Small Business Spotlight: A conversation with Donny of Donny’s Diamond Gallery

When Donny and Fatemeh Nazarieh sat down for their first date on December 5, 1993, Donny shared two dreams: to visit his family in Iran, whom he hadn’t seen in 18 years, and to open his very own jewelry store. That conversation became the beginning of their love story and the foundation of a family […]

Sit Down With Success: A Conversation with Brett Pierce of The Masters Salon

Brett Pierce grew up in the world of hairstyling as the son of award-winning hair artists Gary and Ann Bray, who opened The Masters Salon in 1973 inside Huntsville’s old Dunnavant’s Mall. His mother, Ann, began styling hair as a teenager and went on to earn international acclaim, becoming the first American woman to win […]

Holidays in Huntsville: How Shopping Local and Giving Back Strengthens the Economy

As the holiday season approaches, Huntsville residents have a powerful way to make an impact: support local businesses while giving back to the community. From small shops to major employers, the city’s business ecosystem relies on residents’ holiday spending and generosity to fuel economic growth and strengthen local services. Citizens Supporting Small Businesses Shopping locally […]

Protecting Growth: A Beginner’s Guide to Small Business Insurance in Huntsville

As Huntsville’s small-business ecosystem accelerates, insurance is becoming a strategic necessity rather than an afterthought. From new retailers opening along South Parkway to agile tech consultancies in Cummings Research Park, the city’s entrepreneurial climate comes with new forms of risk—and securing the right insurance can be the difference between a temporary setback and a long-term […]

Thankful in the Rocket City: Six Huntsville Residents Share What They Are Most Grateful for in 2025

By: Katie Holt and Sarah Zupko As we move into the holiday season, we reflect on what we have to be thankful for as residents of Huntsville and North Alabama. Huntsville benefits from a growing music scene, natural beauty, consistent economic growth, and many philanthropic organizations that enrich the lives of everyone who calls this […]

Madison Mompreneur’s Holiday Shopping Guide Builds on a Long Legacy of Area Women Entrepreneurs

As holiday shoppers across Huntsville and Madison look for ways to support local businesses, the new Madison Mompreneur Holiday Shopping Guide arrives at an ideal moment. Featuring more than 100 mom-owned businesses—from handmade goods to educational services—the guide is designed to make local shopping more accessible and more community-focused during the busiest retail weekend of […]

Connecting the Dots: Rochelle Silveira’s Innovation Ecosystem Map Aims to Bring Alabama’s Innovators Together

When Rochelle Silveira moved from Brazil to the United States, she often heard the same piece of advice: “Right company, wrong place.” Innovation, people told her, belonged to the coasts. But after years of working with founders and mentoring startups across the country, she began to see a different truth.   “There’s incredible innovation happening here,” […]

Kalm Therapeutics Wins $100,000 in Alabama Launchpad Life Sciences Track

Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) in partnership with Innovate Alabama, has announced Kalm Therapeutics as the winner of $100,000 in non-dilutive funding in the Life Sciences Track. AJ Singhal, founder of Kalm Therapeutics, will receive $100,000 in non-dilutive funding, as well as access to follow-on mentorship and exposure […]

In an Age of AI Disruption, Huntsville Firm Finds Room to Grow

Amid national headlines about corporate layoffs and economic uncertainty, some Huntsville businesses are still growing, a sign of resilience in the local economy. Capstone Research Corporation, a Huntsville-based defense contractor founded in 2019, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters in Cummings Research Park. The facility expands the company’s labs, integration space, and […]

Sit Down With Success: A Conversation with Veronica Cram of InSight Strategic Solutions

For Veronica Cram, numbers aren’t just spreadsheets and balance sheets. Numbers tell a story. As founder and CEO of InSight Strategic Solutions, she helps business owners discover what their numbers are really saying and turn that data into insight and growth. What began as a one-woman operation in 2020 has grown into a national consulting […]