Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce NOVEMBER 2019 the Austal Set to Launch USS Mobile Global Supply Chain Summit – Nov. 12-13 MAWSS Named Minority Business Advocate A voice solution that speaks to your business’ needs. At C Spire, we know finding the right voice solution is about more than phones. You need a crystal-clear connection to your customers. That’s why we deliver IP Voice inspired by you. With pristine voice quality, premium features, and dedicated local support and user training, you can focus on what matters most – your customers. Discover the difference with customer inspired IT. cspire.com/voip 2 the business view NOVEMBER 2019 ©2019 C Spire. All rights reserved. USS Mobile Christening History in the Making December 2019 Rebecca Byrne, Ship Sponsor Join the Build www.AustalJobs.com the business view NOVEMBER 2019 3 the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce NOVEMBER 2019 | In this issue ON THE COVER: Austal’s new LCS – USS Mobile – is nearing completion. Learn about this special ship, and its commissioning From the Publisher - Bill Sisson taking place in December on pg. 12. Photo by LA Fotographee. Census Critical to Alabama’s Future 5 News You Can Use Every 10 years the census used to pay for critical public 9 Small Business of the Month: bureau gathers information on funding such as healthcare, Momentum IT the population of the United education, housing, and States to determine how many infrastructure such as roads 10 MAWSS Named 2019 Rev. Wesley A. representatives each state will and bridges. James Minority Business Advocate get in Congress and how tax As business leaders, we 11 Veterans Day Activities in Mobile dollars will be distributed. The should be doubly concerned 2020 census is underway, and that every citizen is counted. 12 A Decade in the Making – An LCS it’s critical to Alabama and here Census data is continually Named After the Port City locally on the Gulf Coast that used for economic 15 Chamber Chase Wraps Up there is an accurate account of development projects, every person living in the area, including providing a detailed demographic picture 23 Investor Focus: Spire the homeless. of workforce and future potential 25 CEO Profile: Melissa Varnadore, Participation is key to an accurate count, customers, and is used by new businesses Vail Rubber Works Inc. – Mobile and estimates show unless Alabama is to determine where to open new locations. Service Center successful at increasing its participation Let’s work together to get the word out 28 Chamber@Work rate in the 2020 count, we could lose one by sharing information about the upcoming or even two representatives in Congress. census, being personally committed to 29 Ambassador of the Month: Furthermore, there are more than 55 federal completing the census forms for our own Laura Williams programs which rely on census data to families, and by encouraging our employees, 29 Business Spotlight of the Month: gauge how to allocate federal funds to state business associates, and neighbors to do the Dauphin Island Heritage and and local governments. These funds are same. Read more in the article on page 5. Arts Council 30 Vanessa Washington Joins Chamber 30 Board of Advisors: James K. Lyons, Christopher Baldwin and Mark B. Bush 32 Calendar 15 36 Member News 38 Anniversaries 39 New Members the business view is published monthly, except for the combined issue of December/January, by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 251-433-6951 mobilechamber.com ©2019 10 Publisher William B. Sisson Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins Copy Editor Michelle Irvin Additional Writers and Editors 13 Mike Herndon, Ashley Horn, Susan Rak-Blanchard 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 NOVEMBER 2019 NEWS you can use Census Count Coming in 2020 Not taking 10 minutes to the most population gains are complete a U.S. Census form projected to get additional could have a dire impact on the seats, while states with state of Alabama, according to decreases in population or Alabama Counts, an advisory slow growth are at risk of group composed of losing seats. public and private Not taking A projected statewide 10 minutes to slowed population organizations complete a growth in Alabama committed to U.S. census form has put the state working together could have a dire in danger of losing to ensure each one of seven A few people who use Mobile Arc services show off the organization’s new Alabamian impact on the congressional name as AltaPointe Intellectual Disabilities. The merger will allow more is counted in the state of Alabama. seats after the 2020 resources to be dedicated to programs, staff and community partnerships. 