INSIDE: BAH Humbug photos pg. 82 + Innovation Valley Blueprint 2.0 pg. 79
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TERESA MANNING THE LUCAS CENTER
Patricia Nash Designs Inc., a national brand concept store featuring vintage European designs, celebrated its grand opening in downtown Knoxville in December. Pat Nash, owner, is pictured center cutting the ribbon and is joined by her family, associates, friends, and Knoxville Chamber representatives.
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twitter.com/k_chamber CHAMBER STAFF Doug Lawyer @knoxoakridgeIV Jennifer Evans @knoxevans Kyle Touchstone @knoxecondevguy Mark Field @field101 Michelle Kiely @mkiely1
NEW MEMBERS / NEW PREMIER PARTNERS GOLD Publishing Resources Group, Inc (901) 483-1001 www.pubresgroup.com Publishing/Publications
BRONZE Gigmark (865) 584-9740 www.gigmark.com Business & Professional Services: Marketing
Pearl Marketing Technologies (865) 679-0340 www.pearlmt.com Business & Professional Services: Marketing
Anytime Fitness (865) 671-1112 www.facebook.com/anytimefitnessfarraguttn Personal Services: Fitness & Well-being AVA Yachts (954) 579-4494 www.ava-yachts.com Manufacturing: Boat Bella Luna Restaurant (865) 247-7405 www.bellalunaknox.com Restaurants - Eating & Drinking Places Center For Sight – Drs. Franklin, Raulston, & Speckner (865) 546-7140 www.centerforsightpc.com Healthcare Providers & Services: Opthalmologists Cocoa Moon & Koi (865) 521-3888 Restaurants - Eating & Drinking Places
Absolute Ballroom (865) 936-1238 www.absoluteballroomtn.com Personal Services: Fitness & Well-being
Core Benefits & Investments (865) 862-5963 www.corebi.net Insurance: Employee Benefits
Action Air Charter and Airplane Banners (865) 386-1976 www.actionaircharter.com Transportation
CRS Exteriors (865) 670-8823 www.crsexteriors.com Construction & Contractors: Exteriors
Dyer’s Flooring (865) 323-9270 Residential Services: Flooring Harry and David (865) 908-3130 www.harryanddavid.com Shopping: Specialty Knoxville Technology Services (865) 236-0761 Computer & IT Services: Web Design & Hosting Lane Music (865) 357-5025 www.lanemusic.com Shopping: Specialty Littlejohn Engineering Associates (865) 934-6023 www.leainc.com Architectural & Engineering Services: Engineers McCamy Construction (865) 247-7068 www.mccamyconstruction.com Construction & Contractors: General Contractors Midas Auto Service (865) 691-5005 www.midasknoxville.com Automotive Sales, Parts, & Service: Repair & Service
Performance Medicine (865) 249-7672 www.performancemedicine.net Personal Services: Aestheticians & Medispas
The Growth Source Agency, LLC (865) 712-9671 www.thegrowthsource.com Insurance
Priority Wireless, LLC – U.S. Cellular Authorized Agent (865) 925-0200 Telecommunications: Wireless
The Honeybaked Ham Company (865) 633-8100 www.honeybakedonline.com Restaurants - Eating & Drinking Places
Saah Salon Suites (865) 705-5234 www.saahsalonsuites.com Personal Services: Salons & Spas
The Lucas Center (865) 218-6210 www.thelucascenter.com Healthcare Providers & Services: Plastic Surgery
Salon Zeal (865) 357-5859 www.salonzeal.com Personal Services: Salons & Spas Sequoyah Entertainment (865) 335-5722 www.sequoyahentertainment.com Event Planning, Catering, & Venues: Disc Jockeys Skuffletown Promotions (865) 200-8501 Business & Professional Services: Promotional Products
CONTACT THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER (865) 637-4550 www.knoxvillechamber.com
FINANCE & OPERATIONS ljohnson@knoxvillechamber.com
THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (865) 546-5887
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PRESIDENT & CEO MICHAEL EDWARDS
DESIGN LADDY FIELDS
PUBLIC POLICY & EDUCATION jevans@knoxvillechamber.com
TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (865) 246-2663
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RHONDA RICE
WRITER LYNSEY WILSON
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT dlawyer@knoxvillechamber.com
CENTRAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (865) 246-2654 mhummel@downtownknoxville.org
THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
EDITOR LORI FULLER editorial@knoxvillechamber.com
LEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE (865) 523-9137 U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER (865) 545-4637
K N O KNOXVILLE X V I L LCHAMBER E CHA M B E R | 76 44
Thompson and Booth, P.C. (865) 862-8322 Legal Services: Attorneys UT Lifestar - AMCN (423) 920-4144 www.med-trans.net Healthcare Providers & Services VCI, Inc. - Visual Communication Interpreting, Inc. (865) 622-0999 www.vcinterpreting.com Business & Professional Services: Translators/Intepreters
