INSIDE: Manufacturing Week Recap pg. 59 + Monthly Economic Indicators pg. 62
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS NEW MEMBERS & NEW PREMIER PARTNERS THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Baxter Talent (865) 315-7314 www.baxtertalent.com Business & Professional Services: Business Advisors & Consultants Five Guys - Powell (865) 938-2007 www.fiveguys.com Restaurants Great American Sign (865) 357-7746 www.greatamericansignco.com Business & Professional Services: Signs HospitalCareers.com (866) 870-4885 www.hospitalcareers.com Employment, Career, & Staffing Services La La Nails (865) 312-9122 www.lalanailsknoxville.com Personal Services: Salons & Spas Laser Quest Knoxville (865) 769-0896 www.laserquest.com Entertainment
Retro Taco (865) 333-9551 www.facebook.com/retrotacos Event Planning, Catering, & Venues: Catering Toes to Nose 3D/4D Ultrasound (865) 444-1992 www.toestonose3d4d.com Healthcare Providers & Services Trapped Escape Game (615) 630-5593 www.trappedescapegame.com Entertainment Tropical Smoothie Cafe - Farragut (865) 218-5000 www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com Restaurants Zaxby’s - Turkey Creek (865) 272-9726 Restaurants
Top Achievers are recognized for their countless volunteer hours and dedication to the Ambassador Program’s mission of serving as an active volunteer extension of the Knoxville Chamber to cultivate, promote, and maintain positive relationships between the Knoxville Chamber, its members, and the community.
1ST PLACE
Abridged Beer Company www.abridgedbeer.com Restaurants
Raceway 6759 (865) 927-0460 www.raceway.com Retail Stores
TOP ACHIEVERS
DANIEL MONDAY SLAMDOT
EDITOR LYNSEY WILSON ASSISTANT EDITOR JESSICA GUTMAN DESIGN LADDY FIELDS CONTACT THE KNOXVILLE CHAMBER (865) 637-4550 www.knoxvillechamber.com PRESIDENT & CEO MICHAEL EDWARDS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RHONDA RICE CLAYTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOUG LAWYER FINANCE & OPERATIONS LARRY JOHNSON
2ND PLACE
Gem Care Staffing (865) 560-9891 www.gemcaremc.com Employment, Career & Staffing Services
Lose and Associates, Inc. (865) 409-1424 www.loseassoc.com Business & Professional Services; Architectural & Engineering Services: Engineers; Architectural & Engineering Services: Architects
COLBY MCLEMORE COLBY’S PHOTOGRAPHY
MEMBERSHIP MARK FIELD PUBLIC POLICY AMY NOLAN
CENTRAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (865) 246-2654 mhummel@downtownknoxville.org
3RD PLACE
BRONZE PREMIER PARTNER
MARC ARCHER ARCHER DESIGN & MARKETING
THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (865) 546-5887 TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (865) 246-2663 LEADERSHIP KNOXVILLE (865) 523-9137 U.S. DEPT. OF COMMERCE EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER (865) 545-4637
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ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 1 6 - 1 7
2 0 1 6 - 1 7 FAC T S & F I G U R E S The Knoxville Chamber focuses on three guiding objectives to achieve its goal of driving regional economic prosperity: ENGAGE the business community, INFLUENCE the business climate, and STRIVE for distinction. The metrics illustrated below provide a snapshot of the Chamber’s progress towards these goals.
OBJECT IVE : TO INF LU EN CE T H E B U S I N ES S C L IMATE …
1,568 1.9%
$246.68
NEW JOBS CREATED BY BUSINESS EXPANSION OR RELOCATION IN INNOVATION VALLEY
M I L L I O N INCREASE IN ANNUAL WAGES ACROSS INNOVATION VALLEY
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FOR NEW OR EXPANSION PROJECTS IN INNOVATION VALLEY
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OBJ E C T IVE : TO ST R I V E F OR D I ST I N C TION…
110%
OF ANNUAL GOAL FOR MEMBERSHIPS
$33,300
INCREASE IN CHAMBER NET ASSETS
124.2%
OF ANNUAL GOAL FOR PREMIER PARTNER MEMBERSHIPS
OBJECT IVE : TO E N G AG E T H E B U S I N ES S CO MMUNITY…
115 89%
SMALL BUSINESSES MENTORED THROUGH PROPEL PROGRAM
22%
INCREASE IN EVENT ATTENDANCE
MEMBERSHIP RETENTION RATE
(8,937 registrants at 115 events, including Young Entrepreneurs Academy)
YEA! Students
Students from the 2017-2018 Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) class inside Olli, the selfdriving trolley, at the Local Motors micro-factory in Hardin Valley. YEA! is a 30-week program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses.
