Nonprofit research institute adds to its economic development team in the Wiregrass
Barb Malchow has joined HudsonAlpha Wiregrass as a Business Recruitment Specialist.
Malchow moved to Dothan after spending 27 years in the Midwest and comes to HudsonAlpha from Iowa where she had career experience in corporate communications and marketing, education, and office coordination for an agriculture manufacturing research facility. A native Floridian, she has lived in five states and has degrees from the University of Alabama and Upper Iowa University.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Barb as the newest addition to our team,” said Ann Carr, HudsonAlpha Wiregrass’ Economic Development Manager. “As we look to fill the Wiregrass Innovation Center, we believe Barbara will do an amazing job recruiting quality, innovative businesses to flourish here in the Wiregrass.”
Malchow will assist with recruitment-based economic development efforts to benefit the Wiregrass region, with a focus on AgTech and innovation technology sectors. Building on the area’s strong agricultural foundation, HudsonAlpha aims to foster a thriving community of businesses and startups in the Wiregrass.
Malchow is the sixth employee of HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, a public-private collaboration with the city of Dothan established in 2022. HudsonAlpha Wiregrass extends HudsonAlpha’s agricultural focus in the region through agricultural research, economic development and genomics education and will be the anchor tenant of the Wiregrass Innovation Center. The state of Alabama and the Wiregrass Foundation are funding this 45,000-square-foot City of Dothan facility, which began construction earlier this year and is scheduled to open in 2026.
The Wiregrass Innovation Center will serve several major functions, including providing a home for hands-on training and practical learning in science, genomics, research, technology, and innovation and creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovators in Dothan and the Wiregrass area.
For more information about HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, visit hudsonalpha.org/wiregrass.