While Tony Robbins was referring to personal objectives with this quote, the same concept is applicable to a business. Over the coming year, the Chamber is dedicating four specific months to four specific functions within a business’s operations: January - Marketing, March – Technology, July - Professional Development, and September - Finance and Operations. Chamber programming will revolve around each of these topics and the hope is that by highlighting specific areas for business owners to focus on, one month at a time, they will implement at least one new concept during each of those months and become a stronger business because of it. “We understand how busy small business owners are,” said Mark Field, senior vice president for membership at the Knoxville Chamber. “We hope by shining the spotlight on four separate functions critical to the success of their business over the course of a year, we might make tackling improvement in those areas a little less overwhelming.” Each area of focus correlates with a specific section of Chamber Member MD®, the Chamber’s proprietary online business analysis tool. A great way to start each designated month is to spend 15 minutes completing the corresponding section on Chamber Member MD to get a sense for the state of affairs within that area of your business.
Most people have no
idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we
focus all of our resourc-
es on mastering a single area of our lives.
- Tony Robbins
JANUARY - RESOLVE TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS Marketing is a means to an end – selling your product or service. As simple as that sounds, there are a number of ways to market your business. Some come free. Others are expensive. Nothing is one-size fits all. Chamber members are offered a year-long marketing platform for as little as $350 a year. Start the New Year off by resolving to take advantage of a minimum of one of the resources or opportunities provided by the Chamber that help market your business.
LEARN HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MARKETING TOOL Social media has become an important tool in the marketer’s tool box. Regardless of whether your business sells to consumers or other businesses, you should explore how the effective use of social media could help market your business. A recent survey by Vocus, Inc., a leader in the development of integrated marketing strategies, found that 85% of consumers expect businesses to actively engage in social media and over half consult social media outlets prior to making purchasing decisions. Fittingly, the Chamber’s third annual Social Media Series, lunch-and-learn seminars focused on the ever-evolving world of social media, returns this month. Presented by AT&T and held over four consecutive Tuesdays (beginning January 8), topics in this year’s series include: January 8 - “ROI – Relationships, Opportunities, and Influence,” presented by Chuck Morris of Morris Creative January 15 - “The Social Media and SEO Tango: How they Partner to Improve Your Online Performance,” presented by Daniel Monday of Slamdot!
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See “Healthier Business” on pg. 78
“Healthier Business” continued from pg. 77
Power 30 Speed Networking – These high-energy events are
January 22 - “Social Media for Non-Profits – Effective Tactics to Build Awareness, Share Your Story & Raise Support,” presented by Nicole Denton of Pyxl Inc.
limited to 30 Chamber members per session and are held quarterly. Everyone in attendance is guaranteed to meet 15 businesspeople and spend five minutes with each of them. It is a lot like speed dating – but for business. The event concludes with a reception where attendees are provided time to meet with those they didn’t get a chance to or circle back up with attendees they had a connection with. a.m. Exchanges and Business After Hours – These are traditional, unstructured networking events that provide a forum for businesspeople to either catch-up with existing contacts or make new ones. The Chamber traditionally hosts at least one of these events each month. Schmoozapalooza – The name says it all! The Chamber hosts two of these lively and casual networking events each year (September & March). The event averages over 500 attendees and provides businesses the option of showcasing products and services in the “Tabletop Expo.” “The members that take full advantage of the networking opportunities available to them throughout the year are the members who thoroughly realize the value of their Chamber membership,” said Fuller. “There is no substitute for getting to know someone face-to-face, building a relationship with that person, and receiving referrals because of it. The process might feel old-fashioned and requires patience, but it is a viable way to market your business.” Visit the Chamber’s online calendar of events to find a networking event to attend, grab a stack of business cards, and start relationship building to create some awareness about your product or service!