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Jalan Bean Hunter Bumgarner Luis Gomez Ryan Higgins Davis Jones Cole Lusk John Martinez Mateo Hannah Rodriguez Daniel Scrugham Grace Theriot Aashi Vora
Knoxville Chamber Celebrates Manufacturing Week BY: KAYLA SMITH
The Knoxville Chamber paid tribute to the region’s robust manufacturing industry during Manufacturing Week 2017. Held Oct. 2-6, Manufacturing Week recognized current industry contributions and seeks to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. The Innovation Valley region has a long history as a manufacturing hub with supporting industries such as marble and stone works, timber products, furniture, and iron works dating back to the 1870s. Currently, advanced manufacturing has elevated industry standards across Innovation Valley with companies like Lifetime Products, Leisure Pools, and Fresenius Medical Care all locating in the region. Now the region’s third-largest employer, manufacturing also contributed $40 billion to the region’s gross domestic product in 2016, ranking first in the Knoxville MSA. The Chamber highlighted the importance of regional manufacturing through several events during the week, including career awareness tours at Innovate Manufacturing. More than 60 students and educators from Byington-Solway Career and Technical Education Center toured the Innovate Manufacturing facility and learned about the skills and courses needed to work in the advanced manufacturing industry. The week concluded with 75 of the region’s manufacturers gathering at Jackson Terminal for a breakfast with Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett. During his remarks, Mayor Burchett noted nearly 40,000 workers, or 10 percent of Knox County’s workforce, are in the manufacturing industry with an average annual wage of $62,800, well above the regional average. The majority of those who attended the breakfast are members of the Manufacturer’s
Students from Byington-Solway Career and Education Center toured Innovate Manufacturing.
Roundtable. An initiative led by Innovation Valley, the meetings offer manufacturers an opportunity to collaborate through open discussions of industry best practices. Discussions cover a wide range of topics, including quality and safety, workforce development, workplace culture, and innovation.
Chamber Hosts Morning Networking Event in North Knoxville BY: JESSICA GUTMAN
Local business professionals made connections at the Knoxville Chamber’s a.m. Exchange hosted by Premier Transportation on Oct. 17. Attendees enjoyed a morning of networking and exploring Premier’s impressive bus fleet over a breakfast provided by All Occasion Catering. Nancy Welch with Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee took home the exciting door prize – a one-night stay at the luxurious Tennessean Hotel.
Harry Gross, SunTrust Bank and Nick Cazana, Premier Transportation, in front of Premier’s impressive bus fleet.
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PREMIER PARTNER PROFILE
KNOXVILLE GRAPHIC HOUSE Knoxville Graphic House (KGH) is a true 360° creative branding agency located just outside of downtown Knoxville. Using their creativity and business know-how, the team follows their clients’ projects through to fulfillment. Starting with creative concept, they offer full-service graphic design, printing, space design, social media marketing, custom apparel and promotional products, ensuring brand identity remains consistent, no matter the location. What sets Knoxville Graphic House apart from other marketing and creative agencies is their ability to create forward-thinking concepts with marketing components that can all be fulfilled under one roof. The team is full of creative energy that will inspire you to take the next step in exposing your business, brand, or event! The holidays are right around the corner and they can outfit your office with the perfect cards, corporate gifts and apparel. You can visit their website where they even offer online ordering, so you can search for exactly what you need. Feel free to give them a call at 865-917-1007 or stop by and see them at 2017 Ailor Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921. They would love to work with you on your upcoming marketing, promotional and creative needs. Check out and see what others have said about Knoxville Graphic House: “The Knoxville Graphic House team is amazingly talented and energetic, willing to go the extra mile, and an absolute delight to work with. I don’t think there is anything KGH can’t design or print! The company has strong philanthropic ties to the Knoxville community, which I personally see as an indicator of the type of business KGH is and even more reason why they should be a choice to consider for your next project.” - Carla Pare, Knoxville Museum of Art “Knoxville Graphic House has always been our go-to with everything from Marketing material to simple print work. We have worked with them for more than three years and KGH has always strived to meet and exceed our expectations. Their creativity and customer service makes them a great company to work with and we would highly recommend KGH.” - Garry Phillips, East Tennessee Pediatric Dentistry
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Chancellor Beverly Davenport Speaks with Chamber Premier Partners BY: JESSICA GUTMAN
Knoxville Chamber Premier Partners had the exclusive opportunity to hear from University of Tennessee Chancellor Beverly Davenport at a breakfast event sponsored by the Christman Company. She spoke about the significant economic impact the university has on the region and how it serves as a community anchor. “In 2016, athletics alone had a $618 million impact on this community,” she explained. “We are bringing not only intellectual assets into the community, but also this economic impact.” Chancellor Davenport also expressed the university’s desire to partner with the business leaders in the room and form mutually-beneficial relationships. She encouraged them to open their businesses to students for internships and co-ops. “You need us, but we need you,” she said. “I want students in your companies, and I want you in our classrooms. As an anchor, we have amazing intellectual power with these students. They can bring a lot.” Interested in becoming a Knoxville Chamber Premier Partner? Contact Michelle Kiely at mkiely@knoxvillechamber.com.
