November 2018

 
AUM Among South’s Top Regional Universities
 
U.S. News & World Report recognized Auburn University at Montgomery among its top regional universities in the South in its annual survey of the nation’s best educational institutions. Among regional universities in the South, AUM ranked 22nd for the quality of its undergraduate teaching program and 38th among public institutions. AUM’s College of Business also ranked among the business schools nationally. “We are delight­ed that Auburn University at Montgomery’s academic programs have once again been recognized for their high level of quality,” said AUM Chancellor Dr. Carl A. Stockton.
 
Huntingdon Named to College Consensus Top 5
 
Huntingdon College has been named among the best colleges and universities in Alabama by College Consensus, a new col­lege aggregator. The ranking shows that Huntingdon achieved the highest student consensus of any college in the state and ranks overall in the top five colleges and universities. “What is most important to me about this ranking,” said Huntingdon College president J. Cameron West, “is that students are independently reporting their satisfaction with the Huntingdon College experience. We work hard to make sure students know they are valued members of this learning community.”
 
Huntingdon Shines in 2019 Ranking
 
With the release of the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Ameri­ca’s Best Colleges ranking list, Huntingdon College has climbed two spots to No. 11 among Regional Colleges-South, and is ranked sixth among Best Values in the region. With an over­all score of 69, Huntingdon places third among colleges and universities in Alabama and in the top 16 percent of all four-year colleges and universities reported in the magazine. “Huntingdon continues to climb in the annual U.S. News ranking,” said Huntingdon President J. Cameron West. “We are thrilled that Huntingdon’s strengths and academic reputation are confirmed not just by those of us who are part of this great college, but also by data that compares us with colleges and universities across America.”
 
Auburn University at Montgomery College of Education Earns Great Grades
 
Graduates of Auburn University at Montgomery’s College of Education earned high marks on the recent Alabama State Department of Education Educator Preparation Report Card. AUM students performed well above the state average on two components of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program, with 100 percent passing the Principles of Learning and Teaching test component on the first try and 89 percent passing the Multiple Subjects portion on the first try. The state first-time average pass rate for both sections is 94 percent and 82 percent, respectively.
 
Employers offered highly favorable ratings of the strength and effectiveness of AUM graduates in a multitude of areas, includ­ing their ability to “engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication to address authentic local and global issues” and “manage the learning environment to engage learners actively.” New classroom teachers from AUM scored 15 percentage points above the state average in both categories and 14 points above the state average in communicating with students, parents, and the public school about Alabama’s assessment system and Alabama educational improvement initiatives.
 
Retail Businesses Recognized
 
The Alabama Retail Association honored 15 retail businesses with stores in 78 Alabama cities as Retailers of the Year and Centennial Retailers in mid-October during the 2018 Alabama Retail Day luncheon. Local retailers and Chamber members honored were: Theo Katechis and Costas “Gus” Katechis, Owner and Manager of Chris’ Famous Hot Dogs, the team at Renfroe’s Market and Owner Robert Renfroe and Vice President Rob Renfroe, and George R. Wilder, owner and CEO of The Locker Room stores in Montgomery and Auburn.
 
Troy University Program Honored
 
Troy University’s Risk Management and Insurance Program has been recognized by the A.M. Best Company as one of the top 20 RMI programs in the country. “Best’s Review” wanted to see which college programs were preparing students for a career in the industry. The company solicited responses from readers and industry professionals, who named 272 collegiate programs, and in­terviewed hiring managers and human resources professionals at 28 of the largest insurance carriers and brokerages. In those responses, 100 universities stood out, but 20 were singled out. Troy University was one of just five schools to make the survey’s “Contenders” list and one of just two in the Southeastern United States to be included.
 
Local Lawyer Serving on AAJ Executive Committee
 
Beasley Allen principal Navan Ward has been elected to serve as Secretary of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Each year at the annual convention, members elect six officers to help lead the professional organization. Ward and his fellow 2018-2019 officers were elected during the group’s convention in Denver, Colorado. The AAJ provides trial attorneys with information, professional support and a nationwide network that enables them to most effectively and expertly represent clients. It works to promote a fair and effective justice system—and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or neg­ligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests.
 
A longtime member, Ward has served on the AAJ Executive Committee for several terms including as Treasurer last year and Parliamentarian during the 2016-2017 term. He also chairs the Leaders Forum Advisory Committee, the DePuy Metal on Metal and Biomet Metal on Metal Litigation Groups, and is the past chair of the Minority Caucus and the Diversity Committee. He has also served on AAJ’s Board of Governors, Convention Planning Committee, National Finance Council, and PAC Task Force.
 
