Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce JUNE 2015 the What We Two Local Companies Love Receive Trade Awards About Legislation Helps Mobile Compete for Jobs Mobile 2 the business view JUNE 2015 the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce JUNE 2015 | In this issue ON THE COVER Chamber member Ron Moore with Alabama Power and his family love attending Mobile BayBears games. Learn more about what to love about From the Publisher - Bill Sisson Mobile on pages 18-19. Photo by Jeff Tesney Follow the Trail to Growth 4 News You Can Use 11 Small Business of the Month: It is my firm belief that It’s easy to think of 3 Echoes Production growth and prosperity of any “urban trails” as something 12 A Banner Year for Economic community are driven by jobs. residents can live without. Development in the Alabama Legislature It’s as simple as that. But community leaders So it’s very good news that from across the country 14 Small Business of the Year and Mobile was recently ranked as a are beginning to realize Outstanding Entrepreneur Awarded top 20 city in ZipRecruiter’s list that parks, pedestrian trails 16 Small Business Corner: Want to Get of Southern cities for jobs right and bike paths serve more Paid? Practice Prompt, Smart Invoicing now. Now that the job of a purpose than just places 18 What We Love About Mobile opportunities are here, it’s our to exercise. They can 20 Investor Focus: BancorpSouth challenge and opportunity to propel growth. 22 Military Appreciation Luncheon recruit the families taking these new In the past, those amenities were and Legislative Reception positions to our city and county. considered “nice to have,” but today they 23 CEO Profile: Katherine Wills When newcomers have choices, they will have become a critical part of a transportation 24 Member Appreciation Day choose to live where they find the quality of network that helps communities attract 25 Chamber-Sponsored Trip to Spain life amenities they most desire. Certainly people. And, of course, people attract retail 26 Chamber@Work housing costs and schools are a big part of and other commercial development. 27 Ambassador of the Month: the equation, but so are features such as When you look at surveys done over the Lisa Kavanagh parks, walking trails and bike paths. past 20 years by groups like the National 27 Business Spotlight of the Month: Association of Homebuilders and National Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter Association of Realtors, the results are 28 Board of Advisor Profiles: Hilton incredibly consistent: as much as 60 percent Billingsley Mostellar, John R. Goodloe III, of city residents want a livable, walkable Paul Weber and Bobby Wein community with recreational opportunities. 29 Emily McGrath Promoted at Chamber That’s a staggering statistic – and the and Laura O’Connor Joins the Staff reason the Chamber supports the city and 30 Calendar 4 county’s strategic planning efforts for the 32 Member News continued development of our region’s 34 Anniversaries recreational facilities. Having this all- 35 New Members important infrastructure will be an incredibly effective economic development tool for further business recruitment – and the business view is published monthly, a way to ensure that newcomers will choose except for the combined issue of December/January, to call Mobile home. by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 251-433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2015 Publisher William B. Sisson Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins 25 Copy Editor Michelle Matthews Additional Writers and Editors Ashley Horn, Susan Rak-Blanchard, Carolyn Wilson Printing Services: Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design: Wise Design Inc. Advertising Account Executive: René Eiland 22 251-431-8635 [email protected] the business view JUNE 2015 3 Alabama Steel Terminals Opens State-of-the-Art Coil Handling Facility The Alabama State Port Authority “We are pleased to have delivered the and Alabama Steel Terminals LLC (AST) most technologically advanced steel- recently opened a $36 million steel coil handling facility in the nation to better handling facility at the Port of Mobile. complement the port’s existing portfolio The new rail-, truck- and barge-served of steel terminal facilities,” said Jimmy facility is a joint venture between Lyons, executive director of the Port TriState Maritime Services Inc. and Authority. the Richardson Group. According to Tom Adger, vice The new facility provides 178,200 president for Alabama Steel Terminals square feet of covered bay area equipped LLC, the company’s goal was to “create a with three, 50-ton capacity overhead- state-of-the-art steel coil handling facility bridge cranes and 168,000 square feet of emphasizing both innovation and open storage yard, handling an customer service for steel manufacturers estimated 700,000 tons of steel annually. and shippers.” According to the Port Authority, this The Port of Mobile is currently the project created 50 jobs at an annual second largest steel handling port in the payroll of $2 million. At full build-out, nation, with just over 5 million tons AST will add 194,400 square feet of bay handled in fiscal year 2014 through the area equipped with three additional 50- Port Authority’s terminals. ton capacity overhead bridge cranes, and hire an additional 50 workers. 