A Calhoun Student Success Story – Kim Lewis

March 2, 2021

Accomplished. Trailblazing. Motivational. Inspirational. Community servant. All terms that can be used to describe Kim Lewis.

In February, Kim made history by becoming the first African-American female to lead the Board of Directors for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. While this event would clearly be considered a milestone, as owner and president of PROJECTXYZ, an award-winning and nationally recognized company she started with husband, Larry Lewis, this truly successful Calhoun alum would be the first to admit that her journey has seen its share of challenges.

Initially attending the University of North Alabama where she majored in nursing, Kim expected a medical career to follow, until she reached the stage of clinical work and realized the profession was not for her. It was then that she decided to pursue an associate’s degree at Calhoun Community College in computer information systems, finding a way to marry the two fields with a career in healthcare IT.

Kim worked for a short time for Georgia Tech in Atlanta, however not happy with the traffic woes and commuting issues there, she moved to Birmingham for a project analyst job at St. Vincent’s Health System.As a then-single mother, Kim needed the extra income, eventually bringing in enough outside business to start her own company in 2002, with then future husband, Larry. The resulting company, PROJECTXYZ, provides engineering, logistics, information technology and alternative energy services, as well as healthcare IT, and has grown into a multi-million dollar corporation, with 100 employees.

PROJECTXYZ has been recognized with a number of honors including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Woman-Owned Business of the Year and the 2016 “Blue Ribbon Award,” and the 2015 Business of the Year by the local chamber and was on the “Inc 5000” list of the nation’s top entrepreneurs in 2014-17.

Kim’s love for her community is clearly evident in her noteworthy volunteer work. In addition to her leadership role with the Huntsville Chamber, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Calhoun College Foundation. “I was honored when they asked me to join,” she says of the latter. “Calhoun is my alma mater.” Kim also holds seats on the boards of the Chamber Foundation, Public Affairs Research Council of North Alabama, Huntsville Botanical Garden, the National Children’s Advocacy Center, HEALS (Health Establishments at Local Schools), the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, and Huntsville Committee of 100.

Kim Lewis is truly a Calhoun success story!