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Shipt CEO Bill Smith on why Birmingham is a great place to grow his company
By Ashley Rogers on June 5, 2017 | Edit
Click title to view full article with photos.
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) spoke with the CEO of Shipt, Bill Smith, this week as part of our series to highlight the three finalists for the 2017 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The BBA was proud to help nominate American Family Care, Medical Properties Trust Inc. and Shipt for the honor. Each week leading up to the announcement of a winner in June, we have featured one of the investor finalists.
Shipt launched in the summer of 2014 in the heart of the Magic City. Through a user-friendly app and a local network of reliable shoppers, Shipt connects members to fresh groceries and everyday essentials. Saving time, fuel and head space, next-hour, same day grocery delivery is quickly becoming an everyday necessity for people looking for an extra few hours and a variety of food choices.
BBA: Tell us about your company.
Bill Smith: The idea for Shipt became clear to me after my wife and I shopped for groceries for the first time after we had our second child. I had no idea how hard grocery shopping could be until we were in the store with a crying newborn in one cart and a one year old in another cart. I knew this had to be a bigger challenge that went beyond new parents, and realized there was an opportunity to build something truly useful for anyone who couldn’t make it to the grocery store. Shipt’s main goal is to give people their time back so they can focus on the things that matter most to them — whether it’s spending time with family, pursuing hobbies or careers, or just enjoying that precious time that would be spent shopping.
Shipt has grown into one of the largest grocery delivery services in the country. We started small here in Birmingham and quickly grew to other cities nearby. We’re currently in over 45 cities, with plans to keep growing. So many people have come together to build Shipt into the company it is today, and I’m proud of the work we’re doing.
BBA: How did you get your start in business?
Smith: I got my first job working at a small convenience/grocery store in rural Cullman County at age 11. I discovered computers a couple years later, and began building and selling them on my own. This led to jobs with an internet service provider and a wireless phone company during and after high school. I learned that customer service is king in retail, which applies to everything we do at Shipt today.
BBA: Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
Smith: I got a briefcase for Christmas when I was five, so I think that answers it! While I did well in school, I was always more fascinated by people than books. I wanted to understand what made them tick, what their needs were, why they might choose one thing over another. I haven’t stopped asking those questions and trying to place myself in others’ shoes. In my previous businesses, customers have come from a range of backgrounds and neighborhoods, often very different from my own. The same is true for Shipt. I love finding common ground, understanding customers’ stories, and based on that, trying to help solve a meaningful problem in their lives. Building a successful business is all about solving real problems and relationships, and the opportunity to connect with people every day is what gets me out of bed.
BBA: How does being in Birmingham help your business grow?
Smith: Birmingham has been a great place to start and grow a business, especially in the last few years. There’s a thriving startup scene here thanks to affordable housing, great universities, a welcoming and business-friendly government, and a growing network of smart, ambitious entrepreneurs. The Birmingham community really embraced Shipt when we first started out, from buying early memberships before we launched to sharing feedback on the service as we grew. The city’s Southern hospitality is core to Shipt’s culture and values. It’s what we’re known for, and we’re proud of our Birmingham roots.
Click here to learn more about the grocery delivery service that is taking the nation by storm.
By Ashley Rogers on June 5, 2017 | Edit
Click title to view full article with photos.
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) spoke with the CEO of Shipt, Bill Smith, this week as part of our series to highlight the three finalists for the 2017 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The BBA was proud to help nominate American Family Care, Medical Properties Trust Inc. and Shipt for the honor. Each week leading up to the announcement of a winner in June, we have featured one of the investor finalists.
Shipt launched in the summer of 2014 in the heart of the Magic City. Through a user-friendly app and a local network of reliable shoppers, Shipt connects members to fresh groceries and everyday essentials. Saving time, fuel and head space, next-hour, same day grocery delivery is quickly becoming an everyday necessity for people looking for an extra few hours and a variety of food choices.
BBA: Tell us about your company.
Bill Smith: The idea for Shipt became clear to me after my wife and I shopped for groceries for the first time after we had our second child. I had no idea how hard grocery shopping could be until we were in the store with a crying newborn in one cart and a one year old in another cart. I knew this had to be a bigger challenge that went beyond new parents, and realized there was an opportunity to build something truly useful for anyone who couldn’t make it to the grocery store. Shipt’s main goal is to give people their time back so they can focus on the things that matter most to them — whether it’s spending time with family, pursuing hobbies or careers, or just enjoying that precious time that would be spent shopping.
Shipt has grown into one of the largest grocery delivery services in the country. We started small here in Birmingham and quickly grew to other cities nearby. We’re currently in over 45 cities, with plans to keep growing. So many people have come together to build Shipt into the company it is today, and I’m proud of the work we’re doing.
BBA: How did you get your start in business?
Smith: I got my first job working at a small convenience/grocery store in rural Cullman County at age 11. I discovered computers a couple years later, and began building and selling them on my own. This led to jobs with an internet service provider and a wireless phone company during and after high school. I learned that customer service is king in retail, which applies to everything we do at Shipt today.
BBA: Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
Smith: I got a briefcase for Christmas when I was five, so I think that answers it! While I did well in school, I was always more fascinated by people than books. I wanted to understand what made them tick, what their needs were, why they might choose one thing over another. I haven’t stopped asking those questions and trying to place myself in others’ shoes. In my previous businesses, customers have come from a range of backgrounds and neighborhoods, often very different from my own. The same is true for Shipt. I love finding common ground, understanding customers’ stories, and based on that, trying to help solve a meaningful problem in their lives. Building a successful business is all about solving real problems and relationships, and the opportunity to connect with people every day is what gets me out of bed.
