the cornerthe corner€¦ · lived in korea, saudi arabia (desert storm), colorado springs, and...
TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 2020
PRIMARY ELECTION MARCH 3RD
YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Serving All of South Mobile County Serving All of South Mobile County
The CornerThe Corner
SouthWest Mobile County Chamber of Commerce
“In Step With Progress”
Jeff L. Schmitz
Board of Directors Jeff Brinson - Southwestern Consulting Stephanie Chestnut - Dick Russell’s BBQ
Laura Hittson - W. C. Griggs Elementary Russanne Howell - Farmers Insurance
Tammy Lyons - Family Security Credit Union Sharon Murrill - Alabama Power Company
Wes Pipes - Individual Paul Radczenko -Evonik
Torii Stratas - Claremont Property Company Joe Summersgill - Mobile Co. Water, Sewer & FPA
John Wimsatt - Walmart Josh Woods - The Grounds Della Wade - Individual (Honorary Board) Jonathon Lee - Mobile Police Dept. (Ex Officio)
Chamber MissionChamber MissionChamber Mission
Our Chamber’s mission is to foster, promote, advance, and Our Chamber’s mission is to foster, promote, advance, and Our Chamber’s mission is to foster, promote, advance, and improve the civic, commercial and general business interests improve the civic, commercial and general business interests improve the civic, commercial and general business interests
of the surrounding areas and to cooperate with other of the surrounding areas and to cooperate with other of the surrounding areas and to cooperate with other communities promoting objectives for the improvement of communities promoting objectives for the improvement of communities promoting objectives for the improvement of
our business and the welfare of our community.our business and the welfare of our community.our business and the welfare of our community.
2020 Officers President Pete Riehm NAI Mobile
1st Vice President Tiffany Ginn Uniti Fiber
2nd Vice President Chris Black Integrity IT Services
Secretary Curtis Polk BLP Mobile Paints
Treasurer Bryan Dewberry Marine Corp League
Pete Riehm, SWMCC President
Message from the President
Advisory Board Theresa Orrell (Past President)
Polysurveying of Mobile
Kay Peace (Past President)
Individual
Ruth Robinson (Past President)
Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Community Center Staff
Executive Director Tina Poiroux [email protected]
Administrative Assistant / Membership Ashley Rester [email protected]
Rental Specialist Susan Williams
Event Specialist Glennan Palframan
Office Number: 251.666.2488
Winter is slipping by and spring is coming. Like all the new buds, hopefully your business is blossoming in 2020. We mentioned the new Whataburger under construction on Rangeline Rd last month and now we can report there is also a Starbuck’s under construction right next door. There is huge good news for the Mobile Bay Ship Channel deepening and widening project;
the US Army Corps of Engineers released federal monies for this project, so contracts should be let later this year. It will still take a few years to complete, but the deeper wider channel will help the port of Mobile grow tremendously. Look for the container terminal to continue double digit growth. This growth in trade through Mobile will have very positive ripple effects throughout our area. Don’t forget Alabama is part of Super Tuesday with a primary election on Tuesday, March 3rd. With a US Senate seat and Congressional seat on the ballot, this is an important election. Amendment One would fire the current elected State Board of Education and replace them with a board all appointed by the governor. Please inform yourself and exercise your Constitutional duty to vote. At about 70%, we have done better than ever before with 2020 membership renewals – thank you to all who have renewed. However, we need to get this done and put renewals behind us. We need to be at 90+% by the end of March, so if you have not yet renewed for 2020, please renew your chamber membership right now. Due to some scheduling conflicts, we moved our annual First Responders Breakfast to April 14, 2020. One of our biggest events honoring hundreds of local first responders, planning is well underway. If you want to get involved, please contact Tina email: [email protected]. We also moved up our Business Expo to May 11th to align it with our Business of the Year Award Luncheon. Coffee at The Chamber will be Tuesday, March 17th. This month’s lunch will be Wednesday, March 4th. Our guest speaker will be Justin Evoy, the Operations Manager of the Theodore BASF plant, so please join us.
MARCH CALENDAR
17 NEW 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTOR
3
Coffee with the Chamber
When: March 17th 7:30am
Where: Tillman’s Corner Community Center
Contact: Chamber Office 251-666-2488
Cost: Free to attend
Sponsor:
John Wimsatt was born in Waverly, NY, March 3rd, 1971. In 1990, after high school, he joined the Army, and lived in Korea, Saudi Arabia (Desert Storm), Colorado Springs, and Columbus, Ga.
