Huntsville continues to grow, attracting both locals and newcomers alike. Get to know a few people who have moved here and share their unique love for Huntsville and what makes it special to them.
Dr. Sravya Chirumamilla
Dr. Chirumamilla, originally from Michigan, has lived across the world in places as varied as India, Algeria, Winston-Salem in North Carolina, Brooklyn, and Southern Ohio. Now, she calls Huntsville home and has experienced its unique sense of community firsthand.
“When our son was about three years old, we were briefly and suddenly without a nanny and could not miss work,” she recalls. “I was on the phone, distraught about childcare, when a colleague overheard my conversation and offered for his wife to watch our son for the days we needed help. This was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had not yet met his wife. They were kind enough to step in, and she has since become one of my best friends in town.”
For Dr. Chirumamilla, this moment reflected the culture of Huntsville. “It may seem cheesy, but the culture here is about loving out loud,” she says. “To me, that means being genuine and caring. We compliment each other’s attributes and give one another their deserved flowers without a hidden agenda. People who show enthusiasm are rewarded here with others who are willing to participate and encourage. For instance, I asked colleagues to join a charity kickball tournament, and within weeks, 250 people turned up on a Saturday to play.”
Huntsville has also been a springboard for Dr. Chirumamilla’s career growth. “Coming out of my cardiology fellowship in 2019, I had worked in both a metropolis like Brooklyn, New York, and a smaller town like Dayton, Ohio. While interviewing for jobs, I knew I wanted to live in a community where I could provide excellent medical care and maintain a work-life balance. I was drawn to The Heart Center at Huntsville Hospital because of the expertise of its cardiologists and their vision for further expansion,” she explains.
Over the past five years, Dr. Chirumamilla has flourished professionally in Huntsville. “Our group has helped me find my voice in championing cardio-oncology, the cardiac care of cancer patients, and cardio-metabolic management. I’ve had the opportunity to speak at local women’s groups, present at state and national conferences, and even vote on professional boards,” she says.
Dr. Chirumamilla also values the accessibility of Huntsville’s leaders and the vibrancy of the city’s culture. “As a board member of the Asha Kiran Foundation and a participant in Leadership Huntsville, I’ve been impressed with how approachable elected officials, NASA and military leaders, as well as artists and artisans, are. One day, we’re watching the Artemis launch with folks who worked on the mission; the next, we’re having dinner with Grammy-award-winning musicians who make chart-topping hits. There is so much vibrancy in this town for those who seek to embrace it."
Bardia Barmaki
Bardia was born and raised in San Francisco. After high school, he joined the Air Force, which took him across the country. Along the way, he met his wife, Brittany, a two-time UAH graduate who had previously lived in Huntsville and loved it. When it came time for Bardia to retire from the Air Force, he and Brittany decided to leave California and settle in Huntsville. After just one visit, they fell in love with the city and have called it home since 2022.
While Bardia does miss California's diverse food scene and the lack of mosquitos, he’s found the transition to Huntsville surprisingly easy. “The kids have just meshed so well here, we have great friends, and I think that speaks to the values of the community and how much easier it is to balance work and life here,” he shared.
Huntsville has also been a great place for Bardia’s career growth after his military service. “This is where I really started my civilian career, and it’s been great so far. The community is built around supporting government industries, which aligns perfectly with my background and experience. I’ve met some amazing people over the past two years and look forward to eventually retiring here—for real this time.”
Pascal Auburtin
Pascal is originally from the Paris Metro area and his wife, Michèle is from Roanne, an area near Lyon, in the center of France known for its long culinary tradition. Pascal and his wife moved to Huntsville 20 years ago due to Pascal’s job, at the time involved with electronics for the Automotive industry and Huntsville was the site for a new plant. Huntsville and Paris are quite different in a lot of ways but not all is such a bad trade-off, while Huntsville is a much slower pace of life it allowed Pascal to enjoy less traffic jams, time constraints and stress.