BBA: How does being in Birmingham help your business grow?
Smith: Birmingham has been a great place to start and grow a business, especially in the last few years. There’s a thriving startup scene here thanks to affordable housing, great universities, a welcoming and business-friendly government, and a growing network of smart, ambitious entrepreneurs. The Birmingham community really embraced Shipt when we first started out, from buying early memberships before we launched to sharing feedback on the service as we grew. The city’s Southern hospitality is core to Shipt’s culture and values. It’s what we’re known for, and we’re proud of our Birmingham roots.
Click here to learn more about the grocery delivery service that is taking the nation by storm.
Publix Super Markets’ New Distribution Center to Create 300 Jobs in Jefferson County
By Ashley Rogers on February 23, 2017 |
Click title to see full article with photos.
Publix Super Markets celebrated its first day of processing at its new 638,000-square-foot distribution center in McCalla this week with an opening celebration and media tour. The facility will consist of 600,000 square feet of warehouse space and 38,000 square feet will be dedicated to cafeteria space, where workers will receive a free meal each day. The expansion is expected to create 300 new jobs by the end of 2017.
Publix joins several growing companies that call the Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park home. Beginning this week, products will be delivered to more than 80 Publix stores in Alabama and Tennessee from the facility.
County officials attended the grand opening ceremony to help celebrate the new addition to the Jefferson County business sector. Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens reflected on the importance of the Publix expansion for the county.
“The business model that Publix has worked and prospered under is one to be admired by companies in our region and throughout the country,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens. “We’re excited for the beginning of a long, mutually prosperous relationship with Publix.”
Publix Super Markets worked closely with the Alabama Department of Commerce, Jefferson County officials and the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) to make the project come to life. Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington expressed his thoughts on how the new distribution center will influence business growth.
“Everything we do as an organization reflects upon the team, on the tremendous support of our partners,” said Rick Davis, senior vice president of economic development for the BBA. “None of this happens without each of us playing an important role. Patrick Murphy, with Alabama Power, Mike Swinson with Alagasco, Ted VonCannon with JCEIDA, we’re all contributors to the end result, which is bringing an elite-level corporate citizen like Publix to Jefferson County and the region.”
The company currently holds 58 stores in Alabama, with locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“We’ve always admired how Publix treats its customers and employees,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington. “By bringing 300 new jobs here, this expansion helps Jefferson County continue to make a viable economic impact on the local community and our great state.”
By Ashley Rogers on February 23, 2017 |
Click title to see full article with photos.
Publix Super Markets celebrated its first day of processing at its new 638,000-square-foot distribution center in McCalla this week with an opening celebration and media tour. The facility will consist of 600,000 square feet of warehouse space and 38,000 square feet will be dedicated to cafeteria space, where workers will receive a free meal each day. The expansion is expected to create 300 new jobs by the end of 2017.
Publix joins several growing companies that call the Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park home. Beginning this week, products will be delivered to more than 80 Publix stores in Alabama and Tennessee from the facility.
County officials attended the grand opening ceremony to help celebrate the new addition to the Jefferson County business sector. Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens reflected on the importance of the Publix expansion for the county.
“The business model that Publix has worked and prospered under is one to be admired by companies in our region and throughout the country,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens. “We’re excited for the beginning of a long, mutually prosperous relationship with Publix.”
Publix Super Markets worked closely with the Alabama Department of Commerce, Jefferson County officials and the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) to make the project come to life. Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington expressed his thoughts on how the new distribution center will influence business growth.
“Everything we do as an organization reflects upon the team, on the tremendous support of our partners,” said Rick Davis, senior vice president of economic development for the BBA. “None of this happens without each of us playing an important role. Patrick Murphy, with Alabama Power, Mike Swinson with Alagasco, Ted VonCannon with JCEIDA, we’re all contributors to the end result, which is bringing an elite-level corporate citizen like Publix to Jefferson County and the region.”
The company currently holds 58 stores in Alabama, with locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“We’ve always admired how Publix treats its customers and employees,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington. “By bringing 300 new jobs here, this expansion helps Jefferson County continue to make a viable economic impact on the local community and our great state.”
The Generation Initiative: Preparing Birmingham Talent to Reach Their Dreams
By Ashley Rogers on February 8, 2017 | Edit
Click title to view entire article with photos.
The first round of Generation Initiative training in Birmingham is full, ahead of courses beginning on February 13. The initiative will help underemployed and unemployed youth gain access to job interviews with local companies, IT certification assistance and career coaching.
Generation is a youth employment program that recruits, trains and places young people in jobs. It is a program of McKinsey Social Initiative, an independent nonprofit that McKinsey & Company founded in 2014.
The program is one of the initiatives of the Innovate Birmingham Regional Workforce Partnership, the broad coalition of public, community, business and education leaders – including the Birmingham Business Alliance – that recently received a $6 million America’s Promise Grant to provide industry-specific skills for 925 Birmingham citizens to obtain high-paying jobs.
Jennifer Sikes, director of communications at McKinsey Social Initiative, said Birmingham was chosen as a vehicle for workforce enhancement through the Generation program because key partnerships already existed.
“Birmingham has been an incredibly welcoming city for Generation and we are thrilled to be launching a program here,” Sikes said. “All the ingredients for success were already here. There is an incredible coalition of partners already involved who are eager to bring new opportunities to the city. And the area has a significant demand for workers in technology—the focus of the first Generation program in Birmingham.”
