Inside Memphis Business September 2019 by Contemporary Media

BO O M I N H O T E LS | V E N U E M E N U | M E ET I NG & E V E N T GU I DE | GA M I NG U PDAT E

FALL 2019

| VOLUME XIV | NUMBER 1

Innovation AWAR DS

Supplement to Memphis magazine

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2019 Ekundayo Bandele HATTILOO THEATRE

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FALL 2019

| VOLUME XIV | NUMBER 1

Innovation AWAR DS

Supplement to Memphis magazine

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2019 AyilÃ© Arnett, Phil Baker REMEDICHAIN

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FALL 2019

| VOLUME XIV | NUMBER 1

Innovation AWAR DS

Supplement to Memphis magazine

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2019 Mark Pryor THE SEAM

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FALL 2019

| VOLUME XIV | NUMBER 1

Innovation AWAR DS

Supplement to Memphis magazine

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2019 Jay Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team: Andy Nix, Megan Klein and Jason Williford MY CITY RIDES

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ROADSHOW GIVES BACK As a small locally-owned business in Memphis, we feel it's really important that we stay involved in the community and support our fellow Memphians whenever and wherever we can. So we have a new strategy in place for 2019: #RoadshowGiveBack. Every month this year we will support a different local charitable organization or nonproﬁt. If you want to get involved, contact Roadshow BMW or visit our BMW dealership in Memphis to learn more about our partnership each month.

#RoadshowGivesBack • roadshowbmw.com/roadshow-gives-back.htm 901.365.2584 • roadshowbmw.com • roadshowmini.com

2019 PARTNERS

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8/7/19 10:39 AM

Contents

FALL 2019 | VOLUME XIV | NUMBER 1

Innovation AWAR DS

2019

37 INSIDE STORY 4 From the Editor

The power of innovation.

FEATURES 11 Hotels

What’s the deal with the boom in hotel building?

BY JON W. SPARKS

Smart Business

U of M aims to be a heavy hitter in research. BY TOM JONES

BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

Need to hold a meeting? Here’s your guide.

Finance & Investment

How Warren Buffett stays tuned in to innovation. BY DAVID S. WADDELL

We Saw You

Checking out the Moneyline at Gold Strike.

BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

BIZ 901 56 Leadership

Jozelle Luster Booker powers the Continuum.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHS BY LARRY KUZNIEWSKI

BY FR ANK MURTAUGH

BY EM I LY A DA M S K EPL I N G ER

Dean Damon Fleming

The new leader at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics shares his vision.

Innovation Awards 2019

BY JON W. SPARKS, SAMUEL X. CICCI,

Community Partnership

Trezevant and Southern Reins team up.

Four innovators with four diverse missions lead the way toward meaningful change. We honor Ekundayo Bandele of Hattiloo Theatre, the team at RemediChain, Jay Martin and his team at My City Rides, and Mark Pryor of The Seam.

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

Venue Menu

AND ANDY MEEK

Wanna Bet?

The state of the gambling industry, from Tunica to West Memphis — and even Tennessee. BY ANDY MEEK

BY JON W. SPARKS

The Office

Art Gilliam behind the scenes at WLOK. BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

From the Archives

The grand presence of the old Ellis Auditorium. BY VANCE L AUDERDALE

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Inside Story

/ FROM THE EDITOR

Changing the Game Look to Memphis to find fresh ideas and action. BY J O N W. S PA R K S

T INSIDEMEMPHISBUSINESS.COM EDITOR

Jon W. Sparks

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Brian Groppe

MANAGING EDITOR

Frank Murtaugh

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Samuel X. Cicci

COPY EDITOR

Michael Finger

PHOTOGRAPHY ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION OPERATIONS DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Karen Pulfer Focht, Larry Kuzniewski Christopher Myers Margie Neal Rachel Li, Bryan Rollins

P U B L I S H E D BY C O N T E M P O R A RY M E D I A , I N C . PUBLISHER

Kenneth Neill

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Anna Traverse

CONTROLLER

Ashley Haeger

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER DIGITAL SERVICES DIRECTOR CIRCULATION MANAGER SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR EMAIL MARKETING MANAGER IT DIRECTOR BILLING COORDINATOR RECEPTIONIST

Bruce VanWyngarden Jeffrey A. Goldberg Kristin Pawlowski Julie Ray Molly Willmott Britt Ervin Joseph Carey Lynn Sparagowski Kalena McKinney

he research firm Gartner, in identifying supply chain tech trends, says this: “Although supply-chain-related blockchain initiatives are nascent … interest has accelerated significantly during the past year, making blockchain a top trend for supply chain leaders to watch in 2019.” It adds that such innovative technologies “can potentially and significantly disrupt existing supply chain operating models.” To that we say: Welcome to Memphis. Two of our four Innovation Award winners, who you’ll meet in this issue, have been using blockchain tech for very different purposes but both changing the game in their respective areas. Mark Pryor, CEO of The Seam, is making blockchain work in the cotton and peanut industries, conducting transactions that are open, neutral, and don’t need a central intermediary. Like a bank. Or, say, Equifax. Over at RemediChain, Phil Baker and his team use the technology to find unused medications from patients, pharmacies, and healthcare organizations, and pass them on to economically disadvantaged patients who couldn’t otherwise afford them. Blockchain is easing the way. Innovations, of course, don’t have to be about tech. Some of the most meaningful are about using vision to meet a need. Ekundayo Bandele’s Hattiloo Theatre was never intended to be a simple presenter of plays relevant to the African-American experience. It does that, and does it well, but Bandele’s 14-year vision is about reaching into the community as well as setting an example nationally to show how the arts can elevate a city. And then there’s Jay Martin, founder of the Juice Plus+ Company, who wanted to do something to support workforce development in the city. His nonprofit, MyCityRides, allows workers to acquire a lease-to-own new scooter with an affordable, fixed-cost arrangement. The organization supplies gear

and maintenance until it’s paid off. Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find our useful Venue Menu, a listing of places where you can hold your meetings, whether your subcommittee needs a quiet space or if you’re planning a convention. Speaking of conventions, they don’t exist without hotels and Memphis, particularly Downtown, is experiencing a boom in hotel construction. See our story about how and why we’re adding so many rooms. Also in this issue, you’ll get to meet Dr. Damon Fleming, the new dean of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, and find out what his vision is for the institution. And we’re examining the ever-changing world of gambling. Andy Meek takes a comprehensive look at the scene in Tunica, which has impacted the market since Splash Casino opened in 1992. Also, you’ll get the story on Southland Casino, a newcomer to the region with big plans. And we’ll find out where Tennessee’s effort to allow sports betting is headed. Other revealing stories include an interview with Jozelle Luster Booker at the MMBC Continuum. We also go into the office of Art Gilliam, owner of WLOK radio to see how the business is doing. Of course, we also have Tom Jones and David S. Waddell’s columns to provide some savvy business insights. There’s lots more. Enjoy our info-packed issue.

Inside Memphis Business is published four times a year by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 © 2019, telephone: 901-521-9000. For subscription information, call 901-575-9470. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. Postmaster: send address changes to Inside Memphis Business, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. Opinions and perspectives expressed in the magazine are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the ownership or management.

Get the Tip Sheet Inside Memphis Business puts out a weekly newsletter that provides a quick look at business goings-on. The Tip Sheet brings you some news you might not have heard, and links to other local publications that are covering the world of money. There’s also a list of upcoming events worth noting as well as our Hot Sheet, a roundup of promotions, achievements, and acquisitions. And we always feature one of our Power Players who make the city buzz. It’s a good look at what you need to know, and it won’t take long to check out because we know you’re busy. All you need to do right now is take 30 seconds to go to insidememphisbusiness.com and sign up. Every Friday morning you’ll get an email and you can stay informed. As Warren Buffett says, “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.”

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Transforming the standard in health care education.

Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, innovation is at the forefront of our mission to transform health care, education, research, clinical care, and public service.

uthsc.edu

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/ SMART BUSINESS

Disrupting Expectations

The U of M could elevate the city’s role in innovation and technology. BY TOM JONES

s Memphis works to transition from the workforce of the 1980s to one that can compete in a twenty-first-century economy of innovation and technology, the University of Memphis will be instrumental in whether we succeed. Although the innovation that produced the most media coverage was when the university hired a high school coach, albeit an NBA legend, to head its men’s basketball program, it is working even harder these days to develop a culture of innovation recognized for disrupting expectations. After all, the university influences almost every aspect of our regional economy: the base of knowledge, an educated workforce, breakthroughs in new ideas, and research that builds a tech cluster that attracts entrepreneurs and innovators to Memphis.

If the university had a thousand more doctoral students, it could transform the high-tech landscape and put Memphis into the national spotlight. The emphasis on innovation could not come at a better time, because the test for Memphis is whether it can leverage its current momentum to address longtime structural issues. For example, between 2005 and 2017, the Memphis metro went from 47th to 48th among the 50 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) for their shares of creative workers. When compared to peer cities, the Memphis region has the lowest median household incomes, a higher unemployment rate, lower jobs growth rate, and more expensive business incentives. While the University of Memphis’ emphasis on innovation will never get the headlines devoted to Penny Hardaway, that’s not saying it doesn’t deserve them. Most recently,

the new University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF) Research Park opened at 460 South Highland Street in a 60-year-old city library building and jettisoned its cumbersome name, CommuniTech. The park’s opening was the first phase in a plan that will be followed by an applied research facility at the Park Avenue campus later this year and a third phase focused on attracting public-private partnership enterprises. The University says its ultimate goal is “strengthening its role as a research-based driver of economic development in the region.” It’s an ambitious objective, considering that the university has been pursuing a stronger role in innovation research since the opening of FedEx Institute of Technology 16 years ago and the subsequent creation of six research innovation clusters as well as the Office of Technology Transfer, which has now received about 40 patents, including a record 10 in the past year. In the end, it’s all about creating an ecosystem, according to Jasbir Dhaliwal, the university’s executive vice-president for research and innovation. That’s why the school, in a new partnership

with entrepreneur facilitator Epicenter, has established a postdoctoral fellowship program called Patents2Products. Its goal is to create six new SweetBio-type ventures in the next year. SweetBio is a medical device startup that developed a dissolvable membrane derived from honey that can promote healing after oral surgery. A missing piece of the ecosystem — as a result of too little funding from the state of Tennessee — is the critical mass of graduate students engaged in research, which translates into fewer graduates for companies to hire and who stay in Memphis for their own startups. It’s a tall order, particularly in the pivotal way that international students factor into the ecosystem. While the University of Memphis counts its international students in the hundreds, the University of Cincinnati counts theirs in the thousands. Dhaliwal says that if the university had a thousand more doctoral students, it could transform the high-tech landscape and put Memphis into the national spotlight. Attracting more of these students, who number a million in the United States and contribute $39 billion to the national economy, has become harder because foreign student enrollment is declining as federal government immigration policies and rhetoric suggest they are not welcomed. As Dhaliwal points out, even if the international students enroll at the U of M and return to their home

Dean Damon Fleming, newly at the helm of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, has research at the top of his list. — see page 60

countries, they spread the word about the university, and if they start a company there and are looking for a U.S. office, they know about Memphis. To fuel this ecosystem, the goal is for U of M to become a Carnegie Research 1 university (top level) within five years, joining the elite institutions with “very high research activity.” “We don’t have a choice,” says Dhaliwal. “Education is competitive and our peer schools are R1 schools. Being internationally recognized allows us to attract students from all over the world. It also attracts companies to make investments. Many people don’t realize we’re in a key competitive business.” That said, it seems that the university’s pragmatic and practical approach reflects the character of Memphis itself. “We don’t want to be an ivory tower university cut off from the city,” he says. “We want to engage in research that helps the city and breaks down the ivory tower mindset so we can support the local economy and make our workforce nationally competitive as well.” Success begets success and the more the University of Memphis can build this sophisticated ecosystem, the stronger and more competitive the Memphis economy can be. That’s a town-gown relationship that could make an NCAA basketball championship pale in comparison.

Tom Jones leads Smart City Consulting and is the primary author of the Smart City Memphis blog, recognized by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change as “one of the most engaging” civic-minded blogs in the United States. You can reach him at tjones@smartcityconsulting.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY HOBBITFOOT | DREAMSTIME

Inside Story

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Inside Story /

FINANCE & INVESTMENT

Wall Street Innovates! The unbundling of Warren Buffett. BY DAV I D S . WA D D E L L

he pace of innovation today has created a hyper-disruptive environment that constantly challenges and changes business and form factors. From omniscient ads that specialty retailers use to target every subconscious desire, to meatless meats now crowding out cows on grocery shelves, to USB cigarettes that plug into your laptop rather than your car lighter, seasoned businesses find themselves swatting at swarms of innovation. Even an industry as stubborn as asset management has succumbed, rendering stock-picking stars of the past unsure about their futures. To understand how Wall Street has eaten its own, let’s see how financial innovation has unbundled and repriced the great Warren Buffett.

TV Shows • Columns • Radio Show • Books • Podcasts

Buffett’s stock picking process contains three distinct functions. First, he decides where to look for investments: his “investment universe.” Second, he determines which financial attributes he prefers: his “quantitative screen.” Lastly, Index funds Buffett activates touting low costs, his perspectives and experience to diversification, “qualitative and tax efficiency evaluate properties” like the have vacuumed knowability of the business, the quality up investor of management, capital, making and the power of the brand. His stock outsized gains picking process elusive for most includes: 1) defining active managers. the investment universe, 2) developing a quantitative screen, and 3) applying qualitative judgement. Wall Street investment banks have cleverly packaged these steps into distinct investment products. STEP 1 Define the Investment Universe: Product 1 — Index Funds For a fee of around .10 percent, you can now own just about any investment universe. There are hundreds of index mutual funds to choose from. The largest funds tend to track the Standard and Poors 500, which consists of the 500 largest U.S. companies sorted by size. This is where Buffett likes to shop. Investors should expect index funds to track their target index, consistently underperforming by the margin of the fee. With index funds, lower fees equal lower underperformance. STEP 2 Develop a Quantitative Screen: Product 2 — Factor Funds For a fee of around .25 percent, you can own only the stocks within an index that meet a tailored quantitative criterion. Factor funds deconstruct indices into groups of stocks with similar characteristics. Buffett’s portfolios heavily express value and quality quantitative factors while more growth-oriented managers emphasize size and momentum quantitative factors. Research

reveals that grouping stocks within an index by certain quantitative factors (like value, quality, size, and momentum metrics) can generate excess performance over time. STEP 3: Apply Qualitative Judgment: Product 3 — Active Funds For a fee of around 1.25 percent, you can hire a legendary stock picker to actively manage your portfolio. Now 1.25 percent may sound like a lot, but since 1964 Buffett has delivered 20 percent annualized returns for Berkshire shareholders versus 10 percent for the S&P 500 — more than covering his active management fee. However, the bulk of his outperformance occurred before the above innovations. In his own words, “Berkshire’s long-term gains [from here] will not come close to those of the last 50 years,” acknowledging that competitive product innovations have created serious challenges for stock pickers. In fact, according to Morningstar, only 23 percent of large cap U.S. value funds outperformed their benchmarks over the last five years, making the additional costs of active management questionable. Even for Buffett. BOTTOM LINE: Fifty years ago, legendary active stock pickers like Buffett posted dazzling returns without much product competition. Today, index funds touting low costs, diversification, and tax efficiency have vacuumed up investor capital, making outsized gains elusive for most active managers. Fortunately, product innovators on Wall Street have combined the efficiencies of index funds with the fundamental judgment of active funds by creating factor funds — essentially granting everyday investors access to star stock pickers’ playbooks at a discount — an innovation even Buffett himself would have to endorse. • David S. Waddell is CEO of Waddell and Associates. He has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Businessweek, and other local, national, and global resources. Visit waddellandassociates.com for more.

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Inside Story /

WE SAW YOU

Wanna bet?

