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Feb. 23, 2004

AllStates Technical Services Enters Collaborative Agreement with UAB to Provide HIPAA Solutions
Birmingham—AllStates Technical Services  Inc. (AllStates) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham have announced a collaborative agreement to provide commercial access to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance information. UAB developed a body of knowledge as a resource for conducting HIPAA compliance. Through a technology transfer, AllStates has licensed UAB’s HIPAA intelligence and will package the information into an Internet portal to offer clients a HIPAA compliance solution.

UAB compiled the information according to HIPAA implementation and compliance standards as a fundamental repository of best practices. University and Hospital organizations utilized this source to help assure and sustain compliance to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). AllStates will apply their technical capabilities to develop a portal that provides compliance solutions over the Internet, or at the clients’ site, as a consulting service to Healthcare Providers and Payers. Information provided will range from planning the compliance process, to providing gap analysis, training and much more. The portal will also provide a full menu of solution options consisting of, but not limited to, audit, assessment, remediation, and process development/monitoring services.

“As a university, research center and hospital, our organization faced a difficult and complex task in order to assure HIPAA compliance. We developed what has become our ‘best practices’ for compliance standards, and we still rely on that information today," said John Piazza, UAB Data Security Officer / HIPAA Compliance Officer. “Through AllStates’ management, consulting services and IT solutions, ‘The HIPAA Solution’ will now be available to the entire healthcare industry. AllStates is looking forward to providing an advanced, on-line system that provides easy access to HIPAA resources and knowledge," commented Fred Mersbach, AllStates’ Vice President of Information Technology. "Our commitment to customer satisfaction, flexibility and core values is a proven practice at AllStates, and we are excited to bring that level of service to the Healthcare industry.”

AllStates, along with their business associates, will deliver high-level quality products, services and proven customer support to The HIPAA Solution program. A preview of the HIPAA Solution portal is available at www.thehipaasolution.com.

Career Notes
Birmingham—CapitalPartners Leasing has added two to its roster. Donna Hester joined as account executive, where she will be responsible for business development in Birmingham, assisting companies with equipment leasing. Hester has 19 years in sales and marketing with Coca-Cola, Bausch & Lomb, and Procter & Gamble. She earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University and her Masters in Business Administration from Samford University. In addition, Larry Byrd has joined the company as vice president business development resulting from the company’s rapid growth. Byrd will be responsible for directing business development efforts throughout the state. For the past 18 years Larry has worked with numerous businesses, growing their sales through sales training and consulting.

Birmingham—The law firm of Hand Arendall has announced that J. Fred Kingren has joined the firm as a member and M. Allison Taylor has joined the firm as counsel. Kingren and Taylor will both practice in the firm’s Birmingham office. Kingren concentrates his legal practice in the general business, finance, securities law and mergers and acquisitions areas. He has extensive experience representing purchasers and sellers of many types of businesses and start-up companies in their early stages of development and during their evolution into more mature businesses. Taylor focuses her practice on business start-ups, mergers and acquisitions and business planning. She assists clients in choosing the correct entity for their businesses and provides expertise regarding capitalization, operational issues, tax planning, and dispositions. She also facilitates estate planning strategies by counseling clients on business succession planning to help them achieve their goals and objectives.

Montgomery—Faulkner University has added Paul Blount to its staff as director of the Faulkner Fund at Faulkner University. In this position, Blount is responsible for all aspects of fundraising for the university’s annual fund. This includes the popular Benefit Dinner, the major fundraising event of the year, which produces more than $400,000 each year for the Faulkner Fund.

Briefs
Montgomery—Advertising and marketing firm LWT Communications and sister company LWT/KBK New Media, a Web development company, received a grand total of 53 ADDY Awards in the Montgomery Advertising Federation's 2003-2004 American Advertising Awards, held on February 20 at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Together, the firms earned 15 Gold ADDY Awards, 34 Silver ADDY Awards, both Best of Show Awards, the Best of No Show Award, Copywriter of the Year and Art Director of the Year. Awards were also given for work produced for other LWT clients including Hodges Warehouse + Logistics, Burger King, Kyser Furniture, Bohlert Massey Interiors, Montgomery Convention & Visitor Bureau, Aronov Realty, Goodwyn, Mills & Caywood, Bromberg’s Fine Jewelry, Community Care Network, Dogwood Festival Market, Ono Realty, Eastdale Mall, ThrowPro and Aronov Marketing Cooperative. LWT/KBK New Media won awards for Web sites produced for Capell & Howard Attorneys P.C., Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Paragon Construction, Seay Seay & Litchfield, Hodges Warehouse + Logistics, artist David Keith Braly, Nat King Cole Society, Earth Elements and print/photography work for Churchill Academy, Capell & Howard and The Montgomery Lightning Route Committee.

Hendersonville, TN — Doster Construction Company is building a new Kroger Store in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The $2 million, 57,880-square-foot facility consists of a deli/bakery, meat department, produce and sales areaa. The project is scheduled for completion in June. The Doster team of Project Manager Tony Harris, Assistant Project Manager Eric Engle and Superintendent Bruce Hartman is managing the project. Architectural services are provided by Schultz Design LLC of St. Peters, Missouri.