After the military, John went to Thompkins-Cortland Community College, and earned a AS in Business Administration, and then transferred
to Cornell and earned a BS in Business Management. He was recruited by Wal-Mart in 2000, and has been there ever since. He has been a store manager of 6 stores, and had his first store in 2007.
John’s wife, Misty, is taking real estate classes, and was a former Wal-Mart assistant manager. He has a son named Brandon (26), who lives in Kentucky, and a step-son named Bradley (13). They enjoy golf, fishing, traveling/cruising.
Promote Your Job Opportunities On Our Website & Connect With The Best
Candidates. This Will Allow Employers to Post Jobs For Free and
Still Reach a Large Audience Effectively.
Send The Available Job Information to
4 SWMCC Business Luncheon
When: March 4th Networking begins at 11:30am
Guest Speaker: Justin Evoy – Plant Manager of BASF
Where: Tillman’s Corner Community Center
Contact: Chamber Office 251-666-2488 Cost: $12 for Members and $15 for Potential
Members
Sponsor:
31
Alabama Primary Election
When: March 3rd 7:00am - 7:00pm
Alabama Primary Runoff Election
When: March 31st 7:00am - 7:00pm
4419 Rangeline Road Mobile, AL 36619
SouthWest Mobile County Chamber of Commerce
Caterer: Menu:
March 4, 2020
Networking 11:30 am / Meeting 12:00-1:00 pm
Justin Evoy – Plant Manager of BASF Corporation’s Theodore, AL Trilon M manufacturing facility
Please RSVP to 251.666.2488 or [email protected]
$12 for Members & $15 for Potential Members
Justin Evoy is the Plant Manager of BASF Corporation’s Theodore, AL Trilon M manufacturing facility. Justin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and an MBA from Cleveland State University. Justin began his career in manufacturing as a Process Engineer at NOVA Chemicals in Cleveland, OH. Justin joined BASF in 2012 at the Kankakee, IL facility just south of Chicago and has held several positions in production and process engineering and plant management. Justin’s hometown is Indianapolis, IN, but since 2014 calls Mobile, AL home, moving in 2014 to start-up the Trilon M manufacturing unit. The Trilon M plant
was constructed in 2014-2015 and started up in November 2015. Trilon M is a sustainable, biodegradable chelate agent with applications in automatic dishwashing detergent and other surface and industrial cleaning applications.
Sponsor:
Fajita Bar
or
Salad Bar
Sweet or Unsweet Tea
Dessert 803 Government St STE C, Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 243-0902
SouthWest Mobile County Chamber of Commerce 2020 Member List
Above and Beyond Yoga Accordia Health Adams Homes Aflac AIM Mail Center Alabama Credit Union Alabama Pecan Festival Alabama Power Company Alabama Safety Institute All a Bloom Florist All In Credit Union Alsco Linen Service Amy Rainwaters Coaching Autry Greer & Sons, Inc. (Greer’s) Averitt Express Bancorp South Bank Barnett Mill Works, Inc. Barnett Millworks BASF Corporation Bay Area Christian Family Magazine Beltone Audiology Berkshire Hathaway Home Services BLP- Mobile Paints Blue Fish Boys and Girls Club Brock & Stout Attorneys at Law Cart Dr. Century Bank Charter Tire, LLC Cloverleaf Baptist Church Community Bank Corsentino Chiropractic Costco Wholesale Cypress Shores Baptist Davis, Don Dex Imaging Dick Russell’s BBQ Discount Locksmith Dobbs, Lola Doctor D Events Dyal, Greg Edward Jones – Karen Seiter Evonik Corporation E-Worc Web & New Media Exit Realty – Lyon Team Express Employment Professionals Family Dental of Mobile, PC Family Security Credit Union Farmers Insurance - Howell & Associates Insurance Agency Farmers Insurance – Will Hudson Agency FCS Facility Maintenance FCS Property Services Franklin’s Starter & Alternator Genesis Industrial Staffing Gift Baskets by Hattie Brown Gilmore Services Godfather’s Pizza
Goodwill Easterseals Gulf Coast Graphix Gulf Health Wellness Gwyn Howard Family Habitat for Humanity SW Alabama Hampton Inn and Suites Harrison, Walter Hatcher Landscape & Design Holiday Inn Express & Suites Home 2 Suites by Hilton Mobile West Home Boss Inspection of Mobile County Hoods Home Center Huntington Learning Center Infinite Insurance Solutions Integrity It Services Integrity Pay Systems Johnstone Adams JW Enterprises HR Keep Mobile Beautiful Keesler Federal Credit Union Keesler Federal Credit Union - Westwood Kings Automotive LaBits Heating & A/C Lighthouse Baptist Academy Lindsey & Waldo Loper Law Main Street Family Urgent Care Mamun Real Estate Mary Kay – Inga Cavitt McLaney Senior Dance Mobile Airport Authority Mobile Co Water, Sewer & Fire Protect Mobile County Commission – Jerry Carl Mobile County License Commission – Nick Matranga Mobile Lumber Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Mobile’s Best Storage Moe’s Southwest Grill Momentun IT Services My Mini Storage NAI Mobile Naman’s Catering Nan Gray Davis Elementary Neighbors Seafood & Chicken New Horizon Credit Union New York Life – Donna Rowell Olive Garden Panera Bread Payroll Vault Peace, Kay Pearl Haskew Elementary Photo Phixx Mirror Booth Pilot Catastrophe Services, INC. Pink Post Office Boutique PolySurveying
