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Furthermore, no representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.the business view MAY 2016 3 10623 CSpire CSBS PersonalService 9.25x12.indd 1 6/25/15 1:08 PM CB VIEW Ad-4-Losing_Not_An_Option.indd 1 11/12/15 12:08 PM the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce MAY 2016 | In this issue ON THE COVER Mark Hieronymus, owner of Hieronymus CPAs, is leading this year’s Chamber Chase campaign. He’s pictured here at the Ronald McDonald House. See story on pgs. 20-21. Photo by Jeff Tesney 5 News You Can Use 9 State Trade Awards Presented 11 Finalists for Small Business of the Year Announced: B&B Pet Stop, FusionPoint Media and Karen C. Simmons PC 14 Small Business Conference 2016 16 Outstanding Entrepreneur: Grace Pilot 19 Small Business of the Month: e-worc 9 20 Hieronymus Heads Chamber Chase 22 A Culture of Giving 27 Investor Focus: Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. 28 Chamber@Work 30 Business Spotlight of the Month: 27 Nationwide Skilled Trades 30 Ambassador of the Month: Mary Dean Wilbur 31 Emily Jerkins Promoted to Research Manager at Chamber 32 Board of Advisor Profiles 33 CEO Profile: Janet Cobb 34 Calendar 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 SMALL BUSINESS CONFERENCE 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 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 14 Kelli Dugan, 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 11 251-431-8635 [email protected] 4 the business view MAY 2016 NEWS you can use Danby Group Announces Warehouse and Distribution Center in Saraland Danby Products, a “Danby is a great manufacturer of appliances example of the positive announced it will open a impact that the Port of southern distribution Mobile has on new and warehouse in Saraland to serve expanding industry. customers located across the The new intermodal Southeastern U.S. in Alabama, and container Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, expansions at the Louisiana, Mississippi, Port will continue Oklahoma, South Carolina and to support industry parts of Texas. The operations growth and investment will be located in a 125,000- in the Mobile area,” square-foot facility that will said David Rodgers, ultimately include a small project manager factory outlet retail store. for the Mobile Area The new facility opened in Chamber. April and is located at 252 “This new business Jacintoport Blvd., in the Mobile opportunity will enable River Industrial Park. Once us to grow our business fully-operational, the company with our current and will employ 25 full time new customers located workers. in the southern United Eian Campbell, director of States,” said Campbell. operations with Danby said the “We are excited that Danby company evaluated the ability of has decided to add Saraland to numerous locations to receive the list of cities it calls home. Travel to beautiful inbound ocean containers in Mobile County and the entire conjunction with a review of region benefit from the diversity outbound transportation this distribution center adds to services – specifically road our business and industry transportation and intermodal profile,” said Mobile County rail service. They also evaluated Commissioner Merceria warehousing opportunities Ludgood whose district is coupled with a review of the where Danby will be located. with the Chamber in November skill sets of the local workforce. “Danby’s record of “The results of this study environmental stewardship determined that Mobile and the makes it a welcome partner as November 3 - 11, 2016 surrounding area was the ideal we work to maximize port Highlights of the trip include: San Jose, Coffee Plantation, Guanacaste, location for the Danby group operations while protecting our Monteverde Cloud Forest, Hanging Bridges Tour, Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal of companies to put its new water resources that we value Cruise, Cooking Demonstration,Cano Negro Refuge, Zarcero, National Theatre distribution warehouse,” he so much.” said. You’ll see this symbol with Enjoy the tropical Learn about Costa Rica's Danby will be utilizing the stories featuring Chamber initiatives. landscapes and unique vegetation on a guided Spot indigenous wildlife breathtaking scenery Port of Mobile to receive nature walk through while on a Cano Negro surrounding incoming merchandise in ocean the cloud forest. riverboat cruise. Arenal Volcano. containers, and with this expansion, will be able to extend Cost: $2,699 per person (based on double occupancy) current business relationships Includes: Airfare, hotel, tour guides, transportation, many meals, excursions & more with its transportation providers Contact Leigh Perry-Herndon at 251-431-8645 to utilize the readily accessible rail intermodal and transport truck over the road services. the business view MAY 2016 5 MAAS Aviation Breaks Ground on Paint Shop to Support MRO Aerospace Industry Just a week before the first growing aerospace sector,” said to the size of Airbus A321 and facility here at Brookley Airbus A321 painted in Mobile Troy Wayman, vice president of Boeing B757, and is expected to represents the largest single rolled out of a MAAS Aviation economic development at the be in service by the end of 2016. investment undertaken in the hangar, the company broke Mobile Area Chamber. “Their Once fully operational, it will history of our company,” he ground on a twin-bay paint presence will be key to our create 100 jobs. said. “Brookley will be our U.S. shop facility dedicated to the continued growth.” “This development at headquarters, and we look maintenance, repair and According to MAAS officials, Brookley presents an forward to providing world- overhaul (MRO) market. The the $13 million MRO facility can opportunity for MAAS to co- class levels of service to aircraft new facility will also support cater to all passenger airlines, locate our aircraft painting operators and owners located the company’s existing painting leasing company owners and operations with Airbus and VT throughout the Americas right operations at the Airbus final freight carriers from a single Mobile Aerospace,” said Tim here in Mobile from the end of assembly line. The paint shop aircraft to entire fleet rebranding Macdougald, vice president of 2016.” will be located at Mobile programs. It is being built to MAAS Aviation USA. MAAS Aviation, Aeroplex at Brookley. service the single-aisle, narrow- “These are momentous headquartered in Dublin, also “MAAS brings much- body aircraft market with times for MAAS Aviation, and has European facilities in The needed capabilities to the capacity of 90 aircraft a year up the construction of this painting Netherlands and Germany.