Feb. 12, 2004

Career Notes
Decatur— David E. Scott has been appointed to serve as a member of the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy by Governor Bob Riley. Public accounting in Alabama is regulated by the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy, and the Board may suspend or revoke the CPA certificate of an accountant if rules, regulations and standards of professional conduct are not followed. The Board is also responsible for the administration of the CPA exam in Alabama. “I’m honored that Governor Riley asked me to serve on this Board which is so very important to my profession in the State of Alabama,” said Scott. His appointment is effective immediately and his term of office will expire on September 30, 2007. Scott is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and partner with Tucker, Scott & Brand, LLC in Decatur. He is a 1987 graduate of the University of Alabama.

Briefs
Auburn—Novus International, a St. Louis-based animal agriculture corporation, has donated $100,000 to establish the Novus International Research Award in Auburn University’s College of Agriculture. The award will be given annually to a graduate student who has conducted cutting-edge research in one or more of the following areas: animal nutrition, metabolism, growth and development, and health and disease. Students can submit written applications for the award and/or be nominated by their major professor. The recipient will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of the College of Agriculture’s Awards Committee chairperson, two faculty members from the college and a representative of Novus International. Novus made the presentation to AU College of Agriculture officials in late January during the International Poultry Exposition in Atlanta. Chris Gary, development officer for the college, said the gift is contingent on Auburn University raising an additional $100,000 in matching funds. Anyone interested in contributing to that fund can call Gary at 334-844-1136.

Zaandam, The Netherlands—Ahold has announced its intention to divest its BI-LO and Bruno's subsidiaries. The intended divestment of BI-LO and Bruno's is part of Ahold's strategy to optimize its portfolio and to strengthen its financial position by reducing debt. Ahold has made a strategic decision to focus its efforts on its remaining U.S. food retail operations, including Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover, Giant-Carlisle, Tops, and Peapod, positioning those companies for growth. Ahold has retained William Blair & Company, LLC to assist in the sale process. Ahold intends to complete the BI-LO and Bruno's divestment process in 2004.

Commenting on the announcement, Anders Moberg, Ahold President & CEO said, "We believe that BI-LO and Bruno's are both powerful brands and will have a bright future under new ownership. We hope to identify buyers whose strategic priorities include further strengthening these businesses to succeed in a competitive but fast-growing marketplace." BI-LO, headquartered in Mauldin, South Carolina, was acquired by Ahold in 1977. The company operates 292 stores in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, with unaudited net sales in 2003 of USD 3,197 million. BI-LO employs approximately 27,000 associates. Bruno's, based in Birmingham, was acquired by Ahold in 2001. The company operates 178 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, with unaudited net sales in 2003 of USD 1,775 million. Bruno's employs approximately 14,500 associates.

Feb. 11, 2004

Alabama Toyota Workers to Help Inaugurate NASCAR Participation
Alabama has always had ties to stock car racing, from Red Farmer to the Allisons to the presence of the biggest, meanest track on the planet in Talladega. But all those ties had the same basic component string: American manufacturers. Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler all fielded (and still field) teams, and all the cars ran on American-made V-8s. Race fans might have driven to the track in Hondas or Toyotas, but once inside the track, it was American iron, and lots of it.

That time has passed. The economy of 2004 is a global one, and few states are more indicative of that fact than Alabama, which turns out cars and motors for countries such as Germany, Japan and, soon, Korea. And the time of purely American iron on racetracks is over, too. Toyota's entry into the racing ranks of NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series, which takes to the track for the first time Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway, will include four race teams, seven drivers and pit crews, and a multi-faceted marketing campaign that includes workers from Huntsville’s Toyota engine plant.

"Winning consumer awareness is just as important as winning races," says James Lentz, vice president of marketing at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Pickup trucks continue to be the fastest growing market in America and Toyota is committed to playing a bigger role of this segment."

In 2003 Toyota accounted for about 11 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. Toyota trucks, however, accounted for only about four percent of the total large truck market. "Right now we're selling every Tundra we can make at our plant in Princeton, Indiana," Lentz says. "We're looking forward to 2006 when a second plant begins building an all-new Tundra."

The new $800 million plant being built in San Antonio will have more than 2,000 employees and an initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, more than doubling current Tundra availability.

"We want to be ready to take Tundra sales to the next level," Lentz says. "Walk through the parking lot at Daytona or Martinsville or Darlington and what do you see? Pickups. Those are the people we want to reach."

The company will sponsor the Toyota Tundra 200, Aug. 14 at Nashville Speedway. More than 5,000 Toyota employees who work at plants in Indiana, Kentucky and Alabama are expected to attend.

Briefs
Menomonee Falls, WI—Kohl’s Department Stores are reaching out to children’s hospitals, offering books and plush toys from the children’s series, “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” for less than retail price. Author Norman Bridwell’s best-selling books, as well as plush toys depicting characters Clifford, Cleo, T. Bone and Mac, are now available at Kohl’s stores for a limited time, in specially designated displays near the entrance of the stores. Each hard-cover book and each plush toy will be sold for $5 at Kohl’s stores and at www.kohls.com. The books typically retail for $17.95 each. Kohl’s will donate 100 percent of the net profits to 57 children’s hospitals across the country, including Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Montgomery—Merchant Capital has been ranked number one investment banking firm in Alabama for the 2003 calendar year. The firm underwrote 102 bond issues totaling over $1 billion. The projects financed included funding for a variety of school, water and sewer, industrial and housing issues. Merchant Capital has been ranked the top investment banking firm in the state for nine of the last 10 years.