Moneyline Book, Bar & Grill at Gold Strike Casino — July 26 BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

uests experienced Moneyline Book, Bar & Grill, the new $7 million venue at MGM Resorts International’s Gold Strike Casino, at a VIP party. The 6,000-square-foot venue combines sports, gaming, entertainment, three-meal dining, and nightlife. It features more than 60 HD screens, including a giant video wall. Moneyline has a 50-foot-long bar with 16 video poker machines. Fans can bid on their favorite teams at the Race & Sports Book. The multi-tiered dining and seating areas offer prime viewing of sports events. M Life Rewards premium guests can take advantage of the elevated VIP areas — the Club Level Lounge and the Skybox. Golfers and non-golfers can compete in the Topgolf Swing Suite. Powered by Full Swing golf simulator technology with a virtual screen, the Topgolf Swing Suites includes Zombie Dodgeball, Hockey Shots, Baseball Pitching, Quarterback Challenge, and more. As for dining, Moneyline’s menu includes its signature items Moneyline Burger, Firecracker Shrimp, Crispy Wings, Chicken & Waffles, Ribeye Smash, and Mississippi Catfish Platter. •

1 Gold Strike’s Mike “Mav” Mavromatis, Mary Cracchiolo, Jessica Rogers, Troy Douglas 2 Former NFL players Vernon Perry and Robert Brazile 3 Daphne and Gilbert Battle 4 Greg Gaston Jr., Rushton Cox,

Hagan Warner 5 Tomeka and Danny Campbell 6 Gold Strike president and COO David Tsai 7 Former NFL player Eddie Payton 8 Former NFL player Aubrey Matthews 9 Former NFL player Noland Smith. 6

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WE START WITH YOUR EVENT, BUT BY THE TIME WE’RE FINISHED, IT’S THEIRS. Let’s get to building your brand by making moments that deeply connect. Those worth posting, sharing and reliving. Those that turn attendees into super fans, employees into team members. Because when you achieve a moment like that, it’s more than an event, it’s an experience. Experience the ROAR everyone’s talking about. Team with LEO.

LEOevents.com | (901) 766-1836 411 Monroe Ave, Memphis, TN 38103

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Hospitality

PHOTOGRAPH BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT

The Guest House at Graceland has more than 17,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a full-time devotion to its inspiration, Elvis Presley.

eetings — love ’em or hate ’em — are crucial to any business, big or small, for-profit or nonprofit, simple or complex. If you need a place beyond your conference room’s limits, check our Venue Menu, a list of area places to hold a small confab or a monster convention, from casinos to colleges to restaurants to hotels. Speaking of hotels, the boom in lodging construction prompted Inside Memphis Business associate editor Samuel X. Cicci to talk to experts and look at some numbers. There are 16 projects in the works totaling 5,800 hotel rooms for Downtown. There are the atmospheric boutique hotels and then there are the bigger projects meant to handle conventions. The makeover of the Memphis Convention Center will present a facility with state-of-the-art improvements to lure more big meetings. As Doug Browne, president of the Peabody Hotel, puts it, the key to economic growth is to get more larger hotels Downtown. And now it’s happening. FA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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Hospitality

Hotel Fever Hits Memphis! / FE AT U RE

New Projects Continue to Crop Up BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

espite one of Memphis’ most famous icons distinguishing himself with a little ditty called “Heartbreak Hotel,” there’s no such tragedy involved with the city’s hospitality scene. If anything, the sheer amount of proposed and under-construction projects should give plenty of credence to the idea that Memphis is a must-visit destination. As of May, there were 55 hotel projects being discussed in the Greater Memphis metropolitan area. Every year, Henderson, Tennessee-based Smith Travel Research (STR) compiles hotel development information into a pipeline list that tracks 50,000 hotels across the country, as well as those that are under construction or in the planning process. For pro-

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fessional consultants like Chuck Pinkowski, that list is cross-referenced with information gleaned from local developers and financial institutions to analyze the health of the local hospitality industry. As the founder of Pinkowski & Company, he is usually called on to provide research and data to companies and city representatives. “Our clients are primarily the owners, investors, and financial institutions that put forth the money to build new hotels,” says Pinkowski. “We help them to determine whether a place is a good location, what kind of product they should develop, how big it should be, and the brand affiliation that should be on it. Then, we do a market analysis to determine what the projected performance of that hotel would be.”

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Downtown Hotel Revenue

he most recent pipeline list provided by STR details 16 projects in the works totaling 5,800 hotel rooms for Downtown Memphis, but Pinkowski says that typically only 50 percent or less of pipeline projects ever come to fruition. Five projects are currently under construction Downtown: Aloft by Marriot, Cambria Hotel & Suites, Arrive, Canopy by Hilton, and Central Station, for a total of 637 additional rooms. The Memphis hospitality sector has seen steady growth over the past decade, but

should be expected to dip over the next year due to changes to the Memphis Convention Center. While occupancy numbers may drop, Pinkowski says the big-picture outcome is much more positive. “In 2020 and 2021, you’re going to see some of these new rooms come online. Even though convention demand is going to be less than normal Downtown for a little while, you’re going to have an absolute increase in the number of rooms sold with these new hotels. The supply is going to increase and the occupancy rates may drop some, but the total room revenue is going to increase.”

Taking a look at recent revenue per available room (RevPAR) numbers, the trajectory for Downtown has indeed been on an upward trend in recent times. While 2018 only saw a 0.3 percent growth, prior years had seen larger improvements. Downtown’s RevPAR of $114.30 also far exceeded the Memphis average of $62.56 (despite the gains, Memphis still lagged behind the national average of 2.9 percent growth) The local hospitality industry hasn’t b een i mproving its numbers by standing still.

The 170-room Canopy Hotel going up in the shadow of two notable Memphis hotel names. PHOTOGRAPH BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT

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Hotel Fever Hits Memphis! For millennials: Hotel Napoleon on Madison Avenue. PHOTOGRAPH BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT

Boutique Unique

riencing boutique hospitality. These varieties of hotels are designed to fter a spike in popularity in draw different demographics, or ones who the 1980s and 1990s, boutique hotels are might be looking for something a little differseeing a resurgence. Usually built with a ent than the conventional hotel experience. smaller number of guests in mind, these franInstead of using an Airbnb, chises are usually offshoots a creative boutique option of larger brands that aim Convention planners don’t might draw in those who to provide more comprewant to spread all the had previously moved away hensive services and a chic from standard hotel brands. presentation to guests. The attendees out over four or 58-room Hotel Napoleon five hotels when other cities “Something like Hotel Indigo has mid-century, modhas been thriving after its might offer one central ern-style architecture, and adaptive reuse of the forthe architects have done mer Press-Scimitar building location that can handle a great job of maintaining on Madison Avenue, and most guests. that style,” says Pinkowski. has garnered acclaim from “I won’t put an age category on it, but it’s a outlets like The New York Times and TripAdviproduct that appeals to those customers who sor. A new arrival on the scene is the Moxy might be looking for something a little more Hotel, which promotes itself with porch fire trendy or unique in its delivery.” pits, a bocce ball court, and an overall grand old time. And, while it may not technically be a boutique hotel, the 150-room Hilton Garden Too Many Cooks? Inn, across Union Avenue from AutoZone hese boutique options are what Park, hosts The Greyhound, a gin-based Pinkowski calls “guerrilla brands.” While craft cocktail bar replete with imagery of the they might seem fresh and unique on the sureponymous canine. (It’s on the site of the old face, many are already under the corporate Greyhound bus station). A trolley bar is used umbrella of familiar names like Marriott. Cato create all the cocktails table-side, and patering to a new type of clientele is all well and trons can choose from over 50 gin varieties. Really, it’s about selling a style or experience. Just take a look at the Instagram account for any boutique hotel brand, and you’ll see similar types of images surface: young, hip millennials posing amid a swirl of brightly colored artwork, sipping various craft cocktails, or lounging around the pool. The whole feed is just an explosive of vivacity; forget the MarlThe 3rd & Court restaurant at Hotel Indigo. boro Man. This generation’s “cool,” at least as PHOTOGRAPH BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT far as the hotel industry is concerned, is expe-

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good, but is the addition of so many small hotels good for Memphis, or better for the larger parent companies running the show? Doug Browne, president of the Peabody Hotel, says that there is always a risk of over-saturation with too many smaller operations. “We have a tremendous amount of limited-service or smaller hotels,” says Browne. “Say 50 rooms or less. Sometimes they end up feeding off each other.” The key to economic growth is to incorporate more larger hotels into the Downtown area. Browne points to the Loews Hotel as the kind of development that will turn more eyes toward Memphis. When preparing for a convention, meeting planners don’t want to spread all the attendees out over four or five hotels when other cities might offer one central location that can handle most guests. “With the Sheraton and Loews, you’ll now have upwards of 1,000 rooms connected to the Convention Center, and then a few others able to handle additional large parties. “The Loews brand is a large company with a lot of its own clients, so that will already have more people looking at Memphis. As all the hotels bring new business to Downtown, it will create a compression in the area.” In addition to the main convention attendees, he brings up what he calls secondary rooms. An extra 15 percent of occupants come to town because of a convention, but don’t stay at the central convention hotel. These are people who are adjacent to whatever kind of business the convention brings to town. Browne likens it to a new business opening up shop. “It’s almost like when a company like Mitsubishi moves in and builds a factory. Everybody thinks, ‘Okay, that’s the business that they’re creating.’ What they don’t realize is there’s probably 30 to 50 other smaller companies that open up all around Mitsubishi because they help sustain it. Maybe they make screws, or maybe they make widgets or other things that Mitsubishi uses on its equipment. But all of those companies open up and they hire people, and those people are paying taxes. Really, a similar thing happens with groups and conventions that come into town.”

Is Memphis Equipped for Extra Hospitality?

ith so many new hotel additions in the works, is Memphis doing enough to bring in enough people to fill these rooms? The extensive Convention Center updates are certainly poised to bring in plenty of new business, but what about the rest of

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The Future of Hotels

Downtown? Browne thinks that the city’s efforts are headed in the right direction. “City government doesn’t always get enough credit, but Jim Strickland has been doing a lot to make sure the renovation and expansion of the Convention Center is done right. Then the Greater Memphis Chamber has also worked really hard to make sure there’s enough staffing for Memphis, making sure the city is clean. Really, it’s something that the whole community has been involved with, making the city better and making people want to come to Memphis.” If the past few years are any indication, then Memphis hospitality should continue to thrive as the Convention Center gets up and running and boutique hotels offer fun and varied experiences to guests. Whether it’s setting up shop across from AutoZone Park, leaning into the blues-infused Memphis history at the upcoming Central Station Hotel, or getting ready to seal business deals at the Loews Hotel, one of the country’s in-vogue vacation spots should have plenty of options.

LOCATION

HOTEL NAME

STATUS

NO. OF ROOMS

Arlington Collierville Collierville Collierville Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown Downtown East Memphis East Memphis East Memphis East Memphis East Memphis East Memphis East Memphis Germantown Germantown Germantown Horn Lake, MS Lakeland Lakeland Marion, AR Midtown Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch, MS Olive Branch, MS Southaven, MS Southaven, MS Southaven, MS Southaven, MS Southaven, MS Southaven, MS Southaven, MS Southeast Memphis West Memphis, AR West Memphis, AR West Memphis, AR West Memphis, AR

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Holiday Inn Express Home2 Suites by Hilton Fairﬁeld Inn & Suites by Marriott Aloft by Marriott AC by Marriott Holiday Inn Express Home2 Suites by Hilton Unnamed Hotel Clipper/Gibson Guitar Loews Convention Center Hotel Hyatt Centric One Beale Jolly Royal Bldg Union Row Hotel 1 Extended Stay Hotel Union Row Hotel 2 Cambria Hotel & Suites Arrive Canopy by Hilton Curio by Hilton - Central Station Courtyard by Marriott Candlewood Suites Colonial Country Club Hotel Racquet Club Hotel Poplar Avenue Hotel Home2 Suites by Hilton TownePlace Suites by Marriott Hilton Garden Inn Home2 Suites by Hilton TownePlace Suites by Marriott Days Inn Lakeland Hotel #1 Lakeland Hotel #2 Fairﬁeld Inn & Suites Tribute by Marriott - Overton Square Hotel Hilton Garden Inn TownePlace Suites by Marriott Courtyard by Marriott Holiday Inn LaQuinta Inn & Suites Comfort Inn Avid by IHG Embassy Suites by Hilton Springhill Suites Tru by Hilton Sleep Inn Mainstay WoodSpring Suites Holiday Inn Tru by Hilton Holiday Inn Express Casino Hotel Avid by IHG

Final Planning Planning Planning Under Const. Under Const. Final Planning Final Planning Planning Planning Proposed Proposed Final Planning Proposed Proposed Planning Proposed Under Const. Under Const. Under Const. Under Const. Final Planning Planning Proposed Proposed Proposed Under Const. Final Planning Under Const. Under Const. Planning Planning Proposed Proposed Under Const. Final Planning Under Const. Under Const. Planning Planning Planning Planning Planning Final Planning Planning Final Planning Planning Planning Planning Under Const. Under Const. Under Const. Planning Planning

110 85 105 110 155 154 115 115 175 250 550 227 178 TBD 108 120 120 62 170 130 101 80 TBD TBD TBD 105 90 129 91 110 60 TBD TBD 92 107 121 90 105 92 80 50 95 150 128 93 40 30 121 129 81 84 300 95

Source: STR Pipeline Report 2/18/19; Pinkowski & Company FA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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Hospitality /

THE VENUE MENU

Harmonic Convergence The top locations for meetings large and small. BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

eetings make the business world go round. But when it comes to forming a new partnership or closing that big deal, you’re not going to pop down to the dimly lit storage closet down the hall. For business folks to drive change and bring all the right parties together, they need to know the best environment to make it happen. Whether it’s a small board meeting or a large conference with thousands of attendees, Inside Memphis Business’ Venue Menu has some of the best locations for your next corporate gathering.

CASINOS Horseshoe Casino and Hotel Meetings, weddings, special events. Banquet rooms and live entertainment spaces. 300-10,000 sq. ft., 10-1,400 guests. 855-633-8238; meet@caesars.com. 1021 Casino Center Dr., Robinsonville, MS caesars.com Gold Strike Casino Resort Meetings and special events. 30,000 sq. ft., 10-1,170 guests. 662-357-1375; skotecki@mgmresorts.com. 1010 Casino Center Dr., Tunica Resorts, MS goldstrike.com Hollywood Casino Event space for 25-500. 14,000 sq. ft. ballroom seats 1,200 theater style. 662-357-7883. 1150 Casino Strip Resort Blvd., Robinsonville, MS www2.hollywoodcasinotunica.com Sam’s Town Casino Event space for up to 400. 5,040 sq. ft. ballroom and 2,100 sq. ft. ballroom. 662-363-0711. 1477 Casino Strip Resort Blvd., Robinsonville, MS www.samstowntunica.com 16 |

Southland Casino Meetings and large corporate events. 16,000 sq. ft., 30-600 guests. 870-400-4855. 1550 Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR southlandpark.com

COLLEGES Christian Brothers University Meetings and events. Classroom, banquet rooms, and auditorium space for 25-500 guests. 901-321-3525; jlenz@cbu.edu. 650 E. Pkwy S. cbu.edu Rhodes College Meetings, lectures, and special events. Scheduling and College Events Office: 901-843-3888. 2000 N. Parkway. rhodes.edu University of Memphis Conferences and events. 210,000 available sq. ft., up to 1,000 guests. Conference and event services: 901-678-5000; conferences@memphis.edu. 365 Innovation Dr. conferences.memphis.edu

Annesdale Mansion Corporate events. Up to 9,000 available sq. ft., 250-300 guests. Val Bledsoe: 901-490-9460; val@ annesdalemansion.com. 1325 Lamar Ave. annesdalemansion.com Anthony’s Classic Hall Corporate events. Multiple rooms for 130-150 guests. Office: 901-388-6468; anthonysclassichall@aol.com. 2828 Stage Center Drive, Bartlett, TN anthonysclassichall.com The Atrium at Overton Square Corporate events and meetings. Space for 175 seated guests, up to 250 standing. In-house catering and bar services available. 901-213-4514; events@ memphiseventgroup.com. 2105 Madison Ave. theatriummemphis.com Cadre Building Corporate, formal, and non-profit events. 36,000 sq. ft., Space for 300 guests, 1,000 standing. 901-779-1501; betsy. mckay@cadrebuilding.com. 149 Monroe Ave. cadrebuilding.com Cedar Hall Corporate events. Indoor and outdoor spaces for up to 300 guests. 901-377-4099; info@cedarhall.com. 3712 Broadway Rd., Bartlett, TN cedarhall.com The Columns Corporate events. Up to 20,000 sq. ft., 200-800 guests. 901-552-4732; elizabeth@resourceentertainment. com. 40 S. Main St. resourceentertainment.com Esplanade Corporate events and conferences. 14,000 available sq. ft., 10-700 guests. 901-753-3333; info@ esplanadememphis.com. 901 Cordova Station Ave. esplanadememphis.com FedEx Event Center Corporate events. From 272-7,700 sq. ft., 20-800 guests. 901-222-7280; ballen@shelbyfarmspark.org. 6903 Great View Dr. N. shelbyfarmspark.org Fogelman Executive Conference Center & Hotel Corporate events and conferences. 35,000 available sq. ft., 15-1,500 guests. 901-678-5410; fecsales@memphis. edu. 330 Innovation Dr. (Conference Center); 3700 Central Ave (Hotel). bf.memphis.edu/fecc/ The Great Hall & Conference Center Corporate events and conferences. Up to 8,675 sq. ft. available. 60-800 guests. 901-757-7373; ianslinger@ germantown-tn.gov. 1900 S. Germantown Rd. thegreathallevents.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY DREAMSTIME

