Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce SEPTEMBER 2015 the APM Terminals and Get Onboard at AM/NS Calvert to Expand Again GulfQuest 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 2015 10623 CSpire CSBS PersonalService 9.25x12.indd 1 6/25/15 1:08 PM the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce SEPTEMBER 2015 | In this issue ON THE COVER GulfQuest is scheduled to open its doors on Sept. 26 in downtown Mobile. From the Publisher - Bill Sisson Recent McGill High School graduate and Spring Hill College-bound student Brennan Smith (left) and Baker High School student Trade Critical for Mobile’s Continued Growth Darrin Blanchard (right) were among those There’s been a lot of talk sell their products who got a sneak peak of GulfQuest. Read recently about trade and big throughout the world. more about the museum’s opening on page 6. business, but I’m challenging Collectively, they employ Photo by Jeff Tesney all of us to think about trade hundreds of Mobilians. and small business. Plain and simple, we live At the Mobile Area Chamber, in a global economy. Trade 4 News You Can Use we work with many local owners agreements have boosted 11 Worlds of Opportunity Coming WITH YOU ON THE and managers of companies Alabama exports a whopping This Month who depend on international 86 percent, with Mobile County customers to both sustain and alone accounting for nearly 10 12 Small Business of the Month: increase sales. Some of those percent. The impact on our Nelco Commercial Maintenance companies employ 15 people or less. community is real. 14 Tips for Mobile Devices Companies such as CentraLite, Gulf That’s why the Mobile Area Chamber 17 Small Business Corner: Corporate Trading, Horizon Shipbuilding, Masland supports Trade Promotion Authority, as Social Responsibility FRONT LINES Carpets, Mitternight, The Northern Gulf have many of our members. This program Group, OPICO, Page & Jones, Prism Systems, levels the playing field for any local business 18 Trip to Scotland Quality Valve, Red Lion (formerly N-tron), moving exports through the Port of Mobile. 20 Chamber@Work The battle in every market is unique. Ally yourself to a technology leader to name a few, sell lighting systems, valves, When local companies succeed and the 21 Ambassador of the Month: carpet, farm equipment, engineering systems, port thrives, it strengthens the economy. Adriana Bright that knows a truly e ective solution comes from keeping people at the lumber products, ships and more. And they And a strong economy is good for all of us. 21 Business Spotlight of the Month: center of technology. HUB International Gulf South 22 Spotlight on Recent Chamber Events Our dedicated Client Account Executives provide an unmatched level of 24 Board of Advisors agility and responsiveness as they work in person to fi ne-tune our powerful 25 Investor Focus: H.O. Weaver & Sons Inc. arsenal of communication solutions for your specifi c business. 27 CEO Profile: Marty Pittman 6 28 Calendar 30 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 ©2015 Publisher William B. Sisson Executive Editor Leigh Perry-Herndon Managing Editor Jennifer Jenkins 8 Copy Editor Michelle Irvin Four solutions. One goal. A proven way to get there— Additional Writers and Editors Personal service. We’re here to help you win. Harley Boykin, Ashley Horn, Susan Rak-Blanchard, Carolyn Wilson Printing Services: Interstate Printing/Direct Mail Graphic Design: Wise Design Inc. Advertising Account Executive: René Eiland 251-431-8635 [email protected] cspire.com/business | 855.277.4732 | [email protected] 18 the business view SEPTEMBER 2015 3 10623 CSpire CSBS PersonalService 9.25x12.indd 1 6/25/15 1:08 PM NEWS you can use Advice on Handling Individual Insurance Plans by: Wilkins Miller, LLC Premium reimbursement arrangements are a common practice of small employers wanting to assist employees with the cost of health insurance, but not wanting to be burdened APM Terminals continues to grow at the Port of Mobile. Photo by Alabama State Port Authority with the administration of a group health insurance plan. Under these arrangements, an employer would reimburse an employee for all or part of their APM Terminals Expansion individual healthcare plan. But these arrangements are not consistent with market reform rules now imposed by the Patient to Create 97 New Jobs Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and, as a result, the APM Terminals announced it terminals’ capacity and create skilled local jobs at competitive small employer (two or more will undertake a major expansion 97 new jobs with an average salaries. employees) may