SEDA board chairman optimistic about future

Muscle Shoals - Roy Rudolph wants the Shoals Economic Development Authority to keep building on the momentum created by recent industries that have moved to the area.

Rudolph, who took over as SEDA's board chairman in October, is passionate about the Shoals and said he wants to see it continue to grow at a steady pace and prosper.

"We want to be a leader in economic development and implement it in the best way we can to provide more business growth and employment growth, and hopefully, do it in the direction the community wants and in the best direction for the future," Rudolph said.

Rudolph, president and chief executive officer at Bigbee Steel Buildings in Muscle Shoals, follows in the steps of past SEDA chairman Macke Mauldin.

"I enjoyed watching Macke operate as board chairman last year," he said. "He was so good."

SEDA President Forrest Wright said people have confidence in Rudolph as they did in Mauldin.

"Roy carries with him a great deal of respect from local leaders," Wright said. "Roy is not known for making rash decisions. This community will benefit under his leadership."

Rudolph said he will follow through with projects already developed by SEDA.

"The community has gotten so much done in the last year or so, it's amazing," he said. "The leaders of the community are really great people."

He said that in the coming year, SEDA will continue to assist National Alabama Corp., the railcar manufacturer that has broken ground in Barton Riverfront Industrial Park. The plant will employ 1,800 people when at full operation.

"When you break ground, that's when the work starts," Rudolph said.

He said the Targeted and Prepared Community Program is another focus in 2008. The program, which is a Tennessee Valley Authority-funded initiative, will help evaluate economic development opportunities for the area.

"SEDA and other groups, like the chamber, are going to try to use that as a stepping stone to find out, as a community, where we want to be down the road," Rudolph said. "The community needs to look hard and see where we need to go from here and see what kind of business opportunities and employment opportunities we need to track down."

He said the half-cent sales tax implemented earlier this year to fund economic development projects will help attract future industries.

"It puts us in a good position to look for companies that are a good fit for this area," he said.

Rudolph said this is his fifth year as a member of SEDA's board and he praised the authority's staff.

"They're so good and professional. They're all really good folks."

Originally from Panama City, Fla., Rudolph was born Jan. 10, 1958, and received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1981 from Auburn University. He worked with American Building Co. in Eufaula, and in Pennsylvania, before moving to the Shoals in 1992 to work for Bigbee Steel Buildings. He became president of the company in 1994.

During his free time, Rudolph said he enjoys spending time with his family - wife, Celia, and three sons, Rory, Glenn and Joe. He likes to watch his sons play sports and enjoys saltwater fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

He is pleased with life in the Shoals.

"It's a good place to live," he said. "We have friends here, and it's a nice area."

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.