1. Rocket City Perk
A Newsletter Highlighting the Perks For and By Small Businesses
and Startups in The Rocket City and Surrounding Area.

2. Table of Contents
Positive Motion and Art Acknowledgement 1
Small Business News and Events 2
Business Lead Focus...... 7
Classifieds....................... 12
Contact and Be A Part:
Rocket City Perk is a newsletter to Connect Small Businesses,
Startups and those who want to support local Businesses in
the Rocket City and surrounding Areas.
https://www.facebook.com/rocketcityperk
Editor: MT Bryan contact via Mtbryandesigns@gmail.com
Writers: MT Bryan
Contributing Artists: Ashley Bates
Ashleybates.com
Jaeme Case
www.jaeme.org
Advertisers:
Advertisering and Sponsoring
Classifieds $.50/blurp
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3. “Sometimes the people and events that af-
fect us the most are those that we only get
for a moment”
Positive MotionA positive thought, phrase or concept to help shape your approach
from day to day
Jaeme Case is a wandering artist whose continental journey has given her a vast and
diverse background to draw from. This mother of three may have come from all over
the country but she does have her roots here. Until 1998, she was a part of the area,
being part of Johnshon High’s renowned art and theater community, when she moved
to Miami and tthen to Fruitland, Ohio. From Ohio, in the middle of the country, she
headed out west to The College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho.
A self-described illustrator, musician/singer/songwriter and gardner with a clear ar-
tistic and musical style, Jaeme is definitely an entrepreneur and with a love for the
blending the mechanical and natural. A style that to some may seem a least a little
steampunk inspired, has her busy with commisions, and production. While her site’s
shop may not be operational it doesn’t mean that you can’t look at her site and then
contact her directly for sales. From tshirts and tarot to paintings and prints she has a
full range for your desires and tastes.
http://www.jaeme.org

4. Small Business News and Events,
SBN&E
A calendar and update about Special Events that went on and on the Horizon
This Past Month:
4/1 – AUSA Winter Blast Off Bash – details TBD
4/1 – April Fool’s Day
4/3- HOT Coffee 7:45am-9:00am- UAH Wilson Hall
4/4– VVA Welc. Home Ceremony – Vets. Mem. – details TBD –
wharmon446@charter.net
4/4 Downtown Huntsville Food Tours 11:00am-1:30pm-Downtown Hunts-
ville for more info http://www.huntsvillefoodtours.com/tours/your-food-
tour/
4/4– Easter
4/4-Grand Opening of Evo Fitness
4/9- HACK U Intro to Ruby 5:00pm-10:30pm-Biztech
4/9- Clean Energy Drinks 5:00pm- Rocket Republic
4/11-Downtown Huntsville Food Tours 11:00am-1:30pm-Downtown
Huntsville for more info http://www.huntsvillefoodtours.com/tours/your-
food-tour/
4/12 – Anniversary of Aviation Branch (1983)
4/13 – Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday (1743)

5. 4/14-Rocket City Launch Meetup-6:00pm-Biztech- The Last Meetup before
things get started on the 17th
4/17-4/19-Rocket City Launch 48hr Launch Competion -Mind Gear Labs
Madison Blvd location.
4/18 – Doolittle Raid on Japan (1942)
4/18 - Downtown Huntsville Food Tours 11:00am-1:30pm-Downtown
Huntsville for more info http://www.huntsvillefoodtours.com/tours/your-
food-tour/
4/19 - Springtime in Paris 6:30pm-Model Haven Boutique
4/22 – Admin. Professionals Day
4/23 – Army Reserve Birthday (1908)
4/24-4/26 – Panoply of the Arts – Big Spring Park – www.panoply.org
4/29 - Food Hatch Meeting 6:00pm- Straight to Ale Brewing.
Coming this Month:
5/1-2 – WhistleStop BBQ Festival – Huntsville Depot – www.whistlestop-
weekend.com
5/4-7 – AUVSI Unmanned Systems 2015 – Atlanta – www.auvsi.org