Republic Services RSI, Inc. RX Express Tillman’s Corner S. J. & L., Inc. Serenity Funeral Home & Gardens ServisFirst Bank Servpro of South Mobile Co. Sessions, Elaine Seven Seas Stone, LLC Sheila Clark – Realtor Singing River Health Systems Sonny’s BBQ South Alabama Regional Planning South Mobile Co. Tourism Authority Southwest Mobile Health Center Southwestern Consulting Speegle, Hoffman, Holman Spire St. Vincent de Paul School State Farm – Brian Lancaster State Farm - Joey Strickland Agent State Farm – Rachael Kidd Surge Church Synovus Mortgage Tammy Curl Realtor The Can Man The Dance Academy of West Mobile The Grounds The Mastery Network The Richardson Group Thompson Wealth Management & Life Planning Tillman’s Corner Dental Time to Eat Touching Hearts Senior Care Trust Athletics Trustmark Ultra Tune Car Care United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile Inc. United Way of South Alabama Uniti Fiber Upspyre W.C. Griggs Wade, Della WALA Fox 10 TV Walmart #866 Women’s Resource Center Zippy Mart
In this issue of the Chamber newsletter, I want to talk to all of the business owners out there. We are going to talk about carrots, otherwise known as all of the shiny things we dangle in front of our noses to motivate ourselves to accomplish our big goals. If you are anything like me you have big hairy audacious 10x goals. And in an effort to stay motivated, you tell yourself that when you accomplish that big goal you’ll reward yourself by getting or doing something for yourself. For instance, I wanted a pair of black and red air Jordan’s since they came out in the 80s. I did not grow up in a house where that was really an option. They were expensive and my dad was a single father trying to scratch out a better life for the two of us. The luxury of a pair of Air Jordan’s was just not in the cards. So a couple of years ago I told myself that if we closed a big deal Blue Fish was working on, that I would get the Air Jordan’s of my dreams. Well, guess what? We won the deal... and a month went by. Then another... and another... until 6 months later I still had not purchased the shoes that I had printed a picture of and taped to my monitor so that I would see it every day to motivate myself. This is one of the most damaging things you can do to yourself as an entrepreneur. By setting a reward and not following through you are lying to yourself. Do this enough times and the effectiveness of the carrot wears thin and burnout becomes a reality. This is a serious problem! I finally realized I had to stop lying to myself! And you do too! I hope it goes without saying that you need to be realistic with what you dangle in front of your nose as a motivator. Dangling a new Lamborghini for when you reach 6 figures may not be a smart carrot. But dangling a new Lamborghini for when you get to multiple 7 figures may be. So what happened? I realized the error of my ways and I’m happy to report that I purchased the black and red Jordan’s. And it reinvigorated my thinking about my business. I now have new goals and new carrots that I dangle in front of me to keep me going, only now I’ll not wait once the goal is achieved. So don’t play around here. Use things like material purchases, trips, or whatever to motivate you to a higher level of achievement. But make sure to fulfill the promise you make to yourself or you’ll be quick to burn out. As always, if I can be of any service, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 251-654-3698.
BUSINESS INSIGHT
3263 Demetropolis Rd #10, Mobile, AL 36693 Office: (251) 445-4204
www.touchingheartsseniorcare.com
March 12 -29, 2020
Music, Entertainment, and Merriment
Throughout the Month of March
Known as the Azalea City, Mobile comes to
life each spring as its thousands of azaleas are
in full bloom. Mobile Celebrates with its
Azalea Trail and the Mobile Azalea Trail
Festival. In March, as the weather is warming
up, the Mobile area rolls out some of its
biggest events.