In just two years of operation, Generation has become the world’s largest and fastest, demand-driven youth employment organization by offering programs spanning four sectors in 15 professions across more than 70 sites in 27 cities in five countries — India, Kenya, Mexico, Spain, and the United States.
The program produces 10,000 graduates globally with an 88 percent job placement rate. Graduates typically earn an income two to six times higher than they did before Generation.
Even with statistics showing the overwhelming success of the program, community organizations and leaders in Birmingham are essential to recruit or recommend individuals to the program that have been disconnected from the workforce. Birmingham’s strong community partner coalition and support from across the city will be essential recruiting tools to engage young people that may benefit from the program.
“We’ve partnered with the Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF) to recruit students into the Generation IT program and to other programs that are a part of the Innovate Birmingham workforce development roadmap,” said Kathleen Hamrick, director of marketing and education at Innovation Depot where the Generation training will be held. “BEF has hired an Innovate Birmingham Program Specialist who is heading student recruitment into the programs.” For the Generation program, Hamrick is the primary contact with the McKinsey Social Initiative Generation IT program for the Birmingham-based program and will help oversee and manage the program’s logistics.
Sikes has witnessed the impact Generation made on previous participants throughout the nation and envisions the same success for Birmingham students. “Our graduates not only find stable employment, increased income and improved well-being, but a career path that can change their life.”
According to Hamrick, 20 students have been accepted into the February class of Generation and recruiting has already begun for the second class, which will begin in May. The third class will begin in September. Recruiting began in early January 2017 and there have been over 100 applicants so far. Classes for the program cap at 20 students.
To enroll in the program, participants aged 17 to 29 must be able to commit to a full-time training schedule for 12 weeks and have a high school diploma or GED with basic reading and math skills. Interested individuals can click here to apply for the next round of training at Innovation Depot.
By Ashley Rogers on February 8, 2017 | Edit
Click title to view entire article with photos.
The first round of Generation Initiative training in Birmingham is full, ahead of courses beginning on February 13. The initiative will help underemployed and unemployed youth gain access to job interviews with local companies, IT certification assistance and career coaching.
Generation is a youth employment program that recruits, trains and places young people in jobs. It is a program of McKinsey Social Initiative, an independent nonprofit that McKinsey & Company founded in 2014.
The program is one of the initiatives of the Innovate Birmingham Regional Workforce Partnership, the broad coalition of public, community, business and education leaders – including the Birmingham Business Alliance – that recently received a $6 million America’s Promise Grant to provide industry-specific skills for 925 Birmingham citizens to obtain high-paying jobs.
Jennifer Sikes, director of communications at McKinsey Social Initiative, said Birmingham was chosen as a vehicle for workforce enhancement through the Generation program because key partnerships already existed.
“Birmingham has been an incredibly welcoming city for Generation and we are thrilled to be launching a program here,” Sikes said. “All the ingredients for success were already here. There is an incredible coalition of partners already involved who are eager to bring new opportunities to the city. And the area has a significant demand for workers in technology—the focus of the first Generation program in Birmingham.”
In just two years of operation, Generation has become the world’s largest and fastest, demand-driven youth employment organization by offering programs spanning four sectors in 15 professions across more than 70 sites in 27 cities in five countries — India, Kenya, Mexico, Spain, and the United States.
The program produces 10,000 graduates globally with an 88 percent job placement rate. Graduates typically earn an income two to six times higher than they did before Generation.
Even with statistics showing the overwhelming success of the program, community organizations and leaders in Birmingham are essential to recruit or recommend individuals to the program that have been disconnected from the workforce. Birmingham’s strong community partner coalition and support from across the city will be essential recruiting tools to engage young people that may benefit from the program.
“We’ve partnered with the Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF) to recruit students into the Generation IT program and to other programs that are a part of the Innovate Birmingham workforce development roadmap,” said Kathleen Hamrick, director of marketing and education at Innovation Depot where the Generation training will be held. “BEF has hired an Innovate Birmingham Program Specialist who is heading student recruitment into the programs.” For the Generation program, Hamrick is the primary contact with the McKinsey Social Initiative Generation IT program for the Birmingham-based program and will help oversee and manage the program’s logistics.
Sikes has witnessed the impact Generation made on previous participants throughout the nation and envisions the same success for Birmingham students. “Our graduates not only find stable employment, increased income and improved well-being, but a career path that can change their life.”
According to Hamrick, 20 students have been accepted into the February class of Generation and recruiting has already begun for the second class, which will begin in May. The third class will begin in September. Recruiting began in early January 2017 and there have been over 100 applicants so far. Classes for the program cap at 20 students.
To enroll in the program, participants aged 17 to 29 must be able to commit to a full-time training schedule for 12 weeks and have a high school diploma or GED with basic reading and math skills. Interested individuals can click here to apply for the next round of training at Innovation Depot.
BBA Talent Recruitment Project Connects 160 Students with Leading Companies
By Ashley Rogers on November 3, 2016 |
Click title to view entire article with photos.
The Birmingham Business Alliance’s Magic City Classic Talent Recruitment Project (TRP) provided an innovative platform for leading businesses to engage and make vital connections with 160 STEM and business students from 14 different colleges across the state last Friday.
Bruno Events Team, the City of Birmingham and the BJCC helped sponsor the dynamic event that encompassed over 230 people who engaged in speed mentoring, a panel discussion, a career fair and a networking lunch.