EVENT VENUES

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La Place Ballroom Corporate and special events. Up to 5,500 sq. ft. available. 10-650 guests. Catering available. Tarmeckla Douglas: 901-340-0144; tarmeckladouglas@yahoo.com. 4798 Summer Ave. laplaceballroom.com The Meeting Center of Collierville Meetings and conferences. Variety of room options. Seating for up to 15 guests. 901-861-6304; info@ tmccollierville.com. 340 Poplar View Ln. E. #1 tmccollierville.com Minglewood Hall Corporate events and fundraisers. Up to 13,000 sq. ft. available. Up to 1,600 guests. 901-312-6058 ext #1107; paula.davis@minglewoodhall.com. 1555 Madison Ave. minglewoodhall.com New Daisy Corporate and special events, fundraisers, and trade shows. Full theater setup for 500-1,100 guests. 901-5258981; info@newdaisy.com. 330 Beale St. newdaisy.com Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Event Venue Corporate events. Conference and event rooms for 8-250 people. 901-606-4240. 3243 Players Club Circle. noahseventvenue.com Premiere Palace Ballroom Corporate events. 2,500 sq. ft. ballroom for up to 400 guests. 901-527-5660; info@premierepalace.com. 629 Monroe Ave. premierepalace.com Propcellar Corporate events. Large, versatile warehouse space for between 50-750 guests. 901-654-6737; hello@ propcellar.com. 2585 Summer Ave. propcellar.com Rumba Room Small corporate events. Tables and private rooms available on a limited basis. 901-523-0020; edgarmendez71@gmail.com. 303 S. Main St. memphisrumba.com Tower Center Conferences, meetings, and events. Up to 10,000 available sq. ft., 6-600 guests. 901-767-8776; celkins@ towercentermemphis.com. 5100 Poplar Ave. #3300. towercentermemphis.com Woodland Hills Event Center Corporate events. Multiple room options, with 50-1,000 guests. 901-754-2000. 10000 Woodland Hills Dr., Cordova. woodlandhillseventcenter.com Woodruff-Fontaine House Weddings and special and corporate events. Variety of room options for 30-150 guests. 901-526-1469; contact@ woodruff-fontaine.org. 680 Adams Ave. woodruff-fontaine.org

With ten locations across the Memphis area, Healthcare Realty is the go-to source for on Baptist Memorial Hospital campuses. A variety of locations and levels of build-out provide move-in ready suites, time-share space and the ability to build to suit. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your move.

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HOTELS Big Cypress Lodge Corporate events, conferences, and meetings. Variety of room and outdoor options for 10-800 guests. 901-6204652; concierge@big-cypress.com. 1 Bass Pro Dr. big-cypress.com Crowne Plaza Downtown Corporate events and meetings. Over 7,900 available sq. ft., up to 257 guests. 901-525-1800; info@ cphotelmemphis.com. 300 N. Second St. ihg.com/crowneplaza Crowne Plaza East Memphis Corporate events and meetings. 15,000 available sq. ft., up to 800 guests. 901-362-6200; hnelson@ cphmemphis.com. 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd. ihg.com/crowneplaza Doubletree Hilton (Sanderlin) Corporate events and meetings. 6,000 available sq. ft., 8-300 guests. 901-696-6703; 5069 Sanderlin Ave. doubletree3.hilton.com Embassy Suites Memphis Corporate events and meetings. Up to 3,000 sq. ft., 15200 guests. 901-684-1777. 1022 S. Shady Grove Rd. embassysuites3.hilton.com Guest House at Graceland Corporate events and conferences. 22,000 available sq. ft., up to 1,200 guests. 1-800-238-2000; GHAGsales@ guesthousegraceland.com. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd. guesthousegraceland.com Hilton Garden Inn (Downtown) Corporate events and conferences. Up to 1,080 sq. ft. 10-70 guests. 1-901-528-1540. 201 Union Ave. hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com Hilton (Ridge Lake Blvd.) Corporate events and meetings. Up to 30,000 available sq. ft. for up to 1,600 guests. 901-684-6664. 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. www3.hilton.com Holiday Inn (Downtown) Corporate events and meetings. 425-3,456 sq. ft., 12-300 guests. 901-526-2001. 160 Union Ave. hisdowntownmemphis.com Holiday Inn (University of Memphis) Social and corporate events and conferences. 14,244 available sq. ft., 15-1,500 guests. 901-678-5423; paustin@memphis.edu. 3700 Central Ave. ihg.com Holiday Inn Express (Medical Center Midtown) Small meetings. Meeting rooms available for small groups as available. 901-276-1175; hiemsales@1stcarolina.net. 1180 Union Ave. ihg.com Hotel Indigo Corporate meetings and events. 560 sq. ft. meeting room for up to 50 guests. 901-527-2215. info@ downtownmemphishotel.com. 22 North B.B. King Blvd. ihg.com

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Hyatt Place Memphis (Primacy Pkwy.) Meetings. Up to 1,170 sq. ft., 20-50 guests. 901-6809700; mark.smisor@hyatt.com. 1220 Primacy Pkwy. memphisprimacyparkway.place.hyatt.com Hu. Hotel Corporate events and meetings. 476-2,052 sq. ft., 15-315 guests. 866-446-3674; info@huhotelmemphis.com. 79 Madison Ave. huhotelmemphis.com Marriott Memphis East Corporate events and meetings. 7,807 sq. ft., 10-400 guests. 901-682-0080. 5795 Poplar Ave. marriott.com Peabody Hotel Corporate events, meetings, and conferences. 300-16,000 sq. ft. 10-3,000 guests. 901-529-4000. 149 Union Ave. peabodymemphis.com River Inn - River Hall Corporate events and meetings. Banquet hall and terrace options for up to 120 guests. 901-260-3333 ext. 2105; events@riverinnmemphis.com. 50 Harbor Town Sq. riverinnmemphis.com Sheraton Memphis (Downtown) Corporate events and meetings. 276-4,692 sq. ft., 10-414 guests. 901-527-7300. 250 N. Main St. marriott.com Staybridge Suites Small meetings. 800 sq. ft. available for small business meetings. 901-322-6560. 1070 Ridge Lake Blvd. ihg.com Westin Memphis Beale Street Corporate events and meetings. 320-3,040 sq. ft., 8-300 guests. 901-334-5900. 170 Lt. George W. Lee Ave. marriott.com

LARGE VENUES Agricenter International Corporate events and trade shows. Variety of small and large venues, ranging from 4,800-86,000 sq. ft. 901-7577777; info@agricenter.org. 7777 Walnut Grove Rd. agricenter.org Beale Street Landing Large corporate events. Large outdoor space, with capacity up to 5,000+ guests. 901-504-4229. 251 Riverside Dr. partymemphis.com Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Large corporate events and conferences. Large theater-capacity events with 2,100 seats. 901-576-1224. 255 N. Main St. thecannoncenter.com FedExForum Large corporate events and meetings. Large stadium with variety of venue options for 30-17,500 guests. 901-2051522; jolson@fedexforum.com. 191 Beale St. fedexforum.com Landers Center Large corporate events, conferences, and meetings. Multiple venue options, from 468-17,010 sq. ft., 30-1,888 guests. 662-280-9120. jcrews@landerscenter.com. 4560 Venture Dr., Southaven, MS landerscenter.com

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Large corporate events. Large stadium and fairgrounds with variety of venue options for 125-58,325 guests. 901-729-4071; thomas_carrier@ spectraxp.com. 335 S. Hollywood St. thelibertybowlstadium.com Memphis Convention Center Large corporate events, meetings, conferences, and trade shows. Large hall with over 125,000 available sq. ft. 901-576-1200. 255 N. Main St. memphistravel.com

PUBLIC AutoZone Park Corporate events and meetings. Indoor and outdoor venues available. Capacity depends on venue. 901722-0257. 200 Union Ave. memphisredbirds.com Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center Corporate events and small meetings. Smaller room options or auditorium for 75-350 guests. 901-3856440. 3663 Appling Rd., Bartlett, TN bpacc.org Blues Hall of Fame Corporate events. Entry-level and ground-level spaces for 100-300 guests. 901-527-2583 ext. 13. elizabeth@blues.org. 421 S. Main St. blues.org Brooks Museum Corporate events and meetings. Meeting and reception options for 20-400 guests. 9 01-544-6222; nikki.lekhy@brooksmuseum.org. 1934 Poplar Ave. brooksmuseum.org Cotton Museum Corporate events. 3,200 sq. ft. for up to 150 guests. 901-531-7826; rentals@memphiscottonmuseum. org. 65 Union Ave. memphiscottonmuseum.org Crescent Club Corporate events and meetings. 540-1,500 sq. ft., 12-200 guests. 901-684-1010 ext. 224. 6075 Poplar Ave., Suite 909. mycrescentclub.com Dixon Gallery and Gardens Corporate events and meetings. Pavilion and auditorium options for 20-250 guests. 901-761-5250 ext. 101. scatmur@dixon. org. 4339 Park Ave. dixon.org Elvis Presleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Graceland Corporate events and meetings. Multiple indoor and outdoor facilities for small and large gatherings. 901332-3322. 3734 Elvis Presley Blvd. graceland.com Halloran Centre Corporate events, meetings, private parties, special events. 1,011-3,500 sq. ft., 45-361 guests. 901-529-4276; adams@orpheum-memphis.org. 225 S. Main St. orpheum-memphis.com

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Kroc Center Corporate events and meetings. Conference and hall space for between 12-100 guests. 901-729-8031; events@ krocmemphis.org. 800 E. Pkwy. S. krocmemphis.org Memphis Botanic Garden Corporate events. Variety of indoor and outdoor spaces for 2-600 guests. 901-636-4106; rentals@ memphisbotanicgarden.com. 750 Cherry Rd. mbgrentals.com Memphis Zoo Corporate and special events and weddings. Indoor and outdoor spaces for up to 3,000 guests. 901-333-6571. 2000 Prentiss Pl. memphiszoo.org Metal Museum Corporate events. 4,200 sq. ft. terrace. 300-500 guests. 901-774-6380; rentals@metalmuseum.org. 374 Metal Museum Dr. metalmuseum.org Mirimichi Corporate events. Indoor and outdoor venues for 10-300 guests. 901-259-3800. 6129 Woodstock Cuba Rd., Millington, TN mirimichi.com National Civil Rights Museum Corporate events and meetings. Conference rooms and auditorium for up to 300 guests. 901-521-9699 ext. #2439; cmbaye@civilrightsmuseum.org. 450 Mulberry St. civilrightsmuseum.org Opera Memphis Corporate events.1,450-5,400 sq. ft. lobby and hall spaces. 901-202-4536; jonathan@operamemphis.org. 6745 Wolf River Pkwy. operamemphis.org The Orpheum Theatre Corporate events. Small rooms and main auditorium available, for 70-2,300 guests. 901-529-4234; brown@ orpheum-memphis.com. 203 S. Main St. orpheum-memphis.com Playhouse on the Square Corporate events and meetings. Auditorium and meeting facilities for 12-347 guests. 901-937-6473; bailee@ playhouseonthesquare.org. 66 S. Cooper St. playhouseonthesquare.org Ridgeway Country Club Corporate events. Indoor and outdoor spaces for between 200-350 guests. 901-853-2247 ext. 106; bernadetteslavin@ridgewaycountryclub.com. 9800 Poplar Ave. ridgewaycountryclub.com Rock ’n’ Soul Museum Corporate events and conferences. Museum exhibit included. 850-8,500 sq. ft., 60-300 guests. 901-2052526; toni@memphisrocknsoul.org. 191 Beale St. Also offer Memphis Music Hall of Fame Museum for receptions and corporate events. 2,500 sq. ft. 30-100 guests. memphisrocknsoul.org Stax Museum Corporate events. Museum space available for 10-450 guests. 901-942-7685; lisa.allen@soulsvillefoundation. org. 926 E. McLemore Ave. staxmuseum.com

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grand events & Meetings since 1869 The Peabody’s facilities offer 80,000 square feet of elegant ballrooms and meeting spaces that can accommodate groups from 10 to 2,000. From The Peabody Grand Ballroom to the historic mezzanine meeting spaces, an event at The Peabody guarantees meeting planners and their clients memorable, flawless meetings. www.peabodymemphis.com | 901.529.4000

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TPC Southwind Corporate events and meetings. Membership not required for events. 580-1,952 sq. ft. 30-130 guests. 901-259-1835. lynettekirk@pgatourtpc.com. 3325 Club at Southwind. tpc.com University Club of Memphis Corporate events and meetings. Variety of indoor and outdoor spaces for 12-450 guests. 901-772-3716; banquets@ucmem.com. 1346 Central Ave. ucmem.com Victory Ranch Corporate events. Outdoor team building experiences for businesses. 901-338-7093; harrison@victoryranch.org. 4330 Mecklinburg, Bolivar, TN. victoryranch.org West Memphis Eugene Woods Civic Center Corporate events and meetings. Meeting rooms available for up to 1,000 guests. 870-732-7598. 212 West Polk Ave., West Memphis, AR explorewestmemphis.com

RESTAURANTS B.B. King’s Blues Club Corporate events. Club available for rent, with room for 25-400 guests. 901-202-9114. 143 Beale St. bbkings.com Capital Grille Corporate events. Private dining rooms for 12-60 guests. 901-683-9291. 6065 Poplar Ave. thecapitalgrille.com Carolina Watershed Corporate events. Outdoor spaces for 140-1,500 guests. 901-504-4749. info@carolinawatershed.com. 141 E. Carolina Ave. carolinawatershed.com Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House Corporate events. Private dining and event rooms for up to 80 guests. 901-328-2233. 551 S. Mendenhall. folksfolly.com Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Corporate events. Private rooms available for 25-65 guests. 901-761-6200. 6245 Poplar Ave. flemingssteakhouse.com The Grove Grill Corporate events. Private rooms available for up to 60 guests. 901-818-9951. 4550 Poplar Ave. thegrovegrill.com Lafayette’s Music Room Corporate events. Various rental options for 12-325 guests. 901-202-9114. sales@lafayettesmusicroom.com. 2119 Madison Ave. lafayettes.com Loflin Yard Corporate events, weddings, and special events. Indoor bar and outdoor private and semi-private areas available. 901-614-4589; info@loﬂinyard.com. 7 W. Carolina Ave. loflinyard.com

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I N S I D E

P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S

PREMIER MEETING & EVENT FACILITIES 2019

Memphis is home to a number of exceptional meeting and event facilities. Whether you’re looking for space to accommodate a large business conference or a room for a private reception, there’s a perfect place for your gathering right here in the Bluff City. With amenities to satisfy your technological, lighting, audio, catering, entertainment needs, and more, the facilities highlighted in this special advertising section from Inside Memphis Business have everything you require to host a seamless event for groups large or small. On the following pages, you’ll find additional details and contact information for some of our city’s best meeting spaces; contact them today to help plan your perfect event.

Crystal and Ben Photography

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Experience a one-of-a-kind getaway at Big Cypress Lodge, located inside Bass Pro Shops at The Pyramid. This overnight destination features rustic accommodations and unparalleled attractions. 1

1. MISSISSIPPI TERRACE: Grab a cocktail at this new outdoor hotspot at the Pyramid while taking in the sights of the city. 2. THE LOOKOUT: Enjoy a delicious meal and the spectacular views of the Mississippi River and downtown Memphis. 3. SKY HIGH RIDE: Take the nation’s tallest free-standing elevator 28 stories up to the peak of the pyramid. 4. DUCK CABIN: Big Cypress offers inviting accommodations for relaxing in rustic comfort.

5. UNCLE BUCK’S BOWLING: Experience fun activities like bowling at Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill. 6. BIG CYPRESS SPA BY GOULD’S: Relax and unwind with a massage, facial or nail service. 7. BASS PRO SHOPS: Explore an outdoorsman’s paradise.