Birmingham—Hoar Construction is currently working with Tenet Georgia at South Fulton Medical Center in East Point, Georgia, to expand their emergency department. The 30,000-square-foot expansion will increase the total number of private rooms to 27, with the overall square footage nearly doubling in size. Vice President Gerald King and Project Manager Jason Bennett are responsible for managing the project. Mark Young is the project superintendent. Sterling Barnett Little of Arlington, Texas is the architect for the project.

Birmingham—BellSouth Foundation, BellSouth Alabama Operations and BellSouth Pioneer Volunteers have joined to fund a new grant that will assist Alabama teachers in their early career years. The Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies at Samford University will manage the project, known as the BellSouth Quality in the Classroom Teaching Initiative, and Birmingham City School teachers will be its first participants. "Professional growth and development are critical to get new teachers off to a good start," said Tom Hamby, president ofBellSouth Alabama. "We are committing dollars and volunteers to provide training and resources to help them at the beginning of their careers." The BellSouth Quality in the Classroom Teaching Initiative is a five-year program that will direct more than $10 million toward professional development, recruitment and retention across the company's nine-state region of the U.S.

Birmingham—BioCryst Pharmaceuticals has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to BCX-1777, the Company's purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor that is in clinical development for treatment of T-cell malignancies. The orphan drug designation is granted for treatment of T-cell non- Hodgkin's lymphoma, which includes cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. BCX- 1777, which functions by blocking the T-cell's DNA synthesis machinery, is currently in four Phase I clinical trials at nine leading U.S. cancer centers. BioCryst plans to initiate Phase II clinical trials for BCX-1777 in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and T-cell leukemia during 2004. The orphan drug classification is awarded to select approaches that offer potential therapeutic value in the treatment of rare diseases and conditions. The granting of orphan drug status to BCX-1777 enables BioCryst to receive pre-filing regulatory guidance as well as reduced filing fees, and would provide for market exclusivity in the U.S. for a period of seven years if BCX-1777 receives market approval by the FDA.

Seattle—MediQuest Therapeutics has purchased the assets of IntegriDerm, an early-stage skincare products company located in Birmingham. In addition, Dr. Thomas P. Dooley will be joining MediQuest as chief scientific officer. The transaction exchanged MediQuest stock for the IntegriDerm intellectual property and physical assets. IntegriDerm was founded in 1998 by Dr. Dooley to discover and develop novel active ingredients for topical skincare products. Since its founding, IntegriDerm has discovered types of small molecules for use as topical skin lighteners. In addition, it has designed and marketed DNA micro-array products as genomic research tools for dermatological, pharmacological and toxicological screening and diagnostic applications. Dr. Dooley began his career at Upjohn, where he was instrumental in the investigations of the hair growth stimulant Minoxidil/Rogaine and various other dermatology and oncology agents.

Huntsville—Benton Newton Advertising, a regional marketing and media firm, has been contracted by the Huntsville Stars to handle this season’s upcoming advertising campaign. The agency will handle creative strategies and production for the Star’s television, radio and outdoor advertising mediums. “We are extremely excited to be working with the Stars,” says Bob Benton, president of Benton Newton. “They have a very successful history and we look to help fortify their position as the best entertainment value in Huntsville.”

Career Notes
Alexander City—Tom Lamberth, president and COO of Russell Lands, recently named Steven Arnberg Director of Real Estate Sales and Qualifying Broker. The newly created position will place Arnberg over all real estate sales at Russell Lands, Inc. including the Willow Point and Dadeville offices. Arnberg has over 20 years experience in real estate serving as qualifying broker for Century 21-Arnberg Realty, Inc. in Montgomery and most recently for Emerald Mountain in Wetumpka. Steve has also managed several residential construction companies. Steve is a graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree.

Mobile—Digital medical solutions company Docusys has named George Giorgianni vice president of sales. Giorgianni came to DocuSys after 17 years with McKesson (formerly HBO & Company), where he held senior sales leadership positions. Other experience includes six years at Surgical Information Systems, where, as vice president of sales, Giorgianni led the sales team in the development of 150 accounts during his tenure. Most recently, he served as consulting regional vice president of sales for Eclipsys Corporation.

Docusys has also hired David Forlenza and Susan Sarff as the newest members of its sales team. Forlenza will serve as the senior sales executive covering the Southeast. He joins DocuSys from McKesson Information Systems, where he served as a sales executive for more than five years before being named regional vice president of McKesson’s resource management group in December 2002. Forlenza holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and marketing from the University of Dubuque.

Sarff will oversee DocuSys’ western regional office in San Diego, where she will be responsible for sales in an 11-state territory. Sarff has extensive experience in anesthesia-related sales and marketing, having worked for the past 10 years for Vital Signs, Inc., where she consistently ranked among the company’s top sales executives. Previous experience includes sales and marketing positions with Bristol Myers Squibb and a southern California anesthesia equipment supplier.Sarff graduated from San Diego State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration.

Birmingham—Southern Research Institute has named Michael D. Johns vice president of the Environment, Energy and Engineering Division. He will immediately assume management responsibilities for all engineering technology research and development programs that support the aerospace, automotive, defense, environmental technology and energy- producing industries. Since late 2002, Johns has directed the automotive research program at Southern Research. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama and is currently working on his MBA in the Executive MBA program at the University of Alabama. In 2002, he was named director of the Transportation Systems Division at Southern Research. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American Society for Metals, and the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association.