6. 5/5 – Cinco de Mayo
5/5 - Lunch and Learn: Identifying and Avoiding Startup Pitfalls 12pm-
1pm - Biztech
5/4-5/8 Alabama Small Business Week
5/6 - Free Coworking Wednesdays 9:00am- Biztech
Whiteboard Wednesdays 1:00pm
To encourage the growth of Entrerpenuers Biztech has opened up
their space to entrepreneurs off all walks to come and make use of their
space every Wednesay starting at 9:00 am
5/7 - Weekly Empowering Veterans Steering Committees Meetings 9:00am
-10:30am - Biztech
5/7 - Lunch and Learn: Leadership 12pm-1pm - Biztech
5/7 - HACK U: Understanding Internet Protocols and Networking 5:00pm
- Biztech
5/7 - Sip and Hatch 5:30pm - Space and Rocket Center Davidson Center
5/8 - Walk and Talk 1:30pm -2:00 pm - Biztech
5/10 – Mother’s Day
5/12 - Lunch and Learn: Communication in Business 12pm-1pm - Biztech

7. 5/14 - HACK U: Learning Rails 5:00pm - Biztech
5/16 – Armed Forces Day
5/18 – 2015 AUSA Msl. Golf Tourn. – VHCC – details TBD – www.aus-
aredstone.org
5/18 - HACK U: Education vs. Certification 5:00pm - Biztech
5/18-19 – 2015 AUSA Missile Recept./Symp. – details TBD – www.aus-
aredstone.org
5/19 - Lunch and Learn: SEO and Responsive Web 12pm -1pm - Biztech
5/21 - 515@515 Entreprenuerial Meetup - Biztech
5/25 – Memorial Day – Federal Holiday
I apologize for misssing any events so, If there are any
events I have left out just send me a message and I’ll be
glad to add you or put in the last month.

9. Business Lead Focus
An Interview on a Company or Event thats helping to Shape the Small Business
Environment
The first stage was set. Mind Gear Labs in Madison was filled with various
bits and pieces of projects crafted from materials both old and new. The el-
ements of additive manufacturing and 3D printing were carefully arranged,
just as certain areas were cleared for the teams’ impending arrival. The en-
trance was warm and comforting, akin to the lounges that many of us rely on
to keep our minds clear.
Just off to the side Rich Ortiz and his team were waiting for the participants
to arrive. Rob Adams and his team were busy getting the fine touches done
on the name tags for the events both there and at the Lowe Mill location the
following day. The early arrivals had already paired off, many of whom were
partners, already working on their business for weeks, if not months. The
eye-catching logo of the Oculus Rift could be seen with one team, one could
only imagine what they had in store. Bit by bit, the other participants filled
the space, as did curiosity over the contents of a Tupperware container. The
whispers were of alligator meat, deep fried. The question was in some minds
of “What does that have to do with the business concept?” As they mingled
and talked, introductions were made and recorded as were the business con-
cepts that they would be pitching.
Eventually, the call to order was sent out and all collected to tables to pre-
pare for their 30-second pitch. With Argos, a project to improve training
for medical personnel via virtual training, Sangreine, a team who’s focus was
the cost of cancer and normal blood for research, The Muscled Up Movers, a
team of charismatic and movers, GoFly, an educational initiative for drones
and flight, Spring Steel, an improvement on Velcro, and even the Green Mean
Food Truck Machine the teams started to settle. With Spring Steel joining

10. the Food Truck Team, they became set even as the lure of Fried Alligator was
used to entice and lure members from the other teams, to no avail. As the
teams set mentors, were already hard at work walking around, talking to the
teams and eager to help. One by one each team headed off for the night after
having discussed their plans for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday saw a bright infusion of energy as the teams delved into the Liveplan
software aided by the arrival of hot Coffee from Grounded Coffee. As they
set to work, mentors walked around challenging and helping some teams to
reach the target of the minimum viable product or MVP. With some teams
loosing members to work or other commitments, yet most were reunited by
the end of the day. It was a day that saw development and evolution of busi-
ness plans and hard numbers being laid out in preparation for the next day.
Sunday was a flurry of energy that bore the edge of panic for some and con-
fidence for others, as the weekend was coming to a close. With business
plans due at midday, fine touches and clarification on numbers were furi-
ously being put in. While the clicking of key strokes was clearly heard, so
too, was the murmur of rehearsal and preparation of presentations. Boxes,
emblazoned with the new companies’ logos were collected and set aside for
the audience’s role later. As mentors and sponsors, walked around, some
ideas were thrown out as others were simply tweaked for the day. The day
once again saw the delivery of the dark caffeinated gold of Grounded Coffee
and blueberry scones, urging the teams forward.
As 4 o’clock drew nearer, the teams started to head out to change and make
their way to the Davidson Center. The stage where the next act would play
out. Nervous glances and looks were shared as the teams settled in to the