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1 Bass Pro Drive Memphis TN, 38105 MM_DoublePageSpread_18x25_11x125.indd 3

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888-292-8401

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I N S I D E

P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S

BB KING’S BLUES CLUB Named after the late reigning King of the Blues and recording artist for more than a half-century, B.B. King’s Blues Club is a supper club-style restaurant with live music nightly featuring The B.B. King’s Blues Club All-Star Band, delivering energy and excitement to keep your guests moving! This is the original, iconic B.B. King’s Blues Club, located at the top of world famous Beale Street. We’re more than the Blues. We’re classic soul, rock and roll, great barbeque, and signature drinks that will fill you to the brim.

The club’s unique layout offers private and semi-private event spaces, including our mezzanine, with a great view of our concert quality stage equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system. Named Top 100 Hottest Restaurants in 2016 by

OpenTable, B.B. King’s Blues Club offers the South’s most delicious flavors including BB’s Famous Lip Smacking Ribs, Born on the Bayou Shrimp and Grits and more. Our menu doesn’t stop there, our chefs are prepared to customize menus 2

and set-ups from buffet-style to seated dinners and chefattended carving stations. B.B. King’s Blues Club has earned a stellar reputation for hosting parties of 15 up to 500 guests.

SPECIFICATIONS CAPACITY: Customizable floor plan that can accommodate groups up to 500

guests CATERING: All catering provided in-house, our dedicated private events team,

alongside our skilled chefs, will work with you to customize the perfect menu for your guests to enjoy. BARTENDERS: Three full-service bars PRESENTATIONS: Audio & Video setup and services available.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION EVENT SALES DIRECTOR: Ansley Smith

asmith@bealestreetbluescompany.com (901) 202-9114 WEBSITE: bbkings.com

1. The iconic B.B. King’s Blues Club located at the top Beale Street 2. BB’s Famous Lip-Smacking Ribs 3. Right Mezzanine — Excellent view of our concert quality stage

and perfect for parties of 25-40 4. Crowd favorite BBQ Pork Street Tacos 5. Lucille dining area on the main floor. Great option for groups of

50-60, along with a buffet, and easy access to the dance floor! 6. Enjoy one of our signature cocktails while enjoying the best bands in Memphis including The

BB King’s Blues Club All-Star Band (view from our mezzanine)

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LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM The original Lafayette’s Music Room is still vividly remembered. During the 1970s, Lafayette’s was a key stop on the showcase circuit for up-and-coming touring artists. Lafayette’s played a significant role in launching the careers of such music superstars as Billy Joel, Big Star, KISS, Barry Manilow, J.J Cale and Leon Russell, to name a few. Today, Lafayette’s Music Room evokes that storied past to commemorate a gem of a bygone era with the best live music, delectable Southern dishes, and history entrenched in music. Lafayette’s talked-about party vibe has earned its spot in the top party venues in Memphis. Lafayette’s features a mezzanine, patio, balcony, four full-service bars, open-concept wood-oven pizza station, and a concert quality stage with state-of-the-art

light and sound system. Whether you are looking to host a small group outing or a large reception, we can customize our floor plan to best accommodate your needs. Choose from a variety of spaces and experiences from tableside views of our pizza

chefs at work, your own private balcony overlooking the best views of Madison Avenue, to full venue buyouts where the stage is all yours. Lafayette’s private and semi-private event spaces can accommodate parties of all sizes, up to 350 guests.

2 SPECIFICATIONS

Customizable floor plan that can accommodate groups up to 350 guests All catering provided in-house, our dedicated private events team, alongside our skilled chefs, will work with you to customize the perfect menu for your guests to enjoy. BARTENDERS: Four full-service bars PRESENTATIONS Audio & Video setup and services available, along with stateof-the-art lighting. CAPACITY:

CATERING:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION EVENT SALES DIRECTOR: Ansley Smith

asmith@bealestreetbluescompany.com (901) 202-9114 WEBSITE: Lafayettes.com

1. The music lives on at Lafayette’s Music Room 2. Historic Lafayette’s Music Room in the heart of Overton Square just minutes from all major attractions — (Cook Convention Center, FedEx Forum, World Famous Beale Street,

National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studios, Memphis Zoo, just to name a few!) 3. Wrap-around mezzanine with an excellent view of our concert quality stage and easy access to two full-service bars, balcony and

open-concept wood oven. 4. We are known for great music but it is best enjoyed with one of our many delicious southern-inspired offerings. You can’t go wrong with our wood-fired pizzas, the Cajun Crawdad and Wild Mush-

room & Duck are both fan favorites. 5. Balcony with a full-service bar overlooking Madison Avenue 6. Get up close and personal with the best local and touring bands in our main dining room.

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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I N S I D E

P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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ELVIS PRESLEY’S GRACELAND Elvis Presley’s Graceland® opened for public tours on June 7, 1982, and since that day over 20 million people have visited the mansion known as the second most recognized home in the United States (after the White House). In the past 37 years, the Graceland campus has expanded considerably, offering a wealth of new and different experiences and entertainment for visitors, who will find there truly is always something happening at Graceland. Elvis Presley’s Memphis, a 200,000 square-foot entertainment complex across the street from the mansion, features almost a dozen Elvis exhibits and attractions which can serve as private event spaces, allowing your guests to experience Elvis’ life and career like never before. Guests can enjoy dinner and live music at Presley Motors Automobile Museum, surrounded by Elvis’ incredible collection of cars, including his iconic pink Cadillac, or enjoy drinks and views of Elvis’ legendary jumpsuits and gold and platinum awards at Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum. Our Graceland Soundstage allows you to create your own event setting with 20,000 square feet of space for luncheons, conferences,

receptions, trade shows, live concerts, and more. The Graceland Exhibition Center, opened in early June, is our most recent expansion. Located next to Elvis Presley’s Memphis, the 80,000 square foot Exhibition Center is home to an ever-changing line-up of touring exhibits, as well as multiple dining options and The Jungle Room Bar. For event planners, the dedicated party room is 10,000 square feet of blank canvas that can be configured to meet practically any need: sound, lighting, video, etc. Graceland Mansion, the home of Elvis Presley, can be incorporated into your event via afterhours tours where guests can get a glimpse into the personal side of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll™.

SPECIFICATIONS CAPACITY: Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment complex is 200,000 square

feet and can accommodate up to 3,000 guests. The Graceland Exhibition Center offers a 10,000 square-foot party room and the 3,000 square-foot Jungle Room Bar. CATERING: Elvis Presley’s Graceland offers in-house catering as well as a list of approved outside caterers. BARTENDERS: Full bar services available. PRESENTATIONS: Full-service audio and video setup and services available. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Anthony Goonewardene, Special Events Manager, 800.238.2000, specialevents@graceland.com WEBSITE: partywithelvis.com ELVIS PRESLEY’S GRACELAND:

5 3

Elvis Presley’s Graceland offers multiple event spaces to have your next special event: 1. Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex offers 200,000 square feet of indoor space for live music, movies, conferences, and trade shows. You can also rent the entire complex, including outdoor space, for an

unforgettable block party feel. 2. The Graceland Soundstage allows you to create your own event setting with 20,000 square feet of space for luncheons, conferences, receptions, trade shows, live concerts, and more. 3. At Presley Motors in Elvis Presley’s Memphis, guests can

dine among Elvis’ automobiles, including his Stutz Blackhawk, Dino Ferrari, and his iconic Pink Cadillac. 4. The GEC Party Room offers 10,000 square feet of flexible space for dinners, receptions, seminars, or live music. 5. The Jungle Room Bar is 3,000

square feet of cool. Perfect for everything from a business happy hour or a bachelorette party. 6. Enhance your guests’ experience by incorporating a private, afterhours tour of Elvis’ beloved Graceland Mansion. © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2019 ABG EPE IP LLC

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P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S

1. Hardin Hall Photograph: Christen Jones Photography 2

2. Visitor Center Lobby Photograph: Creation Studios 3

3. Saraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place Photograph: Crystal and Ben Photography

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MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN

A cornerstone of our city, the Memphis Botanic Garden boasts 96 acres of breathtaking garden space. With versatile venues both large and small, the Garden can accommodate groups of 2 to 600. Whether you’re planning a team building retreat, corporate meeting, trade show, seminar, holiday party, wedding reception, or rehearsal dinner, we have a venue that fits your needs! Centrally located in the heart of East Memphis, the Memphis Botanic Garden has the perfect venue to comfortably cater to you and your guests. For larger groups and conferences, Hardin Hall can accommodate 350 guests seated at round tables with a dance floor (400 without a dance floor) and over 600 for a conference or seminar. This spacious hall has direct garden access to our Four Seasons Garden and the Hardin Hall Terrace, which can be utilized during your event. For midsized events, the Goldsmith Room can accommodate up to 150 people seated at round tables or 250 theater style. This hall has direct garden access to our stunning Sculpture Garden,

filled with locally created and donated sculptures, which can be utilized during your event. For more intimate parties and gatherings, Sara’s Place, our newest facility, is located in the heart of the Garden. Whether you are planning a meeting, seminar, or dinner parties, Sara’s place provides the perfect setting. This venue can accommodate 125 people seated at round tables and has access to the garden, allowing outdoor event flexibility. Whether your event is designed for large conferences or intimate gatherings, our rental staff will work with you to bring your vision to life, all within our scenic 96 acres of pristine gardens.

SPECIFICATIONS HARDIN HALL

5,500 square feet

CAPACITY: 600 PRESENTATIONS: Wifi, sound system, podium, mic. GOLDSMITH

3,304 square feet

CAPACITY: 250 PRESENTATIONS: Wifi, sound system, podium, mic, 2 screens, 2 projectors. SARA’S PL ACE

2,574 square feet

CAPACITY: 175 PRESENTATIONS: Wifi, sound system, podium, mic, 1 screen, 1 projector ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: LOCATION: 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN 38117 CONTACT: Michael Strickland, Director of Rentals:

michael.strickland@memphisbotanicgarden.com • 901.636.4125 Christine Silvernail,Rental Associate: christine.silvernail@memphisbotanicgarden.com • 901.636.4109 WEBSITE: www.mbgrentals.com 6

3. 4. The Four Season Lobby - Photograph: Creation Studios 5. The Visitor Center - Image courtesy of Kevin Barré Photography 6. Hardin Hall - Image courtesy of Memphis Botanic Garden

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I N S I D E

P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S

1. Founders Park 2. Grassy Knoll 3. Legacy Building 4. Lorraine Lobby 5. Hooks-Hyde Hall (auditorium seating)

6. Links Education & Cultural Center 7. Hooks-Hyde Hall (social event) 8. Ford Motor Company Theatre

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM The National Civil Rights Museum is a national treasure which brings to life some of the most significant episodes in American history. This beautiful and historic site offers an elegant and stimulating environment for special events. The Museum is available for use by nonprofits, corporations, small businesses, organizations and individuals. The museum offers a selection of spaces to suit small to large events. Whether business, social, educational or informational, the museum is an ideal setting that resonates with guests on any occasion. Coupled with a group tour, the museum experience offers a distinctly authentic backdrop for diversity training and human resource workshops or enlightenment for educational or social organizations. Hooks-Hyde Hall is a multipurpose area that can be configured to accommodate up to 340 guests. This immaculate room is large enough to host a conference, have a lively reception, a film screening, performance, town hall, panel or a special consciousness-raising program. It can be divided with moveable walls for smaller, private groups. This room is well lit with great recessed lighting and windows for a beautiful natural light. The State-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities include two full retractable screens for any digital presentations or film screenings. The Links Education & Cultural Center and Library is a fully carpeted, colorful space with a modern design that seats up to 100 people with 20 in the library. It’s the ideal space for school groups in a classroom setting, but can also be the best fit for special events such as small parties, group meetings or private greenroom during outdoor events. It includes flat screens and AV capabilities. The ideal place for an intimate f ilm screening, lecture or discussion is the 130-seat Ford Motor Company Theater. The theater has an 18’ x 8’ accessible

stage and is fully equipped with AV capabilities and a large, floorto-ceiling screen. The museum’s State of Tennesseee Gallery typically houses its changing exhibits. At times, it is available for a special experience within an exhibit. The Atrium, in the heart of the Lorraine entrance, is not only a transitional space but a welcoming sight to behold with the monumental “Movement to Overcome” sculpture. It provides an ideal space for welcoming guests, socializing at highboys and small bars, or enjoying musical combos and hors d’oeuvres. Add some depth to any occasion by hosting an event on any of the three levels of the Legacy Building, the former boarding house. Surrounded by facts and artifacts, this historic space will add that unique touch to an event while stimulating curiosity and conversation. Looking for a beautifully meaningful space for an outdoor event? The museum façade is staged in the retro 1960s era so that it viscerally transports guests to a period of powerful change and enlightenment. Used for large- and small-scale outdoor events, the Courtyard, Founders Park and Grassy Knoll areas can accommodate thousands of event-goers and can be outfitted to match many event needs. Guests can appreciate both the downtown neighborhood vibe and the iconic backdrop of the museum. Whether during the day or under the stars at night, this area can add wonder and excitement to a concert, festival, reception, meal function and/or public forum.

9. Open Courtyard

SPECIFICATIONS HOOKS HYDE HALL

7,500 square feet

CAPACITY: 340 PRESENTATIONS: Large, flexible floor plan, presentation A/V, staging, kitchen/prep. FEDE X ATRIUM & LOBBY

10,000 square feet

CAPACITY: 100 PRESENTATIONS: Open floorplan plus alcove. FORD MOTOR THE ATRE

10,000 square feet

CAPACITY: 130 PRESENTATIONS: Stage (8’ x 18’) full A/V with projector. LINKS EDUCATION CENTER

10,000 square feet

CAPACITY: 60 PRESENTATIONS: Classroom seating up to 50. LEGACY BUILDING

2,345 square feet

CAPACITY: 200 PRESENTATIONS: Classrooms seating. VISITOR PARKING LOT

29,700 square feet

PRESENTATIONS: 118 parking spaces or custom seating configuration. FOUNDERS PARK

9,234 square feet

PRESENTATIONS: Custom seating configuration for large event, A/V, stage rental. COURT YARD (IN FRONT OF BALCONY)

5,100 square feet

PRESENTATIONS: Custom seating configuration for large event, A/V, stage rental. GRASSY KNOLL (ABOVE LEGACY TUNNEL)

2,640 square feet

PRESENTATIONS: Custom seating configuration for medium event, A/V, stage rental. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LOCATION: 450 Mulberry Street, Memphis, TN 38103 CONTACT: uniquespaces@civilrightsmuseum.org or 901.521.9699 WEBSITE: civilrightsmuseum.org

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P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S 1. Halloran Centre: The Halloran Centre offers more than 39,000 square feet of space to accommodate gatherings of various sizes. 2. Orpheum Theatre: Infuse your event with a dash of Broadway glamor in one of the Orpheumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic, elegant spaces. 3. Orpheum Theatre Auditorium: Host an unforgettable event on the very stage where generations of stars have performed. 4. Halloran Centre Lobby: The Gerber Taylor Capital Advisors Lobby offers bright modern fixtures and sleek open space, perfect for any event. 5. Orpheum Theatre Lobby: With its crystal chandeliers and sconces, antique mirrors, and an ornate cathedral ceiling, the Orpheum Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Lobby exudes vintage glamour. 2

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THE ORPHEUM THEATRE AND THE HALLORAN CENTRE P ut your event center st age w it h t he Orpheum Theatre Group’s beautiful venues: the Orpheum Theatre and the Halloran Centre. Just steps away from some of Downtown’s finest hotels and attractions, the historic Orpheum Theatre is one of the Mid-South’s most celebrated venues. Your event will be timeless, complemented by ornate detail, crystal chandeliers, and gold-leaf accents. The Orpheum Theatre offers a variety of spaces for an event of any size, each with distinct 1920s appeal. From an intimate gathering of 50 to 100 in the Broadway Club to the high-ceilinged elegance of the 2300-seat auditorium, the Orpheum Theatre captures classic Memphis charm. Next door to the Orpheum, the Halloran Centre is among the newest additions to Downtown Memphis. With sleek architecture and

contemporary accents, this facility offers modern character that can’t be replicated. Let your imagination take over using flexible floor plans that can be easily adapted to suit your needs. The Halloran Centre caters to events of any size, from a 40-seat meeting in the luxurious Board Room overlooking South Main to a lavish reception for 350 in the Gerber Taylor Capital Advisors Lobby. You can also seamlessly combine rooms to maximize your guest count. Both venues offer state-ofthe-art audio/visual equipment, flexible catering options, and can arrange bar service and housekeeping on your behalf. Make your vision a reality. Explore the Orpheum Theatre Group’s event spaces online at Orpheum-Memphis.com.

