Beyond Rockets

Clark Dunn
  • ٥٫٠ (٢٩)
  • ريادة الأعمال
  • يتم التحديث كل أسبوعين

As Huntsville AL is primarily known for being the Rocket City because of its close association with the US Space Missions but Huntsville is so much more than that Huntsville is home to many high-tech companies, entrepreneurs involved in interesting startups, talented creatives, and much much more. My goal is to introduce you to some of these individuals that are taking Huntsville Beyond the Rocket.

  1. ١٧ فبراير

    Episode 270: Changing the Landscape: Jack Fite on 50 Years of Fite Building Company

    In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jack Fite, CEO of Fite Building Company, to talk about five decades of construction in North Alabama. Jack shares his journey from growing up in a family lumber business to leading a multi-regional construction firm, celebrating 50 years in business. Along the way, he opens up about the early grind, navigating economic downturns, Huntsville’s explosive growth, and why optimism is essential to building strong teams. They dive into Fite Building’s commitment to being true “builders,” the importance of investing in young talent and the trades, and how the company’s Plus 1 culture focuses on getting better every day. This conversation covers leadership, succession planning, workforce development, and what it really takes to grow a company that lasts. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, construction, building great teams, or shaping the future of North Alabama, this episode is for you. https://www.fitebuilding.com

    ٣٦ من الدقائق

  2. ٣ فبراير

    Episode 269: Scaling The Vessel and Building Creative Community in Huntsville with Jordyn Brummett

    In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jordyn Brummett, co-owner of The Vessel, a community pottery studio in Huntsville, to reflect on how far the journey has come since her first appearance on the podcast more than three years ago. Jordyn shares the story of launching The Vessel as a brand-new concept, testing the idea at Stove House, and quickly realizing the demand for creative space and community in Huntsville. She walks through the lessons learned from outgrowing their original studio, the challenges of balancing classes, memberships, and limited space, and how those experiences shaped the vision for their next chapter. The conversation also dives into the personal side of entrepreneurship including taking calculated risks, growing a business as a family, and knowing when the timing is right for a big leap. Jordyn explains how The Vessel’s move to Lincoln Mill finally allows the studio to fully support memberships, deepen community connections, and create room for long-term growth. This episode is a candid look at building momentum, learning as you go, and taking small steps toward a vision that won’t let you go. Our 1st Podcast in 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-01L0Qn_0w The Vessel https://www.thevesselstudio.org

    ٢٥ من الدقائق

  3. ٢٠ يناير

    Episode 268: How Huntsville Became One of the Hottest Retail Markets in the South with Anusha Davis

    In this episode of Beyond Rockets, host Clark Dunn sits down with Anusha Davis, Vice President of Retail at Crunkleton Commercial, for an in-depth look at the evolution of Huntsville’s retail and mixed-use real estate landscape. Born and raised in Huntsville, Anusha shares her unconventional path into commercial real estate, starting with a background in communications and journalism before finding her footing in development and brokerage. She discusses what it’s like to work on both sides of the table as a broker and former small business owner, and how that experience shapes the way she advocates for local entrepreneurs. The conversation dives into Huntsville’s explosive post-2020 growth, major mixed-use projects like Stadium Commons and Front Row, and why national retailers are now prioritizing Huntsville over traditional markets like Birmingham. Anusha also breaks down retail vacancy rates, what major announcements like Mazda Toyota and Eli Lilly mean for the city, and which submarkets to watch heading into 2026. From North Parkway and South Huntsville to Lincoln Mill, Five Points, and beyond, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Huntsville is being thoughtfully planned, brokered, and built for the future. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anushaalapati/https://www.crunkletonassociates.com

    ٢٩ من الدقائق

  4. ٦ يناير

    Episode 267: Downtown Huntsville’s Scratch-Made Trio: Inside The Standard, Del Chuco, and The Local

    In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Chef James Brown (The Standard), Ben Brennan (Del Chuco), and Luke Hawk (The Local)—three key leaders behind Huntsville’s Mercado Group. They share how their paths first crossed in Huntsville kitchens years ago, what it’s been like building three distinct downtown concepts in rapid succession, and why making nearly everything from scratch is non-negotiable. You’ll hear stories from opening weekend chaos, how the teams collaborate across restaurants, and what goes into evolving menus when the crowd doesn’t “get it” right away. Plus, they unpack Del Chuco’s Underground vibe, the catering arm of the group, and tease what might be coming next in 2026. https://themercadogrouphsv.com

    ٣٧ من الدقائق

  5. ١٦‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Episode 266: How Mazda Toyota Is Growing People, Cars, and Community in North Alabama with David Fernandes