Living and working in Huntsville, Pascal discovered a community full of incredible people, individuals with strong values who were always ready to help, and who truly believed any goal was achievable. These qualities were not only evident in the team he worked with but also in the broader community that supported them.
"I found the same values and sense of fun in the local tennis community too!" Pascal shared. "I love playing at the Huntsville Tennis Center or wherever United States Tennis Association matches take us."
Pascal and Michèle loved Huntsville so much that they put down roots and decided to stay. When it was time for Pascal to retire from his corporate job, they decided to pursue their dream and open Le Macaron French Pastries Cafés.
Donna Burns
Donna, originally from Connecticut, moved to Alabama when she was 17. After meeting her husband Alan, they lived in the DC area for over 27 years before deciding to move to Orange Beach, Alabama. "We would vacation there and had a second home, and one day we thought, "Hey, let’s live at the beach!" Donna shared.
While living at the beach had its perks, other factors about their location started to take priority." Healthcare became more important, as did being closer to family and friends, having more cultural opportunities, being part of a larger community, and housing affordability—all of these things started to matter more," Donna explained. "Don’t get me wrong, living at the beach is amazing, but it’s a resort town, and we were looking for deeper roots. We considered many places to live, since we both can work from anywhere. Huntsville checked all the boxes, and we were heavily recruited by family and friends! We like to say we traded the water for the mountains when we moved from Orange Beach to Huntsville," Donna said.
Mountains have been a highlight of Donna's move to Huntsville. One of her favorite spots is the Madison County Nature Trail. Living on Green Mountain, she often walks the trail with her wonderdog, Diesel.
“Huntsville is such a giving community. I am overwhelmed by how many worthy causes exist and how the community rises to show support in so many ways. I recently participated in Leadership Greater Huntsville’s Focus program and I was so impressed by how much I learned; it was truly a memorable experience," said Donna.
Mathew Mell
Mathew was born in North Jersey, with a brief stint in Scottsboro, AL, from the 2nd to 9th grade, before moving back to North Jersey. When his parents retired to Scottsboro in 2008, Mathew discovered his own love for the city through his frequent visits. By 2011, he and his wife, Stephanie, decided to settle in Huntsville for good.
One of Mathew’s favorite aspects of Huntsville is its music scene, which he believes is incredibly underrated. “From the smallest venues and local bars to larger venues like the Von Braun Center or Orion Amphitheater, we have an amazing music scene here in Huntsville," he shares. "When I first moved here, we used to go to Nashville for ‘big name’ concerts, but since living here, I’ve seen Elton John at the Von Braun Center and Dave Matthews at the Orion—it’s incredible!”
Despite his success as a restaurateur and being a finalist for Alabama’s Restaurateurs of the Year, Mathew still misses the simple pleasure of a classic chili cheese dog from JJ’s in Newark, New Jersey.
Angela Panzica
Angela is originally from Sarasota, Florida, where she began her career as an integrated marketing coordinator. When her husband, then boyfriend, accepted a job in Huntsville, Angela was immediately captivated by the city's potential as a dynamic community filled with energy and opportunity.
This vibrant environment soon became the foundation for Angela’s entrepreneurial journey. Building something new from the ground up was no small feat, but Huntsville provided the perfect setting for her to introduce concepts like Stella’s and The Blind Tiger. Earning the trust and support of the community was a challenge, but the rewards made it worthwhile. “Launching Stella’s Elixir Lounge and later The Blind Tiger pushed me to grow as a leader, entrepreneur, and creative thinker,” Angela shared. “The city’s growth-oriented mindset inspired me to pursue my vision of bringing upscale, unique experiences to its residents.”
While Angela will always miss the beach sunsets of Florida, she's found a new love in Huntsville’s local community and creativity.
“Huntsville is such a giving community. I am overwhelmed by how many worthy causes exist and how the community rises to show support in so many ways."