Irma Tuder, Eddie Littrell, president/CEO CoRe Solutions; Terrie Littrell and Huntsville City Administrator Rex Reynolds. (Click photo to enlarge.)

Irma Tuder, Chair, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, officially welcomed the company to its new office.

“Clearly, the presence of our federal government and our related federal contractor community continues to expand in Huntsville/Madison County. As a result of that growth, thanks to products and services provided by CoRe Solutions, contractors can be assured that they are able to meet their clients’ needs,” Tuder said.

Eddie Littrell, president of CoRe, described how the company is different from other human resources companies in the community.

“Most small government contractors can’t afford the services of what large headhunter firms charge. We make those services available to small government contractors,” Littrell said.

City Administrator Rex Reynolds, who spoke on behalf of Mayor Tommy Battle, said even though times are tough, companies continue to grow in Huntsville.

“It is exciting to be in Huntsville despite the tough economic times. We continue to regularly have ribbon cutting such as this and ground breakings,” Reynolds said.

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Chair Irma Tuder, ManTech International CEO George Pedersen, Brenda Martin of the City of Huntsville and Nexolve President and General Manager Joe Bergantz cut the ribbon on Nexolve’s new facility in Cummings Research Park. (Click photo to enlarge.)

According to Nexolve president and general manager Joe Bergantz, the move to the new facility will make the company more efficient because of its proximity to high bays that the company already owned and more office and lab space.

“Our name may have changed from ManTech SRS to Nexolve, but the people haven’t changed,” Bergantz said. “We are still going to provide high quality service and we look forward to growing in this community with our neighbors in Research Park.”

ManTech International CEO George Pedersen flew in from corporate headquaters to attend the event. In February 2008, Pedersen received a Federal 100 Award from Federal Computer Week. He was chosen for having a significant influence on how the "federal government buys, uses and manages information technology," and "for a risk-taking, vision and pioneering spirit in the federal IT community." Pedersen said how amazed he was with Huntsville’s growth. Continue »

L-R: Jim McCullough, Garry Byrum

The new 50,000 square-foot campus is LEED certified and will have classrooms, breakout rooms, offices and conference rooms and represents a capital investment of $12.3 million.

“This new campus will serve 350 students a day and can be expanded by as much as 25 percent. There will also be new technology for students to use such as simulators,” Jim McCullough, dean of DAU South, said. McCullough said the building will be finished by November.

Garry Byrum, director of operation at DAU South, said the school currently employs 75 and plans to have 115 employees. DAU recently hired 19 employees.

Mayor Tommy Battle helped break ground on the new facility and said the new campus will help in Huntsville’s workforce development efforts.

“This is going to be a great asset for Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal. This organization is going to help us fill jobs,” Battle said.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Chamber Chair Irma Tuder join the staff from Sentar in cutting the ribbon on its new facility in CRP. (Click photo to enlarge.)

The new facility provides more than 10,500 square feet of research and development facilities, multiple conference rooms, a state-of-the-art computer network defense lab and offices with room to grow. Sentar currently employs 40 people and expects to add 10 more by the end of the year.

Sentar’s latest business venture has been cyber security. Its work in this field recently helped the company win a contract from Sparta Inc. to support development of the National Cyber Range for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA).

DARPA has been assigned to create the National Cyber Range, a test bed consisting of computers and computer systems on which cyber scenarios may be evaluated to assess the security of information and automated control systems.

According Peter Kiss, the company’s founder and CEO, the contract win will have a profound impact on the company and leverage it to gain exposure nationally.

"This allows us to participate in a high-visibility program on a national level," Kiss said. "We're on a great team with industry and academia, which increases our exposure in the whole cyber security world. It really is a big deal for us."

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle attended the ribbon cutting and complimented the company on its achievement. “When we were in New York recently [to present information to S&P and Moody’s], everyone said how great it was to hear a good story for a change. You are a part of the economic growth of this community.”

Don Nalley and Nilmini Thompson

SPS is a woman-owned, (8a) certified small disadvantaged business that delivers program management and logistics support to the military on a worldwide scale. In addition to its office in Huntsville, the company has a presence in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Afghanistan.

Don Nalley, Chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, has worked with SPS in the past and congratulated the company on its success.

“In a time of national economic downturn, SPS represents the best of what our community has to offer—superior delivery of products and support for our nation’s soldiers all over the world,” Nalley said. “We certainly appreciate that you have selected our community to expand your business and we are proud to have you here.”

SPS president and CEO Nilmini Thompson has been with the company since 2005 and has been a major factor in the company’s growth. Thompson applauded the community’s economy and said she looks forward to growing the company.

“Huntsville has one the most progressive economic outlooks in the Southeast region of the United States. SPS is proud to have relocated here and we look forward to a future of prosperous business growth,” Thompson said.

Irma Tuder, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and Madison Mayor Paul Finley join David Raby, president/CEO of STI, in cutting the ribbon for STI’s new facility in Madison. (Click photo to enlarge)

The company also offers expert training in circuit board assembly. More than 1,000 electronics instructors, engineers and technicians come to the company every year from around the nation and from countries such as Hong Kong, Turkey, Brazil and China. In addition to teaching and developing technology, STI is a worldwide distributor of parts for electronics boards with clients in all 50 states and more than 45 foreign countries.

“I’m thrilled with the capabilities the new facility provides for STI Electronics and our customers. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow our business in Madison and around the world,” said David Raby, president of STI.

Irma Tuder, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County said that innovative companies such as STI are major part of Madison County’s success.

“This community has been the state’s leader in new and expanding jobs announced in 15 of the past 18 years thanks to innovative companies such as STI Electronics,” Tuder said.

STI was ranked in Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest growing private businesses three times (two years in the top 500) and is a past winner of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County’s Small Business of the Year.

(pictured from left to right) Deputy Mayor Rex Reynolds, Walter and Terrie Bridges, Chamber vice chair for economic development Charlie Kettle and City Councilman Will Culver (Click photo to enlarge)

Charlie Kettle, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors said, “It is very appropriate that Southern Digital has located into the nation’s second largest research and technology park. After all, under the leadership of Walter and Terri Bridges, SDPI has become one of the premier high technology communications providers in the community.”

In addition to the opening of the new facility, the event also marked the company’s 15th year of business as well as the owners’, Walter and Terri Bridges, 15th wedding anniversary. Continue »

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle joins Lisa Thomason in cutting the ribbon on New Horizon Computer Leaning Centers’ new facility in Huntsville. (click photo to enlarge)

Charlie Kettle, vice chair of economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors said the Huntsville/Madison County community has a great need for trained IT workers. “Living in a high technology community, we have a greater need for business and IT training than ever before, and today we are proud to celebrate with New Horizons and help the company grow its business,” Kettle said. Continue »