Brian Hilson (Welcome Address, Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.)

Brian Hilson is the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. As the lead economic development organization for Huntsville/Madison County, he and the Chamber provide comprehensive assistance for business expansion and recruitment. Chamber professionals deliver critical information including available sites, labor force, workforce development, taxation, finance programs and incentives. The Chamber also furnishes relocation packages with detailed information on housing and services for corporate human resources representatives and independent individuals who are interested in making Huntsville/Madison County their home.

In recent years, due to the leadership of Mr. Hilson, Huntsville has been named one of America's top 5 cities for job opportunities by SmartMoney Magazine, one of America's top 5 mid-sized cities for doing business by Inc. Magazine, one of the country's top 10 places to live by Relocate-America.com, and one of the fastest growing metros in the country by Forbes Magazine.

Robert O. Baron

Mr. Robert Baron, the founder of Baron Services, started the company after 22 years of broadcast meteorology experience. Mr. Baron received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee and concluded additional studies at Pennsylvania State University and The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

He has been a long-standing member of the American Meteorological Society and in 1982 received the American Meteorological Society seal of approval for television. In 1996 his peers recognized Mr. Baron as the small business executive of the year, and in 2004 he was a finalist in Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mr. Baron was honored by the National Weather Association with a Special Achievement Award in November, 2006.