Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce SEPTEMBER 2018 the A Decade of Team Mobile Travels to Farnborough to Promote Mobile Economic Chamber Names Two to Development Economic Development Team Progress the business view SEPTEMBER 2018 1 business Your business comes first. That’s why we’re #1 in reliability. So we deliver industry leading levels of reliability, ensuring you get the performance and uptime your business needs from a solution you rely on every day. HD HD Voice Quality Premium Polycom Phones Best in class uptime and reliability Unlimited Nationwide Calling Cloud-based PBX We manage your phone service so you can focus on whatever drives your results. C Spire. Customer inspired. 2cspire.com/business the business view SEPTEMBER 2018 | [email protected] | 251.459.8999 ©2018 C Spire. All rights reserved. the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce SEPTEMBER 2018 | In this issue business 4 News You Can Use ON THE COVER 21 23 20 22 24 25 9 Small Business of the Month: About the cover: Since 2007, 16 17 15 18 19 McFadden Engineering Inc. there have literally been dozens 11 12 13 14 of economic announcements 11 Investor Focus: Warren Averett LLC by local operations expanding 6 7 8 9 10 12 Team Mobile Works Aerospace Show and companies moving into Your business comes first. 4 the area. We invited CEOs and 15 CEO Profile: Jim Nagy, Mobile Arts 1 5 senior staff to join us for our and Sports Association/Reese’s 3 cover photo. They represent 2 Senior Bowl companies investing in the That’s why we’re #1 in reliability. Mobile area and are also 17 Mobile’s On the Grow: A Decade of members of the Mobile Area Economic Development So we deliver industry leading levels of reliability, ensuring you get Chamber. On pages 17 - 25, 26 Colton Cureton and Kayla Morgan we take a look at Mobile on the the performance and uptime your business needs from a solution Join the Chamber’s Economic Grow and a decade of economic Development Team you rely on every day. development. Photo by Jeff Tesney. 27 Chamber@Work 28 Business Spotlight of the Month: HD HD Voice Quality 1. Gilbert Diaz, Alabama Roll Products 14. Alan Flint, Evonik Make-A-Wish Alabama 2. Kevin Allen, Lenzing Fibers 15. Barry Westbrooks, Walmart Logistics 28 Ambassador of the Month: 3. David Trent, Airbus Engineering Center 16. Michael Skolnik, Continental Motors Jordan Henderson 4. Paul Weber, Berg Spiral Pipe 17. Jonathan Bujold, Reel USA Premium Polycom Phones 5. Jimmy Lyons, Alabama State Port Authority 18. Steven Franklin, Airbus 29 Calendar 6. Billy Duren, Threaded Fasteners 19. Andy Walter, Blastech 7. Dexter Seng, VT MAE 20. Josh Oakes, Worthington Industries 30 Member News 8. George Parten, Tate & Lyle 21. Mark Dodson, FedEx 33 Anniversaries Best in class uptime and reliability 9. Mark Bush, SSAB 22. David Myer, Myer Marine Services 10. Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA 23. Brandon Myer, Myer Marine Services 34 New Members 11. Keith Jones, Prism Systems 24. Geoff Myrick, MAAS Aviation 12. Monty Hamilton, Rural Sourcing Inc. (RSI) 25. Greg Guzman, AeroStar Unlimited Nationwide Calling 13. Steven Clark, Silver Ships the business view is published monthly, Cloud-based PBX except for the combined issue of December/January, by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 251-433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2018 Publisher William B. Sisson We manage your phone service Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins so you can focus on whatever Copy Editor Michelle Irvin drives your results. Additional Writers and Editors Mike Herndon, Ashley Horn, C Spire. Customer inspired. Susan Rak-Blanchard and Carolyn Wilson Printing Services: Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design: Wise Design Inc. 7 Advertising Account Executive: René Eiland 4 251-431-8635 [email protected] cspire.com/business | [email protected] | 251.459.8999 the business view SEPTEMBER 2018 3 ©2018 C Spire. All rights reserved. NEWS you can use USA Jags Roar into 10th Season of Football College Planning on Campus Stadium “And it’s another South Toth, senior associate athletic June. The new stadium, located on-campus stadium is the next Alabama first down!” If you director, who handles external where the intramural fields step for exponential growth at have been to a University of affairs and marketing for the are, will hold 25,000 spectators USA. “What’s good for the South Alabama (USA) football Jags. and will cost approximately university is good for the game, you know the chant and All games will be shown this $72 million. community,” he says. the celebration from the crowd fall on the new ESPN+ In just its sixth year of when the ball moves down the streaming service. competition, South became the field. On Saturday, Sept. 1, the fastest FBS program (formally Jags kick off their 10th football known as