January 29 – “Social Savvy – Tips & Tricks for Valuable Online Interaction,” a panel discussion featuring social media gurus from Castleton Farms, Tupelo Honey, and AC Entertainment “Social media is a moving target and keeping up with trends is a full-time job,” commented the Chamber’s Vice President for Marketing and Events Lori Fuller. “We initiated the Social Media Series in 2010 to provide small business owners and marketing professionals with some insight into a complex yet important marketing tool. It is a popular series, so I think we have found a topic our membership is interested in learning more about on a yearly basis,” she continued. Learn more about each of the 2013 seminars and register for any (or all!) of the presentations by visiting the “Events and Programs” section of www. knoxvillechamber.com.
GET KNOWN UTILIZING IKNOWKNOXVILLE.COM The Chamber’s online business directory provides members the opportunity to market their businesses year-around. Launched in November 2010, the directory is search engine optimized and has logged over 160,000 page views between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Chamber members at all membership tiers receive a promotional page on the website and page features are increased as the membership level increases. The most basic of pages provides the business name, contact information, and a 15-word brief business description. The most advanced pages include a dynamic visual representation of the business, including the ability to embed Google 360 tours, embed video, upload coupons, and much, much more. “Launching iKnowKnoxville.com was a key factor in us receiving the 2011 Chamber of the Year recognition because it is such a dynamic benefit for our members” remarked Field. “We continue to educate membership on the importance of taking advantage of this tool to market their business and we hope they will take time to evaluate their exposure on the website.” Visit iKnowKnoxville.com and explore how your business is being represented on the website (or see what your competitor is doing with their page). Contact the Chamber to learn more about iKnowKnoxville.com and how you can enhance your company’s exposure on the online directory!
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK While it is a misnomer that the Chamber is only a networking organization, providing opportunities for businesspeople to meet each other is something the Chamber does regularly and well. Even with the explosion of social media and online searches, the power of personal relationships is still relevant for most businesses and businesspeople and a great way to market your business. Networking can obviously occur at any Chamber event, but there are several that are programmed especially to promote relationship building.
B2B BULLSEYE – CHAMBER ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIPS The Chamber offers several opportunities outside of its benefits structure that provide marketing exposure to businesses looking to expand reach or create awareness. Businesses looking to target the 2,000 member companies that make up the region’s largest chamber of commerce have several options available to them. Options include online advertising on knoxvillechamber.com, iKnowKnoxville.com and the weekly email digest, print advertising in relocation packets and publications, or scrolling advertising on the plasma screen in the Chamber’s lobby. Members also have the ability to sponsor any of the 70+ events hosted by the Chamber. Benefits range from hosting networking events at your business to introducing coveted speakers such as the Governor in front of hundreds of businesspeople, and can be customized based on desired outcomes. “Chamber event sponsorships and advertising opportunities are cost-effective ways for businesses to target the businesspeople that represent the region’s most engaged companies. By associating a business’ brand with one of the oldest and most respected brands, the ‘chamber of commerce,’ a business can automatically enhance its stature and relevance within the local business community,” commented Director of Membership Development Michelle Kiely. Businesses interested in leveraging their Chamber membership to help gain exposure and create awareness within the Knoxville business community should contact Kiely by calling (865) 246-2617.
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Innovation Valley Board Approves Blueprint 2.0 The Board of Directors of Innovation Valley Inc., a regional economic development initiative led by the Knoxville Chamber, recently approved Innovation Valley Blueprint 2.0, an update to the original strategic plan embarked upon by the organization in 2008. The document will provide direction to the Innovation Valley and its partner agencies over the next five years in guiding the region’s economic development efforts. “The last five years have confirmed what we believed back in 2008…that a regional approach to economic development offers the most benefits to the com-
munities being served,” said Rhonda Rice, executive vice president of the Knoxville Chamber. “When companies relocate to or expand in the area, the growth impact isn’t felt by just one county or municipality, it ripples across the region. Continuing to plan strategically as a region will afford us opportunities we might not otherwise attract,” she continued. Innovation Valley utilized the services of Boyette Strategic Advisors to develop the new guiding document. The critical components in completing the plan included: • A review of successes, weaknesses, and challenges of the region through research, interviews, and online surveys. • A comparative review of similar or aspirational regions. • An update of the existing target markets through the assessment of the sectors currently located in the region, along with an assessment of other growth sectors that the region’s assets support. • The development of strategic recommendations to ensure the region’s competitiveness in key areas. • The development of an implementation/action plan and metrics. “Blueprint 2.0 not only provides the Innovation Valley Board of Directors and partners with a game plan for the next five years, but also it outlines what we believe is a sustainable economic development program that will provide a return on investment to our investors,” said Rice. The entire Innovation Valley Blueprint 2.0 plan will be unveiled to investors at an event in early February.