Students attending the TRP event represented several different colleges including Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, Stillman College, Miles College, Lee University in Tennessee and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“Birmingham continues to increase its presence as a destination city for millennials and recent college graduates,” said Waymond Jackson, vice president of workforce and education at the Birmingham Business Alliance. “Since 2010, Birmingham has seen a 56 percent increase in its young professional population. Efforts to strategically recruit diverse talent to our region and connect them with employers goes a long way towards supporting the continued momentum of talent attraction to Birmingham.”
There was a question and answer period after the panel discussion with Melanie Maddox of BBVA Compass; Jason Watters of Alabama Power Co.; Concetta Lewis of Fetch Marketing; and Kendra Thompson of the University of Alabama at Birmingham participated in a panel discussion where students were also able to ask questions about entering a professional work environment.
“Just be yourself so employers can gain a real sense of who you are and the positive traits you have to offer, rather than putting forth a facade,” said Melanie Maddox of BBVA Compass when asked about confidence during interviews.
To provide a glimpse into the quality of life in Birmingham, students were also treated to a networking lunch with employers, alumni of both Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, and other Birmingham young professionals at Cantina Laredo in the Uptown district.
“The Birmingham Business Alliance Talent Recruitment Event is always worthwhile to attend,” said Precious Pearson, a previous participant in the TRP program hired by BBVA Compass. “As a former student, I can attest to the exposure to career opportunities and valuable networking experience gained from this event.”
Samford University makes strides with new Health Sciences campus
By Ashley Rogers on October 5, 2016 |
Click title to view full article and photos.
A look inside Samford University’s new College of Health Sciences reveals just one example of the advancements that have been made in health care innovation within Birmingham. The two-building Health Sciences addition now spans 223,000 square feet, adjacent the Samford campus, after undergoing massive renovations from 2015 to 2016 that produced an enhanced learning environment for students to help foster hands-on experience in the medical field.
Approximately 1,200 students from 30 different programs on Samford’s campus use the new College of Health Sciences facilities as a resource. The schools of Health Professionals, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health all call the new buildings home.
One building is comprised of an active learning lab, innovative classrooms, a food science lab, a nutrition research lab and several training rooms. A second building encompasses electro-physiology, exercise physiology, motion analysis, pharmaceutical sciences research, sports medicine and occupational therapy labs, along with several other health resource labs.
Health care is a major component of Birmingham’s diverse economy. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau figures, Birmingham’s Education and Health Services workforce is nearly 71,000 strong, accounting for 14 percent of the region’s workforce population.
“One of the schools within the college of Health and Sciences graduates about 80 nursing students in the cohort twice a year and most of them stay in Birmingham, adding to the medical expertise in the workforce within our city” said Dr. Nena Sanders, Vice Provost of Samford’s College of Health Sciences. “We’re an importer of the workforce.”
Samford’s new College of Health Sciences is providing graduates with the opportunity to gain education and training that will help change the future of health care.
Samford students can acquire a master’s degree in nutritional science in the facility. Participants in this program are currently studying the positive role of the herb basil in hypertension and working with the FDA using applied research to help those suffering from the ailment.
The college also offers an experimental simulation center with human-like mannequins that breathe and show vital signs for a hands-on approach to nursing and physical therapy courses, and have plans to open a new audiology department in coming years.
The university held a dedication ceremony on September 9 to officially cut the ribbon on their new facility and highlight the transformation of the former Southern Living magazine headquarters into the College of Health and Sciences that people know today.
By Ashley Rogers on October 5, 2016 |
Click title to view full article and photos.
A look inside Samford University’s new College of Health Sciences reveals just one example of the advancements that have been made in health care innovation within Birmingham. The two-building Health Sciences addition now spans 223,000 square feet, adjacent the Samford campus, after undergoing massive renovations from 2015 to 2016 that produced an enhanced learning environment for students to help foster hands-on experience in the medical field.
Approximately 1,200 students from 30 different programs on Samford’s campus use the new College of Health Sciences facilities as a resource. The schools of Health Professionals, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health all call the new buildings home.
One building is comprised of an active learning lab, innovative classrooms, a food science lab, a nutrition research lab and several training rooms. A second building encompasses electro-physiology, exercise physiology, motion analysis, pharmaceutical sciences research, sports medicine and occupational therapy labs, along with several other health resource labs.
Health care is a major component of Birmingham’s diverse economy. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau figures, Birmingham’s Education and Health Services workforce is nearly 71,000 strong, accounting for 14 percent of the region’s workforce population.
“One of the schools within the college of Health and Sciences graduates about 80 nursing students in the cohort twice a year and most of them stay in Birmingham, adding to the medical expertise in the workforce within our city” said Dr. Nena Sanders, Vice Provost of Samford’s College of Health Sciences. “We’re an importer of the workforce.”
Samford’s new College of Health Sciences is providing graduates with the opportunity to gain education and training that will help change the future of health care.
Samford students can acquire a master’s degree in nutritional science in the facility. Participants in this program are currently studying the positive role of the herb basil in hypertension and working with the FDA using applied research to help those suffering from the ailment.
The college also offers an experimental simulation center with human-like mannequins that breathe and show vital signs for a hands-on approach to nursing and physical therapy courses, and have plans to open a new audiology department in coming years.
The university held a dedication ceremony on September 9 to officially cut the ribbon on their new facility and highlight the transformation of the former Southern Living magazine headquarters into the College of Health and Sciences that people know today.
Canadian Consul General talks trade in Birmingham
By Ashley Rogers on September 29, 2016 | Edit
Click title to see full article with photos.
Canadian Consul General Louis Blais was recently in Birmingham to discuss trade opportunities and learn more about one of Canada’s top customers in imports and exports. With 111,200 jobs in Alabama depending on trade and investment with Canada, Consulate Blais is making a strong effort to ensure the value of Canada’s relationship with Alabama and the U.S. is visible.