(From left to right) Marty Gibbs with the Christman Company, Mike Edwards with the Knoxville Chamber, UT Knoxville Chancellor Beverly Davenport, and Chamber Board Chair Terry Turner.
Knox County Adds Development-Ready Land BY: KAYLA SMITH
The land inventory in Knox County is growing by 66 acres thanks to the addition of Karns Valley Business Park (KVBP). Slated for completion by first quarter 2019, the business park expands Knox County’s developable land bank, maintained and managed by The Development Corporation of Knox County (TDC). “KVBP provides Knox County an additional three to four development-ready sites,” said Ray Christian, operations manager for TDC. “The park is surrounded by East Tennessee’s highest concentration of technology companies and skilled workforce, making it exceptionally attractive to prospective buyers. “These type of readily-available sites are critical to attracting new companies and accommodating existing industry expansions, both of which create new jobs and capital investment for Knox County.” KVBP is served by utilities located nearby or on business park property. Lenoir City Utilities Board maintains a large electric substation immediately adjacent to the site, while West Knox Utilities District (WKUD) provides water trunk lines around the perimeter. Plans for WKUD’s nearby sanitary sewer line connect the park to a state-ofthe-art wastewater treatment plant currently under construction along Melton Hill Lake. The Knoxville Utilities Board provides natural gas to the area with an 8” gas main set to be extended into the business park, positioning KVBP to meet the utility needs of almost any business. Extensive discussion surrounded plans for the park, including public meetings that allowed for community input into overall design and concept. The resulting KVBP Development Plan provides amenities such as paved walking trails for use by business park employees and nearby residents. Adherence to the
proposed business park development standards ensure high-quality building and site design, incorporating plentiful landscaping throughout the property. The Metropolitan Planning Commission has scheduled the final hearing to approve the concept, plans, and design guidelines on Dec. 14. Once approved, construction documents must be finalized to make way for bidding, permitting and building. For more information on the site visit, www.karnsvalleybp.com.
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MONTHLY ECONOMIC INDICATORS
(Sept. 2017)
NOTES – Knoxville MSA includes: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane & Union Counties.
WORKFORCE
HOUSING MARKET
Resident Labor Force Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee U.S.
% Change Aug. ’16Aug. ‘17
Aug. 2017
July 2017
Aug. 2016
% Change July ’17Aug. ‘17
234,420 413,960 3,194,000 160,863,000
236,380 417,230 3,210,300 161,911,000
235,850 417,610 3,160,800 159,800,000
-0.8 -0.8 -0.5 -0.6
-0.6 -0.9 1.1 0.7
393,700 3,017,700
389,700 2,994,600
393,400 2,966,800
1.0 0.8
0.1 1.7
7,570 14,380 115,300
8,740 16,760 132,800
10,130 19,640 157,500
-13.4 -14.2 -13.2
-25.3 -26.8 -26.8
3.2 3.5 3.6 4.5
3.7 4.0 4.1 4.6
4.3 4.7 5.0 5.0
-0.5 -0.5 -0.5 -0.1
-1.1 -1.2 -1.4 -0.5
Non-Ag Employment Knoxville MSA Tennessee
Residential Closings Residential Inventory Median Residential Price
Sept. 2017 1,642 6,971 $174,500
Unemployment Rates Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee U.S.
