Amanda Howard Sotheby International Realty Attains Top Rankings

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Huntsville’s Amanda Howard Sotheby’s International Realty was named a member of the Real Trends + Tom Ferry The Thousand.

The Thousand is an annual ranking that honors the top 1,000 residential agents and teams in four categories including Individual agent: Sales volume; Individual agent: Transaction sides (in each real estate transaction, there are two sides that can be represented by a real estate agent: a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent); Agent team: Sales volume; and Agent team: Transaction sides.

According to The Thousand, Amanda Howard Sotheby served 888 families in 2018, ranking the company No. 1 in Alabama for transaction sides, and No. 26 in the nation. Amanda Howard Sotheby also ranked No. 1 in Alabama for sales volume and No. 118 in the nation.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for these achievements, but it is even more important that these numbers represent families served – and not just transactions,” said CEO Amanda Howard. “I’m incredibly proud of my agents and support team and we are all excited to be in the middle of an equally amazing 2019.”

Teledyne Brown Engineering receives 4-Star Award from Raytheon IDS

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Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems business unit recently presented a 4-Star Supplier Excellence Award to Teledyne Brown Engineering.

The award was presented at the annual Raytheon supplier conference. at a ceremony held during their supplier conference in Boston. The annual event allows Raytheon to acknowledge superior performance and service received by their suppliers and partners.

“We are a proud partner with Raytheon IDS on multiple programs.  It is an honor to be a part of their unparalleled supply chain, providing hardware for programs that require the highest standards and quality,” said Jan Hess, president of Teledyne Brown Engineering.  “This award recognizes our company’s emphasis on exceptional work and our many employees who are supplying quality deliverables to our valued customers.”

Award candidates are judged on certain criteria, including overall quality and on-time delivery.

Nielsen joins VBC as Marketing, Public Relations Manager

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Samantha Nielsen has been named the marketing and public relations manager for the Von Braun Center.

Nielsen will manage internal and external communications, including media relations and advertising campaigns for the VBC.

A native of Huntsville, Nielsen was the director of communications for the Huntsville Museum of Art and also assisted the marketing and public relations efforts at the Port of Huntsville.

“I have had the pleasure of promoting different aspects of our city throughout my career and am excited to now begin marketing the VBC as it continues to grow with Huntsville,” she said.  “I am honored to begin marketing an organization that constantly works to improve the quality of life for our community.”

Warren Averett Ranked by Financial Times and Accounting Today

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Warren Averett Asset Management has been listed among the 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers by Financial Times and among the top CPA financial planners for 2019 by Accounting Today.

The 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the U.S. and is produced independently by the Financial Times in collaboration with Ignites Research—a subsidiary of the Financial Times that provides business intelligence on the asset management industry. This is the second consecutive year that Warren Averett Asset Management has made the list.

The 13th annual Accounting Today Wealth Magnets report ranked Warren Averett Asset Management as the 17th largest financial planner by assets under management among 150 total CPA firms across the U.S. Among these firms, Warren Averett Asset Management is the third-largest in the Southeast.

The list of rankings is organized into groups in order of AUM. Warren Averett Asset Management, reporting more than $2.5 billion of assets under management, was placed in the largest group.

“These rankings are not about our own success or status. Instead, they are a reminder to us that our clients continue to be the driving force behind all that we do and seek to achieve,” said Josh Reidinger, president of Warren Averett Asset Management. “Our goal is to see them succeed, and we believe that sound asset management is a part of that success.

“We are thankful to our clients for them.”

HudsonAlpha Brings Power of Genomics to Capitol Hill

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WASHINGTON – Along with research, education is a key element of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology’s mission.

So, officials with the Huntsville-based center went on a mission to Capitol Hill last month and presented “Genomics in Agriculture 101: Exploring the Basics” in the Rayburn House Office Building. It was the third time HudsonAlpha held a “Genomics 101” session for lawmakers and their staff.

Members of Congress, their staff and House and Senate Committee staff members engaged with Jeremy Schmutz, faculty investigator and co-director of the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center; Dr. Kankshita Swaminathan, faculty investigator; and Dr. Neil Lamb, vice president for Educational Outreach, during the briefing.

The purpose for “Genomics in Agriculture 101” was to provide a forum for leaders in plant genomics to interact with the leaders who drive national policy, impacting agriculture for the United States and beyond.

“Enormous progress has been made in plant genomics in just a few short years. We have gone from generating a single reference genome for a single plant, to generating hundreds of reference plant genomes and detailed diversity of crop collections,” said Schmutz. “These advances are providing solutions to the many agricultural challenges faced by the farming community every day.

