Ann Bedsole Honored with Delchamps Award. and personal life would be like a wellseasoned

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1 THEBUSINESS THEBUSINESS VIEW MARCH 2003 MOBILE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VOL. XXXV, NO. 2 Ann Bedsole Honored with Delchamps Award Cheryl Thompson Charged with Leading the Chamber in 2003 There s a surge of energy flowing from Cheryl Thompson that is sure to help the Chamber plug in to solutions and address area challenges. Thompson is the Chamber s board of director s chair and vice president of the Mobile division of Alabama Power Company. During the Chamber s annual meeting in February, Thompson asked participants to join us as we continue to work together to make Mobile a wonderful place to work and live. To make Mobile a stronger community, she is focusing her leadership on three key areas economic development, workforce development and small business development. Only by working together will we move forward, she said. Strength as a community and as an organization comes when we work together on shared goals and are willing to come to a consensus and resolve our differences for the common good. Using the community s natural resources as a catalyst, the Chamber is primed to focus its energy recruiting new businesses in several specialized fields including aerospace, oil and gas exploration, distribution, maritime support and shipbuilding. All the time and energy spent recruiting new companies to locate in Mobile and encouraging existing industries to expand is for naught if we cannot provide them with specialized, trained workers, Thompson explained. Expanding workforce industry clusters will also be a priority during These clusters consist of business and education representatives who work to create additional learning and training opportunities for students, and seek funding sources for these programs. The Chamber hopes to partner with the Mobile County Public School System to create a Cheryl Thompson blueprint for a career technical academy this year. In the area of small business development, an abundance of learning opportunities, such as the entrepreneurial training program for managers and business owners, FastTrac, will again be offered. In addition, a group of investors will work together to solicit proposals for venture capital funding for new and innovative products, businesses and services. And a final key component of the Chamber s 2003 small business program will be aimed at continuing efforts of the diversity business network to help minority-owned businesses increase their contacts. Thompson concluded her remarks by announcing that the Chamber will begin fundraising for its next long-range economic development initiative. Since 1999, The Millennium Fund netted the Mobile area more than $1 billion in capital investment and over 4,500 jobs. Efforts to raise monies for the next campaign, which runs from , will begin this spring. In asking the audience for their support of this campaign, Thompson concluded, United we can make a difference in the future of Mobile. In addition to her work as board chair, Thompson is active in many other facets of the community. She serves on advisory councils for Spring Hill College, the University of Mobile and University of South Alabama, and is a board member of The Forum, Partners for Environmental Progress, the Girl Scouts of the Deep South Council, Infirmary Health Systems and the Infirmary Foundation. She is a graduate of Auburn University and earned a MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Left, Ann Bedsole sits in Portal, a sculpture donated to the city of Mobile by the Art Patrons League in honor of the Tricentennial. The sculpture was created by Casey Downing and is located at Cooper Riverside Park. For only the fourth time, the Chamber presented the Delchamps Award to a leader in the Mobile business community. Ann Bedsole, who served as president of the Mobile Tricentennial, was recognized by outgoing Chamber Chairman, Mike Lee during the Chamber s annual meeting held Feb. 4. Lee told audience members, If variety is the spice of life, then Ann Bedsole s professional and personal life would be like a wellseasoned gumbo. Ever-gracious, Bedsole accepted the award on behalf of the thousands of people in the Mobile area who spent countless hours creating the year-long party that will be talked about for the next 100 years. Bedsole joined the Mobile Tricentennial Commission as its president in For the three years prior to Mobile s 300th celebration, she led a team of several hundred volunteers to develop events that would not only be enjoyable for everyone attending, but were historically correct, educational and would leave a long-lasting impact. Some of the most recognized events were Sail Mobile, the Amistad, We Are Mobile a video salute to local history, a culinary jubilee and a If variety is the spice of life, then Ann Bedsole s professional and personal life would be like a well-seasoned gumbo. Mike Lee weekend-long birthday party that included fireworks, concerts and an outdoor movie. It has been more than her work as Tricentennial president that has left her unique mark upon on the Mobile community. A native of Selma, Bedsole has been a passionate champion for Mobile since she first arrived in the Port City. In 1978, Mobile voters elected her as the first Republican woman to the Alabama House of Representatives, and in 1982, she was elected the first female Alabama State Senator. During her tenure as a State senator, she was instrumental in founding the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science, and served on the board of trustees for both Spring Hill College and Huntingdon College. As 2002 rounded out, Bedsole returned to work as owner and operator of Bedsole Farms and president and chairman of the board for White Smith Land Co. She also chairs the distribution committee of the Sybil H. Smith Charitable Trust. Created in 1990, the Delchamps Award is a tribute given in remembrance of Alfred F. (Fred) Delchamps Jr., and is only awarded when a champion of Mobile s visions and principles is nominated. This memorial was established to promote growth and excellence in both the Chamber and the Mobile community, as was envisioned by Delchamps. Prior Delchamps Award winners were Bobby Guthans (1991), Congressman Jack Edwards (1998) and Bill Hearin (1999). Regional Conference Highlights China as an Export Destination Top-notch experts will visit the Gulf Coast to show local businesses how to successfully market and sell their goods in China May 5-6 at the Marriott s Grand Hotel in Point Clear. The Chamber will host the 5th annual World Trade Conference, one of the area s largest international trade events. Participants will represent companies from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Northwest Florida. The conference will kick-off with opening remarks by Mayor Mike Dow, and Chamber Chair Cheryl Thompson with Alabama Power. U.S. Commercial Service s Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs in China, Lee Boam, will discuss the country s economic outlook and highlight the trade opportunities and barriers existing in China. Other topics include New Opportunities & New Problems in Post-WTO China; Cultural Awareness: How to Work Effectively with the WHAT: Regional Trade Conference WHEN: May 5-6 WHERE: Marriott s Grand Hotel CALL: Bridgette Clark, Chinese; Due Diligence in Doing Business in China; and logistics, success, risk factors and financial aspects. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans has been invited to be the keynote speaker. The conference registration deadline is April 1. The fee is $200, and includes meals, a networking reception, seminars, keynote addresses and registration materials. The Marriott s Grand Hotel has a block of rooms reserved at a special rate, To register for the conference, contact Bridgette Clark at or by at bridgette@ mobilechamber.com. To register on-line, visit (Read more about China reform, exports and tips for companies planning to do business in China on page 2.)

2 PAGE 2 Mobile Gas Employees Honored with Corporate Community Service Award Driven by their mission statement, To improve the quality of life of each of our customers, shareholders, employees and the communities we serve, Mobile Gas Service Corp. employees are changing the way companies do business. And for their efforts, the company was recognized with the 2002 Corporate Community Service Award. Mobile Gas employees participated in a number of community events including a walk raising money for diabetes research. The coveted award was presented for the fourth time during the Chamber s annual meeting, held Feb. 4., in conjunction with Envision Coastal Alabama and Volunteer Mobile. The honor is not based on financial contributions alone, but rather a company s overall employee volunteer effort and commitment to create an environment that inspires and enables employees to volunteer in the community where they live and work. Mobile Gas employees are encouraged to become involved in the community, which is Keep the Outside, Outside And Leave the Inside to Us. For over 36 years, Keith Air Conditioning has been creating the perfect climate in businesses and homes throughout the Mobile area. Along the way, we ve built our reputation with high quality standards and unrivaled customer service. Keith can help you select the heating and cooling system that will fit your individual air conditioning and heating needs. And we offer installation, service and repair from highly-trained technicians. We'll make your home so comfortable, you may never want to leave. AIR CONDITIONING embedded in their corporate culture. Efforts are not focused on any one project, but extend over a wide range of activities including designating proceeds from an employee cookbook to local nonprofit agencies, mentoring middle school students by teaching classes offered by Junior Achievement and participating in the Junior Achievement Bowl-a- Thon that raised over $13,000. In addition, 80 percent of employees supported the United Way campaign in 2002, and actively participated in United Way events, such as the Sept.11 Day of Caring. Mobile Gas has remained a solid and dependable partner in helping us maintain the level of service that Mobile, Washington and Clarke counties have come to expect, said Dianne Irby, executive director of United Way of Southwest Alabama in her letter of endorsement of Mobile Gas s application. Other organizations that benefited from Mobile Gas employees include the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, the Chamber s total resource development campaign, American Cancer Society, Senior Bowl, Spanish Fort Children s Park and Vital Link. Previous award winners include Thompson Engineering (2001), Regions Bank (2000) and Kellogg, Brown and Root (1999). Maxime Selected 2002 Diplomat of the Year After only one year as a diplomat, Ellen Maxime earned the 2002 Diplomat of the Year Award. She distinctly stands out as a leader, and was recognized as Diplomat of the Month twice in 2002 for January and August. As a diplomat, she recruited new members and event sponsorships, attended numerous ribbon cuttings, visited new members and participated in Chamber Chase, a total resource development campaign. Often referred to as the diplomat cheerleader Maxime is always encouraging volunteers to do what they can to help the Chamber and the community. Maxime is project manager for Delaney Development Inc., a management firm operating five properties in Mobile and one in Florida. She is also a licensed real estate agent with more than 15 years experience. Mobile: Baldwin County: THE BUSINESS VIEW MARCH 2003 Increasing Exports to China Narrowing down the best business opportunities for Alabama companies was the focus of a visit from the U.S. Department of Commerce s (DOC) Office of Chinese Economic Area and the People s Republic of China Consulate General this past November. Although China has been on the path of economic reform for 20 years, its recent admittance into the World Trade Organization in December 2001, is positioning the country to fully enter the global economy. China is now committed to a rules-based trading regime spelled out by an international organization. China is establishing an economy based on market principles, transparency and rule of law. By placing more decision-making power in the hands of individuals, we can expect enhanced stability and new trading opportunities, says Corey Whiting, trade specialist of the DOC s Chinese Economic Area. China is becoming a more attractive market for U.S. exports and investment everyday. It is the most populated country in the world with nearly 1.3 billion people. China urgently needs to renovate the technologies of its enterprises, making it an open market for advanced technologies and equipment as well as some raw materials and spare parts needed in production. Items to improve quality of life, such as medicine, are also needed. The market for U.S. goods and services in China looks more promising and Tips for Doing Business with China Chen Jianping, commercial counselor of the People s Republic of China Consulate General in Houston, offered useful tips for companies planning to do business in China: U.S. companies should only deal with companies that have been granted Foreign Trading Corporation (FTC) by the Chinese government. The best products to consider exporting to China are those which are either unavailable in China or require proprietary technology skills and/or manufacturing skills that cannot be easily duplicated. China has shortages of certain raw materials needed to drive the country s export industries, and these are considered priority import areas. Research the market carefully and develop a market strategy based on good information and long-term commitment to the market. Understand the importance of relationships in formulating effective business with the Chinese. Building a close and cooperative relationship with your Chinese partner in both business and non-business environments is crucial to the success of your business. The Chinese people look for long-term, trustful relationships rather than short-term profit gearing ones. Conduct comprehensive research on the credit standing of local partners. Visit your local partner s operations before committing yourself. Learn the legal environment in China. Getting familiar with applicable laws where your business takes place is the first and foremost step. Good Web sites to visit for the investment environment include and Most mistakes American companies make in China result from a lack of careful planning and awareness of how the Chinese do business. With due diligence and sensitivity to the Chinese business culture, most companies do well in China. predictable than it has for the past several years, says Whiting. Trade barriers in China continue to decrease. Last January, China reduced tariff rates on more than 5,000 tariff lines from 15.3 percent to 12 percent. Tariffs on some information technology products have already dropped to zero. By 2005, U.S. businesses can expect China s industrialized tariffs to decrease to 8.9 percent. In addition, a number of products were removed from the quotas and licensing list, and service sectors continue to open at a very fast pace. U.S. businesses will soon have the right to import and export most products without Chinese middlemen a system heavily practiced for many years. This allows American businesses to wholesale, retail, repair and transport their own products. The Chamber will lead a trade mission to Shanghai and Beijing, China, Sept All industries are welcome. Information technology companies are invited to participate in Alabama s booth at China s premier IT trade show, CeBIT Asia, that takes place Sept For more more information about either event, contact Bridgette Clark at or at bridgette@mobile chamber.com. PROUDLY SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MOBILE FOR OVER 15 YEARS. (251)