Sources: Tennessee Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
INFLATION RATES -
% Change Sept. ’15Sept. ‘17 1.0 0.7
Sept. ’16-‘17
Aug. ’16-‘17
Sept. ’15-‘16
2.3 2.2
1.7 1.9
1.3 1.5
0.6 0.3
% Change Sept. ’16Sept. ‘17
*Southeast Region Avg. U.S. Avg. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Knoxville (City)
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
Aug. 2017* 16 16 0
Aug. 2016 31 31 0
% Change Aug. ’16Aug. ‘17 -48.4 -48.4 0.0
Knox Co.
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
472 164 308
129 129 0
265.9 27.1 100.0
Knoxville MSA
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
620 293 327
257 239 18
141.2 22.6 1716.7
Tennessee
Total Single-Family Multi-Family
3,576 2,152 1,424
2,407 1,803 604
48.6 19.4 135.8
Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee
Sept. 2017
Aug. 2017
Sept. 2016
% Change Aug. ’17Sept. ‘17
54,551,981 83,606,365 725,172,577
53,563,467 83,452,256 718,478,582
54,643,155 83,769,806 692,034,963
1.8 0.2 0.9
-0.2 -0.2 4.8
15,240,266 24,125,753
14,760,514 23,816,254
14,857,338 23,412,660
3.3 1.3
2.6 3.0
% Change Sept. ’16Sept. ‘17 4.1 7.7 1.5 -5.3 3.4 3.3 1.4 10.7 4.7 -0.6 -1.1 4.1 5.8 -4.1
AIR SERVICE (MCGHEE-TYSON AIRPORT)
Passengers Freight
July 2017 189,048 6,358,504
June 2017 191,395 7,224,753
July 2016 173,682 7,149,477
% Change June ’17July ‘17 -1.2 -12.0
% Change July ’16July ‘17 8.8 -11.1
Source: Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Local Sales Tax Knox Co. Knoxville MSA
*All 2017 building permit data is preliminary and therefore subject to revision throughout the year. Sources: U.S. Housing & Urban Development – SOCDS – State of the Cities Data Systems; U.S. Census Bureau – Building Permits Survey
*South – City Size Class B/C
SALES TAX REVENUE - STATE & LOCAL ($) State Sales Tax
1,643 8,387 $162,000
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI) - ALL ITEMS % Change Aug. ’16Sept. ‘17
Sept. 2016
% Change Sept. ’16Sept. ‘17 -0.1 -16.9 7.7
Source: Knoxville Area Association of Realtors
Unemployment Estimates Knox Co. Knoxville MSA Tennessee
Aug. 2017 2,784 6,564 $175,253
% Change Aug. ’17Sept. ‘17 -41.0 6.2 -0.4
Source: Tennessee Dept. of Revenue
RETAIL SALES - NATIONAL (IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) Category Total Retail Sales Building Materials Clothing Stores Electronics & Appliances Food & Beverage Stores Food Svcs & Drinking Places Furniture & Home Furnishings Gasoline Stations General Merchandise Stores Health & Personal Care Stores Miscellaneous Stores Motor Vehicle & Parts Sales Non-store Retailers Sporting Goods/Books/ Hobby/Music
Sept. 2017
Aug. 2017
468,192 31,290 19,935 7,300 59,306 56,247 9,617 40,202 53,824 26,977 10,641 98,675 47,533
491,572 33,012 22,641 7,743 60,524 57,104 10,102 39,923 57,685 28,130 11,410 105,082 50,530
449,948 29,046 19,649 7,708 57,354 54,452 9,483 36,316 51,432 27,141 10,755 94,771 44,910
% Change Aug. ’17Sept. ‘17 -4.8 -5.2 -12.0 -5.7 -2.0 -1.5 -4.8 0.7 -6.7 -4.1 -6.7 -6.1 -5.9
6,645
7,686
6,931
-13.5
Sept. 2016
EST. 1869 For more information on research, contact Joe Riley, jriley@knoxvillechamber.com.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Advance Monthly Retail Trade Report
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Propel Protégé Spotlights The Knoxville Chamber’s Propel mentor/protégé program pairs an established community business leader with a protégé who is relatively new to business.
Firm: Hyperion Networks (second-year protégé) Owner: Joe Ray
Firm: A&A Investigation & Consulting Groups, Inc. (first-year protégé)
Email: joe@hyperionnetworks.com
Owner: Ricky Hill
Phone: (865) 622-7834
Email: aa21group@gmail.com Phone: (865) 771-2311 What is your professional background?
