Rocket fuel for our community’s growth

Thank you for being part of the 2023 Inter-City Visit to “Rocket City” — Huntsville, Alabama!

During these three days, we will focus on:

  • Industry & entrepreneurship.
  • Talent attraction.
  • The music economy.

Together, we’ll bring fresh ideas back home–and put those ideas into practice–as we continue building a nationally recognized economy in Allen County.

Trip agenda

(all times Central Daylight Time)

3 p.m.

Check-in

106 Jefferson Hotel
106 Jefferson St. S
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 288-0128

Apple Map | Google Map

4 p.m.

Session 1: Welcome to Rocket City

106 Jefferson Hotel – 106 Banquet Room

  • Attendee introductions
  • Panel discussion featuring:
    • Chip Cherry – President & CEO, Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce
    • Tommy Battle – Mayor of Huntsville, Ala.
    • Paul Finley – Mayor of Madison, Ala.
    • Mack McCutcheon – Chair of the Madison County Commission

5 p.m.

Cocktail social

5:30 p.m.

Dinner

Sponsored by Ambassador Enterprises

7 p.m.

Free time

7 a.m.

Breakfast (grab and go)

106 Jefferson Hotel
106 Jefferson St. S
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 288-0128

Apple Map | Google Map

8 a.m.

Bus departs for University of Alabama in Huntsville

Snacks and water provided on bus

University of Alabama in Huntsville
301 Sparkman Dr.
Huntsville, AL 35899

Apple Map | Google Map

8:30 a.m.

Session 2: Industry & Entrepreneurship

11:40 a.m.

Bus departs for The Orion Amphitheater

The Orion Amphitheater
701 Amphitheater Dr. NW
Huntsville, AL 35806

Apple Map | Google Map

12 p.m.

Lunch and Session 3: Dead Mall to Mid-City Entertainment District

“Vision to Success” presentation by:

  • Tommy Battle – Mayor of Huntsville, Ala.
  • Shane Davis – Director of Urban and Economic Development, City of Huntsville

“City of Huntsville’s Music Audit” presentation by:

  • Matt Mandrella – Music Officer, City of Huntsville

The Orion Amphitheater tour and presentation by:

  • Ryan Murphy – Managing Director, tvg hospitality
  • Victoria Jones – Community Partnership Manager, tvg hospitality

2 p.m.

Break

2:30 p.m.

Bus departs for U.S. Space & Rocket Center

U.S. Space & Rocket Center
1 Tranquility Base
Huntsville, AL 35805

Apple Map | Google Map

2:45 p.m.

Session 4: Talent Attraction

Tour of U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Early childhood education presentation by:

  • Lucia Cape – Senior VP of Economic Development & Workforce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Lyndsay Ferguson – VP of Workforce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce

$1M marketing experimental campaign presentation by:

  • Lucia Cape – Senior VP of Economic Development & Workforce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce

4:45 p.m.

Bus departs for hotel

106 Jefferson Hotel
106 Jefferson St. S
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 288-0128

Apple Map | Google Map

5 p.m.

Break

6:15 p.m.

Walk to dinner

Mazzara’s Vinoteca
102 Gates Ave. SW
Huntsville, AL 35801

Apple Map | Google Map

6:30 p.m.

Group photo and dinner

Dinner sponsored by Barrett & Stokely

7:15 a.m.

Depart for Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
225 Church St. NW
Huntsville, AL 35801

Apple Map | Google Map

7:30 a.m.

Breakfast

8 a.m.

Session 5: How Economic Deals Get Done

Presentation by:

  • Chip Cherry – President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Shane Davis – Director of Urban and Economic Development, City of Huntsville

9 a.m.

Drive to Campus No. 805

Campus No. 805
2620 Clinton Ave. W
Huntsville, AL 35805

Apple Map | Google Map

9:30 a.m.

Session 6: Tour of Campus No. 805

Meet in the cafeteria

Tour led by:

  • Cooper Schrimsher – Director, Campus 805

10:30 a.m.

Depart for Stovehouse

Stovehouse
3414 Governors Dr. SW
Huntsville, AL 35805

Apple Map | Google Map

10:45 a.m.

Session 7: Stovehouse presentation and tour

Meet in the Cantina

Lunch vouchers distributed upon arrival

Presentation and tour led by:

  • Patti Yancey – Owner / CFO, Stovehouse Properties

11:45 a.m.

Session 8: Lunch and debrief

Discussion led by:

  • John Urbahns – President & CEO, Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
  • Zach Benedict – Board Chair, Greater Fort Wayne Inc.

1 p.m.

Depart from Huntsville

Key contacts

Here’s who you’ll be traveling with and learning from:

  • Zach Barrett – Barrett & Stokely
  • Rex Barrett – Barrett & Stokely
  • Zach Benedict – MKM architecture + design
  • Dana Berkes – NIPSCO
  • Jill Boggs – Visit Fort Wayne
  • Matthew Booker – Matt Booker Agency Inc.
  • Patrick Buesching – Don Wood Foundation
  • Clifford Clarke – C2IT Advisors
  • Jim Cook – STAR Financial Bank
  • Ellen Cutter – Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
  • Tom Didier – Fort Wayne / Allen County Local Elected Officials
  • John Dortch – The Preston Joan Group, Inc.
  • Gralan Early – Ambassador Enterprises, LLC
  • Nikeshia Fomby – City of Fort Wayne
  • Mike Fritsch – Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Inc.
  • Deborah Garrison – Indiana University Fort Wayne
  • Tom Garrison – Indiana University Fort Wayne
  • Brenda Gerber Vincent – Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
  • Sherry Grate – Ambassador Enterprises, LLC
  • Jenna Gunn – Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
  • Lindsay Hannah – Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
  • Justin Hayes – Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana
  • G. Herb Hernandez – Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • B.J. Hull – Purdue University Fort Wayne
  • Laura Macknick – Don Wood Foundation
  • Susan Mendenhall – Don Wood Foundation
  • Amanda Muldoon – NAI Hanning & Bean
  • Nelson Peters – Allen County Government
  • Kelly Rentschler – Indiana Michigan Power
  • Dan Ross – Arts United
  • Dan Stoker – Indiana Tech
  • Nancy Townsend – City of Fort Wayne
  • Ron Turpin – Ambassador Enterprises, LLC
  • Kelly Updike – Embassy Theatre
  • John Urbahns – Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
  • Bob Walters – Allen County Fort Wayne Development Trust, Inc.
  • Tommy Battle – Mayor of Huntsville, Ala.
  • Lucia Cape – Senior VP of Economic Development & Workforce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
  • Chip Cherry – President & CEO, Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Shane Davis – Director of Urban and Economic Development, City of Huntsville
  • Lyndsay Ferguson – VP of Workforce, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
  • Paul Finley – Mayor of Madison, Ala.
  • Victoria Jones – Community Partnership Manager, tvg hospitality
  • Matt Mandrella – Music Officer, City of Huntsville
  • Mack McCutcheon – Chair, Madison County Commission
  • Ryan Murphy – Managing Director, tvg hospitality
  • Cooper Schrimsher – Director, Campus 805
  • Patti Yancey – Owner / CFO, Stovehouse Properties

Lindsay Hannah
260-602-6200
lhannah@gfwinc.com

Jenna Gunn
260-224-7847
jgunn@gfwinc.com

Sponsors

Thanks to the sponsors who made this Inter-City Visit possible:

Ambassador Enterprises. Logo.
Barrett & Stokely. Logo.
Indiana Michigan Power. Logo.
MKM Architecture and Design yellow and grey logo
NIPSCO. Logo.