3 MARCH 2003 THE BUSINESS VIEW PAGE 3 Annual Meeting Sponsors Profiled here are the companies that helped underwrite the Chamber s annual meeting Feb. 4. With their financial support, the Chamber was able to produce a video annual report and bring Gary McCaleb PhD to present Formula for Community. In its 50 years, Thompson Engineering has grown from a local firm providing basic soils and materials tests to a corporate partner offering a wide range of engineering design, environmental consulting and construction inspection and testing services. One of the keys to Thompson s success is its affiliation with TCO Inc., an employee-owned professional services company with four subsidiaries Thompson Engineering, Pope Engineering and Testing, Harper & Garratt Engineering and Watermark Design Group. The TCO affiliates are independently operated companies with a goal of quality, responsive service. Today, TCO does business in more than 25 states and Central America, and employs over 300 people in 15 offices and satellite locations. Adecco is a Forbes 500 company and a global leader in human resources solutions, delivering a range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multi-national team, the company connects up to 700,000 associates with business clients each day through more than 30,000 employees and nearly 6,000 offices in 62 countries. Adecco has unrivaled international coverage and focuses on flexible staffing solutions for global industries in transition, including automotive, banking, electronics, logistics and telecommunications. Adecco is committed to meet client and candidate expectations and optimizing management of the flexible workforce with Web-enabled tools such as e-procurement, e-contracting and e-billing. Alabama Power provides reliable, low-cost electricity to homes, businesses and industries across the state. The company s 1.3 million customers enjoy electricity prices among the lowest in the nation. In fact, their average retail price is about the same as it was 10 years ago. Because employees live in Alabama, they are dedicated to making Alabama a better place to work and live for everyone. Alabama Power is also committed to doing its part to protect the environment. In the next four years, the company will spend more than $500 million on environmental upgrades. The company works every day to ensure its customers have reliable, affordable energy that is cleaner than ever. With annual revenues of more than $7.7 billion, ALLTEL is a leader in bundled services, ranking as the seventh largest wireless and sixth largest local telephone company in the nation. ALLTEL provides telephone, wireless, long-distance, paging and Internet services to more than 12 million customers in 26 states. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., ALLTEL s Southeast region, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas, serves 4.7 million communications customers. In Alabama, the company has offered services since 1989 and has 267,000 customers. ALLTEL has an annual payroll of more than $11.2 million in Alabama and paid more than $8.6 million in taxes in Compass Bank is a subsidiary of Compass Bancshares Inc., a Sunbelt-based financial holding company with $23.5 billion in assets and 343 fullservice banking offices in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas. Compass is among the top 40 U.S. bank holding companies by asset size and ranks among the top earners of its size based on return on equity. The company s earnings per share have increased for 14 consecutive years and dividends per share have increased for 21 consecutive years. Shares of Compass common stock are traded through the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol CBSS. G.A. West & Co. Inc., an industrial construction and maintenance company, was established in 1987 by owner, Gary West. The company has experienced tremendous growth the last 16 years largely due to the commitment to safety, quality and customer satisfaction. Aiding in the company s growth, are continuous efforts to keep up with changing technology that allow G.A. West to meet current and anticipated needs of its clients. With more than 30,000 square-feet, the company houses its structural steel fabrication and process piping fabrication facilities at its main offices that are centrally located in Mobile County. A sandblasting and painting facility is located next door. Integrity Media is a publicly held media/communications company that produces, publishes and distributes Christian music, books and related products. Founded primarily as a direct-to-consumer music club in 1987, Integrity established itself as a leading producer of praise and worship music by In 2001, sales exceeded $71 million, accounting for 64 percent of the market. The company s Christian book-publishing subsidiary based in Brentwood, Tenn., purchased a Nashville-based Christian music company in 2002, and changed its name to Integrity Media. Today, Integrity Media has subsidiary offices in the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore along with a Latin American sales division located at its headquarters in Mobile. Mobile Gas distributes natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in Southwest Alabama. The company supplies the energy families use to heat homes and cook meals, as well as schools, restaurants and hospitals. Mobile Gas is the energy provider of choice for major area manufacturing, industrial and power generation companies. The company and its employees are devoted to the idea that integrity, honesty, discipline and dedication to service, fosters a corporate culture that creates a foundation for prosperity and enables the company to improve the quality of life for customers, investors, employees and the communities it serves. OSI is one of the area s largest and best quality commercial printers offering a vast array of services to meet the demanding needs of local customers. OSI has established itself as a leader in the printing and graphic arts industry. The company s 30,000 square-foot warehouse contains the most advanced printing equipment along with the latest in stateof-the-art electronic pre-press technology. As one of the area s progressive leaders, OSI is constantly striving to provide quality and service beyond its customers expectations. Service Point USA is a reprographics services partner for business and design professionals. Services include copying and printing of brochures, letterhead and business cards, small and large format presentation graphics for promotional signage and retail store graphics, as well as many specialized services for the architectural, engineering and construction industry. Service Point provides value-added reprographic services and Web-based tools through its Web site, over 240 On-Site Services programs and 21 service centers in the United States. Five service centers are located in the Southern region: Mobile, Daphne, Biloxi, New Orleans and Metairie, La. Founded in Mobile in 1977, Sullivan-St. Clair is an advertising and marketing agency representing clients on a regional, national and international basis. The firm is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the industry s accrediting organization whose membership is based on marketing expertise and financial soundness. Sullivan-St. Clair not only represents clients along the Gulf Coast but those headquartered in Seattle, Memphis, Charlotte, N.C., and Cleveland, Ohio. Several of the agency s clients have a major presence and significant marketing operations in the Western United States. USA is Alabama s fastest-growing university and is the fourth largest in enrollment with 12,500 students. More than 1,600 practicing physicians are among its alumni. USA is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and comprises the colleges of Allied Health Professions, Arts and Sciences, Mitchell College of Business, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and schools of Computer and Information Sciences, Continuing Education and Special Programs and the Graduate School. The USA Health System including the College of Medicine, USA Medical Center, USA s Children s and Women s Hospital annually serves more than 25,000 patients. The region s first comprehensive academic cancer institute complements programs in kidney transplant, burn and wound care, neonatal intensive care, trauma, sickle cell disease and others. Located on the Eastern Shore, Westminster Village offers retirement living with three levels of care. A full array of services and amenities include fine dining, transportation, on-site pharmacy, bank, housekeeping and laundry, maintenance services and more. Westminster also has a full recreational program ranging from a computer club to a genealogy class to working out with an exercise physiologist in a state-of-the-art fitness center. Westminster Village has a well-established history of 20 years and is the only accredited Continuing Care Retirement Community in Alabama. The company is affiliated with Infirmary Health Systems and managed by Life Care Services a national company with 40 years experience. Additional Annual Meeting Supporters Beverages Coca-Cola Bottling Company Community Coffee Kentwood Springs Entertainment Ron Reams, The Compact Disc Jockey Florists Cleveland The Florist The Rose Bud Zimlich Patio & Garden Volunteers Alabama School of Math & Science Azalea Trail Maids Mobile Area Chamber Diplomats Spring Hill College Springhillians Donations: FOX 10 News Malaga Inn Malcolm Pirnie Inc. Motion and Graphic Image Corp. (MAGIC) Naman s Catering Paper Products Company of Mobile Inc. David Richey, Pastor, Gulf Coast Christian Center Signs Now Barry Silverman, Soundworks Singing Knights of St. John s Deliverance Temple University of South Alabama Dept. of Dramatic Arts Wilkinson Photography Annual Meeting Task Force Chair, Catherine Pierce, University of South Alabama Risk Management Alesha Adler, DNC of Mobile Inc. Ola Anise, Azalea City Credit Union Carolyn Bennett, DESI Career Training of Mobile Carmen Brown, Volunteer Mobile Kathryn Castle, Mobile County Dept. of Human Resources René Darden Eiland, Darden Enterprises Chanté Stone-Hendrix, Spring Hill College Ramona Marsalis-Hill, Workshops Etc! Inc. David Horn, Morgan Stanley Cathy Lawhon, ATS Nancy Peoples, Multi-Staffing Services Danny Rickert, University of South Alabama Marie Stephenson, Long s Human Resource Services Joseph E. Vosicky, Charles Schwab Restaurant Sponsors: Atlanta Bread Company The Bienville Club Carrabba s Italian Grill Copeland s of New Orleans Creative Catering Everything & More Justine s at The Pillars Lassere s Catering Michelle s Family Restaurant Naman s Catering Roussos Seafood Restaurant Ruth s Chris Steak House Tyner s Catering Wintzell s Oyster House

4 PAGE 4 THE BUSINESS VIEW MARCH 2003 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH Applied Solutions Applied Solutions is a company that practices what they preach. When the entire information technology department of a local manufacturing facility lost their jobs, the four employees all of whom wanted to stay in Mobile created a solution to their problem: they formed their own company. And, as the name implies, that s what they ve been doing for their clients since The Chamber s Small Business of the Month provides technology services and software solutions for companies and personal computer users anything associated with the computer infrastructure of a business, explains Nancy Majure, president and director of business development. Along with those services, Applied Solutions has developed its own software product, RFPro ( RF stands for radio frequency; the program can run on a handheld unit), a data collection barcode system that helps manufacturing facilities worldwide manage inventory. Clients include automobile, textile and plastics manufacturers as far away as Australia. Applied Solutions plans to add more software products while continuing to build its customer base in a 150-mile radius around Mobile. One of the great advantages of the structure of our company, says Majure, is that, often, with software sales, we end up being the source of IT support. Because they work with such a wide range of clients, and because of the often intimidating nature of working with computers, Majure and Thomas Murphy Jr., two of the company s four founding owners, place a heavy emphasis on developing relationships. The philosophy of our company is that, in our relationships with our customers, we have to benefit them. We take that very seriously, says Majure. Four Applied Solutions employees including Majure and Murphy recently graduated from the The Applied Solutions team. Seated: Thomas Murphy, standing left to right: Gary Gould, Nancy Majure, Sean Conner and Kati Lancaster. Chamber s FastTrac Planning program, which Murphy describes as very beneficial in increasing our knowledge as entrepreneurs. Murphy, chief financial officer and director of local services, says that the company s mission is the same for every client, whether it s a small business or a major manufacturer: Every business manages information in some form or another. We look at the information flow, understand what they re doing and implement the right solution. When we ve done that, we ve done our job. Majure says the company s culture is distinctly Southern. We try to make our customers as comfortable as possible and never feel intimidated, she says. In a nutshell, we re accessible. Customers can pick up the phone and call on us for anything. For more information about Applied Solutions, visit or call The Small Business of the Month is chosen by the Chamber s Award and Recognition Task Force. For selection guidelines or to submit a nomination, go to Guest Columnists By Christopher W. Bell and James W. Bell Branch, Bell & Associates Long Term Care Planning for the Future Eight out of 10 families have a loved one in need of long-term care. According to a Parade magazine article, Can You Afford to Take Care of a Loved One, the likelihood of needing full-time care is higher than destroying your car in an accident or even having a fire at home. There is a one in three chance an individual will spend 2.5 years in a nursing home, says Robert Lamon, a noted local expert on long-term care insurance with Consolidated Brokerage Service Inc. Without insurance, the expense can be prohibitive. The daily cost of nursing home care today is $135 and will be over $500 per day in 30 years, says Lamon. Long-term care is needed when someone can t perform everyday tasks such as getting dressed or when a patient has a severe cognitive impairment like Alzheimer s disease. Also known as nursing home insurance, longterm care insurance can cover patients in a variety of settings including their home, adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes or hospice facilities. Five years ago, James mother suffered a stroke that left her body partially paralyzed, and basically helpless. The family chose 24-hour care to keep her at home, which cost $10 per hour. With the changes made to her home, medication, medical equipment and medical expenses, monthly costs were $4,500. She suffered a second stroke and passed away. During that 18-month period her care cost nearly $85,000. A nursing home in Mobile for the same period would have cost $50,000. Researchers say 70 percent of the nine million Americans that will need long-term care won t have insurance. The extraordinary cost of longterm care can decimate the investments built up by an individual or couple over a lifetime, said Mark Eiland, vice president and trust specialist at AmSouth Bank. Long-term care insurance defrays Statistics show long-term care is not only for the elderly. More than 35 percent of long-term care benefits paid in 2001 were to people under the age of 40. Parade magazine many of these costs and allows people to pass substantial assets on to their children, their grandchildren or their favorite charity. Most plans allow a variety of options including the amount of coverage, either completely or in part, and the level of care, from custodial to skilled. Businesses and professionals are paying individual premiums on long-term care insurance and deducting the full premium as a business expense as allowed under corporate tax rules. For example, a business that is a C-corporation may deduct 100 percent of the premium on employees selected for this benefit. Providing the insurance is a benefit for employees. Consult your insurance and tax advisor for all of the available options. Personal Planning Options Statistics show long-term care is not only for the elderly. More than 35 percent of longterm care benefits paid in 2001 were to people under the age of 40 according to research by Parade. The purchase of longterm care is best done in income-producing years. Insurance companies have designed contracts allowing premiums to be guaranteed paid-up in 10 years or less. A variety of policies plan for you to be through with premiums by retirement. Planning is the best way to offset the cost of a potential long-term care need," said Andy Smith with Mobile-based Brown, Hudgens PC. Smith is an attorney with 20 years of experience in estate planning. Without proper planning, paying for long-term care out-of-pocket can be a hardship on families. Consult an insurance advisor for options for planning for the future. Christopher W. Bell and James W. Bell are son and father, with the firm of Branch, Bell & Associates. They have been in business in Mobile since 1984, serving personal and business clients with their insurance and investment needs. They can be reached at Comparative Economic Indicators November 02 vs November 01 Unemployment Rates 6.4% November 02 Mobile/Baldwin Counties 5.7% November 01 Business Licenses Mobile City 189 November November 01 Homes Sold 368 November 02 Mobile County 371 November 01 Air Passengers From Mobile Mobile Area 24,243 November 02 24,411 November 01