Birmingham—Saks Incorporated has announced that Andrew Jennings will join Saks Fifth Avenue as its president and chief merchandising officer. Fred Wilson, current president and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises ("SFAE"), has been named chairman and CEO of SFAE. Jennings will report to Wilson. Jennings will be responsible for merchandising, marketing, store operations and inventory planning for Saks Fifth Avenue.

Birmingham—Dr. Neal Berte has joined the Board of Directors of American Behavioral. Dr. Berte is currently beginning his twenty-ninth year as president and chancellor of Birmingham-Southern College. Dr. Berte has received numerous professional and academic honors during his career including being selected as one of America’s top 100 emerging leaders in higher education, Birmingham “Citizen of the Year”, and numerous appointments to the Board of Directors for many other distinguished organizations such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Birmingham—Edward S. Savela, president of Savela & Associates, a Birmingham-based staffing and recruiting firm, today announced that Elizabeth Malone has been promoted to customer service supervisor. Ms. Malone received a bachelor’s degree in 2002 from Auburn University. She joined Savela in January 2003. In addition, Holly Davis has been promoted to Savela’s director of customer relations. Ms. Davis received a bachelor’s degree in 1997 from Samford University. She joined Savela in October 2002 as a staffing specialist. In her new role, Ms. Davis is responsible for creating and maintaining Savela client relationships

Feb. 10, 2004

Siemens Acquires Huntsville Operations
Auburn Hills, MI—Siemens VDO Automotive Electronics Corporation has signed an agreement to acquire the Chrysler Group's Huntsville Electronics operation located in Huntsville, Ala. The facility produces automotive electronics products for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge products. Through its production of instrument clusters, engine and powertrain controllers, car body electronics and vehicle audio products, the Huntsville operation generates approximately $1 billion in annual sales.

"This acquisition elevates Siemens VDO Automotive's NAFTA business to a new level in electronics leadership," said Siemens VDO Automotive AG Group President and CEO Wolfgang Dehen. "It facilitates our strategy to grow within our core competencies, which includes vehicle instrumentation, driver information and powertrain electronics. Also, it will provide more value and synergy to our customers as we will be better positioned to cascade technical solutions and leverage our engineering capabilities across our main regions and OEM partners."

According to Chrysler Group President and CEO Dieter Zetsche, the acquisition will benefit the automaker and its employees, as well as Siemens. "As part of the transformation of the Chrysler Group, we have said the sale of a component operation must meet three requirements. It must make good business sense for the company, our employees and the buyer.

"This transaction will enable the Chrysler Group to continue focusing on our core business of creating innovative cars and trucks that set us apart from the competition," Zetsche said. "Additionally, the agreement with Siemens will give us access to the latest technology in audio products, instrument clusters and powertrain controls and will contribute positively to the future of the City of Huntsville."

As a subsidiary of Siemens VDO Automotive, the Huntsville Electronics operations will gain access to a broader range of new business opportunities within the global $125 billion automotive electronics market.

Discussions between Siemens VDO Automotive, Chrysler Group and United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union culminated in an innovative new collective bargaining agreement that will help enable the Huntsville facility's future competitiveness. Pending finalization of a collective bargaining agreement between Siemens, Chrysler Group and the United Auto Workers, Siemens VDO Automotive intends to assume full operational responsibility for the electronics facility in the spring of 2004. Details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Situated on a 180-acre site, Huntsville Electronics is composed of two plants operating two shifts daily. The first plant opened in 1977 and is 232,000 square feet in area. The second plant opened in 1988 and encompasses 849,000 square feet. Currently, operations in Huntsville employ more than 2,000 people.

Verilink Purchases XEL Communications, Inc.
Madison—Verilink Corporation has acquired privately held XEL Communications, a provider of business solutions currently being utilized throughout the RBOC (Regional Bell Operating Company) and ILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier) community. Under the terms of the agreement, Verilink acquired all of the shares of XEL for up to $17.65 million in consideration consisting of $7.65 million in cash paid at closing and $10 million in the form of a note which may be converted into Verilink common stock at a conversion price of $5.324 per share. In connection with retaining certain key employees of XEL, Verilink has also agreed to issue up to 187,826 shares of common stock, up to 150,260 shares of restricted common stock, and an aggregate of $350,000 in cash bonuses immediately following closing. The issuance of common stock and restricted common stock is further described below.

"The services and solutions that XEL provides the incumbent telecommunications carriers are a natural and strategic fit for Verilink," said Leigh Belden, President and CEO of Verilink. "We are focused on providing our carrier customers solutions that enable them to offer value added services and that minimize their total investment by supporting both legacy and next generation networks. The services and solutions XEL deliver enable carriers to more cost and time effectively deliver managed integrated voice and data services. XEL counts each of the RBOCs and major independent LECs as customers, increasing our presence with these key customer segments. With $20 million in profitable revenue in 2003 the combined entities will accelerate Verilink's revenue growth in the near term."

"We are excited about the combination of these two businesses and the synergies and opportunities it creates," said Mike Hull, President and COO of XEL. "By bringing the two companies together we will be able to provide our mutual customers the benefit of procuring a wide range of industry leading access and service delivery solutions from one source."

