Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce SEPTEMBER 2016 the THE PERFECT BUSINESS CLIMATE. MADE IN MOBILE. Recap of Farnborough Air Show Mobile New Recruiting Brand In The News WITH YOU ON THE FRONT LINES The battle in every market is unique. Ally yourself to a technology leader that knows a truly e ective solution comes from keeping people at the center of technology. Our dedicated Client Account Executives provide an unmatched level of agility and responsiveness as they work in person to fi ne-tune our powerful arsenal of communication solutions for your specifi c business. Four solutions. One goal. A proven way to get there— Personal service. We’re here to help you win. cspire.com/business | 855.277.4732 | [email protected] 2 the business view SEPTEMBER 2016 10623 CSpire CSBS PersonalService 9.25x12.indd 1 6/25/15 1:08 PM the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce SEPTEMBER 2016 | In this issue ON THE COVER About the cover: In June, the Mobile Area From the Publisher - Bill Sisson Chamber’s economic development team launched a new marketing campaign to focus on the area’s strengths in industry recruiting. To learn more Industry Clusters Relevant to Sound Economic Growth about it, go to page 11. It is incredibly exciting to materials and infrastructure. release our newly-updated In that context, it’s easy to see economic development why the clustering approach to 4 News You Can Use marketing materials, which economic development works 9 Small Business of the Month: will be used as a tool for our so well for our community. Old Shell Road Small Animal Hospital continued business recruitment Over the past two decades, in key business sectors. Our clustering has been a proven 11 Chamber Launches New Economic strategy continues to be built strategy for sound economic Development Brand on our region’s competitive development, and I’m 15 Small Business Corner: Engaged strengths, built around business particularly proud that Mobile Employees Improve the Bottom Line “clusters.” Simply put, these are is blessed with many fast types of businesses that locate and thrive growing and thriving business sectors. 16 Visit Croatia with the Chamber in any area because of several factors, Aviation/aerospace is perhaps our most 18 Investor Focus: The Orthopaedic Group including the presence of customers and recent and fastest growing one, but our providers, access to skilled human resources focus also continues to be on maritime, oil 19 CEO Profile: William Osmer and know-how, the proximity to colleges and and gas, healthcare, technology, distribution 20 Chamber@Work universities, training centers and research and chemicals. Let me know what you institutions, and the availability of raw think. I look forward to your feedback. 23 Business Spotlight of the Month: Zea’s Rotisserie & Grill 23 Ambassador of the Month: Phillip Moore 24 Board of Advisors 25 New Chamber Staff and Promotions 26 Calendar 4 7 28 Member News 30 Anniversaries 31 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 11 251-433-6951 www.mobilechamber.com ©2016 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 16 251-431-8635 [email protected] NEWS you can use Mobile Makes the News Smithsonian Tells the Airbus Story Touting the assets Photo by Matthew Coughlin of Mobile’s Brookley Aeroplex, waterways Business Alabama Features According to WalletHub, Mobile was and aerospace history Manufacturing Growth No. 6 in Hispanic Population Growth in as the birthplace of Business Alabama magazine contributing spite of having one of the lowest percentages aviation inventors writer Sally Pearsall Ericson interviewed of Hispanic residents. Read the highlights and dreamers, writer Sisson for a two-page story focusing on Mobile’s at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and- Arielle Emmett manufacturing sector in the publication’s worst-cities-for-hispanic-entrepreneurs/ tells the story of how June issue. The story acknowledges recent 6 4 9 1/. Mobile landed Airbus growth in shipbuilding and steelmaking, in the July issue of Air and includes comments from Austal’s Craig & Space Smithsonian Savage, AM/NS Calvert’s Scott Posey, magazine. The Mobile Area Chamber Outokumpu’s David Scheid, Southwest worked with Emmett for nearly a year as she Alabama Workforce Development Council’s met and talked with Chamber President Laura Davis Chandler and Mobile County and CEO Bill Sisson, former Chamber Public School’s Larry Mouton. President Win Hallett, City of Mobile The statewide magazine’s circulation is Mayor Sandy Stimpson, former Mobile 15,000. Interested readers will find the Mayor Sam Jones, Carol Hunter with article at www.businessalabama.com/ Downtown Mobile Alliance and Airbus Business-Alabama/archive-index. Mobile ranked No. 9 on “The Best Cities employees for the eight-page article. for Boat Owners” list by Smart Asset, a Sisson first met the author at a Ranking Mobile finance website. Determining factors storytellers’ conference in New York in Southern Business included an estimated 20 square miles of 2015, along with Al Hutchinson and Stacy and Development water for every 100,000 residents, the 355.5 Hamilton of Visit Mobile. published its “Best annual number of warm weather days and The magazine boasts a circulation of of Economic sales taxes. 