UTK Named A Best Employer For New Graduates

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s best employers for new graduates for the third consecutive year.

“We are thrilled to be recognized once again this year as one of Forbes’ Best Employers for New Graduates,” said Mary Lucal, associate vice chancellor for human resources. “We work hard to make UT a place where everyone matters and belongs, and this certainly includes individuals who have recently graduated and are newly entering the workforce.

Our focus on inclusive workspaces, career and professional development, and flexibility makes us a great landing place for new grads.”

More than 28,000 young U.S. professionals working for companies that employ at least 1,000 people participated in the independent survey, which focused on work-related issues and workplace experiences. Participants were asked to rate the likelihood that they would recommend their employer to family and friends.

They assessed their employer according to atmosphere and development, diversity, image, salary and wage, working conditions and workplace.

Participants were also asked to evaluate other employers in their industry that stand out either positively or negatively.

UT’s Center for Career

Development and Academic Exploration gathered information from 81 percent of 2022 bachelor’s degree graduates. Ninety percent of them had either found jobs within six months of graduation or opted to continue their education.

Of those who provided details about their work, 60 percent stayed in Tennessee, and of those, 50 percent stayed in the Knoxville area.

The university has also been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s best large employers and a best place for working parents this year. In 2022, Forbes named UT one of America’s best employers, one of Tennessee’s best employers, a best employer for new graduates and a best employer for women. truck or mobile food business you would like to share with our readers, contact Business Editor Amy Rose at amy.rose@ greenevillesun.com or 423-359-3138.

To see the full list, visit www.forbes.com/lists/ best-employers-for-newgrads .

AG Skrmetti Sues Robocall Company

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti

Tuesday sued Michael D. Lansky, LLC, which does business under the name Avid Telecom, its owner Michael Lansky, and its vice president Stacey S. Reeves, “for allegedly initiating and facilitating billions of illegal robocalls to millions of people and violating the Telephone Consumer Protect Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and other federal and state telemarketing and consumer laws,” according to a news release.

Avid Telecom sent or transmitted more than 7.5 billion calls to telephone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry between December 2018 and January 2023. About 200 million of those calls were to numbers in Tennessee, the news release states.

“Avid Telecom is a Voice over Internet Protocol service provider that sells data, phone numbers, dialing software, and/or expertise to help its customers make mass robocalls. It also serves as an intermediate provider and allegedly facilitated or helped route illegal robocalls across the country,” the release states. The lawsuit alleges that:

• Between December 2018 and January 2023, Avid sent or attempted to transmit more than 24.5 billion calls. More than 90 percent of those calls lasted less than 15 seconds, which indicates they were likely robocalls.

• Further, Avid helped make hundreds of millions of calls using spoofed or invalid caller ID numbers, including more than 8.4 million calls that appeared to be coming from government and law enforcement agencies, as well as private companies.

• Avid Telecom allegedly sent or transmitted scam calls about Social Security Administration scams, Medicare scams, auto warranty scams, Amazon scams, DirecTV scams, credit card interest rate reduction scams, and employment scams.

The USTelecom-led Industry Traceback Group, which notifies providers about known and suspected illegal robocalls sent across their networks, sent at least 329 notifications to Avid Telecom that it was transmitting these calls, but Avid Telecom continued to do so.

“Everybody hates robocalls, especially when they are used to take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens. “I appreciate the efforts of this bipartisan group to stop this relentless annoyance and protect Tennesseans from exploitive interruptions,” Skrmetti said in the release.

Tuesday’s legal action arises from the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force of 51 bipartisan attorneys general.

The task force is investigating and taking legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States. The Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General provided investigative assistance.

Tennessee joined 47 other states and the District of Columbia in the filing.

Janet Pruitt Wampler

Died: May 23, 2023

Mrs. Janet Pruitt Wampler, of Mosheim, passed away in her home Tuesday morning with her family at her bedside. She was 70.