Blais toured Innovation Depot with its president and CEO, Devon Laney, and was asked what can be done to create more trade opportunities with Canada in the future. “There is a viable trade relationship with the U.S. that is not always highlighted,” Blais said. “Informing the public how essential imports and exports with Canada are for many of their jobs and the U.S. as a whole will reinforce the need for new trade avenues.”
Blais manages a six-state territory that includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The state of Alabama exports $4.1 billion in goods to Canada annually in more than seven industries including transportation. Alabama imports $2 billion in goods from Canada annually. The U.S. also welcomes more tourists from Canada than from any other country.
“The goal now is to bring companies together to fully educate their employees about the Canadian companies and resources that are available here,” Blais said. “We’re doing things right in retention and growth, but the lack of awareness about the scope of the U.S. and Canada’s relationship is the biggest hindrance we have to overcome.”
Canadian companies that have operations in Birmingham include Magna International’s Kamtek, as well as Voestalpine Nortrak, Cascades Sonoco, Stella Jones and others.
Blais toured Kamtek’s Birmingham operations to learn more about the work of one of Canada’s largest automotive suppliers. Kamtek currently employs about 1,000 people here and is working to complete a $530 million expansion it announced last year. The expansion includes a new $80 million, 148,00-square-foot aluminum casting facility and a $450 million expansion of its existing operation.
If you are interested in learning more about exporting, join the Birmingham Business Alliance’s International Trade Leadership Series on October 19 and 20. Click here for more information.
By Ashley Rogers on September 29, 2016 | Edit
Click title to see full article with photos.
Canadian Consul General Louis Blais was recently in Birmingham to discuss trade opportunities and learn more about one of Canada’s top customers in imports and exports. With 111,200 jobs in Alabama depending on trade and investment with Canada, Consulate Blais is making a strong effort to ensure the value of Canada’s relationship with Alabama and the U.S. is visible.
Blais toured Innovation Depot with its president and CEO, Devon Laney, and was asked what can be done to create more trade opportunities with Canada in the future. “There is a viable trade relationship with the U.S. that is not always highlighted,” Blais said. “Informing the public how essential imports and exports with Canada are for many of their jobs and the U.S. as a whole will reinforce the need for new trade avenues.”
Blais manages a six-state territory that includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The state of Alabama exports $4.1 billion in goods to Canada annually in more than seven industries including transportation. Alabama imports $2 billion in goods from Canada annually. The U.S. also welcomes more tourists from Canada than from any other country.
“The goal now is to bring companies together to fully educate their employees about the Canadian companies and resources that are available here,” Blais said. “We’re doing things right in retention and growth, but the lack of awareness about the scope of the U.S. and Canada’s relationship is the biggest hindrance we have to overcome.”
Canadian companies that have operations in Birmingham include Magna International’s Kamtek, as well as Voestalpine Nortrak, Cascades Sonoco, Stella Jones and others.
Blais toured Kamtek’s Birmingham operations to learn more about the work of one of Canada’s largest automotive suppliers. Kamtek currently employs about 1,000 people here and is working to complete a $530 million expansion it announced last year. The expansion includes a new $80 million, 148,00-square-foot aluminum casting facility and a $450 million expansion of its existing operation.
If you are interested in learning more about exporting, join the Birmingham Business Alliance’s International Trade Leadership Series on October 19 and 20. Click here for more information.
Harlem Children’s Zone Founder, Geoffrey Canada, Visits BBA
By Ashley Rogers on September 1, 2016 |
Click title to view entire article with photos.
Geoffrey Canada, educator, social activist and author, recently led a discussion at the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) on his life-long passion of creating better educational opportunities for students in poverty. Canada was visiting Birmingham from New York to speak at the Growing Kings annual luncheon last week and held a follow-up discussion at the BBA.
From 1990 to 2014, Canada served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), a nonprofit organization for children and families experiencing poverty living in Harlem that provides parenting workshops, a pre-school program, three charter schools and health programs. The Harlem Children’s Zone has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper 360°.
Canada spoke to a group of approximately 30 individuals from the business and education communities at the BBA and shared the goals, successes and challenges of charter schools in the Harlem community.
“I am unapologetic and relentless on getting good education for underprivileged youth,” he said.
Geoffrey Canada at the 2011 BBA Annual Meeting.
Canada also reflected on the hardships he faced when implementing the HCZ program and how he overcame this adversity.
“It’s a complicated program to run,” he said. “You’re trying to run 20 plus programs well, so finding a good team to assist in this project was essential to progress.”
The success of the HCZ program has motivated other cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Cleveland to enact or consider similar programs.
In 2015, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law a bill allowing charter schools to operate in the state. Canada visited Birmingham in 2011 to speak at the BBA’s annual meeting, where he shared his message with more than a thousand business leaders.
To learn more about the Harlem Children’s Zone and Geoffrey Canada, visit http://hcz.org/about-us/.
By Ashley Rogers on September 1, 2016 |
Click title to view entire article with photos.
Geoffrey Canada, educator, social activist and author, recently led a discussion at the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) on his life-long passion of creating better educational opportunities for students in poverty. Canada was visiting Birmingham from New York to speak at the Growing Kings annual luncheon last week and held a follow-up discussion at the BBA.
From 1990 to 2014, Canada served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), a nonprofit organization for children and families experiencing poverty living in Harlem that provides parenting workshops, a pre-school program, three charter schools and health programs. The Harlem Children’s Zone has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper 360°.