4 the business view JUNE 2015 NEWS you can use Two Local Companies Receive Trade Awards Governor’s Office, Jamie Martin Governor’s Office, Jamie Martin Gov. Robert Bentley presented the Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards to eight Alabama Accepting the Governor’s Trade Excellence Award from Gov. Robert companies that are excelling in international trade. Accepting the Governor’s Trade Excellence Bentley is John Stimpson, president and owner of Gulf Trading LLC. Award is Keith Jones and Todd Hassel of Prism Systems Inc. Mobile-based companies Gulf global Fortune 500 customers way to grow their business,” said To address this, the Chamber, Trading LLC and Prism Systems represent a variety of industry Christina Stimpson, director of along with the Export Alabama Inc. were among those honored including manufacturing, the Chamber’s international Alliance and the Alabama recently by Gov. Robert Bentley chemicals, food and beverage, trade program. District Export Council, will with the Trade Excellence oil and gas, telecommunications “Many businesses could present the International Trade Award. The Mobile Area and entertainment. benefit from Leadership Series, an in-depth Chamber nominated the Prism Systems has learning about certification program to advance companies based on international 48 employees We hope this international international business skills for trade activity and participation. with 10 percent recognition business Alabama companies beginning Gulf Trading LLC became its of its workforce helps other opportunities and June 19 (See pg. 31 for details). own entity in 2000, evolving out currently located what resources Other recipients of the 2015 of Gulf Lumber Co., which dates in Shanghai companies explore are available to Governor’s Trade Excellence back to 1940. The company has on a long-term international help,” adds Awards are: Applied Chemical eight employees and ships assignment. markets as a viable Stimpson. The Technology Inc., Florence; softwood lumber, North Additional export way to grow International Trade Drummond Co. Inc., Vestavia; American hardwood lumber, markets include Administration Knox Kershaw Inc., Montgomery; Southern yellow pine and more Mexico, Thailand, their business. reports that less Masada Resource Group to export markets including the Japan, France, Christina Stimpson than 1 percent of LLC, Birmingham; Schwarze Caribbean Islands, China, India, Italy, Trinidad & director, Mobile Area America’s 30 Industries Inc., Huntsville; Taiwan, Thailand, Argentina, Tobago, Brazil million companies and SEPCO, Alabaster. Chamber of Commerce Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica. and Tajikistan. export – a international trade program Prism Systems is a 26-year-old “We hope this percentage engineering services company, recognition helps significantly lower You’ll see this symbol with stories featuring Chamber initiatives. specializing in software and other companies explore than all other developed process control services. Its international markets as a viable countries. the business view JUNE 2015 5 Logical Computer Solutions welcomes and your employees and suppliers. We are proud to provide a website built to track site progress of Airbus Assembly Line Mobile with time lapsed aerial photographs and video. Updates are posted regularly, so be sure to add the website to your favorites. Visit www.AirbusAssemblyMobile.com We also believe that our beautiful coastal environment and quality of life draw and retain business to Mobile. We showcase these valuable resources. Visit www.FlyTheCoast.com Celebrating 27 Years in Mobile (251) 661-3111 www.Logicalus.com 724 Lakeside Drive W. [email protected] Mobile, AL 36693 6 the business view JUNE 2015 10 the business view MARCH 2014 * AirbusAssemblyMobile.com is not affiliated with Airbus. Logical Computer Solutions welcomes Chamber Receives and your employees and suppliers. School System Award In April, the Mobile Area Chamber 2015 Award Winners: received the Workforce Development • Empowering Students Starts With Us Award: Chief James H. Barber, Mobile Police Department We are proud to provide a website built to track site Starts With Us award from the Mobile • Community Involvement Starts With Us: The Fuse Project County Public School System. It was given • Workforce Development Starts With Us: Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce progress of Airbus Assembly Line Mobile with time lapsed to the Chamber for bringing business and • Mentoring Starts With Us: Kappa League industry leaders to the table with K-12 and • Student Safety Starts With Us: Ronnie Adair, Mobile County Emergency Management Agency aerial photographs and video. Updates are posted regularly, higher education teachers to talk about the • Supporting Academics Starts With Us: United Way of Southwest Alabama ever-changing needs of Mobile’s workforce.