Beasley Allen Scores Long List of “Best Lawyers”
 
Nineteen lawyers from Beasley Allen were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2019. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Included on the list are the firm’s Principal & Found­er, Jere L. Beasley, as well as J. Greg Allen, Michael J. Crow, Thomas J. Methvin, J. Cole Portis, W. Daniel “Dee” Miles III, Andy D. Birchfield Jr., Rhon E. Jones, Benjamin E. Baker Jr., LaBarron N. Boone, Da­vid B. Byrne III, Kendall C. Dunson, R. Graham Esdale Jr., Benjamin L. Locklar, P. Leigh O’Dell, W. Roger Smith III, C. Gibson Vance, Navan Ward Jr. and E. Frank Woodson. Beasley Allen lawyers were also recognized for their successes and named “Lawyer of the Year” in three categories: C. Gibson Vance was named the Best Lawyers 2019 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Montgomery. Rhon E. Jones was named the Best Lawyers® 2019 Litigation – Environmental “Lawyer of the Year” in Montgomery. W. Roger Smith, III was named the Best Lawyers 2019 Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Montgomery.
 
Caddell Construction Earns High Ranking
 
Business Alabama has recognized Caddell Construction Co. as one of 2018’s Best Companies to Work for in Alabama. Caddell was selected as the best large construction/engineering company in the state and ranked No. 6 among all large Alabama businesses and government entities based on employee satisfaction as well as workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demo­graphics. Business Alabama used Best Companies Group, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to conduct the survey and evaluate the data. The anonymous employee survey was 75 percent of the point total and by far the most important metric.
 
Gilpin Givhan Attorneys Receive Recognition
 
The Gilpin Givhan law firm is listed in the 25th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America as well as four of its attorneys. A fifth attorney is listed in The National Law Journal’s 2018 Elite Lawyer of the South edition. John Ward Weiss is not only in the Best Lawyers in America but is also being recognized as the 2019 Lawyer of the
 
Alabama Power & PowerSouth Named to Select List
 
The Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative were both recently named on Site Selection’s annual list of “Top Utilities in Economic Development” that recognizes a very select group of utilities across the United States. “Dependable and affordable power still lies at the root” of site selection, the publi­cation said about the honorees. The write-up also praised the companies’ tremendous impact on their respective local com­munities, saying, “Utilities’ own operations do their part too, with the power company con­tributing to overall community welfare in a multitude of ways from job creation to taxes.” While Alabama Power and its work are known by many, PowerSouth’s well-deserved recognition has come from its efforts in rural areas of the state. Based in Andalusia, PowerSouth is an energy coop­erative that serves consumers in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties through its 20 distri­bution members — 16 electric cooperatives and four munic­ipal electric systems. “We are proud to receive recognition as a Top Utility in Economic Development,” PowerSouth Vice President of External Affairs Horace Horn said. “We have a dedicated team that strives to be a sought after resource for our electric cooperative mem­bers and our local economic development organizations.
 
Montgomerian Receives DAR Medal of Honor
 
Nimrod Frazer was recently bestowed the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Medal of Honor, a prestigious honor that he received at the DAR Continental Congress event in Washing­ton, D.C. Frazer was recognized for his “incredible contributions to our nation.” The DAR Medal of Honor recognizes an individual who has shown extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthi­ness, service and patriotism. DAR pointed to Frazer’s exemplary career, active civic involvement and commitment to patriotism as perfect examples of one individual's ability to make a difference and noted his remarkable dedication to American history, espe­cially the little known story of the Rainbow Division.
 
Year in healthcare law. The Lawyer of the Year award is presented to only one attorney in each practice area and community. Other Gilpin Givhan attorneys in Best Lawyers in America are Robert E.L. Gilpin, Davis H. Smith and Robert Ritchey. Gregg B. Everett ap­pears in The National Law Journal’s 2018 Elite Lawyer of the South for his work in health care law.
 
Felicia Smith New President Montgomery NAWIC
 
Felicia Smith, Caddell’s Contract Insurance Supervisor, was in­stalled on September 11 as the new President of the Montgomery Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). NAWIC is a 55-year-old organization dedicated to the advancement and training of women for leadership positions in the construction industry, with the Montgomery Chapter one of its most active and distinguished nationwide. “I am excited about this opportunity to give back to an industry that has meant so much to me and my family. Women have dramatically increased their role and influence in construction over the past two decades and NAWIC has been an important part of that success,” Smith said.
 
Five Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Attorneys Honored
 
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that five of the firm’s Montgomery attorneys have been listed in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, one of the most highly regard­ed attorney referral publications. “We congratulate the Bradley attorneys who have been recognized in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America as among the top attorneys in their practice areas,” said Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff. The Montgomery attorneys selected are W. Stanley Gregory, William C. McGowin, George R. Parker, Robert Emmett Poundstone IV and Charles Stewart.
 
