Megan: Today, we are talking with Alisa Clark of Welcome Home Huntsville, which has made a huge splash in this community over the past couple of months. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. It’s fantastic. Alisa has brought amazing energy to the city with something we haven’t seen before, which is really exciting.
We’ve had the chance to get to know each other a bit more recently and even know some of your family members. Shout out to Casey, who’s in the studio behind the camera!
Let’s talk more about Welcome Home Huntsville, but first, I want to start with you. Your background is fascinating—journalism, psychology, DEI work. Tell us more about how that all came together.
Alisa: It’s great to be here! I always say I studied everything fun and non-marketable in school. I majored in psychology, English, and music, and initially planned to pursue a PhD in psychology. I worked in a neuropsychology lab for a few years, which was fascinating but made me realize I preferred the publishing process to research.
That realization led me to pursue a journalism graduate program and eventually a career in academic publishing. I worked for Cell Press in Boston, a prestigious science publisher. I helped scientists publish groundbreaking research, managed and launched journals, and eventually led DEI efforts for the organization.
Megan: That is so cool. I imagine you were constantly learning with all that research coming through.
Alisa: Absolutely. I managed a journal called Cell Host and Microbe, which is a leading virology journal. During COVID, we were publishing research that had real-time impact. It was stressful but also incredibly rewarding.
Megan: Speaking of DEI, tell us more about your role there.
Alisa: My role was to consolidate various DEI initiatives into a cohesive, measurable company strategy. A big part of that was addressing the “diversity tax” where passionate individuals were overextending themselves without proper support. My goal was to create sustainable, strategic efforts that were aligned with company resources and goals.
Megan: So after all of that, you decided to start your own business—with little kids at home! What inspired that move?
Alisa: It was definitely a nights-and-weekends project at first. My husband, who works in marketing, started his own business a year before I did, and that gave me some inspiration and insight. I felt burnt out and disconnected, especially after moving back to Huntsville post-COVID. I missed that sense of community and wanted to do something about it.
We brainstormed a lot, and I realized I could use my publishing experience to create something meaningful. The idea for Welcome Home Huntsville was born from that. I built out a full mock issue and started looking for partners. I quit my job two weeks before the first issue came out.
Megan: Welcome Home Huntsville is so unique. It targets people who are new to the area. How did you land on that niche?
Alisa: Moving is hard, even when you’re returning to your hometown. I noticed how isolated I felt and realized others must be experiencing the same thing. I wanted to create something that would help newcomers plug into the community quickly. The magazine is mailed automatically to new residents after they submit their USPS change of address form. No opt-in required.
Megan: That’s so smart. And your partners are really aligned with what new residents need.
Alisa: Exactly. Our partners are businesses in industries that people typically need to find anew when they move: doctors, dentists, plumbers, lawn care, etc. We provide vetted, trustworthy recommendations. One of our partners is a woman-owned plumbing company called One Tom Plumber—they’re amazing!
Megan: I love that. Do you offer exclusivity to partners?
Alisa: Not officially, but I prefer not to have multiple businesses from the same vertical. I focus on what makes each partner unique and ensure they have a collaborative mindset.
Megan: What are your goals for Welcome Home Huntsville moving forward?
Alisa: In the short term, I want to continue improving the publication based on community feedback. In the long term, I want to expand to other high-growth communities like Madison, Athens, and even Franklin.
Megan: That would be amazing. On a personal note, I love that you and your husband work together. What has that dynamic been like?
Alisa: It’s been great. We both worked from home for years and are used to bouncing ideas off each other. He has a marketing background, which complements my skills well. We challenge and support each other, and it’s been a huge asset.
Megan: I love that. Congratulations on everything you’ve built. It’s such a needed resource, and it’s obvious the community is responding so well to it. We’re excited to see what’s next for you and Welcome Home Huntsville!
Alisa: Thank you! This has been amazing. I appreciate the opportunity to share our story.