5 2002 ANNUAL REPORT The Formula For Community Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 2002 Annual Report and 2003 Plan of Action From the Chairman From calling for a repeal of the 2 percent out-of-county tax to the air quality study, the Chamber has taken a broad role in a number of issues, knowing that our responsibility is to make Mobile a better place to live, play and do business. This year s annual meeting speaker, Gary McCaleb PhD, emphasized that it takes more than places and people to transform a city into a true community it takes concern for one another and partnerships with government, business and community representatives who share a common vision. Envision Coastal Alabama is a key ingredient to Mobile s formula for community, and in 2002, the group revised and refocused efforts of the two-county regional strategic plan. The group will continue to work on strategies addressing the environment, equity of our citizens, the economy and education. When we look at last year s accomplishments, the Chamber had many partners in success. A few of the projects and efforts that I am most proud of include the announcement that world-renowned cancer researchers will staff the University of South Alabama s Cancer Research Institute; a successful trial run by Carnival Cruises and our pursuit to land Mobile a cruise ship homeport; the Austal USA apprenticeship training program; continued State Docks expansion; and FastTrac, a training course for entrepreneurs. I want to extend my thanks to Chamber members, volunteers and partners, who together will continue to prove Mobile has the right chemistry for making a great community. Mike Lee, 2002 Chairman of the Board Mike Lee 2002 Chairman of the Board 2002 Executive Committee Michael B. Lee, Page & Jones Inc., Chairman of the Board Gigi Armbrecht BellSouth Community Development R. Preston Bolt Jr. Hand Arendall LLC Workforce Development Josiah Robins Bonner Jr. Office of Sonny Callahan Governmental Affairs Col. Patrick H. Downey (Ret.) USA Brookley Center Military Affairs Monte A. Edwards ALLTEL Communications Communications Winthrop M. Hallett III Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce President S. Slade Hooks Jr. Waterways Towing Maritime Affairs Harris V. Morrissette Marshall Biscuit Company Small Business Development E.B. Peebles III Armbrecht Jackson LLP Legal Counsel Bowden O. Sarrett Brownell/Abeta Travel Membership Cheryl A. Thompson Alabama Power Company Chair-Elect Finance and Operations John M. Turner Jr. Whitney National Bank Immediate Past Chair T. Bestor Ward III Ward Properties John F. Weston Jr. Cooper/T. Smith Corp. Trade

6 2002 ANNUAL REPORT Gigi Armbrecht BellSouth William E. Barrick PhD Bellingrath Gardens & Home Robert H. Bender Springdale Travel Inc. Lewis E. Beville Thames Batre Mattei Beville & Ison R. Preston Bolt Jr. Hand Arendall LLC Josiah Robins Bonner Jr. Office of Sonny Callahan James D. Brandyburg Carter Brandyburg PC J. Edgar Brister Seabulk Towing W. Bill Ainsworth Union Planters Bank Paul Altermatt Kimberly-Clark Corporation Gigi Armbrecht BellSouth Owen Bailey Thomas Hospital Thomas Bates Degussa Corporation Thomas B. Bender Jr. Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. Inc. Christopher Kit Bonvillian Iberville Insulations Paul E. Bridges Gottlieb, Barnett & Bridges LLC W. Howard Bronson Jr. Mobile Register Michael I. Bronstein Bronstein s Fine Furniture Inc. Greg Carpenter DailyAccess.Com Inc. James D. Chandler Bayou Bells LLC d/b/a Taco Bell Clark P. Christianson Providence Hospital Vance M. Chunn Cardiology Associates P. Michael Coleman Integrity Media Inc. William R. Cooksey Waste Management of Alabama Inc. Catherine Pierce University of South Alabama Risk Management Annual Meeting, Communications R. Preston Bolt Jr. Hand Arendall LLC Legislative Affairs, Community and Governmental Affairs John S. Davis Mobile Gas Service Corp. Envision Coastal Alabama, Community and Governmental Affairs Honorable Reggie Copeland Mobile City Council Honorable Michael C. Dow City of Mobile Col. Patrick H. Downing (Ret.) USA Brookley Center Robert T. Drew Willis of Mobile Inc. Monte A. Edwards ALLTEL Communications Honorable Vivian Davis Figures Alabama State Senate Mark R. Foley PhD University of Mobile Winthrop M. Hallett III Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce David J. Cooper Cooper/T. Smith Corporation J. Gary Cooper Commonwealth National Bank Daniel A. Cowart Aaron Oil Company Inc. Stephen G. Crawford Hand Arendall LLC Erik Dardas The Home Depot Glen F. Davis First Community Bank John S. Davis Mobile Gas Service Corporation Kenneth L. Dempsey Masland Carpets Inc. Richard E. Doran Jr. Treadwell Ford Honorable Michael C. Dow City of Mobile Michael D. Fitzhugh BankTrust Mark R. Foley PhD University of Mobile Charles L. Freeman Gulf Electric Company Inc. of Mobile Lorie Galliard Baldwin Transfer Co. Inc. Michael C. Granger Compass Bank J. Scott Gray II DuPont Agricultural Products Bay Haas Mobile Airport Authority Volunteers 2002 Board of Directors Patti G. Hill Colonial Bank Sheila S. Hodges Meyer Real Estate S. Slade Hooks Jr. Waterways Towing Larry A. Jackson Gardnyr Michael Capital Honorable Freeman E. Jockisch Mobile County Commission Sidney King Commonwealth National Bank Ronnie B.T. Koh ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering Michael B. Lee Page & Jones Inc. Brian L. Hall MesaStaff Alan L. Heffernan Ciba Specialty Chemicals Patti G. Hill Colonial Bank Jerry L. Hudson B E & K Engineering Company Mark E. Hughes Budweiser-Busch Distributing Co. Michael Istre Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. Earl G. Jackson Midstream Fuel Service Inc. Honorable Samuel L. Jones Mobile County Commission Wayne S. Keith Keith Air Conditioning T. Keith King PE Volkert & Associates Inc. Ronnie B. T. Koh ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering Michael E. Leach ExxonMobil Production Co. Goodman G. Ledyard Pierce, Ledyard, Latta, Wasden & Bowron PC Alan B. Lerchbacker Austal USA Brian L. Lewis Teledyne Continental Motors John H. Lewis Jr. Lewis Communications Inc. Gregory F. Lucey SJ Spring Hill College James K. Lyons Alabama State Port Authority Ron Mitchell Mitchell Container Services Harris V. Morrissette Marshall Biscuit Company V. Gordon Moulton University of South Alabama Luis A. Nieves Gulf Coast Computer Services E.B. Peebles III Armbrecht Jackson LLP Ben M. Radcliff Jr. Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. Board of Advisors R. Roy Lewis Roy Lewis Construction Corp. Victor H. Lott Jr. Mobile Arts and Sports Association Gaylord C. Lyon Jr. Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance Agency James K. Lyons Alabama State Port Authority James M. Lyons The SSI Group Inc. Elliot B. Maisel Gulf Distributing Companies Bill A. Mason Springhill Memorial Hospital T. Vance McCown Vance McCown Construction Company Inc. Joe McKinstry Wal-Mart Midtown Supercenter Brasher V. Miller HealthSpring of Alabama Inc. R. Keith Mosley Keith Mosley Construction Inc. V. Gordon Moulton University of South Alabama Larry T. Myers Warranty Corporation D. Mark Nix Mobile Area Water & Sewer Service Gregory W. Oakes Ineos Phenol Tom P. Ollinger Ollinger/Mostellar & Associates Inc. Mickie McDonough Russell Dauphin Realty Bowden O. Sarrett Brownell/Abeta Travel Scott Speck Mobile Symphony Orchestra Gail S. Tart The Junior League of Mobile Frederick W. Taul Regions Bank Gwen Taylor Shell Chemical LP Beverly H. Templeton Templeton Gallery & Framing Cheryl A. Thompson Alabama Power Company Melvin E. Pierce Melvin Pierce Painting Inc. W. Davis Pilot Jr. Pilot Catastrophe Services Inc. Ben M. Radcliff Jr. Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. James G. Roach Atlantic Marine Holding Company John B. Saint The Mitchell Company Inc. Martin G. Schweers Kellogg, Brown & Root Inc. Henry R. Seawell III Thompson Engineering William R. Seifert II AmSouth Bank of Alabama Akira Seino Mitsubishi Polysilicon Dennis L. Shortridge Jr. Mobile Infirmary Medical Center Chris Smith Smith Industrial Service James L. Spires Premier Medical Management Inc. J. Craig Stepan Warrior & Gulf Navigation Company John A. Stone Buffalo Rock Company Scott Stoner Hertz Corporation 2002 Task Force and Committee Chairs Honorable Michael C. Dow City of Mobile Leadership Trip, Community and Governmental Affairs Col. Pat Downing (Ret.), USA Brookley Center Military Affairs, Community and Governmental Affairs Manfred Deutsch Kellogg, Brown & Root Oil & Gas Task Force, S. Slade Hooks Jr. Waterways Towing Ports & Waterways Task Force, Larry Merrihew Regions Bank Business Travel Council, T. Bestor Ward III Ward Properties Council, John F. Weston Jr. Cooper/T. Smith Corporation World Trade Council, Grady W. Jody Dunn Jr. Whitney National Bank Chamber Chase, Membership Karyl Hanisch Adam s Mark Hotel Diplomats, Membership Patricia Vanderpool EAP Lifestyle Management Networking Events, Membership John M. Turner Jr. Whitney National Bank Barry A. Vittor PhD Barry A. Vittor & Associates T. Bestor Ward III Ward Properties Inc. John F. Weston Jr. Cooper/T. Smith Corporation Damon Wickware Bayview Ford Lincoln Mercury William J. Withers Cingular Wireless Mike Strong Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated Frederick W. Taul Regions Bank Cheryl A. Thompson Alabama Power Company Cooper C. Thurber Lyons, Pipes & Cook PC James W. Turner UOP LLC John M. Turner Jr. Whitney National Bank Will Vail ALLTEL Communications Malcolm Vickory Bruno s Supermarkets Inc. Clay Walden Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Alabama Paul E. Weaver Hosea O. Weaver and Sons Inc. Gary A. West G.A. West & Co. John White-Spunner White-Spunner Construction Inc. Robert S. Wilbanks SouthTrust Bank NA, Mobile Paul B. Wilson IPSCO Steel (Alabama) Inc. William J. Withers Cingular Wireless Clarence Frenkel Seafood Promotion Small Business Development Sidney King Commonwealth National Bank Growth Alliance, Small Business Development Josiane Landman Travel House Awards and Recognition, Small Business Development