“Genomics 101 provided decision makers on national policy an opportunity to learn more about the reach and impact of genomics in agriculture.”

Some of the topics discussed at the briefing involved the power and utility of the information gained through genomics, specifically regarding improvement of crop yields; acceleration of breeding cycles; resistance to diseases and pests; reaction and resulting changes based as a result of drought or floods. Additionally, the group from HudsonAlpha stressed the importance of collaboration within the field of plant genomics.

Ford Thornton Named Development/Communications Director For Princess Theatre

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DECATUR – Melissa Ford Thornton has been named development and communications director for the Princess Theatre, the Board of Directors for Decatur’s Princess Theatre and Performing Arts Center announced.

Melissa Ford Thorton, Princess Theatre Development and Communications Director

An alum of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Ford Thornton has more than 25 years of communications, public and media relations experience. She and her husband, Mark Thornton, established the Suzanne Kay and Gregory Ford Memorial Scholarship at UAH.

“In addition to her wide-ranging communications skills, Melissa is a gifted storyteller, which gives her a unique perspective on and passion for sharing and connecting patrons to the Princess Theatre’s incredible history and narrative,” said Mary McDonald, executive director of Princess Theatre. “I’m thrilled to have Melissa join our team.”

Ford Thornton said the position brings her career “full circle.”

“My first paying job at 16, was working behind the concessions counter at Madison Twin Theatres in Huntsville,” she said. “My professional career is varied, from marketing and corporate communications to musician promotion and booking and podcast host. So, this position with the Princess Theatre, is a beautiful, full-circle and career highlight for me.”

Business Briefcase for June

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Team Dynetics wins $130M contract for Army’s first 100kW-class laser weapon system

Dynetics, along with its partners Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and MZA Associates, has been awarded a $130 million contract to build and test the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command’s High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator program, a 100-kilowatt class laser weapon system. 

“High energy laser weapons have been a system that the United States has wanted to add into their defense portfolio since the invention of the laser,” said Ronnie Chronister, Dynetics senior vice president of contracts. “We are glad to be selected to build this new and safe weapon system that will provide a simple, yet cost-effective approach in theater.”

Team Dynetics is bringing together more than 70 years of directed energy experience. As the prime contractor, Dynetics will be responsible for final assembly and integration and testing of the system. Lockheed Martin, the laser weapon system integrator, will provide the laser weapon subsystem and Rolls-Royce LibertyWorks will design the integrated power and thermal management system.

The team will build and integrate the laser weapon system onto an Army medium tactical vehicle platform and conduct field testing at White Sands Missile Range.

Stovehouse To Welcome Locally Owned Coffee Shop—Charlie Foster’s

A new, locally owned coffee shop will be serving up espresso, lattes, cold brew, matcha and much more at the Stovehouse mixed-use development on Governors Drive.

Charlie Foster’s, founded by Huntsville natives Austin Jenkins and Hollie Jenkins, will offer high-quality coffee drinks while providing employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The 1,850-square-foot space will be adjacent to the food garden and include a private 500-square-foot outdoor patio for patrons. Charlie Foster’s is slated to open this fall.

“My parents, Debra and Alan Jenkins, founded Merrimack Hall in 2006 to give people with special needs a venue to practice the performing arts,” said Austin. “I’ve been lucky enough to see the impact they have made first hand, and I want to do something similar with Charlie Foster’s. We believe more businesses can offer employment to people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“Our goal is to create an environment of inclusion and encouragement for our special needs community. All the while, we will be serving outstanding coffee in a very hip, industrial space.”

Classifying itself as a “multi-roaster” coffee shop, Charlie Foster’s will serve a variety of beans from roasters around the country, so guests can experience an array of options and flavors. There will also be plenty of cold and hot teas and pastries to choose from.

Visit charliefosters.com

Abaco Systems to move to 8800 Redstone Gateway

Abaco Systems, a manufacturer of rugged embedded computing solutions for military, defense, aerospace and industrial applications, has leased 37,400 square feet in 8800 Redstone Gateway.

“We’re delighted to have identified Redstone Gateway as the location of our new headquarters,” said Rich Sorelle, president/CEO at Abaco Systems. “This new facility will provide us with much- needed additional space and will be vital in ensuring that we can fulfill our commitments to our customers as our business continues to grow.”

Redstone Gateway is a mixed-use, class-A office park being developed by Corporate Office Properties Trust and Jim Wilson & Associates. As a result of this transaction, the building is 100 percent pre-leased. Abaco intends to occupy its space late this year.