I started my firm with a 27-year background in the military and law enforcement. After serving in special operations in the U.S. Air Force, I went on to retire with 24 years of service with the FBI. I managed and investigated criminal, terrorism, and counterintelligence missions. My last missions were around monitoring international terrorism threats.
My interest in computers began in high school. I was from a small school district that didn’t have a big budget, and I was able to volunteer to help them with their computer networks. I did so well that a computer firm hired me. By age 22 I was the CIO for a $50-million computer firm. I was extremely unprepared for the position, but I learned the valuable lesson that no IT person can do everything by themselves. I looked around the country one day and chose East Tennessee to move to and worked for a few firms to learn the sales side of IT. I worked for Knox County Schools and learned what large network computing was about and then started Hyperion.
What does your firm offer its clients?
What does your firm offer its clients?
A&A Investigation offers investigative and consulting services to individuals and businesses. We provide risk management services in the cyber and security realm. We help firms protect their information mainly from cyber-attacks and we provide security for protecting facilities and personnel. We often help our clients protect themselves not just from the outside, but from insider threats - active shooter situations and workplace violence. We also provide basic services such as background checks and character analysis services.
We strive to manage all of the technology needs for our business clients. Whether or not we provide the technology, we manage the relationships with other vendors. What we have found is that our business clients would prefer to have one firm manage all of their technology be it phones, printers or servers. With Hyperion, our clients have one single contact who cares about their interests first. We also have become proficient in negotiating technology costs on our clients’ behalf. We manage not only the cost, but also all of the associated problems for our client. Because we understand programming, hardware and networking, we are able to get solutions faster and more efficiently for our clients.
What is your professional background?
What makes your firm unique? Our firm’s focus is to bring to our clients the same skillsets the FBI and other top agencies employ. We want our clients to be knowledgeable about the given threats in their industry and to not be naïve about the importance of protecting their information and personnel. Businesses and organizations are being attacked daily, and our firm’s experience separates us from others as we have a knowledge base that is high-class. One example of our distinctiveness is our reporting back to the client. We don’t just give you the results of the background check, but we report on items that most checks do not include. We simply give much more information than is the norm so our clients can make the right decisions.
Who are your perfect clients? Our sweet spot for clients are law firms that need investigative information for their clients. We make those in the legal profession smarter and thus able to serve their clients at a higher level. We also serve private citizens who have infidelity concerns, missing person’s cases and civil issues. We also serve the needs of businesses who need assistance in cases of fraud, risk management, cyber and physical security areas.
What makes your firm unique? I would have to say our fast response time. Most of our competitors give clients a response time of two to four hours. Our response time is typically 15 minutes. We are very knowledgeable, and our staff has more industry experience, on average, than our competitors. To ensure that this is always the case, our compensation and bonuses are tied to continued education. This is how we are able to maintain fast response times.
Who are your perfect clients? Our sweet spot for clients are businesses with 10 to 50 employees whose core business depends on technology every day. We have a growing book of business with independent insurance agents, business law firms and independent healthcare and medical firms. We are also penetrating the market with light industrial clients.
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NOVEMBER - MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Since 1869, the Knoxville Chamber has been the leading voice for business in the region. Each of these businesses are celebrating milestone anniversaries as Chamber members during the month of November. Thank you for your commitment to the Chamber and the community!
31+ YEARS
MEMBER SINCE
Burkhart & Company, PC
1982
Heritage Lake at Westland
2000
World Travel Service
1954
FMB Advertising
1986
Tennessee Brokerage Agency, Inc.
2001
Wood Realtors
1956
Duncan for Congress
1987
Knox County Schools
2001
Beverage Control, Inc.
1961
West Chevrolet, Inc.
1987
M & M Development Company, Inc.
2001
Stowers Machinery Corporation
1961
Technology for Energy Corporation
2001
First Priority Title Company, Inc.
2002
Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics
2002
Gerdau 1963
25 – 30 YEARS
MEMBER SINCE
Weigel’s Stores, Inc.