7 2002 ANNUAL REPORT New Business Mobile rode the economic roller coaster of New and expanded businesses created 838 new jobs, and capital investments added up to $80 million in Mobile County. Unemployment figures for the Mobile-Baldwin area hovered around 6 percent during 2002, equal to the national average. The employment figures are published by the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. Boosting the area s economic outlook, several Chamber-assisted projects made news in 2002: O Reilly Automotive Inc. announced it will open a 200,000 square-foot regional distribution center in a former pulp and paper warehouse in Saraland this spring. The company expects to hire more than 200 employees. O Reilly is a specialty retailer and supplier of automotive parts, tools, supplies and equipment for the do-it-yourself customer. Kvaerner Oilfield Products breathed new life into the former Navy homeport site, now called Mobile Middle Bay Port. Kvaerner leased 13 acres of the 200 acre site to house its 80,000 square-foot umbilical manufacturing facility, and made an initial capital investment of $15 million. More than 50 full-time employees will be hired with average salaries of about $40,000 a year. The plant plans to be operational by mid Global Thermal Technologies (GTT) began producing and shipping plastic plant containers and test-marketing an innovative design for temporary roads. The oil, timber, pipeline, construction and environmental industries currently use the road mats. This new venture revives an 85-year old tradition in Mobile begun by Lerio Corp. Starting with 15 key personnel, GTT expects to have as many as 40 employees by Local Growth Several businesses that already call Mobile home planned expansions and growth including Technip Coflexip, 90 jobs and a $10 million investment; Diversified Foods, 15 jobs and a $2.6 million investment; and IPSCO Steel, 10 jobs and a $6 million capital investment. Austal USA, a manufacturer of high-speed ferries, announced plans to add jobs and build additional production facilities near its existing site along the Mobile River. The company will spend $9.1 million on a second production facility and add 300 jobs to its existing workforce. Accelerated Technology Inc. (ATI) announced that the company and its employees would remain in Mobile although Oregon-based Mentor Graphics Corp. acquired the company. Ry Schwark, a Mentor spokesman, said, We believe in taking the talent where we find it and we found a really strong management team at ATI. Construction has begun on ATI s new 80,000 square-foot headquarters, the first tenant in the University of South Alabama s Research Park. Technology-Driven USA announced the establishment of its research park in May. University knowledge, inventions and medical discoveries are expected to spur academic-corporate partnerships that will create, attract and retain high-tech jobs. The move is an important step in developing a significant technology sector for the area economy. The idea was born out of the Chamber s Gulf Coast Technology Council (GCTC), which works to Keith Ayers with USA public relations, talks with Cheryl Thompson, then Chamber chair-elect with Alabama Power, and USA President Gordon Moulton. foster growth of technology-based business in Mobile. The Chamber also wrote a pre-proposal to the Authority for $2 million to fund infrastructure needs at the new research park. The initial phase will encompass 35 acres. Plans for a second building will be confirmed in The Chamber and GCTC offered workshops to help local companies learn how innovative technology solutions could translate into government grants from NASA and other governmental agencies. The Chamber-supported group brings together representatives of more than 50 area companies and organizations. Cruising... Mobile s huge response to Carnival Cruise Lines eight Fun Ship cruises could translate into a permanent departure site for cruise ships. The initial spring cruises sold out immediately, prompting Carnival to offer four more cruises. During the cruise trial period, the Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates cruising visitors contributed approximately $6.2 million to the local economy. With contacts gleaned from the Chamber s Leadership Trip to Seattle, representatives from the city, Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber are working hard to land a cruise ship homeport for Mobile. Marketing Mobile In the spring, the Chamber sent proposals to major North America forest product manufacturers to attract a manufacturer to the Hooks Lake site near the Mobile-Washington county border. The site offers vast resources including hundreds of acres of trees, infrastructure and a ready workforce. The Chamber brought together community partners to devise a winning strategy for the reuse of International Paper s former mill site. The partnership included International Paper, the Alabama State Port Authority, Mobile Area Water and Sewer System and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The plan includes donating and exchanging property, closure of a wastewater treatment basin, developing wetlands, and possible future improvements in Mobile s water quality. Vendor briefings in September on the Retirement Systems of Alabama Tower and the Battle House Hotel project and the Middle Bay Port expansion were conducted with the Chamber s assistance. These briefings maximized opportunities for local vendors to bid and win work on the projects. In conjunction with Baldwin County s economic development team, the Chamber worked to create a supplier and vendor contact brochure in hopes of attracting business for area companies from the Hyundai plant in Hope Hull. For the fifth time, the Chamber and the Mobile Airport Authority sponsored a booth at the bi-annual Singapore Air Show, which lures the largest aerospace companies in the world such as Boeing, UPS, Goodrich and FedEx. Bring it Home The Bring It Home campaign was launched jointly by the Chamber and the Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as a year-long partnership to recruit conventions and businesses to the Port City utilizing the city s own residents and business people. The Millennium Fund The Chamber s current multi-million dollar economic development marketing program runs through 2003 and supports efforts to attract new businesses to the area, strengthen existing companies, promote business and address community development issues. As part of this effort, Millennium Fund resources are dedicated to helping citizens launch their own small businesses by providing counseling services and information on where to seek short-term loans. Along with the local school system and postsecondary schools, community improvement efforts are bringing outside funding into the area through grants to enhance workforce readiness. Results of The Millennium Fund and previous campaigns such as Mobile in Motion, Show Business Mobile and Tell the World include 225 new businesses and 782 expansions of existing industries reported to the Chamber since 1985, representing a capital investment of $7.88 billion and 26,338 direct new jobs. Overall, more than 74,000 net new jobs were created in the Mobile metropolitan area from A new campaign will be launched in Docking Change The Alabama State Docks has seen two years of progress since the passage of Amendment One, a $100 million, voter-approved package to initiate improvements. Major developments in 2002 include an environmental impact study needed to move the Choctaw Point container and intermodal terminals into the construction phase and a grain elevator expansion that will increase port activity. A University of Alabama preliminary economic impact study projects Choctaw Point will create 1,700 permanent jobs and have direct economic benefits totaling $68 million by In addition, the Chamber provided critical data on international shipping patterns throughout the Southeast to the Docks, facilitating their efforts to recruit new carriers to Mobile. Ports and Waterways Task Force Under the umbrella of the Chamber, a consortium of public and private companies, known as the Ports and Waterways Task Force, developed and prioritized an agenda for dealing with some of its short- and long-term needs. The consortium is made up of representatives in the fields of shipbuilding and repair, the State Docks, shipping agents, and inlands and waterways associations. An IRS Break In January, parts of Mobile County and areas in West and Central Alabama were designated as a Renewal Community by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. An estimated $17 billion in tax incentives nationwide are shared among 40 newly designated zones throughout the U.S. The Chamber, in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, and the IRS, held several community forums outlining the program s opportunities. Chamber staff identified area companies that could benefit from the program. Dollars for Schools Since the early 1990s, the Mobile County Public School System has received payments in lieu of taxes abated by the Industrial Development Board under agreements made with 13 companies in 1991 and An audit showed that $2.9 million or 93 percent of the monies owed by companies participating in the payment-in-lieu of taxes agreement had been paid. The remaining 7 percent totals just over $200,000 and is being pursued on behalf of the school system. Holding On POLICOM s latest ranking of the nation s 318 metropolitan area economies named the Mobile economy the strongest again among Gulf Coast cities. The city ranked 61st overall and regionally, only Birmingham ranked higher. The annual list measures the economic soundness of an area. TRADE TPA on its Way Just before departing for its August recess, the House and Senate passed the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). For Alabama, this clears the way to significantly increase trade for companies producing automotive products, information technology, paper, textiles and apparel. Additionally, TPA is good news for small businesses who comprise 60 percent of all Alabama exporters. Despite a rough year for U.S. exports, Alabama s exports increased 3.5 percent in 2001 with goods valued at $7.57 billion, compared to $7.31 billion in Members of a recent trade mission pose for a photo near the London Tower. On a Mission The Chamber helped host a number of trade missions in 2002, exploring opportunities to market Alabama products in countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. With China s admittance into the World Trade Organization, the Chamber identified the country as a viable export market for Alabama companies. In March, the Chamber and the Alabama Development Office sponsored a booth at the CeBIT trade show, considered the granddaddy of all technology trade shows, in Hanover, Germany. In the summer, the Chamber sponsored three Alabama companies to participate in the RepCan expo, a premier U.S.-Canadian matching U.S. exporters with Canadian importers. In May, the Chamber co-hosted a regional world trade conference focusing on Back to Basics of International Trade, highlighting the resources, research and reality of international trade. A Latin Flair Local engineering and environmental companies learned about projects in Latin American and how to position their business to win contracts at a Chamber-sponsored workshop for the Inter-American Development Bank, the largest organization charged with accelerating economic and social development in Latin America.

8 2002 ANNUAL REPORT CENTER FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The Center for Workforce Development (CWD) is an outgrowth of the Mobile School-to-Work Partnership, a coalition of the business community, Mobile County Public School System and postsecondary education. Launching Careers One of the major accomplishments of the Chamber s CWD in 2002 was the creation of the Austal Scholarship and Apprenticeship Program (ASAP). The program puts recent high school graduates to work full-time at Austal USA while completing the aluminum welding certification program on-the-job and at Bishop State Community College. The program placed 18 seniors in jobs and will continue in The CWD also established a health cluster, a consortium of area healthcare professionals and administrators and secondary/post-secondary health care educators. The group, who met on a regular basis throughout late summer and fall, addressed critical healthcare workforce shortages and developed a strategic plan that will be implemented in ENVIRONMENT In the Zone For the second consecutive year, Mobile and Baldwin counties experienced significantly lower ground-level ozone than in years past. While there are many theories as to why levels continue to fall, much of the success has to do with temperatures and humidity. Members of the Ground Level Ozone Reduction Initiative (GLORI) continue to meet on a regular basis during the ozone season and report on key initiatives to reduce the amount of ground-level ozone. The Question of Mercury In May, the Chamber participated in a Mercury Forum in Mobile, a science-based program for scientists, educators, consumer groups, environmentalists, industry and policy makers to learn more about methylmercury s impact in the environment. Delta Beauty Also in May, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was signed to assure protection of the bay and delta regions. Submitted by Gov. Don Siegelman, the plan was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Capital Investment Growth Manufacturing investment and expansions in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area including Baldwin County 01 $318M 00 $362.2M 99 $156.3M 98 $804M* 97 $537M 96 $384M *Includes IPSCO Steel project valued at $450 million Source: Alabama Development Office Capital investment data is collected by the Alabama Development Office with figures from local developers and the Alabama Department of Revenue, and is limited to manufacturing investments and expansions. A Breath of Fresh Air A $1.2 million regional air study is underway, measuring emissions in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The initiative falls under Envision Coastal Alabama in partnership with local business, government and environmental representatives. The Chamber, the city of Mobile, Mobile County, The Forum and Mobile Bay Watch Inc./Mobile Baykeeper raised funds for the project. Findings will be presented in Mobile Area Employment Number Employed in Increments of 100, Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations (based on Place of Work Survey, most recent data through 2000). Small Business Development It s Never too Late to Learn To improve business success and growth rates, the Chamber introduced the nationally-known FastTrac planning course, an intensive 10-week entrepreneurial development program designed for business owners and corporate executives. The course was held twice in 2002 and graduated 23, representing more than 15 companies. A New Approach Another professional tool offered was Small Business U., a comprehensive series of professional development seminars covering leadership and customer service topics. Small Business U. is a result of input gathered from small business owners who identified critical issues to business growth. In its inaugural year, more than 200 individuals participated in seven workshops. This program redefined the Chamber s seminar offerings and provided a more in-depth focus on business topics. Mobile Marketplace Designed to match small business suppliers with larger businesses who outsource needed products or services, Mobile Marketplace programs offered briefings from the Federal government, Mobile County Public School System, Kvaerner Oil Products and the Mobile Housing Board. Attendees say Mobile Marketplace has been beneficial in developing new business and accessing key decision makers in larger organizations. Eagle Awards Keith T. Clinkscales, chairman and CEO of Vanguarde Media Inc., publisher of Honey, Heart & Soul, Savoy and impact! Weekly, addressed attendees at the 2002 Eagle Awards, showcasing the best of local minority-owned businesses. Eagle Award winners were: Commonwealth National Bank Fast Lube Oil Change Inc. and Car Wash Gabe Peck Insurance Agency LLC (Allstate Insurance Co.) Paramount Properties LLC Ramos Shoe Service In the Spotlight The Business View, the Chamber s monthly magazine, features a Small Business of the Month selected by a volunteer task force. Member companies considered employ fewer than 100 people and make an impact on Mobile with a growing financial base, outstanding reputation and community involvement. Featured in 2002 were: Milestone Automotive Repair Synergy Earth Systems Inc. Glendale-Minge Florist Pope Engineering & Testing Laboratories Inc. Gulf City Body & Trailer Works Gibbons Hall LLC Saucy Q Bar B Q Ditch Witch of Mobile Toomey s Mardi Gras Candy Company Fire Protection Specialists Inc. Southern Fish and Oyster Company Anything But Small Over the past 15 years, the Business Innovation Center, known as Mobile s Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence, housed 106 businesses employing 395 people in its small business incubator program. To date, 64 businesses have graduated, and the BIC boasts a business success rate of 80 percent. In its outreach efforts, 265 additional companies have been assisted, helping create over 600 jobs. The Chamber is one of several funding sources for this program. Accolades The Port City ranked 17th out of 134 smaller cities in the U.S. in the ninth annual Entrepreneurial Hot Spots, released by Cognetics, a corporate demographics firm in Waltham, Mass. Mobile has consistently ranked in the Top 20 over the last five years. According to the 7th annual Small Business Survival Index 2002, Alabama boasts the 10th best climate for small businesses and entrepreneurship in the nation. Recognizing Progress In an effort to build a stronger, more competitive awards program for small businesses, the Chamber worked to rebuild and reorganize its Future 30 award program that showcases local fast-growing companies. A new and more competitive small business awards program will be introduced in Minority Business Initiatives Continuing its charge to encourage more minority business owners to get involved, the Chamber hosted quarterly Diversity Business Network meetings. These events were also designed to increase awareness, exposure and value of the Chamber in the minority business community. Also in 2002, the Chamber compiled a Minority Business Directory, listing contact information, primary services offered and geographical areas served. The directory seeks to raise the awareness of area minority-owned businesses and the services they provide. Pictured here are some of the Chamber s graduates of the second FastTrac class. (l to r front row) Instructor Tom Siegwald, Joe Walls, Sherri Wilson, Melita Ham, Thomas Murphy, Sean Conner and David Tressler. (l to r back row) Kenneth Johnson, Greg Garvin and Michelle Buechner.