SouthTrust, FloridaFirst Sign Definitive Agreement
Birmingham—Officials with SouthTrust Corporation and FloridaFirst Bancorp, Inc. in Lakeland, Fla., have signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of FloridaFirst and its subsidiary, FloridaFirst Bank, by SouthTrust. Wallace D. Malone Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of SouthTrust, made the announcement with Gregory C. Wilkes, chief executive officer of FloridaFirst.

FloridaFirst operates 19 branches in Central Florida—10 in Lakeland, two in Winter Haven, four in Bradenton and one each in Sebring, Avon Park and Wildwood. The bank reported assets of $821 million as of Dec. 31, 2003.

The merger agreement calls for SouthTrust to pay $146,123,851 for all of the 5,388,276 outstanding shares of FloridaFirst. Shareholders will receive a fixed price of $27.12, which they may elect to receive in cash or stock or a combination of both. The number of shares to be issued will be determined over a 20-day pricing period before the acquisition. SouthTrust anticipates acquiring shares of its stock issued in the transaction through open market purchases. In addition, SouthTrust will pay $27.12 less the exercise price to cash out each unexercised option at the time of closing.

"FloridaFirst is an attractive addition to our already outstanding Florida franchise," Malone said. "The company's reputation for delivering high-quality service to its customers is a perfect match for SouthTrust. Our new customers will benefit from SouthTrust's full menu of financial products and services. This acquisition also will give our current customers in Central Florida even more convenient banking locations. We are excited that the FloridaFirst management team will remain and operate the Lakeland market for SouthTrust."

FloridaFirst's Wilkes said, "Following discussions of possible business combinations with several potential partners and an examination of the alternative of remaining independent, the board, after careful consideration, in conjunction with advice from its financial advisor, determined that the SouthTrust proposal provided the best alternative to our shareholders, customers and employees. SouthTrust will be a great partner because of its commitment to personalized, quality service, the great work environment and benefits for employees and consistent financial performance for its shareholders."

SouthTrust anticipates closing this transaction during the second quarter of 2004 subject to stockholder and regulatory approval. SouthTrust will communicate directly to customers about any changes to accounts, products, services and bank operations as the conversion process continues.

SouthTrust currently has 252 financial centers and 302 ATMs throughout Florida. In the Central Florida area near the FloridaFirst branches, SouthTrust has offices in Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Bradenton and Lakeland.

Mobile—Mobile Technical Institute is offering a no-cost open enrollment period for its Workforce Assistance Program. Employees of registered companies automatically qualify for tuition reductions of up to 20% off tuition for MTI’s short-term career programs in Computer Technical Support and Business Administration. All Mobile-area businesses that offer tuition reimbursement benefits are eligible to participate. To register in MTI’s Workforce Assistance program or to request further information, call 251-478-6848 or email.

Dothan—Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) will offer customers an additional daily nonstop flight between Dothan and Atlanta beginning April 4. The new flight will be operated using the 66-passenger ATR-72 aircraft. 

The additional service between Dothan and Atlanta:

From Dothan to Atlanta (effective April 4, 2004)

Flight Departs Arrives Equipment
4167 6:40 p.m. 8:50 p.m. ATR-72

From Atlanta to Dothan (effective April 4, 2004)

Flight Departs Arrives Equipment
4167 5:51 p.m. 6:05 p.m. ATR-72

Marion, IL—Doster Construction Company and joint venture partner Zeller Construction are building Aisin’s Light Metals Facility in Marion. Aisin creates and produces components and systems for the automotive industry. The project is a $5.8 million, 129,600-square-ffoot facility. The project is scheduled for completion in April. The Doster-Zeller team of Senior Project Manager Jim Davis, Project Manager Keith Thomas and Superintendent Robert Canada is managing the project. Architectural services are provided by Musset, Nicholas & Associates, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Gardendale and Monett, MO—Jack Henry & Associates, which provides integrated technology solutions that perform data processing for financial institutions, today announced it has purchased Yellow Hammer Software. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Yellow Hammer is a provider of a suite of software products developed to protect financial institutions from fraudulent activity. Yellow Hammer currently employs 10 individuals in the greater Birmingham area. Jack Henry & Associates Inc. has an office in Birmingham where approximately 80 employees are currently located. "We will begin immediately to integrate the Yellow Hammer personnel into Jack Henry's nationwide internal network. Yellow Hammer will continue to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary and will market products and services to both our bank and credit union segments," said Jack Prim, president of JKHY. "We expect to retain all of the Yellow Hammer Team, and add to the team as we generate new sales to our existing customers."

Feb. 4, 2004

Briefs
Statewide—The Alabama AGC recognized four architect/engineering firms during its Build Alabama Awards Banquet Jan. 9 at The Club. Engineer Frank Dashey, of Mobile, the architectural firm of KPS in Birmingham, Fuqua-Osborn Architects of Huntsville and Marcum and Associates Architects of Tuscaloosa received the 2004 Outstanding Engineer and Architect of the Year awards. The Alabama AGC Board of Directors voted six years ago to create the award to recognize some of the top engineers and architects in the state. Said the board at the time, “AGC members know that a good working relationship with these design professionals is the key to a successful project.”

Mobile—J. Gary Cooper, chairman/CEO, has announced Commonwealth National Bank’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $1.25 per share for shareholders of record as of March 1, 2004.

Tuscaloosa—The State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame will honor COLSA Corp. and Vulcan Materials during a ceremony on Feb. 21, 2004, at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear.