“For 90 years, guests have been making memories at the corner of Main and Beale. Let us help shape yours.”

SPECIFICATIONS CAPACITY: 10 flexible spaces available can handle from 10 to 2,300 guests PRESENTATIONS: State-of-the-art sound and lighting available ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ORPHEUM THEATRE: Joy Brown, brown@orpheum-memphis.com or

901.529.4234 HALLORAN CENTRE: Sara Adams, adams@orpheum-memphis.com or

901.238.7062 WEBSITE: Orpheum-Memphis.com

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I N S I D E

P R E M IE R M E E T IN G & E V E N T FAC IL I T IE S

1. The Westin Memphis Beale Street is located right in the heart of Downtown, across from the FedEx Forum, Gibson’s Guitar Factory & backs right up to the World Famous Beale Street. The Westin offers restaurants, shopping and nightlife all within walking distance.

2. The Mississippi Ballroom (3,030 sq. ft.) set in rounds. 3. Bleu Private Wine Room is the perfect setting for rehearsal dinners, graduation parties, birthday parties and/or board meetings. 4. The Delta Boardroom overlooks the FedEx Forum and Gibson’s Guitar

Factory 5. Bleu Restaurant & Lounge offers American Fusion Cuisine with flavors from around the world. 6. Westin Guestroom overlooking the FedEx Forum 7. CHECK IN AND ROCK OUT, being the Birthplace of Rock and Roll

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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WESTIN MEMPHIS BEALE STREET With state-of-the-art event space offering comfort and service, The Westin Memphis Beale Street can accommodate groups ofÂ any size. Our flexible meeting facilities are made up of nine separate meeting rooms. From grand receptions in the Mississippi Ballroom to more intimate meetings in the Delta Boardroom, our expert staff will assist you with every aspect of planning. Perfect for larger corporate or social functions, the 3,000 squarefoot Mississippi Ballroom is an elegant and versatile facility. Up to 300 guests can gather inside for a seminar with large projection screens or a multi-course dinner. For smaller events, the ballroom can be divided into three separate sections, and a spacious prefunction space allows guests to mingle before the doors open. The smaller, more intimate 1,400 square-foot Tennessee Ballroom is outfitted in neutral tones and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow ample sunlight. The balcony looks out over Downtown Memphis. The Delta Boardroom is ideal for executive meetings and intimate functions. A wall of windows lets in light while affording inspiring views of the FedEx Forum and the Gibson

Guitar Factory. Comfortable leather chairs surround a rich wood table, while a private antechamber is a convenient spot for a quick break. The Westin Memphis Beale Street at 170 Lt. George W. Lee Avenue, has 203 guest rooms and one unique form of room service: Check In and Rock Out. Guests can call the front desk and order a Gibson Custom Shop electric guitar delivered to their room with a virtual amp and headphones. You can rock out in the privacy of your hotel room and then visit the Gibson Factory and the Gibson Beale Street Showcase directly across the street. For dining, the Westin Memphis Beale Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chic, sophisticated ambience of Bleu Restaurant & Lounge blends with the accommodating and welcoming Memphis vibe.

SPECIFICATIONS

4 Diamond Rated, all catering provided in house offering a wide range of appetizers, entrees, and dessert options available. Our amazing chef is happy to customize a menu perfect for any event. BARTENDERS: Full Bar and or Beer/Wine options available PRESENTATIONS: Full sound mixing capabilities, include lighting and stage setups; outside vendors permitted CATERING:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Group Sales at 901.334.5920, lorraine.chatman@westinmemphis.com

WEBSITE: Westin.com/BealeStreet

we offer a whole new kind of room service, courtesy of Gibson Guitar. Guests can call the front desk and order a Gibson Guitar of their choice to play in their room during their stay. 8. The Mississippi Ballroom (3,030 sq. ft.) set classroom style 9. The Tennessee Ballroom (1,400

sq. ft.) offers floor to ceiling windows and a balcony overlooking the FedEx Forum and Beale Street. 10. The Tennessee Ballroom (1,400 sq. ft.) is perfect for meetings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and/or brunch. 11. Bleu Lounge is where locals come

to meet friends, where professionals come for a drink after work, and where visitors go to take a break from the fast pace of Beale Street.

SPECIAL PROMOTION

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No ve m b

M P 5 er 9 â&#x20AC;˘ 10AM -

Crosstown Concourse Plaza

Free admission! 80+ Entertainment by

DJ Jordan

local vendors!

fun for the

Supporting

Rogers whole family! memphiscraftsanddrafts.com MM_FullPage_TrimSize_9x25_11x125.indd 1

8/9/19 2:31 PM

Innovation AWAR DS

or seven years, Inside Memphis Business has been recognizing brilliance. Our annual Innovation Awards acknowledge the singular work being done in all quarters around town. Our judges consider who on the list of nominees is doing something above and be-

2019

yond improving on an existing process or product. They look for an approach that provides more than an incremental advance or a logical next step. They want to find something that solves a problem that nobody else has been able to effectively address, brings benefits to

people who are otherwise ignored, fixes a vexing problem, or delivers solutions in a particularly fine way. The 2019 Innovators met these standards in several categories: healthcare, the arts, business, and community. The array of areas is a tribute to the variety of

cutting-edge work being done right here in Memphis. On September 27, our awards breakfast will honor the winners. And as always, thanks to the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis and Dr. Damon Fleming, dean.

DR. EUGENE A. ECKSTEIN Retired professor and chair of biomedical engineering department at U of M. Held faculty positions at Harvard, University of Miami, and UTHSC. Was president of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Member of Biomedical Engineering Society, American Society for Mechanical Engineering, Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Society for Biomaterials, International Society for Artificial Organs, and American Society for Artificial Organs.

ANNA MULLINS ELLIS President/CEO at New Memphis, a nonprofit that works to attract, develop, activate, and retain talent in the city. Experienced in nonprofit leadership and media, she has shared stories about people and organizations shaping our community. Helped launch the weekly digital magazine High Ground News. Led the team that established TEDxMemphis and continues to serve as executive director of the annual conference.

DR. BALAJI KRISHNAN Director, MBA Programs, and professor of marketing at Fogelman College of Business and Economics at U of M. Instrumental in making FCBE’s MBA program the largest in Tennessee. Research interests are in cross-cultural issues in marketing, pricing and price promotions, branding and brand equity, and services marketing. Published numerous articles in prestigious journals. Has 20 years’ experience in marketing research, consulting, and marketing education.

Our Judges A N DY C AT E S General partner and CEO of RVC Outdoor Destinations. Founder and managing member of Value Acquisition Fund. Founding chairman and project developer of Soulsville Revitalization Project. Member of the team that attracted the Grizzlies NBA franchise to Memphis. On boards of directors of Pioneer Natural Resources and Myelin Repair Foundation. Founding chairman of Memphis Fourth Estate, Inc., which created and oversees The Daily Memphian.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF AWARD WINNERS BY LARRY KUZNIEWSKI

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8/12/19 2:47 PM

Innovation AWAR DS

2019

Mark Pryor, CEO of The Seam, says, “We’re actually changing the global cotton industry, and other agriculture industries, right here from this office in Memphis.” 38 |

I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM | FA L L 201 9

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Mark Pryor THE SEAM BY ANDY MEEK

ou may not know much about agribusiness or what technology that, say, the cotton industry uses to facilitate its everyday commerce. Which is why it might come to you as a surprise how prominently Memphis figures into the everyday business of sectors like the cotton and peanut industries, whose professionals pay a great deal of attention to the city. That’s thanks to a dot-com that’s cleared or processed more than $8 billion through its platforms since this particular local startup called The Seam started operating the first online, neutral trading exchange for cotton, an exchange through which millions of bales of cotton have since been traded and cleared.

“To be able to come in and do something that makes a difference and is meaningful and really see that play out on a global scale is pretty powerful.” — Mark Pryor

The Seam’s focus includes the cotton industry, and you don’t have to strain to imagine the relationship of textiles to cotton. That relationship produces garments like jeans, where you’ll find seams that connect one area of fabric with another. The Memphis-based company sees itself a bit like that, as a similar kind of seam — only instead of a physical seam, what the company actually stitches together are the worlds of modern technology and legacy industries like cotton, with the result being an organization that doesn’t necessarily chase the spotlight but has made some innovative moves under CEO Mark Pryor. In 2016, for example, it launched a cloud-based commodity management system for the peanut industry that is dealing in cutting-edge new technology sectors like blockchain. “Culture is everything,” Pryor says about his company and about his management philosophy. “And we see that technology is all around us.” In the case of The Seam, it’s literally true, given that its headquarters sits practically next door to the FedEx World Headquarters complex. “We have to have an environment that folks want to come and work in,” Pryor says. “What I think really sets us apart is

the ability to make a difference even though we’re a small team of 19. But we’re actually changing the global cotton industry, and other agriculture industries, right here from this office in Memphis. I think as a technologist and as a company like ours, to be able to come in and do something that makes a difference and is meaningful and really see that play out on a global scale is pretty powerful.” To get a sense of how the business works, recent announcements include The Seam reaching a multi-year agreement with Delta Peanut LLC, which gives Delta Peanut access to The Seam’s platform that includes such foundational technology as document digitization, real-time data for decisioning and embedded integrations with agencies like the United States Department of Agriculture and FederalState Inspection Service. Delta Peanut is a new peanut shelling operation based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and the first shelling facility to open in the area in more than 50 years. The Seam’s platform includes a digital hub that provides the real-time status and value of stock, contracting, grading data integration, and logistics management. The Seam moved to its

current office about three years ago from a space in the Poplar Avenue-Ridgeway section of East Memphis. The current space includes more collaboration workrooms, whiteboard environments, and what Pryor describes as more of an “education feel” mashed up with a technology-heavy office, which was important to him. “What got me into this was growing up in the Memphis area — I’m a native Memphian — and knowing that King Cotton is Memphis,” Pryor says. “And knowing some big names in cotton like Dunavant Enterprises and other companies with headquarters in Memphis. This was about the time the internet got interesting, in the year 2000, and a lot of these companies came together to create this online marketplace for cotton trading. That was really appealing to me. I loved what was going on with the Internet at that time, and I was fascinated with what was happening in agriculture.” Pryor has been with the organization since its founding in 2000, starting as its chief technical officer. Four years ago this August, he was promoted to CEO. He credits the company’s board, which includes representatives of agribusiness heavy-hitters like Cargill Cotton and Louis Dreyfus Company, among its members. “These are pretty much the Who’s Who in the world of commodities, and I’m fortunate to have an open-door relationship with these folks who can coach and guide and direct in a friendly way,” Pryor says. “So I’ve been leaning on that where I can and have been so fortunate because of that.”

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Innovation AWAR DS

2019

Jay Martin (revving up at far right) and his My City Rides team (above): Jason Williford, Andy Nix (with helmet), and Megan Klein. The goal is to provide affordable scooters through a lease-to-own plan. 40 |

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Jay Martin

MY CITY RIDES BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

t can be tough getting around Shelby County at the best of times. And when you don’t have a vehicle of your own? Well, a trip to the grocery store via bus could take three to four hours round-trip, and getting to and from work at a reasonable hour might be impossible. But Juice Plus+ CEO Jay Martin didn’t think that was acceptable.

“We wanted to take it into our own hands and create something. Really, it just comes down to doing something for the city.” — Jay Martin

“Transportation is a tough issue for us in this town,” says Martin, “and we don’t seem to have the public transportation that we need.” He took a deeper interest in the issue while working with the technical training center at the Boys and Girls Club. While it helped many high school graduates find jobs, many were unable to continue since they couldn’t get to work in a reliable manner. Jay settled on scooters as a solution and gathered his team. Andy Nix, Megan Klein, and Jason Williford came aboard to get My City Rides off the ground. A little over a year into the venture, the organization already has more than 100 vehicles out on the road. Executive director Nix had to persuade SanYing Motors (SYM) to let My City Rides become an official distributor, but the Memphis nonprofit has become the largest dealer of SYM products in the country. “It’s a three year commitment,” says Nix. “It’s essentially a transfer of ownership. The cost per person is $90 a month, and that covers basic training, licensure, insurance, maintenance, vehicle security equipment, and gear.” SYM’s Fiddle III scooter model is 169cc, and can cruise up to 60-65 miles per hour on regular roadways. The two-gallon gas tank can get up to 89 miles per gallon. For an average vehicle, it would cost 79 cents to operate, but the My City Rides scooter only costs 14. While scooters help reshape the local

transportation landscape in Memphis, Klein, the director of flyer operations, says participants in the program are also coming together as their own community. “We had two women who built up a squadron of riders,” says Klein, “and they had such a good time leading and bringing in others. That also means that beyond us, we have trusted riders looking out for newer members of the program.” Retired MPD detective Jason Williford joined the team as a volunteer, and now oversees training as fleet director. “We run them through Tennessee laws and everything they need to know to pass their written exam at the DMV,” says Williford. “And our other goal is to actually get them on the scooter, because if they’re making a three-year commitment, we want to make sure they can ride it around safely.” He’s brought in former or current law enforcement officials to help with instruction. So far, My City Rides has had 93 percent retention for those who sign up. In addition to the 128 bikes on the road, there are 80 more in the pipeline, which puts the total closer to Nix’s goal of 225 by the end of 2019. If they

reach that, it means they’ll have upwards of 400 available scooters. “But ultimately,” says Nix, “we’d like to see over 1,000 bikes out on the road.” Nix is happy to see alternative methods of travel available to Memphians. “Not everyone has access to a reliable car. The new programs we have are great, and they raise awareness that there are other ways to get around.” Martin still feels compelled to push forward. “There has been progress by local government and others, but we still feel like there’s a real need for more options. So we wanted to take it into our own hands and create something. Really, it just comes down to doing something for the city.”

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Innovation AWAR DS

2019

Ekundayo Bandele, executive director of Hattiloo Theatre, says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was looking at not just getting out in our communities but, getting outside of Memphis.â&#x20AC;? 42 |

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Ekundayo Bandele HATTILOO THEATRE BY J O N W. S PA R K S

kundayo Bandele’s Hattiloo Theatre recently began its 14th season of presenting shows. That doesn’t set it apart from many other companies who also successfully stage performances for the public. What distinguishes it is its dedication to community engagement, part of Bandele’s vision for making black theater essential to the existence of the city.

“It’s not about Hattiloo, it’s about Memphis. I’ve never made it about the theater, but about the community that it serves in the city that it’s in.”

Black theater in Memphis has been around for many years, of course, but Hattiloo took that history and turned it into a vital presence. “I just built on the early pioneers of black theater in Memphis, the foundation that they liked going back to,” Bandele says. He cites Erma Clanton, Flo Roach, Deborah and Levi Frazier, Tony Horne, Ruby O’Gray. “It was a perfect alignment of the stars because those individuals were doing great work.” And when he started Hattiloo in 2006, there was something beginning to bloom. He credits the company’s founding board chair Michael de Caetani as well as Jackie Nichols of Playhouse on the Square for crucial guidance. From the start, it was always about doing more. Bandele says, “Could we make certain that it’s much more than plays about the African-American experience? And how could we engage the marginalized communities in our city as well as those individuals who love theater but may not feel invited? I think that’s one of the things we did differently.” Bandele says that Memphis in the 1960s, before the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was a “shining star of the South. Yes, Atlanta was doing great things, but all of the speakers and the actors and the musicians came through or out of this city. I was looking at not just getting out in our communities, but getting outside of Memphis. How could we be a part of

bringing that light back that we enjoyed prior to 1968?” To that end, he’s built up the national reputation of Hattiloo. “We have the second largest budget of a black theater in the South,” Bandele says. “There are only four freestanding black theaters nationally. And so that is the story: Memphis has a black theater, do you? Memphis has two symphonies, do you? Memphis has a wonderful professional ballet, do you? And it’s not wagging a finger in the face of another city, but actually saying come enjoy, come experience.” Hattiloo has also been luring grant money to further its mission, such as providing transportation services. Recently, it received a grant from Methodist Le Bonheur that will allow the deaf community to experience plays with two signers on stage. This summer, Bandele was awarded an $18,725 grant from the MAP Fund to create a play centering on the controversial removal in 2017 of statues of Confederate icons in city parks. Take ’Em Down 901 will have a public presentation in the park where the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue once stood. This reinforces a new talking point for Bandele, which is showing how Hattiloo is different from other theaters, in and out of Memphis, “because we live the stories we tell, and this is going to continue to bring us national attention.” Another aspect of Hattiloo’s success is Bandele’s ongoing

efforts to bring in nationally recognized talent. “I’m something of a stalker,” he admits. “I go to these places and see all these movie stars and just wait for that opportune moment and get in there, and I treat them like I went to high school with them. I determine what they want to do, not what they can do for us. Is there something Hattiloo can offer them that they can’t do otherwise?” That approach has worked, bringing in such names as Debbie Morgan, Charles Dutton, Harry Lennix, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lamman Rucker, and Tichina Arnold. “We have a very popular soul singer — I won’t say her name right now — who’s playing Billie Holiday for us next year,” Bandele says. “She’s always wanted to do this role, and when we heard that, we reached out.” But while he’s reaching for the stars, Bandele is also firmly rooted in the basics of success. When he first took Hattiloo into impoverished neighborhoods, he’d let parents, grandparents, guardians know that they had to come with the kids. And when they came, they’d be put to work. “Can you pass these things out?” he’d ask. “Can you help put up these chairs? Can you plug in that mic? A lot of people think that they don’t have anything to donate, but they have time, they have skills, they have an interest. We cultivated that to bring people into Hattiloo Theatre.” Most significant, Bandele says, is this distinction: “One of the things about Hattiloo is that it’s not about Hattiloo, it’s about Memphis. I’ve never made it about the theater, but about the community that it serves in the city that it’s in.”