9 2002 ANNUAL REPORT Community and Governmental Affairs A Plan for the Future Envision Mobile-Baldwin celebrated its first five years at the 2002 Envision annual meeting in May. The meeting also marked the re-visioning and rebranding of this regional strategic plan. Community leaders from the two counties unveiled a new name, logo, direction and leadership for the initiative, Envision Coastal Alabama: Charting our Future. The group also refocused its areas of emphasis which include environment, equity, economy and education. Envision has nearly 400 vision partner organizations working on strategies reaping progress on key projects such as public school funding, upgrading water and sewage treatment plants, building regional transportation collaborations, passing Amendment One and promoting a new constitution. Additional achievements include expanded police precincts, random drug testing of high school students in two private schools and formation of an air quality monitoring study. The 2002 Progress Indicators for Coastal Alabama, a recent report measuring pertinent data related to the strategic plan, tracked the area s progress during the initiative s first five years. Per capita income and net job growth indicates that the region is strong despite difficult economic times. Volunteerism appears to be increasing, a trend extending across the nation along with a renewed sense of community in the wake of Sept. 11, Toxic air releases for the region have declined substantially since A positive education indicator is the steady rise in SAT scores for the area as a whole. According to the report, areas that still need attention are improving funding for public schools and reducing the poverty rate, which still remains much higher in Mobile County than nationally. Standing Up to Detrimental Taxes The Chamber spearheaded a series of meetings including business owners as well as city officials to evaluate and better understand the overall impact of the 2 percent out-of-county tax. In October, the Chamber s executive committee requested that the City Council repeal the tax, which is currently based on gross receipts, because it makes it more difficult for local companies to compete and has become an incentive for businesses to move beyond city limits. At year end, it appeared there was a consensus among council members that the tax needed to be repealed and city leaders were looking for alternative funding resources for the revenue. Count Us In Residents and businesses in Mobile s western sector called on the Chamber for help with their effort to join the city limits and avoid the uncertainty of forming a new city. On Dec. 17, the proposal fell short of passing by only 49 votes. Earlier in the year, members of the No New City Committee, a grassroots group of residents and businesses, successfully halted proponents efforts to vote on a new city in West Mobile. The Chamber, in an effort to reach out to its members as well as potential members in the suburban sector, established a Business Issues Forum to facilitate dialogue on critical issues. Envision Coastal Alabama action team co-chairs unveil the new logo at the press conference held at Ed s Seafood Shed. Pictured left to right are: Phillip Norris PhD, Ron Martin, Terry Harbin, Cindy McBrearty, Carolyn Akers, Charlotte Cabaniss and Bob Mullican. Prioritizing Broadening its legislative scope, the Chamber adopted a top community development item as part of the 2002 agenda, choosing to throw its full support behind the University of South Alabama s Cancer Research Institute. The Chamber, community and university leaders were disappointed that the state legislative session ended without funding for the facility, which is expected to have a $1 billion economic impact in its first 10 years of existence. On a positive note, the Alabama Legislature passed legislation requiring criminal background checks on all teachers and school personnel who have unsupervised access to students. The Legislature also successfully reapportioned legislative districts without legal challenge. Other priorities included economic development, education, constitutional reform, governmental reform and tort reform. The Chamber s legislative directory, previously distributed as a printed document, was published on-line and continues to be a comprehensive resource for contact information for elected officials and state and federal agencies. Stronger Together The Chamber served as the lead organization for 120 business and community leaders from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi who traveled to Washington DC for the 2002 Gulf Coast Regional Chamber Coalition s Washington Fly-In. Key issues identified by regional leaders for the 20,000 square-mile area were homeland security, ports, transportation, environment, trade and economic development. A united regional effort continues to focus Gulf Coast senators and congressmen on the benefits of working together. A Great Report Mayor Mike Dow and Commission President Freeman Jockisch highlighted accomplishments and plans for the future at the Chamber s annual State of the City and County luncheon in April. More than 750 business leaders were in attendance for the sold-out event. More, More, More A number of events were held to promote Mobile s legislative agenda including the Chamber s Legislative Mardi Gras Throw, which hosted more than 300 Chamber members, guests and Alabama legislators from throughout the state; Toast from the Coast, a casual networking reception held in Montgomery for state elected officials and area business representatives hosted by Mobile and Baldwin chambers; and the infamous annual Pork and Politics in the Park event that serves up delicious BBQ, Long-term colleagues, former Congressman Sonny Callahan and newly-elected Congressman Jo Bonner at a Chamber sponsored reception honoring both men held in December. with networking between candidates running for office and representatives from the business community on the side. How Seattle Does It A delegation of 84 business, civic and government leaders traveled to Seattle for the Chamber s 15th annual Leadership Trip to study Seattle s approach to a number of issues challenging the Mobile area. The itinerary included a halfday at Microsoft s Executive Briefing Center as well as sessions on public education reform, downtown redevelopment, public/private partnerships and the arts, and portrelated issues such as building a cruise business and international trade. Corporate Community Service Award Winner Mobile Gas Service Corp. employees were recognized with the 2002 Corporate Community Service Award. The coveted award was presented during the Chamber s annual meeting in conjunction with Envision Coastal Alabama and Volunteer Mobile. Winners are recognized as Mobile s top corporate citizens who make employee volunteerism an important part of their company vision, policies and operations. Activities by Mobile Gas employees impact over a wide range of projects including designating proceeds from an employee cookbook to local nonprofit agencies, mentoring middle school students by teaching classes offered by Junior Achievement and actively participating in the Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon that raised over $13,000. In addition, 80 percent of employees participated in the United Way campaign in 2002, and actively supported the United Way events, such as the Sept.11 Day of Caring. Other organizations that benefited from Mobile Gas employees are the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, the Chamber s Chamber Chase total resource development campaign, American Cancer Society, Senior Bowl, Spanish Fort Children s Park and Vital Link. Above Average A group tallying votes on pertinent small business issues honored eight out of Alabama s nine federal legislators. The National Federation of Independent Businesses, a small business lobbying group, graded them above average for their voting records related to small business priorities. Capt. Hal Pierce (third from the left) is pictured with other veterans at the 2002 Veterans Day luncheon at the Arthur Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. Military Honors The Chamber s Military Affairs Committee and the Veterans Day Planning Commission named Gen. Wesley K. Clark, U.S. Army, Patriot of the Year. Clark s military career spanned more than 34 years of active duty and culminated as the Supreme Allied commander Europe from The two organizations also recognized Capt. Hal Pierce, U.S. Navy Reserve (Ret.), Mobile Bay Area Veteran of the Year for his excellent military record and support of veterans and their causes over a sustained period. It Takes More than Votes To encourage private sector leaders and citizens to run for office, the Chamber sponsored a series of workshops. The Candidate Campaign Workshops drew candidates running for local and state offices and provided a non-partisan venue to prepare individuals to run for public office.

