The Business Alabama Podcast

John Gardner, president and CEO of Luckie, talks about the Birmingham marketing agency's seven-decade history and about its future.

David Maluff, co-owner of Full Moon Bar-B-Que, talks about being in the barbecue business with his brother, Joe Maluff.

Abe Harper and Dave King talk about their work on the Alabama Innovation Corporation.

Ryan Hankins, executive director of the Public Affairs Council of Alabama, talks about what PARCA does and, in particular, its latest report on Medicaid expansion in Alabama.

Founder Devin Ford talks about the upcoming Focus Women's Conference at the Mobile Convention Center.

Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, talks about his nearly two decades on the job and his new book highlighting civil rights tourism locations.

The founder and CEO of Fort Payne's Artemis Shielding talks about building materials that shield people from radiation.

Mark Tina, vice president for business sales for Verizon, talks about his company's options for mid-sized businesses, as well as the benefits of 5G and more technology coming our way.

Julius Uhlmann, CEO of Micor Industries, talks about the company's evolution over the past two decades and a bit about its future.

Nate Schmidt, managing director of the TechStars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator, talks about the relatively new incubator for startups geared toward clean energy and sustainability.

David Fowler, founder, owner and managing partner of Development Solutions, talks about his health care construction background and how his new company is bringing creative solutions to the health care industry.

Matt Pierce talks about the genesis and explosive growth of Immediate, his Birmingham-based company offering earned wage access to employees.

Liz Swack, recruiting manager for Robins and Morton, talks about recruitment and retention, including the company's Be a True Builder campaign.

Dr. Nichole Thompson has only been at the Lab on Dexter for the three weeks, but as executive director, she has big plans for the Montgomery innovation lab.

Protective Life Corp. CEO and President Rich Bielen talks about his history with the company and the rebranding effort the company is going through now, including the logo that will be on the new Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham.

Tom Dekle, a lifelong fan of Milo's Hamburgers, became CEO of the Alabama company about a decade ago. He talks about the company's past and future, including planned expansion and that secret, controversial sauce.

Alabama Finance Director Bill Poole and Sen. Greg Reed talk about the Alabama Innovation Commission, the statewide entrepreneurship and innovation commission that they lead.

Tim Arnold talks about creating Auburn's "Musical Road," a portion of road that plays the Auburn fight song, "War Eagle," as you drive over it. It's fast becoming a must-drive destination for Auburn fans, and Arnold would like to expand to other markets.

After careers that took her from a large New York ad agency to a small startup -- with a stint at Redstone Arsenal, too -- Megan Nivens-Tannett became a self-taught entrepreneur to found and become CEO of Flourish, her marketing and PR firm in Huntsville. She talks about that trek and the advice she gives today to clients who are looking to start businesses or expand existing ones.

Chris Jones talks about Westwater's newest venture, a graphite processing and mining company in Coosa County, Alabama. The graphite will be used in lithium batteries.

Carmen Mays, founder of the consulting firm and think-tank Elevators and most recently a Grow with Google Digital Coach, talks about the inequity of the creative economy and steps to take to change that. 

Rhett Ross has had his eyes on the sky for awhile now, first as head of Continental Aerospace and now as CEO of Deuce Drone, a Mobile startup that's delivering food and other items to your doorstep via drones.

Zac Young is just recently out of college, but he's already founded Vulcan Line Tools, an award-winning Alabama startup. He talks about competing for startup funding, working with Auburn's New Venture Accelerator and what the future holds for his company.

Alexander Shunnarah, Alabama's billboard king, talks about his famous marketing tool, how he got started in the law business and how he unwinds when he has some time off.

Anna Buckalew, president and CEO of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, talks about her city's past, how focuses have changed over the years and the momentum that's building in economic development.