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Innovation AWAR DS

2019

AyilĂŠ Arnett and Phil Baker: The team at RemediChain was more than up to the task of providing an answer to a problem that begged to be solved. 44 |

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Phil Baker & Ayilé Arnett REMEDICHAIN BY J O N W. S PA R K S

ust because an idea looks simple and logical doesn’t mean it’ll come easily. Regulations, funding, inertia, the notion that it hasn’t been done before — those factors have torpedoed great ideas. But the team at RemediChain was more than up to the task of providing an answer to a problem that begged to be solved.

“We have the firstof-its-kind program where we can accept donated meds from any individual anywhere in the United States.” — Phil Baker

The team — Phil Baker and Ayilé Arnett (as well as Jide Anyigbo who recently left the organization) — were acutely aware of the situation: A large number of prescribed medications were going unused for various reasons. Once prescribed, they had no monetary value, yet low-income patients who needed them couldn’t get them. The system simply wasn’t set up that way. It really starts with the Good Shepherd Pharmacy, a nonprofit membership organization for low-income people who are often uninsured. It doesn’t take insurance but rather sells prescriptions at cost with no markup. Baker is CEO of Good Shepherd and its sister company RemediChain, which is a logical extension of Good Shepherd’s mission. Barker describes the situation: “Good Shepherd is a charity pharmacy and we opened in September of 2015. People started bringing us medicine saying ‘Grandpa was in hospice and he passed away and I have all this medicine and it’s not open. There’s nothing wrong with it and I want to donate it so you can give it away to poor people.’” But in Tennessee, as in most states, it was illegal. “You couldn’t take prescriptions back to the pharmacy, they couldn’t accept them. So we worked for two years with state legislators to get a bill passed that we could start a reclamation program.” Barker and team then worked with the state’s Department of Health and Board of Pharmacy to nail down how it would work. Finally, last October,

they could accept donated chemotherapy meds. “We can only re-dispense tablets and capsules,” Baker says. “No patches, no inhalers. Tablets and capsules are really the safest of all drugs, not temperature controlled and in their original packaging or blister packaging unopened. They have to be pristine.” Oral chemotherapies are the most expensive drugs — and the most wasted. “Forty percent of cancer patients die every year. They’re on these drugs when they die and the meds are left in the hands of the families and they have to be literally flushed down the toilet,” Baker says. But that’s no longer the only recourse. “What we have now is the first-of-its-kind program where we can accept donated meds from any individual anywhere in the United States. They have to be dispensed to Tennessee residents, but we can accept donations nationally. In 10 months, we’ve gotten $200 million worth of meds.” Baker is working to make the program nationwide by establishing a network of partners in each state that will work with the laws in each jurisdiction. And a key element of making the enterprise work is the use of blockchain. Baker says he’s not particularly technical but it seemed that the evolving technology made sense. “You’ve got a high-value physical asset, you’re tracking chain of custody,” he says. “I was invited to the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis to a blockchain group and I gave a presentation. I told them to shoot holes in

it, tell me this is a bad idea, because I’m not technical. But they didn’t, they were all along the way saying this is a perfect use case for this.” By getting into blockchain, Baker’s team has since been invited to work on a pilot program with the FDA. “We transfer high value medications that are temperature controlled from one hospital to another,” he says. “There are systems that track meds from manufacturer to wholesaler to pharmacy, but there are none to track between hospitals even in the same system. We transfer meds between two hospitals using a drone. It’s temperature controlled and all blockchained. We send the drone from one hospital to another, drop it, deliver it, and make the system that tracks all of that so that it’s constantly under custody that we know where it is at all times, temperature, geo-location, all those sorts of things. Really cool.” Arnett is co-founder of RemediChain and CEO of ScripRide, another project of Good Shepherd. She had been working on issues of getting medications into the hands of low-income patients who have difficulty finding transportation. “ScripRide is an app that helps to manage the transportation efforts of bringing medication from the pharmacy to the community members in Memphis,” she says. “Right now we’re delivering just under 300 packages every 90 days.” Those transactions, of course, are on blockchain. ScripRide was made possible by a $20,000 grant from Qsource and Arnett and Baker hope it could eventually become something of an Uber for nonprofit volunteers. “It could develop into this huge pool of drivers that have extra time on their hands to be able to participate in the volunteer activities of local organizations.”

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Wanna Bet?

46 |

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The Mid-Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urge to gamble brings on the competition. BY ANDY MEEK

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DREAMSTIME

8/12/19 1:39 PM

n the run-up to the Tennessee General Assembly’s passage of a bill earlier this year that will introduce online sports gambling in the state, emails of support with boilerplate language prepared by outside advocates started landing in the inboxes of lawmakers like State Sen. Raumesh Akbari. One such missive in support of the legislation, which passed both chambers and which Gov. Bill Lee was cool to but allowed to go into effect as of July 1st, came from a South Memphis constituent of Akbari’s. Alluding to a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that paved the way for states to introduce sports betting if they choose, the constituent’s email to Akbari began: “Now that states have the right to allow sports betting, I urge you to do whatever you can to bring mobile sports betting to Tennessee in a way that would allow me to have a variety of options for placing mobile bets.” The email, prepared by the online advocacy company One Click Politics, continued by arguing on behalf of the Memphis resident who signed it: “I should be able to place bets directly from my phone or computer on platforms that I already know and trust. This is our chance to stop illegal offshore bookies and keep sports betting money right here in Tennessee, but that won’t happen unless there are a variety of options to choose from.” Sounds like a no-brainer, when you put it like that. Outside interests and supporters, of course, jumped at the chance to try and sway lawmakers to vote in favor of the legislation — which Akbari co-sponsored in the Senate — for obvious reasons. Like the fact that this clears the way for a pile of new money to start flowing into the state’s coffers as well as finally getting to make legal bets in the state and tempting fate. Gambling is, essentially, simple. Your bet, no matter what game of chance you prefer, either pays off or it doesn’t. There are winners and losers, and all else flows from that basic duality. Everyone thinks they’ve got their shot, and the whole recession-proof wheel keeps spinning. But it’s not quite so simple. The fact that online sports gambling is coming to Tennessee at all — in a form whose details and overseers are still to be finalized — is as much a defensive move as it is an attempt to simply loosen up a new money spigot, one that will generate an estimated $50 million each year, to be earmarked for education, local government use, and for treatment of gambling addiction, among other uses. We call it a “defensive” move, because the introduction of sports betting also functions as a kind of window into understanding what’s become something of a zero-sum game among the proximate gambling markets of West Memphis, Tunica, and Memphis. Welcome to the gambling industry’s version of a bare-knuckled brawl for your discretionary income, a fight that’s changing the landscape, the law, and the literal fortunes of those cities as well as the citizens within them as this competition unfolds. And it’s a competition that’s set to get even more intense. This same kind of push is evident elsewhere in the country, such as via word in early August that the Washington Redskins would become the first NFL team to offer a gambling telecast of their games that includes cash awards to participants for correctly betting on in-game outcomes in the preseason, per the Associated Press. Full gaming, of course, is not allowed in Tennessee, where Akbari says a pervasive conservatism has meant bills like the recent sports betting legislation haven’t exactly enjoyed the easiest of rides. “I think a lot of people hope this will be an entryway [to more gambling], but a lot of people were also fearful of the legislation, because they don’t want it to be a pathway,” Akbari says. “Basically, I think this will allow us to be competitive with the states

around us, like Mississippi and Arkansas, where there’s already sports betting.” The new legislation will do that, plus a host of other things including measures to try and keep a lid on problem gamblers. Its wording along those lines is as follows: “The board shall promulgate rules that require a licensee to implement responsible sports wagering programs that include comprehensive training on responding to circumstances in which individuals present signs of a gambling addiction.” To be sure, there’s nothing about the act of gambling that’s synonymous with an unrushed pace or plenty of time to consider matters — but that’s exactly what the state is also getting in tandem with the right to start participating in sports betting. The full pieces of this new gambling paradigm won’t be in place and allow for gambling until this fall, at the earliest. And maybe not even then. When forecasting when a launch of sports betting in Tennessee will materialize, Pennsylvania can serve as something of a case study. It had a long-established casino industry in the state prior to its launch of sports betting, and once legislation was passed allowing the latter there, it took some 18 months until an actual launch materialized. Whereas Tennessee, of course, has no existing casino industry — which is why a launch in the early fall of 2020, roughly in time for the 2020-21 NFL season, is one reasonable guess for when things might finally get under way in Tennessee. The idea behind the legislation that birthed this new reality in Tennessee is to generate new revenue for the state, while also allowing companies to set up gaming websites and smartphone apps so gamblers can bet on professional as well as collegiate sports. Those companies will pay $750,000 annually with the taxes they help generate distributed among local governments for things like infrastructure improvement, the state Department of Mental Health, and the state lottery board. It’s something of an understatement to note that progress has come slowly in Tennessee as far as gambling is concerned. It took a voter referendum to make a state lottery finally legal almost 100 years after Tennessee lawmakers passed a ban on gambling in the state back in 1906. Two years after the lottery was legalized, the state attorney general’s office followed up with a clarification that poker remains illegal, though in 2010 state law legalized charity bingo events. The implementation of sports betting in Tennessee also raises a pertinent question — how about those places nearby, where sports betting is already established? How they’re faring at the moment, and what they may or may not stand to lose now that Tennessee is joining the fray, might actually surprise you.

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Wanna Bet?

Gold Strike Casino’s new Moneyline Race & Sports Book facility in Tunica. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY JAMIE MORTON

TUNICA

et’s start with our neighbor to the south. It cannot be overstated how important gambling as a whole has been to the fortunes of the north Mississippi town of Tunica that’s about a 45-minute drive from Downtown Memphis. Back in the 1990s, when casino gaming first arrived in Tunica, journalists could barely resist the abundant opportunity for puns — about how casinos had made a big splash in Tunica, and so forth — with the opening of the Splash Casino, a nightclub and gaming hall operating from a riverboat. The transformation of Tunica was swift, and it was comprehensive. The surrounding county before the advent of casino gaming had been so poor it had at one point attracted the derisive nickname “America’s Ethiopia.” Then gambling brought casinos and the attendant businesses like hotels, restaurants, and the like, with the casino revenue washing over the landscape like a giant river of seemingly never-ending cash. In the first five years of business there, Tunica County figures showed that annual county revenue had exploded from $3.5 million to almost $36 million. When the slots are spinning, green felt tables keep attracting bettors, and the gaudy neon lights keep shining, you’d be forgiven for assuming that things might just stay that way forever. 48 |

Suffice it to say, though, a lot has changed. Depending on who you talk to, you’ll get varying answers for why gaming revenue has declined in recent years in Tunica — and why two casinos since 2014 have closed. Some blame the Great Recession and its effects that lingered for years, including the bruised psyche of individual consumers who may have been less inclined to fritter away money by facing off with Lady Luck. It’s a reasonable-sounding explanation. But it’s also reasonable to argue that Tunica is likewise feeling the effects of competition from around the country. In the year or two just before the Great Recession hit, Tunica’s casinos were collectively bringing in a little more than $1 billion a year in revenue. One bellwether sign that things had begun to change, though, was the closure of Harrah’s Tunica in 2014, at the time, the largest of all of Tunica’s casinos. Shuttering it put almost 1,000 people out of work, and you can imagine all of the consequences that came next, like retail businesses being hurt, in turn, by all those out-of-work consumers changing up their spending habits. As for the town of Tunica itself, its annual budget shrank from about $5 million in 2009

to $3.5 million this year. “In 2007, you’re looking at Tunica as being probably in the top five gaming markets in the country, with $1.2 billion or more of gross gaming revenue,” says Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Allen Godfrey. “But so many places have opened up since then and expanded their gaming market since then that Tunica has certainly felt a pinch. And then you add the Southland race park in West Memphis that’s continued to improve on their product. They’ve taken some business away from Tunica. Fast forward to 2018-2019, and we now have eight casinos between Tunica and Lula, Mississippi, with two closures in the Tunica market.” Given that Tunica’s up-and-coming gambling competition to the northwest, West Memphis, is only 30 minutes or so from Memphis — give or take, depending on what part of the city you’re driving from — that adjacency to the Bluff City is no doubt among the reasons West Memphis is starting to come into its own as a gaming market. Among the more ominous signs for Tunica is a $250 million casino and hotel expansion under way now in West Memphis, not to mention a 2018 state referendum that paved the way for casinos, which will help position West Memphis as even more of a direct rival. Some of the current realities of the gambling industry landscape actually have their genesis in the industry’s founding fathers — specifically, in their philosophy about the business. After World War II, it became clear to businessman William Harrah that, to survive, the casino business needed to think bigger. Which is why casinos quickly began to add amenities like ballrooms, hotels, restaurants, and the like — to appeal to a larger public than strictly gamers. You see the byproduct of that at the moment in West Memphis. Where Southland Park Gaming and Racing, once known mostly for racing greyhounds on its track, added table games in April in addition to blackjack, roulette, poker, and more on its gaming floor. Earlier this year, Southland Park Gaming and Racing officially changed its name to Southland Casino Racing, part of a massive redevelopment of the company’s casino complex that will ultimately include more games and a signature 300-room high-rise hotel. It’s a $250 million project that will provide a big

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boost to West Memphis, adding hundreds of permanent additional jobs at Southland. “There’s a lot of pieces of this puzzle,” Godfrey says. “Tunica may have gotten caught in between some of these — between the expansion of gaming elsewhere, a recession, a flood. There’s been a lot of things that didn’t help them out. They’re down to probably $600 million now, so the annual revenue’s cut in half. But all of that said, there’s still good product in Tunica. Sports betting has come in and generated a lot of additional foot traffic. You’ve got some people in the Tunica market that are expanding their sports betting offering. All of this is good news.” One interesting turn of events worth underscoring is that the most recent casino closing announcement in Tunica — the shuttering of the Resorts Casino Tunica — will be the second since the state legislature allowed sports betting in Mississippi’s casinos last year. The state of Mississippi’s annual gaming revenue has slipped from $2.9 billion to about $2.1 billion, according to Godfey, “with a majority of that loss being from Tunica.” Nevertheless, he adds that gross gaming revenue so far in Tunica is up 7 percent for the first three months of 2019, which he attributes to the additional foot traffic that sports betting has generated. No wonder lawmakers in Tennessee, likewise, smelled an opportunity to try for a countermove. “It’s not all a bad outlook for Tunica,” Godfrey says. “I think you’re always going to have some good gaming being conducted in the Tunica area. Is it what it used to be? No, you can’t argue that. Is it still a viable gaming market? Yes, it is. They’ve got some operators that have got a lot of experience and are very creative. In a free market system, the market writes itself. “Have we seen the last [casino] closing? I can’t say that we have. The corporations have to make a choice. If you’re publicly traded, you’ve got to do what’s best for your shareholders.”