10 2002 ANNUAL REPORT Membership Chamber Chase Led by Campaign Chairman Jody Dunn of Whitney National Bank, the 2002 Chamber Chase Chamber Chase chairmen Jody Dunn (third from the left) and his construction crew helped the Chamber build jobs and member value. Campaign topped its goal by 19 percent raising $813,946. Adopting the Chamber s overall We Build theme, the 12-week campaign focused on recruiting new members, cash contributions, sponsorships and in-kind donations to help further the efforts to build jobs, a competitive workforce, a positive business climate, higher community expectations and member value. In all, 135 new members were signed up during the campaign with the help of 131 volunteers representing 35 companies. Key Contributions The Board of Advisors represents key businesses whose significant dues investment leads the way in funding Chamber programs and initiatives. The group meets periodically with the Board of Directors, and grew to 94 companies in Bigger is Better The Chamber traded out its monthly marketing meetings for a new mega marketing format with small table discussions and a rotation schedule. Held twice in 2002, participants had the opportunity to meet with seven different contacts every 17 minutes. Networking Ask members why they join the Chamber and most will rank networking in the top three reasons. Throughout the year, people mixed business with pleasure at events such as Business After Hours, First Friday, Business at Breakfast and the spring and fall golf tournaments. Crowds exceeding more than 500 were drawn to the annual Regional Business After Hours hosted by 13 area chambers in Mobile and Baldwin counties as well as the Chamber s annual Business Expo featuring exhibits from 125 local companies. Chairman s Circle Volunteers met once a month and personally contacted members whose dues are outstanding. The effort not only helped the Chamber retain businesses interest, but was an opportunity to reiterate the benefits of Chamber membership. Known as the Chairman s Circle, this group also encouraged businesses to get involved with Chamber activities and taught how to build exposure, contacts and promotional opportunities through the Chamber. The group renewed 119 businesses and retained more than $56,000 in Chamber memberships in Key volunteers included Jennifer Walker of Wintzell s Oyster House, Jamie Horton and Angela Grice with Whitney National Bank, Trish Banker with Regions Bank and Donna Dilger with Southern Tele-Communications Inc. On Behalf of the Chamber With the help of volunteers serving as diplomats, the Chamber assists with many business events. Representatives of member companies attend grand openings, ribbon cuttings and visit members. In each issue of the Chamber s magazine, The Business View, a Diplomat of the Month is highlighted. Featured during 2002 were: Annette Adams, Roberts Brothers Real Estate Trish Banker, Regions Bank (recognized twice) Karen Blackwell, Mobile BayBears/Saints Ellen Maxime, Delaney Development Inc. (recognized twice) Sheila Murphy, HSI Telecommunications & Security Shelly Thompson, Manpower International Joe Hudson, Hudson Financial Services Katherine Schipp, Coffee News Mobile Denise Brunson, WNSP FM Leah Diegan, The Cronus Group Forum Alabama The Chamber hosted Forum Alabama luncheons featuring Martin Regalia PhD, the U.S. Chamber s chief economist, Sen. Richard Shelby and presidents of the Mobile area s four-year colleges and universities. Forum Alabama highlights topics of local, regional and national interest. If Mickey Can, So Can I In October, the Disney Institute brought its renowned brand of professional development to the Port City. Participants learned how proven Disney success strategies could be adapted to everyday business functions. Diplomat of the Year Selected as the 2002 Diplomat of the Year, Ellen Maxime distinctly stands out as a leader. She earned the Diplomat of the Month award twice in 2002 for January and August and that was during her first year of service. To earn this award, she recruited new members and event sponsorships, attended numerous ribbon cuttings, visited members and participated in Chamber Chase, a total resource development campaign. Often referred to as the diplomat cheerleader Maxime is always encouraging volunteers to do what they can to help the Chamber and the community. Maxime is project manager for Delaney Development Inc., a management firm operating five properties in Mobile and one in Florida. She is also a licensed real estate agent with more than 15 years experience. The Benefits of Membership From long distance to member-to-member discounts, the Chamber worked to build and maintain a number of cost-saving benefits through affinity programs. Benefits include: Long distance discounts from ITC^DeltaCom; Group insurance rates for long-term, health and dental care; Office supply discounts through Office Depot; System and monitoring discounts from HSI Telecommunications Security; Assistance in recruiting employees at MobileHasJobs.com; and Member-to-Member discounts. For complete details about these programs, visit Finance and Operations Expenses 16% Membership 9% Communications 7% Small Business Development Income 17% Events, Programs, Sponsorships & Donations 17% Administration 15% Community & Governmental Affairs 17% The Millennium Fund 8% Finance & Operations 21% Economic Development 7% Workforce Development 3% Publications 1% Other Sound Condition The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce remains in sound financial condition and is committed to using its talents and resources to grow Mobile s economy, despite losing $110,000 in future public funding when the city of Mobile and Mobile County cut performance contracts for fiscal year The public funds are used to recruit new industry, assist existing industry and develop programs to assist local businesses as a part of the Chamber s economic development campaign, The Millennium Fund. Lighting the Way Mobile Gas donated antique lights to Commerce Plaza, the park in front of the Chamber building. The lamps date back to 1836, and commemorate the year gas lights were first used to illuminate Mobile streets and the year the Chamber was established. Recruiting Resources The Chamber Foundation expanded its role in actively pursuing grant funding in 2002 to secure additional financial support for critical projects such as workforce development, environment and education initiatives. As a 501 (c)(3), the foundation is eligible to apply for grants from government, corporate and private funding sources. The foundation established a grant oversight subcommittee to work with the Chamber s grant writer. 31% Members 31% Service Contracts & Grants

11 2002 ANNUAL REPORT Communications Marketing Plan The Chamber unveiled a detailed marketing plan in 2002, focusing attention on growing jobs, education, business advocacy, attitude and promoting the Chamber s activities to area businesses. The plan promoted greater participation from board of directors and board of advisors, a media component and efforts to engage and involve more community leaders in Chamber issues and activities. To increase awareness, a new billboard and bus advertising campaign was launched. FOX 10 News produced television commercials for the project. They will begin appearing in Other area television stations have also donated airtime, agreeing to run the commercials. In the Big Apple In July, the Chamber communications staff took the Mobile story on the road to trade and industry publications in New York City, home to thousands of media outlets. The Chamber pitched stories such as Austal USA, Mobile s call center companies, the cruise test market by Carnival, waterfront development plans, golfing, innovative companies and annual events like BayFest and Mardi Gras. Boating Magazine, Call Center Magazine, Cruise Industry News, Meeting News and Successful Meetings, Meredith Travel Marketing, Travel Agent Magazine, Travel and Leisure Golf and Worth Magazine were publications asked to consider running Mobile-based stories. Regionally, staff traveled to New Orleans and Biloxi to pitch several stories about the Gulf Coast Regional Chamber Coalition, the Austal USA apprentice program, Mobile s waterfront and the USA Research Park to media outlets including New Orleans City Business, Workboat magazine and the Sun Herald in Biloxi. Covering Mobile from Birmingham Mobile and Baldwin counties were featured in an issue of the Birmingham Business Journal. The two-county region was touted for its diverse business economy and emphasis on tourism. The series showed Mobile as having a carefullyplanned long-range economic development strategy, as well as boasting new industry clusters such as aerospace, manufacturing, chemical, healthcare and technology in addition to its traditional maritime industry base. Several articles focused on Mobile s tourism efforts along with an article comparing Birmingham and Mobile, an update of Envision, the area s strategic plan, a personal perspective of Mobile written by the Mobile Register, a listing of Mobile s largest employers, and an opinions piece written by Chamber President Win Hallett. A Don t Miss Event What s Up Mobile? had people talking for weeks. This year s topics covered waterfront development including an update on Mobile Landing, the proposed new transportation center and the area s water quality. Sponsored by the Chamber and the Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the meeting was a sell-out. Once Isn t Enough The Chamber created The Business View Weekly, a weekly publication for significant news from Chamber members and achievements of the business community, filling the gaps between issues of the Chamber s monthly magazine, The Business View. The Chamber s Web site, has gone through a number of changes including faster links and design changes aimed at making it more user-friendly. The site continues to be a vast resource for members and others looking for business tips, legislative contacts, information about business licenses, economic development data and much more. Community Events A Party to Remember The sounds of celebration for Mobile s Tricentennial rang throughout the nation, bringing visitors from far and wide to see the Exploreum s China exhibit, its first appearance in the US, and the signature event, Sail Mobile: A Salute to the Sea. On July 4, Mobile Bay was filled with tall sailing ships. Thirteen major ships, including the U.S. Coast Guard EAGLE as well as various other smaller ships and schooners, traveled from destinations as far away as South America and the South Pacific to grace the waters of Mobile Bay. The Amistad Freedom Schooner sailed into the Port City in November giving Mobile an encore performance of the tall ships. In November, the Port City hosted its Birthday Bash Blowout. The nine-day festival included a cinematic tribute to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, originally filmed in Mobile; the largest ever Mardi Gras parade; a Tricentennial Boat Parade; and dinner and cake for thousands which ended with the singing of Happy Birthday and Mobile s largest ever fireworks show presented along the waterfront. The year-long celebration netted Mobile articles in dozens of newspapers and magazines. Headlines were featured in Southern Living, the New Orleans Times Picayune and USA Today. An article written by Mobile-based Associated Press writer Garry Mitchell appeared in approximately 100 newspapers across the country touting Mobile s yearlong Tricentennial celebration. The total publicity value, if purchased, added up to $211,000. Renovated Museum Makes Its Debut With its grand opening exhibition in September, the Mobile Museum of Art debuted its newly $15 million renovated and expanded 95,000 square-foot facility. The largest exhibit to date, Picturing French Style: 300 Years of Art and Fashion, included 135 works of art by artists and designers such as Cezanne, Renoir, Rodin, Picasso, Matisse, Delacroix, Ingres, Worth, Poiret and Chanel. The museum s permanent collection includes 6,000 works of art spanning two thousand years of cultural history. Mobile Makes Business Week Xerox named Mobile as one of its top five accounts and included the city in its spring advertising campaign, appearing in such magazines as Business Week and The Economist. Mobile was chosen along with NBC, Oracle, Enterprise Rent-a- Car and The Gap and was the only city to be chosen for this honor.