Establishing Innovation Valley as the Epicenter for Carbon Fiber Research & Production The Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley team recently attended the 2012 Composites World Carbon Fiber Conference in La Jolla, Calif. The conference provided Innovation Valley the opportunity to tout the region to key industry executives as a prime location for the carbon fiber supply chain. During a conference luncheon sponsored by Innovation Valley, Knoxville was announced as the host city of the 2013 Composites World Carbon Fiber Conference. Innovation Valley and ORNL partnered with Visit Knoxville to help secure the bid for next year’s conference. “We’re excited to host this conference. Attendees will tour the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, learn more about the region, and see first-hand why the Innovation Valley is where their companies should be,” said Jesse Smith, Innovation Valley director of technology. The use of carbon fiber in products is on the rise due to its high strength, low weight, and resistance to corrosion. Products with carbon fiber parts can lower transportation costs and provide better fuel efficiency in the automotive industry. However, high costs, long processing times and recyclability have led to increased research efforts to address these issues. Ultimately, the industry hopes to provide carbon fiber for mass-market use. The industry’s eyes are now on the Innovation Valley and the advances in research and the production of low-cost carbon fiber at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which has also entered into partnerships with Dow Chemical and Ford Motor Company. ORNL’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility is slated to begin demonstrating
the production of new low-cost precursors at near commercial scale in early 2013. In 2011, ORNL also formed the Oak Ridge Carbon Fiber Composites Consortium, which is administered by Innovation Valley. The consortium is made up by over 40 industry leaders, such as 3M and BASF. Innovation Valley participated in the tradeshow held in The goal is to provide conjunction with the 2012 Composites World Carbon Fiber Conference the opportunity for these companies to work together to accelerate the development, demonstration, and commercial adoption of new carbon fiber and composite materials and processing techniques. “ORNL’s new Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, the Roane State Advanced Composites Training Program, and research at ORNL and the University of Tennessee make the Innovation Valley a perfect location for this growing industry,” said Kyle Touchstone, Knoxville Chamber economic development project manager.
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Knoxville Identified as One of Only Three Cities in the U.S. to Experience Economic Recovery
The Brookings Institution, a private nonprofit group that conducts independent research, released a report the last week of November recognizing Knoxville as one of three cities in the country to have fully recovered from the recession. The report, called “Global MetroMonitor 2012 Slowdown, Recovery, and Interdependence,” identified seven world regions, including 76 U.S. metro areas. In addition to Knoxville, Brookings found that Pittsburgh and Dallas have also recovered. The report analyzed 2011-2012 data on Gross Domestic Product per capita and employment change, among other factors. There were 300 metropolitan areas worldwide that were examined. “This is a great indicator of how Knoxville is doing when compared to other cities nationwide,” said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. “While we are elated about the findings of the report, we know there is still work to be done to grow and attract quality jobs to our area and we are working hard with our many partners to accomplish that.”
The recognition comes on the heels of several recent expansion announcements by Innovation Valley companies including ADT, CSL Plasma, and BHS Corrugated North America. Between July 2011 and July 2012 over 7,600 jobs were created throughout the region, as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “We are pleased to see that the efforts to leverage our regional assets have positioned us well for opportunities that are emerging as the national economy shifts back into gear,” said Dr. Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and chairman of the Innovation Valley board of directors. Innovation Valley is a regional economic development initiative led by the Knoxville Chamber and consists of six partner agencies including the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, the Loudon County Economic Development Agency, the Oak Ridge Economic Partnership, the Roane Alliance, and the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency. The organization is charged with developing and guiding the business recruitment, retention, and expansion efforts for the communities within its footprint.