Canada spoke to a group of approximately 30 individuals from the business and education communities at the BBA and shared the goals, successes and challenges of charter schools in the Harlem community.
“I am unapologetic and relentless on getting good education for underprivileged youth,” he said.
Geoffrey Canada at the 2011 BBA Annual Meeting.
Canada also reflected on the hardships he faced when implementing the HCZ program and how he overcame this adversity.
“It’s a complicated program to run,” he said. “You’re trying to run 20 plus programs well, so finding a good team to assist in this project was essential to progress.”
The success of the HCZ program has motivated other cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Cleveland to enact or consider similar programs.
In 2015, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law a bill allowing charter schools to operate in the state. Canada visited Birmingham in 2011 to speak at the BBA’s annual meeting, where he shared his message with more than a thousand business leaders.
To learn more about the Harlem Children’s Zone and Geoffrey Canada, visit http://hcz.org/about-us/.
Oxford Pharmaceuticals Opens New Birmingham Facility
By Ashley Rogers on August 4, 2016 |
Click title to view full article with photos.
Oxford Pharmaceuticals unveiled its new $29.4 million pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Birmingham that will create up to 200 new jobs. The startup pharmaceutical company cut the ribbon on a 120,000-square-foot facility on a 24-acre site in the Jefferson Metropolitan Park at Lakeshore in Birminingham.
Oxford first announced its plan to build a generic drug manufacturing plant in Birmingham in 2014. Several elected officials spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony, highlighting how the new venture will have a positive impact on Birmingham and the state of Alabama.
“Oxford Pharmaceuticals is an English company that could have gone anywhere in the world,” Mayor William Bell said. “But with great resources like the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Southern Research, it was a perfect fit. This new development gives residents another opportunity to make a difference in the Birmingham workforce and improve the quality of life for everyone in the city.”
Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington praised the teamwork to bring Oxford to Birmingham.
“This venture was brought to life for Oxford Pharmaceuticals through effective collaboration and teamwork and will influence growth in the county for years to come,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington. “Other manufacturing companies will see the resources available to them here like Innovation Depot or UAB and be drawn to Jefferson County in the future.”
Oxford worked closely with the Alabama Department of Commerce, AIDT, the City of Birmingham, the Jefferson County Commission, the Jefferson County Economic Industrial Development Authority and the Birmingham Business Alliance to craft the incentive package that brought Oxford to Birmingham. The company received a total of $4.9 million in state, county and city incentives.
“Through initiatives like our Accelerate Alabama Plan and great leadership, companies like Oxford Pharmaceuticals can flourish in the state of Alabama,” Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said. “It truly makes our state better when companies like this thrive.”
Since the company aims to begin production in September, Oxford Pharmaceuticals is currently recruiting employees to fill various roles, such as manufacturing technician; regulatory affairs manager; custodian; QC chemist; and microbiologist. AIDT will assist the company in its recruiting, screening and training programs.
Oxford Pharmaceuticals will be hiring in several phases and available jobs can be found at http://www.aidt.edu/jobs/.
By Ashley Rogers on August 4, 2016 |
Click title to view full article with photos.
Oxford Pharmaceuticals unveiled its new $29.4 million pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Birmingham that will create up to 200 new jobs. The startup pharmaceutical company cut the ribbon on a 120,000-square-foot facility on a 24-acre site in the Jefferson Metropolitan Park at Lakeshore in Birminingham.
Oxford first announced its plan to build a generic drug manufacturing plant in Birmingham in 2014. Several elected officials spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony, highlighting how the new venture will have a positive impact on Birmingham and the state of Alabama.
“Oxford Pharmaceuticals is an English company that could have gone anywhere in the world,” Mayor William Bell said. “But with great resources like the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Southern Research, it was a perfect fit. This new development gives residents another opportunity to make a difference in the Birmingham workforce and improve the quality of life for everyone in the city.”
Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington praised the teamwork to bring Oxford to Birmingham.
“This venture was brought to life for Oxford Pharmaceuticals through effective collaboration and teamwork and will influence growth in the county for years to come,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington. “Other manufacturing companies will see the resources available to them here like Innovation Depot or UAB and be drawn to Jefferson County in the future.”
Oxford worked closely with the Alabama Department of Commerce, AIDT, the City of Birmingham, the Jefferson County Commission, the Jefferson County Economic Industrial Development Authority and the Birmingham Business Alliance to craft the incentive package that brought Oxford to Birmingham. The company received a total of $4.9 million in state, county and city incentives.
“Through initiatives like our Accelerate Alabama Plan and great leadership, companies like Oxford Pharmaceuticals can flourish in the state of Alabama,” Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said. “It truly makes our state better when companies like this thrive.”
Since the company aims to begin production in September, Oxford Pharmaceuticals is currently recruiting employees to fill various roles, such as manufacturing technician; regulatory affairs manager; custodian; QC chemist; and microbiologist. AIDT will assist the company in its recruiting, screening and training programs.
Oxford Pharmaceuticals will be hiring in several phases and available jobs can be found at http://www.aidt.edu/jobs/.
Edwards Chevrolet Celebrates 100 Years in Birmingham - featured in Birmingham Times
By Ashley Rogers on July 27, 2016 |
Click title to see full article and photos.
On August 5, Edwards Chevrolet automotive company will celebrate its 100th year as a pillar in the downtown Birmingham community.
Through success and challenges during those 100 years in the Magic City, Edwards Chevrolet has grown to be the fourth oldest family-owned Chevrolet dealership in the nation and the second largest wholesale parts reseller in the Southeast, selling and delivering parts for 45 different trucks throughout a five-state area.