Janet was a very known lady, with everyone considering her as a second mother. She was truly one of a kind. She was a loving mother, mother-in-law, the best sister, and grandmother around. She didn’t know a stranger and her motherly instinct was very touching to everyone.

She had a special little side kick named Amelia Grace Duckett and she truly thought of her as one of her own. Amelia thought that there wasn’t anything better than going to Mamaw J’s to play.

Janet was very well known for her great cooking talents and her contribution to anyone in the community. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her.

The family said, “Go rest easy Mamaw and enjoy your Heavenly home with your gracious Father and be surrounded by all your loved ones. You’ll be missed. Until we see you again, we love you.”

She retired from Merkel Brothers Construction and was a former cafeteria manager at West Greene High School, where she worked for a number of years.

She was a member of Mosheim Central United Methodist Church and Brown Springs Baptist Church. Janet was also a member of the West Greene FFA Alumni and an honorary life member of Mosheim Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law: Chad and Angie Wampler; three grandsons: Tyler Wampler and his wife, Taylor, Zackary Wampler and his wife, Catie, and Austin Wampler; one sister and brother-in-law: Lori and Terry Chappell; one sister-in-law: Sandy Pruitt; and special friends: Kay Ellenburg and Phyllis Day.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years: Doug Wampler, who died Nov. 29, 2018; four granddaughters: Chloe, Olivia, Addison, and Madison Wampler; her parents: John and Dorothy Pruitt; a brother: Terry Pruitt; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Jed and Pauline Wampler; and a sister-inlaw and her husband: Brenda and Bill Hurst.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Friday at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. in the Doughty-Stevens Chapel with the Rev. Richard Long officiating. Honorary pallbearers will include Clint Ricker, Todd Ellenburg, Shane Seay, Joe Brown, Noah Carson, Terry Chappell, Rance Merkel, and Doug St. Laurent.

Family Owned and Operated

Richard and Justin Je ffers 423-639-2141 FUNERAL &CREMATION SERVICE

RICHARD KENNETH ‘COTTON’ COFFIE

Military Graveside Service, 1 p.m. Thursday Mountain Home National Cemetery MARK EUGENE ‘REDG’ SCALF

Receiving Of Friends, 4-8 p.m. Friday

Jeffers Downtown Chapel

Tristan ‘Jim Bob’ Doss Died: May 20, 2023

CHURCH HILL — Tristan “Jim Bob” Doss, 22, was taken from us way too soon on Saturday from injuries sustained in a car accident.

He was a loving father, son, grandson, and brother with a heart of gold. He never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his loving father: Ronnie Allen Doss; his paternal grandfather: Everett Matthew “Buddy” Doss; an aunt: Lori Penley; and uncles: Norman “Chubs” Simpson and Greg Simpson.

He is survived by his dear mother: Angie Doss; precious daughter who he loved with all his heart: Iridian Doss; a brother and best friend: Logan Doss; sweet little nephew: Waylon Doss; his grandparents: the Rev. Bob and Helen Simpson; his paternal grandmother: Peggy Doss; aunts: Elizabeth Wykle, Amy Guy, and Tammy Carder; and uncles: Michael Doss, Everett “Scotter” Doss, and Jimmy Wykle.

A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Johnson-Arrowood Funeral Home of Church Hill. A funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. in Johnson-Arrowood Chapel with the Rev. Clifford Dalton, the Rev. J.J. Harris, and Elder Josh Johnson officiating.

A graveside service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Bowser Cemetery in the Goshen Valley community, 894 Mountain View Road, Rogersville.

Serving as pallbearers will be Logan Doss, Austin Wilder, Austin Alvis, Cory Cashman, Robert Price, Daniel Price, Danyl Phommachah, and Thi’le Phommachanh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made Johnson-Arrowood Funeral Home to help the family with funeral expenses.

To leave a message for the Doss family please visit us at www.johnsonarrowood.com.

Johnson-Arrowood Funeral Home of Church Hill is honored to serve the Doss family.