be subject to a of its operations at the Port of annual salary of $53,000 over “The importance of this $100 per day per employee Mobile. The expansion consists the next three years. expansion to our local economy excise tax for maintaining such of two parts: the purchase and According to Troy Wayman, is quite significant,” said an arrangement. installation of two large ship-to- the Mobile Area Chamber’s Wayman. “Any infrastructure Employers who are paying or shore cranes and increased vice president of economic improvements we can foster for reimbursing employees (whether activities at the Alabama State development, the project will our port represent significant pre-tax or after tax) for Port Authority’s Intermodal add a key asset to Mobile’s benefit to us in economic individual health coverage (i.e., Container Transfer Facility will competitive advantage of development.” not part of an employer’s group service five Class I railroads. excellent logistics; increase health insurance plan) were The $47 million capital potential for more international You’ll see this symbol with stories featuring Chamber initiatives. required to stop doing so by investment will increase the trade; and create numerous highly June 30. In lieu of reimbursing or paying employee individual plan premiums, employers AM/NS Calvert Plans for should consider either (a) increasing the employee’s wages by an amount that $87-Plus Million Expansion would allow them to pay for their own coverage (but the In July AM/NS Calvert announced its Specifically, the proposed expansion would “raise” may not be conditioned intention to expand operations at its north include the following components: on maintaining coverage) or Mobile County facility to produce a high • Batch annealing facility (b) considering a group health strength and highly formable steel, according • Continuous anneal line improvements insurance plan (it may be to Troy Wayman, vice president of economic • Hot dip galvanizing line upgrade possible to set up such a plan development for the Mobile Area Chamber. • 40 metric ton upgrade through a SHOP exchange), The estimated capital investment of more • Automatic test line possibly in combination with a than $87 million includes about $77 million in • Lase protection building Section 125 cafeteria plan. machinery and equipment and would • HDFL inspection Note: Corporations may continue incorporate nearly $24 million in locally- • Inspection sitting line cold inspection to reimburse 2 percent or greater to sourced construction labor and engineering AM/NS Calvert, with more than 1,600 shareholders for their individual plan services. Company officials say the expansion employees, has been investing significant capital in premiums through Dec. 31, 2015. is expected to create six new jobs with an its facility. In 2014, the company announced it would Further guidance for these 2 percent average annual wage of $65,000. hire 16 people and invest $70 million to increase shareholder arrangements is expected its slab yard storage area. for 2016 and subsequent years. 4 the business view SEPTEMBER 2015 the business view SEPTEMBER 2015 5 Take the Helm, a panoramic simulator theater, may prove to be GulfQuest’s most popular attraction. Visitors will pilot ships, navigating through Mobile Bay into the Port of Mobile on the Mobile and Tombigbee rivers. GulfQuest Grand Opening Set for Sept. 26 On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Visitors will see where important naval battles and public will be able to climb pirates ruled the waves, spot locate lighthouses in the Gulf. aboard the GulfQuest National early settlements and forts, Exhibits will introduce patrons Maritime Museum of the Gulf locate sunken Spanish galleons to what it’s like to stand outside of Mexico. and a German U-boat, relive in a hurricane, experience deep- sea exploration, view ports and maritime commerce, and more. Museum officials set the grand opening earlier this summer for the 90,000 square-foot hands- on, interactive museum located on the Mobile River. The $62.3 million facility will feature 90 exhibits – all dedicated to the historical, cultural and economic significance of the Gulf of Mexico. The museum’s board chair, In addition, Tony Zodrow, E.B. Peebles, says GulfQuest GulfQuest executive director, “boosts Mobile’s profile in says the museum will offer regional tourism.” various traveling exhibitions, The facility will also house educational programs for a museum store, café and students and educators, and special event space. Hours will weekend, holiday and be Tuesday through Friday summer specials geared from 9 a.m.