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Local Governments Represent Untapped Revenue Opportunities for Area Small Businesses Brian Strong is a problem solver. In particular, Strong has spent years as a regional sales director leveraging information technology to make businesses more profitable. He’s recently dedicated himself to solve a billion dollar problem. Knoxville-area city and county governments, universities, and other institutions spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year with businesses just not always with local businesses. But it is not for a lack of trying. Regional governments want to support local businesses. However, when asked why they don’t spend more locally, the common response is “we need more local bidders!” so Strong switched into problem solving mode. It turns out that every governmental entity has its own vendor registration application (a common first step in bidding on government contracts). There’s over 40 local governments within 50 miles of Knoxville alone. That’s over 40 different applications. But that’s only the half of it. Once registered, businesses have to diligently monitor hundreds of newspapers, government websites, and office bulletin boards for government sales opportunities. Many are posted for just a single day, so businesses must spend countless hours every day in order to not miss a sale. For a small business owner who already wears many hats, it simply is not possible. No wonder the average local business is registered and bids with less than 5% of Knoxville area governments and institutions. In the age of LinkedIn and RSS feeds, this should not be an unsolvable problem. As it turns out, it is not. Strong started Vendor Registry in 2011 to make it easy to register with any government from one place as well as eliminate the countless hours spent scouring to find government sales leads. He teamed up with local entrepreneurs and business leaders Chris Van Beke, Mike Carroll, Wade Orloski, and Lewis Frazer
to pull it off. The concept is relatively simple but very effective. In fact, area procurement directors have talked about centralized registration and bid notifications for several years. However, no city or county government can spend money that will benefit another city’s or county’s residents. That’s where private enterprise and the Knoxville Chamber come in. Vendor Registry pays for itself by saving hours of work and generating new revenues. As a small business owner himself, Strong wanted to make sure that the service wouldn’t cost much more than a business lunch. Vendors simply fill out an online profile to tell government buyers what type of products and services they sell, which enables bid notifications and one-click registrations. This is an easy, low-risk way to enter the local government contracting business. What exactly do local governments buy? In a word, everything. If you think about it, governments house thousands of people from the elderly to students to firefighters to inmates. Thus, the government literally buys everything found in or around a residence. The Vendor Registry system currently tracks over 30 local governments in the greater Knoxville area. The Knoxville Chamber is always looking for cutting-edge ideas to enhance the benefits it offers its more than 2,000 member businesses, especially ideas that help create new revenue opportunities for small and mid-sized businesses. Through a strategic partnership, the Knoxville Chamber has negotiated preferred pricing for its members for the services of Vendor Registry. On February 27 from 8 – 9 a.m., the Chamber will host a seminar to introduce its membership to the Vendor Registry program. Strong and his business partners will walk attendees through the process of government contracting and introduce them to Vendor Registry and the benefits the program provides. Visit the events calendar on www.knoxvillechamber.com to register to attend this event!
Ambassadors Say Thanks for Opportunity to Volunteer In true Volunteer spirit, each year Knoxville Chamber Ambassadors donate over 2,000 hours of their time to support Chamber events and initiatives. At this year’s fourth annual Breakfast with the Bosses, the group thanked their supervisors for the opportunity to engage with both the Chamber and the business community through this program. “Being involved in the Ambassador program has opened doors for me,” said Alex Kleto, Chamber Ambassador and recruiter for Southeastern Technology Consultants. “The time I commit to volunteering for the Chamber is important for both my company and for me, frequently resulting in networking opportunities or contacts that I would have either missed completely or had more difficulty making.” The time bosses allow Ambassadors to commit to the program is equally as valuable to Chamber staff. “While our Ambassadors do have the benefit of regular interaction with both our staff and members, they are essential to ensuring we maintain a high level of service,” said Leslie Smith, member services manager. “With over 2,000 member businesses and a staff of 28, we rely heavily on the support of our Ambassadors.
Ambassador leaders Brooke Thurman, Kim Davis, and Cameron Puckett with Chamber Board Chair Mitch Steenrod.
This breakfast allows us to express our gratitude to the bosses who so generously allow them to participate in the program.” The Knoxville Chamber Ambassador program currently has 50 members representing 47 area businesses.
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The Chamber’s 7th annual BAH Humbug holiday party was another rousing success with close to 400 business and community leaders converging at the Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park. In addition to indulging in the fabulous food and drink provided by the Holiday Inn, attendees were entertained by the Dennis Dowd Trio jazz band in the lobby, Jim Ogle of Ogle Entertainment playing festive tunes downstairs, and the Knoxville Photo Booth Company provided fun keepsakes.
