Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce NOVEMBER 2014 the How the Energy Industry Energizes Mobile’s Economy Mobile Museum of Art Marks Shopping Local Half-Century with and Why It Matters Mardi Gras Exhibit ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IS: Fiber optic data that doesn’t slow you down C SPIRE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CONNECTS YOUR BUSINESS. • Guaranteed speeds up to 100x faster than your current connection. • Synchronous transfer rates for sending and receiving data. • Reliable connections even during major weather events. CLOUD SERVICES Get Advanced Technology Now. Advanced Technology. Personal Service. 1.855.212.7271 | cspirebusiness.com 2 the business view NOVEMBER 2014 the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce NOVEMBER 2014 | In this issue From the Publisher - Bill Sisson ON THE COVER Deborah Velders, director of the Mobile Museum Mobile Takes Bridge Message to D.C. of Art, gets in the spirit of Mardi Gras for the museum’s upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. Story on Recently, the Coastal Alabama as the Chamber’s “Build The I-10 page 10. Photo by Jeff Tesney Partnership (CAP) organized a Bridge Coalition,” as well as the regional coalition of elected officials work of CAP and many others. But from the Mobile Bay region to visit we’re still only at the beginning of Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard the process. Now that the federal 4 News You Can Use Shelby, Cong. Bradley Byrne, and agencies have released the draft several congressmen from Alabama, Environmental Impact Study, 10 Mobile Museum of Art Celebrates Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi in public hearings have been held and 50 Years Washington, D.C. The trip was for a official comments have been 13 Small Business of the Month: single purpose: registered, it is possible for the to advocate for the I-10 bridge over design and engineering to begin. Hummingbird Ideas the Mobile River. Without fail, the And the hardest part can finally 14 The Importance of Shopping Local senators and congressmen were impressed by the start, which is cobbling together federal, state, large number of mayors and county commissioners and local funding to construct the more than 17 Chamber Chase Reaches who made the trip – and by the regional coalition $1 billion project. the Finish Line rallying around this critical infrastructure need. Estimates indicate the bridge could realistically There is no question we have made it this far take six to eight years to complete, so it will be 23 CEO Profile: Angel Brown because of the support of our local elected officials more important than ever for our community 25 Investor Focus: Regions Bank and business community, who have led the charge to keep our eyes on the prize. For growth and for years – and it’s clear that our federal delegation prosperity to continue, we must continue to 26 Chamber@Work in Washington, D.C. will do the same. support pro-bridge efforts to keep Mobile’s A tremendous amount of work advocating for commerce on the move. 27 Board of Advisors: Peter C. Martin Sr., the bridge has already been done by groups such Vance McCown, Kyle Oliver, Darrell Roberts, Ben Smith 28 Ambassadors of the Month: Lisa Kavanaugh and Mary Dean Wilbur 29 Calendar 31 Member News 34 Anniversaries 35 New Members the business view is published monthly, except for the combined issue of December/January, by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 4 8 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 251-433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2014 Publisher William B. Sisson Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins Copy Editor Michelle Matthews Additional Writers and Editors Ashley Horn, Susan Rak-Blanchard, Danette Richards, Carolyn Wilson Printing Services Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design Wise Design Inc. Advertising Account Executive René Eiland 251-431-8635 10 17 [email protected] the business view NOVEMBER 2014 3 NEWS you can use A 21st Century School on the Way at Barton Mobile-based Berg Spiral Pipe Corp. will produce approximately 80 percent of large diameter pipe used to construct a new pipeline that will transport natural gas from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio to regions throughout the United States and Canada. Pictured here is a 36-inch pipe in production prior to it being cut to size. New Contract Keeps Orange cones and scaffolding are sure signs of progress, as the first phase in restoring the 178-year-old Barton Academy in downtown Mobile gets underway. In August, the Mobile County Public Berg Spiral Pipe School Board awarded the building’s exterior restoration contract to Ben Radcliff Construction. A few weeks later, the scaffolding went up on the $2.8 million project, estimated to take between nine to 12 months to finish. at Capacity While the school system is managing the outside repairs, the Barton Academy A historic contract for Mobile-based Berg Spiral “It is the single largest order for the Mobile Foundation, a 501 3(c) nonprofit organization, Pipe Corp. and its sister company Berg Steel Pipe operation since our 2008 commissioning with continues to raise money for interior updates, Corp. in Panama City, Fla., will keep both respect to the quantity of tons and value,” said aiming for a $15 million goal. facilities operating around the clock for most of Paul Weber, general manager of Berg’s Mobile When complete, Alabama’s first public 2015. facility. school will become the state’s only world Berg will manufacture more than 480,000 net Berg will account for approximately 80 percent studies school, Barton Academy for Advanced tons of large-diameter pipe for the ET Rover of the pipe, measuring more than 600 miles in World Studies, a new international studies Pipeline. The project is being managed by Dallas- length. “This project secures continuous public school for grades six through 12. based Energy Transfer Partners, and is designed employment for approximately 200 (local) “We’ll be in a historic building, but we to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania, West workers,” Weber said. will have a 21st century school,” said local Virginia and Ohio to regions throughout the In addition, Berg’s parent company, Germany- attorney Jaime Betbeze with Maynard United States and Canada. based Europipe, will manufacture approximately Cooper & Gale, the foundation chairman. 20 miles of heavy wall and special length pipe. 4 the business view NOVEMBER 2014 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 10 the business view MARCH 2014 * AirbusAssemblyMobile.comthe business view NOVEMBER is not affiliated 2014 with 5 Airbus. DEVOTED TO YOUR CANCER FIGHT. A powerful collaboration devoted to the whole you. From the moment you walk through our doors, you know that you’re in exceptional hands. We’re the regional leader in cancer care, working with MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. MD Anderson has been ranked in the top two cancer centers in the nation since the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” survey began 25 years ago. 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We’re committed to treating body, mind and spirit, local cancer patients. surrounding you with compassion close to home. 6 the business view NOVEMBER 2014 1.877.904.HOPE | ProvidenceHospital.org One-tenth of U.S. Energy Refined on Gulf Coast Mobile Area Chamber Releases Impact Report According to a recent report, “Understanding Mobile’s there is an estimated $890 billion in economy and its ties to the energy Observations about Energy’s oil and gas infrastructure investment sector is essential to preparing and planned in the U.S. from 2014-2025. planning for our continued growth Impact on Mobile’s Economy As the lead economic developer for and prosperity,” says Bill Sisson, the city of Mobile and Mobile president and chief executive officer County, Mobile Area Chamber of the Chamber. • It is estimated that the petroleum tank storage industry in Mobile officials want to make sure the area The report estimates the economic employs more than 1,800 full-time and contract employees with an gets its share of that investment and impact of the area’s diverse energy annual payroll of $80 million. accompanying jobs. industry and its impact on the • The total annual GDP (output) from the above industry is $687.6 million. The Chamber recently presented Chamber’s six major target markets the results of an independent impact for its recruiting efforts, based on • Sales and property tax collection annually for the city of Mobile is study on the area’s energy sector to need, workforce, infrastructure and $5.3 million, $2.4 million for Mobile County and $500,000 for its board of directors, Partners for location. They are aerospace, public education. Growth steering committee and healthcare/biomedical, manufacturing, • There are four refineries, which depend on petroleum storage tanks energy committee. “The Economic oil and gas exploration, maritime and in Mobile. They are located near the Port of Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Impact of the Energy Sector and transportation/distribution.