Watson has served as President of Torch since 2013 and will be the President and CEO with this promotion. This transition has occurred over the past two years, with Roark moving away from his full-time involvement with Torch and towards leadership of the Starfish Holdings enterprise.

“We have selected a strong, proven leader for Torch at a time when Torch is in a very strong position as a rapidly growing employee-owned small business,” said Co-Founder Bill Roark. “Since John became President in 2013, he has continually grown the company in multiple locations, broadening both our capabilities and solutions. We have full confidence that John will continue to move the company forward, capitalizing on the opportunities in front of us, and will lead the company in the best interest of our employee-owners.”

Watson joined Torch in 2009 as Vice President of Corporate Development before assuming the President role in 2013. “I joined Torch in 2009 because I wanted to be a part of a company that not only had an established reputation within the community and with customers for its ethics and values, but also had vast possibilities for growth and innovation,” said Watson. “Today it is even more clear to me that Torch is that company. I am honored that Bill and the Torch Board have placed their faith in me to continue to lead Torch in this capacity.”

The award was presented by Birmingham attorney and BCA board member Stephen W. Still, BCA Chairman Perry Hand, chairman of Volkert Inc. in Mobile, and BCA President and CEO William J. Canary, during the BCA board of directors meeting Feb. 7, 2018. The award is named for Still, who is the chairman of the BCA’s Ambassador program, a ProgressPAC board member, and a shareholder of Maynard Cooper & Gale.

BCA Ambassadors advocate the advantages of BCA membership to Alabama’s business community and in investing in the BCA to ensure that business is represented at the table in Montgomery and in Washington, D.C. “The BCA is a great return on investment,” said Watson, who became president in 2013 and was named to the Torch board of directors in 2014. Watson has more than three decades in the defense industry spanning numerous roles in project engineering support, line and program management, and corporate management. He is a graduate of Auburn University.

The Still Ambassadorial Award is presented to BCA members who show outstanding efforts and consistent contributions to the BCA’s Next Level Investor program.

Torch CEO Bill Roark stated, “We are proud of the success that Watson has had at Torch, and we are equally proud of his efforts within the community. As Torch has continued to grow, so has our commitment to giving back, and we are proud that our president leads by example through his commitment to organizations such as the Business Council of Alabama.”

Entrepreneur360 List

“We are proud to have been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine for our unique approach to innovation, growth, leadership and impact,” says Torch President John Watson. “Our continued success as a 100% employee-owned company can be credited entirely to our invaluable employee-owners. We are fortunate to be a part of a growing group of exceptional people who are loyal, innovative, and kind- they make Torch a wonderful place to work.”

“Our annual evaluation is a 360-degree analysis of top privately-held companies representing and serving a variety of industries,” explains Lisa Murray, Chief Insights Officer of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. “These businesses are real-world case studies for any entrepreneur who seeks to master the four pillars that can greatly impact the longevity and growth of their businesses. With the Entrepreneur 360, success is measured by achieving balance throughout the entire organization, predicated by revenue.”

Honorees were identified based on the results from a comprehensive study of independently- owned companies, using a proprietary algorithm and other advanced analytics. The algorithm was built on a balanced scorecard designed to measure four metrics reflecting major pillars of entrepreneurship—innovation, growth, leadership and impact.

For additional details on the E360 List and the companies recognized, visit: entrepreneur.com/360

Dr. Schumacher has over 27 years of experience in civil space and missile defense, serving in various project management, strategic planning and engineering roles. Prior to joining Torch, he served as Director of Science & Technology at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Also at NASA, he served as Director of the Office of Strategic Analysis and Communications, and held leadership positions on projects including X-37 Space Plane and the Constellation Program’s Lunar Lander. He spent the first 12 years of his career supporting Army Air and Missile Defense programs.

Dr. Schumacher received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, and his MS and PhD in Systems Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2008. He is a Harvard Senior Executive Fellows graduate, as well as a graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County’s Leadership Class 23. He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville Alumni Association’s Alumni of Achievement Award.

Torch President John Watson stated, “We are very excited to welcome Daniel to Torch. His proven leadership abilities and clear commitment to continued education are consistent with our company’s core attributes. Having Daniel join our leadership team will bring a wealth of experience to Torch as we support our customers across Huntsville and the nation.”

Mr. Burkett was the General Manager in charge of the TEAS contract at Eglin for more than 12 years, and has been working Eglin-related programs since 1982. He has over 35 years of experience in the defense industry spanning numerous roles in scientific and engineering services and engineering program management.

Mr. Burkett received a BS in Computer Science and Statistics from the University of Southern Mississippi, a MS in Business Management from Troy University, a MS in Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida, and post-graduate studies in Systems Engineering at the University of Florida.

Mr. Burkett serves on the board of directors for Partners for Stennis, Fort Walton Beach Chamber Military Affairs, Children in Crisis, CareerSource Florida State Employment, and the All Sports Association. He also serves as a chairman of the Economic Development Council’s Eglin Defense Support Initiative, and as an executive board member for the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Torch President John Watson stated, “We are very excited to welcome Sam to Torch. His technical leadership, commitment to customer service, and history of community outreach are consistent with our company’s core attributes. Having Sam join our leadership team will bring a tremendous depth of knowledge and capability to Torch as we support our Air Force customers.”

Mr. Holder co-founded Torch Technologies with Bill Roark, CEO, in 2002. He began service on the Board of Directors and served as President until he transitioned out of the President’s role at the end of 2008, after more than 45 years in the Government and Defense industry and six years with the Company. Mr. Holder continued beyond 2008 as an active member of the Board of Directors and has earned the distinction of becoming Torch’s first Director Emeritus.

There were 270 nominations submitted from multiple states. Sixty finalists were named over three categories – small business, medium business and large business. Torch was in the large business category with more than $50M in annual revenue. The event was part of the Auburn Entrepreneurial Summit which also included the student entrepreneurial contest (Tiger Cage), and Auburn Entrepreneur Hall of Fame induction dinner. Top companies, including Torch, will be featured in Business Alabama.