COLSA Corp., which began in the garage of an ordinary Huntsville home in 1980. Within seven years, this provider of electrical engineering support to military and commercial clients had been named the nation's best minority-owned high-tech firm. Started by Puerto Rican immigrants Francisco and Carmen Collazo, COLSA Corp. was one of the first small businesses to make the top 100 R&D testing and evaluation firms nationally, and the company now boasts 700 employees and $90 million in annual revenue. In 1988, COLSA Corp. was named National Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year. It was the first contractor in the award's history to be nominated independently by three district agencies: the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (SMDC), Army Missile Command (AMCOM), and Army Air Defense Artillery School.

Vulcan Materials Co. is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates and a leader in the production of other construction materials. The company is also a major manufacturer of chemicals with its chemical branch, Vulcan Chemicals. Based in Birmingham, the S&P 500 company has supplied materials to such projects as O'Hare International Airport and Navy Pier in Chicago, the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel, the Lenox Tower, and Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta. Vulcan Materials participates in the environmental program Wildlife Habitat Council, a non-profit organization comprised of corporate and environmental groups set up to help companies inventory wildlife species on corporate lands and then to provide habitat enhancements for those species.

Birmingham—Doster Construction Company recently completed the construction of a building complex for the Jefferson County Environmental Services. The $6.8 million complex consists of four buildings, a 4,431-square-foot training facility, a 6,600-square-foot instruments facility, a 17,506-square-foot survey inspection facility, and a 2,200-square-foot material storage facility. The Doster team of Project Manager Keith Belcher and Superintendent Andy Cox managed the project. Architectural services were provided by Engineering Service Associates, Inc. of Birmingham.

Birmingham—Jackson Hospitality Services Inc. has been awarded a new hotel development contract. The company will oversee the development and opening of Hotel Saba, a full-service hotel in Rosemary Beach. An Alabama investment group is developing the hotel. The 56-room, four-story hotel is located in the commercial area of Rosemary Beach, a popular residential/commercial development located between Panama City Beach and Destin on Country Road 30-A. off of U.S. Highway 98. The hotel will have a lounge, dining room and meeting rooms. In addition there will be a business center, exercise room with sauna and a pool deck area. The hotel is schedule to open March 2005.

Career Notes
Tuscaloosa—Tim Parker, president of Parker Towing Company Inc., has announced that Chipper Rabbit has been appointed to its Board of Directors effective January 26, 2004. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that Chipper Rabbit has been added to our board,” stated Parker. “He is a valuable asset to our company and we are excited to recognize him in this way.” Rabbit has served as vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Parker Towing since 1997. Prior to joining Parker Towing, he served as vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Shelby Die Casting Company in Fayette, Alabama; division controller for Danskin, Inc in Grenada, Mississippi; and has over 10 years experience in public accounting with BDO Seidman and Ernst & Young in Memphis, Tennessee and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Birmingham—Edward S. Savela, president of Savela & Associates, Inc., a Birmingham-based staffing and recruiting firm, has announced that two new associates have recently joined its team. Amy Alford joined Savela as a staffing specialist, and Bart Marcum, CPA, is now senior consultant in the Accounting division. Ms. Alford received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999 from Auburn University. She joined Savela in December 2003. Marcum, who received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1992 from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is a licensed CPA in both Alabama and Georgia. He also joined Savela in the fourth quarter of 2003.

Tuscaloosa—The State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame will induct five individuals and honor two corporations/institutions during a ceremony on Feb. 21, 2004, at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear.

The Hall of Fame was founded by proclamation of the governor in 1987 to “honor, preserve and perpetuate the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individuals and corporations/institutions and projects that have brought and continue to bring significant recognition to the state.”

Joining the 92 individuals already inducted into the Hall of Fame will be:

Chester C. Carroll, president of Lyman Ward Military Academy, began his electrical engineering career as an Auburn University professor in 1965. During his 17-year tenure at Auburn, Carroll served as vice president of research and dean of engineering. In 1986, he returned to his alma mater, The University of Alabama, to teach as a Cudworth Professor. On retiring from UA in 1993, he had most recently served as inaugural holder of the Drummond Endowed Chair of Computer Architecture. Carroll is also the holder of numerous patents on embedded architecture and highly parallel-embedded architecture using coefficient polynomial arithmetic.

T. Michael Goodrich, chairman, president and CEO of BE&K Inc., combined his civil engineering and law knowledge to become one of the leaders in the construction industry. With his engineering degree from Tulane University and law degree from The University of Alabama, Goodrich started with BE&K in 1972 as the company's legal counsel and assistant secretary. Under Goodrich's leadership, BE&K has developed pathways for minorities and women in all aspects of the engineering and construction industry, with minority-student internships and a construction camp for young women. Also, Goodrich helped to develop BE&K's School of Industrial Construction, designed to teach high-school students construction skills, which has given BE&K recognition in Fortune and Working Mother magazines.

Oliver D. Kingsley Jr., an engineering physics graduate of Auburn University, continues to contribute to the nuclear power industry as the president and chief operating officer of the Exelon Corp., and president and CEO of Exelon Generation, the largest nuclear fleet in the United States and third largest in the world. Exelon Corp.'s headquarters are located in Chicago. Kingsley is a member of the board of directors of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, the Executive Committee of the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the Council of Advisors of the World Nuclear Association. He also serves on the Auburn University Alumni Engineering Council.

