Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce JUNE 2018 the Kimberly-Clark Investing $101M Meet the Next Class in Mobile Mill of Mobile/Baldwin Kayak/Canoe Emerging Through Mobile Leaders business FOCUS ON WHAT COUNTS CYPRESS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ENABLES EMPLOYERS TO FOCUS ON PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY AND STAFFING FLEXIBILITY BY RE-DEFINING THE ON-TIME, Your business comes first. BEST-FIT STAFFING SOLUTION MODEL FOR EMPLOYERS. That’s why we’re #1 in reliability. 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AVIATION,operators/heavy TECHNICAL equipment operators & LINE STAFF C Spire. Customer inspired. Aviation, aerospace & manufacturing support MOBILE •• BIRMINGHAMBIRMINGHAM •• NASHVILLENASHVILLE www.cypressemployment.comwww.cypressemployment.com 2cspire.com/business the business view JUNE 2018 | [email protected] | 251.459.8999 ©2018 C Spire. All rights reserved. FOCUS ON WHAT COUNTS CYPRESS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ENABLES EMPLOYERS TO FOCUS ON PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY AND STAFFING FLEXIBILITY BY RE-DEFINING THE ON-TIME, BEST-FIT STAFFING SOLUTION MODEL FOR EMPLOYERS. FOCUSADMINISTRATION, ON CLERICAL & ACCOUNTING Accounting, office administration, WHATsales personnel, file COUNTS clerks & legal personnel Cypress Employment Services Enables Employers To Focus On Productivity, ProfitabilityHEALTHCARE and Staffing Flexibility by Re-Defining The On-Time, Best-Fit Staffing Solution Model For Employers WAREHOUSE & MANUFACTURING ADMINISTRATION & CLERKS Accounting,SUPPORT office administration, sales personnel, fileWarehouse clerks & legal & inventory personnel staff, shipping & receiving INDUSTRIAL & TECHNICAL SKILLS Welders, pipe fitters, riggers, journeyman plumbers & craneCONSTRUCTION operators/heavy equipment SKILLS operators Electricians, production labor, CONSTRUCTIONsheetmetal mechanics, SKILLScarpenters Electricians,and safety production personnel labor, sheetmetal mechanics, carpenters and safety personnel HEALTHCAREINDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE & & MANUFACTURINGTECHNICAL SKILLS SUPPORT WarehouseWelders, &pipe inventory fitters, staff, riggers, shipping & receiving journeyman plumbers & crane AVIATION,operators/heavy TECHNICAL equipment operators & LINE STAFF Aviation, aerospace & manufacturing support MOBILE •• BIRMINGHAMBIRMINGHAM •• NASHVILLENASHVILLE www.cypressemployment.comwww.cypressemployment.com the business view FEBRUARY 2018 3 the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce JUNE 2018 | In this issue ON THE COVER Pictured are five Mobile Area Chamber members participating in this year’s Emerging Leaders Program. Left to right are Billy Hunt, Trey St. John, Hope McFadden, Sharon Campbell and Tony Ingram. The program nicknamed the Streetwise MBA is limited to 20 participants and is designed to drive up revenue and create 10 jobs in local small businesses. Read the story on page 9. Photo by L.A. Fotographee 5 News You Can Use 6 Chamber Promotes David Rodgers 13 Small Business of the Month: Southwestern Consulting 14 Mobile and Baldwin County Projects Approved for RESTORE Act Funds 16 Alabama State Port Authority Makes Plans to Capture Export Traffic 17 Walking, Biking, Kayaking Through Mobile? Yes, Please! 18 Guest Column: 12 Ways to Build 17 Better Client Relationships 20 Applications for Minority Business Awards Being Accepted 21 Investor Focus: ServisFirst Bank 23 CEO Profile: David Price 27 Ambassador of the Month: Laura Williams 27 Business Spotlight of the Month: SunSouth LLC 28 Board of Advisor Profiles: David Clark, James H. Shumock and Elizabeth Stevens 13 29 Calendar 31 Member News 33 Anniversaries 34 New Members the business view is published monthly, except for the combined issue of December/January, by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 22 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 251-433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2018 Publisher William B. Sisson Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins Copy Editor Michelle Irvin Additional Writers and Editors Mike Herndon, Ashley Horn, Susan Rak-Blanchard, Danette Richards and Carolyn