12 2002 ANNUAL REPORT 2003 Plan of Action Center for Workforce Development Continue to implement the Mobile Schoolto-Work Partnership initiative. Organize industry clusters to provide a framework for creating alliances to achieve objectives of the Chamber s School-to-Work initiatives. Promote Workforce Development as a crosscutting Chamber initiative, developing strategic partnerships with other key Chamber departments. Write grants to sustain the Workforce Development system. Membership Provide innovative programs and services that our members desire and value. Ensure awesome customer service to improve member retention and development. Coordinate the programs and activities of the diplomats to assist with membership retention and development. Generate dues and non-dues income to support Chamber operations. Communications Improve the Chamber s image in the minds of the public and make them better aware of who we are, and our mission. Aggressively market the Mobile region for business locations and expansions. Balance economic stability and growth with desired environmental quality for the Mobile area. Participate in the development and improvement of Mobile s infrastructure to make the community more attractive to potential investors and create a better business climate for existing businesses. Maintain a high level of direct involvement by Chamber volunteer leadership, city and county elected leadership and local agency allies in current Plan of Action implementation, as well as long-term economic development planning and funding. Systematically generate, collect, organize, provide and publish information to support economic development activities and services that our members need. Further develop the Mobile area as a center for international trade and transportation, enhancing the foreign sales of Mobile area products and services and assisting in Mobile s emergence as a hub for international transportation. Manage and market the Mobile Commerce Park to provide a top-quality business location in the Mobile area. Small Business Development Provide technical assistance to area small businesses that stimulates their development and fosters job creation. Provide support in securing alternative capital sources for small businesses. Provide continuing education, training and business development opportunities for small businesses. Serve as an advocate on issues of concern in the small business community. Provide business assistance to minorityowned businesses and encourage their participation in all Chamber activities. Develop specific target marketing plans for each program, product and service offered to increase awareness of business assistance programs available, improve the atmosphere for conducting business and establish an awareness of the value Chamber membership offers. Community and Governmental Affairs Develop and obtain passage of the Chamber s 2003 Community Legislative Agenda. Promote a local business-friendly political and legislative climate that encourages economic growth, which is responsive to business needs and supportive of business success. Convene key groups and organizations to work on vital community issues. Foster the growth of Envision Coastal Alabama by encouraging ownership and involvement throughout the two county region. Leverage involvement in the Gulf Coast Regional Chamber Coalition (GCRCC) to obtain federal support for key regional needs. Sponsor the Leadership Trip with a focus on workable solutions to regional, state and local issues. Encourage positive military and civilian relationships. Finance and Operations Develop and maintain all records, forms and reports relating to human resource management. Coordinate maintenance of the Chamber building, grounds, fixtures and equipment. Coordinate the next multi-year economic, community and small business development funding campaign. Assist the Chamber president in obtaining re-accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce. Provide a constant, proactive and interactive communications program to Chamber members to encourage and maintain an interest in the Chamber and support our efforts. Improve dialogue with region s media outlets and promote Chamber activities and issues more heavily in the local media. Assist the economic development department or an advertising/public relations firm or freelancer to create publications for the economic development fund. THERE S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT SPECIALISTS... THEY DO A BETTER JOB. Locally owned and operated since Do your plans for the New Year include improving your company s COMMUNICATIONS? Ever feel like you re speaking a foreign language? Maybe your corporate image needs a little renovation. We can help! 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13 MARCH 2003 THE BUSINESS VIEW PAGE 13 The Chamber at Work For You New Health Insurance Plan Available Financial Resource Group announces a health benefits plan for Chamber member businesses with 1-1,000 employees. All benefits are fully insured with A or better rated carriers. Plan choices include major medical, PPOs, drug cards, dental and vision, critical illness, short-term and longterm disability and long-term care insurance plans. For more information, contact Financial Resource Group at or Printers Put to Good Use In an effort to use members money more wisely, Minolta QMS donated two new printers last fall to the Chamber. The printers are being used to produce one-page flyers, sponsorship proposals and color proofs for print jobs. The Chamber team greatly appreciates the generous donation from Minolta QMS. Quadrennium Kickoff The Chamber assisted the Mobile Legislative Delegation with hosting Quadrennium, a weekend of networking, information sharing and fun for the state legislators, Gov. Bob Riley and other state elected officers Feb The weekend s events included several private receptions, Mardi Gras activities, a tour of the Alabama State Docks and the University of South Alabama. Funding for this event was provided by the private sector. Livers Completes National Course Beverly Livers, the Chamber s director of the Center for Workforce Development, recently completed a Workforce Development Leadership course, which focused on providing employers with no, and low-cost resources in their communities that can assist them with their number one workforce issue getting qualified workers. Thirty-one professionals from 28 chambers in 19 states completed the course, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce s Center for Workforce Preparation and funded by a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Livers and Cindy Nelms, vice president of planning and contracts at Mobile Works have developed a collaborative plan to market the opportunities available to local employers who provide employment for Welfare-to-Work recipients. Open House Nets New Members Several new Chamber members took advantage of an open house at the Chamber in December and saved $100 off their membership. Throughout the month of December, the account executives brought in more than 50 new members during a strong end-of-the-year push. In 2002, more than 250 businesses joined the Chamber. In addition to the open house, Diversity Business Network, a new program aimed at opening new doors for minorityowned businesses netted 15 new Chamber members. Staff Works for Habitat Last fall, the Chamber staff worked on a Habitat for Humanity home during a team-building day. With 30 participants, including Chamber board member Bowden Sarrett of Brownell Travel, the staff added vinyl siding to an entire home. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity or schedule your staff to participate in a team-building day, call Meeting Room Schedule Now On-Line Did you know the Chamber offers its members deeply discounted meeting room space at its convenient downtown location? With four rooms available for rent at nominal fees and free parking, members can hold task force meetings, focus groups, seminars and after-hours receptions. Now as an added convenience, the meeting room rates and availability calendar are on the Chamber s Web site at For more information, contact Jackie Longino at Glorious Trip Up the Mississippi River Planned for LST-325 Two years after the historic World War II ship sailed into Mobile Bay, the LST-325 is facing an even brighter future thanks to donated parts and a groundswell of support. It s a story that continues to warm the hearts of anyone hearing the nowfamous story of the ship s most recent journey across the Atlantic from Gibraltar to Mobile. The 28-member crew, with an average age of 72, sailed the ship despite warnings of its deteriorated condition and stormy winter weather. The account of that journey and the fabled successes of this type of WWII ships are what secured this vessel s future as a traveling museum. Often referred to as the ship that won the war, this LST (Landing Ship, Tank) is an amphibious vessel designed to land battle-ready tanks, troops and supplies directly onto enemy shores, proving to be enormously useful during times of war. Now docked at Hooks Terminal just north of the Port of Chickasaw, the LST-325 recently received $25,000 in donated parts from the electro-motive division of General Motors Corp. It will cost about two or three times that amount to complete engine repairs and get the ship back to working condition. Construction plans include upgrades such an emergency generator, ladders to the tank deck, new life lines on the main deck, new fire hoses and extinguishers, and a complete electrical overhaul. In addition, the radio room and the tank deck will be restored to their original condition. The memorial group in charge of the ship is planning a 70-day trip up the Mississippi River stopping at various ports between New Orleans and Evansville, Ind., starting in June This trip should be a glorious venture, says Hal Pierce, honorary crewmember and Mobile s Navy port coordinator (retired). Hundreds of people in that area will come out to see the ship. Most of the LSTs were built in the upper midwest and 600 were commissioned in New Orleans on their way to duty. I estimate the constituency in that part of the country is 14 million counting those who worked on them, built them and sailed on them, explains Pierce. Next fall, the ship will return to Mobile after its journey, and according to Pierce, other plans underway include a possible trip up the East Coast in 2004 as well as another ocean voyage to participate in the anniversary celebrations of the Normandy assault in Locally there is a lot of support for permanently docking the LST-325 in Mobile at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, but nothing has been decided as yet. Given the plans for the ship within the next three years, it may not be a fixed museum for quite some time. To keep track of the LST-325 s programs, call the ship at or visit DIPLOMAT OF THE MONTH Jo Shannon When Jo Shannon puts her mind to something, she gives it all she s got. An employee of Regions Bank for the past 25 years and now assistant vice president of commercial lending, she has also been a member of the bank s Chamber Chase team for years, one year raising $65,000. (In total, she s helped raise some $120,000 for the Chamber.) A year ago, she decided to add to her volunteer efforts for the Chamber by becoming a diplomat. Not only can I help the Chamber, I can help build relationships and customer contact with the bank, she says of her involvement as one its most devoted diplomats. So it s for professional reasons, as well as community involvement. Shannon gives her time freely to the Chamber because of her commitment to Mobile. Whenever I talk to people about the Chamber, my focus is that it has a lot of benefits to offer, she says. But whether a business uses them or not, it s an investment in the community. The Chamber seeks new businesses to come into the city, which benefits all companies in the Mobile area. One of Shannon s favorite things to do as a diplomat is the popcorn visit, where she meets with new members, armed with a bag of popcorn, to welcome them to the Chamber. It gets me in front of people I normally wouldn t be able to meet, she says. In addition to her work with the Chamber, she s a longtime member of the Mobile Civitan Club. Seven years ago, she was instrumental in starting Alliance Against Abuse, a county-wide abuse awareness program that brings together 25 agencies with a common goal. For the past 17 years, she has been a member of Christ United Methodist Church, where she serves on the long-range planning, building and financial committees. She also serves on the boards of Mobile Area Retarded Citizens, Mobile Association for the Blind and Girl Scouts. To get involved in the Chamber s diplomat program, contact Maria Bladorn at NEXTEL OFFICE (across from Colonial/Bel Air Mall 3101 International Drive

14 PAGE 14 THE BUSINESS VIEW MARCH 2003 CALENDAR VIEW 10th Annual Spring Golf Tournament Friday March 14 TimberCreek Golf Course Shotgun Start 8:30 a.m. Hole Sponsorship $800 Individual Tickets $150 Sign Up Today! Prizes include: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, Closest to pin, Longest drive Grand Prize 2 Roundtrip tickets donated by USAirways MAJOR SPONSORS BellSouth Cingular Wireless First Community Bank Pat Peck Nissan Rod Cooke Construction Inc. For more information or to register call Robyn Wiggins at QUALITY WORK QUALITY PEOPLE QUALITY SERVICE SERVICES INCLUDE: BURGLAR ALARMS FIRE ALARMS VIDEO SURVEILLANCE GATE OPERATORS ACCESS CONTROL CHAMBER MEMBERS RECEIVE ASSOCIATION DISCOUNTS ASK ABOUT OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION OR VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT Division of HSI Telecommunications, Inc 600 Fisher Street Mobile, Alabama Office: Fax: COUPON FOR FREE MOTION DETECTOR WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SECURITY SYSTEM (A $ Value) MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA ALARM ASSOCIATION AL LICENSE #697 MARCH March 11 March 20 APRIL Business After Hours Time: 5:30-7 p.m. Place: Mobile Ballet, 4351 Downtowner Loop N. Cost: $2 for members/$5 for potential members NEW MEMBERS USE YOUR FREE PASS April 25 Mega Marketing Meeting Time: 11:30 a.m. Registration and Buffet Lunch 1 p.m. Program Begins Place: International Trade Club 250 N. Water St., 4th Floor Cost: Reserved tickets - $12 for members, $17 for non-members At the door - $15 for members $20 for non-members Prices include lunch. Call: Robyn Wiggins at or robyn@mobilechamber.com Deadline to register is March 4th. March 14 Spring Golf Tournament Time: 7:30 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Place: TimberCreek Golf Course 9650 TimberCreek Blvd. Cost: $150 individual tickets /$800 hole sponsorships Call: Robyn Wiggins at or robyn@ mobilechamber.com April 17 Regional Business After Hours Time: 5-7 p.m. Place: USS Alabama Battleship, Aircraft Pavilion, 2703 Battleship Parkway Cost: Admission and parking are free. Business at Breakfast Time: 7:45 8:45 a.m. Place: The Bienville Club, 34th Floor AmSouth Bank Bldg Cost: $12 and includes breakfast/$15 at the door Call: Robyn Wiggins at or robyn@mobilechamber.com ANNIVERSARIES YEARS Godwin Shipping Company Inc. McKinney Petroleum Equipment Inc. Mobile Area Association of Realtors USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park YEARS Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgical Associates PC International Assurance Inc. Kelly Temporary Services YEARS Springdale Travel YEARS Saad s Healthcare Services Inc. YEARS Anesthesia Services PC Baker Properties Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O Neal Data Capture Consultants Inc. English Book & Gift George Gunn Jr. CPA Killingsworth Pest Control One West Mobile Place Principal Financial Group Robert J. Baggett Inc. Sound Associates Inc. The Westward Group Inc. Thompson Enterprises V & V s Specialty Shop Workman s Sheet & Plate YEARS Noland Construction Company Inc. Persons Service Co. LLC YEARS Drug Education Council Inc. Nou Veau Salon & Day Spa LLC Popeye s Chicken & Biscuits Member Renewals, Years Black Men of Greater Mobile Inc. Alex White DDS Allied Alarms Inc. American Heart Association American Wellness Associates Barrington University Bilotti s Italian Cafe Calliope Art Fine Crafts Gallery LLC Coastal Clinical Research Commercial Protective Services Inc. Eagle Investigations Complete Safety Works Inc. Daniels Louver & Sheetmetal Company Inc. Frame Shop & Gallery Inc. FusionPoint Media Inc. Gourmet Galley Gulfbelt Properties Inc. Harbor Communications LLC Hog Bayou Energy Center, A Calpine Corp. Independent Inspection & Management Service Ledic Management Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes Majestic Travel Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Southwest Alabama Nancy R. Allen Performance Contractors, Inc. Pickett Real Estate & Ins. PMT Publishing Inc. Queens Custom Designs Service 1 Federal Credit Union Software Technology Inc. Springhill Athletic Club Staples - The Office Super Store Stericycle Inc. Winning Combinations LLC For more information on any of the above events, visit the Chamber s Web site at

