Beyond Rockets

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with Brian Cook, President and CEO of Cook's Pest Control and Board Chairman of Cook Museum of Natural Science.

Brian shares the story behind a fourth-generation family business that started in 1928 and how it evolved into something far beyond pest control. What began as a small internal training tool eventually grew into one of North Alabama’s most impactful educational destinations.

The conversation dives into:

• The legacy of Cook’s Pest Control and what it means to carry it forward
• How the museum grew from a 5,000 sq ft space into a major regional attraction
• The vision behind the 2019 museum launch and its rapid growth since opening
• Why STEM education became a central focus and how the museum earned statewide recognition
• Details on the upcoming expansion that could nearly double the museum’s size
• The balance of running a growing company while leading a mission-driven nonprofit

With over 80,000 visitors annually and growing demand for deeper educational experiences, the museum is entering its next phase, one focused on scaling impact for future generations.

• Cook Museum of Natural Science: https://www.cookmuseum.org
• Cook’s Pest Control: https://www.cookspest.com
• Beyond Rockets: https://www.beyondrockets.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with professional fisherman, entrepreneur, and developer Boyd Duckett to unpack a career built on recognizing opportunity and taking action.

Boyd shares how dropping out of high school led to his first business, how he secured a $565,000 loan at just 22 years old, and the lessons learned from building and selling multiple companies along the way. From launching a successful tank leasing business to working in the music industry with artists like Tim McGraw and Joe Diffie, his journey is anything but conventional.

The conversation also dives into his passion for fishing, winning the Bassmaster Classic, and turning that success into Duckett Fishing. Plus, Boyd shares details on his latest venture, Duckett Pointe, a lakefront residential development in Guntersville designed to make lake living effortless.

At the core of it all is a simple idea: life provides endless opportunities if you learn how to recognize them.

https://duckettpointe.com/duckett-pointe-brochure-page/

duckettfishing.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with legendary Huntsville meteorologist and innovator Bob Baron to unpack a career that helped reshape how we understand and track weather.From his early days in radio to becoming a trusted voice on television, Bob shares how creativity and curiosity led to the creation of his iconic “Weather in Motion” — long before modern graphics existed. But what began as broadcast innovation quickly turned into something much bigger.After the devastating 1989 Huntsville tornado, Bob set out to solve a critical problem: how to deliver faster, more accurate, and more localized severe weather information. That mission led to the founding of Baron Services — a company that pioneered real-time storm tracking, advanced radar technology, and tools that are now used across the country to save lives.This conversation dives into the evolution of weather technology, the responsibility of communicating during crisis moments, and how one idea — built out of a home office — grew into an industry-changing company.It’s a story about innovation, impact, and how Huntsville played a key role in shaping the future of weather forecasting.https://baroninstitute.comhttps://baronweather.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jordan Rodriguez, founder of Freedom Exteriors, to talk about his path from athlete to entrepreneur and how he built a growing exterior remodeling company in Huntsville. Jordan shares how his journey took him from Grissom High School to college athletics, into multiple careers, and eventually into the home improvement industry, where he found his fit.

Jordan explains how Freedom Exteriors has evolved from a small operation installing windows by hand into a more focused, consultative business specializing in premium siding, windows, and doors for long-term homeowners. The conversation dives into what makes their process different, why trust matters so much in the trades, and how Freedom Exteriors is helping homeowners make confident decisions without pressure.

They also discuss Huntsville’s growth, the kinds of homeowners Freedom Exteriors serves best, and what it looks like to build not just a business, but a team and a reputation that lasts. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, home improvement, or building a business the right way, this is a great conversation.

https://www.freedomhuntsville.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Vania, founder and creator of ShopMOSS, a jewelry and apparel boutique located in the Village of Providence in Huntsville.Vania shares her journey from moving to the U.S. from Rome at age 12 to building a creative brand deeply rooted in her Italian heritage. After earning a degree in graphic design and spending a decade in photography, she picked up clay on a whim in 2018 and began sculpting statement earrings that quickly gained traction online. What started as a small creative experiment grew through pop-ups, community support, and years of consistency before becoming a brick-and-mortar storefront.Now six months into her retail space, Vania reflects on the leap from online to in-person retail, building a team, navigating her first holiday season, and creating a shopping experience centered on self-expression through ShopMOSS’s signature charm bar. She also shares what she wishes she knew before opening and what’s next for the brand.This is a conversation about creativity, culture, community, and the courage to build something tangible in Huntsville.

https://shopmosshandmade.com

https://www.instagram.com/shopmoss/

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jack Fite, CEO of Fite Building Company, to talk about five decades of construction in North Alabama.