“Abaco Systems has had a strong presence in Huntsville for over 30 years,” said COPT’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Adkins. “We’re thrilled that they have decided to make Redstone Gateway their home to be closer to their U.S. government contracting customers, to have access to walkable amenities, and to use new facilities as a recruiting tool.

“Their lease, along with other recent leases, highlights the value proposition of Redstone Gateway.”

CFD Research Awarded $50M SBIR Phase III Project

CFD Research has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, to develop environment analysis tools, models, and test capabilities to characterize weather environment effects on the performance of weapon systems and sensors. The five-year contract has a ceiling value of $49.6 million.

Under this contract, the CFD Research team will evaluate environment and weather effects on weapon systems, sensors, and hypersonic vehicles. Huntsville-based companies Integration Innovation Inc. (i3) and IERUS Technologies join CFD Research as subcontractors for this award.

“CFD Research and our partners, through this contract, will expand the knowledge base of effects on flight vehicles and sensors and provide critical insight into the design and performance of next-generation weapon systems,” said Steve Cayson, CFD Research chief operating officer.

Mcmullan Named Huntsville Market Executive

SmartBank has named long-time banker John McMullan as market executive.

McMullan has more than 30 years of banking experience in the Huntsville area, most recently as executive vice president and market president for Southern States Bank. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama-Huntsville and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin’s BAI Graduate School of Banking. He is also a graduate of the Alabama School of Banking at the University of South Alabama.

An active member of the Huntsville community, he is a member of the Downtown Huntsville Rotary Club and the Huntsville Committee of 100. McMullan also serves on the City of Huntsville’s Planning Commission Board.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join this team and excited to work together to provide SmartBank clients with a first-class banking experience,” said McMullan. “SmartBank has been a great addition to the Huntsville region with a team that is talented, efficient and committed to putting the client first.”

Great Harvest Bread Co. Opening at Merchants Square

Great Harvest Bread Co. is launching its second Alabama location at the The Shops at Merchants Square,  RCP Companies announced.

Each Great Harvest bakery and café creates its own menu which may include gourmet sandwiches (including vegetarian options), espresso and coffee bar, artisan bread and other locally sourced specialties.

Great Harvest uses wheat from farms in Montana and bakes its breads every day from scratch.

“With our locally curated menu, you know you’ll be getting real food that tastes great,” said Sangeetha Bathala, owner of Great Harvest Huntsville, “We plan to source coffee and produce from local farmers and vendor and make our food the right way, with wholesome ingredients and from scratch, so you can feel good about eating our treats.”

Mercury Systems Dedicates Expanded Advanced Microelectronics Center

A Massachusetts-based aerospace and defense company is increasing its operations in Alabama.

Mercury Systems expanded its Advanced Microelectronics Center in Huntsville with a 24,000-square-foot facility for RF and digital processing technology, including 5,000 square feet of lab space with secure production capabilities.

“Our AS9100D-certified Huntsville facility now has even more capability, enabling us to continue providing very advanced, leading mixed-signal processing solutions that support our prime customers in the development of the next-generation radar, electronic warfare and ELINT systems critical to maintaining dominance of the electromagnetic spectrum,” said Neil Austin, vice president and general manager of Mercury’s Embedded Sensor Processing group.

Mercury Systems provides secure sensor and safety-critical processing subsystems to a wide variety of defense and intelligence programs.

Adtran Platform Provides Disruption-free Ultra-Broadband Wi-Fi Services

Adtran has extended its SmartOS-enabled portfolio of broadband access solutions with a new residential and small business gateway.

Operators can now expedite the delivery of ultra-fast internet services — leveraging recent investments in building multi-Gigabit access networks so that customers can have the richest broadband experience independent of location, device or infrastructure.

Huntsville-based Adtran is the leading provider of next-generation open networking and subscriber experience solutions

The new carrier-grade, SmartOS-enabled residential and small business gateway provides the ability to deliver highly competitive broadband—up to 700Mbps—without service or customer disruptions.

“The design philosophy with SmartOS is to give service providers a single, open source-based, secure software framework so that providers gain consistency and commonality to reduce testing or qualification cycles and increase speed to market for new and innovative services,” said Adtran Senior Vice President of Subscriber Solutions & Experience Jeff McInnis. “We can significantly reduce the cost and resources required to introduce new solutions into a network and help our customers bring better services to their subscribers through our feature-rich, SmartOS platform—enhancing the experience for everyone.”