It all started when Sterling Edwards Jr. – father and grandfather of current owners Leon Edwards and his son Lee Edwards – arrived in Birmingham in 1911. He first worked in banking and then in car sales before opening his own Chevrolet dealership in downtown Birmingham in 1916. Nearly 30 years later, Edwards would build a new dealership at its current location on Third Avenue North in downtown.
Edwards Chevrolet has weathered economic downturns, high interest rates, wars, strikes and fire after its building was ablaze in 1966 and Leon Edwards said the company has cultivated two very important things that have been essential to success.
“Loyal employees and a good customer base helped overcome the obstacles of the times,” he said. “We’ve held some of the same employees for 51 years or more.”
That loyalty hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Edwards family. Leon Edwards said he has assisted four of his past employees with funds to start their own automotive dealerships – Lynn Layton Chevrolet in Decatur; Conrad Hawkins Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Fla.; Ronnie Watkins Ford in Gadsden; and Colonial Chevrolet-Buick Inc. in Talladega.
Since the Birmingham location was such a success for the Edwards family, expansion was inevitable. The Edwards opened a second location by Oporto Madrid Boulevard, but eventually moved that location to Highway 280 in 2007 because of the prospects the high-growth residential area offered.
Leon Edwards is proud his company has been in downtown Birmingham for 100 years and is looking forward to future developments in the Birmingham community.
“With the renovations of Jefferson Tower, The Redmont Hotel and the formation of the Pizitz Building, I see a bright future for Birmingham that we are excited to be a part of,” he said.
The Edwards have enjoyed making a difference throughout the years. In 1995, Leon Edwards served as president of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), representing 20,000 car dealers nationally.
So, what about the next 100 years for Edwards Chevrolet? They are hopeful the business will remain in the family.
“Since he was a child, Lee always held a fervent passion and interest in the business,” Leon Edwards said about his son. “Hopefully, that passion will pass on to Lee’s 16-year-old son (Lee Edwards III) so that our automotive company will continue being a staple in the Birmingham community for many years to come.”
Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation helps Paralympic athletes go for gold
By Ashley Rogers on August 18, 2016 |
Click title to see full article and photos.
As manager of the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team, Goff is about to lead her team into battle for the second Paralympic Games, this year in Rio de Janeiro, with the full support of the Lakeshore Foundation, an official U.S. Paralympic training site in Birmingham for the rugby team and other disabled athletes.
“It had to be a special place for me to leave my home in Texas to be here,” she said. “My rugby athletes have trained at two different training facilities this year, and while they were both U.S. Olympic training centers, it didn’t feel like home as much as Lakeshore does.”
Lakeshore Foundation has been a special place for Birmingham since it was founded in the 1970s as a rehabilitation hospital for HealthSouth Corp. It quickly became a leading resource and advocate for individuals with disabilities throughout the community, helping them lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Today, Lakeshore is a key component of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), geared toward serving Olympic and Paralympic athletes. A number of athletes currently training in Birmingham will compete in the Paralympics in Brazil, beginning September 7.
“Birmingham is known the world over for its civil and human rights history,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “Because of that, the city has totally embraced the Paralympic movement to give individuals who may have physical disabilities the opportunity to be the best that they can be.”
With its roots in wheelchair basketball, Lakeshore is a logical choice to train for the U.S. Paralympics.
“One of the very first things done back in the 70s was to start a wheelchair basketball team,” said Jeff Underwood, president of Lakeshore Foundation. “And ever since then, we’ve had a very strong connection with sports in relation to helping people with disabilities lead healthier and more independent lives. As we developed an expertise in sports, it pretty naturally led us to the United States Olympic Committee. Today, the Lakeshore Foundation continues to be a very strong asset.”
Individual athletes who’ve trained at Lakeshore and are participating in the 2016 Rio Paralympics include Josh Roberts, a Morris, Ala., native and Jennifer Schuble, a Homewood resident. This will be Roberts’ third time competing in the Paralympic Games, specializing in the 100 meter and 1,500 meter sprint events. Schuble is a five-time medalist in the Paralympic games and will compete in five cycling events at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Several other Paralympic teams train at Lakeshore Foundation, including the U.S. Paralympic Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team and the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team. The U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team, led by James Gumbert and Lakeshore’s Goff, received a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics and currently holds the No. 1 world ranking. Lakeshore has played a large role in producing 52 Paralympic athletes, coaches and staff from across the country who have captured 30 Paralympic medals.
In addition to the impact Lakeshore Foundation continues to have in the U.S. Paralympic Games, the organization currently rosters more than 80 youth/adults with varying types of physical disabilities in 13 adapted sports. The foundation offers canoeing, kayaking, tennis, basketball, rugby and an injured military program for people with disabilities. The Lakeshore Foundation also has a research initiative with the University of Alabama at Birmingham to create technological advances that will make life easier for the people it serves.
Its Lima Foxtrot program is geared to help injured military members in the community. Since it was initiated in 2006, Lima Foxtrot has served over 1,800 injured servicemen and women and their families, from 46 states and territories. Through Lima Foxtrot these young men and women use lessons from sport and recreation to learn how to pursue life after injury.
The Lakeshore Foundation is a viable force in the Birmingham community through outreach and research programs as well. While training in Birmingham earlier this month, members of the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby team spent their last day of training in Birmingham visiting Children’s Hospital speaking with youth about how to overcome adversity when faced with life’s hardest battles.
