Mobile-based Infirmary Health recently purchased 17.8 acres of land, with more than 800 feet fronting the property, for $3.85 million. The site is located on Highway 90 in the Malbis community of Daphne, near the intersection with Highway 181.

The undeveloped property — which was officially annexed into the city of Daphne and remains a historical district — was rezoned to a neighborhood business district to accommodate future development plans.

The seller in the transaction was represented by Sharon Wright and Tracy Womack with White-Spunner Realty. BT Roberts of Roberts Brothers CPM Inc. worked for the buyer.

Thomas Hospital, an affiliate of Infirmary Health located in Fairhope, is currently constructing a freestanding emergency department in Malbis that is scheduled to open in October 2017 located near the newly acquired property.

• Christian Counseling Professionals is leasing 1,200 square feet of office space located at 4087 Cottage Hill Road in Mobile. The new location is to open this month. Angie McArthur, broker associate with Stirling Properties, handled the transaction.

• The Mobile Area Chamber recently announced Safran USA will be moving into the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. This is the 19th company to locate in the area since Airbus began production in Mobile, per a news release.

To house the facility, the Mobile Airport Authority will build out one of the existing bays at the Mobile Aeroplex to 24,500 square feet. In addition, the company is investing approximately $1 million in equipment and expects to hire 20 local workers for the site, which is slated to open in November.

• Hometown Lenders LLC is leasing 1,605 square feet of office space in Mobile Office Park, 3929 Airport Blvd. Jack Conger, leasing executive with Stirling Properties, managed the transaction.

• Last week the Associated Builders & Contractors of Alabama’s Mid Gulf Chapter hosted Congressman Bradley Byrne for a job site tour of the St. Louis Street historical renovation project led by Ryan Ott with Rogers & Willard. The theme of the visit was the need for revitalization, historical tax credits and skilled craft workers for the construction industry.

“The construction industry is a $12 billion economic engine in Alabama, and we as an industry certainly have needs from a state and federal level,” Jay Reed, president of Associated Builders & Contractors of Alabama, said.

Baldwin County recognized as tourism leader
Two individuals, one theme park and a city in Baldwin County were recognized recently at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism held recently in Birmingham. Altogether 13 awards were handed out in recognition of accomplishments across the state.

J. Gary Ellis, of Gulf Shores, was inducted into the Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame. Ellis founded Compass Media Inc., an award-winning media and marketing company, in 1988. Ellis is also co-founder and board member of the Gulf United Metro Business Organization.

Pedro Mandoki, of Gulf Shores, received the Alabama Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award. He is just the third individual in the state to earn the accolade. Mandoki founded Mandoki Hospitality more than 30 years ago to promote and manage Gulf Shores Plantation.

The OWA theme park in Foley was named the 2018 Attraction of the Year. The 520-acre family tourist destination opened last month and features rides, midway games, restaurants, shopping and a hotel development.

The city of Foley was presented with the Tourism Organization of the Year award for its support of Alabama’s sports tourism market with the opening of the city’s new sports complex, which has 16 outdoor fields and a 90,000-square-foot indoor events center.

Nine other state tourism industry awards were also presented at the conference. For more information, visit the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism Facebook page.

Frankel holds new endowed chair at MCI
Dr. Arthur E. Frankel has been named the inaugural holder of the Arlene and Mayer Mitchell Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology. Frankel, who joined USA Mitchell Cancer Institute in July as chief of medical oncology, was recognized at a recent ceremony.

An endowed chair is the highest academic award bestowed upon a faculty member by a university. “Having someone like Dr. Frankel in the Mobile community is transforming for cancer care,” MCI Director Dr. Michael A. Finan said.

Prior to coming to MCI, Frankel served at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he oversaw Phase 1 clinical trials. He also served as executive director of the Cancer Research Institute at Scott & White Hospital at the Texas A&M School of Medicine.

In a career spanning more than 30 years, Frankel also worked at Wake Forest University, the Florida Hospital Cancer and Leukemia Research Center and Duke University.

Frankel is co-inventor on 12 issued patents and has authored or co-authored more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include melanoma, for which he is nationally recognized.

Frankel said he plans to create a fellowship program at MCI. “We will try to entice students to join us in the fight against cancer,” he said.

SHC hires new alumni relations VP
Christopher P. Puto, Ph.D., president of Spring Hill College, recently announced in a news release that Mary McDonald has been named as the new vice president for development and alumni relations, officially assuming the position last month.

McDonald brings 19 years’ experience with public and private institutions, most recently serving in a similar role at University of Maryland in College Park. She has extensive experience soliciting, closing and stewarding gifts and has played an integral role in six comprehensive campaigns throughout her career.

“Selected through a national search, Mary will bring philanthropy to every area of the campus through work with the college’s leadership and its stakeholders,” Puto said. “I look forward to her fresh perspective and implementation of best practices at Spring Hill College.”

In 2010, U.S. News and World Report ranked SHC 14th among the top small private colleges in the Southern region offering both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.