11. National Geographic Theater. Looking out from the stage, some were blind-
ed by the bright spot light that illuminated them, as the walked and danced
across the stage. Starting with ARGOS, as they carefully laid their product
of an immersive virtual reality training software, targeted at training per-
sonnel on the right medications and techniques for patients in a laid out
scenario and a customizable variable setting options via the Oculus Rift,
and offering solid returns on the investment and plans to buy back said in-
vestment. Second up, were The Muscled Up Movers, led by charismatic and
sculpted figure of Joseph Reza Ajdarodini and his wife. Telling their story of
outstanding physical health impressive business and personal backgrounds,
definitely fills one with confidence in their product and the dedication, not
only to it but to their employees as they seek to grow and help their commu-
nity. Next up was the team focusing on improving educational systems via
educational initiatives in piloting, crafting and planning, GoFly, led by Jona-
thon Rossawog. With the spirit flight, one could see the passion and caring
in their eyes and voices as they outlined their plans to build an educational
community around the concept of bringing flight to schools. Fourth on the
roster was the 3 man team that came together over the weekend Solar Struck
with the key presenter MT Bryan. Striking a dynamic level they outlined
their concept for a scalable and modular solar conversion kit targeted at
food trucks and emergency/disaster relief vehicles. Closing it out was San-
graine made of a team of siblings. Offering a simplified yet, more profitable
business model for collecting healthy sample blood for medical testing and
plasma, they closed out the presentations with good hard numbers and a
round of applause for everyone.

12. As the audience filed out, they received golden tokens for voting and voicing
their public choice on the best project. The evening closed out with out-
standing food and awards going to Sangraine for popular vote and first place
netting in total six thousand dollars, contingent on completion of a ten week
FastTrac course. With ARGOS rounding out second place and receiving
twenty-five hundred dollars, they will be joining Sangraine in the FastTrac
course that started on the 21st of April. This was all set in the full and inspir-
ing setting of the Davidson Center underneath the Saturn V rocket. With
Kenny Williams being the Master of Ceremonies the evening closed with the
announcement of an Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Expo coming
in November.

13. Stand UP! Speak UP! Shut UP! This simple three sentence phrase was for
many of us our introduction to John Whitman and many of us in the area
owe John Whitman a debt. Whether it be as a financial advisor, a mentor
or even as a sounding board, he has helped the entreprenuerial ecosystem
so much in the time last two years. Whether you are a business owner, stu-
dent or even someone with a spark of an idea that you might want to turn
into a product, if you have come to a Huntsville Open Tech Coffee in the
last year and a half and have met him the flames of your entrepreneurial
spirit were probably fanned into something. Now for some his attitude and
dedication may be a mystery. It may seem strange that a man as accom-
plished as he is. Yet, one need to only look as far as his focus. Hailing from
parts unknown originally, so to speak, he joined UAH from our Nation’s
capital of Washington D.C., and the Kogod School of Business at American
University and the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown Univer-
sity, teaching courses in entrepreneurship, nonprofits and cooperatives.
John Whitman joined UAH as an Assistant Professor and Interim Direc-
tor of the UAH ICE Lab. Leading the charge with the further development
of UAH’s online curriculum. Additionally, he developed a wiki Curricu-
lum on Cooperatives funded by Equal Exchange, conducted research on
the cooperative model under contract with the US Overseas Cooperative
Development Council, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the
Hoya Federal Credit Union. John has served on the US Research Team for
the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, published peer-reviewed articles in
Nonprofit Management & Leadership, authored book chapters in textbooks
on entrepreneurship and intellectual property law, and co-authored a
peer-reviewed book on the Social Economy of the United States (Universi-
ty of Toronto Press, forthcoming), and a book on Creating Service Quality
Fairwell to John
A fairwell to John Whitman, Assistant professor and founder of HOT Coffee

14. in Libraries (American Library Association, 2001).
Yet, his efforts weren’t limited to the classroom and academia. In that time
with us and at UAH, he has helped in the creation and inspiration for nu-
merous ventures including Rocket City Launch, Rocket City Perk and of
course Huntsville Open Tech Coffee. Reaching out to the local community
and realizing that the professional community could benefit. He lead the
charge in organizing the community. Connecting with leaders like Anto-
nio Montoya, Rob Adams, Allan Derrick, Bob Ludwig, Lance Gilbraith and
Rich Ortiz, to name a few, he has helped with the development and launch
of a number of programs. With such a dynamic and giving personality
such as his we can only hope that no matter where he goes, that he will
continue to grow and share the entrepreneurial spirit.

16. Classifieds
At $.50 a blurb Small Businesses and Startups can advertise their
openings and needs to one another.