“In the world of sport, the future for Lakeshore is about serving the youth,” said Underwood. “Making sure that children in the Birmingham community who have disabilities know that in Lakeshore, they have the opportunity to pursue their athletic dreams is an important factor.”
As a result, Lakeshore has been recognized for its innovative work. The U.S. Olympic Committee has awarded Lakeshore “The Rings of Gold Award” for the best youth sports program for kids with disabilities and its “Amazing Partner Award” for having one of the strongest community based sports programs for children with disabilities. The foundation has also received the “Live the Dream Award” from the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, the predecessor to the Birmingham Business Alliance, and the “Friends of Children Award” from Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
To learn more about the Lakeshore Foundation, visit its website at http://www.lakeshore.org/. Click hereto track and support the athletes in Rio. And learn more about Lakeshore’s U.S. Paralympic Training and the athletes it serves:
The Paralympic Movement Finds A Home In Birmingham
Why The Lakeshore Foundation Is The Secret To The U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team’s Success
Olympic champion Jennifer Chandler dives into her history every day
Lakeshore Foundation brings the Rio Olympics and Paralympics to Birmingham
Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation partners with Apple on smartwatch
By Ashley Rogers on August 18, 2016 |
Click title to see full article and photos.
As manager of the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team, Goff is about to lead her team into battle for the second Paralympic Games, this year in Rio de Janeiro, with the full support of the Lakeshore Foundation, an official U.S. Paralympic training site in Birmingham for the rugby team and other disabled athletes.
“It had to be a special place for me to leave my home in Texas to be here,” she said. “My rugby athletes have trained at two different training facilities this year, and while they were both U.S. Olympic training centers, it didn’t feel like home as much as Lakeshore does.”
Lakeshore Foundation has been a special place for Birmingham since it was founded in the 1970s as a rehabilitation hospital for HealthSouth Corp. It quickly became a leading resource and advocate for individuals with disabilities throughout the community, helping them lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Today, Lakeshore is a key component of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), geared toward serving Olympic and Paralympic athletes. A number of athletes currently training in Birmingham will compete in the Paralympics in Brazil, beginning September 7.
“Birmingham is known the world over for its civil and human rights history,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “Because of that, the city has totally embraced the Paralympic movement to give individuals who may have physical disabilities the opportunity to be the best that they can be.”
With its roots in wheelchair basketball, Lakeshore is a logical choice to train for the U.S. Paralympics.
“One of the very first things done back in the 70s was to start a wheelchair basketball team,” said Jeff Underwood, president of Lakeshore Foundation. “And ever since then, we’ve had a very strong connection with sports in relation to helping people with disabilities lead healthier and more independent lives. As we developed an expertise in sports, it pretty naturally led us to the United States Olympic Committee. Today, the Lakeshore Foundation continues to be a very strong asset.”
Individual athletes who’ve trained at Lakeshore and are participating in the 2016 Rio Paralympics include Josh Roberts, a Morris, Ala., native and Jennifer Schuble, a Homewood resident. This will be Roberts’ third time competing in the Paralympic Games, specializing in the 100 meter and 1,500 meter sprint events. Schuble is a five-time medalist in the Paralympic games and will compete in five cycling events at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Several other Paralympic teams train at Lakeshore Foundation, including the U.S. Paralympic Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Goalball Team and the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team. The U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team, led by James Gumbert and Lakeshore’s Goff, received a bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics and currently holds the No. 1 world ranking. Lakeshore has played a large role in producing 52 Paralympic athletes, coaches and staff from across the country who have captured 30 Paralympic medals.
In addition to the impact Lakeshore Foundation continues to have in the U.S. Paralympic Games, the organization currently rosters more than 80 youth/adults with varying types of physical disabilities in 13 adapted sports. The foundation offers canoeing, kayaking, tennis, basketball, rugby and an injured military program for people with disabilities. The Lakeshore Foundation also has a research initiative with the University of Alabama at Birmingham to create technological advances that will make life easier for the people it serves.
Its Lima Foxtrot program is geared to help injured military members in the community. Since it was initiated in 2006, Lima Foxtrot has served over 1,800 injured servicemen and women and their families, from 46 states and territories. Through Lima Foxtrot these young men and women use lessons from sport and recreation to learn how to pursue life after injury.
The Lakeshore Foundation is a viable force in the Birmingham community through outreach and research programs as well. While training in Birmingham earlier this month, members of the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby team spent their last day of training in Birmingham visiting Children’s Hospital speaking with youth about how to overcome adversity when faced with life’s hardest battles.
“In the world of sport, the future for Lakeshore is about serving the youth,” said Underwood. “Making sure that children in the Birmingham community who have disabilities know that in Lakeshore, they have the opportunity to pursue their athletic dreams is an important factor.”
As a result, Lakeshore has been recognized for its innovative work. The U.S. Olympic Committee has awarded Lakeshore “The Rings of Gold Award” for the best youth sports program for kids with disabilities and its “Amazing Partner Award” for having one of the strongest community based sports programs for children with disabilities. The foundation has also received the “Live the Dream Award” from the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, the predecessor to the Birmingham Business Alliance, and the “Friends of Children Award” from Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
To learn more about the Lakeshore Foundation, visit its website at http://www.lakeshore.org/. Click hereto track and support the athletes in Rio. And learn more about Lakeshore’s U.S. Paralympic Training and the athletes it serves:
The Paralympic Movement Finds A Home In Birmingham
Why The Lakeshore Foundation Is The Secret To The U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team’s Success
Olympic champion Jennifer Chandler dives into her history every day
Lakeshore Foundation brings the Rio Olympics and Paralympics to Birmingham
Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation partners with Apple on smartwatch
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