    In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with David Fernandes, Senior Vice President at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing and Group Vice President for Toyota, to go inside one of North Alabama’s most transformative projects. David shares his journey from growing up near the Indy 500 and working at GM and Rolls-Royce to leading multiple Toyota plants across the U.S., South Africa, and now the joint Mazda Toyota facility in Huntsville. He explains how the $2.3B plant was built during the pandemic, how it now produces Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-50 models at incredible volume, and why they’ve grown to a 4,000-person workforce pulled from a 60-mile radius. David also talks about culture, career paths that don’t require a four-year degree, local partnerships with schools and nonprofits, and why he believes “nothing’s impossible” when a team is aligned. If you’ve ever driven past the massive facility near Greenbriar and wondered what happens inside, this conversation pulls back the curtain. https://mazdatoyota.com https://www.instagram.com/mazdatoyotamanufacturing/

    ٤٠ من الدقائق

  6. ٠٢‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٥

    Episode 265: How Make It Matter Collective is Rewriting the Future for Huntsville’s Foster Youth with Erica Hardesty

    In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with Erica Hardesty, Founder & Executive Director of Make It Matter Collective and Owner of Noella’s Flowers, to explore how one idea, one flower truck, and one leap of faith turned into a movement changing the lives of young people aging out of foster care. Erica shares her journey from social work to launching a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring teens ages 13–19, providing stability, life skills, and real pathways to adulthood. She also opens up about building Noella’s Flowers—from a vintage truck to a thriving storefront—and how it fuels job opportunities and funding for Make It Matter. The conversation dives into: What it really looks like for teens aging out of foster care in Alabama How Make It Matter is partnering with Huntsville City Schools The vision behind the 614 Initiative, a $7.5M housing project designed to provide safe, supportive transitional living The role of mentorship, community, and faith in building long-term change What anyone with a dream or idea should do next Whether you're interested in social impact, entrepreneurship, community building, or Huntsville’s growing nonprofit landscape, this episode will absolutely inspire you. https://www.makeitmattercollective.com Sponsored by Yellowhammer Brewing — learn more at yellowhammerbrewery.com.

    ٢٥ من الدقائق

  7. ١٨‏/١١‏/٢٠٢٥

    Episode 264: Mobilizing Generosity: Inside the Community Foundation with Melissa Thompson

    In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Thompson, CEO & President of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, for a powerful conversation about generosity, growth, and what makes Huntsville unlike anywhere else. Melissa shares her journey from growing up across multiple states to eventually landing in Huntsville, where she found a city defined by innovation, collaboration, and open arms. She walks through the early days of the Community Foundation, its explosive growth since 2011, and the pivotal moment in 2020 that shaped the Foundation’s identity and mission: mobilizing generosity. From the impact of early ESOP partnerships with Dynetics and Torch Technologies, to navigating COVID-19 relief, to equipping the next generation of philanthropists through programs like Give256, Melissa offers a transparent and inspiring look at how generosity fuels community transformation across North Alabama. Whether you’re a young professional wanting to get involved, a nonprofit leader seeking insight, or simply someone who loves Huntsville, this episode is full of wisdom on leadership, relationships, philanthropy, and the future of giving in the Rocket City. https://givehsv.org Sponsored by Yellowhammer Brewing. http://yellowhammerbrewery.com

    ٣٤ من الدقائق

  8. ٠٤‏/١١‏/٢٠٢٥

    Episode 263: How Lee Marshall Built Kids to Love into a Lifeline for Foster Youth

    Former TV anchor turned “socialpreneur” Lee Marshall shares the 20-year story behind Kids to Love—one of Alabama’s most impactful nonprofits serving children in foster care. Lee opens up about her adoption roots, the flight that sparked the nonprofit’s founding in 2004, and how Kids to Love grew from a garage project into a statewide ecosystem: K-TECH workforce training, college scholarships, a child-placing agency, Davidson Farms and cottages for girls aging out of care, and the new Smith Family Wellness Center—home to one of the nation’s most comprehensive trauma therapy programs. We also dig into Alabama’s new Safe Haven baby boxes (and how Lee helped make them a reality), scaling best practices to Tennessee, winning “Best Place to Work,” building a leadership team, and why education—not band-aids—is the path out of poverty.Holiday help: Kids to Love provides full wish lists (toys + clothes) for 2,000+ kids each year. Grab an ornament at partner locations or learn how to get involved at Kids2Love.org.Sponsored by:NexGen Crane & Rigging — nexgencrane.comYellowhammer Brewing — yellowhammerbrewery.com

    ٥١ من الدقائق
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As Huntsville AL is primarily known for being the Rocket City because of its close association with the US Space Missions but Huntsville is so much more than that Huntsville is home to many high-tech companies, entrepreneurs involved in interesting startups, talented creatives, and much much more. My goal is to introduce you to some of these individuals that are taking Huntsville Beyond the Rocket.

المعلومات

  • صناع العمل
    Clark Dunn
  • سنوات النشاط
    ٢٠١٩ - ٢٠٢٦
  • الحلقات
    ٢٧٠
  • التقييم
    ملائم
  • حقوق النشر
    © Clark Dunn
  • موقع البرنامج على الويب
    Beyond Rockets