15 MARCH 2003 THE BUSINESS VIEW PAGE 15 ATTENTION MEMBERS! If you know of a company interested in benefitting from Chamber membership, please contact our account executives: Erika Dawson at or Bonnie Beviacqua at WHO S NEW? Anesthesia Solutions of Mobile Inc. joined the Providence Hospital Medical staff. Physicians and certified registered nurse anesthetists, provide anesthesia services for many procedures performed daily at Providence. Anesthesiologists include: Derry R. Snell MD, chairman; David Christopher Braswell II MD; Wilfred Joseph Fontenot Jr. MD; John Michael Marchese DDS, MD; and James J. Jerry Steinhauer MD. The certified registered nurse anesthetists include: Larry Hornsby CRNA; Chris Orrell CRNA; Terry Sears CRNA; Joel Midgette CRNA; Dan Watson CRNA; Steve McCollum CRNA; Jim Lay CRNA; Joan Loftin CRNA; Chris Turner CRNA; Dennis Clark CRNA; Misty Allen CRNA; Phyllis Bell CRNA; Yvonne Jockers CRNA; Andrew Zielinski CRNA; Tim Wall CRNA; Carmen Keith CRNA; Renae Lee Wingate CRNA; Carrie Sims CRNA; and Sandy Steinhauer RN. Stephen R. Stickford joined the Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Stickford previously worked with the Central Cincinnati CVB. He holds a degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism management from St. Louis Community College. Lyons, Pipes & Cook PC hired Richard B. Johnson and Julie Hatcher Ralph as associates. Johnson holds a bachelor s degree in political science and economics from Auburn University and a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. Ralph Johnson Ralph has a bachelor s degree in English and music from the University of Mobile; a master s in education in English and education from the University of South Alabama; and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University. Regions Bank promoted several staff: G. Michael (Mike) Garner, vice president; Andrea (Andie) N. Nabors, assistant vice president; Richard (Rick) Harvey, senior vice president and assistant director of retirement services of the Regions Morgan Keegan trust division; Carolyn M. Graham, assistant vice president; and Catherine (Cathy) K. Alexander, assistant branch manager; Gloria J. Ellis, assistant branch manager; Carol H. Cook, assistant vice president, branch manager; Jennifer L. Carroll, assistant branch manager; and Beth Ann Davis, employee benefits trust office of the Regions Morgan Keegan trust division. In other news, Sharon Smith Johnson, John R. Hardin and Douglas H. Rehm joined Regions. Johnson, vice president in the commercial loan division, has 11 years of commercial banking experience. She is a graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor s degree in English and has a master s degree from the University of Mobile. Hardin is vice president of the private banking division, and has more than 20 years of banking experience. He received a bachelor s degree in marketing from the University of Alabama. Rehm is also a vice president and works in the commercial lending division. He holds a bachelor s degree in finance from Auburn University and has a MBA from the University of Alabama. HSI Telecommunications Inc. promoted Kerry Gilchrist to service/installation manager. He will handle day-to-day operations including technicians, service, repair and installations. Keith Brown joined the company as operations and installation manager of the business/hotel telephone systems division. Formerly, Brown was with Adelphia Communications. Clark Personnel Service announced the addition of Jim Bouler to its staff. He comes to Clark from GE Automation Services Company. Bouler has 25 years of technical staffing experience and will serve as director of technical services. MEMBER NEWS Patience Manning and Adam Manning joined Roberts Brothers Inc. as agents at the company s Dauphin Square P. Manning A. Manning office. Also, Mary Hicks joined the Roberts Brothers Cottage Hill West office. Susan M. Marquez brings over 10 years experience to the Marriott s Grand Hotel Resort Golf Club and Spa. She will serve as director of the facility, which held its grand opening in December Her background includes all aspects of massage therapy, natural health counseling, marketing and advertising. Praytor Realty Co. Inc. announces the association of Nancy Hughes as a realtor with its full service real estate company. She is an alumn of Auburn University where she majored in communications, and a graduate of the Academy of Real Estate. Hughes was previously employed with the Chamber and House of Specialties in sales. Joseph L. Threadcraft was named manager of the Alabama State Port Authority s technical services division. His responsibilities include engineering, environmental, health and safety, and water resources programs, including the office of the Harbormaster. Threadcraft is a certified, professional engineer who previously worked in Albany, Ga. Maureen C. Smith joined Sullivan-St. Clair Marketing and Public Relations as broadcast production manager. She is the former producer of FOX10 s weekday newscast at 5 p.m. She graduated with a communications degree from Spring Hill College. WELL DONE! Hughes Thomas Hospital recently received nine awards from the Alabama Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society and six awards from the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) for public relations and marketing projects. In the Alabama Hospital Association competition awards included: Gold Awards for the We Choose Thomas campaign, the Web site, Heart Center Groundbreaking event and the Physician Directory and a Silver Award for VISION, the hospital s employee newsletter. In the PRCA competition, Thomas Hospital received three Medallion Awards, the highest given in a category, and three Certificates of Merit. Winning entries included the Birth Center Video production and Quest for the Best, the hospital s internal customer service program. The department of political science and criminal justice in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Alabama has been chosen to award a prestigious J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Scholarship for USA is one of only seven universities nationwide that will award the $2,500 scholarship funded by the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI Foundation. Scholarship applicants must be employees of the Mobile Police Department. The scholarship will award $500 over the next five years to the recipient. Providence Hospital was presented four silver awards at the Alabama Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society s annual conference and awards ceremony. Judged for strategy, creativity and results, Providence received the awards for their quarterly consumer newsletter, in-house Lifelines newsletter, Chest Pain Center Campaign and Chest Pain radio. In other news, Providence has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). Providence Hospital s department of pathology is one of a select group of laboratories evaluated and found compliant with the CAP accreditation standards designed to ensure quality patient care. AABB accreditation follows an intensive on-site assessment by specially trained assessors and establishes that the level of medical, technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds standards. Providence Hospital Rehabilitation and Wellness Center s Fit For Life is certified by AACVPR. The Fit For Life program is certified for both Cardiovascular and Pulmonary rehabilitation. Meyer Real Estate Sales Associate Floyd Johnson recently earned the Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. He completed 15 GRI modules plus a course from the National Association of Realtors on the Code of Ethics and the state required post license course. GRI designees are an elite group of real estate professionals, making up less than 15 percent of all members of the organization. The Infirmary Health System s marketing/ communications department was recently awarded six honors at the Alabama Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society s annual meeting. They received a gold award and Judges Award for Creativity for external public relations programs, Babies are Huge and Huge Baby Event; silver awards for Flashes of Life cancer ad, the More For You series, the Leading the Region in Cancer Care publication and the Infirmary-Eastern Shore Outpatient Surgery and Diagnostic Center opening. Mike Loncono, president of Mobile-based Bay Benefits Group and a Chamber diplomat, was elected president of the Mobile Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management for The Mobile Chapter has over 200 members, and its national association has nearly 170,000 members. The following Regions Bank - South Alabama Group Associates recently graduated from the Alabama Banking School at the University of South Alabama: Andie Nabors, Kay Gartman, Donna Carpenter and Gail Kelly. Nabors was named valedictorian of the class. Gartman and Kelly s bank simulation team won first place. Springhill Medical Center Rehabilitation Director Wiley J. Christian III PT, was appointed to the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. In this position, Christian will help oversee physical therapy professionals. The board is charged with licensing issues, including suspending and revoking privileges when necessary. The five-year term to the First Congressional District post expires in the year FOR YOUR CALENDAR SouthTrust Bank and Thomas Hospital are sponsoring the 25th annual Spring Fever Chase set for Saturday, March 15 during the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival. The 10K run begins at 8 a.m., with a 2-mile fun run at 9:30 a.m. On-line registration is available at racegate.com and thomas hospital.com. For more information call or The annual Festival of Flowers is set for March at Spring Hill College. Southern Living Gardening School will return this year in addition to life-size landscaped gardens, the world flower exhibit and family activities. Tickets are $10 at the gate; $8 in advance; children 12 and under are free. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Regions Bank, Bruno s and Providence Hospital. Gardening School tickets are $40 and includes show admission and lunch. For more information or gardening school tickets, call Providence Foundation at or visit The second annual Hog Wild professional and amateur bar-b-que competition will be March at the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds. Benefiting United Cerebral Palsy, the event will feature live music, lawnmover races, an antique car show, arts and crafts, and more. Call for ticket information. The Museum of Mobile will display its legendary Mardi Gras collection in its new exhibit, Fun and Finery Costumes of Mobile s Mardi Gras through May 20. Call for more information. Carnival masks, mid-winter celebration masks, masks that speak of secret societies or social control and many more will be on display through March 9 at the Mobile Museum of Art. Admission for Spirit of the Mask is $6 for adults, $4 for students. Museum members and children under 6 are free. For more information, visit Museum ofart.com or call CORRECTION: A story about the Alabama State Docks Chocktaw Point terminal, which ran in our January issue, should have stated that the terminal includes 120 acres, and 70 percent of general cargo currently shipped worldwide is transported in containers. We regret the error. Share the Good News Member News features a variety of announcements from Chamber members. Submission deadlines are two months prior to publication. (For example, an announcement submitted on July 1 would appear in the September issue.) Send your information to Member News, The Business View, MACC, P.O. Box 2187, Mobile, AL or fax to The Only Hotel In Mobile, Alabama That will give you 100% GUEST SATISFACTION Guaranteed! Our goal at the Radisson Admiral Semmes Hotel is to provide 100% guest satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with something please let us know and we ll make it right or you won t pay. 251 Government Street Mobile, Alabama (251) (251) fax

16 219 Todd Henson 219 Conti St. Mobile, AL (251) Restaurants Acme Truck Lines Inc. Ramona Pritchett P.O. Box 1046 Theodore, AL (251) Transportation Services All About Sewing Jackie Brazell 590 Schillinger Rd., Ste. G Mobile, AL (251) allaboutsewing02@aol.com Sewing Machine-Household AllState Insurance Company Gabe Peck 5636 Old Shell Rd. Mobile, AL (251) gmcd1@allstate.com Insurance Autumn Woods Apartments Linda Bothmann 101 Foreman Rd. Mobile, AL (251) Apartments Battle House Hotel Helen Stopa PCH Hotels P.O. Box 1209 Point Clear, AL (251) Hotels BCP Inc. Consultant Services Douglas Wicks P.O. Box Mobile, AL (251) dmwicks@bellsouth.net Business Consultants Browning Brothers Flooring Co. Robert Browning P.O. Box 6902 Mobile, AL (251) floorman@browningfloors.com Flooring NEW MEMBERS CLIP AND ADD THESE TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY. C. A. Services Inc. Allen Helms P.O. Box Mobile, AL (251) ad_helms@msn.com Consultant Check Care Systems Charles Hobbs P.O. Box Mobile, AL (251) Check Verification & Recovery Custom Laundry Systems Robert Moody 7131 Old Pascagoula Rd. Theodore, AL (251) Laundry Equipment Hilton Garden Inn Ben Brooks 12 Via De Luna Pensacola Beach, FL (850) ben_brooks@hilton.com Hotels The Home Team Inspection Service Douglas Boyce P.O. Box 9275 Mobile, AL (251) Home Inspection Service Charles W. Hubbard Jr. Accounting Charles Hubbard 574 Azalea Rd., Ste. 110 Mobile, AL (251) Accountants Infinity Homes Inc. Jim Ivy 5208 Hwy 90 W. Mobile, AL (251) Home Builders Judy s Facial Arts Judy Hill 4300 Old Shell Rd., Ste. B. Mobile, AL (251) jh49gage@cs.com Permanent Makeup Ladd Architectural Door & Specialty Co. Inc. Jamo Ladd P.O. Box Chickasaw, AL (251) ladsco@aol.com Building Materials Maximum Massage Therapies Gayla Henderson 900 B. Schillinger Rd. Mobile, AL (251) Massage Therapy Mobile Chiropractic Associates Douglas Kaul 801 Downtowner Blvd. Mobile, AL (251) Chiropractors, DC Makeda Nichols - State Farm Insurance Makeda Nichols 2504 Dauphin St., Ste. M Mobile, AL (251) Insurance Power Shred Inc. Laura Few P.O. Box 7736 Mobile, AL (251) Document Destruction Rhoades & Dixon Inspection & Consulting LLC Glenn Rhoades 258 Montclair Ln. Daphne, AL (251) randd_inspection@msn.com Inspections S. Baker Medical Stephen Baker 800 Downtowner Blvd., Ste. 101 Mobile, AL (251) Orthopedic Appliances Sonitrol of Mobile Inc. Joseph Dzwonkowski P.O. Box 7006 Mobile, AL (251) Burglar Alarm Systems Sparkle Wash of The Gulf Coast Thomas Worshum 708 Artillery Range Spanish Fort, AL (251) tworshum@aol.com Powerwashing & Steamcleaning Sprint PCS/US Unwired Mark Hales 4027 Airport Blvd., Ste. B Mobile, AL (251) Wireless Communications Stewart Legal Nurse Consulting Gean Stewart 3750-A Airport Blvd., Ste. 255 Mobile, AL (251) Consultant Verizon Wireless Gulf Coast East District Office Jason Smith 1141 Montlimar Dr., Ste Mobile, AL (251) Wireless Communications Verizon Wireless-Colonial Mall Bel Air Kevin Evans 3487 Airport Blvd., # C10 Mobile, AL (251) Wireless Communications As of December 31, 2002 Please notify Donna Ikner at or donna@mobilechamber.com if this issue is not reaching the intended person. THE BUSINESS VIEW (USPS ) is published monthly, except December, by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, 451 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama (251) Subscription rate is $24 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile, Alabama. Winthrop M. Hallett III, publisher; Leigh Perry Herndon, executive editor; Susan Rak Blanchard, managing editor; Bridgette L. Clark, Ashley Collins, Angela Erwin, Deborah York Geiger, Jennifer Jenkins, Michelle Roberts Matthews, and contributing writers and editors. Office Supplies Inc., printing services. Wise Design Inc., graphic services. POSTMASTER, send address changes to Attn.: Finance Department, THE BUSINESS VIEW, MACC, P.O. Box 2187, Mobile, Alabama or us at info@mobilechamber.com Living Your Dream Apartment Living with Style and Comfort Cabana 3800 Michael Blvd The Pathways 2656 Pathways Place Sandpiper 4950 Government Blvd Windsor Place 3661 Airport Blvd Yester Oaks 146 Yester Oaks Drive Periodicals Postage Paid Mobile, AL THEBUSINESS BUSINESS VIEW MARCH 2003 MOBILE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VOL. XXXV, NO. 2 CONTENTS ON THE COVER: In the midst of power at Alabama Power s Michigan Avenue facility, Cheryl Thompson has ample energy to lead the Chamber s 2003 board. See story, page 1. 1 Tricentennial events, plus years of public service, earn Ann Bedsole the Delchamps Award. 2 See how this year s winner of the Corporate Community Service Award incorporates fun, community service and business. Don t miss the Chamber s 2002 Annual Report and 2003 Plan of Action inside.