NCAA Division 1) to season with a new coach and FUN FACTS be invited to a bowl game when talk of its own stadium. the Jags played in the Raycom The inaugural season blitz USA Football Kicked Off: September 2009 Media Camellia Bowl in 2014. came in 2007 from a petition Highest Attendance: 38,129 vs. Miss. State, 9/13/14 The Jags are one of 10 football presented by USA students to teams in the Sun Belt Total Home Game Attendance: 970,588 then-President Gordon Moulton Conference. in support of football and Dec. 2014: In just its sixth year of competition, “Our football program has marching band. (It happened at South becomes the fastest FBS program to be expanded opportunities for half-time during a basketball invited to a bowl game when the Jags played hundreds of students, and that game.) Two months later, the in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. shouldn’t be overlooked,” says university board of trustees Waldrop. “At the same time, approved the move, and the Even under the The Mobile Area having a football program – and coin toss on the Jaguar team’s most aggressive schedule, the Chamber’s board of directors a marching band – most first game was in September earliest fans could be watching passed its own resolution in definitely enhances student life 2009 under the leadership of their team in a new stadium on June in support of the effort at our university. It also makes Head Coach Joey Jones. Steve campus would be 2020, according as well, supporting the us more attractive to prospective Campbell replaced Jones after to a university resolution. USA redevelopment and investment students, and we’ve found that the 2017 season. trustees authorized President of the current site of Ladd- more alumni are reconnecting “Coach Steve Campbell and Tony Waldrop to “execute the Peebles Stadium. with South because of the Jaguar his staff bring incredible passion necessary agreements to begin Chamber President & football program.” and enthusiasm,” says Travis site work for construction” in CEO Bill Sisson believes an 4 the business view SEPTEMBER 2018 BIG ENOUGH TO OFFER 1,400 CLASSES AT 16 LOCATIONS. SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOUR NAME. Alabama’s Lowest Tuition www.CoastalAlabama.edu 1-800-381-3722 CAMPUS LOCATIONS BAY MINETTE | ATMORE | BREWTON | FAIRHOPE | GILBERTOWN GULF SHORES | JACKSON | MONROEVILLE | THOMASVILLE ALABAMA AVIATION CENTER AT BROOKLEY FIELD IT IS THE OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AND COASTAL ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT NO PERSON SHALL, ON THE GROUNDS OF RACE, COLOR, DIS­ ABILITY, GENDER, RELIGION, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR AGE, BE EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT UNDER ANY PROGRAM, ACTIVITY, OR EMPLOYMENT. the business view SEPTEMBER 2018 5 Could Mobile’s Airport Move Downtown to Brookley? Results of an airport destinations and provide better Curry said the move to option” when compared to feasibility study created access.” Brookley increases access to building a new access road to nonstop media coverage and The feasibility study included Baldwin County’s 138,000 Mobile Regional Airport. were the primary topic of the four airport choices passengers that MAA doesn’t The next step came when the community conversations for passengers have within a 120- have at Regional. He also stressed MAA board voted to approve several weeks this summer. mile region for travel and how the importance of the Mobile the study and its findings, also In June, the Mobile Airport choices are made; River I-10 bridge in June, authorizing Curry to Authority (MAA) discussed Mobile’s current The only way to to further reduce pursue a master plan to finalize results of the study and share of drive the cost of travel time from details and costs. Curry potentially switching the roles passengers; fares down in our Baldwin County estimated the master plan between the downtown and a 10-year traffic to Brookley. would take 12 to 18 months community is to Mobile Regional airports at a forecast; how Curry made and its findings would cover media conference. to drive flight create competition, a point to say that the next 20 years of airport “Changing roles of the costs down; and increase destinations the major tenants development, existing facilities, airports will allow us to attract infrastructure and provide at Brookley future forecast, potential layouts better air service and retain a needed. better access. would remain. and the environmental impact great share of users that should Currently, 47 While no of making Brookley a be using our airport,” said Chris percent of the Chris Curry specific commercial airport. Curry, the MAA’s executive passengers in the Mobile Airport Authority investment was “This process will not happen director. “The only way to drive MAA catchment mentioned, the overnight.” he said.