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BAH Humbug was a spectacular event due in part to (L-R): Jason McClure, All Occasions Party Rentals; Brook Cross, Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park; Lynsey Wilson, Knoxville Chamber; and Claire Hadden, Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park.
L-R: Dianna Bowers, Christley Chambers, and Steve Rhea of U.S. Bank’s West Knoxville branch.
Justin Cazana, principal/broker with Cushman Wakfield Cornerstone catches up with Joe Ledford of Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon
Attendees enjoyed cocktails and the Dennis Dowd Trio in the lobby before moving downstairs where they were met with festive music, carving and pasta stations, and a fabulous décor provide by All Occasions Party Rentals.
L-R: Mike Edwards, president/CEO of the Knoxville Chamber; Ryan Cazana and Nick Cazana with Commercial and Investment Properties; Justin Cazana of Cushman Wakefield Cornerstone; and Mitch Steenrod, chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors gather after another successful BAH Humbug hosted by the newly renovated Holiday Inn at World’s Fair Park and its bar, Windows on the Park.
Gwendolyn Brown and Rick Russell of Brown Pearman Russell, Karen and Art Cate, along with Chamber Executive Vice President Rhonda Rice.
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Exhibit Showcases SPECTRUM of Region’s Renewable Energy Resources In a single hour the sun produces enough energy to satisfy the world’s yearly demand. Energy generation from a single wind turbine can power 300 homes. Well-known retailers such as Kohl’s and Whole Foods are using renewable energy to power the majority of their stores, and the President’s Clean Energy Standard calls for 80 percent of the United States power to be supplied through renewable energy sources by the year 2035. As consumers and businesses begin to embrace the trend towards these alternative sources, their demand is creating a boom in renewable energy jobs. A recent study published by GreenPeace’s Energy Revolution estimates that by 2015 the renewable energy industry could account for almost 4.5 million new jobs worldwide. Locally TN-Score, an organization centered on the advancement of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) research at all Tennessee academic institutions, is working to pique student’s interest in renewable energy careers as well as raise awareness about the state’s existing energy research and growing solar industry through SPECTRUM, an interactive 4,000-square-foot renewable energy exhibit temporarily located in Knoxville Center Mall. “Tennessee is well positioned to create an entire business sector around renewable energy jobs,” said Josh Francois, Outreach Director at TN-Score. “One of the
goals behind SPECTRUM is to get children interested in STEM education so that as they move through high school and college they are curious about exploring jobs in those fields. The increased knowledge base and potential impact on workforce development are forerunners to the region’s actual goal of recruiting and retaining renewable energy businesses.” Ranked first in green job growth by the Brookings Institution, Knoxville and the surrounding region is poised to attract these renewable energy companies, a stance reiterated in Innovation Valley Blueprint 2.0, the region’s latest economic development strategy. “Having the SPECTRUM exhibit in Knoxville only enhances our efforts to tout the Innovation Valley region as a hot spot for renewable energy research and development,” said Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development at the Knoxville Chamber. “As we move forward with Innovation Valley Blueprint 2.0, you will see increased efforts to recruit energy related companies to this region.” The SPECTRUM exhibit is scheduled to open for the general public in early January 2013 and will be housed at Knoxville Center Mall until its permanent facility, the University of Tennessee-owned West Tennessee Solar Farm, is complete. Organizations interested in group tours of the exhibit can contact Francois at (865) 974-8085.
L&N STEM Academy Expands Beyond Knox County Line STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in East Tennessee took another huge step forward recently when the L&N STEM Academy announced it would start accepting students from throughout an eight-county region beginning next year. The announcement was made at a late-November lunch, featuring Eric Fingerhut as a keynote speaker. Fingerhut is the Vice President for Education & STEM Learning with Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. Over 80 education, business, and political leaders gathered at the Foundry for the lunch, which was sponsored by locally-based Aqua-Chem. Becky Ashe, principal of the L&N STEM Academy, announced that the school will have 120 slots for students who live outside of Knox County. There is no charge for students to attend the Academy, and selection is based on a lottery system, as opposed to placement testing. “We’re not looking for the next class valedictorian here,” Ashe said. “We’re looking for anybody interested in math or science. We’re looking for that student that likes to tinker with things and take things apart. There are no testing or GPA requirements for entry.” Students interested in applying for the lottery to attend the L&N STEM School next fall have until February 18, 2013 to complete and submit the transfer application available on www.knoxschools.org. The lunch also featured a check presentation from the Tennessee Valley Authority to Tennessee’s STEM Innovation Network. TVA donated $100,000 to
Pictured left to right: Dr. Jim McIntyre, superintendent of the Knox County Schools; Becky Ashe, L&N STEM Academy principal; Eric Fingerhut, vice president for education & STEM Learning with Battelle Memorial Institute; Justin Maierhofer, TVA vice president and chief of staff; Wesley Hall, director of client engagement with Tennessee STEM Innovation Network; Ken Green, chief district support officer with Tennessee Department of Education; and Marilyn Roddy, STEMspark director.