Forrest S. McCartney earned a spot in aerospace history through dedication to space programs. Retired Gen. McCartney's 35-year Air Force career culminated in assignment to NASA as director of the Kennedy Space Center. McCartney received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) in 1952 and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. With the Air Force Space Systems Division, he became deputy for space communications systems, vice-commander and commander of the Ballistic Missile Office, and then vice-commander and commander of the Space Systems Division.

Douglas L. McCrary spent his career in the electric power industry bringing innovations which strongly benefit Alabama electric consumers. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University, he worked through many engineering jobs and challenges and was promoted to engineering assistant manager at Alabama Power in 1967. In 1971, he was appointed Alabama Power's vice president for construction. He later became Southern Company Services' executive vice president and CEO of Gulf Power in Florida where he retired in 1994.

Montgomery—Palomar Insurance Corp., a regional independent insurance agency headquartered in Montgomery, hired Bo Gross to serve as account executive. Gross joins Palomar from AAA Cooper Transportation, where he served as an account and terminal Manager. Gross, a native of Dothan, attended Northview High School in Dothan and obtained a degree in Communications from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Dothan—Movie Gallery, Inc. has announced that J. Steven Roy, the company's executive vice president and chief financial officer, plans to resign from the company at the end of March 2004 to pursue private business interests. Movie Gallery also announced the promotions of the following senior level executives, effective with Mr. Roy's departure: Jeffrey S. Stubbs, executive vice-president of operations, will assume the role of chief operating officer; S. Page Todd, executive vice president and general counsel, will assume the responsibilities of chief compliance officer; and Mark S. (Bo) Loyd, executive vice president of Product and Distribution, will assume the responsibility of chief administrative officer. Additionally, Keith A. Cousins, senior vice president of Development, has been promoted to executive vice president of Development; Ivy M. Jernigan, vice president-controller, will become senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Michelle K. Lewis, vice president-finance, will assume the responsibilities of senior vice president-treasurer.

Birmingham—AmSouth Bancorporation has named Beth Mooney, currently senior executive vice president and head of the bank's Tennessee/North Louisiana Banking Group, as chief financial officer, replacing Sloan D. Gibson, who is retiring from banking to pursue volunteer service but will remain at AmSouth for a transitional period. Mooney, who has 26 years of experience in banking, joined AmSouth in 2000 from Bank One Ohio, where she served as president. She had previously served as chief financial officer for Bank One Ohio and holds a master's of business administration in finance from Southern Methodist University.

E.W. "Rusty" Stephenson Jr., who currently heads the Florida and Mississippi Banking Group for AmSouth, will take over for Mooney as head of the bank's Tennessee/North Louisiana Banking Group and will retain responsibility for AmSouth's Mississippi operations. Stephenson has 34 years of experience at AmSouth. Susan Martinez will head AmSouth's Florida Banking Group. She is currently AmSouth's area executive responsible for the West Coast of Florida, an area that extends from Pasco County to Naples. Martinez has more than 30 years of banking experience and joined AmSouth in 1998 after a 25-year career at Barnett Bank. Stan Kryder, who has been responsible for directing AmSouth's Florida branch expansion efforts, will take over as area executive for the West Coast of Florida. Kryder joined AmSouth in 2002 from First Union.

Birmingham—MW/Davis Dumas & Associates has promoted W. Chris Golden, PE to project manager. He joined the mechanical engineering firm in 1997 and will also continue to serve as the company's systems administrator.

Birmingham—F. Lane Finch, Jr., a member of the law firm of Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, served as a faculty member for the seminar “Discovery in Alabama Bad Faith Litigation,” sponsored by the National Business Institute.

Birmingham—M. Miller Gorrie, founder and CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC, was inducted into the Alabama Construction Hall of Fame during an awards ceremony Jan. 9 at The Club. The Alabama AGC established the Hall of Fame in 2000 to honor and recognize outstanding individuals in the construction industry. Gorrie joins the late Winton “Red” Blount, founder of Blount International in Montgomery (2003 inductee); George Edwards, former owner of Richardson Construction Co., in Birmingham (2002 inductee); the late D.W. "Bill" Ellard, of Ellard Contracting Co., Inc., in Birmingham; Paul B. Krebs of Paul B. Krebs & Associates, Inc., of Birmingham, and Nicholas H. Holmes, Jr. of Holmes & Holmes Architects in Mobile, in the Hall of Fame. Ellard, Krebs and Holmes were the first inductees in 2001. Gorrie bought the assets of the Thomas C. Brasfield Co. in 1964, changed the name to Brasfield & Gorrie three years later and grew the small business into a billion dollar company that operates nationally.

Feb. 3, 2004

Briefs
St. Paul, MN—Beginning April 19, Northwest Airlines will offer daily nonstop service between its hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul and Birmingham International Airport.  The new service will be operated with Northwest Airlink affiliate Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jets. The new service will be offered in addition to Northwest’s three existing daily flights between Birmingham and Detroit and four daily flights between Birmingham and Memphis.

Birmingham—Beginning March 12, United Express will offer customers two new, daily round-trip regional jet flights between Birmingham and Denver. United Express carrier Sky West Airlines will operate the service with 70-seat Embraer regional jets. The new flights will depart Birmingham at 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and will return at 10:25 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The new service to Denver brings the number of daily nonstop flights from Birmingham International to 82.

