Beyond Rockets
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.
Episodes
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 Huntsv...
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 stab...
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 ...
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 ...
On this episode of Beyond Rockets, we sit down with Larry Lowe, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Huntsville. Larry shares his path from radar engineering and startup life to Fractal Brewing and data/AI, then into City Hall, where he’s helping the City of Huntsville, Huntsville Utilities, and the Solid Waste Disposal Authority use technology responsibly and transparently.
We talk about:
What a municipal CIO actually does—a...
We take Beyond Rockets on the road—straight into a golf bay. Co-owners Kerry and Jassen Garner share how their “fun factory” idea became The Golf Lab, South Huntsville’s new indoor golf hub offering public bookings and 24/7 member access. We dig into why they chose UNEEKOR launch monitors with multi-camera capture, an AI swing trainer, session logging, and exportable shot data—plus how GS Pro unlocks 1,700+ courses (from The Ledges...
In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Matt Curtis, founder of Matt Curtis Real Estate and leader of Alabama’s #1 real estate team for the past six years. From his beginnings as a computer engineering graduate in Knoxville to becoming one of Huntsville’s most recognized real estate leaders, Matt shares his journey of faith, family, and entrepreneurship.
He talks about the pivotal career changes that brought...
Huntsville muralist Jessie Andrews returns to Beyond Rockets with a four-year update that’s hard to miss—literally. From her chandelier in “Chandelier Alley” behind 106 Jefferson, to Good Fortune at MidCity, to multiple pieces at The Orion Amphitheater, Jessie breaks down the making of Huntsville’s largest mural at Stella: a 2.5-year journey with five months on the lift, winter pauses, and a toolkit that ranges from squiggle grids ...
In this episode of Beyond Rockets, host Clark Dunn sits down with Matt Herring and Jason Cunningham, two of the three co-founders of Method Mixology—a Huntsville-based venture blending hospitality, education, and entertainment through the art of cocktails.
Matt and Jason share their unique journeys from careers in ministry and defense contracting to launching Method Mixology alongside their partner, Renee. What began as casual night...
In this episode, we sit down with Dylan Cavaliere and Ryan Saunders of Altos Mensa, a social club designed to connect and inspire young professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in Huntsville and beyond.
Dylan and Ryan share the story of how Altos Mensa began—from early podcast collaborations to recognizing a gap in fun, engaging networking opportunities for 20- and 30-somethings. They walk through their first event, the lessons l...
In this episode of Beyond Rockets, I sit down with David Lewis, founder of Coffee Break—Huntsville’s small-batch specialty coffee roaster with a big vision. From engineering to nonprofits to tech, David’s winding journey eventually led him back to Huntsville (and into his garage), where a love for roasting turned into a thriving community-focused business.
We talk about:
How Coffee Break began with a popcorn popper in Portland
The...
In this episode, we sit down with Huntsville native Ricky Fernandez, the Marketing Promotions Director and Game Day MC for the Rocket City Trash Pandas. From producing morning radio shows to selling chicken out of a truck during COVID, Ricky shares his winding journey to becoming the voice and energy behind one of Minor League Baseball’s most exciting franchises.We dive into:The early days of the Trash Pandas and the challenge of l...
In this re-release episode, we sit down with Dr. Nemil Shah, physician and co-founder of ApproXie Urgent Care, to revisit one of our most inspiring conversations to date. Dr. Shah shares his journey from growing up in Huntsville to building one of the area’s most innovative healthcare brands—starting with a buggy app idea, $5,000 in the bank, and a leased former Dairy Queen.
We dive into how ApproXie began as a software solution...
In this episode of Beyond Rockets, host Clark Dunn chats with Kamerra Liles, Assistant General Manager at The Orion Amphitheater and operations lead for the newly revived The Lumberyard in Huntsville.
Kamerra shares her journey from community events in Hawaii to shaping Huntsville’s hospitality scene with TVG Hospitality. She dives into the transformation of The Lumberyard—from historic lumberyard to vibrant event space—and how it’s...
In this episode, Emily Jones shares how she went from nursing to launching The Dirty Olive, Huntsville’s popular new bar and lounge. She talks about starting with a mobile tap trailer, transforming a former downtown space into a photogenic cocktail spot, and the lessons she’s learned as a first-time business owner. We cover growing a brand through social media, balancing creativity with operations, and tips for anyone ready to take...
In this episode, I sit down with Victoria Pittman, Marketing Manager for Power Brands Hospitality Group, to talk about the launch of their newest concept: One Eleven, a refined and experiential restaurant located in the heart of downtown Huntsville. We explore the fast-paced six-month journey that transformed the former Heritage Club into a vibrant destination known for its upscale atmosphere, innovative cocktails, and thoughtful m...
Originally released in 2023, this episode features a conversation with Dennis Madsen, Manager of Long-Range and Urban Planning for the City of Huntsville. As we revisit this insightful discussion, you'll hear about the vision, strategy, and development shaping Huntsville's rapid growth. From key projects in the pipeline to the challenges of balancing supply and demand in the housing market, Dennis offers a comprehensive look at whe...
In this episode, we reconnect with Maddie and Tom Watkins, owners of Moon Bakeshop in downtown Huntsville. Since opening their doors in 2019—just one week before welcoming their first child—the couple has built more than just a bakery. They've built a community staple.We talk about the early days of Moon, the challenges of starting a business with no prior experience, and how they weathered the uncertainty of COVID-19 through grit,...
In this episode, we sit down with Tennessee Valley Living host Payton Walker to hear how a high school broadcast team sparked a passion that turned into a career in front of the camera. Originally from Charlotte, Payton shares how her love for storytelling and theater led her to UNC, early sports reporting, and eventually anchoring the weekend news in Huntsville right out of college.
She opens up about the tough realities of 3 a...
In this episode, we sit down with Brandi Edmonds, owner of The Wine Cellar in Huntsville, Alabama. Brandi shares her remarkable journey from protein crystallography and a career in healthcare to chronic migraine recovery and eventually owning one of Huntsville’s most iconic wine shops.
We explore how The Wine Cellar has grown into a welcoming, unpretentious space for wine lovers of all experience levels. Brandi opens up about th...
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