170,000. The story is on the publication’s Development in the web page at www.airspacemag.com/flight- American South,” Alabama’s Top Spot today/airbus-in-mobile-180959124/. naming Mobile as Home décor magazine House Beautiful one of three Best named Bellingrath Gardens and Home a Made to Order Mid-Markets in the must-see Mobile’s manufacturing Mid-South for the venue in growth continues to draw Aerospace Industry. Alabama. attention. New Geography, a Huntsville/Decatur Author site covering demographic, and Northern Heather Finn social and economic trends, Kentucky were the defines the ranked Mobile No. 4 on other highlighted American- its list of 2016 Best Cities regions in the listing made must- for Job Growth in the that appeared in the spring issue. The see list in mid-sized cities category. magazine is printed quarterly and mailed her article, The methodology to nearly 13,000 executives. The digital issue “The Most includes recent growth is available at www.sb-d.com. Beautiful trends, long-term growth Mobile was ranked 19th out of 150 Best Places in and employment data from November Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs by All 50 States.” 2004 to January 2016. WalletHub, a personal finance website. www.house To read more about the ranking go to Editors used 19 key metrics ranging from beautiful. www.newgeography.com/content/005295- business start-ups to income growth to com/lifestyle/ mid-sized-cities-manufacturing-jobs-2016- determine placement. g3576/most- best-cities-rankings. beautiful-places-united-states/. 4 the business view SEPTEMBER 2016 Flying High training programs as well as logistical excellence. The Mobile Mobile Area Chamber applied for this designation earlier this year and the County’s First article highlights the University of South Triathlon Alabama and Port of Mobile. You will have to register to see the article, Scheduled but it gives you free access to up to five stories. The Mobile Sports Authority www.fdiintelligence. announced the first-ever triathlon in com/Sectors/Aerospace/ Mobile County will take place on Aerospace-Cities-of-the- Dauphin Island on Saturday, Oct. 15. Future-2016-17-the-winners. Based at the Isle Dauphine Club, “Tri Bill Sisson, Mobile Area Chamber; Courtney Finegar, the Gulf” will begin at 7 a.m. with a 600- FDi magazine; and George Talbot, city of Mobile, met Home Sweet Home yard swim in the Gulf of Mexico, at the Financial Times headquarters in London. The financial site GOBankingRates.com followed by a 13.3-mile bike ride over highlighted Mobile’s low-cost housing the Dauphin Island bridge and back, Just in time for the Farnborough Air options, making the city No. 6 on its list of then a 5K run in town. Show, one of the largest in the world, fDi 20 Great Places to Live for $1,000 a Month. The cost for individual racers is $80, magazine published its 2016 Aerospace In addition to median rent prices and and relays are $145. Mobile County Cities of the Future. In the accompanying mortgage payments, the author mentions Probate Judge Don Davis said the article, Aerospace Cities of the Future the city’s museums and kid-friendly parks. Mobile Bar Foundation, under the 2016/17: FDI Strategy, the magazine names www.gobankingrates.com/personal- Mobile Bar Association, has worked to Mobile as one of eight cities getting it right finance/great-places-live-month/. create this USA Triathlon-sanctioned when it comes to top-quality education and event. To learn more and/or register, go You’ll see this symbol with to: www.trithegulf.com. stories featuring Chamber initiatives. OPTIONS TO BORROW THE WAY YOU WANT Even if the way you want seems a bit complicated. With Trustmark, finding the right financial solutions for your business doesn’t have to be complicated. Our lenders have expertise with many different types of financing – from small business to large complex commercial lending. No matter what type of business you are in, our team can help you determine the options best suited for your needs. 107 St. Francis Street | Mobile, AL | 251.431.7890 trustmark.com Member FDIC the business view SEPTEMBER 2016 5 Trustmark - Business View 8 x 5.25 HP4C August 6 the business view SEPTEMBER 2016 Farnborough Air Show In July, a small delegation of elected officials and business executives traveled to London for the bi-annual Farnborough Air Show.