the six STEM platform schools across the state, with each school receiving $16,500 to support its initiatives.
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RIBBON CUTTING
PREMIER PARTNER PROFILE
Regions Bank Building Shared Value for the Community
WorkSpace Interiors located at 2820 Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville celebrated its newly designed space in November. Bob Feathers, owner, is pictured center cutting the ribbon and is joined by WorkSpace Interiors associates, friends, and Knoxville Chamber Ambassadors.
The Knoxville Chamber would like to thank Jeremy Longshore for hosting the annual Ambassador Holiday Party at Bonefish Grill in Bearden. Knoxville Chamber Ambassadors enjoyed great food and good company at their annual holiday party, hosted by Bonefish Grill.
For any business, the keys to its success lie in the roots that anchor it to the community. A successful community fosters a successful business environment, and for a business to grow stronger it must have a thriving community surrounding it. For a bank like Regions, its roots -- firmly within the community -- mean more than just where it does business, but it also points to the relationship that a business has with the community and people within it. “As a banker and a businessman, I see every day the connection between the success of Regions and the success of the people and business community we serve,” said Regions Bank East Tennessee Area President Mike McNamee. “When we help other people become successful, when we provide appropriate access to credit, and when we help people make better financial decisions, we are creating an environment where both the community and the consumer as a whole prosper.” As the largest bank in Tennessee and one of the largest in the Southeast, Regions is able to bring both a local community-bank presence within the markets it serves, and the ability to provide the services of a larger, more diverse financial institution. That means delivering products and services that meet customers’ needs locally, serving in the Knoxville area and sharing in the work and in the commitment to building a stronger community. In the Knoxville area, Regions is fulfilling the commitment to the community on numerous different fronts. This year Regions associates have spent many hours working with local schools on improving financial literacy among area youth, have helped contribute to feeding and caring for the hungry and homeless in the city, and continued to serve as volunteers across the area through the “What a Difference a Day Makes” program. Also, in looking to serve the local business community and economy, Regions is focused on helping customers improve their financial position and their ability to grow. The bank provides resources and speakers on topics ranging from economic outlook to “helping a business go from invisible to remarkable”. Regions works every day to add value to business owners through workplace banking services and to consumers through advice, guidance, and education tools designed to help make informed financial decisions. In addition, homeowners in Knoxville and throughout the company’s 16-state footprint have been able to stay in their homes and improve their financial position through Regions affordable refinancing solutions and free investment review events. “In the end, it’s about more than loans and deposits,” McNamee said. “It’s about recognizing our shared future and the opportunities we have to build value -- not just in monetary terms, but in people, in this community and for the betterment of all.”
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UPCOMING EVENTS
JANUARY 8, 11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M.
Social Media ROI: Relationships, Opportunities & Involvement Presented by Chuck Morris, Morris Creative 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
JANUARY 15, 11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. presented by
The Social Media and SEO Tango How They Partner to Improve Your Online Performance Presented by Daniel Monday, Slamdot! 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
JANUARY 22, 11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. Social Media for Non-Profits Effective Tactics to Build Awareness, Share Your Story & Raise Support Presented by Nicole Denton, Pyxl Inc. 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
JANUARY 29, 11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. Social Savvy - Tips and Tricks for Valuable Online Interaction Panelists include representatives from Castleton Farms, AC Entertainment, and Tupelo Honey 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square Each seminar is $25 for members or $35 for nonmembers and includes a boxed lunch. Visit the events calendar to learn more or to register!
JANUARY 17 Y-12 Uranium Processing Plant Contract Information Session 8 – 9 a.m. Location TBD
JANUARY 24 Exclusive Premier Partner Event Featuring Parker Frost, Successful Serial Entrepreneur 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Knoxville Chamber, 17 Market Square
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