1964
Wood Printing Company
1989
Knoxville Area Transit
1967
Randstad USA
1992
Addicks CPA Firm, LLP
1971
Knoxville Academy of Medicine
1975
15-19 YEARS
Stonemill Log & Timber Homes
1975
The Grove at Deane Hill
Allied Toyotalift
1976
Markmans Diamonds and Fine Jewelry
10 – 14 YEARS MEMBER SINCE
MEMBER SINCE
Harmony Family Center
2003
1998
Young Professionals of Knoxville
2006
BACO Realty Corporation
1998
Aire Serv of Knoxville
2007
1976
Commercial Lighting Supply, Inc
1998
R. H. Sinclair Construction Company, Inc.
1976
Lawhorn CPA Group, Inc.
1998
Club LeConte
1978
Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville
1999
Hilton Knoxville
1981
Monterey Mushrooms
2000
Ackermann PR
1982
Knoxville Habitat for Humanity
2000
Local Professionals Make Connections at Business After Hours BY: JESSICA GUTMAN
The Knoxville Chamber held a Business After Hours at SERVPRO of Rocky Hill, Sequoyah Hills, South Knoxville on Sept. 28. Guests enjoyed networking in the expansive facility and learning about SERVPRO’s various services over delicious food provided by Archer’s BBQ. Three lucky attendees went home with some fabulous door prizes. Robin Ann Aggers with Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace Realtors and Jessica Mishu with Blue Ridge Yoga won SERVPRO tumblers packed with goodies, and Joel Moran with Shoffner Mechanical Services won the grand prize – a brand new fire pit.
Angie Cochran, SERVPRO of Rocky Hill, Sequoyah Hills, South Knoxville, and Joel Moran, Shoffner Mechanical Services, in front of the evening’s grand prize fire pit.
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Nominations for 2018 Pinnacle Business Awards Now Open
BY: LYNSEY WILSON
The Knoxville Chamber is proud to announce a multi-year partnership with Regions Bank for the annual Pinnacle Business Awards gala. The prestigious, black-tie event celebrates regional business excellence and honors outstanding contributions to enterprise. “Regions Bank is passionate about the advancement of the communities we serve,” said Michelle Walters, Regions Bank East Tennessee and North Carolina Area President. “We are proud to partner with the Knoxville Chamber in recognizing the regional businesses and business professionals who are also committed to positively impacting our community through their ingenuity, innovation, and investment.” “A Pinnacle Business Award is one of the highest honors available to area businesses,” said Mike Edwards, president and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber. “Recognition as a finalist or winner demonstrates that organization or individual’s dedication to driving regional economic prosperity and making Knoxville the nation’s best place to locate, operate, and grow.” The Knoxville Chamber is now accepting nominations in eight categories for the 2018 Pinnacle Business Awards, presented by Regions Bank. The categories highlight the range of businesses that make up the thriving Knoxville-area economy and honor contributions to the greater community. Nominations are accepted through Dec. 8. Nominated companies and individuals must complete the online application by Jan. 5 to be eligible for an award. Three finalists in each category are identified by judging committees, comprised of the Chamber’s board of directors, and notified mid-February. Winners are revealed during the 14th Annual Pinnacle Business Awards gala on May 4 at the Knoxville Convention Center. Nominations are not limited to Chamber member businesses. To nominate a deserving business or young entrepreneur, visit www.KnoxvilleChamber. com/Pinnacle.
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RIBBON CUTTINGS
NOVEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER 15 Women on the Rise – Featuring Dee Haslam, CEO of RIVR Media
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Cherokee Country Club – 5138 Lyons View Pike
Presented by:
ABA Interventions celebrated the grand opening of its Knoxville location on Sept. 27. They provide consultations, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, social skills groups, and parent training for families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other developmental/intellectual disabilities. The new location is at 9038 Cross Park Drive, Suite 105.
NOVEMBER 28 New Member Orientation 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Knoxville Chamber – 17 Market Square, #201
Hosted by:
Knoxville Area Association of Realtors celebrated the grand re-opening of its offices on Sept. 25. The renovated building is located at 609 N Weisgarber Rd.
NOVEMBER 29 Bright Ideas Workshop – Carving the Path to Customer-Centricity, Sidney Pell & Kathryn Gard of Clayton Homes 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Knoxville Chamber – 17 Market Square, #201
Presented by:
REGISTER FOR EVENTS AT KNOXVILLECHAMBER.COM/EVENTS-CALENDAR. Virginia College celebrated its new Electrical Technician program on Sept. 6. This new program is an important asset for the skilled-trades industry in the greater Knoxville area. The program launched at the Broadway campus on Sept. 12.
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