2020 Census. Alabama Counts census. These are The opportunity the voices that to say “I Count” is coming represent citizens and stand up in spring 2020. Between now for their needs on the federal and the official count dates, level. The loss of a congressional A New Name the Mobile Area Chamber is representative would mean one committed to sharing information less critical voice advocating for to help its members and Alabama on the national stage. employees understand what’s for Mobile Arc at stake. Economic Development Not sure how it affects you? The Chamber considers Here are just a couple of the ways: U.S. Census data as valuable Following a national trend we did not have prior to this,” and unbiased information fairly new to the social he said. Funding for Programs collected by a neutral third services industry, Mobile Arc Approximately 150 of that Impact You, Your party. An improvement in a recently became AltaPointe Mobile Arc’s employees are Family and Our community’s census data Intellectual Disabilities. joining the AltaPointe team, could mean additional retail “We’re using business with the administrative staff Communities and restaurant growth as well principles to run social moving to AltaPointe Funding to Alabama for as more consideration from services more efficiently, corporate offices on Southland programs that affect healthcare, companies wishing to expand enhance service delivery and Drive in west Mobile. Program education, housing assistance, or relocate, creating job provide better employment locations remain in place, infrastructure development and opportunities. The Chamber’s opportunities,” said Tuerk including the Fred Delchamps more is tied in some form to economic development team Schlesinger, CEO of Mobile- Center and Moorer Learning census data. A recent study by uses census data regularly as it headquartered AltaPointe Center on Gordon Smith George Washington University works to recruit companies and Health. Drive. indicates in 2015, the U.S. assist with existing industry The merger will allow Established in 1957 in government returned almost expansion projects. more resources to be focused Mobile, AltaPointe Health is $1,600 to the state for every As a business owner, it is on programs, staff and one of the state’s largest regional Alabamian counted in the important to start talking with community partnerships, community comprehensive census, and $13 billion was your employees about the according to Jeff Zoghby, the behavioral health providers. allocated to Alabama in 2016 upcoming census count, former executive director of Services include inpatient, from 55 programs guided in educating and encouraging Mobile Arc, who now is an outpatient and resident some part by data derived from them to participate. associate executive director at treatment to more than 30,000 the census. For more information AltaPointe. “With the strength children, adolescents and Congressional about the U.S. Census, visit of the two organizations, we adults annually in Mobile, 2020census.gov. are better positioned to Baldwin, Washington, Clay, Representation provide comprehensive Coosa, Randolph and The population count mental health services that Talladega counties. taken in the 2020 census will determine the allocation of the 435 seats in the U.S. House of You’ll see this symbol with Representatives. States with stories featuring Chamber initiatives. the business view NOVEMBER 2019 5 Bishop State offers the programs you need. With the growing need for skilled laborers in Mobile County and throughout the state, Bishop State Community College is vital to training the workforce that will continue to support our businesses and industries. Our certified, MOBILE’S industry-experienced instructors use modern equipment and techniques to ensure our students are properly trained and have the skills and knowledge COMMUNITY to obtain today’s in-demand jobs. COLLEGE For more information Call us now: 251-405-7005 or by visiting bishop.edu MAIN CAMPUS | BAKER-GAINES CENTRAL | SOUTHWEST | CARVER NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT No employee or applicant for employment or promotion shall be discriminated against on the basis of any impermissible criterion6 or characteristic the business including, view without NOVEMBER limitation, 2019race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law. www.bishop.edu Bishop State offers the programs you need. Get to Know the Chamber’s New Research Tool With the growing need for skilled laborers in Mobile County and throughout the state, Bishop State Community College is vital to training the workforce that will continue to support our businesses and industries. Our certified, The Mobile Area Chamber data sets in Mobile County as MOBILE’S industry-experienced instructors use modern equipment and techniques to recently launched a new research well as the ability to compare tool on its website under the statistics to surrounding ensure our students are properly trained and have the skills and knowledge economic development section. counties. Users can change the COMMUNITY to obtain today’s in-demand jobs.