Birmingham—Porter Capital Corporation has participated with a regional bank to provide accountes receivable financing and monitoring for Alabama Heat Exchangers, an industrial contractor from Theodore.

Birmingham—Construction documents are underway on the renovation plans for the sanctuary at Decatur First Baptist Churce. TunerBatson Architects is providing the architectural and interior design services. The project work includes a redesign of the chancel area, the addition of new pews and balcony, lighting updates, new finishes and expanded video capabilities. The music suite will be redesigned and an expanded antiphonal organ will be added. The project team includes Dave Reese, AIA, principal architect, and Kristin Corley, IIDA, interior designer. Turner Universal is providing general contracting services, with Dewey Lynch and Tommy Locke serving as project managers.

Birmingham—Eastern Health System, parent organization of Medical Center East, has finalized arrangements to begin construction of a new, 200,000-square-foot medical office building on the MCE campus. The building is projected to be complete in 18 to 24 months, and represents an agreement for a developer to acquire, manage and develop the new building, as well as two existing professional buildings located on the MCE campus.

Career Notes

Birmingham—Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama recently recognized its Sales, Marketing and National Accounts associates for outstanding achievement in 2003. Rebecca Dunn Flowers, a marketing representative in Birmingham, received the company’s President’s Cup award for the most outstanding sales record over the past year. James M. “Mike” Watkins, Huntsville District; John D. Lowden, Birmingham District; Lane Hester, Mobile District; and Michael H. “Mike” Russell, Riverchase, were also recognized for their sales achievements.

Birmingham—Andy McNiel has been named the new executive director of The Amelia Center, a department of Children’s Health System. McNiel joines the center after serving as the director of development for the Hospice of Martin & St. Lucie. Before working with the hospice, McNiel worked as a bereavement specialist for the center. “I am excited to once again serve with Children’s Hospital and The Amelia Center staff to provide a place for grieving children and families,” he said.

West Point, GA—J. Smith Lanier & Co. has appointed Richard G. “Dick” Clarke senior vice president, corporate resource. Clarke comes to the company with 30 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Birmingham—Anthony R. Smith, a civil trial attorney with the law firm of Sirotte & Permutt, P.C., was honored by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce as their 2003 Ambassador of the Year. In 2003, Smith was also selected as Ambassador of the Month by the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce for his active participation with that civic organization. He is a member of Sirote’s litigation department, where he focuses primarily on corporate class-action defense, creditor’s rights, business torts and appellate litigation.

Birmingham—Children’s Health System has appointed James Michael (Mike) Burgess as chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1, 2003. Burgess joined CHS in 1992 and has served in several roles, including controller for Children’s Hospital and financial officer for Children’s and Women’s Health, the joint operating agreement with UAB. Burgess replaces Joel Barnett, who recently retired from CHS after serving as CFO for the last 17 years.

Roll up Your Sleeves
Birmingham—You’ll feel a little sting, but you’ll feel a lot better afterwards, and you’ll be helping a good cause. A seasonal blood shortage in the region means that state hospitals, including Children’s Hospital, are more reliant than usual on local blood donations. Children’s encourages all eligible donors to consider donating blood this winter.

Blood can be donated to the American Red Cross or the Alabama Community Blood Bank.

In 2003, the Red Cross imported more than 15,000 units of blood from other Red Cross blood regions for hospital patients in Alabama, the Mississippi gulf coast and Florida panhandle because there weren’t enough donors giving blood in this region.  

In general, blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. It’s important to note that donors cannot get sick or get a disease from giving blood. All supplies are used only once for you and then destroyed.

Upcoming blood drives at Children's Hospital will be held Feb. 18-19, March 25 and April 20-21.

Feb. 2, 2004

Briefs
Atlanta—Russell Corporation announced today that its board of directors has approved a proposal to change the company's state of legal incorporation from Alabama to Delaware. The reincorporation proposal will be submitted for consideration at Russell's annual meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on April 21, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. CST, at its offices in Alexander City. The proposed reincorporation would not affect the company's name, headquarters, business, jobs, management, offices or facilities, number of employees, assets, liabilities or net worth. Also, the company's common stock would continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RML. "We believe that Delaware provides a more appropriate and predictable corporate and legal environment that would be beneficial to the Company and our shareholders," said Floyd G. Hoffman, senior vice president and general counsel. More than half of the Fortune 500 publicly traded companies, and more than 75 percent of public companies currently headquartered in Alabama, are incorporated in Delaware.

Career Notes 
Birmingham—HealthSouth Corp. has elected Steven R. Berrard and Edward A. Blechschmidt, 51, to its board of directors and to the special committee of its board of directors, effective January 31, 2004. Berrard is a former vice chairman, president and chief executive officer of Blockbuster Entertainment Group, a division of Viacom, Inc. Blechschmidt is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Gentiva Health Services and former chief financial officer of Unisys Corp.

Birmingham—Calling the act “another mark of its renewed commitment to Baptist Health System’s faith-based foundation,” the company has named Dr. Ed Richardson. D.Min., vice president of Mission Services. BHS was established as a faith-based ministry in 1922. “Dr. Richardson’s appointment signals Baptist Health System’s commitment to a faith-based healing ministry and that a spiritual perspective is an integral component of our strategic vision,” said Beth O’Brien, who joined BHS as president and CEO earlier this month. “His leadership efforts will not only encompass our pastoral care programs across the System, but also will enhance our connection with clergy and congregations in the communities we serve.”

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