TUNICA STRIKES BACK

o his point about Tunica operators getting creative, consider Gold Strike Casino Resort’s move at the end of July to open a new $7 million venue called the Moneyline Book, Bar & Grill, which is billed as “the next evolution of sports betting” in Mississippi. It’s decked out with more than 60 high-definition TV screens and wows guests with a massive video wall, bar, dining options, VIP lounge, a sportsbook, and a variety of en-

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tertainment options. Gold Strike and MGM Resorts launched sports betting in the state in August 2018, and about a year on from that milestone the opening of the Moneyline bar represented a major upping of the ante, if you will, on a complete sports betting and entertainment experience for area gamblers. As you walk up to and inside the bar, you’ll see a long, digital ticker tape with sports stats scrolling by. Once you’re actually inside, you’ll see giant screens around you — two 16-foot-wide by 9-foot-tall displays, to be exact, which can be operated as 16 individual screens. Under that viewing wall, some guests will no doubt want to spend a little time at the 50-foot-long bar (which includes 16 video poker machines). And in the adjacent 6,000-square-foot Race & Sports Book area, guests can settle into any of several tiered dining and seating areas which all offer great

ALAN G. CRONE

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views of the sports action on the screens. “With Arkansas and Tennessee now offering sports betting too, we believe we will be the only ones to offer an integrated sports entertainment experience at this level, that combines all of these aspects into one venue,” says Gold Strike President & COO David Tsai. “By offering new dining and entertainment, we hope to also drive a new segment of customers to Gold Strike who may not have visited us before or haven’t visited us for many years, so they can see that we continue to offer great new gaming experiences that are better than Arkansas or anywhere else.” Tsai went on to note how Gold Strike decided to invest in the multimillion-dollar Moneyline facility to elevate the customer experience as well as the sports-betting experience. In full-pitch mode, he says that Moneyline combines all aspects of sports, including watching, betting, dining, and drinking. “We have over 60 HDTVs, multiple seating areas, a wide selection of beers, cocktails and wines, and a diverse, globally inspired menu. This allows us to expand the first-class amenities we offer at our property in a way that no other place in Memphis or Tunica has done or likely will do.” Moneyline also includes two elevated VIP areas, where tables feature service that comes at the touch of a button — so you can tap, and have whatever you need delivered while keeping your attention fixed on the game. Moneyline also has a full menu, including a dozen beers on tap along with a cocktail and wine program.

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Southland Casino Racing is upgrading for a bigger piece of the region’s market. RENDERINGS COURTESY SOUTHLAND GAMING

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“Our property already offers a fantastic upscale dining experience with Chicago Steakhouse, and a great seafood buffet experience at Buffet Americana that attracts long lines of people every weekend,” Tsai enthuses. “We saw that there was an opportunity both at Gold Strike and in the broader Memphis/ Tunica area for a more casual restaurant that could be the best place to bet on and watch sports, but also was a hip place to eat great food and drink from a large beverage offering. “Later at night, the venue becomes a lively, dynamic place to hang out and acts more like a restaurant and lounge, with a great music program that sets the mood. We also plan to introduce live entertainment when football and basketball seasons are over. We view ourselves as not being just in the gaming business, but in the broader entertainment business, and this new venue provides another great activity for our guests to do and ensure they have a great time while visiting us.”

WEST MEMPHIS

hich brings us, now, to West Memphis — and specifically to the ascendance of Southland, where General Manager David Wolf says his gaming hub is about to stake its claim for a greater share of the region’s gaming market than it’s aspired to in the past. Part of that has to do with the $250 million expansion that will include a 20-story hotel tower with 300 rooms and 84 suites, along with a 1,300-space parking garage, which will open in the next 12 to 15 months. “A lot of customers want to go to Tunica overnight, but they don’t want to drive,” Wolf says about Southland, which is only a 10-minute or so ride from Downtown Memphis.

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Hiring & Consulting – the Human Way At Vaco, business is always personal. We’re proud to be part of the only talent solutions firm that puts human connection first, helping the best and brightest talent thrive here in the Bluff City. “They want to gamble, eat and drink, and we want to go after that customer in a way we can’t do right now, because we don’t have the hotel. And we’ll be adding new restaurants in conjunction with that.” Earlier this year, Gulfport, Mississippi-based Roy Anderson Corp. won a $200 million contract to build Southland’s new casino and hotel project, with work under way now and set to wrap up in January 2021. The construction includes building a new 240,000-square-foot casino complex as well as the 300-room hotel. Last year, voters in Arkansas had approved the expansion of casino gaming as well as sports betting in the state, and progress has been moving forward regarding the latter. Which, again, represents another rival market to sports betting elsewhere, like in Mississippi and soon in Tennessee. Arkansas’ state racing commission has already approved its sports betting rules, and Southland itself has been advertising that a sportsbook is “coming soon.”

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oming back to Tennessee, it still needs to take steps including the formation of a nine-member commission whose members would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature, which would serve as the regulatory body for sports betting activity here. At the time of this writing, Akbari confirmed the commission had not yet been appointed. “I think people are excited about the legislation,” she said. “Those that were opposed have moved on.” One of those in opposition was Lee, who in a May 24th letter to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada explained his rationale for why he decided to let the bill go into effect

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without his signature: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not believe the expansion of gambling through online sports betting is in the best interest of our state,â&#x20AC;? Lee wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but I appreciate the General Assemblyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to remove brick-and-mortar establishments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This bill ultimately did not pursue casinos, the most harmful form of gambling, which I believe prey on poverty and encourage criminal activity. Compromise is a central part of governing, but I remain philosophically opposed to gambling and will not be lending my signature to support this cause. We see this issue differently but let me be clear: Any future efforts to expand gambling or introduce casinos in Tennessee will assure my veto.â&#x20AC;? And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largely where things stand, for now. Tunica fights to recover some of its lost luster, West Memphis flexes its gaming muscles, and now Tennessee prepares to enter the fray. Not necessarily a Game of Thronesstyle fight for supremacy, since thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not one fixed Iron Throne equivalent to strive for. Each house, in this case, is actually a market engaged in something much trickier and fungible than a contest to decide a monarchy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an all-out land grab for as many consumer dollars as possible, which is not a race something like a local government or gaming market can ever be said to win. It ebbs and it flows, but

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the race endures. When one market slides, a la recession-era Tunica, another rushes into the breach. There are so many other branches likewise connected to the overall gaming narrative. Expectations of service levels never really go down among constituencies of a government â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who ever hopes their city does less in a particular year? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and those services, everything from paying for education to police and fire crews, cost money. Gaming, if anything, can be defined by statistics and the odds that determine a lucky turn of the cards or not, which way the chips fall, and whether or not the slot rows line up in just the right order. Odds are, gamblers are only going to continue to have more options to choose from when it comes to how theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll spend their money.

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Developer Henry Turley’s Central Station project opens this fall with a boutique hotel (partnering with Kemmons Wilson Companies), and cultural amenities galore. For him, it’s business as usual.

his section of Inside Memphis Business features a mix of the people and processes that drive our town to make what’s good even better. We interview Jozelle Luster Booker, driving force of the Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum, and we have a Q&A with Damon Fleming, the new dean of the University of Memphis’ Fogelman College of Business and Economics who shares his ambitious vision. We also drop in on Art Gilliam, president, CEO, and owner of WLOK-AM, in his office Downtown. Our Community Partnership feature takes in the symbiotic relationship between the Trezevant retirement community and Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy. Finally, our distinguished resident historian Vance Lauderdale looks back at the grand Memphis and Shelby County Auditorium, dedicated 95 years ago. Later it was named Ellis Auditorium and served as the center for exhibitions, concerts, and conventions for 75 years. FA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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/ LEADERSHIP

Jozelle Luster Booker

When leaders need ideas, they go to the top of the Continuum.

s president of the Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum (MMBC Continuum), Jozelle Luster Booker is tasked with helping business leaders discover new ways to grow, new paths to pursue, and sometimes a new niche to fill. Booker also happens to be a world-class storyteller. She’d rather engage an individual — or group — with a tale from her youth in rural Claiborne County, Mississippi, than lecture on what a business owner may be doing right or wrong. It’s a form of personal engagement that tends to yield greater understanding between a speaker and listener. And it formulates the closest thing to a mantra you might attach to Booker. Listen before you lead.

Jozelle Luster Booker

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The second of seven children (four girls, three boys) born to Joe and Beulah Luster, Booker grew up on a 300-acre estate owned by her family for generations. Ironically, she spent much of her youth indoors, her father believing girls were responsible for chores inside the house, boys outside. She claims to have ridden a horse — a Tennessee Walker, once — but took a more comfortable liking to motorcycles (among her dad’s and brothers’ avocations). “We had two waterfalls on our property,” notes Booker, “and white, sandy beaches along a creek bed. We built sand castles and had our pick of plums, peaches, pears, and apples.” Booker’s father came from a line of entrepreneurs, with a grocery store, a café, and a motel in Vicksburg among the businesses owned and operated by the Luster family. Young Jozelle had a keen sense of order and what was expected of her, both at home and school. She joined various clubs at Port Gibson High School and took a special liking to math and chemistry, her Booker finds only transgression being a habit of talking herself advising with other students in clients in such a class (after she completed an assignment). way that focuses Booker had early not on what is visions of becoming a right in front of civil engineer, but by the time she enrolled them, but what at Jackson State Unican be right in versity in 1980, she felt front of them with a pull toward marketing. “I wanted to buy the right effort. clothes at the end of the runway in New York and Paris,” she says. Instead of crossing the Atlantic with her marketing degree, though, Booker found her way to Memphis, where she had extended family. After a stint as a temp impressed the right people, she took a job — as a typist — with MLGW in 1986 and would enjoy a steady rise over three decades at the utility company. In 1998, Booker became MLGW’s first supplier diversity officer, a job that allowed her economic-development skills to flourish fully. During her time at MLGW, Booker absorbed some leadership skills that fuel her to this day. “Joyce Blackmon nominated me for a supervisory development program,” says Booker. “She was one of the first black vice presidents at MLGW. She saw it as her responsibility to pull people aside and give them feedback, encouragement on all kinds of things: your future, your skill development.

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Her philosophy was, ‘I’ll offer this. You can receive it or not.’ I’ve done the same thing with young people.” Booker retired from MLGW in 2017 and joined the MMBC Continuum, succeeding Luke Yancy as president. “I’d been working with [MMBC] in my role as supplier diversity officer at MLGW,” notes Booker, “and had made recommendations about things I saw, but that MLGW could not do as a public entity. They incorporated some of those development ideas. What I loved the most at MLGW was working with minority- and women-owned businesses. Helping them grow, navigating. The opportunity to help someone else make their business vision a reality.” Memphis has needs for large-scale economic growth, particularly with the scourge of poverty so heavy on its pool of talent. Booker finds herself advising clients in such a way that focuses not on what is right in front of them, but what can be right in front of them with the right effort. “Here in 2019, technology has caught up, but fundamentally, it’s knowing the path to take, and who to talk to, who to see,” she says. “There can be a strategy they need. It’s not one-size-fits-all. No day here [at MMBC] is the same. You listen to what a business is doing, hear what their challenges are. What we do best is come up with customized solutions. What’s your plan with your business? What’s your exit strategy?” Booker is in a unique leadership position, as she’s tasked with advising other leaders, business owners seeking direction for growth. “I’m humbled by them,” says Booker. “I see a person with tremendous courage sitting before me. They made a decision to bet on themselves. In some cases, they left corporate America. Or they just had a new business idea. We want to understand their passion and what drives them. We’ll advise, but it’s up to them to implement [the ideas].” In terms of her own leadership style, Booker describes a reflective approach. “I look for input and feedback,” she says. “I need to know what your goal is. I’m going to listen. And based on that, if there’s additional research and data, we’ll use that to build a plan.” And then there are Booker’s stories. She tells them, a lot. And they’re often rooted in her happy childhood on that farm in Mississippi. “Daddy would say things, over and over,” she notes with a smile. “I find myself as an adult now, sharing those things. ‘Understanding is the best thing in the world.’ ” “I was always talking, moving around [as a child]. My paternal grandfather [Walter LusFA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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ter Sr.] would say to me, ‘Learn how to follow before you can lead.’ You find yourself repeating lessons, over and over again.” Oprah Winfrey and her own mom top the list of leaders Booker admires most. “I think about my mom and her managing our household with seven children,” reflects Booker. “There were disputes, arguments, chores, the organizational side of it. Keeping up with all of that. Keeping us all engaged. We weren’t wealthy, but I can’t think of anything that I wanted that I didn’t get.”

The best way to attract future leaders to Memphis is to help create them today. And that requires the efforts of every Memphian, not just business professionals.

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The best way to attract future leaders to Memphis, according to Booker, is to help create them today. And that requires the efforts of every Memphian, not just business professionals. “It doesn’t have to be structured,” she emphasizes. “It can be informal. It can be at work, at church, people in positions where they can impact young people. It doesn’t have to be a large-scale program. It’s everybody leaving a legacy. A call to action. So many people have spheres of influence; they may not have thought about it. Young people want engagement with professionals, but it doesn’t have to be business professionals. We can be that place, where people in Memphis invest in its people.” •

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COMMUNIT Y PARTNERSHIPS

Southern Reins and Trezevant Equine therapies are yielding positive results for all ages. B Y E M I LY A D A M S K E P L I N G E R

outhern Reins is a nonprofit based in Collierville that provides equine-assisted activities and therapies. “Our mission is to serve individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities and hardships,” says Jill Haag, executive director of Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY SOUTHERN REINS CENTER FOR EQUINE THERAPY

Founded in July 2015, the organization served 12 participants in its initial session and now serves more than 220 individuals this year. Started primarily for children under the age of 18, the program expanded to serve young adults. As a result of some recent partnerships, Southern Reins also began serving seniors, up to 78 years of age, in its Silver Stirrups Program. One such partnership is with Trezevant retirement community. “Margaret Morton, recreational therapist at Trezevant, reached out to us — she was focusing on getting different activities to encourage their residents to be actively engaged, get outdoors,” says Haag. “She realized that some of the Trezevant residents with Alzheimers or dementia referenced back when they had a horse and would ride. That was the catalyst

for our Silver Stirrups program. In Spring 2018, their residents were our first participants.” Morton says, “We do intensive quality of life assessments about our residents to understand who they are as a whole. In speaking with family and friends of our residents, we realized some of the residents had ridden and/or owned horses for most of their lives. The result was a program that combines reminiscing therapy with equine therapy. It plays to accurate positive memories and builds self-confidence for seniors who have been told they are fragile, providing emotional benefits as well as the benefits of being outdoors.” Haag says that as equine therapy gets more recognition, the practice is gaining a lot of momentum. “More and more, people are realizing the benefits of it and we are actively

promoting serving senior citizens through recreational activities at Southern Reins,” she says. “We have partnered with other local agencies and organizations; veterans through Alpha Omega Veterans Services and the Memphis VA Medical Center, as well as to senior citizens at Foxbridge Assisted Living and Memory Care.” Haag says that Southern Reins gets no federal or state funding and is entirely community funded. “Last December the Assisi Foundation of Memphis awarded us $250,000,” she says. “In essence, that grant is going to beneAs equine fit every single person therapy gets who comes to Southmore recognition, ern Reins.” The Assisi grant the practice is is being used to ungaining a lot of der w rite the cost momentum. of construction of a covered-crosstie pavilion to provide a safe location to groom and tack horses as well as teach participants about safe horse handling in their horsemanship program. “The investment by the Assisi Foundation is providing a huge step forward for our organization to be able to expand the current capabilities of our program so that we can forge new community partnerships and meet the needs of our growing number of participants,” says Haag. “It is the community support that makes Southern Reins possible.” • For more information about Southern Reins, visit southernreins.org or call 901-290-1011.

Clockwise from top left: Alpha Omega Veterans Services participant Chris Oldham with therapy horse Rain. Trezevant resident Barbara Froom and therapy horse Nike. At Southern Reins, individuals get emotional benefits, as well as the benefits of being outdoors, from equine-assisted activities and therapies. Margaret Morton is the recreational therapist at Trezevant. Jill Haag, executive director of Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy, with Quinn. FA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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/ BUSINESS IN ACADEMIA

Opening Doors

New dean aims to take the Fogelman College to the top.

amon Fleming is a husband, father, and devoted surfer with a soul patch. He is also a researcher with B.S. and M.S. degrees in accounting from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. His scholarly work is published in more than 25 accounting journals and before going into academia, he was a principal at a venture capital firm. Up until this summer, he was professor and William E. Cole Director in the Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy at SDSU. The school has 1,000 undergraduate accounting majors and 100 graduate students. He left sunny SoCal to come to Memphis in July to be greeted by remnants of a tropical storm and impossibly high temperatures. But he stayed anyway to take a position as dean at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis. He came to town with his wife, two kids, surfboards, and a far-reaching vision for where he wants to take the FCBE. Inside Memphis Business sat with him in the college’s sleek Cook Analytics & Trading Lab to talk about what’s next.

point between that purpose — my purpose — and what this university can do for the local area, what it can do for Memphis as a city, as well as the surrounding area, and then sending people out globally, it was just an incredible opportunity. I communicated that I understood that opportunity and that I wanted to be a part of that. And I think everybody understood that that was authentically who I am and why I was interested and why I was willing to leave what I had to come and pursue this opportunity.