Check the website:
MobileAzaleaTrailFestival.com
for an updated list of
events, lodging, and tours.
THOMAS M. LOPER, ATTORNEY AT LAW
452 GOVERNMENT ST SUITE E MOBILE, AL 36602
OFFICE: (251) 288-8308 [email protected]
WWW.LOPERLAWLLC.COM
OUTSTANDING OFFICER OF THE MONTH
REAL ESTATE CORNER BY RON SIVAK
Last month the Industrial Park Board approved allowing a regional developer to bid on three connected parcels of property, covering roughly 14 acres inside Mobile Commerce Park in Theodore, to possibly develop a massive, state-of-the-art industrial and commercial warehouse with an estimated footprint of 200,000 square feet. Allan Cameron, principal with NAI Mobile, is the local agent negotiating with the firm around the possible write-up of a letter of intent (LOI) for work at the site, on behalf of the Industrial Park Board. If speculation becomes reality, the new facility has the potential to be one of the largest of its kind developed in Mobile County. According to board member David Rogers, vice-president of economic development at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, the closest comparable site is situated in Irvington and presently under contract with Airbus. Notable tenants now inhabiting the massive office park include BASF, Cintas and Mingledorff’s Inc. Some 32,000 square feet inside the 90,000-square-foot former Kmart retail site, located at 5405 Hwy. 90 inside the Cloverleaf Plaza Shopping Center in West Mobile, has recently been leased by a Ridgeland, Mississippi-based Club4Fitness exercise center. This will be their fourth location to open in the area. Justin Toomey, with locally owned SVN Toomey Property Advisors, worked for the tenant in the transaction. Montgomery-based Aronov Realty represented the landlord in the deal. SEC Property Management has purchased a 2,400-square-foot office building in Grelot Professional Park, located at 5920 Grelot Rd. in West Mobile for $242,000. Angie McArthur with Stirling Properties represented the seller in the transaction. Grace Pond with Roberts Brothers Commercial & Property Management Inc. worked for the buyer. Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana PC and Meridional LLC are leasing 4,841 square feet of professional office space located at 6404 Hillcrest Park Court in West Mobile. Jeff Barnes with Stirling Properties represented the landlord in the transaction. Philip Hodgson with Coldwell Banker Commercial Reehl Properties worked for the tenant. T-Mobile has leased some 10,000 square feet of office space inside the 10-story Montlimar Place office tower located at 1110 Montlimar Drive. In West
Captain Jonathan Lee and Officer Frank Collier Precinct 2 Officer of the Month, Frank Collier, was introduced by Captain Jonathan Lee, who told everyone about Collier's outstanding qualities as a police officer. Officer Collier was presented with the award at the SouthWest Mobile County Chamber’s monthly business luncheon on February 5, 2020. Your hard dedication and exemplary contribution doesn’t go unnoticed.
Mobile. They will be using the site for their engineering division. Allen Garstecki and Guy Oswalt of JLL represented the tenant. Tommy Gleason with NAI Mobile worked for the landlord. NAI Mobile also manages the property. Delta Clinical Research, a local multi-therapeutic research center, is opening a second location, leasing some 2,550 square feet of medical office space located at 4358 Midmost Drive, Suite B, in West Mobile. Jill Meeks with Stirling Properties handled the transaction.
-ANDRE’ J. FOS-
[email protected] O: 251/308/4030 C: 251/622/4725
5775 I 10 Industrial Pkwy N Theodore, AL 36582
COASTAL 150 UPDATE
STAR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
The Alabama Legislature began its annual Regular Session on Tuesday, February 4. As the annual Session is limited by law to 30 session days within a 105 calendar day period, the Session must conclude by May 18, 2020. Ivey upends gambling debate Gov. Kay Ivey gave the official State of the State Address, which focused on expected topics like prison reform, mental health care, state and education employee pay raises and the upcoming census. In an unexpected twist, Ivey waded into the gambling debate by saying she was creating a study group to gather facts on the issue and asking lawmakers to slow down on gambling legislation. Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, who is sponsoring a lottery bill this session, said he planned to move forward and that enough study had been done. Any lottery bill passed by the Legislature would skip the Governor’s office and go straight to a vote of the people. However, Ivey’s intervention into the issue may give lawmakers enough cover to oppose a lottery and stop it from passing in the House. The real question comes on casino gambling, which involves a potential compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and whether or not existing dog track casinos would be included in any grand bargain. It remains to be seen how long this study group would take to make recommendations, but Ivey’s actions could make a big gambling compromise unlikely this session. Environment – GOMESA Senator Chris Elliott pre filed SB3 which if passed would require all Federal GOMESA Funds, made available to the State of Alabama be expended only within the coastal political subdivisions of the state. Currently, the Governor of the State administers where these funds are spent. To this date and since the state has received GOMESA funds all funds have been spent only in coastal counties. This is not to say that in the future that GOMESA funds could be spent elsewhere in the state. Senator Elliott’s bill would insure that all GOMESA will be spent where it is intended, in coastal Alabama. The Budgets The state’s General Fund looks to have about $400 million more than was appropriated last year, bringing the total up to $7.6 billion. For the Education Trust Fund, there is also $400 million growth, bringing that budget’s total up to $7.5 billion. All that is good news for schools and state agencies, but budget advisors warned lawmakers that any slowdown in the economy could mean a dip in revenues for the state. Ivey is proposing a 3% pay raise for K-12 and community college employees and a 2% raise for state employees. Those numbers sometimes get changed, but rarely lowered, through the legislative process.
