Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce APRIL 2018 the Apple Partners with Bishop State Aker Solutions Moves Engineering & Design Ops to Mobile New Direct Jet Service to Orlando 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 APRIL 2018 | [email protected] | 251.459.8999 ©2018 C Spire. All rights reserved. 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. 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FOCUSADMINISTRATION, ON So we deliver industry leading levels of reliability, ensuring you get CLERICAL & ACCOUNTING Accounting, office administration, the performance and uptime your business needs from a solution WHATsales personnel, file COUNTS clerks & legal you rely on every day. personnel Cypress Employment Services Enables Employers To Focus On Productivity, ProfitabilityHEALTHCARE and Staffing Flexibility by HD HD Voice Quality Re-Defining The On-Time, Best-Fit Staffing Solution Model For Employers WAREHOUSE & Premium Polycom Phones MANUFACTURING ADMINISTRATION & CLERKS Accounting,SUPPORT office administration, sales personnel, fileWarehouse clerks & legal & inventory personnel staff, Best in class uptime and reliability shipping & receiving INDUSTRIAL & TECHNICAL SKILLS Welders, pipe fitters, riggers, journeyman plumbers Unlimited Nationwide Calling & craneCONSTRUCTION operators/heavy equipment SKILLS operators Electricians, production labor, CONSTRUCTIONsheetmetal mechanics, SKILLScarpenters Cloud-based PBX Electricians,and safety production personnel labor, sheetmetal mechanics, carpenters and safety personnel HEALTHCAREINDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE & & We manage your phone service MANUFACTURINGTECHNICAL SKILLS SUPPORT so you can focus on whatever WarehouseWelders, &pipe inventory fitters, staff, riggers, shipping & receiving journeyman plumbers & crane drives your results. AVIATION,operators/heavy TECHNICAL equipment operators & LINE STAFF C Spire. Customer inspired. Aviation, aerospace & manufacturing support MOBILE •• BIRMINGHAMBIRMINGHAM •• NASHVILLENASHVILLE www.cypressemployment.comwww.cypressemployment.com cspire.com/business | [email protected] | 251.459.8999 the business view FEBRUARY 2018 3 ©2018 C Spire. All rights reserved. the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce APRIL 2018 | In this issue ON THE COVER Apple selects Bishop State as a site to teach coding and app development to students. Pictured on the cover is instructor Tracy Driscoll with student Kaitlyn Pope. See story on page 7. Photo by Jeff Tesney 7 5 News You Can Use 12 Small Business of the Month: G.C. Specialties 13 2018 Small Business Forum, April 10-11 15 Become an Entrepreneur in 54 Hours: Startup Weekend Mobile Returns 16 Annual Meeting Photo Essay 18 Guest Column: An Update on the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda 20 Explore Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights with the Chamber 22 Investor Focus: Stirling Properties LLC 8 24 CEO Profile: Chris Curry 25 Business Community Honors Local Military at Annual Luncheon 26 Chamber@Work 28 Business Spotlight of the Month: 5 Rivers Alabama’s Delta Resource Center 15 28 Ambassador of the Month: Lisa Phillips 29 Board of Advisor Profiles: Christina Edgerton, E. Taylor Engerson and Robert “Allan” Gustin Jr. 30 Calendar 32 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 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 251-433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2018 Publisher William B. Sisson Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon 20 Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins Copy Editor Michelle Irvin Additional Writers and Editors Natalie Franklin, 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 APRIL 2018 NEWS you can use Aker Solutions to Move Engineering and Design Operations to Mobile Aker Solutions has plans “Aker Solutions is increasing “We’re delighted to welcome Aker Solutions has delivered underway to relocate up to 75 our investment in our Mobile more of Aker’s team to Mobile more than 550 umbilicals high-paying engineering, human manufacturing facility. This County. It’s exciting to have a worldwide, using a wide range resources and accounting allows us to continue high-tech company that of technologies and designs to positions from its facility in strengthening our world-class provides such a unique service meet its clients’ needs. From Houston to Mobile. global manufacturing to our energy sector,” said facilities in Norway and the Currently, the company’s organization and increase cost Jerry Carl, Mobile County United States, Aker has the Middle Bay Port facility only efficiency to meet the future Commission for District 3 capacity to engineer and includes umbilicals demands of our customers where the company is located. construct umbilicals that meet manufacturing. This project globally,” said Quenville. “We thank Aker Solutions specific customer requirements. will bring all facets on one site, “Aker’s Mobile facility has for choosing Mobile for this The systems can withstand aside from sales, which made adjustments in the 15 investment, which expands an high pressures and temperatures, according to company officials years they have been here to already strong partnership ultra-deep waters, harsh will remain in Houston. meet the demands of offshore between the community and environments and long Aker, headquartered in Oslo, oil and gas industry,” said this great company. There is no distances. Norway, makes umbilicals for David Rodgers, senior project greater show of confidence than the subsea oil and gas industry. manager of economic when existing businesses like Opened in Mobile in 2003, the development for the Mobile Area Aker choose to deepen their company has made multiple Chamber. “We see the company’s roots in our city,” said City of investments over the last 15 increased investment in Mobile Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. years. This decision to move as significant.” Rodgers said Umbilicals link surface and certain team members helps Aker’s capital investment in seafloor oil and gas equipment Aker increase productivity this expansion is more than for controls, power or heat. and value and decrease costs, $13.3 million and includes They provide electric and fiber- according to Marc Quenville, machinery and equipment as optic signals, electrical power vice president, products, for well as materials for an addition and hydraulic and chemical You’ll see this symbol with Aker Solutions. to the facility. injection fluids to the subsea unit. stories featuring Chamber initiatives. the business view APRIL 2018 5 6 the business view APRIL 2018 Photo by Jeff Tesney Apple Picks Bishop State Community College for Coding, App Development Courses New courses designed and started. Swift is kind of fun, Abe Harper, president of their infrastructure. You’ll also developed by Apple Inc. and and I feel like I’ve learned a lot Harper Technologies, has first- see a unique launch pad for available at Bishop State could so far,” he said. hand knowledge of today’s individuals who have an give business in Mobile’s growing To prepare for the program technological job market. He aptitude of their own where they information technology industry launch, Tracy Driscoll, instructor believes Mobile, and Alabama can take off from that launch pad a steady stream of uniquely at Bishop State, and Ronald in general, will see growth in and then create their own skilled applicants. Davis, division chair of electronic the IT sector and students product out of an abundance of Bishop State implemented a engineering technologies, both enrolled in Apple’s Swift knowledge,” he said. new app development and coding completed extensive training programming courses are now Driscoll is excited to see her curriculum, after Apple selected from Apple engineers in at an advantage. students learn and cultivate the Alabama Community College Cupertino, Calif., this past “You’re going to see people new skills. System as one of six school summer. At the behest of Apple, coming out who can offer a “We’re hoping that we have systems in the country to teach its Bishop State bought several new unique skill set to companies students finish and either develop Swift coding language last year. MacBook Pros, iPads and even that are already using that layer their own apps or get hired as iOS During a series of three modular furniture to of coding in and around their developers,” she said. courses, students will become accommodate the curriculum. devices, their applications or proficient in coding and The current job market developing apps using Apple’s reflects trends in technological About Apple Swift Coding Classes at Bishop State Swift programming language job growth. Both Davis and Class I and earn a certificate. Driscoll are confident the skills - Setting