Employment numbers don’t just show the health of the labor market. They also reflect the lives and potential of individuals, families and communities. Since 2011, Decatur-based Horizon Point Consulting Inc. has worked to help employers strengthen organizational cultures, improve employee performance, develop leaders and successfully navigate change. Last November, the firm was recognized as Service Provider of the Year by the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association.
Mary Ila Ward, founder of Horizon Point Consulting, says her firm sits at the intersection of organizations, individuals and communities. “Our job is to innovate the workplace and workforce through people practices,” she says.
Automotive Industry Expertise
While Horizon Point Consulting provides human resources and leadership development services for companies in all industries, the firm has developed a unique skill set for helping manufacturing clients, especially those in the automotive industry, through years of experience.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Ward worked in economic development, workforce development and corporate recruiting in the state before launching Horizon Point Consulting. That work provided a strong foundation for collaborating with the burgeoning automotive industry across the state and region.
“Alabama’s strong manufacturing base — particularly in automotive and advanced manufacturing — is a natural fit for our work,” Ward says. “The state’s emphasis on workforce development, leadership and long-term economic growth aligns closely with our mission to help organizations develop strong leaders and resilient cultures.”
Horizon Point Consulting currently works with automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers across the Southeast, supporting organizations involved in production, engineering, operations and corporate functions. The firm’s work with automotive industry clients focuses on leadership development, organizational alignment and culture across the automotive supply chain.
Earning recognition through AAMA’s annual supplier awards echoes Horizon Point Consulting’s long commitment to innovating the work of people management in the automotive industry. “We believe this recognition reflects our consistent focus on delivering practical, customized and people-centered solutions that drive measurable results,” Ward says. “We listen and then design customized approaches to meet talent and workforce needs. Our involvement with AAMA throughout the years to help strengthen the collective culture and focus on the automotive industry has positioned us to be a go-to expert in workforce and workplace trends and best practices.”
Plans for the Future
Looking ahead, Horizon Point Consulting aims to continue meeting the needs of employers and workers in Alabama and the broader Southeast. The firm is working with a growing number of automotive and manufacturing organizations and supporting career and workforce development across multiple states, according to Ward.
“We are staying on top of the research and workforce trends of our times in order to help our clients,” she says. “We are also investing in new leadership programs and tools designed to help organizations navigate workforce challenges, succession planning and ongoing transformation in a rapidly evolving industry.”
Nancy Mann Jackson is a Madison-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
This article appears in the March 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