Jack shares his journey from growing up in a family lumber business to leading a multi-regional construction firm, celebrating 50 years in business. Along the way, he opens up about the early grind, navigating economic downturns, Huntsville’s explosive growth, and why optimism is essential to building strong teams.

They dive into Fite Building’s commitment to being true “builders,” the importance of investing in young talent and the trades, and how the company’s Plus 1 culture focuses on getting better every day.

This conversation covers leadership, succession planning, workforce development, and what it really takes to grow a company that lasts.

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, construction, building great teams, or shaping the future of North Alabama, this episode is for you.

https://www.fitebuilding.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Jordyn Brummett, co-owner of The Vessel, a community pottery studio in Huntsville, to reflect on how far the journey has come since her first appearance on the podcast more than three years ago.

Jordyn shares the story of launching The Vessel as a brand-new concept, testing the idea at Stove House, and quickly realizing the demand for creative space and community in Huntsville. She walks through the lessons learned from outgrowing their original studio, the challenges of balancing classes, memberships, and limited space, and how those experiences shaped the vision for their next chapter.

The conversation also dives into the personal side of entrepreneurship including taking calculated risks, growing a business as a family, and knowing when the timing is right for a big leap. Jordyn explains how The Vessel’s move to Lincoln Mill finally allows the studio to fully support memberships, deepen community connections, and create room for long-term growth.

This episode is a candid look at building momentum, learning as you go, and taking small steps toward a vision that won’t let you go.

Our 1st Podcast in 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-01L0Qn_0w

The Vessel

https://www.thevesselstudio.org

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, host Clark Dunn sits down with Anusha Davis, Vice President of Retail at Crunkleton Commercial, for an in-depth look at the evolution of Huntsville’s retail and mixed-use real estate landscape.

Born and raised in Huntsville, Anusha shares her unconventional path into commercial real estate, starting with a background in communications and journalism before finding her footing in development and brokerage. She discusses what it’s like to work on both sides of the table as a broker and former small business owner, and how that experience shapes the way she advocates for local entrepreneurs.

The conversation dives into Huntsville’s explosive post-2020 growth, major mixed-use projects like Stadium Commons and Front Row, and why national retailers are now prioritizing Huntsville over traditional markets like Birmingham. Anusha also breaks down retail vacancy rates, what major announcements like Mazda Toyota and Eli Lilly mean for the city, and which submarkets to watch heading into 2026.

From North Parkway and South Huntsville to Lincoln Mill, Five Points, and beyond, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Huntsville is being thoughtfully planned, brokered, and built for the future.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anushaalapati/https://www.crunkletonassociates.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark Dunn sits down with Chef James Brown (The Standard), Ben Brennan (Del Chuco), and Luke Hawk (The Local)—three key leaders behind Huntsville’s Mercado Group. They share how their paths first crossed in Huntsville kitchens years ago, what it’s been like building three distinct downtown concepts in rapid succession, and why making nearly everything from scratch is non-negotiable. You’ll hear stories from opening weekend chaos, how the teams collaborate across restaurants, and what goes into evolving menus when the crowd doesn’t “get it” right away. Plus, they unpack Del Chuco’s Underground vibe, the catering arm of the group, and tease what might be coming next in 2026.

https://themercadogrouphsv.com

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with David Fernandes, Senior Vice President at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing and Group Vice President for Toyota, to go inside one of North Alabama’s most transformative projects. David shares his journey from growing up near the Indy 500 and working at GM and Rolls-Royce to leading multiple Toyota plants across the U.S., South Africa, and now the joint Mazda Toyota facility in Huntsville. He explains how the $2.3B plant was built during the pandemic, how it now produces Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-50 models at incredible volume, and why they’ve grown to a 4,000-person workforce pulled from a 60-mile radius. David also talks about culture, career paths that don’t require a four-year degree, local partnerships with schools and nonprofits, and why he believes “nothing’s impossible” when a team is aligned. If you’ve ever driven past the massive facility near Greenbriar and wondered what happens inside, this conversation pulls back the curtain.

https://mazdatoyota.com

https://www.instagram.com/mazdatoyotamanufacturing/