Inside Memphis Business: First, a simple question: What is your goal at FCBE? Dean Fleming: I’m a students-first kind of dean. It’s about how are we creating and curating the best experience for students that gets them ready for the job market. We’re going to take it to the next level, which isn’t new for the Fogelman College, but that’s part of my mission. Another big part of the mission is building up connection points, building up purposeful integration between research, teaching, and student success. In the end what we’re doing is seeing all those augment each other and not compete for time and attention. We’re purposefully integrating that and dovetailing in with the university’s initiatives around moving to Carnegie R1 [a designation for very high research activity], around developing the research park, around U of M ventures — seeing how we can make the Fogelman College a destination, a place where companies can come find the best talent, but also a place for companies to move to, to gain access to that talent. So it’s not only to prepare students to go out in the world, but also be a source of attraction for the local economy.

What were your impressions when you were researching Fogelman College? I looked at the full scope. My background is research, so I’m not only looking at one element. You’ve got to look at the portfolio. It’s like building a mosaic — you’re trying to understand what the picture is, but it’s all these little pieces. As I grabbed up little pieces, I started to build this broader picture of what the business college was and what the university was — the things that really excited me about it. One was that it’s the major powerhouse research university in the area. That’s super attractive. That’s a very important opportunity and leverage point, I think, for what we can do for students. The second thing is the diversity of the students. I’m a huge proponent of university business education fundamentally altering what a student’s economic trajectory looks like. It is the path for social mobility for many, many students. And I love that; that’s what gets me excited about coming to work every day.

When compared to other business schools, how is FCBE similar and how is it different? All university-level business schools offer starting with four-year degrees in the typical business disciplines. Many of them, but not all, offer master’s degrees, and fewer than that offer research Ph.D.s. We happen to be all three. We are a full-service business school from that perspective in that we’re taking students who are right out of high school, turning them into future business leaders. We’re taking people who maybe already have an undergraduate degree who want to go to the next level through the master’s. And we’re taking people who then 60 |

go to the next level to become the creators of knowledge, the scholars of the future. From that perspective, there’s commonality and difference among our kind of peer group. Where I think that we can be really unique is by integrating with what’s unique about our region. I’m still learning about this and how uniquely integrated we are, but in the last few weeks on the job I’ve seen a lot of opportunity for collaborating with the local business community, from large organizations like FedEx and International Paper to the very large proportion of small businesses that operate in Memphis. We’re making an opportunity where business schools can connect meaningfully with each of those levels. That’s where I think our uniqueness comes in, leveraging the unique components of the region. What is the role of the business college? It could be this concept of both creation of talent and attraction. A lot of power and real kind of connection can come from this idea that what we do, our core purpose, is getting students ready for the market, but we also have to be mindful that by doing so we can draw business into the region as well. That’s the bigger vision that the campus has related to the research park and some other areas. It’s our job, I believe, to make that happen. When you came to interview, what did you tell the selection committee? I told them why I was here. I just presented myself as genuinely as I could and I interviewed them as much as they interviewed me because I was at a university that I loved being at. I loved what I was doing. What I learned about the university got me so excited. I came and talked about what I believe is our authentic purpose of changing lives through business education. And that’s what I think business schools can do for students. And when I saw the connection

What do you want the school to be five, ten years down the road? Outcome driven, I want to see us with a portfolio of academic programming that is really meeting needs of students that match between the students and the business community. We’re making an effort to curate that kind of connection so that when companies large or small in the area think, where do I want to get my next employee from, it’s the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics. That is critical, driving home that match, creating an integrated culture of research, teaching, and service for the campus. It’s those connection points that students feel and that faculty feels and the community feels between the research and the teaching and the work that we do in the community collaboratively. I’d like to see that come together.

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And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be creating a culture among the students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders that make this a destination for people. Universities run on top talent, just like all service organizations. And we have to be able to attract and retain the best talent we can for our students in research and teaching. And to do that, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to have a culture where people are here and they feel valued and they understand why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing the work that we do together and they understand that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all trying to win.

see it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part funding from the state, part funding from tuition from students, part funding from donors and stakeholders that are invested in the success of the university: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a collaborative model. The way we leverage that is by finding the most high impact ways we can invest those resources and make strategic alignments. The way we do that is by telling about what is possible through the collaboration of state funding, philanthropic support, and the organic component that runs the university.

How do you do that outreach to make sure that the rest of the world knows youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here? A couple of different ways. Some is through legitimately telling our story. What can happen is that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just too humble about what we do and the success stories that we have. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to let people know about that. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to let people know what great work is going on and what those success stories look like. Other parts of it include expanding our research activity and impact to become an R1 level institution that puts us in the highest class of top-tier research universities in the world. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a campus mission. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Fogelman Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. That in and of itself, contributing to that mission, raises our national and global awareness in a serious way. Another part is more of a grassroots approach. I want every student that leaves here and people who come and visit here to think this is an awesome place. This is the kind of place I want to send my kids to school. This is the kind of place I want to go back and get a graduate degree. Our best ambassador group is people who have a good experience and they can tell our story better than any billboard or news story ever could. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the long game.

Tell me about you: What drew you into accounting? I think because I was practical. My vision of going to college was to leave the university with a degree thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to set me up for a career. Business made sense to me and within business, accounting made sense to me. I took a few classes and I had a natural aptitude for it, I think. I wanted to be a part of a profession and that was the best opportunity for me to do that right away. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see myself getting a Ph.D. and becoming a professor when I went to college. I worked and went to community college, I transferred to San Diego State University. It was my best path forward for getting a good career. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I picked accounting. I had a good aptitude and I love it. I got into academics because I had a chance when I was getting my masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree to teach a class and I loved it. My opportunity to connect with students in that way was transformational for me. I had some great mentors at the university who encouraged me to think about academics as my career path. I followed their advice and I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happier. So I found myself in an academic career and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent the last 13 years as an academic. I worked my way through the ranks to a full professor and then as part of the leadership team, as director of a school of accountancy. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about expanding that impact. I wanted to do more than what I was doing with the school of accountancy. I could help more

How do you cultivate your alumni and get those donors to come in and be even more active? The philanthropic funding model for public universities over the last decade is a partnership model as I

Dean Damon Fleming

people through running a college and I got recruited for this job and I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happier for it. Never looked back. What drove me into leadership was that ability to make a bigger difference. Like when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m teaching and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m running my classroom, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with undergraduate students or graduate students, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m touching a lot of lives. That was wonderful and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to miss that. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m cultivating new ways though â&#x20AC;&#x201D; I was talking to students this morning about how Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to be visiting their classrooms because I love that opportunity to do it. But what drove me into leadership was simply looking around and thinking thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more that we can do. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other ways of thinking about solving the problems that universities face, and I wanted to be a part of the solution. As a professor, you have the ability to influence in real ways the research youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing and the teaching that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing. But to really influence and move the college and move a university, you have to step up to the plate and join the leadership team. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I wanted to do. So tell me about your family. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m married with two children, a son whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 14, a daughter whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12, all of whom are getting adjusted to living here in Memphis. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re where I spend my time when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not with my students, when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not here at the university. I try and do as many things I can do to connect with my kids. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to find creative ways to engage and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m big on experiencing things. I like to go do things together, preferably outside if we can. I grew up on the coast and so I spent my life in the ocean and fishing and those sorts of things. So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be doing what we can of different variety here. I like to stay in shape, so I work out all the time. I get up nice and early in the morning doing my pull-ups this morning. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how many deans of business schools there are who have soul patches, but you certainly do. How did you come to cultivate that? So hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the thing: I tried really hard to be who I am, right? And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had for quite awhile. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a guy whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a surfer for 30 years or longer probably. This is who I am and I like to just be me and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked so far. Though thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surfing around here, I have my surfboards in my garage at home because when I get a chance to take some vacation time, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be doing. FA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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/ THE OFFICE

Art Gilliam, WLOK

Memphis’ first black-owned radio station continues to evolve in a changing city. BY SAMUEL X. CICCI

LOK was around long before Art Gilliam ended up purchasing the radio station, and it was around long before Downtown Memphis underwent its transformation into a destination hotspot. But the headquarters are still there at 363 South Second Street, right next to the signpost designating it as a Tennessee Historic Landmark. But if Gilliam’s path to radio was set in stone, it didn’t look like it from the beginning. “When I attended Yale University,” says Gilliam, “I majored in economics. At that point, I saw myself as heading into the insurance business, as my dad had worked at Universal Life Insurance Company.” At the time, there was a lot of interest in having more black representatives in the media landscape, so Gilliam became the first black anchor at WMC-TV Channel 5 news while simultaneously writing a regular column for The Commercial Appeal. When Harold Ford Sr. was elected congressman for the area, Gilliam accompanied him to Washington as an administrative assistant. His time in the capital cultivated his interest in media, so when an opportunity for ownership of a media company appeared, Gilliam jumped on it in 1977, making WLOK the first black-owned and locally owned station in Memphis. It was mainly an R&B station, although it had an early morning (3 a.m.-6 a.m.) slot for gospel. As radio evolved and FM became more prominent, the station started experimenting with other styles of music before settling on gospel. While that’s the station’s main musical focus, it continues to evolve as Gilliam pushes for more variety in its programming. “We really regard ourselves, even though we’re in a gospel format, as a community station,” says Gilliam. “A lot of people, when they hear gospel, think it’s just church music, but we do a lot more than that.” As the media landscape changed over the years, Gilliam sought to incorporate different programming on the air, such as Let’s Talk About It. The talk program dives into various community issues, such as family safety and healthcare, and invites professionals in relevant fields on to the show. WLOK several years ago introduced its Black Film Festival, which highlights movies that are directed by black filmmakers, have black actors in leading roles, and contain social significance to the black experience in America. But perhaps the most long-running event that the station is known for is the Stone Soul Picnic, which recently celebrated a 45th iteration headlined by the Bar-Kays. You’ll see many awards as you walk

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around the building and step into Gilliam’s office. Many of them honor his and the station’s work towards Memphis, civil rights, or other good causes. It’s not just talk, either. Gilliam recounts one time the station butted heads with advertisers when he first took over. “When we first bought the station, Operation PUSH, as it was called at the time, was considered a militant organization in the South. I knew they weren’t militant, but were just advocating for civil rights. The previous owners had been told that if they didn’t take PUSH off the air, advertisers would pull their business from the station. The first thing we did was put them back on the air, even though we didn’t really know whether the advertisers would boycott us or not.” The slot that Gilliam originally opened for PUSH remains to this day, known as Rainbow Push, and airs every Sunday at 6 p.m. The more you explore the WLOK offices, the more Memphis’ respect for Gilliam is clear. Several portraits of the station president are throughout the office, but none were commissioned or requested by him. Each piece, done in varying artistic styles, was donated by local artists as a tribute to his work. Beyond the portraits, there are posters for the film festival and historic posters of some of the inaugural Stone Soul Picnics. Other pieces of black history are prominently displayed around the office as well. A photographer named Kenyetta took several pictures of South Carolina slave cabins about to be torn down. Wanting the pictures to be seen, he asked Gilliam and WLOK if they could be displayed at the office. Now, they’re framed on the wall of the boardroom. For Gilliam, the preferred outlet was always going to be radio. “ I always liked radio because it’s so personal. In fact, it’s so close to its audience that you’ll often hear a person state, ‘hey, that’s my radio station’ or ‘that’s my favorite radio station’. Well you don’t often hear people lay claim to a TV station. TV is done in various blocks of programs as opposed to the same format throughout. Radio, on the other hand, has more personalities, and radio is closer in many ways to the community than other forms of media. I had offers to go back into television once I returned from Washington, but I was already set on radio.”

Many awards line the walls at the WLOK office. When pressed, Gilliam can’t quite pick just one that appeals to him the most. “In terms of the body of these awards,” he says, “really it’s about recognizing all the work we’ve done with the community. When we first got into the business, radio was kind of an advertising vehicle for the record companies, with records up on the walls instead. I suppose it means that we’ve been meeting our goal of being a good presence in the community.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARRY KUZNIEWSKI FA L L 201 9 | I N S I DE M E M PH I S B U S I N E S S .COM |

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Biz 901

/ FROM THE ARCHIVES

Ellis Auditorium

The grand hall gave Memphis a roster of entertainers from Sousa to Springsteen. BY VA N C E L A U D E R DA L E

other ornaments. Inside, among many noteworthy features was a 100-foot mural, painted in 1937 by Memphian Maysie Dimond, which traced the entire history of this city, from the days of square feet of space, with anothHernando de Soto. er 10,000 square feet available For more than 75 years in surrounding corridors (perfect for exhibitors), E l l i s Au d ito r iu m stood as a Memphis and another 12,000 square feet in the landmark, its red ground-f loor estile roof visible for miles, hosting planade.” And this everything from doesn’t even insquare dance conclude such amenities as “two moving ventions to rock conpicture booths, each certs. The last musical seating 350, three large performance took place chorus rooms, dressing rooms, there in November 1996, with a show by Bruce Springsteen. along with retiring, rest, smoking, Like so many old buildings, and toilet rooms.” however, it eventually grew outFrom start to finish, the whole hen Memphis Tourism lures conventions to the dated, and visitors expected project had been championed city, it rightfully brags about more than 20,000 hotel rooms here, better facilities and technology. by Robert Ellis, president of the an easy-to-reach location in the heart of America, and unique attracIn 1974, the new Memphis Cook Memphis Chamber of Comtions like Graceland, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Convention Center was attached merce. When he died in 1930, and so much more. to the auditorium, but that was the building was given the name a cost of $3 million — a lot of just a temporary solution. In 2003, most readers know it by: Ellis A century ago, the Convention cash in those days — the builddemolition crews pulled down Auditorium. Bureau division of the Memphis ing was hailed as “a monument Ellis Auditorium to make way The exterior was just as fanChamber of Commerce faced to the desire of citizens of for the Cannon Center more of a challenge. They menthis community to entertain for the Performing Arts. tioned lovely parks and grand progressive associations The entire center is seeoffice buildings, noted that and societies.” The massive ing new life, presently Memphis had almost 2,000 hotel structure, taking up an enundergoing a $200 milrooms “with more available in an tire city block, actually conlion renovation that will emergency,” and tried to entice include a new entrance visitors here by mentioning that tained two separate convenand upgrades through“nine railroads, and the Mississiption/conference halls. The out the complex. During North Hall could hold 6,500 pi River, with its favorable water the demolition and conpeople, with a “removable rates, provide exceptional transstruction over the years, hardwood floor, unexcelled portation facilities.” Dimond’s historic mural for dancing” and the smallAll of this comes from a bookcouldn’t be saved, but er South Hall could hold let, published in 1925, simply titled original wooden chairs The building was hailed as “a monument another 2,500. Each offered For Conventions — Memphis. Even and architectural orna“unobstructed views and though some of their claims raise to the desire of citizens of this community ments from Ellis Audiperfect acoustics.” eyebrows (“The impression that to entertain progressive associations torium’s heyday are on What was most remarkMemphis summers are severely display in the lobby. able about the interior hot is erroneous”), there is one and societies.” design, however, was that obvious exception — an architecVance Lauderdale is the awardboth halls shared a central stage, cy as the interior, which stands tural wonder that would indeed winning history columnist for which could be lowered, and a to reason since the chief archirival the meeting facilities of any Memphis magazine and Inside dividing wall that could be raised tect was George Awsumb, who city in America. Memphis Business. He has into the ceiling. The result: a masalso designed Idlewild PresbyI’m talking about the Memphis authored several books and is sometimes sive arena with a seating capacity terian Church. Constructed of and Shelby County Auditorium moved to research historical questions for 12,000. buff-colored brick and stone in at Poplar and Main, dedicated in that interest him. He can be reached, The result offered “splendid the Italian Renaissance style, October 1924 with a grand-openoccasionally, at askvance@ facilities for exhibitions and conthe building featured decoraing performance featuring John contemporary-media.com. ventions. The arena has 17,000 tive stone work, medallions, and Phillip Sousa. Constructed at Some of the ornamental medallions (below) were salvaged before the original auditorium building was demolished in 2003.

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PHOTOS COURTESY VANCE LAUDERDALE

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8/7/19 10:38 AM

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