Rushton Stakely Lawyers Named Best Lawyers 2019
 
Rushton Stakely announced that 17 of its attorneys were chosen for the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The selected lawyers are: Dennis R. Bailey, Jeffrey W. Blitz, L. Peyton Chapman, William I. Eskridge, Alan T. Hargrove, William S. Haynes, R. Austin Huffaker Jr., J. Theodore Jackson Jr., Paul M. James Jr., Thomas H. Keene, Daniel L. Lindsey, Patrick M. Shegon, Christopher S. Simmons, Frank J. Stakely, Fred W. Tyson, Helen Crump Wells and Benjamin C. Wilson.
 
Rushton Stakely Attorney President of ADLA
 
Rushton Stakely announced that shareholder Dennis R. Bailey was elected 2018-2019 President of the Alabama Defense Lawyers As­sociation (ADLA) during the 2018 Annual Meeting. Bailey has been a long-standing member of ADLA, serving in various capacities, including his most recent position of President-Elect 2017-2018. ADLA is a professional organization that is committed to improving the practice of law.
 
Starke Agency, Inc. Included in Best Practices Study
 
Starke Agency, Inc. retains its Best Practices status, once again becoming a part of an elite group of independent insurance agen­cies around the United States. This status comes by participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) Best Practices Study group. The annual survey and study of leading independent insurance agencies documents the business practices of the “best” agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices. “We are humbled to again be awarded the Best Practice Award for the twelfth consecutive year,” said Bolling
P. (Trey) Starke, III, President and CEO of Starke Agency, Inc. “We continue to invest in people, value-added services and customer friendly technology to position us for the future.”
 
Neighborhood Receives 2018 Reader’s Choice 1st Place
 
The Waters in Pike Road was named the 2018 Montgomery Adver­tiser Reader’s Choice Best New Home Community/Development in Montgomery County. “We are honored that the River Region has selected us for this award many years over,” said Jennifer Atkins, Vice President of The Waters and Qualifying Broker of New Waters Realty. “It’s our goal to continue to provide a unique new home product and outstanding amenities to our current and future residents.” The Waters offers stunning new homes and home sites in Pike Road and has consistently rated as a top Traditional Neigh­borhood Design (“TND”) Community.
 
C2 Technologies, Inc. Wins U.S. Air Force Contract
 
C2 Technologies, Inc. recently announced the award of U.S. Air Force’s C-17 Training Systems contract as part of the Boeing Global Services Team. The overall value of the 6.5-year contract is up to $986 million to “operate, sustain, modify and upgrade” the USAF’s C-17 Globemaster III aircrew and maintenance training systems at 14 air bases nationwide. C2 will provide system training courseware and simulator maintenance support.
 
Pate Landscape Co. Recognizes Rising Star
 
Pate Landscape Co., Inc. has announced that Sam McCaskey is being recognized for his high level of leadership from the Alabama Associated General Contractors (AGC) and Business Alabama. McCaskey will be inducted into the inaugural class of the Top 40 Under 40 in commercial con­struction. McCaskey has proven himself with his commitment to excellence and his commitment to the construction industry. McCaskey has just completed a high-profile landscape project for the new sculpture garden at the Montgom­ery Museum of Fine Arts.
 
Landmarks Foundation Honors Firm
 
Beasley Allen Law Firm was presented with the annual James L. Loeb Preservation Award by the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery on September 6. The award recognizes the firm’s contributions to preserving Montgomery’s historic resources and heritage, specifically capitalizing on the distinctive architectural character of lower Commerce Street. Beasley Allen has invested millions in historic preserva­tion and revitalization of downtown Montgomery, including purchasing and renovating historic buildings along Commerce Street, a jewel of downtown, that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, with boundary expansions in 1982 and 1987.
“Our law firm was honored to have been selected for this award,” said founder Jere Beasley. “It is very important to preserve buildings, monuments and other physical locations from earlier times because they bring life to a shared history that we can reflect on with fondness, and remember lessons learned from past mistakes. Beasley Allen has been blessed with resources that have allowed us to restore tangible connections to Montgomery’s past.”
 
Bradley Named Product Liability Firm of the Year
 
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that the firm has been named the Product Liability Firm of the Year by the LMG Life Sciences Awards 2018. Bradley garnered the top spot in the Product Liability category among a group of seven other nominated law firms. The firm was formally recognized September 12 at LMG’s Annual Awards Cere­mony in New York City. Now in its sixth year, the awards recognize the year’s top firms and legal professionals operating in the life sciences sector.