Landon Mcdaniels from W. C. Griggs Elementary Sponsored by: Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Brenden Essary from Meadowlake Elementary Sponsored by: Elaine Sessions
Alyse Payne from Pearl Haskew Elementary Sponsored by: Payroll Vault
Alexa Deanda from Lighthouse Baptist Academy
Sponsored by: AIM Mail Center #153
Margaret Hogue from St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School Sponsored by: PolySurveying of Mobile
Rachel Kim from Cottage Hill Christian Academy
Sponsored by: Dick Russell's Inc.
James Baumgartner from Nan Gray Davis Elementary Sponsored by: BLP Mobile Paint
Education Bond Issue Gov. Ivey is calling for a $1 billion bond issue for new construction, safety improvements or technology upgrades in K-12 schools, community colleges and higher education. She noted that it has been 14 years since the state last made this type of construction investment in education. The funds would be distributed based on a formula, and thus be free of any earmarks or pet projects of legislators, which in the past have been endemic in this type of fund allocation. Coastal 150 will continue this session reviewing and monitoring legislation in the Alabama Statehouse. We will focus on proposals that affect our region, and included in our regional legislative agenda.
CORPORATE SPONSORS
Diamond
Platinum Payroll Vault
Integrity IT Services
Walmart #866
Gold The Grounds
Alabama Power Company
Evonik Corporation
CFO Consulting Services, Inc. Core Mastery
Silver Gulf Coast Graphix
Loper Law, LLC
Corsentino Chiropractic
Boys and Girls Club of So. Ala
Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Family Security Credit Union
Huntington Learning Center
Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home
Polysurveying of Mobile
Touching Hearts Senior Care
Uniti Fiber
NAI Mobile
Friends of the Chamber
JW Enterprises HR
Moe’s Southwest Grill
The Gwyn Howard Family
Proshield Pest Control
Dick Russell’s BBQ
Zippy Mart
Johnstone Adams, LLC
Business of the Month: Infinite Insurance Solutions, LLC
ServisFirst Bank 2 North Royal Street
Mobile, AL 36602 251-544-6943
New Members:
Membership Renewals: Adams Homes, LLC
Alabama Credit Union Alabama Power Company
Alabama Safety Institute, Inc. All A Bloom Florist & Gifts, LLC Alsco Linen & Uniform Service
American Waste Solutions Autry Greer & Sons, Inc. Barnett Millworks, Inc.
Cart Dr., LLC Charter Tire, LLC
Cottage Hill Christian Academy Dex Imaging
Evonik Corporation Family Dental of Mobile, PC
Feeding the Gulf Coast First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner Franklin's Starter & Alternator
Genesis Industrial Staffing Georgia Roussos Catering
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast Hoods Home Center
Howell & Associates - Farmers Insurance Infinite Insurance Solutions
Integrity It Services, Inc. Kings Automotive
Main Street Family Urgent Care Mamun Siddiq Real Estate, LLC
Mobile Airport Authority Mobile County Health Department Mobile County Water, Sewer & Fire
Protection NAI Mobile
Naman’s Catering Panera Bread
Pilot Catastrophe Republic Services
Roberts Brothers West - Tammy Curl Servpro of South Mobile County
Payroll Vault
Hampton Inn and Suites 1028 West I-65 Service Road S
Mobile, AL 36609 251-343-4007
Bay Area Christian Family Magazine 12815 Rainbow Lake Road
Grand Bay, AL 36541 251-300-9800