Exxel Bringing Back the Jobs

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CNBC recently featured Exxel Outdoors of Haleyville, Alabama as an economic success story because it is bringing jobs back from China. Exxel Outdoors founded in 1996 is a privately held company which currently has approximately 30% of the US sleeping bag market.  Exxel Outdoors employees approximately 115 employees earning an average wage of $14 per hour plus health and other benefits.

Harry Kazazian, CEO of Exxel Outdoors, shared his company through investing in technology can produce a sleeping bag 3% cheeper than it can be produced in China. He futrther shared that Exxel Outdoors now has the most efficient sleeping bag production facility in the world.

Reasons for Coming Back to the US

Production by Country

Exxel Outdoors at a Glance

Exxel Outdoor Customers

Source: CNBC.com Mon. Aug. 17 2009 | 1:44 PM ET – How one U.S. manufacturing company is bringing jobs back to the United States, with Harry Kazazian, Exxel Outdoors CEO and CNBC’s Erin Burnett.

(Front – L to R) Commissoner Ron Sparks, State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries; Amy Hiller, Principal of Meek Elementary; Dr. Joe Morten, Alabama State Superintendent of Educaton (Back) Larry Lee, Director of the Center for Rural Alabama.

After months of intensive study and more than 300 interviews, the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries’ Center for Rural Alabama will release their report, Lessons Learned from Rural Schools, at a banquet on May 6.

The report takes an in-depth look at 10 high-performing rural elementary schools in Alabama.  At least 65 percent of all students at each school receive free and reduced lunches.

Study leaders looked at internal factors at each school as to how principals communicate with teachers, how teachers communicate with students and how principals and teachers interact.  They also looked at community support and education partners.  In addition, 10 teachers at each school were profiled using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator system to determine if there are personality commonalities among good teachers.

The study was funded by a grant from the ALFA Foundation.  The Economic Development Association of Alabama also partnered in the effort.

Each of the 10 schools will be recognized at the banquet.

Schools in the study are: Calcedeaver (Mobile County); Dutton (Jackson County); Ervin (Wilcox County); Fruithurst (Cleburne County) Harlan (Covington County); Huxford (Escambia County); Meek (Winston County); Phil Campbell (Franklin County); Southern Choctaw (Choctaw County); and Turner (Perry County).

Banquet tickets are $25 each. 

Checks should be payable: EDAA-schools

The event will be held at the Marriott Legends at the Robert Trent Jones golf course in Prattville and will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact:
Larry Lee
The Center for Rural Alabama
P. O. Box 3336, Montgomery, AL 36109-0336
334-240-7272
larry.lee@agi.alabama.gov

Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

EMBARGO: September 26, 2008, noon
CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: info@alabamamountainlakes.org

WINSTON COUNTY’S “FREE STATE SESQUICENTENNIAL HOMECOMING CELEBRATION” NAMED EVENT OF THE YEAR
2008 North Alabama PEAK Awards

Mooresville, Ala. – September 25, 2008 – The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) has honored Winston County’s “Free State Sesquicentennial Homecoming Celebration” with the 2008 Event of the Year award. The award is among 10 that comprise the PEAK Awards which will be presented on Friday, September 26 during the AMLA Annual Meeting at Lake Guntersville Sate Park in Guntersville.

The PEAK Awards, the highest achievement in North Alabama tourism, honor individuals and organizations that have had a major impact on tourism in North Alabama. The Event of the Year award is presented to the AMLA member special event or festival that has made a great contribution to tourism in the past year.

The Free State Sesquicentennial Homecoming Celebration was the largest celebration in the history of Winston County. Held June 20-22, 2008 at Looney’s Tavern & Amphitheatre in Double Springs, the 150th Birthday Celebration was a free event with activities including a Winston County Idol Contest, art exhibits, craft demonstrations, historical displays and demonstrations, an old fashion picnic, live music, and children’s activities and rides over the 3-day event. Sunday featured Hallelujah Voices, the largest choir assembled consisting of over 300 participants, and visitors came dressed in 1858 period garments. Festival organizers were expecting approximately 4,000 visitors over the three day event.

“The PEAK Awards allows us to honor those individuals, organizations, and events that are so much a part of North Alabama’s tourism success,” said Dana Lee Jennings, president/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. “Tourism contributed $1.9 billion to North Alabama’s economy in 2007 and supported 29,000 jobs in the 16 northernmost counties of Alabama.”

The PEAK Awards were initiated by the 1997-98 AMLA Executive Committee to recognize past and present members for excellence in the North Alabama tourism industry. Additionally, these awards are a means for the industry to recognize non-industry professionals who have contributed greatly to tourism in the North Alabama region.

The full list of awards and winners is as follows:

• Organization of the Year – Downtown Gadsden Inc.
• Event of the Year – Winston County’s “Free State Sesquicentennial Homecoming Celebration”
• Attraction of the Year – EarlyWorks Museum Complex
• Tourism Professional of the Year – Jennifer Moore, Huntsville/Madison County CVB
• “Good Neighbor Award” Friend of Tourism – John McWilliams, Tuscumbia Railway Company
• Northern Star Award – Terry Jennings, Little Faces Doll Shop
• Young Professional of the Year Award – Lindsey Holt, Florence/Lauderdale Tourism and Lori Boger, Decatur-Morgan County CVB
• Lasting Impression Award – SoulStock
• Chairman’s Cup – Alan Clemons, Huntsville Times
• President’s Award – Representative Johnny Mack Morrow and Professional Angler Timmy Horton

Note: Photos of award recipients are available upon request by calling AMLA at 800.648.5381 or by sending an email toangie@alabamamountainlakes.org.

About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 470-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison,Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available from AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.AlabamaMountainLakes.org.