Wilson Printing Services: Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design: Wise Design Inc. Advertising Account Executive: René Eiland 251-431-8635 [email protected] 4 the business view JUNE 2018 NEWS you can use Kimberly-Clark made two significant investments in its Mobile facility within the last year. This digital rendering above depicts the company’s combined heat-power plant under construction and Kimberly-Clark Plans announced in 2017. Another Expansion in Mobile Kimberly-Clark Corp. will make a second major investment in its Mobile mill. In April, the Texas-headquartered company announced it will spend $101.7 million and add nine jobs at an average annual wage of $87,000. “This investment, the commitment of our employees and the community support will together bolster the Mobile mill’s competitive position within Kimberly-Clark,” said Todd Visscher, mill manager for Kimberly-Clark’s Mobile operations. According to Visscher, the Stewardship Council (FSC) 2019 – the heat-power plant in Kimberly-Clark has found company is rebuilding an to 80 percent in 2016, up from the first quarter and the tissue Mobile County’s economy good existing tissue machine and 7 percent in 2006. This machine rebuild and converting for business as they continue to installing two converting lines accomplishment earned the lines in the fourth quarter. invest and provide jobs.” to meet the growing needs company the council’s Leadership “These investments are a Kimberly-Clark first among North American bath Award, recognizing use of testament to the future of established a Mobile presence tissue customers. In addition, FSC-certified products and Kimberly-Clark’s Mobile facility 23 years ago in 1995, when the the investment will further commitment to responsible and its workforce,” said Shelby company took over the Scott improve manufacturing forest management. Glover, senior project manager Paper plant. Made in Mobile efficiency, increase capacity Less than a year ago, of economic development for products include bath tissue and produce tissue without the Kimberly-Clark announced the Mobile Area Chamber. “It’s and paper towels under the cardboard core. significant expansion plans important for us to maintain, Scott, Cottonelle and K-C “This coreless product is valued at $110 million for its and add when possible, high- Professional brand names. more environmentally friendly Mobile mill, with plans to add paying jobs such as these.” More than 680 people work and is the future of our 17 new jobs. The 2017 project “When existing businesses at the Mobile site. industry,” said Visscher. aimed at improving long-term are thriving in combination with As part of its sustainability energy efficiency and costs with new jobs and investment, that’s a You’ll see this symbol with strategy to reduce its natural the construction of a combined winning formula,” said City of stories featuring Chamber initiatives. forest footprint by 50 percent heat-power plant began in Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. by 2025, Kimberly-Clark February. Mobile County Commission increased the amount of virgin Both projects have an President Merceria Ludgood fiber certified by the Forestry estimated completion date of added, “We’re happy that the business view JUNE 2018 5 Chamber Promotes David Rodgers to Economic Development Vice President David Rodgers was working in the talented team,” said Rodgers. Economic Development Institute promoted in April to economic “I’m ready to get to work to at Oklahoma University. He has vice president of development advance the PFG plan.” a bachelor’s degree in business economic development department as a “David brings to the table a administration and marketing of the Mobile Area project manager. clear understanding of the from the University of Southern Chamber. In this He was promoted Mobile market and our Team Mississippi and serves on the position, he will to senior project Mobile partners, as well as a board of the South Alabama oversee and direct manager in strong working relationship Regional Planning the Chamber’s June 2016. with the Alabama Department Commission. economic development In his role of Commerce and site selectors Chamber Board Chair Brian functions, including with